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Glaxo set to profit from US ruling
Saturday 21 June 1997
The decision grants Toronto-based Genpharm exclusive rights to the huge US ranitidine (generic Zantac) market between 25 July - the day Glaxo's branded Zantac loses its US patent - and August 29th. This will keep hordes of other generic companies out of the market, allowing Glaxo and Genpharm a short, but highly profitable monopoly.
Glaxo, which currently makes pounds 3m a day from US Zantac sales, faced losing 80 per cent of that market when other companies flooded in on July 25th. With only one generic in the market, the Zantac brand price would not fall as far and fast as had been feared. Analysts say Genpharm will want to keep market prices high, as it is being sued by Glaxo for infringing the Zantac patent. Anthony Colletta, analyst at Hoare Govett said: "Genpharm will want to make profits fast. If it loses the case, it will have to pay triple in compensation back to Glaxo."
Though Glaxo said it is "not in a position to evaluate" the effect of the ruling on Zantac sales, it stands to benefit in other ways too. As part of a settlement of disputes over the validity of ranitidine, Glaxo recently signed an agreement, for which it got a reputed pounds 75m, giving another generic group Novopharm the right to sell ranitidine from 10th July, 15 days ahead of the Zantac patent expiry. If the ruling granting Genpharm exclusive rights is upheld and Novopharm is not the first in, Glaxo will have an extra 15 days to sell Zantac unopposed. Novopharm is appealing vigorously against the ruling.
One loser in all this could be Holliday Chemicals, the world's biggest supplier of ranitidine. Though Holliday does supply other groups including Genpharm, its biggest and exclusive licence is with Novopharm. If Novopharm loses the all-important right to be first into the market - which means it can tie up customers at good prices - Hollidays sales would suffer. Holliday's share price has risen steeply on prospects of a huge rise in ranitidine sales. Michael Eastwood from Kleinwort Benson, says that pounds 4m of his pounds 23m 1997 profit forecast for Holliday is on the potential of the US ranitidine market alone. A more serious issue is if Holliday loses a patent infringement case brought by Glaxo against its Spanish subsidiary Uquifa which manufactures rantidine. Should it lose, supplies of ranitidine would dry up and Holliday would suffer. Glaxo, by contrast, would have two years of relatively unopposed Zantac sales.
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Why Bitcoin’s Growth Should Explode – Yahoo Finance
Rather, the ATMs allow you to insert cash to be transferred into bitcoin to be moved into your digital wallet. The ATMs transaction fees may run as high as 7% and exchange fees $50 more than what youd get elsewhere and perhaps even more given bitcoins high volatility , the warning said. The CFPB additionally warned customers of scams enticing users to invest bitcoin on the promise of high interest rates and no risk. In actuality, their bitcoin may be funneled into something else entirely, like someones food, shopping and gambling habits.
Dear John: Retire later for more security | New York Post
Gox suddenly disappeared. The exchange had lost $460 million to hackers, and collapsed into bankruptcy. Customers have yet to recover any money. Some virtual currency exchanges do not identify their owners, their phone numbers and addresses, or even the countries where they are located, Mondays advisory warned.
4 Risks Bitcoin Must Overcome – Yahoo Finance
Why penalize the rest of the working public by continuously raising the wage ceiling? I am retired now and paid into Social Security for 43 years. Based on my benefit, I will get my money back in approximately 11 or 12 years.
That explosive growth will ensure a critical mass of people. One of the great things about bitcoin is that unlike WhatsApp, Facebook and other rapidly growing companies, retail investors have the same opportunity as big venture capital firms to invest and benefit from the expected explosion in usage and, therefore, price. Disclosure: At the time of this writing, David Smith has a long bitcoin position and owns So Whats Bitcoin?
WASHINGTON: Digital currencies such as bitcoin carry significant risks, feds warn | Economy | McClatchy DC
Every honest bitcoin proponent will tell potential investors that bitcoin is high risk and not to invest a persons life savings. But exactly what are those risks? Regulatory The biggest is regulatory risk. Bitcoin makes value transfers more efficient by allowing transfers to go directly between two people instead of involving a payment processor. For example, when one swipes Visa to pay for gas or to buy an airline ticket, Visa facilitates the transaction. Visa takes on the risk of fraud and also incur expenses to process the transaction and provide customer support, among other things.

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Indonesia’s ride-hailing and payments giant Gojek is in advanced discussions about merging with local e-commerce pioneer PT Tokopedia, ahead of a planned initial public offering of the combined entity, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
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The consumer’s shopping journey has evolved in a way that challenges retailers big and small. Shoppers demand frictionless experiences in-store and online. But for small to medium-size business, competing against larger retail brands can be challenging. Which is why payments solution provider, Verifone, created a “Wellness Plan for SMBs.” Here, Joe Mach, president of North America at Verifone, shares how the plan works and why SMBs can benefit from it.
WWD: What’s driving the need for SMBs to change and why is a “wellness plan” needed?
Joe Mach: Building and growing a small business is both rewarding and daunting, particularly when pitted against big businesses with larger footprints, bigger budgets and more assets overall. It’s a classic David versus Goliath scenario, which is why we want to help them thrive and better serve their customers through the checkout experience.
And that includes helping SMBs accept emerging payment apps and methods since a growing number of consumers demand the option to use these features in-store. Our “Verifone Wellness Plan for SMBs” includes awareness and the ability to accept all types of payment and the flexibility to embrace change. This is critical to merchants’ well-being. It’s also important to note that about 25 percent of consumers pay by Samsung Pay and Apple Pay while 64 percent plan to use mobile wallet by 2020. And half of consumers want to use mobile payment apps for faster in-store purchases. And there are already more than 520 million people using Alipay in 30 countries, including the U.S.
WWD: What role do “exercise” and “relationships” play in the plan?
J.M.: Evidence suggests that there is a correlation between healthy relationships and merchant life expectancy. Reciprocating with relevant and easily redeemable offers helps SMBs build and maintain long-lasting relationships with their customers, and fulfill on the mutual need for appreciation and understanding. Research has shown that 66 percent of consumers want to redeem rewards while 79 percent want brands to show personal understanding and care.
At Verifone, we’re also enabling SMBs to engage their customers and conduct transactions throughout the store. This allows SMBs to foster healthy activities in the customer’s journey and reverse any merchant atrophy — and even elevate feelings of happiness. Success of this is evident from industry data revealing that underperforming retailers that deployed mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) saw 100 percent sales increase for 2017.
WWD: Does a wellness plan for SMBs include “supplements” to help them be mindful and focused?
J.M.: Yes. Strains of viruses, malware and other infections spread by cybercriminals’ unsavory behavior are increasingly resistant to payment system defenses. Total immunity is impossible; however, supplementing PCI compliance with a strong regimen of end-to-end encryption, tokenization and secure/semi-integrated architecture can effectively protect merchants from infection — not to mention embarrassing phone calls to inform customers they may be infected.
Payroll, inventory management, reporting and other tasks can induce anxiety and distract SMBs; however, groundbreaking payment technology advancements can support a range of business apps that alleviate such distractions. With the right tools, SMBs can adopt any number of apps, which they can use as coping mechanisms — anytime, anywhere — to reduce distractions and regain focus on what’s most important — growth and relationships.
WWD: What’s important to consider when choosing the right “wellness provider?”
J.M.: All these changes may be impossible for small merchants to make on their own, which is why the merchant service provider is critical to the wellness journey. That’s not to say that any service provider will do. Reliable “wellness coaches,” or merchant service providers, must be able to efficiently manage ongoing complexity and fast-paced change on behalf of merchants, along with trained staff available 24/7 for monitoring, support and triage — if something goes wrong.


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It’s official: Verizon completed its acquisition of AOL Tuesday in a deal that raises yet-unanswered questions about the future of one of the country’s earliest Internet brands and of online media in general.
The $4.4 billion deal, which the companies announced in May, gives Verizon access to AOL’s digital ad technology as well as content brands like The Huffington Post as well as technology blogs Engadget and TechCrunch.
The merger sparked rumors about the future of the AOL-owned Huffington Post and whether the site’s founder, Arianna Huffington, had a place at Verizon. Huffington quelled the doubters last week when she signed a contract to remain president and editor-in-chief of the site for four more years. AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, also shows no signs of an exit — he will continue to run AOL from within the Verizon chain of command.
Speculation that Verizon might try to sell off the Huffington Post also appears to be unfounded for now.
Verizon and AOL are holding a conference call at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday; we’ll learn more details about both companies’ futures then.
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Should New York's bottle deposit law be updated? Advocates say yes
Advocates who want to expand the state’s decades-long bottle deposit law testified Monday at a hearing held by the New York State Senate and Assembly, saying adding more categories of containers would reduce the use of plastics and ease burdens on municipal landfills.
New York’s 1982 bottle law, which placed a 5-cent deposit fee on containers for carbonated soft drinks and beer, was expanded in 2009 to include plastic water bottles.
But environmental advocates say New York’s law could be broader and include wine bottles, liquor bottles and other plastic beverage containers.
Before the hearing, Erica Smitka with the League of Women Voters demonstrated how containers that are both made of plastic and are of similar size are treated differently.
In one hand, she held a container that holds soda pop or another carbonated soft drink. In the other is a type of bottle that normally contains orange juice, iced tea, or lemonade.
“They're both plastic bottles. They both have similar plastic tops,” Smitka said. “They look identical, truly. The only difference is that one can be redeemed for 5 cents, and the other cannot and goes pretty much straight to the landfill.”
Smitka said changing the law could encourage more people to redeem their bottles, increasing the chances that they will be recycled and reused properly.
“It could help increase New York state's redemption rate from 64% to 90%, which is a huge increase when we really only continue to create waste,” she said.
Blair Horner with the New York Public Interest Research Group said the deposit amount should be higher, too. He said that would incentivize people to not just throw the deposit bottles into the regular recycling or trash.
“A nickel in 1983 is not what a nickel is in 2023,” said Horner, who added that if the deposit amount were adjusted for inflation, it would be 15 cents now.
The advocates are asking Gov. Kathy Hochul to include the proposal in her new budget plan, which is due in January.
Hochul said she hasn’t made a decision about whether to include it.
“I understand the interest in it,” Hochul said. “We're still in the early stages of formulating our budget.”
The governor said she and her team are still “pressure-testing” a number of proposals before they make a final decision.
Opponents include the liquor industry and grocery store chains. They say it would increase their expenses for handling deposit containers. They also say wine and liquor bottles don’t contribute to waste and recycling problems the way that plastic bottles do.


