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Current Trending Topics in the News with Links to Articles:
- Governmental and Lobbying:
Kickstart: Bonjour, Paris – Plastics Treaty Talks to begin in Paris
Bonjour! Plastics News is going to the plastics treaty talks in Paris next week.
It’s the second of five rounds of negotiations, spread over the next two years, and Steve Toloken from our team will be there, amid the throngs of an estimated 2,700 diplomats and observers from industry, civil society and other groups (and oh yeah, journalists).
Much of what any agreement could say is still to be determined, but industry will be there in much larger numbers than at the first round in November in Uruguay.
States, EPA want tougher green marketing guides for plastics
State attorneys general and the Environmental Protection Agency are pressing the Federal Trade Commission to regulate plastics environmental claims more tightly, calling some uses of the resin code with chasing arrows “problematic” and requiring more proof of the green bona fides of chemical recycling.
Lawyers for both the Connecticut and California attorneys general, part of a coalition of 15 states, told a May 23 FTC hearing in Washington that the agency should tighten recyclability claims.
- Features and News Articles:
Volatility continues as PP resin prices drop
The North American polypropylene market remains as volatile as ever.
PP prices reversed direction in April, dropping an average of 11 cents per pound. PP prices had been up 8 cents in March.
The price drop matched a drop seen in prices for polymer-grade propylene (PGP) feedstock. The increase in March also matched PGP.
Plastics industry social media accounts worth following
Here’s a rundown of a few social media accounts from the plastics industry worth following. See the top 10…
PP market ‘beginning to balance out’; PET only resin price to increase
Two major commodity resins saw lower prices in North America in April, while one material saw a slight increase.
Polypropylene prices in the region dropped an average of 11 cents per pound in April. That price drop matched a drop seen in prices for polymer-grade propylene (PGP) feedstock. PP prices had been up 8 cents in March — again matching PGP — and up a total of 27 cents in the first three months of 2023.
PET bottle resin prices on the rise
The increased demand for bottled water and soft drinks during the summer is leading to more demand for PET bottle resin, prompting a slight increase in pricing.
North American PET bottle resin prices ticked up an average of 1 cent per pound in April as a result of higher feedstock costs. Prices for that material had been flat for two consecutive months after climbing 2 cents in January.
Strong seasonal demand for bottled water and other beverages also played a role in lifting PET prices in 2022, as well as a lack of new capacity and freight and logistics challenges.
- Recycling and Sustainability:
Global plastics recycling market to grow 50% by 2030, report says
The worldwide plastic recycling market will grow by more than 50 percent by the end of the decade, according to a new projection by one market research firm.
Market Research Future valued the plastic recycling market at $41.24 billion in 2022 and said the industry is expected to have a compounded annual growth rate of 7.1 percent through 2030. This would put the market at $66.66 billion in 2030.
Canada wants more recycled content, tougher labeling rules
Canada’s government wants new mandates on post-consumer content in plastic packaging and higher standards for marketing plastics as recyclable, actions it said are needed to boost markets and address consumer concerns over greenwashing.
A draft proposal in April from the agency Environment and Climate Change Canada would set recycled-content requirements between 30-60 percent by 2030 for a wide range of plastic packaging.
Recycling giant Waste Management sees future in film recovery
Plastics are just a small fraction of the recyclables collected and processed by Waste Management Inc., and film is just a small fraction of those plastics. But plastics, including film, have value, and the nation’s largest solid waste management company wants to up its game in that market.
To help propel the Houston-based company in the film recycling arena, Waste Management recently took a controlling interest in Avangard Innovative’s U.S. film recycling operations in Waller, Texas, near Houston, that were then renamed Natura PCR.
Recycling makes plastic toxic, Greenpeace claims
A new report from Greenpeace USA claims that recycling increases the toxicity of plastics.
The report, which appeared under the title Forever Toxic: The science of health threats from plastic recycling provides a catalog of peer-reviewed research and international studies supporting this claim. Publication of the report was timed to appear a few days before the start of the second round of Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Paris from May 29 to June 2.
It argues that plastics are “inherently incompatible” with a circular economy, concluding that the upcoming negotiations in Paris must focus on capping and then phasing down plastic production.
Plastics Recycling World Magazine
Current Trending Topics:
Has the EU put single serve capsules at the crossroads
A look at the potential impact of the EU’s proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation on the single-use capsules industry…
Compatibilisation: Getting the best from the mix
Despite the increasing appetite for recycled plastics, the industry continues to face a few practical challenges to achieve a scalable adoption of post-consumer recycled (PCR) and post-industrial recycled (PIR) plastic.
See the latest from additive companies making immiscible polymers work together…
What’s on show at plastics recycling expo in Essen
The Plastics Recycling World Expo will take place at Messe Essen in Germany on 14-15 June 2023. This is the third time the event, organized by AMI, is happening in Essen. Get a preview of those exhibiting…
Precise and powerful: new shredders on the market
Shredding machines are getting better at handling more challenging input material types and sizes, while also delivering higher quality results. Get the details…
Developers work on solutions for process waste
The latest equipment developments for post-industrial plastics recycling focus on the continued emergence of integrated shredder and granulation technologies capable of processing a wider range of plastic waste, while ensuring effective size reduction, floor space use and energy efficiency while allowing for easier handling and downstream processing.
Plastics Recycling World Expo Europe
June 14 – 15, 2023
For More Info and To Book a Booth: https://eu.plasticsrecyclingworldexpo.com/exhibit/become-an-exhibitor?utm_source=PRWMag&utm_medium=ExpromAd&utm_campaign=220221_E080_PA_BYS_Exhib_UK_Prospect_Exhibitors_PRW_mag
Details Coming Soon


text: Press Releases Now Optics Provides Free Eye Exams for Kids in August It’s offering a buy one get one free deal on all frames and lenses in the stores. Published 5 months ago on August 18, 2020 By INVISION Staff Share Tweet (PRESS RELEASE) PALM SPRINGS, FL — Stanton Optical and My Eyelab, leading retail brands of Now Optics offering accessible and affordable eye care and eyewear, and their affiliated network of doctors, are kicking off National Eye Exam Month and back to school with free eye exams for kids throughout the entire month of August. To ensure everyone is going back to school looking stylish, Stanton Optical and My Eyelab are also offering a buy one get one free deal on all frames and lenses in the stores. “Eye health is at the forefront of our mission, and we want to make sure kids’ eyes are healthy as they head back to school,” said Daniel Stanton, CEO of Stanton Optical and My Eyelab. “Eye care is essential now more than ever as today’s youth is being exposed to large amounts of screen time due to virtual learning and our new norm. Free eye exams for kids of the communities we serve is just one way to make it easy for them to put their best foot forward and stay healthy regardless of economic conditions during these unprecedented times.” INVISION Podcast What’s Really Up with Vision Expo in 2021? INVISION Podcast Podcast: Talking with the Finest, Hippest of Them All About Why There are No Ball Point Pens in Her Shop INVISION Podcast Licensed or Not, Member or Not, the Opticians Association of America is Here for You [Podcast] With so many students beginning their school years with e-learning, telehealth co-creator and 20-year veteran optometrist Dr. Brad Brocwell, vice president of clinical operations for Now Optics, suggests to all parents and guardians these simple steps to limit blue light strain to children’s eyes: Bring in natural light, either in the workspace or during brain breaks or lunch breaks. Breaks are essential to mental health and eye health, moments away from the computer are always helpful. Limiting your child’s exposure to blue light also means no electronics before bed, as the light frequency disrupts a regulated sleep schedule. Lastly, considering blue light lenses, even if a child doesn’t need a prescription. Like sunglasses, this shields young eyes from the harmful blue light a computer or tablet gives off. Despite the pandemic, business has remained steady for the brands in 2020, as they are delivering an essential need to their communities. Most Stanton Optical and My Eyelab stores remained open when customers needed them most, leveraging their innovative telehealth technology and remote network of affiliated doctors to provide patients with eye exams virtually in-store. To date, the company has conducted more than 800,000 telehealth eye exams, something no other optical franchise can offer. Visit myeyelab.com or stantonoptical.com for more information and to find your closest participating location. 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US Supreme Court urged to review Apple v. Samsung patent feud
Jan 21, 2016 08:30 AM EST
The ongoing feud between Samsung and Apple just got even more interesting. The world’s leading smartphone and tablet manufacturers are now taking their series of patent lawsuits to the high court.
Government Technology reported that the US Supreme Court is being requested by tech giants like Google, Facebook and Hewlett Packard Enterprise to review Samsung’s appeal over it’s recent patent loss to longtime rival, Apple. The South Korean tech manufacturer lost for “copying” the technology of the iPhone in a recent court battle.
Google and co. said in a statement that the ruling against Samsung “will lead to absurd results and have a devastating impact on companies” since the patent law has a long-term effect when applied to high-tech products like smartphones. Samsung had to pay Apple $500 million for losing over patent violations, which may even blow up in bigger amount should the court orders for more penalties.
Samsung’s arguments were rejected by the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals last year, making it a desperate move for Samsung to request the higher court’s ruling on their favor. Until now, the South Korean tech company maintains that the three-judge panel made a mistake when they agreed to a jury’s verdict in 2012 saying that their smartphones and tablets infringed Apple’s patents.
Meanwhile, the banning of Samsung devices from the US has been ruled by a California court earlier this week. According to a report from Techno Buffalo, the court ruled that Samsung can no longer develop or sell software that copies Apple patents including: autocorrect, slide to unlock and data detection.
Samsung released a statement via Bloomberg following this latest development, and they expressed how “very disappointed” they are for the court’s decision.
“While this will not impact American consumers, it is another example of Apple abusing the judicial system to create bad legal precedent, which can harm consumer choice for generations to come,” they added.
The US Supreme Court was asked by Samsung to hear their appeal last month, allowing them to give their opinion in one of the most controversial feuds in the tech industry today. The ban, meanwhile, will go into effect after 30 days.


