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Not that you’d ever be tempted to break into that flashy luxury car parked near your house, but in case you were, an ingenious hacker has you covered. For the grand price of $9,000 (approx. PKR 1,389,000), he is willing to give you the “keyless repeater”, a device that allows users to unlock most luxury cars.
Popularly known as “Evan Connect”, the hacker in question recently developed a device that uses a wireless key fob system and demonstrated its application in a video published on YouTube.
The video shows him approaching an unattended car that belongs to a colleague who gave him permission to use it for the purpose of testing his unique car-hacking device. Complete with an antenna, the device was able to emit the appropriate frequency that was necessary to unlock the car’s door and allow him to start the engine.
With such immense implications for this device and its usage, it was only natural for Evan to talk about how he felt people might use the “keyless repeater”. He conceded that there was no guarantee as to how his customers might use his device, which means that there could be a bunch of malicious users out there as well.
He also stated in an interview that his device can only unlock a limited set of luxury cars. Those that use frequencies between 22 and 40k Hz, such as the Audi and Porsche models released after 2014, will be immune to the device’s workings.
He has also announced an upgraded version of the “keyless repeater” that can unlock any car that uses a wireless key fob system. He is willing to sell this one for the astronomical price of $12, 000 (approx. PKR 1,851,850).
“Honestly I can tell you that I have not stolen a car with technology, it is very easy to do, but the way I see it, why would I get my hands dirty when I can make money just selling the tools to other people,” he said.


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Millionaire football players who splash the cash on cars, houses and bling
Elite football players earn millions of pounds each year and they love nothing more than to splash their cash on huge houses, high-performance cars and expensive jewellery.
World-class players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba take home astronomical amounts of money in wages, sponsorships and endorsement deals. Once they’ve put aside some for their retirement, there is plenty left over to indulge in the finer things in life and footballers aren’t shy when it comes to showing off their wealth.
The easiest way to show everybody you have lots of money is to wear flashy bling and many footballers are known for their expensive taste in jewellery. Ronaldo hit the headlines in 2019 when he attended a conference in Dubai wearing a huge ring worth a reported £200,000! The Juventus striker complemented the ring with a Rolex GMT-Master Ice watch worth around £380,000 and a diamond band on his wedding finger worth £50,000. So his jewellery that day was worth around £630,000 – more than some people will earn in a lifetime!
Neymar is another world famous footballer who is known for his extravagant lifestyle and the Paris Saint-Germain attacker is regularly seen wearing huge amounts of bling. The Brazilian reportedly attended a birthday party wearing diamond earrings worth £10,000 each while he has a collection of chains that would make Mr.T jealous.
Paul Pogba also usually wears plenty of expensive jewellery with the Frenchman sporting flashy rings and watches whenever he’s seen in public. However, the Manchester United midfielder once forgot to take out his diamond earrings before training and one was missing when he returned to the dressing room. Despite spending hours looking on the training pitches, Pogba never found the missing earring – which was reportedly worth around £10k.
Another favourite past time for footballers is to splash obscene amounts of money on cars and nobody does it better than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Arsenal striker owns several supercars including four Lamborghinis, a Bentley Bentayga, a Porsche Panamera, a Range Rover Sport, an Audi R8, an Aston Martin DB9 and three stunning Ferrari’s – one which is worth around £2million.
Just in-case people didn’t know how expensive the cars are, Aubameyang has some of his collection wrapped in gold and silver by a celebrity car customiser in France. The results can be seen in the photo above.
The Gabon hitman is one of the flashiest players in the Premier League and he makes no attempt to hide it as he regularly flouts his clothing, car and jewellery collection to his followers on social media.
When you earn millions of pounds, it’s understandable that you’ll want a huge mansion to live in and football players own some of the most jaw-dropping houses the world has to offer.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most renowned players of his generation who’s played for clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and AC Milan so it’s safe to say he’s generated a huge amount of wealth. Therefore, it’s no surprise the Swedish international splashed out on this stunning house in Italy that’s reportedly worth around £5m.
High-earning footballers spare no cost when it comes to their homes as many come with marble kitchens, expensive furnishings, home gyms, tennis courts, football pitches and even a golf course – in the case of Gareth Bale.
Chelsea legend John Terry has a mansion in an upmarket Surrey village worth over £6m, former team mate Frank Lampard boasts a mansion in west London worth £10m while former Manchester Unites striker Wayne Rooney is currently building a a house in Cheshire on a mammoth 40 acre estate that’s going to be worth an estimated £20m.
/ 14 hours ago
Arsenal are closing in on a £25m deal to sign Alvaro Morata from Atletico...

domain: news


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April 20, 2022 | プレスリリース
Mexico City, Mexico, Montreal, Canada - April 20, 2022 - Hivestack, the world’s largest, independent, programmatic digital out of home (DOOH) ad tech company today announced a partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor LatAm, the leading out of home (OOH) media advertising company in Latin America. Through this partnership, Clear Channel LatAm’s premium DOOH inventory will be integrated into the Hivestack Supply Side Platform (SSP) and will be available programmatically via Private Marketplace (PMP) deals through the Hivestack Demand Side Platform (DSP), as well as leading omnichannel DSPs who are integrated into Hivestack’s platform.
This alliance will significantly support Hivestack and Clear Channel’s shared objective to revolutionize the programmatic DOOH landscape across Latin America. Hivestack’s world class technology will empower brands, agencies and omnichannel DSPs to run data-driven campaigns and engage with their audiences on Clear Channel screens in Latin America’s most popular cities.This includes Clear Channel LatAm’s digital billboards and roadside screens, accounting for over 128 million impressions monthly. Furthermore, this new partnership will empower advertisers in Latin America to easily plan, activate and measure DOOH campaigns directly alongside other programmatic channels like digital and mobile.
Hivestack Founder and CEO, Andreas Soupliotis commented: “We’re thrilled to be bringing the power of programmatic to LatAm with a visionary partner like Clear Channel. There is tremendous opportunity for growth in the region and we look forward to opening the door for global advertisers to connect with local audiences and deliver innovative benefits to media owners nationwide.”
Clear Channel LatAm will gain access to a new stream of programmatic revenue from DOOH buyers that use the Hivestack DSP as well as revenue from buyers that use other omni-channel DSPs, integrated with the Hivestack SSP.
Tom Motmans, Clear Channel Outdoor LatAm President & General Manager said: “We pioneered programmatic OOH in the region of Latin America, being the first media owner to fully integrate its inventory in an SSP in 2017. Since then, we’ve established the company as the most experienced and innovative media owner in Latin America, not only through our hard work, but also thanks to choosing world class technology partners.”
Hivestack’s globally recognized technology has been chosen by some of the world’s largest media owners, including Clear Channel US, Europe and Singapore. They are currently facilitating the activation of both global and local programmatic DOOH campaigns in over 25 markets.


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If you’re tired of the dark days and long nights characteristic of winter, you might like the fireworks this earnings season is about to display.
We’re jumping in this week with tickers like GS, MS, PNC, KEY, AA and JBHT, to name a few.
The first four are in the Financial sector (XLF), which has held up pretty well in this sideways January market. Will it continue? I’m not sure, but let’s take a look at Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA).
A Deep Dive
Walgreens announced a 48% reduction in its quarterly dividend payments back on Jan. 4.
Why? To free up capital. For what?
“This action will free up capital to invest in driving sustainable growth in the pharmacy and healthcare businesses, as well as paying down debt,” – CEO Tim Wentworth said at the time.
Here’s how the stock responded:
Wentworth said a few very key words: healthcare and debt.
“We are building a gene and cell therapy because pharma has essentially indicated strong interest in working with us,” Wentworth emphasized.
On Lilly Direct (go ahead, Google that… Eli Lilly (LLY)…
“So, is it an opportunity? Absolutely, and we certainly would support and work with Lilly on that,” Walgreens Chief Pharmacy Officer Rick Gates said.
Oh my! The whole world is about to get skinny!
“We are taking swift actions to right-size costs and increase cash flow…” to the tune of $1 billion in cost savings.
“Our U.S. organizational efforts have resulted in a planned headquarters support office workforce reduction of approximately 20%,” Wentworth said.
Ouch! Bye-bye employees.
Let’s talk about those employees. Actually, let’s talk about employees in general… aka the consumers.
Here’s what Walgreens said about them (I mean, Walgreens? Who really shops at Walgreens? I’d say that’s why you need to pay attention.).
“We are navigating the accumulating consumer pressures from inflation and depleted savings and somewhat slower than anticipated market trends… Retail customers in the United States are under stress and making deliberate choices to seek value,” Wentworth said.
“Customers continue to pull back on discretionary spending and actively seek out promotional opportunities. As a result, we saw an approximately 90 basis points impact from weaker holiday seasonal sales.” Walgreens Interim CFO Manmohan Mahajan said.
So how did Wentworth respond?
He bought 10,000 shares the very next day. Now go back and read the entire article.
Think and win!
Celeste Lindman Trading
If you haven’t already, join my Telegram channel here for frequent trading insights and market musings!
*This is for informational and educational purposes only. There is an inherent risk in trading, so trade at your own risk.
P.S. Today’s the Day: The World Premiere of Roger’s ‘Gap to Green’ Phenomenon!
I spoke to Roger Scott this morning and he couldn’t be more excited… Something he’s been cooking up is finally ready for the big stage!
That’s right, at 1 p.m. ET today, Jan. 16, he’s hosting the world premier of a new strategy…
Think about this…
Say a stock like Apple, Tesla or Nvidia — you know, the cream of the crop — were to suddenly tank overnight from a bad headline.
Well, if these stocks meet Roger’s criteria, they could be ripe for a double-digit opportunity when they fill the gap back to the upside.
So join him at 1 o’clock ET to learn the specifics of this “Gap to Green” phenomenon!


