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Things have been going well for Mercedes-Benz lately in India after the launch of new models. The company has been doing well in recent months. Martin Schwenk, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, details the company’s plans to Vivek Phadnis of DH. Extracts:
How has it been for Mercedes-Benz lately?
Overall we are doing well at the moment. The pandemic has been very harsh and every city was massively affected in April-May of this year. We have seen a V-shaped recovery as a brand. From June, July and August, we saw sales figures equal to the situation before the pandemic. So overall we have seen a recovery in sales. Most of the markets are doing very well and we have high hopes for the next two months.
What bothers everyone a bit is a supply constraint. While we didn’t want to cut production, we had some production delays, where you have to wait a few weeks or even two to three months if you want to get SUVs, for example. This is due to global supply constraints. But overall, from a business perspective, we are very confident and happy with how the past two months have developed.
Some companies are struggling with rising commodity prices. Did it affect Mercedes-Benz?
Yes, we have had price increases. It is not possible with the margins that we have. We didn’t get it all out to the customers. You have to see how things evolve.
For example, the cost of freight is also an issue. Many of our suppliers come from Europe. The weaker rupee against the euro is a downside that we have tried to offset to some extent. But that remains a topic that we are following at the moment. We did not anticipate an immediate price increase. Hope we can keep the prices stable for some time. It is a concern.
Can you describe your new product strategy?
This year we have had a substantial refresh of our products. We had the GLA, the new E-Class, the S-Class CBU version. The first big step will be the S-Class, but in the medium term we see a lot of movement globally with electric vehicles. So, we will also see which electric vehicle we will bring to India. We still have to decide whether we are going to import or do local production. But this is one of the steps to come.
What are your electric vehicle projects for India?
We take a step by step approach in India. In January 2020, we launched the EQ brand, and under that we said that we would bring electric vehicles. About a year ago, we introduced EQC in six metropolitan cities, but we haven’t made it available across the network.
The next step we are doing is expanding the network. We will sell and service the EQC through our dealers in India. We are trying to develop the market now. We are trying to see which of our other vehicles fit into the Indian market. We haven’t decided yet, but I’m sure we’ll do something in the future. It’s a step-by-step approach. Brand, first car, network, increase. This is the rough plan.
What are your expectations for the next Christmas and New Year celebrations?
I am very optimistic. We have seen over the past two weeks that the demand situation is similar to that before the pandemic. I think we’ve all adapted and evolved to some extent in our lives. It means we see people walking into showrooms, buying cars, and celebrating again as much as possible. I am optimistic. Will we have other waves? Who knows? We have to take it step by step. We have seen the economy and businesses are resilient.


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For a local bakery owner in Collingswood, the recent Food and Drug Administration ban on trans fats will bring a struggle to his small business.
Mike “Uncle Mike” Dibarolo, owner of DiBartolo’s Bakery in Camden County, has been in the baking business for at least 40 years. He said many small bakeries will have to fight the change.
“If that takes effect, it is going to screw up all your good bakeries. We are all going to have issues — it’s going to make the goods taste like crap,” DiBartolo said Friday afternoon.
DiBartolo's is one of many family-owned businesses that will be impacted by the ban — from bakeries and cafes to local restaurants.
“You come to us expecting fresh-made, perfectly delicious cake, and we’ve had our products for years,” DiBartolo said, adding that customers “do not want to be presented with baked goods that taste like cardboard.”
The bakery owner continued that customers come to independent bakeries for home recipes. Local businesses do not have the resources that large chain companies have to spend time and money on mass production with trans fat substitutions.
On Thursday, the FDA announced its proposal to phase out trans fats, but it will not happen immediately. The movement to ban trans fats has been pushed by criticism of the health implications.
Trans fats are in processed food, but are most often found in baked goods like biscuits, pie crusts, and frostings or used for frying foods. Trans fats are created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to make it more solid.The result is an artificial product said to accumulate as plaque in the arteries.
According to the FDA, trans fat intake among Americans has declined from 4.6 grams per day in 2003 to around one gram in 2012.
While the push to eliminate trans fats can prove a challenge for small bakeries, local restaurants say they are willing to adapt to changes.
The Italian Kitchen, located on North Hook Road in Pennsville Township, is a well-established restaurant and bakery in Salem County. Owner Albert DiMarco was in the process of doing an update to the ingredient list Friday afternoon.
“Before, you didn’t really worry about trans fats. Now, you need to make sure you are moving with the times,” he said.
“That’s what people want and it’s what they expect — to know what they are eating. Some people look for vegan or gluten options and, down the road, there may be a time where you might want to look into these options.”
DiMarco added that they have done healthy eating seminars in other areas with cross-fit gyms.
“We tend to go where the customers want us to go. Even our menus offer some healthier options. We think outside of the box. You have to adapt to customers who are getting more conscious of what’s in their food.” DiMarco said.
For owners of the Ginger Cafe, in Woodstown, everything served is made from scratch.
“We have everything here and we’ll modify if needed. I think it’s a good thing to pay attention because health is important,” owner Evelyn Port said.
Port added that the only area to keep an eye on is baked goods.
“A lot of bakeries use shortening as their base. We’d have to look into our ingredients, but we are definitely going along with changes,” Port said.
Other food service businesses that have more of a focus on vegetarianism or vegan-friendly palates say business might increase if a ban goes into effect.
The Green Zebra, located on Rowan Boulevard in Glassboro, is an organic restaurant that serves locally made salad dressings without preservatives or artificial colors and flavors. The Gloucester County restaurant also uses locally grown ingredients.
“I think that the clientele here already pays attention to staying away from trans fats and looking to eat more green,” owner Corey Gardner-Meeks said.
He added that, for the small business, many of the customers are seeking healthier options.
“It’s really important for places to know healthy options and to pay attention — it’s vitally important,” Gardner-Meeks said.
The Wildflower, a "green" as well as vegan Millvlle eatery, is located in a small cluster of business cottages on High Street here.
“We use a lot of organic and whole grains, and we do get new people every day,” Eric Myman said, adding that he does not think the ban will change much of his business.
“We get a lot of healthy eaters. It’s more of a customer base for healthy eating and we get people looking for stuff that is healthy and taste good.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

