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5 bingo websites are vying to take the top spot on the online bing similar sites chart, ABC News reported.
Five sites are competing for the top five spots in the bingo equivalent to the top 20 bingo players in the country, with five sites each vying for one of the five slots on the top 50.ABC News reported that the competition for the fifth spot has been running for the past few weeks, with the sites vying for the coveted spot at the top of the chart.
Five bingo website, The Bingo Players, are the favourites with a 10.7% share of the total online bingle, according to data from BingoMatch, the online gambling platform.
BingoMatch’s latest rankings show the top 100 bingo companies and websites have a combined total of 1,929,000 visitors.
The top bingo company, Bingo Player, has 3.2 million visits and the top online binger, Bingoesy, has 4.7 million visits.
The sites are also vying for two of the top three spots on the chart for Bingo Compare, which is the world’s largest online bender comparison website, and the online bettors’ association, Bingotimes.
There are currently five bingo matches that have been scheduled, with six matches set to go live in a matter of days.
Bingo Compare’s first match, a double-header of eight matches on Friday, will see a total of 7,000 bets and 2,000 total players.
Bingo Players will be the biggest bettor at $5.8 million, according a press release from BingoesMatch.
Bongosy, which has been in the top 10 for a number of months, will compete in the $3.2 billion online binner, which will start on Monday and run through to June 14.
Bongsies odds to take over the bing equivalent of the number one spot in the online game has been on the rise, with odds of 6.4% in December.
The online bateries are a mix of bingo and poker, with one-third of bing sites taking part in online betting.
There have been a number different sites vying to be on the list, including The Bingoes, The Big Bingo, Bingosy and The Bingo Bingo.


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Shares of H&M leapt 13% in early deals on Wednesday, after the Swedish retailer significantly beat profit expectations for its fiscal first quarter.
Operating profit rose to 2.08 billion Swedish krona ($196 million), versus the 1.43 billion krona forecast in a LSEG poll of analysts. The company’s operating margin rose to 3.9% from 1.3%, as year-on-year sales fell.
“Development continued in the right direction in the first quarter with an improved gross margin and operating profit, lower inventory and strong cash flow,” said H&M Group CEO Daniel Ervér, who joined the company at the start of the year after the surprise resignation of Helena Helmersson.
H&M has announced a focus on profitability over sales, amid pressure from growing competition from Zara owner Inditex and Chinese fast fashion retailers, such as Shein.

domain: news


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By Tuesday, May 5th 2015, 17:18 GMT McLaren's Formula 1 engine supplier Honda has chosen not to use any of its engine token allocation as... ...http://www.automnews.com/?p=212416
Netsuite (NYSE:N) Intraday Stock Chart Today : Tuesday 5 May 2015 SAN JOSE, Calif. and SYDNEY , May 5,2015 /PRNewswire/ -- NETSUITE... ...http://in.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=66714575
Indian Hotels Company, a Tata Group company, has been under intense scrutiny for the past three years. It has not added even a single upmarket... ...http://wap.business-standard.com/article/companies/indian-hotels-takes-revival-road-under-new-ceo-115050400919_1.html
Digging teeth into a succulent Indian mango is likely to get costlier for consumers abroad after unseasonal rain and hailstorms between... ...http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/rain-hailstorm-may-squeeze-the-juice-out-of-mango-exports/article7170765.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication
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Like several legal matters...
www.recruiterkey.com is a job portal...


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Nintendo Classic Mini NES is back in stock at GAME
UPDATE: Nintendo Classic Mini is back in stock at GAME in the UK.
Multiple GAME stores have tweeted about having Nintendo Classic Mini NES stock available in stores.
This includes the Coventry branch, which tweeted the following: "Limited stock of both the Nintendo Classic Mini & the Sega Mega Drive Classic console is here now! Don't miss out!"
Needless to say, stock is likely to sell out fast, so it's worth checking with your local store to find out if they have any units on sale.
ORIGINAL: Nintendo Classic Mini NES has been given a games boost, as UK retailers like Tesco Direct and Smyths begin to get more stock.
The Nintendo Classic Mini has pretty much been out of stock in the UK since Christmas. Things had gotten so bad that there were even rumours of Nintendo ending production.
Fortunately, however, the Nintendo Classic Mini NES has been spotted at Tesco Direct, while Smyths also claims to have stock in select UK stores.
Stock Informer suggests that Tesco Direct was selling NES Classic consoles yesterday (February 15). However, it appears stock was snapped up quickly.
There's also a note on the Smyths website that reads: "There is limited stock available for the Nintendo Classic Mini in select stores."
As new stock starts to hit stores, some fans have found a way to install even more classic games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy and Sega Mega Drive.
According to IBTimes, hackers have added upwards of 700 games to the console, although it's worth pointing out that this comes with its own risks and voids the warranty.
Earlier this week it was suggested that production of the Nintendo Classic Mini had ended.
That was according to a couple of Scandinavian retailers, who told customers that they wouldn't be able to fulfil all pre-orders.
“There will be deliveries in March and April and then it's over," reads a statement.
“We will contact everyone standing in line with us and those who sat in line last will get the sad news by email first."
Nintendo would deny the claims, explaining that some parts take time to procure.
A blast from the past: Nintendo Classic Mini
The Nintendo Classic Mini NES features games like Final Fantasy, the original Super Mario Bros Trilogy, The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania and Mega Man 2.
Unlike the original NES, players can pick up where they left off, without inputting passwords or keeping the console on all night.
A full list of Nintendo Classic Mini games can be found below:
- Balloon Fight
- BUBBLE BOBBLE
- Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest™
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE
- Dr. Mario
- FINAL FANTASY®
- GHOSTS‘N GOBLINS™
- Ice Climber
- Kid Icarus
- Kirby’s Adventure
- Mario Bros.
- MEGA MAN™ 2
- NINJA GAIDEN®
- Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
- SUPER C™
- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros. 2
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Tecmo Bowl™
- The Legend of Zelda
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link


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Stay up-to-date on all the all the latest FinTech news and information from around the world in the BFC FinTech Monitor.
Around the World
- Revenues in the payments industry are likely to grow more slowly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They could reach as much as USD 1.8 trillion in 2024 (up from USD 1.5 trillion in 2019) and are expected to grow by at least 1.1% per year in the worst-case scenario.
- Barclays, Citi, HSBC and National Australia Bank have invested USD 20 million in BioCatch, a startup that analyzes user behavior on the internet using artificial intelligence. The company is expected to develop anti-fraud solutions.
- The European Central Bank has applied for the registration of a digital euro trademark. The final decision on the launch of the pan-European digital currency will be made in mid-2021.
- JPMorgan Chase has introduced a new online center to protect businesses from financial fraud. The center will provide companies with a range of tools, including those that block cards, identify suspicious transactions and provide real-time notifications about atypically large transactions.
- Amazon is launching a new biometric technology that allows shoppers to pay for purchases in stores by scanning their palm. The new technology will be made available in select stores soon.
- The Australian government has allocated nearly USD 574 million for the development of blockchain projects, including two aimed at reducing business costs and a USD 256.6 million project aimed at creating a digital identification system.
- According to analysts at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), existing guidelines for the taxation of cryptocurrencies have serious gaps. At the same time, Deutsche Bank experts believe that digital currencies launched by central banks have the potential to destroy the monopoly of the US dollar in financial markets.
- Ant Technology Group (a FinTech division of the Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group) has launched Ant Bank. The neobank allows users to open an account in 3 minutes and provides numerous e-commerce financing services.
- National Australia Bank has moved mobile banking to the cloud. This is expected to provide safe and continuous operations as well as easy scalability and reduced operational risks and costs.
- The Skolkovo fund has rated Tinkoff, VTB, Sberbank, Raiffeisenbank and Alfa-Bank among the top Russian banks in terms of digitalization. This is based on the results of the first half of this year.
- Visa is ready to compete with the Central Bank of Russia in the payments market by offering customers of banks participating in the payment system transfers by phone number.
- Tinkoff Bank has developed a smart cashback service capable of anticipating customer desires. The architecture of the technology, based on artificial intelligence, makes it possible to calculate various models of purchase probability for a specific brand, store or product and decide whether to give cashback.
- VTB has launched a recruitment technology from Skillaz. According to Andrey Krylov, CEO and founder of Skillaz, this could lead to a cardinal improvement in the quality of candidate assessment and a decrease in staff turnover in the next 3-5 years.
- Alfa-Bank has opened the first regional phygital office in Novosibirsk. The office combines aspects of a physical branch with digital solutions to create unique customer (and employee) experiences.
- The 7th iteration of the Digital Evolution in Finance will be held in Moscow October 15-16. It will feature leading developers and suppliers of IT solutions for financial institutions. Register here
- The National Bank of Ukraine, with the support of the EU, has launched a twinning project with regulators from Lithuania and Poland. They are working to implement a system of instant payments as well as improve strategic planning and the management of processes in the bank.
- The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and Microsoft are considering cooperation to accelerate innovative development and digital transformation in the country.
- The Banking Sector: Era of Changes online conference will be held in Kiev on November 6. The main topics will be banking compliance and financial monitoring, information security and challenges to law enforcement. Click here for details.
- PaySpace has reveals what is hindering the launch of PayPal in Ukraine and at what stage negotiations with the payment system are at now.
- Vladimir Lozovoy, CEO and founder of Artellence, has prepared useful material on how Big Data and machine learning improve the efficiency of debt collection systems as well as how alternative data and machine learning are used to develop credit scoring.
- The founder of Tap2Pay, a FinTech startup with Belarusian roots, discusses how a small company can enter international markets, including where and how to look for corporate clients and partners and what to check before developing a product.
- Alfa-Bank cardholders can now make international transfers to other cards in US dollars, euros and Russian rubles with a commission rate of 1.5% + 3 Belarusian rubles.
- Under an initiative of the Financial Services Regulatory Committee of the Astana International Financial Center, International Investor Week has begun online. The event features Kazakhstani and foreign experts discussing issues related to stock markets, consumer and investor protection, FinTechs, green and Islamic finance and securities market instruments.
- Halyk Bank has launched a digital solution for entrepreneurs with no equivalent in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The new solution allows consumers to open an account online in 5-10 minutes and get approved for a loan online in 30-40 minutes.
- Saule Yntykbaeva, head of the financial literacy department of the Agency for Regulation and Development of Financial Markets, discusses security issues within payment systems and at financial institutions.
- Beeline Kazakhstan is no longer just a mobile operator as the company is expanding its operations into FinTech, mobile finance and internet-of-things solutions.
- The number of bank card holders in Tajikistan now exceeds 2.6 million, nearly 23% more than last year. At the same time, most card holders only use their cards to withdraw cash from ATMs.
- A system for assessing the quality of banking services will soon appear in Uzbekistan. It will be based on periodic surveys of banking customers, and the results will be published on the Central Bank of Uzbekistan’s website.
- The Bank.uz portal has named the best mobile apps of financial institutions in the country. The top 5 are: Apelsin (Capitalbank), Joyda (Sanoat Qurilish Bank), Milliy (NBU), Ipak Yo’li Mobile (Ipak Yuli) and Xalq Mobile (Halyk Bank).
- The Central Bank of Azerbaijan has launched a system of realtime payments, allowing settlements between individuals, legal entities and government agencies to be settled instantly through simplified bank account identifiers.
- Visa has announced the expansion of its project activities in Azerbaijan following the news that online and contactless payments made through Visa are growing in the country.
- The number of POS-terminals and ATMs in Azerbaijan increased in August.
- According to Grigor Hovhannisyan (chairman of the board of Araratbank), Armenia’s banking system has not been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic as much as expected.


