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Click For Photo: https://wolfstreet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/US-Uber-2018-revenues-losses.png
But it had big tax benefits and one-time gains. And Uber Eats is hot, so to speak.
Uber Technologies’ IPO filing was made public today. The 330-page or so S-1 filing disclosed all kinds of goodies, including detailed but still unaudited pro-forma financial statements as of December 31, 2018, huge losses from operations, big tax benefits, large gains from the sale of some operations, stagnating rideshare revenues, and an enormous list of chilling “Risk Factors” that go beyond the usual CYA.
Filing - Share - Price - IPO - Valuation
The filing, however, didn’t disclose the share price, the IPO valuation, and how much money the IPO will raise for Uber. On Tuesday, “people familiar with the matter” had told Reuters that Uber plans to raise $10 billion in the IPO. Most of the IPO shares would be sold by the company to raise funds, and a smaller amount would be sold by investors cashing out, the sources said.
The filing did not confirm this and instead left blanks or used placeholder amounts. But if true, $10 billion in shares sold would make this IPO one of the biggest tech IPOs. And the rumored $90 billion to $100 billion valuation would make it the biggest since Alibaba’s $169 billion IPO.
Uber - Dime - IPO - Situation - Operations
Uber will need every dime it raises in the IPO going forward because it’s got a little cash-burn situation in its operations that persists going forward, as it admitted in its “Risk Factors,” and it will need to raise more money, and if it cannot raise more money, it might not make it. Uber is upfront about this.
The company has already raised – and mostly burned through – over $20 billion so far in its 10 years of existence. This includes $15 billion in equity funding and over $6 billion in debt.
IPO - Morgan - Stanley - Goldman - Sachs
For the IPO, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are the lead underwriters,...
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The only change you ever get from the goverment is what's in your pocket, and worth less every day.


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The lethal combination was recently shown off at a US military-related event in Washington, D.C.
The wheel-driven robot can act as mobile voice assistant and security guard for your home.
The automaker's new factory safety service robot is 'based on' Spot.
Tesla Bot will 'eliminate dangerous, repetitive, boring tasks.'
The Ascend from Roam Robotics uses exoskeleton technology to help ease osteoarthritis knee pain and increase mobility. When it arrives this winter, 50% of its cost should be covered by Medicare.
Ocado had to cancel orders and shut down the facility for a few days.
The autonomous rovers will perform last-mile drop-offs in areas not easily accessible by car.
Over two dozen engineers in Helsinki are tasked with improving Scout's navigation skills using software.
The company introduces four new technologies—all named after Jim Henson puppets.
Some tasks that might otherwise be performed by machines, like picking lettuce, still require a human touch. At the University of Cambridge, Dr. Fumiya Iida is helping robots embrace their softer sides.
Robots are useful assistants, from cleaning floors to setting timers. But when it comes to helping sick humans, in ERs and at home, there are huge technical and ethical hurdles. UCSD Professor Laurel Riek explains.
Hasbro is taking pre-orders for its $699 Optimus Prime bot, which can also be controlled via a smartphone and voice commands. Autobots roll out!
Stretch is a versatile autonomous mobile robot for quickly loading and unloading boxes.
What can 5G do for you? How about handling enough data to get inked by a tattoo artist in a remote location? London-based technologist Noel Drew and tattoo artist Wes Thomas made it a reality.
Pilots can also fly small drones over people and at night (under certain conditions).
The canine-inspired robot will spend at least three months aboard BP's Mad Dog rig, learning new tricks.
The UNSW Sydney team's thin, flat, lightweight gripper is able to retrieve various objects—even from confined hollow spaces
The accessories are expected to go on sale in 2021.
Mineral aims to promote sustainable farming through artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Cornell University researchers say their robot is small enough to one day interact with elements in your bloodstream.

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October 29, 2020
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc., one of the leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailers in the United States, has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Academy, Ltd., priced a private offering that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, of US$400 million aggregate principal amount of 6% senior secured notes due 2027. The offering is expected to close on November 6, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.
Latham & Watkins LLP represented the initial purchasers in the offering with a capital markets team led by New York partners Marc Jaffe and Ian Schuman, with associates John Slater and Angel Marcial. Advice was also provided on tax matters by New York partner Lisa Watts, with associate Eric Kamerman.


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The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPECGH) has called on government and its relevant stakeholders, to end what the chamber describes as arbitrary and unjustified increase in fuel prices.
According to the COPECGH, the spate at which fuel prices are being increased in the country, is unsustainable and must be curtailed and reversed immediately to prevent mass agitations and street protests.
In a press release, the chamber expressed worry over the trend which it said, could lead to “public anxiety and anger” which can only be curtailed and reversed if it becomes top priority for the government.
The release stated that “Fuel prices continue to go upwards in the country even after the budget presentation that sought to attempt reducing same from the removal of excise levy and a reduction on the special petroleum tax (spt) from 17.5% to 15%. Although consumers jubilated and cheered these budgetary reductions, the net expected impact of about 3%, which is yet to be felt across pumps, seem to have already been wiped off by recent increases at the pumps.”
COPECGH in their release further stated that, “fuel prices over the past six windows spanning some three months has only seen consumers pushed to squeeze additional monies every window, a cumulative 19.6% has since been added to pump prices from previous average pump prices of 16.30/ gallon or 3.620/litre to current average levels of 4.320/ litre or 19.46/ gallon.”
Oil prices on the world market have remained fairly stable over the period trading at averages of between $53-$56 though currently a bit lower but the cedi which seems to be the major factor in the arbitrary increases has since the beginning of the year [same] period lost about 17.73% from previous exchange values of ghc3.89/1$ to current market average levels of ghc4.580/$1.
The chamber in their release, blamed the managers of the country’s currency suggesting that, they have not done a good job in arresting the free fall of the cedi.
“Managers of the economy have obviously been doing a very poor job with the speed of depreciation of the local currency hence resulting in these avoidable increases on consumers. What has become more worrying is not only the trend but the fact there seems no end in sight for these persistent fuel price increases as importers who require over $300 million monthly to be able to supply the market with the needed products also have to go on the open market for the dollar as there are not guaranteed the notes by the bank of Ghana.”
“The net effect of this poor management of the country’s currency is the continuous increases in pump prices at a time when the global fuel pricing index seems to suggest Ghana has reduced fuel prices from the previous $0.94/litre to current $0.87/ litre levels,” it added.
The release which was signed by the Duncan Amoah the Executive Secretary of COPECGH further stated that, “Public anxiety and anger is mounting and could soon result in mass agitations and street protests if the current trend is not checked. The current spate of fuel price increases is simply unsustainable and must be a top priority for the current government to curtail and reverse.”
“Cost of public transport is indeed likely to go up anytime from next week and could further worsen the already harsh economic climate in the country,” according to the chamber.
The chamber suggested that, “deregulation programme and its application will also need to be reviewed if necessary as some oil marketing companies also are taking undue advantage of the system to charge over the roof prices on unsuspecting consumers.”


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Intel’s 14th Generation Meteor Lake mobile CPUs have been the talk of the tech town, and there’s exciting news on the horizon. A company recently unveiled the first gaming handheld powered by these cutting-edge processors. Known as the Emdoor EM-GP080MTL, this gaming device boasts many intriguing features, setting new standards in portable gaming. This article will delve into the specifications and features of this upcoming Meteor Lake-based handheld.
Emdoor Unveils First Gaming Handheld Powered by Intel 14th Gen Processor Lineup.
The tech world was abuzz at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair 2023 as the Chinese company Emdoor took the stage to reveal the Emdoor EM-GP080MTL. Media outlet Notebook Italia was on-site to see this innovative handheld device firsthand. The key highlight of the EM-GP080MTL is its use of Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs, harnessing the full potential of this new architecture. Moreover, the Intel Arc 5 graphics card powers it, integrated into the Meteor Lake-H-based CPU, further solidifying the company’s branding for its integrated GPUs.
The Meteor Lake CPU is particularly exciting due to its power range, falling between 20-35W. While Intel hasn’t disclosed the specific CPU model yet, we know the Arc 5 GPU can be clocked at an impressive 3.0GHz. Intel recently wowed us with the performance capabilities of their Intel Arc Alchemist-based GPU in Malaysia a few months back.
In a groundbreaking move, an unnamed Intel 14th Gen Meteor Lake CPU was showcased running Forza Horizon 5 at a silky-smooth 60 frames per second in 1080p. While performance figures for Emdoor’s gaming handheld are still under wraps, the GPU Xe-Cores are expected to handle today’s AAA gaming titles easily. In a video featured by Notebook Italia, we catch a glimpse of God of War running seamlessly on this remarkable gaming device.
Regarding display specifications, the EM-GP080MTL boasts an 8-inch screen with a crisp 1920 x 1200 resolution. It has up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, ensuring seamless multitasking and high-speed performance. Storage options are impressive, supporting a 2TB PCIe Gen 4 drive. The device appears robust and well-prepared to withstand the pressures and heat associated with intensive gaming. Emdoor aims to compete with other handheld gaming giants, including the Asus ROG Ally, Nintendo Switch, and Valve’s Steam Deck.
Emdoor is making history as one of the first companies to introduce a gaming handheld powered by this innovative chipset. Intel is revamping its entire processor naming system to reflect the profound changes in microprocessor design. Check out our comprehensive essay to learn more about the Meteor Lake architecture.
How Do You Feel About the Forthcoming Emdoor EM-GP080MTL Handheld?
We’re eager to hear your opinion on the Emdoor EM-GP080MTL gaming handheld. Does it have what it takes to compete in the fiercely competitive handheld gaming market? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
The Emdoor EM-GP080MTL is ushering in a new era of portable gaming by utilising Intel’s 14th Generation Meteor Lake chip. Thanks to its impressive display, powerful specs, and high-performance capabilities, it’s poised to impact the gaming world significantly. Keep an eye on this innovative device as it sets the stage for the future of handheld gaming.