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With December right upon us, the iPhone 5 is now easily available in the U.S. at Apple’s brick and mortar locations.
While the Apple online store may still have a one-week waiting period, a Piper Jaffray analyst did a poll that says that Apple’s physical stores have iPhone 5s readily available. They did a poll of 20 U.S. Apple Stores and found them stocked.
“We believe the iPhone 5 has finally reach a point where consumers ca walk into an Apple store and walk out with a phone,” Gene Munster, the analyst who did the poll, said.
He noted that all 20 stores polled showed the Verizon model were available. This has been the phone most constrained out of the three major U.S. carriers. Now Verizon, AT&T and Sprint are all showing consistent 90%+ availability.
Munster further maintained his estimate that the iPhone would ship 45 illion untis in the fourth quarter. He also notes that the upside may be minimal as supply is only now meeting demand.


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Outspan Nigeria Limited, a key player in the dairy sector and subsidiary of ofi, in partnership with the Kano Dairy & Livestock Husbandry Cooperative Union (KADALCU), has opened a new milk collection centre (MCC) in Kano.
The opening of the latest milk collection centre in Imawa, Kura LGA, on November 24, 2021, is in pursuit of the business’ goal of enabling robust activities in the local dairy value chain through improved collection, preservation, distribution and off-taking of fresh milk produced by smallholder dairy farmers.
Outspan Nigeria Limited has so far opened three milk collection centres in Kano State and upgraded a bulking centre cited in the building donated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).
Speaking during the official opening of the new milk collection centre, Mr Vipin Patel, the National Sales Operations Manager for ofi Dairy in Nigeria said, “We are providing infrastructural support and market linkage for smallholder dairy farmers through the opening of milk collection centres. These efforts ensure that the quality of the fresh milk produced locally is preserved and the farmers can access a ready market for the off-taking of their produce.”
According to Patel, “Through our investment support for the dairy sector, the smallholder dairy farmers’ livelihoods keep improving as they derive maximum value for the fresh milk produced by their herds.”
Speaking about the Outspan milk production value chain development effort, Mr Praveen Paulsamy, General Manager for ofi Dairy in Nigeria, said, “Our partnership with KADALCU borders on feed supplementation, pasture development, training on model dairy farming, and support in milk collection and transportation.”
“The opening of the new milk collection centre is coming on the heels of our recent capacity development training engagement delivered by top dairy consultants to bring the Kano Dairy union members up to speed on modern dairy management, and an artificial insemination exercise carried out on local cattle to improve their reproductive quality,” Paulsamy added.
“These efforts were facilitated by us to ensure we keep scaling our investment in the local dairy value chain such that Kano Dairy would be able to produce thousands of litres of fresh, quality milk for industrial off-takers. This is where we want the local dairy industry to be.”
Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, chairman, Kano Dairy Cooperative Union, commended Outspan Nigeria for supporting the dairy value chain and the members of KADALCU. He said the investment support would assist greatly in boosting the economy.
Outspan Nigeria Limited dairy value chain development efforts are in line with the new Federal Government policy of strengthening the agro value chain to reduce importation of agro produce that can be sourced locally.


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2 July 2004
The isiZulu language has burst onto the Internet with the launch of Isolezwe – the world’s first isiZulu news website.
Powered by Independent Online, the site carries the same content as Isolezwe, South Africa’s leading isiZulu newspaper.
Initially, Isolezwe’s online content will be available free to view as an incentive to encourage online user – readers can sign up for a one-month free trial subscription. Ultimately, the site’s “premium content” area will be subscription-based.
The online edition follows Isolezwe’s launch into the KwaZulu-Natal newspaper market in 2002. According to Independent Online, Isolezwe has established a readership of 339 000 a day, making it the biggest daily newspaper in KwaZulu-Natal.
“We are excited by the site as it means we are now accessible throughout the country – and globally”, said Isolezwe editor Philani Mgwaba.
Mgwaba said the site would target the “emerging, urban-based, aspirational and knowledgeable Zulu market”.
Whereas isiZulu readers may have been hesitant or unable to go online before, the site would encourage them to use the Internet as an information tool, Mgwaba said.
Mgwaba added that the site would be useful to people interested in learning isiZulu as a language.
Babs Abba Omar, content manager of Independent Online, said that while the newspaper’s distribution was confined to street sales, the website would enhance Isolezwe’s readership among isiZulu-speaking people – of whom there are nine million in the country.


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Killing car brands a rocky road
Even struggling brands are vital to legions of dealers and they don't usually go down lightly.
|36 month new||5.91%|
|48 month new||5.98%|
|60 month new||6.03%|
|72 month new||3.78%|
|36 month used||6.31%|
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- As General Motors struggles to sell cars, one repeated bit of advice is that it needs to shed some brands -- especially if it joins forces with Chrysler. But there's one big roadblock in the way -- the dealers who sell those cars.
"It's very difficult," said Tom Libby, an auto market analyst with J.D. Power and Associates "and very time consuming,"
There is only one way to get an auto dealer to close up shop, he said: "It almost always involves the manufacturer paying the dealer to close his doors," a tricky business of asking dealers to give up their businesses.
"All states have some form of protection for car dealers," said Matthew Moloshok, a New Jersey lawyer who is former head of the American Bar Association's Franchise and Dealership Committee.
State laws often restrict the terms under which a manufacturer can refuse to renew a dealer's contract and the terms under which they can allow nearby dealerships to open. Anything seen as "coercion" is also usually prohibited. Laws also prevent manufacturers from favoring one dealer, for instance by selling vehicles at a lower price to one dealer than to another.
Car dealers need those laws to protect themselves from capricious actions by carmakers, Moloshok said. Unlike clothing retailers, for instance, who may sell products under a variety of brands or who could easily switch from one supplier to another, a car dealer is married to that brand.
Further complicating the matter: No single approach works, because laws vary from state to state, according to Libby. And dealership franchise laws are usually much stronger than laws that apply to other types of franchisees, said John Frith of Urban Science, which consults automakers on dealership location strategy.
"Dealers typically have more money so they have a little bit more influence with the legislature than the local Subway," he said.
Not your father's phase-out
GM's experience with phasing out its Oldsmobile brand in the early 2000's shows how hard it can be to get dealers to close or change their line of business to match a manufacturer's strategy. And moving to another GM brand wasn't always possible because of competition from nearby dealers.
"I had good friends who were Oldsmobile dealers that are just out of the car business," said Reed Trickett of Nashville, Tenn., a former Olds dealer.
Oldsmobile sales made up just 1.6% of America's market share in 2000, a sharp drop from 6.5% a decade and a half earlier when it had been one of America's top-selling car brands, according to market trackers at Autodata. At the time, GM (GM, Fortune 500) said it jut couldn't find a way to make Oldsmobile profitable again.
After he was presented with a buy-out offer from GM, Trickett said he called lawyers and seriously considered suing. He ultimately decided to take a cash pay-out GM offered, using the money to expand his adjoining Honda dealership.
Of the 2,800 Oldsmobile dealerships in operation in 2000, most accepted GM's proffered buy-out packages. Amounts varied depending on the dealer's sales volume in prior years and what percentage of those sales came from Oldsmobile.
But dozens of other dealers did fight for more money from GM, according to lawyers who represented them.
"We ended up with 19 lawsuits in 17 different states, I think that was the final number," according to Florida attorney Richard Sox who said at least 100 dealers hired his firm to fight GM for more money.
Each of those states had its own set of laws under which the suits were filed, argued and, in most cases, negotiated to settlement, he aid.
After that, GM simply started negotiating higher-priced settlements without waiting for a legal filing. One case is still not resolved, Sox said.
GM would not comment on the amounts but, according to media reports from that time, packages varied widely from tens of thousands to more than a million.
And GM did assist many dealers by helping them shift to other brands, said company spokeswoman Susan Garontakos. GM would not say how many dealers sued or negotiated while threatening to sue.
Shrunken but not dead
At least GM's approach in the Oldsmobile case -- an outright killing of the brand - gave dealers a fighting chance, said Sox.
"The worst-case scenario for the dealers is what's happening now with some of the line-makes," he said, using another term for brands.
Instead of just dropping them, manufacturers are simply shrinking the line-ups of some brands and combining them in one-stop dealerships with other brands. This is what GM is doing now with its Pontiac, Buick and GMC line-ups.
Besides reducing the number of dealerships, "brand channeling" is supposed to allow each brand to more tightly focus on a core vehicle type while still allowing the dealer to sell a full line-up of cars, trucks and SUVs.
But according to Sox, "They're strangling these line-makes so they're not viable."
Buick now has just three vehicles in its line. For a Buick dealer, GM's invitation to work out a business deal with a nearby Pontiac dealer is pretty hard to resist.
GM spokeswoman Garontakos took issue with Sox's view of the process. She called the plan good business for all involved and not an intimidation tactic.
Besides, said Frish of Urban Science, dealerships represent their brands to consumers, for better or worse. No carmaker wants to deliberately starve any on-going dealers.


