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Some pretty big news on the Disney/Marvel front.
Disney is gearing up to launch its ambitious streaming service next year, and they’re going to be capitalising on the Marvel Cinematic Universe to ensure they get as many eyes on it as possible. Get ready for a number of shows centered on MCU characters, including Loki and Scarlet Witch.
Yep, Variety is reporting that Disney is currently in the process of developing limited live-action series focusing on “second tier” MCU characters that haven’t had standalone films. Loki and Scarlet Witch are among them, and what’s more, Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen are expected to reprise their big-screen roles in these shows.
Marvel movies head Kevin Feige will reportedly be taking a “hands-on role” in the creation of these shows, which are expected to hold around six to eight episodes each. Of course, if they do extremely well, don’t be surprised to see more seasons rise up down the road.
The studio giant is aiming big to disrupt streaming kings, particularly Netflix. Disney is reportedly lining up massive budgets for these Marvel shows, with costs expected to rival the amount other major studios are forking out for features. $US100 million is expected to be spent on producing the Disney streaming network’s live-action Star Wars series, which Iron Man and Jungle Book director Jon Favreau was attached to in March this year.
The streaming service will also be bringing a live-action Lady and the Tramp movie and a High School Musical series, as well as holding streaming dibs on releases like Dumbo and Captain Marvel. You better enjoy seeing MCU films on Netflix while you can, because Disney won’t be sharing when they have their own platform.
It’s not just companies like Netflix and Amazon that Disney is looking to compete with. DC just launched its streaming service, DC Universe, in the US on September 15 (Batman day), with a $US7.99 per month price tag. It’s just getting started so apparently the line-up of content isn’t all too impressive at this time, but there’s plenty to come, including original shows like Titans.
The as yet unnamed Disney streaming service will be arriving in late 2019. We wait with bated breath. Hopefully, this streaming service will be available in multiple locations. However, some places may have to wait longer than others to get this streaming service. If that’s the case, those people affected could always try and use a FPL proxy to get around these limitations. Hopefully, this will help more people to access Disney’s new streaming service.


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California Federal Judge Rejects CLRA, UCL Claims Over Dryers
Mealey's (April 8, 2016, 2:03 PM EDT) -- SAN DIEGO — In an opinion filed April 5, a California federal judge granted partial summary judgment to a hair dryer manufacturer in a class action alleging that one of its products is defective and causes fires (Cynthia L. Czuchaj, et al. v. Conair Corp., No 13-cv-1901, S.D. Calif.; 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 46693).
(Opinion available. Document #58-160419-030Z.)
U.S. Judge Roger T. Benitez of the Southern District of California rejected the claims that plaintiff Cynthia L. Czuchaj filed under California’s unfair competition law (UCL; California Business...

domain: news


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Where a 15-inch model could be considered the standard in the US, Asian countries seem to prefer a 14-inch form factor.
Globally, 14-inch laptops have approxmiately 20-25% of the market share, but if you focus only on Asia, this number jumps to 35-40%.
If Apple wants to continue its climb towards becoming a $1 trillion company, it’ll need to aim at other countries in a big way.
If the rumors of a 14-inch MacBook Air are true, this could be exactly what the company intends to do.
Source : Business Insider


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The figures for the 12 weeks ending July 20 2014 show “familiar trends of market polarisation” bringing new records for Aldi and Lidl.
Edward Garner, director at Kantar Worldpanel, said the discount retailers’ market share had almost caught up with Waitrose.
“Aldi’s 32% growth rate has lifted its market share to 4.8%; this is a new record for the retailer and means it has nearly caught up with Waitrose on 4.9%. Similarly, Lidl sales have grown by nearly 20% which means it now accounts for a record 3.6% of the grocery market.”
Waitrose has continued to resist pressure from the competition and has grown sales by 3.4%, Garner revealed. “This figure is well above the market average and thereby has lifted its market share,” he added.
Tesco and Morrisons have recorded losses with sales for both businesses declining by 3.8% compared with this time last year, according to the data.
The other retailers among the big four, Asda and Sainsbury, have held onto their market shares of 17.0% and 16.6% respectively.
Iceland posted a small drop in sales, its first since 2005, but has retained its 2.0% share.
Grocery price inflation fallen
Grocery price inflation has fallen for the tenth successive period and now stands at 0.4%.
Competitive pricing among the big retailers and deflation in the price of staple items such as vegetables, milk and bread has driven inflation to the lowest level since October 2006 when Kantar Worldpanel began this measure.
As a result, market growth has fallen to 0.9% – the lowest figure for 10 years.
“This is the lowest level since we began recording grocery price index in October 2006 and reflects the impact of Aldi and Lidl and the market’s competitive response, as well as deflation in some major categories including vegetables, bread and milk,” Kantar Worldpanel added.
Meanwhile, Morrisons yesterday appointed Tesco’s former finance boss Andrew Higginson as its new chairman.


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The Lagos Business School (LBS) economic outlook for 2020 indicates amidst a raft of new policies and external sentiments that disposable income will be tight for 2020, breeding a sober consumer base that will judiciously allocate spends to what is relevant and important. The outlook further highlights that convenience will drive purchase choice among millennia; negatively impacting the revenue of weak brick and mortar stores.
According to the report dwindling per capital income will be pegged at $2,236 in 2020 compared to a 2014 high of $3,222. It also says VAT hike of 7.5% will result in high commodity prices. In sum, a rising commodity price combined with the reality of dwindling per capital income will yield an austere economic environment in the new year.
The onus is on businesses to be innovative, reposition to gain preference as Nigerian consumers run through a lean period, before several initiatives aimed at improving the lots of the population begin to yield results.
The Lagos Business School economic outlook for 2020 emerged out of a Breakfast Session spearheaded by Bismarck Rewane, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Ltd (FDC). Highlights of the session include key events in 2019 such political and economic events in the UK and the Eurozone, US-Chinese trade logjams, global oil price, impact of border closure and the Monetary Policy Rate in Nigeria, and more.


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If you turn on any news station, odds are you will hear about the recent controversy revolving around Virginian politicians and the blackface scandal that has surfaced in the past week. The two under fire for doing blackface in their past include Governor Ralph Northam (D) and Attorney General Mark Herring (D). Ralph Northam was the first accused when a yearbook photo of him in blackface was recovered and put into question. Northam at first came out denying that he appeared in the offensive photo, eventually coming clean and apologizing for his actions. Mark Herring, admitted after the Northam accusation, that he too wore blackface at a college party and apologized for his actions. With this, Virginia's Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R) has admitted to editing his yearbook for the Virginia Military Institute in 1968, allowing many photos of blackface to make their way into the final product.
This news of these offensive actions has caused people to question the morals of these politicians and with good reason. The history of blackface dates all the way back to the 1830s before slavery was abolished and was a racist tradition that continued in the United States, showing African Americans as lazy, cowardly, and hypersexual. The popularity of these blackface shows gained in popularity after the civil war, continuing throughout the 20th century. The use of blackface at the time was viewed as a form of comedy but we recognize today that these practices were proof of racism ingrained throughout past American societies. The Virginia scandal, that is coming into light during Black History Month, is a horrible reminder of the racism that was present in the United States and how a politician's past could contradict the values they say they stand for. Many people have begun to wonder what's in the water in Virginia but as it turns out, Virginian politicians aren't the only ones who have been chastised for participating in this haunting tradition of blackface.
Fashion brand Gucci is one that has been very prevalent in the media over the years, but this week the attention has not been for positive reasons. Creative director of Gucci, Alessandro Michele, has been under fire before for the lack of cultural representation in the company and the practice of cultural appropriation that has been present in many runway shows. The lack of diversity in this brand has been discussed and criticized before by those who follow fashion regularly, but this recent controversy has put Gucci in the glare of publicity. Over the past week, the brand released a sweater that was a little too reminiscent of the same offense Virginian Politicians are under fire for. The garment quickly caused an uproar by many as it appeared to be a variant of modern day blackface, as it was modeled on the website by a white model, and the timeliness caused it to be recognized in the media even more.
This sweater was on the Gucci website for $890 but, the sweater's offense cost the company much more. The racist sweater was taken down from the website soon after the negative response and an apology was made by the company immediately following. Some were quick to forget about the fashion news as if it never happened, but many were not accepting the apology calling for a boycott of the brand. Many rappers have decided to boycott the brand including T.I., Soulja Boy, and many more all who were big investors in the company. Things are looking murky for the future of Gucci but hopefully, this condemnable mistake is a warning to other fashion brands to be more mindful about the clothing they decide to release and when they release it. Racism will always be a part of American history but it's important to recognize it as our past and not integrate it into our present. Hopefully, these actions will become an opportunity for learning and not a new trend.


