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Nabi Sues Toys R Us Over Trade Secrets
On Monday, the maker of the Nabi tablet computer for children sued Toys R Us Inc in San Diego, seeking to stop Toys R Us from selling Tabeo ahead of the holiday season. Fuhu Inc, the maker of Nabi claims that the world’s largest toy retailer stole trade secrets from Fuhu, and it was with this purpose in mind, Toys R Us had agreed to become the exclusive seller of Nabi last year. That exclusive agreement ended in January this year.
The launch of Tabeo by Toys R Us would be increasing the competition in the market of tablets for children. Currently the market is dominated by Nabi and LeapFrog Enterprises Inc’s LeapPad.
According to the lawsuit filed by Fuhu, Toys R Us agreed in October 2011 to become the exclusive Nabi distributor, but did “virtually no promotion” and ordered for the entire holiday season, a little more than what Toys R Us said could be sold in one day.
Fuhu accuses Toys R Us of breach of contract, unfair competition, fraud, and trade secret misappropriation. It also says that Toys R Us copied Nabi’s butterfly-shaped bumper, which helps to protect the tablet. Fuhu said that the illogical behavior of Toys R Us in following the exclusive distribution agreement for Nabi became meaningful when it launched Tabeo this month.
The lawsuit alleges, “Toys R Us used Fuhu’s trade secrets and confidential information to start selling Tabeo, which systematically attempts to replicate the Nabi experience, far earlier than Toys r Us could have done otherwise, if at all.”
Fuhu is seeking to put a ban on the sale of Tabeos and also asking that all Tabeos be turned over to Fuhu, alongside unspecified damages.
The case is Fuhu Inc v Toys “R” Us Inc, Case. No. 12-CV-2308, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California.Nabi Sues Toys R Us Over Trade Secrets by EmploymentCrossing


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An Indian Minister wants to see cannabis legally used as medicine in her country, and suggested fellow ministers look to examples set in other nations.
According to a news item published by the Press Trust of India, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi proposed legalising medical cannabis at a meeting of a group of ministers discussing the National Drug Demand Reduction Policy.
“Marijuana should be legalised for medical purposes, especially as it serves a purpose in cancer,” said Minister Gandhi in follow up comments to PTI.
The plant has been used in India for thousands of years. The earliest mention of cannabis was found in sacred Hindu texts compiled as early as 2000 to 1400 B.C.; where it was named as one of five sacred plants.
Cannabis use is still widespread in India today, but its legal status is complex. Government-owned shops sell cannabis in the form of bhang in some cities and states. Bhang is comprised of cannabis leaves and flowers as part of the ingredients, and is most often consumed as a drink accompanying celebrations during religious festivals.
Some states also have their own laws regarding cannabis, which is known in India as ganja.
At a federal level, the Indian government passed the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in 1985, which banned the production and sale of cannabis resin and flowers, but permitted the use of the leaves and seeds.
There have been other calls for the ban to be lifted. In 2015, a group of oncologists suggested that cannabis could offer an effective treatment for cancer and lobbied the Government to remove bans on research.
According to an article on FirstPost published late last year, there were more than 30 proposals from various organisations at that point in time seeking permission from the nation’s Health Ministry to extract cannabis oil for cancer treatment.
Conventional medicines can be pricey in the West, but in nations such as India they can be totally out of reach of all but a privileged few. The therapeutic benefits of cannabis could provide many patients in India with affordable pain relief and treatments. While many already take this route, they do so with the potential for prosecution; which can result in large fines or jail time.

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Novartis AG said it may spin off its ailing eye-care business Alcon, one year into a slower-than-expected turnaround for that business.
The Swiss pharmaceutical giant said it would explore all options for the Alcon business, which sells eye-care technology such as contact lenses and devices for lens replacement surgery.
The potential spinout comes seven years after Novartis gained full ownership of Alcon, a move that it had hoped would allow it to capitalize on the fast-growing eye-care market. In total, it paid about $51.6 billion for the business.
Chief Executive Joe Jimenez said he wouldn’t rule anything out, but suggested that a public market spinoff could “create a big opportunity for our shareholders” due to the scarcity of listed eye-care device companies of its size. He said the company would announce its decision near the end of the year.
The decision comes as the company struggles to revive growth at Alcon. A year ago, Mr. Jimenez had hoped that fresh leadership and a new focus on devices — he moved Alcon’s ophthalmology drugs into Novartis’s broader pharmaceuticals division — would return Alcon to growth in the second half of 2016.
Instead, Alcon is still struggling, with sales flat in the fourth quarter, though Mr. Jimenez said there were signs of improvement, noting that contact lens sales grew for the third consecutive quarter.
Separately, Novartis said earnings and revenue for the whole business fell in the fourth quarter, largely due to the strength of the dollar. It also announced a share buyback worth up to $5 billion.
Net income fell 11% to $936 million in the three months to Dec. 31, compared with $1.05 billion in the same period a year earlier, while revenue declined 2% to $12.32 billion.
Adjusting for the strength of the dollar, revenue and net income were flat, as falling sales from old cancer medicine Gleevec offset growth of some of Novartis’s newer drugs.
Novartis is leaning heavily on two newer drugs — Entresto for heart disease and Cosentyx for psoriasis and some rheumatoid diseases — to offset a sharp decline in sales from Gleevec, which last year started to face competition from cheaper competitors.
While Cosentyx has ramped up quickly since its launch in 2015, notching sales of $1.1 billion last year, Entresto has so far proven a disappointment. Also launched in 2015, it generated sales of just $170 million last year, missing even Novartis’s own modest goal of $200 million.
Still, Mr. Jimenez said he expected momentum to increase this year, thanks to the company’s heavy investment in an expanded sales force, more favorable coverage from health insurers and the recent endorsement of major cardiology groups in the U.S. and Europe.
“Everything we’re seeing on Entresto is giving us confidence for the future,” he said, adding that the company expects prescriptions to triple over the course of 2017.
Novartis said it expected 2017 sales to be broadly in line with last year at constant currencies, with new drugs offsetting Gleevec’s decline. It said core operating income this year would be broadly in line or decline at a low single digit percentage from 2016, at constant currencies.
By Denise Roland
The companies will explore opportunities to apply Flagship’s innovative bioplatforms – an ecosystem that currently comprises 41 companies – to scientific challenges in disease areas within cardiometabolic and rare diseases and initiate research programmes based on these.
BD is expanding its long-running partnership with the blood collection company Babson Diagnostics. The two companies have been working together since 2019 on a device that can gather small volumes of blood from the capillaries in the fingertip without requiring any specialized training, and beginning with a focus on supporting primary care in retail settings.
Wednesday, Australian biotech CSL said (PDF) the regulatory review of its $11.7 billion acquisition of Switzerland’s Vifor Pharma will take “a few more months,” suggesting it won’t be able to close the transaction by June 2022 as previously expected.


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The Big Apple saw a record one in seven nationally recognized chain-store branches close their doors this year as the pandemic sent consumers scurrying for cover, according to a new report. Some 1,132 chain stores — including 70 Duane Reades, 54 Starbucks and 22 Papyruses — have waved the white flag over the past 12… Continue reading at New York Post
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The president is increasingly at odds with leaders of the voting rights movement, who see a contrast between his soaring language and his willingness to push Congress to pass federal legislation. ...


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Economy growth is already impacting positively on the used car market, as reflected in Glass’s Q1 update.
Glass’s has reported an 11% increase in customers in the first three months of 2014, as well as increased sales in all major target sectors compared to this time last year.
Strong and increasing demand from the dealer, fleet & finance and insurance sectors is cited as one of the main reasons for success, as Ed Hummel, Glass’s sales director, said:
“Without doubt we have seen a real growth in demand from customers in these key sectors. It’s a sign that the automotive industry is feeling more confident, and we are definitely seeing the green shoots of economic recovery.”
Hummel added: “Q1 was a particularly satisfying start to 2014 for Glass’s. Much of our focus is on nurturing and developing strong relationships with customers and so we’re delighted that our existing customers are choosing to grow their relationships with us, while many new customers are returning to Glass’s to obtain the most accurate used car valuations around.
“Q1 generally sets the trend for the forthcoming year. I think we’ll see sentiment in the used car market continue to strengthen over the coming months. Consumer confidence is improving, new car sales are increasing and that’s helping to drive volumes in the used car market. The outlook for this year should be a positive one.”


