text:
Seth Furmanek and Marc Weiting topped 55 other teams to win the 6th event of the Arizona Region for the Weekend Warrior Bass Series presented by Anderson Toyota in dominating fashion. Seth and Marc brought in a limit of fish weighing 27.01lbs anchored by a 7.01lb largemouth earning them 2nd place big fish of the day. For their efforts Marc and Seth took home $2,100.
Second place went to the team of Gary Asmus and Dave Baca. Gary and Dave brought in a limit weighing 20.92lbs to take home $1,400
Third place went to the Father and Son team of Landon and Justin Rankin. Landon and Justin brought in a limit weighing 20.54lbs to take home $1,000
The days big fish and $200 went to the 5th place team of Lyne Chitwood and Rhett Bishop for a 7.43lb largemouth
The SPRO pack for the smallest 5 fish limit went to the team of Jacob Townsley and Don Johnson for a limit weighing 12.07lbs. It pays to stick around for the awards…
This circuit would not be made possible without our wonderful sponsors. Jason Anderson and Jared Lohrman at Anderson Toyota have been WWBS supporters from day 1 and continue to support the fishing industry. If your ever in the market for a new or used car or truck give Anderson Toyota a shot. Jet Renu has come on board this year as the official cleaning products for JML Outdoors. Watch our online store soon for the only bass boat pack available on the market. This packet is specifically put together for fisherman. SPRO is back for the 3rd year in a row giving away a tackle pack to the smallest five fish limit without any penalties. Randy and Darlene Ernst continue with the Pro-Tec Mats travelers award giving $100 to the highest finishing team not already in the money at our Havasu Region events. Andrew Napoleon and his crew with A&M Graphics did our new wrap design this year. If you are looking for advertising for your business a vehicle wrap is the way to go and no one does it better than A&M.
The next and final event for the Arizona region is April 29, 2017 at Roosevelt Lake. Teams wishing to take part in the early draw can call and sign up at 602-791-0023.


text:
‘Benz says the scalable chassis architecture and powertrains developed for the EQ will morph into future electric cars in most market segments from SUVs to two-seat convertibles. Word on the street in Paris says the crossover version displayed could enter production very quickly (including some chassis components in carbon-fibre).
In fact ‘EQ’ will be the Mercedes version of BMW ‘i’ electric sub-brand – so it’s got serious volume aspirations and isn’t just marketing puffery.
“We’re now flipping the switch,” CEO Dieter Zetsche told the media preview in Paris. “We’re ready for the launch of an electric product offensive that will cover all vehicle segments from the compact to the luxury class.”
The concept car revealed in Paris has two electric motors for an output of 300kW/700Nm and covers zero to 100km/h in under five seconds. Range between recharges is claimed to be 500kms.
Inside is impressive technology which is already leading towards autonomous driving (based on the HERE digital mapping which even now has incredible detailing). Details are displayed on a 24-inch TFT hi-res screen with a new 3D digital interface.
Like Tesla, Benz’ EQ brand is much more than vehicles and will eventually include fast charging systems and even home or commercial lithium-ion energy storage units (in fact, Dr Andreas Rueckemann who heads Mercedes Benz Energy was recently in Australia talking to business leaders).
“EQ stands for a comprehensive electric ecosystem of services, technologies and innovations,” Dr Zetsche told the media gathering in Paris.
See gallery below for more pictures
MORE: Mercedes-AMG F1 Powered Hypercar Confirmed - Teased In First Sketch
MORE News & Reviews: Mercedes-Benz | EV | Concepts
- Interested in buying MERCEDES-BENZ ? Visit our MERCEDES-BENZ showroom for more information.

domain: news


text:
Microsens' vCJD (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) trials may start in 12 months:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Microsens Biotechnologies has told Clinica that it expects to begin human trials of its human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) blood test within the next 12 months. The test uses a ligand-based technology called Seprion to identify abnormal prion proteins in the blood (see Clinica No 1125, p 21). The firm's comment follows this month's EU approval of Idexx Laboratories' BSE test, HerdChek, which uses Microsens' Seprion technology. Microsens CEO, Christopher Stanley, said that Idexx' EU approval represented "another stake in the ground towards providing a vCJD blood test." The London, UK-based company said it would need 20-30 positive vCJD blood samples to begin the trials.
You may also be interested in...
Pain relief product sales grew 27% and upper respiratory sales 35% for the week ended 7 March as consumers respond to COVID-19, according to Nielsen data noted in a Jefferies report on consumer health purchasing trends. Private label market share is up slightly, while OTC purchases continue primarily in conventional stores.
Managing partner Corey Goodman said venBio didn’t have trouble closing its fund, because the venture capital firm prepared its investors for an economic downturn months ago.
The US FDA has proposed moving two categories of hepatitis C diagnostics to class II from class III because they pose relatively low risk.


text:
The company was sued for secretly using the data of millions of Americans.
Google, DeepMind and their parent company Alphabet have been sued for “secretly stealing everything that has ever been created and shared on the internet by hundreds of millions of Americans” to create their own AI chatbot, bard.
The class-action lawsuit involves eight people under pseudonyms – among them two minors, 13 and 6 years old – who represent the interests of millions of netizens. They accuse Alphabet of ten violations of US and California laws related to Bard and other Google AI products.
The news comes shortly after similar lawsuits were filed against Microsoft-backed OpenAI, alleging privacy infringement and abuse of collected data, as well as copyright infringement.
DeepMind, which is still led by co-founder Demis Hassabis after being bought by Google in 2014, is named in the lawsuit because of its work on the Language Model for Conversation Applications (LaMDA), which is considered essential to the development of Bard, as well as other Google products in the field. artificial intelligence.
The plaintiffs are seeking at least $5 billion in damages, an injunction against further use of the stolen data, and the implementation of “effective cyber security measures” to protect data subjects.
Google’s General Counsel Halima DeLane Prado said the company “has been clear for years that we use publicly-sourced data to train AI models behind services like Google Translate responsibly and in accordance with our AI principles.”


text:
Technology has been a game-changer for businesses and society for years. However, the latest tech updates are elevating the game to another level, creating new opportunities for businesses, driving innovation, and improving people’s lives. In this article, we will explore the impact of the latest tech updates on business and society and how they are shaping the future.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is one of the top technologies shaping the future of business and society. AI is enhancing businesses’ efficiency by automating tedious tasks, reducing human errors, and offering insights that humans can’t easily identify. AI is also enhancing society by improving healthcare, transportation, security, and education. For instance, AI is being used to diagnose diseases accurately, create autonomous vehicles, and detect fraud.
Internet of Things (IoT): The rise in connected devices and technology is revolutionizing the way businesses operate and society functions. IoT is connecting devices and people, making daily lives easier, and changing how businesses operate. For example, businesses can monitor and control their assets remotely, optimize their supply chains, and improve customer services. On the other hand, smart homes, cars, and cities are improving the lives of citizens by offering a convenient, safe, and sustainable environment.
Blockchain: Blockchain technology is transforming the way businesses operate, particularly in finance, healthcare and logistics. Blockchain technology provides a secure and transparent way to store, verify transactions, and track goods throughout the supply chain. Additionally, blockchain technology creates opportunities for businesses to create new business models, such as decentralized finance, reducing costs and improving accountability.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): AR and VR technologies are making waves in many industries, including retail, entertainment, and education. These technologies enable businesses to create immersive experiences in various fields, enhancing engagement, improving the quality of education, and promoting brand awareness. For instance, AR and VR are revolutionizing shopping by allowing customers to try on clothes without physically going to stores, reducing the need for returns and promoting customer satisfaction.
The latest tech updates are transforming businesses and society and shaping the future. AI, IoT, blockchain, AR, and VR are just a few technologies that are driving innovation and creating new opportunities, challenging businesses to re-evaluate their operations, and creating new job opportunities. While these technologies have immense potential, there are also concerns about the impact they will have on the jobs market, privacy, and security. Nonetheless, the future of business and society is incredibly exciting, and we cannot wait to see what further technological advancements will emerge.


