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New Syndicalist spoke to Jay, an organiser from the campaigning organisation No Sweat and Ans, a member of the Oporajeo cooperative, about their latest project “This T-Shirt Fights Sweatshops”. The campaign aims to raise the issues of working conditions in the garment industry as well as provide means to offer practical support to worker-run businesses and trade unions in this sector.
No Sweat shirts can be ordered here.
How did No Sweat start? What are the organisation’s aims and how does it go about achieving them?
No Sweat started in the late 90s when activists from the Alliance for Workers Liberty took inspiration from the work United Students Against Sweatshops were doing in the US and decided to start campaigning on the sweatshop issue in the UK. They set up a broad-based group, working with activists from the anti-globalisation movement of the time as well as the trade union movement. Since then No Sweat has become an independent grassroots campaign group that works with workers rights groups and trade unions around the world.
No Sweat’s aim has always been to work in solidarity with ultra-exploited workers in developing countries as well as in the UK. While the focus has mainly been on the garment industry, historically targeting brands like Nike, GAP, and Disney for their use of sweatshop factories, there has always been a recognition that sweatshop conditions occur in multiple industries, and No Sweat has sought to make solidarity with workers in various industries around the world when their struggles arise.
Much of our work in the past has revolved around demonstrating outside companies that use sweatshops and organizing speaking tours of striking workers to help raise awareness. We have also been involved in uncovering sweatshops in London’s East End in partnership with the GMB, and have organised numerous fundraisers for workers groups around the world.
How did you make connections with workers in their home countries? How are you led/directed by these workers?
Our contact with workers over the years has been through trade union and activist networks. As workers struggles in sweatshops emerge we have either reached out to offer support or responded to calls for solidarity, and have asked groups involved in organising the workers how best we can support them.
For the most part we have organised protests against companies associated or involved in disputes and highlighted the cause of the workers taking strike action. Where possible we have arranged speaker tours in the UK for workers to share their experience and build support in the UK amongst trade unionists and activists.
We believe it is fundamental to any solidarity campaign that the lead is taken by the people calling for solidarity, and the forms that solidarity should take is directed by them. For that reason No Sweat has never called for outright boycotts of major fashion labels, primarily as the workers have never asked for it. In the instances where organised workers have called for boycotts then we have backed those calls, but the nature of the globalised economy is that, should a boycott have an impact, corporations have the power to blame third parties in the supply chain and cancel the contract with an exploitative employer and move to another factory, in another country even, thereby whitewashing their involvement in exploitation in an attempt to placate the campaigners, while the worker in the factory lose their jobs.
In place of this No Sweat has always called on people to campaign on behalf of the workers and call for justice, help workers in the factories win their struggles and put pressure on the brands to help accord workers their rights, not simply cut and run. For No Sweat, the only way to tackle the sweatshop industry is for workers to organize.
How do you plan to avoid the pitfalls associated with consumer activism?
In the last ten years the nature of activism has changed. The kind of protesting we employed in the past, getting people to picket flagship stores etc, has been somewhat superseded by online activism. To add to this our activist base shifted as soon after the Tories came back into power and instituted their austerity measures, many of our activists turned their attention to campaigns combatting this. This led to a few years of No Sweat being on hiatus, before we returned with our new T-shirt project.
This project is labeled as the T-shirt that Fights Sweatshops, as we are actively sourcing blank T-shirts to import to the UK from workers co-ops run by former sweatshop workers. We aim to use the profits to fund independent trade unions is their struggles to organise workers still working in sweatshop conditions.
Alongside the rise of “clicktivism”, we have also seen a distinct shift in the world of fashion towards an ethical positioning that is definitely a response ethical consumerism. The rise of things like fair trade and the emergence of the “conscious consumer” have made practically the all major brands now make a show of their various ethical statements, and ever more independent “ethical” brands appear. We have noticed that the focus of this new consumer ethics is mainly touting eco credentials, there is a real lack of engagement with workers rights.
The fact is sweatshops never went away, but the focus of ethical concerns in relations to clothes is often on protecting the environment with only a token mention of workers rights and rarely any of trade unions. While the environment issue is hugely important, it seems that there is an element of ‘greenwashing’ going on and people are encouraged to feel that they are somehow making a difference in buying a certain item.
Our new T-shirt project is an attempt to subvert this consumer activism by creating a product that is making a direct financial impact on the campaign. By working with cooperatives run by former sweatshops workers we aim to help these businesses flourish and highlight an alternative to the typical capitalist business model prevalent in both the back end and front end of the garment industry. We know that the garment industry is one of huge profits, built on the back of exploitation, by operating inside that industry and directing some of those profits towards helping to organise worker in fighting that exploitation we hope to develop a new circular economy.
In doing so we bring attention to the importance of workers rights in the garment industry to the consumer, highlight campaigns that fight the exploitation in the industry and put funding unions and co-operatives forward as the solution in place of benevolent capitalism that dominates “ethical fashion”.
Do you feel that this model of funding project through co-operative production could be applied in other areas? Do you feel there’s scope for expanding this “circular economy” or is it just a means to an end?
While our T-shirt project was initially a way of showing that it isn’t that hard to allow workers their rights at work and to earn a living wage, suggesting that if a grassroots campaign group like No Sweat can do it, then the dominant big money corporations of the garment industry can certainly afford to do it, it has quickly grown into something more. We aim to build connections between different movements, foster relationships that could lead to various forms of collaboration, as well as raise funds to help workers organise themselves.
We hope that this model can be an inspiration for other campaign groups to think about how they can create something similar. There is definitely the potential to develop this model to other areas, and I think this is already under way. Start-up businesses have become commonplace in recent years and as more people are looking to more small-scale industries there is potential for activists to take part and think about lead by example in a venture that can then help fund and support the cause they fighting for. Also there is the chance to act as an example for new social enterprise types to follow our example and use their profits to fund progressive movements. Where people work cooperatively and redistribute the wealth generated by their work they can look at funding other campaign work in other areas. Our production partners in Bangladesh, for example, have taken some of the profits raised from their garment contracts (50% of which is distributed among the workers) to invest in green energy solutions, both in their factory and outside. They recently built a small hydro plant (pico hydro) in a remote village outside the capital that has brought electricity and revolutionised life for the 40 families living there.
Is the role of Western workers to primarily use their better position to offer solidarity to workers in the developing world? Or do they have their own independent role to play?
I think it is both. Western worker have an element of privilege in that they operate in richer countries with long traditions of workers struggling for their rights. Those struggles have been long and hard but the results are the legally enshrined standards that many of us work in today, but we can’t be complacent, as we know that these rights aren’t guaranteed, and they must be defended. But Western workers can offer support to workers in developing countries where the union movement is newer and in an earlier stage of development. While avoiding the traps of paternalism or a colonial mentality, Western workers can offer solidarity and use their privilege to help in the struggles of others and share their experience and tactics. But times are changing, the rise of the gig economy in the west has seen a return of precarious work, and new movements are emerging to combat that. Some of the most inspiring industrial action is taking place at a grassroots level in the UK and this, in turn, can act as an example for others taking steps in tackling their own oppression. In a world of fast-paced news cycles, shifting political landscapes and the potential for the spread of sweatshop conditions, acts of solidarity between workers across national divides becomes even more important.
Can you give us a bit of an overview of your story so far? When and why was it formed? Have you faced any challenges?
Ans: Oporajeo (Invincible) was set up after the Rana Plaza disaster on April 24th, 2013 to create job opportunities for some of the survivors as a rehabilitation initiative. It was inaugurated on June 24th, 2013 and started its operation on July 1st, 2013.
Right after the disaster funds were collected to start a rehabilitation program for the victims and survivors. Many drives were organised to support those affected by the disaster with direct donations, medical support, reallocation programs, cattle distribution and different ways of income earning such as tea stalls, tailor shop equipment and rations provided to some of these victims. But these were unsuccessful in securing the livelihood of the victims by earning a guaranteed monthly income. That’s why we started Oporajeo.
How do you anticipate the No Sweat project will impact the cooperative?
Ans: Worker ownership and/or worker cooperatives operate on a different, more challenging, business model. They need lots of time and investment to develop the business to a point where they are sustainable and can support the workers within them. This is only possible if people care and we can draw on that wider support and solidarity. No Sweat is doing a great job to promote worker cooperatives as an alternative model. The awareness that they generate is important in building that wider support and solidarity that we need for the initiative to be successful.
What are your views on non-cooperative businesses in your industry? What do you feel are the best means of improving workers conditions in this area?
Ans: We don’t argue that all factories have to be worker owned. There are many ways that workers’ conditions can and should be improved within non-cooperative industries. However we do know that many factories treat their workers as machines. They have no right to do that and we should explore alternatives.
Does the co-operative work with other unions in the area?
Ans: Yes, we work with trade unions. In Oporajeo the biggest trade union in Bangladesh is our very good friend and supportive of what we are doing. Many of our cooperative members are active organisers in different trade unions.
What are your plans for the future?
Ans: We want to develop the industry, as well as support the workers of this industry. Fundamentally we want to change the system. We want to make the case that the cheap fashion trend is not truly cheap. It costs the lives of hundreds of thousands of sweatshop workers and is founded on the bodies of tens of thousands of boys and girls. If we want to live, if we want to save this world, if we want to build a beautiful world for our next generation there has to be a change.
We are planning to setup a socially compliant factory very soon with much more production capacity. Our aim to is to expand the cooperative by at least 2,000 members by the end of 2020.
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PR News Roundup 7/27/12: 5 PR Blog posts You May Have Missed
It’s time for my very last weekly round-up of the best blog posts I have seen around the web this past week! I’m passing the torch on to Lisa Larranaga, the new social media manager for Cision. It’s been a blast.
Without further ado, here’s the top five in no particular order…
“A little over 6 months ago, I had to deliver some fairly bad social media news to our readers.
It was a personal struggle I needed to come clean with.
Only because I knew it could help so many of you as well.
But it did not work, I fear many of you have actually gotten worse.
Please put down the smart phone, tablet, and Nike Fuel Band. We need to confront this…”
“There are plenty of signs that you are addicted to social media. But for some of us, it goes beyond addiction—it’s our very livelihood. For social media managers, specialists, coordinators, and other social media-related job-title holders, I wanted a list that spoke to our shared experience.
So I tapped some of my brilliant colleagues for help coming up with these signs that you work in social media.”
“Back in September 2011, we reported on Facebook’s launch of the ‘Subscribe’ button for personal profiles. By adding this new button to your Facebook profile, you could allow anyone to subscribe to your own public Facebook updates, whether you’re friends with them or not. And if someone else added this button to their profile, you could subscribe to them, receiving their updates directly in your news feed. While this was great for following updates from celebrities and other public figures, many of you were left wondering, “When is Facebook going to add this functionality to business pages?” Well, soon … or so it seems.”
“We’ve all heard the argument: the next generation of professionals will become tomorrow’s business leaders. Companies also think these new professionals will guide them into the Social Media age.
Perhaps an “age” correlation between the adolescent digital technology and its user counterparts makes Millennials inherently more able to take up the task. This isn’t new: I remember in my late teens, the gaming industry held a similar opinion that my age group would be better skilled at creating bigger and better simulation experiences because we grew up in the 80s and 90s with Mario, Zelda and Atari.”
“Even with the hole Google has put into its Analytics keywords report (the dreaded “not provided”), the report is still a treasure trove of information — especially when it comes to finding ideas for B2B blog and e-newsletter topics.
Case in point: The best thing about Google is that you can find an answer to almost anything you need to know. Just search for, “How to . . .” and your query, and you can generally find what you need.”
And a recap of what happened on Cision Blog:
In 2008, when my colleague Heidi Sullivan and I kicked off the new CisionBlog, a survey of PR professionals found that only half were reaching out to bloggers (in a study this year,four in five said they do blogger outreach). In 2008, Facebook had barely eclipsed MySpace and was still largely the province of college students. Receiving your entire Twitter feed as a series of text messages was considered perfectly reasonable behavior.
When I think about how technology has reshaped PR, marketing, media and the social Web over the past few years, it’s been a dizzying array of adaptations and innovations. To me, what drives this evolution is both positive and inspiring. You might call it the social business expectation.
Social media and community managers are the voices of their brands in social media, serve as social strategists, customer service managers and content creators. Being a social media manager isn’t just posting on Facebook, tweeting or pinning. Yes, that’s a part of the role, but there’s a lot more that goes with it. Since jobs vary at each company there isn’t a universal potion to make a social media program work. Here are a few things I’ve learned during my tenure that may help emerging or veteran social media managers, or just those who want to know what we do all day!
Communications Best Practices
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Cision Product News
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domain: news


