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TikTok is facing yet another call from a prominent lawmaker for the apps ban, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, sent a letter to Apple and Google urging the companies to ban TikTok from their respective app stores.In the letter, Bennet says that TikTok, in its current form, [is] an unacceptable threat to the national security of the United States. The letter, addressed to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, repeats many of the same points that have been raised by other lawmakers seeking to ban the app.Specifically, Bennet raises the possibility that TikToks parent company, ByteDance, could be compelled to use its influence to advance Chinese government interests, via TikTok. Like most social media platforms, TikTok collects vast and sophisticated data from its users, including faceprints and voiceprints, Bennet writes. Unlike most social media platforms, TikTok poses a unique concern because Chinese law obligates ByteDance, its Beijing-based parent company, to support, assist, and cooperate with state intelligence work.TikTok has long denied that such scenarios could play out, and has attempted to downplay its ties to China. In a statement to CNN the company said Bennets letter relies almost exclusively on misleading reporting about TikTok, the data we collect, and our data security controls.Apple and Google didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.While it seems unlikely either company would take such a drastic step based on a letter from one senator, it highlights the mounting pressure and scrutiny on TkTok. The company has spent the last two years negotiating with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) in order to secure its ability to continue to operate in the US. But that process is reportedly stalled, and the company has been waging a new charm offensive in an attempt to win over critics.TikTok has also been sharing more details around its partnership with Oracle to safeguard US user data and comply with US regulators concerns. But lawmakers seem to be in no rush to let TikTok off the hook. The app has already been banned from federal devices, and numerous state governments have passed bans of their own. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to testify at his first Congressional hearing next month,
As many Apple watchers have predicted, the company's financial results this quarter are a break from the last few years of nonstop growth. The iPhone maker reported a revenue of $117.2 billion for its first fiscal quarter (ended December 2022), which is five percent down year over year, marking the first time Apple's revenue is down since 2019. There are a couple of bright spots in the company's performance, namely in its setting a revenue record of $20.8 billion in its Services business and hitting more than 2 billion active devices in its installed base. In a statement, CEO Tim Cook said "As we all continue to navigate a challenging environment, we are proud to have our best lineup of products and services ever, and as always, we remain focused on the long term and are leading with our values in everything we do."Apple's decline in revenue is in line with a general slump in the tech industry, with Meta having just reported revenues that are 4 percent down from the previous year. Alphabet is also seeing a slowdown in growth this quarter, and while Microsoft saw its revenue climb, its earnings missed expectations and profits fell by 12 percent. Amid the economic downturn, tech companies havebeenlaying off significant portions of their workforce, though Apple doesn't appear to have made similar moves at the moment.The company is holding a call to go into detail about its financial results at 5pm ET / 2pm PT today, and we will update this post with any additional news and insight.
It's no secret that the huge tech companies are still making money hand over fist, but there's also a noticeable slowdown going on. Google's parent company Alphabet is not immune the company just reported its earnings results for Q4 of 2022, and just barely grew revenue year over year. The $76 billion the company pulled in during the quarter is up only one percent from Q4 of 2021. Google's ad business is the backbone of the company, and revenue slipped there by about 3.5 percent compared to a year ago. But eight percent growth in the "other" category (which includes products like Google and Nest hardware and revenue from the Play Store) and 32 percent yearly growth in in Google Cloud made up for those ad losses. Overall profits, meanwhile, dropped significantly: Quarterly net income of $13.6 billion is down 34 percent year-over-year.Of course, the backdrop for all this is that Google announced a few weeks ago that it is laying off about 12,000 employees; that makes up about six percent of the company's overall workforce. At the time those layoffs were announced, we didn't yet know what Google's financials for last quarter looked like, but now we can see that things are slowing down. That's all relatively speaking, though. Net income of $60 billion for 2022 as a whole was down significantly compared to the $76 billion in profit Alphabet made in 2021 but it's still far ahead of the $40 billion the company pulled in for 2020. It looks like the big numbers Alphabet posted in 2021 weren't exactly sustainable, and obviously we don't yet know what 2023 will bring. But we'll be tuning into the company's call with investors, which starts at 4:30PM ET, to see what additional details CEO Sundar Pichai can share about the state of Alphabet in the year to come.
Amazon's drone delivery program doesn't seem to be off to a great start. The Prime Air division was said to be hit hard by recent, widespread layoffs. Now, a new report indicates that Amazon's drones have made just a handful of deliveries in their first few weeks of operation.After nearly a decade of working on the program, Amazon said in December that it would start making deliveries by drone in Lockeford, California, and College Station, Texas. However, by the middle of January, as few as seven houses had received Amazon packages by drone, according to The Information: two in California and five in Texas.The report suggests that Amazon has been hamstrung by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is said to be blocking drones from flying over roads or people unless the company gets permission on a case-by-case basis. Although Amazon had touted its FAA certification, the agency imposed a string of restrictions, which hadn't been revealed until now. It has largely rejected Amazon's requests to loosen the limitations.One of the plans the FAA agreed to, according to the report, was for Amazon employees to check no cars were passing on surrounding roads before drones left its Lockeford delivery facility. That depot is on an industrial block, and the drones need to fly over at least one road before getting to any homes.Amazon's drones are far heavier than ones operated by Wing, as well as Walmarts partners Flytrex and Zipline. Those weigh between 10 and 40 pounds. Amazon's drone, on the other hand, weighs around 80 pounds and can only carry a five-pound payload. The report suggests the drone's mass could be causing concern among FAA officials. The agency has given Wing, Flytrex and Zipline permission to fly over roadways to date, Wing has carried out more than 300,000 deliveries.One other aspect that doesn't help Amazon's prospects is that folks who want to receive deliveries by drone need a backyard where packages can be dropped off so apartment dwellers need not apply. The drone can only carry a certain size of box and it dumps packages from 12 feet in the air, further limiting the types of products it can transport.We meet or exceed all safety standards and have obtained regulatory authorization to conduct commercial drone delivery operations," Amazon spokesperson Maria Boschetti told The Information. "We welcome the FAAs rigorous evaluations of our operation, and well continue to champion the significant role that regulators play to ensure all drone companies are achieving the right design, build and operating standards." Boschetti added that the Prime Air layoffs, which have reportedly slashed the size of the delivery teams at both locations by more than half, have not affected Amazon's plans for the test sites.
Starbucks Rewards members can now pay with Venmo. The payment services parent company, PayPal, announced the change today, saying customers can use Venmo accounts to load and auto-reload their Starbucks Card funds.PayPal says you can add your Venmo account in the Starbucks app or the Starbucks Card section of the companys website. Additionally, you can pay directly from Venmo after adding your account to the coffee chains app.The companies are running a promotion to entice you to try it. Until February 10th, Starbucks Rewards members will get 100 bonus Stars (perks for spending money there) by adding at least $15 from Venmo to their Starbucks Card. Alternatively, spending $15 or more using Venmo as a direct payment in the Starbucks app will also get you the bonus.This isnt the coffee chains first new partnership as it deals with recent slowdowns. It announced last month it was working with DoorDash to offer 95 percent of its in-store menu items through the delivery service. Unfortunately, it also pounced on the NFT bandwagon, launching an alternative rewards system using digital collectibles.
The science of grafting skin has come a long way from the days of scraping it off one part of a patient's body and slapping it back on somewhere else to cover a nasty burn or injury. These days grafts are commonly bioprinted like living inkjets using the patient's cultured cells to seed the growing process, down to the vascularization. The primary shortcoming of these printed grafts is that they can only be produced in flat sheets with open edges. This method "disregard[s] the fully enclosed geometry of human skin," argue a team of researchers from Columbia University. Instead, they've devised a novel means of producing skin in virtually any complex 3D shape they need from ears and elbows to entire hands printed like a pair of Buffalo Bill's mittens. Alberto Pappalardo and Hasan Erbil Abaci / Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsThe team published their findings, "Engineering edgeless human skin with enhanced biomechanical properties," in the January issue of Scientific Advances. They explained how they engineered, "the skin as a fully enclosed 3D tissue that can be shaped after a body part and seamlessly transplanted as a biological clothing."Three-dimensional skin constructs that can be transplanted as biological clothing would have many advantages, Dr. Hasan Erbil Abaci, lead researcher and assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University, said in a recent press release. They would dramatically minimize the need for suturing, reduce the length of surgeries, and improve aesthetic outcomes. What's more, these uniform grafts have shown superior performance, both mechanically and functionally, than their patchwork alternatives. The Columbia team has dubbed the grafts "wearable edgeless skin constructs" (WESCs). Ok, but can you eat them?The process of making these skin prosthetics isn't that far off from the existing techniques which result in flat slabs of skin. The transplant site is first scanned with a 3D laser to create a digital facsimile of the structure. That data is worked through a CAD program to generate a hollow wireframe of the appendige and then printed. This serves as the scaffolding on which the patient's cultured cells will grow. It's coated with skin fibroblasts and collagen then covered by an outer layer of keratinocytes (which make up the epidermis) and growth medium to feed the cells as they mature. As with making flat sheets, the entire process requires around three weeks for the cells to fully set up and be ready for transplant.Initial lab tests with mouse models were encouraging. It was like putting a pair of shorts on the mice, Abaci said. The entire surgery took about 10 minutes. Don't get too excited, mouse skin is not people skin. It heals differently enough that additional animal studies will be required before we start trying it on humans. Such tests are likely still years away.
Amazon told lawmakers it wouldnt build storm shelters in its warehouses after a December 2021 tornado killed six employees at an Illinois location. Although the company changed its severe-weather response strategy after the incident, it essentially told the elected officials that since building storm shelters isnt required by law, it wont do that.The company responded to lawmakers Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO), who sent a letter on December 15th, questioning the companys lack of storm shelters or safe rooms at its warehouses. Amazons apparent unwillingness to invest in a storm shelter or safe room at its Edwardsville facility is made even more concerning by the fact that installing one could be done by Amazon at relatively low cost, the lawmakers wrote. This cost is negligible for a company like Amazon, which brought in more than $500 billion in revenue over the 12-month period ending September 30, 2022 and clearly has the resources necessary to protect its workers should it have the will to do so.Company vice president of public policy Brian Huseman responded (via CNBC), Amazon requires that its buildings follow all applicable laws and building codes. We have not identified any jurisdiction in the United States that requires storm shelters or safe rooms for these types of facilities.Lawrence Bryant / reutersHuseman added that Amazon follows Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Weather Service guidelines and will continue using a severe weather assembly area for sheltering in place instead of the requested storm shelters. The six employees and contractors who died at the warehouse tried to protect themselves in a bathroom; the surviving workers took refuge in an assembly area.OSHA investigated the incident last April and ordered Amazon to review its severe weather policies, but it fell short of penalizing the company for its response. Additionally, Amazon hired a meteorologist, launched an internal center for monitoring severe weather and created emergency cards pointing out evacuation points and assembly areas.Amazon reportedly began rebuilding the warehouse last June. The families of two of the employees killed there have sued the company for wrongful death.
Razer announced its lightest gaming mouse today, the Viper Mini Signature Edition. It only weighs 49g, making it 16 percent lighter than the companys Viper V2 Pro and one of the most lightweight mice weve seen from a large company.The mouse uses a magnesium alloy exoskeleton with a semi-hollow interior (bearing a slight resemblance to the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless). We wanted to push beyond the traditional honeycomb design, and this required a material with an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, said Razers Head of Industrial Design, Charlie Bolton. After evaluating plastics, carbon fiber and even titanium, we ultimately chose magnesium alloy for its exceptional properties.RazerRazer says the mouse uses its fastest wireless tech and will be among its best-performing wireless mice. It includes the Razer Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor, Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 and HyperPolling Wireless with 4000Hz polling rates. Additionally, Razer says the mouses battery lasts up to 60 hours and can fully charge via USB-C in less than 90 minutes. It ships with a pre-paired USB dongle.The $280 mouse will be available exclusively on Razers website starting February 11th.
Most electric vehicles get upgrades to boost performance or range, but Antarctica's one and only EV has received a tune-up due to the realities of climate change. Venturi has revealed that it upgraded its Venturi Antarctica electric explorer early last year due to warmer conditions on the continent. The original machine was designed to operate in winter temperatures of -58F, but the southern polar region is now comparatively balmy at 14F and that affected both crews and performance.The company has added a ventilation system and air intakes to the front of the Antarctica to prevent overheating in the cockpit, while additional intakes keep the power electronics from cooking. Redesigned wheel sprockets were also necessary to maximize the tracked EV's capabilities. The warmer snow was sticking to the sprockets, creating vibrations as it compacted and hardened. Future upgrades will help restore range lost to changing snow consistency. The Antarctica is built to cover 31 miles, but scientists have been limiting that to 25 miles.Ars Technicanotes Venturi's EV has been in use at Belgium's Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Station since December 2021. It has two modest 80HP motors and just a 52.6kWh battery (plus an optional second pack), but raw power isn't the point. The design lets station residents perform research without contributing to emissions or polluting a relatively pristine region.You might not see Venturi make similar climate-related upgrades for a while. However, the refresh shows how global warming can affect transportation in subtle ways. Venturi and other manufacturers may have to design their next explorers on the assumption that Antarctica won't be as chilly as before.
Folks on the lookout for a new video doorbell or home security camera might be interested in checking out the latest sale on Arlo gear. You can snap up the devices for up to half off at the minute, with the Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell seeing the biggest drop from $200 to $100.The doorbell, which you can plug in if you wish, offers a 180-degree wide field view and HD video with HDR. It captures video prior to motion-activated recordings, so you can see what caught the camera's attention (such as what someone was doing right before ringing the doorbell). You can speak to whoever's at your door from your phone thanks to two-way audio support. Alternatively, you can respond with quick reply prompts if you're busy. Arlo says the device is durable too, so it should be able to withstand the elements.The doorbell should play nicely with other smart home security devices, as it has Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings support. Those who take out an Arlo Secure plan, meanwhile, will receive notifications when the doorbell detects people, vehicles, and packages.The sale also includes a wired version of the doorbell, which is 47 percent off at $80. A two-pack of the spotlight camera, which offers 1080p video capture and color night vision without the need for a hub, will run you $160 (31 percent off). Meanwhile, an indoor camera with a privacy shield is $30 off at $70.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.


