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Screenful closes EUR 305K in funding
Finnish software-as-a-service (SaaS) company Screenful has raised 305 000 euros in seed funding from Gorilla Capital and the Arctic15 Funding Program.
Finnish companies get neighbourly with Swedes
Profil-Bau Industrial has been acquired by Swedish industrial engineering and automation firm ÅF and Ramirent is to deliver to the West Link project in Gothenburg.
Fast Display merges with Finnish PixMill
The Estonian digital printing house Fast Display has merged with the Finnish printing house PixMill, which specialises in large-format printing.
Playmore Games lands over EUR 700K in funding
Helsinki-based Playmore Games has closed a sizeable investment round, strengthening its bid to make board games more easily approachable.
Rundit funded for EUR 850K
Rundit, the Finnish startup behind an online service that eases communication between investors and non-listed companies, has just secured 850 000 euros in funding.
Ahlstrom-Munksjö continues to invest in Brazil
Finland-based Ahlstrom-Munksjö will invest 21 million euros in its Jacarei plant in Brazil with the aim of improving its product offering and strengthening its market position in South America.
Nokia connects with EUR 500 million in funding
Nokia has signed a 500 million-euro loan agreement with the European Investment Bank to strengthen its 5G research and development amidst a global race for setting the next-generation telecommunication standards.
Kodit.io brings home EUR 1.7 million in funding
The Finnish i-buyer Koti.io has completed a 1.7 million-euro funding round led by Speedinvest x and Schibsted and supported by Icebreaker.vc to expand to new EU cities.
Finnish startups roll in hefty financing
Finnish startups Spinnova and Smartcart have secured substantial financing for their businesses that aim to refashion the textile and shopping industries.
MaaS Global adds EUR 9 million in funding
Finnish mobility-as-a-service operator MaaS Global is looking to new markets after closing a nine million-euro funding round.


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The markets traded higher during the midday with the Dow rising 36 points to 14,290 on strong jobs data. Nasdaq eased a point 3222.
On the upside
Endeavour International (NYSE: END) narrowed fourth quarter losses as revenue surged.
Reuters reported that Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) was working with JP Morgan on potentially selling its automotive interiors business.
Gartner identified Tibco (Nasdaq: TIBX) as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for Business Intelligence and Analytics Platforms.
On the downside
The Fresh Market (Nasdaq: TFM) reported higher fourth quarter earnings but the results missed expectations and the grocery store chain forecast 2013 earnings below estimates.
Investors locked in profits on Radian Group (NYSE: RDN).
Fourth quarter earnings slipped for Qihoo (NYSE: QIHU) prompting a downgrade.
In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of 10 to 9 on both the NYSE and on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 index added a point to 1541.

domain: news


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Pinterest is launching the Chefs at Home initiative and donating $300,000 in free advertising for the restaurant industry.
With millions of people stuck at home in the last few months, over 60% of Americans have increased their home cooking, and Pinterest is one of the most popular places they seek inspiration for new recipes.
Searches for “easy at-home recipes” have skyrocketed – increasing by 12X.
To help home cooks and to continue supporting their inspiration, Pinterest has launched the Chefs at Home, “an exciting sneak peek into the home kitchens of the country’s top culinary talent.”
For Chefs at Home, over 30 iconic chefs share their recipes, tips, and tricks for home cooks.
Chefs at Home is not just about helping people cook better at home. With food insecurity and job loss at an all-time high, Pinterest is also donating $300,000 in free advertising to raise awareness and funding for the National Restaurant Association Educational Fund (NRAEF), Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants (ROAR), No Kid Hungry, and Harlem Grown.
Pinterest collaborated with industry experts to help curate Chefs at Home recipes – Peter J. Kim, founding director of the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD), and Tracey Johnsen, a creative strategist who worked at Tastemade.
From meal planning to meal stanning. Introducing: Chefs at Home, bringing you step-by-step recipes from the nation’s most celebrated chefs.
— Pinterest (@Pinterest) July 14, 2020
Pinners can find Chefs at Home recipes on Pinterest’s Today Tab every week.
Week 1: Celebrate Black chefs – Kwame Onwuachi’s chickpea tagine hummus
Week 2: Snack like a chef – Lucas Sin’s microwave sesame mochi
Week 3: Friends with benedicts – Kia Damon’s pumpkin rye pancakes
Week 4: Eat your feels – Adriana Urbina’s stuffed poblano peppers
Week 5: Weekend bake-a-thon – Dominique Ansel’s yogurt cake
Week 6: Savoring summer – Andrew Zimmern’s cold cucumber soup
You might also like
More from Pinterest
Pinterest is introducing a new feature called shopping spotlights that brings expert recommendations from influencers and publishers directly to consumers.
Pinterest has launched several new features that make planning recipes, virtual events, and future activities easier and more automated.
Pinterest and Shopify are launching a new app that enables merchants to easily upload their product catalogs and turn products …
Pinterest has announced an expansion to its Pinterest Partners program, with more companies that can help you with anything from …
Pinterest has announced the launch of a new collection of products on The Pinterest Shop to support small, sustainable brands …
Pinterest has shared a guide with suggestions to help brands create better content for Pinners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pinterest announced the Today tab, featuring trending Pins and curated topics that offer Pinners "daily inspiration," and helps them explore …


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If you’re a vintage watch lover, then this upcoming online auction was made especially for you: Tag Heuer will auction more than 70 vintage Heuer watches in an online auction this September.
The auction will be managed by online watch reseller Crown & Caliber and according to its CEO, Hamilton Powell, who’s quoted in a Bloomberg piece on the subject, the market has never been readier for it: “The Heuer market right now is experiencing a huge boom in interest over the past few years. “I think it’s partly because of the trend toward vintage watches in general from the community and brands alike—you see a lot of brands releasing “Heritage” collections in the last couple of years and bringing back older designs as inspiration. But I think it’s also because Heuer watches have such a rich history not only in the watch world, but in sports and racing culture as well, and so many of their designs are iconic and timeless”.
According to Bloomberg, the sale will include some seldom-seen pieces, such as the Heuer Monaco 74033N, also known as the Dark Lord, which could fetch between $60,000 and $70,000 a piece. Another notable watch on auction will be the Jo Siffert – a “white dialed Autavia with blue accents sported by the Swiss Formula One star”.
The auction will run online via Crown & Caliber’s website, but New York residents will be able to check out the entire collection at the Trunk Club’s New York City Clubhouse from September 19 through September 22 – the entire time the auction is live.


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“While it’s tempting to say that retail pharmacy is facing more challenges than any other time, it’s equally accurate and more productive to look at how the opportunities for neighborhood pharmacies are growing,” commented Carpenter.
“The big headline for our industry today is the evolving business model — an evolution that’s pulling pharmacists out from the dispensary to interact with their patients in new and more valuable ways. This is our game changer.”
Dispensing, she pointed out, remains the economic foundation of the retail pharmacy business, adding that it will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. “Medication expertise has always been what pharmacies are all about, and that’s not changing. What is changing — and rapidly — is how the benefits of that medication expertise are being delivered to patients,” said Carpenter.
“Neighborhood pharmacies now provide an increasingly important range of patient services that extend their value, from the narrowly focused, such as flu shots, to the broader management of complex chronic conditions. Here the impact is not just at the point of treatment, but one which can enhance the patient’s whole life. It’s truly a ‘game changer’ for patients too.”
She noted that this evolution is taking place at different rates and in different ways across the country and that it represents a significant change for the entire neighborhood pharmacies community.
Pointing to the association’s recent consultations with Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA), Carpenter noted: “For the first time in many years, Neighbourhood Pharmacies was invited to collaborate in discussions on how the province of Ontario would address its financial challenges.
“To be clear, it was not a negotiation, and the resulting cuts were significant and disappointing, but we were at the table and we helped shape how, where and when the government’s cost-cutting would be felt.


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samzenpus from the seeing-is-owning dept.
Alain Williams writes "According to the BBC: 'Kodak claimed it owns patents regarding the display of online images that is being infringed by Shutterfly. The photo-sharing site disputes these claims and has launched a counter suit. But the landmark case could have ramifications for other popular online photo sites such as Yahoo's Flickr and Google's Picasa.'"
Top Ten Things Overheard At The ANSI C Draft Committee Meetings:
(7) Well, it's an excellent idea, but it would make the compilers too
hard to write.


