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The ability to pay at the pump makes getting gas a quick, relatively painless chore.
Unfortunately, it has also made it incredibly easy for thieves to steal your credit or debit card number and rack up hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth of bogus charges.
The devices used to do this are called skimmers. They’re so small they can be placed on card readers such as the ones used by gas pumps or ATMs in a matter of seconds with no one even noticing, according to Matt Schulz, senior industry analyst for Austin-based CreditCards.com.
A single skimmer will often have stored information from the magnetic strips of hundreds of cards by the time it is retrieved by crooks.
“Skimmers have been a really, really hot topic the past few years,” Schulz said. “Most every part of the country has been dealing with them.”
Austinite Gary Imken suspects his wife’s credit card was skimmed at a Northwest Austin gas station.
“She had some difficulty with the pump,” he said. “She even checked with the person inside and was eventually successful in getting gas. Shortly after that, unexpected charges began appearing on our credit card — both in-state and out-of-state. Our credit cards were never out of our possession and were only used at places (like grocery stores) where they had been used many times before.”
So he asked our Austin Answered project, “Given all the problems with credit card skimmers at gas stations, will chip card readers ever be installed as an option?”
While the bulk of retailers have switched to more secure chip-enabled cards, that’s not the case at most gas pumps. Because of the high cost of upgrading technology, Schulz said, the industry has successfully lobbied banks and payment networks to have the deadline for chip card readers at gas station pumps extended until October 2020. Their currently antiquated technology, Schulz said, has made gas pumps “low-hanging fruit for bad guys.”
The credit card industry set a deadline of Oct. 1, 2015, for banks to issue chip-enabled cards and retailers to install and activate new terminals capable of processing chip transactions.
After that date, liability for fraudulent transactions shifted to whichever party in a transaction hadn’t upgraded to the new technology. Before that, the costs always fell on the banks.
Of course, you can still find some stores that haven’t made the change, often because of a backlog in the certification process required to use the new chip software and hardware.
Chips provide significantly more security than traditional magnetic strips because rather than sending an actual card number to a retailer, the chip instead sends a unique code that’s assigned to the transaction. That means that if a crook acquired that code, it couldn’t be used to make another purchase.
Getting the chip-card technology to pumps should make the skimmers obsolete, but that might not happen until 2020. So what should consumers do to protect themselves until then? Schulz suggests taking a few extra seconds to scrutinize the pump, checking for anything unusual.
“If something looks strange, trust your instincts,” he said. “Be sure to shake the credit card slot. If it moves – if it even wobbles – there might be a skimmer.”
READERS ALSO WONDERED: Why did Austin close off right-turn lane in front of Yeti?
There have been several recent incidents in the Austin area in which skimmers have been found on gas pumps, according to police and the Texas Department of Agriculture, which handles inspections of roughly 400,000 gas pumps statewide. In late July, for instance, three skimmers were found on pumps at the 7-Eleven at 9061 Research Blvd. in North Austin and three more were found on pumps at another 7-Eleven at 6518 Ed Bluestein Blvd. in East Austin.
That’s frustrating news for consumers like Imken, who’ve fallen victim to scammers.
“It seems like gas stations could tout chip-enabled readers as a security feature,” he said. “Something like, ‘Our station now has pumps with chip readers for enhanced security.’ I know I would be willing to pay more for gas at a station with better credit card security, especially after the recent Equifax hack has raised everyone’s attention about security issues.”
While gas pumps are a preferred target, some crooks get a little more creative, Schulz said. Some are targeting ATMs, installing a skimmer on the card reader and a tiny camera to catch you entering your PIN. You can avoid becoming a victim by using one of your hands to cover the other hand as you enter your PIN.
ALSO ASKED: Why don’t Austin police cite bicyclists?
Restaurants are another place to be cautious, Schulz said.
“If you give your card to someone like a waiter or cashier, they might run it through a handheld skimmer,” he said. “They’re taking advantage of people’s willingness to give up their card and have it out of their sight.”
In 2014, police said an employee of a Sunset Valley Chipotle restaurant used a handheld skimmer to obtain card numbers for later use.
Bottom line: Schulz says to scrutinize your credit card statement each month, looking for anything strange. While banks often catch unusual activity early on, that’s not always the case.
“It’s not always a big purchase,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll spend just a dollar or two to test it and see if it works. If you see that, don’t blow it off. It could be a sign of things to come.”
GET UP TO SPEED: Check out other Austin Answered stories arising from readers’ questions
What do you wonder about?
Ask us anything, and check out the other questions we’ve answered, at statesman.com/austinanswered.


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IDAHO FALLS – The annual Clothing Outlet Warehouse Sale is kicking off in Idaho Falls this Friday.
Co-owners Kymberly Stoddard and Angela Rydalch started the venture in Idaho Falls five years ago. The duo have contracts with different retailers, which supply them with new inventory and allows them to sell clothes at a massively discounted rate.
“Five years ago, we said ‘we have to move inventory.’ So we rented a commercial building. We’re back again this year for three and a half weeks, and we look forward to seeing everybody,” Stoddard tells EastIdahoNews.com.
The sale includes men’s, women’s and children’s clothing with brand names like Nike, Adidas, Kirkland, Carter’s, Fila and more. Angela Rydalch says their pajama sets and scarves have been particularly popular with customers in the past.
“Those are the items I anticipate going really fast this year,” says Rydalch. “When people come back and visit with us every year, it’s one of my favorite things.”
In addition to the Idaho Falls sale, they also have a Rexburg store at 160 W. Main that is open on Thursdays all year round from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s also open the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We get new stock in every week,” Rydalch says. “We’ve been in business for seven years and it’s been a blast.”
This year’s sale in Idaho Falls is located at 2299 E. 17th Street next to Once Upon a Child and Seagull Book. It’s happening Oct. 26 through November 24 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
To learn more, visit them on Facebook at Rexburg Clothing Outlet.

domain: news


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Rio Tinto has shrugged off a bid from Glencore for its coal mines in the Hunter Region, saying the original partner in the deal – Yancoal – remains the preferred bidder at this stage.
The mining giant’s board on Tuesday reconfirmed its recommendation that shareholders vote in favour of selling its wholly-owned Coal & Allied business to Yancoal, despite Glencore offering $100 million more for the mines last week.
Yancoal has since made a revised offer which, albeit still lower in value than Glencore’s, is preferred by Rio.
Yancoal’s bid, announced earlier this year, is considered superior by the board, because Yancoal has agreed to accelerate all deferred payments and make a single payment of $2.45 billion to purchase the business, along with a coal price-linked royalty.
The board said it had “engaged in active discussion with both parties,” and had assessed a number of factors, including the potential of regulatory approval difficulties.
There is some thought that the ACCC may challenge Glencore’s bid, due to the commodity giant’s major existing presence in the Hunter.
Yancoal, meanwhile, has received or will waive all regulatory approvals, according to Rio. There is, therefore, an “expectation that there will be a much faster completion timeframe under Yancoal’s proposal,” the miner said.
“Yancoal’s revised offer is the most attractive because it removes the deferred payment structure, can meet the timeline we have set for the transaction, and has given us certainty regarding the outstanding regulatory approvals required,” Rio boss J-S Jacques said.
“The sale of Coal & Allied will create outstanding value for shareholders and is consistent with our strategy of simplifying our portfolio to ensure the most effective use of our capital.”


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Amazon.com has announced "Kindle for PC", describing the release as "a free application that lets readers around the world enjoy Kindle books on their personal computers".
The US Kindle Store currently offers over 360,000 books, including new releases and most of the New York Times Bestsellers, which the company says are typically $9.99 or less and is apparently the only place to find some books in the digital format, Amazon is opening the store up to those who haven't bought into the Kindle system.
This move means Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle and the larger Kindle DX, on the iPhone and iPod touch thanks to the Kindle iPhone app, and now on PCs and laptops.
For those that want to read ebooks on both mobile devices and their PC, the Kindle for PC features Amazon’s Whispersync technology that automatically saves and synchronises bookmarks and last page read across devices.
"Kindle for PC is the perfect companion application for folks who own a Kindle or Kindle DX", said Ian Freed, vice president, Amazon Kindle.
"Kindle for PC is also a great way for people around the world to read the most popular books of today even if they don't yet have a Kindle".
Amazon says Kindle for PC will be available to customers around the world as a free download next month.


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The present economic climate has not appeared to dampen Barbadians’ taste for a bargain. Thousands of them took to the stores long before sunrise to cash in on the Black Friday sales.
The shoppers took advantage of heavy discounts on electronics, clothing, shoes, bags, and even furniture, during what is becoming a major sale day in Barbados, following a long-standing North American tradition.
Commercial Director at Unicomer Barbados Limited Peter Ellis welcomed the “crazy” traffic in his Bridgetown store.
“I think we are having an excellent Black Friday sale. We do this every year, but this year, we are seeing a phenomenal response. We opened at 7 o’clock, but since about 6 o’clock we had a crowd waiting to get into the store. We had a lot of timed offers, but, it is after 1 p.m. and the store is absolutely full,” Ellis said.
The Commercial Director said it was too early to say whether Black Friday sales this year were better than in 2017 adding that in a struggling economy, Unicomer was not sure what to anticipate this year.
“But the response to the Black Friday has really been fantastic. We actually had staff from other parts of the country come here to help us.
“We have been restocking all day long,” Ellis said.
Judy Stoute who was in Courts looking for that perfect television at that ideal price, to take home, said she visited the store every year, on Black Friday.
“With what is going on right now in our country with the economy and all, and the other challenges, Barbadians need to come and shop on Black Friday because things are cheaper and they can get more for their money,” Stoute said.
It was reported that as early as 4:30 a.m., shoppers started to gather at Cost-U-Less, waiting for the doors to open at 5 a.m., so that they could get their hands on some bargains.
Cave Shepherd’s branches were offering customers 20 per cent discount storewide. Manager at Warrens, Leanna Bradshaw, told Barbados TODAY that while this was first time that branch had a taste of the Black Friday sale, there was a steady flow of customers since the doors opened at 9 a.m.
“People are buying the perfumes, designer leather, and a lot of shoes. So far, it has been a steady and I am looking to exceed my target today,” Bradshaw said.
At Attitude Boutique in Dome Mall, Warrens, there was also a steady flow of customers.
Employee Keisha Wilson said it has been a relatively busy morning at the boutique, as they offer customers a 20 per cent discount on all items.


