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Honor has sold over 10 million units of the smartphone, Honor 8X. Also, Honor has slashed the price of the 4GB+64GB variant by 100 yuan for a limited time. This brings the price down to 1299 yuan.
Honor first unveiled the Honor 8X in China around September last year and then it hit India in October.
According to Mr. Richard Yu, he believes that “Huawei Consumer BG has arrived at a brand new stage,” and that “Huawei and Honor are likely to become the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer this year.”
He added, Honor will become the 2nd largest smartphone manufacturer in China, and 4th in the world.


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ROLL OUT THE GREEN CARPET: Olga Kurylenko will be the fifth actress to walk the Academy Awards red carpet wearing a custom design for Red Carpet Green Dress. The sustainable fashion initiative, conceived by Suzy Amis Cameron during the press tour for her husband James Cameron’s film “Avatar,” aims to draw attention to the importance of more sustainable practices in fashion. The campaign also raises funds for Muse School CA, a nonprofit educational organization that Amis Cameron cofounded in Malibu Canyon. Kurylenko’s gown was designed by contest winner Alice Elia, a French-Lebanese student at ESMOD in Paris, where she is currently being mentored through dress construction by the college’s couture team.
In addition, a partnership between People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Beyond Skin, an ethical footwear and fashion label based in the U.K., will be introduced when Kurylenko hits the carpet wearing vegan, limited-edition shoes of fake suede with metallic trim made from Dinamica, which is manufactured in Italy and made from 100 percent recycled bottle tops. The shoes will be available to purchase from Beyond Skin on Monday with 10 percent of proceeds going to Muse School CA.
On Thursday, Suzy and James Cameron will host a cocktail party at Palihouse West Hollywood to celebrate RCGD’s fifth anniversary with Kellan Lutz, Olivia Munn, Alicia Silverstone, Maggie Grace and Missi Pyle.

domain: news


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Packaging company to sell 32 percent of shares in IPO. Cardboard packaging company PT Satya Mitra Kemas Lestari Tbk (SKL) will float its shares on the Indonesian stock exchange to raise funds from the public to strengthen its capital structure and acquire new packaging machines.
During the initial public offering (IPO) to be held before the company’s shares are listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) on July 11, Satya Mitra will sell 1.3 billion new shares, which account for 32 percent of the company’s enlarged capital.
Marketing and operational director Herryanto S. Hidayat said on Tuesday that the new shares would be sold at a price between Rp150 (1.1 US cents) and Rp200 a piece, depending on market demand.
Oktavianus Budianto, president director of PT Kresna Investment, the lead underwriter of the IPO, said SKL would also issue 260 million warrants as a sweetener for the share offering.
Herryanto said in a public presentation that his company would use 40 percent of the proceeds as working capital, 30 percent for refinancing debt and the other 30 percent for capital expenditure.
“We estimate that we will be able pay 5 percent of our total debt with 30 percent of the proceeds,” he said. “We will allocate another 30 percent to purchasing new machines in 2019 and 2020 and acquiring a plot of land in Bekasi, West Java, or in another town in Central Java.”
Oktavianus said SKL would distribute 20 percent of its annual profit as dividends.
According to SKL, its net profit increased by about 35 percent to Rp45 billion ($3.15 million) in 2018 from Rp33 billion in 2017, while total revenue increased to Rp2.18 trillion from Rp1.67 trillion over the same period.
Oktavianus said the book-building of the IPO was scheduled for June 13-20, the offering period for on July 1-4 and the share allotment for July 8, before the listing of the shares on July 11.
Founded in 2001, SKL, the third-largest cardboard packaging company in Greater Jakarta, currently produces corrugated carboard boxes, rigid boxes, paper bags and offset and pre-printing packaging for various companies like Unilever, Adidas, Indofood, Mayora, Samsung, and Nestle Indonesia.
Herryanto said he expected that, after the IPO, his company would be able to increase its revenue to Rp2.31 trillion this year and Rp2.45 trillion next year. Net profit is projected to increase to Rp65 billion this year and Rp80 billion. Packaging company to sell 32 percent of shares in IPO (nal, The Jakarta Post)
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Economic Policy Institute says the US-China trade relationship needs fundamental change to stop ‘unfair trade and illegal currency manipulation’
A lengthy report released last week by the Economic Policy Institute, a US think tank, lays bare the loss of American jobs to China, particularly in tech manufacturing.
The report states that “due to the trade deficit with China 3.4 million [American] jobs were lost between 2001 and 2015, including 1.3 million jobs lost since the first year of the Great Recession in 2008. Nearly three-fourths (74.3%) of the jobs lost between 2001 and 2015 were in manufacturing (2.6 million manufacturing jobs displaced).”
The most adversely impacted sector of the US economy was the computer and electronic parts industry, which experienced a loss of 1,238,300 jobs, representing 36% of the 2001–2015 total and primarily affecting California, Texas, Oregon, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Arizona.
Here’s another takeaway. “In 2015, the United States had a US$120.7 billion deficit in advanced technology products with China, and this deficit was responsible for 32.9% of the total US-China goods trade deficit. In contrast, the United States had a US$28.9 billion surplus in advanced technology products with the rest of the world in 2015.”
How did this happen?
“China both subsidizes and dumps massive quantities of exports,” the report says. “Specifically it blocks imports, pirates software and technology from foreign producers, manipulates its currency, invests in massive amounts of excess production capacity in a range of basic industries, often through state owned enterprises (SOEs) … and operates as a refuse lot for carbon and other industrial pollutants. China has also engaged in extensive and sustained currency manipulation over the past two decades …
“Other countries in the region have found it attractive to follow (and difficult to resist following) China’s lead in engaging in currency manipulation, resulting in the region’s large and growing trade surpluses with the United States and the world over the past 15 years.”
Full article: China has cost US 3.4 million jobs, says think tank (Asia Times)


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Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. expects to sell shares in its initial public offering for $27 to $29 per share, it said Monday.
The filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission said Artisan plans to sell 13.2 million shares under the New York Stock Exchange symbol APAM. If the underwriters, led by Citigroup and Goldman Sachs & Co., sell more than 11.5 million shares, they have the option to purchase up to an additional 1.7 million shares, the filing said.
Milwaukee-based Artisan filed its prospectus for an initial public offering in November. The company previously filed a plan to go public in 2011 but canceled it because of unfavorable market conditions.


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Lenovo, the Beijing-based PC and server maker, was rebuffed in its attempt to acquire smartphone maker BlackBerry by the Canadian government, which blocked its bid on national security grounds. According...
GDPR: Some companies have only started their compliance preparations this week, claims Bristows lawyer Robert Bond
And all those 'GDPR compliance' emails are pointless and unnecessary, too
A panel of experts answer your questions on the challenges inherent in the EU's new GDPR legislation
It's not just Big Brother that is watching you - increasingly, it's every electronic device we use, warns Peter Cochrane
The 'how to' element is missing from GDPR and this is the cause of much of the angst


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Los Angeles -- Relentlessly striving to make good on its effort to revive its brand and expand its video programming, AOL on Wednesday announced a Web programming deal with big TV network reality show producer Endemol USA, to develop a pair of original Web series aimed at women.
The company has tapped Endemol USA, a reality TV powerhouse, which is acclaimed for producing reality shows such as "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Big Brother," "Wipeout" and "Jerseylicious," as well as the hit Web series "Married On MySpace 1 & 2" and "Coupon Mom," to collaborate on developing new, "reality-based" online programming that will be initially tailored to women. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Endemol is a premiere producer of unscripted programing and their mastery in creating unique, interactive, popular shows, combined with AOL's growing video audience will take digital production to the next level," said David Eun, president of AOL Media & Studios, in a statement. "Endemol is the latest in a string of partnerships that serve both the AOL consumers and our advertising partners."
AOL has previously forged alliance with Michael Eisner's Vuguru, and the Jonas Brothers, which has agreed to deliver minimum six original scripted series for AOL.
This new partnership initially targeting female audiences, will further focus on creating unscripted digital video content, which exploits the Web's real-time, interactive and increasingly social nature, the two companies said Wednesday.
First on the agenda of the two series include "Re-Dressed By America," an interactive Web series with a twist. Viewers will be urged to vote on various fashion and hairstyle changes a subject will undergo before attending a major event, such as a first date or a high school reunion. The series will be featured on AOL properties: Stylelist.com and MyDaily.com.
The second of the series is a culinary show called "Mamá's Recipe," in which families compete for the best family recipes and partake their secrets with the AOL audience. The series will be featured on KitchenDaily (http://www.kitchendaily.com) and AOL Latino (http://latino.aol.com/).
"We are excited to partner with such a successful and global leading company like AOL," added David Goldberg, chairman of Endemol North America. "This deal continues our growth as a leader in interactive digital entertainment, and we look forward to creating many genre-defining series with AOL."
AOL said the new shows will accumulate major promotion across all its sites, and added that the new series will feature "enhanced" online programming -- user voting, extra video clips and blog content. All this to create more opportunities for sponsors.
AOL said its recent series "You've Got..." generated nearly 8 million views in its first month for the newly revamped AOL.com. The company stated that overall video views on the new AOL.com ballooned more than three times in its first month versus previous periods.
Other video franchises across AOL properties include AOL Sessions; The Engadget Show; Translogic on AOL Autos; a number of shows on Cambio.com -- Cambio Connect, Cambio Style, and Cambio Goes Home; and The Secret Millionaire's Club on AOL Kids.


