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Leaked: A picture of Borussia Dortmund’s new Champions League kit
Borussia Dortmund are planning to have a special kit for the Champions League, as has been revealed by the good people at FootyHeadlines.com.
Last week new images leaked showing BVB’s 2014-15 home shirt, with many taken aback by the design of the new jersey.
Rather than being all that clean, the shirts have big black horizontal lines down the right hand side of the top.
With that kit not being to everyone’s taste, it’s come to light that Dortmund are set to unveil a classic yellow and black Champions League shirt.
See a leaked image of that kit, made by Puma, below.
Watch Live Stream
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang thanks Cristiano Ronaldo for match shirt [Instagram]September 28, 2016
- Dortmund starlet Emre Mor thanks Cristiano Ronaldo on Instagram after UCL clashSeptember 28, 2016
- Real Madrid stars spotted discussing Keylor Navas’ error at half time of Dortmund match (video)September 28, 2016
- Cristiano Ronaldo accused of kicking out at Marcel Schmelzer [Tweets]September 28, 2016


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Mixed economic reports prompt dip in markets
NEW YORK (AP) — Banks and other financial firms tugged the stock market slightly lower yesterday as a mixed batch of economic reports and earnings results gave investors little reason to push the market up.
Barclays shares sank after news that New York’s attorney general sued the British bank, claiming that it favored high-frequency traders over large institutions in its private-trading platform.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 index sank 2.31 points, to close at 1,957.22. The Nasdaq composite index dipped 0.71 point, to 4,379.05. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 21.38 points, to close at 16,846.13.
The U.S. government said the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits declined last week, another sign that an economic slowdown earlier this year hasn’t caused employers to lay off workers. In a separate report, the government said consumer spending inched up 0.2 percent last month, half the increase that economists had predicted.
Among the stocks making big moves, Bed Bath & Beyond sank 7 percent after the retailer posted quarterly earnings and sales that fell short of analysts’ estimates.

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We walked 10 blocks of 9th Avenue yesterday afternoon and counted eight smoke shops. As Hell’s Kitchen fills with these new stores, the city has announced that they plan to grant only 22 licenses to open recreational marijuana dispensaries across the whole of Manhattan in the first round.
New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) opened its business license application yesterday and a new report details how few available permits will be granted in Manhattan for the first wave of the program.
The Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) License, New York’s first legal retail license for cannabis distribution, has been set up to allow those who were disproportionately affected by the city’s previous drug laws to obtain dispensary licenses. Justice-involved individuals and family members who can verify that they were “convicted of a marijuana-related offense in New York State before March 31, 2021” are currently eligible to apply.
But in a report recently released by the OCM, just 150 total licenses will be granted across the state — with only 22 for Manhattan and just 19, 16, 10 and three granted respectively in Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island (according to Marijuana Moment). The OCM says the maximum license calculation was created in relation to each region’s commuter-adjusted population.
|Name of Region||Commuter Adj. Population||Population Dist.||Max. CAURD Business Licenses|
|Brooklyn||2,852,632 ||12.3%||19 |
|Capital Region||1,145,370 ||5.0%||7 |
|Central New York||1,093,219 ||4.7%||7 |
|Finger Lakes||1,383,303 ||6.0%||9 |
|Long Island||3,110,067 ||13.4%||20 |
|Manhattan||3,375,059 ||14.6%||22 |
|Mid-Hudson||2,603,489 ||11.3%||17 |
|Mohawk Valley||281,983 ||1.2%||2 |
|North Country||586,426 ||2.5%||4 |
|Queens||2,525,120 ||10.9%||16 |
|Southern Tier||480,753 ||2.1%||3 |
|Staten Island||500,926 ||2.2%||3 |
|The Bronx||1,565,988 ||6.8%||10 |
|Western New York||1,622,461 ||7.0%||11 |
OCM spokesperson Aaron Ghitelman told Marijuana Moment: “The primary goal of the CAURD license is to create opportunities for New Yorkers harmed most by the prohibition of cannabis. Part of that is granting up to 150 CAURD licenses to individuals who themselves, or their close family members, have had past eligible cannabis-related offenses and have ownership stakes in profitable businesses.” The OCM and Adams administration, who hope to open dispensaries as early as the end of the year, estimate up to $1.3 billion in sales by 2023, and between 19,000-24,000 jobs created over the next three years. W42ST reached out to the OCM to confirm whether additional licenses would be granted after the 150 allotted across regions run out, and we will update if we hear back.
Mayor Adams, who announced support for the program in a press conference on Monday, has explained the city’s priority in assisting those interested in applying for a license. “The regulated adult-use cannabis industry is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our underserved communities that have, for too long, faced disproportionate rates of drug-related incarceration to get in on the industry on the ground floor,” he said. “Cannabis NYC will plant the seeds for the economy of tomorrow by helping New Yorkers apply for licenses and understand how to open and successfully run a business, while simultaneously rolling equity into our economy by giving those who have been justice-involved and those with a cannabis conviction a chance to succeed. This is about creating good jobs, successful small businesses, and finally delivering equity to communities harmed by the ‘War on Drugs.’”
“For generations, communities of color across our city have experienced the compounding social and economic impacts of the ‘War on Drugs.’ The end of prohibition and the emerging New York cannabis industry opens avenues for change and prosperity,” added Mayor’s Office of Equity Commissioner Sideya Sherman. “Getting started is the first step. With Cannabis NYC, New Yorkers now have a one-stop shop for navigating the licensing process, access to no-cost services, and ongoing support as the industry continues to evolve. We’re excited for this new chapter and what it means for those individuals and communities most harmed.”
Adams is also pushing the enforcement of shutting down illegal distribution, including potential violations from Midtown’s many “Weed World” trucks (busted recently not for distribution, but parking tickets). But with officials moving to clear over 400,000 past marijuana convictions, the process to obtain one of just 70 licenses across the 5 boroughs may leave many prospective businesses up in smoke.


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The prediction of reality star, Kylie Jenner, rising to international fame was no joke, as she is now the youngest billionaire in the world, ever!
📸 Kylie Jenner Instagram
The 2019 annual Forbes magazine ranking for the planet’s richest people has finally been released. It shows the “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” star ranking at number 2,057 out of 2,153, making her the youngest self-made billionaire at 21 years-old.
This achievement is mainly due to her creation of her cosmetics company, Kylie Cosmetics, while she was still a teenager in 2015. Her billionaire status is also due to her popular lip-kits that contained matching shades of lip liners, lipsticks etc.
It’s no secret that the Kardashian-Jenner family has their eyes on the prize with Kendall Jenner being the highest paid supermodel, Kim Kardashian West having her KKW cosmetics and fragrance line as well as sister Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian’s having frequent endorsement deals.
Regardless, fans of the Lip-Kit creator are currently celebrating on social media, and do you blame them? Can you imagine being a billionaire at 21?


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Sustainability, energy and waste management top the agenda for CATEX 2023
“The unwavering support for CATEX 2023 from all of those within food, drink, foodservice and hospitality was high on the agenda at the official launch of CATEX 2023,” comments Alan Cruite, IFSA Chair.
At the home of GAA, Croke Park, the official launch of CATEX 2023 was attended by key players in the industry with cross-industry support for Ireland’s largest foodservice and hospitality expo, which returns next February 21st – 23rd, at the RDS, Simmonscourt, Dublin.
Supported by Bunzl McLaughlin and Calor, CATEX is one of Ireland’s most established trade exhibitions and its success is thanks to the vast array of associations and exhibitors who support the event and have helped mould CATEX – an IFSA event – into what it is today. It’s THE trade expo for those within foodservice and hospitality, and is created by the industry, for the industry.
A melting pot for chefs, baristas, pizza makers, sustainability experts, restaurateurs, hoteliers and so many more, the three-day event is firmly focused on putting skills on centre stage and helping visitors from hospitality and foodservice to navigate the new world with solutions, trends, cost savings and new products and services.
Alan Cruite, IFSA Chair and General Manager of Trinity Purchasing Ireland adds: “For over 50 years CATEX has been the cornerstone expo for the foodservice, catering, and hospitality industries in Ireland. As an industry, we’ve never experienced such a turbulent time, but now it’s time to move forward with confidence.
“We’ve exciting plans for 2023 and are ensuring that every aspect of the event is relevant for the challenges and opportunities presenting themselves to the Foodservice and Hospitality sectors today.”
Home to the National Barista Championships, CATEX 2023 will also present the Chef Ireland Culinary Competitions from the Panel of Chefs, the National Pizza Championships and recognising and rewarding Irish Foodservice Innovation, the popular ‘IFSA’s’ will be back. Aramark is hosting a Producer Showcase and Chef Network will be representing thousands of professional and student chefs at the event.
The future of food, drink and hospitality, sustainability and predicting new industry trends, are the key themes throughout the event. It’s the essential platform for exhibitors to promote their products and services directly to industry buyers.
Many of the industry’s biggest names have already secured their space, and their on-going commitment to CATEX underpins the return that the expo delivers in terms of sales, lead generation and new contacts.
Supported by Bunzl McLaughlin and Calor, CATEX is already attracting a lot of interest, with confirmed exhibitors including Lynas Foodservice, Sysco, Caterex, JJ Darboven, Caterline, Curran Foods, Waterlogic Hydration Services, Granby Sausages, and Entegra amongst others.
Commenting on its support for CATEX, Sean Martin, Sales Director at Bunzl McLaughlin comments: “Bunzl McLaughlin is a recognised industry leader in the hospitality and catering sectors across Ireland.
“A key component of our success rests heavily on the loyal customer base we’ve assembled over multiple decades of trading. Building these customer relationships has been made possible by trade shows such as CATEX.
“We rely on CATEX to demonstrate our unique level of industry knowledge, and to showcase our level of dedication and product offering to potential, new and existing customers.
“CATEX provides an exceptional networking platform, where such exposure cannot be replicated. For that reason, we see our continued support of CATEX remaining an integral part of our business strategy, indefinitely.”
Larry Smith, Sales Manager at Calor adds: “Calor is proud to be part of the fantastic team that will bring CATEX 23 to the RDS in Dublin. CATEX is one of the flagship exhibitions for the catering and hospitality industry and a calendar must for all. The sponsorship is part of Calor’s long-standing relationship with the Foodservice and Hospitality Sector across the island of Ireland.
“As always, our energy advisors are delighted to attend the event and will be on hand at CATEX 23 to showcase lower-carbon energy options and renewable gas solutions available to businesses in the industry. We’ll be demonstrating our support with a range of offers available exclusively at the event”
Set to sell out soon, CATEX 2023 is Ireland’s definitive foodservice event, celebrating skills, service, excellence and innovation within foodservice and hospitality. To secure your space, please contact EventHaus on (00353) 1 846 0020 or see www.CATEXexhibition.com
CATEX – Ireland’s definitive foodservice event, 21st – 23rd February 2023 at the RDS, Simmonscourt.


