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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an impact on the global supply of goods and services, consumers are already facing increased prices at the groceries and are now being told to brace for more increases.
Confirming this was Supermarket Association of T&T (SATT) president Rajiv Diptee yesterday. “People will always assume that it’s the supermarkets raising the prices, but there have been a plethora of price increases from suppliers,” Diptee said.
He pointed out that the supermarkets can normally access discounts or specials on certain items from suppliers, but with COVID-19 causing major disruptions in international supply chains this has been eliminated.
Citizens have been complaining to Guardian Media about the increases in grocery bills and unsavoury price gouging during the COVID measures.
Some groceries yesterday confirmed that prices on some items will increase. While many of the items that will rise in cost remain uncertain, Guardian Media understands the price of peas and nuts will surely increase due to COVID’s impact on suppliers.
In a recent release by the SATT, Diptee said events took a quick turn as seaports across the world began closing due to the virus at the beginning of March. He said this, in addition to ‘stay-at-home’ orders, sparked waves of panic buying globally, which in turn significantly impacted foreign supplies.
The release said the closure of many global shipping ports had impacted on freight cost with a concomitant increase in prices.
“The equation of limited supply versus an increased demand for goods will figure significantly on the final price of the product, with the end result being increased prices passed over to consumers,” Diptee said.
Yesterday, Super Quality Supermarket owner Feroze Khan agreed the price increase coming from the local suppliers were based on international price increases.
Khan split peas and lentil peas had made significant jumps. He said yellow split peas normally goes for $200 to $250 a bag but has now doubled to approximately $450 per bag.
Grocery owner Kumar Maharaj, who said that peas prices had gone up to $500 a bag in his experience, also confirmed this.
Khan said the price increase came about because supplies that are usually purchased from Canada are now coming from merchants in Miami, which escalates the price.
Also confirming Diptee’s remarks was Shamshad Ali, owner of Price Club Supermarket, who said: “Any price increases, whether today, yesterday or tomorrow, are based on the incoming from the suppliers.”
Ali said the basis of the retail industry leads to grocers adjusting their prices according to the cost of the goods received from their suppliers. He said when his grocery receives its product from the suppliers, based on the price and item, the markup cost ranges between 3 and 20 per cent.
When a supplier raises prices, Ali said, it is based on “the understanding that the suppliers internationally have raised their prices.”
“We cannot confirm or we can’t deny, but at the end of the day whatever price we get we have to add our markup and that’s the price,” Ali said.
Khan also said he is experiencing some shortages as well. He said his grocery would normally purchase 25 bags of split peas and lentil peas a week but this week, the supplier only gave him five bags of split peas and lentils each.
“Food security is perhaps the far more challenging issue that we need to focus on because there are logistical challenges throughout the world,” Khan said.
“If you operate in an environment that is market-driven, we sometimes think we shouldn’t have market prices when it isn’t going in our favour,” said Khan.
He said market forces drove oil prices to below zero and it will also bring the price back up.
Noting that major pork producer Smithfield Foods had closed its processing plant in the United States and sent home approximately 700 workers due to COVID-19, he said he expected shortages and price increases for pork within the next month.
Additionally, Khan noted that many farmers have had to dump their produce because the sectors and industries they would normally supply to—like ships, restaurants and the aviation caterers—were now closed.
He said the uncertainty with regard to when businesses will be reopened is weighing upon farmers’ decisions to plant – which can also cause a shortage if they are not prepared to meet the demand when the economy restarts.
With respect to food security, Khan said on average the food chains would have about three months of food cover.
Diptee confirmed this and also said a lack of access to foreign exchange impedes the logistics of food importers.
“The Prime Minister, when this whole thing happened, said that there was going to be a facility with EXIM (Export-Import Bank) to release US dollars to importers of food. What has happened is that we have not seen that foreign exchange being released to importers as yet,” Diptee said.
When Guardian Media contacted the EXIM bank on this issue, it said it is aware of the issue and has been working with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry and the private sector to proactively address potential supply chain disruptions.
The bank’s CEO Navin Dookeran said: “In fact, over the last few weeks, we have already commenced priority forex allocations for essential items and the inputs into local manufacturing of the key essential supplies.”


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Microsoft’s redesigned Xbox One console itself might attract more attention from users looking forward to upgrading in November, but the console’s upgraded Kinect Sensor is also an engineering feat in its own right according to Microsoft.
This past week, Microsoft detailed what it took to get the Xbox One’s Kinect sensor – which comes with every console — on store shelves. Problems for the Microsoft Research Team and Microsoft’s Architecture and Silicon Management group included trying to build the new time-of-flight sensor that is included with the device and trying not to hog too much of the console’s processing power.
The time-of-flight camera allows the Kinect for Xbox One to distinguish between different depths of field. With accurate depth estimations the Xbox One sensor can see shapes and interpret them. It’s a technological treat that didn’t come easy. According to Microsoft, Kinect for Xbox One’s time-of-flight camera emits light signals then interprets them at the speed of light. The Xbox One’s Kinect Sensor even ships with an enhanced wide-angle camera so that it can see more users.
The upgraded camera allows for better posing recognition and more accurate gestures too. Those two things are key if Microsoft is hoping that the Xbox One’s Kinect will help it stand out from other entertainment consoles like Sony’s PlayStation 4. While Sony’s PlayStation Move technology simply couldn’t compete with the Xbox 360’s Kinect sensor, the Sony is hoping that the PlayStation 4 Eye will finally give Microsoft’s controller-less interaction scheme some competition.
While benchmarks for the new Kinect sensor remain elusive, Microsoft says that the Kinect Sensor for the Xbox One is so detailed that it requires the Xbox One itself to process around 6.5 million PPS or pixels-per-second, and it needs to process that information, with only a limited amount of resources.
Unfortunately, whether these new hardware and software innovations will change the Kinect sensor’s public perception is unclear. While the Kinect Sensor for the Xbox 360 sold pretty quickly, uses found themselves without much to do with the sensor in a short time. Kinect for Xbox One is headed down that same path. There aren’t any Kinect-enabled games slated for the Xbox One’s launch. Kinect Sports Rivals was due to launch with the console, Microsoft announced that it would delay it until 2014 a few months ago.
Despite this voice commands, hand gestures and facial recognition are all a part of the software that will ship on-board the Xbox One this holiday season.
The Xbox One goes on sale November 22nd for $499.
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Whether it’s racial or gender bias, equal rights, or body shaming, brands have been under the microscope when it comes to the statements they make through their products. I outlined in a recent article a few of the more shocking missteps made by Macy’s (NYSE: M), H&M (SS:HMB), Burberry (BRBY.L), Prada (HK: PRADA) and others in the past few months.
As I mentioned, these mistakes were a direct result of ignorance and carelessness on the part of these retailers and brands, and of neglecting to test the products before launch. While the perpetrators, likely thanks to their savvy PR and marketing teams, quickly apologized and promised to do better, the continued, steady occurrence of these blunders points to an extreme disconnect between retailers, brands, and the customers they serve.
Not surprisingly, we are simultaneously seeing the rise of the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. GQ recently called out this trend as the “hottest new role in fashion,” and notes that even if it may be reactionary, “the fact the industry’s biggest players are willing to learn from their mistakes and restructure policies and practices accordingly can only be a positive thing.”


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This is the first time any Type-R Honda has officially gone on sale in North America.
The next hot Civic will be front and centre of Honda’s presence at the show, and the company has confirmed that the new model – based on the recently released tenth generation Civic – will use a turbocharged 2.0-litre VTEC engine like its predecessor.
Production will begin at Honda’s UK plant in Swindon this summer and the car will be exported around the world, including to the United States – the first time any Type-R Honda has officially gone on sale in North America.
Honda stole the limelight at the Paris Motor Show last year with a prototype version of the new Civic Type R – a close-to-production preview of what the next generation of Honda’s Civic hot hatch will look like when it goes on sale in a few months. … (read more)


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MGA Entertainment (MGAE) is bringing L.O.L. Surprise! to OTT channels worldwide. In partnership with kidtech platform SuperAwesome, YouTube content such as “L.O.L. Surprise! UNBOXED” will become available to more than 50 million additional homes around the world via Future Today Inc.
The new L.O.L. Surprise! channel is available now on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire, with more than 60 videos of original content from the original digital series’ “UNBOXED, L.O.L. Surprise! World,” “How Do You Unbox?,” and “EYE SPY Mini Series,” along with behind-the-scenes footage and bloopers.
“Our dedicated focus on providing our fans a secure outlet where they can laugh and safely enjoy our content has positioned MGAE as the gold standard for children’s safety in the digital landscape; no other toy company has successfully done this,” says Isaac Larian, CEO and founder of MGA Entertainment. “We will continue to succeed in digital because we continue to deliver fresh, innovative and original content; and we will soon bring more new, creative ideas to other MGAE brands such as Poopsie Surprise, Kingdom Builders, Little Tikes, VIRO Vega, and more.”
SuperAwesome is the world’s leading kidtech platform, connecting responsible brands to more than half a billion kids every month while ensuring total digital safety and privacy. Integrated by the top kids’ content platforms, such as Future Today, SuperAwesome’s designed-for-COPPA technology ensures that all digital engagements with the under-13 audience are fully compliant.
New videos will be uploaded to the new OTT channel every Thursday.


