text:
Quick Note: Windows Phone 7/8 Over-the-Air Download Cap Raised to 50MB
January 21, 2013 10:39 PM
comment(s) - last by
It was previously 20MB
Windows Phone 7 and 8 users can now download files up to 50MB, which is more than double the previous cap.
Microsoft had previously implemented a data cap of 20MB for over-the-air downloads of games and apps on a cellular connection. This applied to both Windows Phone 7 and
Windows Phone 8
However, it looks like the company quietly increased that cap to 50MB. It's unclear when this happened exactly, but those with Windows Phone 7 or 8 can now download larger files over their cellular network.
Last month, Google said it wouldn't
develop dedicated apps
for Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8 because of a lack of demand. More specifically, it won't develop Gmail or Drive dedicated apps.
Windows Phone Central
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: last paragraph?
1/22/2013 7:37:23 AM
maybe just fillers to meet the minimum word count.
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For Joe Geick, the day after Thanksgiving was opportunity to get an early start on Christmas shopping.
“I’m doing Christmas shopping now and getting it out of the way,” he said. “Everything is pretty reasonable.”
Friday marked the beginning of the Christmas shopping frenzy as bargain-hunters filled stores to take advantage of holiday sales.
However, Adbusters, a grassroots campaign against over consumption and commercialism, dubbed the day after Thanksgiving as “Buy Nothing Day.”
In an effort to thwart mass spending over the holiday season, former advertising executive Kalle Lasn formed the grassroots campaign against holiday consumerism.
According to the Buy Nothing Day 2002 Web site, previous “buy nothingers” participated by holding swap meets, teach-ins, concerts, street theatre, credit card cut-ups, postering and potlucks.
Despite Adbusters’ efforts to make Buy Nothing Day a day without consumerism, shoppers flocked to the Foothills Fashion Mall, 215 E Foothills Parkway, in Fort Collins.
“This is one of my favorite things to do,” said Christy Flaten, a freshman at Loveland High School. “The sales are better than most days.”
Corporations proved to be busy and for many stores, the weekend’s sales proved to be a success.
Michele Fergus, store manager at Mervyn’s, 235 E Foothills Parkway, said sales were better than last year and customer turnout exceeded expectations.
Fergus said she didn’t believe Buy Nothing Day affected the day’s turnout and product sales did not decrease from the previous year.
“People want to keep spending close to home,” Fergus said.
She said spending practices and behaviors are choices for consumers to make and consumers should decide how to spend their money.
“That’s all up to the person. I personally don’t get into the whole commercial thing. I basically am here to provide a service,” she said. “Fort Collins can choose how it wants to spend its money. No one has the right to tell others how they spend their money.”
Fergus predicts business will continue to proceed and has a positive outlook for the future.
Jason Siegel, a student from the University of North Texas, said holiday sales are a helpful boost to an ailing economy and he doesn’t support Buy Nothing Day.
“The way that our economy is now, I hope that people buy and spend,” Siegel said.
He predicted minimal support of Buy Nothing Day due to societal behaviors of mass consumption.
“Our society is breeding consumers,” he said. “Everybody is told how to dress and be and are encouraged to fit in. It’s not worth the time and money to encourage buying nothing,” he said.
Siegel said the nation might be consumer driven, but that’s not all bad.
“Almost everywhere you go, everything you see is consumer-driven. You kind of got to go with it,” he said. “To consume is American; that’s what we do.”

domain: news


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A Moncton comic book shop is selling one of the most valuable comic books in existence.
The Comic Hunter in Moncton is looking for nearly $60,000 for a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15.
“It’s up there with the first Superman, the first Batman of the most valuable comics that exist,” said Rémi Vienneau LeClair, manager of the store in Moncton.
The comic book was written in 1962 by Stan Lee. It features the first appearance of the famous hero, Spider-Man.
The web-slinger would go on to have his own series in 1963 and become the most popular hero for Marvel Comics.
The value of the specific issue has fluctuated over the years, but one copy in great condition sold for $3.6 million US in 2021.
According to CGC Comics, that puts Amazing Fantasy #15 as the second most expensive comic book ever. Superman #1 sold for $5.3 million US in 2022.
Vienneau LeClair says the comic at The Comic Hunter isn’t in nearly as good condition as the copy in 2021, but it still fetches a pretty penny.
“It’s always wild, you hope it’s the real thing,” said Vienneau LeClair. “When someone calls, most of the time, people think they’re sitting on a gold mine and 99 times out of 100, they’re not.”
Vienneau LeClair says when the store bought the book it was already graded, so he knew it was legitimate. Now it’s kept under lock and key, and he only shows it to people who are serious about purchasing it.
‘The holy grail’
Brad MacDonald was able to get a picture with the book at a comic book show in Fredericton last year, which he says was a great honour. He’s bought a few high-priced comics before, but none nearly as valuable as Amazing Fantasy #15.
“It’s the first appearance of Spider-Man. It’s the holy grail of comic books … As far as Marvel Comics goes, this is the one, this is the book,” said MacDonald, who has been collecting comics for over 30 years and is the web designer for the East Coast Comic Expo.
Brad MacDonald was able to get his picture taken with the comic a year ago at a comic show in Fredericton. (Brad MacDonald)
“It’s so rare to have one around. It was an honour to get my picture taken with the thing.”
MacDonald says rare comic book sales peaked during the pandemic. The most MacDonald has spent on a comic was $2,300 for a comic book that included the first appearance of the Punisher. He also has partial ownership of X-Men #1.
Amazing Fantasy #15 tells tells the story of Peter Parker being bit by a radioactive spider, getting superpowers, and then the death of Uncle Ben.
Since that release, Spider-Man has continued to be one of Marvel’s best selling comics. The popular character has spawned many blockbuster movies, toys, and different comic storylines.
A copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 has sold for $3.6 million US, making it the second most expensive comic. (The Comic Hunter)
“I always tell people, like, if you want to invest, go to the bank. But if you’re going to invest in comics, buy Spider-Man,” said Vienneau LeClair. “In the 18 years that I’ve been running the shop, it’s been continuously the bestseller for new and old comics.”
He says Spider-Man comics have a broad appeal and balance serious story lines with funny quips.
“Spider-Man [has] sort of always been number one as long as I’ve been reading comics.”
A Moncton comic book shop is selling one of the most valuable issues of Spider-Man comics out there. The Comic Hunter in Moncton is looking for $60,000 for a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15. Read More


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Results for - Are your children safe in the new world of Smart Assistants? (Google Home, Amazon Alexa etc.)
3,066 voters participated in this survey
Amazon has been accused again of violating children's privacy with its Alexa-powered smart speakers. Two lawsuits filed this week claim the company fails to get consent from kids when it records them using its smart assistant.
1. Do you use any smart assistant technology (eg. Google home, Echo etc.) in your house?
2. Did incorporating a smart assistant made your life at home easier?
3. Do you think that these technological products record your voice and conversations?
4. Echo Dot Kids is the latest smart assistant product released by Amazon exclusively for kids, do you think that Amazon markets smart assistant to kids so that hey can sell their data to companies that make products for kids (eg. toys)?
5. Do you think that smart assistant technology products should be certified by the government before being released in the market?
06/16/2019 Technology 3066 57 By: Tellwut


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Flutter Entertainment has kept its merger and acquisition strategy in 2022 with a couple of new deals.
Yesterday, one of the biggest British gambling companies revealed it completed the acquisition of UK online bingo operator Tombola, with staff mainly located in Gibraltar and Sunderland. The company is primarily focused on the provision of low-staking bingo options, with its own data reporting for an engagement of approximately 400,000 users every month. Tombola became the first UK-focused gambling operator that rolled out both mandatory deposit limits and maximum stakes. Financial reports have revealed that British customers account for more than 80% of its revenue, while customers from Italy and Spain generate about 16% of it.
The deal, which was originally announced by Flutter Entertainment in November 2021, is estimated at a total of £402 million.
In a statement, the UK gambling giant revealed that it has received all necessary regulatory confirmations to finalise the acquisition of Tombola. With the confirmations now received, it had completed the transaction in cash, with the group financing the acquisition deal through its existing cash and debt facilities.
At the time when the Tombola takeover deal was announced in November 2021, the CEO of Flutter Entertainment, Peter Jackson, praised the UK online bingo operator for its product expertise, focus on sustainable play and highly recreational customer base. He further noted that the bingo brand vision is in line with the safer gambling strategy that remained a key area of focus for Flutter Entertainment. According to Mr Jackson, the transaction would bring an exciting combination of the digital marketing expertise of his company and the operational capabilities of Tombola within the UK and Ireland unit.
Flutter Expands Presence in Italy through the Acquisition of Sisal
Tombola has not been the only acquisition target for Flutter Entertainment in the last few months.
A few weeks ago, the British gambling giant announced the takeover of the leading online gaming operator Sisal from CVC Capital Partners, which provided it with excellent positioning in Italy that is currently Europe’s second-largest gambling regulated market. As Flutter Entertainment shared in a statement in December 2021, the acquisition of Sisal provided it with a high-quality omnichannel asset featuring a diversified product portfolio run by an experienced management team.
At the time when the takeover deal was announced, Mr Jackson explained that Sisal had grown its online presence a great deal over the last few years, thanks to its commitment to innovations and its excellent platform. He shared that the acquisition would be complementary to the operational capabilities, and product scale and differentiation of Flutter Entertainment.
The recent years have seen Sisal become a leading digital and international gaming company, as explained by its SEO Francesco Durante. The company has been committed to international expansion, digital innovation and promotion of safer gambling and managed to climb to the leadership position in the online gambling market of Italy.
On the other hand, Flutter Entertainment has remained focused on making big takeover moves as part of its strategy to expand its leadership in the online gambling sector not only in the UK but in Europe, too. Currently, the company owns a number of the biggest and most popular brands on a global scale, including Paddy Power, PokerStars, Betfair, Sky Bet, FanDuel, Sportsbet, FOX Bet, Adjarabet and TVG.