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Tablets dominate pre-Christmas tech rumours
With Christmas Eve only ten weeks away (yes, really!), our favourite tech companies are pulling out all the stops when it comes to pre-holiday announcements.
Asus is widely tipped to announce the latest details of its PadFone 2 tomorrow (October 16), while Apple's hotly-anticipated (and closely-guarded secret) iPad Mini – a rumoured 7.85-inch tablet that could give Amazon's Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7 a run for their money – is expected to be announced at a special invitation-only event on October 23, just three days before Microsoft's new Surface tablet goes on the market.
Gadgets such as the iPad Mini could foster a more widespread take-up of tablets, which could have a major impact on the world of content marketing.
Tablets play a crucial role in how people from all walks of life create, access and share content among themselves, according to an eye-opening study published by Gartner back in July.
Research carried out by the organisation back at the end of 2011 and published earlier this year involved tracking the habits of tablet users in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom over a seven-day period.
According to Carolina Milanesi, research vice-president at Gartner, the findings revealed that while we're not quite ready to give up our PCs cold turkey, tablets are changing the way we carry out a number of daily personal activities.
For example, 69 per cent of tablet owners use their device to read the news, while 62 per cent use tablets to make connections through their social networks.
"The survey found that more than 50 per cent of media tablet owners prefer to read news, magazines and books on screen, rather than on paper," said Milanesi.
Knowing how your target audience interacts with articles, blog posts and your company website is an essential part of developing an ongoing content strategy, which is why we're keeping a close eye on the latest and greatest developments in the world of tablets.
Are you using tablets to access fresh content on the web?
Posted by Kaitlyn Critchley


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The Paris prefecture announced on Monday that it would temporarily close the square in front of the fire-ravaged Notre Dame cathedral due to a “concentration of lead-laced dust above the usual level for Paris”.
The square in front of the cathedral reopened on March 31st 2020, but the cathedral itself remains closed while works are ongoing to restore it.
A handbag from the Notre Dame x Sophie Cano collection.
Notre Dame now has an official handbag collaboration.
Improbable fashion collaborations just keep coming, the latest being a crafty Parisian accessories brand with what is likely the most famous cathedral in the world.
Cue the Notre Dame Sophie Cano Paris collection, to be sold exclusively on the Notre Dame de Paris website as well as its concept store, not far from the medieval Catholic cathedral.
It is not clear yet if any of the money from bag sales will be donated to the cathedral reconstruction following the massive fire in April 2019.
The spire of the Notre Dame collapsing on April 15, 2019
“Since the Second World War, no Gothic cathedral of this magnitude has ever been rebuilt, so this series is not just about science or the history of architecture, it is about an extraordinary human effort,” said the producer, Christine Le Goff.
In addition to the exclusive access to the cathedral and its surroundings, “Raising Notre Dame” will also show the constitution of all the cathedral’s scans and data throughout time, as well as original photos, architectural plans and notes compiled during the 19th century, explained Le Goff.


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TaxWise, the Rome, Ga.-based tax preparation software company, is broadening its product line by giving users the ability to access CCH's tax research from within its tax preparation software.
Like what you see? Click here to sign up for Accounting Today's daily newsletter to get the latest news and behind the scenes commentary you won't find anywhere else.
Material available to TaxWise users includes the CCH U.S. Master Tax Guide. TaxWise has also launched the TaxWise Fixed Asset Manager, which works in tandem with the new TaxWise Trial Balance software. "Our main reason behind the product line expansion is that this is what our customers want," says TaxWise marketing director Ben Armour. "They want a one-stop shop for all of their needs."


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No longer a niche car for the eccentric collector, the bubble car looks like it is coming back under the less-than-catchy name of the Vehiconomics Smite.
Currently being touted as a concept car, the Swedish-made Smite is based (in looks) on the classic Messerschmitt KR200, produced between the mid-50s and 1960s and now much sought after collector's piece. But this is no relic – it's a modern eco-based take on the bubble car, addressing the need for a light, energy-efficient car in the modern world.
Different versions of the vehicle are planned – one with an electric motor that promises 80km per charge, while another will be able to coer 60km on just a litre of petrol, reaching a top speed of 90km/h in the process. Safe too, with the body made of an 'unbreakable thermoplastic'.
The future of motoring or a moment of folly? Only time will tell. In the meantime, get the lowdown on the concept at the Smits website. No news of a working model being offered for sale as yet.


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A watering-hole campaign using malicious website links to tempt users to install spyware on iPhone was discovered. The attack targeted iPhone users in Hong Kong.
Trend Micro and Kaspersky published their research according to which the “Operation Poisoned News” attack uses a remote iOS exploit chain to deploy a feature-rich implant called ‘LightSpy’ through links to local news websites, which when clicked, executes the malware payload and allows an interloper to exfiltrate sensitive data from the affected device and even take full control.
Watering-hole attacks allows an attacker to compromise a specific group of users by infecting websites that they usually visit, in order to gain access to the victim’s device and load it with malware.
The APT group, dubbed “TwoSail Junk” by Kaspersky, is said to be leveraging vulnerabilities present in iOS 12.1 and 12.2 in all models from iPhone 6 to iPhone X and the attacks were first noticed in January.
In this campaign fake links are posted on multiple forums which are all popular with Hong Kong residents, that leads to several news stories related to topics that are either sex-related, clickbait, or news related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
On clicking the URLs, users are led to legitimate news outlets that have been compromised as well as websites set up specifically for this campaign by the operators. In both cases, a hidden iframe is used to load and execute malicious code. The malicious website created by the attacker contained three iframes that pointed to different sites. The visible iframe leads to a legitimate news site, one invisible iframe was used for website analytics and the last one leads to a site hosting the main script of the iOS exploits.
The malware exploits a “silently patched” Safari vulnerability, which when rendered on the browser leads to the exploitation of a use after free memory flaw that allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with root privileges. install the proprietary LightSpy backdoor in this situation. The bug was resolved with the release of iOS 12.3, macOS Mojave 10.14.5, tvOS 12.3, and watchOS 5.2.1.
Besides being capable of remotely executing shell commands and taking full control of the device, the spyware can also contain a variety of downloadable modules that allow for data exfiltration, such as contact lists, GPS location, Wi-Fi connection history, hardware data, iOS keychains, phone call records, mobile Safari and Chrome browser history, and SMS messages.
Also, LightSpy targets messaging applications like Telegram, QQ, and WeChat to steal account information, contacts, groups, messages, and attached files.
In order to reduce any threats, the users are advised to keep their devices up-to-date.


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The New Enterprise Competition (NEC) drew to a close last month at our online celebration event where Peequal were crowned the winners of the Growth stage winning £15,000 in funding.
The UK’s first women’s urinal showcased their first prototype at Bristol Comedy Gardens at the beginning of the month and following the news of their win, have been making headlines across the UK, gaining 60 million views of their business since winning the competition:
Co-founder Hazel McShane said: ‘’Winning the competition has given us the opportunity to follow our dream for pee-equality. I want to give a massive shout out to the New Enterprise Competition and Basecamp team who have shown us support and encouragement from day one. The funding and recognition has lit the fire beneath PEEQUAL and we are now so excited to get our PEEQUAL urinals out there to free the pee.” (more…)
Basecamp Enterprise Team caught up with winner of Ideas Stage, New Enterprise Competition and Bristol University alumni Ash Guest. Ash founded the start-up business Focks Socks and has continued to develop her start-up since its
beginnings in 2017. Here’s what Ash had
to say about her start-up journey:
Who are you?
My name is Ash and I’ve just started a Masters in Human Rights Law, after completing my undergrad in law at UoB a couple of years ago. (more…)
It’s an exciting time for the Basecamp Enterprise Team as we reopen the New Enterprise Competition this September! But why should you apply?
1.) It caters for all stages of your start-up journey
The competition caters for all levels of start-up stages: ‘Ideas,’ ‘Development’ and ‘Growth.’ Funding is available at all stages, and there is pro bono support available from our sponsors in the Growth stage of the competition. You can apply to any and all stages of the competition and do not need to complete them in order (more information below). To read about some of our start-up stories from previous winners of the competition, click here.


