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It’s become increasingly important to consumers that they shop with brands and companies that align with their personal values — and that those brands and companies are authentic in their efforts. Many companies including retailers are proactively supporting and advocating for the rights and fair treatment of the LGBTQ community.
Explore more of our NRF Member spotlights.
This Pride Month, we’re highlighting NRF members that are showing their support through their products and making an impact through donations and consistent advocacy and commitment to organizations working for equity and inclusion.
This year 1-800-Flowers.com is continuing its partnership with GLAAD for Pride Month; 20 percent of net proceeds from its Pride collection will be donated to the non-governmental media monitoring organization, and customers can also make cash donations to the organization. The retailer has donated more than $200,000 to GLAAD since 2007, donating $25,000 this year alone.
The 1-800-Flowers.com Employee Resource Group participates in Pride parades worldwide and aims to foster an environment for better understanding and communication.
One of the first retailers to offer same-gender domestic partner benefits, Gap has scored 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for 15 years straight. This year, Gap partnered with the artist behind Frank Ape, Brandon Sines, to create a collection of Pride Month t-shirts. Gap also signed the Human Rights Campaign’s statement opposing anti-LGBTQ legislation and has a long-term partnership with UN Free & Equal, a public information campaign promoting equal rights and the fair treatment of LGBTQ people.
Recently in 2021, Gap updated its health care and benefits offerings to provide increased coverage for transgender care. This year, Gap is donating $50,000 to the GenderCool Project, a youth-led movement working to bring meaningful change for transgender and non-binary youth.
Interested in becoming a member of NRF? Learn more about benefits.
Joann is offering a variety of products including Pride-themed fabrics, DIY Pride Month projects and accessories in its 2022 Power of Pride collection. The company has partnered with GLSEN, an education organization that supports young people in the LBGTQ community, committing $25,000 to the organization. Joann has also supported local organizations including the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.
Kroger consistently scores 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. This year, the company’s Pride month collection features a variety of products, beverages and recipe inspiration videos, and highlights partner LGBTQ brands including Peanut Butter & Co., Love Good Fats and Galerie.
In its commitment to supporting LGBTQ equality, Kroger provides same-gender partner benefits and trans-inclusive health care. It also partners with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, working to create and enhance LGBTQ supplier relationships. Kroger has also partnered with its PRIDE Associate Resource Group to create an LGBTQ allyship guide, an educational framework for effective allyship.
L.L.Bean’s 2022 pride month collection features apparel and outdoor gear available for a limited time. The company is donating to OUT There Adventures, a partner education organization committed to reducing barriers to the outdoors for the LGBTQ community. It also supports the EqualityMaine Foundation, an organization working for full equality for LGBTQ people in the state while also providing community education and outreach programs.
Another among the first companies to offer domestic partner benefits to same-gender couples, Levi’s has been an avid supporter of the LGBTQ community for almost three decades. Its 2022 gender-free and size-inclusive Pride collection is inspired by the activism of early gay rights movement posters and memorabilia, created with a focus on “intentionality in designing a collection with a story underpinned that was relevant to the community.”
Building community internally, Levi’s is expanding its Employee Resource Groups, aiming to create brave and safe spaces for LGBTQ employees. The company consistently scores 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index and signed the HRC statement opposing anti-LGBTQ state legislation. Levi’s also annually donates $100,000 to OutRight Action International, an organization working to advance the rights for LGBTQ people all over the world.
Nordstrom has been a consistent ally of the LGBTQ community, donating $1 million last year to organizations that provide support and resources for LGBTQ youth. This year, its Pride Month campaign features Playground Kiki, a Seattle-based LGBTQ organization founded to build community for BIPOC youth and expand the ballroom dance world. A virtual and physical exhibit, “A Portrait of Kiki,” is being showcased in partnership with the Hetrick-Martin Institute, an organization bringing essential resources to LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 24.
Other organizations benefiting from Nordstrom’s support include Trans Lifeline, a trans-led advocacy and support organization, which will receive 10 percent of net sales of the company’s BP. Be Proud brand as well as a corporate donation of $100,000. Nordstrom recently signed the Human Rights Campaign statement opposing anti-LGBTQ state legislation.
One of the nation’s fastest growing specialty retailers, Rue21 is known for creating an inclusive shopping experience for consumers. This year its Pride collection, entitled “Made for All,” features gender-neutral clothing, fragrances and accessories. The collection features expressive statements and important messages like #SAYGAY, and supports The Trevor Project, the world’s largest organization for mental health resources and crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth.


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It isn't uncommon to see comments on social media platforms about where to buy that cool top a fashion influencer is wearing or that throw a home decor lover has posted on Instagram; hence the reason for the rumor of a Pinterest buy button. It is in fact more than a rumor. The Pinterest buy button is currently being created with the intention of being launched within the next three to six months.
Turing the mobile visual discovery tool into a shopping powerhouse, the Pinterest buy button will reportedly handle transactions through payments company Stripe, a San Francisco-based startup that has similar deals in place with both Twitter and Facebook. The Verge notes, "interest's $5 billion valuation was largely predicated on the expectation that it would eventually add a [buy button], an addition that could the scrapbooking service to become an e-commerce monster to rival Amazon."
A Pinterest Buy Button is in the Works to Make Pinned Items Shoppable
1. Pinterest Buy Button - The development of a Pinterest buy button will revolutionize online shopping by allowing users to make purchases directly from the platform.
2. Mobile Visual Discovery - The rise of mobile visual discovery tools like Pinterest presents opportunities for businesses to create innovative shopping experiences that are visually engaging and convenient for users.
3. Social Media E-commerce - The integration of buy buttons on social media platforms like Pinterest opens up new avenues for businesses to tap into the e-commerce market and reach a wider audience of potential customers.
1. E-commerce - The introduction of a Pinterest buy button has the potential to disrupt the e-commerce industry by creating a seamless shopping experience for users and driving sales for businesses.
2. Social Media - The implementation of buy buttons on social media platforms like Pinterest presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the social media industry, as it transforms these platforms into e-commerce marketplaces.
3. Payment Processing - The partnership between Pinterest and payments company Stripe highlights the potential for disruption in the payment processing industry, as more platforms integrate seamless e-commerce capabilities.

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All the classic NES anime titles we never got
Launching earlier in July, the Weekly Shonen Jump 50th Anniversary Famicom is a celebration of classic anime and manga-based video games, pretty much all of which never saw the light of day on Western shores.
Of course, such a cool niche device went down an absolute storm in its native Japan, as sales tracker Media Create has revealed that the product shifted over 110,000 units in just 48 hours of its release. The Golden Famicom is a joint collaboration of Nintendo and popular anime magazine Weekly Shonen Jump, created to celebrate the latter’s 50th anniversary.
The console houses 20 games based on anime franchises, brands such as Dragon Ball, Kinnikuman, Captain Tsubasa and even Fist of the North Star appear on the retro console, which is housed in gold plastic (as opposed to the yellow that most classic NES units have today). Despite the Golden Famicom’s success, the chance of it ever appearing in the West is slim-to-none, so those who want in on the classic anime action will have to scour the import market for their own niche piece of history.


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The SVI Group has launched SVI Secure, a new subsidiary company that offers the rental of modified commercial vehicles like sedans and SUVs, as well as armoured personnel carriers.
SVI has been armouring vehicles since 2004 and recently completed 130 convoy protection vehicles for a South African security company. It has also armoured 110 locomotives in Mozambique.
SVI Secure was officially introduced to the market at SVI’s premises outside Pretoria on Monday 2 September but the company has been offering armoured vehicle rental services for some time now.
Cobus de Kock, Executive Director of SVI Secure, told defenceWeb that the company recently made the decision to diversify the Group into the private rentals space, leading to the establishment of SVI Secure, which has a Level 2 BEE rating.
SVI Secure has a wide range of vehicles to cater to client’s specific requirements, be it safe personnel transportation, secure transport of valuable goods, or specific security requirements. These include BMW 7 series and Toyota Corolla sedans, Toyota Fortuner and Land Cruiser 200s, Hilux cash in transit (CIT) vehicles, and 4×4 Max 9 armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
Benny Jiyane, Executive Director of SVI Group, said that the focus of SVI Secure is the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, primarily South Africa. SVI Secure currently has contracts with various customers in this region, providing a wide range of services.
SVI specialises in mechanical engineering, product development and manufacturing and protected vehicles with an emphasis on making vehicles for the niche market. The company has produced armoured civilian vehicles, armoured luxury vehicles, armoured train kits (used in Mozambique), remanufactured military and police vehicles, cash in transit vehicles, water cannons, gun ports, guard houses and towers. It has designed over ten vehicle models, including the Max 9 armoured personnel carrier and Max 3 light armoured vehicle.


