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- L Marks and BMW Group Financial Services have partnered to run the 10-week accelerator programme
- Six startups will collaborate with BMW Group to develop technology-driven business and customer services solutions
L Marks welcomes the commencement of BMW Group Financial Services Collaboration Lab USA.
The programme will provide the selected startups the opportunity to develop and test their ideas and technology alongside BMW’s leading experts in the automotive and financial sectors.
The programme began with a rigorous screening process including a live pitch to a panel of judges from BMW Financial Services, BMW of North America and L Marks. Of the 212 applicants, just six were selected to enter the 10-week programme.
Throughout the course of the 10-week Collaboration Lab, the startups and entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to partner with BMW Group Financial Services to develop and test their technologies and solutions to bring benefit to BMW customers and dealers. Some of the technology in the programme, including the data analysis and blockchain systems being developed, is at the forefront of business innovation. At the end of the programme, BMW Group will assess whether to make further investment to finalise and progress the ideas.
The programme categories and respective startups include:
Digitizing the Customer Journey
carLABS – has created a cognitive, conversational AI-powered platform for automating and enhancing sales and marketing in the automotive vertical. Its solution offers car buyers a dramatically simplified shopping experience that significantly increases conversions and return on marketing spend for car sellers.
Building a Blockchain Strategy
Supermoney – is developing a unique digital wallet. In-store and online, customers can pay with a simple QR scan. The product runs on a system of smart contracts that effectively and efficiently manage counterparty risk, protecting both buyer and seller.
Bloom – uses public-private key encryption underpinning blockchain technology to verify customer identity and to attest to the accuracy of credit history without storing customer raw data on the servers.
Data Analytics and Insights
Omniscience Corp. – are building underwriting and capital modeling solutions on top of their innovative analytics platform. They work with finserv and insurance firms to scale their analytics efforts on real world data.
Motion Auto Insurance – is modern insurance for the modern world. Fully programmatic, embeddable, insurance-as-a-service delivered from directly inside your mobile app for gig/sharing economy, new modes of vehicle ownership, and autonomous driving tech.
Wrisk USA – is giving personal insurance a long overdue digital upgrade. It allows its customers to manage different types of insurance seamlessly through a single app and helps them understand how they are priced and what they can do to reduce their risk.
Daniel Saunders, Chief Executive of L Marks, said, “I am very excited to be supporting BMW Group at the beginning of this programme. Through a thorough pitching process, we have chosen six exciting companies who can bring innovative technologies to BMW Group. With this Lab, it will be the third market in which we have supported BMW Group with its innovation challenges, helping them connect with some of the most exciting and disruptive startups in the sector.”
Ian Smith, CEO of BMW Group Financial Services USA and Region Americas, said, “We welcome these talented entrepreneurial companies into the BMW Financial Services Collaboration Lab program. As we work together over the next 10 weeks, we will explore new technologies and solutions for our business and our customers.”
For more information about BMW Collaboration Lab 2018 and its participants, visit www.bmwcollaborationlab.com.


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Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:
1. A lot more earnings to go
Markets have kept their heads above water so far this month, even as economic data point to a potential recession and corporate earnings have been mixed, at best. On the latter point, more than 70 companies listed on the S&P 500 have reported quarterly results this earnings season, with about two thirds of them performing better than expected, according to Refinitiv. So there’s a while to go yet, and investors will zoom in especially on the guidance companies offer, as economic concerns grow. On the earnings docket Wednesday: BoeingAT&TTeslaIBMLevi Strausslive markets updates here.
2. Microsoft’s slowdown
Microsoftslowest revenue growth since 2016, and its outlook indicated that bad trends would continue. The tech giant said Tuesday it expects revenue growth to continue to slow down. Microsoft’s Windows and Office businesses experienced a dropoff at the end of last year, and more declines are likely coming as the personal computer market shrinks again. New business growth for the company’s Azure cloud unit also softened in December, which doesn’t bode well for the early part of this year. “In our commercial business we expect business trends that we saw at the end of December to continue into Q3,” finance chief Amy Hood said.
3. Why inflation is sticky
Inflation is still high – the consumer price index for December was up 6.5% vs a year earlier – but it’s slowing down. That’s good news for consumers, but only up to a point. Many companies have raised prices, but just because costs come down, it doesn’t mean they’re going to lower prices across the board, either, as CNBC’s Melissa Repko and Amelia Lucas explain. One reason: Many companies have locked in long-term contracts that set prices months in advance for goods and shipping. Also, companies that were squeezed by higher costs earlier are going to want to see their profit margins improve. “We don’t take something that was $1, move it to $1.10 and then a year or two later, move it to $1,” Utz Brands
4. Tesla’s impact on car prices
Teslanew pressure on Tesla’s rivals, including FordGM
5. The empire strikes out
Rupert Murdoch on Tuesday scrapped his plan to reunite Fox News owner Fox Corp.News CorpCoStar Group
– CNBC’s Yun Li, Jordan Novet, Melissa Repko, Amelia Lucas, Michael Wayland and Lillian Rizzo contributed to this report.
— Follow broader market action like a pro on CNBC Pro.

domain: news


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SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SHARE TIPS: Be Heard, Hill & Smith, Gym Group, Stagecoach and GKN
This is Money rounds up the Sunday newspaper share tips.
This week, Midas thinks investors should clean up with Be Heard, the latest agency from ad veteran Peter Scott and sees how secure its previous recommendation on Gym Group and Hill & Smith looks.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times spotlights Stagecoach and takes a look at GKN.
MAIL ON SUNDAY
Digital advertising is multi-faceted. Companies have to think about website design, e-commerce and social media, not to mention where to advertise across the internet and how to ensure they are noticed.
Be Heard, the latest agency from Peter Scott, has been set up to help them address these issues.
In 1979, Scott co-founded WCRS, one of the fastest-growing agencies of the 1980s. Ten years later, he took part of that business and developed it into Aegis, ultimately sold for £3.2 billion to a Japanese company. And in 2004 he created marketing business Engine Group, which was sold for £100 million a decade later.
Now he is hoping to repeat past success at Be Heard Group, an agency focused exclusively on the digital world. Its services range from designing websites to helping firms steer through the complex world of online advertising.
Scott has been successful throughout his career and should be able to do it again. At 3.05p, the shares could go far.
Hill & Smith has an international business focused on several fast-growing sectors, including upgrading UK roads, modernising US energy plants and creating security structures for high-profile events such as Trooping the Colour.
Ad veteran Peter Scott's agency Be Heard focuses exclusively on the digital world
Midas recommended the shares exactly two years ago, when they were 549p. Since then, they have more than doubled to 1185p, as both the UK and US governments have pledged to spend billions upgrading national infrastructure.
Britons are becoming fatter, but there is a growing interest in keeping fit.
The Inside the City column takes a look at how to get Stagecoach motoring again.
Its shares are down almost 40 per cent in a year and ended last week at 224p, leaving founder Sir Brian Souter about £211 million poorer.
Virgin East Coast rail is partly to blame as Stagecoach holds a 90 per cent interest in the franchise and growth targets of 8 and 9 per cent were wildly optimistic.
Everything from terrorism to airlines are eating away at Stagecoach's profits and they may have further to fall yet.
This may be the catalyst for the company to take the business as stranger things have happened before.
GKN shares ended up six per cent at 328.8p after a rumour started suggested a Chinese bid for the company but given a pension deficit of £2.1bn it seems unlikely.
In order to succeed GKN must propel its Driveline businesses into the fast-growing world of electric cars.
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Motorola quietly started selling a slightly updated Moto X4 a few weeks ago, on its website. The updated Moto X4 sports more RAM and storage, 4GB and 64GB versus the 3GB and 32GB that it had been selling for about a year now. Today, Project Fi announced that the updated Moto X4 is now available on its website for purchase. The Moto X4 that Project Fi is selling is the Android One model, which is slightly different from the regular Moto X4, but barely.
The Moto X4 sports a 5.2-inch display, with a fingerprint sensor below the display. It also has Snapdragon 630 chipset under-the-hood, and now has slightly more RAM at 4GB and 64GB of storage. There is a micro SD card slot and it does support Adoptable Storage. Motorola has also included a 3000mAh capacity battery, that will keep your phone running all day long, and if not, there is Quick Charge 3.0 available too. Project Fi does offer the Moto X4 in both Super Black and Sterling Blue. However, the Super Black is only available in the 3GB/32GB configuration, and the Sterling Blue int he 4GB/64GB configuration. The updated Moto X4 is $50 more than the regular Moto X4, coming in at $299, which is currently discounted $150.
Project Fi has really made an effort this year to add more and more phones to its lineup. It has added a slew of new devices, including a few from LG which include the LG G7 ThinQ and LG V35 ThinQ, as well as the Moto G6. There's also the Pixel and Pixel 2 line up of devices as well. But Project Fi has been making an effort to add more and give its users more choice when it comes to a Project Fi smartphone. The service itself has really improved recently, with talk and text still costing $20 per month and data being $10 per gigabyte, but once you hit 6GB, your bill will stay at $80, no matter how much more data you use. So you could theoretically use around 20GB of data and still pay $80.