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Stocks fell on Friday as the U.S. economy grew at a slower-than-expected pace in the fourth quarter and mixed earnings fueled market volatility.
The S&P 500 was down 0.55%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.17%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.17%. Stocks gave back some of the gains achieved in a late-day rally on Thursday.
U.S. GDP rose 2.6% in the fourth quarter, lower than an expected 3.2% gain, as business spending remained weak. The pace was nearly half the third-quarter's blockbuster 5% growth. However, consumer spending was stronger than expected at 4.3%, a sign lower gas prices were continuing to prop up sentiment.
"Today's number is a miss and a disappointment in the context of recent strong GDP prints," said BTIG chief strategist Dan Greenhaus. "The Federal Reserve can't be happy with that and compounding the issue, price pressures remained relatively benign in the quarter."
The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index jumped to 59.4 in January, up from 58.8 a month earlier, and higher than an expected 57.5 reading. The ISM Manufacturing Index, a broader measure of economic health, will be released Monday.
U.S. consumer sentiment rose in January to its highest level in 11 years. The University of Michigan's final reading for January jumped to 98.1 from 93.6 a month earlier.
On the positive earnings side, Amazon (AMZN) - Get Amazon.com, Inc. Report soared more than 10% after turning a quarterly profit of 45 cents a share, 28 cents above expectations. The e-commerce juggernaut said gross margins rose 300 basis points from a year earlier to 29.5%. Google (GOOGL) - Get Alphabet Inc. Class A Report was up 3.1% despite missing profit and sales expectations. Ad prices slipped 3% quarter on quarter on low smartphone rates.
MasterCard (MA) - Get Mastercard Inc. (MA) Report jumped 2.8% as fourth-quarter profit of 69 cents a share beat by 2 cents and revenue surged 14% from a year earlier. The world's second-largest credit card company reported a 29% increase in profit.
Chevron (CVX) - Get Chevron Corporation Report was flat after beating low expectations in its fourth quarter. Earnings of $1.85 a share beat by 21 cents, while revenue of $46.09 billion came in much higher than an expected $30 billion. Sales dropped 18% as oil prices plunged.
Earnings have taken Wall Street's focus in what has been one of the busiest reporting weeks of the season. Microsoft (MSFT) - Get Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Report , Qualcomm (QCOM) - Get QUALCOMM Incorporated Report , Apple (AAPL) - Get Apple Inc. (AAPL) Report and Facebook (FB) - Get Facebook, Inc. Class A Report were among the companies that reported earlier in the week.
European markets were lower. Germany's DAX was down 0.32%, France's CAC 40 slid 0.33%, and London's FTSE 100 fell 0.37%. Further supporting the European Central Bank's plan to introduce easing measures in March, the latest figures from Eurostat showed the region at continued risk of slipping into deflation. Consumer prices in the Eurozone slipped 0.6% in January compared to the year earlier, its largest decline since mid-2009.
Russia's central bank unexpectedly cut interest rates by 200 basis points to 15%, only a month after raising rates to that level. Russia has been under pressure, skirting a recession, as oil prices plunged and Western sanctions following the Ukraine conflict crippled the economy.
Russian ADRs were being pulled lower on Friday. Mobile Telesystems (MBT) - Get Mobile TeleSystems PJSC Sponsored ADR Report , Yandex (YNDX) - Get Yandex NV Class A Report and Qiwi (QIWI) - Get Qiwi Plc Sponsored ADR Class B Report were down, while the Direxion Daily Russia ETF (RUSL) - Get Direxion Daily Russia Bull 3x Shares Report plummeted more than 6%.
--Written by Keris Alison Lahiff in New York.


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Find New Rs 200, Rs 50 Notes Latest News: After demonetizing high valued notes of Rs. 500/- and Rs. 1,000/- and releasing new Rs. 2000, Rs 500 Notes in November last year. Now Reserve Bank of India will be coming up with new Rs. 50 and Rs. 200 notes. The new Rs 50 note is fluorescent blue in colour and the new Rs 200 note has shades of yellow. The new Rs. 50 notes will be in the Mahatma Gandhi (new) series bearing the signature of RBI governor Urjit R Patel – is an interesting turn of events. The following are the key features of the new Rs 50 note:
Obverse the Front Side
Observe Back/Reverse Side
The introduction of a new currency denomination (Rs 200) and design are done keeping in consideration various factors like ease of transactions for the common man, replacement of soiled banknotes, inflation and the need for combating counterfeiting, the Reserve Bank of India said.
Here are the New Rs 50, Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes images
Thanks for reading our article regarding New Rs 200, Rs 50 Notes


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Asda owners the Issa brothers are on verge of dropping their bid for Boots over a disagreement on price
- The Issas' consortium was one of the two main suitors left vying for Boots
Asda owners the Issa brothers are on the verge of dropping their bid for Boots over a disagreement on price.
Zuber and Mohsin Issa, who are teaming up with private equity firm TDR Capital to buy Boots, are getting cold feet after Walgreens – the pharmacy chain's US owner – asked them for more.
They are thinking of walking away, a Bloomberg report says, which would be a blow to Walgreens, which was hoping for as much competition as possible to drive up the price.
The Issas' consortium was one of the two main suitors left vying for Boots, the other being Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries and US private equity titan Apollo Global Management.
Walgreens has been touting Nottingham-based Boots for around £7billion, though bidders are said to be hoping to pay closer to £5billion.
Founded by John Boot in 1859, it is the UK's largest pharmacy and beauty retailer. It now sells products around the world, and in the year ending August 2021 it had more than 315,000 staff, with sales of £105billion.
The Issas first teamed up with TDR to buy Asda in 2020 for £6.8billion. As well as eyeing Boots, they tried to buy convenience chain McColl's – but were beaten by Morrisons.
Representatives for the Issas and TDR declined to comment.
HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP
A successful sale of Boots would be the biggest deal to happen in the UK since the cost of living crisis began to bite, and would show private equity firms still have the appetite to buy in a more uncertain economic environment.
Interest rates are rising as central banks try to tame inflation, but this pushes up the cost of debt for buyout firms who borrow to help pay for the businesses they buy.
Experts at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos last week said private equity interest in the UK would probably hold strong, despite rising rates.
They noted that the Bank of England's base rate – at 1 per cent – was low by historic standards, and buyouts would be driven by businesses needing money to adapt to a greener and post-pandemic future.
Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.
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PlayStation 4 players will be pleased to hear that CoD: Modern Warfare Remastered will be released on June 27th! The deal is sweetened with the news that it is a stand-alone game in both digital or physical editions.
That’s awesome! What does CoD: Modern Warfare Remastered mean exactly…
Here’s what you can expect when the game launches:
- the full campaign
- 16 multiplayer maps
- hi-def visuals
To celebrate the big news, players will be able to take part in a special event beginning launch day. There will be several ongoing things happening including in-game give aways, XP events and new playlists as well as a brand new summer themed map. The Days of Summer will last about five weeks.
CoD:MWR is a first person shooter that is the fourth title in the series. This time, the action breaks away from WWII and is set in the modern age.
The story starts in 2011 with a dangerous new leader in an unnamed Middle Eastern nation. In addition, an “ultranationalist” civil war begins in Russia. Players will take part in the game as a US Marine or a British Commando and travel to locations including the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine.
Other features include:
- an array of weapons and attachments
- camouflage schemes
You can learn more on the official site.


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Is ‘Cancel Culture’ coming for your FINANCES & credit cards next?
By Staff, Glenn Beck
February 25, 2021
Glenn explains how 'cancel culture' may now be targeting financial institutions. One company, Affirm, has already severed ties with MyPillow. So, who's next? And what does this mean for your own finances, credit cards, or even the future of BlazeTV? Glenn describes what could be coming next…
This story originally appeared in Glenn Beck


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For every visitor from share you will earn Bitcoin/Satoshi
Google has revealed that it will shutdown the operations of Google Buzz soon . Google Buzz was a product launched in 2010 in view of competing with Twitter . But it was a huge blow for the company and Buzz was losing it’s attention years back itself .
The company quoted in the following statement:
“Changing the world takes focus on the future, and honesty about the past. We learned a lot from products like Buzz, and are putting that learning to work every day in our vision for products like Google+. Our users expect great things from us; today’s announcements let us focus even more on giving them something truly awesome”
It is believed that other products such as Code search and Code Search API will be shutdown next year. Google is in plans to concentrate only in Google+ and it will be tough for the company if it does not make a change in their social networking site.
Also Google Labs site will be closed soon and Boutiques.com , Like.com websites will be replaced by Google Product Search.
Google – change is required for Google +


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As different parts of the world have been experiencing variations of “stay home” orders during the global COVID-19 pandemic, there have been stories popping up about the positive effects of reduced human activity on the natural world.
Seismologists are reporting that the world is quieter due to fewer cars, trucks, airplanes, cargo ships, and other forms of transportation operating. This means that wildlife has a chance to be heard—by each other and us. People who live in big cities and have not previously noticed birds are getting to hear the mating calls of this peak spring season, and those calls are more apt to be heard by the prospective mates themselves. Ocean life, similarly, is being treated to the calming effects of less sound pollution that typically can cause stress. Whales are probably better able to migrate and find food without the distractions of technological interference.
Photos are being shared online, showing clear air and water in places that have not seen it in many years. Canals in Italy are crystalline for the first time in memory. The Himalayas are visible from India after decades of air pollution.
It’s amazing how clean the world can be when we all slow down and stay home.
But while the pandemic might inspire us to rethink our whirlwind schedules, it’s also causing us to use more disposable plastics—and our fears might make us vulnerable to manipulation by industries out to make a profit.
Don’t get me wrong: Some single-use products right now are crucial to maintaining safe working conditions for medical and other essential personnel. Some are important for imparting a sense of protection to all of us as we occasionally have to engage with others for things we deem necessary, like groceries.
You’ve probably noticed that many grocery stores in Fort Wayne and across the country are refusing to bag groceries in a customers’ reusable bags to decrease staff’s exposure to outside microbes. And for the time being, extreme caution like this is warranted.
But as we navigate the ongoing effects of this pandemic beyond the immediacy of flattening the curve, it’s also important that we’re diligent in safeguarding the health of our environment and its future, too.
For example, as states enact temporary bans on reusable bags, remember that big plastic has tried to ban reusable grocery bags before—not just during virus outbreaks.
While research shows that Coronavirus can persist on many surfaces for various amounts of time, that includes your clothing and body and the air around you just as much as a plastic bag or a pair of latex gloves. There is no inherent safety in using disposable plastics.
On top of that, plastic is made from petroleum—an industry that hasn’t given us reason to trust that they have the interests of planetary health in mind. Big plastic may try to move in and prey on fear to reverse the trend away from using its products, and in the long-term, that just doesn’t make sense.
Washing fabric bags in hot water and drying them has been shown to kill viruses, as has wiping down surfaces of vinyl bags with a sanitizer. These practices will be helpful when we can start safely bringing reusable bags back into stores.
For now, comply with the safety standards, but be careful what you believe, and don’t allow fear to drive your decisions going forward. If you see a study funded by big plastic saying that plastic is the safest option for grocery bags, check your sources.
After all, we should be wary of being told that the world needs to return to the way it was before the pandemic. We don’t have to let economic interests drive us to return to destructive behaviors.
Before we go back to flying, buying, double wrap everything in plastic, and not thinking twice about it, let’s consider how to maintain some of the quiet and clean this pandemic has created for the world.
Let’s think about how to keep our waterways free from single-use plastics that can strangle and choke wildlife—and pollute our own water systems.
Let’s take advantage of this rare reset button to make an eco-friendly world the “new normal.”