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Google has long allowed mobile developers to use Google Analytics to track their apps’ performance. Today, it’s making it a bit easier to get insights into an app’s user acquisition and engagement by letting developers link their Google Analytics and Google Play Developer Console accounts.
This, according to Google, means developers and marketers can now – for the first time – get a full view of their Play acquisition funnel in “one easy to understand report.” This report will highlight data like Google Play traffic sources, views on Google Play, installs and information about new users. This referral flow should make it a lot easier for developers and marketers to figure out which blog posts, news articles or marketing campaigns are most effective in driving users to their apps and bring the highest quality traffic.
All of this data is now available in Google Analytics after developers link the two…
View original post 109 more words


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The state of Florida produces more fresh fruits and vegetables than any other state except California, and is the top tomato state in the country. As with backyard gardens, Hurricane Irma has turned many of Florida’s commercial fruit and vegetable fields into patches of pathogens that can’t be washed away.
Even the thick rinds of pumpkins and melons cannot protect the edible portion of the produce if it has been exposed to floodwater.
From the Food and Drug Administration to county extension agents, experts on fresh produce are warning of the dangers of eating fresh produce that has been touched by floodwaters.
“Fresh fruits and vegetables that have been inundated by flood waters cannot be adequately cleaned and should be destroyed,” according to the FDA.
“There is no practical method of reconditioning the edible portion of a crop that will provide a reasonable assurance of human food safety. Therefore, the FDA recommends that these crops be disposed of in a manner that ensures they are kept separate from crops that have not been flood damaged to avoid adulterating ‘clean’ crops.”
Floodwaters contain a cocktail of pathogens and parasites, including E. coli, Salmonella, typhoid and cholera.
FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE, CLICK HERE.
© Food Safety News


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China has previously said it will step up efforts to increase disposable income and stabilize employment. The National Development and Reform Commission announced these plans during a press briefing.
Hong Kong has also recently taken steps to help prevent a recession. On Thursday, the city government unveiled a stimulus package worth about $ 19 billion ($ 2.4 billion).
Some companies trading in Hong Kong and Shanghai also report strong revenue. Ping insurance (PIAIF)China's largest insurer climbed 3% in Hong Kong after reporting a 68% rise in first-half net profit. Its shares traded in Shanghai also gained 2.2%.
Tsingtao Brewery (TSGTF)China's second-largest beer producer jumped 10% in Shanghai after net profit increased more than 25% in the first half of the year. Hong Kong's traded shares jumped 11.5%. His older rival Chinese resources Beer (CRHKY), Snow's most famous beer rose by 7.2% in Hong Kong after recording a 24% increase in net profit in the first half.
The Australian S&P / ASX 200 is seen between small gains and losses. Last traded 0.1% lower. The index fell 2.9% on Thursday.
Japan Nikkei (N225) was 0.1% higher after lower open. South Korea Kospi (KOSPI)has fallen 0.8% since it opened on Friday, following the official holiday on Thursday.
Trade tensions between the US and China remain a problem.
On Thursday, China said it would "take the necessary countermeasures" after the United States announced a new 10% $ 300 billion tariff on Chinese goods earlier this month. But a foreign ministry spokesman later quelled investors' concerns, saying China remained hopeful of a possible trade deal.
Here are some other great moves and talking points at 12:45 h Hong Kong time:
- Tencent (TCEHY), the Chinese social media and gaming giant, continued to fall after warning of upcoming challenges for its business. It has fallen 0.9% recently.
- On Thursday at Dow (INDU) increased by about 100 points, or 0.4%, recovering some of the heavy losses in the previous session. The most S&P 500 (INX) ended 0.25% higher. But on Nasdaq (COMP), with their numerous technology companies dropped 0.1%.
- Ali Baba (BABA), the Chinese online retail giant, jumped 3% on Wall Street after reporting sales that beat market estimates. Its revenue grew 42% in 2008. at the latest quarter.


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eBay has unveiled ambitious long term forecasts following the release of improved financial. During Q2 eBay generated quarterly profits of $54.3 million from revenues of $266.3 million. The number of users registered with the company also rose 46% to 49.7 million, while the total value of goods sold on the company’s website also increased to $3.4 billion in Q2, up from $2.25 billion last year.
Following the release of the Q2 results, CFO Rajiv Dutta predicted that eBay would generate an EPS of 19 cents per share for the current financial quarter. This prediction is in line with Wall Street analysts’ expectations. Rajiv Dutta also predicted full year earnings of 76-78 cents per share and sales in 2003 of around $1.5 billion. Both these figures meet analyst expectations but are higher than eBay’s previously disclosed forecasts.


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A NORTH Yorkshire farmers’ market has been named the best in the country in a high profile national contest.
It is the first year that Stokesley Farmers’ Market has entered the FARMA awards, run by the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets’ Association.
After submitting a last minute entry to the awards in summer last year, the market was named on Tuesday evening (February 25) as National Farmers’ Market of the Year 2014.
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The judging panel, made up of farm retail experts and former award-winners, made its announcement at the FARMA awards ceremony in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
Stokesley Farmers’ Market was one of six finalists, competing for the title with fellow finalists Saltburn Farmers’ Market, plus four other contenders, two based in Cambridgeshire and one based in Leeds and the other Bradford.
Nigel Davison, manager of Northern Dales Farmers' Markets in North Yorkshire said there was a substantial waiting list of stallholders for the popular market and he received about three to six requests a week from interested traders. The market accommodates 36 stallholders and is held on the first Saturday of every month.
The market scored highly for the good mix of produce sold at the market, its lively, friendly atmosphere, good management and support from local shoppers.
But he said he thought it was the variety of the market’s carefully selected traders which helped add to the success. Between them they sell organic vegetables, meat, British charcuterie, Italian puddings and other items.
Mr Davison said it also had a reputation for quality of produce and had backing from shopkeepers and Stokesley Parish Council.
He said: “I’m still on cloud nine. We get fantastic backing from the parish council which is worth a lot, and fantastic feedback from people in the town. It’s great because then we know we’re bringing something to the town and we all benefit.”
The next Stokesley Farmers’ Market will be on Saturday, March 1.
“The market clearly makes a valuable contribution to the well-being of Stokesley,’ said Gareth Jones, one of the award's judges.
“Stokesley Farmers’ Market is a jewel, brimming with local foods and bursting with energy. It is clear why it is so much loved.
“Congratulations go to Nigel Davison, and to the Northern Dales Farmers’ Market group that he co-ordinates; and to Stokesley Parish Council – particularly Councillor Lynn Southern – for their tremendous support.”


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Through an uncertain FY21, Bajaj Chetak electric scooter sales reach 1.4k units
Being competitive in the electric two-wheeler segment is currently a small number game. For starters not everyone is participating yet. However, this doesn’t paint a complete picture. Grassroot level efforts are most oft not widely discussed, and patterns being enforced maybe difficult to understand.
Nevertheless, the space will prove to be an exciting one as the push for electric vehicle adoption receives a timely impetus. For now, subsidy and rebate options exist under government policies if the vehicle qualifies as per set parameters.
In India, both Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor are playing the electric scooter game through flagship models. Bajaj brought back its Chetak scooter in an all new electric avatar. Its the only electric vehicle in the company’s current portfolio. And TVS introduced iQube.
Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube
There is no historic data when it comes to checking progress or growth on account of both e-ecooters being fairly new launches. And both were launched only months before Covid-19 pandemic rocked our world. Given that one can understand that sales plans and growth plans have all but gone awry. When sales came to an abrupt end in March, companies were only able to pick up on some activity in June.
Through trials and tribulations when a trying fiscal ended, Bajaj Chetak came out n top at just under 1.4k unit sales. TVS iQube sales were clocked at 1,110 units. What’s interesting though is in March 2021, TVS managed to report iQube wholesales at a whopping 355 units. However given how logistics works, it’s most likely that both companies are still dealing with clearing the order books that were filled months earlier.
Electric scooter market
When launched early in 2020, Bajaj Chetak bookings were said to be at 2k units. Even through the fiscal, the company has failed to sell that many units. And through the fiscal ended Match 2021, Bajaj has entertained bookings and has had periods where they haven’t accepted any.
Where development and sales is concerned, Bangalore proves to be an important city for electric two wheeler manufacturers. The initial push came from Ather, which is associated with Hero Motocorp. The two wheeler manufacturing giant also sells its own electric scooters through its Hero Electric arm.
Delhi has proven to be another important city in this regard. These set patterns can help determine that city based focus will mean that one can expect a more developed charging network in such focus cities. Bajaj Chetak sales will soon begin in Hyderabad and Chennai.


