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Apple has lost the "iPhone" trademark in China on May 3, 2016 and must now share it with Beijing-based leather products maker, Xintong Tiandi Technology.
Quartz reported that the Beijing Municipal High People's Court rejected Apple's appeal of an earlier ruling on March 31. Meanwhile, Xintong was selling products such as purses, passport cases as well as mobile phone cases with the "iPhone" mark on.
appleinsider said that Xintong registered its trademark in China in 2007, the same year Apple introduced iPhone in the United States. Apple then registered "iPhone" in China for computer products in 2012.
In 2013, the government ruled that because Apple failed to prove "iPhone" was well-known prior to Xintong's registration, Apple interests would not be harmed. The High People's Court later rejected the appeal noting that Apple did not sell any iPhones in China until 2009.
(Source: Asia IP)


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REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--E la Carte, creators of the Presto Smart Dining System for full-service restaurants, announced today that its proprietary platform consistently delivers a better guest dining experience in addition to double-digit growth in net profit for restaurant operators deploying this proven technology platform. Restaurant operators across the nation have seen strong results from their Presto Systems, including higher average check size, optimized labor utilization, increased table turns, increased loyalty club signups, and other operational efficiencies. Cumulatively, these benefits have yielded a 33 percent lift in pre-tax profits per location (based on $1.5 million restaurant AUV).
According to research conducted in partnership with Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, more than 79 percent of the restaurant guests surveyed responded that the Presto System “improved their overall dining experience,” and 83 percent of restaurant guests said that the Presto System “increases their likelihood to return to the restaurant again.”
One of the key drivers in delivering higher guest satisfaction is the Presto System’s rich catalog of interactive entertainment. With more than 25 premium games in its catalog, the Presto System focuses on games that enhance the dining experience by sparking more social interaction between families, friends, and couples. In order to deliver best-in-class game titles, E la Carte has partnered with premiere game publishers including GameHouse, a division of RealNetworks, Inc., which includes a title from their hit series Delicious®, Delicious - “Emily’s New Beginning.”
“The Presto System receives more than 2 million game plays each week across our nationwide network of more than 1,800 restaurant locations,” said Rajat Suri, CEO and Founder of E la Carte. “Our catalog is regularly optimized to incorporate industry gaming trends as well as guest feedback in order to provide a superior guest experience. This is just one way we translate big data into actionable insights that help our restaurant partners grow their business and increase their profits.”
About E la Carte and the Presto Smart Dining System™
E la Carte, developers of the Presto Smart Dining System™, has led the table-top dining revolution with its guest-facing, pay-at-the-table, e-commerce system. Installed in over 1,800 restaurants across the nation, the Presto System enables restaurant guests to take greater control over their dining experience by allowing them to order from a full menu, play exciting interactive games, and pay their bill directly from the table. The Presto System also provides operational and financial benefits to restaurant operators which drives increased profitability, and unlocks restaurant data that was previously inaccessible, enabling smarter decisions around guest satisfaction.

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French Connection’s half-year results showed it “building on good progress” and “on track to meet expectations”, but it's still loss-making. It also said its strategic review would be completed before 2020.
It was a mixed set of results for French connection on Tuesday as the struggling fashion retailer reported an underlying "return to profitability" but still a lot of work to do and key metrics remaining negative.
In a short statement on Monday, French Connection confirmed what had been rumoured for some time with the company saying that it’s looking at its strategy options and one of those could include a sale.
French Connection said it's making progress and will be profitable again by year-end. But in H1, sales fell and it remained loss-making, despite wholesale in the UK, Europe and US firing on all cylinders.
French Connection is still lossmaking and margins are down but there's news to be cheerful about too as its new concept store outperforms, wholesale turnover rises, e-tail makes up a third of sales and m-commerce surges.
French Connection had some good news on Tuesday with an improving performance and Veryexclusive's Sarah Curran joining the board. But its turnaround is still far from certain as losses continue and sales are still down.
Sports Direct now owns 27% of beleaguered fashion retailer French Connection with the stake making it the second largest shareholder in the firm and just 3% below the threshold at which it must launch a takeover bid.
Investors in struggling French Connection are voicing fresh criticism of its boss Stephen Marks. Their complaints come after the board confirmed him in his dual CEO/chairman’s role on a show of hands at last week’s AGM.


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Today, the market’s attention is focused on the results of the US consumer price index for November. Until the announcement at 10:30 pm Japan time, a nervous atmosphere is expected with short-term position adjustments, but the direction will not be clear.
According to representative market forecasts, the year-on-year increase is +7.3%, and the core year-on-year increase is +6.1%. Growth is expected to slow down from +7.7% and +6.3% (core) in October last time. The market reaction after the announcement is known to be sharp, and even a slight fluctuation of 0.1 percentage points may cause the price to jump, so be careful.
Preliminary market commentary points out that while the price of goods (things) is on a downward trend, the price of services is on an upward trend. We are in a situation of so-called labor shortage, and this is clearly shown in the increase in average hourly wages in the latest US employment statistics. After the initial reaction to the results has run its course, there is a possibility that the rate of growth in service prices will become a hot topic.
Assume that the US dollar will make a big move depending on the November US Consumer Price Index (CPI). I plan to follow the flow after this.
Currently no position.


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Could we be looking at a wave of M&A in the coming years?
There are many reasons to believe the answer to that question could be “yes.” Keeping up with a changing global financial landscape since the turn of the millennium has proved to be a challenge for many global financial institutions, many of whom still operate on cumbersome legacy technologies. At the same time, energetic, imaginative startups have re-written the global rules of communication and finance, with mobile and internet companies now offering a host of low-cost, convenient alternatives for payments, investing, and automated money management platforms.
The large incumbents in the finance industry certainly aren’t planning to leave the playing field and hand over the finance sector to the startup and internet world. Banks are some of the biggest consumers of technology - they spent $486 billion in 2015, 18% of worldwide IT spending. And some analysts predict that the global banking industry will grow to $163 trillion in assets by 2017, with a 5 year CAGR of 8%.
In addition, according to a white paper released in March by UK firm FirstCapital, 92% of bank executives understand that their systems and processes must be upgraded to comply with constant regulatory change. Leaner, meaner newcomers have challenged retail banks with enhanced user experiences, competitive rates and a consumer centric approach.
But, the same research estimated that new technologies and fintech startups stand to siphon $4.7 trillion in assets away from today’s largest finance companies. Venture capitalists are betting on a disruption of the finance industry, upping their investments in fintech companies over the past six years, from $366 million in the first quarter of 2010 to more than $4.845 billion in the third quarter of 2015.
All of which raises a host of questions. Can large banking and financial institutions adapt to the new millennium? Can an industry that has long been dominated by MBA professionals adapt to a world of roboadvisors, one where professional-quality technology is available to non-industry players, often in their teens or early 20s, with professional levels of competence, and a global exposure via social media?
And what about traditional banks, long accustomed to financing new cars, vacations or new businesses but who have suddenly been challenged by crowdsourcing and peer-to-peer lending platforms, or by non-bank money transfer platforms used by tens of millions of people in Africa that have no other access to banking and financial services.
In many ways, the answer is clear: The finance industry is adapting to a new reality, if reluctantly. For example, look at how the mutual fund industry is responding. Many asset managers and investors have switched their focus from expensive, actively managed mutual funds to cheaper exchange-traded (ETF) and index funds, to the tune of about $250 billion in 2015 alone. That's a boon for investors, who enjoy lower fees. But for asset managers, the new reality is an ugly one that cuts directly into their revenue.
“ETFs have $2.1 trillion in assets, with an asset-weighted average fee of 0.27 percent, producing annual revenues of about $5.5 billion," Bloomberg reported on April 7. Traditional index funds have 2.1 trillion in assets but have an asset-weighted fee of just 0.10 percent, producing $2.2 billion in annual revenue,” Bloomberg says. Those same assets would have generated over $30 billion in fees if they had been managed in actively-managed mutual funds -- that's $27 billion of revenue that's just evaporated from the industry.
In addition, FirstCapital says that the largest US banks have made “strategic investments" in over 30 fintech companies. Some incumbents such as BBVA, HSBC and Sberbank CIB have launched dedicated fintech funds topping $100 million to be invested in early stage technology firms. Others, like BBVA, have acquired online challengers. Industry majors IBM, Microsoft, HP and Thomson Reuters have upped their games to service financial clients, investing heavily in enabling technologies, including fraud prevention and risk management software, infrastructure management for banks, data security and more.
To meet the challenge posed by disruptive startups and technologies, FirstCapital predicts a wave of mergers and acquisitions over the next three years as "financial incumbents [will] look to catch up with widespread innovation from new entrants… We expect a wave of M&A activity in the next 3 years as financial incumbents look to catch up with widespread innovation from new entrants, the internet majors scale up in financial services and the technology/software majors add new technology to deepen their offerings in this sector.”
In addition, the white paper expects “the internet majors scale up in financial services and the technology/software majors add new technology to deepen their offerings in this sector, particularly via the use of blockchain technology for payments, regulatory reporting and share trading.
Could be. Last August, asset manager BlackRock acquired automated investment advisor, FutureAdvisor, and is already rolling it out to financial advisors who work for the firm. Spanish bank, BBVA has purchased two challenger banks. It is certainly not inconceivable that major industry institutions could move to acquire upstarts into their basket of services in the coming years.
But that is far from certain. The incumbents’ sheer scale gives them the luxury of being patient and the ability to weather the challenges posed by newcomers calmly and carefully. At the institutional level, banks and lenders are already testing blockchain technology developed in-house and with he help of service providers. And Goldman Sachs still employs more engineers than Facebook. This could indicate that the traditional industry leaders are biding their time not until it is the right time to go on a buying spree, but rather until they have analyzed the industry, mapped out the future and they are ready to roll out their own, in-house technologies on their own terms.Photo credit: pmarkham via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-SA