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Morrisons has become the first UK supermarket to ban shoppers who refuse to wear a mask unless they are medically exempt, and Sainsbury's will post trained security guards at shop entrances to “challenge” any customers not wearing a mask or shopping in groups.
Morrisons Chief executive David Potts said: “Those who are offered a face covering and decline to wear one won’t be allowed to shop at Morrisons unless they are medically exempt.
"Our store colleagues are working hard to feed you and your family, please be kind.”
Earlier on Monday, the shopworkers' union Usdaw said they had been “inundated” with complaints from its members, who say they are “deeply concerned” for their safety as customers flout in-store Covid measures.
Sainsbury's Chief executive Simon Roberts said: "The vast majority of customers are shopping safely, but I have also seen some customers trying to shop without a mask and shopping in larger family groups.
"Please help us to keep all our colleagues and customers safe by always wearing a mask and by shopping alone. Everyone’s care and consideration matters now more than ever.”
Tesco said it was still enforcing social distancing practices in store but was not looking yet at reintroducing measures such as one-way aisles.
The supermarket chain said it would also significantly reduced the number of customers allowed into stores at any one time.Data from Public Health England last week found 11 outbreaks of the disease had come from food outlets.
Chains such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s said safety remains their “highest priority” and that customers were given regular reminders to follow the rules.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has also voiced his concerns that the public are not complying with the regulations.
“I am worried about supermarkets and people actually wearing masks and following the one-way system and making sure when it’s at capacity they wait outside the supermarket,” he said.
Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “Retail staff are working with the public every day and not only suffer increased abuse, but are deeply worried about catching Covid-19.
“Where safety measures are agreed, retailers need to make sure that they are being followed consistently, in every store.
“Supermarket workers and delivery drivers have worked throughout the pandemic to keep the country supplied with essentials.
“These key workers must be valued, respected and protected.”


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‘Pathway to healing’: Belushi’s Farm, local cannabis company join forces
Published 9:29 am Thursday, June 16, 2022
CASSOPOLIS — A local cannabis company has teamed up with a household name to help bring credibility – and a medicine-first approach – to the Michigan cannabis industry.
Actor and cannabis farmer Jim Belushi visited Sunset Coast Provisions in Cassopolis on Tuesday for a meet-and-greet to promote a partnership between his cannabis company, Belushi’s Farm, and Highway Horticulture, which owns Sunset Coast.
In April, Oregon-based Belushi’s Farm announced they would be entering the Michigan cannabis market through an exclusive growing and distribution deal with the vertically-integrated Highway Horticulture. Through Highway Horticulture, Belushi’s Farm will sell Blues Brothers-branded joints and vape cartridges at Sunset Coast and throughout the Highway Horticulture distribution network.
“In delivering superior experiences to audiences, The Blues Brothers established a level and standard of undisputed high quality,” said Belushi’s Farm, on its website. “We will live up to the ten-star, quadruple A reputation for professionalism and consumer satisfaction that John and Dan [Aykroyd] established internationally over four decades ago.”
Belushi first met Highway Horticulture co-founder Nick Sayers while Sayers was working for Chicago’s Green Thumb Industries. When Sayers moved to Michigan to start Highway Horticulture in 2020, the two reconnected through a mutual business associate.
“Nick is one of the smartest men in cannabis that I’ve met,” Belushi said. “We talked to a lot of different growers. … Nick, to me, was the most honorable with the message that’s most common to my message on my farm, and that is the pathway to healing through cannabis.”
Similarly, Sayers said Belushi was very approachable, and the two connected on more than just a business level.
“Jim is bringing credibility to cannabis,” Sayers said. “It’s not just a celebrity brand here. It’s very substantive. He approaches it as medicine first, which is how we view it. So, we’re trying to expand it safely to new interests, not just trying to get everyone high.”
Belushi complimented Sayers, as well as Highway Horticulture Marketing Manager Sara Crouse.
“Nick is a great operator, and Sara is a fantastic person to work with here,” Belushi said. “They have one of the cleanest grow facilities I’ve seen in America. Cleanliness is very important for the confidence in the use of cannabis.”
Being a native of Chicago, Belushi also said he resonated with the Midwest working man.
“Michigan, you know, is my next-door neighbor,” he said. “It’s Midwest, it’s hardworking people. I grew up as a hardworking guy with my dad and his restaurant in Chicago. I have an affiliation with the Midwest working man, because that’s what I am.”
It was Belushi’s second time in Cassopolis, and he said he was charmed by the lakeside community.
“It’s a sweet town, isn’t it,” Belushi said. “I love that little Broadway Café. We’re going to go there for lunch right now. It’s a sweet area. We’ll be back in August.”
Belushi, along with Dan Aykroyd will be performing a Blues Brothers concert at Riverfront Park in Niles as part of the Blues’d and Infused cannabis music festival on August 20.
“We’re going to have fun,” Belushi said. “We’re going to rock the whole southern Michigan.”


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Bombardier-Boeing battle: The bitter dispute between Bombardier and Boeing will enter a critical phase Monday, when the two aerospace rivals appear before the U.S. International Trade Commission. Boeing will explain why it believes it was hurt – or could be hurt – by Bombardier's landmark deal to sell C Series passenger jets to a U.S. airline.
Home away from home: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. and Statistics Canada release estimates Tuesday about how much residential property in Vancouver and Toronto is owned by non-residents.
Growing pains? BlackBerry Ltd. provides an update Wednesday. Analysts are expecting a loss in the company's fiscal third quarter and lower revenue than the US$249 million reported in the second quarter of its 2017-18 financial year.
The blunt truth: The Ontario Securities Commission will hear from CanniMed Therapeutics, which is resisting a hostile takeover bid by Aurora Cannabis. The OSC has set hearings dates for Wednesday and Thursday.
The year in stats: Statistics Canada will release its November consumer price index on Thursday and CIBC is betting that gasoline prices will help push the inflation rate up to the Bank of Canada's target of two per cent – high enough to support another rate hike. Statistics Canada will also release the report on Canadian wholesale trade for October comes Wednesday, followed by the October retail trade report and the October report for gross domestic product on Friday.


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The USDA published the plan in the Federal Register on Jan. 2, based on a proposal from the Cranberry Marketing Committee. The rule became official on April 4, and takes effect May 4, according to a USDA news release.
Growers in 10 designated states who produce more than 125,000 100-pound barrels of cranberries can sell 85% of production to any market, but 15% can go only to “noncompetitive outlets” such as animal feed or charitable organizations. Organic cranberry production is exempt.
According to the USDA, the amount of cranberry products carried over from one season to the next is growing, while returns to the growers are dropping. The upcoming season’s production is forecast at 9.1 million barrels — but the committee has put total available supplies at 20.4 million barrels when holdover inventories are included.
Anticipated sales for the season are 333,000 barrels of fresh berries and 9.2 million barrels of processed fruit, leaving an estimated 10.9 million barrels in inventory at the end of the season, according to the committee.
Per-barrel prices paid to growers have dropped, according to the USDA, from $30 in 2011 to $10 in 2016.
The states involved in the volume control are Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington. Growers on New York’s Long Island are also included.


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Council tenant discount card launches in Edinburgh
A new City of Edinburgh Council tenant discount scheme has been launched which will save tenants money.
Councillor Cammy Day unveiled the new discount scheme at the 2016 Tenants Conference held in the council headquarters.
The discount scheme, launched in partnership with Travis Perkins, means tenants are now able to use their rent payment cards to access discounts on a wide range of products in seven different locations across the city. The council will expand the scheme over the coming months, increasing the number of places you can save money alongside a website which will provide details of available discounts and money saving advice.
The approach is part of the wider budget strategy which aims to reduce tenants’ costs of living by investing in goods and services differently and by increasing the number of affordable and low cost homes in the city. The council hopes to expand on the range of suppliers soon.
The approach is based on feedback from a recent consultation, which gave tenants the chance to influence how the Council could best invest to save them money. The six week consultation gained a record number of responses, treble that of previous years, with tenants showing strong support for a discount scheme.
Councillor Day said: “Talking and listening to residents and understanding their priorities and concerns is central to the delivery and development of the service.
“The recent tenant survey showed that 50 per cent of tenants said that offering discounts on goods and services in the city would help reduce the cost of everyday expenditure so I was delighted to launch the discount scheme in partnership with Travis Perkins and look forward to its expansion in the coming months.”


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Maserati has previewed its future product plans, and one vehicle is conspicuous in its absence: the Ghibli.
In 2023, Maserati will introduce electric versions of its redesigned GranTurismo and GranCabrio and new Grecale, while by 2025 it’ll offer electric versions of the MC20 supercar and the redesigned Quattroporte and Levante.
That will leave the ageing Ghibli without a replacement, as the company has said “all Maserati models will come in a 100% electric version by 2025” and will only sell electric vehicles after 2030.
“What we see in the market is that there is a transition from sedans to SUVs,” said head of product planning Francesco Tonon according to a report from Yahoo News.
“There is still a very clear demand for sport sedans, but we believe that we can serve customers even better by substituting the Ghibli and the Quattroporte with just one new sport sedan.
“We strongly believe that there is a future for the sedan, but probably not for two sedans. One will be enough to meet demand.”
The Ghibli’s future has been in doubt for a while, despite its status as the brand’s second highest-volume model.
A report last year suggested the current Ghibli would end production in 2023, with the new mid-sized Grecale crossover assuming the role of Maserati’s most affordable model.
A redesigned Ghibli hasn’t featured in Maserati’s future product plans since one released under Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) ownership in 2018.
Globally, the Ghibli accounted for 33 per cent of Maserati sales in 2021 – or around 8000 units – which put it behind only the Levante (59 per cent) but well ahead of the Quattroporte (7 per cent).
Though the Ghibli name has been used before on two-door models, the current car was the first time it was applied to a four-door sedan and it was Maserati’s first attempt at a direct rival for the BMW 5 Series.
The Quattroporte, in contrast, has been a fairly consistent fixture as Maserati’s flagship sedan since 1963, albeit with some periods of absence during that time.
The current Ghibli and Quattroporte are produced in a former Bertone factory in Grugliasco, Italy, which Stellantis (nee. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) acquired in 2009.
The vehicles entered production in 2013, and are therefore at the end of their lifecycles.
The Ghibli’s best year in Australia was 2015, when Maserati sold 345 units. It’s steadily declined since then, reaching 114 units in 2020.
In 2021, however, Ghibli sales ticked upward, as did the brand overall both in Australia and globally.
The range was bolstered in 2021 by a new mild-hybrid turbocharged four-cylinder entry model, plus a flagship V8-powered Trofeo.