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PETALING JAYA: The government sees capturing the digital opportunity as a critical step towards economic recovery efforts as well as means to secure Malaysia’s future economic resilience, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
“We are committed to achieving this with the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDigital) initiative which sets its sight on transforming Malaysia into a technologically advanced, digitally-driven nation and a regional digital economy leader by 2030. We aim to create a better, more inclusive digital economy future for every Malaysian,” he said in his opening remarks for the “Grow with Google” virtual event today.
Citing a report “Positioning Malaysia as a Regional Leader in the Digital Economy” by economics consultancy AlphaBeta, Mustapa highlighted that the accelerated growth of digital economy could translate to RM257.2 billion in annual economic value by 2030, equivalent to about 17% of the country’s GDP in 2020.
He elaborated that the growth would bring 500,000 new jobs by 2026 as well as more opportunities for businesses to build and expand their digital revenue streams to increase cost efficiency via cloud technology.
“We aim to see 875,000 SMEs embracing digital e-commerce by 2025, and for our society, we aim to bring 80% of government services online as a digitally enabled government will improve efficiency, effectiveness and transparency.”
The minister conceded that the government cannot do this alone and believes in the importance of the public-private partnership for this digital journey.
“On our part, the government will be a catalyst, creating and facilitating the policy environment so the private sector can bring the necessary capital and skills for digital transformation.”
AlphaBeta found 72% or RM184 billion of opportunities from digital transformation could be driven by technologies that help businesses and workers mitigate the economic impacts of Covid-19. Beyond managing the immediate impacts of the pandemic, it noted that digital transformation will also be important to boost resilience in the post-pandemic future and support Malaysia’s heavily-impacted export sector.
To realise the opportunities presented by digital transformation, the report identified three main pillars of action for Malaysia – facilitate digitalisation in both the public and private sectors, build the nation’s digital talent, and promote digital trade opportunities.
Backed by the fact that Malaysians are spending more time online and intend to continue using digital services in the post-pandemic future, Google Malaysia managing director Marc Woo believes digital adoption is crucial for business.
“This has motivated us at Google to continue offering free workshops and easy-to-use tools to help micro SMEs digitalise and reach more customers online,” he said.
The tech giant has also collaborated with Airasia Academy and Nestle to help people equipped themselves with the necessary skills and it also does so via its own “Mahir Digital Bersama Google” program.
Woo also observed the trend of retailers turning to e-commerce to stay afloat during the various movement control orders imposed in the past 12 months, which have led the industry to grow 87% year-on-year, making e-commerce in Malaysia the fastest growing in Southeast Asia.
AlphaBeta founder and managing director Dr Fraser Thompson pointed out that the report estimated Google’s products bring about a total annual business and consumer benefit of around RM40 billion in economic value, which is equivalent to the annual gross output of Malaysia’s real estate industry.
“By enabling businesses to unlock new revenue streams and expand their businesses through the use of advertising platforms, Google indirectly supports over 31,000 jobs locally.
“Local businesses that have successfully adapted to the challenges of Covid-19 by proactively embracing digital opportunities,” he said.


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Techstars managing director for Africa Yossi Hasson will be visiting Lagos, Nigeria this week to meet entrepreneurs as the application period for the Barclays Accelerator in Cape Town gets underway.
Applications opened last week for the Barclays Accelerator programme, powered by Techstars, a 13-week programme based in Cape Town aimed at supporting exceptional fintech entrepreneurs innovating in Africa’s financial services industry.
The Barclays Accelerator first came to Africa at the beginning of this year, with Barclays Africa signing initial collaboration agreements with seven of the 10 startups that took part in the programme.
Techstars’ Hasson will be in Lagos this week at Passion Incubator to meet with founders and answer questions about fintech, the Barclays Accelerator and what startups can expect from being a part of the programme.
The two-day meet and greet event will see selected startups have one-on-one office hours with Hasson on Thursday, December 8. Interested startups should send a one-pager here, detailing their company, the team and why they stand out from the competition.


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News: UK insurance companies could be faced with changing regulations.
Big data’s use in the retail general insurance sector is to be studied by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The study comes as big data has an increasing impact on practices and products across financial services.
Christopher Woolard, director of strategy and competition, FCA, said: "We are starting our work on Big Data by seeking to better understand how insurance firms are using data, and how this may evolve in the future."
The authority is calling for input from firms, consumer groups, industry bodies and other interested parties, in addition to seeking data from firms from December 2015 to early 2016. The goal is to help inform any future steps.
Future steps could include adjustments to policy or guidance or whether any other form of intervention is required.
"We are keen to talk to both consumers and industry to understand Big Data’s impact on firms’ decisions, and in turn the effects that this is having on consumers. We will then be able to consider what further steps may need to be taken," said Woolard.
Focus will be placed on if big data affects consumer outcomes; whether it fosters or constrains competition and if the FCA regulatory framework affects developments in big data throughout retail general insurance.
The call for inputs will close on the 8th of January 2016 with the findings to be published in mid-2016.


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Michigan’s cannabis industry has gone through some growing pains: What to expect in 2023
Posted By: Detroit Free Press on January 9, 2023. For more information, please click here to read the source article.
Michigan’s still-young legalized recreational cannabis industry went through some growing pains last year. Prices of marijuana products rapidly declined and, as a result, cannabis companies struggled to survive.
At the same time, some of those companies continued to innovate, bringing new types and a wide variety of products to the market while prices dropped throughout the year.
In other words, 2022 was a good time to be a cannabis consumer. Expect that to continue in 2023, Michigan marijuana industry insiders say.
If a line of tents with prospective marijuana business owners camped out in order to get a license in the Downriver community of Riverview is any indication of interest in the industry, businesses are still eager to get their piece of a growing number of cannabis sales. For consumers, there have never been more options in terms of where to buy an expanding variety of marijuana products.
“The consumers in our state are getting the best quality product at the lowest price,” Robin Schneider, executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, said in a January interview with the Detroit Free Press. “On the other hand, Michigan created a very free market with no limits on licensing. Because of that … growers have just grown far more product than what the consumers are reasonably able to absorb.”
There are 1.2 million active marijuana plants in the state’s legal market, according to the most recent data from Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency, up from 543,000 a year prior.
The retail price for an ounce of recreational marijuana flower dropped below $100 for the first time in the three-year history of recreational marijuana sales in Michigan. The average price was $95.12 in November, down 50% from November 2021.
These low prices, among other factors, are bringing more customers to legal dispensaries. The $2 billion Michigan cannabis market is growing, and is expected to be a $2.5 billion industry in the state by 2025, according to a recent analysis of the Michigan market by the market intelligence firm Headset.
That makes Michigan the second-largest U.S. cannabis market behind California, Headset said, and it also found that Michigan is one of only three markets in the country that have grown sales over the last year.
This dynamic is just one of several recent developments that could shape the future of the industry in the state.
Here’s what else to watch for in 2023:
Get ready for a wider variety of products and cannabis use at events
After an explosion of brands entered Michigan’s market after recreational cannabis was legalized in 2018, that number appears to have plateaued at about 700-800 total brands, according to the Headset analysis.
Some of the companies that are here, though, are continuing to bring new products to the market. Lume, one of the biggest cannabis companies in Michigan, is creating its own cannabis-infused beverage, which it plans to have in stores sometime in 2023.
Former NBA player Al Harrington’s cannabis company, Viola, recently launched a line of gummies available in dispensaries that include “Big Apple Dreamin” (green apple-flavored gummies with the slogan, “In a city that never sleeps, this will knock you out.”) and “Uptown Espresso,” which are coffee-flavored gummies that contain caffeine.
Schneider said that as cannabis use becomes more mainstream and more people attend large gatherings as COVID-19 becomes a part of daily life, expect more state-licensed social consumption lounges and state-licensed cannabis events.
“I really expect to see more consumer-facing events or existing venues embracing … cannabis use just like they would allow a beer tent” at a music festival, for example, she said.
Cities, including Michigan’s biggest, start recreational sales
Some of these new products, consumption lounges and events may be found in Detroit this year, with the city awarding 33 businesses a retail recreational marijuana license late last year. The city will award up to 30 retail licenses, 20 microbusiness licenses and 20 consumption lounge licenses in the second application round, which could open as soon as the end of January.
Detroit’s recreational marijuana ordinance — which took a long time to craft and faced several legal challenges — is unique in that it sets aside half of all the limited licenses for “equity applicants.” Equity applicants include people who live in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement and those with certified Detroit Legacy status currently living in Detroit or another disproportionately impacted community.
Also unique is a public-private partnership between the city and the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, called the Detroit HomeGrown Program, in which members of the association privately donated to fund programs for equity applicants to ensure they have access to education about licensing and running a cannabis business.
As recreational cannabis businesses continue to open in Detroit — Michigan’s most-populous city — it remains to be seen what impact that will have on the market. With a significant percentage of the state’s population living in metro Detroit, and still only a few communities that allow sales of recreational marijuana in the region, John Fraser, Michigan team leader for the Detroit-based law firm Dykema’s cannabis practice, calls more retail stores opening in this area a “wild card.”
“If I’ve been getting weed from my caregiver friend for forever, I’m not really going to change that to drive 45 minutes … to buy something that I can get for a comparable price on the illicit market,” Fraser said. “But if I’ve got a nice retail store with a huge product offering five minutes from my house, that’s a different part of the equation.”
Other metro Detroit communities that have marijuana businesses opening include Pleasant Ridge, which is located between Royal Oak and Ferndale, and Berkley, a community near Royal Oak and Birmingham in Oakland County, among others.
In Riverview, six tents were pitched outside city hall Thursday in anticipation of the city awarding licenses, with some prospective marijuana licensees waiting there since the end of December 2022.
On Friday, Riverview Mayor Andrew Swift said in an emailed statement that there were nine applicants who received a ticket as they entered the main door and their applications were dated, time-stamped and collected. Those applications will be reviewed next week, he said.
The Riverview situation highlights just how coveted these licenses are when there’s still a small percentage of communities that allow marijuana businesses.
Only 130 communities in Michigan have opted into allowing recreational marijuana businesses in their communities, while 1,377 have opted out as of November.
But, it’s going to be a tough year for cannabis businesses
Fraser said that if more communities continue to opt in and there’s an “explosion of new retail stores” the amount of product in the market may align better with demand.
“If you’re a retail store, you can’t buy up all the inventory that’s out there and have just a glut of inventory,” Fraser said. “When there are not enough retail outlets to service conveniently all of the folks in Michigan who would be consumers, that’s a problem.”
While it remains to be seen the impact more stores would have on the market, in the meantime, it will continue to be a challenging environment for cannabis companies to operate in.
Schneider is hearing from companies that they’re struggling to meet their payrolls and pay their electric bills, for example. As a result, companies will go out of business, sell or merge, she said. That’s already started to happen but will happen more in 2023, she predicts.
The price compression could also lead to regulatory or legislative changes, Fraser said. “There will be some market correction one way or another, either through government action or just through the marketplace.”
Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency gets a new leader
Heading into this potentially unstable period, cannabis businesses have a new state regulator. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer named Brian Hanna the executive director of the Cannabis Regulatory Agency in December after he had served as the interim director for three months.
Hanna has consistently said his mission is to find the illicit product in the legal market and “expose that and we want to make it known. … If there’s anybody cutting corners or cheating, we want to expose that and take a strong enforcement approach on that,” Hanna said at an October roundtable interview in Lansing with several members of the news media.
Some of that enforcement approach has been made public. For example, in November, the agency announced a summary suspension of Green Culture’s medical and recreational marijuana licenses after it found certain products sold by the marijuana dispensary Green Culture in Flint contained unacceptable levels of banned pesticides, heavy metals, mold and bacteria.
Moving forward, Schneider expects more licensed cannabis businesses will be cited for being out of compliance.
“But I also expect that there will be a simultaneous effort from the licensees to increase their compliance capabilities to avoid getting in trouble,” she said, such as spending more money and resources on hiring compliance specialists and making sure staff has better training.
Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level
As has been the case ever since marijuana has been legalized across an increasing number of states across the county, marijuana remains illegal at the federal level.
In October, President Joe Biden said he would pardon all prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana, urge state governors to do the same with regard to state offenses and ask the departments of Justice, and Health and Human Services to review how marijuana should be scheduled under federal law.
It’s unclear when marijuana could be rescheduled — Headset’s CEO and co-founder Cy Scott says it may not happen until 2024 — and the SAFE Banking Act, a bipartisan bill that would undo federal restrictions that make it difficult for cannabis companies to access financial services, failed to pass Congress at the end of last year.
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YouвЂ™re Approved! BitStamp Becomes Very first E
YouвЂ™re Approved! BitStamp Becomes Very first E.U.-Certified Bitcoin Exchange
Being the very first outsider to join &ldquo,The Establishment&rdquo, is always noteworthy, and can switch &ldquo,The Establishment&rdquo, forever more. Look at Jackie Robinson playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers te 1947. Or Roger Bannister violating the 4-minute mile, causing 35 stoepiers to pauze it the following year. Te a very progressive month of April, BitStamp takes a step forward into the mainstream, spil the very first Bitcoin exchange to approved for use across the European Union.
A crack te the stuw opens the floodgates
Bitstamp&rsquo,s approval is the culmination of a two-year vetting process by the Ministry of Finance te Luxembourg before receiving a license. This license granted by Luxembourg extends via the 28 member nations of the European Union. Bitstamp CEO and founder Nejc KondriДЌ told Wired tv-programma that he expects other Bitcoin exchanges to go after suit fairly quickly, now that the ground has bot violated by Bitstamp. Bitstamp, originally a Slovenian company, is now headquartered ter Luxembourg, long known for their long history of gegevens privacy.
&ldquo,This is an unprecedented for the bitcoin, and brings with it a fresh era of security and transparency to the industry,&rdquo, Bitstamp says te their corporate blog. &ldquo,Fresh and current Bitstamp clients can surplus assured knowing that Bitstamp and its services are approved across Europe. This stamp of approval ensures that Bitstamp offers the highest levels of security and consumer protection previously only recognized ter traditional institutions.&rdquo,
This may well be the very first everzwijn Bitcoin exchange to build up national regulatory approval, or ter this case, international approval. Individual states te the U.S. have approved bitcoin exchanges, but not the entire nation. Coinbase&rsquo,s exchange began gaining state approvals to transact spil a money transmitter back te January of 2015. They now are authorized to operate within 34 states.
Fresh York State&rsquo,s Department of Financial Services granted an exchange created by itBit, a Bitcoin startup, a chartervliegtuig ter May 2015. Fresh York awarded its very first &ldquo,BitLicense,&rdquo, which permits a company to offerande virtual currency services, to the Boston-based Bitcoin wallet company Circle te September. Te October, Fresh York also approved Gemini, an exchange created by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Bitstamp also took, this time, to at the same time announce that they are launching BTC/EUR trading to better serve the E.U. customers directly. They will also provide free trading ter BTC/EUR for their &ldquo,loyal clients&rdquo, from now through may 31st.
Author : Evander Clever
Evander Wise worked for many years spil a Wall Street banker, and has learned how the economy is self-destructing from the inwards. His travels, practice and research have led him to Bitcoin spil the best way forward for the common man. He looks to spread the word on how Bitcoin can help anyone pauze the fetters of economic slavery being created by global establishment coerces. Evander gets you thinking about what money indeed is, and how it will work for you going forward. The world of finance is getting ready for incredible switches, and he is getting ready for what’s coming next. Are you? Learn more about ",The Future of Money", @ Bitcoin Movie University


