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Lexus USA has announced a voluntary safety recall for the 2006-2012 IS.
Kevin · January 30th, 2013
At a press conference today in Las Vegas, Lexus general manager Mark Templin officially announced the Advanced Active Safety Research Vehicle (AASRV) packed with advanced automated technologies meant to assist the driver.
Kevin · January 7th, 2013
In advance of its official debut on Monday in Las Vegas, Lexus has released a (very) short clip of their new autonomous research vehicle.
Kevin · January 4th, 2013
Lexus will pay a fine of $17.4 million to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for its delay in issuing a safety recall on the 2010 RX.
Kevin · December 18th, 2012
According to Consumer Reports, Lexus is expected to announce a customer service campaign to fix the emergency trunk release in the 2007-2013 Lexus ES, 2006-2012 Lexus IS, and 2013 Lexus GS.
Kevin · December 12th, 2012
The 2013 Lexus ES 350 & ES 300h have been awarded a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Kevin · December 6th, 2012
Lexus is developing safety technology that will allow vehicles to communicate and co-ordinate with its surroundings, including other vehicles and even the road.
Kevin · November 12th, 2012
If the new LS's advanced pedestrian safety technology detects a potential collision, the car can be brought to a complete stop at speeds up to 24 mph.
Kevin · November 9th, 2012
The 2013 Lexus ES 350 & ES 300h have earned the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK award, with good performance in moderate overlap frontal, side, rollover and rear impact evaluations.
Kevin · October 3rd, 2012
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the USA has introduced a new crash safety test simulating an off-center accident, and the results after testing eleven mid-size luxury automobiles were not good.
Kevin · August 14th, 2012
Lexus has announced a voluntary safety recall for the 2013 GS 350 F Sport that affects approximately 650 owners.
Kevin · May 17th, 2012
The Lexus CT 200h has earned the Grand Prix award for highest safety performance among all vehicle models rated under the Japan New Car Assessment Program.
Kevin · April 26th, 2012
The Institute for Highway Safety has named the 2013 Lexus GS as a Top Safety Pick after the sedan received a "Good" ranking in front, side, rear impact, and rollover crash tests.
Kevin · April 11th, 2012
After finishing second last year, Lexus has taken the top spot in the 2012 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.
Kevin · February 15th, 2012
The 2012 Lexus CT 200h and RX 350/450h have earned Top Safety Pick awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Kevin · December 16th, 2011
Last night was the first snowfall in my area, so it's a good time to feature this video from Yokohama demonstrating the importance of winter tires, using a Lexus CT 200h as the example vehicle.
Kevin · December 9th, 2011
For the latest commercial in their *Engineering Amazing* campaign, Lexus brings some much deserved attention to their super-advanced crash-test dummies
Kevin · September 2nd, 2011
I've always been a big fan of MotherProof for their unique focus on cars that work for families, so I'm happy to be able to link to their latest review of the 2011 Lexus ES 350.
Kevin · August 4th, 2011
I enjoyed this clever commercial advertising the many safety features of the Lexus LX 570, GX 460, & RX 350.
Kevin · June 8th, 2011
Following news of a 5-star safety rating in Europe, the Lexus CT 200h has also been named a "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the USA.
Kevin · May 27th, 2011
Kevin · May 26th, 2011
Lexus has announced a voluntary safety recall on the select 2006-2007 GS 300/350, 2006-2009 IS 250, & 2006-2008 IS 350 models due to the possibility of a loose fuel pressure sensor — from the Lexus USA press release: Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced that it will conduct a voluntary Safety Recall involving …
Kevin · January 26th, 2011
Lexus has created a new, extremely sophisticated simulator that fully mimics the driving experience: It’s hard to imagine what something of this magnitude would have cost, but as a way to gather precise data on otherwise dangerous driving experiences, it’s essentially priceless. Along with this commercial, a longer, more detailed explanation of the driving simulator …
Kevin · October 11th, 2010
Lexus recently held an event in California for parents to learn more about Lexus safety and get a chance to experience the different first-hand: Hardly something to get the enthusiast blood going, but important nonetheless. From the video, you can see everything was explained in plain english, with almost no technical talk, making for an …
Kevin · June 29th, 2010
Lexus has issued a recall and stop sale on the HS 250h after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that too much gasoline leaks in a rear-impact test. The recall, which will affect 17,000 vehicles in the USA, is a result of a test that involves striking the vehicle with a deformable barrier from …
Kevin · June 25th, 2010
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the 2010 Lexus RX its TOP SAFETY PICK award. This designation recognizes the RX for earning the highest possible rating for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, along with being equipped with electronic stability control, which is standard. Read the IIHS Annoucement
Kevin · May 25th, 2010
Lexus Magazine has an interview with Charles Hubbard & Paul Williamsen of Lexus College, the company’s technical training center, about the various safety systems that Lexus uses in their vehicles. It’s just a quick overview, but I thought this question says it all: LEXUS: First of all, we can’t have a discussion about safety without …
Kevin · May 13th, 2010
Consumer Reports has lifted its Don’t Buy: Safety Risk rating on the Lexus GX 460 after testing the stability control software update — from the press release: CR contacted the Lexus dealership from which they had anonymously bought the vehicle and made an appointment to have the recall work performed. The work took about an …
Kevin · May 7th, 2010
Today Lexus announced that the Vehicle Stability Control update for the 2010 GX 460 is now available at all U.S. and Canadian dealerships. Dealers have begun contacting owners to set up service appointments for the software fix, and most should receive messages within the next week. Concurrently, sales of the GX 460 are resuming, as …
Kevin · April 29th, 2010
Lexus Japan has released a video demonstrating the stability control update: This video was accompanied by a press release which details the exact circumstances that caused the stability control issues discovered by Consumer Reports last week: The following conditions combine to cause the problem: In the GX 460 and Land Cruiser Prado, heavy components, such …
Kevin · April 20th, 2010
In response to last week’s Consumer Reports warning of the GX 460’s handling during a high-speed test, today Lexus announced a voluntary recall of all 9,400 2010 model year GX 460s sold to date. These models will receive a software update to the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system. Quoting from the press release: The VSC …
Kevin · April 19th, 2010
Various new details today in the continuing story of the Lexus GX 460 & Consumer Reports—here’s some articles of interest: ***** By way of TTAC, Japan’s Nikkei Daily is reporting that Lexus has a solution has been found to the oversteer exhibited by the GX 460 in the Consumer Reports test, and involves a reflash …
Kevin · April 15th, 2010
The Wall Street Journal has followed up on Toyota’s visit to the Consumer Reports test track: …engineers went to Consumer Reports testing track in Connecticut to try to see what the magazine’s auto engineers had found. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day, canceling the opportunity for testing. In addition, the Consumer Reports tester informed the …
Kevin · April 14th, 2010
Autoblog resident car engineering writer, Sam Abuelsamid, has posted an analysis of the Lexus GX 460 and the recent Consumer Reports test which led to a warning and the current sales stoppage. Of two emergency handling tests the GX 460 was subjected to, it passed the first, which was a double lane change to evaluate …
Kevin · April 14th, 2010
Consumer Reports has issued a safety warning on the 2010 Lexus GX 460 after standard testing revealed the SUV’s electronic stability control struggled to keep the vehicle from sliding during high speed cornering—this video illustrates the consumer magazine’s findings: Here’s details on the test and the potential safety risk: In the test, as the vehicle …
Kevin · April 13th, 2010
In response to media stories of vehicle acceleration, Lexus has released this video clarifying the stopping procedure for hybrid models: From this video, it is made clear that: 1) All Lexus hybrids have a brake override system, which cuts power to the engine when the accelerator and brake pedals are simultaneously pressed. 2) Lexus vehicles …
Kevin · March 31st, 2010
J.D. Power and Associates has released the results of its annual Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) for 2010. In the study, Lexus took third position in a tie with Buick, earning an average score of 115 problems per 100 vehicles. Just ahead was Lincoln (114), moving up from seventh last year, and taking the lead was …
Kevin · March 18th, 2010
In the latest round of crash safety tests conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), the Lexus HS 250h has received the agency’s highest rating of “Good” on its first evaluation, the frontal offset crash test. In this test, vehicles are accelerated towards a barrier at 40 mph. Approximately 40 percent of the …
Kevin · March 10th, 2010
A new Lexus commercial today—this one with a focus on quality and a return to the classic “Pursuit of Perfection” tagline: This commercial leads to a new section on the Lexus USA website devoted to quality control & safety, and includes videos of the RX 350 manufacturing process at the Cambridge Ontario plant and how …
Kevin · March 10th, 2010
J.D. Power and Associates has released the results of its annual Customer Service Index Study (CSI), and Lexus was again the top-ranked luxury brand, plus the #1 brand overall in customer service. According to J.D. Power: The study examines satisfaction among vehicle owners who visit a service department for maintenance or repair work. The CSI …
Kevin · February 24th, 2010
I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of my American readers a warm and plentiful Thanksgiving! Please drive safe if you have travels ahead of you, and enjoy this time with your family over the holiday weekend. All the best, Kevin Watts, Editor, The Lexus Enthusiast.
Kevin · November 26th, 2009
Toyota has announced the recall of the Lexus ES 350 & IS 250/350 models to have their accelerator pedals reshaped and/or replaced. This recall is to be a permanent solution to the risk of unintended acceleration, no matter what floor mat is being used. Starting in early 2010, dealerships will be equipped to reshape the …
Kevin · November 25th, 2009
A temporary solution to the ongoing safety recall affecting the Lexus ES 350 & IS 250/350 has been announced—according to Automotive News, zip ties will be used to hold down the floor mats until a permanent solution is ready: “We have reviewed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration what we’re calling a semipermanent floor …
Kevin · October 8th, 2009
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recommendation that 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350 & 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250/IS350 owners remove their drivers side floor mat, which may cause the accelerator to become stuck open under certain conditions: “This is an urgent matter,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “For everyone’s sake, we strongly …
Kevin · September 29th, 2009
The 2010 Lexus RX has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), along with the 2009 Audi Q5, 2009 Toyota Venza, and 2009 Volkswagen CC. To be given this top safety mark, vehicles must rank as Good in front, side and rear impacts, as well as being equipped …
Kevin · June 17th, 2009
Last up is a Lexus RX 450h commercial from Canada, which also manages to feature a canine (however brief): Strange that it’s taken me so long to post this, considering that I’ve seen this commercial repeatedly over the last month or so. Filmed in Vancouver, the song is Clair de Lune by Debussy. I’m always …
Kevin · April 7th, 2009
J.D. Power has published the results of their latest Vehicle Dependability Study, and for the first time since its inclusion, Lexus did not place first, coming in third behind Buick and Jaguar. The study looks at the problems per vehicle for the 2006 model year and the problems encountered over the first three years of …
Kevin · March 19th, 2009
Mentioned in the Lexus’ LX 570 marketing presentation, the Driver Empowered LX mini-site is now live. The site’s jam-packed with video footage extolling the SUV’s capabilities. Of particular note is the 360° tour, which manages to inject an infusion of character and presence that has been lacking in images seen so far. An interesting sidebar, …
Kevin · January 8th, 2008
Nancy Fein, Lexus’ Vice-President of Customer Services, recently gave a talk at the Source Media Customer Engagement Symposium, where she discussed how Lexus reacts when things go wrong. Bill Taylor, co-founder of Fast Company and business author, was at the event and recapped the presentation: …what happens when big dreams get mugged by reality? That’s …
Kevin · December 17th, 2007
The Lane Keep Assist feature, which effectively locks you into a highway lane, may only available on the European & Asian Lexus LS, but it’s incredibly effective, at least in the context of this video: I’m of two minds with this feature. You can never discount added safety, but the movement towards automated driving makes …
Kevin · December 16th, 2007
No doubt it’s a little old, but this video from CNet detailing the technology in the LS 460 is quite entertaining: Being such a fan of the LS 460, I didn’t even get bored during the inevitable parking assist demonstration.
Kevin · December 7th, 2007
The 2008 Lexus LX 570 is packed to the gills with some very interesting new technology, including a camera that gives the driver a full 180-degree view of what’s in front of the vehicle, effectively letting you look around corners. There’s a passenger-side camera that points down, as well, and when combined with the rear …
Kevin · November 29th, 2007
A video demonstration of the Toyota Driving Simulator has been posted on Youtube: Bit disappointed they didn’t show any virtual accidents. I know the simulator was built to examine potential safety features, but with that music in the background, they could probably test the driving characteristics of someone going insane. (Thanks Dan!)
Kevin · November 28th, 2007
Lexus has announced a recall of the 2006 editions of the GS 300, IS 250 and the IS 350, in regards to a problem with the fuel pipe design. Over time, a crack may form in fuel pipes located in the engine compartment, the company said today in a statement. The problem is blamed on …
Kevin · November 28th, 2007
Toyota has built a new driving simulator at their Higashifuji Technical Center in Japan, and it looks straight out of science fiction. Inside the 15-foot-high, 23-foot-wide sphere is a Lexus IS attached to an elaborate rail system and surrounded by a 360-degree video screen that displays a virtual driving environment: The internal surrounding sides of …
Kevin · November 27th, 2007
When released next month, the Lexus LS 600hL will be equipped with a group of technologies, collectively dubbed the Driver Monitoring System, that takes automotive safety to an entirely new level. From the Lexus press release: The system uses an algorithm to map the position of the driver’s facial features and monitors movement of the …
Kevin · September 8th, 2007
The U.S. federal government is continuing its investigation into the Lexus ES 350, which has been linked to 40 separate complaints of unintended acceleration, causing eight crashes and twelve injuries. What’s the cause? All-weather floor mats: Toyota Motor Corp. told NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Association] it sent a mailing to ES 350 owners in …
Kevin · August 15th, 2007
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released a report today to bring attention to the rather high cost of low-impact collisions in luxury automobiles. To illustrate their point, each of the test cars were subjected to four low-impact impacts: full front and rear collision, and front and rear side collisions. The damage was then …
Kevin · August 2nd, 2007