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It's no secret that BlackBerry are striving to retain the number one spot in the enterprise market. And that shouldn't be hard considering they do it better that the competition. With the likes of the BlackBerry Passport and Classic on the horizon they are both the perfect business tool for users that need to do some serious work from their smartphone.
AOL CEO Tim Armstrong recently confirmed this in an interview with CNBC where he admits to owning a Samsung Note and an iPhone, but for getting things done it's very much the BlackBerry he turns to. And it's not just him. He states that most CEO's are still rocking a BlackBerry as it is a utility device and that's what the businessman/woman needs to be as productive as possible
More positive news from the BlackBerry camp. Let's hope we see plenty more like this.


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The Spotify company, specifically, confirmed that at the end of 2020 the function would be available through a new plan that, to this day, more than two years later, has not yet arrived. After the uncertainty of many users and after rumors about the price and the occasional brief statement by its CEO, Spotify has finally ruled on why this plan has not yet arrived.
Gustav Söderström, who is co-chairman of Spotify, has told The Verge that the platform’s HiFi plan is still underway, but that it has not yet been officially launched due to changes in the industry.
We are going to do it [lanzar Spotify HiFi], but we’re going to do it in a way that makes sense to us and our listeners. The industry changed and we had to adapt, he has detailed the aforementioned medium.
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Regarding the changes in the industry, Söderström seems to be referring to the possibility of listening to music in Dolby Atmos and without loss of quality on Apple Music; function that the Cupertino company announced in June 2021 and that, in addition, is available without the need to contract an additional plan. Recall that Spotify’s initial plan was to announce a Premium plan more expensive than the individual subscription with the ability to play songs without loss as an exclusive feature. Amazon has also followed in Apple’s footsteps and offers HiFi sound on Amazon Music at no extra cost.
Spotify looks for a way to make the HiFi version profitable and compete with Apple Music at the same time
The problem, and the reason Spotify HiFi hasn’t launched yet, is that the company seems to be hell-bent on monetizing this feature while also being able to compete against Apple Music. In fact, Söderström has detailed to The Verge that they are looking to launch this plan in a way that also works for them from a cost perspective.


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tv World Business Report BBC News March 31, 2017 5:30am-5:46am BST
this is bbc news. the headlines: a lawyerfor one of president trump's former aides, michael flynn, says he has offered to give testimony about alleged russian meddling in last year's us presidential election in exchange for protection from prosecution. south korea's ousted president, park geun—hye, has been arrested on corruption charges. they're the same charges that led to her political downfall, when the country's constitutional court backed a decision to impeach her. more us—led troops have arrived in poland in as part of nato‘s response to concerns over russia. they are part of the alliance‘s four battalions aimed at giving reassurances to states unsettled by russia's actions in ukraine. a californian company has made history by launching a used rocket back into space. spacex has developed a way of landing its boosters, which are the most expensive part of a rocket, safely on earth after a mission. now for the latest financial news with aaron heslehurst
and world business report. terms of disengagement. the eu will set out its stall on brexit later but britain says trade talks must get under way at the same time. plus: cash cows and spread betting. why the price of butter is soaring on us markets. welcome to world business report. if you are in britain it is nice and early, stay where you are and give me eight minutes, nine minutes they
just told me, and i will give you an exciting snapshot of the exciting world of business and money. we start in malta, where later this morning eu council president donald tusk will present europe's guidelines for the brexit negotiations. the key question for britain — can it negotiate a future trade deal with the eu at the same time? or, as france is insisting, must it wait until exit talks are done? two years is already seen as tight to do such a complex trade deal. so what happens if one can't be done in time? for a start, these: tariffs are customs taxes slapped on imported goods. they range from around 1.5% on things like toys and watches, up to 45% on meat. if the uk leaves the eu single market without a deal, it would be subject to those tariffs under world trade organization rules. according to the think tank, civitas, that would see british exports to the eu hit by tariffs worth $6.5 billion.
that would make them more expensive and less attractive. they'll buy less. of course, it cuts both ways. civitas says europe's tariff bill would be well over double that, $16 billion, a lot of it landing on germany and its carmakers. a huge incentive then on both sides to do a deal as fast as possible. then there's the potential chaos caused by all those extra customs checks at ports and airports, especially in the south of england. for britain, there's another specific worry. it also needs to secure access to the eu for its huge financial industry. if it fails, 70,000 jobs in the city of london could be at risk. so what about the long—term? within five to ten years, britain's total trade could slump by 30% if there's no trade deal with the eu. that's according to a recent study
by the national institute for economic and social research. it argues deals with the likes of the us and australia just wouldn't make up for the loss of the eu single market. i am not sure about that. david campbell bannerman is a conservative member of the european parliament representing the east of england. he is a former deputy leader of the uk independence party, which of course campaigned for brexit, and he co—chairs the eurosceptic pressure group conservatives for britain. great to have you with me this morning on this programme, david. let me start with this, no matter what side of defence people sit on, i think we all agree a deal has to be done. is it realistic, two years, to get a deal? i think we can. i work on trade deals all the time on the trade committee. we have just done canada. that has taken seven yea rs, done canada. that has taken seven years, three years of negotiations.
we don't have any tariffs to negotiate, not 1600 paris as canada did, we don't have any quotas and all other laws are a equivalent, so we start in a very different position from any trade deal under wto rules than the us —— i600 tariffs. picking up on that, talking about deals around the world, the nationalistic or economic and social research, you know, the point about britain not making up for the loss of trade with the eu with the likes of trade with the eu with the likes of the us and australia... go on. they are eu funded, that body, they area they are eu funded, that body, they are a disgrace in the referendum, carrying on project fear. it is nonsense. we are the largest single customer of the rest of the eu. let's not forget that. they want access to the fifth—largest continent in the world, that is asked, the uk, they want access to the city of london. let's do a good deal like canada, super canada what i argue for, and the eu has done
trade deals in most countries in the world. and the ones it has done deals with it is doing so now. yes, no, absolutely, iam deals with it is doing so now. yes, no, absolutely, i am an aussie, so let's do big deals with australia and new zealand, go back to that relationship. direct me if i am wrong, you are in norwich, big farming community. is their concern about the whole immigration faq? farming needs workers and typically a lot are migrant workers. yes, i think we should go back to the temporary workers scheme, agriculture workers scheme, started in1947, agriculture workers scheme, started in 1947, way before the eu was created. so we have been there before. we need agricultural workers in the east of england, yes. that will continue. under a new visa regime. i think the point is, even if we have the worst case scenario, which is wto rules, you touched on that, well, six out of ten of the largest trading partners of the eu use those rules, including the us,
japan, china. we import 300 willian dollars worth of chinese goods —— $300 billion worth of chinese goods without a formal trade agreement. cani without a formal trade agreement. can i ask briefly before we wrap up, iam can i ask briefly before we wrap up, i am curious on your point, i was travelling the last three weeks, this is my week back, people asking about brexit, and i am like, yes, a big issue, buti about brexit, and i am like, yes, a big issue, but i am like, you know what, watch what happens in the rest of europe, keep your eye on that, not necessarily just tax of europe, keep your eye on that, not necessarilyjust tax it. france is only, what, three weeks away from an election? i mean, that could overta ke an election? i mean, that could overtake brexit, couldn't it? well, thatis overtake brexit, couldn't it? well, that is true, i mean, marine le pen is in that is true, i mean, marine le pen isina that is true, i mean, marine le pen is in a strong position. she is likely to get to the second round. we'll have to see what happens, whether she is beaten in the second round stage, which is probably likely. as we saw with president trump and with brexit, surprises can happen. brexit‘s case, thank
goodness they did it. we appreciate your time. thank you very much. to asia now, where there's more evidence china's economy is bouncing back. nice healthy bounce back. activity in the country's factories has increased at its fastest pace in almost five years. there's also been string growth in services and construction. rico hizon has been looking at the numbers for us in singapore. hey, rico, i have missed you! welcome back from your holiday. well, i was visiting family. it wasn't really a holiday, rico. hey, listen, my friend. china, beijing and the administration, the powers to be, have for the last several yea rs to be, have for the last several years tried to shift the economy away from making staff to being more services driven. at the moment the factories are making a lot of stuff. that is right. it looks like it is coming from both manufacturing and from services. that is why things
may be looking up, aaron, for the chinese economy. this is another fresh sign that it is picking up stea m, fresh sign that it is picking up steam, factory activity picking up yet again last month to its highest level in nearly 60 months, aaron, with the official pmi index climbing 51.8 from with the official pmi index climbing 51.8from 51.6 with the official pmi index climbing 51.8 from 51.6 — a number of bad 50 is an indicator of expansion and it is an indicator of expansion and it is the strongest level since april 2012 with a report revealing production orders expanded in the key manufacturing industry. as for the official nonmanufacturing purchasing managers' index, aaron, it rebounded as well, indicating strength in the services sector. growth in the services industry is accelerating at the fastest pace in nearly three years and the services sector accounts for over half of the mainland economy and for the majority of its 6—.7% growth in 2016. so, things are looking
positive for the chinese economy, hopefully. indeed, a healthy chinese economy is a healthy global economy. 0k, rico, love you, in the nonbiblical sense, of course. we will see you soon, have a great weekend. also on today's business dairy. stay with me, i didn't make a mistake. we are in the us where there's a new meaning to the phrase ‘cash cows‘. the price of butter is at an all time high — butter futures on the chicago mercantile exchange havejumped14% over the past five months. so what's behind all this spread betting? samira hussain reports. jonathan white and his dog lorraine by his side is off to meet his co—workers. that is stellar right there. oh, and that is lousi. the cows here are all 100% grass fed. the dairy is used primarily to make cheese but also butter. since i got into the butter business in 1983,
but has had a huge — i wouldn't even call it a comeuppance, it is a calm — backance and it is gratifying to see. the demand is set to skyrocket this year as more people want to eat clea n, this year as more people want to eat clean, less processed food and it means the price of butter will go up, which is great news for dairy farmers like this one, but it is not a winfor farmers like this one, but it is not a win for everyone. so there is as much butter as this... this pastry seth is making his version of a lemon tart —— chef. seth is making his version of a lemon tart -- chef. creamy and smooth like shaving foam. this shop online users at 635 kilograms of butter per week —— alone. online users at 635 kilograms of butter per week -- alone. the bakery will use a lot more butter than any restau ra nt. will use a lot more butter than any restaurant. a bakery will use so much butterfor all the bread, all of the dough, all of the croissants and we can sell large volumes, so it is something to look at. making
these rich pastries is getting costly. the price of butter is 10% higher than one year ago. that is because america's new taste for butter has caught the dairy industry by surprise. and these hard workers have yet to catch up with the demand. but maybe a pricey commodity these days but the results are just delicious —— butter. butter on everything. it is good for you. follow me on twitter, i will be back with alpa to look at the papers from around the world. bye bye. the head of nhs england says waiting times will be longer for routine operations as a "trade off" for improvements in a&e performance and better treatment in other areas. simons stevens is to unveil a new strategy for the nhs later. alexandra mackenzie reports.
how have you been feeling? not too bad. this woman is 96 and is recovering from a recent illness. you are doing really well. her gp called a local nhs service based in nottinghamshire to give her the right care and the right place and for iris that was home. the treatment at home has been absolutely wonderful. a&e is well cared for, a priority for the nhs, but it is acknowledge the system is under pressure and tough financial choices are needed. today nhs england leaders are taking stock of progress. since their five—year plan was published in 2014. aims cited in the strategy include improving cancer survival rates, increased access to mental health therapies and recruitment of more gps. but
with limited resources it is likely to mean longer waiting times for nonurgent operations and fewer people being referred to hospital in the first place. the problem is made worse by a shortage of beds. there isa worse by a shortage of beds. there is a significant proportion of people who don't need to be there, who don't want to be there. and if we could get them out, that would free up something like 2000 to 3000 beds in the nhs, which could be used more effectively for providing quicker elective surgery. today is about setting out what is possible with the money allocated by the government to the nhs in england but ata time government to the nhs in england but at a time of increased to manned it, what is not addressed is the extra funding that is needed —— demand. coming up at 6am on breakfast — sally nugent and jon kay will be here. i'm alpa patel.
the top stories this hour: a lawyer for one of president trump's former aides, michael flynn, says he has offered to give testimony about alleged russian meddling in last year's us presidential election in exchange for protection from prosecution. south korea's ousted president, park geun—hye, has been arrested on corruption charges. they're the same charges that led to her political downfall, when the country's constitutional court backed a decision to impeach her. more us—led troops have arrived in poland in as part of nato's response to concerns over russia. they are part of the alliance's four battalions, aimed at giving reassurances to states unsettled by russia's actions in ukraine. a californian company has made history by launching a used rocket back into space. spacex has developed a way of landing its boosters, which are the most expensive part of a rocket, safely on earth after a mission.