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The UK’s high street betting shops have avoided (for now, at least) changes to planning laws that would have seen them subject to a new, separate “use class”. The idea was one of a number of proposals put forward by retail marketing consultant Mary Portas in a government-commission report to revitalise the UK high street.
The introduction of a new “use class” would have made it simpler for local authorities to block or reject planning applications for new betting shops. It was intended that such a move would help reduce the supposed “clustering” of betting shops on the high street in certain areas.
But Grant Shapps, Minister for Housing and Local Government, stated at the end of March 2012 that the proposal relating to betting shops had been delayed for now and subject to a further review.
Writing in MoneyWeek (Issue 582 30 March 2012) Matthew Lynn offers a forthright opinion for the future of the high street (Allow the high street a dignified death).
He argues: “As more and more shops close down, we can expect plenty of calls for help. The government will be launching enquiries and lobbyists will be arguing for tax breaks and subsidies to keep shops alive. It’s all nonsense. In fact, the high street should be allowed to die a quick and dignified death”.
“There is no worse policy than trying to keep alive a structurally dying industry…Now it’s time for the traditional British high street to be allowed to die”.
“Most town centres were originally a mix of residential, light industrial, commercial and retail space…The best response would be to relax planning laws. As shops shut down, turn the buildings into offices, small factories and workshops, and most of all houses.”
This vision of the new British high street with a mix of premises types would be ideal for betting shops. It would hark back to a time when bookmakers would take bets at the factory gates and when workers would visit the betting shop in their lunch hour before the afternoon’s racing.
The British betting shop has shown its resilience over the decades in the face of the changing nature of the high street, although large numbers have closed since the 1970s .


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Bowling Green, Ky. – The 2017 CAR CRAFT Summer Nationals, presented by Chevrolet Performance, will take place July 21-23 at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This will be the first year the highly anticipated annual automotive event will be held in Bowling Green.
The 2017 CAR CRAFT Summer Nationals will offer something for automotive enthusiasts as well as the whole family, including new features such as daytime drag races and popular annual events with nighttime drags, burnouts, autocross, and more.
“CAR CRAFT Summer Nationals continues to be one of the leading, must-attend events for automotive enthusiasts nationwide,” says TEN’s Vice President of Automotive Events Steve Freeman. “We are excited to bring this engaging event to Bowling Green and look forward to taking it to a new, expanded level.”
CAR CRAFT Summer Nationals is one of the country’s premier gathering of street machines and muscle cars that showcases more than 2,500 performance cars and attracts upward of 25,000 enthusiasts from across the country over the course of three days. CAR CRAFT Summer Nationals is a fun-filled family event and annual celebration of horsepower, torque, and all things automotive. Performance sponsors and vendors mingle with enthusiasts along a spectacular automotive midway, while burnout contests, drag racing, dyno pulls, a drift, and autocross challenges let the hardcore fans put their vehicles to the ultimate test amid the sights and sounds of thousands of high-horsepower vehicles on display.
Car registration information and spectator ticket details will be announced soon.
"There is no event quite like the CAR CRAFT Summer Nationals and it’s an event that my team always looks forward to,” said Craig Shantz, Manager, Chevrolet Performance Shows/Events and Specialty Vehicle Builds. “We want Chevrolet Performance to be an experienced brand; this move to Bowling Green allows for true brand integration with all the Chevy presence in town. It’s a great venue for the future of CAR CRAFT Summer Nationals. We look forward to continuing our longtime partnership with the event and being a part of yet another fantastic automotive celebration.
SPECIAL FEATURES AND HIGHLIGHTS IN 2017:
- Faster, Open Autocross
- Dyno Challenge–Test Your Torque and Horsepower Against the Best!
- Undiscovered Builders’ Invitational
- Pro Builders’ Shootout
- Midnight Drags
- Drag Racing Challenge
- Real Street Eliminator
- Performance Marketplace
- Giveaways and Activities From the Main Stage
- CAR CRAFT Editors and Photographers On-Site, Generating More Editorial Content Than Ever, While Searching for Rides Worthy of "Editor's Choice" Awards!
- Show-`N’-Shine Competition–Outstanding Rides in 50+ Classes, Professionally Judged and Awarded
- Meet the Staff of Car Craft Magazine
- Burnout Competition
- Kids Zone
- …and much more!
About CAR CRAFT
CAR CRAFT, a brand of TEN: The Enthusiast Network, is devoted to street machines, wrenching, and drag racing. It was first established in 1953 to help car guys from the novice to expert build and maintain their American rear-wheel-drive cars. The motto of the brand is “Loud, Fast, Real,” which emphasizes its more budget-oriented approach to automobile building.
About TEN: The Enthusiast Network
TEN: The Enthusiast Network is the world’s premier transmedia network of enthusiast brands, such as MOTOR TREND, AUTOMOBILE, HOT ROD, SURFER, TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING, and GRINDTV. With more than 60 websites, 50 publications, 50 annual events, the Motor Trend OnDemand subscription video-on-demand service, as well as the world’s largest automotive and action/adventure sports media platforms, TEN inspires enthusiasts to pursue their passions. For more information, visit enthusiastnetwork.com.


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Liverpool bus fares are now even more expensive
“Should change your name to rip off Arriva”
Arriva North West Buses announced a ticket price rise for their Merseyside services on Saturday, tweeting out an updated price list.
From yesterday, adult ‘flat fare’ tickets (single trips) now cost £2.30, up 10p from their previous cost of £2.20. Arriva adult tickets are now 30p more expensive than the equivalent Stagecoach fare.
Although student tickets weren’t mentioned in the price update, an Arriva North West customer service twitter account confirmed to The Tab that student prices would not be rising, and remain at £1.80 for a ‘flat flare’ ticket.
Other ticket prices to go up include the Young Person ticket , which will now cost £1.20. A Southport zone weekly ticket will be £16 (a 50p rise). No changes have been announced for the Liverpool Plus and Wirral Day tickets, the Arriva My Ticket or the Merseyside Weekly Ticket. Scousers were critical of the changes, with Eli Parry commenting on the Arriva facebook announcement, saying “For such a consistently inconsistent service, you really do like upping your prices.”
Danny O’Brien commented: “Should change ya name to rip off Arriva. Are the owners tories?”


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Search results for: All Measure Results content
How effective are Twitter campaigns? New Marketing Mix Modeling studies covering two years of Twitter activity for four clients in three markets show Twitter marketing campaigns deliver a higher ROI.
Discover how to create a video with thumb-stopping power on Twitter that takes advantage of the unique strengths and effectiveness of Twitter Video.
Twitter is committed to enhancing its measurement solutions, an area in which our MoPub team has already built a strong foundation.
The quickly changing video landscape offers opportunities (and challenges). New research shows how Twitter’s new video ads improve key brand metrics
Learn how technology brands can connect to cultural experiences in a device-driven world with leaders from Intel, CNET, Twitter, and Muzik.
How does online advertising affect offline sales? New research conducted by Nielsen and Foursquare shows that Twitter drives in-store foot traffic and higher customer spending for telco brands.


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The National Retail Federation’s NRF ninth annual Organized Retail Crime (ORC) survey, found recently that 93.5 percent of retailers have been a victim of organized retail crime in the past year, down slightly from 96 percent. Still, eight in ten surveyed believe that ORC activity in the U.S. has increased over the past three years.
Another area of concern is store credit merchandise/gift card fraud. Nearly 78 percent of survey respondents said they have experienced boosters who return stolen merchandise without a receipt, and receive store credit via a gift card. These criminals then sell the merchandise credit for cash to secondary markets that include kiosks, pawn shops and check cashing stores. While defrauding processes are being put in place, the NRF says retailers continue to lose millions of dollars to this scheme.
Another distressing trend in organized crime activity is the propensity for thieves to resort to violence to avoid being apprehended, putting store personnel, law enforcement and customers at risk. According to the survey, two in ten apprehensions lead to some level of violence, up from 15.2 percent last year and 13 percent in 2011. On the bright side, awareness among law enforcement officials is at an all-time high. Nearly half (48.1 percent) of retailers said they believe law enforcement understands the complexity and severity of ORC, up from 40 percent last year and the highest percent reported in the five years of asking this question.
Nearly six in ten believe top management at their organization understands the severity of ORC. Still, more needs to be done at the federal level. NRF said it strongly believes that ORC must be addressed through federal legislation, by amending the Federal Criminal Code to effectively address the issue, and ORC must be defined as a federal crime with appropriate sentencing guidelines.


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DIY retailer Homebase has been named the UK's worst online shopping website, alongside a plethora of other familiar names in a survey conducted by independent consumer body Which?.
Homebase received a rating of 55 per cent as part of a survey with over 10,000 consumers evaluating their experiences online. Customers said they found the site difficult to navigate, and was not always kept up to date with stock information.
Others at the bottom of the list included Sports Direct, Dorothy Perkins, B&Q, WH Smith and JD Sports.
Meanwhile specialist retailers performed the best, with skincare brand Liz Earle taking the top spot with a rating of 94 per cent. Others included music equipment store Richer Sounds, and clothing brands Rohan and Seasalt.
"The online shops with the happiest customers tend to be the ones that offer a personal service, quality items and deliver quickly and conveniently," said Which? Magazine editor Harry Rose.
"Where the big players are lacking, either with poor service or confusing websites, smaller more specialised online retailers have seized the opportunity to make their mark and give shoppers exactly what they want."
Creditors approved plans to close 42 Homebase stores across the UK in August as part of a company voluntary arrangement, in addition to granting rent cuts on several others.
The list included several London stores in Merton, New Southgate and Wimbledon. The firm was acquired by Hilco Capital in May.
A Homebase spokesperson said: "Customer feedback is really important to us, and we are working hard to make changes online to provide great service when customers shop with us."


