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Stein Mart expands, plans store for Folsom
- Kelly Johnson, Staff writer
After five years with only one store in the region, Stein Mart Inc. is getting aggressive about expanding locally.
The Florida-based retailer expects to open a store in Folsom before the end of the year and is searching for sites in Sacramento’s Arden area and in Elk Grove, the chain’s real estate broker confirmed this week.
Stein Mart, which is a cross between a department store and a discounter, has leased a former Linens ’n Things store in Folsom’s power center near East Bidwell Street and Highway 50. The retailer hopes to open its doors in the Broadstone Plaza by Christmas.
The Folsom store, with 35,223 square feet, will be Stein Mart’s second in the Sacramento region. The chain entered the market in September 2006 with a store in Rocklin and planned to quickly open additional locations. But then the recession hit and the retail sector went into hibernatation.
Now Stein Mart (Nasdaq: SMRT) is turning its attention to the Sacramento region once again.
For a year Stein Mart was negotiating to take space in the Kohl’s-anchored shopping across from Arden Fair mall, but that prospective deal has fallen apart, she said. Now Firstenberg needs to find 30,000 square feet elsewhere in the Arden area.
She’s also looking for a spot in Elk Grove. “I need to get these stores identified and open,” she said.
Stein Mart wants to open one of the stores next year and one the following year, Firstenberg said.
The Rocklin store performs at about average for the chain, but given it is the only location in Northern California and Stein Mart isn’t well known here, “that’s good,” Firstenberg said.
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Social network advertising – a closer look
Studies show that a little over 90 percent of U.S. companies are and will be using social media for marketing purposes. In 2017, social messaging and video were thought to be the trends of the future in relation to social media advertising and believed to have the biggest effect on marketing strategies. Lo and behold, advertising spending on social video has been growing ever since, and is expected to amount to nearly 15 billion U.S dollars in 2021. Even in this respect, Facebook has the lead, especially when it comes to influencer marketing. In fact, all tiers of influencers - from microinfluencers to celebrities - post the majority of their videos on Facebook. The second choice of platform to share their videos is YouTube, which despite being 'the' video sharing platform is not as popular yet among influencers most probably due to smaller user reach.

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Honda Automobile (Thailand) (HATC) on Thursday (12 May) held the opening ceremony for its new plant located at Rojana Industrial Park in Prachinburi province. The new plant, with flowing cell production system, will supply Thailand and Asia-Pacific markets primarily.
“The plant also will help strengthen the company’s role as one of Honda’s important automobile production hubs,” the automaker said in a statement.
The plant mirrors advanced and eco-responsible technologies introduced at the Yorii Plant, Honda’s most advanced auto plant in Japan.
Prachinburi started mass production of the redesigned Civic last March following the production start for plastic parts, and engine and engine parts which started in October 2015 and February 2016 respectively. The plant will produce sub-compact and compact models for the domestic market and export.
Thai deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak said: “As the automobile industry is a major factor in the development of the Thai economy, I am glad to see Honda is making Thailand a strategic production and export hub with the most advanced and environmentally-responsible technologies. It will enhance our country’s standing as an important global automobile production base.”
Takahiro Hachigo, president, CEO and representative director of Honda Motor, said: “Thailand has increased its presence as one of Honda’s production hubs by supplying products and components not only for the home market but also for the world including ASEAN nations, which drive our global sales growth. I am committed to making certain that the role of Thailand will become even more valuable with the completion of this all-new Prachinburi factory with full advantage of [our] newest production technologies.”
Noriaki Abe, chief operating officer for regional operations (Asia & Oceania) of Honda Motor and president & CEO of Asian Honda Motor, said: “This new factory’s high production efficiency will help improve the competitiveness of [our] products and parts. We plan to produce more sub-compact and compact models at this Prachinburi plant in the future to further improve our competitiveness both in the Thai market and for export and thereby contribute to the Thai economy.”
Gaku Nakanishi, President & CEO of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said: “With the increased production efficiency of this new factory, we will further strengthen our business operations and enhance the competitiveness of our products and parts made in Thailand.”
Honda said the flowing cell system boosted roduction efficiency by 10% compared to a conventional assembly line. Stamping press process efficiency has been improved by 25% compared to that of a conventional line due to servo control and a high speed feeder. On the welding line the operating ratio has improved by 40% versus a conventional line with the application of compact and lightweight welding jigs. A ‘water conveyor’ fully re-uses water used to cool the plant’s production processes and a ‘skylight roof’ with windows uses daylight to illuminate the plant floor instead of electricity.
Production capacity is 120,000 units per year.


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Learn how to make your current battery last longer and shop smarter when the time comes to replace it.
Inside, the new iPad is basically a giant battery, with the electronics neatly arranged around the side.
MikroPC, which is PCWorld Finland, put a number of phones through cold testing to find out which work best when the temperature is below zero. Hint: If you live in a very cold area, you might not want the Apple iPhone 4S.
HP and the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the recall. Here's a list of the affected devices.
Hewlett-Packard will pay $425,000 to settle a claim that it knowingly sold laptops with hazardous batteries that could overheat or catch fire.
The $50 no-frills phone is designed for situations where your primary mobile phone has either lost its charge or isn't available.
Here are 10 chargers to keep your tablets, smartphones, and MP3 players juiced up.
Apple plans to issue iOS 5.0.2 for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch very soon to address battery life issues, a report claims.


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US regulators assessing homeopathic treatments' safety and efficacy could overhaul rules of the multi-billion-dollar industry.
Two days of public hearings wrapped up on Tuesday to help determine if current regulations are still relevant for the industry that has seen "explosive growth" in the last 25 years, the Food and Drug Administration said in a statement.
The agency says it sent dozens of warning letters to companies that manufacture homeopathic products since 2009.
The FDA warned consumers in March against the risk of using homeopathic products to treat asthma because their safety and effectiveness have not been determined.
Homeopathy involves treating an ailment with diluted substances that produce similar symptoms, trying to prompt a protective immune response in the user.
The treatment assumes that the effect of the drug, often herbal, increases in proportion with the level of dilution.
A big market
US consumers spent some $2.9bn yearly on the homeopathic products, the Centres for Control and Prevention of Diseases estimated in 2007.
Homeopathic products have not been regulated by US authorities since 1972 when the agency decided not to approve the products' placement on store shelves as it does for drugs.
A lack of regulation, that lets the public self-treat conditions with scientifically unproven products, has raised the ire of the medical community.
"I am concerned about the current state of labelling for homeopathic remedies, particularly OTC (over the counter) preparations," said Adriane Fugh-Berman a professor of pharmacology at Georgetown University.
No review of homeopathic drugs
"Many consumers have no idea what homeopathy is," said Fugh-Berman. "Most consumers and probably most health professionals are unaware that FDA does not review homeopathic drugs for safety or efficacy."
Fugh-Berman said there is no reliable evidence that homeopathic treatments work to treat any condition.
A recent report from Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council concluded the same based on 176 studies, echoing a report by the US National Institutes of Health.
"Several key concepts of homeopathy are inconsistent with fundamental concepts of chemistry and physics," the NIH statement said.
For their part, supporters of homeopathy defend their non-conventional medicines.
Lisa Amerine from the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians said homeopathic treatments should continue to be sold as they are because they are "safe and it is fairly easy for the consumer to understand what to buy should they have a minor health ailment".
Image: Homeopathic globules from Shutterstock


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Shree Cement Limited, India’s third largest cement group on Wednesday announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the company announced through an exchange filing.
The Net revenue was up YoY by 19 percent from ₹4,203 crore to ₹4,999 crore and the Total sale volume increased YoY by 19 percent from 7.50 million tonnes to 8.92 million tonnes.
EBIDTA was up YoY by 14 percent from ₹819 crore to ₹933 crore. Sale of premium products risen to 8.8 percent vis-à-vis 6.3 percent on YoY basis.
“Shree Cement’s quarter performance confirms that our strategic intents are starting to deliver results. Our bold actions to grow ahead of the industry with a focus on organic growth, sharpening operational efficiencies & improve special product sales will continue to be executed in the coming years. Shree has embarked on an ambitious journey to push the limits of its performance," said Neeraj Akhoury, Managing Director, Shree Cement Ltd.
The Company’s focus on decarbonization remains solid. It reduced net Scope 1 emissions to 502 kg CO2 per ton of cementitious materials representing a reduction of 4% compared to the previous year. As part of its decarbonization drive, the Company increased share of green power in total power consumption to 56% in Q1’FY24 which is the highest in the Indian cement industry.
The Board of Directors, in its meeting held today approved clinker & cement capacity expansion projects with a total capital expenditure of around ₹7,000 crore.
Shree Cement Limited shares
The shares of Shree Cement Limited on Wednesday at 12:20 pm IST were at ₹24,056.1, up by 1.58% percent.