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Perodua has offered to supply its range of engines and transmissions for use in Proton models, President and CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh revealed.
Speaking to the media whilst announcing Perodua’s first half sales performance at the company’s flagship showroom in Petaling Jaya, Aminar said that Perodua had, with the support of its technical partner Daihatsu, offered to supply the latest-generation 1.3- and 1.5-litre NR-series four-cylinder engines to Proton.
According to Aminar, Proton has yet to officially respond to the offer, and there is no indication on Proton’s interest to the matter either way.
Perodua currently operates two engine manufacturing facilities in Malaysia. The new NR-series Dual VVT-i engines are being manufactured in the newly-launched joint-venture plant with Daihatsu located at Sendayan, Negri Sembilan.
The 1.3-litre NR engine was newly introduced in the Bezza. Its 1.5-litre sibling currently powers the Toyota Avanza, and is expected to feature in the facelifted Toyota Vios to be introduced later this year. There are no announced plans for Toyota to source engines from the Sendayan plant.
Proton's current range of engines consist primarily of derivatives of the Campro family in 1.3- and 1.6-litre displacements. The newly-launched Proton Perdana, meanwhile, is powered by Honda's 2.0- and 2.4-litre i-VTEC engines. Earlier this year, Proton themselves had announced a RM600 million engine programme slated to develop no less than six new engine variations.

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When Apple emphasized some of the new features to come with MacOS X Lion back during its WWDC 2011, one involved a demo illustrating face detection technology being used in the popular self-portrait app, Photo Booth. Now, it looks that face detection technology will probably make its way to iOS 5, where it may be an integral portion to some new apps.
This kind of technology came to Apple after they bought the Swedish company, Polar Rose, which specialized in face detection algorithms. Judging from a Polar Rose Recognizr app video demo, the technology does not . . . → Read More: Apple Adds Face Detection API to iOS 5


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This recall involves infant rattles called OBall Links & Mini Rattles™. The soft plastic OBall is 2 1/2 inches in diameter and has beads inside a small plastic bubble that make the rattle sound. The OBall is attached to a 7 1/2 inch soft plastic chain by C-shaped plastic links on both ends. "OBall" is stamped into the top of the plastic chain.
Consumers should immediately take the recalled rattle away from children and contact Rhino Toys to receive a full refund.
Rhino Toys has received one report of a broken C-link. No injuries have been reported.
Toys R Us and other specialty toy stores nationwide from April 2010 through December 2010 for about $8.
Rhino Toys Inc., of Santa Cruz, Calif."
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
For lifesaving information:
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800


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Outside of a smartphone’s design, many phone makers have been putting an increased focus on extending the life of lithium-ion batteries. This is why we have features such as Adaptive Charging, which is found in pretty much every smartphone, including many of the top Android phones and the iPhone.
While adding these software features is expected to help extend the life of lithium-ion batteries, it doesn’t mean that it’s the perfect solution. That could end up changing in the near future, and it’s all thanks to the continued development of electric cars.
A new report from AutoEvolution states that scientists have “found a clever way to extend Li-Ion batteries’ life”. But instead of redesigning the batteries, or using some type of new technology, all it requires is a “software redesign for the charging circuits”.
The method for reactivating the lithium anode involves providing a big surge in discharging current at the end of a charge cycle. This moves the isolated lithium ions toward the anode. The higher the discharging current, the faster they move and the more efficient the process is. The results of the study have been validated with multiple test batteries and through computer simulations.
It sounds a bit strange, but by discharging at an increased rate at the end of a charge cycle, the life of these batteries could be extended by as much as 30%. By doing so, any of the lost ions will be “reconnected”, which not only extends the life of the batteries but also reduces the risk of a battery catching on fire. Thankfully, this hasn’t been much of a problem following the Galaxy Note 7 debacle, but there have been some reports with issues pertaining to the OnePlus Nord 2 spontaneously catching fire.
While smartphone makers continue to push the limits of how fast a phone can charge, the technology itself hasn’t really been innovated upon. We’re still pretty much using the same batteries now that we’ve been using for years and years.
This new software redesign has yet to be implemented by any EV makers, as it is continuing to go through a series of testing. However, the results provided are definitely an indication that changes could be coming, and electric cars won’t be the only market that will benefit from it.


