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Internet buyers misplaced a mean of £1000 every final yr over the busy Christmas purchasing interval, in line with new figures, prompting specialists to induce higher warning over the approaching three months.
The figures cited by the Nationwide Cyber Safety Centre (NCSC) on November, 14 come from circumstances reported to Motion Fraud and so are prone to under-represent the true scale of fraud losses over the interval.
Even so, they stand at a complete of £15.3m misplaced between November 2021 and January 2022, with youthful customers extra prone to fall sufferer. Practically half (47%) of these scammed have been 19 to 25-year-olds.
The information revealed some attention-grabbing insights into present fraud traits. Round half of the 20,000 incidents reported to Motion Fraud concerned a social media website, whereas 20% associated to the acquisition of electronics and 13% to cell phones.
The third most typical class was autos, accounting for 8% of experiences. One sufferer misplaced greater than £7000 making an attempt to buy a camper van on-line, the NCSC mentioned.
“Internet buyers will understandably be in search of bargains throughout the Black Friday and Christmas purchasing interval and we wish them to take action safely,” mentioned NCSC CEO, Lindy Cameron.
“Sadly we all know that criminals will look to use shoppers at the moment of yr which is why good cybersecurity has such an vital position to play. I’d urge everybody to assist us struggle the scammers by following our Cyber Conscious recommendation to arrange two-step verification and use three random phrases passwords.”
The NCSC additionally urged shoppers to assume extra rigorously about the place they store on-line, researching any unfamiliar internet shops to examine they’re legit – comparable to by in search of suggestions and evaluations from trusted sources.
It suggested customers to make use of a bank card when paying for items on-line, as most schemes present purchaser protections, and if particulars are stolen then a minimum of the sufferer’s checking account particulars received’t be uncovered.
The safety company added that customers ought to all the time search for a closed padlock within the deal with bar when shopping for on-line: if there isn’t one displayed, the connection isn’t safe and card knowledge could also be stolen.


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Utilized automobile need is slowing down but the market will be stable at its recent posture for yrs to come predicts Shoreham Motor vehicle Auction’s (SVA) MD Alex Wright.
The elevated cost of living and growing inflation have the two impacted retail employed automobile desire throughout 2022 impacting the wholesale current market with slipping charges and decreased income.
With 1.72m much less new cars and trucks being bought between January 2020 and May perhaps 2022 the market place is small of 1.72m made use of cars, even though dealers are also retaining a increased percentage of their element exchanges versus their new motor vehicle revenue.
Mixed these traits have created a wholesale utilised auto lack of around 2m considering the fact that Q1 2020, which puts into perspective how the sector has been badly influenced by new car shortages created by the world semiconductor disaster.
“The market is so small of stock that even if need remains frustrated for a prolonged interval costs will remain powerful. We do not forecast a value crash like we have seen in previous yrs as just about every month the provide shortage is getting even worse,” explained Wright.
“We think selling prices will continue to be at their new standard for yet another two to three decades while the gap in the employed motor vehicle supply is slowly filled.”

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(ADDS INFORMATION THROUGHOUT)
The Chicago Bears may be on the lookout for places to potentially build a new stadium, but they are staying local when it comes to gaming partners.
The storied NFL franchise announced Tuesday it has reached an exclusive multiyear agreement with Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive that makes BetRivers the team’s official sportsbook partner and Des Plaines-based Rivers Casino its official casino partner. BetRivers was the first to launch both retail and mobile sports betting in Illinois last year, while Rivers is the biggest revenue generator among the 10 casinos in the state.
“As a lifelong Bears fan, I am thrilled to have BetRivers and Rivers Casino partner with our hometown NFL team, the Chicago Bears, as the organization’s only Official Sportsbook and Casino Partner,” said Neil Bluhm, executive chairman & co-Founder of Rush Street Interactive and Rush Street Gaming, in a statement. “We look forward to expanding our relationship with the Bears and their dedicated fan base, and offering innovative products and promotions as we remain committed to delivering a first-rate customer experience. This partnership also reinforces our commitment to hometown teams in states where we have our online and land-based sportsbooks.”
The Bears had previously made PointsBet an official sports betting sponsor last September. Their deal with Rush Street Interactive gives both BetRivers and Rivers Casino “a mix of prominent in-stadium signage, and digital, social and print assets,” and BetRivers will be the title partner of a free-to-play game on the team’s app via Verizon. BetRivers will also get to offer collaborations and promotions involving exclusive Bears prizes and experiences while wagering on the team.
“We are incredibly excited to announce BetRivers and Rivers Casino as our first multi-year exclusive partner in the Sportsbook and Casino categories,” said Bears President & CEO Ted Phillips. “We look forward to connecting with our fans in fun and unique ways through these avenues and couldn’t be prouder to be building this relationship with a hometown company.”
Deal adds fresh layer of intrigue for Bears
We’re excited to announce @BetRivers and @RiversCasinoCHI as our first multi-year exclusive partner in the Sportsbook and Casino categories. Welcome to the Bears family! pic.twitter.com/z2DMUEHH3l
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) June 22, 2021
Teaming up with Rush Street Interactive on both the sports betting and casino fronts at this point in time adds to the intrigue surrounding the Bears and a talked-about potential move to the suburb of Arlington Heights. Last Thursday, the team confirmed it had made a bid to purchase Arlington International Racecourse, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated.
Churchill Downs Inc. completed the purchase of a 62% stake of Rivers Casino for $407 million in March 2019, part of its move away from the expectation of building a racino at Arlington — an opportunity CDI had long lobbied and finally allowed when Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill that expanded gaming in June 2019.
CDI announced in August 2019 it would not pursue a racino license, citing the uncompetitiveness from the high tax rates. Last July, it said it would not pursue a sports betting license at the track, which is located 12 miles from the casino and currently running what looks to be its 94th and final year of horse racing.
The Kentucky-based company announced plans to sell Arlington in February, and while the Bears are among the bidders, the Village of Arlington Heights also passed an ordinance that prohibited “negative use restrictions” in May that maintains the possibility of horse racing to continue at the track.
The Bears’ lease with the city for their current home — Soldier Field — does not expire until 2033. Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot took a shot at the Bears’ bid on social media, putting out a statement on Twitter that pointed out the team and the city are currently in negotiations regarding improvements at Soldier Field and calling the bid for Arlington Heights “a negotiating tactic that the Bears have used before.”
RSI continues fight for Illinois sports betting dollars
🚨 NEWS 🚨 We are excited to announce a multi-year exclusive partnership with @ChicagoBears!
Details: https://t.co/qGP5psMrzA pic.twitter.com/ECEf02P5P3
— BetRivers (@BetRivers) June 22, 2021
With only six mobile sports operators currently in Illinois and in-person registration required for access to mobile wagering, Rush Street Interactive is aligning Rivers Casino and BetRivers to welcome Bears fans as a means of expanding its digital base — which could include iGaming much further down the road.
Located near O’Hare Airport, Rivers Casino is the closest Illinois-based casino to downtown Chicago, though there are three casinos in Northwest Indiana also less than an hour’s drive east of “The Loop.” Rivers has generated nearly $158.2 million in revenue through the first five months of the year, accounting for 37.2% of all casino revenue in the state. Its $58.9 million in table games revenue in 2021 is more than the state’s other nine casinos combined.
For retail sports betting, Rivers is also the dominant player among the seven casinos and nine total venues (11 when counting Hawthorne Race Course’s two off-track retail sportsbooks), with its nearly $88.5 million handle accounting for 56% of all in-person handle. The BetRivers Sportsbook has generated nearly $7.8 million in retail sports betting revenue and is the only Illinois book to clear $1 million in any month.
Illinois has already proven itself a top-five market nationally for sports betting with a robust digital presence — over 96% of the $4.4 billion wagered since the first bets taken in March 2020 has been online — and the state finished behind only New Jersey nationally for handle in April in the most recent report released by the Illinois Gaming Board.
BetRivers will clear $1 billion in handle with May’s revenue report, and its $74.4 million in online sports betting revenue ranks third behind FanDuel ($89.6 mm) and DraftKings ($82.6 mm).
Despite being first to launch for mobile in June 2020, BetRivers was overtaken by both DraftKings and FanDuel as the top online sports betting options in the state. This happened despite RSI’s intense lobbying efforts that resulted in a provision in the gaming expansion bill that prevented an online-only sports wagering license application being accepted by the IGB until 18 months after the first retail license was issued and the price of the online-only license being $20 million, double the cost of a retail one.
Both DraftKings and FanDuel bypassed the waiting period by teaming with gaming venues in the state — DraftKings rebranded Casino Queen in East St. Louis last August and recently announced a $10 million expansion that will include a new sportsbook. FanDuel entered via Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria in September before rebranding Fairmount Park in Collinsville to FanDuel Sportsbook & Horse Racing and opening a retail book in March.
BetRivers reached a peak of nearly $125 million in handle in November, representing 28.8% of the mobile and online handle that month, but its $72.7 million handle for April accounted for 14.1% of the online handle as newcomer Barstool Sportsbook had its first full month of mobile operations and generated nearly $51 million in handle.
Some of the drop in handle and market share can also be attributed to the NFL offseason, showing the league’s prowess as a driver of sports betting handle. That is expected to continue at a higher level in the 2021 season with the NFL’s full embrace of legalized sports wagering.
Specific to the Prairie State, nearly $935 million has been wagered on football — the IGB reports do not break down wagering by pro and college football. That total, which included a monthly high of $255 million in November, is second only to wagering on basketball among sports. It also does not account for parlay wagering, which is immensely popular during the NFL season and accounted for nearly $310 million in wagers from September through December.