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AMD will have its exciting new Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor in the hands of enthusiasts, benchmarkers, and gamers by the end of the month as the first CPUs have rolled out of the factory.
In a new tweet, industry insider "Greymon55" tweeted that AMD's new Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor "has been shipped and will probably be on the market by the end of this month". As for the Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor and what makes it so exciting is its new 3D V-Cache technology.
3D V-Cache is a huge L3 cache that sits on top of the compute chiplet, where AMD is expecting around 15% more performance thanks to the stacked memory, which means the new Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor is actually faster than AMD's higher-end Ryzen 9 5900X in gaming. Not only that, but the new 5800X3D beats the Core i9-12900K in gaming which is what really matters.
- Read more: TSMC's 3D tech, manufacturing hurdles to limit Ryzen 7 5800X3D supply
- Read more: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU beats Intel's new Core i9-12900K in gaming
- Read more: AMD says it will spill some beans on Zen 4 architecture at CES 2022
- Read more: AMD details its next-gen 3D V-Cache stacking technology
- Read more: AMD teases next-gen 3D V-Cache stack chiplet prototype, Intel killer
Intel only has its Alder Lake-powered Core i9-12900K processor at the moment, while there is the higher-end Core i9-12900KS processor is waiting in the wings, and will be the only thing to compete with the 3D V-Cache technology inside of AMD's now-shipping Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor.
- > NEXT STORY: Intellivision goes quiet as it negotiates with new investors
- < PREVIOUS STORY: World of Tanks developer fired for supporting Ukraine invasion


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Turtle Beach reported that the XO Four and XO Seven officially-licensed Xbox One gaming headsets are now on sale in China. According to a release from the company, Turtle Beach is the gaming audio brand of Turtle Beach Corp. Turtle Beach said the ... Individual.com, 1 month ago
Turtle Beach Launches Xbox One Gaming Headsets in China - Mac Animation Pro, 1 month ago
Brian Mitchell | October 25, 2014 Turtle Beach Stealth 500X Wireless Gaming Headset Turtle Beach has released the first and only wireless gaming headset for the Xbox One that features DTS... - Ecoustics.com, 2 weeks ago
1 images for "xo pc"
Staff Report firstname.lastname@example.org Published Nov. 20, 2014 Respondents to this week's GSA reader poll said European Space Agency physicist Matt Taylor's controversial shirt did not present a barrier to women in STEM by a nearly 3-1 margin. ...GSA Business, 1 day ago
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Montreal: a micro-guide to the best places to stay, eat and visit in the city The military government in Thailand has clamped down on beach parties in response to the murder of two British backpackers in September The military government in ...Irish Times, 1 week ago
The Walmart Black Friday deals hit Wednesday following similar releases from Target, Best Buy, and the Microsoft Store. The big box retailer has some unique Xbox One and PlayStation 4 from other retailers including a "Halo: The Master Chief ...Examiner.com, 1 week ago Best Buy Black Friday ad loaded with PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS deals Examiner.com, 1 week ago [GamerTell] 2014 Best Buy Black Friday ad preview seems great for gamers Technology Tell, 1 week ago
Home ownership is expensive. If youre in the market for a house, be sure to look beyond the expenses youre facing in the purchase transaction. Many home buyers — particularly first-time buyers — are often surprised at the amount of cash ...My Bank Tracker, 2 weeks ago
Revenue Increases 11% to $552.9 Million Basic Net Income per Share is $0.15 Compared to $0.00 in Prior Year Quarter Television Production Revenue Grows 141% in the Quarter SANTA MONICA, Calif. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 6, 2014 ...VideoBasedTutorials, 2 weeks ago
The top hosted VoIP providers in North America are 8x8, West IP Communications, Comcast, and Verizon, according to new data from Infonetics Research. The firm reports that West, which last year occupied the No. 4 spot, is now in second place due to ...TMC Net, 2 weeks ago
Average Grade for Q3 Earnings Season We still have plenty of Q3 earnings reports to come, but the bulk of the earnings season is now behind us, with results from 363 S&P 500 companies already out as of Friday, October 31st. The Retail sector is ...Zacks.com, 3 weeks ago
Innovative Stacked Sensor Technology Leads Sensor Revolution in the Internet of Things PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Forza Silicon ( www.forzasilicon.com ), a leader of advanced image sensor and mixed-signal IC designs for digital camera ...CNBC, 3 weeks ago Forza Silicon : Reconfigurable Image Sensor Technology Platform Enables Smart Applications 4 Traders, 3 weeks ago
on your WebpageAdd Widget >Get your members hooked!


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Nigerian cold-chain startup Figorr (Formerly Gricd) raises $1.5 million to revolutionize perishables insurance
Nigerian cold-chain startup Figorr (Formerly Gricd) has raised $1.5 million in seed funding to revolutionize perishables insurance with a data-driven approach.
The funding round was led by Atlantica Ventures VC Fund, with participation from VestedWorld, Jaza Rift Ventures and Katapult VC. Founded in 2019, Figorr leverages advanced analytics, machine learning algorithms, and real-time monitoring to provide unparalleled insights into temperature-sensitive cargo. This enables businesses in the agriculture and health sectors to proactively manage risks, prevent losses, and optimize their supply chain operations.
By harnessing the power of data and technology, Figorr is revolutionizing the perishables insurance sector and safeguarding the integrity and quality of perishable goods throughout the supply chain. The startup will invest the latest round of funding in accelerating its expansion plans, enabling them to scale its operations and establish strategic partnerships with key players in the cold-chain industry.
Empower Africa Times Newsletter
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Shop Zetu, a fast-growing fashion marketplace based in Kenya, has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding to fuel its Africa expansion plans
The funding round was led by Chui Ventures, with participation from Launch Africa Ventures, Roselake Ventures, and Logos Ventures.
Nigerian fintech startup Kuda hits 6 million customer milestone as it continues to redefine financial inclusion in Africa
Founded in 2019, Kuda has rapidly evolved into one of the most prominent fintech startups in Africa, offering innovative financial solutions and reshaping the way individuals access and manage their money.
South African VC firm REdimension Capital raises more than $10 million to support proptech startups in Africa
South African venture capital firm, REdimension Capital, has secured over $10 million for its inaugural fund, the REdimension Real Estate Technology and Sustainability Fund I.


