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Its products follow the best domestic bakery traditions and recipes.
Its products follow the best domestic bakery traditions and recipes. The use of advanced innovative technology helps OOO "SBS-Agroal'yans" launch and market new products which immediately become popular with consumers. Agroal'yans’s products — more than 160 brands now ó are well known in many regions of Russia and include traditional breads, small bakery products and long-term stock. Over the past few years, the company has expanded the manufacture of snack products.
private entrepreneur V.Lyalin exports to the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Israel, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Moldova.
+7 (915) 791-72-96
According to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, for the first two months of 2019 Argentinaís export of mozzarella to Russia has went up by 89% in terms of value and by 92.4...
In 2018, trade between the two countries was more than $100 billion, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce in January.
In the course of the XI International Forum ATOMEXPO 2019, TVEL Fuel Company of ROSATOM and Hermith GmbH (Germany), a major European titanium supplier, have concluded an ag...
About the models of business development in another country and professional secrets is told by a practicing expert on work in international markets Anna Trubetskaya


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Check out the on-demand sessions from the Low-Code/No-Code Summit to learn how to successfully innovate and achieve efficiency by upskilling and scaling citizen developers. Watch now.
Virtual assistants are all the rage in the technology world, from Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri to Microsoft’s Cortana and Alibaba’s AliGenie. While nuances separate their individual capabilities, they all take roughly the same form: a human-like voice embedded into a smart speaker, mobile phone, automobile, or similar piece of hardware.
Japanese messaging giant Line, however, wants to give virtual assistants a more human form.
The company this week opened preorders for the latest iteration of the Gatebox virtual home robot, a holographic character that is designed to provide companionship to its owner. The Gatebox is a little table lamp-sized glass case that uses projections and sensors to create a life-like character, called Hikari Azuma, that the user can interact with.
By way of a quick recap, the Gatebox was originally developed by a Japanese firm called Vinclu, which launched a limited run of 300 units in 2016, priced at the equivalent of around $2,670 each. It followed up a year later with another run of 39 units before Line acquired a majority stake in the company.
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A subsidiary of South Korea’s biggest web operator, Naver Corp, Line claims more than 200 million users of its WhatsApp-style messaging app, but it has also branched into multiple verticals, including payments, music, games, and more. Line unveiled an Alexa-style digital assistant called Clova last March before going on to launch the $125 Amazon Echo-like Clova Wave smart speaker in Japan.
That Line is now launching a mass-market version of the Gatebox (GTBX-100) should come as little surprise, given its recent activities. However, a bigger surprise here is that the Gatebox doesn’t yet run on the Clova virtual assistant. In fact, the Gatebox doesn’t strictly use any artificial intelligence at the moment, instead leveraging a form of pattern recognition to interact with users.
While the upgraded Gatebox has been given a complete redesign at the hardware level, according to Line, it is still fairly limited in its capabilities. You can get weather and news alerts, basic information recall from the internet, and some remote control functionality for devices located in the same room. You can’t yet ask Hikari to play your favorite songs.
The unit sports two microphones, which are embedded in the top of the Gatebox and should allow owners to converse with the virtual assistant from greater distances than was possible with the previous limited models. There is also an onboard motion detector that allows Hikari Azuma to detect faces and movement and thus engage with her owner. This means she can greet someone when they walk into the room and detect a smile.
In the future, we’re told, the Gatebox will integrate with Clova, at which point much greater functionality will be rolled out, including deeper integrations with third-party services.
The AI form
An AI-powered voice embedded inside a smart speaker such as Amazon’s Echo is arguably an easy technological advance to embrace. But as virtual assistants proliferate, it’s clear that companies will begin to experiment more with various forms for their AI.
Freaky humanoid robots — that not only behave like humans, but look like them — may be a step too far for many. Somewhere in the middle are companies like Intuition Robotics, which is developing social companion technology for older adults. Its main product is ElliQ, an AI-driven contraption that looks roughly like a lamp.
Then there’s Japanese tech titan SoftBank, which makes the “emotionally intelligent” Pepper robot that is designed to look like a robot rather than a human.
The Gatebox, on the other hand, features a cartoon person encased in a glass tube. It’s pretty nonthreatening and doesn’t pretend to be a physical person, which could make it the perfect solution for many. Earlier this year, a developer hacked his own Cortana hologram based on the AI sidekick in the Halo game franchise, further evidence that this is something developers are actively thinking about.
The promotional video surrounding the new Gatebox launch offers a glimpse into a grim world in which individuals come home from work early to their darling Hikari. But this is a world many men in Japan could face — roughly a third of Japanese males are destined to be single for their entire lives within two decades, according to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.
In an aging population where the birth rate is at an all-time low and is outstripped by deaths, virtual friends such as Hikari could be the very thing young people in Japan will come to rely on for companionship.
The Gatebox GTBX-100 model can be ordered in Japan now for JPY150,000 ($1,330), but it won’t ship until October. Additionally, there will be a monthly fee of JPY1,500 ($13), though this will be waived until March, 2019.
Officially, the Gatebox will be landing in other markets outside of Japan, but a spokesperson told VentureBeat that it is unlikely to launch internationally “in the immediate short-term.”
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DOT sees positive outlook for PH after winning back-to-back travel awards
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Monday that it is optimistic about the tourism prospects of the Philippines after winning back-to-back recognitions from travel award giving bodies.
In a statement, DOT said that renowned travel magazine Wanderlust awarded the Philippines as the fourth Most Desirable Country for Adventure in its 22nd Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards.
Meanwhile, the country was also named as Destination of the Year in the ninth TripZilla Awards.
DOT’s attached agency, the Tourism Promotions Board, was also hailed as the Sustainability Leader of the Year for Asia by the same award-giving body.
According to DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, the awards affirm the nation’s standing as a “top-of-mind destination among all types of travelers.”
“These recognitions underscore the Philippines’ stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and Filipino brand of service excellence that makes for an enhanced Philippine tourism experience under the Marcos Administration,” Frasco said.
“On behalf of the Department of Tourism, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has risen to our President’s call for tourism transformation, which expands opportunities for livelihood and employment, driving the growth of the Philippine economy further,” she added.


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A coffee chain is the first confirmed tenant for a new development on a derelict south Belfast site described as a "blot on the landscape".
Commercial property agents Frazer Kidd is now seeking tenants for two remaining units on the development at a former bank branch at 171-177 Lisburn Road.
The site, where Tates Avenue and Lisburn Road meet, has been derelict for at least 20 years.
Last year Belfast City Council gave the green light to developer Clear Rosemount's proposal to knock it down to make way for a new five-storey apartment building with three retail and cafe units.
The company's directors include Colin Johnston, who heads the Clear Healthcare pharmacy group.
The developers have said they expect that between 40 to 50 jobs will be created during the construction phase.
One resident of nearby Ashley Avenue said that while he had concerns about parking on the site, the plans were an improvement on previous proposals.
Writing to planners at Belfast City Council, he said: "Certainly it is a vast improvement on previous proposals, involves less massification of dwellings, and hopefully will remove what has been a dreadful blot on the landscape of inner south Belfast for far too many years."


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Business software maker Siebel Systems Inc. is expected to announce the layoffs of hundreds of workers as it seeks to stymie a slump in sales.
The specific number of cuts is expected to be disclosed as part of Siebel's SEBL first-quarter earnings announcement, scheduled for release after the markets close Wednesday.
"I'm expecting the layoffs to be in the 10 percent range (of the total work force)," said industry analyst Patrick E. Mason of Wit Soundview in San Francisco.
As of Dec. 31, San Mateo-based Siebel employed nearly 7,400 workers.
Other estimates on Siebel's anticipated layoffs have ranged as high as 20 percent.
A Siebel spokeswoman declined to comment Tuesday.
The layoffs started Tuesday morning, according to Paul Simon, editor of Sales.com, an online division of Siebel.
"I was just called in, terminated and then shown the door," said Simon, who works in Denver. Simon said he was told other Siebel workers also lost their jobs Tuesday, but the supervisors who fired him didn't provide any details.
The cuts would represent an abrupt about-face for Siebel, which as recently as a month ago still was delivering a bullish message to its workers even as most other major tech companies became increasingly bearish.
A Siebel layoff also would reinforce the growing opinion that virtually no major tech company will avoid an economic slump that rapidly is deepening into a recession in the once-booming Silicon Valley.
The Silicon Valley bellwethers that already have made or announced mass layoffs include Intel, Cisco Systems, Oracle and Hewlett-Packard.
Siebel has emerged as one of the country's fastest-growing companies since its 1993 founding by former Oracle Corp. executive Tom Siebel. In 2000 alone, the company added 4,200 more jobs and, in an interview last year, Siebel predicted that the company would end 2001 with about 10,000 employees.
The company's growth stemmed from the popularity of its customer relationship management, or CRM, software that is designed to help businesses do a better job of marketing and servicing their products without raising expenses.
Demand for the software has been steadily growing and, as the dominant provider of the software, Siebel has flourished.
The company earned $322.5 million on revenues of $1.8 billion last year. Reasoning that businesses would be even more eager to buy its revenue-boosting software during a downturn, Siebel began this year with high hopes.
Management may lower Wall Street's expectations during a conference call Wednesday, Mason said, although the company will probably hit its first-quarter earnings target of 14 cents per share.
Investors already have been dumping Siebel's shares, along with most tech stocks. The company's stock closed Tuesday at $32.88, down 51 percent so far this year. Siebel's market value has plunged by $39 billion, or 73 percent, since its shares reached a 52-week high of $119.87.
Although Siebel remains the leader for CRM software, it has been facing increasing competition from several rivals, including San Francisco-based salesforce.com, an online service run by entrepreneur Marc Benioff, an early investor in Siebel.