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Windsor police and Dutch Bros. Coffee will raise money for the Colorado chapter of the Special Olympics next week at the drive-through coffee shop, 901 Main St.
The department will host its first “Badges with Buckets” fundraiser from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 27 at Dutch Bros., according to a town news release. Police officers and local Special Olympics athletes will be out with collection buckets collection buckets, and Dutch Bros. will donate $1 for every coffee sold during the event.
“Our officers will be out there rain or shine,” Officer Corey Rusch said in the release. “We don’t want to miss a great opportunity to help a good cause.”
The Special Olympics is dedicated to providing athletics to people with intellectual disabilities. For more information about the Colorado chapter, go to SpecialOlympicsCO.org.


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Shares of Tilray (TLRY) - Get Tilray, Inc. Report rose after the company reported mixed results in its first earnings release since the Canadian cannabis company closed its reverse merger with Aphria last month.
The company reported net income of $33.5 million after posting a loss of $84.3 million a year earlier. Adjusted earnings of 18 cents a share topped estimates that called for a loss of 12 cents a share.
Tilray's net revenue rose 25.3% to $142.2 million. Canadian COVID-19 lockdowns ate into the company's business during the quarter and revenue missed analysts' estimates of $146.2 million.
"In a very short period of time since our business combination was finalized, we transformed and strengthened Tilray, delivered solid results amid continued COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions and achieved $35 million in synergies to date," said Tilray CEO Irwin Simon.
Tilray shares were up 26% to $16.06 on Wednesday.
The company's gross profit decreased 19% to $22.5 million from $27.8 million a year ago. Included in this quarter's gross profit was a one-time inventory valuation adjusted of $19.9 million resulting from excess inventory quantities following its combination with Aphria.
Free cash flow increased 112% to $3.3 million in fourth quarter from a loss of $28.3 million in the prior year.
Earlier this month, Tilray said its Germany-based subsidiary has completed the first successful harvest of medical cannabis. The company has made a concerted effort to increase its presence in Europe and other foreign countries outside of Canada.


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Vintage realness: a woman carries a traditional wooden umbrella during the Kebaya Tuesday event at the National Monument in Central Jakarta on Tuesday. (JG Photo/Yudha Baskoro)
Kebaya Tuesday, Kebaya Everyday
BY :YUDHA BASKORO
JULY 02, 2019
"Selasa Berkebaya" or Kebaya Tuesday has been gaining attention as a social movement campaign to encourage young Indonesian women to turn back the clock by donning the kebaya, a traditional Malay-style blouse that was de rigueur at the beginning of last century.
The founder of the campaign is 51-year-old Rahmi Hidayati, who said the kebaya's graceful silhouette and fine fabrics impart a uniquely Indonesian beauty, despite the fact almost no one now wears it as a daily outfit.
And that's exactly what Rahmi wants her campaign to achieve, to bring the kebaya back into the fore of Indonesian fashion, starting by wearing the outfit for real, not for cosplay, every Tuesday.
On Tuesday, around a dozen "kebaya activists," some of them young women, gathered at the National Monument in Central Jakarta for a picnic and a photoshoot, clad in colorful kebayas and jarik, pleated batik cloth worn as a skirt. Some of them also carried wooden umbrellas to achieve an even more vintage look.
Rahmi's campaign now involves around 200 kebaya activists who post photos of themselves wearing the kebaya on social media and join offline events like the one yesterday. They also did a kebaya flash mob at the Dukuh Atas MRT Station last week.


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WTAPS and Vault By Vans are longtime collaborators and the two are teaming up once again, celebrating WTAPS’ upcoming 25th-anniversary.
Japanese streetwear brand WTAPS has made its mark in the sneaker and streetwear industry when it comes to collaborations with brands such as New Balance, Bape, Timberland, Clarks, and Vans By Vault.
This year’s collaboration features two of Vans’ most classic models, the OG Sk8-Hi LX and OG Authentic LX coming in military gear that’s always been a big inspiration to the Japanese brand. The shoes feature a tonal suede canvas and mesh dipped in Olive with WTAPS branding printed on the foxing throughout the midsole. A gum waffle outsole finishes off the sneakers with the box featuring co-branding and a card for the 25th anniversary.
The WTAPS x Vault By Vans 25th Anniversary Collection is set to drop on February 11th on WTAPS.com and at select WTAPS retailers. Check out the editorial and on-white photos below and for all the latest drop dates, head over to our Sneaker Release Dates page.


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The chickens tested by Consumer Reports were purchased from grocery stores, bulk retailers, gourmet shops and natural food stores in 23 U.S. states. Both bacteria are known to cause diarrhea, cramping, fever, nausea and vomiting. They can even cause lethal infections in the elderly, babies and people with immune system impairment.
"If accurate, these findings are downright astonishing," said Mike Adams, author of "Grocery Warning," a book that details the health dangers of certain foods and food ingredients. "Consumers should be wary about unseen dangers in everyday groceries, and bacteria contamination is only the beginning. Many dangerous ingredients, such as sodium nitrite, are intentionally added by meat processors."
Richard Lobb of the National Chicken Council said that the Consumer Report figures were "greatly exaggerated" and Richard Raymond of the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the sample size was too small.
"That's 500 samples out of 9 billion chickens slaughtered a year," he said. He added that the report showed a salmonella rate of 15 percent, which jibes with USDA figures for 2005 showing a rate of 16.3 percent. However, 81 percent of the chickens tested by Consumer Reports had campylobacter infections, up from a 2003 test that found the bacteria in 42 percent of the test sample. Currently, the USDA does not test for campylobacter, but Raymond said the department was researching a testing protocol.
Jean Halloran of the Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, said that federal regulation was "beyond overdue."
"They may criticize our testing methodology but they're not doing any testing at all," she said.
Earlier studies by the USDA and the FDA produced different results than the Consumer Reports test. In 2005, the USDA and National Chicken Council tested 4,200 broiler carcasses and found campylobacter in 26 percent, while the FDA found campylobacter in 60 percent of chicken breasts during a 2004 study. Each agency used a different testing method.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3.4 million Americans fall ill and 700 die due to salmonella and campylobacter from all sources, but the CDC notes that campylobacteriosis infections are down 30 percent since 1998 to 12.6 infections for every 100,000 people. Robert Tauxe of the CDC said soap, hot water, cooking or freezing easily destroys campylobacter.
"You leave salmonella out overnight on the counter and it grows. You leave campylobacter out and it dies," he said.