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Car behemoth Volkswagen will face a German court Monday, as hundreds of thousands of owners of manipulated diesel cars demand compensation four years after the country's largest post-war industrial scandal erupted.
The first hearing in what is likely to be a grinding, years-long trial opens at 10 am in Brunswick, around 30 kilometres from VW headquarters in the northern city of Wolfsburg.
Around 450,000 people have joined a first-of-its-kind grouped proceeding, introduced by lawmakers after the "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal broke in 2015.
Consumer rights group VZBV, representing the plaintiffs, says the German carmaker deliberately harmed buyers by installing motor control software that allowed vehicles to pollute far more on the road than under lab conditions.
The trial is Germany's largest so far in the tentacular diesel scandal, which last week saw VW chief executive Herbert Diess charged with market manipulation over his role.
In the mass lawsuit, the most important of around 50 questions for judges is whether Volkswagen "caused harm" by acting "dishonestly". Klaus Mueller of VZBV said he is "convinced" the car firm did, while VW says "clients did not suffer harm".
"Hundreds of thousands of cars are used" on the roads without problem, VW lawyer Martine de Lind van Wijngaarden said.
Even if judges find in favour of plaintiffs, there will not be an immediate compensation payment.
Rather, every owner registered in the trial will have to claim individually. VW thinks a final judgement could arrive in 2023 at the earliest, if the case is appealed all the way to the Federal Court of Justice.
Individual proceedings could then take at least another year — in the court of first instance.
By then, the cars' market value could have eroded to a negligible amount, making a buyback cheaper for the firm.
To avoid such delays, the VZBV says it is "open" to an out-of-court settlement but "in that case, VW would have to pay a significant sum after all," Mueller told


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Sikka: Growth focus
Dubai, Oct. 14: Anil Ambani’s Reliance Capital Asset Management will focus on innovative products and smaller cities to capture a bigger share of the mutual funds business, which is expected to grow to Rs 20 trillion by 2020.
At present, the country’s second largest mutual fund house in assets has 12 per cent share of the Rs 7 trillion industry.
“Growth in the mutual fund sector would be possible on the back of changing savings pattern of retail investors and higher participation from smaller towns and cities,” Sundeep Sikka, president and CEO of Reliance Capital Asset Management, told The Telegraph.
In the next 5-10 years, household savings patterns are expected to shift from bank deposits and physical assets such as gold to mutual funds, including exchange traded funds.
“Changes in regulatory environment, which allows mutual fund companies to manage pension and insurance assets, could add another Rs 5 lakh crore to Rs 7 lakh crore in the next 5-10 years in the asset management industry,” said Sikka.
At present, mutual funds form only 3 per cent of the total household savings compared with 56 per cent for banks and 20 per cent in life insurance.
“Growth would further be amplified because of increased participation from smaller locations,” Sikka said.
Reliance Mutual Fund is planning to be present in every district of India within the next four years.
“RMF market share increases as we go deeper into tier 3 and 4 cities and that will be our focus area for retail penetration,” said Himanshu Vyapak, deputy CEO, Reliance Capital Asset Management.
Earlier, Sebi chairman U.K. Sinha had said the industry had to go beyond the top 15 cities for “good and sustained business”.
Reliance Capital is also looking at expanding its retail customer base from 7 million to over 10 million in the next 5-7 years through investor awareness as well as the launch of simple products such as Portfolio SIP.


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Multinational retail corporation Walmart has partnered with HomeValet to pilot the latter’s temperature-controlled smart box for grocery delivery.
As part of this trial in Bentonville, Arkansas, participating customers will receive deliveries from their local Walmart directly into the smart box.
Powered by an internet of things (IoT) platform, HomeValet’s smart box has three temperature-controlled zones to store frozen, refrigerated and pantry items.
The box will be placed outside customers’ homes.
Walmart US customer product SVP Tom Ward said: “The prospect of this technology is intriguing, both for customers and for Walmart’s last-mile delivery efforts. For customers, they don’t need to plan their day around when their grocery delivery will be made.
“For Walmart, it presents an opportunity to deliver items 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While we don’t have plans to do 24/7 delivery today, it certainly has a nice ring to it.”
The smart box communicates with the delivery provider’s device providing them secure access to complete the delivery. It also enables contactless deliveries.
The trial for the smart box is one of many solutions Walmart is testing to make their days more manageable amid the increasing demand for online deliveries.
Ward added: “Our pilot with HomeValet is one of many solutions we’re testing that can make their days more manageable. After all, delivery should fit within their lifestyle, not the other way around.”
In November, Walmart partnered with General Motors subsidiary Cruise to pilot self-driving delivery in Scottsdale, Arizona, US.
Additionally, it partnered with drone delivery service provider Zipline in September to trial a new service in the US.


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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - While some people are facing unemployment because of the coronavirus outbreak, one company is looking to hire about 60 people throughout the Louisville and Southern Indiana area.
Some of the new employees would be part of a critical group helping to distribute medical supplies across the county. Others would distribute retail and food products.
The Job Center is hiring for pickers, packers and forklift drivers. They have four locations in Okolona, Shively, Elizabethtown and Jeffersonville, Ind.
The company works with UPS and other vendors, and said it needs people for all shifts. Pay rates range between $12.10 to $15.50 per hour depending on location and job duties. The positions are full time, with a minimum of 40 hours a week. They would be considered “temporary to hire,” meaning given the unprecedented demand for supplies, the job could become permanent.
The company’s CEO, Kyle Decker, told WAVE 3 News now is a critical time when people can help in the distribution of much-needed medical supplies, while also getting a paycheck.
The Job Center is headquartered in Cincinnati and has 22 centers in eight states. It currently has 400 openings across the country.
The company is encouraging people to apply online at its website.


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Travel Agent spoke with Kelly Poling, CEO of Premier Worldwide Marketing, and Tamara Baldanza-Dekker, chief marketing officer for Margaritaville, on what agents can expect from the new resorts, the first of which opens this winter. Learn more here.
Not yet a year old, Independent by Liberty Travel held its first annual North American conference at Karisma’s El Dorado Resort in Riviera Maya. Attendees participated in roundtables, workshops and more. Here's an inside look.


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Half a year after the introduction of the single euro payments area (SEPA), companies have been slow to adopt the new processes and formats. This was the finding of a survey undertaken by Dresdner Kleinwort in May 2008 among companies with a turnover of €50m or more. Only around 4% of companies said they had adopted SEPA and the new processes for both their incoming and outgoing payments. Most companies – around two-thirds – are not yet using SEPA at all. It is mostly those companies with a global reach or whose activities are mainly domestic, with less than 10,000 payment transactions per year or a turnover of under €100m that are taking longer to make the transition. They believe the costs are not justified by the gains. Only slightly over 20% of companies were considering implementing the new formats and processes within the next six months. Half were only planning to adopt SEPA when this becomes a legal requirement. Despite this, over two thirds of businesses recognised in principle the long-term advantages a single payments area offers. In the case of those actively using SEPA that figure stood at 85%.
A report by broking group Marsh examines the repercussions from the administration of the South Korean company, which filed for bankruptcy protection at the end of August.
Global research by C2FO suggests that smaller businesses are less concerned with the repercussions of Brexit and the upcoming US presidential election.
A squeeze on skilled talent means it now takes an average of seven weeks to fill open permanent roles in finance in the UK according to new research from financial services recruitment firm Robert Half.
Early-stage merger and acquisition deals in Asia-Pacific show nearly 10% year-on-year growth in recent months.


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What's going on with the condo market? The prices seem incorrectly inflated. Did they recently spike and people are actually paying up?
I see this tiny apartment listed at 469k https://www.rew.ca/p...perty_click=map
It was assessed in 2017 for $354,800. In 2014 it was bought for $219,000. More than doubling in four years?
Then I see this article in July "Greater Victoria real estate sales are down from the same month in 2017 for the seventh month in a row as the once-hot market cools. A total of 708 properties sold through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s multiple listing service in June. That’s a 29.8 per cent drop from June 2017, when 1,008 changed hands." ... Sellers must be delusional.
no, that sounds about right given the market. Just like Vancouver, prices have risen substantially and a lot of people are selling their Vancouver west side house for ~$4 million and buying a nice house in Oak Bay for $1.5 to 2 million. Both of my moms neighbours in Oak Bay are from Vancouver and ecstatic about how cheap they bought here
Prices have also surged because of lack of inventory which last year were less than half of normal, which also affected the amount of sales since there is nothing to sell there is nothing to buy. Inventory has risen recently, but it still remains substantially under normal levels
I see lower prices coming especially once these new buildings come on the market. https://www.timescol...ales-1.23357257
sorry don't hold your breath. Construction costs are out of control and developers are simply passing these costs on to the consumer. I don't have numbers to back it up, but I would guess construction inflation costs are running between 1.5 to 2% a month (I am in the commercial construction business btw)