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We are accustomed to the fact that customers usually suffer from life support, including from the “apple.” And here in the UK it happened exactly the opposite – “apple” support suffered by the client. An enterprising young man trusting Apple earned nearly 30 000 pounds sterligs.
Briton Edward Hornsey use the program return the broken iPhone, to return the “apple” of the company’s 51 device and get new ones instead, according to The Daily Mirror. Ingenious plan originated in the mind of a young man after he learned that Apple does not track how many iPhone users back. Hornsey decided to start buying for a used iPhone and exchange them for new ones. The idea worked! New product Briton marketed on eBay and other online sites, receiving from 50 to 100 pounds of net profit from one iPhone, and eventually earning £ 27,453.
All went well until one of smartphones not lit up in a police base in the case of a robbery. For fraud Edward Hornsey appeared before the court. “Every time renting iPhone, he left his exact precise data,” – said in his defense lawyer. “If people like you were completely honest, the theft of smartphones would be much less,” – concluded the judge.
Of course, this fraudulent scheme is unlikely to have worked in Russia. We Apple has become known as a company with questionable quality of service. Recall, the story of a woman from Omsk, who bought a defective iPhone in December 6 and was able to resolve situtsiyu only through the courts as much as six months later!


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mental health certification
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|Look up mental health certification in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.|
- mental health certificationWidely respected for its expertise in high-end aluminium glazing products, Fenster was approached by programme-makers and asked to supply a premium-quality sliding door. Torquay’s Fenster Fabrications is set to feature in an upcoming episode of ITV 1’s hit home improvement show Love Your Home and Garden. Commenting on the recent renovations, Ms Stephens said: “I am absolutely delighted with the work that has been carried out and Dortech’s customer service and professional installation has been second to none. Euroglaze trade customers are seeing returns on the company’s ongoing marketing investment, with leads generated now being distributed directly to them. British Glass is calling for seminar presentations, based on practical examples of large manufacturing businesses securing funding for improvement in energy efficiency and carbon reduction, for a one-day glass industry event in November 2017. The black-tie awards ceremony was held on 15 June at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, at the centre of the country’s great east-west glass manufacturing corridor – where nine out of ten of the UK’s largest glass manufacturers have production sites. We’ve been determined to create a more productive conversation and shared vision for improving competitiveness through decarbonisation and energy efficiency – and to get people on all sides to understand one another and be ready to play their part. I want to express my thanks to the British Glass staff who have made this happen.” Euroglaze trade customers are seeing returns on the company’s ongoing marketing investment, with leads generated now being distributed directly to them.
|This central coast alliance for health page lists articles associated with the title Seo.
If an serv behavioral health system led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.


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“Jony Ive, Apple’s design chief, on Wednesday unveiled a new iPhone, the biggest deal at the biggest gadget launch of the year,” Christina Passariello reports for The Washington Post. “But a different product is closest to his heart: the Apple Watch.”
“Ive, Apple’s chief designer, gave Apple’s original wearable device a complete makeover in form and function. The Apple Watch Series 4, which Apple also introduced Wednesday as part of its annual product event, is slimmer and has new health tracking features such as the ability to take an electrocardiogram and detect hard falls — and is increasingly independent from the iPhone. That gives it a more profound purpose, in Ive’s vision, and sets it apart from other technology,” Passariello reports. “‘Every bone in my body tells me this is very significant,’ Ive said in an interview in the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s headquarters following the event. Ive, like the former Apple CEO who was his close friend, speaks of Apple innovations with fervor. The new watch ‘will be a more marked tipping point in understanding and adoption of the product.'”
“Apple doesn’t break out sales numbers, but said its device is the best-selling watch in the world,” Passariello reports. “The increasing popularity of the watch, which Ive has set up as the cornerstone of wearable technology, is critical to Apple as the iPhone sales growth wanes. ‘Apple’s inception was about making tech useful and relevant, in a very personal way. And the watch is unambiguously the most personal product we make,’ said Ive… ‘I’m so zealous about the watch because I see it as making a material difference to people’s quality of life and actually their ability to be alive.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Shaddup and take our money!!!
Apple Watch Series 4 hands-on: Big screens, big improvements – September 13, 2018
Apple Watch Series 4’s 64-bit S4 contains for the first time a custom Apple-designed CPU and GPU – September 13, 2018
Apple Watch Series 4 redesigned with a stunning new display, breakthrough electrocardiogram, and much more – September 12, 2018


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The Scwarzkopf maker has achieved big growth in the region
Henkel boss Kasper Rorsted has committed the company’s future to Russia and Ukraine, despite the on-going political tensions and a deteriorating Russian economy.
“We have achieved significant growth there and we believe n the future of both countries,” Rorsted reportedly told shareholders at Henkel’s recent AGM. The Schwarzkopf hair care maker makes €1.1bn in sales from the Russian region. Other beauty players with significant exposure to Russia and the CIS region include Oriflame (Oriflame makes up to 50% of its sales from the region).. . .
This is a small extract of the full article which is available ONLY to premium content subscribers. Subscribers sign-in (top right) to read the article.
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The U.S. Postal Service said it is taking action amid a rise in crimes targeting USPS employees and customers.
According to USPS, there were 305 reports of carriers being robbed in the first half of fiscal year 2023, compared to 412 for the entirety of fiscal year 2022. USPS said that letter carriers are being targeted for their arrow and modified arrow lock keys.
Officials say these keys provide access to secure mail receptacles, allowing criminals to conduct financial crimes.
To combat this, USPS plans on installing 49,000 electronic locks to replace the arrow locks.
USPS also said there has been a higher volume of theft incidents from mail receptacles.
In fiscal year 2022, there were 38,500 thefts. In the first half of 2023, there have been over 25,000.
To address this, USPS is establishing harder blue collection boxes at 12,000 locations across the U.S.
USPS also said it is taking steps to address change of address fraud. While officials did not say how many cases there have been, USPS said criminals will use change of address forms to intercept mail, credit cards and checks.
To address these incidents, USPS will implement a dual authentication process for online change of address transactions.
Also, starting May 31, USPS will require customers to provide an approved form of identification in order to complete a change of address.
"As crime rises, so do the threats against our public servants," said Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Louis DeJoy. "The men and women of the Postal Service are walking our nation’s streets every day to fulfill our mission of delivering mail and packages to the American people. Every Postal employee deserves to work in safety and to be free from targeting by criminals seeking to access the public's mail."
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com


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Japanese multinational conglomerate Honda Motor unveiled a partially self-driving sedan ‘Legend’, becoming the world’s first carmaker to sell a vehicle equipped with new, certified level 3 automation technology.
Even though the launch places the Japanese automaker as the market first, the lease sales of the level 3 flagship Legend would be limited to only a batch of 100 in Japan which would be sold at a retail price of $102,000.
Speaking about the new launch, the senior chief engineer of Honda, Yoichi Sugimot states that the new automation technology is a big step towards eliminating human error-induced accidents.
The ‘Traffic Jam Pilot’ system of Legend can control acceleration, braking and steering under certain conditions. Once the system is activated, a driver can also watch movies or use the navigation on the screen, helping to reduce fatigue and stress when driving in a traffic jam, Honda said in a statement.
The system can further alert the driver to respond when handing over the control, like vibration on the driver’s seatbelt. And if the driver continues to be unresponsive, the system will assist with an emergency stop by decelerating and stopping the vehicle while alerting surrounding cars with hazard lights and the horn.
The current launch comes after the Japanese government awarded a safety certification to Honda’s “Traffic Jam Pilot” in November. But the company said that it has no plans to increase production or sales of a level 3-equipped Legend for now.
Global automakers and tech companies, including Google’s parent Alphabet’s Waymo and Tesla, have been investing heavily in autonomous driving. Yet even as technology advances, regulations on autonomous driving differ from country to country.
Audi unveiled an A8 sedan with level 3 technology in 2017 but regulatory obstacles have prevented it from being widely introduced into the market.


