text:
In the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, Kenya has been very active and this why the country will be the first East African country to install a bitcoin ATM. The ATM is installed in Westlands, Nairobi. This will enable the users to purchase Bitcoins and Litecoins instantly. Traders can now purchase cryptocurrencies for a minimum of $5 and can pay for them using both dollars and Kenyan shillings.
The ATM was launched by Nairobi-based fintech company, BitClub. Bitcoin entrepreneur Wangechi Kariuki, a bitcoin entrepreneur at BitClub said; “The transaction is simple, taking less than two minutes; You can get as many Bitcoins as the value of your cash.”
To start purchasing the coins the users must first set up an account with a Bitcoin trading platform. Following, they will need to buy a wallet to store the cryptocurrency. Their wallet will come with an address which is similar to an account number and using the address a QR code will be generated. The QR code can be scanned by the ATM for account identification. The user can then deposit their cash with the ATM, and purchase the crypto of their choice, which will reflect in the buyer’s wallet. The purchase is confirmed through and a purchase receipt or via e-mail or SMS. Kariuki also said,
“Bitcoins function just like the loyalty points we earn from shopping at supermarkets or the reward points we get from talk time. You can also use them to buy goods or pay for services.”
The ATM is currently serving anywhere between 15-20 people a day, which reflects the interest in cryptocurrencies, particularly among younger people. At the end of last year, the results of a survey showed that Kenya had some of the largest Bitcoin holdings.


text:
Sniper Elite 4 was already announced last week; however, today we got some more information on the next installment in the highly successful World War II shooter series. Sniper Elite 4 will launch in 2016, Rebellion confirmed today, and the distribution of the physical release will be handled by Sold Out, with whom Rebellion worked before with Zombie Army Trilogy.
“It is great to see that British software and development is not only alive and well, but through Rebellion’s efforts, actually flourishing,” said Gary Williams, CEO of Sold Out. “Sold Out is delighted to be the harbor master for Rebellion’s boxed console journey.”
“We’re extremely excited to be working alongside Sold Out again after the huge success of Zombie Army Trilogy, and this way we can produce the most successful Sniper Elite game to date, not only digitally, but also at retail,” said Co-Founder and CEO of Rebellion, Jason Kingsley.
Sniper Elite 4 is due out on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
Share Your Thoughts Below (Always follow our comments policy!)

domain: news


text:
Electric Pact should center on consumers: Power companies
Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s power companies (ADIE) on Tuesday said the proposed Electricity Pact should center on service to consumers and be the "overseer" to ensure compliance with the agreed measures and projects.
ADIE executive vice president Milton Morrison said if the user doesn’t receive 24-7 quality and competitively-priced service, “it makes no sense sitting down to talk."
"Once reached the agreements are considered essential to create spaces for oversight to give the assurance that what is agreed can be fulfilled and not just left in a bunch of papers," Morrison said.
He listed ADIE’s four most important points, of the more than 20 discussed leading to the Electricity Pact. "First, supply 100 percent of demand, giving consumers 24 hours of electricity."
"A second step would be to expand the energy matrix based on a least-cost generation plan, transmission and distribution, which means looking onward toward the long-term needs and allow it to reach the kind of competitive generation in terms of price and technology, based on studies," the ADIE executive said.
Morrison said the 33% average energy losses in distribution and marketing must be lowered and "reduce and optimize" the Board of Directors and implement models from other entities he affirms have been effective.
"It’s been shown that between 95% and 96% of those who get a light bill pay. It’s true that the light bill in this country isn’t paid, the problem is the distributor’s (EDES) inability to install the meter and bill the customer," Morrison said, adding that ADIE’s fourth proposal "involve people,” making responsible and active consumers. "If we go into a discussion of interests, we will not find results."


text:
Looking for the richest man in the world 2021? If yes! You’re at the right place. Tesla company and SpaceX owner, Elon Musk has emerged the new richest man in the world.
Bloomberg notes that the American surpass former world’s richest man, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to become the new richest man in the world on Thursday January 7 after his company Tesla, recorded a total of 4.8% increase in share price.
But it later soared 743% while Elon Musk’s net worth grew by more than $150 billion.
However, 4.8% increase in Tesla’s share price on Thursday elevated him to $188.5 billion as the new richest man in the world 2021, with over $1.5 billion more than Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Meanwhile, 9jatalks provides a new list of existing DSTV subscription Price, Packages and Plans 2021 in Nigeria


text:
The FBI says an investigation has found information to confirm North Korea's involvement in the Sony cyberattack.» Read More
Samsung's second consecutive profit decline has failed to dent investor optimism over the company's outlook.
Industrial output in Japan rose 0.3 percent in March on-month, below analyst forecasts in a Reuters poll for a 0.5 percent increase, data on Wednesday showed.
U.K. gym chain Fitness First is further muscling into Asia with plans to open 50 new clubs over the next five years, the firm announced Monday.
The Philippines could be next in line to join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), according to the country's Secretary of Trade & Industry.
China's banking regulator has urged authorities and banks to step up an investigation into iron ore financing deals to minimize default risks.
Samsung on Tuesday unveiled a 3.3 percent fall in first-quarter operating-profit to 8.5 trillion won ($8.2 billion), just above its guidance.
Singapore has overtaken London as the largest clearing center for China's domestic currency outside of China and Hong Kong, according to SWIFT.
A sharper-than-expected slowdown in China coupled with a less effective Abenomics are two main risks to Asia's economic outlook, the IMF said.
Bitcoin's price lost 14 percent over the weekend as BTC China confirmed that transactions have been affected by a clampdown from the Chinese government.
Australia's Prime Minister said on Monday it was now highly unlikely that debris from the missing Malaysian jet would be found on the ocean surface.
The last time a top American official visited Malaysia in 1998, Vice President Al Gore rebuked its leaders for suppressing freedom.
After a number of violent outbreaks for Hello Kitty products in the past, Singapore's obsession with the doll may have finally come down a notch.
Goodman Fielder said it has received a A$1.3 billion ($1.2 billion) bid from Wilmar International but that the offer undervalues the company.
Japan retail sales jumped 11 percent in March on-year, the fastest pace since 1997 amid a shopping spree before an April sales tax hike.
Shares in Japan Display slid to their lowest after the smartphone screens maker slashed its full-year operating profit forecast by 11 percent.
The focus in Asia this week will fall on Japan, with the country's central bank due to hold its first policy meeting since the consumption tax hike.
A cyber attack on the Australian parliamentary computer network in 2011 may have given Chinese spies access to lawmakers' private emails.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won announced his resignation on Sunday over the government response to the ferry disaster.
Profits earned by China's industrial firms rose 10.7 percent in March on-year, faster than the 9.4 percent pace in the January-February period.
Marina developers in Southeast Asia are racing to build berths to address the latest problem vexing Asia's rapidly growing ranks of ultra-rich.
Get the best of CNBC in your inbox
The mainland's number 5 carmaker BAIC saw a tepid debut on the Hong Kong markets on Friday. CNBC's Emily Tan reports.
Juerg Kiener, MD and CIO at Swiss Asia Capital, explains when there could be a supply response to the ongoing slump in oil prices.
Simon Grose-Hodge, Head of Investment Advisory for South Asia at LGT Bank, says there are contagion risks as the collapse in oil prices makes financing more of an issue for emerging Asia.


text:
A Colorado CBD company has partnered up with NBA legend Isiah Thomas.
The Hall of Fame basketball player announced earlier this month he would be teaming up with VESL Oils, a CBD manufacturer based in Arvada.
He will now be responsible for promoting the company’s CBD gels and topicals, which are sold to reduce muscle inflammation and treat pain.
Thomas said in a statement, “It was important for me to work with a company that uses only all-natural ingredients, follows regulations, and promotes significant benefits to the human body, both physically and mentally.”
The player’s son Josh has joined VESL as its new marketing director.
According to Josh, “I had a unique opportunity to work with my father and develop an understanding of the quality we expect from ventures and partners around us. For a long time, I have appreciated and supported the benefits of Cannabis and now that policy has supported its legalizations – it presented a unique business opportunity for ISIAH International.”
CEO of the company Bobby Scott said he first approached Isiah in an attempt to get his CBD products into the NBA league and embraced by the sport and its players.
Scott added, “Isiah, being who he is and the connections he has, makes it a little better after they go through more collective bargaining. Getting our muscle gel into the NBA was the original goal.”
Scott said the Thomas family had broken down barriers with the expansion of VESL CBD which helped the company to legitimize its products, with the potential to become a market leader.
The NBA currently does not allow players to ingest CBD products, although, with a growing number of sporting heroes now promoting them, this may be set to change.
Scott also noted several NBA teams have already expressed interest in his creams and lotions, which he sees as fair game. It is hoped Isiah’s status within the sport and his business connections will help to expand VESL’s opportunities within the athletic realm.
The ever-growing CBD industry is now seeing a large number of celebrities taking on their own cannabidiol projects.
Despite the former point guard’s struggles with a sexual harassment lawsuit he faced while working as an NBA executive with the New York Knicks, Isiah has been more successful with his private business ventures.
The player now has so far ventured into the printing industry, real estate, and even has his own champagne brand named Cheurline, which is now the official celebratory tipple of the NBA.
He also served on the Chicago Stock Exchange Board of Governors until 2002 and is an NBA analyst for NBA TV and Turner Sports.
Isiah is also likely to start promoting VESL’s medical marijuana products in the future too, Scott claimed, if they line up with his interests in health and wellness.
Scott said, “He’s a spokesperson for the overall brand, and we’re in the process of creating a vertically integrated cannabis brand, inclusive of all cannabinoids. But his focus will be on physical health.”
As well as its sporting rubs and creams, VESL also offers a range of CBD oils, skincare, pet care, and vapes.
The company, founded by Bobby Scott and Quorum Lopez in early April 2018, secured its first manufacturing facility just a year later which now sees large scale CBD production and extraction.
CBD was legalized back in 2018 when the Farm Bill was passed. Since then, CBD products have grown in popularity, with many regular users claiming the hemp byproduct helps them to sleep better, relieves anxiety, and even clears skin.