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Google has just resolved one of the Pixel 6’s more vexing bugs at least for people in your address book. According to Android Police, the company has released a patch for a Google app flaw that randomly dialed people in your contacts.
That was especially irritating if your phone tried to call a family member in the middle of the night.
MORE FROM RAVZGADGET: Lenovo Rumored 17-inch ThinkBook Plus Comes With A Second Screen
The problem is caused by faulty Google Assistant hotword detection. To temporarily resolve the issue, you could clear the Google app’s cache and settings, but the only surefire solution until now was to disable hotword recognition entirely.
This is far from the only issue with the Pixel 6. Display flickering, slow fingerprint detection, and other annoyances have been reported by owners of the Android 12 flagship.
However, given the potential consequences of unwanted calls, it’s safe to assume that a bug like this would be prioritized.


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Google Bids $900 Million for Nortel's 6,000 Networking/Wireless Patents
April 5, 2011 2:13 PM
comment(s) - last by
Google is looking to purchase the remaining 6,000 networking and wireless patents from Nortel in order to produce a deeper portfolio and avoid patent litigation
has recently offered $900 million for Nortel Networks' remaining 6,000 networking and wireless patents.
Nortel Networks is a multinational telecommunication equipment manufacturer from Canada. In January 2009, the company filed for bankruptcy. Since then, Nortel has been selling different areas of the company off in order to restructure its debt. For instance, Genband bought Nortel's VOIP business in February 2010.
Now, Google is looking to purchase the remaining 6,000 networking and wireless patents from Nortel in order to produce a deeper portfolio and to "stave off increasingly rampant patent litigation." Google has mentioned that it is patent poor and could use a broader portfolio to stay competitive.
"One of a company's best defenses against this kind of litigation is to (ironically) have a formidable patent portfolio, as this helps maintain your freedom to develop new products and services," said Kent Walker, Google's senior vice president and general counsel.
As of right now, Google is dealing with a lawsuit from
, which is an open and integrated hardware and software systems company. Oracle claims that Google's
uses Java code illegally, which is covered in its patents. A deeper patent portfolio would have saved Google from this copyright infringement lawsuit.
As of right now, Google is the most interested buyer in the early stages of the patent auction. According to
, the deal is a "stalking horse asset sale agreement," which allows other companies to bid against Google before the auction, where Google is the starting point.
According to J.P. Morgan analysts, Apple has also shown interest in the auction. More specifically, Apple is looking to compete with Google for Nortel's patents for 4G wireless communications called
Long Term Evolution (LTE)
. Research in Motion may be another bidder in the upcoming auction.
Nortel's patent auction is expected to begin in June, as long as U.S. and Canadian courts approve it.
"If successful, we hope this portfolio will not only create a disincentive for others to sue Google, but also help us, our partners and the open source community - which is integrally involved in projects like Android and Chrome - continue to innovate," said Walker.
Google is also in the midst of considering a
$700 million purchase of ITA Software Inc.
, which may prompt an antitrust investigation of Google's web dominance by the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: Google getting too big too fast?
4/5/2011 2:46:51 PM
Well, if they begin exhibiting anti-competitive practices I suppose someone on the receiving end of those will sue. The thought that just because they are big and successful they should get sued is patently absurd.
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Concerns have been raised about the future of the Post Office in Crieff following the closure of the town’s High Street branch.
New operators and a new location are being urgently sought but at present it is uncertain when the service will return.
Post Office Ltd said it was committed to maintaining a presence in the town and insisted the disruption would be “temporary”.
However, there has been concern locally, following the closure of the original Crieff Post Office in July last year.
It was replaced with a counter in the nearby Nickel and Dime store, with the promise of extended opening hours and greater convenience, but that has now closed too.
Residents can still make use of a counter in the Premier convenience store in King Street but there are fears about the long-term future of the service in the town.
In some cases, “temporary” closures have lasted for years. The closing date for expressions of interest in running the service is not until October 13, 2018 – though that could be shortened.
Perthshire South and Kinross-shire SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham is among those who have contacted Post Office Ltd seeking assurances over local services.
“I was concerned by reports that following a long period of temporary closure, the Post Office on Crieff High Street had now been listed as permanently closed,” Ms Cunningham said.
“I have been assured that while the Post Office will not continue on the current site or with the current operators, it is viewed by them as being temporarily closed, for operational reasons, until a new operator and premises are found.
“As a result, Post Office Ltd is now advertising the opportunity for a local retailer interested in running the service as part of either an existing or new business.
“I sincerely hope there will be a lot of interest in running this important local facility.”
More than a quarter of Scotland’s post offices have disappeared since 2002.
Rural and remote communities have been among the hardest hit by the cull, with 22% of rural branches closing during that period.
Campaigners say the scale of the decline has been masked by a large number of “temporary” branch closures, some of which have lasted for as long as five years.
Traditional branches have disappeared across the country, with counters increasingly being located within partner businesses.
A Post Office spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused by the continued temporary closure of Crieff Post Office.
“We would like to reassure customers that we are working hard to restore the service to the community as soon as possible and are committed to maintaining services in the area.
“We are seeking alternative premises for the post office.”
Any local retailers interested in hosting a counter are invited to contact Post Office Ltd on 0845 266 8790, email firstname.lastname@example.org or visit www.runapostoffice.co.uk.


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Choosing to rebrand is one of the hardest marketing decisions a craft beverage brand has to make. Why? There’s the emotional investment made by owners… Read More »Choosing to rebrand: signs a new look is needed
We’re excited to be moved into our new home in Lakewood, CO, just outside Denver. Today we’re going to talk email marketing. But first, we want… Read More »Email marketing for the savvy beverage brand
Mastercard recently released its holiday Spending Pulse report stating that retail holiday sales increased 5.1 percent to more than $850 billion this year – I… Read More »Social backlash for AB InBev and why it matters
I covered two really important marketing topics to me in today’s newsletter: placing an age gate in front of beverage alcohol websites and adding a… Read More »37% of beer websites have age gates. Time to review yours?


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AUSTIN KRIEGER | email@example.com
Net neutrality has been a popular topic in the media, especially since last December. In 2015, during the Obama administration, the net neutrality policy was put into effect and was considered a turning point in protecting the free market ofthe internet. Net neutrality was a law that ensured consumers and businesses online received equal access to internet service. Late last year, legislators repealed a law protecting the rights of internet users and online content producers across the country.
Repeal of net neutrality and its effects
One of the most substantial effects will be a significant slowing of connection speed. Net neutrality gave the government the ability to oversee the internet as a utility, much like electricity and water. In many ways, the law previously protected smaller undeveloped online businesses from receiving a lower quality of internet connection on consumer’s computers.
The repeal of net neutrality represents a changing of hands in who gets to control internet service and the price of that service. Internet service providers (ISPs), such as Comcast and Verizon, will now be in control of the quality of internet service provided and more importantly, the price that will be charged for a higher quality of service.
In this changing of hands lies the concerns of upcoming online business owners and content producers who would be unable to afford a quality of service needed for their content and business to thrive. Dr. Altahat, assistant professor in UW-Parkside’s computer science department, explained how ISPs could control internet speed as “a highway…[on the] fast lanes you have to pay a toll, and the slow lanes are free and for everyone…to get on the fast lane you’ll have to pay more.” In this way, only the richest content producers will be able to afford the fast lane or the quality of internet speed our society demands.
Effect on students
One of the more concerning outcomes of the net neutrality repeal could be for students looking to produce new content on the internet after graduation. Dr. Altahat warned that many new and upcoming businesses will suffer in multiple ways “being unable to afford to pay ISPs more to have their content delivered faster will cause many of these business to simply fall out.”
He believes that leaving the control and pricing of internet speeds to ISPs will “monopolize internet speed” and the smaller upcoming businesses who are unable to afford faster connection are bound to fail. These effects are not bound to typical content developed online, but also to publications dedicated to providing news to the public, taking away a fair chance for new and upcoming news providers to prosper under the giant media conglomerates.
Future of the internet
In the same ways big companies such as Netflix, Google, Amazon and more would be able to afford the rising cost of better internet service, so would big conglomerates such as CNN, NBC, and FOX. Dr. Altahat explains how this would affect the information we get and the way we obtain it, “the government, through these big ISPs and big media companies, will be able to deliver us content in cleaner faster way.” This leaves very little room for alternative or smaller publications to provide news and information to the general public, especially if they are failing to afford proper internet speed from ISPs.
The repeal of the 2015 net neutrality law represents a new and changing time for one of the most integral parts of our lives in the 21st century. The internet is an amazing tool used to access endless amounts of information and connect people from across the globe with each other. As Dr. Altahat puts it, “it is not just for watching movies, the internet is in every part of our life; it’s part of our industrial, health, and educational grid…our entire economy is built upon it.” With so much hanging in the balance, the end of net neutrality brings a new and different future for the internet.


