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Prospects of Japan having a flying car operational in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been given a boost following investment from Toyota.
Toyota has agreed to pump $350,000 into the project which is aiming to bring the world’s smallest flying car to the skies using the latest drone technology.
Captivator, the company behind the scheme, had been using crowd funding to get the project to where it is now, but Toyota’s funding could really help the scheme lift off.
The vehicle, named Skydrive car, has a projected speed of 62 mph and Cartivator say it will travel around 33ft from the ground.
The futuristic car will have three wheels, four sets of propellers, an intuitive operating system and diminutive dimensions of 9.5ft by 4.2ft.
The team at Cartivator is made up of 30 volunteers who have all been hard at work to make the Skydrive car.
They hope to launch a manned protoype by the end of 2018, with the goal of a flying car being used to light the Olympic flame when the Tokyo Games open in 2020.
Image courtesy of Cartivator


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Google decides to shut down Android Things, a version of Android designed OS set for 2022. The OS never really launched, so it’s not a big disadvantage, but it’s another entry in the broad grave of Google’s retirement project. Read the blog to understand this topic in depth.
What is Android Things?
Android Things is meant to power all smart devices and IoT gadgets. Announced in 2016, it can run on products such as smart thermostats, connected speakers, routers, security cameras, and much more. The concept is, with Android Things, it will be simple for companies to begin shipping IoT hardware. It is just because they will use the same Android developer tools they already know.
In short, it’s designed to be a stripped down version of Android, aimed at nearly any type of internet-connected gadget you can imagine. However, the IoT Application Development agency stated, Google announced in 2019, that is, Android Things will exclusively begin to focus on smart speakers and smart screens. That’s much narrower than all IOT ‘Internet of Things’ devices, which Google visualized from the start.
Plus, Google recently started touting Google Assistant over Android Things for smart devices. In January, Google announced Google Assistant Connect, a way to add the Assistant to all kinds of devices, from electronic readers to devices.
What Rumours Said: Google Shutting Down Android Things, its OS Set For 2020
Google launched Android Things in 2016 as a simple OS for use on several smart devices. It never found its way into Google’s hardware products. Also, last year the company announced it was narrowing its focus to displays and smart speakers. Now Android Things OS faces another hurdle on its way out, as non-commercial use begins to discontinue early next year.
From January 5, 2021, the Android Things developer console will no longer accept development of new projects. However, the last of its two developer tools are still in use. Google says that developers with existing projects can continue to use the Android Things Console to create images and deliver OTA updates for a while longer – until January 5, 2022, to be specific.
After that date, the console will close permanently for non-commercial use and all data will be completely deleted from projects forever. Although Android Things is still being used on smart displays and speakers from third-party manufacturers. This is, therefore, another disappointing development in the life cycle of what was once touted as a robust platform that would allow Internet of Things devices to be created and maintained in large numbers.
Also Read: Google’s Project Zero For Sophisticated Windows & Android Hacking Operation
What Else Should You Know?
Don’t think of Android Things as Android or Wear OS, which you see running on your phone or watch. Android Things is an OS that runs in the background but is not visible. As per an Android app development company, it allows smart devices to handle their own tasks rather than letting the server do the processing. Being able to perform more complex tasks, it is ideal for complex smart devices such as printers and keys, rather than basic power outlets.
In addition, Android Things devices will be able to integrate with Android and iOS devices through Weave, a communication system launched by Google with Brillo. The protocol will also allow Android Things devices to have access to the Google Assistant.
Google released its first SDK preview of Android Things in 2016. Then, in May 2018, Google announced that Android Things was reaching the official release of 1.0. Which means we should be getting closer and closer to the available devices with Android Things installed.
Here, our experts at Zazz reveal every aspect of Google deciding to shut down Android Things, an OS that never takes off. We have a dedicated team of researchers, developers and designers who always put their clients first. If you need help and know more about this, please contact us. We want to connect with you.
Google Discontinued Nest Secure From its Project List
Save Battery on Android: Tips and Applications to Forget About the Plug This Holiday
Everything You Need to Know about Securing the Google Places API Key

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What will become of the House-passed bipartisan tax bill? The Senate returns this week, and while the fate of the bill is unclear, business groups have begun a full-court press urging its passage. Some Senate Republicans remain concerned about the bill’s expansion of the Child Tax Credit.
Werfel: Tax evasion by millionaires and billionaires costs more than $150 billion in revenue each year. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told CNBC about its latest efforts to combat tax evasion by wealthy individuals, which he said both adds to deficits and the perception of the tax system as unfair. Earlier in the week, the IRS announced it will audit the use of corporate jets by businesses and high-income individuals. Werfel told reporters that the new audit campaign could generate a “significant amount of revenue.”
FTC: Tax prep firm, by deleting data, directed customers to pricier services. H&R Block markets its tax prep software as free but at times pressures customers into choosing pricier products they don’t need, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleged in an administrative complaint. In particular, customers on the online platform who attempt to downgrade what they purchase can face “an obstacle course of tedious challenges,” the FTC said in a press release. “When consumers choose to downgrade, H&R Block requires consumers to contact its customer support via chat or phone,” the FTC said. “Then, its system deletes all the tax data the consumers have entered, requiring them to start their tax return from scratch, creating a significant disincentive to downgrading. This stands in contrast to the upgrade process, where consumers’ data seamlessly moves to the more expensive product instantly.” According to The Hill, H&R Block Chief Legal Officer Dara Redler in a statement said that the company’s tax prep tools and services provide “a great deal of value, unmatched tax expertise, and fair and transparent pricing,” but did not mention the FTC complaint.
Meanwhile, new polling shows support for the IRS-run tax filing portal. Groundwork Action, an advocacy group promoting the IRS Direct File initiative, shared polling last week finding that 9 in 10 adults in Arizona, Georgia, Florida, New York, and Texas backed the idea of the IRS offering a free tax filing alternative. The prominent Democratic polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner conducted the survey, reports PoliticoPro.
Available now: State Tax and Economic Review, 2023 Quarter 3. In the latest report, TPC’s Lucy Dadayan writes that state revenues remained sluggish in the third quarter of 2023. Total state government tax revenue collections declined 1.2 percent in nominal terms and 4.3 percent in real terms in the third quarter of 2023 relative to a year earlier. State tax revenues increased in 27 states in nominal terms, while 19 states reported year-over-year declines for the fourth quarter of 2023.
For the latest tax news, subscribe to the Tax Policy Center’s Daily Deduction. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox weekdays at 8:00 am (Mondays only when Congress is in recess). We welcome tips on new research or other news. Email Renu Zaretsky at [email protected].
Posts and comments are solely the opinion of the author and not that of the Tax Policy Center, Urban Institute, or Brookings Institution.
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Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics cards are suddenly cheaper, and there's a very good reason why.
As The Block first reported recently, cryptocurrency hackers based in China have been facing crackdowns from the government. While these crackdowns are nothing necessarily new, they are forcing bulk buyers of RTX 3060 graphics cards to resell the stock they've purchased in droves, rendering the graphics cards to be sold for as little as $270 on trading websites.
This hasn't just meant a drop in price and rise in stock for the RTX 3060 graphics cards, however. Cryptocurrency miners, in China and elsewhere, have been purchasing graphics cards of all sorts to recoup their investments, resulting in Nvidia's entire new line of graphics cards being relatively hard to come by, for the past few months in particular.
However, this might not necessarily be the good news you think it is. Although cryptocurrency miners in China are selling off their supply of RTX 3060 and other graphics cards, Toms Guide reports that many of these listings are actually for bulk orders of the graphics cards. Since the cryptocurrency miners themselves are trying to sell off all their stock in one fell swoop, they're resorting to listing their stock in bulk to try and shift it as quickly as possible.
This is unfortunate, but it does potentially mean that there might be a halt in cryptocurrency miners in China and elsewhere gobbling up all the stock of these high-end graphics cards. Here's hoping other governments follow suit in cracking down on cryptocurrency mining.
Of course, anyone who's been trying to snap up one of Nvidia's relatively new graphics cards will be no doubt familiar with this whole ordeal. The combination of a global chip shortage and the rise of cryptocurrency mining has led to a dire shortage of the Nvidia line of graphics cards, the results of which we're likely going to see for at least the rest of the year.
If you're looking to get your hands on one of the elusive graphics cards, in or out of a pre-made machine, head over to our RTX 3060 laptop prices and deals for more.


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Lincoln Property Co. hasn’t wasted any time closing its purchase of Oak Lawn’s landmark Turtle Creek Village complex.
The Dallas-based investor and developer bought the 9-acre office and retail project at Oak Lawn Avenue and Blackburn Street from investor Lone Star Funds.
Lone Star got the project earlier this year when it bought bad debts on the deal.
Lincoln Property is looking at a complete redevelopment of the project, which currently includes two office buildings and three retail strips.
Turtle Creek Village dates back to 1969 and was one of Dallas’ first true mixed-use projects.
Real estate brokers say specialty grocers including Central Market, Whole Foods and Trader Joes are eyeing possible locations at Turtle Creek Village.


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New Course Offers Students Hands-On Food Industry Management Experience
A new course offered through the food science and nutrition department, FDSN 535 Food Operations Performance Management, is offering students the opportunity to gain real-world experience through a partnership with 87P, a company offering local, fresh-to-market food products that is based in Carol Stream, Illinois.
Students in the course visit 87P to conduct research, ultimately working as consultants to help improve line operations issues within the plant.
“As a rapidly expanding company in a competitive new product category, fresh foods to market, it’s always a challenge to balance anticipated sales with the expense of bringing on the needed talent to make it happen profitably,” says Bill Besenhofer, president of 87P. “That’s where I became interested in an opportunity to test the merits of a novel Illinois Institute of Technology graduate student program that brought innovative talent into our plant operations on a project challenge basis.”
The new course is led by led by Will Maurer, industry professor of industrial technology management, and Armand Paradis, adjunct industry professor of food science and nutrition. Students participate in classroom training as well as on-site visits to the plant to observe and collect data during production shifts. They’re also given the opportunity to interview plant management. At the end of the semester, student groups act as consulting teams, presenting their findings and recommendations to senior management as 87P.
“The students are extremely insightful and will identify key steps that can be implemented to make our production line more efficient and profitable,” Besenhofer says.
Some students have also gone on to be hired by 87P following their student work experience with the company.
Maurer and Paradis are now looking to expand the program to additional food companies operating in the Chicago area, and to share this educational opportunity with students majoring in other fields at Illinois Tech.