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Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced that opening a business in Pennsylvania just became easier with the creation of PA Business One-Stop Shop Registration Checklist. This tool will help small business owners and entrepreneurs more easily access necessary licenses, permits, forms, and contact information personalized for the needs of their company in just a few minutes.
“The registration checklist allows entrepreneurs and small business owners to feel confident in the preliminary steps of registering their business, which can be an overwhelming process,” said Gov. Wolf. “The PA Business One-Stop Shop was created with exactly that intention—to take out the guesswork and ensure that resources are collectively available and can be accessed with ease.”
The PA Business One-Stop Shop launched last year with the purpose of serving as the sole source for entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking guidance through all stages of business development. From planning and startup to operation and expansion, the Business One-Stop Shop offers resources for entrepreneurs, existing businesses looking to grow, and businesses from other states or countries interested in expansion in Pennsylvania.
Before the governor established the Business One-Stop Shop, small business owners and entrepreneurs had to reach out to multiple agencies and organizations for assistance throughout planning, startup, and operation processes. Small businesses employ about half of Pennsylvania’s private workforce, and about 99.6 percent of all businesses in the commonwealth are small businesses.
In October 2018, Gov. Wolf announced that the legislature passed House Bill 1284, which codified into statute the Business One-Stop Shop initiative initially proposed in his 2017-18 budget address. The One-Stop Shop quickly built momentum after its launch, generating more than 174,000 unique visits to the website and receiving critical buy-in and support from partners across the commonwealth like Small Business Development Centers.
“Governor Wolf tasked agencies with simplifying state government by cutting red tape to bolster business development and growth,” said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin. “By streamlining the Business One-Stop Shop process, we are giving entrepreneurs the peace of mind they need to take their business from concept to reality in a personalized, efficient way.”
With the support of a team of business consultants and subject matter experts who work collaboratively to pool their resources, knowledge, and experience, the PA Business One-Stop Shop makes all aspects of business development accessible.
For more information about the Wolf Administration’s commitment to helping businesses grow and thrive, visit the DCED website or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
MEDIA CONTACTS: J.J. Abbott, Governor’s Office, 717-783-1116
Casey Smith, DCED, 717-783-1132
Robert Sax | Local Government Liaison
Department of Environmental Protection | Northeast Regional Office
2 Public Square | Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
Phone: 570-826-2471 | Fax: 570-830-3054


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Treyarch has released the Black Ops Cold War update 1.28 patch this December 16, and this is fix certain issues with weapon progression, and doesn’t seem to include any new content save for bundles rolled out as part of the Festive Fervor event happening in Warzone Pacific and Vanguard.
Black Ops Cold War Update 1.28 Patch Notes:
Here’s the official announcement from Treyarch regarding today’s patch (via the official Black Ops Cold War Trello board):
Weapon Progression: Some players report that camos and attachments are now locked.
- December 16th Update @ 4pm/PT: We have released an update that is now rolling out to all players.
Yep, that’s essentially it! Again, this is a small download, so don’t expect much outside of it.
As for the new budles, here’s the announcement from Activision earlier this week.
12 Festive Days of Deals — Black Ops Cold War Bundle Discounts
Black Ops Cold War brought a wide variety of Bundles to Operators across six seasons within Black Ops and Warzone, so you may have missed a few over the past year. Enter the 12 Festive Days of Deals: starting on December 14 — two days before Festive Fervor — a selection of Bundles for Black Ops Cold War and Warzone will receive limited-time holiday discounts.
Each day leading up to December 25, five Bundles from Black Ops Cold War will be available in that game and in Warzone Pacific. Most of them, such as the “Tracer Pack: Weaver Operator Bundle” that kicks off the deals on December 14, will be featured with special discounts in their Call of Duty Point Price.
However, the 12 Festive Days of Deals will also include one new Bundle: the “Battle Pass Vault Pack Greatest Hits,” a collection of late-Tier content from the first three Black Ops Cold War Battle Passes for those who missed out on those early offerings.
Enjoy these classic Bundles in Warzone Pacific or back in Black Ops Cold War, where Treyarch also has an extended 2XP and 2WXP feast planned for the holiday season, starting December 23.
If there are more fixes included in this patch that’s unearthed, we’ll be sure to update the post.


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MUMBAI: Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), controlled by the Sri Lankan government, is in talks with Indian port companies to form consortiums to invest in Indian port projects, said people familiar with the development.
Some officials of the Sri Lankan port authority say the company has already identified projects to invest in India and is looking to bid for a number of upcoming projects. This is also the first time that Sri Lanka has shown willingness to invest in Indian projects.
"We are in talks with a few Indian companies to partner us for investing in projects in India. We are interested in many of the port projects that the Indian government is planning such as the fourth container terminal at JNPT and others," SLPA's chairman Priyath Wickrama told ET.
Industry experts and shipping ministry officials, however, fear that getting security clearance for the projects will be tough and there could be an element of suspicion that Sri Lanka might try to hamper the growth of the Indian port sector.
"It's premature at the moment. But if they manage to bid for projects, they will have to receive clearance from various ministries and that could be a challenge, especially since China is the biggest investor in port projects in Sri Lanka," said a senior official at the ministry of shipping.
Industry experts say that the move to invest in India should not be seen as something positive since Sri Lanka remains India's biggest competitor in the Indian sub-continent region.
"The new transshipment hub in Cochin and Vizhinjam Port are seen as direct competition to Colombo Port, which has been expanding largely due to the cargo from India.
In such a scenario, there's no valid reason for Sri Lanka to invest in Indian port projects as it would only hamper their projects. There could be ulterior motive behind their intention," said Hemant Bhattbhatt, senior director at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
Experts also point to the recent developments at JNPT, where the Singapore government offered to build a fourth container terminal and eventually exited the project causing delay at the port, but in the process, helped cargo flow to Singapore port due to congestion at the Indian ports.
"Much like the PSA-ABG deal at JNPT which cost the port time in developing the project and now forcing to go for a re-bid, the intention of the Sri Lanka ports needs to be ascertained clearly if they were to bid for projects in India," added BhattBhatt.
But the move to invest in port projects in India by the war-torn country also comes as a wake-up call for the shipping ministry which has been struggling to create India Ports Ltd, a venture to invest in port projects outside the country.
According to the existing policy, the government allows 100% FDI in port sector, but has barred Chinese companies from bidding for port projects in the country.
China, meanwhile, has invested more than $50 billion in developing a number of port projects in Sri Lanka alone and is also developing port projects in Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka's port sector, which remains an envy for Indian ports after the Colombo port emerged as the largest transshipment hub in the south East Asian region, was earlier looking for Indian companies to invest in Sri Lanka.
But after India decided to stay away from bidding for a number of port projects in the country, Chinese companies pledged investments to the tune of $50 billion spread over the next 10-15 years.
India is currently Sri Lanka's biggest trading partner, but China is its biggest donor.
The Sri Lankan port authority also played down the competition arising from India's first transshipment hub in Cochin, saying the Vallarpadam terminal is not likely to attract much cargo as the performance and cost effectiveness of the Colombo port will pose the biggest challenge and shippers will prefer to call at Colombo as it lies on the mainline shipping route.
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An Onvia study has revealed nationwide state, local and educationalÂ procurements including bids and requests-for-proposals has declined by 1.4 percent in the second quarter of 2016 from Q2 of 2015.
Onvia said ThursdayÂ itsÂ “State & Local Procurement Snapshot for Q2 2016” reportÂ showedÂ the year’s first half showed anÂ 0.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2015.
“Onvia believes these trends point to a market that continues to represent stability but with a slowing overall rate of growth,” saidÂ Paul Irby, an Onvia market analyst.
“In the evolving business-to-government market, the best vendors will be smart about their tactics and strategies and seek out the best sectors and levels of government where their efforts will be rewarded.”
The reported also segmented the SLED procurements under four categories:
- Business Services –Â Education, Financial, Healthcare and other services
- Information Technology/Telecommunications –Â Consulting, Hardware, Software and Wireless/Telecom
Onvia added theÂ IT/Telecom group recorded the highest year-on-year growth rate at 3.8 percent in Q2 2016 as a result of a demand forÂ IT consulting, software and wireless/telecom products and services.


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PUBG New State is practically knocking on the door and fans cannot wait to see what kind of new toys, weapons, and mechanics they’ll see in the new game. Before launch, the dev team has released a brief video showcasing all kinds of new gameplay mechanics such as bulletproof glass that will allow players to shield themselves from damage momentarily.
When PUBG New State was first unveiled, there was a palpable sense of cautious optimism around the game and whether it will actually do enough to stand independently as a worthy sequel. Now, from the looks of it, it looks like the game might be up to the challenge and it will change up the PUBG formula in a significant way for it to be a meaningful step-up for the series.
PUBG New State has a bunch of cool new mechanics
— PUBG: NEW STATE (@PUBG_NEWSTATE) November 8, 2021
Over the past few days, devs have been releasing small videos leading up to the launch that details new mechanics. One of the most exciting ones is the ability to carry a bunch of loot and items in the trunk of vehicles, allowing players to carry way more loot than previously possible.
In terms of combat, players will now be able to use their environment to a much larger degree with them being able to utilize bulletproof glass in buildings. However, perhaps one of the biggest game-changers arrives in the form of the ability to recruit downed enemies to your squad – allowing you to up your numbers late into a match. Enemy players can now be recruited into the squad, should you have less than 4 players left in it.
— PUBG: NEW STATE (@PUBG_NEWSTATE) November 6, 2021
Environmental destruction and manipulation also looks like a key focus as some material like wood and cloth will allow players to shoot through them. This sort of environmental destruction opens up all kinds of possibilities in terms of gameplay and makes the matches feel all the more frantic.


