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Rebecca Morgan, founder of Books for Treats, is seeking donations of new or gently read books for children, appropriate for toddlers through sixth-graders, for Halloween.
Morgan started giving out books instead of candy to trick-or-treaters at her Willow Glen home in 1995.
Since then, she has created a nonprofit movement across the country and in Canada of individuals and groups offering Books for Treats on Halloween.
Since 2001, Morgan and fellow volunteers have given away books at Willow Glen’s annual trick-or-treat event along Lincoln Avenue, and in 2012 she started working with merchants in Campbell to do the same.
Initially, Morgan purchased books herself at library book sales and garage sales. Now she relies on donations of books or money to assure there are plenty of books to hand out to the more than 4,000 children in Willow Glen and Campbell each year.
Small donations can be dropped off at Comerica Bank, 1191 Lincoln Ave. For large donations, Morgan will arrange for a pickup.
Donations are needed by Oct. 24 to allow volunteers time to sort.
Visit booksfortreats.org or call 408.998.7977 for more information, to donate or to volunteer.


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ResearchAndMarkets in its latest report predicts the global EV charger service market to grow at a CAGR of 26.74% during 2018-2022.
An electric vehicle (EV) charger supplies the electricity required to recharge batteries in pure EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).
According to the research firm the report “Global EV Charger Service Market 2018-2022,” has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.
The author of the report recognizes BMW, Bosch, ChargePoint, Delphi, and Tesla as the key players in the global EV charger service market:.
Commenting on the report, an analyst from the research team said: “One trend in the market is increased installation of DC fast charging station. Range anxiety is the main concern that is hindering the adoption of EVs. The major difference between EVs and ICE vehicles is the amount of time and effort required to refuel them.”
According to the report, one driver in the market is range anxiety among the end-users. The popularity of EVs has been increasing year-over-year since 2014. The best-selling EVs such as Nissan LEAF and Tesla Model 3 had witnessed significant sales in 2017. However, consumers still have a psychological fear of “range anxiety,” as drivers fear getting stranded due to insufficient charge in the battery said the research firm ResearchAndMarkets in its report.
Further, the report states that one challenge in the market is high cost of ownership for EVs compared with ICE vehicles. The total cost of ownership of EVs is higher than that for ICE vehicles. This is because of the additional high-capacity batteries used in EVs along with the use of advanced electronic components and design considerations.
The cost of EVs depends on range, hours of use, fuel cost, and government subsidies. One of the best-selling economic EVs, Nissan LEAF, has a 24kWh battery that costs $12,000.
For more information click here

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Markets are volatile. Yet I’d like to encourage you to take a deep breath and think about your long-term financial goals, such as your retirement years. Perhaps you’re about to invest in a Stocks and Shares ISA. Then you’re possibly wondering if the new week could be a good time to put your money to work. Let’s take a closer look.
Stocks and Shares ISA
On 12 March, the FTSE 100 plunged over 10% on its worst day since 1987. Since them, some calm has return to the markets. But none of us can foresee how the new week, or even the year, will end.
However, Britons know we’ve an important investment structure that’s legally designed with tax advantages, i.e., ISAs. Thus, I believe every UK resident should learn more about the different types of ISAs available to them, with an emphasis on Stocks and Shares ISAs.
As our tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April, the deadline for individuals to contribute to the previous year’s ISA is April 5. Yet I’d urge readers to not wait till April next year to start investing in an ISA. Currently, there’s a maximum subscription allowance of £20,000 per adult per tax year.
The rapid decline in stock markets is unnerving for many investors. But it’s also hard to deny that it’s created buying opportunities for long-term portfolios. After all, if you liked a company for robust fundamental reasons and dividends in February, you should really like it even more when its share price is a lot cheaper now.
Are we in a recession?
Even though the market decline makes this potentially an opportune time to invest in many stocks, it’s also important to consider which industries to concentrate on.
We’re beginning to see that corporate earnings may not necessarily perform well over the next few months. And economic numbers across the world suggest a large number of countries may already be in a recession.
As 2019 ended, several City analysts highlighted that we were possibly at the tail end of nearly a decade of economic growth. In spite of a few short-lived downturns over the past 10 years, most economies have enjoyed stable growth since the 2008/09 crisis.
We won’t know when the next recession starts until we’re in it. But, as we’ve been finding out in recent weeks, investor sentiment and the economy can change rather quickly.
If you think an economic slump is upon us, you may want to reconsider your portfolio diversification strategy, including your Stocks and Shares ISA. Certain industries tend to do better in times of slower economic growth.
Investing in a resilient industry
Exactly what traits are common to defensive stocks? A defensive company typically has a constant demand for its products or services. It isn’t correlated to the rest of the business cycle either.
Analysts regard consumer staples companies as defensive. People continue to buy household items, cleaning products and other essentials, such as personal hygiene products, even when their salaries are shrinking. And the Covid-19 outbreak means everyone must pay more attention to basic hygiene than before.
Two stocks to consider for a Stocks and Shares ISA could be Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever. And supermarkets such as Morrisons and Tesco could also be appropriate. All of these companies also offer respectable dividend yields.
According to one leading industry firm, the 5G boom could create a global industry worth US $12.3 TRILLION out of thin air…
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It’s just ONE innovation from a little-known US company that has quietly spent years preparing for this exact moment…
But you need to get in before the crowd catches onto this ‘sleeping giant’.
tezcang owns shares of Morrisons. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended Unilever. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Tesco. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.


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We talked to leading economists and fund managers to help you make sense of what is happening in the US and how it could impact emerging economies like India. This is what Saugata Bhattacharya, SVP & Head-Business and Economic Research, Axis Bank, had to say:
Is there any chance the US might get away without tapering?
Eventually tapering will have to happen because no central bank can afford to go on increasing its balance sheet to the size that we are already seeing. When this happens will depend on how the US growth prospects, particularly the housing markets, look. The unfortunate convergence of the Federal Government shutdown and the impending debt ceiling limit got resolved; but with some compensatory cutback in fiscal spending. The Fed will be worried about the effects of a fiscal contraction.
Could we see a shock in markets globally when that happens?
It will probably be not as severe as we were expecting in June and July. The cutback might be to the order of 5 billion to 10 billion a month. A significant cutback in the bond purchase programme will probably have to wait till the end of 2014 or thereabouts. Second, there hasn't been a very major drop in the yield of the benchmark US 10-year paper. So I think some part of this is already probably priced in.
Why has there been no inflation in spite of the US printing money every month?
The Federal Reserve's balance sheet would have grown by about $2.4 trillion from $0.8 trillion when they started the asset purchase program. But a lot of this money--around 70 per cent-- promptly went back into the Federal excess. So it's not as if a lot of money is sloshing around in the system. On top of that, given low consumer confidence, demand is expected to be moderate. Remember consumers are also de-leveraging. They had racked up huge amount of leverage. They're trying to reduce the size of their debt and then not buying as much.
The latest headache indicates a possible US debt default. How realistic is it?
The US cannot afford a default, the implications for not just the US, but other developed and emerging markets will be very significant. The debt ceiling will be extended. The trigger is going to be other factors like lower growth, fiscal drag, and so on. That will probably be the larger threat, larger trigger.
Could you elaborate on these triggers?
Interest rates will go up, mortgages more expensive, payments have been disrupted, important services like medical facilities have been closed, and other business opportunities are getting degraded. This can't carry on. The US administration and the Houses of Congress are probably both sensitive to negative perceptions. So my guess is that there will be some compromise at the last moment. How much this compromise will be in terms of fiscal cuts, I don't know.