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Central Alberta home sales down year-over-year in February
Red Deer, March 18, 2015 – Residential sales reported through the MLS® System of the Central Alberta REALTORS® Association were down on a year-over-year basis in February 2015.
Home sales numbered 263 units in February, a decline of 11.1 per cent from the same month in 2014. This was a slightly improvement from January.
Sales activity in all of Alberta fell 27.1 per cent from February 2014.
New residential listings on the Association’s MLS® System numbered 692 units in February, up 21.8 per cent from levels in February 2014.
There were 2,223 active residential listings on the Association’s MLS® System at the end of February, up 5.3 units from levels at the end of February 2014.
There were 8.5 months of inventory at the end of February 2015, up from 7.1 months reported at the end of February 2014 and above the long-run average for this time of year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.
The dollar value of all home sales in February 2015 was $80.1 million, falling 14.1 per cent from February 2014. The dollar value of home sales in all of Alberta declined 30.7 per cent from February 2014.
Sales of all types of properties totalled 279 units in February. This was down 11.1 per cent compared to February 2014. The total value of all property sales amounted to $89.4 million in February, down 14.1 per cent on a year-over-year basis.
The Central Alberta REALTORS® Association is an MLS® listing co-operative, representing more than 560 REALTORS® located in Red Deer and throughout Central Alberta. Details and photos of all Central Alberta REALTORS® Association listings can be found on the national public web sites www.cara.ca, www.REALTOR.ca (residential properties) and ICX.CA (commercial and investment properties).


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Pure Earth Honors Iris Van der Veken
The nonprofit is presenting the 2023 Pure Earth Impact Award to Van der Veken to recognize her environmental advocacy.
The nonprofit works to address the causes of lead and mercury pollution and exposure.
It has chosen Van der Veken as the recipient of the 2023 Pure Earth Impact Award, which is presented to “outstanding champions in climate protection, human rights and gender.”
She will be honored in a ceremony at the Pure Earth Benefit on Oct. 16 in New York City.
Van der Veken, formerly the head of the Responsible Jewellery Council, is the secretary general of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative (WJI) 2030.
Founded in 2021 by Kering and Cartier, the group focuses on creating a more sustainable watch and jewelry industry.
“Iris has been at the forefront of ESG [environmental, social, and corporate governance] reporting and United Nations Global Compact network for two decades and was the first woman to successfully lead the Responsible Jewellery Council,” said Pure Earth President Richard Fuller.
“Van der Veken can rightly be called a trailblazer, a champion, in the industry. She has started a movement that will save the lives of so many people in the watch and jewelry supply chain.”
The watch and jewelry industries participation in Pure Earth’s cause is vital to eliminating mercury pollution and poisoning, said Pure Earth, noting that much of the mercury in the environment comes from artisanal and small-scale gold mining, which supplies about a quarter of the world's gold.
Mercury contaminates rivers and oceans, as well as fish, which can affect the global food chain, said the organization.
The nonprofit has been working with the jewelry industry to train miners in mercury-free techniques.
“I am deeply honored to receive this Impact award from Pure Earth,” said Van der Veken.
“The jewelry industry is an important part of the climate solution and the work Pure Earth is doing to reduce global mercury emissions by championing responsible, mercury-free gold mining practices, that includes the reforestation of damaged land. We all have a shared responsibility in leaving no one behind.”
Sustainability is a journey, said Van der Veken, and requires corporate leadership advocacy and a level of involvement throughout the supply chain to make a positive impact.
“I would like to dedicate this award to everyone in our industry, from mining to retail, that advances the 2030 agenda forward,” she said.
Previous winners of this award include Beth Gerstein, the co-founder and CEO Brilliant Earth, which is working with the nonprofit to test and establish the first mercury-free gold supply chain from the Peruvian Amazon.
Awareness is essential to proactive protection. Learn how to promote and maintain safety and security awareness in your business.
“Pre-Owned Luxury by Rocksbox” offers secondhand jewelry from Kay, Zales, and Jared to members and non-members.
The museum is asking for the public’s help in finding thousands of pieces of ancient gold jewelry and gemstones stolen from a storeroom.
Do you always want the right diamonds at the right price in your store? Introducing Dialog, the world’s first diamond subscription service.
The plea comes against a backdrop of declining demand and falling prices.
Shoppers also expressed concern about rising prices, higher interest rates, and political uncertainty.
The former teacher, described as “a pioneer for women-owned businesses,” opened her own jewelry store in 1980.
Police say Douglas Wayne Gamble also swapped natural diamonds for synthetic stones and failed to return customers’ repairs.
The designer just launched a new bridal range at Kay Jewelers.
Steve Levine joins the family-owned company, while his brother Gary has a new position.
The company has filed complaints against Royal Chain and Samuel B.
The lab confirmed it did not send the message.


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According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), half of the world’s top 50 travel markets are now under quarantine and testing is free.
An IATA survey of travel restrictions for the world’s top 50 air travel markets (comprising 88% of international demand in 2019, measured in revenue passenger-kilometres) found that 25 markets accounting for 38% of international demand in 2019 are open to vaccinated travelers with no quarantine measures or testing requirements – up from 18 markets in mid-February.
The survey found that 38 markets representing 65% of international demand in 2019 are open to vaccinated travelers with no quarantine requirement, compared to 28 markets (50% of international demand in 2019 as of mid-February).
Repeated passenger surveys by IATA during the pandemic have shown that testing and especially quarantine are major barriers to travel.
READ: Ocean Infinity is embarking on a new search for MH370 in 2023.
READ: New comprehensive and credible report on the location of MH370.
However, regional variations in the degree of openness between markets are striking.
IATA said travel to Asia remains heavily compromised by COVID restrictions. While North American and European international traffic rebounded to -42% from its 2019 peaks last year, traffic in the Asia-Pacific region remained at -88%.
However, progress has been made, with India and Malaysia among the countries that recently announced the easing of restrictions.
IATA said the easing of measures reflects the growing consensus that travel restrictions such as border closures and quarantine do little to control the spread of COVID-19.
He added that a recent report by OXERA and Edge Health examining the spread of the Omicron variant in Europe concluded that travel restrictions could only delay the peak of a wave by a few days.
Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, said “The world is wide open for travel and as population immunity rises, more and more governments are managing COVID-19 through surveillance, as they do for other endemic viruses.
“This is great news for a growing number of destinations that will receive a much-needed economic boost during the upcoming Easter and Northern Summer travel seasons.
“Asia is the outlier. Hopefully, recent relaxations, including in Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan and the Philippines, pave the way for the restoration of the freedom to travel that is more widely enjoyed in other countries. other parts of the world.


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Dallas / TX . (bi) Brinker International Inc. and its brands, «Chili’s» Grill + Bar and «Maggiano’s Little Italy», have adapted their business model to take-out and delivery to deliver a safe and quality experience for team members and guests during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Brinker’s strategic decision to enhance its off-premise business over the last few years including online ordering, mobile app, curbside service and third-party delivery, has enabled its brands to conveniently serve a significant increase in off-premise guests during this pandemic.
Comparable Restaurant Sales
The table below presents the percentage change in company-owned comparable restaurant sales for the third quarter before the Covid-19 impact and for the entire third quarter:
|Comparable Restaurant Sales (1)||Q3: 2020 versus 2019thru 3/8||Q3: 2020 versus 2019QTR end|
(1) Comparable Restaurant Sales include all restaurants that have been in operation for more than 18 months, except restaurants acquired by the company from franchisees are not included until they have been company-owned for more than 12 months. Amounts are calculated based on comparable current period versus same period a year ago.
As Chili’s and Maggiano’s operate in an off-premise only model, below are some initial results related to company owned restaurants:
- Off-premise sales have more than doubled year-over-year and are capturing 30-35 percent of prior year company sales
- In the most recent week for which industry data is reported, Chili’s comparable restaurant sales gapped the industry by more than 10 percent
- Delivery is now approaching 20 percent of total sales. Online ordering at Chili’s accounted for 69 percent of all off-premise orders
- Virtually all restaurants remain open for to go and delivery, with closures totaling less than 10
«I’m proud of our restaurant operators and support teams who quickly adapted our business to a safe and efficient off-premise only model. Our focus remains delivering quality food to our guests and maintaining a safe work environment for our team members,» said Wyman Roberts, chief executive officer of Brinker International. «Our hearts go out to those impacted by the pandemic, including our team members. In response, we’ve provided them support through an emergency relief fund.»
The company and its board of directors have also taken the following proactive measures to provide enhanced financial flexibility during the Covid-19 pandemic:
- Amended the revolving credit facility to obtain financial flexibility and liquidity. Initial borrowing capacity under the new amendment is USD 800 million
- Significantly reduced capital expenditures, including suspending the Chili’s re-image program and delaying construction of new restaurants
- Reduced salaries, led by the executive team including a 50 percent reduction for Chief Executive Officer
- Reduced marketing spend, general and administrative spend and other restaurant expenses to support the off-premise only business model
- Suspended the quarterly cash dividend and all share repurchase activity
Given these current sales levels and reductions in expenses, Brinker anticipates a cash burn level of less than USD 10 million per week. Total cash on the balance sheet on March 31, 2020 was USD 137 million and total liquidity was USD 237 million. We believe we have ample liquidity with our current capital position and will continue to evaluate all financing alternatives, including funds available under the CARES Act, as we navigate through this evolving situation.
The company is withdrawing its financial guidance for fiscal 2020 as a result of conditions arising from Covid-19.