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Palm (Nasdaq: PALM) doubled the consensus earnings estimate in the first quarter and reiterated its expectation of roughly $2 billion in annual revenue.
After market close Monday, the maker of the popular Palm Pilot hand-held computers reported fiscal first quarter net income of $23.9 million, or 4 cents per share, excluding special charges. First Call's survey of a dozen analysts predicted a profit of 2 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 1.
Including amortization and acquisition-related charges, Palm earned $17.3 million, or 3 cents per share.
Shares of Palm slid to 51 in afterhours activity on the Island electronic communications network, immediately following the release of quarterly results. Palm stock closed Monday's regular trading at 52 1/4, up 7/16 for the session.
Company executives reiterated earlier financial targets of $1.9 billion to $2 billion in revenue for the fiscal year. Revenue for Palm's historically weak third quarter will be down from the first, CFO Judy Bruner said during a conference call with analysts.
Certain parts continue to be in tight supply, including two types of integrated circuits, Bruner said. "Demand for our products has continued to exceed our ability to supply product," she said.
The company doesn't expect component supplies to meet demand until the late third quarter at the earliest. However, the company's financial guidance takes the parts situation into account, Bruner said.
First quarter revenue rose to $401 million, a 127 percent gain year-over-year and 14 percent increase from the fourth quarter. The company shipped about 1.5 million units in the first quarter.
Most of Palm's first quarter revenue came from $389.3 million in sales of devices, accessories and related services. Revenue from licensing the Palm OS to other companies was $4.6 million, a 33 percent sequential gain. For the first time, Palm reported content and access revenue, which totaled $7.1 million.
Palm's latest offerings are selling well, especially the m100 device, executives said. Although the m100 wasn't available for the first two months of the quarter, it generated more than 10 percent of the company's unit sales, Bruner said, during a conference call with analysts.
Average prices for Palm devices fell to $240 from $265 in the first quarter. The drop was expected, Bruner said, because of the m100, which is priced cheaper to appeal to a wider audience.
The company now has more than 100,000 registered software developers, Yankowski said. About two-thirds of them are working on business applications, he added.
Also Monday, Palm said it would build a 500,000-square-foot headquarters in San Jose, Calif. Palm has set aside about $220 million in government bonds as collateral for a one-year lease of the 39-acre site, and plans to sign a seven-year lease in the second quarter.
In other Palm news, the company unveiled a deal to develop wireless phones with Motorola (NYSE: MOT).>


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When: Fri., May 8, 4-6 p.m. 2015
Redd’s Apple Ale is taking its Redd’s Taco Truck on a nationwide tour to bring fans across the country a new pairing: Redd’s Apple Ale and tacos. As part of its 14-city tour, Redd’s will be making a stop in San Antonio at H-E-B offering shoppers a complimentary sample of Redd’s Apple Ale and a perfectly paired taco. Visitors of legal-drinking age can stop by H-E-B on Culebra and 1604 from 4-6 p.m. for a taste of the pairing, as well as an array of Redd’s-inspired games. Redd’s will also be handing out carnations in honor of Mother’s Day.


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Monday, 30 January 2023 | 5.1°C Dublin
Premium subscribers enjoy unlimited access to all articles. But there's more: discover your full benefits now.
November 05 2018 01:06 PM
Ant McPartlin's ex-wife, Lisa Armstrong, arrives at court to begin legal arguments over their divorce. The 42-year-old could be given £30 million as part of the settlement.


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NEW YORK (AP) — Tiffany & Co.'s third-quarter net income fell 30 percent, stung by a higher-than-expected tax rate, ongoing economic weakness and high precious metal and diamond costs.
The jewelry company's results missed Wall Street's expectations and it cut its full-year earnings forecast.
Shares dropped $7.73, or 12.1 percent, to $56 in premarket trading Thursday.
For the period ended Oct. 31, the company known for its blue boxes earned $63.2 million, or 49 cents per share. That's down from $89.7 million, or 70 cents per share, a year earlier.
Analysts forecast 63 cents per share.
Revenue increased 4 percent to $852.7 million. Wall Street expected $858.8 million.
Tiffany now expects 2012 earnings of $3.20 to $3.40 per share. Its prior outlook was for $3.55 to $3.70 per share.
Analysts predict $3.59 per share.


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FIJI Water bottles, which feature an iconic square shape and vibrant branding, are now made from 100 percent recycled plastic and are also fully recyclable. FIJI Water rolled out the 100 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) bottles this year that replaced its virgin rPET 500-milliliter and 330-milliliter bottles throughout the US.
“In our transition to recycled plastic, our intention is to make a truly meaningful and lasting environmental impact,” said Clarence Chia, senior vice president of marketing at FIJI Water, in a press release. “We are using recycled plastic to breathe new life into existing materials, while maintaining FIJI Water’s same great taste, look and quality that consumers come to expect from Earth’s Finest Water.”
While speaking at the launch of the brand’s recycled bottles in Yaqara, Fiji in April, Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said this initiative directly supports the Fijian Government’s commitment to modernizing the economy through sustainable measures. He added that it contributes to Fiji’s overall commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and building climate resilience.
Prior to the broader sustainable packaging movement, tensions were high between FIJI Water and the country from which it gets its name. The company’s economic power was such that in 2010, it threatened to close its factory. As HuffPost reported, rather than allowing the government to increase the tax on its bottled waters from a third of a Fiji cent to fifteen Fiji cents, it made the daunting threat.
Now, FIJI Water committed to continue shifting its entire portfolio of bottle sizes to rPET by 2025. But its bottles aren’t the only thing on the sustainability agenda. The company said it is seriously looking to replace its reliability on fossil fuel with either sonar or fuel cells and is also looking at making its packing more sustainable.
Still, the water business in Fiji has brought some dissent. While the export of mineral water added more than $100 million to the country’s economy, Fast Company pointed to the tension of a modern factory churning out bottles of water in a country in which many citizens don’t have access to drinking water. Not to mention, the brand is owned by a California couple who purchased the enterprise in 2004.
Despite the tensions, FIJI Water maintains a strong hold in the American market compared to other bottled water brands, netting $150 million in annual sales out of an industry worth $15 billion. Soured from the island of Viti Levu in Fiji’s Yaqara Valley, the water is labeled artesian, which means it comes from an underground chamber of rock known as an aquifer, which is essentially a natural filter.
Thanks to effective marketing and claims that bottled water is healthier, cleaner and fresher than tap water, brands like FIJI Water continue to be sold and command a hefty price. In spite of the objectification of bottling and selling water, FIJI Water said it has many initiatives to address sustainability and is committed to finding solutions, starting with fully recycled water bottles.


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Mar 6, 2011
Bliss Couture has released a new St Patrick's Limited Edition, Eve, one of its most successful design ever, in a special green colour.
After Anja, Lolalove and Yesenia, dedicated to the event beside a stunning cocktail dress, free gift for our members, the fashion house celebrates St Patrick's Day with a fourth special, that will be on sale only until march 17th.
You can find them in the main hall of the luxury label's flagship store.
Bliss Couture's Flagship Store
Bliss Couture Hair
Bliss Couture Basic
Bliss Couture's Outlet
Bliss Couture's Gallery


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ALISO VIEJO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 01/15/14 -- Corent Technology today announced that SurPaaS®, its disruptive technology that transforms software applications into robust, fully instrumented multi-tenant SaaS, is now being used to rapidly deploy .NET software applications on the Windows Azure cloud from Microsoft Corp. in a highly scalable SaaS model.
"We are excited to announce our work with Windows Azure, as well as support of .NET applications," said Feyzi Fatehi, CEO, Corent Technology. "There is tremendous demand for proven software applications to be delivered 'as a service' in an efficient and cost effective manner. With SurPaaS, software vendors can stay focused on their core product, and yet reach a much larger customer base by transforming their software applications to robust SaaS quickly and cost effectively without having to perform a heart surgery on their application," he added.
"Corent's SurPaaS is indeed a disruptive technology. We are extremely excited that SurPaaS enabled us to shrink a ten-month development project to eight days! We can now offer more with less and serve multiple customers and markets in such a short time," said Fauzia Sid, President, IT Link Solutions.
"We are delighted to offer our customers an accelerated path to SaaS -- without having to learn the intricacies of SaaS. We are now working on several other products and will bring them to market using SurPaaS. Thanks to Corent, we are fast transitioning from a local ISV and service provider to a global software solutions provider," said Sid.
Corent was recently the featured startup on Azure on Microsoft's BizSpark Online, where Shafi Syed, Corent Co-founder and EVP Engineering was interviewed on how the SurPaaS SaaS enablement and delivery platform supports the Windows Azure cloud.
About Corent Technology, Inc.
Corent Technology is the provider of SurPaaS®, a disruptive SaaS-enablement and software delivery as a Service platform. SurPaaS was named the "2012 Cloud Product of the Year" and has received multiple other industry awards and recognitions in the past. For more information about Corent, please visit: www.corenttech.com or email us at info@CorentTech.com.