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By Mark Ambrogi
The Christmas in October Craft Fair is rich in variety with more than 150 vendors.
“We really have something for everyone,” said Fishers Freedom Festival executive director Jennifer Kehl, who helps runs the craft fair.
The craft fair, which is an important fundraiser for the Freedom Festival, will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 at Fishers High School, 13000 Promise Rd. Kehl said the fair has been running for more than 20 years.
“Everything is hand-made,” said Kehl, who has been the festival’s executive director for 23 years. “We have all kinds of wood toys. We have holiday items and painted wine glasses. We have doll clothes, jewelry and all kinds of holiday décor.”
Fishers Tiger Stripes Parent Teacher Organization will be on hand to sell food.
Freedom Festival Assistant Director Kym Greiner helps with the craft fair along with volunteers.
All vendors donate an item from their wares for a raffle, Kehl said. All the money from the raffle goes to the Roy Holland Backpack for Kids program for Hamilton Southeastern
The fair will be held in the gym, one of the cafeterias and one of the main hallways. The entrance for the fair is Door FH-19 on the south side of the school.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 13 through high school and seniors (age 62 and older). Children 12 and under are admitted free. Guests are encouraged to bring a canned good item for local food pantries. Those that do will receive $1 off admission price.


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High Liner Foods
High Liner Foods saw profits rise in 2016 despite lower sales and the Canada-based seafood business said it needs new products to breathe fresh life into its volumes this year.
High Liner Foods, the Canada-based frozen seafood business, has reported higher nine-month profits as lower input costs again offset declining sales in the third quarter.
US group Blue Harvest Fisheries has completed its acquisition of Canada-listed High Liner Foods' scallop business.
Canada-listed High Liner Foods has agreed to sell its scallop business to US group Blue Harvest Fisheries.
High Liner Foods, the Canada-listed seafood group, today (16 August) reported a fall in half-year sales but supply chain savings helped its profitability improve.
High Liner Foods has said it was "encouraged" by a first quarter in which its profits rose but sales fell, although the Canada-based seafood supplier said it had work ahead to improve its performance.
High Liner Foods has reported a fall in full-year earnings, impacted by raw material cost increases and lower volumes sold in the fourth quarter.
Canadian seafood group High Liner Foods has seen nine-month sales and earnings hit by the depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar.
High Liner Foods has announced it will be offering foodservice operators in the US Department of Agriculture's lunch programme a range of bite-sized seafood products, Simply Sauce Seafood Bites.
This week's rundown of the latest financial results include a profit warning from TreeHouse Foods, an increase to profit forecasts at Post Holdings and a clutch of Japanese companies reporting their first-quarter results.
This week's result round-up includes a positive start to the year for UK own-label group Bakkavor, better sales but pressure on profits for Canada's Weston Foods and a slide in revenue at French poultry group Duc.
Canada-based seafood supplier High Liner Foods has reported an increase in annual revenue but lower profits as it struggled to drive sales in the US foodservice sector.
Canada-based frozen seafood group High Liner Foods will end production at a leased facility in the US as it looks to reduce its "excess capacity" in the country.
Canada-based seafood group High Liner Foods has posted higher net sales and net income for the third quarter but admitted pressure on US volumes and saw underlying earnings fall.
High Liner Foods has acquired US salmon importer Atlantic Trading Co. for an undisclosed sum.
Canada-based seafood group High Liner Foods today (12 August) reported an increase in half-year profits but booked sliding second-quarter earnings on the back of input costs and soft foodservice sales.
Canada's High Liner Foods has reported higher first-quarter profits on the back of improved efficiency and the impact of last year's acquisition of American Pride Seafoods.
High Liner Foods has booked an increase in full-year earnings thanks to "significantly lower" financing and one-time costs.
- General Mills sales woes continue - analysis
- Why personalisation will take-off in US food
- Comment: Meal kits in US - don't believe the hype
- US food next wave on display at Winter Fancy Food
- Column: Kraft Heinz, Unilever and sustainability
- Unilever 'lining up spreads sale'
- UK own-label firm Park Cakes sold in MBO
- Immigration crackdown "risk" for US dairy industry
- BRF plant suspended amid bribery allegations
- Fonterra cuts earnings forecast


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It’s a very merry Kardashian-Jenner Christmas!
The reality television ménage rang in the holiday with their famous annual Christmas Eve party, a tradition that has only ever been missed once since its start in 1978.
This year, the gathering was as glamorous as ever with Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall and Kylie decking our feeds with their festive attire. Kourtney served as the Christmas host this year — decking the halls with red curtains, a ceiling full of red balloons, a red Christmas tree surrounded by vintage rocking horses, and even a ball pit.
As the house was dressed to impress, so was the Kardashian krew. Here’s what all of the women of the family wore to celebrate Christmas Eve 2022 in style.
This year, Kris stole the show in a long-sleeve red and ruffled gown — cinched at the waist with a bow. Kris shared some snaps from the holiday party on her Instagram account, from the stunning, cozy decor to pictures with family friends Malika and Khadijah Haqq.
Kourtney Kardashian Barker
There may have been a bit of wedding inspiration in Kourtney’s Christmas gown. The host wore a long-sleeve white cutout gown with a rose appliqué on the bodice, ruching and a sheer skirt.
Last year, the couple celebrated their first Eve as a pair alongside their children – Kourtney’s daughter Penelope, 10, (whom she shares with ex Scott Disick) and Barker’s son Landon, 19, daughter Alabama, 17, and stepdaughter Atiana De La Hoya from his marriage to Shanna Moakler.
Despite her wearing the same casual outfit to two celebrity-hosted holiday parties last weekend, the Skims mogul showed out for her own.
Kim shared a selfie of herself in a glamorous, silver, chainmail gown. The sparking dress didn’t take away from the fact that Kim has officially returned to her signature brunette hair — after nearly a year of experimenting with platinum blonde.
It was Khloé who wore the family jewels this year. The Good American founder stunned in a strapless red gown with a thigh high slit, along with a glistening diamond necklace. She completed the look with a pop of red lipstick.
Ahead of the fête, The Good American founder spread the holiday cheer at the Alexandria House in Los Angeles. She paid a visit to the nonprofit organization with her daughter True, 4, Kim and her daughters – North West, 9, and Chicago, 4 – and their niece Dream (daughter of Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna).
For her family’s extravaganza the 818 Tequila founder wore a red sequin Valentino gown that didn’t spare any glitz.
In 2022, Kylie wore a nude gown with black lace detailing on the bust and hem. Her Mugler gown was completed with a pair of tights that continued the dress’s thin-lined detailing. If Kylie’s look wasn’t enough, she matched perfectly with her four-year-old daughter, Stormi Webster, who wore a children’s version of the same dress.
Last week, the Kylie Cosmetics founder put her spin on Christmas wear in a white off-the-shoulder bandage dress and knee-high pink satin boots for the Kardashian-Jenner holiday work party.


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TP-LINK exclusively unveiled its Powerful Archer Series first time in India at Com-IT Exhibition which was held in Bombay. Exhibition Centre at Goregoan(Mumbai), this been a four days exhibition was organized by TAIT.
Archer Series was unveiled during 20th November 2014 by Honourable Mr Prakash Mehta- Leader of BJP and TP-LINK India’s V.P. Channel Sales Mr Atul Jain, the unveiling was also lighten by the presence of Mr Bill Ye- Country Manager & Director TP-LINK India, Archer Series included three routers and one range extender which consist of Archer D7 [a powerful ADSL2+ Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Modem Router], Archer C2 [AC750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router that is stylish and powerful], Archer C20i [is a AC750 Wireless Dual Band Router that encourages line “you don’t need to be pricey to be stylish and powerful, you can just be C20i”] & RE200 [AC750 WiFi Range Extender is a true enhancement to AC series to expand their true power to every corner of your house], in addition to this there was also highlight on product such as M5360 [3G Mobile Wi-Fi with 5200Mah PowerBank] and a powerful TL-WR841HP which gives new meaning to High Power and a well-engineered and practical TL-WA860RE, During these four days TP-LINK India exhibited its range of products which included ADSL, Wireless Routers, 3G/4G Routers, Wireless Adapters, Range Extender and the all new Archer series. Even though, all products were surrounded by curiosity from customers and interesting queries on same. Range Extender was seen to be the product receiving much of attention, people wanted to feel, touch and know how it works and its features, how it will help them etc. Another Product Archer C20i received such a hype response from customers, that few customers where curious to know when this will hit the market for them to buy. Same response was
seen with 3G/4G Product line and ADSL series, overall it can be said that all categories were filled with curious visitors most of time, the visitors varied from customers who wanted to know about new unveiled products to customers who wanted a utility to expand their home/office Internet to the deadzone of Wi-Fi range.
In addition to the unveiling of new products and educating customers with product information, TP-LINK India also did organized lucky draw contest throughout the Expo from 20th November-23rd November, this was held on 2:00pm and 5:00pm respectively. The contest was overwhelming and participated by enthusiastic visitors, who wanted to get their hands on exciting prize that TP-LINK India was offering, which consist of 2 TP-LINK’s Router and a goodie bag. TP-LINK India also made sure to update their day at Expo to their followers on social media sites, this resulted in more curious visitors on next day of event.


