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In another blow to Mexico tourism and the already-weak West coast cruise business, three major cruise lines canceled calls in Mazatlan this week as concerns over crime continue.
Newly relocated Disney Wonder, bumped to the West coast when new Disney Dream took over in Florida was scheduled to visit Mazatlan on a series of seven-night sailings through April. Instead, that time will be spent in safer Cabo San Lucas.
Disney Cruise Line joins Holland America and Princess as cruise lines continue to skip the Mexican port after incidents of assault and robbery in the last few weeks. It seems passengers and crew of Holland America’s Oosterdam and Azamara Journey were involved.
Crime involving tourists is an ongoing problem in Mexico. Tourism officials have been accused of attempting to minimize the issue. The US Department of State has urged caution visiting Mexico issuing a Travel Warning in September of last year saying “It is imperative that U.S. citizens understand the risks involved in travel to Mexico.”
Ongoing crime has affected the cruise business. Earlier this month Mexican authorities discovered the bodies of at least 30 new crime victims in the popular port of Acapulco. Fifteen of which were beheaded reported the Los Angeles Times.
“We are struggling with our many ships to Mexico,” said Chris Chase, marketing director for the Port of Los Angeles. “It’s the economy and the news of drug wars down there.”
Flickr photo by chrisphoto


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September 11, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — One of South Sudan riches business men, Benjamin Bol Mel, has been evading taxes and regulatory enforcement at the border, new documents extended to Nyamilepedia revealed.
According to numerous documents, alleged to have been exchanged between the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Bol Mel’s ARC revealed that the ARC has had more than one tax exemptions on various imports worth billions of dollar.
On June 17, 2020, the South Sudan National Revenue Authority ordered exemption on 22 vehicles that the ARC requested to be exempted from paying taxes on their behalf.
The consignments belonged to a different company, Al-Sadaga, however the ARC claimed that the vehicles were theirs and therefore they should be exempted.
The insider, who extended the documents to Nyamilepedia, claims to have signed on some of the ARC documents asking for “exemption” that he later found was just an act of corruption.
On June 15, the ARC Resource Corporation wrote to the National Revenue Authority requesting for goods delivered by Al-Sadaga released and immediately the 22 vehicles were released.
Upon discovering that the documents have been extended to social media, South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Economics Planning tried to block the publication of the documents; however, it was too little too late.

domain: news


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While South Africans are celebrating the end of the booze and tobacco ban (from midnight tonight), the activity that most All4Women readers are looking forward to is travel!
Many are planning a road trip to visit family who they haven’t been able to connect with for over five months since lockdown was first implemented.
Others are just keen to ‘get away’ and relax in a new environment after the stress and chaos of the last few months.
According to a Facebook poll conducted by All4Women, 79% of readers are looking forward to a road trip, while 21% are eagerly anticipating the lifting of the booze ban.
While South Africans are looking forward to travelling again, the battered travel industry is excited to get back up and running – even though international tourists are still banned. They are hoping that South Africans will make an effort to support local business and promote travel and leisure within our borders for now.
Get packing South Africa! Come & spend your weekends & family holidays in the WC! Enjoy our award-winning wine farms, restaurants & beaches! I cannot wait to see the activity in our beautiful villages,towns & cities! #TourismStrong #destinationwesterncape @WesternCapeGov @Wesgro pic.twitter.com/O9iaio1Y23
— Ilse van Schalkwyk (@Ilsevsw) August 16, 2020
Inter-provincial travel is open , restaurants & bars are on full swing & you may now even buy cigarettes!!! Great news South Africa! Lets start the economy & lets travel!!!@SureTravel @dhillswine #leefjoureis
— Gerrie Pretorius (@GerrieOfficial) August 15, 2020
As bad as this sounds this is great news! I hope lots of people make plans to explore South Africa as local travel restriction are lifted and help our tourism industry find its feet safely again. https://t.co/Ptg6GPrdaS
— Emile – #BeSmartOutThere 🇿🇦😷 (@fubar_mielies) August 16, 2020
“The move to Level 2 which allows for inter provincial travel is a welcome step in the right direction, as it allows the domestic market to grow,” says Di Brown, Freelance Travel writer and The Roaming Giraffe blogger.
“This market is going to be extremely competitive though, as all provinces will be targeting a market that was not robust enough before Covid19, will have shrunk due to job losses and uncertainty. That said, the crazy pricing we are currently seeing, with many places offering up to 50% discount for locals, might attract people that previously did not travel, or primarily travelled overseas.”
“Either way, pricing is getting a shake up,” notes Brown.
“This kind of pricing is not sustainable in the long term, but for now it allows people in the industry to return to work, earn a living and start to rebuild.”
“As South Africans we can help the industry by doing two things,” suggests Brown.
“Firstly to support the industry, if we can afford it, and have on a day out, weekend away or a break for a few days somewhere local.”
“Secondly, we must do this responsibly, and remember that although we are “allowed” to do this, the virus is still out there.”
“So we must still socially distance, wear masks and sanitizer even if we are in holiday mode. We must also support and comply with all regulations put in place by the establishments and attractions we visit.”
“The Tourism Business Council of South Africa has launched a campaign called Travel Safe – Eat Safe, a Certification Programme that incorporates a set of protocols that have been approved by the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC). Once rolled out it will allow travellers to identify places that have adopted these health and hygiene measures to ensure the safety of visitors and staff alike.”
Janina Parker, owner of Into Tours agrees. She suggests that South Africans visit as many places as they can to support the industry. “If an organised tour is out of your budget, enjoy a self-drive in one of our magnificent national parks,” suggests Parker. “You can also join a hop-on tour, or employ the services of a guide for the day. Post the pictures on social media, and help kickstart the tourism industry by promoting the country’s natural heritage for when the borders reopen for international tourists.”
The restaurant industry is also raring to go
“Licensed restaurants will be allowed to serve alcohol. All establishments must observe the nightly curfew between 4am and 10pm, and maintain strict health and safety protocols to protect diners and staff.”
Please wine drinkers stocked up your collections, support South Africa’s wine farms and restaurants, those who fight for themselves, their workers and their customers. https://t.co/iEWe31bgU6
— Renette Swart (@RenetteSwart) August 16, 2020
Creation celebrates the lifting of the alcohol ban in South Africa. We would like to thank you for standing together with us, our colleagues, peers in the wine industry, restaurants, hospitality, all the associated business, agents, friends in South Africa and around the world. pic.twitter.com/zsQs665XZb
— Carolyn Martin (@creationwines) August 15, 2020
— eNCA (@eNCA) August 16, 2020


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According to an Accor study of some of its guests, 44% say that Covid-19 stress has negatively impacted their sleep.
Among the factor cited for sleep deficit were time spent staring at computer screens all day (32%), being stuck at home (28%) and binge-watching (25%).
Willowstream Spa Manager at Fairmont Singapore a restful sleep is important to restore body and mind.
“We know that if people are not sleeping enough, it can negatively impact mood, mental health and even immunity, making us more susceptible to illness.
“People should think of sleep as an important step in their Covid-19 regime to ensure they can protect themselves against illness – just like washing hands, social distancing and wearing masks," she said.
The results of the study came following a renewed focus on wellness tourism amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Wellness tourism is expected to reach greater heights post-coronavirus as people globally place bigger importance on their health and wellness during these uncertain times.
A survey by the Wellness Tourism Association found that nearly 78% of people across 48 countries indicated that wellness travel will be on their to-do list when restrictions are lifted.
Many hotel groups such as Accor Hotels, Rosewood Hotels, Radisson Hospitality, and Hyatt Hotels, have expanded their strategies to cater to wellness travellers.
Some of these strategies include providing guests with better quality sleeps. Certain hotels are providing amenities made with ingredients that encourage better slumber.
Other properties are promoting a more relaxing sleep by installing black-out curtains and specially designed mattresses.
The wellness tourism market has been traditionally dominated by countries in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The US, Germany, China, France, and Japan account for nearly 60% of the global market segment.
Closer to home, Malaysia has consistently been one of the top wellness tourism markets in the region.
In 2019, Malaysia was listed in the top 10 wellness tourism markets in Asia Pacific.


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People of Caithness steer ferry towards victory
50% off a six-month digital e-edition subscription with promo code '50OFF'
Pentland Ferries scooped the Ferry of the Year award thanks to the loyal support from their Caithness and Orkney passengers.
Hosted by leading shipping magazine, "Cruise And Ferry Review", Pentland Ferries held off strong competition from other ferry operators Ærøfærgerne (Denmark), Baleària (Spain), Visborg (Sweden) and Irish Ferries.
The Alfred vessel was designed by UK-based architecture firm, BMT Nigel Gee and built in the Strategic Marine shipyard in Vung Tao, Vietnam.
Pentland Ferries received delivery of the 85-metre long catamaran in 2019 and by using 60 per cent less fuel than similar vessels in the region, it was given a Green Tourism Award last year.
The Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope service appears to have been held in great esteem by those in Caithness and Orkney who rely on the service.
So much so, they voted in their droves in order to steer the Alfred on course towards victory's harbour.
Ian Congleton, executive editor of "Cruise And Ferry" said: "The competition was very fierce but this is a staggering achievement for Pentland Ferries.
The ship itself has a remarkable pedigree and is a great credit to the industry
"It was a surprise that they won but a delightful one regardless. The voting was open to the public and the people of both Caithness and Orkney really got behind their boat.
"Voters were invited to leave some feedback as to why they voted the way they did.
"The vast majority of them pointed towards not only the sustainability of the service but also the importance of it.
"It seems a lot of people rely on the service and really do appreciate it.
"The ship itself has a remarkable pedigree and is a great credit to the industry. It is also really lovely that so many people can get behind their ship and support it in the way that they have."
Kathryn Scollie, who is Pentland Ferries' Designated Person Ashore and Company Security Officer, added: "We are absolutely delighted that Alfred has been voted Ship of the Year in the Ferry category.
"We are so grateful to our loyal customers for voting for us, and of course, their continued support.
"The company's founding family is very proud of our new environmentally friendly ship and the team that ensures we deliver a winning service."


