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The current market look-up, amid a largely locked-down economy, is reflective of its resilience rooted in an inimitably futuristic approach.
Given this toughness that factors in the inherent value prop of the India story, it is not difficult to imagine the market surge post an economic bounce back.
Already, we have enough supporting cues hinting at an economic revival. The post-opening up trends in China and US are a good indication of what India could achieve once the lockdowns become a fading memory.
Improvement in global corporate earnings is at a record high. EM earnings estimates are also catching up. The second wave has peaked, and we are on the verge of opening up in a phased manner.
The situation on the vaccine front is looking up. We reckon 80% of India’s adult population will be vaccinated by March 2022. Q4 results have been encouraging, with many companies recording healthy revenue growth, even after adjusting for the low base of last year.
Pandemic-enforced swings and austerities have triggered many key positives. While many companies have gained from an unorganized-to-organized market shift, price hikes and previous year’s prudent cost management have helped offset the raw material price rise.
For many players, swift digitalization has led to significant market gains and cost savings, which look sustainable going forward.
Factoring in accelerated growth in FY23, I see Nifty touching 18,000 by December 2021. The broader market will also reflect remarkable strength over time.
Talking of Nifty, the top 10 heavyweights, which have been dormant for a while, are likely to resume their upward march. Reliance Industries has already begun its ascent after a six-month lull.
Talking in terms of sectors, banking seems all set to rise from its languishing depths. ICICI Bank is likely to lead the way up.
Talking of potential threats to market momentum, much has been made out of the looming taper tantrums. They are not a new phenomenon. We’ve witnessed them in the past as well.
We believe the market will continue to surge ahead given that taper tantrum is yet to commence. Moreover, it will be gradual.
The slow rise in the cost of capital will not impact the equity story, especially when accompanied by accelerated earnings.
I don’t see any worries surfacing on the valuation front. For one, it is imperative to look at valuations in the specific context of cost of capital.
Secondly, I strongly sense the momentum prevailing over the next four years, given strong and de-levered balance sheets, robust base of operating revenue, sustainable cost savings, and lowered effective tax burden. For sound businesses, ROCEs will inch up structurally. The cycle has only just turned for small caps and midcaps.
What does all this mean in the context of trading and investment decisions? I have simple advice for retail investors: place your faith in quality names. Do not fear volatility, simply be wary of it by doing what you do best. Don’t try to mimic the master traders who make big money out of volatility. That calls for a rare skill.
Big money is a reality, so are stop losses that are triggered equally fast. Look at volatility as your long-term friend. It offers you excellent entry points and you have a chance to build wealth using the tried and tested way, with time on your hand, not glamour.
Gainfully focus on individual stocks and their respective earning trajectories. It is always difficult to predict which sector will make the next move. The best option is to evaluate the universe top-down, narrow down on a few promising sectors, choose the winners among them, place your bets, and wait patiently.
If this sounds easier said than done, consult market experts who monitor price movements to look for over-bought and over-sold levels and create customised indices to decipher trends, among other evaluations.
Keep an eye on the pandemic-hit sectors like hotels, multiplexes, and specialty retail spaces where the unlock theme is already at play and the prospects are nothing but bright. At the same time, be heedful of the fact that some of the players in aviation, hotels, and multiplex may need to raise more capital to further their growth plans.
A key sector to watch out for is the building material space – cement, PVC pipes, home improvement, and paints. It is pertinent to note that the fast-moving affordable home inventory is a trump card for real estate players with strong balance sheets.
Gas utilities are likely to witness a volume pick up with the reopening of industrial units and CNG offtake. Consumer electricals is another upbeat space, given rising demand of cables and wires, as also home demand for small consumer goods.
Talk of Covid and one has to necessarily talk of insurance. I expect the life insurance space to record healthy 14-16% CAGR in premium collections. The protection business will see higher growth, given the humungous protection gap that pervades our country. Covid has created a strong pull for pure term plans.
On the savings side, ULIPS and guaranteed return products will continue to be in vogue, given the strength in equity markets and a weak interest rate environment.
All listed franchises in this space are renowned corporates. Yet, it is important to track for incremental changes in product mix, the strength of distribution channels, healthy RoEVs, and improving quality of EVs, as also valuations.So, are we going to see a massive surge in retail participation (and dominance) going forward, like the one in developed markets like US, where direct participation through ETFs and mutual funds is remarkably high? We saw what happened with GameStop on US exchange, where retail investors managed to effectively corner institutions.
Well, this utopian possibility is a function of time, but yes, structurally, we will see a rise of direct retail volumes in India. In fact, in the mid and small cap space, HNIs already dominate many counters.
At the same time, we cannot overlook the resounding impact of FII buying and selling. In 2020, the market zoomed largely on the back of strong FII flows; and even that FPI flow was merely in line with the historical average in terms of market-cap of Indian equities.
Just to give a comparative perspective, FPI flows as a percentage of India Market Cap were as high as 4% in 2003, while the 2020 flows were merely 1.1%. So, the FII effect on the markets is indeed significant and should remain so for the foreseeable future.
(The author is Senior President and Head of Research – Institutional Equities, YES SECURITIES)
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.


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After nearly 25 years, Bistro 110 in the Gold Coast will close on August 4. When it eventually reopens it will completely shed its French identity, and reemerge as an Italian wine bar as designed by Tony Mantuano. Talking to Chicago Magazine, Mantuano explained that the still unnamed project will have house-made gelato, a mozzarella bar, a pizza bar featuring a wood-burining oven, and “a lot of large salads.” It will also be open for breakfast, so be on the lookout for Italian pastries and fine espresso.
This also happens to continue the trend of famous chefs creating more approachable restaurants. Mantuano is behind one of the most acclaimed Italian restaurants in the nation with Spiaggia. But that isn’t to say that Italian wine bar food is a new passion for him. He actually wrote a great book on the subject a few years ago. We are excited for this.
DISH FLASH: Bistro 110 to Close, Emerge as Italian Bar

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4K is the next big thing when it comes to video and now Netflix is joining the ranks in experimenting with 4K video. This week Netflix tested the waters by placing six clips of 4K video in to the mix.
The testing of 4K video is part of Netflix’s decision to provide “ultra HD” video to subscribers, something which they anticipate being able to offer within the next year. The six clips added to Netflix are all filed as “El Fuente” and are more stock footage than anything else, but are sufficient enough to test the ability of Netflix to handle the frame rates of 4k video. The six clips are just the beginning but so far so good in Netflix’s venture in to ultra HD, now if only we had an arrival date we could start getting excited about it!


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It’s no secret that Sony has held back PS4 cross-platform play for years, but new confidential documents and emails show how much Sony was against letting people play the same games with their friends on other platforms. Sony initially blocked cross-platform play for both Rocket League and Minecraft, despite Nintendo and Microsoft both allowing players to play on Xbox and Switch. The problem really blown up when Sony blocked Fortnite crossplay in 2018, and players were angry. It now appears that Sony may have persisted to make up for potential revenue losses.
In the months leading up to Sony’s decision to block Fortnite crossplay in 2018, Epic Games had begged Sony for crossplay, emails in the Epic Games v Apple case. “I can’t think of a scenario where Epic doesn’t get what we want – that option was thrown out then Fortnite became the biggest game on PlayStation, ”said Joe Kreiner, Epic’s vice president of business development.
Kreiner suggested, “We are announcing crossplay in partnership with Sony. Epic is committed to making Sony look like heroes. “Epic even offered to promote its presence at E3 with PlayStation or add unique characters, exclusively for PS Plus subscribers, to sweeten the deal.” Let’s make it a huge win for all of us. Epic doesn’t change his mind on the matter, so let’s just agree on it now, ”said Kreiner.
Gio Corsi, Sony’s senior director of Developer Relations at the time, rejected the idea of crossplay, noting that “cross-platform play isn’t a slam dunk no matter the size of the title” – a clear reference to Epic’s flex over Fortnitedominance on PlayStation. “As you know, many companies are exploring this idea and none can explain how cross-console play improves PlayStation business,” Corsi said.
But as of August 2019, it looks like Sony may have found a worthy argument: a way to potentially transfer money from its competitors in exchange for access to PlayStation players.
The email correspondence does not reveal where the problem ultimately ended up, but a document titled “ Cross-Platform Policy, Requirements and Process ” from August 2019 (following the Sony change) shows how Sony can now approach crossplay: share cross-platform revenue, forcing publishers to pay Sony a royalty every time PlayStation players contribute more than a certain percentage to the profit of a cross-platform game, to offset Sony’s “drop in revenue”, allowing for cross-play. It’s unclear whether Nintendo and Microsoft have enforced similar agreements to enable crossplay in games.
Sony also states in its policy that publishers cannot transfer virtual currency to or from PlayStation and that there must be a setting to disable all cross-platform interactions.
We’ve reached out to Sony to clarify if this cross-platform revenue share still exists, and we’ll inform you accordingly.
There may have been other good reasons for Sony to stop blocking crossplay as well: three months after the Epic Games emails, Sony faced a backlash when it blocked Fortnite crossplay and eventually discontinued in late 2018, with a new policy change to allow crossplay in select games.
These emails and documents provide just a glimpse of Sony’s initial crossplay blocking efforts before Epic Games’ success with Fortnite seems to have forced the company to give in eventually.