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China Mengniu Dairy has agreed to buy Lion’s dairy and drinks business for $600 million.
Mengniu – which recently gained approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board to acquire infant milk formula business Bellamy’s Australia for $1.5 billion – would acquire brands including Dairy Farmers, Pura Milk, Daily Juice and Berri. The announcement was made on Monday.
Japan-owned Lion’s dairy and drinks business employs around 2,300 in Australia, and manufactures at 11 of its own and two joint venture sites. It has been divesting dairy assets to focus on beer, and recently sold its specialty cheeses business to Saputo for $280 million.
Lion processes roughly 825 million “milk equivalent” litres per year, sourced in-country, and from New Zealand and Europe. According to Mengniu it will increase the amount of milk sourced from Australian suppliers.
“This acquisition brings together the best of the East and West, harnessing Mengniu Dairy’s networks in existing markets and D&D’s leading brands and production capability,” Mengniu Dairy chief executive Jeffrey Minfang Lu said in a statement.
“I truly believe our proposed acquisition will bring tremendous opportunity for the entire Australian dairy sector, opening up a channel to our home market in a very significant way. We have a strong track record of maintaining sustainable development in the markets we are in, which has been beneficial to local communities and the broader economy.
Mengniu said it expects a FIRB judgement on the acquisition in the first half of next year.
China Mengniu Dairy is Hong Kong-listed and 16 per cent owned by COFCO, a Chinese government-owned food conglomerate.
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Social commerce has been misunderstood as simply transactional — as a means of getting consumers to click and buy. But the failure of Facebook’s Gift Shop proved that this was not going to be social’s role in e-commerce. If social commerce is ever going to fulfil its ambitions, it must go after all parts of the consumer purchase funnel.
To that end, Pinterest is creating a model for how social media is really going to drive retail. A recent report from BI Intelligence finds that the new social commerce model will be about inspiration and discovery.
For the report, we analysed the most recent data on social commerce and spoke to leaders in the social commerce space to understand how their companies are adding value at different stages of the retail and e-commerce process. To do so they’re building social networks around e-commerce platforms, partnering with brands, or otherwise transforming social commerce’s strengths in Pinterest-style digital window-shopping into a clear value proposition.
Here’s how social commerce companies are really driving sales:
- It’s not about click-to-buy: Social commerce will never be what some have wanted it to be, an “Amazon killer.” It will be about enveloping the shopper in an experience, akin to a digital catalogue or a virtual shopping mall.
- What will help social commerce grow as a sales driver? The key is to help connect the funnel end-to-end, or to connect different mediums — say, social media and TV — to help coax a consumer down the funnel. The shopper may not buy the first time, but social commerce will become a valuable link in the chain.
- There are a few ways to encourage purchases: Retargeted advertising may be one missing link. It enables social commerce to connect the sales funnel from end-to-end by serving ads that remind users of products they have browsed across the Web but have not yet purchased. So far, only Facebook has developed this capability.
- Also: Clever merchandising and user interfaces allow for sticky merchant-to-consumer relationships that can help nudge a consumer toward purchase over time.
- Finally, referrals shouldn’t be discounted: Another solution is for social commerce to develop as a sales referral engine, and take a cut of the sales. If social commerce sites have a large enough audience, even a low referral and conversion rate will result in a good revenue stream. But tracking needs to improve.
- Explains how social commerce can play a role throughout each stage of the purchase funnel
- Suggests how time-sensitive offers on social media can motivate users to snap out of casual browsing or social media-grazing and into a buying mood
- Looks at where each of the major social networks fits into the social commerce funnel; each one has a unique role to play
- Examines Facebook’s success with its ad-retargeting platform, FBX
- Provides average order values and order volume for a leading social commerce platform
- Breaks down the share of social media-generated e-commerce sales for each social network
- Looks at the demographics of social commerce consumers
- Compares retail customer acquisition on Twitter, Facebook and more traditional digital methods such as search engines
The report also includes an exclusive collection of charts and datasets, and a full-resolution version of our social commerce sales funnel graphic. Subscribers to BI Intelligence also have full access to our ongoing coverage of social commerce.
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Time Warner's earnings call this morning added some new detail about the company's results, including important information on its digital operations. Here are some of the takeaways:
Traffic growth remains a bright spot for AOL (NYSE: TWX)publishing page views were up 69 percent in the fourth quarterbut CEO Jeff Bewkes said display advertising was down 25 percent in the fourth quarter and CFO John Martin's prediction of a 20 percent decline in total advertising at AOL in the first quarter of this year implies a 35 percent to 45 percent falloff in display advertising; that figure is in line with what IAC (NSDQ: IACI) is projecting. It's pretty clear that the weakening in display cuts across the industry and isn't confined to a few companies.
Search advertising at AOL was flat in the fourth quarter and is holding up fairly well in the current quarter relative to display, thanks to only modest declines in cost-per-click rates, according to Martin (again, that's in line with the industry). Third-party network advertising declined 13 percent in the fourth quarter (accounting for publishers that AOL dropped from the network), which indicates the networks likely were able to produce better results than display did, by aggressively cutting rates. This could continue to be a problem for display advertising in 2009 since network rates are typically lower than display rates, and networks have historically been more flexible than individual publishers in pricing inventory at fire-sale rates when they need to. As a result, if advertisers spend on display in the near-term, the cheaper network inventory will likely benefit first.
Bewkes' statement that the company plans to release a significant number of new titles from its interactive games unit is further evidence that the gaming industry is weathering the economy fairly well.
27 million people watched the presidential inauguration live online at CNN.com, an impressive figure that shows the growing appetite for live and on-demand video. Bewkes said the company would increase the resources it allocates to news coverage on mobile and broadband.
Bewkes said the company would launch 30 targeted sites in 2009. This is a good move, as marketers will demand more targeting in the current downturn; even when the ad economy recovers, marketers will likely do more large targeted buys, an option that most mass-market online publishers have struggled to provide. AOL appears to be moving in the right direction in this respect.
Bewkes: "We don't plan to sell Bebo."
Nothing new on any AOL/Yahoo/Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) developments; Bewkes, as he has in the past, said the company continues to explore all options.
By Rory Maher


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Huawei Enterprise aims to accredit a large army of foot soldiers after taking the covers off a channel programme and IT pro training camp. The Chinese manufacturer has added more meat around its expansion plans with the long-awaited, obligatory two-tier dealer framework. "The channel is a key component to Huawei Enterprise's …
Clearly they did not think that name through!
Joking aside this will sure pressure Cisco. Then again there are alot of vendors of this type of kit. How many more buyers will now realise there is a big world outside Cisco for this type kit
- That's cold: This is how our boss told us our jobs are at risk, staffers claim
- Official: Windows 10 has hit the 400 million device mark
- Microsoft paid me $650 to scrub Windows 10 from my grandpa's PC, says man
- You heard right: Huawei's making phones in Chennai
- Windows Server 2016 will cost more on big servers, but discounts can be found


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When Elon Musk took over Twitter, one of his first decisions was to change the verification system. Now, the blue checkmark would not be intended for someone who was distinguished or famous, but for those who paid for the Twitter Blue subscription. Although this was criticized, it seems that it has been successful enough that Meta is encouraged to copy it.
In a message, Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, announced the launch of Meta Verified. This is a new service that will allow users of different Meta platforms to receive a blue verification badge.
According to Zuckerber, it is a feature that seeks to “improve the authenticity and security of its services.” Of course, it’s also about making money, since the subscription will cost $15 USD per month if you sign up via iOS and Android or $12 USD if you sign up directly from their website.
In case you missed it: Facebook has lost billions of dollars for believing in virtual reality
Related video: Cryptocurrencies fall: a blessing for gamers
This verification will apply to Instagram and Facebook accounts, so when paying you will be verified for both services. Of course, it will not be available to everyone since it will only be used for adults who upload an official identification that has a name that corresponds to the same as their profiles. Once you verify yourself, you will not be able to change your name, username, date of birth, or photo without going through the verification process again.
But will verification have more advantages? Yes. Meta Verified members will get 100 higher search visibility. Plus, they’ll get 100 stars that they can use to tip their content creators on Facebook. It also includes exclusive stickers to use in stories.
Find out: Meta wants to create “the next Twitter” after the chaos caused by the purchase of Elon Musk
The paid service will be available from next week in Australia and New Zealand. There it will go through a testing phase before reaching more countries.
What do you think about these verification services? Tell us in the comments.
Follow this link for more news related to Meta.
Related video: Elon Musk wants to buy Twitter: will it affect video games?
Editorial: Gaming / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Instagram / News / Discord /Telegram / Google News
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The first of a planned chain of modern Italian restaurants will open in London's fashionable Notting Hill next month.
Zucca, on Westbourne Grove, could eventually be joined by a further four or five London venues, all offering modern Italian menus.
"Westbourne Grove is the new 'hot strip' in London and we want to build Zucca up as a popular local restaurant," said Tom Byng, one of the three directors of newly formed parent company Grove Restaurants.
Mr Byng comes to the restaurant industry from the world of advertising, while co-directors Jamie Sherrif and Paolo Cometa both have restaurant connections.
Mr Sherrif has worked at the Savoy and more recently managed Christophe's restaurant in Chelsea, west London. Mr Cometa has owned a variety of restaurants in his 20 years in the UK and will continue to run Ciabatta in Chelsea and A Tavola in St John's Wood, north London.
Head chef at Zucca will be Cesare Lupatelli, who has worked at London eateries the Atrium and the Brook. Zucca will seat 100 diners, who are expected to spend an average £20 to £25 each on a two-course meal with wine.


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Greenvision Technologies, makers of Relicell lead-acid batteries, have launched in Bangalore VOYAGER, a gel-based battery for electric rickshaws (E-rickshaws) with longer life cycle to cover 80-km with overnight charging.
The gel-based, maintenance-free and cost-effective batteries available in the capacity of 100 AH, can operate up to 80 kms when charged overnight and a set of four such batteries are used in E-rickshaws, which ply on Indian roads including Delhi.
A single set of four VOYAGER batteries costs Rs.28,000 and is highly durable, said the company in a statement.
"With electrical rickshaws offering an eco-friendly alternative to the polluting auto rickshaws, metros in India are witnessing an increase in E-rickshaws. Currently, they are gaining popularity in the city of Delhi and some parts of UP and West Bengal. We are in talks with E-rickshaw manufacturers in the country and are aiming at selling 35 to 40,000 units per month," said Mr. Biju Bruno, Managing Director of Greenvision Technologies.
Greenvision Technologies will release the gel batteries for E-bikes by March 2016, and for golf carts and buggies later this year.[category, tech] [tags, e-ricksahaw, battery, gel batteries, greenvision technologies, new batteries, electric vehicles, bikes, golf carts, energy,]