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Displaying items by tag: Steelcase Inc
GRAND RAPIDS — Office furniture maker Steelcase Inc. reported a steep drop in first quarter revenue along with a steady decline in orders as the coronavirus pandemic spread globally.
GRAND RAPIDS — Office furniture maker Steelcase Inc. has called back most of its manufacturing workforce from temporary layoffs as it gets back to work to fulfill around $700 million in customer order backlogs.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has pushed millions of Americans to work from their home offices, or in lieu of a dedicated workspace, their dining room tables and couches.
ZEELAND — As Brad Davis tracked news about the spread of the coronavirus in early March, he cautioned his production team at MedViron LLC that the company might need to shut down to do its part with social distancing.
GRAND RAPIDS — Steelcase Inc. said Tuesday that reduced or halted operations at its global manufacturing and distribution centers because of the coronavirus will “temporarily, but significantly” affect the company’s ability to generate revenue in its current quarter.
ZEELAND — Herman Miller Inc. says it’s unable to predict sales for the present quarter because of the coronavirus pandemic that has created a “high degree of uncertainty throughout the global economy.”
NeoCon, the office furniture industry’s annual showcase held each June in downtown Chicago, has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Powered by hundreds of highly trained volunteers, the Kent County Tax Credit Coalition helps working individuals and families in the region receive important refunds during tax season.
Here is the MiBiz growth report for March 1, 2020.
GRAND RAPIDS — Steelcase Inc. has divested coated steel manufacturer PolyVision Corp. to an affiliate of Industrial Opportunity Partners, an Evanston, Ill.-based private equity firm.


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Note: This post has been updated following a clarification from mCent There's only so much that advertising can support. mCent, an application from Jana that gave free recharges for browsing the Internet is shutting shop. No new offers will be available for users starting July 1st, and the application will shut down completely on 1st of August 2017, and removed from the Google Play store. mCent allowed users to collect points for installing and trying apps, which could be exchanged for free mobile recharges. Users could buy talktime, data, or both. mCent competed with the likes of Gigato from Mavin, which also has an SDK that apps can integrate for providing users with shopping vouchers, restaurant coupons, movie tickets, and mobile wallet credits. Jana had raised $57 million last year from Verizon Ventures, Spark Capital, and Publicis Groupe. In March, Jana claimed to have had more than 30 million users on mCent. The company also claimed to have partnered with more than 3000 brands like Amazon, Saavn, Twitter, and WeChat, and more than 300 mobile carriers worldwide for its data cashback platform. Update: mCent informs us that while the application will shut down, the mCent browser will continue. We checked, and according to the Google Play Store, the mCent browser app had between 100,000 to 500,000 downloads. Essentially, this is a switch from the mCent app to the mCent browser. At the time of the launch of the mCent browser, the company had told us that the app is “integrated into the backend billing systems of every major [telecom] operator in…
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MediaNama’s mission is to help build a digital ecosystem which is open, fair, global and competitive.
Amazon announced that it will integrate its logistics network and SmartCommerce services with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
India's smartphone operating system BharOS has received much buzz in the media lately, but does it really merit this attention?
After using the Mapples app as his default navigation app for a week, Sarvesh draws a comparison between Google Maps and Mapples
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The regulatory ambivalence around an instrument so essential to facilitate data exchange – the CM framework – is disconcerting for several reasons.
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Remember Taco Bell’s Naked Chicken Chalupa, where they took a fried piece of chicken and turned it into a taco shell? Well, while those were only available for a limited time, the Mexican chain has found a unique way to bring back the best thing about it.
Starting later this month, Taco Bell is adding what they are calling Naked Chicken Chips to the menu. So what is that? Well, basically it’s their version of chicken nuggets, with the Chicken Chalupa fried shell reconfigured to look like triangle-shaped chicken pieces, similar to the look of a tortilla chip, which come with a side of Taco Bell Nacho cheese sauce. The chicken is all-white meat, and covered in “bold Mexican spices and seasonings.”
For those people who absolutely must try every new fast food item that comes out, the Naked Chicken Chips, which will be available as a six-piece or 12-piece order, will be added to the Taco Bell menu starting May 11th, and like the Chalupa will only be available for a limited time.


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The British Retail Consortium has begun its search for director general Kevin Hawkins' successor after he announced this week that he was retiring at the end of the year.
The organisation will use a specialist recruitment agency, yet to be appointed, to find a new leader and will be advertising nationally.
Hawkins has led the BRC for three years, during which time he has lobbied the government on issues such as the national minimum wage and retail crime.
Hawkins was previously director of communications at Safeway for nine years.
The BRC said some of his notable achievements included establishing monthly rents as the retail norm, creating a more diverse membership and campaigning against retailers having to provide electrical waste collection points under the WEEE directive.
"The BRC is unlikely to find anyone with the same understanding of the industry's issues," said one industry expert. "They will probably have to look outside the industry."


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Atari and Firaxis announced today that Sid Meier's new Pirates! game would be heading to the Xbox. "We're thrilled to continue our relationship with Atari to bring Pirates! not only to fans of the original game but to a new generation of gamers," said Jeff Briggs, President and CEO of Firaxis Games. "Pirates! is among the most popular and loved titles in gaming history and Sid and the team here are working hard to uphold the high standards of the franchise." Here's a little more about it:
In Sid Meier's Pirates! for Windows and Xbox, players take the leading role of a Pirate Captain in the 17th century Caribbean - amassing fortune and fame in an attempt to seize a rightful place as one of the most revered and feared pirates in history. Players test their skills as a sea captain exploring the high seas and exotic ports in a richly detailed 3-D world. As your reputation and skills grow, so will the size and quality of your crew, your ability to take on larger enemy ships, raid and plunder heavily fortified ports, and locate ancient treasure.


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A growing number of large food and beverage companies in the United States are assuming the costs of recycling their packaging after consumers are finished with it, a responsibility long imposed on packaged goods companies in Europe and more recently in parts of Asia, Latin America and Canada. Several factors are converging to make what is known as “extended producer responsibility” more attractive and, perhaps, more commonplace in the United States.
“Local governments are literally going broke and so are looking for ways to shift the costs of recycling off onto someone, and companies that make the packaging are logical candidates,” said Jim Hanna, director of environmental impact at the Starbucks Corporation. “More environmentally conscious consumers are demanding that companies share their values, too.”
Perhaps most important, he said, “companies are becoming more aware that resources are limited and what they’ve traditionally thrown away — wow, it has value.” It is now cheaper to recycle an aluminum can into a new can than it is to make one from virgin material, and the same is becoming true for plastic bottles.


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April 21, 2020
As tragic as the coronavirus pandemic has been, it’s also provided tremendous fuel for creativity, as seen in the loads of personal projects that have emerged since the crisis began.
April 02, 2020
Though the pandemic has led to much fear and worry, it’s also inspired creatives to channel their energies into making a host of eye-catching safety messages.
May 02, 2019
>On May 5, 20 horses will compete at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby. Spectators will don extravagant hats and sip juleps in the sun. And they’ll wait, binoculars in hand, ready to catch a glimpse of the action.
February 15, 2018
RGA Chairman and CEO Bob Greenberg runs an agency that's perhaps best known for its Nike innovations, the Owlet baby-monitor smart socks or the "Love Has No Labels" campaign for the Ad Council.
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A massive wall of pills pays tribute to those who lost their lives to opioid addiction in this unsettling effort from Energy BBDO Chicago, for the National Safety Council.
November 10, 2016
Last year, Deutsch North America CCO Pete Favat and his wife Amy decided to put creativity to good work with the debut of 100 Pieces, a silent auction benefiting L.A.'s homeless youth center,
March 02, 2016
Muji is brand synonymous with Japanese design, so it's totaly appropriate to see it helping promote Japanese tourism with an exhibition that recreates the city of Tokyo using exclusively Muji products.
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Artist Hank Willis Thomas has taken print ads featuring white women and stripped them of their branding in an exhibition currently running in New York City exploring gender issues and sexism.
December 17, 2014
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May 13, 2014
Shantytown rooftops in Brazil's Morro do Alomeo become the canvas for a beautiful aerial exhibit, "Raise the Roof," ia new campaign sponsored by Unilever ice cream brand Kibon.
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Here's an unusual way to promote gum: a clothing line. Mondelez International wanted to make the point that its Trident chewing gum can keep you focused on the important things in life.
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Beldent Gum (the Argentine version of Trident) wanted to show that chewing gum doesn't send a bad impression -- contrary to what your parents and career advice columns have told you.
October 31, 2013
The 2013 New York City Marathon is upon us, and ASICS and Vitro are challenging ordinary people to try to match Olympian elite runner Ryan Hall's pace -- even if just for a minute.


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High Street chemists have run out of some hay-fever medicine, as a UK industry-wide shortage hits supplies.
Stocks of chlorphenamine maleate, the active ingredient in brands such as Piriton, are limited, Boots says.
The chain said it still had a large range of other hay-fever medicines in stores and online.
A Boots official said: “There are a very small number of lines that are currently out of stock due to a current, industry-wide shortage of the active ingredient.
“However, we are expecting this to be resolved soon and new deliveries are expected in the coming weeks.”
Some hay-fever medication, including chlorphenamine, can cause drowsiness.
Those affected should avoid driving, riding a bike and using tools or machinery.
As well as a variety of pills, shops sell nasal sprays and eye drops that can relieve symptoms, such as itchy eyes and runny nose.
The NHS also suggests:
Medicine shortages are not new and can be due to manufacturing issues, global demand or disruption with the supply chain. Royal Pharmaceutical Society president Claire Anderson said pharmacists and pharmacy teams were used to managing and dealing with them.
At the end of April, the government appointed a hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) tsar to tackle drug shortages affecting products used by about a million women in the UK to treat menopause symptoms.
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, affects almost 10 million people in England, of all ages. That’s almost one in four adults and one in 10 children.
It is caused by an allergic response to allergens, such as pollen. Some people are triggered by tree pollen – typically around March to mid-May – and others by grass or weed pollen which come slightly later in the season.
When this happens, the body makes a chemical called histamine.
Drugs called antihistamines – chlorphenamine is an antihistamine – can help with the symptoms.
Some of the symptoms of hay fever overlap with those of Covid.