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LONDON (Reuters) - Cadbury Schweppes Plc, the world’s largest confectionery group, pleaded guilty on Friday to charges of selling unsafe chocolate in Britain and Ireland during 2006 and faces an unlimited fine.
Cadbury, which makes Dairy Milk chocolate, was appearing before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court after Birmingham City Council prosecuted the London-based chocolate and sweets group over a salmonella-related scare.
“Cadbury has indicated that it will be pleading guilty to the charges brought by Birmingham City Council in relation to the contamination of certain Cadbury products last year,” the group said in a statement.
Analysts said they expected any fine would not be material to the group, while the fact Cadbury admitted its guilt early and that it was mistaken that the infection did not pose a threat to health would be seen as mitigating factors.
The case is being referred to the higher Birmingham Crown Court, where fines are unlimited, and sentencing is scheduled to take place on July 13.
The council is prosecuting Cadbury under the UK General Food Regulations and Food Hygiene Regulations for, among other things, failing immediately to alert authorities it had reason to believe some of its chocolate was infected with salmonella.
“Mistakenly, we did not believe that there was a threat to health and thus any requirement to report the incident to the authorities -- we accept that this approach was incorrect,” the Cadbury statement added.
A neighboring local council in Herefordshire said on Friday it is to prosecute Cadbury over the same alleged offence. Cadbury said it will be examining these charges.
Cadbury’s UK chocolate manufacturing is based in Birmingham in the West Midlands, while the alleged offence took place at its Marlbrook plant in Herefordshire, 80 km south-west of Birmingham.
Cadbury has said it detected salmonella on January 19, 2006, at Marlbrook, which produces chocolate crumb mixture.
On June 23, the company admitted the problem, which was linked to a leaking pipe, and said it was recalling more than one million chocolate bars in the UK and Irish markets because they could contain minute traces of salmonella. It estimated the recall cost at 30 million pounds ($59 million).
The UK Health Protection Agency said later the most credible explanation of an outbreak of salmonella montevideo was the consumption of products made by Cadbury.
After months of investigation, Birmingham Council decided in April 2007 to press charges against Cadbury for selling unsafe chocolate products, failing to report salmonella immediately and for failing food hygiene and hazard controls.
Herefordshire council said it will prosecute Cadbury over six alleged offences related to not keeping its factory in good repair, the plant’s layout and provision of adequate drainage, and also the cleaning and disinfection of equipment.
Cadbury is summoned to appear before Herefordshire Magistrates’ Court on July 24.
Its shares edged lower after news of the guilty plea to stand off 1 percent at 708 pence by 1105 GMT, in a firmer London market. They stood at 710p before the news.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Jul 29, 2015
By Andy Johnson
As we reported you last week, there is a new Dr. Seuss’ new book, called “What Pet Should I Get?”. It features the same siblings from the 1960 classic “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.”
The book went on sale Tuesday, two weeks after the release of Harper Lee’s long-awaited second novel, “Go Set a Watchman.” Dr. Seuss scholar Dr. Donald Pease, of Dartmouth University, says unlike some fans who’ve been disappointed by Lee’s newly released second novel, Dr. Seuss fans won’t get any unexpected surprises. Pease suggests Seuss didn’t publish the book while he was still alive because he used it as a jumping-off point for “One Fish Two Fish” instead.
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Ambuja Neotia Group’s hospitality vertical has recently introduced globally recognized American casual dining chain, Uno Chicago Bar & Grill in India through franchise route. The first outlet has opened at Gardens Galleria Mall, Noida.
Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of the Ambuja Neotia Group says, “We feel that the Indian consumer is a well-travelled consumer who has an acquired taste to world cuisine. The Indian market is yet untapped with immense potential and it is an exciting time to enter India.”
“As an authentic American Bar & Grill concept, the brand is positioned to be a smart casual dining restaurant in India, where people can enjoy a truly American cuisine paired with crafted drinks and entertainment with live performances. Anchored by vibrant culinary heritage, strong craft culture in food and beverages and deeply mindful of wellness, Uno is bringing Deep Dish and New Americana to India. As an ‘Eat-ertainment’ driven casual dining space, it is inclusive and welcoming for all generations – millennial, the young-at-heart and kid. The restaurants will operate as a family style full service restaurant,” he adds.
Each restaurant in India, which will spread across 2,500-3,000 square feet with the interiors same as of any other Uno Pizzeria & Grill restaurant in the US, will be opened with an approximate capex of Rs 4-5 crore.
“This year, the brand is opening outlets in region of NCR, Kolkata and Bengaluru. The group has signed a franchise agreement with the food chain to open about 70 outlets across the country over the next seven years spreading across Tier I and II cities,” states Neotia.
The brand is planning to open 12-15 outlets in the next 3 years with estimated investments upwards of Rs 60 crore.
Tracing Brands’ History
Uno Chicago Bar & Grill’s entry in India also coincides with its 75 years of successful global operations. Globally, the brand is recognized for its fun and welcoming Chicago inspired environment. The dining experience is relaxed, casual and family friendly as the brand places great emphasis on hospitality and service. The brand is synonymous with pizza but the menu extends to pastas, grills, salads, burgers, sandwiches and special curated menus. The chain also gives special emphasis to bar and alcohol offerings.
Famous for inventing Deep Dish Pizza in 1943, Uno’s mission is to deliver big, bold flavors, rich, rewarding experiences and unbelievably delicious pizza and a range of other delectable menu creations.
According to Neotia, “The UNO story began in Chicago in 1943 when Ike Sewell developed deep-dish pizza and opened a new type of restaurant at the corner of Ohio and Wabash. It was here that Ike served a pizza unlike any that had been served before. He figured that if some of Italy’s old, authentic recipes with impressive quantities of the finest meats, fresh cheeses, ripe vegetables and flavourful spices is combined with pizza, it could become a hearty meal. That was the start of an American tradition – the Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. Today, 75 years later, UNO continues to be undisputed creators of original Deep Dish Pizza, bringing its legacy to India.”
The Boston, Massachusetts-based brand has 110 company-owned and franchised restaurants located in 21 states of the US. Apart from this, the brand has international presence through franchise outlets in the District of Columbia, the United Arab Emirates, Honduras and Saudi Arabia.


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We’re proud to announce CloudSense is joining the Future Fifty, Tech City’s program for the UK’s fastest growing, late-stage tech companies.
CloudSense is one of 26 new companies to join the Future Fifty for 2018. The chosen companies were identified as having unique opportunities to scale and become UK tech powerhouses by a judging panel made up of the some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors.
Future Fifty companies have an outstanding track record. Since the program’s launch in 2013, the 103 companies that have taken part have collectively:
• Raised $5.5 billion
• Created 27,000 jobs
• Seen 28 exits (5 IPOs and 23 mergers and acquisitions).
CloudSense’s rise is rooted in our ability to help brands that are being disrupted, transform to become the disruptors. With CloudSense, organizations sell more, launch products faster and reduce costs by providing frictionless, digital-first customer experiences, all on Salesforce.
Joining the Future Fifty caps a remarkable few months for CloudSense. In February, we were recognized as having the most complete vision in Gartner’s first-ever Magic Quadrant for Configure, Price and Quote (CPQ) Application Suites. This achievement was made all the sweeter by our standing as the youngest company featured on this Magic Quadrant.
Prior to that, last November, we announced a $77 million investment from Vector Capital. The funding will further accelerate our growth and product development – ensuring we can carry out our market-leading vision.
“Joining the Future Fifty and being recognized as one of UK’s burgeoning tech businesses is another hugely exciting step for CloudSense. There’s an enormous opportunity to tap into the expertise of the current Future Fifty network, as well as its exceptional alumni who have scaled the heights we aspire to reach,” said Richard Britton, CloudSense CEO and Co-Founder.
Richard continued, “It’s been an exceptional few months for CloudSense. Following our recognition as a visionary by Gartner at the start of this year, being a part of the Future Fifty only gives us more momentum. Alongside Vector’s investment, and a number of impressive recent customer wins, we continue to add further credence to our ever-growing capability to execute our vision faster, for more customers.”
The Future Fifty offers its members a range of benefits including access to leading advisors, promotional opportunities and an expert network made up of the UK Government, alongside Future Fifty peers and alumni. You can read more about the program and its members by following this link.