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Algeria on Monday submitted a formal bid to join the "BRICS" bloc of emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — a move aimed at diversifying the country's trade relations. The application was praised by Beijing and Moscow.
Leaders from across the Arab world met in Algeria on Tuesday for the 31st summit of the Arab League as the region battles to find common ground over a series of divisive issues amid rising inflation, energy and food shortages, and drought.
Moroccan lawyer Mourad Elajouti announced on Thursday that he issued a legal warning to Adidas regarding the design of its new Algerian jerseys on behalf of Morocco's Ministry of Culture. Morocco is demanding the German sportswear brand remove the design within two weeks.


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Indian Retail giant Flipkart is planning to enter the E-Wallet market. It plans to invest 100 Million USD (670 Crore INR) over the next three years in this venture. Flipkart acquired payment startup ‘PhonePe’ this April. ‘PhonePe’ will hold the baton as it will try to carve out a piece for itself in 24, 124 Crore pie.
Flipkart entering the E-Wallet Business Quite Late
“This is a long-term strategic bet for us, and we believe PhonePe could become as big as Flipkart one day,” Flipkart’s CEO Binny Bansal said recently. He also said that entering Payments business is one the top most important priorities for Flipkart at this moment along with commerce and logistics.
According to Sameer Nigam, the founder of PhonePe and the head of payments business at Flipkart, the wallet will be a semi-closed portal with a tie-up to a multinational bank.
This decision comes at a part of infusing new life into their retail business which is taking serious hits from close competitors like Amazon and Snapdeal. Interestingly, both Amazon and Snapdeal have already made strides into the payments business. While Amazon has acquired Emvantage, Snapdeal brought under its hegemony an already established E-wallet ‘Freecharge’ last year. Whilst Paytm and Mobikwik already have a combined number of consumers over 200 Million.
The E-wallet which at first will only be used to make payments on the websites owned by the company, is expected to be extended to include many other operations in the future.
Flipkart will be relying on its customer base which is over 74 Million to kick-start its E-Wallet operations. “Their consumer acquisition strategy will be from Flipkart application and its customers. UPI has potential to kill the wallet business and the need to create a brand presence suddenly goes out of the window,” said Amrish Rau, managing director at payments firm Citrus.
Already established E-Wallets like Paytm, Mobikwik and Freecharge are sure to give a tough competition to the Flipkart in the payment business. It would be very interesting to see the strategies they would adopt to claw its way to top names in the business. Considerable monetary resources and effective marketing team will be the main weapons the company will have to rely on to get ahead of the competition.


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Kimye is releasing a clothing line for kids
- Published on Feb 2, 2017 4:18 PM
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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are releasing a clothing line for kids!
In adorable news, Kimye is releasing a clothing line for kids–and their daughter, North West, lent a helping hand! Kim Kardashian divulged the news to her Snapchat followers posting a photo of North modelling a sequinned neon-yellow dress with a high neck and a camel coloured shearling coat that we’re seriously coveting. She captioned the snap, “Kanye and my kids line coming soon! #SequinDress #ShearlingCoat.” We hope these clothes will be available for taller people too!
The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star revealed that it was North, a true fashionista in the making, who picked out the colours and fabrics for the look.
This unnamed collaboration between the creative couple seems like a natural step for both their careers. After all, they’re trend-setting parents to two children, and they’ve both delved into the world of micro-fashion before. Kim launched the Kardashian Kids line in 2014 alongside her sisters Khloe and Kourtney, and rapper-turned-designer Kanye released mini versions of his popular Adidas Yeezy Boost 350s.
While we’re unsure if these designs will be a part of the Yeezy line, it was recently announced that Kanye will be presenting Yeezy Season 5 at New York fashion week on February 15.
Photo Credit: Getty Images / Snapchat


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The Dow was up 42 points, the S&P 500 was up 3 points, and the Nasdaq was up 3 points.
Earlier on Tuesday, the latest report on durable goods orders showed orders rose 22.6% in July, a new record increase for the index. This number was largely influence by a surge in aircraft orders during July, which some analysts attributed to the London Farnborough Airshow held in July.
The S&P Case-Shiller home price index declined for the second straight month, and for the first time February 2008, all cities in the 20-city index showed lower annual rates than the previous month.
The Richmond Federal Reserve's latest manufacturing report came in at a 12 for the headline composite reading, better than the 7 that was expected by economists.
The Conference Board's latest report on consumer confidence for August came in at 92.4, topping expectations for 89 and better than July's revised reading of 90.3.
Burger King and Tim Horton's officially announced their plan to merge in a deal that will create a new company based in Canada. The deal has also recieved a $3 billion financing commitment from Warren Buffett, and the new combined company will be 51% owned by 3G Capital, which currently own 70% of Burger King.
Buffett previously worked with 3G Capital, a Brazilian private equity firm, when Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway acquired H.J. Heinz in 2013.
Shares of both Burger King and Tim Horton's, which rallied on Monday, were higher on Tuesday, with Burger King gaining about 1% and Tim Horton's adding another 9%.
Also higher was DSW, up 10% after the footwear retailer reported earnings and sales that beat expectations.


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One-in-three Irish people have never had travel insurance.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) says those aged 18 to 44 are least likely to take out travel insurance.
It has released research examining Irish consumers' experience of the sector.
The results suggest that gender and age are important factors when it comes to purchasing travel insurance.
Women are more likely than men to purchase travel insurance - with 71% of the women surveyed having had a policy in the past, compared to 59% of men.
While 43% of consumers in the 18 to 44-year-old age group never had a travel insurance policy.
However, a majority (79%) of those aged over 45 have purchased insurance.
The research highlights although the cover and benefits of a travel insurance policy are important considerations, one-in-five consumers are not aware of the benefits of their policy.
And one-in-four consumers focus on price when choosing a travel insurance provider - while 35% use search engines to research their options.
One-fifth of those polled say the policy excess is a key factor in choosing their policy.
The excess is the first part of any insurance claim that a customer must pay in the event of a successful claim.
Áine Carroll, director of communications at the CCPC, says the office wants to debunk some myths around travel insurance.
"Our research shows that although the majority of people have had a positive experience with taking out, and sometimes claiming on travel insurance, one-third of consumers reported that they have never actually taken out a policy.
"Travel insurance can give you some protections if something goes wrong and can save you a lot of money in the long run."
The CCPC says while private health insurance offers some protection for healthcare costs, consumers should check their individual policies - as the levels of cover differ between insurance providers.
Its research also shows that one in ten of travellers felt they could make a claim, but did not do so as they felt it would be too much hassle.
However, the CCPC says 89% of those who did make a claim were successful.
It is also reminding people that trips which involve potentially unsafe activities may not be covered under a general policy.


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Check Point has announced a new software blade to enable mobile access control for secure access to corporate email, data and business applications from remote devices.
Offering security for Apple iPhones, iPads, Android and Symbian devices, the company said that the new blade integrates advanced SSL VPN capabilities and encryption technology to protect against security threats as users remotely connect to the corporate network.
With certificate-based authentication and smart user-device pairing, businesses can ensure each individual has access to their authorised applications, just as they would from their desktop.
Dorit Dor, vice president of products at Check Point Software Technologies, said: “With more users connecting remotely than ever before, mobile computing presents an ongoing security challenge for organisations that want to protect company data and resources, while providing employees with access to the network anytime, anywhere.
“Our approach is to simplify mobile security for businesses and their employees. Users can go to the Apple app store and download the free Check Point Mobile application, enter their login and password, and instantly gain secure access to their corporate data. It's as simple as downloading a game.”


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Singapore Fintech Tazapay Raises US$16.9 Million Series A Led by Sequoiaby Fintech News Singapore February 9, 2023
Cross-border payments firm Tazapay announced that it has raised US$ 16.9 million in its Series A funding round led by Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia.
The round was joined by new investors EscapeVelocity, PayPal Alumni Fund as well as angel investor Gokul Rajaram.
Existing investors Foundamental, January Capital, RTP Global and Saison Capital also participated in this round.
Tazapay said that it plans to use the funds to further scale its business across Asia and expand in other regions including the Middle East and Europe.
This includes the application of payment licenses in major markets that will broaden Tazapay’s payment network globally.
The company added that it will also be beefing up its core capabilities and adding more local payment methods to better serve the growing list of verticals that includes cross-border e-commerce, education technology (EdTech), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and travel.
Tazapay also plans to expand its real-time local collection channels to above 100 by the end of this year.
“After Surge, we are thrilled to have Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia show faith and conviction in our business by leading and participating in this round. We also welcome EscapeVelocity and PayPal Alumni Fund who are joining us as new investors.
These partners will help us realise our vision to be the foremost cross border infrastructure for global platforms as we double down on growing our market presence and consolidating every real-time banking network in the world under one API,”
said Tazapay CEO and co-founder Rahul Shinghal.
“Tazapay is building the payments and compliance infrastructure for cross-border commerce and services. This is a large space which is seeing another inflection point.
The Tazapay team has unique insights and experience to leverage this tailwind, and Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia is excited to partner with them as they double down on the opportunity,”
Aakash Kapoor, Vice President, Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia.