text:
The rush of pureplays taking space on the high street shows that shops are still pivotal in retail. Drapers finds out what role the store will play in the future.
Just a few years ago growing online competition led many retail watchers to herald the death of the retail store. However, shops are still as important as ever and online retailers are now moving onto the high street.
Missguided is the latest etailer to be wooed into the physical world. The young fashion retailer is set to open its first store at Westfield Stratford City in November and has further stores across the country in the pipeline. It is not alone.
Plus-size specialist N Brown Group has opened 15 stores for former online-only brands Simply Be and Jacamo over the past three years. Online supermarket Ocado, in partnership with Marie Claire magazine, opened a health and beauty store on Tottenham Court Road, London, in August. Even the mighty Amazon has dipped its toe into bricks and mortar – it opened its first bookstore in Seattle late last year.
‘Any retailer that is not building an experience in store, won’t survive’
Jonathon Fitzgerald, co-chief executive, Mamas & Papas
So why are so many pureplays rushing to the high street? “People still want to see and feel,” says Ben Dimson, head of retail business development at British Land, who points out that online pureplays account for only 3% of fashion sales. By opening stores, etailers can build brand awareness and widen their appeal. Opening stores can also help boost sales online. N Brown chief executive Angela Spindler said she saw a “halo effect”, with etail sales growing in the areas it has opened Simply Be and Jacamo shops.
Stores also enable retailers to benefit from the growing popularity of click-and-collect, and gives them an opportunity to entice these shoppers to spend more. Dimson says British Land’s research shows that a third of click-and-collect customers go on to buy another item in the same store while a third make a purchase elsewhere in the shopping destination. “They’re more lucrative than the average shopper.” he says. ”They spend double that of the typical customer.”
Simply Be and Jacamo
Experiences and entertainment
The shop is not just a place to show your wares – Jonathon Fitzgerald, co-chief executive of nursery and maternity wear specialist Mamas & Papas, says it gives customers an experience: “It’s not enough to just have product. Millennial customers use their discretionary spend on may other things and the store needs to be an extension of their lifestyle. Any retailer that is not building an experience in store, won’t survive.”
Mamas & Papas’ new-format store on Northcote Road in London’s Battersea holds yoga classes, nutritional workshops and inspirational talks designed to bring millennial mums to store. Devoting space to these events takes away what was once a retail store’s most valuable asset – selling space. However, Fitzgerald believes this will be the new normal for stores in the multichannel age.
“The days of having every single product in store is over,” he says. “Everyone can shop however and wherever they want. We’re confident enough to turn the downstairs of our store into a studio.”
He compares Mamas & Papas stores to a car showroom: “You can come in to touch and feel and get some advice. Then you can go online and view all the benefits at your leisure,” he says.
Mamas & Papas
Premium independent retailer Wolf & Badger has taken a similar approach. “Wolf & Badger stores have evolved from being simple retail spaces to now playing the role of showroom, events space, social hub, fitting room, collection point and much more,” says managing director George Graham: “Far from diminishing, we have found the role of our physical stores is rapidly expanding thanks to the web.”
A technology-driven environment
Technology will play a greater role in stores in the future, says Sophie Ross, head of multichannel at property developer Hammerson. She believes stores will hold less stock in the future and technology, such as virtual fitting rooms, will allow shoppers to visualise how products in different colours and styles would suit them. Back-end systems should then allow shop assistants to order that product to store within hours.
“If you go to a store and can’t find something in your size you should be able to go for a coffee and by the time you come back, it’s waiting for you,” she says.
However, Graham says retailers should avoid the temptation to make the store too tech-driven: “We should instead continue to play to strengths around the more tactile, social and experience-driven features that web and mobile can never match,” he says. “Incorporating certain digital elements into the store environment to enhance and expand on the in-store experience should be encouraged but only where it does not detract from these unique advantages.”
It is clear that stores have a pivotal role to play in the future, but they have many needs to fulfil. They must provide an experience and inspiration but also convenience and operational excellence. The retailers that crack this winning formula will reap the rewards.


text:
Employ To Empower is calling for monetary donations ahead of its upcoming holiday shopping event for the city’s most vulnerable residents in the Downtown Eastside.
Funds will go towards creating Vancouver Street Store 7.0. The free outdoor pop-up clothing store benefits those experiencing homelessness.
Money raised will also help cover the cost of PPE and general operation costs. You can donate here today.
The annual event is set to return Dec. 12th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 58 West Hastings Street.
“At the Street Store, we offer a hand up rather than a hand out,” said Christina Wong, Executive Director of Employ To Empower.
“We want to provide a dignified holiday shopping experience where residents can pick what they want and need at no cost. With all the additional challenges that many are facing in the DTES, we know that this is an even more important year for us to hold this event for the community and we’re grateful for all the support we’ve seen so far.”
In addition to providing clothing and toiletries—the Street Store will also be offering free food.
According to a recent report conducted by The Vantage Point, there has been a 61 per cent increase in homelessness in BC since 2019. And 74 per cent of nonprofit organizations have experienced a reduction in revenue from fundraising.
Since 2014, the Street Store has shared nearly 50,000 donations and helped brighten the spirits of more than 5,600 residents.
Of course due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, several safety measures will be in place. They include: reduced capacity, sanitization stations and temperature checks.
The Vancouver Street Store has been exempt from the Provincial Health Officer’s Gatherings and Events order, on the basis of providing essential items and services to people in need. The outdoor event will proceed, ensuring that all health and safety regulations are in place.
For more information on how to get involved, check out the Employ To Empower website.
604 Now is a proud media sponsor of the Vancouver Street Store
Employ To Empower Street Store
When: Dec. 12th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 58 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
For more things going on in the city, check out our News section.
Get more 604, delivered to your inbox
Plan your next night out, enter contests, and stay connected.


text:
Qualcomm Technologies has introduced its new 5G distributed unit accelerator card that will aid in the adoption of Virtualized RAN platforms. It is built to tackle the growing demand of 5G.
Windows 11 22H2 build 22621.160 (RTM) gets File Explorer Tab navigation
tabbed file explorer
Windows 11 in the Dev Channel fixes Windows Security app issues, and more
windows 11 insider preview
Mobile world congress 2021 RSS
Qualcomm has unveiled the second generation of its 5G RAN Platform for Small Cells. FSM200xx is designed to power the factory of the future while also offering fast connectivity in other environments.
Qualcomm has taken the wraps off its Snapdragon 888 Plus 5G Mobile Platform, with a focus on AI-enhanced gaming and performance, allowing users to play games at up tp 144Hz on QHD mobile displays.


text:
Microsoft announced today that it will launch a 4G LTE-enabled version of its Surface 2 tablet for AT&T's network, meaning you'll be able to use the carrier's wireless data to access the Internet rather than nearby WiFi connections.
The AT&T LTE version of the Surface 2 will sell for $679 and comes with 64 GB of internal storage. That's $100 more than the standard $549 WiFi 64 GB configuration.
The tablet will be available in Microsoft's online and physical retail locations as well as Best Buy. It goes on sale March 18. Although Microsoft just made the announcement today, reports from last week suggested it already began appearing in Microsoft stores.
The Surface 2 runs on Windows 8.1 RT, which is the scaled-down mobile version of Windows 8.1 that doesn't allow access to older desktop programs. There's no word on whether or not we'll see an LTE version of the Surface 2 Pro, which is powered by Windows 8.1.


text:
With the national election over, people involved in the tourism sector have heaved a big sigh of relief. This is, after all, the peak season for tourists willing to explore the natural beauty of the country.
Shiblul Azam Quereshi, director of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), said that the hotel and transport sectors have done brisk business over the last few months.
“The tourist flow will increase in the coming days. Hopefully, they will have a hassle-free and comfortable experience,” he added.
Sources say that tourism sector revenues could scale up to Tk. 1,500 crore during the peak season this year. Daily transactions may even cross Tk. 8 crore. Half of this amount is expected to be generated in Coxs Bazar—the top tourist destination of the country.
Last year, tour operators experienced a slump in business during the peak season because of political chaos. They, however, expect a better business experience this year.
Abul Kashem Shikder, secretary of the Coxs Bazar Hotel-Motel Guesthouse Owners Association, told The Independent: “Around Tk. 3 crore in revenue is being generated daily as room rent in Coxs Bazar. Transportation, restaurant, and other services generate Tk. 1 crore every day.”
Coxs Bazar has one of the worlds longest beaches. The uninterrupted 120-km sandy beach with a gentle slope can now host 85,000 visitors daily.
During the peak season, the hotels usually have an occupancy rate of 80 per cent, Shikder said.
“A significant number of local and foreign tourists visit the Sundarbans during the peak season. Although the number was low last year, it should be better this year,” said Sourav Mansur, a pioneer in the tour operator business in Bangladesh and the CEO of Guide Tours.
According to statistics, around 1,000 visitors travel to and from the Sundarbans. A package tour for two to three days cost between Tk. 6,000 and Tk. 15,000.
According to The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), around 1.5 million people are directly involved in the countrys tourism business. The number of people having indirect involvement is 2.3 million.
The tourism business got a jolt following the terrorist attack at Gulshan on July 1. Even the domestic tourist flow slowed down from the third week of August. However, the sector has started turning around.
Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury, a professor of Dhaka University, said that although domestic tourism was not much affected by the Gulshan terror attack, it impacted the flow of foreign tourists.
Leaders of the Tour Operators Association subscribed to this view.


text:
The Lincoln Continental used to transport President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to their flight from Fort Worth to Dallas in November of 1963, sold for $318,000. The transaction took place on Thursday, according to RR Auction, an Amherst, New Hampshire auction house.
The white 1963 Continental was used to transport President John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Texas governor John Connally from a breakfast and a speech at the Hotel Texas ballroom, through the streets of Fort Worth to Carswell Air Force Base, where they boarded their short flight to Dallas on the morning of November 22, 1963.
The Continental was painstakingly restored by Lincoln specialist Baker Restoration of Putnam, Connecticut. The restoration included engine overhaul, body and paint work. Most of the interior, including the red leather seats, is in its original condition.
A 1960 Continental Mark V limousine from President Kennedy’s Washington, D.C. motor pool, was also included in the JFK-themed auction. It sold for $210,000.
The four-door armored limousine features a divider window, passenger air controls, power steering and brakes, and a two-way telephone in the back seat. Much of the body has been restored, at a cost of $35,000. The interior remains in its original condition, with beige leather seats and matching carpet.
Jim Warlick, owner of the America Presidential Experience, a unique traveling presentation of exhibits that celebrates and brings to life the American presidency, purchased both vehicles.
Warlick plans to add them to his traveling exhibit and said that they can be seen in upcoming special JFK 50th Anniversary commemoration event at Love Field in Dallas, Texas.
Other items sold at the auction include:
- Lee Harvey Oswald’s wedding ring for $108,000
- A pair of emblem-adorned rotary phones from the presidential suite at the Hotel Texas— which Kennedy used to make his final phone call, for $31,200.
For a complete listing of auction results from Camelot: Fifty Years after Dallas, RR Auction’s JFK-themed auction, visit the RR Auction website at here.