text:
“We’re working on something new”
What on earth could it be? A UK version of the Moto X? A UK version of the newly announced Motorola DROID range? Is it just an image that accidentally has moved across from the US website? Or something totally new?
It does make me a little more happier after finding out that the Moto X as we saw last night won’t be coming to the UK. Are Motorola doing it all wrong? Should they be ignoring the rest of the world and concentrating on the US? Should Google just make them into their in house Nexus manufacturer?
Hopefully Motorola won’t leave it too long before they announce something for the UK. We’ll bring you the details if and when they do.
Source – Motorola


text:
OpenNode is a new payment processing company for Bitcoin Core (BTC). It is built on the Lightning network, which is still processing bugs a year after the introduction and promises to offer a cheaper and faster BTC payment option than most other processors in the cryptocurrency market. OpenNode was able to attract a significant investment, $ 1.25 million, from Tim Draper, but a recent attempt by Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Roger Ver's proponent of expanding the platform's capabilities was greeted with a refusal immediate.
Reportedly, Ver would have offered a YouTube video (with a rapid progression of about 21 minutes) to invest $ 1.25 million in OpenNode – in exchange for zero equity – if he developed a payment solution for BCH. Ultimately, the investment would be nothing more than a million dollar donation given that "Crypto Jesus" did not want "even a sharing" on OpenNode.
Maybe he was just feeling the Christmas spirit, or immersed in Christmas spirits. These are the only two reasons why someone would be willing to make a donation of this entity without the possibility of making a direct return.
With that kind of money, if Ver needs to find a suitable payment solution, it would make sense that he could get his own development team. Since YouTube's video completely begins by destroying the lightening network as a viable solution – at least not for the next 30 or 40 years – it's shocking that it would turn and offer the same BTC payment processor money to create a solution for BCH.
OpenNode does not bite. In responding to the video on Twitter, the company said: "Thank you for the $ 125MM @rogerkver offer, but we will have to lower it." Our vision of a better and more open financial system is only possible with Bitcoin. "
At least OpenNode recognizes a wolf in sheep's clothing. After all, Ver is the man who pressured governments to overthrow and see nothing wrong with sites that promote illegal and criminal activities.
Of course, the one that now refers to Bitcoin is everything but Bitcoin. The only cryptocurrency that is still going on according to the original Bitcoin project, as outlined by Satoshi, and the only one that includes the true value of the digital currency, is Bitcoin SV. Bitcoin SV is determined to allow the world to see a true cryptocurrency that works as an alternative to fiat and is working to meet the scalability requirements needed to achieve worldwide adoption.


text:
Myths and stereotypes have a way of seeping into our perceptions of Aboriginal Peoples, their culture and their background. The University's Native Awareness Week, Feb. 28 to Mar. 4, looks to break those beliefs and present a well-rounded view of aboriginal culture and society.
For Linda Many Guns, a professor in the department of Native American Studies, the best way to present a true glimpse of Aboriginal society is to celebrate the strength and spirit of its people. Her fashion show, The Resilience of Blackfoot Identity in Clothing, looks to do just that.
"I personally like to blow up myths about Aboriginal people," says Many Guns. "One of the opportunities we have during Native Awareness Week is the chance to demonstrate outside of classroom discussions, what it is to be Aboriginal. It's not just about reserves and issues it's about people, a way of life and a quality of life. The issues are always centred on poverty and that impoverished image. This week we have the opportunity, through this fashion show, to demonstrate a way of life that has quality, colour, skill and integrity."
The resilience of the Blackfoot women's pride in their identity is captured in the clothing they created and is the central theme of the show, featuring dresses created from three distinct eras of Aboriginal history. The pre-contact era is from the early 1800s, followed by the post-reservation era, from 1870 through the early 1900s, to today's modern era. Contemporary designers Carol Mason, Beverly Hungry Wolf and Gerri Many Fingers will all participate in the show, but it's the appearance of Pauline Dempsey's collection that sets this gathering apart.
"I've seen the pieces she has in her closet but I've never actually seen them out on display, and they really are to die for," says Many Guns. "What we'll be seeing will be spectacular. It's an amazing collection of pieces and the fact that they are not going to be shown again makes this quite an honour that their final appearance will be here."
Dempsey is the daughter of Canadian Senator James Gladstone and the wife of noted author Hugh Dempsey. Her collection has been shown all over the world and her husband Hugh is recognized for his scholarly contributions at the Glenbow Museum.
Many Guns says the event will highlight a people that, despite facing hardship, maintained an active and vibrant culture. It's that spirit of resilience that keeps their culture alive today.
"During the post-reservation period of time, the Aboriginal people were sequestered on reserves and not allowed off," says Many Guns. "So they were taking this incredible dressmaking skill and using anything they could get their hands on, and turning out these absolutely beautiful works of art."
Using scraps of recycled fabric, tin cans, beads extracted from lamps and so on, they found a way to express their identity. It's that identity that is constantly under attack today, and one of the reasons Many Guns introduced the fashion show as a teaching tool to her Native American Health class.
"Identity is a core element in Aboriginal cultural revival," says Many Guns. "When that identity is missing, it's often an underlying factor that contributes to some of the problems that are so prevalent in our communities. These are identity issues and this exercise shows pride in that identity."
Her students will run the show itself. They have been entrusted to research the history of the dresses on display, will co-ordinate the models and announce and describe the collections as they are being presented.
"I really wanted to be involved to learn more about Native American culture," says Kaley Woodman, one of the student researchers who will also be an announcer at the show. "This is a new and innovative way to express one
aspect of what defines their culture."
Student Michelle Leafloor adds that by steering away from issues, and instead presenting Aboriginal culture through its people, bridges of understanding can be constructed.
"This fashion show is a display of the uniqueness, beauty, art and design of Native American people, and it's something to be very proud of," she says. "Maybe an event like this can create a deeper understanding for the campus as a whole and a greater sense of belonging for the Native Americans who may be struggling to find their place in today's society."
For a full list of Native Awareness Week events, follow this link.
GET THE FACTS
• The Resilience fashion show is on Tuesday, Mar. 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the UHall Atrium.
• Noted Canadian historian/author Hugh Dempsey will lead the student discussions throughout the show.
• Contemporary designer, Gerri Many Fingers, teaches on the Blood Reserve. She'll be bringing a Grade 12 class of students to campus to experience Native Awareness Week. "It's a great opportunity for them to come into the University environment, see other Aboriginal people studying here and that it is a welcoming place for them," says Many Guns.
• Visiting students and designers will be taking a tour of the University Theatre, as well as its wardrobe and costume-making department.
• The U of L Women's Centre is also providing volunteers for the show and Morrison Hershfield Engineering Ltd., along with their Aboriginal company, Sikon, is the presenting sponsor.
• An Indian Taco feast with mint tea and berries will follow the show.
For a look at the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.


text:
The first ever Barista Bar Drive Thru has opened in Northern Ireland at the newly built SPAR Mallusk in Newtownabbey. The total renovation and extension
North Belfast’s newest forecourt is a state-of-the-art shopping hub at the heart of a new wave of regeneration, as Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer discovers.
A £2m proposal to revive a derelict petrol station and convenience retail site in Gilford has been welcomed by Gilford Community Forum. The application to develop
Henderson Group says the retail side of its business is now ahead of where it was in 2019, despite the pandemic – but the foodservice
Tearfund has teamed up with SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO stores across Northern Ireland to champion fundraising for poverty accelerated by Covid, conflict and climate change.
A Rostrevor retailer is celebrating 40 years as a ViVO this month and is marking the occasion by celebrating with their local community and shoppers.


text:
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has launched MTV+ on Amazon Prime Video Channels in Germany and Austria.
The news comes after VIMN recently signed an SVOD deal for Nickelodeon content with Vodafone in Turkey, as well as a mobile distribution deal with African mobile network operator, MTN.
“We are pursuing a diversified and extensive multiplatform strategy,” said Raffaele Annecchino, president and MD of VIMN’s Southern and Western Europe, Middle East and Africa business cluster.
“We are a company that produces premium long form and short form content for every platform. We are excited to be working with great partners like Amazon in Germany, MTN in Africa, and Vodafone, as we continue to evaluate each market for new opportunities and unlock value through both traditional and non-traditional distribution partners.”
DTVE: the week in view – A deal with precedent in unprecedented times – analysing the English Premier League’s righ… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
16 May 2021 @ 19:00:01 UTC
ICYMI: ESPN+ picks up LaLiga rights in eight-season deal digitaltveurope.com/2021/05/14/esp… https://t.co/5yRzDfSji0
16 May 2021 @ 18:00:01 UTC
OTT Discovery: Expert insights on how to stand out amongst the crowd digitaltveurope.com/intelligence/w…
15 May 2021 @ 15:00:00 UTC


