text:
The extent of the damage to the store was shared on social media on Tuesday, with the video showing the glass windows of the store shattered as well as graffiti sprayed on the parking lot. The Blast also reported the store, together with other properties on the complex, were also looted.
In the footage showing the damage, the clearly irate person recording the video is heard vowing to bring the perpetrators to book if they’re apprehended.
“Whoever did this s**t — if we ever find out who did this, it’s ugly for you cuz,” the person is heard saying. “I swear to God. We gon hurt somebody cuz. You n***as some fucking haters. This shit is fucked up. B**ch ass n***as.”
Another video also showed people on the complex cleaning up the damage caused by the assailants.
Born Ermias Davidson Asghedom to an Eritrean father and an African-American mother, Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot multiple times in front of his Marathon Clothing store on March 31, 2019. Following his death, the store became a mecca for fans and sympathizers who thronged the location to pay their last respect to the 33-year-old. The store also reportedly made over $10 million in sales following his death, according to HipHopDX.
Outside music, the Grammy-nominated rapper was widely known for his philanthropic works and entrepreneurial savviness. He owned several businesses along the block he was shot, including his Marathon Clothing Store — which he opened in 2017, a burger restaurant, a barbershop and a fish market, the LA Times reported.
In an interview with Forbes in 2019, the slain rapper revealed he had purchased the plaza the Marathon Clothing store runs alongside a business partner in a multi-million dollar deal with plans of building an apartment complex on the property.
“Before we was renting here, I was hustling in this parking lot. It’s just always been a hub for local entrepreneurs,” he said. “Within 18 months or so, they’ll knock everything down and rebuild it as a six-story residential building atop a commercial plaza where a revamped Marathon store will be the anchor tenant.”


text:
Exfm had an interesting take on music discovery based on scanning blogs for MP3s that could be imported into a cloud-based player. Things seemed to be going fine as the company launched apps, plugins, and an API. Then it abruptly shut down in January. The company has hinted in the interim that something was going to happen, and now we know what's up—Exfm is being bought by Rhapsody.
The announcement post is light on details, but it sounds like Exfm is going to continue existing as a separate product. The team will be working over the next few months to build new tools and experiences for Android (as well as those other mobile platforms). Some sort of integration with Rhapsody's subscription music service is probably in the cards as well.
So Exfm isn't dead, but the service that emerges in a few months might be quite different from the one we had before. We'll keep an eye on it.

domain: news


text:
Minneapolis leaders on Tuesday presented details of their plan to require a $15 minimum wage, a step that would affect hundreds of businesses and thousands of workers in the city.
The proposed ordinance, which still needs a public hearing and a final council vote, gives employers five years to increase workers’ pay to $15 an hour. It includes a “training wage” exception for younger workers starting jobs, but does not allow employers to count tips as wages. Businesses that don’t comply could face thousands of dollars in fines.
Key questions remain, however, about phasing in the wage increase. Council members were split Tuesday on how quickly to require businesses of different sizes to comply.
“We’re in a zone where we have a few differences of opinion,” said Council Member Elizabeth Glidden, who proposed language that would require businesses of all sizes to pay $15 by the summer of 2022. She acknowledged her proposal was a placeholder to spark discussion.
No city in the United States has a $15 minimum wage for all businesses yet, but if Minneapolis approves the proposal, it would join a few cities that have passed similar measures, including San Francisco and Seattle.
Businesses in San Francisco will be required to pay $15 per hour by the summer of 2018. In Seattle, businesses with more than 500 employees started paying $15 per hour in January, but smaller businesses have until 2019 to meet the requirement, and tips will count toward wages in that city until 2025.
Glidden’s proposal, approved by the council’s Committee of the Whole, gives all businesses five years to reach the $15 per hour minimum.
But it requires businesses with more than 100 employees to boost wages more quickly, while smaller businesses would start with more gradual increases before a steeper bump at the end of the phase-in.
Council Members Alondra Cano and Cam Gordon said they prefer a four-year timeline for all businesses, but said they could support the five-year plan if all workers are included. Council Members Jacob Frey and Barb Johnson said they think small businesses should get more time than large ones.
No tips as wages
In Minneapolis, the question of counting tips as wages has sparked fierce debate, and the draft ordinance says “no employer may directly or indirectly credit, apply, or utilize gratuities towards payment of the minimum wage.”
The crowd at City Hall for the meeting included servers and bartenders, 15 Now advocates, union leaders and small business owners.
“It’s a good step in the right direction,” said Alee Schmierer, a server at Domo Gastro who lives in south Minneapolis and was there with 15 Now advocates to push for a $15 wage. But she also said, “I do think that small businesses should get a little bit more time.”
Jen Schnellenberg, a bartender at the Red Rabbit who’s been pushing for tips to be counted as wages, said without such a provision, her wages will be cut in half as restaurants and bars are forced to change their business model.
“We can do $15 an hour in Minneapolis, but we don’t want to be the victims of a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t recognize the uniqueness of our profession,” she said.
Robin Anderson, owner of Linden Hills Child Care Center, attended two of the city’s minimum wage listening sessions and sat in back of the room as the City Council discussed its next move.
A single mother of two, Anderson worked at the day care for 20 years before buying it five years ago.
Talk of a different phase-in for small businesses did not impress her.
“It’s still going to happen. And where does that stop? Is $15 not enough? What about $25? Hell, why not $50?” she said.
She doesn’t know exactly how a $15 minimum wage will play out for her business, but she’ll probably have to pass the cost to families, and she’d consider moving from her location in a church basement.
“Just the thought that ten blocks away is the line with Edina would be frustrating to me,” she said.
Support for businesses
Council Members Lisa Bender and Johnson said it’s important for the city to focus on helping small businesses.
“We really need to put our full support behind the new Small Business Office,” Bender said. “We need to make sure that that’s getting implemented meaningfully, that we’re really sitting down with small businesses and hearing what are the creative ways that we as a city can put more resources and energy and time into working together with our business community.”
Johnson said the city has done a lot to make life difficult for small businesses in recent years by banning Styrofoam, requiring convenience stores to sell a long list of items, trying to ban plastic bags and requiring paid sick leave.
“We’ve done these all for reasons that are important, but I think we have to think about what we’ve done and not think that we’ve made it all good by putting two navigators in place to deal with the issues that, a lot of them, we’ve created ourselves,” Johnson said. “I think we can assuage our consciences as a city by talking a lot about how we’re concerned about small businesses and how we want to move on to treat them and respect them.”
Penalties spelled out
The penalties for not paying the minimum wage are also laid out in the draft.
Beyond back pay, restitution and reimbursement of city expenses for enforcement, the city would be able to fine an employer “who is found to have repeatedly or willfully violated this article” up to $1,000 for each violation for each employee.
Other fines would punish employers who don’t post notice of the minimum wage, fail to keep records, or who retaliate against employees who ask about or report minimum wage violations.
Enforcement would be handled by the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights.


text:
Mergers and acquisitions occur when one company takes control of another. The internationally agreed definition is when one company gains more than 50% of the ordinary shares (or voting rights) of the acquired company.
Baker McKenzie has become the latest law firm to put its newly-qualified (NQ) solicitors in line for a six-digit pay package with an eye-catching 23% increase to its starting rates.
Taylor Wessing has confirmed its newly-qualified (NQ) solicitors will now earn £77,000, a £6,000 uplift from the previous £71,000 offering. The tech-focused firm also announced that this figure could rise to £92,400 when taking into account bonuses.
In a muted week for lateral recruitment, Baker McKenzie and Eversheds Sutherland made hires in the City, while Eversheds also grew on the continent.
For the third year running, Mishcon de Reya has welcomed a group of businesses to the firm’s MDR LAB: an incubator programme for tech start-ups in the legal space.
Tweets by @TheLex100


text:
With GungHo now worth more than Zynga, is GREE or DeNA about to buy big again?
Well, we're certainly going to get them, and this week's example comes courtesy of Japanese publisher GungHo Online.
It's a puzzle
It's being in the business for over a decade, most famously running the Japanese servers for Korean online game Ragnarok.
It's also something of an umbrella organisation, operating developers such as Game Arts, Acquire and Gravity, not to mention recent US subsidiary GungHo Online Entertainment America.
And on that level, it's a fairly substantial company, with revenues of over $100 million in 2011.
So - as pointed out by Japanese consultant Serkan Toto - how come GungHo (current market cap $2.2 billion) is now worth more than Zynga ($1.98 billion)?
One answer is its free-to-play game: Puzzle & Dragons.
Downloaded over seven million times on iOS and Android, the RPG/puzzler has been the top grossing app on the Japanese iPhone App Store since March 2012.
It's since been released in Korea and North America (not yet Europe), although Japan provides the vast majority of revenues.
Of course, we don't know how much revenue GungHo Online (3765:JP) is generating from the game, although we will get to see its 2012 financials before too long.
GungHo Online's share price over the past 12 months
Plus, it's always worth pointing out that a valuation based on share price is a product of market sentiment not necessarily underlying economics.
For example, DeNA or GREE could be trying to buy the company, artificially raising the share price.
Nevertheless, it still remarkable that the success of one game with less than 7 million active users can boost its publisher's worth past that of global player such as Zynga, which has around 200 million active monthly users.