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Reuters - Business Video Online / Powered by NewsLook.com
HTC has unveiled its new flagship smartphone, the latest manifestation of its critically acclaimed One series. Featuring a depth sensor that allows users to change the focus of their photos, the new M8 model has also received rave reviews. But will it be enough to arrest the company's downward spiral? Ivor Bennett reports.
Video provided by Reuters
TheStreet (Dec. 26, 2013) HTC's new One Max smartphone is HUGE - the phablet has a 5.9 inch 1080x1920 display. Compared to the original HTC One and the Apple iPhone, the size of the One Max is very noticeable. The One Max ... watch video
France 24 (Aug. 19, 2013) A doctor in the US has developed a handful of apps to keep an eye on his patients at all times. This week's TECH 24 takes a look into what medicine could be like in the near future.
And in TEST 24 ... watch video
TheStreet (June 19, 2014) Amazon may be late to the smartphone market with its new Fire phone, but it clearly thinks it can do better than Blackberry. Blackberry once owned the mobile phone market, but has never recovered ... watch video
Newsy (Mar. 1, 2015) HTC unveiled Vive, its new virtual reality headset, Sunday. The device is supported by gaming company Valve, which has made a push into the market.
Video provided by ... watch video
Washington Post (Mar. 31, 2015) The Post's Hayley Tsukayama tests out HTC's newest smartphone, the M9, to see its pros, cons and how it stacks up to its past iterations and current competition.
Video provided by Washington ... watch video
Sep. 1, 2015 An experiment conducted over six days at a large public garden in Singapore demonstrated self-driving golf carts that ferried 500 tourists around winding paths trafficked by ... read more
Sep. 1, 2015 Prehistoric 'sanctuary' regions where New Zealand seabirds survived early human hunting have been documented by scientists. The researchers reconstructed the population histories for prehistoric New ... read more
Aug. 31, 2015 COPD patients who used a digital health application to report their daily symptoms and received same-day treatment recommendations from their health care provider experienced fewer and less severe ... read more
Jan. 21, 2015 Are we emotionally attached to our smart phones? That was the question scientists hoped to answer in a new article. understanding how users become reliant on their smart phone for particular tasks, ... read more
May 23, 2014 Big cities in the smog: Photos from Beijing and, more recently, Paris clearly illustrate the extent of fine dust pollution. But what about our direct environment? What is the pollution concentration ... read more
Mar. 26, 2014 Until recently, most of the world’s energy supplies have come from coal, oil and gas. Scarcity of natural resources, surging energy prices and global warming had focused attention on renewable ... read more
Apr. 29, 2013 Researchers at Queen's University's Human Media Lab have developed a new smartphone -- called MorePhone -- which can morph its shape to give users a silent yet visual cue of an incoming ... read more


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London is looking forward to two of its best trading years ever in 2011 and 2012 as the world’s attention focuses on the capital at the end of April for the royal wedding, and next summer for the London Olympic Games.“These two opportunities represent a marketing dream,” said hotel consultant Russell Kett, managing director of HVS London. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for London and the rest of the UK, and one which will inevitably boost both room rates and occupancy in hotels, not just during the events themselves but with a longer term spin-off potential too.”
Many of London’s hotels are already fully booked in the days surrounding the Royal Wedding, particularly those properties that line the route to Westminster Abbey. Hotels are now able to charge full room rates and are insisting on minimum stays during this period.
Hotels in other major UK cities such as Edinburgh and Manchester as well as those in the London suburbs will also benefit from increased bookings as demand exceeds capacity in the capital.
This year London sees an unprecedented number of new openings and refurbishments in the luxury hotel market including the new 137-room Waldorf-Astoria London in Syon Park, the revamped Four Seasons Park Lane, the new Corinthia London and 45 Park Lane. Estimates suggest that over £1bn-worth of luxury hotel rooms will open in London over the next two years.
“Far from creating an over-supply, these openings are long overdue. London has been under-bedded in terms of hotels for many years,” added Kett.
“Bookings in London’s hotels have shown remarkable resilience over the past 18 months, there is real confidence for the future and the number of new hotels is merely correcting a long-term under-supply. As confidence continues to rise, so will hotel values although it could get to the point that London becomes too expensive for some investors who could instead be tempted to look at regional cities.
“Business travel is also picking up – the signs are that corporate travel budgets have increased for 2011. As business bookings improve, we would then expect the meetings and conferences sector to pick up as well.”


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The Fashion Awards are to the United Kingdom what the Met Gala is to the United States—and this year’s event was a memorable one.
The 2021 British Fashion Council‘s Fashion Awards took place last night at London’s Royal Albert Hall, featuring some of the biggest names in film and fashion. Despite the two-degree weather, celebrities served their best on the carpet in a series of unforgettable ensembles, from Winnie Harlow‘s custom, quilted, puff-sleeved, mustard-colored Moncler gown to Maria Sharapova‘s mini Iris van Herpen dress recycled from 100 Evian water bottles.
See all the highlights from last night’s sartorial commemoration ahead.
This article originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR US.


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It’s a release day of sorts for survival MMO Frozen Flame, as it launches its survival mode into what it’s calling “open beta,” though don’t get too excited: It’s still accessible only by paying for the game, so it’s really just another phase of paid early access and not “open” anything. (We really need games to stop messing with these terms.)
In any case, Moscow-based Dreamside Interactive originally crowdfunded the dragon-studded game back in 2020 as an “action survival MMORPG,” though it’s currently on Steam flagged as merely online co-op, and indeed it includes single-player too (“[G]ame modes suitable for up to 50 players are planned later down the line,” the Steam page says). The game released into closed beta in the fall of 2020, then hopped into early access in November of last year after quite a bit of delay, and then last month ran a closed alpha test for its survival mode.
In fact, that alpha has big effects on this newly launched test round; there’s a new fatigue system (restorable with food and sleeping), a faster-paced and diverse combat rebalance, and fun side activities like musical instruments and vendor stalls.
“We’ve also received a lot of requests to make the Survival mode compatible with coop experience,” the studio wrote in its dev blog last week. “So, we’ve adjusted the mode’s focus from Orders and PvP to survival and exploration. You’ll be able to protect your buildings with a special module – a sentinel. For those who either don’t want to participate in PvP, or want the mode to be more punishing, we’ll implement new server settings.
The game is around 30 bucks on Steam, which may be why the player count has thus far been so low.
Pilgrims, the time has come to venture into the Open Beta of our Cataclysm Mode! 🔥
Trade and fight with other players, explore brand new map and see all the improvements we have made 🎉
— Frozen Flame 🔥 OPEN BETA SURVIVAL MODE | TODAY (@playfrozenflame) April 5, 2023


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Dimma began her career in magazines with H&H in 1995 and eventually moved up to senior design editor. In 2000, she left the publication to work as an interior designer but returned two years later to serve as creative director responsible for the launch of H&H branded products at
Eaton’s The Bay.
Dimma was for years a regular on House & Home’s eponymous TV show before creating and hosting her own television series for HGTV, Style Department, now in its third season.
“Suzanne’s strong understanding of our brand, coupled with her passion for design and her experience as a journalist, interior designer and television host, are a great combination,” H&H Media president Lynda Reeves said in a release. “She will bring much to our team and we look forward to seeing the evolution of H&H magazine under her direction. I’m really looking forward to working with Suzanne again.”
Watch MastheadOnline for an interview with Dimma in the next few days.


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The PC games market has now surpassed the console gaming sector in terms of revenues, an analyst has claimed.
DFC Intelligence owner David Cole told PCR: "On a global basis PC games have surpassed console games but the new console systems means consoles should show an increase.
"Among core gamers there is a heavy overlap with most console gamers also playing on a PC. The big difference is that consoles are now the luxury item and PCs are the necessity. Just a few years ago the reverse was true. This means PCs have the broader audience."
The news comes after DFC published its latest quarterly paid-for report on PC gaming revenues and usage.
In terms of the most popular PC games, DFC says that MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) titles and free-to-play games are continuing to perform strongly.
"The MOBA games League of Legends and Dota 2 dominate everything else by an order of magnitude in terms of more usage than other products," added Cole. "In the first part of 2014 we saw some signs that may change with the introduction of new titles and some increased play of games outside the MOBA category.
"But MOBA is dominant. Beyond that it is a nice mix of MMO, strategy and first person shooter.
"We can say that our top 20 list for 2013 had no titles released that year and in Q1 2014 we saw three new titles crack the list: DayZ, Rust and Hearthstone.
"PC player hours have also been remarkably consistent. We had expected hours to fall in 2013 because there were not any major new releases. However, hours were actually flat with 2012 which bodes very well for the market going forward as more triple-A titles are released."
Cole said that Europe has been a big driver of PC trends in recent years especially around free-to-play games, and that the big trend emerging from the US is likely to be more triple-A titles released for console and PC.
He also anticipates an increasing crossover between different platforms.
"There is a blurring of platforms where it starts to get hard to define what is a PC and what is a mobile device," Cole explained.
"Hearthstone was a great example of this as it released for both PC and iPad. Not all games fit that model but as we mentioned core gamers now tend to play on multiple devices."


