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By Ray Stern
By Ray Stern
By New Times
By Amy Silverman
By Stephen Lemons
By Stephen Lemons
By Monica Alonzo
By Chris Parker
Initially, the dealers were pretty much at the mercy of their parent companies. They would sign lease agreements that protected them for the duration of the terms, usually three to five years, after which the companies could effectively choose not to renew. Even then, however, oil companies knew they had to tread carefully. A 1973 BP plan discussing how to convert desirable locations from dealers to company stores urged secrecy in implementing its mission. "The two items of highest priority are to secure possession of those units we desire to use in the program and to commence the divestment of other outlets," the plan stated. "A continued effort in this field will help solve the possession problem without alerting the dealer organization to our ultimate plans."
In 1978, Congress passed the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA), which guaranteed dealers certain franchise rights. But that didn't stop the oil companies from moving aggressively to shrink the number of dealers. In 1982, Arco led the charge when management decided to reinvent the company as a low-cost competitor. One component of the strategy was to get rid of dealers by tripling and quadrupling their rents and converting their stations to company operations. As an Arco planning document stated, "What happens to the 700-800 stations that dealers would leave? Closing might be bearable, but would clearly be less attractive than company operated."
The same year Arco conceived its scheme, Texaco produced a "Keepers and Losers List" that named 121 Nevada and California dealers the company wanted to disown. In a 1998 ruling, a Florida judge noted that "Exxon secretly divided its dealers into 'keepers' and 'non-keepers' and internally recognized that its pricing practices were driving the 'non-keepers' out of business."
Similarly, Exxon documents show intent to halve its number of lessee dealers in the Houston area while doubling the number of company stores between 1997 and 2003. And according to news accounts, Shell planning documents unearthed in an Indianapolis lawsuit detail the company's plan to shift the balance in that city's retail market away from the dealers. "They wanted to make this a company-op town and drive the dealers out of business," says plaintiffs' attorney Linda Pence.
The dealer attrition rate has varied over time by company and region, though the direction hasn't wavered. Exact numbers are hard to obtain because oil companies consider the information proprietary, and stations can be lumped in broad categories that hinder comparisons. But the available data provide a vivid picture of a dying institution: Between 1988 and 1998, Chevron cut its lessee-dealer network from 9,317 to 939. During the same period, BP's numbers plummeted from 1,025 to 475; Exxon chopped its tally from 2,909 to 1,600.
In comparison, Shell's collection of dealers dipped less dramatically during that span. But beginning in 1998, when it merged its marketing operations with Texaco, Shell decided to play catch-up. Within months, hundreds of dealers had shut their doors, and others have followed suit in droves. They include Warren Schuermann, who was informed in the spring of 1999 that his lease would not be renewed.
Two years earlier, Schuermann had received an offer to buy his station for $200,000, but he'd opted not to sell. "I wanted to save the business for my employees, which was very stupid," he says. After 48 years, he walked away with nothing.
After more than 21 years as a Shell employee, Bill Reed had planned the perfect retirement. He had been a marketing rep in Los Angeles and knew everything there was to know about the gas station business. So in 1993 he took out a Small Business Administration loan and plunked down $378,000 for a station in Victorville northeast of the city. Though the traffic was seasonal, he more than doubled the gas sales to an average of 170,000 gallons a month. Two years later he invested another $150,000 for a station three miles away in Hesperia.
Under Shell's Variable Rent Program (VRP), Reed's rent went down the more gallons he pumped, so he was able to offset the leaner months with healthy profits when business was brisk. "For 20-something years, I bled yellow," Reed says. "Shell Oil Company could not do any wrong."
In August 1998, the letter came: Shell was phasing out the VRP, even though Reed -- as well as almost every dealer in the country -- had been told not to worry, that the inflated rent figures in their contracts were there only as a hedge against another oil crisis. But those guarantees had all been oral, and Shell's leases allowed the company to terminate the program at will. Reed was stuck with payments for his two stations that averaged $15,000 a month more than before.
Moreover, Reed's wholesale cost was consistently higher than that of his competition, which left him the choice of keeping his price low and losing his profit margin or keeping it high enough to pay the rent and losing sales. Either way, he lost. "I was taking money out of my savings account," Reed says. "It got to the point where I just couldn't do it anymore."
Eventually, his Hesperia account ran short and Shell put him on COD, which constricted his cash flow. Reed gave up the keys in August of last year, hoping to salvage his Victorville station. But Shell began withholding his credit-card reimbursements, claiming he still owed the company money from the Hesperia location. The amount swelled to $50,000 before he threw in the towel. He still owes $100,000 on his SBA loan. "Right now, I'm very bitter," Reed says.


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Apple Event 2023 Live: Excitement is building as Apple’s highly anticipated September special gala is just hours away. Tonight, the world will be treated to a live stream from Cupertino, where Apple is set to unveil its latest innovations. The spotlight is firmly on the unveiling of the iPhone 15 and the Watch Series 9, leaving fans and tech enthusiasts eagerly awaiting their first glimpse. Amidst the rumors and speculation, one major point of interest is whether Apple will make the long-awaited shift to USB-C ports. Be sure to stay tuned for all the latest updates and revelations from this much-anticipated event.
The eagerly anticipated event, set to be broadcast live from Cupertino at 10:30 pm (Indian time), is poised to be a grand spectacle. In addition to the highly-awaited iPhone 15 Series, enthusiasts can look forward to the unveiling of new Apple AirPods and the next-generation Apple Watches, promising an exciting showcase of innovation. Stay tuned for all the thrilling updates.
What To Expect From Apple Event 2023?
the event will serve as the platform for Apple to reveal the eagerly awaited release dates for its upcoming software updates, including iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17, all of which were initially unveiled at the company’s WWDC 23 event this past June.
Traditionally, Apple’s September event has been synonymous with major hardware launches, often showcasing the latest additions to its iPhone lineup. In this year’s highly anticipated event, the iPhone 15 Series will take center stage, featuring the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Expect a thrilling evening of groundbreaking announcements.
— Nobi Hayashi 林信行 (@nobi) September 12, 2023
— Lance Ulanoff (@LanceUlanoff) September 12, 2023

domain: news


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In response to business pressures, automation suppliers such as Siemens and Honeywell are now embracing Internet sales, according to a recent worldwide study by the ARC Advisory Group. Web sales of automation products and systems totaled $247 million in 1999 and are expected to increase to $42 billion by the end of 2004.
"Web sales and the implementation of e-business strategies are causing a revolution in the automation business," said David Clayton, ARC senior analyst. "The rise of commercial Web sites, intranets, extranets, trade exchanges and auctions as critical business tools is dramatically changing the face of the automation business."
ARC's study indicates that more automation suppliers are realizing the necessity of adopting an e-business strategy that incorporates Web sales. Consequently, the Internet is becoming the hottest distribution channel for automation products, while changing the way these suppliers interact with customers, business partners and their own internal communication channels.
"Internet-based ordering systems from major suppliers such as Rockwell, Fisher-Rosemount, Siemens and Honeywell offer users an easily accessible alternative to traditional sales channels for purchasing many low-end automation products and obtaining technical documentation and customer-support information," said Larry O'Brien, ARC's director of research/automation systems and solutions.
Suppliers who do not immediately begin developing an effective e-business strategy for sales, marketing and customer service will find it difficult to remain competitive, Clayton said.


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On Tuesday, May 29,2018, Hero Electronix entered IoT space with the acquisition of Gurgaon-based enterprise IoT startup Zenatix. Yet, the other acquisition information has not been disclosed.
Founded in 2013, Zenatix has built its own proprietary Internet of Things including cloud-based software, big-data analytics. ATM management companies, quick service restaurant outlets, retail chains are the current customers of Zenatix.
Founder at Hero Electronix, Ujjwal Munjal said, “As our team drives innovation, we are exploring acquisition and partnerships with start-ups like Zenatix, who are combining technology and data-driven insights for sectoral disruption. While our IoT solutions are for enterprises, to begin with, we are getting ready to venture into the consumer segment.”
The acquisition not only benefits Hero Electronix but will also help Zenatix expand its clientele from banking, quick service outlets to range of sectors like logistics. The company planning to make its presence globally, however, Chief Executive Officer at Zenatix, Rahul Bhalla stated that said the focus will be South East Asian countries and West Asia that have challenges like the India market.
Since 2015, Hero Electronix is the group’s venture into the new technologies space. The company has entered the semiconductor engineering sector with investment in Tessolve Semiconductor.
Hero Electronix plans to contribute between Rs 300 crore and Rs 400 crore to venture into IoT space by 2020 and targets Rs 1000 crore from the business.


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CES is likely to be the largest expertise showcase, however at its core, it’s nonetheless the one finest occasion to get the news on developments in TV tech. And CES 2021 is not any exception.
This 12 months, we’re going to see incremental enhancements to current TV applied sciences. OLED TVs will get brighter and extra colourful. Meanwhile, QLED TVs will get thinner and — because of Mini-LED backlight tech — will reveal higher black ranges, distinction, and film high quality than ever earlier than. And it’s not simply the video that’s enhancing. Companies like Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic can be displaying off enhancements to TV audio as nicely.
But these are all very near-term developments. We’ll see these fashions arrive in a matter of months. What concerning the future?
For starters, it seems to be like 2021 would be the first 12 months that non-billionaires will be capable to get their fingers on a MicroLED TV from Samsung. The firm has stated it can begin promoting its well-known The Wall TV in smaller, extra accessible sizes (110-, 99-, and 88-inch variations) and so they gained’t require a educated knowledgeable to put in them. MicroLED TVs are self-illuminating on the pixel stage, which implies that identical to OLED TV, they’ll obtain good blacks.
They gained’t be low-cost, and we are able to’t but converse to their picture high quality, however one factor’s for positive: They would be the brightest TVs you should purchase, and doubtless by a large margin.
Looking forward to 2022, we’ve bought our eyes on two potential TV game-changers. The first is QD-OLED. This development takes the quantum dots which have confirmed so useful in producing extra correct colour in QLED TVs and applies them to OLED-based shows. The distinction is that QD-OLED TVs can remove using colour filters, a layer that’s required by each QLED and OLED TVs, and robs them of as much as 70% of their potential brightness.
Further out on the TV horizon is QNED TV. Now, that is going to get a bit complicated, particularly in case you’ve famous LG’s announcement of its “QNED Mini-LED” TVs for 2021. Let’s simply say that LG’s use of the time period “QNED” isn’t precisely an trade commonplace.
When anybody who isn’t LG talks about QNED, it’s in reference to Quantum Nano Emitting Diode, a completely new means of producing mild on the pixel stage utilizing ultra-tiny nanorod LEDs. When mixed with quantum dots in the same configuration to QD-OLED shows, QNED TVs will theoretically supply the entire advantages of OLED, with elevated brightness, and just about no susceptibility to burn-in, one thing that may be an issue on common OLED TVs.
But earlier than you get too excited by QNED TV, get your visible tastebuds prepared for QDEL TV. A expertise that will seem by 2023, QDEL stands for Quantum Dot Electroluminescence and it’s one thing of a Holy Grail on this planet of TV tech. With QDEL, quantum dots themselves turn into the one elements you should create razor-thin, versatile, ultra-bright, and really colour correct screens.
Quantum dot producers have already had good success creating quantum dots that may yield pink and inexperienced when energized, however the colour blue stays a problem to be solved.
Are we excited by all of those developments? You guess we’re. With the large explosion of streaming providers taking us into a brand new golden age of TV, we are able to’t wait to see how the following era of TVs make that content material much more fulfilling to look at.