domain: news


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Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Hologic, Inc., and Hologic subsidiary Suros Surgical Systems, Inc., settling litigation in Ohio and dismissing pending cases in Delaware. The disputes involved patents relating to the Ethicon Endo-Surgery MAMMOTOME® Breast Biopsy System, and the Hologic ATEC and EVIVA biopsy devices. Under the terms of the agreement, Ethicon Endo-Surgery will receive $12.5 million from Hologic.
As part of the settlement, Ethicon Endo-Surgery and Hologic will enter into a cross licensing agreement, whereby Hologic will pay ongoing royalties on the sales of ATEC and EVIVA hand pieces, and Ethicon Endo-Surgery will pay ongoing royalties on the sales of the MAMMOTOME® MR, effective February 19, 2010.
The cases resolved were in trial in Ohio before U.S. District Court Judge Barrett, and pending trial in Delaware before U.S. District Court Judge Farnan.
"We are pleased to resolve this longstanding litigation with Hologic," said Kevin Lobo, Worldwide President, Ethicon Endo-Surgery. "We firmly stand behind our intellectual property, which allows us to bring innovative products to market and advance patient care."
SOURCE Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.


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PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) - North Korea relaxed state control of salaries last month, a government economist said, outlining a change in policy intended to boost production by giving companies latitude to provide workers with financial incentives.
Q: I am a married 64-year-old woman. I started getting my Social Security at age 62. I was told at the time that I was not eligible for any of my husband's Social Security. But we were just on a cruise and an older woman told me that she took retirement benefits at 62 and was also able to get half of her husband's Social Security. Why don't I get half of my husband's benefits?
MOUNTAIN VIEW (AP) - Few have explored the remote volcanic islands of the Galapagos archipelago, an otherworldly landscape inhabited by the world's largest tortoises and other fantastical creatures that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
NEW YORK (AP) - It was another ugly quarter for Sears Holdings Corp.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell 23,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 340,000, a level consistent with solid job growth.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - After years of struggle, Gap is back in style.
CHICAGO (AP) - An 87-year-old grandmother took on billionaire Donald Trump. And on Thursday, she lost.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal panel of medical experts said that an experimental insomnia drug from Merck & Co. Inc. appears safe and effective, despite evidence from company trials that the pill can cause daytime sleepiness and difficulty driving.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes ticked up last month to the highest level in three and a half years, helped by a jump in the number of houses for sale.
NEW YORK (AP) - "Jenny from the Block" wants the block to buy Verizon phones from her.
PALO ALTO (AP) - Hewlett-Packard is still scrambling to meet the growing demand for more versatile and less expensive mobile devices as a slump in its personal computer sales deepens, but the company's cost-cutting measures and focus on more profitable areas of technology appear to be easing the pain.
PALO ALTO (AP) - Tesla Motors, which makes a highly acclaimed $70,000 electric car, has paid off a startup loan from the U.S. government nine years early.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate dragged Apple Inc., the world's most valuable company, into the debate over the U.S. tax code Tuesday, grilling CEO Tim Cook over allegations that its Irish subsidiaries help the company avoid billions in U.S. taxes.
DETROIT (AP) - Eminem's song publisher is suing Facebook and an ad agency in Detroit federal court, saying they appropriated one of the rapper's songs.
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - From nine to five, seven days a week, Robert Schill plays video games while sitting on a plush, brown sofa in central Florida.
NEW YORK (AP) - Hellmann's mayonnaise has some egg on its face.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Reynolds American Inc. is launching a cigarette that heats tobacco rather than burning it, hoping to capitalize on the growing appetite for alternatives to traditional smokes.
WASHINGTON (AP) - With many seniors facing high medical bills, a congressional investigation has found that federal government websites meant to give Medicare patients basic consumer tools instead fail to provide adequate information on out-of-pocket costs, and even quality of care.
NEW YORK (AP) - Pay phones on New York City streets would become a thing of the past under a plan announced Monday that would replace them with stand-alone devices offering free Wi-Fi and nationwide phone calls as well as mobile phone charging capability.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Federal regulators said a respected Internet privacy company gave its seal of approval to commercial websites and mobile apps but failed to check whether they were indeed meeting standards for safeguarding customers' data.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama on Monday embraced a radical change in how the government treats Internet service, coming down on the side of consumer activists who fear slower download speeds and higher costs but angering Republicans and the nation's cable giants who say the plan would kill jobs.
DETROIT (AP) - Emails showing that General Motors ordered a half-million replacement ignition switches nearly two months before telling the government of a safety recall will be heavily scrutinized by federal prosecutors, who are investigating GM's conduct, according to legal experts.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama on Monday waded into the debate over "net neutrality" by suggesting that Internet service should be regulated more heavily to protect consumers.
BALTIMORE (AP) - A federal administrative law judge in Baltimore has given preliminary approval to a $6.6 million settlement for more than 570 current and former Social Security Administration employees with disabilities.
NEW YORK (AP) - Pizza Hut is letting customers play mad scientist, giving them the freedom to make pies with honey Sriracha sauce or add curry flavor to the crusts.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Target is planning to offer Black Friday deals before the Thanksgiving holiday, in its latest move to boost sluggish sales heading into the holiday shopping season.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Postal Service said Monday it had been hacked, potentially compromising sensitive information about its employees such as names and addresses, Social Security numbers, emergency contacts and other information.
NEW YORK (AP) - Arby's, the chain known for its roast beef sandwiches, is trying to stand out in the crowded fast-food industry. It's marketing its meats as being of superior quality and pushing to let customers know they can order sandwiches sans onions or mayo.
LONDON (AP) - Oil prices slumped to multi-year lows on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia cut the price of oil sold to the U.S., a move that is shaking an already volatile market but will likely give the world economy an unexpected stimulus.