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The U.S. Postal Service has been in the news recently, announcing planned service cutbacks as part of a survival strategy. Most RetailWire panelists agree that retailers have seen this coming for years, and have adjusted their strategies accordingly to deliver goods to customers on a timely basis. I’m focused on the retailers still heavily dependent on direct mail to drive their marketing message:
The writing has been on the wall for many years at the USPS. Reed Hastings of Netflix said several years ago that prospects of postal service declines kept him awake at night…and this was during the heyday of Netflix’s mail order service. Whether you agree with some of Netflix’s marketing missteps or not, they have at least moved fast to a streaming model in part due to USPS service cuts.
As to the question of direct mail, retailers depend on this medium as consumers turn away from reading the print newspaper. It’s not just a question of timing and creative, but also cost management in light of higher USPS fees to deliver mail. Retailers would be wise to reallocate their marketing resources to online and mobile at a faster pace because the long-term trend is irreversible.


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MANDAN, N.D. - The Runnings off Memorial Highway in Mandan is officially closed.
That's because a new Runnings is taking its place on Main Street in Mandan.
Aaron Ova, the manager of the new location, says the store is three-times larger and offers more products and product lines.
This location will carry firearms, steel products, as well as a larger sportswear and clothing section.
He says they are able to hire roughly 20 more employees than the old location.
"We want to be faithful to our Mandan community. We have a lot of loyal customers that come and shop us daily," Ova said.
You can stop by their grand opening September 13-15 at 504 West Main Street.


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|| Print ||
|Thursday, June 24, 2010|
Nike is hiring again in Beaverton after a turbulent recessionary run punctuated by a 5% downsizing last May. The company has posted openings in information technology, operations, human resources, communications and the House of Hoops, has just hired a new Chief Learning Officer and is sprinting into a new fiscal year with momentum and focus.
The Nike effect in Oregon starts with jobs but it reaches far beyond that. With more than $19 billion in annual global revenues, deep connections to the state’s creative services, financial and legal sectors and a steady churn of departing executives seeking their fortunes through creative start-ups (not to mention the vast philanthropic efforts of Phil Knight), Nike is probably Oregon’s most important business. So it was refreshing to hear CEO Mark Parker piling on the inspirational sports clichés about competitive fire and thriving on strong competition during yesterday’s fiscal year 2010 earnings call.
Sports clichés do not generally serve corporate leaders well, especially the proverbial boast that this or that initiative is "game changing." But if anyone has a right to sound like a high school coach when addressing Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, it's Parker. He is, after all, running the largest sports business in the world. Since taking over for the underwhelming William Perez in 2006, Parker has reinvigorated the Nike brand and led the company deep into under-tapped markets, first China and now Mexico and Brazil. Just prior to yesterday’s earnings call, he was in South Africa for the World Cup, and he pointedly referred to the world’s most popular sport as football, not soccer. He also pointed out that Nike, once an also-ran in non-American football, has become a dominant force, with revenues in that business up 35% before the World Cup kicked into gear with the jaw-dropping Nike ad produced by Wieden+Kennedy that has generated 16 million-plus online hits.
Other promising trends for Nike:
Perhaps most importantly, Charlie Denson, president of the Nike brand, said yesterday, “We enter the new fiscal year with clean inventories.” That means the discounts and sales are over, and Nike’s heading back to the prices that have built it into a $19 billion company.
Ben Jacklet is managing editor for Oregon Business.
Real Time - Oregon Business
Tweets by @OregonBusiness
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Is your business ready to join us in the call for action? This opening panel includes Oregon businesses who will discuss why they signed the Oregon Climate Declaration, the investments they are making to reduce carbon emissions, and how their actions are affecting their companies.
Get ready for two days of special events produced with the EPA, Portland Timbers and ISOS before and after the GoGreen Conference on October 16.
hubbub health uses behavior change science to rethink wellness programs.
In Ashland, a public-private partnership results in online resources to help diversify the local economy.
How sports tourism is driving economic growth and making cities across Oregon a better place to live.
If you have given a former employee access to your company’s electronic information by virtue of assigning a desktop or laptop computer and you suspect he or she of having taken electronically stored data, there are several steps to follow to preserve electronic forensic evidence from spoliation.
The official launch will be Jan. 14.
In a switch on the traditional trade show, representatives from UO departments and local and state agencies will host tables to connect with businesses and vendors. The fourth Reverse Vendor Fair will take place Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Eugene.


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On a normal weeknight, Netflix accounts for almost a third of all Internet traffic entering North American homes. That’s more than YouTube, Hulu, Amazon.com, HBO Go, iTunes, and BitTorrent combined. —
More than iTunes or Youtube? That’s impressive.
Perhaps a real breakthrough is just around the corner.
A tale of two competitors
This is how Apple sells its laptops:
This is how HP sell their laptops:
Only one of these methods is a winner.


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If TikTok wants to sell itself to a US company and avoid a potential ban, it might have to leave behind one of its most important pieces of code. South China Morning Post sources claim TikTok’s parent, ByteDance, won’t sell or transfer the social video service’s recommendation algorithm to a US buyer. If TikTok wanted to keep functioning, its American team would need to write a new algorithm for showing and suggesting videos.
ByteDance reportedly told US officials and would-be buyers about the decision. This wouldn’t leave TikTok much time to act — President Trump has so far refused to extend a September 15th deadline for a sale.
To some extent, ByteDance doesn’t have much choice. China recently instituted new rules on AI exports that would require the company to obtain a license if it sold the algorithm to a US firm. Given that China would supposedly prefer to see TikTok shut down than sold off, that’s not particularly likely.
It wouldn’t necessarily be the end if TikTok lost its algorithm. It could develop a new system. However, there’s no guarantee the company could keep running in the US before that new algorithm entered use. If so, there might be a dark period where users would have to make do with other social networks.


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Even with High Gas Prices, Drivers Question Value of E85
by Bryce G. Hoffman (Detroit News) …While the price of ethanol, or E85, is lower than the price of regular unleaded — the average price in Michigan at the end of last week was $3.45 per gallon for E85 vs. $3.82 for regular gas — it provides less energy and, therefore, worse mileage than gas.
“Typically, it’s hard to make an economic case for using E85,” acknowledged Coleman Jones, head of alternative fuels for General Motors Co.
At least in the United States.
In Brazil, where most cars and trucks are capable of running on either gasoline or ethanol, it is often cheaper to fuel up with the latter. …Automakers like GM ship a handy reference card with their cars in Brazil, a table that allows motorists to see at a glance which fuel they should use based on current prices.
… E85 is government shorthand for a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
But the actual percentage of ethanol in the fuel can vary widely — from 83 percent to just 51 percent.
…The ethanol industry says its fuel should be priced lower than last week’s $3.45 a gallon.
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen told The Detroit News that the wholesale price of E85 is about 70 cents a gallon less than gasoline.
Dinneen blamed fuel distributors for not passing full savings on to consumers and said the idea that ethanol is not a cost-effective option for American motorists is “just wrong.” READ MORE


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Trident targets dieters with mint-chocolate gum
LONDON - Cadbury is preparing to launch a mint-chocolate variant of its Trident chewing-gum brand, aimed at chocolate-lovers who are watching their weight.
The mint-chocolate product, which will be one of four gel-filled variants added to the range, will be available by the end of next month. Lemon, mint and peppermint flavours are also planned, and the launch will be backed by a TV campaign that will communicate the products' rehydration properties.
The push is part of a new product development strategy by Cadbury intended to steal share from the chewing-gum market leader Wrigley.
At the end of last week Kellogg announced that it was launching a mint-chocolate variant of its Special K bar to attract consumers to the cereal bar category, which is dominated by fruit and nut products.
Trident Splash is currently being promoted with a TV campaign, created by JWT, that continues the brand's 'Mess with your head' theme. It shows a woman in an airport, whose mind takes her to a surreal imaginary world.
This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk
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Ecobee has announced that their new smart thermostat, the ecobee 3, will be sold at Apple Stores in the United States, and this partnership means that Google and Apple will once again be competing head-to-head for dominance in the tech industry, according to IHS research. Other manufacturers might have to investigate partnerships with utilities or home security providers, in order to see if there is enough opportunity left in the market to justify additional investment and support long-term growth.
IHS estimates that smart thermostats made up just 16 percent of all thermostat unit sales in 2014. Omar Talpur, analyst for Security and Building Technologies at IHS, indicates, “partnering with Ecobee has many benefits for Apple, in terms of attracting new customers and promoting HomeKit. Ecobee will also benefit from a sales channel that will boost its brand recognition and allow the company to further challenge Nest, the undisputed market leader for smart thermostats in the United States.”
Announced in June of 2014, HomeKit is an Apple-created framework that enables developers to create software to discover, configure, communicate with and control devices for home automation. By developing a language, Apple hopes market fragmentation within home automation could be solved, as products from various manufacturers could more easily communicate with each other. These devices could then be controlled using Siri on any Apple mobile device. By doing so Apple hopes to make iPhones and iPads more significant devices in the potentially large and lucrative home automation industry.