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The Chieftain has all the classic elements that identify it as part of the Indian Motorcycle heritage, including classic badging and iconic War Bonnet mounted on the front fender, much like the figurehead on a wooden sailing ship leading the way into the wind.
The 2015 model holds claim to being the first Indian with a hard fairing and hard saddlebags. In a marriage of old and new, the 2016 Chieftain — powered by the triple-cam, V-twin Thunderstroke 111 engine — carries the same valenced fenders and vintage styling, leaving no question that it has a prominent place in the lineup of this historic brand.
For the 2017 model year, a monochromatic dashboard and tank-mount console tones down some of the bling and visually ties the bike together a bit, but the big news is Indian’s all-new Ride Command System that comes tucked away within said color-matched dash. The RCS comes as part of the standard equipment package on the ’17 Chieftain (as well as the Roadmaster ), and presents a direct challenge to Harley-Davidson ’s Boom! Box infotainment system.
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http://tucson.com/news/local/developers-object-to-proposed-change-to-marana-road/article_95c00d9a-d59f-57f9-b9b7-3822ff5fc942.html http://tucson.com/news/business/marana-road-plan-jeopardizes-major-shopping-development/article_41b6cd64-1d30-542b-a11b-428c8ab90430.html –
- A change to the alignment of an old farm road has two developers in northwest Marana considering legal options.
- The Marana Town Council approved a realignment plan that would eventually route traffic along Marana Road away from Desert Troon’s proprty, just west of Interstate 10.
- Attorney Jordan Rose, Desert Troon’s and/ or Cardon’s counsel, says Desert Troon and/ or Cardon has considered suing the Town of Marana if the town moves forward with realignment.
- In a letter to the Town Council, Rose wrote: “We are hopeful that we will be able to work together to find a solution that achieves the town’s goals while not damaging current partners’ investment in the community.”
- Councilwoman Roxanne Ziegler said immediately after the vote she felt bullied by letters from the developers threatening legal action. “It is a little bit disingenuous to threaten us with this and that,” Ziegler said.
– – Tucson.com – April 29, 2015
Developers are threatening to scrap plans for a regional shopping center on Marana’s northwest side over the alignment of a road near Interstate 10. A Marana Town Council vote on Tuesday could eventually cost the town millions of dollars, between lost sales tax revenues if plans for the development do not move forward, and the forfeiting of developer contributions to the road’s improvement even if the center is built. The 117-acre mixed-use development would be along the north side of Marana Road just west of Interstate 10, on land owned by the Cardon Group and Desert Troon. Six members of the council — with only Councilman Herb Kai dissenting — opted to realign a much-widened Marana Road so traffic coming off the Interstate 10 interchange would curve well to the south of where the existing two-lane Marana Road now runs, shifting it away from the planned shopping center. Town officials say the new realignment would put more traffic along Tangerine Farms Road, linking traffic directly to the Gladden Farms residential development and the town’s Heritage River Park. Marana Unified School District also has plans to build a new high school and a performance center off Tangerine Farms Road. Adam Trenk, an attorney representing the Cardon Group, one of the developers, said he was extremely disappointed with the town council’s decision. “The viability of these projects will suffer,” Trenk predicted. The developers have had an agreement with Marana for more than five years to help pay to widen the road to handle more than 55,000 trips a day that would be generated by the new shopping center, in anticipation the road would follow the existing alignment next to their property. Trenk said pre-existing legal agreements reached with the town to pay for road improvements and giving right-of-way for utilities were likely voided by Tuesday’s decision. Councilwoman Roxanne Ziegler said immediately after the vote she felt bullied by letters from the developers threatening legal action. “It is a little bit disingenuous to threaten us with this and that,” Ziegler said. She said the town has a good track record of working with the business community and developers. Mentioning Walmart as a potential tenant in the proposed retail center, she said the site is well placed for future growth in northwest Marana. If they build supermarkets or big box stores, she said, residents will flock to the location. A developer clarified during the meeting that no big box retailers have yet signed contracts to locate in the proposed center. Marana Mayor Ed Honea said the town could not afford to delay a decision on the realignment, noting the town has discussed these plans on the books for nearly two years. Honea said the town also has an urgent need to address nearby traffic problems near the Marana Road exit, where there have been several accidents close to a McDonald’s. The mayor said the town could break ground as early as July but the council needs to finalize the plans so the construction this summer will fit into long-range plans.


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By Monroe Roark
In an announcement that took
local officials by surprise, Briggs & Stratton said that it will be
closing its McDonough facility in the first quarter of 2015, a move
that signals the end of an era for business and industry in Henry
Briggs & Stratton will close
their plant in McDonough during the first quarter of 2015.
Photo by John Jackson
For about five decades the
20-acre site south of the Square was known as the home of Snapper, a
maker of lawn care equipment sold far and wide. Snapper was acquired
in 2002 by Simplicity Manufacturing, which was then acquired in 2004
by Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton.
McDonough Mayor Billy
Copeland broke the news on his Facebook page shortly after meeting
with senior Briggs & Stratton officials along with Henry County
Chamber of Commerce president David Gill.
“The end of the
Snapper/Briggs & Stratton era in our community is a sad change, but
I am confident that our overall business industry is strong, and we
will continue to move forward,” he wrote.
When contacted Monday
morning, Copeland reiterated his disappointment.
“It was a devastating day.
That was the economic engine in our community for sixty-plus years,”
he said. “It was painful for those folks, very painful. I said I
didn’t envy them having to go out and tell the employees.”
Last Thursday’s press release
from Briggs & Stratton stated simply that the company will close its
McDonough location and consolidate production at existing facilities
in Wisconsin and New York.
Starting in the 2016 lawn and
garden season, the company “will narrow its assortment of
lower-priced Snapper consumer lawn and garden equipment and
consolidate its products manufacturing facilities in order to
further reduce costs,” according to the release.
“The company will continue to
focus on premium residential products to customers through its
Snapper and Simplicity brands and commercial products through its
Snapper Pro and Ferris brands, it stated. “Production of pressure
washers, snow throwers and lawn tractors will move to its Wauwatosa,
Wisconsin manufacturing facility, and production of zero-turn
lawnmowers will be moved to its Munnsville, New York facility.”
According to Copeland’s
Facebook statement, the 400,000-square-foot plant is expected to be
remediated and sold for other use.
Right now the McDonough
facility manufactures pressure washers, snow throwers, zero-turn
lawn mowers and smaller lawn and garden tractors, according to the
“These changes will affect
approximately 475 employees over the course of the next several
months,” the release stated. “The company will provide assistance
programs, continued benefits and outplacement services to the
Copeland recalled that in
past years the Snapper facility employed 1,200-1,400 people. He
remembers when a foundry was the only building on that property
before Snapper came along in the mid-1950s, making improvements from
time to time. The current facility has nearly ten acres under one
“They’ve been such a great corporate citizen –
the Briggs & Stratton people as well as the predecessors,” said
Copeland. “It’s a hard blow. We’re trying to put a positive spin on
it. It was a decision they had to make.”


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Akzo Nobel Coatings Ltd
* Akzo, BASF decrease to provide further details
FRANKFURT Feb 11 Dutch chemical substances team AkzoNobel, the world's largest paint and coatings makers, is in talks with competing BASF over a price to purchase the German chemical team's commercial coatings business.
A few men and women acquainted with the problem had told Reuters in November that BASF had been likely to sell business - making coatings for metal and aluminium rings that are processed into facades, fridges and window treatments - in an offer worth as much as about 500 million euros ($566 million).
HSBC was advising BASF in the act, the resources stated during the time.
In a declaration on Thursday, AkzoNobel said that talks with BASF were section of its search for "value-generating bolt-on purchases".
Akzo and BASF declined to give additional details.
BASF, the global substance industry frontrunner by sales, states it was willing to look for brand new proprietors for companies that attended under too-much pressure from low-cost competitors. Its presently splitting off its pigments business ahead of a potential purchase.
Unlike BASF's much bigger automotive coatings company, the professional coatings operation is observed as lacking the scale to compete effrectively in the future, skillfully developed have said.
Business is a component of BASF's 3 billion euro coatings division, which derives 77 per cent of its sales from automotive consumers. ($1 = 0.8837 euros) (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by David Goodman)


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FedEx Corp. is adding 92 hybrid-electric trucks, bringing the number of delivery trucks converted to hybrid-electric systems from 172 to 264.
The FedEx hybrid-electric fleet has logged more than 4 million miles of revenue service since being introduced in 2004, reducing fuel use by 150,000 gallons and carbon dioxide emissions by 1,521 metric tons, which is equivalent to removing 279 cars from the road annually.
The hybrid conversions were produced in Charlotte, N.C., during the past six months and created 50 new, temporary green jobs in the area.
The converted hybrids were developed with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. and Eaton Corp., which provided the hybrid-electric systems.
“The conversion of these standard FedEx trucks into hybrids is the latest milestone in our drive to advance and adopt hybrid technology into our fleet and the broader industry,” John Formisano, vice president of global vehicles for FedEx Express, said in a statement. “FedEx and our suppliers have demonstrated that converted hybrids are a viable, lower-cost option compared to purchasing new hybrids. We now need government incentives to end a Catch-22 situation: Production volumes are low due to high cost, and costs will only come down with higher production volumes.”
The retrofit hybrid trucks are projected to improve fuel economy by 44 percent, decrease particulate matter by 96 percent and reduce smog-causing emissions by 75 percent compared to the standard FedEx Express delivery truck.
The 92 retrofitted hybrid vehicles will be placed into service in California, primarily in the Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco metropolitan areas.
Memphis-based FedEx (NYSE: FDX) is the city’s largest employer with more than 31,000 employees.


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Sri Lanka’s first Angel Fund has, to date, channelled investments up to Rs. 150 million cumulatively into four home-grown startups – Niftron, Magicbit, Mintpay and Chakra Suthra while also helping these companies scale and access new markets both at home and abroad.
“Since August 2020, our team has evaluated over 400 startups from across the country. It’s important to note that most of these startups come from outside the Colombo District. And over a period leading up to the end of last year, the prevalence of women-led startups has increased from 8% in 2020, to 15% in 2021. Currently, we’re monitoring and doing the final due diligence on 5-10 startups. We hope to back a few more before September,” commented Chandi Dharmaratne, Chairperson of the Lankan Angel Network (LAN).
Established in 2020 by LAN, and supported by ecosystem development partner the Ford Foundation, the Angel Fund aims to catalyse the growth of Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem. The Angel Fund portfolio comprises Niftron, a blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) platform, and Magicbit, an easy-to-use STEM education platform. Further, ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ platform Mintpay was added recently, while circular economy recycling concept Chakra Suthra is in the process of being added to the Fund’s portfolio.
Along with its investment, the Fund has supported Niftron in securing customers in Africa and Japan. Meanwhile, Magicbit has been assisted in forming partnerships in Sri Lanka and Nepal, while also working towards helping Magicbit’s launch in China and USA. At the same time, the Fund has helped Mintpay expand into other vertices covering dining, travel and entertainment, and Chakra Suthra has been supported in strengthening its expansion strategy.
Evaluating startups on a monthly basis, the Angel Fund is dedicated to backing early-stage startups across multiple sectors. It supports them in various ways, from making investments, to even helping startups identify sources for future funding.
Additionally, for 2022, the Fund is planning a series of matching events to connect its startups with potential customers as well as international partners. Created by LAN, which started this journey by funding and mentoring startups in 2012, the Angel Fund supports high potential startups that can be scaled across the country, and even regionally and globally.


