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Rumours are swirling that Ubisoft is looking to be purchased, and while Xbox is interested, it might be bought by someone else!
Independent game development seems to be slowly becoming a thing of the past as a handful of giants in the space vie for the best. And it looks like Ubisoft is next.
Discussion around Ubisoft being acquired by a big brother has been in circulation since Xbox was rumoured to buy Activision Blizzard, which they then did. It also looks like Xbox is involved in this conversation too.
This seems to be the current trend in the industry. Xbox has also acquired Bethesda, and now Sony is looking at Elden Ring developer, FromSoftware, plus others. It’s almost like everyone has a price.
It’s not only Xbox that seems interested in Ubisoft, though. Blomberg reports that two firms are interested in purchasing the French game developer. The groups currently interested are KKR & Co., and Blackstone Inc, two American private equity firms that want to enter the gaming space.
Of course, they would. The games industry is currently a $138 billion industry as of 2021, surpassing the theatrical and home/mobile entertainment market at $36.8 billion in 2021.
Interest in Ubisoft has peaked as share prices for the developer have steadily been declining. Some attribute this to poorly performing titles in recent years, but it could also be due to the global pandemic affecting many studios. This could save Xbox billions.
There are also rumours that Yves Guillemot, currently the largest shareholder in Ubisoft, is looking for a way out, though this isn’t confirmed.
If Xbox were to acquire Ubisoft, then the games they would have ownership over would be gigantic. Titles like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow 6, and Watch Dogs would be theirs.
Some might be okay with that, as some of the titles haven’t faired well in the last couple of years. Could Xbox help to make the games incredible again? Only time will tell.


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|Consumers show favour towards MEATDeli‘s fresh products at VinMart stores |
At VinCommerce (VCM), a core business segment of Masan Group, the profit turnaround game plan was validated with the
EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) margin improving since the beginning of the year, from -8.5 per cent in the second quarter due to COVID-19 restrictions to -2.8 per cent in the third quarter, solid on the way to reaching break-even momentum for the year’s fourth quarter.
Since taking over the VinCommerce system last December, Masan has been working on a plan to optimise this retail system. To optimise operation efficiency of VinMart and VinMart+ stores, closing underperforming locations and opening new ones on a selective basis were deemed as strategic steps.
More than 80 per cent of closed VinMart+ stores in Ho Chi Minh City and tier-2 cities showed their revenue per square metre was nearly 50 per cent lower than optimal levels required to achieve a store level break-even point. By contrast, this nine-month period saw the inauguration of one VinMart supermarket and 57 VinMart+ stores, of which three pilot models were launched in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi with a fresh innovative way of product display to elevate the customer experience.
After focusing on the last nine months to improve the fundamentals of the minimart model, Masan’s management is now revamping its supermarket platform and positioning it to be a critical aspect of its online grocery platform. Besides that, improving the product portfolio with the addition of more fresh food is one of the key drivers to attract customers to the VinMart and VinMart+ store system, with MEATDeli fresh pork products and VinEco safe vegetables among the most eminent items.
In the third quarter, retail revenue of the private label business in VinMart and VinMart+ stores picked up 10.3 and 11.3 per cent respectively and is expected to maintain growth momentum in the next 18 months, with the target of contributing more than 20 per cent of VCM’s revenue in the long term.
In the face of strong and efficient revamp measures, VCM remains solid on the way to achieve an EBITDA break-event target in the fourth quarter alongside posting over 10 per cent revenue growth compared to the third quarter.
“I believe our integrated consumer retail strategy is starting to bear fruit as we hit our first strategic milestone in the fourth quarter. This is just the very beginning of what we envision, to become online-to-offline champion,” said Masan chairman Dr. Nguyen Dang Quang.
|Masan Consumer Holdings boasts a wide-ranging product portfolio |
Healthy revenue growth
Masan Consumer Holdings (MCH) has delivered three consecutive quarters of strong double-digit growth in net revenues which reached VND6.08 trillion ($264.5 million) in the third quarter, a 32-per-cent jump compared to one year ago.
Consumer behaviour is changing during COVID-19, shifting preferences towards in-home consumption versus eating out, as exhibited by significant growth of convenience food and processed meat categories.
Masan believes this momentum and MCH’s innovative portfolio that brings traditional flavours and nutritional value will accelerate consumption growth of full meal solutions in Vietnam to reach the levels of its regional peers.
In the convenience goods category, full meal solutions continue to be a sustainable growth driver, soaring 90 per cent compared to the third quarter of 2019 and now accounting for 25 per cent of segment sales compared to just 17 per cent in the corresponding period of 2019.
The successful launch of five additional innovations in full meal solutions during the third quarter and completion of the “Chin-su 7-day breakfast” set with seven products attested to MCH’s ability in diversifying and innovating the convenience foods category.
These innovations are expected to further increase full meal solutions topline contribution to the convenience foods category, as MCH continues to upgrade its portfolio.
As for processed meat, premium brand Ponnie delivered 2.8-fold revenue growth in the third quarter compared to one year ago, and mainstream brand Heo Cao Boi delivered 52.2 per cent growth, bringing total category revenue up by 77 per cent in the same period. The premium brand now contributes over 31 per cent of segment revenues, while the segment itself contributed 3.7 per cent of MCH’s consolidated revenues in the third quarter of 2020, compared to only 2.8 per cent one year ago.
New innovative products contributed 55 per cent of MCH’s revenue growth in the third quarter and Masan management believe this is the key that will drive a similar growth level in the medium term.
Breaking into new segments
After being integrated into VCM’s retail system, Masan’s meat business has received a significant boost in its distribution network expansion. By the end of the third quarter, MEATDeli’s fresh pork products were sold in 1,500 retail outlets, 252 outlets extra compared to the second quarter, and present in over 1,100 VinMart+ stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
In the fourth quarter this year, Masan MEATLife and VCM will focus on improving same-store sales growth of MEATDeli in these sale points and make it a “hook product” in VCM’s fresh-focus strategy.
The integrated meat business (farm and meat) delivered VND583 billion ($25.3 million) in revenues in the third quarter and VND1.64 trillion ($71.2 million) in the nine-month period. The meat business’ 11 per cent growth in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter was largely attributable to 27 per cent revenue hike of packed MEATDeli’s fresh products.
In addition, it continued to grow the processed meat portfolio with the introduction of marinated chilled meat in the second quarter this year. Processed meat accounts for 7 per cent of meat revenue in the third quarter versus 5.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, with the aim to reach 10 per cent contribution in the fourth quarter.
To bring fresh and safe meat products at a reasonable price to consumers in Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring provinces, Masan MEATLife also recently inaugurated its meat processing complex in the southern province of Long An. The complex reports VND1.8 trillion ($78.2 million) in total investment value and a design capacity of 1.4 million pigs per year. In the first phase, the complex has a scale of 155,000 tonnes of fresh and processed meat products.
Last month, Masan MEATLife also signed agreements to acquire a 51 per cent stake in 3F VIET, a leading domestic player in the poultry meat segment, via a primary capital injection of VND613 billion ($26.6 million).
According to a Masan MEATLife assessment, poultry is the second most important animal nutrition in Vietnamese family meals. The limitations of this market is similar to that of the pork market: low productivity, quality issues, and lack of new and breakthrough products.
With 3F VIET, Masan MEATLife will be entering the poultry category, a $5 billion market in Vietnam. 3F VIET branded and chilled products are already available in the majority of modern trade retailers in Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring provinces, and will look to expand in the northern region this quarter to become a nationwide platform.
With 3F VIET’s acquisition, Masan now counts more than VND3 trillion ($130.4 million) in revenues from the meat business that is forecast to leapfrog in the near future after teaming up with VCM’s modern trade segment.

domain: news


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is stepping back into Middle-earth. The publisher has announced a free-to-play mobile game called The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth. The RPG is the first EA mobile title based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. EA Capital Games is developing the game. The studio was behind another successful collectible mobile RPG in 2015’s Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
Heroes of Middle-earth will include characters from both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, along with collection systems, turn-based combat and “immersive storytelling.” EA said in a press release
that players will experience “iconic stories from the world of Tolkien and take up the fight against the great evils of Middle-earth.” Unsurprisingly, given that this is a free-to-play mobile title, there will be microtransactions.
We are incredibly excited to partner with The Saul Zaentz Company and Middle-earth Enterprises on the next generation of mobile role-playing games, said EA’s vice-president of mobile RPG Malachi Boyle said. The team is filled with fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and each day they bring their tremendous passion and talents together to deliver an authentic experience for players. The combination of high-fidelity graphics, cinematic animations, and stylized art immerses players in the fantasy of Middle-earth where theyll go head-to-head with their favorite characters.
This will be EA’s first LOTR title since 2009’s The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, as Polygon
notes. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, NetEase and Glu Mobile (which EA bought last year) are among the other publishers who have released mobile LOTR games.
EA expects to start limited regional beta tests of The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth this summer.
It’s not the only major LOTR project scheduled to debut this year. Daedalic’s action-adventure title The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
is supposed to arrive in 2022. And then, of course, there’s the small matter of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
, which will premiere on September 2nd.