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Two U.S. tech groups backed TikTok on Monday in the social media platform’s lawsuit seeking to stop Montana from enforcing a statewide ban on the video-sharing app before the law takes effect on Jan. 1.
In a joint court filing, NetChoice, a national trade association that includes major tech platforms, and Chamber of Progress, a tech-industry coalition, said the state’s “effort to cut Montanans off from the global network of TikTok users ignores and undermines the structure, design, and purpose of the internet.”
TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, filed a lawsuit in May in response to the state ban, claiming the law violates the free speech rights of the company and its users.
The company requested a preliminary injunction, and a hearing is set for Oct. 12.
The social media app used by more than 150 million Americans has faced bipartisan calls for a nationwide ban from lawmakers across the country over concerns about the Chinese government’s access to user data since the app is owned by a Chinese company.
TikTok has denied those accusations and said that it “has not shared, and would not share, U.S. user data with the Chinese government, and has taken substantial measures to protect the privacy and security of TikTok users.”
If the ban takes effect, the tech groups argue, it will “usher in a balkanized internet where information available to users becomes regionally divided based on local politicians’ whims or preferences,” adding that “the internet, as a whole, will become fragmented and its value to humanity diminished.”
Montana is the first state in the U.S. to ban the app, and its law could impose fines of $10,000 for each violation by TikTok though individual users would not be penalized.
TikTok estimates 380,000 people in Montana use the app – more than a third of the state’s 1.1 million residents.
Reuters contributed to this report.


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Look Out Allen’s – There’s a Booze That’s Wants That #1 Spot
For decades, Allen's Coffee Brandy has been Maine's number one drink of choice. But there's a booze that is gunning for Maine's most popular drink...
Did you know that Mainers drink so much Allen's, the coffee-flavored liquor, that we basically make up all of Allen’s sales nationwide. We consume so much of the stuff that on Allen's website they claim:
...it is an almost cultural rite of passage – a beverage shared by generations of Mainers.
But...there's a new favorite in town...
According to the Press Herald:
Allen’s sold $10.1 million worth of coffee brandy in Maine last year, roughly 6 percent of total hard alcohol sales statewide. Fireball was the second-highest-selling spirit, with about $8.4 million in sales. Tito’s, with $6.5 million, came in third.
That's pretty close! And it's funny...I also have THIS in my freezer!
What's your drink of choice? Are you keeping Allen's in business, or getting one of these others to take that top spot?


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The latest issue of Financial Standard now available as an e-newspaper
Impact investing set to skyrocket: ResearchBY ALLY SELBY | TUESDAY, 2 JUN 2020 11:35AM
Australia's appetite for impact investing is set to skyrocket over the coming years, with new research predicting the market will reach $100 billion by 2025.Read more: Benchmarking Impact, Research, AMP, RIAA, Deakin University Business School, Emily Woodland, Fabienne Michaux, Investment Association Australasia, Simon O'Connor
VanEck has expanded its range of ETFs, announcing two new offerings to join its new Global Clean Energy ETF.
The financial services software company has announced its plans to launch a technological solution to meet the Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO), commencing 5 October 2021.
Capgemini has named a new managing director for Australia and New Zealand, following the recent promotion of Olaf Pietschner.
Victorian-based Ahmed Saad appeared in court after being charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception for his role in an illegal retail superannuation scheme.
|Brought to you by|
|Keep up to date, don't be the last to know! Get the Financial Standard Daily Newsletter.|


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- China Huarong Asset Management (2799.HK) plans to launch an IPO in mainland China, according to Sina.
- The company has declined to reveal pricing details.
Why It Matters:
- The Chinese government established China Huarong Asset Management in 1999 as one of four “bad banks” to deal with the non-performing loan issues of state-owned commercial banks. The company launched an IPO in Hong Kong in 2015 and raised RMB 17 billion.
- The company is expanding its business very quickly and is in need of new capital. The dual IPO would make the company the first troubled asset manger in the mainland stock market. Although the company has refused to reveal pricing details, the market expects it to raise at least RMB 19 billion.
- The slowing Chinese economy and the growth of non-performing loans is a pending disaster for the banking sector. However, it provides a huge opportunity for Huarong to profit from deals on deteriorating assets.


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A few months ago, LinkedIn announced the Best LinkedIn Company Pages of 2012. Since then, LinkedIn has worked into bringing together the top tips everyone should use to improve their page.
The following slideshow give you the top 10 tips you should start implementing now:
LinkedIn has announced that it's acquiring Glint, a leading employee engagement company.
LinkedIn announced this week that it's making changes to Sponsored Content in a bid to help advertisers generate higher-quality clicks …
LinkedIn announced last week that its new Groups experience is finally here to help members build their professional communities.


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In a bid to improve accessibility to its wide range of merchandise, Harley-Davidson India announced its exclusive partnership with online retail major, Myntra. The online store, which now only operates as a mobile app, will stock casual wear, sportswear, denims and other accessories. This association with Myntra gives Harley-Davidson reach across 12,000 pin codes in India.
Speaking about the association with Myntra, Rajiv Vohra, director, sales and dealer development at Harley-Davidson India said, “We are extremely pleased to enter into this alliance with Myntra, helping us to become more accessible to customers across the country. Owning Harley-Davidson merchandise is a great way for customers to free their inner rebel, and we are glad to offer them this opportunity.”
Updated Date: Jun 03, 2015 20:00:25 IST


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Formerly one of the many great-looking games due for autumn 2011, Obsidian Entertainment’s Dungeon Siege III is now a winter game. Square Enix “updates” us on the release of Dungeon Siege III today, warning the game has slipped from May 31 to June 21.
Why the push?
Mike Fischer, president and CEO of Square Enix says, “Although the final polish phase has demanded a bit more time than originally planned, we want to assure fans and followers that the additional effort will allow us to deliver an action-RPG worthy of its rich heritage.”
Dungeon Siege III comes to the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC in North America on June 21. Pencil it into your calendar.


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Health concerns surrounding vaping
Vaping has become a popular pastime across the globe, with many consumers switching from traditional smoking to e-cigarettes, but there are concerns about potential health implications with vaping becoming more widespread. Attention is being paid to the fact that vape juices might contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and acrolein. According to the Australian government, the regulation of nicotine-containing vaping products is needed to protect public health.
Current legal framework in Australia
In Australia, the law forbids the sale of vaporizers and e-cigarettes that have nicotine in them, making it illegal for vape stores to sell e-cigarettes containing nicotine. The Australian government fears that nicotine can be dangerous and highly addictive, which could lead to smoking in the future.
Lack of enforcement
Despite the strict vaping laws in Australia, it is still common to find people using e-cigarettes in public areas, including indoors, with little to no enforcement of the current laws. Due to a lack of understanding among law enforcement officials, it is common for retail stores to illegally sell vaping products containing nicotine. The lack of enforcement of current vaping laws in Australia is a point of concern for many.
Australian Health Department’s proposed schedule change
The Australian Health Department has proposed significant changes to the current vaping laws to enable the sale of highly regulated and standardized tobacco-vaping products containing nicotine, which could help reduce smoking. The proposed changes seek to restrict the sale of nicotine-containing vaping products to people over 18 years old and limit the flavors used in the products.
The Impact of the proposed changes
The new regulations could impact the local vape industry greatly if they come into fruition. They are likely to face significant opposition from some members of the public and many retailers, as they have been built on the idea that e-cigarettes could encourage smoking. If the regulations succeed, they will open up the industry, and vape stores will enjoy a new and more significant market. There is hope that a new vaping industry could drive innovation and improve consumer standards.
It is no secret that the current vaping laws in Australia are strict, but despite the harsh stance from lawmakers, more consumers are turning to e-cigarettes. As the debate surrounding vaping lingers, it is clear that stricter regulations are needed to create safer products and reduce the smoking rates in Australia. If the new vaping regulations proposed by the Australian Health Department come to fruition, consumers can expect to enjoy standardized products that might be more regulated but less hazardous. If you’re eager to learn more about the topic, we’ve got just the thing for you. iget goats, check out the external resource filled with additional information and insights.
Dive deeper into the subject by visiting the related posts. Explore and learn:


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Take-Two subsidiary 2K Games announced that Illusion Softworks, the developer of 2002's mobster-driven action title Mafia
, is currently working on a sequel for the PC, as well as for unspecified next-generation console platforms.
The game, which will be published by 2K Games, will again be set within the gangster genre of the 1940’s-early 1950’s, and will feature gameplay “packed with both behind-the-wheel and on-foot action...fusing high octane gunplay with white knuckle driving and an engaging narrative,” according to the publisher.
While the original Mafia
was critically praised by the gaming media when it was originally released, the game's arrival on both the Xbox and PlayStation 2 nearly two years later was not met with a similarly favorable response. However, 2K officials call this upcoming title “the sequel fans have been clamoring for.”
“As the original Mafia
was a big success, we are excited to leverage the power of next generation console technology to create an all-new experience, while embracing the elements that resonated with the previous game’s fans,” said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. “The ‘wow’ factor of Mafia 2
is definitely the benchmark-setting visual quality and action that you expect to see only in Hollywood movies.”


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SPMK - What does SPMK stand for? The Free Dictionary
References in periodicals archive
This year's event was sponsored by London-based IT company SPMK
, which bid for the event in an online auction.
London-based IT company SPMK has agreed to back this year's event, which has been held near a Mid Wales town for the past 21 years.
SPMK bought the right to name the event, distribute advertising and to use it for hospitality for pounds 5,500.