text:
Online ad network Millennial Media released their mobile device stats for March (slightly more detailed PDF version). The data is collected from visits across their network and includes both smart phones and tablets.
Overall, smart phones comprised 64% of visits to sites on the network, up from 62% in February. Tablets like the iPad and other "connected devices" were 17% of visits up from 14%. And the share for feature phones dropped to 19% from 24% in February.
Android leads in the smart phone segment, 48% to 31% for Apple. No break-down was reported for the tablet section in March but in February Apple's 80% share dominated Android's 17% take.
Most interesting, Millennial reports app market share by revenues. Apple leads, of course, taking 47% of all revenue in March. But Android, with a 36% share, was much closer than I expected. Could be that this is revenue solely from advertising but it's not clear from the report.


text:
Netflix has reduced its subscription prices in 116 countries following a successful strategy in India, where it lowered its subscription prices across all its plans in December 2021. In India, Netflix saw a 30% growth in customer engagement and 24% revenue growth YoY in 2022. The markets where Netflix has slashed prices contributed less than 5% to its total revenue in 2022. However, the company believes that increasing adoption in these markets will help to maximize its revenue in the long term. In Q1, Netflix added 1.75 million net new subscribers, with the Asia-Pacific region leading the growth. Netflix’s competitors in India include Zee5, MX Player, Hoichoi, Aha, and Jio Cinema. The video OTT market in India is expected to reach $12.5 billion by 2030 from about $1.5 billion in 2021, according to a report by RBSA Advisors.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos believes that in order to grow revenue and engagement in the Indian market, Netflix needs to improve its pricing strategy and provide content that resonates with Indian audiences. The success of Netflix’s price reduction strategy in India has led the company to implement similar price reductions in 116 other countries. In addition to competition from domestic and international streaming services, Netflix also faces competition from Reliance’s Jio Cinema, which plans to release a large number of movies and shows in the Indian market over the next 18-24 months. Despite these challenges, India’s video OTT market is expected to grow significantly, reaching a size of $12.5 billion by 2030, according to a report by RBSA Advisors.


text:
Tesla’s resilience when faced with almost insurmountable challenges of making a practical electric car, has had an impact on the industry. It wasn’t too long ago when many mainstream automakers suggested that producing a practical electric car was still some ways off, and that the internal combustion engine was here to stay.
Now however, many have changed their tune and are willing to step into relatively uncharted waters and begin mass producing electrified powertrains. Not long ago, Volvo announced that it will only be building hybrid or fully electric vehicles from 2019 onward. Hyundai too are planning on a similar strategy sometime in the near future.
And if an article published by Autocar UK is to be believed, it would appear that Maserati, a well known Italian sports car company has decided to take the electrified route as well. It’s parent company FCA (Fiat Chrysler Autombiles) who also owns Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Dodge, want Maserati to take the lead and produce electrified vehicles and technology.
This same technology can then be adapted by the rest of the brands under the FCA umbrella and ensure that about half of the company’s model range comprises of either hybrid or EVs by 2022.
That said, the first electrified Maserati, which will probably be a hybrid, is predicted to be unveiled by 2020 at the earliest and may be based on the Alfieri concept that debuted at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.
The article goes on to speculate that Prior to the launch of that vehicle, Maserati might hybridize other current generation vehicles like the Levante SUV. Nothing is set in stone at the moment, but we won’t be surprised if the Italian automaker chooses to go fully electric in the not so distant future.
Many car buyers around the world are beginning to embrace hybrid and electric vehicles as the future of personal mobility. And as soon as there is sufficient infrastructure to sustain their practicality as daily drivers, that will be the final nail in the coffin of the internal combustion engine.
Source: Autocar UK


text:
Oregon pot growers want to export excess weed
Oregon's Legislature will consider a bill in its 2019 session which will look to take down the initial barrier toward exporting legal cannabis from the state.
The federal government would still need to allow marijuana to be sent across state lines. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug federally.
"We want to get to the point where we have states ready and willing to make transfers," said Adam Smith, the director of the Craft Cannabis Alliance.
A similar bill has previously failed to clear the Legislature, but Sen. Ginny Burdick anticipates it'll do better this go-round.
"I thought back then it may be a bit cart before the horse," Burdick said. "We were still working on setting up our own legal market, but now I think is the right time."
Oregon cannabis growers have an excess of weed. Overproduction has led to a dramatic drop in prices and industry experts say the market is so saturated, businesses are losing money.
"The cannabis industry is in crisis," Smith said. "We have a tremendous oversupply problem. The irony is there's a market for this product all over the country."
Smith says Oregon allowing its growers to ship marijuana across state lines would put pressure on the federal government to allow it.
"How can we move that forward more quickly. Federal prohibition is crumbling, but it could take years before that is totally finished," Smith said.
The Craft Cannabis Alliance has set the goal of exporting pot by 2020.
"The long game is interstate commerce," said Matt Walstatter, owner of Pure Green dispensary. "It's a real struggle. People are competing for a very limited market share and businesses are going under."
Smith warns that if cannabis can't be sent out of Oregon to other legal states soon, big business fueled by out-of-state money will buy up the existing businesses in Oregon, cutting down on the economic benefit of cannabis in the state.
"We will have low-wage employees here and the actual profits will be leaving to go to boards of directors in Canada or Texas," Smith said.
Walstatter says if the Legislature takes down the first barrier, it's a nice step, but he knows the federal government de-scheduling pot is the biggest hurdle.
"The more that our state government is behind us and supporting us and advocating for this kind of thing, I think the sooner that we can get that federal movement," Walsttater said.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, in a statement to KATU News said, "It is vital Oregon's cannabis businesses be able to sell their products in other legal states. It is important that we get this right, and I'm committed to doing that."


text:
Sure Google is gaining on Apple, but not as fast as comScore’s latest data suggest
I don’t want to get into what Ben Bradlee, the Watergate-era editor of the Washington Post, used to call a “defensive crouch,” but I’ve got a bone to pick with some of the headlines that came out of comScore’s July 2010 mobile market share report, issued Wednesday afternoon. For example:
- “iPhone Marketshare Not Helped By iPhone 4” (Thoughts from the Sidelines)
First, let’s look at the numbers in pie chart form:
Note that I’ve drawn the second pie slightly larger than the first. That’s because the U.S. smartphone market grew 11% in the period covered by the data. So although comScore has Apple’s (AAPL) market share dropping 1.3 points from pie 1 to pie 2, its sales were actually increasing. Of the smartphone operating systems covered in the data, only Microsoft’s (MSFT) shrank.
But the bigger problem is hinted at in the title of the second chart: “3 Month Avg. Ending July 2010.” Can you guess what it is?
Consider the dates. The iPhone 4 was launched in the U.S. June 24 and promptly sold out. Sales been limited by short supplies ever since.
But more important, for most of the three months covered by the data in the second chart, the iPhone 4 wasn’t available for sale at all. And in fact, sales of the iPhone 4’s predecessors were almost certainly suppressed for all of May and most of June thanks to Gizmodo, which published photos of the new iPhone in mid-April. Who wants to buy the old phone when you know a new one (and price cuts on the old) are just around the corner?
This is not to take anything away from Google’s (GOOG) accomplishment. Android phones are selling like gangbusters and most experts agree that their market share will eventually overtake Apple’s.
But you can’t use comScore’s data as evidence that the iPhone 4 has somehow let its maker down.
[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]


text:
New 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe: A Bold and Luxurious Mid-Size SUV – One of the most famous mid-size SUVs on the market, the Hyundai Santa Fe, has a great look, great speed, and a good price. Hyundai is planning to completely remake the Santa Fe for the 2025 model year. This will make it bigger, tougher, and fancier. The new Santa Fe will be based on the Hyundai Galloper, an off-road SUV that was made from 1991 to 2003 but is no longer being made. The outside of the new Santa Fe will be boxy, which will make it stand out more on the road. The new Santa Fe will also have more space inside, more high-tech features, and more electric engine choices.
Design: Exterior and Interior
When it comes to the outside, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe will look very different from the current model, which is sleek and modern. With a big grille, square headlights, and sharp edges, the new Santa Fe will have a look that is more retro and tough. The new Santa Fe will look a lot like the Land Rover Discovery, which is a high-end off-road SUV that is known for being durable and useful in many situations. The new Santa Fe will also be bigger than the current model. This will make it a full-size SUV that can compete with the Ford Explorer and the Toyota Highlander.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe will have a more luxurious and roomy cabin than the current model. The new Santa Fe will have more space for people than cars like the Honda CR-V and the Kia Sorento. The inside of the new Santa Fe will also be very nice, with leather seats, power-adjustable steering, and other high-end features. The new Santa Fe will also have a digital instrument panel, smartphone interface (like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), wireless charging, and an infotainment system with a tablet. There will also be a lot of high-tech safety features on the new Santa Fe, like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot tracking, and back cross-traffic alert.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe will come with a number of engine choices, such as hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Most likely, the base engine will be a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. The gearbox will have eight speeds, and the car will have either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. There will probably be a 1.6-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that work together to make 226 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine will come with an automated transmission with eight speeds and all-wheel drive as standard. The plug-in hybrid version will probably have a similar setup but with a bigger battery pack that lets the car go about 30 miles on electricity alone.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe will also get better gas mileage and have a longer range than the present model. The EPA says that the base engine will get 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The EPA says that the hybrid version will get 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The plug-in hybrid version should get 70 MPGe combined, according to the EPA.
Release Date and Price
The Hyundai Santa Fe 2025 is set to make its appearance in the middle of 2024. It will likely come out in the U.S. in the fall of 2024 or early in 2025. As the release date approaches, more information about the car’s features and specs will come out. Based on how much the current model costs and the expected improvements, the new Santa Fe will probably start at a higher price than the current model, which costs between $27,000 and $42,450. The base model of the new Santa Fe might cost around $30,000, and the most expensive model might cost around $50,000.
The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe looks like it will be a big step forward for mid-size SUVs. The next-generation Santa Fe will be a real treat to drive because it will be bigger, have a more rugged exterior, a more luxurious interior, and more advanced engine choices.


