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Digiday Research: Facebook is the only social platform valuable to a majority of the brands and publishers using it
When it comes to social platforms, there’s the Facebook company, and then there’s everybody else.
While publishers and marketers alike love to complain, even protest, about the social media giant, its two core ad-supported platforms, Facebook and Instagram, are far and away the most valuable social platforms to media buyers and sellers, Digiday+ research shows.
Earlier this year, Digiday polled media and marketing professionals about the role that social media platforms play in their employers’ businesses. More than 220 people spread across publishers, agencies and brands responded.
Of the eight platforms Digiday asked respondents about, only four were cited as used by a representative number of brands, agencies and publishers, and there was one clear winner in that short list. Half of the survey’s publisher respondents and a majority of buy-side respondents that use Facebook — about 60% of both brand and agency — described it as at least a “valuable” source of revenue; a full third of agency respondents described Facebook as an “extremely valuable” source of clients’ revenues.
Instagram showed similar results, with a majority of agency and brand respondents calling it at least “valuable”; publishers were much less excited about Instagram as a source of revenue.
Outside of that, only YouTube came close to those totals. No other platform notched a score higher than 26%.
Even among younger-skewing platforms including Snapchat, TikTok and Twitch, which non-representative numbers of respondents said they were using, slim percentages indicated they found them useful. For example, just two of the 23 agency respondents said Snapchat was a “valuable” source of revenue; only one of the 12 agency respondents that used Twitch for clients described the video streaming site that way.
Even using the fuzzier metric of “brand-building,” Facebook as a company topped the competition. Nearly 90% of agency respondents described Instagram as at least “valuable” for brand-building, with more than 40% of them describing it as “extremely valuable.” Among buy-side respondents, Facebook the platform ranked third for brand-building, a few percentage points behind YouTube, though much higher numbers of respondents use Facebook than YouTube.
Those numbers were in a different universe from the survey’s emerging platforms, though TikTok acquitted itself well, anecdotally — two thirds of the publishers say they are using it. In fact, the results showed a kind of skepticism toward some of the emerging platforms. Among the four brand-side respondents who said they used Twitch, half said that Twitch was “not valuable at all” for brand-building, and the other half called it “somewhat valuable.” Four of the nine publisher respondents using Clubhouse said it was “not very valuable” or worse for brand-building.
It’s not clear whether this dynamic means that publishers, brands or agencies might reduce their use of these platforms. While all three are under growing pressure to justify the resources they put into every channel, it is also unlikely that the executives who head up social media or audience development are going to let their budgets be reduced.
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Two holding company media agency analysts continue to hold a more positive, if slightly tempered outlook on 2023 given strong results for 2022.
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Publishers' commerce businesses show positive signs that consumers are still shopping despite the economic downturn.


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Stranded Deep version 1.10 is now rolling out for PS4 and Xbox One players. According to the official Stranded Deep update 1.10 changelog, the latest update added some gameplay changes and bug fixes. Apart from this, Stranded Deep patch 1.10 also includes performance and stability improvements.
Previously, an update was released with quality of life improvements. Unfortunately, many players are still experiencing several issues while playing the game. Today’s Stranded Deep version 1.10 is expected to fix a few of these issues.
Check out more details below.
Stranded Deep update 1.10 changelog
Fixed an issue with the Hobo Stove that prevented the campfire underneath from being lit.
The trophy “Magnets, how do they work” is now correctly awarded. Picking up a compass will not invalidate the trophy. A new save will be required if you have already picked up a compass in your current save.
Addressed an issue that led to a crash when lighting the campfire
Fixed an issue that caused the rafts to become stuck on Brain Corals.
Fixed an issue that prevented the Anchor from bang dropped in Boss areas.
Fixed an issue that resulted in losing items being lost from the end game carrier when the area was reloaded. This fix covers items that were being lost in the carrier itself. This will apply to current saves, however it will not return items already lost.
Auto-walk is now disabled upon interacting with items and structures
Addressed game crashing issues.
Added fixes for stuttering and lag issues.
Other under the hood fixes.
An option to toggle “Auto-walk” On and Off was added in General Settings. The default setting for this feature is Off.
Added vibration feedback when chopping logs.
Download free Stranded Deep patch 1.10 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

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Apple hits a snag with satellite calls
Apple encounters an obstacle in the integration of satellite communications on the iPhone 14. According to a reputable informant, this difficulty could force the firm to postpone the arrival of the functionality. However, all the hardware tests would have already been carried out.
As the presentation of the iPhone 14 is fast approaching, a plethora of rumors prophesies the arrival of satellite communications. Already popular last year before the release of the iPhone 13, the rumor was revived by Apple’s invitation for the keynote. You can actually see a constellation of stars in space. For some, the image confirms the entry into the scene of the option.
[Analysis] Rumored iPhone 14 Support Survey Updates for Satellite Communication / @mingchikuo https://t.co/7MGLeTAtAo
—Ming-Chi Kuo (@mingchikuo) August 29, 2022
In a post published on MediumMing-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF Securities, also touched on the subject. He assures thatApple has completed hardware testing satellite connection for the launch of smartphones.
” Satellite communication is one of the items tested on iPhone 14 before mass production, and Apple has done hardware testing for this feature well. explains Ming-Chi Kuo.
According to the analyst, the hardware development was already completed before the release of the iPhone 13. Initially, Apple had planned to integrate satellite communications on its previous generation of phones. That’s why rumors have been piling up over the past year. The Cupertino giant had finally changed its plans. The ” economic model of the service could not be negotiated with the telecommunications operators.
Read also : Could the success of the iPhone 13 harm the iPhone 14?
Negotiations with telecommunications operators
For Ming-Chi Kuo, adding a satellite communication service on the iPhone 14 depends ” the ability of Apple and the operators to agree on the economic model”. Clearly, the Californian group must find a financial agreement with telecoms to be able to deploy the feature.
“It’s hard to predict precisely when the iPhone will offer satellite communication service, but I believe it will eventually happen”tempers the analyst.
According to him, Apple should work with a company that already has its own satellite communications network. If the rumors were confirmed, it would be GlobalStaran American company which benefits from a constellation of satellites. The firm has also announced that it has found a ” potential client » last February. To meet the needs of this mysterious customer, 17 additional satellites were purchased.
In the event that Apple works with GlobalStar rather than a carrier like T-Mobile or Verizon, the service could be billed separately to users. Telecoms would not have control over service billing. Asked by our colleagues from The Verge, Harold Feld, analyst at Public Knowledge, believes that this is a potential point of contention between Apple and the operators:
“They like to maintain the relationship with the customer and include everything on one invoice. If Apple makes this deal separately with Globalstar and they’re going to charge for the service separately, maybe that’s something that will be a point of contention with carriers.”.
Legally, there is nothing preventing Apple from adding this satellite communications service to the iPhone 14, without having to negotiate with the operators. The analyst, however, thinks that Apple will do everything to avoid alienating telecom operators and maintain ” good business relations ».
At the latest news, the satellite communication service would be reserved for emergency calls and texts. The feature would be directly integrated into the Messages app as a third communication protocol, in addition to traditional SMS and iMessages.
Anyway, Apple will announce the iPhone 14 from Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Except surprise, the brand will also present a range of Apple Watch Series 8 during the keynote.
#Apple #hits #snag #satellite #calls


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SINGAPORE - Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, the 29-year-old Barbadian singer's first make-up label, launched in Singapore on Friday (Sept 8) morning at Sephora in Ion Orchard mall.
Queues started forming outside the shop from 10.50pm on Thursday night, way before the opening at 10am.
By 8.30am, more than 100 people were seen outside the outlet.
ITE College Central student Adriana Rahman, 18, started queueing with her friend and schoolmate Toh Ruien, 19, at 10:50pm on Thursday night.
"We're big fans of Rihanna and have really been looking forward to this. We slept here last night," she said.
Miss Toh added: "We didn't want to take the risk that things would sell out."
Miss Adriana said she has darker skin so she was also looking forward to the range of foundation shades as "we heard there will be 40 different tones".
"It's not easy for those with darker skin to find the right shade."
Miss Toh added:"Other brands often only offer fairer shades. So it's great that she has so many. I think it's really inclusive."
Rihanna has made it mandatory that all 40 shades of the foundation, which costs $50 each, be made available in all countries that carry the label.
The two friends said that they were prepared to spend about $150 each.
The bold and sparkle-filled collection features highlighters, lip gloss, concealers and a stunning array of foundation shades.
Miss Aurelia Yew, 19, a Ngee Ann Polytechnic student, started queueing at 7am on Friday.
She said that she wanted to check out what the hype was about.
"It will be interesting to see what Rihanna has come up with. I like what she has done with Puma so I'm sure her make-up will be good too."
This is not the singer's first foray into beauty and fashion.
In 2014, the star was named the creative director of sportswear label Puma, overseeing creative direction and working with the label to design and customise classic styles as well as launch new styles.
Footwear by Rihanna, including the Fenty Puma Creeper launched in 2015 and Fenty Puma Fur Slide launched in 2016, sold out online within hours.
The singer, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, also has her own line of perfumes produced with fragrance manufacturer Parlux. She has also collaborated with cosmetics label MAC and fashion brands Manolo Blahnik and Dior on various collections.
Fenty Beauty is produced by the Kendo division of French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, which makes cosmetics for popular labels such as Marc Jacobs Beauty and Kat Von D Beauty.