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Internet use in Greece has developed rapidly in recent years due to the attractive offers of the telecommunications companies. According to a recent study by the Hellenic National Centre for Social Research (2016), nearly 60 percent of the population aged 15 and over report themselves as Internet users. More than three quarters of non-users state that the main reasons for not using it are lack of technical knowledge and lack of interest. Almost all Internet users connect from home, while more than two thirds of the employed users connect to the Internet at work and two thirds of students use it at school. Half of the users report using the Internet at other locations as well, while only one third of them uses portable devices. Computers are the most widely used devices to connect to the Internet, while cell phones are used by two thirds of the users. Tablets and e-readers are less popular as they are used by less than half of the user population. The clear majority of Greek users (84.6 percent) consider the Internet as an important or very important source of information (68.7 percent turn to the Internet for news consumption every day).
As noted earlier, the advertising expenditure declined by about 65 percent over the 2007/2016 period. Some media analysts remain pessimistic on the prospects of the advertising market due to the ongoing crisis. Few are more optimistic. According to the Greek PR company, Gravity The Newtons, the Greek media advertising expenditure between January-August 2016 was €340 million (€284 million after taxes). Thus, the advertising spending in Greece has presented a growth of 12 percent compared to the same period in 2015. Television has remained the dominant advertising vehicle absorbing about 51 percent of the ad-spending followed by digital media (23 percent) (Tsoukalas 2016).
Internet advertising revenues have increased continuously from 2010 to 2013. Nevertheless, in the last two years it fell from about €150 million in 2014 to €143 million by the end of 2015 (IAB, 2016). This growth in online advertising is in line with international trends, and can be attributed to the emergence of “display and video” advertising models - the images or videos displayed on websites which have grown by 50 percent since 2013. (IAB, 2016)
Other types of online advertising such as the “search advertising” model, those that appear in search engines, and the “classified/directory” model, short texts derived from traditional press-classified advertisements, are becoming less prominent. Newsletter and email marketing models are still popular, holding a global share of 45 percent in 2015.
As in other countries, search engines, social media and websites are the main gateways Greeks use to access content. According to Alexa.com, Google.gr comes first in the search engines followed by in.gr. Moreover, one out of three Greek Internet users have an account on social media sites. According to the Public Issue report of October 2016, 32 percent of the Greek population over 18 years (i.e. 2.851,000 individuals) have an account on social media, which are trusted as much as 35 percent. Regarding the younger generation of 18-34 years old, 81 percent have an account on social media.
Facebook is the most used social network site in Greece, 30 percent of the Greek population (i.e., 2.673,000 individuals) of Greek web users have a Facebook account. Twitter is the second most popular social network, and it accounts 713,000 users. Instagram is the third popular social network, with 465,000 users followed by Linkedin’s 365,000 users, Google+’s 267,000 users, Pinterest’s 178,000 users, and Foursquare’s 89,000 users (Public Issue, 2016).
Moreover, according to the Hellenic National Centre for Social Research, more than two thirds of Greeks rely on interpersonal sources for information, while less than half of the respondents consider traditional media sources (television, radio and newspapers) as important or very important for acquiring information. The Internet also seems to be the most important source of entertainment for most of the respondents, however, television and radio are also considered important or very important.


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E6 and X7 smartphones: all about Anna - the Symbian OS update...
Nokia has announced two new Symbian smartphones - including a touchscreen Qwerty hybrid update to its business-focused Eseries handsets.
The Nokia E6 retains the earlier, BlackBerry-style form factor of the E71 and E72 but has both a physical Qwerty and capacitive touchscreen on the front of the handset.
The second device, the Nokia X7, is a high-end, touchscreen-only consumer device aimed at the gaming and entertainment market.
Both handsets will be available in the second quarter of this year and will run the latest iteration of the Symbian OS - an update Nokia has called Anna.
The Symbian refresh brings new icons to the OS, along with enterprise-grade security and messaging enhancements, a faster browser and easier text input, including the option of a portrait virtual keyboard on touchscreen handsets.
Ovi Maps has also had a refresh via Anna, to make it easier to use and search for locations.
Existing Symbian handsets - including the C6, C7, N8 and E7 - will be able to get the Anna update as an over-the-air download, said Nokia, adding that Anna is "the first in a series of updates" coming to Symbian - also likely to be given female names.
The E6 and the X7 are launching in Q2 this year but Nokia could not confirm whether the UK would be in the first wave of countries to get the E6. The last business-focused handset Nokia launched - the E7 - came to the UK later than other launch markets.
The announcement of new Symbian phones comes after Nokia jumped into bed with Microsoft earlier this year, announcing a strategic alliance based on using Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 OS. At the time, Nokia said it remains committed to Symbian as it switches to WP7 as its primary smartphone OS.
Asked why a business should choose to deploy the Nokia E6 smartphone to its workforce, rather than opting for a WP7 handset, a Nokia spokesman said the E6 offers a better experience of Microsoft's messaging software than Microsoft's own mobile OS.
"Nokia E6 overall is a very, very good smartphone," he said, noting that the Microsoft Communicator mobile app is only available on Nokia smartphones.
"[The E6] offers today the best Microsoft messaging experience. So if a company runs Microsoft infrastructure, Nokia E6 is the best product choice for them - providing them, in a very nice form factor, the capability to do email, instant messaging and the ability to [mobilise] the [data] built on the Microsoft infrastructure," he said.
A significant part of the software, including the Microsoft Communicator mobile product, is actually software developed by Microsoft, supported by Microsoft and certified by Microsoft for the Nokia E6, the spokesman added.
Nokia has not announced when its first WP7 handset will launch but analysts have speculated it may not arrive until 2012. Meanwhile Nokia estimates it will sell 150 million Symbian handsets in the coming years as it moves over to WP7.
Nokia also announced that its Ovi app store now has more than 40,000 apps and that downloads from the store have hit five million per day.


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Items tagged "STELAR"
FCC’s Video Device Rulemaking Is Excellent News For Consumers – But We’re Not Home Just YetFebruary 23, 2016 FCC , Set-Top Boxes , STELAR , Unlock the Box , Video Marketplace
It’s no small secret that America loves a saga. And in the battle for real consumer video choice, we’re just getting started. Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a huge step towards loosening cable’s chokehold on consumers in the name of more choices and more innovation. It voted 3-2 in favor of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (an “NPRM,” to those in The Biz) for new digital cable box standards that would allow customers to access their programming subscriptions through devices other than those they currently lease directly from their cable company.Read More


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News.com.au: BILLS sent by snail mail can now be paid faster by mobile phone than those sent by email. Sound ridiculous? That’s because it is. Here’s how it works. AUSTRALIA’S digital payments landscape is headed for imminent disruption and consumers
Canstar: Facebook could be adding peer-to-peer (P2P) payments to its Messenger service in Australia as early as next year, but one fintech representative says it will need to work with the banks to make it in the Australian market. It
Fintech Business: In July 2016, when much of the world was gearing up for the Olympic Games, two small banks were busy completing a transaction that changed the world of finance. Canadian bank ATP Financial sent an international money transfer
Smart Company: Brisbane-based mobile payments startup Sniip has joined forces with online accounting software provider Xero to deliver real-time billing to small and medium-sized businesses, after raising $3 million in funding in late 2016. The partnership with Xero adds to
Canstar Australia: A mobile-based payment app using blockchain technology is helping Australian businesses and customers move away from paper billing, challenging BPAY, with plans to launch an innovative retail payments solution soon. Aussie start-up Sniip has been operating mainly out
Campaign Brief and B&T: Queensland rugby league great Darren Lockyer was great at dodging opponents on his way to Grand Final, State of Origin and Test Series wins, but there's one thing even his fancy footwork couldn't avoid: paying bills.
Mortgage Business: Leaders of several fintech groups have said the “significant friction” that exists within the traditional banking and finance system has made it “ripe for disruption” from technological companies. Speaking at the third annual Fintech Summit held in Sydney
Financial Review: A Brisbane technology start-up backed by former Virgin Australia chief executive Brett Godfrey, the co-founders of Wotif.com and former Fortescue Metals deputy chief executive Russell Scrimshaw is taking on the big four banks and their BPAY technology in a bid to


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Sell a cookie, go to jail.
As preposterous as it may sound, in Wisconsin you can go to jail and face hefty fines for selling homemade baked goods.
Wisconsin is one of only two states to ban entrepreneurs from selling cookies, muffins and breads simply because they are made in a home kitchen.
"That means that even if you sell one cookie at a farmers market, to your neighbor, somewhere in your community, you can go to jail for up to six months or even be fined up to $1,000. That's not only unfair, it's unconstitutional," attorney Erica Smith told Wisconsin Watchdog Wednesday on the Vicki McKenna Show, on NewsTalk 1310 WIBA.
Smith is with the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm that "fights against unreasonable government restrictions on individuals' economic liberty," according to the Virginia organization's website.
The attorney represents three Wisconsin farmers who on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. The complaint seeks to strike down the home-baked goods ban and allow home bakers to sell directly to their friends, neighbors and other consumers.
A bipartisan bill languishing in the Legislature would do just that, if it would ever be allowed to come up for a vote.
The legislation would allow up to $7,500 in annual homemade baked goods sales. It was first introduced more than two years ago, passing in the Senate before stalling in the Assembly.
Smith said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has refused to allow the "cookie bill" to hit the House floor.
"That could very well be because he owns his own commercial food business," the attorney said.
Vos owns Rojos Popcorn, a popcorn packaging company in Burlington.
A spokeswoman for Vos did not respond to an email seeking comment.
The commercial food industry in Wisconsin asserts lifting the ban could hurt small, licensed businesses, giving home-based entrepreneurs an unfair advantage.
"If several people in a certain market or particular community are doing that, they're eating away at a local baker that's been there for 100 years and taking away his livelihood. How is that fair?" Dave Schmidt, executive director of the Wisconsin Bakers Association told Wisconsin Public Radio.
But home bakers like Lisa Kivirist, a Green County farmer, say they are just trying to provide a little extra income for their families.
"The state's home-baked-good ban hurts farmers, homemakers and others who just want to help support their family by selling simple goods from their home oven," said Kivirist, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. "Not to mention that the ban prevents customers from buying the fresh and local foods of their choice."
Kivirist joined her fellow plaintiffs and others at a press event at the Capitol on Wednesday to talk about the homemade baked goods ban.
Current law requires the use of commercial kitchens for those in the baking business, big or small. Outfitting a commercial kitchen can run as high as $80,000, according to the lawsuit. Renting space can top $1,000 a month, and commercial kitchens are hard to come by in rural Wisconsin.
There are multiple exemptions in the current law, allowing small producers of honey, popcorn, jelly, syrup, and more to sell homemade goods. Nonprofit groups such as churches and other charities may sell homemade goods up to 12 times a year. But individuals hawking the same baked goods could go to jail.
Smith said she knows of no one who has been sentenced to jail time or fined for violating the ban, but some sellers have been told to stop.
"One of our clients was successfully selling at farmers markets and she was selling out her goods. When she found out about this law, she had no choice but to stop. She couldn't risk these fines or possibly going to jail," Smith said.