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Audi achieves 33rd consecutive month of record U.S. sales in September
• Audi Q5, Q7 sales jump 44.9% and 31.9% respectively in September
• Audi YTD sales up 13.6%
• Audi A4/S4 sales rose 28.8%
Audi reported September 2013 sales of 13,065 vehicles, a 6.2% increase over the previous September record set last year. September also stands as the 33rd consecutive month of record sales for the brand. Audi sales YTD increased 13.6% to 114,411 vehicles sold.
Through the end of the third quarter, 2013 already ranked as the third best year of total Audi sales in the US market.
“Audi momentum remained strong in September with several new models expanding our lineup for the final push to another year of record sales,” said Mark Del Rosso, Executive Vice President and COO, Audi of America. “With the Audi A6 TDI, A7 TDI, A8 TDI and Q5 TDI clean diesel models, along with the SQ5 performance crossover on dealer lots we are confident of setting record sales again this year.”
September results were bolstered by sales of the Audi Q5 luxury crossover, which posted a 44.9% gain in September with 3,268 units delivered for the month. Sales of the Audi Q7 increased 31.9% to 1,386 vehicles sold for the month. Year-to-date sales for the Audi Q5 increased 43.7% while sales for the Audi Q7 increased 46.7%.
Audi sedan sales remained strong with the Audi A4 leading by an increase of 28.8% over the same period last year to 3,357 vehicles sold for the month.
Audi TDI sales remained strong with the addition of three new clean diesel models this summer, including the Audi A6 TDI, Audi A7 TDI and Audi Q5 TDI.
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Challenges to be met in 2022 – Hotel Law Blog – December 29, 2021
December 29, 2021
Find out how JMBM’s Global Hospitality GroupÂ® can help you.
Click here for the latest articles on data technology, privacy and security.
As hotels find new ways to use technology to attract customers and improve their properties, they must remain aware of the security challenges these technologies present.
Bob Braun, senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality GroupÂ® and co-chair of the company’s Cybersecurity & Privacy group, explains three basic issues for 2022 that all hotel owners should be aware of to keep their business and information secure. of their customers.
Security challenges in the hospitality industry
Bob Braun, Hospitality Lawyer
Like virtually all industries, the hospitality industry continues to face cybersecurity challenges. As 2022 approaches, hotel owners and operators face some basic issues that impact the security of their systems and their guests.
- Wireless. Providing wireless internet connection to guests has become a ‘must’ for hotels – it’s no exaggeration to say that a potential guest won’t stay in a hotel that doesn’t provide free Wi-Fi. But hotel Wi-Fi systems, especially those in public spaces, have long been a soft subset of cybersecurity. Over the past 10 days, TechCrunch + reported that “an Internet gateway used by hundreds of hotels to provide and manage their customers ‘Wi-Fi networks has vulnerabilities that could put their customers’ personal information at risk.” . The system uses hard-coded passwords that are easy to guess and allow an attacker to gain remote access to gateway settings and databases; they can then use that knowledge to access and exfiltrate guest recordings, or reconfigure the gateway’s network settings to unintentionally redirect guests to malicious web pages.
- Social media. Brands and hotel operators are increasingly using social media to promote their properties and attract customers. But social media depends on the collection and use of personal information, and that information makes hospitality businesses a prime target for bad actors. Their goal is not limited to credit card numbers; these malicious actors seek personal information that enables them to obtain credentials and infiltrate networks. When a malicious actor gains access to a network – which could be your own – they can pose an existential threat to an organization through ransomware, extortion, denial of service, and other attacks.
- Sellers. Hotels depend on a multitude of suppliers and third parties to function. These range from point of sale systems to HVAC operators to property management systems. Every provider who has access to hotel systems – and it’s surprising how many do – poses a threat. When they have access to a hotel system, it creates an opening for a bad actor. In addition, each provider relies on a variety of providers themselves, which means that the provider of each provider who has access to the provider’s system can also have access to the hotel network. And as we’ve discovered from vulnerabilities caused by the much-publicized Solar Winds software and the more recently discovered log4j API vulnerabilities, even the most trusted vendors can’t be blindly trusted.
These aren’t the only security risks hotel businesses face, but they demonstrate the conundrum hotel owners and their operators face – the very elements that create security concerns are also critical to operations. . Hotels cannot stop offering Wi-Fi at the risk of alienating customers. Social media is a key part of hotel marketing, giving hotels the ability to target potential customers at a relatively low cost, which is especially important during today’s economic challenges. And suppliers cannot be eliminated; There are too many functions that require special skills and experience that hospitality companies cannot effectively bring in-house, at least at a reasonable cost.
But that doesn’t mean hotel companies can just raise their hands. If hotel companies have reasonable security efforts in place, they can control their risks and reduce the likelihood of a breach and the damage that results from it. Resources like the National Institute of Standards and Technology have created frameworks to help hospitality companies assess and manage their risks.
The Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell Global Hospitality Group, in conjunction with the Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell Cybersecurity and Privacy Group, works with hospitality companies to understand and meet their security and privacy needs, and we are ready for you. to help. For more information, contact Bob Braun ([email protected]) or Jim Butler ([email protected])
More information on cybersecurity issues
If you are interested in this article, you can also read other articles by Bob Braun on âData Technology, Privacy and Security,â which include the following:
New Challenges for Hotels: California’s New Privacy Rights and Law Enforcement Act of 2020
Hotel managers and owners are warned – You are responsible for the data security of your hotel
The California Consumer Privacy Act – What Hoteliers Need To Know Now
Avoiding Hotel Data Breaches with a Risk Assessment â¢ Audit – Lessons from the Marriott International Glitch
California passes the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018
GDPR: What you need to know about the new EU data privacy rules
Cyber ââAttacks on Hotels: What Should Hotel Owners and Operators Do?
Hotel cybersecurity: protect your guests and property from supplier data breaches
Bob braun is a senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality GroupÂ® and co-chair of the company’s Cybersecurity & Privacy group. Bob has over 20 years of experience representing hotel owners and developers in their contracts, relationships and litigation with hotel managers, licensors, franchisors and brands, and has negotiated hundreds hotel management and franchise agreements. His practice includes experience with virtually all major hotel brands and managers. Bob also advises clients on hotel condominium title issues and many transactional matters, including entity formation, financing and joint ventures, and works with companies on their data technology, privacy issues. and security. These include licensing agreements for software, cloud computing, e-commerce, data processing and outsourcing for the hospitality industry.
In addition, Bob is a frequent speaker as an expert in technology, privacy and data security, and is one of only two attorneys on the 2015 SuperLawyers list to be recognized for his expertise in security technologies. information. Bob is a member of the Advisory Board of the Information Systems Security Association, Los Angeles Chapter, and a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Contact Bob Braun at 310.785.5331 or [email protected]
It is Jim butler, author of www.HotelLawBlog.com and founding partner of JMBM and JMBM’s Global Hospitality GroupÂ®. We provide business and legal advice to hotel owners, developers, independent operators and investors. This advice covers critical hotel issues such as buying, selling, development, financing, franchising, management, ADA, and intellectual property issues. We also have compelling experience in hotel litigation, union avoidance and union negotiations, as well as cybersecurity and data privacy.
JMBM’s Global Hospitality GroupÂ® has been involved in more than $ 87 billion in hotel transactions and in more than 3,900 hotel properties located around the world. contact me at + 1-310-201-3526 or [email protected] to discuss how we can help you.
How can we help? Brochure References Photo gallery