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Six million visit attractions during holiday
Shanghai's attractions received 6.37 million visitors during the first four days of the National Day holiday.
The city offered 60 tourist products for the holiday and the Shanghai Tourism Festival reached its climax with 40 events.
Tourist spots across the city attracted 4.2 million tourists between October 1 and 4, while local museums received about 380,000 visitors, art galleries have received 130,000 and libraries 150,000. Heritage skills training centers, community culture centers and folk art venues welcomed around half a million visitors.
The city's theaters presented 62 performances in 192 sessions which attracted about 180,000 audiences, 5.8 percent increase on year. The Internet service sites also received 110,000 online surfers.
The Bund, Yuyuan Garden and Lujiazui are among the most popular attractions during the holiday.
More than a million tourists headed to the Bund between Tuesday and Friday.
Cars have been banned from many downtown areas during the holiday.
Yuyuan Garden Malls have erected a 200-meter graffiti wall to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China that includes popular local attractions, cartoon figures and Shanghai dialect.
The 45-kilometer waterfront on both sides of the Huangpu River have received 3.36 million citizens and tourists. The Shanghai International Resort in Pudong attracted over 200,000 visitors. The sightseeing cruises on the Huangpu River ferried 120,000 passengers.
Among the most popular cultural sites, the Shanghai Library received 35,400 visitors between Tuesday and Friday. The nearby Shanghai History Museum attracted 28,500 viewers. The memorial site for the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China has seen 26,500 visitors.
Many tourists from out of Shanghai came to experience the city's festive atmosphere. Railway and long-distance buses brought 1.86 million tourists from across China. Over 900,000 vehicles drove into the city between Monday and Thursday, while some 1.3 million locals also drove out of Shanghai to spend the holiday elsewhere.
Rural attractions also become popular to both tourists and locals. The city's countryside parks attracted a total of 54,600 visitors on the first four days of the National Day break. The Zhujiajiao watertown in Qingpu District received 159,300 visitors.


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Uri Brison, cybersecurity expert and CEO of personal anti-hacking solution startup LogDog, says Sony isn’t to blame – real cybersecurity solutions are only being created now.
In a year with a number of giant corporations taken down by hackers, the Sony Pictures cyber attack could have the most serious ramifications for transnational security. Though the amount of personal information about Sony employees that was leaked onto the internet was shocking, the most surprising outcome of this attack has been Sony’s decision to cancel the release of its 2014 Christmas hit comedy, The Interview, in response to the hackers’ terror threats.
Sony’s cancelation instilled rightful outrage among filmmakers and moviegoers regarding censorship and freedom of speech. It also sent hackers a message: Take control of our information, and we’ll do whatever you say.
Sony’s response to this attack further perpetuated the underlying problem that has made these types of hacks possible to begin with: When it comes to cybersecurity, hackers have the upper hand. Why? Because the playing field isn’t even, and the way we’re addressing cybersecurity today is outdated.
Why the “build a better lock” approach to cybersecurity no longer works
Every year, Sony and other giant corporations invest tremendous amounts of money and effort in protecting their systems and reputations. They build their security teams with talented engineers and programmers, and buy the best security software on the market.
But as computer systems become more intricate and complicated, they are ever more difficult to secure completely. The “build a better lock” approach no longer works, since hackers always seem to find a way to pick the lock. The fact that most systems are connected to the internet and are thus easily accessible makes this situation all the more problematic.
Meanwhile, hackers are winning at every turn as they gain access to just about everything. And this isn’t unique to major corporations. Medium-sized businesses, small companies, personal online accounts — everything gets breached. Today, one in four online accounts gets hacked, and that’s hardly a surprise.
In light of this reality, it’s obvious there’s little Sony could have done to protect itself from this attack. Once it was in the hacker’s crosshairs, it was only a matter of time.
As it stands right now, determined hackers have the upper hand. But does this mean we’re destined to remain one step behind hackers, in constant fear of cybercrime?
I don’t think so. If we toss the old “build a better lock” paradigm and address security in more advanced and modernized ways, the tide will turn in our favor.
The solutions companies like Sony need have only been in development for a year and a half or so
Groups of cybersecurity innovators are now developing new, more effective concepts for securing digital systems. These concepts are focused on “pattern analysis,” where cyber solutions constantly monitor systems and establish behavior profiles that allow abnormal activity to be detected and analyzed. Baseline “normal behavior” profiles can be used to detect the anomalies generated by hacker activity. And by detecting this activity early, control can be taken back from the hands of hackers and damage can be minimized.
It’s high time we approach cybersecurity differently. In order to regain the upper hand against hackers, these types of new security solutions must be implemented across the board: in the systems of multinational companies, small and medium sized businesses alike, and in the personal accounts we all use every day, from our email to our favorite social networks. Change will come, but a change in the old ways of thinking about cybersecurity must come first.
The views expressed are of the author.
Geektime invites global tech and startup professionals to share their opinions and expertise with our readers. If you would like to share your point of view, please contact us at [email protected]


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3D Systems Announces Bioprinted Tissue Products for Reconstructive Surgery
3D Systems, the additive manufacturing (AM) pioneer based in South Carolina, has launched the Regenerative Tissue Program, a bioprinting project for patient-specific, living human tissues. By combining the company’s bioprinting…
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Flip ad is a new way to watch CNN’s “CNBC’s Biggest Deals” on the web, and it’s one of the few ways to actually watch CNBC in real-time.
CNN’s new ad, called “Flip,” is one of several ads launched this week by CNN to try to lure eyeballs away from competitors.
The campaign features an elderly couple talking about how they can’t afford to buy a house for their family anymore, as well as a woman wearing a white dress and a matching necklace.
The woman in the video says that she’s had “more than a thousand” offers for the house.
But she says she’s “not ready” yet.
The video then cuts to a clip of an elderly woman in a wheelchair, saying that she “just needs the money” to get back on her feet.
She says that it’s “so frustrating” that her husband, who’s disabled, cannot find work and that she’ll have to move in with her parents.
CNN says the video is “from the ‘Flip’ campaign, a new strategy by CNN and its partners to try and attract more viewers to the network.”
The video features a couple walking in a flea markets, and the older woman says that “she has to take a look around,” and the woman in white says, “That’s not fair.
He has to find a job, he has to move to a new place.”
The woman also says that when her husband is “on his own” she’ll be “making a lot of money,” and she’s not even sure how she’ll afford to move.
The man in the ad says, as the woman continues to speak, “We’ll be able to get this done,” and he’s referring to the man in white’s offer to buy the house from her.
CNN has previously experimented with ads that play as short clips from other CNBC programming.
The company also has used short clips of CNBC programming to advertise its new product, the CNBC News Network, a way for viewers to get a taste of what the network is like.
“Flips” will run on CNN for four weeks.
CNN and CNBC said they plan to roll out ads throughout the week in other markets, including the New York area, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Flip campaign comes on the heels of a similar ad campaign launched in late August, called “#WeWantIt, We’re Hungry.”
In that ad, a woman walks into a supermarket with two boxes of groceries.
One box is filled with food and another with groceries.
She’s told by the cashier that she can’t buy the food at the checkout line, so she just has to buy one box from the grocery store and put the box in the box she has.
As she walks away, she says, her husband walks by and says, that’s not what we want for you.


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Good news for local business owners: Americans plan to spend a lot of money on holiday shopping, and the majority of shoppers want to spend those dollars with you! Yelp commissioned a survey conducted online by Harris Poll in September to find out how Americans age 18+ will be shopping at local businesses this holiday season. We found that 64% of Americans plan to shop at local independent retailers, and Millennials are leading the pack! Nearly 7 in 10 Americans age 18-34 say they plan to shop for the holidays at local businesses, more than any other age group. What’s more, local shoppers plan to spend an average of $258 each at local businesses, totaling nearly $40 billion* in all to be spent with independent retailers this holiday season.
There’s a lot of opportunity for small businesses this holiday season, and these insights can help local retailers attract more shoppers. When asked what motivates them to support small businesses in their city, the majority of those likely to shop local this holiday season said they shop local to find unique gifts (67%), 55% said they like supporting the local economy, and 44% said they shop local because it’s convenient. Additionally, shoppers aren’t just looking at retail to purchase gifts this year. We found that over half of Americans (53%) plan to purchase experience-based gifts at local businesses this holiday season, such as restaurant gift certificates (34%), theater or movie tickets (18%) and salon or spa services (17%).
According to a 2015 survey by the National Retail Federation, 1 in 3 smartphone owners will use their device to look up retailer information like store hours and directions. With nearly 90 million unique monthly visitors to the Yelp app each month and 7 in 10 Yelp searches conducted via mobile, these tips can help small business owners use Yelp to attract on-the-go shoppers and get a slice of that $40 billion holiday pie:
Build out your Yelp Business Page. Claim your business for free at biz.yelp.com and make sure all your information is up-to-date, including your address, phone number and holiday hours. Also consider turning on the free Message the Business Owner feature so that potential customers can ask questions and get in touch with you quickly and easily.
Add lots of photos. Let consumers know what your business has to offer by adding photos of your space and your holiday inventory. Use photo captions to tell potential customers about your products and pricing. If you have a beautiful holiday display in your store, add photos of it to Yelp to show you’re in the holiday spirit.
Create engaging promotions. With 7 in 10 Yelp searches conducted on mobile, a Check-In Offer will help you cater to your on-the-go audience. It’s completely free to create and can be something as simple as a free hot chocolate. You can also create Yelp Deals and Yelp Gift Certificates allowing customers to transact with your business directly through your Yelp listing.
Drive more eyeballs to your Yelp page. According to Nielsen, 82% of Yelp users visit the site intending to buy a product or service and 89% of those who buy do so within a week. Consider targeted local advertising with Yelp to put your business in front of consumers nearby who are looking to make a purchase.
*Based on 234.6 million American adults (according to US 2010 Census) multiplied by 64% of Americans planning to shop local multiplied by average spend of $258 = $38.7 Billion