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Epic Games’s next-gen technology, Unreal Engine 4, won’t be available for the Nintento Wii U, a report on Gamespot said.
Epic Games Vice President Mark Rein said in several media reports that they won’t be making the Unreal Engine 4 available to current game consoles, including Nintendo’s Wii U, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3.
Rein said during the Game Developers Conference last week that Epic Games is targeting next-generation game consoles for its Unreal Engine 4 instead of the current devices we now have in the market. For those who would like to develop a game for Nintendo’s flagship game console, Rein said that Unreal Engine 3 is still available.
So, does that mean Rein does not consider the Wii U to be next-generation? Definitely, yes. Although Nintendo’s latest game console is a sight to behold, Epic Games believe that its newest technology is aimed at a more specialized game console.
According to Rein, the goal of Epic Games in coming up with this technology is to power next-generation consoles. Other than that, Nintendo’s Wii U is also not able to use Electronic Arts’ Frostbite 3 engine. The same engine was used to power DICE’s Battlefield 4.
Unreal Engine 4’s ‘Infiltrator’
Epic Games released a demo video for its latest technology. The video, called “Infiltrator,” showcased stunningly beautiful 3D graphics that can almost pop out of the screen. If you like seeing lifelike images when playing game consoles, then this is something you should look out for when buying next-generation consoles.
The high-definition graphics used by the engine is one of the best I have seen, and it’s only a matter of time before that same technology will be ubiquitous in game consoles. Motions are more fluid and the environment is almost seamless. It is already quite hard to distinguish that what you are looking at are all just visual effects.
Aside from showcasing its HD graphics, Epic Games said that the demo video showed the working environment in creating Unreal Engine 4 too. The work process of the technology showed that engineers and software developers are allowed to concentrate on just one project.
People want more concepts and less graphics
There seems to be a problem in the way video game companies compete with one another. For one, they don’t realize that the public actually craves for more intriguing and action-packed video game with a good story, concept and background. Manufacturers and software developers are so focused on perfecting visual effects that they forgot many consumers from around the world are only asking for a game that can entertain and challenge them.
Some fans, according to Gamesport, are concerned as well about the shift to a next-gen technology since it might mean that prices will skyrocket too. This does not suit well for people who are in third-world, conflict-torn or impoverished countries who can only afford simple technology with simple but beautifully done video games.
Unreal Engine has been developing for years. With this current integration into the system, reports said that the next-gen software will be able to power Sony’s PS4, Xbox 720 and Windows PCs.


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A new study suggests people still aren't as security conscious as IT would like them to be, but they do trust IT with their data.
HP is to acquire network solutions provider Aruba Networks in a deal valued at around US$2.7 billion after the two companies announced they had entered into a definitive agreement.
Free Wi-Fi could be coming to a Westfield shopping centre near you.
24 month minimum contracts are stupid, only morons sign up for that long, no one wants a contract, even when[…]
$79.00 for Unlimited 100/40 NBN. your getting ripped of by your NBN provider
Wow, shouldn't you disclose paid for by Optus. Lol could this be more of an add. Also what NBN plan[…]
You mean it might be ok as soon as Optus have decent coverage and fix their massive congestion issues.And 16ms[…]
I'm lucky I get 1Gbps download speed with AB. Lot a salty people with just slow NBN.


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Global banking group Standard Chartered said on Thursday it has partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to launch a payment platform for the airline industry in India.
In addition to existing payment options such as credit cards, IATA Pay will be a new payment option that will allow participating airlines to offer instant payment options such as UPI Scan and Pay and UPI Collect (Request to Pay) , Standard Chartered said in a statement.
The service, which is already available in several European markets, leverages the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), a national real-time payment system, allowing consumers to instantly pay for airfare from their bank accounts, he said.
He also said that after the launch in India, Standard Chartered would also support the rollout of IATA Pay in other markets.
IATA Pay in India is powered by Standard Chartered’s Straight2Bank Pay, a payment platform that helps online merchants digitize collections through multiple payment options through a single global connectivity, according to the statement.
“IATA Pay reflects our commitment and focus to driving payment innovation and creating solutions that are not only fit for purpose, but also deliver value to all participants in the payment ecosystem. our customers,” said Philip Panaino, Global Head of Cash, Transaction Banking at Charter Standard.
This new service will simplify the payment process for consumers, streamline the collection and settlement process for airlines, and enable IATA to provide an industry-wide e-commerce solution, it said. -he declares.
Standard Chartered said the new service will not only help participating airlines avoid bilateral integrations with multiple service providers, but also eliminate the need to pay acquisition fees to card acquirers.
As the industry rebounds in the post-COVID world, innovative and cost-effective solutions have become more important than ever. IATA Pay reinforces our goal of leveraging open banking and real-time payment solutions that will serve as a cost-effective alternative to conventional payment methods and bring efficiencies to how money is collected and settled, said Javier Orejas, Global Head of IATA Banking and IATA Pay.
The launch of IATA Pay builds on the existing partnership between Standard Chartered and IATA to co-create an industry-wide payment solution, the statement said.
In 2021, the two partners launched IATA EasyPay in India, a pay-as-you-go solution that streamlines the ticketing and payment process between IATA-affiliated travel agents, member airlines and IATA.
(Only the title and image of this report may have been edited by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Two new outlet projects to be developed
Indianapolis — Simon Property Group Tanger Factory Outlet Centers announced Wednesday a joint venture to develop two new upscale outlet centers in Charlotte, N.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
The two companies said they will build a 350,000-sq.-ft. outlet center – branded Charlotte Premium Outlets — in Charlotte in a location previously announced by Tanger, eight miles southwest of uptown Charlotte. There is also the potential of a 50,000-sq.-ft. expansion from the first phase of the project. Opening is slated for spring 2014 and is expected to feature more than 90 upscale brand name and designer outlet stores.
Simon and Tanger also plan to build an approximately 350,000-sq.-ft. center in Columbus, branded Tanger Outlets. The center is planned to open in time for the 2014 holiday season. When completed, the center will be home to more than 90 upscale brand name and designer outlet stores.
Kroger profit leaps in Q3, raises forecast
Cincinnati — Kroger Co. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Nov. 3 rose to $316.5 million, compared with $195.9 million in the year-ago period.
Total sales rose 6% to $21.81 billion, beating Wall Street’s expected revenue of $21.55 billion.
Same-store sales rose 3.2%.
Aeropostale net income edges up in Q3
New York — Aeropostale reported Thursday that profit for the third quarter rose to $24.9 million, from $24.1 million last year.
Sales increased 2% to $605.9 million, beating Wall Street’s expected $601.2 million. Same-store sales dipped 2%.


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Rumor is components for the launch of the ultra-thin 15″ MacBook laptop has been ordered and begun shipping according to a new report. Release Expectation for the Apple MacBook Super Thin 15 inch could be as early as the second quarter of 2012.
DigiTimes revealed information and facts are incredibly minimal for the moment. The site’s anonymous sources state that components began moving this month in smaller quantities, possibly for test runs with the new laptop. It is actually not clear if this new design will be included in MacBook Air line or the MacBook Pro.
Release Expectation for the Apple MacBook Super Thin 15 inch
Upstream suppliers of Apple have recently started shipping a small volume of components for a 15-inch ultra-thin notebook model from Apple in November and the device could be either MacBook Air or just a thinner MacBook Pro. The new MacBook is expected to appear as early as the second quarter of 2012, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.
Estimated by the product planning, mass shipments of the notebook device will start in March and could be cataloged in either the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro line. Apple currently has three screen sizes for the MacBook Pro – 13.3-inch, 15.6-inch and 17-inch.
Compared to non-Apple players’ ultrabook plan, Acer is set to launch a 15-inch ultrabook in the second quarter, at the earliest, while Asustek Computer also has plans to launch a 15-inch model, but does not yet have a schedule for mass production or launch.
While a 15-inch ultrabook model would be considered a full function machine, which consumers normally expect to have an optical drive, limitations over the thickness restriction of 0.8-inch for the ultrabook means the launch of a 15-inch machine with an optical drive and a thickness of less than 0.8-inch may not be in the plans until a later time.
Information and facts are in short supply right now, this means no features, not specific launch time frame with no selling prices, but we shall keep close track of this one for you. Release Expectation for the Apple MacBook Super Thin 15 inch seemingly might hit the shops in March reported by sources.
Leave us a comment on what you think.