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One Millionth Ezi-Melt Sale
Ezi-Melt is the UK's number one domestic de-icing salt brand. Available at Tesco, ASDA, B&Q and many other large retailers, Ezi-Melt has been popular with customers since the first pack sold in 2010.
Incredibly, the one millionth pack passed through Oval’s production facility today and was immediately shipped to the supermarket buyer, marking a real milestone in the product’s history.
Grant Lloyd, Managing Director at Oval Products said:
From the beginning we knew Ezi-Melt would be big – it’s just such a great idea. Sales have been escalating year on year with more and more retailers wanting to stock it. It’s a good feeling to reach this milestone with the product.
Who knows what the weather will do this winter, but with Ezi-Melt becoming more and more popular with retailers and customers alike, the two-millonth jar probably isn’t far down the production line…


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The next 12 months will mark the start of a sharp upturn in mobile advertising spend as the proliferation of cheap, high-quality multimedia handsets and the widespread availability of high-speed mobile networks reaches a critical point, according to a major strategic report released today by Informa Telecoms & Media.
The study, entitled "Mobile Advertising Services: generating revenue through subsidised content" predicts that worldwide spend on mobile advertising will rise to US$11.35 billion within five years.
The potential economies of scale that the mobile channel offers advertisers will prove a powerful draw – Informa Telecoms & Media forecasts that there will be over 2.1 billion mobile subscribers worldwide by the end of 2006, rising to nearly 4 billion in 2011. Issues that need addressing to enable advertisers to realise this reach however, include consumer acceptance, technology (screen size, available bandwidth, interoperability between operators and handsets) and industry regulation.
Major advertisers such as Coca-Cola, and car manufacturer Peugeot have been experimenting with SMS and WAP based advertising since 2002/3 and 2004 respectively. In 2007, mobile advertising spend will more than double from 2006 levels to over US$1.5bn.
Brands are clearly eager to take advantage of the intimacy of contact that mobile advertising promises; with information available to operators it is theoretically possible to create very targeted campaigns. The mobile is also a useful tool to track and measure the success of campaigns, with users texting, calling in or clicking on links all giving direct feedback on the effectiveness of a campaign. Gaining access to customer information from operator customer service records could prove complex however, both from a technical perspective and due to regulation governing the use of customer data.


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LPG price hike: A 5-kg domestic cylinder price increased by Rs 18 per cylinder. The price of 19-kg commercial cylinder prices decreased by Rs 8.50.
The price of the 14.2-kg domestic liquified petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder has been increased by Rs 50 to Rs 1,053 cylinder in Delhi. The price of a domestic cylinder has increased by Rs 153 in 2022 so far.
A 5-kg domestic cylinder price was also increased by Rs 18 per cylinder.
With the latest price hikes, in Mumbai a domestic cylinder will now cost Rs 1,052.50, it will cost Rs 1,079 in Kolkata, and Chennai residents will have to shell out Rs 1,068.50.
The price of a 19-kg commercial cylinder was, meanwhile, decreased by Rs 8.50. A 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder now costs Rs 2,021 in Delhi as against Rs 2,219 previously, according to a price notification from state-owned fuel retailers.
This is the second reduction in rates in a month's time. On July 1, the price of a commercial LPG, used by hotels, restaurants and other business establishments, was cut by Rs 198 per 19-kg cylinder.
The copy will be updated soon
First Published: IST


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Iran and China are seeking to cement a wide-ranging partnership that would deflect U.S. economic pressure and ease Tehran’s global isolation.
An initial draft of the Iran-China deal, which still requires Iranian parliamentary approval, would pave the way for Chinese investments in Iranian free-trade zones and for joint projects in other countries, such as Syria and Iraq. It would expand cooperation between the two countries in defense and counter terrorism. And it says that under a 25-year partnership, China would import “sustainable” levels of Iranian oil, but offered no further details.
Back-to-School Sale: Extra 25% off sitewide - JCPenney coupon code
Walmart coupon: $20 off your $50+ order
- Best Buy:
Save 15% or more on the Best Buy deal of the Day
Up to 15% off + free shipping at Wayfair
Nike Gear Up for Fall Sale: Up to 50% off
- Dick's Sporting Goods:
10% off sitewide - Dick's Sporting Goods coupons


