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How about if I use this page to share my experience with satellite Internet access? Okay with everybody?
When we last checked, Starband was the only company offering two-way satellite service. During the first couple of months of 2001, there were lots of problems (read the messages at DSLReports.com about Starband’s apologies and refunds and discounts). […] continuedRead more
Last week Microsoft announced that Windows XP won’t support Bluetooth. Today Microsoft turned its back on another emerging technology when it announced that Windows XP won’t support USB 2.0.
Bluetooth and USB 2.0 have both received lots of publicity, but the reality is that neither one is ready to be rolled out to a mass market yet. […] continuedRead more
There’s no good news about DSL any more. Prices are going up, availability is going down, the horror stories about installations keep multiplying, and Northpoint’s demise has everyone scared about relying on any provider besides Pacific Bell. And Pacific Bell’s motivation to support DSL is unclear. Here’s one article among many bemoaning the sorry state of the industry. […] continuedRead more
Keeping up? In a couple of weeks Intel will roll out a 1.7GHz Pentium 4 processor, and slash prices yet again on most of the rest of its processors. Dell has been doing a lot of price-cutting lately too. Buy a computer or two for yourself, okay?[…] continued Read more
Two years ago America Online decided to block outside access to its instant messaging system, in a heavyhanded tactic that made their boo-hoo complaints about Microsoft look very hollow.
It may have backfired. A new study shows Microsoft Messenger has taken the lead in worldwide and US usage. And MS Messenger is even more deeply embedded in upcoming Microsoft releases of operating systems and net services. […] continuedRead more
Here’s a glimpse of the future according to the recording industry.
Like the announcement with RealNetworks a couple of days ago and MSN yesterday, MTV and VH1 are rolling out a service with the cooperation of the major record labels. It’s routine – Internet radio and the option to buy songs by downloading them. […] continuedRead more
RealNetworks and three of the five biggest music companies announced a new Net music service yesterday. Notably absent was Universal – the biggest catalog, but also the most vociferous opponent of online music – and Sony, busy developing its own service.
RealNetworks intends to operate the infrastructure and make the entire back catalog from the three companies available for download or streaming into your computer. […] continuedRead more


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Russian equities are among the cheapest in the world amid political and economic controversy. Yet investors might be surprised to discover that the rapidly developing retail industry offers undervalued opportunities with attractive return potential.
Russian equities are trading at an average P/E ratio of 6.5x versus the emerging-market average of 12.5x. There are good reasons for the discount: Russia’s economy is under severe pressure because of a weaker oil price and international sanctions as a result of its role in the conflict in Ukraine. The ruble has plunged versus the US dollar, inflation has shot up and Russia’s GDP is shrinking. Ordinary Russians are feeling the pinch in the form of declining real incomes.
So, even the most contrarian investor needs to tread very cautiously before venturing into Russian stocks. That said, we believe selected large Russian food retailers represent a compelling structural opportunity for investors given the long-term modernization and consolidation of the country’s food retail industry.
Room to Grow?
In size terms, the industry is potentially massive; Russia’s population is as large as Germany and France combined. However, modern supermarkets remain relatively few and far between and the industry is still highly fragmented. The biggest retail chains have been expanding rapidly. Together, they’ve rolled out more than 2,000 new stores in each of the last five years. But they still have lots of room to grow and to win greater market share.
This growth potential doesn’t seem to be priced into the big Russian food retailers’ valuations, which look cheap compared with many of their emerging-market peers (Display).
This is particularly surprising since they’re highly profitable. In other countries, intense competitive pressures have resulted in price wars, driving down industry-wide profitability. In Russia, these pressures are kept in check because the country’s vast geography and harsh climate represent significant logistical barriers to entry. Western food retailers have largely decided to stay away. The challenging business environment, economic sanctions and their unfamiliarity with the local market have persuaded them not to target Russia.
Riding out a Spending Squeeze
Clearly, declining wages and soaring prices could curb Russian spending on food. Retailers are also pressured by government food import restrictions. Imports of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy products are banned from countries that imposed sanctions in protest at Russia’s role in Ukraine. The resulting shortages are making some items still more expensive. In this challenging environment, we think the big players are much better positioned to thrive than smaller chains and stand-alone stores.
The biggest modern chains are relatively young companies, having emerged in the 1990s and become publicly listed in the last 10 years. But they’ve fast gained the size and reach that we regard as key ingredients for success in today’s food retailing market.
Big retailers can reap economies of scale by spreading their distribution costs over a denser store footprint. They also benefit from strong bargaining power with suppliers. The resulting cost savings enable them to offer cheaper goods on their shelves—which is likely to prove a tempting proposition for Russian consumers looking for value for money in tough economic times. The big chains are proving more successful in finding alternative sources for banned foodstuffs. As a result, we think they’re going to win increasing business from smaller stores even if overall consumption levels stagnate.
Aggressive expansion is costly and risks eating into profit margins. Given the significant increase in the capital invested by the big retailers over the last five years or so, their returns could have come under pressure. In fact, economies of scale have ensured that their returns on capital have actually improved as they’ve deployed more capital.
Russia’s economic woes have driven down both labor and real estate costs—the big players’ two largest operating expenses. This should make it cheaper for them to open more stores in future—providing yet another boost to their consolidation prospects.
Russia isn’t an obvious investment target in these difficult times. But because many investors are steering clear of the region, it’s an opportune moment to take a strategic look at the market.
In our view, the retail sector is a good place for investors to shop for bargains that should benefit from structural change during current economic and political uncertainties, as well as—in the long run—when the conflict is ultimately resolved.
This blog was originally published in InstitutionalInvestor.com.
The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams.

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Do olive trees grow in Texas?
At Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard near Elmendorf, around 11,000 olive trees of different varieties are proving that, yes, fruit-bearing olive trees not only can grow here, but more and more of them are being planted and successfully grown in many other climate-friendly areas of Texas. In fact, there are now 65 or more growers in the state.
Now, it’s time to celebrate this growing industry.
On March 27, Olives Olé, the International Olive Festival of Texas, springs to life at Sandy Oaks. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the festival presents tastings, including olive oils and the region’s largest olive tasting bar, and gourmet food concessions presenting everything from paella and grilled veggie pita sandwiches to olive oil cake.
Festivalgoers can attend cooking demonstrations, health and nutrition seminars offered throughout the day and tours of the ranch, plus shop for products made from olives or purchase olive trees. Also, a new olive jewelry and fashion line will be launched at this year’s festival.
“Last year’s event was a huge success,” says Saundra Winokur, owner of Sandy Oaks and one of the pioneer olive growers in the state. “We expect this year to be even better.”
Winokur has a 258-acre ranch that sprawls across a gently rolling landscape off Mathis Road south of San Antonio. With 40 acres planted to olive trees, Winokur has been a strong supporter of an olive industry in Texas for more than a decade. Last fall was a landmark harvest for her, as she had just installed a brand new Italian olive press.
Last year’s festival was the first Olives Olé, the annual fundraiser for Les Dames d’Escoffier San Antonio. The local group is affiliated with Les Dames d’Escoffier International, a service organization of women involved with the culinary arts. Funds raised at the event go toward scholarships and community outreach programs.
Olives Olé tickets cost $10 at the gate. Or, they may be purchased at the customer service centers at area H-E-B stores. There will be ample free parking. Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard is at 25195 Mathis Road.
Photos by Tracey Maurer, Les Dames d’Escoffier


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Perot worker charged with insider trading in Dell deal
- 24 September, 2009 18:55
The U.S. securities regulator on Wednesday charged a worker with insider trading in Dell's purchase of Perot Systems this week.
Reza Saleh of Richardson, Texas made US$8.6 million in illicit profits by purchasing stock options ahead of the Dell announcement and selling them when Perot's stock soared the day of the deal, the Securities and Exchange Commission alleged in a statement. Saleh learned about the deal while performing duties for two Perot Systems and two Perot-related private companies, the SEC alleged.
Dell this week agreed to pay $3.9 billion for Perot Systems, a services provider focused on the health-care sector. The $30 per share it offered for Perot was a heavy premium over the previous trading day's closing price of $17.91.
The SEC filed a complaint with a federal court in Texas and is seeking an order to freeze Saleh's assets, it said.
Saleh bought over 9,000 Perot Systems call options, or contracts that let the holder buy stock at a set price, ahead of the deal and sold all of them immediately after it was announced, the SEC alleged. After being contacted by the SEC for suspicious behavior, Saleh told a Perot director that he knew about the deal when he traded, the SEC alleged.
Perot Systems could not immediately be reached for comment.