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Shanghai has become the major focus of China’s robotic industry and with the support of a series of policies, market players will likely continue to concentrate on the city, Yicia.com reported.
Currently, there are nearly 100 robot-related companies in Shanghai, including large multinational corporations, domestic leading companies and local Shanghai firms.
ABB, Yaskawa and other foreign robot giants regard Shanghai as the stepping stone to occupy the Chinese robot market. Domestic market leaders such as Siasun Robot and Step Electric use Shanghai as a bridgehead to set up factories or branches.
In 2017, the output value of Shanghai’s entire robotic industry increased by 98% from a year earlier, accounting for 40% of the country’s total output.
Needless to say, the robotics industry is rapidly becoming a new growth point in Shanghai’s industrial transformation and upgrading.


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Chief Executive’s CEO confidence index rating plunged 9 percent this month, as America’s chief executives grow increasingly troubled over the state of business. Inflation and supply chain issues are the main drivers of their worries—as is the growing threat of a Fed-induced recession.
Our poll of 207 U.S. CEOs, presidents and chairmen, fielded April 5-7, shows their rating of future business conditions fell to 6.1 out of 10 from 6.7/10 in March. That is the lowest our indicator has been since the fall of 2016, amid the unsettled runup to the Clinton v. Trump election, Brexit and heighted terrorism around the world.
CEOs’ rating of current business conditions also fell this month, down 3 percent, its largest fluctuation since August. The rating now stands at 6.6/10, down 6 percent from one year prior when states began lifting Covid-19 mask mandates and vaccinations were ramping up.
Inflation has been weighing on CEOs’ minds even heavier than Covid-19 since the vaccine gained widespread adoption last spring. Inflation is now the major driver of sentiment, at 4.5 on a 5-point scale, where 1 is not at all impactful and 5 is significant impact. Following inflation, CEOs say that supply chain disruptions have a significance level of 4.2/5 on their optimism for future conditions. Far behind their top two concerns, CEOs rate the interest rate increase and the invasion of Ukraine a 3.5/5 and 3.3/5, respectively.
“I believe the Russian invasion of Ukraine became the tipping point in terms of stressors the economy can handle without an adjustment. We are experiencing a dramatic slowing of incoming orders over the past six weeks,” says Tim Zimmerman, president/CEO at Mitchell Metal Products. He expects conditions will drop to a 6/10 from 7/10 now.
Michael Uffner, CEO at AutoTeam Delware, an upper-mid size car dealer, expects conditions to drop to a 5/10 from 8/10 now. “We are worrying about the possibility of stagflation which is the worst of all worlds,” he says. This sentiment has been growing among CEOs as inflation becomes a larger issue for businesses and consumers alike.
A whopping 50 percent now expect conditions to worsen over the course of the next year, versus 38 percent last month. This is by far the highest proportion forecasting deterioration since we began to measure the metric at the start of 2021.
“In light of the potential shocks of a broader war, there are continued Covid-19 impacts, threats of new variants and increasing potential for stagflation all impacting my rating,” says Bradley Lundquist, president at ALFA International, a wholesale/distribution company. He also expects future conditions to hover at 5/10, down from the 6/10 he gives them currently.
Deborah Malek, CEO of United Equipment Accessories, a mid-size industrial manufacturing company, says, “We have limited capacity due to inability to find skilled talent. Automating but takes time; this gap is preventing us from capitalizing on increase business / revenue.” She shares that talent is a driver in why she believes businesses conditions will deteriorate from a 7/10 currently, to a 6/10 next year as businesses try to catch up in the race.
The Year Ahead
A declining proportion of CEOs expect improvements to profits and revenues over the next 12 months. In April, 60 percent of CEOs expect increases in profit and 75 percent expect the same for revenues, down 6 and 7 percent, respectively, from the month prior. This is the third consecutive month of declines in hopes for more revenues and the fourth for profits.
The proportion of CEOs planning to increase their capital expenditures also declined this month, down 7 percent since March to 55 percent.
CEOs have a similar sentiment towards hiring. Only 55 percent plan to add to their headcount over the next 12 months, down 15 percent since March. This is the lowest proportion since January of 2021, before widespread vaccinations.
Sector & Size View
CEO optimism in future business conditions is down across nearly all industries this month. Advertising and wholesale CEOs’ ratings fell the furthest, both down more than 25 percent. They share concerns over talent availability and labor costs constricting their ability to expand their business. Separately, fuel and transportation costs are a major reason why wholesale/distribution CEOs’ forecast dropped. And adv./mktg./PR CEOs are troubled by slowed projections and business.
“We have seen a number of clients slow their projections for the near term. Store traffic is down, etc. Our domestic policies seem to be causing a big increase in core inflation which effects everyone,” says the CEO of an upper-mid sized ad agency.
On the other hand, CEOs in professional services have dampened their rating of current conditions but boast the only month-over-month increase to their rating of future conditions. Their hope stems from the prediction of a legislative change in the midterm elections, bringing a more business-friendly and -forward legislative branch of government.
Year-over-year ratings are down by both size and industry. In April of 2021, many Americans were receiving Covid-19 vaccinations and businesses began to open up as states abandoned mask mandates and regulations related to the virus—plus, the variants of the future (namely, highly-transmissible Omicron) had yet to develop.
Compared to last month, CEOs in companies with under $10 million in revenues are the only ones whose rating did not drop but increased slightly. Their concerns with inflation and staffing and balanced by hope for a favorable outcome in the midterm elections and increased demand.
CEOs in larger companies are concerned with inflation and political missteps which will lead to a recession in the future, even with a change in Washington.
Paul Hylbert, CEO of Kodiak Building Partners, a real estate firm with over $1 billion in revenues says plainly, “Inflation is the number one issue. The end of this story is recession.”
About the CEO Confidence Index
The CEO Confidence Index is America’s largest monthly survey of chief executives. Each month, Chief Executive surveys CEOs across America, at organizations of all types and sizes, to compile our CEO Confidence Index data. The Index tracks confidence in current and future business environments, based on CEOs’ observations of various economic and business components. For additional information about the Index and prior months data, visit ChiefExecutive.net/category/CEO-Confidence-Index/


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Global-renowned online casino software provider Evolution Group became the biggest winner at the prestigious Global Gaming Awards London 2021 after the group brand secured the titles in three different categories.
Evolution formerly known as Evolution Gaming was named Online Casino Supplier of the Year while its brand Red Tiger and Net Entertainment both won the top product awards in the Global Gaming Awards live-streamed ceremony last June 28.
What makes the award really special is that Evolution has been defending the Online Casino Supplier of the Year title for three consecutive years now. The brand beat nine other shortlisted companies to claim the award.
The nine nominees for the best online casino supplier category include Lightning Box Games, Relax Gaming, Play’n GO, Big Time Gaming, Pariplay, Evolution, Yggdrasil Gaming, Kalamba Games, Habanero, and Pragmatic Play. It’s worth noting that these nine brands are the brain behind some of the top online games in India.
Accepting the awards on behalf of Evolution, was Fredrik Bjurle, Director of Product at Evolution, saying he was “super-excited” to win the three awards. He emphasized that as Evolution has been going for 15 years, it is still a great honor to be named Online Casino Supplier of the Year.
NetEnt and Red Tiger Win Product Awards
Evolution is also celebrating the awards received by its two other brands Net Entertainment and Red Tiger Gaming which both secured top product awards.
The Gonzo’s Quest Megaways slot or Red Tiger Gaming bagged the casino product of the year award. The game was a sequel of popular Ne Entertainment slot game Gonzo’s Quest in July 2020.
Meanwhile, the Divine Fortune™ Megaways online slot of Net Entertainment has won the Product launch of the year title. The game is also an enhanced version of a popular video slot, sporting MegaWays™ reels, which varies the ways to win on every spin.
The Product Launch Year Award is a new category introduced in Global Gaming Award London 2021. The award was sponsored by Kalamba games.
Talking about the impact of the NetEnt and Red Tiger brands becoming part of Evolution Group, Bjurle said: “The Evolution Group is now a powerhouse, with best-in-class know-how and technology across Live Casino, RNG table games and slots.”
“We are leveraging the three Evolution, NetEnt and Red Tiger brands using the excellent IP, such as the famous slots game character, Gonzo, from slots to live, and adding new features such as Megaways™,” he added.
To recall, Net Entertainment successfully acquired Red Tiger Gaming in 2019. This is the main reason why we see several NetEnt slot being enhanced with Megaways functionality. However, Evolution has taken over more than 90 percent of NetEnt’s shareholding in the following years.
What to know about Global Gaming awards 2021?
The Global Gaming Awards London 2021 is one of the most celebrated events in the igaming industry. The prestigious event honors the strongest performing companies and individuals in the igaming world for the past 12 months.
Before they come up with the winners, there was a lengthy voting process which was done online. The self-nomination was done last November 16, 2020, while the shortlist of finalists was released last March 15. The voting for the shortlisted company started last May 19.
51 industry leaders including CEOs and executives voted on the shortlist. The voting process is independently adjudicated by KPMG Isle of Man in the Crown Dependencies, to ensure full transparency and fairness.
There were14 categories for this year’s Global Gaming Award. The casino of the year category has been suspended due to the restrictions last year, forcing all casino establishments around the globe to shut their operation.
BetConstruct was the Global Gaming Awards London 2021 lead partner. The prestigious event was also powered by Gambling Insider. Category sponsors of the Awards include Singular, Nuvei, Digitain, Fast Track, Pronet Gaming, Kalamba Games, Altenar, 1xBet, Elys Game Technology, and Connective Games.
Who is Evolution in igaming industry?
Evolution was formerly known as Evolution Gaming. It’s a giant online casino software provider that was founded in 2006. Evolution is the creator of some of the best online casinos games that are loved by many Indian players.
The company is expert in providing live casino solutions. Since its inception, the company has set a new standard for live dealer games. The company offers live dealer versions of well-known casino games like craps, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, Sic Bo, and Dragon Tiger.
You can also find some top online games in India such as the traditional Teen Patti and Andar Bahar inside Evolution Gaming’s library. The company also pioneered live game shows. These are entertaining games that we usually saw on television. The category is composed of game titles like Monopoly Live, Lightning Roulette, Deal or No Deal Live, Mega Ball, and Crazy Time.
Last year, Evolution also bagged the Online Casino Supplier of the Year Award at the Global Gaming Awards. Aside from this, they won the Innovation in Casino Entertainment for their product Crazy Time at SBC Awards 2020.