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Selling things on Craigslist comes with some risk. You could end up being scammed, or possibly even robbed if you end up meeting a shady criminal type. Add to the list of potential concerns getting sued for $30,000. That’s what happened to a Massachusetts man named Doug Costello. Costello sold an old black and white printer to someone in Indiana for $40, leading to a $30,000 lawsuit that took more than six years to deal with.
Costello’s mistake, apparently, was selling that printer to one Gersh Zavodnik in Indianapolis. This (presumably unpleasant) person makes it his business to buy things online in the hope they won’t live up to his expectations in some material way. In this case, Zavodnik claims the printer was not functional when it arrived. Therefore, he filed a lawsuit against Costello in small claims court for $6,000.
It’s important to note that Zavodnik is what’s known as a pro se litigant, someone who represents himself in court cases. He knows enough about the legal system to swamp a normal person in confusing paperwork and filings to often get his way. Zavodnik didn’t let the dismissal of his small claims case be the end of it. Instead, he filed a case in Marion Superior Court alleging breach of contract, fraud, conversion, deceptive advertising, and emotional distress… for a printer.
Zavodnik sent several documents to Costello over the years, asking him to admit liability for as much as $600,000. Costello ignored them, but it turns out under Indiana law that means you have admitted liability. In March of last year, a trial judge looked at this case and decided Zavodnik was entitled to more than $30,000 because of that broken printer. Are you appropriately terrified of selling used electronics on Craigslist now? Don’t worry, there’s a happy ending.
Costello appealed the case, and the appeals court recently issued pointed verdict in Costello’s favor. The opinion says the $30,000 ruling “had no basis in reality.” Costello did have to spend $12,000 on legal fees to get this far, but he does still have the $40 from the original printer sale. So, he’s only out $11,960.
Printer cartridges image courtesy of frankleleon on Flickr.


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If a survey was commissioned to find out the most annoying passengers according to drivers, why one about cheating on one’s partner based on make of the car driven? Believe it or not, it’s real and it has been commissioned by a married dating website called Illicit Encounters, which polled its 750,000 members.
According to the responses from the users of the website, Audi owners are the most likely drivers to have an affair, with 22.2% of them saying they cheated. Premium car brands dominate the unusual ranking, with BMW drivers taking second place as most adulterous drivers (13.8 percent), followed by Mercedes-Benz (8.7 percent) and Volvo (7.6 percent).
The best ranked (or worst, depends on one’s point of view) non-premium brand is Volkswagen, which claimed fifth place (5.7 percent).
The survey also found that owners of French cars were the least likely to cheat on their partners. Only 0.4 percent of Peugeot drivers said they have had an affair, followed by Renault drivers (0.5 percent), Rover (0.5 percent), Skoda (1.1 percent) and Hyundai (1.6 percent).
“Cars can reveal a lot about their owners. All the cars in the top five represent our members - they are typically successful, motivated, high-achievers who are less likely to settle for something they find unsatisfying, be it a car or a relationship," said Mike Taylor from the Illicit Encounters website.
Last year, BMW drivers were found the most likely to have an affair.
By Dan Mihalascu


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CATTLE importers in Indonesia have been thrown another curveball in the form of a newly-announced Indonesian Government policy that will require productive heifers to comprise 25 percent of all future cattle import consignments.
The new policy was announced by the Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan in the Indonesian Bahasa media on Friday without prior warning or consultation to the cattle trade.
At this stage the policy is aspirational and has no regulatory backing, but will be the subject of further discussion among Indonesian ministries in coming weeks.
The sudden announcement reflects the type of nationalistic sentiment that is now re-intensifying in Indonesia as the country’s five-yearly parliamentary and presidential elections which commence in April, draw nearer.
Policies that are seen to champion local production and restrict Indonesia’s reliance on imports play well in Indonesia where agriculture is a major source of employment.
It remains unclear at this stage whether the rule will stick, or whether it is another example of nationalistic rhetoric designed to shore up electoral support, but it is a development the trade is watching very closely.
Gita is himself hoping to win the Democratic Party’s ticket to stand in the presidential elections in September/October, which follow the general Parliamentary elections in April.
In recent years as trade minister he has been relatively accepting of the need for more beef imports to improve supply and bring down prices. However in recent months with a pending presidential campaign approaching, he has been announcing new policies in the media that would be best described as nationalistic in pursuit of self-sufficiency.
If the new 25pc productive heifer rule is implemented as announced in the Indonesian media, it has the potential to make life very difficult for importers.
Of every 10,000 cattle they import, 2500 would have to be productive heifers for breeding.
Few local farmers can afford to buy imported breeding cattle, and, despite many attempts to make it work, feedlot-based breeding programs in Indonesia have repeatedly failed to prove commercially viable.
Importers must also pay a 5pc import tax on all imported cattle including breeding cattle which further increases the cost, another policy which was suddenly announced without warning two years ago and one which has dramatically eroded potential profit margins at the importer level.
The Indonesian Government’s plan for 2014 is to import 750,000 beef cattle for the year, with 525,000 as feeder cattle and 225,000 as slaughter cattle.
The Government has also announced that it wants to see 187,500 productive heifers imported for breeding in 2014, which is exactly 25pc of 750,000.
One of the questions which remains unclear from Gita’s media statements to date is whether the 187,500 head is to be part of, or on top of, the 750,000 cattle it wants to import in 2014.
Gita also announced last week that the reference price of beef used to determine import permit requirements will be raised by 20pc from an initial level of 76,000 IR/kg to 91,500 IR/kg.
The 20pc increase exactly matches the extent to which the Indonesian Rupiah has weakened against the US$ since the reference price scheme was launched in September last year. (The US$ is the currency in which almost all imported cattle and beef from Australia is purchased in Indonesia)
The currency depreciation has effectively made the price of imported beef more expensive in Indonesia, which has worked counter to Indonesian Government’s aim of using larger supplies of imported beef to bring down beef prices at consumer level.
Certainly the sheer volumes of cattle now going into Indonesia suggest that the price of feedlot-finished cattle could be set to take a big hit in coming months.
Since the launch of the reference price system and the associated release of significant new import permits a few months ago, massive numbers of Australian cattle have flowed into the country, and feedlots have gone from being almost empty to almost full in the virtual blink of an eye.
As a result, in the next six to eight weeks, some 200,000 lot-fed cattle will start hitting the market together, creating a massive injection of supply that will place downward pressure on the selling price of finished cattle – which indeed is what the Indonesian Government is hoping will happen.
A drop in cattle prices will further tighten the pressure on Indonesian importers and lotfeeders, which are already being squeezed by high cattle prices in Australia caused by the recent increase in orders and uncertainty over supply (exporters are paying $2.30 ex-Darwin for feeder steers at present), currency exchange rates, the rising cost of feed stock and the 5pc import tax.
While Indonesian politicians are pursuing nationalistic policies, they are also wanting more cattle than ever before, especially to boost their breeding herd.
Big import volumes are likely to continue for the short term until the Indonesian herd rebuilds.
However, as trusted sources told Beef Central in Indonesia late last week, because meat demand is also growing, there will be room longer-term for Indonesia to double its production and for Australia to continue to export good levels of livestock into the market – the win-win outcome the Governments of both countries have repeatedly stated they want to achieve.
- James Nason will be filing a series of reports from his Indonesian marketplace visit last week.
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text: Industry News Aug 16, 2016 Medium commercial vehicle an emerging segment in India India is one of the most potential markets for telematics solutions globally. Over the last four years, the country registered increased deployment of telematics solutions especially in commercial vehicle segment. Key application areas of the market include- cold chain, courier, pharma, retail and others. Presently, cold chain sector accounted for highest market share, followed by courier and others. Cold storage freight trailers are deploying telematics solutions to gather time-series data of the temperature inside the cargo container.