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Google on Tuesday said it will reduce the commission from developers to 15% from 30% on the first $1 million they earn as revenue each year. Rival Apple had reduced commission to developers for in-purchases to 15% on the first $ 1 million revenue, earlier in January.
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"These (big tech) companies are becoming dangerous for governments, companies and consumers. It is important that the government take a serious view of Google and Apple,” said Murugavel Janakiraman, founder and CEO of Bharat Matrimony.
“Put together these two companies are turning into super governments of the world because the internet is flowing through ecosystems of both companies," he said.
Most app developers currently prefer routing in-app purchases through cheaper payment gateways and have opposed Google’s move. Android has 95.23% of the mobile operating system market in India, according to data platform Statista
While developers in India have time till the end of March 2022 to integrate Google Play Store billing into their Android apps, it is effective from July in other parts of the world. Billings over $ 1 million will be charged 30% commission, the company announced.
Google said it did not have fresh comments beyond the Tuesday announcement. Email queries to Apple did not elicit a reply until press time.
Last October, Google had to defer the implementation of 30% commission on in-app purchases in India after sustained outrage by local technology startups led by Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma who accused the internet giant of exploiting its monopoly in the country.
Indian startups have also grouped together as Aatmanirbhar Digital India Foundation (ADIF), calling for a level playing field for local startups against the big technology firms.
Citing global precedent, Ajay Data, founder of Data Xgen Technologies, a homegrown email solution, who is also the secretary general of AIDF, said the grouping has also petitioned both technology companies—Google and Apple-- on this issue.
In the US, legislators have intervened to ensure internet platforms offer other payment options, he said. In early March, the House of Representatives of the Arizona State passed a legislation that prevents app store operators from forcing a developer based in the state to use an exclusive payment system. It is yet to be approved as a bill.
“This is exactly we are asking for (in India). This is the way to go. Ensures markets stay fair, competitive & innovative,” said Data, referring to the Arizona legislation.
Pointing out that while Google and Apple are private companies and can charge whatever commission they want, they should not also be allowed to “ stop other payment mechanisms where the commission is one tenth or lesser,” Data said. “If I sell on my website I pay 1-1.5% commission (to a credit card company) and 15-30% for the same service on the app, it is extortion” he added.
Apart from the high rates of commission start-up founders say forcing app developers to remove other payment gateways, which provide “the same service at 1-2% commission and remits money at t+1 (the following day after the transaction) as opposed to monthly settlement,” is the real bone of contention.
Snehil Khanol, CEO & Co-founder of TrulyMadly, “ even if the commission is reduced to 15% for everybody, it is still very high.”
Startups also fear the dominant market position occupied by Google across various products.
Rohan Verma, CEO of MapMyIndia, said “Google has a monopoly in search, and is perpetuating it on Android, play store, on Google pay and Maps. These are monopolies and create an anti-competitive scenario,” said Verma.
While Bharat Matrimony’s Janakiraman is of the view that it is consumers and companies that (should) decide which payment gateway to use.
“Companies are already spending crores of rupees on Google ads, then there is a charge on the income made be it 15% or 30%. My view is that app ecosystems should be independent of Google or Apple," he said.
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- Surge in Q2 FMCG, Phone, Car Sales may Bring Festive Cheer
Sales of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), cars, smartphones, and household appliances surged in the September quarter, both sequentially and year-on-year, company executives told ET.Piyush Goyal, Chandrasekhar to Grace ET Startup Awards
Union Cabinet minister Piyush Goyal and minister of state Rajeev Chandrasekhar will be the guests of honour at a dazzling ceremony to celebrate the winners of The Economic Times Startup Awards on Saturday, October 7.GST Collections in Sept Jump 10% to ₹1.63 L cr
Goods and services tax (GST) collections rose 10% to ₹1.63 lakh crore in September from a year earlier , maintaining the recent robust pace of growth, showed data released on Tuesday.
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Auctioneers Christie's notch up record year
Saturday 29 January 2011
Christie's notched up the biggest sales figures in the art auction industry's history last year, the firm announced Thursday, with record global sales of $5 billion.
And Chinese collectors continued to increase their prominence in the auction rooms as the number of buyers from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong accounted for a fifth of the total.
Sales in 2010 were up 53 percent with the firm selling more than half the world's works over $50 million, including the most expensive painting ever to sell at auction: Pablo Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust" for $106.5 million.
The firm also sold notable collections owned by international names such as author Michael Crichton and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
"2010 was a record-breaking year and early signs of 2011 indicate that the art market remains buoyant at all levels," said Steven P. Murphy, CEO of Christie's International.
"Among the many notable results, the pace of growth in auction, the strength of private sales and increase in online transactions in particular indicate a growing appetite for participation in all forms and formats of art sales."
The number of new clients who registered for a sale rose 22.7 percent on 2009 and the number who went on to buy in Christie's sales increased 13 percent, while 28 percent of buyers bid online.
And Chinese collectors are becoming an ever-increasing presence on the global auction stage, says Christie's Asia president Francois Curiel.
Around 20 percent of global sales were to clients from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan - up from 16 percent.
"What we are seeing is that Chinese collectors are scanning the catalogues and the fairs worldwide," he told AFP. "They are buying to bring back to China their treasures and great Chinese works of art.
"It will often be Chinese versus Chinese versus Chinese, with all the European and American collectors being left behind, sometimes not even being able to raise their hand at the auction."
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Ultralight theft: Forever 21 slammed for copying Kanye West’s Life of Pablo shirts
Forever 21’s brand of imitating pricey fashion trends and reproducing them at scale is coming back to bite it.
The fast fashion brand has apparently sensed an opportunity in — or suffered a major bout of FOMO from — Kanye West’s popular Life of Pablo clothing line, which reportedly pulled in nearly a million dollars in just two days at its New York pop-up back in March. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Forever 21 is coming off as incredibly sincere with a West-inspired t-shirt, complete with Olde English-script.
For a mere $34, Forever 21’s shirt reads “Simon de Cyrene for the world,” a biblical reference to a man forced by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus before his crucifixion. West’s shirt reads “We on an ultra light beam, this is a God,” a lyric from his song Ultralight Beam discussing his relationship with God, according to Genius.
“Forever 21 is ripping off the Pablo merch in the weakest way smh,” a fan tweeted. Another found the most appropriate West reaction:
— Jake Woolf (@jakewoolf) June 21, 2016
Forever 21 didn’t immediately respond to comment about the similarities.
Of course, it’s not the only retailer to bring Pablo’s pricey merch to the masses. H&M sold knockoff Yeezy shoes in its stores and Zara mimicked Pablo’s oversized street wear collection with looks of its own.
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Digiday+ Research deep dive: Brands, retailers use Facebook less, even as it drives revenues, branding
A Digiday+ Research survey found that brands and retailers report using Facebook less over the last few years, all while the platform’s value to their revenues and brands has increased.
Marketing Briefing: Marketers ‘optimistic’ after WGA strike’s potential resolution, but aren’t expecting ad dollars will return just yet
The timeline for a return to business as usual – whatever that may mean now – is yet to be determined.