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Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn hints there's a good chance the stylish T-ROC Concept could be built.
Volkswagen Golf GTD will face a new competitor.
Mini's design boss says the automaker will not build a seven-passenger SUV after all.
Favorite / least-favorite vehicles of the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.
UPDATED: Chrysler has issued a statement regarding the destruction of pre-production Dodge Vipers donated to schools.
We ask Jeep boss Mike Manley five questions about the new 2015 Jeep Renegade.
An American investment group is set to buy the Nurburgring
The Land Rover Discovery nameplate is set to spawn its own line of vehicles
There was lots of eye candy at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, but which one was your favorite? Tell us in today's TOTD.
Head of AMG Tells us to "Wait for New York” for Word on the C63 AMG Replacement.


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Italian Ice Cart Plan for Downtown Advances
A local business wants to start one.
Sully's Ice Cream on Monday night moved a step closer to setting up an Italian ice cart downtown.
Selectmen approved a permit for the shop to set up its cart near the Swasey Parkway pavillion. The cart would operate from 12 to 7 p.m. from May to September.
The cart setup still needs to be approved by the Swasey Parkway trustees.
Sully's currently operates its ice cream shop on Lincoln Street just outside the downtown area.
The only other food cart vendor in town is Ian's Granite State Grille, a popular hot dog stand that has vegetarian options. The cart is also in Swasey Parkway.


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In conversation with the visitors
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in partnership with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau participated at Travel News Market 2019 held at the Stockholm Waterfront on 07th November. Travel News Market is considered as the most influential B2B event for the travel industry representatives in Sweden. This provides an ideal platform for networking for the top decision makers, experts and young professionals within the tourism value- added chain. The 2019 fair attracted 220 exhibitors with approximately 1500 business visitors. Five prominent travel companies represented Sri Lanka tourism industry at the Sri Lanka pavilion. The Sri Lanka pavilion was declared open by the H.E Sri Lankan Ambassador in Sweden, Sudantha Ganegama Arachchi.
Most of the visitors to the Sri Lanka pavilion indicated that, despite an immediate decline in the tourist arrivals following the Easter Sunday attacks, Sri Lanka is now emerging as a trendy destination. They expressed the necessity to have a dynamic promotional campaign with a particular focus on digital media, reaching out to majority of Swedish travelers. H.E Ambassador Sudantha Ganegama Arachchi was interviewed for the Travel News Market video and by leading travel writers in the industry. His message was that Sri Lanka remains an attractive and safe travel destination open to travelers from all corners of the world.
Participants in discussion
The crowd at the fair
The industry participants with officials of the Embassy
For site suggestions and errors, please contact | Please use Downloads page to get the required software for this site
© 2023 All Rights Reserved by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.


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COLORADO: Legal retail weed in Colorado turned one year old this month. While legalization remains more experimental than established at this point, the early returns make a compelling case that the first year was a sweeping regulatory success in the Rocky Mountain State.
Exhibit A: what didn’t happen in 2014. Despite the nightmare scenarios that anti-legalization advocates foretold, there was nothing to suggest a major jump in marijuana use among Colorado teens. The number of drug-related crimes in the state held steady or dropped. And the spike in traffic fatalities resulting from drugged driving that naysaying opponents had predictedfailed to materialize. Yes, a lot could still change as the nascent retail market matures, but it’s now clear that the state’s first-of-its-kind experiment with recreational weed is off to a blazing start.
Colorado voted to make recreational pot legal in late 2012, and the state spent the next year crafting an innovative licensing system to tax and regulate retail sales, which then began on New Year’s Day 2014. The rollout has gone so well that Gov. John Hickenlooper, who once said Colorado voters were “reckless” to legalize weed, has changed his tune.


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With Sergio Rossi’s spring ’16 collection set to debut on Friday, Sept. 25, Footwear News got a sneak peek of the brand’s presentation in Milan.
“A Bohemian, chic atmosphere for celebrating a joyful summer collection,” said Angelo Ruggeri, Sergio Rossi’s collection and design director.
Ruggeri shared a spring ’16 women’s style — a woven stiletto sandal with striped heel — in a dazzling combination of black and gold. “A graphic black-and-gold stiletto sandal for glamorous women,” said Ruggeri.
For resort, the designer was inspired by a different sort of look. Taking a cue from the ’70s, Sergio Rossi’s resort collection included various suede boots with new, modern detailing like whipstitching and perforations.
For more of FN’s Milan Fashion Week coverage, see below:


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McDonalds Making Changes to Its Menu
Twin Falls, Idaho (KMVT-TV) The world's largest hamburger chain will be making a change nationwide next week.
McDonalds will be adding calorie listings to its menu items.
The company says it's making the change while in the process of testing healthier menu options.
For example, it's looking at using egg whites and a whole grain muffin on the Egg McMuffin.
Other options include a McWrap, which is already being sold in Europe and has roughly three–hundred fifty calories.
President Obama's health–care overhaul requires chains with twenty or more locations to start posting calorie counts by next year.


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Sergio Marchionne – the Italian-Canadian CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – has had no luck in trying to broker a merger between FCA and another major automaker, but he’s still actively trying. As our sister site Fiat Chrysler Authority reports, Mr. Marchionne recently named Ford Motor Company as a potential partner in a merger.
Ford responded, saying in an emailed statement to The Detroit News: “As we consistently have said, Ford has no plan or interest other than to continue to accelerate our One Ford plan, deliver product excellence and drive innovation in every part of our business.” Beside Ford, Fiat Chrysler is also considering the possibility of joining with Volkswagen or Toyota, and frequently references the possibility for a merger with General Motors.
Today, Ford is perhaps a bit wary of mergers and acquisitions due in part to losses sustained while the auto giant owned Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo as part of its “Premier Automotive Group.” The European luxury marques were a major financial drain on Ford, forcing the automaker to divest itself of the brands in the 2000s at a loss.
Your date on the proposed merger between Fiat and Ford denial is April 18, 20216. Why are you rehashing old news stories? Is your next story going to show the North has won the Civil war?


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MARCH 2023 — Showcasing its commitment to creating a food-secure Philippines, Mega Prime Foods Inc. (MPFI) formally opened its newest manufacturing plant in Batangas, a world-class facility envisioned to play a vital role in ensuring that Mega group’s commitments to nation-building are met.
The opening of the state-of-the-art Mega plant is a testament to MPFI’s enduring commitment to supporting the country in the process of nation-building. Once fully operational, the manufacturing plant is expected to create over 1,000 jobs and livelihood opportunities, which will reinvigorate the local community and further boost the Batangas economy, while ensuring food security in the country.
Present at the inauguration ceremony were Mega Prime Food Inc.’s top executives, including its Chief Executive Officer and Founder William Tiu Lim, Chief Operating Officer Michelle Tiu Lim Chan, Chief Growth and Development Officer Marvin Tiu Lim, Chief Technical and Innovations Officer Malcolm Tiu Lim, and Chief Spiritual and People Officer Mark Tiu Lim.
Signifying the importance of the manufacturing facility and MPFI’s support for government initiatives on food security, the opening of the plant was attended by no less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., accompanied by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director for Region IV-A Mr. Sammy A. Malvas, and Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director for Region IV-A Ms. Marites T. Castro. Also present at the event were Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandas, Batangas 3rd District Rep. Theresa Collantes, Sto. Tomas Mayor Arth Jhun Marasigan, and Sto. Tomas Vice Mayor Catherine Jaurige-Perez, cementing MPFI’s close collaboration with the Batangas LGUs.
The company invested PHP 1 billion in the construction and development of the Mega Manufacturing Batangas Plant, ensuring food products are in accordance with global specifications. In its commitment to producing only world-class, affordable, and nutritious food products, the company will strictly comply with internationally recognized certifications and standards, such as FSSC: 22000, HACCP, EU, and HALAL. Furthermore, MPFI will utilize the best practices and innovations in the manufacturing and business processes, ensuring that only top-quality products reach the homes of the millions of Filipinos who depend on them.
Recognizing the importance of sustainable food production, Mega’s newly-built plant features state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that remain true to Mega’s vertically integrated process that provides Filipinos with affordable, nutritious, high-quality food products. The facility also incorporates green features, including a warehouse, a fishmeal plant with a zero-waste system, and cold storage facilities that are environmentally friendly with the installation of an energy-efficient lighting system to lower carbon footprint emissions.
Moreover, the facility will have an open-plant system that also includes educational and interactive spaces, aimed at offering many learning opportunities to Filipinos and supporting the local tourism industry in Batangas. The plant will also serve as the technological innovation and research and development hub of Mega Prime Foods Inc., where innovations in food manufacturing and best-in-class product expansions will begin, furthering the manufacturing plant’s world-class qualities and cementing the Philippines as a place for globally-competitive, value-for-money food products.
As MPFI commences operations, MPFI Chief Growth and Development Officer Marvin Tiu Lim highlighted the company’s commitment to social responsibility, sustainable development, and the well-being of its Filipinos. “Once operations of this plant commence, Mega Prime Foods Inc. continues to uphold the highest food safety standards in its products with a tireless passion for innovation, thus contributing to the consequent growth of the Filipinos at the household, community, and national levels, making the company a partner of the Filipino in growth and recovery post-pandemic.”
This was echoed by COO Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan, who emphasized the importance of education and tourism in the region through designated areas within the Mega Manufacturing Plant designed to accommodate field trips from schools and other relevant stakeholders. “By partnering with the education and tourism government sectors, we get to teach people, especially young minds, the importance of food and food security. Through these trips, we support the local tourism industry, showcase the beauty of Batangas, and contribute to the region’s economic growth.”
The newest subsidiary of Mega Global Corporation, MPFI carries Mega’s current portfolio of food products that have become staples in many Filipino homes, such as Mega Sardines, Mega Tuna, Mega Prime Fruits and Vegetables, and Primo Sparkling Juice. With the opening of the Mega Manufacturing Plant, MPFI continues to deliver on its aspirations to strengthen the Philippine economy while also providing Filipinos with affordable and deliciously healthy meals.
For information about Mega Prime Foods Inc, visit www.megaprimefoods.com.ph