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A once buzzing Lidl is now just bare shelves and empty fridges after the chain closed its doors for the final time.
The discount supermarket announced in January that it would be pulling out of Thornaby after over 10 years at the Pavilion Shopping Centre. The sudden news left regulars shocked, with one customer saying it was a real "shame" for the town. The Allensway store hosted its final day on March 1, with signs confirming the closing date outside. As of 3pm on Friday, the doors were shut, staff were seen collecting and putting away items, and the once-packed shelves were now empty of produce.
No reason has been given for the closure of the supermarket - although the chain has opened two new stores in Stockon in the last three years in Norton and the town centre. It has not yet been confirmed whether another retailer intends to take over the unit.
George Simpson, 86, said he previously heard about the closure but only remembered when he peered through the glass windows to see the bare shelves and items being packed away. "It's been here for a very long time," he said. It will be sadly missed. You could get things here and the prices were fair - it will be a loss."
The pensioner, who has lived in the area for over 60 years, added that he knew shoppers who chose to visit the Thornaby Lidl over the Stockton town centre location due to the ease of access to Thornaby and parking on offer at the Pavilion. He continued: "The staff were always friendly and helpful too."
Juliet Dyer also admitted that she thought it was a loss for the town. The 62-year-old grandmother said: "I come here to pick my grandson up from school and pop in the shop. I do think it will be missed by older people. It's another shop gone." Mum Emma Thurlwell said it was a shame to hear the news, especially for the staff working at the store. "Everyone will be gutted," she argued. "I use it more often than I should!" The 36-year-old, who has lived in Thornaby for the last 10 years, said it was "ideal to run in and grab something" for anyone collecting their kids from nearby schools.
A Lidl spokesperson previously said: "In the last three years alone, we have opened two brand new stores to serve and provide an enhanced shopping experience to households in and around the Stockton area." They added that, while the Thornaby store would be closing, it hopes to "continue welcoming customers to both our Tower Street and Billingham Road stores, along with our store on Yarm Road."
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Luxury fashion brand Hugo Boss just launched its first vegan suit. It is free from wool and silk, two animal-derived materials commonly used to make suits.
The launch comes after years of talks with animal rights organization PETA Germany (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The suit is certified vegan and features the organization’s “PETA-Approved Vegan” logo. It is made of certified organic Italian linen.
In a release, PETA applauded Hugo Boss for offering customers a “compassionate alternative” to wool suits.
“We are delighted to see that animal-friendly fashion is on the rise, and BOSS is the first world-known premium brand to set this stylish milestone in menswear,” said Harald Ullmann, Vice President of PETA Germany.
“Kind people can now buy high-end business suits that are not only stylish and fashionable but also cruelty-free and sustainable,” he added.
The Cruelty Behind Wool
The wool industry uses shearing methods that cause immense pain and suffering to sheep.
As a result, sheep often get injured during shearing. Shearers sometimes rip or cut off strips of skin, and even ears and tails, during the process.
In order to reduce animal suffering, many brands are creating cruelty-free suits made from vegan, sustainable materials.
Last year, vegan menswear brand Brave GentleMan launched a new range of ethically produced, wool-free men’s suits made from 100 percent Italian-milled bamboo. The suit features buttons made from tagua nuts.
“These older companies that are still using things like fur, leather, and wool should be ashamed of how those things are made. It is shameful, and it’s cruel, and it’s unnecessary. [I]t’s far more innovative and economical and smart to be using vegan and sustainable materials,” Joshua Katcher, founder of Brave GentleMan, told PETA Asia.
Actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix has also spoken out against the cruel wool industry.
In 2018, PETA erected a billboard near the Fashion Institute of Technology during New York Fashion Week. The billboard featured Phoenix wearing a vegan “wool” suit designed by Brave GentleMan.
It read: “Cruelty Doesn’t Suit Me. Wool hurts. Wear Vegan”.


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It took three and a half years, but Ike's Place is finally open in downtown Palo Alto.
The newest outpost of the Bay Area cult-favorite sandwich shop opened Tuesday morning at 401 Lytton Ave. Owner Ike Shehadeh took over the lease there in 2015 after John’s Cafe closed.
The newly opened Ike's Place on Lytton Avenue. Photo courtesy Ike Shehadeh.
He declined to comment on why the location was delayed, but said "we could have been open on July 3, 2015, as far as the space." He said in 2016 that because Ike's would have less seating than John's Cafe did, and although it will continue to sell sandwiches and coffee like John's did, it was considered a use change, which caused delays.
The Lytton Avenue location is serving the same massive Ike’s menu, plus three new sandwiches that are only available in Palo Alto. There's the Jim Harbaugh (the shop was set to open when he was still the 49ers' coach) with chicken, pepper jack cheese and a sweet chili glaze; the Mayfield with salmon, avocado and sweet chili glaze; and Kermit the Frog, a vegetarian sandwich with cucumber, avocado, cream cheese and sweet chili glaze.
Ike's bread is baked fresh to order and all sandwiches are slathered in a signature "Dirty Secret Sauce."
The "Paul Reubens" and "Lincecum" sandwiches, pictured on the Ike's Place Instagram.
Ike's Place was born in San Francisco in 2007. Shehadeh now runs more than 40 locations throughout California. He ran a popular outpost at Stanford University from 2009 to 2014, when he lost a bid to renew the contract, sparking student protests. In 2016, he opened an "express" grab-and-go cafe, Ike's Press, in Stanford's McMurtry Building.
Shehadeh opened the new Palo Alto Ike's while still in the hiring process, so he, his brother, step-brother and a friend will be there making sandwiches for the foreseeable future. Ike's on Lytton will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily until fully staffed, Shehadeh said. He hopes to be eventually stay open as late as 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
"The good news is, I'm literally working the store," Shehadeh said. "If people want to meet me I will be here almost every single day until the staff situation gets situated."


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SAN MATEO, Calif. (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Epiphany gained Thursday after Hewlett-Packard bought an enterprise-wide license of the software provider's E.4 system to collect and analyze customer data.
Hewlett-Packard's H-P CCO eCRM Manager David Welch said his company will use Epiphany E.4 throughout its channel business in an effort to improve profitability and customer service.
"A strong business analytic capability beyond mere reporting will provide key insight into channel activity and market momentum," he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Roger Siboni, chief executive of Epiphany said its E.4 system will provide H-P with the "needed window into its partners allowing them to collect, analyze and act on pertinent data."
Conexant acquires Applied Telecom
In a move to expand its offering of semiconductor system products, Conexant announced its acquisition of telecommunications software provider, Applied Telecom Thursday.
Terms of the transaction weren't disclosed.
Shares of Conexant CNXT, -1.37% lost 7 9/16, or 12.2 percent, to 54 7/16 Thursday.
Privately-held Applied Telecom will extend Conexant's portfolio of semiconductor system products for the Internet infrastructure network equipment market through its family of software and hardware products.
"This acquisition brings Conexant extensive telecommunications system and software expertise," Warner Andrews, vice president of Broadband Internetworking Solutions at Conexant's Network Access division said in statement.
The Lisle, Ill.-based firm, which was founded in 1994, provides telecommunications system software products that offer a cost-effective means to distribute asynchronous transfer mode services. It's inverse-multiplexing ATM technology allows several T1/E1 circuits to be integrated into a single broadband center that transmits ATM cells for information and communication transfer.
The acquisition establishes a Conexant design center located in Illinois' "high-tech corridor," Andrews said. It plans to expand its engineering team for wide area network software and product development in the Chicago area.
Pervasive launches Japanese version of Tango 2000
Pervasive Software introduced a Japanese version of its Tango 2000 Web-development product Thursday.
The new version of the product uses Japanese script, or "kanju," and speeds the time it takes for Web developers to create applications -- just as the globally-marketed standard English language version of Tango 2000 does.
The Japanese language software is currently available for the Windows NT environment and Pervasive is planning additional platform support as customer needs warrant."The intensive development effort that went into localizing Tango 2000 for Japan underscores our commitment to capitalize on growth opportunities in the Japanese market," Chief Executive Ron Harris said in a statement.
Shares of the company pvsw closed down 5/16 to 11 15/16 on Thursday.


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WeWork, which provides coworking spaces, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, capping off a dramatic collapse for a company once valued at $47 billion.
In a press release, WeWork said 92% of its secured debt holders had agreed to its restructuring plan that will wipe out around $3 billion of debt.
As part of the reorganization, the company will cut down on its commercial office leases.
In its filing with the New Jersey bankruptcy court, WeWork disclosed it holds around $15 billion in assets and $18.6 billion in debts.
The company’s filing also showed it owes around $100 million in lease termination fees and unpaid rent—although it intends to dispute some of those claims.
$44.5 million. That was the company’s valuation when markets closed on Friday, with WeWork’s stock price down to 83 cents. The company’s stock has fallen 98.5% since the start of the year and more than 99% since it went public through a SPAC merger in 2021.
In a statement Monday, WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann called the company’s bankruptcy filing “disappointing.” He added: “It has been challenging for me to watch from the sidelines since 2019 as WeWork has failed to take advantage of a product that is more relevant today than ever before. I believe that, with the right strategy and team, a reorganization will enable WeWork to emerge successfully.”
The coworking space rental company, backed by SoftBank’s Vision Fund, was once valued at $47 billion—making it one of the most valuable startups in the world. However, the company’s fortunes took a turn for the worse as it prepared to go public in 2019. In its IPO filing that year, the startup disclosed it had lost $1.9 billion in the preceding twelve months. This was followed by a Wall Street Journal investigative report about the company’s then-CEO Adam Neumann’s controversial management style. Neumann left WeWork later that year as the company was bailed out by SoftBank. Following its takeover, SoftBank progressively slashed the valuation of the company as its financial situation was made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic when people were forced to work from home. The company eventually went public through a SPAC merger in 2021.
WeWork Files for Bankruptcy Amid Glut of Empty Offices (New York Times)