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General Motors has been heavily promoting the GMC Hummer EV since its debut in October 2020, and according to the veteran automaker, its efforts have been paying off. This became quite evident when a steady stream of new ads about the vehicle during key events effectively made March the best month for reservations for the Hummer EV since its SUV version was unveiled a year ago.
During an NBA All-Star Game in February, for example, GMC pushed a Hummer EV ad that featured the vehicle’s “Crab Walk” feature and basketball star LeBron James. Another ad, which highlighted the Hummer EV SUV’s specs, was also shown during the NCAA college basketball tournament. Duncan Aldred, global VP of Buick-GMC, noted that the ads raised awareness around the Hummer EV.
“Awareness is a big thing, and I think that is on our side. Every time we seem to just put a little bit of an awareness tweak out there… we see the reservations follow,” Aldred said.
To date, GMC has noted that it has registered over 66,000 reservations for the Hummer EV’s pickup and SUV variants. Aldred noted that GMC intends to keep the interest going with the vehicle. This could be done through campaigns that highlight the Hummer EV’s attributes, such as its colors, its over-the-air updates, and other features. “We’ll keep the drumbeat going,” he said.
The Hummer EV has attracted a lot of attention, though its ramp has been very deliberate. In Q4 2021, GM delivered just one Hummer EV in the quarter, and through March, only 100 of the hulking all-electric pickup trucks have been handed over to customers. As per Aldred, however, this shortage of available Hummer EVs has actually heightened interest in the vehicle. The Hummer EV’s resale value has been quite notable, with some delivered units selling for over double their original price.
“The more you think you can’t have something, the more you want it,” the Buick-GMC VP said.
Interestingly enough, the Hummer EV has been attracting attention from owners of the original gas-guzzling Hummers of years past. This was highlighted by Will Churchill, co-owner of Frank Kent Motor Co. in TX. “GM did a great job by bringing it back, and you can tell by the excitement generated around it. It’s a vehicle that garners a lot of emotion. And once you’ve had one, you’re just kind of always a Hummer person,” Churchill said.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to firstname.lastname@example.org to give us a heads up.


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NerdWallet’s got the 2016 Black Friday ad leaks from your favorite stores, plus everything you need to score big and shop smarter this holiday season. If you like shopping at Home Depot, you’ll definitely want to check out the Black Friday deals at these similar stores: Dick’s Sporting Goods and Shoe Carnival.
The 2015 Nike Black Friday ad hasn’t leaked yet, but we’ll share it here as soon as we get our hands on it. In the meantime, keep checking back — and for a hint of what to expect, take a look at what the retailer offered during last year’s Black Friday sale.
Nike Black Friday Deals from 2014
While we weren’t able to locate a traditional Black Friday ad from Nike in 2014, that didn’t mean the store skipped out on the seasonal shopping day.
In fact, athletically inclined shoppers were in for a real treat at Nike last year. In honor of Black Friday, the brand released new styles from Jordan, Nike SB, Nike Running and Nike Golf. Customers could visit the Nike website to browse the full selection of snazzy sneakers.
The launch theme continued on Cyber Monday, when Nike released some of the “season’s biggest styles.” These included Jordan Retros, soccer cleats, kids shoes and more.
Image via Nike, Inc. Media Resources.


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Last month we reported on Emoshape, a startup that has created an AI chip designed to bring emotional intelligence to the world of AI. The New York based startup has created the emotions synthesis microchip called Emotion Processing Unit (EPU), which could be applied to smart speakers, robotics, AR/VR, self-driving cars, personal assistants, toys, and IoT devices. “We are thankful to collaborate with such a visionary partner as Orange Silicon Valley. With their support we are able to show now just the tip of the iceberg really of how, among many other things, VR content will benefit from our emotion synthesis technology. ”, says Patrick Levy-Rosenthal, Founder and CEO of Emoshape. The company’s featured product “ExoLife Emotion Engine”, powered by the EPU II, delivers high-performance machine emotion awareness, and allows personal assistant, games, avatars, cars, IoT products and sensors to feel and develop a unique personality. Emoshape also developed a game called DREAM, a pioneering concept of VR video games without GUI, and first game ever created around ExoLife for the gaming industry.
As a sponsor of Emoshape’s game DREAM, Orange Silicon Valley is collaborating with Emoshape on developing prototypes on subjects including AR/VR, personal assistant, and other smart connected devices, by leveraging on Emoshape’s emotion technology to provide real-time emotion synthesis and make machines more human-like. “We are exploring Emoshape’s emotion synthesis solution with its leading-edge AI chip, and see how we can leverage on their technology to benefit different industry verticals in consumer and enterprise domains for Orange”, says Georges Nahon, CEO of Orange Silicon Valley.
This is the first look into the technology that Emoshape and Orange are driving to make machines even smarter. You can see the collaboration demo between Orange Silicon Valley and Emoshape this week at CES 2018, Eureka Park, booth #53064.


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Brookshire Brothers broke ground this morning (Aug. 22) on a store adjacent to the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. The store is an initiative between the Texas A&M System and the East Texas grocer.
In making the announcement, Brookshire Brothers President and CEO John Alston said, “Our company is honored to have been selected by the Texas A&M System to partner in their latest development project. After visiting with the Evaluation Committee and learning about their vision, there was no question that the project was a high priority for us.”
The store will sit on land owned by the Texas A&M System and leased to Brookshire Brothers. A feature company officials think will appeal to college students is the outdoor concert venue with both beer on tap and wine by the glass. The company has a similar music venue at its Canyon Lake, Texas, location that is popular with both visitors and locals.
“I am proud to enter into a partnership with Brookshire Brothers to bring high-quality products and delicious food to the West Campus community,” Chancellor John Sharp said. “Young Aggies undoubtedly will embrace their new community grocer and deli.”
The store is located near the corner of George Bush Drive and Penberthy Boulevard. According to a press release from the Lufkin, Texas-based grocer, the location is ideally situated near student housing and in plain view of two iconic campus landmarks, Kyle Field and Reed Arena.
The new store will serve the students and faculty as well as the tens of thousands of locals and visitors who spend time in and around the University.
Alston said, “Ties to Texas A&M run deep throughout our company. As a former student and graduate of the Mays College of Business, I’m beyond excited for Brookshire Brothers to have the opportunity to serve students, faculty and staff of Texas A&M and the rapidly growing population around West Campus.”
In its 40,000-s.f. space, Brookshire Brothers will bring its signature hot deli and fresh offerings to the college store as well as online shopping with curbside pickup and delivery, fuel and a bakery. An expanded health and wellness focus will include not only a full-service pharmacy with personalized medication counseling, but also immunizations, and at-home testing for flu, UTIs and strep. In addition, the store will have a wide variety of nutritional supplements.
Owned by its 5,500 employees, Brookshire Brothers operates more than 114 retail locations from the Texas Hill Country and to Lake Charles, Louisiana.