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Caltex has moved to sell 25 metropolitan freehold petrol stations, in the first tranche of its 50 property divestment strategy.
The service stations, 16 of which are in New South Wales, seven in Victoria, one in WA, and one on the Gold Coast, will be listed in an attempt to reduce costs.
Sydney-based Caltex, which has been lagging in the ASX’s benchmark energy index over the past year, has suffered as a weakness in refining has taken grip, with margins across Asia reaching five-year lows early this year.
The market has seemingly been losing faith in Caltex's retailing profit targets over the past six to 12 months as returns from the rollout of new and revamped stores proved slow to emerge.
The petrol and diesel supplier is going through a top-to-bottom restructuring and last year decided against a more radical demerger or restructuring of the retailing and infrastructure assets that could potentially have unlocked value.
About 500 of its 790 company-owned and operated petrol stations have been identified as delivering “strong returns” and growth, while another 240 are still under review but will remain part of the network.
The move to reposition its assets comes after Caltex reported a 54 per cent drop in benchmark profit for the June half.
The company reduced its guidance for full-year fuels sales from its own production to about 5.5 billion litres, from 5.8 billion litres, because of high oil purchasing costs.
All parts of the business have been hit by the difficult macro-economic conditions said to be arising from the slowing Australian economy, low refining margins combined with a low foreign exchange rate.
Caltex, which has promising to investors to deliver up to $150 million in additional earnings from its convenience retail business by 2024, saw its underlying profit in the convenience retail operations sliding backwards by $35 million in 2018.
Bottom-line net earnings dropped to $155 million from $383 million a year earlier on revenues that edged up 1 per cent to $10.3 billion.
Earnings before interest and tax from fuels and infrastructure fell 38.5 per cent to $193 million, while convenience retail EBIT almost halved to $85 million from $161 million in the first half of 2018.
Amid the tough climate in both retailing and refining Caltex is now taking steps to reduce its cost base by $100 million a year, cashing in a trove of petrol station assets, highly valued by developers and investors in the market.
CBRE investments director Mark Wizel is managing the marketing campaign along with Julian White and Stonebridge director Lincoln Blackledge.
Caltex chief development officer David Bridger confirmed the company's decision.
“These sites are ideal for low to medium-rise apartment development, located in attractive, high demand areas with strong growth opportunities.
“They also possess long-term development prospects which will appeal to a large number of prospective buyers who are looking at delivering a range of different end products into the inner metro markets.”
Caltex will also shift its corporate headquarters from the Sydney CBD to Alexandria, four kilometres to the south, next year as part of its cost-cutting drive. The company has also slashed its capex budget for this year.
Caltex is also proceeding with the shutdown of a crude unit at Lytton to rectify performance issues that have dogged it since a power supply interruption in January.
The shutdown is expected to reduce production by 200 million to 250 million litres, with Caltex putting full-year guidance for output at 5.8 billion litres, down from 6.04 billion last year.


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In the wake of a sharp rise in cybersecurity concerns, Google is boasting new security measures and encouraging user awareness about online threats and conscientious web-browsing.
Google’s Safe Browsing Technology has been curbing traffic to unsafe sites and educating its 1 billion users about potential security threats since 2006. Statistics into Safe Browsing Technology’s impact have been unpublished for years, but Google is now incorporating this data into their bi-annual reports for public access.
Computerworld’s recent article offers more insight into Google’s updated transparency report. The article addresses the predominant online culprits to which Google is curbing traffic: nefarious sites hosting malware and phishing scams. Currently, Google’s Safe Browsing efforts are detecting and redirecting users away from 10,000 newly discovered unsafe URLs each day.
Google’s security efforts extend further as Chrome developers unveiled Enhanced Item Validation for the Chrome Web Store last Wednesday.
The update serves as a security net which will scan newly published items before they become widely available in Google’s online marketplace. Most safe items will be published within a matter of minutes, and even in extremely rare instances, all content should be available in the store within an hour.
The Chrome Web Store is a popular vendor, but it isn’t the only place users can access unsafe or unwanted apps. Although Google Apps administrators can prevent the installation of applications from the Chrome Web Store, they cannot proactively monitor other sources of 3rd party apps, like the Apple (iOS) App Store, Android Marketplace or apps downloaded from public websites.
CloudLock’s Apps Firewall bridges this gap in control, allowing administrators to scan for and detect all 3rd party applications that have been granted access to the domain via end-user installations. Applications that are deemed acceptable can be classified as “Trusted,” and those which are undesirable can be “Banned” and revoked if necessary.


text:
Robobait of the Future!
That's right, they're here and they're taking over the ocean! Forget angling the real deal, now we can hunt fish robots in the sea! Well, not really, but it sure makes for a fun intro.
What this post is really about is how technology is advancing the way we fish. In an online post published March 15, 2017 by Outdoor Life titled, "Fishing Lures of the Future," the article highlights how simple fishing lures are now being engineered for better quality, "...concept is simple. We are using advanced digital circuitry to produce a lure that mimics real forage species not only in the way that it swims and looks, but in the way that it sounds as well."
They say that "ultra-realistic" bait has become the norm for anglers all over the USA.
So from virtual design concepts to futuristic plastics, worm bait is no longer just worm bait?


text:
Mexico’s manufacturing sector grows for the second month in a row
MEXICO CITY, July 1 (Reuters) – Mexico’s manufacturing sector rose for a second consecutive month in June after being stuck in negative territory for more than 2.5 years, indicating tentative signs of a recovery in demand for the country’s goods, according to a survey released Friday. .
The seasonally adjusted S&P Global Mexico Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index MXPMIM=ECI rose to 52.2 in June from 50.6 in May.
Prior to the May reading, the PMI had remained below the key 50 threshold that has separated growth from contraction since March 2020. It hit a record low of 35.0 in April 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns in the country.
June data showed a rise in factory orders and an uptick in sales that led companies to ramp up production, increase input purchases and continue hiring.
Above all, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, manufacturing production increased, according to the latest survey.
“Improving demand conditions, especially in external markets, have paved the way for Mexican manufacturers to take a step in the right direction towards a recovery in June,” said Pollyanna De Lima, associate director of the Economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Supply chain issues persisted, however, with the latest results pointing to escalating delivery delays and near-record increases in input costs and windfall business volumes.
With the intensification of supply chain disruptions, economic growth has been somewhat constrained while price pressures have remained elevated, De Lima said.
“The June data showed one of the biggest increases in input costs in more than 11 years of data collection, as war in Ukraine, lockdowns in China and volatile energy prices exacerbated pressures. ongoing disruptions to supply chains,” she added.
Latin American leaders have been working hard in tackling high inflation and the region has some of the highest interest rates in the world, with Mexico’s central bank announcing a record rate hike the latest. last week.
(Reporting by Anthony Esposito; Editing by Paul Simao)
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


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Xbox‘s chief financial officer Tim Stuart has claimed that supply chain issues affecting the console market may continue throughout 2022.
In a recent investor call hosted by financial services company Baird (as reported by Gi.biz), Stuart claimed “that the supply chain environment could remain rocky through 2022 and the holiday season.”
While Xbox Series X and PS5 have been available for nearly 18 months, both continue to suffer from stock issues as a result of a global chip shortage. Microsoft‘s lower-power new-gen console, Xbox Series S, has been far more widely available.
Stuart said multiple issues are facing the supply chain. These include part shortages, which reportedly “favour Series S consoles”, and “elevated logistics pricing pressuring margins.”
The announcement was made as the company’s gaming business posted record revenue for a non-holiday quarter.
However, looking ahead to the current quarter ending in June, Microsoft CFO Amy Hood said: “In gaming, we expect revenue to decline in the mid to high single digits driven by lower engagement hours year-over-year as well as constrained console supply.
“We expect Xbox content and services revenue to decline mid-single digits though engagement hours are expected to remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.”
Nintendo’s president said in May that the global chip shortage would continue to hamper Switch production efforts for the foreseeable future.
“There’s no end in sight to the semiconductor shortage at this point,” Shuntaro Furukawa said.


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LVMH’s premium beauty operation Sephora has confirmed the widely expected acquisition of Feelunique. It has signed a deal with Palamon Capital Partners and other shareholders to take over the UK-based beauty e-tailer.
Finnish retail giant Stockmann's Q2 and half-year results showed a dramatic improvement all round. Revenue rose over 20% in the last three months, while the gross margin and adjusted operating profits jumped too.
Concerns have emerged that Morrisons may face heavy costs after it's been taken over by private equity. The lead bidder will conduct a review of the property portfolio, raising the spectre of sale/leaseback deals.
UK consumer confidence finally edged ahead of its March 2020 pre-lockdown score in July, with shoppers in a spending frame of mind. It was still negative (at -7), but it's held firm or improved for six months in a row.
In a surprise move, Ted Baker said on Friday that it’s moving to a new London HQ. It will resettle in Fitzrovia, with the new home costing much less than the existing head office it has operated from for 20+ years.
High-end online fashion and beauty retailer Immaculate Vegan has secured £400,000 in funding on the back of impressive revenue gains. The new capital will help it drive future growth in its key target markets.
In a major boost to UK physical retail that has been devastated by widespread closures during the pandemic, we could expect 17,000 local high street stores to open in the next 12 months, according to new research.
New owner. Big plans. Acquisition-hungry The Ardent Companies has completed the takeover of Touchwood shopping centre in Solihull, West Midlands, from Lendlease Retail Partnership, for an undisclosed sum.
Unilever's first-half results should give a sign of how it is coping with rising commodity and transport costs - whether it has managed to lift prices without hitting sales volumes, or whether margins are being squeezed.
Burberry has officially unveiled its new-concept flagship on Sloane Street in London. It’s the first of its flagships to feature its new global design concept “that encapsulates the essence of the luxury house”.
Personal care and beauty products producer Creightons certainly performed well over a tough fiscal year. And for that it had to thank, in part, rising demand for its hygiene products in a period dominated by Covid 19.
Big operational changes at MySale have borne fruit. The online fashion and lifestyle retailer's shift to an Australia/New Zealand focus while scaling the business to a new marketplace seller platform has worked well.