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From Olaplex to Oribe, luxury haircare manufacturers have become delighting in excellent business advancement — a trend expected to survive Covid-19 lockdowns.
If newcastle beauty shop operator Kamila Pruszek received the business straight back bash UK’s basic and second lockdowns, she ended up being astonished at the health of a few tresses.
“While some returned with mane totally bleached from home colors, others returned with breathtaking, vibrant and healthy hair,” says Pruszek, the master of green Tit, a portfolio of 10 high quality hair salons at sites across newcastle. Over lockdown, several of this model clients have committed to locks goggles, natural oils and high-grade shampoos and conditioners and conditioners to sharpen their unique haircare regimes.
Worldwide haircare selling displayed resilience throughout 2020. Alongside toiletries (contains loads of hand sanitiser and detergent), haircare got one of two luxury areas to present increases. Haircare profits are up 3 per cent, while cosmetic stagnated and coloring cosmetic and perfume dropped, as stated by consultancy Kline.
Subscribers are suffering from at-home hair regimens comparable to their own your skin techniques, relying on products with complex formulas most acquainted on the beauty industry. It’s recently been known as the “skinification” of locks by specialists.
These customers are prepared to spend: top quality and privilege users like Davines, Oribe and Olaplex include cultivating at a considerably speedier rate than bulk sector manufacturers. International appeal leaders, particularly L’Oreal and P&G, jointly evolved the company’s haircare businesses by an underwhelming 1 % in 2020. By contrast, separate high-end brands like Olaplex or Prose jointly demonstrated a 20 per cent increase in revenue, states Carrie Mellage of consultancy Kline. “You need not has a legacy brand name to achieve success,” she notes. “i believe visitors like latest manufacturer anyhow, these are typically young and a lot of fun.”
Balmain Hair Couture is the sole haircare manufacturer associated with a high end manner home. The brand templates packing to the colour pallette of the latest Balmain runway lineup, to underline their luxurious relationships. “We get the one-of-a-kind position of being a fashion brand name in a haircare industry. There’s no Chanel haircare or Gucci haircare,” states worldwide promotion movie director Eline de Knoop.
The company was primarily a wig companies, established 45 in years past. In the last decade they pivoted to deluxe haircare production, retailing in premium salons and deluxe stores like Net-a-Porter. Today operating in 45 places, it consists of observed development in the past seasons across its on the internet cost programs, as buyers need luxurious treatments to complement their own beauty salon programs, claims de Knoop.
High class haircare manufacturers twice down on at-home treatment
Owners had your time on the arms to find during the pandemic. Numerous have become better well-informed regarding their tresses sort and about technician formulation, much as they have for the skin care place. Searches for mane type like 2A, 3A and 3C tends to be all the way up, based on customers records experts batch. Extremely as well is names instance “curly lady method”, an approach to determine organic curls that is determine popularity with Gen Z on social networking, and then for “natural” mane. Kline claimed business for charcoal, multicultural and textured mane production up 13 % on 2019.
“Just as the client has become more informed and a lot more familiar with the specificities of skincare and type of skin, simply currently wanting very scientific ingredients to suit their hair includes,” states batch co-founder Yarden Horwitz. This really good news for its high class haircare market place developing definitely technological and customized treatments. A lot of upmarket haircare brands relied highly on hair salon sales pre-pandemic, nevertheless they has since extended on the internet and sweeping footprints in order to satisfy interest in haircare from home.
In 2020, Olaplex appeared since the number 1 status haircare brand name, based on NPD. The firm, that was at first ended up selling primarily in salons, deal just seven SKUs towards market, like hair care, conditioner and its common No.3 “bond constructing” techniques, plus a hair mask, tresses lotion and hair oil, selling at $28 each.
As a privately held corporation, Olaplex doesn’t expose comprehensive figures, but company “doubled” from 2019-2020, says chief executive JuE Wong, a market expert which took up the character in January 2020. “The self-care motion fuelled the growth of haircare in 2020 when we used our way of life before a display,” she claims. “[Consumers] have traditionally committed to high quality skincare because we realize the claim and engineering behind it. But then we would pay a visit to a medicine store and get our personal haircare — most of us never thought about the possibility that we can upwards our personal games for the mane as well.”
Luxurious haircare brand Oribe products retail for as much as $182.
Another rapid mover inside pandemic are high class haircare manufacturer Oribe, which launched in 2008 focusing on the discriminating appeal market just who realize overall performance certainly is the meaning of high class, reported by Oribe head Sid Katari. “whenever we launched, a lot of haircare companies and quite a few directors of profits came from accredited mane salons, specialist submission channels or big package cycle suppliers. There had beenn’t truly a concentration of tresses at the privilege and specialization levels,” according to him.
Oribe relaunched its e-commerce web site in 2020 and, like Olaplex, has doubled selling through the epidemic. Full-size Oribe services and products shopping from $32-182. “We’ve read a big move into multi-step style routines with mane, exactly like www.hookupdate.net/escort-index/salinas beauty,” says Katari. “We’ve come dedicated to creating really that program and that also adventure in the home.”
Strengthening habits for your privilege haircare customer
Reports from craze intellect platform Spate discovered a surge during pandemic of concerns around baldness, hair loss and tresses scratches. As a result, deluxe haircare brands bring stepped up their unique give full attention to science-backed services buyer instructional endeavours.
Some manufacturers are actually emulating the multi-step tactic popularised in skincare. Olaplex items are numbered 0-8, with 1 and 2 therapy only available in tresses salons. “if you have a strong collection plus they are perhaps not overlapping, group are quite ready to accept buying the full techniques,” JuE Wong claims. On Olaplex, the most recognized SKU was a lot of money for the complete range, all six equipment. Since last Oct, that bundle provides taken into account 20 per cent of complete businesses.
The switch clear of the hair salon was event schedule. Davines are a lasting high class haircare brand situated in Italy having been salon-led. “After the second lockdown, they turned out to be evident the buyer would like to get access to [the merchandise] at your home,” says worldwide manager Mark Giannandrea. “That’s the reason we started to mate with most e-tailers and salon restaurants which have their very own internet stores.”
Davines in addition brings beauty remedies, that assisted as visitors have acquired their own regimes. “The skincare client and the haircare consumer is pretty much identical,” says Giannandrea. “They are incredibly a lot of aimed at the sustainability belonging to the goods [Davines is definitely an authorized B Corp], nonetheless would also like very high performance because we’re a high-end luxury manufacturer. Luxurious is going to be extremely predominant in 2021.”


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Investors will get their next glimpse into how well iPhone sells are doing on August 1 when Apple reveals its Q3 earnings for 2017.
Apple updated its investor relations page today confirming the time and date of its next earnings call, which will include early sales of the new iPad Pro and MacBook Pros unveiled at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference at the beginning of June.
Even if you’re not an owner of Apple shares, you can listen in on the Q3 2017 earnings call on Apple’s website. The webcast will start at 2PM PT on Tuesday, August 1.
Q3 2017 expectations
The third fiscal quarter for Apple is usually one of its lowest performing quarters of the year because it’s the end of the iPhone update cycle. During its last earnings call, Apple told investors it expects the Q3 2017 earnings to beat its performance during the same quarter last year.
This will be Apple’s last earnings call before it unveils its new iPhone lineup this fall.
Apple’s guidance projects that total revenue will come in between $43.5 to $45.5 billion with gross margins falling between 37.5 and 38.5 percent. As usual, Cult of Mac will be on hand to liveblog the entire earnings call with up to the minute analysis on all of the stats