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Netezza Files to Raise $100 Million in IPO - Framingham, MA
Netezza, a Framingham-based provider of data warehouse appliances, has filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering to raise an estimated $100 million. The company did not disclose yet an expected share price range for the offering. Founded in 2000, Netezza makes data warehouse appliances for "data-intensive" customers. Since it began shipping our products in 2004, Netezza's revenue has grown from $13 million to $30.9 million in fiscal 2005, $45.5 million in fiscal 2006 and $64.6 million in fiscal 2007, with a loss of $7.9 million in the last year.


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New Activision Exec Aims to Fix Publisher’s Bad Reputation
Despite owning some of gaming’s biggest franchises, like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty, Activision has been the target of quite a bit of anger from the gaming community. From a recent trend of milking franchises for all they’re worth to the debacle surrounding Infinity Ward, the largest publisher in the world has developed a bit of an image issue. However, Activsion’s newest CEO of Publishing, Eric Hirshberg, has acknowledged this problem and believes it should be remedied.
“You sort of can’t escape that there’s some perceptual problems and an air of controversy,” Hirshberg said. “A company that has so many of the world’s most beloved games should have the reputational momentum to match.”
At his former job as CEO of ad agency Deutsch L.A., Hirshberg was behind Sony’s extremely successful Kevin Butler ads, so he obviously has some experience with changing public perceptions.
BioWare VP Talks 3DS
Dr. Greg Zeschuk, co-founder of top RPG developer BioWare, joined in on the growing crowd of acclaimed devlopers praising Nintendo’s upcoming 3DS. Zeschuk admitted to being “blown away” by 3DS at E3 and went on to say he believed it’s “going to be enough to reinvigorate the DS market.”
However, when it comes to developing for 3DS, BioWare is still waiting to hear more about Nintendo’s online plans for the system. The folks at BioWare would joke about developing a DS MMO but knew that developing one would be impossible due to the system’s relatively limited online capabilities and inability to support the frequent patches and updates of an MMO. Should Nintendo drastically expand online capabilities, many more options would be open to developers like BioWare.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Japan’s #2 Best Selling Game– Behind Old Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii has been a major success for Nintendo, finishing 2009 as the second-best selling game of the year in North America. So far in 2010, the game has continued to sell well and has even found a place near the top of Japan’s list of best selling console games ever. With 3,893,293 copies sold, New Super Mario Bros. Wii has surpassed other Wii hits like Wii Fit and Wii Sports to be the system’s best selling game and has even outsold every Mario game ever made, except one. The series’ genesis, Super Mario Bros. for NES, remains at the top the list, and with sales exceeding 6.8 million, will likely stay there for a while.


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More shoppers, digital growth give Walmart Q2 boost
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart reported better-than-expected results for its second quarter amid surging online sales and an increase in store traffic.
Walmart's total revenue for the period ended July 31 rose 2.3% to $123.36 billion for the quarter, better than analysts had expected. U.S. store visits increased 1.3% over the year-ago period.
Same-store sales for U.S. stores, excluding fuel, rose 1.7%. It was the discounter's 12th consecutive quarter of comparable sales gains. Sales rose 1.2% at Sam's Club, and 1.8% at Walmart.
Online transactions surged 60%, boosted by new digital initiatives, including the acquisition of e-commerce players like Moosejaw and Modcloth, and an expanded assortment of merchandise.
"Sales growth is coming from across the business – including stores, e-commerce and a combination of both," said CEO Doug McMillon in a statement.
The company reported low single-digit comps increases in its health and wellness segment, noting that customer traffic, branded drug price inflation and script growth drove solid performances in sales of both pharmacy and over-the-counter products. (The company’s Sam's Club division's health and wellness segment saw mid-single-digit comps increases, which it attributed to generic script count momentum and strong performance in nutrition and protein drink sales).
A particularly bright spot for Walmart was food, which had its best same-store sales quarter in five years. The performance bodes well for the chain which is more than holding its own in the midst of brutal competition from the likes of Aldi, newcomer Lidl and Amazon.
Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, said that Walmart's continued investment in everyday low prices is helping to drive its success in grocery.
"As the grocery sector enters one of its toughest phases, we believe that Walmart is well positioned to make further gains," Saunders said. "It is one of the few firms that have the firepower to cope with the push towards compressed prices and margins."
Walmart has been investing heavily in its online operations and in price promotions. Those efforts took a toll on the chain's margins and net income.
"We note the decline in net income, but believe that some short term erosion is necessary as the business invests in its future," Saunders commented. (For more of his commentary, click here.)
Net income fell 23% to $2.9 billion, or 96 per cents per share, from $3.7 billion, or $1.21 per share, in the year-ago period, at least partly due to a loss from repurchasing debt after a bond tender offer.
Excluding special items, the discounter reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.08 a share, topping analysts' estimates of $1.07 per share.
Gross margins were down 11 basis points to 25%, including a five-basis-point decline in the United States. Operating margins fell to 4.9% from 5.1%, and U.S. operating expenses rose 3.9%.
"Strategic price investments in key markets and the growing mix of our e-commerce business reduced the gross margin rate," Walmart CFO Brett Biggs said in a statement.
Walmart raised the low end of its earnings outlook for the full year, now forecasting profit ranging from $4.30 to $4.40 per share, adjusted. Previously, the retailer said it expected to earn $4.20 to $4.40 a share. Analysts were calling for earnings per share of $4.37.
CVS Pharmacy to acquire 20 Fagen Pharmacy locations
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy will be acquiring 20 Fagen Pharmacy locations in northwest Indiana and northeast Illinois, the company announced Wednesday. Eight of the locations will be converted to CVS Pharmacy stores and 12 will be closed, with their files being transferred to nearby CVS Pharmacy locations.
“I’d like to thank all of our patients and employees for their loyalty and dedication over the past 45 years,” Fagen Pharmacy owner Gerald Fagen said. “I’m grateful to have been able to serve the pharmacy needs of our community and I am confident that CVS Pharmacy will provide the same top-notch customer service and pharmacy expertise we have provided at Fagen Pharmacy.”
The two companies said they were working to make the transition as seamless as possible. CVS Pharmacy said that it expects to hire many current Fagen Pharmacy employees currently working at the locations. Indiana stores in Crown Point, Valparaiso, Gary (two stores), East Chicago, Whiting, Michigan City and Griffith will be converted in September. Indiana stores closing include three in DeMotte, two in Valparaiso and one each in Rensselaer, Valparaiso, Portage, Gary and Hobart, as well as Illinois stores in Hobart, Beecher and Hammond.
“CVS Pharmacy looks forward to bringing its innovative pharmacy care programs and services to Fagen Pharmacy patients in Indiana and Illinois,” CVS Pharmacy area VP Everett Moore said. “We will continue to provide excellent care to patients and look forward to introducing our industry-leading offerings at these new locations.”
Per CVS Pharmacy’s 2014 decision not to sell tobacco products, none of the locations being converted will sell tobacco products. They will introduce a range of health, beauty and personal care products, exclusive private-label products and the CVS Pharmacy ExtraCare program, the companies said.
Target bounces back in Q2
MINNEAPOLIS — Target came roaring back in its second quarter from a year-long sales slump amid evidence that its investments in online and store remodels are paying off. The discounter raised its outlook for the year.
Sales rose 1.6% to $16.43 billion in the quarter ended July 29, beating analysts' estimates of $16.30 billion. Same-store sales rose 1.3%, also more than analysts had expected. Comparable digital sales surged 32%.
Net income fell to $672 million, or $1.22 per share, from $680 million, or $1.16 per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding items, Target reported earnings of $1.23 per share, beating the average analyst estimate of $1.19.
On its quarterly call, Target gave an update on its store remodeling and new store plans. The retailer now plans to remodel more than 300 stores in 2018, up from its original 250.
Target also plans to nearly double the number of smaller-format stores it will open this year, with 15 new locations announced for 2018 and "more to come," CNBC reported.
In addition, Target is expanding its private label lines, and will launch two apparel brands, a home goods brand and an athleisure brand this fall. More are in the works.
In a statement, Target chairman and CEO said that the company was particularly pleased that second-quarter traffic increased more than 2%, reflecting growth in both its store and digital channels.
“We continue to focus on our long-term strategy, as we work to transform every part of our business and build an even better Target that will thrive in this new era in retail," Cornell said. "While our recent results are encouraging, we will continue to plan prudently as we invest in building our brands, our digital channel, the value we provide our guests and elevating service levels in our stores.”
For the full year, Target has forecast earning between $4.34 to $4.54 per share. Analysts had called for earnings per share of $4.39 in 2017, falling on the lower end of Target's updated range.