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Winter to chill hog prices, economist says
DES MOINES, (Agriculture.com)--The winter months can be the worst time of the year for hog prices. This year is expected to be no different. Seasonally, the winter fundamentals include the highest of the year hog slaughter amounts and heavier weights. This results in high pork supplies and lower hog prices.
To be sure, history shows that hog producers have lost money in three of the last four years, during the winter months. Last year, a 265 lb hog, on average, was worth $56.00 per live hundredweight, while the producer’s ‘break-even’ price was $58.00 per live hundredweight.
In the last 10 years, records indicate that producers were profitable three times in the month of December, two in January, and five times in the month of February.
“Bottomline is, the producers lose money in the winter, because we, as a country, have a lot of hogs to sell in those months,” Ron Plain, professor of Agriculture Economics at the University of Missouri.
In September, the USDA projected the number of hogs and pigs on U.S. farms increased 1% from a year earlier. As a result, the market looks at this data with bearishness, as it points to larger winter supplies.
Due to demand uncertainty and high prospects for a U.S. recession-like consumption atmosphere, winter hog prices are expected lower than the 2011 summer highs of the upper $70s. With producers needing at least $68.00 to break-even, this winter’s average hog prices are seen around $60 per live hundredweight, Plain says. “We hope the producers can make enough money in the spring and summer to cover the losses in the winter. The major challenge for the 2011-2012 winter months will be feedcosts,” Plain says.
As a result, the U.S. livestock and poultry numbers have been down- sized significantly this year from increased corn prices and severe droughts. In fact, the USDA sees 4% less feed usage in the 2011-12 corn marketing year that runs between Sept. 1-August 30. Normally, less feed usage means higher supplies of corn. However, increased exports of corn, dried distiller grains and ethanol are keeping the corn market underpinned.
Over the years, the U.S. livestock producers have been getting better at pricing ahead their feed costs, namely soymeal and corn. However, the grain futures prices have stayed sharply higher so long that it’s harder and harder to escape ‘“out of this world’ feed prices.
What hog producers were feeding in August and September was bought earlier on. They didn’t pay $7.00 per bushel for it. However, when cash and futures prices got above $7.00 this year, the producer probably had to pay that price and will be feeding that expensive corn this winter,” Plain says.
Upside For Hog Market
Record prices in the 2011 summer months created optimism for producers. In addition, the USDA is projecting record pork exports at 4.9 billion pounds. Even though half of the world’s hog population is in China, signals indicate that country will buy more foreign pork in the future. Currently, China is the fifth largest buyer of U.S. pork, behind Japan, Mexico, South Korea and Canada. In 2011, China has bought the second most U.S. pork it ever has, second only to 2008. ”As its economy improves vs. the past ten years and the Chinese consumer becomes more affluent, pork demand goes up. With more of it consumed compared to all meats combined, pork is the meat of choice in China,” Plain says.
The next challenge for the Asian country is feed supply. “If you are going to raise more hogs, you need more hog feed,” he says.
Weak U.S. Economy
Unlike China, the U.S. consumer is facing a weaker economy. As a result the U.S. demand for meat is uncertain. “Recessions are tough on meat prices,” Plain says. “People have to eat and do so right through recessions. But, they eat more beans, rice and pasta. The U.S. economy is looking weak. If it doesn’t improve, we will most likely see weak meat demand this winter. That could lead to disappointing cattle and hog prices.”
The second biggest concern for this winter’s hog market is the price of corn. The third largest factor that the market will be watching will be U.S. pork exports, he says.


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Earlier this year, Wendy's set out on a mission to score millions of likes to bring back one of its hottest sellers. And it worked — quickly. When the fast food chain discontinued its spicy chicken nuggets
Craving a cocktail that's not super sweet and delightfully tart? As usual, Oprah Winfrey is here to save the day. When Oprah's entertaining during the summer, she likes to kick off the party with one her
People are still getting fired up about how this beloved comfort food should be prepared. Macaroni and cheese is one of those iconic American dishes that remains particularly close to people's hearts.
Is there anything better than fried chicken — especially in the summer? Fried chicken is the perfect summer comfort food. It's great for serving at picnics, cookouts or any warm-weather get together because
Fairlife Dairy is facing a new lawsuit after employees were seen abusing calves and cows in undercover footage. People have been drinking cow's milk for thousands of years, but the nature of commercial
With all this talk about no-carb, low-carb and now, net carbs, it's easy to get confused or overwhelmed. A nutritionist breaks down what you need to know. Today’s population has become increasingly infatuated
This Friday (June 21) is the Summer Solstice, which just happens to be the official start of the summer season, the longest day of the year and National Smoothie Day. To celebrate, we can't think of a
The restaurant chain, which operates over 650 stores, has condemned the views of a pastor who has promoted violence against the LGBTQ community. Cracker Barrel has received widespread praise across social
A year after Anthony Bourdain's death, his brother speaks about the chef's greatest accomplishments, his untimely death and their parents influence. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the U.S.
In a quest to find out more abut the sparkling water's ingredients, Consumer Reports found some surprising information about LaCroix. The ingredients that flavor LaCroix sparkling waters continue to be
Chik-fil-A sauce on toast, peanuts in milk, ice soup and more shocking "depression meals" have surfaced in the new viral tweet thread. When times are tough, sometimes grocery shopping funds are severely
A pastry chef turned basic cakes from Costco into a gorgeous centerpiece with flowers. A couple just saved a lot money and added plenty of rustic glamour to their recent wedding by utilizing a clever,
Ree Drummond is a total fangirl when it comes to a few very special people. Food Network star, ice cream shop owner and cookbook author Ree Drummond is a certified celebrity in her own right. But she geeks
The celebrity chefs created #BourdainDay to honor their friend's lasting legacy with devoted fans. June 25 marks what would have been Anthony Bourdain's 63rd birthday. To celebrate, those who knew him


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Deprived of last year’s government stimulus checks and enthusiasm for summer fashion trends, consumers once again chose cash conservation over conspicuous consumption in May, sending all but...
June 4, 2009
May Same-Store Sales See Decline
Luxury retailers Saks Inc. and Neiman Marcus Inc. weather double-digit declines, while off-pricers also were not immune to the economy.
Ads by Google


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Now Spanish publishers want piece of the pie
It just doesn't seem to stop in Europe when it comes to publishers fighting Google. Germany is probably the most reluctant towards the search giant, but also France, Italy and in a less 'heavy' battle the UK have stood up to Google. Now its Spains turn.
Carlos Astiz, leader of the Spanish Publishers’ Association (AEPP) asked Google to pay “a proportional amount” of the income it obtains on-line by using material from various Spanish publications.
The Spanish publishers haven't putten a price tag on their demand yet but in the Spanish press it is said that it could get up to the 1.2 million euros per year which the Germans demand from Google.
"Without a doubt, Google is getting more and more bad press since it is maintaining a monopoly situation with absolutely onerous conditions. Google keeps 90 percent of all the advertising income on the internet that do not come from porno. This is income that does not stay in Spain."
"We would have to sit down and see which is the model to follow, which percentage would be asked by each of the media for the use of its contents by Google News."
Tagcloudgoogle maps apple indonesia ses china google privacy news ppc london sea search engines advertising russia mobile linkbuilding spain smx social yandex funny google earth video adwords analytics blogger bing microsoft android a4uexpo app facebook search engine strategies streetview yahoo search engine search twitter gmail social media


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News & Events
Company That Does It Right
Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to your attention a remarkable company, located in my home state of Vermont, that can and should serve as a model for corporate responsibility in this era.
There Are Ethical Corporations
Think of a company where the virus that infects people isn’t greed but sustainability.
The Creative Economy in Bellows Falls
Lamont Barnett, owner of "The Rock and Hammer" jewelry store in Bellows Falls, exhales as he recalls what downtown Bellows Falls looked like 15 years ago.
Chroma Happy Being Green
By investing in energy efficiency when it built its new facility in Rockingham last year, Chroma Technology is now saving money as well as protecting the environment.
16th Annual Business Ethics Awards
For exemplifying the living economy with practices of employee ownership, fair wages, and environmental stewardship.
Paul Millman of Chroma Technology Corp.
Paul Millman's life raises some interesting questions. Like how did a Red-diaper baby from Brooklyn find himself running a $15 million technology company in Bellows Falls?
Read the latest articles from our team of application scientists.