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MILAN/PARIS, July 4 (Reuters) – Late on May 23, Italian
financier Andrea Bonomi phoned executives at his country’s two
largest banks seeking more than 200 million euros ($273 million)
in loans to help him bid for French holiday resort company Club
For the 48-year-old businessman, taking over Club Med, a
storied brand struggling to improve profitability, would be the
biggest challenge since he revived the fortunes of motorcycle
maker Ducati in the mid-2000s.
MILAN, June 27 (Reuters) – Italy’s Banca Monte dei Paschi di
Siena said on Friday it had raised 4.99 billion euros
($6.81 billion) through the sale of new shares, boosting its
capital base and increasing the chances it could pass an EU
review of bank assets.
Monte dei Paschi, Italy’s No.3 bank by branches, is one of
15 Italian lenders targeted in a health check of euro zone
lenders by the European Central Bank before it takes over
supervision of the sector in November.
MILAN, June 22 (Reuters) – Italian luxury leather goods
maker Salvatore Ferragamo expects group results to
improve in the second half of 2014 from the first six months on
the back of strong demand in China and in global travel retail,
its chief executive said on Sunday.
Ferragamo, whose shoes were loved by Hollywood film stars
such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, plans to add between
10 and 20 shops to its current network this year, four of them
in new large Chinese cities, Michele Norsa said.
MILAN, June 11 (Reuters) – Insurer Generali, one
of four key owners of Telecom Italia, decided on
Wednesday to exit ahead of time a seven-year shareholder
agreement to control the Italian phone company, making room for
future new investors.
Generali said in a statement it had exercised the right to
withdraw from the pact its 19.3 percent holding in Telco, an
investment vehicle that is Telecom Italia’s biggest investor
with a 22.4 percent stake.
MADRID/MILAN, May 28 (Reuters) – When Angel Gomez and Maria
Luisa Fernandez retired a decade ago, they imagined spending
their pensions largely on restaurant meals, holidays and toys
for the grandkids. Today, their retirement money helps to
support five families.
The Spanish couple, like other relatively prosperous
pensioners across southern Europe, are providing an informal
safety net which has helped many in the younger generation to
avoid widespread poverty despite record-high unemployment.


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- October 18, 2018
- Posted by: mardenco
- Category: Value Added Tax
The introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT is fast approaching. From April 2019, some 1 million businesses with a turnover above the VAT threshold (currently £85,000) will have to keep their records digitally (for VAT purposes only) and provide their VAT return information to HMRC through MTD compatible software.
An initial private beta pilot of MTD for VAT was launched in April this year. HMRC has now confirmed in a press release that the pilot has been extended to businesses whose affairs are up to date and will extend to most other business types over the coming months.
HMRC has also listened to concerns and will give a small group of customers with more complex requirements a further 6 months to prepare. This will ensure there is sufficient time for testing the service in the pilot scheme before they are required to join.
Mel Stride MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:
‘HMRC is transforming the tax administration so that it’s more effective, more efficient and easier for taxpayers. Today’s announcement means that around half a million businesses will be able to join Making Tax Digital and start filing their VAT returns online, making it easier to get their tax right first time.’
Currently, businesses will not be asked to keep digital records, or to update HMRC quarterly, for other taxes until at least 2020.


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KFC’s vegetarian fried chicken Beyond Fried Chicken is served in the US market – Photo: CNBC
According to CNBC, KFC will not only target vegetarian customers for their new product, but also regular diners.
The company is promoting the product Beyond Fried Chicken (rough translation: Fried chicken of the future) is made using KFC’s own traditional fried chicken production equipment. Diners in the US can purchase the new dish for $6.99 for a six-piece chicken, excluding tax.
The above plan was born after many years of Beyond Meat and Yum! Brands experimented with developing a new artificial meat. This meat mimics the taste and texture of chicken.
Yum! Brands is the company that owns major brands such as Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and many other restaurants around the world.
Initially, the two put the new vegan meat into service at a restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, in August 2019. This dish quickly sold out in less than 5 hours.
After that, KFC also piloted the new “meat” dish in two cities of Nashville and Charlotte.
With the decision to expand nationwide, KFC is betting that diners will choose healthier dishes to fulfill their New Year goals.
“We make this decision based on the needs of our customers. They want to eat more vegan protein foods,” said Kevin Hochman, president of KFC America.
More and more Americans are turning to less meat for both health and environmental reasons. This trend is making plant-based alternatives more popular.
Both Mr Hochman and Beyond Meat chief executive Ethan Brown expressed optimism about the upcoming product.
In 2021, Beyond Meat announced an official partnership with Yum! to provide vegetarian products to Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC.


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The African sporting fraternity stands to make a huge ‘quantum leap’ into the highest towers of global greatness.
This comes after Nielsen announced on Wednesday that Nielsen Sports, the global leader in sports measurement, insights and sponsorship valuation, will expand its footprint in Africa with the acquisition of Repucom Africa, operated by TransAfrica Media.
Repucom Africa was a licensee of Nielsen Sports and has been trading as Nielsen Sports South Africa.
TransAfrica Media is a pan-African sports marketing and communications group with offices in both South and East Africa
The acquisition further strengthens Nielsen Sports’ commitment to providing leagues, teams, federations, brands and agencies in emerging markets with premier solutions that optimize sports sponsorship portfolios and maximize investments in sports.
Howard Appelbaum, President, Nielsen Entertainment commented “South Africa is a growing and passionate sports market, and TransAfrica Media has done a tremendous job of introducing Nielsen Sports data, products and consulting services in this region,” said Appelbaum, “We’re excited to build on the success of the current business by super-serving clients with new and enhanced offerings throughout all of Africa.”
Sgwili Gumede, Chairman of TransAfrica Media noted, “We have enjoyed being associated with the incredible Nielsen Sports brand and look forward to watching the business continue to flourish across the continent with Nielsen,” said Gumede, “This is also an exciting time for TransAfrica Media as we embark on new challenges and adventures for our existing businesses.”
Furthermore, Nielsen has appointed Kelvin Watt, Group Managing Director of TransAfrica Media, to take on the role of Regional Managing Director of Nielsen Sports in Africa and the Middle East.
Watt has more than 20 years of experience in the South African and African sports and sponsorship industry.
Glenn Lovett, Global Managing Director, Nielsen Sports said, “Kelvin was instrumental in bringing Nielsen Sports products and solutions to rights holders and brands in South Africa,” said Lovett, “His tremendous track record, client relationships and expertise in sports sponsorship, marketing and media rights will be extremely valuable as we supercharge the Nielsen Sports business in Africa and the Middle East.”
Nielsen Sports currently operates in over 100 countries including the top 20 sports markets in the world.


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The business of milking
THE Department of Agriculture is urging agencies under it to patronize local milk and other products from it as part of the government’s continuous support the Philippine dairy sector.
Agriculture chief Proceso J. Alcala admits that even if there is no swift solution to the problems hounding the industry, he is optimistic that the placement of proper technologies and intervention will eventually resolve it.
Last month, DA, thru its Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund launched the “Acquisition and Upgrading of Milk Collection and Processing Faculties and Market Expansion Project” in Pitogo, Consolacion, Cebu to enhance the local dairying industry.
The project was unveiled during the Cebu Federation of Dairy Cooperatives (CEFEDCO) forum.
During the event, Alcala encouraged milk stakeholders to partner with the National Dairy Authority (NDA) and the local government to increase production of raw materials from dairy cows.
“We have to work together to increase production. I will direct DA agencies in the province to exclusively use your products,” he announced.
Developing the local dairy industry is one of the government’s strategies to help reduce poverty in the country. In line with this, the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines is firmly encouraging growers of cows, carabaos and goats to reverse focus from fattening to dairying.
“Dairying augments profit and uplifts the income and lives of farmers in the rural areas,” Alcala said.
One milk-producing animal can produce an average monthly-income of P7,000 and a well-trained farm-family can raise six dairy animals at a time earning a potential income of P40,000 – P50,000.
According to NDA administrator Grace Cenas, cows produce milk for 300 days after they give birth while raising their calves, rest for two months, then get them impregnated again.
“The process goes on and on,” she said until the cows get too old to bear offsprings.
CEFEDCO was formed when four dairy cooperatives merged as the Liloan-Consolacion Federation of Dairy Cooperatives thru the initiative of the NDA to address the growing problem of supply deficiency in 1989. Cooperative members underwent training in Bukidnon and were given 281 pregnant dairy cattle imported from New Zealand.
Each co-op was awarded P5,000 each, making up for the P20,000 initial federation investment in addition to the P250,000 they collectively availed from the government.
In 1991, the P12-million Pitogo dairy plant started construction and was officially turned over to the federation a year later.
In 1994, more cooperatives showed interest, prompting the management to change its name to CEFEDCO signifying a bigger and broader coverage.
To this date, the federation gives livelihood to close to 300 Cebuano farm-families. Carrying the name Cebu Dairy fresh brand, CEFEDCO’s most popular products include fresh milk, milk bars, pastilles, butter, yoghurt, polvoron and white cheese.
At present, the country’s production of fresh milk is far from the demand of the local market, thus, we remain dependent on imported milk.
NDA data shows that local consumption for dairy products, fresh and processed, in 2011 was posted at 1,805 million kilograms, with local production contributing only 16.45M kg in liquid milk equivalent. The balance is covered by imports coming from New Zealand, USA, Australia and France.
There is a lot to be done but with the government’s unconstrained aid and organized groups such as the CEFEDCO, the gaps will be filled very very soon.