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The Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria says it has made additions to the 18th Annual General Meeting and Marketing Excellence Awards, which will hold in Lagos.
A statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Ediri Ediale, indicated that winners of the Marketing Excellence Awards would now be showcased in the directory of all World Federation of Advertisers’ member companies.
It added that the entries for the awards would now be assessed by local and international assessors, and it would host members’ round-table conference this year.
The statement read in part, “The theme of the AGM is ‘Navigating the Nigerian marketing communications regulatory landscape, while the theme of the awards is ‘Business value of creativity’ where local and international professionals will be sharing insights into the value of creativity.
“The awards offer the ultimate platform for improving brand awareness and loyalty, by increasing the respective recipients’ prestige.
“Awards winners will be acknowledged as industry leaders and named the elite in their industry.”
The event, according to the statement, is the most prestigious and respected awards in the Nigerian marketing community, which provides opportunities for organisations to gain competitive advantage by having their projects, initiatives, contributions, products and services recognised.
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Originally a Swedish owned automobile manufacturer, Ford Motors bought Volvo Car Company in 2000. With lagging sales and in trying to deal with the much more pressing matters of the U.S. recession, Ford sold Volvo to the Chinese holding company of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co, Ltd. in 2010. With offices and design centers around the world and assembly plants in Malaysia and California, the Volvo Car Company is looking to regain its reputation as a car company centered on its customer.
In 2015, Volvo Car Company sold a total of 503,127 cars. This was the first time in Volvo’s history that more than half a million cars were sold. With a global market share of only 2 percent, Volvo is considered a small car producer. According to MarketWatch, car sales in China made up the largest market (16 percent) of the total sales volume in 2014, followed by Sweden (14 percent) and the U.S. (14 percent), with other European countries bringing in single digits of the market share.
Lex Kerssemakers has been named new Senior Vice President, The Americas Region and President and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. Volvo is hoping that this leadership change will give it the shot in the arm it needs to excel. In 2014, Volvo’s U.S. Market share was a dismal .3 percent, selling only 56,000 vehicles. Kerssemakers plan is very simple; bring car sales back to at least 100,000 cars per year. When that goal should be realized hasn’t been published. What is very clear is that Kerssemakers and Zhejiang Geely are very determined to bring Volvo back from utter death.
Since Zhejiang Geely bought Volvo from Ford in 2010 they have invested $11billion dollars into manufacturing a new line of automobiles. At first glance, the new vehicles do not look much different than the older versions previously designed and built by Ford. Yet, there are some undeniable differences not easily seen by buyers. These differences will greatly affect the bottom line of the company and give it the ability to increase market share.
Better Proportioned and Better Materials
The redesigned XC90 may look like its predecessor, but once inside buyers will notice a better proportioned interior with increased attention to the interior materials.
Significant Cuts in Cost
Since the XC90 will share major components with eight other new Volvo models coming out by 2019, significant advantages will be seen in parts cost and speed of the manufacturing process.
Advanced Safety Features
Volvo is expecting to regain market share by returning to its emphasis in automobile safety. The plan to increase safety to its former glory years includes two new systems: an active cruise control that accelerates and brakes automatically in traffic to avoid collisions, and a system that prevents drivers from accidentally turning into oncoming traffic.
Volvo is expected to roll out several models, in addition to the redesigned XC90, in 2015. These include the V60 Cross Country Wagon and the S60, a long-wheelbase sedan it unveiled at the Detroit auto show.
In an historic announcement, Volvo showed the world and the U.S. automobile market that it was well on its way to meeting their goals. This year, for the first ever, a Chinese manufactured car will be sold in the United States. The Volvo S60 Inscription, a luxury-minded version of Volvo’s top-selling sedan, is expected to land on U.S soil by mid-year.


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ADOTAS – In advance of Facebook’s Q3 2013 earnings call tomorrow, Spruce Media, a leading provider of enterprise-class marketing solutions for Facebook Ads and one of Facebook’s 14 strategic PMD, has just announced its new State of Facebook Advertising Q3 2013 report. In the report, Spruce Media provides statistical and trend analysis [...] more...
ADOTAS – Today we solicited responses from industry leaders to the following Burning Question: ”What do you think of Facebook’s decision to simplify its ad-buying process by eliminating half of its 27 ad units?” Here’s how they responded: “We are very excited about Facebook’s announcement today. By simplifying their ad products, Facebook is making the ‘Path [...] more...
ADOTAS – Spruce Media, a leading provider of enterprise-class marketing solutions for Facebook Ads and one of 13 Strategic Preferred Marketing Developer partners, has issued its State of Facebook Advertising Q1 2013 report. The report offers an inside look at the state of advertising on Facebook in Q1 2013 and offers predictions for remainder [...] more...
ADOTAS – The burning question we posed to industry leaders today is: ”What is your reaction to today’s Facebook Android announcement?” Their responses are as follows: “Facebook continues to innovate at the intersection of social and mobile, redefining what it means to stay connected with friends and engaged with the apps you enjoy [...] more...
Today our panel of ad-tech honchos weighs in on the following question: “What is your reaction to Facebook’s acquisition of Microsoft Atlas?” “Facebook’s Microsoft Atlas acquisition is a conscious step toward solving the social media measurement conundrum. Advertisers have long debated over the tangible value of social networks when it comes [...] more...
Spruce Media’s “State of Facebook Ads Q4″ has been submitted for your perusal. Some key data points to highlight: CPM Trends Newsfeed CPM in Q4 rises further, showing clear increase in competition in Facebook Ad market. Newsfeed mobile CPM is down 10% Q3 to Q4. Desktop Newsfeed CPM is up 34% Q3 to Q4. CTR [...] more...
Facebook’s introduction of Graph Search on Tuesday has, not surprisingly, elicited a flurry comments from interested Internet parties. Here’s what a few of them had to say: “At this point, I’m unimpressed. It remains unclear on how advertisers will be able to use this Graph Search product to better market and [...] more...
In advance of Facebook’s earnings call today (Tuesday), Spruce Media took a detailed look at FB’s advertising stats from Q3 2011 to Q3 2012. “Since their IPO, Facebook has faced significant scrutiny around their ad offering,” the report notes. “Investors and analysts have questioned their ability to grow revenue. And, brands [...] more...
San Francisco, CA (September 21, 2012) – Spruce Media, an enterprise class software solution built from the ground up exclusively for Facebook Ads, today announced that it has earned the distinction of being named a Strategic Preferred Marketing Developer (PMD) by Facebook—the highest distinction of excellence Facebook has ever offered [...] more...
As many of us in the online advertising industry now know, Facebook is not about advertising; rather, it’s about stories and earned media. The fact is, Facebook controls one third of all online page views, so brands need to embrace Facebook, since that is where their audience is spending time [...] more...
- Lotame and Optimizely Partner for Website Content Optimization and Personalization March 12th 2014 NEW YORK, March 12, 2014 (ADOTAS) – Lotame today announced [...] more »
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- Brainshark Launches Brainshark for Salesforce Work.com on Salesforce1 AppExchange March 12th 2014 WALTHAM, Mass., March 12, 2014 (ADOTAS) — Brainshark, Inc., the [...] more »
- MediaBrix Launches In-Game Ad SDK for Intel’s Latest Platform March 12th 2014 NEW YORK, March 12, 2014 (ADOTAS) — MediaBrix, the leading [...] more »
- Fiverr® Updates iPhone App: Puts Over 3 Million Gigs® in the Palm of Your Hand March 12th 2014 NEW YORK, March 12, 2014 — Fiverr®, the world’s largest [...] more »
- BroadbandTV CEO is Named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum March 11th 2014 VANCOUVER, March 11, 2014 (ADOTAS) – Shahrzad Rafati, founder and CEO [...] more »
- Intent Media Hires Noted Travel Industry Exec Noreen Henry as VP of Business Development March 11th 2014 NEW YORK, March 11, 2014 (ADOTAS) — Intent Media, an [...] more »
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Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada Launches New Media Center
Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada is proud to announce the launch of our new Media Center.
Visit the Media Center to find the latest photos, videos, news and more. Stay up to date with all things Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada!
Author: Christine Duff
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The company made an extra £7m from civil servants staying at its hotels, where the average room costs £54 before VAT, according to Alan Parker, chief executive.
"We've had a strong uptake from Government this summer, which is very encouraging for us" with more spending cuts to come, he said. Business travel overall increased by 20pc in the first half.
The company also attracted more weekend travellers and holidaymakers after advertising its £29-a-night rate at quieter times. Whitbread's hotels were 95pc full over the August bank holiday, normally a very quiet time at Premier Inns, Mr Parker said.
Total sales rose 14pc in the first half, and climbed 7.9pc on a like-for-like basis. Like-for-like sales increased 8.2pc in the second quarter, up from a 7.6pc rise in the first quarter.
However Mr Parker said the rate of growth could slow in the second half, as the company laps a better performance at the end of 2009.
Premier Inn's like-for-like sales rose 10.7pc in the first half. Whitbread plans to open about 2,800 hotel rooms this year, after adding 1,800 last year, and Mr Parker said he would like to see that increase again the following year.
Whitbread has opened 98 Costa coffee shops so far this year, 54 of which are company-owned and the rest as franchises. Some 43 of them are abroad.
Mr Parker will retire on November 25, when Andy Harrison, the former Easyjet boss, will take over. Mr Harrison started at Whitbread as chief executive-designate on September 1.
Whitbread's shares slipped 11p to £15.01, after climbing close to 10pc in the last two weeks. "There was a good deal of expectation going into this," analysts at Barclays Capital said.