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(CTN News) – During an hour of frantic trading on Thursday afternoon in the US, bitcoin fell by nearly 8 percent, extending a day of losses which has wiped out most of the gains the cryptocurrency had achieved since June.
According to the CoinMarketCap data, the price of a token briefly fell to a low of $25,409 before staging a partial recovery, according to Immediate Alpha data.
In line with recent declines in stocks, bonds, and other financial assets, the whipsaw price action of the digital asset has left it changing hands for 15 percent less than the record high registered in July.
This sell-off coincided with a report in The Wall Street Journal claiming that Elon Musk’s privately held SpaceX venture had written down the value of the bitcoin it owned by $373 million over the past two years and had sold the cryptocurrency to make a profit.
Musk has been closely followed by traders of digital assets since at least 2021, when Musk’s electric car company Tesla briefly flirted with accepting Bitcoin payments as a form of payment.
After Musk announced the plans in February of that year, Bitcoin’s price jumped 15 percent in just one day as a result.
A total of $1.5 billion of Tesla’s own cash has also been pumped into the tokens.
It was not long after Musk abandoned the plans for the cryptocurrency that it experienced a sharp reversal in price.
The value of the carmaker’s own holdings, on the other hand, has fluctuated since then.
A total of $204 million in impairment losses were recorded by Tesla last year due to its bitcoin holdings.
In the wake of Thursday’s gyrating bitcoin price, which has followed a torrid couple of months for digital currency enthusiasts, it comes as US regulators crack down on the digital currency sector, which Chair Gary Gensler has described as “rife with fraud, scams, and abuse”.
As of June, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed lawsuits against two of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance and Coinbase, alleging that they violated the law by selling digital tokens to members of the public without registering with the SEC.
There was volatility in digital assets as a result of the enforcement actions, despite the fact that the companies denied the allegations and vowed to defend themselves in court.
Meanwhile, a robust US economy has forced traders to reassess their expectations that the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates in the near future as a result of the resilient economy.
There has been a slump in stocks and bonds since the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate to the highest level in 22 years last month, while it left the possibility of further increases for this year open.


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Calling Believers of all ages—write a letter to Santa and help make wishes come true!
November 4 through December 24, bring a letter addressed to Santa to Macy’s and drop it into the big red letterbox, send a letter online at macys.com/believe, or create a letter using the new Macy’s Wish Writer™ stylus and app. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1,000,000.
Help spread the word about the Believe campaign by taking a photo or video of your child mailing their letter and sharing it on social media. Be sure to tag Make-A-Wish® Wisconsin in the post and include the hashtag #MacysBelieve.
And on Friday, December 9, Macy’s stores nationwide will celebrate National Believe Day.
The Believe campaign is based on The New York Sun’s famous “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” editorial. Believe Stations at every Macy’s store will also feature several “Yes, Virginia” products to benefit Make-A-Wish. 10% of the purchase price from each DVD and storybook, and $1 from each Wish Writer sold will be donated to Make-A-Wish.
To find a Macy’s store near you or submit your letter online, visit macys.com/believe.


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A Blantyre based domestic worker on Wednesday won K1 million in the Airtel Kuufira Summer Bonanza.
During the tenth draw of the promotion conducted in Lilongwe, the domestic worker Farida Phiri became K1 million richer.
A man named Enock Kachitsa from Mchinji district got a prize of K200,000 while Charles Chinomba from Area 47 in Lilongwe also won K1 million.
After winning the prize, Kachitsa pledged to be committed to Airtel by using the network and buying airtime.
Airtel Malawi head of data and devices marketing Masiye Mazaza told reporters that the promotion aims at giving back to customers and the company has noticed that customers are excited.
He added that as a company they are happy when they change customers’ lives through the prizes handed out in the promotion.
Mazaza also noted that Airtel as a business has seen the benefits of the promotion.
“There has been growth and it is this kind of growth that encourages us as a business to keep doing promotions of this kind,” Mazaza said.
He went on to say that due to the customers’ feedback, the company will introduce more promotions hence customers should expect to win more prizes.


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Drugs and alcohol: Just how much do the Swiss consume?
Binge drinking is on the rise across the country - particularly amongst women - while the use of cocaine and ecstasy in Swiss cities is among the highest in Europe.
The figures, compiled by Addiction Switzerland, also show that while tobacco use has stabilised, the use of tobacco-related products such as e-cigarettes is on the rise - which the authors say may be because these products have been sold as healthier alternatives.
Other addictions to prescription drugs as well as gambling and the internet are also on the increase, while the Swiss are consuming more and more new psychoactive substances which have been purchased online.
World leaders in cocaine and ecstasy consumption
Although self-reported use of illicit drugs has been relatively stable in recent years, use of cocaine and ecstasy remains high in Switzerland - particularly in urban areas.
This is backed up by the Wastewater Analysis Study by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, which showed Swiss cities to have some of the highest use of the drugs anywhere in Europe.
Zurich’s per capita usage was third in Europe, behind only Bristol and Amsterdam, while St Gallen (sixth), Geneva (seventh), Basel (ninth) and Bern (11th) were also high on the list.
Image: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Alcohol Addiction
For ecstasy usage, Zurich (third), St Gallen (seventh) and Geneva (eighth) were also high up on the list.
Cannabis consumption has also been on the rise, with four percent of those surveyed admitting to using the drug compared with 2.9 percent in 2012. Addiction Switzerland estimate between 40 and 60 tonnes of cannabis is consumed annually in Switzerland.
Switzerland also banned 13 new substances in 2019, the majority of which were purchased online and sent into the country.
Women have a growing problem with drinking
On the whole, alcohol consumption is steady in Switzerland. The average annual consumption is 7.7 litres of pure alcohol.
Image: Sucht Schweiz/Addiction Switzerland
But problematic drinking is on the rise, with the number of young women who get drunk regularly doubling from 12 to 24 percent in 2017.
Alcohol poisoning is also on the rise, up by 23 percent for men and 36 percent for women (both from figures from 2003).
Smoking down, tobacco use up
One major finding of the study was that while people in Switzerland are smoking less, the use of tobacco products is on the rise.
E-cigarettes, tobacco heaters and mouth tobacco (snus) are on the rise, particularly among younger people.
While Addiction Switzerland argues that these products can help reduce tobacco consumption, there is a danger that people use these products under the impression they are healthier or not addictive.
Grégoire Vittoz, the director of Addiction Switzerland, said in a statement that it was even more problematic as these products were less regulated: “the increasing variety of products urgently requires control”.
Newer addictions on the increase: Prescription drugs, gambling and internet usage
Regulation on strong ‘legal’ drugs - i.e. those available via prescription or over the counter - increased across the board in Switzerland.
Unlike in other countries, Switzerland is comparatively lax when it comes to regulating strong pain killers and sedatives.
Opioid painkiller usage increased by 18 percent, while almost one in ten said they regularly use sleeping pills or other sedatives.
The average respondent spends 122 francs per month on online games, while half of those who gamble do so with the Swiss Lotto. Casino revenue increased by three percent on the previous year to reach 703.60 million francs.
More than half of Swiss (55 percent) played some form of electronic gambling game, while 16.2 percent did so frequently. Three percent of respondents - approximately 192,000 people in Switzerland - did so excessively.
Image: Sucht Schweiz/Addiction Switzerland
Around four percent of those surveyed had what Addiction Switzerland called “problematic internet usage”, while almost nine in ten respondents used the internet regularly. Young people had the highest usage, averaging four hours a day.
A version of this article was first published in February, 2020.


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The other shoe has finally begun to drop for CannTrust Holdings Inc (TSX: TRST; NYSE: CTST) while awaiting a Health Canada disciplinary decision after the company was discovered to have been growing cannabis in unlicensed rooms.
Following that revelation, the company halted all sales and grow operations, and then subsequently had all unsold product returned by the Ontario Cannabis Store.
With no revenue incoming and no new product going out, CannTrust has trimmed its employee roster by 20%, letting go of 180 workers in the customer service and cultivation departments.
Discussing CannTrust’s moves to return to compliance and the projected $9 million a year savings by letting go of nearly 200 employees, Interim CEO Robert Marcovitch commented:
Marcovitch stepped into the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer after former CEO Peter Aceto was fired for his role in the unlicensed grow scandal.
In addition to sacking Aceto and demanding the resignation of board chairman Eric Paul, CannTrust formed a special committee to investigate the unlicensed grow scheme and recommend further changes to bring company operations into compliance with federal law.
Health Canada’s regulator has not yet completed a review of the unlicensed growing, which took place in five hidden rooms at a Pelham-based greenhouse from October of 2018 through early March of 2019.
The status of the company’s ability to continue functioning remains unknown until Health Canada hands down a final decision. Until that time, CannTrust issued a National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Order, which prevents management from selling shares and requires the company to issue bi-weekly updates for shareholders.
Prior to the bombshell news of unlicensed growing, CannTrust stock had already been on a steady decline, consistently dropping from a high of $10.04 back in April. The stock has now bottomed out to a current price of $1.74, and is expected to stay that way unless a favourable decision is rendered by federal authorities.
The opinions provided in this article are those of the author and do not constitute investment advice. Readers should assume that the author and/or employees of Grizzle hold positions in the company or companies mentioned in the article. For more information, please see our Content Disclaimer.


