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By Brian Dunn
One of the principal objectives of CargoM, the Logistics and Transportation Cluster of Metropolitan Montreal, is to attract new businesses to the region by identifying sectors that offer growth opportunities, particularly those which may not have a strong presence in the area. About three or four years ago, it pinpointed the agri-food sector as a potential business to pursue.
“The city (of Montreal) helped in identifying this sector which we felt could be a great opportunity for us,” said Mathieu Charbonneau, Executive Director of CargoM which recently celebrating its 5th anniversary. “Not just to serve the Montreal region, but also Ontario and the northeastern U.S. But before we can go after new business, we need to build the infrastructure and to understand cold chain technology and to see what’s currently available in Montreal. We also need to see who wants the service.”
CargoM had a kiosk at SIAL Canada in May, the most important international trade show for the agri-food business in Canada which alternates between Montreal and Toronto. The major players in the sector such as Olymel and Danone have their own cold storage facilities, so CargoM is targeting smaller and medium-size players who may want to set up shop in the Montreal area. “The agri-food sector is socially acceptable and offers well-paying jobs and a lot of the logistics are done in-house,” Mr. Charbonneau pointed out as some of the reasons why it is an attractive sector to pursue.
Targeting of the sector was part of the mandate of CargoM’s Working Group I – Logistics and Transport Development Opportunities. It is one of four working groups for the organization. But whenever a new administration is elected, as in the case of the City of Montreal, it seems the shipping industry has to start from zero in terms of explaining the importance of the sector to the economy, noted Mr. Charbonneau. Fortunately, the new mayor, Valérie Plante, is adding more resources to economic development and has appointed Véronique Doucet as Director of Economic Development Services for the City, a similar position she held with Ville St-Laurent where she concentrated on the area around Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, said Mr. Charbonneau.
Under Working Group 2 – Communication and Outreach, CargoM is casting a wider net by reaching out beyond the Montreal region. For example, Mr. Charbonneau made a presentation at the Association of Canadian Port Authorities conference in St. John (NB) in September and attended the American Association of Port Authorities conference held in Montreal in June.
This past summer, consultations and roundtables led to a pilot project under Working Group 3 – Innovation and Fluidity, which experimented with moving freight during off peak hours. Both Montreal Gateway Terminals and Termont went from operating between 7 a.m.-3 p.m. to 6 a.m.-5 p.m. for three weeks. About 20 per cent of cargo flow occurred during the extras three hours and instead of an average of two return (pick up and drop off) trips per day per truck, there were almost four turns per day, noted Mr. Charbonneau. The experiment was so successful that the operating hours have been extended from 6 a.m.-11 p.m. with an extra $35 fee for extended terminal hours. “It’s a good example of what a cluster can do and we also tried to see if we can get cargo to move at night. One example is a South Shore chemical company that delivers to a Montreal water treatment facility as a customer. Since the facility is only open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., the chemicals could be deposited at a Montreal depot at night when traffic is light, then delivered the next day. “
Working Group 4 – Workforce, continues to be challenged in attracting new employees to the sector. But thanks to the free-trade deal between Canada and the European Union, the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) is hiring for the first time in a long time, said Mr. Charbonneau. The volume of containers moving in and out of the port of Montreal rose almost 20 per cent in July compared to the same period a year ago. During the first seven months of the year, container imports were up 7.8 per cent from a year ago. As a result, MEA is hiring 50 longshoremen and 15 auditors.
“Since the signing of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the port of Montreal has become a preferred shipping route for carriers to access the markets in Central Canada and the American Midwest,” said Stéphane Morency, President and CEO of MEA.
CargoM has also begun to interact with newly-arrived immigrants as a potential pool of badly needed workers. And on Nov. 19, it is holding its third annual Career Day at Le Grand Quai at the Old Port which last year attracted 50 companies who had 300 potential positions available for the 1,500 attendees.
CargoM continues to raise its profile by targeting different national and international events. As an example, Multimodal Americas held its 2018 conference in Toronto in October, an event that Mr. Charbonneau would like to attract to Montreal. The Retail Industry Leaders Association which attracts heavy hitters like Walmart and Nike, is being held at the end of February in Orlando and Mr. Charbonneau will attend, as will Port of Montreal that will have a kiosk at the event. He also plans to attend Cargo Logistics Canada in early February in Vancouver and Transport Logistic Multimodal Munich in June.
“We also want to do a promotional mission in Europe and Asia at some point,” Mr. Charbonneau added. “Ànd we want to create a Foreign Trade Zone centre in Montreal (where public and private organizations set up a task force to provide better access to government policies and programs to promote local and international trade) like they have in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Halifax.
Another significant initiative is the creation of a $100 million fund by the Port and FTQ (Fonds de solidarité development capital fund) for companies that want to expand or export more from here.”
During its 5th Anniversary celebration in June, CargoM gave special recognition to the driving force behind the establishment of the organization. Honoured with a plaque were Sylvie Vachon, President & CEO, Montreal Port Authority, Madeleine Paquin, President & CEO, Logistec Corporation, Claude Robert, President, Robert Transport and François Hébert, Vice-President, Corporate Development, CN.
CargoM also published an analysis of its profile since it launched in 2012 and its contribution to the transportation industry in the Montreal area over the past five years. The number of activities it participated in such as conferences, workshops, trade missions between 2013 and 2017, for example, increased from 63 to 126, while mentions in the media jumped from seven to 37 during the same period. The number of studies, reports and publications it was involved in also showed a sharp increase from eight to 45.
In a survey of its members and non-members and its transportation network, 94 per cent of those surveyed felt CargoM had a positive impact on the industry, while 96 per cent felt it was a relevant player in the Montreal area. The only area where it polled relatively low was that only 66 per cent felt CargoM had a positive media presence, a profile Mr. Charbonneau would like to improve.


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Leave no one behind! Eosta / Nature & More has sold the first 100,000 boxes of Living Wage avocados
Last year, Eosta introduced the first Living Wage product (mango) under it's house brand Nature & More. In April this year the Living Wage avocado was launched. Two months on, 100,000 4kg boxes have already been sold. As hoped, the initiative has also been supported by major retailers all over Europe, including Dennree in Germany and ICA in Sweden. For every kilo of avocados sold, Eosta puts 2 euro cents towards a Living Wage (a new income standard) for the supplier’s Kenyan workers.
Gert-Jan Lieffering, Quality Development Manager at Eosta / Nature & More, prefers to call them ‘All inclusive avocados’, the Kenyan avocados from Anthony Ngugi that Eosta sells with a Living Wage premium as standard. The avocados are a driving force of Eosta’s ‘Leave no one behind’ policy that focuses on social inclusion. With this, Eosta incorporates the social petals of the Sustainability Flower, in addition to the other ecological and health aspects that are represented in various campaigns. In doing so, Eosta are working towards their overall mission: healthy, fair, organic.
Companies can no longer get away with exploitation
Eosta expects that demand for Living Wage products will continue to grow and that supermarkets will promote them more. Volkert Engelsman, CEO of Eosta, says: “Companies can no longer get away with exploiting workers in far-off countries. As we speak, Germany has draft legislation ready that will force companies to purchase in a socially responsible way. In the Netherlands, we support professor Jaap Winter’s initiative to make corporate social responsibility legally binding. And the EU is working on a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive that will require companies to report on their sustainability impact from 2023. But why wait for that? The world needs Living Wages right now.”
About the Living Wage
Living Wage is a new phenomenon in the international food trade and sets the bar for fair wages that are much higher than what has been customary until now. With social certifications like GRASP, the minimum wage is the benchmark to guarantee a fair income, but in many countries that means a subsistence minimum that only perpetuates poverty. The Living Wage is higher because it also takes into account the cost of education, healthcare and some savings to fall back on. This makes structural improvement a reality in the long term.
See also: www.livingwage.eu
Eosta, with Nature & More as its consumer brand and transparency system, is Europe’s most awarded distributor of organic fruit and vegetables. Eosta is known for its sustainability campaigns such as Living Wage, True Cost of Food and Dr. Goodfood. In 2018, the company won the King William I Plaque for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and in 2019 the European Business Award for the Environment. See also www.eosta.com and www.natureandmore.com.
END OF PRESS RELEASE
Contact and images:
Monique Mooij, Marketing Coordinator
Marie-Ange Vaessen, Marketing Manager
Telephone: +31 (0)180 63 55 500

domain: news


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Pringles tubes are being redesigned - here’s why
The distinctive Pringles can design will start to look different in the next few months, as owner Kellogg’s tries to address a major issue with their packaging - they’re a nightmare to recycle.
The instantly recognisable design contributes to the product’s 15 month shelf life. But, with around three million cans made every day in Europe alone, there’s a clear need to reduce the environmental footprint associated with the snack.
What was the problem?
The moreish potato-based snacks come in a distinctive tube, but the makeup of this iconic packaging make Pringles cans very difficult to recycle, according to experts.
The main issue is that the old cans were fairly complex, using metal, plastic, foil and cardboard components.The Recycling Association highlighted the Pringles tube as its number one recycling villain, alongside the Lucozade Sports bottle, in 2017.
What has changed?
The redesigned tube, which has been in development for 12 months, will be made up of 90 per cent paper and approximately 10 per cent plastic, to create a seal which protects the contents against moisture and oxygen.
The lid for the new tube, which Kellogg’s claims will make the same ‘pop’ sound associated with the product, will be recyclable, with plastic and cardboard versions currently on trial in Tesco stores.
Will it make a difference?
While the redesign has been described as “an improvement”, experts have raised some concerns.They warn that it will not be clear until the product has been tested in recycling mills whether the plastic used for the seal will be recyclable. Experts have also advised that Kellogg’s should go with a cardboard lid.
Speaking to BBC News, Simon Ellin from the Recycling Association said, "The Pringles tube has been a bastion of bad design from the recyclers' point of view. This new version is an improvement, and we broadly welcome it.
"But, frankly, if they are going to stick to a plastic lid that’ll just add to problems with plastic pollution - people on picnics leave them behind and they find their way into streams and the sea. That plastic lid has got to go."