text:
Parle Agro Signs on Superstar Salman Khan as the New Face of Appy Fizz
Salman to feature in the newest #FeelTheFizz campaign
Aims to make the Fruit plus Fizz category Rs. 4,000 Crore
by Shrutee K/DNS
MUMBAI, 15 March 2018: Parle Agro, the largest Indian beverage company, announced Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as the new face of its brand Appy Fizz as it aims to fuel levels of growth far higher than category averages. With the on-set of summer across India, Salman will feature in the new #FeelTheFizz campaign for Appy Fizz, India’s first sparkling fruit juice drink. Salman’s stylish, macho and magnetic attitude is a seamless fit for Appy Fizz’s bold and edgy persona and shall help drive far reaching impact and recall for the brand.
Since its launch in 2005, the Rs. 650 crore brand has been a market leader in the category of fruit + fizz drinks. Associating with Salman Khan is a part of Appy Fizz’s strategic large scale marketing investments, aiming to further strengthen the brands connect with millions of consumers across India. The brand’s recent association with Bigg Boss season 11 met with huge success, when Parle Agro unveiled a special edition Appy Fizz PET bottle along with the show, giving fans an exclusive chance to meet their hero.
Commenting on the announcement, Nadia Chauhan, Joint MD and CMO, Parle Agro said, “Appy Fizz has established a strong foothold in the market over the years and with this collaboration, we want to further build the brand through aggressive marketing initiatives. Salman Khan’s magnetic personality seamlessly reflects the brand’s identity, and with his popularity along with the power of Appy Fizz, we aim to make this brand a household name.” Speaking about this collaboration, Salman Khan said, ‘’I am delighted to come on board as the brand ambassador for Appy Fizz. With the exciting new campaign, I am positive the fans and the brand’s consumers will Feel the Fizz!”
Salman Khan is the newest addition to the existing list of A-listers as the face of a Parle Agro brand with Alia Bhatt as the brand ambassador for Frooti and its variants and Tollywood superstar Allu Arjun for Frooti in South India. The Bollywood superstar will feature in an exciting new Appy Fizz TVC supported by a multi-media campaign which will be rolled out this summer.
About Parle Agro: Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd. is the largest Indian beverage company with brands like Frooti, Appy, Frooti Fizz, Appy Fizz, Bailley, Frio, Dhishoom and Café Cuba which cater to the mass market. Today, it is a 4000 Cr organization and operates under three business verticals: Beverages, Packaged Drinking Water and PET Preforms. Each of these verticals operate as independent entities. Over the last few years, Parle Agro grown its infrastructure to 76 manufacturing facilities both in India and overseas, and have developed a widespread network of more than 5000 channel partners that cater to more than 14lakh outlets in the country. Being the leaders in the beverage industry with iconic brands, Parle Agro believes in innovating products and creating new categories. An understanding of the Indian consumer and innovative business practices has led it to establish trends that have changed industry outlook and approach.


text:
One of the biggest makers of smart televisions has been found to be tracking users' viewing habits without them knowing.
Vizio has been fined $2.2 million (£1.8m) after the US consumer watchdog discovered the company had been using content recognition software to track viewers without asking for permission.
The tracking technology, called automated content recognition, can recognise what is being watched on the television at any given moment. Vizio gathered "as many as 100 billion data points a day from millions of TVs".
Vizio, which has sold more than 11 million smart TVs since 2010, was found to have been sharing the "mountain of data" with independent companies such as advertisers and those that monitor audience engagement and habits. It does not sell its TVs in the UK.
"Consumers didn't know that while they were watching their TVs, Vizio was watching them," the US Federal Trade Commission said. "The generic way the company described that feature – for example, 'enables program offers and suggestions' – didn’t give consumers the necessary heads-up to know that Vizio was tracking their TV’s every flicker."
The company began using the tracking software in its products in 2014. Around this time it also added the software to older models, already in people's homes, through an update, the Commission said.
"Vizio then turned that mountain of data into cash by selling consumers’ viewing histories to advertisers and others. And let’s be clear: We’re not talking about summary information about national viewing trends," the Commission said. "The company provided consumers’ IP addresses to data aggregators, who then matched the address with an individual consumer or household."
Vizio said the data it stored and shared wasn't personally identifiable and didn't include viewers' names or contact information. But it did include sensitive information such as sex, age, income, marital status, household size and education.
"The Federal Trade Commission has made clear that all smart TV makers should get people's consent before collecting and sharing television viewing information, and Vizio is now leading the way," said Jerry Huang, a lawyer with the company.
As well as paying a hefty fine, Vizio has been ordered to delete all information collected before March 2016.
"It’s wrong that customers had no idea it was happening, companies have to make more of an effort to be clear about what data they collect and how it’s used," said Daniel Nesbitt, research director at Big Brother Watch. "Citizens should always be asked before their data is collected, they have to be able to understand how their information is being used and say no to it if they don’t feel comfortable."


text:
Regina Executives optimism is driven by 43.2% of respondents who believe that the economy will perform better in the next 12 months, as well as the 51.4% believe that the economy will remain the same.
Executive Confidence Index has climbed to a new high of 2.60, up 24 points from the previous quarter results. This is the highest confidence index since inception of RELO (past six quarters) and indicates growing optimism in the future economy.
Over half (58.3%) of respondents expect to employ more people over the next year. This is an increase of 13.6% over the last quarter. 38.9% of respondents anticipate having the same number of employees over the next 12 months.
Forty-seven percent (47.2%) of respondents report an increase in revenue compared to 12 months ago, 19.4% report decreased revenue.
Almost three quarters (72.2%) of respondents expect sales revenue to increase in the next 12 months. This is an 11.7% increase from last quarter.


text:
The New York import lasted just under a year in Pittsburgh’s North Side.
From an office on the North Side, Simon Huntley runs Small Farm Central, a company that helps small farms with technology and software issues such as websites, customer retention and marketing.
A few years ago, Mr. Huntley discovered that among the farms he works with, the most common day for their customers to sign up for Community-Supported Agriculture subscriptions was the final Friday in February.
As this seemingly random fact “bubbled around” in his mind, he decided he could capitalize on it by declaring the final Friday of each February “CSA Day” as a tool to help raise awareness of CSAs and encourage consumers to sign up for them.
He came up with the idea in 2015 about 10 days before “CSA Day,” leaving little planning time. That year, he created an online directory of about 200 to 300 CSA farms in North America. Last year the directory expanded to between 700 and 800 farms; this year he expects to have about 1,500 farms in his directory by CSA Day, which is this Friday.
Here’s how a CSA works: A customer buys a “share” of a farmer’s crop ahead of the growing season. The customer’s advance payment provides the seed money to help the farmer get his crop in the ground. Throughout the harvest season, customers get regular deliveries (usually weekly or every other week) of fruits and vegetables. Some CSAs allow customers to choose which fruits or vegetables they receive; many CSAs simply deliver a mystery box. Many CSAs offer recipes to help customers learn how to use the less common fruits and vegetables. Some CSAs also offer local meat, eggs, cheeses and honey.
Mr. Huntley grew up on a 70-acre farm in Greene County. His parents never worked full time on the farm; his dad was a coal miner and his mom an academic at West Virginia University. They raised sheep and made hay, but as a child Mr. Huntley was always more interested in computer programming and technology than in farming.
So he studied information science and technology at Penn State, but there, he discovered he was interested in farming after all. He minored in agribusiness and spent two years working on a farm in Colorado, helping to set up a CSA program.
Ten years ago he started Small Farm Central (www.smallfarmcentral.com); he now heads a staff of five and works with about 1,000 farms across North America.
His directory of CSA farms is not limited to his customers; any farmer can add a CSA to the directory free of charge. So far, about 15 Pittsburgh-area farms are included.
As awareness of CSA Day (csaday.info) grows, Mr. Huntley is beginning to hear about groups in various cities that have scheduled celebrations such as happy hours or sign-up fairs. One organization in New York’s Hudson Valley won a grant to publicize CSA Day through radio and billboards.
“It’s a simple idea, so anyone can take it and run with it” to schedule a local event, he said.
He sees CSAs as a vital trend in agriculture for both farmer and consumer.
“From the farmer’s perspective, it’s a path to profitability,” he said, noting it’s hard to do farming justice without doing it full time, yet farmers struggle to create a viable business without an established customer base like a CSA provides.
And for the consumer? “In a world of intractable problems — economic and political instability, homelessness, world hunger — it’s hard to figure out what we can do” to help our neighbors, he said. “This is a concrete act you can do to support farmers, support your local economy and get healthy food on your table.”
Rebecca Sodergren: firstname.lastname@example.org or on Twitter @pgfoodevents.