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So far this year, Starbucks (SBUX) - Get Starbucks Corporation Report stock has gone cold, falling nearly 12%, despite the fact that the company has either beaten or met analysts' earnings estimates in the past four quarters.
Starbucks is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. See how Cramer rates the stock here. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells SBUX? Learn more now.
It isn't so much the bottom line that has been causing nervousness, but rather it is the top line. Starbucks' revenue has slowed and missed analysts' expectations in the past three quarters, while same-store sales have fallen short of the consensus projections in the past two quarters.
That has raised fears of a bogeyman that has long stalked Starbucks: that the coffee business is saturated.
But this fear is way overdone, and Starbucks remains a great long-term investment. There are a few reasons why it still has many years of growth ahead.
For one thing, even though it seems impossible to walk down the street in any reasonably sized U.S. city without passing the chain's green and white logo, that is far from the case in many parts of the world.
Consider sub-Saharan Africa, where Starbucks has precisely one store: in Johannesburg, South Africa, which opened in April.
The company's prospects on the continent look promising, with household spending in Africa expected to increase at a 3.8% annual rate until 2025, when it will hit $2.1 trillion, according to consulting firm McKinsey.
Africa's workforce is also expected to eclipse those of both China and India by 2034, and the continent will urbanize faster than any other place on the planet, according to McKinsey.
Starbucks' latest quarterly earnings report also boasted something for which plenty of other chains are starving: good news from China.
The country was Starbucks' fastest-growing market in terms of same-store sales, with a 7% year-over-year increase. That underscores the company's expansion plans in China, where it has 2,300 stores and plans to open 500 more annually over the next five years.
Meantime, the company's embrace of mobile technology sets it up for strong long-term growth.
For example, its mobile order and pay service, through which customers can place orders in advance and skip the lineup, now accounts for 5% of U.S. transactions at Starbucks. And the company's loyalty rewards program boasts 12.3 million U.S. members, up 18% year over year in its fiscal third quarter.
Starbucks is updating its drive-thru service to better compete with domestic rivals such as Dunkin' Brands (DNKN) - Get Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. Reportand McDonald's (MCD) - Get McDonald's Corporation (MCD) Report . It is also leveraging mobile order and pay's success by testing curbside pick-up at a store in Washington State.
These moves dovetail with the company's plan to expand to areas where it has less of a presence, such as suburban cities, where the car is still king. At the same time, Starbucks is tapping into new downtown pockets with smaller-format stores -- essentially walk-throughs -- that are cheaper to operate and less likely to cannibalize existing outlets' sales.
Those are the long-term trends. In the short run, Starbucks stock could get a nice pop from a big dividend hike.
In last year's fourth quarter, the company raised its quarterly payout by 25%, following a 23% increase the year before.
With a reasonable payout ratio, which is the percentage of earnings paid out as dividends, of 42.3%, there is plenty of room for management to roll out another big increase in the coming weeks. Starbucks shares yield 1.5%.
The stock isn't cheap compared with the overall market, with a price-earnings ratio of 28, but that is about in line with its industry at 26.2. The average 12-month price target from analysts covering the stock stands at $65.50, which would represent a 23.4% gain.
So investors who have been keeping Starbucks on their watch lists should consider adding the stock to their portfolios before its dividend gets another big jolt.
Starbucks is a solid buy for gains and dividend growth, but it still faces intense competition. For more reliable profits, consider the system we've developed. It generates a steady income stream no matter what the economy does. One trader used it to turn $50,000 into a $5-million fortune, and now he's guaranteeing you at least $67,548 per year in profitable trades if you follow his step-by-step process. Go right here to unlock the secret and see how easy it is to start your own $67,000 income stream today.
The author is an independent contributor who at the time of publication owned none of the stocks mentioned.


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Lisa Bridge, who took over from her father as CEO of Ben Bridge in 2018, should have been recuperating and celebrating the birth of her first child, Rose, on March 15.
Instead, she was forced to make the call to close the entire network of 83 store on the West Coast.
“It has been an extraordinary experience,” Ms Bridge tells WatchPro in The Big Interview for our September edition.
“The added complexity for me was that, at the start of all this, I had my first child. On March 15, Rose joined us and it was from my hospital bed in between seeing a pediatrician and a hearing specialist that I had to make the decision to close all of our stores. So that was not quite the smooth entry into motherhood that I had anticipated,” she reveals.
Ms Bridge is full of praise for the way her team reacted and supported the business at such a critical moment.
“I am forever thankful to my team for stepping up in a huge way at that time. It was a challenging moment to navigate, and we are lucky that we have such wonderful people,” she says.
With stores in 10 US states, Ms Bridge has had to grapple with stores closing, reopening and closing again, and not just because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“It continues to be an adventure with the political climate, the rioting and looting, the situation in California with stores within indoor malls having to close again,” Ms Bridge describes.
The team has found a new strength and adaptability throughout the crisis. When California cranked up its restrictions again, for example, they reacted with confidence and pragmatism.
“We said to each other, “OK, we can figure this out,” and everybody was willing to get their heads down to find a way to continue to operate and care for our customers. We are definitely more resilient and creative than we were six months ago, and that will put us in good stead moving forwards,” Ms Bridge suggests.