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New virtual F&I product from Sym-Tech Dealer Services
North American F&I provider Sym-Tech Dealer Services has taken its F&I Performance product and developed a full turnkey virtual F&I product that dealers can use in an entirely online environment.
Sym-Tech has developed the product while noting that the shift to remote sales has increased the urgency for dealers to seek new ways of serving customers online.
The company said the product, called Virtual F&I Powered by Sym-Tech, reveals its virtual F&I and virtual training capabilities. Those capabilities could help Canadian dealers boost profitability and customer satisfaction.
With the following virtual offerings, the company says it is ready to help dealers navigate through the changing business landscape and support customers’ F&I journey:
— Customer-centric virtual F&I sales process and credit application
— Personalized F&I menu presentation
— Full disclosure and compliance for the customer
— dave, which is Sym-Tech’s proprietary F&I software solution
— e-signature enabled with e-contracts
— Virtual F&I training and online classroom
— Conduct virtual turnovers with live experts via video or phone
— Virtual fill-ins by a retail-experienced team of certified F&I specialists (OMVIC, AMVIC)
— Fully supported in English and French
—Tool kit that includes enhanced F&I and product presentation tools
“The key to success during these challenging times is learning to adapt in order to gain an advantage in today's marketplace. Our team has done an extraordinary job working quickly to bring Virtual F&I solution to our dealers that focuses on adapting the business office in an online environment," Sym-Tech Dealer Services president Derek Sloan said in a news release.
Sloan continued, “The safety of our dealers, customers and associates is of the utmost importance. Our virtual F&I process replicates in-person interaction in a virtual setting, which safely facilitates the sale of F&I products and ultimately drives performance for our dealers.”
Sym-Tech’s virtual F&I solution is a virtually delivered process that the company says increases profitability and improves customer service. It does that through a “faster, customer-centric and transparent online business office experience,” the company said.


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West Africa: Free trade at last?
Nigeria’s Business Day newspaper today wrote in an editorial piece that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is expected to scrap all tariffs, restrictions and quotas in an effort to boost trade within the region. Although the 15 member regional grouping has made progress towards free trade, full integration has not been achieved. Intra-regional trade only accounts for 10% of the total trade of ECOWAS member states. The low level of regional trade has been blamed on tariff and non-tariff barriers, including poor port, rail, road and energy infrastructure. According to the newspaper, there is also distrust among member states, which is holding back integration. Read the full article at Business Day.
Despite our best efforts, How we made it in Africa cannot cover every single business story on the continent. What you need to know tracks important developments originally reported on by other media organisations.


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By now, you've seen it.
The block of white feta, lightly browned from the oven, resting on a bed of roasted cherry tomatoes and olive oil. Mixed together, the cheese and the tomatoes make a sauce. Add cooked pasta, and dinner is served.
The recipe, commonly known as "baked feta pasta," became a viral hit in January. Since then, it's infiltrated your social media feeds, your news sources, maybe even your dinner table.
Harris Teeter, a grocery chain based in North Carolina, reported a 200 per cent jump in block feta sales beginning in February, a spokesperson for the company told CNN — that's right around when the dish was gaining notoriety.
Suddenly, block feta cheese was akin to the latest Jordan sneaker release — it was flying off the shelves, with some consumers going to multiple grocery stores to get their hands on one.
All this, just because of TikTok.
Since its debut into American consciousness, TikTok has become known for its funny, viral content, like the "Ratatouille" musical. But the influence of the app can't be overstated. The song 'Drivers License' by Olivia Rodrigo, for example, became a massive hit — breaking Spotify records and reaching the top of charts around the world — in large part due to its prevalence on the app.
In other words, TikTok is literally shaping culture. And, as the baked feta pasta dish can attest, that includes the way we eat.
On TikTok, food doesn't have to be perfect
Cooking shows and celebrity chefs — global phenomena like MasterChef and Jamie Oliver, for example — are historically what has moved and impacted food culture in the West, said Tania Lewis, the co-director of the Digital Ethnography Research Centre, which focuses on digitalisation, algorithmic decision making, and everyday life.
Social media has democratised that process — anyone can be a food celebrity now.
"The new 'celebrities' are not necessarily TV professionals but home cooks and styled up foodies who've branded themselves as influencers via YouTube, Weibo, Instagram and the like," Lewis, who is also a professor at RMIT University, Melbourne Australia, said.
"TikTok's success in the food space comes off the back of two decades of growth in food media and an associated burgeoning interest and knowledge amongst the general population but particularly the aspirational middle classes in foodie culture."
This is all made even more compelling when analysing the age of TikTok users, who tend to be younger millennials or Gen Z.
Gabrielle Reyes is the chef behind the TikTok account One Great Vegan, where she posts vegan recipes accompanied by songs. Her audience on TikTok, she told CNN, is anywhere from six to 16 years old.
So it makes sense that these TikTok food trends — things like the aforementioned feta pasta dish, as well as spiralised potatoes, the tortilla fold, etc — take off. They're incredibly easy to make and, oftentimes, they look cool, too, Reyes said.
"It's something a child could do," she said.
Jon Kung runs the account Chef Jon Kung on TikTok, where he's been posting videos since last May. Instagram food trends, he said, tend to be more about the look rather than the taste. It's "food built to be photographed," he said. TikTok isn't like that.
"(TikTok users) prefer personality over polish," Kung told CNN.
That's not to say that TikTok isn't polished at all. There are still some of the classic food porn shots made popular by Instagram food creators. But there's an element of genuineness that isn't seen in other food media.
All of this is exhibited in a recent TikTok by Kung, where he attempts to recreate Panda Express's orange chicken. The video shows Kung going through the motions of cooking — he chops the chicken into pieces, marinates it, breads it and fries it. At one point, he accidentally splashes himself with corn starch.
In a voice-over, Kung narrates his process. But rather than listing ingredients and amounts, Kung talks about seeing a bottle of Orange Faygo, a brand of orange soda, at the grocery store and becoming inspired to experiment with it. He encourages the audience to let themselves have fun, too.
"Sure I added some things like chilis, herbs and spices, but there's no need to take things so seriously all the time," Kung says in the video. "The first American Chinese cooks struggled with what they had. They paved the way for the rest of us to have fun and actually enjoy what we're doing."
Kung does all this in a video barely a minute long. That's part of the appeal of food on TikTok too — you don't have to sit through a 20-minute video explaining the ins and outs of a dish. There's a place where details matter, and in cooking they can be important. But food can also just be fun. And that's the lesson that is getting passed on.
It's a cultural exchange in 60 seconds or less
Joanne L Molinaro is a self-taught cook who runs the food blog The Korean Vegan. In 2020, she started posting on TikTok, where she now has more than 2 million followers.
Molinaro's content is both about food and beyond food. In a video for budae chigae, for example, she talks about her relationship with her father. In her version of that viral feta pasta, she opens up about love and insecurity.
The effect is visceral, making her videos not just about food, but about its intersections with politics, family and culture, too.
"When I got onto TikTok, (the younger viewers) were already so well prepared to engage with me about these deeper issues as they related to food," Molinaro said.
Molinaro does include ingredient names and amounts as text, so her audience can cook along if they want. Simply by watching her, it's easy to pick up on some tips and tricks, like when she uses a second cast iron skillet to press a folded tortilla sandwich, another TikTok food trend.
But she's also introducing users to an array of Korean ingredients, which might be new to some.
"(I'm) very mindful that everyone is obsessed with Kpop and Kdramas, and Korean culture is so much more than just those things," Molinaro said. "I'd love to just share tiny little bits of that with my audience."
In this way, TikTok allows for cultural exchange, beyond just sharing recipes.
Reyes, for example, cooks with ingredients like banana blossoms and jackfruit — things that some people may not have seen before. She knows that in a lot of ways, she's teaching young people about those ingredients and those foods.
"It's a form of celebration; it's a form of learning; it's a form of teaching people that other cultures eat this interesting food that you might like as well," Reyes said. "Sometimes you stumble upon someone that's creating something on the other side of the world, but it resonates with you."
Simply put, the app is showing how food can be unifying. That baked feta pasta dish, after all, got its start in Finland.
The app is changing what people eat
TikTok goes beyond just sharing easy food trends or introductions to new ingredients. The platform is changing what people eat.
After becoming ubiquitous on the app, birria tacos — a classic Mexican dish — have started appearing on menus across the US. Fufu, the West African staple, made a similar jump, after a video of someone eating it went viral on the platform.
"TikTok has become this crazy soft culture centre," Kung said. "TikTok bleeds into Instagram, and Instagram bleeds to Facebook, and Facebook bleeds to everyone else. I see more and more birria tacos on menus, and I know exactly why they're doing that."
He continued, "TikTok does a really good job of showing that different or weird is not bad, it's just weird to you. Especially with young people, I think they're more open to that. It has opened their worldview."
From introducing people to easy recipes like baked feta pasta, to turning birria tacos into a household name, creators on TikTok have helped millions celebrate food in a new and shareable way.
Property News: The most expensive - and best - pool in Australia costs almost as much as an apartment - take a look.


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BeepKart, a full-stack online retailer of used two-wheelers based in Bengaluru, has announced the completion of a $3 million seed round backed by Stellaris Venture Partners and Chiratae Ventures.
BeepKart, founded by Hemir Doshi and Abhishek Saraf, is addressing the trust deficit in the enormous secondhand two-wheeler market with a tech-first strategy.
BeepKart seeks to close the gap between the buying and owning of new and secondhand two-wheelers. Unlike classifieds sites, BeepKart’s vertical emphasis gives used two-wheeler purchasers the assurance they need about price, quality, and after-sales support.
Hemir Doshi, Co-founder and CEO, BeepKart said, “Two-wheelers form over 80 percent of India’s vehicle base, and there are seven times as many used two-wheelers sold every year as used cars. Buying a scooter or motorcycle is one of the key purchase decisions by the Indian consumer, yet the market suffers from a lack of rules and a great trust deficit. In our view, two-wheelers are more amenable to online sales than cars and the decision to buy and sell is made more quickly. We are seeing good early traction for our buyer focused online brand and offering.”
Ritesh Banglani, Partner at Stellaris Venture Partners, said, “Used vehicles represent one of the largest retail categories globally with virtually no online penetration in used two-wheelers in India. Globally, very large companies have been built selling used cars online. I believe the largest vehicle commerce companies in India will sell bikes and scooters, not cars. With Hemir and Abhishek’s experience in scaling and running operationally intensive businesses, we are confident BeepKart will be the largest company in this category.”