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World’s First 24-Hour Vegan Drive-Thru to Open in London, Ontario
Just last week, we wrote about London, Ontario-based Globally Local’s new menu item, the Maple Crunch. Well, “Canada’s first all-vegan fast food restaurant” has something even more exciting up its sleeve–the launch of the world’s first 24-hour vegan drive-thru!
Set to be unveiled this summer, the drive-thru will be located at the restaurant’s second location (the first being at 252 Dundas Street). On April 22, the announcement was posted on Facebook:
“We are beyond excited to announce the launch of our second fast food restaurant – located at a former Harvey’s on Highbury and Cheapside in London, ON. Our new location features seating for 120 people, lots of free parking, 24/7 high-tech drive thru, huge infrastructure for quick service, easy access to buses and a very short distance from Fanshawe and UWO [University of Western Ontario]. This location will allow us to develop a model that we plan to take global and change the fast food industry forever. The revolution starts June 2017!”
As One Green Planet notes, many people would be more than happy to “venture out at 2 A.M. just for the authentic experience of eating a vegan Big Mac in a car.” Check out Globally Local’s incredible menu options here and make sure to plan a visit to London!
Photo Credit: Globally Local


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Survey Says: Brand awareness key to social strategy
The social space still has its growing pains, but savvy marketers are using strategy to get around those painful areas. That according to new data out from a Social Media Marketing University survey which indicates that, because campaign ROI is so hard to measure via social channels, brands have switched strategy to track awareness rather than revenue.
According to a new Social Media Marketing University report most social brands believe Twitter is an effective marketing tool; the problem comes with how brands can tally customer engagement. And, from engagement, how they leap from awareness to sales conversion. Which is why, according to the survey, many aren't looking to Twitter to increase direct sales and instead rely on the social network to increase brands awareness. More than 40% of respondents said the biggest challenges to using Twitter were measuring campaign ROI/results and building an audience.
Other than increasing brand awareness (79%), marketers surveyed said they use Twitter to push website traffic (58%) or to engage existing customers (55%) or to find new customers (51%). About one-third are using Twitter to build loyalty.
Other interesting findings include:
• 8% have used Twitter's paid services, 16% didn't know Twitter offered paid services, 43% said they know but haven't yet used paid services
• Only 2% have used VINE services, 88% are using hashtags and 64% are using images/photos
• Most (87%) tweet 1 to 5 times each day
Image via Shutterstock
- Ad Roundup: Email and experience tools
- RichRelevance: Site Search key for shoppers
- How loyalty data can improve the shopper experience
- UK consumers will have 12 billion click-to-call conversations this year
- Consumers to brands: Don't call me maybe
- Brands risk reputation when delivery speeds do not match purchaser expectations
- Ad experience improves but ad blocking still rising
- Research reveals power of user-generated images in reviews
Featured White Papers
- The Keys to a 'Stop 'em & Grab 'em' Landing Page
Follow these keys when developing your landing page, and in no time you will have all of the traffic and...


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KitKat fans are always on the lookout for new flavors…and get this – there aren’t just new flavors, but styles to consider… KitKat Duos and Kit Kat Thins.
- While there have been Kit Kat Duos flavors in the past, they’ve used chocolate with another flavor. This new version is KitKat Duos Dark Chocolate and Strawberry. Look for it to be released just in time for Valentine’s Day.
- The new KitKat Thins flavor? It’s chocolate and Hazelnut. And yes, KitKat Thins are just what they sound like – a thinner version of regular KitKats. And in case you’ve missed them, the Thins were actually introduced last year.
The KitKat Duos will be available in regular-sized and king-sized candy bars and the Kit Kat Thins will only be sold as individually-wrapped minis in 3.1-ounce and 7.37-ounce bags.


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Domestic handset maker Intex Technologies has expanded its Aqua Power series with launch of Aqua Power II smart phone. The smart phone will come with a price tag of RS 6,490. The main attraction of this budget smart phone is its huge Li-polymer 4,000mAh battery, which delivers up to 15 hours of talk-time and 500 hours of stand-by time, according to the company.
The device features a 5-inch HD IPS display and loaded with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 8GB that can be further expanded up to 32GB with the help of a microSD. The dual-SIM Aqua Power II runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop OS and preloaded with these apps- Myntra, Intex Play, Intex Service, I Store, Chaatz, Skype, Quikr, CleanMater, and NewsHunt.
On the camera front, the device sports a 5-MP rear camera with LED Flash and a 2-MP front camera. On the plus side, the smart phone comes with the Cast Screen feature that can mirror everything on to a bigger screen. Its connectivity options include 3G, FM Radio, GPRS/EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB and GPS. The device will be available in White, Black and champagne colours.
Main Features of Intex Aqua Power II
- Li-polymer 4,000mAh battery
- 5-inch HD IPS display
- 5-MP rear camera with LED Flash and 2-MP front camera
- White, Black and champagne colours


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Sony made some major announcements towards the end of their presentation that will likely have Xbox fans think twice about purchasing an Xbox One. They said the PlayStation 4 won’t impose any new restrictions on used PS4 games. Also, if you enjoy single-player games offline, the PS4 won’t require you to “check in” online periodically. PS4 games won’t stop working if you have authenticated in 24 hours.
They said that your PlayStation Plus membership will carry over to the PS4 as well. The PS Plus Instant Game Collection was confirmed for the PS4 and the first game will be Drive Club, which will be available at launch.
But they saved the biggest announcement for less. The PlayStation 4 will be just $399, 399 or £349. Earlier in the day, Microsoft announced that the Xbox One would be $499.
You can pre-order the PlayStation 4 at Amazon.com.
Here are the videos that PlayStation debuted tonight:


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After a software update, the Tesla cars will no longer be able to play video games while they are moving. The touch screen in the Tesla vehicles was intended to allow passengers the opportunity to play games like cup head, The Witcher 3: wild hunting, and cyberpunk 2077. However, the National Traffic Safety Administration on the roads opened an investigation into whether drivers were those who really played these games. Previously, the games were only accessible while the vehicle was parked, but that changed with an update a year ago. In a statement, the NHTSA addressed the reversal of Tesla.
After the opening of a preliminary assessment of ‘Passenger Play’ of Tesla, Tesla informed the agency that is changing the functionality of this function, said a spokesman for the NHTSA in a statement. Provided CNN. «In a new software update, ‘Passenger Play’ will now be blocked and unusable when the vehicle is moving».
Even if passengers are the ones who play on the automotive touch screen, the NHTSA expressed concern that could distract the driver and increase the risk of a shock. Given the animated that some players can be when they play, it’s not hard to imagine the distraction that could be! Passengers can always choose to use portable game devices, and systems screens such as Nintendo Switch or Pocket Analogue would be much less visible to drivers. The research of the NHTSA about Passenger Play was driven by a complaint of an anonymous owner of Tesla. The complaint referred to both the accessibility of video games and web browsing.
Video games are supposedly restricted only to passengers. Web browsing is available for anyone at any time, is read in the complaint. «Why can a manufacturer create a live video intrinsically distractor that occupies 2/3 on the screen in which the driver trusts for all the information of the vehicle? The NHTSA should prohibit all live videos in the front seat and all live interactive web browsing while the car is moving. Create a dangerous distraction for the driver is reckless and negligent.
CNN notes that the NHTSA is also investigating the TESLA vehicles by accidents that involve automatic pilot options, insinuating that drivers distracted by video games could rely too much on those options, which are supposed to be used only when the driver remains conscious and maintains Both hands on the steering wheel.. It is not clear if there is any connection, but the Tesla decision to limit the function of the video game could make a difference!
Are you the owner of a Tesla? What do you think of this change? Let us know in the comments or share your thoughts directly on Twitter in @marcdachamp to talk about everything related to games.


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For two weeks, the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) has accelerated the accounting and bill payment procedures to shorten the period of payment to suppliers, thus helping to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic caused by COVID-19.
Valencia, April the 9th, 2020.– The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) has paid in the last 2 weeks 3.6 million euros to a total of 250 supplier companies, in order to facilitate liquidity among the companies that carry out work for the ports of Gandia, Sagunto and Valencia, and thus contribute to mitigate as far as possible to decrease the economic effects that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing.
On March 19, the PAV announced that due to the current circumstances in relation to the pandemic caused by the COVID-19, and following the contagion prevention measures recommended by the Health Authorities, the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) had established the internal mechanisms necessary to process invoices as quickly as possible.
The objective is to make weekly payments until the state of alarm ends in order to minimize the treasury difficulties that may be experienced by providers or service providers of the Port Authority.9
This measure was effective two weeks ago and to date payments of € 3.6 million have already been made.


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The toiletry specialist adds Crayola, Batman, Super Mario and Animal Crossing to its roster.
Children’s health and beauty licensee, H&A has further expanded its brand portfolio.
The company has confirmed new partnerships for the Crayola, Batman, Animal Crossing and Super Mario brands.
The brands further strengthen H&A’s existing kids’ portfolio which includes the likes of Disney, Marvel and L.O.L. Surprise.
“We are delighted to be working with such iconic brands in a time where consumers are relying on their favourite brands more than ever before,” commented Livy Coare, licensing and marketing manager at H&A. “H&A’s expertise in the category has enabled us to develop innovative products that we can’t wait for consumers to see.”
H&A is also continuing with its commitment to sustainability, meaning that its packaging is 100% recyclable, while also eradicating the use of PVC materials and successfully removing all plastic tags.


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Orange Envisions Solar Concept Tent
Orange, a UK-based company known for introducing prototypes of new eco-friendly devices every year during the Glastonbury Festival, announced a concept that could rock Glastonbury many years from now.
Orange, a UK-based company known for introducing prototypes of new eco-friendly devices every year during the Glastonbury Festival, announced a concept that could rock Glastonbury many years from now. The company pitches the Chill 'n' Charge tent every year where people can charge their phones and use free internet. Working on this idea, Orange envisioned a futuristic offering called the Solar Concept Tent that's simply an amalgamation of technologies currently being refined for commercial use in the coming years.
The fabric for the tent is weaved with solar threads to form photovoltaic fabric that can harness the sun on its own without the use of solar panels. This fabric will be used on three directional glides that form the tent's outer shell-like structure to better capture the sun's energy. In the center will be a wireless control hub where energy generated and consumed by the tent is displayed and where the internet connection will be placed. A wireless charging port will be integrated with magnetic induction technology that will have electric current pass through a coil hidden inside the device to charge gadgets such as cell phones. The heating system that can also be controlled through the central hub exists as an internal element embedded within the groundsheet. Finally, the tent will have what Orange calls "glo-cation" technology that lets people find their tents through text message of via RFID technology. The ultramodern tent was conceptualized in celebration of Orange's 11th year in the Glastonbury Festival.