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Twitter jumped sharply on Tuesday after the social media company easily topped earnings and revenue expectations.» Read More
Identity fraud has been on the rise, as criminal cunning may be mixing with desperation during the downturn. But a new breed of products is tackling the trickier matter of preventing identity theft, says the New York TImes.
Time Warner says it will spin off its Internet business, AOL, as a separate company on December 9th. Time Warner Inc. said Thursday it has declared a dividend on the AOL shares it owns that will result in a complete separation of the two companies.
Intel has agreed to pay Advanced Micro Devices $1.25 billion to settle a longstanding dispute between the two companies.
Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, has for years used large rebates and co-marketing arrangements to talk Dell and other manufacturers into sticking with its products rather than increasing their business with A.M.D., according to a lawsuit filed by the New York attorney general's office. The New York Times reports.
The European Commission is close to issuing a formal objection to Oracle’s acquisition of Sun Microsystems, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
Even amid the contraction of the venture capital industry, which fertilizes the seeds of new technology start-ups, some firms are expanding.
Cisco Systems Inc.'s quarterly results this week are expected to reflect some recovery in tech spending, but it may be hard to get investors to commit more money to a stock that is already up 40 percent this year.
Motorola Corp. shares gained Monday and BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd. declined after Citi Investments Research predicted that Motorola and others could break the BlackBerry's grip on the corporate cell phone market.
Verizon Wireless will start selling its answer to the iPhone — the Droid — for $200 next week as the company taps into the growing appetite for smartphones that go far beyond just making calls.
GameStop Inc. plans to hire about 15,000 seasonal, part-time workers to help with the holiday rush, the video game retailer said Tuesday. The company said the number of the new part-time workers this year is similar to seasonal hiring in 2008 and 2007."
The tech sector has been among the market’s top performers this year, and analysts believe the hot streak may continue. But the usual suspects may not be leading the way.
The technology sector will start to rebound in the fourth quarter, said Peter Sondergaard, head of research at Gartner.
Dell Inc. Chief Executive Michael Dell said the business climate was improving and repeated his expectation for a "powerful" hardware refresh cycle beginning next year.
While most retailers saw bleak sales this back-to-school season, consumer electronics chains saw renewed demand for notebook personal computers, according to a report from market research firm NPD Group.
IBM Corp. says it has won a $200 million contract to handle some technology chores for a company called Datacom Solutions as it rolls out telecommunications services in India.
While overall stock valuations aren’t much more attractive than bonds, some areas like technology are appealing, Rob Morgan, president of Dearden, Maguire, Weaver and Barrett, said on CNBC Tuesday.
IBM is trying to stymie Google's expansion into the business software market. The weapon: a bare-bones e-mail service IBM is selling to companies for $36/year per worker, undercutting a package of software applications that Google sells for $50 per user annually.
Cisco has agreed to buy Norwegian videoconferencing company Tandberg for $3 billion in cash, its latest bet that video will drive demand for its data transmission gear. The acquisition fills the gap between Cisco's high-end video meeting service and its WebEx tool.
Shares of satellite TV provider Dish Network Corp. gained Tuesday after Wells Fargo Securities upgraded the stock, predicting a bounce-back for the company as it gains market share and the economy improves.
Motorola Inc. continues to get good reviews from analysts for its efforts to turn around its cell phone business. A Macquarie Securities analyst upgraded the stock to "Outperform" from "Neutral" on Wednesday.
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Matt Hunter is the senior technology editor at CNBC.com.
Ari Levy is CNBC.com's senior technology reporter in San Francisco.
Cadie Thompson is a tech reporter for the Enterprise Team for CNBC.com.
Working from Los Angeles, Boorstin is CNBC's media and entertainment reporter and editor of CNBC.com's Media Money section.
Jon Fortt is an on-air editor. He covers the companies, start-ups, and trends that are driving innovation in the industry.
Josh Lipton is CNBC's technology correspondent, working from CNBC's Silicon Valley bureau.
Mark Berniker is CNBC's Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bureau Chief covering technology and digital media.
To enter NYC, Lyft cut a deal with the taxi commission that eliminated the one thing that distinguished it from its rivals.
The deal shouldn't concern Realtors, but it could impact the National Association of Realtors, Collingwood Group's Tim Rood said.
"Our goal is to get as close to the experience the surfer is having," says the head of a pro surfing organization.


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Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to list its space internet venture, Starlink, but not for several years, a company official told Reuters on Thursday.
This comes at a time when e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc is planning its own voyage into space. The company plans to build a network of over 3,000 satellites to provide high-speed internet through its Project Juniper.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Earlier in the day, Bloomberg reported the possibility of Starlink going public, citing Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell.
“Right now, we are a private company, but Starlink is the right kind of business that we can go ahead and take public,” the report https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-06/spacex-likely-to-spin-off-starlink-business-and-pursue-an-ipo quoted Shotwell saying at a private investor event in Miami.
Musk said last year Starlink was an important new revenue stream for his California-based Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX.
The company’s so-called Starlink constellation is a planned network of up to 30,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit intended to beam broadband internet globally.
In May, SpaceX launched the first batch of 60 small satellites for Starlink internet service. (Reporting by Joey Roulette in Cape Canaveral and Ayanti Bera in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva and Shinjini Ganguli)


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Unofficial renderings show benefits of OLED bar for MacBook refresh
Rumors surfaced a few weeks ago about OLED panels being incorporated onto the 2016 MacBook Pro refresh. The OLED screen, however, would not be used for the main display but as a strip to replace the otherwise ordinary top row of Function keys. Such a move could allow for Touch ID authentication and new customizable controls.
Graphic designer Martin Hajek is showing off his own take on the rumor with renderings of a MacBook Pro utilizing the new OLED panel. The images demonstrate some benefits of having a secondary panel such as the potential to control Spotify and other programs regardless of what may be on the main screen at the time. The OLED panel can also be used to display battery capacity, time, network status, user name, and more. users can open a search window without needing to use a mouse or simply toggle the display to show a standard row of Function keys when needed.
Apple has yet to confirm that its 2016 MacBook Pro refresh will use OLED panels and will likely not comment on the matter before an official unveiling. The concept, however, seems like it could be a new distinguishing factor between MacBooks and the sea of traditional Windows alternatives available. Apple is expected to unveil new devices come WWDC 2016.


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Just a day after a new cumulative update started rolling out to Windows 10 Creators Update PCs, Microsoft is rolling another out to anyone still running the Anniversary Update (version 1607). This cumulative update packs a single fix and ticks the build number up to version 14393.1230.
Here's a look at what's new in KB4023680:
- Addressed issue where End User Defined Characters (EUDC) may not be visible in some applications.
Sure, it's not the most exciting update in the world, but it's something. If you're still running the Anniversary Update on your PC, you should be able to grab this latest cumulative update via Windows Update now.
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All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.


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To ensure they stand out in the crowd, exhibitors have said they will be going all out to attract visitors to their space, with larger and more visually dynamic stand designs expected to feature at ARBS 2020. Read more
The format can be a seminar, case study, panel session or workshop, between 30 and 75 minutes in duration.
A panel of industry experts will evaluate the nominations based on various criteria such as leadership, sustainability, performance and innovation.
Stand bookings are now open for ARBS 2020 which is returning to Melbourne.


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OpinionAre down rounds the new layoffs?
Are down rounds the new layoffs?
"With 2023 shaping up to be the year of down rounds, what is the potential impact on the Israeli tech ecosystem, and how can founders avoid being part of this trend?" writes Eyal Bino, Founding Partner of 97212 Ventures
This is not a secret. Over the past year, Israeli startups have hit a rough patch when it comes to raising capital, and this is across all stages. Despite having a strong reputation for producing highly successful startups, Israeli entrepreneurs are finding it increasingly difficult to secure funding, and many are struggling to keep their businesses afloat.
During the first quarter of 2023, Israeli startups raised $1.72 billion in 105 deals, a drop of 70% from the first quarter of 2022, according to the latest IVC-Leumi Tech report for Q1 2022. The data doesn’t lie, and is a reflection of the market.
When taking a closer look at the report, we see a new trend: down rounds are becoming more common as founders agree to unfavorable funding terms in order to keep their companies alive. As a result, and with a major focus on becoming more efficient, startups are combining raising a round with laying off employees, so that they can become cash flow positive and ultimately have the choice of not needing to raise a new round in the future, or raise at much better terms.
If there is a silver lining to these challenges, it is that companies are becoming more productive and independent.
What does the effect of down rounds mean for startups, and Israeli startups in particular?
Down rounds today
So, what exactly is a down round?
According to Carta, a down round happens “when a company raises a financing round of venture capital funding and the pre-money valuation of the company is lower than the post-money valuation of the previous round. Down rounds are different from bridge rounds, which help founders extend their last round of fundraising.”
Once there's a down round, typically founders' equity gets crushed (or at the very least gets smaller) and there's even more of a focus on efficiency which leads to layoffs.
Lately, this has been a topic of discussion in the New York venture community. I recently attended the RTP Global Founder Summit, where the current state of fundraising had been one of the biggest topics of debate between VCs and founders. At the summit, Matt Turck, Partner at NYC’s First Mark Capital, stated that “down rounds are the new layoffs”, pointing to the fact these actions are being done in parallel, even if the media doesn’t report it.
Hold on... down rounds and layoffs at the same time?! What? Just imagine saying this in the midst of the crazy days of 2021, which seems like decades ago at this point.
Pitchbook’s recent VC Valuation Report states that “The proportion of flat and down rounds as a share of all rounds completed grew for the fourth consecutive quarter, representing 7.5% of all rounds in Q1 2023, which is roughly 5.7% higher than Q1 2022.”
Furthermore, “while elevated, this is likely the calm before the storm as many startups that face the risk of raising equity capital at a stagnant or reduced valuation are choosing to delay their return to market in hopes that the valuation environment will become more hospitable.”
The impact on Israeli startups’ fundraising
With 2023 shaping up to be the year of down rounds, what is the potential impact on the Israeli tech ecosystem, and how can founders avoid being part of this trend? This is a loaded question.
First of all, in a world where flat rounds are the new up rounds, founders need to be realistic with their valuation expectations. There are no more crazy multiples on revenue, as 10X-15X on current revenue is becoming the norm for companies with good performance.
For companies that are growing but at a slower pace, the most common alternative to raising a proper round is to raise an extension round, which is essentially done at the same valuation as the last round. This enables companies to extend their runway and increase their market traction so they become more marketable when raising the next round.
The problem? Many companies already used that “card” and now face a major decision: “are we ready and able to raise a round at a higher valuation to continue growing the business, or should we get ready to raise a down round and lay off people?”
On the other side of this, VC fund managers looking at new investment opportunities also have some major decisions to make. On the one hand, valuations are much more attractive and this is a very good time to invest. On the other hand, many don’t want to be associated with messy cap tables and down rounds, as this not only has a financial impact on startup companies, but also a psychological one.
Can founders who now have less equity in the companies they’ve built with so much effort maintain the same level of energy and hunger as they did before? Can companies be more efficient not just with how they spend their money, but also with growing the business after a down round?
For many, it’s also a question of where they believe the market will be in 12-24 months, and how will we bounce back from the current downturn.
In the current market, fundraising is extremely challenging and is becoming more of a science than an art as VCs are extremely careful with their investment decisions. Focusing on efficiency and showing a path for profitability are the best ways to avoid a down round, and ultimately come out of this market stronger than before.
Eyal Bino is the Founding Partner of 97212 Ventures, a NY-based seed fund