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OnePlus 3 specs have almost been confirmed thanks to the certifications in China as well as US. However, up till now, we only saw a 4GB RAM version of the phone. Now, the 6GB OnePlus 3 version has finally made it to the TENAA certification website, which confirms the existence of this large RAM model. We had exclusively reported a while back that the phone will come in two variants, 4GB RAM + 32GB and 6GB RAM + 64GB, so this news shouldn’t come as a surprise.
As for the overall design, it seems to be exactly like the ones we have seen before. So, a metal body with HTC like back and 2.5D glass up front and a physical home button embedded fingerprint sensor that’s inspired from the Meizu Blue Charm series. Overall, the OnePlus 3 is a pretty decent looking device and we hope that it looks even better in different color options like gold and black.
Coming to the specs, TENAA confirms that the phone will come with Snapdragon 820 clocked at 2.15GHz with 4GB / 6GB RAM options and 64GB of internal storage. Like the previous generation model, the OnePlus 3 will come with a 5.5-inch 1080p display. At the back, there will be a 16MP camera while up front, a 5MP shooter. Unfortunately, for some reason, the company decided to drop the Laser Focus from the new generation model. It comes with a 3000mAh battery and runs on Android 6.0.1.
Pricing is expected to be cheap. Our sources said that the Oneplus 3 4GB RAM model should start at 1999 Yuan ($308). This would be quite competitive, taking on both the Xiaomi Mi 5 and the ZUK Z2 model which was announced today. However, the Z2 is actually cheaper, costing just 1799 Yuan ($273) for the 4GB RAM version, which is impressive.
We will have to wait and see how aggressively OnePlus prices its new flagship. The OnePlus 3 announcement should be sometime mid-June according to earlier rumors, but availability should only be later in June since the pre-release peer review program kicks off from June 13 and continues till 20th.


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In late 2013, Whole Foods announced that it was dropping Chobani yogurt, the number one brand of Greek yogurt. “The company plans to make room for non-genetically-modified food and organic brands instead.”
It turns out that Whole Foods replaced Chobani with its house brand “Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Plain Greek Yogurt,” which contains six times as much sugar as its label claims.
A class action lawsuit has been filed — by the same attorneys who sued Subway for having a less than 12 inch “footlong” — on behalf of defrauded consumers.
The inaccurate label gave Whole Foods, which specializes in natural and organic food, a competitive advantage and justified the higher prices the specialty market charges consumers, the suit alleges.


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|Bid||12.12 x 40700|
|Ask||12.34 x 800|
|Day's Range||12.42 - 13.00|
|52 Week Range||11.12 - 19.48|
|Beta (3Y Monthly)||-1.72|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||N/A|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||0.72 (5.63%)|
|1y Target Est||N/A|
TiVo Corporation announced today that it plans to release its 2018 third quarter results on November 7, 2018.
TiVo Corporation (TIVO), a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today introduced TiVo BOLT OTA™ for antenna, a premium, 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) capable set-top box designed to work with HD antenna, equipped with an on-screen user experience that looks and feels like a high-end cable box. TiVo BOLT OTA is an all-in-one home entertainment product that seamlessly combines the features of TiVo’s most powerful DVR with the most popular online streaming services. BOLT OTA works with almost any HD antenna and television, enabling consumers to freely watch or record local TV programming, national news, sports and entertainment in HD using an antenna (sold separately), but without the cost of renting equipment from a pay-TV provider.
TiVo Corporation (TIVO), a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today announced that “Optiva Media” has signed a multi-year license for TiVo to provide entertainment metadata including TV schedules to enhance the content discovery experience of its customers. Optiva Media has recognized TiVo’s metadata solutions, based on TiVo’s powerful technology platform, as the best choice for their customers.
TiVo will Provide Com Hem Subscribers with Personalized Search and Recommendations, Making it Easy to Find the Entertainment Content They Love
TiVo Corporation (TIVO), a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today announced that it has added German, Italian and Portuguese language support to TiVo Conversation Services, a module within the TiVo Personalised Content Discovery platform, which provides natural-language understanding technology, highly-relevant results and a personalised entertainment experience. This announcement means that TiVo Conversation is now available in English (including US and UK variants), German, Italian and Portuguese. “TiVo has a proven track record with its conversation services capabilities in Europe and is committed to providing personalised, engaging content experiences,” said Walt Horstman, SVP of advanced media and advertising, TiVo.
Peer-reviewed Technical Paper Will Show Attendees How Structured Data Drives Search, Recommendations and Discovery
TiVo Corporation (TIVO), a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today announced that “Altice Portugal” has renewed its IP license with TiVo. Altice in Portugal is just the latest service provider to renew its license as TiVo continues to build momentum in Europe for its IP portfolio – ensuring European operators can continue to deploy advanced products that use patented TiVo innovations.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 8, 2018 / TiVo Corp. (NASDAQ: TIVO ) will be discussing their earnings results in their Q2 Earnings Call to be held on August 8, 2018 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. To listen ...
Atlantic Broadband, the nation’s 9th largest cable operator, today announced that it has launched the new TiVo Experience 4 combined with IP-based Video On Demand (VOD). Within TiVo Experience 4, the on-screen user interface has been completely redesigned with a modern, sleek, horizontal navigation system that is highly appealing.
NEW YORK, July 27, 2018-- In new independent research reports released early this morning, Fundamental Markets released its latest key findings for all current investors, traders, and shareholders of Tailored ...
WallStEquities.com has initiated research reports on the following Services stocks: Baozun Inc. (NASDAQ: BZUN), EVINE Live Inc. (NASDAQ: EVLV), MercadoLibre Inc. (NASDAQ: MELI), and TiVo Corp. (NASDAQ: TIVO). All you have to do is sign up today for this free limited time offer by clicking the link below.
TiVo Corporation announced today that it plans to release its 2018 second quarter results on August 8, 2018.
TiVo Corporation (TIVO) announced today that Raghu Rau, a member of TiVo’s Board of Directors, has been named interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The appointment follows Enrique Rodriguez’s personal decision to resign from his role as TiVo’s President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors to assume a position as Chief Technology Officer at Liberty Global in Europe, one of TiVo’s long-time global customers.
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2018 / If you want a free Stock Review on ROKU sign up now at www.wallstequities.com/registration. Under assessment are Roku Inc. (NASDAQ: ROKU), Seven Stars Cloud Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SSC), Shaw Communications Inc. (NYSE: SJR), and TiVo Corp. (NASDAQ: TIVO).
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 18, 2018 / If you want access to our free research report on TiVo Corp. (NASDAQ: TIVO), all you need to do is sign up now by clicking the following link www.active-investors.com/registration-sg/?symbol=TIVO as the Company's latest news hit the wire. On May 16, 2018, the Company disclosed that it has signed a multi-year intellectual property (IP) license agreement with Fnac Darty Group, for the consumer electronics brands of the latter. Active-Investors.com is currently working on the research report for Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISCA), which also belongs to the Services sector as the Company TiVo.
TiVo Corporation , a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today announced that TiVo has entered into a multi-year license agreement covering the consumer electronics brands of the Fnac Darty Group, the European retailer of entertainment and leisure products, consumer electronics and household appliances.
TiVo Corporation , a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today announced that TiVo has renewed its patent license agreement with leading TV manufacturer VIZIO.
Gender equity is good for business. Recent research by the Association of National Advertisers showed that ads which portray women and girls accurately are more socially acceptable and well-liked by both men and women they surveyed.
TiVo Corporation , a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today announced that the company has entered a multi-year intellectual property license agreement with Telstra, a leading telecommunications and technology company in Australia.
TiVo Corporation announced today that it plans to release its 2018 first quarter results on May 10, 2018.
TiVo Corporation , a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today announced that it has renewed its product and patent portfolio license agreement with Mediacom Communications, a top 10 multichannel video service provider in the U.S.
TiVo Corporation , a global leader in entertainment technology and audience insights, today announced that Starz Entertainment, LLC, a media distribution company that owns several TV networks in the U.S., signed a long-term intellectual property license.


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Home Depot, a leading US retailer and the leader in DIY and home improvement, has taken matters into its own hands in the face of chronic supply chain difficulties worldwide, caused by an increase in goods demand, a misallocation of containers, and a slowing of throughput because of the pandemic. Home Depot has decided therefore to become a charterer.
“We have a ship that’s solely going to be ours and it’s just going to go back and forth with 100% dedicated to Home Depot,” chief operating officer Ted Decker told CNBC. The charter starts from next month.
Home Depot is the third largest US importer by volume of containers, according to data from the Journal of Commerce. Walmart and Target are the two retailers ahead of it.
Not only have retailers had to deal with logistics difficulties, they have also faced skyrocketing freight rates. With some importers concerned that they might miss out on the peak demand in November and December, they have brought forward their orders – which has exacerbated the supply problem of containers and the ships to carry them.
The faster-than-expected bounceback in the US economy has also been a double-edged sword. The National Retail Federation last week said that it anticipated “the fastest growth that we’ve seen in this country since 1984.”
Retail sales were expected to grow between 10.5% and 13.5% to an estimated total of $4.44trn to $4.56trn in 2021, up from $4.02trn in total retail sales in 2020 and $3.76trn in 2019.