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World's largest petrol-engined two-wheeler OEM to launch EVs in 20 global markets, expects 15% of total volumes to come from global sales by 2025
The world’s largest petrol-engine two-wheeler manufacturer is betting big on electric mobility. Hero MotoCorp, which has completed 10 years after the split with Honda Japan, has announced plans to target global leadership in electric two-wheelers by 2025.
The company is on track to enter India's fast-growing electric two-wheeler market early next year. In April this year, Hero inked a strategic partnership with Taiwan-based Gogoro to develop the EV and charging network in India. Meanwhile, it is also working on its very own electric two-wheeler, which has been co-developed at its R&D centres in Germany and CIT, Jaipur, ready alongside its project with Gogoro. This electric scooter was revealed yesterday.
In a livestream at the company’s 10th anniversary celebrations, Dr Pawan Munjal, Chairman and CEO, Hero MotoCorp, teased the company’s upcoming electric scooter, which looks to be near-production-ready. This e-scooter is expected to be based on a fixed charging system, similar to most other electric two-wheelers on sale in India.
Dr Munjal: "The future is electric, collaborative, modular."
Speaking at the event Dr Munjal said, “We are going ahead with both battery charging and fast charging parallelly. We have to go across India and the world very fast. The future is going to be electric, collaborative and modular. Just as new mobility solutions will be critical to our overall business in the future, sustain, diversity and inclusion will play a crucial role for our continued success.”
“Sustainability along with care for the environment, our planet and supporting the communities are a few of my topmost priorities as well as key business goals for Hero MotoCorp. From our green manufacturing facilities to fuel-efficient vehicles to overall sustainability initiatives across the value chain to being the only motorcycle and scooter manufacturer listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Hero MotoCorp has been and will continue to be at the forefront of propagating sustainability.
"From being water positive to being carbon-neutral to stopping single-use plastic, Hero MotoCorp has very stringent targets over the next decade and I am personally involved in achieving these targets," added Dr Munjal.
While the company has not revealed any details about its first EV, the teaser reveals a 12-inch wheel at the front and a 10-inch unit at the rear. The rear wheel also doesn’t appear to have a hub-mounted motor. Interestingly, it is also equipped with a single-sided swingarm, similar to the Bajaj Chetak. This is unlike the conventional double-sided ones found on Gogoro EVs in Taiwan. Hero’s electric scooter also doesn’t share any major styling elements with the Gogoro electric scooters, and it appears as if this is in fact an indigenous Hero MotoCorp product. Other neat design elements include the flyscreen, curvy bodywork and lengthy split-seat.
Dr Munjal said this upcoming electric scooter will be revealed soon. He added that the company is working on multiple other products, including ones with the battery swapping tech from Gogoro, revealed when Hero first announced its partnership with the Taiwanese company in April 2021.
Eyeing global leadership in electric two-wheelers
That Hero MotoCorp is betting big on EVs comes from what Dr Munjal said – along with a huge focus on electric mobility for the future, he pointed out that Hero MotoCorp is set to be a global leader in the EV segment and that the Indian two-wheeler brand will use its technology centres in India and Germany and its partnerships with the likes of Gogoro and Ather Energy to “springboard into 2030”. He also emphasised that the company will focus on sustainability internally and externally.
Hero MotoCorp is set to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and consider alternatives such as hydrogen, wind and solar power. About 10 percent of the company will focus on innovation and it aims to reach 100 percent product recyclability along with carbon-neutral dealerships by 2030.
Hero MotoCorp plans to launch its EVsin 20 global markets and expects 15 percent of total volumes to come from global sales by 2025. Additionally, the company is expecting a minimum of 30 percent of its sales to come from digital channels through 2030.
Hero MotoCorp is expected to launch its in-house-developed e-scooter in March 2022. Products from the Hero MotoCorp-Gogoro partnership will also arrive in 2022.
Hero’s growing presence in EVs
Hero MotoCorp, as is known, is one of the lead investors in the Bangalore-based electric scooter maker Ather Energy. The company, which has been a part of Ather’s growth story since 2016, currently has nearly 35 percent of shareholding in the EV maker. Hero MotoCorp, which first invested in the Bangalore-based EV start-up in October 2016, in Series B funding, and invested Rs 84 crore more in July 2020 to hike its stake in Ather to 34.58 percent, invested $12 million (Rs 89 crore) as a part of the Series D round in November 2020. Earlier this year, Ather opened a new smart manufacturing plant in Hosur, with a production capacity of 110,000 e-scooters and also 120,000 battery packs per annum,
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The government is set for another round of auctioning, selling off licenses for blocks of spectrum to the telecommunications companies serving customers across Canada. With 11 companies set to bid in Tuesday’s auction, we’ve been watching to see what this might mean for the consumers and businesses that rely on wireless technologies to communicate.
Candice So of IT Business.ca caught up with Howard Solomon, editor of IT World Canada.com, to find out what kind of fallout we can expect from the upcoming auction. Here’s the rundown of what we discussed. For more, watch the video above.
Candice So: It’s been five years since the last spectrum auction. What will be different about this auction, versus the one held in 2008?
Howard Solomon: There are fewer bidders, and fewer with big money – in 2008, Shaw Communications was there. Not this time. Combined with different rules it will mean a shorter auction – industry experts think about four weeks and maybe less. And it won’t pull in the $4 billion Ottawa got last time.
CS: How will the outcome of this auction affect Canadian wireless customers?
HS: Technically, once carriers start using 700 MHz spectrum and users have handsets that can take advantage of it, reception on those phones inside buildings will be better than they get now.
But the real question is how much spectrum will Wind Mobile get. Outside of Bell, Rogers and Telus, Wind is the only carrier that has ambition to create a national network. If it can’t get more spectrum in several provinces that will affect competition – and prices.
CS: Traditionally, most of the spectrum has been carved up between the Big Three – Rogers, Telus, and Bell. Should we expect to see that again after this auction?
HS: Yes. Although they have caps on how much they can buy, they can afford to buy across the country.
CS: People living in rural areas have had some concerns about how the spectrum auction has been set up. They say bigger companies won’t work to bring broadband access to rural areas. How has Industry Canada addressed those concerns?
HS: There are rules saying winning bidders can’t spend all of their efforts deploying 700 MHz spectrum in cities. They have between five and seven years, depending on the carrier, to deploy most of it. Otherwise they lose it.
CS: John Bitove seems like an interesting person to watch. He’s the entrepreneur originally behind Mobilicity and is now bidding under a new name, Feenix Wireless Inc. What kind of impact do you think he will have on the auction?
HS: His play will be interesting. Mobilicity is in protection from creditors as we do this, so he’s bidding under a separate company wholly owned by himself. One question is, is he hoping Mobilicity will be straightened out, so then it can buy the spectrum he gets? Note that he is trying to sell Mobilicity to Telus. So far Ottawa has said no.
CS: When will the results of the auction take effect?
HS: Unlike the 2008 auction, we won’t officially know when this one ends until Industry Canada publishes the list of winners – and that could be up to five days after the auction ends.


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The BizFilings blog covering business tips and trends.
Small Businesses with Tight Budgets Embracing Facebook & Group Buying
Published on Jun 10, 2011
Read 'Small Businesses with Tight Budgets Embracing Facebook & Group Buying' at 'Time to Start Up,' the small business blog by BizFilings.
A marketing industry survey released this week by MerchantCircle finds businesses are shedding the use of traditional print channels and opting for less expensive web alternatives such as Facebook and search engines.
The study focused on local merchants and found use of Facebook to be rising and becoming more attractive, with 22 percent claiming they've used the social network and 65 percent reporting that they would use the service again.
Group buying is also growing more attractive among marketers, with 77 percent of respondents who have used a group buying service claiming they would offer another daily deal, compared to only 50 percent of merchants who reported this three months ago.
"Most local merchants are working with very small budgets and tend to prefer marketing methods that are easy and familiar," said Darren Waddell, vice president of marketing at MerchantCircle, "so it stands to reason that many merchants will gravitate towards a well-known brand such as Facebook when it comes to trying locally targeted display ads and group buying."
However, plans to expand marketing budgets seem to have stalled among local merchants, with as much as 73 percent claiming they have no plans to raise their budgets this year.


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Japanese automaker Toyota has announced a recall of 11,693 of their vehicles distributed in Vietnam after detection of faulty fuel pump systems.
The recalled vehicles include 5,699 Toyota Innovas produced between August 10, 2017 and July 26, 2019, on top of 1,943 Corollas and 63 Camrys, all of which were domestically assembled.
The recall campaign are also targeted at several imported models, namely 56 Alphards, 2,402 Fortuners, 80 Land Cruiser 200 units, 518 Land Cruiser Prados, 80 Hiluxes and 15 Hiaces.
The majority of recalled vehicles were made between 2017 and 2019.
Meanwhile, Lexus, the luxury vehicle division of Toyota, are recalling eight models, including RX350/450h, RX350L/450, NX200t/300h, ES350, GS200t, LX570, and LS500/500h for a check and replacement of fuel pumps.
According to Toyota Motor Vietnam, the automobiles are recalled due to defects in their low-pressure fuel pumps, which can result in a vehicle stall, or the inability to restart.
In addition, warning lights and messages may be displayed on the instrument panel, and the engine may run rough.
If loss of motive power occurs while driving at higher speed, this could increase the risk of a crash.
The company announced that they will check and replace fuel pumps at no charge to customers in the Toyota Dealers network nationwide.
Earlier this year, Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi also recalled their Outlanders and Xpanders sold in Vietnam after discovering a fault that may cause the fuel pump inside the fuel tank to stop operating.


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Drinks Americas Holdings, Ltd. (OTCBB:DKAM) a leading developer and marketer of beverage products, today announced that Rheingold Beer is now being sold in Michigan through a network of 26 leading beer distributors in the state. The first two containers of approximately $50,000 of Rheingold, New York’s Beer since 1883, has already shipped and will be available at Michigan retail outlets in the coming weeks.
Joe Belli, National Sales Manager for Rheingold Beer, stated, “The response from the field has been outstanding for this brand. Many distributors recognized Rheingold from the past and were eager to participate in the resurgence of this classic trademark. Petitpren Distributing and many of its colleagues were instrumental in bringing the brand to the market by forming a network of Michigan Rheingold distributors providing statewide coverage.”
Rheingold is light in calories and positioned in the sub-premium category of beers. According to Impact Database, the state of Michigan is in the top 10 domestic beer consumption states with approximately 80 million cases of domestic beer shipped to the market annually, and has a growing sub-premium category market.
Drinks Americas launched Rheingold in September 2010, and the brand is now being sold in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky and now Michigan with definitive plans to expand to Florida, Texas, Maryland, Washington DC, Illinois, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Massachusetts.About Drinks Americas
Drinks Americas develops, owns, markets, and nationally distributes alcoholic premium beverages including Willie Nelson’s Old Whiskey River Bourbon, Olifant Vodka, Aguila Tequila and Rheingold Beer.


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For Non-Profits Working With Facebook, Libra Isn’t Such a Crazy Idea
Wednesday, 9 October 2019 (
1 week ago)
If their missions aren't served by Libra, Women's World Banking and Mercy Corps say they'll let it be known – loudly.
Recent related news from verified sources
World’s most powerful finance regulator warns of “challenges” for Facebook’s Libra The Financial Stability Board (FSB), the world's most powerful financial regulator, has warned that ‘stablecoin’ cryptocurrencies such as Facebook Inc’s... Proactive Investors 3 days ago Also reported by • Reuters
Facebook faces EU grilling over Libra ‘cryptocurrency’ after losing PayPal backing As Facebook deals with the loss of PayPal‘s backing for its ‘cryptocurrency‘ Libra, the tech giant must now get ready to answer EU regulators’ questions... The Next Web 1 week ago You Might Like


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2012 is a challenging time to be a small business owner, but in the battle for your customers’ loyalty, nothing trumps good, old-fashioned hard work and dedication.
Is your website up for the challenge of helping you compete in today’s marketplace?
Netflix subscribers streamed more than 2 billion hours of TV shows and movies in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Becoming familiar with the basic building blocks of a typeface is helpful to understanding how different fonts will impact the overall look and feel of your website.
In the deluge of new technology on display at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show, there is no lack of products that can also help small business owners boost productivity around the office, from ultrabooks and tablets to digital cameras with networking capabilities.
More than a dozen websites – including Wikipedia, Moveon.org, Craigslist, Reddit, Boing Boing, Mozilla and the Cheezburger network of sites – have gone dark to protest the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) bills they claim with gut the Internet and stifle free speech.