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NAIROBI, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan automotive firm, Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA), said Tuesday that it will assemble 130 electric buses manufactured by Chinese automotive firm BYD in 2023.
Matt Lloyd, managing director of AVA, told Xinhua in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that so far it has assembled 15 BYD electric buses for the local market that were imported as a collection of parts.
"The advantage of BYD is that it is one of the world's leaders in the manufacture of electric vehicles and the level of quality of the vehicles is very high," Lloyd said on the sidelines of an electric vehicle forum.
Lloyd observed that locally assembled BYD buses have high safety standards and will therefore enhance Kenya's overall road safety. He revealed that his firm has gained modern automotive technology through the technical advice it has received from BYD. ■


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- The shopping website reveals the important specifications of the upcoming smartphone.
- It will offer a 64-megapixel primary sensor on the back.
- The smartphone will be powered by the MediaTek processor.
POCO F3 GT seems to be announced very soon, as the upcoming smartphone listed on a shopping website, and the same reveals the important specifications along with the pricing information of the device. The device it actually believed to be the rebranded version of the Redmi K40 gaming edition which was recently introduced in the market of China. So without making any further delay let’s dive into the article to check out all the available information about the upcoming smartphone.
Going through the website, the upcoming POCO F3 GT features a 6.67-inch OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution, along with a 120Hz refresh rate, and the display will be protected with Gorilla Glass 5.
The smartphone is also listed with the power of the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset and the same will be matted with 6 GB of RAM along with a 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage and a microSD card slot for additional storage.
It is also listed that the upcoming smartphone will arrive with a 5,065mAh battery and the POCO F3 GT has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The smartphone may offer a front-facing camera of 16-megapixel and the upcoming smartphone will have a triple rear camera setup and that will be in the combination of a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro camera.
Finally, the shopping website also reveals that the upcoming device will be priced at $1,299. So let’s wait for the official launch of the device and we recommend you to stay tuned with us for the latest happenings at your fingertips.
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WELCOME TO The advertising REPORT
Feature market insights and perspectives from top C-Level executives, elite technology influencers and thought leaders from your company here. This signature initiative has garnered immense support...
Entravision | February 16, 2022
Entravision (NYSE: EVC), a leading global advertising, media and ad-tech solutions company connecting brands to consumers by representing top platforms and publishers, announced today that the Company has partnered with Roku, the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Mexico and Canada*, to serve as Roku’s media advertising partner in Mexico. Entravision will help brands effectively reach consumers by advertising on the Roku streaming platform.
As more consumers are moving to...
Integral Ad Science, Media Rating Council | November 09, 2021
Delivers much-needed transparency for advertisers across their social media buying
SINGAPORE, November 8, 2021 -- Integral Ad Science (Nasdaq: IAS), a global leader in digital media quality, today announced that it has been accredited by the Media Rating Council (MRC) for impression and viewability measurement and reporting of display and video ads across Facebook and Instagram. With the continued growt...
deadline | February 25, 2020
NBCUniversal Tuesday unveiled new details of its expanded suite of tools for advertisers ahead of the upfront that lets brands reach all kinds of audiences more easily across the company’s sweeping video assets on big and small screens. The platform, which executives said does not exist on this scale at any other company, is part of an ongoing trend by the media industry to harness the explosive surge in video viewing and advertiser demands for clear metrics and ease of use across platform...
IBM | October 06, 2020
IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced three new products to add to its growing suite of AI solutions for brand and publishers. The new capabilities are privacy-forward and designed to allow brands to reach consumers while considering user privacy. IBM intends to work with industry leaders, including Xandr/AT&T, Magnite, Nielsen, MediaMath, LiveRamp and Beeswax to help scale the use of AI across the industry. The announcement was made this morning at Advertising Week's digital-first virtual eve...
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Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8+
In 2016, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 gave consumers the biggest bang for their buck for all the wrong reasons. Having been forced to discontinue the phablet after the smartphone’s battery caused it to overheat and occasionally explode, Samsung really needs to impress with its new flagship model: Galaxy S8 and its big brother Galaxy S8+. Fortunately, the Korean developer has delivered a phone with a crisp 1440 x 2960 resolution and, thanks to the fact that it has been upgraded to Corning Gorilla Glass 5, the risk of the screen cracking up has been reduced. Add to that heart-rate monitors, fingerprint scanners and iris sensors as well as the smart AI assistant Bixby and you’ve got an impressive phone that will surely to be a blast to use.
Samsung’s latest brainchild is one of those concepts you can’t believe nobody has thought of before. By connecting a Samsung S8 or Samsung S8+ to the DeX – along with a monitor, keyboard and mouse – this docking station quickly turns the phone into a home computer. But instead of simply mirroring the phone’s display and scaling up the apps to the larger screen size, the DeX converts everything to a full desktop OS. While the DeX doesn’t provide a boost in processing power, for entrepreneurs that work on the go the DeX provides an opportunity to seamlessly continue their work back home.
Honor 8 Pro
The last thing you want in your early days as an entrepreneur is for your phone to run out of juice. In light of this, it’s easy to see how Honor 8’s biggest selling point isn’t its powerful 12MP dual-lens camera but its battery life. The manufacturer says that the 4,000mAh battery can last between one and two days. This isn’t just achieved by some impressive feat of engineering but also through the new EMUI 5.1 system, which predicts the user’s behaviour and starts running programs when they are usually run, avoiding Honor 8 Pro from drawing power apps running in the background. With these features, other mid-range manufacturers like Sony and LG better watch out.
With all its trolls, all-seeing eyes and hidden dangers, the modern internet feels more like a J.R.R. Tolkien novel than a safe space to browse content. Fortunately the team behind Flter aims to protect surfers of the web with a virtual mithril shirt. Anyone using the router will automatically be given VPN protection, ad-blocking software and Tor anonymity, making it much harder for malicious hackers to get access to your computer. Not only does this mean that users no longer have to download and install software but Flter also offers protection to gaming consoles and other gadgets that can’t run this kind of security software. As a result, it’s hardly surprising that the Flter team has crowdfunded a combined $273,000 on both Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Cybersecurity is obviously quite precious.
The selfiestick group photo has become a common feature at weddings and other events. However, this may be about to change with the introduction of AirSelfie, a mini-drone that allows the users to snap selfies without awkwardly reaching their arms out into the picture. The device easily connects to most popular smartphones and is comprised of four powerful propellers and a 5-megapixel video camera, allowing Airselfie to fly up to 66 feet and snap high-quality aerial photos. Given the simplicity of the idea, it’s hardly surprising that over 2,700 backers have spotted the team behind Airselfie with €574,504 on Kickstarter to make it a reality. So you better start polishing your best blue-steel pose.


