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Mike Mann’s Skateistan.com: Almost $200k for the .org upgrade
Mike Mann is a domain investor and entrepreneur with years of hands-on experience in domain negotiations.
For example, the Domain Market founder negotiated the sale of Sex.com for $13 million dollars. Mike shares domain sales on social media, along side with tidbits of wisdom.
One of Mike Mann’s domains is Skateistan.com, a domain that’s up for sale at $194,888 dollars. What’s up with that particular keyword?
Apparently, Skateistan is a non-profit founded in Australia in 2008 that was inspired by the kids’ reactions to skateboards in Afghanistan. Skateistan operates from the matching .org, Skateistan.org, and won the 2019 .ORG award.
Here’s a quick story about the formation of Skateistan:
In 2007, Percovich’s passion for the sport did just that. He headed to Kabul, Afghanistan for a research trip, bringing along three skateboards, which he rode through the city. The local kids took notice, dazzled by the excitement and freedom of his movement. When one grabbed his skateboard, refusing to give it back, Percovich realized he was onto something. Skateboarding had the potential to bring together youth from different socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders in a celebration of sports and learning.
Percovich began loaning his skateboards to Afghan teenagers—these were the nation’s very first skateboarders. In 2008, he officially launched Skateistan, with the help of sponsors from Europe, Australia, and the United States.
While Skateistan.org was registered in March 2008, Mike Mann’s Skateistan.com was registered in September 2008. The domain was acquired by Mike in late 2011, most likely, according to WHOIS records.
Would the award-winning nonprofit dish out almost $200k for Skateistan.com, upgrading from the .org?
Anything is possible.
Copyright © 2021 DomainGang.com · All Rights Reserved.
Original article: Almost $200k for the .org upgrade :DomainGang
©2021 Domain Observer. All Rights Reserved.


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Internet of Things API startup Crowsnest has pivoted to sharpen its focus on providing device analytics for IoT makers.
Originally focused on creating an open source platform to integrate IoT devices through a standardized set of APIs, the startup founders and Techstars alums have pivoted to create a crash analytics Machine Learning service for IoT device makers.
“We interviewed over 100 Internet-connected product companies, and the signal we found amongst all the data we collected was that diagnostics was outside their core competency,” says Crowsnest co-founder Michael Kruk. “They need in-depth analytics to get to the root cause of device crashes faster. And it is something they would be willing to pay money for and was outside their core business.”
Kruk says these interviews helped the Crowsnest team identify the value opportunity it could provide in the emerging IoT landscape. “Another big key learning was that a lot of companies were trying to do this analytics themselves, but for the data ingestion of the massive amounts of logs this created, they required a special hire, whether that be a machine learning engineer or a Big Data scientist.”
Kruk believes Crowsnest was perfectly positioned to pivot and build the crash analytics service on the back of Crowsnest’s original approach, even though this required building a new tech. “The technology is the strength of our team — to build tech quickly and effectively. We were able to maintain a lot of the same relationships: companies that were interested in working with us in the past. A lot of those companies came through the pivot and helped us with the new idea.”
Kruk explains the core of the service for any device maker that has distributed its IoT products to end consumers:
Once you log in to your Crowsnest account, you have access to three tiles that can monitor thousands or millions of devices in customers' homes.
The first tile is the percentage of units that are having critical problems. The second tile shows you the three biggest bugs that would solve most of your problems, and the third tile compares your current crash rate with recent performance across the past two weeks.
In addition, Kruk says analytics divides issues based on severity as either critical or those that are more of a warning of poor performance, as well as providing information and debug data. A key focus has been on providing trends of the events that proceed crashes. “For example, we could notice that 87% of the time, before one device crashes, it involved someone checking for a firmware update. So this event trend data turns out to be a good way to search for the root cause,” says Kruk.
While Crowsnest’s tech has been built from the ground up to apply machine learning to the IoT market, APIs remain at the center of how Crowsnest works. A customer information API allows hardware makers to link devices with customer details such as email addresses so that they can automatically alert customers to any performance issues. The idea is that by helping device makers be proactive about crash and performance issues, they can provide a better customer experience and retain their IoT customer base. Kruk sees further API integrations as next in line to help clients link crash analytics directly to their CRM systems to further enable the use of analytics reporting as part of their proactive customer support culture for IoT devices.
An open packet specification API is also available so that potential Crowsnest customers can link their current data-logging procedures into Crowsnest’s system and UI. This allows those testing the service to see if they gain any additional value by being able to use the Crowsnest interface to analyze and track crashes without having to restructure their existing logging workflows to funnel through the Crowsnest’s product. They can continue to log their crash and performance data using their current processes while also making use of the API to duplicate the data into their Crowsnest accounts. Here, the company is using an API approach to enable customer acquisition by allowing its users to compare their current systems to what added value they may gain from using the Crowsnest dashboard product.
Kruk shares the road map for Crowsnest’s next features:
This is what we have today; this is phase one of the product. Next, we are really excited to be building out our alerts system. For example, if a particular type of crash happens, say, more than 10 times within a certain period of time, then you can set up alert emails or automatically roll back your hardware to a previous, more stable firmware update.
So at this point, we are doing correlation analysis so we have a way of identifying what is happening proceeding crashes, and then we will build more predictive analytics. That will let us start looking for patterns going forward, more of a machine data learning type approach.
Kruk sees Crowsnest benefiting early-stage companies that may have launched a thousand beta units and want to see how those are performing in their customers' hands. For bigger-value device manufacturers — companies with tens of thousands or even millions of products being shipped into very different environments — then the main goal is to help these customers retain their customer base as the IoT competition heats up. For now, the startup is focusing on consumer devices including wearables and home automation, with home automation hubs representing a particular opportunity. “We are monitoring close to 10,000 devices now,” says Kruk.
Developers and hardware makers can sign up for trial (beta) access on Crowsnest.

domain: news


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Lomar sells four offshore vessels as part of fleet renewal program
In addition to its announcement of the acquisition of eight container ships and product tankers this month, London-based Lomar has revealed the latest move in its policy of strategic sales of ships according to market conditions. The company has announced the sale of four of its offshore vessels.
Lomar has sold Didi K and GO Altair, both 2008 Chinese-built AHTSs. In addition, the company has sold a pair of 2008 Chinese-built platform supply vessels, Ark Phil and Ark Griffin.
The collective price achieved for the four vessels was $51 million with the sales forming part of Lomar’s continuous policy of fleet renewal. Other vessels sold by Lomar this year include the 2008 built offshore supply vessel, Hobart Trader; the 2007-built LPG carrier Ocean Prism, and the 2001-built Supramax bulk carrier, Ocean President.
Conscious of the need to invest in modern, fuel efficient, clean-burning ships, Lomar has embarked on a major newbuildings program in recent years. The company has already started to take delivery of the latest eco-friendly bulk carriers and container ships from Chinese shipyards – part of a commitment to over 20 new vessels.


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By David Moretti
Originally published on Advocate.com July 29 2010 4:10 PM ET
Randi Reitan took it upon herself to show Target Corp. that gay and
pro-gay consumers will no longer be shopping in Target stores. Or at
least she hopes to start the trend through example.
In the following video Reitan purchases over $200 worth of merchandise — including items for her son, who is gay, and her grandchildren, who love and support him. She then returns the items and explains to the manager why they wouldn’t want the products, knowing they were purchased from a store that supports hate to the tune of a $150,000 donation to MN Porward, a political organization endorsing Minnesota’s antigay Republican candidate for governor, Tom Emmer.


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July 28, 2015
Chicago-based Opternative has launched an online refractive eye exam service that helps consumers get prescriptions for glasses or contacts.
According to the company, the offering is registered with the FDA as a Class I device.
Consumers access Opternative's service on the web via desktop. Opternative asks users a few questions, like when their most recent eye exam was, and then takes the user...
April 14, 2015
Value-based care, patient engagement, and data analytics are three of the biggest trends in healthcare, according to a panel of health investors that spoke at HIMSS 2015 in Chicago this week. Anuj Desai, Vice President of Market Development at the New York eHealth Collaborative, Adam Koopersmith, a Partner at the Pritzker Group, and Ned Schwartz, a Partner at Drive Capital, shared some of their...


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Shares in the luxury jeweler fell by 6.6. percent in early trading after the company posted an unexpected sales decline in the first quarter.
NEW YORK, United States — Valentine’s Day did little to help Tiffany & Co. stave off a broader retail slump.
The New York-based jeweller posted an unexpected sales decline in the first quarter, with sluggish demand in the Americas and Asia weighing on results. That sent shares down as much as 6.6 percent in early trading on Wednesday.
The surprise drop signals that Tiffany faces a slow recovery from a tourism slump and shrinking foot traffic in the US. To boost sales and draw younger customers, the company has been renovating stores and introducing new designs, such as the HardWear collection promoted by singer Lady Gaga.
Tiffany blamed slow results in the Americas region on “lower spending by both foreign tourists and local customers.”
The shares declined as low as $87.02 in early trading after the results were posted. Tiffany had climbed 20 percent this year through Tuesday’s close.
Valentine’s Day typically brings a surge of shopping to the jeweller, but it wasn’t enough to salvage results in the latest quarter. Same-store sales — a key measure — fell 2 percent in the period. Analysts had projected a gain of 1.7 percent on average, according to Consensus Metrix.
Already, the company is coping with management turnover. The board abruptly ousted chief executive officer Frederic Cumenal in February and put chairman Michael Kowalski in that role on an interim basis.
Even with the sales stumble, Tiffany was able to top earnings estimates, helped by higher operating margins. The company reported a profit of 74 cents, compared with a 70-cent projection.
Net sales amounted to $899.6 million in the period, which ended April 30. That missed the $914.4 million predicted by analysts.
The company maintained its forecast for the year, calling for sales to grow by a low single-digit percentage. Earnings are expected to climb by a mid-single-digit percentage over last year’s $3.75 a share, excluding some items.
By Stephanie Wong; editor: Nick Turner.