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Pig and Poultry feed derogation extended…
Date Published: 24/11/2017
In response to industry calls for legal certainty for the organic poultry and pig sector, the European Union Commission has taken the necessary steps to adopt an implementing regulation that extends a referred derogation until 31 December 2018.
As we reported in September the organic feed derogation for organic pigs and poultry was due to expire at the end of this year. However due to continued restriction on supplies of organic protein we joined a call for the existing rules to be extended while work continues across the industry on looking for viable solutions.
Organic farmers are currently allowed to feed their pig and poultry up to 5% non-organic protein, as laid down in Article 43 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008.
As there is insufficient protein of the necessary quality available to organic pig and poultry farmers there were genuine concerns that withdrawal of the ability to feed this 5% allowance would have had significant welfare implications, particularly in the case of poultry.
The organic regulation is currently undergoing reform and under this reform the new EU organic regulation would continue to allow for a derogation, under certain conditions, related to the use of non-organic protein feed in the nutrition of poultry and pigs. It envisaged that this would then be reviewed five years after the implementation of the new regulation in January 2021.
The new reform does, however, strengthen the previous requirements related to feed coming from the farm itself and other sources for livestock: “Feed for livestock shall be obtained primarily from the agricultural holding where the animals are kept or from organic or in-conversion production units of other holdings in the same region.”
The new regulation is also tighter in terms of the percentage of feed coming from the farm itself: for the nutrition of ruminants and equine animals, this inclusion would increase from 60% to 70% two years after January 2021; for poultry and pigs, it would increase from 20% to 30%.
We will keep you informed when there are any further updates on this issue.


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When it comes to social media's heavy hitters, there are no bigger players than Facebook or Twitter, right? Not if you're in South Africa.
Mobile network Mxit claims to have nearly 10 million users in the country, making it South Africa's most popular social media platform by far, eclipsing Facebook's six million users and Twitter's 1.1 million subscribers.
Founded seven years ago by Namibian-born software developer Herman Heunis, Mxit has grown from an instant messaging application into a global mobile social network.
The handset-agnostic network is tapping Africa's booming mobile market to serve a growing community of users and developers. Mxit users can chat with their contacts, exchange photos and use a digital currency to buy virtual goods, while aspiring entrepreneurs can find a large audience for their applications and services.
Speaking to CNN before his recent resignation from the business he bought in September 2011, former CEO Alan Knott-Craig said he was still astonished by the power of mobile and how engaged the millions of Mxit users are.
"Firstly they're looking to meet people, secondly they're looking for attention, they want to be heard or want to be seen," said Knott-Craig.
"And lastly, people are looking to have fun, they're looking for entertainment and there's only one thing in their life: the cell phone -- there's no iPad, PC, XBox or TV, there's just the phone and Mxit is that escape."
The company says its users transfer between 500 and 850 million messages every day. That's roughly double the number of tweets sent daily on a global basis. The average user now spends 85 minutes a week using Mxit and logs on up to four times a day.
Knott-Craig says the statistics prove that the growing popularity of mobile internet has transformed the way people communicate across Africa.
"Before mobile Africa really was a dark continent -- I mean literally people couldn't communicate," Knott-Craig explained.


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Raining Berries, a coffee-shop-meets-acaí-cafe, opened on the ground floor of St. Petersburg’s Artistry Apartments on Sunday, Jan. 9. The store is a franchise of the (for now) Florida brand, but Raining Berries founder Bimal Bhojani is passionate about keeping the stores organic and true to their roots.
“My family has been in the coffee industry for seven generations in Africa,” Bhojani said. “I guess this is in the blood in many respects.”
Raining Berries sources its coffee and espresso from East Africa and brews it fresh. They use 100% organic acaí, with gluten-free granola and fresh fruit offered alongside treats like smoothies and matcha.
“We just want to do the total opposite of the big brands,” Bhojani said. “We want to give people a good cup of coffee.”
Introducing: The Salty Nun
The swinging days have ended at Central Avenue’s Swinger’s Bar & Grille – at least for now.
Gulfport business owners Barbara Banno and J.P. Brewer purchased and closed Swinger’s on Jan. 10. They plan to rebrand it as the Salty Nun and open in March.
Banno owns popular Gulfport breakfast spot Stella’s and serves as the Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce president. Brewer created Salty’s and Salty’s Sandwich Bar, both popular Gulfport businesses; she sold both businesses in 2021.
The Salty Nun, they say, merges both concepts.
“We probably came up with this idea over drinks one night and the fact that we are making it a reality is exciting,” Banno told The Gabber.
The new spot at 2501 Central Avenue will feature breakfast favorites and Stella’s nun, along with Salty’s live music vibe, plus a full liquor bar.
They will add a stage, wipe the restaurant clean of all pineapple imagery, and roll out a fresh menu inspired by both Stella’s and Salty’s.
“We’re nervous, excited and we have such a good following of loyal customers from both businesses from Gulfport that we will hopefully bring to St. Pete,” Banno said.
As for the swings, they’re not going anywhere.
“You may see some of the swings around the restaurant,” Banno said. “We know that is a favorite.”
The previously lackluster Gulfport building at 2201 49th St. S. received a mural makeover this January to prepare for the opening of Julio’s Empanadas Latin Twist Cafe.
Owner Julio Pagan filed articles of incorporation for the restaurant in December, 2021, according to the State of Florida.
“Looking forward to another unique food option in Gulfport and just a few blocks from my ‘slice of paradise’, Twin Palms Meadow,” Gulfport resident Wolfgang Deininger wrote on Facebook.
It’s unclear when the empanada eatery will officially open for business.


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Montreal based auto journo Matt St Pierre started using the term #corollattack a couple of years ago and while usually it is aimed at painfully slow and stupid Corolla drivers, it totally applies to this video. A Grassroots Motorsports reader stuffed an LS into a four door 1981 Toyota Corolla and after two and a […]
In a news release this morning that fans have been waiting for since the announcement that Toyota is winding down the Scion brand, the company has announced that the low slung Scion FR-S will be re-launched as the Toyota 86 in North America, aligning with the product name in other markets. Along with the moniker […]
Most Top Ten cars for teens lists operate under the assumption that everyone reading them has the budget to buy their kid a new car. They are often full of great advice like “the bigger the better” and make sure the car has stability control, calling that technology as important as seat belts. Never do […]
The excitement of the last few laps of the 2016 running of the Daytona 500 made up for the boredom of sitting through a couple of hours of speedway racing. Sure, there was some mind blowing 3 and 4 wide racing and a couple of crashes, but nothing to stir the soul. Until right at […]
While investigating a fatal crash involving a 2011 Toyota RAV4, Transport Canada experts have discovered a flaw which has the potential to be dangerous in a collision. In a severe frontal impact, the metal frame of the rear seats in 2006 to 2012 Toyota RAV4 models may cut the webbing of a rear seatbelt, allowing […]
We all have the things that we love to hate about Prius drivers. In their Super Bowl ad, Toyota has a bit of fun with some of the stereotypes that go along with owning a Prius.
As I went to bed late last night, American auto writer BJ Killeen posted an unofficial report that said that “Scion is dead”, with the promise that the news was set to be released today. That news has just been confirmed by Toyota. The mothership will absorb the youthful outpost brand, effective August 2016. Make […]
I suppose it was only a matter of time until someone did this. “The Prius backup camera is the only camera that is able to run a person over…”
Warning: If you are one who is easily offended, you might want to avoid this video. For the rest of you, this driving lesson might be the funniest thing you’ve seen in a while!
On December 3, Toyota Canada announced that effective January 1, a Canadian would occupy the President and CEO’s seat for the first time. Larry Hutchinson, who currently functions as VP of sales and marketing in the country. Hutchinson has been with Toyota since 1986 and was involved in the Canadian launch of Lexus, so it […]


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Want to know exactly how a human will interact with your product? The category of digital human modeling software is fast becoming an important tool for engineers to proactively analyze the human fit of their product or workplace before it is built.
NexGen Ergonomics of Montreal, has just released the first update to its HumanCAD digital modeling software since it was released last March. HumanCAD is a unified human modeling software architecture with a more intuitive interface, a plugin system for importing and exporting files with the major CAD tools along with new inverse kinematics.
The new release features the ErgoTools modules, which includes the HumanCAD 3D static biomechanical model as well as interfaces to the University of Michigan 3DSSPP and the 1991 NIOSH lifting equation. Other new features include new camera management that allows for the creation of custom viewpoints and cameras, a new library of hand postures and a variety of bug fixes and enhancements. With this release, HumanCAD also now runs natively on Mac OS X, on both Intel and PowerPC architectures.