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Anthropologie;s new digs on de la Montagne are spectacular.
Housed in a handsome historic greystone, the store has 6,500 square feet of selling space on three storeys for its retro-romantic clothes and home decor, presided over by a giant moose. The floors are rough-hewn wood, and there are nooks and crannies everywhere with eclectic treasures.
The store, opening Friday, will stock Anthropologie in-house brands, as well as labels like AG for jeans and its Tracy Reese Made in Kind floral, flirty dresses. Among local offerings are Claire Desjardins’s accessories and paintings, La Raffinerie’s jewelry and Norwegian Wood accessories.
Among the offerings seen in a quick sneak peek of the shop Wednesday: beaded clutches, collars and ballet flats, brightly painted pottery, etched glassware and a giant coffee table of found Thai wood.
Anthropologie announced the Montreal store in July 2011, with opening slated for October of that year. That was pushed back to Nov. 25, then there was no news at all for most of this year.
“We’re perfectionists — we took our time so that the store would be exquisite down to the very last detail,’’ public-relations manager Amanda Woodward said in an email.
Anthropologie opens its doors Friday at 10 a.m. at 2130 de la Montagne St.
Here are a few of my favourite things:


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South Korea Takes Steps To Regulate Digital Currencies.
South Korea’s top financial regulators have jointly announced plans to handle digital currencies such as bitcoin and ether. Specific measures were outlined such as requiring banks to perform due diligence on bitcoin exchanges and strengthening user verification procedures.
The South Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC), announced on September 3 how they would deal with digital currencies such as bitcoin and ether, according to local publications. Korea is “joining Japan, China and other Asian nations in trying to regulate cryptocurrencies,” reported Yonhap, adding that digital currencies are currently not recognized as financial products and their exchanges are largely unregulated.
Noting that the volume of recent transactions and the volatility of digital currencies are “excessive,” the FSC conveyed that “it will step up monitoring and carry out probes into money laundering, unauthorized financing and other illicit transactions of digital currencies,” the news outlet detailed. The state regulator was then quoted saying:
“There is a need for the government to cope with the virtual currencies to prevent them from being used as tools for crimes and simple speculative investment.”
Sunday’s announcement followed a joint task force meeting chaired by FSC secretary-general Kim Yong-beom. “At this point, digital currencies cannot be considered money and currency not financial products,” Business Korea reported him saying.
One of the measures discussed is to strengthen identity verification procedures. “Banks will be required to strictly check the personal information of people who work at digital currency exchanges,” Yonhapreported the FSC explaining. “If there are suspicious transactions in such bank accounts, lenders will be required to report the transactions to authorities.”
Banks dealing with digital currency exchanges will conduct due diligence to ensure that the exchanges have effective internal control procedures such as the identification of users. The banks will consider suspending their accounts if they cannot provide reliable information, elaborated iNews24.
Remittance companies that use digital currency are also affected. In the announcement Sunday, the FSC detailed that these small remittance operators “will report their daily transfer records to the Bank of Korea,” Yonhap clarified.
Meanwhile, the country’s largest bitcoin exchange Bithumb reported that its daily trading volume on August 18 exceeded 2.6 trillion won (approximately $2.3 billion). This was more than the trading value of Kosdaq market, which was 2.43 trillion won the day before, according to Hankyoreh daily newspaper. Kosdaq is the Korean counterpart of Nasdaq. “It was one-off, but enough to shock the financial market,” the publication said.
The FSC announcement came a month after legislator Park Yong-jin introduced a proposed amendment to the Electronic Financial Transaction Act to provide a regulatory framework for digital currency such as bitcoin.
Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only. Information does not constitute an investment advice or an offer to invest. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, they do not necessarily represent infocoin views and should not be attributed to Infocoin.


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Albany – Shore Al Ain. fragmentation space. brutality. Loft apartments.
A review of news coverage and previous development proposals for Central Warehouse tells a familiar story: The new owner takes charge only to run into trouble. A bank takes over and sells it for one dollar. New owner, new promises, new dreams, to be sold again.


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The agreement covers all products to include toys, playsets, plush and collectables. Character will begin developing new product lines for Postman Pat and new product will appear in store early 2009 to co-incide with the brand new series which airs on CBeebies and BBC Two.
Entertainment Rights has 80 episodes of Postman Pat in its catalogue which is exclusively licensed to the BBC and the brand new series (26x15 minutes episodes) sees Postman Pat in a new job as he takes on a promotion as Head of Special Delivery Service (SDS).
Claire Shaw, Director of Consumer Products, Entertainment Rights, said: "In the new BBC series for Postman Pat, we are taking the much loved and well known characters of the show into a newly extended dynamic environment. The show has an expanded diverse cast, a fleet of new vehicles, new locations and dynamic, fast-paced storylines, which provides an excellent basis from which to develop innovative new toy products.
"Character Options has an incredibly strong pedigree in exploiting children’s television shows and we are confident they will take Postman Pat to another level within the pre-school toy category.”
Jon Diver, MD of the Character Group said: “Postman Pat is an iconic brand with an established heritage which has continually delighted pre-schoolers for over 25 years. Character’s plan is to produce a comprehensive range of toys on a new scale to that previously seen in the market, including characters from the classic and new series.
"The range will be heavily promoted from the first week we ship in early 2009. We believe that the license will become an important brand within our portfolio and a top five pre-school property”.


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2.75k followers • 30 symbols Watchlist by Yahoo Finance
Follow this list to track and discover the least volatile cryptocurrencies in the last 20 days. Each coin's volatility is calculated based on its standard deviation over a 20 day period.
Bitcoin is teasing a short-term bullish reversal, having just recorded its biggest single-day gain in seven months.
The price of bitcoin has fallen below $4,000 for the first time since September 26, 2017 and is now down 30 percent in the last 7 days alone.
Economist Steve Hanke has joined the board of the P2P cryptocurrency exchange AirTM and will guide its Latin American expansion, including a new system for price-stable assets he will design.
After yesterday's split of the bitcoin cash blockchain, several top exchanges have already accommodated the resulting two tokens.
With Thurday's hard fork of the bitcoin cash blockchain likely to result in a split, what are the traders planning to do with their holdings?
NEM surged 25 percent today to reach its highest price since early September while accumulating its most 24-hour trading volume in over three months.
Three weeks after being assured everything was running smoothly, some customers at Bitfinex are wondering why they still can't get their money out.
Cinnober, a fintech company founded a full decade before the bitcoin white paper came out, wants to help today's crypto trading platforms mature.
Bitcoin cash is undergoing a hard fork on Nov 15., and it might result in a split. So which exchanges will support the new cryptocurrency?
Last week's much-scrutinized letter, in which a Bahamas-based bank appeared to vouch for Tether's balance, has been confirmed as genuine by the bank.
Unlike its parent company, Binance Uganda handles fiat currency (in partnership with a local mobile payment provider) and requires full customer ID.
Crypto exchanges are shedding tethers by the million, and millions of USDT are ending up at Bitfinex. From there, they are taken out of circulation.
Binance has frozen accounts that received more than 93,000 ether (over $18.9 million) from wallets indirectly linked to troubled Russian exchange WEX.
Japan's Financial Services Agency is planning to put a cap on the leverage available to crypto margin traders to curb speculation and risk.
Bisq is launching a bitcoin-based token to pay code contributors and a DAO to manage payouts, all in service of further decentralizing the exchange.
A CoinDesk report regarding a misleading data point on CoinMarketCap has led to a change in the way tether trading volume is calculated.


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Waitrose has become the first supermarket chain to ensure that all of its branded and own-label canned tuna is either Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified or pole and line caught – meaning it is 100% responsibly sourced.
The retailer said the achievement is the result of working over the last year with branded tuna suppliers to improve their sustainability credentials.
All Waitrose own-label canned tuna has been pole and line caught since 2009 and MSC certified since 2013, while all the tuna in own-label ready prepared products, such as sandwiches and pâtés, is also pole and line caught.
The commitment to 100% responsible tuna coincides with the launch of a new range of MSC-certified John West canned tuna products. The ready-to-eat, ‘no drain’ cans will be available exclusively at Waitrose for six months.
Jeremy Ryland-Langley, Waitrose’s aquaculture and fisheries manager, said: “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do and we’re proud to have such a strong record in ensuring that our own-label tuna is caught in the most responsible way possible.
“When customers buy a can of own-label tuna, they know that they are always buying a product which has been responsibly sourced – and now they have the same assurance when it comes to buying a branded product.”
Total sales excluding fuel for Waitrose were down 0.1% last week (to Saturday November 25) compared with the same week last year.
Retail director Ben Stimson commented: “In the run-up to December, sales of advent calendars rose by 7% and sales of Christmas trees were up 6.5%, as shoppers started to get in the festive spirit.
“Christmas-related sweet treats were popular last week too, with sales of chocolate selection boxes up 13%, Christmas biscuits up 15% and festive bakery goods up 40%.”
Waitrose has 352 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 65 convenience branches and 27 shops at Welcome Break locations.