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3D printing, or more accurately, additive manufacturing (AM), has come a long way since its inception, and especially the past few years. It also continues to grow at an amazing rate. IDC forecasts worldwide spending on 3D printing to be early $12 billion in 2018
A new update to the Worldwide Semiannual 3D Printing Spending Guide from International Data Corporation (IDC) shows global spending on 3D printing (including hardware, materials, software, and services) will be nearly $12.0 billion in 2018, an increase of 19.9% over 2017. By 2021, IDC expects worldwide spending to be nearly $20.0 billion with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.5%.
Discrete manufacturing will be the dominant industry for 3D printing, delivering more than half of all worldwide spending throughout the 2017-2021 forecast. Healthcare providers will be the second largest industry with a spending total of nearly $1.3 billion in 2018, followed by education ($974 million) and consumer ($831 million). By 2021, IDC expects professional services and retail to move ahead of the consumer segment. The industries that will see the fastest growth in 3D printing spending over the five-year forecast are the resource industries and healthcare.
The leading use cases for 3D printing are prototypes, aftermarket parts, and parts for new products. As the primary use cases for the discrete manufacturing industry, these three use cases will account for 44% of worldwide spending in 2018.
As testament to this tremendous growth, this week, 3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker announced that Robert Bosch GmbH, a leading global supplier of technology and services, will invest in Ultimaker 3 Extended printers on a global scale. After comparing several desktop 3D printers, the additive manufacturing department of Bosch selected Ultimaker as the most reliable, easy-to-use, and machine that produced the highest quality parts. The printers will now be used in different locations across Germany, Hungary, China, India, the United States and Mexico for printing innovative prototypes, tooling, jigs and fixtures, while cutting design and manufacturing costs.
Ultimaker Interview at Westec 2017
As the world’s largest supplier of automotive components and an important supplier of industrial technologies, consumer goods, and energy and building technology, Bosch, has a strategic objective to deliver innovative products. In order to save time and costs, and for a faster time-to-market for its new products, the company decided to invest in desktop 3D printing on a global scale. Now, with the Ultimaker rollout, all departments of the additive manufacturing department of Bosch can benefit from a uniform 3D printing solution with materials, training and global support. This approach will ensure consistent, quality 3D printing results across teams and locations.


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Best in Tech 2013
ET reviews the best gadgets this year for business travelers.
Having the right smartphone, laptop, peripherals and apps can make life on the road productive and seamless. Read on for predictions for 2013 from our technology editor, Chris Null, and then click through to see the new products Executive Travel has selected as winners of our 2013 Best in Tech Leading Edge Awards.
In many ways, 2012 has been a “tween” year for technology. As I write this, the biggest tech story of the year hasn’t involved a new iPhone or iPad (at press time, talk of a “mini” iPad was still just a rumor) but rather Facebook’s disastrous IPO—a financial debacle that could change the tech investing landscape forever.
Why a tween year? Because many of the tech trends that were starting to shape up at the end of 2011 have yet to arrive in a meaningful way. With global disasters—heat waves, wildfires, floods and politics—consuming the zeitgeist, who had time to look into buying a 3-D TV?
But technology never stands still, and with the imminent arrival of 2013, it’s time to look ahead to the advances that will shape the near future.
Windows 8 Comes to Market
One of the biggest open questions is Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system, which was set to launch at the tail end of 2012 and should be widely available by the time you read this. The new OS is arguably the biggest departure from the status quo for Microsoft since 1995, and it’s already shaping up to be a love-it-or-hate-it piece of software. Fans love the all-new approach to apps that makes your PC work more like a tablet or cell phone. But naysayers feel Windows 8 hampers productivity, since it’s difficult to open more than two windows at a time. The jury’s still out, but if Windows 8 is received the way Windows Vista was, it could ultimately close the door on the Windows era and push many to the Mac.
The Smartphone Wars Continue
As Apple continues to push its dominance in the tech world—it is now, by a vast margin, the world’s largest company by market capitalization—it faces new challenges from its scrappier, Android-based competition. Android now has more than a 50 percent market share among smartphones. Apple: just 32 percent, a figure that is going down. Will new Apple hardware and a revamped Siri (an increasingly embarrassing problem for the company) change that? In lieu of something radical, it doesn’t seem so. For now, it’s increasingly an Android world out there.
What of RIM, then? The new BlackBerry 10 OS is delayed, the company is cutting jobs and it’s losing lawsuits and money hand over fist. Still clinging to your CrackBerry? Hold on tight, because it may be your last.
Security and Gaming Push Ahead
Security’s going to be another growing challenge in 2013. A variety of malware attacks made the news this year, and it isn’t just Windows users who got hit. Macs, iPhones and Android handsets all experienced attacks, and everyone’s going to have to pay more attention to keeping their gadgets safe in the coming years.
But hey, there’s some fun stuff on the horizon too. All three major gaming hardware companies—Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo—are rumored to have new consoles on the market in time for Christmas next year. And if Santa doesn’t bring you what you want, soon you’ll be able to make it yourself: 3-D printing looks to be the next big revolution at both home and the office.


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What is your favourite FinTech company? Head to www.fintech-africa.com and cast your vote for the African FinTech Awards 2016! Help Africa prosper and support the development of new and innovative financial services and boost financial inclusion. This is your chance to be part of the process and determine which company is the hottest prospect in the FinTech scene in 2016.
The voting was officially opened by the FinTech Africa manager Teun van der Veeken, one of the driving forces behind the incredibly successful European FinTech Awards 2016, at Deloitte Place in Johannesburg on 23 June 2016. The winners of the African FinTech Awards will be announced at the Finance Indaba at Sandton Convention Center on 13 October.
"The African FinTech Awards will be the biggest FinTech event ever on the African continent," explains Teun. "You cannot afford to miss this event if you want to stay in the loop about what is happening in the FinTech space. All important FinTech leaders will be present under one roof. Global investors and FinTech experts will fly in from various continents to meet African entrepreneurs and present their solutions."


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A delegation of Japanese experts arrived in Vietnam on June 3 to supervise the quarantining of fresh lychee expected to be exported to Japan shortly, according to the Plant Protection Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
VOV.VN - Japanese consumers are likely to miss the first chance to taste Vietnamese fresh lychees this year as the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) has not sent experts to Vietnam to inspect its disinfection treatment system due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The northern province of Hai Duong is taking the necessary measures to export fresh lychees to Japan in 2020.
Japan’s recent decision of importing Vietnamese “thieu” lychee is expected to open new doors for this fruit, according to Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Japan Ta Duc Minh.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) has sent a letter to the Plant Protection Department of Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development saying to open door for Vietnamese “thieu” lychee.
The Mon Asian Food Festival – MAFF 2018 opened in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh on April 27.
VOV.VN - The Mon Asian Food Festival (MAFF) 2018 will be held for the first time in Hanoi and Quang Ninh Province’s Ha Long City this April, the organizers announced at a press conference in Hanoi on April 12.