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The effect of blockchain and cryptocurrency is beginning to be felt in a real way across the business world.
As the digital age continues to hurtle along at break-neck speed, more and more organisations are investing in transformation projects to stay ahead of the game.
More than 475 years after Copernicus published his theory on the Revolutions Of The Celestial Spheres, in direct challenge to the popular belief that the earth was the centre of the universe, there has been a significant rise in members of…
Who doesn’t want an innovative culture? The kind that generates innovations like bureaucracies generate paperwork, and which disrupts industries so often it becomes business as usual?
As the world enters a phase of ongoing uncertainty, including economic, global, and political flux, it is natural to look for beacons of hope to guide the way through any impending storms.
The retirement of Keith Weed, Unilever’s Chief Marketing Officer, is interesting. A textbook all-rounder, Weed always understood the importance of brand purpose, sustainability, and diversity and inclusion. Crucially, he also knew these…
When it comes to innovation, a focus on customers, talent and data are key for success
Peak M&A has come and gone, and this means companies will be forced to rely upon organic growth for expansion.


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At this week’s IFA 2011 in Berlin, Toshiba presented the first 3DTV set to be marketed worldwide that will not require the use of special glasses.
The 55″ Toshiba 55ZL2 is to begin selling in Germany this December with roll outs in other countries to follow. In addition to not requiring 3D glasses, the set features technology that tracks the location of up to 9 viewers to provide individual 3D effects – no need to huddle together directly in front of the television, like standard 3D displays require.
This location or facial scanning is similar to technology recently announced in Toshiba’s Qosmio F755 notebook computer, that likewise uses its built in webcam to detect the viewer’s eyes and optimize the 3D effect for the user’s perspective.
The Toshiba 55ZL2 TV has a Quad Full HD LCD panel with a resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels – twice the height and width of 1080p resolution and four times the pixels – which the company claims is the first time such definition will be available to the general public.
Although presenters at IFA 2011 were reportedly vague on what the unit will cost, according to an article update on Techcrunch, the 55Zl2 will initially sell for about 8000 Euros or around $11,5000 USD.


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Wednesday night at the World Technology Summit gala held at the United Nations in New York City, AirDye Solutions was named the corporate winner for the prestigious 2011 World Technology Award for Environment.
We were recognized for AirDye® technology. AirDye addresses one of the world’s most pressing problems: the over-use and pollution of trillions of gallons of fresh water. AirDye Solutions innovative technology uses no water at the point of coloration, eliminates the need for toxic dye chemicals, and is revolutionizing the textile industry.
The World Technology Awards have been presented by the World Technology Network (WTN) since 2000, as a way to honor those in 20 different categories of science and technology and related fields doing “the innovative work of the greatest likely long-term significance.” Nominees for the 2011 World Technology Awards were selected by the WTN Fellows (winners and finalists from previous annual Award cycles in the individual Award categories) through an intensive, global process lasting many months.
The World Technology Award for Environment was presented by the WTN in association with TIME, Fortune, CNN, Science/AAAS, and Technology Review. AirDye Solutions now joins a roster of organizations and individuals from over 60 countries around the world deemed to be doing the most innovative and impactful work.
The Advisors for 2011 were:
- Ray Kurzweil, inventor/futurist/author
- Albert Teich, Director, Science and Policy Programs, American Association for the Advancement of Science/AAAS (retired, 2011)
- Jason Pontin, Editor/Publisher, Technology Review
- Lev Grossman, Senior Writer and book critic, TIME; co-author TIME.com blog “Techland”
Other nominees included Recyclebank, Siemens Water Technologies, and Better Place. The full list of 2011 finalist and other nominees can be found on the WTN website.
Paul Raybin (center), AirDye Solutions’ chief sustainability and marketing officer, accepted the award from Jim Clark, WTN chairman, and Poppy Harlow, CNN. Here are Paul’s remarks…
On behalf of everyone at AirDye Solutions and our partners around the world, we’re honored to receive this award.
In a world where fresh water is becoming scarce, the textile industry continues to destroy trillions of gallons of water every year printing and dyeing fabric. At AirDye Solutions our goal is to help move the textile industry away from its over-dependence on water for printing and dyeing fabric – making that water available for life-sustaining activities instead. Or, as we like to say – Water for Living Not for Dyeing.
In the past year we’ve entered into important new partnerships in Asia and elsewhere and now major brands are introducing textiles and apparel products dyed and decorated without using water.
So we hope that this award tonight helps increase awareness of the water scarcity problem around the world and that others continue to join us in seeking solutions.
Everyone in the company is proud and honored to be recognized by the WTN and the international community. Of course, without the hard work and dedication of everyone in the AirDye Solutions family, AirDye technology wouldn’t be able to make an impact on the textile industry and eventually, a greener planet.


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Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, has welcomed the purchase of Coventry-based Manganese Bronze, the maker of London's iconic black taxi.
It's only right that the iconic black cabs will be produced in the UK. I'm pleased that workers in the Coventry factory will keep their jobs, thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen.
"I look forward to hearing more from Geely about its pledge to continue production in the West Midlands and opportunities for its supply chain in the UK.
More top news
Rather cloudy but mainly dry with some brightness tomorrow.
Frost free tonight then mainly dry and bright tomorrow.
Sutty from the Pets as Therapy charity is one popular visitor on the Children's wards, helping brighten up the day for poorly patients.


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Mercedes Benz(Search results - 12)
BusinessSep 9, 2021, 12:00 PM IST
Mercedes-Benz to bring new alert function against potholes in communication system
As every motorist is aware, potholes are a genuine safety concern that can damage a vehicle's tyres or suspension. As a result, Mercedes has chosen to begin alerting consumers about potholes.
LifestyleOct 26, 2020, 6:18 PM IST
'Made in India' Mercedes AMG coupe to roll out on November 3
Mercedes-Benz India has announced that its first ever Made-in-India AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe will roll out of its Chakan plant in Pune on November 3.
CrimeFeb 13, 2020, 6:52 PM IST
Karnataka minister R Ashok's son involved in car accident that killed 2 in Ballari: Congress
At around 3 pm, a speeding red Mercedes Benz car rammed a tea stall near the road and hit 15-year-old Ravi Naik after which he was dragged for about 100 meters. He died on the spot.
Apr 17, 2017, 6:49 AM IST
Check out the star car attractions at the 2017 New York Auto Show
The 2017 New York International Auto Show is underway. The mega event will end on April 24. More than four floors of displays from the world’s automakers are featuring the newest vehicles and latest futuristic concept cars. Nearly 1,000 cars and trucks will be on display at North America’s first and largest-attended auto show dating back to 1900.
Mar 31, 2017, 2:05 PM IST
Audi Q3 petrol variant launched at Rs 32.2 lakh in India
German luxury car manufacturer Audi recently launched a new variant of the Q3 with a 1.4-litre petrol engine at Rs 32.20 lakh onwards (ex-showroom New Delhi)
Mar 13, 2017, 12:20 PM IST
Geneva Motor Show 2017: Impressive line-up from Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz has used the Geneva International Motor Show 2017 to present an array of elegant and sporty new models. The highlights were the new E-Class Cabriolet, the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept and the world premieres of the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ Estate and the Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster Edition 50. The E 300 Coupé and the GLA 220 4MATIC celebrated their European premieres. We let see these gorgeous pictures
Mar 9, 2017, 2:35 PM IST
In pics: Mercedes-Benz India launches its new E-Class in Kolkata
Luxury car company Mercedes-Benz India launched the new E-Class Mercedes Benz in Kolkata, West Bengal.The launch was attended by VP Sales and Marketing of Mercedes-Benz India, Michael Jopp.
Feb 14, 2017, 6:10 AM IST
Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet : A vision in green
This stunner from Mercedes-Maybach strives to give the customer luxury both on road and off-road. The company has made some unique improvements to this classic all-terrain vehicle which has been in production since 1979. After the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and the S 650 Cabriolet, the open-top G-Class 650 Landaulet is the first off-roader from the Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand.
Dec 1, 2016, 3:25 PM IST
10 stylish cars from 2016 LA Auto Show
The world's top carmakers and the who is who of the automobile industry were seen showing off at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show held in November at Los Angeles, California. While we couldn't be there, we sure hope these pictures can help