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We know Samsung isn't launching the Galaxy S III at Mobile World Congress this year, and now we also know it's not launching the second-generation Galaxy Tab 10.1 either.
That's because it's spilled the beans the day before, detailing a new slate that puts Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right at the top of its bag of tricks.
In fact, in terms of new features it has the limelight pretty much all to itself. Just like with the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, which was announced a couple of weeks ago, Samsung has kept the baseline spec pretty much the same, leaving it to Google's OS to deliver the new tablet feeling.
In fact, one of the very few changes you do get is actually a negative point, as Samsung's tablet has put on an extra 1.1mm on the waistline to come in at 9.7mm thick.
Beyond that, it's the same dual-core 1GHz processor, 1280 x 800 display and 3.15-megapixel camera as before, which perhaps suggests why the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 has been announced before MWC kicks off: it probably wouldn't get much airtime during the show itself.
Samsung assures us its tablet reboot will be snuggling up next to its tablet rivals on the shelves as soon as next month, and given the lack of cutting-edge new features we're hopeful that it'll at least be priced aggressively.


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The internal audit is starting an investigation regarding Eva Wiberg’s travel expenses.
“The rule is not to fly business class as soon as you travel outside of Europe”, says Torbjörn von Schantz.
By Linus Gisborn Translation by Viktor Jönsson
Lundagård reported on the 15 February that Eva Wiberg, pro vice-chancellor at Lund University, travelled for hundreds of thousands during 2016. This is in violates of the University’s travel policy.
On Wednesday The University Board at Lund University decided to start an investigation to see if Eva Wiberg’s travels have violated the University’s policy.
The internal audit has fourteen days to compile a report to be presented to the board.
“The audit committee recommended that the board should review Eva Wiberg’s business trips during 2015 and 2016 in order to see if they were in accordance with the rules regarding business trips. They have been given a time limit of fourteen days and after that they will report to the board and we will see what actions will be necessary”, says Jonas Hafström, chairman of the University Board.
Eva Wiberg has previously stated that the reasons for her expensive flights have been an agreement with Vice-Chancellor Torbjörn von Schantz.
This was refuted by Torbjörn von Schantz in an interview with the student magazine Spionen.
“This is of course something I should have talked to her about, regarding how she travels and not only when she travels. Eva should not be blamed for this and I should have reacted to this sooner”, says Torbjörn von Schantz to Spionen.
According to Lund University’s travel policy, the business trips are to be as cost efficient as possible.
Despite that Eva Wiberg chose to travel business class on all trips outside of Europe. Her total travel expenses for trips abroad during 2016 were about 219,000 SEK.
“The trips differ in that they have cost a lot of money. But at the same time she has also travelled a lot and has had that as her job”, says Torbjörn von Schantz to Spionen.
“The rule is not as soon as it is outside of Europe; you are to fly business class. Then perhaps you should not take the trip”, says Torbjörn von Schantz.
Lundagård has sought Torbjörn von Schantz for a comment.


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3 questions about Opower's upcoming IPO
Under pre-2012 circumstances, this would be an occasion to spend all day, and possibly much of the night, poking through the initial public offering documentation, known as an S-1, and explaining to the world how much revenue the Arlington company brought in last year, whether it is profitable, which VCs and founders own what, what major risks the business faces, etc.
But we don't know any of that yet, thanks to the JOBS Act, which allows Opower — and other companies with less than $1 billion in annual revenue — to file a confidential draft of its IPO paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission before dropping it on the public.
So here are three things we would love to know:
1. When are we getting the real thing?
Other local companies to take advantage of the confidentiality provisions in the JOBS Act took anywhere from one month (MacroGenics) to about three months (Cvent) between filing that draft and finally rolling out a full-fledged S-1. So we could be in for a bit of a wait here. Opower, under the law, must file publicly at least 21 days before its investor road show.
2. What is New Enterprise Associates' stake?
Chevy Chase-based NEA led a $14 million financing in 2008 for Opower, then named Positive Energy, and participated in a subsequent $50 million Series C round in 2010. Opower, in a news release at the time, referred to the VC firm as its "largest investor." But the value of NEA's stake in Opower isn't yet clear, since we don't know exactly how many shares it holds or the price of those shares. We'll know more when the company files publicly, and when it sets terms for the IPO.
Bill Flook covers technology, biotech and venture capital.
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All vehicles feature General Motors’ LS3 6.2-litre V8 engines with power outputs ranging from 317kW to 325kW (425 to 435bhp) at 6000rpm and 550Nm of torque at 4600rpm. Coincidentally, these engines are identical to the ones found in Chevrolet’s Corvette and Camaro SS models.
On Friday, select members of the public and media were treated to the HSV Driving Experience, where they put the GTS and Maloo through their paces in 0-100-0km/h runs and slalom courses under the watchful eyes of Australian V8 Supercar drivers Garth Tander and Greg Murphy. They were then treated to two hot laps of a makeshift track at the Changi Exhibition Centre in a Holden Racing Team V8 Supercar.
“I have long been familiar with Holden Special Vehicles, and when we were looking at expanding our line-up of brands I felt it was a great opportunity. I am very confident that the car culture of Singapore will be very excited about this niche offering,” said Mr Daniel Au, managing director of Harvest Automobiles.
Niche it is indeed – starting prices for the HSV range begin at $318,000 for the Maloo and go all the way up to $338,000 for the GTS.
Despite the steep prices, Mr Au added that Harvest Automobiles have already sold their first allocation of HSVs.
Source: Source of News / Quote: test Source Link Name: oneshift.com Source URL: aaaaa


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KENZO’s Fall/Winter 2023 campaign looks to acquaint its community with the personal universe that shaped NIGO in Japan. Titled “EAST MEETS WEST,” the sartorial delivery centers a contrast between KENZO’s cosmopolitan silhouettes and the creative director’s native country.
Shot by Keizo Kitajima, and with moving imagery from Frank Lebon, the campaign champions the cross-cultural identity that the Maison possesses, in a juxtaposition of Osaka’s melting pot and Kyoto’s historical grounds. At its core, the Fall/Winter 2023 collection reflects an “interaction between the streets of Japan, America and England mirrored in the memory of the youth-quake of the Swinging Sixties,” per the brand. Here, the campaign plants that ideology into the contemporary youth scenes of two Japanese cities.
In a bevy of street portraits, Kitajima puts a series of commonplace exchanges between city dwellers and their surroundings in focus. VERNON, a member of the K-pop group SEVENTEEN and a brand ambassador for KENZO, appears in the campaign, and NIGO himself makes a cameo, wearing a striped blue shirt.
“Between Kyoto and Osaka,” KENZO wrote on Instagram alongside the video campaign.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by KENZO (@kenzo)
KENZO’s Fall/Winter 2023 collection is now available to shop on the brand’s webstore. Explore the campaign in the gallery above.
In more fashion news, Canada Gooe revealed its Rokh x Matt McCormick collection for FW23.
Source: Read Full Article


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Planning for a trip to Thailand soon? If you are a smoker or an e-smoker, read on.
Vaporisers (like e-cigarettes and e-baraku) and/or its refills are illegal in Thailand since 2014. You are not allowed to bring them into the country.
According to the UK’s foreign travel advice website,
You could be fined or sent to prison for up to 10 years if convicted. The sale or supply of e-cigarettes and similar devices is also banned and you could face a heavy fine or up to 5 years imprisonment if found guilty
CTV news website reported that the ban is to prevent young people from being hook-winked into smoking. Although you might have seen people vaping in Thailand, offenders are at risk of breaking the law as e-cigarettes are prohibited items.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you…


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Google remains the dominant player in search marketing, but the industry is changing very rapidly and the old certainties may erode. Does voice search provide a platform for Microsoft to compete? A study earlier this year revealed that Microsoft’s speech recognition technology demonstrated only a 5.1 percent word error rate in Switchboard, a conversational speech recognition task
With the upcoming launch of Google’s mobile-first index, digital marketers are preparing for a proliferation of “ micro-moments ”. There has been a lot of noise around this seemingly seismic shift, but this trend was set in motion years ago and we have plenty of data to hand on what makes or breaks a mobile SEO campaign.