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Get involved: send your pictures, video, news & views by texting TIMES NEWS to 80360, or email us
New Barnet Council parking charges will kill business, say East Barnet traders
New parking charges being introduced to an East Barnet shopping precinct will kill off trade and turn the village into a ghost town, say local businesses.
Barnet Council has issued notice of charges coming into force in the Church Hill Road car park, which has served local shops in the village for decades.
The move will bring the car park in line with off-street parking charges across the borough, which motorists can only pay using mobile phones or pre-paid scratch cards.
Shopkeepers have warned the prices and inconvenience will push customers away, with many claiming they will be forced to close if the charges are introduced.
Rob Pugh, owner of Abbey Fire Alarms, started a petition in several of the village shops last week that has already been signed by scores of people opposing the move.
He said: “I’m very angry and disappointed. They tried to introduce these charges in 2001 but we fought it then and won. The council is penalising us - our customers are going to go elsewhere.
"The motto of this council is 'putting the community first' – it’s a joke. How are they putting us first if they are hitting residents with these charges?”
The council also plans to introduce the pricing scheme to car parks in Egerton Gardens and New Brent Street, Hendon, and Quakers Course, Colindale.
Prices start at £1.05 for a half hour stay and rise to £5.25 to park for more than three hours.
Many local businesses that rely on passing trade fear the restrictions will force them to close.
Demetra Andreou, co-owner of Jet Dry Cleaners, said: “We’re very upset. It has been very hard as it is but now I fear we will have to close. The charges are completely unnecessary – all the customer wants is to stop for two minutes to pick up and drop off their clothes.
"No-one will pay that amount of money to park up. We have never had such a bad time and this is the final straw. Everything is working against us – even the council.”
The authority is currently running a consultation on the charges and residents have until Thursday, March 22, to comment.
In a statement, a council representative said: “These proposed changes would allow the council to better manage its assets as well as making sure car parks meet varying demands for short and long stay parking in each area.
"The proposals are still subject to consultation until March 22 and therefore a decision is yet to be taken.”


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Mecum Kissimmee: The largest collector-car auction just keeps expanding
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Kissimmee, which may or may not mean “where the mulberries grow,” as named by some lost-to-time Native American tribe, represents something entirely different to classic car enthusiasts: the annual Mecum Kissimmee auction, located in this suburb southwest of Orlando, Florida.
It’s the world’s largest classic car auction by number of vehicles offered, and often by total sales volume in U.S. dollars. By number of consignments, it’s roughly double the size of the second largest—which also happens to be a Mecum production. It started with a tent and a couple hundred vehicles. This year, there are 4000. The size of the production is sobering.
Mecum CEO Dave Magers took a walk around the auction grounds on Tuesday, January 3, the day before the 12-day auction opened. “As I always do, I said to myself at 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon, ‘We’re not going to make it. We’re not going to be ready to go.’ I went back to the hotel, came back this morning—and everything’s perfect.”
Magers added, “We’re almost 50 percent bigger this year than last, with the opening of the new lot,” where a lake used to be. The lake was moved and filled in to accommodate this auction, and now 1100 more cars can park where the lake was. There’s more than a million square feet under cover in buildings and tents, and at least that much land packed bumper-to-bumper with classic cars.
Most are classic cars, anyway. Some are just used, while some aren’t even cars at all. On the event’s 2023 opening day, the first time it started on a Wednesday, there was a lovely black 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, a 1933 Ford hot rod replica, a BMW X5 SUV, and a six-wheel Jeep Gladiator. The auction ended after dark with a Polaris Scrambler (gavel price $8800), a quarter-midget race car ($3300), and a John Deere Gator ($14,700). “Those things are hard to find,” the auctioneer said helpfully.
Like any huge auction, you never know what’s going to turn up. This year, much of the publicity was for a well-worn Lockheed jet that Elvis Presley had owned for a year. It was still sitting at a New Mexico airport, neglected for decades and missing all four engines and most of the avionics, but the obligatory red velvet upholstery remained mostly intact. It went for “just” $260,000, despite the unexpected appearance of Priscilla Presley. No vehicle is too large or too small to auction off, and that runs from private jets to pedal cars. It’s all part of the spectacle.
And it’s a spectacle that has us wondering, how exactly did this Kissimmee thing get so big? So, we asked some of the people who know.
Harold Gerdes, vice president of operations: “I’ve been at Mecum for 22 years. There were 12 people in the company then. One little trailer and a motorhome. Everybody did everything.” There are 450 people at the Kissimmee auction now working for Mecum, which is based in Walworth, Wisconsin, population 2300.
Gerdes was in the event planning business when he met Dana Mecum and was impressed by his ambition to grow the company. “He comes up with ideas and we implement them,” Gerdes says.
Gerdes was there 23 years ago when the auction started out in Old Town, a Kissimmee tourist attraction near Disney. It was mostly a Corvette auction then.
“After one of the auctions, I was driving by this location on the way to the airport. I saw all this land. I pulled in and we started talking,” Gerdes says.
The first year, they were on the corner of the property, which turned out to be the county-owned Osceola Heritage Park. One tent, then two, then they moved into the Events Center. Then the crowd got so big the fire marshal spoke up, and they moved to the Arena, where they normally have concerts and rodeos. That’s where the auction floor is now. Drive in one end, out the other: “It’s perfect.”
Osceola Heritage Park has over 200 acres to park cars before and after they sell. Plus, sold cars get trucked out, new cars trucked in. Twenty semi-trailers are required to get it all done.
Mecum Kissimmee is the first major auction of the year, and as such benefits from pent-up demand, as well as sellers looking to pay off their Christmas. It’s an annual perfect storm of an auction, Gerdes says.
Dave Magers, CEO since 2012: Magers, a longtime car buff, was hired by family patriarch Dana Mecum—the company is still Mecum-owned—to leave his career in finance and insurance and come run the business end. While Magers keeps the business’ engine running in the background, Dana runs the auctions.
“Last year,” Magers recalls, “we had 3300 vehicles. And I was standing behind Dana when he announced we were going to have 4000 cars this year. And I thought, ‘No way in hell.’ Well, 45 days ago we knew we were going to have more than 4000 cars. We ended up with over 4200 and basically added two days to the event. I’m going to be really disappointed if we don’t set another record.
“Is 5000 possible? That’s the big question everybody’s asking. I think it is.
“The first Kissimmee I was involved in, which would have been 2012, I said, ‘Boy, if we could ever get this up to 1500 cars it would really be something.’ Took two years to get to 1500, then 2000 was the goal. And then 2500 was the goal.
“We scratch our heads, just like everybody else, thinking ‘How big can it become?’ We were taken aback by the $220 million last year; we were thinking 175, maybe 180. With the motorcycle auction in Las Vegas, we ended up doing about $240 million for the month.” Four months later, in Indianapolis, they did $100 million with about 2600 cars.
Mecum sells cars for well into six figures. In 2022, more than 30 vehicles transacted above the million-dollar mark, and Mecum boasted multiple world-record prices for individual vehicles throughout the year. Still, Magers considers Mecum the “blue collar” auction company.
“The high-end cars we attract are just part of the evolution of the company. We want the guys buying a $3000 car, and the guy buying a $3 million car.”
In 2014, Mecum was already the largest collector car auction company by number of events held and vehicles consigned, “but we weren’t the most recognizable. Barrett-Jackson was,” says Magers. “So we set out to change that.” He came up with a package of initiatives that took over five years to implement, but Magers says it worked. A large part of the success, and part of what made Barrett-Jackson a household name, was TV time. Airing the auctions on NBC Sports and MotorTrend TV brings live auction excitement out from the event and into living rooms, bars, and restaurants. Along with the outward-facing effort, they streamlined their customer service and paperwork operations.
After five years of implementing Magers’ initiatives, the pandemic hit. Kissimmee 2020, held in January, went off normally, but “we were at our auction in Glendale, Arizona, in March of 2020 that Wednesday night when the world melted down. We spent the last three days of the auction in Glendale selling cars to crickets.”
There was a scramble to change direction from in-person bidding to internet bidding, but Mecum came back to live audiences, and fast. “In July, we were the only live event company doing anything.” Yet the internet bidding stayed strong even with the stands full. “At Indianapolis, we used to average 50 online bidders. We had 1700 our first time back.”
At the same time, with professional sports on hold, the TV opportunity exploded. Mecum got 980 hours of television rather than the 250 expected for 2020. The circumstances that came out of the pandemic highlighted that the collector car auctions are about more than the cars that cross the block. “We are in the entertainment business,” Magers says. “We just happen to entertain by having auctions.”
Jimmy Landis, head auctioneer: “From that first year in Kissimmee in Old Town, and now we’ve got this. I never imagined it would evolve this way.”
Landis is a second-generation classic car auctioneer. He has been with Mecum since 2000. “It’s the greatest ride I could have ever hoped for.” He does all the Mecum auctions, including tractors and motorcycles. “You ever been to a tractor auction? You’d get a kick out of it if you like tractors,” he says.
“They’re talking about 5000 cars here next year—it’s hard to wrap your head around. I mean, 2000 was hard to wrap your head around.
“We’ve got something for everyone here, and that’s what helped this auction grow. You buy one car and you’re in the hobby. People I’ve met in the 1980s and ’90s are still in the hobby, still close friends, though I may only see them once or twice a year.
“The experience of just coming here and walking the grounds, looking at all the beautiful cars lined up—it’s just cool. And when you finally decide to jump into the hobby, it’s even more fun.
“When we go to other auctions, people always talk about having to come down to Kissimmee. It’s become elevated in people’s minds.”
Robb Larson, general manager, Osceola Heritage Park: “It’s turned into almost a festival. We have the Dodge thrill rides, food and beverage, music on the stage … it’s become quite a tradition for a lot of people who look forward to it every January. It didn’t happen by accident—there was a lot of hard work involved, but there is a little magic taking place here, too.”
A county-wide economic study showed a positive economic impact of over $56 million a year. “It’s been significant for our community. It pretty much checks off every box for why I come to work every day.”
In the end, Mecum did set another record. In 2022, Kissimmee became the first single collector car auction to exceed $200M, and in 2023 it exceeded that yet again with a reported $234M in total sales. A record 3180 vehicles sold, record numbers of both registered bidders and spectators attended, and a total of 13 vehicles brought seven-figure sale prices.
Will they do it again next year, with 5000 cars? We’ll see.