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Online store Humble Bundle has been purchased by internet media giant, IGN, raising conflict of interest concerns.
The acquisition, announced on Humble’s website, came as a big surprise to the gaming community, both for consumers and reviewers/media, with many voicing their concern/displeasure. Humble Bundle has proven a highly successful and popular way for PC audiences (and occasionally console) to purchase gaming packs — both indie and AAA — for a low price, and allows users to dictate what proportion of their money goes to Humble, the developers or charity.
Disappointment over the news arises from the connection of a gaming review site with a store which may sell the games they review. Both parties have been keen to stress that Humble Bundle will continue to run independently, but it’s hard not to see this as a dangerous move when IGN could directly profit from sales of games they review, requiring a significant degree of goodwill from consumers and the monthly subscribers to Humble Bundle.Load Comments


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Strangeness surrounds Stalker
The latest news out of Eastern-European developer GSC Game World responds to repeated speculation surrounding their much delayed first-person shooter Stalker, which seems to have been in the works for an interminably long time now. A Russian gaming magazine had, prior to GSC's latest press release, made claims of large-scale lay-offs at the developer, a strained relationship with publisher THQ, and even the possibility that the game would not be completed in 2006. For their part, GSC Game World deny this tittle-tattle, stating that Stalker is at 'beta-approval' stage, and that only the staffing of their art section has been cut, because that area of the game is all but complete.
"The team has undergone certain reductions, particularly in the art section, due to all the graphics-related works being almost complete (out of 40 people 5 were dismissed)," the company stated. "None of the leads, programmers and moreover, testers may not be reduced at any time."
"Regarding the technology leak, none of the designers gone has the rights to the game's engine (all the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. technologies, including the X-Ray engine and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.-2 engine belong to the company). Even if the current or next-generation engine would appear on the net, their legal use is impossible. GSC does not intend to sell its technologies in the nearest time, so as does not intend to postpone the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl due to rumours of that kind," the official release added, in response to conflicting reports and rumours that there may have been a technology leak at the firm.
Certainly an odd statement from the developer... and we'd be surprised if their relationship with THQ hasn't at least been put to the test by the game's succession of delays. Not to mention controversies such as this. We'll keep you posted as Stalker limps towards release.
- PlayStation TV gets a release date for Europe and the US
- Driveclub gets a white PS4 hardware bundle
- Sony offering up a free online multiplayer weekend on PS4 this weekend
- Sledgehammer promises a reveal of Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare co-op mode soon
- Former New York mayor Rudi Juliani to represent Activision in the Manuel Noriega Call of Duty: Black Ops II lawsuit
- Next week's Destiny events detailed
- Swery65's D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die is out now on Xbox One
- Silent Hills could be an episodic title
- Thomas Was Alone is making the jump to the PS4


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If you live in a country where mobile data is expensive and/or your options for internet connectivity are limited, you probably pretty familiar with peer-to-peer app sharing. Starting today, Google's introducing a new layer of security to ensure the APK files you get with peer-to-peer sharing are safe and secure to use.
Per an announcement on the Android Developers Blog, Google says its adding security metadata onto APKs so that it can verify whether or not that APK was originally distributed via Google Play.
For apps you do get through these approved channels, Google notes that:
We'll be able to determine app authenticity while a device is offline, add those shared apps to a user's Play Library, and manage app updates when the device comes back online.
Google also says that this change benefits developers as it:
Provides a Play-authorized offline distribution channel and, since the peer-to-peer shared app is added to your user's library, your app will now be eligible for app updates from Play.
The security metadata is being added in the background, meaning that developers aren't required to do anything on their end in order to get set up with it.
Buy a Synology NAS to boost your home network storage productivity!
With a network attached storage enclosure, you can easily back up data from all devices on your home network, and you can use it as a powerful media server. With options starting off from just $100, these are the best Synology NAS enclosures for home use.
At this point, Google should just launch the Pixel 4a with the Pixel 5
With delay after delay pushing back the Pixel 4a's launch into July and possibly August, it would make a lot of sense for Google to simply call it the Pixel 5a and launch it alongside the Pixel 5 in October.
Google is playing the long game with its hardware company acquisitions
Why does Google keep buying companies that it doesn't always know what to do with?
Time to dump Chrome: 8 alternative desktop web browsers
If you getting frustrated with the lack of privacy, slower speeds or difficulty using extensions in Chrome, it's time to switch to one of these web browsers.


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Micro-chipped cows are putting Argentinian beef exports back on the map
Post available in: English
A 16-year snub by the US is prompting Argentine farmers to look towards Asian markets via digital innovations.
Argentina’s push to ramp up agriculture exports is moving to a new frontier: micro-chipped cows.
For the first time, the nation’s government will work to promote the technology in an effort to increase the traceability of supplies and make beef shipments more attractive to potential buyers in the US and Asia, according to Jorge Dillon, the president of the country’s agricultural sanitary service, or Senasa.
Currently, farmers use colored ear tags to manually track cattle. Microchips, and the accompanying digital tracking would eliminate errors that arise from monitoring animal movement with paperwork, Mr Dillon said in an interview in Buenos Aires.
The technology can pave the way for Argentina to sell its beef to countries with even the most stringent import requirements, he said. Shipments to the US have been banned since 2001 because of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
Countries focused on beef exports, such as Australia, have already turned to micro-chipping as Asia’s desire to track steaks all the way back to the ranch increases and world concerns over food safety intensify, said Glynn Tonsor, an associate professor of agricultural economics who specialises in traceability at Kansas State University.
The move to push micro-chipping, which could be published in Argentina’s federal register as soon as next week, reflects broader efforts to open up Argentina’s beef sector under President Mauricio Macri.
He’s been leaning on farmers to drive an economic recovery since taking office in December 2015. It’s a turnaround from his predecessor, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who focused on protectionist policies.
Beef producers were among the worst hit in the Fernandez de Kirchner years, as high export taxes and domestic price controls stifled the industry.
Argentine officials have been in talks with counterparts in the US to resume exports to the country for months.
Progress in those negotiations could expedite access to countries in Asia, including Japan and South Korea, Dillon said.
“The US would put us in the shop window for other very demanding markets,” Mr Dillon said.
The microchip system will initially be voluntary because the cost would be too high for small-scale farmers with fewer than 100 cattle, Mr Dillon said.
US inspectors visited Argentine slaughterhouses in December, but there hasn’t been much movement in the negotiations since then.
Mr Dillon said the American officials had requested extra information on sanitary controls and that Argentina responded two weeks ago. If the inspectors are happy with the clarifications, approval could be imminent, he said.
Contact the Gateway to South America team to learn about the best investment opportunities in the region. The company is a benchmark for foreign investors wishing to invest in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, providing expert advice on property acquisition and disposal.
Post available in: English


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Martin Sorrell built his reputation at WPP and now S4 Capital by backing technology-led businesses. Monday’s bleak profit outlook raised questions about his execution of the strategy, including an overreliance on Big Tech clients.
The speed at which advertising companies issue profit warnings has dampened investor confidence. Its shares fell by a quarter on Monday. Low prices mean getting more growth is no longer an option.
S4C’s first-half comparable earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell 30% from the same period last year. The outlook is dimming. In July, it expected net income to rise 2% to 4% this year. Now the company says July and August were weak. As Sorrell stared at the horizon, revenue growth slipped below zero.
Cost cutting by big tech companies is partly to blame. Some companies, including Amazon and Meta, have reduced senior staff. Advertising agencies complain that job cuts mean key contacts are disappearing. S4 is particularly vulnerable. Technology companies accounted for 44% of first-half revenue. That compares with 12% at France’s Publicis and 15% at U.S.-based Interpublic, Citi said.
At the same time, S4 can no longer rely on smaller institutional acquisitions for revenue growth as it did a few years ago. As ad spending booms in the tech industry, aggregation models have grown rapidly. But with S4’s share price halving last year, this source of strong expansion has long since dried up. Instead, S4’s newest owner-manager (who holds a 40% stake) must cut costs on the team.
Sorrell has no plans to change his strategy. Although dependent on technology clients, he rightly sees digital advertising as the future. According to eMarketer, the sub-sector is expected to grow to $871 billion by 2027, an increase of nearly 60% from last year. But S4 must address growth issues. Perhaps a merger with another mid-sized institution, such as Havas, could offer new possibilities.
A shrinkage growth strategy has its limitations. S4 Capital has been testing these boundaries for too long.
If you are a subscriber and would like to be alerted when Lex articles are published, simply click the “Add to myFT” button above the title at the top of this page.


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Yesterday we reported on a so-called PlayStation document that reportedly leaked at Sony and contained a handful of unannounced games. That document has now leaked to the public and does indeed include unannounced games but if you were hoping for something exciting, don’t get your hopes up. The document doesn’t really tell us anymore more than we already know as most of these games are listed under codenames.
The list includes games published by Sony Interactive Entertainment across PS5 and PC. The list also includes titles we have previously reported on including the sequel to Death Stranding codenamed “Ocean” and the Horizon Zero Dawn remake and its reported online mode.
Interestingly, the Horizon Zero Dawn remake is listed separately from the online mode. In fact, the list includes “Horizon Online” and it is categorised as a “Games as a Service” title. This gives us the idea that the online mode, which reportedly will feature co-op, might expand to an MMO-like experience with added content and DLC in the future.
Apart from those games, the list does have some interesting titles on it too. One is codenamed “Camden” and is being developed by Sony’s London Studio. This game is also listed as a Games as a Service title and will likely feature online modes. The game is set to launch on both PC and PS5. It is being built in a custom engine.
Other titles include more codenames. One is being developed by Ballistic Moon and is a survival horror game codenamed “Bates”. Another game is being developed by Sony’s new studio, Firesprite and is codenamed “Heartbreak”. Heartbreak is being developed on Unreal Engine 5 and is another survival horror game.
Another interesting title on the list is codenamed “Redstar” and is being developed by Sony’s Lucid Studios. If you don’t know, Lucid worked on Destruction All-Stars and is also reportedly developing the Twisted Metal reboot. By the look of things, Redstar might be the new Twisted Metal game.
The leaked PlayStation document is also legit. Multiple sources confirmed that the document is the one they have seen in the past. Sony has yet to reveal the majority of these games and the company skipped its rumoured September event too. So at this time, we don’t know when Sony will announce these games.