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Most Still Say Newcomers Should Adopt American Culture
The majority of voters still say newcomers to America should adopt our culture, language and heritage, but that number is down from surveys over the past few years. More than ever now say they should keep their own customs.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 66% of Likely U.S. Voters say that when people move to America from other parts of the world, they should adopt America’s culture. That’s down from 72% in December and the lowest finding since late 2012. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.
The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 9-10, 2017. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
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Rasmussen Reports is a media company specializing in the collection, publication and distribution of public opinion information.
We conduct public opinion polls on a variety of topics to inform our audience on events in the news and other topics of interest. To ensure editorial control and independence, we pay for the polls ourselves and generate revenue through the sale of subscriptions, sponsorships, and advertising. Nightly polling on politics, business and lifestyle topics provides the content to update the Rasmussen Reports web site many times each day. If it's in the news, it's in our polls. Additionally, the data drives a daily update newsletter and various media outlets across the country.
Some information, including the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and commentaries are available for free to the general public. Subscriptions are available for $4.95 a month or 34.95 a year that provide subscribers with exclusive access to more than 20 stories per week on upcoming elections, consumer confidence, and issues that affect us all. For those who are really into the numbers, Platinum Members can review demographic crosstabs and a full history of our data.
To learn more about our methodology, click here.


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(Reuters) — BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, said on Wednesday it has sold a luxury shopping mall in central Kuala Lumpur to Malaysia’s Pavilion Real Estate Investment Trust (Pavilion REIT) (PREI.KL) for 160 million ringgit ($37.33 million).
BlackRock bought the Intermark Mall along with two corporate office towers and a hotel for $600 million in 2007 and has refurbished the complex on prime real estate in Malaysia’s capital.
The sales of one of the office towers and the hotel have since garnered BlackRock a combined total of $339 million.
BlackRock is also looking to sell an office tower in Singapore in a deal which reports say could be worth as much as S$4 billion ($2.83 billion).
Pavilion REIT said in a filing to the Malaysian stock exchange that the purchase should be complete by the first quarter of 2016.


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We are incredibly pleased to welcome Martin Poyntz-Roberts, BBC Radio producer and podcast creator, to guest blog for us today on the connected future of media. Having worked on programmes such as Coast, Countryfile, Farming Today, and Spring Watch, he writes here on just how we’ll be consuming media in the future…
With evolving technology and the dissemination of ‘infotainment’, what does the future look – and sound – like with 5G just around the corner? What will consuming media in the future look like?
In the future, the concept of ‘Smart Cities’ will become the reality. In theory, our trips around the country will become much smoother, with integrated travel, weather and news updates helping us on our way. Technology will continue to be driven by commercially powerful influencers: ultra-fast mobile broadband, and high-speed real-time gaming will inevitably lead the way, but just behind will be the network of ‘beacons’ and hot-spots that connect us to the so-called ‘internet of things’.
Whilst we maintain the free will to choose our ‘content’ – be it a Spotify playlist that we create ourselves, live-tv streamed to our smart-phone, or a podcast on table-tennis – the advertising that pays for the content will be cleverly aimed at us: inter-connectivity exploited to generate revenue.
Targeted digital marketing can seamlessly find its ways into our ears or eyes as we move about. For instance, we could be walking down a street and there’s a break in the music just as we happen to be passing a coffee shop. A sensor in the store has triggered our smart device to play a short ad promoting the latest offer at the coffee shop and if we mention we heard the advert, we get 20% off our purchase. Ads will become less annoying, and even beneficial to us as they are specifically targeted to us as individuals.
But once again, success of this ‘brave new world’ all comes back to content. Writing in The Economist’s annual forecast for the year ahead, The World in 2018, Bob Iger, chief executive of Disney states:
“The one constant in our industry has been the appetite for great storytelling…In the coming years success or failure of media companies will increasingly be determined by the ability to create a direct two-way relationship with consumers.”
As the lines between media platforms become increasingly blurred, and audiences are far more demanding when it comes to handing over not only their time, but also their hard-earned cash, the challenge of the media producer of today and tomorrow is to walk that fine line of making multi-platform content easily accessible in many different forms, whilst also maintaining the quality and integrity of the product.
Or you could, like me, find a mind-blowing story to tell. Next year I embark on my biggest, most challenging project ever: producing a podcast telling the story of two adventurers as they attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest, as it happens. We don’t know what is going to happen, but it will be one hell of a journey.
Martin Poyntz-Roberts is a freelance producer with 18 years’ experience in Radio, TV and Digital production. He is about to launch a Bristol-based food podcast called ‘Get Stuffed’ with writer and blogger Natalie Brereton. Next year he will be following the story of Ben Fogle and Victoria Pendleton as they attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest.


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Capcom unveiled not even two weeks ago that Street Fighter V is in the works for PlayStation 4 and PC, and that players on the two platforms will be able to play the game with each other.
Part of making this work is working in an environment suited to both platforms. To that end, Capcom and Epic have announced that Street Fighter V will be built in Unreal Engine 4.
“Our goal with the next generation of Street Fighter is to take our beloved fighting game franchise and bring it to our fans in the best way possible,” said Street Fighter producer Bochan Kim in a press release.
Street Fighter IV used a custom built graphics engine, and Capcom games in recent years have typically been built in their MT Framework engine, and new games (such as deep down) are being built in Capcom’s Panta Rhei engine, so it’s a surprise to see the Japanese developer and publisher announce that it’ll be licensing the engine this time around. That cross-platform play is likely the determining factor. An engine that will allow the team to develop for two platforms simultaneously without having to iterate on new software and a new set of tools will likely speed up the work the team has to do to get the two versions in sync.
“I have been a very loyal fan of this historic franchise since the debut of the first Street Fighter in 1987. This opportunity to help the development team using Unreal Engine 4 for the new title is a great honor for Epic, and I couldn’t be more proud,” said Taka Kawasaki, Territory Manager of Epic Games Japan. “We know that the expectation level of fans is extremely high, so the support staff of both Epic Japan and Epic HQ have been providing dedicated support to help the team realize the very best performance from Unreal Engine 4 and deliver the highest quality experience to players.”
This is the second Japanese fighting game to pick up the Unreal Engine. As Polygon notes, Tekken 7 will also run on Unreal.


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That means that people will be able to watch TV and movie content that has been purchased or rented from iTunes and, presumably, they will also get access to whatever Apple's new streaming content service turns out to be.
The partnership will also result in support for AirPlay 2, which allows users to stream media directly from an Apple device to an Apple TV or other compatible device, for the models of TV in question. So far, iTunes has really only been available through the Apple TV, and bringing it exclusively to Samsung's Smart TVs is kind of a surprising move from Cupertino.
The Verge has raised other questions about the deal, they have questioned whether Apple going to allow Samsung's smart TV tracking to snoop on iTunes viewers?
The app will enable Samsung smart TV users to access their existing iTunes library.
Alien: Blackout Trailer Released for New Mobile Game
But it does suck a bit that this isn't a proper follow up to the excellent Alien Isolation . When we first wrote this article a few years ago, the horror games genre wasn't great.
White House says it's up to Pelosi to end the government shutdown
Trump campaigned on a promise that Mexico would pay for the wall, but Mexico has refused. The stopgap measure is meant to give lawmakers and the White House 30 days to negotiate.
Conor McGregor's year 'off to best start' with birth of 2nd child
He added: "Thank you for the well wishes everybody!" The gender of their new child, along with a name, is yet to be revealed. Conor has posted videos of himself training with Conor Jr as the former two-weight UFC star looks to keep his legacy going.
LAS VEGAS-Apple has for years carefully maintained a walled garden for its streaming video features and services.
The new arrangement will bring iTunes movie and TV content to customers in over 100 countries while over 190 countries will also enjoy the benefits of AirPlay 2 support built in.
Why it matters: As Apple continues to focus on services, eliminating unneeded barriers between platforms will help prevent end users from feeling stuck within a single ecosystem. However, it seems that multiple TV manufacturers will be offering AirPlay 2 support.
With any luck, we'll be seeing a bunch of smart TVs with inbuilt iTunes apps in the near future. "With Apple HomeKit support, customers will be able to control their LG TV using the Home app or by asking Siri".
But what we're most excited about is the AirPlay 2 compatibility. This is to "create a consistent experience across Samsung's platform", said Samsung.


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Islamabad June 21 2023: Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar has said the new scheme had replaced the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and will help drive business between the UK and Pakistan, reducing the need for aid.
According to a press release issued here on Tuesday, Pakistan retains enhanced preferences status and will continue to benefit from duty-free exports to the UK on 94% of goods exported.
The United Kingdom’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) has now entered into effect, providing tariff reductions and simpler terms of trade to Pakistan. It will also remove tariffs on over 156 additional products, and simplify some seasonal tariffs, it added.
Some of the specific goods which benefit most from the DCTS in Pakistan include over £ 250 million ($320 million) of average annual exports to the UK of bedlinen and almost £100 million of jeans which will each receive a 12% reduction in import duty.
The DCTS covers 37 countries in Africa and 26 in Asia. Oceania. Middle East and 2 in the Americas.
The scheme was announced last year, and legislation has since been finalised to bring it into force, Federal Minister of Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar’s visit to the UK this month was vital to bring this into effect for Pakistan.
The total volume of trade in goods and services between the UK and Pakistan each year currently stands at £4.4 billion ($5.63 billion). It is expected that £120 million ($153.6 million) in tariffs will be saved on exports to the UK under the scheme.
The international trading system through the UK’s Trade Centre of Excellence, will provide specialist support to fully participate in the global trading system. This may include support for meeting trade standards and participating in multilateral trade forums.
“This important new scheme will further strengthen the economic ties between our two great countries, helping Pakistan to boost its exports to the UK and benefit from the power of trade for development”, said Syed Naveed Qamar.