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If there’s ever news in the yogurt world, this week is it: Whole Foods Market plans to stop selling Chobani Greek yogurt in 2014 because the product contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
GMOs are a result of a crop’s DNA being altered by scientists to protect it from various environmental threats, according to the National Institutes of Health. They get a bad rap because these combinations of genes can't occur in nature, and they contain compounds not yet tested for human consumption. While Chobani markets its products as containing only natural ingrediants, the company's use of milk comes from dairy cows fed GMO animal feed.
Whole Foods says they're making way for more exclusive, local brands, especially those that are organic, according to the announcement.
More From Men's Health
It’s difficult to say definitively that you should avoid GMOs, says Alan Aragon, Men's Health's nutrition advisor. There is some research that demonstrates their downsides, though: The latest animal studies indicate that genetically modified foods have toxic effects on the digestive and reproductive systems. They have also been linked to many food allergies, according to the University of Medical Sciences in Poland. However, "for anything to be reasonably deemed dangerous, you'd need abundant and consistent evidence in both animal and human trials," says Aragon. "In this case, the findings just aren't there."
If you want to avoid them, you’re likely safe with organic products—which are not allowed to contain GMOs. But when it comes to your yogurt, stick with your Chobani if you like it, Aragon says. If you want to try something GMO-free, go for it, he adds. Brown Cow Greek Yogurt and Straus Organic Yogurts are both organic and non-GMO verified.


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Swiss dairy company Emmi, which already had a 60% stake in Mittelland Molkerei AG, is acquiring a 40% share package from AZM Verwaltungs AG, the investment firm of the Mittelland Milk Producers’ Cooperative (MPM).
Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. has signed a share purchase agreement with Engro Corporation in Pakistan to acquire 51% of the shares in its subsidiary Engro Foods Limited, in partnership with the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC)...
Chobani has confirmed that it has been looking for a new CEO for some time, but says the process was set in motion by its current CEO, founder and chairman Hamdi Ulukaya, so “to imply that he is being pushed out by the board is completely ridiculous”.
The announcement today by Australia’s Bega Cheese to sell its stock in Warrnambool leaves the way clear for Lion to follow suit, while Canadian dairy company Saputo should now be free to take over the New South Wales cheese and butter business.
Canadian dairy giant Saputo looks a step closer to gaining control of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WCB), after one-time takeover rival Bega Cheese agreed to sell its stake in the Australian dairy processor.
Canadian dairy giant Saputo has been ordered by the Australian Takeovers Panel not to process any acceptances received under its latest bid for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WCB), following a complaint by rival bidder, Murray Goulburn.
New Zealand-based infant formula manufacturer, Synlait Milk, has launched an initial public offering (IPO) of shares in the hope to raising around NZ$120m (US$93m) to fund a series of "growth initiatives."
Mengniu has launched a general offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Hong Kong-based infant formula manufacturer Yashili International Holdings – the latest move by the company's to increase its interest in rival Chinese firms.
The civil investigation into Parmalat’s May 2012 $904m intra-group acquisition of Lactalis American Group (LAG) has appointed a special commissioner to oversee an audit calculating a final price for the disputed deal.
Fonterra has confirmed to DairyReporter.com that it is undertaking a review of its New Zealand speciality cheese business Kapiti, but was unable to reveal whether any specific plants were earmarked for closure.
Ecolab said it has completed the US$8.3bn (€6.4bn) takeover of Nalco as part of a strategy to tap into global mega-trends such as food safety and the need for industry players to maximize operational efficiencies such as energy and water reductions.
As Danone’s share price continues to fall three days after its half year results were released, the company cites several potential reasons for the dip but insists that health claims uncertainty is not among them.
Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, quipped Mark Twain. Predictions of the demise of Cadbury following the approval of Kraft’s offer are premature and are flawed by knee-jerk anti-Americanism.
Rumour, according to the Romans, is a feathered beast with a myriad eyes and tongues. Last week she went bristling through the Danish business pages, spreading the news that Danisco could be bought by a private equity firm.
The chairman of New Zealand dairy cooperative Fonterra says its
farmer shareholders are not in danger of losing their controlling
stake of the company should a proposed restructuring and
public offering go ahead.
Norwegian fish oil producer EPAX is to be acquired by compatriot
Austevoll Seafood - a move that will give it a vertically
integrated supply from fishing to omega-3 oil supply and avoid
potential sourcing problems for the future.
New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra has upped its share price
offer for Australia's leading dairy company National Foods,
trumping a rival bid from San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and gaining
the unanimous backing of National...
Cargill is to increase its stake in the Romanian edible oils market
with the acquisition of the local company Olpo Podari. And with
another possible acquisition on the cards, the giant US
agribusiness group clearly sees significant...
Emmi, the leading Swiss dairy company, has announced it is to make
an initial public offering (IPO) in a bid to bolster export sales
and consolidate investment across its nutritional dairy-based
drinks division, Tom Armitage reports.
Management at the Royal Schouten group, parent of soy ingredients
business Acatris, has increased its share in the company under a
new shareholder structure designed to allow it to move more easily
on strategic developments, such...


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Disney will own the company and for the sake of taking advantage of brand name recognition, it's my bet 'ALIEN' and 'PREDATOR' movies will still be released by Fox.
It makes no sense to release 'ALIEN' or 'PREDATOR' movies under the Disney banner and as they own Fox now (as of 20th, March), there's no point in releasing future movies under a different studio name, either. They own the studio, 'lock, stock and barrel.'
Once the settlement is made and the handshake is done, there will be some staff shake ups and it will be business as usual for Fox, but the profits will go in a different direction than they have for the past decades.
On the surface, nothing will have changed. Fox is a world recognised brand name. Disney will want to capitalise on that. They will instill changes but ultimately what it boils down to is business for the old company under new ownership. Fox won't cease to exist and will still make movies in the future, most likely releasing new titles under existing IP's to bolster public confidence once again.
Outwardly, to us, there will be no visible change. It will be the shareholders that have changed completely, but the institution itself will continue to exist - with changes - but it will still push out product the public is familiar with.
How that quality will change, is anyone's guess right now.


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Augustinus Bader Just Dropped Its First-Ever Cleanser & It's Bound To Accrue A Following
To whip up a moisturizer and instantly become a regular feature on every celebrity's Instagram feed is a skincare newcomer's fantasy, but a reality only for Augustinus Bader, mastermind behind The Cream you likely know and love. Until now, the German professor's namesake brand has kept to luxury, texture-varying lotions, all powered by its proprietary Trigger Factor Complex (TFC8), but Augustinus Bader's newest addition, The Cream Cleansing Gel, is the first of his beloved lineup to target Step One of the universal morning routine.
The July 9 drop is the first of three this month, a sizable launch for a brand that has introduced just five products since its debut in early 2018. Per Glossy, following the new cleanser will be The Body Lotion — not to be confused with The Body Cream — and The Body Oil, both to be introduced later in July.
The Cream Cleansing Gel is reportedly Augustinus Bader's response to the influx of customer inquiries about what to precede his extravagant creams with. "We looked at the cleansers on the market — and some that are widely used — and Augustinus' first reaction was that they were not incredibly healthy or good for the skin," CEO Charles Rosier told Glossy.
The new $65 cream-gel wash is formulated with the brand's signature, patented TFC8 technology, of course — that is: a 40-ingredient cocktail that helps usher key nutrients directly to your skin cells — as well as rose flower water, cucumber extract, and aloe vera leaf juice. It's lightweight, hydrating, non-foaming, fragrance-free, and works for all skin types.
Bader, a professor of applied stem cell biology and cell technology at the University of Leipzig, has long celebrated the "shared biology" of our skin, even while also acknowledging its individuality. The tagline for a 2019 campaign, for example, was "7.5 Billion Skin Types. One Cream." The idea behind The Cream Cleansing Gel — and all Augustinus Bader products, for that matter — is that it's suitable for the bone-dry and oilies alike.
If the latest addition manages to amass but a mere fraction of its predecessors' following, it's likely to win over the likes of Margot Robbie, Alexa Chung, and Victoria Beckham (who loves the line so much she partnered with it on a Cell Rejuvenating collection).
We only include products that have been independently selected by The Zoe Report's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.