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FranceAgriMer raises forecast for wheat exports
Jan 13 Soybeans closed at USD14.73 1/2, up 1 1/2 cents; Mar 13 Soybeans closed at USD14.70 1/2, down 3/4 cent; Dec 12 Soybean Meal closed at USD459.50, up USD4.50; Dec 12 Soybean Oil closed at 49.18, down 69 points.
The dollar was lower, adding support. Tuesday's USDA WASDE report, which confirmed the acute tightness in US supplies this year, may in fact have been understated given the robust nature of soybean (and soymeal & oil) sales and exports so far this season. Tomorrow's weekly export sales report will therefore be of particular interest. Last week's soybean sales of 1.14 MMT were more than double trade estimates of 300-500 TMT and between 4-5 times larger than the volume required to hit the USDA's 2012/13 export target of 36.6 MMT. Trade estimates for tomorrow's soybean sales are 550-900,000 MT. Sales at the upper end of that scale would bring total commitments for the season to date to around 80% of that target little more than a quarter of the way into the season.
Dec 12 Corn closed at USD7.21, down 3 1/4 cents; Mar 13 Corn closed at USD7.25 1/2, down 2 1/2 cents.
South Korea's NOFI bought 238 TMT of mostly South American corn for April/May delivery. Despite reports that US corn had been excluded, one cargo was said to have been traded as US/South African origin. Unlike for the soy products, corn sales are lagging the pace needed to hit the USDA 2012/13 export target. Last week's sales were a paltry 51,600 MT against expectations of 300-500 TMT. That brings net commitments for 2012/13 so far to only 42% of the USDA's target. Tomorrow the trade is looking for sales of 150–400 TMT, which in itself is a fairly modest amount for this time of year. Anything less than that would be another disappointment for corn bulls. China's CNGOIC says that the country's corn import needs will fall by more than half in 2012/13. The weekly ethanol grind fell 11,000 barrels/day to 824,000 bpd, although that is in line with the required pace to meet USDA projections for the current season.
Dec 12 CBOT Wheat closed at USD7.94 3/4, down 11 cents; Dec 12 KCBT Wheat closed at USD8.53 1/4, down 15 1/2 cents; Dec 12 MGEX Wheat closed at USD8.90, down 6 3/4 cents.
Wheat was the weakest leg for the third day running, pressured by the fall-out from Tuesday's bearish USDA report. Tomorrow's export sales will be interesting, as the trade keeps talking about world demand switching to the US, but with little hard evidence so far to back that assumption up. Last week's sales of 353,100 MT were in line with expectations, but hardly spectacular, and below the 511 TMT/week required to hit USDA targets. That target has now been lowered a little, but sales still need to average 500 TMT/week to get to the 29.5 MMT of sales forecast by the USDA in 2012/13, exactly halfway through the wheat marketing year. There are plenty of wheat tenders around, the US now needs to start winning a larger share of them than it has been. FranceAgriMer raised it's forecast for French wheat exports to non-EU destinations to 10 MMT, up 0.5 MMT from last month and a 1.5 MMT increase on last season.
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Engineered products maker Roper Industries, Inc. (ROP) reported Monday a 22 percent increase in first-quarter profit, helped by a 10 percent growth in revenues and improved margins. Earnings per share and revenues exceeded analysts' expectations. The company also lifted its full year outlook based on the strong first quarter and improved visibility into the second half of the year.
Brian Jellison, chairman, president and CEO of the company said, "Our businesses performed exceptionally well in the quarter, as strong operating leverage led to double-digit operating profit growth in all four segments...Gross margin reached 55%, reflecting growth in our medical and software platforms and our enterprise-wide focus on technology and application engineering expertise."
In the first quarter, the company's net earnings rose to $108.31 million or $1.09 per share from $88.98 million or $0.91 per share in the previous year. On average, 10 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $1.04 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.
Industrial Technology operating profit increased to $57.51 million from $46.19 million a year ago and Energy Systems & Controls posted an operating profit of $35.66 million, up from $29.04 million a year ago.
Operating profit from Medical & Scientific Imaging was $43.36 million, higher than $35.04 million last year , while, RF Technology generated $50.35 million, compared to $44.95 million in the preceding year.
Net sales for the quarter grew 10 percent to $711.07 million from $645.31 million in the same quarter last year, which also exceeded analysts' consensus estimate of $704.27 million. Organic revenue growth was 8 percent.
Operating margin was 24 percent, up 200 basis point from the prior year. Total orders increased to $729.39 million from $702.3 a year earlier.
In addition, the company raised its full year 2012 earnings guidance to a range of $4.75 to $4.91 per share from the prior outlook of $4.67 to $4.87 per share. Analysts expect the company to report earnings of $ 4.78 per share for 2012.
ROP is currently trading at $99.35, up $1.21 or 1.23 percent, on a volume of 205 thousand shares on the NYSE.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: firstname.lastname@example.org


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UK-based ready-to-drink cocktail brand Tapp’d Cocktails has secured a nationwide distribution deal with Molson Coors Beverage Company.
The deal – with Molson Coors’ UK division – will open up 45,000 on-premise venues and 11,000 accounts across the country, according to the Essex-based firm.
The Carling brewer intends to support the growth of Tapp’d Cocktails by expanding the brand throughout the UK, as the consumer demand for ready-to-drink cocktails continues to grow.
“This is the most significant agreement in our 5-year history to date and a clear sign of our ambitions and intent in our drinks being made available in the fullness of time across the world,” Tapp’d managing director Tony Plato said.
Tapp’d Cocktails was founded by in 2018 by James O’Hara. The brand launched its range of pre-mixed RTD cocktails in 2019 and the drinks are now sold in 15,000 UK pubs. The company ran a trial launch into Morrisons in East Anglia which is set to expand nationwide in 2023.
Its drinks – which include variants such as Raspberry Lemonade, Espresso Martini and Blue Lagoon – carry an SRP of GBP2 (US$2.46) per 250ml, 6% abv can in the off-premise, and GBP5-6 in the on-premise channel.
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The drinks are also available in 175ml bottles at an abv of 10%. They have an SRP of GBP4 in the off-premise, and GBP7.95-8.95 in the on-premise.
Sales of pre-mixed, spirit-based cocktails in the UK have increase from US$1.21bn in 2017 to US$1.51bn in 2022, and are expected to reach US$1.99bn by 2026, according to GlobalData. The segment is set to have a ten-year CAGR of 5.08%.
Last month, Molson Coors offloaded three of its RTD brands to UK-based beverage group Global Brands.
Hooch, Hooper’s and Reef, which have been produced and distributed by Global Brands since 2012 under licence from Molson Coors, will now form part of the VK brand owner’s portfolio.
Financial terms were not disclosed.


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Analyst: ‘Alice’ Really a ‘Dragon’ Slayer29 Mar, 2010 By: Erik Gruenwedel
While the DreamWorks Animation 3D release How to Train Your Dragon easily won the weekend box office with $43.3 million, it failed to match some industry projections due in large part to the clout of ongoing 3D juggernaut Alice in Wonderland, an analyst said.
The Walt Disney Co.’s Alice, from director Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp, has grossed nearly $300 million domestically.
Ralph Schackart, media analyst with William Blair & Co. in Chicago, said competition from Alice, which brought in $17.2 million in ticket revenue in its fourth week of release, and a relatively unknown voice cast in Dragon contributed to the latter film’s lower-than-expected box office.
Indeed, Dragon generated 70% of revenue from 2,178 3D screens, compared with DreamWorks Animation’s Monsters vs. Aliens, which opened a year ago with $59.3 million on 1,550 3D screens.
The burgeoning consumer interest in 3D is driving the consumer electronics industry and Hollywood to replicate the theatrical experience with 3D movies on Blu-ray Disc (such as this month’s Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) playable on 3D televisions.
Schackart said that with Warner Bros.’ Clash of the Titans opening in 3D this weekend, Dragon ticket sales would again suffer.
“We do not think the overall movie quality was the problem as Dragon earned better review scores than Alice and Monsters,” Schackart wrote in a note.
The analyst believes timing of releases undermined Dragon, a factor that should play in favor of DWA’s other 3D release this year, Shrek Forever Ever, which will be released seven weeks after Titans.
Indeed, Shrek will have four weeks with no major 3D competition at the box office until Disney’s Toy Story 3 on June 18.
The 25% increase in 3D ticket prices levied by many theater chains over the weekend apparently had little impact hindering consumer interest in the former gimmicky format.
But the presumed elastic (limited) demand for entertainment did not pan out for Dragon screenings at more expensive Imax theaters, which generated $5 million in box office, 29% below similar screenings for Alice and Avatar, according to Eric Wold, analyst with Merriman Curhan Ford in New York.
“We continue to believe higher ticket premium prices, in general, could negatively impact results of animated films as parents may be less willing to pay the higher prices for a group of children. Or, at a minimum, it could cause a trade down from choosing Imax performances to regular 3D performances,” Wold wrote in a note.


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Welcome to SGS’s Media Room. We provide you with a variety of content including high resolution photography of executives, site locations and business activities as well as a range of videos and additional resources about SGS’s focus areas and industry expertise.
Hong Kong Consults over New Standards for Toys and Children’s Products
Hong Kong has launched a one-month public consultation on a proposal to update its safety standards for toys and children’s products. Comments are accepted until December 31, 2020.
Norway Releases a Second Investigation Report in 2020 on Hazardous Substances in Consumer Goods Sold Online
The Norwegian Environment Agency has published its second investigation report of 2020 on hazardous substances in consumer goods sold online. According to the report, a large number of non-compliant cases are still present.
- Market Leader


