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Juicing gets a lot of attention as a weight loss aid and cleansing fad, but are the health benefits for these trendy vitamin-packed beverages overblown — especially for people with health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
“The health benefits of juicing for people with RA come down to the ingredients being used,” says Neal Malik, MPH, RDN, the chair of the department of nutrition and basic sciences at Bastyr University California in San Diego. “If the ingredients aren’t nutritious to begin with, the final product won’t be, either.”
Essential Facts About Diet, RA, and Weight Gain Risks
While an RA diagnosis doesn’t directly cause people to gain weight, RA symptoms like joint pain and fatigue may make it difficult to exercise to burn calories. As a result, many people with RA look for a dietary approach to weight loss.
“People with RA should adhere to the recommendations issued in the 2015–2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines,” says Christine Palumbo, a registered dietary nutritionist in Naperville, Illinois. “Amounts vary by calorie levels. People eating 1,400 calories should consume 1½ cups of vegetables daily. Those eating 1,600 calories should consume 2 cups, and people eating 1,800 to 2,000 calories should consume 2½ cups of veggies.”
Pros and Cons of Juice Diets for People With RA
Before you get started with juicing, be sure to check with your doctor — especially if juicing is a major change to your diet. Once you have your doctor’s approval, it’s important to understand these six facts about juicing:
1. Juicing Will Increase Your Produce Intake
“Juicing can be a time-saver in that there is less prepping, cutting, and chopping,” says Malik. Which is also a wrist- and back-saver for people who suffer from RA joint pain. “Bottled vegetable juices like V-8 are acceptable substitutes provided they are used occasionally," he says. The sodium content is a bit on the higher side, so if high blood pressure is a concern, then it may be best to stay away from pre-packaged juices.
2. Juices Are Healthier When Fruits Are Used Sparingly
Once fruits are juiced, it’s easy to consume far too much without even realizing it. “One cup of orange juice may require the juice of three or more oranges, and it can be consumed in a matter of seconds,” says Malik. “This leads to a spike in blood sugar," he cautions, adding, "Some studies are finding that these spikes may increase systemic inflammation which may worsen RA symptoms.” Non-starchy vegetables like spinach and kale are high in fiber and lower in calories, and can be added to juice recipes to help cut back on sugar while adding valuable nutrients.
3. It’s Unnecessary to Juice as a Cleanse
“There isn’t anything inherently wrong with juicing, but I would beware of claims that juicing will ‘cleanse’ the body,” says Malik. “The human body has a number of checks and balances to detoxify and cleanse itself."
4. Juice Has Less Fiber Than Whole Fruits and Vegetables
“Vegetable juices retain many of the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals present in the whole food, but are missing the dietary fiber that is sorely lacking most people’s diets,” says Palumbo. The Arthritis Foundation suggests that eating a diet high in fiber can lower inflammation, which has been linked to RA.
5. Juicing Is Not a Useful Tool for Long-Term Weight Loss
Juicing can be part of a healthy weight loss program, provided that it is not relied upon too heavily. “But I do not recommend juicing as a means for long-term weight loss,” says Malik. “Maintaining weight loss requires regular exercise, portion control, stress management, and other lifestyle behaviors.
6. Add Real-Food Protein to Juices Rather Than Protein Powders
“In general, the body metabolizes natural proteins better than those consumed from synthetic sources,” says Malik. “Nut butters and seeds can be a nice complement to most juices.” And think twice before adding any spices. Turmeric and ginger have an anti-inflammatory effect, but some spices can interfere with medications, warns Malik. “It is always best to consult a physician before incorporating them into your diet.”
Once you get started with juicing, be sure to clean your juicer regularly and thoroughly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to help prevent illness, since people with RA and other autoimmune disorders are more susceptible to infection, according to a study published in January 2013 in the journal Rheumatology.


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Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong exhibited a new icon. Recently, a statue of 35-year-old singer Rihanna was unveiled at the museum, which allowed fans to take photos with the world music star. The addition follows the show of wax figures of Justin Bieber and actor Chris Hemsworth, reports WomanEL, citing a Vibe source. com.
The figurine is dressed in the monotone orange FENTY look worn by the mother of two in 2020 during the brand's presentation at Bergdorf Goodman. The fashion label was founded in 2019, and in 2021, Rihanna and Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) agreed to suspend activities.
Nude Dita Von Teese appeared in advertising a new lingerie collectionNatalya Karpa touched fans with a rare family shot: an important day
Mr. Wade Chang, General Manager of Midway Hong Kong, Merlin Entertainments, in detail noted:
Rihanna — is an incredibly fascinating artist, and by presenting her wax figure, we aim to capture her spirit of constant breakthroughs and unwavering determination. We hope that every guest who visits Madame Tussauds Hong Kong will leave with an unforgettable memory of their experience.
Wax figure of Rihanna. Source: vibe com.
Fans agree that the artist, who created the realistic figure, perfectly recreated everything from her hair to her makeup. The figure is on display in the museum's fashion area, although she remains best known for her music. Listeners haven't heard anything new on this front from the artist for some time; her last full-length release was 2016's ANTI. Luckily, for those eagerly awaiting new material from the singer, that may not be for long. Earlier this month, she announced that she would be returning to the stage with new music.

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Medical device company Lumenis held its Advance Aesthetic Workshop at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on September 13.
For the second year, Enhance Insurance will sponsor the business agenda at the Aesthetics Conference and Exhibition (ACE) 2018.
Dermatological company SkinMed has introduced TripleLock on Rosacea to its treatment portfolio.
Aesthetic practitioner Dr Tijion Esho has developed a range of topical lip products with skincare company DECIEM.
Aesthetics reports on the highlights from the British College of Aesthetic Medicine’s annual conference
The UK’s leading dermatologists, plastic surgeons and aesthetic practitioners will be coming together on Friday 10 November in Birmingham, to explore the latest in new skin treatments and technologies.
Aesthetic company Teoxane UK hosted around 40 guests at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on September 6 for its first ever TeoLabs Training Day.
Global pharmaceutical company Obagi Medical has announced its October Obagi Ambassador Network days.
New sponsors have been announced for the Aesthetics Conference and Exhibition (ACE) 2018.
A new European Standard on non-surgical aesthetics has been published by the British Standards Institution (BSI).


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The phablet was ridiculed back in the day by Steve Jobs, who also mocked the stylus, but I’m guessing that if he saw the Galaxy Note 3, he’d think again. Now we’ve got some figures to support the popularity of the phablet, related to their shipments.
It would appear that 120 million units or more may be shipped by 2018, rising from an estimated 20 million last year. The most receptive markets are in East Asia, with South Korea loving these big screen models the most. I have an exact idea of the people who want these devices: gamers and people who consume media on the go. Even Nokia joined this trend with two phablet models, while HTC also took a stab at it, but without too much success (One Max).
Even Alcatel has a phablet or two, while Huawei has been operating in the segment for over a year now. Windows Phone is rather new in this field and certainly needs more models to become more established, while Android is already dominant in the phablet field. Meanwhile, Apple stays away from the segment, but who knows, they may jump in… in 2015 supposedly.


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The Callisto Protocol will land on December 2 coming soon to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Therefore, Krafton went into detail about the Season Pass waited for his game.
Just one thing to do. Survive. pic.twitter.com/HEVudlh0ku
— The Callisto Protocol (@CallistoTheGame) November 24, 2022
The developers tell us that the Season Pass is expected for 2023. Glen Schofielddirector of krafton, announced the addition of additional content for the campaign, but also new animations for the dead. This latest addition sparked an unprecedented outpouring of anger on social media, forcing the studio to correct its remarks with this statement: nothing has been removed from the game, my team has not even started developing this additional content yet« .


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To celebrate the start of the new season (and mark its territory), Sky showed off its historical presence in the game with a viral ad featuring Thierry Henry.
The Arsenal legend revisits the league’s most memorable moments over the last 23 years, including some from Henry himself.
The ad was previewed on Facebook before running on TV, becoming the social network’s most successful ad in EMEA to date, racking up 18m video views.
Ahead of its start of season show, Sky Sports continued its Facebook push, asking fans to submit their opinions and questions on the best and worst moments of the league’s 23-year history.
These went to the show’s panel, featuring Henry, Jamie Redknapp, Graeme Souness and Dave Jones, and the show was previewed in three parts on Facebook before being aired.
Stuart Payling, Sky Sports brand manager, said: "When we began planning this year’s campaign, we knew lots of people would have an opinion on their favourite Premier League moments.
"We thought, what better way to fuel the debate than pitch the opinions of Thierry, Jamie and Graeme against those of Premier League football fans on Facebook?"
According to Facebook spokespeople, the preview segments racked up 1.19m views, with the majority watching for more than 15 minutes.
Good content can buck the trend
That challenges conventional wisdom that video content from brands need to be as short as possible to keep users engaged – though Sky Sports has the advantage of being a brand that produces good content for a living.
Jen Louis, global strategy lead at Facebook, told Marketing: "We cut [the Sky Sports show] into three parts because, if you look at viewing habits, one 48-minute video is a bit much.
"But people watched for more than 15 minutes and almost to completion in all three pieces – and those are really fantastic numbers if you look at what people watch on Facebook. What we know is when we put content up that is really relevant, people are willing to watch for a very long time."
She added: "Sky Sports wanted to focus on what they had done historically, and how they really understand the Premier League like a fan does.
"It was about communicating this in a way that made people feel [that] not only do they want to watch on Sky Sports because they [subscribe], but because the way it talks about the game is the way they want to hear it."
After the show, Sky Sports sliced up its show, then used Facebook’s extensive data on user interests and affiliations to serve those snippets to fans of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal respectively.
Each segment featured the relevant club’s best Premier League moments, and was presented by a relevant pundit.
Facebook targeted not only football fans who identified with certain clubs, but also the millions who had expressed interest in the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
Matt Ring, head of TV and broadband at Facebook, said: "Sky Sports does want to drive subscriptions, but the [brand] also knows that the more content people consume, the more likely they are to stay with the service."
Ring added that the content was targeted at existing Sky subscribers who don’t have the sports package, as well as new customers.
He said: "It’s the ability to make sure people are seeing that content in a way that feels really relevant to them."
Sky Sports hasn’t revealed how many new subs may have come from its efforts on Facebook.
The era of personalised storytelling
Jen Louis acknowledged that other brands might find it tough to replicate Sky Sports’ success on Facebook.
She said: "Sky Sports are expert storytellers, doing it all day every day. A Listerine might need to tell a story, but has a myriad of aspects to consider. But Sky Sports is able to get things done very quickly, and knows how to cut those clips and get them together in a way that’s really timely."
While Ring described Sky Sports as a brand leading the way in personalised storytelling, he suggested more brands would borrow the technique.
He said: "The whole idea of being able to discover what’s important to you – whether from a friend or a brand – is absolutely what feels natural as a user.
"From a brand’s perspective, if you can surface stories, or pieces of content about something I’m interested in, it’ll be a better experience for both [users] and the business. We’re seeing more brands playing in this space."