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New York’s adult use cannabis market is poised to become one of the biggest and most influential in the world, once it gets going. Its ripple effects will likely extend from financial to cultural realms.
This year, regulators have been crafting the rules. For the adult use market, licenses are to be issued in two major phases: an interim phase that gives a head start to small farmers as well as “justice involved” individuals, and the subsequent phase that allows just about anyone to apply for a business license.
This initial phase will offer only conditional licenses: only existing hemp farmers are eligible for conditional licenses to grow cannabis and to process it into products, like vape oils, and harvest season is underway. Meanwhile, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is reviewing the more than 900 retail applications that came in from “justice-involved” individuals — people with a cannabis arrest (or a family member with one) — seeking the conditional retail licenses for which only they are eligible. Cannabis regulators and Governor Kathy Hochul continue to say that cannabis sales — under this initial phase — will begin by the end of 2022. And a lot has happened this year toward meeting that goal.
But there’s still much left to do in the remaining two months of 2022 in order for New York to ring in the New Year with legal adult use sales. Timing is important, too, because there are farmers and processors who are growing increasingly anxious to know whether their product will have a home on shelves this year – or if delays may bring unexpected costs.
Cannabis Wire has compiled a checklist of the tasks completed, and those still outstanding.
Here’s what’s completed:
• In January, Governor Hochul announced a $200 million public-private fund to “promote equity and economic justice in New York’s cannabis industry.” More details on how the fund would operate came by May.
• In February, New York lawmakers passed a bill, which Hochul signed immediately, to give hemp farmers a head start in growing the state’s first legal adult use cannabis crop. They would be given conditional licenses to grow cannabis and to turn it into products. “Our existing hemp growers, who have been some of the hardest hit by market fluctuations, already have the knowledge base to meet this need,” the bill’s sponsor, Senator Michelle Hinchey, said at the time.
• In March, cannabis regulators approved a plan to allow people who have some business experience and a record of a cannabis conviction, or have a parent or guardian with one, to apply for adult use retail licenses — as with the hemp farmers, these are conditional — before other entities are allowed to do so. (Hochul announced that this proposal, plus the announcements in January and February, would be called the “Seeding Opportunity Initiative.”)
• In April, conditional cultivation licenses started getting awarded and hit nearly 150 by May.
• In May, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) opened two cannabis-related Requests for Proposals (RFPs). One sought a manager for the $200 million fund that Hochul announced in January, now known as the “New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund,” which would provide 150 turnkey shops for the retail licensees under the “Seeding Opportunity Initiative,” and the other sought “design-build services” for those shops.
• In June, the Dormitory Authority announced that it had selected Social Equity Impact Ventures, LLC to run its $200 million equity fund. And regulators began to accept applications from hemp farmers who want a conditional license to process cannabis and turn it into products like oils.
• In July, regulators announced the application window for the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses, under the Seeding Opportunity Initiative, would open in August.
• In August, the Dormitory Authority put out an RFP looking for point-of-sale software for cannabis retail shops.
• In September, the authority put out an RFP looking for a bank to work with the equity fund.
• As of the end of October, regulators have licensed more than 200 of these conditional cultivators and processors, and regulators celebrated harvest season in three “Croptober” stops at farms, from Long Island to Columbia County upstate.
• Late in the day on October 28, regulators released guidance for the state’s forthcoming adult use cannabis conditional retail license holders as an interim framework until rules are finalized.
Of course, lots of other cannabis-related moves happened along the way — such as regulators approving rules for medical cannabis patients to grow at home and the formation and first meeting of the Cannabis Advisory Board — but they weren’t directly related to getting adult use sales off the ground by the end of 2022.
Here’s what still needs to be done:
• Who will run the first adult use shops? The Office of Cannabis Management still needs to review the more than 900 applications that have come in, and make their selections for the 175 slots (150 for the “justice-involved” applicants, and 25 for non-profits).
• Where will these first shops be located? The Dormitory Authority still needs to announce the specific locations of these shops, as its equity fund is in charge of providing the conditional licensees with turnkey storefronts.
So far, New Yorkers only have a rough idea of the concentrations of shops within regions, as Cannabis Wire reported. Under the conditional license phase, there will be seven shops in the Capital Region, for example, and 10 in the Bronx.
• Who will design these turnkey shops? The Dormitory Authority’s window for its Request for Proposals for the entities that will provide the design-build services for conditional retail licensees’ shops, like architectural and construction work, closed in June. The announcement about successful applicants is long overdue (Cannabis Wire was told back in July that the announcement was expected within the week).
• Who will bank the Fund? The Dormitory Authority still needs to select a bank to provide services for the New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund. That RFP closed Oct. 7.
“The goal of the State,” the RFP notes, “is to provide social equity and restorative justice for the benefit of communities and persons that have been disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of past laws punishing the use of cannabis. This goal is advanced through the provision of financing and other related services to Social Equity Licensees that will enable them to establish their Dispensaries.”
• Which company will manage the point of sale software?
The Dormitory Authority’s RFP closes on November 4. It calls for “Point-of-Sale Providers capable of providing a complete point of sale system, including software as a service, associated hardware and required implementation services for adult-use cannabis retail dispensary facilities (“RCDs”) for operation by Social Equity Licensees.”
Looking to the future, what needs to be done after sales start, to ensure the legal industry thrives?
• When will the full package of adult use regulations be completed?
All of the rules that regulators have drafted to-date apply only to the conditional licensees for this first phase of sales, with the exception of rules released in June for packaging, advertising, and testing. A package of rules must be finalized before the post-conditional phase of licensing can begin.
• Who will rein in unlicensed cannabis sales?
So far, regulators have sent just over 50 cease and desist letters to unlicensed cannabis sellers. Beyond that? Crickets. There are rising calls from lawmakers for increased enforcement against these operators, though, as Cannabis Wire reported.
Senator Liz Krueger, who was one of two architects of the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act, told Cannabis Wire that she plans to reintroduce a bill to rein in the rampant unlicensed cannabis sales.
“I absolutely am going to continue down that path in January. But again, I will, as is my philosophy, do this in conjunction with” the Office of Cannabis Management, Krueger told Cannabis Wire. “Frankly, the messaging we’ve really been trying to get across to anybody and everybody who thinks they’re going to jump ahead of the law,” Krueger said, is, “‘Guess what? You’re not getting a license to do this legally.’”
• Which jurisdictions are allowing sales?
Some local governments have opted out. Here’s a list of opt-out submissions that OCM has received. (If California is any lesson, jurisdictions that ban sales create spaces where unlicensed activity thrives.)
What about potential curveballs?
It is rare to see an adult use market get off the ground without some sort of tumult, and the most common cause is lawsuits that challenge the licensing process.
Connecticut, to use a current and local example, is in the process of awarding its first cannabis licenses, with the goal of starting sales by the end of the year, and multiple lawsuits are underway.
Illinois set out to make its industry a “gold standard” on equity, only to see the issuance of equity licenses held up for more than a year because of lawsuits.
So far, New York’s Office of Cannabis Management has so far seen only one legal challenge against its licensing approach, but it’s highly unlikely to be the last.


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Facebook Messenger is getting an upgrade. And it's great news for businesses.
Shortly after revealing a new mobile payments feature last week — which lets users send and receive money straight from the Messenger app — Facebook announced that businesses can now use Messenger for customer support, too.
At its F8 Developer Conference, the social network launched "Businesses on Messenger," a new feature that lets consumers and businesses interact with one another straight from the Messenger app. Mark Zuckerberg previewed Businesses on Messenger at the event, showing off a number of capabilities that can help businesses better communicate with and retain customers. [Facebook for Business: Everything You Need to Know]
Businesses on Messenger gives Facebook users direct and immediate access to a wide range of customer support, straight from their mobile devices. Designed to be as easy as chatting on Messenger or text messaging, it eliminates the inconvenience and wasted time of being on hold over the phone, waiting for email support or submitting helpdesk tickets. This new feature also helps businesses personalize their service to provide better support and even grow sales.
For instance, prospective customers who have questions about a particular product or service can contact the company in real time and quickly get their questions answered. Businesses can then use this opportunity to further help customers find what they're looking for and ultimately make a purchase.
In addition to having their concerns addressed, current customers can also use the service to stay in touch with the business. To illustrate, Facebook shared the following real-world use-case scenarios that can be done via Messenger:
- Make purchases right from the conversation
- Order confirmations
- Receive automatic shipping updates
- Request receipts and invoices
- Track shipments
- Process returns
Businesses on Messenger also works exactly the same way the Messenger app does; conversations are presented in one, continuous thread, making it easy to see a history of the conversation and keep it going for future interactions.
The new service is part of Facebook's new Messenger Platform, which opens the app to third-party developers and is launching with several partners, such as live chat and helpdesk provider Zendesk.
It is not clear when Facebook plans on rolling out Businesses on Messenger, but the company says it will share more information soon. Those interested in the service can learn more about it and sign up at messenger.com/business.


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Bosses over at Alfa Romeo have already said the brand is going all-electric before the end of the decade but judging by the response to a potential supercar, they may want to wait just a little longer. The brand's CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato told Autocar that Alfa Romeo is planning on a supercar and, despite it not being greenlit by the brass at Stellantis just yet, it's already almost sold out.
“It will be sold out before I unveil the car,” Imparato told Autocar. And yet, there isn't even a finalized design. All that Imparato would say about the potentially upcoming supercar is that it could be called the 6C, that it will have an internal combustion engine of some sort, it will contribute to Alfa Romeo's brand DNA, and it will be able to hang with the gorgeous 8C at the Alfa Romeo historical museum.
He also said that it won't be just a track car. It will likely be something that's comfortable enough to daily drive and use on normal roads. So as exclusive as it may be, it should be pretty usable.
Imparato also recognizes that a gas-powered supercar in today's increasingly electrified automotive climate isn't the most popular of ideas. Especially considering the fact that it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Stellantis will make its decision on the Alfa Romeo supercar in April, according to the report, so people with deposits are still at least a month away from finding out if they're getting one. If it's given the green light, Alfa Romeo should announce the supercar this summer. An actual release date is obviously up in the air but, if it's ever made, the supercar will be part of Alfa's current generation of cars, so it would be released before 2027.
Whatever the potential Alfa Romeo supercar might be, it should be quite the looker. Alfa's lineup of cars is small but there isn't a bad-looking car in the bunch and the Giulia might be the prettiest sedan in the world. According to Imparato, the supercar "could be iconic, super-sexy and recognizable as an Alfa Romeo at first sight." OK, I get it now, I'd leave a deposit, too.
Got tips? Send 'em to [email protected]


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Volunteers Needed on Wednesday!
Be part of the Lost ‘n’ Found Crew!
On Wednesday, July 15, volunteers are needed between 10:30 a.m. and noon to help sort the Lost and Found clothing from 18 schools in the Louis Riel School Division. If you can help, please come by!
Also, on Wednesday at noon, the sorted clothing will be available for laundering. If you can help with the washing of clothes, please stop by the church around noon to pick up a bag or two.
The clean clothing will then be donated to organizations for distribution.
Thanks for your help!
Categories: General News


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ITOTY initiated by Tractor Junction in 2019 is a platform to recognise the hard work and efforts of tractor and farm equipment manufacturers in India.
Mahindra Tractors’, part of Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector, the world’s largest tractor manufacturer by volume, received four awards at the third edition of the prestigious Indian Tractor of the Year (ITOTY) awards 2022 in New Delhi.
Indian Tractor of the Year 2022 for the Mahindra 575 DI XP Plus
Best Tractor Above 60HP for the Mahindra Novo 755 DI
India’s Fastest Growing Tractor Manufacturer
Best CSR Initiative 2022 for Mahindra Shree Child Scholarship Program
ITOTY initiated by Tractor Junction in 2019 is a platform to recognise the hard work and efforts of tractor and farm equipment manufacturers in India – the largest tractor market in the world. The ITOTY awards is judged by jury members comprising of experts of farm equipment specialists from across the country who choose the most deserving contender after fair-minded voting.
Launched last year, the MAHINDRA 575 DI XP PLUS was the highest selling tractor in 2022 and is the strongest brand in 40-50 HP category; true to Mahindra Tractors Tough Hardum brand positioning. Recognized as one of the most Tough and reliable tractors in in its category, the MAHINDRA 575 DI XP PLUS is renowned for exceptional haulage capacity and can be used across a multitude of farming applications from pre harvest to post harvest.
The MAHINDRA NOVO 755 DI is one of the most powerful technologically advanced 4WD tractors in India, built for various conditions and agri seasons, ensuring the best result every time.
Mahindra Tractors has been India’s No.1 tractor brand for more than three decades. Having rolled-out its first tractor in 1963, through a joint venture with International Harvester Inc., USA, Mahindra & Mahindra in March 2019 became the first Indian tractor brand to sell 3 million tractors, inclusive of sales to global customers. Known for their exceptional build quality and performance on rugged and unforgiving terrain, Mahindra’s Tractors have earned the company both the Deming Award and the Japanese Quality Medals.