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Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis, has confirmed its GV80 SUV will go on sale in the UK with prices starting at just under £57,000. The South Korean answer to the Audi Q7 will be offered with two trim levels and the option of petrol or diesel power when it arrives this year.
Having already made headlines in that Tiger Woods crash, the GV80 will go on sale in the UK this summer. It’s set to arrive alongside the similarly named G80 saloon car, which will rival premium saloons such as the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Both cars will be marketed on the basis of their “state-of-the-art technology” and “best-in class” safety equipment. But Genesis is also hoping to sell cars to customers who value service. The firm claims to have streamlined the ownership experience to effectively cut out visits to the dealer. Customers can simply have the car delivered and collected to or from their home.
As part of that pledge, Genesis is also selling all new GV80 models with a five-year care plan as standard. That means the car comes with a five-year warranty, five years of servicing and even five years of over-the-air updates that keep the car’s software up to snuff.
Beyond that, however, we don’t know too much about the details. We do know that the basic £56,815 starting price will get you a five seat model in Premium Line trim, but there’s no confirmation of what that will include.
Genesis has confirmed the cost of upgrading to the seven-seat model, however, slapping a £500 premium on the third row of seats. Upgrading to the more generous Luxury Line trim will cost even more, with prices starting at £62,415. That makes the range-topping trim £5,600 more expensive than the entry-level equivalent.
The engine range is more closely matched in terms of price, with the petrol option setting the tone at the foot of the range. The 3-litre engine comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive, and it’s £100 more expensive than the petrol-powered alternative. That engine will be a 2.5-litre unit that also sends its power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
More on the Genesis GV80:
“The G80 and GV80 are the two flagship models that have been carefully selected to introduce the Genesis brand to our UK customers”, commented Dominique Boesch, Managing Director of Genesis Motor Europe. “Both models showcase the “Genesis difference” - customers can expect to be impressed not only by the design and safety of the vehicles; but also by our service offering which provides convenience and total peace of mind afforded by our five-year care plan.”


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Contributed by: Jeff Rivett (site admin) Friday, December 20 2019 @ 04:40 AM -08
Minecraft 1.15 was released on December 10, followed by 1.15.1 on December 17.
Minecraft 1.15.1 fixes a few bugs introduced in 1.15, and improves performance.
Minecraft 1.15[*1] is considered a major upgrade from 1.14.x. From the release notes:
... added bees and bee-related items, such as beehives, honey bottles and honeycombs. Alongside adding bees, this update focused on fixing bugs and improving performance, as well as adding numerous features that were originally Bedrock Edition exclusives.
The JDRGaming Minecraft server is now running Spigot 1.15.1.


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The Pokemon Company and Tencent are developing a new mobile game
Posted on 1 year ago by Matt(@OnePunchMaz) in Mobile, News | 0 comments
It’s been announced today that The Pokemon Company are developing a new mobile game together with TiMi Studio Group, a developer owned by Chinese mobile giant Tencent. No further details about this game are available at the moment. We will keep you updated.
DeNA and The Pokemon Company set to release a smartphone title by March 2020, according to reports
Posted on 1 year ago by Devin(@Sonicb00m111) in Mobile, News | 0 comments
According to a new image supplied by Takashi Mochizuki of The Wall Street Journal, DeNA and The Pokemon Company are set to team up on the release of a new smartphone game by March of next year.
No additional details have been made known at this time. Those interested can view the image above.
Satoru Shibata is now an Outside Director of The Pokemon Company
Posted on 2 years ago by Matt(@OnePunchMaz) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Nintendo’s 78th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will take place on June 28th at Nintendo’s headquarters in Kyoto. Several big changes to the company’s structure will be finalized at that meeting, including the appointment of Shuntaro Furukawa as the next president. Some other people are also changing jobs within the company, including the longtime president of Nintendo of Europe, Satoru Shibata. It is expected that, after 18 years, he will step down from that role at the shareholders’ meeting and be appointed one of Nintendo’s Five Directors (alongside Shigeru Miyamota, Shinya Takahashi, Shuntaro Furukawa and Ko Shiota).
However, it seems like Mr Shibata has been quite busy lately. In a recently published notice about the shareholders’ meeting, it says that, ever since May 2018, Shibata is also an Outside Director of The Pokemon Company. This means that he’s still with Nintendo, but will act as the company’s primary liaison with The Pokemon Company and represent Nintendo’s interests when dealing with them. Incidentally, this is a role that has previously been fulfilled by Shuntaro Furukawa. Since it would be strange to quit that job after just one month, it seems like Shibata will fulfill that role concurrently with his upcoming job as one of Nintendo’s Five Directors.
As an aside, it is still not clear who will take over from Shibata as Nintendo of Europe’s president once he vacates that position. Perhaps NoE’s new president will also be announced at the shareholders’ meeting on June 28th.
The newest version of Pokemon Duel is out and with it comes a lot of new Pokemon including Mega Evolution and Alola Pokemon. The mobile app lists the update as containing the following:
– New rarity UX
– Item allowing you to level up a Pokemon to level 10
– Halls is a new function that has been added to enhance room matches
– Deck cost cap for plates has increased
– New league has been added
– Various bug fixes
There are quite a few things to note in this update.
Firstly, Great Challenge Alolan Exeggutor special stage is now available to play, as well as an Alolan Muk and Lurantis stage.
A new Pokemon Safari that features Alolan Meowth, Alolan Persian, Bounsweet, Steenee and Tsareena. Daily Pokemon (#7) has begun its repeat run.
Finally, a Primarina Competitive Stage is now active with the top 100 players receiving 1 Skill Swapper, 5 Mega Speedup and 10 Raise Max Level, regardless participating will net you an Attack Power. Check out all the rewards right here.
All of these will be available until June 20th.
Gifts for entering May competition in Pokemon Sun and Moon are now available
Posted on 3 years ago by Nick in 3DS, News | 0 comments
If you had entered the 2017 International Challenge April Competition, then you now have the chance to grab Abomasite, Tyranitarite and Manectite. These gifts will remain available to you until July 30th and can be obtained by logging into the Global Link.
The Pokemon Company’s profit went up 26 times this past fiscal year
Posted on 3 years ago by Andrew in General Nintendo, News | 10 Comments
A recent article from Serkan Toto has just reported that the Pokemon Company has disclosed their financials from over the past five years. During this past year. their sales profit has gone up by 26 times then the previous fiscal year.
Here is The Pokemon Company’s net profit for the last five years (all past fiscals ended on the last day of February):
- 15th fiscal (for the year that ended on February 28, 2013): US$16.6 million
- 16th fiscal: US$10.6 million
- 17th fiscal: US$18.4 million
- 18th fiscal: US$5.6 million
- 19th fiscal: US$143.3 million
It is most likely that the jump in sales have to do with the releases of Pokemon GO and Pokemon Sun & Moon from last year. Overall, it is amazing how big their profit blew up from last year compared to the year before that.
Magikarp Jump update (version 1.0.3) out now
Posted on 3 years ago by Nick in Mobile, News | 3 Comments
A new Magikarp Jump update is available and just like the previous updates it is labeled to fix bugs. This particular update makes it so players can no longer abuse the Extra League 3 glitch where the player could obtain the rewards from the league multiple times instead of just once.
Here is a few screenshots of the new PokeLand game for mobile, check them all out below.
New Pokemon mobile game announced called PokéLand
Posted on 3 years ago by Nick in Mobile, News | 6 Comments
A new Pokemon game has been announced for mobile devices called PokéLand and seems to be part of the Pokemon Rumble series. The game’s alpha is available for Japanese Android players to try out until June 9th. There are 134 Pokemon in the game and the goal is to climb 15 floors through the Champion Tower. Data from the alpha will be deleted upon release of the game.