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Auction of left-over spaces at Sangarmaal soon: VC SDA
Shopping Plaza to be made functional by next month
GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar, Apr 21: To make the Sangarmaal shopping plaza at MA Link Road fully functional, the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) is going to auction the left-over shops and commercial spaces soon. While the shops and commercial spaces that already stand allotted would be operational by the middle of next month.
This was decided at a meeting of SDA authorities with the Sangarmaal allottees here Thursday. SDA vice-chairperson Dilshad Khan presided over the meeting. Around 30 allottees who have been allotted shops and commercial spaces at Sangarmaal, were present at the meeting.
It was agreed in the meeting that all those allottees who have already taken possession of the shops and commercial spaces at Sangarmaal would make it operational by 15 May failing which SDA would be forced to cancel the allotment.
Responding to the points raised by the allottees, VC SDA assured them that the authority would make arrangements for maintenance and security of the shopping plaza by deploying authority staff till some permanent arrangement is made in this regard.
The allottees were also assured of regular power supply and functioning of escalators.
It was decided in the meeting that the left-over shops and commercial spaces at Sangarmaal would be auctioned soon so that the shopping plaza is made fully operational.
Secretary SDA, Mathoora Masoom, Director Land Management AR Deva and other senior officers of SDA were also present at the meeting.
Pertinently, Sangarmaal was inaugurated by the chief minister, Omar Abdullah on June 5 last year. However, it could not be made operational because of the summer unrest that followed its inauguration.
During its inauguration, Omar had described Sangarmaal as “the most beautiful mall in the summer capital” and asked the aspiring builders to take some lesson from its design as most of the malls in Srinagar, he said, were “very ugly”.
Designed and developed by SDA with the idea of “Shopping-in-Leisure”, Sangarmaal shopping plaza, besides having lush green patches, has sufficient space for restaurants, food courts, kiosks, water bodies, fountains, children’s play area, retail outlets, craft bazaar, amphitheatre and office spaces.
The SDA VC, Dilshad Khan is optimistic that the mall would soon be functional again.
“InshaAllah we will start it soon and this is why I had called a meeting with them (traders) to know if they were facing any difficulties,” Khan told Greater Kashmir.
She, however, said the SDA would act tough against those who don’t resume the work by the deadline.
“In that case we will cancel the allotments,” she said.
The VC said next week she would remain stationed at the Sangarmaal for two days to get the things in place.
“I am shifting my office there for two days so that things get finalized in my presence because we cannot afford to leave such a huge mall attended.”
Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST
- MORE FROM SRINAGAR CITY
POOR STATE OF HEALTHCARE
UMER MAQBOOL/GHULAM MUHAMMAD
Sopore, Apr 21: The construction work of the Sub District Hospital (SDH) Sopore has been going on at snail’s pace for the past 2-decades evoking strong resentment from the residents. “The foundation More
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Eats away vital footpath by laying of pipeline
GK CITY REPORTER
Srinagar, Apr 21: The Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) undertaken work to lay rupees multi crore pipeline from Nishat to Magarmal Bagh is again in news for wrong reasons. This time, the ERA has laid More
GK NEWS NETWORK
Jammu, Apr 21: Police on Thursday said that two militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), including the district commander of the outfit, were killed in an encounter in Jammu’s Kishtwar district.   More
Srinagar: A local court here on Thursday deferred the hearing in the Wamiq Farooq murder case till tomorrow as Public Prosecutor was not keeping well. Court of Principal District and Sessions Judge More
‘Hajj cos not delivering to pay penalty’
GK BUSINESS REPORTER
Srinagar, Apr 21: In what would give a major relief to the Hajj aspirants of Kashmir, a representative body of Valley-based Hajj/Umrah Operating Companies today resolved that companies failing to deliver More
Muzaffarabad, April 21: Two private bills, introduced in the National Assembly of Pakistan seeking a ban on Pakistanis with dual nationality or foreign holdings to assume public offices, has drawn a flak More


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DoorDash delivery man
Shares of DoorDash jumped 18% in after-hours trading.
Here’s how the company did it:
- Loss per share: According to Refinitiv, 72 cents compared to the 41 cents analysts expected.
- Turnover: According to Refinitiv, analysts are predicting $1.61 billion versus $1.52 billion.
DoorDash said the total number of orders it delivered increased 23% year-over-year to 426 million, an all-time high.
Revenue was up 30% year-over-year, which the company attributed to increased order frequency and more monthly active users.
DoorDash said it anticipates a “softer consumer spending environment” in the second half of the year. It warned investors that consumer spending could fall faster than anticipated, which could lead to results below their expectations.
The company said it expected adjusted EBITDA to fall between $25 million and $75 million in the third quarter, a wide range that includes analyst expectations of $51.2 million, according to StreetAccount .
DoorDash said it is aware that challenging macroeconomic conditions exist for consumers as they grapple with uncertainty and high levels of inflation but they see no change in participation. of US customers.
“While we have seen some external signs of a change in consumer discretionary spending, so far we have not seen changes to consumer engagement. on the U.S. market are measurable or distinguishable from conventional seasonal patterns,” the company said.
To offset the impact of high gas prices, DoorDash spent more than $40 million to provide additional gas savings and mileage-based rewards to drivers in the second quarter. The company has extended its gas-saving program until the end of August.
The company completed its acquisition of international food delivery platform Wolt during the quarter. Wolt accounts for 12 million of DoorDash’s total orders.


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With the craft beer scene in Cape Town experiencing such exponential growth, it’s a joy to see the first of its kind here emerge – the first black-owned microbrewery.
Ukhamba Beerworx opens its doors laters this week and will bring together world-class brewing methods coupled with the rich culture of the Nguni people. Beer has long been a part of this way of life – ‘umqombothi’ has been served for generation upon generation in the ‘ukhamba’ – a clay pot used for serving this proudly South African brew. Long before the explosion of craft beer across the world, umqombothi was served and enjoyed as a proud tradition by friends and strangers alike.
It is this aspect of beer, speaking in a South African context, where Ukhamba Beerworx was born. Cape Town’s first black-owned microbrewery have been refining three brews which are now ready to make their debut to the world, these being the Pursuit of Hoppyness, a Black IPA, then the State Capture, a standard IPA, and finally the Utywala, a Saison beer.
Ukhamba’s vibrant branding and quality brewing methods reflect an authentic African culture, right from its eye-catching design to that last sip at the end of the bottle. Located in Woodstock, the microbrewery officially opens its doors this week and are inviting the public to join them for their grand opening – taking place at The Palms Lifestyle Centre this Saturday, July 29th, at 5pm. Guests will be able to taste this new and exciting contender’s range of craft beers as well as indulge in some hearty African-themed cuisine provided by Mnganam Foods & Catering.
Find the event details of the launch here.
Photography Gideon Heller


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Bidvest group, buoyed by a war chest of $1 billion (R12,9-billion), is on the hunt for local and international acquisitions as the company seeks organic and acquisitive growth.
Chief executive Lindsay Ralphs said the company was continuously pursuing select international and local opportunities to complement its existing offerings.
“We have ample headroom to accommodate expansion opportunities. We’d be able to raise $1 billion should we need it, or about R14 billion to R15 billion, and that has been confirmed by a lot of the bankers,” Ralphs said.
The company’s expansion plans come a year after it spun off its food service division, Bidcorp, in a $5 billion listing on the JSE.
In October, Bidvest acquired Brandcorp, a distributor of industrial and consumer products.
The group said the acquisition of Brandcorp contributed R535 million to its revenue and R71 million to its operating profit for the period.
The food service unit accounted for 60 percent of Bidvest’s sales in the six months to the end of December 2015.
The group yesterday reported a 4.4 percent rise in half-year profit.
Headline earnings per share increased to 510.3cents for the six months to December, from 489c in the comparative period.
Revenue rose 4.1 percent to R36 billion, and the company’s trading profit increased by 3.2 percent to R2.8 billion.
Cash generated from operations shot up 30 percent to R1.8 billion.
Bidvest declared an interim dividend of 227c per share.
The company’s seven businesses had mixed results for the period.
The services unit went up 5.2 percent to R6.4 billion, accounting for 27 percent of the company’s trading profit.
The freight business’s revenue decreased by 18.6 percent to R2.4 billion, while the automotive division reported a 1.8 percent increase in revenue to R12.3 billion.
The office and print business’s revenue declined by 1.4 percent to R5 billion.
The financial services unit’s revenue surged by 32.7 percent to R2 billion, while the commercial business’s revenue increased by 24.8 percent to R3.7bn.
The company’s electrical business recorded a marginal increase of 1.9 percent to R2.7 billion.
However, profits of its Namibian business nosedived by 80 percent to R23 million, accounting for just 1 percent of the group’s total trading profit for the period.
Bidvest said this was because of a reduction in fishing quotas. The group owns 52 percent of Bidvest Namibia.
Bidvest shares dropped 1.02 percent on the JSE to close at R163.31.
By Kabelo Khumalo for www.businesslive.co.za


text: Budget airlines likeSpiritand Allegiant have continued to grow their competitive business models throughout the domestic and international travel spheres. To Europe. While $99 one way to Iceland from Boston sounds appealing, those prices aren’t available all the time. Now you can remove the problem app or change your settings. When you’re done in Safe Mode, reboot the phone again like normal. Of course, each Android phone and tablet manufacturer has a slight variation of this process.Q: I love my parents but they are driving me crazy. Items of good news for the few remaining free trade gel batteries fans in Washington. US President Barack Obama and his cheap football jerseys green lasers aides do want to complete a free trade agreement (FTA) with Hid flashlight South Korea, as well with Colombia and Panama, by November and best electronics to get the new Congress to approve them cheap football china before the end of the year. The plan to move ahead with the hifi speakers US South Korea FTA a preliminary draft iphone CASING of the accord was reached with South Korea in 2007 was announced during the recent Group of 20 Summit Iphone pouch in Toronto, Canada, where Mr Obama met South Korean President Lee Myung Bak on the electronics online sidelines of the gathering. There’s another complication at work, says DeHaan: Gas station owners respond cheap football jerseys one way when the wholesale price of gas is rising, but a different way when it falls. “Stations are quick to raise their prices at the pump. They do it in anticipation that they themselves will cheap nfl jerseys have to pay more for their next wholesale load. Our spa is one of the top ten in the world, and we have people skip a day up at the air races just to hang out at the spa for the day.”About 200,000 fans come out to the air races every year. Officials say that number will probably be about 10,000 higher this year.Written by Paul NelsonCampers Await Chick fil A to Open in South RenoCampers Await Chick fil A to Open in South RenoUpdated: Wednesday, May 24 2017 1:38 PM EDT2017 05 24 17:38:50 GMTThe first Chick fil A location in northern Nevada is scheduled to open early Thursday morning. Several people camped outside the restaurant cheap jerseys up early Wednesday in hopes of winning free chicken for a year.The first Chick fil A location in northern Nevada is scheduled to open early Thursday morning. The 36th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival fills Hart Plaza and the Campus Martius area with four days of music on four stages, plus late night jam sessions and discussions in the popular Jazz Talk Tent. Grammy Award winning guitar virtuoso Pat Metheny is this year s Artist in Residence with four performances planned, including the North American debut of Hommage, his multimedia tribute to German bassist Eberhard Weber. Admission is free all weekend.