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Apple is reportedly increasing their Gold iPhone 5s production to counteract the staggering demand for the newly introduced colour, retailers said.
Less than 24 hours after going on sale, the new gold version of the headset disappeared off shelves and online.
Apple’s new iPhone 5c, however, is still in stock, while orders for the space gray and silver iPhone 5s will be shipped by mid-October and the gold iPhone 5s is scheduled for arrival in November.
Apple is no stranger to high demand. Some analysts estimate that the company will sell five to six million in the first week of release, while others are predicting even higher quantities.
It’s a good thing that the GCC offers up an array of gold iPhone case- both real and faux- for those who are not willing to wait in line to get their hands on Apple’s new gold production batch.
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Chobani says it's sorry.
The Greek yogurt-maker has quietly been pulling some of its product off the shelves because of mold contamination. But now, Chobani has issued a formal recall through the FDA.
Customers have complained about odd tastes and bloated containers. Some have reportedly become ill.
Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya wrote on the company's website: "I'm sorry we let you down," and "Your loyalty and safety is something we cherish and never take for granted."
The mold contamination was found in Chobani's plant in Twin Falls, Idaho. It's not clear what parts of the country the affected yogurt was shipped to. There's also no official word on how many people got sick.
To find out if the Chobani yogurt in your fridge is part of the recall, check for the code: 16-012, with an expiration date between September 11 and October 7, 2013. There are 91 flavors and container sizes affected. Chobani says it will refund its customers' money.


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Microsoft Surface Duo at droidcon
Hello Android developers!
We presented our brand-new Surface Duo 2 in Berlin. People loved the device and the possibilities that it offers.
We delivered a talk and a workshop. The talk was focused on showing attendees what foldable devices are, the distinct types (single screen foldables and dual-screen foldables) and the postures these devices can have. The second part of the talk, covered the different components that developers currently have and that can help to create new fantastic foldable and dual-screen experiences. Components such as Jetpack Window Manager and Jetpack SlidingPaneLayout were shown there with demos, code, etc.
We announced an update to our Surface Duo Kotlin components: foldable awareness for multiple devices. From now on, components such the FoldableLayout, FoldableFrameLayout, BottomNavigation and RecyclerView are foldable aware through the usage of Jetpack Window Manager and work on any foldable device that supports Google’s Jetpack component.
During the last day of the conference, we ran a workshop where we live-coded how to take an app that was designed with a single screen UI on mind, and make it shine on foldable and dual-screen devices. The workshop showed the usage of SlidingPaneLayout and NavigationRail, as well how to use the new Jetpack Window Manager’s testing artifact to implement UI tests.
The code that we used in the workshop is available on GitHub, feel free to have a look and learn what attendees did there.
For the London edition of droidcon we focused on Flutter development, showcasing how foldable layouts work in Flutter. We discussed the larger context of responsive and adaptive design and proposed several design patterns for enhancing existing applications. The talk was a collaboration with the Flutter team at Google and Andrew Fitz Gibbon shared the stage virtually with us.
Participating in the Flutter Panel allowed us to share our thoughts, along with other key members of the Flutter community. We answered a few questions from the audience.
droidcon Online Webinar – PWAs can do anything
In September we presented a session on dual-screen web and publishing PWAs that take advantage of these APIs on Surface Duo.
Visit the droidcon archive to watch on demand.
Feedback and resources
We also participated in droidcon last year, you can still watch the 2020 content online too.


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Thirst for Knowledge
Asia offers ample opportunities for the wine education business, says the UK’s leading professional wine-course provider.
01 December 2016
High demand for wine and spirit education across Greater China led London-based Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the largest global provider of industry qualifications, to locate its first international office in Hong Kong. During the 2016 Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair in November, Ian Harris, WSET Chief Executive, discussed exponential growth in the sector, and how Hong Kong opens doors to the Chinese mainland market.
What’s your business relationship with Hong Kong?
We have offered WSET qualifications in Hong Kong, through some 37 providers, since the turn of the millennium. In that time, nearly 30,000 people have taken WSET qualifications, 3,500 in the past 12 months. These individuals largely go on to work in the wine and spirits industry in various roles, from production and distribution to hospitality and education, and our diploma is widely viewed as the best stepping stone to the Master of Wine programme. Outside the industry, we are also seeing an increasing number of interested enthusiasts who are looking to develop their personal knowledge.
WSET courses are available in many education centres, including the Asia Wine Service & Education Centre, the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, the University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education, Premier Fine Wine Education Institute and Hong Kong Wine School, as well as in businesses such as Berry Bros & Rudd, Diageo RTD, the Shangri-La Hotel Group and the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. The full suite of WSET courses is available in Hong Kong from Level 1 Awards in Wines, Spirits and Sake to the esteemed Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits.
How has that helped you expand across the border?
Since launching in Hong Kong, the growing interest in wine and spirits education across Greater China has been evident and enabled us to expand rapidly to now offer WSET courses through a further 86 Approved Programme Providers (APPs) in the Chinese mainland. Interest is countrywide and courses are available across the length of the eastern coast with Beijing and Shanghai home to more than 13 providers each, and a range of providers inland from Harbin to Xian to Chengdu. Candidate numbers over the past 10 years have risen exponentially, with an annualised growth of 77 per cent since 2006. In the past year, over 9,000 people went through a WSET programme in the mainland.
Where do you see these markets heading?
The Chinese mainland is a very promising market for us as our biggest international market behind the United Kingdom and a significant growth market. Candidate numbers are up 38 per cent for the 2015/16 academic year as a new wave of millennials in the rising middle class take an interest in wine and spirits. Certainly the presence of WSET programmes in Hong Kong, and indeed the maturity of the wine market in Hong Kong, has helped us to establish such a strong presence over the border. However, Hong Kong remains a strong market for us in its own right, placing in our top-five biggest markets in 2015-16.
What role does your Hong Kong office play?
The Hong Kong office offers support to WSET’s local network of course providers, educators and corporate partners, as well as the growing WSET alumni community across Asia-Pacific. This additional support is there to aid operations as candidate numbers continue to grow at existing APPs and also manage additional interest from new APPs looking to offer our courses. Plans are being put in place to expand operations to include examination support in the future, and we are looking at all options as the Asia-Pacific region now accounts for over one-third of all WSET candidates.
Where do you see the wine industry itself moving?
Hong Kong remains a key gateway for getting wines into the mainland, and certainly the austerity measures introduced by the Central Government two years ago had a major effect on wine markets both in Hong Kong and the mainland. This particularly hit the top end, and the bottom fell out of the fine wine market for a while. However, the positive side was that consumers were introduced to wines from other countries, and learned that there was life after Bordeaux. From a WSET perspective, our candidate registrations, to date, in Hong Kong are up 51 per cent on this time last year, and we see fewer candidates travelling from China to Hong Kong to complete courses now that there is greater availability locally.
What are the wider prospects for the wine education business?
Wine education will continue to grow in every market where there is a thirst for knowledge, and where wine companies are investing. There are very few mature wine markets in the world, and even in a country like the UK, which has had a wine industry for 200 years, and which has seen exponential growth in wine consumption since the 1970s, less than 0.5 per cent of people who work with wine in the UK hospitality industry have received any sort of formal wine education. So it’s still a very big world of opportunity out there, and my team at WSET are relishing the challenges of the next few years, and we are expecting continuing growth.
Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
- Food & Beverages
- United Kingdom
- Hong Kong
- Western Europe


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There is nothing like the massive news of a car company leaving SA to distract everyone from other things.
While General Motors was leaving the country, Suzuki SA quietly removed its SX4 crossover from its list of available models. The SX4 was one of the pioneers of the true urban crossover segment. But the latest generation was too expensive and lacked the value offering of its forebear. It also lacked the character of the original and sales were grim.
Still, Suzuki SA is celebrating a new arrival this week with the debut of the Ignis. More on that next week. – BD Motor News


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Earlier today, HTC One X9 smartphone that got certified by TENAA last month, surfaced today in live images. Now, the company has released a brand new teaser that reveals some of the camera specifications of the next phone that could be the One X9.
The teaser that was released on Weibo suggests that the phone will have a 13 mega-pixel rear camera and will come with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). The phone will also support RAW format. Along with the details of the camera specification, the teaser has a caption that reads ‘what’s next after A9’. The teaser and the camera specs hints at a stronger possibility that the phone in the question is One X9.
HTC One X9 rumored Specifications
- 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD IPS display with 2.5D curved glass
- 2.2 GHz Octa-Core processor
- 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, expandable memory up to 1TB with microSD
- Android 5.0 (Lollipop) with HTC Sense UI
- 13MP rear camera with dual-tone flash
- 5MP / Ultrapixel front-facing camera
- Dimensions: 153.2×75.9×7.99mm; Weight: 174g
- Dual front-facing speakers
- 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
- 3000mAh battery
The HTC One X9 is rumored to be released sometime in Q1 2016.