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Raise a glass — or fork — to Lane County’s food and beverage manufacturers.
They were among just a few sectors that actually added jobs in this latest deep and punishing recession.
They managed to create 189 jobs between 2007 and 2009, while Lane County manufacturers overall lost 7,345 jobs, according to the state Employment Department.
Some of that strength was from local dairies, bakeries and producers of other staples that people eat in both good economic times and bad. But it took more than bread and butter to carry food and beverage manufacturing through a recession that decimated many other industries.
It took skilled and enthusiastic wine and beer makers; food manufacturers with a national reputation as trailblazers in organic and natural foods, and innovators in the emerging, fast-growing markets of dairy-free and gluten-free foods.
Two Lane County companies now are the national pacesetters in a dessert category they pioneered.
“Turtle Mountain and Luna & Larry’s lead the dairy-free frozen novelties and desserts segment, with coconut-based products,” global market research firm Mintel International Group, wrote in an October 2010 report.
Turtle Mountain has headquarters in Eugene and factories in Springfield, and Luna & Larry’s was founded by Eugene couple Luna and Larry Kaplowitz and now is owned by Lochmead Dairy, which is based in Junction City.
More than 12 million people in the United States have food allergies; 30 to 50 million are lactose intolerant; an estimated 3 million have celiac disease and 40 million don’t have celiac disease but are gluten intolerant, the Mintel report said.
More and more products are being developed to serve these consumers, and sales of dairy-free, gluten-free products are burgeoning. Sales of labeled “free-from” products in natural food stores jumped 31 percent — to $276.4 million — from June 2008 to June 2010, and with incidences of food allergies and intolerances on the rise, this category should continue to enjoy strong growth, the Mintel report said.
“We’re optimistic,” said Chris Turek, Turtle Mountain marketing services manager. “We think there’s always going to be demand for high-quality and all-natural dairy-free products because people are becoming more attuned to what they eat and how that affects their well-being.”
Turtle Mountain, which is owned by founder Mark Brawerman, doesn’t disclose financial figures, but sales rose during the recession, primarily from its coconut-based “So Delicious” milk, creamer, yogurt and frozen desserts, Turek said. Turtle Mountain’s sales so far this year are up 20 to 30 percent from the same period last year, Turek said.
Now with 109 employees in Lane County, Turtle Mountain’s work force doubled in 2008 when it began making frozen desserts at a 50,000-square-foot plant at 1100 Shelley St. in Springfield. That work previously was done by various processors nationwide through “co-packing” arrangements.
Another local manufacturer of sweets, Chocolate Decadence, which makes dairy-free, gluten-free dark chocolate, has zeroed in on the rapidly growing “free-from” market.
“I am riding that wave,” said Larry Bradley, who bought the business from its founder seven months ago.
The company has grown from three employees to 11. Sales from February 2010 to February 2011 were up 60 percent, he said, and Bradley projects 25 percent to 30 percent annual revenue growth for the next five years.
Like Turtle Mountain and Luna & Larry’s, Chocolate Decadence serves a national market. About half of Chocolate Decadence’s sales come through the Internet.
Food and beverage manufacturing in Lane County is a midsize manufacturing sector, with 1,854 employees — 1,519 made food and 335 made beverages last year, according to the state Employment Department. The industry is almost half the size of the county’s largest manufacturer — wood products, which employed 3,500 last year, department figures show.
Beverage manufacturers added 99 jobs during the recession; food companies, 90.
Ninkasi, the Eugene brewery founded in 2006, is responsible for about half of the growth in beverage manufacturing. Ninkasi added 50 employees from 2007 to 2009, and it plans to hire more here and in other markets, CEO Nikos Ridge said.
Hop Valley Brewing Co., which was founded in Springfield in 2008, started out with two manufacturing employees and now has seven, said Jonas Kungys, one of the brewery’s owners.
The county’s food and beverage manufacturing isn’t dominated by large corporations. Instead it’s made up of more than 50 small- to medium-size ventures, which at most, employ about 200 people.
That wasn’t always the case.
The Agripac Inc. growers’ cooperative in Eugene, which had roots dating back to 1908, once churned out truckloads of canned corn, beans, carrots and beets where the U.S. Courthouse now stands. In the late 1990s, Chiquita Processed Foods bought Agripac out of bankruptcy and moved the work to a more modern factory in Salem.
At its peak, the Eugene plant had about 500 seasonal employees, said Brian Rooney, labor economist with the state Employment Department.
Dave Zepponi, president of the Northwest Food Processors Association in Portland, said Lane County was at the southern boundary of the large processors’ growing area. So when they consolidated their operations in the Salem area, Lane County “was one of the areas that lost out.”
But “it was still a great place to grow stuff,” which created the opportunity for more organic farming and more specialty crops, “and some really fabulous foods,” he said.
So a new crop of producers, such as Sweet Creek Foods of Elmira, which packs a variety of Oregon grown foods in glass jars, including pickled items and fruit spreads, joined the stable of longtime area food companies, such as Springfield Creamery; Golden Temple, whose cereal operations are now owned by Hearthside Food Solutions; and Toby’s Family Foods, maker of tofu spreads, salad dressings and Genesis Juice.
The “locally grown” movement that has gained traction recently has increased Lane County’s reputation for boutique operations turning out unique food products, Zepponi said.
Jack Roberts, executive director of the Lane Metro Partnership, an economic development agency, said “we’ll see whether (the locavore movement) has real staying power.”
Unless Lane County food processing grows into more than a conglomeration of little cottage industries, “you’re not going to get to the quantity and quality of jobs that makes a real industry cluster,” Roberts said. “It’s going to remain a small industry cluster rather than a major contributor to the overall economic health of the area.”
Zepponi, the Northwest Food Processors Association executive, disagrees.
He said his industry is used to being undervalued by economic development officials.
“It’s kind of my Rodney Dangerfield impression, ‘They never give us respect,’?” he said. “That’s OK. They don’t have to give us respect. But the fact is we grew. We’re the only manufacturing sector (in Oregon) that grew jobs in the recession.”
The diversified nature of the industry and its extensive supplier network is a strength, Zepponi said. “You aren’t going to have a layoff of (all of these) different companies at once, like you would have with a big company coming in.”
Food processing may not be as “sexy” as solar energy or high technology, Zepponi said, but “you need to have a foundation industry that’s always there — that you know you have a strategic, sustainable, competitive advantage in, and that is food processing.”
One of the lessons learned in this latest recession is that “a lot of the economy is being driven by just the needs of people,” said Steve Bradbury, general manager of the Franz Family Bakery in Glenwood.
“People have to eat, and that’s what keeps us going,” he said. “If we produce the right thing that they want, we should remain pretty stable through this.”
The bakery employs 150 to 200 workers, with peak employment in the summer because of the fairs and other summer events that drive bun sales, Bradbury said.
That employment level is virtually the same as six years ago when the bakery built its new facility in Glenwood.
The bakery’s sales are flat to down in recent years because gains made in one product are offset by losses in another, Bradbury said. The business supplying restaurants and institutions has plunged during the recession, he said.
But the Glenwood bakery hasn’t had to cut employees, Bradbury said. “We’ve been able to maintain a decently steady work force.”
Steady also characterizes conditions at Hearthside Food Solutions, which bought Golden Temple’s cereal business in May 2010. Over the past six to nine months, the company has maintained fairly stable employment of 200-plus workers, said Jim Gaspar, the facility’s general manager.
That is down slightly from the 230 employees Hearthside had when the Illinois company bought Golden Temple’s cereal business.
Had Hearthside decided to shutter the Eugene cereal plant, that would have erased the 189-job gain the local food and beverage manufacturing industry eked out during the recession.
But Gaspar said the company is “really, really pleased with the level of talent and energy and engagement that we have with all the team members in Eugene. We’ve had nothing but a positive experience over the past 13 months and look forward to building on that base over the long term.”