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Ever since then presidential candidate Donald Trump promised he was ‘gonna get Apple to start building their damn computers and things in this country,’ there’s been a steady stream of people pointing out why that isn’t practical – and wouldn’t do much for the U.S. economy if it were.
Tim Cook explained that the reason Apple makes iPhones in China has little to do with the low wages there and everything to do with the local skillset, with the company’s suppliers echoing this point. But even if Apple bowed to political pressure to do it, it would be unlikely to create many jobs …
While the usual Foxconn factory photos show assembly workers beavering away on production lines, the highly-automated nature of the work means that labor costs are only a tiny fraction of the total production cost of an iPhone. That work is also highly seasonal, with Foxconn taking on the bulk of its workforce only for peak production times each year.
A Bloomberg report notes that Labor costs amount to just 2.2% of the average cost of an iPhone.
Apple relies on a network of suppliers, all of which are within a short distance of the Shenzhen assembly lines. Those suppliers simply don’t exist outside China and Taiwan.
Apple does sometimes create iPhone factories in other countries. It did so in Brazil to avoid a 30% import tax on iPhones, and has recently done so in India in order to meet government criteria for opening Apple Stores. But the report notes that these facilities create few jobs.
In Brazil, very little changed. Rather than doing lots of high-level manufacturing in Brazil, Foxconn continued to do most of the work back in China, where the supply-chain was nearby and parts could be pre-assembled. This meant that most of an iPhone was [still] made in China and merely shipped to Brazil for local workers to slot together. In the end, the Brazil project failed on two levels. It hired a fraction of the workers the government had expected, and it didn’t attract any of Apple’s hundreds of suppliers.
And what was true in Brazil then would be even more true in the USA today. As of December of last year, Foxconn already had ten fully-automated production lines, and is working on automating entire factories.
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The Tata Group claimed the proposed ecommerce rules will hurt its joint venture with US-based cafe Starbucks
Besides this, Reliance Retail also sought some clarity from the government on certain aspects of the new rules.
In response, a consumer affairs ministry official said the rules were meant to protect consumers
The Tata Group and Amazon India have warned government officials that the proposed changes in the draft ecommerce policy will negatively impact online sellers working with marketplaces as well as existing business ventures. Besides this, Reliance Retail also sought some clarity from the government on certain aspects of the new rules.
While the Tata Group claimed the rules will hurt its joint venture with US-based cafe Starbucks, Amazon India raised concerns about the rules having an adverse impact on sellers.
At a meeting organised by the consumer affairs ministry and Invest India, the government’s investment promotion arm, on Saturday (July 03), Amazon claimed that Covid-19 had already hit small businesses and the proposed rules will have a huge impact on its sellers, arguing that some clauses were already covered by existing law. Besides this, marketplaces expressed concerns and confusion over the proposed rules and asked that the July 6 deadline for submitting comments be extended, according to a Reuters report.
A Tata Sons representative said that the proposed rules would impact the company’s joint venture with US-based cafe giant Starbucks. Under the new rules, Tata would not be allowed to sell Starbucks products through any marketplace, which would severely impact the Tata super app plans. The Tata Group is also concerned that the rules could restrict sales of its private brands on Tata’s ecommerce platform.
Besides Amazon and Tata, Reliance also said that some clauses needed clarification, but pointed out that the proposed rules would boost consumer confidence. Reliance has partnerships with major international brands for its fashion ecommerce platform Ajio. Ajio contributes over 25% of Reliance’s apparel business.
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As per Reuters, a consumer affairs ministry official argued that the rules were meant to protect consumers and were not as strict as those of other countries. Last month, the government made proposals to tighten the norms for ecommerce marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart through the draft ecommerce policy.
It is aimed to curb any possibility of preferential advantage that these companies may offer to any of their vendors. These rules, if implemented, will also increase costs for domestic platforms including Reliance Industries’ JioMart, BigBasket, Snapdeal, Swiggy and Zomato among many others.
The government has requested feedback on these policy changes in the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 by July 6 (tomorrow). The government is expected to issue certain clarifications on the foreign investment rules as well.
Ecommerce firms would have to ensure that none of their “related parties and associated enterprises” are listed as sellers on their shopping websites, and no related entity should sell goods to an online seller operating on the same platform. The rules specifically state that related parties or associated enterprises should do nothing that the ecommerce entity cannot do itself.
Some of these rules already apply on Amazon and Flipkart under the foreign direct investment rules. These companies have previously realigned their share in sellers such as Cloudtail and Appario Retail in the case of Amazon India to comply with the FDI requirements. It is not clear if the ecommerce rules will supersede the existing FDI rules.


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Be it coconut oil, aloe vera gel or banana mask, women have one or two favourite home remedies. Some are even big believers of natural ingredients. Taking it one level up is singer Halsey, who became a mother two years ago, and has breast milk as a part of her skin care routine. The Grammy nominee even called it the “best skincare ingredient” in a recent interview. It made us wonder if breast milk is really good for your skin. Here’s what an expert has to say about Halsey’s beauty secret.
Health Shots connected with Dr Madhu Juneja, Senior Consultant – Obstetrician-gynecologist, Cloudnine Group Of Hospitals, Kalyani Nagar, Pune, to find out if breast milk can be a skin care ingredient.


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On Wednesday, the Microsoft Corporation announced free Windows licensing for small devices and updates to Windows 8.1, including an introduction to a digital voice assistant called Cortana.
Satya Nadella, Microsoft Corporation’s new Ceo, is making changes to the company by targeting mobile devices, introducing new products, and giving the company’s management a good shake up.
During a conference in San Francisco on Wednesday the announcement was made to give free windows licensing for smaller devices including Smartphones and tablets. Microsoft is trying to catch up to industry leaders, especially with mobile devices since the Smartphone and tablets have taken over the personal computer market. There has been a steady decline in the personal computer market,but now Microsoft seems to be picking up speed with mobile devices.
The decline in PC shipments have resulted in Microsoft’s revenues to fluctuate. In the beginning of the year, the company lowered the price of Windows 8.1 by 70% just to compete with rivals. At this time, four percent of global smartphones use Windows. With Microsoft’s free licensing, the company will try to increase adoption of it’s platform, and increase its market share.
By 2018, Microsoft expects to see a 15% market share for smartphones. Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President for Operating Systems, said: “It’s all about getting your apps out there.” The smartphone ecosystem has been booming on software and the availability of apps. When Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) iOS was the leading ecosystem, availability was much better on iOS compared to Android. Today, apps are made for both iOS and Android, ignoring windows.
While following free Windows availability, Microsoft will be able to tour the usage of other software and services it offers, like Office and Skype. They will also add a year’s free subscription of Office 365 for Windows used in devices nine inches or smaller. The company is hopeful that the move will convert free users into long term subscribers.
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Image credit: Techkow.com


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ATLANTA: Delta has appointed Stacy Geagan, a veteran of its Express and Shuttle brands, to head of corporate communications for its new, yet-to-be-named, low-cost airline.
As GM of corporate communications for the low-fare subsidiary, Geagan will be responsible for all internal and external relations, including the launch of the new brand in early 2003. She will report to the president of the low-fare subsidiary, John Selvaggio, through Delta's matrix system, wherein communications staffers are assigned to each managerial team, working alongside internal and external communications teams.
The low-fare subsidiary will use the brand marketing, entertainment, and corporate arms of Ketchum, Delta's AOR.
From 1999-2001, Geagan headed communications for Delta Express, Delta's earlier low-fare effort, which is being phased out to make way for the new brand. In 2000, Geagan also took on Delta Shuttle, the airline's premium shuttle service between New York, Washington, DC, and Boston.
Delta Express was a disappointment, and Delta, along with several rivals that attempted similar low-fare sub-brands, was criticized for failing to differentiate it from its parent.
But the new airline will be a tricky balancing act, debuting just as Delta cuts business fares on its main service by up to 20%. To prevent it from eating away at its parent's figures, the new brand will be targeted at leisure travelers rather than business passengers.
"Whereas the main line continues to focus on business travelers, we're looking for a more price-conscious, well-rounded brand," Geagan said, adding that a typical low-fare customer might be a regular Delta business traveler looking to save money when visiting family.
Delta unveiled the business plan in a conference call featuring CEO Leo Mullin late last month, but is rolling out the new brand in stages to build suspense among the business press. A brand identity will be unveiled by February, Geagan said.
Delta, the nation's third-largest airline by passenger miles, has fared better in the downturn than rivals US Airways and United, thanks in part to lower labor costs (though it recently announced 8,000 job cuts). Delta has concentrated its communications of late on reassuring passengers that it is taking steps to reduce the "hassle factor" of post-September-11 travel through amenities such as wider check-in lanes and self-service ticket kiosks.


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Apple WWDC 2022 Keynote Highlights: iOS 16, New MacBook models, watchOS 9, etc
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, will begin today during the keynote at 10am Pacific Time (10:30pm IST). Developer-focused keynotes traditionally reveal upcoming software from the Cupertino-based electronics giant, and this year we can expect the latest versions of the mobile operating system. , tablets, PCs, smartwatches and TV boxes, specifically iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, watchOS 9 and tvOS 16. Other revelations anticipated from the developer conference include apps new and improved native apps, while some rumors suggest that Apple may unveil a new Mac device at the keynote, in the form of a new MacBook Air. Stay tuned for updates directly from the keynote address, right here and there, you can stay up to date with the latest buzz about upcoming announcements.
New software and hardware
As we have all mentioned, Apple traditional use WWDC is the period to announce the latest versions of the operating system and this year we will see previews of the operating system. iOS 16, iPadOS 16″, macOS 13, watchOS 9and tvOS 16 before their beta and later public release in 2022.
iOS 16 is expected to bring improvements to features and apps like notifications, lock screen, Camera, Messages, and Health apps, in addition to a new sound experience, redesigned app icons. redesigned, interactive widgets, upgraded theme options and floating app windows. On the other hand, iPadOS 16 is expected to offer improved multitasking, almost in part with macOS.
As for the company’s operating system for desktops and laptops, macOS 13 – rumored to be codenamed Mammoth – is said to bring incremental changes including a design overhaul for native applications. watchOS 9 is expected to bring updates to areas related to health monitoring, improvements to atrial fibrillation, other daily activities, and navigation.
Finally, while there aren’t many rumors about tvOS 16, it is possible that Apple chose to announce homeOS as a dedicated smart home operating system at WWDC22. We also mentioned that it is likely that Apple will announce new Mac devices at the event and The latest rumors say the company will launch MacBook Air 2022 in the 14-inch screen size and less likely, it could also reveal the expected 13-inch screen MacBook Proboth are powered by Apple’s new M2 SoC.