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|Bid||120.10 x 800|
|Ask||120.35 x 800|
|Day's Range||119.02 - 120.65|
|52 Week Range||85.78 - 125.38|
|Beta (5Y Monthly)||0.38|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||24.06|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||2.12 (1.77%)|
|1y Target Est||N/A|
Andy Dunn, the founder of menswear site Bonobos which sold to Walmart in 2017 for $310 million, is now parting ways with the retail giant. In it, Dunn praises the time he spent with the company and the knowledge he gained while working there. Specifically, he references several of Walmart's bigger initiatives, including its transformation into an omnichannel retail company serving customers online and offline, without distinction.
The U.S. and China say they have a “phase one” trade agreement, a positive for the global economy. But details were scarce and the deal hasn’t been signed, which means trade issues could continue to rattle markets.
Amazon had a big week with government issues, a host of new deals and announcements at its annual conference and developments in India.
Costco's (COST) comparable sales are hurt by one-half percent, owing to Thanksgiving happening a week later this year compared with the prior year.
Shares of Amazon (AMZN) have slipped 6% in the past six months, while the S&P 500 climbed 9%. So when will Wall Street and investors start to think about buying Amazon stock again?
Bonobos founder Andy Dunn said on Thursday he would leave Walmart Inc early 2020, more than two years after the world's largest retailer bought his online menswear brand. The departure was announced via a LinkedIn post titled "A Love Letter to Walmart." He did not provide details on his future plans or his last day at the company. Dunn, currently the senior vice-president of digital consumer brands at Walmart U.S. eCommerce, became part of the company's efforts to take on Amazon.com Inc and other online sellers when the big-box retailer acquired Bonobos for $310 million in June 2017.
Discount retailer Walmart is taking a page from supermarket giant Kroger Co. by testing driverless delivery using Nuro vehicles.
Amazon Prime members still have nearly two weeks to have purchases delivered while non-Prime shoppers only have a few more days for free delivery.
(Bloomberg) -- Agribusiness is increasingly turning to natural and sustainable alternatives to chemicals as consumers rebuff genetically modified foods and concerns grow over Big Ag’s role in climate change.At the heart of the trend are innovations that harness beneficial microorganisms in the soil, including seed-coatings of naturally occurring bacteria and fungi that can do the same work as traditional chemicals, from warding off pests to helping plants flourish, according to a global patent study by research firm GreyB Services.“Both entrepreneurs and investors are saying, ‘Hey, the writing is on the wall, we’re entering a post-chemical world,’” said Rob LeClerc, chief executive officer of AgFunder, an online venture-capital platform. “The seed companies who have billions in market cap are like ‘We need to do something,’ and everyone recognizes the opportunity.”Much of the handwringing over farm chemicals stems from the recent fate of glyphosate, the most ubiquitous weedkiller ever. Regulators around the world are tightening up rules around using the chemical, including Europe and Mexico. Meanwhile, thousands of lawsuits that could result in billions of dollars in penalties are pending against Bayer AG over whether its glyphosate-containing product, Roundup, caused cancer. Bayer insists it’s safe, and some government agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency say it isn’t likely to cause cancer in humans.The global fertilizer and pesticide market is around $240 billion, and grows 2% to 3% a year, according to Ben Belldegrun, a managing partner at Pontifax AgTech, a company that invests in food and agriculture technology. While so-called biologicals including biofertilizers, biopesticides and biostimulants are just 2% of that market, those have been growing closer to 15% a year for the past five years, Belldegrun said.Pressure for less chemical-intensive farming methods is coming from retailers like Walmart Inc., non-governmental organizations and consumers, who are throwing more dollars toward organic and other niche foods with environmental or animal welfare claims.As population increases worldwide, the demand for agricultural products is projected to grow 15% over the next decade with no change in the amount of land available for farming, according to a joint report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.“There’s a growing world population and how are we going to feed all of these people?” asked Craig Forney, assistant director for licensing and business development at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. “At the same time, we want to protect the environment. We need to use land better and use the resources better.”The answer, Forney said, is “intensified agricultural production to increase productivity of land and do it with minimal chemical support.”Patents give owners the exclusive right to an invention, and can indicate both where research funding is being spent and where companies or universities expect to generate revenue in the future.Companies like BASF SE, Bayer and Syngenta AG have patents on products using naturally-occurring microbes to help crops flourish even when there is low water availability, according to GreyB’s analysis. The microbes can act as catalysts to encourage growth. Biological-based fungicides and insecticides can also help reduce crop damage from insects, slugs and fungi.“Seed-applied biological products can extend the window of disease and pest protection, while some also provide alternate modes of action that can reduce the build-up of resistance, aid with nutrient management and reduce plant stress,” said Chris Judd, BASF’s global strategic marketing manager for Seed Treatment, Inoculants and Biologicals.Evonik Industries AG, Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., Covestro AG and startup Indigo AG have been active in obtaining patents and publishing research in the area of using microbes, as have universities like China’s Zhejiang University and Nanjing Agricultural University, according to GreyB.Likewise, thousands of patents are being issued to companies like BASF, Bayer and Dow Inc. for more natural ways of managing pests including pheromones that deter breeding and reflective mulches, instead of chemical-based insecticides.Germany’s Bayer, which bought agriculture chemical giant Monsanto Co. in 2018, sees “high growth potential” for biologicals, citing a challenging regulatory environment for chemicals and a growing emphasis on sustainability in agriculture. Bayer has a research and development team solely focused on them. The company also is hunting for partnerships to boost its portfolio. Benoit Hartmann, head of biologics at Bayer, said the increased investments show how the science around microbes has matured in recent years.In 2013, BASF acquired seed-treatment supplier Becker Underwood, which helped the company become a leader in biological agents to fight bacteria and fungi. Judd said the company sees demand for biologicals increasing but maintains that they need “to be compatible with an increasing array of chemistries and to have the ability to survive on the seed for adequate periods.”The increased patenting reflects a trend of researchers looking for ways to help promote organic and non-GMO farming, said Nicole Kling, a patent agent with Nixon Peabody who specializes in the biotechnology field.With biologicals, “You’re not introducing chemicals with the scare quotes around it,” Kling said. “You’re not doing anything that would harm the agricultural workers.”Researchers and companies are looking for new solutions for farming with less chemicals because organic farming, the most popular alternative to modern conventional farming, often results in lower yields. Still, demand for food continues increasing. Iowa State and other universities around the world, using government funding or in partnership with companies, are rushing to deal with those competing demands.“The hope is someday in the future they will merge and you will have organic and non-GMO products that are just as productive as Big Ag,” Forney said.That’s where things like precision agriculture to tailor the application of nutrients, artificial intelligence to monitor soil conditions and the development of new plant hybrids come in.Other emerging techniques that could boost yields while helping farmers use less chemicals is artificial intelligence, which is being used to analyze which seeds and crops can yield the most based on changing soil conditions and weather patterns on a farm. The promise of quantum computers would let companies use massive computing power to develop and analyze new seeds and fertilizers.Scientists also are developing new plant varieties, with applications for new varieties up 9% in 2018, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization. China led the growth, with more than a quarter of the applications for new varieties.Much of the research in crop biotech is centered in the U.S., China, Germany, Japan and South Korea, though it’s being adapted to meet local conditions in Africa, Latin America and Asia, according to WIPO, an agency of the U.N.Demand for more food will be greatest in Africa, India and the Middle East. In the developing world, there is little food scarcity because “we did good things with all that ‘better living through chemistry,’” Kling said, referring to a play on an old DuPont motto. It has come at a cost, though.“We’re starting to see some of the effects of that -- all of this wonderful industrialization has contributed to climate change,” Kling said. “We’re starting to see people swing back in the other direction.”(Adds executive comment in fifteenth paragraph)To contact the reporters on this story: Lydia Mulvany in Chicago at email@example.com;Susan Decker in Washington at firstname.lastname@example.orgTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at email@example.com, ;James Attwood at firstname.lastname@example.org, Elizabeth WassermanFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
Home Depot’s investments in stores and online set up the retailer for long-term gains, analysts say.
The co-founder of Bonobos is leaving Walmart little more than two years after he agreed to sell the online men’s clothing store to the US retailer and took charge of its burgeoning collection of digitally focused brands. Andy Dunn’s departure comes as Walmart shakes up its lossmaking ecommerce operations as the world’s largest bricks-and-mortar retailer grapples for supremacy with Amazon. The 40-year-old started Bonobos in 2007 and became a senior member of Walmart’s ecommerce team ten years later after the retailer struck a deal to buy it for $310m in cash.
Should investors think about buying beaten down FedEx stock before it releases its second quarter fiscal 2020 earnings results on Tuesday, December 17?