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Việt Nam was the fourth largest supplier of mango, guava and mangosteen to Russia in January this year, reaching 226 tonnes, worth US$807,000, up 114 per…
As a key pillar of the national economy, Vietnam’s agri-food sector remained resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic
At the conference on implementing solutions to develop livestock and fisheries in the new situation held on the morning of April 26
Minh Phu’s shrimp hatchery in the southern province of Ninh Thuan. Photo courtesy of Minh Phu Seafood JSC.
Dau Tieng district People’s Committee has just summed its One Commune One Product (OCOP) 2020 and proposed orientation and tasks for 2021
With the aim of make more efficient use of land resources, improve production values and incomes of farmers
After increasing in the first quarter of 2021, the price of Vietnamese pepper has decreased since the beginning of April.
The price of pepper, known as black gold, is increasing sharply. However, Vietnam’s pepper growers are not sure how long the price will be maintained.
Since early morning, Nguyen Van Dung of Khe Goi hamlet in Ninh Binh province has been tending the family’s 4 ha of pineapples on the hill…
In order to take advantage of FTAs and increase the Vietnamese rice export market share at more competitive prices
Farm economic models in agricultural production have been continuously developed. The development of farm economy has helped farmers bring into full play
The province has developed many large-scale economic models in which farm economy plays an important role in transiting from small-scale
In August 2020, when the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect, Trung An High-tech Agriculture JSC exported about 150 tons of rice to…
In the first months of 2021, although the volume of Vietnam's cashew exports increased sharply, the export value trended in the opposite direction.
Dung, the owner of a hotel, said he has a "treasure" hidden at the bottom of the pond which yields about VND34 billion a year.
In the first quarter of 2021, fruit and vegetable exports recorded a positive signal in most markets, typically China.
After a period of sinking prices, pepper, called Vietnam’s "black gold", has increased in price by more than four times.
Agriculture exports from the Mekong Delta are facing logistical challenges, affecting their competitiveness overseas.
Vietnam targets a 5 percent increase in shrimp exports this year to $4 billion.
The warehouse construction helps reduce the loss of product quantity and quality in the peak harvest time to meet the demand for both domestic and export…
Overcoming Thailand and India, Vietnamese rice ranked first in the world on average selling price, which in the first quarter was US$547 per ton, up 18.6%…
In 2021, Long An province's aquaculture output target will reach over 60,000 tons, an increase of about 2,000 tons compared to 2020


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Monday, November 12, 2012
CHAMP Spikes Used by Winner of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic
(MARLBOROUGH, MA) – CHAMP/MacNeill Engineering Worldwide – The World Leader in Sport Cleat Technology and maker of innovative CHAMP spikes, high-performance golf tees and accessories – confirms its popular ScorpionSTINGER spikes were used by the winner of the PGA Tour’s Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, according to Darrell Survey.
“Professional golfers worldwide choose CHAMP because we provide a variety of options to suit all preferences, each with incredible traction, stability and comfort,” says Harris MacNeill, President and CEO of CHAMP/MacNeill Engineering Worldwide. “Having a solid foundation that does not shift or slip during the swing is the key to maximizing performance.”
The #1 Brand on Tour, CHAMP spikes were used by three of the four major winners in 2012 and have been trusted by the champion at 30 of the past 40 majors.
Beyond the cleat category, the company offers a wide range of products, including the MyHite Zarma FLYtee. Drawing from MacNeill Engineering’s unrivalled 80-year heritage, the FLYtee line has quickly become one of the most-used tees by leading professionals worldwide. Made with extremely durable materials, its six-pronged head and shallow cup reduces friction, increases distance and improves accuracy.
With more than 100 active distributors, CHAMP is the world’s largest manufacturer of replaceable spikes. The company produces more than 140 million spikes annually and is the dominant global brand in football, soccer, golf, baseball, cricket, rugby and other sports.
For more information: www.champspikes.com, 1-800-OK-CHAMP.


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Google has started rolling out picture-in-picture support for the official YouTube iOS app for all iPhone and iPad users in the United States. After being available on Android for a while, YouTube finally added native picture-in-picture support to the iOS app for iPhone in June 2021. However, the feature was only available to those with a YouTube Premium subscription back then. YouTube promised to roll it out to all users in the U.S. in the future, but it has taken more than a year for it to be finally available for everyone in the country.
The iPad has offered picture-in-picture mode since iOS 9, letting users minimize a video into a floating overlay, enabling users to multitask with other apps while it plays. However, the feature remained MIA in iPhones for years. Apple finally introduced support for picture-in-picture for iPhones with iOS 14, but it was only available with select apps, such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, etc. While YouTube joined that list last year, this April, the company announced plans to roll it out to all iOS users in the U.S. “in a matter of days.”
YouTube has announced that it is now rolling out picture-in-picture support for all iOS users in the United States. The move would allow all iPhone and iPad users in the country to keep watching YouTube videos in a floating window even after closing the app. Once the user no longer wants to watch the video, the pop-up window can be closed by tapping on the small ‘X’ button at the top-left corner of the mini player. It is worth noting here that YouTube’s PiP mode is available to free users only in the United States, while it is still restricted to YouTube Premium subscribers globally. There’s no word about when that might change.
Announcing the launch of the PiP mode for all users in the U.S., YouTube acknowledged that it took its own sweet time to roll out the much-requested feature to free users in the country. In a support article on PiP, the company said, “We recognize this has been a slow roll out for a highly requested feature,” and thanked all users for patiently waiting for this for so long.
To use picture-in-picture in the YouTube iOS app, start watching any video on YouTube and then close the app by swiping upwards from the bottom of the screen. The video will continue to play in a tiny window, letting users browse other apps on the device simultaneously. The floating window can also be moved around and positioned anywhere on the screen according to the user’s choice. The YouTube PiP mode is available to all iPhone and iPad devices running at least iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 and higher.


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Spain is to open up to overseas travellers from June under new plans.
The scheme, to be piloted next month, will allow passengers who have been vaccinated, tested negative or recently recovered from Covid to enter Spain.
“Spain is going to be ready in June to tell all travellers worldwide that you can visit us,” Tourism Minister Fernando Valdes told a travel conference in Mexico.
The news comes as the EU prepares to vote on a digital passport scheme.
Plans for an EU certificate were first raised earlier this year as countries attempt to save the summer tourism season.
The document, either digital or on paper, would enable anyone vaccinated against Covid, or who has tested negative, or recently recovered from the virus, to travel across all 27 member states.
Key to the digital certificate is a QR code – a machine-readable graphic code made up of black and white squares – that contains personal data and the EU’s Commission says it will be safe and secure. It is working with the World Health Organization to ensure the certificate is recognised beyond Europe.
The bloc also wants to include non-EU countries such as Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, with officials saying earlier this week that vaccinated travellers from the US may also be able to visit Europe this summer.
However, the European Commission has said that there have been “no contacts” with the UK over the issue.
A number of countries have already begun unveiling their own passport systems.
In Denmark, the Coronapas app is being used to allow customers who have been vaccinated or recovered from an infection to enter bars, restaurants and museums.
A similar scheme in Israel, which has one of the highest levels of vaccinations in the world, permits users to access hotels, gyms and theatres. The “Green pass” has also created travel opportunities for Israeli citizens, following deals with Greece and Cyprus.


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An appeals court in Missouri has slapped down a lawsuit brought by the Missouri Auto Dealers Association in 2015. MADA wanted the court to order the Missouri Department of Revenue not to allow Tesla to sell its automobiles directly to consumers in the Show Me State.
The case was heard in 2016 by Cole County circuit court judge Daniel Green, who ruled that Tesla is not a franchisee as defined by Missouri law. He ordered the Department of Revenue not to renew Tesla’s licenses to sell cars in Missouri.
Tesla immediately shut down its stores in University City, which is west of St. Louis. and in Kansas City. It later reopened them after the court gave them permission to continue operating pending an appeal. On December 5, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District ruled that MADA had no legal standing to bring its lawsuit and dismissed its claim.
MADA argued to the appellate court that if its claim was dismissed, no system of checks and balances would be available to challenge decisions of the Department of Revenue. But the court was having none of it, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In a stinging rebuke, it said that MADA’s complaint was more like that of competitor seeking to avoid competition than one brought by someone seeking to defend the public interest.
Tesla, predictably, was jubilant. The company is still fighting dealer associations in multiple states and this was a rare victory for the company. “The decision today is a victory for Missouri consumers who want the choice to learn about and purchase their Tesla in their home state,” Tesla said in a statement. “We have been serving customers in Missouri for almost five years and have contributed to the state economy and jobs for Missourians — something that will now continue.”
Well, maybe. MADA is now licking its wounds and contemplating its next legal maneuver. Clearly it could ask the Missouri Supreme Court to review the decision of the court of appeals. “We believe that today’s Appeals Court decision does not hold the government accountable, but rather enables a system where the Department of Revenue can arbitrarily issue a license to anybody for any reason, without an appropriate and necessary mechanism for Missouri taxpayers to challenge those decisions,” MADA Executive Director Doug Smith said in a statement.
That doesn’t sound like the dealers are willing to accept defeat quietly. Tesla may have won a round, but the battle to sell directly to consumers is far from over. The debate has larger consequences for the automotive marketplace. Many new electric car companies are about to begin selling cars in the US. Most would like to avoid setting up expensive dealer networks if they can. What happens to Tesla will have ramifications for the entire US auto industry in the coming years. That is what scares car dealers more than anything.