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Engel is starting the five trade fair days at the Fakuma show 2021 in the best of moods. "We are looking forward to exchanging ideas with our customers and partners in person again.
In percentage terms, the supply of materials from the leading Russian compounder increased by 58% compared to the same period in 2020. Shipments to Latvia and Romania showed the best positive dynamics – following the results of three quarters, they increased by 2.6 and 2.4 times, respectively.
Kraiburg TPE, the global competence thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) manufacturer has announced the launch of its new Thermolast H product line and the line’s first HC/AP series.
“Those who weren’t able to attend definitely missed out.” That was the unanimous view of the exhibitors as Fachpack drew to a close on 30 September 2021
In just a few weeks the first major, international on-site event will be held for the entire plastics industry in Germany: The 27th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing will open its doors in Friedrichshafen from the 12th through the 16th of October, 2021.
Waste management is currently one of the main challenges faced by the African recycled polymer supply chain. Plastic packaging are the largest fraction of waste after organic.
At Fakuma 2021, Oerlikon HRSflow will be presenting the new, particularly small hot runner systems of the S series with their low space requirement in the mould.
SAX Polymers Industrie GmbH is currently building a new production hall with an area of 1,800 m² within the Plastoplan facilities in Vienna.
The transition in the automotive industry towards electric vehicles is heralding a change in the design language, just like LEDs did for luminaires.
PlastEurasia Istanbul will open its doors between December 1-4, 2021. It is expected that more than 1.000 companies from more than 50 countries will participate in the Fair, which will take place at the TÜYAP Fair and Convention Centre.
XIII International Symposium “Polymer Industry: Innovations. Efficiency. Resource Saving” was held in Yaroslavl from 28 to 30 July. Plastics industry players came here from all over Russia.
Interplas, the UK's leading plastics industry event that showcases manufacturing processes, technologies and services essential to the plastics sector returns to the NEC, Birmingham 28-30 September 2021 after a COVID-19 postponement for 2020.


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Snap the pallet: Attention EPAL pallet photo takers, please capture the moment!
“Snap the pallet” is back. After the great success in 2021/22, the second edition of the major EPAL photo contest “Snap the pallet” started on 1 April 2024. From now on and for 12 weeks, anyone can upload photos with EPAL pallets on the photo contest website and win one of the 39 cash prizes with a bit of luck. Prizes are awarded weekly.
Düsseldorf, 02 April 2024 – The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) launched the second edition of its international photo contest, “Snap the pallet,” on 1 April 2024. For 12 weeks, from 01.04.2024 to 20.06.2024, photos showing EPAL pallets in everyday or special situations can be sent in again.
Entering the contest is simple: take photos of EPAL pallets, upload them to the photo contest website (https://snapthepallet.epal-pallets.org/) and, with a bit of luck, win one of the weekly cash prizes of 150.00 EUR or 50.00 EUR, or one of the main prizes of 1,500.00 EUR or 500.00 EUR in June 2024.
EPAL is looking for photos that show the diverse use or the special beauty of EPAL pallets, photos from logistics as well as photos from private everyday life.
“All of us are familiar with EPAL Euro pallets, which are used as decoration or furniture,” said Claudia Töller, General Manager of EPAL. “Sometimes for many years, sometimes only for a summer, before the pallets are then used again in logistics. We invite everyone to send us their most creative and original photos with EPAL pallets, as we would like to show the creative applications of EPAL pallets outside of logistics.”
EPAL invites not only the more than 1,600 licensees of EPAL and their employees to participate in the competition but also all people in all countries where EPAL pallets are used.
“In the first photo contest in 2021/22, we received photos from more than 30 countries,” stated Diana Nebel, Managing Director of EPAL Italia. “Few photo contests are so international and create such a sense of community across national borders and continents. In logistics, it is normal that EPAL pallets are used as an important part of international supply chains in numerous countries, but to see this in our photo contest is a very special experience.”
The international nature of the competition will be underlined by the selection of the main winners at EPAL’s General Assembly on 28 June 2024 in Rome, with representatives from more than 20 countries.
“The members of the EPAL Board and the representatives of all EPAL national member associations are already looking forward to seeing the wide range of photos submitted,” added Tatyana Sargsyan, Vice President of EPAL. “Anyone who has ever tried to photograph every EPAL Euro pallet that you see over the course of a week knows how diverse the life situations are in which you encounter EPAL pallets.”
EPAL will inform the weekly prize winners and show the winning photos. All submitted photos will be published on the photo contest website (https://snapthepallet.epal-pallets.org/). Many photos from the first photo contest can also be seen.
The European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL) is an international non-profit organization organizing the open EPAL Euro pallet pool. More than 675 million EPAL Euro pallets and around 20 million EPAL box pallets are currently in circulation, making the EPAL Euro pallet pool the world’s largest open pallet exchange pool. EPAL Euro pallets are the backbone of the European industry, trade, and logistics supply chains.
EPAL’s open Euro pallet pool, with its principles of reusing, exchanging, repairing and recycling pallets, has been a prime example of a sustainable circular economy for more than six decades. EPAL Euro pallets made of wood make a significant contribution to climate protection. They store CO2, avoid waste, reduce the need for wood and thus improve the CO2 footprint of users in industry, trade and logistics.
EPAL is currently present in more than 35 countries. Approximately 1,600 EPAL licensees produce and repair EPAL Euro pallets and other EPAL load carriers. In 2021 and 2022, more than 100 million new EPAL Euro pallets were produced yearly. Since 2000, more than 1.75 billion EPAL Euro pallets have been produced.
The strict standardization and high quality of EPAL pallets are the basis for the success and functioning circular economy of the open EPAL Euro pallet pool. EPAL states that its brand stands for quality, safety, and sustainability in logistics.


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Target shares slid 2 percent to hit a 52-week low on Tuesday, after news of a downgrade and significantly lowered price target from Cowen.
Analyst Faye Landes lowered her price target for the retailer to $47 from $66, saying she expects the company to indefinitely suspend its buyback, which she called a "key support for the stock."
(Read more: 2 accused of using stolen Target account information)
Target shares are currently trading around $59. (Click here to get the latest quote.)
Landes' downgrade does not yet incorporate the numerous costs the retailer will incur in the wake of the massive data breach that ensnared as many as 110 million shoppers, including the potential need to upgrade some 50,000 point-of-sale systems, replace 40 million cards and ongoing legal fees.
(Read more: Breaches an 'Air Force One emergency': Saks exec)
"We don't know how much money we're talking about, but it's a lot," Landes wrote.
The retailer's shares are down 6.6 percent year-to-date.
(Read more: 2 accused of using stolen Target account info)
Target earlier this month revised its fourth-quarter earnings forecast, saying it expects earnings per share of $1.20 to $1.30, compared with prior guidance of $1.50 to $1.60. This factors in a comparable-store sales decline of about 2.5 percent, down from its prior forecast of flat same-store sales.
According to Thomson Reuters estimates, fourth-quarter earnings estimates have changed to $0.81 from $1.25 on the day the breach was initially reported.
—By CNBC's Krystina Gustafson. Follow her on Twitter @KrystinaGustafs.


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Jon Pardi has released the track listing for his holiday album, Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi. The record includes classics like "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," "Please Come Home for Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland." The album will be released on Friday, October 27th.
Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi Track Listing:
Beer for Santa
400 Horsepower Sleigh
All I Want for Christmas Is You
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
Merry Christmas From the Keys
Please Come Home for Christmas
Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy
I’ve Been Bad, Santa (And Pillbox Patti)
Swing On Down to Texas
A Long December
Jon Pardi announced on his Instagream that he'll release his first ever Christmas album, Merry Christmas from Jon Pardi, on October 27th. Not only that, but there will be a one-night-only holiday show that will take place on December 16th at The Beacon Theater in New York.
Click here to sign up for presale details for both the album, Merry Christmas from Jon Pardi and the holiday show!


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The Money Movement is a live broadcast internet TV show running every Thursday from 1pm–1:40pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Episodes will be available live and on-demand on The Money Movement YouTube channel, or right here on circle.com. The Money Movement will also be available through all major podcast channels.
About the Show
The global economy is experiencing unprecedented challenges and change. Business leaders everywhere are grappling with how to transform their companies to become more digital, resilient and efficient. As we face this change, a new global movement is building around the promise of digital currencies and blockchains — forming a new architecture for the global economy and creating new opportunities for companies everywhere. The Money Movement explores and chronicles the issues and ideas driving this brave new world of digital money.
Episode 1: The Global Macro View, Blockchain 101 and the Stablecoin Thesis
This week, Jeremy Allaire hosts a trio of guests to set the stage and context for The Money Movement.
Legendary Wall Street veteran, digital currency bull and Galaxy Digital CEO Michael Novogratz kicks off the show to talk Global Macro — what does the global economic crisis mean, how should business leaders understand what's happening in global markets and the economy and why is this the catalyst for mainstream adoption of digital currency?
Next up, Professor Kevin Werbach of the Wharton School of Business, author of The Blockchain and the New Architecture of Trust, renowned internet industry analyst and tech policy advisor for the Obama Administration as well as a key player in the early commercialization of the internet while working at the FCC. Kevin and Jeremy will talk Blockchain 101 — why is this such a revolutionary technology, and why now more than ever is a "new architecture of trust" needed for business.
Finally, crypto fund guru Kyle Samani of Multicoin Capital will join the show to discuss The Stablecoin Thesis — why are stablecoins surging now, what's the big deal, and what might happen with stablecoins such as USDC and Libra in the coming months and years.
Join us live for first ever episode of The Money Movement with Jeremy Allaire, Thursday May 7th at 1PM EDT on YouTube.
The Money Movement is brought to you by Circle. Our mission is to raise global economic prosperity through programmable internet commerce. Learn more about Circle Business Accounts and Platform APIs at circle.com.