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Apple's future beyond the iPhone increasingly involves software services, from Apple Music and iCloud to its new TV Plus video offer and subscription to News Plus magazine. However, an important factor in helping these cloud-based services operate on its nearly 1.5 billion active devices simultaneously is the company's ongoing contract with Amazon, specifically the cloud computing division. from Amazon. According to CNBC, Apple is one of the main customers of Amazon Web Services, with monthly payments to the cloud division totaling more than $ 30 million and increasing.
Now, CNBC reports that Apple has not publicly said that it trusts AWS for more than iCloud. But still, an expense of more than $ 360 million a year means that Apple relies heavily on AWS to operate core parts of its business, although doing so means working with a rival in the future in online video and a current competitor in areas such as artificial intelligence, streaming music and smart home products.
Apple is far from being the only company that runs parts of its cloud on Amazon servers. A series of large technology companies that have come forward to make public this year have revealed in financial documents that they pay Amazon hundreds of millions per year. That includes both Lyft and Pinterest.
Lyft said it promised to pay Amazon 300 million dollars through 2021 due to an ongoing contract, while Pinterest says it will pay Amazon about 750 million dollars at the end of a six-year contract that will expire in 2023. Some other companies are not large enough to operate their own data centers or their own cloud services, such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft, have also publicly disclosed important AWS contracts, including a commitment of more than 1,000 million dollars of Snap Inc. until 2021. Other large technology companies such as Netflix and Spotify have been using AWS for years, making their broadcasting empires dependent on the Amazon cloud.
It is not clear in this case that Apple will require much more AWS computing and, therefore, a larger and more expensive contract. Apple manages a series of proprietary data centers throughout the US UU And it is likely that part, or even most, of your online services will run in those data centers, although the company has never explicitly disclosed this information. Neither Amazon nor Apple were immediately available for comment.
In any case, the size of Apple's commitment to AWS is remarkable, if only to shed light on how much money it costs, at a minimum, to run a service like iCloud that operates on almost 1,500 million devices. For Apple, which is trying to transform itself into a service provider and an entertainment giant that does not have to rely so much on the sale of expensive phones every year, it's an expense that will probably only continue to rise.


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Canada will soon be in the remarkable position of having a third of all of Nordstrom‘s downtown flagship locations. In keeping with the trend of global flagships being magnets for tourists, the Seattle-based retailer is in the process of creating six downtown showpieces. We spoke with retail expert Farla Efros, President of leading consulting firm HRC Advisory, to learn why Canada’s top two retail cities were chosen by Nordstrom for such prominent stores.
Of the six flagship Nordstrom locations, three are existing and are currently being renovated, while three are currently under construction. Renovated locations will see brighter, modern interiors flooded with natural light, as well as new wood and terrazzo floors throughout. New food options will also be available on almost every floor of each store, from small cafes to full-service licensed restaurants. Nordstrom’s President of Stores, Jamie Nordstrom, revealed that the company is inspired by flagships such as Galeries Lafayette in Paris and Selfridges in London, and that the company is spending a fortune to renovate its own stores to reflect international flagship standards.
In the United States, Nordstrom’s overhauled flagships will include the 383,000 square foot downtown Seattle flagship, the 350,000 square foot Westfield San Francisco Center store, and the 272,000 Michigan Avenue Chicago location at The Shops at Northbridge. All locations feature a variety of luxury brand concessions, with the Chicago store featuring Louis Vuitton and Christian Louboutin shops, for example. Mr. Nordstrom says that the company will spend $80 million to complete renovations of its Seattle flagship, as well as spend similar amounts on the other two stores.
A further three downtown Nordstrom flagships are currently under construction, two of them in Canada. The Vancouver flagship, located at Pacific Centre, will open on September 18 of this year. The Toronto Eaton Centre flagship will open in the fall of 2016. The Vancouver store will span about 230,000 square feet, while the Toronto flagship will measure about 213,000 square feet. In the United States, a 315,000 square foot seven-level Nordstrom store is currently under construction in Manhattan and after completion, it is expected to be the company’s top-selling location.
Canada’s thriving downtowns partly explain Nordstrom’s choosing Toronto and Vancouver to house iconic flagships. We spoke with retail expert Farla Efros, President of leading retail consulting firm HRC Advisory, to learn more. Ms. Efros explained that these downtown flagships will serve tourists and locals, as well as downtown ‘wall street’ types who have substantial disposable income. As well, both Canadian cities feature established and productive urban retail centres, similar to the four American cities housing Nordstrom’s downtown flagships.
Ms. Efros described how Toronto Eaton Centre benefits from its central location. The mall is steps away from attractions, thousands of hotel rooms, and it is easily accessible by subway. The mall hosts millions of visitors annually, including an increasing number of tourists, partly due to the low dollar. Given the substantial foot traffic and the fact that Hudson’s Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue‘s Canadian flagships will be in the same complex, it only makes sense that Nordstrom would create its own downtown Toronto showpiece. Furthermore, downtown Toronto is home to over 215,000 residents, many whom are young, educated, ambitious and fashion conscious.
Ms. Efros also described the benefits of Nordstrom’s Pacific Centre location. The mall hosts some of the biggest names in fashion, as well as top-performing Holt Renfrew and Hudson’s Bay locations. Vancouver continues to see very strong tourist numbers from around the world and especially the Pacific Rim, and Pacific Centre is ‘ground zero’ for many of these shoppers. Downtown Vancouver has over 100,000 residents, some with relatively high discretionary incomes. As well, Vancouver is known to have a substantial number of wealthy people, including those with second homes in the city who visit regularly. Nordstrom may have also chosen Vancouver for a flagship, given its relatively short distance from Nordstrom’s Seattle headquarters.


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- Headline consumer price inflation increased to 9.0 per cent in April 2022 from 7.0 per cent in March. Our measure of underlying inflation which excludes 5 per cent of the highest and lowest price changes, increased to 5.7 per cent in April from 5.6 per cent in March.
- Between March and April, the Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels contributed 1.59 percentage points to the headline figure.
- In April, 28.3 per cent of goods and services prices changed, with above 16,000 items recording price increases, while 4.8 per cent of prices were reduced due to sales and 3.9 per cent fell for other reasons.
- Underlying inflation increased in 7 of the 12 UK regions in April. London’s underlying annual inflation rate remained the highest at 6.7 per cent, compared to Wales which had the lowest rate again at 4.6 per cent in April.
- As the war continues to drive international energy and food prices higher, NIESR forecasts inflation to peak in the fourth quarter of 2022 and remain above target through 2023.
- Consumers will continue to be battered by the storm of a higher cost of living during a time when real wages are being significantly eroded. We continue to expect the Bank of England to raise interest rates through 2022, however there are significant risks that the Monetary Policy Committee may deepen the recession NIESR expects at the end of 2022 if rates are hiked rigorously.
“Annual headline CPI inflation increased to 9.0 per cent in April from 7.0 per cent in March. This marks the largest monthly increase since the 1980s due to the ongoing impacts of the war in Ukraine. On the other hand, our measure of underlying inflation, which excludes extreme price movements, only increased by 0.1 percentage point to 5.7 per cent in April from 5.6 per cent in March. As the war continues to drive international energy and food prices higher, NIESR forecasts annual consumer price inflation will peak in the fourth quarter of 2022 and remain above target through 2023. Persistently high inflation and a forecasted shallow recession at the end of 2022 means The Bank of England continues to sail in treacherous seas with a risk of potentially deepening the recession if rates are hiked rigorously."
Associate Economist, Macroeconomic Modelling and Forecasting
See our previous CPI tracker to follow the analysis