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Cannabis retail store High Tea Cannabis Co. is implementing an eco-friendly delivery service using Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) vehicles.
The Toronto-based company noted that more than half of its delivery fleet will use Tesla cars with zero-emission.
On Friday, Feb. 12, High Tea will commence with its delivery services in Brampton, Ontario, where it just opened a flagship cannabis store in Brampton. It will also deliver in Mississauga, Milton, Georgetown, and Vaughan.
By the end of 2021, High Tea plans to add 15 more …


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La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (LJPC) reported its Q4 and full-year 2018 results after the market closed today. The company reported a loss of $1.73 per share on revenue of $4.18 million. LJPC stock jumped more than 10% ahead of its earnings announcement during midday today and ended the day at $6.33, up 8.76%. The stock dropped about 2% during the after-hours of trading.
Analysts had expected the San Diego-based pharma company to post a loss of $1.74 per share on revenue of $4.16 million. Shares of La Jolla plunged to a yearly low ($5.01) on January 8, 2019, the day after the company announced the preliminary results for 2018 and outlook for 2019.
La Jolla Pharma shed almost half of its stock price after it announced the disappointing sales of its premium product Giapreza and the weaker outlook of Giapreza sales for 2019 on January 7. Sales of Giapreza, which was launched in March 2018, were about $4.2 million in the fourth quarter and about $10.1 million in the full-year 2018. The company predicts Giapreza sales to be in the range of $24 million to $28 million in 2019.
La Jolla expects a decision on the Giapreza Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in June 2019.
Also, the company expects to file a New Drug Application for its investigational product LJPC-0118 for the treatment of severe malaria in Q4 2019. La Jolla expects topline results of Phase 2 study of its investigational product LJPC-401 in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis in the latter half of 2019 and topline results of pivotal study of LJPC-401 in patients with beta thalassemia is expected in mid-2020.
La Jolla stock had declined 34% since the beginning of 2019 and 80% in the past 12 months period.
Broadcom Limited (NASDAQ: AVGO) reported first quarter 2021 earnings results today. Total revenue increased 14% year-over-year to $6.65 billion. GAAP net income was $1.3 billion, or $3.05 per share, compared
Retail giant Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) reported higher earnings and revenues for the second quarter of 2021. Earnings missed analysts’ expectations, while sales beat. Net profit was $951 million
With the corporate world rapidly shifting to cloud-native computing after the virus outbreak changed work culture and the way businesses operate, technology providers are aggressively innovating their offerings. Hewlett Packard


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Emerging Trends in IoT for 2024: Innovations That Will Transform Our World
As we move into 2024, the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, influencing everything from consumer gadgets to industrial systems. The year is poised to unveil a plethora of developments that promise to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and everyday convenience. Here are some of the most significant IoT trends to watch out for in 2024.
1. Enhanced Edge Computing:
One of the most substantial shifts in IoT is the move towards edge computing. By processing data near the source rather than in a centralized cloud, edge computing reduces latency, conserves bandwidth, and improves response times. In 2024, we’ll see edge devices becoming smarter with integrated AI capabilities, enabling real-time analytics and decision-making in applications such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and remote healthcare.
2. Greater Integration of AI and Machine Learning:
AI and machine learning algorithms have become integral to the growth of IoT by providing devices the ability to learn from data, predict outcomes, and operate autonomously. In 2024, we’ll witness IoT systems becoming even more intelligent, providing businesses with insights to optimize operations and create personalized experiences for consumers.
3. Proliferation of Smart Consumer Devices:
Consumer IoT is set for another year of expansion, with smart home devices like thermostats, security cameras, and lights becoming more ubiquitous. However, the trend will go beyond the home as wearable technology continues to mature, offering advanced health monitoring and personal assistants right on our bodies.
4. IoT in Healthcare Transformation:
The healthcare sector is expected to see remarkable innovations due to IoT. Telemedicine, remote monitoring, and health wearables will become more sophisticated, aiding in managing chronic diseases, enhancing patient care, and reducing healthcare costs. IoT devices in 2024 will provide real-time data that aid in early detection and prevention of health issues.
5. Sustainability and Green IoT:
With climate change being a pressing issue, IoT technology will play a pivotal role in driving sustainable practices. In 2024, IoT-enabled solutions will help in monitoring and reducing energy consumption, managing waste, and facilitating sustainable agriculture practices. Smart grids, precision farming, and intelligent resource management will be at the forefront of the green revolution.
6. Security and Privacy Enhancements:
As the number of IoT devices surges, so does the attack surface for security threats. Recognizing this, manufacturers and software developers are prioritizing the security of IoT devices. Expect to see advanced security protocols, encryption standards, and privacy features becoming a standard part of IoT offerings in 2024.
7. IoT in Supply Chain and Logistics:
Supply chain and logistics will continue to reap the benefits of IoT integration, with improved tracking of goods, predictive maintenance of equipment, and more efficient inventory management. Companies will leverage IoT to gain end-to-end visibility of their supply chains, allowing for a more resilient and responsive approach to disruptions.
8. Convergence of IoT with Blockchain:
Blockchain technology is set to bolster the IoT space by providing a secure and transparent way to handle the vast amounts of data generated by devices. In 2024, expect to see IoT and blockchain convergence facilitate smart contracts, protect against data tampering, and enable secure micropayments for IoT services.
9. Advancements in 5G and Beyond:
With 5G networks becoming more widespread, IoT devices will benefit from faster data speeds, ultra-low latency, and increased connectivity. In 2024, this will support the emergence of new applications and services that were not possible with previous generations of wireless technology.
Together, these trends will not only refine the capabilities of IoT devices but will also herald new business models and opportunities, improving lives, and driving innovation across various industries. As we embrace the year 2024, the potential of IoT is limited only by our imagination.
© Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved


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Let's be honest, we all play with our phones when the TV is on. Usually to take to Twitter to vent our anger at whatever is showing on Saturday night. So Shazam-enabled ads just might take off.
ITV has announced a deal with Shazam, which will see ITV become the exclusive UK distributor for Shazam functionality in UK broadcast advertising. In short, Shazam-enabled ads.
ITV will offer advertisers the chance to have their traditional 30-second TV spots Shazam-enabled for the first time. If you have the right app, you'll be able to interact to enter competitions, get additional information about a brand or product, view additional special content or download free music. We suspect you'll be able to find out what tune is playing too.It's not a world first. Shazam for TV has apparently been very successful in the US, where it has been used for ratings winners such as American Idol, the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl. In the case of the latter, more than half of the advertisers chose to Shazam-enable their ads.ITV group commercial sales director Simon Daglish said: 'Shazam’s audio-recognition technology is at the forefront of the second screen movement which is transforming the way consumers interact with content including advertising. This exciting and exclusive partnership means that ITV is able to offer customers a real first for UK media and allow brands to innovate their spot campaigns and connect directly with audiences on a large scale.'Shazam CEO Andrew Fisher said: 'ITV is not only the largest commercial broadcaster in the UK, but has also established one of the leading sales organisations in the world. We are delighted that ITV will be bringing Shazam-enabled ads to the UK market. This will empower leading brands to connect with our millions of fans who will now be able to experience an extended engagement in one of the most convenient and innovative ways possible.'


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The Hairy Bikers find out three foods that define Corsican cuisine
Dave Myers is one half of the Hairy Bikers duo with Si King, 50. He has achieved an impressive weight loss in the past year.
Dave went from 19 stone to less than 15 stone in the past 12 months, he told The Mirror in June.
This is an incredible weight loss of over four stone from Dave’s 6ft tall frame.
“I am not morbidly obese now. I might feel like a male Adonis if I get to 14st,” he told the publication.
Revealing how he managed to drop the weight so quickly, he said: “I always lose weight by cutting all the carbs out.
Dave Myers of the Hairy Bikers achieved a weight loss of over four stone
He also used the popular weight loss method of counting calories to drop the weight, as well as cutting out alcohol.
“I just calorie count and knock the booze on the head and then watch the scales to see the weight come off.”
“Now I’ve been very healthy,” he added.
Dave also revealed his waist size was previously 49 inches, in an interview with Irish Times earlier this year.
Both Dave and his Hairy Bikers partner Si, whose weight peaked at almost 20 stone, were once dangerously overweight.
Dave Myers weight loss: The Hairy Bikers chef dropped four stone
“We were starting to get old before our time,” he told the publication.
“I’m 10 years older than Kingy, but we’d both begun to shuffle, the knees were sore.”
The Hairy Bikers’ weight loss of three stone each was documented back in 2012.
Their latest book, The Hairy Dieters Make It Easy, details their new diet-friendly recipes.
Another example of a chef losing weight is Gordon Ramsay’s weight loss.
Gordon Ramsay, 51, achieved a weight loss of more than four stone after tipping the scales at 18st in 2000.
The 6ft 2 British celebrity chef and author of Fit Food now weighs just 13st 10lb.
But how did Gordon lose the weight? He is said to have limited a common food group in order to do it.
Asked how he dropped the stones, he said: “No milk. Just because it's sluggish.”
“Dropping milk and cheese has made a massive difference,” he said, speaking to the Daily Mail.