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University of Chicago Professor of Economics, and economic adviser to former Democratic President Barack Obama, Austan Goolsbee, told Newsmax Tuesday the Democratic spending bills being considered, and passed, in Congress should not have that big an impact on inflation, calling that argument against passing them a “red herring.”
If you pay for spending with higher taxes, it doesn't have an impact on inflation,” Goolsbee said during “American Agenda” Tuesday. “If you spread it out over 10 years, it has even less impact on inflation. So, I think we should evaluate the content of bills like “build back better” on the merits, not about the impact on inflation, because I think that's kind of a red herring.”
Goolsbee said the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, which Biden signed into law Monday, and the approximately $2 trillion budget reconciliation bill currently making its way through Congress, will likely not make inflation worse by itself, although the country will be dealing with higher prices for at least “months.”
“We have had high inflation, and we’re likely to be dealing with that, even for ‘team temporary,’ they believe that that will last months, not weeks,” he said.
Goolsbee said the record inflation right now is more a result of the pent-up demand for goods caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, creating the supply chain bottlenecks around the world, leading to higher prices for goods.
“It's a global supply chain. You've got all the countries of the world trying to come booming back all at the same time, which doesn't usually happen,” he said. “Because of the virus, you've had a really unprecedented shift of what Americans are spending their money on, away from services towards physical goods.”
He said once spending on services “goes back to normal,” inflationary pressures should ease.
“We need to get back to a normal spending pattern where people are spending more money on services less on physical goods, because the massive, unprecedented, spending on physical goods is straining the global supply chain everywhere in the world,” he said. “If we can get more services spending without leaning on the vaccine, without getting control of the virus, that be great, too, but we know for a fact that in places where they get control of the spread of the virus, they start shifting more back to spending on service.”
Fellow economist, Wendy Edlberg, director of the Hamilton Project, and a senior fellow of economic studies, published an article on the Brookings Institution website Tuesday that echoed Goolsbee’s beliefs about inflation.
“To examine whether this short-term run up in inflation points to higher inflation in the years ahead, I look at the factors that appear to be contributing,” she said in the article. “I find that the strength and composition of consumer demand for goods since the pandemic began as well as supply constraints caused by the pandemic are the sources of the current spike. The clearly temporary nature of those factors suggests we should not extrapolate recent inflation pressure into the future.”
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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Shares of German automakers held higher after generally upbeat comments on European operations from rival General Motors GM, +0.10% GM said its loss in the European operations narrowed to $103 million in the first quarter from a $116 million loss in the year-ago quarter. "Our European operations began to show signs of real progress during the quarter, with the region posting its highest quarterly market share in six years," the automaker said. "We're pleased with our improving direction in Europe." BMW de:51900 was up 0.9%; DaimlerChrysler dcx DAI, -1.42% was up 0.9%; VW VOW, -2.31% was up 0.4%
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The Ontario International Airport Authority Commission approved a multi-year agreement with a Hudson Group-led consortium to upgrade retail concessions at Ontario International (ONT). The airport’s goal is to improve shopping options for travelers and at the same time generate significant revenues.
The eight-year lease agreement with Hudson Group and HG ONT Retailers JV requires that they make a capital investment of at least $2.4 million to rebrand and remodel its retail operations. Hudson will also pay rent calculated as a percentage of gross sales, the commission said.
The concessionaire will pay the airport authority 12 percent on sales in its specialty stores and electronics category; 16 percent on sales in the news and gifts category up to $10 million per year, increasing to 18 percent on sales greater than $10 million per year; and 12 percent on sales in the duty-free category up to $10 million per year, rising to 18 percent on sales of more than $10 million per year.
With the new concepts and rent payment structure, the airport authority anticipates rent payments will increase by as much as 70 percent over the term of the new agreement. In the first year after the retail improvements are completed, the concessionaire expects to generate an additional $500,000 in rent to the airport authority.
Following the remodel, the retail concessions will include Hudson Group’s flagship brands Hudson, Tech on the Go, and Ink by Hudson, as well as Daily News, Ontario Provisions, and Cali Market.
“Since the Ontario International Airport Authority assumed control of our airport last year, the commission and staff have worked tirelessly to improve the customer experience at the airport, and an important aspect of that experience is the retail offerings available to our passengers,” said OIAA Commission President and Ontario Mayor Pro-tem President Alan D. Wapner. “With new domestic and international air service, more ground transportation options and the coming remodel of airport concessions, our airport is now a gateway befitting the Southern California region.”


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Farnell, the leading multi-channel electronics distributor, has been approached by the UK Government’s Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) to produce a background piece on RoHS and WEEE recasts (RoHS 2 and WEEE 2). Farnell will also be helping to promote a series of roadshows the Government department are running across various regions to enable users or producers of electrical and electronic equipment understand the major developments in European legislation affecting the electronics industry.
In 2010, Farnell launched the industry’s most comprehensive electronics industry legislation information portal on element14, the innovative online technology resource and community for electronic design engineers. The portal has been a one stop shop for electronic design engineers looking for the latest updates, reference guides to complex and lengthy legislation, featuring discussion groups and a blog discussing the latest trends within the industry. Design engineers directly interact and converse with Gary Nevison, Farnell’s Head of Legislation and Compliance, and other peers to ask specific questions regarding their legislation compliance concerns.
“Having a UK Government department approach Farnell to raise awareness on the significant subject of RoHS and WEEE recast shows how we, as a business, are providing bespoke, independent, expertise in the electronics legislation space,” said Gary Nevison. “We are delighted our opinion is valued by the BIS and are keen to assist and promote the forthcoming roadshows by offering our best support.”
Business Minister Mark Prisk said, “We are pleased that Farnell are able to support us in the delivery of our environmental roadshows, which will assist businesses in understanding the European directives that will impact them as we look to renewed growth.”
The roadshows, which will take place across the UK, are free half day events where people can find about these changes and how they will impact business, identify the requirements for business compliance and refresh awareness of obligations.
Further details and dates of events available at: http://www.bis.gov.uk/roadshows


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Amidst the attempts to avoid American tariffs, Chinese companies have catalyzed their pace of investments in Southeast Asia. These investments have effectively contributed to the economic development of the countries in this region. In its report, the Asian Development Bank highlights how the trade conflict between China and United States has only went on to accelerate the investment links of China in the developing Asia.
Vietnam has particularly attracted Chinese foreign direct investments because of its geographical proximity and availability of cheap labor. During the first five months of 2019, Chinese investment in Vietnam increased to $1.56 billion, surpassing the overall total for 2018. According to a Nomura Holdings report, the country has also seen the greatest financial impact of the Chinese investments in Southeast Asia.
Chinese investment paved its way into Philippines, especially after Chinese President Xi Jinping met President of Philippines Rodrigo Duterte last year in Manila. This diplomatic encounter resulted in the signing of cooperation agreements over 29 projects. In 2018, China moved ahead of Japan in terms of foreign direct investment in the Philippines.
South Korea and Thailand, among other countries, have also seen abundant Chinese capital inflows this year. Majority of which are a consequence of relocation and expansion of Chinese companies.
The pressure to search alternative sites for production stems from the trade conflict between China and US. Many Chinese companies have registered their concerns regarding this conflict and are actively preparing to cater to whatever circumstances they may have to face, including relocation and branching out.
Luo Shanshan, Director Shenzhen H&T Intelligent Control, expressed how despite of initially being based in Guangdong Province, the company will be globalizing itself in order to avoid the trade conflict between US and China. Shenzhen H&T Intelligent Control is a local electronics manufacturer that recently decided to set up a production unit in Vietnam.
Chinese multinational electronics companies, such as Lenovo and TCL, also plan to install their production units and factories in Vietnam. GoerTek, a Chinese acoustic components company, which assembles Apple’s AirPods has already been approved to build their plant in Northern Vietnam.
With rising threats of another round of increased tariffs by the Trump administration, this trend of Chinese foreign direct investments can only be expected to rise. On the flip side, however, the production shifts may largely impact the employment and investment in China, potentially resulting in greater unemployment.