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The Moto X4 will be debuting early next month in India.
India is Motorola’s largest market, so it’s no surprise that the company is getting ready to introduce the Moto X4 in the country early next month. According to a tweet posted by Motorola India, the Moto X4 will be making its debut in India on October 3.
— Motorola India (@motorolaindia) September 19, 2017
The Moto X4 was unveiled last month at IFA with dual rear cameras, an anodized aluminum frame along with a glass back, and IP68 dust and water resistance. The phone has a 5.2-inch Full HD panel, Snapdragon 630, 3GB/4GB of RAM, 32GB/64GB storage, 12MP camera backed by an 8MP shooter, 16MP front camera, and a 3000mAh battery.
The Moto X4 retails for €399, which comes out to around ₹30,700. We’ll know more about availability and pricing details at the launch, so stay tuned.


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Consumer confidence remains unchanged in September. The indicator still stands at -17, after the sharp increase by 7 points in August. For the first time in two years, consumers’ opinions on the economic situation in the twelve months to come are positive. With respect to the other component indicators, pessimists still outnumber optimists.
Consumers think the economic climate improved marginally in September. Their opinions on the economic situation in the next twelve months improved 6 points and stands at 5. Opinions on the economic situation in the past twelve months were slightly more negative than in August.
The indicator willingness to buy dropped slightly. In comparison to August, Dutch consumers are somewhat more negative about the question whether it is the right time to purchase expensive items such as washing machines or furniture. Their opinions on their own financial situation in the twelve months to come also deteriorated slightly.
Consumer confidence, seasonally adjusted


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Here is a walkaround video of 2020 Kia Sorento that gives us a good look at how the SUV looks on outside as well as inside.
Unveiled recently, the 2020 Kia Sorento is the latest generation of company’s popular large-size SUV. The SUV has a good fan following around the world, and the introduction of the new model has made us curious to know more about it. Here, we have a new walkaround video of the car, which was uploaded by a YouTube channel named 'Asian Petrolhead'. The YouTuber gives us a good look at how the SUV looks on the outside as well as inside.
The new-gen Kia Sorento derives its juice from a 2.2-litre diesel motor that produces 199 bhp of maximum power and 325 Nm of twisting force. The transmission duties are done by an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The video clip says that it’s a 2.5-litre turbo variant, but actually, this variant is equipped with a 2.2-litre oil-burner. When Kia unveiled the new-gen Sorento, the carmaker said that this SUV offers the most spacious cabin as compared to any other vehicle in their line-up. In this walkaround video, one can easily spot how big the latest-generation Sorento is from inside. The new offers a three-row layout which seems comfortable enough for every passenger.
Moreover, the luggage area is quite spacious, too. Inside, the SUV features a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system along with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. The new-gen Kia Sorento will hit the Korean and European market later this year and is expected to hit the Indian shores by 2022.
Once launched, the SUV will compete with the likes of Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson
Once launched, the SUV will compete with the likes of Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson. In other news, the South Korean carmaker has decided to make face masks at their China facility to fight COVID-19 pandemic. Kia has already suspended production in America, Slovakia and India due to this highly contagious virus.


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Analyst: Blue Nile feels pinch of weak economy, higher diamond costs
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Blue Nile will continue to feel pressure from the overall weakness of the economy, as well as from higher diamond prices, less demand and more competition.
That’s the summary from McAdams Wright Ragen analyst Dan Geiman in a note to investors the day after the Seattle online diamond and jewelry retailer posted a big drop in net income and announced the abrupt departure of its CEO.
Geiman, of Seattle, said Blue Nile saw “some pockets of relative strength," including a 55 percent increase in international sales and relatively strong demand for diamond jewelry valued at more than $25,000.
“Blue Nile’s results reflected general economic weakness, higher diamond prices which have softened demand, and, we expect, competitive pressures as well,” Geiman said in his note.
Geiman also said the cost of polished diamonds is 20 percent to 40 percent higher than a year ago. He noted that Blue Diamond’s marketing costs have risen, and its operating margin fell to 3.8 percent in the third quarter.
Geiman said the third quarter results represent “the latest in a series of challenging quarters reflecting a number of head winds. Unfortunately for the company, it’s difficult to foresee conditions improving significantly in the near- to mid-term – although further declines in diamond prices would provide some relief. And the most recent management shake-up (following a series of CFO departures over the past four years) provides further uncertainty and little comfort.”
Blue Nile announced Tuesday that CEO Diane Irvine has resigned from her post, effective Nov. 11.
Greg Lamm covers banking & finance and law for the Puget Sound Business Journal.
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Photo: Oleg Karsaev / “Kommersant”
Service Business-Data became available to entrepreneurs of the city of Novouralsk in the Sverdlovsk region. It is reported portal “the Future of Russia. National projects” with reference to the press service of the regional entrepreneurship support Fund.
Clarifies that service on the basis of big data Analytics on payment transactions citizens is helping to find the most promising market niches for business in a certain area. In 2020 it is planned to run Business-Data in Kamensk-Uralsky, Asbest, Pervouralsk and Bogdanovich.
“In Novouralsk, we analyzed more than six million payment transactions made by residents in 2019. This data, about 28 thousand Bank cards”, — told in the press service of the entrepreneurship support Fund. After analysis it turned out that the city lacks a cafe, the enterprises of sphere of beauty and health, as well as tailoring, dry cleaners and repair shops of clothes and shoes.
Business project-Data implemented by the regional entrepreneurship support Fund under the national project “Small and medium entrepreneurship”, which is for five years. The project involves increasing the number of employed in small and medium enterprises, including individual entrepreneurs, to 25 million people by the end of 2024, increasing the share of SMEs in GDP to 32 per cent and the share of exports of SMEs — up to 10 percent of the total by 2024. Only the implementation of the project it is planned to allocate more than 481 billion.
Video, photo All from Russia.


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The US car maker entered the European market in 2005 and new, low-cost models such as the Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Cruze have pushed sales up by seven per cent in the first quarter of 2011.
The Cruze saloon in particular has sold strongly, topping the sales charts with 150,652 models. This is expected to grow even further in the coming months when the new Chevrolet Cruze hatchback is released in the UK.
UK buyers traditionally prefer hatchbacks over saloons, and the five-door version of Chevrolet’s most popular model is expected to continue the trend.
Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show this year, the Cruze hatchback features Chevrolet’s distinctive split grille and modern styling seen in the new Aveo and Spark cars.
Prices for the hatchback have not been announced, but it is expected to use the 161bhp 2.0-litre diesel – found in the new Chevrolet Orlando MPV – as one of its engine options.
More importantly, the Chevrolet Cruze is the latest of the brand’s models to be tweaked to suit European customers.
Joel Ewanick, GM Global Chief Marketing Officer. “Our first quarter results are a clear indication that consumers are responding to our new product line, which only happens when you truly listen to the customer."
Chevrolet is celebrating its centennial year in 2011, and plans on launching five new models in total into the UK market, including a new UK version of the iconic Chevrolet Camaro muscle car.
Chevrolet has sold 3,700 cars in the UK in 2011 and enjoys a market share of 0.69 per cent after just five years of selling cars in the region.