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Cimon Constantine has taken the reigns of Meltwater ANZ as the media intelligence business continues to grow its headcount to support new business and upcoming opportunities.
Constantine (pictured above) will be taking over the ANZ area director role to continue to support Meltwater’s growth in the region and new client wins including American Express, Greenpeace, GSK, Singapore Airlines, G Squared, and TradeMe.
Constantine joined Meltwater in 2012 as a social media consultant and was most recently the managing director.
His new role will see him managing operations across Australia and New Zealand, and leading Meltwater’s new client success team – a division Meltwater has invested in significantly, with 34 new hires in the team since launching in 2013.
David Hickey has taken on the role of director of strategy for Meltwater across the Asia Pacific. He will focus on operational alignment, culture and strategic growth of the company across the region.
“We have been growing the Meltwater ANZ team to support an influx of enterprise brands coming on board. In the last financial year, we’ve grown the team by 33 per cent and in the last six years, a massive 638 per cent,” he said.
“We’ve invested in our staff to support rapid client growth and investments in multiple new dedicated teams, such as client experience and an onboarding team, to help develop positive client engagement and reduce account churn from the get-go.
“I have the utmost confidence that Cimon will continue to expand Meltwater’s ANZ team and client portfolio in his new role, while I shift my focus to growing the business across APAC.
“I am looking forward to working with Cimon to ensure Meltwater continues to be the leader in media intelligence for businesses across all industries.”
Constantine said: “Meltwater is experiencing an exciting growth period. We are investing big in our internal team, listening to what our clients need, and actioning this feedback.”
“Meltwater is also investing in its technology now more than ever as we continue to expand our offerings to become a true technology partner for businesses of all sizes.
“Our recent client wins demonstrate that Meltwater can provide an offering that is extremely hard to compete with.”
Constantine noted that 18 months ago, Meltwater’s dedicated insights team did not exist.
“We now offer our clients in-depth reports collated using the billions of real-time conversations happening externally that’s changing the way they work,” he said.
“I look forward to helping companies make more informed strategic decisions based on real-time data insights.”
Acast, the independent power source of podcasting has teamed up with Comscore to provide brand suitability controls for brands advertising through the Acast Marketplace. This new innovation is part of a global partnership with Comscore, and will be available to all advertisers working with Acast Australia and New Zealand. The brand suitability solutions offered by […]
HubSpot, the customer relationship management (CRM) platform for scaling companies, has announced that as part of its World Certification Week, it is supporting the GO Foundation with its mission to empower young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through education. As part of the support, HubSpot will donate $5 for every HubSpot Academy certification awarded […]
IntelligenceBank has today announced a strategic growth investment from Five Elms Capital. The $US37 million ($50 million) investment comes as brands and enterprises have realised that outdated technologies, disjointed data sources, and manual processes make it challenging to efficiently manage essential marketing workflows and ensure compliance across the organization. IntelligenceBank digitally transforms manual processes and […]
Southern Cross Austero (SCA) announced today 10 all-new DAB+ music stations on LiSTNr. The introduction of the 10 new Dab stations takes the number of music stations to 25 and reinforces its commitment to growing exclusive music programs and content. The 10 new stations have been created to cater to a variety of moods and […]
SBS has launched live interpreting of the daily NSW Government COVID-19 press conference in languages other than English, to provide communities with access to the latest information and critical health messages. The national-first initiative provides real-time interpreting of the press conferences in Arabic and Vietnamese, streamed live every day on the SBS Arabic24 and SBS Vietnamese Facebook pages, SBS […]
Snowflake, the Data Cloud company, today announced it has been chosen by market-leading linking platform, Linktree, to support the company’s business intelligence and analytics activities. Linktree enables creators, brands, artists, publishers, agencies, and businesses of all sizes to curate an online ecosystem and monetise their passion, instantly guiding their audience to the destinations they care […]
Australian Pay On Demand fintech Beforepay has launched its first-ever brand campaign: ‘Your pay at your command’. “Beforepay exists to meet a gap in the market where Australians are seeking flexibility and control to access the pay they’ve earned on their terms. As pioneers of the Pay On Demand category, it’s important that we set […]
Taboola (Nasdaq: TBLA), a global leader in powering recommendations for the open web, helping people discover things they may like, announced today that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Connexity from Symphony Technology Group for approximately $US800 million. Connexity is one of the largest independent e-commerce media platforms in the open web, serving over 1,600 direct merchants, and 6,000 publishers.
Twitter has just experienced its fastest growth in revenue since 2014, with the social media platform benefiting from increased interest from advertisers. Revenue was up 74 per cent YoY, according to the company’s Q2 results, reaching $US1.19 billion ($1.6 billion) from $US683.4 million ($925 million) 12 months ago. The strong results came in the same […]
Wild Turkey has announced the launch of its new global creative campaign and platform, ‘Trust Your Spirit’, featuring the brand’s creative director and spokesperson, Matthew McConaughey. The global campaign and platform ‘Trust Your Spirit’ is to encourage people to be bold, unapologetically themselves, and stay true to who they are. The global tagline and ethos […]
Telecommunications company Optus has announced it will launch the world’s first TikTok sign-language activated filter. Featuring Optus ambassador Ian Thorpe, Optus will unveil a branded effect that shows TikTok users how to say key phrases in Auslan sign language, including ‘How are you?’ and ‘It starts with Yes’, through the hashtag challenge #SignYes. Optus will […]


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FTC Sending Refunds Totaling More Than $6.9 Million To Small Businesses, Non-Profits, And Government Agencies Targeted By An Office Supply Telemarketing Scam
Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is making consumers aware that the Federal Trade Commission announced that it is sending refunds totaling more than $6.9 million to small businesses, non-profits, and government agencies targeted by an office supply telemarketing scam that charged them for products they did not order. The FTC alleged that defendants’ victims included child care centers, schools, and police and fire departments.
According to the FTC, Telestar Consulting Inc. and Karl Wesley Angel offered an initial shipment represented either as free or as a low-cost “good deal.” If the consumer agreed to make a purchase, the defendants did not disclose the total cost, quantity, or terms of the sale. The FTC alleged that Telestar, d/b/a United Business Supply, and, subsequently, as Kleritec, also sent additional shipments of merchandise without obtaining the consumer’s agreement.
When consumers challenged the invoices they received or did not pay promptly, the defendants, according to the FTC, threatened to send them to “collections.” Those consumers who paid, mistakenly believing they had to pay, often received even more unordered merchandise and bills for payment.
The FTC has begun mailing 13,181 refund checks averaging $525 each to the victims of the scam. Refund recipients, according to the FTC, should deposit or cash their checks within 60 days, as indicated on the check. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check. If recipients have questions about the refunds, they should contact the FTC’s refund administrator, Rust Consulting, Inc., at (800) 870-7192.
The FTC’s new interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of these refunds. In 2019, FTC actions led to more than $232 million in refunds to consumers across the country.


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Essential Oxygen is a family business that sees this planet and its people beaming with optimal health and promotes this vision by creating truly effective and clean natural products. EssentialOxygen produces Organic Brushing Rinse of Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide with anti-microbial Essential Oils and 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide.
Sunday, July 8, 2012 12:00:30 AM America/Los_Angeles
Sunday, May 20, 2012 1:37:06 PM America/Los_Angeles
Customers can trust that whether they are in the backcountry, backwoods or backyard, All Terrain's products will work. The products are developed by and for outdoor enthusiasts who expect high performance from themselves and from the products they use. They are laboratory-tested and/or field-te...Read More
Monday, April 11, 2011 1:30:00 PM America/Los_Angeles
While fears of radiation poisoning increase in Japan after the Fukushima I nuclear power plant disaster, the latimes.com reported on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, that the operator of the nuclear plant in Fukushima announced that it discovered radioactive iodine, which was 7.5 million times the legal limit. Further, samples taken on Monday also showed fish having radioactiv...Read More


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Samsung Pay has updated its app for Android devices for those currently using the service in a beta test in the US. “Most importantly are the new ‘Simple Pay’ settings, which let you control where and when the phone is ready to launch Samsung Pay so you can use it in a store,” Android Central reports. The service is due to launch in the US this month.
- IoTize picks ST NFC chip for plug’n’play IoT connectivity
- Dubai drivers use NFC phones to top up parking purses on contactless transit cards
- Researchers aim to print edible RFID tags directly on to food
- Government of Montserrat signs up for digital currency pilot
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia adds support for Samsung Pay


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Samsung is confident that sales of its new flagship smartphone Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge will be higher than its predecessors. In this regard, the South Korean giant has planned a production of over 17 million branded devices.
According to the publication ET News, in February, March and April 2016 Samsung intends to collect 5, respectively, to 7.7 and 4.5 million units of Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge. Thus, for three months it is planned to produce and possibly sell 17.2 million tubes. For comparison, during the first three months after appearing on the market Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge their shipments totaled 15.8 million units, and shipments of the Samsung Galaxy S4 for the same period were 15.2 million copies.
Edition called Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S4 the most successful smartphone from the Samsung Galaxy S. the sales model of the Galaxy S5 are not shown.
In 2015 for every four shipped Samsung Galaxy S6 was only one Galaxy S6 edge. The demand for the model with curved edges display last year was greater than expected Samsung, so this year with each of the three Samsung Galaxy S7 in the stores will go two Galaxy S7 edge.
At a press conference MWC 2016, the head of the mobile division of Samsung Dongjin Koh said that the company expects higher demand for smartphones Galaxy S7 compared to the predecessor. “All of our customers and partners expect a lot from Galaxy S7”, — said a top Manager of Samsung.
Samsung has started taking pre-orders on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge in Russia. The smartphone is available in three colors – “black diamond”, “dazzling platinum” and “titanium silver”. Samsung Galaxy S7 is available at 49 990 rubles, Galaxy S7 edge – 59 990 rubles. The official start of sales is scheduled for March 18.