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Newburyport, MA— RiverWalk Brewing Co. recently opened their new taproom and brewery at 40 Parker Street in Newburyport, MA. The 20,000 square foot space houses a 30 barrel brewhouse, taproom featuring twelve rotating taps, beer-inspired food menu and a private events room. The Parker Street facility represents a tenfold increase in size and production from their previous location on Graf Rd in Newburyport, MA.
Nestled along the Rail Trail in Newburyport, RiverWalk Brewing owner Steve Sanderson sees the new space as a win-win for customers, “It allows people to engage with our brand in a meaningful way and better understand our worldly point of view when it comes to beer. We hope they leave here having learned something about beer they didn’t know before.”
RiverWalk Brewing brews over 30 different varieties of their craft beer, pulling inspiration from around the globe. So taking over a former warehouse space allowed Sanderson to build to his exact specifications for that reason.
Sanderson explains, “The new brewery allows us to increase production dramatically. In our old space we were maxed out at 2,000 barrels per year. This new facility gives us the potential for 15,000 barrels a year. And perhaps more importantly, we now have the physical space to experiment more. You’ll start to see a lot of new and exciting beers coming out of Riverwalk, including barrel-aged and sours.”
Sanderson also hopes to make a larger community impact, “Our goal is to create a community hub, a place where people can meet family and friends, have a pint and enjoy being together. So staying in Newburyport was of the utmost importance. Many people have supported us since we started in a shared space and taking this journey with them has been very, very special.”
This summer, Sanderson says they plan to open a deck and 3,000 square foot outdoor biergarten as well.
RiverWalk Brewing also distributes their craft beer in kegs and cans throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
40 Parker Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
Wednesday – Saturday 12pm-10pm
This article originally appeared on craftbeer.com


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The volume of world merchandise trade is now expected to grow by 0.8 percent this year, less than half the 1.7 percent increase forecast in April, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said.
According to the latest WTO trade forecast released on Thursday, projections for growth in global merchandise trade in 2023 have been scaled back by WTO economists amid a continued slump that began in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The 3.3 percent growth in global merchandise trade projected for 2024 remains nearly unchanged from the previous estimate, the WTO said.
The WTO expects real-world GDP to grow by 2.6 percent at market exchange rates in 2023 and by 2.5 percent in 2024,
World trade and output slowed abruptly in the fourth quarter of 2022 as the effects of persistent inflation and tighter monetary policy were felt in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere. The trade slowdown appears to be broad-based, involving a large number of countries and a wide array of goods, the WTO said.
According to the forecast, trade growth should pick up next year accompanied by slow but stable GDP growth. However, signs are starting to emerge of supply chain fragmentation, which could threaten the relatively positive outlook for 2024.
“We do see some signs in the data of trade fragmentation linked to geopolitical tensions. Fortunately, broader deglobalization is not here yet,” WTO Chief Economist Ralph Ossa said.
“The projected slowdown in trade for 2023 is cause for concern, because of the adverse implications for the living standards of people around the world,” WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.
“Global economic fragmentation would only make these challenges worse,” she said, while calling on WTO members to strengthen the global trading framework by avoiding protectionism and fostering a more resilient and inclusive global economy.


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Abhinav Verma writes on food and health, for the daily Entertainment & Lifestyle supplement, HT City.
Articles by Abhinav Verma
While the bride and groom are going all out in their pursuit of the perfect social media wedding, it’s the guests who are being driven insane by the ridiculous wedding rules.
Spending too much time in front of a screen or just general slouching can give you the hunchback posture. Here’s how to fix it.
Top chef Garima Arora talks about what it feels like to be the first Indian woman to bag a Michelin star, and why no Indian restaurant has ever won one.
ByAbhinav Verma, New Delhi
From beetroot to sweet potatoes, here’s a list of healthy options to snack on to stay upbeat.
This behaviour is projection and you can tackle it by using psychology.
Hindustan Times | ByAbhinav Verma
On the festival of lights, we salute these inspiring, selfless individuals who feel the pain of others like their own
Hindustan Times | ByShara Ashraf, Abhinav Verma and Prerna Gauba, New Delhi
Why rely on pills when you can combat allergies with diet hacks and immunity boosting drinks.
Whip up these yummy Halloween-special recipes and stay ready for any ‘monster’ that might be visiting you, lest you should be tricked!
From improved stamina and increased lung capacity to speedy recovery from injuries, experts say that there are several reasons why athletes, such as Virat Kohli, are turning to veganism in their daily lives.
Who says eating out during the season of revelry means piling on calories? With these expert suggestions, you can embrace your inner glutton without the fear of gaining weight.
When stepping out this season, it’s not just enough to wear your best outfit — accompany it with glowing skin and well-styled hair.
The rising demand of gluten-free products has made way for flours such as amaranth, coconut, and banana.
Experts say that fat acceptance doesn’t mean normalizing obesity, a life threatening condition.
Can we common folk follow a brutal early morning routine like actors Mark Wahlberk, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and our very own Akshay Kumar? Here’s what the experts have to say.
Celebrity hairstyle-inspired hair transplants are a new trend. Here is everything you need to know about it.
Miss Fitness India 2018 Sapna Khanna talks about her roller-coaster journey into the world of fitness, women in body-building, fitness apps and more.
From prunes, nuts to salmon and broccoli, here’s a list of food that according to experts, are crucial for good bone health.
Aging isn’t the only reason why you get wrinkles; your lifestyle and environment can also be a cause for you to get wrinkles.
It’s polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) awareness month. If you are dealing with this condition, experts suggest dietary changes that can help.
There’s more than just creativity and utilitarian approach in how a restaurant menu is planned. The psychology behind it guarantees profits.
The Yo-Yo test has created quite a buzz in the fitness circle. Here’s a quick low-down.
What you eat or don’t eat can cause dandruff and an itchy scalp. Here’s how to keep this nasty enemy of your lovely locks at bay.
These masks are an Internet rage. But skin experts are skeptical about how good they actually are.
Having a compatible sense of humour with your partner is an essential ingredient to a happy relationship, say experts and couples. Are yours on point?
Here’s why experts think that this diet is one of the healthiest ones around; it’s also environment friendly.
We talk to experts who help us clear the air about the most popular fitness myths circulating in every gym.
Chef Sarah Todd talks about the farm-to-table food culture in Northeast India, and talks about the area’s unexplored cuisine.
In a conversation with HT City, chef Saransh Goila reveals the secret behind his famous butter chicken recipe, his experience on MasterChef Australia, and how he went from 93kg to 75kg.
Stylists swear by it, but what exactly does keratin treatment do? We talk to experts to get you the facts on this hair treatment that promises to end your frizzy hair woes.
I could get Prabhas and Rana Daggubati in even more spectacular shape for Baahubali: Serbian bodybuilder Milos Sarcev
The legendary bodybuilder Milos Sarcev says that one of actors Aamir Khan and Salman Khan’s personal trainers used to be his client.


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A pioneering entrepreneur is taking text messaging to new frontiers--and giving businesses a whole new way to reach customers.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
In 2004, as the number of text messages sent in the U.S. climbed to 2.5 billion per month and common short codes became available to license, Zaw Thet spied his golden opportunity. That was the year he founded 4Info in Palo Alto, California, and established a natural language search engine and automatic alerts tailored to cell phones. By sending a text message to the short code "4INFO," users can tap into discrete pipes of data feeds for sports scores, weather forecasts, the current TV lineup and more.
Meanwhile, 4Info has made it possible for other companies to build their own search or alert services and has created new advertising opportunities in the mobile space, attracting major players such as Chevrolet. "What we have is a very targeted, contextual advertising engine in SMS," says Thet, 26, who expects 2007 sales to reach seven figures. "The average [rate of] recall for consumers looking at an SMS ad is much higher than it is [for ads] online or anywhere else."
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Half of Americans Use Supplements
April 28, 2011
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that more than half of U.S. adults use dietary supplements such as multivitamins, minerals or herbs. The number has risen from just 42 percent in 1988 to 53 percent in 2006.
The most popular supplements are multivitamins, which were used by 39 percent of U.S. adults in 2006. Some consumers may be viewing supplements as a way to make up for a poor diet, which is not the best approach.
According to CNN:
"While some are helpful, supplements can't entirely replace proper nutrition ... "


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The National Association of Retirement Plan Participants aims to boost 401(k) deferral rates through behavioral finance techniques. Despite its name, its direct ties are to plan sponsors and providers. (Photo of NARPP founder Laurie Rowley by Rob Myers.)
"blooom is like a dietician who doesn’t just give you advice on how to eat. It’s like a dietician who actually drives to your store, does your grocery shopping for you and comes back to your house and cooks all your meals for you,” says blooom co-founder Chris Costello (above).
At the IRI annual conference in this quaint colonial village, the annuity industry shared a sense that, after several hellish years, the worst may be over.
“I think is an opportunity for a win-win-win,” says Lew Minsky, executive director of DCIIA. “If you keep more people invested for retirement, all of the players in the system benefit. You’re growing the system.”
An arena should exist where participants can express their opinions or preferences about plan design, investment options and perhaps even the amount of match they’d like to see. Sounds crazy, I know.
Personal DB plans are a potential alternative for physicians, sole practitioners, small businesses and small companies with only a few employees, according to the CEO of a company in the field.