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Thick, tangy Greek yogurt gained popularity among consumers this year, and several treat chains got in on the action. Pinkberry, TCBY and Ben and Jerry’s all entered a new category with the introduction of Greek yogurt flavors. Meanwhile, Dairy Queen finally made use of its 1987 purchase of the Orange Julius chain with the announcement of plans to offer smoothies under that brand’s moniker systemwide by early 2013. Cold Stone Creamery launched a catering program with hand-held ...
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KHD Buzz – 2018 Retail and Retail Marketing Predictions Include the Rise of AI, the Death of the Pop Up and More
It’s that time of year again. Not just holiday time but also the time when numerous experts and researchers begin publishing their predictions for the soon to be here New Year. Having had a year of ups and downs in 2017, retailers of all sizes and from all niches will be going into 2018 with high hopes and for some, especially brick and mortar retailers, more than a few nerves. So, what does 2018 hold? According to various experts, a great deal of change. And lots more artificial intelligence technologies.
Forrester Research: AI for Retail Will Become Widespread, Customers Will Demand More ‘Prime’ Experiences
In 2017 there was a great deal of buzz around the possible role for AI in retail, centered mainly around the use of chatbots as first contact customer service representatives. And according to Forrester Research’s annual retail predictions report 2018 will be the year that artificial intelligence in retail really comes into its own, along with the need for retailers build consumer loyalty, making use, they say, of similar techniques as used by retail giant Amazon with their Prime program. Read More
Salesforce: Siri and Google Home Take Center Stage in 2018
In their annual Salesforce Predicts report the e commerce advocates also predict a rise in the use of AI in retail across the board, but they see bigger roles coming for the likes of established AI technologies like Siri and Google Home. Read More
The Center for Client Retention: Return Processes Need to Improve, On Demand Shipping will Grow
In addition to also predicting a rise in the use of AI – this seems to be a unanimous opinion – the 2018 predictions report for the Center for Client Retention foresees a spike in the demand for more flexible shipping options and the need for a central point of contact for retail businesses that operate both on and offline as well as more streamlined returns processes and policies. Read More
Smart Insights: The Death of Pop Ups and the Rise of Social Messaging
Marketing is obviously key to any retailer’s success, and according to the 2018 predictions report from Smart Insights it will be the year that social media messaging takes on a much bigger role in retail marketing as well as the year that the online marketing pop up finally dies. Read More
Infographic: 2018 Marketing Calendar
Even before the 2017 holiday shopping season is over savvy retailers are already thinking about their 2018 marketing plans. This handy infographic lays out exactly what big – and small – US holidays retailers should consider marketing around, and when they fall in 2018.
Koehler Home Decor is a wholesaler of home decor accessories and unique gifts. Source quality wholesale merchandise at KoehlerHomeDecor.com and find tips for promoting your business on our blog.


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United to donate thousands of food bags to South Plains Food Bank
United Family volunteers plan to unload thousands of pre-packaged food bags at the South Plains Food Bank on Thursday that were donated during the U Can Share Lubbock food drive.
The food bags will be dropped off at 4612 Locust Ave. at 1 p.m.
The company's annual holiday food drive and its Lubbock customers raised $25,129 for the South Plains Food Bank. This year's donations surpassed last year's by more than $5,000.
The Lubbock-area United Supermarkets, Market Street and Amigos locations sold 3,544 pre-packed bags valued at a total of $28,352, with each bag consisting of a week's worth of meals.
To participate in the food drives, store guests were able to make donations of nonperishable food at United Supermarkets, Market Street or Amigos locations throughout Lubbock. Guests could also donate by adding a cash donation to their bill during checkout or purchase pre-packaged bags for $8.


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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Today is the day ice cream lovers in Kansas City have been waiting for.
Blue Bell ice cream will be available in grocery stores in KC and surrounding areas beginning Monday, the company said.
“There have been countdowns on social media and a great deal of anticipation from ice cream fans waiting to see our products at their local stores. We are extremely thankful for the warm response from so many of them,” said Jimmy Lawhorn, vice president of sales and marketing in a news release.
Blue Bell will be sold in Hy-Vee, Walmart, Price Chopper, Dillons, and other stores.
On the Missouri side, shoppers can find it in the Kansas City metro area, as well as Sedalia and St. Joseph. On the Kansas side, customers can pick some up in the KC area, along with Topeka, Lawrence, Leavenworth and Ottawa.
Blue Bell reopened its distribution center and is currently employing 15 people. The company said it plans to bring employees in from other states to help with the opening, and that it could take up to two weeks to deliver the product to every store selling Blue Bell.
Blue Bell said it carries more than 40 flavors of ice cream in several varieties, including its most popular: Homemade Vanilla.
That flavor is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year, the company said.


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Splinter Cell Mission Coming to Ghost Recon Wildlands: Sam Fisher Joins The Ghosts
It looks like the legendary Sam Fisher is joining the Ghosts for a Splinter Cell-themed infiltration mission in Ghost Recon Wildlands. There’s also a free weekend for the game coming up.
Splinter Cell Mission Coming to Ghost Recon Wildlands
The folks over at Ubisoft has announced a free special Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell-themed mission featuring the legendary Sam Fisher will be coming to Ghost Recon Wildlands, as part of Special Operation 1.
Starting April 10th 2018, a bunch of new Splinter Cell content will be available in Ghost Recon Wildlands. This includes a new PvE mission, exclusive customization items, and a new Ghost War PvP class.
Players will be able to play alongside Sam Fisher and help him complete his new high-risk infiltration mission in fictional future Bolivia. This Splinter Cell-themed mission can be played Solo or Co-Op with up to 4 players, with Ubisoft describing it as “one of the most difficult missions the Ghosts have ever faced.”
Nouredine Abboud, Senior Producer at Ubisoft, said:
We are all super excited to bring such an iconic character as Sam Fisher into Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands. Teaming up with Sam Fisher will require the Ghosts’ stealth, cleverness and tactics…we can’t wait to see the reactions of our players as they face this new challenge.
Upon completing the mission, players will be rewarded with exclusive items such as Sam’s iconic sonar goggles with a new night-vision filter and more. Even though the mission will forever be available in-game, these rewards will only be available until the Special Challenge ends on May 16th.
In addition to the rewards for completing the challenge, players can further customize and arm their Ghosts with the Splinter Cell Gear Pack, which includes new customization items and weapons such as the Karambit Knife; an exclusive close-combat blade inspired by Splinter Cell Blacklist, or the fully customizable SC 4000 prototype Splinter Cell assault rifle.
If you don’t have the game, don’t worry about it. There will be a free weekend taking place from April 12th to 15th 2018, which will be available on all platforms and will give players access to Special Operation 1 as well.
Be sure to check out the video at the top of this post if you need to know more about the content coming to Ghost Recon Wildlands.
Pokdepinion: Ah, Sam Fisher. Haven’t seen you in what felt like ages. Time to go back to Ghost Recon Wildlands again.


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The shop, which has been a local source for Halloween costumes, dance-wear, theatrical wardrobe and makeup as well as a variety of other accessories since 1949, is planning to re-open the Dearborn store in late May.
The loss of Lynch's has certainly left a hole in Dearborn's retail landscape. Young dancers have been forced to find other outlets for hard-to-find apparel and certainly the temporary costume shops that pop up each October can't hold a candle to the variety and quality Lynch's has continually provided the community.
Look for the store to re-open at 939 Howard, just north of Michigan Avenue, around Memorial Day. Until then, you can visit them in Warren, Livonia or online.