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4 things to know about GDPR after Brexit
by Veronika Schipper, on Aug 26, 2019 10:17:46 AM
When thinking of Brexit, GDPR and data protection might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, as we are getting closer to the day when the UK will leave the European Union (October 31, 2019), the question of data regulation arises. So whether you are doing business with the UK or you have data stored in the UK, here is what you should know about GDPR after Brexit.
1. "No-deal" Brexit
As many are convinced, there is a big chance of "no-deal" Brexit scenario to happen. That means the UK will withdraw from the European Union without a transition period and will automatically become a "third country", a country that does not belong the EU/EEA (European Economic Area). As a result, the UK will no longer have to comply with European laws and GDPR. The complete legal structure around personal data and their transfer from one organisation to another within the EU and outside of it will be affected.
2. Brexit with a transition period
There is a (slight) possibility that the UK will reach an agreement with the EU in which case the UK can agree to remain a subject to EU law and GDPR even after Brexit. That would, however, apply only to a certain period after which the UK will become a "third country" as stated above. Companies will have to prepare for new data regulations sooner or later.
3. GDPR and data transfers
In the event of "no-deal" Brexit, it is not going to be as simple to transfer data from an EU-based company to one based in the UK, as it is now. Any company will have to prepare for this scenario straight away. The free flow of personal data to countries outside of the EU is per GDPR allowed only with appropriate contracts. The standard contractual clauses, approved by the EU, will enable the transfer of personal data when embedded in a contract. More info on this is available from the Information Commissioner's website. Transfers of personal data from the EU to the UK are not restricted, and UK organisations will continue to be able to send personal data freely to the EU.
4. Moving data sets from the UK to the EU
One of the critical points in GDPR is the personal data protection of the European citizen. If you use BigQuery for your data queries, this means that the datasets you are using cannot be stored in any other region than the European Union. If they are saved in the UK, it might be a good idea to start migrating before Brexit.
Unfortunately, there is no export functionality to allow this job to happen in Google Cloud Platform quickly. But there are two ways how to do it using Google Cloud Dataflow or Google Cloud Datalab described in more details here.
Most companies operating in the UK will have two options to ensure legal transfer of personal data. To work with contractual clauses, which results in extra bureaucracy or move datasets/ servers to the EU countries.
We can you help you migrate BigQuery tables across regions. Get in touch for more info.
Crystalloids helps companies improve their customer experiences and build marketing technology. Founded in 2006 in the Netherlands, Crystalloids builds crystal-clear solutions that turn customer data into information and knowledge into wisdom. As a leading Google Cloud Partner, Crystalloids combines experience in software development, data science and marketing making them one of a kind IT company. Using the Agile approach Crystalloids ensures that use cases show immediate value to their clients and make their job focus more on decision making and less on programming.
For more information, please visit www.crystalloids.com or follow us on LinkedIN


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Bladelogic Inc. blog on Tuesday said it plans to offer 5 million shares at $12-$14 a share in a bid to raise about $65 million in its upocoming initial public offering with underwriters Morgan Stanley MS, -1.48% and Merrill Lynch MER, +1.07% The Lexington, Mass. maker of server technology plans to trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol BLOG.
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Asda is holding a huge toy sale with prices starting at £5.
Though it's still a long a while until Christmas, now might be the time to stock up on presents for the kids.
The supermarket chain is holding the sale in stores across the UK and online until September 30, or while stocks last.
Brands such as Lego, Playmobil, PJ Masks and Mamas and Papas are all included in the sale, the Mirror reports.
The cheapest item is a nail spa set which has been slashed from £7.97 to £5.
Asda's big toy sale coincides with their baby and toddler event, which includes discounted nappies, wipes, cots, bedding, baby monitors and baby food.
This is our pick of the best deals currently on offer.


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Birmingham’s oldest wine merchant is putting a twist on traditional - by opening a trendy new bar.
Arch 13 will open at the front of Connolly’s Wine Merchants in Livery Street and is set to be the next cool dining hotspot.
The wine bar has more than 500 wines, 120 gins and countless liquors and cocktails at its fingertips.
Revamping the shop and creating a wine bar experience has been on the Connolly family's radar for a while.
Owner of the shop Chris Connolly said: “We want Arch 13 to be a place you can kick off your shoes and feel comfortable.
“We want to be accessible and not at all pretentious.
“It’s all about encouraging people to try something new that they wouldn't usually considering ordering - without having to spend a fortune.”
Arch 13 will be fronted by 26-year-old Abigail Connolly, who is Birmingham’s only female sommelier.
She said: “Arch 13 is about unique wines, great cheese and meat, and perfect pairings between the two.
“We can’t wait to open and showcase some really interesting pairings to our customers.”
The launch menu has a varied list of 23 wines, which start at £4 a glass, but this will constantly be evolving.
Chris said: “The key to a good wine list isn’t length but variety. We’ve been in the industry for years and have lots of experience creating menus now.
“My daughter Abi wanted something that will constantly change and evolve so she’s picked some great wines for the opening.
“There’s some great Portuguese wines. They’re easy drinking wines and offer a great taste for the price.”
Arch 13 will also launch with a range of Madeira wines that showcases vintage bottles dating back to 1968.
Chris said: “Madeira wines seem to have gone out of fashion in the past few years.
“These wines have such a great, different taste. The staff loved them at our training session.
“It’s more than possible that people can pop in and try a Madeira from the year they were born.”
The cocktail menu also has six classic mixes and six specials.
The family owned and run business has been underneath the railway arches on Livery Street since 1991.
However this is the first time they have ventured into food.
The dining menu has a selection of British meat, including hand-carved mutton, venison salami and air-dried duck, and cheese boards sourced from Harvey and Brockless.
Chris said: “The menu is simple but really good.
“It’s based largely around cold plates but we’ll have a hot meal on offer too each day.
“There’s around a dozen cheeses and also meat platters - they look spectacular.”
Just as much thought has been put into re-imagining the space as the menus.
Designed to showcase and celebrate the space’s lofty arches, Arch 13 will be light and airy by day and cosy, intimate and lit by candle-light in the evening.
Chris said:“The shop has been utilised to fit the bar in and it looks amazing now.
“The design is like a classic wine bar but looks fantastic in the atmospheric railway arch space.”
The space was inspired by a traditional wine cellar with a contemporary twist and created by Birmingham based interior designers Newman Gauge.
Distressed and aged timbers fill the space alongside fret cut metal work and traditional stencils found on cellar barrels.
Arch 13 opens to the public on Thursday, May 10.


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In a few days another year will come to pass and we will age a little more. But here’s some good news to take the edge of this grim reality and jump into the new year all happy and excited. A study conducted by researchers at the National University of Singapore found that higher consumption of caffeine at midlife, via coffee and tea, was associated with a reduced likelihood of physical frailty in later life. Simply put, coffee is good for you and those who drink the beverage are physically less frail in their old age compared to those who don’t drink any. This holds true for tea as well.
Physical frailty is an age-related medical syndrome characterised by diminished strength, endurance, and reduced physiological function and it increases an individual's vulnerability for dependency and/or death, explains Fiona Sampat, clinical dietitian at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai.
The study published in the Journal of Post-Acute and Long-term Care Medicine tracked 12,538 participants with a mean age of 53 and did three follow-ups in 20 years when the participants’ mean age was 73. They evaluated the habitual coffee and tea consumption of participants and assessed physical frailty in the third and final follow-up. The researchers concluded that those who drank four cups of coffee daily had reduced odds of physical frailty in old age compared to those who didn’t drink any. Similar results were valid for tea drinkers versus those who didn’t drink tea every day. The researchers noted that this could be because of caffeine content in coffee and tea but further studies are needed to investigate if other compounds found in these beverages also play a significant role.
Studies have shown that regular coffee drinkers have a reduced risk of physical problems in old age, says Vaishali Verma, dietitian at HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka. “Another study published in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology, shows that coffee drinkers have better muscle strength and are faster than non-coffee drinkers. It also suggests that coffee may help protect against sarcopenia,” says Verma.
Coffee contains caffeine and polyphenols, which are rich sources of bioactive chemicals with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. Caffeine is a stimulant, which increases mental alertness and focus along with improving concentration and mood by altering the levels of various neurotransmitters including dopamine and adenosine, says Sampat. “Moreover, the caffeine in coffee is a proven ergogenic aid too. It helps increase endurance, athletic performance and physical activity levels. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants such as chlorogenic, ferulic, caffeic, and n-coumaric acids that help fight inflammation. Other studies have also linked moderate coffee consumption to reduced risk of liver scarring, liver cancer and liver cirrhosis,” she adds.
While coffee’s popularity and the coffee-drinking population are growing at a fast clip, two-thirds of the world's population drinks tea. There are three types of tea depending on how the leaves are picked and processed: oolong (semi-fermented), green (non-fermented), and black (fermented), points out Sampat. “Different teas have different benefits. Like coffee, tea (especially green tea) is also an extremely rich source of antioxidants, which helps fight inflammation and reduce the risk of various types of cancers and heart disease. Tea is also associated with improved metabolic and cardiovascular health. The anti-inflammatory properties combined with presence of catechins and their effect on the lipid metabolism help cut risks of various cardiovascular diseases. The caffeine content in tea is less than that of coffee but it has the same effect as coffee does on alertness and focus,” adds Sampat.
Despite all the positives of coffee and tea, excessive intake of either can lead to side effects, warn doctors, nutritionists and dieticians. Too much coffee may cause insomnia, anxiety, increased heart rate, and digestive issues, anaemia while excessive tea consumption, particularly strong black tea, may lead to excess caffeine intake and related side effects such as high blood pressure, warns Shweta Gupta, head dietician, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi.
“It’s essential to moderate caffeine intake and be mindful of your caffeine tolerance levels. Coffee can also act as a diuretic when consumed in excess leading to dehydration. Additionally, both coffee and tea can stain your teeth. Ingesting too many caffeinated beverages can also cause gastric disturbances such nausea and heart burn. When consumed along with snacks, it leads to consumption of extra calories,” warns Gupta. Ultimately, balance is the key for enjoying the benefits of coffee and tea while minimising risks.
Shrenik Avlani is a writer and editor and the co-author of The Shivfit Way, a book on functional fitness.