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The University Campus Aylesbury Vale (UCAV) has received £1.3m from Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (BTVLEP) to create a Digital Innovation Hub to support business innovation and growth in Bucks.
The aim for creating the Hub is to make UCAV a centre for start-up businesses in the digital sector, with facilities including a cyber-security suite and virtual reality engineering design studio.
The Campus is designed to allow small and early-stage high-growth businesses to access advice, support and incubation spaces and enjoy use of the wider facilities and opportunities offered at Bucks New University and Aylesbury College, who have partnered for the creation of the campus.
The development will incorporate a business service to meet graduate level skills gaps and a technical design facility to support the development of technical businesses and inspire the region’s young people to consider careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.
For more on this story about this interesting development for Buckinghamshire visit the link.


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Apple subsidiary FileMaker today introduced version 14, the first major update since 2013, of its popular iOS and Mac-based platform, which includes the FileMaker Pro, Go, and Server software suites. This new version focuses on separate enhancements for speed across the different software versions, with the Mac and Windows applications gaining improved features for productivity, and the iOS Go apps for iPad and iPhone receiving end-to-end redesigns for iOS 8. Below, we break down the most significant new features for the Pro, Go, and Server versions.
Filemaker Inc Stories May 12, 2015
Filemaker Inc Stories December 11, 2012
Apple’s FileMaker Inc announces 500K downloads for FileMaker Go iPhone and iPad apps
Apple subsidiary FileMaker Inc. announced today that its FileMaker Go iPhone and iPad apps have surpassed 500,000 downloads. FileMaker’s Vice President of Marketing and Services, Ryan Rosenberg, said the milestone “demonstrates FileMaker’s position as a leading platform for development and deployment of custom business solutions for iOS,” noting businesses are using FileMaker to “manage everything from sales contacts to medical information on iPads and iPhones.”
FileMaker’s full press release below:


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BBNaija’s Whitemoney splashes millions on a brand new Maybach Benz (Video)
Big Brother Naija ‘Shine ya eyes’ winner, Hazel Onuo popularly known as Whitemoney has splashed millions on a new car
Just weeks after releasing his new song, Jada, the singer has added a new car to his fleets of cars.
Whitemoney acquired a white S580 Maybach Benz.
Sharing the good news on his Instagram page alongside photos of the new car, Whitemoney revealed that he is driving his dreams rather than chasing it.
“They said you should follow your dreams. I think you should drive it”.
Congratulatory messages are already pouring in for him.
Ijebu splashes millions on a brand new car
Kemi Filani reported in January that the year 2023 started on a good note for many celebrities as they acquired their dream possession.
Joining the list of car owners for the year was Yoruba actor, Olatayo Amokade better known as Ijebu.
The talented actor had splashed millions on a brand new car to mark the year.
His colleague, Kemi Korede shared the good news on her Instagram page, with a video of the brand new car.
Congratulating him on his new feat,Kemi Korede wrote,
CONGRATULATIONS ORE MI @ijebuu. More blessings”.
Adekunle Gold joins the Range Rover gang
Just days before he bought his car, singer, Adekunle Gold was the happiest man as his prayer of over 8 years had become reality.
In 2015, Adekunle Gold in his hit song, Pick Up, prayed to God to drive a range and thankfully, he had now been able to acquire one.
Showing off the acquisition on his Instagram page, the singer wrote,
“#babaGodeminafewarange ✅” that means, my prayer of wanting to drive a range has now been ticked.
Comments are closed.


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Let’s start with a quick thought experiment. The Essential Turntable Belt Co. makes two types of turntable belt. The first, a BudgetBelt™ made of basic rubber, sells for €1. The second, the LuxuriousBelt™ (containing rare earth metals), sells for €10,000. Now for some recent sales figures. In 2022, the Essential Turntable Belt Co. sold 1000 units of its BudgetBelt™ (to net €1000 in revenue) but only one of its LuxuriousBelt™ (for €10,000 in revenue). Now we ask: which was the best-selling belt model?
We’ll get to the answer shortly. But first, a twist.
Just after Christmas, the UK’s Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) sent out a press release to the mainstream press about 2022’s physical music format music sales, in which they omitted the number of units sold of each format to focus solely on revenue generated. From ERA’s press release: “vinyl album sales grew 11% to £150.5m, while CD album sales fell 17.4% to £124m, the first time vinyl outsold CD by value since 1987.”
But nowhere did those two very important words – “by value” – make it to the ensuing headlines or a BBC news radio report.
On December 28th, a Sky News headline read “Vinyl sales overtake CDs for the first time in 35 years – and the best sellers might surprise you”. The following day, DJ Mag went with “Vinyl outsells CDs in the UK for first time in 35 years”. On 10th January, Music Week and the NME breathed new life into the story with “Vinyl outsells CD for first time in 35 years as total music sales reach £2 billion” and “Vinyl outsells CD for first time in 35 years” respectively.
If we were to apply the same reporting logic to the Essential Turntable Belt Co.’s 2022 sales figures, we would headline our article: “The LuxuriousBelt™ was 2022’s best seller”. Only in the article’s body would we clarify that our claim was based on revenue generated and not on units shifted.
But we’ve been here before, haven’t we?
Anyone with a passing interest in physical formats knows that buying a new album on vinyl is more expensive than buying the same new album on CD. How much more expensive? On the narrow end, we might see a vinyl version of an album selling for 50% more than the CD. But get into double album territory – where two or three pieces of vinyl are required – and that retail price delta might jump to 100%. With such a large price disparity, is it any wonder that vinyl makes more money for the UK music industry than CDs?
Fortunately, a report by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) published last week provides greater clarity on sales data:
“There were 11.6 million CDs and 5.5 million vinyl LPs purchased across the year, as well as 195,000 cassettes and 3.7 million album downloads. Vinyl LPs represented 31.7% of all physical purchases as sales grew for a 15th consecutive year and reached their highest level in over 30 years (stretching back to 1990).”
Read it again: 11.6m CDs and 5.5m vinyl LPs.
In other words, in the UK in 2022, CDs outsold vinyl two-to-one. In 2021, it was closer to three-to-one with 14m CDs and 5m vinyl LPs sold.
Just as the LuxuriousBelt™ did not outsell the BudgetBelt™ in our thought experiment, vinyl did NOT outsell CDs in the UK last year.
Further information: BPI
I shall be discussing this article with Michael Lavorgna in a forthcoming episode of the Darko.Audio podcast.


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#MoveUp to the big leagues
OLX has embarked on an inspirational advertising campaign to reposition the brand in a new headspace that aims to create a more emotional connection with South Africans.
Titled #MoveUp, the campaign taps into the universal human truth that everyone wants to improve his or her lot in life, no matter how impossible it might seem. By showcasing the human progress behind each transaction, it positions OLX as an enabler of dreams, and the means by which anyone from any walk of life can facilitate forward progress - despite what the so-called ‘System’ might prescribe.
“We believe that this campaign will resonate particularly well with our resourceful population. Increasingly, South Africans have come to understand that, if they want to get ahead, they need to create their own opportunities and mold their own destiny. This commercial positions OLX firmly in that space, as a brand that provides the means by which South Africans can be who they want to be, and achieve what they believe they can achieve,” says OLX South Africa brand manager, Ntsikakazi Mxenge.
The narrative of the TVC depicts how OLX makes it possible for people to be who they want to be, by beating the system. A young man stares into a shop window on his way home, dreaming of owning the guitar on display. The lights go out, symbolizing that he cannot afford to buy the guitar. Then - the only light in the dark night - his Mobile phone lights up in his hand, to show a similar guitar – available on the OLX site. The message comes through loud and clear. He can #MoveUp.
The mobile app was launched in 2013, and provides the best way to buy and sell 'on the go' and for people to trade in their local areas. One of the great user-friendly features is the chat functionality that enables direct human interaction between buyers and sellers.
“By positioning the brand as more than a retail environment, the #MoveUp campaign aims to encourage South Africans to use OLX as an alternative trading space to that which the system currently provides - not only for occasional buying and selling, but also as a valuable trading option,” says Mxenge.
As the commercial says: “It’s time to stand together, because together we have everything we need.”
The campaign was conceptualised and created by Publicis Machine; is spearheaded by a television commercial that broke on June 6, and will be strongly supported in both the radio and online environment.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook has fired Scott Forstall, the head of the companies mobile software products group. According to sources at Reuters Forstall was a long time ‘lieutenant' of the Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Cook asked him to leave after years of friction with other top executives in the company. Apparently Cook was annoyed that Forstall failed to take responsibility for the Apple Map disaster in the latest version of iOS.
Sources claim that Forstall refused to sign a public apology after the Apple mapping product drew worldwide criticism from the press and end users.
When Forstall refused to sign the letter, CEO Cook did instead, taking personal responsibility for the mess. Forstall will now leave the company next year, Apple said in a statement.
This is the first major change that Cook has made since replacing Steve Jobs as company leader. John Browett is also leaving the company, joining Apple seven months ago after serving as the CEO of Dixons.
Browett tried to improve retail store profits, but his tactics alienated employees in the retail stores and Cook decided he was the wrong man for the job.
Kitguru says: Tim Cook is now making his own choices, which is good to see.