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AYOKENLAB’S WILL FEATURE DIGITAL COLLECTIBLES FORM MUSICIANS, SPORTS AND INFLUENCERS FROM WHOLE AROUND THE WORLD
Ayoken founder and CEO, Joshua King, told TechCrunch that the market is a bridge between fans and artists, and gives fans a sense of ownership in the success of their idols.
With the NFT market, he said, fans will be able to get tokens like behind-the-scenes videos and album art. NFT owners will receive other benefits such as access to unreleased music as well as exclusive live events created by the creators.
“With the passing of VIP, fans will gain the ability to stream the music of these artists before reaching Spotify, YouTube or Apple Music. Fans will receive discounts on upcoming events, ”said King, who has 14 years of experience in strategy, growth and consultation and innovation, as well as business. His work includes helping to measure AZA (Bitpesa), a Nairobi-based platform that uses bitcoin to facilitate cross-border transactions, and where he first introduced crypto and blockchain technologies.
King said Ayoken in the next few months will release NFT some of Africa's biggest artists, and others around the world.
The London-based star has already teamed up with Ghanaian afrobeats singer KiDi (Dennis Nana Dwamena) on his first NFT exit on the first day of June. King said the cross-chain market (although currently built on the Avalanche blockchain) allows crypto and card payments, but plans to increase mobile payments - as the launch makes it easier for people in growing markets like Africa to trade easily. King said they are in talks with several telco companies on the continent to make this happen.
“We are reducing the inconvenience to users by allowing people to use their cards instead of using crypto to make purchases, we are working with telco that will allow people to use mobile money to pay in the future. There is nothing close to what we are doing and that is why we have been able to sign talent in the arts, ”he said.
Users will receive token rewards (Ayo) when purchasing NFT or sending people, which they can use later to earn NFT.
King said that, unlike other NFT markets, they have distribution partners including YouTubers, promoters, newsletters, crypto exchanges, and phones to promote NFT decline - allowing creators to reach a wider audience, not just their fans.
“This means that celebrities do not have to rely on social media to run events. They get instant access to millions of people worldwide at the touch of a button. And our approach is very different from any other NFC market place in the world. we also have an advertising center that will help these founders succeed in their first NFT exit, ”said Nkosi.
"They (distribution partners) will receive a budget based on any transactions generated by their promotions on social media."
Utilizing funds collected from investors, among them Founders Factory Africa, Kon Ventures of Texas, Crypto League based in Europe, R9C Ventures of Ghana and Maximus Ventures, Ayoken plans to sign a number of special deals with artists and partnerships with telcos, in addition to growing its group and secondary markets.
"Most of the funding will go towards purchasing special licenses and building our technical team, which is four times as many engineers and engineers," he said.


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Even though the supplement industry has worked hard this year on educating companies on GMP compliance and reducing illegal health claims, we got a lump of coal from Santa in terms of a couple of negative studies and bad consumer media press.
The Annals of Internal Medicine gave a quadruple whammy with three stories and editorial, all shining a negative light on supplements' efficacy. Read INSIDER's news on this here.
The New York Times also took its jab at supplements in an editorial written by Paul A. Offit, M.D., chief of the division of infectious diseases at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP, yes, the author of the book that slams alternative medicine), and Sarah Erush, PharmD, BCPS , clinical manager in the pharmacy department at CHOP. They encouraged consumers to "Skip the Supplements," an explained CHOP's policy doesn't allow supplements for children in their hospital unless documents show the products are GMP (good manufacturing practice) compliant or provide a certificate of analysis (CoA).
Still, if patients want to continue supplement use, CHOP makes the parents sign waivers that the supplements may be dangerous and ineffective.
We've reported on CHOP's decision to is remove most dietary supplements from it formulary due to the incorrect notion that "vitamins and dietary supplements are essentially unregulated," according to Erush. (We also reported on the supplement industry's reaction.)
Proof of Compliance
In this current opinion piece, Dr. Offit and Erush say they are willing to give patients supplements as long as the manufacturers can provide CoAs of the finished products or a certificate of GMP compliance. They wrote that although some supplement companies have provided this information, about 90 percent of the companies didn't respond, and others refused to provide a CoA or proof of GMP compliance.
Steve Mister, president and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) said the trade organization isn't aware of any companies that refused to give information to CHOP.
Also at issue is what CHOP means by "certificate of analysis." Mister said its idea of a CoA is likely different from the way the supplement industry means CoA, which is a document that shows tests run and test results of raw materials. He said perhaps CHOP is looking for finished supplement lab results, and "GMPs require companies to do finished product testing to demonstrate that what's in the bottle is in the label," he said. "I can't image a member company of CRN would not give that to a hospital that was asking for it."
Wrong About Fines for GMP Violations
The editorial says some companies lied to them by saying they were GMP compliant, "but a call to the FDA revealed they had been fined for violations multiple times." FDA may issue warning letters, but it doesn't issue fines for GMP noncompliance.
Mister saida far as he's aware, no companies have received fines for their GMP violations. "It makes me suspect to the veracity of the rest of the article because they get the regulation wrong."
Even if they did get it right and said these companies were warned for GMP violations, one warning letter or Form 483 doesn't mean a company is forever out of compliance with GMPs. FDA issues warning letters so companies can make corrections, and the agency demands to see those corrections were implemented. It's a way of ensuring products are safe.
Overages or Lies?
Dr. Offit and Erush said other supplement companies provided information that showed products were out of spec, such as supplement with almost twice the amount of beta carotene on the label.
Without seeing documentation, Mister couldn't comment on this case specifically, but he noted overages are allowed for supplements to ensure they meet label claims at the end of the shelf life. It is the nature of natural ingredients to deteriorate after production. "It is not unusual for products to have an overage at the beginning of their shelf life with the understanding that it will deteriorate, and after three or four months, you would still meet label claims," Mister said. "The case that he describes in his article, if it's true, sounds like a really excessive difference."
Further, Mister noted, "If the Children's Hospital has information that supplements are grossly misrepresented, that information should be turned over to FDA immediately for enforcement."
Dr. Offit and Erush also complained that hospital patients often don't tell their doctors of the supplements they are taking. The supplement industry has never told consumers not to tell doctors of their supplement use and in fact, this new policy may be harming the relationship between patients and health care providers.
"This guest editorial piece furthers a policy that shuts down the conversation between consumers and their health care providers," Mister said. "It pushes people into secrecy, and just the opposite should be happening. People should be encouraged to have honest, open dialogues with their health care providers about the supplements they are using, and not pushed into the underground because the hospital takes this one-sided approach that all supplements are bad."
CHOP's actual policy, which CRN obtained, is different from the rules described by Dr. Offit and Erush, according to Mister. "The thing that strikes us most is the shifting nature of the policy," Mister said. "The supplement policy, as it was described in the October press release is different than the policy described by Dr. Offit in the New York Times, which is different from what the policy actually says."
Mister said CHOP's policy, which was obtained weeks after it was requested, is not a ban on all supplements in the hospital, which was how it was promoted in the press release in October. "It is in fact giving patients one side of the story of the safety of these products to try to discourage them from using it," he said.
CRN is preparing a full response to CHOP.
Reasons Behind CHOP's Policy
Dr. Offit and Erush noted hospitals treat supplements like drugs because they offer pharmacological effects; they said, "they are drugs." They continue by saying supplements arent safe, pointing out four cases of adulteration.
They point to a 2004 JAMA study that found up to 20 percent of Ayurvedic herbal medicine products bought in Boston (made in South Asia) were found to contain potentially unsafe levels of heavy metals (JAMA; 292, 23:2868-73, 2004). At the time, the American Botanical Council (ABC) and American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) both said the products were not supplements, but were adulterated under DSHEA. Further, Mark Blumenthal, ABC's executive director, noted the implementation of federal GMPs (good manufacturing practices) for dietary supplements would have helped prevent these types of problems. GMPs weren't enforced by FDA until 2010.
In another pre-GMP enforcement case, Dr. Offit and Erush called to a 2008 case of products spiked with way too much selenium that led to hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea and other problems. This case was due to a calculation error and a series of testing mistakes. Again, this was before federal GMPs were implemented.
Then, they noted two products spiked with steroids that were recalled in July 2013. Lastly, they mentioned a study that reported many botanical products are adulterated.
I'm not making excuses for these incidents, nor am I saying they aren't serious (except for the botanical study, which may not be accurate due to imprecise evaluation methods). It's a terrible thing when products sold as supplements are dangerous, illegal or ineffective. And industry has taken steps to reduce these instances by offering education and other resources on GMP compliance.
It's inappropriate to use these four cases during the past 10 years to conclude that consumers should skip supplements. Thousands of studies show the benefits to supplements, if they are used appropriately.
These cases actually demonstrate how current regulations enforced by FDA keep dangerous products off the market, according to Michael McGuffin, president of AHPA, who wrote a letter to The New York Times criticizing the article. "The authors suggest that supplements be regulated like drugs," McGuffin wrote. "But these products are not drugs and should not be regulated as drugs."
McGuffin also noted the authors' notion that approximately 50,000 adverse reactions to dietary supplements occur every year was flawed and outdated because it was extrapolated from drug and vaccine adverse event reports (AERs). The drug AERs used as the basis for the supplement AER data was gathered from 1994 to 1999, which was before the 2006 law that requires serious supplement AERs to be submitted to FDA. McGuffin said FDA estimates 8,000 serious AERs for supplements each year, compared to 499,000 for drugs and therapeutic biologic products
"The authors also ignore the fact that submission of an adverse event report to FDA is not considered to be evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship between the product used and the reported event," McGuffin wrote to The New York Times.
With flawed stats, inaccurate legal information and a one-sided approach, Dr. Offit and Erush told consumer to "Skip the Supplements." I suspect the real message Dr. Offit was saying was, "buy my book."