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By Zvikomborero Parafini
Eleven Chicken Slice employees were, last weekend, brought to court answering to theft charges involving over $11 000.
Paidamoyo Bopoto and ten others were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare Magistrate Barbra Mateko.
Allegations are that from January to July this year, at Chicken Slice Bank Street, seven of them were employed as till operators while four others were chefs.
It is alleged that the till operators would receive orders from customers and after the money would have been paid, the two operators would then send the orders to the chefs to prepare meals.
Whilst the customer would be waiting for the meal, the till operator would cancel the transaction using the supervisor’s password and despite the transaction sailing through, the chefs would continue processing the order.
This would net effect Chicken Slice as the entity would be giving the food away for free and the till operator would then collect the money of the earlier-on bought and processed order from the customer.
The matter came to light when Christopher Muchemwa the security officer was viewing the Closed Circuit TV and noticed that the till operators were recording some suspicious transactions separately which was outside their duties.
This resulted in him asking to view the sales sheet and it was discovered that more transactions were recorded as void whereas at the time of the voiding, there was no supervisor and for the void to be valid, the duty supervisor had to cancel it with her password.
An internal audit was conducted and it was discovered that the employees prejudiced Chicken Slice of $11 097 and USD$126, 75. H-Metro


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By Business Daily
Chicken, pizza and burger dominate delicacies that are ordered online amid health concerns about fast foods, which have been associated with lifestyle diseases.
A report of food analysis released by Jumia Food Kenya Tuesday indicates that fried chicken has been leading in the last three years.
These foods have been associated with health complications such as obesity.
The report attributes a high demand for chicken on affordability, pointing out that most restaurants have lowered the cost to attract a high number of buyers.
“For the last three years, chicken has been the most popular with pizza ranks consistently second in terms of popularity,” said Shreenal Ruparelia, managing director Jumia East Africa.


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Barclaycard is claiming a mobile first as the first major advertiser to launch a new TV ad to mobile pre-rolls before its terrestrial TV launch. The campaign breaks today and targets O2 customers, who for the first time, will be selected dependent on the handset model they use. The move to target dependent on handset will enable Barclaycard to focus the campaign on a technology-savvy audience.
The new campaign is being used to promote six months free gadget insurance from Barclaycard for new customers.
Later this evening, the ad gets its first showing on TV screens during the first ad break of the first Big Brother 9.
The new creative sees the fifth and final ad in the Barclaycard series featuring Stephen Mangan and Julian Rhind-Tutt in their road-trip across America. In the ad, Mangan ends up handcuffed to his motel bed and robbed by the woman he met in a bar the night before, highlighting the benefits of gadget insurance.
Weve evolved our media channel planning to reflect the new ways in which our target audience are consuming media, and this medium is perfectly matched to the gadget insurance offer being promoted in this activity, says Gary Twelvetree, Director of Brand and Advertising at Barclaycard.
The campaign will also run on an electronic outdoor screen in Manchester, while a bespoke version of the TV execution has been shot exclusively for online and will be used across portals, newspaper and high impact sites, including an MSN homepage takeover.
Walker Media (including Walker-i) planned and bought the campaign on behalf of Barclaycard, while BBH developed TV creative and Dare developed the online digital creative.


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Marvel VS. DC – Who Will Come Out on Top?March 30, 2018
With their huge previous successes, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and most recently, Black Panther – which has just crossed over the $1-billion mark – there’s little doubt that DC is quaking in its boots. When you consider the numbers that DC took in with its ‘big’ collective superhero movie, Justice League, which featured some of the biggest names in the comic and film communities; Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and Aquaman. The film was expected to take in a huge amount of money but has only managed $657 million (approx), which may sound a lot but when compared to the big hits created by Marvel, they seem extremely average.
So, what is DC going to do about it? Well, they are toying with some pretty big hitters for the next few years, mainly celebrating the success of individual characters from Justice League. The Flash and Cyborg may get features of their own – although the disappointment of the Justice League film may ruin their chances. The only few
films that are confirmed are Aquaman, which has already been shot, and Wonder Woman 2, directed by the incredible Patty Jenkins. These films are predicted to do pretty well; and going off the success Wonder Woman, the sequel to the female-led action-fest is getting good buzz around it. Although, the lesser-known Aquaman may not be as likely to draw a huge audience since he isn’t yet a cult favourite with the fans and no one knows quite what to expect, despite speculation.
However, it seems Marvel will remain on top with the release of Infinity War later this year. Storming in with its biggest heroes, the film is a box office guarantee and will rake even more money for the studio. It will also probably inspire a line of merchandise that every superhero-loving man and woman will be desperate to get their hands on, including games, which have become a huge business for movie companies. Whether its board games, PC games, video games or even websites offering various Marvel themed online slots to choose from, people essentially want to live inside their favourite action movies. And luckily, all is not lost for DC as it dominates the gaming industry far more than Marvel does with its more popular titles including Injustice, The Wolf Among Us, and the Lego Batman series.
DC also has the monopoly when it comes to television shows. Although Marvel pulls in the big bucks when it comes to blockbusters, there is a constant and stable following for TV shows created under DC branding. There are large fan-bases, and therefore a large source of income, for shows such as Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl.
At the end of the day, both companies are highly successful and continue to produce great content for their fans, and despite the numbers, which one you think is superior tends to be a personal choice, and no one will ever be able to decide which is, although we doubt we will ever stop debating it.


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U Mobile has introduced U Home 5G, an unlimited home broadband plan for RM78 a month.
The company in a statement today (June 23) said the plan is a contract-free SIM-only plan, promising uncapped speed.
“Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) guarantees a minimum download speed of 100Mbps across Malaysia’s 5G network. This means that you should be able to achieve at least 100Mbps download speeds within 5G coverage areas,” the company said in its FAQ.
However, the company said it will restrict users’ speed if it detects abuse or unusually high usage above 1,000GB.
Users with a current wireless broadband plan under U Mobile such as WB48 can convert their plan to the new U Home 5G.
U Mobile is currently offering the new U Home 5G at a promotional price of RM68 a month.
“Customers who register for U Home 5G during the promo period will receive RM10 rebate off from the normal charges of RM78 per month. This rebate will be prorated according to your first bill and will automatically be reflected on your subsequent monthly bills,” the company said in the FAQ.
The company said the rebate applies for life as long as customers don't terminate or downgrade the plan after the promo period ends. It added that the promo is available until further notice.
The company also recommends that the plan be utilised with a 5G-compatible modem or router. A list of recommended devices is available on the U Mobile website. Users can also check on the website to see if they are within an area with 5G coverage.
Communications and Digital minister Fahmi Fadzil in a recent report said Malaysia has reached 62.1% 5G coverage in populated areas.


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The Huon Valley Mid-Winter Fest Is Coming Back For 2020... Kind Of
Firing up from home
We were all disappointed at the announcement that the Mid-Winter Fest would be cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, the iconic pagan apple picking festival has just announced they'll be putting on a virtual show instead!
The festival will be live streamed via Facebook, with participants encouraged to dress up, light a bon fire, and "get ready to make a racket".
Festival Director and Willie Smith’s Cider Makers Co-Founder, Sam Reid, said:
“We couldn’t let winter pass without our traditional wassail to the apple trees to bless the coming harvest – and of course, all the festivities surrounding it! We’re stoked to be bringing Mid-Winter into the homes of festivalgoers around the county – bringing our community together once more.”
All the much-loved traditions will be back over a packed 2 hours of streaming, including the wassail, Tassie folk-funk acts, storytelling, and the burning of the effigy ‘Big Willie’.
And don't forget to dress up in your pagan finery, and upload a picture to social media with #midwintercostumecomp to enter go the costume competition.
Jimmy & Nath were joined by Sam Reid to find out more about the virtual return of the festival...


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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — February 9 is National Pizza Day, which means pizza parlors will be running specials for their trademark dish.
Here’s where to get your pizza fix in the area.
The pizza chain will be offering any large specialty pizza for $12. The offer has already gone live and continues past Feb. 9.
Every pizza purchased in stores will result in $1 donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and a coupon for a FREE original cheese or pepperoni personal size pizza for dine-in.
The offer will be valid on their next visit through February.
Other advertisements for the brand include a $7 off coupon for any extra large pizza. That offer is valid through Sunday with online code "1134A72".
The pizza chain is celebrating National Pizza Day all weekend, according a company spokesperson. They’ll have a contest where participants can win free pizza for a year, awarded via five $100 gift cards.
The sweepstakes starts Feb. 8 and all it takes to participate is a Twitter account. Their Instagram will also be holding a one-day sweepstakes on Feb. 9. Participants must be 13 years or older to enter.
Fifty-percent off any large or extra large pizzas.
The deal is only available online and is valid from Feb. 8 to Feb. 9. with the offer code "50OFFPIZZA". The coupon code should be entered at checkout in the Coupon Code box.
$3 off any large or extra large combo pizza.
To get the deal use the code “PIZZADAY". The offer expires Feb. 10.
Awesome Surprise! Chris Pratt shared part of this interview on Instagram where his mom called in during an interview for 'The Lego Movie 2.' With the help of Mark S. Allen, Kathy weighs in on her two sons, Chris and Cully. Elizabeth Banks also says hi, and Chris talks about Rex Dangervest, his new character.