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A REGULATORY balance is needed to ensure Australia avoids importing illegally-harvested timber without burdening business with more red tape, the Commonwealth government believes.
The government has responded to an independent review on how small businesses are affected by recent import regulations on illegally logged timber.
The report, carried out by KPMG, looked specifically at the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act and amendment regulations (commencing in November 2012 and November 2014, respectively), which apply to all businesses importing wood products ¬– including pulp, paper and furniture – where the value of the consignment exceeds $1000.
The regulations make it a criminal offence to import a product containing timber that has been illegally logged and also requires importers to carry out ‘due diligence’, ascertaining if they are dealing with illegally logged timber.
According to the report, 17,254 importers and 468 timber processors are affected by the regulations.
Of these businesses, close to 60% are small, with an annual turnover of $10m or less per year.
The review also found evidence the regulations are contributing to the reduction of the risk of illegal wood products entering Australia, even though importers are still bringing themselves up to compliance.
The report says illegal logging has significant social, environmental and economic costs both regionally and globally, estimating the global economic cost of illegal logging could be between US$30bn and US$100bn.
Australia’s share in the illicit timber trade is uncertain, the report says the problem is significant, with an estimated 9% of Australian imports coming from illegal sources, undercutting local market prices and disadvantaging Australian businesses.
Changes about “balance”
In a recent statement, federal Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer, Kelly O’Dwyer said the review found there was an opportunity to change the existing regulation to strike a better balance between the risk of illegal timber entering the Australian market and the very real cost of compliance to small businesses which are doing the right thing.
“Any changes to illegal logging regulations will be about finding that balance and the government will continue to consult stakeholders on any proposed regulatory changes,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
In a statement dated February 25, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston said the review identified a range of actions likely to minimise the business cost of complying with Australia’s illegal logging regulation.
“The government remains completely committed to combating the illegal logging trade and in addition we are now minimising unreasonable and unnecessary costs on businesses,” Minister Ruston said.
“Illegal logging has significant global economic, environmental, and social impacts and undercuts the legal timber market here in Australia.”
There is an 18-month compliance period in effect, due to end in May 2016. During this time the government will not issue penalties for non-compliance outside of serious and deliberate breaches of the act.
“We know that it can take time for businesses to adjust to new regulatory arrangements, so we will extend the existing ‘soft-start’ compliance period while the changes are being progressed, so no penalties will apply for failing to meet the due diligence requirements,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
KPMG’s regulatory review, completed last year, but only recently released, carried five recommendations for the Australian Government to mitigate the financial burden of compliance on small importers.
The Government has agreed or agreed in principle with all five recommendations and it will communicate its final decisions on changes in a regulation impact statement sometime in the first half of 2016.
The report’s first recommendation calls for the Government to increase the individual consignment value threshold to $10,000 from the present $1000.
In its response, the Government recognises increasing the threshold would assist small businesses in addition to larger companies that import regulated products in small quantities.
The report also recommended the Government streamline due diligence requirements by establishing ‘deemed to comply’ arrangements whereby importers of timber products supplied by certified suppliers or have necessary documentation would not need to undertake unnecessary information gathering or risk assessment processes.
The Government has agreed with the report’s recommendation that it undertake voluntary on-site compliance assessments of businesses during the 18-month compliance period.
The report’s last two findings will also be taken on board by the government. They suggest that additional country-specific guidelines be fast-tracked and the government develops better guidance or training workshops.
Assistant Cabinet Secretary and Assistant Minister for Finance, Dr Peter Hendy MP said any proposed changes would be informed by further consultation and progressed with minimal impact on businesses.
“Just as KPMG spoke with businesses and individuals from across the industry in undertaking this review, the government will continue that conversation on any proposed regulatory changes,” Minister Hendy said.
The Government is to undertake a comprehensive review of illegal timber regulations late next year.
- Increase the individual consignment value threshold in the regulations to $10,000.
- Establish simplified ‘deemed to comply’ arrangements by regulation.
- Undertake voluntary compliance assessments that assess an individual business’s compliance with the regulations.
- Fast track the development of additional country specific guidelines.
- Fund the development of better and more targeted guidance or training workshops.
- Nearly 60% of businesses affected by the regulation are likely small businesses, and these are responsible for importing approximately 20% (by value) of regulated timber products.
- Preliminary evidence suggests the regulation may be helping reduce the risk of illegally imported logged products entering Australia, but compliance work is ongoing.
- It is likely that small Australian businesses contribute at least their share of illegally logged timber to the domestic market.
- The requirements likely cover all sources of illegal timber entering Australia, but they do not account for the capacity of individual businesses, particularly small ones, to absorb the cost of compliance.
- The regulation should be amended to address the issue of cost to small businesses of compliance, striking a better balance between the cost of compliance and the risk of illegal timber entering Australia.


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Editor’s Note: The following article, authored by RVing Examiner reporter Julian Gothard, details the history and cult-like status of the GMC motorhome. For the full story click here.
It’s been over four decades since the first Michael Lathers designed GMC motorhome rolled off the General Motors Truck and Coach Division production line in Pontiac, Mich., but in the intervening period the venerable steel, fiberglass and aluminum-bodied 6-wheeler, with the Toronado powertrain, has assumed something approaching cult status among the RVing fraternity.
Interestingly, although GM had a long history of building coaches and specialist vehicles — like Loewy and Gegoux’s GMC Scenicruiser and Harley Earl’s Futurliner — this was the first time that Alfred P. Sloan’s automotive colossus had ventured into the manufacture, though not the upfitting, of motorhomes. A first not only for GM but for any global automotive manufacturer and a feat that wasn’t emulated by an automaker until Volkswagen began manufacturing its California camper van range — upfitted by Westfalia — in 1988. GM, too, opted to outsource the upfitting of its new motorhome and selected PRF Industries, manufacturer of Travco and Sightseer motorhomes, as its partner in the Gemini facility. In fact, it wasn’t until 1975 that GM, just like VW in 2003, opted to bring the upfitting of its GMC motorhomes in house.
Manufactured in both 23-foot ($13,569) and 26-foot lengths ($14,569), and offered with a choice of six exterior colors, four interior color schemes and fifteen different floor plans, the GMC MotorHome, dubbed the “pie wagon” by the GMC development team, was well-received by RVers when it hit the sales floor of a select handful of GM dealerships in February, 1973. Although other major RV industry manufacturers gave this new “Cadillac of motorhomes” a more muted response, it wasn’t long before industry luminaries like Coachmen, Winnebago and Foretravel — and even the Coca-Cola Company with a special edition GadAbout GMC MotorHome — joined the party.
For the full story click here.
In 1978, the Coca-Cola Co. sponsored a contest and gave away five Coke-themed GMC motorhomes. The owner of one of those collector’s items brought it to the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars” and offered to sell it.
Go to http://youtu.be/udXXg9Z2mnQ to watch a recent episode featuring that unique item.*
* Note: the entire video lasts more than 20 minutes. The intro briefly references the GMC motorhome. Fast-forward to the 2 minute, 53-second mark to watch a 2 minute and 27-second segment on the GMC.
“RV Buddies,” the Internet-based adventure-lifestyle show, has announced the launching of “Project RV,” a series of “webisodes” that will follow the bumper-to-bumper restoration of a classic 1977 GMC 26-foot Royale.
“We’re really excited about this,” said show host Mark Summers in a news release. “Restoring, repairing or upgrading an RV is something most of the 8.2 million RV-owning households have either done, wanted to do or dreamed about doing over the course of their RV ownership. ‘RV Buddies’ wanted to show them how we’d do it — in a way that maintains the integrity of a coach’s original design but updates it to supply the owner with the modern amenities that he or she wants.”
“RV Buddies” selected a very used 1977 GMC 26-foot Royale because it is a true classic with unique design, detailing and engineering features. It is one of 12,921 models GMC built from 1973 to 1978 before deciding to discontinue producing luxury motorhomes to focus on their truck operations.
“It’s a great example of a coach that has good bones but its fine points have suffered from the ravages of time,” Summers said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun for our audience to follow the process.”
Over the next nine months, “RV Buddies” will film and report on Project RV through four phases – demolition, chassis and drive train, interior, and exterior body and paint. Audience members will be able to follow the process through a combination of video and written reports and even email their questions to Summers.
“That’s the beauty of the Internet,” Summers said, “Our audience will be able to interact with us during the project and apply what they learn to their own projects.”
Episodes will air on a weekly basis starting the second week of June.


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CNBC’s “Fast Money Halftime Report” goes live from the Intrepid in New York City to celebrate Veteran’s Day. Phil McConkey, Super Bowl champion and president of Academy Securities, and Chance Mims, former U.S. Navy Officer and founder & CEO of Academy Securities, discuss their market outlooks. » Read More
By: Joseph Micallef, entrepreneur and international security expert
Business and economic confidence is way up, while the worldwide security situation declines. But that's not as alarming as it sounds. » Read More
Andy Cunningham, the former publicist for Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, speaks with CNBC’s “Squawk Alley” about her new book, ‘Get to Aha!: Discover Your Positioning DNA and Dominate Your Competition.” » Read More
Apple is making its first iPhone in India. It will face many more hurdles in the fast-growing market long after that.
Amazon is murdering retailers, but manufacturers reliant on chain-store sales are also having to remake business models to survive.
Ezetap Co-Founder & CEO Bobby Bose, whose company is No. 16 on the CNBC Disruptor 50 list, speaks with CNBC about the mobile payment industry in emerging markets.
Coming in at number 11 on this year's Disruptor 50 list is cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike. Co-founder & CEO George Kurtz discusses the current cybersecurity threat environment and the trajectory for the company.
Confidence in India has increased due to government policy while Chinese CEOs are more cautiously optimistic, says Brandon Chia, chairman and CEO of HDI.
Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff discusses the state of the housing industry and the company's new website for millennials.
Retail is the dominant sector shedding jobs, says John Challenger, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, providing key takeaways from this month's employment data.
David Prokupek, Jackson Hewitt co-CEO, weighs in on tax reform under the Trump administration, and the impact it may have on accounting companies.
As Trump's presidency nears the 100-day mark, some of his key campaign promises for small businesses are facing headwinds.
A Puerto Rican entrepreneur discusses what it takes to succeed in business in a country that is known for its $70 billion in debt.
Shelly Palmer, Palmer Advanced Media CEO, and Jon Brod, Confide co-founder & president and former AOL Ventures co-founder, discuss Alphabet's response to claims from the Department of Labor that the tech giant is underpaying female employees.
John Challenger, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, breaks down the latest data on labor.
Philip Koosed, BAMKO Founder and Dan Levin, Cain Millwork CEO, weigh in on trade, taxes and jobs.
Discussing the issues facing employers with staffing, worker training and educational paths with Tom Gimbel, LaSalle Network CEO.
Trudeau again stressed the importance of the jobs created by trade between the U.S. and Canada.
Travis Kalanick "definitely has my confidence, he has the board's confidence," Arianna Huffington told CNBC.
Chip Wilson placed an ad at a Vancouver bus stop telling Lululemon to buy Under Armour.
Experts say President Trump's executive order on immigration will spur more Silicon Valley tech workers to relocate across the border.
Dennis "Chip" Wilson, Lululemon founder, speaks with CNBC's Deirdre Bosa at the YPO Edge Conference in Vancouver, Canada about a potential border adjustment tax and his take on how Lululemon's business is working.
Russia's attempt to influence elections is nothing new, former CIA Director James Woolsey told CNBC on Thursday.