text:
Problem solving is in Dan Mandle’s blood.
Years ago, Mandle converted a 2004 Volkswagen Golf from diesel to run on vegetable oil.
Today, the 26-year-old interactive developer for Movement Strategy in Boulder, Colo., downplays his work on the vegetable-oil-fueled VW but proudly cites the perks of such a solution.
“I got used vegetable oil from the university’s food services department and drove the car for free,” he says.
For Mandle, innovation is one of the reasons he enjoys working in development and design and showcasing his skills, especially at collaborative events like hackfests.
“I really like being able to think of new ideas and kind of throw stuff together to be able to create something that people can appreciate in such a small amount of time,” he says. “And, I also enjoy learning new technologies along the way.”
Hackfests have become popular in recent years as the development and design community pits teams against one another to craft new and often unconventional technology.
The-Hackfest.com, based in the United Kingdom, organizes and lists national and international projects bringing attention to the diversity of events happening around the world.
According to the site’s manifesto:
Hackfests used to be the domain of coding geeks getting together to show off their talents. Whilst that remains the essential heart of a hackathon businesses are increasingly realizing their worth too — and grasping the opportunity with both hands.
Apple, Facebook and Google are just a few of the companies that have opened up their ecosystems and essentially outsourced innovation to the masses and have hundreds of thousands of developers and others building products for them on spec. These massive developer communities are helping them truly innovate.
From hours-long to days-long events, designers and business owners also turn to hackfests because they often showcase programmers’ talents or can be the impetus for bringing a new product to market.
Mandle regularly participates in hackfests hosted by Boulder’s Quick Left, a firm that specializes in custom app development and consulting. The quarterly events have featured projects like a beerfest hackfest, a Bike-Month hackfest and a lock-picking hackfest.
Mandle and his teammate, Brian Shaffer, have won several of the events and usually are at the core of the team but have worked with other developers depending on the challenge, he says.
For the team’s winning design in the Rube Goldberg Machine hackfest, they leveraged the GNIP Twitter Firehose API to watch for any Tweets that contained #RubeGoldbergStyle. Then, using the Twillio API, a phone call was placed and when answered, read aloud the seventh #RubeGoldbergStyle tweet. That then triggered another call to a phone hooked up to a Pebble watch, which vibrated down a ramp, fell into a container, hitting the enter button on the keyboard. That then stopped the timer and played the Looney Tunes’ “That’s All Folks” ending.
Another win for Mandle and his team included creating an app during Quick Left’s Bikes and Bytes hackfest that allowed cyclists to post what kind of ride they were taking on any day, whether road or mountain biking, to seek people with similar skills and plans.
“The cool thing about these is that they are borderline product ideas,” Mandle says. “We certainly could have turned to companies with the bike app and offered that as a product.”
Internet of Things Hackathon Finals
Mandle participated in the Internet of Things Hackathon Finals in Las Vegas. With his team, Mandle showcased their creation, Spotiparty. It is a social and collaborative jukebox that allows guests within a preset radius of the hub — an all-in-one PC — to join the party, add songs, up-vote and down-vote songs and rock out.
See a presentation by Team Spotiparty:
Quick Left began its hackfests when the company started in 2011, says Rachel Scott, director of marketing.
Scott says the events started as a means for Quick Left to host get-togethers, pulling in designers and developers seeking another creative outlet.
“Primarily this started as a community-centric event,” she says. “One part of becoming a developer in open-source communities is it’s amazing the information that is available to learn. The community is amazing in that it collaborates. Another reason we do the hackfests is that a lot of coders are not necessarily coding on something they want to [in their non-hackfest lives]. Whether it’s a financial application for a client or something like that. [Hackfests are] an avenue for them to have a creative outlet.”
Quick Left’s hackfests have grown over the years, usually drawing 100 to 200 developers, Scott says. Scheduling the events around promotions like Boulder Startup Week also brings attention from people not necessarily involved in design or development. During the May 12 Battle of the Games hackfest, Quick Left also will host a retro-gaming competition, in which participants can enjoy playing original NES, Super NES, Gameboy and more.
In addition to highlighting creative design and development or introducing people to the industry, firms also have used hackfests to identify new talent and creative prospective employees.
“Quick Left has hired at least five developers from the hackfests,” Scott says. “This is a vastly different industry in terms of recruitment and hiring. Hackfests are great from that perspective. They are great for new and seasoned developers and businesses.”
What Is a Hack?
For designers and developers, it is problem-solving with a clever or technical approach that can crack everyday or off-the-wall scenarios.
What Is a Hackfest?
Also known as a hackathon, hack day or codefest, these are events in which designers and developers collaborate on technical projects, often shedding their everyday personas to enjoy beer, pizza and energy drinks in a creative setting. The events usually start with one or more presentations about the project. Participants then suggest ideas and often form teams based on interest and skills. The main work of the hackfest then begins, lasting for several hours or days.
At conclusion of the hackfest, participants offer demonstrations and present results. The events often are judged by organizers or sponsors. Some firms host hackfests as recruitment events, seeking new designers and developers.
Quick Left Hackfest in Boulder, Colo.
Need an excuse to get creative in Colorado? Check out the next hackfest hosted by Quick Left from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on May 12. The event is a continuation of Quick Left’s popular quarterly hackfests that have seen designers and developers work a beerfest hackfest, a Bike-Month hackfest and a lock-picking hackfest.
On May 12, participants will be tasked with busting out their best hacked-together code with maze-solving, token-gathering and weapon-making skills as part of the Battle of the Games hackfest. Designers and developers can make their own adventure text games, tabletop games, MMOG or MUD games … all in three hours or less.
For more information or to register, visit http://quickleft.com/blog/battle-of-the-games-there-will-be-hackfest
Find a Hackfest
To learn more about hackfests in your area, search engines offer dates and details. Globally, The-Hackfest.com organizes and lists national and international projects bringing attention to the diversity of events happening around the world. Register at www.the-hackfest.com.


text:
San Francisco, Calif. (June 17, 2015) – Crunchyroll announced today that Miki Yoshikawa, creator of the successful Yamada-Kun and the Seven Witches manga, will be visiting Anime Expo, with events scheduled for Friday July 3 and Saturday July 4.
Miki Yoshikawa is a Japanese manga author and artist most known for her work on Yamada-Kun. Yoshikawa made her pro manga debut in 2003 with Glory Days, a one-shot in Kodansha’s Magazine Special. After a stint as an assistant for Hiro Mashima (Fairy Tail), she published another one-shot, Yankee-kun to Megane-chan, in Shonen Magazine Wonder in 2005. Thanks to its deft comedic touch, Yankee-kun went on to become first a short series and then later Yoshikawa’s first long-running series in Weekly Shonen Magazine. It was adapted into a live-action drama in 2010-11.
Yoshikawa’s current and best known work is Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, which started serialization in 2012 and has since sold more than 3 million copies. The manga is currently published by Kodansha Comics in the U.S. It’s been adapted into a live-action drama in 2013, and a TV anime in 2015. Both the anime and the manga are currently streaming exclusively on Crunchyroll, where it is one of the site’s most popular titles in both formats.
Yoshikawa will be appearing at Anime Expo on July 3rd and 4th. She will appear on the Crunchyroll stage (booth #1001) on the show floor on Friday, July 3rd at 3:00 PM for an interview followed by a live drawing session on the Crunchyroll stage at 3:30 PM. On Saturday, she will appear for a panel at 12:15 PM in room LP5/409AB, followed by an autograph session at 1:45 PM in Kentia Hall.
In addition, Kodansha Comics will release a special Yamada-kun app, containing the manga and special messages from Yoshikawa to her English-language fans, in time with her appearance at Anime Expo. Details on the app, which will be produced by Kodansha Advanced Media, will be released closer to the event. Stay tuned at kodanshacomics.com.
Crunchyroll is the official destination for the largest and latest lineup of Anime as well as popular drama and Manga. Crunchyroll brings hit shows like Naruto Shippuden, Attack on Titan, and One Piece to millions of viewers around the world and allows them to purchase related merchandise through its online store. Through its app on game consoles, set-top boxes, mobile devices and more, Crunchyroll delivers content from leading Asian media producers directly to viewers translated professionally in multiple languages. The service is available for free or through a premium offering that allows users to watch ad-free with access to simulcasts—top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast. Crunchyroll’s majority investor is Otter Media, a joint venture between AT&T and The Chernin Group. Crunchyroll has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Tokyo, and is a member of the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA).
DISCLAIMER: The materials seen above was sent to Anime Pilipinas as a part of the promotional campaign of Crunchyroll, Inc., and we are not responsible for the content. Subject to change without prior notice.


text:
Load Up your digital wallet with this Pokemon GO-style Augmented Reality Aircoins Experience.
Whatever your opinion on the longevity of cryptocurrencies may be, there’s no denying the relatively recent wave of digital assets have become extremely popular. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other cryptos have had a huge impact on investors as well as traditional businesses. Now let’s talk about the Augmented Reality Aircoins experience.
Their goal is to attract more casual users to the growing cryptocurrency market. Available on app stores, this mobile app is an exciting Augmented Realty (AR) treasure hunt where users hunt and collect free cryptocurrency. The Aircoins team drops millions of crypto in various locations all around the globe. These coins are then dropped into the Aircoins cryptocurrency wallet and the excitement builds as their cryptocurrency holdings increase.
We are hoping to create the largest AR cloud, which will have information from different systems available, to give users real-time information based on their geo-location, anywhere, anytime,” spoke Aircoins Corp CEO, Mr. Emal Safi, in an official release. “We already have dozens of partners coming forward to integrate their AltCoins into our secure Blockchain platform and gaming environments. We expect the App to do very well in all markets. Most people have already heard of the Crypto craze and Bitcoins.
My Aircoins Experience
I, Queen Wiki, have been using the Aircoins Augmented Reality cryptocurrency mobile wallet app on my daily walks. It is truly exciting to collect cryptocurrencies on auto-pilot!
With our Aircoins App, we now offer gamers and Crypto fans a simple way to have fun while earning and being entertained. No expertise is necessary for adults to download the free App and begin playing. So far, it is exhilarating to see people realize that their time is worth something, even when they are having fun hunting and earning. Curious gamers can begin to find coins all-around them within 30-minutes or less.
Cryptocurrency developers and companies are coming on board. So far over 30 cryptocurrencies are part of the treasure hunt!
Our advertising strategy offers ground-breaking value to all parties involved. Games and Contests are constantly occurring, and our team remains excited to watch people from all walks of life enjoying themselves
adds Alisha “Bee” Forrester Scott, Aircoins PR advisor and Crypto-Analyst.
Since our company’s mission is to help people have fun, our investors and advertising partners need to see the value in the Aircoins App.
In a new Strategic Alliance with the Nevada Blockchain Association (NVBA), Aircoins will be showcasing a variety of live game App demonstration events. The Aircoins goal at these events is to massively increase foot traffic to areas around the event. Mass attendance at these events is expected. More information about these App and event details and partners will be announced in subsequent press releases.
The Aircoins mobile app Augmented Reality is fairly simple. Basic tracking and simplistic visuals put this several bars lower than more polished AR experiences, such as Pokemon GO or Jurassic World Alive. But, then again, this is real cryptocurrency with real value you’re tapping on, not just a 3D rendered Pink Pokemon.
Until next time…


text:
Sales of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) Shows improvement According to last month’s 30-day statistics, NFT sales increased by 22.37% over the previous month. Over the past seven days, NFT sales have increased by 5.13% over the previous week. Moreover, in the past two days, the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT’s low has managed to exceed the Cryptopunks NFT’s low by more than 4 Ethereum.
NFT Sales Improve in November, Up 22% Over October Sales — BAYC Floor Surpasses Cryptopunks
About 2 Weeks Ago, Bitcoin.com News reported on two excellent NFT collections. — His NFT for Cryptopunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). At the time, the Cryptopunks NFT outperformed the BAYC NFT with NFT floor values of, but in the past two days, Bored Ape floor values have taken the reins once again.
At the time of writing, the cheapest BAYC floor is 69.88 Ether. Cryptopunks have a floor of 65.94 Ether. BAYC’s lowest price has been above the lowest price associated with the Cryptopunks collection for two consecutive days.
NFT sales in the last 30 days were $568.19, so it’s higher. Digital collection sales last month were $1 million, an increase of about 22.37% over the previous month. The number of NFT purchasers last month decreased by 12.83%, and NFT trading volume decreased by 27.09% from last month’s NFT trading volume.
Of the $568.19 million NFT sales, $443.55 million worth of sales were his Ethereum-based NFTs. According to statistics recorded by cryptoslam.io, Ethereum-based NFT sales are up 45.99% from last month.
The largest month-over-month increase in NFT revenue is attributed to Arbitrum blockchain NFT sales, as Arbitrum NFT revenue increased by 46.83%. Fantom’s sales increased by 43.58% from the previous month, trailing the sales of Ethereum and Arbitrum-based NFTs.
Decline this month included Cardano NFT sales down 54.98%,BNB down 49.21%, Polygon NFT sales down 66.35%, Ronin-based of NFT sales decreased by 54.76%. Avalanche-based NFT sales also decreased by 49.32% from the previous month.
Last month’s best-selling NFT collection was BAYC, with $64,907,645 in the last 30 days. Art Gobblers earned his $57.18 million and his NFT of Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) his $29.14 million.
Among the top 40 NFT collections by sales, Meebits’ NFT sales jumped 172.85% this month to $2.53, Meebits recorded the largest increase. One million. Last month’s highest NFT was Bored Ape Yacht Club #8,633, which sold for $953,000 12 days ago.
BAYC #1,268 sold for $923K six days ago after BAYC #8,633 and BAYC #232 sold for $908K six days ago. The top 5 most expensive NFTs sold in the last 30 days are BAYC NFTs, and the 6th biggest sale is Cryptopunk #8,191, which sold for $438,000 about 26 days ago.
What are your thoughts on the state of the NFT market over the past month and the 22% jump in sales over the previous month? Please tell us your opinion about
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons