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As of November 20, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified 2,290 cases of vaping-related lung injuries in 49 states and Washington, DC. There have been a total of 45 deaths confirmed in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Of the deceased, the median age “was 53 years and ranged from 17 to 75 years.”
CDC was able to obtain information on 1,184, or 51.7 percent, of patients with vaping-related lung illnesses. Of these, “83% reporting using [tetrahydrocannabinol] THC-containing products,” with “35% reporting exclusive use of THC-containing products.” Only 13 percent of patients reported exclusive use of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and vaping devices.
This report comes after CDC examined 29 patients with vaping-related lung injuries, finding that vitamin E acetate was present in all 29 samples. Further, in that report, CDC noted three patients reported not using THC-containing products, yet THC was found in their patient samples.
Since August, state and national health organizations have grappled with an onset of vaping-related lung illnesses. It is important to note neither CDC or state health departments have been able to identify a single chemical, let alone product, that could be causing adverse health effects. Further, many other state health departments have determined a majority of their patients are reporting use of THC-containing e-cigarettes, which are often illegal, black market products, containing unknown substances.
In its weekly update report on November 19, the California Department of Public Health found 82 percent of patients with vaping-related lung injuries reported vaping THC. In a November 1 report, the Connecticut State Department of Public Health noted 76 percent of the state’s patients reported using THC-containing vaping devices. On November 13, Delaware Health and Social Services reported over 70 percent of patients with a vaping-related lung injury reported using THC. On November 14, the Illinois Department of Public Health concluded over “80 percent of the cases in Illinois report recent use of THC-containing products.” In late August, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services noted 89 percent of patients “reported using e-cigarettes or other vaping devices to inhale THC products, such as waxes and oils.” Further, Minnesota‘s and Oregon‘s health departments have linked deaths in their states to the use of THC products.
Some state health departments have sought to better understand what is causing recent vaping-related lung illnesses. For example, in September, the New York State Department of Health announced results from laboratory testing on vaping products. The “results showed very high levels of vitamin E acetate in nearly all cannabis-containing samples analyzed.” The Utah Public Health Laboratory tested 39 vaping devices: 51 percent contained e-liquid nicotine and 49 percent contained THC. Moreover, 100 percent of nicotine-containing liquids “contained nicotine and none have shown unexpected compounds.” On the other hand, 90 percent “of the THC cartridges contained Vitamin E acetate.”
Although vitamin E acetate’s role in the current outbreak is unknown, it “has been identified as a ‘very strong culprit’ in lung injuries related to vaping THC.” Vitamin E acetate is a lipid, or oil, and is “highly toxic and [has] been associated with lung injury for years.”
Moreover, many patients are reporting vaping illegal, black market products. For example, a September 6 report in The New England Journal of Medicine examined hospitalizations in Illinois and Wisconsin. Of the 53 case patients the authors examined, 84 percent “reported having used [THC] products in e-cigarette devices.” Although patients reported “a wide variety of products and devices,” 21 of the 41 patients interviewed admitted to using a “THC product … marketed under the ‘Dank Vape’ label.”
Dank Vapes is not a legitimate brand of THC cartridges. Rather, it is a packaging company, that sells empty boxes and packaging online. In essence, anyone can purchase empty cartridges and then fill these devices with their own concoction of chemicals and resell these seemingly authentic packages. Instructions on how to infuse THC into vaping devices is widely available on YouTube.
Under federal law, marijuana is a Schedule I drug, with absolutely no medical value. Due to this classification, the federal government has no oversight in any regulations on marijuana products. This is problematic because patients with vaping-related lung injuries in Connecticut reportedly purchased their THC-containing products at a dispensary. Further, the patient in Oregon’s first vaping-related death, “had recently used an e-cigarette or vaping device containing cannabis purchased from a cannabis dispensary.”
Due to the recent media buzz surrounding such lung injuries, many states have sought to restrict access to e-cigarette products. These draconian measures include flavor bans and even banning all sales of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. In September, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker enacted a temporary four-month statewide ban on all vaping products containing nicotine, tobacco, and THC. Rhode Island and Washington State have imposed temporary bans on flavored e-cigarette products. Similar flavor bans in Michigan, Montana, New York, and Oregon have been temporarily halted by judicial proceedings.
Despite recent fearmongering, electronic cigarettes and vaping devices are overwhelmingly less harmful than combustible cigarettes. Since their introduction to the U.S. market in 2007, e-cigarettes have helped an estimated three million American adults quit smoking. Further, their use is twice as effective as traditional nicotine replacement therapy in helping smokers quit combustible cigarettes.
In regards to their safety, Public Health England estimates e-cigarettes are 95 percent safer than combustible cigarettes. The Royal College of Physicians noted that risks associated with e-cigarettes “were unlikely to exceed 5% of the harm from smoking tobacco.” Further, the American Cancer Society noted in June 2019, “e-cigarette use to be significantly less harmful for adults than smoking regular cigarettes … because e-cigarettes do not contain or burn tobacco.”
As national and state health departments continue to link recent vaping-related lung injuries to the use of illicit vaping devices containing THC, it is imperative lawmakers do not restrict adult access to tobacco harm reduction products. E-cigarettes are an effective tool in helping smokers quit tobacco cigarettes and their use should be promoted, not threatened.
The following documents provide more information on e-cigarettes and tobacco harm reduction.
Tobacco Harm Reduction 101: A Guidebook for Policymakers
This booklet from The Heartland Institute aims to inform key stakeholders on the much-needed information on the benefits of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. Tobacco Harm Reduction 101 details the history of e-cigarettes, including regulatory actions on these products. The booklet also explains the role of nicotine, addresses tax policy and debunks many of the myths associated with e-cigarettes, including assertions about “popcorn lung,” formaldehyde, and the so-called youth vaping epidemic.
Podcast Series: Voices of Vapers
In this weekly podcast series, State Government Relations Manager Lindsey Stroud talks with researchers, advocates, and policymakers about tobacco harm reduction and electronic cigarettes. The series provides important information about the thousands of entrepreneurs who have started small businesses thanks to THRs and the millions of adults that have used electronic cigarettes and vaping devices to quit smoking tobacco cigarettes.
Vaping, E-Cigarettes, and Public Policy Toward Alternatives to Smoking
For decades, lawmakers and regulators have used taxes, bans, and burdensome regulations as part of their attempt to reduce the negative health effects of smoking. Recently, some have sought to extend those policies to electronic cigarettes. This booklet from The Heartland Institute urges policymakers to re-think that tax-and-regulate strategy. Policymakers should be mindful of the extensive research that supports tobacco harm reduction and understand bans, excessive regulations, and high taxes on e-cigarettes often encourage smokers to continue using more-harmful traditional cigarette products.
Policy Tip Sheet: Vaping Hospitalizations Likely Linked to Black Markets
In this Policy Tip Sheet, State Government Relations Manager Lindsey Stroud examines recent headlines, finding vaping-related hospitalizations are likely linked to illegal black market vaping products. Stroud examines reports from January 2019 which found youth were being hospitalized due to marijuana vaping products. Further, in 2018, the U.S. Army warned of the dangers of vaping synthetic marijuana after more than 90 military personnel were hospitalized and two died after vaping such devices. Further, none of the reports on the recent hospitalizations have been able to identify a single product that would have caused adverse health effects.
Research & Commentary: Study Finds E-Cigarettes Would Prevent 6.6 Million Premature Deaths
In this Research & Commentary, Heartland Institute State Government Relations Manager Lindsey Stroud examines an October 2017 Tobacco Control study that found electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) might help extend life for millions of people. The authors of the study found there was an estimated 6.6 million fewer deaths and more than 86 million fewer-life-years lost over a 10-year period because of ENDS products. Stroud concludes the use of ENDS could also help improve the budgets of numerous state programs, including Medicaid.
Research & Commentary: Public Health Officials Urge Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
In this Research & Commentary, Heartland Institute State Government Relations Manager Lindsey Stroud notes the importance of NHS Health Scotland’s joint statement encouraging the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as an alternative to tobacco products. NHS Health Scotland, Public Health England, and other groups have found ENDS are 95 percent less harmful than tobacco cigarettes.
Research & Commentary: New CDC Report Finds Vaping Helps Smokers Quit
A new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found only 0.4 percent of the people who had never smoked tobacco in a CDC study group are current vapers, which the report defines as using a vaping device either every day or some days. The CDC report, the first of its kind, estimates e-cigarette use among U.S. adults using a nationally representative household survey. The report’s findings claim only 3.4 of adults who have never smoked have tried an e-cigarette; 12.6 percent of Americans have tried an e-cigarette; and fewer than 4 percent of the U.S. population are regular e-cigarette users.
Nothing in this Research & Commentary is intended to influence the passage of legislation, and it does not necessarily represent the views of The Heartland Institute. For further information on this and other topics, visit the Budget & Tax News website, The Heartland Institute’s website, our Consumer Freedom Lounge, and PolicyBot, Heartland’s free online research database.
The Heartland Institute can send an expert to your state to testify or brief your caucus; host an event in your state; or send you further information on a topic. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance! If you have any questions or comments, contact Heartland’s government relations department, at [email protected] or 312/377-4000.


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Carnival Corp. (CCL -1.99%), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL -1.30%), and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH -3.16%) rose 26.6%, 32.9%, and 28.1%, respectively, between January 1st and June 30th of 2017, according to data from S&P Global Intelligence.
The "big three" cruise lines are benefiting from a number of concurrent trends. Lower fuel prices, higher consumer spending in developed countries, and burgeoning travel demand among Asian tourists are three of the most significant current drivers of recent cruise industry success.
In addition, as I discussed recently in an article on the best cruise-line dividends, the cruise industry has expanded its passenger counts at a solid 4.5% compounded annual growth rate, or CAGR, since 2009. This is a function of the factors above, but also reflects the travel preferences of baby boomers and an increasing penchant among millennials to spend their earnings on experiences instead of material products.
The cruise passenger CAGR is noticeable for its smooth ascent and general lack of volatility:
Steady and nearly predictable passenger growth has allowed this dominant trio of cruise lines to plan capacity in a rational manner, adding new ships to their fleets at a pace that can be absorbed by market expansion.
For investors, there's another implication of a steady 4.5% CAGR. In a good year, in which pricing holds steady, each of these cruise companies has the theoretical capacity to bump total revenue by at least the passenger growth rate, if not by a few percentage points more.
Indeed, in Q1 2017, Carnival and Norwegian showed top-line improvements of roughly 6.5%, while Royal Caribbean boosted its revenue versus the prior year by 4.7%.
The first quarter of 2017 appears to bode well for the coming quarters. Each of the cruise lines reported a robust "wave season," characterized by both solid bookings and pricing power. Wave season, which typically occurs from January through March, marks the three months in which a majority of vacation cruise travel is booked, and it's a period of heavy promotion and competition among cruise lines.
Norwegian Cruise Lines CEO Frank Del Rio notably remarked during the company's first-quarter earnings conference call that the 2017 wave season was the strongest that Norwegian -- and likely the industry -- had seen "in quite some time."
And so far this year, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian are each efficiently managing their capacity and revenue per passenger. Alongside financial reporting for the most recent quarter, all three organizations raised expectations for full-year 2017 net revenue yields (net revenue divided by total available passenger cruise days). Carnival projects an increase in net yields of 2.5% this year, close to Norwegian's expectation that net yields will rise 2.25% in 2017. Royal Caribbean expects its net yields to grow between 4% and 5.5% by year-end.
The torrid year-to-date performance of these industry leaders may unnerve some investors, yet it's quite possible that all three could hold onto their gains, and perhaps even appreciate more in the coming months. Here's some context to consider:
This time last year, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit weighed heavily on cruise-industry stocks, which rely on European passengers as a core revenue stream. That uncertainty has dissipated. As the chart above demonstrates, the recent price movement of cruise stocks, in addition to industry trends and strong operational fundamentals, also represents a resurgence from steep declines that hit a trough in the summer of 2016.
In fact, the big three are still reasonably valued. Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean currently sell for 17.8, 14.3, and 15.5 times forward earnings, respectively. These forward price-to-earnings (PE) ratios compare favorably to the overall market valuation of large capitalization stocks, as represented by the S&P 500 Index average forward PE ratio of 19.9.
Thus, looking forward, as long as the global economy can continue to exhibit modest growth, these leading cruise lines may ply within a sweet spot on the high seas. Travel trends, efficient operations, and moderate valuations point to a decent back half of 2017, and perhaps beyond.


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An Amazon Prime delivery driver is credited with stopping a porch pirate in Palm Beach County.
Boynton Beach Police released video yesterday of a woman apparently stealing a package from a home, but after the driver confronted her, she dropped the package in the bushes and took off.
Elsewhere, police in Miramar and Coral Gables are on the lookout for porch pirates, but they can't be everywhere.
They tell CBS 4 News you should have packages delivered to a store for pickup or to the home of a neighbor you know will be home.
In another effort to defeat porch pirates, UPS has expanded its list of alternate delivery locations for this holiday season.
Steve Gaut, a UPS delivery location expert, calls it an obvious move.
UPS is offering a reward of up to $35 to encourage Americans to try alternate delivery sites.
Its Access Point Network now has nearly 15,000 pickup locations.


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On-road Price of Tata Nexon EV in
TATA NEXON EV LASTEST UPDATES
Tata Motors will soon add new CNG models in their stable. The automaker has planned to introduce CNG cars to fight against the rising fuel prices.
Tata Nexon EV is the cheapest electric car on sale in India. Recently, an owner has raised a complaint over its low battery range on a single charge
The move comes after the Delhi government has started offering subsidies on the purchase of an EV. The government plans to have 10,000 charge points by the end of this year.
Would you like to receive notifications with latest news and car deals from IndianAuto?