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Fayetteville, NC (PressExposure) April 19, 2008 -- While most of the national economic forecasts call for a recession later this year, many businesses have already seen a downturn in new customers and recurring business over the last six months. How can businesses cut costs while maintaining crucial advertising campaigns at the same time? Interactive advertising is all the rage but the specter of click fraud still remains. Traditional media is feeling the cascading pinch as businesses are hesitant to advertise in a troubled economy. According to recent data released by the Newspaper Association of America, total print advertising revenue in 2007 plunged 9.4% to $42 billion compared to 2006 , the most severe percentage decline in over 50 years.
âThe drop-off points to an economic slowdown on top of the secular challenges faced by the industry,â said Jennifer Saba of Editor & Publisher. âThe second worst decline in advertising revenue occurred in 2001 when it fell 9.0%.â According to Saba, the growth in online advertising for Newspapers could not stave off the losses in print. National print advertising revenue dropped 6.7% to $7 billion last year. Retail ads slipped 5% to $21 billion. Classified ads plunged 16.5% to $14.1 billion.âI think we have the answer for traditional print and media,â said Clarence Briggs, CEO of tyBit,Inc - (www.tyBit.com/?pdkw=alt-traditional-media-prp-04-01-2008 ).
âOver the past two years we have been building and rebuilding tyBit, and end of second quarter we are making tyBit 1.0 available to the public. The ad module Beta has been a success using over 5,000 advertisers serving millions of ads per day. The last Beta before releasing tyBit 1.0 is the Partner Beta and for that we have 3 large partners and 80 search affiliates.â Partners who have existing web properties with eyeballs will be able to sign up and manage their own advertisers who can run PPC and KWR interactive ad campaigns, said Company officials. âI have been one of the Beta advertisers,â said Wally Bell. âI am extremely impressed with the tyBit ad module, reports and results of my online PPC campaigns. It is easier to use that Googleâs ad module and more flexible because I can make and serve my own video ads.â Company officials indicate that over the past 90 days usage of the tyBit search engine has grown exponentially doubling each month. This metric reflects the actual searches conducted by subscribers using the ultra-fast client-side search engine.
The success of tyBit search usage is supported by industry analysis conducted by the Center for Media Research. In numerous reports covering various interactive market segments from media buyers, women over the age of 45, social networking communities, wealthy and minority households, and the political advertising industry has grown far beyond expectations. Gary Drenik, President of BIGresearch, concludes, "It's no longer enough for marketers to advertise only a slogan...(they) need to better understand the changing dynamics of the consumer media market and develop new marketing plans that integrate new media to replace the erosion of traditional media..." Company officials claim that tyBit is the cutting edge of the new media with over 100 partners in its pipeline representing 60 million users.
Why is tyBit a better advertising network? The industryâs excitement is due to the value for the advertiserâs dollar. The new media industry watchdogs estimate that up to 35% of all PPC traffic is artificially generated, AKA Click Fraud. tyBit delivers fast, relevant, secure, search results with little or no click fraud in its PPC platform, and none in the Global Keyword Registry. tyBit also delivers the features that subscribers want with more to come such as fully integrated secure mail, comparison shopping and a social networking platform, in addition to the ability to distribute text, video and audio ads that are keyword relevant. tyBit is making interactive advertising affordable for small businesses as well as larger enterprises who spend billions each online year. âUntil the end of May, anyone can advertise for free in tyBit simply by signing up,â said Kitti Jo Finch, GM for tyBit. âOnce 1.0 goes live in June this year, we will begin to charge for advertising in tyBit. We know that we have produced the most relevant, powerful and cost-effective interactive advertising in the industry.â
Press release distribution by PressReleasePoint (http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/)


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Swedes bid £808m for Exchange
The London Stock Exchange came under the takeover hammer for the first time in its
230-year history as Swedish technology group OM made an unwelcome bid of £808m in shares and cash. OM is offering 0.65 of its own new shares and £7 cash for each LSE share, valuing them at £27 apiece based on OM's closing share price of 425 kronor (£31) on Monday.
LSE shares rose 250p to £26.25, but the bid was immediately rejected by LSE chairman Don Cruickshank. The Swedish move has, however, forced him to bow to growing pressure to postpone the 14 September meeting of LSE shareholders, called to vote on a merger with the Frankfurt exchange to create iX.
Cruickshank said: 'This offer is derisory. It fundamentally undervalues our business and its prospects. While OM recognises our market position and brand strength, the offer does little to advance our strategic goals in Europe. Our customers want European consolidation, which we believe is the best way to deliver value to shareholders.'
OM chief executive Per Larsson made it plain that, if his bid succeeds, he will scrap attempts to integrate Europe's 15 exchanges and instead build London's position as the Continent's dominant stock market.
He said: 'We do not understand why London is giving up its position as market leader and surrendering its brand name. While we support European integration as a long-term vision, we say London should build on its strengths on liquidity and best practice.'
OM, which owns and operates the Stockholm bourse and other exchanges, will inject its own dealing system into the London exchange at what Larsson claimed would be minimal cost to City securities firms. The Swedes would also introduce a new governance structure to speed decision-making.
Larsson added: 'The success of stock exchanges in the future will be determined by their operational efficiency, brand strength, technological superiority and ability to provide systems dependability at the lowest trading costs for customers.' He is aiming at cost savings of £30m a year within four years and admitted that this will involve redundancies.
OM said any formal offer would require the LSE to remove its rule restricting shareholders to 4.9% stakes. Subject to that, it intends to publish a formal offer document within 28 days.
How big-hitter got up and running
Shareholders claim bid undervalues London
Swedes with a penchant for markets
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ADEED is a brand new challenge that has gained plenty of good suggestions from the latest pitch deck that the corporate has offered to a number of enterprise capitalists, buyers, and incubators. The corporate had just lately introduced the opening of its seed spherical, which entails 1,500,000 ADE (3% of Complete Provide). The seed spherical had efficiently closed in simply eight hours by Emirate, Saudi, and Chinese language buyers.
During the last 12 months, Dubai and Saudi Arabia have been subtly getting extra concerned with blockchain tasks. Dubai hosted the ‘Crypto Expo Dubai 2021’ final October, an indicator of native buyers’ growth into crypto tasks.
A Cardano Primarily based Escrow
ADEED is a brand new escrow protocol that acts as a 3rd celebration between purchaser and vendor, stopping each events from participating in fraud. The protocol will “maintain” the cost quantity initiated between a purchaser and a vendor by means of a wise contract and solely be launched when the contract situations have been met.
About ADEED Options
ADEED will make the most of the facility of the Cardano blockchain to ship a protocol that may comprise many options that may remodel the B2B, B2C, and C2C markets right into a extra sensible, environment friendly, and safer setting.
- Quick transaction processing utilizing the Cardano blockchain means much less time to attend for finishing a commerce between a purchaser and a vendor.
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Seed Spherical subscribed over 300%
ADEED has been a well-received challenge, with many enterprise capitalists and incubators already signing curiosity within the challenge’s non-public spherical. The non-public spherical is anticipated to safe a complete of $1.6 million, properly sufficient to propel the challenge’s growth.
The introduction of blockchain expertise to common monetary companies has been exponentially rising, and ADEED would be the excellent protocol for incorporating blockchain into the monetary escrow sector, bringing the facility and safety of blockchain to the fingertips of standard consumers and sellers.
Discover out extra about ADEED by visiting the web site.


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The world’s first social media movement to leverage the coffee industry to fight cancer, announced today the addition of Peter Gee as advisor to the CoffeePledge Against Cancer program.
Peter will sit as lead adviser on the CoffeePledge Roundtable of independent professionals, guiding the program on social media best practices, while also developing future strategies for user growth and cause awareness.
“We are extremely excited to have Peter on our team now,” says Aspen Decker, Executive Director of CoffeePledge Against Cancer, “Peter is an untapped resource of experience and skill within the social media space, which will help us expand our reach online across many social platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. Working from across the globe, in Australia, Peter also allows us to maintain forward momentum with our social media efforts outside of the constraints of U.S. only operations.”
Peter brings an established record of helping major brands craft innovative social media programs that influence behavior and create user connections that matter. Throughout his career, Peter has developed strategic, creative marketing platforms that drive business results. He has launched and built many successful businesses, such as Gee Media, an online advertising agency, which specializes in search engine marketing.
Peter holds a Bachelor in Business and Marketing from Southern Cross University in New South Wales, Australia, and continues to expand his knowledge through his extensive online operations.
“We are extremely lucky to have found this amazing guy, who genuinely cares about people,” says Decker, “Peter shares the same passion in the fight against cancer and volunteers countless hours of blood, sweat and tears to ensure the program is successful. As the CoffeePledge program continues to launch in markets across the United States, Peter will be at the forefront of the social media teams making everything work the way it should.”