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The Sims 4 has officially released on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 today, but it looks like there's something that keeps corrupting player saves. The team behind The Sims 4 on PS4 and Xbox One have taken note of the issue and are currently investigating.
The Sims 4 team member Arvin suggests "saving the game immediately after entering live-mode, and after traveling." Arvin went on to say to "close and restart the game" once the issue is encountered.
A forum goer has offered up a workaround that has worked for some members of the community.
"Instead of saving your game, hit 'Manage Worlds' then go straight to Worlds without saving. Immediately press the menu button and return to the main menu, again without saving. Go back and load the autosave for your character and it SHOULD work."
No update to resolve the issue has been released yet, however, you can check on the status of updates here.


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Last week, the third edition of IoT Congress was successfully hosted in partnership with the Exhibitions India Group, a trade promotion organisation.
The event was aimed at getting a deep understanding of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its future. Technologies such as AI and blockchain, which have the potential to transform businesses, were also discussed during the event.
Additionally, the Global Mobile Conference (GMC) 2018, which is the brainchild of Rajasthan-based consultancy company The Brand Cocktail, was successfully hosted as a part of Delhi International Trade Fair. At the event, the audience received insights into technologies such as home automation, video content, virtual/augmented reality, and machine learning.
Gurugram-based community platform 91Springboard also hosted Startup Open House, which gave the participating startups an opportunity to showcase their products to an audience comprising potential partners and customers.
After an eventful week, we are here to book your calendars for another busy week ahead! Here is Inc42’s latest edition of startup events coming up this week.
The Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kharagpur, a non-profit student-run entrepreneurial organisation, along with Mumbai-based investment firm Z-Nations Lab, is organising Local Startups Meet 2018 this week in Mumbai. The event, which is being conducted in association with 91Springboard and Spacewhiz, is aimed at helping the youth cultivate the spirit of entrepreneurship.
An invite-only event, the meet will be attended by nearly 40-60 people consisting of investors, venture capitalists, and influencers, along with early-stage startups and some incubated startups.
During the event, the audience will engage in a knowledge sharing networking session which will be followed by a pitching session where five selected startups from products and services will be pitching in their ideas.
Who Should Attend: Startups, entrepreneurs, startup enthusiasts
Date: October 15, 2018
Venue: Z Nation Lab, WeWork, Raheja Platinum, Marol, Andheri East, Mumbai
IndianStartups is organising the October 2018 edition of its ‘Co-founder Meet’ to help startup founders find their co-founders. The event is aimed at helping budding entrepreneurs build their own team and find co-founders with complementary skills to build a strong company.
The event will also witness participation from all the community members, who will share their expertise and team up with others to create startups or join existing startups.
IndianStartups is a 50K-plus member community that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and partners across India and the globe to help nurture, nourish, and empower new and growing startups.
Who Should Attend: Startup entrepreneurs, startup enthusiasts
Date: October 16, 2018 | 5PM–7PM
Venue: Wework Galaxy, Bengaluru
TBL Space, a coworking space in Pune, along with business growth platform TAYS4Business, will be hosting the latest edition of ‘Startup & Entrepreneurs Meet And Mixture’, this week.
The event is aimed at creating an ecosystem for startups, entrepreneurs, professionals and other like-minded people who will get an opportunity to connect, learn, collaborate and grow during the event.
The participants will get a platform to network with startup leaders and will also receive mentoring and guidance from them, along with an opportunity for partnership, sponsorship, and collaboration.
Who Should Attend: Startups enthusiasts, entrepreneurs
Date: October 16, 2018 | 6PM–8PM
Venue: Inscape Cowork Pvt Ltd, Koregaon Park Pune
Fees: INR 500
NASSCOM is all set to host the latest edition of the NASSCOM Product Conclave. This edition is special as it marks its 15th anniversary. The focus of the event this year is ‘Product Mission 2020: Are We Ready?’
During the event, industry experts and leaders will share their knowledge to guide budding entrepreneurs on the pitfalls to avoid during the journey and how to successfully build high growth products.
The event will also provide a platform for speakers, entrepreneurs, CXOs, investors, and customers to share their views, develop their business, showcase their products, learn from each other, interact with their peers and get motivated by several success stories.
Key Speakers: Amitabh Kant, CEO at Niti Aayog; Kush Saxena, CTO at Mastercard; Girish Mathrubootham, Founder & CEO at Freshworks Inc; Moises Cohen, Co-Founder and Board Director at The Floor among many others.
Date: October 25–26, 2018
Venue: Taj Vivanta, Bengaluru
Stay tuned for the next edition of Events to Attend!


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Last year, the big wave of pivoting to video washed over many media companies. Troy Young, global president for digital at Hearst Magazines, joined the Digiday Podcast last March and said half of Hearst Magazines’ content would soon be video.
This year, we invited Kate Lewis, svp and editorial director of Hearst Magazines Digital Media, on the podcast to check in with Hearst’s digital operations. So far, one-third of Hearst’s magazine content is video.
“It is definitely driven by advertisers. But it is also very driven by what the platforms want, but also consumption of video is going up. So I think there is an audience there,” said Lewis. “Video doesn’t change our brands. What changes the brand more is publishing so much stuff. When we published so much, we began understanding how the audience responds. Video lets us take the things they responded to and blow it up big.”
Lewis discusses Hearst’s digital evolution, the future of video consumption, publishing video on platforms and more in the episode. Highlights appear below, edited for clarity.
Legacy companies have ‘staying power’
“[VC-backed digitally native companies] were a North Star for us in the beginning. I don’t think they were leading us in the wrong direction. People feel a resonance for storied brands. There’s a staying power that advantages us. Digital media is not in crisis. It’s persistently disrupted. We have a pretty strong audience and business model that is here to stay. I just can’t let that [Facebook’s new strategies and algorithms] freak me out. The KPI for me is that we continue to see audience growth, maybe not in a traditional way.”
Visual chat is coming
“Snapchat feels more magazine-y to me. It’s an environment to expose new generations to our brands. It’s more than marketing; we make money off it. I like the efforts that Snap has made around visual chat. It’s interesting to create media in a visual chat environment where visual assets are shared from my media brand. The same is true for Instagram Stories. It’s about making a piece of art that travels.”
Instagram will be big in 2018
The informality of instagram stories is almost like a reverse of snap. Snapchat has Kylie Jenner tickling her dog, and then they added Discover. Instagram has a much more professionalized feed, and then they added stories. Instagram will be a big play for us in 2018. It’s an all-demographic platform. My kids use it, and my mom uses it. It’s a place where we can reach many generations which suits our brands.
Video has consumption challenges
“One of the challenges of video is that you’re a prisoner to video. If I click on a story, I’m in control of my consumption experience. With video, you’ve got four minutes, so you’ll either last for 20 seconds or stay for all four. I’m forced to go on a journey that the creator demands of me. Swipeable video, which is basically what Snap and Instagram Stories are, is how video will evolve in terms of consumption. People want to be able to scrub. There will need to be a method to distribute video that allows the consumer of that content to have more control on how they consume it.”
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The Japanese government says it will encourage its innovative indigenous Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies to partner with small and medium-sized businesses as well as innovators in Nigeria to solve the country’s socio-economic challenges.
Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria Matsunaga Kazuyoshi stated in a speech at the opening workshop for 20 selected ICT companies from the northeastern region of Nigeria.
The program is labeled; Northeast Commissioning Training, (NEST)
NEST is a project of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Japan International Corporations Agency (JICA), where participants receive two weeks of free intensive training in Abuja, the capital of the nation
Mr. Kazuyoshi in a virtual address said that Japan, known worldwide for its innovative ideas, was interested in partnering with Nigeria and is enhancing its potential to be the ICT and technology hub in Africa.
“There are many companies in Japan that have excellent technology and are eager to work with you to solve social problems in the northern states and throughout Nigeria..“
Ambassador Kazuyoshi said that Internet access in the Northeast was increasing rapidly and the trend will greatly boost the innovative ICT sector in the region.
“With the development of 5G, which will bring high speed in accessible satellite Internet service and installing which will bring better Internet access, especially in the rural area, the start of this operation will be a game changer to bring more benefits to the northeastern community of digital transformation”
“Therefore, I believe that the latest technology will be the key to solving the challenges and winning business and then your future.” Kazuyoshi stated
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Director General Kashifu Abdullahi said the workshop is aimed at boosting market-driven digital businesses while making Nigeria a viable market for the global sector. of ICT.
Inuwa, represented by the National Coordinator of the National Digital Information Center (ONDI) Office, Yakubu Musa, said the government would work with all relevant stakeholders to create an enabling environment for innovations and startups to grow.
According to the head of NITDA; “We will do this by working with relevant stakeholders to create the enabling environment for youth because we teach around 60% of our population to continuously innovate and achieve their dreams of turning their innovative ideas into thriving businesses.
“By creating jobs and improving the quality of life for Nigerians, the recent enactment of the Nigerian Startups Act is an important milestone that will strengthen the legal and institutional framework for the development and operation of start-ups in Nigeria, It will encourage the development of technology-related companies. business in the country and further consolidate the position of the Nigerian startup ecosystem as the leading digital hub in Africa.”
Mr. Inuwa emphasized that the enactment of the Nigeria Start-up Act is aimed at fostering digital technology in the country. “We are on a journey to shape and win our future. That is why we leave no stone unturned in providing the necessary support for Nigerian innovation..“
He applauded JIACA for its continued support, saying it has proven to be a trusted partner fully aligned with our goal of cementing Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leading business hub and emerging global digital talent hub.
One of the participants, Khalid Abdullahi Yero, founder of Gombe State’s Dopals Technologies, said he uses his platform to help local people learn from undergraduate courses.
“The platform aims to help people learn skills from their own neighborhood instead of conventional education. As a student at the university; you can register on the platform and publish a course. And those courses will be delivered to students within your neighborhood in the language of your choice. We facilitate the program and make it successful and charge a commission based on the course.
“My goal here is to network and learn from the experts.” she added.
Another participant from Bauchi State and founder of Five Star ICT LTD, Muhammed Aliyu Sambo, said that his is an online platform that provides solutions to farmers’ needs.
“We provide solutions to farmers in terms of necessary information and we also provide them with services such as drones and the platform does not need internet connectivity. It’s like the USSD that works without internet.
“We provide them with information that will help them sell or export in partnership with our export partners.
“I look forward to taking this opportunity to network and make connections that can accelerate the growth of our company. We currently serve five thousand farmers, and after this training, if we do things right; we hope to reach about 200,000 by the end of next year.”
More than 8,500 small and medium ICT companies applied to the program and only 20 were selected with a focus on the northeastern states of the country.