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Lego announced Wednesday it’s reversing a conversational policy it had in place.
Previously, the company asked customers buying its toy bricks in bulk what they were using them for, although that will no longer be the case, the BBC reported.
The reason for the change has to do with Chinese artist and political dissident, Ai Weiwei, who accused Lego of censorship in October when the company wouldn’t sell bricks to him for an art project. He ultimately ended up using fake bricks and made Lego’s refusal public.
But the company said Wednesday it didn’t want to implement guidelines that “could result in misunderstandings or be perceived as inconsistent,” according to a statement published on its website.
The statement continues, “As of January 1st, the LEGO Group no longer asks for the thematic purpose when selling large quantities of LEGO bricks for projects. Instead, the customers will be asked to make it clear—if they intend to display their LEGO creations in public—that the LEGO Group does not support or endorse the specific projects.”
“I think Lego made a good move, I think this would be a small victory for freedom of speech,” said the artist to the BBC after the announcement.
In October, Ai began receiving Lego donations after his request was denied.


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EAT THINK DRINK
High Pressure Processing – Innovation and Value-Add
Wednesday, March 31 • 6-7pm
Online via Zoom Webinar
HAF has partnered with Hiperbaric, the world’s leading specialist in high pressure processing (HPP), to share this new, innovative technology with Hawai‘i. With proliferating opportunities to diversify our agricultural industry and expand the sector of value-added products made with local ingredients, many local farmers and producers can benefit from HPP technology.
HPP – also known as high pressure pascalization or cold pasteurization, is a non-thermal food and beverage preservation method that guarantees food safety and achieves an increased shelf life, while maintaining the optimum attributes of fresh products. This innovative technology is based on the use of high isostatic pressure transmitted by water. This pressure is transmitted uniformly and instantaneously throughout the product, therefore achieving an effect equivalent to pasteurization, except without the use of heat. The nutritional profile of the product remain intact, while flavor, color and texture also are unaffected by the pressure.
Although U.S. food and beverage manufacturers have had HPP technology commercially available for more than 20 years, it is currently not yet available in Hawai‘i. For this special event, keynote speaker Jorge Coll, Sales Executive from Hiperbaric will present on HPP and the versatility of the technology. Since 1999, the company has been the international leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of HPP industrial equipment for food and beverages, spanning across five continents.
After the keynote presentation, a panel presentation will take place with speakers representing a cross-section of local government, the business community, and local producers. The panel will explore benefits of having an HPP facility in the state, and the opportunities to diversify and continue expanding our agricultural industry to support our local economy by promoting Hawai‘i-made products with local ingredients. The panel discussion will be moderated by Meli James, Co-Founder of Mana Up and feature:
• Senator Donovan Dela Cruz
• Loren Shoop, Owner & President of ‘Ulu Mana Inc.
• Ethan West, Co-Founder & President of Punahele Provisions
EAT & DRINK
For this online event, HAF has partnered with restaurants on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui and the Island of Hawai‘i to offer attendees tuning in from across the state a meal to take home and enjoy during the event. Event registration is FREE when you order takeout from one of our featured #FoodAGoGo restaurants!
Contributions go directly to supporting local farmers, ag education and outreach programs.
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.


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by Les Luchter on Sep 30, 12:32 PM
FDA approved Amylyx Pharmaceutical's Relyvrio, which slows down progress of ALS, and will be available in four to six weeks.
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Even as it shuts down its own stores, the struggling D2C brand is moving into 100 Dick's Sporting Goods locations.
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Johnson & Johnson just announced Kenvue as the name of its planned consumer health spinoff.
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As they worry more about war and inflation, people care a little less about protecting the planet.
by Steve Ellwanger on Sep 26, 1:02 PM
Plaintiffs once again objected to Johnson & Johnson's creation of a subsidiary into which it placed its talc liabilities.
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As it welcomes people into Walmart Land, the retailer explains what it hopes to learn about games, music and virtual community.
by Steve Ellwanger on Sep 22, 3:27 PM
Juul wants to know if the FDA balanced the public health benefits and risks of its products and whether its reasoning "is scientifically sound."
by Sarah Mahoney on Sep 21, 7:45 PM
While prices are up, parents should be able to score even the coolest toys, from CoCoMelon to Magical Mixies.
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JC Penney has got its post-Sephora beauty formula ready to roll, moving into 600 locations.


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Age UK Derby and Derbyshire - find out all about our latest news and campaigns, keep up to date!
Published on 27 April 2022 01:46 PM
You can now donate to our charity by converting your nectar points.
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We have many Fundraising events planned throughout the year and would love for you to join us.
Published on 02 February 2022 11:00 AM
Fibro Active in Long Eaton, has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Published on 01 February 2022 01:18 PM
Each year, around 2.1 million people suffer from domestic abuse in England and Wales – 1.4 million women and 700,000 men
Published on 04 January 2022 01:38 PM
Rising fuel bills are a big concern for many people right now, but there is support available.
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Our brand new local Christmas cards are onsale in our shops, or you can buy online


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By Andrew Martin, CEO, Retail Financial Consulting Ltd.
Over the past decade, there has been a clear shift in preference when it comes to personal banking, with consumers and financial institutions alike increasingly opting for online, cash-free, payments and finance management services. In fact, recent statistics have shown that the percentage of users who regularly use online banking has shifted from 30% in 2007, to 73% as of last year.
This trend is only set to continue as online services become more streamlined and efficient, and FinTech organisations and innovative Startups maintain its surge in quantity and popularity. However, as fantastic as all of these slick, modern services are, it is absolutely essential that cash is not neglected to the point of rarity or even extinction.
Cash-use has considerable benefits for our society, the economy, and millions of individuals in the UK, and it is essential that cash remains a staple in British society. Not at least offering consumers the choice between which form of currency they use could cause huge backlash and can have a devastating impact on society and the economy.
Logistical impact of a cash free society
Put simply, the main reason cash-use must continue, is because it does not rely on IT based payment networks which can be prone to power outages, IT glitches or cyber attacks. This downfall to technology can occur at varying levels of severity – at the very top, a nationwide power outage or cyber attack could irreparably devastate a country which relies solely on online banking. This is a very real threat in Sweden, which is well on its way to becoming the worlds first cashless society. Social problems that resulted led to Swedish Parliament enacting a law to protect cash access across the entire country in November 2019. This has now been repeated across Europe, and the USA with cashless retail being banned.
On the other end, mid-low level consequences of online banking involves short term disruptions to finances and payment processes for individuals and businesses. Interestingly, this is already occurring on a daily basis in the UK – analysis from Which?revealed that, last year, UK banks were impacted by an average of five IT shutdowns every week. Therefore, to save from inconvenience, individuals should always be equipped with cash as an alternative means of payment.
Alternatively, cash is anonymous, reliable, secure and available. It is there in power outages, or when your battery fails and more importantly it is there under duress
Some people, and many banks’, desire to move banking to an entirely online space is completely ignorant to the needs of the entire population. For example, many workers such as tradesmen and hairdressers are paid in cash, and with the recent cull of high-street banks and the removal of ATMs, an increasing amount of full-time workers are being left with no option but to keep all their earnings on their person, as opposed to storing some away in a bank. Incidentally, this is the whole theme of the governments ‘Access to Cash review’.
Furthermore, online services do not cater for all demographics, such as the elderly – many of whom don’t have regular access to the internet and no longer have a nearby high-street bank in order to withdraw cash. Similarly, ATMs which charge for cash withdrawal are increasingly prevalent in the high-street, and many low-income earners are being alienated, and forced into online banking as their only method of money management.
Rural areas have been hit hardest by the removal of banks and ATMs, with our recent polling stating that 69% of British workers agree that the government prioritises cities over rural communities, in terms of infrastructure and connectivity.
Cash also runs the risk of creating a bi-polar society with the need cash and don’t need cash segments with the former being the socially poor – comprised of homeless people, and some workers who deal in cash, to name a few.
Furthermore, it’s clear to see that declining cash-use is already having an impact on the British economy and industry. For a start, declining cash-use has contributed to the death of the UK high-street, which recorded its worst year on record for 2019. Through the joint effort of online shopping and online payment methods, there is no longer a need to contribute to local retail services or brands which have failed to adopt an online platform.
Similarly, with the decline in high-street banks and the lack of ATMs, particularly in rural areas, the high-street is no longer seen as an appealing or alternative channel for consumers.
Finally, organisations such as churches and charities survive on the basis of small change donations such as pennies. Whilst it is true that most churches or charities accept online donations now, it’s important that we offer the public the right to choose how they pay and share money, whether it be via digital payment processes, cash or even up and coming payment systems such as cryptocurrency.
What’s more, exempting cash from society relies on the assumption that everybody in the UK has access to the internet and their own bank account. This is not always the case, particularly for the growing homeless population who often have to survive on cash donations from charitable passers-by.
So what can we do?
Whilst cash-use must continue, it must be reiterated that this is not to the detriment of online banking. Technology is fantastic, and the perks it provides when it comes to remittance, accessibility and efficiency are unparalleled. However, we must recognise that it is one option, and not the only option.
By championing cash-use we are rebuilding a stronger economy which is more serviceable to all people regardless of their location, age or socio-economic demographic.
When it comes to innovation in cash use, there are a few things we can and should expect to see which will discourage the extinction of cash in the UK. This starts with the reintroduction of high-quality ATM and bank services, particularly to the high-street, which has been in decline for several years now.
Furthermore, we should expect to innovation and cash withdrawal options and ATMs themselves. By introducing ATM features which incorporate internet functionality we can expect to see cash rise in popularity again – such an example might include a money transfer function, whereby ATMs can be used to send and receive money transfers. In this instance, the receiver of a bank transfer could accept the transaction directly in the form of cash. Until then, we should continue to champion traditional cash-use for the benefit of our own society.