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The most anticipated android update, which is the Android 4.4 Kit-Kat, will hit the Sony’s latest flagship that was launched at the IFA 2013 in Berlin Xperia Z1. Rumors are that Sony is working on its update platform and will roll out Android 4.4 updates in November to its devices. November the 7th is the date for the Xperia Z1 and after that, Sony will release this new update to its other Smartphones as well and there is a chance that after the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z and Xperia Z Ultra will be powered up with the Android 4.4 Kit-Kat.
The rumors also tell us that the Android 4.4 Kit-Kat will be bundled with many changes and will include some great enhancements and features, so probably this update is supposed to be big and could bring huge changes to the Sony Xperia flagships.The update will also bring security and bug fixes and optimized X-Reality Engine will also be bundled with this update.But unfortunately there is no official words on it so consider this news as the rumor.
To sum it all up, Sony will most likely skip Android 4.3 update for its latest flagship Xperia Z1 like Samsung recently do with the Galaxy S3 and its other Smartphones as Samsung have skipped Android 4.2.2 update.
Thank you Android SAS for providing us with this information.
Image courtesy of Android SAS.


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Martin offers 24-hour MLA tech support
WORLD: Martin Audio has introduced 24-hour email-based support for its MLA family of products. According to the manufacturer, the new support offering is a result of MLA’s increased success with global partners.
A new email address – firstname.lastname@example.org – has been set up and will be constantly monitored. According to the manufacturer, this will ensure that queries can be handled effectively and quickly by MLA technical support agents from around the world.


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Cadillac Fairview ushers in Lunar New Year with new digital experiences
TORONTO, Feb. 10, 2021 — As Canadians prepare to celebrate Lunar New Year, Cadillac Fairview (CF) is marking the Year of the Ox by introducing new digital experiences and exclusive offers aimed at engaging and educating Canadians about the holiday, while safely bringing communities together virtually.
Select CF properties will be hosting an Instagram contest from February 12 – 19, asking shoppers to share their favourite Lunar New Year traditions and memories for a chance to win a CF SHOP! card valued at $888, paying homage to the lucky number eight, which culturally symbolizes wealth and prosperity. With limited in-person gathering restrictions currently in place in many cities, the online contest is an opportunity to bring community members together online to share memories and well wishes while keeping cultural traditions alive.
“Cadillac Fairview has proudly celebrated Lunar New Year for many years through vibrant displays, performances and experiences, and while this year will be understandably different, it’s important for us to continue to celebrate this important holiday for our communities,” said Craig Flannagan, VP of Marketing, Cadillac Fairview.
Throughout the month of February, guests at CF Pacific Centre, CF Richmond Centre, CF Markville, CF Fairview Mall and CF Toronto Eaton Centre will be treated to new digital creative highlighting the Year of the Ox and Lunar New Year.
As part of an exclusive partnership with UnionPay, CF shoppers will receive a special bonus CF SHOP! card offer with purchases using UnionPay. Available until February 26th at CF Pacific Centre, CF Richmond Centre, CF Chinook Centre and CF Market Mall, shoppers will receive a limited edition card featuring the Year of the Ox. For the safety of guests and employees, shoppers are required to make an appointment throughCF Guest List for this CF SHOP! card offer.
CF SHOP! Card x UnionPay Exclusive Bonus Gift Offer
- Buy $500 in CF SHOP! cards, get a $20 bonus CF SHOP! card
- Buy $3,000 in CF SHOP! cards, get a $135 bonus CF SHOP! card
- Buy $5,000 in CF SHOP! cards, get a $250 bonus CF SHOP! card
For more information on participating CF shopping centres and to check out exclusive Lunar New Year retail promotions please visit www.cfshops.com.
About Cadillac Fairview
Cadillac Fairview is one of the largest owners, operators and developers of best-in-class office, retail and mixed-use properties in North America. The Cadillac Fairview portfolio is owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, a diversified global investor which administers the pensions of more than 323,000 active and retired school teachers. The real estate portfolio also includes investments in retail, mixed-use and industrial real estate in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
Valued at around $32 billion, the Canadian portfolio includes over 37 million square feet of leasable space at 70 properties in Canada, including landmark developments, such as Toronto-Dominion Centre, CF Toronto Eaton Centre, CF Pacific Centre, CF Chinook Centre, Tour Deloitte and CF Carrefour Laval.
SOURCE Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited
Other articles from mtltimes.ca – totimes.ca –otttimes.ca


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Once billed as the team’s
The makers of Defcon and Darwinia have been working on Subversion part-time for about six years, but as Chris Delay explains in a lengthy post at the Introversion forums, ” somewhere along the [line], we had lost our way.”
“We couldn’t even remember what sort of game it was supposed to be anymore. We’d ended up with a game that looked and sounded brilliant, classic Introversion with its blue wireframe and sinister faceless characters. But there was a massive gaping hole where you would normally see a ‘core game’. We’d tried and tried to fill that hole with ambitious tech and experimental systems, but you couldn’t escape it.”
As a result, Subversion won’t be emerging into the light any time soon. However, it’s not cancelled, it simply “needs a total rethink from top to bottom”.
The better news is that Introversion has just submitted a new game to the Independent Games Festival (IGF), something they last did in 2006 with Darwinia. This title isn’t Subversion (obviously), but is said to be “unrelated to any of our previous games, released or not.”
More on that subject is set to be revealed “soon”.
Founder and Editor of PC Invasion. Veteran PC gamer of over 22 years.


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Welcome to CFA’s newest member Blue Earth Compost! Blue Earth Compost is a food scrap collection service for residents and businesses in Connecticut. (more…)
Connecticut independent grocer Highland Park Market has teamed with JouleSmart Solutions to transform its supermarkets into so-called “intelligent” buildings.
As Big Food companies struggle to overcome changing consumer tastes, higher shipping costs and competition from upstarts, their biggest challenge may be retaliatory tariffs.
C&S has been helping local nonprofit organizations for 15 years as of February 12, 2018.
CPA firm BlumShapiro is offering CFA members a complimentary 2-hour session to chart your business course for 2018.
Don’t believe the hype — physical retail is still growing, particularly in three key segments. Retailers are opening 4, 080 more stores in 2017 than they are closing.


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Denpasoft Halloween Sale 2021 Has Begun
With Halloween right around the corner, Denpasoft has launched its massive Halloween Sale, offering 160 gaming titles and a number of other products for reduced prices.
The Denpasoft Autumn Sale Has Begun
Danpasoft’s Autumn Sale is now in full swing, offering a large amount of adult media at reduced prices from November 25th to December 1st.
Denpasoft Halloween Sale 2020 Has Begun
Denpasoft has joined the Halloween sales period with its own spooky offerings for 2020's Halloween season.
Denpasoft Summer Sale Has Begun
Denpasoft takes part in the summer festivities with their own summer sale, discounting most of their library.
Push! and Mikandi Japan Return to Kickstarter with the Linda Project
Publishing companies PUSH! and MiKandi Japan have returned to Kickstarter seeking funds to localize doujin works by LINDA.
Denpasoft's Lunar New Year Sale Has Begun
It’s the Year of the Rat, and it’s time to swipe up some savings with Denpasoft's Lunar New Year Sale.
Denpasoft Winter Sale Has Begun
Denpasoft has begun their holiday sale with discounts of up to 80% on a number of their titles.
Nukige Break! The Rematch Part 1 Released on Denpasoft
A math tutor who takes pleasure in mindbreaking girl creates his own sex slaves in Break! The Rematch Part 1.
LINDA Localization Project Suspended by Kickstarter, Moves to Indiegogo
Push! Publication’s fundraising to localize LINDA’s NTR doujinshi was suspended from Kickstarter for breach of conduct, forcing the publication to restart the campaign on a different platform.
[UPDATED]PUSH! And MiKandi Japan Seek Funding to Localize LINDA’s NTR Doujins
Wanting to localize doujin works by LINDA, publishing companies PUSH! and MiKandi Japan are seeking funding for the project on Kickstarter.