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- Tariffs could force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates even faster, according to Societe Generale Chairman Lorenzo Bini Smaghi told CNBC at the China Development Forum.
Tit-for-tat trade penalties between the world's two largest economies could push the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates at a faster-than-expected clip, according to the chairman of one of Europe's largest banks.
"Tariffs may be inflationary for the U.S., which may lead the U.S. to raise interest rates even faster," Societe Generale Chairman Lorenzo Bini Smaghi told CNBC at the China Development Forum in Beijing on Saturday.
President Donald Trump's proposed double-digit duties on foreign aluminum and steel imports as well as taxes of up to $60 billion against Chinese products — including technology — could result in higher consumer prices in the world's largest economy. The price of smartphones, for example, could rise, forcing retailers to pass on the cost increase to shoppers.
Higher prices could stoke inflation, which could impact the Fed's monetary tightening cycle. The central bank increased rates by a quarter of a point last week and is widely anticipated to hike at least three more times this year. But stronger inflation could change that.
The U.S. "may get two bad things," Smaghi said: "First, higher tariffs and higher inflation and then higher interest rates. That's not necessarily good for the U.S. economy."
Tariffs would likely also lead to a weakening of the , he added.
Trump's trade actions are politically motivated and likely aimed at maintaining "the cohesion of his electoral basis," according to Smaghi.
"There is a mid-term election, things don't look that good given what we saw in Pennsylvania," the Italian economist said, referring to Democrat Conor Lamb's recent election victory in the state. "If things don't go well politically, [Trump] may want to tighten his base with measures that, to some extent, correspond to what he promised, but may not be targeted to a win-win situation."


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LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MedMen Enterprises Inc. (CSE: MMEN) (OTCQX: MMNFF) (“MedMen” or the “Company”), a leading cannabis retailer with operations across the U.S., announces the opening of its latest Florida location in the city of Sarasota. This is the eighth of 12 locations MedMen plans to open in Florida this calendar year. The Company is licensed for up to 35 retail locations in the state.
Florida is the third most populous state in the U.S. with a robust and growing medical cannabis program serving over 393,663 qualified patients as of November 1, 2019.1 Sarasota, a mid-sized city with an increasing population of approximately 57,738, is a popular tourist destination known as a gateway to miles of beaches.2 The new location aligns with MedMen’s retail strategy to extend geographical reach within each operational market.
MedMen Buds, the Company’s new loyalty program, will be available to all patients at the Sarasota location. In addition, MedMen’s recently launched same-day delivery platform will be available to Florida patients soon. Together with loyalty and delivery, the Company’s new store location aligns with MedMen’s industry-leading omni-channel experience and customer service.
In addition to expanding its retail footprint in the state, MedMen remains one of the lead supporters of the recently launched constitutional amendment campaign to bring safe, regulated, and legal cannabis to adults 21 years and older in the state of Florida. The campaign committee “Make it Legal Florida” is chaired by MedMen’s own Vice President of Government Affairs, Nick Hansen.
MedMen’s Sarasota store is located at 1410 Main Street Sarasota, Florida 34236. Store hours are 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Office of Medical Marijuana Use – Weekly Updates
Founded in 2010, MedMen is North America’s premium cannabis retailer. Founders Adam Bierman and Andrew Modlin have defined the next generation discovery platform for cannabis and all its benefits. A robust selection of high-quality products, including MedMen-owned brands [statemade], LuxLyte and MedMen Red, coupled with a team of cannabis-educated associates cement the Company’s commitment to providing an unparalleled experience. MedMen’s industry-leading technology enables a fully compliant, owned-and-operated delivery service and MedMen Buds, a nationwide loyalty program. MedMen believes that a world where cannabis is legal and regulated is safer, healthier and happier.
Learn more at www.MedMen.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including projections regarding opening additional stores in the State of Florida.
Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is provided and made as of the date of this press release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by applicable law.
Get Real-Time Updates from MJobserver.com


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Snapchat’s Testing New ‘Status’ Location Check-ins, Passport and Mention Stickers
Jane Manchun Wong, social app researcher who gained worldwide recognition for reverse-engineering social media apps, uncovered Snapchat’s plans to develop a new UI for its Snap Map, which would include the ability to check-into locations with a chosen Bitmoji character. These changes could facilitate real-life meet-ups and could also potentially gamify location tracking, leading to greater participation and engagement within the app. This would also be beneficial in terms of ad targeting as it would provide Snapchat with additional audience data.
The ‘Status’ option would, therefore, allow users to display what they’re doing on a map, enabling their Snap connections to see where they are and what they are up to in real time, as well as mentioning with whom. This would be an opt-in service, where users could choose to remain invisible on the map as well as being able to select which friends they share their status. In addition, Snapchat is also developing its own version of Instagram’s @mention stickers, which would allow users to mention friends in their stories. Snapchat is also working on a passport listing which would only be viewable to the individual, displaying all the places they have checked into.
There is no word on whether these features will be rolled out and as of today, they have only been made available to a few people in Australia.
Snapchat Held Its First Ever Partner Summit and Announces New Products
Last Thursday, Snapchat held its first-ever Partner summit, where they unveiled a number of new products. This was an equivalent to the larger and more established developer conferences that are held each year by tech-giants like Apple or Facebook. At the event, it was announced that Snapchat will be building stories for other apps, launching their own games and providing more AR features that aren’t face filters.
Snapchat is looking to expand the capacity of its StoryKit by enabling developers to facilitate Story sharing into their apps. Tinder will soon be able to allow users to share their latest Snap Story, which will allow users to provide more information about who they are.
In addition, Snapchat has crafted a new game experience, which will focus on in-game communication and interaction, including live audio chat in-game. The games will be available via a new rocket ship icon in the messaging stream. ‘Bitmoji Party’ will be the first game to be launched.
In terms of AR, there are various developments and tools coming to the app. Since its launch in 2017, Lens Studio has continued to grow in popularity, which is why Snapchat is focusing on encouraging its usage even more, rolling out creator profiles that will be “dedicated spaces for Lens creators to showcase their work and connect with their audience”. Snapchat also announced a new ‘Landmarkers’ option for Lenses, which will enable these creators to build Lenses on top of global landmarks. This will showcase the buildings and monuments under a different light, building new experiences and stretching beyond the generic tourist photos.
Given Snapchat’s popularity among younger users, these new opportunities to connect and create, show there is a lot of future potential.
Twitter Hopes to Cut Down on Spam by Reducing the Number of Accounts Users can Follow per Day
In an effort to cut down on spam, Twitter has decided to change the number of accounts you can follow per day. This is another big step towards booting scammers off the platform; cutting down the number from 1000 accounts a day to 400. On why they chose to change it to that number, a spokesperson said that they had looked “at follow behaviour at various thresholds, and selected 400 as a reasonable limit that stopped most spam while not affecting legitimate users.”
Twitter is hoping that this new limit will help prevent spammers from rapidly growing their networks, which isn’t the only change Twitter has taken in recent months to tackle the spam problem. The company has also updated its reporting tools, allowing users to report fake accounts, alongside introducing new security measures around account verification and sign-up.
WhatsApp Makes its Business App Available on iOS, and in More Regions
WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, launched WhatsApp Business for Android in January of last year in an attempt to help enterprise owners have a more direct communication channel with their customers. Given the good response from enterprise users across the world — within the span of a year, it registered more than five million business owners — the company finally decided to make this option available to iPhone users.
As explained by WhatsApp:
“Today we’re introducing the WhatsApp Business app for iOS. Like the Android version, the WhatsApp Business app for iOS will be free to download from the App Store, and will include features to help small businesses and customers communicate.”
In addition to being available for iOS, WhatsApp Business is now reaching even more regions, being reported that the app is now available in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and France.