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Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre, Slow Food’s biennial international food fair and sustainability conference concluded last week in Turin, Italy. This year, the event was attended by Slow Food Urban San Diego’s Co-Leader, Candice Woo and the chapter’s Co-Founder, Donna McLoughlin, who were among the 200,000+ attendees - including Slow Food leaders, activists, educators and farmers - who participated in educational sessions focused on animal welfare, health, social issues and food waste and attended taste workshops featuring wine, craft beer, cheese and artisan food. Among the speakers at the event’s opening ceremony were Alice Waters, Slow Food’s vice president, famed restaurateur and founder of the Edible Schoolyard and Nikki Henderson, Executive Director of the People’s Grocery in Oakland.
The week in Turin also hosted the International Congress, a global Slow Food gathering of 650 delegates from 95 different countries, including two delegates from Southern California. The key event purpose was to help define the future of the organization and was led by Carlo Petrini, the founder of Slow Food and the non profit’s current president, who was re-elected for another term. Petrini spoke about his next goals for Slow Food, or “Slow Food 2.0”, including increasing the number of food gardens being created by Slow Food chapters in Africa, expanding the work to protect biodiversity of food products around the world and growing Slow Food’s network, which is currently comprised of 1,500 international chapters.
Speakers from countries across the globe, including China, Israel, Brazil and Somalia, gave presentations on issues concerning their local food communities and U.S. delegate Michael Dimock, Slow Food Russian River founder and President of Roots of Change, proposed a motion and received the delegation’s support of the goal of Proposition 37, the Label GMO ballot initiative in California, which Slow Food Urban San Diego also supports.
- By Candice Woo


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Hardwick Clothes, which was purchased out of bankruptcy by Cleveland, Tenn., businessman Allan Jones in 2014, has been named the Style category winner at Garden & Gun’s sixth annual Made in the South Awards. The awards celebrate Southern craftsmanship in six categories: food, drink, outdoors, home, crafts and style.
Billy Reid, a three-time CFDA Award winner based in Alabama, selected Hardwick for the honor. The winning look is a classic navy blazer in Italian wool with a Bemberg jacquard lining.
“Winning this prestigious award from Garden & Gun…reinforces the commitment Hardwick made last year to build the best blazer possible,” said Jones, Hardwick’s owner and chairman. “This blazer represents the essence of Hardwick — American-made quality, style and value. We are honored to bring the award home to Cleveland, Tenn., and share it with the employees that helped make it happen.”
Hardwick employs 300, up from the 215 that worked for the company after the sale.
The blazer will be limited to a first run of only 250 pieces, and offered through select retail partners or directly from hardwick.com for $795.
“This summer, we received more than 900 Made in the South Awards submissions. Narrowing down the finalists was a daunting task, but we’re proud to present another incredible roster of talented Southern makers and artisans,” said David DiBenedetto, editor in chief of Garden & Gun. “Most importantly, it’s great to see such a robust spirit of entrepreneurship and craftsmanship alive and well in the South.”
Hardwick bills itself as the oldest American tailored clothing manufacturer and was founded in 1880 by C.L. Hardwick.


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ROYAL OAK, MI − After months of on-again/off-again operating, Saab Cars North America this week began delivering Saab 9-4X crossover SUVs to the 199 U.S. dealers, restoring hopes that the Swedish automaker had ended its long flirtation with potential investors, suppliers and owners.
Saab Cars North America’s new president, Tim Colbeck, announced restoration of vehicle shipments to dealers from a General Motors plant in Mexico.
To spread word of the back-in-business development, Colbeck said Saab will turn to Internet advertising in both the U.S. and China, where sales of Saab 9-4X, 9-5 and 9-3 models will also resume as the main Saab plant reopens August 9.
A longtime former senior executive of Subaru, Colbeck said a digital campaign will get underway soon with a new website linking prospects to third-party car shopping sites such as AutoTrader and kbb.com.
Saab sales jumped more than 61 percent in the first half of 2011, despite a bevy of headlines on bids from corporate buyers, failure to pay suppliers and the plant shutdown at Trollhattan, Sweden, for several months.
In a positive move, the Swedish government in May approved a $50 million sale and leaseback of the Swedish factory to entrepreneur Victor Muller, who bought the Saab brands from GM in 2010.
“I’m convinced more than ever that Saab will survive,” Colbeck told a media briefing at the Royal Oak headquarters north of Detroit.
“We have a very low break-even and should be able to generate about 30,000 sales a year in the very near future,” Colbeck said.
Saab sales in the U.S. totaled a mere 608 units last year, owing to the plant shutdown, down from 8,680 in 2009. First-half 2011 sales numbered zero


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In 1927, Marriott founders J. Willard Marriott and Alice S. Marriott opened a nine-seat root beer stand in Washington, D.C. Eventually, that root beer stand became a restaurant, which ultimately evolved into a hotel. Eighty-seven years later, Marriott International has opened its 4,000th hotel — the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC — down the street from the spot of the original root beer stand, the company announced yesterday.
“From the nine-seat root beer stand that my parents started 87 years ago here in Washington, to the milestone opening of our 4,000th hotel, we have been fortunate to call this town our home,” Marriott International Executive Chairman J.W. Marriott Jr. said in a statement. “Washington is one of the world’s greatest cities and we are excited to host visitors and groups from across the globe at our newest hotel to fly the Marriott Hotels flag.”
The highly anticipated hotel, which is the capital’s largest, boasts 1,175 guest rooms, five dining venues, a 6,500-square-foot club lounge, an 8,000-square-foot bi-level fitness center and more than 105,000 square feet of function space, including a 30,000-square-foot grand ballroom, two 10,800-square-foot junior ballrooms, more than 53,000 square feet of meeting rooms, an 18,800-square-foot indoor event terrace and a 5,200-square-foot rooftop terrace — all connected to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center by an underground concourse.
“The Marriott Marquis Washington, DC reinforces Washington, D.C., as a top-tier convention destination with a world-class headquarters hotel,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, president and CEO of Events DC. “Coupled with the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the Marriott Marquis will help Events DC create even greater economic benefit for the city, stimulating growth and more opportunities for residents and businesses of the District.”
The Marriott Marquis Washington, DC is one of only five Marriott Marquis properties in the country. Designed to be green, it also is one of the largest LEED Silver hotels in the country.
Said Elliott L. Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, “We are very excited to be celebrating the much-anticipated opening of the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC. Developments such as the Marriott Marquis strengthen our tourism industry and help us to attract visitors, drive economic impact and create jobs. The hotel is opening at a perfect time as we’re looking forward to a busy summer travel season filled with exciting events and milestones such as the 10th anniversary of the DC Jazz Festival, the 200th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner and, of course, July 4th in our nation’s capital.”
The hotel’s inaugural catered event will be a charitable Mother’s Day Brunch for military families to be hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army on May 10. The hotel’s formal dedication and grand opening will take place a month later, on June 10.


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South Africa has officially entered Alert level one of the nationwide lockdown.
President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement after a meeting with the President’s Co-ordinating Council and other stakeholders last week.
South Africa has been on lockdown since March 26 to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Alert level one means that more regulations have been eased to allow South Africans to further start adjusting to the ‘ new normal ‘.
However, the night club industry remains banned.
The overnight curfew will now begin at midnight until 4 am. Alcohol will be sold every weekday until 5 pm, but will not be sold on a weekend. However, it will be available up to midnight in bars, taverns, restaurants, and pubs.
It is still mandatory to wear a mask when in public and adhere to social distancing.