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Egmont Publishing is owned by Egmont and focuses on award-winning content and platforms within film, television, streaming and cinema over gaming, e-commerce and marketing services to educational platforms, magazines and books.
Egmont Publishing is behind a wide range of popular magazine titles and books in more than 20 countries, and global licensing partnerships with a range of brand owners including Disney, Mattel, Hasbro, Mojang and Roblox.
On completion, Egmont Books UK will be run as a distinct children's division led by the managing director of Egmont UK, Cally Poplak.
Poplak will join HarperCollins UK Executive Committee, and will report to Charlie Redmayne, CEO, HarperCollins UK, the statement said.
The division will maintain its publishing autonomy and will remain in its offices for the immediate future.
In Germany, Schneiderbuch will integrate into the children's books group reporting to Carina Mathern, Editorial Director of HarperCollins Germany Children's books who reports to Juergen Welte, MD HarperCollins Germany, and Egmont Books Poland will report through Agnieszka Baranska, MD, HarperCollins Poland, the statement said.
Chantal Restivo-Alessi, CEO International Foreign Language and CDO, HarperCollins Publishers said, "Egmont's expertise in the children's book market and position as a global player in licensed publishing, combined with HarperCollins global footprint will be the cornerstone for building and growing our worldwide strength in children's publishing."
According to Charlie Redmayne, CEO HarperCollins UK, "The acquisition of Egmont will enable us to unlock the potential of licensed publishing across the broadest international reach."
Egmont Publishing CEO Torsten Bjerre Rasmussen said it was a strategic decision to exit the children's book business in UK, Poland and Schneiderbuch in Germany.
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- Sebi Set to End Permanent Board Positions
Reining in special rights, ASBA-like system for stock trades, and allowing PEs to become MF sponsors are also on agenda.Vedanta Likely in Talks to Sell 10% in India Unit
With debt repayments up to $2 billion maturing by June, billionaire Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Resources Ltd (VRL) has reached out to investors for a strategic stake sale of up to 10% in India-listed Vedanta Ltd (VEDL), said people with knowledge of the matter.India’s Return to Normalcy has a Price & Households are Paying It
The return to normalcy from the pandemic has turned out costly for households with office and school requirements triggering a spike in prices of items such as shirts, trousers, shoes, coats and school uniforms among others.
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India’s rich are growing in numbers, but why luxury car sales aren’t. (Think value-seeking buyers)
7 mins read
12 mins read


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|Source: YouTrip. YouTrip has launched a referral programme where users earn S$5 with each successful referral. Those referred also receive S$5.|
YouTrip, Singapore's leading multi-currency mobile wallet, is gearing for growth with its biggest user referral programme since its launch in 2018.
From 30 March 2021, YouTrip users will earn S$5 with each successful referral, along with a S$50 bonus when they complete their first 10 referrals.
Despite the pandemic’s impact on global travel, YouTrip saw a 300% increase in overseas e-commerce payments last year after pivoting to promote international online shopping with payments in foreign currencies at sites such as Taobao (RMB), ASOS (British pounds), and Amazon (US$).
Caecilia Chu, Co-Founder, and CEO of YouTrip, said “Our users have always been our best spokespersons, and word of mouth has naturally been a huge part of our growth over the years. Despite travel coming to a standstill over the last year, many of our users have continued to use YouTrip to save on their foreign currency spending online.
"As more people make foreign currency payments online, we feel we’re in a good position to reward our existing users who continue to support us, along with those who come on board.”
To receive referral rewards, existing YouTrip users must copy the unique referral link generated in the YouTrip app and send it to anyone who isn’t already a YouTrip user. New users will have to accept the invite via the unique referral link and sign up for a YouTrip account.
Both referrer and referee will receive S$5 in their YouTrip accounts upon the first successful top-up. In addition, existing users will receive a one-time S$50 bonus upon completing their first 10 referrals, and will continue to receive S$5 per referral thereafter.
As a launch exclusive, the first 250 users to complete three successful referrals will also enjoy an additional S$15 bonus.
The launch of the referral programme is part of YouTrip’s plans to be the region’s leading multicurrency mobile wallet. Most recently, YouTrip announced a six-year partnership with Visa to accelerate its expansion into the rest of Southeast Asia, starting with Malaysia and the Philippines.
Currently operating in Singapore and Thailand, YouTrip has amassed over 1 million downloads to date.
Read the terms & conditions for the referral programme.


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Stephen Curry can thank his daughter Riley for his choice to do business with Under Armour.
Sep 12, 2023
Outside of their extreme athletic abilities, NBA players are also known for their fashion choices. And a select few are fortunate enough to have a signature sneaker line. From Michael Jordan to Stephen Curry, NBA stars have long pushed their name, image, and likeness with a shoe that represents them on and off the court. Chris Webber was allowed a signature sneaker, but his outcome differed from the previously mentioned. Webber is a Detroit, MI, native who entered the league as the 1993 No. 1 draft pick, selected by the Orlando Magic. He was then traded to the Golden State Warriors, according to Rookie Wire. Spending only one season in the Bay Area, Webber would play for several other teams, spending most of his career with the Sacramento Kings. During his 15-season career, he averaged 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. His on-court performance led him to become Rookie of the Year and a five-time All-NBA Team member. With consistent playtime and credible contributions on...
Jul 11, 2023
Kyrie Irving and Nike have officially parted ways.
Dec 5, 2022
The most profitable shoe deals in the NBA, in total, generate billions of dollars for the sneaker industry. And yet, the most profitable shoe deal on this list goes to a man who hasn’t stepped on the basketball court in more than two decades. “Wholesale revenue at Nike’s Jordan Brand subsidiary hit $3.14 billion in the fiscal year ending May 2019, up 10% from 2018,” reports Forbes, who compiled the initial list of the most profitable shoe deals in the NBA today. “ MJ’s annual take is an estimated $130 million, four times more than that of James, the No. 2 earner, with $32 million. Arguably, 16 years after he last laced up his own high tops on the court, more Jordan-branded shoes and apparel are being sold than the signature lines of every other current NBA player. Combined.” The business of sneakers is a profitable one and one that has made millions of dollars for basketball players that have been lucky enough to get into it. In fact, according to Forbes, the vast majority of NBA...
Aug 17, 2022
Details about the Derrick Rose deal with adidas have been released, and needless to say, he’s making sure that everybody eats. Fadeaway World is reporting that the NBA superstar first signed his deal with the shoe giant back in 2012, and he made sure that there were provisions for both his brother and his best friend — his two closest confidantes — to get paid. “Along with his own deal that brought him $12 million per season between 2012 and 2017, Derrick Rose ensured that his brother would make $250-300,000 for his role as a consultant. And for his best friend, Rose ensured that he would make $50-75,000 a year for his role as a consultant as well,” reports the outlet. Even though Rose hasn’t had the easiest of times making his basketball career jump off, he knew that he had to keep his family and friends paid. That, according to him, was a way toward financial security. Fortunately, he figured out a way to do it with the adidas deal, even as his salary with basketball continued to...
Jan 14, 2022


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On ABC TV recently and at the SAFAA conference, Senator Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy said that people offering advice on social media about personal investments are no different from the bloke at the pub, or a taxi driver giving stock tips.
Also interviewed by the ABC, Judith Fox, CEO of SAFAA pointed out that giving tips on social media is very different, noting that ‘If you’re on social media, you can get out to hundreds, potentially thousands and potentially millions of followers who are going to take on board that advice.’
‘Just because you’re on social media does not mean you should be exempt from the regulatory protections [for consumers] that other advisers are subject to,’ she stated.
While there are finfluencers providing helpful advice on topics that range from the importance of a household budget to what an ETF stands for or how to analyse a cryptocurrency, SAFAA’s concern is that the extraordinary reach of most finfluencers cannot be separated from the fact that many of them are running a business based on advertising revenue generated from making investment ‘opinions’. There is no consumer protection for those who act on those ‘opinions’.
Only individuals that hold an Australian Financial Services Licence, or are authorised by a licensee, can give financial product advice to consumers. As a result, finfluencers will ensure that their sites advise that they are not providing financial advice. Yet social media finfluencers frequently promote outright scams and pump and dump schemes, and it can be difficult for audiences to discern what is legitimate content and what is fraudulent. Finfluencers can have vested interests in the investments they promote and the information provided can result in overvalued assets, large price swings and big losses for vulnerable investors.
At the recent financial influencer MarketLit conference – the first one held – it was noted that finfluencers are seeking to fill a gap and ensure that a diversity of voices is heard, given that the financial services sector is overwhelmingly male and of a certain age.
However, the professional and educational qualifications required of licensed financial advisers and the oversight and monitoring they are subject to by licensees and the regulator are not about discriminating against youth or diversity, but about preventing consumers from receiving poor financial advice.
At the MarketLit finfluencer conference, Sommer Taylor from ASIC noted that ‘You might be getting information on something that is simply inaccurate, and those providing it they might have conflicted or vested interests. They may be paid to promote a certain product or idea.’
The regulator is increasingly concerned about online financial content, given the huge influx of new investors into share markets over the past 12 months, many of whom base decisions on social media rather than professional advice or company research. ‘Information and advice on social media forums such as Reddit, Facebook and LinkedIn may be conflicted,’ ASIC says. ‘Some companies and product issuers pay promoters to post favourable comments to encourage first-time traders to invest,’ the regulator says.
Many finfluencers have embraced ASIC’s commitment to policing unlicensed investment advice, pointing out that they want those creating misinformed or dangerous content on social media to be weeded out. Financial Services Minister Jane Hume is clear, however, that the federal government will not step in to address the growing online market for unlicensed financial advice. The government is of the view that buyer beware is the approach.
‘We have to back Australians to be sensible enough to judge for themselves whether to put their hard-earned money into higher-risk assets,’ Senator Hume said at the SAFAA conference. ‘It’s about personal responsibility and common sense.’
‘Some of the information and opinions that consumers receive from online forums will be bad. But some of it will be good. And a lot of it will better engage younger generations in investment and financial markets,’ Senator Hume said.
The social media voice is aimed at some of Australia’s youngest and most vulnerable investors. It is yet to be tested if buyer beware will suffice to protect them.
ABC TV The Business 14 July