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Currently, in Broward County, driving services such as Uber, are banned, but things may soon change as commissioners recently met to speak about the web-based driving services.
All around South Florida, these types of services have become very popular, with an easy-to-use service that allows for an app letting you know the cost of the ride and the ability of being able to pay though the app. Some of the reasons that Uber riders started using the services was that they saw it as a better option than cabs, which were being criticized for lack of cleanliness and the vehicles’ disrepair.
Back in November, Broward County told Uber drivers to cease picking up passengers because of the lack of regulations by the county. At that point, drivers were told that they may be arrested, fined and their cars impounded if they picked up passengers. Though, even with these types of consequences looming, some Uber drivers were still picking passengers up.
Since the initial notice was sent by the county, they have been citing and fining Uber drivers operating in the county and Uber sent the county a proposed interim contract, but the county has not agreed to it.
At this time, Uber performs background checks and provide insurance for their drivers, but the company does not operate with the same kind of government regulations as cabs do. Presently, the county limits the number of taxis allowed, makes sure that the cab companies adhere to insurance requirements and submit to background inspections and vehicle inspections. Uber drivers are working independently and use their personal vehicles, so Broward County Commissioners are now holding a workshop to speak about how they will regulate the ride service to make it fair for everyone and ensure consumer safety.
We at Hochman & Goldin will keep up with the developments of this matter as new technology such as the Uber system and app continues to impact the transportation system in South Florida. If you need information from a Miami Traffic Ticket Lawyer, contact Hochman & Goldin at (305)665-1000 or email firstname.lastname@example.org. At Hochman & Goldin, we can provide you with specialized services from a Miami Expungement Attorney.


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The EURGBP dipped yesterday but the pound is not out of the woods with Brexit at a “critical stage”. The European Central Bank also meets next week to announce their latest decision on interest rates.
More in Forex:
- GBP/USD: Pound Gains Capped Even As Speculative Longs Increase Jan 25, 2021, 13:51 GMT
- AUD/USD – Bullish Flag or Double Top? Jan 25, 2021, 12:07 GMT
- USDZAR: Rand Falls As US Mulls Coronavirus-Related Travel Ban from South Africa Jan 25, 2021, 10:02 GMT


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(RNN) - Sears will be closing eight more stores and 35 Kmart locations by the end of October, the company announced on Friday.
The company said that eligible employees will receive severance and an opportunity to apply for open jobs at other Sears or Kmart stores.
Sears CEO and Chairman Eddie Lampert wrote about the decision on Friday, citing a change in shopping habits.
“Changes in consumer behavior are driving our vision and actions, and we continue to transform our business model so that our physical store footprint and our digital capabilities match the needs and preferences of our members,” he said. “Today, we will initiate the closing of an additional eight Sears and 35 Kmart unprofitable stores as we continue to focus on our best stores and return to profitability.”
He added that the company more than a year ago opened what he called small-format sites in Colorado and Texas. The opening of smaller stores combined with the closing of larger ones is a trend for the company.
“The smaller store concept allows us to focus on some of our stronger categories, complemented with our Shop Your Way membership program, home services and credit offerings. We expect to introduce additional smaller, specialized concept stores in the upcoming quarters while simultaneously reducing the number and/or the size of larger-format, less competitive stores,” Lampert said.
He said the company is on track to achieve a goal of $1.25 billion in annualized cost savings. “We have fought hard for many years to return unprofitable stores to a competitive position and to preserve jobs and, as a result, we had to absorb corresponding losses in the process. So, it is obvious that we don’t make decisions to close stores lightly,” he said.
Copyright 2017 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.


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The president’s executive order requiring meat packing plants to stay open amidst the current pandemic is unnecessary and dangerous on many levels. Not only does this order greatly increase plant workers’ risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, making their jobs even more hazardous than they already were before the pandemic, but also this order further endangers public health by promoting the spread of the coronavirus for the sake of providing Americans with animal-based protein. There is no time like the present for Americans to switch to eating plant-based protein, and begin enjoying the many varieties of protein from sources that don’t contribute to animal suffering, and don’t require people to work in dangerous conditions in slaughterhouses and meat packing plants.
Working in a meat packing facility was the most dangerous job in America before the current pandemic; the novel coronavirus adds to the danger. The working conditions in meat packing plants encourage the spread of viruses as workers are placed very close together and work with hazardous materials (including hazardous chemicals, biological agents, and heavy machinery) while under high levels of stress. Over 20 meat packing plants have been shut down during this pandemic due to outbreaks of COVID-19, and at this writing nearly 600 workers in a single plant (Smithfield pork processing in South Dakota) have contracted the virus. It is difficult to imagine that companies will provide adequate protection for workers from the virus when they have failed many times over to provide basic protections from their usual work hazards. Furthermore, meat packing plants are primarily staffed by people of color and undocumented individuals, which makes it difficult for them to advocate for workers’ rights and puts their health at even greater risk. Communities of color have been shown to have higher rates of chronic health conditions because of lack of access to healthy living conditions and health care, both exacerbating COVID-19.
In addition to endangering the lives of thousands of people who work at meat packing plants, forcing meat packing plants to remain open puts us all at greater risk as this will undermine social distancing and other public health measures that are in place to slow the spread of the virus. It is not possible for workers to practice social distancing in meat packing plants without significantly decreasing their usual productivity; meanwhile workers who contract the virus will likely spread it to their families and communities, increasing risk of infection for many others. Furthermore, the meat industry in this country is a public health concern in and of itself as it encourages the spread of zoonotic diseases and breeds antibiotic resistant bacteria.
The executive order states that “it is important that processors of beef, pork, and poultry… in the food supply chain continue operating… to ensure a continued supply of protein for Americans.” While it is necessary for Americans to have a continued supply of protein, meat is not an essential part of that equation. There are countless non-meat protein sources in the food chain that are available to Americans, including all varieties of beans, nuts, seeds, grains, and vegetables. In addition to the proteins that occur naturally in a wide variety of plant-based foods, there is also an abundance of plant-based protein products available on the market, including faux meats (from companies like Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat, and Gardein), soy products (such as tofu, tempeh, and soy curls), seitan (wheat-based) and texturized vegetable protein.
The most impactful action you can take to contest this executive order is to follow a plant-based diet and boycott the harmful meat industry. You may also choose to write a message to the white house voicing your concern. It is not worth risking so many lives just so that Americans can have the non-essential and problematic luxury of meat on their plates.
For recipes, dining guides, and more resources on plant-based eating, visit our website at apnm.org/plantbased


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In the age of social responsibility, startup founders are more than innovative – they’re socially conscious and committed to the world around them. Now more than ever, millennial entrepreneurs are aware of the impact their brands have on the world, and they embrace the double bottom line approach. Doing good isn’t just a part of the company puzzle, it’s the very foundation.
Away is an innovative travel brand bringing trendy, high-quality luggage to the mass market. Launched in February 2016, Away has already sold more than 100,000 suitcases and is projecting more than $50 million in revenue in 2017.
But for the Away team, it’s always been about more than travel. For founders Steph Korey and Jen Rubio, two Forbes and Inc. 30 under 30 alums, creating a company that made an impact on the world has been the foundation of their work at Away.
Proving the importance of impact, the company’s first hire was a social impact strategist who conducted a worldwide search reviewing thousands of nonprofits and causes across the globe. After an extensive search, the Away team found Peace Direct, an organization building peace in communities afflicted by conflict across the globe.
According to Rubio, “Away has a much broader mission to make the world more transparent, to share perspectives and stories from people of different cultures, all so we can have a better understanding of the world.”
With the synergy between the missions of Away and Peace Direct, it was a perfect fit for a long-term partnership – a partnership that was established before a single suitcase was sold.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in forbes By Tori Utley


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Annual sale includes crafts, food and gently used books
The annual Desmond-Fish Library Holiday Boutique, which opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, offers shoppers a chance to support local artisans, purchase beautifully crafted gifts and contribute to the library’s community programming. Located in the lower-level program room, the boutique will continue on Sunday, Nov. 29, from 1 to 5 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday (Dec. 3 to 6, Dec. 10 to 13) during library hours.
More than 75 artisans will be represented this year, including seven jewelers. Among the crafts will be shaker boxes by Rich Franco, handmade dolls by Jennifer Hingle, quilts from Bea Demers and Laura Karp, handknits by Marion Leyds, ceramics by Marilyn Price and herbal soaps by Vicki Harkness. New crafts this year include paper quilled designs by Beth Ann Rheem and Christmas ornaments by Joanne Zambito. Gently used books at bargain prices will also be part of the sale.
There will also be delicious edibles, including chocolate bourbon balls by Lois Powers, cookies by Karen Thompson, gingerbread by Lucille Merry and maple fudge by Polly Townsend.
A percentage of all sales will benefit the Library’s programming. The Desmond-Fish Library is located at 472 Route 403 in Garrison. The library’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call 845-424-3020 or visit desmondfishlibrary.org.


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Amazon has won approval from the US Federal Communications Commission to release its forthcoming Kindle Fire HD 4G tablet, a company spokesperson confirmed this week. The 8.9in slate is now set to remain true to its original US shipping date of 20 November, with the device’s UK release timeframe yet to be confirmed.
Although the online retailer first unveiled the tablet last month, it had not been cleared for retail by the FCC at the time of the announcement.
The FCC governs US wireless communication regulations, making it responsible for ensuring that new devices are safe and do not cause signal interference. Though Amazon was expected to easily clear the security approval process for its proposed tablets, it is somewhat unusual that the company jumped the gun without first receiving an all-clear from the regulatory body.
(opens in new tab)Promotional materials on Amazon’s website and in emails sent by the company carried a disclaimer alerting customers that “[t]he 4G device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.”
At the time of the device’s announcement, Forrester Research analyst Charles Golvin told Reuters (opens in new tab) that the possible delay in FCC approval may be related to Amazon’s in-house development of its own 4G modem, as the company does not have a history of producing wireless hardware.
There’s no word yet on what this will mean for the tablet passing similar regulatory approval in Europe, though its success with US authorities suggests the device will be unlikely to face clearance problems on this side of the world.
Amazon is now accepting US pre-orders of the Kindle Fire HD 4G (opens in new tab), with details on a UK release yet to be announced.