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TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Nothing but long lines Friday, at Stanley's Market in north Toledo which is always the case during the Easter season.
Folks were loading up on kielbasa for their Sunday dinner feast. Many came from surrounding communities like Tom Gee of Sylvania.
"The flavor. The taste. All of our family members enjoy it. So that's why we come here every holiday," he said.
Between 10-15 tons of kielbasa will be sold. The secret is using fresh meat and spices.
"It's tradition. That's what it's all about. People celebrate families, come together and celebrate the risen Lord," said Joe Zychowicz, owner of Stanley's Markey.
Over at Haas Bakery in Oregon, business triples during Easter week. Cupcakes, cookies, pies and other pastries line the shelves. Their specialty is the Polish coffee cake.
"We've had it ever since I was little. It's just a tradition for us. We keep that alive," according to Tori Hinton.
Andy Haas is the head baker.He said the secret to his success is using lots of care.No shortcuts allowed.
"We do everything from scratch. Take time to find the best ingredients we can," said Haas.
And the biggest day of the year for them is Saturday. Parking will be limited and doors open at 5:00 a.m.


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'Ted Lasso' bearBuild-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop has announced its “
” plush range.
The bear, depicting actor, Jason Sudeikis, as his Ted Lasso character, complete with his signature mustache. The plush can be accessorized by several extras, including white low-top sneakers, sunglasses, a Union Jack teacup, a “Biscuits with the Boss” wristie and a baseball cap and soccer kit from the fictional soccer side, AFC Richmond.
The collection is available exclusively online at Buildabear.com.
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Announced through the company’s social media accounts, Ferio Tego revealed today that the company’s highly anticipated Elegancia and Generoso cigars are now on their way to retailers across the country.
Notably, Ferio Tego is the creation of Michael Herklots and Brendon Scott, who formerly worked together at Nat Sherman before the closure of the iconic NYC brand in the fall of 2020. The brand was formally announced earlier this year, taking on former Nat Sherman lines (with the Timeless collection shipping in mid-September), as well as the eponymous Ferio Tego brand, showcasing the first blends built from the ground up under the Ferio Tego name.
These cigars were revealed as the Elegancia and Generoso in late August, with the former being rolled at the Quesada Cigars factory in the DR and the latter coming out of Plasencia Cigars in Nicaragua. Both cigars are priced in the ultra-premium range ($21 MSRP) and packaged in humidor boxes of 10 cigars. This first shipment is said to be extremely limited in production, with larger batches arriving in 2022.


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Inflation may be slowing down just a little bit, but dairy prices continue to go up. Milk products cost you 9% more now than they did a year ago.
Now might be the time to cry over spilled milk because a gallon costs more than it did last month.
FGCU Professor, Dr. Victor Claar, says your glass of milk is looking half empty. “Inflation is bad. It doesn’t seem to be getting better anytime soon,” said Claar.
For almost a year, WINK News has kept track of milk prices at local Publix, Walmart and Target stores. The price for a gallon went up at all three in May.
At Walmart, it will cost you an extra 26 cents, or $4.29. In April, that same gallon cost $4.03.
Target’s Good and Gather brand milk is $4.19, a 20-cent increase from last month.
Publix was the most expensive at $4.90.
“Prices will continue to rise. I think the best we can hope for at this point is that they rise a little less slowly than they have been lately,” said Claar.
Get ready for that spilled cup to cost more. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percent last week to help taper inflation.
Dr. Claar expects them to raise the rate again at their next meeting.


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The Revolucionario Awards recognize Latino visionaries using social media to create change, and the search is on through February.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) February 15, 2012
South By Southwest (SXSW) Interactive just turned up the heat a few notches. An incubator of cutting-edge technologies, this year’s festival will feature the first official Latino Lounge and Revolucionario Awards March 12 at Carlos Santana’s Maria Maria restaurant.
As part of the nation’s premiere venue for the latest from the music and technology industries, SXSW Interactive will be the stage for the unveiling of The Social Revolución and Revolucionario Awards, an interactive movement of Latinos using social media as their platform to create and inspire change. The Revolucionario Awards recognize Latino visionaries using social media to create change, and the search is on through February.
“With so many inspiring Social Revolucionarios, we felt there was a need to honor our bright stars through the Revolucionario Awards at SXSW’s first ever Latino Lounge,” said Sebastian Puente, founder of Cultural Strategies, a multicultural marketing and advertising firm based in Austin.
The Revolucionario Awards are open to nominees who have excelled in one of three areas. The first category is for trendsetters who impact the Hispanic market online and off. New Americanos who are redefining what it means to be Latino, and are influencing their online community from their multicultural perspective.
The second award entry classification is open to Latinos who mobilize their causes online and off fostering communities, spreading positive change and inspiring people to take action.
The third award category seeks innovators who redefine how to reach Latinos now and in the future. Forward thinking individuals or companies who are connecting with Latinos through revolutionary ideas and technologies that are authentic to the Latino market.
“Latinos tend to be much younger and open to adopting new technologies,” continued Puente. “They seamlessly represent two worlds and are constantly redefining what it means to be Latino as trendsetters and innovators. They welcome the newest online tools to engage people in their networks and mobilize them to take action which is why we expect to see some world class entries.”
Among some of the nominees are a campaign in Mexico that accumulated 31,000 Portraits for Peace; a response to the Bastrop Wildfires; One Million Voices, an anti-terrorist Facebook movement in Colombia; and Vocabador, an educational app for students with a Lucha Libre theme.
A panel of judges will select six finalists who will be recognized at The Social Revolución Latino Lounge March 12 in Austin, TX.
The Social Revolución is the brainchild of Cultural Strategies who, in the spirit of social media is collaborating with digital partners including Latina Lista, Latino Rebels, Twitteros, Juan of Words, Being Latino, The News Taco, Cósmica Artists, Giant Noise, Pachanga Fest, Cuéntame and The New Latina. Sponsors of the event include Tr3s, Hispanicize, and LatinoMetro.com.
Individuals, groups, organizations or brands that have inspired change can enter the awards by February 27 at http://www.TheSocialRevolucion.com.


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By Daniel Sperling & Scott Hardman (September 19, 2018)
Full automation is projected to increase the use of individually owned vehicles, perhaps by as much as 60%. But what about partially automated vehicles, equipped with features such as lane centering, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking?
The big picture: Early data on partially automated Tesla models suggest a similar trend, showing drivers racking up more miles than in otherwise comparable electric vehicles. This has potential negative consequences for congestion, energy consumption and emissions.
This blog post was originally posted online at Axios.


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GDP grew by a weaker-than-expected 1.2% (y-o-y) in Q3, owing to a lack of investment and depleted external demand. Attempts to curb the economy’s reliance on consumer spending and rebalance it towards greater investment have so far not been very successful, prompting our panel to reduce its 2014 GDP forecast. Latest indicators offer little sign of momentum, with retail sales cooling to 3.0% in September, from 4.0% in August. Moreover, industrial production – which has struggled to gain any traction in the year to date – advanced by just 0.3% (y-o-y) in September. On a positive note, October’s PMI for manufacturing climbed to a 12-month high of 51.8, offering some hope of a near-term improvement in activity. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev last month acknowledged growth in Russia to be largely artificial, spurred by preparations for the 2014 winter Olympics and 2018 World Cup. Some predict that Russia will lag global growth for the next two decades, identifying an over dependence on oil revenues and low productivity as key impediments to private sector investment.
The CPI unexpectedly rose to 6.3% (y-o-y) in October, from 6.1% in August. The central bank subsequently held the one-week auction rate – the new benchmark introduced in September – at 5.5% on November 8.
You can download a sample of Eastern Europe Consensus Forecasts at www.consensuseconomics.com.