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The FDA is considering letting pharmaceutical companies give information to doctors and insurance companies on unproven uses of prescription drugs.
This practice, usually referred to as “off-label promotion or marketing,” has been prohibited since 1962, when Congress passed a law requiring drug companies to establish, through rigorous testing and clinical trials, a drug’s safety and effectiveness for each intended use.
The FDA held a public hearing on off-label promotion on November 9 and 10, 2016. Some 50 people testified, including drug company representatives, academics, insurance company executives, doctors, public health experts and consumer advocates.
Occurring the day after the election, the mood was somber amid Donald Trump’s surprise win. Because almost all the speakers read from prepared statements, few addressed the question that hung over the meeting: What now, under Trump, for the FDA and drug regulation?
Trump’s transition website lists FDA reform as a healthcare priority, but there are no details. He campaigned on an anti-regulation platform. In recent days, media outlets have reported that FDA leadership would be replaced. The thinking among many at the hearing was that a Trump administration would look favorably on loosening rules for drug companies.
Will There Be an Easing of Regulations?
That’s certainly the drift of things legally, which is what prompted the hearing. In 2014 and 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court, in 2 decisions, strengthened First Amendment protection for companies. That is, the Court extended their “free speech” rights, equating those rights to those of citizens’ in a way that had not been done before.
The pharmaceutical industry has interpreted the decision as giving them more leeway to communicate to doctors, hospitals and insurers more openly about their products. Indeed, the industry has won several court cases that have weakened the FDA’s authority to regulate off-label marketing.
In 2 cases, courts found that drug company off-label marketing materials for off-label uses were “truthful and non-misleading.” And in March, the FDA settled with one company, Amarin Pharmaceuticals, which had sued the FDA to gain the right to push its fish-oil drug Vascepa for unapproved uses. The company got what it wanted in the settlement. As part of the deal, it dropped its First Amendment lawsuit.
That settlement was widely seen as setting a precedent that could open the gates for similar requests from other companies, even though the larger legal issue of whether the FDA’s restrictions on off-label marketing are unconstitutional remains unresolved.
Predictably, drug and biotech company executives testified in support of more FDA flexibility on off-label promotion. But most company-affiliated speakers acknowledged the risks involved in opening the gates too widely or too rapidly.
Michael Labson, a lawyer who testified on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), said the FDA should establish “safe harbors” for communicating certain types of information outside a drug’s approved labeling with doctors and payers.
But Labson also urged the FDA to adopt rules that would allow drug companies to use “real world evidence” — such as from studies of doctors’ results using a drug off-label — on “medically accepted unapproved uses” to promote products.
The Opposing View
FDA Deputy Commissioner Rachel Sherman suggested that was overreaching and consumer advocacy groups were adamantly opposed. Sherman asked: “What is a ‘medically accepted unapproved use’ that should be communicated versus one that might not be?”
Sidney Wolfe, a doctor and founder of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, as well as a long-time FDA critic, was assertive: “The FDA would be reckless to weaken rules and allow the pharmaceutical and medical device industry to promote products… not proven to be safe and effective,” Wolfe said. “Opening the door to the promotion of potentially dangerous products undermines the entire FDA approval process. The FDA needs to slam this door shut.”
Wolfe cited research indicating that 80% of off-label prescription drug use lacks any or sufficient evidence of effectiveness, and is associated with a more than 50% increase in side effects compared to on-label uses.
Doris Peter, testifying on behalf of Consumer Reports and its prescription drug education initiative Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, also spoke in opposition. She said findings from a recent survey of 1,000 consumers indicate that “Americans do not want the FDA to allow the pharmaceutical industry to promote off-label uses of medications….The FDA will abandon its mission if it allows off-label promotion,” Peter testified.
The Consumer Reports survey found that 78% of respondents said it was either extremely or very important to them that the FDA fully vet the safety and effectiveness of medications for any specific use. And 84% opposed advertising of medicines for unapproved uses.
Somewhere between 12% and 20% of all prescriptions are for off-label uses. Doctors are permitted to prescribe any approved drug off-label because there’s no law or regulation prohibiting it.
The reasons for that are complex, but basically doctors’ trade organizations (like the American Medical Association) didn’t want the FDA — or anyone — to be able to dictate the practice of medicine. Congress went along with that. Regulate the approval of drugs, yes. Tell doctors what to do, no.
The core problem with opening the gates to drug company off-label promotion — as opposed to physician prescribing — is that companies would have even more financial incentive to do it. And that incentive is already powerful, as I pointed out in a recent MedShadow blog.
Two numbers tell the story. Over the past 25 years, the federal government has collected around $15 billion in civil and criminal fines from pharmaceutical companies for off-label promotion. But experts estimate that sales of the drugs involved in those cases yielded pre-tax profits that are at least 10 times that amount — $150 billion.
Doctors and research agree that some off-label uses are warranted. Cancer drugs are routinely prescribed off-label, for example, with acceptance. But bear in mind, as mentioned above, that the vast majority of off-label use is not well grounded in science or backed by strong evidence.
In addition, it’s usually much riskier because off-label uses are less studied. In a study published in January, the rate of side effects was 54% higher for off-label uses than on-label uses.
Most doctors know when they are prescribing off-label, but they don’t always tell patients. Neither do pharmacists. So, you have to ask, and always should with every new prescription, especially if the drug is being prescribed in an inherently risky or high-stakes situation, such as cancer treatment.
Make it routine practice as well to check every drug you take online. The approved indications are easy to find. Try the DailyMed website run by the National Institutes of Health. Search by drug, then click Indications & Usage.
What takes more digging is finding out if an off-label use is widely accepted and backed by good evidence. Web sites like drugs.com and WebMD often don’t have information about off-label use. You have to Google it. And, of course, circle back to your doctor if you don’t find the information you need.
If you are prescribed an expensive drug off-label, you are likely to hear about it from your pharmacist or health insurer. It may not be covered. That’s another reason to be proactive in getting the information up-front from your doctor.


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Google's Personalized Search: is it real?
Back in December of last year Google announced it would be rolling out its Personalized Search feature to all its users. Searchcowboys has written before about the pro's and cons of Personalized Search, but what has the true impact been so far?
Two months on one thing stands out most: change has been minimal. On the websites I manage we've seen no major shift in clickthrough behaviour on search engine traffic.
Tagcloudsearch engine blogger baidu google wave facebook google tools china news ses browser streetview blog iphone smx realtime privacy adwords ppc funny sem social media tools search engine strategies twitter google earth bing london marketing apple research business android a4uexpo europe ads gmail youtube street view linkbuilding google


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Online retail contributes to decline in product quality, study shows
(Phys.org) -- Consumers may revel in the convenience of online shopping, but the low prices on the Internet are often accompanied by even lower product quality, warns new research co-written by a University of Illinois business professor.
Yunchuan Frank Liu says when manufacturers bypass retailers and sell directly to consumers online, product quality can suffer.
The research shows that there is a negative effect in that the quality of the product can go down, he said. Although there are many positive aspects to e-commerce, the issue of declining product quality is a very big negative, which could increase in significance in the future. This should be alarming to consumers and public policy makers who champion the convenience of online shopping.
The study, which will appear in the journal Management Science, studies the effect of channel structures that is, online versus offline channels on the product quality of goods produced by manufacturers, said Liu, who co-wrote the study with Nicholas C. Petruzzi, a professor of business administration at Illinois, and Hongyan Shi, of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Although shopping is more convenient than ever before, Liu says manufacturers have little incentive to produce high-quality goods when selling their wares online.
In the traditional approach, manufacturers had to go through a middleman to get their products to market, Liu said. If consumers purchase goods through a retailer, they have to physically drive to the shop, talk to a salesperson and compare it to the competition. Compared to an online transaction, where the consumer is pretty much relying on information supplied by the manufacturer, the purchase of a product at a bricks-and-mortar store is complicated.
So how can retailers ensure that their products survive this complicated purchasing process? The answer is that the product quality has to be really good, Liu says.
If you sell a lousy product, consumers will not be willing to drive to retailers, he said. Thats why your product quality has to be really, really good.
For example, before the advent of the Internet, if you wanted to buy a computer, you had to drive to an electronics store. With the Internet, you can buy one directly from Dell, which is very convenient for consumers they can shop from home, and the prices often are cheaper than at an electronics store, Liu said.
But then theres the issue of product quality.
Dell computers have a reputation for being cheap but of low quality, Liu said.
The study warns against the Dell-ization of other online goods.
In the Internet age, many people believe the traditional way of doing retailing is too old-fashioned, he said. But in this case, the traditional retail channel still has a lot of value, because theres a lot of incentive for manufacturers to produce high quality products when they know they will be displayed on a shop floor and tested by consumers before theyre purchased.
According to Liu, out of the most highly successful traditional retailers, none sell directly to consumers, which, for consumers, turns out to be a bulwark against declining product quality.
If youre talking about clothing, prices are higher at the older department store chains but the product quality is usually very high, he said. However, if we look at the direct channel manufacturers that is, the factory outlet stores, the direct-to-channel outlet manufacturers the price is lower but the product quality is not high.
According to Liu, there are two types of consumers: Those who care about quality over price, and vice versa.
The latter type of consumer wins with the advent of e-commerce, because they dont care about quality they only like low price, he said. But the first group of consumers are hurt, because quality as a whole is dragged down by manufacturers who cater to the Internet.
For consumers, the take-away from the research is simple: If you want a high-quality product, buy from a physical store, Liu said. If you want the cheapest possible price, buy through the Internet.
Although the reports of the demise of traditional retailers have been greatly exaggerated, Liu says they can survive and even thrive in the e-commerce age by playing up the quality angle to consumers.
Since theyre not going to win in a price war versus the Internet bricks-and-mortar stores not only need to stock high-quality products, they need to let consumers know that they can out-compete the Internet with the quality of their products.
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Journal information: Management Science
Provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign