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By Eric Smith
Black Diamond Equipment, the flagship brand of Salt Lake City, UT-based Clarus Corp., is world-renowned for its backcountry and climbing gear, while two of Clarus’ other assets—Pieps and SKINourishment—also make essential products for mountaineers.
With a portfolio centered on helping adventurers in their lofty and often challenging pursuits, it made sense for Clarus to channel the mindset of its brands’ core users during its pandemic response.
“Throughout our history, in both good times and in bad, Clarus has attacked our business with a climber’s mentality,” President John Walbrecht said on Monday afternoon’s earnings call. “In climbing, one is faced with adversity on every ascent—weather can be unpredictable and holds can be fickle—but with experience, determination and a good belay partner, one can overcome the wall’s adversity. We are approaching the current business environment with the same mentality.”
Walbrecht said the company’s focus in recent months—one that it’s been stressing to its community of core outdoor athletes—has been “live now, climb later; live now, run later; live now, ski later.”
Case in point: Clarus recently walked away from its planned $85 million acquisition of S.K.B. Corp., the Orange, CA-based maker of protective cases.
Clarus, whose portfolio also includes Sierra Bullets, on March 10 announced an agreement to acquire SKB. At the time, Walbrecht said the brand would extend the company’s “innovate and accelerate” brand strategy focused on the go-to-market process across a more diversified user portfolio.
But unsafe conditions in the form of a global pandemic that sent the economy tumbling made turning back the prudent choice. In an 8-K filing on May 1, Clarus said it was terminating its planned purchase of SKB due to “recent events surrounding the COVID-19 global pandemic, and the economic uncertainties in the United States and globally as a result thereof.”
Another example of the climber’s mentality is how Clarus team members reacted to this crisis. Walbrecht said the measure of a person’s character can be found in how they respond under “extreme strain.” That’s true on a wall or in an office, and it became apparent as the crisis developed and worsened like a looming storm.
“The team engaged at a level unseen before,” Walbrecht said. “The passion at BD is about our core consumers, about the sports we serve, about the retail partners and our factory partners. We worked super hard in this process, and it shows in every area of the business financially, as well as the communication level.”
There were, of course, some financial hits for Clarus and its brands during the first quarter. The company reported Q1 sales of $53.6 million, a 12.4 percent decline from the same quarter a year ago. Revenue missed Wall Street’s expectations by $1.4 million. Net income was $0.04 million, or 0 cents per diluted share, compared to $3.8 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, a year ago. Wall Street estimated EPS of 4 cents.
Black Diamond sales were down 13 percent and Sierra sales were down 12 percent. The company said the decline at Black Diamond was “solely due to the COVID-related demand freeze in the final weeks of the quarter.” And while sales in Sierra were also down, “the demand environment has improved since the beginning of 2020.”
While discussing Q1 results, Walbrecht outlined Clarus’ pandemic playbook that the company devised at the onset of the virus.
“First and most importantly our people,” he said. “Second, the preservation of brand equity. And third, maximizing liquidity which together we believe will make us emerge as an even stronger company.”
Let’s unpack each strategy.
Since mid-March, Clarus implemented a work-from-home policy for all office employees, which had “minimal disruption to our overall operations,” Walbrecht said. Employees at Sierra and those within the company’s “essential” divisions, such as distribution, continued to work on-site but under strict safety measures.
Clarus also reiterated a commitment to its “top-growth fund,” Walbrecht added. “While in existence for a while, this fund was created to help our employees dealing with hardships. Times like these represent the reason the fund was started, and we are more than happy to support our employees and their needs.”
The next focus was “the preservation of brand equity,” something that Clarus said was integral to its portfolio of “superfan brands.”
“In light of the world crisis, like the one we are facing now, moving product quickly at the expense of margin is often the strategy of less diversified and less durable brands, but it’s one we will not pursue,” he said. “For Clarus, brand equity amongst the core consumer is our lifeblood. We are supporting our retail partners through a difficult period and this includes the integrity of our pricing. Our supply chain and distribution are operating well, enabling continued shipments through our wholesale and distributor partners in those channels and geographies that still remain open.”
Clarus reported its direct-to-consumer business was up 16 percent in the quarter as the company saw “improved activation in our e-commerce channel due to more effective prospecting and retargeting in order to drive higher levels of site traffic,” Walbrecht said.
“Instead of chasing the bottom of our website, we decided to only run select promotions that we were within our minimized advertised price policy,” he added. “Again, to protect our brand equity. We expect our well-performing e-commerce business, along with third-party sites of our wholesale partners, many of which are currently operational to carry more weight in 2020 as a percentage of our total sales, offsetting some of the weaknesses that will be felt at traditional retail.”
And finally, Clarus heightened its focus on liquidity, “which was strong leading into the crisis,” Walbrecht noted. “At the end of the first quarter, we had nearly $13 million in cash and access to approximately $28 million in incremental liquidity with a modest long-term debt balance that we are comfortable servicing.”
Despite all these moves, Clarus acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, and on March 9 the company withdrew its 2020 guidance—something most public companies have done in the last two months.
“While we believe Clarus is well-positioned both strategically and financially to navigate the COVID pandemic, the current uncertainty created by the virus means that visibility to our recovery path is limited,” said CFO Aaron Kuehne. “There are many factors outside of our control, like when people return to work, and what their buying behaviors will reflect, which makes it difficult to provide specifics on our 2020 outlook.”
While the company isn’t guiding for 2020, it has a clear outline for leveraging its strengths during this crisis as retail stores reopen and consumer confidence hopefully returns.
Walbrecht said Clarus is focusing on bolstering its “global distribution network and flexible supply chains that we have built over many decades, increasing manufacturing capabilities at Sierra, and driving efficiencies throughout our operations.”
The company is also banking on its diverse portfolio of products across geographies and channels, including only a small percentage—about 14 percent—of its product mix consisting of apparel and footwear. Clarus also will continue to emphasize its growing DTC business while continuing to create operational efficiencies in both Black Diamond and Sierra brands as part of a companywide shift toward digital.
But, Walbrecht stressed, the company’s fortunes ride on that superfan brand strategy that has served Clarus so well in recent years.
“First, given the uncertain retail landscape, we believe being a superfan brand owners represents a distinctive advantage for Clarus,” he said. “In past crises, our core tribe has shown to be very loyal to our brand. Over the last three-plus years that we have been together as a team, we are focused on our innovate and accelerate playbook, regardless of the market dynamics. This playbook includes further strengthening our brands’ market positioning by investing in product innovation, sales and marketing, and pursuing new long-term revenue opportunities.
“Ultimately, we believe our diversified brand portfolio, global distribution platform and fast-growing direct channel is well-positioned to navigate the current challenges and evolving consumer landscape. Above all, we have great confidence in our team’s ability to ascend the unprecedented times. It is in our DNA. It is simply who we are.”
Photos courtesy Black Diamond/Michael Lim


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Enterprise software startup Bitium has secured a $6.5 million Series A investment from Polaris Partners. Amplify, Resolute VC, Double M Partners, Karlin Ventures, Social Leverage, Rob Glaser, and Lazerow Ventures contributed. The Santa Monica company helps customers manage apps. Dave Barrett, managing partner at Polaris, said in a press release that Gartner forecasts global IT spending is on track to hit $3.8 trillion this year.
Spire Technologies, a big data tech company out of Bangalore, has raised $8 million in a Series A investment. The funding came “at a post-money valuation of $23 million, from a strategic long-term” backer, according to a press release. Spire Technologies’ $8 million injection will be put towards development in markets including the U.S., APAC, and EMEA.
Authentication company Nok Nok Labs has received $16.5 million in a Series B funding from Lenovo Group Limited, DCM and ONSET Ventures. This investment brings total backing behind the Palo Alto company to $31.5 million. According to MarketsandMarkets, the multi-factor authentication market will swell to $5.45 billion by 2017.
San Francisco-based ClearSlide, which provides a platform for sales engagement, has raised a $50 million Series C funding round. The Social+Capital Partnership led the investment, while all current investors contributed. Among them: Greylock Partners, Felicis Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners. Total investment comes to $90 million. The company, which serves sales teams at companies such as LinkedIn and The Wall Street Journal, has ramped up revenue by 2.5x over the past year.
Medical device company Bruin Biometrics has realized a $10 million funding round oversubscribed by nearly $2.7 million. The Los Angeles-based startup “previously completed two initial rounds of funding for $4 million,” according to a press release. The United States medical device market stood gauged at $127.1 billion last year, according to Espicom.
According to an eBay blog post, the San Jose-based company is leading a roughly $133.77 million investment round for Snapdeal, a web marketplace out of New Delhi, India. EBay had funded Snapdeal before and with this new round increases its stake in the company. One year ago, Snapdeal had accrued more than 20 million registered users. “Both companies are well poised to capitalize to on the opportunity of a growing 200 million Internet user base and 140 million mobile Internet users,” eBay in its blog post.
The board of EKF, Denmark’s “official” export credit agency, has greenlit a $600 million loan to Massachusetts’ Cape Wind, according to reports. Cape Wind will be the first offshore wind farm in the United States, according to its website. A 2012 report by Greenpeace International and the Global Wind Energy Council says that by 2020, “wind power could supply up to 12 percent of global electricity.”