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Turkmendermansenagat Association's enterprise for the production of sterile dressings in the Dashoguz city in January this year produced medical products worth around 450,000 manats, achieving the growth rate of 128.5%, Turkmenistan’s regional newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The enterprise presently produces 6,000 protective masks a day. The plant has also established the production of new types of sterile dressings.
The enterprise manufactures up to 13 million packages of finished medical products annually using innovative technologies and modern equipment.
The enterprise’s five-layer masks, various medical dressings and protective garments are considered necessary in observing sanitary and hygienic standards in the country, according to the report.
Last year, the plant produced 25 types of products totaling more than eight million manats.


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The trend we have all been witnessing for the greater adoption of online commerce is expected to remain strong as the UK population ages and as advances in technology make it easier for manufacturers and retailers to reach the end consumer.
The provision of logistics stock has never been so critical, as the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated what was initially a long-term consumer trend that started consolidating three years ago in the UK. Supply chains are being tested in an unfavourable economic climate with rising consumer expectations about speedy deliveries. This is all happening in a low-supply environment for distribution warehouses and against the backdrop of a growing population.
A larger population with increasing ecommerce penetration will continue to create further competition for land, with a greater need for residential and industrial development to accommodate the delivery of dwellings.
‘What Warehousing Where?’, a report released by the British Property Federation in association with Turley, estimates that there is 69 sq ft of warehouse floorspace for every home in England. Therefore, the more houses we build, the more industrial warehousing space is needed to accommodate the e-fulfilment requirements of each household.
This puts even more pressure on the government to classify the provision of warehousing space as critical infrastructure. Yet some may argue that the process for obtaining planning permission for logistics sites is not as streamlined as occupiers and property developers need it to be to bolster the required availability of new sites.
Occupiers are finding it increasingly difficult to fulfil their requirements and we do not expect this to change any time soon, particularly given the other major factors that are expected to drive demand further into 2021 and beyond.
The fourth industrial revolution: the rise of automation
The pandemic has certainly accelerated the uptake of new technologies and sped up the fourth industrial revolution, with occupiers increasingly recognising the need to invest in automation and potentially exploring the use of artificial intelligence to meet customer expectations. In the past, logistics occupiers used to store goods in a low-tech environment, predominantly creating jobs for low-skilled workers. As occupiers continue to invest in their supply chains, more skilled workers will be needed, hence increasing productivity output. We expect the sector to require more software and machine engineers, while also supporting job creation in the wider economy.
According to the latest The Future of Jobs report published by the World Economic Forum in October 2020, the adoption of cloud computing, big data and ecommerce remain high priorities for business leaders. While the report forecasts that by 2025, the work hours performed by machines will match the time spent by human beings, it also highlights that technology-driven job creation globally is still expected to outpace job destruction over the next five years.
Demand for chilled space: Brexit
The UK is negotiating with the European Union (EU) on our future trading relationship with the bloc. It is possible that the UK/EU trading framework could revert to the World Trade Organisation tariff system in January 2021; equally, we could end up with a trade agreement ratified. Either way, it would not be unexpected if some custom checks were introduced, particularly in the short term.
If we look at the grocery sector and the provision of food produce, the largest food import market for the UK is unquestionably the EU, which accounts for 26% of all unprocessed food consumed in the UK.
If the UK were not to agree to some sort of free trade agreement with the EU, it would bring about some downside risks to the food supply chain and the wider economy over the short term due to our highly interlinked trade flows.
In our view, demand for chilled warehouse space will increase as the potential introduction of customs checks for food importers will require occupiers to sit on larger inventories. We therefore expect to see greater occupier demand for logistics space in port-centric and gateway distribution hub locations.
The UK ecommerce market is the third-largest worldwide after China and the US. According to estimates by Ascential, Amazon dominates the UK ecommerce market with a share of 30.1%, accounting for $30bn (£23.16bn) in sales in 2019.
The second biggest player is eBay, which accounts for a 9.8% share of the online market, followed by Sainsbury’s (4.6%), Tesco (4.5%), Asda (3.9%) and John Lewis (3.6%).
Over the coming years, it would not be surprising if we were to see other ecommerce players trying to enter the UK market as advances in technology further drive ecommerce penetration in the country. Greater provision of logistics space will be needed as e-fulfilment operations require nearly three times as much space as bulk storage.
To conclude, the pandemic-induced economic malaise will continue to affect our lives over the coming quarters with an increasing unemployment rate negatively impacting aggregated household consumption. That said, due to the occupier race to upgrade their logistics networks, in a fast-changing consumer landscape, we expect occupational demand to remain sustained.
This will affect the industrial sector in the foreseeable future as greater adoption of automation takes place to bridge the gap between current supply chain constraints and the increasing demand for higher efficiency savings.
About Colliers International
Colliers International is a leading real estate professional services and investment management company. With operations in 68 countries, our more than 15,000 enterprising professionals work collaboratively to provide expert advice to maximize the value of property for real estate occupiers, owners and investors. For more than 25 years, our experienced leadership has delivered compound annual investment returns of almost 20% for shareholders. In 2019, corporate revenues were more than $3bn (£2.28bn), with $33bn of assets under management in our investment management segment. Learn more about how we accelerate success at corporate.colliers.com, Twitter or LinkedIn.


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According to Electrek, the battery recycling factory is the joint effort of two companies, Hydro, which is one of the world's largest aluminum companies, and Northvolt, a battery manufacturer that builds factories in Sweden and Germany.
The new facility has the capacity to process as much as 12.000 tons of batteries per year, which should be around 25.000 EV batteries.
Hydrovolt claims that it can process and recover 95% of the materials found in EV batteries, including the plastics, copper, aluminum and the "black mass", which is a powder containing rare-earth elements found in lithium-ion batteries.
Nickel, cobalt and lithium are among these materials.
Both companies benefit in their own way from the process, with Hydro getting access to recycled aluminum, which is being processed with around 5% of the energy necessary to produce primary aluminum, and Northvolt gets access to other materials that it needs from the black mass which can be used in the manufacturing of new batteries.
Northvolt plans that, through this new effort, 50% of its battery raw materials will come from recycled batteries by 2030, which should definitely help the EV industry, since these types of cars are going to get more popular in the EU, if the Commission's proposal regarding the ban of fossil-powered cars passes.
Hydrovolt wants to expand battery recycling to other European countries in the future, so that they can reach a capacity of 70.000 tons of battery packs processed by 2025, and 300.000 tons by 2030.


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Recognising excellence in news publishing across platforms
Research findings show News Media has the most trusted ads
Trust in media content and ads positively impacts consumer purchase consideration
“Australians deserve better than laws that prohibit journalists from keeping them abreast of matters they are entitled to know about.”
Digital news media readership drives increase
There are three main types of paywalls used on news media publishing websites: hard, soft and dynamic.


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Where can you get at home COVID-19 tests around the Valley?
As the Omicron variant continues to be responsible for the COVID-19 case increase across the nation, Americans are having a hard time getting their hands on at-home testing kits.
With free testing giveaways in Canfield and Youngstown running out of supplies, we went searching for where else you can get your hands on these hot commodities in the Mahoning Valley.
As of Wednesday afternoon, a number of pharmacies and grocery stores we called said they have options for people looking to buy tests—and the cost ranges drastically at each location.
The Rite-Aid located at 2701 Market Street in Youngstown near Youngstown-Salem Road has testing kits available for as much as $100, and as little as $9.99.
Local CVS Pharmacies also have kits for $9.99 with their most expensive test costing consumers $25.
Several Giant Eagle stores around the area sell the testing brand On/Go, which is authorized for use by the FDA and has a 95% accuracy rate for determining whether someone is positive or negative for COVID-19.
The Giant Eagle at Southern Crossings shopping plaza in Boardman said they currently have 92 On/Go brand tests at their store. They cost $29.99 per kit. A representative said the store received a large shipment of those tests on Tuesday.
Two Valley Walgreens have tests available for $23.99 per kit. All local Walmart's currently have tests available for $14 each.
The Public Library of Youngstown had testing kits available recently, but have ran out over the past week.
The Youngstown City Health District was giving tests away for free early Wednesday, but ran out after just two hours.
It was supposed to be an all-day event from 8:30 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon with 3,000 tests to give away.
The health district allowed 4 tests per vehicle and after 750 cars, they were tapped out.
Erin Bishop, Youngstown's Health Commissioner, credits the overwhelming demand for these tests to fear and worry.
"People are scared now, you know, I was talking to ODH just now, people are worried about the Omicron," said Bishop. "They're worried about getting together for the holidays, some people still aren't vaccinated," she said.
The average cost of these at home tests is $33.16 per kit, though that depends on the brand of test and how many tests come in each kit. Most kits come with an average of one or two tests per package.
People who need more tests have the option to buy at home tests in bulk online. The wholesale PPE retail service RN Wellness sells test kits like BinaxNOW, which is authorized by the FDA for emergency use. Each kit comes with two tests.
Those test can be purchased in large quantities of 20, 100, or 200 kits. Each kit has two tests. The 20 test option has a retail price of $383.06 and can be shipped to your home in two days. That averages to $19.53 per kit, or $9.57 per individual test.
On Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Health reported a record 12,865 single-day cases of COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.
The Omicron variant now makes up 73% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the Associated Press.
Experts have agreed that at home tests are capable of detecting Omicron cases.
Bishop tells 21 News they will be having another giveaway next Wednesday and are hoping to do it at the Covelli Centre.