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27 July 2020, Mumbai: National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) launches ‘Options in Goods’ for 3 farm commodities. Through Options in Goods, a farmer can lock his price risks and is saved from price volatility.
SEBI, in January 2020, had allowed the exchanges to launch ‘Options in Goods’ in their commodity derivatives segment. Options in Goods provide a settlement mechanism where contracts settle on spot price and all open positions convert into physical settlement at expiry.
Options in Goods contracts through NDCEX is available on Wheat, Rapeseed-Mustard Seed and Maize – Feed/Industrial grade.
Compulsory Delivery for settlement
The farmers and Farmer Produce Organization (FPO) can now lock their prices to hedge risk even before actual sowing of the crop. By paying a premium, farmers will be able to lock their prices. The value of premium will depend upon the demand and supply of the commodity. The contracts will be completed only through compulsory delivery on the day of the settlement.
Options in Goods will also be beneficial for the value chain partners such as processors & aggregators.
Mr. Kapil Dev, Head of Business & Products, NCDEX said in his opening remarks said, “NCDEX has been launching dynamic products as per the need of the market regularly. The Option in Goods will be yet another dynamic tool wherein the farmers can efficiently use it for effective risk management and delivery both.”
Mr. Atul Roongta, CFO, NCDEX said, “We believe commodity derivatives market have made significant progress since inception and with Options in Goods we are bringing in another important product which will not only be useful to farmers, but also to hedgers, millers etc.


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Georgia Couple Wins Case Against Wal-Mart
The Georgia couple that sued Wal-Mart in a personal injury case has been awarded $1.4 million by a jury of six, in their case against the world’s largest retail store. Plaintiff Larry Boggs suffered a severe injury after he was hit by an electric pallet while standing on the loading dock of Wal-Mart. Boggs, an independent truck driver, was making a pet food delivery to the store for a private contractor on December 21, 2003.
Larry Boggs and his wife Judy claim that with 24 hours of the accident, Wal-Mart officials claimed everything would be taken care of regarding the victim’s injuries. Wal-Mart however, failed to fulfill their promises, prompting the Boggs to hire an attorney.
Boggs was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy in his left leg. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is characterized by symptoms of severe pain, swelling and stiffness. Despite the diagnosis, Wal-Mart remained steadfast in their allegation that Boggs had sustained no such injury. The judge dismissed this argument.
Larry and Judy Boggs were ultimately awarded $1.4 million in their dispute against Wal-Mart, covering damages ranging from future economic loss, pain and suffering to losses suffered by the plaintiff’s wife for her husband’s inability to provide marital support.
“We’re satisfied that justice was done,” commented the Boggs attorney, following the verdict.
Wal-Mart’s attorney has declined commentary on the case; however, Wal-Mart can still move for another trial.
Find a Lawyer Now
Search for a Personal Injury lawyer in your state or province by using the forms to the right.


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Ipsos Food CHATs report the most comprehensive study into the actual food attitudes and behaviour of everyday Australians.
Cutting back on sugar and eating more fresh and unprocessed foods is a priority for Australians, however many believe being healthy is expensive and time consuming, a new landmark report by market research company Ipsos reveals.
The Ipsos Food CHATs (Consumption, Habits, Attitudes and Trends) report* is Australia’s most comprehensive study into food and provides a unique insight into behaviour change and attitudinal trends of everyday Australians when it comes to food. The study reveals our behaviour in everything from food and health priorities, what and where we eat, to how we shop.
The top five food priorities in 2016 for Australians are: eating more fresh fruit and vegetables (40%), smaller portion sizes (31%), reducing sugar intake from food (24%), eating healthier snacks (23%) and cutting down on fat (23%).
Obesity weighs heavily on the minds of Australians, but we believe healthiness is expensive and time consuming. Taste and price top the list of purchase decisions drivers in-store, at 72% and 63% respectively, followed by price discounts. In addition, health continues to be the high priority area for 2016 and Australians want the Government to do more about it. After a number of food safety scares last year, food origin and safety is a clear priority and sustainability and recycling continues to gain traction.
When it comes to sugar, one in two adult Australians believes there is too much sugar in packaged goods, however only one in four have tried to reduce their sugar intake.
Snacking is still very popular with two-thirds of Australians snacking between meals and healthy snacks are a priority. Although diet fads have also become top of mind, with the Paleo diet achieving the highest awareness at 47%, trial of these diets remains low at below 10%.
“Our study shows that while making healthier food choices is a key priority for Australians, the typical, everyday shopper is still struggling to balance healthiness against convenience and their budget,” Ipsos Strategy & Research Director Kathy Benson said.
“Making a quick decision in-store, purchasing products which are familiar and easy to use at home, as well as meeting budget restrictions, are still very important factors when it comes to making food purchases.
“Our budgets still have a higher priority in-store than our health aspirations. Easy decisions rule and finding a healthy choice is still a challenge for many despite the introduction of the Government’s ‘Health Star Rating’ system.”
In terms of future growth areas, the study illustrates that Australians would like to eat more natural sugar substitutes (65%), ‘no added hormone’ beef (55%), organic chicken (46%), stall-free pork (41%), organic beef (40%), plant-based milk alternatives (33%), sugar substitutes (32%) and vegetable protein (31%).
We would like to eat less artificial sweeteners (55%), sugar from beverages (49%), sugar from breakfast cereals (48%), food additives (41%), trans fat (40%), fat from meat (35%), sugar from sweet snacks (35%) and fat from dairy (19%).
“Our craving for exciting flavour experiences shows no signs of diminishing and we still love new flavours and inspiring food creations. However, experiencing the adventurous side of food consumption is happening more when dining out than in kitchens at home. Dinner is still our main meal of the day and our dinner choices remain fairly consistent with staples such as meat and veg or salad, pasta, fish and veg or pizza as our top choices” Benson said.
“Despite our fascination with cooking pop-culture in recent times, half of us see cooking as a chore or only as a way of caring for others in everyday life. And although two out of every three of us prepare dinner from scratch to create a healthy meal, there are still many occasions where we are reliant on ready and packaged meals.”
Almost half the population (45%) does a main or bulk shop on their last trip, while a third (34%) does a top up shop, however only 7% of us shop for today’s meal. Provenance is a key factor for two in five of us and outside of supermarkets, the local fruit and veg shop or deli (20%), the local butcher (20%), bakery or bread shop (18%), farmer’s markets (9%) and specialist fish shop (7%) are our most popular shopping destinations.
One in three Australians say they eat out and restaurants or cafes are our favourite places to eat out, followed by fast food chains, food courts and clubs and pubs.
Fast food chains dominate the average number of eating out occasions at 4.6 times per month, compared to restaurants and cafes at 4.2 times. McDonald’s is the most popular fast food venue (28%), followed by Hungry Jacks (14%), KFC (10%), Subway (9%) and Coffee Club (4%).
* Methodology: The study surveyed 3,002 consumers and food decision makers aged 18+, a representative national sample. Fieldwork was conducted in December 2015 via an online survey. The study looked at four key areas: an investigation into consumers’ diet and actual consumption covering the 5Ws (who, what, when, why and where) and how consumption is changing over time; investigation into decision-making and what is influencing healthy food decisions in Australia; understanding how food is being prepared at home, what are the trends in relation to cooking; and understanding of eating out occasions, behavioural decisions/drivers and food & beverage choices.


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A recent Supreme Court decision held that the first-sale doctrine applies to copies of a copyrighted work lawfully made abroad, and while the decision does not mention patent law, it has obvious implications. However, the issue of patent exhaustion and the first-sale doctrine remains unanswered for now.
Hewlett-Packard sued LD Products, an online supplies dealer, on February 4 in California. HP alleges that LD Products falsely represents that it sells remanufactured cartridges when it is actually selling new “clone” cartridges.
FBA Holding filed a complaint against Lexmark International seeking a declaratory judgment that FBA’s activities do not infringe Lexmark’s patents. FBA was targeted by Lexmark for its purchase, remanufacture and resale of cores that may have been first sold outside the United States.
New-molded cartridges, usually coming from Asia, have flooded the market. They most likely violate OEM intellectual property, particularly patents. They have garnered approximately 10 percent of the imaging supplies marketplace, cutting into the sales and profits of legitimate remanufacturers. And they clearly confuse customers. So what's the industry doing to combat these new-built clones? Read Tricia Judge’s article to find out.
Tricia Judge discusses the activities of the Owners' Rights Initiative (ORI) and its involvement in a pending case addressing the first-sale doctrine, which could result in dire consequences for the remanufacturing industry as well as other industries.