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The country’s government said it was regretting the US automaker’s decision to shut down its factory in Russia and scale down the Opel brand in a strategy designed to reduce the company’s local presence and alleviate losses.
According to Kremlin the actual losing side would be General Motors, the biggest US carmaker and the third largest in the world, with the Russian market expected to return to growth as soon as next year. “We can express regret but on the other hand there never is a vacuum on the market, if one company leaves, other companies fill this gap and … the company unfortunately has put itself at a disadvantage for when the market picks up,” commented Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson. Earlier this week General Motors announced it would shut down its assembly facility in Sankt Petersburg, loosing around 1,000 employees in the process. The company added it would scale down the presence of the Opel brand and also cease manufacturing of certain models produced at factories belonging to the GAZ group, save for the best-selling Chevrolet Niva sport utility vehicle.
The US automaker also added the company would refocus its restructured business towards the sales of Cadillac models and also certain Chevrolet cars produced in the United States, as a measure to cope with the prolonged economic downturn – since sales of luxury cars slumped less than their mass-market counterparts. Russia has seen numerous automakers reshuffling their local units, ceasing production, lifting prices and ending imports of certain models as the car market collapsed because of a massive economic downturn.


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Gov. calls lawmakers 'biggest boozers'
HELENA — Citing alcohol sales data, Gov. Brian Schweitzer has called state lawmakers some of "the biggest boozers," just as the legislature is preparing to arrive in Helena to start what already promised to be a tough session.
Schweitzer's comments, predictably, are not sitting well with legislators.
The governor, who for years has lampooned the lawmakers for eating "thick steaks and old whiskey" bought by lobbyists, upped the ante recently at a press conference discussing tax revenue.
He pointed out Department of Revenue data showed wholesale liquor sales go up in Helena when the Legi...


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Apple made £4.5bn profit in the last three months despite falling iPad sales, withpromised for the future.
"We have more than one tool in the toolbox," said Apple boss Tim Cook while discussing Apple's Q2 financial results. "We're working on some stuff that we're really proud of. We'll announce things when we're ready."
Apple took in a total of £23bn between April and June, slightly down from £28.4bn in the first three months of the year. But Cook probably isn't too upset, as that's still £4.5bn of pure profit.
The iPhone was Apple's most popular device, shifting 31.2m phones. The iPhone sold more than the 26m shifted in the first three months of the year, but less than the 37.4m sold this time last year.
By contrast, iPad sales are dropping: 14.6m iPads sold this quarter, down from 19m earlier this year and 17m last year.
But that's still a lot of tablets, by anybody's standards. "If there are other tablets selling, I don't know what they're being used for," said Cook. Ouch! Take that, Google Nexus 7.
Apple is expected to release not one but two iPhones before the end of the year, with rumours swirling about a regularand a cheaper plastic model perhaps called the . And new software arrives in the next few months, which could revitalise sales of current phones and tablets.
Cook also hinted that connected cars could be in Apple's future. "Having something in the automobile is very, very important. It is something that people love," he said.
What's next for Apple? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our always profitable Facebook page.


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Dapper Labs makes digital gaming as accessible and easy as possible for the masses. But what do the company’s partnerships with sports giants NBA, UFC and NFL mean for both casual and die-hard fans? What does Dapper Labs’ Flow ecosystem actually do? For a brand that wants access to “everyone who has a phone”, what are Dapper Labs’ next steps? When Tatler’s special projects and VIP communications manager Natalya Xavier sat down with Mik Naayem for Tatler TV: Metaversed on July 7, she was determined to find out.
In case you missed it: Watch Season 1 of Tatler TV: Metaversed here
Between Crypto Kitties, a hugely successful blockchain game (and one of the industry’s first NFT collections), and Flow, a new blockchain built for the next generation of apps, games and digital assets, Naayem has had his hands full. The world of applications is massive, but Dapper Labs found its strength in collectibles, consumer products and gaming. Since its launch two years ago, NBA Top Shot, a marketplace where sport fans can buy, sell or trade basketball video clips and memorabilia, has been a gateway to Web3 technology adoption for many novices. Earlier this year, the brand passed US$1 billion in sales.
But why sport? Naayem says success is all about tapping into what people care about. “It started with the idea of people owning and collecting virtual things they care about. When we spoke to sport fans, it became obvious: people love to see incredible athletes achieve greatness. Those moments of greatness are what make us fall in love with a player or a team. These moments can be deeply emotional too. We knew that if we could package these moments and sell them to people they would be considerably better than a portrait on a piece of cardboard,” he says, recounting his own standout memory of football ace Zinedine Zidane famously headbutting Marco Materazzi at the 2006 Fifa World Cup. “I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing when that happened,” he says, laughing. Now, his platform is giving fans a chance to relive and own other iconic moments in sporting history.


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Moove Media lets its cows loose
For the next three weeks, more than 400 Moove Media cows will be seen grazing Singapore’s open spaces. The “Moove Cows@Work” campaign that ComfortDelGro Group’s outdoor advertising arm, Moove has launched is in celebration of Singapore’s workforce. The Moove Cows@Work campaign focuses on several jobs that have helped shape Singapore. Also together with the campaign, Moove Media will run a Facebook contest where the public can send photographs of poses they have taken with the cows. Participants who receive the most “votes” or have the most creative caption will stand to win attractive prizes.
GLP appoints Tulchan Communications
Logistics facilities provider, Global Logistic Properties (GLP), has appointed Tulchan Communications as its communications agency, following a pitch. From 24 July 2012 onwards, Tulchan will work with GLP to manage its corporate communications and media relations activities in Singapore and across the region. GLP owns, manages and leases out 438 completed properties in 163 logistics parks spread across 33 major cities in China and Japan. The Tulchan team includes Angela Campbell-Noë, Ng Wei Joo and Tom Murray and will report to Ambika Goel, SVP, capital markets and investor relations, GLP.
Buddy Media classifies twitter followers
Buddy Media has released its latest “age-screening” solution for brands which allows them to screen the age of its followers on Twitter. Over the past month, Buddy Media has been testing this solution with a small and select group of alcohol brands from several of the alcohol industry’s major holding companies. When a user clicks to follow a brand, the brand automatically directs the user to a link and enters their age. If the user meets the age threshold set by the brand, they will automatically follow the brand. If the user does not meet the age threshold the brand has set for their country, they will be unable to continue following the brand.
Bayer HealthCare appoints Max PR
Bayer HealthCare Asia Pacific has appointed Max Public Relations as its PR agency for the third consecutive year in support of hemophilia treatment and awareness. Max PR is in charge of facilitating the organisation of Bayer HealthCare’s annual Asia Pacific Hemophilia Camp. The camp, which will take place in South Korea, from 27 to 29 July 2012, will allow participants to submit their most creative ways of depicting how they will overcome their disease. During the three day camp, young people with hemophilia from the region will gather for to better understand and empower themselves with the skills to live independently.


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Substantial change to people’s shopping habits, such as surging e-commerce and home delivery, has been one of the consequences of COVID-19 and now some FMCG brands are stepping up their efforts to sell directly to consumers.
Bypassing the big supermarket chains and other retailers means companies like PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz may be able to keep more profit for themselves, but at least as important is the ability to experiment with e-commerce and collate valuable customer data that is usually retained by retailers.
As reported by the Financial Times, PepsiCo is using its PantryShop site to sell boxes of snacks and drinks that can be delivered to any zip code in the contiguous USA, while Kraft Heinz has launched a “Heinz to Home” delivery service in the UK.
Probably in recognition that demand for processed food has grown during the coronavirus crisis, the Heinz to Home initiative offers three parcels, consisting of an “essentials” bundle, a collection of sauces and condiments, and a baby food package.
Priced between £10 and £20, the company also charges a £3.50 delivery fee, although that is waived for NHS and other essential workers.
According to the FT report, coronavirus has made direct-to-consumer operations more viable despite the obvious challenge of having to factor in delivery costs.
“Different companies have had direct-to-consumer ambitions, but they haven’t found the right market circumstances,” observed Steve Chantry, Kraft Heinz’s commercial director for northern Europe.
“For sure there is potential, for us and many other companies,” he added. “But I think the value in this is as much in the data, testing and learning as it is in any scale commercial proposition.”
And consumer data is the big prize. FMCG executives told the FT that they have no plans to replace retailers on a substantial scale any time soon. Instead, they are trying to improve their understanding of e-commerce and collect useful customer data, such as who online shoppers are and how they behave on the sites they visit.
Gibu Thomas, for example, the head of global e-commerce at PepsiCo, said he didn’t expect D2C to “remotely match” the scale of traditional retail channels for companies such as his.
But he added that PepsiCo was gaining valuable insights from its new projects. “Obviously we want any business we get into to be sustainable, but the value can come in many different ways,” he said.
Sourced from Financial Times; additional content by WARC staff


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Retail sales in China fell again in May under pressure from the corona lockdowns in the country. Industrial production in the world’s second-largest economy did increase, according to figures from the Chinese government.
Retail sales fell 6.7 percent year on year. That is less strong than in April when they shrank by more than 11 percent. Due to corona outbreaks, major cities including Shanghai and Beijing have gone into lockdown.
As a result, for example, fewer clothes, cars and other non-essential goods were sold. The lockdowns have been relaxed somewhat recently, but measures remain in place in cities such as Shanghai.
Production in China’s sizeable manufacturing industry rose 0.7 percent year-on-year last month. In April, there was still a decrease of 2.9 percent. This is partly due to higher car production in China. The production also increased in the mining industry.