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Social advertising and marketing companies Compass Labs and ShopIgniter announced a partnership that will offer brands access to the former’s audience insights and interest-targeting capabilities and the latter’s social rich media campaigns.
Social sales and marketing software provider Hearsay Social brought its social sales platform to the next level with Monday’s release of a new sales solution targeted toward sales representatives, as well as a new brand solution to provide corporate page-management tools for brands with large field sales forces.
If you don’t work on cars, how do you know your mechanic isn’t ripping you off? And if he’s honest, he could still be inefficient — and that costs you money. It seems like everyone on Facebook is a self-proclaimed social media expert. There are no degrees or certifications, so we all operate without a license.
Social media interns aren’t just constant reminders of how little you know about the independent music scene: They’re also excellent resources when it comes to marketing on Facebook. But without the proper strategy — for both managing your interns and your return on investment — you could be wasting all of that digital native know-how.
Just days after aligning with social marketing solutions provider SocialCode, social ad platform Moontoast announced that it will team up with global social marketing platform Kenshoo Social to enable brands to incorporate rich social media into their campaigns on the mobile and desktop versions of Facebook’s News Feed.
Ever since the company went public nearly one year ago, Facebook has been trying to prove to advertisers that it can provide real-world value. Brad Smallwood, Facebook’s head of measurement and insights, told attendees of the Advertising Research Foundation’s Re:think conference in New York that among 22 recent Facebook campaigns, with data from 70 million consumers, Facebook increased return on investment by 22 percent.
When Facebook introduced its revamped News Feed last week, opinions began to form almost immediately on how it would affect both brands and users on the social network. Jordan Enright-Schulz, a product marketing manager for Adobe Social, offered her take on the new News Feed’s implications for social marketers in a post on the Adobe Digital Marketing Blog.
Social marketing solutions provider SocialCode announced Tuesday that its self-serve platform is now out of client beta and available for use by all Fortune 500 marketers.


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We reported 2 weeks ago that Meatos in Queens, NY was splitting its restaurant into 2 smaller restaurants, half staying as Meatos, the other half bringing in another Israeli restaurant: Shipudei Tziporah. According to the owner, the restaurant is open and its official grand opening is tomorrow, Tuesday 7/28.
We are under the assumption that this Glatt Kosher restaurant is also under the VHQ kosher certification as is Meatos next door. Will confirm shortly.
H/T Avi Solan


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A Toronto pizza spot has announced that they are shutting their doors to help keep their customers safe.
A statement on their website cited safety concerns and recent events as the reason behind the decision.
Due to recent events beyond our control, it has become clear that we can no longer guarantee the safety of our staff or customers in the face of a quickly escalating pandemic.
Dan Rios, Owner
"I want to thank our customers for the endless support you have given us since we first opened our doors and especially over the past year," the statement added.
The East York location makes no direct mention of Adamson Barbecue or the events that surround the chain in the statement.
Instead, the venue announced that "this is not the end of Conspiracy Pizza."
The owner plans to reopen in a different location and come back stronger.
Last month, Adamson Barbecue made headlines after disobeying lockdown orders at their Etobicoke location.


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Lenovo CEO bids to remake Chinese PC maker with $5 billion spree
BEIJING - Yang Yuanqing is showing his global ambition.
In the span of a week, the chief executive officer of Chinai's Lenovo Group cut the two biggest deals in his company's history, spending $5 billion to buy Google's Motorola mobile-phone business and IBM's low-end server business.
It's a risky bid to use acquisitions to move beyond the shrinking personal-computer business and become a broader technology player. Yang is betting that moving aggressively into North America will help give him the scale to better compete against Apple and Samsung Electronics in smartphones and against Dell and Hewlett-Packard in servers.
"We dream to become a global player," Yang said in an interview. "You must be a global player to have global presence. Only being in China and emerging markets is not enough."
Investors panned the Motorola purchase. Alberto Moel, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. in Hong Kong, said the company may be overpaying for a company struggling to compete against Apple and Samsung.
Lenovo essentially negotiated a layaway plan for acquiring Motorola, with the sale including $1.41 billion in cash and Lenovo stock paid at the close of the deal, and $1.5 billion to be paid in a three-year promissory note, Google said in a statement.
On Jan. 23, Lenovo agreed to buy IBM's low-end server business for $2.3 billion, including about $2 billion of cash and the rest coming in shares of Beijing-based Lenovo, the companies said.
Yang has a history of proving his critics wrong. When he bought IBM's PC unit for $1.25 billion in 2005, skeptics said North America was too risky for a Chinese company and that Lenovo's purchase would undermine IBM's ThinkPad brand. Instead, Yang used the deal to transform his company into the world's biggest PC maker, leaving once-powerful competitors like Dell behind.
"There are a lot of parallels here," said Frank Gillett, an analyst at Forrester Research. "Lenovo was strong in its home country in PCs, but the IBM buy gave them a global brand and a lot of access. In buying Motorola, they are buying a major brand, and a company that has established relationships with carriers."
The Motorola deal, which creates the world's No. 3 smartphone vendor, is Yang's latest attempt to take an iconic business and restore it to glory.


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ONE of Zimbabwe’s oldest transport and logistics companies, Unifreight, is on the rebound after investing over US$6 million to renew its old fleet while enhancing capacity.
The company is forecasting a US$2.5 million profit before tax this year, after suffering a loss in ZWL terms last year.
Unifreight has three subsidiaries, namely Swift, Bulwark and Skynet Worldwide Express. Chief executive officer Richard Clarke, who assumed the role in January after acting in the position for three months, told The NewsHawks he was confident the company was on a growth trajectory, following the investment and strategies put in place by management.
The business made a loss in Zimbabwe dollar terms last year due to a number of factors, among them the loss of value of its Zimplow shares on the stock exchange, overnight change of interest rates of about 200% and an old fleet of Scania trucks, with a mileage of over 1 million kilometres.
Unifreight has however been selling the old fleet while buying new assets.
“At the end of 2022, we began buying FAW 380 horsepower trucks with We chai engines with a fast two gear box. We bought 100 of these assets on an instalment sale agreement. In addition, we bought Afrit taut liners and 25 Afrit super links,” said Clarke.
“We have been disposing the Scanias and we are left with about 20 on our fleet. We needed to add capacity because there is demand for services offered by Swift, especially from blue chip companies.
We provide services to companies such as Delta, Schweppes, nestle, Tongaat, Pure Oil and Unki Mines, just to mention a few.”
Clarke said demand is growing because Unifreight is able to take goods, consolidate them and distribute nationwide within 24 to 48 hours consistently. He said the company was looking at having a full truckload business where trucks leave one destination with a load and come back with a load on the return trip.
He said the new investment has resulted in an increase in volumes which Unifreight is moving such that the company was forecasting to generate US$24 million this year, up from US$16.8 million.
“We are also expecting US$2.5 million profit at full year in 2023 before tax, up from US$518 million in 2022,” Clarke said.
“Over and above that, we have ordered 15 FAW 8 140hp (horse power) FL (5 tonners) and 15 FAW 28 290hp (FL013 tonners to cater for increasing demand for collection and deliveries in Harare and Bulawayo.
“We want to get another 100 trucks by Q1 2024 [first quarter of 2024]. We will also look towards the regional market for additional cross-border business to earn foreign currency and de-risk our business.”
Clarke said the management was turning around the business through attention to detail, strict key performance indicators for each member of the executive team that are aligned to the company’s vision to achieve extra ordinary results.
He said the company had chosen to invest in FAW trucks because they were the leading commercial vehicle manufacturer in South Africa with a market share of 13.4%.
He said the Wechai engine is also tried and tested and can easily do 600 000 kilometres. He said repair and maintenance costs of the FAW are also considerably lower.-STAFF WRITER