text:
Facebook as agreed to buy online video advertising platform LiveRail in an effort to make video ads “much better for everyone.”
Announcing the move, Facebook’s vice president of ads and product marketing, Brian Boland, said that LiveRail, Facebook and the premium publishers it serves have “an opportunity to make video ads better and more relevant for the hundreds of millions of people who watch digital video every month.”
He said this would benefit marketers, publishers as well as providing more engaging ads for people watching online video.
Founded in 2007, LiveRail is an ad technology company that works with firms like ABC Family, A&E Networks, Gannett, and Dailymotion to serve better ads in the videos that appear on their websites and apps.
LiveRail provides marketers with access to premium video inventory and the information that they need to decide where to show their ads – offering a “complete advertising solution for video publishers.”
“When we started talking to the team at Facebook about how we could work together, it quickly became clear that we shared a vision for th
e future of digital advertising,” said LiveRail co-founder and CEO Mark Trefgarne.
“They believed, as we do, that publishers deserve a new generation of audience-aware advertising technology. We realised that by joining forces we’d be able to draw upon our respective strengths to move even faster towards our shared vision of creating the advertising platform of the future.”
LiveRail has 170 employees across four offices and claims hundreds of active customers, delivering more than 7 billion video ads each month.
According to eMarketer stats, digital video advertising in the US will increase 41.9% this year, reaching US$5.96 billion.
In the US, Facebook accounted for 18.4% market share of digital display advertising in 2013, according to eMarketer, up from 14.8% in 2012, overtaking Google for the first time for share of all US display ad revenues.
Insight TV launches on Polsat Box and Netia in Poland digitaltveurope.com/2022/01/21/ins… https://t.co/cIU6SJaPAa
21 January 2022 @ 19:00:00 UTC
DTVE: the week in view – @Netflix’s ‘poor’ results serve as reflection of pull-forward pandemic and a competitive s… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
21 January 2022 @ 18:30:00 UTC


text:
Since its launch in 2017, PUBG developers have maintained a “zero tolerance for hack/cheat users” rule in order to create a healthy and fair gaming environment. However, their efforts have not yet been able to reverse the problem of hacking / cheats, due to the nature of PUBG being an extremely popular game, those who use hack / cheat just need to buy another account. can come back to ruin the game.
However, the PUBG developers are not just standing by, they are developing some new advanced anti-hack/cheat systems. When recently, the father of PUBG game Krafton said that the studio is developing many updates to help combat hacking / cheat software in its game. Accordingly, the new update is currently being tested in the test server for PUBG update 16.1 and is expected to be released to the gaming community in the near future.
Specifically, PUBG’s new update will focus on combating commonly used hack/cheat software that allows them to view other players’ locations anywhere on the map, causing loss of life. balance in the game.
PUBG is also getting some nice changes to weapon balance. The developers have noticed that the Beryl M762 and SLR have become popular, although they don’t want to “stress” players by nerfing heavily used weapons. So the developers decided to upgrade the less used weapons as the M416 and MK12 guns are expected to get more power. For SMGs and pistols, the developers are aware of gamer feedback although they need more time to gather feedback and data before rolling out “healthier balanced” changes to PUBG. .


text:
TNAâ<80><99>s Final Resolution DVD remained on Billboardâ<80><99>s Top 10 Sports rankings for the second straight week.
In related news, the Destination X DVD will be released to all major retailers June 19.
Tickets for the TNA Fanfest went on sale this morning. Visit your local ticketmaster location or go to www.ticketmaster.com for these tickets.
TNA will be announcing a big tour in the UK. Details, at this point, are very sketchy.
Have a news tip? Attended an event and want to send a live report?


text:
Students of Slim’s Fashion & Arts School recently looked to the work of their school’s founder for inspiration for their exam projects, some of which will be shown at their upcoming exhibition of student work.
This is in celebration of the Salvacion Lim Higgins Education Fund, which the institution formally introduces this month. “Slim,” as she was widely known, was convinced that Filipinos were inherently gifted; all that was needed were the right skills to help them transform raw creative talent into a source of income. On that belief, the school that bears her name was born.
To help raise awareness for the fund, this year’s exhibition features students’ exam pieces inspired by her work. One of the country’s most respected designers, Slim created high fashion during some of the Philippines’ most glamorous times, from 1947 to 1990.
Her signature archetypes included daring silhouettes, refined lines and a surprising color palette. Above all, she was recognized for complex and intricate construction techniques. Today, what is often referred to as the “Slim’s Method” is still taught in the school.
Inspired by her fashion, students created their own. Some feature meticulous details, such as student Rusanne Casela’s birds in flight on a pantsuit, or Genesis Alcantara’s beadwork on his bespoke barong.
Ambitious cuts are also on show. Slim’s inclination for architectural structure—usually difficult to achieve—are reflected in ternos engineered by Niv Lagman and Myka Dominado, and in Hannah Adrias’ barong. For their dresses, Leo Cadete and Noel Martin positioned dramatic details at the back, as Slim was fond of doing.
Even seemingly simple draped garments were not so simply constructed. Slim believed the fewer seams on a garment, the better—a challenge both Irma Raquedan and Keisha Bandiola took as they sculpted dresses from one continuous piece of fabric.
The millennials’ take on old-world glamour is complemented by an exciting new component: Swatch watches, contemporarily styled as fashion accessories. Throughout its history, Swatch has consistently influenced and altered the way we look at timepieces, creating trends and taking watches into the realms of art and fashion.
Slim’s Fashion & Arts School’s annual exhibition of student work was held at Mega Fashion Hall, with the support of SM Megamall, on last Oct. 16-22.


text:
Ferrero is reportedly close to buying Nestlé’s US confectionery business in a deal which is expected to reach $2.8 billion.
The Italian company, which produces Nutella, Tic Tacs and Ferrero Rocher, is keen to expand its business in the US following last year’s purchases of Ferrara Candy – the third-largest manufacturer of non-chocolate confectionery in the US – and boxed chocolate company Fannie May.
It has come out on top in an action process to acquire the Nestlé unit, ahead of Hershey, and an agreement could be signed as early as Sunday, according to Bloomberg.
If a deal does go ahead, it would make Ferrero the third-largest confectioner in the US, after Mars and Hershey. Other brands within the Nestlé US confectionery portfolio include SweeTarts, Nerds, 100Grand, SkinnyCow, Raisinets, Chunky, OhHenry! and Baby Ruth.
Last month, Hershey bought Tyrrells and Skinny Pop owner Amplify Snack Brands in a deal worth around $1.6 billion as it expands away from high-sugar foods.
Nestlé announced last June that it was considering putting its confectionery business up for sale. The unit generated $924 million in sales last year.
The world’s biggest food company has been under pressure to sell underperforming areas of its business after hedge fund Third Point invested $3.5 billion in the company in June.
When completed, the deal will be the first major Nestlé divestment since Mark Schneider took over as CEO. He said the company aims to focus high-growth categories like coffee, infant nutrition, pet care and bottled water. Between them, they account for more than half of group sales and are growing almost 2% faster than Nestlé’s other categories.
Towards the end of last year it bought vitamin producer Atrium Innovations for $2.3 billion and US coffee brand Chameleon Cold-Brew.


text:
By NAOKI SHOJI/ Staff Writer
May 12, 2020 at 07:30 JST
NAKA, Ibaraki Prefecture--A local brewery is on a mission to save craft beer from being discarded amid a draft beer sales slump brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Kiuchi Brewery Inc., based in Naka, Ibaraki Prefecture, is calling on restaurants across the country to send it barrels of their draft beer to turn into gin before it expires.
The company came up with the plan to save the suds after a sales representative heard a client in low spirits lamenting that they would likely have to pour out their product.
"We have no choice but to discard beer if things continue on like this,” the client said. “We will suffer a great deal of loss."
That’s why they ginned up the new service, called the "Save Beer Spirits" project.
"I, too, have been brewing beer, so it's a shame to see beer discarded," said Isamu Yoneda, 31, who is in charge of distillation at the brewery. "We want to help with what we can."
The brewery, known for its Hitachino Nest Beer line, has been accepting beer barrels containing at least 20 liters in total since mid-April. The company charges no fee for distilling and bottling, but applicants must shoulder the shipping fees.
The company has already received about 20 orders, not only from the Tokyo metropolitan area but also from Aichi and Okinawa prefectures.
Kiuchi Brewery has a distillation facility in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward and another in Ishioka, also in Ibaraki Prefecture.
After receiving the beer, the brewery distills it in a pot still to enhance the alcohol content. The process adds a nutty flavor to the brew before it is turned into gin.
About 8 liters of gin can be produced from 100 liters of beer. The gin is filled into 750-milliliter bottles, which will then be labeled and returned to the senders starting in July.
Craft beer is produced at microbreweries and freshness is crucial.
Some connoisseurs say that some beers spoil quicker than others, with the taste and color starting to decline about a month after production.
Distinctive craft gins produced by microbreweries, though, have also become popular in recent years.
"We hope that restaurants promote (the gin) as a main attraction to draw customers when they reopen," said Machiko Hagiya, who does public relations for the brewery.
Visit this page for the latest news on Japan’s battle with the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
The Asahi Shimbun aims “to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” through its Gender Equality Declaration.
Let’s explore the Japanese capital from the viewpoint of wheelchair users and people with disabilities with Barry Joshua Grisdale.


text:
ST. PAUL (April 22, 2013) — The Saint Paul Farmers’ Market, which has been offering fresh, locally-grown produce and goods to Minnesotans from its location on 5th and Wall streets for 31 years, will open for the 2013 season on Saturday, May 4. The original opening, scheduled for April 27, has been delayed due to today’s impending snow storm.
“The Saint Paul Farmers’ Market has been an institution for more than 150 years,” Mayor Chris Coleman said. “Saint Paulites know that when the Farmers’ Market is open, spring has truly arrived. I know I join all of Saint Paul when I say that I am genuinely looking forward to opening day.”
“We look forward to the new season with many new changes to the Market. The changes will help make shopping for locally grown goods and produce even easier than it has been in the past,” said Jack Gerten, Manager of the Saint Paul Farmers’ Market. “While we are disappointed that we have to wait a week, we welcome the onset of spring, and the Market, with excitement and anticipation.”
The downtown Farmer’s Market is located at 5th and Wall Street, Saint Paul. Hours are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays, from May 4 through Nov. 23, 2013.