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Adidas India to Open Stadium Outlets
Adidas India is set to launch five outlets in India inspired by stadiums. These outlets will retail its performance wear products. The company has experimented with a stadium format store in Delhi in the recent past. From 2019 onwards, it plans to operate all performance wear retail stores in this new format. Presently, 80 per cent of Adidas India stores retail performance wear clothes. Adidas’s stadium format stores are available globally in US, UK, France, Japan and South Korea. These outlets are thematically inspired by world-class stadiums and draw elements from these arenas for its design and layout. These stores will have interaction spaces for its patrons, which will highlight product benefits.


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Poundland has announced that nine former Wilko shops will reopen this weekend.
Poundland parent company Pepco bought up 71 Wilko stores during the administration process, but no offer was large enough to save the entire business or its staff.
They’ve already reopened 28 former Wilko stores in the last three weeks – so these latest branches take the total to 37.
The new shops will sell grocery, household and general merchandise found in all Poundland shops, as well as Pepco clothing which is currently being rolled out to all of their more than 500 existing shops.
All of the former Wilko shops will receive another makeover next year, to become fully operational Poundland shops.
Two existing branches will also relocate into new sites this weekend. Poundland in Brentwood, Essex will move from the High Street to the Bay Tree Centre, and in Worksop, Nottinghamshire it will move to a different unit in the Priory Shopping Centre.
Poundland’s retail director Darren Kay said: ‘We’re proud that to date, we’re the only retailer that’s delivered on its promise to re-open Wilko stores and offer roles to their people.
‘In four short weeks we’ll have opened 37 Wilko stores – an amazing achievement by hundreds of colleagues right across our Poundland business.
‘The team that’s making this happen are part of something very special – protecting jobs, keeping high streets alive and serving many new communities.
‘I’d like to thank them for all the hard work that’s making sure these former Wilko stores begin their new Poundland journeys in such good shape.
‘While more extensive refits will be scheduled for the new year, we look forward to welcoming customers old and new to their new stores this weekend.’
Here is the full list of former Wilko shops reopening as Poundland this Saturday, October 21:
All the Wilkos reopening as Poundland stores on Saturday, October 21
- Unit 8, The Bay Tree Centre, Brentwood
- 13-17 George Street, 1 Stamford Quarter, Altrincham
- 12 The Priory Centre, Worksop
- 90-94 The Broadway, West Ealing
- 401-403 High Road, Wembley
- 1 Town Square, Six Acre Shopping Centre, Sale
- Unit 4, Byron Place, Seaham, Durham
- Unit 5, Selly Oak Shopping Park, Selly Oak, Birmingham
- Unit 10, Jackson Square, Bishops Stortford.
And this is the full list of former Wilko shops which have already reopened as Poundland:
All the Wilkos that are currently open as Poundland stores
- 14-16 Church Street, Ripley, Derbyshire
- 26 Deansgate, Bolton
- The Interchange Centre, West Street, Gateshead
- 3 Market Square, Bicester
- Unit SU19 Orton Gate Shopping Centre, Peterborough
- 196A Bradfield Road, Sheffield
- Unit 61, Manors Walk Shopping Nall, Cramlington
- Shrewsbury Mall, Market Street, Rugeley
- 3-35 Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray
- Units 2/4 Bank Road, Matlock
- Welsh Street, Chepstow
- The Kimberley Shopping Centre, 25 Greens Lane, Nottingham
- 15-21 High Street, Worcester
- Unit 6-18 Civic Way, Marina Walk, Ellesmere Port
- Cary Lane, Brigg
- 13-15 Fore Street, Redruth
- Units 1-2, 92-94 Victoria Road, Ferndown
- Unit 2/3, Crane Street, Torfaen, Pontypool, South Wales
- Broad Street, Chell Road, Stafford, Staffordshire, West Midlands
- Pendle Rise Shopping Centre, Nelson, Lancashire
- The Peel Centre, Great Portwood Street, Stockport, Greater Manchester
- The Mall, Church Street, Eccles, Manchester
- London Street, Southport, Merseyside
- Lord Street, Leigh, Greater Manchester
- East Street, Barking, London
- High Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire
- Bede Precinct, Viking Centre, Jarrow, South Tyneside
- The Broadway, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at email@example.com.
For more stories like this, check our news page.


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If brands missed the opportunity to capitalise on the Olympics, there are still many sporting events to come this year. The Paralympics begin on August 24, followed by several cricket events, two golf cups, the London Marathon and the Rugby League World Cup.
During a recent webinar, hosted by Mediaocean, marketing experts advised on the best advertising strategies surrounding sports events.
The software company’s own recent study has examined brands that advertised during the UEFA Euros tournament. This research measured and compared each brands’ social media engagement in the two-minute period before and after the start of a TV ad. Heineken, for example, experienced a 207% increase in social lift, 84% of which had a positive sentiment. Trends also revealed that adverts featuring celebrities were particularly successful, in addition to ads focused on bringing people together following the pandemic.
How sports fans are watching
During the online event, Katie Gilsenan, trends manager at GWI, explained how, over the past two years, sports fans have increasingly watched events online, rather than on TV. Importantly, viewers are scrolling through social media while watching sport. For the Olympics and other events without live audiences she, therefore, emphasised the importance of a multimedia approach.
How to advertise
Cal Knight, head of global agency & platform solutions at Twitter, echoed Gilsenan’s advice on the importance of connecting with brands on social media platforms. “Don’t concentrate your efforts just in the game,” he advised, clarifying that a marketing strategy should be consistent throughout an event. His own research confirmed that when brands advertise before, during and after a sporting event, their ads on Twitter become three times more cost efficient by receiving more engagement.
Knight returned to the novelty of fanless games, saying: “Attention to digital and social is even more paramount that it has been before.”
He encouraged brands to get involved in the conversations surrounding sport, and for events with a time difference, such as the Olympics, to post highlights or updates as people will want to catch up on events happening overnight.
Knight also revealed that Twitter’s recent studies had found an 11% increase in positive sentiment around sporting events in the last year. For this reason, the panel all advised: have fun with your advertising. Knight named, for example, Doritos’ engagement with the athlete Christina Clemons, after she wore a pair of Doritos earrings during her Olympic hurdles trials.
“Brands need to not take themselves too seriously,” Knight encouraged, also pointing out that not every marketing strategy has to cost millions, if you are reacting in the moment.
Gilsenan agreed that humour was playing a great role in the current advertising climate. She said: “People want light-hearted, funny content right now.”
She named Aldi’s sporting-commentary analysis of a BBQ as her favourite sporting ad from the summer. She also noted the Twitter engagement of VW’s remote control car that brought the ball onto the pitch at the Euros.
David Grainger, chief strategy officer at iProspect, also highlighted a Euros advert as his favourite sporting ad of the year so far. He named Bud Light’s Euro 2021 Box Heads for the simplicity of its entertainment value.
The Individual Athlete
Gilsenan discussed the trends of younger sports fans, particularly her research that 58% of young people follow athletes on social media. She described how many athletes are becoming bolder in their altruistic values, for example Marcus Rashford on free school meals, Raheem Sterling’s outrage at the racism which followed the Euros, and Naomi Osaka’s outspokenness on mental health.
Gen Z care greatly about these opinions that athletes stand behind, Gilsenan explained, so brands should prioritise the individual sportsperson in their advertising. Winning over future fans means aligning with their values, she simplified: “The individual athlete is now as important as the sport.”
Stuart Smith, EVP, customer success at Mediaocean, added the example of Cristiano Ronaldo removing two bottles of Coca Cola out of shot during a press conference. Although Ronaldo’s actions possibly cost the drinks brand $4 billion, Ikea was quick to take advantage of the live event and appeal to Ronaldo fans by renaming its water bottle Cristiano.
In addition, Knight raised the responsibility of brands to shed light on lower profile athletes who are rising talents.
The panel’s host, Stuart Smith from Mediaocean, asked how brands can take advantage of Amazon’s live sport or sporting documentaries, such as those on Netflix.
Grainger raised a discussion on Tiktok’s recent sponsorship of Wrexham FC in response to an upcoming documentary. The club has been bought by Hollywood stars, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, and Tiktok was quick to secure the advertisement opportunity, anticipating the documentary’s success. David observed how, although Wrexham FC is exceptional, there are many ways for brands to move into sport without focusing solely on massive tournaments.
In conclusion, Knight added that most of these documentaries are not ad-supported, so emphasised once again the role of social media. “Twitter and TV go hand-in-hand, a match made in heaven,” he said.


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Bosses at Tamworth's Ankerside Shopping Centre are giving its visitors full control on what it's four different entrances should be called.
The shopping venue appealed on Facebook for its visitors to come up with suggestions on what the new names should be.
One Tamworth resident suggested one of the entrances should be named after Keeley Bunker - the 20-year-old woman who was found dead in the town earlier this year.
People have until this Thursday (November 14) to come up with ideas before the best names are chosen in a poll vote.
To come up with a suggestion visit the shopping centre's Facebook page here and comment on the appeal post dated November 8.
The appeal states: "Tamworth, we need your help!
"We want to rename our four mall entrances here at Ankerside Shopping Centre and we would like YOU to help do so
"Please leave your suggestions in our comments below and we will be shortlisting the top eight to put to a poll next week.
"Time to get creative..."