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Several entrepreneurs have benefited from the works of Filipino artists during the three-day Art Mod Fair which showcased different techniques and styles of Filipino culture at Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
ArtisteSpace, a company that organized the event, aims to promote a broad collection of art pieces that include photography, painting and drawing. ArtisteSpace also helps small and well-known organizations that focus on buy-and-sell of artworks.
“We give importance not only to well-established artists. Of course, we also need them, but at the end of the day, we are also giving opportunities to other artists from the provinces,” says Anton Magpantay, managing director of the marketing company.
Among the well-known Filipino artists whose works were put on display at Art Mod Fair are Philipp Badon, Joe Datuin, Migz Salazar, Oz Mendoza and Boysie Villavicencio.
Magpantay is particularly excited about Ang Buhay at Hugis sa Paete, a heritage shop where authentic paete wood carvings are priced according to their design, style and the wood used.
Meanwhile, one exhibitor said they used recycled gadgets and toys to catch up with the present innovations.
Art also has a different meaning to other artists and business owners like William Borja, who found a way to raise money for his wife who was diagnosed with ALS in 2014.
Jam Ramos, a photographer from Artvan and a contributing photographer for Top Gear Philippines, says the exhibition helps the public become aware of the value of art.
“People see that a piece of art was made through a lot of effort and inspiration,” says Ramos.
She thanks organizations for investing in art pieces and for motivating companies to become sponsors of artists, especially the budding talents. Aside from that, she says the exhibit also “promotes Filipino ingenuity.”
Among the organizations present in the fair was Art in Island, one of the biggest 3D art museums in Asia. They put up a human-sized white wings painting inside the hall where guests could take a photograph to look like the wings are attached to them.
For them, optical illusion and 3D paintings widen the imagination of the viewer.
According to Magpantay, the fair also invited companies such as Barista Academy of Asia, Faber Castell and Art Nebula to represent different sectors of the art industry.
Following the success of the exhibit, Magpantay says the immediate plan is to have another one in August that is designed for students representing their schools.


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Now the latest and most expensive Galaxy smartphones of 2023 will also get the latest update.
Samsung is currently in an update mode and is not only announcing a few dates, distributing Android 14 for other devices, but also rolling out the usual monthly updates to current Android smartphones. Now Galaxy S23 smartphones are also included, and the current November 2023 update will now be distributed in Germany among others.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a true bug fix update for the new Android 14 firmware that Samsung delivered a few weeks ago. The download is not particularly large if it is over 300 MB Our colleagues doubt that this is really the latest security patch.
If there are bugs you’ve noticed since updating to Android 14, you’ll likely have to wait a few days or weeks for them to be fixed. This is bad news.


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The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has welcomed an announcement by Woolies that it will be stocking locally made paper bags in South Australia and the Northern Territory so Aussie shoppers can directly support local wood fibre manufacturing jobs by using them to pack their groceries.
Woolies announced in June it would make the change and supply paper bags to its customers. This decision was warmly welcomed by AFPA as the right choice for the environment, however we also requested the company do the right thing by Australian manufacturing and commit to using Aussie made paper bags.
The Chief Executive of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Ross Hampton said, “With the announcement it is turning to domestic supply for paper bags, Woolies has now ticked both boxes. It is the leading retailer when it comes to caring for the environment by moving away from single use plastic and now it is adding local jobs to the mix.
“COVID-19 has shown us the risk of relying on imports, and the need for Australia to be more self-reliant in everyday essentials like paper packaging, bags and toilet paper. When the major retailers opt for Aussie made they bring the scale to bear which allows locals to gear up for cost competitive production.”
“Internationally Australian retailers are now catching up with a huge global trend. Far from a ‘blast from the past’ the Woolies paper bags decision lines it up with the cutting edge. Internationally shoppers are ditching plastic packaging wherever they can and opting for more environmentally friendly alternatives. The World Bank expects global demand for wood fibre products to quadruple by 2050.”
“AFPA congratulates Adelaide based Detpak which will manufacture the bags. AFPA urges all retailers and businesses to move whatever packaging they can to natural recyclable, fibre-based products, and then ensure production occurs in Australia. That includes everything from printing paper and packaging, toilet tissue and paper towels, point of sale displays, coffee cups, and even catalogues.”
“Every extra Aussie paper product means more Aussie jobs,” Mr Hampton concluded.
The original media release is here: Media Release – Woolies makes the right choice for Aussie jobs and the environment