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Entries with no category
Originally Posted by Oddi
Been trying my W17Pro out for a few days and decided to write a little review:
This device is the most beautiful tablet I have ever tried. Its very lightweight and it has solid build quality.
- Small edges
- Good buttons
- Original design
- No physical home button (can be fixed by remapping
This video is the best-look yet at the slick OpenGL-accelerated OS from Else (formerly Emblaze) and Access (who developed a next-gen Palm OS before Palm ditched it for their own). The big news: The First Else phone arrives next-year.
Google is working out any bugs in the latest update to the Android mobile operating system before releasing it broadly, and that's good news for Samsung Nexus S users.
Some Google employees are testing an over-the-air update of Android 4.0 on their Samsung Nexus S smartphones, according to a report from Android Police. The development was leaked on Google+ by Adel Saoud, Google AdSense Policy Applications and Signals Developer, who said the update was "looking great."
Google's open-source Android 4.0 operating system for smartphones and tablets has been ported to work with x86 processors, a member of an open-source project involved in the effort said this week.
The source code of Android 4.0.1, which is code-named Ice Cream Sandwich, is for developers and designed to work with tablets based on Advanced Micro Devices' low-power x86 chips code-named Brazos, which are typically used in netbooks and low-end laptops. Some AMD chips are being used
An ODM manufacturer in Shenzhen of China takes the lead to launch the first Tegra2 and android 4.0 tablet before the branded manufacturers, while the previous rumor that RK29 android 4.0 tablet hasn't come true. It said the best advantage of android 4.0 is it speeds up a lot. According to the google official data, it is faster 1.8 times on android 4.0 than 3.1.
This tablet was shipped with android 3.2 at first and now it is upgraded to android 4.0. It looks like Moto Xoom. It is running


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Continental renames industrial business as Commercial Specialty Tires
Continental AG is to rename its industrial tyres business unit as “Commercial Specialty Tires” (CST). According to the company, the changeover process started in October 2012 and will be finalized by January 2013. Continental reports that the move is part of a global strategy and “paves the ground for future growth in the segment of commercial tyres.”
What Conti now calls commercial specialty tyres basically includes a broad range that don’t fall into the largest car and truck categories and aren’t for two-wheel vehicles. Following the move, the Continental Commercial Specialty Tires unit is expected to “significantly extend and enlarge” its product range and customer service portfolio. There is even talk of “interdisciplinary execution of projects for various industry sectors” becoming a core competency.
“Moving from Industrial Tires to Commercial Specialty Tires is not only about changing our name and adding some new products to the existing tire portfolio”, says Dr. Michael Andreas Maertens, managing director of Continental CST. “It’ is a big opportunity to broaden our scope and to develop our capabilities to better serve individual needs of our customers worldwide.”
Further details of the strategy are expected in the new year.


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Ludhiana: Despite ban, illegal business of online lottery is running in several areas across the city, department concerned has failed to take any action on this illegal business. Several retailers are running this online lottery business through online website.
According to the Sources, these retailers are duping the customers by telling people that this lottery draw is from Nepal, but they are managing this business from a parallel website.
The different areas where these retailers are running this illegal business included Gill Road, Cheema Chowk, Janakpuri, Clock Tower, Sangeet Cinema Road.
This online lottery business is running from past eight years. Earlier, Punjab Government charged Rs.50,000 tax from one draw but few months ago government displayed new notification of charging Rs.80,000 from one draw. There are three organizers in Ludhiana who are heading this online lottery system in city. Organizers opposed governments new tax policy of hiking the tax.
Online lottery was shut down from September 1, 2014 but still some retailers are running it illegally in their shops at different areas of the city. Moreover, they are running this business by not paying any tax to Punjab government. Police have turned blind eye towards this issue.
Deepak Garg, a retailer, said, “There are many people who are running illegal online lottery business in several areas. But government should decide that either this business would be properly shut or government should reduce the tax which everyone should able to afford.”
“Moreover, there are more than small and big 60,000 retailers in Ludhiana who are running this online lottery business but several are suffering losses due to the end of business from past three months”, added Garg.
Roop Singh Panwar, who runs lottery business of Sugal Damani Company said, “Due to hike in the tax we had stopped the online lottery from September 1, 2014 but there are still some retailers who are running illegal business across the city. We are taking to the government regarding reduction in the tax, lottery will run officially soon.”
On being contact, Commissioner of Police, Jatinder Singh Aulakh said, “I am out of station and will direct the concerned to look into the matter.”
For more news updates Follow and Like us on Facebook


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Electrification is the central theme of this issue, from the JAC truck on the cover to our six page coverage of the EROAD Fleet Day 2022.
Industry experts at the Fleet Day conference covered a broad range of topics such as reimaging the fleet, the road to net zero, and what the future electric vehicle road map looks like for both the light and heavy commercial fleet.
Amazon has begun rolling out its fleet of Rivian electric delivery vehicles and we drive two electric LDV light commercials from Auckland to Wellington to experience life on the road between charging stations.
In addition we have also driven and evaluated a wide selection of different vehicles from the Fiat 500 Dolcevita, to the MG HS Excite Plus EV, and the Volkswagen Transporter 6.1 delivery van.
We’ve also got some interesting insights about reducing the road toll and how Fentanyl addiction could become the next major health and safety issues for fleet vehicle drivers.
Enjoy your reading,


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GRAND RAPIDS — Employment Traditions reports it has introduced a new prescription card program whereby certain of its PEO clients can offer a prescription drug discount benefit.
According to Patrick Montgomery, CEO of Employment Traditions, the discount program is available to PEO co-employers that use Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Insurance to offer prescription drug coverage benefits.
The firm explains that the extent of the discount hinges upon the level of premium that the employer chooses to pay.
But Employment Traditions also stresses that even if the employer decides to pay only the minimum premium required, the program still will offer prices discounted below their existing BCBS prescription coverage plans.
“It’s a lower cost for the same benefit,” Montgomery told the Business Journal
Currently, he said, the program potentially could involve 750 to 1,000 PEO employees working in firms with staffs of 25 to 50 people.
He explained that the new prescription coverage is available through the Amerikind Pharmacy Network, but the employees’ prescription cards would carry the Employment Traditions company name and logo.
He said Amerikind is able to cover the discount because its network is large enough to have the effect of giving it large-group discounts.
Montgomery said the card will be available to PEO clients which have their employees currently enrolled in BCBS insurance. Employment Traditions says its program can replace the BCBS prescription program without altering the health insurance coverage that affected employees already receive.
Employment Traditions says its program will provide prescription participants with a less expensive alternative to their BCBS prescription coverage, while still providing comparable benefits.
Montgomery said the Employment Traditions card will be honored at more than 54,000 participating pharmacies, and prescriptions will also be available by mail.
“We wanted to offer our clients an opportunity to provide their employees with an economical way to participate in a prescription card program,” Montgomery said.
“There is minimum difference between the Amerikind program and the BCBS program it replaces, as far as what is covered and where the cards are accepted,” he added
“The Amerikind plan, however, allows the employers to decide what level of premium they are comfortable with, which makes it more appealing to companies trying to find ways to offer prescription coverage to their employees at affordable rates.”
The new Employment Traditions prescription card became available to the company’s PEO clients on New Year’s Day.


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STOCKHOLM—The world’s largest clothing brand is turning to artificial intelligence to win back shoppers, as it works to reverse one of the worst sales slumps in its history.
Hennes & Mauritz AB’s H&M retail chain is ramping up its use of data to customize what it sells in individual stores, breaking with its longstanding practice of stocking stores around the globe with similar merchandise.
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Until Huawei makes an official announcement, we won’t stop featuring the next-gen Huawei P30. The phone which is expected to arrive with the Pro variant was first heard of in November when we said Huawei may implement a quad-camera setup. That is coming from a triple rear camera system. Soon after, we saw those protective phone cases revealed on Mobile Fun. Several image renders appeared plus a 360-degree video was shared online. The phone will roll out next month first in Paris, France.
The Huawei P30 Pro was already compared with the Xiaomi Mi 9 but we can’t make our final analysis yet. At the MWC 2019 earlier this week, hands-on photos surfaced ahead of the official launch so we’re excited for the next-gen premium flagship offering from the top Chinese OEM.
It’s no secret that the Huawei P line has become an important trendsetter in the mobile game each year. It made popular the dual rear camera system with the Huawei P10, triple rear shooters of the Huawei P20 Pro, and now this–four rear cameras (quad camera system) of the Huawei P30 Pro.
At the MWC 2019, Huawei unveiled the Mate X foldable phone. The flagship phones are due end of March but we’re expecting more related leaks like these new Huawei P30 and P30 Pro images.
Both phones look very similar but you will see the obvious difference in the rear camera setup. We’re assuming the two will already have 5G connectivity, or at least, just the Huawei P30 Pro. Huawei boasts that its first foldable phone will have 5G and so the P30 have the same technology is expected.
When it comes to imaging, the P30 Pro is expected to beat the Huawei P20 Pro and the Mate 20 Pro. We’re probably looking at higher scores on DxOMark especially since the camera system will include 10x zoom which can be likened to OPPO’s 10X lossless zoom tech. Details are scarce but we know Leica is still in the picture.