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As kids, we were always reminded to get our daily dose of dairy to grow strong bones. As we've gotten older, our understanding of dairy has shifted, and many of us have chosen to ditch the animal product for healthier alternatives. But it turns out that one particular dairy product is highly correlated with physical fitness, not to mention bone mineral density and a lower risk of osteoporosis.
A recent study published in Osteoporosis International and found that after for adjusting for variables like age and health and behavioral characteristics such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity, daily yogurt eaters performed better on tests of physical fitness. Regular yogurt eaters also showed a 3% to 4% increase in bone mineral density and a 39% lower risk of osteoporosis in women when compared to their counterparts who don't eat yogurt.
"The main message is that yogurt is a good source of micronutrients, vitamin D, B vitamins, and calcium—and protein and probiotics as well," said the study's lead author, Eamon J. Laird, a research fellow at Trinity College Dublin. "We think it could be a combination of these things that has the beneficial effect." He also notes that the study was observational, so they cannot prove cause and effect, but other dairy products did not produce the effect of yogurt. If you do choose to add yogurt into your regular diet, Laird warns to be mindful of sugar and look for a healthy variation like Greek yogurt.
Looking to up your yogurt intake? Check out these genius ways to cook with Greek yogurt.


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Romania is negotiating an investment from an electrical car manufacturer, economy minister Costin Borc said on April 26 without naming the possible investor.
Romania already hosts car plants owned by US car manufacturer Ford and France’s Renault. The industry is expected to be boosted in the coming period as new investments have been announced. Ford will start producing the Ford EcoSport small SUV at its plant in the southwest Romanian city of Craiova, while Renault announced 500 new jobs.
Borc says the talks with the possible investor are in their initial stages. “There are some early-stage talks […] Moreover, together with the finance ministry we are looking at a taxation scheme for research and development, not only in the automotive industry, but in general,” Borc said in an interview with Hotnews.ro.
Asked if the electrical car manufacturer which might place an investment in Romania is European or American, the economy minister said: “you only had left to ask me if its name begins with “T” and ends with with “esla”. It could be, it could be.”
Should the investor be the US electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors, Romania would have to compete with Slovakia for the investment. Former Slovak economy minister Vazil Hudak said in March that the Central European country was negotiating an investment with Tesla.
In May Romania will relaunch its vehicle scrappage scheme, which this year will include a new section, called Rabla Plus, aimed at boosting purchases of electrical cars. According to environment minister Critina Pasca Palmer, those planning to buy 100% electrical cars could benefit from a bonus of RON20,000 (€4,468), while those planning to buy a hybrid car could receive a bonus of RON5,000. The budget of the Rabla Plus programme is RON75mn, according to digi24.ro.
Romania’s Chamber of Deputies endorsed the controversial Code of criminal prosecution procedures on June 18, by 178 votes to 75 and one abstention. The bill was passed late in the night ... more
Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) raided on May 30 the offices and two plants of Austrian wood processing company Holzindustrie Schweighofer, local ... more
The European Commission, in the country-specific recommendation sent on May 23 to the ... more


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Fiat Chrysler join BMW, Intel and Mobileye in autonomous development race
BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye today announced a memorandum of understanding that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will be the first automaker to join them in developing an autonomous driving platform for global deployment.
The partnerships intention is to benefit from each company’s strengths and resources to enhance the collaboratively produced autonomous platform. The existing partners believe FCA will add further engineering, technical resources and expertise to the cooperation, as well as its significant sales volumes, geographic reach and long-time experience in North America particularly.
FCA Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne, said: “Joining this cooperation will enable FCA to directly benefit from the synergies and economies of scale that are possible when companies come together with a common vision and objective.”
The original BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye partnership was formed in July 2016 to make self-driving vehicles a reality with solutions for highly automated driving (Level 3) and fully automated driving (Level 4/5) into production by 2021, using a scalable architecture.
According to the partners, they remain on-schedule to deploy 40 autonomous test vehicles on the road by the year-end. Testing of 100 Level 4 fleet vehicles by Mobileye is already underway.
Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said: “The two factors that remain key to the success of the cooperation are development and the scalability of our autonomous driving platform.”
Emphasising the importance of a collaborative approach, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said: “The future of transportation relies on auto and tech industry leaders working together to develop a scalable architecture that automakers around the globe can adopt and customise.”
The collaborative approach means the partners are open to additional automakers and technology suppliers wishing to help create or adopt the autonomous driving platform, the existing partners add.


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Hong Kong (AFP) – Asian stocks finished Tuesday on the back foot, following Wall Street lower as fears of a trade war between the United States and China hit market sentiment.
China led the declines, with the main Shanghai Composite index down more than one percentage point heading into the final hour of trade.
In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.45 percent or 96.29 points to 21,292.29, paring early losses.
Markets in Seoul and Hong Kong were also weaker, with New Zealand the only regional exchange in the green.
However, the losses were not as bad as first feared at the open, with stocks across the region clawing back ground later in the session.
“The impact from the US market turned out not to be so bad as to incite terror here” thanks to lingering hopes that tensions may ease in the weeks to come, noted Makoto Sengoku, market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.
Traders were however spooked by Chinese retaliatory action on trade with the US, as the government in Beijing slapped tariffs on 128 US imports worth $3 billion, including fruit and pork.
In addition to that move, US President Donald Trump again threatened to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement, tweeting that Mexico was doing too little to counter illegal immigration into the United States.
Investors also took their cue from US markets which tumbled on the first trading session back after Easter holidays, both on trade fears and a bearish turn for tech stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 1.9 percent lower while the broad-based S&P 500 shed 2.2 percent.
But it was tech stocks that led the declines, with the Nasdaq dropping 2.7 percent.
Giants Amazon, Facebook and Tesla Motors suffered the largest drops but the negative feeling infected the broader market.
Amazon sank 5.2 percent after a series of attacks by Trump in recent days in which he accused the retailer of profiteering at the expense of the US Postal Service.
“It started with the tech stocks and it’s become ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater,’” said J.J. Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade.
“They’re reassessing the valuation on the entire market,” said Kinahan. “A while ago all news was good news. Now (the) news is all things to be afraid of.”
With sentiment souring, the safe-haven yen strengthened earlier in the trading days before also falling back as equities pared losses.
The greenback was changing hands at 105.95 yen Tuesday afternoon against 106.29 yen a day earlier.
Against the unsettling background, “the yen has re-emerged as the weapon of choice,” David de Garis, director of economics and markets at National Australia Bank, said in a commentary.
– Key figures around 0630 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.5 percent at 21,292.29
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.5 percent at 29,942.86
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 1.17 percent at 3,126.11
Dollar/yen: UP at 105.96 yen from 105.76 at 0230 GMT
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.2310 from $1.2306 at 0230 GMT
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.4061 from $1.4059 at 0230 GMT
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 2 cents – from 63.14 per barrel at 0230 GMT
Oil – Brent North Sea: UNCHANGED from $67.79 per barrel at 0230 GMT
New York – Dow: DOWN 1.9 percent at 23,644.19 (close)
London – FTSE 100: CLOSED


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5G is expected to reach 30 million subscriptions for enhanced mobile broadband in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) by the end of 2024, representing 2% of total mobile subscriptions. In a growing economy, 5G is causing excitement as younger generation favour wireless devices, remote services and high speed connections.
Compared with its predecessor, 4G - 5G is leaps and bounds ahead. It’s between 10 and 20 times faster and changes between tasks with ease. With IoT (Internet of Things) having an increasing influence over our personal and professional connectivity, 5G promises to support the increasing demand for fast information and quick downloads.
In 2019, Ericsson will start the commercial roll out of 5G in the Middle East, starting with operators in advanced markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The advent of 5G is expected to contribute billions to economies around the region. Although a few markets in the Middle East have very high rates of fixed household broadband penetration, the rate for the Middle East as whole was 46.7% at end-2017, lower than in many other major world regions.
5G will massively impact speeds and connectivity across both the domestic and industrial markets - allowing businesses to be better connected than ever before.
Technologies that were previously struggling across the region, such as cloud-based software and IoT, will receive a new lease of life. There is also much excitement for the world of gaming, e-sport and data storage. Due its low cost, 5G could have a huge positive impact on start-up culture, as well as opening up the floor to more remote working.
Chief Technology Officer at telecoms giant, Etisalat described the introduction of hyper-connectivity as a powerful combination of flexible, high-speed 5G networks, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). He also predicted that 5G will have a significant and profound change on individuals, industries, society and the economy, transforming how we live and work.


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For Big Pharma executives, animal health is no longer, well, for the dogs. Several leading drug makers, seeking to replace sales lost as blockbuster drugs lose patent protection, have realized that cattle can truly be a cash, er, cow.
In March, Merck and Sanofi-Aventis said they’d re-form their Merial joint venture in animal health, beaming about the high-growth prospects. Earlier this month, Lilly Chief Executive John Lechleiter said animal health is central to his company’s future. And Juan Ramon Alaix, who heads Pfizer’s animal health unit, recently raved about his business.
The market for animal medicines was $19 billion last year, and is expected to grow at a healthy 5% a year clip for the next several years thanks in large part to growth in emerging markets. It helps that the animal health market lacks the price pressures being imposed on human drugs by health insurers. Marketing costs are less, too.
The Pfizer unit had $2.8 billion in revenue last year. Alaix said it aimed to grow faster than the overall market. But that will be tricky because animal medicines are facing more intense competition, particularly from low-priced generic versions in emerging markets.
Alaix indicated Pfizer would benefit from the widespread respect for the company. To give itself a leg up, Pfizer is positioning itself as more than a mere seller of drugs and vaccines. “Pfizer wants to provide full solutions,” he said. For instance, Pfizer has begun selling a tool for farmers determine how much feed each of their animals require, which could help them cut expenses.