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Iran to attend Moscow Halal Expo
TEHRAN, Apr. 23 (MNA) – Chief Executive of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina has invited Iran's Halal industry to take part in Moscow Halal Expo
Ms. Minullina made the remarks at a meeting with Iranian Consul General in Kazan Ali Beman Eghbali Zarech which was held at the end of the two-day trip to Iran. She was a member of a delegation headed by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov who visited Tehran and Mashhad and mulled over MoUs, agreements and preparation of a roadmap for development of relations.
Chief Executive of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency also touched upon the plans for consulate collaborations in order to further strengthen ties and appreciated holding of meetings, warm reception of Iranians, economic sessions and presence in universities and cultural events.
“Cooperation capabilities in economic, petrochemical, academic, cultural, historical, and scientific fields as well as tourism and archives were also reviewed,” she continued.
She also pointed to the 9th International Economic Summit dubbed ‘Russia - Islamic World: KazanSummit 2017’ to be held on May 18-20 2017in Kazan and invited Iranian economic and academic officials and Iranian firms to attend the Moscow Halal Expo. section of the summit.
The exhibitors will present halal products and services; the concepts of multibrand stands, sectors and shops; IT projects and state-of-the-art developments; investment and start-up projects.
The objective of the exhibition is to promote the brands of local producers of halal goods and services, to attract funds to domestic halal sector, to increase the share of high-quality and environmentally friendly products in the Russian economy, and to implement the import and export phase-out program.
Iran’s Ali Beman Eghbali Zarech also described the two-day visit of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov to Tehran and Mashhad as precious and emphasized the need to bolster relations and define a roadmap for deepening collaborations and agreements.
He also promised that efforts will be made for presence of Iran at both KazanSummit 2017 and Moscow Halal Exposition.
source : mehrnews


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Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India at the launch of the 3rd generation WagonR in New Delhi (Photo: Sanjay K Sharma)
The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Wednesday launched an all-new version of its hatchback WagonR, priced between Rs 4.19 lakh and Rs 5.69 lakh (ex-showroom), as it looks to further strengthen its position in the compact hatchback segment.
The new WagonR, which comes with a 1.2-litre petrol engine option along with another choice of 1-litre powertrain mated to manual as well as automatic gear shift transmission, will compete with the likes of Hyundai Santro and Tata Tiago.
The one-litre manual versions of new WagonR are priced at Rs 4.19 lakh and Rs 4.69 lakh, while the automated gear shift trim is tagged at Rs 5.16 lakh. The 1.2-litre variants are priced between Rs 4.89 lakh and Rs 5.69 lakh (all prices ex-showroom).
Tiago and Santro are priced between Rs 3.9 lakh and Rs 5.64 lakh.
Commenting on the new model, MSI Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kenichi Ayukawa said the company expects the all-new WagonR to become a preferred choice just not for families but also for young buyers.
"We are confident that the new WagonR with its all new robust design, dynamically crafted and spacious interiors, SmartPlay Studio, strong HEARTECT Platform and Auto Gear Shift (AGS) technology will become the choice of many more Indian families," he said.
MSI and its partners have invested around Rs 670 crore to develop the model.
The new WagonR, which is based on Suzuki's fifth generation HEARTECT platform, is wider and longer than its outgoing version. It has led to improved interior space as well as boot capacity which has almost doubled up to 341 litres from the earlier avatar.
The company said the use of high-tensile steel has improved the overall safety, rigidity and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance in the new offering.
The third-generation WagonR comes with various safety features such as driver airbag, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and front seat belts reminder, speed alert system and rear parking sensors.
The company has already received 12,000 bookings for the model.
MSI has sold around 22 lakh units of the model in the country till date since its introduction in 1999. The model continues to feature among the top-five best-selling cars in India for nearly two decades.
According to the company, the new WagonR with one-litre engine will deliver a fuel efficiency of 22.5 km per litre, while the bigger 1.2-litre petrol powertain would return efficiency of 21.5 km per litre. The fuel efficiency in the new version is higher by 10 per cent than the outgoing model, the company said.


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As economic storm clouds gather and consumers’ moods darken, The Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. is drafting cost cuts of $150 million to $200 million, slated to be unveiled early next year.
The luxury beauty firm began its fiscal 2009 year on sure footing, reporting a 30.7 percent surge in first-quarter profits. Net income for the quarter was $51.1 million, or 26 cents a diluted share, compared with $39.1 million, or 20 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales for the three months ended Sept. 30, gained 11.3 percent to $1.9 billion from $1.71 billion. Sales rose 9.8 percent when measured in local currencies.
Hermès is launching a Laundromat pop-up shop in NYC - dubbed Hermèsmatic - where customers can bring their old scarves to be dip-dyed by an expert. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews (📷: @donstahl)


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In response to the issues associated with Brexit that have severely disrupted the supply chain with imported goods, Hippychick a Somerset based baby business, has successfully moved some of its manufacturing into the UK.
Their first UK-produced Hippychick product has just come off the lines and has arrived in the Hippychick warehouse – on time, on budget and in the quantities ordered.
Production was outsourced by Hippychick to ‘Thimble’ also Somerset-based and a specialist in baby accessories. The company has been inundated with work since the repercussions of Brexit and are looking forward to a buoyant future with Hippychick and other business operating in the baby sector.
Julia Minchin, Managing Director at Hippychick said: “Customers are so used to ordering and getting next day delivery. No one wants to have to wait weeks and even months, particularly with baby products which are outgrown at such a pace. Working with Thimble has been really refreshing. Not only have they produced on time – a huge rarity in these challenging times, but it’s been so easy for us to work with a business that’s not just UK based but is literally on our doorstep.”
But there are also downsides: “Pricing is currently an issue as manufacturing in the UK is considerably more expensive than the Far East,” said Julia, “However, the upside is being able to fulfil orders without delays which in themselves can be costly. As demand grows prices will hopefully start to level out, making it feasible to produce more of our goods in this country going forwards.”
Hippychick is most famous for its Hipseat baby carrier, the founding product in the portfolio, as well as it’s all in one waterproofs.
“We sell 5,000 retail pieces per annum and bringing these to UK would be quite a sizeable piece of business for a manufacturer. We’re delighted to hear from any businesses on our shores who might have the capacity to work with us,” Julia added.
Further information about Hippychick from www.hippychick.com


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No Specific Reason Was Given for Twin Mirror’s Japanese Version Getting Canned
Publisher Bandai Namco announced Sunday that the Japanese version of Twin Mirror is no longer releasing “for various reasons.” The announcement didn’t go into further detail.
Bandai Namco also apologized for the cancellation and “for causing great inconvenience.”
Twin Mirror is about a journalist named Sam who is trying to uncover a mystery after waking up with bloody shirt the day after attending his friend’s funeral. Sam will have to find clues and talk to townsfolk during his investigation.
More Twin Mirror news: it has been delayed to 2020 and will launch on PC on the Epic Games Store. According to the official announcement, the game’s releasing on the Epic Games Store due to the store’s developer-friendly revenue split. However, the game will come out on other digital retail stores (such as Steam) in 2021.
What do you think of this news? Why do you think the Japanese version of this game was cancelled? What’s your opinion of the Epic Games Store deal? Does this seem like an interesting game so far?
Let us know your thoughts on this news story in the comments section below the article.
The post The Japanese Version of Twin Mirror Has Been Cancelled appeared first on COGconnected.
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The Japanese Version of Twin Mirror Has Been Cancelled


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Submitting a general direction to Apple’s Memoji and Animoji highlights, Facebook has propelled advanced symbols for its clients on its foundation. The component is accessible to clients in the United States, beginning today. It is probably going to be presented in different nations soon. Europe and Canada got the update before the United States.
Facebook symbols are computerized entertainments of individuals, rendered precisely utilizing picture handling programming and cell phone cameras with profundity sensors. These exaggerations are much the same as Snap’s BitMoji and Apple’s Animojis. Facebook Avatars was propelled almost a year prior, yet the most recent update, which harmonizes with the U.S. dispatch, will see the presentation of new garments, hair, skin, and eye tone alternatives.
These symbols can be utilized in Facebook or Messenger, and can be made utilizing the “Make Your Avatar” choice that springs up in the stickers menu in the window for posting remarks. In their current structure, symbols can be posted as remarks, in visit windows, and Facebook Gaming profiles. Facebook affirmed that content posts will bolster symbols sooner rather than later.
The rollout of Facebook Avatars in business sectors outside Europe shows that the organization is quick to reinforce its contribution, particularly when individuals are shielding set up, and depend on computerized advancements to speak with companions, family, and associates. It additionally flags Facebook’s reality in coordinating Apple and Snap which presented comparative highlights almost two years prior.