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MACAO, May 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — TechNode Global is excited to announce the ORIGIN Conference, a Southeast Asia-focused content track at BEYOND Expo 2023, which will provide unique insights into the rapidly evolving Southeast Asia region. As part of BEYOND Expo Week activity from May 10 to 12, 2023, ORIGIN Conference will feature expert speakers and panel discussions covering in-depth topics, aiming to connect businesses across Southeast Asia and China, unlocking new growth opportunities in the region.
ORIGIN Conference kicks off with an opening keynote by Dr. Gang Lu, Founder and CEO of TechNode Group and Co-Founder of BEYOND, who will provide an overview of the Southeast Asian market and discuss why now is the right time for businesses to invest and expand in the region.
The conference will continue with a series of engaging panel discussions, including:
- “Why is Southeast Asia Prime for the Next Decade?” featuring speakers from Gobi Partners, IDN Media, and CrossFund, moderated by Yimie Yong of TechNode Global.
- “Next Generation: Different Breeds of Unicorns” with panelists from Aerodyne Group, Techsauce, and ESCO Lifesciences Group, moderated by James Kwan of Jumpstart Media.
- “How is AI shaping Southeast Asia’s Next Gen?” featuring speakers from iFLYTEK, ViSenze, and Pantheon Lab, moderated by Tiago Ramalho of Recursive.
- “Capturing Southeast Asia’s Emerging Generation” with panelists from Mercular, Gtriip, and Hoow Foods, moderated by AJ Lee of PNTR Group.
- “Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Investment and M&A in Southeast Asia“ featuring speakers from Openspace Ventures, Malaysia Venture Capital Management (MAVCAP), and DS/X Ventures, moderated by Eudora Wang of DealStreetAsia.
- “Advanced & Affordable Healthcare thru Technology” with panelists from National Health Innovation Centre (NHIC) Singapore, ORA, and Enlitho, moderated by Hao Tran of Vietcetera Media.
- “Southeast Asia: A Race to Go Sustainable” featuring speakers from TRIVE Ventures, Avant Meats, and SWAP Energi, moderated by James Jung of beSUCCESS Media Group.
- “Planning for Southeast Asia Expansion: Markets and Opportunities” with panelists from Wellous Group Limited and FastCo, moderated by Yu Jiao of ChinaEU.
By focusing on business opportunities in Southeast Asia, the ORIGIN Conference at BEYOND Expo 2023 aims to inspire businesses to explore market expansion and partnerships between China and Southeast Asia. This event is an unparalleled opportunity to connect with industry experts, discover new trends, and gain valuable insights into the region’s growing market.
With up to 800 exhibitors and 55,000 attendees from around the world, BEYOND Expo provides an exceptional platform for businesses to connect with global tech innovation enthusiasts, industry leaders, and potential partners. The event offers more than 100 networking sessions, fostering collaboration and idea exchange across various fields, including enterprise, product, capital, and industries.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be at the forefront of technological innovation and join one of Asia’s largest and most influential technology expositions. Attending ORIGIN Conference at BEYOND Expo 2023 is a critical step for businesses seeking to expand their horizons, gain valuable industry insights, and forge meaningful connections in the global tech scene.
About ORIGIN Conference
ORIGIN Conference is TechNode Global’s premier international content track about the latest developments in the Asia tech and startup scene where international industry leaders and technology innovators from across the region gather to share trends, experiences, and leadership lessons.
Emerging from a global pandemic in the backdrop of an exciting era for technology and innovation, ORIGIN Conference will be held in Macao this year in May, as part of the BEYOND Expo Week activity. This year’s theme is ‘Southeast Asia in Spotlight’.
Agenda and list of speakers at the official website: https://technode.global/origin
Since 2020, BEYOND Expo has held two successful events, growing to be one of the largest and most influential technology expositions in Asia, attracting 800+ exhibitors and 55,000+ attendees worldwide. Running more than 150 industry forums with 500+ business leaders as speakers, BEYOND Expo provides a global platform for insightful technology exchange.
Focusing on three key industries including ConsumerTech, Healthcare, and Sustainability, BEYOND Expo looks forward to connecting with global tech innovation enthusiasts and facilitating in-depth interaction across all fields, including enterprise, product, capital, and industries, to promote the global tech scene in the Asia-Pacific region and across the world.
Official website: https://beyondexpo.com
For inquiries, please contact:
Contact Person: Stanley Chong
Phone Number: +65 9690 1079
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/origin-conference-explore-business-opportunities-across-southeast-asia-and-china-at-beyond-week-2023-301818052.html
SOURCE TechNode Global


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Tanuvi Ethunandan, CEO of Data Duopoly, which emerged from Falmouth University's Launchpad programme, picking up Pitch to the Primes competition at the UK Space Conference in 2019 from British astronaut Tim Peake (Image: Data Duopoly)
A space data tech start-up from Falmouth is on a mission to revolutionise the visitor experience at attractions around the world.
Data Duopoly, which was born out of the Falmouth University’s Launchpad programme, has already been recognised for their innovation in the use of space data – winning the Pitch to the Primes competition at the UK Space Conference in 2019, awarded by British astronaut Tim Peake.
Now they want to change the visitor experience for venues and attractions worldwide using downstream satellite data.
Thanks to funding from AeroSpace Cornwall, who is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Cornwall Council, they have accelerated the development of their product in light of the pandemic; adding extra functionality to benefit both businesses and visitors alike.
Tanuvi Ethunandan, CEO of Data Duopoly, said: “We’re thrilled that we have been able to progress our technology at such a crucial time. Our aim has always been to enhance visitor experience through the use of satellite data and now we are able to keep visitors and staff safe whilst doing so.
“As more venues and tourist attractions begin to reopen in 2021, we are excited to be able to offer this solution to businesses at a time when it is truly needed.”
Data Duopoly’s key focus is the enhancement of visitor experience. Their Xplor-IT app manages visitor distribution, to maintain social distancing and maximise on-site spending, and boosts visitor engagement before, during and after their visit, using customisable gamification.
As visitor attractions and venues begin to reopen post Covid-19, Data Duopoly have prioritised customer and staff safety with new features; the Covid-19 Crowd Tracker and Alert System.
The funding from AeroSpace Cornwall has enabled the young company to develop their system in order to automatically – rather than manually – disperse offers, notify emergencies, and reroute visitors to prevent crowding.
The app has already been successfully trialled by the Eden Project which has then led to a partnership with the National Trust who will be working with Data Duopoly on their Cornish Tin Coast visitor sites from early 2021.
As well as this, the company’s technology is also being trialled by Falmouth University, to manage visitors to campus, keeping their staff and students safe.
Gail Eastaugh, director at AeroSpace Cornwall said: “By diversifying their offering with this funding, Data Duopoly are helping future-proof businesses in their time of need.
“This innovative technology is a perfect example of the beneficial use of satellite data and its potential is huge. We can’t wait to see this in action at tourist attractions and venues across the UK come 2021.”
Shine a spotlight on your neighbourhood by becoming an Area Ambassador. Click here to learn more!


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Tag: craft beer
The Best of Brooklyn Festival is taking place Saturday, January 28 indoors at Industry City from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. with tickets starting at just $29. Plus Long Island Press readers are being offered a 15% discount on tickets by using the code LIPRESS at checkout. But act now—offer expires January 15 at 11:59 p.m.
Many of the top microbreweries on LI and throughout the five boroughs will be on hand the weekend of Oct. 15 and 16 in Long Island City for the inaugural Queens Beer Festival. Attendees will have an opportunity to taste a wide selection of hand-crafted beers from breweries in Queens, along with a curated selection of brews from Long Island, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Staten Island.
In February, the company moved around the corner to a new home on Audrey Avenue that is five times the size of its cramped quarters on South Street. Instead of cramming a tasting area and brewery equipment into 1,400 square feet, the company now has 6,000 square feet to play with.
Town officials said the proposed facility would house a 4,000 square-foot tasting room where artisan beer lovers could sample brews concocted by microbrewers that would serve as tenants. The beers would be made in the facility using on-site equipment essential to the beer-making process, like fomenters.
“We don’t want to ever lose our home-brew spirit."
“Blue Point's kinda like the father figure where all the kids are spreading out."


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After car sharing, mobility player Cambio now also offers cargo bikes for rent in Brussels. The initiative is part of the regional Cairgo Bike project, which aims to make cargo bikes a fully-fledged alternative to cars and vans and which was financed with 4,7 million euros in European funds. The electric cargo bikes are now available for rent at two Cambio stations.
Many families in Brussels still own a car that stands still too much. Moreover, the car seems to be indispensable for shopping, but car-sharing or using a cargo bike for short distances can be a real alternative and sometimes a cheaper option, according to Brussels Minister of Mobility Elke Van den Brandt (Groen).
“Their use also corresponds to the needs of 50% of Brussels families who do not have a car. So I am delighted that families have more choice in their means of transport thanks to Cambio. It’s also good for the region because cargo bikes take up less parking space, are quiet, and are good for air quality. And the children love them,” Van den Brandt says.
According to Cairgo Bike, 50% of deliveries in the city can be done with a cargo bike, and 60% of trips in the Brussels Capital Region are less than five km. On average, cyclists are exposed to 29% less CO2 than car drivers. Several Brussels municipalities also offer grants to purchase a cargo bike or electric cargo bike.
You will find more information about the Cairgo Bike project on this trilingual site.
Collaboration with Poppy and Colruyt
For the time being, Cambio’s shared cargo bikes are parked at the Spiegel car park in Jette and the Colruyt shop at Jourdan in Etterbeek. Two more stations will be added shortly.
To encourage families to use this type of vehicle, the Pro Vélo association is offering Brussels families support to get started with confidence in using cargo bikes. As a result, 185 families have already benefited from one of these courses. At the end of the training, participants receive a free test bike for two weeks.
Renting a cargo bike costs Cambio customers 3,5 euros per hour.
The car-sharing offer proposed at Colruyt in Etterbeek is made with Poppy, a car, moped, and scooter-sharing company already active in Brussels and Antwerp, owned by D’Ieteren.
“The partnership with Colruyt allows us to make ourselves known but also extends the parking possibilities in Brussels for our users,” says Sylvain Niset, CEO of Poppy.
Colruyt welcomes these collaborations. “We want to take our responsibilities in the field of mobility,” defended Jean-Christophe Burlet, regional director at Colruyt. Therefore, other collaborations of this type are expected throughout the major Belgian cities in the shops of the Colruyt chain.