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Happy Monday, readers — we're glad to see you've made it through this emotional weekend. It's hard to believe, but the long judicial ordeal that was Apple v. Samsung is over. Fortunately for Samsung, the gadget maker has IFA 2012 and a new Windows 8 tablet to distract from the pain of what can only be characterized as a thorough loss. Meanwhile, citizens of the world celebrated the life of Neil Armstrong, the first human being to walk on the moon. That and more in today's 90 Seconds on The Verge.
Stories of the day:


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HP chief executive Mark Hurd made $42.5m (£29.7m) in 2008. HP gave him $25.4m in cash last year, including a $1.45m salary and $23.9m in bonus money, according to compensation figures contained in the...
Consumers can check the provenance of produce via a QR code
Huawei accused of stealing trade secrets from US partners
Windows 10 search shake-up will also bring changes to Office 365
The Pokémon Company's John Visneski talks to us about security, scalability and Hellfire missiles


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12/23/2011, Just how much does a color scheme affect the desirability of a particular phone? I guess it really depends on what kind of data is received from all the market research done prior to communicating with the manufacturer as to select the kind of paint job said handset would receive. Well, the HTC Radar now carries two tones, mixing up both white and dark grey models to deliver a rather […]
11/07/2011, It seems that Microsoft has lowered the requirements for their manufacturers when it comes to Windows Phone devices. Previously manufacturers who were interested in making Windows Phone devices had to adhere to a strict set of requirements set out by Microsoft, but it appears that the Redmond company may have relaxed the rules just a tad, thus opening up the door to more manufacturers interested in getting in on Windows […]
10/24/2011, Great news to those of you looking forward to the HTC Radar 4G arriving on T-Mobile’s network; the carrier has just announced today on its official Facebook page that the phone will be available in stores next week. The HTC Radar 4G is one of the first few second-generation Windows Phone 7 devices, and will feature a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 3.8″ (800 x 480) display, Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango), […]
09/27/2011, Looking for the first “4G” Windows Phone 7 device on T-Mobile’s network? Good news, because it has just been announced. T-Mobile has just made it known that the HTC Radar 4G will be arriving on its network in the coming months. The HTC Radar 4G will feature a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 3.8″ (800 x 480) LCD display, Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango), HSPA+ connectivity, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a VGA […]
09/22/2011, So we know that HTC has plans to launch several new Windows Phone 7.5 handsets – namely the HTC Titan and the HTC Radar, but oddly enough given HTC’s partnership with Beats Audio, no Beats Audio technology integration was found on either WP7 handset, at least not according to their specs.
09/07/2011, We’ve previously revealed the recently announced second generation of Windows Phone 7 devices from HTC, the TITAN and the Radar, and have revealed their prices but we didn’t get a release date except a vague October. Now, it has been reported that Amazon UK has put up the phones for pre-order and has given them a delivery date of 15th October. In case you forgot, the HTC TITIAN and the […]
09/02/2011, The huge fanfare surrounding a couple of smartphones from Taiwanese manufacturer HTC has continued with no signs of it abating – we’re talking about the HTC Radar and HTC Titan, where the devices’ respective webpages are now live and kicking so that you will be able to check out their official specifications in full glory without having to worry about what you read in rumors of previous stories. The HTC […]
09/01/2011, Looking forward to the next generation of Windows Phone devices from HTC? You’re in luck. Today, the Taiwanse company announced the launch of two Windows Phone 7 Mango-powered handsets. First up we have the HTC TITAN, and if you looked at the phone’s name and immediately thought “big device” – you wouldn’t be wrong.


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“The brand is 90% controlled by,” Fiat ’s CEO says. “And that’s where it belongs.”
No increase in volume planned for Ferrari.
AUBURN HILLS, MI –CEO Sergio Marchionne makes it crystal clear for analysts here: Super-luxury marque Ferrari is not for sale.
Nor is it planning any short-term increase in volume, which will remain at 7,000 cars annually between now and 2018, he says.
Marchionne says there are a growing amount of buyers with the wealth needed to buy a Ferrari, and the brand easily could increase sales to 10,000 units annually with expected access to new emerging markets.
But volume will continue to be limited to protect the brand, which consensus analyst estimates value at €4.3 billion ($6.0 billion).
Marchionne says EBITDA multiples (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for Ferrari at 10,000 units annually would be “well in excess of €1 billion ($1.4 billion),” what he says is well above the average rate for other luxury goods.
“And that is why Ferrari is not for sale,” he says, attempting to put to rest recurring rumors. “Let me be clear about this. Ferrari is a phenomenal repository of value. Whenever you think we’re going to get hard-pressed for cash, look at this.”
“The brand is 90% controlled by,” he adds. “And that’s where it belongs.”
Product plans call for new models to debut every year rotating between hardtops and spiders, Marchionne says, with 4-year lifecycles for each, followed by “M” versions lasting another four years.
Margins should top 15% by 2018, he says.


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Lawrencedale Agro, the Leaf operator, a prominent supplier of branded vegetables and fruits, has raised a huge amount of around $8 million from various investors. George Soros-backed Aspada Investments is the primary investor along with Anders Holch Povlsen, the owner of Vero Moda fashion chain and Unitus Impact, the US-based social impact investment fund.
The series B funding will be used by the company on its supplies to leading online, and offline grocery chains like Godrej owned Nature’s Basket, Reliance Fresh in South India, Spencer’s and various BigBasket’s warehouses. Mom-and-Pop stores are also supplied by the company in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
According to a report in Economic Times, Lawrencedale Agro has total sales of around Rs. 17 crores in the last financial year. Fresh round of funding has been confirmed by the Leaf’s founder Vijayaraghavan Palat.


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Russian consumers hit as rouble slumps
AS ONE of 144 million Russian consumers that companies from Apple to Renault are trying to reach, university professor Elena Grekhnyova is feeling the pinch of a currency in crisis. She's now spending 1,200 roubles (S$24) every few days on eggs, dairy products, poultry and vegetables to feed her family, up 20 per cent from just weeks ago.
"It's getting surreal - will it ever stop falling?" Prof Grekhnyova, who teaches in the central Russian city of Kursk, said of the rouble. "It may turn out that I won't be able to buy a new coat, a US$50 (S$65) smartphone or jewellery."
Her frustration shows the challenge facing foreign companies doing business in Russia, after a financial panic sent the currency to a record low and fanned concerns that its leaders might limit the flow of capital out of the country. The meltdown follows a collapse in oil prices, and United States and European sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime.
Companies are raising prices, seeking to offset the drop in the value of the sales they make in roubles. While no companies are showing signs of pulling out of Russia, Apple on Tuesday halted online sales there - just three weeks after boosting the price of an iPhone 6 by about 25 per cent to 39,990 roubles. The value of that iPhone sale when converted into dollars already has plummeted to about US$585 from US$847.
The same has happened to other companies trying to keep pace. On Dec 3, McDonald's raised the price of a Big Mac by 2.2 per cent to about 94 roubles - only to see the value of that sale plunge to about US$1.35 from US$1.77 in the intervening days. Since the middle of last month, Renault has raised by 8 per cent prices on Renault-brand cars it sells in Russia.
The situation is likely to worsen before improving, said Sarah Boumphrey, head of strategic, economic and consumer insight for research firm Euromonitor International in London.
Consumers will be "forced to make tough purchasing choices as the prices of many products continue to rise steeply", Ms Boumphrey said.
"Russia is too big a market to be ignored, but plans for increasing investment must surely be on hold."
Germany's largest retailer is doing just that. Metro has indefinitely suspended the initial public offering of a Russian chain, chief executive Olaf Koch told reporters on Tuesday. Listing the unit now makes "little sense", he said. "We haven't cancelled it, but we're not working on it."
The rouble on Tuesday sank beyond 80 per dollar, a record low, before rebounding after Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev denied the government would turn to imposing restrictions to stop Russians from converting money into dollars.
Apple on Tuesday said it was halting online sales in Russia due to "extreme" rouble fluctuations.
With the Russian economy teetering, companies doing business there are at risk of losing their assets if Mr Putin responds by lashing out at Western businesses, said Rebel Cole, a finance professor at DePaul University's Driehaus College of Business in Chicago.
"You really have no guarantee you're going to be in business tomorrow. That's a pretty hefty risk for these companies to face."
But the slumping rouble has also one somewhat paradoxical result - unleashing a spending spree as consumers snap up electronics, furniture and cars before prices soar.
For instance, in an Ikea shop on a weekday afternoon, the section selling fitted kitchens - the highest-priced items in the store - was packed with customers.
At a peak time for shopping ahead of the new year, the country's main holiday, "the number of people in the stores has gone up also because of prices going up", the Swedish chain, which has annual turnover in Russia of more than 1 billion euros (S$1.6 billion) said in a statement.
Household electronics chain M.Video confirmed that it had seen footfall rise early this month, partly because of a trend to start shopping earlier for New Year gifts, but also due to the rouble's plunge. "Customers are trying to lock in the value of their rouble savings and invest them in electronics," said spokesman Anton Panteleyev.
The tactic of going shopping when the economic situation gets tough may distinguish Russia from the West, analysts said.
"In this way, Russia is different from developed countries...There, when a crisis begins, people immediately start saving," said Igor Nikolayev, head of the FBK Strategic Analysis Institute.
"In our country, when a crisis comes, it is accompanied by a steep loss of value of the national currency and people abruptly start spending and, for a time, this softens the situation somewhat."