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Publisher’s Weekly Is Hosting A Virtual Book Fair In 2021!
Though the pandemic seemingly rages on Publisher’s Weekly has given some hope and light to writers and readers alike. Publisher’s Weekly has announced that they will be hosting a new American trade fair May 26th -28th. How so? It will be run virtually. The U.S. Book Show will be limited to 5 hours a day to help with possible internet connection issues as well as time constraints since this will be available worldwide.
There will be exhibitors, presentations, and networking just like at the live event. Prices start at $35 (with a $3.77 fee) for librarians and booksellers, the Early Bird pricing is $89 (plus a $7.05 fee) and $149 (plus a $10.71 fee) for general admission (that starts on April 2nd). The tickets are all-inclusive so the purchaser has access to everything. The hard part will be to pick and chose what to do.
According to Cevin Bryerman, executive v-p and publisher of PW:
Publishers Weekly brings the leadership, brand and marketing reach into the global industry that will set the stage for the success of the new fair. The event fills a void left in the U.S. book publishing industry. PW has the experience, 150 years of book industry expertise and dedication to excellence.
There will be Editor’s Pick panels that feature Fall 2021 books as well as presentations on how COVID-19 has and continues to impact the publishing industry. Meet the Author sessions and even an Exhibition Hall for one on one sessions between exhibitors and attendees will be available. Contests and networking with agents and editors are also going to be a part of the fun. One of the key areas which we should all be looking forward to is that “Self-published authors will have a dedicated track of events catering specifically to their needs.”
Jim Milliot, editorial director of PW, added:
Having everyone under one ‘roof,’ so to speak, will go a long way toward unifying the industry around an annual U.S.-based event we have all come to rely on for networking, learning about the forthcoming big fall titles and one-to-one connection with booksellers and librarians.
For a more in-depth look at what is slated to happen visit www.publishersweekly.com/bookshow. Those that want to attend will also find a link for purchasing tickets as well as contact information for any further questions.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
After losing my job of 15 years almost a year ago I decided to pursue my dream of being a freelance writer. I have a few novels and many short stories tucked away while I write for the local paper as well as write books reviews with the occasional interview.
I am the proud Mom of three Pitbulls, a turtle, a snake and many mice. I prefer horror and mysteries but I also have a vast selection of history books. I also love Minions.?


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The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI® Total Activity Index found that construction work in the housebuilding sub-category increased at the fastest pace since November 2003.
However, imbalanced supply and demand has resulted in rapid cost inflation across the construction sector in June, with average prices paid for products and materials having increased at record pace.
According to Tim Moore, economics director at IHS Markit, survey respondents widely reported delays due to low building material stocks, shortages of transport capacity, and long wait times for items sourced abroad.
“Escalating cost pressures and concerns around labour availability appear to have constrained business optimism at some building firms,” he added.
- An interview with Blend Network CEO, Yann Murciano
- Post-Brexit trade deal provides some hope for builders, says FMB
- Construction industry backs long-term plan to make existing homes greener, says FMB
Brian Berry, chief executive at the FMB, commented: “The building materials shortage is disproportionately affecting small builders and threatening their recovery from the pandemic, despite strong growth in the construction sector.
“The materials shortage is proving a serious detriment to both businesses throughout the supply chain and consumers.
“As the country reopens for business, it’s imperative that building firms have better access to the materials they need to build.”
Brian stated that while the significant surge in activity in the construction sector is very encouraging, the lack of materials needs to be addressed before jobs and business continuity are compromised.
“Small firms form over 90% of the construction industry and they are experiencing the most difficulties as a result of these shortages,” he added.
Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said: “The meagre availability of raw materials placed obstacles in the path of stronger workflows where supplier delivery times extended into record-breaking territory once again and surpassed the height of disruption when the pandemic first hit.
"A lack of delivery drivers and logistics difficulties for EU imports left stock undelivered or unavailable and construction companies waited while costs mounted.
"These malfunctions in supply chain performance may be a global issue, but this doesn’t help UK builders who are ready but unable to return fully to projects, which was reflected in the lowest optimism since January.
“This surge in activity will lose momentum while labour availability, along with key materials, remain elusive."


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By Dr Corrinne Burns, Assistant Content Developer
Reckon you could give Usain Bolt a run for his money? No, me neither. But with the help of scientists from Loughborough University’s Sports Technology Institute, we could at least achieve our own personal best.
The Loughborough team, led by Dr Jon Roberts, are interested in how engineering know-how can be applied to the design of sports equipment. And as part of our Summer of Sport series of live events, they’re setting up a pop-up sports laboratory in the Antenna gallery.
So if you want to find out more about the technology behind running shoe design and construction, come along and chat to the team. You can even take part in real experiments – would you like to measure just how high you can jump? With a specialised bit of kit called a Force Plate, you can do just that.
And if you really do fancy seeing how you measure up against Bolt, you can time your speed on a five-metre running track. High-speed cameras will record your finish time – and you can even get a Photo Finish photograph to take away.
From Elite to High Street
Experts reckon that personalised sports footwear is the way to go, in terms of helping us perform at our best. The technology behind personalised footwear was originally developed fro elite athletes, but it’s now becoming more mainstream. From Elite to High Street, as Loughborough say.
Interested in finding out more? Come along to Antenna next week, and try out the technology for yourself.


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The innovation technology and products of home furnishing industry are fast, people's demand changes and other characteristics. The industry needs to conduct authoritative, scientific and comprehensive industrial development research 2018 China's home furnishing materials industry data report, predict the development trend of home furnishing industry 2019, and provide information for the strategic development of industry research and market development. For this reason, 12 industry associations in China, Sina home furnishing and leteng home furnishings jointly released the 2018 China home furnishing materials industry data report. From the perspective of home furnishing stores, the combination of traditional decoration peak season and promotion activities has blurred the sales off-season peak season boundary. Industrial transformation and upgrading, structural reform still exist
China's furniture exhibition has become an international exhibition with important influence in the world furniture industry, especially in the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta. From the perspective of exhibition scale and international influence, it has ranked the top three in the world. On September 11, China International Furniture Exhibition was held in Shanghai, with a group of amazing data - 350000 square meters of exhibition area, 3500 exhibitors, 220 international brands, 129 well-known design brands at home and abroad, and more than 50 design masters. This means that this year's China International Furniture Exhibition is another grand event of the global furniture industry. Since Beijing furniture company opened its first
On October 26, 2019, the opening ceremony of Kadi furniture * * store was held.
Kadi furniture store is located at No. 88, road, district * * of * * City, with superior location and convenient travel. The four districts arrive in an instant. There are many residential areas, educational institutions and industrial office areas within 3km of the store and Museum, with huge consumption potential in the future.


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LOCAL businesses were found to be more optimistic of the country’s economic prospects, despite the uncertainty brought about by the change in the seat of power in the Philippines.
The latest results of the Central Bank’s quarterly Business Expectations Survey (BES) showed business outlook on the economy was more bullish for the second quarter of this year—notably during the height of the country’s election period.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the overall confidence index (CI) of firms surveyed in the country rose to 48.7 percent for the second quarter of the year, up from the 41.9 percent for the first quarter of 2016.
The CI is computed as the percentage of optimistic firms minus the percentage of pessimistic firms on the local economy. A higher CI means the number of optimists increased and continued to be greater than the number of pessimists during the period.
The central bank said respondents were more upbeat in the second quarter due to election-related spending in the run-up to the national elections, sustained increase in orders and prospects leading to higher volume of production, and the anticipated increase in demand during summer due to the influx of tourists.
The enrollment period, the introduction of new and enhanced business strategies and processes, the expansion of businesses and new product lines, and the improving conditions in the local economy, as well as in some advanced economies also helped push business sentiment up during the period.
“Their more positive outlook was further driven by expectations of more favorable macroeconomic conditions in the country—particularly low inflation and stable interest rates—and sustained foreign-investment inflows,” the central bank said.
“The sentiment of businesses in the Philippines mirrored the improving business outlook in South Korea, Canada, France and the Netherlands, but was in contrast to the deteriorating views of those in the US, the United Kingdom, Germany and China and Australia,” it added.
Across sectors, the services sector was the most optimistic among all sectors for the second quarter of the year. Construction, meanwhile, turned less favorable. The outlook of firms in the wholesale and retail trade sector, as well as industry firms, was also more upbeat for the quarter.
For the third quarter, business outlook was less optimistic due to the interruption of business activities during the rainy season, lower consumer demand as households prioritized enrollment expenses and expectations of higher oil prices.