text:
WOODLAND PARK, N.J. (CBS) — Your next pizza may have been made by a robot. A pizzeria in New Jersey is already automating its assembly line and making pies faster than ever before.
pizza headquarters The Woodland Park, N.J., company uses robotic chefs to make about 4,000 pies a week.
They still have about 20 human employees.
Their main business is schools and large events, so automation allows them to keep their pies consistent without compromising taste.
More and more restaurants are using robots. White Castle is testing robots that move fryers, and McDonald’s has built a test restaurant in Texas where drive-thru customers receive their orders from a conveyor system.
Thank you for reading CBS News.
Create a free account or log in
For even more features.
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/pizza-hq-robot-chefs-woodland-park-new-jersey/ New Jersey pizzeria uses robot chefs to make nearly 4,000 pies a week


text:
SGF has issued guidance to retailers following the news that face coverings will be mandatory in shops in Scotland from 10 July.
The measure applies to shops when customers are present. Staff will be required to wear face coverings if they cannot physically distance for two metres or there is no partition between customers and staff.
A face covering is defined as any type of protective clothing which covers a person’s nose and mouth. It is not a PPE face mask. Customers are expected to provide their own face coverings, but SGF strongly suggests retailers have a supply of cloth or textile face coverings available as an initial encouragement to those customers without face coverings.
Not wearing a face covering in a retail setting will be a criminal offence, subject to a fixed penalty notice.
Shop workers and retailers are not required to enforce the measure, but SGF asked retailers to engage with customers who are not wearing a face-covering and explain the law. If customers refuse to wear a face covering, retailers should not stop customers from entering the store or from being served. The responsibility rests with the customer and it is up to the police to enforce the law.
There are exemptions. These include:
- Children under five years of age.
- People with health conditions who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of any physical or mental illness or impairment or disability or without severe distress.
- If people need to take medication or to eat or drink where reasonably necessary.
- Temporary removal to comply with a request by a relevant person or another person acting in the course of their duties.
- For customers with a hearing impairment and who lip-read, it is permitted to remove face coverings as necessary, to provide advice, information or assistance.
- For age-related sales customers are asked to ensure that they remove face coverings in accordance with requests from staff.
- In some food-handling settings where the wearing of a mask could compromise the hygiene practices that are already in place to ensure food safety.
The wearing of a face covering can be uncomfortable and may not be appropriate for long durations of time. Employers should therefore consider providing opportunities for staff to temporarily remove face coverings in non-public areas. Where staff have concerns on wearing face coverings this should be resolved in discussion between staff and managers.
Covid-19 is a respiratory infection and the wearing of face coverings is intended to prevent the spread of infection between people. There is no evidence that it can make people ill through food. It is therefore important that wearing a face covering doesn’t affect the hygiene controls that should already be in place to ensure food is protected from other bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning. If there is any concern that wearing a face covering could present a risk to the food, the shop worker would not be required to wear one.
The law will also apply in indoor shopping malls including those with covered walkways, retail service settings such as hairdressers, and in wholesale settings where members of the public are present.


text:
Jan 31, 2017
Under Armour quarterly results miss estimates; gives bleak forecast
Jan 31, 2017
Sportswear maker Under Armour reported lower-than-expected quarterly profit and sales, and forecast 2017 revenue well below Wall Street estimates, hurt by stiff competition and slowing growth in North America.
The company's shares slumped 24 percent in premarket trading on Tuesday, and were a drag on larger rival Nike's stock as well, which were down 2.3 percent.
Under Armour also said Chip Molloy, its Chief Financial Officer for about a year, would step down for personal reasons. Senior Vice President David Bergman will be the acting CFO from Feb. 3.
The sportswear maker forecast its 2017 revenue to rise 11 to 12 percent to nearly $5.4 billion. Analysts on average expected $6.05 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Baltimore-based Under Armour's net sales in North America rose 5.9 percent in the quarter, but was well below the average increase of about 24 percent it has reported every quarter since 2013.
Revenue for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31. rose about 12 percent to $1.31 billion - the slowest growth in eight years. Analysts on average expected $1.41 billion.
Net income fell to $104.9 million from $105.6 million a year earlier.
© Thomson Reuters 2023 All rights reserved.


text:
With Art Basel Miami Beach 2022 underway, brands have revealed many themed projects. For Nike, its celebration of the annual art fair includes two LeBron 20 colorways. The first, a “South Beast” look that combines a Miami pink with faux animal hair Swooshes. Adding to this, an “Art Basel” colorway has now been unveiled as a limited edition release of only 200 units. Launching via Miami-based retailer UNKNWN, it serves as the second rare project to be up for grabs as a giveaway of its friends and family exclusive Nike Air Max 90 “305” is also taking place.
Flipping the “South Beast” look with a “University Gold” base instead of pink, this “Art Basel” edition of the sneaker revisits its predecessor’s tumbled leather build. Faux hair Swooshes stack atop grey and black Swooshes at the lateral of the left and right shoes respectively. Signature LeBron branding is spotted at the “XX” dubraes, signature tongue and Nike LeBron logo at the heel to round out the pair.
For those feeling lucky, the Nike LeBron 20 “Art Basel” is being released exclusively via a raffle at UNKNWN. Winners will be selected December 4 to pay a retail price of $210 USD.


text:
BEIJING--Activity in China's factories returned to expansion territory in October after stagnating in September, a private gauge showed, in contrast with official data that showed weaker expansion.
The Caixin China manufacturing purchasing managers' index edged up to 50.1 in October from 50.0 in September, Caixin Media Co. and research firm Markit said Thursday. The 50 level separates an expansion in manufacturing activity from a contraction.
Total new orders expanded slightly in October while new export orders recovered but remained in negative territory, said Caixin.
A subindex for production dropped for the second straight month in October but remained in positive territory, which was in line with recent significant drop in value-added industrial output despite a rise in manufacturing investment, said Zhengsheng Zhong, an economist at CEBM Group.
"Overall expansion across the manufacturing sector was still weak. Production and business confidence continued to cool despite stable demand," said Mr. Zhong.
The Caixin PMI showed improvement while the official manufacturing PMI released on Wednesday showed a decline to 50.2 in October from 50.8 in September.
The Caixin China Manufacturing PMI is based on data compiled from monthly replies to questionnaires sent to purchasing executives at more than 400 manufacturing companies.
Compared with the official gauge's coverage of firms including large state-owned companies, the Caixin PMI tends to track small, private manufacturers more closely.
Write to Grace Zhu at email@example.com


text:
PARIS, April 19- Greek banks may soon run out of collateral to access European Central Bank refinancing unless Athens reaches an agreement with the European Union and International Monetary Fund on economic reforms, France's central bank chief said. The remarks by Banque de France Governor Christian Noyer, to be published by Le Figaro on Monday, came as Athens...» Read More
A major flaw in Apple software for mobile devices could allow hackers to intercept email and other communications that are meant to be encrypted.
The world's top 20 economies may agree to set an ambitious target for faster global growth at a weekend meeting in Sydney.
Citadel Connect has nearly tripled in the past year, making it one of the largest U.S. dark pools—where investors can trade anonymously.
BlackBerry CEO John Chen criticized T-Mobile, calling ill-conceived a promotion that encourages customers using BlackBerrys to upgrade to iPhones.
Foreigners sold long-dated U.S. securities for a second month in December, selling almost all asset classes except Treasurys, data showed.
King Digital Entertainment, the gaming firm behind online game Candy Crush, said on Tuesday it would list on the New York Stock Exchange.
BHP Billiton reported a 31 percent rise in first-half profit on Tuesday and signaled it would consider a dividend hike in August.
E-commerce auction house eBay became a darling among top U.S. hedge funds in the fourth quarter just before billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn urged the company to spin off its PayPal payments business, regulatory filings showed on Friday.
The Obama administration made it easier on Friday for banks to do business with licensed marijuana companies with less fear of prosecution, further encouraging U.S. states that are experimenting with legalization of the drug.
Safety systems on 261,114 Lexus and Toyota vehicles in the United States, including stability control and anti-lock brakes, could fail.
Lehman will pay $767 million in cash to Freddie Mac, settling a dispute over loans it was scheduled to pay the day it declared bankruptcy.
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee said on Wednesday that it postponed Thursday's hearing with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.
Optim Energy, an electric company owned by a Bill Gates investment fund, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after piling up losses in a depressed power market.
New York's financial regulator revealed new details on plans to govern virtual currency firms to protect consumers and combat money laundering.
U.S. wholesale inventories rose less than expected in December, suggesting a moderation in the pace of stock accumulation.
Apple lost its latest bid to put a court-appointed antitrust monitor on hold after a federal appeals court rejected its argument that his work was causing irreparable harm to the company.
The U.S. plans to take India to the World Trade Organisation over subsidies New Delhi gives to its solar power industry.
Russian authorities have issued warnings against using bitcoin, saying the virtual currency could be used for money laundering or financing terrorism.
Hundreds of technicians and engineers are camped out in Tokyo hotels trying to revive Japan's nuclear industry.
Hundreds of people with HIV/AIDS trying to obtain coverage under Obamacare are in danger of being thrown out of their insurance plan.