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Launch of Mantleswap Incentivised Testnet
Dear MantleSwap Community,
Today, We are excited to announce the Incentivised testnet launch of MantleSwap on the Mantle Network’s Testnet. MantleSwap is a Automated Market Maker (AMM) decentralized exchange that aims to bring unprecedented speed, security, and efficiency to the world of decentralized finance (DeFi)
Testnet link — https://testnet.mantleswap.org/swap
Some of the key features of MantleSwap:
Lightning-fast transaction processing times: Thanks to the Mantle Network’s Layer-2 technology, MantleSwap can process transactions in a matter of seconds, even during periods of high network congestion.
Lower fees: MantleSwap’s transaction fees are significantly lower than those charged by centralized exchanges, making it an affordable option for small and large traders alike.
User-friendly interface: MantleSwap’s user interface is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even for those who are new to DeFi.
Wide selection of tokens: MantleSwap supports a wide range of popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many more.
At MantleSwap, we are committed to creating a more open, transparent, and fair financial system for all. By leveraging the power of advanced blockchain technology, we believe that we can bring unprecedented efficiency, security, and accessibility to the world of DeFi.
So if you’re ready to experience the future of decentralized finance, head on over to MantleSwap and start trading today!
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to bringing you even more exciting updates in the future.
The MantleSwap Team
What is MantleSwap?
MantleSwap is a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform offering a full suite of tools to explore and engage with the future of wealth building, build on Mantle L2 network
Official Links -
Website — https://www.mantleswap.org/
Twitter — https://twitter.com/MantleSwap
Discord — https://discord.gg/YNCRmyN8Jr


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First came Amazon Fresh online grocery shopping. Now the retail giant is developing its bricks and mortar presence. After experiencing great success in the UK and US retail markets, Amazon announced it will open its latest US grocery store in Bellevue, Washington.
For the first time, customers won’t have to wait in line for the checkout, as the company offers all of the usual groceries that consumers would expect to see in conventional grocery stores with the added benefit of speed and convenience.
Entering The Bricks and Mortar Retail Market
The Amazon Fresh brand opened its first store back in August 2020, but since then, it has expanded to operate 13 stores across the United States, including California, Illinois, and Virginia. The retailer continues to impress customers with ‘e-commerce like’ pricing, as it continues to offer consumer products at competitive rates.
Shoppers at the new store in Bellevue will be able to access the store from 7 am to 10 pm, seven days a week. But this ‘smart store’ differentiates itself from the rest. Amazon will operate the Bellevue store by implementing its ‘Just Walk Out’ technology, which the company has tried and tested to receive positive results:
- “Fast in and out, and no waiting in lines. Checking out with my palm was super cool. Seemed high tech and traditional at the same time.”
- “The assortment was great. The staff was friendly. I didn’t even think of technology; I just shopped.”
- “Everything was set up intuitively, and the experience was so effortless. No lines, no scanning items—almost like magic.”
- “Super-easy shopping experience. Inviting, colourful space. [A number] of unique products (Duke's mayo, Aplenty chips). Employees were also very friendly.”
How Does ‘Just Walk Out’ Technology Work?
The Just Walk Out technology incorporates computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning to provide customers with a convenient way to shop. The system works in conjunction with the widely-used Amazon app, allowing customers to come into the store, pick up their groceries, and exit the store without having to scan the goods on the way out. Upon exiting the store, the value of the goods is automatically charged to the customer’s payment card via the Amazon app.
There are three ways that customers can log their entrance and enter the gates at the new store. They can scan a QR code in their Amazon app, use Amazon One - a contactless palm scanner - to scan their palm upon entry, or by inserting their payment card linked to their Amazon account. While shopping, the store will record any items they pick up while also recording items that are returned to the shelves. This updates the shopper’s virtual cart, similar to the online process.
Dilip Kumar, Vice President of Physical Retail and Technology at Amazon, commented on the success of this retail technology so far. “Customers have enjoyed the effortless shopping experience enabled by our Just Walk Out technology at our Amazon Go, Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, and third-party retailer stores. The feedback has been fantastic, with customers noting that skipping the checkout allows them to save time and reduce contact in stores,” Kumar Says.
Kumar also says, “bringing Just Walk Out technology to a full-size grocery space with the Amazon Fresh store in Bellevue showcases the technology’s continued ability to scale and adapt to new environments and selection. I’m thrilled it’ll help even more customers enjoy an easier and faster way to shop and can’t wait to get their feedback on this latest Just Walk Out offering.”
As digital shopping is taking over the retail industry, it’s easy to forget the shoppers who are not as invested in technology. Customers who do not wish to use the Just Walk Out system can make use of a traditional checkout in the store. Ultimately the Amazon wants the store to be used by everyone, including those who wish to pay with cash.


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Signs continue to point to continued growth opportunities across a wide swath of tech stocks. Recently, the tech-heavy Nasdaq exchange has often been observed to outperform more balanced exchanges like the Dow on down days. That’s a sharp about-face from a few months ago, when the Nasdaq almost always underperformed relative to other exchanges. It suggests that downside risk is decreasing in the world of tech stocks.
This is certainly related to slowing interest rate hikes. Those higher rates resulted in massive trouble throughout 2022 across tech. That said, these changing tides again put tech stocks in the driver’s seat as it relates to growth opportunities.
Here are seven of the top opportunities I’m looking at right now in the world of tech.
Impinj (NASDAQ:PI) is one of the top tech stocks to keep a close eye on for growth opportunities moving forward. The firm provides radio frequency solutions that help connect everyday items to the internet. The result is increased data about items, that promises to lead to greater insights for consumers and companies. The notion that the internet of things (IoT) will lead to better products that better reflect consumer needs is a primary reason it is such a hot sector.
Just how high those growth rates are may surprise. It’s expected the IoT space will grow at a compounding annual rate of approximately 26% between 2023 and 2030. Impinj, in turn, is well-positioned to provide growth to its investors.
Impinj’s most recent earnings report shows even greater growth than those projections suggest. In Q1, Impinj’s sales increased by 57.9% on a year-over-year basis. The positive news for investors is that PI stock is not even close to being fully valued, and remains a unanimous buy rating from Wall Street.
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is, in my opinion, the tech stock that best exhibits high growth potential as well as the ability to preserve investor capital. MSFT stock doesn’t necessarily have massive upside above its current price based on analysts’ consensus. But Microsoft is very evidently well-positioned to continue to grow over the long-term.
The most salient factor driving this growth is of course Microsoft’s huge $10 billion investment into OpenAI and ChatGPT. Investors’ early perception was an is that Microsoft struck first among big tech firms in securing a foot in the door in AI. Perception is important, but so too is the potential for ChatGPT’s integration into Bing to revitalize Microsoft’s search aspirations. Bing now promises the opportunity to claw back search market share from Google. That growth opportunity is massive.
On top of that, Microsoft is fundamentally rebounding as well. The company’s sales and net income increased by 7% and 9% respectively in Microsoft’s Q3 and full 2023 fiscal year. It’s likely that MSFT stock continues to grow via its exposure to AI, while remaining dominant in its other businesses, providing healthy returns for investors.
When AI burst onto the scene earlier this year, Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) was perceived to be on its back foot. Microsoft clearly got the jump on the search leader and YouTube owner.
But those early perceptions may be shifting again following a recent I/O developers conference. The conference was a clear rebuttal to notions that Microsoft and ChatGPT are the firm to watch. Google announced generative AI tools and products aimed at countering ChatGPT. It is integrating those tools into Google search, clear to say that Bing will not take any ground away from the dominant force in search.
The news was well received, as GOOG stock shot up more than 5% in response.
It seems fairly clear that both Alphabet and Microsoft are in fortuitous positions currently. Both are likely to receive a continued influx of investor capital. The AI growth opportunity heavily favors big tech. Google’s flat earnings report doesn’t matter now. The company’s share price and valuation is once again untethered from fundamentals as interest rates flatten and Google’s AI aspirations take off.
ON Semiconductor (ON)
ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ:ON) has been among the steadiest chip stocks in this post-pandemic environment. Other semiconductor firms have faltered as the boom evaporates but ON Semiconductor isn’t among them.
Global chip sales are falling this year. Gartner expects an overall global sales decline of 11.2% in 2023. Thus, any firm that can avoid such steep declines should logically be considered something of a winner.
ON Semiconductor is one such firm. The firm grew by 1% in the first quarter, which not only exceeds those global growth rates, but also exceeded internal expectations.
A big factor in the firm’s success is its alignment with growth industries. ON Semiconductor is deeply aligned with the automotive sector. The company’s automotive sector revenues increased by 38% in the most recent quarter, accounting for a record 50% of revenues. ON Semiconductor should see similar performance throughout the remainder of 2023 with flat growth but, again, that’s very strong growth when taken in a relative sense.
Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) stock is down roughly 50% from the beginning of the tech rout that began in late-2021. Accordingly, it remains among the most overpriced software firms in existence based on its price-to-earnings ratio .
However, Salesforce remains well-regarded by analysts and is a straightforward choice for investors. The reason being Salesforce dominates the customer relationship management market. The firm controls more market share than the next nine biggest firms in the space, and roughly a third of the market overall.
And like other dominant tech firms, Salesforce has an AI opportunity that promises to further cement its position. The company is integrating Slack GPT into its Slack platform. The integration promises to increase productivity, saving 3.6 hours of work on an average week for users. That doesn’t mean workers will suddenly have 4 free hours at work. Instead, it means companies like Salesforce that integrate first will have employees with four more hours of productivity weekly to use on other projects. That will add up quickly, and could be monetized accordingly by the company.
Visa (NYSE:V) continues to grow quickly despite expectations of an impending recession. Consumer spending and consumer credit continue to increase despite those concerns. In turn, Visa stock continues to exhibit strong growth potential that is reflected in its second-quarter results.
Visa’s business is booming due to spiking payments volume that increased by 10% overall. Cross-border payments are especially strong, having increased 24% in Q2 on a year-over-year basis. As a result, revenues increased by 11%, with net income growing by 17%.
Analysts remain positive about Visa’s prospects due to the fact that credit card debt is only increasing. American consumers remain unwilling to take on less credit card debt overall. Inflation continues to hurt consumers, who in turn have upped their credit card usage.
In any case, the U.S. economy relies heavily on consumption often financed through credit cards. And that points to a continued opportunity for Visa investors, even as worries about the overall economy mount.
Rounding out this list of tech stocks to buy is Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE), a diversified stock for the digital economy. The company hasn’t received much attention recently, as its earnings do not coincide with the normal earnings season. Adobe will release its earnings in mid-June, which by all indications, will likely be strong.
Adobe reported record Q1 revenues in mid-March, providing improved revenue guidance for Q2 of between $4.75 to $4.78 billion. Two months later, the average expectation is that Adobe will report $4.77 billion in sales next month.
The thesis around this stock is relatively simple. Because Adobe has sort of fallen by the wayside due to the timing of its earnings release, while continuing to project strong growth based on all the data, it remains a stock that could have the greatest potential to pop near-term. Additionally, over the longer-term, it appears that Adobe stands to benefit in a big way from the integration of AI into its creative cloud. AI is certain to make PhotoShop much more productive overall, and Adobe will create dozens of new apps that leverage AI moving forward. As a result, growth should continue for a very long time with this tech behemoth.
On the date of publication, Alex Sirois did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.