text:
Retail Sales Decline For Third Straight Month
A new economic report doubles down on the idea that the economy ended the 2nd Quarter on a very weak note:
Americans cut their spending at retail businesses for a third consecutive month, and businesses added to their inventories, as a weak job market has made consumers more cautious.
Retail sales fell 0.5 percent in June from May, the Commerce Department said on Monday. Consumers spent less on autos, furniture, appliances and building and garden supplies and at department stores.
Retail sales haven’t fallen for three straight months since the fall of 2008, at the height of the financial crisis.
Some of the weakness in recent months reflects falling gas prices. But even excluding sales at gas stations, retail spending fell 0.3 percent in June.
In another report released Monday, the Commerce Department said business stockpiles grew 0.3 percent in May from April, matching April’s increase. Total business sales fell 0.1 percent in May, matching the April decline.
Total stockpiles rose to $1.58 trillion in May. That’s nearly 20 percent higher than the low point in September 2009, shortly after the recession ended.
When businesses step up restocking, they order more goods. That generally leads to increased factory production and higher economic growth.
But stockpile growth largely depends on the spending habits of consumers.
Consumers are growing less confident in the economy and have pulled back sharply on spending this spring. Consumer spending drives 70 percent of economic activity in the United States.
The economy is expanding too slowly to lower the unemployment rate, which stayed at 8.2 percent in June.
Indeed thanks to this report, Goldman Sachs immediately lowered its estimate for economic growth in the 2nd Quarter:
Goldman Sachs chief U.S. economist Jan Hatzius and his team lowered their tracking estimate of Q2 GDP growth to 1.6 percent from 1.8 percent on the back of weak retail sales data out of the United States this morning.
Hatzius wrote in a note to clients that “key details of the report were weaker than the consensus had expected,” including non-auto retail sales, which were down 0.4 percent, and “core”/control retail sales — a metric that strips autos, gasoline, and building materials out of the number — which came in flat at 0 percent.
After revisions, 1st Quarter GDP growth came in at a disappointing +1.9%. Given the economic statistics we’ve seen since then, it’s not at all surprising that growth would have been slower than that in the 2nd Quarter. More importantly, though, the drop in retail sales does not bode well for the start of the 3rd Quarter:
It was the first time sales had dropped in three consecutive months since late 2008, when the economy was still mired in a deep recession. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected retail sales to rise 0.2 percent.
“Evidence is increasingly clear that the U.S. economy is slowing,” said Jim Baird, an investment strategist at Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Kalamazoo, Mich.
The report adds to a spate of weak economic data that is raising pressure on President Obama ahead of his November reelection bid. Republican challenger Mitt Romney is focusing his campaign on the weak economy that has plagued Obama’s presidency.
The report could raise hopes that the Federal Reserve could launch another bond-buying program to help the economy.
Job creation in the United States has slowed dramatically in the last few months, and recently the country’s factory sector also showed signs of contraction.
The retail data is particularly worrisome because it suggests consumer spending, which drives about two-thirds of the economy, is also sagging.
The first GDP report for the 2nd Quarter comes out on July 27th. In between now and then, we’ll get any number of other statistics that will give us a better idea of what shape the economy was in going into July. Based on these retail sales figures, though, it doesn’t look good at all.


text:
This story was published more than 3 years ago.
American betting group DraftKings has announced that they've launched their mobile sportsbetting product in Iowa, partnering with the Wild Rose Casino and Resort to offer the service.
Those who want to place wagers using the service will first have to register in person at one of the three Wild Rose Casinos within the Hawkeye State. This will be for the first year of the service, after which time punters will be able to register online. After registration, players will have the opportunity to use their mobile devices to put in wagers, with the likes of American football, basketball, baseball, hockey, auto racing, and other sports available.
The two companies have been working together for the past several months to operate retail books, but this is the first time that sportsbetting has gone mobile within Iowa. DraftKings is enjoying a resurgence of business after sportsbetting was opened up at the Supreme Court level, operating books in the likes of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and New York.


text:
Heading into the weekend, all of today’s best deals are now up for grabs ahead of Black Friday and headlined by a $499 all-time low price cut on Apple’s latest 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro. On the opposite side of the lineup, the already-affordable 10.2-inch iPad now sells for even less at $270 and rounds out Friday’s best price cuts alongside ecobee’s latest HomeKit Smart Thermostats on sale from $159. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
Save $499 on Apple’s latest 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro
Amazon is now offering Apple’s latest 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro 512GB for $2,000 in two styles. Down from the $2,499 price tag you would more regularly pay, today’s offer amounts to $499 in savings in order to deliver a new all-time low. In what will likely be the best price of the Black Friday shopping season, this is $99 under the previous best price and the only time we’ve seen it drop under $2,099.
Apple’s latest flagship MacBook Pro refreshes the popular 16-inch form-factor with a redesign inside and out. The new M1 Pro chip powers the experience and pairs with a 16-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display backed by ProMotion, 120Hz refresh rates, and 1600 nits of peak brightness. Packed into that new chassis is up to 21-hour battery, as well as a new array of I/O like the return of MagSafe charging, HDMI, three Thunderbolt ports, and more. We also aren’t expecting to see new M2 models drop until March of next year. See why it was our Apple product of the year.
Apple’s latest 10.2-inch iPad lands right at expected Black Friday price
After detailing what we can expect from the Black Friday shopping season on the Apple front, we’re now seeing one of the expected discounts going live a bit early ahead of Thanksgiving Week with Amazon marking down the latest 10.2-inch iPad to one of the best prices yet. Starting at $270 in two colors for the Wi-Fi 64GB model, today’s offer is down from $329 in either case and marking the second-best discount to date. This comes within just $1 of the all-time low and is a rare chance to save. Also at Best Buy for the same price.
While not the latest model to hit the iPadOS lineup, the 10.2-inch model on sale today is still the most affordable option on shelves right now and comes powered by the A13 Bionic chip that’s said to be 20% faster than its predecessor. As for how Apple is applying all that extra power, you’ll enjoy additional features like True Tone support for the 10.2-inch screen alongside Center Stage in the new 12MP ultrawide camera that automatically adjusts the crop and zoom of your selfie camera depending on who and where they are in the shot. Get a closer look in our launch coverage at why this is one of the best Apple Black Friday deals live right now.
ecobee’s latest Smart Thermostats on sale from $159
Amazon is now offering the latest flagship ecobee Smart Thermostat for $219. Normally fetching $250, you’re not only looking at a rare chance to save in the first place, but also a $31 discount and an arrival at the expected Black Friday 2022 price. This is one of the best discounts so far and comes within $5 of the all-time low. All packed into a refreshed design that comes centered around a 4-inch display with a Zinc build that steps up from the plastic casings used in the past. Features are also seeing some improvements with much of the same Siri and Alexa integration as before. Though the biggest adjustment is that there’s now a built-in air quality monitor which pairs with the external temperature sensor to help provide local readings of temperature, humidity, and even stats like VOCs and carbon dioxide levels. Dive into our hands-on launch coverage for a better idea of what to expect.
Alongside the flagship smart climate controller, Amazon is also discounting another one of the new ecobee Smart Thermostat models. This version with integrated Alexa is now sitting at $159 via Amazon from its usual $190 price tag in order to match the all-time low last set over a month ago. This model packs much of the same redesigned housing as the lead deal, just with a toned down feature set. It still has onboard Alexa, but from there ditches the integrated Siri access as well as the temperature sensor found above. There’s still HomeKit support, though, as well as all of the other automation tech to make sure you stay comfortable this fall and into winter.
Best trade-in deals
9to5Mac also keeps tabs on all the best trade-in deals on iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch, and more every month. Be sure to check out this month’s best trade-in deals when you decide it’s time to upgrade your device, or simply head over to our trade-in partner directly if you want to recycle, trade, or sell your used devices for cash and support 9to5Mac along the way!
Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!
Jordan’s favorite gaming peripherals of 2022: What to look for this holiday deal season [Video]
Alienware AW920H headset review: Wireless, ANC, and Bluetooth on a budget? [Video]
Logitech Astro A30 review: Is it the last gaming headset you’ll ever need? [Video]
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


text:
Just in time for holiday travel and gifts, more airlines have announced restrictions on smart luggage. Following American Airlines' announcement on December 1 that all high-tech suitcases must have a removable battery to be allowed on board, Alaska and Delta have followed suit. According to CNN, United and Southwest will announce similar policies soon.
Similar to American Airlines' policy, Alaska and Delta's ban on non-removable lithium-ion batteries will begin on January 15, 2018. All three airlines will allow passengers to bring smart bags as carry-on if it's possible to remove the battery, though the battery doesn't necessarily need to be removed if the bag is stored in an overhead compartment. If the bag is being checked, the battery must be removed and carried with the passenger on board. The bag won't be allowed on the plane—in the main cabin or in the luggage hold—if the battery can't be removed. Lithium-ion batteries have the capacity to overheat and cause a fire, and crew members can't access the belly of the plane to put it out.
Suitcases equipped with everything from phone chargers and GPS tracking devices have become increasingly mainstream over the last few years and are bound to be popular holiday gifts, but before you buy one for yourself or someone on your list, know which bags comply with the new industry standards, and how. "Many smart bag manufacturers advertise their products as being approved by the Federal Aviation Administration or Transportation Security Administration, which may give customers the false impression that all smart bags are accepted for transport. To date, neither the TSA nor FAA have endorsed a smart bag as approved," reads a statement posted on Delta's website.
Once United and Southwest enact their policies, 80% of U.S. air traffic will restrict non-removable batteries. The good news is that many manufacturers already make suitcases with removable batteries, including Away, Raden, Samsara, Arlo Skye, and Barracuda. Away's products come with a screwdriver to remove the battery, for example, while Raden's energy pack is located in zippable pouch behind the interior lining. Bluesmart, however, does not make bags that comply with the new policy, though the company has plans to meet with major airlines in hopes of making their non-removable batteries exempt from the ban.