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CHICAGO (CBS.MW) -- Starbucks said after the bell Wednesday that sales at stores open longer than a year jumped 10 percent in June, marking 150 straight months of same-store sales gains. For the five weeks that ended June 27, Starbucks rang up $517 million in sales, a 26 percent jump over the same period a year ago. Shares of Starbucks SBUX, -0.78% ended the session at $43.49, up 28 cents, ahead of the news.
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The single - and large-scale retail giant Carrefour has so far made good experiences with the Blockchain technology. In a press release, the French group draws a positive balance sheet and declared, to use the Blockchain in the future.By Christopher clover
4. June 2019BTC$7.983,00 -4.70%part Facebook Twitter LinkedIn xing mail
The French retailers and wholesalers Carrefour SA first successes in the use of the Blockchain technology announced. The retail giant monitors for a Long time already the production and delivery channels of selected products via the Blockchain. Customers can retrieve the information in the supermarket. The pilot project has worn to a press release, the company says, the first fruits.a Positive review of the Blockchain-a pilot project in
and Then the range of the block chain includes registered food 20 products. The beginning of Carrefour made with organic poultry meat. The career of the farm to the refrigerated section to understand Carrefour customers since last year. Behind the choice of the perishable meat as a pioneer-Use-Case the following calculation:
It is creating a Halo effect – If I can trust Carrefour with this chicken, I can also says Carrefour in your Apples or your cheese of trust,
Emmanuel Delerm, responsible for Blockchain projects for Carrefour told the Reuters news Agency.
The company would like to expand in the current year, the range of transparent products to 100. The food Tracking has had a positive impact on the sales numbers.
The Pomelo sold due to the Blockchain faster than in the previous year [and] we had more a positive impact on the chicken compared to the Non-Blockchain-chicken,
The Initiative was able to capture, therefore, particularly in China, Italy and France successes.The competition is not sleeping
Carrefour with its Blockchain ambitions in the industry is by no means alone. So about the mega Corporation Walmart is still the top grossing companies in the world – already brought in front of Carrefour food on the Blockchain. Nestlé is interested in block chain based improvements to food safety.
What are the plans of these groups United, however, is that they put on the IT giant IBM as a technology Partner. Specifically, the projects using the Software-as-a-Service solution IBM Food Trust.
So the corporations want to take into account the growing interest of their customers as to the origin of foodstuffs. Especially the Generation of Millennials attach great importance, says Delerm:
Millennials are buying fewer, but better products for your health, for the planet.
in the medium term, Carrefour would like to integrate also non-consumable, or hard-to-digest products such as clothing of the Blockchain solution. More information about the profit margin for the producer and for the customer made available.
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UNION COOP STARTS DISTRIBUTING SUBSIDIZED GOODS IN NEW POINTS
Based on the vital role of the Union Co-operative Society and the geographical and strategic spread of it and of its branches in various regions of the Emirate of Dubai, Operation Division Bur Dubai Area Manager Mr. Rashid Alharmoodi said
that the Union Co-operative Society took the initiative to participate in this program through the provision of the logistical support and the continuation of this approach to expand community support since the beginning of the project to provide the needs of the citizens from the basic goods and services at affordable prices. ELHarmoudi added that Union coop provided 16 million dirhams as an annual liable to excess support, through distributing those goods through its outlets in the Emirate of Dubai, and through opening new points to provide this support, as Umm Suqeim branch that will start distribution at the end of August, and Al Towar branch that will start distribution in mid-September, as well as Al Aweer branch that will start distribution at the beginning of October, in addition to the previous points (Al Barsha Mall branch and Hamriyah branch, Al Rashidiya Branch) to ensure the completion of the distribution process smoothly and easily for the citizens.
From his part, Alharmoodi pointed out that this National strategic project is finding an increasing acceptance as it achieved many advantages such as the provision of basic goods and services at affordable prices for families in the country, and based on the active role of the Union Co-operative Society and its branches across the region areas, there will be a prospective study to expand the distribution of these goods through new other outlets, in order to boost the development and progress process in the country.
Published at Arabic Newspapers


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“Signage at Xujiahui metro station is outdated.”
A man was recently charged 800 yuan ($115.82) for a phone LED only worth 300 yuan. He was confused by an old sign at Xujiahui metro station for the well-known computer mall Buynow. So the man asked for help from a scalper who led him to an inferior computer mall where unscrupulous merchants charged him a higher price. Buynow was relocated to a new location in October, but the subway station signage has not been updated.


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In 1883, Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt attended her sister-in-law’s famous masquerade party in a dazzling gold-and-silver dress, custom-made from Paris, called Electric Light, complete with hidden batteries that lit a torch she held above her head.
Today’s A-listen hope to generate their own electricity at Monday night’s Met Gala, for which the dress code is “gilded glamour.” But instead of cutting-edge dresses like Ms. Vanderbilt’s, some insiders fear attendees will embrace the tackiest aspects of late-19th-century Manhattan society. Will dresses resemble the costumes in the hit HBO series ‘The Gilded Age’, in which Carrie Coon’s social-climbing Bertha swells in couture around her Fifth Avenue mansion?
While exuberance has helped make Anna Wintour’s annual Met Gala the most anticipated red carpet of the year — “It’s a bigger deal than the Oscars,” said Christina Pacelli, who has dressed celebrities like Laverne Cox for the big night — some say. observers that the get-ups have become too flashy.
“It’s turned into a costume party,” designer and frequent gala host Tom Ford told journalist Amy Odell in her book “Anna: The Biography,” released Tuesday.
†[It] It used to be just really fancy people wearing really nice clothes going to an 18th century exhibit,” Ford continued. “You didn’t have to look like the 18th century, you didn’t have to dress like a hamburger, you didn’t have to arrive in a van where you were standing because you couldn’t sit down because you had a chandelier.”
Ford may have a somewhat idealized view of the galas of yore – at least one person showed up at the 1981 prom, themed by the exhibition ‘The Eighteenth Century Woman’ Dressed in Knee Shorts! But the clothes and themes have gotten crazier over time since Princess Diana showed up in a sleek Dior slip dress.
In recent years, Rihanna has worn a pope hat for the “Heavenly Bodies” of 2018, Jared Leto with a replica of his own head for “Camp” in 2019, and Lil Nas X modeled a sexy C-3PO costume for the “American Independence.” from last year, which he tossed to reveal a sparkly Versace catsuit underneath.
And lest you think Ford was exaggerating, Katy Perry did wear a chandelier and a hamburger costume – on the same night.
‘It’s very Halloween’
“Some things Kim Kardashian has worn — I mean, it’s very Halloween,” said John Tiffany, a fashion historian and brand consultant who once assisted Eleanor Lambert, the legendary fashion publicist who conceived the Met’s first benefit of the Costume Institute, when in 1948 named the Feast of the Year. Back then, Tiffany said, the party was a fundraiser dinner, but in the 1970s, when newly fired Vogue editor Diana Vreeland began staffing the Costume Institute, the gala became associated with any fashion. exhibition was opened at the museum, “which were always completely over the top.”
“It’s always been a creative party,” says Dennita Sewell, a fashion professor at Arizona State University who worked at the Costume Institute in the 1990s — when lower-ranking staffers could actually attend the party. “People used to dress up, but it wasn’t that extreme… No one would have done something that wasn’t graceful and elegant.”
“The themes were noted,” she added, “but it wasn’t like the whole party was part of the exhibit.”
Sometimes it can feel that way.
“It’s gone from being an industry event celebrating fashion history to being a celebrity,” stylist Tracy Taylor told The Post. “Designers were really the focus of the 20th century and early 21st century galas: Alexander McQueen, Halston – Halston would never have designed something you couldn’t sit in! But lately, the focus has been on themes, and I feel like it’s encouraging more extreme interpretations and outfits.”
The list of invitations has been changed to include more celebrities, especially musicians in recent years, who are used to wearing costumes on stage and often think of fashion as performing.
“If you’re a musician like Rihanna, it’s not that big of a challenge to look strange,” Taylor said. “They’re expected to be a bit more flamboyant or really creative and show who they are by how they dress.” And that translates to the red carpet.
“Gilded glamour” is a dress code that allows for many different interpretations — from a corset dress with a massive bust and sections of luscious taffeta to a devious gold lamé slip to a sequin dress — and plenty of ways to up the ante.
The Gilded Age was one of “tremendous growth and wealth from industrialization and real estate, and the dresses reflected that opulence,” Taylor said. “It was about these new celebrities and peacocking, and that’s what the Met Gala is about.”
Still, it could read as tone deaf. Stretching from 1870 to 1900, the era was also marked by extreme poverty – with exploited immigrant families living in crowded, unsanitary tenements on the Lower East Side, while the titans of Fifth Avenue dined on oysters and lobster in their Parisian couture ( modeled, perverse, about 17th-century French court fashion).
“The world is on the move,” said Bronwyn Cosgrave, host of the “Fashion Conversations” podcast, referring to the war in Ukraine and the increasing violence in the US. “In New York City, where the Met Gala is taking place, there are massive homelessness issues, mental health issues… I’m not sure if gilded glamor is what we need.”
Others argue that this is exactly what is needed now.
“When times are tough, people turn to fantasy,” Phyllis Magidson, a fashion curator who worked with the Museum of the City of New York, told The Post.
“Everyone is battered, and what better way to escape than through era fashion?”
Some in attendance also embrace the gala’s gloriously ostentatious theme.
“Personally, I think it’s fun to dress the theme,” Katy Perry’s stylist, Tatiana Waterford, told The Post. “Katy always dresses by theme. But she’s always had a distinctive sense of style that lends itself to an over-the-top Met Gala look.”
That said, even Perry plans to tone things down this year. “She won’t look silly, but it’s Katy, so there won’t be a lack of drama,” Waterford said. “I wish I could reveal more, but you’ll just have to wait and see!”