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A new update on Final Fantasy 16 has left some PS5 players disappointed. Last year, Square Enix surprised Final Fantasy fans with the announcement of Final Fantasy XVI, a new mainline installment in the long-running RPG series. At the time, Square Enix didn't have much to say about the game, and this hasn't changed. Recently, Square Enix did recently provide a new update on the game and its development, but it's not the update fans were hoping for.
During a new interview, Square Enix's Naoki Yoshida noted that the team is aware that Final Fantasy means something different to each fan, and that each fan probably has their own idea on what Final Fantasy 16 should be. The team is also well aware of the expectations that come along with a new mainline entry, which is why the new update is to not expect many updates as the team is aiming to avoid saying anything half-baked.
According to Yoshida, updates on the game will be fewer, but more meaningful. Of course, for some, this is great news, but for many hoping to hear about the game soon, it's the opposite of great news. That said, Yoshida notes he and the team believe this will allow the game to avoid unrealistic or inaccurate expectations based on a lack of information.
“Each person will probably have their own sort of idea or image of what the next Final Fantasy should be,” said Yoshida while speaking with Washington Post. “Saying something half-baked is definitely very high risk. If something gets spoken about, someone will pick it up on social and it starts to spread around and people will form expectations. So with Final Fantasy XVI, whenever we do reveal more information on it, we hope to show what kind of game it’s going to bring, and what kind of excitement we can bring.”
In short, not only can you expect fewer updates on Final Fantasy 16 than perhaps past Final Fantasy titles, but it sounds like a new update isn't coming anytime soon.
For more coverage on the game and all things gaming -- including all of the latest news, leaks, rumors, reports, deals, interviews, previews, reviews, hot-takes, and guides -- click here or check out the relevant links below:
- New Final Fantasy Rumor Has PS5 Players Excited
- Target Stores Have New PS5 Stock Today
- Mortal Kombat Trailer Reveal Date Announced
- Xbox Announces Big Backward Compatibility Update for Xbox Series X Players
- Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 BlizzCon Announcements Reportedly Leaked


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British engineering company Smiths Group abandons sale of medical division
03 August 2013
British engineering company Smiths Group yesterday said that it had terminated talks to sell its medical division after it failed to agree terms with an unnamed suitor, which several media reports had earlier named US healthcare group CareFusion as the potential buyer.
The announcement sent the stock price of CareFusion tumbling by nearly 10 per cent to $35.06, valuing the California-based company at $7.8 billion.
Responding to a late May Financial Times report, London-based Smith had said that Smiths said that it had been approached for its medical-equipment division, which makes critical-care and surgical products for hospitals.
The paper had reported that Smith was weighing a plan to sell its medical division for more than £2 billion.
Smiths yesterday said that it was not possible to reach agreement with the potential suitor ''on acceptable terms for a transaction. Discussions have therefore been terminated.''
''In reaching this conclusion, the board has taken full account of the quality and highly cash generative nature of Smiths Medical, both standalone and in the context of the Group as a whole,'' the statement added.
Smiths Medical is a leading supplier of specialist medical devices, consumables and equipment for global markets.
It makes devices to help treat cancer, vital care products to reduce hospital-acquired infections, manage patients' airways before, during, and after surgery, maintain body temperature and assist reproduction through IVF therapy and safety products for health workers that prevent them from needlestick injuries and reduce cross-infections.
Around three-quarters of its end customers are hospitals, with the remainder comprising the alternate care market such as homecare, clinics and other surgery centres.
It has operations in over 30 countries with manufacturing plants in Mexico, the US, the UK, Italy, Germany and China.
It sells its products to around 120 markets and generated revenue of £864 million last year, with the US being its single largest market bringing in around 50 per cent of sales.
It has a direct sales presence in 22 countries, distribution arrangements in some 100 others, and generated revenue of £864 million last year.


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How a company built its biggest business to save a life
Cleaner-beverage companies have long been seen as the last hope for consumers in a world of soaring carbon emissions and declining health and wellness.
But a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) suggests that the biggest purveyors of the cleanest water-pumping devices have been building a massive business out of the idea that it’s not just their jobs, but their families, too, that can be saved.
Bloomberg New Energy Financials estimates that water purifiers alone accounted for about $500 billion in annual revenue last year.
The $250 billion market is expected to grow to $1 trillion by 2030, making it the biggest water-purifying market in the world.BNEf, a research and consulting firm that focuses on the global energy market, says the growth of these businesses has been driven in large part by a perception that consumers have lost their ability to make informed decisions about water use.
“Consumers are losing their ability, and their ability in terms of the amount of water they’re drinking, to make an informed decision,” said Mark Zukunft, a co-founder of BNEF and a senior energy strategist at Goldman Sachs.
“We think that there’s a lot of folks who are doing this to get their clients a quick buck.”
The idea is to save their families from the consequences of water-related illness.
BNEf says water purifying devices accounted for $3.5 trillion in sales last year, and the market will reach $3 trillion by 2020.
And while water-intensive industries like power generation and refining have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, these firms continue to play an outsized role in helping people cut back on their water use, BNEFS said.
The companies’ success has been aided by government regulations and incentives, the study found.
Borne out of this success has come some of the biggest, most controversial businesses in water-filtration and other water-disposal, as well as some of its biggest names in the industry.
Beverage company Nestlé has been a big beneficiary, having emerged as a key player in water purification after years of battling regulators.
The company is the largest water purifier maker in the United States, with more than 100,000 customers.
It has spent more than $6 billion in lobbying in recent decades, Bloomberg New Environment reports.
Nestlé is also among the companies that have been fined by the Food and Drug Administration for its products.
The New York Times recently described Nestlé’s efforts to block new water-based treatments as a “witch hunt” that “was the work of a corporate lobbyist with a stake in one of the most profitable industries on the planet.”
“Nestle has a longstanding relationship with the Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for regulating the water supply,” the Times wrote.
“That relationship is now at the heart of an ongoing legal battle over Nestlé products.”
In 2010, the company settled a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department for $7.2 billion.
Nestlé said the settlement did not include any compensation to the U:HHS, but it was able to reduce its fines by billions of dollars, Bloomberg News reports.
“There’s a certain kind of cynicism that these companies are in a race to the bottom,” Zukurft said.
“The fact that these firms have a vested interest in this idea that they can charge as little as possible to consumers and that they’re going to do anything to protect themselves, they think that that’s their business model.”
A study released earlier this year found that nearly 1.5 billion Americans are likely to suffer from a water-borne illness by 2030.
That figure is projected to climb as the nation continues to experience the effects of climate change, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.BENEF estimates that the clean-water business will grow from $2.4 trillion in revenue in 2015 to $3 billion by 2030 and to $4 billion by 2040.
The market will grow even faster if companies like Nestlé, which sell products for everything from home water filters to toilets, can continue to push the limits of the technologies they developed, BNP says.
The study found that some of these industries have gone too far.
In one example, Nestlé told regulators that it would use more than 1 billion gallons of water per day to purify tap water, and that consumers were paying more than 20 cents per gallon for the same treatment.
“The companies have built a system that is based on the idea of being in control of their own water supply, not about the health and wellbeing of consumers,” Zuke said.


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50 Luxury Apartments in Dubai Sold for Bitcoin
In one of the most amazing deals of Cryptocurrency industry, two entrepreneurs from UK, ‘Michelle Mone’ and ‘Douglas Barrowman’ have sold Fifty (50) luxury flats for Bitcoin. The flats are in luxurious ‘Aston Plaza & Residences’ area of Dubai.
Located in Science Park Dubai, the apartments will offer residents the chance to live close to Dubai’s famous landmarks such as tallest buildings in the world Burj Khalifa as well as in Dubai International Airport.
‘Douglas Barrowman’ is the Founder & Chairman of Knoxx whereas ‘Baroness Michelle’ is Founder of Michelle Mone Interiors & lingerie company Ultimo. Both billionaire entrepreneurs partnered last year for this crypto friendly $325 million project.
While crypto enthusiasts worldwide and specifically UAE were given this rare opportunity to invest their bitcoins, Michelle told that they are focusing on young investors. He said that the Aston team is slowly building a relationship with these young investors.
He further added that, “They would talk on phone, they’re not just like in their hoodies in the dark in the rooms.”
The 2.4 million square feet area project comprising of 1300 apartments was launched in September last year and is scheduled to be completed by 2020.
It is currently being constructed by Aston Developments, which works under the parent company Aston Property Ventures owned by Knox group of companies.
Post the breaking of this news, Barrowman told media houses that, “We allocated 50 out of 1300 developments. We’ve sold all out. Some bought ones and twos, and one individual bought ten.”
According to the website, a total of 400 apartments have been sold to early investors. However, the purchasing process is still in ‘Phase 1’, which is now offering 150 apartments.
The apartments price ranges from $130,000 (approx. 15.5 bitcoins) for studio, $223,057 for one-bedroom (approx. 26 bitcoins) and $380,000 for two-bedroom apartments (approx. 45 bitcoins). The payment can be made via global BTC payment service BitPay.
Significance of this Deal
This is an ice-breaking deal because this news comes at a time when investors across the globe are in a predicament and confusion because of unclear regulations. the United States, Germany, and France have all called for crypto regulation to be discussed at next month’s G20 summit in Argentina. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how the outcome of the summit affects the potential sale of more Dubai apartments for bitcoin.
Both the entrepreneurs are planning to launch a $75 million ICO will offer ‘Equi’ tokens for the ‘Equi’ platform. Barrowman explained that the website will provide investment opportunities to people. He said, “I like to see this crypto space being used to buy real-world assets. That’s the spirit of Equi as well. It’s transcending the crypto space into the physical and real world.”


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Retailer to benefit charities, customers
Nancy Hastings, Staff Writer
Peebles Department store in Hillsdale will host a Charity Day event Sunday, giving both shoppers and several area agencies something to look forward to.
The event will benefit local non-profit charities through the sale of Peebles coupon booklets. Peebles has donated 200 coupon booklets.
Manager Dawn Barber said the event is a corporate decision and is something Peebles stores do annually.
“Last year the store was celebrating its grand opening, so it was not done because of that,” Barber said. “It’s a way for corporate to give back to the community.”
For more of the story, copy and paste the following url into your browser: http://hillsdaledailynews.mi.newsmemory.com/


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For one month at least, Microsoft got a break from being Sony's punching bag in the console sales race. GamesBeat reports that NPD's April sales numbers show the Xbox One outselling the PlayStation 4 last month for the first time since January.
"As the best-selling console in the U.S. in April, fans set record April sales and engagement for Xbox One last month," Xbox marketing boss Mike Nichols told GamesBeat in response to the April figures. "Xbox One console sales in the U.S. increased 63 percent in April 2015 compared to April 2014, and Xbox Live comparisons showed the number of active global users [Xbox One and Xbox 360] grew 24 percent. We are grateful to our fans for their passion and support and are looking forward to sharing more on the best game lineup in Xbox history at E3."
Last month's sales results mean that Microsoft's next-gen console has outsold Sony's in the United States for half of the first four months of 2015. No doubt as a result of a temporary price cut, the Xbox One also dominated the hardware sales charts during the crucial retail months of November and December in 2014.