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Carsales is the largest online automotive, motorcycle and marine classifieds business in Australia – and in early March 2021 they announced that the 2020 Kia Sorento had won their 2020 carsales Car of the Year.
We can’t say we’re entirely surprised, but it’s still a thrill to be able to say that we’re a trusted retailer of one of the most highly regarded family vehicles on the market. Let’s take a closer look at why the Kia Sorento has impressed carsales.com and their partners this year.
What does this award mean to us and the Australian market?
carsales’ choice of the Kia Sorento as their 2020 Car of the Year is a big nod toward the work Kia have been doing to get to the front of the market for safe and forward-thinking family-sized SUVs. The selection process this year had to be adapted to meet the challenges of COVID-19. But the support of both insurance provider Bingle and data-driven car value specialists Red Book has made this year perhaps the best researched award of the carsales COTY yet.
How was the Kia Sorento chosen as COTY?
Key factors included safety, and cost to purchase, own and run – and the carsales judges commented that the Kia Sorento is one of the safest SUVs available in the Australian market. But also outlined that the Kia Sorento was showing the way forward for other manufacturers, as the 2020 Kia Sorento is perhaps the most advanced Kia yet.
A multi-stage judging process whittled down a field of 27 finalists to a shortlist of 10, finally arriving at the 2020 Kia Sorento as the overall winner of the carsales COTY. On the win, Kia Motors Australia chief operating officer, Damien Meredith has said “The team at Kia are absolutely thrilled all-new Sorento has been awarded carsales Car of the Year 2020; our first carsales COTY win.”.
Sleek styling and packed full of features – the Kia Sorento
The 2020 Kia Sorento is available in a front-wheel drive 3.5-litre petrol V6 and all-wheel drive 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel powertrain. It’s standard eight-speed auto is one of the best in the business – and the interior is no slouch either. It features a 10.25" touchscreen, remote smart parking assist and 12.3" digital supervision instrument cluster, along with a rotary gear shift dial, BOSE® advanced sound system and 8" colour head up display.
Advanced safety features like the Kia Multi Collision Braking system were cited as pivotal in the success of the Kia Sorento. It’s an automatic braking system that engages when an airbag is deployed during a primary collision to help prevent a second collision.
Buy the 2020 Kia Sorento with Phil Gilbert Kia
The team here at Phil Gilbert Kia put this year’s success down to extensive local development by Australian designers for the Australian market. More spacious, more versatile with class-leading innovations wrapped in finely tailored style. The Kia Sorento is a great choice for any and all families looking for a safe car that is feature rich.
For a closer look at the 2020 Kia Sorento, come pay us a visit at Phil Gilbert Kia. You can also lodge an enquiry here online to our Croydon Kia Dealership.


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CHICAGO (MarketWatch) - PetSmart said late Wednesday that third quarter profit was little changed from last year, though revenue rose almost 10 percent on the increased sales of pet services.
PetSmart PETM said it earned $31.1 million, or 21 cents a share in the third quarter - flat with restated results from a year ago. Adjusted to exclude a tax benefit, the retailer earned 19 cents a share - in-line with average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call.
Revenue came in at $907.7 million, up 9.8% while same-store sales grew 2.4%. Pet services sales climbed nearly 24%, the company said.
The company said that it expects same-store sales gains of 2% to 4% in the fourth quarter, with coming in at 44 cents to 47 cents a share - also on par with Wall Street expectations.
"After some softness throughout much of the quarter, we've seen our business begin to stabilize and gain momentum in October," said CEO Phil Francis in the earnings report.


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Pair sought for shoplifting $700 worth of merchandise
EVESHAM - Two men are wanted for their alleged roles in shoplifting $700 worth of electronics from a local store recently, according to law enforcement officials.
Evesham Township Police say that on Sunday the two males worked together to swipe the merchandise from the Walmart at 150 E. Route 70 in Marlton.
Surveillance photos show the two black males entering the store together and walking with a shopping cart down the aisles. Police say they fled the store in two separate four-door vehicles.
The Evesham Police Department asks if anyone knows the identity of the suspects to call the police at (856) 983-1116, the Confidential Tip Line at (856) 983-4699 or email at firstname.lastname@example.org. Anonymous tips can text ETPDTIP to 847411.


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When it comes to the meat industry, a lot of us know the basics—demand is increasing, especially in developing countries, and resources are decreasing. But what are the deets? Who will benefit, what will the industry look like in 10 years, and most important for investors, where are the opportunities?
A new food index has labeled 36 meat and fish suppliers as "high risk" for public market investors because they fail to manage critical business risks such as greenhouse gas emissions and antibiotics risk.
Are you ready to start a new tradition and eat reindeer meat on Christmas Day? Whether the answer is yes or no, at least with new wearable tech, we’ll be able to prove once and for all if they really can fly.
IdentiGEN uses proprietary DNA analysis to determine the origin of meat or fish down to the individual animal.
Tyson’s investment comes just a couple of weeks after an investor coalition worth over $1.2 trillion put pressure on some leading food companies to incorporate more plant-based meat alternatives into their supply chains and consumer products.


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Indian Startup CREO Debuts Unique Mark 1 Smartphone With Monthly OS Updates
CREO is a Bengaluru-based technology startup eyeing to disrupt the Android industry in the country. Not only does it want to change the way consumers use Android OS on their devices, but they also want to manufacture their own handsets.
The parent company, Mango Man Technologies, had launched its flagship product, Teewe which went head-on with the Google Chromecast. The only thing that set it apart was the fact that it was designed specifically for Indian consumers. It has plenty of other features to lure Indians buyers, at a time online television was not very famous.
CREO Mark 1 will be the next offering from the startup to have everything a high-end smartphone has, in similar form factor, focusing on software updates over yearly upgrades to hardware. Mark 1 claims to renew your phone with one new feature added to it every month.
Having received $3 Million in funding last year, the company hopes to manufacture its own devices as well, which would employ its software uniquely integrated with the hardware.
The company’s blog states, “At CREO, we’re committed to #MakeBetter Android. And because we want to leave no stone unturned, we’re building both, the Operating System and the smartphone. With our OS we’ll send you relevant updates that shall keep your phone running just as new as the first time you held it. And not just that, we’ll also ship a big new feature with every update.”
Will the smartphone deliver?
This is probably the only question in your mind right now, whether the phone will actually deliver what the company claims? From the teaser video shared on their website, it looks like a lot of thought has been put into understanding a customer’s point of view.
The phone’s regular software updates will not only ensure that the phone runs smoothly, but will also feel like the phone is as good as new with a bonus new feature in every 30 days. After all, how many companies even care about the user experience?
“Regular and relevant software updates ensure that the customer experience is always smooth. At CREO, we promise to release these updates every month, along with powerful and functional features, that give you an experience of A New Phone Every Month!”, said Sai Srinivas, Co-Founder and CEO – CREO.
Take a look at the leaked(expected) specifications below –
- 4.6-inch QHD(1440x2560p) display
- 1.9Ghz Quad-core Helio X10 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM
- 32GB internal storage with microSD slot
- 21MP rear camera along with 8MP front-facing cameras
With specs like these, there is no question about the product’s performance. What CREO claims is that the experience is going to be near stock Android, however with software features never seen in other smartphones before.
It is high time companies like Samsung, Micromax, Sony, LG and Xiaomi take cognizance of the fact that consumers are not fixated on just hardware, but also software. With Mark 1, CREO intends to attract consumers annoyed with the existing OS skins and bloatware on popular smartphones these days.
The smartphone is not available yet, and there is no concrete launch date yet, but you can sign up here to get the first glance of it at launch. Stay tuned for more updates!


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Since Memorial Day weekend, many have worked very hard to transform the Kerbey Lane on Guadalupe Street. After waiting patiently for four weeks, we are thrilled to reopen the doors of our UT location once again to the Austin community tomorrow, June 27 at 7 am!
Patricia Atkinson, Chief Financial Officer of Kerbey Lane Café, said she is “very excited for the new store because it now epitomizes the same feel as the other Kerbey Lane restaurants, but remains unique to its location in the heart of the University of Texas campus.” The location on Guadalupe Street was the third installment of restaurants for Kerbey Lane Café and has been serving up late night cravings and early bird specials to Central Austin since March 2000. “It was time for an improvement in the store’s look, so we took this opportunity as soon as we could” said Kelly Vaccaro, Training Director for the restaurant.
So, come out and join us tomorrow morning as we unveil the new and improved UT Kerbey Lane!


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Cleveland Med Mart Names Craig Thompson Head of Convention Sales
January 23, 2012
Merchandise Mart Properties Inc.'s Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center has named Craig Thompson convention sales director for the venue that is on track to open in fall 2013. Thompson has more than 15 years of local and regional tradeshow industry experience and will be responsible for recruiting nonmedical trade shows and conventions to Cleveland MMCC, including initiating, developing and maintaining relationships with industry tenants, prospects and associations. Thompson will work closely with Anthony Prusak, Cleveland MMCC director of convention sales, who will continue to coordinate recruitment of healthcare industry trade shows and conventions, and under the direction of Brian Casey, vice president and general manager. "Craig Thompson brings more than 15 years of convention center and trade show industry sales and special events experience," Casey said. He added, "During his successful tenure at the I-X Center, Craig has also proven to be successful in selling Cleveland as a tradeshow and convention destination. His sales experience, coupled with his enthusiasm for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, will be valuable assets for our team as we continue to expand our sales efforts nearing the fall 2013 opening date." Thompson joined the Cleveland Med Mart after he previously worked as national sales manager at the International Exposition (I-X) Center in Cleveland for the past eight years. At the I-X Center, Thompson was a member of multiple show production teams and focused his sales efforts on trade shows and corporate events, including recruiting trade shows, negotiating contracts, generating proposals and working closely with the Cleveland Airport Hotel Group. Prior to joining the I-X Center, Thompson served as associate director of special events at the Cleveland Museum of Art and director of events at SeaGate Convention Centre in Toledo. "Within the trades how and convention industry, Cleveland MMCC is already on the radar as a future destination location, and I am delighted to join the team and expand our sales opportunities as we gear up for the opening of the facility," Thompson said.
With more than 2,000 rooms being added to Dallas’ hotel inventory in the coming years, the city is experiencing the second-largest hotel boom in the nation. From top brands like Virgin Hotels to independent and interesting properties, like HALL Arts Hotel, Dallas boasts a hotel type and price point for every preference and budget.