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Hiring for Amazon's distribution centers in North Little Rock and the Port of Little Rock is set to begin in late May, with expected starting dates in mid- to late summer, the e-commerce giant announced Monday.
Amazon is working with the Little Rock Regional Chamber to host two virtual information sessions and one drive-thru job fair to share details on the warehouse jobs, the hiring process and benefits.
According to a chamber website, the full-time jobs pay $15 per hour. Benefits include a tuition assistance program, stock awards and an employee discount. Medical benefits begin on the first day of work.
The two information sessions will cover the same information and are scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday and 9:30 a.m. Friday. The drive-thru job fair is set for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Little Rock Workforce Center at 5401 S. University Ave.
Registration for the sessions is available here; applicants can sign up for text notifications about Amazon jobs by sending LTRNOW1 to 77088.
Prospects will be applying for warehouse jobs at Amazon's 825,000-SF fulfillment center at the Little Rock Port and a 1 million-SF non-sortable center near the Galloway exit in North Little Rock. The port facility will employ more than 1,000 full-time workers; the North Little Rock operation will create around 500 jobs.


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Digital TV News: Gemtek
Broadband CPE and Home Networking Vendors Make Push towards Premium Services
Dec 19, 2011 – Infonetics has released vendor market share standings and market forecasts from two third quarter (3Q11) broadband access reports. Despite a 7% worldwide decline in cable CPE revenue, Motorola (NYSE: MMI) held on to the top spot in cable CPE.
News categories: Infonetics Research, Broadband, Cable Modem, Cable TV, CPE, DOCSIS, Fibre, Gateway, IPTV, Market Research, Router, Smart Home
Gemtek Licenses Discretix Multi-Scheme DRM Client with Microsoft® PlayReady® Support
Feb 16, 2011 – Discretix has announced that Gemtek Technology has licensed its Multi-Scheme DRM Client with Microsoft PlayReady® support for Android based pocket-size smart TV box.
News categories: Discretix, Gemtek, Content Protection, Digital TV, DRM, MWC20, OTT, Set Top Box
Massive Wave of WHDI Products Announced at CES
Jan 5, 2011 – WHDI LLC has announced that, together with leading WHDI technology supplier AMIMON, they will demonstrate numerous new WHDI products, technology innovations and future product designs at the International CES show.
News categories: WHDI LLC, AMIMON, CES2021, Smart Home, Smart TV
Sigma Designs Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results
Aug 26, 2009 – Sigma Designs® (Nasdaq:SIGM) has reported financial results its second fiscal quarter ended August 1, 2009. Net revenue for the second quarter was $51.3 million, down $6.9 million from $58.2 million reported for the same period last year.
News categories: Sigma Designs, IPTV, Results, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Smart Home
Broadband CPE market dips in 4Q08
Mar 9, 2009 – A slowdown in broadband subscriber growth caused manufacturer revenue to decline in the fourth quarter of 2008. The bright spot continues to be the digital home gateway segment, as telcos use them to bundle IPTV into broadband services.
News categories: Infonetics Research, Broadband, CPE, Gateway, IPTV, Market Research
- MediaKind first to deploy latest You.i TV video experience SDK
- TVSquared and Blockgraph partner on TV and cross-channel measurement
- PlayStation 5 launches this November
- BrightLine launches connected TV ad solution
- FIH and NAGRA launch Watch.Hockey app
- Gracenote enables cross-platform search and discovery for sports content
- VR headset market expected to grow despite short-term decline
- Pay TV in Portugal grows 4.1% YoY in 1H 2020
- Liberty Puerto Rico launches Hub TV powered by TiVo
- Verizon Media offers header bidding-like solution for OTT publishers
- Watch Brasil launches SVOD Smart TV app with Accedo
- ViacomCBS global streaming service to be called Paramount+
- TV3 to trial 5G immersive sport at Superbike World Championship
- Finns prefer to watch streaming services on the TV
- Proximus Pickx Android TV service goes live with 3SS
- Disney+ launches in eight more European countries
- Orange delivers 1.75bn multi-DRM licenses with Viaccess-Orca
- Dotscreen renews metadata deal with Red Bee Media
- Broadpeak powers NPVR service for Orange France
- ZEASN announces Smart TV App Store v3.0


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ABnote has received Visa OTA certification for its trusted service manager facilities in Australia and New Zealand, allowing them to set up NFC mobile wallets over the air. The two TSM data centres, in Ingleburn and Christchurch, have already achieved similar certification from MasterCard. “ABnote is well positioned to provision financial payment cards onto mobile devices,” says the company.
- Indian employees make NFC payments using everyday objects
- Two in three young Brits have made a mobile payment in-store
- Japanese bank eyes facial recognition
- IHG to accept Alipay in hotels worldwide
- NFC Ring circles the globe


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No-code technology embeds best-in-class payment features into any SaaS application in minutes.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Aug. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In a significant stride toward simplifying payment integration, PayJunction, a leading innovator in payment processing technology, today announced the launch of its No-code Payments Integration™ platform. This revolutionary, free browser extension enables rapid integration of payment features within any cloud software platform.
PayJunction is positioned at the forefront of the no-code movement, ready to anticipate and respond quickly to evolving payment industry trends. With each new payment feature introduced to the market, PayJunction ensures its seamless inclusion in its No-code Integration Platform, providing Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and developers the assurance that payment features in their software remain up-to-date without burdening developer resources.
No-code Payments Integration eliminates the complexities traditionally associated with payment integrations, such as custom coding, API management, and certification cycles. Software providers can concentrate their resources on core product development and innovation.
Randy Modos, President of PayJunction, remarked, "This isn't just a leap forward; it's an evolutionary jump in software development for the payments industry. Our No-code Payments Integration platform marks a transformative moment that reduces development time from months to minutes. ISVs, developers, and businesses gain tools to efficiently implement and manage payment acceptance, leveling the playing field for all."
Early merchant adopters agree. "No-code Payments Integration is easy to use and has reduced staff errors when taking payments," said Diana Franco, Patient Care Coordinator at Marketplace Physical Therapy. "Everything needed to complete a transaction is displayed on one page, and the information automatically flows between our software and PayJunction."
PayJunction's platform offers an extensive range of features, including:
No-code Payments Integration's advanced security features provide peace of mind to ISVs and business owners. The convenient browser extension allows point-of-sale (POS) and business management software solutions to process payments without storing or transmitting sensitive cardholder data within their systems. As a result, ISVs and merchants simplify PCI compliance and significantly reduce their risk of a data breach.
Developers can use a combination of PayJunction's No-code Payments Integration and low-code webhooks to expand acceptance features and customize workflows and business logic to meet specific requirements. This lets developers quickly create secure, fully integrated omnichannel experiences for in-person, online, and digital-driven purchases.
No-code Payments Integration is an evolutionary solution that underscores PayJunction's dedication to guiding the payment industry to new frontiers, aided by technology that prioritizes security and user-friendly experiences. The integration platform is free for software developers who want to connect businesses to PayJunction's payment gateway and processing platform. PayJunction's ethical reputation, transparent pricing and month-to-month terms—backed by award-winning service for developers and customers—translate to a successful customer experience.
For more information on this breakthrough platform and its potential for your business, visit www.payjunction.com.
Founded in 2000, PayJunction has consistently redefined the payment processing industry through innovation, customer advocacy, and transparent pricing. PayJuntion's resolute ambition to develop disruptive technology and tools has put it at the forefront of No-code payment solutions. The company processes over $9 billion annually, offering businesses versatile solutions for in-person, online, and on-the-go payment acceptance. PayJunction's enduring commitment to valuing long-term relationships over short-term profit has received accolades from esteemed institutions like Stevie®, Glassdoor®, Titan®, and high recommendations on Trustpilot.
Our No-code Payments Integration platform marks a transformative moment that reduces development time from months to minutes. ISVs, developers, and businesses gain tools to efficiently implement and manage payment acceptance, leveling the playing field for all.
Ursula Librizzi, PayJunction, 1 800-601-0230, [email protected], payjunction.com


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PS3 in March?
Garbage in. Garbage out.
Interesting data in, wild conjecture out.
Now that the PlayStation Meeting is over, we get to go wild with speculation over little morsels thrown off the Sony table. At said meeting, Mr. Kuturagi announced that the Playstation Conference will be held in February of next year. And that it will be held on the “eve” of the PS3 launch.
So what’s your definition of “eve”? New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve are both the night before, but I have a feeling Mr. Kuturagi isn’t thinking that way. Sony has said that the PS3 will be launch in the spring of 2006, so that would make March 21, 2006 the earliest date within that timeframe.
Would a conference held in February be considered on the “eve” of a launch held late March?
Now that’s what I call wild conjecture!