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Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom has been presented with various plastic-related bills, some signed and some vetoed. What are they and how will they benefit the environment?
Each proposal being approved would be an incredible improvement for California’s population as a whole. But what are some of these bills, and what do they entail?
SB 1046 Starting in 2025, plastic bags used for produce in grocery stores will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable. The bill passed with a vote of 32-8 on the senate floor in August, and Newsom signed it in late September. However, many Californians are skeptical. Will these bags end up in the wrong (trash) bin? Only time will tell.
AB 2784 Though not approved, this bill being passed would have changed all thermoform plastics to be partly made of recycled materials. This plastic is used to be a protective shell for foods, such as a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store, as well as cups and lids. By 2025, the bill proposed that 10% of it would be made using recycled plastics, and later 30% by 2030. If this was not obtained by the companies making thermoform plastics, a debt would have to be paid. However, various fruit companies who use thermoforms opposed this. According to the LA Times, the produce organizations say that the bill is “unnecessary considering the sweeping plastics legislation the state passed earlier this summer.” As a result, Newsom vetoed this bill. The Governor called the bill’s requirements “confusing” and said it could result in “duplicative fees and penalties for the same material.”
AB 351 Finally, starting in 2027, the dead will get a chance to leave the world better than when they found it. Modeled after Washington’s human body composting law, California cemeteries and crematoriums will adopt more environmentally-friendly methods. The process involves “placing human remains in a steel box with biodegradable materials, which help the body naturally decompose” (Pew Trusts). This is then turned into soil and given to family members, who can spread it or use it to grow plants. “I’ve always hated the thought that my final act on this world would be to either pollute the air or be pumped full of toxic chemicals and buried in a vault with a huge carbon footprint,” Nick Lapis, director of advocacy for Californians Against Waste, said.
With so many plastic-related bills being approved by the Governor, our state may have a chance to influence the rest of the country. “If any one of these bills had passed, it’d have been huge,” said Nick Lapis. “But all of these together? It’s incredible.”
Written by: Ella Moseley


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Major automobile players such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor, Tata Motors and Mahindra reported an adverse impact on production that led to lesser dispatches.
Meanwhile, Kia India registered sales of 14,441 units in September 2021. Thus Kia company became the fourth most sold carmaker of India with a market share of 7.8 per cent, an increase of 1.4 per cent on YoY basis.
“The disruption in the supply chain put a brake on the improving industry sentiment last month,” said Hardeep Singh Brar, Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing, Kia India.
“As the festive period approaches, we are hopeful to see some improvement in semiconductor procurement. For the time being, we are taking all the measures to optimise the production and keep the waiting period of our vehicles in check,” Brar added.
According to Rohan Gupta, Vice President, ICRA: “Overall domestic PV sales witnessed a sharp decline in production volume during September 2021 in the backdrop of semiconductor shortages, which will further increase the waiting period of car models during the upcoming festive period.
“Dealership inventory remains extremely low, and discounts have reduced sharply across OEMs.
While the situation is likely to improve sequentially in October 2021, the semiconductor shortage still remains acute with any meaningful respite only by the end of CY2021.” according to autombile industry sources


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Shopping with children at Holiday Store 'a joyous occasion'
Debi Barr-Holquist of Springfield has volunteered at the Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Children’s Holiday Store the past three years for the Springfield Ski & Travel Club. In fact, it’s become a little holiday tradition for her.
“It’s the most joyous occasion I can ever explain,” said Barr-Holquist, who maintains grandmotherly patience in shopping with children, some as young as two years old. “It’s so much fun taking these little children shopping for their family members and trying to find something that suits them, suits the relative, the mother, the grandmother, the brother, the sister. It’s adorable. I love it.”
Now in its 30th year, the store, which runs through Saturday at Fairhills Mall, is expected to attract more than 2,000 shoppers and will be staffed by 750 volunteers, like Barr-Holquist, but teens as well, including Key Club members from Chatham Glenwood High School Sunday. It is the crisis nursery's biggest fundraiser.
The premise hasn’t changed much. Kids get a budget and fill out a wish list. While the adults stay in a waiting room, volunteer shoppers shepherd the kids through tables of gifts ranging from $1 to $10 and help them wrap and tag the gifts at the end.
“The experience has always been consistent, in a great way,” said Mackenzie Anderson, the acting store manager for Sunday.
Stephanie Hagan, the faculty advisor for Glenwood’s Key Club, said it isn’t difficult to find volunteers for the store. About 10 Key Clubbers were helping out Sunday.
“I hear things like, ‘Can we do it again next year?’” said Hagan, helping 4-year-old Tatum Powell of Springfield wrap her presents. “They have a great time. Some (students volunteer) on their own as well.”
Nancy Mi, a senior at Glenwood, was one of those students who returned this year.
“It was so fun last year,” Mi said. “It’s cool seeing all the kids shopping for their families and being invested in it.”
“Sometimes they can wander endlessly,” said Barr-Holquist, with a laugh. “The little girls tend to be much better shoppers than the little boys because the girls actually comprehend the shopping process more. As the mother of a little boy, I didn’t take my boy out shopping much because it was so hard.”
Karrie Novy of Springfield used to bring her son, Tyler, to the Holiday Store when he was little. Sunday she brought Tyler’s son, Liam.
“It was always a tradition with Tyler,” Novy said. “We wanted to try it with (Liam). He was hesitant at first. He forgot some people (Saturday) so we wanted to come back today.”
“I liked wrapping (the presents),” Liam said. “We put the presents under the Christmas tree, like a Santa.”
The kids may angle for a present or two for themselves, but the volunteers, Anderson said, are “really good at keeping them on track and on budget.”
“It’s a wonderful cause,” Barr-Holquist said, “and a wonderful process to participate in when you’re teaching children how to give.”
Contact Steven Spearie: 788-1524, email@example.com, twitter.com/stevenspearie.
Want to go?
Mini O’Beirne Children’s Holiday Store
Where: Fairhills Mall, 1919 W. Monroe St.
Hours: Through Dec. 21. Monday-Friday, 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 to 5:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.miniobeirne.org.


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Bangladesh holds potential to be Asia's manufacturing hub
Bangladesh has an opportunity to become Asia’s manufacturing hub as the country is maintaining high export growth and has a skilled workforce with competitive wages, garment exporters and foreign buyers said yesterday.
The number of workers in the garment sector alone is 4.4 million at present; the number will be higher with the rise of other sectors like leather and leather goods, said industry insiders.
“Bangladesh’s competitive advantage is its young workforce. The business sector should pay proper living wages to the workers,” said Saiful Islam, managing director of Picard Bangladesh, a leading leather goods exporter.
Islam said there are 78.6 million people in the workforce, including all sectors like garments, agriculture, manufacturing and the services sectors.
The average age of most of the workers is below 40, which is a dividend for the country, he added.
“We cannot term the workforce as cheap, we can call it competitive,” said Islam, who is also president of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
However, with higher growth of exports, Bangladesh should also look after the environmental and security issues so that businesses become sustainable, Islam added.
Following compliance in the production and business cycles is not in the interest of the foreign buyers, it is needed for Bangladesh, Islam said at a roundtable — positioning Bangladesh as Asia’s manufacturing hub: the future challenges in compliance and capacity building for the RMG and leather sector — at the Westin Dhaka hotel.
Foreign Trade Association, a Brussels-based platform that promotes the values of free trade and sustainable supply chains, organised the roundtable. It was attended by foreign retailers, business leaders, government high-ups, trade union leaders and manufacturers from home and abroad.
“There is no alternative to Bangladesh as it can handle volumes and is delivering quality goods at competitive prices. The country has made significant progress in terms of compliance,” said Daniel Seidl, FTA representative in Bangladesh, while moderating the roundtable.
The leather sector is considered to be the next business that is coming up in Bangladesh, he added.
Mohammed Khorshed A Khastagir, director general (Europe) of the foreign affairs ministry, pointed out that Bangladesh is in the heart of Asia and other Asian countries can shift their production to Bangladesh.
Khastagir said Bangladesh’s market share in the global manufacturing sector is increasing with a rise in intra-regional trade. “We are getting more market share in India and China,” he said.
Nazma Akter, a labour leader, said: “Please respect our workers. We need to shift our business hub from Dhaka city back to the suburbs. If factory workers are treated with dignity, their productivity increases as well.”
“The government, factory owners and the retailers should work for the welfare of the workers,” said Nazma, president of Sammilito Garment Sramik Federation and substitute executive committee member of the IndustriAll Global Union.
In some cases, the retailers make more than 60 percent profit, although they purchase the clothing items at very cheap rates, she said. Bangladesh should also produce high-end apparel products, she added.
She suggested giving training not only to mid-level management, but also top level and low level management.
In his presentation, Faruque Hassan, senior vice-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said in 2015, the global garment business was worth $445 billion and Bangladesh’s export was worth $26 billion.
In the same year, China exported apparel items worth $175 billion, Vietnam $22 billion, India $18 billion, Turkey $15 billion, Indonesia $7 billion, Cambodia $6 billion and the US $6 billion, he said.
In 2000, the share of Asia in global clothing exports was 40.92 percent, while that of the rest of the world was 59.08 percent. In 2015, Asia’s share was recorded at 62.41 percent and the rest of the world was at 37.59 percent, said Hassan.
In fiscal 1984-85, Bangladesh’s garment export was $0.12 billion and in fiscal 2015-16, the country’s clothing export was $28.09 billion, he added.
Soren Kannik, country manager from Groupe Carrefour, said, “The competitive advantage of Bangladesh is the duty benefit to some countries. We would like to source compliant leather from Bangladesh.”