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Samsung isn’t just focusing on in-home entertainment. The company has just formally announced their brand new Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, which features embedded flash memory. The technology will allow for devices to connect peer-to-peer instantly, and without hassle, to WiFi or Bluetooth connected devices. The hope is that the transfer of data will become faster, and more streamlined, with the new technology. It’s also meant to be a low-power solution for better RF sensitivity.
The technology behind Near Field Communication is designed around short-range, high frequency means. The result, Samsung (and other companies) hopes, is the ability to be able to transfer data in a faster, more efficient way. As Samsung’s own Tae-Hoon Kim puts it in the press release below, NFC is an easy and effective way to transfer encrypted data between mobile devices, or other NFC-equipped devices.
The chip itself is set to hit mass production in the first quarter of 2011, where Samsung will more than likely put it in a myriad of new products. Specifically, it wouldn’t be a big leap of the imagination to believe the company would put the new chips into their mobile phones (like the upcoming Nexus S, for example). However, there’s no information as to when the chip will actually make it into devices, let alone which ones. Check out the full press release below for more information.
Samsung’s New Near Field Communication Chip Offers Increased Wireless Connectivity for Mobile Handsets
SEOUL, Korea, December 1, 2010 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in advanced semiconductor solutions, announced today its new near field communications (NFC) chip with embedded flash memory. Leveraging a low power design and advanced RF sensitivity, Samsung’s latest chip offers designers a competitive choice for next-generation smart phones with NFC capabilities. NFC enabled devices can instantly establish a wireless peer-to-peer connection and directly handover to Bluetooth and/or WiFi connection for fast, convenient data transmission.
“NFC is recognized throughout the industry as an easy and effective way to transmit encrypted information between mobile devices or between mobile devices and other stationary NFC-enabled devices such as kiosks,” said Tae-Hoon Kim, vice president of DDI and C&M marketing, System LSI Division, Samsung Electronics. “As momentum builds for adoption of NFC technology in next-generation/ upcoming smart phones, we look forward to securing a competitive footing in NFC-based solutions with our new NFC technology, offering powerful mobile characteristics such as low power design and advanced RF sensitivity.”
NFC is a short-range (up to 10cm or 4inches), high frequency wireless communication technology which allows devices such as smart phones to collect or transmit data to another NFC-enabled device without manual configuration to identify devices. In addition, NFC chip can play a role as a contactless smartcard in use for public transportation payments for bus and subway fares and mobile banking payments. It can also read RFID tags in retail stores or on outdoor billboards for convenient on-the-spot data access.
By leveraging its extensive experience in low power design, Samsung developed this NFC chip to have minimal power consumption in both active and stand-by mode. With a 20 percent decrease in power consumption, Samsung’s NFC chip remains active for mobile payment even without battery power.
Samsung’s new NFC chip is the industry’s first to adopt flash for the embedded memory which allows device designers to easily to upgrade software or firmware. For seamless integration and customer design efficiencies, Samsung also provides a software protocol stack and technology services for antenna design and tuning. Through such features and support, designers can reduce their product’s time–to-market.
According to market research firm, IMS Research, the mobile phone market is forecast to grow from 1.4 billon units in 2011 to 1.8 billion units in 2015 at a compound annual growth rate of seven percent. In 2011,NFC-enabled phone models are expected to gain pace and the ratio of mobile phones with NFC capabilities is expected to reach 26 percent in 2015.
Samsung’s new NFC chip is scheduled for mass production in the first quarter of 2011.
The new NFC solution will be displayed at the CARTES 2010 from December 7th through 9th at the Samsung booth 3C 035 in hall 3 at Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 174,000 people in 193 offices across 66 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, semiconductor chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
Samsung and the stylized Samsung design are trademarks and service marks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.


text: Countries in the Middle East and North Africa possess all the ingredients they need to leapfrog into the digital future. Their well-educated youth have already adopted new digital and mobile technologies, but, this is still in its infancy. Seizing the opportunities that the digital economy offers the MENA region will require a big push. Policymakers will need to work on multiple fronts. The sooner they start, the greater the chance that today’s young people can overcome economic exclusion and gain more opportunities to realize their—and their region’s—full potential.


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ID Comms Analysis: Superbowl 50 Advertising Performance
The glitter has settled after a dramatic Super Bowl 50 with saw the Denver Broncos walking off as the winners against the Carolina Panthers. It is time to take a quick analysis of brands competed in the battle for supremacy in Super Bowl advertising.
Here is a summary of our analysis with observations about trends for this years iteration of Super Bowl media activity:
Which Brand Stood out this Year
While definitions of what qualifies as success may differ from brand to brand, an easy measure of viewers’ response and engagement with an ad can be seen on its share of YouTube views.
Looking at the viewing statistics collected by AdBowl, Hyundai seems to have generated a significant amount of buzz, with two of their ads, “The Chase” and “First Date”, placing in the Top 5 of total YouTube views with 24million and 14million views respectively.
Total Viewing Figures Have Remained Stable
Compared to Super Bowl 49, total viewing figures have remained relatively stable, with Google reporting that around 4 million hours were spent watching Super Bowl ads on YouTube. Equally, video content consumed during the game was stable with around 300,000 hours, similar to 2015.
Pre-Game Release of Content Has Increased
The trend of brands of pre-releasing their content in the weeks preceding the actual airing of the ad during game-time has continued unabated. According to Visible Measures, this year saw nearly 85% of Super Bowl advertisers release content early, which is up from 50% compared to the previous two years. Visible Measures notes that by “releasing multiple pieces of content even earlier advertisers are giving consumers more opportunities to view their campaigns.” Consequently, this has resulted in views of pre-released content for the Top 10 ads to grow a staggering 130% from last year.
While Viewership Remains High, Sharing Seems to Have Decreased
Even though viewership figures have remained stable at high levels, there has been inverse trend in the sharing of Super Bowl content. According to Unruly Media, in the first week after Super Bowl, the Top 10 ads had been shared around 2.9 million times. This marks a 36% decrease for the Top 10 ads in the same time span in 2015, at which they had accrued roughly 4.5 million views.
The cause of this dramatic decline cannot be directly pinpointed to one single factor however it may give an indication of the quality of this year’s roster of ads, perhaps the content was not deemed as ‘shareable’ when compared to 2015.
In conclusion, Super Bowl 50 saw the continuation of an approach in which brands approached their advertising campaigns as holistic by going beyond the spots that make it on to the air through engagement with viewers and consumers through digital and social media channels.
Super Bowl 50 saw the continuation of a marketing approach in which the most successful brands structured their activity as part of ann historic campaign. This means the 30 seconds that brands buy during game-time now represent the peak of a ‘tentpole’ approach that fully engages viewers and consumers across all media touchpoints before and after the game, specifically digital and social media channels such as YouTube and Facebook. Naturally, such a broadening and extending reach through alternative channels, means that brands need to be prepared to spend a substantially higher amount than the $5milllion per Super Bowl spot rate quoted this year by CBS. Research conducted by Mediasmith has suggested that “in order to properly support a Super Bowl spot, you would really need to spend $15-20MM to achieve maximum effectiveness for the campaign." However, even though there are no signs of the costs of running a Super Bowl ad campaign decreasing anytime soon, the fact that the Super Bowl offers a unique opportunity to reach over 100 million potential customers at one point in time has left brands willing to take the plunge in the hopes of successful. How brands measure success of their campaigns can differ on a brand-by-brand basis. There are multiple metrics one can apply or point to (e.g. views, shares, Twitter mentions, creative judging) however I think it all comes back to the strategic thinking that brands have and how they make effective use of the multiple channels that people now consume media. To conclude, I leave you with Bonin Bough, who I think gives a great summary of how brands should approach, execute and measure their Super Bowl campaigns: “The advertisers who ‘win’ from the Super Bowl may not be the advertisers whose creative won the AdMeter, but rather those advertisers whose creative integration of their Super Bowl spot into a broader strategic mix drives sustainable, long-term results.”


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Mo. Dairy Farmers to Meet in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD (AP) - The Missouri Dairy Association is broadening its annual statewide meeting into a regional session for milk producers from the Midwest.
The two-day Heart of America Dairy Expo begins Friday at the Ramada Oasis Hotel & Convention Center. Organizers expect 300 participants.
Dairy association president Larry Purdom of Purdy says that Springfield will host the convention for the next two years.
The southwest Missouri city is home to several dairy businesses, including manufacturing plants owned by Kraft Foods Group Inc. and Hiland Dairy Foods Co.


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Why Sharper Image Embedded a ‘Buy Now’ Mobile Capability Into its Catalog
In an effort to make it simpler for consumers to simultaneously browse its print catalog and research and buy from their mobile devices, Sharper Image embedded a “Buy Now” capability into its holiday preview catalog. The catalog is chock-full of electronic, recreation, fitness and travel products, and was sent to 4 million households and businesses on Nov. 4.
The “Buy Now” capability centers around an invisible digital watermark embedded in the catalog that's powered by the Digimarc Discover platform. This platform enables mobile devices to "see and hear" media content using built-in cameras and microphones.
Here's how the technology works: Shoppers launch Sharper Image’s Catalog Click mobile app and use the camera on their iPhone or iPad to scan a product image they’re interested in. (All of the images in the catalog are watermarked). Once they do this, they're instantly connected to a mobile-optimized product site. Consumers can then add the item to their cart, review customer ratings, see additional images of the product or save it to their “wish” list. Shoppers can also share their find with others on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest.
This print-to-mobile experience is directly advancing Sharper Image's m-commerce strategy, a market projected to reach $31 billion by 2016.
“We wanted to launch an app that would take catalog shopping to the next level," says Sam Grossman, director of marketing at The Sharper Image. “This app makes the shopping experience faster, easier and mobile friendly.”
What’s more, Grossman says that Sharper Image wants to be at the forefront of the mobile trend, especially since more and more of its customers are using mobile devices such as tablets and phones to buy merchandise. Sharper Image isn't the only retailer with more mobile shoppers: eMarketer predicts m-commerce sales on tablets will account for 9.4 percent of all retail e-commerce sales in 2013 and 16.9 percent of the total by 2016.


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(Reuters) – Starbucks Corp (O:) has moved to a “to go” model in all its company-owned stores in the United States and Canada for at least two weeks to facilitate social distancing among customers amid the spread of coronavirus, the coffee chain said on Sunday.
As part of the move, Starbucks said it would also stop using seating both at its cafe and patio areas and temporarily close stores in communities with high numbers of coronavirus cases as well as malls and university campuses. (https://
“The situation with COVID-19 is extremely dynamic and we will continue to review the facts and science and make the proactive decisions necessary,” said Rossann Williams (NYSE:), president of U.S. company-operated and Canada businesses
The company had earlier stopped accepting reusable cups and thermos flasks from customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa after announcing a similar policy in the United States.
The virus has infected over 169,000 people globally and killed more than 6,500.
Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.