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Broadcaster Channel 4 has admitted the archive section of its web-based service will remain unavailable to Mac and Linux users.
The terrestrial TV company’s popular 4oD service, which offers viewers thousands of hours of archive TV shows and films to stream, download or rent, remains a Windows XP and Vista-only domain, C4 told The Register.
Mac and Linux users, as well as Firefox fans, will continue to be frozen out of the service.
The only web browser currently supported by 4oD, which runs in Windows Media Player 10 or above, is Microsoft's Internet Explorer versions 5.5, 6 and 7.
“It was always our intention to offer a Mac compatible VOD service as part of the planned launch of Kangaroo,” said a C4 spokeswoman.
“However, following the decision by the Competition Commission to prohibit [Project] Kangaroo we are now looking at ways to further enhance our existing on-demand offering.”
Project Kanagaroo was a joint video on demand (VOD) venture between BBC Worldwide, ITV and C4. Competition regulators kyboshed plans in early February saying such a combined force would have too much market power in the UK telly biz.
The spokeswoman insisted it wasn’t all bad news for non-Windows users, however, by pointing out that Mac and Linux fans would soon be able to view C4 television shows via its Catch Up service. It's set to launch soon on Adobe’s Flash technology that works across Windows, Mac and Linux platforms.
At the moment C4 viewers can only catch up on the past 30 days of the broadcaster's output via a Windows-based PC using Microsoft's Media Player video format.
C4 declined to comment on when its Flash-based Catch Up will launch, but it is widely expected to land this month. The public service broadcaster also confirmed to El Reg that it had no plans to release a desktop version of its rival to the Beeb’s iPlayer.
The BBC finally rolled out a desktop version of its iPlayer service in late 2008. That launch followed months of complaints from angry Mac and Linux users who were blocked from using the Windows XP-only service when it landed in July 2007.
By December 2007, the Beeb responded to demands for the service to be made available to everyone in the UK by offering a Flash-based version of iPlayer.
But it wasn't until the end of last year that Auntie was finally able to offer a desktop version of iPlayer. ®


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Despite what you may have heard, Netflix is not removing Friends – at least not yet.
We've had scares like this in the past, like when The Office was allegedly leaving and, well, didn't.
Netflix first started hosting Friends in 2015, to the delight of its subscribers, and it also became a big incentive for new users to sign up.
THR did note that WarnerMedia, which owns Friends, is planning to launch its own on-demand streaming service, so losing Friends from Netflix would be akin to losing Disney movies or Marvel shows, in that they'll likely appear elsewhere in a matter of time.
Mashable has reached out to Netflix for comment.


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*Attached video: Lebron’s House Three Thirty to open on March 30
AKRON, Ohio (WJW) – The LeBron James Family Foundation partnered with Starbucks to open a community store inside the foundation’s upcoming House Three Thirty, helping I PROMISE students and families get job training experience.
The new Starbucks community store is designed to serve the community in a “whole new way,” according to a press release from the LJFF.
Employees at the store will be I PROMISE students, parents, teachers and other family members who will be able to pursue their passions and acquire job-training experience, the release said.
All sale proceeds of the new Starbucks community store will go back to the LJFF, the release said.
“The vision for House Three Thirty is to serve our families’ need for more work experience and hands-on job training. That extends to every single facet of the expansive space, including this one-of-a-kind Starbucks location,” said Michele Campbell, Executive Director of the LJFF. “We’re so thankful to Starbucks for trusting us to help rewrite the handbook on what job training looks like and how we can employ people for their futures. What you can expect from this location is caring and prepared team members, “be best” service, a warm and welcoming environment, and a community model that we believe can change the world.”
House Three Thirty is a space for the entire community to gather and attend different programs.
The LJFF Starbucks will be located in House Three Thirty on Market Street, which is within walking distance of the I Promise School. It will have a family sitting area as well as a seasonal outdoor patio, according to the release.
“This Starbucks represents another pathway for our students still working to obtain their high school GEDs. For our parents looking for a better-paying job and more meaningful employment. For our friends of the family exploring a new industry for the first time. And while they’re pursuing their own passions, they’re fueling it in others with their service. This can touch so many lives,” Campbell said.
The new Starbucks community store will open to the public on March 30, which is known as 330 Day Akron during House Three Thirty’s official opening.


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You may have missed it, but this was the most head-warping week in Elon Musk's life, for anyone who has been following the man's adventures for the past decade.
Early last week, at the 67th International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, Musk outlined his master plan to start colonizing Mars in less then 10 years, using his private space company, SpaceX, to realize his ambition to make humanity an interplanetary species.
Later in the week, he had to send an email around to Tesla employees reminding them not to engage in discounting on vehicles sales.
Life on Mars versus ... come on down!!!
The contrast was vivid. I think I'm safe in saying that no other captain of American industry has ever grappled with something so visionary and captivating on the one hand and so drearily mundane on the other. Henry Ford wasn't trying to go to the Moon at the same time he was building the Model T.
Too much success
Musk has become a victim of his own success. There hasn't been a viable new American car company created since the 1930s, but in just over a decade, Musk has forged not just a new automaker, but also a carmaker that has pushed electric vehicles forward for the first time since they lost out to internal-combustion engines over 100 years ago.
And although a mission to Mars has been much discussed since the late 1960s and the moon landings, the assumption has always been that NASA would undertake it. With SpaceX, Musk is striving to remake that notion. (NASA may still do it, but NASA lacks a charismatic leader to stand up and articulate the way it's going to happen.)
As Tesla progresses toward being a mass-market automaker — leaving its high-tech, luxury, niche existence behind — Musk will have to deal with more head-warping. Manufacturing and selling cars isn't very space-age; rather, it's plug-and-chug. Supply-chain management rules the day, and sales are largely transacted one at a time, between a buyer and dealer.
Tesla wants to cut the dealer out of the picture, selling directly to the consumer, so Musk doesn't even have that buffer. He himself has to lay down the law if he detects any slippage in his full-price-only business model.
He's certainly price conscious when it comes to the cost of space travel — he wants to make going to Mars as cheap as buying a Tesla Model S. But the ambition required to even bring that calculation into the picture is an order of magnitude greater than what Musk has achieved with Tesla. Rocket science is, after all, rocket science.
A hard choice
I don't personally want Musk to stop running Tesla day-to-day so that he can focus all his energies on SpaceX. But I also realize that even if Musk moves the needle just a bit on "backing up the biosphere," as he likes to put it, in case that wayward asteroid heads our way, then that's where his attention should be. There's no shortage of talented leadership in the auto industry, and Tesla could probably use a more experienced hand to guide it into its next phase.
I don't think Musk wants to "retire" as CEO of Tesla, either. Ultimately, he sees electric cars and a mission to Mars as linked; the former gets us off fossil fuels and the latter provides us with an escape hatch.
But priorities are in order, and as much as Musk, a creature of Silicon Valley, has learned the lesson of Steve Jobs and Apple — companies that sacrifice their visionaries in favor of stewards do so at their peril — he doesn't appear to fully understand just how daunting his objective has become.
Jobs wanted to sell more computers, music players, and phones, with cool design values. He never said anything about leaving orbit and heading for a red world 34 million miles away.
Musk has his issues and his critics, and he isn't always the finest business leader in all the land. But there's really never been anyone else like him in American business life — or really science and technology life, either. You have to go back to Thomas Edison at least to find anyone even close.
Tesla is an important company, but for several years now, I've had the sense that SpaceX is more important. Space has always been something that nations do. But Musk is changing that (even though NASA is still his biggest client). The Mars plan he laid out is astonishing. And he should now allow it to take up all his time.


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According to the report, Africans are some of the heaviest mobile users in the world and, therefore, telco subscriber data has the unique ability to portray a person's digital life — both personal and at work.
The report indicates that mobile wireless network operators have a big opportunity to unearth device user insights and deliver innovative data services that can advance socio-economic value, democratic participation and entrepreneurial vitality among a vast population of one billion consumers in the region.
According to the council, telcos' current revenue streams are drying up in light of disruptive over-the-top services, and the ability to offer new, life-enhancing data services will seem like "an oasis in the arid sub-Saharan desert". Over half of telco marketing executives in Africa believe that real-time customer and operational data are essential to boosting performance through personalisation.
The report is based on a CMO Council survey of marketing leaders at communication service providers, mobile network operators and digital media companies in Africa, as well as from in-depth interviews with executives from:
- Cell C, and
- Accenture and AT Kearney.
The survey warns that transforming data into lucrative data services won't be easy for telcos. The report highlights some of the challenges that CSPs face across the multi-cultural landscape, diverse markets, limited digital infrastructures and disparate technical terrain of Africa.
The report gives the following recommendations on how to overcome these challenges:
1. Seek inspiration
Find inspiration that sparks a big idea in customer value and experience delivery. This can be difficult for a regulated and monopolistic industry not known for innovation. It will likely mean striking up partnerships with valued data sources and service providers in education, healthcare, agriculture, entertainment, sports, retail, financial services, media and other sectors.
The big idea should appeal to an incredibly diverse market. "Africa as a whole is rising," says Mmathebe Zvobwo, executive of Enterprise and Supplier Development at Telkom South Africa. "But you must also have an innovation that somehow solves a common or pervasive problem in all 54 distinctly different countries."
2. Sift, sort and select data assets to prioritise
According to the survey, this is the proverbial elephant in the room. Telcos must navigate a maze of cross-border data complexity, availability, accessibility, quality, timeliness and incompatibility.
"The challenge is accessing and unifying that data because we have multiple systems that do not talk to one another," says Grace Mothusi, senior marketing leader, enterprise segment at MTN. "For clean, in-depth data, we require a system that can cater for both mobile, ICT and a CRM tool that can be used by both sales and marketing."
3. Move quickly before adjacent companies get there first
Farming equipment manufacturer John Deere, for instance, already offers data services that advise African farmers when to plant and harvest crops in relation to the rainy season. Telcos, on the other hand, tend to rest on their monopoly on mobile voice-and-data services, thus putting them at risk of commoditisation.
"In Africa today, there is very little customer loyalty relating to telcos," says CEO Vukani Mngxati at Accenture. "It's not uncommon to find a person with SIM cards of three different wireless network operators in one country."
The survey says that telcos should take the last piece of advice to heart, given competitive pressures on their business. Nearly half of the survey respondents in the CMO Council study cited the following as top threats:
- the proliferation of mobile applications
- streaming content and digital services, and
- the complexity and multi-dimensionality of today's digital ecosystem.
"Between the proliferation of mobile applications and the decline of communications as a revenue driver — along with digital natives leapfrogging innovation — telcos realise that they must look outside of their core business strategies to create value," concludes Donovan Neale-May, executive director of the CMO Council.
The report is now available for download from the CMO Council
For more information, visit www.cmocouncil.org
. You can also follow the CMO Council on Twitter