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USA, Arlington, Virginia. Lidl US revealed that its first U.S. stores would open June 15. This was reported by Supermarket News. Lidl, a division of German retailer Schwarz Group with U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Va., also provided locations of the 20 stores it said it would open this summer but did not reveal how many of those would open their doors in June.
Lidl’s entry promises additional points of pressure to a U.S. grocery market already struggling with overcapacity, slowing sales affected by deflation and price competitiveness threatening profits. Anticipation of its arrival has been a driving factor in any number of events in recent years, from the Ahold-Delhaize merger, to Walmart’s price and service investments, to stepped-up renovations and expansion of its German counterpart Aldi.
The release came on the heels of an event in New York Tuesday that also included remarks from executives and a sampling of its fresh and private brand products. These included a line of specialty international products to be marketed under the Preferred Selection brand and a large array of exclusive wines officials said would be offered at “market-beating” prices up to 50% less than conventional grocery stores.
U.S. CEO Brendan Proctor said Lidl would address compromises of existing U.S. grocers and be adaptive as it grows. Lidl will open an additional 80 stores in markets between New Jersey and Atlanta by next summer, Proctor added. Advertising for the opening stores would begin shortly in those markets. The company late last week launched social media channels for the first time on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@LidlUS) and is introducing itself there behind a “#RethinkGrocery” tag.
Source: Supermarket News


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Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot in February, Broadsword Online Games has not been content to let the titles sit around merely getting older. Earlier this month, the team hosted a large state-of-the-game chat about the future of UO's design, and now the developers have posted their latest ambitions: a spot on Steam bathed in green light for the venerable old MMORPGs.
"We are in the process of getting UO on Steam but need your help. Please go here and vote for UO! Thank you for all your support!" wrote UO Producer Bonnie Armstrong on the official site today. DAOC's Steam Greenlight campaign is likewise now live.
You heard the lady. Chop, chop.


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The Florida Highway Patrol released dashcam footage of a Tesla nearly hitting a state trooper.
The driver said the car was on Autopilot when it smashed into two cars in the highway.
The NHTSA are investigating the Autopilot feature after it was involved in over 11 crashes at first-responder scenes.
See more stories on Insider’s business page.
The Florida Highway Patrol released a dashcam video of a Tesla that was reportedly on Autopilot nearly hitting a state trooper.
The video shows the electric car narrowly missing the state trooper who was standing outside of his emergency vehicle. The white Tesla collided with the patrol car – which had its emergency lights flashing. The electric car then turned and slammed into the rear end of the disabled car.
The state trooper can be seen running away from the Tesla as it neared impact. At the time, the Florida State Trooper had left his vehicle to help move the disabled vehicle out of the road on Interstate 4 in Orange County.
The accident occured on August 28, but the video released on Thursday is the first the media has seen of how the incident occured. The Tesla driver said the car was on Autopilot when it failed to move over to avoid the trooper’s car.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from Insider.
Earlier this week, police trailed a Tesla in California that was driving on Autopilot while its driver was reportedly passed out behind the wheel. At the time, news channels noted the Autopilot feature likely saved the driver’s life.
But, Tesla’s Autopilot has been under scrutiny in recent months, after the software was linked to several fatal crashes. The program – which enables the cars to steer, accelerate, and brake within the lane – requires a licensed operator to monitor the vehicle.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating Tesla’s driver-assist Autopilot feature after it identified over 11 crashes since 2018 in which a Tesla in Autopilot or “Traffic Aware Cruise Control” mode has struck vehicles at first-responder scenes.
The majority of the accidents have taken place at night and have included emergency vehicles with flashing lights, flares, and traffic cones.
On Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a call for video footage of a fiery Tesla crash that took place earlier this month. The Miami accident killed two people. It is unclear whether the Autopilot function was active during the crash.
At least three Tesla drivers have died since 2016 while driving with Autopilot engaged. Despite the crashes, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly said the system helps make the cars safer than competitors.
Read the original article on Business Insider


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Some breast cancer-awareness advocates have coined the term "pinkwashing" for
when a company or organization does a pink breast cancer promotion, but
at the same time sells and profits from pink-theme products.
Some of these pink products have generated plenty of discussion among advocates and concerns that one of the most successful charity campaigns in recent history has lost its focus.
"Any why can't these large corporations simply donate a portion of their enormous profits to charities, without the promotional campaigns? It drove me nuts to see Borders (when it existed) suggesting to patrons that they buy, at full price, a book for a needy child. This was a wonderful way for Borders to increase sales under the cover of "charity." It similarly drives me nuts to see local supermarkets suggesting that patrons buy, at full price, bags of pet food for donation to the local animal shelter. For the supermarkets to simply donate the products to the shelter would make much more sense, given that most of the patrons who buy such food probably do not itemize on their federal income tax returns in order to reap the full benefits of their generosity. Every giving opportunity has been turned into a profit-making opportunity by corporations more interested in their share prices and gross earnings than in improving the society that supports and protects them."


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Thanks to the internet, modern e-commerce has drastically altered the way manufacturers interact with their client’s during the sales process.
Industry surveys have reported as much as 65% of manufacturers globally will be using a service-based selling model as opposed to product-based by 2020.
When shifting focus from products to instead build revenue through services, a manufacturer’s approach to new business must be wholly geared towards understanding the outcome customer’s value.
The University of Huddersfield has partnered with leading engineering companies and research institutes for a £1m project that aims to bring about massive improvements in the competitiveness and efficiency for UK manufacturers.
The UK’s biggest showcase for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, The Manufacturer Smart Factory Expo, is taking place on November 15-16 at Exhibition Centre Liverpool.
We are approaching a time when artificial intelligence and robotic systems will not only surpass humans in carrying out labour intensive and high-precision tasks, but also become ‘smart’ and able to come up with ideas, designs and solutions.
Global web services and technology company, Baidu has announced it will provide an open and complete software platform to help develop worldwide autonomous driving systems with reference vehicles and hardware.
What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution and what is driving it?
Embracing servitization will affect every area of your business, both physically and digitally. The Manufacturer explores how, and advices on how to mitigate the disruption.
Now that many conversations around servitization have matured from merely what it is, to how can the concept can be adopted, its potential impact on a business’ employees and culture is growing in relevance.


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Brazil’s largest Bitcoin change, Mercado Bitcoin, has introduced plans to increase throughout Latin America.
Chief govt Reinaldo Rabelo named Chile, Mexico, and Argentina as among the many jurisdictions it would increase into first, evaluating the “regulatory tradition” in these international locations to Brazil’s.
In keeping with Helpful Tulips, Mexico is at the moment the fourth-largest Latin American nation by peer-to-peer Bitcoin commerce quantity, with Chile rating fifth, and Argentina rating seventh.
The robust P2P commerce quantity counsel there could also be vital demand from native merchants that’s not met by centralized platforms.
The announcement comes alongside information of an funding spherical that noticed Mercado Bitcoin increase practically $38 million from enterprise capital corporations together with Parallax Ventures, Evora Fund, and Banco Plural.
Mercado Bitcoin will use a number of the funds to spend money on regulated custodian Bitrust to cater to institutional buyers. The change may even spend money on digital pockets Meubank, permitting clients to retailer crypto property, gaming collectibles, and different digital property.
As soon as its ecosystem has been consolidated, Mercado Bitcoin is aiming to change into one of many prime exchanges worldwide, with Rabelo, stating:
“We wish to develop the crypto ecosystem in Brazil and create a market as developed as that of the USA. To do that, we wish to be one of many 5 largest digital exchanges on the earth.”
“Our long-term objective is to take part within the building of a brand new infrastructure for the monetary market based mostly on blockchain, good contracts, and crypto property,” he added.
Regardless of being amongst Latin America’s prime exchanges by quantity — having hosted greater than $3.7 billion in commerce since launching in 2013 — the change has nearly completely operated in Brazil. The platform’s consumer base has doubled within the final two years from roughly a million to 2.2 million.
The change goals to surpass a consumer base of three million and increase its staff from 200 to 300 in 2021.