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Customer Sat Is Rising Slower
The American customer's satisfaction with airlines is at its lowest point in seven years, according to a report by the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The airline industry's ACSI--an indicator of customer evaluations of the quality of products and services available to household consumers in the U.S on a 100-point scale--slipped 3 percent from Q1 2006's 65 to Q1 2007's 63. This represents the poorest mark of all industries included in the study. "The same problems that have pulled airline passenger satisfaction down the past few years--disenchanted employees, increasing fuel costs, bankruptcy, and now also record levels of lost, delayed, and damaged luggage--cause it to drop again," writes Claes Fornell, a professor at the University of Michigan and head of the ACSI.
The index is produced by the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business in partnership with the American Society for Quality and CFI Group, and supported in part by ForeSee Results. About 25,000 consumers were surveyed for this report. Utilities, airlines, express delivery companies, the U.S. Postal Service, hospitals, hotels, fast-food and full-service restaurants, telecommunications companies, and computer software companies were among the companies evaluated for the report. (The only named software company, Microsoft, pulled in a Q1 2007 score of 70, down from Q1 2006's 73.)
Among the airlines Southwest Airlines led the way with a Q1 2007 score of 76, up from Q1 2006's 74, trailed by "all others" (from 74 to 75), Continental Airlines (from 67 to 69), US Airways (from 62 to 61), Northwest Airlines (unchanged at 61), and American Airlines (62 to 60). Delta Airlines (64 to 59) and United Airlines (63 to 56) suffered the biggest skids. "Like Delta, United also emerged from bankruptcy with the same type of cost-cutting, renegotiation of employee contracts, and termination of pension plans," Fornell writes. "Delta and United may be out of bankruptcy, but they are now facing more problems with passengers. Unless these problems are resolved, the future does not look bright."
The hotels sector pulled in a stronger ACSI score than its hospitality cohort--71 in Q1 2007, albeit a year-over-year 5.3 percent decrease from Q1 2006's 75. Marriott International rated the highest with an ACSI tally of 79, up 5.3 percent from Q1 2006's 75 while Ramada Franchise Systems had the lowest point showing (70 to 69).
ACSI segments the telecommunications industry into four areas: fixed-line service, wireless service, cable and satellite television, and cell phones. The fixed-line service and cell phone categories fared the best, each securing an ACSI mark of 70, the same as Q1 2006, while the wireless service industry improved from 66 to 68 and cable and satellite TV fell from 63 to 62.
More specifically, within the fixed-line service industry Qwest Communications International and Verizon Communications each tallied a score of 72, up 2.9 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively. Cox Communications experienced the biggest decrease, 7.9 percent from 76 to 70, while Embarq notched the lowest score (from 64 to 66). Motorola and Nokia led the cell phone crowd, each with 72, followed by Samsung Electronics America and "all others," each with 70. Verizon outpaced all wireless service category contenders (from 69 to 71), but Sprint Nextel rounded out the bottom dropping from 63 to 61 .The DIRECTV Group's ACSI score fell four points from Q1 2006's 71 to Q1 2007's 67, but its point showing is strong enough to tie with EchoStar Communications (from 68 to 67) for the top score in the cable and satellite TV industry; Charter Communications had the weakest score in the cable and satellite TV category (unchanged at 55).
Overall, the aggregate ACSI score is up 0.4 percent to 75.2 percent, the highest quarterly national average in the ACSI's 14-year history. "The good news is that the level of customer satisfaction is pretty high and it is improving," Fornell says. "But it is improving at a slower rate, and quite a few companies are not keeping up."
Airline Quality Falls
Telcos Are Getting In Sync with Online Customers
Online Shopping Picks Up Steam
The Power of Wireless Customer Satisfaction
J.D. Power and Associates releases its latest findings on the popular (and growing) side of the telecommunications industry.
What Do Manufacturers Know about Manufacturing Customer Satisfaction?
Quite a bit, apparently: In a new report, food manufacturing improves its standing among consumers, while soft drinks and apparel fare less well.
Facebook Flounders in Customer Satisfaction
American Customer Satisfaction Index E-Business Report '10: FoxNews.com and Google take top honors, while popular social networking sites leave members wanting more.


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Japan logged a trade deficit of 81.2 billion yen (605 million U.S. dollars) in electronic equipment in the second half of 2022, local media said on Sunday.
The trade deficit in electronics marks the first time on record that imports have exceeded exports for a half-year period amid a decline in the competitiveness of Japanese products, Kyodo News reported, citing government data.
The value of exports of electronic equipment in the six months through December came to 9.23 trillion yen, up 13.9 percent from the first six months, while imports jumped 17.2 percent to 9.31 trillion yen, according to the Finance Ministry’s trade data.
The first red ink since comparable data became available in 1988 underscores a stark contrast to the 1990s, when the industry propped up Japan’s trade with an annual surplus of almost 8 trillion yen, the report said.
Imports of electronics in the July-December period last year increased 9.1 times while exports only grew 1.8 times, compared with the second half of 1991, when Japan posted a record half-year trade surplus of 4.17 trillion yen, it added.
Japan’s trade balance has been on a downward trend since the late 2000s, with the global financial crisis in 2008 driving Japanese electronics companies to shift their production bases overseas to cut back costs. ■


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At the Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, Nokia surprised market watchers by unveiling four lower-end phones.
With a carrot-and-stick approach, Finance Minister P Chidambaram is trying to goad sellers of set-top boxes, one of the fastest moving electronic device, to set up manufacturing facilities in India instead of importing.
If you don’t intend to spend a fortune on a tablet, yet want the big-screen thrill, there are plenty of options in the sub-Rs 15,000 segment.
SN Rai, Co - founder & Director, LAVA International: The excise duty proposed in the union budget on Mobile phones priced Rs. 2000 and above would have a very high impact on the industry. The industry is already suffering from Non Uniform Vat issue and the increase in the duty further escalate the prices. Also, this step is a discouraging move to the... more
Lava has launched its new Tablet named E-Tab XTRON in India priced at Rs 6499. This is company's first tablet operating on Jelly Bean operating system
Homegrown handset makers barring Karbonn and Lava, have disappeared from the market due to intense
Lava becomes the first Indian company to manufacture smart phones with atom processors.
Lava at GSMA Summit Barcelona: XOLO X900 Android smartphone to hit retail stores in India by second quarter this year
Desi handset maker Lava to unveil XOLO X 900, a smartphone with Intel inside.
Indian low-cost handset maker Lava Mobiles ties up with Intel; to collaborate with tech major to make smartphones for local market
This imagery will be used by Catlin Seaview Survey to create a visual and scientific baseline record of the marine environment surrounding the islands, allowing for any future changes to be measured and evaluated by scientists around the world
We captured imagery from 10 locations that were hand-selected by CDF and GNPD. We walked past giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies, navigated through steep trails and lava fields, and picked our way down the crater of an active volcano called Sierra Negra.


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Apple is set to release iOS 16.2 next week, as the company has just seeded the RC version of this operating system. Alongside exciting new features such as the Freeform app and Apple Music Sing, the company is now planning to roll out the AirDrop ‘Everyone’ 10-minute limit to all iPhone users.
This decision came after Apple suffered from bad PR since iOS 16.1.1 limited the ability for Chinese users to send AirDrop files to everyone for more than 10 minutes. When this version was released, Bloomberg reported that “the shift came after protesters in the country used the service to spread posters opposing Xi Jinping and the Chinese government. The use of AirDrop to sidestep China’s strict online censorship has been well-documented over the past three years.”
AirDrop allows users to quickly exchange files such as images, documents, and videos between Apple devices – your own or other people’s. While users could choose between no one, contacts only, or everyone for AirDrop, Apple limited with iOS 16.1.1 the option “Everyone” for up to 10 minutes of usage.
While the Cupertino company has stated to Bloomberg that it was planning to roll out this AirDrop setting globally “in the coming year” to “mitigate unwanted file sharing,” Apple has now decided to roll out this restriction feature with iOS 16.2.
It’s important to note that this isn’t the first time Apple has made concessions to the Chinese government. For example, in 2019, it hid the Taiwanese flag emoji for users in Hong Kong or Macau, it has removed apps for virtual private networks or VPNs, and limits Apple’s service in the country, such as Apple TV+, the iTunes Store, paid podcasts, Apple Books, and Apple Arcade.
iOS 16.2 with AirDrop restriction is expected to be released next week alongside iPadOS 16.2, watchOS 9.2, tvOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1.


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Excellent news for the Iberian agri-food and table olive sector following the entry into force of the temporary suspension of U.S. tariffs.
The table olive sector has welcomed with relief the temporary withdrawal of tariffs on Spanish agri-food products. The EU and the US have agreed to suspend these tariffs for an initial period of four months, while working towards a permanent solution.
The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration penalized products such as table olives, olive oil, wine, citrus fruits and cheeses from Spain, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
During that time Greece and Italy have not had such tariffs and this has led to unfair competition. The United States is one of the main export markets. With a tax that has caused a significant drop in Spanish exports.
Green olives have been subject to tariffs of 25% since 2019 as a result of the trade conflict between the United States and the European Union.


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Guinness World Records recently announced that House of Bread, a bakery in Mill Creek, received the record for baking the largest cinnamon roll.
Owners Wayne and Anita Warren recently received a certificate stating that the 246.5-pound edible cinnamon roll was indeed the largest of its kind. It measured 6 feet in diameter.
Beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 15, the Warrens joined their staff of four to construct, bake and serve the gooey treat to hundreds of onlookers. The roll consisted of 180 pounds of dough, 50 pounds of butter and cinnamon sugar, and 50 pounds of icing.
The giant roll was equivalent to 789 standard 5-ounce rolls and contained a whopping 394,400 calories, owner Wayne Warren said.
The certificate is displayed at the bakery, 15224 Main St., Suite 105.
For information, call 425-385-8553 or visit www.houseofbreadwa.com.
For three weeks beginning March 3, the Girl Scouts will sell the famous cookies in the green boxes as part of the annual fundraiser.
Through March 19, Girl Scouts from the Totem Council will be at various Snohomish County locations selling the sought after baked goods.
Little Brownie Bakers, manufacturers of the tasty treats, introduce Cafe Cookies, a new cookie caramelized with brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon spice. Traditional favorites, such as Samoas, Thin Mints and Tagalongs, will also be available.
Cookies are $4 per box.
Consumers can purchase an extra box as part of the Girl Scouts “Gift of Caring: Operation Cookie Drop” to be donated to Puget Sound’s Naval Forces.
For information, visit www.girlscoutstotem.org.
Herald news services