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Activision is taking extra steps to prevent cheaters by shutting down another top Warzone cheat seller ahead of their anti-cheat system RICOCHET going live.
Cheaters have run rampant in Warzone lobbies since the early days of the game with cheap hacks and even free trials being offered out by different cheat sellers.
However, the end of the cheating crisis that caused many to fall out of love with Warzone is potentially not too far away.
As Activision makes their final preparations to introduce the next year of Warzone content, which includes the release of a brand-new map and the launch of the RICOCHET anti-cheat, they’ve taken down another top cheat seller.
On November 19, the moderators of the popular Golden Gun Discord server – known for its cheat selling – revealed that Activision had contacted them.
Activision claims that Golden Gun is in violation of their ToS. As a result, the cheat sellers will no longer be supporting and developing cheats for any Activision game going forward.
“Activision has contacted Golden Gun Admins and has claimed that Golden Gun is in violation of their Terms of Service. As a result, Golden Gun will no longer be supporting any Activision product and will be ceasing all development,” revealed the cheat sellers.
The announcement also added that the reasoning has nothing to do with the upcoming release of RICOCHET anti-cheat, and it’s just a legal matter. “For those wondering, this has nothing to do with Activision’s Anti-Cheat and is entirely a legal matter.”
From Golden Gun’s announcement, Activision will seemingly be looking to take legal action against them, similar to what they’ve done with other sellers.
In October, French site X22 was sent a legal notice from Activision, effectively forcing them to stop operating.
The Golden Gun website is now already inactive, displaying the message: “Golden Gun has ceased all development and operations due to ongoing legal matters with Activision.”


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Direct-to-consumer supplier Vivint launched its next-generation security and home-automation service, which offers multiple new features based on its own Cloud-based platform to work with the hardware that it designs and engineers.
Vivint innovation VP Jeremy Warren (left) and CEO/founder Todd Pedersen
The service, called Vivint Sky, is not only available direct to consumers but through kiosks that Vivint set up late last year in a handful of cellular stores to test retail distribution.
Vivint CEO and founder Todd Pedersen said the company has no set timetable to expand retail distribution. The test is designed “mainly to learn” about retail distribution, he said.
“Selling [monitored] security has not traditionally worked great at retail, but with the integration of more [home-automation] services, it [retail] could be quite successful,” he said.
Continue reading on TWICE.com…


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With Android 12, Android Auto will no longer be compatible with phone screens. This might come as a major blow to the thousands and millions of Android users who are accustomed to connecting to their Android Auto the moment they step inside their car. This means that under normal circumstances, they will no longer be able to project their phone’s interface onto their car’s dashboard, and will need to have a compatible screen on their vehicle in order to connect to the application.
However, should users wish to continue with a similar experience to what they are so used to, they will have to switch to the Assistant Driving Mode.
The Next Evolution In Mobile Driving
Parent company Google told 9to5Google that it plans to make its Google Assistant Driving Mode product, the “next evolution of the mobile driving experience.” It further explained that while users with supported vehicles will not have to witness any major change in the experience, those who were used to accessing Android Auto through their phones will be transitioned to the new Assistant Driving Mode, which will bring a similar Driving experience while being built-into phones, starting as early as Android 12.
However, Assistant driving mode is expected to be much less user-friendly (and instead be a greater hassle) for phones, as compared to the conventional Android Auto, because using the former will require activating the driving mode, and launching Google Maps. Only then will they be able to their phone’s apps, like calls and messages. The requirement of connecting to Google Maps can often come as a nuisance to many people, especially if they are going to a place they drive to frequently.
Amp Up Your Infotainment Box, Or Switch To Assistant
Nevertheless, according to a report by XDA Developers, phones running on Android 12, including Pixel devices, have apparently already started displaying notifs, informing users that Android Auto is supported only on car screens, and if they wish to use their phones, they will have to switch to Google Assistant’s driving mode.
All in all, people who rely on Google’s Android OS can continue availing the features of Android Auto until they update their device to the latest Android 12 version. However, at the end of the day, they are eventually going to have to either upgrade the infotainment system inside their car, or, for lack of an easier alternative, switch to using the driving mode.


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Datway! After getting involved in a New York City street brawl, Quavo keeps his money on his ice with a brand new chain.
The Migos rapper recently revealed a new “DATWAY” chain, which is stylized to look like the Subway logo with arrows pointing outwards on the D and the Y. The iced out piece was reportedly crafted by Ice Box Jewelry in Atlanta.
Q shared a photo of the chain on Instagram, where he also held a stack of money to his ear. “H E L L O,” he wrote. “Tha Casino Paid For It!”
When he isn’t copping new accessories, Quavo is in the lab. The Atlanta rapper recently previewed collaborations with Drake, Chance the Rapper, and Donald Glover. He is also reportedly writing a script for a Migos movie.


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The Centre welcomes five new members
Dr Catherine McLeod, Director of the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre is delighted to announce new industry members Fonterra, Tatua Cooperative Dairy Company, Kono NZ LP, Trust Codes and affiliate member AsureQuality. The Centre is fast transitioning to a model where members pay a fee to receive benefits including substantial government subsidies for research, and opportunities to learn from and collaborate with other companies and food production sectors with the same interests. For more information about these new members.
To find out more about membership, the benefits and the fees, please contact Centre Director, Dr Catherine McLeod, firstname.lastname@example.org or Industry Account Manager, Dr Vivienne Hunt, email@example.com mobile 021 080 42095


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The UNWTO launched the eighth edition of its Travel Restrictions Report which shows that “one in four destinations continue to keep their borders completely closed to international tourists”. While the recovery lasts, countries with iconic and natural destinations such as the New 7 Wonders will be the travellers top choice.
The report keeps track of the different measures taken in 217 destinations across the globe, as a way to support the mitigation and recovery efforts of the tourism sector. The latest edition shows that 152 destinations eased restrictions to tourism.
According to the study, destinations with “higher scores in health and hygiene indicators as well as on the environmental performance are among those which have eased restrictions faster”. On the opposite hand, destinations that keep their borders closed “tend to be within emerging economies with relatively low scores”.


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Oak Brook / IL. (thf) TreeHouse Foods Inc. announced that it has completed the sale of a significant portion of its Meal Preparation business to Investindustrial for USD 950 million. The divested business has been renamed Winland Foods Inc.
«The completion of this sale marks another important milestone for TreeHouse as we simplify our business to improve operational execution and accelerate growth,» said Steve Oakland, Chief Executive Officer and President. «Our strategy is to focus on the higher growth and margin private label Snacking and Beverage categories that enhance our ability to capitalize on positive demand trends and drive long-term shareholder value. We are grateful to our team and our partners at Investindustrial for their collaboration in ensuring a smooth closing and transition. We look forward to witnessing the future success of Winland Foods under Investindustrial’s leadership as we continue to execute our plans for the new TreeHouse.»


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Iron Man VR Free Update Adds New Game Plus, New Weapons
Iron Man VR has received a new update that adds New game+, an “Ultimate” difficulty mode, new weapons, improved load times, new quality of life features, and much more.Blaine Higdon, gameplay designer at Iron Man VR's developer Camouflaj, took to the PlayStation Blog to explain what's included in the free update, beginning with new game modes.
The New Game+ mode will allow players to re-experience Iron Man VR's story without giving up their Research Points, and it immediately unlocks the Impulse Armor. The “Ultimate” difficulty mode has also been added, and will give players who have already mastered the “Invincible” difficulty even more of a challenge.
The new update also brings with it new weapons, including the Continuous Beam Repulsor that allows Iron Man to sustain a beam for several seconds. There will also be an EM Charge Cannon that can penetrate that hardlight shields of Skull, Revenant, and Wight drones.
The Micro Swarm shoots out a “fire-and-forget” intelligent anti-swarm weapon that's great for large groups of enemies and, lastly, the Gravity Bomb creates a singularity that traps multiple enemies in their tracks.
Eight new Custom Armor Decos, including the Iron Patriot, have been added. These can be unlocked by completing new challenges in-game.
Beyond content, this update adds a few welcome quality of life features, including improved load times across the board. Additionally, the Shanghai mission's load times have decreased by 20-30 seconds.
Players can also skip cinematics without loading when replaying missions, and two side story missions are now skippable if desired following fan feedback.
Comments are closed.