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CBD Expo Tour MIDWEST Highlights Key Sponsors and Announces After Party
Pismo Beach, CA – (NewMediaWire) – February 26, 2019 – CBD Expo Tour 2019 generated by MACE Media Group, certainly one of the nation’s largest diversified media and information businesses when you look at the cannabis space and publisher of Terpenes and Magazine that is testing today its key sponsors plus the formal After Party for CBD Expo Tour MIDWEST in Indianapolis, Indiana to simply simply take put on March 15-16, 2019.
Key sponsors for CBD Expo Tour MIDWEST include CBD Lion since the Headline Sponsor, CBD wellness – Wellness Magazine while the Gold Sponsor, Blue Moon Hemp since the Silver Sponsor, while the after would be the Bronze Sponsors: Softgel Co., Botanica Testing, and Natural Lifestyle CBD. Branding sponsors consist of MOX while the Lanyard Sponsor, Leap re Payments once the Badge Sponsor, 3CHI because the Swag Bag Sponsor, The Lebermuth Company while the After Party Sponsor, and Cannisence while the Press Room Sponsor.
“We are extremely excited to have leaders in the cannabis industry supporting CBD Expo MIDWEST at varying quantities of sponsorship,” said Celeste Miranda, Founder and CEO of CBD Expo Tour and MACE Media Group. “It is very important to us we partner with brands that align with your eyesight when it comes to CBD Expo Tour and that wish to educate customers in regards to the great things about CBD.”
The state CBD Expo MIDWEST After Party and what’s a primer award ceremony will simply simply take put on March 15th from 7 PM to 10 PM friday. The award ceremony shall function 10 honors for CBD products which is going to be judged. Groups consist of Most Useful CBD Vape, Best CBD Capsule, Best CBD Tincture, Best Topical Relief, Best Skincare that is cosmetic and.
“The CBD Expo Tour after parties are a good way for|way that is great all the participating exhibitors to system and build a community,” said Celeste. “After numerous times of time and effort, it is crucial to consider to own a good some time celebrate.”
Those who find themselves enthusiastic about going to CBD Expo MIDWEST or finding more information regarding the 2019 trip can visit www.cbdexpo.net.
About CBD Expo Tour
CBD Expo Tour could be the to begin its kind to carry the greatest CBD event platform and broadcast services and products with all the community and share knowledge with the industry. The occasions function significantly more than 70 exhibitors, along with a significant lineup of presenter presentations and panel discussions from specialists into the research, manufacturing, globalisation, and purchase of CBD services and products. The themes for CBD Expo MIDWEST are CBD 101, CBD Tools – Applications, Medical Advancements, and Industry styles. CBD Expo Tour 2019 are going to be held in Indiana, Washington, Colorado, California, and Florida. Discover more at CBD Expo Tour or link on social networking: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
About MACE Media Group
MACE Media Group posts cannabis that are niched trade magazines. Its very first name, Terpenes and Testing Magazine, was the very first industry trade book dedicated to cannabis technology. Its latest book, CBD wellness – Wellness Magazine, revolves round the growing CBD industry to offer news on trending applications, medical research, and updates with regulations. MACE also creates numerous trade activities that attract dozens of cannabis and main-stream news reporters. Presently, MACE Media Group is creating a trip of CBD expos joining together 1000s of industry influencers, developing the essential CBD that is comprehensive event the United States Of America.


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News & Events
Stay tuned for news regarding the BlacTie LLC, the cannabis industry as well as our giveaways.
Canopy Growth to Acquire Acreage Holdings in $3.4-Billion Deal—Contingent on U.S. Federal Legalization of Cannabis.
Canopy Growth announced April 18 that it had bought the rights to acquire Acreage Holdings, a U.S. cannabis company with a 20-state footprint.
In its second solicitation for a consultant to guide the state's oversight of recreational marijuana, regulators pick Freedman and Koski, which challenged a previous award to a competitor. The former managers of Colorado’s recreational marijuana program...
More than two years after residents voted to legalize recreational marijuana, Maine released draft rules Monday that detail how the state’s new adult-use market would be launched, monitored and regulated by the Office of Marijuana Policy.
At Black Tie Co, we offer you ultra-concentrated hemp CBD that is grown and harvested in a hemp farm in Colorado. Once harvested, our hemp is carefully processed and undergoes extraction and quality testing, creating legal CBD-rich hemp oil which we infuse into each and every Black Tie product. This ensures that all our products have the desired hemp CBD oil effects while satisfying federal laws and guidelines for production and distribution.
Green, Maine 04236


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New Apple products: Guide to what’s coming out in 2021
You are probably glad to see the back of 2020, it’s not exactly been a great year, but for Apple 2020 was filled with groundbreaking product announcements including: the arrival of five new iPhones (iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max); two new Apple Watch models (the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 6); and three new Macs with Apple’s own M1 Chip (which it’s safe to say has taken the PC world by storm).
In a year when everyone had to work from home due to a global pandemic this rate of new product announcements was pretty good going. Can Apple possibly match it in 2021?
In this article we take a look at what we can expect from Apple in 2021. We’ve investigated every rumour and trend we could find to bring you our predictions. Read on to find out what could be in store.
16in MacBook Pro
An update to the 16in MacBook Pro model, which launched in November 2019, is long over due. This is not just because it’s now been more than a year, but because the processors being used are the same ones Apple used in the 15in MacBook Pro that came before it.
We are still hoping that Apple might quietly update the 16in MacBook Pro before the end of 2020, slipping in some newer Intel processors without fanfare. That’s why we are mentioning this first. Of course, with the advent of the Silicon Mac you may be wondering if now is really a good time to buy an Intel Mac.
If it fails to do go the Intel route, then it’s likely that the 16in MacBook Pro will get the Apple Silicon treatment. We anticipate a launch in June at WWDC where Apple will be able to give the new M1X processor, or whatever it is called, a little limelight.
Here’s what we know about the New 16in MacBook Pro.
When? Late 2020 or June 2021
23in iMac (M1)
Apple began its transition from Intel’s processors to its own Apple Silicon chips at the end of 2020 with the launch of the M1 MacBook Pro, M1 MacBook Air and the M1 Mac mini. What’s next?
We think there are a number of Macs likely to get updated soon and we predict that the first will be the 21.5in iMac
There could be more in store for the smaller iMac than a new processor though. We’re hearing that Apple is planning to introduce a 23in model. It will have similar dimensions to the 21.5in model, but a bigger screen made possible by reduced bezels.
Hopefully we’ll also see a similar change for the 27in iMac – we’d love to see a 30in model.
We also hope to see some other cosmetic changes to the design – including better ergonomics. Read about why the iMac needs a redesign here.
Apple could wait until WWDC to launch this, but we think it may want to launch it sooner.
Read about the new iMac redesign here.
When? Spring 2021
14in MacBook Pro (M1)
Like the iMac the smaller MacBook Pro is also said to be getting a redesign. Reports suggest that we might see a 14in MacBook Pro thanks to thinner bezels around the screen.
It seems likely that the two 13in MacBook Pro that currently offer 2.0GHz Intel processors will be the models to get this treatment, which could mean Apple will be selling three types of MacBook Pro: 13in, 14in and 16in.
Read about the new 14in MacBook Pro here.
When? Spring 2021
Apple is said to be working on various new AirPods including the AirPods X (said to be for sport), AirPods Pro Lite (cheaper version of the AirPods Pro), and some over-the-ear headphones said to be called AirPods Studio).
All indications point to a launch at at event in March – in fact there’s even a date suggested: 16 March 2021.
When? March 2021
An age ago on 1 November 2019 Apple launched its new TV+ service via which it is now delivering a collection of exclusive TV shows with more to come. With this focus on television, throughout 2020 we thought it likely that the Apple TV set-top-box would see a revamp – in fact there was even a rumour that a new model was ready to launch. But nothing transpired.
It’s possible that Apple has put off launching the new Apple TV due to the complexities of the Coronavirus pandemic: basically many of the second series that the company would no doubt be boasting about coming to the service have been delayed due to lockdowns and problems with filming. We expect that once Apple has something to shout about it will also pull out a new Apple TV – hopefully a cheaper model.
Although as more and more TV manufacturers add Apple TV to their sets, maybe there will be no need for the Apple TV set-top box in the future.
Read about the 2021 Apple TV.
When? March 2021
Another new Apple product that has been rumoured for so long that it’s surprising that it’s not yet here. There is plenty of evidence suggesting Apple is gearing up to launch a Tag object tracker that will help you track of important items and show you where to find them via the Find My app.
So where is it Apple? Have you lost it? Haha!
Read all about the AirTag tracker.
When? March 2021
Bigger iPad mini
Apple updated nearly all its iPads in 2020, except for the iPad mini. Perhaps it should be no surprise that Apple hasn’t updated it yet – after all prior to its update in March 2019 it had been ignored by the company for three and a half years.
When the iPad mini gets updated we may see an increase in screen size and the removal of the Home Button, just as was the case with the iPad Air in 2020. If Apple’s redesigning the iPad mini we don’t anticipate change before October 2021 though.
Read about the iPad mini 2021.
When? March 2021 (or October 2021)
Pro Mac updates
We anticipate that Apple could update its pro-focused range of Macs in 2021: the 27in iMac, the 16in MacBook Pro, the iMac Pro, and even the Mac Pro.
WWDC would be an appropriate venue for these updates, which could see the company introduce a more powerful version of the M1 Chip – and even better graphics capabilities.
When? WWDC 2021
Apple’s made clear its interest in augmented reality, and we may hear more about Apple’s plans to make Apple AR Glasses in 2021!
While the rumours suggest we won’t see Apple’s AR product until 2021 or 2022, it’s possible that Apple may share its plans with developers at some point in 2020 in an attempt to get them to design apps for the new device, so we might hear something sooner.
When? WWDC 2021
The iPhone 12 has only just arrived but obviously there are already rumours about the next model – iPhone 13 (in fact there are rumours about the iPhone 14!)
So far the rumours are suggesting a 120Hz refresh rate (up from 60Hz), a reduced notch, and a 10x optical zoom.
Read more in our iPhone 13 rumour round up.
When: September 2021
When Apple introduced the iPhone 12 series in October 2020 we also saw the arrival of the MagSafe wireless charger, and at the beginning on December Apple launched the MagSafe Duo – a wireless charger that can charge two Apple products at once (e.g. iPhone and Apple Watch, or iPhone and AirPods).
If you were wondering if MagSafe is the fulfilment of the AirPower project that Apple announced back in 2017, it’s not quite delivering on that promise. AirPower was supposed to be able to charge all three devices at once: iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, while MagSafe can only manage two. Will Apple continue development with a view to meeting its initial goal. Possibly. As for when, we don’t expect to see anything until Apple launches the next generation of iPhones.
Read the latest on the AirPower here.
When? October 2020
The Apple Car was the hot rumour of 2016, but it’s since emerged that Apple has scaled back its ambitions on this front but something is definitely happening in the motoring field. The company is said to have had up to 1,000 developers working on the so-called Project Titan, and to have set up various different front companies, including Faraday Futures and Sixty Eight Research.
Industry chatter suggested 2020 as a possible date for a launch: that clearly didn’t happen, but it seems that there is something going on, the question is what?
When? Depends… Is it really a car or just software?