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The complaint was released Thursday by Representative Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, chair of the House Appropriations Committee. The MP said she received the complaint this week and called her allegations “extremely disturbing”.
Abbott recalled three popular brands of powdered infant formula in February after reporting that four infants drinking infant formula made at the facility fell ill with rare and serious infections caused by the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii. Two of the babies died. Production at the factory has been halted and remains on hiatus.
The former employee, who worked at the Abbott Laboratories site in Sturgis, said he had seen falsified records “repeatedly” and that in most situations the information was not disclosed while they should have been.
For example, according to the complaint, the employee reported observing underreported or inaccurately described events “to limit or avoid monitoring” and the “failure to keep accurate maintenance records.”
After several samples from a batch of infant formula were found to contain microorganisms, or “microorganisms”, the whistleblower claims the factory performed a timecode deletion, in which the formula produced at around the same time the contaminated samples were discarded, but formula produced outside of these time codes was released for sale without further testing to ensure it was safe for consumption.
In 2020, according to the complaint, the product was not recalled from the market even after management became aware of a packaging integrity issue, an issue which the whistleblower said should have get the manufacturer to pull the product off the shelves and conduct more testing.
“Regarding the document released by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), this former employee was terminated for serious violations of Abbott’s food safety policies. Following the termination, the former employee , through his attorney, has advanced new and growing allegations to multiple authorities. Abbott is reviewing this new document and will thoroughly investigate any new allegations.”
The complaint says the employee was fired for raising safety concerns.
“Others have also raised concerns, some with management but more often between colleagues at the Sturgis site. Given the overriding fear of retaliation, few have been as forthright as the complainant,” according to the complaint. “Ultimately, despite an admirable employment record at Abbott and elsewhere, the grievor was terminated due to his repeated compliance concerns.”
The document says the man’s dismissal is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The complaint also says managers may have “sanitized” the records before they reached FDA inspectors. “Active efforts were undertaken and even celebrated during and after the 2019 FDA audit to prevent auditors from learning of certain events suspected of being associated with the discovery of micros in infant formula at the Sturgis site. “, says the document. He goes on to say that the Sturgis site has continued to allow lax cleaning practices.
“I am deeply concerned about the practices at this Abbott facility and their apparent failure to implement and enforce internal controls at this facility,” DeLauro said in a statement read from the transcript of a committee hearing. credits. “We need to know exactly who in the company knew about this failure and the alleged attempts to hide this information from the FDA.
“I’m also concerned that the FDA reacted far too slowly to this report,” DeLauro said, noting that the agency received the whistleblower’s statement in October but only interviewed the man. in December and had not conducted an in-person inspection of the Sturgis facility until January.
The FDA responded to CNN’s questions about the pace of its response with a statement:
“We are aware that there have been questions about the timeline related to Abbott Nutrition’s infant formula recall. However, this remains an open investigation with many moving parts. Our top priority is to ensure that any recalled product manufactured at the Sturgis, Michigan plant was We are continuing to research and will continue to update our consumer alert as additional consumer safety information becomes available.
“Once the immediate risk to the public has been addressed, we will conduct a review and, as outlined in our recently released Foodborne Outbreak Response Enhancement Plan, we will incorporate performance measures into the entire FDA food program to better assess the timeliness and effectiveness of outbreak and regulatory investigation activities,” the statement read.
Cronobacter infections in infants are almost always caused by consuming contaminated powdered formula. Cronobacter can be introduced during manufacturing but also after opening formula containers at home.
Formula types included in the recall include Similac Sensitive, Similac Pro-total Comfort, Similac Advance and Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum and EleCare.
Abbott Nutrition is also the exclusive provider for many state WIC programs. WIC, or Special Supplemental Nutrition Programs for Women, Infants, and Children, provides food for low-income mothers and their young children.
In a preliminary assessment, the FDA determined that Abbott failed to take steps to prevent product contamination during manufacturing.
“It is important to note that no Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella were found in any of our consumer product testing. Cronobacter sakazakii microbes from reported cases,” the statement read.
Abbott added in Thursday’s statement, “A thorough review of all available data indicates that infant formula produced at our Sturgis facility is unlikely to be the source of infection in the reported cases and is not there was no epidemic caused by the establishment’s products”.


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Apple said on Monday all its 270 US stores have been opened, the first time in almost a year after it was forced to shutter several outlets because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company has been cautious in re-opening its retail stores, using a team that includes medical experts to make its own calls on a county-by-county basis and sometimes shuttering stores again when local rules would otherwise allow stores to operate.
The iPhone maker has also expanded its ‘Express’ format, a wall built in front of the main store with sales counters protected by plexiglass and a few shelves of accessories such as phone cases and AirPods.
Apple may also host its Spring Event 2021 sometime in March. While the Cupertino company hasn’t officially revealed anything about the event yet, it is expected to bring upgrades to iPad Pro, AirPods, and Apple TV this time. The company is also speculated to bring its anticipated AirTags and an all-new iMac with a refreshed design. Apple could also surprise us with something else at this year’s March event.
In 2019, Apple used its spring event to bring new services, namely the Apple TV+, Apple Card, Apple News+, and Apple Arcade. The company didn’t host a similar event in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, though it did make certain new announcements. Those included the iPad Pro 2020 and the last MacBook Air based on Intel processors.
The Apple spring event 2021 may take place as early as March 16, if we were to believe some rumours. Apple is, however, yet to send invites and confirm the exact date.
Is Samsung Galaxy F62 the best phone under Rs. 25,000? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.


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The final GDT auction result for the 2017/18 season is a positive end to what has been a challenging year for the dairy industry.
Fonterra Chairman John Wilson spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay about Tuesday night's GDT auction and the prospect of a good forecast payout for 2018-19.
The GDT price index rose 1.9% from the previous auction two weeks ago and whole milk powder gained 0.2% to US$3,226 a tonne.
"It's good to see a good strong balanced GDT," says Wilson, who reports Fonterra farmers are "happy with how their farms are."
Also in today's interview: John Wilson talks about international commodity prices for dairy goods and the hunt for Fonterra's new CEO.


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Deflation, deflation everywhere... except for those 43 million Americans who are being slammed with rent inflation soaring at just over 8% every year, the highest on record.
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the official recession arbiter, the US economy is currently at its fourth longest expansion in history. By the sheer nature of a capitalistic society with its inherent cyclicality it is a safe bet that a new economic recession will hit in the not too distant future. We have argued since June last year that the next recession is imminent and we now feel increasingly confident that our prediction will come true before November’s Presidential Election. Even mainstream forecasters seem to jump on the increasingly likely recession-bandwagon.
If there was some confusion why the Atlanta Fed recently revised its GDP Nowcast higher following the recent retail sales miss, that confusion will be even more acute today when moments ago the Atlanta Fed plugged today's weaker than expected durable goods print (and downward revision to past month's data), and ended up with... a GDP forecast that was higher than previously, or an increase from 0.3% to 0.4%.
$13,903,107,629,266. Can the nation afford this much debt? This much we have learned about debt after 40 years of writing and study: It is better not to incur it. Once it is incurred, it is better to pay it off. America, we have a problem.
The Winter of 2015-2016, which came to an end a few weeks ago, has been officially designated as the mildest in the U.S. in 121 years according to NOAA. While this fact will certainly add a major talking point in the global warming debate, it should also be front and center in the current economic discussion. The fact that it isn’t is testament to the blatantly self-serving manner in which economic cheerleaders blame the weather when it’s convenient, but ignore it when it’s not.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” – Ron Paul
Something ugly this way comes. As we noted last week, despite proclamations that any weakness in US spending or economic data is merely seasonal or transitory, BofA's credit and debit card spending data revealed that sales were notably weak. Today we get further confirmation of what Retail ETF investors have been seeing for a while as Johnson-Redbook reported a 2.8% plunge in Same-Store-Sales - the worst start to an April since 2005.
The systematic destruction of the American way of life is happening all around us, and yet most people have no idea what is happening.
The problem with forward earnings estimates is that they consistently overestimate reality by roughly 33% historically. The illusion of“permanent liquidity,” and the belief of sustained economic growth, despite slowing in China, Japan, and the Eurozone, has emboldened analysts to continue push estimates of corporate profit growth higher. Even now, as the earnings recession deepens, hopes of a sharp rebound in profitability remains ebullient despite the lack of any signs of economic re-acceleration.
It appears a few children were left behind...
While big banks blame the collapse in Q1 GDP on "residual seasonality" (more on that later), with BofA recently slashing its Q1 estimate from as much as 2.7% to just 0.2%, the reality is that something is not well with the US consumer. The latest proof of this comes from the most recent Bank of America credit and debt card spending data, which reveals that sales were once again down 0.1% yoy.
Following this morning's disappointing trade data (but... but... surveys showed that the workers in the service sector are more optimistic... just ignore the actual hard data) we asked if today's Atlanta Fed GDP update would be above or below 0.3%: 'Atlanta Fed Q1 GDP update today: over/under on 0.3%." Moments ago we got the answer: "The GDPNow model forecast for real GDP growth (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the first quarter of 2016 is 0.4 percent on April 5, down from 0.7 percent on April 1"
As of this moment, the Atlanta Fed calculates Q1 GDP to be -0.7% (Bank of America has it at 0.6%). We expect this number to be promptly revised even lower following the latest disappointing trade data from the US, when moments ago the BEA reported that the US February deficit rose from $45.9BN to $47.1BN, missing the $46.2BN consensus estimate. This was the largest monthly deficit since August 2015's $50.5BN, and the number is likely only going to increase as the US is once again forced to start importing more oil with its own shale industry increasingly mothballed.
It is our mission to rebut any mainstream article that spreads misinformation about gold and/or shows a gross misunderstanding of monetary history. Matt O’Brien argues in the Washington Post that a “gold-backed dollar would have been a much more volatile one” and that “[gold]…has nothing to do with the price of food or housing.“ We show in a few simple charts why Matt O’Brien’s arguments are misguided, misinformed and just plain wrong.
Just over three months after the authorities lifted the four-decade ban on crude oil exports, the U.S. has actually exported less this year than it did over the same period the year before, when the ban was still in place.