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Facebook opens game subscriptions to all games; are you in? [Poll]
Game subscriptions on Facebook are nothing new to Zynga, which most recently offered a VIP program for Pioneer Trail to the tune of a whopping 20 smackers a month. Kixeye today unveiled its own subscription plan for its flagship strategy game, Backyard Monsters. For $9.99 a month, players can receive perks like 1,000 Shiny--the game's paid currency--every month, stronger monsters, cosmetic items like a gold statue and customizable yard tiles.
So, correct us if we're wrong, but isn't one of the main draws of Facebook games the fact that they're free to play? Especially where competitive games like Backyard Monsters are concerned, don't services like these offer those in a position (or simply those willing) to pay an advantage?
Of course, in-game subscriptions aren't geared toward folks like this writer. They're aimed at those that already pay an average of $10 or $20 a month in their Facebook game of choice. Our last question is, are there enough paying social gamers out there to make such a feature worth it? You tell us!
Have something unique to add to the discussion? Sound off in the comments. Add comment.


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Koei Tecmo announced that they will expand on their Toukiden franchise with a new smartphone game titled Toukiden: Mononofu, launching for iOS and Android in 2016.
A new product from Hyperkin allows gamers to play real Game Boy cartridges on your phone. The company is now taking pre-orders for a Smart Boy Development Kit that lets your smartphone play Game Boy and Game
Say Goodbye to Your Free Time; Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Now Available on iPhone and Android Smartphones
Many say that if you were to make crack into a digital form, it would look something like Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft - unfortunately, the absolute best addiction possible is now available to play on iPhone and
PlayStation Mobile has received six new titles to its mobile gaming lineup this week. With new games, apps and updates being released every Tuesday, PlayStation Mobile will always have a little of everything for everyone.
Last night, Engadget’s Editor-In-Chief Joshua Topolsky came across some information about a device that has gamers and tech whores drooling. A Sony Erricson Android phone outfitted with a D-pad, a touch pad and bearing the PlayStation name.


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Nearly half of consumers, 46 percent, plan to start their holiday shopping before November and one in four plans to have it all completed by Black Friday, according to the latest RetailMeNot "Shoppers Trend Report."
The survey, conducted in partnership with The Omnibus Company, also revealed that 15 percent of shoppers pick up holiday gifts over the course of the year to spread out the cost.
"These findings reflect the shift we've seen over the past few years toward an extended holiday shopping season," said Trae Bodge, senior lifestyle editor for The Real Deal by RetailMeNot. "Where Black Friday used to be the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, it's now close to the finish line for many consumers who've started taking advantage of deals earlier in the season and throughout the year. However, the 'Five Days of Savings' (Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday) still represents a meaningful part of the holiday shopping season, both in-store and online, as we see retailers continue to deepen their discounts on RetailMeNot during this period."
With more consumers headed to stores early, retailers are responding by opening their stores on Thanksgiving Day. In addition, brands are readying their e-commerce sites. Retailers are expecting a big increase in online sales, 86 percent in year-over-year holiday sales, according to a ChannelAdvisor multichannel e-commerce study.
One in three consumers believes stores opening on Thanksgiving Day means those who have to work on Black Friday will get to partake in great sales. And about 22 percent of those surveyed saw the turkey day openings as something fun to do with the family. Finally, one in five see Thanksgiving as a way to get even better deals than on Black Friday.
Whatever day consumers plan to shop, the discounts will have to be worthy. According to a new report from PwC and Strategy&, as many as 72 percent of consumers believe the economic environment is the same or worse than last year. Therefore, 84 percent plan to spend the same or less money than in 2013.
Bodge also predicted some trends for Black Friday this year, including the need for retailers to release strong offers throughout the "Five Days of Savings." Another trend is staggering deals to prevent overly hectic shopping days. In addition, more retailers will offer price matching. And finally, retailers will offer incentives to join their loyalty programs.
Despite on-going deals, the three most popular shopping days will still be Black Friday, 36 percent, Cyber Monday, 32 percent, and Thanksgiving Day, 25 percent.
-See this RetailMeNot press release
86% of retailers expect an increase in online holiday sales
SMB online holiday sales expected to grow 9%
Weaker holiday sales projected, except for certain retailers
Retailers add 15,200 jobs in September; holiday concerns persist
Retailers add 37,600 jobs in October as holiday hiring shifts into full gear


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The much awaited Motorola Moto G has been launched in India and will be available on India’s most popular e-commerce site, Flipkart, for sale from tomorrow. At the moment, the phone has been released in Malaysian, Dubai and Australian markets.
The Moto G with a Dual-SIM option, carries a price tag of Rs 12,499 ($200) for the 8GB model and Rs 13,999 ($225) for the 16GB model. The device is being offered with other special offers such as Free Flipkart eBook vouchers, Rs. 1000 off on clothing, 70% off on colorful Moto G shells, as well as a chance to get 100% cash-back.


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BOLOGNA, ITALY, MAY 24, 2021
CRIF invests in Fido to boost the ability of consumers to get credit thanks to their digital footprint and machine learning
Fido has created the first European platform to boost the ability to assess the creditworthiness of consumers through the analysis of digital signals and machine learning. Through this transaction, CRIF wants to contribute to Fido’s growth and to confirm its commitment to innovative digital services for consumers and SMEs.
DUBLIN, MAY 24, 2021
CRIF announces the integration of SkyMinder® with the we.trade platform
Thanks to the partnership with we.trade Innovation DAC, we.trade users now can access SkyMinder® services directly from the we.trade trade finance digital platform.
China, April 20, 2021
CRIF expands its business operations in China, providing enterprises with business and credit information
The Shanghai Head Office of the People's Bank of China (“PBOC”) recently announced the approval of the registration of CRIF (Shanghai) Business Information Service Co., Ltd. as a business and credit information provider.
BOLOGNA (ITALY), APRIL 19, 2021
CRIF continues to grow and draws a new EUR 45 million tranche through the private placement program with Pricoa Private Capital, launched in 2016 and extended in 2020
This new issue is part of the Shelf Facility which provides the possibility of placing new issues up to a total value of USD 125 million, helping to support the EUR 350 million investment plan for the three-year period 2021-2023. The note placement involves a 12-year amortization plan (6.5-year average life span) at a fixed interest rate.
HONG KONG, MARCH, 18, 2021
CRIF’s N.E.O.S. receives “Track Winner Open Bank API” recognition at the FinTech Nations Hackathon
The FinTech Nations Hackathon attracted almost 300 teams of FinTech talent from all over the world. CRIF presented N.E.O.S. (New Evaluation Open Suite), one of its most innovative solutions for the lending industry, which won the ‘Track Winner Open Bank API’ prize.
DUBLIN AND BOLOGNA (ITALY), JANUARY 27, 2021
we.trade bolsters market position with CRIF partnership
CRIF joins as new shareholder following successful capital round by we.trade, nominating Paola Galassi to we.trade Board.
CRIF named as a “Strong Performer” in the Forrester Wave™: Digital Decisioning Platforms, Q4 2020
This is the second recognition for CRIF by from Forrester , since CRIF, has already been cited in the Forrester’s Now Tech: Digital Decisioning Platforms, Q3 2020 as a Digital Decisioning Platform (DDP) provider.
BOLOGNA (ITALY), OCTOBER 23, 2020
For the 8th year CRIF named to prestigious top 100 IDC Fintech Rankings
This 17th annual vendor ranking represents the leading hardware, software and service providers to the financial services industry from around the world. It’s the 8th consecutive year that CRIF is ranked among the Top 100 Fintechs at global level.
MILAN AND BOLOGNA (ITALY), JULY 14 2020
Open banking: a strategic partnership for CRIF and SIA in Italy and Europe
Thanks to this agreement, the two companies will offer innovative services aimed at accelerating the digital transformation process of banks, corporates and fintechs driven by the innovations introduced to the market by PSD2.
KUALA LUMPUR (MALAYSIA), JUNE 29, 2020
CRIF obtains Credit Reporting Agency license in Malaysia
CRIF OMESTI Sdn Bhd - a joint investment between CRIF and OMESTI Holdings Berhad - has obtained a credit reporting agency (CRA) license in Malaysia from the Ministry of Finance Malaysia.
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D-Marin signs JV to operate Middle East marinas
UAE: Meraas and Dubai Holding have signed an agreement with Dogus Group company D-Marin to manage and operate the existing and future marinas being developed at Port de la Mer, Dubai Harbour and Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
The partnership also seeks to establish a regional centre with a global standard for renovation, service and maintenance of luxury vessels in Dubai, similar to the D-Marin backed MB92, which currently has branches in Barcelona, Spain and La Ciotat, France.
D-Marin, which operates the largest chain of marinas in the eastern Mediterranean at six international destinations, is well positioned to attract international investment in the maritime sector and help promote Dubai as a preferred destination for luxury yachting. The joint venture also includes long-term provisions for the development of additional marina lifestyle offerings through a broader ecosystem of service and investments that extend into other sectors in the Middle East and Far East regions.
His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, group chairman of Meraas and chairman of Dubai Holding, confirmed: “The success of the two companies in attracting a global operator such as D-Marin to invest in the luxury marinas sector is aligned to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote Dubai as a leading international tourist destination and position the UAE at the forefront of the world’s most business-friendly countries. This agreement will contribute to attracting new foreign investment to Dubai, which has high rates of direct investment growth in high value sectors.”
“This move is in line with the sustained efforts of Meraas and Dubai Holding to realise the Dubai Plan 2021 to diversify the UAE’s economy and promote its sustainable growth through increasing the contribution to GDP of vital sectors, such as tourism and related activities, including luxury yachting and maritime transportation,” he added.
As part of the joint venture, D-Marin will manage the marinas, advise on technical and design aspects for building at competitive cost, provide marketing and advertising support, and create a calendar of marine activities.
Ferit Sahenk, chairman of Dogus Group, said: “Dubai has become an inspiring story over the past decades. As Dogus Group, we have been actively growing in Dubai since 2011 with our real estate and food and beverage business and are very grateful for the opportunities Dubai has offered us.”
“This agreement is a testament to the success of D-Marin in expanding globally…[and] will unite our energies to create world-class marine facilities in the UAE. We are aware of the importance of this partnership as it will contribute positively to the cooperation between all parties and give it much momentum and strength,” he continued.
In the GCC and Middle East in general, there is a growing need for marinas. The region is a major market for luxury yachts, with over 200 yachts requiring a berth in excess of 40m (131ft) in length.
Copyright © 2019 Marina World/Loud & Clear Publishing. All rights reserved.