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It’s been seven years since the Bank of England cut interest rates, but in response to the June 23 Brexit vote, the agency voted to cut interest rates. It will also bring back a broad stimulus program to keep the U.K economy from falling into a recession.
Many banks have sent their customers new credit cards with the chip installed it in an effort to improve security. However, computer researchers have discovered a flaw in the upgrade to these cards in the U.S.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in an effort to compete with Amazon.com, is currently in talks with Jet.com Inc., an online discount retailer. That’s according to sources close to the matter.
Most people would recognize a significant amount of money being drained from their bank account, usually because a check bounced or they had a transaction declined.
Hackers have stolen $65 million in bitcoins after they attacked the major digital currency exchange – Bitfinex.
Britain’s individual investors were even more spooked by the Brexit than they were when the 2008 financial crisis occurred. That’s according to figures from the Investment Association.
Millions of more Americans have credit cards today than in 2012 and, although this is the case, many of them are using the cards in a way that keeps them out of recurring debt.
McDonald’s president Mike Andres said the company was significantly altering its menu to lure customers who have shied away from it due to its high-fructose corn syrup and artificial preservatives food.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. asked a group of attorneys to look at claims of mileage cheating that involved the Japanese automaker. What they found is that the company had set unrealistic goals that employees couldn’t say no to.
McDonald’s brought its all-day breakfast menu to the nation last year, and it was thought it would help boost the company’s sales.


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'GRID Autosport' announced as 'authentic race experience'
From open-wheeled speed machines to rally tours and street races, the studio behind "GRID Autosport" wants the June release to be "authentic, not clinical."
From open-wheeled speed machines to rally tours and street races, the studio behind 'GRID Autosport' wants the June release to be 'authentic, not clinical.'
The change in emphasis comes from building on fan feedback gained after 2013 release 'GRID 2' and means that players can expect something a little closer to true simulation driving across five distinct disciplines: street racing, endurance, open-wheeled, touring and drift.
Confirmed circuits include Hockenheim, Sepang, San Francisco, Jarama and Yas Marina, while the game is to spread across 22 locations and over 100 courses; singleplayer, multiplayer, teammate tactics and car tuning options come as standard.
'GRID Autosport' is to launch the week of June 24 on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4.


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Big chance for small producer
WHEN sausage connoisseurs Oliver and Fiona Stocker could not find any locally that they liked, the next step was making their own.
Now the couple, originally from England, are running the Langdale Farm pork business near Glengarry.
The Stockers are breeding their own free-range pigs and making traditional sausages.
They are making their Agfest debut next month.
Agfest will be by far the biggest event the Stockers have attended so far.
“It’s a big event and a fabulous opportunity to promote our business,” Mrs Stocker said. “There will be a lot of people who haven’t heard of our products or tried them and we’ll be able to get feedback straight away.”


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The leakers Genshin Impact have revealed that version 3.8 will not add any new characters to the game, including the previously rumored Inazuma character.
A recent source from Genshin Impact suggests that the version 3.8 update later this year will not feature any new characters, contrary to ongoing rumors. With the launch of version 3.6 of Genshin Impact just a few weeks away, fans have already seen a ton of content from future updates revealed ahead of launch. Inazuma’s new character, Kirara, has had some elemental and rarity rumors revealed long before her expected debut in patch 3.7. Version 3.8 was also the subject of several discussions suggesting another new character from Inazuma.
Past updates from many of Genshin Impact’s most trusted leakers have hinted that a new Lightning-type character will be coming to the game soon. Sources have revealed the game’s new character from Inazuma, whose release is expected to be version 3.8. Several hints about her looks have surfaced in recent weeks, with one of them even showing fan-art images depicting the character. However, now, a group of famous Genshin Impact leaker is claiming some information about this character may be unfounded.
A new update from leaker team Team China claims that Genshin Impact’s version 3.8 update will not launch any new additions to the game’s roster. The source is said to reveal that the unnamed Lightning-type character from Inazuma may not exist in the game, although several others have confirmed the character’s existence. Prominent leaker Tao has confirmed that the information regarding the lack of new characters in 3.8 may be accurate, suggesting that the expected release of the mysterious Lightning character may have been delayed. Genshin Impact’s version 3.8 update is expected to be released in July.
The lack of a new character in version 3.8 could be a whole new milestone for the massively popular RPG. Genshin Impact has never released a new update without at least one character being added, although some updates only featured a single four-star character introduced into the game. Sources have confirmed that the long-awaited version 3.8 will launch Eula’s rerun banner after more than a year of absence. Version 3.8 is also said to be the final update before the addition of Genshin Impact’s next major region, Fontaine.
>> MORE: Genshin Impact: Version 3.7 will release a Fontaine character
Don’t forget to follow MGN.vn to update the latest news about Genshin Impact right now!