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Look for more demand for crops with specific attributes in 2012
For centuries, corn, soybeans and other crops have been produced and marketed for commodity channels. In the future, the focus will shift to growing varieties with attributes for specific markets. Actually, the future is now.
This past month, Pioneer Hi-Bred and Bunge North America announced a plan for Ohio growers of Plenish high-oleic soybeans. In 2012, they will be paid a base premium of 50¢ per bushel plus an additional 40¢ stewardship premium to compensate for strict delivery procedures at designated times.
Because Plenish has no trans fat, 20% less saturated fat than commod-ity oil and increases the stability of the oil, it might allow the industry to reclaim millions of acres that were lost for food processing when the trans fat issue emerged in 2006, says Russ Sanders, director of Pioneer enhanced oils.
"We have other products long-term in the pipeline, such as products to increase the meal and oil content," he adds.
The push for crops with specific attributes started with low-linoleic soybeans, says Ray Loucks, president of IOM Grain LLC. "Now corn has come a long way with increases in protein, oil content and digestibility. There is more of that to come, but there will always be a No. 2 market," he adds.
Loucks contracts with farmers to grow varieties with specific traits for the food industry at a premium. Today it is all GMO-free, although he sees that possibly changing in the future once the food industry relaxes its concerns. At that point, it will be far easier to develop varieties with additional traits for the industry, he says.
New Markets. "The value-added grain industry now might be coming of age," says Jonathan Bryant, BASF Plant Science vice president of business management. The primary reason, he says, is high commodity prices. With livestock, for example, feed comprises as much as 70% of production costs, which has spurred producers to look into buying based on quality, not just on price per bushel of corn and soybean meal.
Bryant is seeing more interest in value-added markets from larger-acreage farmers because they are big enough to segregate products.
In addition, large hog and poultry operations are looking at contracting with grain producers.
New hedging tools also might be coming as markets change. Just this year, CME Group—the holding company for the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New York Mercantile Exchange and the Commodity Exchange—introduced weekly options for corn, soybeans, wheat, live cattle and soybean oil. The company will continue to explore new products, says Fred Seamon, associate director of commodity research and product development.
As new niche markets are developed, however, one important question is whether they need futures contracts. "Corn high in starch is a niche product, but I don’t know that we need a futures contract. People typically prefer our corn contract," Seamon says.
Marketing products are also being developed for the cash market. Farms Technology LLC and Pioneer, which has taken an equity position in the company, have created what they call the Dynamic Pricing Platform. This marketing tool allows grain buyers and farmers to electronically make offers and bids for specific prices 24 hours a day; these are automatically executed when the posted price requests are met.
|Plenish high-oleic soybeans, which have no trans fat and 20% less saturated fat than commodity oil, might help reclaim acres lost for food processing.
A Road Map. Frayne Olson, an ag economist at North Dakota State University, looks to smaller market crops, such as sunflowers, malting barley, peas and dry edible beans, to provide a road map for how specialty, value-added corn and soybean marketing systems could work.
In these smaller markets, the pricing structure includes a contract that calls for certain quality attributes.
If producers exceed those, they are paid an additional premium; if the load falls short of what the contract calls for, there’s a deduction.
While Olson expects farmers to be paid premiums for value-added crops to offset additional risk and handling costs, he still looks for farmers to use traditional marketing tools to hedge their production.
Another issue, Olson says, is that new ways of storing and processing grain will have to be developed to handle value-added grain. "For example, elevators have been designed to handle a lot of grain in a hurry," he notes.
"As we look at characteristics such as soybean crush and oil, I see us backing away from commodity pricing to attract value-added crops," says Chad Hart, an ag economist at Iowa State University. Even though he looks for fewer crops to be marketed as commodities, he expects half of the grain trade to remain a commodity business.
In the next five to 10 years, Hart sees a push for crops with more specialized attributes. One ethanol plant, for example, has explored paying farmers a premium for high-lysine corn so the dried distillers’ grains would have more value for pork production.
According to Mark Scholl, president and owner of J&M Scholl, "we’ll be looking at components more in the future—starch, oil, fiber, protein and amino acids. Corn is a great transport agent for these components."
We might see farmers producing grain for a component value instead of a flat dollars-and-cents amount per bushel, he adds.
For an example of how corn and soybeans could change, look at the cotton industry, Scholl says. Cotton used to be a commodity industry, but it has transformed into an industry in which producers are paid based on variability and quality for a specific price.
Scholl sees more contracting in the years ahead between grain and livestock producers to increase transparency. He also sees more contracting with export markets and individual farmers or a group of farmers for a certain number of acres. "The benefit under such schemes is the opportunity to increase profitability," he adds.


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The power of the blockchain to change the world for the better is undeniable. Its growth has been astronomical. Between 2014 and 2015, over $800 million has been injected into startups related to blockchain.
An update released by the International Data Corp. indicated that Blockchain solutions are expected to grow by 75% through to 2022. The update on its worldwide Semiannual Blockchain Spending Guide shows that the solutions’ annual global spending would reach $11.7 billion.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain was invented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. It was first, a public transaction verification database for the premier cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. Information on its network is mathematically encrypted as a ‘block’ and added to a chain of records.
It is now estimated that blockchain investments will hit a whopping $19.9 billion in global revenues by 2023. In December 2018, UNICEF announced a $100,000 Innovation Fund for the first cohort of blockchain investments in six companies focused on blockchain innovation.
How sustainable blockchain options can be achieved
A new block in blockchain is usually validated through consensus protocols before it is added to the chain. This is what makes blockchain such a powerful force for change and innovation. This system hinders double spending and fraud.
To modify blockchain records, a person would have to have the consensus of every validator on the chain. There would then be the need to alter all the subsequent records on the massive network. Unlike paper processes, this system is transparent, consistent and readily available to all parties involved.
Every blockchain transaction has to be verified by the chain before it is recorded. There is also encryption and linking processes whereby new data is stored on a network of computers rather than a server. This process makes hacking of information much harder. Furthermore sensitive information stored through the network is safely protected.
It is very challenging to trace the origins of products traded along complex chains. Not so on blockchain. The existence of an audit trail on the platform builds trust since it shows the source of an asset and its every stop.
The level of human error and slow speed witnessed in classic paper heavy transactions is unseen in blockchain processes. There is a single digital record shared amongst many participants, building trust and efficiency.
Without middlemen and third parties, the cost of doing business becomes relatively cheaper. The traditional methods for transacting require a trusted third party to complete a transaction. This could either be a bank, a government agency or an online platform.
Blockchain eliminates the need for a middleman thus speeding the process as well as minimizing costs. This further eliminates double spend problems for parties in a transaction.
How sustainable is blockchain without crypto?
According to a survey by the World Economic Forum, 10% of the world’s GDP will be stored on the blockchain by 2027. This is reified by Mckinsey and Company on the strategic value of blockchain in businesses. There are so far more than half a million reports published about the technology and its potential implications.
Many world governments are actively studying and releasing innovations on the technology and its usage. Today, blockchain investments have transformed many sectors of the economies of the world. The most notable disruptions are in the areas of insurance, real estate, health care, supply chain, IoT, banking, Fintech and logistics.
In the financial sector, for example, blockchain’s ability to verify and transfer assets and information fast and securely has been very transformative. It is no wonder then that 90% of all major North American, Australian and European banks are investing in blockchain technology.
BurstleIQ is a blockchain based startup, that won the 2018 Red Herring award. The firm has combined the power of big data, the processing prowess of Artificial Intelligence and blockchain’s security to create a health data platform like no other. It links B2B digital health services, government, pharma, providers, consumers and developers on its platform.
Shivom, an artificial intelligence and blockchain based firm recently raised $32 million to build a platform that analyses and protects genomic data. Through its platform, it offers an integrated solution for genome data donors and patients where genomes are stored securely. This also provides a marketplace that is open for other providers such as research institutions, insurance companies, pharmaceuticals and patients support groups.
Orbs, a network powered by virtual chain technology is a “consumer-ready blockchain” recently raised $118 million to build large scale consumer applications. Its goal of commoditizing blockchain infrastructure via a fully decentralized public platform enables an easier transition to blockchain for the industry in totality.
In the insurance sector, NexusMutual has designed a blockchain based risk sharing platform. This platform will allow its users to forego insurance companies, and instead rely on smart contracts to manage claims.
B3i, the Blockchain Insurance Industry Initiative on the other hand, is a trading platform for the reinsurance and insurance sector that is designed to improve efficiency in the industry and improve the quality and speed of transactions.
In the real estate market, Propy has revolutionized real estate acquisition via the blockchain. By enhancing and providing trust, speed and security, an individual can now buy their desired home via Propy. In the supply chain market, BlockVerify has built a solution that prevents fraud. Companies can access tools on this platform that restrict the distribution of counterfeit, stolen or diverted goods.
Although the blockchain revolution has been hampered by many hindrances, including regulation problems and a lack of awareness, it has made vast strides in its adoption. There is a lot of ideology clashes that are slowing the uptake of the technology.
However, major industry players and institutional investors like Deloitte, IBM, Accenture
Featured image via BigStock.