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Three new Xiaomi phones with model numbers M1804C3CC, M1804C3CE and M1804CDE have surfaced on the website of China’s TENAA telecom authority and these could be the variants of Xiaomi Redmi 6A.
All the three Xiaomi devices have also appeared on the website of CMIIT (China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) which is equivalent to the FCC body in the U.S. The specs that have been through these listings suggest that it could be the upcoming Redmi 6A smartphone.
Xiaomi Redmi 6A Hardware Specs
The TENAA listings of M1804C3CC, M1804C3CE and M1804CDE do not contain their entire specs. However, these listings do reveal some information like display size, battery and dimensions which suggest that it could be three variants of an upcoming Xiaomi phone. The mysterious handset features a 5.45-inch display and it is fueled by 3,000mAh battery. The handset carries support dual SIM dual standby and it measures 147.4 x 71.49 x 8.3mm.
Out of the three variants mentioned above, the M1804C3DE has been also spotted at 3C (China Compulsory Certification website). It reveals that the device carries support for 5V/1A charging which indicates it could be a low-end smartphone. Interestingly, 3C has listed the M1804C3DE alongside two other unidentified Xiaomi phones such as M1804C3DC and M1804C3DT.
Xiaomi is known for releasing low-end smartphones under the Redmi branding. Among the Redmi smartphones that were launched last year, only the Redmi 5A and Redmi Note 5A had arrived with low-end specs. Both the phones are fueled by Snapdragon 425 chipset and are equipped with 5V/1A charging. Hence, the mysterious phone could be either the Redmi 6A or the Redmi Note 6A.
Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A offers more than just the 16MP camera
Redmi 6A Could Boast a 18:9 Display
The recently released Asus ZenFone Live L1 and Honor 7 Play smartphones feature 5.45-inch HD+ resolution supporting display along with an aspect ratio of 18:9. These handsets respectively measure 147.3 x 71.8 x 8.2 mm and 146.5×70.9×8.3 mm which is quite similar to the 147.4 x 71.49 x 8.3 mm dimensions of the alleged Redmi 6A. The size of the purported 6A phone is smaller than Redmi Note 5A that measures 153 x 76.2 x 7.7 mm. Hence, the newly spotted Redmi phone could be Redmi 6A, and not Note 6A.
Also, since the alleged Redmi 6A has the same screen size and dimensions as the ZenFone Live L1 and Honor 7 Play, it appears that the upcoming Redmi phone may sport a full screen design and it may feature a 5.45-inch display that will carry support for HD+ resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels along with 18:9 aspect ratio.
Hence, an educated guess considering all the above information suggests that the M1804C3CC, M1804C3CE and M1804CDE variants could belong to the upcoming Redmi 6A smartphone that was recently certified by European Economic Commission (EEC).
There is no information available on the launch date of Redmi 6A. Xiaomi had unveiled the Redmi 5A in November last year. Since the alleged Redmi 6A has already bagged TENNA and 3C certifications, the Chinese firm may launch it earlier than the predecessor phone. Also, its TENAA listings are expected to be updated with entire specs in the coming weeks.


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House-proud Brits are being inspired to de-clutter their homes thanks to media sensation Marie Kondo according to new research.
The survey of 1,042 UK adults conducted by household appliances e-tailler, AppliancesDirect.co.uk revealed that a staggering one in three (38%) Brits felt inspired to tidy their home as a result of being influenced by Marie Kondo.
When respondents were quizzed on their knowledge of the tidying guru, more than two thirds (65%) say they know of Marie Kondo, and 58% have watched her Netflix series, Tidying up with Marie Kondo.
Almost half (44%) of those aware of Marie Kondo say they know what the now infamous KonMari tidying method entailed.
Further research shows that the nation spends a staggering 7.45 hours per week on average tidying their home.
Meanwhile more than 1 in 5 (21%) have taken to getting rid of certain items in their home as a result.
Marketing manager at appliancesdirect.co.uk Mark Kelly said: “It’s fascinating to see the impact and influence Marie Kondo is having on British adults with her tidying hacks and tips. This is perhaps unsurprising given that she has propelled to stardom over recent months thanks to her book, but most notably her recent Netflix documentary “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”.
Interestingly, the research found that adult Generation Z (those aged 18-24) are the tidiest, spending 8 hours per week on this task.
Mark Kelly continued: “The research also paints a picture of how the younger generation are spending a large amount of time tidying their home, showing how much Marie Kondo’s hacks are influencing this age group in their tidying routine.
"Clearly, Brits want a home they can see as a haven to relax in, whilst also being a place that they can proudly show off to friends and visitors. It’s not long till the annual spring clean, so why not get started early?”


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Released last month, Gran Turismo is the latest release from Japan based developers, Polyphony Digital. The game is one of the last to be released on the PlayStation 3, with the new PlayStation 4 just gone on sale.
Recent Gran Turismo games have come under scrutiny from both general gamers and fans of the series for a number of reasons – poor car sounds, dubious AI and a feeling that the series has stagnated – revolutionary when it first came out, but now, aged, and very little that is new or different from previous versions of the game.
As a happy recipient of the game at Christmas, here are my thoughts so far on the game.
Review to follow.


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The printing press remains the symbol—despite the arrival of online news—of the Fourth Estate, of “Freedom of the Press.” That’s why for centuries one of the first acts of authoritarian rulers was to smash the printing presses of the opposition.
In 21st Century democracies, the pressures are more subtle, but with the same potential impact—to silence independent voices: labeling all legitimate, professional media as “fake news,” for example.
Now, coming on the heels of the announcement of the Trump administration’s controversial tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, the Department of Commerce this month announced the imposition of a 22 percent “anti-dumping duty” on imported Canadian newsprint, a major source of paper for many community and metro newspapers.
The Commerce Department had concluded that Canadian paper manufacturers have been “dumping” newsprint into the U.S. for less than its fair value.
The antidumping duties follow duties on newsprint and other uncoated paper products of 4.4 to 9 percent announced in January.
Paper producers have already announced significant price increases in an attempt to absorb the duties. Additionally, newsprint manufacturers with low rates are being asked for supply and are raising prices because of higher demand.
The California News Publishers Association and other industry groups are asking each member of California’s Congressional delegation to oppose Commerce’s imposition of the duties.
David Chavern, CEO of the Newspaper Marketing Association, predicted dire consequences: “Most newspapers will not be able to absorb these increased costs and will be forced to reduce page counts, reduce days of distribution, and/or move more information to digital platforms.
“Some small-market or rural newspapers, with slim margins, will close.”
Ironically, the supposed beneficiary of duties on Canadian newsprint imports— U.S. newsprint mills— will be harmed as tariffs will artificially decrease the demand for their product.”
A consequence of the new steel and aluminum tariffs will be increases in manufacturing costs and consumer prices for cars, refrigerators and washing machines.
The consequence of the newsprint “duties” (another word for tariff) could be even more dire for our democracy.
South Carolina newspaper publisher Susan Rowell warned, “We are painfully aware that some newspapers will not survive this upheaval. For those who do, it will be at the expense of a diminished news mission. Our readers, customers and community will pay the price, just so one small paper mill in Washington state can use trade laws to a very temporary advantage. Long term, we will all lose.”
Although the new duties are in place, the Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission will be studying their impact this summer on newsprint customers and the newspaper industry. Let’s hope that wiser heads prevail and these new rules are reversed.


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Dean Foods (NYSE:DF) had its target price trimmed by BMO Capital Markets from $10.00 to $9.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday morning. The firm currently has a market perform rating on the stock.
A number of other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank raised Dean Foods from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $8.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday. Vertical Group cut Dean Foods from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, August 7th. Zacks Investment Research raised Dean Foods from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $11.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 31st. ValuEngine cut Dean Foods from a sell rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, July 24th. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group cut Dean Foods from a neutral rating to a sell rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $10.00 to $8.00 in a report on Monday, April 16th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. The stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $9.44.
NYSE DF traded up $0.07 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $8.61. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,688,642 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,671,272. The stock has a market capitalization of $780.34 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.39, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.46. Dean Foods has a 1-year low of $8.03 and a 1-year high of $12.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39.
Dean Foods (NYSE:DF) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 7th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.94 billion. Dean Foods had a return on equity of 10.88% and a net margin of 0.17%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.21 EPS. equities analysts predict that Dean Foods will post 0.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 17th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.18%. Dean Foods’s payout ratio is currently 45.00%.
In other news, major shareholder Value Vals Ag Vv bought 350,000 shares of Dean Foods stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 7th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $8.31 per share, with a total value of $2,908,500.00. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Cornerstone Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Dean Foods in the second quarter valued at approximately $516,000. Edgestream Partners L.P. grew its position in shares of Dean Foods by 16.8% in the second quarter. Edgestream Partners L.P. now owns 51,086 shares of the company’s stock valued at $537,000 after purchasing an additional 7,366 shares in the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC grew its position in shares of Dean Foods by 10.3% in the first quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 86,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $741,000 after purchasing an additional 8,000 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in shares of Dean Foods by 15.9% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 62,784 shares of the company’s stock valued at $659,000 after purchasing an additional 8,600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank grew its position in shares of Dean Foods by 5.9% in the first quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 158,400 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,365,000 after purchasing an additional 8,800 shares in the last quarter. 82.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
About Dean Foods
Dean Foods Company, a food and beverage company, processes and distributes milk, and other dairy and dairy case products in the United States. The company manufactures, markets, and distributes various branded and private label dairy, and diary case products, such as fluid milk, ice creams, cultured dairy products, creamers, ice cream mixes, and other dairy products; and juices, teas, bottled water, and other products.
Further Reading: Book Value Of Equity Per Share – BVPS Explained
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