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MoveOn and Task Force have teamed up for a campaign that hits the nail on the head.
Called “Nails Against Hate,” the companies have joined forces on a social media campaign to push back against the surfacing of anti-Asian sentiments and hate crimes across the U.S. Influencers tapped for the campaign include the likes of pop star Becky G, actor Rumer Willis and Meena Harris (niece of Vice President Kamala Harris).
The campaign, which includes a combination of nail art from AAPI artists and swipe-up links to various charities, launched on Instagram this week. Here, a roundup of the nail art that made influencers’ hands — and Instagram feeds.
For more from WWD.com, see:
30 Asian-owned Brands Are Donating 20 Percent of Sales to Fight AAPI Hate
Peter Som Teams With The Goods Mart for Charitable AAPI Heritage Month Initiative
Brands Mobilize to Raise Proceeds for the AAPI Organizations
Source: Read Full Article


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Google Will Shut Down Picasa on May 1, 2016
In less than three months, Google will be shuttering its Picasa Web service with the intention of focusing strictly on its newer toy launched last year, namely Google Photos.
The announcement went live today on Google’s Picasa blog, and via a notification bar all over the main Picasa website.
Picasa launched in 2002, and in 2004, Google bought it from Lifescape. … (read more)
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Business 1 year agoJasmine Solana
Japanese Ripple exchange boss busted on fraud charges
Authorities in Japan have arrested the head of an exchange handling virtual currency Ripple on suspicion of fraud, local media outlets reported.
Yuki Takenaka, 31, was accused of persuading a customer to transfer JPY1.4 million (USD12,446) in cash to the bank account of the Ripple Trade Japan (RTJ), which he managed, according to Jiji Press. The transaction took place in March 2015, when the company was effectively bankrupt and unable to make repayments, investigators said.
Takenaka is also suspected of defrauding more than 40 other customers out of an estimated JPY17 million (USD151,130) between February and March 2015. Police said Takenaka is believed to have illegally manipulated the company’s system and issued IOUs amounting to more than JPY120 million, which they said may been spent on entertainment.
Police officials said Takenaka has “largely admitted” to the charge.
Established in May 2014, RTJ collected money from its users in exchange for online IOUs, which can be exchanged with other users or converted into cash or XRP tokens via the exchanges that handle Ripple. RTJ, however, had reportedly run out of money in early 2015, and customers had been unable to contact Takenaka starting March 2015.
Takenaka’s case bears comparison with the now defunct bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, whose chief executive was found to have embezzled funds to fund his personal expenses, including rent and to pay for women that “offer sexual services.”
Tokyo-based Mt. Gox was once the world’s largest exchange platform for bitcoin until it filed for bankruptcy in 2014, claiming it had lost 850,000 of its bitcoins, which are worth more than $450 million at the time, to hackers that exploited the site’s “transactional malleability.” CEO Mark Karpeles was eventually arrested on charges of data manipulation and embezzling a total of JPY341 million (US$2.98 million) in customers’ money between September and December 2013.
Note: Tokens on the Bitcoin Core (segwit) Chain are Referred to as BTC coins. Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) is today the only Bitcoin implementation that follows Satoshi Nakamoto’s original whitepaper for Peer to Peer Electronic Cash. Bitcoin BSV is the only major public blockchain that maintains the original vision for Bitcoin as fast, frictionless, electronic cash.
Business 9 hours ago
Blockchain startup raises $24M for digital rights management
Bluecoat, a blockchain company specializing in digital rights and royalties distribution, has already raised $24.25 million in funding, with notable personalities in the music industry assisting with the funding. In its press release, the company ...
Business 10 hours ago
Bitmain shuts down Israel office, leaving all 23 employees jobless
After nearly three years of activity, Chinese crypto mining giant Bitmain is reportedly ceasing its Israeli operations this week. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Israeli news outlet Globes reported on Monday that Bitmain’s development ...
Business 14 hours ago
Warning: Scam site mimicking SVPool.com
We're sending a warning to people in and out of the crypto industry. There is a website trying to cheat unsuspecting users looking to visit SVPool.com. The individual or group is utilizing a common tactic ...


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How do you get your protein? The question once asked of vegetarians, athletes and bodybuilders is null and void because the answer is: everywhere.
While its macronutrient cousins, fat and carbohydrates have gone in and out of fashion, protein has emerged as a symbol of health and fitness. Slap a “high-protein” label on virtually any product for an automatic “health halo” and, many food producers believe, a spike in sales.
In your standard supermarket aisle, you can now find high-protein Weetbix, Special K, oats, breads, milks, tinned tuna, powders, snacks and flours.
And as service stations, convenience stores and vending machines health wash their offerings, protein bars have become ubiquitous. Sold as a healthier snack alternative, meals on the move and post-workout recovery, are they any better?
“The high-protein snack bars have tapped into the science that shows protein is more satiating than fats and carbohydrates,” says Professor Stephen Simpson, the academic director of the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney. “Therefore if you satisfy your protein appetite you’re less likely to eat excess calories.”
In fact, it was Simpson, and colleague David Raubenheimer, who came up with the “protein leverage hypothesis”, which suggests that protein could help to solve the obesity crisis.
We blind taste-tested 10 protein bars, here’s how they ranked:
2. Body Science High-Protein Bar
3. Musashi Recovery
4. Beauty Food Collagen Cookie
5. Bounce Ball
6. Blue Dinosaur Lamington Bar
7. Quest Chocolate Chip and Cookie Dough
8. Botanika Blends Vegan Protein Bar
9. Amazonia Raw Bar
10. Chief Bar
Along with weight-management, protein also supports our immune system, our hair, nails and bones as well as muscle growth and repair. “And [protein bars] are certainly more nutritious than the average confectionary snack bar,” says nutrition scientist and accredited practising dietitian, Dr Joanna McMillan.
But, more is not more.
Eat too much protein too often, and you risk accelerated ageing and “a whole range of problems” including metabolic health issues in middle age, Simpson says, noting that the high-protein diet as a “therapeutic device” should be targeted and short-term.
Almost all Australian adults (99 per cent) already meet or exceed the recommended dietary protein intake of about 46 grams for women and 64 grams for men.
“We have a perfectly good protein appetite control system if we put it in a whole food environment,” Simpson says. “You’ll start craving more umami and savoury flavours when you’re short of protein.”
In the world of processed foods, however, this system can become easily duped. It can make us “particularly susceptible to savoury-flavoured junk which isn’t high in protein” like cheesy corn chips, or we can consume more protein than we need via protein-dense bars.
“People are definitely way too obsessed with protein,” McMillan says. “We can easily meet our needs from whole foods, even if you’re a vegan.”
Still, she says: “They may have a place in sports nutrition for athletes and very active individuals who need the convenience of food they can pop in their training bag, so I don’t completely write them off.”
How then do you choose from the plethora available?
Along with the high-protein label, many bars have jumped on the low-carb, keto wagon, but that doesn’t make them any better warns Alex Thomas, a clinical accredited sports nutritionist and founder of the Sports Nutrition Association.
“Ingredients like sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol, polydextrose all act very similarly to carbohydrates when you ingest them – that’s how [food marketers] hide it and say ‘low-carb’ – but they can upset your stomach… and they don’t taste as good.”
The fewer ingredients, the better says McMillan, who adds that bars without additives, refined oils or sugars are “hard to find”.
“Are there emulsifiers, flavourings or additives? Refined oils or sugars? Many of these bars are glorified confectionary bars.”
The protein source itself also makes a difference to its healthiness.
“Personally I’d eat a couple of eggs, slice of cheese or have some nuts and yoghurt for my snack protein,” says McMillan who, when pressed, would choose a meat-based, jerky-style protein bar: “they are at least whole food options – but they aren’t to everyone’s taste.”
Indeed. Though Thomas would also opt a jerky-style bar first, in a blind taste-test of 10 mostly sweet protein bars (ranging from 10 grams to 55 grams of protein) the savoury meat-based bar had the lowest ranking from staff at Good Food and The Sydney Morning Herald.
In order of taste preference, staff ranked the CLIF Bar first, followed by Body Science High-Protein Bar; Musashi Recovery; Beauty Food Collagen Cookie; Bounce Ball; Blue Dinosaur Lamington Bar; Quest Chocolate Chip and Cookie Dough; Botanika Blends Vegan Protein Bar; Amazonia Raw Bar; and Chief Bar.
After meat, the experts suggest whey protein – a market worth $13.5 billion globally – which is extracted from milk and is fast absorbing, can improve muscle synthesis and repair after exercise, McMillan explains. “But the studies are usually with whey in a protein shake… the same might not be true in bar format. And other ingredients like fat may slow down the digestion and absorption.”
She isn’t “a fan” of bars with soy protein isolate either. “It ditches the other parts of the soybean that may be beneficial to health and is the isolated extracted protein. That’s not the traditional way of eating soy.”
Thomas adds that proteins using isolates, instead of concentrates, typically taste “a bit watery” and: “Collagen is good for skin and nails, but it’s not going to help you with recovery or performance.”
As for Simpson, who says mixing types of protein, particularly plant-based protein is important for optimal health and who avoids snacking and the snack industry altogether, he says: “They are marginally better than eating a Mars bar. Except they’ll give you less pleasure probably.”


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Port Juggler may not work after upgrading to Mac OS 7.6. Daniel Hopen contacted Momentum about this and was told that Power Port Juggler v.4.5 "is not certified for Mac OS 7.6." It will most likely require an update to fix this. (Thanks also to Dennis Tirman.)
iPhone running slow?
Here are some quick fixes for some of the most common problem in iOS 7.