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The A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) share price has been a very strong performer in 2020.
Since the start of the year, the infant formula and fresh milk company’s shares are up 39%.
Is it too late to buy a2 Milk shares?
Although its shares are admittedly not cheap, I don’t believe it is too late to invest. This is due to the quality of its business and its very positive long term outlook. I believe these justify the premium its shares are trading at.
One leading fund manager that appears to agree is Ophir Asset Management.
Its Director and Portfolio Manager, Andrew Mitchell, recently told Livewire Markets that he believes a2 Milk Company has a “huge runway” and could double or even triple its Chinese market share in the future.
According to the Livewire podcast, the fund manager notes that the premium end of the Chinese infant formula market continues to grow even during the pandemic. This is because Chinese families are not cutting back on infant formula in difficult times.
This is a big positive for a2 Milk Company and offers “downside protection” during periods of time like those we are experiencing at present.
Potential market share gains.
At the end of the first half of FY 2020, a2 Milk Company had an infant formula consumption value share of 6.6% in China. This was up from 5.4% a year earlier.
Mr Mitchell appears confident that the company’s growth in the market is only just getting started and has suggested it is “headed towards 15% to 20% in market share.”
In addition to this, the fund manager sees opportunities for the company to expand its “innovative product” globally and notes that it has a significant amount of cash on its balance sheet. The latter gives the company a lot of options to bolster its future growth.
And while some investors have concerns that competing a2-only products could stifle its growth, Mr Mitchell doesn’t believe this will be the case. In fact, Ophir’s contacts in the China market believe the launch of a2-only products by big multinationals only reinforces the a2 Milk Company’s premium brand with Chinese consumers.
Overall, the fund manager believes a2 Milk Company is a “fantastic” company and on a “trajectory to be a much larger business.” I agree completely with this view and feel a2 Milk Company would be a great buy and hold option.
Where to invest $1,000 right now
When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.
*Returns as of June 30th
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of A2 Milk. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
- Forget BrainChip (ASX:BRN) and buy and hold these outstanding ASX shares – September 22, 2020 2:51pm
- Buy BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX:NDQ) and these ETFs today – September 22, 2020 2:30pm
- BrainChip (ASX:BRN) and Afterpay (ASX:APT) were among the most traded shares on the ASX last week – September 22, 2020 1:29pm


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With the recent discovery of a reference to the new model of the Nintendo Switch by dataminers, fans have been speculating whether it could be the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro. Although Nintendo has yet to make an official announcement regarding the upgraded model of the Nintendo Switch, its potential price could be a breaking point for Nintendo’s current demographic.
As Nintendo thrives with competitive prices against the hardware titans in PlayStation and Xbox, the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro could potentially impact its sales to its current market. If the Nintendo Switch Pro is announced at some time in the future, it’s likely that its price could be a deciding factor in its success or failure.
For the longest time now, Nintendo has carved out a specific market for itself with its consoles. Rather than competing with PlayStation and Xbox in the latest hardware upgrades, Nintendo has seen success by targeting a demographic that’s more concerned with accessibility and an affordable price range. That philosophy is exemplified by the success of the Nintendo Switch, with its ability to function as both a home and portable console. Despite having weaker hardware, the Nintendo Switch excels at being easy to use, and its ability to pick up and play is unmatched.
One of the biggest reasons that fans doubt the existence of the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro is that there is simply no need for it. After all, the Nintendo Switch remains wildly popular despite being nearly four years old. The Nintendo Switch even outsold the PS5 during the latter’s launch month despite being a generation behind. Perhaps the most obvious reason for this success is that its price point of $299 USD attracts a variety of consumers, even those that already have a PlayStation or Xbox. Along with a fantastic list of first-party titles, Nintendo has thrived on its reputation as affordable, midrange consoles like the Nintendo Switch.
As a result, if the Nintendo Switch Pro contains enough hardware upgrades to warrant an increase in price, then Nintendo’s current market of players looking for cheaper alternatives may be impacted greatly. Either the Nintendo Switch Pro has to market itself as a competitor to PlayStation and Xbox with its hardware or the new model will have minor, incremental upgrades so it can keep its original price. If Nintendo plans to reveal the Nintendo Switch Pro, it’ll not only need to justify the price, but ensure that current Nintendo Switch owners have a reason to upgrade.
While Nintendo has yet to confirm the existence of a new model of the Nintendo Switch, dataminers were able to find some information about a new retail model for the Nintendo Switch codenamed “Aula.” The biggest upgrade appears to be an updated display of some sort that is tied to a new manufacturer. Although it’s impossible to tell whether the display will be a minor upgrade to mini-LED or a major upgrade to OLED, it’s clear that any potential price increases will depend on the Nintendo Switch’s display upgrade. Though rumors of an OLED screen have been popular amongst fans recently, OLED screens are still very expensive to produce, and would increase the retail price of the Nintendo Switch dramatically.
Another interesting datamined upgrade was potential 4K support on the Nintendo Switch. Although there was no confirmation of the display changing resolution itself, a number of rumors have popped up regarding the ability to upscale the Nintendo Switch’s resolution. If this is the case, the new Nintendo Switch model will likely use DLSS upscaling in order to display 4K resolution instead of native rendering. While 4K upscaled support might not increase the price of the Nintendo Switch, it’ll still need hardware upgrades like better cooling and faster clocks in order to keep up. As a result, these minor hardware upgrades could also increase the price of the potential Nintendo Switch Pro.
Regardless of what hardware features will be implemented on the Nintendo Switch Pro, Nintendo will have to tread carefully with its pricing. The biggest issue is that Nintendo has never released an upgraded version of a home console before. While Nintendo has released upgraded versions of its handheld consoles like the GameBoy and Nintendo DS, none of these upgrades have ever increased the MSRP price drastically. At this point in time, fans who are familiar with Nintendo attribute the low cost of its consoles with its biggest benefits. If the Nintendo Switch Pro becomes the first upgraded version of a home console, its pricing could be a potential breaking point for Nintendo’s sales.
The current Nintendo Switch costs $299 USD which is much cheaper than its competitors PS4 at $399 USD and Xbox One at $499 USD. If the price of the Nintendo Switch Pro only went up by $20 or $30, it’d likely not be a big deal. After all, previous handheld Nintendo consoles experienced minor price increases to match up to their hardware upgrades. On the other hand, the current rumors surrounding the Nintendo Switch Pro seem to imply more expensive upgrades such as an OLED screen or better processor speeds. While these would be great upgrades to have, none of the upgrades are able to match up to the hardware of the PS4 and Xbox One. It would be difficult to convince current Nintendo Switch owners to upgrade their consoles if the Nintendo Switch Pro didn’t offer significant hardware improvements.
Moreover, the fact that Nintendo has cultivated its brand around cheaper alternatives could directly affect potential sales of an upgraded Nintendo Switch Pro. The target audience Nintendo has built is concerned about accessibility and pricing over the latest hardware. An updated OLED screen or 4K capabilities are great potential upgrades but unless the Nintendo Switch Pro retains a similar price to the original Nintendo Switch, fans will likely be uninterested.
As a result, pricing becomes the biggest issue for the potential Nintendo Switch Pro. If the pricing is too high, it alienates Nintendo’s current target audience who are concerned about affordability and ease of use. Most likely, these datamined upgrades signify silent updates to the current model of the Nintendo Switch rather than an upgraded console. While the existence of the Nintendo Switch Pro isn’t completely ruled out, there are too many disadvantages in its potential pricing model that would negatively impact Nintendo’s sales.
A new model of the Nintendo Switch is rumored to be in development.


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MOSCOW, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said customs tariffs on automobiles would be raised, calling it encouragement for foreign companies to set up shop in Russia.
"We do not want to undermine your (carmakers) business in Russia. Come to us and set up production here," the Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted Putin as saying Tuesday.
By raising tariffs, Russia hopes to discourage imports, which would, in theory, encourage companies to build production facilities in Russia.
Putin said tariffs could be raised, because, "after all, members of the World Trade Organization … can afford it," he said.
Currently, while several large automakers have built production facilities in Russia, the country still imports more cars than it produces. January through June, automakers produced 157,561 vehicles in the country. By comparison, Russia imported 251,300 cars in the same six month period.