text:
20 Jan Cyber Security Threats | 3 Security Trends for 2022
3 Cyber Security Threat Trends in 2022
With the start of every year, there come certain cyber security threats that companies should prepare themselves against. It is for this reason that a cyber security strategy must be worked out to get in front of those new threats and neutralise them in a frictionless manner. Of course, it is ideal to know what to expect, which is why experts are able to predict what may be experienced by large corporations and SMEs alike operating online in the near future. It is then ideal to proceed with a pen test on all systems (both internal and public-facing), to ensure that you don’t fall victim to these cyber threats. Here is a look at three cyber security threat trends expected in 2022.
Cyber Security Malta Issues for the Future
To proceed with moving forward with your business’s cyber security, it is imperative that you are aware of these three predictions for the industry going forward. In 2022, you could end up falling victim to the following cyber security issues, which can have devastating results on your operations and financial stature.
Supply Chain Cyber Attacks
While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused plenty of disruption over the past couple of years and has left industries grappling with safeguarding their networks, the future could bring different threats to the fore. A large increase in supply chain cyber attacks, primarily in the form of ransomware, are expected. This could even be rolled out through global supply chains, via basic computer updates and malicious emails.
Experts are foreseeing more complicated ransomware and a wider spread of ransomware in this new year. Ransomware does not have the system infection as an end goal these days – cyber attackers instead are designing sophisticated ransomware as part of a broader attack wherein the victim business is blackmailed for payments (usually using crypto currencies). In 2021 according to the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) the ‘golden era of ransomware’ is upon us.
This one is an ongoing threat that has remained in play for several years now. Data breaches have been experienced by some of the largest organisations around the world in recent times, and this is likely to continue moving forward. Proceeding with website penetration testing (mobile and web apps, networks, internal systems also need to be pen tested) can help solve any possibilities for breaches to take place. It is always wiser to know about vulnerabilities and holes in your surface/s before a hacker does.
Data is increasingly becoming the key asset of businesses and an increase in data protection legislation is the order of the day. Ensure your data is well protected from malicious actors that are (always!) ready to steal your data to sell on the dark web.
Weaponising Deep-fake Technology
Cyber criminal schemes have already started using deepfake technologies to attack companies. Yet this is expected to get even worse in 2022. Deep-fakes include media assets such as images and video wherein one person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else fraudulently. Powerful technology is utilised from machine learning and A.I. in order to manipulate or generate content, which has a high potential to deceive. Financial fraud, fake news and hoaxes have all come about due to deep-fakes. Always verify the source and cross-check veracity of content.
Serving as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for various companies over the years, Stephane Nappo recently said: “The five most efficient cyber defenders are: Anticipation, Education, Detection, Reaction and Resilience. Do remember: Cybersecurity is much more than an IT topic”. The mindset, the education level and the readiness to counteract cyber attacks and threats need to all be in place to ensure the risk is well managed.
How to Anticipate and Defend Your Company Against 2022 Cyber Threats
So that you can contend with the upcoming threats of 2022, there are certain processes that you can go through. It’s always ideal to heighten your protection against cyber security threats, giving your business the best chance of surviving such attacks.
Penetration Testing Malta – Putting your computer systems and infrastructure through a pen test is one of the best routes to take. This simulates a cyber attack on such, and the results display any potential breaches, low-level security targets, and so on. You can then go about patching those gaps up to increase protection. Knowing your weaknesses will help you harden your systems.
Cyber Security Awareness Training – It’s important for you and your employees to be fully trained, not only on what to expect from 2022, but how to identify and combat the threats. If everyone in the company is aware of what the threats can look like and how to stop them from affecting the business, it can be stopped before taking hold.
Brace yourself for the upcoming year’s cyber security challenges. Be proactive. Get in touch!


text:
Apple has been on a roll lately, and that success is expected to continue with its newest cloud service offering, dubbed – what else? – iCloud.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, returning once again from a medical leave of absence, introduced iCloud at the company's Worldwide Developer Conference Monday and explained how the new service will become the centerpiece for Apple's cloud strategy.
The iCloud service, which will be released with Apple's iOS 5 this fall, will allow users to store music, media, applications, documents and other content to Apple's cloud. The new service looks to compete with other consumer-focused cloud offerings such as the Amazon Cloud Player and Amazon Cloud Drive.
The forthcoming release of iCloud also represents a shift in Apple's cloud strategy, which began with MobileMe, a suite of online-based productivity and communication applications that was heavily criticized following its release in 2008. Apple announced that iCloud will replace MobileMe, which will officially shut down next June.
But will iCloud get Apple's cloud strategy on the right track? What are the features that will separate Apple's service from the competition? And can Apple sway business users to flock to iCloud?
CRN editors Rob Wright and Andrew Hickey discuss those questions and more as they delve into the changing cloud computing landscape. The two also look at other recent cloud-related news, such as HP's $2 billion investment to help finance cloud deployments and the unfortunate news that Amazon's AWS cloud is hosting malware, according to security researchers at Kaspersky Lab.
Listen to the latest CRN Podcast on Apple's iCloud and the maturing cloud market.


text:
Louvre Hotels Group announces acquisition of Sarovar Hotels
Bakaya said the company will continue its expansion in India and Africa and aims to expand to cities like New York and Paris under the merged entity
CH Hotels and Resorts aims for 200 hotels by 2020
The company also has investments in Param Kannampilly's Concept Hospitality which owns the ...
Realty sector has seen cyclical downturn from past 18 months: Rajiv Piramal of Peninsula Land
This is not obviously a reduction in debt, it ...
Sarovar Hotels sells majority stake to Europe's Louvre Hotels
After the deal, Louvre Hotels' Golden Tulip Hotels business will merge with Sarovar Hotels.
AccorHotels forays into Kerala
Jean-Michel Cassé, senior vice president, operations, AccorHotels India said: “We are pleased to open our first AccorHotels’ property, ibis Kochi City Centre in Kerala.
Going cashless does not pay for hotels
M Rajendra, President of Karnataka State Hotel & Restaurants Association, says going cashless has meant increased costs for the hotel industry but that is, according to him, unavoidable.
Peninsula Brookfield invests Rs 95 crore in Mahaveer Group
Peninsula Brookfield Investment Managers has invested Rs 95 crore in residential projects of Bengalurubased property developer Mahaveer Group.
Trump pays surprise visit to his Washington hotel
WASHINGTON (AP) — He just couldn't stay away. President-elect Donald Trump made a surprise visit to his Washington, D.C., hotel on Wednesday night, grabbing a late dinner while in town for a couple of fundraisers.
Peninsula Hotels' philosophy is investing for long term: Peter Borer, COO
Peninsula Hotels has been looking at India for quite a few years now, but our philosophy is of investing for the long term, says Peter Borer.
Louvre Hotels acquires majority stake in Sarovar
Louvre is considering buying out the company completely over the next three years, people familiar with the deal said.
US and South Korea in talks for more strategic assets to Korean peninsula
The US and its ally South Korea are in talks towards sending strategic assets to the Korean peninsula, South Korea's defence ministry said.
Hotel staff worried as service charge made voluntary
Agrees foodie and socialite Ila Naidu, adding, “Hope diners do not take undue advantage of this new rule to create a fuss just to save 10% on the bill.“
Service charge by hotels and restaurants not mandatory: Govt
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution issued a notification today, asking the state governments to direct hotels and restaurants to disseminate information through display at an appropriate place that the service charges are discretionary/voluntary and a consumer dissatisfied with the services could have them waived off.
Service charge by hotels and restaurants not mandatory: Government
Centre has asked State govts to sensitize companies, hotels & restaurants to disseminate info that service charges are discretionary/voluntary not mandatory.
Gascoigne taken in hospital after hotel row
SOCCER-ENGLAND-GASCOIGNE:Gascoigne taken in hospital after hotel row


text:
Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.
Price Chopper/Market 32, a regional grocery chain with nine supermarkets in Connecticut, announced Tuesday it would merge with Tops Markets to expand its footprint in the Northeast.
The transaction is expected to close in the coming months. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Both companies are based in New York and have established contiguous footprints, with Price Chopper’s focusing on New England and Tops on New York. The new company will run nearly 300 stores with 30,000 employees, according to a statement.
Scott Grimmett, Price Chopper/Market 32's president and CEO, will serve as CEO of the new parent company, which will be headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y.
"This merger marks a major step forward and collectively elevates our ability to compete on every level,” Grimmett said. “Given the vital role that supermarkets and their workforces play in our communities, particularly this past year, I am excited to lead the parent company of these two historic grocery retailers.”
Price Chopper/Market 32 operates 130 Price Chopper and Market 32 grocery stores and one Market Bistro, employing 18,000 in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Price Chopper/Market 32 stores operate in Newington, Bristol, Windsor, Southington, Torrington and Oxford, among other towns in Connecticut.
Tops Markets operates 162 stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont – including five run by franchisees – and employs 14,000 people.
This special edition informs and connects businesses with nonprofit organizations that are aligned with what they care about. Each nonprofit profile provides a crisp snapshot of the organization’s mission, goals, area of service, giving and volunteer opportunities and board leadership.Learn more
Hartford Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the area’s business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at HBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.Subscribe
Delivering Vital Marketplace Content and Context to Senior Decision Makers Throughout Greater Hartford and the State ... All Year Long!Read Here
In order to use this feature, we need some information from you. You can also login or register for a free account.