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With alarming data and statistics sharing the increase in password attacks and rising password compromise and account takeovers, there is a need for a change in login methods and password protection. This text shares password statistics, the need for password protection, novel passwordless approaches, and steps you can take to protect your passwords.
Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report 2022 shares alarming password and account security statistics. The latest data on cybercrime and how easy it is to hack an account in the digital age highlights the immediate need for new login methods. Here are key points from the Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2022, Microsoft’s passwordless approach to tackle the problem, and five key steps to stay protected in the future. Before delving into that, let us see some key statistics:
- There are nearly 921 password attacks that are carried out every second in 2022, a whopping 74% increase from last year.
- Over 600 nation-state threat actors utilize over 10,000 domains for malicious purposes.
- A significant 93% of Microsoft’s ransomware incident response engagements indicate lateral movement and privileged access.
- 20% of individuals still use identical or similar login credentials across various websites and applications, increasing the risk of multiple account takeovers and compromises.
The Need for Password Protection
Microsoft outlined the need for password protection with its blog in September 2022, sharing how common phishing, password spray, and credential stuffing attacks rely on passwords and password security. With human elements reusing passwords, cybercriminals take advantage of the unchanging truth.
Passwords leave enterprises and individuals vulnerable since a single password breach and account compromise could open the organization to malicious activities in an age where business and personal data are of utmost importance. Common passwords that are used for multiple accounts open individuals and organizational networks up to cyber threats.
Furthermore, tools and technologies such as MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) have been making significant strides to reduce password compromise risks. However, with hackers discovering novel ways around MFA today, there is still a need to revolutionize account security or dump passwords altogether.
Microsoft’s Passwordless Approach
With its blog post, Microsoft also introduced its password removal feature for Microsoft accounts, allowing individuals using a consumer Microsoft account to utilize Microsoft services by going passwordless. Individuals can sign in using better authentication methods like Windows Hello, Microsoft Authenticator, and so on by deleting the password from their accounts or setting up a passwordless new one.
Windows, Xbox, and Microsoft 365 account holders can securely gain access to their accounts using the Microsoft Authenticator or by utilizing biometric security like fingerprints or face detection. Microsoft’s blog clearly defines the tech giant’s thoughts on future account protection with the quote, “As long as passwords are still part of the equation, they’re vulnerable.”
How to Protect Your Accounts: 5 Steps to Keep you Protected in 2022 and beyond
It would be best if you keep several things in mind for the all-around protection of your accounts and digital lives. These are:
Focus on Key Account Protections
Individuals have a habit of reusing their favorite usernames and passwords for various accounts, but it also opens them up to multiple account compromise. 1/5th of individuals use identical login credentials for different accounts, according to Microsoft’s analysis of over 39 million IoT (Internet of Things) and OT (Operational Technology) devices.
Individuals must focus on the significant risks and analyze the key accounts that hold their emails, financial information, health care data, and personal information, such as social media websites. The best step is to analyze these accounts and change their passwords. Instead of changing all passwords, alter the passwords for accounts that can cause significant damage.
Employ Password Managers
With tons of digital accounts, individuals need a safe space to store passwords where cybercriminals cannot reach these. Using a secure and encrypting password manager such as KeePass, 1Password, and more to store passwords in an encrypted form will prove a bane for individuals.
By remembering only one password, individuals can let go of the hassle as password managers protect customer data and keep all their passwords in one place, promoting data privacy and cybersecurity.
Choose Strong Password Combinations over Random Generators
Randomly generated passwords are becoming a popular approach. These are the best practices when it comes to password protection. Still, a small number of individuals utilize these. Instead of using these, since remembering random letters and numerical sequences is hard, individuals should focus on solid passwords that are not easy to crack.
Strong passwords can easily be made by chaining 3 or 4 random words. Where common words can be cracked in milliseconds, chained words or combinations of words are hard to break and will keep the hacking system occupied for a long time.
Use Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-Factor Authentication is your friend when it comes to password security. With several services, such as Apple Pay, mandating MFA policies, enabling MFA for your accounts would be best, even if the service provider does not require it.
MFA adds an additional protective barrier for your accounts by requiring two or more authentication steps for account holders, making it harder for threat actors to infiltrate accounts. MFA works in many ways, such as biometrics, phone numbers, hardware tokens, or applications like Google Authenticator.
Stop Password Sharing
Did you know that nearly 45% of organizations attributed phishing links and shared account passwords to account takeover attacks? Employees even share their passwords with threat actors claiming to be their friends, potential customers, vendors, or business prospects.
When it comes to passwords, individuals should learn not to share passwords with anyone, especially OTPs (One Time Passwords). Threat actors are well-versed in social engineering tactics and impersonate many personalities to gain access to the employee’s account, including asking for their passwords.
Threat actors are impersonating even significant organizations such as Apple and Microsoft to offer help with security issues and dupe individuals into providing personal data and passwords. Keep an eye out for such scams and phishing attempts, and ensure you do not share passwords with anyone and get phishing protection.
The State of Cybercrime and Password Security
Cybercrimes are rising with industrialization as organizations and individuals have adjusted and adopted the digital lifestyle to ease everything. With greater access to tools and infrastructure comes a higher risk of account compromise.
Passwords are especially vulnerable since a simple password compromise could lead threat actors to stealing an individual’s data for blackmail, espionage, or impersonation. With phishing attacks targeting employee passwords to gain access to the organizational network, for an open gateway to deploy malware, ransomware, or data exfiltration and extortion, it would be best to keep up with the latest in cybersecurity so you can protect your passwords and accounts.
Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report 2022 highlights how cybercrimes are escalating to nation-level threats and passwords. The CaaS (Cybercrime as a Service) model has been continually evolving in 2022 and affecting individuals and organizations worldwide. Since every organization is becoming a part of a digital ecosystem, and each individual is tied to various platforms containing financial, personal, and business information. So, there is a dire need to protect each account from threat actors.
Individuals need to focus their efforts on protecting the personal information that puts them and the ones they interact with at risk and adopt the above-mentioned vital steps to protect their accounts and passwords.


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The March Patch Tuesday OS security updates followed a pattern that is somewhat familiar: they introduced a problem, as is often the case. This time, the issue revolved around the Windows Security app, where Microsoft Defender started erroneously reporting that the Local Security Authority (LSA) protection had been disabled. As reported by Neowin, this problem impacted both Windows 11 versions, namely 22H2 and 21H2.
The company stated:
After installing “Update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus antimalware platform – KB5007651 (Version 1.0.2302.21002)”, you might receive a security notification or warning stating that “Local Security protection is off. Your device may be vulnerable.” and once protections are enabled, your Windows device might persistently prompt that a restart is required. Important: This issue affects only “Update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus antimalware platform – KB5007651 (Version 1.0.2302.21002)”. All other Windows updates released on March 14, 2023 for affected platforms (KB5023706 and KB5023698), do not cause this issue.
While some updates are getting worked on, others are stuck upon mere investigations, like Outlook.com search issues and 401 errors.
Moving on, at the time when the bug was under investigation, Microsoft offered a temporary workaround for the issue. After a month had elapsed, the company declared that it had successfully resolved the problem. The recommended solution was to update to Defender version 1.0.2303.27001.
Unfortunately, Microsoft’s triumph over the issue turned out to be short-lived. Today, the tech giant updated the Windows health dashboard issues section, asserting that the problem of LSA being erroneously reported as off has been ultimately resolved.
According to Microsoft, the recommended version for resolving the issue is Defender version 1.0.2306.10002. To address the problem, simply update the Windows Security app to its latest version using the Windows Update feature. Microsoft states the following regarding the solution:
Resolution: This issue was resolved in an update for Windows Security platform antimalware platform KB5007651 (Version 1.0.2306.10002). If you would like to install the update before it is installed automatically, you will need to check for updates.


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Folks in the tech and communications industry were rather surprised when a product called the iPhone appeared back in mid-December—but it was a VoIP wireless handset from Cisco subsidiary Linksys, rather than a hybrid iPod/mobile phone from Apple.
So when Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs introduced the company’s forthcoming mobile phone/widescreen iPod/Internet communications device at Macworld yesterday under the name iPhone, more than a few eyebrows shot up. Even though Apple’s device won’t hit market until mid-year, two phone products using the same name looked like a trademark battle waiting to happen. But scuttlebutt as late as this morning indicated everything was kosher: Apple and Cisco had been in negotiations about Apple’s use of the name, an agreement had been worked out, and Cisco expected Apple to sign it imminently.
Apparently, that’s not the case.
Today, Cisco filed a trademark infringement suit against Apple, Inc. over the company’s use of the iPhone trademark. The suit, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks "injunctive relief" to prevent Apple from copying the iPhone trademark. If granted, that would keep Apple’s iPhone off the market, and even prevent the company from calling it the iPhone before it’s available for sale.
Cisco acknowledged the two companies had been in negotiating with Apple for years over a licensing agreement for the trademark, but Apple lawyers had not signed and returned what Cisco believed was to have been the final contract. "There is no doubt that Apple’s new phone is very exciting, but they should not be using our trademark without our permission," said Mark Chandler, Cisco’s general counsel and senior vice president. "Today’s iPhone is not tomorrow’s iPhone."
The whole suit might turn out to be a tempest in a teapot: if Apple sends over a signed contract tomorrow, Cisco may well withdraw the suit. Trademark law requires trademark holders vigorously defend their marks against misuse; it may be that, given Apple’s very public unveiling of its iPhone at Macworld yesterday, Cisco’s legal counsel felt the company could not simply sit on its hands.
Linksys acquired the iPhone trademark in 2000 when it purchased Infogear, a maker of Internet information appliances. Infogear originally filed for the trademark in March of 1996.
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Nvidia has introduced its latest AI-powered supercomputer for robotics, autonomous machines, medical devices and other forms of embedded computing at the edge.
According to the company, the Nvidia Jetson AGX Orin is the world’s smallest, most powerful and energy-efficient AI supercomputer. Built on its Ampere architecture, Jetson AGX Orin is designed to provide six times the processing power and maintains form factor and pin compatibility with its predecessor, Jetson AGX Xavier.
It delivers 200 trillion operations per second, similar to that of a GPU-enabled server but in a size that fits in the palm of a hand.
The new Jetson computer accelerates the full Nvidia AI software stack, allowing developers to deploy the complex models needed to solve edge AI and robotics challenges in natural language understanding, 3D perception, multisensor fusion and more.
“As robotics and embedded computing transform manufacturing, healthcare, retail, transportation, smart cities and other essential sectors of the economy, the demand for processing continues to surge,” said Deepu Talla, vice president and general manager of embedded and edge computing at Nvidia.
“Jetson AGX Orin addresses this need, enabling the 850,000 Jetson developers and over 6,000 companies building commercial products on it to create and deploy autonomous machines and edge AI applications that once seemed impossible.”
Jetson AGX Orin features Arm Cortex-A78AE CPUs, along with deep learning and vision accelerators. High-speed interfaces, faster memory bandwidth and multimodal sensor support provide the ability to feed multiple concurrent AI application pipelines.
Additionally, the Jetson embedded computing partner ecosystem encompasses a broad range of services and products, including cameras and other multimodal sensors, carrier boards, hardware design services, AI and system software, developer tools and custom software development.
For specific use cases, software frameworks include Isaac Sim on Omniverse for robotics, Clara Holoscan SDK for healthcare, and DRIVE for autonomous driving. The latest Isaac release includes support for the Robot Operating System (ROS) developer community.
Nvdia has also released the new Omniverse Replicator for synthetic data generation and Isaac GEMs, hardware-accelerated software packages that make it easier for ROS developers to build high-performance AI-enabled robots on the Jetson platform.