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The battle of the new quarter-litre nakeds. KTM Duke 250 vs Yamaha FZ25
A match between the Austrian Orange and the Japanese Blue team was never on the cards. But with KTM launching the surprise wildcard Duke 250, the entire notion has changed.
It all started when Yamaha India launched the naked version of their quarter-litre Fazer motorcycle last month. Doing so, they have officially entered the segment of quarter-litres in India, surpassing the Yamaha R15.
Then came a surprise from KTM when they launched the Duke 250. Another naked that sits between the 200 and the mighty 390 Duke. Although KTM had once rubbished news about the brand planning to get the Duke 250 to India, this launch has been a wild card. Meant only for Indonesia and Thailand, the 250 makes a scene on Indian roads too.
This, folks, gives us the official rivalry of the segment that starts to take the business seriously. Although both the bikes are made for different purposes, they run similar capacity engines, thereby pitting them against each other in a bitter rivalry that can take the other down not to be able to rise again. Read below and catch the action.
Honda WR-V Interior Revealed In New Spyshots Launch In March!
Honda will be launching the Jazz based Crossover WR-V soon in India. The vehicle was spotted a number of times being tested and also in some spyshots where it was seen arriving at some dealerships. However, until now no details of the interiors were revealed. Recently Team-BHP was able to get their hands on some interior shots of the soon to be launched Crossover which reveals quite a number of details about the interior as well as the list of equipment which you can expect from the upcoming Crossover.
As you can clearly see from the spyshots the WR-V will get a completely blacked-out dashboard. The steering wheel, as well as the instrument cluster too, has been shared with the hatchback. While the list of equipment which you can expect in the WR-V Crossover includes a sunroof which will definitely be available with the top end trims, the rest of the interior equipment includes push button start, new touchscreen infotainment system which is also shared with the recently introduced facelift City sedan. This will also be a 5-Seater Crossover and the seats too have been taken from the Jazz hatchback as well.
If we talk about the exterior styling then surely the WR-V looks completely different from the Jazz hatchback. It gets completely different looking headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lamps, restyled front and rear bumpers and also different style wheels.
Bajaj Pulsar 160 NS launched in Nepal
In 2015, Bajaj Auto launched the first of a new-generation design philosophy in the form of the NS 200, acronym for ’naked sport’. A streetfighter that was later discontinued for not being able to be compliant to the emission norms for some, gearbox issues for others and few say for braking judders. Whatever they were, Bajaj took it off the shelves.
In 2017, that bike made a grand comeback and put Bajaj on the streetfighter map again. Calling it as the ’Pulsar 200 NS 2017 Laser Edged edition’, Bajaj is set to take the performance biking to a whole new level. Now, there is another sibling for the NS200 and it is heading to Nepal. The Pulsar NS 160 rumbles on.
Volkswagen To Launch The Second-Generation Tiguan SUV In 2017!
According to the recent reports, Volkswagen is all set to launch the Tiguan SUV in India this year while they also have plans to launch the all-new Passat as well around the month of July 2017. Now Volkswagen already used to sell the Passat but discontinued the model back in 2013 due to low sales figures whereas the Tiguan will be a completely new product which will actually help the German auto manufacturer to set foot in the executive vehicle segment of the Country.
The second generation SUV first made its official appearance at the 2015 Geneva Motor show while the first generation SUV did not reach the Indian shores. Volkswagen did showcase the second-generation Tiguan at the 2016 Auto Expo, though. The new generation SUV will also be their first SUV which will underpin their MQB platform. The car will be most likely being assembled at their manufacturing facility in Aurangabad after being imported by the CKD route.
Powering the new Tiguan SUV will be a 2.0 Litre, four-cylinder diesel unit which is expected to produce around 177 Hp of peak power and 350 Nm of peak torque. The engine will most likely be paired to a seven-speed DSG gearbox. The good thing about the upcoming SUV is that it will also get a four wheel drive option as well.
Below provided are few quick points that you should know about this soon to be launched SUV
5 Quick Points About The Maruti Baleno RS Launching On 3rd March
We all have talked about this car so much recently that we do not need to re-introduce the Baleno RS once again. The car was showcased first at the 2016 Auto expo and after exactly a year Maruti has decided to introduce the RS variant of the hatchback in India. Recently they also have revealed all the details of the soon to be launched hatchback along with some images as well.
Before we head into anything else let us remind you that Maruti will be launching the Baleno RS in India on 3rd March 2017. This hatchback will be positioned on top of the standard Baleno and will be sold via the Hexa dealerships.
The Indian spec Baleno RS will be powered by a completely new 1.0, three cylinder Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine which will produce about 75 KW/ 102 Hp of peak power at 5500 rpm and 150 Nm of peak torque at 1700-4500 rpm. The engine will be paired to a 5 speed manual transmission only. Talking about the new powertrain, this is the same detuned variant o the 1.0 Litre unit which powers the International spec Baleno hatchback. The completely new 1.0 Litre unit will also debut with the Baleno RS as well and could power some future Maruti products as well.
Now like we promised here are the 5 quick points that you should know about new Maruti Baleno RS hatchback.
2017 Suzuki Gixxer
Not all debuts are sure shot hits – ask Suzuki. When the Japanese manufacturer made its entry on its own almost a decade ago, it didn’t have a start as good as expected. Except for the 125cc scooter Access, no other product from Suzuki in India could shake up the already established models in their respective segments.
And this continued for almost five years, till Suzuki launched the very promising 155cc motorcycle, the Gixxer. Considering the last flops which included all of its motorcycles, including its very first 150cc bike, the GS 150R, Suzuki naturally had high hopes attached with the Gixxer. And as expected, the Gixxer became the very first hit from Suzuki in the mass market segment. With this, Suzuki too started showing signs of becoming a settled player like its Japanese rivals in India, Honda and Yamaha.
In 2016, Suzuki introduced a couple of changes to the Gixxer to counter the onslaught brought by Honda in the form of CB Hornet 160R, and now to make it even more upmarket than before, Suzuki has freshened up the Gixxer even more with a couple of new changes for 2017 model. Let’s take a look on what all changes Suzuki has carried out for the Gixxer:-
Watch Football Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo Drives The New Bugatti Chiron: Video
Whenever a celebrity gets to drive a car it is definitely fun to watch. What makes this video even more special is the fact that in this video you will be watching the famous football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo driving one of the most powerful production supercars of this planet.
Bugatti recently released the video of CR7 test driving the all-new Chiron just before the French Automaker starts the deliveries of this beast. There is no denying the fact that CR7 is one of the most celebrated athletes in the world and has won several accolades to his name including the World Player of the Year, reigning European Champion, winner.
He already owns several supercars including Lamborghini Aventador, BMW M6, Bentley Continental GTC, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, an Audi Q7 and off course! His recently purchased prized possessions the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport variant. At one time it was even reported that he owned a total of 19 cars at once.
In this video, you can watch him checking out the new Chiron and test driving the car on track. From what it looks like from his expression that he surely feel in love with the new supercar and we are pretty sure that he will add one soon to his collection.
The successor of the Veyron packs a lot of punch from the 8.0 L W16 quad- turbocharged unit, the same engine which used to power the Veyron now produces about 1500 ps of peak power and 1600 Nm of peak torque. The Chiron is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h mark in just 2.5 seconds while it can reach a maximum top speed of electronically restricted 420 km/h mark.
2017 Land Rover Range Rover Velar
Soon Land Rover is going to add another member to their Range Rover family. The new SUV which will be called Range Rover Velar and it will be positioned in between the Range Rover Evoque and Sport. The new SUV will be unveiled Infront of the World on 1st March 2017.
The Velar will be their latest Sports Coupe which will sit in their new family. The term Valar means Veil or covered, and it was used for the first time for the Range Rover prototypes.
According to Land Rover Elegant, simplicity, a visually reductive approach and pioneering consumer technology are the hallmarks of this Range Rover SUV. The vehicle has been refined for every occasion and has been engineered to go above and beyond.
Although, no details of the Velar is available at this moment, so we decided to keep it short and straightforward. But we will update you with all the details once the vehicle showcased on 1st Of March.
Click past jump to know more about the all new Range Rover Velar
A Performance Oriented Lamborghini Huracan Is Heading Our Way: Video
The Lamborghini Huracan Performante is surely going to be something that we all have been waiting for a long time. Lamborghini is once again digging their roots and pulling out some of their most insane tricks to impress their customers by presenting the most potent member of their Huracan family. I mean that is what they are known for right?
The Italian sports car manufacturer has already dropped a new teaser video which showcased the future car. The car seen in the video was covered in heavy camouflage, and there is no denying the fact that it surely looked intimidating with the addition of that huge rear wing and the front spoiler.
The entire video was shot on the Nurburgring, and the reports also suggest that the new car was able to set a new lap record as well. The car will also get a new feature called "Aereodinamica Lamborghini Attiva."
Now, don’t get confused with the term because the new name is basically an advanced active aerodynamic system. The Coupe gets plenty of new aerodynamics on the front splitter and also a new rear wing. These are exclusively available with this new performance-oriented version of the car and thus won’t be available with the standard model.
Apart from the Active aerodynamics, the bull will also actually shed around 40 kilograms from the original variant, courtesy the new forged composite body materials. However, it will still get the same 5.2 Liter V10 unit which will perhaps be tuned slightly different to produce even more power and torque figures. The Huracan Performante will perhaps also get a tweaked suspension setup and recalibrated gear ratios to match with all those increased power figures.
The car will most probably make its official debut perhaps just a few days ahead of the 2017 Geneva Motor show.
Renault Introduces New RXL Variant Of KWID 1.0 L Gets Manual & AMT Transmission
There is no doubt that the KWID has been one of the most successful products for Renault after the Duster. Recently they have introduced the Live for more edition of the KWID, and now they have announced a more affordable RXL trim of the hatchback with the 1.0 Litre variant. Previously the 1.0 Litre variant was available only with the top end RXT variants only. The best part is that the new variant is also available with both manuals as well as AMT transmission.
What is even more interesting is also the fact that the introductory prices for the new RXL are just INR. 30, 000 more than the 1.0 Litre manual transmission. Talking about prices while the 1.0 Litre RXL variant is priced at INR 3.54 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) the AMT transmission equipped variant priced at INR. 3.84 Lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Now, coming to the features that you can notice in the newly introduced RXL variants of the KWID, the hatchback gets passenger side ORVM’s, B-Pillar Painted with Black vinyl, a rear roof spoiler on its exterior. Inside the cabin, KWID RXL variants feature single din music system with USB, AUX and two speakers. However, the touchscreen system with navigation is offered only with the top end RXT trim only.
10 Affordable Cars Which Features An Automatic Transmission
In recent years, we have seen a lot of new changes which our country has been undergoing through, in each and every aspect of human lifestyle. Speaking of automobiles too, we have seen the advent of various new techniques and features which have resulted in a surge in car sales, thus increasing the number of cars on the roads day by day, resulting in a kind of chaos and traffic problems, especially in metropolitan cities.
Due to rising inconvenience caused by poor traffic management, many prospective buyers are shifting towards cars which are offering the convenience of automatic transmissions. As a result, many budget cars are now being offered with an automatic transmission. In the recent years, we have seen a lot of new technologies implemented on automatic cars compared to old days; the entry-level mass market cars were available with the option of only conventional torque converters. In the recent times, we have all seen many manufacturers switching out to new and more contemporary options of automatic transmissions like CVT and AMT, which do offer the convenience of a conventional automatic gearbox, but not at the expense of lower fuel economy and higher maintenance.
In this feature, we are going to throw some light on the ten most affordable automatic cars available in the Indian car market right now, which are aimed at those potential car buyers who wants to enjoy the convenience of an automatic car but without shelling too much from their bank balance.
Tata Tiago Petrol AMT Details Leaked
We heard rumours of Tata Motors introducing the AMT variant of the Tiago and from what it seems like the rumours were actually true. Recently a leaked spec sheet gave away all the details that one needs about these soon to be launched Tata Tiago AMT variants.
The AMT variant of the Tiago was already spied earlier and it will be available with the petrol variant only. The Tiago AMT, when launched, will compete directly with the Alto K10 AMT and the Celerio AMT.
With the launch now almost near Team-BHP was able to get their hands on some leaked spec sheets of the Tiago AMT variant. To begin with, the AMT variant will be available with the top two variants only. The details leaked online said that the Tiago AMT will only be available with the top end XT and XZ trims.
Thus the AMT gearbox will be equipped only with the 1.2 Litre, 3 cylinder Revotron petrol unit capable of producing about 85 PS of peak power and 114 Nm. Apart from just the addition of the AMT gearbox, there won’t be any other changes to be made to the AMT equipped car. As far as the pricing is concerned to expect the AMT variant to be priced a tad bit higher than the manual variants.
After the Nano and the Zest, the Tiago will actually be the third model to be offered with AMT transmission.
We take a deep look into the 2017 KTM Duke model range
When the first Duke hit the streets a few years ago, it was not here to make friends. The bike changed the game and re-wrote the rule books. A bold call to all to head to the straight narrow and embrace the life that lives at the very limit. In 2017, a whole new face hit the streets starting with the 1290 Super Duke R, the Beast Mode 2.0.
Today, KTM India officially launched the next iteration of the Dukes that are ready to take the streets and rule them. The all-new 2017 Duke 390, updated Duke 200 and a brand new model in the Duke lineup, the Duke 250.
2017 Honda CB Shine DX
When you are out for a perfect daily commuter which offers you the best of both the worlds of performance and fuel efficiency at the same time, the segment of 125cc commuters is the one to watch out for. And this segment is incomplete without the Honda CB Shine.
Since its first launch almost a decade ago, the Honda CB Shine has gone on to become the topmost grosser in the 125cc segment regarding volumes and has been consistently finding a place in top ten selling motorcycles till date.
The motorcycle has received constant updates throughout its life span till date, including a more premium version christened as CB Shine SP. However, it is the CB Shine DX, the last proper update still being the volume churner for Honda in India.
The motorcycle has yet again received another update, which includes a couple of minor cosmetic add-ons, new additional colour options and few small but noticeable mechanical upgrades. Let’s have a look at what all changes the new CB Shine DX has received:-