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Interview with Country Manager Fredrik Strømmen
Den Stolte Hane produces and markets chicken products and eggs in Norway, through its own brand and through private labels. Den Stolte Hane also delivers to industry customers that produce ready-to-eat meals. Products under the Vestfold Fugl brand are offered to Foodservice customers.
The Norwegian operations continued to perform positively in 2022.
“We have been market leaders within Retail and, within Foodservice, we have been successful in creating innovative products and have secured new customers,” explained Fredrik Strømmen, who is the Managing Director of Den Stolte Hane and in charge of Scandi Standard’s operations in Norway.
Several new products were launched, including a number of coated products, under both Den Stolte Hane and private labels. During the year, price was a major issue among consumers.
“Trends ahead of 2023 point to increased demand for our own brands, as consumers are becoming more price conscious about various foodstuffs. Inflation and the economic downturn are impacting consumers and the industry at every level,” Fredrik Strømmen explained.
“We have been successful in creating innovative products and have secured new customers.”
– Fredrik Strømmen, Country Manager Norway
Targeted marketing communication
Den Stolte Hane has a number of strong market concepts and partnerships.
“As part of the Ready-to-eat concept Snack King, we are continuing to collaborate with the Norwegian Formula 2 driver, Dennis Hauger. As a part of this collaboration, he has shared his expectations for the season and his thoughts about the first race through social-media channels.”
Continued sustainable development
Norwegian consumers have stringent requirements on sustainability. In 2022, Den Stolte Hane invested in the development of sustainable smart packaging. One such example is the new pouch-packaging machine that was installed at the Stokke plant. Pouch packaging uses less plastics than trays and allows for more efficient packing, which reduces transport needs.
“As a market leader, we have a responsibility to be sustainable in the long term, which we take seriously. We are continuing to deliver on the sustainability initiatives and value-chain collaborations that we launched some time ago. For example, all of the plastics in our trays are now made from recycled materials,” Fredrik Strømmen explained.
• With 35 per cent of the market share, Den Stolte Hane is now the market leader in Norway within the fresh and frozen chicken segment.
• Launched pouch packaging that uses less plastics than trays.


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Earlier this month, Google announced that it is creating a $280 million fund to finance SolarCity‘s residential solar projects. And this week, GE announced a plan to invest in $63 million in developing commercial partnerships with 10 home energy technology companies as part of the $200 million Ecomagination Challenge. Among the companies is SolarCity competitor SunRun–the only home solar company on the list, which also includes building efficiency and design company Project Frog and wireless charging tech company WiTricity. GE is co-investing in SunRun with Foundation Capital.
Solar leasing is possibly the most effective business model for
homeowners interested in rooftop solar systems: They can eschew a hefty
upfront cost for a monthly fee that takes care of installation and
maintenance and quickly start saving money on monthly electricity costs,
too. So it’s no surprise that clean energy-minded heavyweights like
Google and GE have taken interest.
GE’s investment in SunRun is small compared to Google’s SolarCity fund. And the circumstances are different: While Google is financing SolarCity’s actual solar projects, GE is developing a commercial partnership. But now that SunRun has GE’s attention, the company is primed for other, bigger investments (SunRun has already raised financing for over $600 million in solar systems and $85 million in venture capital).
“GE has a track record of working with strong and enduring companies, and we are honored to be among them,” said SunRun CEO and Cofounder Edward Fenster in a statement. “We invented a way for homeowners to get clean power without having to pay big upfront costs, and this recognition acknowledges our leadership in solar finance, service, and customer care.”
GE has now invested a total of $134 million in its ongoing Ecomagination Challenge, which gives winning companies and ideas the opportunity to get cash, product development help, and investments from GE and its partners.


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Posts Tagged «xbox one»
Gaming roundup: GTA V boosts PC digital sales, Konami mostly calls it quits May 15, 2015 at 9:57 am
There’s been a fair bit of gaming news of late, touching on multiple markets, platforms, and companies. We round up the highlights.
Microsoft bricks consoles belonging to Gears of War leakers May 15, 2015 at 8:03 am
If you get on Microsoft’s bad side, the company can remotely lock down your Xbox One.
Witcher 3 uses dynamic resolution scaling on Xbox One to hit 1080p May 13, 2015 at 9:51 am
The developers at CD Projekt RED announced that its upcoming game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will dynamically raise the resolution up to 1080p whenever possible.
AMD unveils Carrizo-L lineup: Meet the 7000 series May 13, 2015 at 7:30 am
AMD’s Carrizo has taken much of the limelight in past months, but the company’s Carrizo-L platform is still vital to overall revenue. AMD has revealed the new clock speeds and TDP ranges for its budget parts — can these cores hold the fort until Zen arrives in 2016?
The PS4 is being adopted faster than the PS2 in the UK — but does that matter? May 5, 2015 at 4:54 pm
A report has surfaced showing that Sony has sold over two million PS4s in the UK. Moving that many units in less than 18 months in a nation of 64 million people is impressive.
Microsoft sheds light on Windows 10 revenue, future OS pricing plans May 4, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Microsoft announced it would begin deferring revenue on enterprise as well as consumer sales of Windows 10. Buried in that dry-sounding announcement are intriguing hints about how Microsoft intends to earn money off Windows — and what it means for ordinary users.
Lock screen ads on Windows 10 bring us closer to a nightmarish capitalist dystopia April 30, 2015 at 12:30 pm
At its Build conference earlier this week, Microsoft revealed a brand new lock screen for Windows 10 — opening up PCs to the hellscape of ads that is the Xbox user interface in the process.
The best free games on the Xbox One April 30, 2015 at 10:20 am
Consoles were once exclusively home to big-budget full-price games, but today it’s different. The Xbox One has plenty of excellent free-to-play games; here are our favorites.
Former Kickstarter darling Ouya is up for sale: Report April 28, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Fortune is reporting that a “confidential” memo from Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman has leaked explaining how dire the situation really is for the company that Kickstarter built.
Microsoft’s Xbox revenues fall, shipments still lag Sony April 24, 2015 at 3:37 pm
While flat sales in a seasonally off-peak quarter aren’t bad by any means, they still put the Xbox division well behind Sony, which sold 1.7 million consoles in just January and February.


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Ryanair takes legal action against Budget Travel for screen-scraping
The low-cost airline has asked the court to prevent Budget Travel from ‘unauthorised screen-scraping and reselling of Ryanair seats at inflated prices to consumers’.
In a statement Ryanair says the travel agency has rejected its request to stop selling its flights and the airline goes on to list its claims against Budget Travel including flights being sold at a mark-up.
Budget Travel declined to comment but a number of flight searches made on its website for routes served by Ryanair did not yield any results for the Irish carrier.
The airline says it only allows price comparison sites to list prices in return for a charitable donation of €100 annually.
The current action is the latest in a string of legal attempts by Ryanair to prevent websites scraping its fares including its win in German courts in 2005.
Linda Fox is deputy editor for Tnooz. For the past eight years she has worked as a freelance journalist across a range of B2B titles including Travolution, ABTA Magazine, Travelmole and the Business Travel Magazine.
In this time she has also undertaken corporate projects for a number of high profile travel technology, travel management and research companies.
Prior to her freelance career she covered hotels and technology news for Travel Trade Gazette for seven years. Linda joined TTG from Caterer & Hotelkeeper where she worked on the features desk for more than five years.


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Following last fall’s announcement that HBO would be launching a standalone subscription service, CEO Richard Plepler has revealed that the network will be partnering with Apple for the launch of HBO Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
During Apple’s “Spring Forward” event, Plepler took the stage to detail what’s to come from the long-awaited service. Beginning April 12th, TV fans can purchase a subscription to HBO’s entire catalog of original shows and movies for $14.99 a month. Those that purchase in April, however, receive their first month of the service for free. April 12th also happens to be the same day the network’s hit series Game of Thrones will return. Plepler gave the audience a sneak preview of the new show via a teaser trailer.
Previously, HBO was only available to stream through a user’s cable subscription service on the HBO Go platform. The new service will now make the network’s content available to watch via Apple products such as the iPhone and iPad. Apple TV, which will soon be available to customers for the much lower price of $69, will also have a HBO Now channel.
According to Buzzfeed, the exclusive launch deal between Apple and HBO is for three months, meaning that “Apple has the exclusive for new digital distributors.” This would include partners like Verizon or Comcast. “We are still talking to all MVPDs and they could be there at launch,” detailed a spokesperson for HBO to Buzzfeed.
Apple’s “Spring Forward” event was held in San Francisco at the Yerba Buena Center. CEO Tim Cook also revealed more details on the highly-anticipated Apple Watch and announced a new MacBook as well.


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Investors will witness new cryptocurrency products in the coming months of 2018. These products will be launch by Fidelity Investments. This firm deals in wealth management and insurances services for its clients with the running capital of $2.4 trillion. CEO of the firm further confirmed that they would also launch their own blockchains along with crypto products.
The CEO Abigail Johnson kept the details of the products a secret. She did not reveal what is happening inside the Fidelity related to these products. From her interviews, reporters have encrypted that her great interest is in Bitcoin and Blockchain technology. By seeing her bullish attitude on cryptocurrencies researchers believed that Fidelity will glow the digital currency in asset management.
By looking at Fidelity`s past we will come to know that it was dealing in cryptocurrency mining previously but it did not enter into digital currency quickly. Johnson, with the bullish attitude, always favored cryptocurrency and had knowledge about benefits of digital currency but she did not immediately jump in crypto industry. To better understand the crypto industry Fidelity involved in mining. Further, its charity department, Fidelity Charitable asked for aids in Bitcoins in 2015.
After this step, they succeeded in raising more charity. About $69 million of donations were raised in 2017. It was 10 times greater than the amount added in charity by individuals in the previous year. Johnson commented on this success that it was happened because of Company`s switching towards bitcoin.
Fidelity is currently doing complete market research and finds more advantages of cryptocurrency and blockchain before entering the market by the end of this year.