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Update: Serious Sam 3 VR: BFE is now available for purchase on Steam for $35.99 (that includes a 10% launch discount, normally it’s $39.99) with support for both HTC Vive and Oculus Rift with Touch.
Original: Hot off the back of the release of The Talos Principle VR, it looks like Croteam’s next VR port will be here very, very soon.
A listing for Serious Sam 3 VR: BFE, which was announced earlier this year, recently popped up on Steam and confirms that the game will be releasing on November 9th. We’re reaching out to Croteam and publisher Devolver Digital to make sure that’s 100% the case, but it’d be a little weird to suddenly post a Steam listing saying your game releases tomorrow if that isn’t really the case.
The Steam page also includes the first trailer for the game in action, which you can see above. It looks exactly like you’d expect: a straight up port of the fast-paced action game for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, much like the ports of the first two games were. It’s set to offer the usual cooperative and single-player modes, the former of which can be played with those using the traditional version of the game.
The game’s release also means Croteam will have ported all of its 3D games to VR now, which begs the question: what’s next? The developer recently moved its full VR game, Serious Sam: The Last Encounter, out of Early Access (and we loved it), so we’re not sure what else is on the table. Could we perhaps see a VR version of the upcoming The Talos Principle 2 launch day and date with the standard version of the game? Or could the developer now turn its attention to PlayStation VR (PSVR) ports of its existing VR titles?


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Saving food, naturally.
The United Nations estimates that one-third of food goes to waste. Meanwhile, consumers increasingly turn up their noses at synthetic preservatives. Danish bioscience company Chr. Hansen produces more than 30,000 strains of “good bacteria,” which it harnesses to various ends. Some of its innovations help extend food’s usable life spans, like its lactic acid cultures, which preserve yogurt shelf life by 10 days. Other microbial solutions reduce antibiotic and pesticide use in farming. One treatment has boosted sugar-cane crop yields by 10 percent. Meanwhile, studies have demonstrated the company’s probiotic supplements reduce sick days and reverse gut damage from aspirin. After 145 years of operations, Chr. Hansen has customers in 140 countries and estimates it touches 1 billion lives daily.
|Impact Segment||Public Health/Nutrition|
|Prior Year Rank||-|
|Revenues ($M) (Last Fiscal Year)||$1,308|
|Profits ($M) (Last Fiscal Year)||$272|
|Market Value ($M) as of 8/12/19||$10,794|


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Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has announced that it will name its consumer health division “Kenvue.”
Earlier this year, GSK (NYSE:GSK) made a similar move by naming its consumer healthcare segment “Haleon.” That moniker fuses the old English word ‘hale’ with the name “Leon.” The first word means ‘healthy’ while the second refers to “strength.”
Haleon became a separate unit in July 2022.
Similarly, Kenvue brings together the words “ken,” meaning “knowledge,” and “vue,” meaning “sight.”
Johnson & Johnson has signaled its intent to spin off Kenvue by November 2023.
The remaining company, headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, would continue to focus on its drug and device businesses.
“Unveiling the Kenvue brand is a defining moment for our stakeholders and an important part of the planned separation,” said Thibaut Mongon, CEO Designate, Kenvue, in a news release. “We breathe life into some of the world’s most iconic and beloved brands every day, so we harnessed that same expertise, love, and energy into developing our new corporate identity.”
“Today’s announcement is another milestone for the Consumer Health business,” said Johnson & Johnson CEO Joaquin Duato in a statement. “Kenvue is poised to thrive as a standalone company with a leading portfolio of brands consumers love and trust. I’m confident in this team and excited to see what the future holds.”
Pending regulatory approval, Kenvue would become one of the largest consumer health companies. Its portfolio would include brands such as Aveeno, Band-Aid, Listerine, Neutrogena and Tylenol.
A more than $14-billion-a-year business
In 2021, Johnson & Johnson’s consumer health unit generated revenue of $14.6 billion.
By contrast, its pharmaceutical unit Janssen had $52.1 billion in sales.
While Johnson & Johnson’s consumer unit has faced lawsuits in recent years related to talcum powder, its drug division has faced a wave of litigation related to opioids. Johnson & Johnson recently agreed to pay $39 million to settle New Hampshire opioid allegations. It has reached similar deals with several other U.S. states.
After announcing the plan, the company’s stock ticked up 0.86% to $166.36.
Criticism over J&J’s ‘Texas two-step’
J&J has faced scrutiny over a complex maneuver nicknamed the “Texas two-step.” Critics allege that J&J is seeking to shield itself from billions of dollars worth of lawsuit payouts involving people who claim J&J’s talc-based baby powder caused them to develop cancer.
A recent New Yorker expose detailed how J&J created a new LLC called LTL Management and then moved the talc liability over to LTL. The new LLC has since filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Calling the bankruptcy a “shell game,” plaintiffs in the talc lawsuits have appealed — with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit holding expedited hearings this month.


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With lockdowns finally lifting and people able to be outside through the summer months, longboarding has seen a solid increase in popularity. How are brands dealing with the continued growth of the activity and what’s new on offer in the coming months? We take a closer look with the Source Longboard Retail Buyer’s Guide 2022 with Skateboard Editor, Dave Morgan
Throughout the pandemic, we saw a huge increase in participation for all kinds of skateboarding, due to the fact it could be done alone, anywhere and most of the time for free. Louis Pilloni – Global Marketing Manager at Arbor Longboards explained: “Indoor and group activities are being limited by the pandemic and we are continuing to see a rising interest in outside activities, hobbies, sports, and lifestyles in all areas. Skateboarding caters to all these interests with longboard skateboarding drawing a lot of new potential customers to the market as it is accessible in most areas while naturally social distancing yourself whilst participating.”
David Price, International Sales Manager at Landyachtz touched on how skateboarding has helped people steer through the pandemic: “Skateboarding is so accessible and the mental health benefits are huge…all you need is a board and some pavement. We really want to share the message that skating is a great way to step out, explore your neighbourhood and unplug from reality for a brief moment.” It is most definitely a brilliant aid to your mental health and it’s great to see companies aware of, and promoting this.
Surf Skates and Olympics
A strange combination, however both of these things look to influence the longboard market in the long run. Skateboarding’s inclusion in the Olympics has definitely sparked more interest in the activity, and the many branches of skateboarding will be feeling the effects for some time. Benoit Brecq, Brand & Marketing Manager at Flying Wheels said in response to the current surfskate boom: “As with Skateboarding at the Olympics, the surfskate boom can only be positive for longboarding. It allows people to discover the world of skateboarding. People discover skateboarding or surfskate but some of them try other practices like longboarding which also gains followers. The global market is therefore on the rise.” It’s a good thing that hardware components are relatively interchangeable as Shane Maloney, Brand Manager at Madrid mentioned: “The benefit we’ve seen from the surfskate boom is increased sales of high-quality aftermarket components like wheels and bushings.”
Téa Nordhoff, Controller at DB & Rayne Longboards , said: “We are definitely hoping that longboarding gets a boost from the Olympics, keeping the pandemic boom for the industry going into late 2022.” Nate Shute – Product Manager at Arbor Longboards agreed, saying: “The surfskate boom is a very positive attribute to the popularity in longboarding, among skateboarders and surfers alike. The capability to cross-train on a surfskate when the waves are flat, along with the growing interest in surfing as a whole have aligned perfectly, and we’re excited to launch our Shaper series with innovative surfboard shapers, paired with our Carver Truck partnership.” It seems most longboard companies also manufacture surfskates now, or at least collaborate with surfskate brands such as Carver to bring out a finished item. Loaded Longboards has recently released a Carver collab board ‘The Bolsa’ that looks to be a big hit in the coming year! “I think many people now have quiver of different boards” said Mike Jucker, Co Founder of Jucker Hawaii, as he sees the surfskate craze only influencing certain styles of longboarding, and not a general influence. EG Fratantaro Brand / Marketing Director at Sector 9 hoped that “Maybe they will bring Downhill in as event and that would be amazing. Everyone loves a good race.”
Supply Chain Issues and rising prices
Ivan Garcia Arozamena, product manager at Miller Division broke down their issues: “Covid continues to impact the supply chain in much the same way as it did last year. It has not improved, in addition, because there is a great demand, raw materials are scarce and prices rise, this added to the fact that space in transport is also scarce, and the price rises again from the raw materials factory to the manufacturing factories and then to the brand.” It seems however that there is a light at the end of the tunnel as far as supply chain issues are concerned. As with every element of skateboarding, the pandemic effected supply and material costs greatly, but it seems brands are now finding ways to navigate these issues for 2022. Shane Maloney, Brand Manager at Madrid skateboards said: “We haven’t changed our marketing too much during the pandemic as our brand’s value proposition remains the same, which is a commitment to producing the highest-quality skateboards in our Huntington Beach, California factory and our history as an innovator in the industry. There has had to be an adaption to marketing plans for every brand out there wanting to remain in view. Brands are shifting the majority of their marketing to social channels and advertising online, especially as most business completed in the past year has been through the web. David Price, international Sales Manager at Landyachtz said: “Getting products to market in Europe continues to be a struggle and the 2-300% increase in shipping costs has made things very difficult. We have been forced to raise prices because of this. I think many other brands are in a very similar position, regardless of industry.” In comparison to the US, Europe it seems is struggling more as Téa Nordhoff – Controller at DB & Rayne Longboards explained: “Europe still seems to be facing more restrictions and challenges than the US with lockdowns, which has affected a lot of smaller retailers as well as the large distros. We are hoping that, as restrictions hopefully lessen, there will be even more demand there going into 2022. “
Themes for 2022
Dusters California will be launching a collaboration with Felix The Cat this fall, with 2 Longboards and 2 cruisers in the range. Arbor will be releasing an artist collection featuring Boss Dog. Boss Dog is a creative team of husband and wife that use Boss Dog as an outlet to communicate positive messages about mental health, staying socially aware, and remaining true to one’s values which couldn’t be more important during these current times. Kris O’Brien, Founder/Director at OBfive said: “We have great following of Girls buying our boards due to the fact that our designs are always on trend. Our new Daisy Collection will definitely be a stand out.” So themes seem continuous, with more experimentation in graphics than hardware tech.
With longboard shapes, it seems to be the case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, so brands are mostly sticking to their guns with previous shapes. Shane Maloney of Madrid skateboards explained: “Symmetrical drop-thru boards are still the most popular shapes, such as the Madrid ‘Abstract Trance 40’ Drop-Thru.” Téa Nordhoff – Controller at DB & Rayne Longboards said their “Commuting completes (tkp trucks, shorter lengths, larger wheels) are still in demand – Those are anywhere from 33” to 36.” Kris O’Brien Founder/Director at OBfive mentioned that “If anything, I would think that cruisers are becoming more popular as riding a small agile super responsive cruiser is a lot closer to the movement of a surfskate than a longboard is.” Mike Jucker – Co Founder of Jucker Hawaii agreed, noting that cruisers and mini cruisers seem to be a big trend. “For Sector 9 it’s always been everything. From long to mini we see a good sell through on our entire line and we like that” EG Fratantaro Brand / Marketing Director.
Thankfully brands are now making an effort towards sustainably producing their boards. Ivan from Miller Division said, “we have been very aware of the environment and all our wood comes from sustainable forests and with the FSC seal.” Loaded Longboards/ Oragatang Wheels touched on their approach: “We’ve transitioned almost all of our composite boards to Entropy bio-resin and continue to work on sustainability. It’s a work in progress but we’ve been committed to environmentally friendly and non-toxic production for all of our 20 years in business.” – Pablo Castro. It’s reassuring to know that these brands are consciously improving the way boards are manufactured and shipped. Mindless Longboards also added an interesting tactic, as Andy King explained: “We are working hard to remove polybags from all our completes, replacing with cornstarch. Some of our range has already swapped and we aim to have the entire range packaged in plastic free by 2022.” Desiree Moore, Dwindle Distribution Marketing Director said Dusters Longboards was aiming for similar goal: “Our REGROWTH mission goal in 2022 is to find a solution to reduce plastic packaging and get rid of shrink wrap. We are also proud to announce we will be using Super Sap Resin® in 2022, a bio based eco-friendly resin more sustainable to the environment.”