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Japan's Vogue Girl will stage a show incorporating luxury labels like YSL and Fendi.
— Mar 3, 2011
When the designer celebrated the opening of his store, he also made a big debut on Twitter.
— Mar 1, 2011
Beauty brand has joined the iPad generation.
— Feb 25, 2011
There’s no shortage of innovative elements to underscore the brand’s athletic roots.
— Feb 24, 2011
The brand has made a priority of hanging out with the right click.
— Feb 23, 2011
Virtual fashion portal will use proprietary analytics to provide customized data to its designer partners and users.
— Feb 10, 2011
The Italian Internet fashion retailer registered a 40.8 percent jump in consolidated revenues in 2010.
— Feb 9, 2011


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Whole Foods plans to open a 65,000-square-foot, bi-level store in the last phase of the Trinity Place development at 8th and Market streets, which broke ground at the end of last year.
The market, currently projected to open in 2021, will include a food hall and a taproom, along with 165 dedicated parking spaces in an underground garage, according to a press release from Trinity Properties.
Vendors for the food hall and brewery have not yet been identified, said Evan Nicholson, a spokesman with Glodow Nead Communications.
Phase 4 of Trinity Place will be a 17-story mixed-use tower that brings the development up to 1,900 residential units, of which 231 will be below-market rate, and 360 will be rent-controlled. The residences at 1169 Market St. will be a mix of junior one-bedroom, one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The tower will have six levels of below-grade parking providing 281 residential spaces, but it's unclear if the dedicated spots for Whole Foods will be in the same garage.
Phase 3 of the development was completed late last year. The 1188 Mission St. tower opened to market-rate and rent-controlled residents in 2010 and the 1190 Mission St. tower moved residents in three years later.
The store will serve not only the residents of the four apartment towers, but will serve as the only full-service grocery serving the Mid-Market neighborhood. Once open, the location will be the largest Whole Foods outpost in San Francisco.
As Trinity Place reaches its final phase, it's already getting new neighbors: there are 304 units under construction at 1066 Market St., 1028 Market is expected to bring 186 new units, and Stage 1075 is accepting applications for 90 new condos at 1075 Market .


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Wales-based bakery Ridiculously Rich By Alana has unveiled new display units.
It has rolled out new floor standing display units with national convenience chain Nisa in 500 of the retailer’s stores across the UK.
The display units will hold a selection of the bakery’s most loved pre-packaged products, including its new Three Slice Boxes in Caramel – comprising salted caramel slice, crème brûlée brownie and millionaire’s brownie with Belgian chocolate & caramel; and Traditional – comprising gooey chocolate brownie, Belgian chocolate rocky road and sticky toffee flapjack.
The success of its self-serve retail unit, launched in early 2019, led to the decision, said the company.
“I am very excited to be able to offer customers even more pre-packaged products from our range and to provide retailers the perfect way to display them,” said Alana Spencer, director at Ridiculously Rich By Alana.
The company also revealed it had plans to install further display units across the UK, after a lot of interest from other suppliers.
Founder and winner of 2016’s The Apprentice, Alana Spencer bought Lord Sugar out of the cake business in September last year.
In October 2019, Ridiculously Rich officially moved into its first purpose-built bakery in Spencer’s home town of Aberystwyth, Wales.


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Despite the proliferation of social channels, there are some elements of writing that won’t soon go out of style.
The story that Rodriguez and other athletes received illegal substances from a Miami clinic also brings to the forefront the importance of vetting celebrity/athlete spokespersons.
80% of shoppers are digitally engaged with brands in some way, but the stronger the connection, the greater the impact on public opinion and potential sales of a brand.
Crisis PR firm Sitrick and Co. targeted bloggers to correct or remove their posts about Papa John’s CEO, a classic PR tactic applied to a new form of media.
Please click through to answer our latest poll: As a PR executive, how would you otherwise spend the $4 million for a 30-second commercial spot during the Super Bowl?
62% of the public cares more about companies’ practices and policies today than they did 10 years ago.
PR News polled its online community and found that most PR pros will wait one to three days before calling a journalist after emailing him or her a pitch.


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Shahbaz Maqsood Khan, Director Brands and Communications at Jazz has moved on to newer avenues, we have confirmed.
Sources at Jazz told ProPakistani that Shahbaz has resigned from his position but didn’t share details on his replacement.
During his two-and-a-half-year stay at Jazz, the company overturned its slide into becoming the market leader in terms of sales and subscriber growth.
Shahbaz is considered as key guy behind the re-emergence of Jazz as an umbrella brand to different verticals and setting the course for its digital ambition.
He also led the way to the Jazz’s collaboration with Lahore Qalandars that ultimately resulted into world’s largest cricket talent hunt initiative called Jazz Rising Stars.
The award-winning initiative has changed the fate of aspiring cricketers who are bringing fame to the country.
Not to mention, Shahbaz oversaw the brands during the merger between Jazz and Warid and its ongoing transition. And then the launch of VEON, a global platform that is changing digital lifestyles of Pakistanis.


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Xiaomi, as it is known, has not yet released a folding smartphone, but it has shown us some of its ideas, though some teaser videos that it published in the past. The company has so far patented several folders for various folding Smartphones, and today unveiled a new diploma approved by CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration), which reveals a device that has a unique camera layout, which apparently is specifically designed for folding smartphones.
Most patents feature mostly the hinge or folding mechanism, but this new Xiaomi patent focuses more on the use of camera sensors. This new device will have two rear cameras and a front selfie camera.
As shown in the drawings, Xiaomi adds a strange notch to the top left corner of the screen. Also, the front selfie camera is located just below this notch on the screen. Xiaomi will most likely use a selfie camera that will be placed under a hole or under the screen of the device on the front. In June 2019, the company also introduced under-screen camera technology ( Under-Display Camera ) using a modified version of the Mi 9.
In this new patent, we note that when the device screen is folded, the front camera can be used simultaneously with both rear cameras. The Huawei Mate X can do the same, and it looks like Xiaomi will also be able to use all three sensors in this device to take a selfie. Once the screen is open, only one camera sensor can be used for selfies or video calls.
As with most of the patents that Xiaomi has filed from time to time, there is a good chance that the company will never release a smartphone using this patent. We have already seen some similar implementations in the so-called “candy bar” smartphones in the past.
Recent leaks have also shown that Xiaomi is also working on a smartphone with a clamshell-type folding capability, which is quite similar to the Galaxy Z Flip. According to newer information, the company has submitted new orders to Samsung and LG for a flexible display, but also a special flexible UTG glass, and it seems that although there is no official confirmation, Xiaomi is preparing for the release of the first foldable smartphone, somewhere between the last quarter of this year or the beginning of 2021.
Do not forget to follow us on our Facebook group and page to keep you always aware of the latest advances, News, Updates, review, and giveaway on smartphones, tablets, gadgets and more from the technology world of the future.


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Vivo is gearing up to announce a new 5G smartphone with the name Vivo S7e 5G. Some of its key specifications have been listed online. Take a look at the specifications of Vivo S7e 5G.
Vivo S7e 5G Specifications and Features:
Starting from the display the Vivo S7e 5G is said to feature a 6.44-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 × 1080 pixels. Vivo S7e will also come with a 60Hz refresh rate display. The smartphone will have a screen to body ratio of 90.1 percent. Due to AMOLED, it expected that the device comes with an In-display fingerprint scanner.
Under the hood, the device is powered on Mediatek Dimensity 800U which is clocked at 2.4GHz., The processor is paired with Mali-G57 for graphics., which is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
In the photography segment, the device has a triple camera setup on the rear side which includes a 64MP primary camera, 8MP Ultra-wide camera, and 2MP camera. Over the front, there is a 32MP front-facing selfie camera.
To keeps the power on the device fuels with 4,100mAh batter which expected to comes with fast charging technology. Lastly, the device expected to boots with Funtouch OS 11 based on Android 11.


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Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg told investors today that he sees three market opportunities for businesses that will require 5G — use cases that don’t exist for previous-generation cellular technologies.
Two of the opportunities involve mobile edge computing. But the one currently getting the most success is building private 5G networks for large enterprises using Verizon’s licensed spectrum, Vestberg said.
Companies are adopting private 5G in offices and factories because they want more “secure, faster and more reliable” connectivity for employee devices, he explained.
Some companies are taking private 5G one step further and adding a cloud component using MEC to “make real-time, direct business decisions in the local area,” Vestberg continued. “The real-time enterprise” is a concept that Verizon has been pushing for about two years.
Verizon has partnerships with Amazon, Microsoft and Google to support these apps, Vestberg noted.
“We see use cases in manufacturing, retail, logistics,” he said. He added, however, that it takes time for companies to integrate private 5G with MEC into their operations.
Typically, he said, they “do a proof of concept, then integrate it, then replicate it in different logistics hubs.”
The third enterprise 5G opportunity – the public MEC – is further on the horizon as it will require ubiquitous coverage across the country. But while Verizon is rolling out 5G in C-band and leveraging a partnership with Amazon, the public MEC rollout process is “moving fast,” Vestberg said.
Vestberg did not provide details on the value companies might see in the public MEC. He noted, for example, that the public MEC will support games, but didn’t explain why that’s important for businesses. Perhaps he envisions companies offering gaming apps as marketing tools or sources of income.
Verizon’s initiatives to support enterprise 5G opportunities are part of a larger strategy “to get as much connectivity and return on a big investment, which is our network,” Vestberg said.
Vestberg made his comments at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference. A replay is available at this link.