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Governor Signs Santa Monica Lawmaker's Measure to Extend Clean Vehicle Decal Program
By Lookout Staff
October 11, 2017 -- A law sponsored by Sana Monica Assemblymember Richard Bloom to extend California’s Clean Vehicle Decal program was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday.
The law -- AB 544 -- extends the program, which was set to end January 1, 2019, through 2025, which is the deadline to put more than one million Zero Emission Vehicles on the road under California’s zero emission vehicle sales mandate.
Under the new program, "clean vehicle" decals -- which allow single-occupant qualifying vehicles to use carpool or diamond lanes -- would be valid for three years and the number issued would be uncapped.
The law, Bloom said, “will bring long-term certainty to the decal program and help California meet its ambitious climate change goals.
“Reaching those goals depends on our ability to encourage consumers to make sustainable purchasing decisions," including the choice of vehicles, which Bloom called "the largest and most environmentally-impactful purchases they can make."
Some 300,000 zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) have been sold in California since 2008, making it the nation's largest ZEV market, according to Bloom's office.
"A variety of programs, including clean vehicle incentives, remain critical to reaching both the ZEV goal and broader statewide greenhouse gas reductions goals," Blooms office said.
The California New Car Dealers Association called the law "a good step."
“In order to continue striving toward California’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) goals and create further consumer demand of electric vehicles, it’s critical that the state continue to provide incentives for California drivers,” said the Association's chairperson Chairperson Cheryl Bedford.
“We have a long way to go but providing these incentives to consumers to purchase electric vehicles," she said. "Including access to HOV lanes, is a good step in the right direction and will be an encouraging factor in the sales of electric vehicles.”
|copyrightCopyright 1999-2017 surfsantamonica.com. All Rights Reserved.||Disclosures|


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Saks Fifth Avenue shoppers are flocking to the department store’s full-price wares — but discount chain Saks Off 5th is still struggling to draw in customers.
Parent company HBC reported second-quarter 2018 earnings on Wednesday and blamed widened losses on weaker-than-expected sales at Lord & Taylor and Off 5th. The company posted a net loss of C$147 million ($112.65 million), or 62 Canadian cents a share for the quarter ended Aug. 4, compared with a net loss of C$100 million, or 55 cents per share, a year earlier.
Still, this beat analysts’ forecasts of a loss of 67 cents per share, and the company’s shares rose 5 percent in morning trading. HBC also reported improved margins, raising adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, to C$33 million from C$3 million during the same period in 2017.
The most obvious bright spot amid the results, though, was a 6 percent rise in comparable sales at Saks Fifth Avenue, which puts the department store’s rebound about on par with its competitors. (Nordstrom reported a 4 percent growth in comp sales in its last earnings report, while Neiman Marcus held strong at 6 percent.)
Helena Foulkes, HBC’s CEO, called Saks’ performance “especially encouraging,” saying: “The business’s ongoing strategy to elevate the brand through enhancement of its fashion offering, increased customer engagement and efforts to bring together the online and offline shopping experience continues to drive traction within the luxury segment.”
Even so, she added, “there is still significant work to be done to improve our top line at Lord & Taylor and Saks Off 5th, which have not met expectations. With the right leadership team now in place, our banners are empowered to develop and implement strategies that will best drive their businesses forward.”
Comparable sales dropped 3.8 percent at HBC’s department store group, which includes its Hudson’s Bay and Lord & Taylor banners, and fell 7.6 percent at Off 5th. The latter has hot competition in fellow off-price chains Nordstrom Rack and Macy’s Backstage, both of which have seen healthy growth in recent quarters, and — at least in Backstage’s case — should be poised for even more business as Macy’s expands its footprint to hundreds of doors around the country.


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MANILA, Philippines – Skin whiteners and slimming pills have overtaken sex-enhancing drugs as the most counterfeited products in the country, according to the chief of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
IPOPHL director-general Ricardo Blancaflor said in an interview with reporters on Tuesday, May 7, that his office was stepping up its its cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against the proliferation of fake skin whitening and slimming products in the market, some sold in regular drugstores.
“The FDA has been very active because counterfeit drugs are a different issue. This involves public health unlike fake apparel or bags [that don’t hurt] users,” Blancaflor said.
He said that since last year, skin whitening and slimming products have been the most faked products in the country, as they fulfill the aspiration of consumers, especially women.
Blancaflor said antibiotics used to hold top spot among counterfeit drugs in the country but since the availability of cheap generic antibiotics, unscrupulous traders began selling fake sex-enhancing drugs for men like Viagra and Cialis.
Made in India?
When asked, Blancaflor said the share of fake drug sales in the country in total pharmaceutical sales “should be lower” than the global estimate of 10%.
Blancaflor suspects that India may be the source of the fake drugs but he does not discount the possibility that some of of the drugs are locally manufactured.
He also said that some people do not report their purchase of fake drugs due to embarrassment.
“There had been reports that some customers had been adversely affected after consuming or using these fake medicines but in the case of Viagra, nobody wants to admit (or go public),” he said.
He said in the Philippines, counterfeit drugs are sold in small shops and even neighborhood drugstores.
Blancaflor laments the fact that counterfeit medicines still find their way into the Philippines when rules are already very strict.
He also said that any medicine not registered with the FDA “is automatically considered counterfeit even if it has all the documents, even if it has all the main ingredients and carries the same brand.”
Blancaflor said that on April 26, IPOPHL and the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) held a ceremonial destruction of fake pharmaceutical products with an estimated value of P300 million. – Rappler.com


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NWC announces water restrictions - Company urges customers to store the precious commodity
IN AN attempt to manage the limited water supply in the Rio Cobre/Tulloch Spring and Ferry water supply systems, the National Water Commission (NWC) yesterday implemented a new distribution schedule on these systems.
According to the NWC, while some amount of rainfall is being experienced in sections of the island, these systems are currently only operating at 70 per cent of capacity, and customers will continue to experience interruptions in their piped water supply, resulting in low water pressure or no water at various times.
The water company said this is owing partly to the prolonged drought conditions at the Eastern Headworks facility and equipment damage at Tulloch Spring.
The following are the areas and times of regular water supply: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. - Portmore and Hellshire; 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - Washington Boulevard and roads leading off, Molynes Road and roads leading off, Patrick City, Meadowbrook Estate, Duhaney Park, Eltham Gardens, Spanish Town Road, Whitfield Town, Marcus Garvey Drive and sections of downtown Kingston.
The NWC said Sligoville and adjoining areas will receive piped water supply between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and trucked supplies during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to elevated areas not supplied during the night.
Outside of the stipulated times, customers will experience low water pressure or may have no water at all.
The NWC said it apologises for the inconvenience and urges customers to store water for the period they may be without the commodity.


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In one of the biggest news that has hit 2010, Activision Blizzard has signed an exclusive 10 year partnership with Bungie, the developers behind the hit series Halo. This deal means that Activision will now have exclusive rights to sell, pusblish and distribute games made by Bungie, which in turn will increase the global reach for Bungie. Thomas Tippl, chief operating officer of Activision Blizzard, said: “Bungie is one of the premier studios in the gaming industry. Our unprecedented partnership with Bungie will enable us to broaden our pipeline of exciting new games as we continue to strengthen our industry position.”
From a gamers point of view, expect future games from Bungie to be multiplatform. Stay tuned with GB for news and updates.


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Gleneagles hotel is expected to go up for sale, after owner Diageo said it had received “numerous expressions of interest.”
The five-star resort in Perthshire, Scotland, which hosted the Ryder Cup in October last year, is rumoured to go on the market with a price tag of more than £200m. Diageo, which has owned the 850-acre site since 1984, tried to sell the property in 1998 but offers failed to meet expectations, believed to be around £100m. It is believed to have tried to have sold the hotel again around six years ago.
According to reports, property firm Jones Lang LaSalle has been drafted in by Diageo to seek potential buyers, with US equity firm KSL Capital Partners reportedly interested. A spokesperson for Diageo said: “Gleneagles is one of the UK’s finest luxury hotels and one of the world’s most fantastic golf resorts.
“We are sure there are many people who would love to own Gleneagles and have received numerous expressions of interest over the years and particularly since the Ryder Cup. As you would expect we have a duty to consider such interest carefully.”


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During the week of June 20-27, scrap prices in the Turkish market fell by $30, to $330/t
Prices for HMS 1/2 scrap on the Turkish market for the week of June 20-27 decreased by $30 compared to the previous week, to $330/t. Thus, scrap prices are declining for the 13th week in a row after a sharp rise to $655/t, according to the Kallanish price indicator.
Scrap prices last week fell to their lowest level since early November 2020. Raw materials fell sharply in the middle of last week, to $320-325/t, while on Monday, June 27, prices rose by $5 for the first time in 13 weeks, indicating the bottom of the Turkish scrap market.
The sharp fall of prices in the middle of the week happened after the conclusion of a new agreement in the Benelux countries at lower prices. The main reason for lower prices is still the lack of demand for finished products and the availability of cheap Russian billets.
Some suppliers have announced a reorientation of wholesale scrap sales to alternative markets in Asia and Mexico at higher prices. Negative sentiment in Turkey is forcing scrap suppliers to avoid its market at all costs, as the flow of cheap Russian raw materials has changed trade relations here.
At the same time, seeking to reduce domestic prices for scrap, factories automatically reduce prices for rebar, creating a spiral effect. Dropping scrap prices also put pressure on the pricing of rolled products. Some manufacturers have started offering discounts on their products for large orders.
As long as Russian plants continue to supply cheap billets and scrap prices fall, the pressure on the rebar will not decrease. Some manufacturers in Turkey have already reduced capacity utilization and want to start overhaul earlier than planned if negative sentiment persists.
The working level for coastal scrap last week was below $300-310/t. At the same time, sellers from Bulgaria and Romania tried to resist such prices.
Earlier GMK Center reported that for the week of June 13-20, prices for scrap brand HMS 1/2 in the Turkish market decreased by $35 compared to the previous week, to $350-360/t. Thus, scrap prices fell for the 12th week in a row after a sharp rise to $655/t.