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US equity-index futures pointed to a higher open on Thursday, as a proverbial ping-pong match of trade news saw investors weigh in on the prospects of America removing a scheduled tariff hike on Chinese imports in 10 days.
Market participants are focused on whether the “phase-one” trade deal can come together in time to end to the many-months-long trade war; a result which has largely been priced into various asset classes.
Chinese officials are in “close contact” with US counterparts on trade negotiations, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng said earlier today, while reiterating that tariffs should be reduced proportionately as part of a phase-one accord.
The previous day, President Trump said the talks were going “very well”, prompting speculation that he may not follow through on his suggestion to delay an agreement until late next year.
These developments came after Wednesday’s session, where reports that China and the US could be close to a trade deal breathed new life into risk assets.
The S&P 500 closed +0.62% higher, after losing a cumulative -1.50% in the prior two days amid heightened trade tensions globally.
The Nasdaq Composite advanced +0.51%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average regained +0.56% of its value.
Ahead, today’s economic calendar includes; the latest Weekly Jobless Claims and International Trade figures for October at 8:30am EST, followed shortly after by Factory Orders for October at 10am EST.
In today’s earnings front; Cloudera (CLDR), Docusign (DOCU), Dollar General (DG), Express (EXPR), Five Below (FIVE), Kroger (KR), Lululemon Athletica (LULU), Michael's (MIK), Signet Jewelers (SIG), The Children's Place (PLCE), Tiffany & Co (TIF), Workday (WDAY) and Zoom Video (ZM) are all expected to report today.
TODAY'S TOP HEADLINES
China & Trade: China Offers Official Reassurance on Trade Talks With US. (The WSJ)
China’s trade negotiations with the US remain on track, Beijing said, offering official reassurance after tensions flared between the world’s two biggest economies over human-rights issues in China.
Today's Economical Announcements.
08:30AM - ★☆☆ - Weekly Jobless Claims (Previous: 215,000)
08:30AM - ★★☆ - Imports (Oct) (Previous: 258.40B)
08:30AM - ★★☆ - Exports (Oct) (Previous: 206.00B)
10:00AM - ★★☆ - Factory Orders (Oct) (Previous: -0.6%)
STOCKS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Pre-Market Movers & News Related Stocks.
Signet Jewelers (SIG): [EARNINGS] Lost 76 cents per share for its third quarter, smaller than the loss of $1.08 per share that Wall Street was anticipating. Revenue beat estimates, and comparable-store sales were up 2.1%. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv had expected a 1.3% drop in comparable sales. Signet issued current-quarter earnings forecast that was largely below estimates, however.
Michaels Companies (MIK): [EARNINGS] Missed estimates by 9 cents a share, with quarterly profit of 40 cents per share. Revenue also came in below forecasts. Comparable sales were down 2.2% compared to expectations of a 0.3% increase. Michaels also forecast current-quarter profit below current consensus. Michaels said its results did not meet its own expectations and were impacted by issues that it is addressing.
Five Below (FIVE): [EARNINGS] Reported quarterly profit of 18 cents per share, a penny a share above estimates. The discount retailer’s revenue also came in above Wall Street forecasts, however the company gave a current-quarter sales outlook below analysts’ forecasts.
Express (EXPR): [EARNINGS] Posted an adjusted third-quarter loss of 3 cents per share, smaller than the 9 cents a share loss expected by analysts. Revenue was above estimates, and a comparable-store sales decline of 5% was less than the 6.3% drop expected by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.
Slack Technologies (WORK): [EARNINGS] Lost 2 cents per share for its latest quarter, smaller than the 8 cents a share loss that Wall Street was anticipating. The workplace messaging platform company’s revenue also beat Street forecasts and Slack raised its full-year outlook as it adds more large corporate users.
Chewy (CHWY): [UPGRADE] Upgraded to “overweight” from “equal-weight” at Morgan Stanley, which thinks the stock has an attractive entry point after a 24% pullback. The firm said it likes Chewy’s position as the No. 1 online pet products seller in a market experiencing secular growth.
Dollar General (DG): [EARNINGS] Beat estimates by 4 cents a share, with quarterly profit of $1.42 per share. Revenue also beat estimates. Comparable-store sales were up 4.6%, compared to the 3.3% estimate of analysts surveyed by Refinitiv. The company also raised its full-year forecast and added $1 billion to its share repurchase program.
Nike (NKE): [UPGRADE] Upgraded to “buy” from “neutral” at Goldman Sachs and added to the firm’s “Conviction Buy” list. Goldman believes Nike is on the verge of a sharp acceleration in earnings growth, with China being a key driver.
RH (RH): [EARNINGS] Reported quarterly earnings of $2.79 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 a share. The Restoration Hardware parent’s revenue came in slightly above forecasts and the company said tariffs on imports from China would not impact its financial targets.
DexCom (DXCM): [NEWS] Said it had resolved a technology issue, which caused a data-sharing service for its diabetes devices to crash this past weekend. The glitch prevented the transmission of patient blood sugar levels from DexCom’s glucose monitors to caregivers.
Apple (AAPL): [REVIEW] Citi reiterated its “buy” recommendation on Apple and raised its price target on the stock by 20%, to $300 share from $250 a share. Citi expects sales and earnings to increase more than the Street generally expects, and thinks the demand for the Apple Watch and AirPods is underappreciated.
Tiffany (TIF): [EARNINGS] Earned 65 cents per share for its latest quarter, 20 cents a share below estimates. Revenue also missed forecasts. Comparable sales were flat, compared to expectations of a 1.4% increase. The company said results were hit particularly hard by the unrest in the Hong Kong market. Tiffany recently agreed to a $16.2 billion takeover by France’s LVMH.
Amazon.com (AMZN): [NEWS] The Federal Trade Commission has broadened its scrutiny of Amazon to include its cloud-computing business, according to a Bloomberg report.
Costco (COST): [NEWS] Reported a November comparable-store sales increase of 5.3%.
Wayfair (W): [NEWS] Reported a 36% increase in direct retail sales during the five-day Thanksgiving weekend shopping period.
H&R Block (HRB): [EARNINGS] Reported a quarterly loss of 93 cents per share, a penny a share wider than expected. The tax preparation company’s revenue also came in slightly below estimates. H&R Block traditionally makes most of its money in its fiscal fourth quarter, which occurs during tax season.
Fiat Chrysler (FCAU): [NEWS] Is in a dispute with Italy’s tax authority, which said the automaker had underestimated the value of its US business following its acquisition of Chrysler. The company said it strongly disagrees with the assessment, which could result in a $1.5 billion bill for back taxes.
Howard Hughes (HHC): [NEWS] Activist investor Bill Ackman has raised Pershing Square’s stake in the real estate company to 14.8% from the prior 12.6%. Ackman is currently chairman of the company’s board of directors.
ViacomCBS (VIACA, VIAC): [NEWS] ViacomCBS begins trading today on the Nasdaq after the merger of Viacom and CBS was officially completed Wednesday.
LMP Automotive Holdings (LMPX) (Low: 5, High: 6) (Est. Vol: $11.5M)
WE WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY!


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Young gamblers may face a stake/bet limits of £2 for online slot games, according to the Gambling White Paper proposals published on Thursday the 27th of April 2023.
Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by Command of His Majesty, the gambling landscape has dramatically changed since the Gambling Act 2005. The aim is to make gambling laws fit for the digital age by introducing various measures and policies.
Online slot games feature heavily in the proposals due to them being considered a high risk product. According to the Gambling White Paper:
“Online slots have been shown to be a particularly high risk product, associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play, but unlike land-based gaming machines they have no statutory stake limits.”
As a result, a bet/stake limit has been proposed for online slots consulting. The proposal is for a bet limit between £2 and £15 per spin. This also includes a £2-4 stake/bet limit per spin for 18 to 24 year olds or an individual bet limit based on personal risk factors. Evidence suggests that 18 to 24 year olds may be a particularly vulnerable group. Betfair Casino in the UK have already imposed £10 bet limits on all their games from September 2021.
The Government may introduce Universal Stake Limits to apply to online slots for all consumers on a precautionary basis. Whilst this measure may be easier to implement, it won’t allow for a personal response to a player’s level of risk or financial situation.
The likelihood is that tiered stake limits (known as a ‘smart stake’) will be introduced. This means that bet limits for slot games would be tiered according to the risks connected with the consumer. Stake limits could be raised or removed when said customer completes an initial financial vulnerability assessment or enhanced assessment of financial risk and affordability.
Furthermore, the Gambling Commission will review and consult on updating design rules for online slots. This will include the speed of spins, illusion of player control and intensifying features which can increase risk. They aim to make online slot games safer by design to prevent potential harm.
The other big talking point about the Gambling White Paper revolves around affordability checks. The Gambling Commission will consult on background checks at moderate levels of spend. It will also include looking at higher levels of spend which may indicated harmful binge gambling. They are proposing that checks should take place:
On top of this, they propose that the triggers for enhanced checks should be halved for 18 to 24 year olds due to evidence on increased risk. That said, the Gambling Commission estimate only around 3% of online gambling accounts will be affected.
Whilst advertising and other areas are being looked at by the Gambling Commission, they recognise the risk that online bonus offers can present. This is especially focused on consumers who are experiencing harm. With restrictions on marketing and promotional offers already available, the UKGC will undertake a review of incentives including free bets and bonuses. This will include looking at re-wagering requirements and minimum time frames for customers to claim bonuses.
Also mentioned was the practices around online VIP schemes. The UKGC want to ensure they are not used to exploit at-risk gamblers. However, they did state that the number of customers on these schemes has declined since measures were introduced in October 2020.
To be clear, the above are proposed changes and are subject to further consultation.
Earlier this month, Premier League clubs have agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from matchday shirts by the end of the 2025/26 season. The Premier League has become the first sports league in the UK to take this voluntary measure in order to limit gambling advertising.
However, gambling companies can feature in other areas including shirt sleeves and advertising hoardings beyond the 2025/26 season. At the time of writing, 8 out of 20 Premier League teams are sponsored by gambling companies. This is worth an estimated £60 million per year.


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* Q1 core EBIT 36 mln euros vs 42 mln in poll
* Repeats sees core EBIT growing 5-15 pct in 2014
* Shares down 0.9 pct (Adds analyst comment, details)
HELSINKI, April 23 (Reuters) - Finnish chemicals group Kemira reported a surprise fall in its quarterly earnings as a mild European winter cut sales of its de-icing products to airports.
The company also cited the higher euro foreign exchange rate hitting its sales as it posted an adjusted operating profit of 36 million euros ($50 million), down 14 percent from a year ago and missing analysts’ average forecast of 42 million.
Kemira’s ChemSolutions unit, home to its de-icing products, fell to a quarterly loss.
Last month, the group divested its troubled formic acid business as it focuses on its core water treatment operations.
Kemira repeated its full-year forecast for 5-15 percent profit growth.
Analyst Antti Saari from Pohjola Markets said the firm might need another cost-cutting programme.
“It looks like they lost cost control again ... the full-year outlook looks more challenging now, it requires a lot of work,” Saari said.
He also said cutting costs promptly could prove difficult for Kemira as it is changing its chief executive next month.
Shares in the company fell 3.3 percent in early Helsinki trade, but recovered some ground and were down 0.9 percent at 10.60 euros by 0710 GMT.
Media reports have suggested that Kemira’s Dutch peer Akzo Nobel might seek a buyer for its paper chemical operations with sales of 250 million euros. Pohjola analyst Saari said Kemira could be looking for such deal.
“The business and the asset’s size would suit Kemira well, but the price could get quite high.”
$1 = 0.7248 Euros Reporting by Jussi Rosendahl; Editing by Mark Potter


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GamesIndustry.biz - Power to the People - Five Important Developements in 2013
Gamesindustry.biz has an editorial about the five most imporant developments in the gaming industry this year. According to to the editorial, the most important one
is this one:
1. Power to the people
A year after the Kickstarter craze first kicked off, crowdfunding is still evolving. In 2012, virtually nobody was pretending crowdfunding could be a viable alternative for the creation of full-scale AAA quality games. Today, with Chris Roberts' Star Citizen at $34 million and counting, that might be a discussion we could start having.n 2012, Kickstarter reported $83 million pledged to game projects, compared to about $4.2 million in the three years prior. Games have now passed the $200 million mark since the platform's founding, with more than half of those pledges coming in 2013.
The fifth most important development is this one:
5. Consoles not dead after all Heading into 2013, there was a lot of pessimism surrounding the console market. Next-gen systems would be losing ground. Consoles couldn't compete with PCs, and indeed would be outright replaced by them. Developers were shifting focus away from consoles.........
Once the PS4 and Xbox One launched, it became clear the enthusiasm for the new hardware wasn't just smoke and mirrors. Both systems sold through 1 million units in their first day, and 2 million within a few weeks.
Do you agree with Gamesindustry.biz?