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Gem Diamonds recovered an exceptional quality 166-carat Type II white diamond at the Letšeng mine in Lesotho on 18th September 2020. On the same day, the miner recovered another high quality 77-carat yellow diamond. The 166-carat diamond is the 12th +100 carat diamond recovered at Letšeng in 2020.
On 1st September, 2020, Gem Diamonds recovered a high quality 233-carat Type II white diamond, which followed the recent recovery of a 442-carat Type II diamond on 21st August, 2020.
Letšeng remains the highest dollar-per-carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world.
News Source : gjepc


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The Lassen National Forest advised folks of a few changes to the Christmas tree permit program this year. The changes are as follows:
Sales for Christmas tree permits will begin on Nov. 1, 2020, by mail only.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, the offices remain closed. This includes the Old Station Visitor Center on the Hat Creek Ranger District. It will not be staffed to sell Christmas tree permits.
The Shasta-Trinity National Forest will no longer be selling permits for Christmas trees to be cut on the LNF.
“We are excited about sharing the changes to our Christmas tree program,” said Deb Bumpus, forest supervisor, LNF. “It is essential that everyone is aware that only permits sold by the LNF will be valid on the forest.”
If you would like to cut a Christmas tree on the LNF, send your request for a Christmas tree permit along with a check for $10 to one of the following locations: Almanor Ranger District, 900 E. Hwy 36, P.O. Box 767, Chester CA 96020
Eagle Lake Ranger District, 477-050 Eagle Lake Road, Susanville, CA 96130
Hat Creek Ranger District, 43225 E. Hwy 299, P.O. Box 220, Fall River Mills, CA 96028
Supervisor’s Office, 2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130


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Depict News featuring great design, architecture, fashion, graphics and innovation from across the globe.
Depict News features latest jewelry designs, innovative eyewear and interesting watch designs.
Laptop Computer by Lenovo Design Group
Wednesday, 10 August
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Tuesday, 9 August
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Monday, 8 August
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The ASUS ROG Phone 3 could be released next month as the phone has received almost all certifications. The flagship was recently spotted at Geekbench and the Wi-Fi Alliance, revealing some key details. Yesterday, the mobile phone was passed by the EC Eurasia Certification Authority. In addition, the accessory page for the company’s device is also available before the release of the mobile.
The certification in the Russian market of the ASUS ROG Phone 3 has the mobile phone with model number ZS661KS. Although the list does not reveal any specifications, it is an indication that the phone will be available worldwide.
The ASUS accessory page mentions a mobile phone with the same model number and suggests that it be shipped with a USB Type-C charging cable. The Wi-Fi Alliance list states that the phone will come with a Qualcomm QCA6390 chipset for connectivity, 2 × 2 dual-band Wi-Fi a / b / g / n / ac / ax, Wi-Fi Direct and Miracast support.
In addition, the Asus ROG Phone 3’s 8GB and 12GB RAM versions appeared on GeekBench with code Asus_1003D and Asus_1003DD respectively. It runs Android 10 and Kona motherboard, which connects to the top Snapdragon 865 SoC. Among them, the 8GB version has a single-core score of 902 points and multi-core 3074 points, while the 12GB version has a single-core score of 910 Points and 3229 points on multi-core.
Asus recently announced a partnership with Unity, a platform used to create mobile games. The company said it would create an add-on for Unity’s Engine that would support five features of the ROG Phone II as well as the upcoming ROG Phone 3.
Do not forget to follow us on our Facebook group and page to keep you always aware of the latest advances, News, Updates, review, and giveaway on smartphones, tablets, gadgets and more from the technology world of the future.


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When Marriott International disclosed the massive data
security breach of its Starwood network on Friday,
technology and cybersecurity experts were not surprised it happened.
"We're in an era where breaches that go undetected for
four years should be a thing of the past, but they're not," said Brian
Krebs, writer of the KrebsOnSecurity blog. "And
unfortunately, it's not surprising to see this within the hotel industry. The
hospitality world has been notoriously bad at implementing security to protect their
own systems and the data of their guests."
Krebs cited the hotel industry's continued use of credit
card and debit card swiping systems, as opposed to chip-enabled readers that
encrypt payment information, as one glaring example. He also pointed out that
Marriott posted its press release announcing the breach on an unencrypted web
"Even after nearly every single major hotel company has
gotten breached over the last four or five years, hotels are still doing these
very obvious things that we have solutions for," he said.
The industry's long list of recent data hacks includes
InterContinental Hotels Group's 2016 data breach of guest payment cards at
almost 1,200 properties in the U.S., as well as Hyatt's 2017 credit card
breach, its second major breach in two years.
Notably, Starwood reported a data breach affecting more than
50 properties in November 2015, shortly after being acquired by Marriott.
According to Starwood's disclosure, that security breach dated back to at least
Technology consultant Shelly Palmer similarly views the
hospitality industry's security systems as inadequate. "Like many
industries that are venerable and mature, hotels have legacy systems that were
not designed for the world we live in today," he said.
Palmer added, however, that while the Marriott breach "is
a big one, by any measure," the media frenzy surrounding the incident is "much
ado about nothing."
"Hacks like this are happening on an industrial scale,"
said Palmer, while emphasizing that consumers and businesses alike are largely
insured against cybercrimes by their banks and credit card companies. "It's
a victimless crime. This happens all the time, and there's nothing consumers
can do about it. This is bad PR for Marriott, and it will probably generate a
lot of questions that Marriott would rather not answer, but this is really just
a story about doing business in the 21st century."
Despite data hacks being commonplace, Palmer has several
suggestions for consumers concerned about their personal and payment
information falling into the wrong hands. He recommends purchasing cyber
insurance, which can often be added to homeowner's insurance plans, and
making sure to only connect smart devices and computers to private networks,
especially when traveling overseas.
Krebs advises consumers to regularly check their credit card
and debit card statements, while sticking to credit whenever possible.
"If you make a payment with a credit card, it's a
provisional charge," explained Krebs. "But when you get hit with
fraud on your debit card, you have to contact your bank and count on them to
put the money back, while in the meantime, hope that you don't bounce checks."
According to the Federal Trade Commission, if a consumer reports
a fraudulent ATM or debit card transaction within two business days after
learning of the theft, he or she is liable for a maximum loss of $50. If it's
been more than two business days but less than 60 calendar days, the maximum
loss jumps to $500.
"If you've been paying attention at all over the last
few years, you should have already adopted the notion that all that data about
you, including your credit card information and your social security number, is
for sale already," Krebs said. "You shouldn't wait for some company
to tell you that. If you don't have fraud on your card, it's probably just
because no one has bought your information yet."


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Nio’s updated ES8 electric SUV has been uncovered two weeks ahead of its official launch thanks to official documents filed with Chinese authorities.
The three-row EV is due to be officially unveiled on December 24, but photos and specifications of the car logged with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reveal the second-generation SUV’s clean new styling, a power boost and the presence of LiDAR technology for enhanced driver-assistance capabilities.
Compared with the current NT1-generation ES8 the NT2 car looks much less fussy, particularly around the front end, which now features more body-coloured plastic on the bumpers and smaller air intakes that give it the same face as the company’s ET and EL cars. But the razor thin LED daytime running lights mean anyone familiar with the original ES8 will instantly recognize that they’re looking at its replacement.
That’s if they’re looking at it from the front. At the back things are less familiar, a long strip of LED lights running across the rear hatch below the window and wrapping around each rear quarter panel giving a very different look. The side view is also substantially different thanks to flush door handles and a straighter waistline.
Related: Nio Partners With Tencent To Speed Up Autonomous Tech Development
The images also show small cameras on the front fenders plus a lidar on the roof above the windshield, indicating the presence of Nio’s Aquila Super Sensing autonomous tech already seen on the ET7 and ES7.
What the pictures don’t necessarily reveal but the spec sheet does, is that the latest ES8 has grown in length, height, wheelbase and weight. The original model weighed 5,423 lbs (2,460 kg), rode on a 118.5-in (3,010 mm) wheelbase, and measured 197.7-in (5,022 mm) from bumper to bumper, but the new version has gained 220 lbs (100 kg), 2.36-in (60 mm) of wheelbase and 3.0-in (77 mm) in length.
Also bigger is the output of the electric drivetrain. The MIIT fact sheet shows that the new car’s dual-motor setup will provide 631 hp (640 PS / 480 kW), up from 590 hp (598 PS / 440 kW), giving a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h). Car News China reports that ES8 will be equipped with 75 kWh or huge 100 kWh battery packs.
Nio recently began selling cars in parts of Europe and Scandinavia and plans to extend operations to the rest of Europe, Australia, and also the U.S. in 2025.