text:
BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Team Sonic is speeding back to kick more bot! The eagerly-anticipated second season of the animated series Sonic Boom™, starring the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog™, will premiere on Boomerang Saturday, November 12th at 6 p.m. ET.
Sonic Boom season two (52 x 11-minute episodes) is high-powered and hilarious! Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Sticks take on bizarre cases of mistaken identity, androids from an outlandish land, real live urban legends, a haunted lair, familiar faces (Shadow and more characters from the Sonic game universe), plus epic conflicts with powerful, new foes! Potent crystals, mercurial mecha, slick scuba gear, stylin’ space suits, sharp snow supplies, custom cars, total team spirit, and of course, constant clashes with the offensive Dr. Eggman and his compelling creations fill the coffers of Sonic Boom season two.
Renewal of the hit CG animated TV series continues the momentum of Sonic the Hedgehog’s 25th anniversary year. SEGA recently released Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice exclusively for the 3DS Nintendo family of systems. This title stars the Sonic Boom TV series cast, and like the show, Fire & Ice delivers Sonic’s best attributes — speed and humor — to fans in a collaborative, single-player experience. Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice features bonus content that unlocks concept art from season two. Rated ‘E for Everyone,’ Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice is available for purchase online and at retail stores.
“Sonic was created as a larger-than-life, speedy hedgehog bursting with attitude,” said Ivo Gerscovich, SEGA’s Chief Brand Officer and Head of Sonic Pillar. “While he’s predominantly a videogame character, we felt he would transition well into the world of TV animation and film. We’ve been proud of the success of the first season of the show and look forward to the second season of laughs and exciting new adventures.”
The announcement for Sonic Boom season two was one of several highlights from the Sonic 25th Anniversary Party in San Diego on July 22nd at the House of Blues. Season one premiered on Cartoon Network and currently airs on Boomerang. Viewers also are able to stream season one on Hulu. With the second season launch on Boomerang, fans will have even more opportunities to watch their favorite, show-stopping Blue Blur.
Sandrine Nguyen, Executive Producer for Technicolor Animation Productions added, “We are thrilled with the success of Sonic Boom. We’ve now sold in over 100 countries around the world. With the start of season two, fans can expect more adventure, more humor, and we can’t wait to see the fan reaction.”
The Boomerang premieres will replay on Cartoon Network starting Nov. 19. Check your local listings for specific airtimes.
To stay current on Sonic the Hedgehog news, follow Sonic on Twitter and Instagram, like him on Facebook, and subscribe to the Twitch channel and the YouTube Channel.
About SEGA® of America, Inc.:
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Games Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America’s website is located at www.sega.com.
Launched in the U.S. on April 1, 2000, and now aligned across 13 international feeds, Boomerang is Turner’s global, 24-hour, all-animation network for kids and families dedicated to showcasing both timeless cartoons from the Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Cartoon Network libraries, as well as exclusive acquisitions and original productions from around the world.
Boomerang is part of Turner, a Time Warner company that creates and programs branded news, entertainment, sports, animation, and young adult multi-platform content for consumers around the world. Turner brands and businesses include CNN/U.S., HLN, CNN International and CNN.com, TBS, TNT, TCM, truTV, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim, Turner Sports, Bleacher Report, iStreamPlanet, and ELEAGUE.
About Sonic Boom
Sonic Boom is an animated TV series and co-production between SEGA of America, Inc. and Technicolor Animation Productions. Executive producers are Evan Baily, Donna Friedman Meir, and Jane McGregor on behalf of SEGA, and Sandrine Nguyen and Boris Hertzog on behalf of Technicolor Animation Productions. Bill Freiberger is the showrunner and Executive Producer. Takashi Iizuka, the head of the Sonic Team and driving creative force behind the Sonic games, oversees the series for the authenticity of the Sonic characters and universe. Season one (52 x 11-minute episodes) launched in November 2014 on Cartoon Network.
About Technicolor Animation Productions:
Headed by Sandrine Nguyen and Boris Hertzog, Technicolor Animation Productions is the production arm of the group. The team has a proven track record of bringing fan-favorite characters to screens across the globe. Their successes include prestigious properties such as Alvinnnn! & the Chipmunks (104 x 11) for M6 & Nickelodeon (USA) co-produced by Bagdasarian Productions; Sonic Boom (104 x 11) for Gulli, Canal J, and CN (USA) co-produced by SEGA; Mini Wolf, (104 x 7) for France Télévision.
Technicolor, a worldwide technology leader in the media and entertainment sector, is at the forefront of digital innovation. Our world-class research and innovation laboratories enable us to lead the market in delivering advanced video services to content creators and distributors. We also benefit from an extensive intellectual property portfolio focused on imaging technologies. Our commitment: supporting the delivery of exciting new experiences for consumers in theaters, homes, and on the go. For more information visit: www.technicolor.com. Technicolor shares are on the NYSE Euronext Paris exchange (TCH) and traded in the USA on the OTCQX marketplace (TCLRY).
Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that offers hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of the best television programming and movies to subscribers with limited commercials for $7.99 per month or with no commercials for $11.99 per month. Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has been at the forefront of entertainment and technology and continues to redefine TV by connecting viewers with the stories they love. Sonic Boom season one is streaming on Hulu Kids.
SOURCE SEGA of America, Inc.


text:
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has announced U BY UNIWORLD, a new brand geared to a younger generation of travellers, set to launch sales in March 2017 and begin sailings in early 2018.
Offering “immersive, authentic and adventurous experiences for the next generation of river cruisers,” according to a company statement, U BY UNIWORLD will offer experiential itineraries and focus on longer stays along the rivers of Europe, including stops in such cities as Amsterdam, Paris and Budapest.
“U BY UNIWORLD will deliver the same superb quality of authenticity and personalization that the Uniworld brand is celebrated for, while offering a new way for exploratory, younger travellers to experience the pulse of Europe,” said Ellen Bettridge, president & CEO of Uniworld. “We are targeting an active traveller between the ages of 18 and 40, with everything from the décor, dining and cocktail service to the land activities thoughtfully curated to appeal to, and meet the needs of, this audience.”
Two of Uniworld’s existing ships – the River Baroness and the River Ambassador – will undergo extensive renovations and design changes that will tailor the ships to be completely dedicated to the U BY UNIWORLD experiences from early 2018. The ships will feature a contemporary look and feel in all public areas and open spaces and offer communal tables for dining, with a new culinary program, creative mixologists and international DJs onboard.
“U BY UNIWORLD is poised to define the river exploring experience for an entirely new demographic,” said Brett Tollman, chief executive of The Travel Corporation. “Uniworld being an integral member of TTC’s family of brands gives us a great advantage, as we have been able tap into the worldwide expertise of our leading youth brands Contiki and Busabout, in order to fully realize this expansion of the Uniworld brand.”
Additionally, Uniworld is announcing a social media campaign, #AllAboutU, in order to collate personalized suggestions and requests for all aspects of the U BY UNIWORLD experience, from the itineraries’ adventures and other content to the amenities, dining, music and much more. The all-new U BY UNIWORLD brochure, website and other information will be released and bookable early in 2017.