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Google posted profits of $3.59bn for the first quarter of its 2015 fiscal year, a slight increase on the $3.4bn profit in the same period last year.
The company posted $17.3bn in overall revenues, up 12 percent year on year. This would have been higher at 17 percent were it not for the adverse effects of a strong US dollar.
The bulk of the firm’s revenue came from advertising at $15.5bn, an increase of 11 percent on the same period last year.
Google CFO Patrick Pichette was upbeat on the numbers, claiming that Microsoft is reacting well to the needs of advertisers.
“We continue to see great momentum in our mobile advertising business and opportunities with brand advertisers,” he said.
The numbers also revealed that Google grew its head count over the past year by almost 10,000, from 46,170 to 55,419. The firm now has cash and assets totalling $65bn, underlining how strong Google is in the market.
The company also revealed that the amount generated from paid clicks on its websites rose 25 percent, although the aggregate cost-per-click across Google and network member sites decreased by 12 percent.
Google did not make any mention of the antitrust probe in Europe during the call, although this could affect business operations in the future, and could even lead to a sizeable fine.
It looks like Google will face increasing competition in the mobile advertising space, after Facebook's financials this week showed huge growth in this area.
Microsoft also issued financials this week, showing strong growth in cloud services, although this wasn't enough to stop a decline in revenues, again due in part to the strength of the dollar.
IBM also saw strong cloud sales, although it too saw a revenue slide.
Overall, the cloud market is seen as a major growth area. IDC expects $32bn in cloud sales in 2015.
Also, what's a USB stick?
Gravitational waves become extremely weak by the time they reach the Earth and require highly sensitive equipment for detection
The reactor topped out at 100 million° C
Cosmic event will not cause any disruption on Earth, say scientists


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The annual launch of Ducati and Ferrari's season got underway today at the Italian ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio. The Wrooom event was opened with the official presentation of Ducati MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, alongside Ferrari's Formula 1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, followed by an official dinner.
Though Rossi and Hayden are present, the expected star of the show will be absent: Ducati will not be presenting the 2012 Desmosedici GP12 at Wrooom, and the bike will make its first public appearance at the Sepang test on January 31st. Ducati Corse project leader Filippo Preziosi told French journalist Michel Turco of Moto Revue that Ducati had planned to do this since November. The bike will be taken to Jerez for a shakedown test; however, it is as yet unclear whether the bike will be tested by Carlos Checa in Spain, or if only test rider Franco Battaini will take the new bike out on the track.
Much will be cleared up about the new bike on Wednesday, when Preziosi will face an extended grilling by the assembled motorcycle media. On Tuesday, it is the turn of Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden to face the press.
Below is the official press release from the first day of the Wrooom event:
The spotlight is on Wrooom 2012, tomorrow is Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden's day
Fans, snow and a brand-new 1199 Ducati Panigale Tricolore, displayed in the reception area of the Wrooom conference room at Madonna di Campiglio, welcomed the arrival of Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden for the twenty-second edition of the Wrooom Press Ski Meeting. Tomorrow, the two Ducati riders will star in the press conference for the first day of the event, which symbolically kicks off the Italian motorsport season. Wednesday will be the turn of Filippo Preziosi (Ducati Corse General Director) and Stefano Domenicali (Ferrari Team Principal), and Thursday will be over to the Ferrari drivers. The event will conclude on Friday, with the spectacular kart and auto exhibition with the riders and drivers on the town's frozen lake.
Photos courtesy and copyright of Ducati Corse


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Cadillac named title sponsor of Washington, D.C., auto race. Event to be known as the Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., April 11, 2002 -- Cadillac announced today that it has agreed to sign on as the title sponsor of the...
Cadillac named title sponsor of Washington, D.C., auto race.
Event to be known as the Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., April 11, 2002 -- Cadillac announced today that it has agreed to sign on as the title sponsor of the July 2002 American Le Mans Series auto-racing event. As part of the sponsorship agreement, the race will be known as "The Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.," and Cadillac's name will be represented in a new logo for the event.
"We are especially pleased to be a part of bringing the most competitive in international endurance racing to the nation's capital," said Mark R. LaNeve, Cadillac general manager. "Exciting things are happening at Cadillac these days and our participation in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with our two Cadillac Northstar LMP cars is a means to connect with a new generation of luxury customers."
"Cadillac is one of the most powerful automotive brands in the world," said Chris Lencheski, co-founder and chairman of the board, National Grand Prix Holdings. "We are pleased to have such a prestigious name in front of our race. This is the first time Cadillac has been a title sponsor for a race. I think Cadillac's involvement in the Washington Grand Prix speaks volumes for what people in the industry think we are trying to do for auto racing in Washington, D.C."
Cadillac plans to bring an exciting exhibit to the paddock area titled, "The Cadillac Experience," where those attending the race will have a chance to view Cadillacs of the past, present and future. As part of the partnership with the race, Cadillac will have its name prominently displayed throughout the grounds of RFK Stadium during the three-day event.
"The local Cadillac dealers are very enthusiastic about this partnership, and we hope this enthusiasm spills over and reaches potential new Cadillac customers in the Washington, D.C. metro area," said Steve Rosenblum, Cadillac brand manager for motorsports. "We are working with our Cadillac dealers to provide opportunities for the entire area to enjoy this unique event through special promotions and coverage."
"We are honored to have Cadillac as the title sponsor of this race," said George deBidart, co-founder, National Grand Prix Holdings. "Cadillac has a rich and proud history in the automotive industry, and they are a perfect fit for this event."
The Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., which is coming to the grounds of RFK Stadium July 19-21, will feature races of four sanctioning bodies: American Le Mans (ALMS), Trans-Am, World Challenge and Star Mazda. It will be the first major auto-racing event in the D.C. metropolitan area in more than 80 years. The ALMS race will be televised live on NBC and CBS will air the Trans-Am race. The three-day weekend festival will feature a concert, world-record breaking jump by Robbie Knievel, Lifestyle Expo and a celebrity match race.
For more information on the race and other events please visit www.CadillacGrandPrix.com. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at (202) 432-SEAT or at www.ticketmaster.com.
NATIONAL GRAND PRIX HOLDINGS
National Grand Prix Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company was founded in 1999 by Christopher Lencheski to develop and execute The Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., a three-day motorsports event festival featuring internationally sanctioned racing events in the District of Columbia.
For a century Cadillac has been recognized as an American luxury icon. Cadillac is a pioneer in technology, innovation and bold design, with such firsts as Night Vision, OnStar, XM Satellite Radio and Magnetic Ride Control, the world's fastest-reacting suspension. Currently, Cadillac markets the all-new CTS luxury sedan, DeVille, Eldorado, Seville, Escalade sport utility vehicle, and all-new Escalade EXT sport utility truck. For more information on Cadillac, visit www.cadillac.com.
Cadillac is a division of General Motors, which through its Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Opel, Pontiac, Saab and Vauxhall brands, is involved in motorsports around the globe.


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Victory! VEGAN Choc Tops Premiere at Event Cinemas!
The choc-top: it’s a classic Aussie cinema treat. Now, for the first-time ever in Australia, you can enjoy a vegan version of the ice cream at Event Cinemas!
Everything from the crunchy cone, chocolate top and the velvety ice cream inside (available in both chocolate and salted caramel) has been made vegan for movie lovers with a conscious who know the truth about cruelly obtained dairy products.
The new menu item has been added to select stores after an online petition signed by hundreds of movie-going vegans prompted PETA to reach out to Event Cinemas in Spring 2018. Among other vegan menu ideas, we suggested a Vegan Choc Top starring delicious dairy- free goodness from Over The Moo, and, well, the rest is cold creamy history with a satisfying chocolatey crack!
This announcement is not just another sign that veganism is the future, it’s also a huge win for people-power- just two years ago Event Cinemas said they had no plans to make vegan ice cream, despite vegan creations winning the popular vote in the annual My Choc Top competition. How the times are changing!
For now, the choc-tops are only available at Bondi Junction, Glendale, Miranda, George Street, Macquarie, Tuggerah, Pacific Fair, Robina, Kawana and Chermside cinemas.
See you at the movies!
10 Reasons Why Cow’s Milk Is Bad for You


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France Hits Google with $166M Antitrust Fine for Murky and Conflicting Promotion Rules
Big tech giants are making use of all tactics they can to make money without alarming users. It might be secretly collecting data or using their monopoly in markets to gather a user base. Google is not alien to this concept and has been slapped time and again for murky promotion rules imposing Google antitrust fines over and over again. However, as a diverse company, it is least affected by them and continues to prosper.
Another Fine Imposed by France
One of the countries with very strict rules for the fair competition in France, And, it does not sit back even if these are big giants from American soil dominating the market. This time, their competition watchdog slapped Google with $166 million in fines for violating the rules of the land. It was found that Google had been using its dominant position to abuse the online advertising market and online search. In the advocacy of fair business, France has taken this step.
Google has been repeatedly notified and condemned for its abuse of power, but the tech giant is simply unaware of the consequences as the fines are too small to make any major problem for its growth. Given that such investigations often go long and with bureaucrats from either side debating or presenting pieces of evidence, the outcome is time-consuming, but the time any result is reached, the company has already recovered from its losses.
Today’s Decision was a Big Deal
Following a major length investigation into the online ad sector, the competition authority announced today that it has sanctioned Google for adopting as they describe it as opaque and difficult to understand operating rules for its ad platform. This is Google Ads. Then, they found that the company had been using its monopoly to apply them in an unfair and random manner.
Although through the use of various forms and terms and conditions companies try their best to secure all kinds of monopoly behavior, promotion rules, this Google antitrust investigation was a big deal for being in the favor of the ethics. Google antitrust claims have been made and sanctioned have been posed by other countries as well, not just France.
In recent times as the world is waking up to monitoring and scrutinizing unethical behavior much more stringently, even the biggest of the companies like Apple and Google are finding it difficult, and at times, impossible to find their way around.
The watchdog has, in addition, ordered Google to clarify all its rules and procedures. And, also put in place measures to detect violations of these procedures. This is a hard deal when a survey in the UK has found that Google should be broken up simply because of its enormousness.
In France, where Google holds 90% of online search and 80% of the market, such sanctions are very essential to allow the growth of fair businesses. As of now, Google antitrust has found that its rules are not based on any precise and stable definition, which gives Google full latitude to interpret them according to situations.