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Correctional Services said that “matters are under control” at Johannesburg’s Sun City Prison on Wed.
Heavily indebted consumers have started gearing up to have their unpaid debt cancelled when the National Credit Act becomes law on June 1.
Fred Steffers managing director of the Consumer Profile Bureau said that his company had been swamped by calls from consumers who wanted their debts cancelled because they believed they were unfairly over-indebted and therefore eligible to have those debts cancelled.
"There is absolutely no question that large numbers of consumers are going to make use of this avenue to get out of debt at the expense of credit grantors - mostly retailers and microfinance outlets - which sold them goods or services or loaned them money in good faith," Steffers said, adding that while some consumers would take advantage of the act, there were other genuine cases where credit grantors should have realised that customers were becoming over-indebted.
"The legislation governing this issue has been badly put together with loopholes that you could drive a tractor through. It requires no higher education or technical expertise from a debt councillor, which means that pretty much anybody who wants to be a debt councillor can register with the National Credit Regulator," said Steffers.
One organisation that will be offering debt counselling is the South African Socio Economic Empowerment Federation (Saseef). Saseef president Nobby Cerone disputed the fact that consumers would benefit unfairly from the act.
"Over a long period of time credit grantors have been providing credit to consumers without ensuring that they were able to repay the loans," noted Cerone.
One unexpected outcome of the Credit Act after June 1 may be the fact that consumers will find it much more difficult to source credit because of the likelihood of debt being cancelled by a debt councillor, Steffers said.
"Because of the considerably higher risk involved for credit grantors, consumers may be refused credit altogether or granted much less credit than they ordinarily would have been entitled to. While nobody can say for sure just exactly how much of an impact debt cancellation is going to have on the industry, there is no doubt that it is going to have some impact," Steffers said. - Sapa


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article created by new york times click link to see original article Virgil Abloh, Path-Blazing Designer, Is Dead at 41 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Mr. Abloh greeted the crowd at the Off-White spring 2019 men’s wear show in 2018.Credit...Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times
Virgil Abloh, the barrier-breaking Black designer whose ascent to the heights of the traditional luxury industry changed what was possible in fashion, died on Sunday in Chicago after a two-year battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare cancer. He was 41.
His death was confirmed by his family.
The artistic director of Louis Vuitton men’s wear as well as the founder of his own brand, Off-White, Mr. Abloh was a prolific collaborator with outside brands from Nike to Evian, and a popular fashion theorist whose expansive and occasionally controversial approach to design inspired comparisons with everyone from Andy Warhol to Jeff Koons.
Mr. Abloh transformed not just what consumers wanted to wear, bridging hypebeast culture and the luxury world, but what brands wanted in a designer — and the meaning of “fashion” itself.
For him clothes were not garments but fungible totems of identity that sat at the nexus of art, music, politics and philosophy. He was a master of using irony, reference and the self-aware wink (plus the digital world) to re-contextualize the familiar and give it an aura of cultural currency.
“Everything I do is for the 17-year-old version of myself,” his wife quoted him as saying in an Instagram post. He believed deeply, she wrote, “in the power of art to inspire future generations.”
“Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom,” Bernard Arnault, the chairman of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, said in a statement.
click to read original article


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Europe Seized $1.4 Billion in Counterfeit Goods Last Year
The European Commission says the continent’s customs officials last year seized more than 100 million pieces of fake goods that could have earned about $1.4 billion if sold as authentic products.
For full story, please visit VOA Breaking News.
China Accounts for 85% of Fake Goods Seized in EU
BRUSSELS — European customs intercepted one billion euros worth of counterfeit goods last year, with 85 percent of the fakes originating from China, the European Commission said Thursday.
The figures highlighted the rise of Chinese counterfeit goods, which had accounted for 64 percent of the fake articles seized in the 27-nation European Union in 2009.
Read more at AFP.
New Orleans Woman Admits Selling Counterfeit Goods
NEW ORLEANS - A New Orleans woman has pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit goods. Tamika Wilson entered the plea on Thursday.
Officials say investigators saw the 34-year-old woman selling hundreds of counterfeit items at a flea market in Algiers.
Read full story at the Daily Comet.
Booze Warning to Vodka Drinkers
RESIDENTS in Barnsley are now being warned to look out for potentially harmful counterfeit vodka, after officials seized bottles from off-licences in the borough.
The warning comes after Trading Standards officers in Sheffield said record amounts of illicit vodka were flooding in.
For full story, please visit The Star.
Britain Flooded with Fake Goods, EU Figures Show
Nearly 6 million fake items were intercepted at British customs during 2010, an increase of 60 per cent, the figures showed, as the rise of internet traders has meant an increasing number of counterfeit goods are being sold online.
These include fake watches, handbags, designer shoes, Viagra, toys and office stationery.
Read more at The Telegraph.
San Jose: Feds Bust Counterfeit Movie Operation
Federal agents on Friday busted the alleged San Jose-based ringleaders of an operation to counterfeit movies, including films such as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," "Soul Surfer" and "X Men."
In a federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, prosecutors allege that the counterfeiters operated out of a fashion store and a house on South King Street, where agents seized thousands of DVDs, as well as printers, duplicators and $53,000 in cash during a series of raids.
For full story, please visit San Jose Mercury News.
$9 Million Worth of Counterfeit Cigarettes Seized
MORE THAN 42 boxes of cigarettes of varying brands, with a street value of $9 million, were seized by Customs' Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) and the police Flying Squad in an operation at Vineyard Town in Kingston, yesterday.
For full coverage, please visit the Jamaica Observer.
Counterfeiters of Canal Street, Now Thriving a Block Away
The salesman found a bit of shade on the corner of Hester and Baxter Streets in Chinatown and waited. Not for long. A young woman approached, and he pulled a dog-eared pamphlet from the pocket of his cargo shorts.
Inside the pamphlet were rows and rows of photographs of counterfeit Coach, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and other expensive purses.
To read more, please visit The New York Times.
DVD Piracy Raids Net 4 Undocumented Men, Thousands of Discs
A crackdown on movie and music piracy has netted four Mexican nationals in the country illegally and more than $70,000 worth of bootlegged DVDs during raids on two West Valley City homes.
The arrests Wednesday were made by agents of the Utah Attorney General’s SECURE Strike Force, which also confiscated bogus government identification cards being used by the four undocumented immigrants.
Please visit The Salt Lake Tribune for full story.
Boston Fire Blast Unit Producing Illegal Vodka
An industrial unit in Lincolnshire, where five men were killed in an explosion, was being used to produce illegal vodka, police have confirmed.
The five victims of the blast in Boston on Wednesday were all Lithuanian nationals living in Peterborough.
Read more at BBC News.
US Apparel Firms Back Bill to Combat Design Piracy
Efforts to advance a bill that would provide fashion designs with three years of copyright protection stepped up on Friday (15 July) when industry executives spoke at a legislative hearing in favour of what they call "a targeted fix" to the problem.
The reintroduced 'Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act' is the latest attempt at intellectual property protection for fashion designs, and is backed by the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
For full story, please visit Just-Style.
Chinese Upset over Counterfeit Furniture
SHANGHAI — For years, DaVinci furniture stores have been places where wealthy Chinese in this and five other big cities can indulge their appetite for imported luxury.
Promoting itself as “a haven for premium products,” DaVinci is the place to go for Versace sofas, sumptuous Fendi Casa calf-skin couches or stylish chaise lounges stamped Made in Italy. A DaVinci bedroom set can sell for $100,000.
That’s why it set off a national consumer scandal when one of China’s biggest state-run media outlets reported last week that it had discovered a tawdry truth: some of DaVinci’s imported Italian furniture, the report said, is actually produced at a factory in southern China.
Read more at The New York Times.
Learn more about OpSec’s Anti-Counterfeiting Solutions.


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Many Canadian cannabis companies natter on about “global expansion”.
A select few have already done deals that are generating foreign revenue.
The Green Organic Dutchman (TGOD.T) is one of those companies.
On May 13, 2019 TGOD announced that its 100% owned subsidiary, HemPoland, has inked a deal with Mediakos to be the exclusive distributor of CannabiGold, a premium hemp CBD brand, for the German pharmacy market.
Last summer TGOD purchased the privately-held Hemp Poland.
Hemp Poland Deal Highlights:
- Acquisition cost of $10.4 million & 1.9 million TGOD shares
- $13.8 million cash for rapid European expansion
- Performance-based incentives up to $15.8 million for delivery of $42.1 million of EBITDA in fiscal 2021
- Distribution channels to over 750 million people
- Sales in 700 locations across 13 countries
- Premier selling CBD oil brand “Cannabigold”, a product leader in the EU
- 32,000 kgs of dried flower production from 1,250 acres of cultivation
- Organic brand with unique IP
“This acquisition will significantly add to the TGOD’s top and bottom line,” stated Brian Athaide, CEO of TGOD. “This accretive acquisition provides a gateway to Europe’s 750 million people, while accelerating our plan to become the world’s largest organic cannabis brand.”
Mediakos distributes products to a network of 15,000 pharmacies, servicing 10 million customers.
HemPoland’s CannabiGold products are now available in pharmacies across Germany as well as through their respective e-commerce platforms, including Germany’s ten largest online pharmacies.
According to the Brightfield Group, the European CBD market is expected to be worth $416 million by the end of 2019, and is projected to be $1.7 billion by 2023.
“The growth of the CBD and cannabis markets [in Europe] have been slower than the U.S. in part because in the EU, CBD is limited to topical use,” stated The Rolling Stone, “That may change, however, following an amendment proposed by the European Food Safety Agency to allow CBD in ingestible products.”
The rules & regs around CBD in Germany – and the rest of Europe – are in flux.
On April 16, The U.S. military warned soldiers posted in Germany, that “Military Service Members should avoid using any product with CBD, as it could contain THC and result in a positive drug test.”
Military regulations prohibit members of the Army and Air Force from consuming hemp products. The Navy and Marines allow service-members to consume CBD products, but those who do are taking a risk “that might cause them to fail a drug test.”
Despite the uncertainty and mixed signals, the CBD market in Europe is exploding.
“With CBD quickly gaining popularity in Germany, we are proud to be partnering with TGOD’s HemPoland as the exclusive distributor of their CannabiGold brand for the German pharmacy market,” stated Nikolas Primbas, CEO of Mediakos “Their recent organic certification is an important point of differentiation which will resonate with German consumers.”
On April 26, 2019 TGOD announced that Hemp Poland has received organic certification from EKOGWARANCJA PTRE – the Polish version of Eco-Cert.
“We are excited that HemPoland’s facilities, production and processes have received organic certification within Europe,” stated Athaide, “This is a major point of differentiation.”
According to Zion Research the global organic food & beverage market was valued at USD $124 billion in 2017 – and is expected grow 14% between 2017 and 2024 to around USD $320 billion.
In a recent study conducted by Hill & Knowlton, over 50% of recreational consumers stated it was important that their cannabis was organic. When the same question was posed to medical patients, that number increased to 63%.
The Supercritical CO2 Extraction System process is free of toxic solvents and produces and “aromatic golden-brown oil that is as close to the original plant composition as can be achieved.”
TGOD’s oil extraction facility was built to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) specifications, and work is currently underway for European Union GMP certification, which will allow TGOD to expand distribution into global markets.
The deal with Mediakos could be one of the springboards into that market.
Full Disclosure: TGOD is an Equity Guru marketing client, and we own the stock.