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A proposed smoke shop's future turned into a debate among Easton's planning commissioners as to what stores are appropriate in the city and what the commission's role is in determining what's appropriate.
The planning commission voted Wednesday to recommend that the zoning hearing board deny a special exception use for a business that would sell mainly tobacco and smoking-related products.
The applicant, Caroline Krouse, received a favorable recommendation in April from the planning commission to open a similar business on South Side, on Old Philadelphia Road.
Planning Commissioner Dennis Lieb was the sole negative vote then. In April, Lieb expressed concerns about the effects of tobacco sales on the health, safety and general welfare of the public.
Ultimately, the zoning hearing board granted the special exception but Krouse said opening a store at that location became financially unfeasible. She recently bought a vacant property in disrepair, at 1303 Northampton St., with the goal to rehabilitate it and start her smoke shop business at that address.
Zoning laws mandate that she apply for another special exception at the new location. Lieb once again raised his objections Wednesday.
"I consider these to be a nuisance business," Lieb said. "The proliferation of smoke shops in Easton is not a good thing."
Commissioner Mia Hatzis said she agreed with Lieb's sentiments that tobacco stores are not positive for the city.
Lieb also said he sees reckless driving and disregard for public safety by people who frequent those types of establishments. Commissioner Bonnie Winfield said she has also seen smoke shop customers at other locations park in spots for the disabled and drive erratically.
Planning Commissioner Robert Sun questioned what percentage of sales would be smoking-related. Krouse's partner, Travis McNally, said it eventually would account for 90 percent of the business.
Sun, who voted to approve the special exception recommendation in April, said he didn't like the idea of a tobacco store opening within a block of Paxinosa Elementary School. Krouse said she would not allow anyone under 18 in her store.
Planning Commissioner Ronald Shipman spoke up in defense of Krouse.
"I don't see how the questions being asked of this business can be used by the board as a reason to deny them," he said.
Commission Chairman Charles Elliott said the zoning ordinances should provide more specific guidance regarding tobacco sales, but as the law is currently written, the applicants have a legal right to operate their business.
The planning department staff seemingly agreed with Elliott and they advised the commission to recommend approval to the zoning board.
"I frankly think it is a lousy use for the city in a residential area with an elementary school but we are stuck," Elliott said. "I would vote for the staff recommendation because I think we are compelled to."
Shipman said the commissioners had no evidence that this business would be a nuisance but his motion to approve the staff's recommendation died when no one else seconded it.
Sun then made a motion to recommend that the zoning board deny the application based on the store's proximity to a school. The motion passed 4-2 with Elliot and Shipman dissenting. Commissioner William Heilman was not present.
The zoning hearing board will make the final decision whether to grant the special exception use.
Krouse said she was disappointed because she had already started repairs on the vacant building but now she may halt her efforts if the business isn't allowed to operate.


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With iOS 8 problems still affecting iPhone users and an iOS 8.1.1 release on the horizon, we want to take an early look at the iOS 8.1.1 update for iPhone and its upcoming release for iOS 8 powered devices like the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 5.
Earlier this year, Apple released its iOS 8.1 update into the beta program. For several weeks Apple and its developers poked and prodded the update in an effort to ensure a smooth public release at a later date. In mid-October, Apple took the stage and confirmed an October 20th release for the iOS 8.1 upgrade for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and a few days later, the company rolled the update out.
Several weeks ago, Apple’s iOS 8.1 update rolled out to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users all over the globe. And while iOS 8.1 fixed some of the initial iOS 8 problems affecting iPhone and iPad users, the iOS 8.1 update failed to tackle all of the annoying problems that emerged in September’s iOS 8.0 update leaving some iPhone and iPad users looking for relief.
We’re still not sure when that relief will arrive, though we’ve offered some potential fixes to help in the meantime, but it’s looking like Apple’s next iOS 8 upgrade and potential savior will be iOS 8.1.1.
Earlier this week, Apple released its iOS 8.1.1 update into its beta program. The move was interesting given that the company rarely releases small bug fixes into beta but it looks like it’s trying to avoid the mistakes it made with iOS 8.0.1. While the iOS 8.1.1 exists only as a beta update for developers, the beta and other sources have provided a great detail of information about the future.
With that in mind, we want to take a look at the most important things iPhone users need to know, right now, about Apple’s upcoming and highly anticipated iOS 8.1.1 update.
iOS 8.1.1 Release Date Unknown
If you’re dealing with iOS 8 problems and you’re wondering about the iOS 8.1.1 release date, know that one still hasn’t been announced and probably never will. Apple almost never relays release date information regarding incremental upgrades and with no launch date in sight, there’s a good chance that Apple will simply pull the update from the beta when it’s ready.
Here are a few things that we know about Apple’s iOS release dates. We know that it likes to release them during the week, so no need to check in on weekends. We know that it likes to release software in and around 10AM PST. If an update isn’t here by mid-afternoon, it’s time to stop checking. Keep those in mind as we march on towards release.
It’s also worth noting that the iOS 8.1 update, a much larger update than iOS 8.1.1, was in beta for a few weeks before it arrived. In other words, there’s a good chance that we could be close to an iOS 8.1.1 release date. Apple is clearly playing it safe with this update and if everything goes according to plan, we could see it roll out before the end of the month.
One thing of note. We’ve started to see heavy iOS 8.1.1 activity in our analytics. That not only points to an iOS 8.1.1 update in testing, it also means that the release could be close. Activity usually peaks a few days before a public release. We’re not saying it’ll happen on Monday but we wouldn’t be surprised if it happened in the next two weeks.
iOS 8.1.1. Release Slated for All iOS 8 iPhones
So that takes care of what we know about the when. How about the who? The answer to that is fairly straightforward. If you are in possession of an iPhone that’s compatible with iOS 8, then you’re going to be getting the iOS 8.1.1 update. The iOS 8.1.1 beta is available for all versions of the iPhone, not select models, which means it’s on its way to iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, and iPhone 4s users.
If this your first rodeo, note that all of these updates will arrive at the same time on the same day. There might be some differences in size but the updates should all be fairly similar to one another. In other words, older devices aren’t going to get watered down versions of the update. In fact, we could see older devices benefit the most from the iOS 8.1.1 update. More on that in a second.
Bug Fixes Galore
While we still don’t have the official iOS 8.1.1 change log, we know what the iOS 8.1.1 beta has on board. The iOS 8.1.1 beta update is essentially a collection of bug fixes for iOS 8 problems. This is great news for iOS 8 users because it means that Apple is still working hard at eliminating iOS 8 problems. iOS 8 issues continue to crop up in the days after its release and Apple’s been diligent about trying to squash them.
It’s not going to be as big as the iOS 8.1 bug fixer that landed a few weeks ago but it’s going to be an important update nonetheless. It should help to improve overall stability of Apple’s new OS. Change logs can change from beta to public release but right now, iOS 8.1.1 looks like it will be nothing more than an update aimed at improving performance ahead of the holidays and ahead of the Apple Watch release in early 2015.
In addition to these bug fixes, it looks like iOS 8.1 is going to provide performance enhancements for the iPad 2 and iPhone 4s, Apple’s two aging former flagships. iOS 8 is the iPad 2’s fourth iOS update, third for the iPhone 4s, so any improvements that Apple can offer going forward should be welcomed. It’s not clear exactly what it’s going to fix but our guess, right now, is speed and fluidity.
iOS 8 Jailbreak
The last thing that iPhone users need to know is that iOS 8.1.1 appears to have plugged up the exploit used by the Pangu jailbreak. What this means is that if you are planning to jailbreak your iPhone 6 or iPhone 5s on iOS 8, you’re not going to want to install iOS 8.1.1. Instead, you’ll want to remain on iOS 8.1 or lower so that you can take advantage.
Speaking of taking advantage of a jailbreak, the iOS 8 jailbreak that was released to iPhone users just a few short days ago is now officially stable enough to install. In addition, Cydia, the unofficial App Store that’s linked to the jailbreak, is now fully operational which brings added incentive to the iOS 8 jailbreak. If you want to jailbreak, now is the time to update to iOS 8.1.
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MEXICO CITY—Representatives from Mexico and Canada are seeking formal consultation with the United States over the interpretation of content rules for automobiles set out in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which took effect July 1, 2020. Requesting consultation is the first non-contentious stage of a dispute resolution mechanism provided for in the North American trade pact.
In late August, Mexico requested formal consultation over the interpretation and application of tougher content rules for cars under the USMCA, after voicing disagreement in May over the issue in a virtual meeting when it cited differences with the United States' methods. On August 27, Canada announced it was joining Mexico in seeking the consultation, citing that both countries use more flexible interpretations of language in the agreement.
"We know how important the auto industry is to Canada's workers and the Canadian economy," says Patricia Skinner, spokeswoman for Global Affairs Canada. "Canada has advised the U.S. and Mexico that it intends to join the consultations as a third party. Canada continues to work with the auto industry on this and other important issues."
"We are pleased Canada has decided to join the request for consultations, which we requested on August 20, in relation to the interpretation the United States makes of the rules of origin in USMCA for the automotive sector," Mexico's economy minister, Tatiana Clouthier, recently said on Twitter.
The USMCA, the successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement, requires 75 percent North American content for a vehicle to be considered as being from North America. The same percentage will apply for essential parts from July 1, 2023, up from 69 percent now, and compared with 62.5 percent under the previous trade pact.
Mexico argues that once the level of essential parts hits 75 percent, it is considered 100 percent and should be counted as such toward the overall value of the automobile.