text: Lizardmen lead the charge in new Blood Bowl team Chris Brown September 30, 2019 New releases, Warhammer Now, sports may not be your thing, but perhaps you could be persuaded by the latest scaley team to join the Blood Bowl league – the Gwaka’moli Crater Gators. As a big fan of the Lizardmen myself, this is definitely a team I’d get my pom-poms out for. From the muscle of the Saurus Blocks, to the speed of the Skink Runners and the sneakiness of their Chameleon brethren, the team consists of 12 fantastic models each with their own unique rules and play style. And what would any Blood Bowl team be without a few little extras? To go alongside your Lizardmen lounge Games Workshop has also released a new set of team cards, dice, pitch and Spike! Journal: Issue 7, with lots of extra tidbits about how to make the most of your team The Gwaka’moli Crater Gators and all their accessories will be up for pre-order soon, so keep an eye out on the Warhammer Community website. For more Warhammer news from us, click here.


text:
The main cryptocurrencies continue to trade with minimal volatility. As a result of the trading session on Wednesday, the Bitcoin price remained unchanged at around 4,060 dollars, Ethereum fell by a dollar to the level of 139, and XRP slightly strengthened to the level of 0.3190.
According to many experts, the price of Bitcoin is affected by the hashrate, and the increase of this indicator signifies that optimism in the digital currencies market, particularly among miners, not only persists, but also increases. The overall computational power in the Bitcoin network reached the indicators of the beginning of November 2018. Last year, along with the deep decline of the cryptocurrency market, the demand for mining devices dropped sharply. Nvidia equipment turned out to be unclaimed. Most of the video cards intended for mining Bitcoin and other coins remained in the warehouse. But the actual level of hashrate is more than four times higher than the figures that could be seen in December 2017, when the rate of bitcoin rose to a historical maximum of around $ 20000. This suggests that mining will be back soon. Thus, the largest manufacturer of video cards hopes to soon sell off the entire stock of equipment.
There are new details of the past tokensale company Celer Network. In 17 minutes, almost 600 million tokens from a total emission of 10 billion were sold. The selling price of publicly available tokens was $ 0.0067, so the project managed to raise almost 4 million. Tokensale was held at the Binance Launchpad. Despite all the measures taken by Binance, technical problems could not be avoided. As during the sale of BitTorrent tokens, the system was again overloaded. The company Celer today was the most popular of those held on the platform Binance Launchpad. The end of the tokensale caused increased volatility of BNB tokens in the market.
Parity Technologies has declared about a partnership with the Zcash Foundation, under which the first alternative client for the digital currency Zcash will be developed. Parity has enough experience in creating cryptocurrency wallets, the company has already developed wallets for networks Ethereum and Bitcoin. Representatives of the company promise that the new client for Zcash will be delivered open source, like other Parity Technologies projects.
Over the past week, the bitcoin exchange rate rose from $ 3.901 to $ 4.048, that is, almost 4% against the US dollar. The relatively strong short-term performance of Bitcoin led to the fact that alternative cryptocurrencies showed a significant increase in the dynamics of growth, allowing the ovearll capitalization of the crypto market to grow by almost $ 7 billion.
In our forecast for Thursday, we assume a slight increase in Bitcoin to the levels of 4080, 4100 and 4120 dollars, strengthening of Ethereum to the marks of 140, 142 and 145 dollars, and an increase in XRP to the levels of 0.3200, 0.3230 and 0.3260.
|#||Crypto||Prediction||Accuracy||CVIX||Price||24h||7d||Market Cap||7d price change|
|1||BTC||Bitcoin predictions||76%||49||$49 177.82||-7.92%||-10.53%||$929 035 044 566|
|2||ETH||Ethereum predictions||82.8%||34||$4 092.88||-2.38%||-0.69%||$485 446 527 829|
|3||BNB||Binance Coin predictions||81.2%||30||$563.52||-4.86%||-7.33%||$93 995 664 394|
|4||USDT||Tether predictions||95.6%||1||$0.999981||-0.03%||0%||$74 156 265 433|
|5||SOL||Solana predictions||72%||60||$203.61||-3.36%||4.31%||$62 231 324 330|
|6||ADA||Cardano predictions||67.6%||67||$1.42||-8.66%||-8.56%||$47 386 208 203|
|7||XRP||XRP predictions||71.2%||64||$0.847073||-8.28%||-10.87%||$40 021 926 228|
|8||USDC||USD Coin predictions||96%||2||$0.999590||-0.04%||-0.01%||$39 871 779 233|
|9||DOT||Polkadot predictions||61.6%||74||$29.29||-12.73%||-17.58%||$28 929 753 364|
|10||LUNA||Terra predictions||68%||62||$74.10||13.99%||67.51%||$28 735 392 986|
|11||DOGE||Dogecoin predictions||62.8%||71||$0.178634||-10.26%||-13.05%||$23 648 648 660|
|12||AVAX||Avalanche predictions||64%||74||$92.34||-12.64%||-18.20%||$22 411 255 216|
|13||SHIB||SHIBA INU predictions||63.6%||73||$0.000037||-7.81%||-5.02%||$20 467 328 342|
|14||CRO||Crypto.com Chain predictions||58.4%||83||$0.605372||-3.98%||-24.08%||$15 293 531 006|
|15||MATIC||Polygon predictions||69.6%||59||$1.99||-10.33%||22.67%||$13 980 255 925|
Get cryptocurrency price predictions, forecasts with analysis and news right to your inbox.
© 2015-2021 Crypto-Rating.com
The usage of this website constitutes acceptance of the following legal information. Any contracts of financial instruments offered to conclude bear high risks and may result in the full loss of the deposited funds. Prior to making transactions one should get acquainted with the risks to which they relate. All the information featured on the website, including information about the cryptocurrencies and bitcoin is intended solely for informational purposes, is not a means of advertising them, and doesn't imply direct instructions for investing. Crypto Rating shall not be liable for any loss, including unlimited loss of funds, which may arise directly or indirectly from the usage of this information. The editorial staff of the website does not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the content of the comments or reviews made by the site users about cryptocurrencies. The entire responsibility for the contents rests with the authors. Reprint of the materials is available only with the permission of the editorial staff.