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In the early ’90s, when Bala Parthasarathy was taking baby steps in his maiden entrepreneurial journey, he would exhibit unbridled exuberance and passion and excitement — not unusual in young entrepreneurs in their 20s. Also not unusual was Parthasarthy’s view of venture capitalists as "vulture capitalists".
After over two decades as a serial entrepreneur — his biggest claim to fame being co-founding digital photo printing service Snapfish in 2000 in Silicon Valley, which was aquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2005 — Parthasarathy swooped on a profession he wouldn’t have come close to in his 20s: venture funding.
Also read: Becoming an entrepreneur: Investors watch, founders act
In 2011, he joined Prime Venture Partners, an early-stage VC firm, as a managing partner. In the five years since, he reckons he has equipped himself with a key weapon missing in his armoury: "the right perspective".
Then, last month, the 49-year-old VC decided to go back to what he cut his teeth on, when he cofounded fintech startup MoneyTap. "It’s tough being a VC," he grins.
"(Starting up) is a homecoming for me." Like Parthasarathy, armed with perspective (the ‘right’ one, of course) and loads of experience of what it takes to be on the other side of the table, a bunch of funders is now turning founders (the only difference of course is that Parthasarathy started as an entrepreneur, then moved to venture funding, and now the wheel has turned full circle for him).
Bala Parthasarathy, cofounder MoneyTap, September 2016, Bengaluru
(A serial entrepreneur turned investor who worked with Prime Ventures for five and a half years; had cofounded digital photo printing service Snapfish in Silicon Valley in 2000)
There’s Subramanya SV, who was managing director at Bessemer Venture for over eight years before cofounding personal finance startup Fisdom last June. Like Parthasarathy, another entrepreneur-turned-investorturned founder is Alok Mittal, who led India operations of US venture capital firm Canaan Partners for over nine years till last March.
Mittal cofounded JobsAhead.com in 1999, which was later acquired by Monster; last May Mittal once again hopped onto the entrepreneurial bandwagon when he cofounded Indifi Technologies, a platform to expand access to debt financing for SMEs. Then there is Anshoo Sharma, a venture partner at Lightspeed India for over six years before cofounding Magicpin in August 2015.
That same month, another investor Asish Mohapatra, who worked with Matrix Partners for little under five years, turned entrepreneur by cofounding OfBusiness, a B2B ecommerce marketplace. And last December, Abhishesk Shah — vice-president at Unilazer Ventures for almost three years — cofounded Wellthy Therapeutics, an artificial intelligence-powered diabetes management app for patients.
Investors who turn entrepreneur — VCpreneur, if you will — clearly come along with advantages other founders don’t: a determination to get a bang for every buck spent, clear (long-term) business vision, fiscal discipline, access to the funding network and, the best part, learnings from the mistakes made by entrepreneurs they had funded in the past!
Also read: Why VCs don’t make great entrepreneurs
A Coach & a Captain
The biggest benefit of a VCpreneur, avers Parthasarathy, is the ability to fully understand the rules of the investing game. But does knowing the rules of the game mean that one will win the match? Parthasarathy pauses for a while, smiles, and then replies. "It doesn’t mean that one will win," he says, "but at least you’re not playing hockey when the investors are playing cricket."
Bengaluru-based MoneyTap provides an app-based credit line to consumers to borrow money up to Rs 5 lakh or even as little as Rs 3,000 for a flexible tenure. The startup has partnered with RBL Bank and consumers can repay loans in equated monthly instalments (EMIs) over periods of two months to three years.
It’s the potent combination of a ‘coach and a captain’ which adds a new dimension of a startup, says Parthasarathy. For instance, while investors talk big-picture stuff, entrepreneurs delve into details. Since investors are dealing with multiple companies, they rarely have time for the nitty-gritty. Contrast it with most passionate entrepreneurs who cannot hold a general conversation for more than five minutes before dragging you into intimate details of their startup, he points out.
The second quality that comes handy is the approach to a business. While investors generally look at the business with a funding and valuation lens, entrepreneurs look at it from a product, customer or business lens. "The startup gets the best of both the qualities," he adds.
The triggers for investors to plunge into — or to return to — starting up are varied; for Anshoo Sharma it was the need to have a more hands-on role in life. The aha moment for the former venture partner at Lightspeed India came after scaling the Great Wall of China in late 2014.
Sharma spent a few weeks in China, including Lightspeed’s office, and that was sufficient to convince him to try out a new role. "Two weeks in China were quite impactful." The kind of technological disruption that has happened in China swayed him to believe that a similar story will play out in India over the next few years. After all, India has just seen ecommerce, which is merely the tip of the iceberg, he avers.
"Rather than being an investor, this was the best time to take the plunge," says Sharma, who cofounded hyperlocal discovery platform Magicpin in August last year along with his investor-turned-entrepreneur friend Brij Bhushan. Magicpin helps users discover cashbacks at local merchants by getting them to generate content and share their local experiences through selfies and micro-reviews.
While attracting funds would seem the easiest part for any investor-turned entrepreneur — Magicpin raised $3 million from Lightspeed— it’s the progress card of the fledgling startup that has Sharma pleased as punch. He says that some 3 lakh customers get in $15 million of gross merchandise value (GMV) for its partner merchants including large chains such as Subway, Dunkin Donuts and PVR every year, the average user spends 10 minutes daily on the app and does roughly four transactions every month; and has operations in Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Mumbai.
However, the initial success could not have happened without loads of learning and experience which Sharma brought to the entrepreneurial table as an investor. What is likely to work and what is not likely to work is one of the top learnings that have helped him in his nascent entrepreneurial venture.
The Precarious Transition
Building a solid team is another key learning which prodded him to put a high quality team in place. Setting a relevant and measurable goal, says Sharma, is the third insight which he gathered after observing entrepreneurs floundering repeatedly.
"Without a realistic goal, you run out of money and the team runs out of energy." Apart from learning, what helped Sharma in seamlessly slipping into the new role was being part of the initial team at Lightspeed India where he invested in 8 companies. Most of these companies, contends Sharma, got incubated from scratch, when there was only the entrepreneur and the idea. "This gave me immense confidence of pulling things off."
If Sharma gained from gathering insights as an investor, Abhishek Shah, a VP at Unilazer Ventures till December 2014, reckons that every investor should have a prior stint as an entrepreneur. "It will make them a stronger and more capable investor," says Shah, who cofounded Wellthy Therapeutics in December 2015.
Shah, 33, started as a second generation entrepreneur by joining his family business in healthcare and pharmaceuticals in early 2006 and played an operative role for three years. After spending a few years as an investor, Shah turned VC in 2012.
As an investor what he learnt from the mistakes of entrepreneurs was invaluable: falling in love with the solution rather than getting hooked to the problem; chasing GMV rather than going after profitability and customer satisfaction; scrambling for funds instead of making the business metrics stronger; and lastly building a business to exit rather than building to last.
In spite of the learnings, slipping into the new role was not easy for Shah as the investor DNA in him kept intruding into his thought process. After quitting the role of a VC, Shah spent a few months exploring his next plan of action. And it was then he realised why the transition would not be smooth. Every time Shah explored a new business opportunity, he would do so by thinking like an investor: looking at everything top down, not hitting the trenches, and playing around with multiple ideas at the same time. "Soon I realised the folly and started evaluating things as an entrepreneur," he recalls.
"As a VC, one tends to think of a company in black or white. So it’s either worth investing or not fit for investment," says Fisdom’s Subramanya, who is also a prolific angel investor. "Unfortunately, this linear approach to life doesn’t work as an entrepreneur," he adds. "The reality is always grey."
Another factor that makes things initially challenging for an investor turned entrepreneur is the habit of long-term thinking rather than being short-term oriented when it comes to action. A VC, says Subramanya, is more prone to take a long-term bet on a company, which also means taking loads of time to evaluate decisions. In sharp contrast, an entrepreneur lives in the fast lane and doesn’t have the luxury to ponder too much. Also, as an investor, one is not exposed to a lot of grunt work or drudgery. "So when you hit ground zero, there are teething problems," he says.
While conceding that having an investment background definitely helps in being an entrepreneur — as in areas of funding, hiring, building an organisation, thinking strategically — Subramanya reckons that it’s no guarantee of success. "Being a VC doesn’t guarantee a certain outcome. If the probability of an entrepreneur succeeding is 5%, then chances of an investor turned VC succeeding 15%. It can’t be 100%."
What could also go against investors turned entrepreneurs is age, says Alok Mittal, who cofounded Indifi Technologies in May last year. "I first became an entrepreneur when I was 27. Now in my second stint I am 44," he says, adding that the risk appetite tends to diminish after working as a venture investor for long." Younger entrepreneurs have a much more unbridled approach to risk and business." The flip side, of course, is that VCs are fixated on that vital elixir that founders desire badly but find it difficult to put a finger on: it’s called returns.


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In the modern age, we've been viewing air fresheners as an "extra" because they will be changed frequently, but thanks to VANZO, now everyone can afford to own an air freshener that has the scent of luxurious fragrance at an affordable price.
VANZO, a new functional brand that produces New Generation sterilizing healthy air freshener has recently added two new scents to its collection, Gentleman Series & Goddess series.
Being the first certified sterilizing air freshener brand in Malaysia, VANZO's products are free from alcohol, formaldehyde, benzene and toluene to ensure its customers' health and wellbeing, especially during this pandemic.
VANZO is also the first air freshener brand using Japan's New Technology, Odour Emulsion Filtration (OEF) to infiltrate then emanate the smooth fresh fragrance.
"To ensure better quality products, we're pleased to work with two Japanese leading fragrance specialists, OGAWA Flavours and Fragrances, and TAIYO Corporation which have over 125 years' experience in manufacturing fragrances," said Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VANZO, Eddie Ng.
"We understand that health and safety are a priority for Malaysians. Our products have gone through and passed the acute inhalation toxicity test for our consumers' peace of mind," he said.
In addition to health-conscious attributes, the air fresheners - housed in a sleek cubic design with handmade leather cover and exclusive scents formulated by Ng personally.
The latest additions to the VANZO family went through a total of 132 scent formulations before hitting the perfect note. The scent for Gentleman Series is Black Code while Goddess Series has the scent of white musk and rose.
Hong Kong veteran actor-producer Louis Koo has been appointed as the new face of VANZO's Gentleman series.
Joining Koo is fellow artist Priscilla Wong as the brand ambassador for VANZO's Goddess series.
Koo was recently awarded an honorary fellowship by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
He was among 10 individuals - among them Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung, Hong Kong actor Wong Cho Lam, veteran actor Lau Shun and opera singer Leung So Kam - who have recognised for their achievements and contributions to the performing arts and cultural industry as well as the development of the academy.
VANZO's products are available at 3,500 local retailers including pharmacies, car accessories outlets and supermarkets. Now they are also available in China Alibaba's online shopping platform, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Brunei.
"We are targeting 10,000 retailers within two years to make our quality air fresheners accessible to more people," said Ng.
For more information, go to www.vanzoasia.com.