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Starfield, Bethesda’s upcoming sci-fi RPG, has been somewhat of a mystery to the gaming world since its initial tease back in 2018. While many expected to see the game in action during the E3 Xbox-Bethesda showcase, newspaper The Washington Post accidentally uploaded a trailer for the game to their website ahead of time.
While it’s unclear if the video shows gameplay, it ends with a release date: November 11, 2022. In it, we can see an explorer aboard a ship that is about to take off into the stars. There’s drama to it, likely because, as Bethesda has explained before, the game will have space travel, but the mechanic won’t work in some futuristic and completely safe way. That’s why the countdown in this teaser is so significant.
The Maryland-based company was purchased by Microsoft in early 2021 via an eye-popping deal worth $US7.5 ($10) billion — which is why Bethesda held a joint show at this year’s E3.
In the original Starfield trailer, Bethesda briefly displayed a sun rising over the horizon of a planet. The music accompanying that tidbit was sweeping, seemingly promising an exciting new adventure. Perhaps that’s justified when you consider that Starfield is Bethesda’s first original role-playing game in roughly two decades. According to a prior interview, Bethesda started conceptualising Starfield back in 2004, though it wouldn’t dedicate a development team to the project until 2015.
We know the game has been playable for a while, and that it will be a single-player adventure. Generally speaking, though, Bethesda has kept Starfield — and the future of many of its flagship franchises under Microsoft ownership — mostly under wraps prior to E3 2021. But hey, at least it’s been nice knowing the RPG giant’s got something other than the billionth re-release of Skyrim in the works.
According to previous reports, Starfield, along with other future Bethesda games, will be available on PC, Xbox, and Game Pass. The big question on everyone’s mind, however, is how the company’s new ownership might influence whether or not these major Bethesda franchises will see releases on competing consoles like the PS5. According to Microsoft, the company can recoup the costs of buying Bethesda without necessarily having the RPG developer’s games go multiplatform, which would be a change from how Bethesda has handled older titles. However, Microsoft says that decisions on platforms will ultimately be handled on a case-by-case basis.
The Cheapest NBN 1000 Plans
Looking to bump up your internet connection and save a few bucks? Here are the cheapest plans available.


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It has been estimated that the labor conflict slowing down ports on the West Coast will cost the economy up to $2 billion a day if it turns into a complete shutdown.
But not everyone is a loser. CNBC identified
several industries that will enjoy at least a partial benefit from the situation.
- Air Freight. If you can't transport by sea or land, why not by air? "Some importers, like electronics dealers and luxury retailers, can afford to put their cargo on planes, despite at least a tenfold increase in shipping costs," writes CNBC's Allen Wastler. "Their profit margin may be squeezed, but they are still making money in most cases.
- "Railroads. The two primary railroads moving cargo from the West Coast, the BNSF Railway (owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway) and Union Pacific Corp., will suffer. But their eastern counterparts, CSX and Norfolk Southern, may see some added short-term business from diverted cargo."
- Ports and truckers on the east coast. Cargo traffic may be diverted their way from the West Coast.
Still, the overall impact isn't good. Many businesses are complaining. For Levi Strauss, "the situation has gone from manageable to bad," said CEO Chip Bergh, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The apparel company imports a third of its product through the West Coast.
Softline Home Fashions, which imports fabric for curtains and other home decorations, has about $800,000 of goods waiting to be unloaded on the West Coast, the paper reports.
"We’re in trouble right now with some of our customers," which include major retailers, such as Walmart and J.C. Penney, Softline President Jason Carr told The Journal. "It’s a major headache." He said he will have to decide soon whether to fly in merchandise from China.
"In any given year the West Coast ports handle between 10 and 15 percent of GDP," illustrating "their importance as a trade gateway," Matt Troy, executive director at Nomura Securities International, told Bloomberg.
© 2021 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.


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It seems Sprint just can't catch a break lately. After the LightSquared LTE fiasco (it seems eminently likely Sprint will be forking over $65 million and have to cancel the deal), this just seems a bit like kicking the company when it's already down. Comcast has filed suit in Pennsylvania against the nation's number-three carrier, and it's for patent infringement.
Namely, Comcast alleges that Sprint is violating patents it owns covering technologies like SMS/MMS, mobile broadband cards and hotspots, as well as certain traffic routing technologies (IP/MPLS).
Early last month, it was revealed to much outcry that the Transformer Prime had a locked bootloader. Angry customers took to the forums to vent and started a petition to get Asus to change its stance. And just 24 hours later, that's what happened, with Asus promising an unlock tool down the road.
Mobile World Congress is just around the corner, and it looks like LG is trying to make a splash before the stampede of news and new devices come flowing out during the show. Yesterday they announced three new phones, and today, a fourth: the Optimus 3D Max (or Optimus 3D Cube if you're in Korea).
The spec sheet, while not lackluster, isn't exactly inspired in light of the quad-core Tegra 3 devices we'll see during the show:
Chipset: 1.2GHz Dual-Core processor (OMAP4430)
Display: 4.3-inch 3D WVGA Display with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2
T-Mobile and Samsung announced just moments ago that the Galaxy S Blaze 4G that was unveiled at CES earlier this year will be available beginning in "late March," priced at $149.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate card) for two-year agreements with qualifying voice/data plans. The S Blaze 4G will be a T-Mobile exclusive device, and will evidently include T-Mo's 4GPro App Pack, meaning the phone will come with apps like Dropbox, Evernote, Square, TripIt, Camscanner, and LinkedIn preloaded.
Users of Barnes & Noble's 16GB Nook Tablet may be aware of the device's rather strict memory partitioning, which currently reserves 12 of the available 13GB of memory exclusively for Nook Store content. This means users have a paltry 1GB of storage space for their own personal content, unless they opt for a microSD card.
With the announcement of the Nook Tablet's 8GB variant (which allows users 4 of the available 5GB of storage space), it looks like B&N has decided to reach out to customers of the 16GB model, allowing them to have their devices repartitioned more fairly.
You've got to hand it to Google. They don't let silly things like "feasibility" and "finances" get in the way of an awesome idea. The New York Times is reporting that Google is working on a set of glasses with the specs of a smartphone, including 3G and 4G data connectivity, GPS, a camera, and oh yeah, a heads-up display.
Not the actual display. We wish, though.
The glasses, which are supposedly under development at Google's not-so-secret Google X lab, would cost about as much as a smartphone, so they likely won't be for the light wallet.
After our holiday / new year giveaway onslaught, you probably thought we were done with big-ticket item giveaways for a while here at Android Police. You thought wrong.
Bitdefender (check out our review of their Mobile Security app here) and Android Police have teamed up to bring you one of our biggest giveaways ever, giving you a chance to one of eight awesome grand prizes (or one of 10 runner-up prizes) - one of four ASUS Transformer Prime 32GB tablets, or one of four GSM unlocked Galaxy Nexus smartphones.
Earlier today, Canonical announced Ubuntu for Android, an incredible new system that will put a full desktop OS on your Android-powered phone. Now, one employee has taken the time to show us just a little bit of what Ubuntu for Android is capable of, and it's nothing short of awesome. Check it out:
Gamevil released another treat to the Android Market today, introducing Arel Wars – a game that promises "RPG action and defense strategy," and doesn't disappoint.
The game is kind of a cross between tower defense, real-time strategy, and RPG, packing the best of all three into a colorful, spritely world, taking players through 120 levels and across 8 unique maps. Before each match, players must choose their arsenal of powers and minions, which can be upgraded and reproduced throughout each round.