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What’s the big deal, you ask? Well, for years brand marketers in the pharmaceutical industry have resorted to unbranded and reminder ad-style content (content featuring the name of the brand but not the condition it has been approved to treat) when engaging on Facebook.
The big deal with Bayer’s recent campaign for its multiple sclerosis drug Betaseron, is that the ads being served on Facebook feature the brand name, its indication (relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis), and its Important Safety Information (required by FDA whenever the first two appear together). This is possible thanks to Facebook’s introduction of a box of scrolling text at the bottom of the ad, allowing the full ISI (about 650 words) to fit within the platform’s ad specs. This is standard practice for many banner ad offerings from other publishers, but its introduction on Facebook signals a new push by the social media giant to better accommodate the industry’s needs. In fact, the company recently created a sales team dedicated specifically to working with biopharmaceutical companies.
Other elements that Bayer worked with the Facebook team to implement for the Betaseron ad include a Call Now button that users can tap to contact a live nurse-staffed call center, the ability to sign up to receive more information via email, and targeting to reach people interested in MS. According to Bayer, the ads have increased its number of leads while decreasing cost-per-lead by 96%.
We expect this is just the beginning of an expanded relationship between Facebook and pharma. The attraction for brands is primarily Facebook’s ability to laser-target a relevant audience within its 1.7 billion monthly users. The attraction for Facebook is, well, money: last year the pharmaceutical industry spent over $5 billion on advertising.
Get ready to see a lot more prescription drug ads in your newsfeed and don’t be surprised if other social platforms follow suit (we hear Twitter could use a bigger slice of that $5 billion…).


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Brits who don’t know their Algeria from their EU are being hit with £573 million in mobile roaming charges when abroad.
For dozy holidaymakers - confused by the massive range of nations who take part in the Eurovision Song Contest - are using smartphones in countries outside the Eurozone.
And the error is costing them an average of £61 in extra smartphone charges with one in six being hit with £100 on top of their regular fee.
A study by website uSwitch found Turkey causes the biggest bill shock as four in ten Brits think it is in the European Union while one in ten think North African nations like Morocco and Egypt are also part of the EU.
A fifth of Brits who have travelled abroad in the last year have paid over the odds for mobile roaming charges as they have either opted out of the automatic cap placed on their calls, texts and downloads by their provider when in Europe or not realised their holiday destination is not in the EU.
Incredibly, one in seven think it is free to use a mobile phone in Europe and one in five have been caught out by failing to run off their mobile data on landing.
Only a quarter check with their network provider for a cheaper roaming bundle before leaving the UK and less than a fifth buy a local SIM card when they arrive at their destination.
Last year the EU capped the cost of rip-off calls, texts and data to prevent millions being hit with sky high bills.
Have you had a shock phone bill after a holiday?
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But poor geography is costing Brits a packet and Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com said: “What’s clear is that a real lack of awareness persists when it comes to using mobiles abroad. People are confused about the different roaming charges, what countries they are protected in and how the data caps work.”
And with the summer holidays just two months away, he blasted the EU for putting plans to scrap roaming charges on hold until 2018 when cheaper “roam like home” tariffs are expected to replace them.
Ernest said: “It’s disappointing and frustrating that the EU has delayed taking action after the Commission originally signalled it would abolish these charges at the end of this year.
“EU roaming charges must be scrapped now. There’s no justification for the mixed messages that are confusing people, leaving yet more holidaymakers stung with unexpectedly high bills for, possibly, years to come.”
Charges are currently capped at 14p a minute for making a call, 4p a minute for receiving a call, 4p for sending a text and 15p per megabyte for downloading data or browsing the internet.


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Nintendo Switch News and Updates: Developer Seems To Have Rectified Controller Issues
The left joy-con of Nintendo Switch console stops working while docking was a major issue for some time. But, the recent reports confirm that the developer started addressing the issues, and the new devices are not facing any wide-spread issues like reported before. It is also found that Nintendo is using a simple technique to repair the existing device.
There are a number of reports confirming that the latest devices did not face any issues with the controllers. A few days back, Nintendo came with a statement that anyone who is facing problems with any hardware issues can contact its support services for assistance. The firm also reiterated that new devices generally face few problems and nothing exceptional is noted. However, the circuit codes of the controllers have been changed in the recent products, and it shows that Nintendo would have modified the circuit board to avoid the mess.
Interestingly, news reports confirm that one of the initial batch devices that are found to be faulty sent for the repair and received it working correctly. Importantly, the circuit board of the returned joy-con showed a conductive foam piece added at the lower-right corner. It is reported that the foam is a specially made with copper or nickel to avoid any Radio Frequency Interface (RFI). It is believed that the foam is made to protect any interference of the signal in the antenna of the joy-con. People experienced the joy-con issue of not working when they removed the foam from the repaired devices.
However, Nintendo didn't make any comment on the latest developments. It can be concluded that Nintendo has got full control over the issue now, and people who are facing problems with the joy-con can contact Nintendo to get it repaired. It should be noted that the issue with the device is not a software issue and waiting for an update to get it resolved is meaningless.


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E-Z-GO has a birthday coming up this year.
The iconic golf car company turns 60 in June, but won’t be having the cake and cookout until the temperatures cool off in the fall, said President Kevin Holleran.
“They’ve put thoughts together of a fall weekend where we could celebrate with our employees, with former leaders,” Holleran said. Locals and corporate officials will also be invited.
June 13, 1954, is the founding date for E-Z-GO. That’s when Augusta brothers Billy and Bev Dolan started making golf carts in a one-room machine shop. Six years later, the company was sold to current owner Textron. Bev Dolan became CEO of Textron before his retirement in 2002.
Holleran said the company will reach out to Bev Dolan about participating in the anniversary. (Billy Dolan died in 1988.)
Another aspect of the celebration is the renovation of a Model 400 car.
“We restored it to original condition, complete with fringe on the top and the tiller bar and the three wheels, which is how they were built then,” Holleran said.
Some of E-Z-GO’s antique vehicles are on display at the Augusta Museum of History.
More on the celebration will be forthcoming.
OTHER ANNIVERSARIES: Other messages have come in recently for other long-standing businesses in Augusta reaching a milestone.
Len Collins of Georgia State Floral Distributors Inc. sent word that the 60th anniversary of his company is June 1. There will be a party on May 31.
The company is in a new location, 1401 Marvin Griffin Road. Its former location on Washington Road is where Whole Foods is being built.
Scale South is 40 this year. It specializes in commercial, industrial and scientific weighing scales. The company has had other names throughout the years. It opened in 1974 as Augusta Scale and changed its name to Georgia Scale Co. in 1985.


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Rep. Mo Brooks failed to report up to $50,000 in sales of Pfizer stock for nearly two months — a violation of the STOCK Act, which requires members of Congress to disclose their stock purchases and sales in a timely fashion, according to extensive reporting by Business Insider.
Brooks, the front-runner in the race for a U.S. Senate seat, purchased the pharmaceutical company’s stock despite publicly criticizing both the vaccine-maker and the vaccine. He sold the stock on Aug. 16, according to Business Insider, and didn’t report the transaction until Oct. 14 — nearly a month after the 30-day deadline imposed by the STOCK Act.
In an interview with Business Insider, Brooks’ wife, Martha, took the blame for the violation, saying she simply missed the deadline and that Mo Brooks was unaware of the sale of the stock.
“Pfizer came and went and Mo didn’t even know we owned it,” Martha Brooks said in the Business Insider interview.
Martha Brooks also said that a “financial advisor” told her she should purchase the Pfizer stock in March 2020, and also advised her to sell in August. The Brooks family purchased as much as $30,000 in Pfizer stock during transactions in March 2020 and July 2020, according to Business Insider. That was in addition to already owning $20,000 worth of the stock, which they received in 2019 as part of an inheritance.
Congressmen late filing their disclosures are supposed to face a minimum $200 fine. However, that fine is typically waived if the disclosure arrives within a month.


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Global trade has taken a significant hit in recent years as countries around the world have increasingly turned to tariffs and protectionist measures to safeguard their domestic economies. The trend has led to a downturn in the world economy and disrupted established trade patterns, threatening the livelihoods of millions of people around the world.
The rise of tariffs and protectionism is not a new phenomenon, but in the past few years, the trend has accelerated to an alarming extent. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has been at the forefront of this trend, imposing tariffs on goods from China and other countries in an attempt to reduce its trade deficit.
China has retaliated with its tariffs, creating trade tensions that have rippled across the global economy. The European Union and Canada have also imposed tariffs on US goods in response to the Trump administration’s measures.
All of these protectionist measures have disrupted normal trade flows and hurt the global economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the tit-for-tat tariff war could reduce global economic growth by 0.5% by 2020.
The impact of these measures is being felt in different ways around the world. In the US, some industries that rely heavily on exports, such as agriculture and manufacturing, have been hit hard by the tariffs. Farmers have seen their exports decline, leaving them struggling to make ends meet.
In China, the tariffs have helped push the economy into a slowdown, with declining exports and reduced consumer confidence. The uncertainty has also hurt businesses that rely on global supply chains, as companies re-think their strategies in response to the new tariffs.
The European Union has also been hit hard by the tariff measures, with business confidence declining across the region. The automotive industry, in particular, has been hard hit, as tariffs on steel and aluminum have pushed up costs for manufacturers.
The rise of protectionism and tariffs is a worrying trend that threatens to undermine the global economy. The movement towards greater economic openness has been a driver of growth and prosperity for the past few decades, and it is important to work towards preserving it.
The IMF has called for a coordinated effort among countries to avoid a further escalation of the trade war. Such efforts could include dialogue and negotiation, as well as an increased focus on fair trade practices.
While it is important to protect domestic industries, it is equally important to recognize the benefits of a globalized economy. By cooperating and working together, countries can create a more equitable and prosperous global trading system for all.