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W41: Avocado Update — Tridge
W41: Avocado Update - Tridge
Tridge's global market analysts and country representatives look into what happened in W41 in the global avocado…
Since September, Mexico exports a weekly average of 1.3K tons of avocado to the US from Jalisco. Municipalities of Ciudad Guzman, Mazamitla, Gomez Farias, Sayula, and Tapalpa among others, are the common origins of the exports.
In W41, the Colombian government published the most updated list of farms and packing houses certified to export Hass avocados to South Korea. At the end of 2021, Colombia had 18 farms with admissibility to the Korean market, and the latest list shows that 65 farms have fulfilled all the phytosanitary requirements to grow and export Hass Avocados to the Korean market.
Colombian avocado production has been affected by heavy rains and unfavorable weather this season. In W41 and W42, the volumes received by packing facilities decreased by 50% YoY. Usually, the peak season already happens in the first half of October, but the current conditions forecast a start of peak season in W44 or W45.
The Ancash region exported more than 4,400 tons of organic avocado from January to July 2022. The main producing areas are located in the Nepeña, Santa, and Casma valleys, where farmers have opted for a more ecological and healthy. According to figures from ADEX, processed by the Service for Integral Development (Sedir), the amount exported from Áncash represents 63% of the total volume exported of 7,007 tons.
The avocado market in Europe began to recover little by little in W41, after the second wave of shipments from Peru, which was characterized by a high percentage of large fruit. The recovery was partly due to a more active rotation of stocks driven by several supermarkets in France deciding to change the size of the fruit they buy, from 16/18 to 14 and even size 12. This allowed the activation of promotions that boosted sales, alleviating the oversupply situation. Now that Peru is nearing the end of its season, prices have remained stable, and are even trading slightly higher.
The values observed in the market are around USD 10.82/4kg box (EUR 11) for large sizes, while in some cases they exceed USD 11.81/4kg (EUR 12.00) for medium and small sizes, depending on the origin. Baby avocados are offered for around EUR 2.5/kg (sizes 28 to 32), although it could vary because Colombia mainly exports these sizes to the detriment of larger fruit, which could generate an oversupply of large fruit.
Avocado farmers in the North Rift earned Sh100 million last year, as earnings from the fruit surged on more exports. Ernest Muthomi, the Avocado Society of Kenya chief executive, said the region is emerging as one of the leading zones of avocado production. He said that between February and March, when there were shortages of the crop in the Central region, farmers in North Rift filled the deficit.
The short season of Hass avocado in Kenya is usually expected to run between October and November every year. Exporters are reporting the 2022 short avocado season to be of poor quality caused by a prolonged drought in most parts of the avocado-growing regions, leading to small yields and small sizes. Suppliers can ship between sizes 24 and 32. The CIF price in W41 for Hass avocados to Mersin Port, Turkey, stands at USD 17/10kg box.
The North Rift is expected to rival the central Kenya regions as the leading avocado-producing counties in Kenya. Unlike Central Kenya, where farmers have small avocado farms, the North Rift counties have large avocado farms with over 10,000 hectares of land currently under avocado farming. Production is expected to increase due to high demand as new markets such as China and Malaysia open up Kenyan exports.
The short Kenyan avocado season, which was expected to start in September was delayed, but finally began in October and is estimated to last about one month. The delay was caused by cold weather and rain from August through September. In W41, the price stands at USD 3.75/4 kg box, with the majority of the avocado supplies originating from the Bomet and Nakuru counties in Kenya.
Heavy hailstorms at the beginning of the month in Minas Gerais have had an impact so far. Minas Gerais producers had irreversible damage to crops throughout the region. Sul de Minas and Zona da Mata were the most affected places. The Faemg System announced through a note that it will help producers affected by the rain. The Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of the State of Minas Gerais (Faemg), carried out a diagnosis this week of the situation of Minas Gerais crops affected by the rains. For the researcher at the Procafé Foundation, Alysson Fagunddes, this was the biggest hailstorm in the region’s history. The rain mainly impacted the coffee, avocado, and orange crops.
The first container of Chilean avocados was released for sale in the Guangzhou wholesale market on October 10th. The avocados in this container show good quality, and prices are high, reaching USD 22.20/4kg box and USD 48.60/8kg box. Importers are selling their imports at the wholesale market, with part of the fruits being repackaged.
Japan’s avocado imports have dropped sharply since the beginning of 2022. According to data released by the Japanese government, the total import volume from January to August this year was 33,347 tons, a decrease of about 40% compared to the same period last year. According to wholesalers, this is due to two main factors.
First, the unit price of Mexican avocados soared compared to the previous year, hitting an all-time high in May about 20% higher than at the same time last year. The second reason is that retail prices have risen along with this price increase, and general consumers’ willingness to purchase avocados has been greatly impaired. Although the unit price of imports has stabilized recently, retailers have not lowered their selling prices much. As a result, general consumers continue to refrain from purchasing avocados.
The 2022/23 Spanish Hass avocado campaign is expected to start in mid-November. There is a 30% YoY drop in production forecasted due to bad weather and low water levels. Producers are considering pruning trees to stop production to keep the trees alive for the next campaign. Producers are also irrigating with wells that are salty due to the low water levels, which could negatively affect the quality of the fruit produced. As of W40, European markets are still receiving Peruvian avocados of good quality and high-fat content, but they mature quickly. Peruvian-origin avocado shipments to Europe are expected to finish in the coming weeks. In W40, prices for Peruvian-origin avocados stand at USD 2.23–2.14/kg for big sizes 12, 14, and 16 in the wholesale market. The small caliber is more expensive due to its scarcity, at USD 2.91/Kg for 22–24s.
Originally published at https://www.tridge.com on October 23, 2022.


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On August 9, 2021, it was announced that Funimation Global Group, under Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex, has officially completed its acquisition of Crunchyroll. The deal was closed at $1.175 billion, paid in cash. This merger was first announced in December of 2020.
Kenichiro Yoshida, the Chairman, President, and CEO of Sony Group Corporation, expressed his delight regarding the merger:
"Anime is a rapidly growing medium that enthralls and inspires emotion among audiences around the globe. The alignment of Crunchyroll and Funimation will enable us to get even closer to the creators and fans who are the heart of the anime community. We look forward to delivering even more outstanding entertainment that fills the world with emotion through anime."
Related: Funimation Completes Crunchyroll Acquisition in Massive $1.2B Deal
Crunchyroll and Funimation have posted the announcement on their respective websites. "The two brands you know and love will be working together, and we believe this is a great thing for fans and the industry, alike! Both teams are knowledgeable, passionate, and have been committed to the anime community for decades. We couldn't ask for better partners." an announcement from Crunchyroll says.
A blog post from Funimation reads, "Our first priority is you, the millions of fans who form the global community that is anime. And now we have the opportunity to create a unified anime subscription experience that puts fans first, offering the most comprehensive lineup ever. There's lots to do, so the work begins today to make it happen!"
With this merger, Sony now owns the majority of the Western anime streaming market, which worried some fans. This acquisition was initially under investigation by the U.S. government due to possible antitrust violations.
According to a post on the Otaku Entrepreneur, Crunchyroll and Funimation took up 85.6% of 2020's anime market. Through the merger, Sony has gained around 35% of the market with the acquisition of Crunchyroll.
Crunchyroll was created in 2006, initially as an illegal streaming platform. In 2008, the website began licensing titles after gaining funding from Venrock, a venture capital firm. It has 120 million registered users and at least 5 million paying subscribers.
Funimation was founded in 1994 by Gen and Cindy Fukunaga. In 2019, Sony Group Corporation began ownership of Funimation through Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
Will Funimation and Crunchyroll Become One Streaming Service? 2022 Update
According to the press release of Sony Pictures, "Our goal is to create a unified anime subscription experience as soon as possible." says Tony Vinciquerra, the Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
As of March 2022, Crunchyroll announced that certain shows (both sub and dub) from Funimation's library are now available on their platform. You can check out the list of added shows on Crunchyroll's library here.
For now, subscription plans for Funimation and Crunchyroll still operate separately. However, Anime News Network states that Funimation, VRV, and Wakanim users without a Crunchyroll subscription can avail of a 60 day free trial of Crunchyroll Premium.
Related: Funimation and Crunchyroll Merge: All You Need to Know