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Jony Ive and Craig Federighi Discuss The Development Of iOS 7 [Interview]
Apple chief of design Jony Ive and head of software Craig Federighi have discussed the development of iOS 7 with USA Today’s Marco della Cava in an exclusive interview. While the pair focused more on Apple’s two new iPhones and the recurring accusations of the lack of innovation from competitors in an earlier interview published by Bloomberg Businessweek, this one is more about their design and engineering partnership.
Ive explained how they felt that people had become so comfortable with touching glass that they didn’t need any physical buttons. “So there was an incredible liberty in not having to reference the physical world so literally. We were trying to create an environment that was less specific. It got design out of the way”, he said. Federighi added that the technological advances over the past few years have finally reached the point where Apple is able to tackle something like iOS 7.
Here’s how Federighi describes the thinking behind the iOS 7:
“This is the first post-Retina (Display) UI (user interface), with amazing graphics processing thanks to tremendous GPU (graphics processing unit) power growth, so we had a different set of tools to bring to bear on the problem as compared to seven years ago (when the iPhone first launched),” he says. “Before, the shadowing effect we used was a great way to distract from the limitations of the display. But with a display that’s this precise, there’s nowhere to hide. So we wanted a clear typography.”
The two also shared their views on the new camera in the iPhone 5S, explaining how the other companies are “chasing megapixels” while Apple is focused on delivering a better photo taking experience.
When asked about the new app icons in iOS 7 facing criticism, Ive noted that the drive for simplicity that leads to so many of Apple’s design decisions is not just “the lack of clutter.” Instead, he explains, “True simplicity is, well, you just keep on going and going until you get to the point where you go, ‘Yeah, well, of course.’ Where there’s no rational alternative.” Replying to the question of what he would create if he weren’t focusing on iPhones and MacBooks, Ive said “I’d like to design cups.”


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Microsoft’s venture into the future of streaming could turn it into the “Netflix of Gaming” according to one Wall Street analyst, putting it on the path to becoming a $1 trillion company.
“We see Microsoft building out the ‘Netflix of Gaming,'” Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss wrote in a note to clients. “We think that gaming has historically been largely ignored, misunderstood, and undervalued by analysts and investors.
“With the gaming ecosystem expanding from the console to the PC and Mobile device, a shift from hardware and one-time video game sales to subscription services, and a future which includes streaming, broadcasting, and mixed-reality, we see Microsoft well positioned for the future of Gaming.”
Weiss believes that a mixture of recurring revenue thanks to software and services could “support a path to $50 billion in earnings-before-interest-and-tax and a $1 trillion market cap for Microsoft” by the year 2021.
Microsoft’s potential was also noted by Jefferies analyst Timothy O’Shea, who specifically mentioned the company’s cloud-based streaming plans.
“Google, Amazon and Microsoft are all working on cloud-based, streaming video game platforms designed to compete with PlayStation and Xbox, and these could launch before the end of the decade,” said O’Shea. “These services would expand the addressable market by at least 4x and would be available on all screens including TVs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.”
Recently, though he didn’t mention Microsoft, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said in an interview that the next generation of consoles could be the last before everyone streams games. While internet speeds are certainly a factor holding this back from becoming reality, Microsoft is a step ahead with its Azure cloud service.
Via: Business Insider


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The annual (and mythical) “War on Christmas” is being trotted out again this year. But according to Psychology Today, the habitual alarmists are not getting as much traction out of it this year. Excerpts follow;
Ours is an era fraught with urgent social problems. Take, for example, acronym/abbreviation* abuse. We live in a society in which people feel free to toss around phrases like “ATM Machine” and “PIN Number,” which, of course, translate into “Automated Teller Machine Machine” and “Personal Identification Number Number.” And don’t get me started on misguided pluralizations like “RBIs” and “POWs”…
That’s why it’s such a relief to find out that at least one of the truly pressing crises of our time appears to be on the road to resolution. According to recent reports, the “War on Christmas” may be in its final throes, and contrary to the fears of many, Christmas is winning.
In fact, one of the groups that has lobbied most vocally on this issue, the American Family Association, faced a challenge this year even finding a Public Retail Enemy #1 to boycott. Indeed, only 8 stores remain on their 2010 “Companies against Christmas” list, headed by Dick’s Sporting Goods. And what was Dick’s heinous crime? An on-line collection referred to generically as the “Holiday Shop,” which failed to make use of Christmas-specific nomenclature.


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HP Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) has opened its first newly designed kiosk at Barwala bus stand today. The colorful big bucket shaped kiosk was inaugurated by Ajmehar Singh Thakur, Executive Officer, MC Baddi. Jaydip Bandhu, Bollywood actor & director was also presented during occasion.
The kiosk was opened under HPMC innovative step toward creating employment avenues for youth . Moreover HPMC has harnessed the idea of promoting health as a habit among people by setting up these kind of kiosks first time throughout country and abroad also. The similar kiosks will also be opened at Raipur Rani and Kalka soon.
The move has been initiated in collaboration with Oceano Graphics whereas the kiosks are being crafted under the aegis of Praveen Behal , a renowned concept designer.
Lifestyle and health have been an exciting new enterprise to invest in for any consumer sensitive brand . With the advent of health related solutions, creative care and the increasing need for healthy products in the new age market space, the possibilities for exploration are endless. Taking cue from this progressive new idea, HPMC has come up with the new plan.
Founded in 1974, HPMC is a leading manufacturer of pickles, jams, chutneys, packaged fruit juices and a diverse range of processed products . It has always been one step ahead in bringing nothing but the best to its customers in terms of its fresh-fruit creations.
Currently nursing in the hands of Vidhya Stoke, Minister of Horticulture HP and J.C Sharma, IAS, Principal Secretary, Horticulture, govt of HP , the corporation remains firm in its resolve to promote healthy living among its consumers and shall always be a front-runner in innovating effectively in the changing times.


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Forman is currently a member of McClatchy’s Board of Directors and will remain on the board.
The announcement brings an end to Talamantes’ four-year tenure as president and CEO. He previously served as the company’s CFO for 11 years.
In a statement from the company, Kevin McClatchy, chairman of McClatchy's board, suggests Forman will focus on accelerating the company’s digital efforts. Forman said the company will use technology as a “catalyst for growth."
“The thing we have to work on is our pace," Forman told The Sacramento Bee.
McClatchy added that Forman was
“instrumental” in focusing on the company’s digital transformation, while Talamantes led the company through “turbulent times.”
Last fall, McClatchy saw total revenues fall 6.6% to $234.7 million, as total ad revenues slid 11.1% from $149.9 million to $133.2 million, offsetting a 1.9% increase in “audience” revenues (including circulation) from $89.3 million to $91 million.
Print ads tumbled 16.9% from $51.9 million to $42.6 million, while total digital ads grew 12.1% from $19.6 million to $22 million. Fourth-quarter results will be released February 9.
Forman has served as executive chairman of Where.com Inc. and Appia Inc., as well as held executive roles at Yahoo!, Time Warner, Infoseek and Dow Jones. He began his career as a journalist and served as bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal.
A few weeks ago, the company announced it was selling the buildings housing The Sacramento Bee in California and The State in Columbia, SC, to two different buyers, for $51 million and $17 million, respectively.
McClatchy will use the proceeds from these sales to pay down its debt.
Last month, McClatchy bought The Herald-Sun of Durham, North Carolina from Kentucky-based Paxton Media Group.
McClatchy operates media companies in 29 U.S. markets in 14 states. It is headquartered in Sacramento, California.


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(Image: The Pizza Review/Flickr)
Being a responsible, friendly hacker means you don't get to take advantage of the bugs and holes you find, even if those could've let you get free pizza.Paul Price, a security consultant from the UK, found a bug in the British version of the Domino's Pizza app that let him do exactly that. Price found that the app's API wasn't processing payments correctly, allowing users with enough technical know-how to meddle with it and trick the app into accepting invalid payments, essentially allowing them to order pizza for free.
"Errr, what? It looks like my order was placed without a valid payment," Price wrote in a blog post recounting the time he ordered pizza without paying for it. "Surely this is an oversight/edge case and Dominos's will have back office checks in place before physically starting to prepare my order…right?"Wrong. Price wasn't sure it actually worked, so he called the store to double check, and surely enough, they told him his pizza was being prepared, according to his blog post.
"My first thought: awesome. My second thought: shit," he wrote.So the pizza actually showed up at his door, according to Price, but at that point, he admitted the payment didn't go through and paid in cash. Domino's has since fixed the bug."We take security extremely seriously and discovered this issue last year during one of our frequent reviews. We are pleased to say it was resolved very quickly," Rod Brooks, Domino's head of IT, told Motherboard in a statement.But the moral of the story is that there are plenty of apps out there with faulty APIs.Buggy APIs were partly responsible for the massive hack of the toy company VTech, which left the personal data of millions of parents and their children exposed. And just a few weeks ago, security researchers Troy Hunt and Scott Helme showed that hackers could mess with Nissan electric cars from all over the world, turning on the AC and draining the car's battery. The company had to disable the app to fix the bug.
"My first thought: awesome. My second thought: shit."


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The Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Project office says there has been a spike in inquiries by the public wanting to grow their own fruit and vegetables in the safety of their own backyards due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Project regional co-ordinator Ross Abberfield said more people were opting to grow their own fruit and vegetables, with a reported run on vegetable seed sales in recent weeks.
“With the government enacting social distancing measures together with travel restrictions advice, we are being contacted by people who want to avoid going into crowded places such as supermarkets and markets.
“Many have self-isolated and want advice on growing their own produce at home, so they can de-stress in the garden and eat their own fruit and vegetables,” Mr Abberfield said.
“For those that have extended their vegetable gardens or started a garden for the first time it is important that they are aware of the steps we all need to take to reduce the spread of fruit fly, which is critical in protecting Victoria’s horticulture industry,” Mr Abberfield said.
The answer is simple: pick, prune, protect.
Information packs are available from council customer service centres in Greater Shepparton, Moira, Berrigan, Campaspe and Strathbogie.
“If residents make the decision to grow more fruit and vegetables in their backyards, they need to know how to stop QFF infesting their produce,” Mr Abberfield said.
“This means they have to instigate their own monitoring, prevention and control activities to ensure they can have clean, green produce at their fingertips.”