text:
Bottom line: The impression of the pandemic on Foxconn’s enterprise lasted into the fourth quarter of 2020, and an ongoing scarcity of chips will scale back its outlook for the current 12 months. However, the Taiwanese producer big expects its income to develop 10 % for the 12 months, and is optimistic concerning the provide chain’s means to get well in early 2022.
Foxconn’s mother or father firm, Hon Hai Precision Industry immediately reported disappointing outcomes for the final quarter, which is partly defined by its accelerated effort to make electrical automobiles. For the three months ending in December 2020, Foxconn’s internet earnings was $1.6 billion, which not solely misses the typical estimates of $1.76 billion projected by analysts, but in addition represents a 3.7 % decline in comparison with the same quarter of 2019. On the opposite hand, it is a 15 % improve over the primary quarter of 2020, and near the corporate’s personal forecast.
Foxconn chairman and CEO Young Liu stated throughout an investor name the corporate’s income for many of 2020 was pushed in no small half by Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup, in addition to robust PC gross sales. But because the scarcity of chips worsened in the direction of the top of the 12 months, the corporate began monitoring the provision chain extra intently. Liu defined the impression ought to be restricted to below 10 % of consumer orders, and the corporate stays cautiously optimistic.
The global shortage of chips is more likely to final nicely into 2022, probably even longer, as the provision chain reveals little signal of restoration after being strained by excessive demand at an unlucky time when droughts, snowstorms, crypto miners, and surging urge for food for automobiles have taken a toll on the most important chip foundries’ output.
As for Foxconn, the corporate began noticing adjustments within the supplies provide earlier this month and expects the scarcity of chips to increase till the second quarter of subsequent 12 months. Liu additionally detailed plans for increasing into electrical automobiles, together with a $1 billion funding to construct a producing plant in North America, with the almost certainly areas being Mexico and Wisconsin. When prepared, the power could be able to producing 10,000 automobiles monthly.
All of that is a part of Foxconn’s “3+3” plan to enhance its gross margin — which at present sits at 5.65 % — to at the very least 10 % by 2025, via a mixture of bets on electrical automobiles, digital healthcare, and industrial robotics. It is, maybe, no coincidence that simply as Apple is rumored to organize its electric car for a debut later this 12 months, Foxconn can also be speaking up its plans to construct the “Android system of the EV industry,” together with a solid-state battery that is presupposed to be prepared by 2024.
Unlike most automakers that are utilizing a closed system to develop their electrical automobiles, Foxconn desires to construct an open EV platform dubbed MIH that already has an ecosystem of 400 companions behind it equivalent to MediaTek, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, ST Micro, and Amazon Web Services. In doing that, Foxconn might change into the go-to associate for many EV startups, particularly these inquisitive about constructing autonomous automobiles.


text:
Local fashion designer brand XOIA recently showcased more than 20 sets of designs at the Celebration of Silk’s Thai Silk International Fashion Week in Bangkok organised in honour of the Queen Sirikit, Queen Mother of Thailand.
XOIA was among 42 international designers and 30 Thai designers that were featured in the international event which began from November 18 – 22.
The brand also presented a custom dress in front of an audience of 2,000 from around the world for the Grand Fashion Extravaganza.
“I had designed a total of 15 sets of garments with a variety of Thai silks while the rest are made of other fabrics,” said XOIA’s Fashion Designer and Managing Director Atiqah Ismail.
For the designs, Atiqah used Thai silks produced by Queen Sirikit’s Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques.
Speaking on her time during the fashion week, Atiqah said that the experience was “inspiring and eye-opening”, noting that the opportunity to interact with successful designers from all around the world has helped create a window for the company’s future growth.
“The majority of the work and hustle comes after this (the event) in maintaining the relationships I have established and following up on business leads acquired during these events,” she said.
Atiqah added that through Thai Silk International Fashion Week, the fashion designer came to realise the significance of Thai silk in Thai culture and how it represents societal benevolence and pride.
“Perhaps this event is something we can replicate to promote the tenunan or production of our kain songket and its unique designs and textures while stimulating interests from the current and younger generations as well as raising awareness internationally,” she added.
Atiqah also highlighted the economic value of the fashion industry, noting the industry’s numerous spin-off potentials and job creation opportunities including fashion photography, fashion marketing and merchandising which in turn will create a greater demand for local skilled talents.
“With the increasing number of aspiring designers in Brunei, it is important to inspire and encourage each other as well as to create a conducive and nurturing environment that can make fashion a sustainable and feasible business in Brunei,” she said. – Wardi Wasil
The Bruneian | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN


text:
Mexico will be the second non-Asian country to host the Symposium of Papaya Producers and the first in the Americas….
MERIDA — Experts from papaya-producing countries from different parts of the world and from Mexico will have their world congress in Merida from the 24th to the 27th of October, where they will expose the importance of this fruit and the new export opportunities.
The official name of this summit of producers is the “5th International Symposium of Papaya” and in parallel Mexican producers will hold their “9th National Encounter of Papaya Producers” in the Hotel El Conquistador of this city.
Experts from Canada, the United States, Brazil, India, Costa Rica and producers and researchers from 10 Mexican states that are the main producers of papaya in the world have already confirmed their attendance.
One of the coordinators of this summit is Dr. Jorge Santamaria Fernández, chief researcher of the Center for Scientific Research of Yucatan (CICY). He reported that this event is sponsored by the International Society of Horticultural Sciences and is the summit where all the productive, scientific and marketing chain of elite meet, making it the most important in the world on this species of fruit. They will discuss topics on fruit genetics, tolerance to pest diseases, effects of drought, commercialization and the use of papaya for medical purposes, called nutraceutical, because it is scientifically proven that the consumption of this fruit is healthy and a protector of the human body when there is constant consumption of medicines and prevents diabetes and other degenerative diseases.
Santamaría Fernández reported that it is the first time that Mexico will host this summit and Mérida was selected to receive the more than 120 experts of elite of the production chain of papaya in the world.
“There will be issues of great interest as new opportunities to export to other markets because now Mexico only sells to the United States,” he said. “There are new markets in Europe, Japan, Canada, China and other nations that demand this fruit, now that the North American Free Trade Agreement is at risk.”
This event had always been organized by Asia since its first editions. The group was already headquartered in Malaysia, Singapore, India and Australia, but now Mexico has its headquarters in terms of food production.
“We beat Hawaii and Brazil, two of the most important producers of papaya,” commented the researcher.
Merida will host the world congress from October 24 to 27.
The event also includes a visit to the productive unit of papaya Pamasur, in Tizimín, which exports the fruit, and a visit to the archaeological zone of Chichén Itzá.
“We put this event in the eyes of the international chain, it is a golden opportunity to show what Yucatan does well,” said Dr. Jorge Santamaría Fernández, organizer.
The inauguration, the conferences and the panel will be in the Hall El Mirador of the Hotel Conquistador, located in the emblematic Paseo de Montejo, and the closing will be in the Olimpo Cultural Center.
more recommended stories
How to Use Mexico’s Do Not Call Registry
Quintana Roo, Mexico – When we lived.
Urban improvement of old University’s building facade, one of Merida’s architectural jewel
Mayor Maria Fritz Sierra led the.
Oaxaca City: Cultural Tourism at its best (Part 1)
Oaxaca City was recently placed in.
Dangerous parasites attack the beaches of Yucatan
According to experts, millions of larvae,.
The Maya octopus a unique species endemic of Yucatan
Mexico is the third largest octopus.
National Tourist Business Council says tourist taxes cannot be used to pay for Maya Train project
According to Pablo Azcárraga, chairman of.
Exhibition about the human figure
Social Commitment Citibanamex, through Fomento Cultural.
Fill it up please… Thank you Walmart!
Walmart’s branch in Mexico and Central-America.
Yucatecan construction workers intoxicated with cement made in Egypt
Yucatecan construction workers say that the.
The U.S. and Mexico form new plan to take on drug cartels
According to PVDN, U.S. Drug Enforcement.


text:
Athena is President of the Maling Road Business Association and has been a business owner in Canterbury for 26 years. Athena proudly represents small business owners and managers in the Maling Road shopping strip, the majority of whom are women.
Athena said, “Small businesses face many challenges. They require much resilience and the ability to change and grow. These are qualities I have certainly called upon, especially in the past few years.”
While Athena’s own business was adversely affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, she and the Maling Road Business Association played a pivotal role in helping other businesses in the shopping strip to survive.
“Maling Road is a community hub and I enjoy working closely with local community groups, schools, residents and Council to improve our shopping strip and continue to provide a place where people can gather and connect.”
Athena believes women can do anything. She believes in the need for women to speak up, be seen and lead.
“We need to change perceptions and create a world where women can do all these things without question,” she said.
“My advice to women is to get involved wherever they can. You meet people you may never have met, you go to places you may never have gone and you can impact your community in a positive way.”
“I believe that it is important to give back to my community and when something needs to be done, instead of complaining about it, why not get involved and make it happen.”
When asked what International Women’s Day means to her, Athena said it is about celebrating the success of women and raising awareness against bias. Athena believes it is a reminder of the need to make society equal and safer for women.
“Society needs women to act – not just watch, and men need to acknowledge and proactively encourage this. I feel very confident that my workplace and my family respect my place in the world, and I wish this for all women.”
She said, “Women should proudly celebrate their own and each other’s achievements and help shape the future. I want my children (my daughters and my son) and future generations to live in a society where these things are considered the norm.”


text:
Nairobi Is The Only African City In Global Investors Top 5 Watch List
Kenya’s capital, Nairobi has been listed as the only African city in the global investors top 5 watch list, with major companies opting for it as a natural starting point in entering or expanding to new regions for investment.
This has resulted to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) accounting for more than 50pc of the region’s total economy from investment facilities such as Mombasa Port and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) which serve the whole country.
The government has packaged incentives for investments such as direct import from China, special economic and export zones and joint ventures and partnerships, KenInvest General Manager, Pius Rotich told investors while Speaking at the Kenya-China Business Forum in Nairobi. “Investors should pay their required investment targets and taxes for them not to come into loggerheads with the government because Kenya’s business environment has improved.”
The GM firther said that through the Mombasa Port, Kenya and China can import textile, construction and manufacturing products as well as export agricultural products.
Rotich insists that the Kenya Investment Authority (KIA) provides a wide range of pre-investment facilities in order to mae sure investors benefit, they include economic zones setup, obtaining work permit, visas and tax registration.
The Wuxi Municipal People’s Political Consultative, Ye Qin Liang, said that the driving force for economic growth in Kenya is mining, agriculture and manufacturing industries leading to many Chinese businesspersons investing in Kenya. The country is also financially sustainable because of its political stability thus enhancing currency fluctuation in terms of dollars.
Qin Liang said that China has become Kenya’s major investment partner being the main exporter of ceramic products, electronic devices footwear as well as furniture.