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For the Indian startup environment, November has brought with it a combination of obstacles and hope. With only seven weeks left in the year, there has been a noticeable uptick in the funding landscape, mostly due to a big deal in the logistics industry. This article examines the most recent advancements, emphasizing the important figures and their influence on India’s dynamic startup sector.
Venture Capital Surge: XpressBees Leads the Way
Venture capital investing in the Indian startup ecosystem saw a significant uptick in the second week of November, amounting to $178 million in 20 deals. XpressBees, the unicorn of logistics, made a crucial action that contributed to this incredible gain from the $64 million the previous week. Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG) contributed $80 million to the business, demonstrating the persistence of investor faith in the supply chain and logistics industry.
XpressBees: Powering the Logistics Landscape
XpressBees, a unicorn in the logistics space, has played a pivotal role in the funding surge. The $80 million injection from TVG signifies the company’s strategic growth plans and the recognition of its contribution to the e-commerce and supply chain sectors. As e-commerce continues to thrive, XpressBees is well-positioned to capitalize on the increasing demand for efficient logistics solutions.
Listing Drama: Mamaearth’s Parent Company Faces Volatility
While Honasa Consumer, the parent company of Mamaearth, witnessed a decent listing, the stock price took a rollercoaster ride. After a promising start, the shares experienced a steep slide before recovering on Friday. This volatility underscores the uncertainties in the market, even for well-established players.
Honasa Consumer: A Noteworthy Listing
Honasa Consumer’s listing was a notable event, bringing attention to the booming beauty and personal care segment. Mamaearth, known for its natural and sustainable products, has gained popularity among consumers. The listing, despite its initial challenges, reflects the potential for growth in this sector.
Unicorn On the Horizon: InCred’s Valuation Soars
Financial services startup InCred has revealed that it has received commitments from investors who estimate the company’s worth to be just over $1 billion. With this announcement, a new unicorn enters the Indian startup scene, demonstrating the investors’ ongoing interest and confidence.
InCred: A Financial Services Unicorn
InCred’s ascent to unicorn status showcases the strength and potential within the fintech sector. As the company attracts investments at a valuation exceeding $1 billion, it positions itself as a key player in India’s evolving financial services landscape. The move also suggests a positive trajectory for the fintech industry, emphasizing the growing importance of innovative financial solutions.
SoftBank’s Challenges: Navigating Through Losses
SoftBank faced challenges in the September quarter, reporting a loss largely attributed to the bankruptcy filing of one of its portfolio companies, WeWork. Despite this setback, SoftBank has marked up the valuations of its Indian portfolio startups, including Swiggy, FirstCry, and Ola Electric.
SoftBank: Balancing Losses and Marked-up Valuations
SoftBank’s adversity with WeWork’s bankruptcy filing showcases the inherent risks in managing a diverse portfolio. However, the decision to mark up valuations for its Indian startups signals a strategic move to maintain confidence in its overall investment strategy. The impact of this dual narrative reflects the complexities of managing a global investment portfolio.
Diverse Funding Rounds: A Closer Look at Key Transactions
Several startups across different sectors secured significant funding rounds in November. Quick commerce startup Zepto raised $31.25 million, Bharat Housing Network raised Rs 125 crore, EV maker Euler Motors secured Rs 120 crore, cybersecurity startup Sequretek raised $8 million, audiology startup Hearing Solution (Hearzap) raised Rs 50 crore, and car service and repair firm GoMechanic raised $6 million.
Impacts Across Sectors: Navigating Growth and Innovation
The diverse funding rounds highlight the broad spectrum of industries experiencing growth. From quick commerce to electric vehicles, each funding round represents a step forward in innovation. The influx of capital into these startups not only fuels their expansion but also contributes to the overall diversity and resilience of the Indian startup ecosystem.
Conclusion: Navigating Uncertainties with Resilience
The Indian startup scene exhibits its tenacity in the face of uncertainty as November progresses. The industry is dynamic and has a lot of potential, despite ongoing obstacles. This is demonstrated by the rise in venture capital funding, the birth of a new unicorn, and the variety of funding rounds. It is hoped that these encouraging trends will continue throughout the new year, propelling innovation and expansion in the dynamic world of Indian entrepreneurs.


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The Xiaomi Mi 11 is the first Snapdragon 888-powered phone and Xiaomi will enjoy a short exclusivity period. That will soon come to an end, however, as leakster Digital Chat Station reports that there are a few more on the way.
The first is the iQOO 7, which is officially set for a January 11 unveiling. Next up is the vivo X60 Pro+, following the launch of the X60 and X60 Pro, both of which use the Exynos 1080. According to DCS these will be the three 888-powered phones that will be available China in January (Mi 11’s flash sale is scheduled for January 1).
Then there’s the Realme Koi (code name Race), company execs officially confirmed the 888 chip, but have not revealed the launch date yet. DCS adds one more phone to the list - the Redmi “K11” (code name Haydn). This is presumably the Redmi K40 Pro and will be one of the most affordable Snapdragon 888 phones. But 888’s hegemony won’t last forever – there’s a plus version on the way.
The Snapdragon 888+ is tentatively scheduled for release in the second half of next year, says the leakster, adding that Qualcomm capped the vanilla chipset at 2.84 GHz.
This is to prevent manufacturers from trying to overclock the chip. The 888+ will almost certainly come with higher frequencies for both the CPU and the GPU. The 865+, for example, brought a 10% increase for both. A clock boost should be fairly easy as the 888 reverted back to the original 865 clock speeds (for the CPU at least).All of its performance gains come from the new core architecture. Qualcomm doesn’t officially reveal the GPU clocks, so it’s harder to tell how much of the boost is overclocking and how much is architecture improvements.
Bro don't u think they should um pause for just a little while I mean to much power in such little time is don't u think rather wrong or miss guided I don't think we need a 888+ phones can bearly handle the 888
Dude, chill out. everyone has their own job and purpose on this planet. if everyone solely focused on what you just said. we might not have dope tech anymore, they have their own jobs and responsibilities, they innovate even more for us. in any case,...
That's a scam feature as the chipset is already capped at 2.84 at max. How it works is that when the "overclocking" feature is turned off, the phone only uses few cores and probably not even half of that 2.84 clock. Then when you turn ...


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Debt-ridden Punch brands another 450 pubs as 'bad'
Heavily indebted Punch Taverns has put a black mark against another 450 of its pubs that are failing to come up to scratch after disappointing summer trading.
Britain's biggest pubs group was forced to create a separate unit in April to tend to 1,250 underperforming bars, and yesterday dispatched a further 450 for special treatment.
But Punch's shares soared 22 per cent to 130.9p after it managed to sell a third of its 'bad pubs'.
Disappointing: Punch Taverns is not happy with the performance of many of its pubs
The landlord, which has 8,000 pubs, has been struggling under a £4.3billion debt pile.
It has been desperately trying cut its borrowings amid fears over its future.
Finance director Phil Dutton said £400million was raised from the pubs sale which, combined with £375million from a cash call in June, has reduced debts well ahead of expectations.
A further £225million was wiped off borrowings because Punch bought back some of its own debt in the market at a discount. This has reduced total debt by £1billion for the year.
Matthew Gerard, an analyst at Investec, said Punch is on track to hit full year targets.
Punch said it has benefited from good weather in late June, but the remainder of the summer had been 'unhelpful to trade'.
Analysts said it is set to disappoint with a fall in underlying sales of 2.5 per cent for the final quarter.
Mark Brumby, an analyst at Astaire, warned: 'The outlook for the group remains extremely challenging.'
The pubs sector has been hit by a drop in sales as a result of the smoking ban, cheap supermarket booze and cash-strapped patrons staying at home.
But Dutton said Punch is on the right track for long term health: 'I think we have proven the fears around the debt have been addressed and we will also meet expectations for the year.'
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Hit by a 25-per cent sales plunge during the first four months of this year, Nissan is hoping to recover sales during the second half of 2022 through model updates as well as implementing new business measures.
On Saturday the Japanese auto maker introduced a revised Navara pickup truck lineup and will immediately follow up with the minor change Kicks hybrid crossover on July 1.
The revised Nissan Navara lineup in Thailand, featuring popular Thai actor Nadech Kugimiya as its ambassador, now comprises of 15 trim levels priced from Bt595,000 for the baseline 2WD Single Cab 6MT to Bt1.16 million for the PRO-4X 4WD 7AT that replaces the VL at the top of the lineup.
Nissan hopes that it will be able to turn around its poor performance in the Thai market this year, which has been hit by parts shortage and temporary factory closure.
From January to April this year, Nissan sold just 8,748 vehicles in Thailand, down 25.4 per cent compared to the same period in 2021. Meanwhile, the Thai auto market reached 294,616 units during that time frame, growing by 16.8 per cent compared to the corresponding period a year ago.
Other major Japanese automakers did not suffer from sales decline during this period, with Toyota, Isuzu, Honda, Mitsubishi and Mazda all registering growth.
In May, Nissan even had to suspend Thai production for a month due to shortage of common parts from overseas factories, leading to speculation concerning its presence in Thailand.
Isao Sekiguchi, president of Nissan Motor Thailand Co Ltd, said Nissan suffered from three major setbacks in 2022 that led to a huge sales decline during the first four months.
“The main problem is the ongoing semiconductor shortage and with the Shanghai lockdown that lasted 1.5 to 2 months, we were not getting Chinese-made components needed for vehicle assembly. Parts from Ukraine were also unavailable due to the war, and although there was strong demand, we had to shut down the plant for a month in May,” he said.
The situation improved for Nissan in June as parts were sourced from elsewhere, but the situation is far from a full recovery.
“We’ve been relocating many of the parts sourcing to be less dependent on the shortage, and our situation for June to August is better than the April to May period,” he said. “But from September onwards, we have no visibility due to the the procurement situation.”
He added that Nissan suffered a dramatic sales slump this year as it was unable to acquire parts for the 2022 Navara and Kicks, the latter originally scheduled to be launched in April this year.
Asked about Nissan’s sales target for 2022, Sekiguchi said, “We can’t set a target for 2022 sales due to the fluctuations in production, and this is not just for Thailand but for every market.”