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EUROPEN response to the roadmap consultation on Food waste reduction targets
Download: EUROPEN response to roadmap consultation - Food waste reduction targets
EUROPEN, the European Organization for Packaging and the Environment, supports the Farm to Fork Strategy’s commitment to introduce EU-level binding targets for food waste reduction.
Food waste has significant negative environmental, social, and economic impacts. It represents a missed opportunity to feed the growing world population, a major waste of valuable limited natural resources and a needless source of greenhouse gas emissions that impacts climate change. Wasting food also means wasting resources and efforts put into improving the sustainability of food production.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that one third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted. In the European Union, around 88 million tonnes of food waste are generated annually with associated costs of 143 billion euros, according to the most recent estimate. Food waste happens along the entire value chain: during production, in retail, at eating establishments and at home.
Packaging has an essential role to play in the prevention of food waste
Packaging has an essential role to play in the prevention of food waste, protecting products and minimising waste at all stages of the value chain. For example:
- Effective packaging systems can enable efficient distribution while making sure the products they protect stay fresh longer and thus extending their shelf life.
- High performance packaging solutions and technologies can preserve food safety by minimising sources of contamination and reduce food waste from spoilage.
- Innovative packaging designs can help consumers buy and use food in portions that match their needs and reduce food waste from leftovers.
Waste prevention is a priority not only for food but all packaged products. By protecting the product, packaging also prevents waste of raw materials and natural resources that went into growing or making goods and the energy used to transport the goods from the producer to the retailer.
In a recent publication, the UN FAO stressed that “Packaging plays an important role in not only reducing food loss and waste but by extension boosting food security, nutrition and livelihoods too. A circular approach to how we package our food can make a big difference to the food security of our communities and the health of our planet”.
The roadmap document does not adequately address the role that packaging plays in preventing food waste and minimising waste at all stages of the value chain. For example, it is disappointing that the only reference to packaging made in the roadmap is to identify it as part of the likely environmental impacts of the initiative, by stating that “better protection of food may be linked with increased amount of packaging”. By considering packaging only as a negative trade-off of a food waste prevention policy, the roadmap fails to recognise packaging’s role and significant potential to contribute to further tackling the issue of food waste. It also falls short of acknowledging the EU regulatory and policy framework to advance packaging sustainability. It is also worth noting that biodegradable and compostable packaging can play an important role in improving the collection and organic recycling of unavoidable food waste by reducing the contamination of separately collected biowaste.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) is the EU regulatory framework that determines the conditions for placing packaging on the EU market. These conditions include sustainability criteria, which play a key role in enabling the uptake of climate neutral and circular packaging solutions. The Circular Economy Action Plan 2.0 also defines that by 2030, all packaging on the EU market should be reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way. The ongoing review of the PPWD is focused on translating these goals into concrete regulatory measures.
Food wasted at consumption level should be tackled as a priority
The Food Waste Index Report 2021, developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partner organisation WRAP, finds that in nearly every country that has measured food waste, most of this waste comes from households, which discard 11% of the total food available at the consumption stage of the supply chain. Food services and retail outlets waste 5% and 2% respectively. On a global per capita-level, 121 kilograms of consumer level food is wasted each year, with 74 kilograms of this happening in households.
EUROPEN recently partnered with JA Europe, a non-profit organisation dedicated to preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship, and EIT Food, a European Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), on the occasion of the World Food Day, which was celebrated on 16 October 2021. The partnership resulted in the organisation of a food hackathon (“Foodathon”), bringing together more than 100 students from secondary schools in Africa and Europe to come up with solutions to a range of important agri-food challenges, one of those being food waste and food loss. During an intensive two-day innovation and creativity hackathon, young people developed business ideas offering solutions for these key agri-food challenges.
Given the importance to improve knowledge and awareness on levels and impacts of food waste as well as the importance to influencing attitudes and behaviours that lead to food waste, EUROPEN believes it is essential to multiply such initiatives to raise consumers/citizens awareness, including from an early age, and recommends that similar actions are considered by Member States in the application of the future EU food waste reduction targets.
The European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN), is the industry association representing the packaging industry value chain in Europe. EUROPEN’s members are raw material manufacturers, packaging converters, brand owners and national packaging organisations. EUROPEN aims to achieve a fully accessible European market for packaging and packaged products, while protecting the products that consumers need and protecting the environment. At EUROPEN, we believe that packaging enables the transition to a climate neutral, circular and competitive EU economy while ensuring goods are delivered safely to EU citizens and businesses.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.org; Website: www.europen-packaging.eu; Twitter: @EUROPEN_ORG; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/europen
 Reduce, reuse, recycle: a mantra for food packaging


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This year’s Mobile World Congress will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from February 27 to March 3. The upcoming CES, a tech expo that takes place in January, is where smartphone manufacturers exhibit cutting-edge products. OnePlus hasn’t explicitly stated that it will be present at MWC, but leaker Max Jambor has provided some information about the company’s plans. Follow For More Updates at satiknews.com
OnePlus will reportedly reveal a concept phone at the upcoming MWC 2023, according to Jambor. The name of it will be the OnePlus Concept Two. However, information on what the device will contain is currently lacking. We can anticipate it to include some ground-breaking technologies and market-first features, as is typical of concept products. Being a concept phone, it is important to note that it is unlikely to be released, but we can anticipate some of the features to appear in popular devices on the market.
In 2020, the OnePlus Concept Two could replace the OnePlus Concept One, which the company unveiled at CES in 2015. The latter was created in collaboration with the car manufacturer Mclaren. It had a back panel with a leather texture, Orange accents, and a middle Black stripe that ran vertically. Three camera lenses were hidden vertically stacked in the middle black strip at the top of the back panel. This idea was intriguing at the time, but it was never commercialised.
>> Snapdragon 7 series chipset is anticipated to power the new Redmi Note 12 series smartphone
With the OnePlus Concept Two, OnePlus may demonstrate its plans for a foldable phone at MWC 2023. We’ll have to wait until the tech fair opens up the following month.


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JOHANNESBURG, Aug 28 (Reuters) - South African pharmaceutical firm Adcock Ingram Holdings Ltd said on Wednesday full-year earnings rose 10.6% and that it disposed of its investment in Ghana.
Headline earnings per share from continuing operations for the year ended June 30 rose to 421.7 cents from a restated 381.3 cents in the previous year.
HEPS is the most widely watched profit gauge in South Africa and strips out certain one-off items.
The company said in a statement that it had sold its investment in Ghana-based Ayrton Drug Manufacturing, saying its performance did not meet expectations.
The disposal follows that of its Zimbabwean enterprise in January as the firm, which traces its roots back to an optical lens, frame and instruments business in 1924.
Adcock Ingram, which also has operations in India, said revenue rose 11% to 7.1 billion rand ($465.97 million), driven by a change in sales mix.
Despite weak economic growth and high unemployment in its home market most of Adcock’s divisions saw an improvement in profit, with its prescription, consumer and hospital supply businesses all growing in double digits.
Shares in Adcock rose 4.5% to 58 rand by 0745 GMT. ($1 = 15.2369 rand) (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Louise Heavens)


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Terry Wright’s role in the corporate world was not the best fit for how he wanted to spend his career, but his experience was key to the establishment and growth of his new business.
“Most of my customers are corporate and share a mentality with me. I can identify with them,” Wright said. “I know what my customers need and who they are trying to satisfy.”
Wright purchased the downtown Cincinnati franchise location of FastSigns just over a year ago, after leaving a more than decade-long corporate career in human resources with Procter & Gamble Co. and Chiquita Brands International. The experience is teaching him lessons about himself, and what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur.
“What corporate America needs and what corporate America wants didn’t fit me,” Wright said. When he began investigating buying a business, Wright knew he needed to find something that allowed him to do three things: manage the market, manage the budget and manage the people. Those were his skill sets, he said.
FastSigns is an international franchise that uses top-of-the line techniques to provide banners and signs for buildings, windows, walls, doors, and floors for companies all over the world, at each of its independently owned locations.
Wright said he did not set out to be in the sign business, but it was just the right opportunity at the right time.
“I like it because it’s business-to-business, I like it because it’s manufacturing and I like it because it’s creative,” Wright said.
His employees have backgrounds ranging from printing technology and computer science to graphic design and art color design. Members of his staff have experience in manufacturing and fabrication as well.
Wright felt that by investing time and money in a fresh, new opportunity, he would gain more than what the current economy could offer him.
Sam Specht, operations manager for Central Parking Systems in Cincinnati, has been a FastSigns customer for several years.
“What we’re looking for is quality and continuity in the signs, and they provide that,” said Specht.
Wright said venturing into this new, unfamiliar territory strangely made him feel more in control.
“At least the decisions I was making were my decisions,” he said. “If it’s a mistake, it’s my mistake.”
He said it took time to adapt to the shift in his responsibilities, which were different from work he had done in the past.
“I’m not executing anybody else’s directives,” he said. “I’m finance, I’m HR, I’m operations, I’m everything.”
Wright values the location of his downtown FastSigns franchise because many of the companies he once worked for have now become his clients. Krista Beineke, human resources manager for The Westin hotel in Cincinnati, works with FastSigns on a quarterly basis, and said the staff always get her order done in a timely manner.
“If I need a rush job on it they are always willing to do that,” said Beineke.
Wright discovered that when an entrepreneur decides to sell a business, he has to divorce himself emotionally from it, he said.
“So by the time you buy the business, some things have been let slide, and you have to rebuild from scratch in your own mind-set a design of what a business should be.”
The ability to react to the marketplace has also been key, Wright said.
“The economy has been difficult, but I’ve weathered the economy and I have made business decisions based on what the economy has dealt me.”
Wright intends to continue operating FastSigns well into what many consider “retirement years.”
“I wanted something that would support me into that,” he said.
He predicts that many more individuals who are emerging from a corporate environment will make a similar decision to his.
This trend has been seen for a number of years, said Wayne Corney, business broker at Keate Partners Ltd. in Cincinnati.
“You have the baby boomers getting near retirement, who are going to be looking to sell their company,” Corney said. “And you have people with corporate jobs either getting laid off or frustrated with working 60 hours a week for someone else and not really getting the benefits.”
Wright’s goal for being a downtown store is to be the one-stop shop for any type of customer communication marketing need.
“You feel good at the end of the day when you’ve helped somebody with their business, because that’s what we do,” he said. “We provide business solutions.”