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The First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) has reported a decline in profits for the full financial year ended June 30, 2017. This contraction in the bank’s output has been noted as mainly due to poor performance of the mining sector in 2016.
FNB submits that the year under review registered rising impairments which were mainly driven by the liquidation of BCL group. The bank’s profit after tax has gone down by one percent compared to the year ended June 2016 “This is due to impairments attributable predominantly to the liquidation of BCL mining group which occurred in October 2017,” highlighted FNB Chief Executive, Steven Bogatsu.
Impairment registered in the financial year under review was 2.3 percent up compared to year ended June 2016. However FNB observed that as a reasonable figure, this rise in impairments was realized even after cautionary measures in lending approach were put in place. The bank announced when delivering the financial results this past week that a proactive approach had been put in place to absorb the effects of the current and possible coming economic strain.
Meanwhile notable figures from the bank’s financial highlights indicate that the company registered a profit before tax of P680.3 million, an increase of three percent for the full-year ended June 30, 2017 compared to the previous year ended June 2016.Total advances grew by 4 percent which is above the market credit growth of 2 percent while deposits grew by 3 percent emanating predominately from good growth in short-term funding over the year with current and call accounts posting growth of 28 percent and 9 percent respectively as well as the improvement in the market liquidity over the period leading to a decline of 27 percent in interest expense.
Though Bank of Botswana (BoB) recently announced that the banking system is safe and sound, Bogatsu said the contrary highlighting that the banking sector, especially the lending segment which is currently undergoing a period of low credit growth realized slight growths at insignificant levels. The First National Bank boss said the commercial banking sector is also faced with issues of compliance and regulatory enforcement from BoB.
According to the bank’s financial report the bank’s credit book was contracted by the low credit demand from the mining sector, which declined by 32.2% due to low global demand in 2016. The bank’s loan book amounted to P15 million during the year under review. Bogatsu further observed that though credit demand from the mining sector has been low, at just 0.6% of total loans as of February 2017, the sector’s health feeds into the manufacturing, transport and trade sectors, which, combined, account for 16.6% of loans.“Credit to all four sectors was weak in a downtrend over the last year, but viable credit demand should improve as these sectors benefit from the improvement in mining activity,” he said.
According to Bogatsu consumer credit demand could also benefit from subdued inflation and low interest rates, although growth will be restricted by limited household income. “The bank also continues with efforts to improve and lengthen the tenure book which will see the bank enjoy benefits under the Basel III framework, which requires enhanced capital and liquidity sustainability,” he said. Bogatsu asserted that the growth in total advances emanated mainly from the retail short term loans but with mild growth also posted in the then Wes bank book.
The bank also took advantage of investment vehicles available offshore. As consequence and following the bank’s initiative to improve efficiencies, investment securities posted good growth of 35% which contributed to the growth in gross interest income whilst non-interest bearing assets in the form of cash grew by 20%.
The FNB has also been prudent around its property portfolio where additional provisions have been taken to cater for the ailing property values. According to the Chief Executive Officer the bank seeks to establish and manage a portfolio of businesses and associated risks that will deliver sustainable returns to its shareholders within appropriate levels of earnings volatility.
FNB generally pins its hopes on possible increase in credit demand anticipated to be supported by the feed-through from a recovering mining sector and government’s recently launched NDP11 which leans on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to finance major infrastructure projects. The Mid-Term Review of the 2017 Monetary Policy Statement released by BoB says overall the current levels of credit growth continue to be supportive of economic activity and augur well for durable stability of the financial system. The review also states that the current levels of interest rates is considered appropriate to support economic activity, mobilization of financial resources and financial sector development.
This week, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL), the country’s only listed telecoms company, released its annual report for the financial year ended 31st March 2021.
The company, listed on the local bourse in a historic IPO in 2016, has been grappling with the uphill task of transforming from a wholly state-owned organisation to a fully commercial publicly listed entity. This excise has seen some financial years registering a decline in both revenue and profits.
On Tuesday, BTCL reported a significant rise in profits, attributable to a slight pick-up in revenue and serious cost containment measures. The beginning of the fiscal year saw the implementation of the company’s new three-year strategy, which is focused on strengthening the core business, optimising efficiencies and return on assets, and pursuing growth opportunities.
The start of the financial year coincided with the implementation of the national measures to contain the COVID-19 virus, leading to national lockdowns, which placed pressure on the BTCL performance for the first half of the year. “However, we have since seen a decent recovery in our financial performance year-on-year,” said BTCL Managing Director Anthony Masunga
BTCL Group, which comprises among other business segments: mobile, fixed and broadband, has reported revenue of P1.43 billion, which is a 1% increase over the prior year. According to BTCL directors, this increase in revenue was driven by the monetisation of significant investments in fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure in support of high-speed internet service at homes and offices across most parts of the country.
“We delivered a strong double-digit growth in profit after tax of 16% when compared with the prior year, driven by the slight increase in revenue and robust cost reduction strategies that improved EBITDA to P463 million, leading to an increase in cash,” Masunga explained. Cash and cash equivalents significantly increased by 20.4%, from P120 million in the prior year to P364 million at the end of March 2021.
The increase was driven by a positive cash conversion ratio of 52% and favourable working capital resulting from debt collection measures during the year. Masunga explained that the healthy cash balance enabled the BTCL to finance further expansion of its mobile data network and replace traditional copper connections with fibre to better support the needs of its customers.
“The uptake of our data products has been growing steadily, with the improving quality of service leading to increased revenues even as voice revenues declined,” he said. The cost of services and goods sold reduced by 3% from P612 million to P594 million when compared to the previous year, leading to an increase in gross profit for the year by 3%, an increase of P27 million to P832 million, translating to an improvement in gross profit margin from 57% to 58%.
Despite the increase in the top line, which would have led to a rise in the cost base, the Group Continued with its robust cost containment measures, leading to a slight increase in all other operating costs by P3 million. The control of costs led to an overall increase in the earnings before interest, depreciation, taxation and amortisation (EBIDTA) by P55 million, with a margin expansion of 370 basis points compared to the previous year.
The operating margin increased by 2% to 13%, coming from the earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to P186 million, a P24 million increase compared to the prior-year figure of P163 million. Net interest increased significantly, driven by the new accounting treatment of the IRU liability. All the above led to an overall increase in the profit before tax of P27 million, which increased to reportable gain to P166 million.
The Group ended the year with a P135 million profit after tax compared to P117 million for the same period last year with a tax expense of P31 million in the current year, which is higher when compared to the P22 million reported in 2020. Therefore, the Group delivered an impressive 16% increase year-on-year with a 9% net profit margin, compared to 8% in the prior year.
BTCL continues to dominate the fixed-line business despite a continued reduction in the demand for fixed lines globally and locally. Trends continue to show an increased shift of consumer preference to mobile communications, a direction according to Anthony Masunga is due to his company’s “increased flexibility, convenience, and innovation.’
BTCL’s mobile phone market also continued to grow during the year, with many consumers owning multiple SIM cards from the three mobile network operators. Smega, BTC’s Mobile Money Services, saw significant growth in subscriptions during the year, and we expect to attract more customers as the Group continues the Visa card rollout.
Masunga boasted that Smega could interact with traditional banking systems, offering more convenience to BTCL customers. “The platform supports greater financial inclusion for the country’s sizeable unbanked population,” he said. BTC Board Chair Lorato Ntakhwana said that in the future, the 51 percent government-owned telecom giant will bank on its new 3-year strategy for growth paths.
She revealed that the new strategy would build on the great foundation set by its predecessor, enabling BTC to reap the full benefits of its digital infrastructure investment to drive the growth of the business.
Ntakhwana explained that the digital transformation of the business underpins the strategy to realise enhanced efficiencies and continue to maximise the utilisation of its technologies. “We remain committed to transforming BTC into a digital services company, leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution to create maximum shareholder value. We see technology and digitisation as a vehicle to the provision of solutions to the nation’s challenges,” she said.
First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) has released its audited summarised consolidated financial statement for the year ended 30 June 2021. According to the statement, the balance sheet reduced by 6% year-on-year primarily due to declining gross advances to customers. Credit risk remained heightened amid the prevalent economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bank said it continued to apply a prudent approach to lending to ensure responsible and manageable consumer exposure, which resulted in a decline in gross customer advances by 7% while gross market advances increased by 4%.
Retail advances experienced a sharp decline of 7%, while the Botswana retail market increased by 9%. According to the bank’s financial statement, the decline was driven by competitive pressures, with the market extending loan tenures, resulting in increased market debt. However, the bank maintained its existing affordability criteria and a selective approach to retail exposure.
The corporate segment experienced remarkable growth of 19% year on year. In comparison, the commercial advances portfolio reduced 19% because of a cautious lending risk appetite, a reduction in the Non-Performing Loans (NPL) and the overall lack of growth in the market.
The combined result of FNBB’s commercial and corporate advances was a decline of 7% against the overall comparable decrease of 3% in the market. While actively looking for the opportunities arising out of the anticipated recovery pattern, the bank said it would continue to be cautious in maintaining the quality of its credit book.
NPLs, according to FNBB financial declined by 11% year-on-year from P1.2 billion to P1.09 billion, resulting in a NPL/gross advances ratio of 7.3% as of 30 June 2021. FNBB stressed that reduction in NPL was primarily due to a recoverability assessment of long-outstanding NPL loans resulting in the write-off of irrecoverable loans. The closing provision levels remain appropriate.
The June 2020 deposit portfolio experienced significant growth following the reduced spending commensurate with the lockdown restrictions and deferred capital expenditure cycles by corporates. In the June 2021 results, deposits declined from P23.2bn to P21.4bn (8% decline), driven by an increase in activity following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the normalisation of the market liquidity.
Investment securities declined by 17% year-on-year following the normalisation of market liquidity to pre COVID-19 levels. The decline was driven by the drop in short term assets at the back of the decrease in demand deposits.
FNBB indicated that it had demonstrated a resilient performance amid COVID-19 uncertainty shown by maintaining the profit before tax despite the significant reduction in the Bank Rate. This was underpinned by the normalisation of credit losses and a resilient non-interest revenue (NIR) base. Return on equity of 18.2% (2020: 20.1%) has declined due to the conservative level of capital held over the financial year, as well as the 2% reduction in profit after tax.
The past year has presented itself as a real and severe economic test, and FNBB has shown that its income streams are resilient while a critical focus has been on strengthening the balance sheet. A decrease of 15% in interest income was driven by the reduction in the Bank Rate, the decline in the advances book, and a change in the advances portfolio mix.
This was further driven by the fall in the cash and investment portfolio interest income due to the reduction in risk-free rates and lower yields across investment securities for a portion of the year. Interest expense decreased 22% following an 8% decrease in deposits and the Bank Rate reduction. The deposit mix shifted from overnight deposits to term deposits as clients sought higher yields.
Impairments declined by 43% year-on-year, driven by a 49% reduction in both Stage 1 and 2 impairments, as well as a 40% reduction in Stage 3 impairments. The stage 1 and 2 impairment decline followed a reduction in the gross advances exposure and the normalisation of impairments in June 2021.
The Stage 3 impairments decline, is attributed to a reduction in defaults over the period, with the bank has partnered with clients to help their businesses through the pandemic. The P180m reduction in impairments decreases the credit loss ratio to 1.6% (2020: 2.6%).
De Beers Group on Wednesday announced the value of rough diamond sales (Global Sightholder Sales and Auctions) for the seventh sales cycle of 2021.
Figures show continued growth in rough sales, bolstered by solid demand for polished goods in the key markets of the United States of America and China. The 2021 cycle seven rough sales clocked a provisional figure of $514 million, a slight increase from $513 million recorded in the previous cycle. The jump, however, is a significant increase when mirrored against the 2020 cycle 7 figure of $334 million.
Owing to the restrictions on the movement of people and products in various jurisdictions around the globe, De Beers Group continued to implement a more flexible approach to rough diamond sales during the seventh sales cycle of 2021, with the Sight event extended beyond its typical week-long duration.
As a result, the provisional rough diamond sales figure quoted for Cycle 7 represents the expected sales value for 23 August to 7 September. It remains subject to adjustment based on final completed sales. Commenting on the sales results Bruce Cleaver, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Group, said sentiment in the diamond industry’s midstream continues to be positive, as reflected in the company’s sales for Sight 7.
Cleaver explained that demand for rough diamonds results from robust demand for polished diamonds in De Beers’sBeers’s key markets of the US and China. He highlighted that the midstream’s optimism for the remainder of the year was also evident at the recent JCK Las Vegas trade show, which was a success despite being held under challenging circumstances.
“As we now head towards a traditionally slower period for rough diamond sales, we remain cognisant of the risks to economic recovery from the global pandemic,” he said. De Beers impressive rough sales run is against the backdrop of performance come back in the first half of the year.
The revenue for the first six (6) months of 2021 demonstrated resilience and an impressive comeback following a devastating 2020. The more significant part of 2020, in particular, the first half of the year, was characterized by low demand across the entire diamond value chain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Countries put measures to curb the spread of the virus that broke out of China in late 2019; this came with travel restrictions that curtailed the movement of goods and people, reducing trade to record low levels. However, this year as crucial markets continue to reopen and exhibit signs of pre-covid demand levels, De Beers total revenue for the first half of 2021 increased significantly to $2.9 billion (Over P32 billion) from $1.2 billion (P13 billion), mirroring a jump of over 141%.
The growth in revenue for the first half of the year was bolstered by continued recovery in global consumer demand for diamonds, as the industry dusts itself from the impact of Covid-19, supported by fiscal stimulus in the US and the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines. Restrictions on international travel and entertainment over the pandemic resulted in higher discretionary spending on luxury goods, including diamond jewellery.
In the first six months of 2021, the cutting centres achieved strong sales of polished diamonds in response to the ongoing recovery of consumer demand. However, the severe Covid-19 wave in India during April and May reduced capacity to cut and polish operations within the critical Indian midstream sector, further exacerbated by polished diamond grading backlogs in critical markets.
The relative shortage of polished supply contributed to a positive, polished price trend in the first half of 2021. The recovery of demand in all parts of the pipeline enabled rough diamond producers to destock at the start of 2021. This robust demand, combined with supply constraints arising from production challenges, created a favourable dynamic in the first half of 2021 that supported higher rough diamond prices.
At half-year, De Beers rough diamond sales had risen to $2.6 billion from $1.0 billion in the half-year 2020, and this was driven by robust rough diamond demand as the midstream pulled through stocks in response to the recovery in consumer demand, with rough diamond sales volumes significantly higher at 19.2 million carats from 8.5 million carats in the first six (6) months of 2020.