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It’s been a long time since the US administration is making accusations against Huawei and banned it as a national security threat. But there’s a new addition to this story.
According to Reuters, US federal communication on Friday said to adopt final rules and banned the sale or import of new equipment made by Huawei citing “an unacceptable risk” to U.S national security.
Other than Huawei, the US fed accused and stopped sales from China’s surveillance equipment maker Dahua Tech, Hikvision, and telecom firm Hytera communication.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said these rules are an important part of the US’s ongoing actions to protect the American people from national security threats involving telecommunications. However, Jessica didn’t cite any evidence of espionage.
So far, Huawei has not commented on this decision but the company has been continuously denying posing a security risk to the U.S.
FCC proposed such a ban on equipment and devices in a list of companies proposed last year. However, it’s derived from Entity List.
In 2019, the former U.S. president, Donald Trump announced the Entity List. It targets tech giants such as Huawei from getting key U.S. technologies to build new products such as smartphones or network equipment.
In the following year, FCC designated Huawei as a national security threat alongside ZTE. The US ordered to the removal of Huawei from the country’s network infrastructure. On the hand, the commission has passed a bill to provide 1.8 billion USD in assistance for service providers to remove Huawei-made gears.
Still, U.S. carriers need more funds than the actual one that was announced by the FCC. The subsidy will only cover around 20-40% of the equipment, while they’ll have to pay the rest of the price from their own funds.
The new ban on Huawei and other Chinese companies may create some headlines for the U.S. in the name of national security. Yet, the US is not showing any evidence of how Huawei poses national security.
Huawei Kirin and HarmonyOS appears in Chinese study syllabus
According to the inputs coming from Weibo, Huawei Kirin, HarmonyOS operating system and other self-developed Huawei technologies appeared in the study test syllabus question book.
A picture shared online shows questions that have carried out an inventory of the product names of China’s most influential technology companies. And said that these product names are very distinctive, including the mobile chipset “Kirin”, the operating system “HarmonyOS”, the server chip “Kunpeng” and more.
The latest appearance of these popular technologies is the result of the people behind the development that put countless hours to bring them into reality.
U.S. wants to cut Qualcomm supplies to Huawei
The U.S. wants to impose further restrictions on Huawei to completely cut off the supply chains including the goods from Qualcomm and Intel. We could just call it the latest addition to the U.S. administration’s obsession with Huawei.
Reuters reports that the U.S. Government under Joe Biden has come up with a new policy of denial to sell items to Huawei. The list of denial now goes beyond 5G to cover products for 4G, WiFi 6, WiFi 7, A.I., and high-performance cloud computing and cloud items.
A person familiar with the matter revealed that the Biden administration wants to tighten its grip on Huawei and the reversing the approval of 4G chip technology transfer. However, these chips were also approved under the early office of Biden himself.
Back in 2019, the former U.S. president ordered to put Huawei into the so-called Entity List, which bans other companies from selling their goods to Huawei. This led to massive outages in Huawei’s supply chain, as the intent was to empty Huawei from all of its tech access.
So, It lost Google mobile services, 5G chipset, and other crucial components used in telecom products. These sanctions didn’t have effect immediately but the U.S. government staged them to check the impact on the Chinese tech maker.
Qualcomm and intel are one of these companies that were approved to ship their chip to Huawei. Thereafter, Huawei continues to use Qualcomm chips in its all products whether its flagship, mid-range, or tablet device. Therefore, the U.S. likely come upfront to cut Qualcomm and Intel from Huawei.
For the time being, reports are colliding that the latest decision has been made, while a few suggest that the decision is under discussion. Either way, it’s a decision made by a government sitting in a fantasy land and licking a fantasy popsicle.
Why not? The U.S. banned Huawei out of nowhere, and the U.S. government puts a ban on Huawei every year to showcase in the name of protecting U.S. citizens, while it’s just a matter of some headlines that come after such a step.
The U.S. administration thinks that attacking Huawei means attacking China, while the U.S. continues to ship a large number of technologies to many big Chinese smartphone makers. Would, the U.S. also consider cutting ties with them as well, it won’t be a matter of national security.
Truth be told, Huawei is the only company that dominated both the network and smartphone market, and there’s an old saying “When you can’t beat the odds change the game”. Odds have always been in favor of Huawei but the U.S. is continuously changing the game since 2019. But the question is, for how long?
Many Huawei technologies are hard to surpass: Huawei CEO
Huawei Consumer Business CEO, Yu Chengdong is filled with a lot of enthusiasm and he is the man behind the success of Huawei smartphones, as he said many of the company’s technologies are hard to surpass by other firms.
In a recent documentary, Yu Chengdong revealed that Huawei has many technologies that many of Huawei technologies are at the forefront of the entire industry. It is difficult for others to surpass Huawei and its technologies.
For example, Yu mentioned, Kunlun Glass, which is launched with Huawei Mate 50 series and comes with 10 times more durability than an OLED panel.
There’s also a mention of the satellite communication feature and it is developed by a team of people with an average age of 30 years. Huawei is the first to launch such technology in the smartphone industry and make it a success in first use.
XMAGE is also a tech that Yu emphasized as a major change in Huawei smartphones. The phone maker brings a new revolution in mobile photography, as is clearly visible in the Mate 50 lineup.
Previously, Yu Chengdong said that “the difficulty ten years ago was that no one recognized or knew Huawei’s brand, but today, ten years later, we have accumulated a lot of core technologies and core capabilities.” Yu Chengdong emphasized that innovative technologies are hard-won, However, Huawei will not be afraid of challenges, insist on investing in research and development, keep climbing, and continue to lead the industry forward.”
He further revealed the moment he was proud of the smartphone, recalling that Mate 7 achieved great commercial success, in the beginning, Huawei had no expectations about its sale but it was purchased by people all over China.
(via – Mydriver)


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Here at Siemens, we’re excited to share that yet another evolution of Solid Edge is here. The upcoming release of our market-leading product development software portfolio is packed with a wide range of new features and enhancements. The new release is scheduled to launch this October.
In this post, we’ll share everything you need to know ahead of the launch of Solid Edge 2024.
Get a front row seat on launch day
The release of Solid Edge 2024 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 11, 2023. The new release will be announced during an online launch event. The event is free to attend and will be streamed live via YouTube Live on October 11, starting at 10:00 ET / 14:00 GMT.
During the event, you’ll get a close-up look at some of most exciting new features and enhancements coming your way in the new release. You can also ask questions and engage directly with Siemens experts via live chat.
Don’t miss out! We invite you to pre-register for this event to add the event to your calendar and to be notified by email when the event starts.
What to expect from Solid Edge 2024
Solid Edge has evolved significantly over the years since the original software first appeared on the market. The upcoming Solid Edge 2024 release marks a new chapter altogether, delivering a myriad of enhancements and new features in response to customer feedback to improve productivity across the product design process, with a focus on user experience and large assemblies. Packed with new features and enhancements, our upcoming Solid Edge 2024 release promises to further automate and accelerate the digital product development processes.
Join the conversation
There are a lot of ways to hear what others are saying about the upcoming release and to connect with other Solid Edge enthusiasts online.
Here are a few ways to join the conversation right now:


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Fisherman’s Friend will return to TV screens this January with adverts once again featuring world renowned tenor, Alfie Boe.
The £1 million burst of TV activity will run from January 2 to January 29 across ITV and satellite channels and form part of the brand’s biggest-ever marketing campaign.
Designed to highlight the intense strength of the lozenges, the advert sees Alfie launching into a rendition of ‘La Donna è mobile from Verdi’s Rigoletto’ and is surprised when his last note is oddly quiet and off key. He turns to his stash of Fisherman’s Friend. Alfie then pulls some uncontrollable facial expressions - a Fisherman’s Friend ‘moment’. He sings again and chaos ensues as the power of his voice shatters his dressing room.
The 30-second ad is being backed up by a fully integrated marketing campaign including digital advertising, in-store promotions, social media, PR and sampling.
The campaign follows a record breaking sales year globally for the Lancashire-based brand, with UK volume sales currently up +5 per cent vs 2015 (Ceuta Healthcare Ltd, in market sales data).
Martin Stimson, area business manager for Fisherman’s Friend in the UK, said: “Following our TV advertising in early 2016 we saw continually strong sales throughout the first half of the year, with UK volume sales 11% ahead of the previous year in June 2016i and outperforming the medicated confectionery category with a +2.9% value increase (Nielsen, Total Coverage 52 w/e 18.06.16),
“As such it was a natural decision to repeat the activity as the ‘Alfie effect’ clearly resonated with shoppers, bringing new consumers in to the category, extending our appeal across generations and driving sales.”