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PepsiCo Positive (or pep+) is the food and beverage giant’s end-to-end sustainability transformation that impacts the entire business – from sourcing to selling.
While pep+ is having a significant impact on operations, it’s important to remember that PepsiCo has been on the sustainability transformation journey since 2006, with a mission to deliver strong financial returns while also caring for the planet.
Back then, Performance with Purpose began to integrate sustainability into daily business operations. In 2010, the first all-electric delivery trucks hit the road, and in 2013 the Sustainable Farming Programme was launched, which now sees 90% of grower-sourced crops being sustainably sourced. In 2021, the company set a net zero target for 2040.
Despite this progress, the next-generation pep+ launched in 2021 has been described by Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta as “the future of our company”, and is built on three pillars:
- Positive Agriculture – sustainably sourcing ingredients and improving agricultural practices and farmer livelihoods
- Positive Value Chain – helping to build a circular and inclusive value chain
- Positive Choices – evolving the company’s food and beverages so they are better for people and planet
PepsiCo’s latest 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Summary shared the results of the first full year of reporting since the pep+ launch, and highlights the progress that has been achieved.
PepsiCo reported positive outcomes on nutrition, agriculture, social, water usage and safe water access, while reducing emissions and use of virgin plastics.
For example, carbon emissions from agriculture were reduced by 330,000 metric tons (the equivalent of taking 73,000 cars off the road for a year). Safe water access was provided to a further 12 million people in 2022, taking the total to 80 million since 2006.
“Decoupling our business growth from our resource use is always going to be difficult but meeting our long-term targets is critical and we are rapidly learning how and where we need to adjust,” said Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo.
“We issued US$2.25 billion in green bonds since 2019, and we have made – and will continue to make – substantial investments toward key parts of our pep+ agenda, including becoming net zero and reducing the use of virgin plastics.”
In 2022, PepsiCo created Pep+ REnew with Schneider Electric to help suppliers adopt renewable electricity and reduce their carbon footprints.
“The creation of pep+ REnew directly supports our ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions across our value chain by 2040,” says Andrew. “Net zero cannot happen without our value chain partners taking bold climate action.”
PepsiCo’s Positive Agriculture projects
When it comes to Positive Agriculture, PepsiCo recently backed eight new innovation projects in Australia, Colombia, Egypt, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, and the UK with a US$30 million investment.
The Positive Agriculture Outcomes (PAO) Accelerator offers farming communities investment to accelerate diverse and results-driven projects, as well as funding for agritech startups.
“We can't motivate systemic change on our own, and our PAO Accelerator continues to provide a forum for farming communities to bring forth ideas and opportunities, and receive the funding needed to get promising innovation off the ground,” said Margaret Henry, Vice President, Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture at PepsiCo.
“With this latest round of projects, we're not only fostering this powerful network of innovators across global farmland, but growing closer to achieving a more regenerative future, with farmers' insight at the forefront.”
PepsiCo's goal is to spread regenerative farming practices across 7 million acres by 2030, improve the livelihoods of 250,000 people in its agricultural supply chain, and sustainably source 100% of its key ingredients.
Diverse projects supported by the PAO Accelerator include adopting efficient irrigation systems in response to increased drought, developing kilns to turn agricultural waste into fertiliser, and improving soil health.
The projects backed in 2023 include Australian grain growers using soil health management to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions on-farm. In Colombia, potato crop quality and yield will be increased while also reducing water use.
Marginal gains can make all the difference when you consider that more than a billion PepsiCo products (including iconic brands like Pepsi-Cola, Doritos, and Quaker) are consumed every day in more than 200 countries, which generated more than US$86 billion in revenue in 2022.


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June 20, 2011
Sega Suffers Data Breach, 1.3 Million Affected
There are no signs of hackers slowing down in their efforts to breach high profile systems. Video game maker Sega is the latest victim to have online identities and passwords stolen.
Information belonging to 1.3 million customers has been stolen from Sega's database. Names, birth dates, e-mail addresses and encrypted passwords of users of Sega Pass online network members are compromised, Sega said in a statement.Although payment data such as credit card numbers have not been affected, Sega Pass had been shut down until a full assessment can be determined. Sega emphasized that it will strengthen its network security and will release information about the case as it becomes available.
"We are deeply sorry for causing trouble to our customers. We want to work on strengthening security," Sega spokeswoman Yoko Nagasawa told Reuters, adding it is unclear when the firm would restart Sega Pass.
This latest incident follows a series of hacker attacks on Sony beginning in April which forced it to suspend online services for weeks. An estimated 100 million accounts were believed to be compromised from Sony.
The first group to get the finger pointed at them over the Sega breach was LulzSec, an anonymous group of hackers who admitted to the cyber break-ins at Sony and other sites, AFP reports.
LulzSec, in its official Twitter feed denied any involvement saying, "We want to help you destroy the hackers that attacked you. We love the Dreamcast, these people are going down."
An e-mail was sent to Sega Pass users on Friday, explaining, "Over the last 24 hours we have identified that unauthorized entry was gained to our Sega Pass database. We immediately took the appropriate action to protect our consumers' data and isolate the location of the breach. We have launched an investigation into the extent of the breach of our public systems."
Sega explained that it had reset all passwords and urged customers to change their log-on details on other services and websites where they used the same credentials, BBC News reports. It added that password details had not been stored in plain text, suggesting that they may have been secured by some kind of encryption.
Long known for "Sonic the Hedgehog", Sega produces games for a range of consoles, including the PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's motion-control Wii.
The company became a household name with popular games such as "UFO Catchers" and in 1998 won a fan base with its Dreamcast machine. But it stopped producing the Dreamcast in 2001 under fierce competition from Sony and Nintendo.
The company has since focused on arcade machines and software and has found success after merging in 2004 with Sammy Corp., Japan's top maker of pinball slot machines.
On the Net:


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UK: Pernod Ricard To Question Bacardi's Student Bar Deal
This is yet a further twist to the ongoing saga between the French wine and spirits giant and Bacardi over the Cuban rum brand. Under the agreement, the National Union of Students Supply Company Ltd., in which the NUS owns a 25% stake, has decided to sign a "sole supply deal" with Bacardi worth £625,000 to sell its white rum at all student venues.
"From what we understand is that 95% of the white rum sold through student bars was Bacardi-Martini. This contract has now exceeded this figure to 100%. We will naturally be checking this deal to see if it contravenes EU regulations," a Pernod Ricard executive told just-drinks.com.
He did admit, however, that legally it might be difficult to successfully launch an anti-competitive case. "It will be difficult under law to prove a monopoly of a specific category of people, in this case students," he said.
The NUS has issued a statement distancing itself from the deal, claiming the supply company "was not directly affiliated with the NUS, and has nothing to do with our own stance," a spokesman said.
Bacardi refused to comment on the agreement.
As Pernod Ricard, Allied Domecq and Fortune Brands close in on the biggest drinks industry deal since the sale of Seagram, opinion about how the deal will be structured and who stands to win and lose ...
It's been a quiet day on the Pernod/Allied Domecq front....
Conflicting reports circulated this weekend over whether Bacardi International is looking to form a counter-bid for Allied Domecq....
Todays press reports into Pernod and Fortune's hopes to buy Allied Domecq warn of possible conflicts and set a date for completion....
Pernod Ricard and Fortune Brands are considering a US$13 billion bid for Allied Domecq, the world's second-largest spirits company. Were it to take place, Pernod and Fortune would split Allied's brand...
Pernod Ricard and Fortune Brands are hoping to buy Allied Domecq for around 670p per share, according to press reports....
Anheuser-Busch has revealed plans to launch a new variant in its Bacardi Silver range....
The US consumer goods group Fortune Brands has confirmed it is in talks about launching a joint bid with Pernod Ricard for Allied Domecq....
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We’ve just taken delivery of our first two facelifted new engine Wildtrak’s with 2.0Ltr twin-turbo eco boast and 10-speed auto boxes. The new 2019 model Ford Ranger model is hitting showrooms from June 19, and we have been eagerly waiting to get our hands on it.
We’ve already been updating our catalogue to contain accessories that can be fitted to this new pickup truck, so if you’re in the market for the new Ranger make sure to head over to our website!
The current generation (T6), hit European dealerships in 2012, The car got a facelift in 2016 and more recently had a Raptor model added to its line-up, you can read about that here. This second update serves as a stopgap until the next all-new model comes out in 2022. Rumoured to have a shared platform that VW will also use for the new Amarok.
The 2019 Ranger pickup has the choice of two engines, either powered by a 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine, which promises more power, better fuel economy, better refinement and more safety systems. The EcoBlue replaces the 2.2-litre TDCi from the Ranger and boasts more power, as well as better efficiency. The current 3.2 diesel remains available also. All 3.2 models will be coupled up to the 6-speed manual or auto option with the 2.0ltr twin-turbo receiving the 10-speed auto, the same 10-speed found in the Ford Mustang and recently released Ranger Raptor.
The 2.0ltr shared with the Ranger Raptor is now more powerful than the 3.2 car, with 210bhp and 200 bhp respectively.
We have a large range of New Ford Ranger 2019 accessories including hard top canopies, tonneau covers, load bed accessories and seat covers. Our accessories are from some of the industries leading manufacturers such as Alpha, Pro//Top, Aeroklas, Carryboy and Roll’N’Lock. Make sure to check them out!