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Talcum powder lawsuit plaintiffs are pushing back against Johnson & Johnson’s attempts to reverse their $4.7 billion ovarian cancer verdict, arguing that the company’s shady behavior justified the massive award.
The 22 plaintiffs – including the families of 6 women who died from ovarian cancer – were each awarded $25 million when their case concluded last July in Missouri’s 22nd Circuit Court.
The total verdict — $550 million in compensatory damages and $4.14 billion in punitive damages – is the largest so far in a nationwide litigation involving Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based powders. It was also the first ovarian cancer trial centered around allegations of asbestos-tainted talc.
Johnson & Johnson vehemently denies that its talcum powders contain asbestos or cause cancer. In recent weeks, its attorneys have filed post-trial motions seeking a new trial, a new trial on damages, and a judgment notwithstanding the verdict in a bid to see the jury’s findings reversed.
Among other things, the motions claim that the plaintiffs’ attorneys made deceptive, inflammatory, and prejudicial statements to sway the jury.
According to Law.com, opposition documents filed last week denied those assertions. Among other things, the plaintiffs’ lawyers argued that the jury’s verdict was warranted by Johnson & Johnson’s decade’s long-refusal to warn consumers that its popular talcum powders might cause ovarian cancer.
“Defendants knew there was asbestos in what they marketed as ‘baby’ powder, but they deliberately targeted mothers and women in general with advertising misrepresenting the safety of their talc product,” they wrote.
Johnson & Johnson is facing over 10,000 talcum powder cancer lawsuits in courts throughout the United States. The majority of plaintiffs involved in the Missouri litigation claim that they developed ovarian cancer merely as a result of their regular and repeated use of the company’s talc-based powders for feminine hygiene purposes.
Missouri has tried six of these cases since February 2015. Four juries have found for plaintiffs, although two of those verdicts were dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.
Johnson & Johnson is also a defendant in a growing number of talcum powder lawsuits over mesothelioma, a deadly cancer linked to asbestos exposure.
So far, mesothelioma plaintiffs have won two trials, including a California case that concluded in May with a $25 million verdict. A month earlier, a New Jersey jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $117 million to another mesothelioma plaintiff.
Two juries have returned verdicts in favor of Johnson & Johnson, while mistrials were declared in two other cases.


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Mountain View, California (EastBayDaily) — Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media factor into the plans of vacation rental owners and managers in 2013 in a big way, according to a marketing survey conducted by Perfect Places Vacation Rentals. This growing trend will displace paid and organic search and claim the No. 3 spot as an online marketing channel, trailing only paid listing sites and free listing sites in the overall results, according to Rick Haggart, Perfect Places President.
“What’s encouraging is that most of the people who took the survey said that 2012 was better than 2011 in terms of business success, and that most owners and managers expect 2013 to be better than 2012,” Haggart said. “What’s interesting is the way people plan on marketing their vacation rentals in 2013.”
The survey was conducted from January 24 – 28 and was intended to shed light on the online marketing focus for vacation rentals in 2013, the general health of vacation rental businesses in 2012, and the outlook for 2013.
Vacation Rental Managers were asked for their top 5 picks in response to the question: "What online marketing channels are your focus for 2013?," 37.3% of respondents said Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media channels would be a big part of their marketing. That exceeded the percentage who chose paid and organic search, and trailed only the traditional forms of vacation rental marketing: paid listing sites (85.3%) and free listing sites (61.8%). Among large property managers with at least 50 properties and $10,000 of annual marketing spend, the shift to social media is even more pronounced, with social ranking first with 92% of the respondents selecting it as an important focus. That compared to paid listing sites and organic search, which were tied at 67%, and paid search, which came in at 58%. Respondents were asked to choose from the following marketing channels: paid listing sites, free listing sites, organic search, paid search, display, re-marketing, mobile, email, affiliate, social, content marketing and other (the handful of responses to "other" were word of mouth, blogs, and direct mail to past guests).
"We know social is big for vacation rental property owners and managers,” Haggart said, “but we were a little surprised that nearly twice the number of respondents cited social media as a significant focus compared with the number who sited paid search, which tallied just 14.7%.”
Email will continue to be a significant part of marketing efforts, according to the survey. It came in fourth overall, with 33.3% of respondents saying they would focus on email. Organic search was fifth.
"Several respondents said they focus their marketing efforts on emailing past guests.” Haggart said. “Since past guests also likely have Facebook, Twitter or other social media accounts, it makes sense that social would play into their efforts to retain business.”
Regarding the success of their vacation rental business, 56% of respondents said business in 2012 was better in 2012 than 2011, 30% said it was about the same and 14% indicated business was worse. The respondents appeared cautious but optimistic about continued growth in 2013 with 61% expecting 2013 to be better than 2012, 35% expecting it to be about the same and only 4% expecting business to be worse.
About Perfect Places: Perfect Places offers nearly 60,000 vacation rental properties in more than 80 countries. Perfect Places operates a portfolio of vacation rental websites including PerfectPlaces.com,forGetaway.com, LakeRentals.com, CoastRentals.com, MountainSkiRentals.com and RentJillsHouse.com. Since 1996, Perfect Places has been a leading source for travelers looking for vacation rentals. Travelers can search for short-term rentals at Perfect Places websites for free. They'll find a wide assortment to choose from, including homes, condos, villas, cabins, bed and breakfasts and more.


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Oct. 19, 2012
THE FLATS – The Georgia Tech volleyball match tonight against No. 12 Florida State is sold out. There is a limited number of student tickets available at the door on a first come, first serve basis, so please arrive early!
The Yellow Jackets will don pink jerseys tonight in support of breast cancer awareness. The jerseys will be autographed and auctioned off here with all proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
The auction is scheduled to begin Saturday, Oct. 20 at 12 p.m. and it will end Saturday, Nov. 3 at 12 p.m.


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April 18th, 2011 by Darren Cottingham
Dodge has just released a teaser image of its next generation, 2013 Viper, pictured above.
Looks just like the old Viper? Well, sadly it is, the car in the photo is actually a test mule for the 2013 Dodge Viper, built on a 2010 chassis. This teaser image was taken during a cold weather testing session for the Viper’s new stability control system. Along with the image came the announcement that Dodge will equip the next-gen Viper with stability control, which should be one of many advancements for the long-serving model.
Few other details have been released so far on the much anticipated Viper but word is that it will come out with between 600 and 700 horsepower but engine size and induction remains unknown.
The car manufacturer announced that the future Dodge Viper will come on the market towards the end of 2012, when it will compete in the “Super Car Olympics”. Continue reading “New Viper to have stability control and 2012 production” »
January 28th, 2011 by Darren Cottingham
Suzuki NZ has just taken a step up the safety ladder with the announcement that electronic stability control will be fitted on all its new passenger car models sold in New Zealand.
The technology, is now standard specification across the Suzuki range, from the least costly Alto hatchback to the most expensive Kizashi executive sedan.
“We are delighted this potentially life-saving feature is included in all our new cars,” said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New Zealand. “ESP is the most important step forward in motor vehicle occupant safety since the seat belt and we have made it our mantra for it to be available to more New Zealand motorists,” he said.
Arrival of the all-new sixth generation Suzuki Swift with standard ESP on each variant has completed the availability of the safety technology on all passenger models marketed by the brand.
According to several international safety agencies, one-third of fatal road accidents could have been prevented by ESP. From September this year, ESP will be mandatory on all new cars sold in the United States. It will also be a requirement in Australia by November 2013, and in Europe by 2014.
The technology features a series of sensors mounted at each wheel, on the steering wheels and in the centre of the car. These sensors constantly measure information at the rate of 50 times a second.
When understeer or oversteer is detected, ESP reduces engine torque and applies hydraulic pressure at the target wheel to ensure smooth, safe driving. Continue reading “Stability control now standard on all new NZ Suzuki cars” »
December 17th, 2010 by Darren Cottingham
Mazda has just announced that the all-new 2012 BT-50 ute will be fitted with its own brand of stability and traction control technology – Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).
Mazda’s DSC system is already included as standard fare across the company’s passenger car range, but hasn’t been offered with the 2010 BT-50. The current model BT-50 does have Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, which increases stopping power while maintaining control of the vehicle.
Expected for sale in New Zealand at the end of next year, the next-gen BT-50 is currently undergoing testing in Australia, including calibration of the new DSC system.
“If you consider how the new BT-50 is likely to be used, it becomes clear just how many situations have to be taken into account to ensure that the Dynamic Stability Control system meets the needs of each and every driver,” Mazda Australia Engineering and Compliance Manager, Wayne Watson said.
“Mazda engineers have spent months calibrating and fine tuning the Dynamic Stability Control system to ensure maximum safety and durability.”
Check back for more news on the new Mazda BT-50 as it becomes available. Continue reading “New 2012 Mazda BT-50 to have Dynamic Stability Control” »
April 28th, 2010 by Darren Cottingham
The latest round of ANCAP crash-safety tests have concluded and the 2010 Volkswagen Polo has come out trumps with a 5-Star safety rating. Both the 2010 Toyota Hybrid Camry and the updated Great Wall X240 each scored a 4-Star rating.
The Polo’s 5-Star rating is no real surprise with the 2010 World Car of the Year already achieving the same rating under Europe’s similar Euro NCAP program.
The Hybrid Camry’s 4-Star rating – expected for some time and now official – has been the subject of some controversy today, with Toyota issuing a statement that seriously questions the ANCAP testing process.
A reactionary statement from ANCAP Chair Lauchlan McIntosh was released that took a shot back at Toyota, pointing to the fact that the Hybrid Camry’s crash testing showed results almost identical to the 2007 Camry, while the Great Wall X240 has moved up from two stars to four in less than a year.
The Hybrid Camry is fairly well equipped and offers six airbags and electronic stability control. The reasons for missing out on top marks was the lack of a passenger seatbelt warning, and a steering column that is considered by ANCAP to be a potential danger to a driver’s knees in an accident.
Interestingly, Great Wall X240 which also scored 4-stars is not fitted with curtain airbags and does not even offer electronic stability control – a feature deemed so important that the Australian Federal Government has made it mandatory on new vehicles from November next year.
To read a Car and SUV road test of the Great Wall X240, click here.
To read a Car and SUV road test of the Volkswagen Polo, click here.