text:
2018 is shaping up to be a wild year for cannabis and it's only January. As California rolled out recreational sales last week, the Justice Department reversed rules that protect legal pot businesses from federal intervention. Weed, both recreational and medicinal, is now legal up and down the entire west coast of the United States. Massachusetts and possibly, Maine are on course to follow suit later this year. State lawmakers in Vermont, New Jersey and Rhode Island are expected to consider measures decriminalizing adult use in 2018. All this as Canada puts the finishing touches on its plan to allow recreational pot across all of its provinces and territories this summer.
The developments spell opportunity and uncertainty for cannabis entrepreneurs and investors and raise urgent questions including: Who will continue to capitalize on these new markets and who will be shut out? How will legalization play out both for consumers (medicinal and recreational users) and communities hoping to cash in on new tax revenue? How will the market move ahead now that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has drawn a line in the sand on state's rights and legal weed?
With 2018 just beginning to unfold, cannabis pioneers weigh in and share their hopes for the year head:
Whitney Beatty, CEO, Apothecarry Brands
"My wish for the cannabis industry in 2018 is that we see more investments going into companies led by women and people of color. It's absolutely critical for communities that have been disenfranchised by the War on Drugs get a chance to participate in this legal market and it's impossible to achieve without capital. Personally, I want to do my part by encouraging, supporting and mentoring women coming into the space and sharing my fundraising experiences so they can know although its hard — it IS possible!"
Rosie Yagielo, cofounder of HempStaff
“ My 2018 wish for the cannabis industry is expansion. I believe we are at a crossroads in this country as the scales shift towards acceptance of cannabis medication and away from taboos of the 'Reefer Madness' era. Much of this shift can be credited to the fact that education now exists to help not only the industry workers but for the patient themselves. Our team will continue to offer customized training for states that have cannabis programs, offering a clarification of the state regulations along with a detailed training on pharmacology of the medication.”
Juell Stewart, communications director, The Hood Incubator
"As adult use becomes a reality in California in 2018, my wish for the industry is that local policy will prioritize equity for Black people looking to enter the industry. Since the War on Drugs disproportionately devastated low-income and Black communities, it is crucial to make a financial commitment to repair these harms through public policy and advocacy. In San Francisco, the Board of Supervisors just approved measures to initiate an equity permitting program which is designed to alleviate economic and institutional barriers to business ownership. The City College of San Francisco-- the only community college systems to offer free tuition to all residents-- is also developing a workforce development curriculum that will give people the resources they need to join the industry as it grows, so that opportunities in this new economy remain open regardless of financial barriers. This year in my work with The Hood Incubator, I plan on advising city leaders and advocacy groups on how to best use resources and tax revenue to elevate communities that have been historically excluded from generational wealth."
"[I] hope we use this amazing opportunity to create businesses that build strong and compassionate communities in 2018. I mentor those coming out of the shadows of the Drug War and work with companies integrating into cannabis, teaching both how to maintain the values of plant. I have great hope that we can all build new business models based on the integrity and grace this plant has taught so many."
Dr. Cecilia Zapata, director of tissue culture, Front Range Biosciences
“Jeff Sessions’ announcement is a big step backwards for the cannabis industry. Many people rely on cannabis as medication and even more could benefit from the plant if it were easily accessible. The industry as a whole has been working tirelessly to advance understanding of the plant, and with states and citizens nation-wide seeing both health and economic benefits from the legal cannabis industry, it’s disheartening to see another roadblock being set up with the Cole Memo’s repeal. Despite the news, Front Range Biosciences will continue to increase consumer safety through our Clean Stock program, which we believe benefits all current and future consumers of cannabis."
Kyra Reed, CEO Kadin Academy and founder, Women Entrepreneurs in Cannabis
"I would like to see more effort made to recognize the value of women, as both consumers and entrepreneurs, to the growth and success of the cannabis industry. For the consumer, this means marketing to the woman consumer and creating products and experiences that fit her needs. For the entrepreneur, we need more access to education, resources and funding. Women are grossly underserved as both consumers and entrepreneurs in most industries, cannabis can break this trend and embrace the role of women as vital engines of the industry."
Tsion "Sunshine" Lencho, Attorney at Law and cofounder Supernova Women
"My biggest wish for 2018 is for the Senate to take up and champion Senator Cory Booker's Marijuana Justice Act. An end to federal prohibition that prioritizes social justice creating market opportunities for all to participate is much needed after decades of ill informed federal policy. In my home state of California, I hope to see rational thought applied to tax policy with the voters in California fixing the existing cannabis tax regime to align with our values: support for public schools, repair of state infrastructure, increased access to affordable housing and incentivizing transition from the illicit market through access and low taxes. "
Andrea Brooks, CEO, SAVA
"[I hope] that small businesses and women-owned businesses continue to thrive in the California cannabis market in spite of the challenges new regulations present. SAVA is a small, woman-owned/run business, as are many of the companies that sell through our platform. Sadly, we've seen several dear friends close their doors in light of the new regulations. Through our marketplace we promote small craft makers of high-quality cannabis products, many of whom are women. We help them get their products into the hands of customers so they can focus on what they do best -- formulating and creating amazing medicines. I'm also cofounder of a women's empowerment group focused on women in the cannabis industry. We meet monthly and have guest speakers who help unpack new laws and regulations. This new environment is extremely challenging for those of us without big investment, but we're resourceful and smart, and working together my hope is that we continue to thrive!"
Kristina Garcia, CEO, Women Grow
"This year, Women Grow partnered with New Frontier Data (another woman-owned business) to bring the Diversity in Cannabis report to the marketplace. Our companies thought it was important to bring this research to our industry. What we learned: more diversity is needed, and not only women, but people of color and LGBTQ communities - we need to be more inclusive. Women in our industry have also experienced sexual harassment at alarming rates. This must change, especially as more women have aspirations of entering this space. Our industry has spoken and as leaders we must do better. In 2018, I believe we will begin to see a major shift in our businesses, and it is our responsibility to hold each other accountable."


text:
Next week will see the largest European gathering of the retail community when RBTE, Europe's most influential retail solutions event and the co-located Retail Design Expo and Retail Digital Signage Expo opens its doors for business. Visitors from as far away as Australia will be joining their European colleagues from hundreds of tier one and two retailers, as well as hospitality and leisure providers, while over 16,000 visitors are expected over the two day event.
RBTE has over 350 solution providers, ranging from the largest international players to small boutique suppliers and innovative start-ups, offering a range of solutions from full scale ERP systems to mobile payments. To make it even easier for visitors to navigate the numerous innovative solutions that will be on display the RBTE Innovation Trail and Awards, sponsored by BT, highlights the most inspirational solutions at the show. Launched at RBTE 2015, RBTE's innovation programme was a huge success, and proved highly popular with the exhibitors who were selected to take part, as well as RBTE visitors who made a beeline for the selected stands. Exhibitors at RBTE 2016 were invited to submit entries which include robots, smart lockers and omnichannel payments technology, which were reviewed by a judging panel of experts. The overall winner will be announced at the Big Party in the Dell Champagne Party at 4.45pm on Wednesday 9th March.
The Conference programme at RBTE has attracted a lot of attention. It is packed with Europe's retailers all dedicated to solving the issues dominating the retail world and helping drive new customers to your business. Look out for keynotes from Mark Lewis, Head of Omnichannel Customer Ordering, JOHN LEWIS; Luke Jensen, Former Group Development Director, SAINSBURY'S; Simon Roberts, Executive VP of Walgreens Boots Alliance and President, BOOTS; Steve Johnson, Head of Central Operations, CARPETRIGHT; Robbie Feather, Director of Online, SAINSBURY'S; Terry Duddy, Non-Executive Director, DEBENHAMS; and William Kim, CEO, ALL SAINTS.
Classic favourites such at the Retailer Bootcamps make a welcome return to RBTE, offering inspirational practical advice that attendees can take back to the office and immediately implement to all areas of the retail business. The In-Store Customer RFID Experience is also back for 2016, with the increased importance of real-time inventory to enable retailers to become truly omnichannel.
Plus there is a new area - the eCommerce Quarter - in addition to the hundreds of exhibitors throughout RBTE that offer eCommerce-related services, the eCommerce Quarter features over 60 eCommerce solutions specialists together with a dedicated eCommerce Theatre - sponsored by IBM Marketing Cloud.
With so much going on, the K3 Retailer Lounge is the perfect retreat for retailers to relax and network in a vendor-free area and don't forget to look out for the Golden Envelopes! And if your phone runs out of power or you need to grab a coffee to refuel, there's also the PayPal Chill & Charge Lounge. Finally, visitors shouldn't miss the Big Party, sponsored by DILAX in the Dell Champagne Bar starting at 4.45pn on Wednesday 9th March.
In addition to all this, visitors to RBTE can also visit the co-located Retail Digital Signage Expo and Retail Design Expo.
Register for free - RBTE March 9th & 10th 2016. www.rbtexpo.com


text:
ATLANTA— One year after the launch of Fanta Green Apple, the brand is introducing a bold, highly anticipated flavor to its line-up with the launch of the new Fanta Wild Cherry – just in time for spring.
“Cherry is one of our best-selling flavors across the Coca-Cola family of products and a natural fit within our Fanta line-up,” said Debra Origel, associate brand manager, Fanta.“When it came time to launch a new flavor, we knew it had to be Wild Cherry based on the overwhelmingly positive response we received. With Fanta Wild Cherry, we’re giving consumers what they love.”
Featuring a distinctly tart yet sweet profile, Fanta Wild Cherry combines refreshing fruit notes with a sharp edge, offering consumers an exciting new flavor that brings the taste of the season to life.
Hitting shelves across the southeast, southwest and mid-west this month in 12 oz. aluminum cans, 20 oz. bottles and 2-liter bottles, the latest flavor profile for the popular beverage is so bold that five senses may not be enough.
In addition, delivering on Fanta’s commitment to reducing sugar, Fanta Wild Cherry has less than 11 g of sugar per 100mL – resulting in less sugar overall than other current recipes.
For more information on the latest release, please visit fanta.com or follow the brand on Instagram @Fanta.


text:
U.S. Asked to Lift Ban on Encryption / Computer execs say it costs the industry billions
In the latest salvo in a three- year battle, top computer-industry executives are calling on the federal government to drop all export restrictions on computer-encryption technology.
Thirteen executives -- including Michael Spindler of Apple Computer, Ed McCracken of Silicon Graphics and Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems -- said in a report issued today that U.S. businesses are losing ground to foreign competitors because of outmoded rules they said serve no useful purpose.
The Washington, D.C.-based Computer Systems Policy Project, a lobbying group financed by technology companies, offered their most detailed argument yet for the Clinton administration to drop limits on foreign sales of the most powerful coding techniques.
LATEST BUSINESS VIDEOS
- This Adorable Robot Will Carry Your Luggage And Keep You Company Buzz 60
- David Solomon Will Become Goldman Sachs's New CEO Fortune
- Cupcake and Mango Emojis Are on the Way Food & Wine
- Uber Exec's Departure May Signal a New Corporate Standard of Accountability Cheddar TV
- Artificial Intelligence Will ‘Change the Nature of Jobs’ Fortune
- Paramount TV Chief Amy Powell Fired Fortune
- Uber CEO Discusses Gender Discrimination Probe Time
- The Items You Can and Can't 'Steal' From Hotel Rooms Buzz 60
- Tesla Delays Worry Buyers Wanting Tax Credit Associated Press
- Amazon Prime #FOMO Is Real Cheddar TV
White House officials could not be reached for comment late yesterday.
The controversy involves rules first developed during World War II and refined during the Cold War. The Pentagon maintains that the rules are needed to ensure that terrorist groups and hostile governments can be monitored.
The computer industry argues that current encryption laws are relics that do not fit in a global marketplace. Also, the technology can flow freely over the Internet with virtually no restriction.
The policy group last week estimated that the rules will cost the U.S. computer industry $7 billion during the next 10 years in lost exports.
Encryption is a way to scramble a message or document so that only the intended receiver can read it. While strong encryption is freely available inside the United States, the State Department prevents exports of encryption products.