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One longtime men's magazine strikes back, joining forces with JC Penney.
Commerce sites such as Gilt Groupe are poaching editorial talent from traditional publishers such as Esquire to build out their content offerings. And traditional publishers, such as Esquire, are working with retailers and startups to expand into commerce.
The increasing rivalry between retailers and publishers was dissected during last week's Mashable Media Summit's panel discussion, "The New Model of Content and Commerce."
"Brands have done a better job at becoming media companies than media companies have of becoming retail companies. Now you are seeing them facing off," said Maureen Mullen, research and advisory lead at L2, a consultancy.
Burberry, with 9.2 million people who "like" the brand on Facebook, was cited as a company that's excelled at developing editorial content. "They are doing a fantastic job through their creative director, Christopher Bailey, putting out content on a daily basis," Mullen said.
Alexis Maybank, CMO of e-commerce site Gilt Groupe, said her company has invested heavily in content since its launch four years ago. "We have eight studios in Brooklyn on double shifts. There are models running in and out of our warehouse space…we [produce] 1,500 images a day for our website," she said.
More recently, Gilt Groupe has increased its investment in writers. Consider the talent it recruited over the past year:
-Kate Maxwell, an articles editor at Condé Nast Traveler, was named editor-in-chief of Gilt Groupe's travel blog and deals site Jetsetter in August.
-Josh Peskowitz, style editor at Esquire.com, was named style director for the men's retail site at Gilt in December 2010.
-Former Gourmet editor-in-chief Ruth Reichl became editorial advisor to Gilt Taste, which sells artisanal hard-to-find foods. It launched in May.
Gilt Groupe also struck up a partnership with GQ to establish Park and Bond, an e-commerce site for men's apparel. Each month, GQ editors select key items from the pages of the magazine and make them available on Park & Bond.
Gilt Groupe is not the only commerce site to recruit top magazine talent. Jeremy Langhorn, Esquire U.K.'s editor, left last year to become editor-in-chief of Mr Porter, a commerce site specializing in men's designer fashions.
Esquire Editor-in-Chief David Granger acknowledged it was tough to lose both Peskowitz and Langhorn to commerce sites. "It's painful when you realize you are paying half of what the competition can pay and they are giving them a piece of the business," he said.
Esquire: Dressing up With JC Penney
This Wednesday, Esquire and JC Penney's venture arm will launch, Clad, an e-commerce fashion site for men. "We're doing a lot of original editorial [content] for it. I don't know if it will dovetail with purchase activity," Granger said.
When asked if it's too late for traditional magazines to become successful e-commerce players, Granger said: "The market seems so vast that, at least in the commerce space for men's apparel, the space is so huge – I am not sure there's [such a thing as] late."
One place where Esquire and Gilt Groupe differ over approaches: whether or not there should be "wall" between the creators of editorial content and commercial content or advertising, typically referred to as the separation of "church and state" in publishing.
Esquire believes that editorial content should be produced separately from material produced on behalf of brands. "We write stories because we believe they are the most important stories to be told," Granger said. "I've set up a separate staff for Clad to create editorial so my fashion department [at Esquire] is protected from the dirty work of commerce."
Gilt Groupe's Maybank says the "church and state" debate is archaic. "Gilt is a marketing platform, Esquire is a marketing platform. We are in the business of driving and creating desire and discovery," she said. "Consumers are smart and savvy. They know when they are being pitched. When something is not authentic, they will vote by not visiting or reading."
On the heels of a fantastic event in New York City, ClickZ Live is taking the fun and learning to Toronto, June 23-25. With over 15 years' experience delivering industry-leading events, ClickZ Live offers an action-packed, educationally-focused agenda covering all aspects of digital marketing. Register today!
Want to learn more? Join us at ClickZ Live San Francisco, Aug 10-12!
Educating marketers for over 15 years, ClickZ Live brings together industry thought leaders from the largest brands and agencies to deliver the most advanced, educational digital marketing agenda. Register today and save $500!
Anna Maria Virzi, ClickZ's executive editor from 2007 until 2012, covered Internet business and technology since 1996. She was on the launch team for Ziff Davis Media's Baseline and also worked at Forbes.com, Web Week, Internet World, and the Connecticut Post.
Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce
This Magic Quadrant examines leading digital commerce platforms that enable organizations to build digital commerce sites. These commerce platforms facilitate purchasing transactions over the Web, and support the creation and continuing development of an online relationship with a consumer.
Paid Search in the Mobile Era
Google reports that paid search ads are currently driving 40+ million calls per month. Cost per click is increasing, paid search budgets are growing, and mobile continues to dominate. It's time to revamp old search strategies, reimagine stale best practices, and add new layers data to your analytics.
June 10, 2015
12:00pm ET/9:00am PT


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June 22, 2022
A trip down the snack aisle has always held shelves of sweet and savory selections, but recent years have seen a spike in the amount of spicy options for consumers who can’t seem to get enough heat in their treats.
The Whole Foods Market Trends Council identified spicy flavors as one of its five major flavor trends for summer 2022, particularly in the condiment category. Chili varieties from ancho to cayenne are increasingly popular. This trend is a reflection of a global shift toward spicy options. You Magazine identified a parallel 2022 trend in U.K. consumption: “The supermarket has also seen sales of sriracha sauce skyrocket by 110% since 2019. Over a third of people (36%) have introduced chili into their diets in the last two years, and 70% now say they love spicy food – with Glaswegians the biggest chili lovers.”
According to Kalsec, “In a recent survey of U.S. consumers ages 18 and older, 80% of consumers now enjoy hot and spicy foods. Over half of those surveyed eat spicy foods at least once a week. In addition, the frequency of consumption and heat levels of hot and spicy foods continues to rise.” In 2019 (the last year it performed this survey), Kalsec identified a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in hot and spicy product launches of roughly 20% over the previous decade, with every single year showing a steady increase.
“These flavors have generally always been trendy,” said Shannon Cushen, director of marketing for Fuchs North America. “But the ways that trend has manifested have continued to change. So, we’ve always had brands interested in hot and spicy flavors, but the kinds of hot and spicy flavors they’re looking for has changed to reflect consumers’ tastes. These days, we’re seeing a lot of demand for spicy flavors inspired by global cuisines, as well as hot flavors featuring unique and exotic peppers.” These trends evidence the NPD’s 2021 prediction that consumers would look to an increasingly varied range of cuisines, such as Indian and Pan Asian, to satisfy their desire for spicy foods.
“The hotter the better,” asserted Sally Lyons Wyatt, IRI EVP and practice leader, in a recent webinar. In fact, heat-seekers continue to search out escalating thrills in the world of mouth-tingling treats. Paqui is a chip and snack brand known for its “one chip challenge,” in which participants eat a single, intensely spicy chip flavored with Carolina Reaper and scorpion peppers without eating or drinking anything to combat the heat. In January, three California high school students were hospitalized after attempting the one chip challenge. Such incidents appear to be isolated, however, and certainly have not slowed consumer desire for hot snacks and spicy novelties.
Although not all consumers are daredevils when it comes to the world of spicy snacks, the trend in scorching flavors shows no signs of slowing down as summer 2022 begins to heat up.
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A photo of what is alleged to be the Samsung Galaxy F, the rumored premium edition of the S5, in the wild has appeared online that highlights the metal frame of the handset.
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Samsung has been rumoured to launch a more upmarket version of its Galaxy S5 smartphone and a newly leaked image of a premium-looking device suggests that it may be known as the Galaxy F.


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News last year that the work of Australian landscape photographer Peter Lik’s photographic work, ‘Phantom’ had become the most expensive photo in history was quickly called into question. The image was said to have sold for an impressive $6.5 million, or £4.1 million. The work is a black-and-white shot of Arizona’s Antelope Canyon, with a piercing column of sunlight appearing like a ghostly figure between the rocky outcropping.
The sale of the photograph was said to have been to an anonymous Los Angeles collector, it also said to have included two other photos by the artist: ‘Illusion’, which sold for $2.4 million, or £1.5 million and ‘Eternal Moods’, which fetched $1.1 million, or £700,000. This sale had therefore placed four of Lik’s works among the top twenty most expensive photos of all time. Apparently.
The artist’s chief financial officer claims that over 100,000 of Lik’s photographs have been sold for more than $440 million, which would make him the most financially successful fine art photographer of all time.
Then came the Sydney Morning, citing the lack of documentary proof of the sale aside from the press release. When Fairfax Media reported that Lik sold another work for $1 million, or £636,000 in 2012, art consultant David Hulme went on record saying he would warn clients to “be extremely wary of purchasing a Peter Lik photograph, however good it is, because Peter Lik’s photographs have no secondary market presence or value,” routinely fielding calls from Lik owners who are hoping for a profitable resale.
Hulme went on to tell the Times that he worries that the galleries’ tiered pricing structure is “misleading” customers, understandably causing them to assume that the outside market will reflect the ever-rising prices charged by the artist.
Now the New York Times, has also called these figures into question, citing that at auction, Lik has never sold for more than $15,860 or a mere £10,261 – a price that was achieved for ‘Ghost’, a colour version of the work ‘Phantom’, at a 2008 sale. That is his only sale thus far that has brought in more than $3,000 or £1,940.
The Australian photographer sells in limited editions of 995,and is able to create artificial demand by driving up the prices as the number of copies diminishes. An image that is 95 percent sold-out becomes “Premium Peter Lik” for having been worth around £4000 – rises to $17,500. This perceived scarcity provides a big incentive to buy today, before the price goes up even further as the works find their target buyer.
The Guardian recently described the work as “hollow, clichéd, and tasteless, the black and white shot of an Arizona canyon isn’t art – and proves that photography never will be”.
The publication went on to state at the time of the supposed record sale: “the record-setting picture typifies everything that goes wrong when photographers think they are artists.” The publication continues stating that Lik’s use of black and white as “outmoded” and “affected.”
© Artlyst 2014 photo courtesy of Peter Lik all rights reserved


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A New Stability In Mexico's Economy
After a small recession and the political turmoil of the past year, Mexico is ready to launch a solid recovery. The opening of its financial markets will bring in much needed funds. And the new government, under President-elect Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon, assures continued moves in the direction of stabilizing the economy.
Mexico's fundamentals are improving: Productivity is rising, government finances remain near balance, and inflation is the lowest in 21 years. After showing almost no growth in 1993, the country's gross domestic product rose at a 2.2% annual rate in the first half of 1994, with better growth expected into 1995. That will create sorely needed jobs.
To help the economy, the government is systematically devaluing the peso against the dollar. This "crawling peg" depreciation has reined in inflation and boosted exports, especially to the U.S. Mexican goods exports have soared 17% in the first eight months of this year. Exports to the U.S. are up 24.1%.
Imports, however, are rising even faster, with imported goods up 20% so far this year. As a result, the merchandise trade deficit, $1.73 billion in August, is widening sharply (chart). Mexico's current account deficit stands at a hefty 61/2% of GDP. Moreover, the deficit may worsen as exports soften in response to the U.S. slowdown.
Increased domestic output and investment would offset fewer exports. To that end, Mexico's high real interest rates must come down. Despite this year's 5% inflation, the rate on 28-day Treasury bills is 13.33%. The Banco de Mexico has enough foreign reserves to hold short-term rates steady. And the entry of foreign banks into Mexico will cut the cost of long-term borrowing.
Equally important is the fact that Zedillo's upcoming inauguration on Dec. 1 has not caused a run on reserves or a capital flight. It has been nearly 20 years since a Mexican president took power in such a stable economic environment.