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Success stories are how we demonstrate our case for the power of public relations. Each business challenge is unique, so we develop custom strategies for every project and program. We provide news media, social media, and web media services for regional and national companies in a variety of industries – and the results speak for themselves.
RETAIL STORE CRISIS
A publicly traded retail store experienced an employee-customer altercation, causing the customer to vent her frustration online, which quickly gained negative attention. The retailer reached out to Axia's PR team to craft crisis responses. Axia’s quick action prevented the story from going national and attracting further attention from the media.
A national mortgage broker's negative online reputation was costing it $20,000/day in documented lost sales. Axia pitched industry contacts, positioning the company as a thought-leader, offering experts to speak as article sources. The 3,903 articles Axia generated increased positive media, helping to increase revenue by 1,200%.
TECH STAFFING COMPANY
A tech company was struggling to recruit new employees due to its negative online reputation. Axia leveraged the media to share the company’s success and rapid growth story, creating and promoting positive over negative content on search engines. Axia’s efforts created more than 78.7 million impressions for the client.
This is one story in our series on Adecco Group. Read story 2 for more.
Adecco hired Axia to help promote its brand in its local markets as a major player in the staffing industry. Axia created a national PR campaign, raising corporate awareness and earning target national news coverage. Adecco received more than eight times its return on investment in news media coverage alone.
Brightway Insurance wanted to grow its emerging brand. Axia's multiyear PR campaign helped generate inbound franchisee leads for Brightway by researching editorial calendars and pitching media. The total estimated return on investment from media coverage exceeded $350,000 and one particular pitch and story generated 38 new documented franchise leads.
Brightway Insurance wanted to grow its brand. Axia’s plan for the startup began with a local campaign to build Brightway’s brand recognition and position its CEO as a thought-leader. Axia earned coverage in outlets like Entrepreneur, leading to more than a five-time return on investment based on media exposure alone.
Rayonier hired Axia for public relations strategy and services for the executive and marketing teams. Axia provided spokesperson training and key message development; internal communications, strategic communications, and action plans for the Nassau County Stewardship District; and communications about organizational design and division restructures, employee training, and professional development opportunities.
Tarmac hired Axia PR to establish and manage positive perception and reception as the young company developed an excavation site. Axia publicized and promoted the good work and economic impact of the company and its operations. Axia carried the message to the public that Tarmac creates jobs and employment opportunities.
FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL
The world's largest title insurance company, Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF), hired Axia Public Relations to improve its visibility and reputation as a good corporate citizen in its hometown. Axia sought third-party awards, honors, and endorsements for the Fortune 500, $10 billion corporation's regional volunteer and financial contributions. News media coverage from the awards and contributions gave FNF the reputation boost it sought.
REBOUNDERZ FRANCHISE AND DEVELOPMENT
Fast-growing Rebounderz Franchise and Development, franchiser of Rebounderz Indoor Trampoline Arena, wanted to share its success story with consumers and prospective franchisees. Axia provided account management, crisis communication, media relations, news writing, and media pitching. While working with Axia, in one year, Rebounderz grew from $8 million to $22 million.


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Australians remain attached to their phones and work email even while away on holiday, The 2014 Mobile Index commissioned by Expedia and Egencia found.
According to the study, three out of four Australians continue using their smartphones, tablets and laptops during their time off.
Furthermore, 74% of Australians were found to use the same device for both work and personal purposes. The fact that work related calls and emails are being streamed to the same devices being used for personal purposes such as entertainment and managing holiday itineraries, makes switching off from work increasingly difficult.
“The increased mobility and connectedness offered by smartphones and other devices is hugely beneficial for businesses, but this also means the lines between work and personal have been blurred,” said Robbie Adams, Mobilyser founder.
The Expedia study also found that 73% of Australians that have a work paid device take it on holidays, which is far above the global average of 63%. In fact, Australia as a country ranks third in the world for the number of people who continue to work while on holidays.
Expedia Australia and New Zealand managing director, Georg Ruebensal, says, “Australians struggle a lot in comparison to our global counterparts when it comes to blocking out work on a holiday.”
Some experts suggest that the only way to properly relax whilst on holiday is to turn all devices off completely. However, as most people use the same device for work and personal uses, ignoring work has become virtually impossible.
For the majority of Australians unable to turn devices off and ignore work related calls and emails during holidays, it’s important to ensure these work hours and expenses can be accounted for.
Using an app such as Mobilyser, which calculates your claimable total on calls, data and SMS in an easy-to-read report ensures the hours and costs accrued whilst working on holidays aren’t overlooked.


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Cui Bono? 26 old U2 albums re-enter the iTunes charts
The band was paid €100 million by Apple to allow their new much to go out for free
(left to right) The Edge, Bono, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr of U2. Fifteen back catalogue U2 albums have re-entered the Irish iTunes albums download charts. File Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
Fifteen back catalogue U2 albums have re-entered the Irish iTunes albums download charts.
The highest re-entry is at number five for the “Joshua Tree” album.
In the world’s biggest music territory, the US, 26 old U2 albums (studio albums, live albums, compilations and extended plays) have re-entered the iTunes charts and a similar pattern is emerging globally.
At this rate, Apple are well on course to recoup the estimated $100 million they paid to U2 and the band’s record label, Universal, to allow the new U2 album go out free to their 500 million customers.
It’s win-win for Apple and U2.
The tech company make money every time a U2 album is downloaded as do the band.
In U2’s case, they enjoy one of the highest ever royalty rates on their sales – meaning they get a far bigger percentage of the retail prize than even Michael Jackson or The Beatles had.
Bono confirmed to The Irish Times last week that the band had been paid by Apple.
In essence, this means even if the band do not sell a single copy of the physical release of the album next month, they will still have made a substantial profit from “Songs of Innocence”.
In addition, Apple have committed to a substantial marketing campaign, which will use the album’s first single “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone) to soundtrack a global television advertising campaign for its new iPhones and Apple Watch.
A person familiar with the talks says the campaign will cost upwards of $100 million.


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The internet was considered a luxury in India 10 years ago. But because of the increasing use of mobile phones, the country’s digital economy is being transformed.
Cheaper smartphones and a fast-growing telecommunications industry are leading to significant changes. India has an estimated 243 million internet users – more than the US and second only to China*. They are bypassing traditional desktop technology. Facebook, the world’s biggest social networking site, says that it has more than 100 million users in India, of which nearly 84 million access the site through mobile phones. This suggests the rise of a “mobile-first” generation of internet users.
India has an estimated 243 million internet users – more than the US and second only to China
India is getting richer and phones are getting cheaper. Domestic producers are now offering smartphones for as little as USD70, and have secured a significant proportion of the market. They are selling handsets in villages so remote that even basic necessities such as access to safe drinking water are a major challenge.
The lack of a high-speed broadband network and the cost of computers have hampered the reach of the internet in India. In addition, the strength of the country’s traditional media means that many people continue to rely on newspapers and TV for information and entertainment rather than seeking out digital content.
However, with access to high-speed mobile data services spreading, that is changing. India’s internet contribution to GDP could increase from 1.6 per cent in 2012 to between 2.8 per cent and 3.3 per cent by 2015, according to McKinsey.
The widespread use of English on Indian websites has made it easier for global companies to enter the market, giving consumers a wider choice of applications and boosting local app developers and technology start-ups.
The growth of the local online industry is being supported by the return of talent from overseas. Indian-born engineers have played a key role in the success of Silicon Valley and many are now offering resources and expertise back home.
As more Indians start using the internet on phones, they are gaining access to new products and services. Booking a rail or plane ticket once involved hours of queueing. Today, the government’s railway ticketing website is the biggest e-commerce portal in the country.
Coaching classes and computer training institutes have developed online platforms for students who no longer need to travel to big cities for education or training. The internet can also help Indian farmers understand the movement of commodity prices by enabling them to get up-to-date information on their mobiles.
Overseas companies are also taking an interest in the opportunities India has to offer, particularly in retail, despite restrictions on foreign direct investment in the sector.
As more and more Indians access the internet, these shifts will gather momentum, changing the shape of the economy and helping to cut costs and improve choices for consumers.
*Estimates from the Internet and Mobile Association of India and IMRB International


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Weibo Corp. (NASDAQ: WB) stock declined by 8.69% at the last close whereas the WB stock price gains by 4.19% in the pre-market trading session. Weibo is a popular online platform for individuals to produce, share, and find information. Weibo is a strong platform for social interaction, content aggregation, and content dissemination that blends real-time public self-expression with a robust platform for social interaction, content aggregation, and content delivery.
WB stock, Financial Highlights
Weibo Corp announced its second-quarter 2021 financial highlights. The summary is as follows:
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- Weibo’s overall net revenues for the second quarter of 2021 were $574.5 million, up 48 percent from $387.4 million in the same quarter the previous year.
- Costs and costs for the second quarter of 2021 totaled $381.2 million, up 36% from $281.2 million in the same quarter the previous year. Higher marketing and personnel-related costs accounted for the majority of the rise.
- In the second quarter of 2021, income from operations was $193.2 million, up 82 percent from $106.2 million in Q2 2020.
- The operating margin was 34%, up from 27% the previous year. Non-GAAP income from operations was $223.2 million, up 83 percent from $121.9 million in the prior year’s comparable quarter. The non-GAAP operating margin was 39 percent, up from 31 percent the previous year.
- Weibo’s net income for the second quarter of 2021 was $81.0 million, down from $198.4 million in the same quarter the previous year.
- Weibo has $2.94 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments as of June 30, 2021. Cash produced by operating operations was $94.1 million in the second quarter of 2021, capital expenditures were $9.5 million, and depreciation and amortization charges were $13.6 million.
Gaofei Wang, CEO of Weibo commented,
They had a great quarter with broad-based business success, and their community and sales both increased at a rapid pace. On the user front, both their MAUs and DAUs hit new highs in June, owing to their increased competitiveness in social goods, video efforts, and efficient channel investment. Their persistent work to refine ad solutions and enhance efficiency to generate value for its clients backed the steady growth of their ad business in terms of monetization.
On a constant currency basis, Weibo expects its net sales to rise by 20% to 25% year over year in the third quarter of 2021. This projection is based on Weibo’s current and preliminary assessment, which may change.