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30 Jul Cristiano Ronaldo fashions Juventus 2020-21 dwelling package as iconic black-and-white stripes return
Cristiano Ronaldo has helped Juventus unveil their new package for 2020-21, heralding a grand return for one of many membership’s most enduring hallmarks.
The Toe Poke Each day is right here day-after-day to deliver you all of the weirdest tales, quirkiest viral content material and prime trolling that the web has to supply, multi function place.
Bounce to: Spurs go inexperienced as new dwelling and away package launched | Salah’s smile seems even greater beneath new hairdo
The Outdated Woman will as soon as once more be taking part in of their iconic black-and-white stripes after abandoning them final yr in favour of a controversial half-and-half design (though producers Adidas desire to explain it as “celebrated” of their press launch for the brand new package).
Impressed by fashionable artwork, the brand new shirt is meant to have a fresh, contemporary take on Juve’s famous stripes whereas nonetheless being respectful of the membership’s vaunted traditions.
The result’s the black bands being given a “brush stroke” aesthetic to replace the sample which is, in accordance with Adidas, “synonymous with the membership’s core identification.”
The trim can be flecked with gleaming gold which is simply becoming for Ronaldo and the remainder of the reigning champions.
Ronaldo will probably be hoping it’s third time fortunate within the new package for his hopes of changing into Serie A’s prime scorer in a season. After Juve misplaced 2-Zero at Cagliari on Wednesday, the Portugal star stays on 31 league targets for the season. His foremost rival to be Capocannoniere, Lazio’s Ciro Motionless, scored in a 2-Zero win over over Brescia to take his 2019-20 total as much as 35.
Ronaldo’s teammate Paulo Dybala, who on Thursday introduced he has turn into the 159th participant or coach to donate 1% of their wage to the Frequent Purpose charity initiative, additionally regarded resplendent because the jersey was unveiled.
Juve will proudly debut their new dwelling shirt on Aug. 1 when AS Roma go to Turin on the ultimate weekend of the Serie A season.
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Spurs go inexperienced as new dwelling and away package launched
New season. Recent look.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 30, 2020
Tottenham Hotspur have kicked off the day with a bumper product launch as each the brand new dwelling and away strips for 2020-21 have been offered to the world in a single fell swoop.
The home kit is familiar fare with Spurs’ conventional white shirt furnished with giant blocks of navy blue on the sleeves and a yellow pinstripe trim — similar to the pretty bland 2016-17 design.
The house shirt does have an “enhanced knit sample” woven into the material which was created by going over the membership’s previous jerseys to supply an amalgam of their varied graphics.
Elsewhere, the away kit has raised a eyebrows as Spurs have gone inexperienced. We’re advised the “adventurous” inexperienced package additionally has refined flashes of neon yellow and lava glow to assist usher in a stunning change of palette forward of the brand new season.
Harry Kane & Co. did put on a inexperienced third alternate strip in 2018-19, a “neptune inexperienced” affair that was most famously worn when Lucas Moura scored a hat trick within the second leg of their Champions League semifinal at Ajax to ship the Londoners into the ultimate.
Nonetheless, that is the primary time they are going to be carrying inexperienced because the default package at any time when they do not put on their dwelling colors.
Salah’s smile seems even greater beneath new hairdo
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) July 29, 2020
Mohamed Salah has celebrated changing into a Premier League winner with a drastic overhaul of his trademark look.
Certainly, the title-winning Liverpool ahead shocked followers to the core by posting a photo of his new haircut on social media, revealing that his as soon as bountiful, bouncing tresses have now been tamed.
Salah additionally posted a snippet of video to his Instagram tales, working a comb by means of his new high-top, curly fade with an enormous smile throughout his face.
He clearly loves it, and if the optimistic feedback on his posts are something to go by, Reds followers all over the world additionally appear to approve too.


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By the time GM goes public, many taxpayers will be ticked off about how the company is being run. That's understandable given the nature of the federal bail out. Now those people need to realize GM is a company working towards independence and towards making choices they may not like.
Here's something to think about: a Chinese company taking a stake in General Motors. Does it scare you? Or does the idea leave you shrugging your shoulders and saying, "so what?"
After 3 years of planning, building and testing their are three teams splitting $10 million in Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize competition. They all won by achieving a goal many consider a pipe dream: getting 100 miles per gallon, or the equivalent of that for the electric vehicles.
How long it takes for the government to divest its holdings in General Motors will, in part, be determined by the company’s success, G.M.’s chief executive said. The New York Times reports.
For years, Ethan Eyler has worked in product marketing in San Francisco, creating websites and ad campaigns for online games and music. He's always had a long commute. One day, when he was especially bored in traffic, he stared at the car in the rear view mirror and thought, "You know, that car would be funny if it had a mustache."
Edward E. Whitacre Jr. has looked forward to the day the carmaker would no longer be under government ownership, but thinks a public offering requires a long-term leader. The New York Times reports.
Here's why you should keep a close eye on these six stocks.
"I want us on the balls of our feet." That comment from GM CEO Dan Akerson is the clearest indication the new leader at GM wants his company to move faster, be more aggressive, and win.
Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2010 study has just been released and it shows the last two year’s recessionary market has significantly impacted the relationship between brands and customers.
Share your opinion in our poll.
CEO Alan Mulally has engineered “the greatest comeback story of a generation,” Cramer said. But how do you trade it?
By day, hundreds of General Motors workers make pistons and other engine parts at a factory on this city’s east side. By night, gangs of thieves have repeatedly looted empty G.M. plants on the same property, and have twice fired shots at security guards.
OnStar is pushing to find more ways for subscribers to stay connected while behind the wheel. For example, GM is working on a feature that will allow drivers to use OnStar to update their social network sites safely while out and about in their car.
See what's happening, who's talking and what will be making headlines on Wednesday's Squawk on the Street.
CEO Dave Cote on the secret to this company's success.
This week, as everyone talks about what went wrong at Lehman Brothers; think instead about what went wrong with Japan.
Corporations that are flush with cash represent the best buys for investors now, a Deutsche Bank banker told CNBC Monday.
With this being the autumn of the electric car ramp up, the skeptics scoff at all the lithium-ion battery plants and assembly lines firing up around the country. The naysayers think there will be too much capacity and too little demand. A123 CEO Dave Vieau sees it far differently.
Plus, get calls on automakers and the high-end shoe biz.
With the hype and the hope building for the roll out of electric cars this fall, there is a comment I'm hearing more and more from people as I travel around the country and it goes something like this, "That's nice. Tell me when they are a big deal."


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SURF Communication Solutions Announces Support for Microsoft Silverlight
SURF's flagship SURF Engine and TranSURF systems fully support Silverlight to power video systems for high capacity delivery to all screens.
Yokneam, Israel(04 May 2010)
SURF Communication Solutions (www.surf-com.com), a leading provider of video and voice enabling technologies, today announced its support for Microsoft Silverlight. SURF's flagship SURF Engine and TranSURF systems fully support Silverlight to power video systems for high capacity delivery to all screens.
Avi Fisher, SURF's CTO explained, "The demand for video across all screens has never been higher and continues to grow exponentially. Experts have forecast that video over IP will account for more than 91 percent of global consumer traffic by 2013, and by that time almost 64 percent of the world's mobile data traffic will be video. In order to support this growing demand, system developers need to integrate platforms that will provide high-capacity transcoding, transrating and enrichment in real-time. SURF's work with Silverlight facilitates this need."
"Microsoft is pleased SURF Communication Solutions has invested early in supporting Silverlight and the next-generation application development platform," said Steve Sklepowich, director for Silverlight at Microsoft Corp. "Products like TranSURF and the SURF Engine help developers use their existing skills to create unique experiences that run across many and varied devices."
About SURF Communication Solutions (www.surf-com.com)
SURF Communication Solutions provides the SURF Engine, powering video and voice applications in mobile, TV and Web markets. Using the SURF Engine vendors develop new systems, while shortening time-to-market, minimizing risk, focusing on differentiation, demonstrating winning quality, and capturing market opportunities. SURF is already powering hundreds of different systems, serving many millions of users worldwide. For more information, visit www.surf-com.com.
©Copyright 2010 SURF Communication Solutions. All rights reserved. SURF is a registered trademark and the SURF logo is a trademark of SURF Communication Solutions. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations.


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Following the official announcement that Philippe Coutinho will be leaving the club, Liverpool have said they will offer compensation for fans who purchased a replica shirt bearing the Brazilian playmaker’s name.
In a statement posted on the club’s website, Liverpool will give £50 vouchers to anyone who requests one and can submit proof of purchase, pending the finalization of the deal.
“The offer— which applies to all shirts purchased in official club outlets and via the official LFC website— follows today’s announcement that Coutinho will join FC Barcelona and reflects the exceptional circumstances behind the player’s departure.”
(Note that subtle bit of shade right at the end.)
Fans who bought their merchandise in person will need to present the shirt at an official club shop along with proof of purchase. They do not need to surrender the shirt. Fans who purchased online will receive their vouchers via email in about a week.
This is undoubtedly a good and generous move by the club. While fans are understandably upset, the club could’ve easily told supporters demanding refunds that they were SOL. They paid their money, they got their product, business was concluded. Offering vouchers— at what will no doubt be significant cost— in order to do right by fans is admirable. Credit to them for trying to make a difficult moment just a bit less awful.
If you bought a Coutinho shirt and want to take advantage of the voucher offer, you can find the full terms and conditions on the offer here.