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What makes a country fitness-obsessed?
The German fitness market is the largest in Europe with 11.7 million club members, or 14% of the total population working out at one of 9,700 private fitness clubs, and more than $5.5 billion in annual revenue, according to Deloitte’s European Health & Fitness Market Report 2020. It’s a country where consumers prioritize their health and wellness.
We spoke to two Merrithew®
Instructor Trainers based in Germany to find out why that is, how the Pilates industry has evolved, what’s next in fitness and Pilates trends, and how they’re catering to consumers’ new demands as a result of COVID-19.
Why are Germans so invested in their health and wellness?
“Germany has Europe’s largest and strongest economy which may also explain why its health and fitness market ranks above the U.K., France, Italy and Spain,” says Instructor Trainer Deborah Degano, pictured above, owner of Berliner-Pilates, a Merrithew Host Training Center in Berlin.
“The fact that the German population is growing older is also a contributing factor with the geriatric population choosing Pilates, among other activities, due to the many Pilates benefits, including strength training. Around 1.3 million people 70 and older are active in fitness facilities in Germany,” she says.
Michaela Bimbi-Dresp, pictured above, a Lead Instructor Trainer and owner of Pilatesbody, a Licensed Training Center in Munich, agrees that Germans’ economic prosperity helps drive healthier lifestyle choices.
“A healthy lifestyle is more expensive than a sedentary one because of the higher cost of healthy foods and fees for professionals,” she says.
How has the Pilates industry grown and evolved in Germany?
Despite Joseph Pilates being a German native, Pilates hasn’t always been a well-known exercise method in the country.
“When I moved back to Germany in 2002, I tried to offer Pilates to the German fitness industry. Almost nobody knew about it and even the high-end fitness studios in Munich didn’t want to offer Pilates classes,” Michaela says.
“I opened my own Pilates studio and wrote a few Pilates books in German, which were later translated. In 2005, I co-founded the Deutscher Pilates Verband (German Pilates Association) and I would say that from then on Pilates became better known and more popular,” Michaela says.
Over the last five years, with mainstream gyms and various studios offering Pilates classes, the modality has become more widely understood and practiced.
“Pilates training was previously strongly associated with group mat Pilates classes. Only a small proportion of those interested in Pilates experienced the full range of equipment and mat exercises, either individually or in small groups. Nowadays, Reformer Pilates is the most popular offering with classes like HIIT Pilates being especially appealing, ” Deborah says.
What’s next for the German fitness and Pilates industry after COVID-19?
Similar to most countries around the world, the German fitness industry has taken a big hit during the pandemic. The country’s extended lockdown led to partial or complete studio shutdowns and sparked a new interest and demand for digital fitness and Pilates classes.
While many clients had to step back from in-person fitness classes for different reasons, the pandemic also reinforced and raised awareness of the importance of regular physical activity, Deborah says.
“Pilates, being such a complete body and mind training, is certainly in high demand, now more than ever,” she says.
And unlike many other forms of fitness, Pilates is perfectly suited and adaptable to small spaces and remote practice, she adds, creating new opportunities for fitness professionals and studio owners.
“The pandemic has led more people to seek a combination of physical training with mental relaxation. Pilates-yoga hybrids, and fitness combined with mental wellness, are in high demand and represent the most important trends for the current year,” she says.
“I expect in the future we’ll see more health-oriented and holistic wellness fitness offerings catering to specific clientele and risk groups."
The pandemic has also changed consumers’ behavior, presenting a silver lining for small boutique studio owners.
“I would say people tend to prefer to train at smaller, owner-operated boutique studios because they feel safer and they don’t encounter a lot of other people. They pay by the hour, which is fair to them. I’ve seen a rise in private sessions this year,” Michaela says.
“Moving forward, many fitness studios and facilities may want to position themselves as holistic health centers since these facilities were allowed to stay open during the lockdown,” she says.
What do consumers now expect from fitness professionals and studio owners in Germany?
With greater awareness of the importance of physical and mental health and wellness comes a more informed and demanding fitness consumer, Deborah says.
In her opinion, these consumers are looking for:
- A personalized approach
- Well-trained instructors
- Enriching disciplines
“This fact, along with the significant increase in new Pilates practitioners around the world, particularly thanks to online classes, has and will continue to lead to an increasing number of students and customers rethinking their lives and job conditions and becoming attracted to the balanced path designed by Pilates,” she says.
“One of the top European Pilates and yoga studio market trends is the surge in demand for digital classes, with studio owners now offering on-demand and livestream group workouts.
“This digital shift is here to stay even with a decline in COVID-19 infections and the potential end of the pandemic; it cannot be ignored. Combining the convenience of digital Pilates training with the structure, experience and equipment offered at in-person studio classes is going to be key to success.”
Try our streaming platform, Merrithew Connect™, for free for 14


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Facebook may be going Meta, but it is far from the only company that is thinking about the real-world business and operational implications of metaverses and virtual worlds. Nvidia has been putting together the pieces of an underlying platform to enable the creation of these worlds and the “connective tissue” between physical and virtual worlds and applications.
During the company’s GTC Fall event keynote Nvidia CEO and co-founder Jensen Huang announced availability of that platform, Omniverse Enterprise, through a $9,000 annual subscription plan (and individual-use offering can be downloaded for free.)
The general availability announced comes almost a year after the platform was made available to several beta users at more than 700 companies, including BMW Group, CannonDesign, Epigraph, Ericsson, architectural firms HKS and KPF, Lockheed Martin and Sony Pictures Animation. More than 70,000 individual creators have downloaded the platform.
Richard Kerris, vice president of Omniverse platform at Nvidia, told members of the media prior to Huang’s keynote that many new features have been added to Omniverse Enterprise to position it as an enabler for a multitude of virtual world applications.
“We believe that virtual worlds will enable the next era of innovation,” he said. “Virtual worlds are going to help us visualize things that haven’t been built yet, and help us see how to operate and maintain factories as digital twins.”
Asked about Nvidia’s role in virtual worlds relative to Facebook’s rebranding as Meta and its investment in the metaverses concept, Kerris said, “Facebook and others have announced their intent to create virtual worlds. We think there are going to be many virtual worlds created by many different companies, but what will make them work as the next generation of the world wide web is that they have to have a common foundation.”
Nvidia is positioning Omniverse--and more specifically the Universal Scene Description (USD) 3D content creation tool created by Pixar and leveraged by Nvidia in Omniverse--to be that foundation.
Kerris compared USD to HTML. “When the Internet started your experience depended on what kind of browser you had and what kinds of things you had installed. HTML allowed for a common foundation for text, videos and things like that. It solved the problems of the early internet,” he said.
Prominent among the newest Omniverse technologies and features outlined by Kerris was Omniverse Avatar, which he described as a platform for creating interactive AI-based avatars that can power robots, intelligent virtual agents and other solutions. Avatar leverages Nvidia technologies in speech AI, computer vision, natural language understanding, recommendation engines and simulation technologies.
Kerris mentioned two current projects Nvidia is involved in that use the Avatar platform. One is Project Tokkio, a reference application for AI-enabled customer service avatars that would be placed in robots or virtual kiosks. Tokkio also employs other Nvidia tools like the Merlin deep learning solution for recommender systems, the Riva conversational AI platform, the Fleet Command tool for AI lifecycle management and the Metropolis SDK.
Project Tokkio reportedly has been used by Huang in a demonstration that shows colleagues engaging in a real-time conversation with an avatar crafted as a toy replica of himself. In a second Project Tokkio demo, he highlighted a customer-service avatar in a restaurant kiosk, able to see, converse with and understand two customers as they ordered veggie burgers, fries and drinks.
Also, in a demo of the DRIVE Concierge AI platform, a digital assistant on the center dashboard screen helped a driver select the best driving mode to reach his destination on time, and then followed his request to set a reminder once the car’s range drops below 100 miles.
Another company project using Avatar is Project Maxine for AI-enabled video conferences and virtual collaborations. In a demonstration, Huang showed off the ability to add state-of-the-art video and audio features to virtual collaboration and content creation applications. An English-language speaker was shown on a video call in a noisy cafe, but could be heard clearly without background noise. As she spoke, her words were transcribed and translated in real time into German, French and Spanish with her same voice and intonation.
A key use for the Omniverse Enterprise platform is the creation of digital twins of factories, office campuses, smart cities and even larger environments--the entire Earth, to use a pretty large example.
“Digital twins are solving some of the world’s greatest challenges” by letting people collaborate in virtual models to test solutions that could then be applied to real-world situations, Kerris said. He listed some current digital twin use cases, including a factory of the future blueprint, a twin of Earth, a wildfire simulation, a 5G signal propagation model running on a digital twin of a city, robotics, self-driving cars, intelligent virtual agents and other industrial applications.
“Ericsson uses Omniverse as a platform for development to figure out how to propagate 5G throughout cities,” he said. “They built a digital twin of the city of Stockholm to figure out where to put antennas” that also allows the wireless infrastructure company to see simulations, and figure out how they need to address problems with different antenna deployment locations by allowing them to teleport from one antenna to another.
In a very current and critical use of the concept, Kerris said Lockheed Martin is using Omniverse to create digital twins of large wildfires to better understand how these fires start and spread, and how they might be better contained and managed.
Other new Omniverse features and capabilities outlined by Kerris included:
- Replicator, a synthetic data generation and replication engine for training deep neural networks.
- CloudXR, an enterprise-class immersive streaming framework, which has been integrated into Omniverse Kit — a toolkit for building native Omniverse applications and microservices — allowing users to interactively stream Omniverse experiences to their mobile AR and VR devices.
- Omniverse VR, which the company claims is the world’s first full-image, real-time ray-traced VR — enabling developers to build their own VR-capable tools on the platform, and end users to enjoy VR capabilities directly.
- Omniverse XR Remote, which provides AR capabilities and virtual cameras, enabling designers to view their assets fully ray traced through iOS and Android devices.
- Omniverse Farm, which lets teams use multiple workstations or servers together to power jobs like rendering, synthetic data generation or file conversion.
- Omniverse Showroom, which is available as an app in Omniverse Open Beta, and lets non-technical users play with Omniverse tech demos that showcase the platform’s real-time physics and rendering technologies.


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Nokia PureBook S14
laptop is now official. Nokia has launched its all-new
laptop -- PureBook S14 in India. The device is powered by an 11th Generation Intel Core processor and weighs 1.4 kg.
Price and availability
The company has priced the Nokia PureBook S14 at Rs 56,990 and it will be available online on Flipkart starting October 3. This laptop from Nokia will compete against the recently launched Mi Notebook Pro laptop which also retails at the same price tag.
Nokia PureBook S14 specifications
Nokia PureBook S14 is an updated version of the last year launched Nokia PureBook X14 laptop. The device is powered by an 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor and runs Windows 11 operating system.
The laptop packs up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD space. Nokia PureBook S14 sports a 14-inch full HD display with an 82% screen-to-body ratio. The device sports top-firing speakers which are tuned by Dolby Atmos.
On the connectivity front, Nokia PureBook S14 offers USB-A 3.0 port, a USB-C port, and an HDMI port.
Along with the laptop, the company has also launched its new Bluetooth headset and true wireless earbuds in the country. The company has launched a new Nokia T4010 headset and three new TWS earbuds -- T3030, T3020 and T3010 in India. The price of the earbuds starts at Rs 1,499, while the headset costs Rs 3,499. All the audio devices will be available online on Flipkart.