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The latest numbers from market research company IDC reveal that worldwide tablet growth is expected to have significantly declined in 2014, with just 7.2% year-over-year growth compared to 52.5% in 2013. A contributing factor will likely be the iPad’s first year of decline as the tablet’s market share continues to fall because of a growing number of cheaper alternatives. Read more
The latest enterprise market share data from Good Technology shows that iOS holds two-thirds of the market, at 67 percent, but has dropped five points to Android – which increased its share to 32 percent. Windows Phone remains flat (and irrelevant) at just 1 percent. (BlackBerry data is not included as the company uses its own servers and activations are invisible to Good Technology.) Read more
Steve Jobs famously declared back in 2010 that Android was a stolen product, and he was willing to “go thermonuclear war” in order to “destroy” it.
“I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple’s $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong,” Jobs said. “I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.”
Back in April, I suggested three reasons it might be time for Apple to settle its Android disputes and move on. The relatively small damages award in the most recent case (and which now looks set to be further reduced) provided a fourth reason not long after I wrote that piece. But I think the case today is even more compelling … Read more
Research firm IDC is out today with new data on the state of the tablet and 2-in-1 market in the first quarter of 2014. As you might expect after Apple’s most recent earnings report, Q1 unit shipments of iPad were down by 3 million from 19.5 million to 16.4 million between 2013 and 2014. For its part, Apple attributes its Q1 2013 iPad sales as inflated due to demand for iPad mini in Q4 2012 being fulfilled in the following quarter when supply was less constrained.
That may be, but the iPad also saw a drop in tablet market share between the first quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014. According to IDC’s data, Apple dropped from 40.2% market share in Q1 2013 to 32.5% market share in Q1 2014 while Samsung saw unit shipments increase as well as marketshare. Despite Samsung’s gains, though, Apple still dominates the tablet market more than any other one company leading Samsung by 10 percentage points in market share. Read more
Apple went over its Q2 2014 earnings today on its quarterly conference call with CEO Tim Cook and incoming CFO Luca Maestri. The company announced that former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts will finally be joining the executive team as SVP of Retail. Cook also addressed the recent debut of Microsoft’s Office productivity suite on the iPad.
But, as with any earnings call, the numbers that define Apple’s success or failure in the market took center stage. Here are some of the big ones you might have missed:
Strategy Analytics reported its tablet figures for 2013 and unsurprisingly, iPad remains in first place with 33.9% marketshare. Marketshare growth has dipped slightly, however, year-on-year as iPad accounted for 35.7% of tablet sales in Q4 2012.
In terms of unit growth, Apple rose 14% compared with the year-ago quarter. The second-place position goes to Samsung, with 17.7% marketshare (although this means annual growth was more than 80%). Apple sold just under double Samsung’s shipments for the period, so even though Apple’s growth has slowed, there is still a significant gap between first and second place.
While Android reaching almost 70 percent of smartphone sales across 12 key markets is the headline, with iOS falling to just under 24 percent, it is Samsung feeling the pressure, says Kantar, reporting sales figures for the final quarter of 2013.
After years of accelerated growth, Samsung is now coming under real pressure in most regions, with European share down by 2.2 percentage points to 40.3% and in China its share ended the year flat at 23.7% […]
Apple has lost share in most countries compared with this time last year, but importantly it has held strong shares in key markets including 43.9% in USA, 29.9% in Great Britain and 19.0% in China … Read more
Data from smartphone market intelligence specialist Counterpoint shows that iPhone market share in China more than doubled between September and October even before launching on the country’s biggest carrier, China Mobile.
Apple’s market share rose from just under 5 percent to 12 percent, taking it from 6th place to 3rd place, behind Samsung and Lenovo … Read more
The headline news in the latest IDC stats might look like bad news for Apple: iOS Q3 market share dropped from 14.4 percent last year to 12.9 percent this year. But it’s a number that is unlikely to lead to too many sleepless nights in Cupertino, for four reasons.
First, Apple isn’t competing with most of the Android market, which spans all price-points, only the top end of it. Samsung has been struggling to make money from its flagship handsets, with most of its profits coming from low-end models, while HTC has been in all kinds of trouble. Looking at Apple’s market share in the smartphone market as a whole is the most academic of exercises.
Second, while market share is down, shipments are up: from 26.9M in Q3 last year to 33.8M in the same quarter this year.
Third, for most of Q3 savvy iPhone buyers were holding fire, waiting for the new models Apple launched almost at the end of that quarter. The iPhone 5s and 5c between them notched up a record 9M sales in just the opening weekend. Q4 is where it’s really at … Read more
Sales got another boost in late September when NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan’s largest wireless carrier, began offering the iPhone for the first time to its 61.8 million customers. Even before that, the iPhone was Japan’s best-selling smartphone, with a 37% market share in the six months ended Sept. 30, according to Tokyo’s MM Research Institute. That’s comparable to the iPhone’s 36% share in the U.S. in the third quarter, according to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech … Read more
Apple’s share of the U.S. smartphone market grew by 0.7 percent in the last quarter to reach 40.6 percent, according to comScore data.
Sales of low-cost handsets mean that Android’s position as leading mobile platform is safe, with a marginal drop to 51.8 percent of the market, but Apple remained top of the vendor rankings …
IDC is out today with its latest report tracking worldwide tablet shipments, reporting that total shipments have experienced a sequential decline during Q2 at the expense of Apple and the iPad. Apple already announced that it had sold 14.6 million iPads during the quarter, a significant drop from the 17 million it sold in the year ago quarter, but today IDC gives us some insight into where that puts Apple in its lead over Samsung as the top tablet vendor.
Apple was able to pick up 32.4% of the market during Q2, continuing its lead as the top tablet manufacturer, but dropping from the 60.3% of the market it had in Q2 last year. While Apple’s tablet shipments are clearly suffering from lack of new product announcements this year, it’s also losing share to Samsung and others. IDC reports 277% year over year growth for Samsung, giving it 18% of the market with 8.1 million units shipped during Q2. All of the top 3 vendors– Apple, Samsung, and ASUS– experienced a drop compared to Q1 2013, but the Android tablet makers have experienced significant growth compared to Apple since last year. Read more


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WASHINGTON – U.S. incomes and spending rose in October, providing the means for consumers to keep spending as the holiday shopping season approached, while core consumer prices rose modestly, the government reported on Thursday.
Incomes rose 0.4 percent in October after a 0.5 percent rise in September while spending grew at a 0.2 percent rate after declining 0.2 percent in September. That was roughly in line with Wall Street economists' forecasts for a 0.5 percent rise in incomes and a 0.1 percent spending increase.
Core consumer prices, which exclude food and energy, rose 0.2 percent in October, matching September's rise. On a year-over-year basis, core prices were up 2.4 percent, the same increase as in September.
Overall consumer prices rose 1.5 percent on a year-over-year basis, the smallest rise since a 1.4 percent gain in August 2002.


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There's been lots of attention about increased oil company profits. Even President Obama is worried that consumers are being defrauded at the pump. So are oil company profits excessive?
No. According to the latest data, "Major Integrated Oil and Gas" companies (a group that includes Exxon, BP, Gulf, etc.) had a 6.5 percent net profit margin (profits/sales) in the most recent quarter. Considered among all industries, Carpe Diem says that the category ranks 114 out of 215. By contrast, Apple showed a 95 percent increase in profits in the last quarter -- though the Justice Department isn't investigating any other industry for price gouging.
It's politics, not economics--because Obama doesn't understand economics.