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Starbucks pursues e-commerce goals
31 January 2014 at 12:33 by Simon Crisp
While most people know Starbucks as a ubiquitous high street coffee house chain, it has ambitions to ...
Online shopping tops poll of tech innovations
30 January 2014 at 10:36 by Graham Miller
British consumers have cast votes to rate the most significant technology to have emerged so far in ...
Study finds retail really can be therapeutic
29 January 2014 at 16:03 by Graham Miller
There are some people who claim that going shopping makes them feel better and benefits their life, ...
Poundland creator to take budget shopping online
28 January 2014 at 11:24 by David Aiken
Steve Smith is the man who came up with the concept for Poundland, one of the UK's most successful ...
Online shopping helps Royal Mail enjoy bumper Christmas period
27 January 2014 at 16:02 by Simon Crisp
Last month, roughly 115 million packages were delivered by Royal Mail, with the UK's love of ...
Digital fitting rooms rise to prominence
24 January 2014 at 09:55 by Sarah Collinson
The concept of being able to try on clothes without actually wearing them in person may sound like ...
eBay bans auctioning of Bitcoin currency
23 January 2014 at 10:43 by Mike Price
Digital crypto currency, Bitcoin, has been hitting the headlines in the past couple of months thanks ...
Amazon touts predictive online shopping and shipping
22 January 2014 at 11:44 by Mike Price
Amazon has been a leader in the e-commerce market for some time, with low prices and an unbeatable ...
British e-commerce firms thrive thanks to overseas sales
21 January 2014 at 10:29 by Sarah Collinson
New stats published by OC&C Strategy Consultants suggest that companies which are based in the ...
Retailers must improve m-commerce sites or continue to lose sales
20 January 2014 at 10:00 by Graham Miller
British retailers which offer people the chance to buy products using safe shopping online need to ...
Mobile shopping doubles
17 January 2014 at 11:41 by Paul Tissington
Last month the number of people using smartphones and tablets to carry out safe shopping online was ...
Festive success for ASOS and others
16 January 2014 at 09:55 by Simon Crisp
Yet more retailers dealing with safe shopping online have announced that they enjoyed promising ...
High street experience encourages disabled consumers to use e-commerce sites
15 January 2014 at 12:57 by David Aiken
A new poll conducted by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign has found that shoppers with disabilities ...
Retailers unprepared for booming e-commerce sales
14 January 2014 at 12:01 by Paul Tissington
A number of the biggest retailers in the UK have expressed surprise at the extent to which consumers ...
Record Christmas e-commerce activity confirmed for 2013
13 January 2014 at 14:39 by Graham Miller
The British Retail Consortium is the latest industry body to reveal that Christmas last year was the ...
Amazon Prime rises to prominence
10 January 2014 at 13:41 by Mike Price
This month new figures published by Amazon, revealed that its Prime service has become more popular ...
Female shoppers use online shopping to make money go further
09 January 2014 at 12:14 by Simon Crisp
A new report form supermarket giant, Asda, has revealed that women are harnessing safe shopping ...
Growth of online shopping makes supermarket change tactics
08 January 2014 at 10:55 by Mike Price
A number of major British supermarket chains are having to change the way they operate, to keep up ...
Online shopping fuels popularity of colourful clothes
07 January 2014 at 10:28 by Sarah Collinson
A new report has revealed that bright, vivid dresses and those with colourful prints are becoming ...
House of Fraser records bumper e-commerce sales at Christmas
06 January 2014 at 14:59 by Simon Crisp
House of Fraser is one of a small number of high street chains which not only enjoyed significant ...
John Lewis boasts impressive online sales performance
03 January 2014 at 21:35 by Graham Miller
The festive period was a great one for safe shopping online, with consumers getting great prices in ...
Amazon makes m-commerce acquisition
02 January 2014 at 11:30 by Paul Tissington
Amazon could soon be butting heads with companies like PayPal, following its alleged acquisition of ...


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The pharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) market in India is experiencing substantial growth and transformation, positioning the country as a global hub for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. This growth is led by several key factors that have synergistically fueled the expansion of the CDMO industry. First and foremost, India's well-established pharmaceutical industry, renowned for its generic drug production, is now diversifying into the development and manufacturing of innovative and complex drug products.
The Indian... >>More
Tarun Kumar, CEO, Lord’s Mark Biotech
Dr. TG Chandrashekar, Executive Director, Kusum Group of Companies
Venkatnarayanan K, Sr. Vice President & Head - Customer Services Zone, India Siemens Healthineers
Vinay Jain, Chief Operating Officer, Onelife Nutriscience
Sourabh Tiwari, CIO, Meril Group of Companies


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By Manny Robinson
With annual net revenue of 66 billion dollars, the tobacco industry is one of the most profitable markets in the world. Within the last decade, the world of smoking and tobacco introduced vaporizing devices, better known as Electronic Cigarettes, and with their boom in popularity, they are projected to pass cigarette sales within the next decade. This new smoking commodity can be found in nearly any U.S. gas station and some doctors state that electronic cigarettes offer the public a potential health benefit. Although this 21st century product is gaining the attention of smokers and health analysts alike, much of electronic cigarettes and their potential risks are still unknown to the public.
The act of tobacco smoking has been popular in the Americas and many other places across the world, such as Europe and Asia, since 5000 B.C. When tobacco is smoked, it releases nicotine compounds. Nicotine, an addictive stimulant, is what causes smokers to crave cigarettes. Studies indicate long-term exposure to tobacco smoke, especially the type found in cigarettes and cigars, are linked to harmful lung and heart diseases, which can cause cancer.
Until recently, no safer alternative has been tested successful to not only stop the complete use of nicotine altogether, but some U.S. scientists report electronic cigarettes to be nearly harmless. These devices come in many different shapes and sizes, ranging anywhere from $10-$150, with the option to add different flavor cartilages, such as strawberry and grape. The way electronic cigarettes operate is by heating up a food-grade, oil based compound with an electric current from a rechargeable or disposable battery. The oil based compounds come in a variety of nicotine levels, as well as the option of non-nicotine, to help heavy tobacco smokers ease off their habit of heavy nicotine use.
Various studies and medical journals, such as Dr. Farsalino’s blog and the ECLAT study, concluded that e-cigarettes not only contribute to the reduction/abstinence of nicotine, but also significantly help in the reduction of high blood pressure in those who smoke regularly. Additionally, Dr. Maciej Goniewicz, an assistant professor of oncology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, states in her Tobacco and Research Study published online in April of 2012 that e-cigarettes contain far less nicotine and toxins when compared to regular cigarettes. Furthermore, “Tests show the levels of dangerous chemicals they give off are a fraction of what one would get from a real cigarette”. Based on the short-term studies that have been conducted within the last decade, scientists believe “vaping” these nicotine oils opposed to inhaling the harsh tar and smoke produced from tobacco products is significantly safer and better for an individual’s lungs and overall health.
Although short-term studies have shown electronic cigarettes to be less harmful, and possibly the safest method to consume nicotine, they simply have not been on the market long enough for research groups and institutions to conduct longitudinal experiments. Another skepticism critics have about e-cigarettes is that they are promoted to the youth. The use of electronic cigarettes in children grades 6-12 has increased from 6%-20% over the last 3 years. Statistics like this and increased advertisements of e-cigarettes promoting how safe they are, along with customized flavoring options which are appealing to children, creates questions for many analysts. Medical experts ask if they are benefitting the smoking community or are they reversing the movement the government created when they invested countless dollars and years into studies and campaigns that tried to stop the use of harmful tobacco products altogether.
With the expansion of electronic cigarettes taking over the tobacco market’s share of regular cigarettes, many views and perspectives have been casted about this 21st century technology brought into the world of smoking. As for now, American institutes and scientists can only confirm that electronic cigarettes contain far less harmful chemicals than standard cigarettes, but that is not to say that they are completely safe. The only valid way to test all the effects of electronic cigarettes and the chemicals released from vaporizing is through more sophisticated research and long-term studies. That is something smokers look to the future for and rely on world-renowned scientists to explore.


text: Horizon Beverage Co. of Rhode Island’s Copley division added Georgetown, Kentucky-based Blue Run Spirits, creators of award-winning bourbons and rye whiskeys. Crafted by Blue Run Liquid Adviser and Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge and Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammoneac, each expression is housed in packaging adorned with Blue Run’s signature butterfly medallion, marking the metamorphosis of a centuries-old industry. Blue Run Spirits was founded in 2020 and was named one of the 50 most innovative companies in America by Bloomberg. Blue Run Spirits has introduced 13 bourbon and rye whiskey releases since the company’s launch, selling 21,000 9-liter cases in 2022, a 300% year-over-year increase. It is forecasting sales of 32,000 9-liter cases in 2023. Blue Run will invest nearly $51 million in a 35,000-square-foot distillery and a 20,000-square-foot rickhouse in Georgetown.


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Apple is reportedly planning to roll out its new App Tracking Transparency tool sometime in “early spring”, following months of delays and criticism from competitors.
The tool forces app developers to ask an iPhone user’s permission before the app tracks their activity “across other companies’ apps and websites”. The user will see a notification pop-up on their screen and will be able to decide whether they want to opt in or out of sharing their data with other firms to aid in advertising.
The App Tracking Transparency marks a significant change to Apple’s privacy settings, shifting the responsibility from the user to the app developer. Apple previously only let users disable this kind of tracking manually in their iPhone settings.
According to Reuters, the tool is now expected to be rolled out for most iPhone users as soon as “early spring”, but Apple didn’t provide a specific date. CEO Tim Cook is expected to provide further details later today at the Computers, Privacy and Data Protection conference in Brussels, which coincides with Data Protection Day.
Building a modern information governance strategy
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The update has received criticism from other tech giants, with Facebook executives telling investors on Wednesday that the change could have a negative effect on the company’s revenues in the first quarter. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also accused Apple of having “every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work”.
Earlier this week, Google said that it would cease using an Apple-supplied tracking identifier which would require it to show the warning. However, it also added that it is working with Apple to improve an alternative offering which would help advertisers attribute paid clicks and taps without engaging in what Apple classifies as tracking.
Google also recently released a new tool which would improve users’ privacy. On Monday, it announced that Chrome will now automatically hide the content of web pop-up notifications, including email notifications, Google Chat messages, and other third party websites, when the user is sharing their screen.
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Designing effective security awareness and training programmes
See the original article here: ITPro


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Social-media savvy airline Virgin America, which used Twitter to announce its expansion to Toronto, is making use of location-based rewards network Loopt Star to draw attention to its next international expansion: Mexico.
Virgin America will be running non-stop flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Cabo (SJD) and from Los Angeles (LAX) to Cancun (CUN) beginning this winter. In addition to special three-day fare sale, Loopt Star members can check in at select locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles to get a free ticket for a friend when they purchase one ticket for themselves today.
This is how it works:
Loopt Star members can check in at LAX, SFO or at one of the special Virgin America taco trucks between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. PT today.
You check in using the Loopt Star iPhone app, so download the app if you don't have it already (it's free).
In addition to two-for-one fares to Mexico, the taco truck will also be offering two-for-one tacos for $1. All proceeds will go to the San Francisco Animal Care and Control Chihuahua rescue program.
The L.A. taco truck will be at the Border Grill at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard.
In San Francisco, the taco truck will be at Los Campadres at 100 Folsom Street.
Reward Space Evolving Fast
As competition in the geolocation marketing space heats up, companies are ramping up the value of rewards they offer to users of these location-based services.
Loopt is really upping the ante with this Virgin America promotion; we expect this will drive a wave of new signups in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas.
Fighting Hard for Distinction
As we said earlier this spring, we think that the ideas behind Loopt Star are solid. By acting as a digital loyalty card program and using Facebook as its social graph, the service was actually a bit ahead of the curve.
However, now that Facebook Places makes it easier for other geolocation services to tap into Facebook, and as the rewards space gets hyper-competitive, Loopt and its sub-brands like Loopt Star need to continue to fight for distinction.
A great way to do that is by partnering with socially savvy companies like Virgin America and to offer value-driven rewards.
What do you think of this latest promotion? Where do you see geolocation and loyalty programs converging in the future?