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While Lloyds Banking Group has been grabbing the headlines thanks to its unwelcome £1 billion payment protection insurance surprise, the lender's wealth division has been busy getting ready for the new regulatory regime.
As the retail distribution review (RDR) fast approaches, Lloyds has opened up a private banking client centre so to offer clients speedier access to its services.
The innovation was borne out a research project into the impact of the RDR. Lloyds said the same project also prompted its decision to start referring clients with £100,000 of investible assets toward its private banking services division.
Lloyds, which roughly a year ago said it wanted to become the go-to UK wealth management provider, has also decided to end its push into the mass market.
Clients with less than £100,000 in savings and investments will not be offered any investment advice service.
However the bank has a host of new products in the pipeline for these clients, with many of these coming to fruition during 2013.
Lloyds explained in an announcement to the Stock Exchange: 'With the onset of the retail distribution review we have undertaken extensive market research on customer requirements and how the market will evolve.
'As a result customers with over £100,000 of investible assets who would benefit from holistic financial planning will be referred to our private banking service. For customers who hold less than £100,000 in savings and investments we will not offer an investment advice service but will continue to give these customers information and help with savings products on a non-advised basis.'
Lloyds is not the only big bank looking to crack the competitive wealth management market - the likes of Barclays already have a strong grip on the space and Investec, following its recent acquisitions of Williams de Broe and Rensburg Sheppards, has formed its own distinct Investec Wealth & Investment division.
The progress banks have made has been mixed, however, with the likes of Credit Suisse seemingly scaling back its operations.
However, Lloyds told its investors it will make 'significant' investments into its retail division, which will funnel clients with enough assets toward its private banking services.
'We are making significant additional investments in digital channels and we have now increased our active internet banking customers by 1.1 million in the past year to 9.3 million and grown the number of mobile banking users to 2.9 million since launch a year ago,' it outlined.
'We continue to roll out our branch refurbishment programme across the Lloyds TSB network, and we are extending opening hours and improving queuing experience in these branches.'
Although Lloyds did not in depth go into the progress made in its wealth, asset and finance division when it announced its earlier today, it touched on the role its wealth division had played in producing the bank's overall £1.9 billion underlying profit for the nine months to September.
Lloyds said it delivered 'above-market growth' in customer deposits, reflecting 'good growth' in both its retail and wealth, asset finance and international divisions.
'Customer deposits have grown by 4% since 31 December and by 6% over the last 12 months, around double the market rate,' the bank explained.


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Tim Cook, from yesterday’s Apple earning’s call:
We’ve invested through economic uncertainty in the past, and we’ve always come out stronger on the other side. In fact, some of the most important breakthrough products in Apple’s history were born as a result of investing through the downturn. We’ve also seen these times as opportunities to invest in new markets, just as we’re doing now in areas such as India and other emerging markets.
Buy low, sell high. Invest when assets are cheap, reap the reward as value grows over time. Apple has a long history of investing during market downturns.
Apple itself was born as the US emerged from a steep recession in the mid-1970s.
The original Mac was developed during a severe global recession in the early ’80s.
OS X was developed as the dot-com bubble was bursting, and released in the middle of another recession. That same recession also saw the birth of the iPod.
Finally, what many people refer to as The Great Recession started in late 2007, as Apple was in the throes of perhaps its greatest product release, the iPhone.
Some of the most important breakthrough products in Apple’s history were born as a result of investing through the downturn.
These are not hollow words. Apple has historically poured money into R&D and released important new products during economic downturns. This strategy is an Apple hallmark.


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On this week's MashTalk, we discuss whether Instagram is ruining itself, declining iPad sales and how Trump's immigration ban will hurt tech companies.
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Credit card companies' stocks bounced off recent lows on Friday, helped by encouraging signs from battered card issuer Providian Financial and by an improving economic outlook.
Providian, which focuses on lending to people with tarnished credit histories, on Thursday posted a quarterly loss of $395.3 million, after almost $1 billion in charge and additional reserves, but analysts said they were encouraged to see management taking correct steps. The San Francisco-based card issuer also said that regulators approved its capital plan.
Though the U.S. economy is in recession, the numbers of unemployed Americans appear to be dropping. This bodes well for card issuers like Providian that have been hit by rising consumer loan defaults in the weak economy, analysts said.
"The shorts are leaving the stocks," Matthew Park, an analyst at Thomas Weisel Partners, said. "A lot of people who made macro bets against the consumer are now taking those bets off the table."
Providian stock, slammed last year because of rising loan losses, jumped 26 percent, or 91 cents a share, to $4.37 on the New York Stock Exchange at midday.
"The company still has a long way to go but things seem on track," Jennifer Scutti, an analyst at CIBC World Markets said. "Management has its arms around the issues, and what they need to do, and its capital plan was accepted by regulators. Any fears this company was going to burn out, and the risk that held for other subprime lenders, were dispelled."
Providian's rise helped shares of Metris Cos Inc. , another lender to people with poor credit records. The stock gained 11 percent, or $1.44 a share, to $14.84.
Other credit card and consumer lenders shares rose too, on optimism that Americans' finances aren't in such bad shape after all. Household International Inc. stock rose 5.7 percent, or $2.74 a share, to $50.75, MBNA Corp. rose 4 percent, or $1.15 a share, to $32.90 and Capital One Financial Corp.gained 3 percent, or $1.49 a share, to $47.65.
"The financials were hit very, very hard over the last few weeks," Scutti said. "There is a little bit of bottom-fishing."
Plus, the number of U.S. workers seeking unemployment aid fell last week, the government said on Thursday in a report suggesting the worst of the labor market's slump might be over amid signs of economic recovery.
Reuters contributed to this report.


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Today Kadokawa Games reached out with a press release including new screenshots of its open-world JRPG Metal Max Xeno Reborn.
The screenshots showcase a new(ish) opponent that will appear in the game, the “Battery of Death.”
Mishuku Base used to be the last line of defense of mankind, and now it has turned against its masters. It’s surrounded by artillery batteries and they will cease the bombardment only when nothing alive remains in the surrounding area.
This is a massive battle in which the entire base will become a massive enemy bristling with deadly cannons.
You can check out the screenshots below.
If you want to learn more about Metal Max Xeno Reborn, you can check out the original announcement, the first trailer, the latest batch of screenshots, some recent videos, the latest trailer, the latest gameplay, and the new character design.
You can also read our extensive interview with producer Juntaro Kohno.
The game is coming on September 10 for PS4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan. At the moment, a western release has not been announced, so we’ll have to wait for a publisher to pick it up.
Besides the already-announced sequel titled Metal Max Xeno Reborn 2, we also know that a reboot of the series titled Code Zero is coming down the line still doesn’t have a release window of platforms.
The post New Metal Max Xeno Reborn Screenshots Show a Giant Artillery Battery of Death appeared first on Twinfinite.