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Reduced Foodstamps Payouts Could Hurt The Economy
ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:
From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel. Starting today, the 47 million Americans who rely on food stamps will have to get by with a little less. The federal government temporarily boosted its food stamp allowance four years ago during the worst of the recession. Well, now that increase is expiring, even though for many families, the job market remains a challenge.
And as NPR's Scott Horsley reports, government safety net programs could be cut further in the months to come.
SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: The cut in food stamps taking effect today is not all that big, around five percent, but then the benefits weren't all that big to begin with. Jeremy Farmer who runs a food pantry in Douglas County, Kansas says from now on, those who rely on food stamps or SNAP benefits as they're now known, will have to feed themselves on about $4 per person per day.
JEREMY FARMER: You're not just talking about the difference between buying hamburger and steak, you're talking about whether or not somebody has a meal today or they don't.
HORSLEY: Farmer already sees a jump in traffic at his food pantry in the last 10 days of each month once people have exhausted their food stamps. With today's cutbacks, he expects that rush to begin sooner. The recession-era increase in food stamp benefits was always designed to be temporary, but Bob Greenstein, who heads the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, says when policymakers set the expiration date four years ago, they thought the economy would be stronger by now.
BOB GREENSTEIN: In a weak economy, among the worst things you can do is reduce the purchasing power of those consumers who are on the bottom rungs of the economic scale and don't save, they need to spend everything they get. So if you cut the resources, they spend less and as a result, businesses sell less.
HORSLEY: Grocers who cater to food stamps recipients are already bracing for the cutback.
THOMAS CALLAHAN: Well, our sales will just be down and we won't be able to make as much money or clear as much profit. So I don't know. It's just not good. It won't be a good thing.
HORSLEY: Thomas Callahan runs a grocery store in rural Kentucky, the state with one of the highest concentration of food stamp recipients.
CALLAHAN: The closest town is Booneville, 11 miles from here to Booneville and we're about the only little grocery store left out here.
HORSLEY: Kentucky's unemployment rate of 8.4 percent is well above the national average and Callahan says with few jobs available in Owsley County, many of his customers depend on their SNAP benefits to help put food on the table.
CALLAHAN: When those stamps come in, it helps them finish on up the month with their groceries. Milk, bread, lunchmeats, ice cream, things like that, they always check the prices. We have to compete, you know, with the bigger stores, Sav-a-lots and Wal-Marts.
HORSLEY: Some of those big grocery stores have warned the drop in food stamps could hurt their bottom lines. And Greenstein says this could be just the beginning.
GREENSTEIN: I think the greatest concern for many low-income families and people concerned about the program is not the drop today in benefits, but the fact that Congress is potentially looking at pretty severe cuts on top of these.
HORSLEY: Lawmakers are considering steps to reduce the number of people who qualify for food stamps. The number of qualifying jumped dramatically during the recession and it's remained high, though many forecasters expect the rolls to shrink automatically as the job market improves. The Democratic-controlled Senate has called for fairly modest cuts in food stamps of about $4 billion over the next decade, while the Republican House wants to cut 10 times that much.
Marlin Stutzman is a Republican congressman from Indiana.
REPRESENTATIVE MARLIN STUTZMAN: This bill reforms food stamps by making sure able-bodied adults are working, seeking work or getting job training.
HORSLEY: Another big cut could come at year's end when extended unemployment benefits are set to expire. Judy Conti of the National Employment Law Project says that would mean an immediate loss of income for nearly 1.5 million people.
JUDY CONTI: So right after we're done with the holidays, as people enter the new year in very cold parts of this country, they could abruptly lose all income that they have.
HORSLEY: Economists warn that would drain even more money from the economy, making the recovery that much harder. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Online casino content developer Push Gaming has become the latest firm to partner with Rhino Entertainment to supply its slots suite to the newly launched Casino Days igaming brand.
Officially introduced in July, and subsequently rolling-out deals with Relax Gaming and Playson, among others, the entity aims to serve customers across several regions, languages and currencies with a variety of gaming titles.
Ross Parkhill, managing director at Rhino Entertainment, commented: “We want to deliver a great player experience at Casino Days, so having all the best and most immersive gaming content is key for us.
“The addition of Push Gaming’s slots to our new Casino Days’ brand has already proved a great move, and we look forward to a successful business relationship in the future.”
Integrated via Relax Gaming’s platform, a selection of the group’s titles are now available to Rhino Entertainment, including recent releases such as Razor Shark, The Shadow Order and the soon to be launched Mystery Museum.
James Marshall, CEO at Push Gaming, added: “Signing this deal with Rhino Entertainment has further enhanced our position in the market, and given us the opportunity to continue the strategic expansion which has always been a focal point for the team at Push Gaming.
“Casino Days is a fantastic new online casino brand and we look forward to giving its fast-growing player base access to the innovative suite of titles for which Push Gaming is renowned.”


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FPS adventure game Moon Mystery received a new extended trailer. According to the game developer, 2 years ago this was his solo hobby project. But in order to realize the idea of “a cool shooter with varied gameplay, a lot of mechanics and an exciting space story about a black hole,” the creator quit his day job, invested all his savings in development and even found a publisher. So today Moon Mystery is being developed by a team of 15 people – not that many, but judging by the video, they managed to achieve an impressive result.
The main character of Moon Mystery is an astronaut who lands on the Moon to unravel the mystery of the satellite and uncover the conspiracy surrounding the fateful mission of the predecessors to the first lunar base. The developer was inspired by such works as the film “Interstellar”, as well as the games Half-Life 2 and Firewatch. The gameplay promises to combine challenging puzzles, platforming through dangerous alien landscapes and vast abandoned bases, control of various vehicles such as spaceships, radio-controlled cars, lunar rovers and even a submarine.
It started 2 years ago as a solo hobby project. I went all in, quit my regular job, invested all my savings and found a publisher. Today, we are a team of 15 people, and this is how the project looks right now.
In addition to riddles and jumping through locations, the player will have to face broken robots wandering along the corridors, and even more creepy mysterious enemies. So keep your gun ready along with your oxygen tanks!
The game is scheduled for release in 2024. If you want to support the project, you can add it to your wishlist on Steam . For now, the game is aimed only at PC – if sales are good, it will be released on consoles.


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Tech View: Dorsey turns his first tweet into a unique selling point
The concept of owning a non-fungible token, a new form of digital asset, is that when you show it off, you can trade on the fact that it is the original
In recent weeks, you may have seen news of a flurry of bids for the rights to Jack Dorsey’s first tweet, which was the first ever tweet by anyone, on Twitter. The price has risen to $2.5 million (€2.1 million).
Dorsey is selling the tweet as a non-fungible token (NFT), a new form of digital asset that has picked up steam in recent weeks. An NFT is a type of asset that can’t be identically ...


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Having had a successful run of producing their own original series programming, Netflix is now looking into producing original movies.
In a quarterly conference call, Chief Content Office Ted Sarandos confirmed the company is actively looking at documentaries as the first films to produce, but he plans to “keep my mind wide open to what those films would be and what they would look like.”
From there, narrative features could be next. Don’t expect this to take away from their original series programming though as Sarandos says they plan to double their spend on original series content over the coming year.
He adds that even with the extra spending, the amount Netflix puts towards original content is less than 10% of overall global content spending. Compare that with the 40% that HBO sinks into its originals.


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Microsoft has released two “mixed reality” headsets. Although described on the Microsoft Store’s Website as “Developer Editions,” the hardware is technically available to anyone with a credit card.
Haven’t heard of “mixed reality”? It’s a term that’s existed for years, and meant to encompass both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). As Alex Kipman, inventor of Microsoft’s HoloLens headset, told an audience at the company’s Build conference in May, AR and VR are just different points on a “mixed reality continuum.”
So in theory, these two headsets—a $299 edition from Acer and a $329 one from Hewlett-Packard—will provide an AR and VR experience in one handy package, although the respective designs suggest that VR will end up a bigger focus: Unlike the HoloLens, which looks like a pair of sunglasses crossbred with a laptop, these headsets feature opaque fronts that flip up on a hinge. Specifications for both devices include two high-resolution LCD displays (1440 x 1440) with 95 degrees’ horizontal field of view, a display refresh rate of up to 90 Hz (native), built in audio out and microphone support, and a four-meter cable.
Microsoft’s system recommendations for app developers include Windows 10 – Creators Update (with Developer Mode enabled), a desktop with an Intel i7 (6+ core) or AMD Ryzen 7 (8-core, 16 threads) processor and a powerful graphics GPU, and a Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.2 graphics driver.
These “mixed reality” headsets will compete against not only high-end VR devices such as the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, but also middle-tier options such as Google’s Daydream VR. Apple is likewise working hard on AR, as evidenced by the unveiling of the ARKit for developers at this year’s WWDC conference.
This is still a new field for companies and developers alike. For those developers interested in what Microsoft’s take on “mixed reality” can do, in terms of creating apps and games, check out the company’s Dev Center page, which offers everything from design guides and code samples to forums. There’s also a set of open-source projects to explore, although the actual offerings are minimal at the moment.