text:
“Verum, remember how you often wished that humans avoid eating unhealthy foods? Your wish could be coming true!” said Scorch. Verum got too excited, and the crystal ball almost slipped from her hands when she heard the news.
“Watch out!” Scorch gasped in terror. Verum held the crystal ball in time and carefully placed it on the table, “Tell me more!”
“There is a food-based company called Danone headquartered in Paris, France, and has stores worldwide. Danone in the UK (United Kingdom) has planned to reduce eating unhealthy foods by increasing the tax rates for those foods. James Mayer, Danone UK president, has called to increase taxes on sugary, fatty, and salty foods,” narrated Scorch.
“Tax is a fee that people pay to the government which will later be used for the public’s welfare,” Orak interrupted.
Scorch continued, “In 2018, the UK put a sugar tax on the purchase of soft drinks. This program led to a 14.9% decrease in sugary cereal consumption and a 13.5% decrease in sugary yoghurts. The government declared that junk food cannot be advertised on television after 9 pm in the UK after October 2025.
The idea is to increase taxes on unhealthy processed foods and use that money to give fresh fruits and vegetables to needy families. It is challenging, and companies need more time to incorporate this into their products.”
Verum listened wide-eyed all along and said, “This is brilliant! Less intake of unhealthy foods leads to a healthier lifestyle. I hope the increased taxes don’t burden common people.”
Scorch and Orak nodded in approval.


text:
On Tuesday, the Telegraph newspaper reported that Britain could enter a formal trade alliance with Canada, Mexico, and the United States if the European Union denies negotiating a post-Brexit trade deal.
The newspaper said that British ministers were looking at the possibility of entering the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as part of planning for the probability of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union in March 2019 without a trade deal.
“As we prepare to leave the EU, we will seek to transition all existing EU trade arrangements to ensure that the UK maintains the greatest amount of certainty, continuity and stability in our trade and investment relationships,” said a spokesman for the Department for International Trade.
When asked for comment, the spokesman stated: “We are confident that we will find a deal that works for Britain and Europe too. But it is our responsibility as a government to prepare for every eventuality, and that is what we are doing.”
Currently, Britain is negotiating the terms of its divorce from the European Union although Theresa May is pushing to move onto discussions regarding a major free trade deal with the biggest trading bloc in the world.
With the clock ticking down towards the Brexit day in 2019, British ministers are considering the options if the fifth largest economy of the world drops out of the European Union without a clear trade deal.
Aside from aiming to secure a U.S. trade deal or organising some new trade grouping, some British supporters of Brexit have pondered on joining an existing trade alliance such as NAFTA.
However, Donald Trump, the U.S. President, has warned that he may terminate the 1994 NAFTA deal because he says that it does not serve U.S. economic interests.
According to trade analysts, if ever Britain did join NAFTA, manufacturers wanting to export to the European Union and North America would have to produce products in accordance with the two separate sets of rules.
Britain, whose regulation has been within the orbit of the European Union for more than 40 years, would also be required to shift towards the North American model for goods, services, data protection, and competition policy.
The European Union is the biggest single export market of Britain, accounting for around 50 percent of goods exports in August. While accounting for 14 percent in August, the United States was the single biggest destination for British exports.


text:
Virginia Lottery players have won a lot of money since online games launched. A lot, as in, more than $2 billion.
The lottery announced recently that players have won more than $2 billion dollars via online games since the new platform launched a little over two years ago.
“The convenience of playing online has really caught on with Virginia Lottery players as an additional way to play,” Virginia Lottery Executive Director Kelly Gee said in a press release about the milestone. “Our focus at Lottery is all about ensuring the best customer experience possible, translating to more sales and profits for our beneficiary–K-12 public education. Online sales are contributing to both of those goals.”
Winners averaging around $6,700 per win
According to the Virginia Lottery, more than 300,000 unique players have won prizes playing the online lottery. That averages out to around $6,700 in prizes per winner.
Players can buy tickets for big-jackpot games like Mega Millions and Powerball. They can also purchase more than 60 instant-win games created exclusively for the online lottery. Some of those games include:
- Monopoly Progressive Jackpots: Tickets range from 50 cents to $50, and the jackpot grows for as long as the jackpot isn’t won.
- Casino Multiplier: Top prize of $250,000, with odds of winning the top prize and 1-in-4 million.
- VA Cash Expander: The odds of winning the top prize of $250,000 are twice as good as Casino Multiplier.
- Street Fighter 2: An instant-win themed after the popular arcade game, the odds of winning the $150,000 top prize are 1 in 2 million
Online lottery resembles slot-machine play
Virginia’s online lottery games are very similar to slot machines. Players purchase a ticket for a game. They then tap or click a “Play” button and their game populates three rows of five squares. Players know instantly if they’ve won. Some games offer bonus plays.
Additionally, players may have the option to choose an “Auto Play” mode that allows them to:
- Set a max number of auto plays (10, 25, 50, or 100)
- Set a stop-loss that ends auto-play when losses reach a certain dollar amount ($5, $10, $25, or no limit)
- Choose a cash-out option that lets the player stop auto-play once they reach a single win amount ranging from under $25 to more than $100.
Players can also try out demo versions of each game to familiarize themselves with how the games work.
Biggest online prize hit nearly $300,000
A South Boston man took home the biggest online jackpot to date: $295,806 playing Jungle Tumble Jackpots.
And, recently, Susan Disse, a Henrico resident, took home more than $150,000 playing Monopoly Progressive Jackpots. She played the game in demo mode first, then decided to play the real-money version.
She won a $158,570 jackpot, according to the Virginia Lottery. So stunned was she by the win that she asked her husband to take her laptop away for fear she’d do something to lose the prize.
“I was afraid I would hit something and make it go away,” she said.


text:
Apple Music is launching its first radio show in Africa.
The streaming platform announced Thursday that Africa Now Radio with Cuppy will debut Sunday and will feature a mix of contemporary and traditional popular African sounds, including genres like Afrobeat, rap, house, kuduro and more.
Cuppy, the Nigerian-born DJ and music producer, will host the weekly one-hour show, which will be available at 9 a.m. ET.
“The show represents a journey from West to East and North to South, but importantly a narrative of Africa then to Africa now,” Cuppy in a statement.
THE HUGE NEWS YOU’VE BEEN…


text:
The global market for micro servers is observing massive call for competent computing goods, which has obliged market players to upturn their concentration on product invention and development of the current assortment. Mergers, acquisit…
BMI View: In line with Romania's economic outperformance in Europe, the country's pharmaceutical and
healthcare markets will see strong growth given increased consumer spending power and higher healthcare
contributions. However, aggressive drug pricing regulations, including the imminent joint drug
procurement agreement with CEE countries, will limit revenue-earning opportunities.
Headline Expenditure Projections
? Pharmaceuticals: RON14.94bn (USD3.73bn) in 2015 to RON15.89bn (USD3.76bn) in 2016; 6.4% in
local currency terms and 0.7% in US dollar terms. Forecast unchanged from last quarter.
? Healthcare: RON39.05bn (USD9.75bn) in 2015 to RON41.28bn (USD9.76bn) in 2016; 5.7% in local
currency terms and 0.1% in US dollar terms. Forecast unchanged from last quarter.


text:
Aussies spend hundreds while shopping drunk
Around a million Aussies have woken up with more than a hangover after indulging in this costly activity.
If you’ve ever woken up hungover and with a chunk of money missing from your account, you’re not alone, according to new research.
Almost one in five adult Aussies have shopped online while drunk, fintech company Finder found.
Out of those who admitted to splurging online while boozy, the average amount individuals have most spent in one sitting was $328.
Surprisingly, men are the worst offenders spending more than $343 in one sitting, compared to women forking out $306.
Gen X are the worst drunk shoppers shelling out $425 on average per sitting, compared to $299 for Millennials and $265 for Gen Z.
Those from NSW are more likely to splurge while drunk with $370 spent on average, compared to $252 by Victorians.
The most popular things to splash the cash on are food delivery, more alcohol and clothes or shoes, while more outlandish purchases include airline tickets and pets.
But it’s not just the only drunk activity Aussies are indulging in. Some have even gone as far as applying for a job and applying for a house or apartment.
Kate Browne, personal finance expert at Finder, said the past two years have seen a huge change in how we shop online.
“Shopping online is so common and even more accessible than ever. Shoppers have a wider range of goods and services at their fingertips, and can shop around for a bargain at any time,” she said.
“On the down side, because shopping online is so easy, it’s possible to shop whenever you want, and no matter what state of mind you are in, including if you’ve had a few drinks.”
According to Australia Post, nine million Australian households shopped online in 2020, the equivalent to 82 per cent of all households.
Online purchases grew by 57 per cent year on year for the 12 months to December 31, 2020 as Australians spent a record $50 billion online up from $32.1 billion in 2019.
Online spend accounted for 16 per cent of total retail spend.
Ms Browne said now is the time to get your finances in check before the upcoming holiday season.
“We are coming into the most expensive time of the year, so it’s a great idea to plan ahead.
“Try and do your Christmas shopping a bit earlier during the November sales such as Black Friday to grab bargains,” she said.
“If you can, try and put some extra cash away every time you get paid to give yourself a little more wiggle room to splurge during silly season.”