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With the sweltering heat of summer welcoming the month of March, Kia Philippines is now giving fiery deals to customers with its red tag sale, offering the Sorento with as much as P430,000 discount, Picanto with a very low monthly of P8,499 and the and the Kia Carnival that starts at P1,599,000.
Offered until March 31, the Ayala-backed distributor for the Korean vehicle manufacturer presents sizeable cash discounts on the three models—along with easy-to-acquire deals to the rest of the lineup—that are guaranteed to help you enjoy road trips within and outside the metropolis.
“We understand the plight of the people wherein, aside from having personal mobility or a reliable business partner nowadays, spending quality time—alone or with good company—is what we value at present, more than ever,” Kia Philippines President Manny Aligada shared.
Designed for head honchos who prioritize comfort and luxurious amenities, the Sorento provides the size and technology, such as a power tailgate to help in loading cargo when all hands are on deck, along with a plethora of assistive safety features like vehicle stability management, hill-start control, and hill start assist, among others.
Get a blazing P430,000 discount when you buy the premium SUV Sorento EX 4×4, dropping the price down to P1,765,000 from its P2,195,000 SRP. The EX 4×2 variant is being handed over with a P370,000 reduction and is now being sold for only P1,525,000.
Fit for families that demand coziness and versatility from their minivans despite the searing heat of the season, the deluxe people carrier Grand Carnival is equipped with power-sliding doors on both sides for easy ingress and egress, spacious cargo space, and full auto air conditioning with independent three-zone control to make sure every road trip would be enjoyable.
For this month, the retail price for the people mover starts at P1,599,000 after the P396,000 markdown for the LX 11-seater. The mid-variant EX 11-seater is being offered at P1,799,000 million, while the top-of-the-line EX 7-seater is pegged at P1,999,000, courtesy of a P396,000 slash.
The quirky Kia Picanto—tailor-fit for those who are starting to build a name of their own—may be the smallest in the pack, but this could be the best driving partner that can carry five passengers while squeezing through tight traffic or making quick out-of-town trips. It also has sufficient tech, like the 7-inch touchscreen audio that is Android Auto and Apple Carplay-ready along with the AUX and USB ports. The top-tier offering is fitted with a Rear Camera Display with Static Guidelines.
Kia clients may get the ardent pocket rocket Picanto for a measly P8,499 all-in monthly term, whose SRP starts at P499,000 for the LX MT. Other variants for the Picanto are now at P549,000 (LX AT), P599,000 (EX MT), and P699,000 (EX AT), thanks to the hefty cuts for the red-hot March promo.
To provide another layer of security to clients while on the road as well as elevating the customer experience, Kia Philippines is serving up all its models with a 5-year or 160,000-km warranty, along with a 24/7 Roadside Assistance FREE for five years which covers Emergency Towing, Personal Assistance, Minor Onsite Repair, Medical Assistance and Information Service for a secured, enjoyable and worry-free ownership.
Customers may now visit any of the more than 40 Kia dealerships around the country to learn more about how they can join the summer-welcoming campaign on Kia vehicles. Other promotions and news can be discovered when they log on to the Kia website at www.kia.com or by joining the Kia Philippines social media family on Facebook and Instagram.


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In January, Biden vowed to take on junk fees. How’s he doing so far?
Jul 13, 2023, 6:30 PM
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
SALT LAKE CITY — Junk fees can include the surcharges consumers pay on credit cards, bills, loans, air travel, hotel rooms and event tickets, such as sports and concerts. During his State of the Union speech in January, President Joe Biden pushed for support of the Junk Fee Prevention Act and help to end them.
“The Biden administration is also taking on junk fees. Those hidden surcharges too many companies use to make you pay more.
“For example, we’re making airlines show you the full ticket price upfront [and] refund your money if your flight is canceled or delayed.
“We’re reducing exorbitant bank overdrafts by saving consumers more than $1 billion a year [and] cutting credit-card late fees by 75% from $30 to $8,” the president said.
Junk fees are punitive
Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst with Bankrate, joins Dave & Dujanovic and started the discussion by defining how junk fees stand apart from other fees.
“The way the government seems to be defining it, the Biden administration and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is they seem to talk about fees that are not really proportional to the value received.
“That’s really been a key argument with these credit-card late fees, which currently run up to $30 for a first offense and up to $41 for subsequent offenses,” Rossman said. “The CFPB wants to cap that at just $8 saying basically that these have become profit centers that are really far exceeding the value received.”
How is Biden doing so far?
Update: On June 15, Mr. Biden announced that a group of event-ticketing and travel companies will commit to all-in pricing and eliminating the “hidden” aspect of hidden fees, but this does not eliminate fees altogether.
- Ticketmaster (owned by Live Nation) is committing to providing upfront all-in pricing in September. That includes Ticketmaster events, as well.
- SeatGeek, a primary and secondary ticketing platform, plans to roll out all-in pricing this summer.
Last week, the Biden administration vowed to crack down on so-called junk insurance.
Lower the fee, raise the fee
Rossman said some junk fees are coming down or at least being unhidden but some are just shifting or what he called “whack-a-mole.” For example, overdraft fees are falling amid scrutiny but ATM fees at banks are at record highs, he said.
Rossman said the credit card late-fee proposal could cost banks $9 billion in revenue.
If that passes, “I don’t think they would just swallow that. I think they would look to raise fees elsewhere,” he said.
So perhaps the best that happens is consumers get transparency about these “hidden fees” but the result is they end up paying the same.
Rossman recommends educating yourself about all fees before making a transaction or purchase. He added it doesn’t hurt to ask about rescinding a fee — if it doesn’t apply.
“If a hotel is tacking on a fee for the pool or the gym, and you didn’t use the pool or the gym, it doesn’t hurt to ask nicely, like, ‘Hey, could you take that fee off?’ Sometimes that works,” he said.
Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.


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The Jack Ma Foundation has opened applications for its third-annual “Africa’s Business Heroes” prize competition, which will award 10 of the continent’s entrepreneurs a share of US$1.5 million in grant funding.
From now through June 7, eligible entrepreneurs across any sector, gender and age group can submit their applications – in either English or French – for a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. The top 10 finalists will be unveiled in September.
“Africa’s Business Heroes is excited to join forces with our partners to identify, spotlight and support even more passionate, innovative and determined entrepreneurs across Africa,” said Jason Pau, executive director of international at the Jack Ma Foundation.
“Despite the incredibly difficult conditions faced by entrepreneurs and small businesses around the world over the past year, Africa’s entrepreneurship has been experiencing an incredible upward trajectory, showing the magnitude of potential and opportunities yet to be seized,” Pau added.
Africa’s New Generation of Innovators
ABH is Jack Ma’s namesake philanthropic foundation‘s flagship initiative in Africa. Ma created the prize in 2017, after making his first trip to the continent. Inspired by the energy and potential of the young people he’d met there, he committed to the goal of – over a 10-year period – nurturing 100 entrepreneurs who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future.
Every year, the competition’s finalists can gain access to not only funding, but also training sessions, networking opportunities and mentorship from its community of industry experts, investors and innovators.
ABH also curates special televised shows and documentaries to amplify the contestant’s stories. In 2019, the inaugural ABH show aired in 47 countries, featuring a guest lineup which included President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo, former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and celebrities Jet Li and Naomi Campbell. Its 2019 documentary was also shortlisted by international film festivals, including RapidLion and AmDocs.
This edition of the prize will be held in collaboration with partners, including African Leadership Group, Ashesi, Dalberg, Janngo and RiseUp, along with guidance from global leaders on ABH’s advisory board, such as Ban Ki-moon and Graça Machel, founder and chair of the Graça Machel Trust, an international advocate for women’s and children’s rights.
Growing Community of ‘Heroes’
Last year, the top 10 finalists were chosen from more than 22,000 applications submitted from all 54 African countries, spanning sectors from agriculture, renewable energy, education, healthcare, fashion to financial services.
Among them was Nairobi-based industrial designer Chebet Lesan who walked away with the top prize. Her company, BrightGreen, upcycles agrowaste to produce fuel bricks. The resulting product offers a cheaper, cleaner-burning alternative to firewood or charcoal that can be used to cook and heat homes.
“The competition was an incredible journey,” said Lesan. “2020 was a challenging year that made us refocus from profitability to survival. I hope my win inspires Africans to believe that we have what it takes to make an impact, no matter where we are. The prize is helping us scale our energy solution across East Africa, and we remain focused to change how Africa cooks, one kitchen at a time.”
Africa’s Business Heroes will spotlight Lesan and the other 2020 finalists’ journeys in its new show, airing later this year. For more information on the prize, click here or follow ABH on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
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A lot of remakes coming out of France today.
Ahead of E3, several independent developers have announced details about Switch independent titles to release in the coming months.
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas will be the first to launch, making land on the Switch June 22. Heavily inspired by Wind Waker and already appearing on Sony systems and PC, the Switch version promises full resolution (1080p) docked and a high framerate.
Universal has tabbed Shantae: Half-Genie Hero developers WayForward with an upcoming title based on the reimagining of The Mummy. The Mummy Demastered is an exploration platformer that uses a 16-bit art style, and it is slated to launch on the Switch in August.
French publisher Microids, who were confirmed for a version of adventure title Syberia 3 already, have announced five new projects for Switch with release dates ranging from soon to the fourth quarter of 2018. Syberia 1 and 2 are tabbed for release in the third and fourth quarter of this year respectively, with Syberia 3 set to follow in the first quarter of next year. The Switch will also see the remaster of early 1990s action platformer Flashback in the fourth quarter. Lastly, two original titles were announced: simulation racer Gear.Club with a release target of the end of the year, and detective adventure title Blacksad is slated to launch by the end of 2018. (For more on Syberia 3, see Justin Nation's preview.)


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If the short circuit occurs, restraint devices including the air bags, pretensioners, and side curtains might not work in a crash.
Ignition switches can move out of position and potentially lead to the engine shutting off while driving and air bags not functioning.
The death toll from crashes involving GM small cars with faulty ignition switches is at least 21.
GM says the electronic parking brake arm that applies pressure to the back of the brake pads may not fully retract after use.
Vehicles could leak, posing a fire risk. No fires or injuries have been reported.
The automaker says spider webs can clog a fuel vapor vent hose in some 2010 to 2013 Kizashi cars, cutting off air flow.
GM is telling customers to park the SUVs outdoors because they could catch fire when left unattended.
The recall is General Motors’ 29th this year, bringing the total number of recalled GM vehicles in the U.S. to around 13.8 million.
Ford says it is recalling 575,000 older model Windstar vans in the United States and Canada over concerns that the rear axles can corrode and potentially break.