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By Dilip Kuner • 16 May 2019 • 17:37
Credit line for companies affected by Thomas Cook crash.
BREXIT uncertainty has been blamed by Thomas Cook for a half-year loss of £1.46 billion as British consumers delayed making holiday plans.
And the news sent its shares plummeting 21 per cent after it warned of “challenging” trading to come in the vitally important peak summer season.
The holiday company is now to cut 150 jobs at its Peterborough HQ as it continues on a cost reduction programme as it tries to weather the storm.
Most of the loss came after Thomas Cook wrote down the value of the business by £1.1 billion as a result of the weak trading environment it has found itself in.
Chief executive Peter Fankhauser said: “The first six months of this year have been characterised by an uncertain consumer environment across all our markets. The prolonged heatwave last summer and high prices in the Canaries reduced customer demand for winter sun, particularly in the Nordic region, while there is now little doubt that the Brexit process has led many UK customers to delay their holiday plans for this summer.
“Our current trading position reflects a slower pace of bookings, against a strong first half in 2018, and our decision to reduce capacity in order to mitigate risk in the tour operator and allow our airline to consolidate the strong growth it achieved last year.
“Taking lessons from 2018, we have put a keen focus on cash and cost discipline across the group in the first half. We have also accelerated the transformation of our UK business, including the closure of 21 UK retail stores and a review of Thomas Cook Money. A range of further cost efficiencies are planned for the second half, allowing further investment in our growth strategy.
“As we look ahead to the remainder of the year, it’s clear that, notwithstanding our early decision to mitigate our exposure in the ‘lates’ market by reducing capacity, the continued competitive pressure resulting from consumer uncertainty is putting further pressure on margins. This, combined with higher fuel and hotel costs, is creating further headwinds to our progress over the remainder of the year.”
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Mackay Shields LLC increased its position in shares of Timken Co (NYSE:TKR) by 43.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 178,801 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after acquiring an additional 53,973 shares during the period. Mackay Shields LLC owned approximately 0.24% of Timken worth $7,779,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Timken by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,465,944 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $331,961,000 after purchasing an additional 35,795 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Timken by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,294,669 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $323,168,000 after buying an additional 64,489 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners lifted its holdings in shares of Timken by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 2,328,332 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $119,344,000 after buying an additional 117,943 shares during the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Timken by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 1,951,019 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $100,165,000 after buying an additional 14,670 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Timken by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,506,293 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $65,539,000 after buying an additional 65,205 shares during the last quarter. 78.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Shares of TKR stock traded up $0.19 during trading on Friday, reaching $53.67. The company had a trading volume of 7,573 shares, compared to its average volume of 628,097. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $45.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 2.57 and a quick ratio of 1.42. Timken Co has a one year low of $33.98 and a one year high of $54.52. The company has a market capitalization of $3.97 billion, a PE ratio of 12.81, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.81.
Timken (NYSE:TKR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 30th. The industrial products company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $1.18 by ($0.04). Timken had a net margin of 8.11% and a return on equity of 21.12%. The company had revenue of $914.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $945.87 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.06 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Timken Co will post 4.72 earnings per share for the current year.
Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Timken from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $55.00 to $56.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. ValuEngine upgraded Timken from a “strong sell” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley set a $52.00 price target on Timken and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Zacks Investment Research lowered Timken from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating and set a $56.00 price target for the company. in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Bank of America lowered Timken from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and set a $41.00 price target for the company. in a report on Thursday, September 26th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $51.25.
In other Timken news, EVP Christopher A. Coughlin sold 46,813 shares of Timken stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.00, for a total value of $2,481,089.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 115,539 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,123,567. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Shelly Marie Chadwick purchased 1,183 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 4th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $52.73 per share, for a total transaction of $62,379.59. 11.58% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
The Timken Company engineers, manufactures, and markets engineered bearings and power transmission products worldwide. It operates in two segments, Mobile Industries and Process Industries. The Mobile Industries segment offers a portfolio of bearings, seals, and lubrication devices and systems, as well as power transmission components, engineered chains, augers, belts, couplings, clutches, brakes, and related products and maintenance services to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end users of off-highway equipment for the agricultural, construction, mining, outdoor power equipment, and power sports markets; and on-highway vehicles, including passenger cars, light trucks, and medium- and heavy-duty trucks, as well as rail cars and locomotives.
See Also: Overbought
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With the Coachella Valley’s cannabis industry facing what local officials and business owners describe as a struggling, oversaturated market, the Palm Springs City Council opted Thursday to cut retail taxes for marijuana sales in half while extending a moratorium on new dispensaries for four years.
The 4-0 vote during Thursday’s meeting came several months after the council agreed to place a short-term moratorium on any new cannabis dispensaries that was later extended until October 2024.
The council also decided Thursday against placing a cap on the number of permitted dispensaries within city limits for now, and it also opted against implementing any distribution taxes on cannabis companies, after several stakeholders pushed back on the idea.
Palm Springs has 26 operating dispensaries, along with eight that are permitted but not currently operating and another pending, which online data suggests makes it one of the most dispensary-saturated cities on a per capita basis.
But tax revenue from dispensaries has dropped for two straight years and is down substantially from the high it reached during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several dispensaries have also closed over the past two years even as the city has added more.
The question of how to keep the legal markets afloat has been discussed by councils across the Coachella Valley in recent months. Just this week, the Desert Hot Springs City Council took steps toward a permanent reduction in that city’s taxes on marijuana cultivation based on square footage.
More:Does Palm Springs have too many marijuana dispensaries? Once-booming industry faces trouble
What business owners said
The council heard from several stakeholders in the local cannabis industry Thursday night who supported cutting the retail tax, though they offered mixed opinions on some other initiatives.
Scott Rusczyk, president of the Coachella Valley Cannabis Alliance Network, said his group supported most of the recommendations from city staff, but he called the proposed distribution tax “extremely problematic” and said it would cancel out many distributors’ net profit. The city of Palm Springs currently has 16 cannabis distributors.
Rusczyk also said his group generally opposes caps on permitted dispensaries, calling them a “blunt instrument” to deal with an oversaturated market.
Steven Wijatyk, owner of Reefer Madness Dispensary and Lounge, said the city has already seen some customers shift to buying in other valley cities, such as Cathedral City, that have already reduced their retail taxes in recent months.
“Customers often tell me they get products in Cathedral City or Desert Hot Springs for less, because they save on the taxes,” Wijatyk said. “I would also like to request that the distribution tax stay at zero so our local distributors don’t move to other cities where the tax is less.”
A staff report submitted to the council shows the city saw $3 million in revenue from its cannabis retail taxes in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. A drop from a 10% to a 5% rate on retail sales would’ve cut that figure in half, though the staff report notes that increased sales as a result of the lower tax “could minimize that loss.”
What the council said
Councilmembers were fully supportive of cutting the retail tax in half. The city would follow Cathedral City and Palm Desert, which slashed their retail tax rates to 5% last year in response to feedback from cannabis business owners.
But other proposals drew mixed feedback, particularly the potential cap. In their outreach with local stakeholders, city staff heard a range of suggestions, from as low as five dispensaries to a high of 35, with the majority supporting a cap of 10. City staff also referred to other cities’ models for caps, such as using a per-capita formula or limiting the number allowed within specific council districts.
Mayor Pro Tem Ron deHarte said he wasn’t sure what the right number for a cap might be. He mentioned a cap of 36 as a possibility before raising his concern over potentially limiting dispensary owners in good standing from opening a second store in Palm Springs. He also noted a per-capita formula for Palm Springs should factor in the city’s seasonal residents and hotel visitors.
Councilmember Grace Garner said she preferred an extended moratorium on new dispensaries “that at least gives us an opportunity to see what’s going on before making any decisions about a set number on caps.”
“I feel like we could say 10, but then we’re just really putting another council in this place to discuss it however many years down the line, and finding out that 10 is not the right number, because we just can’t see that far in the future,” Garner said.
Councilmember Lisa Middleton said she was struggling with the notion of setting a cap, adding she would prefer extending the moratorium as a way to give the city more flexibility.
“This industry is oversaturated in Palm Springs, and the health of the industry is never going to be what it needs to be if we do not take some action to bring the market back into line with what can be sustained,” Middleton said. “That to me means we’ve got to place a strict limit on the number of new facilities that can come in for some period of time and let this market mature.”
On the moratorium, Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein suggested a four-year extension. Garner and Middleton supported the timeframe, while deHarte disagreed, though he ultimately supported the broader ordinance.
As part of its vote, the council also agreed to earmark 1% of the city’s tax revenue for “social good” and another 1% allocation for the city’s social equity program. The council also agreed to tax cannabis nurseries as cultivators, rather than as retailers, in response to a suggestion during the meeting’s public comments.
The council approved the amended ordinance by a 4-0 vote. The fifth councilmember, Christy Holstege, recused herself from the discussion, as she typically does on this topic because her spouse, Palm Springs real estate agent Adam Gilbert, has business ties to the cannabis industry.
The ordinance will soon return to the council for a second and final reading and vote.
This story includes prior reporting from staff writer Paul Albani-Burgio. Tom Coulter covers the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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What's old is new again, at least at Mitsubishi.
The three-diamond brand is celebrating its centennial this year. To mark the occasion, the brand tapped West Coast Customs to build a 1917 Model A—Mitsubishi's first car, as its name implies—with a plug-in hybrid powertrain plucked from the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Fittingly, it's called the Mitsubishi Re-Model A.
The brass-era car with a modern heart will make its debut at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show in November, but it will first appear on a special episode of "Inside West Coast Customs" on November 6.
The final product will feature the original Model A's entire frame, but underneath, it will be quite modern. Two electric motors and a 12-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery will provide power alongside a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine for a combined output of 197 horsepower while Mitsubishi's Super All-Wheel Control system will handle power delivery. The Re-Model A project coincides with the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV's arrival in the U.S. this December.
The Re-Model A will include additional modern technologies such as automatic emergency braking and a touchscreen infotainment system.
Ahead of the special Model A project, Mitsubishi will preview the future with the e-Evolution concept vehicle. The battery-electric SUV will debut at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show later this month.