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Why it matters: By the end of the year, the popular all-day cafe and bar will have three Charlotte locations, including this one, the one in Elizabeth and another in Lower South End.
The space: The new 6,000-square-foot Myers Park market will have a similar vibe to its Elizabeth location.
It'll have indoor and outdoor seating, including a covered outdoor patio.
The menu: Expect similar offerings as its other location, too, including a deli, coffee bar, handmade pastries prepared daily onsite, craft cocktails and wine by the glass.
Menu items specific to this location are also in the works, according to a press release.
Details: The People's Market Myers Park will open at 2820 Selwyn Ave., in the former Mellow Mushroom spot.
It'll be open seven days a week.
What they're saying: "Ongoing expansion is part of our business model, and this location closely matches our brand's mission to be a family-friendly, community gathering place to eat, work, and play," owner Cory Duran said in the statement.
Flashback: Duran first opened People's Market on East Boulevard in Dilworth in 2017. When Duran closed the shop in 2020, customers mourned the loss of the beloved spot, and Duran vowed to eventually recreate its "magic."


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No monkeying around: San Francisco warns Monkey app to stop auctioning off city parking spots
It's the size of a breadbox, uses about 10 watts of power, and with a click of a button, can provide the user a glimpse of what organic threats lie beneath clothing.
Defiant IRS head says no apology for lost emails; GOP's Ryan says 'nobody believes' his story
Uncanny valet: Robot to park travelers' cars at German airport
Software maker Oracle purchasing Micros Systems for about $5.3 billion
Children are getting phones at a younger age every year, but it can be hard for parents to know when their youngsters are ready for the responsibility. "A Parents' Guide to Mobile Phones" has tips and strategies to consider before taking the important step.
Ever get the feeling your home Internet speed isn't as fast as what you've been paying for? You could be right.
Almost halfway through the World Cup, a report on everything from safety to technology
Crime data show iPhone 'kill switch' sharply reduces robberies and thefts
Tech Tips: Facebook ads, tracking, and some ways to opt out _ somewhat
Review: Amazon's Fire Phone breaks down walls with interface that watches you watch it
Amazon CEO Bezos says Fire phone offers 'something different'
BWI converts former pay phone banks to charging stations
In a week, Facebook says 141 million people have connected about the World Cup
Google teams with nonprofits to encourage girls to write computer code
5 Things To Know about Google teaming with nonprofits to encourage girls to write code
Lego to introduce blocks that can be 'imported' into phone, tablet games
Harley-Davidson testing electric motorcycle in US without the distinctive Harley sound
Supreme Court tosses out 'abstract' software patent in case closely watched by tech companies
Hi: 82 °F | Lo: 62 °F


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Dead By Daylight announced what Geoff Keighley called a weird collaboration during Summer Games Fest as the actor Nicolas Cage will join the game’s horrifying world as a new survivor in an update later this month.
Ahead of that update we just got a new trailer for it where Nicolas Cage does a chilling job of narrating the gruesome images displayed, which isn’t exactly a surprise considering it’s Nicolas Cage, come on.
You can check out the trailer for yourself, below.
The Nicolas Cage update goes live on July 25, 2023 so any killers now don’t have to wait too much longer before facing off against a survivor that resembles the same person who stole the Declaration of Independence.
In other news from Dead By Daylight developer Behavior Interactive, the studio will be working with The Quarry and Until Dawn developer Supermassive Games on a narrative game set within the Dead By Daylight world.
Source – [Behavior Interactive]


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Morinaga is building new manufacturing lines at its third Takasaki factory to increase the production of popular items, such as its best-selling ice cream Choco Monaka Jumbo.
According to its latest annual financial report, frozen desserts were forced to be suspended as it could not keep up with the overwhelming demand during the hot summer last year.
Overall in Japan, findings from Yano Research Institute also highlighted that ice cream is the number one dessert choice amongst Japanese with nearly eight in ten of the Japanese consumers surveyed said they ‘love’ or ‘like’ ice cream.
As for chocolate, a spokesman from the firm said that sales had grown by 110% between 2015 and 2017. According to the firm, the third Takasaki factory, where the additional manufacturing lines would be located, spans across an area of 35,450 sq.
At present, the factory itself is still under construction and is expected to complete in April next year. It was previously meant to produce only the DARS chocolate range, but the firm then decided to add more production lines to manufacture Choco Monaka Jumbo and Ita Choco Ice as well.
As such, the firm had further poured JPY$8.6bn (US$78.5m) to meet the additional production needs. Production of DARS chocolate is expected to start September next year and the other two products in April 2021.
The move to focus on popular products is in line with the company’s medium-term management plan. The firm hopes to strengthen popular confectionery and frozen dessert brands in hopes of achieving a more stable revenue base.
“We studied and researched consumer insights, we developed products which are well-liked by many consumers in Japan. Narrowing down the number of items to focus on, helps increase efficiency, productivity and sales,” the spokesman added.


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Google’s mobile advertisers may now see their ads pop up in mobile applications from Sega, Urbanspoon, FlyCast, and other app publishers.
The company this afternoon announced the beta launch of AdSense for Mobile Applications, following an initial trial with a handful of partners over the past few months. The system allows advertisers to run text- and image-based ads within Apple iPhone and Google Android mobile apps. All marketers and developers can now apply to participate in the beta program.
“Mobile apps are a great way to reach people at relevant moments,” said a Google spokesperson. “People who use apps tend to be more engaged.”
According to the spokesperson, app developers can choose where they’d like the ads to be displayed in their apps. By adding associated code to their applications, developers become part of Google’s content network. As with other formats, Google targets ads to mobile apps contextually, though in this case, developers are helping the firm determine which content or actions are most appropriate to trigger ad delivery.
“We’re experimenting with ways for people to directly target certain apps,” the spokesperson told ClickZ News. In the case of Shazam’s music app, for instance, ads are targeted based on the user’s song list.
Though Google expects to add applications to its network soon, current apps include i.tv’s TV and film guide app, Sega’s game apps, UrbanSpoon’s restaurant review app, Shazam’s music app, FlyCast’s news, music, and talk programming app, the Backgrounds wallpaper app, and a news, stocks, and entertainment app from Pocket Express.
A class action lawsuit against an internet-connected pleasure device highlights the potential pitfalls a growing number of companies will face as they embrace ... read more
Google sparked a small firestorm last week as reports surfaced that its intelligent assistant device Google Home delivered an unsolicited advertisement to unsuspecting owners.
According to Internet Retailer's newly released The Best Digital Marketers in E-Commerce report, Target is the most effective marketer in online retail. So why is it struggling overall?
The rise of YouTube and digital video generally has a lot to do with the rise of the internet and the abundance of digital video content. But YouTube's ascendency is also the result of Google's savvy use of algorithms.


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"The nation’s cellphone networks could suffer “potentially catastrophic” cyberattacks by iPhone-wielding hackers at home and abroad if iPhone owners are permitted to legally jailbreak their shiny wireless devices — that’s what Apple claims.Hee hee.
The Copyright Office is considering a request by the Electronic Frontier Foundation to legalize the widespread practice of jailbreaking, in which iPhone owners hack their devices to accept software that hasn’t been approved for distribution through the iPhone App Store. Apple made the claim in comments filed last week (.pdf) with the agency...
Threat Level had no idea the iPhone was so dangerous. We’re gratified that Apple locked down this potential weapon of mass disruption before hackers could unleash cybarmageddon. This also explains why Apple rejected the official Google Voice App for the iPhone this week. We thought it was because Google Voice posed a threat to AT&T’s exclusivity deal with Apple. Now we know it threatened national security."
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Jailbreaking the iPhone a threat to national security claims Apple
Hilariously, Apple has reportedly claimed that jailbreaking the iPhone poses a threat to national security.