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Just a week after the ride-sharing company came under fire for continued allegations of flouting disability laws, Uber, master of stunt marketing and PR recovery attempts, is updating its Uber Partner app to cater to deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers.
The app's new features — a result of Uber working with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and deaf driver partners to learn about their specific frustrations with the platform — include a flashing screen for trip requests (as opposed to previous audible-only beeps) and the ability to turn off the option for users to call deaf drivers (users will only be able to text them).
The app will also send a notification to users to let them know their drivers are deaf or hard of hearing, prompting them to enter destination details ahead of time.
Uber announced the updates at an event with the NAD in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning. The new features are now available to all Uber Partner drivers in four U.S. cities with some of Uber's largest markets: Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. A broader rollout will come "soon," according to a blog post from the company.
These efforts, developed over several months through Uber's product innovation team, are intended to make the platform more accessible and "remove some of the friction we were hearing about from our driver partners, and even from riders who were taking rides from deaf or hard-of-hearing partners," Rachel Holt, Uber's east coast general manager, told Mashable.
"I think it's just a really neat way that our technology platform can enable this frictionless experience, and really showcase a way for members of the community who are deaf or hard of hearing to now feel like, 'Here's an opportunity for me to make money with a technology platform that's actually designed around the unique needs that I have,'" Holt said.
At face value, these app updates do seem beneficial. Holt mentioned the number of deaf Uber drivers is growing; that means the new app features have the potential to increase work opportunities for the deaf community, which has a disproportionately high unemployment rate. It also ultimately increases communication between drivers and riders.
But the juxtaposition of this announcement to Uber's recent practices might compel the public to view the initiative as conveniently timed.
Over the past eight months, there have been several lawsuits alleging that Uber drivers have discriminated against blind and wheelchair-using riders. Uber claimed that, as a technology company and not a transportation service, the Americans With Disabilities Act doesn't apply to its operations, according to The Daily Beast's Nina Strochlic.
Kristen Parisi, a Boston-based Uber rider who has used a wheelchair for 25 years, said Uber drivers have refused to take her; others have been verbally abusive.
Via The Daily Beast:
Parisi says the driver called her an “invalid” and said she “must not be a Christian” and needed to “develop thicker skin.” At the end of her ride, Parisi says the driver asked if she was going to give a bad review. “I said, ‘It has nothing to do with bad review, it has to do with illegal practice,’” she says. “‘You have to understand what you’re doing is not only mean — it’s against the law.’”
When asked whether the new app updates have anything to do with these recent controversies, Uber's Holt simply told Mashable she thinks the Uber app was "always designed to expand access to safe and reliable transportation options for all on the rider side, including riders with disability."
"I think we're incredibly committed to continue to build solutions that support everyone's needs and to move around more effectively. I think this particular update is unique in that it also addresses partner needs," she said.
While considering driver needs is important, it's the treatment of riders that has largely earned Uber a seemingly never-ending streak of bad publicity.
Examples include a number of sexual abuse allegations against Uber drivers (and a canceled partnership with UN Women), concerns over privacy violations after an executive suggested the hiring of "opposition researchers" to dig up dirt on journalists, alleged shady business tactics against competitors and enabling surge pricing during crises.
The company has tried to introduce new features that tackle social issues before, such as adding an "SOS" button to the app in India earlier this year after a New Delhi driver allegedly raped a female rider. Critics, however, pointed out that such an update is not enough to protect Uber customers.
— Uber (@Uber) May 1, 2015
In addition to app updates, Uber has engaged in a number of marketing stunts over the past several years— some charitable, some downright strange — in attempts to refocus its public image. Despite these efforts, many users continue to boycott the app.
Ultimately, Uber maintains that Thursday's new app features will benefit drivers in the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, as well as passengers overall.
"I think this is the right thing to do for our partners, and for riders who are connected to those partners," Holt said.


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The volume of plant-based meat alternatives sold through US retail outlets slipped 4.3 percent in March, according to recently released data from IRI and analyzed by Texas-based market research firm 210 Analytics.
The performance of plant-based meat products is keenly watched by the seafood industry, which is seeing an increase in the number of alternative seafood items hitting the market.
The combined dollar sales of both fresh and frozen meat alternatives rose 3.6 percent to during March to $92.8 million (€86 million), although this gain was boosted by price inflation, said Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics.
Sales of refrigerated plant-based meat alternatives, commonly sold in the meat department alongside conventional meat, reached $33 million (€30.5 million), down 8.6 percent versus year ago and 21.5 percent versus two years ago — which was the first month of the pandemic with tremendous sales spikes across categories, said Roerink.
Sales volume for these products was off by nearly 25 percent in March.
The top three alternative meat product categories -- dinner sausages, ground meat and meat patties -- all experienced lower dollar and volume sales. The ground meat category, for example, was off by 16.2 percent based on dollar sales, and 13.2 percent in volume sales measured on a per-pound basis.
In the broader frozen meat, chicken and seafood alternative category, dollar sales grew 1.2 percent to $56 million (€51.9 million), but volume sales slipped 2.5 percent.
The weaker performance of alternative meat products comes as sales of alternative seafood products appear to be slowing.
Sales of plant-based seafood in the US market increased 14 percent in 2021 to $13.9 million (€12.6 million), but the category's growth slowed from the 24 percent sales expansion seen from 2019 to 2020, according to data released in March by the the Good Food Institute (GFI) and the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA).


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How Boston Became a Fitness Apparel Startup Hub
In 2012, Dave Spandorfer cofounded philanthropic running apparel company Janji in St. Louis. Just a year later, the company was operating out of Boston.
Janji isn’t alone. In only a few short years, Boston has seen an influx of fitness apparel and footwear startups either founded in or drawn to the city. In the past year alone, Boston welcomed functional training brand No Bull; women’s cycling apparel company Pixi; resistance wear startup Force; athleisure retailer Brunswick Park; and footwear company York Athletics Manufacturing. More are almost undoubtedly on the way.
With personalized care and convenient locations, it’s no wonder patients love primary care at Tufts Medical Center. Learn More
The emergence may seem sudden, and the tide certainly has picked up speed of late—but it’s also a manifestation of Boston’s long history as both a manufacturing hub and a fitness and footwear mecca, from the 20th century to today.
“This city started as a shoe manufacturing [center] in the 20th century,” Spandorfer says. “You had a lot of footwear companies that started in that and then transitioned into other types of athletic wear—we’re talking about New Balance, Saucony, Reebok, Puma.”
“There’s such a rich history and heritage here that has deep roots in some of the earliest manufacturing that happened in the U.S.,” adds Emily Welsch, founder of women-focused cycling company Pixi, set to release its first collection later this year. “You can still really see a strong manufacturing presence.”
And because of that lineage, startups today have an incredibly deep talent pool to draw and learn from. Spandorfer says a good number of his staff members came from the design teams of Boston’s footwear giants, and the big-name companies in the city serve as—perhaps surprisingly—supportive mentors for the new guard.
“They don’t see us as some sort of existential threat,” he says. “I think there is a deep-seated collaboration between people here that you’re just not going to find basically anywhere.”
Welsch, a newcomer to the scene, agrees. “Since I’ve started Pixi, there’ve been quite a few companies that have reached out in the athletic apparel space,” she says. “I wouldn’t say it’s competitive, because all these companies are offering different products with the same ultimate goal.”
That goal is, of course, the essence of the athleisure movement: to outfit Bostonians in athletic wear from head-to-toe, from the gym to the streets.
“Fashion and activewear used to be segmented,” says John Udelson, founder of 3-year-old active lifestyle brand Crane & Lion. “It’s just how people are dressing [now]. I don’t think it’s a trend; I think we are seeing an opportunity in this space that is going to grow.”
It’s a movement that has serious roots in fitness-minded Boston, home of the Boston Marathon, grassroots programs like the November Project, legions of exercise enthusiasts, and an ethos steeped in fitness and footwear.
“The biggest way Boston has helped is to simply rely on the talent that’s all around us,” Spandorfer says. “There’s no way we could have gotten this in any other city in the country.”