text:
According to Astute Analytica, the UAE third-party logistics market is projected to reach a market valuation of $6.5 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 6.5%.
In other words, the UAE Third-Party Logistics market is thriving and offers endless opportunities for international businesses looking to tap into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market.
The country’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and supportive government policies make it a prime destination for companies seeking cost-effective and efficient supply chain management solutions.
The growth of e-commerce and the increasing use of technology in logistics operations have driven the demand for 3PL services in the UAE. This, in turn, has led to the expansion of the industry and a steady growth in the market. The UAE Third-Party Logistics market is also keeping up with the global trends by embracing automation, technology, and green logistics solutions. This is in line with the government’s focus on providing customized and value-added services to customers.
According to the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the largest trading nations in the world. The country’s transportation sector plays a critical role in facilitating the import and export of goods. In 2021, the UAE’s imports and exports volume were valued at around $365 billion and $303 billion respectively. The top import partners for the UAE were China, India, the United States, and Japan, while the top export partners were India, China, Switzerland, and Singapore.
In terms of transportation, the UAE has a well-developed infrastructure, including ports, airports, and road networks, which allows for the efficient movement of goods. Dubai and Jebel Ali are the main ports in the UAE, handling a large volume of trade. Dubai International Airport is the busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic, and it also plays an important role in cargo transportation.
The UAE government has implemented a number of policies aimed at promoting the growth of the third-party logistics market in the country. Some of these policies include focusing on its strategic Location with the country benefitting from being at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. This has made it an important hub for trade and logistics in the region and the government has invested heavily in the development of ports, airports, and road networks to support the movement of goods.
The UAE’s development of its free zones, such as the Dubai Logistics City, which offer benefits such as 100% foreign ownership, 100% import and export tax exemptions, and no currency restrictions, have attracted many international logistics companies in the UAE third-party logistics market to set up operations in the country.
In recent years, the government has implemented policies to support the growth of e-commerce in the country, which has increased the demand for 3PL services. For example, the government has established the Dubai E-Commerce Strategic Plan 2021, which aims to create a conducive environment for e-commerce businesses. At the same time, the UAE government has been encouraging the use of technology and automation in logistics operations. This includes the development of smart ports and the implementation of digital platforms to improve supply chain efficiency.
Much of the focus has been on creating greener logistics in the country with the government encouraging and providing incentives for the use of green logistics solutions like electric vehicles, solar-powered warehouses, and energy-efficient equipment.
Overall, these policies have had a positive impact on the 3PL industry in the UAE, says Astute Analytica. The country’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and supportive government policies have made it a popular destination for international businesses seeking to tap into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market. Additionally, the increased demand for UAE third-party logistics market due to the growth of e-commerce and the use of technology in logistics operations has led to the expansion of the industry in the country.
The UAE’s third-party logistics (3PL) industry is thriving and is expected to continue growing at a steady pace in the coming years. The Business-to-Business (B2B) segment, which includes services such as warehousing, transportation, and distribution, is a major contributor to this growth. In fact, this segment alone generates over 58% of the revenue for the industry.
The growth of B2B logistics services is driven by the increasing demand for cost-effective and efficient supply chain management solutions among manufacturers, wholesalers, and other businesses. The rise of e-commerce has also played a key role in this growth, as businesses seek to manage their online sales operations. The UAE’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and supportive government policies have made it a popular destination for international businesses looking to tap into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) UAE third-party logistics market.
According to the World Bank, the UAE’s logistics performance index (LPI) is ranked 25th globally, showing a steady improvement over the years. This index measures the efficiency of the logistics chain and the ease of arranging competitively priced services. Furthermore, the country’s strong logistics performance is due to the well-developed transportation infrastructure and the supportive policies put in place to enhance the logistics sector.
The UAE’s third-party logistics market is diverse and offers a wide range of services to businesses looking to streamline their supply chain operations. One of the most significant segments of this market is roadways, which holds a 45% share of the market.
The roadways segment is crucial for businesses operating in the UAE, as it enables the efficient movement of goods across the country. The UAE has a well-developed road network, with easy access to ports and airports, making it an ideal location for businesses looking to transport their goods locally and internationally.
The UAE government has also been investing in the development of road infrastructure to support the third-party logistics market. This includes the construction of new roads, bridges, and highways, and the upgrading of existing ones. This has made the UAE an attractive destination for businesses looking for cost-effective and efficient transportation solutions.
The Roadways segment is especially beneficial for businesses that operate across the country, as it provides a reliable and cost-effective way to move their goods from one location to another. Additionally, the use of advanced technologies, such as GPS tracking and electronic documentation, allows for real-time monitoring of shipments, which helps businesses to optimize their supply chain operations.
As the UAE economy continues to thrive, the third-party logistics industry is experiencing significant growth. Businesses in the region are recognizing the value of outsourcing their logistics needs to specialized providers, known as 3PLs. These companies offer a range of services, from warehousing and transportation to customs clearance and final-mile delivery.
Many 3PL firms in the market offer End-to-End Solutions. Companies are seeking comprehensive logistics solutions that streamline their supply chain and reduce the need to manage multiple providers. This trend is driving demand for 3PLs that can offer an end-to-end service, covering everything from order fulfillment to delivery.
In an increasingly competitive marketplace, businesses are looking to cut costs wherever possible. 3PLs that can offer cost-effective solutions, such as utilizing technology to optimize routes and improve decision-making, are in high demand in the UAE third-party logistics market.
As businesses gain confidence in the capabilities of 3PLs, they are increasingly opting for long-term contracts as opposed to project-based or short-term arrangements. This indicates a growing level of trust in the industry and its ability to deliver on its promises.
As the third-party logistics industry continues to evolve, service levels are improving across the board. This is leading to greater satisfaction among customers and more opportunities for growth in the industry.
The full report can be purchased from here.


text:
By Takashi Mochizuki Stock Market Quotes, Business News, Financial News from http://commodity-market-news.com
OSAKA–Panasonic Corp., a Tesla Motors Inc. battery supplier, said on Friday it would double revenues from the business in three years partly due to expected demand growth from the California-based electric-car provider.
The Osaka-based company, which is better known for its own TVs and other appliances by consumers, said it would target 400 billion yen ($3.97 billion) revenue from automotive batteries, including ones for Tesla. That would be more than double the Y180 billion that the company earned in the last fiscal year ended March 31.
Panasonic is a strategic partner with Tesla in developing the massive battery factory in Nevada, and the provider of batteries for Tesla’s Model S, Model X and Model 3 cars.
-Write to Takashi Mochizuki at takashi.mochizuki[a]wsj.com
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.