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The global pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus, has totally disrupted almost all global economies. The virus that originated from Wuhan, China, has forced most global sectors to a standstill over the past few months. The logistics sector, amongst all other major sectors, has been seriously affected, due to the restrictions of movement and a compulsory hold on trade transactions.
Some Major Impacts in the Logistics Sector
Analysts have indicated that the Nigerian port industry will experience a decline in ship traffic as well as a drop in the volume of imports coming into the country and exports originating from Nigeria to other countries in this second quarter of the year.
Given the decline prediction, analysts also predicted that there would be a corresponding drop in government revenue as federal government agencies such as Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other agencies that generate revenue from authorizing these cargoes would also lose out significantly. Because of this, the NCS might not meet its revenue targets for 2020 owing to the impact of Coronavirus which is already causing a decline in the volume of imports.
In addition, carriers have blanked over 25 sailings on the transpacific route, with primary reasons of weak demands in China. Liners such as Maersk, MSC, and Hapag-Lloyd recently announced additional blank sailing to match reduced market demand over the crisis that has transpired in the maritime space in China these past few months.
To help ease freight bottlenecks, some carriers, including American Airlines, Qantas, Delta, Korean Airlines, and Deutsche Lufthansa, are making use of their passenger planes to work as freight aircraft. The strategy is to keep the main cabins empty and fill the belly with cargo shipments.
Even with the negative impacts, the world needs the logistics sector now more than ever. The industry plays a vital role in the transportation of essential products, from food to medical equipment, test kits, and masks. Beyond the immediate response to the pandemic, logistics will be key to supporting long-term economic recovery. According to 3pl Logistics, the sector makes up about 11% of global GDP, and, as the backbone of global trade, supports countless other industries.
The government and key stakeholders have started taking concrete measures to support logistics infrastructure, services, and workers:
- Recently, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), brokered an agreement between Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), and the APM Terminal on rail evacuation which had earlier been temporarily suspended. The arrangement was necessary to enhance operational efficiency, and to encourage a multimodal approach to cargo evacuation especially within this period of COVID-19 pandemic.
- The International Road Transport Union has called on bodies such as the UN and the European Union to keep logistics chains open and provide financial support to operators so that they can, in turn, sustain the economy. Of course, for this to work, the International Maritime Organization has provided guidance to authorities on the facilitation of maritime trade to keep the port infrastructure running and protect the safety of workers.
- Also, an increasing number of ports are also implementing enhanced health declarations for workers, expanding health screening protocols and facilities, and scheduling appointments for ships and trucks to enter the port so that they minimize waiting times and interactions.
- The governments are not left out also. Some governments like Denmark and Sweden have started providing loan guarantees to their flag carriers. This should help these carriers carry out their maritime activities efficiently.
- Various logistics companies have announced measures to protect their employees and adapt operations. These include segregated shift schedules and warehousing locations for safe-distancing, review of business continuity plans, as well as sending out encouragement letters to their clients and assuring them of quality service.
As a logistics and freight forwarding company. We have also taken these initiatives and announced them to our employees and clients alike, on safety measures that need to be taken. Click here to read our announcement.
These initiatives are important first steps in the right direction. Ambition, coordination, and innovative thinking will be critical—not just to deal with the current emergency, but also to prepare for economic recovery and sustainability.
Read more about the services we provide here.


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Interested in learning what's next for the gaming industry? Join gaming executives to discuss emerging parts of the industry this October at GamesBeat Summit Next. Register today.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends will release its first expansion in almost nine months when Isle of Madness hits on January 24 on all of its platforms: PC, iOS, and Android. It’s a new set of story missions for Bethesda Softworks‘ card game, which came out in 2017.
Card games launch new chunks of content every few months, but Legends has gone without an expansion because of a change of development studios. In mid-2018, Bethesda announced that DireWolf Digital, who made the game for The Elder Scrolls publisher, would no longer run Legends and that Sparkypants would take over development. SparkyPants released a new client for the card game in the fall, but it hit with a slew of bugs and other problems. The studio has been fixing those since, though it has released a small collection of cards — The FrostSpark collection — and the new monthly reward card.
Card games are an important and growing market in video games that could be worth $1.7 billion in 2019, research firm Superdata reports. Blizzard’s Hearthstone rules, making 3.3 times more than its closet competitor, and it’s facing a serious competitor with Magic: The Gathering — Arena, the best adaptation of the genre-defining card game to date. The Elder Scrolls: Legends doesn’t command the market share of either game, but it poses different deckbuilding challenges with its two lanes, five colors and neutral cards, and themes from The Elder Scrolls role-playing games.
Isle of Madness will arrive with new card and lane mechanics — Legends stands out from Hearthstone, Eternal, and Magic: The Gathering — Arena with two battlefield lanes, not just one board. Bethesda touts that it’s the biggest storyline for the game yet, following on the tale told in 2017’s Return to Clockwork City.
Correction: 9:50 a.m. Pacific — I used Isles of Madness, not the correct Isle of Madness. I regret the error.
GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.


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Continuing concern over the potential for mis-selling damages-based agreements (DBAs) has led the Legal Services Board (LSB) to order the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) to monitor the complaints it receives in relation to them.
The LSB has issued a demand under section 120 of the Legal Services Act 2007 that LeO provide reports over the next two years.
The move follows an LSB decision not to publish formal guidance on DBAs for the frontline regulators, but it told them to monitor “developments in the area of price transparency in general and transparency of DBAs in particular”.
The LSB has doubts about the ability of unsophisticated consumers to choose and use DBAs or compare different DBAs.
In a letter to LeO chairman Elizabeth France this week, LSB chief executive Chris Kenny noted that the ombudsman has previously highlighted consumer confusion with what is covered by legal expenses insurance policies and a general lack of transparency about the cost of lawyers’ services.
LeO has also suggested that the introduction of DBAs may result in further consumer confusion. “We share this concern,” said Mr Kenny.
“The board believe that along with yourselves and the approved regulators, we should remain cognisant of the risks posed by DBAs and the potential for the use of such funding arrangements to increase.”
The formal request under section 120 is broader than just DBAs, and requires LeO to provide an interim report by 1 June 2014 with an assessment of the number and proportion of all complaints which concern a perceived lack of price transparency, broken down by type of funding arrangement used, type of consumer complaining, type of professional being complained about and the area of law.
The LSB said the report should also look at whether there are any common features of the business models involved and “the extent to which the ombudsman believes that this confusion may be being deliberately fostered”. The final report is to be delivered by 1 April 2015.


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Bernd Lewkowitz, of Margate, took the classic entrepreneur path of starting RSL Woodworking in a garage there.
Within a year, though, he needed more room and moved to the desolate woods of Egg Harbor Township, where RSL Inc. grew into one of the nation’s major manufacturers of door windows.
Fifty years later, the factory on Fernwood Avenue is surrounded by housing, its single-story buildings blending into the large-lot neighborhood.
RSL’s business of making framed window units that others drop into their exterior doors has far outgrown the capacity of the township plant. Ron Lewkowitz, co-owner of RSL and son of the now retired Bernd Lewkowitz, said most manufacturing takes place at the company’s 200,000-square-foot plant in Warren, Ohio.
The family-owned firm’s headquarters is nearby on English Creek Avenue, which also did some manufacturing until the downturn required consolidation.
The Fernwood Avenue plant makes a variety of wood and vinyl door windows, as well as specialty items, such as louvered windows and windows with sealed-in blinds.
Of particular interest these days are hurricane-impact windows.
Ron Lewkowitz, 55, of Linwood, said building codes along shore areas started to change after Hurricane Andrew destroyed parts of South Florida in 1992.
“In order to maintain important markets, we had to respond,” he said, so RSL went through several generations of hurricane-impact windows, balancing the need for strength with the desire for privacy, light and beauty on the door.
Perfecting the product paid off. “Our product is now the best-selling hurricane impact door glass in Florida and coastal areas,” Lewkowitz said.
At a recent visit to the plant, workers started creating the product by sandwiching a clear plastic layer between two panes of tempered glass. Once secured in a strong frame, the glass is ready to stop a 2-by-4 hurled by hurricane winds.
Lewkowitz said RSL has done well, competing against large corporations with $2 billion a year in sales, by staying focused on quality, the right niches and staffing.
“We’re one of the few companies still doing this in North America,” he said. “Many of our competitors went out of business in the last five years.”
The housing slump hurt RSL, too. “We had to close one of our facilities and lay off some of our valued employees, and that was truly regrettable,” he said.
The past year, the market has started to recover. He said overall sales have increased 28 percent.
The company’s skilled and loyal employees — which Lewkowitz credited as the primary reason for RSL’s success — took raw materials at the Fernwood plant and turned them into the centerpieces for doors by major manufacturers, such as Masonite, JELD-WEN and PlastPro.
Lumber was quickly cut into pieces a couple of inches square and about 10 feet long, then put through a molding cutter to give them the desired decorative shaping.
Steve Nixon, 59, of Egg Harbor Township and the operations manager, said the molding cutting heads would be very expensive to buy, so the company makes and maintains them in a little machine shop on the shop floor.
Power miter saws, some with two blades to cut two angles simultaneously and perfectly, prepare the wood to be joined together in a frame.
A multihead drill press, complete with robotic fingers to hold the frame steady, makes the precisely placed holes the door manufacturer will use to attach the window. Nixon said the pneumatic-controlled drill press was custom designed and built in-house.
Another custom machine holds in place and attaches the wooden frame and slats that make a louvered ventilation window.
Quality control is especially important during a downturn, Lewkowitz said.
His advice to businesses looking to weather an economic slump: “Focus on the essentials of your business, respond quickly to market conditions, and don’t cut corners.”
He said RSL, unlike most fellow manufacturers, puts its name on the door glass it makes.
“We are the only manufacturer in our industry that offers a lifetime guaranteed product,” Lewkowitz said.
He said the family also owns a sister company, Signature Door, of Altoona, Pa., which makes high-end custom wood entry doors.
“Some of the wealthier beachfront homes in the area might have our Signature Door,” he said.
Contact Kevin Post:


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Statistics, as we all know, can be misleading. One of the reasons for this is that those carrying out the surveys might have a vested interest in displaying positive results. As such, polling can be carried out in such a manner to nudge people towards a certain outcome. It’s for that reason you might see a tv ad with nine out of ten dentists saying they prefer a certain toothpaste, or some government initiative portrayed as more popular than it is in reality.
So, why bring this up? There has been a lot of talk about women in gaming recently, and the results of some of the surveys are both interesting and surprising. Now, as we have said, every poll should be regarded with a pinch of salt because, well, if I wanted to launch a video game targeted at the female demographic aged 35-44, it would suit my needs to say it is already popular with that group.
Women now make up almost half of the market
Nonetheless, looking at different surveys and studies from different sources, we can see some undeniable trends in gaming. First, the average age of a gamer is older than you might expect – somewhere around the age of 35. Secondly, women make up almost half of the gamer population; 45% according to some studies, and the split is almost 50-50 in some parts of Asia. As such, the takeaway is that gaming is no longer the proviso of teenage boys that is sometimes purported to be.
There are differences between the sexes and age groups, of course. For example, young men tend to like shooter games and make up the vast majority of players. On the other hand, the core market for a mobile game like Candy Crush is women over the age of 35. In casino gaming, men tend to prefer card and table games like blackjack and roulette, whereas women are more likely to be spinning on slots like 9 Masks of Fire online. But even within all these groups, the studies only point towards majorities, and they can fail to highlight trends. In short, there are more women playing shooters like Call of Duty and card games like blackjack than is commonly held.
Gaming money and power still in the hands of men
As with many industries, there is, however, a problem with the proportion of women at the upper echelons of the industry. Recently, there have been lots of initiatives supporting female esports teams, aka professional video game players. Sponsorship has been pouring in from big companies wanting to be supportive of a growing sector. However, of the 400 esports players in the world (in terms of earnings), just one is a woman. At the executive level, women, as you might expect, are sparsely represented as CEOs of gaming companies. There is a long way to go it seems.
However, there is some hope that things will change over time. Most of all, there is a recognition that the massive population of female gamers around the world represents a market that must be served. For evidence, take a look at the story of Kate Gorman, one of the few women CEOs of a gaming company. Gorman believes that women, including older women, are ill-served by the status quo, so she built her business, Fort Mason Games, around the idea that different genres of quality games will resonate with a female audience. That means fewer battle games and more focus on “relax-orientating” games. According to Forbes, Gorman believes women “are the future of gaming”.
The point of all this is to simply highlight that women are much more integral to the fortunes of the multibillion-dollar global gaming industry than what is portrayed in the media. There has been a quiet cultural shift over the last decade or so, leading to an almost 50-50 split in the market between men and women. Similar to activities like sports, however, there remains a gap between participation and who holds the strings of power and money. Will that change? Let’s hope so.
Tagged in Games


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Planet Fitness Combats ‘Gymtimidation’
Gyms can be pretty intimidating, but Planet Fitness wants to change that situation with its “Gymtimidation” campaign.
Its new Facebook game, “Clunk-a-Lunk,” is very much like whack-a-mole: The object of the game is to clunk some “lunks”– anyone with a tendency to “gymtimidate” the average gym-goer. You use your mouse to click as many lunks as you can in 30 seconds. Golden lunks are worth extra points. Lunks are characterized by obnoxious gym behavior, like talking on the phone while working out, excessively grunting, constantly checking themselves out in the mirror.
There are specific “lunk” characters like Abroham Lincoln and Grunt Gable, who personify these annoying gym behaviors. You can watch videos of each of the characters in the app under the “Meet the Lunks” section. Agency Red Tettemer + Partners created the effort.
The game is undeniably silly, but it works because it’s rooted in a very real human behavior. Planet Fitness wants to appeal less to the musclehead and more to regular people who want to be healthy without the annoying parts of gym culture.
The people who score the top three highest scores each week win a 12-month gym membership for free. That’s a pretty sweet deal.
‘I’m embracing the discomfort’: Fashion brand execs share how their office style has transformed
For some — particularly those that get personal fulfillment from their style — the return to the office is, indeed, a good reason to go all out.
Marketers are going beyond the individual and using personality to sell at Advertising Week
During day four of Advertising Week, marketers looked to go deeper with their audience by showing a softer side of the celebrities and creators they work with.
‘Content and commerce are converging’: Kroger Precision Marketing svp Cara Pratt on evolution of retail media, new offering
More and more companies are getting into the retail media space. As competition heats up, a Kroger executive talks about the grocer's latest attempt to stay ahead of the curve.
SponsoredHow advertisers are navigating advanced TV and premium video convergence
Nicole Schumacher, vice president of product marketing, Xandr Advertisers have a number of priorities and considerations as premium video content for viewers evolves. Media types are converging as audience behaviors diverge, adding nuance and complexity to each phase of campaign workflows. It’s the age of innovation for all types of video advertising, including convergence — […]
‘It’s crucial to fighting pay gaps’: How tech companies are leading the way in salary transparency
A growing cohort of progressive tech companies are offering salary transparency policies, which help tackle the gender pay gap.
Why a shoe brand is maintaining its digital paid media strategy well beyond the pandemic
By investing more in digital channels, the company was aiming to meet the tradesmen and women who typically shop for its shoes and work boots in-store wherever they were spending their time online.


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Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming sci-fi action adventure Pacific Rim has...
Tag "Cartoon Network"
The annual New York-based children’s entertainment event Kidscreen Summit has unveiled its full 2013 conference agenda online at summit.kidscreen.com/2013/agenda/expanded. Running over three full days, with a Master Classes and meetings-only day, the program offers more than 75 keynotes, panel discussions, presentations, debates and networking/pitching formats—all featuring respected thought leaders and [...]
Fans of Sony’s CG take on Peyo’s little blue heroes The Smurfs are in for a holiday treat this year as Sony Pictures Animation preps The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol for Cartoon Network! Taking cues from the Dickensian classic, the special—directed by Troy Quane–will premiere December 5 at 7:30 p.m. [...]
French studio Alphanim has sold three of its animated series to U.S. premium cable channel Starz. The studio has made key sales to Australia, South Korea, Eastern Europe and Finland. The announcement was made today by Pierre Belaïsch, Managing Director of Alphanim. “With these new sales, we are delighted to be [...]
Cartoon Network’s acclaimed series The Amazing World of Gumball took home the BAFTA Award for Best Animation on Sunday (Nov. 25). Created by Ben Bocquelet, the hit series is exec produced by Bocquelet, Michael Carrington and Daniel Lennard and has won numerous honors since it first aired in May of [...]
How the talented team at Screen Novelties brought a familiar 2D toon to 3D life in It’s a SpongeBob Christmas! special. You can call it the Rankin-Bass legacy—the reason we tend to enjoy our classic animated holiday programming spiced with a touch of stop-motion magic. It’s only natural that kids [...]
Aardman Digital has produced a new online game Cartoon Network’s award-winning series The Amazing World of Gumball. “Dino Donkey Dash” is based on popular episode “The Quest” and will consist of fast-paced mini-games which create a fun and engaging online experience for kids. It will launch on Cartoon Network websites [...]
While you’re slaving over a hot stove this Thanksgiving, here’s one thing to be thankful for: Cartoon Network is planning a very merry bonanza of new animated holiday specials—plus a 24 hour marathon of Christmas-y classics starting Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. The week long special programming even kicks off [...]
Canada’s 9 Story Entertainment has announced that CiTV U.K. has renewed the hit animated kids comedy series Almost Naked Animals (52 x 22) for a third season. The 2D-animated show which is produced and distributed by 9 Story was recently nominated for a BAFTA Kids’ Vote Award. The series blends [...]
Yes, it’s that time of the year when we begin to feel that gnawing sense of panic, reminding us that the holidays will be with us in less than a couple of months. If you’re looking for a few solid gift ideas for that talented animator or toon fan in [...]
If you’re a fan of Pendleton Ward, creator of Cartoon Network’s fantastic Adventure Time—and who isn’t?—you’ll want to check out his new show Bravest Warriors, which debuts on the new YouTube channel, Cartoon Hangover, today. The hot new series, which is directed by Breehn Burns, co-creator of Dr. Tran follows [...]