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The online advertising industry and U.S. policy makers need to give online users more control over the collection of personal data and surfing habits beyond the traditional opt-out approach, some privacy advocates said Wednesday.
Dozens of online ad networks allow users to opt out of being tracked as a way to deliver behavioral advertising, and in most cases, the opt-out is stored in a cookie that goes away every time the users clear their browser cookies, privacy advocates said during a discussion of online advertising at the Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference in Washington, D.C.
Some advertisers require that people opt out of targeted advertising every month, and some advertisers make the opt-out link difficult to find, said Christopher Soghoian, a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Some opt-out mechanisms aren’t even functional, he said.
Soghoian, while creating a single opt-out mechanism for the Firefox browser, found more than 40 advertising networks, he said. “How can we expect consumers to visit 40 or 50 different online advertisers, opt out, then revisit these sites every six months or every year, and then, when they delete their cookies, go back again?” he asked.
Representatives of Google, Microsoft and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) all agreed that current opt-out mechanisms can be confusing. “You can’t have 50 opt-out pages, we understand that,” said Mike Zaneis, vice president for public policy at the IAB.
But about 30 ad networks, delivering around 90 percent of all online ads, are members of the Network Advertising Initiative, which offers a single opt-out cookie, Zaneis said.
Some audience members called on the U.S. government to require that advertising networks get opt-in approval before tracking Web behavior. One audience member suggested opt-out requirements are unfair business practices that should be investigated by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
But opt-in approval would require advertising networks to authenticate users, thus requiring ad vendors to collect more personal data, said Jane Horvath, Google’s chief privacy counsel.
Only a small percentage of consumers will opt in to behavioral advertising, but such ads are a valuable tool, added Michael Hintze, associate general counsel at Microsoft. Targeted ads bring in four to 10 times the revenue of untargeted ads, he said.
Many ads aren’t behavioral; some online advertising works with contextual ads based on the content of the Web page, Hintze said. An airline advertising on a travel Web site would be a contextual ad.
“If behavioral ads went away, there would still be ads online,” Hintze said. “But in light of the fact that offline newspapers are going out of business left and right, when you think about content online like in-depth reporting on foreign policy issues or really important public policy issues, there’s no product associated with that. What is the ad model that’s going to support the development of that kind of content?”
Behavioral advertising is the only model that can support that kind of journalism, Hintze said. “Really, the only [model] I’m aware of is that in some cases, we can know that the person reading this in-depth article about our relationship with North Korea has an interest in sports,” he said.
But Hintze and Horvath both said they’d support legislation from the U.S. Congress that clarified online privacy rules. More industry self-regulation and legislation are both needed, Hintze said.
He may get his wish. Representative Rick Boucher, a Virginia Democrat, has said he will push for legislation requiring opt-in approval for online tracking, and new FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz has said he prefers an opt-in approach.
Privacy advocate Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, called on the FTC and Congress to take action to protect U.S. consumers. Online ad companies are now researching neuroscience as a way to target users’ on a subconscious level, he said.
“Individuals need to understand, in a concise way, the full range of data collection and analytical tools [online companies] are using,” he said. “We’re not having a debate here solely about data collection. We’re having a fundamental debate about human dignity and civil liberties and political freedom.”


text: LONDON (CBS.MW) -- MeadWestvaco Corp. mwv said it has an agreement to sell its papers business for $2.3 billion Cerberus Capital Management, an investment firm. The business has around $2.3 billion in annual sales. The company expects $900 million to $1.1 billion of the proceeds to pay down debt and between $500 million and $700 million in stock repurchases. The packaging, coated and specialty papers and consumer-office products maker said the includes approximately 900,000 acres of forestlands. MeadWestvaco estimates that the transaction will result in a one-time after-tax accounting loss of between $650 and $675 million, the majority of which will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2004.


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The Icelandic-owned retailer has just finished a strategic review under chief executive Gudjon Reynisson, who was appointed a year ago by now-defunct owner Baugur.
He told Retail Week that his review would "reduce central costs necessary to improve Hamleys' operational model."
This has already seen chief operating officer and number two in the business Paul Currie and buying director Diane Lee depart.
Up to another 18 out of the 60 head office staff could be vulnerable. Following the collapse of Baugur in February, Hamleys is now 64%-owned by nationalised Icelandic bank Landsbanki, which said it saw "long-term value" in the business.Reuse content


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- Fuel prices are at a record high, with a R2 increase expected for April.
- Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says the economy needs short- and long-term measures.
- An announcement is to be made in next few weeks.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says government hopes to cushion consumers from the spiking oil price, at least temporarily, for the months of April and May.
"I can’t reveal the details at this stage. We are in a sensitive discussion with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. There is the intention by government to take some immediate steps for April and May. We want to make some mitigating steps during these two months," he told MPs in reply to question in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
He said an announcement would be made in the next few weeks.
Oil prices have spiked since February due to Russia’s war on Ukraine and reached a high of a nearly $130 a barrel earlier this month. On Wednesday Brent crude was trading at $116 a barrel. SA consumers are already facing record high petrol prices, and R2 a litre increase is anticipated for April. This will take petrol to R24 a litre. Fuel prices increases also have a significant impact on food prices.
In his budget speech, Godongwana undertook to engage in discussions with Minister of Mineral Resources and Mining Gwede Mantashe on "all aspects" of the fuel price. Godongwana said that a short-term remedy was under discussion as well as a long term horizon change which could lead to "a competitive fuel price".
The fuel price is highly regulated, and all retailers must charge the retail price set by the DMRE. The price has four components: the basic fuel price; retailer and wholesaler margins; levies and taxes; and distribution and storage costs.
In the longer term, a small once-off adjustment of 3c on the basic fuel price could be made, a recommendation which emerged out of a DMRE review of the price in 2018.
A Treasury-commissioned policy paper has also recommended revising the Regulatory Accounting System methodology, which would in effect reduce retailer margins, and could lower prices by 86c a litre. Deregulation has not been explicitly recommended but would introduce a competitive market.


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Still think China’s an emerging market? Well it’s emerging pretty fast. In just 10 years, China will account for one quarter of world demand for luxury goods.
The People’s Republic is still officially a Communist country, but you wouldn’t believe it to visit the affluent shopping streets of Shanghai and Beijing.
Indeed, China already takes around 12% of world output of luxury goods, and it is set to double its share by 2016, according to market research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), whose latest piece of research is reported in this article in the Retail Bulletin ($).
Despite China’s taste for luxury goods, TNS warns marketers of luxury brands not to expect quick and easy returns. It says an
extremely strong international presence is required before luxury brands can establish themselves in China. Firms entering China today will need the same kind of patience, sustained investment and strong distribution as more traditional markets demand.
Some experts argue the easy money has probably already been made in China’s luxury goods sector and there are doubts about how many rich consumers there are outside the obvious and now saturated locations of Shanghai and Beijing — see this Financial Times story on the problems facing luxury-goods retailers in second-city Hangzhou ($).
TNS recommends focussing on the relatively untapped market that lies with China’s growing army of middle-class consumers. Jim Sailor, MD of TNS China, says:
In China right now, the luxury brands are for the super rich – the people that see them when travelling to New York, London, Paris and Rome, then come back to China and buy them. But we have shown there is significant market potential among middle-class Chinese. Middle-class demand will boost the success of luxury goods in China, although brand owners may need to create ‘affordable luxury’ categories to address lower purchasing power.”
($) subscription required


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MERRILLVILLE – VIA Marketing has been honored with a 2012 APEX Award of Excellence for creative work for the design and layout of Griffith Public Schools newsletter.
“The Griffith Schools newsletter had been a two-color project,” said Julie Olthoff, president of VIA Marketing. “Current print technology allows us to produce a full-color newsletter for a small additional charge.”
“Griffith Public Schools’ partnership with VIA Marketing has benefited our community,” said Jan Bapst, assistant to the superintendent. “The interesting, well-designed newsletter help inform the public about student activities and ongoing improvements to our educational programs.”


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Android N Release Planned For May: Samsung Galaxy Note 6, Note 4, S6 Edge Plus, S6, S6 Duos To Receive It First
Right now, Google’s Android Marshmallow update is slated for a number of smartphones. But rumors are already ripe that a new firmware update is in the making. It is called the new Android N, which is expected to release at Google I/O, 2016 in May.Advertisement
While the Galaxy Note 6 will reportedly release in July with Android N on board, other devices to receive the firmware include Galaxy S6 edge Plus, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 duos. The software will be showcased at the May launch event where new features of the software will be unveiled.
You can experience the new Android N features through the Android N developer preview. The notable features include Direct-reply notifications, Multi-window, Bundled notifications, Improved Doze mode, etc. According to latest reports, Android N will allow users to open two apps on split-screen mode.
In addition, users can now have access to more Quick Settings options that will help them slide the notifications pane down, according to Yibada. Doze is another instrumental battery-saving feature of the new software that will function even when your device is idle.
A lot of speculation surrounds the significance of the letter “N” in Android N. In one of the reports by NewsEveryday, there are possibilities that the N could mean Nachos or Nougats. The prediction is made on the basis of Google’s previous trends of naming firmware, including Cupcake, Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich, Éclair, Honeycomb, Jelly Bean, Lollipop, KitKat and Marshmallow.
Google is reportedly at the final stage of developing Android N, and in a few months, the company will declare the software officially. A few Samsung Galaxy devices, which are already receiving Marshmallow update will soon get the Android N update. Keep checking this space for more news on Android N.
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