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by Dish Staff
Burger King wants to become Canadian:
Under the deal, America’s least-favorite burger makers would form a new company with Tim Hortons based in Canada. The two could reach a deal soon as this week. Like a lot of American corporations, Burger King is considering casting off its U.S. citizenship because it’s really easy. Under current U.S. law, a company just has to buy 20 percent of a foreign corporation to transfer its base, through a process called a corporate inversion. Once the headquarters have moved, U.S. profits are subject to the 35 percent U.S. tax, but profits abroad are only subject to the lower rate. Canada lowered its corporate tax rate to 15 percent in 2012. And though that rate climbs to about 26 percent when you factor in provincial corporate taxes, that’s still lower than America’s 35 percent tax.
Vinik adds, “If it sounds ridiculous that an American company can purchase a foreign firm and suddenly avoid the U.S. corporate tax system, that’s because it is”:
It doesn’t matter that the vast majority of the shareholders are still American. Or that the management and control of the company remains in the U.S. Or that in making the deal, nothing about the company actually changes. You would still be able to grab a Whopper for lunch. Its thousands of American workers will all still have their jobs. But Burger King will have opted out of the U.S. corporate tax system.
But Matt Levine argues that “this merger, if it happens, is a real merger with real business and capital markets purposes”:
Tim Hortons, I am given to understand, sells a lot of coffee and donuts, most of them in Canada. (Out of 4,485 stores at the end of 2013, 3,588 were in Canada.) I don’t know, you could probably sell the coffee in the burger stores, or the burgers in the coffee stores, or good lord you could put a burger on a donut, that will probably win you cool points with millennials; millennials love things that are part donut and part thing that is not a donut. So there are business reasons for the deal. But if Burger King acquired Tim Hortons, the tax rate on all those Tim Hortons stores would go up: Instead of the regular 15 percent Canadian rate that they’re currently paying, they’d have to pay 35 percent combined to U.S. and Canadian authorities. From a Canadian company’s perspective, that hardly seems fair. Thus the inversion.
One more thing: This inversion is not all that inverted. Tim Hortons is actually bigger than Burger King, on revenue and net income though not on stock market capitalization. This is not just an aesthetic point.
But Daniel Gross suspects taxes are part of the rationale:
Sure, there may be valid business reasons for a combination. Tim Horton’s has a huge breakfast business, which Burger King lacks. But it’s easy to suspect that tax avoidance is a driving factor. (Burger King isn’t pursuing a U.S. doughnut chain like Dunkin’ Donuts.) That hedge fund sharpie William Ackman, who is backing Canada-based Valeant’s effort to acquire Allergan—another potential giant inversion—is one of Burger King’s biggest shareholders doesn’t help matters.
Yevgeniy Feyman uses the news to argue for tax reform:
Long-term tax reform should focus as much as possible on not just lowering, but replacing the corporate income tax (and perhaps the individual income tax as well) – with a progressive consumption tax. Short-run “fixes” that predicated on economic nationalism are likely to do more harm than good, and ultimately fail to actually address the problems with our tax system.
Mankiw made a similar argument over the weekend:
Let’s repeal the corporate income tax entirely, and scale back the personal income tax as well. We can replace them with a broad-based tax on consumption. The consumption tax could take the form of a value-added tax, which in other countries has proved to be a remarkably efficient way to raise government revenue.
But Jared Bernstein highlights the downside of eliminating the corporate income tax:
Those who would get rid of the corporate tax basically argue that the smart move is to go with this flow: As long as so many more businesses are setting themselves up to avoid the corporate tax, don’t fight ′em, join ′em. The problem is that to do so risks turning the corporate structure itself into a big tax shelter: If income generated and retained by incorporated businesses should become tax-free, then guess what type of income everybody will suddenly start making? Taxes delayed are taxes saved, and with no corporate tax, anyone who could do so would structure their earnings and investments to be “corporate earnings,” untaxed until they’re distributed.
Finally, Roberto A. Ferdman, who posts the above chart, points out that corporate inversion is something of a trend:
Burger King would hardly be the first large American corporation to move its headquarters—more than 70 U.S. companies have reincorporated overseas since the early 1980s. The practice has been especially popular lately—more than half of those inversions have come since 2003, or almost double the amount that did in the twenty years prior, according to data from Congressional Research Service (CRS).


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According to new reports Kendall Jenner buys Twitter followers.
An app has checked though Kendall’s followers list and came back with the results that over half of her near 8 million followers are ‘fake’ and ‘inactive’.
In Touch magazine did the checks with the app and found that a whopping 4.6 million were fake or inactive accounts.
A source has reported to the magazine:
‘Kendall and her sisters have bought a good amount of their followers.’
Another source has now reported that Kendall get paid $1000 every time she tweets an advertisement for a product and to do tho she needs a massive amount of followers and buying them was the best way for the reality star.
Another source reports:
‘She knows the more followers she has, the more she’ll get paid to tweet.’
Paying for followers is a complete waste of money but when your making $1000 every time you tweet about a new product it’s worth it!


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Man, this is frustrating news. Teen smoking down, of course, but down for the wrong reason — because a LOT more kids than ever are now “vaping” instead.
A recent Centers for Disease Control survey shows that the use of e-cigs has tripled in just one year among teens (from 4.5 percent to 13.4 percent). More kids are using e-cigs today than cigarettes (9.2 percent).
This is such a “good news, bad news” scenario. The good news is the rate of teen smoking is at its lowest level ever record — 9.2 percent. However, the bad news is, e-cigs still contain nicotine and are still turning teens into nicotine addicts. Nicotine all by itself is bad for your blood pressure.
I get that e-cigs don’t appear to be as deadly as cigarettes and that they might help some people quit cigarettes, but kids are using them as an out-and-out substitute for cigarettes is not good news. And it really torques me when e-cig companies employ the same ad techniques used by tobacco to make e-cigs looks sexy and suave.
From a Washington Post article:
The use of e-cigarettes among teenagers has eclipsed the use of traditional cigarettes and all other tobacco products, a development that Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called “alarming” and “shocking.”
“What’s most surprising is how incredibly rapid the use of products other than cigarettes has increased,” Frieden said in an interview, adding that some e-cigarette smokers would undoubtedly go on to use traditional cigarettes. “It is subjecting another generation of our children to an addictive substance.”
The Food and Drug Administration has proposed rules to ban the sales of e-cigs to minors (this rules have been in the “proposed” stage for over a year, but took a completely hands-off approach to a number of other problems with e-cigs, including fairly blatant e-cig marketing to teenagers and surgary flavourings designed to make e-cigs more palatable to teens.
On the surface, that might seems like good news, given the hundreds of thousands of Americans that still die from smoking each year. And it might be. “The drop in cigarette use is historic, with enormous public health significance,” said Matt Myers, with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. But, he was quick to add, “the explosion of e-cigarette use among kids means these products are being taken up in record numbers with totally unknown long-term consequences that could potentially undermine all the progress we’ve made.”


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Kids having fun in the grocery store? Learning in the grocery store? What’s this? It’s Eat Smart – part of Be Active & Eat Smart, the health campaign sponsored by Generali Worldwide Health Insurance, Cayman Insurance Centre, and Progressive Distributors.
On a recent Saturday kids roamed up and down the aisles of Foster’s at the Strand looking for clues in the Healthy Food Scavenger Hunt.
Children learned to identify different kinds of beans, read food labels to understand the nutrition in a glass of orange juice, how much water they need to drink each day and what kind of dairy products and juices are available in the store.
‘Taking the program into the community, specifically into the grocery store, is a great way to reach kids and their parents right at the point when they’re making a decision about what kind of foods to buy,’ commented Jennifer Williams, Be Active program coordinator.
‘We want to promote the healthiest foods to kids in the store – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins and dairy products. We have to reach them in the same place where they’re receiving a lot of encouragement to buy snack food, junk food – the message of good nutrition has to be right there, competing for their attention.’
Maureen Cubbon, marketing supervisor for Progressive Distributors commented, ‘We wanted to get involved to help educate kids about healthy eating, to encourage them to read labels and understand what’s in the food they eat.
‘All of us are certainly going to eat a variety of foods, some better for us than others, but we need to be aware of what and how much we’re eating and this is a great way to get that awareness started in kids.’
The Scavenger Hunt lasted about three hours. Kids ran or walked through the store to find their clues, complete the hunt and enter the prize drawing for a bicycle, boogie board and other sports equipment.
Tiny feet ran and even tinier hands clutched maps looking for the OceanSpray zone, the bean (legume) aisle, and other special locations where clues could be found.
‘Run! Run! It’s there it’s there!’ said one little boy leading his older brother to the Tropicana Zone.
‘I think it’s great,’ said one parent. ‘It’s a great idea to get kids thinking about this now, and the parents can participate and learn too.’
Volunteers from Generali Worldwide Health Insurance, Cayman Insurance Centre, Fitness Connection and even some children helped out with the event.
The Eat Smart Scavenger Hunt will happen again throughout all Foster’s and Kirk’s locations in late 2006 and into early 2007.