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Volvo Canada Announces October Sales
TORONTO, ON. November 4, 2014 - Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. reported total sales of 405 units in October 2014 compared to 358 sales in October 2013, representing an increase of 13.1%.
The S60 model generated the most sales in October, accounting for 127 units sold. The XC60 also generated strong sales, with 122 units sold.
Year to date, Volvo Canada has sold a total of 3,882 in 2014 compared to 4,085 vehicles sold year to date in 2013. This represents a decrease of 5.2% compared to the year-to-date sales from 2013.
“Sales generated this past month began what Volvo Canada expects to be successful fourth quarter,” said Marc Engelen, President & CEO, Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. “S60 and XC60 sales attributed to a strong October as we continue to look ahead to new additions to our model lineup in 2015.”
Additionally, CPO sales in October totaled 129 units, an increase of 1.6% versus 2013.
About Volvo Canada
Volvo Cars of Canada Corporation is part of the Volvo Car Group of Gothenburg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 38 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The S60, S80 and XC60 are among only 22 vehicles that have been awarded the prestigious new Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). Volvo Cars is committed to Vision 2020, our goal that no one shall be killed or seriously injured in a Volvo by the year 2020.


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“Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Fantasy” will run from January 13 through March 20, 2015 at Tokyo Disney Resort. The event will be themed to the hit film “Frozen” and offer opportunities to experience the world of ice and snow created by Elsa’s magical power.
During the event, the nighttime entertainment “Once Upon a Time” will be presented in a special version that features new scenes based on Disney’s “Frozen.” And during the day, Anna and Elsa will make appearances and greet guests along the parade route to the music of “Let It Go,” the theme song from the film.
This special winter event will be presented only at Tokyo Disney Resort.
The mystery of who has been painting the art in the Mediterranean Harbor area of Tokyo Disney Sea has finally been solved. Tokyo Disneyland Resort recently introduced Gelatoni, a Disney friend of Duffy. This cool cat has an artistic flair for creating new masterpieces for all to enjoy. Our Disney fans were very eager to scoop up anything with Gelatoni on it including a tote, shopping bag, memo pad, writing pen and more. Those of you visiting the Tokyo Disneyland Resort will even find a special Gelatoni plush to add to your collection.
As you may know, Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates its 9th anniversary this year. Here’s a look at some of the commemorative merchandise that has been created in honor of this special celebration including souvenirs, apparel, memorabilia, accessories, dolls, limited edition pins and more.
This month Disneyland Paris introduces PhotoPass+ containing everything you need to access high resolution digital image files of your vacation memories. All of the photos taken by our Disney PhotoPass photographers, or on attractions equipped with Image Capture, may be linked to your PhotoPass+.
In addition, for the first time at Disney Parks, Disneyland Paris has debuted a new Disney PhotoPass App that allows you to download all of the pictures taken by our photographers and attractions photos directly to your mobile device.
Where will our next shopping trip take us? Keep watching the Disney Parks Blog to find out.
For more from the “Window Shopping at Disney Parks Around the World” series, visit the posts below:
One year ago this month, we were looking back with fondness on a Disney Legend and looking ahead with excitement to new experiences coming to Magic Kingdom Park. Let’s take a look at what we were working on April 2013 here on the Disney Parks Blog.
Our friends at Tokyo Disney Resort celebrated an amazing milestone earlier this month, welcoming their 600 millionth guest on April 12.
So who was the 600 millionth guest? Yumi Sakai, who was visiting the park with her husband and two children. To celebrate, Yumi was given flowers and asked to help lead a special ceremony alongside Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. She also received a certificate, three years of park admission, Mickey Mouse and Duffy plushes, and more.
Disney Tanabata Days, the traditional Japanese event also known as the Star Festival, will return to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea parks June 24 through July 7.
The festival has been offered at Tokyo Disneyland Park since 1997, but this year will be expanded for the first time to Tokyo DisneySea Park.
At Tokyo DisneySea, guests can enjoy a Wishing Place at the New York area of American Waterfront where they can write wishes on Wishing Cards and then tie them onto Tanabata decorations. Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters will also dress in Tanabata-themed costumes themed to greet guests.
Over at Tokyo Disneyland, guests can find a Wishing Place in the center of World Bazaar. Mickey and Minnie Mouse will ride on rickshaws along the parade route and can also be spotted in a “Tanabata Greeting” mini parade.
In addition to the theme parks, the Disney Resort Line Monorail stations will also offer a Wishing Places and original Wishing Cards.
We’re kicking off the global celebration early on Thursday with a live sing-along with ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” in Times Square in New York City. If you’re in the area, be sure to check it out. In addition to Times Square, GMA will feature choirs singing live at the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, plus a choir at the Unisphere in New York at the original location of the 1964 World’s Fair, where “it’s a small world” debuted.
During the day, you’re also invited to join guests and cast members at Disney Parks around the globe for a historic “it’s a small world” sing-along at our global online hub, SmallWorld50.com. And as Erin shared last week, you can also join us for our Google Hangout event with Disney Legend Richard Sherman, live at 1 p.m. PDT from Disneyland park. The event can be seen live here and in the “Gallery” section of SmallWorld50.com.
Throughout the day, guests at Disney Parks will be participating in the celebration at all five resorts around the world. Here are the details for each park:
At the Walt Disney World Resort, hundreds of Magic Kingdom Park guests are joining in the song during a special “pre-parade” before the “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade.”
Throughout the day, in-park performers – the Dapper Dans, Coke Corner Pianist, Notorious Banjo Brothers, Royal Majesty Maker Musicians and Main Street Philharmonic – are scheduled to include “it’s a small world” in their appearances.
At the Disneyland Resort, songwriter Richard Sherman is scheduled to appear in a sing-along cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A., conducting hundreds of Disneyland guests in their “it’s a small world” sing-along.
At Hong Kong Disneyland, cast members and students from Hong Kong Children’s Choir are singing “it’s a small world” in Cantonese.
At Tokyo Disneyland, cast members and guests are gathering to sing in Japanese at Tokyo Disneyland.
At Disneyland Paris, a “blue carpet” event featuring international cast members is planned for on Main Street, U.S.A., with students from the European International School, singing a multi-language version of the iconic anthem in front of “it’s a small world.”
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was Walt Disney’s first animated star, appearing on screen before even Mickey Mouse. After a long absence, Oswald is back home with his Disney family and has made his official debut at Disney Parks! Arriving just in time for the spring celebrations at Tokyo Disney Resort, Oswald has found a special place to meet his fans and make new friends.
Over the years, Oswald’s adventures have taken him around the world and through a variety of occupations, from trolley conductor to lifeguard. In the Cape Cod section of American Waterfront at Tokyo DisneySea, he’s playing the role of a farmer greeting friends at his charming little produce stand, stocked with fresh eggs and flowers for the season.
Oswald considers himself one lucky rabbit to have finally made it to Disney Parks, and he’s just silly with excitement to meet everyone coming to Tokyo Disney Resort this spring!


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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Sony Corp will know by Oct. 26 whether EU antitrust regulators will wave through its $2.3 billion (1.7 billion pounds) offer for control of EMI to become the world’s largest music publisher, according to a filing on the European Commission website on Monday.
Sony, which announced the deal in May, sought EU approval for the deal last Friday.
The proposed acquisition is the boldest strategy move by its new CEO Kenichiro Yoshida, which would give it rights to 2.1 million songs from artists such as Drake, Sam Smith, Pharrell Williams and Sia.
EU antitrust enforcers can clear the deal with or without concessions or open a four-month investigation if they have serious concerns.
The Japanese group, which currently owns a 30 percent stake in EMI, wants to buy Mubalada Investment Co’s 60 percent stake. In July, it acquired the estate of Michael Jackson’s minority share of EMI.
The music industry has grown in recent years, driven by the popularity of fixed-price music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, SoundCloud and YouTube.
Independent music labels group Impala has criticised the Sony deal, saying it would give the company too much market power in both its recording and publishing catalogues, allow it to promote its global repertoire both on radio and in playlists, and be better able to attract songwriters with better terms.
“This transaction would disrupt competition and harm consumers in an already overly concentrated music market. Given recent precedents set by the European Commission, we believe Sony’s takeover will face stiff opposition,” said Helen Smith, Impala’s executive chair.
The Commission approved Sony and Mubadala’s acquisition of EMI’s music publishing business in 2012 in return for hefty concessions, including the sale of the worldwide publishing rights to four catalogues and the musical works of 12 composers.
Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, editing by Louise Heavens
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Oculus Rift will cost $200 cheaper
Oculus has launched a special offer called “Summer of Rift”, offering Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets together with two Touch controllers for $399.
The reduction of prices was already seen in March of 2017: the cost dropped from $798 to $598. Currently, the company has again decided to surprise customers, making another $200 discount.
As a result, Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets became two times cheaper starting from the release date in 2016.
The special offer will last for six weeks. It is still unknown whether it will be available in the CIS countries.
The total but short-term price reduction is connected to the fact that Oculus is planning a grandiose event this autumn. Insiders state that developers will present a cutting-edge innovation. We can only guess whether it will be Oculus Rift v.2 or an absolutely new gadget.
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