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The Dept. of Commerce has pushed the deadline to issue a final decision on an antidumping/countervailing duties (AD/CVD) circumvention investigation to August 17, 2023. The final decision was originally supposed to come next week.
Jose Rivera, International Trade Compliance Analyst, AD/CVD Operations, Office VII, stated in a memo that extensive case and rebuttal briefs were submitted by approximately 20 interested parties, and Commerce needs more time to fully consider everyone’s statements.
Credit: Meyer Burger
Commerce preliminary decided in December 2022 that Chinese solar cell and panel producers were working in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as a way to avoid paying duties on Chinese-made solar goods that have been in place since 2012. Commerce initially suggested AD/CVD to crystalline silicon cells using Chinese wafers and final panels made with Chinese wafers that also use three of the following Chinese-made materials: silver paste, aluminum frames, glass, backsheets, ethylene vinyl acetate sheets and junction boxes. Wafers produced outside of China with Chinese polysilicon are not considered to be wafers produced in China.
The tariffs were suggested for all exports out of the four Southeast Asian countries, except from four individual companies that were investigated and found to not be circumventing the tariffs: New East Solar (Cambodia), Hanwha Qcells (Malaysia), JinkoSolar (Malaysia) and Boviet Solar (Vietnam).
Any extended tariffs would not go into effect until after June 6, 2024, on account of President Joe Biden’s 2022 executive action that paused additional tariffs for two years. Congress is attempting to overturn the executive decision through a Congressional Review Act (CRA), but all information coming from Capitol Hill suggests failure of the Act.
Illustration showing the stages of creating silicon solar panels. Illustration by Al Hicks/NREL
Since the preliminary decision in December, solar panel manufacturers have been asking Commerce to clarify the department’s new “wafer-forward” ruling. The AD/CVD parameters of 2012 placed tariffs on the silicon cell and forward to the module. The country point of origin was determined to be where the p-n junction is activated, which happens at solar cell development. The 2022 preliminary decision shifted the tariff rules back one step to the silicon wafer.
Solar Power World previously reported on the uneven solar panel manufacturer support of the extended tariffs. Auxin Solar is the only silicon solar panel manufacturer on-record in favor of the tariffs. Auxin said in its original petition to the DOC that Chinese solar producers working in Southeast Asia were unfairly pricing their products to undercut American manufacturers. Auxin said itself and other American manufacturers were struggling to compete with cheap imports. The AD/CVD extension’s only other supporter is CdTe thin-film manufacturer First Solar, whose solar panel products are not included in the tariff scope. Many American panel manufacturers, including Silfab Solar, stated in documents to the DOC that Auxin did not represent the “interests of the domestic solar industry as a whole.”
Until silicon cell manufacturing is established in the United States (something that only three companies have suggested they will start by the end of 2024), all American solar panel assemblers will have to import solar cells that would likely come with any Commerce-decided tariffs.
Tariff rates are not included in circumvention investigations, but Clean Energy Associates previously released information on how they may be set:
“For manufacturers that also have operations in China, the duty rate on their cells and modules made in the named countries (Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam) will be the same that they pay for their product exported from China. For companies that don’t make cells in China but make cells in the named countries using Chinese wafers, then duty rates are based on the rates of the Chinese company that makes the wafer — if that company has a duty rate. If these cells use Chinese wafers from a company that does not have a rate, then these cells and modules will get the “China-wide” anti-dumping rate of 238.95% and the “all-others” countervailing-duty rate of 15.24%.”


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EMAP, the media group, has asked buyers to consider a bid for the whole company as it increases its efforts to sell its assets. The group, which owns Heat magazine and radio station Magic, put itself up for sale earlier this year.
It says that it has received “good interest” from media and private equity companies and that the offer is “not a consequence of any proposal received to date”.
It is understood that EMAP has asked bidders for its business-to-business magazine division to consider a bid for the whole company, which also includes consumer magazine and radio stations. So far, it has yet to receive an offer for the whole business.
EMAP started a review of its business in July, two months after the departure of chief executive Tom Moloney. He left the company by “mutual agreement” after 26 years.


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Honda Shine 100 Motorcycle Launched at Rs 64,900: Check Features, Design and Color Variants
The new Honda Shine 100 has been launched in India starting at Rs 64,900 (ex-showroom). The company has mentioned that this is an introductory price tag, thus likely to be increased in the future.
Honda Shine 100 Launched in India: Honda 2-Wheelers India on Wednesday launched its all new Honda Shine 100 commuter motorcycle which will go on sale in the Indian market soon. The new Honda Shine 100 has been launched in India starting at Rs 64,900 (ex-showroom). The company has mentioned that this is an introductory price tag, thus likely to be increased in the future. This will be the company’s second major launch in 2023 after the Activa H-Smart. This new bike would be sold alongside the Livo and CD110 motorcycles but will slot below the Shine 125.
People will to buy the all new Shine 100 can book their bikes right from today (March 15).Production will start from next month, and deliveries will begin from May 2023.
You may like to read
Launching the all-new Honda Shine 100, Mr. Atsushi Ogata, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said, “Shine is the most popular and trusted motorcycle brand in its category. Today we unveil Honda’s all new 100cc motorcycle – Shine 100 which is designed and built to refortify the Shine legacy. Shine 100 is Honda’s next big leap to make mobility more accessible and affordable for people across India. We are proud to present a robust, reliable, and fuel-efficient motorcycle for customers in the basic commuter category. As we launch the Shine 100, we continue to prioritize the needs and aspirations of our customers and strive to exceed their expectations in every step of this journey.”
Watch Honda Shine 100 Launch Video Here:
FEATURES OF NEWLY LAUNCHED HONDA SHINE 100 CC
- The new Honda Shine 100 will be launched in India 5 colour options — Black with Red Stripes, Black with Blue Stripes, Black with Green Stripes, Black with Gold Stripes and Black with Grey Stripes.
- The new Shine 100 motorcycle gets a ground clearance of 168 mm and a seat height of 786 mm.
- The Shine 100 is powered by an all-new air-cooled, 99.7cc, single-cylinder engine good for 7.6hp and 8.05Nm at 6,000rpm.
- The new Honda Shine 100 will have a long seat with low ride height.
- The Shine 100 is equipped with a front cowl, blacked-out alloy wheels, an aluminium grab rail and a sleek muffler.
- The new Shine 100 is OBD-2 compliant and is capable of running on E20 fuel (petrol with 20 percent ethanol blend).
- The new bike’s fuel pump is positioned outside the fuel tank and it comes with an auto choke system. It produces 7.5 bhp at 7,500 rpm and 8.05 Nm at 6,000 rpm.
- The all news Honda Shine 100 will have a halogen headlight, side-stand inhibitor, combined braking system.
- The new Shine 100 also has a class-leading turning radius of 1.9 meters.
- HMSI is also offering a special 6-year warranty package (3 years standard + 3 years optional extended warranty) on Shine 100.
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest Car and Bike News on India.com.


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In the US, KantarHealth Joint CEO Elaine Riddell has decided to leave the company to 'pursue other opportunities': Joint CEO Lynnette Cooke assumes sole global CEO responsibilities with immediate effect.
Prior to Kantar's acquisition of TNS last year, Riddell worked as CEO of TNS' Worldwide Healthcare Division. Before this, she spent nine years at NOP; latterly as CEO of NOP World Healthcare. Earlier she held senior roles at Market Measures Interactive (MMI), IMS Canada, IMS America and at Abbott Laboratories.
'From 2003 Elaine was instrumental in building the TNS Healthcare business into one of the leading global healthcare market research organizations,' Kantar CEO Eric Salama stated. 'Since the acquisition of TNS last year she has made an enormous contribution to creating the blueprint for KantarHealth. We thank her for her contribution and wish her every success in her future endeavors.'
KantarHealth, which was formally launched in September, combines All Global, Consumer Health Sciences, MattsonJack, TNS Healthcare and Ziment.
Cooke was formerly CEO at Ziment Group, prior to which she held senior positions in research and product management across a range of industries including pharma and medical/surgical, consumer packaged goods, financial services, and child and family products.
Web sites: www.kantarhealth.com .
All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.


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Displaying items 85-96 of 238 » View herald-mail.com items only< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11-20 Next >
The push to move Black Friday into Thanksgiving Day is prompting South Florida shoppers with a taste for bargains to alter their Thanksgiving plans. Some are making meals early, turning Thanksgiving into lunch, while others are ordering prepared meals....
Tags: Boynton Beach, Target, Toys, Holidays, Customs and Tradition
Gayle Anderson was live in Santa Monica with her NEW “SIGNS OF THE SEASON” report beginning with what’s popular on the TOY WISHES CHRIS BYRNE'S HOT HOLIDAY TOYS FOR 2012. People traditionally think that Black Friday is the START of the...
Hero Complex - movies, comics, pop culture - latimes.comThe first time Andres Muschietti directed a film called “Mama,” it was roughly three minutes in length. The 2008 short ......
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is hoping to nab a wider portion of holiday and back-to-school shoppers by widening its layaway program to include more products and stretch the pay-back period. Back for a second year in a row because of customer demand, the service...
Tags: Google+, Kmart, Apple iPad, Sears, Media Industry
FOX 17 Sr. Web ProducerA young boy who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma wanted to have a shopping spree at Toys R Us, now that dream is a reality. Meet 6-year-old Oliver Emerson, a boy who is battling a form of brain cancer. Neuroblastoma is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that...
Toys "R" Us has revealed some technological updates in time for the holidays. Mobile shopping apps are now available for free download in the App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android. The app has a new barcode/QR scanner to get user...
The big retailers - Walmart, Target, etc. - have already put out their Black Friday plans. But more press releases from other stores are trickling in. Unlike Walmart and Toys "R" Us, which are opening at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving, and Target, which is opening...
Consumers have come to expect the deep discounts that define Black Friday, but retailers hope to entice shoppers this year with more choices in how and when they buy. Responding to what they say is consumer demand, retailers have pushed store openings...
This week, we will join together in the spirit of gratitude and hopefulness as we celebrate one of the oldest and most revered American customs. We're going shopping. Yes, folks, it's that time of year again when we descend like crazed hordes on...
Tags: Target, Kmart, Holidays, Customs and Tradition, Halloween
Shopping Black Friday may require more advanced planning, as well as more of your turkey time this year. Some national retailers are moving up their opening times and starting in-store specials and promotions two, three, four -- even eight -- hours...
Tags: Target, Black Friday (shopping), Kmart, Holidays, Kohl's
CNNNEW YORK -- Walmart wants you to forget Black Friday this year. Instead, the store is kicking off some of its hottest "Black Friday" deals on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, beginning at 8 p.m. The retailer says its best deals will be on electronics,...
Nov 19, 2012 |Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Nov 19, 2012 |Story| KTLA-LTV
Jan 17, 2013 | Los Angeles Times
Aug 20, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Jun 22, 2012 |Story| WXMI
Nov 15, 2012 | Orlando Sentinel
Nov 13, 2012 | Orlando Sentinel
Nov 13, 2012 | Orlando Sentinel
Nov 17, 2012 |Story| Baltimore Sun
Nov 17, 2012 |Story| Daily Pilot
Nov 10, 2012 |Column| South Bend Tribune
Nov 8, 2012 |Story| KTLA-LTV
Original site for Toys "R" Us, Inc. topic gallery.