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CALIFORNIA – A California McDonald’s flipped it’s Golden Arches upside down to form a “W” in honor of the incredible accomplishments that women have achieved.
Patricia Williams, Lynwood McDonald’s franchisee, turned the sign into a “W” in anticipation of International Women’s Day Thursday. The move is a “celebration of women everywhere,” a McDonald’s spokesperson told Business Insider.
In celebration of women everywhere, and for the first time in our brand history, we flipped our iconic arches for International Women’s Day in honor of the extraordinary accomplishments of women everywhere and especially in our restaurants,” McDonald’s global chief diversity officer Wendy Lewis said, Business Insider reports.
“From restaurant crew and management to our C-suite of senior leadership, women play invaluable roles at all levels, and together with our independent franchise owners, we’re committed to their success,” Lewis continued.
McDonald’s indicated it will also flip its logo on Twitter and Instagram. One hundred of its restaurants will have its staff sport hats and shirts applauding the achievements of women Thursday, and McDonald’s meals will also come with International Women’s Day goodies.
Disclaimer: News articles on this site may contain opinions of the author, and if opinion, may not necessarily reflect the views of the site itself or the views of the owners of NewsLI.com, Long Island Media Inc., or Long Island Exchange®. For more information on our editorial policies please view our terms of service.


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This Works, the U.K. skin-care brand founded in 2003, launched a new category of products this month called Morning Expert to build out a strategy of serving customers 24 hours a day.
The new collection, which consists of five products including a serum, an eye cream and an aromatherapy oil, is being positioned as a new chapter for the business, as This Works is best-known for its sleep- and evening-focused products. To create buzz around the line, the brand has developed a new partnership with fitness retailer Sweaty Betty in the U.K., is offering full-size product giveaways in Europe through Sephora’s subscription box, Sephora Play!, and is engaging with wellness influencers in the U.S.
“We may have focused on sleep in the past, but this wake-up [range] is now the priority of the business, because it’s the right time for the brand to be talking further about the 24-hour [story], “ said Anna Persaud, This Works CEO.
The brand declined to share Morning Expert sales expectations or current annual sales, but it shared that, overall, it experienced a 46 percent year-over-year growth in 2018 and that retail sales grew by 83 percent last year in the U.S. This Works is sold in 35 countries. For the Morning Expert line, outside of the U.K., it is targeting the Australia, Russia, Canada, the U.S. and China. The U.K. makes up 60 percent of total sales, while international markets comprise 40 percent.
At Sweaty Betty, This Works is participating in the retailer’s Wellness Wednesdays, which host health, fitness and beauty experts — most recently. Persaud made a speaking appearance at the London location on March 5. In April, This Works will begin providing samples of the brand’s aromatheapy oil to Sweaty Betty customers in all 21 London stores. In Europe, the brand is also planning on providing its full-size eye product to Sephora’s subscription box consumers in April.
In the U.S., the brand worked with wellness influencer Lauren Zoeller (@laurenzoeller; 17,800 followers) for a satellite media tour around “Waking Up Well” on March 15, where she made various local and national television news appearances. The earned media value of the campaign was around $1 million, according to This Works, but it estimated that Zoeller reached an audience of 287 million and that the ROI on the campaign was 1,100 percent.
This Works is not the only brand creating and selling products tailored for evening and morning usage. Goop, for example, offers a supplement called Morning Skin Superpowder, Clinique sells a Pep-Start Your Morning skin-care kit, and Origins has its own set, the Morning to Night Skin Care Trio. Customers are becoming more cognizant of the sleep-skin connection, said Persaud.
Despite the competition, This Works expects the morning category to become a hero part of the business, which also includes franchises focusing on evening care, on-the-go products, sleep and anti-aging, among others.
“We expect this to be the No. 2 franchise for this year, and we will continue to invest in it,” said Persaid. “I’m hopeful this franchise will herald a new era for This Works.”
Sign up for our new Glossy Beauty and Wellness Briefing, a weekly newsletter coming in April that will provide deep-dive analysis, emerging trends and insider insights in the growing beauty and wellness industries.


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New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) SAIL today said it exported 1.03 lakh tonnes of steel in February, its best ever monthly export figure in the last 10 years.
The PSU steel major said the exports also included its first-ever shipment from its New Plate Mill at Rourkela facility to Europe.
"In the month of February 2017, SAIL has achieved the best-ever export monthly volume of steel in last ten years. A total of 1.03 lakh tonnes of steel was exported last month, which includes the first-time shipment of CE marked plates from the New Plate Mill of SAILs Rourkela Steel Plant to Europe," Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) today said in a statement.
The new 4.3 metre wide plate mill with initial capacity of 1 million tonnes (MT) can be augmented to 1.8 MT and is equipped with the state-of-the-art technology which can produce a wide range of plates with close dimensional tolerance, perfect flatness and surface finish to meet stringent international standards.
Other products which contribute to this record exports include wire rods, hot rolled coil, billets and slabs, it said.
During the current financial year 2016-17, SAIL has already exported 6.82 lakh tonnes.
"The company aims at exporting 10 per cent of its total production and at doubling the volumes for next fiscal in FY 2017-18 which will happen after tripling export volumes during the current fiscal," SAIL said.
SAIL plans to soon diversify its exports basket with cold rolled and galvanised products from New Cold Rolling Mill at Bokaro, structurals from New Universals Section Mill at Burnpur and Medium Structural Mill at Durgapur.
Through the enriched product offering, the company aims to consolidate its presence not only in South East Asian market but also in Europe. PTI NAM MKJ


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Santa Monica Faces Lawsuit If It Approves "Hero Pay"
By Jorge Casuso
January 20, 2021 -- The California Grocers Association filed a lawsuit against the City of Long Beach Wednesday challenging a "hero pay" ordinance similar to the one being drafted in Santa Monica.
The ordinances -- which are also being considered for unincorporated areas of LA County and by the cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood -- mandate large grocery and drug store chains to raise the pay of workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Association's lawsuit, filed less than one day after the Long Beach City Council took action Tuesday, claims the ordinance illegally singles out certain grocers, while ignoring other groups that employ essential frontline workers.
The ordinance also illegally "interferes with the collective-bargaining process" protected by the federal National Labor Relations Act, the Association claims.
“Firefighters, police officers, health care workers, as well as transportation, sanitation, and restaurant workers are essential, yet grocers are the only businesses being targeted for extra pay mandates," said Ron Fong, who heads the Association.
"We look forward to our day in court to contest the legality of this Ordinance.”
The lawsuit asks the court to declare the measure "invalid and unconstitutional."
It also seeks a preliminary injunction "to stop implementation of the law until a judge can rule on the merits of its lawsuit."
That measure mandates that publicly traded grocery and drug store companies or those with at least 300 employees nationwide pay workers $5 more per hour during the pandemic, compared to the $4 increase in Long Beach.
At last Tuesday's meeting, Councilmembers dismissed a warning by the Grocers Association that the mandated pay hikes would result in higher food prices and scaled-back hours for workers ("Hero Pay' Could Backfire, Grocery Industry Says," January 11, 2021).
Councilmember Kevin McKeown, who proposed the ordinance, said grocery stores "are making a bundle" during the pandemic, while Councilmember Gleam Davis noted a previous pay hike last spring "didn't lead to higher food prices."
Councilmember Phil Brock said local grocery stores were worried the proposed ordinance would have "severe impacts" and noted they pay workers $26 per hour in salary and benefits.
"I'm concerned about the amount" of the proposed increase, Brock said, before voting with the rest of the Council to draft the ordinance.
An editorial Tuesday in the LA Times opposed the mandated increases, noting they exclude most essential workers and warning they may be illegal.
Elected officials "have declared that they want to honor essential workers" by providing "hero pay," the Times Editorial Board wrote.
"But not all essential workers are heroes in eyes of local lawmakers, apparently, as the proposals would exclude the vast majority of front-line employees.
“Government shouldn’t be picking winners and losers, or who deserves ‘hero pay’ and who doesn’t," the Times concluded. "The hazard pay proposals are not fair to all essential workers, and they may not be legal.”
Santa Monica City officials Wednesday said they are aware of the lawsuit filed against Long Beach.
"Staff will review and consider the arguments made in that lawsuit in formulating their upcoming recommendation to the Council regarding any similar mandate in Santa Monica," the City said in a statement to The Lookout.
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The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has recently confirmed its accreditation of a locally manufactured green cleaning product, according to SANS 1828:2005 regulating cleaning chemicals for use in the food industry.
This is a ground-breaking achievement as it is the first accreditation of its kind in the eco-friendly cleaning product sector.
The product that has been accredited is the Odorite Ultra Deep Clean Enzymatic 30 X manufactured by Green Worx Cleaning Solutions, a developer and manufacturer of green cleaning products.
Although receiving the SABS accreditation presented a challenge due to the enzymatic nature of the product, the Green Worx team conducted intensive research and partnered with some of the world’s foremost technologically advanced enzyme producer and sustainable surfactant producers to develop this hard surface, innovative cleaning product that is the first of its kind in Africa.
The multi-enzymatic action of the Odorite product offers increased effectiveness in comparison to chemical and germicidal cleaners, due to the fact that the enzymes digest host material where the germ and odour causing bacteria live and reproduce.
Specifically within the food industry, enzymatic products are beneficial in that they break down residual organic soils such as fats, greases and starches, which act as glue or bio-film, trapping dirt and other organics on surfaces.
The product is safe to use as enzymes are non-toxic, non-irritating, non-gaseous, non-flammable, non-pathogenic and non-hazardous. Its regular use removes layer upon layer of embedded grime whilst avoiding the challenge of increasing bacterial colony-forming unit (CFU) counts on food contact surfaces.
With the levels of “greenwashing” at an all-time high in South Africa and across the globe, consumers are hard pressed to identify truly green cleaning products. In the food industry especially, the importance of non-toxic cleaning products cannot be overstated.
While many may believe that they are cleaning with products that are non-destructive to the environment and safe to use, this is not necessarily the case. It is envisioned that this endorsement by the SABS will encourage consumers to evaluate how green their ‘green’ products truly are and enhance awareness regarding the safety (or lack of safety) of the cleaning products that are being used in the food industry.
“We are most pleased with this stamp of approval from the SABS,” says Chris Kettley, Chief Executive Officer of Green Worx. “It is hoped that this accreditation will lead to revolutionary upgrades within the green cleaning industry, inspiring consumers to seek out certified products and manufacturers to strive to produce the highest level of products.”