text:
For many, the Beijing Olympic Games represent a coming-out party for China on the world stage. Though the analogy may be apt, it's worth noting another, more important, competition in Asia has been going on for years now. And market-based capitalism continues to bring home the gold.
But you'd hardly know it from the headlines of late. Venezuela is nationalizing its assets, many fear protectionism and the death of NAFTA in a new US presidential administration, the Doha round trade talks collapsed, Japan (the world's biggest exporter) is predicting bad economic times ahead, and so on. It may seem free trade is in peril.
But if you just take a small step back and see the wider picture, it's very clear free trade is on the rise overall and will continue trending that way. This is an imperative for the global economy to continue growth—which in most regions of the world and to most of the populace—is just beginning. Folks who can't see the world is merely on the cusp—not the tail end—of potential global growth are the same folks who are overly bearish today—they don't see the opportunity. The Chinese Olympics are representation of both the progress that's been made on the global scene and the still latent potential.
Not long ago, it would have been nearly inconceivable for China to host an Olympic Games. But the same could be said for the economic and political reforms in China and throughout Asia over the last two decades. China and other Asian countries have instituted myriad economic reforms, opening their markets to the West and in turn gaining access to foreign markets for goods of their own. The results have been breathtaking. China has grown to be the second-largest trading partner with the US. And last year, trade between the US and the East Pacific reached one trillion dollars. Remarkably, for the first time in centuries, more trade now crosses the Pacific than the Atlantic.
And trade barriers continue to fall. Bilateral free-trade pacts are either completed or in the works between the US and Singapore, Australia, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. This is not to say they'll all be made into law right away. The free trade pact with South Korea (the biggest such pact in over a decade for the US—and the biggest ever for South Korea) is currently facing resistance from protectionists in both countries. But the backlash over allowing US meat imports has subsided as South Koreans realized protectionist fears (and health concerns regarding the safety of US meat) were unfounded. In fact, demonstrators in support of President Bush's visit to South Korea this week outnumbered detractors. And with Seoul negotiating similar deals with the EU and Canada, the South Korean mood may be brightening for increased trade with the West.
Of course, the US Congress will have to approve the trade pact, which looks unlikely during Mr. Bush's term. Astonishing, considering it's increasingly obvious freer trade has not benefited some countries at the expense of others, as protectionists fear. Rather than the zero sum game some expected, wealth has spread throughout reform-oriented nations. It's a win-win situation.
In fact, free trade is by definition always a win-win. It works like this: Let's say there are two trading partners, one makes watches and the other makes shirts. The watch-making trader is much more efficient at watch-making than the shirt-maker; likewise, the shirt-maker is much more efficient at making shirts than the watch-maker. So they trade with each other and both parties are automatically better off for it, gaining something of value cheaper than they could have done it themselves.
That's just one example—now think of it in terms of millions of goods on display in a global marketplace…the potential gains to trade are nearly endless!
So it shouldn't be terribly surprising President Bush has timed a weeklong tour of Asia touting free trade, capitalism, and human rights to coincide with the Games. After all, competition creates a spirit of constant and never-ending improvement, which is a big part of what capitalism's all about. So expect the Games to be a showcase not just for a new China, but for the benefits of the free trade that helped to create it. And as for capitalism (in lane 1), expect the gold rush to continue.
If you would like to contact the editors responsible for this article, please click here.
*The content contained in this article represents only the opinions and viewpoints of the Fisher Investments editorial staff.


text:
Almost everyone outside of China has a Facebook account, and almost every marketer has a Facebook ads account. This is just common sense, because Facebook advertising is one of the easiest ways to target consumers — and Facebook ads work.
But like many things in Facebook-land, all is not well. An increasing number of marketers and advertisers are questioning their reliance on Facebook ads as costs go up and effectiveness goes down.
“As Facebook advertising becomes more popular, the cost-per-thousand-impressions (CPM) has also risen,” notes Sherman Standberry, chief operating officer and co-founder at Lyfe Marketing.
The average CPM for Facebook ads has risen 171 percent over the past year, according to Standberry. This, of course, directly decreases the return on ad spending for many businesses.
But there’s another reason that businesses should look beyond Facebook: The usefulness of Facebook ads also is decreasing.
“This year Facebook removed several targeting features available to advertisers due to the recent government crackdown,” says Standberry. “This has limited some of the advertising platform’s largest competitive advantage: targeting.”
Businesses are starting to look for alternatives. Facebook advertising still will play a role for most firms in the foreseeable future, but a little advertising diversity is not a bad thing. Facebook might not monopolize the ad market forever.
If you are among those looking for alternatives, here are five options to consider.
1. Google Ads
The best alternative to Facebook is its arch rival and fellow Silicon Valley juggernaut, Google. Bidding for Google Ads can be a competitive space just like Facebook, and often more so. Therefore, don’t expect a lower CPM from Google than you get at Facebook. You’ll probably pay more, in fact.
But cost should not be the primary concern for marketers: effectiveness is the point. That’s why marketers have flocked to online ad platforms in the first place. With Google Ads you get great control and visibility, helping you pinpoint those you reach and deliver on your campaign goals. You pay for this control and visibility, but often the cost is worth it.
“The ability to target users from the very first step of their journey based on what they type in the search box and follow up with them until they convert [is huge],” says Alex Chris, a consultant and digital marketing manager at marketing firm, Reliablesoft.net. “It’s the biggest advantage of Google Ads over FB.”
2. YouTube Advertising
Targeted demographics are important for advertising campaigns. But there’s something better: user intent. A 20-year-old who is single and likes dogs might be a good candidate for dog toy purchases, but even better is the person who currently is searching for dog toy review videos.
That’s why YouTube also should be on your list. YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google, and it combines some of the features present in both Google and Facebook: It is search-based advertising, but it also is a community platform.
“Users love to search, consume video, and interact with content (by commenting, sharing, liking or disliking), and YouTube offers that,” notes Chris. “For marketers, YouTube is more efficient than Facebook because they can target users based on their intent (search keyword) and not just demographic characteristics or habits.”
3. LinkedIn Ads
Quietly, LinkedIn has become both a social media and an advertising powerhouse. It has gone from strength to strength because it fills a specific niche and does it very well: It is the social network for business.
And it really has become an advertising powerhouse: roughly 80 percent of B2B leads on social media come through LinkedIn. The service has become a business hub and a great way for companies to advertise business-related products and services.
LinkedIn isn’t right for every marketer. Advertising consumer products on LinkedIn might not be the most effective way to spend ad dollars. But for B2B companies, LinkedIn is more than a Facebook alternative: It is the single best location for your ad dollars today.
4. Organic Search
If you’re disillusioned with Facebook Ads, it might be time to reconsider your marketing strategy.
Organic search and SEO once were cornerstones of online marketing, but many marketers now favor Facebook ads and paid search because ad placement is simple and ROI is clean. Organic search also is crazy competitive.
Shifts in user behavior and Google algorithms make organic search again a viable option, however, and marketers who want to get away from Facebook Ads might benefit from taking a second look at playing the search engine rankings game.
The reason organic search should be considered is this: Gaming Google is getting harder. This is an opportunity for every marketer because good content can again win the organic search game, especially if a marketer is strategic about which long-tail keywords and niche search intents to focus on.
All you need for organic search traffic now is really good content. You can do this for all but the biggest search terms if you make it a genuine focus.
“For some, this is not considered a real alternative because it takes more time to get results,” notes Chris. “But targeted organic traffic from Google beats any other medium in terms of conversions.”
Here’s how you can write SEO-optimized blog post in 2019 for better organic search rankings.
5. Twitter Ads
Twitter is an interesting advertising platform. It is smaller and sometimes of lower quality than Facebook. But Twitter also is an important hub for those who follow people and businesses outside of their direct circle of friends. Facebook has made its platform a place for impersonal interactions so it can monetize, but Twitter is better suited for such impersonal connections. That makes it a more authentic platform to advertise to people without pissing them off.
Twitter advertising also has the advantage of letting you target every single user who follows a specific Twitter account or interacts with a keyword. That can be gold in the hands of a savvy marketer.
“Twitter may have fewer users than FB,” says Chris, “but reports show that a large percentage of people who follow businesses on Twitter are more likely to purchase from that business.”
There still isn’t a great alternative for Facebook advertising. For firms without a widely recognized brand, the Facebook ecosystem is hard to beat for new customer prospecting. But Facebook Ads aren’t the only game in town.
If you’re tired of the high CPM and get nervous putting so much of your advertising with Facebook, you do have alternatives.


text:
The 10 Coolest Wearable Tech Gadgets For 2022 So Far
Wearable technology is becoming a huge market, and more and more players are entering the space. No longer just confined to watches, the wearables concept is spreading into other parts of everyone’s lives.
HIS Wireless Wearable Finger Mouse
Now here’s a wearable gadget that will help improve workflow. The Wireless Wearable Finger Mouse from HIS lets users use their wireless mouse from anywhere. It works as a remote control for presentations, or as a pointer. In tight spaces, it requires virtually no body movement to control. The company said the lack of wrist motion helps relieve or prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. The unit attaches to an index finger and is available in four color options.
Priced at $89.99