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Trump International Hotel & Tower Baku, Azerbaijan
Trump Hotel Collection just completed a busy year, marked by opening its first hotel in Europe, new planned developments in South America and Western Asia, and the redevelopment of properties in Washington, D.C., and Miami.
“This has been an incredible, exciting year for Trump Hotel Collection,” says Jim Petrus, chief operating officer. “Our brand growth and presence strategy is simply to be in the best markets, and we are concentrating on acquiring iconic properties and development opportunities in key gateway cities and resort destinations globally.”
Since its launch in 2007, the Trump Hotel Collection (THC)—under the leadership of Donald Sr. and Ivana Trump’s children, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump—have placed an emphasis on customizing travelers’ experiences.
“We have found that discerning travelers—whether coming for business or leisure—are looking for services and amenities that have been customized to them as well as wanting to feel their loyalty is being rewarded in a meaningful way. Our success is rooted in catering to this demand for personalization, and it is unrivaled in the market today,” Petrus says.
Each of the properties offers Trump Attache service, which records and references each guest’s preferences before every visit, and the Trump Card Privileges Program, a loyalty program.
THC has nine properties, divided into urban locations (two in New York City, and one each in Chicago, Toronto and Panama City) and resort destinations (in Miami, Las Vegas, Honolulu and Doonbeg, Ireland).
THC’s urban destinations all have a unifying cosmopolitan style, but their designs are contextual to represent each distinctive location. The most recently opened urban property is Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto.
This hotel, which opened in 2012, is situated in a 65-story downtown building. The recipient of a Forbes Five Star rating and ranked the 10th best hotel in the world in 2014 by TripAdvisor, the property boasts 261 luxurious guest rooms, a 12,000-square-foot business center, the 15,000-square-foot Quartz Crystal Spa and a heated, indoor saltwater infinity lap pool.
THC plans to open three properties in urban areas during the next two years. Trump International Hotel & Tower Baku, Azerbaijan, slated to open in June, will be in the Nasimi District near Heydar Aliyev Center, which is a cultural institution designed by the prominent Zaha Hadid Architects. The hotel will offer spectacular views of the Caspian Sea.
The luxury property will provide 189 guest rooms, including 72 ultra-luxury residences; a signature restaurant; a 15,166-square-foot spa with indoor swimming pools; a 4,305-square-foot fitness center; a 20,990-square-foot business center; 1,582 sq. ft. of retail shop space; and 30,139 sq. ft. of meeting and event space.
Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C., is scheduled to emerge in 2016 as a $200 million redevelopment of the Old Post Office, an iconic Pennsylvania Avenue landmark. The renovation will result in the newly dedicated Old Post Office Museum, an exhibition gallery, interior and exterior gardens, award-winning restaurants and a world-class spa.
The hotel will offer 271 guest rooms averaging more than 600 sq. ft. and 16-foot ceilings, the largest in Washington, D.C. The former offices of the postmaster general will be converted into two presidential suites that will offer 5,000 sq. ft. and 3,600 sq. ft., respectively. They will be among the largest three-bedroom suites in the country.
Trump Hotel & Tower Vancouver, also scheduled to be unveiled in 2016, will be situated in the heart of the Golden Mile, which offers couture shopping, fine dining, entertainment and a buzzing financial center. The Trump structure will be a 616-foot tower with 57 stories, making it the second tallest building in Vancouver’s skyline.
This British Columbia property will feature 147 guest rooms that offer stunning views of Vancouver and the North Shore. It also will boast a signature restaurant, champagne lounge, the city’s first pool/bar nightclub, a 6,000-square-foot spa and 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
All of THC’s resort destinations are spacious, sophisticated properties that offer groups plenty of amenities and options, including attractive, state-of-the-art meeting spaces.
THC acquired Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami in June 2012, renamed it Trump National Doral Miami and embarked on a dramatic restoration project. “The Trump family has made a significant investment in this property and personally has overseen the plan to recapture and then surpass the resort’s former grandeur,” Petrus says. “The transformation has touched every aspect of the property.”
The renovation, which at press time was in its final stages, will result in 647 completely remodeled guest rooms designed by Ivanka Trump, in cooperation with Wimberly Interiors of WATG (one of the world’s leading design consultants for the hospitality, leisure and entertainment industries), and more than 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
“Transformation milestones that have debuted, such as the new guest rooms, championship golf courses (including the legendary Blue Monster), and indoor and outdoor meeting venues (including luxurious ballrooms), have received tremendous feedback thus far from meeting planners and guests,” Petrus says.
Trump obtained The Lodge at Doonbeg—a 400-acre property fronting 2 1/2 miles along the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland—in February 2014 and renamed it Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Ireland. The Doonbeg resort, which opened in the fall, offers 218 suites, several restaurants, an expansive spa and an 18-hole championship golf links course designed by Greg Norman.
The property boasts four meeting rooms, including the Pavilion, which provides full catering facilities and accommodates 150 theater-style. The others are Piano Room (24 board room-style and 50 theater-style) the Tartan Room (16 board-room style and 20 theater-style) and the Clubhouse Room (11 board-room style).
Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro is scheduled to open in 2016 in time for the Summer Olympics and will be situated in the upscale Jardim Oceanico sub-district of the famous Barra de Tijuca neighborhood, facing one of Rio’s most magnificent beaches. The property will feature 171 expansive guest rooms with ocean or mountain views; a 4,000-square-foot nightclub; panoramic beach-front views; a 4,000-square-foot pool deck with private cabanas overlooking an infinity pool; a 2,200-square-foot spa; and nearly 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the Trump Hotel Collection to South America for the first time,” Petrus says. “There is no doubt Rio is a key strategic destination for our brand, and with the anticipation of the 2016 Summer Olympics on the horizon, we are enthusiastic about its position as both a thriving business market and tourist destination.”
Down the Road
This year, THC plans to continue exploring new development opportunities while enhancing existing programs.
“As the Trump Hotel Collection continues to grow strategically, we are actively seeking development deals around the world, and will be announcing additions in the near future,” Petrus says. “We also are looking at several new programs to announce in 2015, as well as make enhancements to our current Trump Express Meetings offering.
“We launched Trump Express Meetings a few years ago as a solution for short-term, smaller groups through pre-packaged meetings.”
Several THC properties offer these pre-packaged meetings, which are unique to each place. For instance, Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto offers the Express Meeting Package, which is ideal for groups seeking a daylong venue. The package includes breakfast, lunch and two breaks daily; complimentary room rental; complimentary Wi-Fi in meeting and guest rooms; 20 percent savings on audiovisual rentals; and luxury guest rooms and suites.
THC also is aiming to further streamline its entire booking process to make it as simplified as possible for meeting planners to review and book meetings and events.


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Disney announced the launch of a beta version of the merged app including Hulu and Disney Plus next month, while the official launch of the app is in Spring 2024.
Hulu and Disney users can now access a variety of content, both from Hulu and Disney, under one single app. This plan has been in the blueprint for a year, as it was expected to be executed in late 2023. With the full acquisition of Hulu by Disney, many changes were made, including the merged app, which is now in the works.
Disney CEO Bob Iger shared the plans for the combined app when the Q2 earnings were shared with the world. Saying, “The advertising potential of this combined platform is incredibly exciting,” Iger also mentioned that this plan will only be for US customers for now.
While there’s a potential opportunity for more DTC advantages, the eligibility criteria of the app are still unclear. This newly merged app will also only be available to those who are subscribed to both services and/or are subscribed to Disney Bundle. This is what the CEO of Disney said:
“We remain on track to roll out a more unified one-app experience domestically, making extensive general entertainment content available to bundle subscribers via Disney Plus,”
When this one-app-experience was first mentioned in May 2023, there has been a lot going on for Disney even now. Since the appointment of Bob Iger as the CEO, Disney’s effort and time spent a lot on fixing this and that. After purchasing the remaining stakes of Hulu, Disney is now in control of Hulu, and can safely execute the single app experience.
As Iger stated:
“We expect that Hulu and Disney Plus will result in increased engagement, greater advertising opportunities, lower churn, and reduce customer acquisition costs.”
This integration of Hulu into the Disney Plus app is apparently going to be better in all aspects. Viewers can expect a variety of shows under one app, like Ahsoka and The Other Black Girl. Plus, from the advertising and customer subscription aspect, it is profitable, because you pay less for more content. Along with the ‘pause ads’ feature, which literally uses a static picture of a product to appear on the screen whenever a viewer pauses their video, this merging is seen as extremely beneficial.
As for how it is going to look, we can wait on that. Because it’s not long till Spring 2024 when the official launch of the combined app will roll out. It is entirely going to be depending on how well the beta version performed.
The users still get to pay differently for each service as they have done now, except for the Disney Bundle plan, where you get both services.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this. Let us know what you think of the combined Disney Plus and Hulu app.