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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MetaPop, the premier provider of Remix rights management, licensing, tracking, distribution and royalty services for Remixers and Rights Holders, today announced that they have reached 100,000 pre cleared tracks available for remixing on the platform. They are the first platform of its kind to reach this milestone.
To go along with 100,000 tracks, MetaPop has 13,000 users, 2,000 Fan remixes monetized and 100 remixes currently present on DSPs, showcasing the platform's continued success in linking rights holders with artists and remixes. They lead all remix rights management platforms in both of these categories. For their recent achievements, MetaPop has been selected as one of Amsterdam Dance Event's (ADE) '10 Companies to Watch' exposé - https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/program/2016/we-love-tech-10-companies-to-watch/5134647/
MetaPop's services have helped thousands of labels maximize revenue, while also allowing for artists more freedom than ever in legally and efficiently remixing music. Their partnership with companies such as Symphonic Distribution, Brooklyn Fire, and FUGA, with its vast network of labels like Domino Recordings, Ninja Tune, Hospital Records, Spinnin', Armada, among others, is helping the music industry grow into a friendlier territory for new artists and fan remixers alike.
"My label, Brooklyn Fire, kicked off the label sanctioned remixes on MetaPop & we couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome. It's great to see the results actively being distributed globally through MetaPop on all the major digital platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Juno, Beatport and beyond. MetaPop is the future of music & we are thrilled to be a part of history in the making." - Tommie Sunshine, DJ and Label Owner of Brooklyn Fire
MetaPop is currently distributing and monetizing fan remixes on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Beatport, Tidal and many more. MetaPop is the first company to monetize fan remixes on these platforms and has already published over 2000 remixes on YouTube, and 100 remixes on Apple Music and Spotify.
Founded by Matthew Adell (former CEO of Beatport) and Michael Mukhin (former CTO of Boomrat) MetaPop is free to use for both rights holders and remixers.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/metapop-reaches-100000-pre-cleared-tracks-for-remixing-300346393.html


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Quality trenching equipment and customer service key to success
Bernard Schiller said the company decided to invest in a new trencher as its previous machine had worked up a lot of hours of use, so it was the right time to invest in new equipment.
Versatile Services Australia grows with Vermeer
Vermeer has been a pioneer of trenchless technology - one of the broad range of complementary technologies offered by the company for underground service installations.
Speed, power and silence: directional drills with a difference
Aaron Finch, Director at DirectBor, said the company is always looking for the latest technology to help them succeed, and recently decided to purchase a new Vermeer HDD rig.


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Trailer Watch: Mariah Carey Assembles Her Famous Friends For Apple TV+'s Magical Christmas Special
It’s been a rough year and we really need some cheering up.
Apple TV+ just dropped the trailer for Mariah Carey’s upcoming Christmas special.
Slated to premiere on the streamer on Dec 4, Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special centres on a crisis at the North Pole, which can only be helped by Santa’s favourite Christmas helper, Carey herself.
To carry out her mission, Carey enlists the help of a number of special guests, including Tiffany Haddish, Billy Eichner, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri, and Mariah’s nine-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe.
Wait, there’s more. The soundtrack will launch exclusively on Apple Music on the same day as the special and then available on other music platforms from Dec 11.
The first single and music video ‘Oh Santa!’ features Carey performing with Grande and Hudson will be released on Apple Music and other streaming platforms on Dec 4 as well. On Dec 7, she will be interviewed by Zane Lowe on Apple Music and talk about her music and her just-released memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey.
Book of life: In September, Mariah Carey published her memoir, 'The Meaning of Mariah Carey', which debuted at No.1 on the New York Times Best Seller list.
On Christmas Day, Careywill appear on Apple Music Hits for a six(!)-hour Holiday Hits special, which will definitely include her 1994 carol ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’. The latter, featured on her Merry Christmas album, climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time on Dec 21, 2019 — 25 years after its release.
Photo: Apple TV+


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Sony has just released an app exclusive to Xperia devices called Live on YouTube, which does exactly what you expect it would. Users can boot up the app and start a live video stream from their Sony smartphone's camera, keep tabs on how many viewers and likes they have, as well as share links to the online broadcast to anyone they think would be interested.
Of course, like anybody using YouTube Live, your Google account and video channel need to be in good standing in order to try this out. Generally, you can do that by not posting trademarked material, which the app will warn you against doing before you start broadcasting. No doubt shooting continuously and streaming over LTE will be a bit of a battery hog, but for the right events, it could be exactly what you need.
It's a bit of a bummer that this is only for Sony phones right now, especially since this sounds like a feature that should be baked into the native YouTube app anyway. In the meantime, there are plenty of ways to find the APK and try to get it running on your device, though it's pretty hit or miss when it comes to Sony apps.
How many of you guys are rocking an Sony device, like, say, the Xperia Z2? Have any intentions of starting up a YouTube Live stream for any reason?


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Audi's X4 fighter is coming.
Audi recently revealed that rumors of a sportback version of its popular Q5 SUV were completely true, and official spy shots have revealed a car that is set to continue the coupe crossover craze so popular across the world these days. The Q5 Sportback will be made available later this year and will take the fight directly to the Mercedes GLC Coupe and BMW X4. The new sportback will be based on the upcoming Q5 facelift which in turn borrows some of its styling from the A4 facelift that includes a narrower grille, redesigned LED headlights, and taillights, as well as some other minor design tweaks.
SRK Designs has posted a video in which we gain some insight into how Audi has gone from a Q5 SUV to a slinky sportback.
It is clear to see that the car has a sloping roofline that is seriously pronounced when compared to the ordinary car. The ride height is also likely to drop, making it even more impractical. Over and above the sloped roofline, the Q5 Sportback will also feature additional changes to the rear-end to complement the overall design.
We don't expect the styling changes to be too dramatic, but they'll be enough to keep the Q5 fresh enough to lure in new buyers; after all, the Q5 is Audi's best-selling crossover.
While we might have a good idea of what the exterior design of the Q5 Sportback will look like, there are still no photos showing off the interior, but we suspect that the new car will feature a larger 10.1-inch infotainment screen, as well as Audi's upgraded MMI touch software as part of the Q5 facelift package.
Technical details are also scarce, but we believe that the new Q5 Sportback will make use of the current model's engine options which include the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and the 367 hp hybrid powertrain. There has been no word on an exact launch date, but we should see the Q5 Sportback making an appearance by the end of the year, or early 2021.


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Treehugger: Why Do the Dutch Like Bikes So Much?
It isn’t the climate; the weather can be pretty cold and rotten. Lots of North American cities and towns are flat and relatively dense, at least downtown. It’s not for lack of money- sales of expensive bikes are booming. The New York Times looks at the question and finds all kinds of answers: environmental concerns. Exercise. Fashion Statements. It helps that there are dedicated bike paths everywhere, secure lockers and parking, and acceptance by everyone, including all of the drivers of cars, that “Its a bike-loving country”
Link to New York Times article


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ZAFUL Celebrates Chinese New Year With Women’s Fashion Sales
Although Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rooster, is almost to pass, ZAFUL’s Chinese New Year is still on promotion, with a special sale that will continue though the end of February, discounts of up to 17 percent are available.
The sale is main offered for three fashion categories:
- Oriental embroidery
These embroidery and print are hot style and featured by many internationally renowned designer brands, including Christopher Kane, Now, you can purchase them through ZAFUL at significant discounts.
Many of these new fashion items are shirts and blouses, which add exciting new elements to simple designs.
- China Red
Red symbolizing good fortune and blessing in China. Red Chinese fashion wear is always in vogue and exudes the joyful aspects of the Spring Festival. These chic items include sweaters, tops and swimwear.
- 2017 Velvet
Always a popular choice, ZAFUL’s velvet fashions feature solemn oriental elements as well as a gorgeous appearance. Camisoles, dresses, slacks and swimwear are all available in velvet, always creating a stunning effect along with warmth and comfort.
With top quality materials for the velvet and superior fabrics, ZAFUL creates an stunning effect, one will feel comfortable and warm when wearing it.
ZAFUL is a affordable online store focused on sharing the latest news and fashion trends on women’s clothing.
For additional information about this Chinese New Year promotion, visit:


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This year, many businesses are stretching out their sales to start earlier and last longer, including many hotels. During a recent call, members of HSMAI’s Marketing Advisory Board discussed their sale plans and how coronavirus has changed how they traditionally execute them.
Showing Items with Internet & Social Media Category
As 2020 comes to a close, and the US is seeing an alarming resurgence in COVID cases nationwide, Google reports it is seeing that some behaviors may be sticking around longer than previously anticipated. As google looks towards recent search trends for HSMAI, here are the ones that remain top of mind.
As we move into the end of the year, emerging trends have appeared or persisted since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Google provides HSMAI with recent search trends their implications for travel marketers.
This recording was made especially for HSMAI members by Google. HSMAI wishes to thank Google for their insights in “Evolving Creative Messaging in a Post Covid World.”
Presentation by Jonah Berger at the HSMAI Marketing Strategy Conference 2020.
At the 2020 Marketing Strategy Conference on Jan 22, Tammie Carlisle, head of hospitality at Milestone Inc., focused on making sure your hotel website appears in search results in this Lightning Round presentation.
Google is one of the biggest tech giants in the world, accounting for 94 percent of all Internet searches. But what does that really mean? How is the company evolving, and how will that impact the hospitality industry? HSMAI’s Marketing Advisory Board discussed Google on a recent call. Here are some takeaways.
By Theodore Holloway, CHDM, Director of eCommerce, Remington Hotels, and a member of HSMAI’s Marketing Advisory Board There are a plethora of changes going on in hospitality marketing. On a…
HSMAI’s 2019 Adrian Awards competition will open on June 25 — honoring creativity and innovation in hospitality advertising, digital marketing, and public relations. Take some inspiration from one of last year’s Platinum…
HSMAI Executive THINK at the 2018 Consumer Electronic Show (CES)