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Chinese researchers announced Monday that they had discovered security vulnerabilities in the Tesla Model S that allowed them to take over the vehicle’s brakes and more without laying a finger on the car.
A video posted by the researchers from Tencent’s Keen Security Lab appears to show them controlling the vehicle's brakes, as well as manipulating its side mirrors, running the windshield wipers and popping the trunk while the car is in motion. The researchers were also able to manipulate some other features while the vehicle was parked, including opening the sunroof, controlling some of the vehicle’s lights and unlocking the doors, according to the video.
You can watch the full demonstration in the video below:
In a blog post, the researchers wrote that they reported the vulnerabilities to Tesla, and the company confirmed the hack. The researchers only tested out their method on “multiple varieties of Tesla Model S,” but said that it’s “reasonable to assume that other Tesla models are affected."
Tesla said in an emailed statement that it "deployed an over-the-air software update" to fix the problem within 10 days of being informed about the bug. The company said the vulnerabilities that Keen Security Lab uncovered would only be accessible under a very specific circumstance: when the vehicle’s Web browser was in use and the car was connected to a malicious WiFi hotspot.
“Our realistic estimate is that the risk to our customers was very low, but this did not stop us from responding quickly,” the Tesla statement said.
Tesla plans to reward the researchers under its bug bounty program, according to the statement. Tesla was the first automaker to roll out such a program, which offers cash rewards to independent researchers who help the company uncover problems in its software. The company pays up to $10,000 per bug.
While this seems to be the first remote hack against a Tesla vehicle, researchers have found ways to remotely take over vehicles offered by other manufacturers. Most notably, in 2014 researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek demonstrated that they could remotely control a Jeep Cherokee.


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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has upgraded its ‘How’s My Waterway?’ website into a responsive design website, meaning it
According to research done by Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments grew 47 percent from 156.5 million units in the second quarter of 2012 to 229.6 million units in the second quarter of 2013. Additionally, the research finds that this growth is being driven by demand for Android phones
Mariners now have an anytime, anywhere resource to aid in the
A study conducted by Nielson for Q1 2013 reports that almost half of all mobile users use their mobile devices as second screens while watching TV on a daily basis (46% for smartphones, 43% for tablets).
The 2013 JFK Library and Museum exhibit “To the Brink: JFK and the Cuban Missile Crisis” now has a virtual partner on the iPad. Anytime, anywhere, people will be able
Drivers can find the closest alternative fueling sites anytime, anywhere with the Alternative Fuel Locator. The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has created this mobile website that allows users to locate alternative fueling stations. Using Google map technology and data from the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), the site


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By: Muhammad Zuhair Haider Zaidi
PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) unveils draft specifications version 0.3 of PCIe Express 7.0, opening new doorways in the technology. The company will update more on the technology at its annual developer conference being held in Santa Clara.
PCIe Express 7.0 Will Feature Significant Improvements From Previous Generations
PCIe Express 7.0 is set to feature speeds yet to be seen in the industry. It is expected to include speeds of up to 128 GT/s per pin, a substantial improvement from previous generations. It will feature double the bandwidth for PCIe devices featuring 16GB/s of full-duplex, bidirectional bandwidth, which is a significant increase since PCIe 6.0 comes with 8GB/s.
The new version 0.3 draft is set to be provided to various board members. This is the first step towards making the technology more widely accessible. The draft lets consumers and group members know about the potential of PCIe Express 7.0 hence garnering interest.
The new technology will feature PAM4 signaling and 1b/1b flit mode encoding, similar to what we saw in PCIe 6.0. The main changes are in the physical layer development, resulting in improved performance. PCI-SIG has set a timeframe for PCIe 7.0 to achieve complete development. The company expects the technology to go live by 2025 after initial testing and development are completed. Moreover, PCI-SIG has also disclosed information about the compliance program, which is certification for large-scale industries. Here is what the company has to say about it.
A compliance program for the specification, in turn, should be up and running in 2027. The compliance programs are the functional barometer for hardware availability, as compliance testing and certification is effectively necessary before any large-scale commercial hardware using the new spec can ship. And with few exceptions, these tend to take 2 to 2.5 years to put together.
All of which is to say that the first commercial PCIe 7.0 products are not expected until at least 2027 – five years from now – underscoring that there is still a lot of work to go for PCIe 7.0 following this initial draft.
Apart from developing PCIe Express 7.0, the company is also working to add final touches to its PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 6.0 technology. Improvements are being made, particularly in cabling, with an option to maintain/extend the channel, creating a more efficient cabling network. Two different cabling specifications are expected to be launched into the markets by Q4 2023, featuring PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 6.0.
As mentioned by the company itself. PCIe Express 7.0 isn’t expected to be in consumer markets by 2027, and prior generations, such as PCIe 6.0, are still in the testing stages. With that in mind, although the technology has great potential, it still has a long way to go.


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Our Aussie friend has released a new music video.
Steve Hornady explains why ammunition is hard to find. The reason is, in one word, demand.
SIG Sauer unveiled three new suppressors at the company's range day ahead of SHOT Shot 2020.
We check out the new Ruger-57 pistol with some help from Ruger-sponsored shooter Doug Koenig.
Walther's new concealed-carry-based Q4 steel frame builds on the success of the larger, competition-based Q5.
For the tactical market, the folks at EOTech have three new magnifiers available for 2020.
The Heckler & Koch VP9 has some interesting updates for 2020, all of which should appeal to its fans as well as those looking for a CCW option.
We stopped by the Arsenal Arms bay at Industry Day at the Range before SHOT Show 2020 to check out the new AK20 rifle.
Released just a few days before SHOT Show 2020, the Mossberg MC2c is the latest handgun to be offered from the company best-known for its shotguns.
Bushnell unveiled some upgrades to the company's AR Optics line, and we got a chance to go long at Industry Day at the Range before SHOT Show 2020.


text: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Flipboard 0 “It’s been proven: tweets and retweets affect Google rankings”, wrote Branded3’s head of social media, Steve Creek, in a guest blog for Brightfire. Steve’s statement is not just another speculation about what has long been a putative link between social and search but is based on a rigorous study that Branded3 conducted, which found a correlation between tweets and search rankings. Eureka! Now another report, this time by Searchmetrics, claims to have found proof that social shares on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ closely correlate with how a website ranks in Google search, according to Econsultancy. Of all the social signals studied, unsurprisingly, Google’s very own social website Google+ has the strongest correlation with search rankings. Outwith Google’s products, Facebook shares are the metrics having the highest impact on search rankings, followed by total Facebook activity, Facebook comments and Facebook likes. Tweets are the sixth strongest social value behind Facebook and Google+. What do these findings mean for SEO? The report indicates a few trends in search, which anyone involved in digital marketing should consider when devising their own or their clients’ online marketing strategy: Social signals are the most important factors affecting how a website ranks on Google so here’s yet another reason why you should focus your attention on engaging your online communities on Facebook and Twitter. Google+ has not yet seen a significant uptake but is definitely the one to watch as it is the social website with the strongest correlation with Google search rankings. On-page content factors, such as keyword in H1, title character length and position of keyword in title are not as important as they used to be. The quantity and the quality of backlinks still counts – in fact, number of backlinks is the third most important search ranking factor, according to the study. Ultimately, all these findings emphasise the importance of building your online marketing strategy around quality social content. Not only will you gain better visibility but you will be Google-proof against future search algorithm updates. Image credit: Searchmetrics.com Twitter Tweet Facebook Share Email This article originally appeared on Brightfire Blog and has been republished with permission.Find out how to syndicate your content with B2C Author: Kane Pepi Kane Pepi is an experienced financial and cryptocurrency writer with over 2,000+ published articles, guides, and market insights in the public domain. Expert niche subjects include asset valuation and analysis, portfolio management, and the prevention of financial crime. Kane is particularly skilled in explaining complex financial topics in a user-friendlyView full profile ›More by this author:VoIP Basics: Everything Beginners Should Know!Bitcoin Investment, Trading & Mining: The Ultimate Guide for BeginnersIs This a Better Way to Set Your 2020 Goals and Resolutions?