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The Lucid Air was praised by MotorTrend when it won the 2022 Car of the Year Award because it was the first time a debut vehicle won the prestigious award. Being electric was just a detail. The Rivian R1T repeated that feat by winning the 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the Year Award: it’s the first vehicle its company built, it was “the most remarkable truck” MotorTrend ever tested, and it happens to be electric.
In the video below, you can see some of MotorTrend’s editors discussing how difficult it was to reach a decision with the great competitors the award had this year. They also talked about the multiple tests they did, some of which are very unique to the prize, such as the frustration test. The idea is to find a steep hill in which a truck towing something heavy will have to overtake a semi. Evaluating if the truck can even do that is the primary goal. Predictably, the Rivian contender did that without complaining. According to the editors, the electric pickup truck coped with all six criteria (advancement in design, efficiency, engineering excellence, performance of intended function, safety, and value) with ease. The American magazine had already praised how well it deals with off-roading and what a great vehicle it is in daily driving. Ironically, Edmunds recently stated that the Rivian R1T was the most inefficient EV it ever tested. MotorTrend would have counterpointed that if Edmunds had not mentioned this as well: although it has a massive frontal area and is a tall vehicle, the R1T is still the most efficient truck around just by being electric. Yes, the GMC Hummer EV also competed with the R1T despite not being for sale yet, but GM’s first attempt to deliver an electric truck goes against much of what EVs should stand for, especially when it comes to efficiency. Being so massive and so heavy may make people want to brag about its torque and power, but that will have an impact on range, hauling capacity, and so forth. Safety around a 4-ton vehicle is also a concern for the others. According to MotorTrend, anyone able to pay around $70,000 and willing to have a great pickup truck would get the best value for the money with the Rivian R1T. Just like with the Lucid Air, being electric is just a detail, but it is an important one.
Keyword: Rivian R1T Wins 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the Year Award


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With the latest USFDA technology equipment, the new facility, spanning over 1000 sq feet, has an ambiance meeting global standards and follows the SOP developed and curated by Chytra V. Anand
Building on its business success, Kosmoderma Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading aesthetic dermatology and cosmetology brand, is expanding its footprint further with the launch of a new clinic in Bangalore. The latest facility is the 7th one for Kosmoderma in the garden city and the 9th overall, with the other two clinics in Chennai and New Delhi.
The new clinic is located in Electronic City Phase-1, Bangalore, 560100, one of the prime areas in Bangalore, to cater to the growing demand for aesthetic medical services, dermatology, and cosmetology.
With an ambiance meeting international standards and spanning over 1000 sq.ft., Kosmoderma’s latest clinic has an experienced medical team and the USFDA gold standard to address all hair, skin, and body concerns. The facility is fully equipped with state-of-the-art USFDA-technology equipment and follows global standards of SOP developed and curated by the acclaimed Chytra V. Anand. With the new launch, Kosmoderma aims to cater to the IT hub and promote the benefits of medical beauty among clients in the area.
Chytra V Anand, Founder, Kosmoderma Healthcare Private Ltd. said, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new clinic in Bangalore, our headquarters, where there is a steadily rising demand for cosmetology and dermatology services. The facility is designed to be best-in-class with international standards and cutting-edge equipment, where clients will receive top-notch service and phenomenal results. Since the time we began Kosmoderma, our growth trajectory has been incredible, and we plan to launch many more such clinics across the country and establish ourselves as the go-to destination for aesthetic medical services.”
As a market leader for 15+ years, Kosmoderma offers personalized services that have helped the brand garner a 1.4-lakh+ customer base with a 94.3 percent success rate. With this success, Kosmoderma expects to clock a revenue of Rs 8-9 crore from its facilities in Bangalore with the new clinic alone generating Rs 50-60 lakhs each month.
Being the only aesthetic medical brand to have inaugurated 3 clinics in 35 days across metro cities, Kosmoderma has successfully accomplished all the clinic launches planned for this year. The brand now has 10 more clinics in the pipeline to be launched across India during FY23-24. Kosmoderma plans on reinforcing its industry leadership by foraying into the Coimbatore, Mangalore, and Kochi markets in the south and Jammu, Chandigarh, and Patna in the north.


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Wil Mozell, joins Statstrack Board of Directors as company plans to release family of products
TORONTO, April 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Statstrack, creator of hockey analytics software Statstrack TEAM, announced that Wil Mozell, former Microsoft Executive, has joined the company's Board of Directors and will act as product and technology Advisor. Mozell is a consumer software industry veteran who has spent over 20 years leading the development of digital sports products and services across numerous technology platforms and devices.
"We are thrilled to have Wil be part of the Statstrack team," said Statstrack Founder, Drake Berehowsky, former NHL player and professional coach. "As a respected innovator of digital sports products, he will take the vision we have for Statstrack and help create must-have products that are easy and fun to use for everyone involved in hockey."
Mozell joins Statstrack, maker of Statstrack TEAM, as the company plans to expand to a complete family of products, which will include Statstrack PLAYER and Statstrack SCOUT to be released in the upcoming year.
"Drake's vision for user-friendly hockey analytics and his passion to empower coaches and players is unmatched. I look forward to partnering with Drake and his team at this exciting time for Statstrack," said Wil Mozell. "I believe Statstrack has the deep hockey knowledge and unique product required to succeed in its mission to put game-changing hockey intelligence in the hands of everyone who loves the sport."
Mozell spent six years at Microsoft where he held a number of influential business and product leadership roles. Most recently he served as General Manager of Microsoft Studios, Canada. Mozell also managed the Sports Entertainment Group, a business unit responsible for delivering showcase consumer products on Xbox and Windows, including the groundbreaking NFL Fantasy gameday experience. Mozell was also responsible for creating innovative consumer products with premium partners like UFC, MLB, NBA and NHL. Prior to Microsoft, Mozell was President of BigPark Studios, where he oversaw product development and studio operations until Microsoft acquired the company in 2009. Before starting BigPark, Mozell was Vice President at Electronic Arts, Canada, where he oversaw development of several award-winning sports video game franchises for over a decade.
About the company
Statstrack provides game-changing intelligence to help make in game decisions and develop long term strategies for teams and individual players based on analytics. Launched in 2015, Statstrack was developed by former NHL player and professional hockey coach, Drake Berehowsky.
Statstrack is endorsed by the NHL Alumni Association and is used by Hockey Canada Women's national teams, Berlin Eisbaren, and a whole host of other teams to rave reviews.
Image with caption: "Statstrack (CNW Group/Statstrack)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160404_C3180_PHOTO_EN_657035.jpg
For further information: Danielle Berehowsky, Chief Operating Officer, Statstrack, email@example.com, 1.855.717.8287, www.statstrack.ca


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If you missed True Detective on Sky Atlantic, the cult crime thriller has now made its way onto Amazon Instant Video.
The series, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as Rustin Cohle (McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Harrelson) and Rustin Cohle (McConaughey), lead investigators in a macabre 1995 Louisiana murder and relive the case and their partnership in the wake of new info.
Errant sleuths who missed out the first time round can track down every episode on Amazon Instant Video. You can buy single episodes in SD for £1.89 or in HD for £2.49 a pop. The whole season can be bought for £14.99 in SD or £18.99 in HD.
The series ended recently with speculation over a second season which may or may not star Brad Pitt. Series writer Nic Pizzolatto has also hinted that the show will also explore the secret occult history of America’s transit systems and that the show could consist of standalone one-shots instead of a single acing storyline. One thing we know for sure is that neither leads from the first season will be returning.
HBO has yet to officially announce a new series, but rumours suggest that it will air in January next year.
Amazon Instant Video offers viewers access to 50,000 titles on a pay per view basis. Amazon Instant Video is available online to customers with an active Amazon account.


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Scottish health campaigners call for further crackdown as vaping firm Instagram ads banned
The Advertising Standards Authority ban on four companies, including British American Tobacco's Vype brand, includes use of influencer marketing – which typically features celebrities or social media influencers using Vype in a context likely to appeal to young people - to advertise their e-cigarettes.
UK regulations prohibit online advertising of e-cigarettes but BAT, Ama Vape Lab, Attitude Vapes and Mylo Vapes all argued that their Instagram posts simply provided permitted factual information such as the name, content and price of their products. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) disagreed, ruling that the posts "clearly went beyond the provision of factual information" and were promotional in nature.
Ash Scotland today welcomed the news but said that e-cigarette firms need to be held to account for their "predatory commercial interests" which could harm the health of children. The Scottish Government said earlier this year that it was considering bringing in a complete ban on advertising for e-cigarettes and vaping products.
ASH Scotland chief executive Sheila Duffy said: “We welcome the ASA’s ruling which will make it more difficult for tobacco companies to use social media to market their health-harming products to young people in Scotland. We have seen countless examples from across the world of tobacco companies targeting young people through social media in an attempt to expand their customer base with significant risks of getting the next generation addicted to nicotine.
“Scotland is committed to regulating domestic e-cigarette advertising like billboards and leaflets but further action is needed if we are to protect children and young people from these predatory commercial interests. In addition to reducing the visibility of e-cigarette advertising here in Scotland, we’d like to see corporations held to account for the way commercial interests push their health-harming products to young people via social media and we call on social media platforms to be more proactive in moderating this content.”
The ruling followed complaints from Action on Smoking and Health, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Stop (Stopping Tobacco Organisations and Products) that the posts broke advertising rules by promoting unlicensed, nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and their components on Instagram.
The complaints focused on Instagram posts including seven early this year by BAT for its e-cigarette brand Vype, three of which featured captioned pictures of singer Lily Allen.
Other posts promoting Vype congratulated Rami Malek on his Bafta best actor award for Bohemian Rhapsody and featured a picture of model Olivia Jade Attwood smoking an e-cigarette.