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Fun banana packaging is winner of PIDA Sweden 2019
For the 15th year in a row, the Swedish edition of PIDA – Packaging Impact Design Award, was held in Stockholm, and this year, sustainability and recycling were in focus. The students presented creative and fun ideas on how to package clothes, beauty products and confectionery in a more environmentally friendly way. And the design that had the best concept according to the jury, was Bois Underwear, made by students from Nackademin.
‘It feels great! We wanted to do something different but didn’t know if we took the concept to far. I think we won because we stuck out. We didn’t go for a Scandinavian minimalist design, instead we went all in with colour and shape,’ said Natasha Bosnjak who together with her classmates Alicia Lundgren and Christian Koch won the Gold award of PIDA Sweden 2019. Their design is now qualified for the European final in Monaco this autumn, which will take place atLuxe Pack.
This year’s brief was ‘Bring the future’ and the students’ challenge was to develop a sustainable packaging concept for the year 2030. This year, the jury looked at the innovation, sustainability, user friendliness, concept and communication of the contributions. Bois received high marks on all points and the students were praised for their creativity, the strong communication and sense of humour. According to the jury’s chairman Isabelle Dahlborg Lidström, the Swedish contributions held a high standard all around this year.
‘There was a high level of creativity among the designs this year and all the packaging was well made. The students have really thought about what products are suited for sustainable packaging. It was also fun to see the high level of their videos which give a good, clear description of the packaging projects.’
In addition to the PIDA Gold Award, winners were elected in three more categories. The prize for the Highest Level of Innovation went to Deep from Nackademin for sustainably, but still with a focus on visual appeal. Winner of Highest Level of Sustainability was Björke, also from Nackademin, which had a clean and simple design that aims to shorten the production chain and provide a more sustainable product for the consumer. Winner of the Highest Level of User Friendliness award was Ocho from Linköping University, for its way of challenging e-commerce to use more sustainable alternatives.
‘More and more consumers want to actively contribute to a sustainable future, and this will place even higher demands on climate-smart packaging. I think that this year’s contestants have embraced just that,’ said Sophie Lindhe, brand project coordinator, BillerudKorsnäs.
The international competition PIDA is arranged by BillerudKorsnäs and is carried out in collaboration with leading universities and colleges in Sweden, the UK, France and Germany. Each year, over 200 design students participate.
In this year’s Swedish edition of PIDA, Mid Sweden University, Nackademin, Brobygrafiska and Linköping University competed.
‘With PIDA we achieve several different purposes at the same time,’ said Anders Gathu, marketing manager at BillerudKorsnäs. ‘We aim the spotlight on the importance of packaging for brands, consumer benefits and the environment. We want to shine light on the young talents who will become tomorrow’s packaging designers and bring them together with industry professionals. By offering a meeting place for ideas, innovation and inspiration, we help push industry development forward.’


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- Halle researched about it before deciding to acquire and relaunch the line.
Halle Berry is set to launch her lingerie line that will be known as ‘Scandale’ very soon.
Scandale, according to the Oscar-winning actress, is for real women with real curves, real colours and real needs.
And she shared a behind-the-scene image from the shoot for the new line and we can’t get over how hot she looks at 50.
She wrote: ‘The big FIVE OH has taught me to be FEARLESS! I’m about to launch a lingerie line at 50. Here’s what I know for sure… it’s never too early or too late to do what EVER makes you happy.’
Scandale was first launched in 1932 by French textiles designer, Robert Perriere.
Halle had found out about the line while shopping in Paris and researched about it before deciding to acquire and relaunch it.


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This story was originally published and last update …
This time, Samsung began rolling out the patch in February 2021 a little earlier, with the European Galaxy S20 lineup becoming the first recipient. These latest Android security updates are now rolling out in the US, starting with the unlocked Galaxy S20 and Note20 Ultra models, and most recently followed by several flagship Galaxy and Tab S5e phones at AT&T.
You can expect more Galaxy and mid-range flagships to join this list in the coming weeks if Samsung sticks to its course of delivering security patches in a timely manner. These updates often follow a phased release, so you might have to wait for it to reach you, although you can always check it manually at Settings> Software update…
Here are all Samsung phones that have been updated to the February 2021 patch in the United States, with the latest entries in bold:
Galaxy S21 series
Galaxy S20 series
- Galaxy S20: RP1A.200720.012.G981USQU1DUB5 1.5GB Released March 2
- Galaxy S20 +: RP1A.200720.012.G986USQU1DUB5 1.6GB Released March 2
- Galaxy S20 Ultra: RP1A.200720.012.G988USQU1DUB5 1.6GB Released March 2
Galaxy S10 series
Galaxy S9 series
Galaxy Note20 series
- Galaxy Note20 Ultra: RP1A.200720.012.N981USQU1DUB5 2.1 GB Released March 1st
- Galaxy Note20: RP1A.200720.012.N986USQU1DUB5 2.1 GB Released March 1st
Galaxy Note10 series
- Galaxy Note10: RP1A.200720.012.N970USQS5EUA1, 225MB, released February 10.
- Galaxy Note10 +: RP1A.200720.012.N975USQS5EUA1, 230MB, released February 10.
- Verizon: QP1A.190711.020.N960USQS7FUA1, released Feb 16.
- AT&T: QP1A.190711.020.N960USQS7FUA2, 183MB, released Feb 16.
- T-mobile: N960USQS7FUA1, released Feb 19.
Galaxy Z series
- Galaxy Z Fold2: RP1A.200720.012.F916USQU1DUB5 1.6 GB Released March 2.
Galaxy A series
- Galaxy A50: QP1A.190711.020.A505USQSBCUAA, released Feb 18.
- Galaxy Tab S5e: QP1A.190711.020.T727AUCU1CUB2, 559MB, released March 2.
Karandip Singh and Corbin Davenport contributed to this article.


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In a surprise move, tech giant Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) was upgraded by top-rated Guggenheim analyst John Difucci from Sell to Hold. The analyst emphasized Microsoft’s strength in generative artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting the positive influence of this technology.
However, he cautioned that optimism among investors might be excessively high, underscoring potential “material risks” concerning the scale and timing of monetization compared to expectations. Notably, Difucci was the sole analyst on Wall Street with a ‘Sell’ rating on Microsoft prior to this upgrade.
Microsoft recently introduced an updated version of its Copilot generative AI tool, enhancing its integration across various products, including Bing, Microsoft 365, and Windows. Windows’ new Copilot version is slated for a September 26 release, while Copilot for 365 will be available to enterprise customers starting November 1.
What is a Good Buy Price for MSFT?
Overall, analysts are bullish on MSFT stock, with a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 30 Buys and four Holds.


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Note ban disrupts ShopClues’ sales
Ecommerce companies’ cash-on-delivery (COD) option was immediately impacted after November 8 when India announced scrapping of old high-denomination notes.
ShopClues launches payment solution for offline merchants
ShopClues will help merchants with other services such as account management, soft ...
Nandan Nilekani, Rohini Nilekani shop for 2% stake in Fabindia
Nilekanis purchased the stake in Fabindia Overseas Pvt Ltd through Entrust, th...
Demonetisation: Retailers at popular shopping hubs still accepting old currency
The lack of supply of new notes coupled with the desire of buyers to hold on to their kitty of new notes resulted in retailers' sales falling by 60-80%.
Centre wants ration shops to become micro ATMs
The remaining fair price shops are supposed to be fitted with ePOS machines by 2019, creating the biggest possible addition to micro ATM networks in the country.
Jewellery shops remain shut for the 7th day
The government last week demonetised high denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes to flush out black money.
ShopClues plans Nasdaq listing next year, eyes $2 billion in sales
The firm expects to file documents with Nasdaq for listing by September 2017 but the IPO will depend on market condition, said ShopClues co-founder Sanjay Sethi.
Harried bankers want to shut shop till there’s enough cash
Bank employees have a difficult time explaining to customers why they run out of cash and the RBI must divulge its strategy on handling the current crisis.
Kashmir springs back to life, shops and offices open after four months
The Kashmir valley burst into life on November 19 as offices, shops and other business establishments opened for the first time since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wanin an encounter on July 8.
Coming soon! You might be able to shop on Instagram
The new features are aimed at keeping Instagram users, who now number more than 500 million, on the app for longer.
ShopsUp gets Rs 6.6 crore seed funding
"Indian millennials want to be rewarded for their window shopping as well as actual shopping be haviour and marketers want to capture these moments as and when they happen," said Gopinath
As OPEC price hike looms, Asia's big oil buyers may shop elsewhere
Most Middle Eastern crudes cost $45-$48 - ahead of any production cut deal - a competitive price versus supplies from elsewhere when shipping fees are included.
Lucknow: Students vandalise shop over Rs 500 note
A dispute over exchanging a Rs 500 note resulted in brick-batting and attack on a sweet shop owner in Lucknow.
Fire Deptartment says no to shops in metro stations
The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation has set aside space for commercial establishments in nine stations and also called tenders to rent them.
Enforcement Directorate raids forex shops making back date entries
Acting on a tip off, the agency conducted searches in seven locations in Kolkata, five locations in Bhubaneswar and three locations in Guwahati.