text:
Myntra, the fashion and beauty destination, has launched a multichannel marketing campaign with the aim to engage with 250 million shoppers from across the country on the arrival of the 16th edition of its flagship event, EORS, scheduled to be held between the June 11 and 16.
With the biggest and most desirable international and domestic brands putting forth attractive offers, the event is poised to drive shoppers into a fashion euphoria with sheer excitement.
Popular Bollywood celebrities and lifestyle and fashion influencers, including Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani and Siddhant Chaturvedi, are set to build excitement around the most awaited fashion carnival, among their vast fan base and audiences.
Myntra has adopted a thematic approach that’s integrated with a fun medley for the EORS ad films, symbolising the salience and nature of the gratifying event and has launched two master films, starring Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani and Siddhant Chaturvedi. The films will also be pairing off the celebrities for the first time, with a 15-second-long edit featuring Hrithik with Kiara and another with Hrithik and Siddhant.
The films will have transitioning costumes with Hrithik donning trendy and hip styles, Siddhant featuring the uber comfortable casual wear and Kiara repping western, casual and ethnic wear.
EORS-16 will be promoted extensively across TV and digital media platforms, such as Google, Facebook and YouTube, while also activating owned social media channels, M-Studio and M-Live.
The storyboards of the ad films with Hrithik starring alongside Kiara and Siddhant respectively, urge shoppers not to miss out on the gathering of the biggest and most iconic brands for India's grandest fashion event, EORS-16.
The ad films move with quick thematic storytelling, with a fun and quirky medley accompanied by excitable and progressive pop music with Myntra continuing to use the signature herald as part of the track. The 15-second edits are set to feature in English and stream across leading TV channels and social and digital media platforms.
The magnitude of the event takes centre stage in the ad films, with the stars narrating the importance of EORS, in tune with the medley. Kiara puts on a show, the variety of fashion on offer rocking the print, western, casual and ethnic offerings of Myntra, her expressions and enthusiasm add a pure entertainment factor to the film. Siddhant is dressed in casual attire and promotes the event with his quintessential repose in an energetic and peppy setting.
Other members of the cast too exemplify the excitement and anticipation, such as a scene where a person is seen in a bathtub full of sneakers, with only his head visible, showcasing the relevance for sneakerheads and fashion enthusiasts alike, thus, symbolising the deals on offer too, ahead of EORS-16.
Social Commerce initiatives:
Myntra will also unleash the full potential of its Social Commerce platforms which have been a cornerstone of its marketing initiatives to engage with its thriving fashion-forward shopper base.
Customers can look forward to India’s most popular influencers, including Big Boss 15 winner Tejasswi Prakash, Hina Khan, Gurmeet Choudhary and Niharika NM among others, creating over 5,000 looks in the space of fashion and beauty on Myntra Studio.
Customers who consume fashion and lifestyle content will see brands connecting with them through 700+ M-Live sessions during which the brands will offer merchandise at EORS prices during the pre-launch itself.
Nandita Sinha, CEO, Myntra, said, “Hrithik, Kiara and Siddhant are going to take center-stage in the EORS-16 ad films, creating heightened visibility for the event and driving deeper reach among fashion-forward shoppers in the country. Their films exemplify the message of the opulence of the event, which will bring together the biggest brands and trend-first styles. We will also offer brands the unparalleled opportunity to harness the power of the creators’ economy and leverage India’s leading influencers to effectively engage our upwardly mobile fashion-conscious consumers.”
The 6-day event will present an opportunity for brands to connect with millions of customers and first-time shoppers from across the country who are expected to visit the platform to cater to their unique fashion and beauty needs.
Agency: Brave New World
Founder And Chief Creative Officer: Joono Simon
Chief Creative Collaborators: Shiv Parameswaran and Arjun Kumar
Business Director: Keerthi Raju and Team
Production House - Dream Catchers
Executive producer: Kirk Jacob
Director: Reema Sen Gupta
Producer: Ashish Udeshi
DOP: Manoj Khatoi / Ratnayelu


text:
The iOS 7 iPhone upgrade comes with a neat little feature called CarPlay. It sounds pretty basic: Simply connect your CarPlay-enabled iPhone (currently only available on 5, 5s, and 5c) to a CarPlay-enabled vehicle. Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo are the first to release CarPlay-enabled lines, with brands like Nissan, BMW, and General Motors promising more CarPlay vehicles soon. The list of features, according to HuffPo, is pretty astounding. They include: entertainment (radio, audio, video, games), access to the vehicle (seats, mirrors, heat, door locks, trunk), plus social media and e-mail, and more.
It all sounds pretty great, but already some car safety activists are up in arms.
“We’re very, very concerned about it,” David Teater, senior director at the nonprofit National Safety Council, told CNN. “The auto industry and the consumer-electronics industry are really in an arms race to see how we can enable drivers to do stuff other than driving.”
Indeed, talking on the phone (even hands-free) while driving causes a “cognitive distraction” that many are worried about. According to CNN, researchers at the University of Utah said last year that talking on a hand-held phone is only slightly more distracting than talking on a hands-free phone, with both deemed a “moderate” risk. Voice-to-text applications like Siri were even more distracting, deemed an “extensive” risk. Cell phone use is a leading contributor to “distracted driving” accidents, which killed 3,328 people and injured 421,000 in 2012.
Either way, we’ll be looking to see how Google comes back at Apple’s car-centric upgrade. They’ve already announced a partnership with Audi to bring Android to the car.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!


text:
NexOptic Technology Corp (TSXV:NXO)
You’ll Never See The World The Same Way Again
Dealreporter cites CEO Sumit Sharma as saying MicroVision (NASDAQ:MVIS) is seeing strong interest from potential buyers in the auto and AR markets.
Several interested parties have engaged with MicroVision, and a deal could include selling off parts of the company.
In April, MicroVision hired an advisory firm to consider strategic alternatives including a potential merger or sale.
MVIS shares are up 20% to $2.40.
Samsung (OTC:SSNLF) is set to make semiconductors related to next-gen communications, application processing and sensors for Cisco Systems (CSCO +0.3%) and Google (GOOG -0.8%, GOOGL -0.9%) after receiving orders from the two companies, South Korea’s Electronic Times reports.
It points to an uptick in foundry momentum for Samsung, which received the orders early this year, according to the report.
The company is working on a next-gen telecom chip for Samsung and is in the development phase. And its Google order concerns more than one chip, including reports Google is seeking a sensor to measure body movements, as well as an unprecedented application processor.
Samsung is set to do both design and production on the new chips, rather than consigned-out production.
Microsoft (MSFT -1.8%) will launch its cloud-based game streaming service on September 15 in 22 markets for Android. An iOS launch date wasn’t provided.
Project xCloud will be included in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which includes access to PC and console games plus Xbox Live Gold for $14.99/month.
Google and Nvidia compete with Microsoft in the cloud-based gaming space.
Microsoft will release its Xbox Series X console later this year and is focusing more on subscriptions than exclusive titles in its battle against Sony’s forthcoming PlayStation 5.
In Microsoft’s recent fiscal Q4 report, Xbox-related products and services revenue grew 68% Y/Y, driven by a pandemic tailwind.
Phil Schiller is stepping down as Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) SVP of Worldwide Marketing.
Schiller, who joined Apple in 1987 and rejoined a decade later, will become an “Apple Fellow,” continuing to report to CEO Tim Cook and leading the App Store and Apple events.
Greg (Joz) Joswiak will step into Schiller’s vacated role. Joswiak has served as Worldwide Product Marketing VP for four years and has been with the company for more than two decades.
Dan Primack’s Axios look at the TikTok (BDNCE) talks delves into potential players other than Microsoft (MSFT -2.1%) – and says multiple sources say Apple (AAPL +1.3%) has expressed interest.
It’s an unlikely suitor for TikTok, which is a cross-platform app, and the sources are external to Apple. Still, Primack notes Apple is flush with enough cash for the deal and any Treasury “payments” that might be required.
“Private equity is also circling,” he says, including firms that don’t currently have ByteDance stakes.
Updated: Primack notes an Apple spokesperson says there are no discussions about such a purchase and “the company isn’t interested.”


text:
Several reports have claimed that Samsung will be launching the Galaxy S21 series in January 2021. The S21 series will be driven by the Snapdragon 875 / Exynos 2100. In China, Xiaomi is expected to launch the first Snapdragon 875 powered phone. Hence, it is likely that the Chinese firm may also time the arrival of the Mi 11 series in January. A fresh leak reveals that the Mi 11 Pro will arrive with a significant improvement in the display department.
A tipster has claimed that there is a high version of a smartphone that carries support for a quad HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It seems to be a significant upgrade since the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro that debuted earlier this year supports a full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate.
The leak also mentioned that the screen has a punch-hole placed at the upper-left corner. The display seems to have curved edges, but they do not seem to be as curvy as waterfall screens found on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro and P40 Pro.
The leak suggests that the tipster could be talking about an upcoming flagship phone. Unlike flagship phones from Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus, and OPPO that carries support quad HD+ resolution, Xiaomi’s flagship smartphones have supported only full HD+ resolution. The tipster had claimed in the recent past that Xiaomi flagship phones arriving in 2021 will support quad HD+ resolution. Since he used the words “high version”, he could be talking about the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro from the upcoming Mi 11 series.
The other details of the Xiaomi Mi 11 series are currently under wraps. Since Xiaomi introduced the 120W fast charging technology along with Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra, it is likely that the Mi 11 series may arrive with support for 100W or 120W fast charging.
ALWAYS BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – FOLLOW US!


text:
Amazon Prime Video has set out to celebrate the final season of its hit comedy series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” with “Maisel Tov,” an immersive and exciting campaign that will go above and beyond audience expectations.
The Amazon Prime show has acquired 20 Emmy awards and three Golden Globes since its launch in 2017, a powerful player in Amazon’s effort to bolster its streaming service.
Key to the “Maisel Tov” campaign will be a one-day activation titled the “Marvelous Mile,” taking place on April 14.
The event will take place on Fifth Avenue, presenting audiences with the opportunity to visit important scenes and locations from the show’s past seasons, with a special focus on Saks Fifth Avenue.
Customers will travel back to the ‘60s, when the plot of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” takes place, with vintage cars, window store displays featuring looks from the show by costumer designer Donna Zakowska and surprise dance performances by the series’ choreographer Marguerite Derricks.
Beyond the opportunity to take part in the “Marvelous Mile,” audiences will be able to indulge in limited-edition branded offers by companies looking to honour the show in partnership with Amazon Prime.
Brands that will be involved in the “Maisel Tov” campaign include Tupperware, Candier, Betty Crocker which will be revealing popular recipes from “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” era and even Pantone, set to release custom colour palettes inspired by the series.
The campaign proves Amazon Prime’s immersive strategy in retaining and attracting new users for its streaming service.
Before the “Maisel Tov” campaign, Amazon applied a similar approach to its Super Bowl campaign titled “Saving Sawyer” as well as its global campaign for the spot “Tache,” directed by Olivia Wilde.