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The economy is slowly bouncing back, and as it does consumers have become more concerned with their credit and not overspending. For many, the best money management comes with avoiding the use of credit cards at all. Researchers are seeing this particular strategy in an unlikely population – the Millennials.
A recent survey of 1,000 young adults by CreditCards.com, revealed that a third of Millennials are avoiding credit cards and choosing debit cards instead. Millennials site a fear of becoming trapped by spending money they don’t really have, concerns about student loan debt, and their ability to get a job in a recovering economy. About 36 percent of individuals between the ages of 18 to 29 years old state that they have never owned a credit card. Some parents believe that the reluctance to use credit cards is a positive trend for Millennials, saying that 18 is too young to carry such responsibility anyway.
While some parents are thankful that their offspring have chosen to forego credit cards, others think that avoidance of credit all together will hurt young adults when they want to make large purchases like homes or vehicles. Lenders and dealers require some sort of credit and some may out right refuse applicants that don’t have at least a few years of proven credit history.
CreditCards.com analyst, Matt Schultz, comments that the survey’s results show a major shift in the way young adults are choosing to spend money, and that the credit card industry may be changing as well. Schultz notes that in the 1990’s, credit card companies would often give out t-shirts and other products in exchange for signing up for cards, but these tactics are quickly fading away. This could be greatly due to the Credit CARD Act which requires any person under 21 to show proof of income or get a co-signer in order to receive a credit card. Regardless, Millennials are leaning more towards debit and prepaid cards.
Although waiting to use credit cards is a responsible decision, Millennials are making themselves more susceptible to fraud by only depending on debit cards, continues Schultz. If a credit card is stolen, card companies can easily wave the charges, but if debit cards are taken, then the owner’s money is taken and may not be returned for several days.
Instances of fraud and identity theft can wreck even a responsible card owner’s credit. When this happens, consumers turn to bad credit merchants to help fix their credit. eMerchantBroker.com is an expert payment processor that creates and manages bad credit merchant accounts.


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November 9th Update- App Officially Launches
Ahead of its set launch tomorrow, November 10th, the Apple TV app has gone live on Xbox consoles. With the new app subscribers of Apple TV+ can watch TV shows and movies straight from the console, The Verge’s Tom Warren showcases the apps UI.
Apple TV is currently available to a limited pool of testers on Xbox consoles, and we can now independently verify with our sources that this preview program exists, even if it’s not yet broadly available.
It appears likely that Apple TV for Xbox will be identical in features and functionality to the TV apps available on LG and Samsung TVs, but designed to work with an Xbox controller instead of your remote. The app includes access to Apple TV services, including its Apple TV+ subscription service launched in late 2019. The testing program has briefly appeared for some users, although with availability still locked down at this point in time.
The Apple TV app which is available on a wide range of smart TV and boxes gives users access to Apple TV+ and other accompanying channels. With the introduction of Apple TV on Xbox, gamers and typical customers alike will be able to use Apple’s services without needing to purchase an Apple TV box directly.


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The mammoth anime and manga series One Piece made an appearance at the 2012 E3. Bandai Namaco have One Piece: Pirate Warriors ready for a 2012 release on the PlayStation 3.
Luffy and his crew are available for online and offline co-op missions. The game allows players to be Luffy, Zoro, Nami and other pirates from the series.
The game, already out in Japan, is set in the time between the East Blue Safa up until the New World Saga.
Geek Native welcomes thoughtful comments from our favourite readers. Join in below.