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Both the virtual reality and the metaverse are focused on seeing, hearing, and touching. Taste and smell are often forgotten, because they are difficult to achieve. But soon you can smell the aromas in the metaverse.
the metaverse, a wide open space, created by the integration of augmented reality and digital reality, seems to become more real every day. Scientists and innovators have already worked to create the maybe even more digital in the metaverse. The same goes for managing digital foods with real foods. Both of these are in infancy. However, they think so future changes for the business metaverse.
It’s starting to feel like the metaverse is merging with real life. But it will have huge implications for the development of metaverse technology. Now, scientists are paying more attention to the creating digital scents and organizing scents in the metaverse. But what are the interesting things? And how is that?
The smell in the metaverse improves the user experience
Digital Scent Technology is something that allows users to smelling a digital scent. It is a part of human computer interface (HMI). Creating a digital perfume can be a very profitable business. Indeed, a new report has been revealed the global perfume industry is worth $71 billion. To be able to create digital tastes related to certain foods, activities or virtual places to improve the user experience. It is also possible to be part of the metaverse distribution.
Companies are looking to enter the metaverse to expand their reach. There are restaurants, vendors and one-time event food companies, such as Starbucks or Kraft Heinz. Having digital flavors to go with the virtual products of these companies can make them more authentic and marketableIt’s an interesting idea for any advertiser.
“It’s important that perfume becomes part of the development of the metaverse. . . or we limit the potential,” said OVR CEO Aaron Wisniewski. After all, kiss more than a spice in life. Our olfactory neurons trigger unconscious physiological responses. Japanese plum blossoms, for example, stimulate the sympathetic system, improves mood and strength. Really build a place immersive metaverse, must include the scent.
How are digital scents created in the metaverse?
To do this, there are several procedures. It can smell streamed naturally from a digital source or using over-the-air. It can wake up stored in a digital device and released by a signal. Heating the spices creates synthetic smoke or dispersion of the spices. can produce odors that the user can detect.
In addition, it is possible to “make” digital perfumes through electrical stimulation of the trigeminal nerve in the nose. In this case, scientists can stimulate the olfactory nerves in the nose to simulate the smell. Unfortunately, research has not shown that this process works well, because many studies are ongoing.
VR Developer OVR Technology is creating the scent in the Metaverse
Thanks to the OVR (Olfactory Virtual Reality) headset from OVR Technology, it is possible to smell the object in the new digital olfactory museum. « Living With the Smells Of course, OVR Technology has partnered with other companies and design firms. create new metaverses based on scents. These are Randolph Design based in San Francisco.
MCD (Museum of Craft and Design), via “Living with Scents”, explained: “Living with Scents focuses not only on fragrance products, but on mental and emotional toolsoffers fragrances with multiple design effects”.
The CEO of OVR explained that the scent will be part of the evolution of the metaverse, saying It is one of the main reasons that influence people’s opinion. The technology has an olfactory VR headset which is called a snap-n-fragrance cartridge where chemical compounds form a fragrance.
When you use this box to insert it into the OVR device, it to copy the scent created by the metaverse in real life. So if you approach a place strawberry at the Living With Scents MuseumYou may smell the natural aroma of the fruit.
9 important chemicals compare the Olfactory Virtual Reality box. These things add up to create hundreds of flavors. Making perfumes is a complex and difficult process. Although the scents of “strawberry” or “chocolate” are easy, to make “kahaka” you need a mixture of sand and sea breeze.
Use cases of OVR technologies
OVR’s pioneering product is OX1, a patented, lightweight, electronic device that attaches to the bottom of a VR headset. Because to promote the immersion and authenticity of the VR experiencethe OX1 delivers microscopic millisecond bursts of various flavored liquids into a small space under the user’s nose.
According to Erik Cooper, Chief Designer and Co-Founder of OVR Technology, OVR Technology pioneered the health care, education and training. Even faster, more flexible VR technology will increase its use in the healthcare market.
Doctors are using the VR method now help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, with a immersion therapy and war-related perfumes to help them re-examine and process traumatic experiences. More than two-thirds of patients with the disease have no symptoms after treatment in a program at the University of Central Florida, according to Aaron Wisniewski.
In addition to healthcare, OVR technology focus on training, education, entertainment, immersive experiences, including 4D animated games and documents., as potential markets. “We want to tap into the health care and growth market for drugs,” Cooper said.
What else is digital scent technology used for?
In addition to metaverse advertising, digital perfumes are available different applications. Smell can help make the metaverse experience a reality, such as a movie or a real-life setting. This can be used for those using VR for schoolwork or police training, although it is more effective for use by other users.
The Institute of Senses (IoS) website is one of the companies studying digital scents. It focuses on creating a platform where five virtual experiences can be created: taste, smell, touch, sight and hearing. Their platform helps connect scientists with investors, and build a like-minded community around virtual sensory experiences. Their work, as well as that of other researchers, seems to be just the beginning of the expansion of the metaverse into a real world, complete with the convenience of all information.
Some actors of the digital age
United Kingdom, OW Smell Digital The person who raised $ 1.2 million is building a service “Photoshop for Smell” based on artificial intelligence. In Spain, Technology Programme has developed a database of 400 fragrances offered through perfume boxesmany of which can be activated by the user’s voice.
It’s at the other end of the spectrum is an NFT perfume from Berlin-based Look Labs, captured by recording near-infrared spectroscopy of the molecular wavelength of an odorant. In addition, Feelreal’s crowdfunded multi-sensory VR mask It was reported to be improved in 2015, but died in 2020. VaqsoThe Tokyo-based company, which raised $600,000 in 2017 for its clip-on fan and fan combo, hasn’t updated its website in years.
Virtual Hypnosiswhich describes itself as a metaverse technology startup, has developed Scentscape, which he said “changes all aspects of human activity from passive to active by introducing a data stream based on neuroscience called Bio-Media.” According to Hypos, “Scentscape will have different sizes. But the movie model creates millions of different flavors.” It uses AI to provide “the right spices at the right time according to the time”. He shows as an example the scintillating olfaction of a sea voyage in VR.
Digital smell, real lack of investment in the sector
“It’s an interesting technology but not an interesting business model. . . now,” he said Christina Ku, venture capitalist at Docomo Ventures. Its parent company, NTT Docomo, added digital fragrance at Cokoon, his metaverse conference room that is set in real life. For Ku, lack of capital investments “represents the very first stage of kissing”. “But commercial companies are very interested,” he said.
However, Yash Patela senior partner at Telstra Ventures that invests in Web3 startups, finds the aroma embedded it’s a distraction from the big picture. “The metaverse will not be controlled,” he said. In his schedule, interoperability comes first, improvements come second. Only then will there be a place for develop immersive content.


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Kylie Jenner Yaki Ponytail NYFW – Kylie Jenner Ponytail Cultural Appropriation Downside
As the youngest member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Kylie Jenner isn’t any stranger to the spotlight and the criticism it brings. And over the weekend the 18-yr-outdated discovered herself in the course of yet one more cultural appropriation debate after she turned up at Alexander Wang’s NYFW show rocking an extended, barely textured extensions high ponytail. While the hairstyle is a bonafide basic, Jenner’s choice to apparently use Yaki, a sort of hair extension used for braiding, to attain the look triggered many to accuse the teen of once once more jacking black women’s style.
Admittedly there’s a high quality line between cultural appropriation and appreciation, and had anybody aside from Jenner pulled out a pack of 1-B Yaki and popped it on her head, the conversation may be totally different. But that is Kylie Jenner, and we’ve been down this highway before.
Last April, scores of misguided young people sucked on bottle tops and shot glasses during the #KylieJennerChallenge to mimic the teen’s pillowy lips. While she first claimed her pout was au natural, big sister Khloe let it slip that “Kylie decided to plump her lips.” Again in the summer time, Hunger Games star and Teen Vogue cover lady Amandla Stenberg called Jenner out for “appropriating black features” whereas refusing to engage on issues important to black good places to get hair extensions people after the teen posted a picture of herself sporting cornrows with the caption, “I woke up like disss.”
Jenner dismissed Stenberg’s criticism by flippantly telling her to “go hang with Jaden [Smith] or one thing,” but the message was clear: I can wear no matter I need, regardless of your feelings.
Which brings us again to Jenner’s ponytail. Of us aren’t upset in regards to the model itself, however reasonably Jenner’s use of Yaki, a kind of synthetic hair used almost solely by black ladies everywhere in the globe for braiding, and her continual reliance on black type and culture with out the burden (and duty) of really being black.
Whereas black girls are still being teased (and racially profiled) due to their pores and skin coloration, huge lips, huge butts, and “nappy hair,” Jenner is praised for her good places to get hair extensions curvy options, pouty lips, and daring, colorful hairstyle choices, which have usually been considered “ghetto” when seen on black girls.
Some will little doubt dismiss this latest wave of Kylie criticism as “hate” because it’s just hair, in spite of everything, right However for black women and ladies who’ve been advised our hair and options aren’t lovely and ought to be changed to look more acceptable (read: white), Kylie’s willingness to hijack styles we made cool — and the media’s obsession together with her model of them — seems like yet another slap in the face.


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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The Subway restaurant brand is seen on a serviette on this illustration photograph August 30, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/Illustration/File Photograph
(Reuters) -Roark Capital, which owns eating places Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, is nearing a deal to purchase sandwich chain Subway for about $9.6 billion, the Wall Road Journal reported on Monday,
A deal could possibly be finalized this week, the report mentioned, citing folks aware of the matter.
Reuters reported earlier this month that personal fairness corporations TDR Capital and Sycamore Companions have been in talks to workforce up of their pursuit to accumulate Subway, which in February mentioned it was exploring a potential sale of its enterprise.
Sources advised Reuters then that Subway expects to fetch properly over $9 billion in a deal, and stays unsure whether or not TDR and Sycamore can meet its worth expectations.
The chain, based in 1965 by 17-year-old Fred DeLuca and household buddy Peter Buck, has been owned by the founding households since its first outlet opened as “Pete’s Tremendous Submarines” in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Subway and Roark Capital didn’t instantly reply to Reuters requests for remark.


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It's a victory, of sorts, for grey power. Last week, Guardian Money published a letter from reader Rosemary Smailes protesting about O2's decision to switch off a cheap pay-as-you-go phone service used by thousands of elderly customers. This week, letters in support of Ms Smailes poured into our offices - and now 02 is offering a peace deal.
The row erupted last week after the company placed adverts in newspapers announcing the end of a service launched eight years ago by BT Cellnet. The service was used largely by elderly customers who wanted a cheap and simple mobile phone for use in emergencies only. Typically they paid just £10 a year to keep the phone topped up with enough airtime, and 47,000 people are still using the service.
But O2 - the renamed BT Cellnet - says the technology used to support the mobile phones is past its sell-by date. That means the phones (the Philips C12, The Philips C13, the Philips Diga and the Motorola M5388) will be switched off from the 02 network from June 30.
A spokesman for O2 says: "The technology used to support these four mobile phones has reached the end of its natural life and now cannot be developed further to support other basic customer benefits like free minutes or texts, or bolt-ons."
But Guardian Money readers have reacted furiously to the disconnection plan, with dozens of letters asking why perfectly working phones have to be thrown in the bin.
Richard Tapp, of Burgess Hill in West Sussex says: "My Phillips Diga phone has been dependable and reliable and I would not have contemplated replacing it but for this ultimatum."
Andrew Davies of Chesterfield adds: "I have had a Phillips C13 mobile phone for more than five years. It has served me well over the time I have had it. The phone is sturdy, the battery is efficient and it can make calls and send texts, which is all I want to do. I only saw the O2 advert by chance and if not, I could have needed the phone in an emergency and would not have been able to use it. Come on O2, let me continue to use my phone or, if not, provide me with a suitable replacement for free."
So what's the peace deal that 02 is now offering? A spokesman says it will offer a free SIM card to any customers facing disconnection, although customers will have to contact the company before June 30 to request one.
O2 says the free SIM can be slotted into more recently made Phillips C13, C12 and Motorola phones, but not the earlier ones. And the free SIMs won't work at all in the Phillips Diga, which is now consigned to the technological dustbin. If the free SIM won't work in your phone, you'll have to obtain a new one - either by recycling an old phone that friends or family are no longer using, or buying one.
O2 is offering a small subsidy off the price of new phones for those wanting a replacement model. It's worth only £5 for those customers who have been paying just £10 a year under the old scheme, but if you have been using the phone more frequently it will be worth more.
The company also says it will transfer any outstanding unused balances, as long as it is contacted by June 30. The old £10 a year tariff is being withdrawn, but customers will be offered a new pay-as-you-go tariff (called "talkalot") where the airtime has no expiry, as long as one call is made every six months. But tariff comparison site onecompare.com, which has set up a special section for people affected by O2's move, says there are better options than talkalot.
Onecompare's Anthony Ball says: "It may not be the best tariff for those who wish to keep their phones only for emergencies and receive the cheapest rates. For example, Fresh is offering a SIM card free when you top it up with £10."
Lots of readers remain angry over the way that the impending disconnection has been handled by 02. Tim Evans, 67, of Norwich says: "Until reading Guardian Money's letters page last week I was unaware that 02 intended to switch off my mobile phone."
O2 says that the company began contacting customers last July. "First we phoned people who used the service the most. Then we worked our way down to less frequent users, phoning and sending texts.
"But it has proved difficult contacting people who always have the machine switched off because they only plan to use it in emergencies." O2 helpline: 0800 089 4402