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Moving to Sydney from the UK, Rob Davey took up the general manager position at Electronics Arts for Australia and New Zealand in 2011.
FromSoftware’s challenging RPG Demon’s Souls is now available for purchase from the PlayStation Network store.
EA has set the A/NZ release of Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel for March 28.
EA used the end of 2012 as an opportunity to host its first ever Asia Showcase.
The Ubisoft of today is far different from the company it was a decade or more earlier.
Namco Bandai has set the A/NZ release of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 for March 7.
After a cliffhanger ending in Crysis 2, Crytek is following up with a third title in the series.
With the original Crysis setting the benchmark for graphics and gameplay, and Crysis 2 marking the debut of the series on consoles, the stakes are high for next year’s release of Crysis 3.
Fuse marks somewhat of a rebirth of Insomniac Games as a company.
When it comes to describing Fuse, Insomniac Games creative director, Brian Allgeier, says it contains the dry humor and teamwork of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and the alien weapons from District 9.
Namco Bandai recently held an event to let the media to go hands-on with the new Tomb Raider game following its demonstration at E3 2012.
It has been a while since Agent 47 has graced the video game world with his presence.
Following its launch November 2006, the Sony’s PlayStation 3 has now sold 70 million units worldwide.
When the original Tekken Tag Tournament was released, it was a launch title for the PlayStation 2
Following the integration of GamePro content into the PC World website in December 2010, the PC World team has expanded its focus to covering the latest video game industry experts, in addition to reviewing the most recently-released gaming titles.
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SAN FRANCISCO: Ride-hailing app Lyft has brought on WE as its PR AOR.
Dominic Carr, Lyft’s VP of comms, said the company had a “lightweight” RFP process that began in March and concluded in early May. WE officially started work later that month.
WE will support Lyft end-to-end, working across corporate, consumer, social impact, technology and data and analytics.
“We really wanted to make sure we had a team both in-house and externally that could help tell the story of the company’s vision,” Carr said. “We’re squarely focused on transforming consumer transportation.”
Lyft also operates one of the largest micro-mobility networks which includes Citibike in New York, Divvy in Chicago, Bay Wheels in San Francisco, Capital Bikeshare in Washington, DC, and Biketown in Portland.
Hiring WE worked in lock-step with Lyft’s investment in its in-house comms team. The company hired Sona Iliffe-Moon from Meta to lead Lyft's consumer and tech comms teams, as well as Jodi Seth from Amazon to oversee corporate and policy comms teams. Both report to Carr.
Lyft also works with Greenbrier, which helps the ride-hailing platform with crisis issues management.
The account team will be led by Jamie Jang, SVP at WE, Lily Karp, VP, who will oversee consumer and technology initiatives, and Megan Mrazek, VP, who will work across corporate comms.
Carr declined to comment on the incumbent agency but said Lyft was previously working with “a large number” of firms.
In July, Lyft hired Coolr as its brand marketing social AOR.
Budget information was not disclosed.
Lyft, founded in 2012, is one of the largest transportation networks in the U.S. and Canada.
Other companies in WE’s consumer client portfolio include Volvo, McDonald’s, Brother Printers, iRobot and Lego Education.
WE posted a 16% increase in revenue to $172.6 million globally, with revenue up 10% to $124 million in the U.S., according to PRWeek’s Agency Business Report 2022.


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Tassie Cinemas Set To REOPEN VERY SOON!
Written by Josh Agnew on June 17, 2020
After closing more than THREE months ago due to COVID-19, Village Cinemas across Tasmania are expected to reopen by NEXT THURSDAY!
Village cinema sites in Launceston, Eastlands and Glenorchy are ready to fire up the projector once again, with the Hobart City site to follow suit on Thursday, June 25.
As part of Coronavirus precautions, strict social distancing will be in place indefinitely.
Every second row will be left empty and a minimum of two seats will be left empty between each group.
There will be longer intervals between screenings to allow for thorough cleaning, hand sanitiser stations will be set up, and patrons are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets and candy bar items online – all sales will be card only.
Village Entertainment CEO Kirk Edwards said “We are committed to providing our guests with a safe and healthy environment and we have been working diligently to implement a number of health and safety processes so our guests can relax and enjoy their movie-going experience.”


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The Wall Street Journal reports Capital One Reports Data Breach Affecting 100 Million Customers, Applicants
Capital One Financial Corp. , the fifth-largest U.S. credit-card issuer, said Monday that a hacker accessed the personal information of approximately 106 million card customers and applicants, one of the largest ever data breaches of a big bank. The announcement came the same day the alleged hacker, Paige A. Thompson, was arrested by federal agents in Seattle.
The bulk of the exposed data involves information submitted by customers and small businesses in their applications for Capital One credit cards from 2005 through early 2019, the bank said. The information included addresses, dates of birth and self-reported income. The breach compromised approximately 140,000 Social Security numbers and 80,000 bank account numbers, as well as some customers’ credit scores and transaction data, according to the bank.
Investigators accuse Ms. Thompson of breaking into the servers that Capital One rented from the cloud-computing company to steal customer data from the bank. Ms. Thompson, who is charged with one count of computer fraud and abuse, allegedly accessed the bank’s data through a misconfigured firewall.
Credit card information and customer passwords are not at risk according to Capital One.
What's in Your Wallet?
Mike "Mish" Shedlock


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Sure, a handshake is nice. But now there’s another way to thank a first-responder for their service.
This week brew-spot BJ’s launched Buy a Hero a Beer, a nationwide campaign that invites everyday heroes — firefighters, police officers, EMTs, etc. — to redeem free beers as a sign of appreciation for their service to others, and invites anyone to contribute a brew to the cause.
To participate, guests age 21 and over can contribute $6 toward a pint of BJ’s craft beer or handcrafted soda in honor of a hometown hero. To contribute, you can visit bjsrestaurants.com/hero, BJ’s mobile app, or ask to add the contribution to your bill.
Heros, in turn, can sign up online to reserve a beer.
“This new program is designed to engage the entire nation in recognizing the heroes in our country, in our communities, and in our personal lives,” said Greg Trojan, President and CEO of BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. “At a time when too many stories are focused on the negative, we want to spread positivity by allowing our guests to buy a beer for everyday heroes. These are the noble men and women who may not make headlines but who deserve a toast for their courage and kindness.”


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A shortage of warehousing space in the UK boosted Howard Tenens’ turnover and pre-tax profit in its last economic year, due to the operator’s significant property holdings and an increase in demand. For the year ended 30 September 2015, Howard Tenens saw its pre-tax profit rise 52% to £5.1m (2014: £3.4m). Logistics director Jamie Hartles said: “One of the reasons our figures look good is because in the UK warehouse market for storage space, there’s been very little speculative build. […]
Moody Logistics is spending half a million pounds to boost productivity at its base in Cramlington, Northumberland.
Warehouse staff at DHL Supply Chain’s Cherwell Campus site in Banbury, Oxfordshire, are set to strike after further negotiations between the GMB union and the company failed to resolve an ongoing pay dispute.
Long-standing heavy transport firm Heanor Haulage is closing its haulage arm this month to focus on warehousing and storage.


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Wahlburgers has named industry veteran John Fuller as its new president and CEO, the chain announced Thursday.
Fuller previously served as president and CEO of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Before that, he was the CFO and then president and CEO of Johnny Rockets. He has also held executive posts at Rubio’s, Carl’s Jr. and Del Taco.
Boston-based burger concept Wahlburgers has 37 units in North America, Europe and the U.K.
“As our company continues to expand here in the U.S. and across the globe, John’s experience and insight into the restaurant business on an international scale will be extremely valuable in ensuring that we set ourselves up for long-term success,” co-owner Mark Wahlberg said in a statement.
Patrick Renna has served as the brand’s president and CFO for two years and will now focus full-time on his finance role. Renna took over for Rick Vanzura, who resigned from Wahlburgers to become interim CEO at GameStop. Vanzura is currently the CEO of container farming company Freight Farms, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“Having watched from afar, and now joining the Wahlburgers team, I look forward to helping take such a well-positioned and popular brand to the next level,” Fuller said in a statement. “I’m ready to hit the ground running with our operators and support staff and focusing on the company’s overall growth, expansion and opportunities as our industry begins to resurge and carve the path towards our new normal.”
The burger chain was founded by celebrity brothers Paul, Donnie and Mark and got a publicity boost from a reality TV show of the same name.
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Lidl is COMING
Well, it might not go that far, but we’ll certainly see blue, yellow and red budget supermarket saturation on the high street, with 20 new stores opening in the next nine months – bringing the UK total to 620 stores.
It’ll be good for the economy, and for employment (that’s if you want to work as a ‘freshness co-ordinator’ – ie: tomato fondler). There’s going to be more fresh produce, and bakeries in every store, and there’ll also be jobs at their HQ in Wimbledon, as it concentrates on buying new and ever cheaper stock.
Lidl generated £3.3bn in sales last year, and there are no signs that the budget behemoth is slowing down. In fact, soon, the world will be awash with stacks of off-brand nuts and suspiciously cheap dolmades and cartons of orange juice as big as your head.
Lidl boss man Ronny Gottschlisch said:
'We’re focused on a single goal – giving our customers the freshest, highest-quality products possible at the best value. We operate on a highly efficient business model and source as much as we can locally because it supports UK producers and also limits the financial and environmental impact of transport.’
German efficiency has won the day. Beat that, Tesco.