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- Esports organization Metafy raises $25 million in Series A funding round
- It has promised to invest at least $1 million in local tournaments
- This marks a rapid rise in the company’s capital and operations
Metafy, the esports and gaming coaching platform, managed to raise $25 million in a Series A funding round.
Metafy Raises $25m
With the continuing rise of esports popularity and its surrounding industries, companies are popping up focused on coaching professional players. One of these is Metafy, led by Tiger Global Management and Seven Six Ventures, the venture capital company created by Reddit Co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
The company managed to raise over $25 million in a Series A funding round. The company has stated it will dedicate $1 million of the sum to the community by funding local and online tournaments.
Metafy’s main goal is to connect players to coaches, who help the former improve their game by reviewing replays, one-on-one live coaching sessions, and written advice. The company currently provides services for major competitive titles like League of Legends, Super Smash Bros, VALORANT, and many others.
Metafy is Growing Rapidly
Co-Founder and CEO of Metafy Josh Fabian said that just in their first year of operation, its experts managed to gain over a million dollars. “We got there by focusing obsessively on product and experience. I couldn’t be more proud of that accomplishment, but the job’s not done,” Fabian said. He also added that the company is assembling a very talented team to build a platform that branches out from coaching alone.
“It’s too late for me — I missed the opportunity to both be a pro gamer as well as a pro instructor,” said Founder of Seven Seven Six Alexis Ohanian. “But Metafy is absolutely on to something: the future of gaming (and learning) will include an entirely new industry of professional coaching. We’re excited to be investing in a platform that’s going to let countless people do what they love for a living,” he added.
More and more companies are trying to grab a bite of the growing esports scene, offering coaching as part of their services. But one thing that singles out Metafy is that this Series A round is the largest investment made into a startup specifically focused on esports coaching.
This is not Metafy’s first venture into large capital. The company partnered with CSL Esports back in October, so it is safe to say Metafy has a lot of experience in dealing with large sums. It remains to be seen in what kind of tournaments the company will invest the promised $1 million.


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More dogs go missing on the 4th of July than any other day of the year. With all the noisy fireworks, loud parties, and distractions, it’s no wonder so many pooches bolt and get lost on Independence Day. Following a few safety tips will help keep your dog safe.
Consumer Reports first sounded the alarm, “Retractable leashes pose problems for people and their pets,” and it’s no exaggeration. People choose them thinking they’ll give dogs extra freedom on walks. Unfortunately, the upsides are far outweighed by the risks.
Summer means barbecues, pool parties, and fun times outdoors are on the way. And of course, we want to include our dogs on as many of those activities as possible. DogTime asked veterinarian Dr. Kurt Venator, DVM, PhD from Purina about how to keep dogs safe in summer.
Anyone who has watched a flash flood wash away a house in minutes knows the destructive power of these natural disasters. Flooding can be a very frightening time for people and their dogs, but there are thankfully many ways to prepare for this weather event.
Tornadoes are one of the most destructive storms that households have to manage. It is not surprising that pets find this type of storm particularly stressful to experience. Here are a few things you should know about creating a tornado preparedness plan that includes your dog.
“Brachycephalic” refers to dogs with short muzzles, and this face shape is a huge disadvantage to dogs in the hotter months since their main mechanism for cooling down is panting. Here’s how that can be dangerous–even deadly–for dogs with shorter snouts.
Sand, surf, and sunshine can make the day at the dog beach a blast, but they also present some dangers that you should plan for. Even if your dog is friendly, a good swimmer, and obedient to your commands, things can still go wrong very quickly.
For outdoorsy dog lovers, hiking with a canine companion is the perfect way to spend a weekend. Its a great way to bond with your pup, but there are plenty of hidden dangers to consider before venturing into the back country together.
Now that the weather is warming up, boaters and dog lovers are spending more time out on the water. There are many potential dangers when boating, so take care of your pooch when you bring them along for a boat ride.
Wildfires endanger natural resources, property, people, and of course, beloved pets. If you haven’t already prepared your human family and pets with a plan that includes what to do in the event of an evacuation, now is the time.
Many dog owners underestimate the danger a backyard pool presents and overestimate their new puppy’s swimming proficiency. Puppies are not always born knowing how to swim, so if you’re planning on bringing your pup poolside, keep these safety tips in mind.
Ten million dogs and cats go missing every year. That’s why National Lost Dog Awareness Day, observed on April 23rd, is such an important day for pet owners. Here are a few things you can do if you ever have to find a lost dog.
April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month–a month we dedicate to teaching fellow pet parents about providing emergency care to their animals. Here are some facts that will help you prepare to give your pet first aid in an emergency.
Shamrocks, parades, pots o’ gold, green beer—they’re all part of St. Patrick’s Day! But there are a few hazards all dog owners should keep in mind before their festivities—and we aren’t just talking about leprechauns.
Some dog owners claims that CBD helps their dogs with a host of medical conditions. Others hear that CBD comes from marijuana plants and immediately become wary of these products. Is CBD oil safe for dogs? Here’s what you should know.
Tesla recently released “Dog Mode,” a new car setting meant to ensure your pet is safe in the car when you have to step out on errands. However, it’s not a replacement for your responsibility as a dog owner. Here’s what you should know.
Looking for a little romance on Valentine’s Day? Make sure and look out for your pet’s safety, too, as items that show affection can be deadly for dogs and cats. Here are some tips for keeping furry family members safe on this holiday.
February 14th is Pet Theft Awareness Day–a day to make sure dog owners know the dangers dognappers present to their pooches. We’re spreading the word to help dog lovers make good decisions that can reduce the risk of pet theft.
As humans spread into coyote habitats with their pets more and more, the odds of encounters between dogs and coyotes skyrocket. Protect your dog from attacks.
When you have a party on Super Bowl Sunday, make sure your dog stays safe while you enjoy the game, food, and drinks. Here are a few tips that can help you celebrate while keeping your pup out of harm’s way.
When you go into icy waters after your dog, you are putting your own life at risk. You are also putting your dog in more danger and endangering the lives of rescuers. Here’s why you should never go into the water after your dog, and what you should do, instead.