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Most Americans (86%) state that transparency from businesses is more important than ever before. New research by Sprout Social digs into exactly what this means for brands and their agencies.
Through social media, consumers are now in control of the PR cycle, aiming call-outs and backlash at brands (and their agencies).
Surviving in this new era will require a DNA change in brands’ approach to social media, and to avoid striking out, it’s important for decision-makers to know what they’re aiming for, per the Sprout study.
The majority of respondents surveyed in the Sprout research said transparency means openness on the part of businesses (59%), clear (53%) and honest (49%). A majority of those surveyed feel brands lack transparency when they withhold information (69%). Ignoring questions — regardless of who asks them, employees or fellow consumers — is also seen as lacking transparency
Four in 10 (40%) who say brand transparency is more important than ever before attribute it to social media.
Heightened transparency expectations on social lead to significant benefits and risks. More than half of consumers (53%) are likely to consider brands that are transparent on social for their next purchase. However, a lack of transparency on social leaves 86% of people likely to take their business to a competitor.
There is much room for improvement by brands. Only 15% of consumers believe brands are currently “very transparent on social media." And they don't expect perfection. 89% of people say a business can regain their trust if it admits to a mistake and is transparent about the steps it will take to resolve an issue.
Content type also influences how transparent (or not) messages are perceived. People think video (67%) is the most transparent social media content, followed by text (23%), photos (6%), and GIF (4%).
The report recommends brands utilize their CEOs to help sharpen their authenticity, listen to consumers via social media and invest accordingly, and make sure to elevate social transparency as a business strategy, not just a marketing effort. It only takes one poor interaction to turn away potential customers.
Ultimately, Americans tend to set a high bar when it comes to brand behavior. More than eight in 10 (81%) believe businesses have a responsibility to be transparent when posting on social media—that’s higher than the standards they set for politicians, friends/family or themselves.
Sprout Social surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers on their transparency beliefs, expectations and desires for the report, "From Risk to Responsibility: Social Media and the Evolution of Transparency.” It can be accessed here.


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Two months after introducing a “soda tax”, a one-cent-per-ounce of sugar or sweeteners levied on beverages, Chicago (more precisely the Cook County) decided to abandon the scheme again. The controversial tax approved by the slimmest majority of 9-8 county commissioners faced strong consumer backlash, legal challenges and fierce lobbying effort by soda companies.
The repeal is a major defeat to national soda tax proponents. While several other cities have introduced or consider introducing a similar tax (for example San Francisco or Berkeley) Chicago was by far the large municipality that has done it so far.
According to its advocates, the tax is meant to fight obesity and related health problems, alleviate health care costs, and raise revenues for municipalities. The scheme is also promoted by the World Health Organization as a ‘Pigovian tax’ – tax that discourages and offsets activity with negative externalities. Just as we pay extra taxes on fuel, tobacco and alcohol, tax advocates claim, we should also pay for sugar due to its harmful effects on individuals and the society.
Tax critics point out that while tobacco consumption is proved to be harmful even in minimal amount, moderate consumption of sweet drinks does not seem to cause health problems. Moreover, focusing on beverages only may unfairly and ineffectively promote equally bad substitutes such as sweet snacks. If obesity is the problem then other measures targeting it directly instead of one of its many possible causes might be more adequate. Some also believe that the soda tax is simply excessively paternalistic and goes beyond the nudge-style interventions envisioned by Richard Thaler.
Importantly, Cook County’s primary motivation for introducing the tax was much less theoretical. Cook County’s commissioners have admitted that they mainly wanted to fill gap in the 2017 budget by raising additional funds. Presumably, soda tax might be an effective source of revenue for the public sector. Distortions caused by taxation are in direct proportion to demand elasticity. Assuming that people are addicted to sugar as much as smoker to tobacco, sugar tax can raise funds without significantly distorting customer behavior.
Unfortunately, Chicago’s proximity to Indiana with no soda tax made the levy far less effective and more distortive. Many customers made the extra effort and started driving to the neighboring state to buy cheaper beverages. According to the Chicago Tribune, Costco’s nine Chicago stores witnessed a 34 percent decline in soft drink sales while nine closest stores outside Chicago experienced a 38 percent increase. As Costco’s representative says: “You’re displacing shopping from one area, you’re creating congestion in another and it’s just counterproductive.”
It is clear though that the epidemic of obesity is a growing problem throughout the world. Unless we find more effective measures, the soda tax debate will continue. But perhaps we are tackling the issue from a wrong end. Research has identified a very clear link between wealth and obesity – poorer people tend to be more obese and income inequality correlates with the share of obese people in population. Shouldn’t we just work on reducing income inequality then? But that’s a whole other debate...


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Before coins were re-introduced, goods or services were priced in multiples of fives because but since the death of coins and the near extinction of some Naira notes, price levels have been affected greatly, which means no goods could be bought for 1 Naira because no such denomination is available, so lowest-priced goods stayed at 5 Naira and Naira 10 Naira. Is there any possibility that coins or the denominations fast going out of circulation will return stronger in the nearest future?
1 Mar 2021
Benin fire: Section of Oregbeni market road, goods worth millions of Naira destroyed
14 Feb 2021
Customs strike force Zone A intercepts falsely declared goods
6 Nov 2019
Africa's most populous country, Nigeria, has shut its land borders with neighboring countries. It wants to stop of the flow of goods on an import prohibition list.
24 Sep 2019
The US has removed tariffs on over 400 Chinese goods after American firms complained that the levies would cause economic hardship. But trade talks between the world's top two economies remain on a delicate footing.
15 Sep 2019
Year-to-date, the consumer goods sector has been one of the worst-hit sectors on Nigeria's equities market. To discuss the performance of the sector so far, Abiola Gbemisola, consumer Analyst at Chapel Hill Denham joins CNBC Africa for more.
8 Sep 2019
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited the Novare Mall, Sangotedo, to assess the vandalisation and looting that took place at the mall on Tuesday.
3 Aug 2019
As the government introduced a plastic bag ban, a group of women developed a more sustainable alternative. Now they are exporting their goods beyond the continent.
31 Jul 2019
African nations need to boost output of goods and services to benefit from a new $3.4 trillion economic initiative, the head of the African Development Bank has said.
18 Jul 2019
The Central Bank of Nigeria has advised Uniformed Agencies to patronise made in Nigeria goods to help boost local production.
20 Feb 2017
The NSE All-Share Index was down 0.7 per cent week-on-week, despite the gains recorded in the industrial goods and oil and gas sectors.
5 Sep 2016
Your Life, Your Money is a personal finance series produced by Guardian TV for young men and women. Watch Episode 4 of this life transforming programme sponsored by Zenith Bank which focuses on debt.


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Costco, Trader Joe’s, and other retailers have issued a recall on some items due to an outbreak of a deadly disease. Dozens of cheese and dairy products sold by Rizo Lopez Foods in Modesto, California are being recalled due to the risk that they’re contaminated with listeria. At least two people have died from the listeria outbreak, and Rizo Lopez Foods has voluntarily recalled all cheeses and other dairy products made in its facility, which were sold nationwide.
Trader Joe’s and Costco have issued their own separate recalls on the items sold in their stores, most of which were still for sale earlier this week. The listeria outbreak has been going on for a while, with illnesses linked to it going as far back as June 2014. Investigations were conducted by the Centers for Disease Control in 2017 and 2021, and then reopened after new cases of the illness were reported in December. During the investigation, the FDA “found the outbreak strain of Listeria on a container where cheeses are kept before they are packaged.”
The CDC is telling consumers to not eat any of the recalled products and throw them away. The agency also recommends cleaning any refrigerators, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the recalled products. The company has a hotline to call with any questions, and a full list of the recalled products can be seen on the CDC website.
The toll-free hotline number is 1-833-296-2233.


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Alibaba Group Holding's stock BABA, +3.84% tumbled 6.5% in premarket trade Monday, putting it on track to open well below its $68 IPO price for the first time. The Chinese e-commerce giant's stock had climbed as much as 75% to close at $119.15 on Nov. 10, but trended steady lower since then, losing 43% to close at a record low of $68.18 on Friday. The stock was trading at $63.78 ahead of the open.
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It’s time to gear up for fall smartphone season, when we’ll see the new iPhone, Moto, Galaxy Note, and most likely the new Google Pixel. Representing a new line of smartphones for Google, the original Pixel phone from last year was technically terrific, but got some heat for a boring design. Someone at Google noticed, because if these leaks of the new Pixel are accurate, it looks much more stylish and premium this time around.
Android Police have obtained leaked images of the new Google Pixel XL, and they seem to be very confident in what they have — if there are any inaccuracies, it’ll be because the design may change in the next couple months.
What we’re looking at is something that looks similar to the LG G6 and the Samsung Galaxy S8, in that the phone has an ultra-wide 2:1 aspect ratio flat display with a fingerprint scanner on the back. The back still has the distinctive two-tone look of the previous generation, but most interesting of all is that it appears Google will sit out the dual camera trend, opting for a single sensor instead — not a bad thing, because the original Google Pixel still has one of the best smartphone cameras. It also looks like the antenna lines are gone, but this could just be a render with the lines left off. The image doesn’t show the edges of the phone, which means we don’t know whether or not the new Pixel will have a headphone port.
Interestingly, Android Police also seems very certain that the new Pixel XL will have a squeeze feature, similar to what was on the HTC U11. That would allow users to execute commands by giving the phone a light squeeze, something I thought looked a little gimmicky on the U11.
This follows leaks from XDA Developers about the specs of the smaller and XL models of the new Pixel, which point to high-end specs (like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset) and an LG OLED display on the XL, thanks to a huge investment Google made in LG (who are said to be manufacturing the entire Pixel XL this year).
Via Android Police