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Today Tesla announced that it purchased $1.5B in bitcoin putting the world of cryptocurrency and its follower into a frenzy as Bitcoin pushed to an all-time high. The cryptocurrency is currently approaching $43,000 but went as high as $44,000 this morning. Tesla announced the move in an SEC filing today along with its plans to accept the currency as a form of payment in exchange for services and products.
According to its 10-K that was released this morning:
“In January 2021, we updated our investment policy to provide us with more flexibility to further diversify and maximize returns on our cash that is not required to maintain adequate operating liquidity. As part of the policy, which was duly approved by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, we may invest a portion of such cash in certain alternative reserve assets including digital assets, gold bullion, gold exchange-traded funds and other assets as specified in the future. Thereafter, we invested an aggregate $1.50 billion in bitcoin under this policy and may acquire and hold digital assets from time to time or long-term. Moreover, we expect to begin accepting bitcoin as a form of payment for our products in the near future, subject to applicable laws and initially on a limited basis, which we may or may not liquidate upon receipt.
Digital assets are considered indefinite-lived intangible assets under applicable accounting rules. Accordingly, any decrease in their fair values below our carrying values for such assets at any time subsequent to their acquisition will require us to recognize impairment charges, whereas we may make no upward revisions for any market price increases until a sale. As we currently intend to hold these assets long-term, these charges may negatively impact our profitability in the periods in which such impairments occur even if the overall market values of these assets increase.”
It is no secret that the Tesla CEO is on board with cryptocurrency particularly Bitcoin, although his Twitter has been plentiful with Dogecoin content, although some think it facetious. Musk also exchanged a few words on Twitter with Michael Saylor who has invested over $1 billion of his company, MicroStrategy’s funds in Bitcoin, encouraging his fellow CEO to convert the $TSLA balance sheet from USD to #BTC.
Musk voiced his support of the cryptocurrency during his Clubhouse chat last week and added the #bitcoin hashtag to his Twitter bio. Now, Tesla plans to accept bitcoin as a form of payment for its products and services as well.


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A US supermarket has come under fire for censoring a magazine cover featuring a photo of Elton John, his husband and their new baby boy.
The Harps store in rural Mountain Home, Arkansas placed plastic covers with the words - "Family Shield. To protect young Harps shoppers" - over the copies of the current edition of Us Weekly celebrity magazine.
Shopper Jennifer Huddleston said she was offended after spotting the magazines earlier this week. She posted a photograph on Twitter where she vented her outrage.
"This was taken at my local grocery store. I was shocked and horrified. Can you help bring attention to this?"
Her complaint created internet buzz after she addressed tweets to celebrities Anderson Cooper, Kathy Griffin, Ellen DeGeneres, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the ACLU, ABC reported.
Harps was flooded with calls and removed the shields.
The Us Weekly edition featured photos of gay star John, 63, and his husband David Furnish, 48, with their son Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, who was born Christmas Day.
Originally published asElton John's family too obscene for US


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Mera Market: A Rising Star in Indian Ecommerce, Hits 30 Franchises Milestone with Lifetime Ecommerce Stores, Redefining Startup Success
By ANI | Published: January 13, 2024 11:03 AM2024-01-13T11:03:12+5:302024-01-13T11:05:03+5:30
SRV Media New Delhi [India], January 13: Mera Market, an emerging player in the Ecommerce market, is rapidly gaining ...
New Delhi [India], January 13: Mera Market, an emerging player in the Ecommerce market, is rapidly gaining popularity among startups in India as their preferred platform for launching their first online stores. The platform has become a force to be reckoned with achieving multimillion-dollar sales figures and has been dedicated to assisting startups in building their brands from scratch through its innovative 'LIFETIME ECOMMERCE STORE FEATURE'. Mera Market proudly identifies itself as a "creative branding" company, emphasizing its commitment to shaping and enhancing the brand identities of its clients.
Currently, the platform boasts collaborations with over 3000 clients and operates through a network of 28 or more franchises nationwide, underscoring its significant influence on the ecommerce landscape. In March 2022, the company celebrated the achievement of serving 500 clients through a dynamic portfolio website. Following with a major milestone that was reached in December 2022, as it successfully launched its own ecommerce platform, integrating Google CMS, experiencing a remarkable surge to 1500 clients by March 2023. As of January 12th, 2024, Mera Market closed its 30th franchise, with major states like Kerala, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Uttar Pradesh contributing significantly - 12, 8, 7, and 3 franchises respectively.
"We're excited to be the preferred choice for Indian startups entering the ecommerce space. We aim to be a transformative force, supporting entrepreneurs in building successful online ventures, said Nilesh Rajendra Barnawal, Founder and CEO of Mera Market.
Nilesh has introduced a revolutionary strategy that enables startups to establish comprehensive ecommerce ventures without the encumbrance of regular fees. This distinctive offering distinguishes Mera Market from other platforms in the industry. With more than 7 years of experience, Nilesh has strategically positioned Mera Market as a transformative force for startups in India.
In a pivotal moment for the company's growth, Sharookh Anis Ahmad joined Mera Market as a company director during its learning phase. Serving as the backbone of the organization, Ahmad oversees the seamless execution of all tasks, meticulously managing records, tracking submission deadlines, client meetings, and ensuring the timely delivery of creatives.
Mera Market proudly serves a diverse clientele of over 30 clients from Bahrain, the UK, and Vanuatu. The company envisions and strives to empower small to medium-sized businesses with intelligent and affordable business growth through its super-responsive website template. Furthermore, Mera Market is dedicated to facilitating the expansion of digital presence for individuals and startups, regardless of their scale or industry. At present, the company is driven by a team of 23 dedicated employees who are actively propelling its vision and mission forward.
The head office, situated at C4, Mahavir Dham, Saibaba Nagar, Borivali West, Mumbai 400092, anchors the company's operations, while the Gorakhpur branch at 159, Rampur Buzurg, near Wireless, Hata, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh 274203, stands as a testament to an expanding reach and commitment to providing exceptional services.
Over the past year, Mera Market has expanded its team, reinforcing its operations and generating significant media attention. Clients laud the company for its user-friendly approach, particularly its utility for startup ecommerce ventures seeking to enter the online business arena without extensive financial commitments or coding expertise. The application process is straightforward - aspiring entrepreneurs can simply apply for ecommerce, share their business plans, and let the Mera Market team handle the rest.
As Mera Market continues to reshape the ecommerce landscape in India, the company's dedication to fostering creative branding and providing accessible solutions for startups is driving its success. With a commitment to lifetime ecommerce stores and a proven track record of success, Mera Market stands as the go-to platform for startups venturing into the world of online business.
For more information, please visit: https://meramarket.in/
(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media.will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editorOpen in app