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A planned presentation on security vulnerabilities in Siemens industrial control systems was pulled Wednesday over worries that the information in the talk was too dangerous to be released.
As if being unemployed isn't bad enough, 210,000 unemployed residents of Massachusetts may have had personal data about them stolen from the state agency that is supposed to be helping them out.
Nothing comes easy to Sony these days. The company was forced to take part of its Sony PlayStation Network offline briefly on Wednesday as it fixed a Web glitch that gave hackers a way to take over users' accounts.
Israel is setting up a national task force to expand the state's ability to defend vital infrastructure networks from cyberterrorist attacks by foreign countries and terrorist elements, according to a <a href="http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communicati...
Barely a week after sending its vice president of software, Bud Tribble, to Capitol Hill for a hearing about location data, Apple is due back before the Senate again. This time around, Apple is sending Catherine A. Novelli, its vice president for wor...
The next time a website says to download new software to view a movie or fix a problem, think twice. There's a pretty good chance that the program is malicious.
The PlayStation Network is back up for most gamers around the world, but Sony has yet to give an explanation as to why and how the attack brought down the service for over a month.
A new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would update a 25-year-old law that sets the rules for law enforcement surveillance of e-mail and other electronic communications, with more legal protections for the privacy of data stored in the cloud.
A potential DDoS attack on Heroku, the Ruby platform-as-a-service provider now owned by Salesforce.com, is creating availability issues for its customers.
The U.K.’s Information Commissioner has told IT businesses to stop complaining and get on with allowing Internet users to opt out of receiving cookies from corporate websites warning that they cannot rely on browser settings to do the job for them.
The European Union data protection watchdog says that geo-location constitutes private data.
Dropbox, a provider of cloud-based data storage services, is in hot water with the Federal Trade Commission over claims that it lied and intentionally deceived customers into believing that their data is more private and secure than it really is. Whe...
After hackers knocked its PlayStation Network offline for nearly a month, Sony is now trying to make amends by giving customers free video games.
Scammers are trying to trick Windows users into paying to fix bogus hard drive errors that have apparently erased important files, a researcher said today.
Boston-based Bay Cove Human Services is a non-profit organization that offers assistance and service to 4,000 people and families in Massachusetts. CIO Hilary Croach has several technology challenges to contend with. For starters, the agency has its ...
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German automobile giant Volkswagen (VW) today resumed production of its passenger cars brand at its plant in Wolfsburg, Germany. The operations commenced at 06:30 with the assembly of the VW Golf with reduced capacity and longer cycle times to ensure social distancing.
The Wolfsburg factory is the second after VW's Zwickau plant which resumed production of the ID.3 EV on April 23.
The company says that 8,000 employees returned to the production halls to work on a single-shift basis, with multi-shift operations planned to commence from Wednesday to put the VW Tiguan, Touran as well as SEAT Tarracco models also back on the line.
Ralf Brandstatter, COO, Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand said: "Step-by-step resumption of production is an important signal for the workforce, dealerships, suppliers and the wider economy. In terms of managing the crisis, though, this is just the first step. Additional momentum is needed to stimulate demand in Germany and throughout Europe so that production volumes can be successively increased."
Along with its mother plant, around 2,600 of VW's ancillaries based within Germany have also resumed operations to support the carmaker, while following health and safety norms.
According to Bernd Osterloh, Chairman of the Group and General Works Council, “For the Works Council, the health of our colleagues has absolute priority when production resumes. To that end, we have concluded a general works agreement with some 100 points on health protection measures; Volkswagen is setting a standard for German industry with this agreement. Now it is up to line managers to make sure that all employees are fully informed about the prescribed measures before they start work. All colleagues must know what to do to best protect themselves and others. This is another example of how we look out for each other at Volkswagen.”
While some 1,400 vehicles are expected to be built by the end of the first week of production at the Wolfsburg plant, production will be ramped up to more than 6,000 vehicles in the following week as multi-shift operation recommences, which would represent approximately 40 percent of initial production prior to the coronavirus pandemic striking the world.
As regards vehicle retail, VW says that some 70 percent of dealerships have already reopened for business. After Zwickau, Wolfsburg is the second of the Volkswagen brand’s vehicle plants in Germany to resume production following the stoppage that began in mid-March. Production in Bratislava, Slovakia, already recommenced last Monday. Production ramp-up is in line with the current availability of parts given the continuing impact of the corona pandemic, government requirements in Germany and Europe, the development of sales markets and the resulting modes of operation of the plants.
Andreas Tostmann, Volkswagen brand Board member responsible for Production and Logistics, said: “The team is returning to workplaces that provide the maximum level of safety. The company and the Works Council have agreed a 100-point plan to ensure that.” This plan includes specific rules on distances and hygiene: Employees are called on to measure their temperature at home every morning and to go through a health checklist before they leave for work, preferably already dressed in their workwear. Walkway diversions have been set up to avoid contacts, numerous distance markers on floors act as guides for walking and for keeping distances during meetings. Mouth and nose protection must be worn in areas where minimum distances of 1.5 meters are not possible. Mobile plexiglass partitions are in use in many areas. Material is often no longer transferred from employee to employee, but is placed in containers. The teams are being given more time to clean their tools. Cleaning frequency for washrooms and team rooms is being intensified, and several hundred additional hand washing facilities are being installed throughout the plant. The company is converting conference rooms into office spaces, flextime is being extended in offices and, where possible, home office options are being continued. To maximize information and awareness, over 8,000 posters are on display at the Wolfsburg plant alone, every employee has also received a booklet containing detailed information on the precautionary measures.
Volkswagen has shared this 100-point plan with its more than 40,000 suppliers and logistics partners throughout the world. Under normal operating conditions, 2,600 suppliers from 71 countries – a large proportion of them located in Germany – deliver around 21,000 different parts to the Wolfsburg plant every day in about 2,000 trucks and 100 rail cars. Every day, around 180 double-decker rail cars and some 185 car transporters leave the plant.
Also read: Volkswagen's all-India sales and service network goes digital
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Rising Star Games the developer behind the popular and much loved Cooking Mama games announced that Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop would be the last game in the franchise. Additionally the publisher has revealed the release dates for the 3DS game.
Cooking Mama Sweet Shop will celebrate it’s grand opening in North America on May 16th as a physical cartridge release. The game will be available on the Nintendo eShop beginning May 18th. European fans of the series have to wait just a little longer with the physical release taking place on May 26th, and the digital eShop release on May 25th.
Even though we won’t be getting any more new Cooking Mama games on the 3DS, the latest installment is the biggest yet. With over 160 mini games, and 60 recipes, there is a lot of content to make this game fun for months to come. The game will support every feature the Nintendo 3DS has to offer, including blowing into the microphone to cool down your baked goods. Furthermore, players will be able to design the packaging for the pastries, to sell them in their very own sweet shop. You can watch the latest Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop


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If you’re one of the many Mercedes diesel owners who feels like they’ve been left in the lurch by the automaker, we have some good news for you. After years of legal battles and political wrangling, it seems that Mercedes is finally ready to make amends for their emissions-cheating scandal. The company has announced a settlement with both federal and state regulators that will see them pay out over $2 billion in fines and compensation to affected customers.
So what does this mean for you as a Mercedes diesel owner? Firstly, it means that you may be entitled to a refund or buyback of your vehicle if it was involved in the scandal. According to reports, eligible models include certain 2009-2016 BlueTEC diesel vehicles sold or leased in the United States Mercedes Workshop Repair.
The Mercedes Diesel Refund Scandal
The Mercedes Diesel Refund Scandal has been a thorn in the side of many Mercedes diesel owners for years. In 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused Mercedes-Benz of installing illegal software in their vehicles that would cheat emissions tests. The scandal affected nearly 200,000 diesel vehicles sold between 2009 and 2016, including sedans, SUVs, and vans.
However, it is now possible for Mercedes diesel owners to finally get their refunds. In September 2020, a $1.5 billion settlement was reached between Mercedes-Benz and the EPA, California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the Department of Justice (DOJ). Under this settlement agreement, eligible owners can receive up to $3,290 or more depending on the vehicle model and year. Additionally, those who leased an affected vehicle may also be eligible for compensation.
The History of the Mercedes Diesel Scandal
Mercedes Diesel owners can finally rejoice as they may be eligible for a refund following a long-standing scandal involving their vehicles. The German automaker has been at the center of controversy since 2015 when it was discovered that some of its diesel models were fitted with software that cheated emission tests. The company ultimately admitted to using illegal software in its cars and vans, leading to an ongoing legal battle with affected customers.
The Mercedes Diesel Scandal has been a thorn in the side of the luxury car manufacturer for years, with many owners feeling betrayed by what they see as deceptive practices by the company. In response to mounting pressure from customers and regulators alike, Mercedes agreed to pay over $2 billion in fines and settlements in 2020 alone. While this is undoubtedly good news for those affected by the scandal, it does not necessarily mean that everyone who owns one of these cars is automatically entitled to compensation.
How to Check if You’re Eligible for a Refund
Mercedes-Benz owners who have purchased diesel vehicles in the past and feel they were misled by the automaker’s false advertising practices can finally rejoice. The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has approved a $700 million settlement agreement between Mercedes-Benz and nearly 250,000 customers who owned or leased one of their diesel vehicles between 2010 and 2016. This is excellent news for those waiting to receive their refund, but how do you check if you are eligible?
To be considered eligible for a refund from Mercedes-Benz, you must have purchased or leased one of their BlueTEC diesel vehicles between January 1, 2008, and January 11, 2021. Additionally, your vehicle must have an emission control system that was defective or misrepresented by the manufacturer. If this applies to your vehicle, then congratulations!
How to File Your Claim for a Refund
Mercedes diesel owners who were victimized by the company’s “clean diesel” emissions scandal can finally rejoice, as they may now be able to get their refund. In 2016, Mercedes was caught using a “defeat device” in its diesel cars, which allowed the vehicles to cheat on emissions tests. As a result of this scandal, the German automaker was required to pay billions of dollars in settlements and fines.
If you own or lease one of these affected vehicles, you may be eligible for a refund from Mercedes. To file your claim for a refund, you’ll need to provide proof that you owned or leased one of the affected vehicles during the time period specified in the settlement agreement.
What You Need to Know About the Settlement Agreement
Mercedes diesel owners can now rejoice as the company has finally agreed to pay a hefty sum of $700 million in order to settle various lawsuits regarding emissions in their diesel cars. This settlement was reached between Mercedes and the U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Attorney General’s Office. It is expected that over 250,000 Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC diesel vehicles will be covered under this settlement.
Under this agreement, Mercedes will pay $400 million towards civil penalties and approximately $330 million for extended warranties on affected vehicles. The company has also been ordered to undergo an independent emissions compliance audit, which they are required to pass before returning these cars back into the market. Additionally, customers who owned or leased an eligible vehicle between 2009-2016 may be entitled to compensation from Mercedes.