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Lingerie company Frederick’s of Hollywood has launched a new luxury brand if intimates and sleepwear, titled Harriet, in an attempt to revamp its image.
Harriet is named after the late founder’s sweetheart and future wife, to whom he reportedly sent love letters throughout World War II.
The collection will see the company return to it more risqué origins, when Frederick Mellinger founded the company in 1946.
It will pay tribute to the black silk lingerie that Mellinger designed will writing letters to his wife in the forties.
Harriet pieces will range in price from $29 for a thong, to $159 for a corset.
The line will be available exclusively online, through a new dedicated site called harriett.com, as well as at the Frederick’s of Hollywood flagship store in Los Angeles.
Originally started as a mail order company, Frederick’s of Hollywood was started to provide the women of America with aspirational, affordable lingerie – the likes of which Mellinger had seen during his time in France.
Over the years, critics have claimed the company’s image has become slighty dated and ‘tacky’, with celebrity models including Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson leading to a drop of profits.
The hope is that the Harriet label will inject a new lease of life into the company and bring it back to the original concept for the company: affordable luxury.


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A humorous look at the companies that caught our eye, for better or worse, this week
BB - TSX
“BB to the MOON … let’s get this money!!” Scrolling through posts like this on WallStreetBets – the Reddit forum where retail investors conspire to drive up prices of heavily shorted stocks – one gets the sense that the word hubris has never entered these people’s minds. But for now, at least, the Reddit “apes” are winning: Shares of “meme” stocks including BlackBerry, GameStop and AMC Entertainment took off again as short-sellers were forced to cover their positions. AMC is even offering perks including free popcorn to retail investors. It’s the least the company could do after raising more than US$800-million selling shares at ridiculously inflated prices this week.
General Motors (STAR)
GM - NYSE
You know, I was trying to watch some pickup truck ads the other day, but they kept getting interrupted by a hockey game. Anyway, if you’re in the market for a new truck, good news: After cutting vehicle output because of a global semiconductor shortage, General Motors has reallocated some of its chips to boost production of its highly profitable Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and other pickups. Thanks to this and other moves, the automaker said its first-half earnings will be “significantly better” than it previously forecast. Investors will need a new pickup truck just to carry all the money they’re making on the stock, which has more than doubled in the past year.
Inter Pipeline (STAR)
IPL - TSX
A year ago, Inter Pipeline was about as popular with investors as ants at a picnic. Slashing your dividend by 72 per cent will do that. But now, as the world is emerging from the pandemic and the energy sector is rebounding, everyone is showering love on the pipeline operator. On Tuesday, Pembina Pipeline announced an all-stock deal to acquire Inter Pipeline for about $8.3-billion or $19.45 a share, only to be topped the next day by Brookfield Infrastructure, which hiked its hostile cash-and-shares offer to about $8.47-billion or $19.75 a share, up from $16.50 previously. Do I hear $20?
Abbott Laboratories (DOG)
ABT - NYSE
The good news for humanity is that COVID-19 cases are falling. The bad news for Abbott Laboratories is that COVID-19 cases are falling. As vaccinations slow the virus’s spread and sales of Abbott’s COVID-19 diagnostic tests decline, the drug maker cut its full-year earnings forecast, sending the stock to a seven-month low. “While it’s positive that these external events and trends signal an accelerated return to normalcy for many countries, they have suddenly and fundamentally impacted market demand for COVID-19 testing,” the company said. Let’s hope demand keeps falling. No offence, Abbott.
SAP - TSX
There once was a stock called Saputo
From the same town as one P.E. Trudeau
After cheese sales tumbled
The stock price did crumble
And investors were in a bad mood-o.
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Rösler: Export credit guarantees prove their worth in difficult market environment
In spite of the difficult situation on the global markets, German exports perceptibly grew in the last two years and regained the pre-crisis level. The German federal government also contributed to these good results by providing export credit guarantees ("Hermes cover") to insure German exports worth 29.8 billion euros in 2011. This was the second highest value since this support instrument was launched 62 years ago. Apart from the export industry, the German federal budget again benefited from this trend: It was possible for the thirteenth time in a row to achieve an annual surplus owing to the instrument. 519 million euros were transferred to the federal budget.
Federal Minister of Economics and Technology Dr. Philipp Rösler said: "Export credit guarantees are of crucial significance especially in the current difficult global economic environment. They foster the competitiveness of German export companies and secure jobs. In this context, I am particularly pleased that according to a survey carried out by the Munich-based Ifo Institute Hermes guarantees have a very positive impact in terms of employment on small and medium-sized exporters."
In 2011, Turkey accounted for the largest insurance volume (4.83 billion euros), followed by Russia (2.57 billion euros) and China (2.27 billion euros). Hermes guarantees are also very important for exports to emerging economies and developing countries. In 2011 - like in the preceding years - they accounted for more than two thirds (22.4 billion euros) of the total volume for new guarantees.


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It has become a familiar sight around the world’s airports and railway stations – excited children wheeling or riding colourful, characterful suitcases. The success of Rob Law’s Trunki is one of the great stories of how innovative design and branding has created a new market.
And while the cheerful Trunki will always be associated with Rob Law’s Bristol-based company Magmatic – rather as the iPhone is associated with Apple – this is not a one-hit business. Its strategy is to become the world’s leading producer of children’s travel products.
That requires a capacity for relentless innovation but also being fiercely vigilant in defending and protecting its ideas.
While all its fabric products – such as the ‘dry bag’ Paddlepak that looks like a fish – are made in Asia, Magmatic’s moulded plastic products – such as the Trunki – are now made in the UK. Some of its products can take a surprising amount of time to get right; the Toddlepak, a safety rein for children, required 300 prototypes before it got to market.
Right now, the company is gearing up for a major new launch in November. It will represent another milestone on Law’s personal journey to reshore manufacturing. It was in 2012 when Law first started to reshore the manufacture of Trunkis.
The company acquired a plastics moulding factory in Plymouth to build up its in-house capacity and expertise; the factory is now set to use new printing technologies to ensure the designs on each suitcase can’t be scratched or removed. “It requires real precision to get it right each time,” says Law, “and that puts us ahead of our competitors.”
Magmatic has become a beneficiary of the Patent Box. Find out more about how this scheme allows companies to apply a lower rate of corporation tax to profits earned from its patents.
Under the scheme, the income from any innovation patented in the UK is taxed at a reduced corporate tax rate. The relief is being phased in over a four-year period from April 2013. Once the full benefit of the Patent Box is in effect – as from April 2017 – it means that a ten per cent rate of corporation tax will be applied to such profits.
“We were very pleased to see this announced,” he says. “We have always applied for patents across all our products to build up our IP portfolio – it’s one of the most valuable asset we have. So, as all our products carry patents, profits relating from any of our product sales benefit from the new tax legislation. And that enables us to re-invest more of our earnings back into the business.
“The Patent Box is a great way for the government to motivate companies to stay in the UK and not to offshore for tax planning. And it does reward inventive companies, which can only be a good thing.”
He adds that the process of application for the Patent Box has been really clear and simple.
Slightly more laborious, but also valuable to secure, are the R&D tax credits that Magmatic has gained for the product development of its BoostAPak children’s car seat that doubles as a backpack, and for the re-engineered version of its Trunki suitcases that removed all metal components to make it easier to manufacture in UK and to recycle. “You have to work out what the tax relief is applicable for, so it is more complicated, but you can get accountants to help you,” Law says.
The main growth of Magmatic’s business is being driven by Asia and North America. Find out more about how UKTI can help your business ensure its success in international markets.
In the USA, Trunki LLC has been trading since mid 2014 and is the company’s largest market by volume outside of the UK. China is another booming market. When Law recently attended a press conference at a trade show in the country, he asked a packed room how many of the delegates had heard of Trunki – and all of their hands went up.
Law is understandably confident. “We are fully in our growth phase,” he says. “Following the investment last year from the Business Growth Fund, we are developing new products, expanding our markets, and growing the team quite significantly. For some years, I carried the full weight of the business on my shoulders; with a stronger board that is now a shared burden.”
The world’s children can expect more fun on their travels in the years to come.