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Several online storefronts and game services have taken measures to deal with the increased internet usage as of late. Today, Steam rolled out a new measure of its own, while also highlighting tools PC owners can use to keep their bandwidth in check.
Posted to the Steam blog, the PC storefront will be limiting its auto-updating feature. Rather than keeping every game you have installed automatically up-to-date, Steam will only immediately update games that you've played within the last three days. Game updates can still be manually initiated through the Steam client, but only your go-to games will pull down patches the moment they go live.
As Steam notes, the storefront has already been scheduling those updates for off-peak hours, and will continue to do so. The Steam blog highlights ways to help manage bandwidth as well, including scheduling auto-update windows, manually halting automatic updates on games in your library, throttling your own connection, or moving games to a storage drive rather than uninstalling and then reinstalling later.
Sony has already begun slowing PSN download speeds to help deal with the increased internet traffic. As many players are staying indoors and practicing social distancing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, online services have predictably seen both record numbers and server troubles.
The more people are online and drawing content through the pipes, the higher chance your local internet traffic needs to slow down a bit to keep up. It's probably not a bad idea to schedule a few downloads or pre-loads of games, especially overnight or during hours when most people will be otherwise distracted. If you're looking to download an upcoming game like Resident Evil 3, it might not be a bad idea to set that up now.


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It’s another day, and another Galaxy S5 rumour, this time claiming that Samsung’s incoming flagship – which is expected to be unveiled on 24 February at MWC 2014 – will have a bezel-free display.
In other words, there will be no surround or dead space around the edge of the display, enabling the phone to have the largest screen size in the most comfortable form factor possible. And of course it will look very slick, too, which won’t hurt.
Speaking of the display, it’s rumoured to be a 5.25in affair with a possible 2560 x 1440 resolution, and if that’s the case, a bezel-free design is going to look pretty striking indeed. (Note that other reports have claimed the screen resolution might be plain old 1080p, though). Couple all this with a metal chassis, as per other speculation, and the S5 is going to look very much more premium than the S4 did.
This latest rumour comes from the Korea Herald (via NDTV Gadgets), and also cites sources who claim there will be a fingerprint scanner on board the handset, and it will be built into the S5’s display (if there’s no bezel, it will have to be integrated into the display, of course). Print scanning won’t be a display-wide affair, though, with the Korea Herald claiming finger scanning tech will be on the bottom left and right-hand sides of the display.
A final bonus snippet: This new display will allegedly be glove-friendly, so you’ll be able to use the S5’s touchscreen with your thermal winter gloves next Christmas. If it gets cold and snows, of course, and we don’t see another monstrous deluge of rain that prompts everyone in the south to start building arks.
We’ll know what’s in the Galaxy S5 for sure a week on Monday, so not long now. Meantime, if you want a detailed overview of all the S5 rumours thus far – and there have been plenty – then check out our in-depth look at what we know about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5.


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CAMDEN COUNTY, N.J. - A Black history-themed public book ark project is popping up around Camden County.
"Autobiographies," said Erik James Montgomery describing a book inside a book ark he created and stocked.
"Some of these are faith-based books and some of these are art books," he said. It’s part of an existing program to place books housed in these ark-structures in neighborhoods around Camden County.
"I've seen them all around the city. The kids love it and the parents love it so I knew I wanted to be a part of it," said Montgomery. But this one is different than the other 45 to 50 arks created over the past two years. This has a black history theme.
"There's a lot of autobiographies there, there's books by Maya Angelou, there's the autobiography of Frederick Douglass. There’s also books that talk about psychology, and there's books that talk about anti-racism," said Montgomery. The outside he created with pictures of books mostly featuring African Americans or written by black authors.
"I wanted to put in books instead of people’s faces and then just have Camden is reading because reading is very important. Literacy is very important to me and I wanted other students and young people to be able to be attracted to the images. And then once they see the images they'll open up the ark to get the books," he said.
Montgomery is a professional photographer and CEO of the EJM Foundation which creates public art and hosts art programs for young people. Tom Martin the man who started the Book Ark Project commissioned him to create this one. Martin says there's only one other ark, the Liberation Ark filled exclusively with books for or about people of color located between Westfield and North 27th Street. He hopes this one too will be widely used and by people of all races.
"I think when people of color see this and see faces on the front that look more like there's then maybe all the others, they'll be more tempted if they aren't book minded to reach in there and say what's this all about. So to me it's incredibly exciting," said Martin.
The Black History-themed book ark will be available beyond black history month. You can see it outside the Camden Fireworks Art Gallery 1813 Broadway in Camden. To find out which neighborhood it will go from there you can check the Book Ark Project on Facebook. The idea is for people to take books, even restock it with books of their choice for others.
Also, the books used are mostly donated. If you’d like to donate books email email@example.com
DOWNLOAD: FOX 29 NEWS APP


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Approximately 500 Co-operation grocery store stores in Sweden have been compelled to close because of a progressing “epic” digital assault influencing associations throughout the planet.
Center Sweden says it shut the greater part of its 800 stores on Friday after retail location tills and self-administration checkouts quit working.
The grocery store was not designated by programmers straightforwardly – yet is one of a developing number of associations influenced by an assault on an enormous programming provider the organization employments.
Digital specialists say around 200 organizations have been hit by this “monster” ransomware assault, which had primarily influenced the US.
Digital protection firm Huntress Labs said the hack designated Florida-based IT organization Kaseya before spreading through corporate organizations that utilization its product. The firm accepts the Russia-connected REvil ransomware pack was capable.
Kaseya said in articulation on its own site that it’s anything but an “expected assault”.
A representative for Co-operation Sweden told the BBC: “We originally saw issues in few stores on Friday evening around 6:30 pm so we shut down those stores early. Then, at that point for the time being we understood it was a lot greater and we took the choice not to open a large portion of our stores toward the beginning of today so our groups could work out how to fix it.
It’s perceived that Co-operation doesn’t utilize Kesaya straightforwardly on its frameworks however that one of their product suppliers does.
The case features the developing worry in the network safety world about alleged store network assaults where programmers can guarantee different casualties by assaulting their provider.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, a government body, said in an explanation that it was making a move to address the assault and asking clients of the Kesaya programming to close it down.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Center said: “We know about a digital occurrence including Kaseya, and we are attempting to completely comprehend its effect.
“Ransomware is a developing, global cyber threat, and all organizations should find immediate ways to restrict risk-chance and follow our recommendation on the most proficient method to set up hearty safeguards to ensure their organizations.”
The digital break hopes to have been coordinated for the greatest interruption as it arose on Friday evening when organizations across the US were timing off for the long Independence Day weekend.
Kaseya is asking clients that utilization its VSA instrument to promptly close down their workers.
Kaseya said in it’s anything but a “modest number” of organizations had been influenced, however Huntress Labs said the number was more noteworthy than 200.
It’s anything but clear what explicit organizations have been influenced, and a Kaseya agent reached by the BBC declined to give subtleties.
Kaseya’s site says it’s anything but a presence above 10 nations and more than 10,000 clients.
“This is a giant and obliterating store network assault,” Huntress Labs’ senior security scientist John Hammond said in an email.
At a culmination in Geneva last month, US President Joe Biden said he revealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin he had an obligation to get control over such digital assaults.
Mr. Biden said he gave Mr. Putin a rundown of 16 basic foundation areas, from energy to water, that ought not to be liable to hacking.
REvil – otherwise called Sodinokibi – is one extremely productive and profitable cyber criminal groups on the planet.
The posse was accused by the FBI for a hack in May that deadened activities at JBS – the world’s biggest meat provider.


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According to the international researchers, the voice assistants like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri can be easily hacked by the hackers with the help of a laser. The international researcher says that hackers can do hacking by shining a laser on the microphones of the devices.
Experts warn about the hacking process
An expert from Electro-communications University, Tokyo, said that the hackers get a chance through “Dubbed Light Commands” to remotely inject invisible commands in the voice assistants to hack your device. The researchers found out that the microphones react to the light as they respond to a sound.
In a research paper, the researchers warn everyone about the hacking process with the help of laser light. In the research paper, it was mentioned that with the effect of the laser light and by modulating the amplitude of light, anyone could inject sound into the device’s microphone. They also found out in the research that the invention can be hacked from a distance of 110 meters or 361 feet.
The researchers told that they used sixty milliwatt laser for sixteen different voice assistance devices like smartphones and smart speakers and to provide commands. As a result, they found that all the voice assistants are responding to the powers of the laser light from a distance of 164 feet.
Experts also warn that the device like the iPhone can be hacked by laser light from a distance of 33 feet, and the Android phone devices can be hacked at a range within 16 feet. The voice assistant can be commanded silently by the laser light as the laser can carry the command from a distance. The voice assistance companies are researching to increase the security of these devices.