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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the market significantly on global level. The persistence of COVID-19 for a longer period of time has affected the population of young children, old people and especially people who have weak immunity system. Globally, countries are expecting decline in the food safety of processed food due to de-globalization, loss of income, failed to maintain hygienic conditions and poor manufacturing practices.
Government has been making strict norms regarding the food safety to avoid foodborne illness. Earlier also weak immunity system and diarrhoea was a problem in majority of population and during the COVID-19 outbreak it has taken a major toll. Thus, the population will be more focused in building the higher immunity level and towards the food safety.
The U.S. states that the high rate of population with weak immunity system is the significant risk factor for COVID-19 hospitalization.
Globally the increase in the population with foodborne diseases such as diarrhoea in young children and chronic diarrhoea in old people is the significant risk factor for COVID-19 hospitalization.
Among Children’s under 5yrs, the prevalence of food borne disease was 40% and 125000 die every year. Diarrhoea is the most common food borne disease among children and old population and according to World Health Organisation (WHO), 550 million people gets ill of diarrhoea and 230000 deaths occurs every year.
The COVID-19 crisis has majorly affected the food market and Food Supply Chain globally. Due to COVID-19 outbreak, the whole process from production to manufacturing to distribution is affected all across the world due to change in the consumers demand, restriction in the trading process, growing concerns regarding food safety of packed food and loss of labour due to movement restriction. The increase awareness among the consumers for the safety of processed and packed food has also affected the food market.
Global awareness about the food safety is on rise after the COVID-19 outbreak due to increase in awareness for food safety among consumers, increased no. of health conscious people and manufacturers are maintaining good hygiene and manufacturing practices to avoid pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella, E.coli to avoid foodborne illness. Increase in foodborne illness has also drive the government to make strict norms for food pathogen testing.
The Increase in dairy industry will also increase the demand for food pathogen testing. New technologies for milk processing, proper training and stringent govt. rules are meant to increase the dairy market.
There are almost 31 known pathogens which are responsible for foodborne diseases and in order to prevent food from those pathogens, food pathogen testing is really important in food industry. The rate of foodborne illness has increased in the past few years due to poor hygienic condition and failed to maintain good manufacturing practices.
Now-a-days rapid technologies for testing pathogens have been adapted rather than traditional culturing. There are variable numbers of kits available in the market for rapid and accurate results such as BAC Gene Kit for Salmonella, Listeria and E.coli, Oxoid, Basingstoke and others.
COVID-19 pandemic has affected the population and economy on the global level. During this pandemic, public awareness regarding the food safety has become the major concern. Majority of the global population became aware for the food safety and are majorly concerned about the processed and packed food which will ultimately lead to rise in the market.
Many researchers and food manufacturers are urging government about the awareness of food safety and importance of the market. Food pathogen testing will ultimately help in reduce the risk of pathogens such as Salmonella, E.coli, Coronavirus and others in the processed food. Thus, the market will be increasing during the COVID-19 outbreak and will grow for the long period due to awareness of food safety of food products among consumers globally.


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Autoglass®, the UK’s leading vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration company, will complete 400,000 online bookings in 2021 for the first time in its history, as the company continues to invest heavily in digital innovation. The milestone follows a significant increase in online bookings, which have grown from 25% to over 60% of all bookings in the past five years.
Autoglass® has long invested in its digital customer experience. The company has for many years offered a vehicle registration mark (VGM) entry platform where customers can view a digital replica of their vehicle’s windscreen, allowing them to select precisely where the damage has occurred. The technology also uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assess the level of damage to the vehicle to speed up the process for the customer.
A number of recently launched digital innovations have built on this digital offering, including:
- A new end-to-end online booking process for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) recalibrations launched earlier this year, which uses highly accurate product identification software to identify whether a vehicle requires recalibration before it is processed. This upgrade offers easier and quicker booking options for customers. A customer service chat function is also available for the few cases where the vehicle may be unidentifiable to the software, ensuring the customer can continue the booking process online.
- A new payments platform that is compliant with PSD2, a new European regulation for electronic payment services that is being introduced to improve consumer protection and reinforce security in the payments market. This new platform has allowed Autoglass® to futureproof online payments before the new regulation comes into force.
Ed Colley – Head of Digital and Marketing, Autoglass® says:
“We’ve seen a more digitalised industry in recent years with more customers moving to online services, and this milestone reflects how well our online booking service has evolved to meet consumer needs and expectations. Many of our customers do still like to speak to real people on the phone, which is why we continue to offer our Customer Experience Centre on top of our online services. As the industry continues to shift, we will look to introduce more innovative changes to further enhance our exceptional customer experience.”


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BH CORRESPONDENT, Kolkata: Considering that Renault got a foothold in India with the Duster in 2012, the SUV till now has had good innings commercially. The last refresh came a year ago wherein the model received some cosmetic and feature upgrades.
Now, that the BS VI models are being introduced, the main market considerations for Renault to ensure the model is legally complaint and meets or surpasses the emissions norms, yet remain competitive.
With this update, the Duster drops the 1.5-litre diesel engine, AMT gearbox, AWD as well as the CVT gearbox.
For 2020, the Duster will be sold only with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a manual gearbox. In this format, it offers 106hp and 142 Nm.
But that’s not the end of the Duster story. At the 2020 Auto Expo, Renault had also presented a 156hp/250Nm 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine which could be introduced with a 6-speed MT or a CVT.
On the pricing front, there are some revisions. The base variant is now priced Rs 50,000.00 more than before, while the mid-spec RxS trim adds Rs10,000.00.
During the last update, cosmetic upgrades include new projector headlamps, LED DRLs, a redesigned front grille, new roof rails, and new alloy wheels. In the cabin, there’s new upholstery, new steering wheel, and an updated 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice recognition, EcoGuide and an Arkamys sound system.
Safety features such as dual airbags, ABS, parking sensors, and speed warning are offered as standard on all variants. It is also compliant with BNCAP front, side and pedestrian crash norms.
Renault Duster BS VI price
RxE – Rs. 8.49 lakhs
RxS – Rs. 9.29 lakhs
RxZ – Rs. 9.99 lakhs
(all prices, ex-showroom)


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SBI VC Website Goes Live with XRP Already But Trading Desk Launch Pushed Back to July
The Virtual Currency platform of SBI that is already live for several months but was expected to launch its full-scale platform in March has been postponed to July, this year.
According to the slides of Daiwa Investment Conference Tokyo 2019, Yoshitaka Kitao, the Representative Director, President & CEO SBI Holdings, Inc. shares that the exchange service has been moved further due to regulatory issues surrounding leverage trading and security.
“Exchange service: the scheduled beginning date was changed to July from Mar. 2019, in line with the introduction of private-cloud to enhance security in response to changes of the regulatory environment for leverage trading.”
Moreover, leverage trading will be implemented after “deliberation of margin requirements in the ordinary Diet session.”
The SBI Virtual Currency platform first started registering for cryptocurrency exchange and trading business in late 2017. Last year, the pre-order service was launched for over twenty thousand users and started accepting general account applications as well.
In December last year, they began accepting cryptocurrency deposits while in January, this year, the withdrawals were allowed.
Full-Scale Efforts Towards Increasing Financial Services using Ripple’s XRP And R3’s Corda
VCTRADE allows its users to receive cryptos from other exchange service wallets through its receipt service and to send cryptos to limited hardware wallet addresses.
It will further start its cryptocurrency fund business in association with a US asset management company called Venture Holding Company once the new legislation is enacted.
The R3-Ripple collaboration has been also reiterated where SBI is actively promoting the collaboration between Ripple and R3. The idea is to become a “global standard for financial operations such as international money transfers and trade finance,” through this collaboration.
SBI will be utilizing the Corda Settler of R3 through the Corda network launched in 2019 for the smoother transfer of data and digital assets by the connected fintech companies and banks in that network. It further points out XRP, the first crypto supported by Corda settler that “demonstrates a high affinity with Corda.”
Moving forward, S Coin platform has been revisited that is being prepared for the transition into a highly convenient global platform though Corda Settler. Moreover, future expansion and adoption through Expo 2025 in Osaka.