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Samsung and Amsterdam Dance Event Join Forces
The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), the world’s leading conference and festival for electronic music, is to work together with Korean electronics giant Samsung. The two global brands will combine their respective strengths in a unique collaboration aimed at creating innovative projects that compliment and reflect the worldwide success of dance music. The eighteenth edition of the ADE takes place from Wednesday 16th to Sunday, October 20th, 2013.
ADE, which attracts over 200,000 festival visitors and 4000 professional conference delegates from around the world, has been experiencing phenomenal year-on-year growth. The 2012 edition reflected the worldwide success of the dance music industry, featuring a wide array of high-profile speakers, alongside performances by 1.700 national and international artists at 350 events in a record 75 venues across Amsterdam. Thanks to the involvement of Samsung, ADE will be able to be even more responsive to the explosive development of the global dance industry in the future.
“We are very excited about this unique partnership. A global brand like Samsung fits perfectly with the international character of ADE and the quality that both brands represent,” ADE Director, Richard Zijlma, said.
“From Samsung’s point of view, we feel that we have more and more in common with ADE. Samsung wants to inspire people with new technology, product innovation and creative solutions, while ADE has developed into an international platform for both music industry professionals and dance music fans. We aim to inspire them with our innovations, and we see this co-operation as a perfect match between two strong, global brands. We are looking forward to adding some remarkable new elements to ADE this year,” Geert Mol, Marketing Manager at Samsung Mobile Netherlands, said.
Amsterdam Dance Event
The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) has, in its eighteen years of existence, become the world’s leading platform for electronic music. The five-day event offers a comprehensive conference and festival program that annually attracts professional visitors and festival-goers from around the world.
Samsung Electronics is the world leader in consumer electronics. Through continuous innovation the company is changing the world of television, smart phones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, medical equipment, semi-conductors and LED solutions. And through this, creating new opportunities for people at home, on the road and at work. With 236,000 employees in 79 countries, Samsung has an annual turnover of $187.8 billion. For more information about Samsung Electronics, please call 0900-SAMSUNG (€ 0,10 p/m) or visit www.samsung.com.
The Amsterdam Dance Event is organized by Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation, an initiative of Buma.
For more information: www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl


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These companies among the S.&P. 500 have given one-time bonuses to at least some of their employees and/or have increased minimum base wages.
Apple plans to bring back the vast majority of the $252 billion in cash that it held abroad and make a one-time tax payment of $38 billion on the repatriated cash. Apple estimated that its direct impact on the American economy would total more than $350 billion over the next five years.
AT&T was among the first companies to publicly announce plans to reward employees with a one-time bonus. Its announcement came about month after President Trump’s Justice Department sued to blocked its planned merger with Time Warner.
Bank of America’s bonuses will cost the bank $145 million in 2018, or about 5 percent of the nearly $2.7 billion in savings it is expected to reap in 2018 from a lower, 21 percent corporate tax rate.
Retailers like Home Depot, Walmart and Lowe’s have tied the size of bonuses to tenure, so that only employees who have been with the company for 20 years or more will receive the $1,000 maximum that was highlighted in their announcements. Few employees meet that requirement.
The day Walmart said it would use some of its savings under the new tax bill to provide wage increases, bonuses and expanded benefits to its hourly workers, it abruptly closed 10 percent of Sam’s Club stores, drawing criticism over the timing of the two moves.


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Barely two weeks after Spotify launched in Nigeria and 38 other new markets in Africa, Deezer has updated its payment feature to accept Naira payments.
The global music streaming platform has also slashed their subscription fees to almost half of the prize, alongside changing their subscription currency from U.S dollars to naira.
Headquartered in Paris, Deezer was launched in 2007 and it currently connects over 16 million monthly active users around the world to 73 million tracks.
The music platform is available for smartphones, tablets, PC, laptops, home sound systems, connected cars or smart TV in over 180 countries worldwide.
Before now, Deezer’s subscription was rated at $4.99 ( ₦1,800) for premium customers and the family plan for ₦2,700. This number has been slashed in half. The music platform now charges ₦900 ($2.36), ₦1,400 and ₦1,400 ($3.67) for Deezer Premium, Deezer HiFi and Deezer Family, respectively.
The competition gets tougher
With Spotify’s recent giant leap into Africa, Deezer and other music platforms like Apple Music, Boomplay, Youtube Music, etc that have already penetrated the African market, have been pushed to a tight corner. Deezer’s new pricing feels like a move towards closing every loose end with Spotify.
Before their big launch, Alex Norström, an executive at Spotify said the company believes there could be more than 1 billion potential Spotify users that are yet to be tapped.
According to this report by Music In Africa, Deezer has about 14 million users in Africa, 7 million of whom pay for the platform’s services. Perhaps, this Spotify’s untapped market includes Deezer’s existing customers.
How much does subscription cost?
For YouTube Music, the monthly individual subscription costs ₦900 while a family plan costs ₦1400 ($3.67).
Deezer previously charged ₦1,800 for premium subscribers but has now slashed the price to ₦900 ($2.36).
Apart from its free plan, Spotify users in Nigeria can upgrade to Spotify Premium for ₦900 per month. The Premium Family plan goes for ₦1,400 for up to 6 family members living under one roof. They also offer a student monthly subscription for ₦450. Apple Music has the same subscription plan as Spotify.
Boomplay’s subscription is a little different. Users can subscribe with N499 or pay with Boom Coins, which can be earned or purchased in-app. They are also allowed to subscribe on a daily or weekly basis.


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Gucci remained the hottest brand for Q1 while iPhones boosted Apple revenue.
Dior is entered for the first time, while Off-White™ has been knocked down to 10th place.
The defendant was the head of an international counterfeiting business.
Green is the new blue in the watch industry.
The “hacking lab” delivers plenty of co-branded apparel and accessories.
The Italian brand’s “Aria” show is a celebration of its past and future legacy.
At the Italian fashion house’s upcoming “Aria” collection presentation.
The Italian luxury house is making experimental moves.
Celebrating the “gardener of fashion.”


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The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has decided to loosen the criminal background check requirement for cannabis license applicants. This is in an effort to increase diversity in the industry, but some are worried that it will lead to more crime.
The wslcb violations list is a website that lists all of the people who have been found to violate the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) rules.
A law preventing convicted criminals from getting a cannabis license in Washington is poised to change next month.
Residents who want to sell or cultivate cannabis in the state now have to pass a criminal background check, which means that anybody with a felony or a few misdemeanor convictions is disqualified. Felonies and prison time will be examined beginning Oct. 2, but they will not be regarded as automatic disqualifiers for cannabis licenses.
The decision was made in an attempt to broaden access to the cannabis sector, especially for disadvantaged populations that are disproportionately targeted for drug use and trafficking. Rep. Melanie Morgan (D), chair of the state’s Social Equity on Cannabis Task Force, said, “We wanted to bring parity in the disproportionality that we saw as a result of the war on drugs, where Black people were being arrested disproportionately and brown people were being arrested disproportionately.”
The Marijuana Arrest Research Project examined decades of data in the state and discovered that although Black and Latino individuals consume cannabis at lower rates than white people, they were arrested for cannabis-related offenses at 2.9 times and 1.6 times the rate of white people, respectively. One cannabis producer described the state’s initial system as “very discriminatory” since it barred minorities who had previously participated in illicit cannabis distribution from working in the now-legal business.
Only 1% of licensed cannabis producing and processing companies in Washington state are owned by Black individuals, according to the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board, compared to an 81 percent majority-white ownership of cannabis retail stores.
The new regulation has already been approved by the Liquor and Cannabis Board, and suggestions to reserve state cannabis licenses for areas affected by the drug war are now being considered.
Gary Miller is an actor, writer, director, comedian, and businessman. Gary, a Veriheal Media Curator, was born and raised in Denver, Colorado.
The wslcb fingerprinting is a new policy that the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has implemented. It will loosen criminal background checks for cannabis license applicants.
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source : www.9news.com.au
Starbucks, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Domino’s Pizza are being boycotted in the Middle East as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise.
According to local media, major American brands have been targeted in Arab cities such as Cairo, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait and Doha for alleged support for Israel’s invasion.
McDonald’s stores in the region were banned after the hamburger giant’s Israeli franchise sent thousands of meals to IDF soldiers stationed on the Gaza frontline.
Turkey’s parliament last week removed Coca-Cola and Nestlé products from its restaurants over their alleged support for Israel.
Local news sources reported that McDonald’s, Starbucks and Domino’s Pizza restaurants have been quiet lately, with customers staying away during usually busy times.
The decline in sales of Western brands offers opportunities for smaller local products, such as carbonated drink Spiro Spathis, to flourish.
Spiro Spathis was founded in 1920 by one of the thousands of Greeks who made Egypt their home, but the drink was eventually overrun by the arrival of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
Before and after: satellite images show the damage to Gaza
Demand for Spiro Spathis has increased so quickly that the drinks company has advertised 2,000 new jobs on its social media.
About 250,000 Israelis have been evacuated from communities near Gaza, where Palestinian militants continue to fire rocket attacks, and along the northern border with Lebanon.
‘Everyone has their way of showing solidarity. Some protest in the streets, others boycott. I have chosen to boycott.
“This serves as a vehicle for my voice to voice Western bias in favor of Israel.”
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed more than 11,000 people since the war broke out.
Israel launched an offensive after dozens of Hamas gunmen crossed the border on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 240 hostage.
Forty-six Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground offensive began.
The US has pushed for temporary pauses that would allow broader distribution of much-needed aid to civilians in Gaza, where conditions are becoming increasingly dire.
But Israel has only agreed to short daily periods during which civilians can flee ground fighting in northern Gaza and move south on foot along two main roads.
Israel continues to attack militant targets in southern Gaza, often killing women and children.
The war has displaced more than two-thirds of Gaza’s population.
source : www.9news.com.au