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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles was hoping to a make a splash next Monday with the debut of 2019 Ram 1500 at the Detroit Auto Show. But someone spoiled the surprise.
A user on Reddit posted a picture of a 2019 Ram 1500 inside a Fiat Chrysler plant - our hunch being the Warren, MI plant. The 3/4 shot gives us our best look at the truck and matches up with previous spy photos.
The most apparent change that will sway your decision to liking to disliking the truck is the new grille. Ram appears to be doing away with the crosshair grille that has been a design trademark since the 1994 model. Instead, there is a smaller, octagonal grille with 'RAM' nestled in the middle. We're expecting this will be one of many grille designs on offer.
Other details we can tell is the 1500 designation has moved from the doors on to the hood. The side profile looks similar to the current Ram 2500/3500 HD models.
Here is what else we know about the upcoming Ram 1500
- Engines to include a 3.6L V6, 5.7L HEMI V8, and 3.0L EcoDiesel V6
- Aluminum hood and tailgate
- Possibly a split tailgate
- Newest version of FCA's UConnect
Pic Credit: Eisenj on Reddit


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USDA's Food and Nutrition Service Under Secretary Kevin Concannon says food deserts are a serious issue for people in rural areas and even in some cites looking for a variety of food choices.
"Food deserts are rural as well as urban places in the country where people have to go long distances to access a full service supermarket," Concannon said. "Many small communities over time as population demographics change, they might be left with simply a kind of a one-stop mini-mart without ready access to a close-by supermarket."
Concannon says those mini-marts don't have the range of choices of healthy foods and it's much more expensive to purchase foods there as well. So USDA is working to help rural Americans with a new food initiative.
"Through grant programs and loan programs, we can stimulate the development of supermarkets or full service stores in targeted areas across the country," Concannon said.


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Arcimoto News Recap
Arcimoto to Begin 2023 Vehicle Production for Spring Deliveries
2023 vehicle deliveries to start in March with new features and improvements
EUGENE, Ore., Feb. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arcimoto, Inc.® (NASDAQ: FUV), makers of rightsized, ultra-efficient electric vehicles, announced that it will start 2023 vehicle production on FUV and Deliverator with plans for first deliveries beginning in March. Headlining the model year 2023 product update is the new steering system that will deliver improved handling and maneuverability at all speeds while reducing steering effort by more than 40% from prior models. “During our internal testing, and pilot rollout the feedback from drivers was resoundingly positive in terms of feel and responsiveness,” said Dwayne Lum, Arcimoto Chief Product Officer. “Additionally, this is not restricted to 2023 models. Our team committed to creating a post-production version that prior model year FUV owners could elect to deploy for a small fee through our service organization,” added Mr. Lum. Arcimoto ended Q4 2022 with the most successful quarter yet delivering 89 vehicles. In 2022, Arcimoto delivered 228 customer vehicles, which increased the total number of Arcimoto vehicles on the road to more than 500.
“As we begin first deliveries in 2023, we continue to focus on improving vehicle drive quality, manufacturing cost down efforts and increasing our brand reach to grow both our consumer and commercial sales volume,” said Jesse Fittipaldi, Arcimoto Interim CEO. “Our efforts will be directed at driving sales of FUV and Deliverator and lowering manufacturing costs on these products this year.”
Arcimoto Announces $6 Million in Additional Funding
Additional funding comes shortly after closing a $12 million public offering on January 20th
EUGENE, Ore., Feb. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arcimoto, Inc.® (NASDAQ: FUV), makers of rightsized, ultra-efficient electric vehicles, announced today they received $6 million in additional funding by means of a real estate loan on their Eugene, Oregon factory. This additional financing comes shortly after the $12 million public offering that closed on January 20th. A portion of the net proceeds from the offering were used to repay the convertible note with 3i. The remaining funding will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
“We announced this week the start of 2023 production with new steering features and improvements on the FUV and Deliverator. This additional funding paired with our efforts in reducing vehicle costs and increasing sales gives the team practical confidence as we continue to focus on the growth of FUV and Deliverator programs,” said Jesse Fittipaldi, Arcimoto Interim CEO.
Arcimoto Opens Vehicle Sales in 4 New States
Arcimoto expands into additional West and East Coast key markets, opening customer orders in Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Mexico with deliveries starting this Spring
EUGENE, Ore., March 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arcimoto, Inc.® (NASDAQ: FUV), makers of rightsized, ultra-efficient electric vehicles, today announced that it is now accepting vehicle orders from customers in Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Mexico, with first customer deliveries expected to begin in the first half of 2023. This comes shortly after announcing the start of 2023 production with new steering features and improvements on the FUV and Deliverator.
“We are excited to introduce Arcimoto to some of the top EV markets in the country, home to many of the most beautiful places to FUV,” said Arcimoto Chief Experience Officer Lynn Yeager. “This expansion is important to our continued growth of both consumer and commercial channels. Today, we began reaching out to preorder customers in these states with the opportunity to order their vehicle.” To design and reserve your vehicle, please visit https://www.arcimoto.com/order
Arcimoto vehicles are now available in California, Oregon, Washington, Hawai’i, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Customers outside of these states can place a $100 refundable preorder to be the first to know when Arcimoto opens in their region.
About Arcimoto, Inc.
Arcimoto is a pioneer in the design and manufacture of rightsized, ultra-efficient, incredibly fun electric vehicles for everyday mobility. Built on the revolutionary three-wheel Arcimoto Platform, our vehicles are purpose-built for daily driving and local delivery, all at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact of traditional gas-powered vehicles. Based in Eugene, Oregon, the Arcimoto team is dedicated to creating world-class EVs that make the world a better place. For more information, please visit Arcimoto.com.


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China’s Mindray Medical Leads Retreat as Sales DisappointYe Xie
Chinese stocks listed in the U.S. declined for a second day as Mindray Medical International Ltd., a medical device maker, reported first-quarter revenue that trailed analyst estimates.
The Bloomberg index of the most-traded Chinese stocks in the U.S. fell 0.5 percent to 99.12 in New York yesterday. Mindray Medical tumbled the most since January after its sales fell short of analysts’ forecast by more than 9 percent. YY Inc., owner of an entertainment website, sank the most in six months on concern its growing music business may dilute profit margins. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. filed for what could become the largest U.S. initial public offering ever.
Ten of the 13 U.S.-listed Chinese companies that have released first-quarter earnings reported revenue that trailed analyst estimates, data compiled by Bloomberg show. A survey by HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics released May 5 indicated that manufacturing contracted for a fourth month in April, adding to concern that China’s economic growth is faltering.
“Chinese hospitals are reluctant to spend and that is weighing on Mindray’s topline results,” John Zecy, an analyst at Morningstar Inc. in Chicago, said by phone. “We’ll definitely see some near-term pressure on the share prices.”
The iShares China Large-Cap ETF, the largest Chinese exchange-traded fund in the U.S., rose 0.2 percent to $34.76. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.9 percent as lower profit from American International Group Inc. dragged down financial stocks and Twitter Inc. slumped.
Mindray Medical declined 6.1 percent to $31.61, the lowest since March 27. The Shenzhen-based company reported quarterly revenue of $264.8 million, compared with an estimate of $292.5 million among analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Earnings of 39 cents a share beat the forecast by 1 cent. The company said Chief Operating Officer Jie Liu has resigned for personal reasons.
YY, which operates a website that offers chatrooms and games, dropped 8.4 percent to $56.78, the lowest since Jan. 2
The Guangzhou-based company said its adjusted earnings declined to 56 cents in the first quarter, compared with 60 cents in the previous three-month period and an average forecast of 49 cents in a Bloomberg survey of five analysts. The company said it will buy back $100 million worth of shares.
Gross margin fell to 52 percent from 54 percent a year earlier as the growth of online music and entertainment boosted content costs, the company said in the statement.
Echo He, an analyst at Maxim Group LLC., maintains her buy rating on YY, saying the company’s growing market position will help improve its pricing power and boost revenue.
“The fundamentals of YY still look attractive,” said He in a phone interview from New York.
Deutsche Bank AG’s analysts said the earnings results were “solid,” keeping their buy rating.
Alibaba, founded by former English teacher Jack Ma, filed for its U.S. IPO after the close of trading in New York. The online marketplace might raise as much as $20 billion, topping a $19.65 billion offering by Visa Inc. in 2008, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Ctrip.com International Ltd., China’s biggest online travel agency, rose 0.2 percent to $48.38.
Seven of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg estimate that the Shanghai-based company today will report revenue growth in the first quarter of more than 30 percent, the upper end of the company’s projected range. Ctrip’s profit will decline to 25 cents a share, from 30 cents a year earlier, according to the data.
Ctrip has been investing in its rivals to avoid price wars and preserve profit margin. It paid more than $200 million last month for a stake in Tongcheng Network Technology Share Ltd., a ticket sales agent.
“The company is investing in its competitors, turning them into allies,” Tian X. Hou, the founder of T.H. Capital LLC, which follows U.S.-listed Chinese companies and recommends buying Ctrip, said by phone from Beijing. “In the future, the margins will improve.”
The Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index was little changed at 2,028.038 yesterday. The Hong Kong markets were closed for a holiday.