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Russian authorities and regulators have been in a series of talks about releasing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) dubbed digital ruble for a long time.
The Russian government, citizens and other users of cryptocurrency are very much concerned about particular features of a digital ruble because it might require the creation of payment infrastructure and new innovative types of services.
In early 2020 Russian President Vladimir Putin denied plans to release the CBDC, according to CoinIdol, a world blockchain news outlet. The president believed that no nation can issue its own cryptoasset since cryptoassets go beyond national borders without being monitored by a central body.
However, soon enough the talks renewed. As China (digital yuan), Bahamas (Sand dollar) and the USA (digital dollar) are getting closer to releasing their CBDCs, Russia seems to have reconsidered their plans.
Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, several banks, including Sberbank, and other financial players were reached out to scientifically via communication apps such as Skype and Zoom, to engage them in conversations that would direct them towards the successful piloting of the digital ruble. Digital currencies like Bitcoin, have played a big role in preventing the spread of Covid-19 and storing the wealth of users during this economic crisis caused by the pandemic and the political instabilities in some of the countries such as Greece and Ukraine.
On December 1, the Bank of Russia admitted that it has started serious consultations aimed at enhancing the potential roll-out of their own CBDC. The central bank (CB) wants to first collect the feedback from potential users and participants who will benefit and take part in this new digital payment system.
The CB will collect the feedback on the matter until December 31, this year. Some of the open questions being asked include whether or not the CBDC should use a distributed ledger, whether or not smart contracts will be of any value on this project, and many others. Three options are being considered based on world practice: decentralized registry (DLT), centralized registry, hybrid model. Blockchain through distributed storage and processing of data is more resistant to different events than centralized registers
From there, the data from the feedback will be evaluated and the CBDC will be piloted with a few selected users. However, the actual date of the launch has not yet been set, but it is expected that the bank will more likely decide to launch this digital currency in late 2021.
The advantage of a digital ruble is that it will be in a position to pay both online and those holders and users lacking access to the Internet and smartphones. The government is poised that the creation of the innovative digital currency will lower down the cost of settlements and boost financial availability, and open opportunities for the creation of effective monetary services and instruments.
The CBDC will also lower the burden on banks, expand transborder payments, decrease reliance on (and hegemony of ) the US dollar and exposure to the existing trade and economic sanctions.
The country has been putting a lot of effort into developing a digital ruble and it has been adjusting the legal framework to include it.
Last week, the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Russia, Olga Skorobogatova, revealed that the vast number of financial market players supported the roll-out of the CBDC in question during the public discussion. Nevertheless, she said that the bank is against issuing and circulating any stablecoins for the country’s fiat currency Russian ruble.
Last week, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin revealed that interest in digital currencies is continually increasing, so the CB wants to direct their development in a more civilized way. As per Mikhail, regulators will make adjustments to the Tax Code, and also consolidate the recognition of digital financial assets with property whose users or holders can depend on legal protection if any unlawful actions arise.
Generally, the concept of the digital ruble shows that there may be a third type of money in the nation - in addition to cash and non-cash rubles. digital ruble users, businesses and firms will have a direct financial rapport with the CB, and this may affect the redistribution of financial communications in the finance and banking industry.


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MultiChoice-owned pay TV company DStv has attracted the ire of its subscribers in Kenya after increasing prices across its packages. The new prices will take effect on September 1, 2021.
DStv Premium subscribers will pay Ksh500 more per month with the package rising to Ksh8,900 from Ksh8,400. Compact Plus subscribers will pay Ksh5,500 per month up from Ksh5,100. Compact subscribers will pay Ksh3,000 per month up from Ksh2,800.
The Family package will cost Ksh1,600 per month up from Ksh1,500. The most affordable package, Access, will cost Ksh100 more per month – increasing to Ksh1,150 up from Ksh1,050.
The price hike coincides with the return of top-flight football in Europe including the English Premier League (PL) – beloved by millions in Kenya who watch it in their homes, entertainment joints and dedicated viewing halls. SuperSport, a subsidiary of the MultiChoice Group, holds exclusive rights to air all of the league’s 380 matches per season in Africa.
MultiChoice recently succeeded in its legal battle to have 44 illegal sports streaming websites blocked in Kenya by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) including Safaricom. The websites are used by many Kenyans as alternative platforms to watch live sports including the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
“This is a red-letter day in the fight against piracy in Africa,” stated MultiChoice Kenya Managing Director, Nancy Matimu in June after the High Court ruling. “We have been fighting for years to ensure that there are legal copyright protections, and that those protections are enforced. The court has reaffirmed the stance of the law that copyright must be protected.”
DStv subscribers took to social media to voice their anger after being notified of the price increase. The hike comes at a time when many Kenyans are grappling with the high cost of living including the sky-rocketing cost of fuel and basic food commodities.
DStv informed concerned subscribers that the move was informed by several factors, reiterating that it continued to offer value to customers across Africa. Among other issues, the company cited high content acquisition costs and the weakening shilling among contributors to the price hike.
READ ALSO>>DStv Business Excites Pubs And Clubs As Football Returns
“DStv has over the past year absorbed increased content costs and foreign exchange impacts, due to the weakening Kenya shilling where possible. DStv has worked tirelessly to ensure it provides an unrivalled bouquet of channels to watch,” the company told one Twitter user.
The company disclosed more of the costs factored into the pricing of packages – including “satellites and distribution equipment; buying shows, movies, and channels; decoders; our infrastructure like playout facilities, monitoring services and customer touch points.”
Earlier this year, the pay TV service also caught backlash from customers in countries including Kenya and South Africa over restrictions introduced on its DStv Now streaming app. The changes which took effect on March 22 limited streaming on DStv to one device at a time.
Sample more comments that followed the price hike by DSTV Kenya;
@DStv_Kenya mnataka kulipisha premium 8900 juu nini ya maana mko nayo? Mko m audacity sanaaa, shame on you
— Aleckie Ronald (@SirAlexas) August 1, 2022
Naah unacceptable..you cannot increase prices in today’s economic climate..you are squeezing your customers..zuku had the same approach now they r begging ppl to use their services…fix up dstv
— Agapito geraldini (@leayaan2614) August 4, 2022
They know the league is resuming, perfect timing
— Civil254 (@wuadhiambo) August 4, 2022


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FDA Issues Warning To Dollar Tree About Selling 'Potentially Unsafe Drugs'The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning letter to Dollar Tree for receiving over-the-counter drugs produced by foreign manufacturers that have been found to be adulterated, including acne treatment pads and Assured brand drugs.
Over 2M Pounds Of Chicken Products Recalled In 8 States, Including CaliforniaMore than 2 million pounds of poultry products have been recalled in eight states over fears of contamination with foreign matter such as metal, federal health officials said.
Funeral Costs Skyrocket, Not All California Funeral Homes Comply With Pricing LawThe average funeral in the United States now costs between $7,000 and $12,000, with the median for a funeral and burial estimated at $8,500, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.
Michaels Recalling Keychain Phone Chargers That Can Overheat And Catch FireMichaels is recalling 14,000 tassel keychain phone chargers after two of them overheated and caught fire.
Subaru Is Recalling More Than 400,000 Crosstreks And ImprezasSubaru of America is issuing two recalls for more than 400,000 vehicles.
PG&E Power Shutoffs Aimed At Saving Lives Are Impacting LivelihoodsIn Nevada City, California Organics Market and Cafe employees were busy clearing refrigerated displays that will soon lose power.
More Than 6,400 Pounds Of Frozen Meat Sold At Walmart Recalled For Possible Salmonella ContaminationMore than 6,400 pounds of a Walmart brand's frozen meat have been recalled for possible salmonella contamination.
Johnson & Johnson Recalls Lot Of Baby Powder After FDA Test Finds Presence Of AsbestosJohnson & Johnson is recalling a single lot of its Johnson's Baby Powder in response to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) test showing the presence of sub-trace levels of chrysotile asbestos contamination.
After More Than 50 Years, A Midtown Jimboy's Tacos Is Closing Its DoorsA Midtown favorite is closing its doors for good Friday.
Powerless Placerville Ice Cream Parlor’s 'PG&E Special'Hangman’s Tree Ice Cream Saloon persevered through the power outage.
Nevada City Mayor Calls PG&E’s Power Shutdown 'Hit Job'Nevada City’s mayor is calling the PG&E Public Safety Power Outage a “hit job” on her community.
PG&E Public Safety Power Shutdown Forces School ClosuresEl Dorado Union High School District sent out school closure alerts to parents through email and cell phones Tuesday evening.
IKEA Recalling Bibs That Could Pose Choking Hazard To InfantsIKEA is recalling thousands of infant bibs because the snap on the bibs can come off and cause young children to choke.
Empty Shelves At Fry's Stores Cause Bankruptcy Fears Among Faithful CustomersShoppers at technology retailer Fry’s Electronics are raising concerns about the store’s future after many are finding empty shelves.
One Million Folding Knives Recalled After Six People Cut By BladeCalifornia-based Harbor Freight Stores is recalling more than one million folding knives because the blade lock can fail, causing people to cut themselves.


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Intel shows Apple how to win a trademark dispute in China
Shenzhen-based Inteljet ordered to fork out £20,000
Chip giant Intel has shown Apple how to deal with an irksome trademark dispute in China by claiming a legal victory over Shenzhen-based printing peripherals firm Inteljet over the weekend.
Chipzilla won 400,000 yuan (£20,000) in compensation after Shanghai No.2 Intermediate People's Court agreed with it that the name of Shenzhen Inteljet Digital Technology was too similar to its registered trademark, according to Shanghai Daily.
Although the court reportedly accepted the argument made by Inteljet that it had registered its name under a different trademark category, it decided that Intel’s was a famous trademark that should be protected under Chinese law.
Inteljet was effectively trying to piggy back on the success of the chip giant and its strong brand recognition in order to try and flog more kit, the court ruled.
A local Inteljet distributor was ordered to contribute 4,000 yuan (£400) to the compensation payment, the court said.
An Intel spokesperson told The Reg that the firm has an obligation to its shareholders to ensure the value of its brand is not whittled away.
"Unlike other intellectual property, trademark law requires a company like Intel to take proactive steps to protect its trademark or run the risk of losing its rights in the trademark," they added.
In the meantime, of course, fruity toy maker Apple still awaits the outcome of an appeal in its long running Chinese trademark dispute case with monitor biz Proview over the IPAD name.
Although judges in the case went away at the end of February to consider whether to overturn an earlier ruling in favour of Proview, there has been little sign of a resolution, even though the court urged both sides to seek an end to the dispute.
Apple says it bought the IPAD name from Proview Taiwan to use freely in several countries including China back in 2009, while Proview says that only its Shenzhen affiliate, which Apple didn’t deal with, had the right to sell the name for use in the People’s Republic.
Both sides have ramped up the invective in the long running dispute, which threatens to disrupt Apple’s plans to launch its new fondleslab in the country.
Although on sale in nearby Hong Kong and Macau, as well as countless other countries across the globe, there is still no release date for the nation in which the iPad is manufactured. ®