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Recently Sony hosted its opening presentation for at the IFA 2016 consumer electronic trade show in Berlin. Where Sony CEO, Kaz Hirai, made the opening speech in which he talked about the future of PlayStation VR and revealed how much PlayStation 4 Units have been sold.
According to Hirai, PlayStation 4 is continuing to push boundaries, the the PlayStation platform services have been widely praised buy the consumers.
PlayStation 4 continues to push the boundaries, while reaching new heights in innovation and entertainment. The PlayStation Platform, including hardware, software and network services has been widely acclaimed by costumers, industry and of course the press.
He also revealed that PlayStation 4 has sold 40 million units till May of 2016, and continuing its position as the fastest selling console in the history.
He also said that once PlayStation VR launches next month, this will enable them to leverage technological strength in different fields such as digital imaging.
Virtual reality launches us into a new realm that promises limitless possibilities starting with games, but expanding soon across our entire Sony group. VR will enable us to leverage our technological strength in areas such as digital imaging, content creation and production. So Sony is well position to set the trends in how, where and when you access content today, and also in the future.
In other news, Sony has announced that the company will be attending the Tokyo Game Show 2016, and also revealed its lineup of games for the event. The lineup includes Resident Evil 7, Final Fantasy XV, Yakuza 6, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Gran Turismo Sport, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and much more.
Sony has also revealed PlayStation Move controllers for PlayStation VR. The VR games can really benefit from PlayStation Move controller. Playing with Move can be more immersive compared to a Dual Shock 4 controller.
PlayStation VR will hit storefront on October 13,2016, and pre-orders for the virtual reality headset are also live.


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Tuesday, 10 June 2014 00:03
Opening marks debut of OZO brand in Sri Lanka
The grand opening of OZO Colombo in Sri Lanka, managed by ONYX Hospitality Group, was celebrated in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Uva Province Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa, Sino Lanka Hotels Holdings Ltd. Chairman Bob Kundanmal, ONYX Hospitality Group President and CEO Peter Henley and ONYX Hospitality Group Chairperson Nijaporn Charanachitta, together with the Directors of Sino Lanka Hotels Holdings and over 150 guests and dignitaries.
The inauguration, which included opening remarks from Sino Lanka Hotels Holdings Director Rajan Bharvani,was commemorated in a ceremony held at OZO Colombo’s Aqua Ballroom. The much-anticipated hotel promises to set a new benchmark in Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector, revitalising the idea of smart travel by offering restful nights in stylish accommodation on Marine Drive, just minutes from the heart of the city centre. Consisting of 158 smartly designed guest rooms and suites, OZO Colombo provides guests with the perfect night’s sleep complete with high quality bedding and a variety of modern amenities including IPTV, multimedia connectivity panel and free Wi-Fi access throughout. OZO Colombo is the third OZO property to open since the brand launched in 2010 and joins OZO Wesley Hong Kong and OZO Samui in Thailand.
There are four further OZO properties in development, including OZO Kandy and OZO Galle. Opening rates start from $ 105 per night including free breakfast, free upgrades, early check-in and late check-outs until 31 August 2014, subject to availability, terms and conditions apply. Visit www.ozohotels.com for more information.


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Users of the hunting lobby’s internet forum are debating a boycott of BirdLife supporters and business sponsors as part of a campaign to put pressure on the conservationist NGO.
The thread posted on the FKNK’s internet website started with a call to boycott the insurance firm which employs a BirdLife official.
Soon enough, some 30 users joined in the debate calling for an effective boycott of BirdLife corporate sponsors – among them HSBC and Bank of Valletta, the Island Hotels group, internet company Waldonet, and even the comedy troupe from Zoo Productions, for allegedly being against hunting.
The message was read some 1,586 times, according to the forum’s counter.
“I know we won’t bankrupt the banks, but it doesn’t mean our complaints won’t make it to the top! And maybe the marketing managers will think twice before sponsoring a BirdLife project,” one user, ‘Grizzly’, said.
“I don’t know if the FKNK board would be ready to take up this initiative, maybe they could do some research, or maybe we could help them list the shops and services that support BirdLife.”
Examples of the firms they identified were Waldonet. According to user ‘muxuhunt’, “whoever gets internet from Waldonet should remove it… because they supply it for free to BirdLife, and you know what an important tool that is. This is an NGO which has a lot of money pouring in, and they even get stuff for free!”
Another said Zoo Productions should be boycotted for producing the programme Puss In Boots and “for being against hunting”.
Bay Radio was also listed for advertising the anti-hunting film Spring Awakening, which was screened at the Eden Cinemas.


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XPO Logistics said Thursday it has purchased Turbo Logistics, the freight brokerage division of logistics company OHL, for $50 million.
Founded in 1984, Turbo Logistics serves more than 600 customers out of Chicago, Dallas, Gainesville, Ga., and Reno, Nev. It had 170 employees and 12-month revenue of about $124 million as of September, XPO said.
Turbo provides expedited transportation and temperature-controlled trucking services.
XPO Logistics’ CEO Bradley Jacobs said in a statement that Turbo has “a strong carrier network and deep relationships in the retail, manufacturing and food and beverage sectors.”
Jacobs said in August that XPO is on track to reach $500 million in annual revenue by the end of the year, buoyed by acquisitions.
Turbo’s David Coker and Jeff Battle, with a combined 33 years of experience, will remain in leadership positions, XPO said, adding that will help the company’s largest location in Gainesville, and in Reno.


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The much-awaited international summit “MetaVentures Bangkok” is scheduled for December 14-15, 2022. The event will be an investment-focused program that will bring together global business leaders, government, investors, technicians, and developers to discuss the most exciting investment opportunities and innovations in the Web3/Metaverse world. It will throw light on how NFT, together with cryptocurrencies, is creating a new global economy and how Metaverse/WEB3 developments are changing the world.
The MetaVentures summit acts as a bridge that connects the world’s Blockchain leaders with the professional community in Southeast Asia.
Those interested in attending the event can buy tickets available in three classes – VIP, Business, and Standard with their cost at $677, $245, and $120, respectively. The summit also offers several sponsorship packages, which can be accessed on the their website.
Notable speakers of the event who will share their experiences via this platform include Cris D. Tran (Chief Strategy, Vietnam Huobi Global, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer M3TA Inc, Managing Director VNSIF, Co-founder FAM Central), Nicole Nguyen (Co-Founder, APAC DAO), Monsak Socharoentm (Chief Data Officer, Digital Government Development Agency, Thailand), and Takey Nalita (Founder & Project Leader at Chiangmai Crypto City). The speakers’ list also includes renowned entrepreneurs like – Dereck Hoogenkamp, Felix Mago, Thuy Pham, Yegor Lapshov, Dunstan Teo, and Brian Lu.
The summit will be organized jointly by venture capital fund “MetaVentures” and Mikhail Savchenko, CEO of Inite, with over two decades of experience in blockchain and fintech.
To learn more about upcoming crypto events such as the one mentioned above, check out the cryptocurrency calendar
“Metaverse Bangkok” will undoubtedly be a unique event where you can immerse yourself in the unforgettable atmosphere of investments, Metaverse, Digital Art, and NFTs. It will help you keep up with the latest developments in the world of digital assets, decentralized finance, DAOs, different types of Blockchains, tokens, and DAOs.


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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH), the world’s third largest cruise shipping group, has slightly raised its guidance for full year 2017 earnings per share (EPS) and it forecasts a record result for the year.
However, a senior company official warned about the possible negative impact of tension between China and South Korea to operations of Norwegian Joy, the company’s latest ship that is tailored to the Chinese source market.
“The Company expects to generate record earnings for full year 2017 and has increased its outlook, with Adjusted EPS now expected to be in the range of $3.79 to $3.89,” NCLH said in a statement. When the company published its final quarter and full year 2016 results, it forecast 2017 EPS in the range of $3.75 to $3.85. In 2016, the figure came at $2.78.
“2017 full year Adjusted Net Yield growth guidance on a Constant Currency basis increased 100 basis points to 2.75%,” the company added.
“A strong end to the most successful Wave season in recent history resulted in a meaningful improvement in our full year booked position, with both occupancy and pricing now well ahead of prior year," said Wendy Beck, executive vice president and chief financial officer of NCLH
"I am pleased to report that the strong performance witnessed in our core markets and reflected in first quarter results also extended to our booked business in future quarters, allowing us to increase our full year Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Net Yield growth guidance,” she said.
“This positive momentum has been partially offset by recent uncertainties in Norwegian Joy's Chinese source market caused by the South Korea travel restriction. Taking all factors into account, we are on track to deliver another year of solid financial performance and double-digit Adjusted EPS growth," she concluded


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Published on August 18th, 2012 | by Alisdair0
RaceRoom Racing Experience – First Gameplay Videos
Simbin recently announced the latest project RaceRoom Racing Experience, a new free-to-play title currently on show to the public at Gamescom in Germany. We also learnt from the product announcement that the recent screenshots we have been seeing from various car licensing have been for this project and not GTR 3.
Since the announcement we have seen a new launch trailer, a hand-on community preview and various screenshots being released of the upcoming title however gameplay videos have been non-existent until not as Simbin have released the first gameplay video showing the replay of what looks like a hill climb event in the BMW 134 Judd.
A second video has also been released on YouTube by an attendee of Gamescom in Germany showing of RaceRoom Racing Experience running stunningly across a 3 screen setup. The car featured in the video is the Danish Aquila CR1.