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Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills says he believes the multiple inquiries which are being launched into the botulism whey powder incident could vindicate Fonterra and New Zealand.
Mr Wills said that while New Zealand and Fonterra initially started on the backfoot - he has confidence that the four reviews will get to the bottom of the issue which led to global product recalls, consumer anxiety and New Zealand milk products being banned in some countries.
He thinks people will give credit to New Zealand for acting in a prompt way.
"With the minute quantities that were found some may not have quite as prompt to blow the whistle on themselves."
Mr Wills said the inquiries will allow Fonterra and the country to show its international markets the country is transparent and honest.
But he suggested a blanket ban on Fonterra's dairy products introduced by Russia, Belarus and Kazahkstan - is more opportunistic market protectionism than to do with genuine food safety concerns.


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Efforts underway to provide broadband access to rural areas in Pakistan: Amin Ul Haque
KARACHI – Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque Monday said that in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Digital Pakistan vision, efforts were underway to provide broadband access to rural areas in Pakistan and efforts would be geared towards ensuring that the facility of e-commerce is made available in small cities and towns, as well.
He expressed such view while talking to media on the occasion of the inauguration event of Daraz’ new head offices here at Sky Tower, Dolmen City.
We will continue to cooperate with Daraz so that the people of Pakistan can benefit from the ease offered by e-commerce and digitization, he said adding Daraz has a network that expands across the country and can offer comfort to people in various cities through its service.
The minister also discussed the potential for digitization in Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director Daraz, Ehsan Saya noted that since the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic in Pakistan, the country has witnessed an accelerated rate of digital adoption with consumers and businesses alike transitioning towards online solutions.
He added that the country’s growing e-commerce landscape presented an opportunity for SMEs to digitize their operations and reach a large, nation-wide customer base and scale their ventures.
He also highlighted that the most significant impact of e-commerce was that it helped generate employment and each business helped create 3-4 jobs.
Daraz’ mission is to make it easy for anyone to do business. On Sunday, the platform digitally hosted its 4th annual Seller Summit for a community of 70,000 sellers with guest speakers Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, media coordinator Daraz, Pireh told.
The summit focused on providing sellers the technology, tools and information they need to build a seamless customer experience and grow their businesses, she said adding as the platform gears up for the mega 10.10, 11.11 and 12.12 campaigns, Daraz’ focus is on empowering the seller community to make the most of the digital wave in Pakistan.


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The Intertubes lit up earlier this week when news broke that Ford Motor Company had laid plans to spend up to $20 billion, on top of $30 billion pledged earlier, for a massive gasmobile-to-EV overhaul of its global operations. This is reportedly going to be spearheaded by former Tesla Senior VP of Engineering Doug Field. Somehow Ford’s foray into new solid state battery technology also got lost in all the excitement, so let’s take a closer look at that $20 billion makeover.
Ford Has An Electric Vehicle Secret Weapon Up Its Sleeve
Bloomberg was among the first to report the news about Ford’s electrification push earlier this week, observing that “the effort, led by a former Apple Inc. and Tesla executive, calls for Ford to spend an additional $10 billion to $20 billion over the next five to 10 years.”
Any mention of Tesla is chum to the media spotlight and that certainly attracted a lot of attention, so let’s fill in a bit more detail.
Doug Field would be the one who fits the description of a former Apple and Tesla executive, along with a stint at Segway, which makes him an A-lister in the field of vehicular electrification.
As Senior VP of Engineering at Tesla from 2013 to 2018, Field is credited with leading the development of the Model 3. Though, his departure from the company in 2018 was marred when the car initially failed to meet production goals.
Field then arrived at Apple, reportedly to work on the company’s secretive Titan electric vehicle project, before moving on to join Ford last fall. According to rumors at the time, the souring of Apple’s EV program may have precipitated Field’s departure from Apple, but last month rumors surfaced that the project is still on track and is moving into the supply chain development phase.
Wait, Who Is Leading The Ford Electric Vehicle Program?
In an interesting twist, Field began his career as a development engineer at Ford and held that position from 1987 to 1993, when gasmobiles were still the undisputed kings of the road. That brings us to someone else who should be featured front and center in any mention of Ford’s electric vehicle transition, and that is Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer.
Like Field, Thai-Tang has deep roots in the gasmobile field. Also like Field, he reports directly to Ford CEO Jim Farley. Last fall, Ford made it clear that Field and Thai-Tang would be working in tandem.
“Field will partner closely with Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer, to create the next generation of Ford’s connected products and experiences,” the company explained. “Thai-Tang will continue to oversee Product Development, Purchasing, Design, Research & Advanced Engineering, EPLM / D-Ford, Advanced Manufacturing and Ford Ion Park.”
Wait, What Is Ion Park?
That finally brings us to the solid-state battery angle. A lot is riding on Ford Ion Park, which popped up briefly on the CleanTechnica radar a few months ago, only to vanish just as quickly.
Ford announced plans for Ion Park last April, pitching it as “a new global battery center of excellence … to accelerate research and development of battery and battery cell technology — including future battery manufacturing.”
“We’re already scaling production of all-electric vehicles around the world as more customers experience and crave the fun-to-drive benefits of electric vehicles with zero emissions,” said Thai-Tang at the time. “Investing in more battery R&D ultimately will help us speed the process to deliver more, even better, lower cost EVs for customers over time.”
If you’re thinking solid-state batteries are in the mix, join the club. Thai-Tang is a big fan of the technology, as manifested by Ford’s $130 million investment in the solid-state battery company Solid Power last spring, along with BMW.
The Electric Vehicle Trickle Becomes A Flood
Against this backdrop, on February 3, Ford issued its fourth-quarter results and talked up its electric vehicle plans, positioning itself as “a leader in must-have connected, electric vehicles.”
By that they probably mean the electric versions of legacy gasmobile brands with high name recognition, the Mustang Mach-E, the F-150 Lightening pickup truck, and the E-Transit van, which are big hits among EV buyers.
In a press release detailing the Q4 results, Ford stated that it anticipates churning out 600,000 EVs by 2023, with an eye on producing at least 40% EVs in its total product mix by 2030.
Ford also mentioned its work with the EV battery company LG Energy Solution, which is of particular interest considering that LG researchers have teamed up with scientists at the University of California–San Diego on a new solid-state battery project.
To be clear, Ford also waxed enthusiastically on its gasmobile business. However, it did point out that sales of the Mustang Mach-E pushed the company into the lead position in U.S. auto sales, and the company expects high volume sales of the F-150 Lightning and E-Transit van.
More Good News For Solid-State Battery Fans
For all the excitement over solid-state batteries, the technology is still relatively new and commercialization is years away. However, the allure of longer range, faster charging, lighter weight, lower cost, improved safety, nontoxic materials, and a more eco-friendly lifecycle is hard to resist, and things appear to be moving along quickly in the R&D area.
Last December, Solid Power recapped a busy year and had this to say about plans for 2022:
“In 2022, we plan to commission our fully operational ‘EV Cell Line,’ which we expect to be capable of producing up to 100Ah cells. At this time, we are still on track to begin producing ‘A Sample’ cells in the middle of 2022. Until then, we plan to continue building 20Ah Silicon EV Cells and collecting and analyzing performance data.”
“Next year will be a pivotal chapter in Solid Power’s story as we expect to formally enter the automotive qualification process,” they added.
They have their work cut out for them. Solid Power isn’t making just any old solid state battery. It is focusing on silicon anodes, which in theory could be 10 times more energy efficient than conventional graphite anodes.
Conventional liquid-electrolyte batteries are no friend to silicon anodes, but Solid Power figures a solid electrolyte will resolve the degradation issues without sacrificing performance.
“When combined with solid-state chemistry, silicon anodes have the potential to change EV battery landscape,” Solid Power enthused in a blog post last fall.
If all goes according to plan, Solid Power will bring its new solid-state batteries to market — and presumeably, to Ford and BMW — in 2026.
Follow me on Twitter @TinaMCasey.
Photo: Solid-state electric vehicle battery courtesy of Solid Power.
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Former Tesla Battery Expert Leading Lyten Into New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Era — Podcast:
I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ...