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BlackBerry 10, the newest operating system from BlackBerry, and both the BlackBerry Z10 and the BlackBerry Q10 have been offically launched in an event in New York City on Wednesday. This is being dubbed the companies last hope to challenge Apple‘s iOS and Google‘s Android.
During the companies launch event on Wednesday, Thorsten Heins, CEO of BlackBerry said, “BlackBerry 10 builds on 20 years of experience […] and it has a user experience unlike anything you’ve see before.”
The event highlighted how everything just “flows” on BlackBerry 10. The BlackBerry Hub has integrated social media, BlackBerry Messages (BBM), and email making it more than likely where most users spend a lot of their time. You will able to respond to all notifications without ever leaving the BlackBerry Hub.
BlackBerry has also came out with a neat thing called BlackBerry Balance. In BlackBerry Balance, you can set it up where work data and personal data can be stored separately. This will make it possible for people to block certain aspects of life (such as work on the weekends or annoying status update alerts while at work.)
If you would like to read more about the newest features of BlackBerry 10, Click Here.


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Z responds to Government's latest fuel market policy changes
November 9, 2022
Z Energy (Z) supports the Government’s decision to delay the implementation of the Sustainable Biofuels Obligation by 12 months as the cost of living continues to concern New Zealanders. With fuel volumes down from 2019, this delay will allow for a more in-depth look into sustainable fuels that best meet New Zealand’s needs.
“We support Government policy that sets a clear agenda for us and the wider industry on what we need to achieve and how to get there. Z is committed to a low carbon future and sees biofuels playing a valuable role in the transition, along with electrons and hydrogen, as the country looks to meet its future carbon emission reduction targets. This is a difficult journey and technology such as electrification continues to move more rapidly than predicted – presenting alternative fuel solutions that may be more cost effective or efficient to biofuels in some use cases, such as the light-vehicle fleet,” says Mike Bennetts, Z’s Chief Executive.
Z has first-hand experience with the challenges of trying to develop low carbon transport fuels while protecting consumers from higher prices. The company recently made the decision to close its own biofuels manufacturing plant, Te Kora Hou, after the economics of producing a locally made biofuel rapidly deteriorated. It was clear the cost of domestically producing biofuels was no longer economically sustainable to Z or its customers.
“We believe the role of biofuels will be to support decarbonisation of our heavy-fleet vehicles and the aviation sector. Our recent shipment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) delivered to Air New Zealand is an example of how we are testing the New Zealand supply chain in order to scale up in the future.
“Z will continue to work with Government to determine what policy will see us deliver the best results for New Zealanders and allow for flexibility to ensure industry and consumers can decide which technology solution is right for them while at the same time allowing industry to focus investment in making this a reality,” says Mike.
Today the Government also confirmed it would introduce minimum onshore fuel stockholding levels for the industry. Z looks forward to working with officials over the coming months to understand the requirement in more detail.
“It’s encouraging to see the independent review into national fuel security post the refinery closure confirm the shift to a fully import model improved fuel resilience by removing a single point of failure, in addition to a more diverse procurement process. We believe Z has a resilient fuel supply chain with a fuel cargo arriving approximately every five days.” says Mike.
Z also acknowledges the Government announcement providing additional powers to the Commerce Commission to step in if required within the wholesale fuel market. Since daily Terminal Gate Pricing (TGP) was implemented under the Fuel Industry Act 2020, Z continues to meet the requirements and offer daily spot TGP wholesale rates. While we recognise the intent of the additional powers, we believe given the highly competitive nature of the industry it is a backstop that should not be required.
Kiri Shannon, Acting External Communications Manager — firstname.lastname@example.org 021 0234 4157.


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With a whirlwind of announcements at its Google I/O developers conference this week, Google’s vast suite of social products is finally starting to look like it was created by a single company and not together
I’m a devoted Pathhole—a hardcore user of mobile social network Path. For all that I make fun of Path’s twee, artisanal, and bespoke nature—on a recent visit to its lovely office in San Francisco, I was
Google+ has never looked and felt as it good as it does right now. Alas, looks aren’t everything. A massive overhaul of the service, announced Wednesday during a keynote at Google’s I/O conference for
If you’ve ever used the Internet — and you know who you are — you’ve undoubtedly had apps or various services stop working unexpectedly. For ordinary users, this usually just means no access to Twitter
A year ago, I left Google’s annual I/O developers conference convinced it was making a major strategic shift into being a hardware company. As this year’s I/O wraps up, I’m left questioning that conclusion.


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WEST PALM BEACH, FL, (March 31, 2016) – MarineMax announced today that it will be opening a new location at PGA Marina Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
“We are excited about the opportunity to better serve our customers in the West Palm Beach and surrounding area,” explained Paul Cummings, MarineMax Southeast Florida Regional President. “This new marina location will give us an opportunity to provide the same outstanding sales and service our customers have come to expect.”
MarineMax will carry top brands including Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Azimut, Galeon and Scout. The store will be conveniently located on the Intracoastal Waterway, just off PGA Boulevard, easy to reach by land or by water.
“We are all really excited about sharing our passion for being on the water with our customers,” continued Cummings. “Everything from Demo-Days to MarineMax Getaways!® will be even more fun for our customers.”
For more information on MarineMax West Palm Beach, contact Paul Cummings at 954-783-9555 or email email@example.com


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Saleh Bin Hasan Al-Afaliq, chairman of Al-Ahsa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Abdul Rahman Saif Al-Ghurair, chairman, Dubai chamber, during their meeting in Dubai.
DUBAI: Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry received a delegation of high-ranking officials from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahsa Chamber of Commerce and Industry as part of efforts to enhance joint relations between the two GCC countries.
Saleh Bin Hasan Al-Afaliq, chairman of Al-Ahsa Chamber, led the delegation and was welcomed by Abdul Rahman Saif Al-Ghurair, chairman, Majid Hamad Rahma Al-Shamsi, first vice chairman, and Hamad Buamim, director general, Dubai Chamber.
During the meeting, officials discussed some of the administrative obstacles to trade between Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ghurair said the visit would help further enhance cooperation between Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
“Dubai and Saudi Arabia are already strong partners. Saudi Arabia is Dubai’s sixth biggest trade partner and last year non-oil trade reached AED32 billion, of which Dubai’s exports and re-exports valued AED26.8 billion and imports totaled AED5.4 billion,” he said.
“Saudi Arabia is also a major growth market for Dubai Chamber members,” he said.
“Our data shows that during the first half of this year our members’ exports and re-exports increased by 21.7 percent, compared to the same period in 2010, which shows that there is significant potential for future business growth,” he added.
During the visit, Al-Ghurair also highlighted Dubai Chamber’s commitment to support Saudi Arabian businesses in Dubai, particularly in key economic sectors of trade, tourism, logistics and financial services.
The Al-Ahsa delegation said they supported efforts to increase collaboration between the chambers of commerce in the region and improve the climate for businesses.
Al-Afaliq said: “This visit is part of efforts to enhance the integration of economies in the region of which the private sector is a pillar. It is also part of Al-Ahsa Chamber’s aims to strengthen the experience of business in the region and to adapt to new developments in neighboring countries.
“In addition, we are seeking to establish partnerships with representatives of the private sector in Dubai, which will help strengthen commercial ties,” he added.
Abdullah Al-Nashwan, secretary general of Al-Ahsa Chamber, said: “Dubai Chamber’s experience is a pioneering one in the region and Al-Ahsa Chamber aims to get an insight into this experience in order to benefit and improve its services to members.”
The visit comes as part of Al-Ahsa’s plans to launch an excellence award and a shopping festival.
As part of the visit, Dubai Chamber also organized site visits for the delegation to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development and Jebel Ali Free Zone.