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Coca-Cola campaign drops the ball with controversial name can
A Twitter user discovered a can of Coca-Cola reading 'Share a Coke with Xitombo', which translates to a slang word used for female genitalia.
The contraversial can in question. Image: Twitter/@ManyikeInno
Coca-Cola South Africa’s ‘Share a Coke with…’ campaign has proved to be hugely successful for their brand.
First launched in 2014 in the US, it has since reached South African shores, and has proved to be quite a talking point.
It started with ordinary names, moving to ordinary surnames, and towards the end of last year, began emphasising names that ordinary South Africans may not have heard before, in an attempt to break stereotypes, and make authentic South African names more recognisable.
The campaign created a prominent social media presence for the company, with consumers being encouraged to hashtag #ShareaCoke.
The brand proved that engaging with consumers on a more personal level was a very profitable approach, and also solidified the company’s aim to be adaptable by using technological platforms to further boost sales, says Investopedia.
This sounds like a solid campaign, but one South African Twitter user will dispute this, after discovering a can of Coca-Cola reading ‘Share a Coke with Xitombo’, which translates to a local word used to refer to female genitalia.
(Hint: Another word for a cat)
Hi @CocaCola_ZA , do you even know the meaning of this or you just approve stuff for the sake of doing it without being cognisant of the fact that this is really uncalled for?This is disrespectful and we demand an explanation as #Vatsonga or else you will suffer the consequences. pic.twitter.com/ZQMdomlQzY
— Innocent Manyike ™ (@ManyikeInno) January 31, 2019
In reaction to the alleged mishap, people who speak Xitsonga felt disrespected and insulted, demanding that the company’s brand manager apologise and provide clarity on the use of the word.
Is their Brand Manager /Marketing Manager African?
Who approved this before going to production ?
Who is their Advertising Agency?
Is the Key Accounts Manager African ?
How about engaging language practitioners if one is not sure of what he is approving?
— CertifiedEcoTourismDoyenne (@ms_tourist) February 2, 2019
Xitsonga is the most disrespected language in South Africa.
— Innocent Manyike ™ (@ManyikeInno) February 2, 2019
Do they even know what it means?🤣😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂🤣 ikhekhe bakhithi🤣😂🤣🤣
— SizweS (@SizweMashaba33) February 2, 2019
It is not known where or when the Coca-Cola can in question was purchased, and attempts to reach Coca-Cola South Africa for comment have so far been unsuccessful.
Updates will follow as communication from the company is received.


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Through this deal the operator’s players will get access to Twain Sport’s unique hybrid sports product which will introduce a completely new vertical to wager on. The collaboration is mainly focused on South Africa, as it’s one of the most important countries in the region for the industry, though it will also spread to other jurisdictions where Hollywoodbets operates.
The aim of this partnership is to meet the demand for live sports wagering, which is where Twain Sport’s offerings excel. Their T-Basket vertical will have matches playing every hour to satisfy the pickiest of bettors at all times.
Furthermore, the provider’s second offering, the football-inspired T-Kick, will be launched in the region in the first quarter of the upcoming year.
After having a successful launch across Europe, we are delighted to be expanding into the African iGaming market with Hollywoodbets. Our inaugural offering, T-Basket, has already received a warm welcome from our partner’s players, and our upcoming T-Kick offering will continue on that trajectory and help us expand rapidly.
stated the vice president of sales at BetGames, Twain Sport’s partner company, James Everett.
We are excited to be one of the firsts to offer African bettors Twain Sport’s innovative live sports offerings. The high frequency of our partner’s solutions are exactly the thing our players are looking for and it is going to help us immensely during off-seasons.
commented the head of products at Hollywoodbets, Wayde Dorkin.