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The Basic Attention Token (BAT) price has made a slow recovery in the past few days. The token is trading at $0.7340, which is about 30% above the lowest level this year. Its total market capitalization has risen to about $1 billion, making it the 86th coin in the world.
Brave is a browser that seeks to disrupt a multi-billion dollar industry that is currently dominated by the likes of Opera, Mozilla, Google, and Microsoft.
The company hopes to solve some of the biggest concerns that the platform has. For example, it comes with an in-built ad-blocker and other privacy features.
Its main differentiating factor is that it pays users who opt to receive its adverts. It pays them using the BAT token, which users receive every month. Today, Brave has over 50 million users.
In the past few months, the developers have launched multiple products as it tries to expand its ecosystem. It has launched its alternative to Zoom, which allows people to hold video calls. It has also launched its search engine, which aims to compete fully with Google.
There is a likelihood that users of the Brave search engine will start earning rewards using the BAT token. Microsoft Bing has a similar service in which it gives users points, which they can redeem in its stores.
Still, like all web 3.0 platforms, Brave faces the challenge of the volatility of the Basic Attention Token. Like all coins, it is a highly volatile currency whose price has dropped by over 60% from its all-time high. A possible solution would be a stablecoin, whose value is pegged on the US dollar.
It is unclear why the BAT price has risen in the past few days. A possible reason is that the company has announced that it will soon offer its Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT.
Basic Attention Token price prediction
The four-hour chart shows that the BAT price has been in a bullish trend in the past few days. The coin has risen by about 30% from its lowest level this year. It has formed an ascending channel that is shown in black.
The coin has moved above the 25-day and 50-day moving averages while the MACD indicator has moved above the neutral line. Therefore, there is a likelihood that the Basic Attention Token will keep rising in the near term.


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It’s hard to know how the start of 2021 will really look for restaurants. The remarks of the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire and of the Prime Minister Jean Castex indicating that it was not guaranteed that the establishments could reopen on January 20, while depending on the circulation of the virus, have something to worry even more a profession lacking in prospects.
The balance sheet for 2020, on the other hand, can begin to be drawn up. In the out-of-home consumption sector, which also includes canteens and shops outside supermarkets, losses from January to November amount to 27.3 billion euros, according to Food Service Vision. The only commercial catering accounts in this set for 21.5 billion, including 5 billion accumulated in October and November out of the 5.9 billion overall shortfall during these two months.
The fifth strategic review “Food Service & Covid-19”, published by the cabinet, points to the devastating effect for restaurants that the curfew and confinement have successively had. If, after a summer that was finally more favorable than expected, they had succeeded in limiting the damage in September with a drop of only 26% in their turnover compared to 2019, the need to be home after 9 p.m. from mid-October saw sales decline by 39% during the month. And the ban on opening theaters triggered losses of 75% in November, when the total out-of-home consumption fell by 54%.
“This is a second shock for commercial catering. It suffers not only from the impossibility of serving at the table but also from the return to teleworking of many workers who buy less outside, and from the sharp decrease in business trips that began in October. But the extent of the decline is less significant than during the first containment with sales down 91% in April. This difference shows the sector’s capacity for reinvention, its resistance, as well as consumers’ appetite for what it can offer “, remarks the founding president of Food Service Vision, François Blouin.
Alternative ways of tasting small dishes have made a real place in the landscape. Last month, despite the context, one in three French people used take-out, which represents 66% of the meals purchased during the second confinement, and one in four has practiced delivery. Helping restaurateurs is the first reason given for this type of purchase, just before the desire to have fun.
However, there are significant disparities between establishments. The fast food is doing better with a 52% drop in turnover from September to November against 70% for so-called sit-down catering. In November, the first recorded 40% less sales compared to 81% for the second. About the transport and concession catering, it is almost at a standstill.
“The first signals for December are positive. As soon as the non-essential stores reopened, functional consumption linked to flows and trips resumed in sandwich shops and fast food restaurants. In addition, people have a real urge to treat themselves for the holidays. One in three people might order a full meal at a restaurant for Christmas or New Year’s Eve. The month will be better than November ”, forecast François Blouin.
For 2021, different scenarios remain possible. “When it reopens, consumption will be driven by leisure-related opportunities”, he emphasizes. According to the most favorable hypothesis integrating rapid success of vaccination and its effects, the overall out-of-home catering market could show an increase of 21 points compared to 2020, without catching up to its 2019 level. less favorable case of a slower impact of vaccination on the pandemic, the market would remain at the same level as in 2020 and lose, according to estimates, 35% in value.
One thing is certain, the French care about their restaurants and are less fearful than in April. Three quarters are showing their willingness to return when they have reopened.


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By John Mesenbrink
At PHCCCONNECT2021, experts tackle the industry’s most critical topics, including supply chain issues, regulations and the skilled labor shortage.
Ordering from a limited menu at an industry dinner in Baltimore, it was somewhat peculiar that there wasn’t a crab selection, since we were right on the Inner Harbor known for its exquisite crab and seafood cuisine. The woman sitting next to me explained that the Northeast was experiencing a crab shortage. Really, I thought? All of a sudden, no crabs in the Atlantic Ocean along the Eastern Seaboard? The woman backtracked a bit on her original assessment and said that it wasn’t the number of crabs, necessarily, but more the distribution challenges and labor issues that were causing this so-called “crab shortage.” Aha!
Supply chain issues. Labor shortages. This encapsulated, in a nutshell, what most contractors have been experiencing these past 20 months or so, and it was the perfect lead for one of the closing sessions – Industry Perspectives: Confronting Change and Uncertainty When Things Go Sideways – at PHCCCONNECT2021 in Kansas City, Missouri, this past October.
Industry leaders Bruce Carnevale, president and CEO, Bradford White; Elisabeth Sutton, director of marketing, professional channel, Kitchen and Bath Americas, Kohler Co.; Randy Roberts, vice president of sales and marketing, Rheem Manufacturing; and Scott Teson, vice president of skilled trades, Milwaukee Tool, participated in a lively roundtable discussion, tackling subjects regarding the supply chain, regulations and, of course, the skilled trades labor shortage.
Supply Chain in Flux
COVID was the perfect storm for the current supply chain chaos, and it has left contractors asking questions. Considered “essential workers” during the pandemic, contractors have remained relatively busy throughout, but through supply chain issues and labor shortages caused by the economic slowdown – and the subsequent resuscitation of it – due to COVID-19, they are looking for answers in this unprecedented time.
In part, over the past 18 months, more consumers were home, getting stimulus checks and reinvesting in their homes, creating a rise in demand. Rising materials costs – from steel to magnesium to foam and more – and supply chain backlogs have created inflated costs and never-before-seen product lead times. “While some experts say that the supply chain may take at least two years to rebound, my prediction is that it will come into some degree of balance in six to nine months,” said Carnevale.
While Rheem’s Roberts admits things are improving a bit – and while he is starting to see inventory in the channel – he says we need to keep in mind that the supply chain issue affects the entire global economy. “It’s a challenge we all face. It seems that every week it is a different product or component that is a problem.”
At Milwaukee Tool, “we have to control our own destiny by responding quickly to market changes,” said Teson, “and that includes qualifying as many additional suppliers who meet Milwaukee’s high standards.” While the next eight to 12 months are going to be pretty tight, said Teson, “we need to sit down with our partners and have a conversation about what 2022 is going to look like for business and how we can work together moving forward.”
Kohler’s Sutton said that, overall, the industry has benefited from the pandemic and concurs with Carnevale in that people were spending more time in their homes. “The kitchen and bath were the main areas impacted,” she said. “For us, the demand was there, but we just couldn’t keep up.”
New Regulations on the Horizon
“The regulatory environment is on steroids,” said Carnevale. “We worked very hard during the past administration to get practical regulations in place such as the Process Rule, which included test procedures to know if the standard for water heaters was met … common sense processes that the DOE would follow.” Other regulations such as the Gas Interpretive Rule – a decision by the DOE to combine condensing and non-condensing standards – is being undone. “What this means is that the DOE will move toward condensing standards for boiler and water heaters … a clear indication that the DOE is heading toward high-efficiency standards, which we support, but it may not be practical in application because you cannot install condensing equipment everywhere,” said Carnevale. “It’s a clear reversal from the previous administration.”
And while the Appendix M1 efficiency regulations for air conditioning and heat pump equipment for areas such as the Southeast and Southwest are slated for January 1, 2023, “I’ve never seen an installation date requirement – not a manufacturing date – on an installation,” said Roberts. “With current supply issues, getting transition of product is going to be a huge undertaking for you as contractors and your industry partners.”
And let’s not forget the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020, which addresses the phase-down of the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), to manage these HFCs and their substitutes and facilitate the transition to next-generation technologies starting in 2025. “It is good that we have a national date so we don’t have certain states moving forward first. In any event, get with your local chapters and chapter wholesalers and get educated on what’s coming down the pike, because there are a lot of changes that are going to impact your business in a big way,” said Roberts.
A push toward decarbonization in the country has reached critical mass, said Carnevale. There’s a significant uptick in local and state level policies on the West Coast, not just California. “We are going to see this move toward electrification. Whether the grid can handle this, it doesn’t matter because of this ideological move toward electrification, so be prepared.”
The Talent Pool
How can we get more people interested in the trades and replace aging workers? New technology, social media and a new PR image all can help attract people to the trades as a viable, sustainable career choice.
“This has to happen at the local level, and we have to address kids in middle school. Align with industry associations,” said Sutton. Also, “social media is the future. Show your work on social media and get in front of your customers,” she added.
According to Teson and Milwaukee Tool, it’s about improving productivity, supporting apprentices in the PHCC chapters, and getting involved in the communities.
For Roberts, it’s all about training. “Invest a lot of funds into training programs, and find ways to partner with local initiatives. And I agree with Elisabeth, you need to be in the social media space. If you’re not going to do it personally, do it as a company. We are using it as a communications tool. It’s a fantastic way for us to communicate directly with contractors, and it’s a great way to show your work to consumers,” said Roberts.
“If you look at the hard numbers and benefits, make a decision to go into the trades vs. college. We need a big voice to address the public relations aspect to this,” said Carnevale.
Throughout the pandemic, it’s imperative to keep the lines of communication open and show patience and perseverance. This too shall pass, at some point, hopefully. We just need to ride it out. “In any crisis, there is an opportunity to differentiate ourselves. You guys can do the same,” Carnevale advised. “How can you differentiate? Continue to communicate with us; two-way feedback is really important to us.”
John Mesenbrink, president of Mechanical Hub, and editor-at-large at CONTRACTOR Magazine, has been covering the plumbing and HVAC industry for nearly 20 years. He also moderated this PHCCCONNECT2021 roundtable.