text:
The push to eliminate genetically modified organisms from our food has finally broken the surface of mass consumer complacency. Occupying a slot of infamy once reserved for trans fats and nitrates, GMOs are today's reigning symbol of the Evil Empire of Big Ag, and the latest target of a health-conscious public.
Genetically modified organisms are those whose genetic materials have been altered by laboratory technology. Such biotech alteration is experimental, and the fear among GMO opponents is that changes of this sort, on a genetic level, produce substances that the human body is not designed to process. Those can lead to cancer, allergies or other health problems.
One unexpected byproduct of the fight over GMOs is the confusion arising over GMOs and organic labeling.
The confusion is in part courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose standards for what constitutes "organic" are far below, for example, the Marin County standard under that county's Marin Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA) program.
The USDA bar is set so low for the "organic" label that even China can clear it—"Which is just crazy," says Jeffrey Westman, executive director of Marin Organic, a Point Reyes Station–based nonprofit that promotes organic agriculture and food access in Marin County.
Organic angst is nothing new, says Westman; it's what prompted the nonprofit he runs into existence, about 15 years ago. "A group of farmers said what the USDA said was organic wasn't good enough," he recalls.
Now, 15 years later, everybody's jumping on the organic and GMO-free wagon. Even General Mills Inc. has gone "GMO-free" on Cheerios, the popular cereal which enjoyed sales of more than $365 million in fiscal year 2013.
The corporate push over organic-friendly labeling has left organic growers with the fear that consumers will leap-frog over the "organic" label and purchase the often cheaper products that tout non-GMO status.
Such confusion could be devastating for farmers who have earned the USDA "certified organic" label by forgoing toxic fumigants such as methyl bromide—or for those who have earned local organic certifications that are beyond the USDA standard.
The organic label certifies the method of farming; it is not a verification of the final product. "Our farmers are probably a lot less freaked out than others, because they are certified by MOCA," says Westman.
But Westman sees an unfolding irony as "organic" moves into its second decade as a corporate-embraced buzzword, and loses its power and meaning in the process.
He fears younger farmers might forgo the certification process entirely, since the locals who are buying their crops already know where it's coming from, and how it was farmed.
"There's a whole bunch of cool, young growers out there who are really walking the walk" when it comes to true-blue organic farming, says Westman. But they're working with tough margins already, and not necessarily putting a priority on being certified organic or interested in going through the process, on the logic that, as Westman describes it, "I'm selling locally to people who know my product, so there's no reason to get certified."
"The problem there is that there's no accountability," Westman says. In other words, if the really hard-core "organic" farmers forsake the labeling protocols, then Big Ag retains its dominance at the labeling table. Westman says he was at a recent conference attended by a staffer from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's office. He was asked why it was so hard to create organic standards that have teeth. "The answer is, show up. They're listening, but we're not telling them very loudly."


text:
McLaren Automotive has unveiled the newest car model 2016 650S GT3 ahead of its official debut next month during the Geneva Motor Show.
In the official press release, the automaker revealed the vehicle which features yellow and black race colors that is said to compete with the likes of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3.
Specifications include addition of dive planes to stick the front of the car to the road, enormous rear wing for downforce, and a set of Pirelli PZero racing tires for exteriors.
Meanwhile, the interior features carbon fiber racing seat, six-point harass, and adjustable pedals. The dash panel with the information display is made of lighter weight carbon fibre, and there is also a fire extinguisher in case of an emergency. When the cabin is stripped down, an auxiliary power for the radio and specialised computers engine management and anti-locking braking can be found.
Under the hood it has 125-liter racing feel tank with rapid fuelling connector for a quick pit stop, built-in air jacks for the crew to just snap air line for service, and ability to pop up off the ground for faster replacement of tires. The version of the engine is race-prepared 3.8-liter twin-turbo which can pump limited power of 650 horsepower to make all cars in the race equal.
It has also been confirmed that Factory Drivers Rob Bell and Alvaro Parente will once again be part of the team alongside 24-year-old Cme Ledogar. Moreover, Colin Thompson joins Driver Academy for 2016 season.
McLaren GT’s managing director Andrew Kirkaldy shared his enthusiasm of the news saying, “The 2016 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and challenging so far, with more cars racing in more championships across the world. With the combination that our factory line-up offers, along with the talent in our Driver Academy, we are hoping for another good year.”


text:
Back in January - which yes, does now seem like another lifetime - the World Economic Forum (WEF) chose for its annual shindig in Davos the theme of Stakeholder Capitalism. WEF Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab explained the concept in the Davos Manifesto 2020:
The purpose of a company is to engage all its stakeholders in shared and sustained value creation. In creating such value, a company serves not only its shareholders, but all its stakeholders – employees, customers, suppliers, local communities and society at large.
Is Stakeholder Capitalism a thing or just a soundbite to appease corporate conscience?
Three months on from that gathering and the COVID-19 global pandemic has provided an unwelcome opportunity to put some of the tenets of the theory to the test. For its part, the WEF has set up the COVID Action Platform - to rally the business community for collective action - and endorsed 6 Stakeholder Principles for addressing COVID-19, one of which is:
To offer full support to governments and society.
That’s a goal that organizations around the world are faced with right now and how they meet - or don’t meet - that challenge may yet have a long term impact on their prospects. Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England, wrote in The Economist magazine recently that companies need to be ready to be judged by “what they did during the war”, declaring that COVID-19 was indeed a “test of Stakeholder Capitalism”:
Fundamentally the traditional drivers of value have been shaken, new ones will gain prominence, and there's a possibility that the gulf between what markets value and what people value will close.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley are of similar mind, with Jessica Alsford, Head of Sustainability Research, warning:
Corporate behavior in a time of crisis—both in how companies treat employees and customers, and their impact on society in a time of need—can have lasting implications, both positive and negative. These factors can be linked to long-term performance and returns.
Morgan Stanley sees COVID-19 as accelerating attitudes to corporate behavior that were already taking shape:
Even before the [COVID-19] outbreak, more investors were looking at companies through the lens of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. But now, corporate decisions on human capital, customers and society during the COVID-19 pandemic could carry greater weight. As companies face greater scrutiny during the crisis, ESG factors will now be a key layer of diligence in evaluating an investment.
Leaders in the tech sector have to varying degrees risen to the challenge. At a personal level, billionaire CEOs have dipped into their pockets - Twitter’s Jack Dorsey is donating $1 billion to the battle against the virus, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has chipped in with $100 million, while Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who’s been warning of the pandemic peril for years, is ready to put vast sums of money where his mouth has been.
Corporately, there’s been work underway as well. Among many others, Apple and Google are teaming up to track the spread of infections, Facebook has pitched its own Big Data effort in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, while HP Inc and the HP Foundation have committed to donate an estimated $8 million in products and grants to support blended learning and local communities impacted by COVID-19 worldwide.
One of the most outspoken advocates of Stakeholder Capitalism over the years has been Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. Last year the launch of his latest book - Trailblazer: The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change - provided a mainstream media platform from which to preach his message, but in practice the philanthropic and socially responsible mindset has been hardwired in the Salesforce corporate DNA since its inception.
The current crisis has see the company rise to the challenge across multiple fronts, including teaming up with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to fly a 747 full of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) into COVID-19 stricken New York, as well as partnering with the likes of Walmart, State Farm and Uber Freight to distribute PPE in other US states. In addition, the firm is providing free access to its platform for those organizations on the pandemic frontline as well as offering $10,000 grants to small businesses.
Gavin Patterson, the firm’s recently-appointed President and CEO of International, took up his new role just as the COVID-19 crisis was getting underway in Western economies. It is, as he puts it, “an extraordinary time and a very interesting time to be starting a new job”. It is also, he suggests, an important opportunity for business:
Business has taken a lot of criticism over the last few years. Trust and the relationship between business and its communities has been challenged. But I think this is a very timely opportunity to be able to demonstrate that business is key to having a successful economy and ensuring that everybody across the world is able to have full and healthy lives. So I think it's really, really important during this period that business steps up and is part of the solution. That's very much part of the way we've been thinking about it at Salesforce.
The philanthropic aspect of the Salesforce operating model has been well-profiled over the more than two decades the firm has been in business, but it particularly comes into its own during periods of crisis. Patterson points to various ways that a company like Salesforce can play its part:
It can be through philanthropy, where the company has been giving generously to causes across not just the US, but around the world. It's been in the way we've been trying to work with healthcare organizations and other businesses to ensure that things like PPE got to the most important places or that healthcare workers get the food they need as their as they're fighting to save people's lives. But I think, ultimately, we will be judged by the way we look after all our stakeholders as business leaders through this period. We believe that business is the best possible platform for change and I think this will be a period when we're judged not just on what we've done in the short term, but ultimately, whether or not we've put in the right long term solutions for the economy.
It’s a message that we’re likely to hear a lot from various sources over the coming months. Over at IBM, new CEO Arvind Krishna this week made a similar point about the ability of tech firms to make a difference away from the purely commercial:
[An] area we’ve been focusing on has been to mobilize IBM and IBM-ers to help with the global battle against COVID-19…the computing power, over 360 Petaflops that we have helped convene for researchers; the Weather Channel’s COVID-19 county-by-county map, which saw more than 40 million visits in the first week of launch; the AI assistants that can answer citizens’ questions about COVID-19, 21 of them live today, and nearly 90 being rolled out; and educational resources available to anyone anywhere. We’re doing great work helping the city of New York and are delivering 300,000 tablets with educational software and free cellular data connections that can help students learn remotely.
When we add this all up, we have done the math. In just a few weeks we have already committed over $200 million in terms of contributions and volunteer time. I’m extremely proud of IBM’s response to COVID-19.
No turning back?
All of which is a hugely impressive response to a time of emergency, but does it constitute an ongoing shift in attitude. Will COVID-19 be the catalyst that pushes more skeptical companies towards embracing Stakeholder Capitalism or will it be a return to ‘business as usual’ as soon as some form of return to normality is in sight?
For Patterson, there’s no going back and that means ongoing change is to be expected:
Clearly, after a period of shock, we’ve entered a period now of relative stability. Colleagues are having to find ways of continuing to work with customers, listen to customers, help customers, while working remotely in most cases. But there will come a time later in the year - we don't know whether it's going to be the next few weeks or the next few months, or indeed, it might take into it might take too early next year - but there will be a time we come out of this and it is important that we are ready to help our customers as they transform their businesses on the back of of this change.
Nobody believes we're going to revert to the way we were. I think there will be opportunities and there will be an imperative to really change your business fundamentally, for the long term and in a more sustainable way. Coming out of this situation, it's so important as business leaders that we're there to help our customers through that change, and that they look to us for advice and sharing experiences in order to make sure that some good eventually comes out of this, not just for business, but I think for society as a whole.
While there are still dark days to come in the current pandemic, there are positives to be found, he concludes:
Clearly as we go through this period, things will change. I'm optimistic. I think we will get through it. I think it will be a slow recovery, but we will get through it. But it's important that we don't just revert back to the way we were and that we use this as an opportunity. I think it's very important to not just look back. We need to look forward and create a new way of living, a new way of governing ourselves, of educating ourselves and, of course, a new way of doing business.
Patterson’s optimism is encouraging at a time when there is so much to be negative about. As with every major crisis, this one has brought out the best in some and thrown unforgiving light on the actions of others. Billionaires holding out their hands for taxpayer funding to bail out their airlines is never going to be as good a look as those chartering 747s to fly face masks into pandemic hot spots. As noted above, COVID-19 is a test of Stakeholder Capitalism in action. Whatever the outcome, there will be plenty of practical examples to discuss at Davos 2021…