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2020 has been a pretty bad year for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Many were already struggling with the decline of the High Street and customers' changing demands - then lockdown cost many of them months of income, with no sign of returning to normal.
It's been no surprise that we have sadly seen more shops, businesses and cafés announcing that they couldn't carry on.
For some, this has been a long time coming - for others, it's been a terrible shock.
Here are some of the ones that we have sadly said goodbye to during lockdown - as well as one that will hopefully be making a comeback.
Cleethorpes Bus Café
The quirky Bus Café became a firm favourite with locals and tourists after it opened in Cleethorpes in 2018.
Bella the doubledecker bus survived vandalism and being set on fire - but one challenge it couldn't drive around was leasing issues.
In early August, owners Emma Cozens and her daughter Chloie Raworth were told that they wouldn't be able to renew the lease for its parking spot.
The bus has now found a new owner in Rochdale, with locals being disappointed to see it go.
Tracey DeBoick-Winship wrote: "What an absolute shame but hats off to you for your perseverance through many difficult challenges that you faced over the years and doing your very best to make it work."
Emma's food is still available at the Café 'n' Cakery on Sutcliffe Avenue, Grimsby, and by delivery through Emma's Kitchen.
A bike shop which served generations of customers has finally announced that everything must go.
Rusty's Cycles opened in Scunthorpe in 1939 and moved to its current location on Ashby High Street in 1959.
The family-owned business is a favourite with northern Lincolnshire cyclists, but stocking issues due to the coronavirus lockdown meant it was the right time to bring the ride to an end.
Owner Sandra Sherwood said: "During the last few months, we saw a tremendous demand and our suppliers were having difficulty keeping up with it because it was the same all around the country. It's been extremely busy.
"We didn't know whether we would get more bikes in before or after Christmas, so it seemed like an opportune moment to retire."
When Scunthorpe Live spoke to Rusty's, they were down to the final 70 bikes out of their usual 500, so anyone hoping to pick up a bargain should hurry.
One of northern Lincolnshire's most unique businesses has also fallen victim to the lockdown's challenging conditions.
Waggie Tail served both two and four-legged guests, with specialties such as pupcakes and chicken chunks for its canine customers.
The dog brasserie, which was based in the former Queen's Hotel in Cleethorpes with Petit Delight, sadly announced it was "no longer a viable business" in June.
A spokesman for the restuarant said: “Unfortunately we have made the decision to close Waggie Tail effective immediately.
"This isn’t a decision we have taken lightly, the impact of Covid-19 means it is no longer a viable business for us to operate moving forward."
However, Petit Delight will still be allowing well-behaved dogs in the corner entrance and their gardens.
A popular tearoom received hundreds of messages of condolence when it announced that it was closing.
The Four Candles in Holton-le-Clay opened in 2015 and quickly became renowned for its cakes and friendly service.
Like all cafés, it suffered from a loss of revenue when it was forced to close during the lockdown.
Its owner broke the news to loyal customers on Facebook, writing: "This post is something we never thought we would have to write but it’s with great sadness that we have had to close our doors for good. We just couldn't survive throughout these tough times.
"We would like to thank all our customers for there support before and throughout this awful pandemic, we will miss every single one of you, all 9,154 of you that have liked our page, shared our posts and just supported us every way you could, it means so much to us."
One local resident said the news "broke his heart."
"It's an absolute shame it's closed down. We used to go there every Thursday, the food was always excellent, the service was brilliant and everyone I know loved it," he said.
"Whoever takes it on next is going to be taking on a gold mine, it is so well loved in the area. It breaks my heart that they had to close, especially with something they couldn't avoid that wasn't their fault."
The Nottingham House
A glimmer of hope amongst the sad news has been the promised return of the Notts.
The beloved Cleethorpes pub was badly hit by roadworks on Sea View Street and then the lockdown.
Long-time licensee Roger Gott decided to call time earlier this summer and not renew the lease.
He had been behind the bar for ten years and had built the pub into one of the busiest in the chain owned by Stars Pubs and Bars.
Roger told Grimsby Live: "It is a combination of the 10 year lease ending and I am getting old. It feels like the end of an era for me. We shall miss the customers, some of whom have been coming here for 40 to 50 years."
However, just as regulars were looking at a long period of closure, the owners announced they hoped to have a new licensee in soon.
The bar reopened in early August, and the kitchen is due to open within the next month.
A staple of northern Lincolnshire's manufacturing history announced it would mothball its plant.
The closure of the Cemex cement plant in South Ferriby came as a shock for the whole community.
The factory has stood on the site for generations, and the unexpected announcement leaves its future unclear.
The Mexican-owned company said the decision wasn't due to the coronavirus pandemic, but an analysis of their supply chain.
Sara Haddon, a Parish Councillor for South Ferriby, said: "It is disappointing that Britain doesn't seem to be able to produce cement economically anymore, especially with this coming so soon after the steelworks in Scunthorpe have been saved.
"There has been a cement works on that site for over 80 years - in our research for the 75th anniversary of VE Day, it became evident that the works has been a part of South Ferriby for so long under various owners."
The company has promised it will continue to support the flood defences being built around the village.


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Black Friday: Time to book some fabulous trips away at discount prices
Black Friday is coming: Travel agents, airlines and train companies are counting down to Friday November 25.
While High Street stores and retail websites attempt to draw you in with their Black Friday offers on everything from a PlayStation 5 to the latest anti-wrap cordless vacuum cleaner, it now seems holidays and travel have become popular purchases for those looking for late November deals.
And it’s not just travel agents cutting their prices, with airlines and train companies now counting down to Friday November 25 before they release a range of ticket deals that can cut the cost of a trip to a far-flung destination, a weekend away, or a day trip to the city of your choice.
If you’re just looking to grab a cheap flight, or you’re planning that fortnight in the sun next summer, then you can already pick up a bargain, with many holiday websites offering price reductions in the lead up to November 25.
Here are some of the firms offering big discounts
Booking.com – a two-week window up to December 1 when you can save at least 30 per cent, with discounts on accommodation at home and abroad for stays throughout 2023. There are also deals on rental cars, with their sale going live from November 24.
Secret Escapes – their sale is already live with time-limited flash sales on November 21 and 24, and discounts of up to 60 per cent over Black Friday weekend from November 25 to 28.
Virgin Atlantic | Virgin Atlantic Airways – well worth checking out the Virgin website which last year offered up to 10 per cent off holiday packages for Black Friday, and up to £200 off selected flights. If you’re thinking about a trip to the Caribbean deals, at this time 12 months ago the prices were at £324 per person.
citizenM – the luxury hotel brand’s Black Friday event is already up and running offering guests a six-month trial of their brand membership, and up to a third off stays at its properties located across Europe, Asia and the US. Availability of the discount prices is until November 29.
Malmaison Hotels – this time last year Malmaison were offering rooms at the discounted rate of £60 per person plus a voucher towards the cost of dinner at their restaurant. The deals were bookable over the Black Friday weekend but only a certain number were available.
Trainline (thetrainline.com) – whether you’re planning to travel at home or abroad the site is counting down to Friday when they’ll be offering deals on family trips, weekends away, or group travel across Europe.
lastminute.com – another site offering early access to what they’re calling their ‘deals portal’ with winter escapes to the sun and great offers for next summer. But worth noting that their early access closes on November 20, with their deal availability running to November 30.
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Via an article at Yahoo! Finance, Hasbro claims that the Chinese tariffs couldn’t come at a worse time. They also claim it would put American kids at risk, which seems like an overstatement.
“This could not come at a worse time for our industry. We, and the U.S. toy industry overall, are facing serious headwinds from the recent bankruptcies of two major toy retailers, K-Mart and Toys ‘R’ Us, which have already put an estimated 30,000 U.S. jobs at risk,” said Kathrin Belliveau a senior vice president at Hasbro, in comments submitted to USTR ahead of the hearing.”
But they said something quite differently a couple of months ago. (more….)
“I, thus far, have heard, in working with the administration, that we are being a good actor and a good player and we expect that business will be fine coming out of China,” Brian Goldner, also the toymaker’s chairman, said on “Mad Money.” “Go[ing] forward, we don’t expect to see any major tariff situation.”
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Amazon India has partnered with Mahindra Electric to strengthen “its commitment towards electric mobility in the country.” This is in line with the e-commerce company’s aim to include 10,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025 to its fleet of delivery vehicles in India.
The Mahindra Treo Zor vehicles have been deployed in seven cities including Bengaluru, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Indore, and Lucknow with Amazon India’s network of delivery service partners. Launched in October 2020, the Mahindra Treo Zor offers an advanced Lithium-ion battery and ease of charging, thereby making it a convenient option for delivery partners to charge the vehicles in various locations.
These are in addition to Amazon’s global commitment of having 100,000 electric vehicles in the delivery fleet by 2030.
The addition of these EVs in Amazon India’s fleet also complements the Government of India’s focus on electric mobility and ‘Make in India’ EVs for a sustainable Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Nitin Gadkari, minister of Road Transport and Highways, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India said:
The partnership between Amazon India and Mahindra Electric is a welcome step that reaffirms India’s significant progress in the e-mobility industry and highlights the role of automakers and e-commerce companies to achieve our environmental sustainability goals.
“We are confident that the government’s efforts to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles in the country and steps taken towards setting up of infrastructure backed by policy measures will help more companies adopt e-mobility.”
In September 2019, Amazon became the first signatory of the Climate Pledge, which states that the company will be net-zero carbon by 2040 across its businesses.
Akhil Saxena, VP, Customer Fulfilment Operations, APAC, MENA and LATAM, Amazon said:
“We are committed to building a supply chain that will minimise the environmental impact of our operations. The expansion of our electric vehicle fleet to 10,000 vehicles by 2025 is an integral milestone in our journey to become a sustainability leader in the industry.
“We continue to work with several OEMs to build a fleet of ‘Made in India’ electric vehicles that ensure sustainable and safe deliveries of customer orders, and this partnership with Mahindra Electric is a testament of our commitment.”
Further elaborating on the partnership, Mahesh Babu, MD & CEO, Mahindra Electric Mobility said:
“We are proud to partner with Amazon in deploying Mahindra Treo Zor EV in their delivery partners’ fleet. We believe this will redefine India’s logistics and last-mile delivery needs and at the same time help Mahindra and Amazon to achieve our sustainability goals.”


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By Jamie Rieger
Bernice DeLeenheer, president of the Bow Island and District Chamber of Commerce hosted the Small Business awards night, held in Bow Island on Friday evening.
“We are having this even to celebrate our small businesses. We have businesses here doing things that make our town a thriving community,” said DeLeenheer.
“We are here to support you, the businesses,” she said. “We are out there in the community and if there is anything you would like to see or have here, let us know.”
Theresa Hardiker, executive director of the Economic Development Alliance of Southeast Alberta (EDA) was the first presenter for the evening, speaking about how her organization supports small business in southeast Alberta, and more specifically about how local businesses can prepare for when the renewable energy industry comes to town.
“I have spent lots of time talking to businesses about what could happen. If 300 construction workers are in the area and come into your store, will you be able to handle it? We’re preparing and trying to help businesses understand the opportunities available,” said Hardiker.
“Bow Island could be one of the centres of influence. What about housing? Can they bring their trailers?” she said.
Hardiker is also encouraging local businesses to diversify in preparation in order to offer the supports that will be needed.
Jennifer Schafer from Avail in Taber/Vauxhall then gave a presentation on four ways to grow your business, including marketing and development techniques.
DeLeenheer then closed the night with the small business awards.
The Business of the Year award went to Silver Spray Car Wash and Gas Bar (no representation at the awards night).
The business is owned by Abe and Margaretha Heinrich, who have owned the family operation since 2006 and recently upgraded their wand car wash bay and opened an automatic wash bay.
Other award winners are:
Long Service award- Bow Island Medical Centre
Most Innovative new business- GL Tires
Spirit of Bow Island- Shortgrass Library System