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U.S. sales expected to fall in Oct. for third straight monthThu, 27, Oct 2016
U.S. new-vehicle sales are expected to decline for a third consecutive month, but the industry's selling rate could reach its highest point of the year because of the way October falls in the calendar.
Tesla's arguments in defense of direct sales are wrongMon, 24, Oct 2016
The arguments that Tesla uses to defend its retail strategy are wrong, writes analyst Maryann Keller in a guest opinion piece.
Reynolds invests in online used-car trade networkMon, 24, Oct 2016
Dealership software giant Reynolds and Reynolds has taken a minority, yet “significant” stake in the Appraisal Lane, a startup online used-car trade network.
Baby boomers swap Corvettes for comfort as U.S. sports-car sales fallFri, 21, Oct 2016
Baby boomers are starting to outgrow their midlife crisis years, and that's bad news for automakers who want to sell sports cars. It was a sign of things to come this month when Ford idled its Mustang plant for a week as sales for the year fell 9 percent.
CarMax's certification checklist fails Calif. law, court rulesFri, 21, Oct 2016
A federal appeals court in California ruled that CarMax's component inspection checklist violates a state statue that requires dealers to provide consumers a “completed inspection report” prior to the sale of any certified used vehicle.
Lithia, Group 1 return to the buy-sell arenaMon, 24, Oct 2016
Lithia Motors and Group 1 Automotive are back on the prowl for dealerships.
Every brand wants piece of the action in AmericaMon, 17, Oct 2016
Think the U.S. market is competitive now? With sales at historic highs, a number of overseas makers are seeking to set up shop in a landscape known to be hostile to newcomers.
New vision helps Prius bounce backSun, 16, Oct 2016
Toyota had high hopes when it brought the Prius to Mexico in 2010. After an initial flop, those hopes are finally being realized, thanks to a lower price and shrewd marketing.
Acura is still awaiting halo effect from NSXSat, 15, Oct 2016
Acura has long hoped that having a 573-hp awd hybrid supercar might help put an exclamation point on the rest of the brand's performance chops and, in turn, sell more vehicles. That hasn't happened yet.
Customers want direct salesMon, 17, Oct 2016
Customers want to be able to buy directly from manufacturers.
Stocks larger than normal on Oct. 1Mon, 17, Oct 2016
Automakers started October with larger-than-normal vehicle stocks after U.S. light-vehicle sales fell 0.7 percent in September.
Europe car sales grow 7%; VW fails to stem declineFri, 14, Oct 2016
New-car sales in Europe grew by 7.3 percent in September with most major automakers except PSA Group gaining volume. VW Group, racked by diesel-emissions violations, continued to lose market share.


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New Telematics System Offered to Food Sector Cold Chain Operators
10th July 2018
Telematics provider Masternaut has launched a new platform for operators in the cold-chain. The company claims it is able to provide a complete offering which allows cold-chain operators to benefit from the real-time insight provided by a telematics system. As well as more traditional benefits such as measuring driver behaviour and fuel efficiency, this gives them the opportunity to continuously track temperatures in chilled units and receive immediate, geolocated warnings should the temperature move outside set limits. The system will adapt dynamically to the temperature set on the cold group inside the refrigerated vehicle or trailer.
Inefficiencies of any kind are costly within a fleet, but in the cold-chain environment, this is particularly sensitive, as unwanted temperature fluctuations can result in the wastage of entire shipments of products. This new combination of best-in-class cold chain management and telematics, supports companies in demonstrating compliance, protecting goods and increasing productivity, through a reduction in human intervention.
One industry which is particularly affected by breaks in the cold chain, is the food sector. According to WRAP, in the UK, over 2 million tonnes of fresh produce are lost or wasted each year in the supply chain alone. It is estimated that by taking action to reduce or prevent this waste the UK fresh produce industry would realise savings of between £400 million and £500 million a year.
There is also a strong business case for reducing food waste. A review of 1,200 business across 700 companies, in 17 countries by Champions 12.3, demonstrated a positive return for companies introducing food wastage initiatives, with half realising a 14-fold or greater return.


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Switzerland has signed a declaration of intent to strengthen collaboration between the Swiss National Science Foundation and its Japanese counterpart during a meeting between Swiss President Alain Berset and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.
The accord would pave the way for closer bilateral scientific and research projects, the Swiss government said on Thursday. Berset, who also holds the health portfolio, is due to attend a summit on patient safety and aims to hold talks with health ministers of various countries on the fringes of the event.
Official talks between Berset and Abe also explored ways of beefing up the free trade agreement (FTA) in force between the two nations since 2009.
Trade between Switzerland and Japan has grown steadily over the past few years with Swiss exports reaching CHF7.5 billion ($7.8 billion) last year and goods arriving from Japan totalling CHF5.7 billion – a 14.5% annual increase in bilateral trade from 2016.
The FTA appears to have had a more significant impact on attracting Japanese company investments to Switzerland. Direct investments from Japan to Switzerland had languished before the FTA came into force but have since leapt from CHF630 million to CHF5.6 billion.
During the talks, both sides outlined their commitment to help improve ties between Europe and Asia, including participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative aimed at furthering trade links between the continents.
Berset and Abe also discussed preparations for the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo at which Switzerland will set up a “House of Switzerland” to showcase the Alpine state.


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Dell unveils mobile slate computer
Dell Inc showed off a small slate computer that it could bring to market this year, exploring yet another type of device designed for computing on the go.
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LAS VEGAS – Dell Inc showed off a small slate computer that it could bring to market this year, exploring yet another type of device designed for computing on the go.
So-called slate and tablet PCs are a hot topic at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, ahead of a highly anticipated device from Apple Inc that is widely expected to be unveiled in late January.
Dell's slate has a 5-inch screen and runs on Google Inc's Android mobile operating system. Dell declined to provide other details, or say definitively if the new gadget, which looks like a large smartphone, would hit the market.
On Wednesday. Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer displayed a Hewlett-Packard Co slate that which was considerably larger than Dell's.
Michael Tatelman, Dell's vice president of consumer sales and marketing, said the company is testing a number of different screen sizes as it pushes further into the mobile market.
Dell recently released its first smartphone, the Mini 3, which is on sale in China and Brazil, and will be available in the U.S. on AT&T Inc's network. (Reporting by Gabriel Madway, editing by Tiffany Wu and Derek Caney)
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Google announced on Monday that its Latitude application is now available for the iPhone. Latitude, introduced in November 2009, is a location-aware mobile application that allows users to share their current location with friends. Locations are...
Hands on with the Microsoft Band
The Galaxy Alpha: Samsung's answer to the iPhone 6
Samsung Galaxy Alpha
All the latest on Windows 10
Windows 10 promo img
Office next expected in 2H 2015
Google Maps has been a cornerstone service for Android since the launch of Google's Mobile OS. iPhone has also taken advantage of Google Maps, but unsurprisingly, Android has reaped the benefit of receiving key updates...
Google has recently been pointed out for some privacy concerns with its Latitude service, according to the BBC. Named Google Latitude, the service allows mobile and Smartphone users to share their location with friends (although...


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Everywhere you go in New York you will see people playing Pokémon Go. Walking down the street, each person you pass who is fixedly looking at their phone is likely completely immersed in the most popular game in the world right now: Pokémon Go.
Despite server outages due to high demand and multiple bugs, the game has already revolutionized the game industry.
Pokémon Go is an augmented reality mobile phone game that encourages you to go outside and explore your neighborhood in the hunt for elusive Pokémon. The game employs your real world location and your phone’s cameras and sensors to show the Pokémon in the world around you.
The game is free to download but in-app purchases are available. Players can spend real money stocking up on Pokecoins, which is the in-game currency of Pokémon Go, which can then be exchanged for power-ups, lures, and other items.
Research done by Slice Intelligent found that Pokémon Go purchases surpassed all other purchases on the market on July 10th and accounted for nearly 47 percent of revenue generated for the entirety of mobile gaming the same day. Think Gaming estimates that Pokémon Go’s iOS revenue in the US alone is 1.85 million.
The parent company, which is a spin-off of Google parent company Alphabet, which owns 6% of Niantic, is already valued now over 3 billion according to Quartz. It is estimated to make more than a million dollars a day in revenue.
Niantic, the parent company of Pokémon Go, previously launched a mobile app similar to Pokémon Go, Ingress. Like Pokémon Go, Ingress also utilized your real world location. Niantic monetized Ingress by partnering up with local restaurants to send players to in the game. Pokémon Go will also most likely be monetized in much the same way.
Many retailers have already begun giving out discounts to Pokémon Go players. Even Yelp launched a “Pokémon Nearby” filter on their app for users looking for good bye to eat, with a side of Pokémon. Ingress’ sponsored locations included Duane Reade pharmacies, Jamba Juice as as locations for the Zipcar rental service.
Digital marketers have traditionally relied on SEO on Google and ads on Facebook.
But with the introduction of sponsored locations, this signals a radical shift in digital advertising. No longer is digital marketing simply digital, but also extends—and to an extent, requires—the physical.
Whereas SEO and Facebook ads simply lead a possible customer to a site, the “sponsored location” model actually leads a potential customer to the physical store, where goods aren’t mere pixels on a screen, but rather material objects that they can touch and feel—and perhaps then, more likely to buy.
The augmented reality aspect of the game also begins to extend itself into the physical realm. There is talk of creating a physical watch-like device that sends notifications via a Bluetooth connection and can even catch Pokémon for you while you’re on the go. The idea is that you won’t have to constantly check your phone for updates.
As always with popular games, there is also an underground market of sales. Outside of official monetization, there are other players who are taking advantage of the Pokémon frenzy. People are posting job listings on Craigslist offering to catch Pokémon while people are at their jobs, and even walk their dogs in the process. People are selling accounts with high levels. Niantic has discouraged such offerings and warned that it would close accounts, but considering the popularity of the game, this kind of activity is unlikely end soon.
Third-party applications offering Pokémon maps among other goods have also become extremely popular. Usually these apps trail Pokémon Go in the app store. Pokémon Go might be number one, but Pokémon Maps will be number 2.
Having trouble catching Pokémon? Check out this article about how to catch them all.