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Medica, a health insurance company headquartered in Minneapolis, became the first health plan to launch a mobile application to help consumers compare cost information for a variety of medical procedures. The app, based on the Web site MainStreetMedica.com, is available at the iPhone App Store.
In a press release, the carrier said it is making the mobile app available as the demand for consumer health information is exploding. According to an analysis published by Manhattan Research in February 2009, more than 10 million U.S. adults use mobile devices for health information. That’s not surprising as consumers are paying a greater share of their health care. Meanwhile, the trend toward better informed, empowered consumers helps promote market-based reforms and greater competition.
“MainStreetMedica.com is a proven resource for consumers who want to know how much a medical service or treatment will cost before they have a procedure,” said Rob Longendyke, Medica senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications.
“Until recently, consumers had little or no access to comparative information about physicians and hospitals. Without transparency like actual cost information, market forces can’t work. Given a level playing field, consumers will do to health care what they have done throughout the rest of the economy – make choices based on their values. Empowering consumers with the tools they need to make value-based decisions will stimulate health care to be more efficient, effective, affordable and accessible.”
Both the Main Street Medica mobile app and the Web site are available to all consumers, not just Medica members. iPhone users can also download the mobile app at: Medica.com.


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Jailed terrorists believed to be behind Coca-Cola sabotage plan
Jailed members of Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire, a domestic urban guerrilla group, are believed to be behind a plot to sabotage bottles of Coca-Cola Light and Nestea in Greece, police sources have told Kathimerini.
Officials told the newspaper that the go-ahead for the plan, dubbed “Green Nemesis,” came from inside the maximum-security Korydallos Prison in central Athens. Coca-Cola, which makes both beverages in Greece, on Thursday said it was removing 500 ml bottles of the soft drinks from stores in Athens and Thessaloniki after FAI/IRF, an urban guerrilla group that has in the past signed joint proclamations with Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire, threatened to tamper with the beverages by injecting hydrochloric acid into them.
FAI/IRF said that it was an act of solidarity with members of the Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire group and two people being held in Spain on suspicion of planting explosive devices.


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HILLSVILLE — A new business, a Mexican steakhouse, will locate on land formerly owned by Carroll County near the U.S. 58 and Interstate 77 interchange, the Carroll Industrial Development Authority learned Monday.
Developer Marshall Lineberry gave the IDA members an update on the shops at the Southwest Virginia Farmers Market that he continues to build there, and he threw in the information about the new Rio Grande that will go in on the east side of the interstate.
Lineberry bought that property from the IDA and has since built an office building there that serves as a United Country real estate location.
Lineberry has a new contract for the remainder of that land to become the home of a Rio Grande restaurant.
He gave credit to the Virginia Department of Transportation's Bob Beasley and Will Dotson for making a commercial entrance work out there, where a coffee kiosk used to be.
"What we're going to have here in the near future, within the next 12 months, is another million-dollar building sitting up there," Lineberry said.
The restaurant will employ up to 25 people at $9 an hour, he added.
Lineberry held off an announcement until he knew the restaurant could use that entrance.
The owners of the new Rio Grande also have 18 other restaurants and are affiliated with 30 more on the East Coast, Lineberry said. If this one works, then another one will go on other property Lineberry has in Fort Chiswell.
The new Rio Grande owner, Andrew Auquire, will make a more formal announcement of their business later, Lineberry said.
"It's top of the line," he said. "It's really going to be an eye-catcher to bring in people off that interstate."
Building the shops at the farmers' market continues to go well, despite all the rain that fell this spring, Lineberry said. "The Village Market is going well," he said. "We're ahead of schedule as far as I'm concerned — we've worked against the rain and other elements..."
His workers are now waiting for Sowers Construction to finish up its portion of grading on the parking lot, so the parking for the shops can be tied in smoothly, Lineberry said.
There's a sidewalk to pour outside of the shops, and then Lineberry will get the framing done for the restrooms he agreed to supply to visitors to the farmers' market — part of the deal for him to buy the land there.
Everything is there waiting to be installed, Lineberry said. Three-phase power is going in, sewer's in, and the water's next.
"We're hoping within the next 60 days to be finished, give or take a few days, and open for business," he said. "We've had numerous phone calls, people wanting to lease space from 500 square feet up to 1,500 square feet."
Lineberry felt that the new entrance going into the retail side of the farmers market will be a boon for the place.
County Administrator Gary Larrowe gave credit for the parking lot changes to Farmers' Market Manager Kevin Semones. It's meant to make traffic flow better at the retail building.
"Maybe it won't so congested," Larrowe said. "It's very easy to have more than 500 cars a day there."
Lineberry said he appreciated the county officials' patience with his project there. "I mean, it's rained or snowed every week since last October. We're just glad to have it under roof, we should be finished up here very shortly."
The shops at the farmers' market were designed to make that location, already home to the Blue Ridge Plateau Visitors' Center, even more attractive to travelers and tourists by putting arts and crafts and other retail businesses of interest as well as restrooms to draw people in.


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Photo by Justin Cook
At the Scrap Exchange, everybody gets a trophy.
The Scrap Exchange's plan to buy all ten acres of land where the Lakewood Shopping Center and expand its reuse empire is one step closer to becoming a reality this week.
This morning the reuse art center announced
on its Facebook that the purchase was made—ten acres, 82,000 square feet of leasable space
—for $2.5 million.
Two years ago when the Scrap Exchange moved its operations to the old move theater in the shopping center, Ann Woodward—the nonprofits executive director— told the INDY she wanted to create a reuse district, much like on in New Orleans where artists could set up studios.
On Wednesday, Woodward described the purchase as "a dream come true.”
The Scrap Exchange started to realize the possibilities in the essentially vacant shopping center and started planning the expansion
“When when we bought (2050 Chapel Hill Road), I would talk to the owners, we would talk about what (the shopping center) could be, the ideas, it was just an idea," Woodward said. "They were very supportive of it. We had the conversation for a couple of years before we really got serious”
Over the past year the Scrap Exchange started more seriously looking at the underutilized shopping center and started creating a business plan and figuring out financials. The push to buy the property came after offers were coming in for the property.
"We decided to make a business plan—to solidify our business plan—and everything we’ve been talking about and put it in words and numbers," Woodward said.
From there the Scrap Exchange were in talks with its banks, and Woodward said they were friendly from the start, especially considering they had a history together from when the Scrap Exchange bought its current building.
"So they knew we could make a deal," she said.
The Scrap Exchange, operates out of 2050 Chapel Hill Road, now owns the dormant shopping center at
The land now owned by the Scrap Exchange at the Lakewood Shopping Center.
2020 Chapel Hill Road—this means it owns the northern portion of the shopping center. The southern portion—which houses a Food Lion and Dollar General—were not part of the purchase from Real Estate Associates, INC of Durham.
The property went on the market in April 2015 and remained that way until early January 2016, when it went under contract. This morning the deal closed, making it officially part of the Scrap Exchange's future.
Woodward said now that the property work is being done to start pre-leasing and showing groups the facilities that have interest in the space, because starting September 1, the Scrap Exchange will have to come up with between $17,000 and $19,000 a month.
And as tenants start to move in, she's hopeful a permanent thrift store will be up and running in December.
As outlined by the nonprofit's announcement: "The property will focus on arts and culture, job creation and skill development, thrift, reuse, maker spaces, recreation, permaculture, other nonprofits and small businesses, affordable housing, and stewarding as a community asset!"
There's already talks going on with affordable housing stakeholders about what can be done on the land since some of what the Scrap Exchange owns is zoned for multi-residential units.
Those aren't the only things Woodward and the Scrap Exchange have dreamed up for the space.
"We are going to be creating the National Center for Creative Reuse," she said. “I expect this district to embody this reuse arts culture."