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Boro Bazar in Khulna city, the largest commercial hub in the south-west region of the country, has witnessed many ups and downs over a period of 178 years. But time has not diminished it; instead, it has become a part of the country's heritage.
The market started to sprout beside the River Bhairab after Khulna became a mahakuma (an administrative division denoting a sub-district) from Noyabad police station under Jashore district in 1842.
To meet the needs of the then-government employees and common people, the market expanded over several areas namely: West Makot Road, Bhairab Strand Road, Kalibari Road, KD Ghosh Road, Clay Road, Jicjac Road, Sir Iqbal Road, and Station Road along the river.
Every day, Boro Bazar wakes up at the crack of dawn and in the middle of the night, it goes to sleep. Traders of different towns, places, markets, and the port in the region buy their products at this market.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the market saw trade worth Tk20-Tk25 crore per day, said Md Munir Ahmed, president of Khulna Rice Traders' Samity and former president of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Now it has decreased by 50% due to the coronavirus crisis, he added.
At present, there are 3,650 registered business organisations in the market, according to the Khulna City Corporation (KCC).
The city corporation collected over Tk18.28 lakh as revenue from the shops on the footpaths of Boro Bazar in the last fiscal year, said Md Selimur Rahman, Bazar Superintendent of KCC.
However, the corporation had no information regarding the amount of the money collected from the trade licenses of the commercial establishments in Boro Bazar, said Sheikh Humayun Kabir, assistant superintendent of the KCC's trade license department.
Boro Bazar was developed in an unplanned way, said Alauddin, proprietor of Messers Alauddin Traders. Electric wires hang here and there in the market and many run shops defying rules and regulations, said Alauddin.
"There is no discipline at the market and that is why it is not possible to invest in the market as per our expectations," he added.
Rathin Saha, a rice trader and owner of Messers Nasir and Brothers, said the streets of the market are very narrow. Many do business occupying half of the streets, said Rathin.
Sometimes it created obstacles in transporting goods and customers suffered a lot, he further said.
Bhairab Strand Road was damaged by the river while the road from Kadamtola to Mohendra Dash was very dilapidated, said Munir Ahmed. These streets needed to be repaired, he added.
Shamsuzzaman Mia, a ward councilor of the KCC, said the West Makot Road was very densely populated. Both sides of the road had been widened by four feet in 2010.
"If Boro Bazar, including West Makot Road, is renovated now, many shopkeepers will have to be evicted. It will cause a huge loss to the businessmen. Besides, this market is a heritage of our south-west region. So, instead of renovating it, we want to preserve the heritage," said Shamsuzzaman.
Ezaz Morshed, chief engineer of Khulna City Corporation, said they have no plan to develop the market right now.
The journey from the British era
Towards the end of the 19th century, Khulna city was known as Charlie's Hat or Saheber Hat. At that time, the name of Boro Bazar was Charlieganj or Saheber Hat. The bazar was named after neel kuthial (indigo planter) Charles as he founded the market.
Khulna was part of Jashore district at that time. The market gradually developed after 1842 when Khulna was upgraded to a mahakuma from Noyabad police station. On 25 April, 1882, Khulna started its journey as a district.
As a result, the importance as well as the population of the district town began to increase rapidly. Steamers started to ply from Khulna to Kolkata, a rail station was set up in the town and a municipality started its operation between 1880 and 1840. These incidents helped the market flourish.
An increasing number of businessmen from different parts of the country – such as Barishal, Jashore, Faridpur, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Chandpur, Cumilla, Noakhali, and Chattogram – started to come to the market.
Marwari businessmen from Kolkata and the adjacent areas also started to come here. They set up many shops and warehouses at the market. Gradually, Boro Bazar became the commercial centre of the south-west region.
Before the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, the Marwari businessmen controlled the businesses of Boro Bazar. But after the partition, they gradually started to leave the market. The market saw a decline in trades at that time.
However, within a short time, Pakistani businessmen filled the vacuum.
The market got back its full strength after Mongla port was built in December, 1950. The products, imported and exported through the port, were released beside Boro Bazar.
After the Independence of Bangladesh, the Pakistani businessmen left the market. At that time, again a void was created at Boro Bazar. However, again, the market turned around as Bangladeshi businessmen came to the helm.
In the 1980s, Boro Bazar fell into trouble again. Many businessmen moved their businesses from the market to other places due to extortion and adverse situations.
Most of the naval routes in the south-west region and the mills and factories in Khulna city were closed. Additionally, the activities in Mongla port were reduced.
All these things affected the market adversely.
However, despite so many obstacles, Boro Bazar is thriving.


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David’s Bridal once owned 50percent regarding the $36 billion wedding dress market before it filed for bankruptcy just last year. Brides were growing tired of the possible lack of designs and sizes plus prices that are high expensive stone & mortar stores. The industry had been destined for interruption by pc computer computer software that will replace costs that are overhead inflexibility with direct-to-consumer personalization.
That’s why we profiled a custom that is new dress startup back 2016 called Anomalie despite small funding or traction. The increase of Instagram suggested every ended up being happy to embrace pc pc software to provide 4 billion design permutations and break the markup cartel by attempting to sell gowns beginning at $1000.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of using brides. Other businesses would destroy with this client. She’s therefore obsessed with every information of her wedding gown. it is only an environment that is perfect collect data” claims Anomalie co-founder and CEO Leslie Voorhees. “Long lead time, high margin, this industry that is entirely f*cked up — it is the most wonderful place to begin this mass modification motor starting with the marriage gown” she informs me, hinting in the startup’s potential to modify other clothes too.