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In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, few events capture the world’s attention quite like the release of a new iPhone. Apple aficionados and tech enthusiasts eagerly anticipate each unveiling, speculating about groundbreaking features and design innovations. As 2024 unfolds, the anticipation reaches a fever pitch as Apple introduces its latest masterpiece to the United Kingdom.
A Glimpse into the Future:
With the dawn of 2024, Apple enthusiasts across the UK found themselves on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting news of the latest iPhone. Rumors had been swirling for months, with speculation ranging from radical design changes to revolutionary new features. As the unveiling event approached, excitement reached unprecedented levels.
The Unveiling Event:
Apple chose a grand venue in the heart of London for the unveiling of the new iPhone. Tech journalists, industry insiders, and fans queued up outside, eager to catch a glimpse of the future of smartphones. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, took to the stage to reveal the company’s latest creation.
Introducing the iPhone 14:
Amidst a flurry of cheers and applause, Tim Cook unveiled the iPhone 14, the most advanced iPhone ever created. The device boasted a stunning new design, featuring a sleeker profile and vibrant OLED display that stretched from edge to edge. Apple had once again pushed the boundaries of innovation, delivering a device that was as beautiful as it was powerful.
The iPhone 14 was packed with revolutionary features designed to enhance the user experience in every way possible. From the lightning-fast A16 chip to the advanced camera system capable of capturing stunning images in any lighting condition, every aspect of the device had been meticulously crafted to perfection.
One standout feature of the iPhone 14 was its integration of augmented reality (AR) technology, which opened up a world of possibilities for users. Whether exploring immersive AR experiences or using AR-powered apps for everyday tasks, the iPhone 14 transformed the way people interacted with their devices.
Sustainability and Responsibility:
In addition to pushing the boundaries of technology, Apple remained committed to its principles of sustainability and social responsibility. The iPhone 14 was crafted using recycled materials and designed to minimize its environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. Apple also continued its efforts to ensure fair labor practices and uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct across its supply chain.
Availability and Pricing:
Following the unveiling event, excitement continued to build as eager consumers awaited the iPhone 14’s release date and pricing details. Pre-orders opened shortly after the event, with the device scheduled to hit store shelves across the UK in the coming weeks. While pricing varied depending on the model and configuration, Apple remained committed to offering competitive pricing options to ensure accessibility for all consumers.
As the curtains closed on the unveiling event, the excitement surrounding the new iPhone 14 reached a crescendo. Apple had once again delivered a device that surpassed expectations, setting a new standard for innovation and design in the world of smartphones. With its revolutionary features, stunning design, and unwavering commitment to sustainability, the iPhone 14 was poised to become the must-have device of 2024.
In the UK and beyond, Apple enthusiasts eagerly awaited the opportunity to get their hands on the latest masterpiece from the tech giant, eager to experience the future of mobile technology firsthand.
Disclaimer: This blog post is a fictional representation of the release of a new iPhone in the UK in 2024. While based on current trends and speculation, the details presented here are purely speculative and should be treated as such.
iPhone 14 Revolutionizing the Mobile Experience in the UK (2024)
- Sleek and ergonomic design with a premium feel.
- Edge-to-edge OLED display for immersive viewing experiences.
- Slimmer profile and refined aesthetics for enhanced elegance.
- Powered by the lightning-fast A16 chip for unparalleled speed and efficiency.
- Seamless multitasking and gaming experiences with advanced graphics capabilities.
- Enhanced battery life to keep you connected throughout the day.
- High level camera framework with worked on low-light execution and picture adjustment.
- Super wide, wide, and zooming focal points for catching each second with staggering subtlety.
- Innovative photography features, including AI-powered scene recognition and enhanced portrait mode.
4. Augmented Reality (AR):
- Integrated AR technology for immersive gaming, educational, and entertainment experiences.
- ARKit advancements enabling developers to create groundbreaking AR apps and experiences.
- Explore the world around you in new and exciting ways with augmented reality.
- Crafted with recycled materials to minimize environmental impact.
- Intended for energy proficiency and decreased carbon impression.
- Commitment to responsible sourcing and ethical manufacturing practices.
- 5G connectivity for lightning-fast downloads, streaming, and browsing.
- Enhanced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities for seamless connectivity.
- Dual SIM support for increased flexibility and convenience.
- Advanced Face ID technology for secure and effortless authentication.
- End-to-end encryption to protect your personal data and privacy.
- Regular software updates to ensure the highest level of security.
8. Pricing and Availability:
- Available in a range of models and configurations to suit every budget and preference.
- Pre-orders open shortly after the unveiling event, with availability in stores across the UK.
- Competitive pricing options to make the iPhone 14 accessible to all consumers.
Conclusion: The iPhone 14 sets a new standard for innovation and excellence in the mobile industry. With its stunning design, powerful performance, and groundbreaking features, it revolutionizes the way we experience technology in the UK. Whether you’re capturing memories with its advanced camera system, immersing yourself in augmented reality, or staying connected with lightning-fast 5G, the iPhone 14 is more than just a smartphone—it’s a gateway to the future.
FAQ – iPhone 14 Launch in the UK (2024)
1. When will the iPhone 14 be available for purchase in the UK?
Pre-orders for the iPhone 14 will typically begin shortly after the unveiling event. The device is expected to be available in stores across the UK within a few weeks after pre-orders open.
What are the critical elements of the iPhone 14?
The iPhone 14 boasts a sleek design, powerful performance with the A16 chip, advanced camera system, integration of augmented reality (AR) technology, commitment to sustainability, enhanced connectivity with 5G support, and robust security features such as Face ID.
3. What pricing options will be available for the iPhone 14?
Apple typically offers a range of pricing options for the iPhone 14, including different models and configurations to suit varying budgets and preferences. Pricing details will be announced during the unveiling event and will vary depending on factors such as storage capacity and model selection.
4. Will the iPhone 14 support 5G connectivity in the UK?
Yes, the iPhone 14 is expected to support 5G connectivity in the UK, allowing users to experience lightning-fast download speeds, seamless streaming, and enhanced browsing capabilities.
5. How does the iPhone 14 prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility?
Apple is committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility. The iPhone 14 is crafted using recycled materials and designed for energy efficiency to minimize its environmental impact. Additionally, Apple employs responsible sourcing and ethical manufacturing practices throughout its supply chain.
6. What security features does the iPhone 14 offer?
The iPhone 14 features advanced security measures, including Face ID for secure and effortless authentication, end-to-end encryption to protect personal data and privacy, and regular software updates to ensure the highest level of security.
7. Will the iPhone 14 be compatible with existing accessories and peripherals?
While specific compatibility details will be confirmed closer to the launch date, Apple typically ensures compatibility with a wide range of existing accessories and peripherals, including cases, chargers, and headphones.
8. How can I stay updated on news and developments regarding the iPhone 14 launch in the UK?
To stay informed about the latest news and developments regarding the iPhone 14 launch in the UK, you can follow Apple’s official announcements, visit their website, or subscribe to their newsletters and social media channels for updates.


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Even as creativity was celebrated in a big way, with awards given out to the best and brightest in the ad and marketing world at Goafest2022, there were plenty of takeaways for brands on negotiating new paradigms like the Metaverse.
From a retailer in Texas to a lipstick-maker in India, what emerged at the event was that brands around the globe are already on the road to the Metaverse, virtual spaces that users can create and explore with others. It is not just a buzzword for the future, but something brands have to transition too fast.
Pointing out that consumers are increasingly interested in ever-evolving tech, Sandeep Bhushan, Director and Head of India GMS for Meta, said that people’s interest in the virtual economy grew by as much as 85 per cent from July-September 2020. In the same period, interest in the Metaverse grew by nearly seven times.
Bhushan, who was addressing a knowledge session on the third day of Goafest 2022, pointed out that the tools for the Metaverse already exist today. Consumers are already digitally engaged, whether through rising video usage or accelerated adoption of online shopping.
Whether it is workplaces, gaming, online shopping, hospitality or retail spaces, Metaverse is expected to make all these experiences more immersive, and marketers will need to play a key role in simplifying the user journey from discovery to purchase with interactive tools in the Metaverse. .
Addressing a session at the Goafest 2022, Gowthaman Ragothaman, CEO, Aqilliz and Co-Founder, Web3 Marketing Association, said while consumers have growing concerns around how their private data is used, platforms want to be able to offer relevant personalization of content to keep. their users engaged.
He pointed out that blockchain is emerging as the solution for some of these emerging problems.
Decentralised clean rooms (that store consumer data in a manner that they do not leave the server premises) are now being used as a methodology for safe and secure use of customer data. Recently, we have partnered with Airtel to work on this initiative, ”he explained.
Leo Burnett scores
At the much-awaited ABBY Awards 2022, which saw record entries, the Leo Burnett Group (TLG) emerged as the ‘Creative Agency of the Year’. Earlier, Mindshare bagged the ‘Agency of the Year’ title, while Sony Pictures Network India won the ‘Broadcaster of the Year’ honor.
Mindshare also got the ‘Tech Agency of the Year’. Mindshare opened the ABBYs, winning eight gold medals on the first day.
TLG emerged at the top due to its strong performance in seven categories of the creative ABBYs.
On the final day, ABBYs were given out in various categories, including Branded Content and Entertainment, Video Craft, Diversity Equality and Inclusion, and many others. In the Branded Content & Entertainment category, gold award winners included Enormous Brands LLP, Mindshare, GRAY Group and FCB Group India.
The eclectic mix of media agencies that won the honors at the Media ABBYs included Initiative Media India Pvt Ltd, which picked up several awards for its work for brands such as MPL Sports Foundation and Amazon.
May 08, 2022


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Xiaomi had earlier this week announced the launch dates for the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra smartphones. Now after this, the company has announced the launch date of Mi Mix. Let us know that this phone is also going to be launched on the same day that the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra mobiles are being introduced. These three phones will be launched in China on March 29. Xiaomi has announced the launch of Mi Mix with the tagline of “Mix Coming Back” on Weibo. This will be Xiaomi’s fifth Mi Mix smartphone. Not much information has been revealed about the phone yet.
Mi Mix will be the first foldable phone
The upcoming Mi Mix is rumored to be launched as Xiaomi’s first foldable phone. Please tell that this device has already passed the 3C certification.
The company has already experimented on Mi Mix before it
Xiaomi launches experimental devices under the Mi MIX lineup. The design of this upcoming foldable phone from Xiaomi may be similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 2. We have seen interesting designs in previous Mi Mix models. In the first Mi Mix and Mi Mix 2, the company has placed a selfie camera in the lower right corner of the screen. While the Mi Mix 3 had selfie cameras hidden behind the slider screen.
Mi Mix Possible Features
According to the leaks report, the Mi Mix can be given a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone may have the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. The phone is estimated to have a 5,000mAh battery. At the same time, the phone is also rumored to have a triple camera setup with a 108-megapixel primary sensor. The phone will work on MIUI 12 OS.