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The old Toyota 4Runner is getting a redesign soon, which could persuade buyers to wait for the next generation. However, despite its age, there is still a significant advantage to consider. See why the 2023 Toyota 4Runner continues to be one of the best options around.
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner Is Incredibly Reliable
Don’t be too quick to pass up the 2023 Toyota 4Runner. It’s ultra-reliable. According to Torque News, it’s the latest truck-based SUV you can buy that’s more reliable than newer options. It is known for being capable, practical and durable.
It’s more durable than today’s larger new SUVs that are packed with convenient features. So there’s a bit of a compromise in choosing the 4Runner. It may not be as comfortable, but it will survive.
Many SUVs, like the Toyota Highlander, have a one-piece frame. Provides a smoother ride with sportier handling. However, the 4Runner still has traditional body-on-frame construction, making it more capable and durable for off-road driving. It can take a lot of abuse.
How reliable is the 4Runner?
The 2023 Toyota 4Runner has an above average reliability rating. It got a score of 87 out of 100 from JDPower, which is great. Scores between 90 and 100 are considered the best. It should get over 300,000 miles with proper care and maintenance.
It can last 15+ years on the road if you drive around 15,000 miles per year. However, some models last even longer.
The 4Runner has a 4.0-liter V6 engine that provides 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. You’ve had the same engine for almost a decade because it has proven its longevity. But some tweaks and improvements were provided over the years.
Additionally, the engine is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. Most vehicles have been upgraded to a new setup, but this transmission is bulletproof in the 4Runner. There has been no reason to change it other than a desire for a smoother ride and quicker acceleration.
The Toyota 4Runner is packed with the basics. It has an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a surround-view camera, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warning.
It’s missing some advanced options, but that’s okay. It is a simple vehicle that is easy to understand. The buttons are clearly labeled and the software is straightforward. Less technology could also mean less stuff to break.
What to expect from the 2024 Toyota 4Runner
If you want to pass the 2023 Toyota 4Runner for the sixth-generation 4Runner, then you might be expecting a completely different vehicle. Rumors suggest that the 2024 Toyota 4Runner could ride on the TNGA-K platform like the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia.
The new 4Runner could get the Toyota Sequoia’s twin-turbocharged i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain. It makes 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, it is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This would help improve your fuel economy.
It’s safe to expect improved off-road capabilities with new drive modes. But Toyota is keeping things under wraps for now. We may have to wait a bit longer for the new 4Runner.
But until then, the current model is capable, reliable, roomy, attractive, and robust. Plus, it has excellent resale value.


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Epic Rights will be developing a robust licensing program across multiple categories such as fashion, apparel, footwear, accessories, health & beauty, home décor, digital gaming, collectibles and more. Initial product launch for some categories will be spring 2022.
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ICORIA 2020 postponed
With our deepest regrets, the EAA board together with the conference organizers have decided to CANCEL ICORIA 2020 and to postpone it to June 2021, when we hope to welcome you in much safer circumstances.
This has been a very difficult decision for us to make, but the health and safety of our attendees and their families, colleagues, and students are of the utmost priority to us.
Many thanks for your understanding and your ongoing dedication to the success of each year’s ICORIA. Stay safe and healthy.
Alexandra Vignolles, Conference Chair
Martin Eisend, EAA President
The 19th International Conference on Research in Advertising 2020 will be held in Bordeaux (France). Formerly known as the Sleeping Beauty, Bordeaux has completed its transformation: beyond vineyards and beaches, Bordeaux is an amazing city with its famous “Water Mirror”, the 229 steps of the Pey-Berland Tower and the longest shopping street in Europe (rue Sainte Catherine). Listed as a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO, Bordeaux has been awarded the European Best Destination (2015) and the 2nd city in the world one should visit according the New York Times (2016). The conference topic “Authenticity, Narratives and History” is a reflection about Bordeaux as a city, but also about what a brand is able to convey and what consumers are expecting. Research around these key words is still ongoing, and there is still lots to investigate.
The venue INSEEC School of Business & Economics is located a few minutes from the city center. All hotels and venues will be within walkable distance. ICORIA 2020 will start on June 25th with the 7th doctoral colloquium and a welcome reception in the evening. On Friday June 26th and Saturday June 27th researchers will present papers on advertising and communication related topics. The gala dinner on Friday and the social event on Saturday will provide a great opportunity for networking and collaboration.
Conference chair & Organizing committee
The conference chair manager:
- Alexandra VIGNOLLES (firstname.lastname@example.org)
- Julien DUGUET
- Chrystèle GIRARD
- Camille SAINTIVES


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Published November 8, 2023
MetroParks Ice Rink opens for the season Friday, Nov. 24
Offering a safe, family-friendly experience for skaters of all ages, the MetroParks Ice Rink will officially open on Friday, Nov. 24, at RiverScape MetroPark, 237 E. Monument Ave. Offering beautiful views of the Great Miami River in downtown Dayton, the MetroParks Ice Rink is the region’s largest outdoor ice rink, located under the RiverScape pavilion and wheelchair accessible.
Admission is $7 daily, and visitors can rent ice skates for $3. Children younger than 3 are free with a paying adult. There is no charge for those who are not skating.
Reduced admission and skate rentals are available for those who utilize SNAP/EBT benefits. Customers just need to present their SNAP/EBT card to receive a 50% discount, which is $3.50 admission and $1.50 skate rental. Reduced admission is available thanks to the Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation’s Access to Nature financial assistance program.
Opening weekend hours for the MetroParks Ice Rink are:
- Friday, Nov. 24, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 25, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 26, 1 to 5 p.m.
Open through Friday, March 1, the ice rink will have special holiday hours on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Day, and more. The rink will be closed on Christmas Day. Daily hours change throughout the season and can be found at metroparks.org/icerink.
“It’s so important that people have a space to have fun and recreate outdoors during the winter when most people head indoors because of the weather,” said RiverScape Manager MyKaelah Mercer. “While you’re on the ice having fun and making memories with friends and family, you almost forget how you’re also moving your body and getting fresh air. Staying active outdoors is something we all really need for our mental and physical health during the cold weather season.”
The ice rink will also host select 2nd Street Market vendors for special shopping days during the holiday season. Holiday Mini Markets will be held on Saturdays Dec. 2, 9 and 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. Visit the Comfort Tent presented by Butler Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing to shop artisan wares while you skate. Special treats prepared by the Market’s vendors will also be available at the RiverScape Café while supplies last. Visit metroparks.org/programs for a complete schedule.
Season passes to the MetroParks Ice Rink are available:
- $120 family passes include season-long admission and skate rentals for up to five people, and $40 individual passes cover the same costs for one person.
- Season pass holders receive 25% off products at the RiverScape Café.
- Those who purchase a season pass before opening day (Nov. 1 – Nov. 23 will receive a 20% discount.
- Those who purchase a season pass during opening weekend (Nov. 24 – Nov. 26) will receive a 15% discount.
- Gift certificates also are available for purchase at the rink.
Visitors can stay warm under the MSD Warming Zone. The Comfort Tent presented by Butler Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing Comfort Tent is adjacent to the rink and provides skaters with a warm place to take a break from the winter weather.
Additionally, snacks and beverages will be available at the RiverScape Café. New this year, alcoholic beverages — including a variety of beer, seltzer, wine and spiked drinks — also will be available at the Café for customers 21 and older.
Because RiverScape MetroPark is included in the Downtown Dayton Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) footprint, people walking in the downtown area are welcome to visit the park with their beverages within the DORA boundary. Learn more about DORA and participating businesses – including RiverScape MetroPark – at www.downtowndayton.org/dora.
Skating lessons for children, teens and adults are held at the rink throughout the season and cover basic skills that provide the confidence skaters need to feel comfortable on the ice. The Five Rivers MetroParks Foundation’s Access to Nature financial assistance program also is available to cover a portion of the cost of skating lessons for qualifying families in Montgomery County. Learn more and apply at metroparks.org/access.
The MetroParks Ice Rink is sponsored by PNC Bank , USI Insurance, Ed Smith Flowers & Gifts, WKEF/FOX45 and Winans Chocolates and Coffees. For ice rink hours of operation and more information, visit metroparks.org/icerink.


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Future Places: Enabling Healthier Lifestyles Event
This event, hosted by Lancaster University’s new Health Innovation Campus, is designed to help small business, charities, health providers, and social enterprise to explore new imaginative, healthcare opportunities which at their core encourage movement.
Join us to learn about gaps in the market and how to overcome the potential challenges of introducing new products and services which require behavioural change.
Click the link for more information – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/future-places-enabling-healthier-lifestyles-event-tickets-86694947923
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Lucky Filipino fans will get a chance to ride on a “tuk-tuk” with Mario Maurer when he visits the country on August 6-7, 2016.
“More than 300,000 Filipino tourists visited Thailand last year and we want to increase the number this year”, the governor added in an interview with PinoyThaiyo.
Thousands of people including locals and tourists came to witness the opening of the hundred-year old celebration which is also known as Thai New Year.
St Robert’s Group of Companies with its affiliate schools and universities has begun its enrollment for Summer and First Term for academic year 2016-2017.
Only 15 people will be accommodated and the said event is a first come, first served basis.
Meet the man behind St Roberts Online Education with expanded program and newly added partner universities this coming school year. They are now offering Elementary, High School and ETEEAP programs.
Make it a gift for yourself for years of hard work abroad.
Thousands of people from MLM and direct selling business are expected to attend the 3rd ANCE this year. During the past conventions, ANCE was participated in by more than 5,000 participants from 48 network marketing and direct selling companies in 27 countries around the world.
It means that your application for overseas voting has been approved and you’re allowed to vote in the 2016 National Elections.
Ms. Melody is a freelance travel agent who has been working in the travel and tour industry for more than five years. Her credibility is proven and trusted by many of her clients.


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The growth prospects of construction SMEs are being potentially stalled due to late payments, according to research commissioned by Crossflow Payments, the Fintech platform delivering supply chain finance solutions.
The findings also come against the backdrop of the introduction (6 April 2017) of new government obligations requiring large businesses to publicly report on their payment practice to suppliers. Although this starts to quantify the problem at an individual corporate level, including whether they use supply chain finance solutions, it serves as a reminder of the need for further progress to be made in ensuring SMEs are able to receive prompt payment from customers.
Of construction SMEs surveyed, an average 15.4% of the annual turnover was subject to late payment in 2016, equivalent to an estimated £22.6 billion for the sector as a whole. Eleven of 25 of small construction companies who receive payment late for invoices admit payment is regularly late by more than ten days, and a quarter says that they receive payment for invoices late.
The findings convey the economic opportunity at stake if construction SMEs are able to boost their working capital by receiving payment for invoices quicker, with tangible business benefits identified by businesses.
Over a fifth, (21%) of construction SMEs surveyed said they would increase marketing and sales budgets, while 21% said they would hire more staff, and another 18% said they would increase the wages of existing staff.
About Crossflow Payments
Crossflow Payments is a technology-driven alternative finance platform delivering an innovative supply chain finance solution to large corporates and their suppliers. Its unique payment platform improves working capital for businesses whilst providing SMEs with instant access to finance against their outstanding invoices without the need for onerous personal guarantees.