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Jens Grede and Erik Torstensson, the duo behind Frame — the It girl go-to for super-slim jeans — say stunner Karlie Kloss is pushing their limits.
“We’re working on something new with Karlie right now that we would never do in the core part of Frame,” Torstensson confides to Threads. “But when you do a collaboration it should be totally different — otherwise there’s no point.”
One thing’s for sure: It won’t involve Kloss’ famous Milk Bar cookies. “I’m shifting to my Fashion Week look, so there’s no cookies right now,” Torstensson says with a laugh.
The Swedish designers will be in NYC next week for their joint men’s and women’s presentation: “We’re very good at creating a spectacle,” Torstensson promises.
The pair also recently launched their Supermodel Denim Collection with another A-list pal, Lara Stone — and they’re always on the lookout for their next celeb conspirator.
“I’m not friends with Rihanna,” Torstensson says, “but that would be cool.”
Just as long as she doesn’t bring snack.


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Your letters, your stories and your voices are being heard! You’ve been telling the American Cancer Society and the Personal Care Products Council to clean up their Look Good, Feel Better® program, and they’ve been forced to listen.
Last week, they both issued statements in response to our collective outrage that they’re exposing cancer patients to cancer-linked cosmetics. And members like you made it clear that their poor excuses aren’t good enough.
The American Cancer Society appallingly wrote that “the benefits of Look Good, Feel Better outweigh the minimal risks.” In no time, BCAction member Britta refuted their claim, writing: “American Cancer Society, this is not okay. Every company that produces carcinogen-containing products can say the same thing you’re saying: ‘It’s such a small amount, so the risk is low.’ And then none of you are taking responsibility for being part of the problem. People in positions of power like you need to take carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting chemicals SERIOUSLY.”
Meanwhile, the Personal Care Products Council issued a press release claiming that all of its products comply with FDA standards. But these standards are so weak that companies are not even required to demonstrate a product is safe before it lands on store shelves—or in makeup kits.
BCAction member Roxanne had this to say: “The Council has released a statement calling Breast Cancer Action’s allegations ‘irresponsible.’ Cosmetics are full of potentially toxic and questionable ingredients. It is irresponsible not to make cosmetics safer, especially for women who have breast cancer.”
We’ve pressured these pinkwashers to respond to our demands—now we need to turn the pressure up so they actually change their pinkwashing ways. But the only way we can do that is if we flood their inboxes with your letters.


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Last month, NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) joined the big leagues in the development of driverless vehicles. The California Department of Motor Vehicles granted NVIDIA an autonomous vehicle testing permit, which means the company can now take its self-driving vehicle off of private roads and onto public ones.
So why is this news a big deal?
NVIDIA gains automotive validation
NVIDIA will now be counted alongside big-name automakers, including Tesla Motors, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, technology giants Baidu and Alphabet, and components makers like Bosch and Delphi Automotive who are allowed to test autonomous vehicles in the state.
This is an important development for the company since it is one of the few names on that list whose primary business is not selling cars and related components. Its automotive business is still in the nascent stage as automotive revenue in the third quarter was just over 6% of the top line -- gaming brought in the bulk of sales. The DMV approval in California is a vote of confidence for NVIDIA that will allow it to accelerate the development of its self-driving technology with real-world data.
According to The Verge, NVIDIA has wasted no time unleashing its self-driving car on public roads, incorporating the readings from its test vehicles into its DRIVE PX2 supercomputers for deep learning and artificial intelligence.
NVIDIA can now accelerate its automotive growth
According to NVIDIA, there will be 15 million self-driving cars on the roads, creating a revenue opportunity of $2 billion for the company. These cars will be using self-driving features powered by deep learning, radar inputs, sensors, and processors.
The DRIVE PX2 platform already incorporates all these features. According to the company, "DRIVE PX 2 can understand in real-time what's happening around the vehicle, precisely locate itself on an HD map, and plan a safe path forward. It's the world's most advanced self-driving car platform -- combining deep learning, sensor fusion, and surround vision to change the driving experience."
Additionally, DRIVE PX2 has a scalable architecture. This means that it can either be used in a lower configuration that consumes less power to deploy select autonomous functions, or it can enable full autonomous driving by using multiple DRIVE PX2 platforms.
NVIDIA is testing the DRIVE PX2 platform with more than 80 companies at present and has recorded major customer wins already. Tesla Motors, for instance, is going to use the DRIVE PX2 across its offerings, including the upcoming Model 3. Tesla will be able to achieve full autonomous driving capabilities with the help of NVIDIA technology, as it can process responses based on sonar, vision, and radar inputs.
NVIDIA is also partnering with Baidu to create an open cloud-based computing platform for autonomous cars. NVIDIA will use Baidu mapping technology and cloud services to create an autonomous driving platform with the data generated by the vehicle. The platform can then be used by other autonomous vehicle manufacturers to guide their own fleets based on data gathered by the two companies, according to a report from Forbes.
What's next for the company?
The permit given to NVIDIA by the California DMV to test its self-driving vehicle on public roads will clearly provide a boost to the company's automotive efforts. In November, the company announced its next-generation supercomputer platform for autonomous vehicles -- Xavier. This new platform is expected to replace the existing DRIVE PX2 supercomputer and will be out for testing by the end of 2017.
NVIDIA is not feeding fixed instructions into its autonomous driving software. Instead, it is allowing its deep learning mechanism to observe human drivers and learn from them. This is why NVIDIA's self-driving mechanism is not dependent on the detection of road markings, but it is being taught to study real-life road situations. With that in mind, the opportunity to test its existing vehicles on California roads will help the company accelerate the development of Xavier.
Eventually, NVIDIA will benefit from the multi-billion dollar opportunity in the autonomous vehicle space, as it can gain more customers for its self-driving platform, while the Baidu partnership will open another avenue for monetization.


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Web hosting service provider Interland Inc. Friday announced that it is buying AT&T Corp.'s small business customer contracts in a deal valued between US$4 million and $12 million.
Interland's press release on the announcement includes a statement that says AT&T's sale of its small business Web hosting customers "in no way diminishes the company's strong commitment to serving its small business customers in other market segments."
While that may be true, it appears small business users will not be able to buy Web hosting services from AT&T any longer.
Under the terms of the agreement, Interland is not permitted to disclose the number of customers it is acquiring. But Interland is buying all of AT&T's shared and dedicated Web hosting customers that were using its Small Business Hosting Service (SBH) and Business Ready Dedicated Hosting Service (BRDH).
AT&T has been pretty cagey when talking about customer numbers, but it looks as if it had about 7,000 to 8,000 customers using these two offerings, says Melanie Posey, program manager at consulting firm International Data Corp.
AT&T says these two services represent a very small part of the company's overall hosting revenues. SBH and BRDH were priced from $25 and $795 per month, respectively.
Interland says it is integrating AT&T customers onto its own Web hosting platform immediately.


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Virtue Worldwide– the brand strategy and creative agency tied to Vice magazine and VBS.tv–just launched a new ad campaign for GURU energy drinks. The campaign features with the provocative tagline “Clean Energy for Dirty Minds.” The campaign is a part of Virtue’s larger brand overhaul for GURU, which includes events, product placement, media plans, and online marketing.
[BONUS LINK] Our previous entry on Virtue.
It Would Be Nice To Have “Clean Energy For Dirty Machines” Too
April 13, 2009 By


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The 8th generation HiLux is available with 2.0L and 2.7L petrol engines and an all-new 2.4L diesel, all equipped with a new 6-speed transmission. The all-new Hilux begins at AED 68,500 and presents itself in 14 variants, some of which are expected to appeal to our Tundra-deprived market for tough and formidable trucks.
There is reason why Toyota claims the new generation to be tougher and more comfortable at the same time. The new generation Hilux stands on a newly developed frame and redesigned suspension, with longer leaf springs ably supported by an all-new six speed automatic transmission. The new transmission promises up to 15% better fuel economy over the last generation.
While its humble utilitarian profile is very much the ticker for the cash register, the all-new Hilux is available in single and double cabin models in 14 variants, including 4WD and 2WD choices. New for the eighth generation is a 2.4L GD (global diesel) engine besides the 2.0L and a 2.7L TR petrol engines. Given the dropped diesel prices in the UAE, Al Futtaim Motors would be counting on this one. Combined with the new 6-speed, the powerful engine gives out 399 Nm of torque at 1600-2000 rpm and 147 hp at 3600 rpm.
The comprehensive safety features in the all-new Hilux include ABS and SRS airbags for the driver and front passenger, a knee airbag for the driver, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) that splits the applied brake force between the front and rear wheels to suit the context, and Brake Assist during emergency braking.
The ‘Unbreakable’ theme was acted out at Toyota Hilux launch Dubai by half a dozen Hilux pickups starring in an action-packed script replete with crumbling walls of polystyrene and plaster of Paris, fallen timber, steel rods and other hurdles that littered a reconstructed construction site.
That the Hilux platform is worthy of carrying off the roles of comfort carrier and SUV is already proved by the two Toyota models that are built on the same platform: the Fortuner, the ubiquitous first choice among UAE residents who badly want to upgrade to an SUV, and the Innova, the most popular airport taxi in progressive India.
While the massive American trucks including the F-150, Silverado, Ram and even the Tundra is increasing in popularity in the UAE, the Tundra is not yet joined the showroom line up at Al Futtaim. In this scenario, the new Hilux with an extra ton of appeal and aggressiveness weighing down its façade, gains significance.
With added comfort and capability, is it now right to call it the ‘junior Tundra’? I asked Jon Williams, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Motors. “The Hilux is all the way a Hilux. There is no other way of seeing it.” With 650,000 units sold globally every year and 150,000 employed by the farms, oil fields and construction sites of UAE over forty years, Toyota wouldn’t risk suggesting otherwise. But if the dark red seats and the purposeful grille of the new generation Hi Lux does all the suggestion, they wouldn’t mind either!
Anyway, as of now, the RTA rules allow only commercial users and Emirati nationals to own the Hilux and its likes. Egged on by the remarkable appeal of the new Hilux, private users could be hoping for the efforts of Al Futtaim Motors and others to pay off in relaxing the rule, in the near future.