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Shack Snack: July 8, 2014
Kick back and treat yourself to a Shack Snack, a short recap of three big stories you should know. It's like a CliffsNotes for video games! If you enjoy, don't forget to subscribe to us on YouTube.
Have you been wondering what Gearbox Software has been up to, since it's not fully handling the development of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and has shuffled off Aliens: Colonial Marines like it didn't exist? Well, now we know. The developer has unveiled Battleborn, a new first-person adventure that will be published by 2K Games.
Been waiting to find new places to drop your Titan in Titanfall? You'll only have to wait a little bit longer, as Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts have announced the second of three DLC packs for the game, Frontier's Edge.
Cliff Bleszinski has announced his next game, a free-to-play sci-fi shooter called BlueStreak. Bleszinski said that the PC arena shooter is being published through a partnership with the South Korean company Nexon, a company known most for MapleStory.


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Nokia still enjoys the highest market share in terms of mobile phone usage in the world. But this dominance is mainly in the low-end handsets, while the company has challenges to face for smartphone markets. Despite this, Nokia said that its witnessing rapid growth in its online Ovi Store, which is now delivering three million downloads per day.
According to Nokia, in addition to three million daily downloads, over 250,000 new customers are signing up for an Ovi Store account each day. More than 400,000 developers have joined the Forum Nokia developer network. The Nokia Qt Software Development Kit has been downloaded 1.5 million times.
Examples of popular and creative new Symbian smartphone content on Ovi Store include:
- Swype: With one continuous finger or stylus motion across the keyboard, Swype ’s technology enables users to input words faster and easier.
- NHL GameCenter™ Premium: Keep up with your favorite hockey team by listening to live radio, checking stats and scores, or by watching highlights and condensed games.
- WhatsApp Messenger: A smartphone messaging app that uses 3G or WiFi to connect with friends and family. Switch from SMS to WhatsApp to send and receive messages, pictures, audio notes, and video messages at no cost.
Since Nokia began shipments of its new Symbian smartphones, starting with the Nokia N8 on Sept. 30 of this year, the top downloaded free app globally was Q Torch, a utility app that turns your device into a flashlight, by CellApp Technology of India (also among top three in Europe, India and Southeast Asia/Pacific); the top downloaded paid app was Angry Birds, the smash hit game, by Rovio Mobile of Finland (also among top three in North America, Southeast Asia/Pacific and Europe) and the third most popular item downloaded globally was Need for Speed Shift HD, a game that delivers the thrill of high-performance racing by EA Mobile of the U.S. (also among top three in Central and South America, and Southeast Asia/Pacific).


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John Lewis smashed its sales records last week, booking its biggest week ever as shoppers snapped up Black Friday deals on gadgets, beauty products, clothing and beds fuelled demand.
The department store chain said sales were up 7.7% in the week to 27 November on the same period last year, with sales in the fashion and beauty department up 13.1%.
John Lewis highlighted the super-luxury Creed Aventus perfume – which sells at £170 for a 50ml bottle – as a particularly big seller, along with its beauty advent calendar, which was reduced from £165 to £115.50 for Black Friday. Branded fashion also sold well.
Electrical and homeware sales were up nearly 6%, with bestsellers including Apple Airpods and smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo Dot and the Google Home Mini.
John Lewis said both its stores and website traded well with some stores also reporting a record week. Black Friday, the US-inspired discount event, was the busiest day but business was more broadly spread across the week than in previous years, as the company launched its own discounts earlier in the week and matched the promotional prices of rival stores under its “never knowingly undersold” pledge.
The strong figures from John Lewis will raise hopes of a better than expected Christmas for the retailer after early data for Black Friday, which fell on 23 November, suggested shoppers had cut back this year.
Barclaycard said that shoppers had spent 10% less on the day by mid-afternoon, while footfall in town centres, shopping centres and retail parks was down by 6%, according to the shopper monitoring firm Springboard. Part of that change was because shoppers were able to spread their bargain hunting over a longer period of time because retailers began discounting earlier.
Figures from the CBI, released on Tuesday, revealed that overall retail sales increased last month, especially at supermarkets and at shops selling household and recreational goods.
Analysts said the pick-up in sales was better than expected after a poor October when sales dropped to their weakest level since last April.
But the amount of goods sold dropped in shops selling clothing, footwear, furniture and carpets, and in hardware and DIY stores.
And the broadly healthier picture in November after a weak October was unable to prevent an eighth quarter in a row of declining employment across the retail sector.
Anna Leach, the CBI head of economic intelligence, said: “While it is encouraging to see headline retail sales growth strengthen in November after a weak outturn in October, the quarterly survey continues to paint a gloomy picture of the sector. Business sentiment remains poor, investment intentions are flat, and headcount continues to decline.”
Some analysts fear that Black Friday only served to pull forward sales which could have been booked at full price in October or December.
On Tuesday, fast fashion retailer Quiz reported a 2% fall in underlying profits in the six months to 30 September partly as a result of the £400,000 it was owed by House of Fraser when the department store fell into administration in August.
Offsetting the good period at John Lewis, the department store’s sister chain Waitrose had a difficult week. Sales slipped 1.6% despite a 43% rise in sales of mince pies and a 17% lift in mulled wine sales. Sales of homewares and other non-food were the hardest hit with sales down 6.9%.