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Payments provider BPay claims more $20 billion has been transferred through its Osko payment platform — which allows the transfer and receipt of money instantly — since its launch earlier this year, with Osko now available via online banking with banks and financial institutions.
Global registered mobile domestic money transfer users are expected to reach 2.5 billion this year, up from an estimated 1.7 billion in 2016.
Global payment and financial services company Western Union Company has done a deal with BP Australia to enable fund transfers through its mobile app in 302 BP stores nationwide, including 150 stores with digital kiosks.
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Yes indeed, but that pre-supposes the existence of executives who a) actually understand a business model of revenue & profit[…]


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Alex Dodson never expected his research for an upcycled project for his students back in 2015 to turn into a full-time career. While researching the project, he came across an LPG cylinder that resembled the Star Wars villain Darth Vader.
Almost four years later he’s the company director and lead designer of Burned By Design, which makes made to order wood burners, fire pits, and barbecues all around the world. The 38-year-old started this new career path after his Darth Vader wood burner design went viral.
He told LADbible that, “It didn’t look much like Darth Vader, more like an Angry Birds version, but I posted it on Facebook and it went crazy.” He then set up a workshop in his Dad’s garage and started making Vader Burners. After he sent one to a client in Australia, the client sent him a slow-motion video of it burning the video has since been watched 22 million times, which resulted in orders flooding in.
Soon enough Dodson’s business had a 32-week waiting list, so he decided to quit teaching and go full-time into the company. With Star Wars fandom at its peak, his range now includes a Millennium Falcon, Storm Trooper and Death Star wood burners, and an AT-AT barbeque grill which retails for almost $2,000!
His designs aren’t just Star Wars inspired, he also creates music, sci-fi, movies, sports, etc designs.
Check out some of his creations below. What do you think?


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Mark your calendars, gang. Spong has an article this morning outlining Nintendo's proposed plans to launch the Nintendo Revolution console in the three major markets - Japan, North America, and Europe - in the years to come. According to the article, North America would receive the console first (mirroring the Nintendo DS launch schedule) in November 2006. Japan would get their first crack at the machine sometime in December and poor Europe would have to wait until March 2007.
I'm of two minds on this proposed schedule. On the one hand, I want the Revolution and I want it now. On the other hand, I know how Nintendo likes to tinker with and improve their products right up until the last possible moment, so if a few extra months can make the next Nintendo generation even better then I'm willing to wait. Casual gamers may not, however. If the Revolution isn't coming until 2007 and the Xbox 360 is here now, why should people wait? With up to a year and a half between the two (proposed) releases, why not buy a 360 this year and then pick up a Revolution in twelve or eighteen months?
I'm not one to encourage rushing, but Nintendo had better step up soon if they want to try and blow the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 out of the spotlight. Keep a secret for too long and some people stop caring and just move on to the next thing in line. Nintendo deserves better than that.


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AOL UK predicts bumper e-Xmas
That's unmetered Net access for you, they say
AOL UK claims its unmetered Net access service could trigger a shopping boom making this Britain's "first true e-Christmas".
The ISP found that 92 per cent of members in the UK already researched goods online, and 54 per cent intended to buy Christmas gifts online.
AOL's UK MD, Karen Thomson, said: "Our research, revealed today, is the clearest indication yet that this Christmas may prove to be a watershed in the growth of the UK's e-commerce economy.
"Consumers are making it clear to us that the dawn of truly sustainable unmetered Internet access in the UK is providing the breakthrough needed to stimulate mass-market enthusiasm for online shopping.
"This mirrors AOL's experience in the US, where accelerating usage, triggered by the launch of unmetered access four years ago, led to the rapid uptake of online shopping by millions of consumers," she said.
That's what we like about AOL UK - with them, the glass is always half-full, never half-empty. ®


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In late August, yours truly here cautioned that Fitbit Inc (NYSE:FIT) was headed over a cliff as the company we know today unless it took a big step in a different direction. Four months later, and with FIT stock down 48% since then, the company finally took that step.
Unfortunately, with four more months worth of new information to sift through, I can only conclude that it’s too little, too late, to rekindle Fitbit’s lagging shares.
[ad#Google Adsense 336×280-IA]It’s a call that most traders who still follow or even own Fitbit shares will dispute.
But the pile of evidence against FIT stock is turning into a small mountain.
Arguing more loudly won’t change that.
In fact, in some regards, a sideways death blow may have already been dealt this week.
Fitbit Sees the Light
The paradigm shift suggested in August was one that would redirect the company toward the healthcare-oriented market and away from the consumer-oriented market.
What’s the difference? Mostly in the mindset, though there are specific nuances that can separate devices from ones the medical community can encourage and ones caregivers couldn’t care less about.
Case in point: In September, health insurer Aetna Inc (NYSE:AET) informed some of its customers and employees that it would partially or even wholly subsidize the purchase of the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) smartwatch. The idea is to get wearers using the health apps that are or about to become available for the device. That could potentially lower Aetna’s costs — an ounce of prevention.
To its credit, Fitbit had already been named as the product of choice by Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) a year ago as a means of raising employees’ healthcare awareness in the retailer’s bid to contain its healthcare costs. That was a relatively small step compared to the news Fitbit CEO James Park unveiled last week, though. Fitbit is teaming up with medical monitoring outfit Medtronic PLC (NYSE:MDT) to launch the iPro 2 myLog mobile app, which essentially combines Medtronic’s glucose monitor with Fitbit’s activity monitor for diabetes patients.
It’s not a game-changer, but it had to be at least a little encouraging to owners of Fitbit stock that the company is thinking outside the box.
Unfortunately, the inaugural deal with Medtronic doesn’t go far enough, fast enough.
Alphabet’s Disinterest Is Deafening
Lower-priced competition has already chipped away at Fitbit’s dominance in the consumer market. Meanwhile, much bigger (and better-funded) competitors are positioning in a way that could keep Fitbit’s medical device ambitions at bay.
On Tuesday, Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) announced it had acquired smartwatch startup Cronologics. The terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the company’s watch, called CoWatch, is an impressive invention. The device, which was launched in September, has an OS that supports Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) digital assistant Alexa.
Alphabet reportedly didn’t want the CoWatch for itself, nor did it need it. Alphabet is working on its own smartwatch, and is expected to launch its own watches that work with its own Google assistant next year as part of its Android Wear 2.0 initiative, ending the CoWatch line before it ever had a chance to catch on.
What does that have to do with FIT stock?
It’s simply telling that Alphabet saw a bigger threat in a product few have even heard of than in a Fitbit brand everyone has heard of. Alphabet could own Fitbit for a mere $1.7 billion, and it passed. (And Alphabet’s “other bets” consist of a big dose of medical technology!).
Owners of Fitbit stock should not only be insulted, they should start asking tougher questions — starting with why the company is being ignored.
Bottom Line for FIT Stock
Don’t misunderstand. This isn’t a call for a quick and bitter end to Fitbit. In fact, while it’s year-over-year sales growth is slowing down, it’s still growing, and the number of Fitbit users continues to inch higher. Fitbit still is the king of wearables, widening its lead on Apple in terms of market share last quarter.
But that’s a dubious honor. Apple has hit a smartwatch wall, and the smartwatch market itself shrunk 51.6% during the third quarter.
The concern for FIT stock isn’t that the coffin will be nailed shut anytime soon. The concern is that the company will continue to fight to the bitter end, spinning wheels, slipping into the red … and wasting your time.
— James Brumley
Source: Investor Place


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The survey released asked travellers to rate airports worldwide on their overall experience on factors like comfort, services; security, customer service and cleanliness.
An announcement on their site uncovered that Cape Town International Airport is a long-standing fan top pick. Voyagers are reliably content with the terminals’ cleanliness and effortlessness – and they’re satisfied with the accommodating and neighborly staff. Courtesies like 4 hours of free Wi-Fi, a couple pay-to-utilize lounges, a little spending plan well disposed market and a library are other welcome additions, not regularly found in terminals over the continent.
Kigali International Airport, Rwanda (KGL) came second on the list as best airplane terminal in Africa and number one in East Africa.
Here is a list of the Top 10 Best Airports in Africa as voted by travellers in the Survey:
1.Cape Town International Airport, South Africa (CPT)
2.Kigali International Airport, Rwanda (KGL)
3.Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (Port Louis) International Airport, Mauritius (MRU)
4.Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa (JNB)
5.Algiers Houari Boumediene International Airport, Algeria (ALG)
6.Durban King Shaka International Airport, South Africa (DUR)
7.Rabat-Sale International Airport, Morocco (RBA)
8.Oujda Angads International Airport, Morocco (OUD)
9.Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya (NBO)
10.Cairo International Airport, Egypt (CAI)