text:
tralac Daily News
South Africa could lose foreign investments due to strict visa regime (Ventures Africa)
In a recent news report, data released by the office of South Africa’s Presidency indicates that the country approved less than half of its visa applications from 2015 to 2021. Notably, South Africa (SA) rejected 52% of critical skills visa applications during this period. The application process, which some applicants have criticised, typically spans approximately 48 weeks, leaving many applicants disappointed after enduring a lengthy wait only to face visa denial.
This prolonged and uncertain timeline has raised concerns, especially among businesses and organisations. One such instance was reported by SA-based media company, BusinessTech, where a prominent business organisation, comprising car giants Volkswagen AG and BMW AG, expressed apprehension. They warned that these extensive delays, lasting up to 48 weeks for a visa application to be accepted, pose a significant threat to their expansion plans, investments, and job creation initiatives in South Africa. This situation is particularly worrisome in a country where the unemployment rate hovers at almost 33%.
Amidst South Africa’s economy enduring significant economic losses caused by frequent power outages leading, its restrictive visa policies have become another pressing issue. These policies have given rise to a slew of economic challenges. Foreign investors are considering relocating their businesses elsewhere due to the stringent visa regulations imposed by the country.
SA marks agricultural milestone after first soybean export to China (Eyewitness News)
South Africa marked a significant trade milestone in the agriculture sector after the country’s first soybean export to China. In 2022, the Department of Agriculture signed an export agreement with its biggest trade counterpart, China, which is the biggest consumer and importer of soybeans in the world.
The department said the shipment was evidence of other possibilities for growing the cereal and oilseed sector. It added that the transaction was in line with the recent BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit mandate held in Johannesburg in September.
Spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo: “China is the biggest consumer and importer of soybeans in the world. This year, it is expected to import 97 million tons of soybeans compared to South Africa’s export potential of not even 1 million tons.”
The ongoing rapid automation of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) systems risks hurting compliance by individuals and businesses by locking out large groups of disadvantaged people such as the visually impaired, those without smartphones, internet connectivity, and limited technological know-how.
The taxman has recently gone big on automated systems including the filing of tax returns and real-time monitoring of sales transactions through electronic invoicing in a bid to maximise revenue collections. The World Bank, however, cautioned that the shift to automated systems risked secluding sizeable groups of taxpayers with negative consequences on compliance.
“Automation of tax measures will potentially lock out segments of the public including VMGs (vulnerable and marginalised groups) and other disadvantaged groups, due to digital illiteracy, lack of smartphones, poor electricity, and internet connectivity.
Fast-moving-consumer goods (FMCG) makers are turning to digitisation of supply channels to ensure the right commodity is available to clients at the right time and quantities in the face of stiff competition. FMCG companies such as food processors, beverage manufacturers, pharmaceuticals, tobacco processors, personal care products firms, and household items makers use one or a combination of various methods to reach their customers, which are known as Route-To-Consumer (RTC) channels.
In recent decades, however, major shifts have taken place in the FMCG market, with companies increasingly shifting to the use of technology to reach their markets directly especially through e-commerce. Employing technology ensures that firms are able to track, in real-time, the products that are most in demand, the most lucrative locations and demographics as well as changes in consumer demand.
Value Addition On Domestic Products: Government unveils grand plan (Tanzania Daily News)
The government will today unveil a grand plan for value addition of domestic products seeking to generate higher export returns and contribute to economic development. The move comes at a time when demand for Tanzania’s products particularly food items in the East African Community is on an upward trend. Thus, the government initiative that will be tabled today in Parliament by the Minister of the State in the President’s Office responsible for Planning and Investment Professor Kitila Mkumbo, seeks to increase the benefits earned from exports of locally made products which are mostly traded in raw form.
“Value addition on domestic products will guarantee producers higher return, allow penetration of a new, potentially high-value market and extend the production season,” he told ‘Daily News’ in a telephone interview from Dodoma at the weekend. “Despite the increased exports of its domestic products in recent years, Tanzania has been gaining little because most of the goods are in raw form,” he noted.
On 3 November 2023 in Abidjan, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved the 2023-2028 Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Congo. Over the next five years, the institution will provide support to the country to develop sustainable infrastructure that will help strengthen value chains with high growth potential and improve human capital. In addition, it will underpin financial and economic governance, thereby enhancing the business climate in Congo.
The Bank Group’s support will be concentrated in four different sectors: agriculture, transport, financial and economic governance, and human capital. An emphasis will also be placed on cross-sector issues, such as employment, climate change and gender. There will be an additional focus on improving efficiency, be it in the implementation of operations, increasing the synergy between human capital reforms and business climate reforms, or private sector development within agricultural value chains.
Tunisia’s economic recovery slowed in the first half of 2023 as the country continued to grapple with persistent drought, external financing challenges, increasing domestic debt build-up of important public service enterprises and regulatory obstacles, according to the World Bank’s Fall 2023 Economic Monitor of Tunisia.
Despite some encouraging developments, including improvements in trade terms and a resurgence of tourism, Tunisia’s GDP growth for 2023 was forecast to be around 1.2 percent, a modest recovery when compared to counterparts in the region and half the growth rate of 2022. A growth forecast of 3 percent in 2024 is subject to risks created by the evolution of the drought, the financing conditions and the pace of reforms, the report said.
“Tunisia’s economy shows some resilience, despite ongoing challenges. Increased exports in textiles, machinery, and olive oil, coupled with growing tourism exports, have helped to ease the external deficit,” said Alexandre Arrobbio, the World Bank’s Country Manager for Tunisia. “Strengthening competition, increasing fiscal space and adapting to climate change are crucial actions to restore economic growth and build resilience to future economic and climatic shocks” He added.
Somalia now eyes IMF funding as budget goes past $1bn mark (The East African)
Somalia is eyeing funding from the International Monetary Funds as budgetary estimates reach $1 billion mark for the first time in history. According to financial proposals endorsed by the country’s Council of Ministers this week, the budget for the next fiscal year will reach $1,025,687,991, exceeding last year’s, if the federal parliament approves the estimates.
Somalia Minister for Finance Bihi Iman Egal indicated that the budgeted amount for 2024 fiscal year will be raised through domestic revenue and international grants. Last year, parliament passed a budget of $973,985,805.But Egal said it was subsequently increased “due to allocations for government healthcare services, education, and security”.
11 African central banks join Afreximbank’s continental payment system, PAPSS (Business Insider Africa)
PAPSS, a collaboration with the African Union, offers an alternative in which participants can conduct transactions in their currencies, eliminating the necessity for a third-party currency such as the U.S. dollar. “Trade goes well where payments can be made easily, and this is why we can only see trade pick up if we see improvement in efficient payments,” John Bosco Sebabi, PAPSS deputy CEO stated in an interview with CNBC.
Afreximbank estimates that more than 80 per cent of intra-African payments currently pass through either European or U.S. channels, incurring costs of up to $5 billion in fees and compliance expenses. The primary participants in the PAPSS’ system are central banks, which will serve as regulators and clearance agents, commercial banks, fintech companies, payment service providers, and their customers, including businesses operating throughout the region.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) through its New Partnership for Africa’s Development and Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF) has approved US$1.4 million grant to EAC for the feasibility study of the Multinational Kenya/Uganda: Kisumu-Kisian-Busitema-Busia Expressway Project.
Kenya-Uganda Expressway project is part of the Northern Corridor that runs from Mombasa to Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda through the port of Mombasa. It is the main corridor that transports the bulk of cargo that lands at the Indian Ocean ports inland to the five landlocked EAC Partner Sates.
The objective of the feasibility study is to determine the economic viability of upgrading the existing multinational road sections from single carriageway to expressway standards. The project has been prioritised by the respective Partner States and is expected to contribute to the delivery of economic infrastructure necessary for achieving tangible development outcomes for the region.
Africa’s Green Economy Summit taking place from 21-23 February 2024 in Cape Town builds on the success of this year’s inaugural event with a line-up of distinguished participants from across the continent.
The 2024 programme released this week deepens the continents participation, with extensive representation from key regions and role-players across a variety sectors. Africa’s Green Economy Summit is a vital link between global capital and sustainable projects in the continent. The Summit unites investors, project leaders, and policymakers, fostering connections and paving the way for an inclusive green economy and a sustainable future for all, said Dr MallFofana, Head and Africa Regional Director, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), C d’Ivoire. The strength of the African contingent for next year’s event is also underlined by the participation of the African Union Commission (AUC), which will be joining the Scaling Up Green Investments to Address Climate Change roundtable as part of the Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) programme.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged African leaders to prioritise the blue economy, stating that the blue economy holds the key to Africa’s prosperity. Tinubu, while speaking in Lagos at the 43rd Annual Council of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) conference on Monday, underlined the critical role of the blue economy in the collective prosperity of African nations, emphasising that the sector holds immense potential for the entire continent.
“We must acknowledge the maritime sector as a central driver for the sustainable development of our nations,” he remarked.
The President went on to stress the interconnectedness of African countries through their maritime endowments even as he discussed the formation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, which highlights the Nigerian government’s commitment to unlocking the potential of the Blue Economy.
From November 1st to 2nd, 2023, AU-IBAR coordinated the Fourteenth Pan African National Codex Contact Point Officers Meeting. The primary objective of the 14th National Codex Contact Officers meeting was to engage in discussions concerning food safety, trade practices, and consumer health while ensuring that Africa’s perspective is well-represented on the global stage. The participants at this gathering included all National Codex Contact Point Officers and selected experts who contribute to various AU Expert meetings on Codex and AU-IBAR initiatives.
Codex Standards serve as a global benchmark for best practices in food safety, helping countries adopt these practices to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and ensure consumer well-being. By guaranteeing the safety and quality of food products, Codex standards instill confidence in consumers while aligning with Africa’s commitment to ending hunger by 2025, recognizing the pivotal role of food safety in achieving food security.
Furthermore, these standards promote fair trade by harmonizing international food standards, ensuring a level playing field. They also support Africa’s goal of tripling trade by 2025 and align with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), addressing trade-related health standards, thus contributing to a safer and more prosperous future for the continent.
President Museveni hits back at US over trade pact removal, says Uganda can thrive without AGOA (Business Insider Africa)
Museveni responded yesterday evening, reassuring Ugandans that the country can continue its progress without Western support. “I need to advise you not to be overly concerned about the recent actions taken by the American government to discourage their companies from investing in Uganda and removing Uganda from the AGOA list,” Museveni said on X, formerly Twitter. “Some of these actors in the Western world overestimate themselves and underestimate the freedom fighters of Africa,” the president added.
Last week, President Biden announced the removal of Uganda, along with three other African countries, including the Central African Republic, Gabon, and Niger, from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants exports from qualifying countries in Sub-Saharan Africa duty-free access to the U.S. market. The United States explained that the decision to exclude Uganda was due to the implementation of an anti-LGBTQ law, which was deemed a “serious violation” of internationally recognized human rights.
President Cyril Ramaphosa noted on Monday that if extended beyond 2025 for a lengthy period, and if used more effectively, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) can contribute significantly to the further diversification of African economies. Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that Agoa is an important instrument for growing and transforming South Africa’s economy with the benefits felt through increased economic activity and the jobs created from this.
The US trade initiative, which came to be in 2000, is set to expire in September 2025. It has been renewed twice since it came to pass. Last week South Africa hosted the twentieth Agoa Forum, in Johannesburg, where the case for the extension, or reauthorisation, of Agoa beyond 2025 was made. Ramaphosa said the latest extension of Agoa, could enable countries to produce a wider range of products using the abundance of minerals, metals and agricultural goods produced.
US Trade Envoy Tai Talks Trade Policy in Africa as Summit Ends (Voice of America)
The annual summit of the African Growth and Opportunity Act — a program that has provided eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. economy since 2000 — wrapped up in South Africa on Saturday. Under AGOA, total goods imports into the United States were worth about $10 billion in 2022, compared with $6.8 billion in 2021. African leaders are asking the U.S. Congress to renew the trade policy for another 10 years or more before it expires in 2025.
To be eligible for AGOA, nations must respect the rule of law and protect human rights. On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden said four countries would be dropped from AGOA: Niger and Gabon for coup d’etats, and the Central African Republic and Uganda for human rights violations.
Agoa: Fading opportunities? (Moneyweb)


text:
Want to join the conversation?
Beginning in 4Q15, $PEP will no longer include the results of its local Venezuelan subsidiaries and JV in its financial statements and will include only revenue relating to the sales of inventory to its Venezuelan subsidiaries and JV to the extent cash is received for those sales.
$PYPL jumps 6% in after hours on strong results. I am bullish on this stock.
$TSCO stock remained active in the after hours trading and rose more than 2% after the retailer posted better than expected 1Q17 results.
Instagram has reached 700 million monthly active users. Looks like it will hit 1 billion soon. That would make it $FB’s fourth billion-user platform.