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While the recent government shutdown has had negative effects on many of the federal employees, some businesses are looking for ways to help and support the 800,000 people who won’t be getting a paycheck until the furlough is over. One of these companies is making skydiving news by giving these workers the opportunity to take a jump.
Skydive, Hawaii is offering free jumps to federal employees who are finding themselves with too much time on their hands this week.
“They have bills to pay, and they can’t afford to do things like this,” said Sonny Vaoifi, manager of Skydive Hawaii. “We’re going to take as many as we can for as long as our company can bear it.”
They reported that 2 US Navy Shipyard workers had already taken advantage of the offer, and planned to return, provided they didn’t have to go back to work.
Skydiving companies aren’t the only ones offering a little bit of help to furloughed workers. Hyundai is offering to defer car payments of federal employees with no penalty. In Alexandria, Virginia, Pork Barrel BBQ is offering free sandwiches each day to government employees, but members of congress are excluded. Similarly, a trendy restaurant/bookstore in Washington DC is extending happy hour prices for those on furlough. They are asking congress members to pay double during this time. Gym memberships and online classes are also being offered to government workers who find themselves with extra free time, but no money to spend.
Thank you to Skydive, Hawaii for supporting these workers who are struggling, due to no fault of their own, during this difficult time. Perhaps other companies will follow suit and use this as an opportunity to introduce people to air sports. Those that jump, fly, and glide know that if you do it once, you’ll always come back for more.


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Praise for Peterborough Queensgate's eco commitment
Staff and bosses at Peterborough's Queensgate shopping centre are celebrating after being praised for their environmental-friendly achievements.
The centre was awarded a gold award at the recent Travelchoice Awards 2016 for its travel plan.
The plan seeks to create a safe, accessible and welcoming environment at the centre by influencing travel behaviour.
It also received a highly commended certificate in the Sustainable Travel Initiative category, which recognises employers for deploying innovative ideas to bring about a change in commuting behaviour.
Queensgate recently achieved the newly revised ISO 14001:2015 accreditation for its environmental management. It is one of only a few shopping centres in the UK that diverts 100 per cent of its waste from landfill.
Carol Wakelin, the centre’s environmental manager,said: “We’re pleased to have received recognition for our Travel Plan, we work hard to ensure we have effective and achievable initiatives. We are committed to maintaining a low carbon footprint.”
“Everyone at Queensgate works hard to do their bit which is so important.”
Carol was also personally recognised for her hard work on the sustainability agenda when she was shortlisted for the Rising Star Award 2016. She made it to the final six out of hundreds of candidates across the environmental industry nationally.
Chris Hanley, senior technical leader for transportation at Atkins, who works closely with Peterborough City Council’s Travelchoice team, said: “Carol and the team at Queensgate have been working extremely hard this year.
“Not only have they produced an up-to-date Travel Plan and surveyed staff on their travel behaviour, but there has been real action on the ground in terms of a number of engagement events for both staff and visitors.
“They have rolled out a number of new electric vehicle charging bays and supported businesses, such as John Lewis, to run their own travel plan sessions for staff.”


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General Motors Co. committed to investing $1.8 billion at plants in six states and to creating 700 new jobs, as the largest U.S. automaker looks to ward off months of criticism by President Donald Trump.
The bulk of the new jobs will go to a factory in Michigan where GM plans to add production of another fully electric vehicle. The carmaker will spend $300 million and add 400 workers at the plant in Orion Township, north of Detroit, where the Chevrolet EV will be built alongside the Bolt model. Factories in states including Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas will also boost their workforce.
"This is an industry that is under just dramatic transformation," CEO Mary Barra said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. "So we're taking the steps and being responsible to make sure that we can continue to grow in these areas, and continue to have a strong U.S. manufacturing base that creates a lot of good-paying jobs."
The moves may help assuage Trump, who's attacked GM over its decisions announced in November to idle an Ohio plant and four other underutilized factories in the U.S. and Canada. As part of a broader restructuring that's also affecting salaried employees, the company is cutting or displacing upward of 14,000 jobs.
"No one wants Trump tweeting negatively about them, but General Motors has demonstrated that it is going to run its business," said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst at car-shopping researcher AutoTrader. "This is a significant investment in GM's electrification future."


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Gymnast decided to implement a luxury foreign car premium, which she gave after the event in Rio de Janeiro. According to the girl, the car is in excellent condition. Act Mustafina has caused mixed reactions from her fans.
In August last year, the 22-year-old gymnast Aliya Mustafina received from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev the keys to the luxury cars of white color. This luxury gift was presented to the athlete in connection with high achievements at the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. However, after a while Mustafina decided to part with the car. She posted an ad to sell cars. About the reasons for his action, she decided not to dwell in detail.
Why Olympic Champions to part with expensive gifts
“Friends, sell my car. BMW X6 xDrive35i. Was donated for Olympic gold in August 2016, exclusive model. In excellent condition, treated with care, went gently, honestly. The car is great, very lucky one who will get it. I do not want to part with it, but it happens,” – the publication was made by the gymnast in one of my social networks.
The post two-time Olympic champion caused a mixed reaction from her followers. They began to ask aliyah about why she decided to part with such a valuable gift. “Again these questions: “why?” “Why?” “Don’t sell!”, “The President gave”, “Started…”, “what to do if a person urgently need money or a car too expensive to maintain” – answered by other users of social networks.
Note that the implementation of the athletes “Olympic” gifts or even medals – a very common phenomenon. A few days after the ceremony of awarding the athletes who distinguished themselves in the competition in Brazil, the Internet was posted the announcement of the sale of one of the Champions of the presented cars. Journalists managed to find out that the car belonged to a member of the national team of Russia in synchronized swimming. The news of this caused a huge public resonance. Many users of social networks criticized the person who decided to get rid of such a valuable, in their opinion, of the car.
Trending topic “StarHit” in the section “Top 100”
Recall also that recently in the Internet appeared the publication of the fact that the legendary gymnast Olga Korbut living in the United States, decided to sell Olympic medals and personal belongings. The act of women has provoked rumors about her problems with finances. Later, Korbut was quick to refute this information. “Oh my God! In Russia published an article about how I sold his medals because sitting on broke and needed the money. Not true! I’m happy in Arizona and healthy. I have a great life!” – wrote Olga Valentinovna on his microblog. “StarHit” talked with her ex-husband Korbut and found out what motivated her to take this step. The ex-husband of Olga Korbut: “She put up medals for sale a young wife”


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DOZENS OF FACTORS CRITICAL IN BONE LOSS AMONG ELDERLY
By JANE E. BRODY
Published: February 17, 1987
BETHESDA, Md.— WHILE calcium wars rage in pharmacies,health food stores and supermarkets throughout the country, research in osteoporosis is revealing that only a minority of cases of this bone-wasting disorder result from diets deficient in calcium.
Rather, recent studies have shown that dozens of factors - from natural hormones and therapeutic drugs to sedentary living and cigarette smoking - play critical roles in causing this hidden and rapidly growing epidemic, which results in more than a million fractures a year, mainly among elderly women.
As one expert told a two-day scientific workshop on osteoporosis at the National Institutes of Health here last week, low calcium intake per se is responsible for probably only about 13 percent of the hip fractures in this country. Nearly all of these fractures occur in the estimated 24 million Americans with osteoporosis.
According to Dr. Steven R. Cummings of the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco, the severe decline in estrogens following menopause and a small, thin body build are much more important than calcium deficiency. He said an estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of hip fractures can be attributed to cigarette smoking, reflecting in part the relative deficiency of estrogen in women who smoke. Other contributing factors include heavy alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity and long-term treatment with corticosteroid drugs like prednisone, which suppress the body's immune system.
A recent study by Dr. Bruce Ettinger of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco indicated that when calcium supplements are given along with half the usual postmenopausal dose of estrogen, postmenopausal bone loss is dramatically reduced and bone mass may even increase slightly. Yet, Dr. Peck noted, only about 10 percent of postmenopausal women are now receiving estrogen replacement therapy. An analysis of the various benefits and risks of postmenopausal estrogens by Dr. Brian Henderson of the University of Southern California indicated that, over all, their use can result in a 41 percent saving in lives.
But while estrogen treatment after menopause can slow the inexorable loss of bone with age, vigorous physical exercise is now the only nonpharmacological means of building up bone after normal bone growth is completed. Studies by Dr. Everett Smith of the University of Wisconsin, for example, have shown that even elderly women can gain bone mass if they start exercising. New bone is formed when bones are subjected to compression stresses during exercise.
Moreover, several participants noted that calcium supplements are of questionable benefit, except perhaps for the young and very old. For example, according to Dr. B. Lawrence Riggs of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., increased calcium intake during the adolescent growth spurt and the following 10 years results in a heavier and denser skeleton that is thought to be more resistant to fractures later in life.
In the decade or two after menopause, most studies have shown that increased calcium intake through diet or supplements may be of little or no help unless estrogen is taken as well. Before menopause but after the age of 30 when bone growth is usually completed, the possible usefulness of calcium supplements has not yet been adequately studied.
Nonetheless, Dr. Riggs, a co-chairman of the conference, said that everyone should consume at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day, preferably from foods, to help maintain the body's ''calcium balance.'' For those unable or unwilling to consume enough calcium-rich foods, he recommended taking a supplement, such as calcium carbonate, that is known to be well-absorbed. After menopause, he and others said calcium consumption should be increased to at least 1,500 milligrams a day, the amount in five eight-ounce glasses of skim milk (whole milk has less calcium and many more calories). Dr. Riggs added that a higher calcium intake might be especially important for the elderly, whose ability to absorb dietary calcium through the intestines is significantly diminished.
Dr. Riggs recommended calcium supplements for people who consume little calcium from foods and for others who face a higher than usual risk of developing osteoporosis: cigarette smokers, heavy alcohol consumers, people who are sedentary, users of drugs like cortisone, those with osteoporosis in the immediate family, women who have undergone premature menopause and white women who are small and thin.
On the other hand, Dr. Robert P. Heaney of Creighton University in Omaha said it is far better to get needed calcium from foods, such as dairy products, fish eaten with the bones and certain green vegetables, such as collard greens.
''Single-nutrient supplements can result in interactions with other nutrients like iron and actually induce dietary deficiencies,'' he said. Consuming calcium in meals and along with carbohydrates like starches and sugars improves absorption, he noted, but excessive intake of protein, caffeine and sodium increases the loss of calcium from the body.