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The South Korean government is analyzing the best way to agree to a trade opening with Mexico, either through a bilateral FTA, the Pacific Alliance or the Comprehensive and Progressive Treaty of Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
For now, at the Korea-Mexico Economic Forum, organized by the Comce, the South Korean government was interested in negotiating an FTA with Mexico and begin its entry into the Pacific Alliance, made up of Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile as soon as possible.
Mexico and South Korea have already had two unsuccessful attempts to conclude the FTA negotiations.
In that forum, Luz María de la Mora, undersecretary of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economy, said that Mexico is interested in negotiating a “next-generation” FTA with South Korea.
For his part, right there, the South Korean ambassador to Mexico, Jeong-in Suh, commented that an FTA between these two nations would allow the exchange of goods, services and investments that would increase the competitiveness of both parties.
The diplomat highlighted that some 2,000 South Korean companies operate in Mexico, but added that it is necessary to create synergies in additional sectors to the traditional ones (automotive, energy, electronics and electricity).
Currently, the South Korean government is analyzing whether it will request that its country join the CPTPP, while waiting for the start of negotiations with the Pacific Alliance, once it concludes the ongoing negotiations for the accession of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Canada.
South Korea also continues to actively enter into regional trade agreements (RTAs) with its main trading partners.
At the regional level, in November 2020 it signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), which has not yet been ratified.
Before, in 2018, it signed an ARC with five Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
At the bilateral level, the ARC between Korea and the United Kingdom was signed in August 2019 and entered into force on January 1, 2021. Korea also concluded negotiations for an ARC with Israel in August 2019, which has not been signed.
The RTA between Korea and Indonesia was signed on December 18, 2020, but has not been ratified. The RTA with the United States was modified in 2018.
Finally, in 2018 and 2019, Korea notified the WTO of its intention to suspend concessions and other obligations applied to certain imports from the United States and the EU in response to the adoption by these WTO Members of safeguard measures in relation to certain products from exportation


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Maruti Suzuki will be entering the midsize SUV segment to compete with Creta and Seltos.
With the latest trend of UVs, specially compact SUVs in the Indian market, the hatchback segment is getting some heat. Maruti Suzuki believes UVs are the future and with their latest alliance with Toyota, the carmaker is developing a new SUV and MPV for the Indian market.
India’s largest carmaker is considering to introduce a new midsize SUV for the country. It will compete against the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Expected to be having the same size, the new Maruti SUV is being planned to launch in 2022.
The upcoming SUV will be based on the current Vitara Brezza architecture. It will be manufactured in Toyota’s factory in Bidadi, Karnataka.
Unlike the rebadged version of Baleno, Ciaz and Ertiga planned with Toyota, the new SUV will have distinct characteristics for both Maruti Suzuki and Toyota.
Maruti could’ve introduced the international spec Vitara to compete in the midsize segment but seems like it is not viable for the market. Hence, they are developing a new SUV with Toyota specifically for India.
Maruti believes, their existing small car owners will be upgrading to bigger cars and specially UVs in the near future. The carmaker is focusing big on this midsize SUV and new MUV to retain their 50 percent market share in the Indian market.
Maruti Midsize SUV
– Maruti developing new midsize SUV for 2022 launch
– The SUV will be based on the current Brezza architecture
– To compete with Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos
Source – ETAuto.com


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On Monday, General Motors entered the Kingdom of Cambodia — a country situated in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. The General has officially launched the Chevrolet brand in the country by launching its first dealership in Phnom Penh — the country’s capital and largest city.
According to president of GM’s Southeast Asia Operations Martin Apfel, the firm’s expansion to the country was thanks to its rapid economic growth in last decade as well as high demand in brand new cars. Coincidentally, the demand for new cars in Cambodia is roughly 2,000 units a year, while annual demand for used cars is about 20,000 units. Mr. Apfel also stated that the Cambodian auto industry is expected to grow by 15 percent in 2013.
Cambodia’s United Auto Trading will be the exclusive distributor of Chevrolet cars in the country.
“Cambodian automotive market is small, but growing rapidly,” said chairman of United Auto Trading Tong Norm.
Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said during the launch event that the presence of Chevrolet reflected investors’ confidence in Cambodia’s security and political stability as well as good business opportunity.
Chevy has yet to announce the models it will offer in Cambodia, but sources have tipped us that the Sail, Sonic/Aveo, Cruze and Spark will likely round out The Bow Tie brand’s lineup in the country. We will update this article as soon as we get word on the official lineup.
The GM Authority Take
Even though 2,000 new car sales a year might seem like peanuts compared to high sales volume markets such as the United States, China, or Europe, The General is in the expansionary phase of its recovery — and it needs all the sales it can get — especially if it plans on winning back the “biggest global automaker” title rom Toyota and/or VW.


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Tesla without Musk is roughly impossible to imagine. Elon Musk - the Chairman, CEO, and largest shareholder of Tesla Inc. was recently sued by the U.S. SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) for his infamous tweets, on Aug 7th, about taking Tesla private.
Tesla’s shares spiraled as much as 13 percent on Friday, taking it down to its lowest levels since 2015. SEC accuses Musk of misleading investors by tweeting about taking Tesla private. Musk and the agency had reportedly come close to an agreement before the executive decided to back out. The SEC then filed a complaint seeking to ban Musk from the Board of Directors at Tesla.
This weekend, for Tesla, had the right reasons to celebrate achieving a milestone. Delivery centers across the country were finally making way for Tesla Model 3 Sedans, as the automobile-maker pushes production to achieve sustainable profits in the final days of a rocky quarter. Instead, the Musk-SEC grabs all the unnecessary attention.
“If Elon Musk resigns or is not the CEO, Tesla is a fundamentally different company that is less attractive to us,” told Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki in Santa Monica, California, which holds Tesla stock.
Musk and SEC, however, have pulled out of a settlement, in which the CEO wouldn’t have to admit any guilt, and Musk would remain barred from the Chairman position for two years after he and the company pays a nominal fine to the agency. Musk will be temporarily replaced by two independent directors at Tesla.


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FROM Lisa Chow
Wall Street, Main Street and Economic Crisis The finger of blame for the worst economic mess since the Great Depression has been pointed mainly at Wall Street, but what about Main Street, where ordinary Americans were living on credit cards and subprime mortgages, borrowed money might never pay back? The Christmas season was as dismal as had been expected? On this archived discussion of To the Point, it's worth asking, as we did in October, about economic recovery. Does China's high savings rate and few credit cards offer a better model? Will the crisis change America's values?
Consumer Complicity in the Credit Crisis The finger of blame for the worst economic mess since the Great Depression has been pointed mainly at Wall Street. But what about Main Street, where ordinary Americans have been living on credit cards and sub-prime mortgages, borrowed money they'll never pay back? Now that the roof's falling in, can consumers afford to continue spending? If they don't, what happens to economic recovery? China's consumer economy is booming, with a high savings rate and very few credit cards. Is that a better model? Will the crisis change America's values? We'll raise these and other questions today.
Mixed Messages from US diplomats on the new hard line on Syria Since President Trump's surprise retaliation against Syria's use of chemical weapons, Bashar al-Assad has used the same airport to launch conventional attacks on his own people. It's not clear what the US, its allies — or Vladimir Putin's Russia -- plan to do now.
After Syria strike a new Trump doctrine emerges The President who promised an end to entanglements in the Middle East and snuggled up to Vladimir Putin has now outraged Russia with surprise missile attacks on Syria. That's raised questions about who's running the White House? We hear a variety of answers.
"Tough on crime" rhetoric sees a revival at Sessions' DOJ The pendulum swings between treatment-focused approaches to drug abuse and tough law enforcement. Now, after years of Obama-era "reforms," President Trump’s Attorney General, Jeff Sessions wants local police freed from federal restrictions to fight another "war on drugs."


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Apple iOS and Android are the most used mobile operating systems out there. In reality, Apple and Google have been in an intense competition for years, but it’s hard to tell who wins this fight. According to reports, Google’s OS now leads in terms of adoption, with Android being installed on over 25% of active devices. In August 2018, reports claimed that iOS 12 was installed on 50 percent of active iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch devices, outpacing its predecessor, iOS 11.
The reason behind iOS 12’s huge success lies in its performance boost. In reality, iOS 12 makes your iPhone or iPad much faster than before. And even older models also benefit from iOS 12’s performance enhancement. Indeed, the latest version of Apple iOS is highly optimized for older iPhones like iPhone 6 or iPhone 6s. Apple iOS may lag behind Android in terms of customization options. However, there are still some areas where Apple iPhone is better and smarter. With that in mind, we made a list of the best iPhone features Android fans are most jealous of.
For some background, Apple iPhone XS now starts at $999, while the iPhone XS Max retails for $1.099 in the US for the basic model. Reports say that iPhone XS and XS Max are the most popular phones in the US market as carriers and Apple are offering a trade-in program. Indeed, you now can grab a new iPhone XS or XS Max if you trade in an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus.
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One of the coolest features when it comes to Apple iPhone is that you can reach the top of the display by simply tapping the status bar. In reality, this is something that’s been part of iOS since day one and is now the standard feature of all new iPhones. Reports claim that Android fans now craze for a similar feature this year, but Apple has patented it.
According to rumors, Google has been working on a feature that will allow you to quickly hit the top of your display with a simple tap. However, it remains unclear when we are seeing it. Tech experts say that it will come pre-installed in Android 10, which is set for 2019 release.
iMessage is one of the highlights of iOS devices. With iMessage, you can send and receive text messages between Apple devices. iMessage has been an essential part of iOS and macOS for years, providing the best alternative to the standard messaging app for iOS fanatics.
In 2016, sources said that Apple would unveil iMessage for Android at WWDC event, but it was nowhere to be found. In reality, Apple has no plan to bring its messaging platform to Android, instead, taking it away as a selling point of iOS. Reports say that there are now more than one billion iMessage users out there, making it one of the most popular messaging apps on the market.
In reality, Apple has been improving iMessage since its initial release. With iOS 12 release, iMessage received the all-new Memoji, a handy feature that allows you to build your own avatars. The best part is that you can choose your skin, hair, eyes, lips, and accessories. Sources claim that Google has been working on a similar feature for Android devices. In reality, the Messages app gets a huge improvement in Android 9, but it still lacks a few important features that make iMessage more capable.
Apple iOS receives a new software update every year with new things and improvements. Last year, the Cupertino firm announced iOS 12, the latest version of its mobile OS after months of leaks and rumors. On the surface, iOS 12 might not be a huge upgrade over iOS 11, but it still comes with a bunch of new things that are worth your time.
For Android, new software updates are limited to select devices. In reality, Google tends to release new updates for its Pixel and Android One devices out there. We are expecting an annual software update on Android devices, but the decision rests with smartphone makers out there.
Backup and restore
With Apple devices, you can back up your data to iCloud or iTunes in case something goes wrong. In reality, this is something that has been demanded among Android fanatics for years.
In reality, Google has its own backup tool but it is not reliable and fails to work on some models. Sources say that Google has been working on a new built-in backup app in Android 10. However, it remains unknown how Google manages to make it work.
These are the best iPhone features we wish to see in Android. Google has been working hard to improve its OS, adding new features while revamping the existing ones. So, let’s wait and see.
Got any questions? Share with us in the comments below.