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MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC MRW, +1.48% on Thursday said it has made a "satisfactory start" to its new financial year with total sales in the first quarter excluding fuel up 1.5% and comparable sales down 1%. "As expected, the economic environment for the consumer has remained challenging, with the high price of oil and other commodity prices putting pressure on disposable incomes," said the company, adding that it has continued to keep prices low. "The uncertain economic background is expected to remain challenging for the consumer and accordingly the board remains cautious. Our performance in the first quarter was broadly in line with our expectations and our financial outlook for the year remains unchanged."
Wm Morrison comp sales off 1%, sticks to outlook


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ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (APP): The State Bank of Pakistan on Monday withdrew the requirement of prior approval of imports and instead gave general guidance to the banks for prioritising import of certain essential items like food, pharmaceutical and energy.
The business community, including various trade bodies and chambers of commerce, highlighted that a large number of shipping containers carrying imported goods are stuck up at the ports, due to delays in the release of the shipping documents by the banks, said a press release issued on Monday.
Accordingly, SBP advised banks to provide one-time facilitation to all those importers who could either extend their payment terms to 180 days (or beyond) or arrange funds from abroad to settle their pending import payments.
Banks had also been advised to process and release documents till March 31, 2023, of shipments/ goods that have already arrived at a port in Pakistan or have been shipped on or before January 18, 2023, it added.
Furthermore, banks have been advised to educate their customers to inform their banks prior to the initiation of any import transaction for avoiding any complications in the future.


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The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly changed the ways in which people live, work and interact with friends, colleagues and businesses.
In this new global report, Genesys surveyed over 11,000 consumers across the US, Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific to understand how the pandemic affected people’s health, happiness, and social and professional interactions — and how businesses should adjust to meet these changes.
Building trust and loyalty with today’s disconnected consumers requires radically rethinking the customer experience. Organizations must combine the right people with the right technology, powered by artificial intelligence, to deliver the empathetic experiences that enable them to become loyalty leaders in today’s digital economy.
For a deeper dive into the details for the UK and Europe download the reports now.


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This post is part of a series on ecommerce startups.
When it comes to ecommerce, a loyal following is essential — and online jewelry retailer BaubleBar has just that. Simply mention the jeweler’s name, and BaubleBar fanatics practically froth at the mouth.
Now, NYC-based BaubleBar is finally partnering with a department store to give their rabid fans a more permanent brick-and-mortar experience. Following in the footsteps of British retailer TopShop, BaubleBar will soon be selling its wares in Nordstrom stores.
It’s not the first time BaubleBar has experimented with storefront experiences; they have a monthly partnership with Anthropologie and have also hosted pop-up stores of their own. We caught up with Daniella Yacobovsky, who cofounded BaubleBar with Amy Jain, to ask a few questions about the collaboration, which launches today in 35 top Nordstrom locations (posted below) across the United States, and on Nordstrom.com.
How did BaubleBar get its start, and why did you choose to go online instead of opening brick-and-mortar stores from the beginning?
In BaubleBar we’re building the first branded go-to retail destination for fashion jewelry. We started the company as frustrated consumers who felt we didn’t have one source for finding great product at a palatable price point – and with editorial context. We spent our entire second year at business school researching the supply chain and after graduating decided to build our own brand.
Ecommerce is far less capital intensive, which helped us in two ways. First it not only allowed us to get up and running much faster, but also allows us to iterate far quicker on a daily basis. If your imagery isn’t resonating or product isn’t moving, it’s rather easy to put together a new graphic design or upload new product. Perhaps most importantly, during our ecommerce only phase we really established a voice and identity for the brand, which we have been able to carry over to our offline initiatives.
BaubleBar is no stranger to brick-and-mortar partnerships. When did you decide to come up with something more permanent?
We’ve experimented with pop-up shops, and they’ve performed tremendously well for us. We’ve also done a few retail partnerships, most recently with Anthropologie, and have seen so much success from having an offline presence and knew we wanted to continue to expand the business in that area. We were really thoughtful about who our next retail partner would be, and luckily when we met with Nordstrom, we completely clicked from the beginning. For us, Nordstrom was a natural fit as they take a thoughtful approach to their retail strategy and aim to deliver the best customer service, just as we do. The goal here was to find a brand that shared the same core values with respect to the overall shopping experience, and the vision to engage consumers in new and interesting ways, which made Nordstrom the perfect partner!
What are the benefits and disadvantages of being online-only?
Being a digital first brand allows us to really get to know our customers. We know what our customer likes, what she dislikes and what she’s looking for. By selling direct to consumer, we can deliver the best experience possible to the BaubleBar shopper. It also allows us to be incredibly nimble and to react quickly to customer feedback and market trends.
And what are the pros and cons of having a brick-and-mortar store?
It is really helpful when our customers are able to touch and feel our product in person – that tactile connection is something that can’t be replicated online. That’s why brick-and-mortar is still essential in some capacity; people want to interact with a brand and there’s something really satisfying about the instant gratification of walking out of a store with that piece you just treated yourself to. We have found that as the brand grows, and our customer base grows, she increasingly wants to interact with us across multiple channels since each has pros and cons from a shopper’s perspective.
What kind of merchandise will be sold at Nordstrom? Will the same pieces be available online, too?
The collection includes necklaces, bracelets and earrings, ranging in price from $24 to $68. The pieces will be available in 35 top Nordstrom stores [starting March 31] as well as online at Nordstrom.com.
What are some of your favorite ecommerce companies besides BaubleBar? Do you often take cues from other retailers?
There are countless ecommerce companies and retailers that we really respect, consistently look to as innovators in the space, and perhaps spend a bit too much money at ourselves. We really love the way Sephora helps bridge the gap between online and offline channels – their social content and makeup tutorials are incredible and the way they have used channels like Pinterest and Instagram to educate their customers while building community are flawlessly executed. We are always blown away by the editorial at Net-A-Porter. Whenever we want to take afternoon breaks and go “window shopping,” that’s the spot for us. Also it’s worth noting that their ship times are insane – we’ve both had those nights where an order gets placed at 3 a.m. and about 15 minutes later the shipping confirm hits our inbox. As we are also building complete fulfillment capabilities in-house, which is no small feat, we have a huge amount of respect for their operations team.
How has getting your start online changed your perspective on retail?
From the online perspective, we’ve been able to really engage with our customers and create a two-way conversation, which is extremely important. We want to hear feedback from our shoppers so that we can make their experience with BaubleBar better each time. We can also be very nimble with the business; we can easily see what’s working, identify what’s not, and react quickly when we need to. That said, we realize that since we are building a brand, and not acting as a third party-retailer, it’s vital that we create opportunities for people to interact with the product in person.
What else can we expect from BaubleBar in the future?
We always have one core focus: to build the best brand in fashion jewelry, which requires that we listen to our customer and respond to her needs wherever she is. For the next few months that means giving her opportunities to interact with us offline, creating sleek mobile experiences for her, and continuing to engage in an active dialogue on social media.
Here’s a list of which Nordstrom locations will carry BaubleBar goods:
Scottsdale Fashion Square (Scottsdale)
The Americana at Brand (Glendale)
Brea Mall (Brea)
Broadway Plaza (Walnut Creek)
Fashion Valley (San Diego)
The Grove (Los Angeles)
Irvine Spectrum Center (Irvine)
Los Cerritos Center (Cerritos)
San Francisco Centre (San Francisco)
The Shops at Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo)
South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa)
Topanga (Canoga Park)
Valley Fair (San Jose)
Park Meadows (Lone Tree)
International Plaza (Tampa)
Town Center at Boca Raton (Boca Raton)
Michigan Avenue (Chicago)
Oakbrook Center (Oak Brook)
Old Orchard Center (Skokie)
Woodfield Shopping Center (Schaumburg)
Fashion Show (Las Vegas)
Garden State Plaza (Paramus)
Roosevelt Field (Garden City)
The Plaza at King of Prussia (King of Prussia)
Barton Creek Square (Austin)
Galleria Dallas (Dallas)
Houston Galleria (Houston)
NorthPark Center (Dallas)
The Shops at La Cantera (San Antonio)
Stonebriar Centre (Frisco)
Fashion Place (Murray)
The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (Arlington)
Tysons Corner Center (McLean)
Bellevue Square (Bellevue)
Downtown Flagship (Seattle)


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Apple has extended an olive branch to a number of its rivals in the ultra-competitive smartphone market, offering royalty-free license to its nano-SIM design. By doing so, the California-based firm hopes to make the design an international standard.
That is according to the Foss Patents blog, which explained that the move is designed to placate the competitors, including Nokia, Motorola and Research In Motion, the firm behind the BlackBerry. These rival companies have already stated their fear over using technology patented by Apple, which already has a strangelhold on the market through its iPhone handsets.
The key advantages of the new SIM card is that it is thinner and smaller than the micro-SIM, which is currently used in the high-end smartphones. The design is set to be discussed this week at the Smart Card Platform Plenary meeting of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).
Rivals of Apple have voiced concerns of the new nano-SIM design, observing that it is set to give the firm an unfair advantage in the lucrative smartphone market. But according to a report on the blog, Apple does not intend to make huge financial gains on the nano-SIM.
Under the terms of the agreement, Apple will not be paid any monies whatsoever for the use of the nano-SIM design, which is an uncharacteristic state of affairs in an industry where intellectual property is protected so robustly. And Apple has claimed that it will ease the concerns and complaints of its disapproving rivals, who are fearful of its control of the market.
Nokia, however, has already submitted a rival design to ETSI, arguing that its approach offers "significant technical advantages" to the smartphone industry. The final ruling on the issue is set to be made later this week and is likely to have significant implications for the market.