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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to Kevin Burns, CEO of JUUL, criticizing the company for marketing their e-cigarettes as “much safer than cigarettes” without FDA approval. FDA approval requires scientific evidence that the JUUL nicotine pods are less dangerous than cigarettes. The FDA can fine the company or seize assets if JUUL does not change its marketing tactics.
CDC Warning on Vaping
This admonition comes just a week after the Center for Disease Control (CDC) cautioned the public against using vaping products. The CDC also announced that it is working with state health officials and the FDA to investigate several deaths and 450 possible cases of lung-related illnesses that may be related to vaping.
Respiratory Illnesses Appear to Be Linked to E-Cigarettes
The lung illnesses are predominantly occurring in young people – largely in their teens or twenties – who admit to vaping nicotine liquid or THC oil (a marijuana compound). The symptoms include some of the following:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest Pain
Many patients end up hospitalized with acute respiratory distress syndrome and require a ventilator to help them breathe. Some medical professionals believe that many of these cases are lipoid pneumonia. Lipoid pneumonia occurs when lipids, or fatty acids, enter the lungs. Some e-cigarettes utilize oils such as vegetable glycerin. Some THC products utilize a vitamin E-derived oil. Many of the respiratory illnesses are thought to be “popcorn lung”, or bronchiolitis obliterans. This is thought to be caused by diacetyl, which is a flavoring often used in e-cigarettes. The diacetyl can scar bronchioles and impair air movement in the lungs. The CDC continues to work to determine the cause of the lung illnesses, but the cases appear to be related to vaping.
Staggering Increases in E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Teens
Recent data shows that there are over 3 million U.S. high school students using e-cigarettes, which is a 78% increase in just one year. With such alarming statistics, there is an even greater urgency driving the CDC investigation. These statistics are also mandating that the FDA get more involved in regulating the marketing practices of e-cigarette vendors, such as JUUL, one of the most popular brands among teenagers. FDA commissioner Ned Sharpless sent a second letter to JUUL asking for information on how it has marketed devices to children, how the design and flavored pods appeal to a youthful market, and why devices contain such high levels of addictive nicotine. One JUUL pod contains about the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.
JUUL has 15 days to respond to the FDAs inquiries.
President Plans a Ban
In recent news, the Trump administration is preparing to ban flavored e-cigarettes as federal health officials call for restrictions to combat an outbreak of a mysterious lung disease that has sickened hundreds and killed at least six people, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. This will affect the use of e-cigarette and vaping devices. The dangers of vaping have entered public knowledge, and it will be interesting to see the legal future of these devices.
JUUL is also facing a growing number of lawsuits over its vaping devices. They have aggressively marketed their devices as a safer alternative to cigarettes, but these e-cigarettes are very addictive and are risking the health of millions of Americans. Please call Brett to help you hold corporations accountable for the products that they manufacture and market to young people.
If you or a loved one was harmed by JUUL e-cigarettes, please contact usat the law offices of Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC today by calling (502) 242-8877. Consultations are free.


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Yelp reveals where to buy a coffee using Bitcoin
In the latest endorsement of the growing role for Bitcoin, business listings on Yelp will now indicate if a merchant accepts the digital currency as a payment method.
The reviews site and mobile application is adding the new attribute to its business listings as another way to make them more useful for consumers and businesses. The move is Yelp’s latest attempt at differentiating itself in the increasingly competitive location-based services space.
“As a payment mechanism, Bitcoin is still relatively small but it has a certain niches,” said Pradeep Moudgal, director of emerging technologies at Mercator Advisory Group. “There are companies from small coffee shops to others who have been experimenting with it as a payment type.
“They are accepting it but to a larger extent it is an experiment,” he said. “They are not having tons of volume coming through.
“These pilot programs are all over the world, but it is a case here and a case there.”
Bitcoin is a digital currency that enables consumers and businesses to make payments from any Internet-enabled device.
Yelp’s decision to include Bitcoin acceptance in its listings is a reflection of the growing number of consumers and businesses that are embracing bitcoins as a payment method. Some of the businesses supporting Bitcoin payments include Square, Lord & Taylor as well as a number of local merchants including coffee houses and bars.
As mobile adoption continues to grow and evolve, Yelp is making sure it remains to relevant to users.
Another way that Yelp is trying to differentiate itself is by adding ordering services to its mobile site and applications, which were introduced last year. The online rating site launched Yelp Platform to let consumers order from local restaurants and merchants (see story).
Bitcoin is gaining steam because it offers some benefits over other payment methods. For example, bitcoins enable transactions without the use of sensitive data such as a credit card number. Additionally, Bitcoin can be a lower-cost alternative to credit cards in terms of processing fees for businesses and interest charges for consumers.
According to recent report from Mercator Advisory Group, Bitcoin is thriving because it is a decentralized offering with no one organization or centralized entity attached, enabling it to be transparent and involve fewer hassles for buyers and sellers. However, as the currency gains in popularity, a growing number of countries are looking at ways to regulate Bitcoin.
“I think Bitcoin will survive in the long run despite some of the technical issues, but there is going to be regulatory oversight and once that happens, it diminishes some of the anonymity,” Mr. Moudgal said.
“There are going to be use cases that will still create some excitement in the marketplace,” he said.
“There are some people who are really pushing it despite all the turbulence and they are betting on widespread adoption. There is still a long way to go before it reaches the kind of success of cash or credit cards.”
Chantal Tode is associate editor on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York


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Asian launches planned for Xbox 360
With the new Xbox 360 console from Microsoft now out in North America and Europe, and due at the end of the week in Japan, Redmond are now turning their attention to rolling out the console in other countries where the original Xbox is being sold. An Australian debut has previously been set for March 2nd, and this will cover Singapore and Taiwan too, but until today no other launches were officially dated. Industry website Gamasutra.com reveals however that other Asian markets will be receiving the console by the early spring of 2006, with a South Korean launch dated for February 24th. Microsoft has previously promised a launch for the 360 in China, though whether this is covered by the spring dating too remains ambiguous. Microsoft have a massive task on their hands as it is matching demand in North America, Europe, Japan, and these additional launches will further put pressure on supplies, a fact that hasn't escaped Microsoft.
The console manufacturer conceded that they were considering delaying Asian launches to allow greater supplies for North America and Europe. "Believe me, that conversation happened," Asian Xbox head Alan Bowman revealed. "We wanted to make sure within the first six months that we could get the 360 into all existing Xbox 1 markets. I'm very optimistic that demand is going to be significant. We're working very hard to keep supply up with demand."
No word has been offered on whether the Xbox 360 will be offered in one package or two, nor how much the system will cost - but we're told to expect similar pricing to North America and Europe. More as we get it.
- Classic PC survival horror series returns with Alone In The Dark: Illumination
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 confirmed with a concept trailer
- Xbox One owners, Destiny wants to eat your hard drive
- Saints Row IV modding tools released for PC
- Volition's Steve Jaros: Sarkeesian was right to call out Saints Row
- Playable Silent Hill teaser P.T. downloaded 1 million times
- Blooborne gets a Japanese release date
- Rockstar says no delay to next-gen GTA V, November release date rumoured
- Harmonix announces A City Sleeps, their new music-driven shooter


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It’s been several years since brands and agencies were made aware of the size of digital advertising’s fraud issue. Despite increased scrutiny from ad buyers and efforts across the industry to filter out nonhuman traffic, fraud persists. While many are aware of the problem, very few have a deep knowledge of fraud, much less about what to do beyond the fact that they should avoid it at all costs.
Don't miss The Business of Marketing, a new series featuring leading c-suite executives sharing insights on the importance of leveraging the intersectionality of marketing, finance, technology, HR and the boardroom to drive business growth. Tune in.


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BANGKOK (dpa) – Proposed changes to the Foreign Business Act in Thailand have alarmed foreign investors and chambers of commerce.
Under the current law foreigners and foreign businesses are not allowed to own more than a 49-per-cent stake in local companies. Businesses have long circumvented such restrictions by issuing preferred and common stock options, with preferred shares enjoying more voting rights.
Now a draft law put forward by the Ministry of Commerce would restrict foreign firms from being able to use preferred stock to retain control of their businesses.
“This proposed change would have far-reaching ramifications that would affect thousands of existing firms here, big and small, and would certainly deter future foreign investment,” said Marcus
Burtenshaw, executive director of real estate consultancy Knight Frank Thailand. “My business is one that you can run from literally anywhere. We registered in Thailand because we like the lifestyle here,” said Chris Roberts, who did not provide his real name out of fear of a possible backlash.
Roberts runs a small IT firm that specialises in software engineering. His company employs only four foreigners but has over 20 Thai staff. He says that while he has Thai partners who own the majority of the company, they do not have executive authority on the direction of the company.
“If (the government) is going to make it difficult for me to run my business, then I have no problems about packing up and moving somewhere else.”
The resistance from foreign officials and businesses has prompted internal reviews and assurances from officials from the Ministry of Commerce that any changes to the law would be made after consultations with all parties.
A source from the ministry said that any changes are still preliminary and that all changes would have to go through both the legislative assembly and the cabinet.
The source added that compromises with foreign businesses could be made, as a reworked Foreign Business Act could allow foreigners to own a majority share in certain sectors.
The current law forbids foreign majority ownership in sectors where Thai businesses are deemed not ready to compete with foreign companies.
Those include accountancy, legal services, architecture, engineering, brokerages, advertising, hotel operations, food and beverages and “other service businesses.”
The ministry said some restrictions may be relaxed as a compromise for limiting the use of preferred stock options.
Yet foreign companies say that is not enough.
“Imposing tighter restrictions would be seen and felt as a step backwards at a time when foreign direct investment levels are low and Thailand’s neighbours are becoming increasingly open for business,” said Burtenshaw.
The various chambers of commerce agree with such sentiments. When rumours circulated about the proposed changes, the American Chamber of Commerce quickly pointed out that the last time such restrictions were discussed in 2007, the stock market dropped 15 per cent in one day as a result.
Stanley Kang, chairman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce, said erecting more protectionist barriers would be going against the tide of increasingly freer trade.