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Orion to increase prices for rubber blacks in North America
Kingwood, Texas – Orion Engineered Carbons is increasing prices for its rubber carbon black materials in North America effective 1 June.
As part of this, invoice prices for rubber carbon blacks will be adjusted by an average of $121 per tonne, contracts permitting.
The 20 April announcement came a week after US-based competitor Cabot Corp. unveiled plans to increase rubber black prices in North America on the same date.
Orion cited “increasing operating and logistic expenses and the costs required to maintain service levels” among the reasons for the price hikes.
These price increases, added Orion, would help “substantial investments” in its North American rubber carbon black production.
Boston-based Cabot announced 13 April that prices for certain carbon black products would increase by roughly $100 per tonne with a hike of 4% to go on several others.
Cabot, too, blamed “persistently rising costs” for the decision.


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The global MVNO landscape is evolving rapidly. By the end of 2022, there were 129 million MVNO subscriptions worldwide, with Africa contributing 7 million (5.4% of the global market).
In Africa, MVNOs represented only 0.6% of total mobile subscriptions in 2022, much lower than the global average of 1.3%. However, some countries like Senegal have a higher MVNO penetration at nearly 14%.
Although MVNO subscriptions in Africa grew by 4% in 2022, the market is set to grow faster from 2023 onward, driven by factors like the licensing of around 31 MVNOs in Nigeria and Cell C's migration to MVNO in South Africa.
The African MVNO market's growth is driven by vertical markets, including financial institutions and retailers, looking to enhance their digital offerings.
The market is also influenced by the rising demand for data and digital services, coupled with a tech-savvy consumer base seeking affordable data packages.
The regulatory environment plays a crucial role. Some countries, like Kenya, Senegal, and Nigeria, have introduced MVNO-specific regulations, boosting the market.
Success factors for MVNOs in Africa
Successful MVNOs in Africa often have strong distribution channels and existing customer bases. Banks and retailers, in particular, have found success in launching MVNOs.
Prospects and challenges
Future MVNO growth in Africa will be driven by data demand, service customization, customer loyalty, and competitive pricing. However, there are challenges, including commercial, technical, and logistical hurdles for both MVNOs and suppliers. The African MVNO market holds promise for those who can navigate challenges and leverage its potential. Stay tuned for more insights into this dynamic sector.


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By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at China Weekly News -- On August 11, 2013, the first "Meet Kobe" event for the Lenovo smartphone users club, themed "Challenge Bryant, Let Dreams Happen" was held in Beijing. Lenovo smartphone ambassador Kobe Bryant and Senior Vice President of Lenovo Group and President of Lenovo Business Group Liu Jun attended the event. As the closing event for "Kobe Travels China," Lenovo used the "Meet Kobe" event series to launch its strongest brand campaign of the year, aligning itself with Kobe Bryant to enhance its brand image and accelerate its push toward leading the PC+ Era.
Aligning itself with Kobe Bryant: The Lenovo brand accelerates its transformation towards a younger, consumption-based image
Liu announced at the media conference, "All along, Lenovo smartphones have upheld a brand connotation of "people-oriented innovation, superior value, and global intelligence." Similarly, Kobe Bryant has found popularity among youth worldwide through his image of "charismatic leadership, courage to strive to be the best, and constant transcendence of ego." Its alliance with Kobe Bryant will help Lenovo smartphones shift its mature, sober brand image toward a symbol of youth and consumption. The alliance with Kobe Bryant is an important measure in deepening Lenovo's internationalization strategy and helping Lenovo become the leading brand of the PC+ Era."
Bryant became an official ambassador for Lenovo smartphones in China and Southeast Asia in early 2013. Bryant was present at the event to the pleasant surprise of the audience. Bryant mentioned in his speech that he is honored to have become ambassador for Lenovo smartphones, and that after a period of in-depth cooperation he is further convinced that Lenovo is an especially outstanding international brand. He went on to describe his experience using Lenovo products as very cool and explain that he is especially pleased that his cooperation with Lenovo gives him the opportunity to expand and deepen his direct contact and communication with the young people of China. In the future, he says, he will do his best to help Lenovo spread its brand spirit, and hopes that Lenovo will become an outstanding world-class brand.
Branding upgrade: Lenovo smartphone users club attracts youth markets


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When there aren’t any scoops during the week, there isn’t much for GameScoop! to add to existing coverage, but Greg Miller’s Knockin’ Boots segment covers infidelity and threesomes, and Hilary Goldstein keeps the show rolling.
The crew hits on most of the big new from the week, including GRIN studio’s closure, and the Xbox 360 dashboard update. Hilary is still disappointed with the pricing, having confirmed that most of the Games on Demand are the same price or more expensive than retail prices.
Nielsen Research has released data that the Xbox 360 is the first next-gen console being used more than the PS2, but in the mailbox section, the crew recommends the PS3 for new gamers given its reliability and hardcore game selection.
It’s an extra long Knockin’ Boots segment as Hilary has his own story about an old flame, and the crew reads a lot of emails on how to greet IGN editors, how they pick their game identities, and when they’ll be too old to game.
Covered games and topics: Console usage, GRIN, Xbox Games on Demand, Wii fitness games, iPhone games, Nintendo’s E3, Knockin’ Boots, grown up gamers, Scott Pilgrim, gamer names
Developer GRIN (Bionic Commando) probably doesn’t have a smile on its face these days.
The Xbox 360 is the first current-gen system being used more than the PlayStation 2.
Jenny McCarthy is but the latest celebrity helping fatties lose weight with their Wii.
Flipnote Studio is now available for your DSi and we love it.
Nintendo has admitted its E3 conference wasn’t all that.
You can now buy ridiculously overpriced accessories for your Xbox Live Avatars.
Hilary poses a question to Greg for Knockin’ Boots.
Plus, we answer a bunch of listener mail about the right system for new gamers, approaching IGN editors in the wild, and what we name our game characters. Don’t forget, we’re available on iTunes, along with episodes of Game Scoop! TV. Remember to rate the shows while you’re there.
Runtime – 1:05:08


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The battle over Christmas is not just an American phenomenon. In officially atheist Communist China for years it was OK to manufacture nativity scenes for export, but illegal to display them. And now, we hear that Germans are up in arms over Christmas -- but not for the usual reasons.
"lt is autumn, children are back in school, the leaves are starting to turn, and something that I have never seen before has happened in Germanym" writes Isabelle de Pommereau for the Christian Science Monitor. "Literally overnight, gingerbread cookies and chocolate Santa Clauses have popped up on supermarket shelves, and Christmas carols have started filling the air – in September.
"And now, long before the beginning of Advent, the four-week lead-in to Christmas, Germans are rebelling."
In the United States, Christians such as movie-maker Kirk Cameron are fighting to keep Christmas from being banned. Cameron, a former child actor and star of the evangelical film "Fireproof" is releasing a new film in November -- "Saving Christmas."
In Germany, it's a different problem: "Tired of what they see as the creeping encroachment of American-style commercialism into old Europe, they want the government to step in and say no to selling Christmas items before it is time. At least that’s what most Germans said in an online survey released last week.
"According to the survey, done by the polling institute YouGov for the news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 1 in 3 Germans want the government to regulate when stores can start selling Christmas gingerbread cakes and other Christmas goodies. Most of the survey's 1,000 respondents say that that date should be Nov. 30. Half say the early display of Christmas commercialism erodes the meaning of Christmas."
Is the German government likely to jump into the controversy?
"In most of the world, shopping has become a Sunday pastime. Not in Germany. In fact, its Constitution protects Sundays as days of rest," reports the Monitor. "The country also clearly defines its Christmas season as starting with Advent, a celebration that Germans take seriously – perhaps more so than most of their European neighbors.
"On the First Sunday of Advent, families set up an advent wreath and begin carving out time to bake spiced cakes and cookies, including Christbaumgebäcke (Christmas tree pastry), which decorate the tree.
"On Dec. 6, children leave letters on their windowsills for the Christkind, a figure dressed in white robes and a golden crown who distributes gifts, à la St. Nikolas. Throughout Advent, they make gingerbread houses and other goodies, and families invite each other for coffees on each of the four Sundays.
"The march of tradition is reassuring, especially for someone like myself," says reporter de Pommereau, "who grew up in France and never got invited to an Advent coffee nor baked special cookies ahead of Christmas. I never experienced the thrill of waiting for the Christkind to fill my stocking with nuts and mandarin oranges on Dec. 6.
"Some of Germany's 16 states have successfully begun chipping away at the sacrosanct no-shopping-on-Sunday law, allowing stores to hold a certain number of Verkaufsoffene Sonntage, or "open-sale Sundays," per year. Some cities even allow shopping on one or two Advent Sundays.
"But when the German capital moved to allow stores to open on all four Advent Sundays a few years ago, churches, backed by labor unions, fought back, taking their case all the way to the Supreme Court. They won. The highest court, ruling that Sundays had to remain days of rest and 'spiritual elevation,' overturned the Berlin law in 2009."
And so, "Christmas in September" is causing problems.
"t's clear that most want to keep Christmas at bay," writes de Pommereau, "at least, until its special time."


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October 21, 2021 7:44 am
This stance of the arbitration panel further bolsters Amazon’s stand that FRL violated contractual agreement by signing a merger deal with Reliance Retail. On its part, FRL has been opposing this stand of Amazon stating that it did not commit any wrong as Amazon’s contract was not with FRL but with another group firm, Future Coupons (FCPL).
October 07, 2021 4:36 pm
Reliance Retail to Bring 7-Eleven Stores in India: The move comes just a few days after Future Group's firm Future Retail said that it has terminated its franchise agreement with the US-based convenience stores brand to operate the stores.
August 06, 2021 7:29 pm
Supreme Court on Friday said that arbitration restraining Future Group's deal with Reliance Industries is enforceable.
July 29, 2021 2:14 pm
Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC and FRL are embroiled in a bitter legal fight over the deal and the US-based firm has sought in the apex court that the Singapore's Emergency Arbitrator (EA) award, which restrained FRL from going ahead with the merger, was valid and enforceable.
July 27, 2021 7:12 am
Inox Leisure, one of the largest movie theatre chains in the country with 153 multiplexes and 648 screens, has been hit by the pandemic-induced lockdowns across the country.
July 17, 2021 4:03 am
RRVL will hold 40.95 per cent and would make an open offer to acquire up to 26 per cent in accordance with Sebi takeover regulations. VSS Mani will continue as managing director and chief executive officer of Just Dial, RIL said in a stock exchange filing.
July 08, 2021 4:41 pm
Amazon moved the top court against the order of the Delhi High Court division bench which paved the way for the Reliance-FRL deal.
June 24, 2021 4:56 pm
RIL AGM 2021, Reliance AGM 2021 Announcements Highlights: Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani in the company's 44th annual general meeting (AGM) announced its foray into the new energy business. Here are the details regarding oil to chemicals (O2C), retail business and more.
April 19, 2021 4:27 pm
Amazon had moved the apex court on April 8 challenging the Delhi High Court's division bench order that had vacated a stay on Kishore Biyani-led Future Group proceeding with its Rs 24,713 crore asset sale to Reliance Industries.
April 14, 2021 7:37 pm
Future Group and Amazon have been locked in a battle after the US-based company took FRL into the emergency arbitration over alleged breach of a contract between them.