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Royal Philips achieved the status of Industry Group leader in the Capital Goods category of the 2016 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). Philips’ overall score was 92 out of 100 points, which – according to the company – “underlines Philips’ ongoing commitment to sustainability as an integral part of the company’s business practices”.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Philips has been included in the Industrial Conglomerates category, which aggregates into the Capital Goods industry group, and the first time that Philips has been named Industry Group Leader in this category.
“In its annual evaluation, DJSI recognized Philips’ strong performance of its Green Operations program”, Philips states in a press release. “Notably the reduction of its carbon footprint by 40% from 2007 to 2015, the sales of its Green Products and the investments in its employees.” The highest scores were obtained in the climate strategy, operational eco-efficiency and corporate citizenship and philanthropy (100 out of 100 points) categories.
“We are pleased to have achieved the leadership position in our industry,” said Frans van Houten, CEO Royal Philips. “At Philips, we fully embrace sustainability, because of its benefits for society, and because we believe that it is one of the drivers for our growth. That’s why sustainability is an integral part of our company strategy. Our new program, Healthy people, sustainable planet, reflects our commitment to the universally agreed United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, especially those aimed at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, and at encouraging sustainable consumption and production patterns.”
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Today marks the start of the love month for Animal Crossing New Horizons players as Reese and Cyrus officially arrive to kickstart the new event. The Animal Crossing New Horizons wedding event kicks off another opportunity to get amazing in-game goodies too.
The Animal Crossing New Horizons wedding event comes with the 1.20 update, and it will last through June 30. Players are still confused as to what they can do during this special occasion, but we’ve got the rundown on everything players need to know during this event.
How to begin
Upon logging in, players will see Isabelle talk about weddings during the day’s morning announcements. Upon getting on the island, players will be called by Harvey and will be asked to visit Photopia. If players have yet to meet Harvey, they will automatically meet him usually when the first new villager moves into the island.
Upon getting to Photopia, they’ll be meeting Cyrus and Reese, who will ask them for help with regards to their wedding photo. Cyrus and Reese are series staples who once ran the shop that allowed players to customize their furniture.
What to do
The Animal Crossing New Horizons wedding event is fairly simple. Reese and Cyrus will provide a theme for the players. Players will then have to create a photo shoot set for the couple’s wedding based on the theme. The theme will be different each day, and players will be given some items to help them decorate. Players can also use decoration sets from their own collection.
Players will be scored depending on how well the photo set goes well with the theme.
What are the rewards
Upon completing the challenge, players will be rewarded with a special exclusive currency called heart crystals. Sometimes, players will also receive special furniture from Reese and Cyrus.
The heart crystals can be used to be event-exclusive furniture, clothing, and more. Apart from the special wedding furniture that players can collect throughout the event, the items bought with heart crystals are a must for collectors.
The Animal Crossing New Horizons wedding event will be available every day starting now, and it will end on June 30. This is the last of the events on Nintendo’s current lineup, and it’s likely that we’ll be seeing the next event sometime this month. The developers could also unveil the next content updates for the game, which, according to datamines, are still plenty.
Image used courtesy of Nintendo/YouTube


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Australia exported 1.84 million shipped weight tonnes of red meat to more than 100 countries, worth a record $17.08 billion for the 12 months ending November 2023, new data from Meat & Livestock Australia shows.
MLA's annual global market snapshots for 2024 provide insights into where the volume and value were distributed to, and drivers of demand in each market.
The snapshot reports are collated to illustrate the competitive advantages and growth opportunities for Australian red meat across the world.
Covering 14 markets for beef and sheep meat, the snapshots provide industry stakeholders access to topline insights on consumer demographics, perceptions, habits and trends, as well as key export statistics, analysis and updates on trade access and the competitive landscape.
- Mainland China remains the number one destination for Australian red meat exports by volume, importing 206,193 tonnes of beef and 165,245 tonnes of lamb and mutton. Long-term import demand drivers are strong, with Chinas affluent consumer base forecast to continue expansion, along with growing appreciation for high quality red meat products.
- The United States also continues to be a major market for Australian grassfed beef and lamb. Opportunities for Australia in the US centre around increasing value through premium products such as chilled grassfed beef and lamb, rather than just growing consumption volume.
- Japan is the third largest beef importer globally and the second largest export customer of Australian beef. The market is especially unique for having a highly sophisticated but also very fragmented retail food market, where Australian beef and lamb are commonly sold in retail, asboth fresh meat and ready-to-eat options.
- Korea is among Australias fastest growing lamb markets in recent years with $279 million worth of sheepmeat exported there in 2023. Koreas e-commerce channel is among the worlds largest and is an easy and convenient way for shoppers to purchase Australian red meat.
- Australias red meat exports to the United Kingdom have notably increased in just the few months since the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement entered into force from the end of May 2023. Comparing the half year period export volume from June to December in 2022 and 2023, beef volume was up nearly five-fold, lamb and mutton both doubled.
MLAs Manager of Global Market Insights and Adoption Mindo Kondo said the young, expanding and increasingly affluent consumers in emerging regions such as the Middle East and South-East Asia provide another significant opportunity for Australian red meat exporters.
The dial has been shifting regarding the awareness of premium red meat, as demand for non-local cuisine foodservice experiences and acceptance of packaged meat products purchased from modern retail are playing a more significant role in emerging markets, Ms Kondo said.
For example, in South-East Asia, growing red meat consumption is being driven by increasing interest in dining out at not only Western-style cuisine restaurants, but also Japanese and Korean.
The Australian red meat industry has the potential to extend its excellent reputation overseas by expanding into more markets, accessing new consumers in already-established markets and ensuring the industrys reputation for producing the best beef and lamb in the world.


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As published in BII
New normal, same old same old
2020 has brought a wave of challenges, some expected (April’s minimum wage increase), others less so; who could have foreseen the COVID-19 pandemic?
This unpredictability has made controlling our labour spend equally challenging.
Whilst the global context of a pandemic means we are adjusting to a new normal, much of what we should have been implementing as best practice for controlling labour cost remains the same.
Although initiatives like “Eat Out To Help Out” and Rishi’s VAT cut have all helped to stimulate public appetite for returning to hospitality venues post-lockdown, the benefit has been offset to a certain extent as operators labour costs have increased, particularly on training on new hygiene measures and enhanced cleaning processes.
Plan, plan, plan
The discipline of planning your rota is more important than ever. The US and Europe traditionally have had a stronger weekday dining out culture, in contrast to the UK, whose culture is more akin to a weekend binge. EOTHO has proved that consumers are open to adapting their behaviour and are happy, and for now able, to afford to dine out during the week. As operators we too have had to adapt but it is also opening up a wider opportunity. It is much easier to manage a business that doesn’t have such highly defined peaks and troughs throughout the week – as long as you plan.
The business can work much more efficiently as the kitchen is not being slammed with high demand at weekends. Similarly, stock rotation is quicker and there is less waste. Food is also fresher and therefore food quality improved, generating a knock-on effect of happier repeat-business customers.
Brief the shift
Looking ahead, when the furlough scheme comes to an end in October, disposable incomes are likely to shrink as the unemployment rate rises and dining out becomes more of a luxury. There may be less opportunity to upsell your desserts, your coffees and the like. Ensuring you deliver a clear shift briefing at the start of every shift means you can maximise those upsell opportunities now. Also make sure all team members have slack tasks allocated to ensure those extra cleaning tasks are covered off. Manage the workload on every shift effectively across your team so that everyone is stressed or slack equally and are still motivated to provide great service.
If these new consumer habits become engrained the “new normal” of regular weekday dining might even mean that January and February don’t have to be the dry spells of old.
Tom Marshall is a former Brakspear GM and M&B lead general manager. He is our in house productivty guru with over 12 years expereince managing high profile venues.


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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – If you noticed more national retailers announcing mask policies for customers, it may be because the nation’s largest retail organization is asking them to.
National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay appeared on Fox Business last week asking all retailers to set a nationwide mask policy.
“This is an economic decision and all of us share an interest in keeping the economy open. We don’t want to go back to the lockdown we had in March and April and even into May. That hurt communities of all sizes, and hurt retailers of all sizes and in all segments,” Shay said.
The NRF provides a state by state map that outlines coronavirus laws, executive orders, regulations and guidance for retailers. The map is updated daily at 5 p.m.
Over the past several days, more national retailers have announced mask policies for customers including Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kohl’s Best Buy, Aldi and others, regardless of state guidelines.
The NRF also said that local retailers who adopt mask policies will have their support.
Shay said the request was to take the politics out of mask wearing and any medical debate and recognize that it as an economic issue.


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At last, Toyota has released a preview image of the new 2012 Toyota Avensis ahead of its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in less than two week from now.
From the look, the 2012 Toyota Avensis mid-size sedan got a facelift. The front end gets a new grille and a restyled headlamps along with a new bumper to hold it in. In addition, the rear end receives a newly styled tail lamps and rear bumper as well. The new styling emphasizes Toyota’s latest design language on all its new vehicles.
As for the interior of the 2012 Avensis, it also gets an improvement in the quality along with modern gadgetry. According to Toyota, “together, these changes represent the largest mid-life investment Toyota has made for any model”.
More details of the 2012 Toyota Avensis will be revealed closer to debut day.