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iPhone 3G Ad Banned From UK For Misleading Advertising
Apple’s gotten some criticism in the US for their slight exaggeration in their iPhone 3G ads, such as their claim that the iPhone 3G is twice as fast as the 2G iPhone, and is even facing a possible class action, but has otherwise garnered no bad consequences. The UK government appears to have taken the matter more seriously and has banned the ads from airing in the country.
The Advertising Standards Autority (ASA) in the UK claims to have received complaints from two viewers about what they believed was misleading advertising in the ad, specifically where it stated that “all the parts of the internet are on the iPhone.” They argued that since Mobile Safari does not offer support for Flash or Java, they cannot truthfully claim that they support the whole internet.
When Apple was contacted, they said that Mobile Safari using open standards, and that they couldn’t reasonably assure that ever third party plug-in technology on the web would be supported. Rather, their focus was that the statement in the ad that “all parts of the internet” were supported only meant that all sites could be accessed, but not that all would be 100% functional.
Still, the ASA believed that the statements that “Youll never know which part of the internet youll need” and “all parts of the internet are on the iPhone” implied that everything would be available.
“We considered that, because the ad had not explained the limitations, viewers were likely to expect to be able to see all the content on a website normally accessible through a PC rather than just having the ability to reach the website,” the watchdog said in a statement. “We concluded that the ad gave a misleading impression of the internet capabilities of the iPhone.”
To be specific, the ASA ruled that the ad breached CAP (Broadcast) TV Advertising Standards Code rules 5.1 (Misleading advertising), 5.2.1 (Evidence) and 5.2.2 (Implications), and has banned the commercial from further broadcast in its current form.


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Electric Volkswagen Amarok ute unveiled could become a reality before 2030
An electric version of the new Volkswagen Amarok – a twin under the skin of the latest Ford Ranger following a partnership between the two auto giants – could be in Australian showrooms by the end of this decade.
German auto giant Volkswagen is expected to be at the forefront of introducing electric Utens to the global mid-size pickup truck market.
While these images of an electric Volkswagen Amarok are computer illustrations rather than the real thing, journey understands that the company has made good progress with plans for an electric pickup that will be a twin under the skin of the Ford Ranger Lightning.
Ford has already registered the name Ranger Lightning as a trademark – based on the model name of the electric Ford F-150 Lightning in the USA.
Given that the new generation Ford Ranger and soon-to-be-launched second-generation Volkswagen Amarok have been co-developed following a renewed partnership between the two auto giants, journey was told that there is a strong possibility that VW will adapt the same technology for an electric Amarok.
Ford and Volkswagen have yet to confirm such a model, but Ford’s global chief engineer for the Ranger and Amarok development programs has previously told the media that the platform is “package protected” for a range of electrification options.
While Ford has made good progress with a petrol-powered plug-in hybrid version of the new Ford Ranger – which could hit European showrooms next year – journey understands that Volkswagen has bypassed this version and will wait for the all-electric model.
Production of all-electric versions of the new Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger are believed to be slated for around 2028, when a mid-life facelift is likely due.
Representatives from Volkswagen and Ford declined to comment on future model speculation.
If the introductions of the electric Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok come true in 2028, they will likely be the first climbers in the mid-size pickup market mainstream automobile brands.
However, Chinese ute makers will beat them by half a decade on the starting line and in the showrooms. China’s LDV has an electric ute that will be operational by the end of this year or early next year.
While Chevrolet, Ford, and Tesla have unveiled full-size electric pickups for the U.S. market, electrification of the next size up remains in doubt: “compact” or mid-size utes like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D -Max, who are preferred workhorses in Australia and elsewhere in Asia Pacific.
Toyota has unveiled a concept version of a next-generation Toyota Tundra or Tacoma electric for the US market (pictured below), but a recent report by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries – the leading lobby group for multinational car companies in Australia – claims that before 2030 none will purely electric pick-ups to be built in Thailand.
But the report misses the possibility that a number of ute makers – namely Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota – could produce an electric pick-up truck on their South African assembly lines to supply the European market.
The Ford Ranger is assembled on at least four production lines worldwide – including Thailand, the main source for Australia, South Africa, where the Amarok is made for Volkswagen, and Detroit for the US market.
The Toyota HiLux also has a global production footprint, but Australia is sourcing the vehicle exclusively from Thailand for now.
Meanwhile, China’s LDV is the brand likely to beat everyone in Australia’s mid-size pickup market.
An electric LDV T60 – dubbed the eT60 – has already been unveiled in New Zealand priced at NZ$79,990 (pictured above) and there are plans to offer the model in Australia later this year or early next year alongside an electric LDV van. except for delays.
You can read this story here.


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Watch out for hidden fees on cheap car hire in Spain
Holidaymakers need to watch out for budget busting extra charges on their car hire bill, warns leading international leisure car hire provider, Alamo Rent A Car. According to recent news reports, travellers are complaining about rental providers in Spain hitting them with additional costs on their bill. With many UK households on a tight budget at the moment, it’s more important than ever to watch out for hidden fees charged by local firms.
Alamo Rent A Car’s fully inclusive charges ensure travellers don’t end up paying more than they bargained for, leaving them with more to spend on enjoying their trip.
“With the bank holiday weekend coming up and half-term next week, many people will be heading for the sun in Spain, but we’re urging travellers to do some research before booking their rental car,” says Neil Summerville, EMEA Franchising Director, Alamo Rent A Car. “Although a cheap and cheerful local supplier may seem like a good idea, these firms often add on compulsory extra charges when the customer picks up. That’s why we’re urging UK holidaymakers to shop around for a rental provider with transparent fees and no hidden extras.”
All Alamo bookings for Brits hiring a car in Spain include unlimited mileage, insurance and local taxes and charges, to ensure that holidaymakers know exactly how much they are paying for vehicle rental. With branches across the most popular Spanish resorts, Alamo is the first choice for quality, affordable car rental. Alamo is also in terminal at all major Spanish airports whereas some of the local operators may not make it clear that the customer may have to go off airport, wasting valuable leisure time, to find their car.
“Spain is a very popular destination for Brits abroad, but when it comes to car rental, the cheapest isn’t necessarily the best” concluded Neil Summerville. “Many suppliers will add on compulsory charges, including airport surcharges, damage waiver fees and onerous non-refundable fuel purchase schemes. We advise UK travellers to make sure they know the terms of their provider, to avoid paying unnecessary fees.
“WithAlamo’s fully inclusive prices it’s easy for UK travellers to stick to their holiday budget, so they know exactly how much they have left for all those fun holiday extras. Alamo customers benefit from car rental they can rely on, at a price to suit.”


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- Commissioners in Carroll County, MD will soon consider whether to begin accepting credit cards at the Northern Landfill, as reported by the Carroll County Times. The main question is if the average 3% transaction fee, charged by most credit card companies, will be paid by the county or the customers.
- The commissioners will also consider implementing a pay-as-you-throw system at the landfill to help extend its capacity. Early estimates show that this could reduce current disposal costs from $56 per ton to as low as $25 or $15 per ton.
- This would only apply to residents that drop off at the landfill, not to anyone using subscription-based curbside services. Though county commissioners predict that overall savings from the landfill change could lead companies to lower their subscription rates.
As seen with the trend toward companies using phone apps to accept waste transactions, customers are becoming more interested in having a range of payment options. Coupled with a pay-as-you-throw system, the acceptance of credit cards could make the process feel more convenient and lead to more diversion. Credit card transactions would also make it easier to track the type of fraudulent activity conducted through cash payments seen at other landfills in the past.
Like many local governments, the county has been considering pay-as-you-throw for the past decade and is well aware of the potential benefits. The logistics of making this shift, and the behavioral changes involved, can seem daunting for a system of any size. Yet municipalities around the country have found similar systems to be effective in reducing disposal costs and per capita waste generation.
According to a recent report, Maryland has an estimated 31 years of capacity remaining if current disposal trends continue. While capacity isn't an imminent problem at the Northern Landfill it does have less space than others in the state. Ongoing statewide discussions about organics diversion could improve this situation, but in the meantime any local efforts to reduce disposal can also make a difference.