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airberlin will cease participating in theÂ oneworldÂ® alliance with effect from the close of business on 27 October 2017, following the filing by Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG’s (â€œairberlin”) for the opening of insolvency proceedings over its assets.Â airberlin’s affiliate NIKI — which joinedÂ oneworld alongside airberlin in March 2012 — will no longer fly as part ofÂ oneworld at the same time.
oneworld will continue to serve more than 1,000 airports in almost 160 countries worldwide.Â The withdrawal of airberlin and NIKI from the alliance will mean a dozen destinations — half of them regional cities in Austria and Germany and the rest southern European holiday spots — leaving the alliance’s global network.
oneworld will maintain a strong presence in airberlin’s Germany and Austria home markets.Â Ten otherÂ oneworld member airlines serve a total of 13 destinations across the two countries, linking them with the alliance’s global network.Â Throughout Europe,Â oneworld member airlines will continue to fly to more than 230 destinations in some 40 countries.
A number ofÂ oneworld member airlines are making a tier-status matching offer to members of airberlin’s topbonus frequent flyer programme, enabling them to maintain their Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby status when flying with anyÂ oneworld member airline.
For details, see individual member airline’s frequent flyer websites, specifically:
For further information on the current situation at airberlin, including advice to customers with bookings on flights it has cancelled, click HERE
The following arrangements will apply in the withdrawal of airberlin and NIKI fromÂ oneworld:
|Frequent flyer programme redemption flights||airberlin closed its flights for new redemption bookings by members of its and partner airlines’ frequent flyer programmes as it filed for insolvency two months ago.Â airberlin has confirmed that redemption flights already booked by members of otherÂ oneworld airlines’ frequent flyer programmes for travel on airberlin on or before 27 October 2017 remain valid.Â If you have a redemption flight on airberlin booked for 28 October 2017 or later, or if the airberlin flight for which you hold a redemption booking is not operating, please contact your frequent flyer programme.
airberlin topbonus cardholders have not been able to make redemption bookings for flights on any airlines since it filed for insolvency.Â Redemption flights made before then remain valid.
Earning frequent flyer rewards and tier status points
|MostÂ oneworld member airlines, other than airberlin, have indicated they will honour frequent flyer reward miles/points and tier status points earned for flights on airberlin by their frequent flyer programme members for a period, up to and including 27 October 2017.Â Refer to your frequent flyer programme for details.
airberlin topbonus cardholders have not been able to earn frequent flyer tier status points or mileage rewards on any airline since its insolvency filing.
|Emerald and Sapphire tier members of otherÂ oneworld airlines’ frequent flyer programmes may continue to use airberlin lounges, in line withÂ oneworld’s existing arrangements, until the close of business in 27 October 2017.Â airberlin lounges will not be available as part of theÂ oneworld offering thereafter.
airberlin topbonus Platinum and Gold cardholders will be able to use the lounges of otheroneworld member airlines until the close of business on 27 October 2017, in line withÂ oneworld’s existing arrangements.Â They will not be able to use these other airlines’ lounges as part of theoneworld offering thereafter.
|Other frequent flyer benefits||Members of all otherÂ oneworld airlines’ frequent flyer programmes will continue to receive all otherÂ oneworld frequent flyer services and benefits (additional baggage allowances, priority check-in, boarding, waitlisting, etc) when they fly on airberlin until the close of business on 27 October 2017.
Likewise, members of airberlin topbonus will continue to receive all otherÂ oneworld frequent flyer services and benefits when they fly on the otherÂ oneworld airlines until the close of business on 27 October 2017, when these services and benefits will no longer apply to them.
|oneworldÂ fares and sales products (including Explorer, Circle, Visit fares, corporate agreements etc)||All sectors on airberlin and NIKI booked and ticketed as part of aÂ oneworld fare or sales product for travel before the close of business on 27 October 2017 remain valid.Â For sectors on airberlin thereafter, or if a ticketed airberlin sector scheduled for before then has been cancelled, please contact theÂ oneworld member airline that issued the ticket.
airberlin and NIKI sectors will not be available as part of anyÂ oneworld fare or sales product from the close of business on 27 October 2017.
|Sectors on airberlin ticketed by another oneworldÂ member airline||If you have been ticketed by anotherÂ oneworld member airline for sectors on airberlin scheduled for departure on 28 October 2017 or thereafter, or for sectors on airberlin that will not operate before then, please contact the airline that issued the ticket.|