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IMAGE – Prototype cans, Courtesy of Brown-Forman Corporation/The Coca-Cola Company
Coca-Cola and Jack Daniel’s have partnered to officially launch “Jack & Coke” canned cocktails.
The Coca-Cola company hopes to expand its ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage portfolio.
The ready-to-drink (RTD) Jack Daniel’s and Coke cocktail will come in at only 5% alcohol by volume, although this might vary by market.
The product is slated to debut in Mexico later this year and will eventually be available in markets worldwide
Jack-and-Coke has been an obvious pairing for a canned cocktail for too long,” says Duane Stanford, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest. “This announcement is further proof that Coke is more willing to take risks with the sanctity of the Coca-Cola brand in order to reach new consumers and generate revenue growth.”
We are strategically experimenting and learning in alcohol, We are excited about the opportunities, but we also know it will require effort and patience.”Khalil Younes, president global category — emerging at Coca-Cola, said in a statement.
The two companies will also offer a zero sugar version of the drink.


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Started company Huawei recently released a new update for the phone Huawei Mate 20 Pro to be that the second update that gets this phone this month. Overall, this new update has a size 523 MB, and once installed it will upgrade the operating system in the phone to release EMUI 22.214.171.124, and will also install security fixes for the month of November.
This update was originally to improve the camera performance and image quality, and improve the performance of feature to unlock the phone by Face, Face Unlock, as well as accelerate feature to unlock the phone via the sensor fingerprint built-in screen. Moreover, this update also identify the location on the map service Google Maps thanks to the ” performance development “. Finally, this update also fixes non-display badge notifications for Google Messages.
As usual, expect to be issued this update in stages, so don’t worry in case you did not get the phone Huawei Mate 20 your Pro on this update until now, because that would happen over the next few days.
The post update-new phone Huawei Mate 20 Pro improve the sound quality and accelerate the performance of the sensor fingerprint appeared first on electronic.


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Often overlooked, Vietnam is home to one of the region’s silent unicorns, VNG. And there are other factors that make this country stand out.
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The money will be used to introduce its B2C marketplace SenMall, which features brands like Oppo, Braun, and Unilever.
Circo, a co-working space in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, says it has raised its first round of VC funding today after bootstrapping for two years.
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In 2011, De Beers and Botswana signed a contract that moved De Beers’ sorting and gross sales from its conventional London base to Botswana’s capital of Gaborone. On the time, this was hailed as a big concession. “De Beers bends the knee to Botswana,” stated one headline.
If De Beers bent a knee throughout that deal, this time appears like the corporate was nearly delivered to its knees.
Although the 2 sides have hailed their new 10-year gross sales settlement—which features a 25-year extension of De Beers’ mining licenses—as “transformational” and a “win-win,” not everybody believes De Beers received a lot right here, apart from eradicating a hard challenge from its plate. Botswana’s diamond mines are extremely worthwhile and can seemingly stay so going ahead. Nevertheless, analysts at RMB Morgan Stanley told Reuters that De Beers may lose as a lot as $200 million, or 15% of its earnings, from the deal. (De Beers CEO Al Cook dinner responded that the analysts “misinterpreted” the association.)
The settlement in precept was signed on June 30, proper earlier than the present one expired, with some particulars but to be introduced and others nonetheless to be finalized. It adopted what native journalist Mbo Mguni called Botswana’s “most open debate [ever] on the nation and the business’s principal financial covenant.”
Headlines have largely centered on Botswana successful the flexibility to promote 50% of its diamond manufacturing by state-owned Okavango Diamond Firm (ODC) by the contract’s tenth 12 months. That will likely be “certainly transformational,” former De Beers Botswana CEO Sheila Khama wrote in Mining Weekly, as “Botswana enters the massive league of tough diamond advertising.”
At a press convention broadcast stay Thursday on Facebook, minister of mines and vitality Lefoko Moagi stated that ODC—which at the moment tenders its items—plans to arrange a sight system, with common prospects shopping for common allocations, much like De Beers. A “noncompete” included within the final contract—which prevented ODC and De Beers from promoting to the identical prospects—has been scrapped, although Moagi stated Botswana plans to domesticate its personal gross sales roster.
Moagi additionally supplied numerous new particulars on new De Beers contract. One is that De Beers and Botswana will companion on sure “distinctive” diamonds. “We’ll collectively discover who’s the perfect individual to shine that stone,” Moagi stated. “It received’t be chosen by De Beers alone, so we are able to each take accountability.”
De Beers may also set up entrepreneurship packages and academic establishments to coach Batswana (individuals of Botswana) in abilities like advertising and jewellery creating, and can collaborate with Botswana on a “world-class worldwide jewellery manufacturing facility” that can make use of 250 individuals.
If De Beers doesn’t meet sure beneficiation targets, it should “not be allowed to promote,” Moagi stated. “Have a look at Surat, have a look at Antwerp, have a look at Tel Aviv. They take tough, they make it polished, they make [it into] jewellery. They usually make a killing. We will’t be sitting on tough. That’s the worth chain growth. That’s the beneficiation.”
Beneath the brand new pact, De Beers will transfer some IT help and the De Beers Institute of Diamonds grading lab (together with its inscription companies) to Gaborone. Moagi additionally stated De Beers and Botswana will type an entity that can seek for new diamond deposits, each in Botswana and overseas. The gross sales cut up will rely upon every companion’s funding, Moagi stated, including that Botswana may additionally discover by itself.
There are additionally plans, in response to Moagi, for a “Botswana diamonds provenance initiative” in addition to a joint “pure diamond protection” to counter the specter of lab-grown diamonds, which might be separate from the Pure Diamond Council.
“We’ll collectively put cash into advertising spend in order that we market our pure diamonds and we inform the Botswana story,” stated Moagi. “We’ve to guarantee that we develop our advertising abilities as Batswana, and it’s not pushed by De Beers alone.”
(Although if you wish to inform a constructive “Botswana story,” headlines like “Is Botswana Getting a Uncooked Deal From De Beers Diamonds?” don’t assist.)
Whereas these initiatives danger rising Botswana’s much-lamented “diamond dependency” (the gems at the moment account for about 50% of presidency income), the 2 events are additionally making a Diamonds for Growth fund meant to diversify the nation’s economic system. Moagi defined that the fund intends to put money into initiatives like solar energy and tourism and construct Botswana’s “data economic system.” It is going to be seeded by $75 million from De Beers, which may kick in as a lot as $750 million over the subsequent decade.
The possession construction of the fund has but to be revealed, however De Beers spokesperson David Johnson stated it should “be totally transferred to the [government of the Republic of Botswana] on the seventy fifth anniversary of the invention of diamonds in Botswana in 2042.”
Nonetheless, Khama wrote, the fund “begs the query of how a non-public firm steeped in diamonds [can succeed] in diversifying Botswana’s economic system the place one administration after one other has struggled to diversify Botswana’s economic system for 5 many years.”
The brand new contract features a attainable five-year extension. Nevertheless, the business shouldn’t be shocked if the fireworks restart a decade from now.
“That is an evolving partnership,” stated Moagi. “Who is aware of? Maybe after the subsequent negotiations, [Botswana] will take 100% of our diamonds, and De Beers will simply do mining.”
Questions stay about one other diamond deal that Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi introduced this 12 months, with HB Antwerp. In March, Masisi stated his nation was taking a 24% possession stake within the 3-year-old firm, which additionally received the best to purchase alternative items from ODC. HB executives have stated their cope with ODC will likely be an “precise reproduction” of their setup with Lucara, the place either side share income from the ultimate piece of polished.
As was identified on Twitter, if ODC sells to HB, and Botswana owns 24% of HB, Botswana will primarily be promoting to itself. (The nation additionally owns 15% of De Beers, the corporate mining the products.) Nevertheless, particulars on the HB deal stay elusive, with Moagi telling Botswana’s parliament this week that he couldn’t present any as “there isn’t any signed settlement [and] no last business phrases to state.”
De Beers, then again, has a deal. At a July 2 signing ceremony, Cook dinner—who’s served as CEO for lower than 5 months—struck an appropriately humble notice, noting that De Beers didn’t have a “proper” to Botswana’s items. (The video of the signing features a glimpse of former De Beers exec Stephen Lussier within the background. Lussier, who as soon as dealt with authorities relations and has continued to seek the advice of for the corporate following his retirement in January, was stated to be a part of the group that helped land the deal.)
The signing ended with applause and a hug, however afterward neither facet appeared all that completely satisfied. This was an unusually contentious negotiation, so numerous exhausting emotions have surfaced over what has usually been viewed as a profitable and enduring partnership. The animosity doesn’t appear to have gone away. Publish-signing, President Masisi told reporters that his nation obtained a “uncooked deal” prior to now.
As has been acknowledged many instances, Botswana and De Beers want one another: The nation has the diamonds, however solely De Beers and guardian firm Anglo American have the assets and want to get them out of the bottom.
Even so, it doesn’t really feel like their present connection is very hot or pleasant. That would matter, in an business the place belief and relationships do.
(Picture from the Republic of Botswana’s Fb web page)
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Fmcg giants Mars and Nestlé have teamed up with Taylors of Harrogate and Ella’s Kitchen to crack down on flexible packaging waste.
Dubbing themselves ‘the Flexible Packaging Consortium’ (FPC), the group of four suppliers has enlisted recycling specialists Suez to analyse the extent of flexible packaging waste – such as crisp packets, bread bags and petfood pouches – in the UK and explore solutions.
Some 215 billion items of flexible packaging are placed on the market every year, yet less than 20% of local authorities collect any form of plastic film or flexible packaging for recycling. Nearly all of it is sent to energy recovery or landfill after use, according to the FPC.
It was “only by collaborating across the value chain that we can have a real impact on the potential to recycle these trickier materials,” said Taylors product sustainability specialist Kathryn Patchett.
Ella’s Kitchen CEO Mark Cuddigan added: “We strongly believe that business has the power to be a force for good in society… we hope our work not only goes to helping to improve the recycling of all flexible packaging in the UK, but also inspires more cross-sector collaboration on sustainability initiatives.”
The FPC this week launched a report with an eye to providing a roadmap for fighting the problem, and is calling on businesses to join its work. Many of its findings have also been handed to Defra.
The research “clearly identified that if collected, flexible plastic packaging could be sorted and recycled and that emerging chemical recycling technologies show great promise to deliver higher levels of closed-loop recycling”, and found that “for many of the options for collection and treatment, costs were equal to or less expensive than placement in landfill or energy-from-waste”.
It also outlines a “significant opportunity to synchronise the introduction of flexible plastic packaging with the removal of deposit return scheme materials from kerbside collections between 2023 and 2026”.
There was “no reason why the UK should not be able to follow practice in some EU countries and collect flexible plastic packaging for recycling”, it concluded.