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A draft memo reported by the Wall Street Journal on Monday notes that the New York Department of Financial Services, led Benjamin Lawsky, issued a number of subpoenas to about two dozen companies that have been affiliated with Bitcoin.
The purpose of the subpoenas will look to garner information on a wide range of matters, such as consumer protection measures, investment strategies and antimonery-laundering initiatives, according to sources close to the situation. Some of the private firms who have received subpoenas include Coinbase, BitInstant and Coinsetter.
New York’s agency also issued subpoenas to companies that have been supported by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss as well as investor Marc Andreessen.
“We believe that—for a number of reasons—putting in place appropriate regulatory safeguards for virtual currencies will be beneficial to the long-term strength of the virtual-currency industry,” Lewsky stated in the memo. “If virtual currencies remain a virtual Wild West for narcotraffickers and other criminals, that would not only threaten our country’s national security, but also the very existence of the virtual currency industry as a legitimate business enterprise.”
Bitcoin, meanwhile, also made headlines over the weekend after it was reported that digital wallets on bitcoin’s mobile platforms are vulnerable to theft due to a bug in Android’s software. Bitcoin developers issued the warning in a blog post and urged users to generate a new address with a fixed digital random number generator and then send the balance back to itself.
“If you use an Android wallet then we strongly recommended you upgrade to the latest version available in the Play Store as soon as one becomes available,” developers wrote. “Once your wallet is rotated, you will need to contact anyone who has stored addresses generated by your phone and give them a new one.”


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Google Rebrands Its Webmaster Tools To Search ConsoleMay 21, 2015 2015-05-21 11:14
Google Rebrands Its Webmaster Tools To Search Console
Google has renamed its decade old tool set Webmaster Tools to Google Search Console in an attempt to avoid scaring off non-webmasters and seeming more inclusive.
The company states that apart from webmasters, hobbyists, small business owners, SEO experts, marketers, programmers, designers, and app developers are users of the tools.
With webmasters being just one segment of its user base, the company felt it compelling enough to come up with a name that was more inclusive of the rest of its user base.
There haven’t been any changes in terms of functionality, although Google has been more frequent in adding new features to the tool over the past couple of weeks.
Apart from the name, Google has also changed the logo, and while the URL hasn’t changed, the company has added a short URL g.co/SearchConsole.


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We know the new iPhone 4 is hitting Canada “by the end of July” but we received an from a tipster who signed up for Rogers updates that basically asks customers not to call them regarding launch dates.
The e-mail states “Dear Customer… We’re anxiously awaiting for the launch of the iPhone 4 in Canada on the Rogers network, however, at this time we don’t have anything to announce on availability and pricing…. We’ll continue to share details as soon as we can by e-mail. In the meantime, we recommend that customers do not call our Customer Care representatives as they have no additional details.”
Kinda don’t blame them for saying don’t call us as they must be getting inundated with calls. Last month it was revealed that “an average service call costs a wireless company $5 to $12”. So imagine how much money they’re spending on the iPhone 4 launch date calls. On the other hand, perhaps when a wireless carrier puts “coming soon” on upcoming devices it would reduce the amount of calls.
You can check it out here


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The NFL is my favorite sport to watch. As I have gotten older, watching such a violent sport with numerous injuries to players is getting harder. Many players look for natural remedies to help with these injuries. CBD in the NFL has become more popular to treat these ailments. You have seen in the past NFL players promoting CBD brands. Rob Gronkowski is one of the biggest supporters of CBD. He has said, “CBD products have changed his life.”
The NFL has recently released that they are interested in discovering using marijuana or CBD as an alternative treatment. This news is excellent as the NFL has been very strict about cannabis/CBD use in the past. The NFL typically gives players opioids to deal with the pain. Opioid use in the NFL is scary, with many players being addicted and affected for the rest of their lives. A player risking their health to play a sport should take CBD to try and alleviate the pain they suffer.
CBD NFL White Papers
The NFL released white papers with guidance on CBD for players. It states, “CBD is a promising compound, but the level of its use in the United States outpaces the level of research at this point,” the committee wrote in a white paper for players. “Most of the hype about CBD is based upon results from animal studies.” Vermont Organic Science has pleaded since the start of our operation that CBD needs more studies done. It is deplorable that the United States government will not allow these studies. With many people finding great success with CBD products, one would assume the government would be all in on studies and finding more information.
CBD in the NFL would be a huge step to help get more studies and more information for consumers. Other sports like the UFC and the NBA have allowed cannabis/CBD use. The more information and analyses on CBD, the better!
Shop USDA Certified Organic CBD Oil!


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HONG KONG — Li & Fung Ltd. posted a 17 percent increase in net profit for full-year 2013, helped by a turnaround in the group’s LF USA business. The company also revealed a possible spin-off of its global brands and licensing business on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Li & Fung’s net profit for the 12-month period ended in December totaled $725 million, while revenues increased 3 percent to $20.7 billion.
Hermès is launching a Laundromat pop-up shop in NYC - dubbed Hermèsmatic - where customers can bring their old scarves to be dip-dyed by an expert. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews (📷: @donstahl)


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Canned Dark 'n Stormys, Coming Soon to a Store Near You
Well, here's some interesting news as we cruise on into March, with the promise of spring and warmer weather well within our grasp: Gosling's rum is going to be releasing a ready-to-drink, canned version of their signature Dark 'n Stormy cocktail.
The Dark 'n Stormy is considered the national drink of Bermuda, and the longstanding rum maker actually holds the registered trademark on the cocktail and its name. That is to say, unless your blend of dark rum, ginger beer, and lime is made with Gosling's rum, it can't technically be called a Dark 'n Stormy (hence why so many variations on the name exist on cocktail menus across the country).
Hoping to target a younger consumer base and jump on the drink's rising popularity in recent years, the brand is planning a test market release of the pre-made, 8.4-ounce canned cocktail. According to a press release, sales of the product — a blend of the brand's Black Seal rum and Stormy ginger beer — have been strong among Bermudian consumers. Said seventh-generation President and CEO Malcolm Gosling, "It was encouraging to hear my fellow Bermudians say that this tastes like a perfectly made Dark 'n Stormy."
Considering how easy the summertime refresher is to whip up, it will be interesting to see how the product will perform. What do you think — would you pick up a four-pack for a poolside get-together?


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CALGARY, Alberta—CN welcomed the first trains to its new Calgary intermodal terminal today.
The railway previously operated a similar terminal in its Sarcee Yard, southeast of Calgary, but the new terminal, in the Calgary Logistics Park, has four automated in-gates and three automated out-gates. According to the company, this should keep truck turnaround times to under 45 minutes.
The terminal also offers a yard to store international containers, and specialized equipment for temperature-controlled products. While the Sarcee Yard also offered some reefer storage, the Calgary Logistics Park terminal expands on that capability.
Overall the new facility offers 30 percent more capacity than the old terminal—a total of 232,260sqm (2.5 million square feet) of warehouse distribution space—plus it is situated on enough land to accommodate an expansion. The new facility is also home to a CN Autoport facility.
The location of the Calgary Logistics Park provides CN with access to the Stoney Trail, the Trans Canada Highway and the Calgary International Airport.
“CN’s $200 million logistics park is strategically located between the ports of Prince Rupert and Vancouver and major cities across Canada and mid-America. The park’s intermodal terminal, along with very competitive ocean and rail transportation times, will provide Alberta businesses ample capacity for consumer goods and industrial materials and effective export routes for forest products, plastics and agri-products,” said CN executive vice-president and chief marketing officer Jean-Jacques Ruest.


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TURNOVER at Altrincham-based traffic-flow information company ITIS has rocketed by 85 per cent and it has trimmed its losses, full year results revealed have revealed.
It also announced today that under cost cutting measures, it has parted company with Giles Harridge, the managing director of its NavTrak stolen vehicle tracking brand.
Chief executive Stuart Marks (pictured below) said the departure of Mr Harridge, who had been with the company for five years, was by mutual agreement and followed an internal review which concluded that NavTrak no longer needed a main board director.
Apart from NavTrak, the company's core business is to provide up-to-date traffic flow information via its satellite navigation system.
Sales for the year ended March 31 rose to é7.06m, compared with é3.82m the previous year, and losses before exceptional items fell 15 per cent from é6.38m to é5.40m.
Last week shares in the AIM-listed business surged almost nine per cent, after it announced a twin contract boost with Land Rover and the mobile phone company 02, and in early trading today, they rose again, by 3.8 per cent (lp) to 26.75p.
Highlights of the year include a é3.25m three year contract with the Department of Transport and deals with prestige car companies including Bentley.
Mr Marks said the firm is now in great shape to move into profitablity with costs firmly under control and sales growing.