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KYOTO – Kyoto is promoting an additional attraction little known to date — onsen, or hot springs.
The city of Kyoto has 15 sources of hot springs featuring hydrogen sulfide, natural radium and other ingredients, and there are a total of 22 spa resorts, according to the municipal government.
As the presence of hot springs in the ancient capital of Japan has been little known to date, 18 spa facility operators founded an association under the city office’s leadership in November 2015 in a bid to lure tourists.
The association has started preparations to launch its website and make brochures to introduce the member facilities and hotels as well as access maps to hot springs to relax in after sightseeing.
As hot springs in Japan are becoming popular with tourists from abroad, the association plans to offer related information in English on its website.
Satoshi Kondo, manager of a hot spring inn called Kurama Onsen, in Sakyo Ward, appreciates the association because the individual promotion of services by hotels and other facilities was “limited in terms of both cost and scale.”
Tomoko Sakane, section chief for the promotion of Kyoto’s dietary culture at the city office, said there are many spa resort facilities not only for overnight guests but also day-trippers.
“We want lots of people to know (onsen) as a tourism resource” in Kyoto, she said.
Meanwhile, sprays of mist made exclusively from hot spring water are attracting women in pursuit of beautiful skin, prompting spa resorts across Japan to produce them for local revitalization.
The boom was triggered by Replus Corp. because its additive-free mist spray, released in October 2006 as “onsen cosmetics,” aroused strong interest from women via online blogs and magazines. The Osaka-based company now produces mist sprays on behalf of more than 50 hot-spring areas.
The Tamatsukuri Onsen district in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, used to be a deserted hot spring a decade ago but has flourished with a flood of female tourists thanks to a mist spray developed jointly by Replus and a local company called Hime Labo.
“I wanted to go to a hot spring here because a mist product I received as a local gift matched my skin,” said Moeka Omori, a 22-year-old university student from Kyoto’s Kita Ward.
The Tamatsukuri hot spring has gained in popularity also because Shimane retained its top spot in cosmetics maker Pola Inc.’s prefecture-by-prefecture rankings of residents’ beautiful skin for the fourth year in a row when announced in November 2015.
In Gero Onsen in Gero, Gifu Prefecture, which also sells a mist spray produced by Replus, an official at the association of local inns said the product sells well because Gero is well known as a hot spring.
Tourists come to Gero and “reconfirm the high quality of hot spring water here,” the official said.
However, inn operators in Misasa Onsen in Misasa, Tottori Prefecture, have mixed feelings about the popularity of the “Misasa Mist” spray because the product, which had sold some 350,000 cans by September 2015 since its debut in 2006, has failed to enhance the name recognition of the spa resort area.
“Lots of people still don’t know that the Misasa hot spring is in Tottori,” said Yukiko Tanaka, 44, of the association of local inns. “We should step up efforts to attract more tourists for the survival of this small spa resort town.”
Replus has also aroused demand for other products it has developed, such as lip cream and face masks using hot-spring water from Arima Onsen in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, and Matsunoyama Onsen in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, respectively.
“We will be happy if more people visit hot springs, prompted by our onsen cosmetics,” said Kazumi Fukuda, head of the marketing department at Replus.


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LUMBERTON, N.C. (WBTW)– Nostalgia was the name of the game at the semi-annual Lumberton Toy and Comic Show held this weekend at the Biggs Park Mall.
“Toys from your childhood,” Sean Morse, the event’s promoter said. “If you were born in the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s or ’90s, we have the toys you played with growing up.”
Morse said the two-day show attracted hundreds of people. They saw special guest appearances, live comic drawings and browsed toys, trading cards and crates upon crates of comic books.
“There are different kinds of collectors, I’ll put it that way,” Morse said. “Some are very methodical. They come and see me and have a list, either on paper or on their computer, and they are looking for very specific items.”
Morse said shoppers like that can mean thousands of dollars for the right vendor. The price of collectibles has shot up over the last 20 years, thanks in part to reboots of classic franchises, he said.
“I think a lot of it is coming back again, like Netflix has a new He-man cartoon, so all the vintage stuff has just gone up in price as people want it,” Eric Dellinger of House of Heroes Comics and Collectibles in North Myrtle Beach said.
“We love doing this show,” Dellinger said. “It’s a great time and we do it every year.”
Shaun Thornton, owner of Lumberton’s only comic shop, Crime Alley Comics and Collectibles, said his store wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the show.
“I got a table, I literally took my personal collection and brought it in, sold it and got the money to buy new stuff and open my store,” Thornton said.
“It’s a huge hobby right now,” Morse said.


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Microsoft and Pizza Hut have partnered up to launch a new app for Xbox Live that will allow users to order food from their Xbox 360 dashboard.
The new app has Pizza Hut’s entire menu available to users, and features a build a pizza option similar to direct online orders. The app works with a game controller and the Kinect motion sensor, allowing for gestures and voice command. Users only need to link their Xbox Live account with a Pizza Hut account. Once logged in, a menu will show up for a local region and users can pick the nearest store to take advantage of local deals.
Speaking to Polygon, Larry Hryb said the app came from “mutual conversation” between Xbox and Pizza Hut, and has been in the works for a long time.
“We’re always looking at ways to give our audience more of what they’re interested in,” Hryb said, in part. “If you look at our audience, they love pizza. I mean, who doesn’t? It has international appeal, and Pizza Hut is a recognized brand that matches up well with the Xbox brand.”
Hryb also believes “The app was a logical progression”, as Pizza Hut launched the ability to order food online in 1994, and created some of the first mobile apps with ordering capability. “Pizza Hut has always showed affinity for new ways to order products”, he said.
Hryb also stated that they don’t expect apps like Pizza Hut’s will surface on Xbox Live every day, but the Xbox team is listening closely to feedback on ways that they can further improve the experience.
Pizza Hut for Xbox will be available tomorrow (Tuesday, the 23rd of April) with a 15% discount off their first purchase, if used before May 6th.


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Chinese ride-hailing company DiDi makes NYSE debut
DiDi Global Inc., a Chinese ride-hailing giant, began trading Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Feature: DiDi steps up safety measures in Mexico
Drivers and users of Chinese ride-hailing giant DiDi Chuxing have added safety measures to make their rides more secure in Mexico, with new features to be rolled out this month.
China's ride-hailing giant offers free protective films for police vehicles amid epidemic
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said Saturday that it plans to provide free protective plastic films for police vehicles nationwide amid the epidemic.
Didi sets aside 100 mln yuan in installing protective sheets in vehicles
Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing said Sunday that it plans to spend 100 million yuan (about 14.3 million U.S. dollars) on a nationwide campaign to install protective sheets in vehicles.
Chinese ride-hailing platform launches taxi service in Chile's capital
Chinese ride-hailing platform Didi Chuxing on Thursday expanded its range of services in Chile by launching DiDi Taxi in the capital Santiago.
Chinese ride-hailing app DiDi launches new taxi service in Bogota
Chinese mobile ride-hailing platform DiDi Chuxing on Tuesday launched here its new taxi service, DiDi Passengers, making Bogota the first Latin American city to have the service.
Chinese ride-hailing giant DiDi launches service in Chile's capital
China's global ride-hailing app DiDi Chuxing launched operations in Chile's capital Santiago on Tuesday.
Hainan stops issuing online ride-hailing licenses for fuel vehicles
The city of Haikou, capital of China's tropical island province Hainan, on Tuesday stopped issuing online ride-hailing licenses for fuel-powered vehicles, said local authorities.
Ride-hailing giant Didi announces restructuring
China's ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing released on Wednesday an organizational restructuring plan to enhance safety and efficiency, amid public's mounting concerns over its hitchhiking services.
Shanghai bourse approves Didi's 1.58-bln-USD asset-backed securities
The Shanghai Stock Exchange approved an application on Monday allowing Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing to raise 10 billion yuan (1.58 billion U.S. dollars) through an issuance of asset-backed securities.
Cash-strapped Yidao clinches ride-hailing license
Yidao Yongche, Chinese ride-sharing services provider controlled by internet conglomerate LeEco, has obtained an official operating license from Beijing transport authorities.
Shortage of drivers and increasing demand lead to ride-hailing difficulty: Didi
Didi Chuxing, China's largest ride-hailing platform, said a shortage of taxi drivers and increasing demand have made ride-hailing more difficult in several cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Hangzhou.
China's largest ride-hailing app strains under Spring Festival travel rush
Complaints have piled up in recent weeks about Didi Chuxing, the country's largest ride-hailing app, as passengers have found it more and more difficult to secure a ride without paying higher fares.
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KMG, Glencore discuss cooperation prospects
During the meeting the sides focused on promising areas of cooperation with the possibility of carrying out joint investment projects.
Mirzagaliyev noted given the development of new technologies and climate regulation, the KazMunayGas company looks into additional measures for decarbonization, implementation of green projects, which could be a potential area of bilateral cooperation.
The Glencore delegation was briefed about the development of business in the petrochemical industry. So, last year the Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries (KPI) plant with a design capacity of 500 thousand polypropylene per year was launched in Atyrau.
Notably, on June 9, 2022, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Glencore CEO Gary Nagle to discuss the decarbonization of the economy, some aspects of the company’s activity in the mining and energy sectors of Kazakhstan.


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BotswanaPost is leveraging on technology and smart partnerships to enhance its existing products and services in a drive to diversify its revenue streams.
The Auditor General’s report issued this week shows that BotswanaPost recorded a comprehensive loss of P44.8 million in the year to March 2020, up from a loss of P948,354 in the previous year.
On Tuesday, BotswanaPost executives said the diversification drive would be intensified beyond the available products and services. At the moment, the utility offers advanced communications systems, advanced payment systems, multichannel access, mobile money, Poso card, kiosks across shops, internet services, bill payments, insurance and others.
Executives briefed the media on three new products being unveiled, which include the virtual post box, virtual teller machine and the online vehicle licence renewal.
BotswanaPost chief commercial officer, Clifford Lekoko said innovation is crucial in this era highlighting that the group has also been engaging smart partners to ensure that it reaps the benefits of using technology.
“On the virtual post box, customers can now register their mobile phone numbers to be used as their designated post box number to receive mail and related services from BotswanaPost. This gives customers the opportunity to re-direct mail to their current location for a fee,” he said.
The online vehicle renewal allows customers to renew their vehicle licence registration through BotswanaPost remotely via online access. The printed version can be delivered at home or office, over the counter at any postal branch as well as through the postal box.
The virtual teller machine, which is being touted as a first in Africa, is an electronic interactive kiosk through which customers can conduct a variety of transactions. Through the machine, customers will be able to access all services at any time providing a simulated version of in-person banking by combining touch screen operation and other commands.
“The machine is a branch in a box. “It gives people the choice, access and convenience and also provides an opportunity to introduce fully automated banking and agency services thereby improving post offerings,” he said.
BotswanaPost is hoping the interventions will help ease its financial situation and boost the country’s digital transformation. Government, through the Ministry of Transport and Communications, has committed itself to support BotswanaPost and had pledged to provide P78 million in the 2020-2021 financial year as a grant.
The decision came as the Auditor General noted concerns with BotswanaPost operating as a 'going concern', due to high accumulated losses and an adverse net liquidity position.