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Australia Post is losing $70 million every year because of the huge number of parcels it has to process thanks to the rise in online retailing, the head of the postal service said yesterday.
But it’s not entirely Australia Post’s fault, chief executive Ahmed Fahour said – and experts agree.
“I don’t think this is something Australia Post can necessarily change under the Universal Postal Union structure,” Parcel Express chief executive Jason Picknell told SmartCompany this morning.
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“Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be another way around it all.”
Fahour told a Senate inquiry last night the organisation is losing up to $70 million a year, which has forced it to drive up prices for sending parcels.
The hikes were revealed by SmartCompany earlier this year, when small businesses complained they had received price increases in new contract terms.
At the time, Australia Post said in letters sent to businesses that it was “operating in a challenging business environment with increasing external costs”.
Fahour has now said the huge number of parcels weighing less than two kilograms cost the organisation more due to international pricing structures.
These pricing structures are set by the Universal Postal Union. It determines the rates its member countries pay for international mail distribution.
“The only way we can minimise our losses is if the domestic price goes up,” he said. It’s a complaint Australia Post has made before, especially during Christmas when it was swamped by a huge number of parcels creating a backlog.
While the organisation has invested in new ways to deal with the rush, including 24/7 postage lockers and new delivery services, Fahour says the UPU structure is putting pressure on domestic prices.
The UPU was set up when letters were the primary form of correspondence, he said, adding that plenty of other economies are in the same situation.
“All of us are suffering because we’re net importers from a lot of these other developing countries,” he said.
Fahour added that Australia Post welcomes the rise of domestic online retail: “The more Australian retailers go online, the happier we are, because we actually make a buck on that.”
Picknell says the situation necessitates an increase to the offshore mailing rate structure.
“I think he’s right in lobbying to get that UPU structure right, because essentially we’re, as consumers, offsetting the price through the domestic pricing structure,” Picknell says.
“If postage is set at a certain cost through the UPU, they’ve got to make that up through domestic pricing.”


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Let's consider the latest data from the Conference Board, the source of consumer confidence and related information.
The Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 37.7. That is an historic low since it was started in 1967. Such a number shows terrible fear and pessimism about the nation's economic condition. Indirectly, it says that Americans will not use whatever money they have for discretionary spending and will spend less, where they can, for necessities, such as food and clothing.
Here are more details from the survey of 5,000 representative households.
The fraction that believes business conditions are "bad" increased to 47.9 percent in January from 45.8 percent the month before. Perhaps more significantly, those believing business conditions are "good" declined to 6.4 percent from 7.7 percent last month.
What about the job and labor market? The percentage of Americans expecting fewer jobs in the months ahead decreased to 36.7 percent from 40.6 percent, compared to those expecting more jobs that dropped to 9.4 percent from 9.8 percent. People claiming jobs are "hard to get" edged down to 41.1 percent from 41.5 percent in December. As for hard reality, those stating jobs are "plentiful" edged up to 7.2 percent from 6.5 percent, which must make you wonder where are these people living, because unemployment has risen in every state in the country..
Here is another dose of reality: The fraction of people expecting business conditions to worsen over the next six months decreased slightly to 31.1 percent from 32.9 percent, while those expecting conditions to improve remained relatively unchanged at just 13.3 percent in January, compared to 13.4 percent in December.
Not surprisingly, the fraction of consumers expecting an increase in their incomes declined to 10.0 percent from 12.7 percent. This suggests that just 10 percent of Americans may be in a spending mood. Not enough to restore our economy that depends on consumer spending, which accounts for some 70 percent of all economic activity.
So I ask you: Why is all that political ecstasy over Barack Obama not translating into consumer confidence? The logical answer is that nothing in the daily news about what the Obama administration is doing or about economic events is producing positive feelings about what is happening now and what is likely to happen in the future. Nothing that I see President Obama doing and saying suggests to me that people have any valid basis for coming out of their economic despair. All those happy faces on inauguration day have not shown up in any of the consumer confidence data. Confidence in the Obama personality has not translated into confidence in what his administration is capable of accomplishing, even with Democrats controlling Congress. Where is the change we have been waiting for? I guess it has not arrived yet. Will it come before recession turns into depression and unemployment exceeds 10 percent and more pain and suffering hits many more millions of Americans? Where is your confidence heading?


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DigiTimes is reporting that a deal between Nintendo and Foxconn has been reached, which is going to start production in October. Pegatron Technology is also seemingly trying to take on some orders.
DigiTimes further reports that Nintendo plans to have orders finalized sometime around March of 2016, ramping up to full production around May or June of 2016. Digitimes is also reporting that Nintendo is looking to ship 20 million units in the first year.
To put that into perspective, the Wii took over a year to reach 20 million units sold and the 3DS took somewhere around a year and a half to reach that mark. The Wii U has yet to hit half that mark as of March of 2015. The 20 million, if accurate, seems incredibly ambitious.
According to DigiTimes sources, the potential release for Nintendo's new console may be July of 2016. Though, until we hear directly from Nintendo, we can't be entirely sure.
We still don't even really know what the Nintendo NX is other than it is a new console from Nintendo. Nintendo has also said they do not plan to release details until sometime in 2016. All we know is that Nintendo is not thinking of the NX as a replacement for either the Wii U or the 3DS. Whatever that means is anyone's guess.
With the so far abysmal sales of the Wii U, and the age of the 3DS, many might be wondering what the future of the consoles will be with the release of the Nintendo NX. In a recent shareholder meeting, Satoru Iwata addressed that question, saying it makes little business sense to abandon the 3DS and Wii U, which will have much more robust libraries than the NX. Iwata further said:
As for Wii U, we will continue to make efforts, as it is a priority within the company to think about how we can satisfy the consumers who purchased this system to the maximum extent possible.So, Nintendo is of course going to still try with the Wii U. The strategies to make it more relevant and/or appealing has yet to be seen.
What do you think the Nintendo NX will be? Could we see it as early as July of 2016?