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Samsung has a roadmap taking its chips to 3nm process technology as soon as 2022
Last week, Samsung held its annual Foundry Forum in the U.S. At the event, the company revealed a roadmap that takes its process technology to 7nm Low Power Plus, 5nm Low Power Early and 3nm Gate-All-Around Early/Plus. The 7nm LPP process will be Samsung's first to use an EUV lithography solution, and should be ready for production during the second half of this year. Mass production of parts using the new process will start in the first half of 2019. That happens to be when rival TSMC will start mass production of parts using its 7nm+ node (also using EUV lithography), and start risk production of its 5nm node.
Chips based on Samsung's 5nm LPE will provide ultra-low power consumption. And the last of the chips to employ FinFET will be produced using the 4nm Low Power Early/Plus process. Chips built with this process technology will feature improved performance and a smaller cell size. The two will begin production in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Earlier this year, we passed along a report out of Korea that said Samsung will produce the 7nm Snapdragon 855 mobile platform, which will reportedly be powering next year's Samsung Galaxy S10.
Starting with the 3nm node, Samsung will use its own next-generation GAA (Gate all-around) architecture MBCFET (multi-bridge-channel FET). 3nm production is not expected to begin until 2022. Keep in mind that the smaller the node size, chips that are produced using the process are more powerful and energy efficient.


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Round-Up - The Coca-Cola Co acquires 16.7% of Monster Beverage Corp
In August, The Coca-Cola Co lined up the purchase of 16.7% of Monster Beverage Corp for US$2.15bn. Here's a full round-up of just-drinks' coverage of the news.
The Coca-Cola Co is to hand its energy portfolio to Monster Beverage Corp after agreeing to pay US$2.15bn for a 16.7% stake in the energy drinks company.
Monster Beverage Corporation wants to launch its products in China after the Coca-Cola Co agreed to takes a minority stake in the company.
Two years ago, when serious speculation emerged over a plan by Coca-Cola Co to buy Monster Beverage Corporation, the energy drinks maker had only recently changed its name from Hansen Natural Corp.
After years of speculation, the Coca-Cola Co yesterday finally took the plunge and agreed to snap up a 16.7% stake in Monster Beverage Corporation.
Monster Beverage Corp has attracted a lot of conflicting viewpoints over the past month.
How likely is a takeover of Monster Beverage and will US authorities legislate against the energy drinks category?
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Home › magazine › latest news › Call for less stringent REACH chemicals law
Call for less stringent REACH chemicals law22nd of December 2011
European leaders are coming under pressure from the Czech and Slovak governments to reconsider what they consider to be the 'excessive' REACH safety regulations on the chemicals industry that they say hurt smaller businesses and undermine economic growth.
The REACH regulation is due for review in 2012, setting the stage for a lobbying offensive by industry groups that argue the rules hurt competitiveness, and consumer and health organisations that want stronger measures.
"We recognise the importance of protecting people, but on the other hand we also have to think about the competitiveness of our small and medium enterprises," said Dušan Jurík, competitiveness attaché in Slovakia's EU mission.
A Czech government official denied that Prague was trying to kill or water down the chemicals regulation.
"Just to make one thing clear, the government is not calling to abolish REACH altogether, or to stop the legislation altogether. Not at all. What we are saying is the demands that are being set for small- and medium-sized enterprises should be reviewed."
The European Chemical Industry Council reported earlier this year that emerging economies are overtaking both Europe and North America in chemicals production and that China and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region attracted more than three times the investment in the chemicals sector than Europe and North America in 2010.
Major changes to REACH are unlikely, because the forthcoming review is more likely to focus on enforcing the existing rules rather than major overhaul of the legislation, which took effect in 2007 after a years of battles between interest groups and lobbying from the industry.


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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has stated that Indonesia’s Covid-19 pandemic handling had been running well during the enforcement of the public mobility restriction, or known as PPKM Level 4, in Java-Bali.
The hospital bed occupancy rate (BOR) and the infection positivity rate began to plummet in several provinces in Java, he informed.
“Nevertheless, we must remain vigilant in dealing with this improvement trend, and we must always be alert to the highly contagious delta variant,” said Widodo in an online press conference on Sunday, July 25.
He claimed the government thoughtfully took the health aspects into account. At the same time, the socio-economic aspects of the community, particularly the fulfillment of daily needs, must also be prioritized.
On this basis, Jokowi decided to extend the level 4 restriction, but with a few adjustments, especially for micro-businesses.
The adjustments of the Covid-19 restrictions include: traditional markets selling basic needs are allowed to operate as normal, while markets selling other than basic needs may open until 15:00 with a maximum capacity of 50 percent. Street vendors and small businesses are also allowed to open until 21:00.


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Wakefield on TV for the first time
FindlaterGrants looks to increase consumer demand in Ireland with the TV campaign specifically developed for the Irish market
11 November 2008
Wakefield wines will feature on Irish TV screens for the first time this season, as FindlaterGrants continues to increase consumer demand and drive sales. The TV campaign is part of an ongoing strategy, specifically developed for the Irish market, which has seen the Australian wine go from strength to strength. The 20 second ad sees the three seahorses of the company insignia sketched on screen before a bottle of the Wakefield Estate Shiraz is revealed.
At this year’s prestigious International Wine Challenge, Wakefield was nominated as one of just three finalists for International Red Winemaker of the Year. Of the 9000 wines entered, less than 3% were awarded a gold medal. Wakefield Wines was awarded two gold medals out of a total of 24 medals awarded to the winery. Promised Land, Wakefield Estate, Eighty Acres, Jaraman and St Andrew’s, are all decorated wines and all available in Ireland.
Rosemary Lyster, Marketing Manager, FindlaterGrants comments; “The advert represents the subtlety and sophistication of the brand which is proving to be very popular in Ireland. This is the first TV campaign we have run for Wakefield and is essential to building a wider awareness and generating further growth. Television is continuing to become an important medium for us and our brands will be increasingly prominent on Irish screens.”


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Lionel Train Sets, a popular toy company, will now face a possible lawsuit from its employees after they posted photos of the products on social media, with the company saying it did not know of the controversy.
The company said in a statement Wednesday that it was “deeply saddened” by the allegations made against Lionel train set employees, adding that it had suspended the employees and taken legal action against them.
The social media post came after an employee posted a photo of Lionel’s Train Set Train and its trainer clipart, which was meant to be a “cute picture” of the train.
The caption said: “Train Set and the trainer clip art, the two are so cute!
Lionel just posted a picture of the Train Set train set.
The employee who posted the picture on Twitter, who asked not to be identified, said in an email that Lionel had not approved the product as a train set, saying the trainer’s clipart was not in line with the brand.
“We are deeply saddened by the alleged misuse of the Lionel brand by a few employees and have taken the necessary legal action to secure the rights of the lion train set creators and the lion set owner,” the employee said in the email.
The Lionel employee, who also requested anonymity, said he had posted the photo on Instagram in September and said he received death threats, with some sending him threats to his family home.
He said the company had not received any complaints from the company.
“It’s been a long time since Lionel was involved in anything and I’m still surprised and saddened by this,” the Lioneel employee said.
“It’s unfortunate that a few people are so out of touch and are making a big deal about a few little things.”
The company posted on Instagram that it would investigate the incident.
“This was a very personal incident and we take the matter seriously,” the company said.
A Facebook page for Lionel, which has more than 2.5 million followers, was also taken down Wednesday after a post was posted claiming the company has a contract with Lionel and that it “does not know” of any issue.
“If this is true, Lionel is not doing anything wrong,” the post said.
Lionels owner Lionel said in its statement Wednesday, “Lioneln Train Sets will be launching a new brand and the company is currently in the process of working with the legal counsel and will respond to all of the legal questions as they arise.”
The lion trainer clipArt, pictured above, is a lion train that is used in the video.
The lion train has a clipart of a lion that is a trainer in it.
This lion train is used to train lions in the wild.
It’s a rare and unique type of lion training and has a special place in the Lion’s life.
It is not a trained lion.
The lion trainers clipart and Train Set are made from steel, the company’s statement said.
Lionel did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident on Wednesday.


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McDonald's says it will be the first national restaurant chain to carry a label from a group that certifies sustainable fishing practices.
The blue "ecolabel" from the Marine Stewardship Council certifies that the Alaskan Pollock used in McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwiches come from suppliers with sustainable fishing practices.
Major retail chains including Wal-Mart and Whole Foods already use the council's label. The nonprofit group is paid a royalty fee from companies that use its label. For McDonald's, that means the fee would be based on sales of its fish offerings, such as the Filet-O-Fish and the Fish McBites that will be launched as a limited-time offer next month.
Read the full story at Anchorage Daily News>>
National Fisherman Live: 4/22/14
Brian Rothschild of the Center for Sustainable Fisheries on revisions to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is currently soliciting applicants for open advisory panel seats as well as applications from scientists interested in serving on its Scientific and Statistical Committee.
The North Carolina Fisheries Association (NCFA), a nonprofit trade association representing commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, recently announced a new leadership team. Incorporated in 1952, its administrative office is in Bayboro, N.C.


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In just a week from now, we'll likely find out the truth about Amazon's living room ambitions. The company has sent out invites for an event in New York at 11:00AM ET on Wednesday, April 2nd that promises to offer an "update for our video business." Amazon has long been rumored to be working on a set-top box for the living room to compete with the likes of the Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku's popular streaming boxes.
The most recent rumors say that the device will run a version of Android and will be able to play games. A leaked image even revealed what the game controller for the set-top box could look like. It's expected that the set-top box will be based on a "forked" version of Android, much like the company's Kindle tablets. That means that it wouldn't have access to the Google Play store or certain Google apps — instead, users would download from Amazon's own storefront. Of course, a centerpiece to the device would likely be the company's Amazon Instant Video service and its free TV shows and movies for Prime members.
According to rumors, the device has been delayed multiple times. At one time the company hoped to have the product ready in time for the all-important holiday season, but it missed that date entirely. Nevertheless, we'll find out what Amazon has up its sleeve next week — we'll be there to cover the event live.