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Things are heating up in the kitchen of Canmore’s Bow Valley BBQ with the local food manufacturing company working on a crowd-source investor campaign with ATB to support its newest initiative – the Bow Valley Copacking Collective.
Bow Valley BBQ owner Jamie Ayles said the local start-up has seen a lot of growth over the past year, going from a staff of two to 18 in that time.
The company is currently focused on expanding even more with the ATB Financial Boostr campaign – which is geared toward the Collective’s goal of purchasing new equipment to manufacture food products.
“We wanted to keep the ball rolling,” said Ayles on the crowd-funding campaign. “We wanted to start a collective because I remember how hard it was to get started and find those resources.
“I don’t think it should be hard to get into the (food manufacturing) industry, I think it should be a little easier and less risky.”
When BVBBQ began in 2012, Ayles and business partner Marie-Lyne Richard had to use the food manufacturing and development centre in Leduc to create the company’s products, scale them up for manufacturing and package them. The company used the facility to produce its sauces and spice rub for two years and stored the products in Cochrane.
But it was last year, when the company bought locally-grown salad dressing company Boccolino Grotto, which originally began in Canmore in 1987 as a restaurant, that locally producing products became a possibility.
Boccolino owners Ernie and Mary Heurlimann sought out the right owners for their food manufacturing business before they sold to Bow Valley BBQ.
Ayles was able to increase the capacity for his business after acquiring Boccolino and the light manufacturing and storage location that business had in Bow Meadows Crescent. The company has gone from two employees to 18 in a year and works with two major food manufacturing copacking partners – Amalino Foods and Apex Foods out of B.C.
“We had the opportunity to look at possibly buying Boccolino and everything worked out,” Ayles said. “We were able to take on Boccolino Grotto as a second generation owner and we inherited the plant and warehouse that went with it.
“From there, we launched some new products and expanded upon the brands as well.”
He said the collective has 15 clients that they make products for and package – as well as recipe development for restaurants and chefs in the valley interested in diversifying their business.
It is a big opportunity for locally produced products to expand or even begin. That’s something that interested Norm and Blake Flann, who, as co-owners of the newest restaurant in town, are definitely interested in the opportunity the copacking collective offers.
Blake’s on Bow Valley Trail celebrated its opening recently, but for some time Chef Blake Flann has been producing a Umami Ketchup that is definitely popular with his customers.
Flann said he is working with the Bow Valley Copacking Collective to develop the recipe for manufacturing and once it is ready it will be made in Canmore and sold at the restaurant.
“I was selling the ketchup at the old store for a really long time and we were just making it, bottling it and packaging it ourselves, which is extremely time consuming and labour intensive.”
Ayles approached both Flanns to see if they were interested in producing their product locally, which they were.
“Norm and I think it is a great idea, because they are local and they work with us closely,” said Flann, adding he thinks the future holds a lot of potential for the industry’s growth locally. “I think there is a (food manufacturing) sector here and it is going to keep growing. It will keep getting better and better.
“They will be able to work faster with the new equipment, so we will benefit from that too.”
Ayles is also keen to expand the production abilities his business currently has with the Boostr campaign. The Bow Valley Copacking Collective was one of six campaigns selected to present to investors in December as well.
The potential of a collective – or that Bow Valley BBQ has created – is also recognized by Dragon’s Den investor Arlene Dickinson – CEO of District Ventures based in Calgary. The business accelerator chooses what companies it works with and is the first accelerator for packaged goods in Canada. Bow Valley BBQ is among one of the three cohorts to receive mentorship and support. Other companies include Real Treat Kitchen out of Cochrane, Wild Team Kombucha, Drizzle and Light Cellar Super Foods.
The goal of the ATB Financial Boostr is to raise $10,000 for the collective and move toward development of a podcast program and purchase of new equipment. The podcast would feature food producers and chefs and be able to provide ideas and support for those looking into getting into food manufacturing – a growing industry in Alberta.
“Our goal with the Canmore Copacking Collective is to provide entry-level co-packing and development to small, scale start-up food processors, chefs, producers, and entrepreneurs,” Ayles wrote for the ATB campaign site. “We want to provide a service that allows existing products to be scaled up and formulated, or to develop products from a concept and then scale up and enter these products into new markets.
“This business model will allow these entities to commit to food processing and scale up without a major financial commitment, and within their desired volumes.”
As for how the collective fits into economic diversification for Canmore, it is uncertain because the municipality no longer has a contracted economic development officer or strategy that is being implemented in the community.
Canmore Business and Tourism was performing that function until July, when its board of directors announced it would cancel the contract to deliver economic development services.
Canmore’s municipally elected council has given no indication of what direction it would like to proceed when it comes to economic development and diversification in the community, but food manufacturing is an industry identified as in need of support.
A series of conversation cafes have been held over the past year looking at economic development for specific sectors like health and wellness and food manufacturing.
Stephanie O’Brien with Carmella Social Media and Event Management has been hosting the events as a supporter of collaborative work in the community. O’Brien said sectors are sharing information on things like transportation and logistics.
“This working group is already working together to reduce expenses and common hurdles,” she said, adding diversification is important for Canmore. “We do not want to find ourselves in a similar situation to Calgary, where we have put all our eggs in one basket. And while I am simplifying here, small business and entrepreneurial spirit are in no shortage in Canmore and should be at the forefront more often.
“When we support each other and work together, we all rise.”
Canmore residents might not be aware of how strong the industry in the valley already is – with more than Bow Valley BBQ, Boccolino Grotto and Ayle’s Caesar mix Parkway being available as locally made food.
Valbella Gourmet Foods has been manufacturing quality meats and specialty products in Canmore since 1978 with its 1,000 square foot manufacturing plant. Le Chocolatier is another well-known Canmore food manufacturer making waves in retail across Western Canada with distribution in Save-On-Foods as well.
Other companies producing their own food include Rave Coffee and Mountain Blends – both of which roast coffee locally – Edible Life, Chef’s Microgreens, Canmore Pasta Co., the Grizzly Paw Brewing Company, Figaro’s nougat and gelato, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company and Stoked Oats, to name just a few.
Ayles would be happy to see more companies or chefs start their own lines of food products and manufacture them locally once developed. It is an industry that is seeing growth provincially and supported by the fact that Alberta has a strong agriculture industry – which provides the raw materials needed for food manufacturing.
“Getting into food manufacturing, we realized how much there is in Alberta as far as local produce, local ingredients and local resources,” Ayles said. “I think we are in a good time right now and at a good stage. One of the big things about the Copacking Collective is there are very few and far between resources out there for food manufacturing.”
Alberta, as a petroleum-based manufacturing economy, has for a long time put all its eggs in that one basket. With oil and gas no longer a favourite with the NDP government and with a focus on diversification, food manufacturing has become an area for targeted growth.
According to statistics from ATB Financial’s Todd Hirsch, food manufacturing is a $13.6 billion industry compared to the $9 billion it was in 2006.
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta’s standing committee on the province’s economic future began seeking input early in December on how to grow and diversity the agri-food and agribusiness sectors.
Identified as a value added industry – food manufacturing takes produce grown in the province and creates a new product for export or sale. For the most part, these businesses are small operations and an important sector of the entire economy, according to committee chair Graham Sucha.
“Agri-food and agribusinesses are important sectors in our province’s economy, and we look forward to hearing from the public on ways to strengthen and diversify these areas,” Sucha said.
To support Bow Valley BBQ’s ATB Financial Boostr campaign, go to www.atbboostr.ca for more information. The deadline to support the campaign is Jan. 5.
To provide input into the province’s standing committee process on agri-food manufacturing, go to www.assembly.ab.ca/committees/abeconomicfuture for more information. The deadline to submit is Jan. 15.


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Maker of WONDERÂ® Bread in Canada is celebrating the Canadian Olympic Team by giving consumers the chance to win one of three trips to the UK plus one of 10,000 commemorative t-shirts.
Online PR News – 21-May-2012 – TORONTO, ONTARIO – Weston Bakeries Limited, baker of WONDERÂ® whole grain breads, are giving three lucky Canadians a chance to win one of three trips to London this summer to celebrate the Canadian Olympic Team.
Consumers can enter for their chance to win by entering unique PIN codes found on specially marked packages of WONDERÂ® breads, hotdog buns and hamburger buns at www.wonderbread.ca" target="_blank" class="highlight_link">https://www.wonderbread.ca. By entering the on-pack PINs, consumers also have the chance to win one of 10,000 commemorative t-shirts.
The contest website also offers a variety of resources for parents, including healthy sandwich recipes and suggestions on how to nurture the potential within any child. The WONDERÂ® Canadian Jr. Olympian Village section includes motivational tips from Dr. Kimberley Amirault, an expert on performance psychology; training tips from BodyBreak creators Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod; and nutrition tips from registered dietitian Lynn Weaver.
All WONDERÂ® breads are free of artificial preservatives, artificial colours and artificial flavours and have no other added chemical additives. With a range of offerings available, families can choose products that meet their specific nutritional needs â€“ from the new WONDER+TM INVISIBLESTM, a soft white bread made with 18 finely ground whole grains, to WONDER+TM White with Fibre bread or WONDER+TM 100% Whole Grain Wheat bread.
To learn more about WONDERÂ® products or to discover healthy sandwich recipes, visit http://www.wonderbread.ca.
About Weston Bakeries Limited
Weston Bakeries Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of George Weston Limited and one of the largest bakeries in Canada, is a producer of breads, rolls, bagels, tortillas and other fresh baked products under leading brands such as WONDERÂ®, Dâ€™ITALIANOÂ®, COUNTRY HARVESTÂ®, GADOUAÂ® and WESTONÂ®. For more information on WONDERÂ® bread, visit: http://www.wonderbread.ca.


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BY STYLE REPORTER
As most Zimbabweans embrace sporting with working from home having become a norm in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, a local company, Cycle Village and Sports Wear is seeking to fulfil the sporting desire by establishing a cycling and sporting wear outlet.
Located in Avondale, Harare, the newly launched outlet will import bicycles; spare parts as well as sport wear from the United Kingdom as it eyes this niche market.
Having identified a niche market in supplying spare parts for bicycles, the shop will supply road bikes, mountain bikes, cleats, tubes, Sram, Campagnolo group sets among other things as it seeks to promote health style living through cycling.
With an initial target of 30 bicycles and 100 spare parts per month, the company is setting its target higher in the long run.
In terms of sportswear the company will not limit itself to cycling only but will go beyond the niche, supplying all types of sportswear.
Cycle Village and Sports Wear director Ruvimbo Katuruza said the with an effective supply chain from the United Kingdom, durability of the products was guaranteed.
“Cycling is now a lifestyle for many and a way of keeping healthy in the outdoors,” Katuruza said.
“We are excited to be launching a shop that will help cyclist in Zimbabwe access bikes spare parts and equipment that is needed.
“With our effective supply chain from the United Kingdom, our products have long durability. Cycling is now a lifestyle for many and a way for keeping healthy in the outdoors and cycle village and sportswear is glad to be supporting that.”
Cycling in Zimbabwe has always been a popular past time due to the warm climate and the country first gained prominence on the world stage shortly after independence.


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Nigeria’s Hotels.ng Raises $1.2M for African Expansion
The largest hotel bookings website in Nigeria, Hotels.ng, has raised $1.2 million to expand across Africa from a number of investors including EchoVC Pan-Africa Fund and Omidyar Network, a venture capital firm launched by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.
Founded in 2013 by Nigerian entrepreneur Mark Essien, Lagos-based Hotels.ng aims to provide affordable, safe and convenient online bookings for Nigerian hotels for both tourist and business travelers. It currently has a listing of more than 7,000 hotels in 21 regions across Nigeria and has facilitated up to two million hotel reservations since its inception.
Users performed more than a million hotel searches on the site last year, while 70,000 new customers signed up. Hotels.ng’s growth in its home market hinges on two factors: Nigeria’s Internet penetration rate, which is the highest in Africa and still increasing rapidly, and the government’s investment in its tourism industry, which is expected to contribute 5.8 percent of its gross domestic product by 2024.