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Adobe CEO: Company Continued to See Document Cloud ‘Momentum’ in Q1
Strength in Adobe Document Cloud, as well as continued growing demand for Adobe’s mobile applications, provided a boost for the company’s results in the first quarter (ended Feb. 28), according to company executives.
Document Cloud revenue in Q1 grew 24% from a year ago to $351 million and the company grew Document Cloud annual recurring revenue to $1.15 billion – an addition of $71 million from last year, CFO John Murphy said March 12 on an earnings call.
“This momentum is being driven by strong customer acquisition and the expanding portfolio of PDF mobile and web applications,” CEO Shantanu Narayen told analysts on the call. “Key wins in the quarter” included Equifax, Gannett and Shell, he noted.
“Acrobat continues to be the gold standard for creating, editing, scanning, signing and sharing digital documents,” he also said, adding: “As more people are working on the go, our mobile app usage continues to rise. More than 600 million people have installed Acrobat on their mobile devices” to date.
Demand for Adobe’s mobile applications, including Photoshop on iPad, Lightroom and Photoshop Express, “continues to grow” also, he said. “With more than 35 million new Adobe IDs in Q1, mobile is proving to be a strong pipeline for paid mobile-only as well as desktop subscriptions,” he told analysts, pointing out this year marks Photoshop’s 30th anniversary.
In Adobe’s Digital Experience business, revenue grew 15% from last year to $858 million in Q1, he noted.
The company added new functionality to Adobe Commerce Cloud that he said “enables merchants to natively add high-quality media assets to their websites and create personalized recommendations.” In the process, “we drove more than 50 percent year-over-year bookings growth,” he said.
Total Adobe Q1 revenue increased 19% from a year ago to $3.09 billion, while profit grew to $955 million ($1.96 a share) from $674 million ($1.36 a share).
“While Q1 was a typically strong quarter, I know what’s top of mind for all of us is navigating the impact of COVID-19,” Narayen said, noting the company recently decided to cancel its annual Adobe Summit in Las Vegas and replace it with a digital online event March 31.
“We are fortunate that the company’s revenue and earnings are relatively predictable as a result of our move to a subscription-based business model,” he told analysts. Adobe has “seen little to no impact on Adobe.com for Creative Cloud and Document Cloud demand thus far and will continue to acquire and engage customers digitally,” he said.
However, he warned that Adobe expects “some enterprises will delay bookings, postpone services implementation and reduce expenses.” Although “the situation is concerning and there is tremendous uncertainty,” he said: “The long-term fundamentals of our business remain undiminished.”


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There is not a better way to commemorate a grand opening than with a confetti cannon.
And, that’s precisely how Kimmy Almon celebrated the grand opening of her boutique in downtown Waxahachie.
“To see all of the hard work pay off, it’s an indescribable feeling,” Almon expressed. “That’s why I’m tearing up a little bit — literally a dream come true, and it turned out better than I imagined.”
Almon, 29, has always dreamed of owning her own boutique and has recently made the transformation from solely online and pop-ups to brick and mortar.
The front exterior frame exudes baby pink that continues inside the store with white and gold accents. A Dalmatian-themed portable wall, up-scale lighting, stand-alone racks, and a new coat of paint modernized the shop into a refreshing space that is bright and happy.
“I wanted someone to walk in my store, and it be a living Instagram," Almon explained while standing behind the counter. "I wanted to continue that same asthenic as my Instagram page.”
“I wanted to create a space that was fun to be in,” she added.
The ambiance of the store was also inspired by the style of clothing sold. Almon described her style as bold, bright and the right balance between flattering and conservative. Almon also offers plus sizes and noted all hangers with a pink ribbon categorize those sizes.
While Almon was a senior at Texas A&M University at Galveston, she figured opening a storefront was not feasible and instead established an online retail store — Kimmy’s Boutique.
Committed to her customer base, Almon delivered purchases to homes and managed pop-up vendors, while maintaining a full-time job either banking or teaching.
Ever since she married Waxahachie-local Jackson Almon in 2018, she had the benefit of investing in her company full-time. Later in the interview, Almon disclosed that Jackson was a key motivator in her establishing a brick and mortar.
Ironically, Jackson’s mother, Shannon Almon, who operated High Cotton Exchange, was going through a transition as well and shuttered her antique shop that functioned for the better part of two years. Almon utilized that opportunity and moved in.
“It’s a cute town with heart and history,” Almon said about downtown Waxahachie.
Almon also noted that she will continue to do pop-up events, maybe even as many as three a month, as they are her "bread and butter."
“I’ve grown my online from pop-ups and meeting people," she explained. "I want to continue to grow online, and I want the store to implement online.”
Initially, the pop-ups featured the latest styles, but the store will now have first dibs on new merchandise. Almon expressed the storefront will build confidence behind the online shopping.
Now with her first storefront established, Almon hopes to open another store in her hometown of Galveston where she and her husband have a home as well.
Kimmy's Boutique is the fourth retail store to open in downtown Waxahachie in 2019. Others include Copper Rose, Vaqueras and Dazzling Divas.
For more information about the latest looks connect with Kimmy's Boutique on social media by searching @shopkimmy. The store is located at 209 S. College St.
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Ashley Ford | @aford_news | 469-517-1450


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Ross and Pepsi Take Youth on Holiday Shopping Spree
ORLANDO – When Terrence Ross, now in his eighth NBA season, is on his A-game, the Orlando Magic are tough to beat. It’s been proven time and time again that when the 6-foot-6 swingman is hitting his perimeter shots, playing pesky defense and bringing that energy and hustle off the bench, the Magic flourish.
What he excels at on the basketball court isn’t the only thing he’s become known for since joining the Magic following a trade from the Toronto Raptors nearly three years ago, however.
Ross, who re-signed with Orlando this past summer when he was a free agent, has become known throughout Central Florida for lifting children’s spirits and helping them reach their full potential.
Being a positive influence on children is something Ross is very passionate about. He’s incredibly grateful every time he gets to brighten up the lives of young people, which is exactly what he did on Thursday, Dec. 12. With some help from Pepsi, Ross made this holiday season extra special for 75 kids from Parramore’s New Image Youth Center.
Each child, courtesy of Ross and Pepsi, received a $200 Walmart gift card. What made the occasion even more memorable for the kids was that Ross and Pepsi volunteers accompanied them on a shopping spree. On top of that, Pepsi treated the children to a pizza party.
“It’s the Christmas season so it’s just the spirit of giving back (and) having fun with the kids,” Ross said. “It’s a great feeling. It’s always good to reach out. Couldn't be happier."
“Growing up we always looked up to the sports players and athletes from our town. It was always a special thing when they came and spent time with me. So, when I got here (to Orlando) that was what I knew I wanted to do,” the father of two added.
This wasn’t the first time the 28-year-old has assisted children from the New Image Youth Center. He took a group of the kids on a holiday shopping spree last year as well and has participated in summer activities with them.
Established by Dr. Shanta Barton-Stubbs in 2004 when she was just 21 years old, the New Image Youth Center features a range of programs focused on several key areas, including academic support, social development, health and wellness, and crisis intervention. Ecstatic every time the Magic and their players lend a helping hand, Barton-Stubbs has seen first-hand the difference it makes on children when their sports heroes show them how much they care about their well-being.
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” she said. “You’re always just hoping for the best Christmas. You never know who is going to step up or if anyone will. And then all of a sudden you get a call from the Orlando Magic and it’s our favorite guy, Mr. T-Ross, once again coming to give us Christmas bliss.”
Thursday’s shopping spree is one of several community outreach events that the Magic and their players are participating in this holiday season. The next one will happen on Friday when point guard D.J. Augustin will surprise 20 underprivileged youth from the Tupperware Brands Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs with gifts, including FILA apparel and tickets to stay for the Magic's game against the Houston Rockets.
The Magic will host another holiday shopping spree at a different Walmart on Sunday, Dec. 22. One hundred children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida will receive $100 Walmart gift cards courtesy of Pepsi. Magic players and other volunteers from the Magic and Pepsi will take the kids shopping.
“Community outreach is extremely important to both organizations. That’s what makes it really special and quite fun and actually pretty easy to do when you have organizations that are on the same page here,” said Derek Lewis, the President of PepsiCo’s South Division. “We’ve put this framework in place for years. This is an annual event. It’s a really exciting time. The support we receive from the Magic is tremendous.”


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California exports hit decline thanks to strike
The strike at Southern California ports and weak demand for personal computers in Mexico combined for a decrease in the Golden State’s export trade in November, according to foreign trade data analyzed by Beacon Economics.
The value of goods shipped out of California in November was $13.3 billion, a decline of 5.3 percent compared to the month the previous year.
Manufactured product exports in November totaled $8.3 billion, down 3.7 percent from November 2011.
Nonmanufactured exports (mostly agricultural products and raw materials) fell 8.6 percent
A big factor in the decrease was the timing of the strike by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which shut down 10 of the 14 main terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach from Nov. 27 through Dec. 4.
“Between 16 and 17 percent of California’s merchandise export trade moves through these two ports,” said Jock O'Connell, Beacon Economics’ international trade adviser. “While shippers certainly incurred financial losses attributable to delays in moving cargo through the two ports, the strike’s impact on the state’s overall export trade in November is largely an accounting matter. Cargo that didn’t sail in November will more than likely turn up in December’s export statistics.”
The Beacon report also found that while Mexico remains the leading destination of California exports, shipments to Mexico declined by nearly 18 percent in November, driven by a decline in exports of computer hardware.
China — which for analysis includes Hong Kong and Taiwan — accounts for 13.5 percent of the state’s export trade.
Mark Anderson covers technology, agriculture, banking and finance, venture capital, energy, mining and hospitality for the Sacramento Business Journal.
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