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18 February 2016, Lagos — A review of the latest returns on utilisation of foreign exchange bought by 14 commercial banks from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has shown that First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) with a total of $25,701,921.17 reported the highest amount of forex purchased from the apex bank on behalf of its customers.
Forex consumption is a function of the volume of business a bank does, particularly with the larger corporate and manufacturing firms that utilise it for transactions.
The allocations ranged from fuel, machinery and pharmaceuticals imports, all the way down to invisible dominated divestment by foreign investors exiting the Nigerian equities and bond markets, and Forex allocations to school fees.
For the second time, school fees accounted for the highest number of allocations across several of the banks, but not in value, reflecting the lack of confidence Nigerian parents in high and upper middle-income brackets have in the country’s education sector.
Education standards in Nigeria in the last one-and-a-half decades have fallen precipitously, forcing many Nigerian parents that can afford it to send their children overseas to study.
The situation in the education sector has been made worse by the absence of a political will by successive administrations to holistically fashion out a plan to reform the education sector, effectively rendering 90 per cent of Nigerian secondary school leavers and university graduates uncompetitive relative to their peers in other parts of the world.
FirstBank was followed by Zenith Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Limited with $23,811,329.77 and $20,618,105.09 respectively.
Standard Chartered Bank with total returns of $17,795,338.87 came in fourth, while Diamond Bank Plc reported returns of $17,691,840.54.
Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) reported returns of $15,828,891.14 to occupy the sixth place, while Ecobank Nigeria Limited reported returns of $14,684,365.28.
Also, while Union Bank of Nigeria Plc reported returns of $12,550,289.46; Access Bank Plc published returns of $11,994,742.86; Citibank Nigeria Limited – $9,238,688.09; Fidelity Bank Plc – $7,447,530.26; and United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) Plc – $6,711,545.29. Others included Sterling Bank Plc with total returns of $4,792,887.67 and Keystone Bank Limited which also reported returns of $3,732,629.81.
For the first time, three merchant banks also published their returns on utilisation of funds. They were Coronation Merchant Bank Limited – $4,838,429.62; FSDH Merchant Bank Limited – $3,701,840.84; and Rand Merchant Bank Limited which reported total returns of $2,225,002.42.
Just like the previous week, divestment by foreign portfolio investors from the equities and bond markets accounted for the largest chunk of forex, in terms of value of allocations to bank customers.
But in terms of volume, the purchase of foreign exchange for other invisibles such as school fees, business travel allowance (BTA) and personal travel allowance (PTA), was the highest.
However, top bank officials explained to THISDAY that the returns were not in any way reflective of total demand by the banks on behalf of their customers.
A bank CEO, who preferred not to be named, said: “On average, our returns or allocations are just about 10 per cent of total demand, which means that the CBN is unable to meet forex demand on the official market.
“It is for this reason there is so much pressure on the parallel market, where businesses that are unable to get their forex requirements met through the official window turn to.
“It also means that the parallel market mirrors the true value of the naira, so the best solution to the widening gap between the interbank and parallel market rates is for the central bank to devalue.”
For FirstBank, the returns on utilisation of forex bought from the CBN showed that the bank sold $25,701,921.17 it was allocated to 73 corporate customers. Of this, 38 per cent (approximately $10 million) was sold to Dangote Cement Plc for power plant equipment, Congo Cement and spare parts for cement plant machinery.
Forex sales to FirstBank customers also showed a diverse allocation to various sectors of the economy such as raw materials (propylene), agro-veterinary and livestock products, steel, industrial machine parts and accessory, and materials for pharmaceutical products. But it sold a total of $3,573,380.80 to 785 customers for the payment of school fees.
Also, Zenith Bank returns showed that the bank sold a total of $23,811,329.77 to 337 customers. The distribution of forex purchased by Zenith Bank customers showed that a large portion was allocated to the payment of school fees as 272 customers bought dollars from the bank for this purpose.
But some customers were sold dollars for the importation of industrial raw materials and machine tools, among others.
Just like the previous week, Stanbic IBTC returns reflected a large number of divestments by foreign portfolio investors comprising BP2S Milan/BNP Paribas, CACEIS Bank, Luxembourg, Brown Brothers Harriman/Stanbic Nominees, HSBC Funds Services London, JPM (JP Morgan) London, JPM Securities, Northern Trust London, State Street/Stanbic Nominees, Credit Suisse International, and the Bank of New York.
It also sold dollars for the importation of Dano Full Cream powder, polypropylene and industrial raw materials.
For Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, of the 189 customers it sold dollars to, 127 of them purchased the greenback for invisible items. A breakdown of this further showed that while 100 procured dollars for school fees, while 27 customers bought PTA. Like other banks, it also sold dollars for the importation of visible items such as electronic materials, petroleum products and industrial spare parts, among others.
Purchase of forex for payments of tuition fees abroad also featured prominently in Diamond Bank’s returns, even though the bank also sold forex to customers for the importation of other visible items such as chemicals, plants and machinery.
For GTBank, of the 303 customers it sold dollars to, 269 (89 per cent), was for the payment of school fees. In addition, 34 corporate customers bought forex from the bank for the importation of plant, machinery and raw materials, among others.
Similarly, Ecobank Nigeria’s forex sales showed that of the 177 customers that bought the greenback from the bank, 119 individuals bought for tuition fees, while 58 corporate customers bought forex to import visible items.
However, unlike most of its peers, a large chunk of dollars sold by Union Bank was for the importation of industrial raw materials and other visible items. Only 10 of the 53 individuals/firms that Union Bank sold forex to was for payment of school fees.
For Access Bank, the bank sold mostly to customers that needed school fees and PTA. Of the 149 customers (124 customers for February 15 and 25 customers for February 16), 114 customers bought forex from the bank for invisible items.
On the other hand, Citibank’s utilisation of forex showed divestments by foreign portfolio investors through NIB Nominees/RBC: Longbow Securities Limited. It also sold to major multinationals such as Nigerian Breweries, Nestle Nigeria, Honda Automobile and Fine Chemicals, etc. Citibank did not sell to any individual customer.
For Fidelity Bank, it sold dollars to 106 customers, of which 75 customers bought forex for school fees.
Commenting on the returns published by the banks, analysts at CSL Stockbrokers Limited said the whole world can now see how much wealthy Nigerians are spending on school fees overseas.
They said: “The implication is that banks now know each others’ forex clients. Importers know how much foreign exchange their competitors have obtained at the interbank rate of 199.3/US$, as opposed to the parallel rate of N350.0/US$1. And wealthy Nigerians can check out how much money their peers are spending on foreign school fees.”
CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Ibrahim Muazu, explained last week that the publications were meant to improve transparency in the allocation of forex to the banks.
According to him, banks would be publishing their returns almost weekly.
Meanwhile, there appeared to be no end in sight to the free fall of the naira on the parallel market, where it fell further to N370 to a dollar yesterday, from the N350 at which it sold on Tuesday as there was no let up on panic buying by users.
It was gathered that some black market currency dealers even resorted to hoarding dollars in anticipation that it would depreciate further in the coming days.
Currency dealers at Marina, Lagos Island and the Murtala Muhammad Airport, Lagos, who confirmed this to THISDAY, said the demand pressure on the parallel market continued to rise.
Concerns over the likelihood of a ban by the central bank on the allocation of forex for the payment of school fees abroad had triggered the increased demand observed in the market.
The Bankers’ Committee last week discussed ways of ensuring that forex demand for school fees, among other invisibles, does not crowd out real sector demand.
The discussions also centred on how to redirect foreign exchange to the real sector, particularly industries that utilise raw materials. Speaking on the phone with THISDAY wednesday, a senior lecturer of economics at the Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr. Bongo Adi, advised the CBN to come out with a policy that would help halt the slide of the naira.
“This is exactly what would continue until government decides what should be done. Government has avoided the hard choice on devaluation, so the parallel market is actually giving you the actual price of the naira.
“What we are seeing shows that there is a mismatch between supply and demand of forex in the market. Unfortunately, Nigeria is not attracting enough forex to meet the huge dollar demand in the economy,” Adi said.
The economist also held the view that JP Morgan may have anticipated the current exchange rate situation in the country, leading to Nigeria’s exclusion from its emerging markets bond index.
On his part, the Head of Research at Afrinvest, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, said the naira may plummet further against the dollar if there was no policy pronouncement from the central bank.
“If you have a forex policy and you feel it is not having the desired impact, I think you need to do something to address the situation. If we continue like this, most of the companies government is looking up to, to drive local consumption, may even collapse and unemployment would increase.
“Inflation is expected to rise as most importers are already purchasing dollars from the parallel market and this would definitely be factored into the cost of goods and services,” Ebo added.
Nigeria gets about 90 per cent of its forex earnings from crude oil exports.
*Obinna Chima – Thisday


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Gene Larew Lures introduces acquisition at ICAST
Article Media Click images to enlarge +
Gene Larew Lures wasted no time in bringing its newly-acquired Crappie Pro brand into the business.
Despite announcing the news barely two weeks beforehand, the Oklahoma company was able to include the new offering on its booth at ICAST. It also features in the latest Larew catalogue.
Crappie Pro was sold by owner, Janice Russell, almost 20 years after its launch following the death of her husband, Larry Russell, last year. Situated in neighbouring Eufala, the brand joins Bobby Garland crappie baits in the Larew portfolio.
Larew owner, Chris Lindenberg, was delighted to have his new lures at Orlando and reported an enthusiastic response from visiting dealers and media. “We’re proud to continue the Crappie Pro legacy in Larry’s honour,” he told Angling International.
Crappie Pro is known for its Next Generation jigheads and also warehouses the Wasshoppah family of baits.
• See the full story of the acquisition in the August issue of Angling International.


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By Corinne Weaver~
It seems ads promoting religion in America are just too “sensitive” for Google and YouTube to handle.
A trailer for the upcoming documentary “America! America! God Shed His Grace on Thee!” was removed several times from Google and YouTube advertising. Centennial Institute, a part of Colorado Christian University (CCU), had bought ad space for the video and worked with Google to ensure that there was nothing wrong with the ad. However, the powers that be at Google and YouTube decided that the ad contained “sensitive events” and took it down. The ad was later restored.
“We are deeply disappointed that YouTube is censoring the challenges our nation is facing but more importantly the solution our nation needs to hear,” said Centennial Institute director Jeffrey Hunt. “We need to get back to the Bible for our country to thrive. Instead of censoring that message…
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SOUTH KOREA (REUTERS) - It was always likely to be a controversial land swap deal with the government.
But the Lotte group may have underestimated the economic fallout from the Terminal High Altitude Air Defence System.
It is a year since China warned the US anti-missile project, being built on a former Lotte golf course, could damage strategic ties with South Korea.
And businesses on both sides of the border are suffering.
Lotte had to close its shops in China and tour companies says Chinese tourists have been banned from South Korea.
Chief director of Overseas Koreans in Korea Association Kim Sook Ja says: "The number of Chinese tourists has decreased rapidly due to the impact of the system, that's why I had to close. And there are plenty of others like us."
Half of all visitors to South Korea used to be Chinese.
But now that number has halved - depriving the country of an estimated US$5 billion (S$6.74 billion).
Even street traders are feeling the impact.
South Korean street food vendor An Hong Sung says: "Before lots of Chinese tourists came here to shop. We even employed Chinese part-timer staff, because we had so many customers. We used to sell 300 to 400 omelettes a day, now it's barely 100."
Seoul and Washington say Thaad is purely a deterrent to a nuclear-armed North Korea.
But Beijing worries the system's radar can penetrate its territory.
Founder and chief strategist of Inside Outbound China, Oliver Sedlinger, says: "Of course there is strong influence of politics. China has been opening up for so many years now, and I think for successful tourism exchange you always need good diplomatic relations."
Beijing says it still supports "normal business" with South Korea.
But Hyundai's another international name which says it knows different.


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- American Express Co. on Monday said it would sue MasterCard and Visa following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to hear Visa and MasterCard's appeal in the government's antitrust lawsuit against them.
In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Visa and MasterCard for limiting competition in the U.S. credit-card market. Last month, the Supreme Court let stand a lower-court ruling that allowed banks to offer American Express
The suit, filed today in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleges that Visa and MasterCard blocked development of new products that ultimately hurt consumers and kept American Express from building a network among banks for eight years.
David Boies, the former Justice Department attorney most closely identified with the government suit against Microsoft Corp.
Visa USA responded by saying that it would "vigorously defend" itself. It also said that American Express had made a bad decision to focus on wealthy customers.
"It's time for American Express to stop looking to the courts to solve its problems and compete in the marketplace instead," said Daniel Tarman, a Visa vice president, said in a statement.
MasterCard general counsel Noah J. Hanft called the lawsuit "misguided" and said American Express would have difficulty proving that it was injured and suffered damages.
"This lawsuit will showcase what American Express planned to do from the beginning -- recruit the affluent, high-spend customers of select banks by enticing those banks with their higher cardholder and merchant fees," he said.
In the suit, American Express also named several banks that had executives sitting on the boards of Visa or MasterCard during the period in question.
Those banks include J.P. Morgan Chase
"We intend to hold the associations and their member banks accountable for their illegal actions and seek compensation for the value that would have been generated for our shareholders," said AmEx Chairman Kenneth Chenault in a statement.
Shares of American Express rose 37 cents Monday, closing at $56.
MasterCard and Visa are associations of financial services companies and are not publicly traded.