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Kenya's app designers create local boom
Charles Mbatha is one farmer now able to check the price of his goods using Susan Oguya's invention Kenya is seeing a rapid rise in the number of mobile phone apps built by local designers - and both farmers and cash-strapped councils are reaping the benefits.
Join the discussion below, or Read more at Newsday.
#1 Oct 11, 2012
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- JNJ will be spinning off its popular consumer health segment into a separate company called Kenvue.
- Medical Devices and Pharmaceutical segments will remain together in which they are the fastest growing segments within the business.
- In a time of much uncertainty surrounding 2023, JNJ is a defensive name with essential products with a rock-solid dividend.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) for years has been a safety net for many dividend investors, and that continues to be the case in 2022. In a year in which the S&P 500 (SPY) is down ~15%, JNJ shares have gone in the opposite direction and find themselves up roughly 4% year to date.
One reason shares of JNJ are up is due to their defensive nature. Given the uncertainty in the economy surround 2023, with expectations of at least a minor recession (assuming we are not already in one now), investors have flooded to more stable names like JNJ.
Johnson & Johnson has been known for their stability, and in fact, over the past three years, JNJ shares have actually outperformed the S&P 500, albeit slightly.
That is saying something considering the past three years JNJ has seen a lot of rough patches in terms of negative press.
JNJ’s COVID-19 vaccine was a struggle for the company and so was the talc powder lawsuit that has been going on for years. Originally, the company was hit with a $4.7 billion lawsuit that was awarded to nearly two dozen women who claimed the powder had asbestos that contributed to them contracting ovarian cancer.
After appealing the original verdict, the company was successfully able to lower the awarded amount to $2.1 billion after some women dropped their suit. However, the company was not done there as they continued to defend their position rigorously and they appealed yet again which took things to the Supreme Court, but this is where they were rejected.
Those two instances were a rough time for JNJ and its shareholders, but since then, the company has yet again secured itself as a strong business, led by a very competent and fiscally responsible management team backed by an A rated Balance Sheet.
Consumer Health Segment To Spin Off And Become Kenvue in 2023
About a year ago, JNJ announced that they would be splitting their long-time business into two separate companies. This news sent shockwaves through the investing community as JNJ has been the same business for over a century, having started back in 1886.
As it stands now, Johnson & Johnson operates within three segments:
- Consumer Health
- Medical Devices (MedTech)
The consumer health segment has been a staple for the business, as it includes items such as: Band-Aid, Listerine, Aveeno, Neutrogena, and Tylenol among other products. These are essential products that are required regardless of the economic backdrop.
Although consumer health has been the backbone of the company over the years, the pharmaceutical and medical device sales segments have been the growth drivers.
All three segments continued to expand to a point where management believe the consumer health segment could stand on its own and with the growth trajectory of the other two segments, they required further attention, which is why the plan to split the business ended up being the final decision.
To give you an idea on the size of each segment, here is a look at the revenues for each segment through the first nine months of 2022:
- Consumer Health = $11.2B
- Pharmaceutical = $39.4B
- MedTech = $20.7B
Management believes that by splitting up the businesses will allow the individual businesses to think more about growth opportunities on a standalone basis given their size now, which would further unlock value for shareholders. The change is expected to take place later in 2023.
This change is really separating safety from growth. Pharmaceutical and MedTech have been growth drivers growing above or near double digit returns on average over the past few years. The higher growth opportunities would increase the multiple for a company like that whereas Kenvue would remain a lower multiple stock.
Right now there are 48 Dividend Kings in the US, and one of those happens to be Johnson & Johnson. This is a prestigious list for dividend stocks and in order to be on this list, you must pay a growing dividend for 50+ CONSECUTIVE years.
When it comes to JNJ, they have increased their dividend for 60 CONSECUTIVE years, making them dividend royalty.
As the stock currently trades, shares of JNJ pay an annual dividend of $4.52 which equates to a dividend yield of 2.53%. Over the past five years, the company has increased the dividend at an average annual rate of 6%.
The dividend is well covered with a low payout ratio of 44% and a very strong A rated balance sheet.
However, once the spin-off does take place, it will be interesting to see how the dividend plays out. The consumer health will be a stable company, but the growth won’t be as strong. I would expect a similar slow growing dividend here for Kenvue.
On the flip side, the new JNJ will now be a faster growing business, and I can see it playing out very similar to that of AbbVie (ABBV) when they spun-off from Abbott Labs (ABT) about a decade ago, and that would be very intriguing.
Johnson & Johnson is one of the iconic companies here in the US, but they going to be going through some major changes in 2023 as they split up the business, moving consumer health into its own company called Kenvue.
Shares in the meantime have been providing stability for investors’ portfolios given the uncertainty surrounding the economy in the near-term.
Shares of JNJ currently trade at a P/E 17.8x and a forward P/E of 17.2x. These are in-line with exactly where the company has traded on average over the past five years.
JNJ is a dividend king with strong portfolio of products and a rare AAA credit rating, making an investment in JNJ about as reliable as they come.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide information to interested parties. I have no knowledge of your individual goals as an investor, and I ask that you complete your own due diligence before purchasing any stocks mentioned or recommended.
Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of JNJ, ABBV either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
No marketing to add


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Stefano Pessina, the largest shareholder of Walgreens Boots Alliance, is stepping down as CEO of the company.
Mr Pessina, the Italian-Monegasque billionaire, who is now 79, will become executive chairman of the company once a replacement for him has been found, Walgreens Boots Alliance said.
The reappointment will mark five years since Mr Pessina was made CEO of the company, following the merger he orchestrated between Alliance Boots and the USA company Walgreens in December 2014.
‘Unprecedented global crisis’
Boots has since announced a raft of branch closures and job cuts. In June last year, it confirmed that 200 UK branches would close over the next 18 months. Then last month, it announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs, after retail sales fell by almost half during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Announcing financial results for the third quarter, Mr Pessina said the pandemic had affected the business worldwide.
He said: ‘Prior to the pandemic our financial performance for fiscal 2020 was on track with our expectations. However, this unprecedented global crisis led to a loss in the quarter as stay-at-home orders affected all of our markets. I’m very proud of how all of our teams mobilised and adapted to deliver essential services in our communities across the world.’
‘Fulfilled our purpose’
Despite the financial pressures, the retail giant continues to operate nearly 2,500 stores across the UK and employs around 54,000 staff – of which 6,350 are registered pharmacists.
Earlier this month, Boots Pharmacy also launched an online cancer consultation service, available to cancer patients wanting advice who are shielding during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commenting on his departure, Mr Pessina said: ‘I want to thank our team members around the world for their extensive achievements in the last five years, as we have fulfilled our purpose to help people lead healthier and happier lives.
‘I look forward to continuing to serve the company as executive chairman, and to helping to ensure the success of the new chief executive officer in every way possible.’


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Currently, AvtoVAZ has resumed production of only two models, Lada Granta and Lada Niva Legend. It is planned to resume production of Lada Largus and Lada Niva Travel soon.
As it became known, these models will not be shipped to Lada dealerships in August. Lada car centers received a newsletter stating that the bidding campaign for August 2022 took place on July 13-14, while orders for August were accepted only for Lada Granta and Lada Niva Legend cars.
According to the insider public “Atypical AvtoVAZ” in the social network “VKontakte”, AvtoVAZ plans to start assembling Lada Largus in the near future. Welding and painting of the bodies of these wagons and vans will begin on July 19, and the assembly line will return to work on the 22nd of the same month. Production of Lada Niva Travel will start in August.
Due to the large package of components that fall under the sanctions regime, the plant cannot yet say for sure how long the stock that is now created at the plant will last if there are no new channels and supply chains.


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Hello Games developers of No Manâ€™s SkyÂ just announced that the gameâ€™s next PlayStation 4 patch, version 1.06, is currently in testing andÂ will release this week
The patch willÂ fix 90 percent of the reported crashes and other issues , which explained that crash reports players send help them quite a bit in categorising and fixing them in order or priority.
Patch 1.06 fixes 90% of crash issues for PS4 is in testing and will release this week
Hello Games (@hellogames) August 24, 2016
In an earlier tweet, the studio said that more patches will follow, until all issues are fully resolved.
We obviously wonâ€™t stop until these issues are 100% resolved. Also these patches contain other fixes and improvements too. Thanks all
Â Hello Games (@hellogames) 24 August 2016
Right now thereâ€™s currently no date for the patch 1.06â€™s release on PlayStation 4. The studio appears to be working hard toÂ make it Â an efficient patchÂ , however, on both PS4 as well as PC. Hopefully the wait wonâ€™t be long for those still seeing crashes.


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Netflix is making its debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year.
For the first time, Cannes has selected Netflix original movies to screen. One is a monster movie starring Tilda Swinton, and the other features Netflix-favorite Adam Sandler.
The latter, called "The Meyerowitz Stories," is a pretty impressive acquisition since Netflix only got the rights to it earlier this week.
Now, Cannes hasn't been snubbing all streaming services up until this point. The prestigious film festival screened five titles from Amazon last year, including Woody Allen's "Cafe Society."
Two Amazon Studios films are up for the big Cannes award this year: "Wonderstruck" and "You Were Never Really Here."
Streaming services are proving to be bigger contenders when it comes to movies.
Amazon's "Manchester by the Sea" was the first film from a streaming service to receive an Oscar nomination for best picture. Netflix was nominated in the documentary category for its film "13th."
Both of Netflix's films will be screened in the festival's official competition in mid-May before launching on its streaming platform later this year.
Cannes is also adding TV to its lineup this year. It'll screen the first two episodes of Showtime's upcoming limited series "Twin Peaks" and an entire season of BBC's "Top of the Lake: China Girl."