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Reese's Is Launching an Adorable New Shape To Celebrate the Olympics
Olympians aren't the only ones who are soon to be biting into medals. That's because Reese's is rolling out medal-shaped milk chocolate peanut butter treats to celebrate the quadrennial sporting event taking place in Paris this summer, according to Allrecipes.
The new candy is already listed on Hershey's website, with the item standing as Reese's "first-ever summer season shape." The brand has previously released other seasonal shapes for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter. Reese's Medals will be available in three sizes: standard (1.2 ounces), king (2.4 ounces), and a 2.4-ounce four-pack.
Earlier this week, @snackolator, a food-focused Instagram account, first announced this product release, writing, "The only medals that I'm training for this summer are new Reese's Medals that are coming out for the Paris 2024 Olympics!"
The post generated some enthusiasm from Reese's fans in the comments section.
"Okay, I'm super excited about these," one Instagram user wrote.
"I love these, I can't wait!!!" another one added.
One commenter reported to have already spotted Reese's Medals at Walmart.
Hershey did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the availability of the new Reese's Medals.
The medal-shaped treats aren't the only Reese's additions to get excited about. Last week, the candy brand's new Cluster Bites hit stores nationwide. Available in seven-ounce packages, this snackable item features chocolate-covered bites of creamy peanut butter, smooth caramel, and crunchy peanuts.
Aside from these bite-sized confections, Reese's Frozen Fruit Banana Slices recently hit Costco after debuting exclusively at Walmart last fall as part of Hershey's frozen fruit line. This product consists of frozen banana slices covered in milk chocolate and Reese's peanut butter chips.
Another relatively new addition to Reese's candy lineup is the Reese's Caramel Big Cup, which Hershey introduced in November. The item has the usual chocolate and peanut butter pairing, plus an additional layer of gooey caramel. It's also larger than a standard-sized Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (hence its "Big Cup" name). Shoppers can snag this caramel-filled candy in standard and king-sized packages.


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Early 2013 may be difficult: Vic business
- From: AAP
- February 05, 2013
BUSINESS confidence is stabilising but early 2013 could be challenging with business conditions expected to weaken, a survey from Victoria's peak business body says.
The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) survey shows more than 40 per cent of respondents expect no change to both national and state economic conditions in the year ahead.
"While concerns remain, the level of business confidence appears to be stabilising," VECCI chief executive Mark Stone said in a statement.
But expectations for the March quarter are that general business conditions will weaken.
"This highlights the many challenges that Victorian businesses are currently facing, with declines expected in profits, employment and investment," Mr Stone said.
Sales were up, according to December quarter figures, but prices fell, placing profits under pressure, Mr Stone said.
Regional respondents were slightly more pessimistic about 2013 than their city cousins.
VECCI says the survey highlights the case for interest rate cuts early in the year and pro-business government policies.
"Now that the federal election date has been revealed, Victorian businesses will be looking closely for policy announcements from both major parties that support business efforts to improve productivity, invest in new equipment, products and services, and grow employment," Mr Stone said.
FAMED grief counsellor David Bonython-Wright has been ordered to spend a decade behind bars for the insidious sexual abuse of two teenage boys.
The latest round of job cuts at Holden's Elizabeth plant will strip almost $200 million from the state's economy and cost 2000 jobs, according to a new report.
A DETAILED picture of how "Mr and Mrs Average" live has been created using vast amounts of Facebook data - and it shows how radically different men and women really are.
TONY Abbott's chief of staff was busted drink driving in Canberra the night of the Opposition Leader's budget reply speech.


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Inflation in Turkey hit a 20-year-high in April as the country continued to battle rising rates, further exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine and supply chain issues, according to data published by the Turkish Statistical Institute on May 5.
A Reuters poll forecast annual consumer price inflation to be 68 percent and monthly at 6 percent.
The surge in consumer prices was driven by an annual 105.9 percent increase in transportation, and an 89.1 percent jump in food and non-alcoholic drinks prices, the data showed, while furnishings and household equipment jumped 77.64 percent.
Communication, clothing and footwear, education, and health saw the lowest increases, according to the data, although the increases were still felt in large cities such as Istanbul, where many are now turning to local discount markets to purchase cheaper garments.
Month-on-month, food and non-alcoholic drink prices rose the most at 13.38 percent as supermarkets are consistently being forced to change their prices on an almost weekly basis, while house prices rose 7.43 percent.
In recent months, properties in less affluent areas of Istanbul have increased substantially in price, and many, including the wider ex-pat community in the city, have instead resorted to renting out rooms in shared houses.
Apartments that were previously rented to tenants for around 4,000 Turkish lira ($270) this time last year are now upwards of 9,000 lira ($605), meaning that many of them remain empty despite increased demand.
Meanwhile, annual energy inflation climbed to 118.2 percent from 102.9 percent in March, Bloomberg reported.
Elsewhere on Thursday, official data showed that the domestic producer price index climbed 7.67 percent month-on-month in April for an annual rise of 121.82 percent.
Despite Turks feeling the pressure as the country reaches its highest level of inflation since early 2002, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling party have continued to put pressure on the central bank to cut interest rates several times and fired those who resisted, thus further weakening the lira.
Erdogan, a staunch opponent of high interest rates, has said inflation will fall under a new economic program, which prioritizes low interest rates to boost investment, production, exports, and employment, aimed at achieving a current account surplus.
However, opponents and economists argue that lowering interest rates will only lead to higher inflation, and given that Turkey’s economy is reliant on imported goods in multiple sectors like energy and raw materials, Erdogan’s policy has translated to further pressure on consumer prices, despite tax cuts on basic goods and government subsidies for things like electricity bills.
Central bank Gov. Sahap Kavcioglu last week said annual inflation will peak at around 70 percent by June before declining to near 43 percent by the end of the year and single digits by end of 2024.
Disinflation will begin in the next few months “thanks to a gradual decrease in supply-demand mismatches and disruptions in supply chains, in addition to the results of the steps taken for price stability,” Kavcioglu said.
The central bank governor also noted that inflation was being further exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine, and tightened COVID-19 restrictions in China which have further impacted the supply chain, stating that inflation would decrease gradually with monetary policy and the restoration of “global peace.”
He also said that tourism is expected to increase in Turkey this year. Visitors from Russia and Ukraine are the most popular each year to NATO member Turkey, which shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea.
Erdogan, who has opposed the multiple Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the invasion, has called on both sides to come to an agreement regarding a ceasefire.


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September 23, 2022
While working as a tailor to gain more experience in the fashion industry, Drake Dabbs said he needed to look for other sources of income. Although he has not had much success with scholarships in the past, he decided to apply for a scholarship that was due in just two days and worked diligently to meet the deadline. Within months, he received an email informing him of his position as a semi-finalist for the scholarship, which gave him hope for the future.
As one of 372 applicants, Dabbs recently won a $25,000 scholarship from a prestigious organization called the Council of Fashion Designers of America Inc. Dabbs’ scholarship is the first UT student to receive such an honor, making it the highest honor bestowed on a textile company and apparel student, UT Professor of Instruction, Eve Nicols, said.
“Knowing that my work will finally be seen in this sea of fashion students,” Dabbs said. “A lot of students come from these big fashion schools. I’m here at UT, a black student at DeSoto High School in a small town in Dallas, and I’ve been seen out of a sea of people. That’s when I knew it was real.”
Dabbs said he believes his work in the textile and apparel program, or TXA program — as well as his experience in both tailoring and shoemaking — played a crucial role in securing the scholarship. Despite the lack of representation that came with entering a white-dominated industry and was frequently one of the few black students on his TXA courses, he said his hard work led him to his success, and other black men in TXA could use a strong work ethic to become prominent names in fashion.
“It doesn’t matter if you go to a super expensive art school — you can come to UT,” Dabbs said. “You can learn exactly what people learn in these schools and you can beat them in a massive scholarship. That alone was a huge motivation for me, especially at UT where we’re only (about 5%) black. I was the only black person in my classes and … I won that scholarship and beat all the endorsements.”
After years in TXA and numerous jobs in the fashion industry, Dabbs finally saw the fruits of his labor. Nicols, one of Dabbs’ mentors, said Dabbs fully deserved this selective scholarship.
“Many sit back and wait. … Drake is different,” said Nicols. “He decides he wants to do something and looks for how to do it. That kind of enthusiasm is contagious.”
Gail Chovan, a UT assistant professor of teaching and another of Dabbs’ mentores, said receiving this grant is no small feat considering the award typically goes to students in larger cities like Los Angeles and New York. She said she hopes Dabbs will use CFDA funds to grow his career.
“It’s a big deal because most of the scholarships go to students from backgrounds that are considered to be much more fashion forward or fashion forward,” Chovan said. “Having someone from Texas who went to UT who went up against a really talented pool of candidates said something about Drake.”
Dabbs’ broader goals in fashion, he said, are aimed at promoting alternatives to fast fashion, raising awareness of product manufacturing and bringing more exposure to Black creators in the industry.
“While black people represent some of the highest consumers of luxury goods in fashion and automobiles, they only represent (4%) fashion design (jobs),” Dabbs said. “Black people (who) consume a lot of fashion don’t see the benefit. My goal is to let us see the means of production and let our consumption flow back into our communities. Because I work as a seamstress and shoemaker and because the (US) fashion industry is so huge, I will do everything I can to funnel this money back into the black communities.”