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Financial year 2019–20 has been arduous for both the Indian and the global economy. Falling GDP growth rates in the US, coronavirus outbreak in China, Brexit in Europe and rising tensions in the Middle East are factors that will pose challenges to the Indian economy in 2020-21.
Given these challenges, the Finance Minister has taken a cautiously optimistic approach, and delivered a pragmatic Budget that could speed up India’s economic growth and pave the way for making India a $5 trillion economy by 2025. A look now at the standout features of Budget 2020.
The Budget re-emphasises the government’s unequivocal commitment towards macroeconomic stability and fiscal discipline. The fiscal deficit of over 4 per cent that this government inherited has been successfully maintained at a manageable level. The Central government’s debt was reduced from 52.2 per cent of GDP in 2014 to 48.7 per cent in 2019.
This has led to better inflation management with the inflation rate falling from 9.4 per cent in 2013 to 3.4 per cent in 2018. Such a diligent fiscal discipline has made India a sought-after investment destination in the world. FDI investments in India grew from $36 billion in 2013–14 to $64.3 billion in 2018–19.
Technological revolution in the form of artificial intelligence, 3D printing, quantum computing, 5G technology, and robotics poses serious challenges and, at the same time, provides great opportunities for the future. While Indians constitute a major chunk of the workforce of global tech firms, and have contributed to the creation of these technologies, it is unfortunate that India has not been able to produce a major technology company in the tech product category in the world. The Budget has tried to address this gap in the Indian services sector by creating a positive ecosystem for the technology industry.
Indian consumers enjoy internet data at the cheapest price in the world. Along with this the fast pace of technology adoption by its rising young population makes it one of the largest generators of data in the world. The cliché that data is the new oil has been used many times before, but the fact remains that this new oil will generate the next wave of tech giants in the world.
To achieve this, the Budget rightly channelises the collection and storage of data within India by laying a roadmap for the creation of data parks in the country. Moreover, the impetus provided for digitising all public institutions will create abundant raw data and make India a data superpower in the world.
The Budget also provides a roadmap for the conversion of this data into tech products. It proposes two important schemes to achieve this goal: The National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Application; and Seed Funding for Startups.
The data generated and stored within India will be used by companies and start-ups for the creation of new products. Additionally, realising the fast-paced nature of the tech products sector, the support needed for creating patents have been enhanced and the intellectual property rights mechanism has been digitalised. This creates a well-rounded policy structure for the future Indian digital economy.
Sequencing of reforms
The Budget has continued to provide a thrust to the manufacturing sector and created the right environment for the growth of global manufacturing giants from India. Achieving economies of scale makes firms competitive in the global markets, such as in China. However, in India, the prevalence of inverted customs duty structure in many sectors and the availability of cheap imports acted as hindrances in increasing average firm size and achieving economies of scale.
The Budget rectifies these issues. Reduction of customs duty on raw materials and an upward revision of customs duty on finished products manufactured domestically will allow firms to expand and create manufacturing giants in India.
More importantly, the Budget gets the timing and the incentive mechanism right for a revival of investments in the country. The Indian economy has been facing an investment slowdown since 2012. Realising the magnitude of the problem, the government provided a Keynesian stimulus in the form of a corporate tax cut to the tune of ₹1.45 lakh crore just a few months before the Budget.
The tax cut helped the corporate sector recover its finances and gain higher valuations. It has made them financially stronger and has increased their investment potential. With this background, the government has rationalised the customs duty structure and opened new avenues for public private partnerships (PPP) in areas such as warehousing; railways; smart cities and social infrastructure. The sequencing of reforms will make investments attractive and fire up the animal spirits of the private sector.
Financial sector reforms
The bond market in India is not as well developed as the equity market. The bond markets in developed economies play a major role in funding corporates, governments, and long-term projects. However, in India, the banking sector is burdened with this task. The Budget takes the initial steps towards broadening and deepening of the Indian bond market.
The limit set on Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) investing in the Indian bond market has been increased from 9 per cent to 15 per cent. The government has also allowed for the introduction of new debt-based exchange-traded funds. These reforms will open new opportunities for foreign investors in the Indian debt market.
The Budget provides valuable investment opportunities for retail investors. LIC, one of the most respected behemoths of the Indian government, and IDBI Bank have been earmarked for disinvestments this year. The disinvestment target for the upcoming financial year has also been increased from ₹1 lakh crore to ₹2.1 lakh crore.
The valuation gain that the government will receive through this disinvestment process will be shared with retail investors in the country. Additionally, the increase in the deposit insurance limit from the current ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh and the proposed amendments to the Banking Regulations Act to strengthen the cooperative banks will protect the interests of all bank customers. This increased guarantee will address the risk of bank runs in the country and will also ensure stability for the overall banking sector.
The Finance Minister has taken a cautiously optimistic approach and has presented a balanced Budget that protects India’s macroeconomic stability, while also continuing the Keynesian stimulus through infrastructure building. After a few years, when Indians look back at the Budget presented in 2020, they will understand the global and domestic difficulties faced by the Finance Minister and appreciate her for the pragmatism with which she has handled the challenges of the Indian economy.
The writer is a Consultant with NITI Aayog. The views are personal
.(tagsToTranslate)Budget(t)Finance Minister(t)Nirmala Sitharaman(t)macroeconomy(t)LIC(t)disivestment(t)IDBI Bank(t)digital economy(t)Brexit(t)coronavirus(t)Banking Regulations Act
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Apple and Google are both taking steps to help their customers use their phones less frequently, indicating an underlying problem with the design of the technology we use every day. Indeed, people are increasingly becoming more and more addicted to their phones and other smart devices. This is thanks largely to the fear of missing out.
People, especially teenagers, are dangerously addicted to social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat. This is by design: The more you use these apps, the more money these apps make for their makers. And so, companies like Facebook—which builds the world’s popular social networks like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram—invest heavily in the development of products and services that help them grow and increase user retention.
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Instagram, for example, toyed with the idea of delaying notifications for new likes on posts specifically so that users would open the Instagram app more frequently. The theory is that these users would become concerned when their posts weren’t getting many likes, and this would cause them to compulsively recheck for updates. Pretty clever, right?
It’s obvious that being glued to your phone isn’t healthy. And Apple and Google are implementing features in their respective mobile platforms to help users with their addictions: Both iOS 12 and Android P will come with new “digital health” features that limit how much a user uses their phone every day or how much time they are allowed to spend on individual apps each day. The idea is pretty straightforward: If you think you are using an app too much, you can simply put a limit on that usage, and once the limit is reached, your phone will prevent you from using the app unless the limit is reset. Or you could simply ignore the limit and continue using the app.
And I believe that’s the main problem with these new digital health features. It’s way too easy to ignore the limits, something which has proven time and time again to be unsuccessful at treating addiction. For example, if you leave a wine bottle right in the view of someone who’s trying to stay sober, it’ll be difficult for them to not drink. And that’s essentially the same scenario with the digital health limits that are so easy to ignore or disable, especially on iOS 12. Even though Apple will let parents easily control the app limits and screen time limit on their children’s phones, the limits make it too easy for general users to ignore.
Don’t get me wrong, these new digital health features—on both platforms—are still incredibly important. As someone who is glued to his phone every day, I see how these digital health features could really help me avoid distractions, care less about missing out, and actually focus on the real world. My phone usage is obnoxious, and the detailed reports you can get on phone usage on iOS 12 are really helpful at identifying my most terrible phone usage habits.
For example, I apparently pick up my phone every 4 minutes each day — if that’s not unhealthy, I don’t know what is. And I can assure you there are other users around my age who pick up the phone more frequently. Put simply: we really don’t want to miss out on the snaps, the Instagram DMs, the streaks, and the memes on Twitter. It’s an obnoxious world where fear of missing out essentially controls the user’s mind and behavior.
Well, there isn’t one. Digital health limits help, but they most likely aren’t going to be effective at fully mitigating the issue. The improved Do Not Disturb features did help me with distractions and to focus a bit better on my schoolwork when studying for exams in the last few weeks. But I still found myself going back to Instagram and Snapchat every 15 or 20 minutes, or sometimes even after just 5 minutes. In fact, the problem got so bad that I ended up turning off my phone to actually focus on my studies.
Related, I had been planning to write this story ever since iOS 12 was first revealed but I never found the time to actually sit down and write because of the distractions of social media and…Fortnite. I’m writing this story right now on my phone sitting on a train underground, all in one go, mainly because I don’t have a network and there’s no Snapchat or Instagram to distract me.
Here’s the thing: Digital health is important. Focusing on the real world is important. And more importantly, actually missing out on some things could end up being healthy in the longer run. But to make sure we aren’t addicted to our phones, it should be our own responsibility to effectively use the new digital health features.
With companies like Facebook pushing you to watch more content on your phone with platforms like IGTV and implementing other growth hacking techniques on its platforms, it’s getting harder to stay away from your phone than ever before. Apple and Google are doing work to improve things with these coming new features. But ultimately, it’s our responsibility to actually put them to use.


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Ubisoft Massive’s creative director Magnus Jansen has said that there will no presence of microtransactions in the studio’s upcoming post-pandemic open world third-person RPG – Tom Clancy’s The Division.
In an interview with British video gaming blog VG247, Jansen said: “[Microtransactions are] one of the things that we looked at because if people like the game and want to purchase extra things I don’t mind that. But microtransactions, as it’s defined, we do not have them. You cannot spend a little bit of money and fast-track to get better gear or pay to win or vanity items. We do not have that. The short answer is no, we don’t have microtransactions, period.”
This goes to further cement one side of the story. On Thursday, in direct contrast to Jansen’s claims, The Division’s page listing on the PlayStation store was spotted with the words ‘In-game purchases optional’ in the description section. But in an interview with Gamespot on Friday, Jansen said that microtransactions “had been under consideration, but [pay-to-win] never made it into the game”.
It still doesn’t explain why the game page continues to carry that same description, or if it’s a misprint waiting to be corrected. Jansen went on to clarify that they do have planned downloadable content (DLC): “We will have DLC. We don’t have it yet because we’re just barely finishing the game. I just don’t want anyone to say that when we announce the DLC, ‘you said [no microtransactions]’.”
The Division will have a closed beta – for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC – towards the end of the month. It will be available publicly for purchase over a month later, on March 8.