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Baba Ramdev’s business genius in launching and driving swadesi, ‘Made in India’ products is still being analyzed by business leaders and students of business alike. The Yogi turned business magnate has skillfully introduced and nurtured a series of products that take on well entrenched players in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) space including Unilever, Nestle, Britannia and even Dabur among others.
Behind a folksy, homegrown veneer, Ramdev and his trusted lieutenant Acharya Balkrishna, (managing director of the company) operate a rather strong and serious business.
“According to CLSA and HSBC, Patanjali is the fastest growing FMCG company in India. It is valued at ₹30 billion (US$470 million) and some predict revenues of ₹5,000 crore (US$780 million) for the fiscal 2015–16. Patanjali declared its annual turnover of the year 2016-17 to be estimated ₹10,216 crore (US$1.6 billion). Ramdev baba has stated in his interview with CNN-News18 that profit from Patanjali Products goes to charity.” – Wikipedia
Continuing with a tradition of pandering to emerging desi nationalist sentiment, the company has launched a campaign with “appeals on 71st Independence Day to all Patriotic Indians (facebook)”
Patanjali products also seem to be a hit with Non Resident Indians (NRIs) and the Indian Diaspora.
Promoting desi products and Yoga: Baba Ramdev frequently tours the west to promote made-in-India products
Check out recent headlines on the Patanjali Story. And also an earlier blog “Indian Style Innovation? Generate electricity using bulls”


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Reduce Plastic Waste – Join Brighton’s Refill Revolution
Reflecting on this week’s first ever National Refill Day, it has become more important than ever to reduce single use plastic waste as ocean wildlife faces a crippling amount of damage. Brighton and Hove joined the Refill Revolution just over a year ago, resulting in over 200 free water refill points in the city.
Refill Brighton and Hove arises as part of a nationwide scheme that aims to encourage people to drink tap water, as well as make reusable water bottles as convenient as possible to refill. The campaign ensures that hundreds of ‘Refill Stations’ are accessible around the city in coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and some participating stores. The best part? People can fill their bottles with tap water without any obligation to spend money.
Businesses that participate in the Refill scheme and show their support for saving the oceans, are easily spotted to the public by a sticker in their window. Alternatively, free downloadable app available from refill.org.uk shows exact locations of refill points all over Brighton and Hove, including publicly accessible mains water taps (such as the ones on The Level and Hove beach huts).
As seen below, Brighton and Hove businesses proudly present their blue Refill sticker.
According to research, people in the world throw away over almost four million tonnes of plastic waste a day. Consequently, this has a dramatic affect on marine environment, posing a threat to the functioning of eco systems. Brighton and Hove, a seaside town, are doing their level best to inform residents and visitors about the benefits of recycling. Information on exactly how to recycle in the home is available on the Council website.
If you would like to reduce your carbon footprint, save the oceans, or simply just save money – invest in a refillable bottle, or reuse one from home, and start refilling your bottles! #refillrevolution
Feature image by Tom Page.


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After Aidy Bryant stepped onto the set of “Saturday Night Live” in 2012, everybody started to remember her name, and she soon accrued a stunning $4 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The successful series was this comedian’s claim to fame, and she has since booked roles in movies, secured credit as an executive producer, and even entered the fashion industry. Throughout the years, Bryant has surrounded herself with some powerful stars, too. When she once had to share her dressing room with Taylor Swift, “I was like, ‘Yeah, this is my life now,'” she admitted during a behind-the-scenes video. “Which I still do all the time.”
Bryant has certainly worked her way up in show business, and she shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon as an actress, writer, producer, and fashion designer. Here’s what has helped make up her jaw-dropping net worth over the years.
Aidy Bryant's role on Saturday Night Live proved her worth in the entertainment industry
Growing up, Aidy Bryant was a big fan of “Saturday Night Live,” and it was comedian Molly Shannon’s confidence that inspired her each weekend when she tuned in. “She just didn’t seem embarrassed by anything,” Bryant said on “Jake’s Takes.” “And she was, like, going through walls, and her underwear was showing, and she was so fearless and bold, and I was like, ‘That’s how I want to be 100%.'” Yet, getting there wasn’t so easy.
Bryant had years of stand-up comedy under her belt, but impressing casting directors was a completely different experience. However, if Shannon could do it, so could she — and she was going to go after her dream on her own terms. “The thing that I kept telling myself is, write what you like and perform what you like because if you do get hired, that’s what you know how to do,” Bryant told Backstage. “And if you don’t get hired, at least you did what you love. You didn’t try to bend yourself into a pretzel to be something you think they want.” In the end, she was exactly what “SNL” wanted.
At age 25, Bryant was one of the youngest comedians to ever be cast on the show. She was making a pretty penny, too. According to Celebrity Net Worth, she began with a $147,000 salary per season. Today, it’s been estimated that Bryant makes somewhere between $315,000 and $525,000.
She wasn't receiving roles she wanted, so she wrote her own
Though Aidy Bryant has had some pretty amazing roles, she’s had some pretty awful offers too. In fact, many have been extremely offensive. She even revealed on “Saturday Night Live” that she was once asked to play a character called “fat, ugly prison wife.” Bryant told Ad Week, “Those were some of the moments where I was like, ‘Is this what it is in Hollywood?'” She added, “I think I might have to write for myself.” So she did.
In 2019, Bryant’s series “Shrill” graced the small screen for the very first time, premiering on Hulu. Based on a book under the same name, the story follows an overweight woman who wants to make a change — to her life, not to how she looks. “It’s something I always wanted to see on TV and kind of the show I wish I had when I was 14 years old,” Bryant told iNews, so it only made sense that she would play the lead role herself.
While the show follows the book, Bryant’s own life influenced a lot of what we see on the screen. Her character Annie’s home “was based on the places where I lived when I didn’t have any money,” she admitted to Architectural Digest. Now that the comedian has made herself a triple threat with the series — actress, writer, and executive producer – it seems safe to say that she’s truly made her mark on the entertainment industry.
Aidy Bryant's home cost a pretty penny
Living in New York City isn’t exactly affordable, but if you’re a television star like Aidy Bryant, it becomes a whole lot easier. In 2016, she and her husband, comedian Conner O’Malley, purchased their very own space in the Big Apple. According to Variety, it’s a 850-square-foot apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood worth nearly $1 million.
Though it’s not large, the one-bedroom, one-bathroom space is all this couple needs. In fact, it’s in their single bedroom that Bryant gets most of her writing done. “I feel like when I’m being most creative and kind of on my own terms, it’s in my bedroom,” she told Oprah Daily. “I’ll get in bed, put two pillows behind me, put two pillows on my lap, and place my laptop on it. It’s like my own little fort where I get to work, look out the window, and do my thing.” We’re sure the view certainly doesn’t hurt either.
Aidy Bryant designed her own clothing line to reinvent the fashion industry
As if Aidy Bryant hasn’t been busy enough starring on “Saturday Night Live” and writing her own television series too, in 2019, she decided to design her own clothing line. “I always loved clothes … but I always felt like there wasn’t quite exactly what I wanted out there,” Bryant told Refinery29. She wanted to make flattering clothing available to everyone, and her time on TV was what inspired her to do it.
When making public appearances and while starring on “Shrill,” Bryant was getting a lot of messages asking where she got her clothing. It was then that the comedian began to realize she had access to something many women her size didn’t — professional stylists and tailors who help make her look perfect on TV. She then decided to partner with one of her own stylists, Remy Pearce, to launch the clothing line Pauline.
In 2019, the two released a dress with three different color and pattern options specifically available in sizes 12 through 28. The $175 pieces were all dressy enough to wear out on a date or simple enough to “let your hair be messy, throw on some shoes, and you’re ready to go,” Bryant said. Helping other women feel good about their bodies was a major influence on the brand, and women clearly loved Bryant’s looks. As of this writing, the entire collection is completely sold out.
The SNL star has a major partnership with Old Navy
Finding clothing that fits has not been an enjoyable experience for Aidy Bryant. “It’s just not as welcoming for us to get cool clothes that are like equal in glamour, in style to what, I am going to say, ‘small size’ co-stars get to wear,” she once admitted to People. Yet, in August 2021, Bryant found herself starring in her very first clothing commercial, and fans could see her face on more than 500 ad placements across the country.
In the Old Navy ad, she’s seen as the hilarious comedian we all know and love, but she also can be seen dancing. However, what caught fans’ attention even more was the message of “BODEQUALITY.” It turns out, Old Navy has been working to completely rebrand their line of women’s clothing. In over 1,200 stores, their products are now available in sizes up through size 28 — and size 30 online. None of it is in a special section either. “With this launch, the brand is reimagining the shopping environment in all stores and online to be more size inclusive, giving women everywhere the fashion and experience that they deserve,” the company said in a press release. Even online, women can now see clothes on models of various sizes before they purchase. It’s a win for women everywhere — and Bryant is the face of it all.
Aidy Bryant is willing to fight for equal pay
Aidy Bryant hasn’t been afraid to publicly try to close the gender pay gap. During “Weekend Update” on “Saturday Night Live” in 2018, she slammed Mark Wahlberg for not stepping up when he found he was making a ton more money than his female co-star Michelle Williams — 99% more, to be exact (via Refinery29)– during re-shoots for the film “All the Money in the World.” Eventually, the actor did donate what he made to the Time’s Up movement, but “it would be so cool if it didn’t take a weeklong public shaming to do the right thing,” Bryant said on the show.
As Bryant has been offered many horrible, low-paying roles in the past, she knows firsthand what it’s like to be a female in the entertainment industry. “I guess I just understand the impulse of being accommodating, you know? Like, I could have easily been in Michelle Williams’ situation,” Bryant said. Yet, even despite any moments that were disappointing in her career, the comedian has still found herself with a stunning net worth — and it’s all because she has fought hard for it.
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Tesla chose to unveil its new solar roof technology on the fictional road of Wisteria Lane from the TV show Desperate Housewives. The choice may have proven apt: like the set that was used as a model for the new products, the technology for now remains rather superficial.
Elon Musk’s dream of an all-electric future is no secret: the man runs the electric-car company Tesla and solar-energy provider SolarCity, after all. But speaking at the launch event, which took place in one of the famous street sets at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, he explained that for his imagined future to become a reality, the whole thing—solar panels, energy storage, and electric car—“needs to be beautiful, affordable, and seamlessly integrated.”
His new solar roof so far goes a long way to achieving the first of those three aims. Tesla's new tiles, made of quartz, are individual solar panels disguised to look like regular shingles. The idea is to turn your entire roof into an electricity-creating surface, while maintaining the looks that we’re all accustomed to. As the Verge shows, in that much the company has succeeded. They’re so far being manufactured in four designs, from rustic-looking Tuscan terracotta tiles to smooth, modern slates. They all look pretty great.
The effect is apparently made possible by a coating, developed alongside 3M, that allows light to pass through the upper surface in some directions but appears opaque when viewed from others. So from the sidewalk the tiles look like a regular roof, but sunlight from above can head straight through to the solar cell. That is undeniably smart.
But when it came to detail at the event, things were lacking. As Wired notes, Musk failed to talk about pricing, performance, availability, or installation.
Those factors will affect the adoption of its new tiles more than aesthetics will. So for now at least, it’s impossible to predict whether they’ll sell. Certainly, others have failed to make a go of solar shingles in the recent past: Dow Chemical scrapped its own initiative earlier this year, though its tiles weren't as easy on the eyes as Tesla’s.
The one convincing storyline that the announcement reinforces is that of the cozying relationship between Tesla and SolarCity. Musk plans for the automaker to acquire the solar-energy company, and talks of efficiencies that will be made possible by the two joining forces. Many people are skeptical of the merger, but the new solar roof concept blurs the lines between the two companies more than ever.
If this were actually a TV show, a jealous third party might enter the scene. But so far it feels like this particular script is a work in progress.
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Check out the companies making headlines after hours.
Nordstrom — Shares fell 9% after the department store reaffirmed its full-year forecast. Nordstrom’s latest results beat profit and sales expectations, according to consensus expectations on Refinitiv.
related investing news
Autodesk — The stock dropped 9% after the software company issued fourth-quarter revenue guidance that missed expectations, even as Autodesk reported quarterly results that came in line with forecasts.
VMware — Shares fell 1% after the cloud computing company missed profit and sales expectations in its most recent quarter. According to Refinitiv, the company was expected to earn $1.58 per share on revenue of $3.35 billion. Instead, VMWare earned $1.47 per share, after adjustments, on revenue of $3.21 billion.
Correction: This story was corrected to reflect that Nordstrom reaffirmed its guidance.