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BEIJING, Nov. 5 — China’s landmark import expo comes as the government moves to open domestic markets wider globally in the year marking the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up policy.
The China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world’s first national-level import expo, starts Monday in Shanghai. With the slogan “New Era, Shared Future,” the event will strengthen business ties, promote easier market access and garner support for free trade.
As the world’s second-largest importer of goods for nine consecutive years, China remains committed to pro-import policies.
Instead of seeing imports as a threat to the domestic economy, analysts believe increasing quality products from overseas will help satisfy a bigger appetite from domestic buyers and serve as a catalyst for faster industrial transformation.
“The market supply will be enriched, and the prices will be more wallet-friendly for Chinese consumers,” said Liu Shangxi, head of the Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences.
China has impressed the world with its rising consumption power, which largely stems from a rapidly growing middle-class.
Wooed by an ever-growing Chinese market, more than 3,000 companies from over 130 countries and regions plan to bring their new products and technologies to the CIIE, including Italian helicopters and German machine tools.
Many products at the expo will enjoy lower import tax rates, as a total of 1,585 tariff lines, including electromechanical and textile products, started seeing lower levies on Thursday, down from 9.8 percent to 7.5 percent on average.
This latest round of tariff reduction is expected to boost imports to China.
Zhao Ping with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade said the increase in foreign products would intensify competition, see upgrades in domestic industries and push Chinese companies to move up the global value chain.
Automakers are among the first batch of domestic players that will more directly face global counterparts, as new tariffs for vehicles and auto parts came into effect on July 1, with rates lower than the average of other developing economies.
“China has a complete automotive industrial system but needs fiercer competition for further development,” said Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association. “The reduced tariffs will bring more imports and push the sector to realize quality development in a more open circumstance.”
A wide range of other industries from food to fashion will also experience this no-pain-no-gain process.
The import-triggered industrial upgrades are in line with China’s new development concepts and the drive to high-quality growth, and efforts have been taken to motivate companies to innovate and improve their competitiveness, including tax breaks and easier loans.
By expanding imports, China will share the benefits derived from its development model with other parts of the world and achieve common growth, according to analysts.
Chinese authorities expect the country will import goods worth 24 trillion U.S. dollars in the next 15 years. – XINHUA


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Hy-Vee invests in major-league marketing plan
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Hy-Vee Inc. is positioning itself as a major-league sports sponsor in the Kansas City area in an effort to reach out to fans who need groceries and tailgating supplies.
Des Moines-based Hy-Vee announced an extended partnership with the Kansas City Royals, creating the Hy-Vee Cool Zone at Gate B in Kauffman Stadium — very similar to what it offers at Arrowhead Stadium.
Hy-Vee already sponsors the Kansas City Chiefs. At Arrowhead, the grocery store has a gate sponsorship, the Hy-Vee Hot Zone concert venue and an Airstream trailer that serves as a box seat with a full view of the field. Hy-Vee also hosts tailgating competitions and brings in celebrity chefs.
“Our stores will be hosting ticket giveaways and other activities as well as offering great deals on food and beverages for tailgating,” Hy-Vee CEO Randy Edeker said in a release.
Founded in 1930, employee-owned Hy-Vee has 26 full-service grocery stores in the Kansas City area.
James reports about banking, financial services, manufacturing and sports business.
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Some Amazing Discounts For Essential Workers
Throughout this pandemic, a lot of people still have gotten up and gone to work every day as an "essential worker". In a lot of cases, that's for no extra pay...it's just what you have to do.
That's why I was excited to read this article in Reviewed.com. They've put together a list of some companies that are offering amazing discounts to essential workers as their way of saying thank you.
Some you may have already heard about, but there were a few that I was surprised by. Here are some of my favorite offers:


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‘Just Dance’ is the most popular dance app in the world – Al Jazeera
Just Dance, the hit dance game series created by Microsoft and Harmonix, is the world’s most popular mobile dance game, according to a new report by App Annie.
App Annie released its “Dance App of the Week” list on Tuesday.
The company’s report covers apps in each category, which covers all of Apple’s top 20 markets and its top 20 most downloaded apps, as well as the top 20 apps by revenue per user.
The app analytics firm’s data covers both the U.S. and European markets.
Apple has a strong foothold in the mobile entertainment market.
The App Store boasts more than 80 million downloads, according the App Annie report, and more than 30 million of those users are in the U-S.
Apple’s top app category, according App Annie, is “Just Dance,” the wildly popular dance game by Microsoft, which has a long and storied history in the video game arena.
Just Dance’s popularity has soared since its release in March, when the game launched to critical acclaim.
It became the highest-grossing app in history, with more than $5 billion in sales.
Microsoft’s game is a blend of dance and rhythm that is easy to pick up and dance to.
In addition to the dance-focused game modes, Microsoft has a few other popular game modes that include the “Just For You” mode, where users can take part in a dance challenge with their friends, and the “Dancing With Friends” mode where users compete in a group of up to 10 people to see who can dance the most in the shortest amount of time.
While the game’s popularity and reach are strong, the app analytics company notes that it’s not a “one-size-fits-all” game, with the app’s popularity fluctuating depending on which game mode is selected.
Just Dance’s dance-centric modes and music themes, as they’re called, are popular among younger audiences.
In fact, Just Dance has had an impact on the lives of its users, according Apple.
The top-grossed game in the app store in March was Just Dance: Summer Fun, which was a follow-up to the popular dance-themed game Dance with Friends.
The report shows that the app has been downloaded more than 25 million times since its March release.
Just for You, a mode that allowed users to dance with friends while they play the game, was downloaded more that 2.5 million times.
Dance With Friends is the second most downloaded app of all time, with an average of 3.4 million downloads per day.


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Feb 3, 2009
Former Premiere CEO joins fashion house Escada
Feb 3, 2009
Escada spring-summer 2009
FRANKFURT, Feb 3 (Reuters) - German fashion house Escada (ESCG.DE) has appointed Michael Boernicke, the former chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere (PREGn.DE), as finance chief, it said.
Boernicke will take over from Escada's current chief financial officer, Markus Schuerholz, after the company's financial results on March 6, Escada said late on Monday.
It said in December its net loss for the fiscal year to the end of October would widen as sales for the year fell about 15 percent due to weaker demand for luxury fashion.
The fashion house launched a restructuring programme in the middle of last year, initiated by Escada Chief Executive Bruno Saelzer, who joined in July from Hugo Boss (BOSG_p.DE).
Saelzer left the local rival along with several others after Hugo Boss was taken over by private equity group Permira [PERM.UL]. One of them was Werner Lackas, who is now chief operating officer at Escada.
Boernicke resigned from Premiere in September. He was replaced by Mark Williams, an executive at Premiere's main shareholder, News Corp (NWSa.N). (Reporting by Eva Kuehnen; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
© Thomson Reuters 2023 All rights reserved.


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"The enhancements introduced in Windows XP SP2 will not be back-ported to Windows 2000, as this would require a significant rearchitecting to a large portion of the Windows 2000 code base."
Microsoft's official line seems to be that the decision has come about because consumer feedback has indicated that Windows 2000 customers would prefer stability to new additions, but this in effect could spell the beginning of the end for the OS, as it heads into the same blue yonder as Windows NT4.
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An infographic released by Alphaliner shows the massive increase in the main container liners’ operating margins in Q1, 2015 in comparison to the same period in 2014.
According to the infographic, Wan Hai has seen the biggest percentage increase in its operating profit between both periods, with Maersk Line soaring ahead with the most operating profit made, exceeding US$730 million in Q1, 2015.
In a previous article published by PTI, it was reported that Maersk’s underlying profit increased by 18% to $1.3 billion in Q1.
Maersk Group anticipates a total underlying profit of $4 billion for 2015, based on the strong start seen so far for the year.
This increase in operating profit comes amid global concern that the container shipping industry is experiencing an intense period of debt, reaching as much as $80 billion as a result of the financial crisis of 2008.
This figure could potentially be intensified following the IMO’s new low-sulphur regulations that could cause shipping lines to foot a massive half-a-trillion fuel-bill over the next 10 years.
Experts have said that the shipping industry risks bankruptcy unless it begins to sell off its assets in order to stay afloat.


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Great news! Argentina is now home to the most important oilseed complex in the world.
The industry revolves around the greater Rosario area, with the Rosario and the San Lorenzo/San Martín ports (dubbed together Gran Rosario). According to charts provided by the Ministry of Agroindustry, these ports make up 85 percent of all soy complex exports in Argentina. The US has largely been a competitor for the number one spot, however during 2016, Gran Rosario jumped over the US’s New Orleans’ Custom District in Louisiana by shipping 39.26 metric tons of soybean, soymeal, and soybean oil compared to New Orleans’ 38.96. Bahia Blanca also makes the top 15 at number 11, with roughly three metric tons being shipped out during 2016.
Rosario can brag about its geographic concentration of plant-crushing plants, 20 within 19 port terminals in just 70 kilometers alongside the Paraná River. These locations churn out such high volumes of soy complex products, that these plants alone equal the entire capacity of Brazilian oilseed crushing capabilities. So take that, Brazil.
Gran Rosario also ships out 78 percent of the nation’s grain, protein meal, and vegetable exports. The Argentine soybean oil and soymeal exports are so integral to the international community that 5 out of 10 vessels out in the ocean have touched down in Gran Rosario for their products.
In terms of raw soy beans, the US and Brazil have us beat as they are the main exports of beans to China. But when it comes to soy complex exports, we’ll accept the prize this time.


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Sony to offer price cuts for PS4—report
Sony’s Playstation 4 has been lording it over its console competitors as of late, and it has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
After selling over 60 million units worldwide, the gaming giant is looking to treat gamers by offering price cuts to the most sought-after console.
In anticipation of the looming threats of rival consoles Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Xbox Project Scorpio, Sony will most likely offer bargained costs, according to electronics analyst Michael Pachter, as relayed by Game Rant.
Sony earlier revealed its plans to sell another 18 million units within a year—a target which is highly attainable, Pachter said. “Yes, if they price the PS4 correctly, they can sell another 18 million, and I think the forecast suggests that there is a price cut coming.”
Currently, the most basic Playstation 4 slim with a 500GB hard drive retails at around $300 (P15,000). Pachter notes that Sony’s high-end variation, the PS4 Pro, will also receive price cuts from its original $399.99 (P20,000) price.
Sony has already begun giving gamers more value for their buck, offering the 1TB version for the same price. Khristian Ibarrola /ra
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