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Temple Fox School of Business MBA Student Develops Fashion Forward Business
Blackstone Launchpad, an entrepreneurship program with locations on various campuses nationwide, recently featured an article that gave kudos to Temple University’s Fox School of Business MBA student Olawunmi Thomas-Quarcoo.
“Ka Bom” translates to “join together” in Twi, a language spoken in Ghana. “This definition symbolizes fusing our American upbringing and our African roots,” Thomas-Quarcoo said. “It also represents joining together different African-inspired women designers to showcase their fashion on one platform. We’re not just selling clothing. We’re building a community of women all around the world.”
Blackstone Launchpad aided Thomas-Quarcoo in the development of her business plan and also helped her and Afua Obeng distinguish their site from others that were similar. Prompted by Blackstone’s feedback and mentorship, Thomas-Quarcoo entered Fox’s Innovative Idea Competition, placing first in the categories of “People’s Choice” and “Graduate, Faculty, Staff or Alumni.”
According to its central website, Blackstone LaunchPad is an experiential campus program designed to introduce entrepreneurship as a viable career path. Developed as part of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Initiative and modeled after a successful program at the University of Miami, the program will be available to more than 500,000 students by the end of 2015.


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Cybercrime has dominated the headlines in recent months, and there have been growing concerns around the threat of cyberattacks on retailers ahead of the traditional Christmas shopping period.
A recent report by ThreatMetrix predicts a significant spike in cybercrime in the run-up to the festive season. With a 25 per cent increase in cyberattacks against online retailers already reported this year, there is substantial evidence to suggest this concern is well placed.
The good news is that the cybersecurity industry is working hard to meet this increasing need. The products and services delivered by specialist cybersecurity firms are in high demand as spending by governments and corporations in the area rises.
For investors, these cybersecurity businesses may offer a growth-oriented investment opportunity.
The global growth prospects from the sector are compelling. Since 2009, reported cybersecurity incidents have grown at a year-on-year compound annual growth rate of 66 per cent.
As this threat grows, cybersecurity firms are likely to experience a continued and increasing demand for their services.
The cyber-insurance industry – mainly a US market for the time being – has grown from $1bn (£667m) to $2.5bn in the past two years and is expected to grow dramatically during the next five years.
In addition, the mobile security market is exploding, with more than 30 per cent growth projected through to 2019, driven by the mass adoption of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
These figures are borne out in the growth predictions for the sector as a whole. Current research forecasts that the global cybersecurity industry will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9.8 per cent to $170bn by 2020.
Investors can access this market in Europe in two ways: either directly by conducting research and buying stocks in individual-listed stocks, or simply buying single exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Investment in an individual stock will provide the most targeted exposure. But this approach requires investors to pick the winners and losers in the industry at an early stage in the maturity of the sector.
If an investor wants more diversified exposure to cybersecurity firms directly, they will need to spend meaningful amounts of time to review their holdings to rebalance their investment at regular intervals. This ensures they stay aligned with their overall objective of having a balanced broad exposure to the sector.
On the other hand, ETFs that are designed to provide a balanced and diversified exposure to cybersecurity firms have an in-built rebalancing mechanism that allows investors to track the performance of a basket of companies that are professionally selected via rules-based methodology.
These products trade on stock exchanges and investors can therefore trade them with the same ease as they would with a stock without having to regularly rebalance their holdings.
ETFs are typically being used as building blocks in portfolio construction.
So a cybersecurity ETF, with its relative simplicity and flexibility, can be an integral investment tool for investors looking for exposure to the forecasted growth in this sub-sector.


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Mission Produce™ Reports Fiscal 2023 Second Quarter Financial Results; Steve Barnard Shares
OXNARD, CA - Amid strong headwinds, Mission Produce™ has put its industry prowess to the test, showing growth across its operations. With the recent release of its fiscal second quarter results for the period ended April 30, 2023, the supplier reported a 19 percent increase in avocado volume sold compared to the same period last year, among other developments.
“Our fiscal second quarter performance was driven by improved sales volumes resulting from a more normal pricing environment versus last year’s record high pricing,” commented Steve Barnard, Chief Executive Officer. “We delivered a 19 percent increase in sales volumes year over year, and we continued to see sequential improvement in both volumes and per-unit margins relative to fiscal first quarter. We are well positioned as we enter the Peruvian season, and our owned production comes online in the second half of the fiscal year. We are optimistic that per unit margins will continue to improve on a sequential basis and support the normal seasonal step-up in adjusted EBITDA in the second half of the fiscal year. Despite the impact of lower prices on per unit margins in the short-term, a more rational pricing environment is advantageous for long-term consumption growth and allows Mission to leverage our global distribution footprint to penetrate new growth markets.”
In addition to an increase in avocado volume sold, other highlights from the report include:
- Year over year market share gains among core U.S. retail customer base
- Sequential improvement in per-unit margins from fiscal first quarter 2023
- Commenced operations at new forward distribution center in the United Kingdom
- Owned production in Peru begins seasonal harvest; expect total exportable production from 125 million to 135 million pounds
Moving forward, Mission will continue to focus on driving global development and growth, utilizing its proven strategy for success.
“As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we continue to demonstrate how our world-class vertically integrated model of sourcing, producing, and distributing Hass avocados and other produce differentiates us from our competitors,” Barnard continued. “Our focus remains on driving consumption growth globally by bringing consistent, year-round diversified sourcing capabilities to new growth markets. On that note, we are excited about the opening of our forward distribution center in the UK in April. Although still early, we are pleased with the progress we are making in the UK and are committed to further developing our capabilities in this important long-term growth region.”
To read the release in its entirety, click here.
What will the third quarter hold for Mission? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for updates.


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A brewing company from Chemainus took home international awards as the world’s top hops were recognized at a global beer competition.
Riot Brewing claimed a gold and bronze award at the 2018 World Beer Cup, considered the “Olympics of Beer”, in Nashville, Tennessee, May 3.
Riot Brewery took top honours for its Working Class Hero Dark Mild in the English-Style Dark Mild Ale category and won a bronze in the Coffee Beer category with its Breakfast of Champions Coffee Lager.
Winners were selected from an international panel of 295 judges from 33 countries.
“We’re absolutely stoked – speaking politely – to win gold for our Working Class Hero Dark Mild, and bronze for our Breakfast of Champions Coffee Lager, the result of some serious hard work from our incredible team,” Riot Brewing owner Aly Tomlin said.
“B.C.’s beer scene is growing and we’re proud to be part of the success of our industry, especially on an international scale.”
Riot Brewing started operations in November 2016 and sell their products throughout B.C.
It is the only Vancouver Island brewery to win at the 2018 World Beer Cup and the lone Canadian business to collect two awards.


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What is the scope of application of zinc stearate emulsion?
The boss of Leclerc supermarket Group, France's largest food retailer, said recently that in order to cope with the energy shortage, the Leclerc Group may shorten the opening hours of its stores.
In an interview with French News Radio, Leclerc said that in the event of an energy crisis this winter, the Leclerc Group may close some of its stores for some time.
Leclerc also said that the French supermarket industry reached a consensus earlier this month to take energy-saving measures from October 15, including turning off the lights of signs and reducing the intensity of store lights after the store is closed.
European energy costs have risen after the European Union imposed sanctions on Russia after Russia launched a special military operation against Ukraine in February. France imports 17 per cent of its natural gas needs from Russia and is less dependent on Russian energy than its neighbours such as Germany. However, like other European countries, France has recently continued to experience extremely high temperatures in many places, increasing demand for air conditioning and exacerbating the shortage of energy supply.
Because of the global energy crisis, the supply and prices of many international bulk zinc stearate emulsion are still very uncertain.
Overview of zinc stearate emulsion


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These plants original to a specific place generally are lower maintenance, requiring less water, pruning and fertilizer.
Gardeners in 2020 will veer from the beaten path, opting for unconventional varieties and eco-conscious surroundings, according to a plant trends study by horticulturalists with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
Gardeners without a lot of living space increasingly are choosing the dwarf varieties of their favorite plants. They also require less pruning.
To encourage beneficial insects and the health of your garden, allow shrubs to return to their natural shapes, let grass grow longer and permit a few weeds to flower, said Theresa Badurek, horticulture agent for Pinellas County. "Some of those volunteer weeds may be great wildflowers."
Fruit-bearing plants, ornamental vegetables and edible flowers do double duty, adding beauty as well as nutrition to the home landscape.
Plants for Wildlife
"Most contemporary landscapes lack diversity, so gardeners should choose a variety of plants that flower and fruit," Badurek said. Plants with berries attract birds, and layering plants of varying heights provides hiding places for other species.
Plants with red, purple or black leaves are striking additions to any landscape, making them attractive to gardeners looking for something new in 2020, said Marguerite Beckford, a horticulture agent in Sarasota County.
People are reaching out for lesser-known succulents that offer interesting shapes, textures and growth habits, the University of Florida horticulturists say.
Vegetable gardeners will be looking to diversify their harvests with leafy greens generally grown outside the United States — bok choy, mizuna and komatsuna among them, according to the horticulturists.
Landscaping for Natural Disasters
"Storms are becoming more erratic and more feared," Tancig said. "Plant the kinds of trees around your home that reduce risk."
Softer, Leafier Floral Arrangements
Flowers combined with foliage are gaining in popularity. "We are going away from the bundle bouquet of solitary flower blooms to the soft, organic feel of greenery," said Karen Stauderman, an Extension horticulture agent for Volusia County.