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Attackers increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities to enlarge their IoT botnets
Attackers looking to add IoT devices to their botnets are increasingly adding vulnerability exploitation to their attack arsenal, Netscout researchers warn.
Instead on just relying on a list of common or default passwords or brute-forcing attacks, they are taking advantage of the fact that IoT devices are rarely updated and manufacturers take a lot of time to push out fixes for known flaws.
Currently under exploitation
In November 2018, the company detected many exploitation attempts of these four bugs:
- CVE-2014-8361, a RCE that affects the miniigd SOAP service in Realtek SDK, publicly disclosed in April of 2015
- CVE-2015-2051, a RCE affecting D-Link DIR-645 Wired/Wireless Router Rev. Ax with firmware 1.04b12 and earlier
- CVE-2017-17215, a vulnerability in Huawei’s HG532e home gateway disclosed and patched in December 2017. (A proof of concept for it was published on exploit-db the same month.)
- CVE-2018-10561, a authentication bypass flaw affecting Dasan GPON home routers.
The vulnerabilities are being exploited by various attackers to deliver several Mirai variants (e.g., Satori, JenX, etc.).
Old and new vulnerabilities
“IoT devices sooner or later get patched, but not at the same rate nor priority which we see with operating systems. This makes the longevity and usefulness of IoT based vulnerabilities much longer and very attractive to botnet authors,” they shared.
Based on the data collected through their honeypot, it takes less than one day before a newly set up IoT device is hit with vulnerability exploitation attempts, and less then 5 minutes before login attempts using default IoT credentials are directed at it.
They’ve also noticed that there is a quick turnaround time from when a vulnerability is made public to when botnet authors integrate them into their botnet.
“We see a mixture of new and older IoT related vulnerabilities against out honeypots in a constant stream,” they shared, and explained that there are two main reasons why they still see exploitation attempts of older IoT vulnerabilities.
“First, IoT devices can sit on a shelf for weeks on end before being purchased. If a security update is released for the device, it won’t be applied to these devices until the software is updated. Thus, leaving the device vulnerable out of the box. Due to this, when an IoT device is plugged in, it can be exploited quickly,” they pointed out.
Secondly, IoT devices receive patches at a very slow rate.
“These devices are thought of as ‘set and forget’ type of devices. When’s the last time you updated your IP camera or cable modem?” the researchers pointed out.
They predict that the the trend of IoT vulnerability exploitation will continue in the coming year, as it’s easy to update botnet source code to add new exploits.
“Due to the sheer number of IoT devices connected to the internet, finding vulnerable devices is easy and quick. Add to the mix the large delta of when a vulnerable device is ‘turned on’ and when updates for security vulnerabilities are applied, and attackers can quickly amass large botnets,” they added.


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Keds is consolidating its estimated $10 million account at Foote, Cone & Belding, San Francisco. Toth Advertising, Boston, was the incumbent.
Earlier this year, Keds gave FCB a $5 million to $10 million assignment to launch a new line of kids shoes, Magic Rays, that change color when exposed to light.
ADS BREAK IN MARCH
The Magic Rays TV spot breaks March 3 on Nickelodeon. About the same time, Keds will kick off a corporate branding campaign from FCB, mostly in women's fashion magazines.
"We're going to be breaking new creative ground with the introduction of Magic Rays, and now we'll have the opportunity to extend that level of creativity to the whole Keds brand," said Jack Boland, FCB*president.
"FCB's full-service capacity was the main reason [behind] our consolidation," said Mary Obana, Keds VP-marketing.
Recently hired Keds President Joanna Jacobsen, a former Converse ad executive known for branding and expertise in kids and casual footwear, and her new marketing team are behind the new product, the agency change and the branding focus.
At Puma, Monarchy/Regency, Hollywood's leading independent film producer, last week entered into a strategic alliance with the footwear marketer, buying a 12.5% equity position in the German company.
Puma CEO Jochen Zeitz said the alliance will yield several new marketing programs that will raise Puma's profile and improve its poor U.S. distribution.
"Sports, movies and footwear advertising: It's all entertainment," he said.
Puma also is changing agencies.
"We're adding another partner to help us in our efforts to market Puma in the U.S.," Mr. Zeitz said.
Although he wouldn't name that agency, it appears to be Gyro, Philadelphia.
ANNOUNCEMENT NOV. 20
Puma U.S. President Herb Elliot later said the company will announce its new agency on Nov. 20, as well as a major new campaign for the second generation of its Cell Speed shoe line. And Gyro is handling that campaign.
Earle Palmer Brown, Philadelphia, had held Puma's U.S. account, estimated at $1 million, since last year.
Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, London, handles Puma outside the U.S. and won't be affected by the pending agency announcement.
In the global athletic footwear market, Puma is seventh with sales of $383 million in 1995; U.S. sales last year were $40 million.
Keds' sales worldwide in '95 reached $360 million, ninth best, with U.S. sales at $245 million.
Contributing: Mark Gleason.


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OnePlus has released a new mid-tier smartphone. The 6.44-inch smartphone arrives with a starting price tag of £379 and will be available from August 4 in the UK.
That price gets you 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage space. Alternatively, you can opt for a slightly pricier model (£469) which bags you 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Both versions have pretty impressive specs for a so-called ‘mid-tier’ phone. The screen is an AMOLED display with a 2,400 x 1,080 pixel resolution and forged from tough Gorilla Glass 5.
The OnePlus Nord has a 90Hz refresh rate, making it particularly smooth when navigating between homescreens and through menus. Power comes courtesy of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765 processor.
Like OnePlus’ other phones this year, the Nord supports 5G connectivity. And unlike fellow Chinese tech brand Huawei, OnePlus hasn’t been affected by the US trade ban so comes equipped with Google’s full range of apps and services.
For rear cameras you get the same main 48MP sensor as the OnePlus 8, plus an 8MP wide-angle lens, 2MP macro lens, and 5MP depth sensor. The front looks like a Samsung Galaxy S10+ with dual front cameras in an oval-shaped cutout. Besides the main 32MB selfie cam, you get a second 8MP wide-angle camera. That’s six cameras on what is supposed to be a budget phone.
To keep the lights on, OnePlus has packed the Nord with a 4,100mAh battery that can be charged up to 70% in half an hour using the bundled Warp Charge 30T charging brick. All that battery adds up to a phone weight of 184g.
The OnePus Nord charges via USB-C although neither has the option of wireless charging. The Nord comes in two colours: Black Marble and Gray Onyx.


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German industrial orders slump in November
[FRANKFURT] German industrial orders, a key measure of demand for German-made goods both at home and abroad, fell sharply in November, weighed down by falling domestic orders, data showed on Thursday.
Industrial orders dropped by 2.4 per cent in November compared with the previous month, the economy ministry said in a statement.
In October, German factory orders had risen by 2.9 per cent.
Domestic orders slumped by 4.7 per cent and export orders slipped by 0.7 per cent compared with the previous month.
Orders from the eurozone rose by 2.7 per cent while orders from outside the eurozone were down by 2.6 per cent, the ministry calculated.
By sector, orders for semi-finished goods fell by 2.3 per cent and orders for capital goods slumped by 3.1 per cent, while orders for consumer goods rose by 2.6 per cent.


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The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a significant piece of the American dairy export market. An analysis conducted by Informa Economics identifies the free trade agreement as a key element for $1.2 billion in dairy exports going to Mexico.
Approximately 25 percent of all U.S. dairy exports are sent to Mexico, making it the single biggest market for American dairy producers. Mexico accounted for 45 percent of all American skim milk powder exports in 2016, the most recent year studied by Informa. That same year, Mexico accounted for 30 percent of cheese exports and 10 percent of all butter exports.
Dairy sales to Mexico have a sizeable impact on the overall U.S. economy. The cumulative output value of $6.7 billion from 2012 through 2016 translates to $23.3 billion in economic output when considering how the exports affect other industries that are linked to dairy production. The dairy exports to Mexico were also responsible for the creation of 16,492 full-time equivalent jobs.
The size of the current dairy export market in Mexico is directly related to the fact that dairy products from the U.S. are going into the country duty-free. Export competitors that ship to Mexico are subject to Most Favored Nation tariff rates between 20 and 45 percent for dairy products. Competitors like the European Union are currently negotiating trade agreements with Mexico that have the potential to make their exports more competitive in the market.
The newly established Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership along with the renegotiations to modernize the Global Agreement between the EU and Mexico will increase the level of competition for the Mexican market. American dairy products would still retain logistical advantages related to transportation, but those advantages would not be enough to compensate for the economic losses if NAFTA were to be canceled.


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Morrisons has beaten rival Aldi to be crowned the best supermarket in the country.
The German retailer had a strong grip on the gong, winning for the past three years straight.
But last night Morrisons emerged victorious, being crowned Supermarket of the Year.
Aldi won in 2015, 2016 and 2017, thanks its low prices and Special Buy ranges.
Retail Industry Awards judges looked at a number of factors, reports the Liverpool Echo .
These include improvements in customer service, improving sales, innovation, and supplier relationships.
After announcing the winner, one judge said: “That isn’t only down to the quality of staff but about the whole shopping experience.
"Morrisons is a food supermarket specialist and it is now doing that very well.
“It has delivered on overall strategy very quickly and is doing well, with profits and staff motivation up.”
The win by Morrisons marks the first time since 2014 that a British supermarket has won the award with Aldi winning it for the last three years.
David Potts, Morrisons chief executive, said: “As a British supermarket we are delighted to win this award which recognises the efforts of our exceptional team of food makers and shopkeepers especially at the front line across the UK.”
Praise was also given to Morrisons new senior team. With another judge adding: "I always thought Morrisons was a great retailer.
"At some stage it lost its way, but the new team has gone in with renewed focus on the business and that is delivering results.”