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Between March and April, there were fewer empty stores in the city of Buenos Aires. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
The number of empty commercial premises —including those for rent and sale— in the city of Buenos Aires decreased by 25.4% compared to the months of March and April of this year and the same period of the previous year. Meanwhile, it fell 9.8% compared to the previous two months.
The data correspond to a survey carried out during the two-month period March-April 2022 by the Argentine Chamber of Commerce and Services (CAC). In numbers, during the second two months of 2022, a total of 341 premises for sale, rent or closed were detected in the surveyed areas, which were the main avenues and commercial streets of Buenos Aires. In the first two months (January-February 2022), the empty premises were 378.
The study observed that in the case of premises for rent and sale (that is, those offered), for rent there was a drop of 25.69% in relation to the previous two months and a drop of 39.5% compared to 2021, while, for sale they decreased by 25% compared to the January-February period and fell by 37.9% compared to March-April 2021.
In numbers, during the second two months of 2022, a total of 341 premises for sale, rent or closed were detected in the surveyed areas
The measurement of the camera —which has been carried out since 2014— included the main commercial arteries of Buenos Aires. There was progress in the number of empty stores on Cabildo (4800-5500) and Corrientes (200-6800) avenues. While they fell on Santa Fe avenues (700-5300); Rivadavia (2000-2800; 4900-5400; 6300-7400; 11000-11600); Cordova (4000-5300); and Avellaneda (2800-3800); Pueyrredon (0-1200); and in the pedestrian Florida.
On Santa Fe Avenue, for example, it went from 56 empty stores a year ago (March-April 2021) to 46 empty stores. In October of last year, the number had reached 81 empty premises. Córdoba Avenue, meanwhile, was the one with the greatest annual variation: it went from 74 stores closed in March and April of last year to 26 stores closed in the same period this year.
Corrientes Avenue has fewer empty stores than the previous year, but the closings grew compared to the first two months of the year. The area went from 102 empty premises in January and February 2022 to 107 in the last survey of the chamber.
Córdoba Avenue, meanwhile, was the one with the greatest annual variation: it went from 74 stores closed in March and April of last year to 26 stores closed in the same period this year.
In the city of La Plata, meanwhile, according to data from a survey carried out by the Federation of Wholesalers and Suppliers of the State of the Province of Buenos Aires (Femape), it was detected that, during March and April 2022, compared to the same In the first two months of 2021, there was a 30% drop in the number of inactive stores —for sale, rent, closed or simply closed— in the main commercial areas of the city. While in relation to the previous two months, there was a fall of 9.1%. During the third and fourth month of 2022, a total of 70 premises without commercial activity were detected in the surveyed areas.
Markets: Argentine shares fall up to 12% on Wall Street after the sharp rise in rates by the US central bank Ranking of properties in Latin America: two Argentine cities among the cheapest in the region Unknown unicorn: born in Lanús, learned to program alone and Surprises the world with his $2.5 billion startup


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USSEC looks to markets other than China
The CEO of the U.S. Soy Export Council (USSEC), Jim Sutter, says they’re working to replace lost export sales to China by focusing on other markets.
“We’re working with customers who have been long-time customers, but where our market share was low because we just didn’t have adequate supplies,” Sutter says. “So think of Europe, where our market share the last few years has been something like 30 to 35 percent. This year we’re up to 70 to 75 percent.”
Sutter says they’re also targeting developing markets—countries with large populations and good economic activity, but fairly low protein consumption.
]“Places like Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh,” he says. “Egypt, in particular, has grown from importing half a million tons of U.S. soy five years ago to two-and-a-half million tons this year.”
Sutter says emerging markets, like Nigeria, also hold good potential.
“It’s a place where imports of soy are very, very low today. But we project that in a few years time—five or ten years—it could grow into a couple million ton market.”
Sutter made those comments in an interview with the Iowa Soybean Association at this week’s United Soybean Board meeting in Fargo, North Dakota.


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Intel has taken the wraps off of its latest flagship performance processors, the Extreme line, formerly known as Haswell-E. The trio of chips - the Core i7-5820K, Core i7-5930K, and Core i7-5960X - and the new Intel X99 Express chipset that launches alongside them target gaming and multimedia systems, with up to eight cores and clock speeds as high as 3.9GHz.
LG has taken the wraps off a new hybrid offering, an Android tablet packing some generous specifications alongside the promise of high usability for various needs. The device runs Android 4.2.2, and though we don't yet know the price or availability of the slate, we do have a rundown of what it offers.
CyberPower has rolled out the red carpet for a new gaming machine: the Zeusbook Edge X6, a laptop boasting long battery life and an Intel Haswell processor under the hood. Brags CyberPower, its new X6 is both the lightest and the thinnest 15.6-inch gaming laptop it has made to date.
Acer is trying to be a trailblazer in the Chromebook market by launching the Chromebook C720. While Chromebooks don't usually inspire awe and wonder, this one just might. This Acer Chromebook boasts of being the first to come with a 4th generation, meaning Haswell, Intel Core i3 CPU, bringing speed and performance to this usually underpowered device line.
Intel has embraced Chrome OS, outing the first batch of Celeron-branded Chromebooks from a clutch of manufacturers, as well as the first Core i3 Chromebooks. The launch - which includes Lenovo's new N20p and N20 Chromebooks - also includes a new Education Chromebook reference design aiming to bring more Chrome devices into classrooms.
Google and Intel have scheduled a press conference next week, with the conversation revolving around Chrome OS. Taking place May 6, not much is known about what the conference will involve, but Intel is no stranger to Chromebooks. Via other manufacturers, Intel’s popular Haswell chipset is in many modern Chromebooks.
Toshiba has introduced some new laptops today, among them being three new Satellite offerings: the Satellite S55, Satellite S75, and the Satellite E45. With these laptops, which launch in the end of June, come a redesign targeted towards power users that is both thinner and better looking.
Intel has been one of the top makers of CPUs for computers and other devices for years. The current generations of CPUs for PCs that sit at the top of the Intel heap are the Haswell parts that have been around for a while. Those CPUs are set to be replaced in the second half of 2014 with new and faster chips.


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The Food and Drug Administration is going to need until the end of 2023 to review covered applications under the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) process. Previously, the agency said it would be done by June, but challenges in court from e-cigarette suppliers Juul, Logic, Njoy and Fontem are delaying the process, the FDA said.
Each of the companies above sued the FDA in federal courts of appeals challenging the agency’s decision on their covered applications. Since September 2021, the FDA has seen more than 50 lawsuits challenging its e-cigarette marketing decisions, the agency said in a Jan. 24 update to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
“Defending those lawsuits and undertaking multiple related application re-reviews continues to require substantial agency resources,” the FDA said in its filing, a copy of which was provided by the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO). “The FDA’s revised projections also reflect the fact that, for some pending covered applications, the agency has received amendments that it has accepted and is considering.”
Despite some challenges, the FDA has acted on more than 99% of the nearly 6.7 million deemed products for which applications were submitted by the Sept. 9, 2020, deadline.
The FDA’s court-ordered deadline to complete the review of PMTAs was Sept. 9, 2021, one year after the applications were due; however, it did not meet that deadline. Now the agency is under a court order to file regular status reports on its review of PMTAs.
The FDA laid out a new timeline on when it expects covered application review to be complete. Covered applications are limited to applications for new tobacco products on the market by Aug. 8, 2016. They also must have been filed by the Sept. 9, 2020, PMTA deadline. Finally, covered applications are products sold under the brand names Juul, Vuse, NJOY, Logic, Blu, SMOK, Suorin or Puff Bar, or that reach 2% of total retail dollar sales in Chicago-based NielsenIQ’s Total E-Cig Market and Players or Disposable E-Cig Market and Players reports.
The FDA expects to have acted on:
- 52% of covered applications by March 31;
- 53% of covered applications by June 30;
- 55% of covered applications by Sept. 30; and
- 100% of covered applications by Dec. 31.
The FDA is set to give its next status update to the court on April 24.
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