text:
News and features
South Africa's wine industry reports
Think world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, think Stellenbosch
by Admin | 20th October 2021
Stellenbosch is not only South Africa’s largest Wine of Origin region and home to more than a third of the Cape’s wineries but it also has the largest vineyar...
by Angela Lloyd | 26th January 2022
One of South Africa’s advantages over many of the world’s traditional winelands is the lack of restrictions on what and where vines may be planted. If t...
The latest from Jamie Goode
16th December 2021‘How was your stay? Help us to do better. Please fill in this satisfaction survey!’ I hate getting these pieces of paper, and I never fill them in. I suspect that one of the problems with the likes...
Jamie Goode is a London-based winewriter who is currently wine columnist with UK national newspaper The Sunday Express. As well as writing he also lectures and judges wine.
The latest from Twitter
On 2nd February we celebrate 363 years of South African wine heritage & this year there will be an online Wine Harvest Commemorative Event at 6pm (UK time). Join us & raise a glass to all thos...
Where to find SA wines
Have you tried a fantastic South African red, white or rosé wine but don't know where to find it?Learn more
South African wine industries pride themselves on sustainable wine production.Learn more
Visiting South Africa
The winelands of South Africa are some of the most breathtakingly beautiful in the world.Learn more
Find South African wine events in your region.Learn more


text:
National Fragrance Week 2020
NATIONAL FRAGRANCE WEEK 16 – 22nd MARCH 2020
A week-long celebration of fragrance.
The Fragrance Foundation is delighted to announce that National Fragrance Week 2020 will take place from 16th March until the 22nd March! This initiative was designed by The Fragrance Foundation to help bring the magic back to an industry filled with history, artistry and passion... And what better way to celebrate this than by bringing together the whole industry for a week-long celebration!
Although we have been celebrating National Fragrance Day since 2016, 2020 will be the third year that The Fragrance Foundation have expanded the celebrations to a whole week! Our mission is to expand the appreciation, use and sale of fragrance amongst all people.
Throughout this week there will be a whole host of events and promotions in store with digital activities to promote fragrance in all its forms and get consumers excited about this magical product. The Fragrance Foundation will be offering support to all members to make sure that all our members can fully embrace the week. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any ideas!


text:
A video of a man tortured by vigilantes for allegedly smuggling food to kidnappers and bandits in a forest in Abraka, Delta state has been widely shared on social media platforms and blogs. The video claims that the man is a palm wine tapper and was caught red-handed with food items (both raw and cooked), provisions, cigarettes, and other supplies for bandits hiding in the forest.
To verify the video and the claim, the Explainer Fact Checker took several screenshots of the video and subjected some of the frames to Google reverse image search. The result showed that the video has been in circulation since January 24, 2024. It was first published by Nairaland Forum, a popular online community in Nigeria, and then circulated on other social media platforms and blogs, such as Tik Tok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. All the platforms and blogs used the same caption: “A palm wine tapper in Abraka Delta is caught supplying food (both raw and cooked), provisions, cigarettes etc to kidnappers and bandits in the forest”.
To further verify the claim, the Explainer Fact Checker conducted a keyword search on the claim, using terms such as “palm wine tapper”, “Abraka Delta”, “kidnappers”, “bandits”, “food supply”, and others. As important as the claim is, it should have been a breaking news headline on credible media platforms, but no such report was found. The only sources that reported the claim were the same social media platforms and blogs that shared the video.
The Explainer Fact Checker also visited the website and official social media platforms of the Delta State Police Command to check if there have been any official statement regarding the incident. At the time of conducting this fact check, there is no official statement from the Delta State Police Command.
Based on the available evidence, the Explainer Fact Checker concludes that the video and the claim are unverified. There is no independent confirmation or verification of the identity of the man, the location of the incident, the date of the incident, or the involvement of kidnappers and bandits.


text:
Morrisons is to launch a new milk brand that costs 10p extra, with the premium paid directly to British dairy farmers, in an attempt to end a dispute over the falling price of milk.
The supermarket chain will sell four-pint bottles of “Morrisons Milk for Farmers” alongside its existing own-brand milk, which will remain at the same price and therefore 10p cheaper.
The announcement follows talks between Morrisons and disgruntled farmers, who have blockaded the company’s distribution centres and overseen the mass purchase of milk from supermarket shelves.
The new milk brand will offer shoppers the option of paying more to support dairy farmers, or choosing cheaper alternatives.
Martyn Jones, corporate services director at Morrisons, said: “We will stock this product in all our stores, offering our customers the choice to support dairy farmers directly.”
It remains to be seen whether farmers and the leading agriculture unions will welcome the move. Farmers For Action, which has organised the protests, had called for a halt to the campaign until the end of talks with Morrisons.
The National Farmers Union and other leading unions have warned that the farming industry is in a “state of emergency” and that many farms are on the brink of financial ruin because the price of milk has fallen by 25% over the last year.
Protesters have targeted Morrisons and Asda because they have not followed Tesco and Sainsbury’s in paying farmers a higher price based on production costs.
Figures from AHDB Dairy, the trade body, show that the average UK farmgate price for milk has fallen to 23.66p per litre. Industry experts claim it costs farmers 30p per litre to produce milk.
The farming unions held an emergency summit on Monday to discuss the crisis. Following the talks, they called on the government to introduce long-term contracts between farmers, distributors and supermarkets and to force retailers to label clearly whether their products are British or imported.
The presidents of the NFU, NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru, Ulster Farmers Union and four other unions, warned of “dire consequences for the farming industry and rural economy” if the way in which food is sold does not change in the near future.
In a direct message to retailers, they added: “Stop devaluing fresh British food like milk purely to get customers through the door.”
Farmers have blamed the fall in prices on a supermarket price war but retailers claim the drop reflects the decline in commodity prices and an oversupply of milk, partly caused by Russia’s block on western imports.
Jones said that the price Morrisons pays for milk “reflects the highly competitive retail market”.
He added: “We recognise that the current market for liquid milk is impacting on hardworking dairy farmers and their families.
“We want to reassure the industry that the retail price we charge for Morrisons milk reflects the highly competitive retail market. It is not linked to the price we pay our milk suppliers.”
The new Morrisons milk brand will be launch in conjunction with Arla, the UK’s largest milk supplier, which works with 3,000 dairy farms.
Ash Amirahmadi, head of milk at Arla, warned that some farmers were being paid as little as 12p or 13p per litre and that the present situation was unsustainable.
He added: “Our farmers are incredibly concerned at the moment. There is a reason why farmers are going out protesting; they are not bad people.”
Amirahmadi urged retailers to make themselves “part of the solution” by signing up to the new conditions and improving the labelling of British products.
“Some retailers are not far off following this already but it is not transparent,” he said. “We want to make it more transparent for our farmers.”


text:
An image supposedly showing a future LG smartphone running Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 operating system has been leaked. If it’s genuine, then the device will be LG’s first phone to run Windows Phone 8, and its first to be released with any version of the OS onboard since the original run of hardware in 2010.
Updated on 05-14-2014 by Andy: A further tweet from @evleaks states the Uni8 image features a standard Windows Phone screenshot, which may be evidence this is a fake. So don’t let your hopes get too high for the Uni8 to launch anytime soon.
We don’t have very much to go on at the moment though. The picture was leaked via the @evleaks Twitter account, and is a slightly blurry, press-style shot of the device. It’s referred to as the LG Uni8, which if it’s the final name, would mean LG’s introducing a new brand for Windows Phone. Previously, it used the Optimus name, but has since relegated this to mid and low-end Android smartphones.
The phone is shown running the latest version of the OS, Windows Phone 8.1, complete with a cleverly positioned wallpaper to show off the new transparent Live Tiles. The hardware isn’t all that inspirational, although we’re happy to put this down to the poor quality image, and also doesn’t follow the style of LG’s G2 or G2 Pro Android phones. Instead, visually it has more in common with the original Optimus G and mid-range phones such as the Optimus L9.
When Microsoft revealed Windows Phone 8.1 at the start of April, it also reconfirmed the names of its hardware partners, including LG. Since Microsoft purchased Nokia’s Devices division, there has been concern other manufacturers would pay even less attention to Windows Phone. This leaked picture certainly suggests LG is experimenting with Windows Phone 8.1, but there’s no guarantee the Uni8 will ever go on sale.
While LG’s possible re-entry into the world of Windows Phone is interesting, all attention is on May 27 at the moment, when the company will almost certainly reveal the Android-powered G3 at an event in London.


text:
The problem with AmazonBasics 1500 Watt Ceramic Space Heaters isn’t heating an area. It’s overheating, which is why Amazon is recalling 377,000 of them sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The exact problem description, from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice: “The heater can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.”
And Amazon knows of 25 incidents in the United States and five in Canada of the heater “overheating, burning or sparking.” There have been no injuries, but there were two reports of damage to power outlets.
This covers models ASIN B074MR2HGM, ASIN B074MWRLZM, ASIN B074MX8VNR and ASIN B074MWKSLX sold in silver and black.
Amazon is taking the financial hit on this one, asking customers to stop using the heaters and get a refund.
Though the company says it is contacting users directly via email with refund instructions, if you want to be proactive, email email@example.com or call 888-280-4331.