text:
Six people in Norway have fallen ill in recent months with the source of infection thought to be contaminated raw milk cheese from France.
The foodborne outbreak was suspected to be caused by Salmonella Dublin in chilled cheese made with unpasteurized milk.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Folkehelseinstituttet) investigated the outbreak with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) and Norwegian Veterinary Institute.
Link made in patient interviews
Early this year, Norwegian officials detected a cluster of six patients with Salmonella Dublin infections. Salmonella Dublin is rare in the country with typically no more than five infections reported annually, according to health officials.
Patients lived in four different counties. Their median age was 70 and a half years old with a range from 40 to 85 and half were female. Symptom onset ranged from the end of December 2020 to beginning of March this year.
In interviews, five of six people said they may have eaten raw milk cheese from France. No microbiological analysis of cheese could be performed because there was no stock left and the product is believed to no longer be on the market.
All six patients were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire for Salmonella to get food consumption history one week before symptom onset. There was also a more targeted questionnaire with pictures of different cheeses. People were also asked where they bought the different products.
Based on results of patient interviews and traceback information, raw milk cheese from France may be the source of the outbreak, but given the small number of confirmed cases and limited information, officials were unable to determine the link conclusively.
Dried product sampling results
Meanwhile, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has published findings of a survey on dried products in the domestic market that were analyzed for Salmonella.
The surveillance program in 2020 was done to assess the sector following a Salmonella outbreak in 2019 where 58 people became ill after eating a mixture of exotic dried fruit.
Some products were ready to eat food that are often consumed without heat treatment. Salmonella survives for a long time in dry foods and can be unevenly distributed in them.
In total, 543 samples of spices, dried berries, fruit and nut mixtures, and milk powder and dried infant formula were collected and more than 1,000 analyzes done but no Salmonella was detected.
Samples were taken randomly from across the country and at all stages of the supply chain from importers and manufacturers to retailers. Products originated from many countries including the United States, China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Denmark, Sweden, and Turkey.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)


text:
Aldi and Lidl take a bite out of Big Four supermarkets
Tuesday 08 April 2014
Mega discounters Aldi and Lidl have upped the pressure on the big supermarkets by winning shoppers and increasing market share.
Aldi’s sales rose 35.3% in the12 weeks to March 30 — its fastest-ever growth rate — to notch up a record 4.6% share of the grocery market, according to Kantar Worldpanel data released today.
Lidl recorded a 17.2% surge in sales as its share rose to 3.4% from 2.9% over the same period last year.
Shoppers have increasingly sought out the German-owned food retailers as they open rafts of new stores offering low prices on exclusive lines.
Their unstoppable growth over the last year has hurt larger rivals. Beleaguered Morrisons was the biggest loser of the “Big Four” grocers, its sales slowed by 3.8% and it now holds an 11.1% market share, down from 11.6% last year.
Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s all reported slowing sales as the growth of the discounters, as well as premium grocer Waitrose, hit performance.
Tesco, Asda and Morrisons have all pledged to invest to lower prices to fight off increasing pressure from Aldi and Lidl.
Sainsbury’s 1.7% slide in sales will come as a blow to outgoing chief executive Justin King, who departs in July after an almost unblemished sales record at the retailer.
Kantar Worldpanel director Edward Garner said: “All the Big Four supermarkets have faced declining sales over the past 12 weeks, which has been accentuated by the late falling of Easter. Nevertheless, they have also seen worrying share declines, with the most resilient performance coming from Asda.”
- 1 Russell Brand accuses FOX News anchor Sean Hannity of terrorism after aggressive Israel-Gaza debate
- 2 Pope Francis issues top 10 tips for happiness
- 3 Disney heiress Abigail disowns her share of family profits in West Bank company
- 4 The secret report that helps Israel hide facts
- 5 Now diplomacy has failed, boycotting Israel might be the only way we can protect the people of Gaza
Russell Brand accuses FOX News anchor Sean Hannity of terrorism after aggressive Israel-Gaza debate
Pope Francis issues top 10 tips for happiness
Justin Bieber posts Instagram photo of Orlando Bloom crying after Ibiza fight 'over Miranda Kerr'
Disney heiress Abigail disowns her share of family profits in West Bank company
Kelsey Grammer forgives the man who raped and murdered his sister in 1975
The secret report that helps Israel hide facts
Land for gas: Merkel and Putin discussed secret deal could end Ukraine crisis
Woman and two children killed by mob in riots over 'blasphemous' Facebook post in Pakistan
Richard Dawkins tweets: 'Date rape is bad, stranger rape is worse'
Putin is 'thuggish, dishonest and reckless', says British ambassador to US
Boozy, ignorant, intolerant, but very polite – Britain as others see us
- < Previous
- Next >
iJobs Money & Business
£28000 - £32000 per annum + benefits: Ashdown Group: Training Programme Manage...
£20000 - £24000 per annum: Harrington Starr: A leading provider of web based m...
£28000 - £32000 per annum: Ashdown Group: Secretary (Sales Team Support) - Mat...
Competitive (DOE): Guru Careers: We are looking for an Assistant Management Ac...


text:
Some Apple stores that were shuttered to combat the spread of coronavirus may reopen in the first half of April, according to a Bloomberg report.
“We will reopen our stores on a staggered basis,” Apple’s retail chief Deirdre O’Brien wrote in a memo seen by Bloomberg News. “At this time, we anticipate some stores may be able to open in the first half of April depending on the conditions in their community. We will provide updates for each store as soon as specific dates are established.”
In mid-March, Apple stores outside of Greater China closed “until further notice” in response to a dramatic surge in the number of coronavirus cases worldwide.
O’Brien said Apple would be extending “flexible” remote work plans to its team members through at least April 5.
“In all our offices outside of Greater China, we are extending flexible work arrangements for all team members -- outside of those whose work requires them to be onsite -- through at least April 5, which will then be reevaluated weekly depending on your location,” O’Brien said in the note to employees.
Apple’s retail chief said the company is “putting the health of our teams, customers, and communities first.” Apple is also reportedly donating nine million face masks to U.S. healthcare facilities.


text:
Internet network Terra Lycos, as part of its fourth-quarter earnings announcement, said its CEO, Bob Davis, resigned from that position as part of a top-level management restructuring. Mr. Davis will, however, serve as a consultant and non-executive vice chairman of the board of Terra Lycos. No one was named to succeed Mr. Davis, although Chairman Joaquim Agut will assume his responsibilities. Ted Philip, currently chief financial officer, was named senior VP-strategic planning and M&A. Elias Rodriguez-Vina will succeed Mr. Philip as chief financial officer, from business development director for GE Capital Europe for Spain and Portugal and director of mergers and acquisitions for UBS.
Terra Lycos reported a fourth-quarter loss of 17 cents a share on sales of $164 million. A survey of First Call/Thomson Financial analysts projected a loss of 22 cents a share on sales of $151 million; moving forward, the company is expected to lose 14 cents a share on sales of $177 million, First Call said. For the year, Terra Lycos reported a loss of $348 million, or 67 cents a share, excluding charges on sales of $398 million.
Copyright February 2001, Crain Communications Inc.


text:
As clothing manufacturers continue to feel a squeeze from their retail customers, they are looking to move manufacturing to protect their margins.
Originally, manufacturers went to China because it was a good, low cost option that also ensured the quality of their products would not be compromised. While China has solidified its place as a staple in the manufacturing world, manufacturers are beginning to move production to other countries as the cost of production in China has dramatically increased due to higher wages, shortage of labor, high energy costs and an assortment of environmental problems.
Many of our clients and manufacturers throughout the industry are investigating and visiting options in other countries such as, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Jordan and Egypt. Even though moving production helps increase margins, the manufacturer has to confront different issues, including quality, timely deliveries and terms from the new factories. We are definitely seeing some shift in manufacturing locations, as well as more domestic manufacturing opportunities. However, China will still continue to remain the lead manufacturing destination.
These sentiments were echoed in a recent interview my colleague Tri Sciarra recently conducted with California Apparel News. Read what he had to say to them here.


text:
New South Park McFarlane Construction Sets Bring The Fractured But Whole To Life
South Park fans were disappointed to hear the news earlier this year that the much anticipated Fractured But Whole sequel to the South Park: The Stick of Truth RPG game would be delayed beyond its originally intended Q1 release in 2017. While it is not known how soon the game will now be releasing exactly, news has now broken of additional pieces of merchandise that will be made available to celebrate the release of the new game. A new South Park McFarlane Toys line of construction sets has been announced for the fall of 2017 that will bring characters and settings from both the show and the new game to the physical world.
The new line of construction sets have been revealed on the McFarlane website. The image seen at the top of this article shows the “Check Your Privilege” set that will retail at $14.99. This set will include an articulated PC Principal figure and a buildable principal’s office. The office appears to be measured to scale in proportion to figures, such as the included PC Principal figure, to match the scale as seen on the show. The accessories included for the office also match those seen before in the series.
The other two newly announced sets are the “Supercomputer” set that includes South Park mainstay Kyle as “The Human Kite” with a playset seemingly built out of a cardboard box and tablet computer, and the “Top Bad Guys” Set that includes Stan and a poster-board listing South Park’s biggest villains. Both sets will each retail for $8.99 later this fall. What do you guys think about these South Park McFarlane construction sets? What characters from the show or game would you like to see included in a set? Let us know in the comments below or start a discussion on our Disqus page!
Be sure to stay tuned for the latest South Park news, such as the latest trailer for The Fractured But Whole, here on Don’t Feed the Gamers! Follow us on Twitter to see our updates the minute they go live!
Cory Lara1410 Posts
A royally radical and totally tubular 90s kid, Cory has a passion for all things nerdy, particularly gaming and nostalgia. While an accountant by day, he strives to be as creative and humorous as possible in his free time, be it here writing on Don't Feed the Gamers, or making dumb satirical posts on his Twitter, Youtube, Facebook and Instagram accounts.