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Chinese billionaire and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma came calling to Rwanda to sign a deal to boost its digital economy.
When a Chinese billionaire comes calling, for two consecutive years, it means serious business.
On Jack Ma’s November trip to Rwanda, he announced a first-of-its- kind-in-Africa deal with the Rwandan government.
The Alibaba Group, one of the world’s largest e-commerce businesses that Maco-founded and chairs, has established an electronic world trade platform(eWTP) hub that will enable Rwandan products to be sold in the Chinese market and boost cross-border trade.
Ma, with an estimated net worth of $34.4 billion according to FORBES, called Rwanda “a great country that walks the talk” at the launch of the hub at the Kigali Convention Centre. The mood was euphoric as Rwandans took to Twitter with the hashtag #Rwandaworks.
“It’s a great honor for myself and Alibaba to be able to partner with Rwanda. People ask me, why Rwanda? There are so many countries in Africa. It’s so difficult we have a lot of criteria to pick a country to be an eWTP hub. My answer is why not Rwanda?” said Ma.
“When I first came here, I was shocked by its safety, cleanliness and by its power to embrace change. Last year was my maiden visit to Africa, I realized that it is so different from what I thought. I said if every country in Africa was like Rwanda, how powerful Africa would be.
“Rwanda is making things happen. Most countries talk about supporting
small businesses, young people, farmers but very few of them take action…
This is why we came here. When other people complain, we take that as a great opportunity. What impressed us is not only the products you have but also the government’s efficiency.”
He said he was proud to know Kagame. The leader, in turn, also paid tribute to Ma, whom he referred to as “my friend”.
He commended Ma for looking at Africa differently.
“Jack is a believer and in most cases, he believes correctly,” said Kagame.
The eWTP partnership covers tourism, capacity-building and e-payments as the primary areas of cooperation.
It ultimately aims to enhance the capabilities of small and medium enterprises to produce and export quality, globally-competitive products while supporting the development of the digital economy in Rwanda.
Products sold on the platform will initially be handicrafts and coffee, which is Rwanda’s third biggest foreign exchange earner after mining and tourism.
The platform presents an opportunity for Rwanda’s coffee producers to access the Chinese market whose coffee consumption is growing at 15% per annum.
On the platform, Rwandan coffee farmers will be receiving $12 per $16 sold, which is significantly higher compared to other markets like the US where they normally get $8 per $16 sold.
The deal will also attract high- spending Chinese tourists.
Players in Rwanda’s business community, especially in the trade and tourism sector, call the deal unprecedented and overdue.
Abdallah Bawazzir, Director General of New Dawn Associates, says: “We’ve been having issues as far as e-commerce is concerned. We’ve had promises from other big entities which come around and nothing really tangible comes of it. Alibaba having done this in China, I’m sure they are very much capable of doing this in Rwanda.”
Ephraim Rwamwenge, Chief Executive Officer at Rwa Business Group, adds: “One of the challenges that plagued our export markets such
as China, which is a massive market, is access. It was next to impossible to find customers to take your products but thanks to technology, it’s now cheaper to do business across borders.”
- Steven Muvunyi
READ MORE | Rwanda The Emerging Economy To Watch
5 Tips For SMEs To Counter The Covid-19 Crisis
It was recently reported by ratings agency S&P Global that the coronavirus outbreak has plunged the world into a recession. On the home front, a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the country resulted in the President of South Africa imposing a 21-day country-wide lockdown, starting from Thursday, 26 March 2020. Combine this with the fact that the country also recently announced to be in its third recession since 1994 it’s safe to say that many businesses are beginning to feel the effects of the pandemic.
The impact of the coronavirus on small businesses is likely to be substantial, especially for local businesses who are already feeling the pinch, as financial and market uncertainty can easily translate into an emotional crisis that can overwhelm our systems. However, help is on the way as the Department of Small Business Development announced that a Debt Relief Fund has been set up to assist small, medium and micro enterprises impacted by COVID-19.
While this relief is welcomed, it is still vital for leaders to step up. The world has been through crises before, but during these significantly difficult times, the economic impact may be as severe or possibly worse. As such, those in leadership positions must use past crises as examples and apply what was learnt to keep the country on course and minimise the impact of the pandemic.
Karl Westvig, CEO at Retail Capital, has pinpointed the visible areas that are affected and outlined a few pointers to help small business owners weather the storm.
The first victim of panic is liquidity – banks, asset managers and funders stop lending. When they cannot calculate the potential risk, they will not lend. Therefore, it is critical to shore up cash by drawing down on available facilities and suspending any unnecessary investments. Reduce expenses and manage cash flow daily.
Get Your Best Team on It
When a business is growing, we tend to shift our best people into roles linked to growth and new initiatives. In a crisis, these people need to move into the highest priority roles. These roles would include collecting from customers, raising facilities or engaging key clients.
Morale and Communication
People need leadership. This would include authentic and regular communication about the situation, what the business requires and how this will be achieved. You can’t control the circumstances, but you can control the response and actions. This will create more certainty.
Events evolve quickly and every day is critical. Leaders must be hands-on. They have to be in touch with customers, suppliers, funders and staff. They have to collect data on everything – the mood, the financial metrics, even customer stories. Some of the best information is anecdotal, not just big data.
It’s tough to lead when you don’t understand all the underlying levers. These can change in a crisis. What worked in a stable environment can go out of the window in an instant. The best approach is to start again, listen to customers and then adapt your policies within your framework.
“This is not a manual on how to handle the current crisis, but hopefully, the points mentioned above can add to what you are already doing. In simple terms, it is easy to be overwhelmed, so tackle a few things very quickly and with commitment. This will create certainty and lead to action. The alternative is paralysis,” concludes Westvig.
Moody’s Downgrades South Africa To Junk
Credit ratings agency Moody’s has downgraded South Africa to junk status on day 2 of the country’s nationwide lockdown.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s economic reform plans have been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic. The downgrade adds salt to injury for South Africa as it currently struggles with a recession it slipped into in early March.
“The unprecedented deterioration in the global economic outlook caused by the rapid spread of the coronavirus outbreak will further exacerbate South Africa’s challenges” said Moody’s.
What You Need To Know About AfDB’s $3 billion “Fight COVID-19” Social Bond
Landmark transaction, largest Social bond transaction to date in capital markets
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 27 March 2020 – The African Development Bank (AAA) has raised an exceptional $3 billion in a three-year bond to help alleviate the economic and social impact the Covid-19 pandemic will have on livelihoods and Africa’s economies.
The Fight Covid-19 Social bond, with a three-year maturity, garnered interest from central banks and official institutions, bank treasuries, and asset managers including Socially Responsible Investors, with bids exceeding $4.6 billion. This is the largest Social Bond ever launched in international capital markets to date, and the largest US Dollar benchmark ever issued by the Bank. It will pay an interest rate of 0.75%.
The African Development Bank Group is moving to provide flexible responses aimed at lessening the severe economic and social impact of this pandemic on its regional member countries and Africa’s private sector.
“These are critical times for Africa as it addresses the challenges resulting from the Coronavirus. The African Development Bank is taking bold measures to support African countries. This $3 billion Covid-19 bond issuance is the first part of our comprehensive response that will soon be announced. This is indeed the largest social bond transaction to date in capital markets. We are here for Africa, and we will provide significant rapid support for countries,” said Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group.
The order book for this record-breaking bond highlights the scale of investor support, which the African Development Bank enjoys, said the arrangers.
“As the Covid-19 outbreak is dangerously threatening Africa, the African Development Bank lives up to its huge responsibilities and deploys funds to assist and prepare the African population, through the financing of access to health and to all other essential goods, services and infrastructure,” said Tanguy Claquin, Head of Sustainable Banking, Crédit Agricole CIB.
Coronavirus cases were slow to arrive in Africa, but the virus is spreading quickly and has infected nearly 3,000 people across 45 countries, placing strain on already fragile health systems.
It is estimated that the continent will require many billions of dollars to cushion the impact of the disease as many countries scrambled contingency measures, including commercial lockdowns in desperate efforts to contain it. Globally, factories have been closed and workers sent home, disrupting supply chains, trade, travel, and driving many economies toward recession.
Commenting on the landmark transaction, George Sager, Executive Director, SSA Syndicate, Goldman Sachs said: “In a time of unprecedented market volatility, the African Development Bank has been able to brave the capital markets in order to secure invaluable funding to help the efforts of the African
continent’s fight against Covid-19. Not only that, but in the process, delivering their largest ever USD benchmark. A truly remarkable outcome both in terms of its purpose but also in terms of a USD financing”.
The Bank established its Social Bond framework in 2017 and raised the equivalent of $2 billion through issuances denominated in Euro and Norwegian krone. In 2018 the Bank was designated by financial markets, ‘Second most impressive social or sustainability bond issuer” at the Global Capital SRI Awards.
“We are thankful for the exceptional level of interest the Fight Covid-19 Social Bond has raised across the world, as the African Development Bank moves towards lessening the social and economic impact of the pandemic on a continent already severely constrained. Our Social bond program enables us to highlight our strong development mandate to the investor community, allowing them to play a part in improving the lives of the people of Africa. This was an exceptional outcome for an exceptional cause,” said Hassatou Diop N’Sele, Treasurer, African Development Bank.
Fight Covid-19 was allocated to central banks and official institutions (53%), bank treasuries (27%) and asset managers (20%). Final bond distribution statistics were as follows: Europe (37%), Americas (36%), Asia (17%) Africa (8%,) and Middle-East (1%).
Press Release by the African Development Bank
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Simply put, our patent system is so dysfunctional and expensive that most Americans are priced out of the patent system. Until Congress makes it easier to protect American technology, that technology will continue to be manufactured overseas.
The percentage of patents that the United States Patent and Trades Office (USPTO) has risen dramatically. But does this mean that American inventiveness has reached a new high? Not quite. In fact, it’s actually the opposite. It spea... Read Post
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Author: JASON CIPRIANI
We are mere days away from Apple’s next special event. You may have seen the invite Apple sent last week, asking members of the press to “gather round.” Apple typically announces new iPhones in September, and this year it’s widely expected that the company will continue the tradition. For the past few months, rumors, speculation, and leaks have given us some insight into what we should expect when Apple CEO Tim Cook and company take the stage next week to announce the new iPhones.
Not to be confused with iPhone Excess, the next generation iPhone will be called iPhone XS, according to 9to5Mac. The name will be pronounced “iPhone Ten S.” Adding an “S” to the previous model is the same naming convention Apple has used previously, but a Roman numeral really throws everything off. The S indicates a phone with upgraded specs but built using the same design as the previous generation of phones.
Two, Possibly Three New Models
For months there has been speculation that Apple would release an updated iPhone X, with the same 5.8-inch display as the current model, and a new model with a bigger display, somewhere around 6.5-inches. Both devices would look like the iPhone X, notch and all.
Last week, shortly after Apple sent out invites, 9to5Mac published a promotional photo that looks like it came directly from Apple’s marketing team (shown above). Indeed, the photo shows two iPhone X-like devices, with one that appears to be quite large. Bloomberg reported there will be three iPhone models this year, two with more expensive OLED display technology, and one with a 6.1-inch LCD display.
The two iPhone models that reportedly use an OLED display will be priced at the high end, with the less expensive LCD display model priced more affordably. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts Apple will be “more aggressive” with this year’s pricing structure according to MacRumors, with the LCD model will start around $600-$700, the 5.8-inch OLED model at $800-$900, and the 6.5-inch OLED model at $900-$1000. This is a bit of a price reduction from last year’s iPhone X, which launched at $999 for the 64GB model.
So Long Home Button
All three models announced this year will reportedly ditch the home button entirely, opting instead for gesture based navigation. Apple first introduced a device sans a home button last year with the iPhone X, and if rumors are to be believed, the company is ready to go all-in with FaceID for all three new phones. Just like on the previous X model, it’ll be used to unlock the phone, purchase apps, and authorize Apple Pay.
The more expensive models will come in the same colors as the current iPhone X — silver and space gray — plus, as shown in the leaked image from 9to5Mac, a new gold finish. The entry-level iPhone will ditch the stainless steel housing, opting instead for an aluminum shell that will come in a series of colors according to Bloomberg. The same report compared Apple’s approach to the iPhone 5C with its bright colors.


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By Dennis Abrams
In Al Multaqa Magazine, a quarterly magazine published by the Arab Children’s Book Publishers Forum, Ahmad Rashad examined “The Era of Books and Bookstores: The Conflict Between Paper and Digital (A Look into the Future).”
After looking at the impact of digital publishing in the US and the UK, he turned his attention to the Arab world:
“Considering schools, universities, and public libraries, I predict that in 5 or 6 years digital books will constitute up to 75% of their books. For example, the Ministry of Education in Egypt implemented studying curricula via tablets in 300 schools, while the Ministry of Higher Education in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar now all have data bases of over 3,000 digital Arabic titles in addition to much more English titles.”[…]
“Where do we as Arabs stand in the digital books revolution?
“There is a state of confusion in the Arab world regarding digital publishing even deeper [than in the US and Europe] when it comes to addressing common readers rather than educational institutions which creates its own set of problems. Arabic fonts in usage are deficient, especially when converting into (E-pub) technology, while international companies see that Arabic book market as too insignificant to do research into developing reliable Arabic fonts. Besides, most companies concerned with distribution and marketing of digital books lack either technical expertise or effective marketing. In fact, the majority of Arab publishers and authors are skeptical about delving into digital public due to a lack of knowledge of its basics.
“Another problem is digital piracy which disseminates stolen books over the web with no laws to protect publishers or authors.
“Most Arab publishers do not have their earlier publications archived as InDesign or Word files which take tremendous effort and expense to collect, retype, and proofread all over again. And to top it all off, tablet users make up only 10% of the population of the Arab world.
“As a result, the American experience [with digital books] might not be replicated here because even in England, the second largest country in digital publication, digital book sales which reached a high of 18% of all book sales began to drop last December. In fact, a Financial Times report mentioned that digital book transactions decreased while paper book sales rose between 5 – 11%
“Consequently, we cannot assert paper books will disappear, at least not those addressing common readers. Although affected by the rise of digital books, paper books will remain, except at institutions, universities and schools, where the future is in favor of digital books.”


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Volvo announced on Tuesday (18) leading to Ocean Race series at the Geneva Motor Show, with public opening scheduled for March 6. In total, six models will receive the special series: hatch V40, V40 Cross Country, V60, V70, XC60 and XC70.
Japan seems to be showing a good niche for the German premium car manufacturer. With this, Mercedes-Benz took the opportunity to announce three new models, special and limited editions, but with the same performance as their standard versions for the Japanese market: E250 Coupe Limited Edition Sport Night A250 and A45 AMG Petronas.
Audi continues performing tests with renewed TT. After busted occurred in October 2013 , at the Nurburgring, the sport was clicked during an experimental session in strict European winter, complete with snow on the asphalt.