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KIAMBU, Kenya, Aug 23 – Kiambu farmers are set to benefit from a deal between the county and an Israeli company in the avocado growing business.
With many farmers eager to try a different type of crop following bad seasons and yields in the traditional maize, beans and potato farming, the new produce is already a booming business among small scale farmers.
Poised to become a major horticultural export in the near future, the avocado business already constitutes about 17 percent of the total exports mostly to the European Union.
But under the Kiambu deal, that could go higher as there is a huge ready market in Israel under the umbrella of Guri Avocados.
“Farmers shall sign contracts with the Israeli company covering all aspects of the avocado value chain from initial avocado seedling acquisition to the purchase of harvest,” said Kiambu Governor William Kabogo.
The deal also provides for the establishment of a modern avocado seedling nursery equipped with state-of-the-art technologies. This facility shall be based at Waruhiu Agricultural Training Centre which is managed by the county.
“We shall witness the setting up of the institution of an avocado handling yard which shall include but will not be limited to a grading hall equipped with grading machines,” noted the Governor.
The agriculture rich county shall promote the business to the dry areas in the west of the county like Ndeiya.
Guri Avocados Managing Director Amram Cohen reiterated his company’s commitment in promoting Kenyan farmers and emphasised on transparency.
“All avocados harvested by farmers contracted by Guri Avocado shall be purchased by the company including the low grade of the avocado crop. Additionally, farmers shall be paid as promptly as possible after supplying their produce,” said Cohen.
The Israel Ambassador to Kenya Yahel Vilan who was also present at the signing of the memorandum of understanding noted that Israel was keen on doing business with Kenya especially in the areas of youth empowerment.
Farmers in Kiambu County shall acquire seedlings at the nursery at subsidised rates while the remaining seedlings shall be sold outside the county at market prices.


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A bid to bring Toys ‘R’ Us back from the dead is stirring again.
Former executives at the bankrupt toy chain — which liquidated all of its US stores last year — began actively reaching out to toy manufacturers this week to discuss a comeback plan for the brand, The Post has learned.
According to an email obtained by The Post, a new firm called Tru Kids Inc. was launched on Sunday, armed with the ownership rights to the Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us trademarks, as well as the company’s Geoffrey the Giraffe mascot.
According to the email, execs at the new company — whose new chief executive is Richard Barry, the former chief merchandiser of the iconic retailer — were looking to set up meetings at Toy Fair New York, the industry’s biggest US trade show, which begins Feb. 16.
The elbow-rubbing could get awkward, insiders said, as many suppliers have blamed some of those same executives for their losses associated with the Toys ‘R’ Us bankruptcy. Some vendors recently contacted by Tru Kids executives are weighing whether to do business with the company.
“Almost everyone at the show got burned by Toys ‘R’ Us,” one toy executive said.
Tru Kids executives just returned from Hong Kong, where toy buyers shore up their final orders for the new year, in an effort to interest retailers, including their own franchisees, in their private-label products, sources said.
While the chain’s stores liquidated nationwide last summer, a team of ex-Toys ‘R’ Us execs under Barry has been quietly collecting licensing fees and servicing the company’s overseas stores — which before the company’s 2017 Chapter 11 filing included more than 750 outlets across Canada, Western Europe and Japan.
Insiders say the skeleton crew of ex-Toys ‘R’ Us execs has been working out of the company’s old headquarters in Wayne, NJ, at One Geoffrey Way, a building that never got sold in the liquidation.
The executive team includes former legal counsel Jamie Young and other merchandising and financial executives including Matt Finnegan and Rich Ryan, the email said.
Tru Kids “will service the many Tru stores around the globe,” the email said, as well as its Geoffrey line of private label toys and its Geoffrey’s Toy Box kiosks, which were launched inside Kroger supermarkets during the holidays.
The trademarks belong to a group of hedge funds, including Solus Alternative Asset Management and Angelo Gordon. An auction was held in October to sell the brands, which served as collateral on their loans to the retailer.
At least two groups of bidders offered to buy the brands, but their offers got rejected, according to a source, who added that the lenders petitioned the court to say that they wanted to retain the assets, and they weren’t required to accept the highest bid.
Tru Kids also is interested in opening pop-up Toys ‘R’ Us stores and striking deals with other retailers like Kroger.
“They are trying to get some value from the intellectual property,” said a source.
Tru Kids did not respond to a request for comment.


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Public health officials said they were investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in the United States and Canada that may be linked to organic strawberries.
U.S. health officials said the outbreak most likely came from fresh, organic, FreshKampo and HEB-branded strawberries purchased between March 5 and April 25.
The strawberries were sold at stores such as Aldi, HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Weis Markets, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The strawberries are now out of shelf life, and people who bought them between March 5 and April 25 will have to throw them away, even if they’ve frozen them to eat later, health officials said.
In the United States, the FDA said it had identified 17 cases of hepatitis A linked to the strawberries — 15 in California and one in Minnesota and North Dakota. Twelve people have been taken to hospital, the agency said.
In Canada, health officials said they had confirmed 10 cases — four in Alberta and six in Saskatchewan. Four people have been hospitalized in that country.
According to officials in both countries, there have been no reported deaths related to the strawberries in the United States or Canada.
Hepatitis A is a contagious virus that can cause liver disease. It can be transmitted when food is consumed after it has been handled by someone who has not adhered to proper hand hygiene, the FDA said.
Symptoms usually develop 15 to 20 days after eating the contaminated food and can include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine and pale stools, the FDA said.
People who believe they may be contaminated or have eaten the spoiled strawberries in the past two weeks should contact their healthcare provider, the FDA said.
In a statement, Texas-based HEB said it had not received or sold organic strawberries from the investigated supplier since April 16.
“All strawberries sold at HEB are safe,” the company said. “There have been no reports of strawberry disease related to the FDA investigation at HEB or in Texas.”
FreshKampo said it stopped shipping fresh organic strawberries due to the outbreak. The products sold between March 5 and April 25 came in plastic clamshell packaging with a label that reads “Distributed by Meridian Fruits,” the company said in a statement.
“FreshKampo wants consumers to know that it will continue to work with health officials and supply chain partners to determine where a problem in the supply chain has occurred and take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening again,” the statement said.