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With TikTok anticipated to succeed in 1.2 billion energetic customers this yr, the app is losing no time executing efforts to foster new expertise and double down on its efforts to assist its group of creators thrive. This consists of serving to expertise discover modern methods to attach with their viewers and domesticate greatest practices to deliver their movies to the subsequent degree.
Right here’s a fast overview as to how the corporate goals to make good on this mission.
The Black Lives Matter motion and algorithmic bias
In 2020, significantly within the wake of the Black Lives Matter motion, platforms together with TikTok have been confronted instantly on problems with bias and content material suppression. Experiences of movies being taken down, muted or hidden from followers because of their assist of the motion surfaced along with cases the place group pointers have been unfairly utilized.
Many started to show a dedication to displaying assist for Black creators with motion by way of devoted applications. In August, for instance, Fb launched a Black creatives program and dedicated $25 million to Black creators on Fb and Instagram. Earlier this month, YouTube rolled out its multi-year dedication to assist Black creators with its #YouTubeBlack Voices fund.
Introducing the TikTok for black creatives incubator program
In a brand new push, TikTok introduced TikTok for Black Creatives incubator program to spend money on Black creatives and music artists on the app. The initiative follows on the heels of the platform’s concentrate on Blackout Tuesday and the #ShopBlack marketing campaign to spice up Black-owned companies this previous fall. The corporate additionally launched a brand new on-line hub to supply Black enterprise house owners with assist and training within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This program is meant to determine, assist, and elevate the subsequent era of culture-driving Black creators and artists by giving them the often-hidden instruments and alternatives that may assist them remodel their creativity into profitable careers,” shared Kudzi Chikumbu, Director of Creator Neighborhood at TikTok in an announcement to TIME Journal.
The three-month program, per the official announcement, will give 100 Black creators and music artists the chance to have their voices amplified by taking part on the town halls with Black entrepreneurs and celebrities along with community-building boards and academic occasions with TikTok executives.
Simplifying the method to turning into a creator
Extra broadly, TikTok hopes to make 2021 a yr the place anybody’s aspirations to create could be achieved with out strain or complexity.
“Whereas turning into a creator is so simple as tapping a number of buttons, thriving as a creator takes time, dedication, and a few training. With the totally different instruments, analytics, results, and inventive concepts to steadiness on a TikTok account, making a method for creating content material could be daunting,” the corporate shared.
The platform’s answer? A one-stop-shop training hub for all of the fundamentals throughout six key classes corresponding to:
- Getting Began on TikTok
- TikTok Creation Necessities
- TikTok Foundations for Success
- TikTok Content material Technique
- Neighborhood Tips and Security
- Getting Paid to Create
Every class presents video tutorials with insights so as to add to your TikTok toolkit and addresses vital questions round establishing a presence on the app and how one can receives a commission to create. The sources aren’t just for newcomers. “For avid and even skilled TikTok creators, the Creator Portal can even characteristic articles that assist interpret group traits, dive deeper into using sound and music, and highlight inventive results, serving to to encourage and diversify content material creation,” the announcement added.
In tandem, TikTok created the @creatorportal account, which is able to showcase faces from the video creation platform’s group together with @coachmichelle, @flossybaby, @lgndfrvr, @siennamae—and share movies on how one can be part of them.
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13.78k followers • 13 symbols Watchlist by Yahoo Finance
Follow this list to discover and track the stocks that were sold the most by activist hedge funds in the last quarter.
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The Medicines Company
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Top news and what to watch in the markets on Thursday, November 21, 2019.
Alnylam (ALNY) gets FDA approval for givosiran injection, to be marketed by the trade name of Givlaari, for the treatment of adults with AHP.
United Technologies (UTX) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock? We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues.
(Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on European markets? In your inbox before the open, every day. Sign up here.Billionaire John Fredriksen stepped down as chairman of Seadrill Ltd., raising the question of whether he could become less supportive of an offshore-rig company struggling with high debt.Fredriksen was instrumental in pulling Seadrill through a massive restructuring by injecting fresh cash, but the company remains the most leveraged offshore driller and is getting little help from a sluggish market recovery. Seadrill fell as much as 10% even though the Norwegian-born shipping tycoon, who owns 30% of the company, said his “strong support” would continue.The shares later pared the loss to 0.1% as of 10:52 a.m. in Oslo on Thursday, when the company also reported a third-quarter loss marked by impairments on an debt-laden subsidiary.Read all about the restructuring: Fredriksen Is Back in Rigs After $5 Billion Vanished in SeadrillSeadrill will probably need to restructure again, and it’s not clear what role Fredriksen might play then, said Carnegie AS analyst Frederik Lunde.“I have no illusion that he will throw a lot of good money down the drain here,” Lunde said by phone. “It will depend on a total package on the debt.”Other analysts aren’t so sure the resignation means anything for Fredriksen’s commitment, although Pareto Securities AS’s Christopher Mo Dege acknowledged that it was likely to be interpreted negatively by the market.Most analysts recommend clients buy Seadrill stock. But a more than 90% drop since the company emerged from bankruptcy protection last year suggests investors aren’t convinced that the postponement of almost $6 billion in bank debt will be enough to pull through a market slump that has been much longer than most expected.Ex-Crown JewelFredriksen’s departure marks a milestone for Seadrill, where he has headed the board since founding the company in 2005. In less than a decade, he built the company into the biggest offshore driller by market value and the crown jewel of his business empire. After oil prices collapsed in 2014, Seadrill was forced to face the massive liabilities amassed in the process.The restructuring that followed was the offshore drilling industry’s largest ever and has been described by Fredriksen as the biggest challenge of his career. His leading role in assembling together with several hedge funds $1.1 billion in fresh cash and a deep relationship with banks and shipyards were decisive.Fredriksen will be succeeded by Glen Ole Rodland, who has 25 years in the shipping and oil industries and currently heads the board at Prosafe SE. Fredriksen’s top adviser Harald Thorstein also left Seadrill’s board, as expected, and will be replaced by another of his collaborators, Gunnar Winther Eliassen.“While I have now decided to spend less time on board seats, my close involvement and strong support of Seadrill will remain unchanged,” Fredriksen said in a statement on Thursday. “I will continue to push for business optimization, strategic initiatives such as the recent joint ventures with Sonangol and GDI, and consolidation in the sector.”Succession TalkThe 75-year-old Cypriot citizen has over the past years made comments about how he intends to organize his business empire as he gradually steps back from active management. That includes giving more responsibility to his two daughters but also contemplating consolidation in the shipping industry that could see the group relinquish some operational control. Fredriksen remains chairman of tanker company Frontline Ltd.Seadrill had adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of $85 million in the third quarter, ahead of its own forecast, it said in a separate statement. Yet it also reported a net loss of $521 million after a $302 million impairment related to its subsidiary Seadrill Partners LLC.Chief Executive Officer Anton Dibowitz said new contracts strengthened his “confidence in a recovering market across all sectors, albeit at a lower pace.”(Updates with share price, analyst comment from second paragraph)To contact the reporter on this story: Mikael Holter in Oslo at email@example.comTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Tasneem Hanfi Brögger at firstname.lastname@example.org, Stephen TreloarFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
Lowe's (LOW) bottom line grows year over year in third-quarter fiscal 2019 on improved execution. Management raises fiscal 2019 earnings guidance on solid expectations for the fourth quarter.
(Bloomberg) -- Lowe’s Cos. raised its earnings outlook for the year and said it plans to reorganize in Canada, even as the home-improvement chain reported third-quarter sales that trailed analysts’ estimates. The shares rose to a record high on Wednesday.Excluding some items, profit per share will be between $5.63 to $5.70 for the fiscal year ending in January, the company said Wednesday. That’s above an earlier estimate of as much as $5.65. Same-store sales increased 2.2%, missing projections for 3.2% growth. The company also said it plans to shut 34 underperforming stores in Canada.Key InsightsThe forecast and store-closing plans show that Lowe’s is pushing hard to get back on track. Rival Home Depot Inc. disappointed investors earlier this week. Chief Executive Officer Marvin Ellison also told analysts on a conference call that the company is “still committed to Canada.”The company said the revamping of its web business will slow online growth in the short term. In this quarter, the company expects same-store sales to grow about 3% and the web business will contribute almost nothing to that.Lowe’s is often compared to Home Depot, and for many years it struggled to keep pace. That had changed this year, with Lowe’s at times posting better sales results.Gains in home prices accelerated in the quarter, boosted by a decline in borrowing costs. That usually means home-improvement spending picks up because more people see their properties as investments.Market ReactionLowe’s shares surged as much as 6.9%, the most in three months, to $121.22 on Wednesday. The shares had gained 23% this year through Tuesday’s close, compared with Home Depot’s 31% advance.Get MoreFor more on the results, click here.For the company statement, click here.(Updates headline and story to reflect live trading and comments from conference call.)To contact the reporter on this story: Matt Townsend in New York at email@example.comTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Anne Riley Moffat at firstname.lastname@example.org, Lisa Wolfson, Marthe FourcadeFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
The Medicines Company (MDCO) is rumored to attract acquisition offers after impressive data readouts from three pivotal studies on PCSK9 inhibitor candidate, inclisiran.
Investing.com – Stocks were slumping Wednesday afternoon as investors wrapped their arms around the idea a Phase One trade deal between the United States and China is stalled and probably won't get signed this year.
Lowe's (LOW) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of 4.44% and -1.70%, respectively, for the quarter ended October 2019. Do the numbers hold clues to what lies ahead for the stock?
FT subscribers can click here to receive Moral Money every Wednesday by email. If you want more Moral Money content throughout the week, check our hub page regularly at ft.com/moral-money for breaking news, analysis and curated commentary on this bubbling revolution. The European Investment Bank’s move to stop funding fossil fuel companies received a lot of play in the European media this week.
with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky that sparked the impeachment inquiry. Col Vindman and Jennifer Williams, an aide to vice-president Mike Pence who also appeared on Tuesday, were the first officials with first-hand knowledge of the call to testify in public.
(Bloomberg) -- Nestle SA expects to get about a quarter of a billion dollars in extra revenue from Starbucks-branded products this year after it began selling items including Nespresso-compatible capsules under a partnership with the U.S. coffee giant.Starbucks-branded merchandise will add about 250 million Swiss francs ($252 million) to sales this year, a spokesman said Tuesday in response to questions. Last year, Nestle paid more than $7 billion for licenses to use the Starbucks brand for products sold in grocery stores.The move has given a boost to Nespresso, where growth has eased due to competition from cheap imitation pods. Nestle has been hesitant to offer its coffee brand’s capsules in supermarkets because it prefers to keep control over how they’re sold. However, the Swiss company has been using the Starbucks tie-up as an avenue into grocery aisles.The alliance could help Nespresso return to annual revenue growth exceeding 10%, Patrice Bula, chairman of the brand, said in February. As part of the agreement, the world’s largest food company took over a $2 billion business that made Starbucks products for grocery stores.Nestle plans to add 10 more markets next year for the products, including Argentina, Colombia and Panama, which would bring the total to 50. The company will introduce Starbucks-branded soluble coffee next year and expand sales of the broader range to offices and hotels. (Updates last paragraph to include detail on expanded sales. An earlier version of this story corrected details of product in last paragraph.)To contact the reporter on this story: Corinne Gretler in Zurich at email@example.comTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Eric Pfanner at firstname.lastname@example.org, John LauermanFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


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KUCHING (November 12): From kek lapis to songket textiles, Sarawak-owned companies are poised to become leaders in the global franchise industry, Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg has said.
He said that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have great potential to venture into the franchise sector given their huge contribution to the economic growth of the country.
“As (Acting Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs) Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi mentioned earlier, our small and medium enterprises contribute to the country’s overall export value every year, and the value is not small.
“It proves that they not only contribute to the development of the country’s economy, but also have earned a place in the global market,” he said at the inauguration of the Malaysian Goods Carnival 2022 Borneo. Edition at Kuching Waterfront here tonight.
Citing the Malaysian franchise company’s rapid growth this year, he said the franchise industry also plays a vital role, especially in creating job opportunities.
He said nearly 49,000 job opportunities were created in 2021.
“Not only SMEs, but the franchise industry in this country has also grown rapidly with a total of 1,149 franchisor companies registered under the Franchise Act 1998. The number of new outlets opened in the country in 2021 stands at 13,779, which is a 47% increase from 2020.
“If we see, from there, there are 11 franchised companies with different brands originating from Sarawak. This includes various categories such as food and drink, health, beauty and services.
“In fact, Malaysian franchise brands have become leading brands in the world, with over 68 brands in 74 countries. Thus, I expect more job opportunities to be created through the growing number of franchise companies in the country,” he said.
Moreover, he also stated that the sales value of the domestic franchise industry will double by 2025.
“The domestic franchise industry aims to increase the value of sales from RM14.65 billion in 2020 to RM22.66 billion by 2025.”
Abang Johari also spoke about the need for the national franchise industry to expand its product to other sectors.
With the opportunities available, he added that the state government will continue to help interested parties, especially low-income groups, venture into affordable businesses and micro-franchises.
“I am convinced that more local brands will start to establish themselves in local and global markets. Indeed, our Malaysian brand is of high quality and comparable to other international products,” he said.
“The state government will continue to intensify its efforts to encourage more entrepreneurs to venture into the business and hold regular activities to disseminate information about the franchise business to the public.
“I hope there will be more franchise industry players from Sarawak to bring into this franchise industry,” he added.


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Tesla on Monday beat Wall Street expectations for first-quarter revenue and profit, fueled by record deliveries.
The electric carmaker - which delivered a record 184,800 vehicles globally in the January to March quarter - said it expects growth in vehicle volume to exceed 50% this year and said it's on track to start production and deliveries at its planned factories in Texas and Berlin soon.
Tesla, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, said sales jumped more than 70% from the same period a year earlier to roughly $10.4 billion.
The company said it was able to navigate through the global chip supply shortage in part by pivoting extremely quickly to new microcontrollers.
Still, the world's most valuable automaker, whose shares jumped more than eight-fold last year, faces challenges on other fronts.
In the United States, its full self-driving software is facing new federal investigations following 28 crashes of Tesla vehicles, including a recent fatal one in Texas that killed two.
And in China, home to Tesla's second vehicle factory, Tesla has been under growing pressure from the government and public after a woman protested alleged brake problems during the Shanghai auto show.