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The next generation Honda CR-V is on its way and even better than before. This do-it-all SUV is elegant on the inside, and intense on the outside, boasting style, and an electrifying hybrid powertrain. You’ve never seen a Honda SUV quite like this one. Get more information on the 2023 Honda CR-V at Premier Honda near Metairie.Read more.
For years, the Honda Odyssey has impressed drivers with its performance, next-level versatility, and spacious cabin. At Premier Honda, we’re thrilled to welcome the all-new Odyssey Sport into the Honda Odyssey lineup for the 2023 model year. The new Sport trim brings forth a refreshing and expressive style to the Honda Odyssey while staying true to the Odyssey’s tradition of providing exceptional comfort, practicality, and convenience.Read more.
For 35 years, the Honda Civic Si has been setting the bar for affordable sport compact sedans, and the 11th generation vehicle is turning just as many heads and exciting even more young drivers than the early models did. This high-performance sport compact gives drivers an updated turbocharged high-output VTEC 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, a standard rev-matching 6-speed manual transmission, limited-slip differential, and sport-tuned suspension creating the ultimate driving experience. And all this can be yours for under $30k!Read more.
The 2022 Honda Passport is turning heads with a much more distinctive and rugged look. Once viewed as the prototypical family vehicle, the all-new Passport is clearly ready to take you and four additional passengers on an adventure on or off-road. For those focused on off-road functionality, the 2022 year marks the release of the first TrailSport that offers even more functionality and rugged capability.Read more.
A refresh for the 2022 Honda Passport is sure to turn heads and get attention. This stylish family SUV has a new look, making it more rugged than refined. While it will still be a great ride for your crew, you’ll enjoy taking it for an adventure.Read more.
Honda has announced the introduction of the Prologue, which is a new battery-electric model set to be on the market by 2024. This model will be the first in a series of the Honda BEV vehicles and part of the vision for the manufacturer to achieve 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by the year 2040 in North America.Read more.
As the 11th generation Honda Civic Sedan gets closer to being a reality, more information is being released. This model boasts a sporty design with advanced technology for entertainment and safety along with more innovative features. More than 12 million models have been purchased since the Honda Civic Sedan’s inception in 1973. The Civic ranks as one of the top three in best-selling passenger cars in the nation since then. Today, the Civic is the number one choice for first-time buyers as well as with Millennials and Gen Z. The model is tops for multicultural buyers, too.Read more.
Its hardly a surprise that Honda wins big this year with top marks from U.S. News and World Report, a popular consumer magazine powered by consumer analysis, reviews, and rankings. One of their most popular segments for users is their car rankings, which consist of buyer reviews, market research, and so much more to help you find your next favorite vehicle. This year, Honda dominates their top tier list with their best-selling Honda CR-V, Honda Passport, and Honda Odyssey. Of course, each vehicle has their own unique characteristics that vastly separate themselves from one another, only proving that Honda dominates in vehicle diversity and ability. Take a look deeper into each of the best-in-class considerations from U.S. News and World Report.Read more.
Premier Honda is proud to be part of a brand that wows audiences once again as a top safety pick for IIHS through the 2021 Honda Accord. Honda refreshes the model for this coming year, and with a new look the mid-size sedan looks to dominate with the highest safety ratings. There is no doubt that with a bolder, fresher look the Accord is on its way to be a best-seller for 2021, but debuts the year as a testament to Honda’s commitment to safety. There is so much to dive into for the 2021 Honda Accord, a new look, outstanding safety features, and recognition from the automotive industry’s highest institutions.Read more.
Honda takes on an all-new milestone with the highly praised Car and Driver Magazine as a continued top pick for their 2021 Honda Accord. This year marks the 23rd consecutive year that the Honda Accord has showed up on their annual top ten list which rounds out their all-time appearances to an unprecedented 35 years. The Honda Accord is one of Honda’s most widely known vehicle models, and has been in production 1976. The vehicle comes to consumers for 2021 with a whole new suite of improved features from last year including a facelift for its fourth year of its tenth generation. Find out more about the prestigious Car and Driver top ten list and why the Honda Accord keeps appearing on it time and time again.Read more.
The Honda Motor Company has developed their brand over the years by a being a top manufacturer in not only automobiles, but also for motorcycles, motorized equipment, aerospace, and much more. Also, within Honda’s massive repertoire is their extensive philanthropic efforts and community work, which spanned across the world and touching demographics everywhere. Honda has extended their hand to work with HBCU’s across America by holding band competitions, academic tournaments, and a multitude of mentoring programs. In addition to other facets of community support, Honda has also made strides in supporting STEM students by offering grants and scholarships to individuals. Honda has also helped the STEM education pipeline by participating in Manufacturing Day, which enables people of all ages to see firsthand the efforts of engineering and technology that goes into making amazing products.Read more.
The Honda Motor Company has been a staple in automotive production for over 70 years, and starting in 2021 they have announced their newest business partner, General Motors. The benefits for such a partnership are proving to be huge for both automotive giants. With the intention of forming an alliance of sorts, GM and Honda are looking at sharing much of their current knowledge in order to develop better, stronger, and more innovative products for mass production. Although the exact goals of both product and profit are unclear at this time, each company understands that with a stellar record of collaboration there is no end to the possibilities.Read more.
Your friends at Premier Honda are happy to prepare for the sale of the new 2021 Honda Odyssey minivan!Read more.
Premier Honda is proud to announce everything that Honda has done in response to the global pandemic.Read more.
Can anything really take on a Porsche? Surprisingly, the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid has a lot to offer for even the most discerning of SUV buyers that makes it a competitive choice for anyone who wants to get great value for their money.Read more.
Now is an excellent time to upgrade your daily driver to an exciting new Honda Civic Sport with standard Apple CarPlay® or a new Honda CR-V family crossover.Read more.
After seeing success of their international counterparts, American made Honda Odysseys are being modified to help transport coronavirus patients.Read more.
Choose a vehicle that makes you feel good with the 2020 Honda Hybrid CR-V. Hybrid technology has come along way. Now, you not only make a choice that is good for the environment, but it’s easier to live your life with a hybrid SUV which offers power and capabilityRead more.
When you're looking to upgrade to a brand-new car, you have two main options to help get you there: leasing or buying. In contrast to purchasing a new vehicle with cash or through financing, leasing a new car is similar to renting the automobile for a pre-determined amount of time, typically two to four years.Read more.
Honda’s theme of Safety for Everyone isn’t just a catchphrase. It’s a philosophy that influences every aspect of the design of Honda vehicles. Honda recognizes how important safety is to every car buyer and how dangerous driving can be.Read more.
Updates on the 2020 Honda Civic Type R make it sleeker and more exciting. Bold design ensures you don’t overlook this sports sedan while the aggressive styling also enhances performance. Get inside and enjoy the ride!Read more.
New Orleans has a style of its own, and that’s never more evident than when ringing in the New Year. You’ll find plenty of fun activities to enjoy on this special night. If you’re looking for ideas on how to bring in 2020, here are a few suggestions.Read more.
Whether you’re a salesperson out on the highway meeting with leads or a service provider taking care of issues, you need a reliable, practical vehicle to get you where you need to go. You have specific needs which may differ from the traditional car buyer. Here is a look at the best Honda models for professionals.Read more.
If you’re in the market for an SUV, Honda has some outstanding choices. The Honda Passport and Honda Pilot offer a lot to get excited about. Which one is right for you? Compare the two to determine which one best fits your needs, then visit Premier Honda to check them out in person.Read more.
When you're looking to experience authentic New Orleans food before noon on the weekends, try these top-rated brunch places around the city. You'll be glad you did!Read more.
Practical features and functional style make the 2019 Honda Passport a sensible choice. Sophisticated elegance, impressive capability and modern technology ensure this model is one you will enjoy every time you get behind the wheel. The newest addition to the Honda lineup is sure to turn heads.Read more.
Honda is ready to win with its new 2018 vehicle lineup. Recently, the 2018 Honda Civic and CR-V were named the overall winners in AutoWeb's Buyer's Choice Awards, taking home several awards that put the Honda brand in the lead for five segments.Read more.
From its high-end styling and premium materials to its high-tech amenities like new standard Honda Sensing safety systems, the all-new 2018 Honda Accord is set to redefine the mid-size sedan class. In addition to its sophisticated exterior and refined cabin, the all-new Accord brings with it two new turbo VTEC powertrains that deliver improved fuel economy and performance. Tour and test drive the stunning all-new 2018 Accord at Premier Honda in New Orleans, LA.Read more.
Currently the world's fastest front-wheel-drive car, the Honda Civic Type R has made America proud with its innovative features. The 2.0-L VTEC Turbo engine has allowed the Civic Type R to reach new heights in places like Germany's Nürburgring circuit, where it dominated the race track at 7 minutes and 43.8 seconds. The Civic Type R has been redesigned by American automotive engineers from the ground up, making it the fiercest example of lightweight speed on U.S roads.Read more.


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Social media intermediaries — with more than 5 million registered users — have to trace the original sender of a message when asked by a government agency armed with an order from a judicial magistrate court or a higher court.
TikTok plans to launch new tools that would enable brands to get more info on influencers and their user base.
Researchers, including two of Indian-origin, have demonstrated that machine-learning algorithms can monitor online social media conversations as they evolve, which could one day lead to an effective and automated way to spot online trolling.
Notification of the new rules is likely to be done by January 15, MeitY said in an affidavit to the Supreme Court last year.
Sanjay Hegde moved the court after his Twitter account was permanently suspended by the social media on November 5, 2019, allegedly for re-tweeting two posts.
While micro-blogging platform Twitter banned political advertising in October, Google curbed ways in which political parties can micro target their campaigns in November. Chinese ByteDance-owned short-video platform TikTok does not allow political advertising at all.
Security researcher Ibrahim Balic found that it was possible to upload entire lists of generated phone numbers through Twitter's contacts upload feature, reports TechCrunch. "If you upload your phone number, it fetches user data in return," he was quoted as saying. Most of the users were in countries like Israel, Turkey, Iran, Greece, Armenia, France and Germany.
Macy's and Dick's Sporting Goods are two retailers that have already teamed up with Facebook.
Over 85% of respondents said social networks should be subject to ecommerce rules and policies. Ministry of Consumer Affairs had given stakeholders time until Dec 2 to submit feedback for its Draft Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules.
The move comes amid increasing complaints, both on the National Consumer Helpline and other portals that track consumer grievances, about products sold on marketplaces attached to social networks
The holiday season is here, which means prying relatives asking awkward questions.To keep such situations under control for its employees, Facebook has built a special chatbot.
About 62% of Indian businesses accept payments via social media as compared to the global average of 55%. This has led to an increased adoption of social commerce in the country, a survey by digital payments company PayPal and market research firm Ipsos has found.
If we blame end-to-end encryption of WhatsApp for the Israeli spyware Pegasus that affected 1,400 select users of the Facebook-owned messaging app globally, including 121 in India, we will be barking up the wrong tree, say experts.
People at Facebook continue to try to share video of a horrific mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, with social network systems blocking 95 per cent of those attempts, according to executives.
Facing ire from the government, stakeholders, and civil society, Facebook had to rollback its ambitious Free Basics in India.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition seeking mandatory linking of social media accounts with Aadhaar to check the menace of “fake and paid news” and asked the petitioner to approach the high court.
The top court’s decision came following a complaint by an Austrian politician who wanted to remove disparaging comments about her on Facebook.
BJP and its affiliates collectively spent Rs 21.6 lakh in 3 states, according to FB data.
"You might have had trouble tweeting, getting notifications, or viewing direct messages. We are currently working on a fix and should be back to normal soon," the company stated.
India is followed by Russia and Turkey in content removal requests, according to Comparitech, which collated data from the transparency reports of top internet companies till date.


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Smoking Brits lift Imps to record
BRITAIN'S cigarette consumption has leapt by about three billion in the past year, helping power Imperial Tobacco to a record half-year pre-tax profit of £261m, up 17%.
Chief executive Gareth Davis said much of the domestic expansion was occurring at the lower end of the market, where Imperial saw growing demand for its Lambert & Butler and Richmond brands.
It said it has 43% of the British market, up four points from a year ago. This, combined with growth in trendier brands such as Marlboro Lights, generated an 11% rise in Imperial's British operating profit to £170m in the year to the end of March. The figure was also lifted by the first-time contribution from recently-acquired African group Tobaccor, helping push up profits at Imperial's international division by 16% to £140m.
Profits from Reemtsma, the German cigarettes group acquired in March for £3.5bn, are expected to be included from next month. The deal will lift the debt load by about £2.2bn to £3.5bn.
Earnings per share, which exclude the impact of the £1 billion rights issue to help fund the Reemtsma buy, rose 13% to 35.4p. The dividend is up 11% at 12p.
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Cambuslang traders are wholeheartedly backing three local women’s enthusiastic mission to reinstall a sense of pride in their town centre.
Mum-of-three Seona Findlay and her pals came up with the idea of using photography to celebrate Cambuslang businesses and the people at their helm in a bid to reverse the prevailing negative views about the struggling town centre.
Seona used social media site All About Cambuslang to share their idea of bringing traders out from behind their counters and into the view of the camera in an initiative that the whole community can enjoy.
Within hours, the social media post had received nearly 100 comments, all brimming with enthusiasm for the idea.
Seona, along with friend Marlyn Latta and her daughter, Morven Campbell – both of whom are keen amateur photographers – distributed fliers among local businesses, asking them to get in touch should they want to become involved.
Traders jumped at the chance to sign up, and many are already sprucing up their shop fronts in preparation for the community photo call.
“I think we have all seen old sepia and black and white photographs of shopkeepers and staff standing outside their businesses,” said Seona.
“I personally love seeing these and think it’s a great way to put faces to a business, and a period or date, too – so why not do this now, in 2019.
“A house is only a home when there are people you care about in it. So, let’s bring shopkeepers out, bring faces to our street, and bring staff out from behind those shop fronts!”
Among those who have already expressed their enthusiasm for the project are Main Street traders Jean Austin of card and gift boutique Pandora’s Box; salon owner David Lindsay, of Maestro Hair; manager of Hugh Black and Sons Butchers, Christopher Reid; Leslie Chemist owner Michael Docherty; and Robert Cochrane, who runs Speciality Cakes.
Also on board are Johnston Drive business owners Scott Chambers of DAS Vehicle Services, Robert Birrell of Birrell Corrance Funeral Directors, and Kim and Paul Colgan of Dino’s ice cream parlour.
Donald MacDonald, owner of Wheel Centre on West Coats Road, is also keen to get involved.
Seona and pals have chosen the afternoon of Tuesday, June 18 for the collective photo shoots, by which time the town centre’s hanging baskets should be in full bloom.
They are keen to see as many businesses as possible take part.
“There are some great companies here and some brilliant characters, and that’s worth celebrating,” Seona said.
“The internet is great, but it’s people who make a community.
“When you are born and bred somewhere and you can see it starting to look a bit sad, it affects everybody. We just want to concentrate on the positive, the good businesses that are here, rather than the empty units.
“We’ve got a whole lot of heart in Cambuslang and we want as many people as possible to meet some of the great folk that form our village, and enjoy the photography.”
Businesses that would like to get involved can contact Seona on 07541 990861, or post a message on All About Cambuslang.