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TrueUSD Holders Can Now Spend TUSD at All Visa-Supported Merchants | BTCMANAGER
Bitcoin, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency News
Crypto.com, a crypto-powered platform that allows users to buy, sell and pay (or get paid) with Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins, has integrated TrueUSD stablecoin into its MCO Visa Card, to enable TUSD holders to easily spend their coins at all Visa-supported locations around the globe, according to a blog post on February 26, 2020.
Crypto.com Adopts TUSD
As part of its mission to foster financial inclusion and make financial opportunities accessible to everyone, the TrustToken team, an Ethereum-powered decentralized application (dApp) in charge of several asset-backed tokens including TrueUSD (TUSD), has joined forces with Crypto.com to provide more use cases for the stablecoin.
As stated in its blog post, TrueUSD is now live on Crypto.com’s MCO Visa Card, making it possible for holders of the dollar-backed virtual currency to spend their coins and make payments in real-time at all Visa-supported merchants.
The team said:
“We’re proud to announce TrueUSD (TUSD)is now available in the Crypto.com app, making it available for conversion into fiat to be spent at more than 40 million merchants around the world with the MCO Visa Card. Users can still earn up to 12 percent on their TUSD with Crypto.com Earn.”
What’s more the team says all Crypto.com users can now buy the TUSD stablecoin with 21 fiat currencies at true cost with no fees or hidden charges,


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Intel Corp. is expected to post its worst quarterly loss on record Thursday, and analysts are hoping it is rock bottom for the struggling chip maker.
is scheduled to report earnings after the close of markets on Thursday, and analysts on average expect the Silicon Valley giant to report a loss of more than $3 billion, or 76 cents a share, according to FactSet. That would be by far the largest quarterly loss on record for the company. In records dating back to 1993, Intel has never reported a GAAP loss of more than $687 million, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
Even on an adjusted basis, Intel’s loss is expected to be historic. The company is expected to lose 16 cents a share after adjusting for stock compensation and other costs. Records dating back to 2009 do not show the chip maker ever posting an adjusted quarterly loss, Dow Jones Market Data reports.
Intel executives predicted an adjusted loss for the quarter in January, when analysts on average were expecting adjusted profit of 25 cents a share. The chip maker is struggling with macroeconomic uncertainty, inventory buildups in the personal-computer market and a struggling data-center business that is losing share to rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
In-depth: How Intel lost its Silicon Valley crown
The one bright side Wall Street analysts see in the expected historic loss is that it should represent a bottom for Intel. Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Christopher Rolland predicted that “the major resets for Intel are likely behind us.”
Rolland sees the first quarter as “likely marking the bottom for PC client,” while for data center, he expects results in line with Intel’s “dour guidance.”
The analyst, who has a neutral rating on Intel and a $33 price target, feels the company should grow in the second quarter, “marking the bottom for this horrible PC/DC downcycle,” and hopes the company will finally provide a full-year sales outlook, which he estimates will reflect a decline of more than 20% to between $47 billion and $50 billion.
Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect full-year earnings of 53 cents a share on revenue of $50.55 billion.
Other earnings reports this week have definitely reframed Intel’s earnings on Thursday. Late Tuesday, Texas Instruments Inc.
topped expectations for results, issued a cautious forecast, and provided some much-needed end market visibility to analysts looking for a bottom to the chip glut.
Following TI earnings, Susquehanna’s Rolland said PC builds were above his expectations in February and March “likely marking the market bottom.”
“Intel will be a much better read this week (I remain positive),” Klein said. “My positive Intel view here is driven partially by PC market troughing [in the second quarter] and some refill / replenishment starting [third quarter] onward.”
Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon, who recently upgraded Intel to market perform even though he doesn’t “like the stock,” said that with Intel’s business suffering “a total abject collapse last quarter amid PC and datacenter market weakness as well as a channel flush,” the bar may be low enough for the chip maker to start clearing it.
“For the first time in a long time we are starting to feel like numbers at least into the [second half] could (finally?) be low enough, as even in a weak environment the company is now likely undershipping by a wide margin (which should provide some support as things eventually normalize) and [has] new datacenter products getting ready to ship in broader volumes,” Rasgon said.
Evercore ISI analyst C.J. Muse, who has an in-line rating on Intel, said risk/reward “remains excellent” on the stock, and that Intel may have undershipped PC demand by about 30% to 40% in the first quarter alone. Muse expects a slight miss from Intel with “a return to growth” in the second quarter “as inventory burn headwinds abate.”
After the bell Wednesday, KLA Corp.
reports, following last week’s reports from Lam Research Corp.
and ASML Holding NV
Muse, who has an in-line rating on KLA, said that he expects the company, like Lam, to guide June-quarter revenue below consensus “amid modest pushouts from Memory and Foundry and only gradual improvement in EPC, amid PC/Smartphone weakness.”
Year to date, Intel’s stock has lagged behind tech, rising 11% compared with the PHLX Semiconductor Index’s
nearly 16% increase and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite’s
14% gain. Meanwhile, the S&P 500
has advanced 6% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average
— which counts Intel as one of its 30 components — has ticked 1% higher on the year.


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Dining outside, from the first light of morning to the glow of dusk, is quintessential Auckland.
This summer, as hospitality businesses respond to COVID-19 trading restrictions including capacity limits and social distancing requirements, Auckland Council is pleased to have been able to deliver a raft of measures in support.
The council has fast-tracked applications for food-only outdoor dining, provided a temporary waiver of outdoor dining fees and worked with city centre business associations to enhance their members’ outdoor dining capacity.
An outdoor dining grant scheme has, to date, supported more than 30 businesses to add new or enhance their outdoor dining spaces with new outdoor equipment - street furniture, shade umbrellas, outdoor heaters and planters.
The scheme has meant more al fresco dining spaces have popped up in the city centre, helped by this initiative between Auckland Council and Heart of the City, funded through the city centre targeted rate.
Councillor Richard Hills says outdoor dining is vitally important for Auckland’s economic recovery and the vibrancy of our city centre.
“Currently the safest place to dine and socialise is outside, so it’s great to see businesses taking up this opportunity. The current outbreak could last months, so we see these measures helping communities support local businesses safely.
“I would encourage more businesses to apply to use on-street car parks or other outdoor spaces to enable safe dining experiences.
“Our staff have said the well put together applications for dining and liquor licence extensions are being processed in under a month,” says Councillor Hills.
With more Aucklanders able to dine outdoors, businesses who have been involved are positive about the benefits.
“The new outdoor tables have been a big hit with our customers, they have been pretty much constantly full since we put them out,” says Jonny McKessar of Scratch Bakers.
“Customers seem to be enjoying being outdoors under the sun umbrellas. The tables also have been great at drawing people into the cafe as they drive past and see a busy outdoor area,” he says.
In the Karangahape Road Business Association catchment, where outdoor dining was already well established along the upgraded street, Auckland Council has provided funding to connect hospitality businesses with local artists, creating collaborative art installations to add interest and vibrancy for people dining and shopping in the street.
Wynyard Quarter and The Viaduct have long been an illustration of Aucklanders’ and visitors’ growing appetite for dining in pedestrian-prioritised waterfront spaces.
In 2021, widened footpaths in our new street layouts along Quay Street, Galway Street, Karangahape Road and Te Komititanga - where Britomart Transport Centre and Commercial Bay meet the new square - have further enabled outdoor dining.
Hamish Klein, Chief Manager Operations NZ of Good Group Hospitality is happy with the outcome of their new outdoor dining space on the new and improved Quay Street.
“We really appreciate the fact that more outdoor dining has been enabled and we’re proud to be able to provide space for customers looking for a safer outdoor option and help attract people back into the city.
"Having an outdoor dining area in the newly upgraded Quay Street is also great exposure for Botswana Butchery – it’s like a billboard facing out to the street and city.”
More background on Auckland Council and Auckland Transport’s renewed street layouts, enabling greater outdoor dining capacity here:
- Lower Queen Street - Te Komititanga and Galway Street
- Karangahape Road
- Quay Street – the return of the trees
To encourage Aucklanders to make the most of the balmy weather, Heart of the City has compiled some outdoor dining picks and is running a competition to give away 20 x $100 dining vouchers. Enter the competition here.