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SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Sojern, the leading digital marketing platform built for travel, today shares its latest travel data* ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Slated to be held in Paris, France from 26 July – 11 August 2024, the summer Olympic games will bring together 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that represent nations from all over the world. The games will be the biggest event ever organized in France.
Between the Super Bowl, Olympics, European Championship, and other major sporting events, ad spending is projected to reach $61 billion this year alone. Not only do these events bolster advertising revenues, but they also drive incredible travel demand, with countries seeing massive spikes as attendees flock to cheer on their favorite teams. For example, flight bookings surged 63% compared to the prior year ahead of the F1 Grand Prix in Singapore and travelers booked their trips to Qatar well in advance of normal leisure travel to secure their place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. These major sporting events also renew interest in host destinations long after the final match. After Qatar hosted the World Cup, the country saw between a 79-255% increase in international lodging searches, bucking seasonal travel trends.
Flight Bookings to Paris Increase as Olympic Tickets Go On Sale
Paris is already a popular destination–6.3 million travelers visited the Eiffel Tower in 2023, surpassing pre-COVID-19 tourism–and the Olympics will only solidify its place as top-of-mind for travelers. Tickets for the 33rd Olympic Games went on sale on 30 November 2023, and travel demand to France has already increased substantially. For the period of the Olympic Games in 2024, flight bookings, not just searches, to Paris are up 125% compared to the same travel period last year.
Arrival dates vary, indicating that travelers likely are planning trips around specific events and available vacation time. Regardless of arrival date, one thing is certain: The majority of travelers are planning to leave Paris the day the Olympics end, highlighting that many are likely coming from countries where companies don’t offer extended leave, such as the United States. Additionally, with an average trip length of 11 days compared to 13.2 in 2023, it’s clear that the games are driving travel decisions.
France is Still a Popular Destination for American Travelers
Historically, Paris has been a top summer destination for travelers around the world, and the Olympics will cement France’s place at the top of their lists. According to Sojern flight booking data, 23.8% of bookings during the Olympic period to Paris originate from the United States, making it the top origin country internationally followed by Canada, United Kingdom, Japan and Spain. The United States led the medal count in both the 2020 and 2016 Olympics, which may be contributing to demand. Given that summer travel to Paris is consistently strong, travelers need to book their trips early during the Olympic Games.
Parisians Are Booking Staycation Trips to Other French Destinations
While international travelers are flocking to Paris for the Olympics, Parisians are finding solace elsewhere by taking staycations to other parts of France. Currently, hotel bookings from Parisians traveling to other parts of France are up 49% during the Olympics season compared to 2023, indicating that many Parisians plan to leave the city during the games to avoid crowds. Lille, Nice, Corsica, Lyon, and Toulouse are top destinations, giving hoteliers around the country the opportunity to attract Parisians to their properties during the Olympic period.
“We are excited about the increasing interest in Lyon as a tourist destination and we look forward to hosting visitors before and after the Olympic events. Lyon, just a 2-hour train ride from Paris, offers the perfect blend of sports, gastronomy, culture, and the renowned French art de vivre. Having hosted major events like the Women’s Football World Cup and the Rugby World Cup recently, we’re well-versed in delivering a memorable French experience. Whether travelers are from near or far, Lyon aims to leverage the rising travel demand to establish a lasting appeal to new visitors,” said Mathilde Carpentier, Partnership and Promotion Director at ONLYLYON Tourisme et Congrès.
How Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) Can Leverage Increased Travel Demand
“By using the right channels throughout the year—not just seasonally—DMOs can reach travelers in the moment and inspire them to think beyond sporting events,” said Noreen Henry, Chief Revenue Officer at Sojern. “Not only do always-on, multichannel campaigns give DMOs better insights, but these types of campaigns enable them to maximize their budgets, do more with less, and get in front of travelers at every stage of the planning cycle.”
DMOs can capitalize on existing demand and renewed interest to entice travelers to book local attractions or even explore lesser-known regions close by. This requires DMOs to move beyond traditional seasonal campaigns and take an always-on, multichannel approach to their marketing strategies. In response to an uncertain economy and inflation, more than 58% of DMOs are taking an always-on approach to marketing.
*Sojern data pulled as of Feb 2 2024
Sojern is a leading travel marketing platform designed to boost growth and profitability for the travel industry. The Sojern Travel Marketing Platform is a set of easy-to-use software and services that delivers unrivaled traveler insight, intelligent audiences, multichannel activation and optimization, and a connected guest experience—all in one place. More than 10,000 travel marketers rely on our platform annually to find, attract, convert and engage travelers. Founded in 2007, Sojern is headquartered in San Francisco, California with teams in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2347581/Top_Origin_Countries.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2347582/Olympics_Booking.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/249299/Sojern_Logo_V1.jpg


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Technology has transformed the retail landscape – but never overlook the power of music, writes Paul Hillyer
It’s no secret that the retail industry has fallen under a cloud of uncertainty in the UK. While online giants such as Amazon continue to make headway, brick-and-mortar stores are trying to weather the storm due to low consumer spending on the high street. This has been exacerbated by the closure of high-profile chains such as BHS and Toys R Us, with many others facing the threat of administration amid sliding profits. Against this backdrop, one would be forgiven for thinking the high-street was at breaking point. However, I’d argue there’s still hope.
We recently conducted a major survey of 10,000 shoppers around the world which revealed how retailers can breathe life into traditional stores and prevent further damage. One of the key takeaways was that 90 percent of shoppers globally say they are more likely to revisit stores that leverage music, visuals and scent together. And when it comes to music specifically, the study found it was the number one factor in lifting a shopper’s mood in-store, having an overall positive impact on 85 percent of global shoppers.
But why is the in-store music choice so important?
When used in the right way, music can have a powerful effect on elevating customer experience. Certainly, the choice of an in-store playlist can be hit or a miss for shoppers. When stores improvise and allow staff to connect to the speakers with their own choice of tracks on shuffle it can be the polar opposite of what the brand wants to represent and be remembered for. This is backed up by our recent study which shows more than half (57 percent) of shoppers will disengage if brands make poor music choices such as unenjoyable or “unfitting” music that’s played too loudly.
Not only does the right sound enhance a brand’s personality, but it also creates a sensory experience that encourages consumers to stay in store for longer. This is particularly true with younger generations – more than half (59 percent) of Gen Z audiences say they’ve stayed in a physical place of business longer because they were enjoying the music. And when you break this down by vertical, we know that in the grocery sector, one in two consumers recall listening and enjoying music while shopping. It’s clear that music can really contribute to creating a deep emotional connection between your clientele and your brand through your environment.
With this in mind, organisations need to think carefully about a wealth of factors when choosing the music to play in-store – including the brand’s values, objectives and target audiences. For example, we worked with French retailer, The Casino Group, on their new concept store in Paris ‘Le 4 Casino’, a new place to eat, relax and shop where digital services enhance and simplify the day-to-day shopping experience. When our creative team were asked to design playlists for the new space, the brand’s DNA and marketing objectives needed to be at the heart of the activation. So, by combining proximity, quality, urbanism, and modernity, the music concept was divided into three themes including ‘engagement’, ‘accompanying the customer during their experience’, and ‘cocooning’ – showcasing underground and emerging music, international pop and groove, and a soul-jazz musical mix respectively. This sound experience enabled us to create a true meeting ground of the best of both worlds – physical and digital – for the innovative store concept.
Music can also be a powerful tool for increasing productivity and focus among store staff. As employees are the face of the retail brand, it’s important that they are fully engaged in the brand. An effective music strategy can be a great tool to boost staff morale and concentration, as well as productivity – making them want to get more involved, which only improves the overall customer experience.
Ultimately, though, music should not be used by retailers in isolation. To truly succeed, bricks and mortar stores need to create a holistic multisensory experience. This will in turn make the customer experience more memorable, while encouraging shoppers to return.
As our study demonstrated, 90 percent of people will visit again and again if the music, visuals, and scent combine for an enjoyable experience.


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‘We’re desperate:’ Local food pantries struggle with supply chain shortages
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - As food prices increase due to supply chain shortages, many food pantries are struggling.
Some local nonprofits have seen both a decrease in donations as well as increase in demand.
Rebecca Howard, the food pantry manager at Good News Outreach in Tallahassee said as food and gas prices rise, she’s seeing a lot more people utilize the pantry.
“We are seeing a big uptick,” Howard said. “Gas prices have gone up so much, and food prices have gone up. There is no disposable income. So they’re turning to food pantries.”
Howard sys she went from giving out 280 bags of food in July to 430 in September. She’s still able to give food to anyone who needs it, but it’s a struggle.
“We’ve run out of food to the point that I looked at the shelves and went “Oh my god, we’re desperate.”
Howard now has to purchase food for the pantry rather than relying solely on donations.
One of Good News Outreach’s suppliers is Second Harvest of the Big Bend, which is also dealing with the impact of supply chain issues.
“We’re seeing shortages across the board, delays in delivery time,” CEO Monique Van Pelt said.
Van Pelt said some prices have increased by as much as 10%.
Second Harvest is still distributing the same amount of food--it’s just paying more to acquire it and dealing with longer delivery times, which could mean bad news for the holidays.
“There might be delays in the types of foods we’re able to get in,” Van Pelt said. “We’re hoping that it’s all going to be in by the time Thanksgiving arrives and our winter holidays arrive. But also the cost of those foods have shot up as well.”
As food pantries gear up for the holidays, they’re asking for more donations from the community to ensure they can provide Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for those in need.
Copyright 2021 WCTV. All rights reserved.