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President Donald Trump is a re-gifter. The question is whether soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will be impressed.
Trump signed a symbolic trade deal with Canada and Mexico at the G-20 Summit last week. Despite the pageantry and the new name, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, trade analysts agree that the deal makes only marginal changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement. Now Congress has six months to accept or pass entirely on what is essentially a rewrapped and slightly refurbished NAFTA.
More than likely, that decision will belongs to Pelosi in the New Year. Odds are good she won’t look favorably on the package for two reasons.


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Enchanted Journey Of Light tickets go on sale
- Credit: Archant
Ticket’s for Thursford’s Enchanted Journey Of Light have now gone on sale.
The festive event, which is being run in place of the venue’s traditional Christmas Spectacular stage show, promises visitors an “unforgettable” walk-through journey into a winter wonderland populated with giant teddy bears, penguins, elves and fairy-tale characters, light sculptures and steam engines.
Entry is £15 for the 1,100 metre walk-through. There will be temperature checks and a one-way system as part of the safety measures in place. Booking are essential, and will be limited to small groups. The Journey of Light runs from November 19 to January 3.
Thursford’s description of the event said: “Your journey will begin in the main auditorium, an all new indoor Wonderland Trail: a maze of engines, fairy-tale characters and an immersive experience of light and sound including one of the UK’s biggest kinetic light displays.
“Next your journey will progress into the Santa’s Magical Journey Building.
You may also want to watch:
“Get ready to see how the elves have loaded Santa’s sleigh, then past the busy elves hard at work in the toy factory using the wondrous wrapping machine.”
MORE: This year’s Thursford Christmas Spectacular postponed until 2021The trail concludes at a four-acre ‘lantern light extravaganza’ where a fantasy forest of illuminated jungle animals will light up part of the Thursford site.
John Cushing, Thursford’s producer and director, announced in July the stage show could not go ahead in 2020 due to the limitations of the coronavirus restrictions, something he said was “heart-breaking” one for the entire team.
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But Mr Cushing said he hoped the Journey of Light would be a popular alternative.
He said: “The beautiful collection of lanterns, will light up Thursford and brighten our hearts. We hope that visitors from far and wide will come and walk the Wonderful Trail with us and in doing so, continue to support the local community, hotels, B&Bs, rental properties and hospitality venues throughout Norfolk.
“Christmas is a special time of hope, joy, sharing and caring, and after a year filled with uncertainty and loss it is more important than ever that we celebrate all that we are thankful for. We look forward to seeing Christmas Spectacular audiences return in 2021 and hope that many will also visit our Enchanted Journey of Light this year.”
For more information, visit www.thursford.com/enchanted-journey-of-light.


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Loopster is hosting a Christmas pop-up shop for the first time in Cardiff. Loopster is an online platform that makes buying and selling quality, second-hand women’s and children’s clothing easy and convenient.
The pop-up shop based in the Morgan Arcade will showcase a curated collection of Loopster second-hand and previous season women’s and children’s clothing
With 300 tonnes of our clothes ending up in landfill or incinerated every year, Loopster’s aim is to extend the life of fashion and make shopping for second-hand or past season clothes easy and accessible to all.
According to ThredUp, if everyone wore a pre-loved outfit on Christmas Day this year the CO2 emissions saved would be the equivalent to taking 56 million cars off the road for a day.
Loopster Founder and CEO Jane Fellner said: “With consumers waking up to the destructive effects fast fashion has on the environment, it is crucial that sustainable sources of clothing are available at attractive price points. We’re proud to be able to offer that service to our customers through our online platform, and now our first ever shop in Cardiff’s Morgan Arcade. We’re offering affordable clothes, whilst also reducing carbon footprints and extending the life of garments.”
Extending the life of one garment through second-hand use by just nine months reduces its carbon and water footprint by 20 to 30%.
Loopster stock high-street and designer brands ranging from M&S, Cos, Karen Millen, Warehouse, through to Stella McCartney and others. Loopster’s children’s range includes clothes from Jojo Maman Bebe, Boden, Ralph Lauren, and Dior.
At their pop-up store and online, they will also be selling a range of brand-new previous season clothing from English designer Jigsaw.
Shoppers can buy high-quality second-hand clothes substantially less than their new retail cost.
The pop-up shop is part of a comprehensive brand recognition strategy aimed at encouraging shoppers to reduce waste through reuse.
To sell to Loopster, customers order the Loopy Clear Out Bag and fill it up with unwanted clothes. Loopster then hand-checks every donated item to ensure they are good quality. Sellers are paid for items which make the grade, which are then sold on at a fraction of new high street prices. Clothes which do not pass the hand-check are returned to the seller, or if they agree, donated to the charity Traid.
Last summer, Loopster secured a round of equity funding led by the Development Bank of Wales. Since raising the six-figure sum, Loopster has relocated to Newport and hired a local team of six. It’s also started to build an innovative new tech platform which will enable the team to catalogue second hand clothes faster.
Technology Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, Michael Rees said:
“In a time where there is increasing pressure on consumers’ disposable income and greater awareness surrounding the importance of environmentalism, Loopster provides an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution. The Cardiff pop-up shop complements Loopster’s popular online platform and raises awareness of the brand and their sustainable fashion mission.”


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RICHMOND, Va -- If you have gluten free chicken in your freezer, you'll want to check the brand after a recall was issued.
Pennsylvania-based Bell and Evans gluten-free chicken breast nuggets are being recalled. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said there is a probability the recalled product may be contaminated with staph bacteria. The bacteria may cause serious health problems.
The recall specifically affects chicken breast nuggets in twelve ounce boxes and ten-and-a-half -ounce packages.
If you bought these products, you can return them to the store for a full refund.


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The prediction is based on steps Russia is taking to strengthen its automotive sector: it is increasing import tariffs and limiting the importation of used cars. The new importation law, similar to one recently passed by Bolivia, reduces the maximum allowable age of an imported car from 7 years to 5. Russia is also reviewing bank lending practices, since the money it flushed into the economy hasn't really had an effect on loan availability yet (not unlike the U.S.).
Lending and the size of the import tariff that Russia imposes seem to be the most important factors in making this prediction come true. But one thing not mentioned in Frost & Sullivan's forecast was oil. When the world economy gets off its knees, the price of oil is going to head for the moon again, and "expensive" oil means more Russians with money, and that could mean a return to more sales, provided the country's oil barons share the wealth. You can read the full press release after the jump.
[Source: Frost & Sullivan]
Despite Economic Recession - Russian Automobile Market Expected to Be Third Largest Globally by 2012
LONDON, Jan. 19, 2009 — Despite the global concerns about the impact of the economic recession, Frost & Sullivan predicts that by the end of 2009 the Russian automobile industry will be stable and lucrative once again. By 2012 Russia's car market is even expected to be the third largest in the world, behind the US and China.
As experts predict a continuation of the economic recession into the beginning of 2009, industry stakeholders are watching the Russian automotive market's performance closely. On November 18th 2008, Dmitri Medwedew, the President of the Russian Federation, acknowledged that the crisis is spreading from the financial sector into other sectors, including the automotive industry. Recent analysis from October 2008 to November 2008 shows a 19.3 percent drop in sales of new foreign passenger cars. In response to this the government is re-thinking its lending policies, automobile import policies, and import tariffs, while major Russian manufacturers are restructuring the number of work days in a week and reducing its workforce.
"As soon as the Russian banking sector overcomes months of financial turmoil, and automotive loans are available again for Russians, then sales of passenger cars are expected to revive their growth, however, most likely, at a slower pace," points out Andriy Ivchenko, Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.
Before the recession hit, the Russian economy was fertile for investment. By the end of 2007, Russia ended its ninth straight year of growth, averaging 6.9 per cent annually since the financial crisis of 1998. In 2007, foreign investments in the Russian economy amounted to $27.80 billion of which $353.0 million were invested in automotive and transportation machine-building sector.
The problem for the automobile industry is rooted in the lending policies of Russia's and the World's financial institutions and banks. These lending policies are being revived, but only after taking a toll on Russian and foreign automakers alike.
"Given the fact that more than 45 per cent of the passenger car sales in Russia were financed through bank loans, the financial crisis in Russia forced banking system to almost put on hold all new automotive loan applications for Russians," says Olha Kryvetska, Research Analyst with Automotive & Transportation Practise at Frost & Sullivan.
This new slump in demand for cars forced the hand of many Russian and foreign manufacturers, namely GAZ, AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, the biggest Russian manufacturers. On the 19th of November GAZ announced its decision to install a three-day working week, in response to decreasing demand for vehicles. On the 9th of October KAMAZ, known for its heavy commercial vehicles, it was cutting down the work week to 32 hours, and also cutting its workforce by 10 per cent. Even though, most of 2008 showed a slight reduction in sales (only 2.6 percent compared to last year), AVTOVAZ's Lada Priora has shown positive tendency increasing its sales drastically in 2008. Foreign OEMs, such as Renault, Ford and GM are amending their production plans for January 2009 in Russia and delaying their production of new models.
Finally, the government is starting to act in an effort to keep the industry afloat. The main change is the restructuring of import policies of used vehicles, prohibiting the importation of cars older than 5 years. Currently the system allows for cars no older than 7 years. The other key adjustment is to increase import tariffs. Russia is hopeful that this move will reduce the volume of import and in the long term gradually accelerate the development of foreign assembly in Russia.
Once the Russian automotive industry is strengthened, through new lending policies, import tariffs and the stimulation of foreign assembly, the future of this industry looks bright.
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership(TM) empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com/.
All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
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