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Ringside Collectibles offered an update on the shipping days many customers have experienced over the last couple of months for pre-ordered products with late-May and early June estimated shipping dates, including the Ultimate Edition 9 wave (“Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Ric Flair).
“Just wanted to give everyone an update, unfortunately there are a lot of shipping carrier delays across the board from China lately which caused some of our late-May / early-June dated items to have a slight delay,” Ringside wrote on the WrestlingFigs.com forum. “For Ultimate 9 we received part of the shipment in May and the remaining part of it a little later due to a shipping carrier issue. Our dates are estimates and dates can always vary due to the unpredictability of importing goods from overseas.
“We greatly apologize for these slight delays and have done everything in our power to get the figures to you ASAP. In fact almost all orders from late-May / early-June have been shipped and any remaining should hopefully ship very soon.”
Shipping delays have been a major headache within every industry, not just toys — and are largely out of the hands. of retailers like Ringside.
The New York Post reported that there is a major backlog of toy shipments for both WWE toy maker Mattel and Hasbro at the facility in Shenzhen, showing pictures of piled up boxes. Additionally, there is a shipping container shortage on top of a transportation bottleneck exasperated by the blockage of the Suez Canal in March.


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By: Leanne Tan | 30 May 2016
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Some buyers of titanium dioxide (TiO2) in southeast Asia and India may switch to non-Chinese origin cargoes, following the recent surge in China’s export prices, market sources said on Monday.
“The appeal of Chinese-origin cargoes is that they are cheaper in comparison to non-Chinese origin materials,” a southeast Asian buyer said.
“If the price gap between the two keeps narrowing, there won’t be much advantage in procuring Chinese cargoes anymore,” the buyer said.
Firmer TiO2 export offers emerged from China last week as domestic demand strengthened while availability of spot cargoes was tight. Chinese producers had offered rutile-grade TiO2 last week at $1,850-1,900/tonne FOB (free on board) China, up by an average of $90/tonne from the previous week. But actual cargoes exchanged hands at around $1,800/tonne FOB China and above in the week ended 27 May.
Over the same period, regional TiO2 prices were assessed steady at $2,100/tonne CFR (cost and freight) Asia. Prices have been stable since mid-April, according to ICIS data. Taiwan, Malaysia and India are among the other major TiO2 producers in Asia, with freight rates to their markets within the region at roughly $25-45/tonne.
In late 2015, the price spread averaged $550/tonne, with Chinese-origin cargoes at around $1,450/tonne FOB China and non-Chinese origin materials at $1,900-2,100/tonne CFR Asia.TiO2 supply has been tight in China as a number of domestic plants had reduced production in the first quarter of this year, when prices were low.
Some of these plants have since ramped up operating rates as prices started moving up in the second quarter, but supply levels usually take time to recover, market sources said. A recent pick-up in domestic demand has aggravated the tight supply situation in the country, they said. Meanwhile, supply of non-Chinese origin cargoes has been largely healthy, according to market sources.Find out more about our news service »
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Realme 3i is the trimmed down version of the Realme 3 and it is powered by the MediaTek Helio P60 processor. Here is how the phone performs.
2019 has been a busy year for the Realme. The company has launched five smartphones in India by mid-July and also made its entry into the Chinese smartphone market. Realme is also concentrating on offline sales this year in India in order to grab the user base from Samsung.
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Marriott Vacation Club International announced plans on Thursday to begin a push into Asia with the opening of a regional headquarters in Singapore.
The Orlando-based time-share resort developer and operator said the new office will open the way for new resorts and a sales program tailored for Asian customers.
"We have recognized for quite some time that while time share is booming elsewhere in the world, Asia is a relatively untapped market," Marriott Vacation Club President Steve Weisz said.
The company established a toehold in Thailand five years ago with development of the Phuket Beach Club resort, a traditional time-share project aimed at Southeast Asian customers. So far, 89 of 144 villas planned for the resort have been built.
Marriott spokesman Ed Kinney said the company has learned about the market during the past several years and is now ready to grow. Instead of selling weeklong ownership intervals, which are the norm in North America, the company plans to sell vacation points in Asia, an approach that accommodates shorter stays.
"As a company, we have been flexible in adapting our products to fit particular market needs," Kinney said. "Points seem to work better in Asia. Instead of buying a deeded week, you buy a block of points based on your needs."
Kinney said the Asia Pacific market's growing affluence makes the region attractive for growth. He said the company had no specific plans for new projects in the Far East.
"Culturally, Asians are very family-oriented and their affluence is supporting a lifestyle of quality of service that fits what we offer," Kinney said. "We are ready to establish a sales presence and to find opportunities for additional resort developments."


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Hundreds of people are signing this petition for a Starfield PS5 version
PlayStation fans were disappointed to see the Starfield Xbox and PC exclusivity confirmed once again at the Starfield Direct showcase, so much so that they’ve started a petition!
We’ve known for some time that Bethesda’s sci-fi epic is only coming to PC and Xbox Series consoles, but that hasn’t stopped a group of Sony fans from launching a petition pleading for Starfield PS5.
The change.org petition has gathered nearly 1000 signatures less than a week following the Starfield Direct showcase in which fans were treated to a 45 minute deep-dive on the upcoming game. The showcase repeated the 2022 confirmation that Starfield will be console exclusive.
For the PS5 to have no mention at the Starfield Direct showcase couldn’t have come as a surprise to most fans, but many still held hope that Starfield would see a later release on Starfield following a ‘timed-exclusive’ period. Even after news of the acquisition, Bethesda’s Deathloop and GhostWire: Tokyo both received PS5 timed exclusivity, only becoming available on Xbox consoles one year later. Unfortunately for fans, no such confirmation has been made for Starfield.
Perhaps as a result, one passionate fan took to change.org and created a petition to bring Starfield to the PS5. Many fans, including those who signed the petition, were doubtful that the petition would succeed in bringing Starfield to Sony’s platform, while others commented that PlayStation exclusives have historically outnumbered Xbox exclusives considerably. Microsoft President Brad Smith commented in 2022 that, at the time of the interview, the PlayStation had 286 exclusives, while the Xbox had only 59.
However, none of this means that Starfield will never see a PS5 release. As Phil Spencer posted in a tweet following the announcement of Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, future Bethesda titles will release on Xbox, PC, and “other consoles on a case by case basis.”
If true, it could mean that Starfield sees a PS5 release somewhere in the years to come, possibly as a Starfield Special Edition.
The Starfield system requirements are fairly high for such a large open-world experience, so PlayStation fans may prefer to wait for future hints at a Starfield PS5 release. As soon as those hints are announced, you can be we’ll update our guides, so make sure you follow us on Google News to learn all about them.


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Another high-profile exit of WhatsApp: Chief Business Officer Neeraj quits
In what is sure to hurt WhatsApp and its parent company Facebook, Neeraj Arora, the Chief Business Officer of the messaging app, announced on Monday that he will leave the company. Arora said, he will be 'taking some time off to recharge and spend time with family'. Notably, in 2017, co-founder Brian Acton had resigned from the company over Facebook's privacy practices. Here's more.
Arora had been associated with WhatsApp since 2011 and was part of the company when Facebook acquired it for $19 billion. In a Facebook post, Arora wrote, "I am confident that WhatsApp will continue to be the simple, secure & trusted communication product for years to come." He thanked Acton and co-founder Jan Koum, who had left the company seven months ago.
This exit will spell troubles for Facebook and its founder Mark Zuckerberg. Notably, Koum in his now-deleted WhatsApp blog post had alleged the tech giant had no respect for privacy. He had written, "These days companies know literally everything about you, your friends, your interests, and they use it all to sell ads." Koum was also unhappy with Facebook's plans of monetization.
Arora's resignation comes at a time when WhatsApp is pushing for monetization and is looking to insert advertisements in statuses for the same. The messaging app is also facing the pressure of curbing fake news. In a bid to curb misinformation, WhatsApp deployed campaigns in markets like India and Brazil. It hoped to educate users about spreading fake news.
Notably, Arora is the latest one to join the long list of senior executives who have left companies acquired by Facebook. Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger resigned from their posts recently. Facebook had acquired the photo-sharing app for $1 billion. Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe also left the company. Facebook's chief security officer Alex Stamos left the company in August this year.