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Twitter has become significantly less popular as a social medium when it comes to advertising. Major brands such as Dyson and Mazda are withdrawing their ads from the platform. That’s because Twitter’s algorithm allowed these brands’ ads to show up on tweets about child pornography and other issues that can’t bear the light of day.
Twitter manages to hold its own as a social medium, despite the fact that there is so much competition. It’s generally smart about it: it doesn’t constantly copy TikTok or Instagram, and at the same time, it’s basically still very much the same as when it started. A smart move, because despite the fact that the blue bird has certainly had a hard time, it is still there. Leaving aside the haggling with Elon Musk about the takeover, that ultimately does not have much influence on how Twitter works.
However, Twitter does not always work perfectly: several companies have decided to spend their marketing budget elsewhere. They don’t want to be associated with the tweets their ads sometimes appeared with. Reuters says that about thirty large advertisers are stopping investing in the social medium. The remarkable thing is that the problem should be able to be remedied fairly easily.
The tweets in question often contain real words that should make you alert, such as ‘rape’. However, this does not apply to all tweets, for example, some had ‘teen/child content’. On the other hand, there should actually be an alarm on every use of that word, even if you come across a lot of tweets that are correct, the algorithm should be able to extract it contextually.
However, it clearly isn’t doing that at the moment. Despite this, Twitter has stated in response to the problem that it has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the sexual exploitation of children. “Twitter is working closely with its partners and customers to investigate this incident and we will take steps to ensure this does not happen again.”
Essential source of income
Advertisements are Twitter’s only source of income, alongside the new Blue subscription that it launched some time ago in English-speaking countries. It is already not a very easy medium to advertise heavily, precisely because it does not have all kinds of extra functions and has remained fairly basic over the years. As a result, the company should be extra careful, but so far this has not been completely successful. Has it lost these big companies forever? That will really depend on the changes they can make to their algorithm and the speed at which they implement them. In any case, it really needs to take steps, because among those companies whose advertisements are placed next to strange tweets are also Coca Cola and Disney: the really gigantic companies of the earth.
When she’s not typing, she’s traveling around the wonderful world of entertainment or some cool place in the real world. Mario is the man of her life,…


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For a long time tablet devices, like the iPad, have been luxury toys for consumers. Apparently that notion is beginning to slowly change this year. Apple held its quarterly earnings report, and while much of the conference call focused on finances, there were some interesting bites of information for the education world! Read more
If you are a classroom teacher you have heard about Race to the Top for several years. In fact, some states were chosen to split the $4 billion prize, but they aren’t making much progress. There is an annual spending report that has been put up by the US government. The posting claims that there is “no one path to reform.” While many teachers are not lucky enough to be in the states receiving the grants, we all realize that the pressure in these states is tremendous. Being in those schools has to be stressful!


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Ride Vision raises $7m to launch products globally
Ride Vision, the world’s first collision-aversion technology (CAT) provider for motorcycles, has completed its $7m Series A funding round, led by OurCrowd, bringing the company to a total of $10m raised to date.
In addition, the company announces the global launch of its AI-driven, safety-alert system to prevent motorcycle collisions on the road. The funding will be used to support the product’s marketing, distribution, and continued development.
Automated technologies for auto is no news, but until now, motorcycles haven’t been privy to take advantage of similar tech. Accounting for the tilt of the bike, and rider behavior, such as riding between lanes and cars, makes the task of a machine recognizing danger a qualitatively different task than it is for cars.
A statement from the company read: “There are over 700 million motorcycles on the road around the world, which account for 28% of all fatal road accidents. Moreover, the pandemic has changed travel habits, and motorcycle rides have skyrocketed. More riders means more risk for accidents.”
“As motorcycle enthusiasts, we at Ride Vision are excited at the prospect of our international launch and our partnership with Continental,” Uri Lavi, CEO and Co-Founder of Ride Vision, says. “This moment is a major milestone, as we stride toward our dream of empowering bikers to feel truly safe while they enjoy the ride.”
“We are proud to be leading this investment round in Ride Vision,” says Jon Medved, OurCrowd CEO. “This company has both a cutting edge product for this huge underserved market, and the ability to save so many lives. It doesn’t get better than this.”


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Amidst the worst economic crisis experienced by Sri Lanka since independence, the food inflation has risen alarmingly over the last few months resulting in huge spikes in almost all of the food products. Meanwhile, the price hike of biscuit products was a major talking point among social media users, and we noticed a number of campaigns requesting to boycott these products as well.
Within this context, a series of images were widely shared, claiming to be over 50% discounts offered by biscuit manufacturers, as the sales were continuously getting affected. However, our investigation found these images to be altered.
Social Media Posts
The below Facebook post indicated that Maliban Chocolate Cream Biscuit prices were reduced by more than 50%, with the selling price of a 400-gram packet being offered at Rs.250/- from the regular price of Rs.600/-
Same image got viral among Sinhala and Tamil users, and below is one such post which claimed the Maliban Chocolate biscuit packet was offered at Rs.300/- with a 50% discount.
We contacted a number of stakeholders to find out the authenticity of these viral social media posts related to mega price discounts for biscuits.
Maliban Biscuit Manufactories (Pvt) Limited
We contacted top management of Maliban Biscuits and said they confirmed that the price of a packet of 400 grams of chocolate cream biscuits remains at Rs.600/-. They pointed out that photos indicating around 50% discounts getting shared on social media were visibly altered images.
The top management of Maliban clarified that even though discounts are offered to major supermarkets as well as smaller departmental stores on many biscuit products from time to time, these discounts have never been up to 50% as claimed on social media posts.
They further mentioned that after receiving requests for discounts by supermarkets, the marketing department of Maliban would coordinate with them to roll out the discounts, and they are usually offered to customers via loyalty member schemes etc. and these practices have been in place for a number of years.
Ceylon Biscuits Limited (Munchee)
Similar claims of price discounts were shared with regards to Munchee biscuit products as well and CBL management also clarified that there was no price change in biscuit products, but seasonal discounts had been misinterpreted by some social media users as price drops, which had led to the confusion.
CBL management stated that the discount offered to Keells supermarket chain from the company end was 20% and the detailed fact check report in Sinhala language can be read here.
Cargills Food City
Many people mentioned in the comments section that the supermarket shown in the above social media photos belongs to Cargills Food City. So, we contacted the marketing department of Cargills. They explained that the photos do not seem to appear from a Cargills outlet as the loyalty scheme in place at Cargills is branded as “Cargills Rewards” and not as Loyalty Card usually.
Furthermore, the discounts given by Cargills usually does not exceed 30% and every week they give special discounts on a range of products. For biscuits also special discounts schemes are in place such as to promote sales, such as to offer 2nd purchase of the same product with half the price. In such cases one could purchase 2 biscuit packets of the same type and avail a total discount of 25% on each packet. The Cargills management emphasized that these offers are only given for the customers with Cargills Rewards cards.
The manager of Grocery Category at Keells Super also said that the promotional programs are implemented on many items and not only for biscuit products. She also clarified that these discounts are only offered during a promotional period. In the case of Munchee biscuit price discounts, a further 5% discount was given by Keells Super, in addition to the 20% offered by CBL, and a total of 25% discount was given towards the customer during a 3-week promotional period.
We also contacted a manager of a Lanka Sathosa branch to get their views on price discounts offered for biscuit products. He said that there isn’t any loyalty scheme in place at Sathosa and each customer is given the displayed discount for a particular food item from time to time. He also added that there has not been any decrease in the price of biscuits and however some discounts have been offered to the customers with the maximum discount values usually ranging between 15%-20%.
We did a further analysis on the origins of the viral image and noticed that same image had been shared few weeks ago as seen below with the same background
However, in this photo, the price of a 400-gram Maliban Chocolate Cream Biscuit 400 grams pack is shown as Rs.552/-. Accordingly, the discount offered in this case is only 8% corresponding to the usual price of Rs.600/- Few other posts with the same image can be reached here, here and here.
Nevertheless, the biscuit manufacturers also recently held a press conference and said that many people had in fact refrained from buying biscuit products as a result of campaigns to avoid buying biscuits. Biscuit manufacturers state that it’s not justified to blame only the biscuit industry when many other industries have increased selling prices by many folds, including that of raw materials for biscuit manufacturing. More on this can be seen in the below video.
Follow us and stay up to date with our latest fact checks.
Our investigation shows that the photos viral among social media users claiming to be over 50-60% price discounts offered for Maliban Chocolate Cream Biscuits 400-grams packs are not true and were in fact a set of altered images.
The biscuit manufacturing companies as well as main supermarket chains confirmed that confirmed that while discounts are offered for biscuits like many other products from time to time for limited periods and these discounts do not exceed 30%
Title:Over 50% discounts on Maliban Chocolate Biscuits? Find Out the Facts…Fact Check By: Kalana Krishantha


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Tech Report: Snapchat launches AI chatbot
Snapchat has released a new tool called My AI. According to Snapchat, My AI “can recommend birthday gift ideas for your friends, plan a hiking trip, suggest a recipe for dinner, or even write a haiku.” It has been “trained to have a unique tone and personality.” The feature is currently only available to fee-paying Snapchat Plus subscribers. However, Snapchat said it plans to eventually make it available to all 750 million of its monthly users.
A surprising number of people are ditching Google for Bing. A consumer survey by Yahoo Finance found that quite a few folks are looking to replace the Google’s iconic search engine with Bing. The latter company’s new AI powered search engine is attracting more and more users.
IrisCX, the smart video platform for at-home shopping, just raised nearly 5 million dollars. The company will use the money to hire workers and develop more products. IrisCX says that it can provide a great virtual shopping experience from home.
Meta will create a new product group inside the company focused on generative AI. This new set of techniques will allow computers to generate text, draw pictures, and create other media that resembles human output. The AI will be featured on Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp.


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Harry Winston Diamond Corp. (TSX:HW,NYSE:HWD) announced its fiscal 2013 third-quarter results for the quarter ended October 31, 2012, commenting that its net income totaled $3.4 million ($0.04 per share) compared to a net loss of $4.7 million ($0.06 per share) in the year-ago quarter.
As quoted in the press release:
- Consolidated sales increased 51% to $180.4 million for the third quarter compared to $119.7 million for the comparable quarter of the prior year. Operating profit was $10.3 million compared to an operating loss of $2.0 million in the comparable quarter of the prior year. (Included in the prior year’s operating loss was a$13.0 million paste plant de-recognition charge for the mining segment.) EBITDA increased 64% to $34.8 million compared to $21.2 million in the comparable quarter of the prior year.
- Consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders for the third quarter was $3.4 million or $0.04 per share compared to net loss attributable to shareholders of$4.7 million or $0.06 per share in the comparable quarter of the prior year. Included in the prior year period net loss was a $8.4 million (or $0.10 per share) after-tax paste plant de-recognition charge.