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A glitch in the system saw Starbucks customers up to £150 months after visit
Punters found large sums of cash being withdrawn from their bank accounts after card payments were delayed leading to the coffee giant helping themselves to lump sum payments.
The unexpected withdrawals have hit customers at coffee shop shops across the UK, although the exact number is not known.
Some regular customers of a Starbucks in Saffron Wadlen, Essex, shop were shocked to learn as much as £150 was taken from their accounts in one go for purchases dating back as far as February.
These delayed payments have caused havoc with customers' banking, and some have even been charged for falling into their overdrafts and missing direct debit payments.
Starbucks has apologised and blamed a technical fault, which delayed customers' debit and credit card charges.
Lucy Trimnell, 32, who has seen £130 taken from her account for drink purchases at Starbucks dating back to March, said: “I'm very, very upset about the situation.
A mum was charged £130 pounds from her account for drinks dating back to March
“I'm a full-time carer for my disabled son and I go to Starbucks twice a week, and it's a chance for me to relax for a short period of time with friends.
I'm a full-time carer for my disabled son and I go to Starbucks twice a week
“I have to manage my money quite carefully and this large amount coming out has seen me fall into my overdraft, for which I have been charged.
“A direct debit payment, which comes out of the same account, also bounced and I got charged for that as well.
“I do check my balance quite regularly, but I can't say I look through my statements that closely, so I had no idea that they hadn't been charging me for coffee since March.
“I contacted my bank but they said companies have six months to claim payment so there's nothing they can do. I contacted Starbucks and they offered me some free drink vouchers, which I politely declined.
“It's such a shame because I like going there, but I won't be anymore. There are loads of people this has affected and I think they will lose a lot of customers in the town over this.”
Starbucks say they are working on the technical fault to make sure this is avoided
Another customer, Keeley Kenzie, saw payment for 19 Starbucks transactions come out of her account on May 20, and a further 20 were removed on May 26, dating back to February.
Thus far she has seen £150 withdrawn from her account.
She said: “I probably go to Starbucks five times a week and I always have the same thing, so as soon as I saw all the charges, I knew what it was. I hope there isn't too much more to come.
Customers across the country are thought to have been affected
“I completely understand people's frustrations about it, I have been in there a few times when the card machine has been down so I can't say I'm that surprised. I'll be sure to pay cash in future.“
A spokesperson for Starbucks said: “We are working hard to rectify this delayed transaction issue caused by a technical fault, which meant a delay to some customers' authorised debit and credit card charges, in some of our UK stores.
“We are very sorry to those customers affected and ask anyone seeking assistance to contact our customer services team as we resolve this problem.”


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HONOR just opened its newest Experience Store located at the 2nd Floor Cyberzone of the newly opened SM City Sto. Tomas Batangas.
HONOR Philippines GTM Manager Steven Yan and HONOR Philippines Retail Sales Director Tom Yuan, as well as Greentelcom Chief Operating Officer Ma. Theresa Luna and President Edwin Luna managed the opening of the new store.
Furthermore, the brand also said more Experience Stores will soon be available in the South and new Experience Stores will soon be open in SM City Dasmarinas Cavite and SM City San Pablo Laguna.
HONOR Philippines Vice President, Stephen Cheng said, “It is really an honor to unveil our newest HONOR Experience Store the same time the much-anticipated SM City Sto. Tomas Batangas opened. This is part of our promise to continuously service our HONOR fans and tech enthusiasts alike and we are very far from what we have envisioned for the country”.
To hear more announcements from HONOR, you may visit their official website and social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. For a complete list of the brand’s retail stores, check this link.


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Arete Pharmacy Network and Topco Associates have announced a collaborative venture that will enable Topco’s member pharmacies to pursue contractual relationships with payers as a unified entity. The two organizations will create a new grocery chain contracting option for payers, which will serve as a network of high-quality pharmacies with national coverage.
The relationship with Topco is centered on the importance of building and maintaining a high-performing quality network of pharmacies. Topco and its member pharmacy organizations show a strong focus in this area, and the strategic alignment between our organizations became apparent very early in the conversations about a potential partnership. The entire team at Arete has embraced the opportunity to work with like-minded regional grocers,” said Rob McMahan, chief executive officer of Arete Pharmacy Network.
For Topco’s member-owners that operate pharmacies, the strategic relationship offers the benefit of aggregation, which delivers increased flexibility and a sustainable competitive advantage. Topco’s member pharmacies will utilize Arete’s managed care contracting expertise to market a national network of locally owned grocery pharmacies with high quality ratings and exceptional delivery of care to patients. Additionally, Topco’s member pharmacies will have access to Arete’s Quality Center, a web-based innovative performance toolkit of demonstrated value. The emphasis on quality improvement and outcomes is the driver behind the collaborative venture.
Topco’s collaboration with Arete Pharmacy Network delivers the scale our members need to gain access to a broader network of patients. By partnering together to increase our network, Topco member pharmacies will be able to more effectively compete in their respective markets and better serve their customers and communities,” said Randy Skoda, president & CEO of Topco Associates.


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ETSU light display helps ring in the holiday season at BMS
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 22, 2021) – One of the region’s most dazzling holiday light shows is underway at Bristol Motor Speedway. The 25th season of Pinnacle Speedway in Lights allows visitors to witness the wonder of a 4-mile trek through 3 million lights at the world’s fastest half-mile.
East Tennessee State University is a proud sponsor of the event, and vehicles circling the concrete oval will see the stunning glimmer of blue and gold pride thanks to ETSU’s first-ever display. New holiday-themed apparel is also available for purchase at Alumni Hall stores located on W. State of Franklin Road in Johnson City, and Pinnacle Parkway in Bristol.
The annual event is one of the primary fundraisers for the Bristol chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. The light display is open nightly from 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 1, 2022.


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Gateway has halted the shipment of its 1GHz Thunderbird Athlon systems until 10 July.
Gateway has admitted that its lab has discovered a glitch that causes the PC to lock up. It does not affect all of the Thunderbird PCs produced, but no more will be shipped until the problem is isolated. Gateway engineers are in the process of developing a fix.
Reports have suggested the problem may reside in an incompatibility between AMD’s latest processor and the motherboards used by Gateway.
The PC manufacturer claims no UK customers have been affected by the problem so far. The systems started shipping last month.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Technology stocks largely closed with gains Friday, as many bellwether issues refused to get caught in the wake of losses from Oracle Corp. and Palm Inc.
Reports that Hurricane Rita showed some signs of weakening also took some pressure off investors and helped spur the tech sector higher. See full story.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index
rose 6 points to 2,118, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index
also notched small gains.
Advancers included 3Com Corp.
which rose 36 cents, or almost 10%, to $3.98. On Thursday, the networking-equipment maker reported a wider first-quarter loss but forecast second-quarter sales above Wall Street analysts' estimates.
rose 31 cents, or almost 8%, to $4.36. Before the market opened, Deutsche Securities raised its ating on the contract manufacturer for electronics to hold from sell.
Other gains came from Apple Computer Inc.
Cisco Systems Inc.
and Hewlett-Packard Co.
failed to join in the rally. The corporate software firm fell $1.11 a share, or more than 8%, to $12.41 after delivering its first-quarter report Thursday showing slowing sales of its core database products. Prudential lowered its rating on Oracle to neutral from overweight. See full story.
took a beating, falling $6.60, or almost 19%, to $28.38 after the personal digital-assistant maker reported a 7% decrease in its first-quarter earnings and gave a weaker-than-expected second-quarter outlook. See full story.
Other decliners included Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
International Business Machines Corp.
and Sun Microsystems Inc.


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Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his wife, Jerry Murdoch, have purchased a Montana cattle ranch spanning about 340,000 acres from Matador Cattle Co., a subsidiary of Koch Industries. The price was roughly $200 million, making it the largest ranch sale in Montana history, according to people with knowledge of the deal.
Known as Beaverhead Ranch, the property is located in southwest Montana near Yellowstone National Park. It was originally purchased more than seven decades ago by Fred Koch, who founded the crude-oil-gathering business that grew into Koch Industries, according to Matador’s website. Koch Industries is now led by one of his sons, Charles Koch, who, with his late brother, David Koch, is known for backing Republican politicians and conservative causes. Koch Industries didn’t respond to requests for comment.
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