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Samsung’s November 2021 security patch has already dozens of phones, from high-end to budget category. Now, the latest security patch is rolling out to the Galaxy A31 and Galaxy A12 users in various regions.
The latest software update for Samsung Galaxy A31 is reportedly rolling out in Caucasus countries, Russia, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan. It is bundled with the firmware version A315FXXS1CUK2 and brings the November 2021 security patch. The update is unlikely to bring major changes like UI changes or new features. However, it might include some general bug fixing and device stability improvements.
Coming to the budget-friendly Galaxy A12, the device is also receiving the November 2021 security patch via the latest OTA update. The update has started rolling out in Russia carrying firmware version A125FXXU1BUK1. The newest security patch includes fixes for dozens of system security and privacy-related vulnerabilities.
Samsung Galaxy A12 or Galaxy A31 users in the specified regions have started receiving the November 2021 security update. It will surely expand to more regions in the coming days. To manually check for the new update, navigate to Settings >> Software updates, and then check for new updates.
Both Galaxy A12 and Galaxy A31 were released last year running Android 10 OS. Thanks to a major upgrade, the devices are currently based on Android 11 OS, and both are eligible for the Android 12 update as well.


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Fashion label Hanifa has put on a virtual fashion show during lockdown using 3D models in a move that has been hailed as “groundbreaking”.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, several upcoming fashion shows have released statements outlining plans for the events to go ahead online, including men’s London Fashion Week in June.
However, before the Covid-19 outbreak became widespread, Congolese fashion designer Anifa Mvuemba had already conceived a way to display her clothes collection in an innovative, digital-forward way – by using 3D models in a virtual show.
The show for her label, Hanifa, took place on Instagram, allowing Instagram users to tune in live as they watched Mvuemba’s garments being displayed in the brand’s Pink Label Congo collection.
The fashion designer’s use of 3D renders in the IGTV video was mesmerising, making it look as though invisible models were showcasing her creations.
Speaking to Teen Vogue, Mvuemba said “designing content using 3D models”, in addition to “an entire collection”, has been “a complete game changer” for her.
“It actually requires an even greater amount of attention-to-detail for the clothes to fit and look just right,” she said.
Mvuemba added that considering the fact that some people may never be able to attend a fashion week event or a Hanifa show, “we wanted to show up for our audience where they show up for us on a daily basis”.
The designer stated that her “biggest challenge is making sure that the beauty we display in real life is well represented on the screen”.
Following Hanifa’s virtual fashion show, videos from the showcase started circulating on social media.
The show has since been praised as “groundbreaking” and for providing an insight into “the future of fashion”.
“Ok Hanifa just had one of the most creative fashion shows of ALL time,” one person stated.
“The Hanifa virtual fashion show was incredible… Definitely groundbreaking!” another said.
In the video for the virtual show, Mvuemba spoke about how the Democratic Republic of Congo provided inspiration for the collection.
The designer mentioned several topics she wishes to raise awareness of, including mining issues in Congo and the families in the country who are affected.
“This is the right time to do a collection inspired by Congo. I’ve heard so many stories about the coltan and the mining issues,” she said.
“I wanted this collection to support the families that were affected and the organisations that are doing the ground work.”


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The owners of Hannoush Jewelers are expanding their presence in Clifton Park, New York with a larger store and commercial real estate development.
A roughly 4,000-square-foot jewelry store will be built at 1750 Route 9, anchoring Hannoush Square, a new shopping plaza.
Brothers David and Albert Hannoush bought the 1.25-acre parcel for $565,000. It is located in front of the Tractor Supply Co. store, which is set back from the road.
The 12,500-square-foot retail plaza will accommodate four other businesses, including two with potential drive-thrus, said David Hannoush.
No tenants have committed to lease the space yet, but that section of town has grown in recent years, with new restaurants, a hotel and other investments.
Construction of the plaza is out to bid with local contractors. The plaza is expected to be finished by the end of this year. The new jewelry store is scheduled to open in spring 2015.
The plaza was designed to ensure that the Tractor Supply Co. store will remain visible to traffic on Route 9.
The new showroom will be more than twice the size of the existing Hannoush Jewelers in Clifton Park, which will close when the new store opens.
Sales at the store this year are up more than 32 percent, Hannoush said. The growth is expected to be even stronger at the new store.
The Hannoush brothers have been repositioning the business -- which was started by their father, Elias, in 1984 -- to take advantage of new opportunities.
They closed their stores in Colonie Center and Crossgates Mall to focus on their new flagship location on Wolf Road, and pursue expansion in southern Saratoga County.
"May was a record month for any store we ever had," Hannoush said of the Wolf Road location. "It was the best month outside of December. With Mother's Day, it's generally big."
They also recently bought a roughly 1-acre parcel on Route 2 in Latham, home to Lennon's Florist before it was damaged by fire and closed. The Hannoushes paid $330,000 for the property, and will develop it into a small, mixed-use development that will not include a jewelry store.
"We're trying to diversify with real estate," Hannoush said. "We've got our eyes on a few things but we're not taking our eyes off the jewelry business."


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Namco Bandai publishing producer Daisuke Uchiyama has said the firm isn't set on using Microsoft's Games for Windows - Live service for the recently announced PC version of Dark Souls.
Following a lengthy fan campaign pleading for a PC version the game, Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition was officially revealed and dated last week. But gratitude quickly turned to discontent when people noticed the GFWL logo on the game's box.
Uchiyama responded to the outcry by explaining to Edge: "[Live] is the established server that we used for the Xbox 360 version - that's the main reason we picked it. But the partnership decision is still ongoing. We might have another announcement soon regarding the platform we'll be using.
"There have been a lot of questions about the digital partner, but we're still in April and the game isn't out until August 24," added Namco's head of marketing, Carlson Choi. "There is still a lot of time for marketing beats. More information will come - maybe at E3."
Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki was also tight-lipped on whether or not the extra chapter being added to the PC version of the game, Artorias Of The Abyss, would be coming to consoles. "It's completely understandable that people who bought the console version have those questions. However, as the director of Dark Souls I cannot answer that right now."
He also ruled out mod support for the PC version, citing the dev team's lack of experience with the PC platform: "Personally, I am interested in the concept of mods. However, due to our lack of experience with the PC we need more time to adapt, so this time we're not doing it."


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Ulta Beauty will open mini-shops within Target stores
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The beauty and cosmetics retail chain Ulta Beauty and Target announced a partnership Tuesday. Ulta Beauty plans to open over 100 dedicated mini-shops inside Target stores.
The move is, in part, a response to changing consumer behavior during the pandemic and is expected to benefit both retailers.
The partnership means Ulta Beauty will be expanding at a time when lots of other retailers are struggling. Neil Saunders, an analyst with GlobalData, said this type of growth is less risky than opening new stores. “Going into a Target is a relatively safe bet, you know. The foot traffic is there,” he said.
Lately, Ulta stores have seen foot traffic drop off. It was hard hit by closures in the spring. Target, on the other hand, has seen growth.
Jennie Vry Liu, executive director at the Yale Center for Customer Insights, said Ulta may get a boost from Target’s infrastructure. People are looking for one-stop shopping or curbside pickup and same-day shipping, she said, “and Ulta can benefit from tapping into those options as consumer behavior has changed due to the pandemic.”
Liu said Target stands to benefit too, by expanding its prestige offerings. “They allow them to bring in brands that Target may not be able to have access to otherwise,” she added.
Some years ago, JCPenney launched a similar deal with Sephora, which became JCPenney’s main beauty vendor.
Lauren Goodsitt, a beauty analyst with research firm Mintel, said the Target collaboration with Ulta will be different “because consumers have already started shopping for their personal care and beauty products at Target.”
The mini-Ulta shops will not offer all the products and services their stand-alone stores do. And even though so many people are staying home or wearing masks when they go out, which has kept some cosmetic sales down, Goodsitt says self-care is still selling.
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With $30 million on the line in the tournament, many players want to be practicing, but can’t. For a tournament like this, playing normal Fortnite games...
Fortnite's v14.20 update has arrived, bringing us a new LTM and new hero in Wolverine
Here's what to expect in the next Fortnite update: v14.20.
All hero abilities are now available in Fortnite Battle Lab.


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Chevy's SEMA truck and SUV fleet includes three Silverados, three Colorados, a Suburban and a Tahoe.
With a name like Carmichael, you'd figure Ricky over here would be into cars. The championship motocross rider is actually more into two-wheeled vehicles than four, but that doesn't mean he can't show some enthusiasm for the automobile. Last year he worked with Chevy on a special Sonic concept for the Noah Joseph
Hype surrounding this year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show next month started months ago, and automakers and aftermarket companies alike have been previewing the vehicles that attendees will be able to see on the show floor. Chevrolet now can officially be added to that list, as it recently announced seven "performance-oriented concepts" it's bringing to the show.


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[UPDATE] Boss Key continues to tease Project Bluestreak today with a new video titled “After The Shattering.” Take a look at the 30-second video below and let us know what you think. More reveals are scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday.
The original story is below.
New details about the next game from creator Cliff Bleszinski are coming soon.
Bleszinski and his company, Boss Key, on Sunday launched a for the free-to-play FPS, . The site is labeled “The Shattering,” but Bleszinski that it may not be the game’s actual name.
Whatever the case, the website teases that more details about the shooter, which will be published by free-to-play giant Nexon America, will be announced at 12 Noon EDT / 9 AM PDT on August 24, 25, and 26.
“Trust me, folks–buckle up,” Bleszinski. “I am so excited right now. 🙂 🙂 :)”
The Shattering website also features an “Alpha Testers” tab, suggesting Boss Key will let people play the game early for the purposes of testing. You can also check out some new art, which features a world city destroyed by…something. Perhaps the mysterious “The Shattering” is to blame.
As previously announced, Project Bluestreak is set in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world. Boss Key , which runs on Unreal Engine 4, during PAX East back in April.
For more on the game, you can and and how his new game won’t be pay-to-win.
No release date for Project Bluestreak has been announced. For more, check out the interview below.
This story originally reported that The Shattering was confirmed as the new name for Project Bluestreak. GameSpot regrets the error.