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WAM said the decision also requires manufacturers to clearly identify the sugar content in order for consumers to make "sensible healthy choices".
The Pennsylvania Superior Court denied KGL’s appeal of a lower court’s summary judgment in favour of Agility in a defamation lawsuit that was brought by KGL in 2012.
Under the terms of the MoU, Majid Al Futtaim Retail is tasked with hand picking local suppliers for its Carrefour stores following stringent safety and hygiene audits, particularly for food commodities.
Leading GCC FMCG importer looking to expand its Asian food offerings with new flavours from countries such as Vietnam and Korea
Stuart Milligan, course leader, MSc International Logistics and Supply Chain Management, University of South Wales looks at what’s in store for global logistics in the coming years
Jonathan Wood, general manager, Middle East and Africa, Infor looks at the issues holding back greater efficiency at the start of the supply chain
Anant Kadiyala, director of blockchain and IoT industry solutions, Oracle examines the technologies impacting GCC supply chains
Automation, networking and robotics are rapidly gaining ground in metalworking – and in storage and sawing technology.
Truebell plans to leverage its success working with Japanese probiotic fermented milk manufacturer Yakult to grow GCC presence
Nike has implemented RFID tracking for "hundreds of millions of items" according to CEO Mark Parker and is also using QR codes to track some inventory.
Most shippers appear to be more concerned about the impact IMO 2020 sulphur regulations will have on the supply chain than the increased costs because of it.
The certification has been obtained for all Almarai’s operations in Saudi Arabia through a series of multi-site certification audits across its various subsidiaries and facilities in the Kingdom.
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(Vinterbro, Norway, January 22, 2024)
“Rift Labs is excited to announce a $4.5 million partnership deal with Norselab to reinforce our commitment to indoor agriculture. We are witnessing substantial interest in our technology globally, having already secured commercial contracts for supplying LED lights for plant production of scale in both vertical farms and industrial greenhouses. The partnership with Norselab is very exciting and will allow us to take our Photosynthetic offering to the next level.” says Halvard Aagaard, visionary CEO of Rift Labs.
The funding round was led by impact investor Norselab, a Norwegian VC fund backed by US-based Capricorn Investment Group, one of the world’s largest purpose-driven investment companies. The investment totals around $4.5 million, with $1.5 million in cash and another $3.0 million through the acquisition of secondary shares. The round had additional participation from existing shareholder Karbon Invest through the conversion of a shareholder loan.
Why did Norselab invest in Rift Labs?
“We need a radical shift in how we produce food, and we are convinced that Rift Labs can take a leading position in controlled-environment agriculture in the years ahead,” states Yngve Tvedt, CIO of Norselab.
Patented software control enabling dynamic LED solutions with world-leading energy efficiency
Rift Labs was founded more than a decade ago, initially focusing on the cinema lighting industry – i.e. targeting professional cinematographers and directors of photography, where the requirements for high precision and light quality are extreme. Over the years, we developed and perfected what is now a patented technology for the dynamic control of LED lights. For indoor agriculture, this technology means we can continuously adapt dynamic light conditions for optimized plant growth, while at the same time achieving world-leading energy efficiency.
Halvard Aagaard, CEO of Rift Labs, adds, “The LED light market today is heavily influenced by a few major companies which deliver standardized solutions that mostly rely on a static or fixed light spectrum. We make use of our proprietary and complex software for mixing light, which enables extremely precise and consistent dynamic lighting – in high quality across all temperatures and colors. The significance of this is huge: By manipulating the light conditions in their vertical farm or greenhouse, the grower can induce their plants to exercise certain behavior whenever they want, regardless of the conditions outside. For our customers, this translates to better yields, much higher flexibility, and more efficient LED operation, with up to 10-25% reduced energy costs compared to our main competitors.”
Strategic financing partnership with Export Finance Norway (Eksfin)
Rift Labs has also entered a partnership with EksFin, a Norwegian governmental institution offering attractive financing and guarantee coverage. Regardless of market conditions, Eksfin, with its AAA rating, provides financial solutions and risk-sharing guarantees, empowering international buyers with long-term financing at market-leading terms for Rift Labs’ LED lighting solutions. This collaboration enhances lending capacity and risk mitigation for collaborating banks on a global scale.
Seizing opportunities in a growing LED Market
The horticultural lighting market is expected to grow significantly from $3.7 billion in 2023 to $10.4 billion in 2028, with a CAGR of over 22.4%1. This growth is attributed to an increased demand for more innovative and energy efficient lighting solutions, driven by indoor agriculture being seen as a sustainable and more reliable alternative in food production. With their patented LED technology, Rift Labs is well positioned to become a leader in the industry.
For more information:
Øyvind Hasund Dahl, CRO
About Rift Labs | www.riftlabs.com
Rift Labs is a Norwegian LED technology company that has been developing award-winning LED products and solutions for the global market since 2010. Combining unique and patented software with industry-leading energy efficient hardware, Rift Labs creates exceptional LED technology solutions for two industries: photo and video through cinema lighting brand Kelvin, and indoor agriculture through CEA brand Photosynthetic.
Rift Labs’ headquarters is located in Vinterbro, Norway, with commercial offices in Berlin. To learn more about Rift Labs, visit: www.riftlabs.com
About Norselab | www.norselab.com
Norselab is a Nordic impact investor with an unwavering focus on creating a meaningful future for all through investments. Norselab invests in companies that positively contribute to sustainability goals and drive change in some of the world’s most resource-intensive industries. Managing four funds in venture and credit, all following industry-leading impact standards and designed for long-term capital returns, Norselab is backed by US-based Capricorn Investment Group, one of the world’s largest purpose-driven investment companies.
Norselab is a certified B Corp™ with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. To learn more about Norselab, visit www.norselab.com


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A wanted woman is arrested and charged with using counterfeit coupons – and it’s not the first time.
Post Tagged with: "Giant Food Stores"
There’s a new winner, in a new ranking of shopper satisfaction with their grocery stores.
A new analysis reveals the best grocery store in each state – and some are not what you might expect.
Ahold and Delhaize, the owners of Stop & Shop, Giant, Hannaford and Food Lion, sell 86 stores ahead of their merger.
A new survey of the best and worst grocery stores finds that nearly all of them are getting worse.
Ahold and Delhaize, the owners of Stop & Shop, Giant, Hannaford and Food Lion, combine their companies in a bid for survival and relevance.
The parent companies of Food Lion and Hannaford, and Stop & Shop and Giant, confirm talks of a possible merger.
A new survey finds that most of us prefer fueling up at supermarkets and club stores – even though we don’t always do it.
How’s this for price-cut transparency: one supermarket lowers prices, then publishes a price history on those products on its website for all to see.
A new survey ranks grocery stores based on the quality of their private-label products.


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Twinkies Return In July: Ho Hos, Ding Dongs And Cupcakes Join As The Other Hostess Products Coming Back
By Staff Writer | June 30, 2013 09:03 PM EDT
Twinkies return in July after a few month-layaway away from stores because the private equity firms Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co. that purchased it from Hostess after Hostess closed down its stores, decided to bring back the twinkies.
The Twinkies return in July, specifically on July 15. This marks the comeback from the "Golden sponge cake with cream filling."
Other former Hostess products will also return besides the Twinkies return in July. Ho Hos, Ding Dongs and Cupcakes will be making their respective comebacks as well.
"America wanted Hostess back - they wanted the original," Daren Metropoulos, principal of Metropoulos & Co. said in a statement. "A comeback by any other name could never be as sweet."
It was in November that Hostess won court approval to start shutting its doors and lay off its 18,500 employee after butting heads with the striking union workers. Then
"Entenmann's and Sara Lee owner Grupo Bimbo paid $31.9 million for the Beefsteak bread business. Flowers Foods Inc. got the rest of the bread operation, such as the Wonder brand, along with several bakeries and depots. McKee Foods, the maker of Little Debbie snack cakes, took over the Drake's line of goods," according to the L.A. Times.
Hannah Arnold, a spokeswoman with Hostess, told the L.A. Times that major retailers nationwide will carry the snack cakes, as will convenience stores and dollar stores.
"We can have some fun with that mixture," the President of Hostess, Rich Seban, said in a statement, suggesting also that they might experiment with products that cash in on the gluten-free market, that add fiber, lower sugar or sodium.
There's a clock counting down the return of the Hostess products on its website.
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SISTAR's lead vocalist, Hyolyn is gaining some serious success globally, as she has recently signed with an EDM company label.


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As part of its ongoing push to grow its leisure tourism in addition to being a recognized business hub on the African continent, the government of Cote d’Ivoire announced on Thursday that it is launching a digital tourist pass or “Sublime Cote d’Ivoire passe touristique.”
Set to become available in April 2023, this prepaid Visa digital card will give the visitor access to a number of discounts and offers from a network of tourist attractions, restaurants and services, including hotels to show ticketing services, according to the Ministry of Tourism. There will be three types of cards, to distinguish among Ivorian tourists, international tourists, and those who are foreign residents in the country.
The plan is to also launch a national online directory listing tourism establishments and their corresponding offers by April 2023. The tourism industry aims to reach one million consumers in the first year of the digital pass.
The musical group Magic System (you’ve no doubt heard their famous tune “Premier Gaou” from 1990 play at some point anywhere in the world, precursors to Afrobeat’s popularity) has been tasked as an ambassador to promote the effort.
Cote d’Ivoire is revving up its tourism efforts as it prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament in January-February 2024, which makes this push to digitize and modernize access to its tourism industry even more critical.
Lesser-known than Ghana or Morocco from a tourism standpoint, Cote d’Ivoire, a country where this reporter spent her childhood, is one of Africa’s most underrated destinations, offering cities, beaches and plenty of ecotourism. Thought it may be behind major tourism poles in eastern and northern Africa such as Kenya or Morocco, its capital Abidjan is actually where Africa’s first modernist hotel, then-Hotel Ivoire, was born.
For more on Cote d’Ivoire, read this write up I had the honor of authoring as part of Bloomberg’s Where to Go in 2023 list, plus some words in our January newsletter, and then dive into this travel feature on the latest in Cote d’Ivoire, from French publication Le Point.
Keep an eye out for an update on the availability of the pass in April 2023.


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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk DLC launches in December
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero is set to conclude with the launch of The Indigo Disk.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask DLC Review
The Teal Mask is a welcome return to the world of Pokemon Violet and Scarlet.
Pokémon Presents August 2023: All the News and Announcements
Here's everything revealed during the latest Pokemon Presents.
Nintendo reports growing digital sales in latest financial results
Nintendo has reported major growth in digital sales over its last financial year, while hardware and physical sales have dropped.
New Pokemon fan theory claims Legendary Terapagos is Paldea
The appearance of Terapagos could be inspired by classic legends.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: Patch notes for February 2023 update
Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are set to be updated in late February 2023.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will get new patch in February
The latest patch, introducing various bug fixes and 'new functionality', drops in late February.
The best Nintendo games of 2022
Nintendo has had a frankly phenomenal 2022, with a range of brilliant adventures along the way.
Leah J. Williams' Top 10 Games of 2022
It's been a brilliant year for video games. Here's a few GamesHub writer Leah J. Williams absolutely loved.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are getting major updates
Nintendo has apologised for the performance woes facing many keen players.