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Retromobile, the sweeping annual classic car festival in Paris, opens its doors today with more than 400 exhibitors, three major auctions, collector cars and automobilia for sale, and with many special features, including 15 magnificent maharaja cars of India, a display dedicated to Italian automaker Lancia, and the sights and sounds of early land-speed-record race cars.
Continuing through Feb. 9, the 39th annual Retromobile has grown for the first time into the largest hall at the Place de Versailles Exhibition Center as it kicks off Europe’s classic car season for 2014.
Among the special exhibits is an homage to land-speed-record drivers of the 1920s, John Parry-Thomas and Sir Malcolm Campbell, and their streamlined cars. On display is Parry-Thomas’ reconstructed racer named Babs – in which he fatally crashed during a record attempt– that’s powered by a 27-liter V12 aircraft engine, and the 500-horsepower Blue Bird Sunbeam that Campbell drove to more than 150 mph.
You can witness the Blue Bird being fired up recently at the National Motor Museum in England in a video posted on the ClassicCars.com Blog by clicking on: Blue Bird Flies. The engine is expected to be started again during Retromobile.
Even if you’re not traipsing around Paris this week, Retromobile and its three associated auctions offer some great articles and eye candy that are available online. Check out Retromobile’s enjoyable and extensive website at www.en.retromobile.com, which includes photos and information about the current exhibitors as well as a number of photo galleries from past shows.
Websites for the three collector-car auctions are loaded with high-quality photos and descriptions of the cars, motorcycles and automobilia that are coming up for sale. Click on each auction’s name to be taken to its website:
RM Auctions, which holds its inaugural Paris auction today.
Bonhams, which holds its high-end sale Thursday.
Artcurial, which has expanded its event to Friday for its regular auction and Saturday for an all Alfa-Romeo sale.


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Back in the fields but not out of the egg production woods
That was the message given by egg producers who welcomed the return to free range conditions after the longest yet lockdown extended beyond the derogation, which allowed eggs from cooped up chickens which would normally be outside still to be sold as free range.
As a consequence, under EU marketing regulations which still apply in the UK, all eggs from free-range and organic flocks have been re-labelled as barn eggs since March 21.
But next week’s relaxation will allow more than 27million free range and organic hens once more into the great outdoors – and to qualify as free range once again from 2 May.Reacting to the relaxation of housing regulations, the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) welcomed the news - but made it clear egg producers were still at breaking point because of soaring costs of production.
“It’s really good news that shoppers will soon have free range eggs available on the shelves, and British farmers are extremely grateful to consumers for continuing to buy eggs from these flocks even though they have been temporarily re-classified as barn eggs,” said BFREPA chief executive, Robert Gooch.“But while it’s a relief to my members, lifting the housing order does not solve the crisis facing the egg sector. It will not remove the huge hikes in energy, transport, feed and labour costs they are experiencing.”Painting a bleak picture, Gooch said that a recent survey of BFREPA members had suggested that more than half of free range and organic egg farmers were considering exiting the industry:
“And even a small number coming out of egg production would lead to egg shortages which we predict will come later this year,” said Gooch. He said that rising inflation was having devastating consequences on free range egg production in the UK and was likely to result in a mass exodus of the industry unless retailers increased the costs of eggs in store, and pass that increase down to farmers.BFREPA has been campaigning for an increase of at least 40p per dozen to be implemented immediately – 80p per dozen for organic eggs – and has written to the eight major food retailers in the UK to act before businesses go bust.BFREPA said Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Lidl, Marks and Spencer, and Waitrose were all culpable for the desperate situation and that they were the only ones in the supply chain who could make a difference.The organisation has called a Crisis Summit for 10 May and invited representatives from each retailer to attend to discuss how to resolve the issue.BFREPA’s survey of member intentions suggested that 51 per cent of farms were considering not restocking. The national free range and organic flock stands at about 27.7m, producing more than 8.5 billion eggs a year.
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Last year brought more high street shop closures to the U.K. than any year since 2010.
The weak British Pound and internet shopping with higher wages and lower consumer confidence blamed.
A Tough Year
In 2017, 5,855 high street stores closed in the United Kingdom. This represented a figure higher than any year since 2010. This wasn’t just limited to one or two types of business. Instead, clothing and shoe retailers, real estate agents and travel agents have all found locked their doors for good.
A number of factors are to blame. While the increase in online shopping is among them, the situation specific to the U.K. helps to show why the closure rate is strikingly high in the country.
Among the stores that shut down were 1,700 chain shops, said the Local Data Company (LDC) in its recent data analysis. LDC analyzed the top 500 U.K. towns in order to obtain their data on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Open and Shut
Throughout 2017, an average of 11 stores opened per day. On the other hand, an average of 16 shut down per day. The data does not include the rate of launches and closure among independent shops.
The stores hardest hit last year were those selling fashion and footwear. This situation was particularly bad, where consumers have been reducing their non-essential spending. That trend is the result of rising food prices, partly because of the plummeting value of the British Pound following 2016’s Brexit vote.
Over the last two years, spending on clothing and footwear dropped by around 2 percent, says Kantar analyst data. Spiking online spending growth was paralleled by falling in-store sales.
Equally, there was an overall increase in the number of beauty stores last year. Bookstores, coffee shops, cafes, and ice cream shops also rose in number in 2017, says LDC data.
The second half of the year saw a dramatic rise in the rate of closures. This was a reflection of the transition toward online shopping in combination with rising costs of brick-and-mortar business and staffing. That trend was poorly timed, as shoppers were already scaling back their non-essential spending. Consumers have been choosing not to shop as consumer confidence had fallen to a four-year low by December.


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The Guangzhou Int’l Sanitary Ware & Bathroom Fair (GSW) is the leading show for high-end sanitary ware market in China.
Stay in the know and get exclusive VIP access to some of the most exclusive luxury events worldwide.
The Diplomatic Council, a United Nations global think tank, officially launched in Singapore to connect diplomacy, economy and society.
There was a time where the fates of England and India were heavily intertwined. Once the jewel of the British Empire and still of the most dazzling countries in the world, India may have been relinquished from British control many years ago now, but that doesn’t mean that the country doesn’t still fascinate and enchant…
Bespoke artist Tracie Eaton tell us about her design process.
High-end luxury jewellery house Caratell won the 2018 Luxury Network International Awards at a recent ceremony in Lebanon.
The 2018 edition of the Singapore Yacht Show features luxury boats and lifestyle experiences.
The Diplomatic Council, a United Nations global think tank, launches in Singapore to connect diplomacy, economy and society.
Top Marques Monaco is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its luxury car show in style with four exclusive supercars world premieres and over 30 test drives on the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.
Artist Lucy Batt is giving a contemporary look to an age-old design tradition using glass as her primary material. Specialised in bespoke creation, Lucy Batt delivers unique creations to enhance contemporary interior design spaces. Lucy’s work has been featured at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and in the Financial Times, amongst other publication. She…
A new generation of biotech startups across the world is dedicating resources towards understanding how the ageing process works and, potentially, how to slow it down or stop it altogether.


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Honda says profit has jumped 36 per cent, shrugging off damage from a strong yen, and the Japanese automaker raised its annual forecast.
Tokyo-based Honda Motor Co reported on Friday that cost cuts lifted fiscal third quarter profit to 168.8 billion yen $US1.5 billion ($A2.0 billion), up from 124.1 billion yen the previous year.
Quarterly sales edged down 3 per cent to 3.5 trillion yen from 3.6 trillion yen.
Honda, which makes the Odyssey minivan, Asimo child-like robot and Super Cub motorcycle, raised its full fiscal year profit forecast to 545 billion yen.
That was up 58 per cent from 344.5 billion yen a year ago, when Honda was hit by expenses for recalls over Takata air bags.
Honda had earlier expected a 415 billion yen annual profit.


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The U.S.-listed shares of Aslan Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NAS:ASLN) plunged 47% in active afternoon trading on Tuesday, after the Singapore-based biotechnology company's stock offering priced at less than half the previous session's closing price. Trading volume was 7.4 million shares, compared with the full-day average of about 2.1 million shares. The company announced in midday trading Monday that it had commenced a public offering of American Despositary Shares , but did not disclose the number of ADS to be sold or estimate a price. The stock closed Monday at $5.20, a 14-fold rise from the Nov. 13 record closing low of 37 cents, amid upbeat data from studies of its ASLAN004 and ASLAN003 products. Late Monday, the company said its public offering of about 5.1 million ADS priced at $2.50 per ADS, or 52% below Monday's closing price, for expected proceeds of about $12.8 million. All of the ADS in the offering were sold by the company. The stock has run up 71% over the past three months, but was still down 23% year to date. In comparison, the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NAS:IBB) has run up 23% this year and the S&P 500 (S&P:SPX) has climbed 23%.
Dec. 3, 2019, 2:29 p.m. EST