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• Selfless selfies raise $83,000
A trickle of unexpected online donations to the Foundation turned into a torrent as #nomakeup selfies hit NZ. A huge thanks to around 4000 individuals who posted their bare- faced photos on Twitter or facebook and donated to the Foundation's breast cancer research projects.
• Poster push please
Around 650 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and we have only two national educators. Can you help promote breast cancer awareness by putting an A4 poster up in your office, gym or health centre? This one features lovely Beatrice who was diagnosed in 2010.DOWNLOAD POSTER (5Mb)
• Pink Star Walk is rolling out to more centres!
In addition to Auckland on 11th October, this fun, twilight 5km and 10 km walk will now include Wellington (4th October) and Christchurch (18th October). A 21km half marathon is on offer in Christchurch too. EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST HERE
• Buy your Entertainment Books from us.
The 2014/15 book is now for sale but wait...there's more! A digital membership which allows you to access and redeem the offers from your Book via your smartphone. Each Book or Digital Membership will contribute $13 back to the Foundation.ORDER HERE
• A breakfast you won't want to skip
The popular Pink Ribbon Breakfast is back in May where we encourage friends, families and organisations to dress up, eat up and give it up for the cause. This year, funds will go towards breast cancer research.HOST A BREAKFAST


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Dr Jason Wouhra OBE, CEO of Birmingham-based wholesaler Lioncroft Wholesale, took centre stage at an event at the House of Lords in the first celebration in Parliament of Indian Independence in 76 years.
The event was held at the House of Lords in July and was attended by more than 130 people, all celebrating Indian independence and promoting international trade between India and the UK.
“As a British Indian, it is a very proud moment to be standing in the House of Lords at such an event, especially as it is led by our family business, Lioncroft Wholesale,” said Wouhra (pictured) as he welcomed guests, including Keir Starmer, Baroness Verma, Lord Bilimoria and ambassadors and high commissioners from eight countries.
“Lioncroft Wholesale supplies more than 9,000 retailers, bars, restaurant and stadia with food and beverages and we are one of the largest operators of our kind in the UK. However, we are just one of many successful British Indian businesses.
“The Indian diaspora are 4% of the population which contribute 9% of our GDP. We are known for our entrepreneurial spirit, professional expertise and contributions to various sectors, such as food, finance, technology and healthcare.”
As chair of the West Midlands India Partnership, Wouhra recognises the impact of Indian investment on British businesses: “In the first three years of the Partnership, we have seen Indian foreign direct investment into the West Midlands overtake that of the USA,” he said. “This is a wonderful achievement and a sign of how the UK is deemed to be a great place to invest for Indian businesses looking to expand.”
Looking to the future, he added: “We cannot ignore that India is the world’s fifth largest economy at £3.75 trillion dollars, and it is most important that we build on our strong ties with India for the future success of the UK economy.”Published Date: August 4, 2023


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Amway India’s social arm – Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) along with Amway distributors of Madurai, have helped set up a computer centre at the Indian Association for the Blind (IAB) campus at Sundararajanpatty, in the outskirts of Madurai. Inaugurated by District Collector, Thiru C Kamaraj (IAS), this is the 13th such computer centre AOF and Amway distributors have donated for visually challenged children. The other Computer centres are at Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Gurgaon, Narendrapur, Kolkata, Patna, Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad & Thiruvananthapuram. Each computer centre is equipped with 8-10 new computers with the ‘SuperNova’ software which enables the visually challenged (blind) to use computers.
“It is heartening to see the corporate sector coming forward and supporting local institutions carrying out humanitarian work, and we appreciate Amway’s initiative,” said Thiru Kamraj. “We would like to see greater number of Corporate houses doing what Amway has set out to do with IAB.” Mr Jinnah, Director IAB, echoed the Collector’s sentiments. “It is indeed nice that Amway distributors of Madurai and AOF have volunteered to set up this computer centre – over 100 children will benefit,” he said. AOF had donated 10 Dell OptiPlex 380 DT computers with DVD writer, installed with SuperNova – a software that enables the visually challenged to use computers.
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Daily MLM Book Recommendation: Your First Year in Network Marketing: Overcome Your Fears, Experience Success, and Achieve Your Dreams!
– Dan Mitchell, MLM Blog Correspondent –


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Ellis Bridals, not content with being an award-winning brand and one of the longest-established in the industry, has launched into the retail sector…and is doing it big time. The latest issue of Bridal Buyer has the story covered in detail
In addition to its vast network of stockists in the UK and mainland Europe, Ellis boasts some 70 retail outlets in the US that carry its bridal label as well as bridesmaid/occasiowear collection Kelsey Roses. “We believe we are bringing something different to the market across the pond – a London style that resonates with US brides desiring originality in design and expertise in craftsmanship from a brand that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. The retailers really value the strong customer service team that we have built up within the US, who are dedicated to servicing and quality control alongside very strong promotion through national advertising,” says Regine Ellis, the driving force behind the company.
So why has the company taken the bold, and some might say brave, step and opened up a super-sized, seriously elegant, store in Shanghai, China. “Extensive research has shown us that brides in Asia desire that classic British style not only in their fashion but also in terms of service,” says Regine. “Our fusion of the British look with styling inspired by top trends has scored a big hit and there has been a really positive response to all three brands, which include MOB collection John Charles. The Chinese love the rich history of the label and they appreciate our use of top international photographers and models for the campaigns.”
An art-deco-style exterior fronts a beautiful 3,000-square-foot store that houses not only the collections but also an exhibition of Ellis’s imagery to take visitors on a journey through the brand’s design heritage. As a definitive nod to its British origins, the store even offers classic British afternoon tea and special invitations are sent to customers for ‘high-tea weekends’.
There’s a big marketing and development story here and one that we can all learn from. It’s to do with starting from a very firm base, investigating possibilities, and investing in realising a dream. Read more in the November/December issue of Bridal Buyer.


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According to 8080.net, the HTC Hero CDMA known as the Hero200, which was approved by the FCC a few days ago, will come in a different design compared to the GSM version. And the leaked photos of the prototype prove that: the handset has a flat body below the touch screen with trackball and shortcut buttons on it. However, we can't tell if it will be different in terms of specs. The source also stated that the phone will be available for Sprint network in US soon.
(More photos after the jump)


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US-India based robotics start-up company Emotix raised INR 18.58 C ($2.69 Mn) to expand overseas.
Emotix, or more popularly known as Miko, develops educational and recreational robot for children. Miko 2, its latest robot, can hear, sense, speak, and has the capacity to remember names, identify moods, recognize faces, and initiate conversations.
Founded in 2015 by IIT Bombay graduates Sneh Vaswani, Prashant Iyengar and Chintan Raikar, the company plans to expand its market to North America, UK, and the Middle east.
The raise is led by Chiratae Ventures. The company would have to compete with already existing robotics products in the said market. Miko plans to launch in North America ahead of the holiday season, as a part of its international expansion initiative. The company plans to start its expansion ahead of the holiday season this year.


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Maybe the largest lithium ion deposits in Europe have something to do with it.
Tesla’s Gigafactory in Reno, Nevada, will span 5.8 million square-feet and employ more than 6,000 people upon its completion. Those stats alone make it the largest lithium-ion battery cell plant in the world. But before the paint has even dried in Reno, the company is looking for a European location to build its second factory.
Earlier in the year, French Energy Minister Segolene Royal offered the site of a decommissioned nuclear power plant to the automaker. But now it looks like the Finnish town of Vaasa is also throwing its name into the ring – and it has an ace up its sleeve.
According to a blog post on the city’s website, officials believe that Vaasa is the perfect spot for a new Tesla Gigafactory given that it’s located near Kaustinen, the location of the largest lithium deposits in Europe. "Vaasa has the perfect qualifications to work as Tesla’s partner, and to be the optimal location of the Gigafactory in Europe," said the Mayor of Vaasa, Tomas Häyry. "We need visionary and ambitious goals that motivate all who can make a contribution. This is a project that builds Vaasa’s future for several generations to come."
Though the proposal is still in the early stages, the city of Kaasa is gathering a group of experts in relevant fields such as engineering, logistics, and project management, to present a more structured proposal to Tesla later down the line. That more detailed plan for the proposed Gigafactory location is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2017.
For Tesla, the idea of a European facility has been a long time coming. With a goal to produce as many as 500,000 electric cars by 2018 and introduce the more affordable Model 3, the facility could help meet that goal.


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HAYDEN, Idaho - A 2-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his mother after he reached into her purse at a northern Idaho Wal-Mart and her concealed gun fired, authorities said Tuesday.
Veronica J. Rutledge, 29, was shopping with her son and three other children, Kootenai County sheriff's spokesman Stu Miller said. Rutledge was from Blackfoot in southeastern Idaho, and her family had come to the area to visit relatives.
She had a concealed-weapons permit. Miller said the young boy was in a shopping cart, reached into his mother's purse, and grabbed a small-caliber handgun, which discharged one time.
Deputies who responded to the Wal-Mart found Rutledge dead, the sheriff's office said.
"It appears to be a pretty tragic accident," Miller said.
The victim's father-in-law, Terry Rutledge, told the Associated Press that Veronica Rutledge "was a beautiful, young, loving mother."
"She was not the least bit irresponsible," he said. "She was taken much too soon."
The woman's husband was not in the store when the shooting happened about 10:20 a.m. Miller said the husband arrived shortly after the shooting. All the children were taken to a relative's house.
The shooting occurred at a Wal-Mart in Hayden, a town about 40 miles northeast of Spokane, Wash., in Idaho's northern panhandle.
The store closed and was not expected to reopen until Wednesday morning.
Brooke Buchanan, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, said in a statement: "We are working closely with the local sheriff's department while they investigate what happened."


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If you ask us, you can never have enough bookstores, and luckily in Abu Dhabi we’re about to get another.
Whether its cookbooks, autobiographies, fiction or graphic novels, we love it all and we’re not the only ones who can’t wait to start a new chapter when Kinokuniya opens in the capital this year.
The Japanese bookstore, which already has branch in Dubai Mall, is set to open their first store in Abu Dhabi in September at The Galleria.
As part of The Galleria’s extension the bookstore will be opening up alomgside the new mall that’s expected to launch on September 4.
Naoya Hirata, managing director of Kinokuniya UAE, says: “We are very excited to celebrate our unique Japanese heritage within The Galleria Al Maryah Island’s vibrant mix, and we look forward to welcoming the Abu Dhabi community to our store.
‘Young children will love Kinokuniya’s learning and development series, teens will be captivated with popular young-adult titles, and thousands of classic and contemporary fiction and non-fiction titles will suit all preferences.”
A whopping 270 new shops will find a home in the mall, as well as more than 70 new places to eat.
Entertainment will include a flagship Xtreme Zone, and there will be urban rooftop parks, too.
The countdown to September is on.