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Levi’s will significantly increase its advertising expenditure on TV and digital as the brand sees revenue increasing with its entry in the athleisure segment.
The brand has signed up movie star Deepika Padukone as its brand ambassador.
Saikot Das, Marketing Director, South Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Levi Strauss and Co., said, “We are increasing our overall ad spends in a big way this year. I don’t think 2020 as a baseline is a good comparison. However, if we look at 2018, our spending is going to be significantly more than that. And if macro-economic and business factors continue to support, we will pick up our investments in the second half, again.”
He said the company’s business currently is looking good and is coming back to the pre-Covid levels as footfalls are back.
While the brand plans to move into a lot of prominent locations from a store point of view across the country this year, it has accelerated digital commerce as well. Tapping the opportunity in the athleisure space, it is most likely to launch the products in the category in the second half of the season (H2) for both men and women.
For this year, Das mentioned how winning the women consumer is the biggest priority for the brand.
While it has a product line in place for the same, the company has also launched a ‘We All Move’ campaign, conceptualised by Spring Marketing Capital.
With the keen objective to attract the next generation of women consumers with relevant fashion-forward offerings, the brand is taking the next step in its journey.
Starring Deepika Padukone, the campaign aims at inspiring a culture of sisterhood united in celebrating their individuality through authentic self-expression. Centred on the message ‘When you take a step, we all move’, it celebrates the spirit of women and their collective journey of inspiring and championing each other through authentic self-expression. Brought alive through the power of music, the TVC is set to the tunes of the timeless classic ‘Auva Auva Koi Yahan Nache’. As part of the visual montage, the film features brand ambassador Deepika Padukone alongside diverse women from everyday walks of life: dreaming, believing, and taking the step with confidence to live their next big thing.
The TVC is cinematically designed to highlight this spread of energy as the bond that unites the sisterhood and inspires a cultural movement.
Referring to it as one of the highest decibel campaigns that it has launched in the past six-seven years, he said, “We are spending as we have never spent before on any campaigns ever and not even any of our closest competitors has spent.”
Das said the three-month long and integrated campaign will be led by TV and digital but pretty much all-inclusive. “Digital will encompass OTT, e-com, social media for better engagement and connection. We want to reach out to as many consumers as we can because the whole idea is to recruit consumers into the brand franchise and, therefore, the choice of TV to drive awareness (on GEC, music and movie channels). And we have planned to associate with a few shows as well. The campaign will be a pan-India launch,” he added.
As the brand is coming back with a campaign in a long time, the main objective predominantly is to drive awareness.
“In the second half of the year, we will come back with the second part of this campaign," he said.
Asked about the plans on spending on either print or OOH, he said, “We are a lifestyle brand and it is the video-based format that really allows the story to come alive for us. We will be there in print and OOH but most of our budgets will be in TV and digital only.”
The brand has been instrumental in utilising influencer marketing over the past few years. Welcoming ASCI’s latest draft guidelines for influencer advertising, Das said, “The whole idea of influencer marketing is to amplify and add another layer to our existing media plan. We will stick to the guidelines ASCI has shared and we don’t feel there will be any challenge for us.”


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MORGANTOWN, WV (Gold and Blue Nation) – The new-look WVU Coliseum is coming together.
West Virginia’s marquee indoor venue has been getting a facelift this summer as part of WVU’s Climbing Higher campaign, getting new seats all around the arena as well as a brand new video board. Now, the seat replacement is nearly complete and construction has begun on the new centerpiece.
“That thing’s a monster, too,” said April Messerly, WVU’s Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Operations. “It is so much bigger than our last video board, we’re really excited about it.”
The new board will be much clearer and capable than the last one, Messerly says, and will feature LED lights, which can be used in a lot of ways to improve the gameday environment. Facility staff has been testing it out, and they are growing more and more excited to put it to use.
“When we roll out the carpet, how that flashes and looks differently now….getting an all-new and updated system, keeping up with technology, it’ll be unbelievable,” Messerly said.
The new renovations have more than just clearer screens and flashing lights in mind, but also the necks of the Coliseum’s fans. Much like what fans see at arenas across the NBA, the new board will actually include screens on its underside so fans close to the action won’t need to look straight up to get an angled look at the board — they’ll essentially have a set of screens to themselves.
Along with all the visuals also comes a new sound system.
Messerly says the newly-renovated Coliseum will be up and running by the first volleyball game, which gets under way Oct. 1.
Catch the full interview with Associate Director of Athletics April Messerly on The Neal Brown Show this weekend — check your local listings!


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The war is long from over, but it looks like at least one battle between Uber and the Bill de Blasio administration has reached a ceasefire. For now.
Just days before the New York City Council was set to vote on a proposal that would cap Uber, putting a freeze on new drivers, the two have reached an agreement of sorts.
According to the New York Times, de Blasio and the City Council have nixed plans to cap the number of new Uber drivers while a four-month study on the effects of Uber and other on-demand car service companies was conducted. The study will still take place, but new Uber hires will not be blocked during its duration.
A City Council proposal had originally called for Uber’s growth to be halted in the city until the study on traffic and the environment could be completed. De Blasio quickly threw his weight behind it.
Uber always maintained that the move was “less about traffic congestion” and more about “political contributions.”
The fight between companies like Uber and Lyft and the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission goes all the back to their first days of operation in the city. The yellow-cab industry has been adamant about its opposition to Uber, a company that’s become the number one greatest threat to NYC’s cab industry. De Blasio counts the yellow cab industry among his biggest campaign donors.
Uber pulled out all the stops to fight the Council and de Blasio. Just last week, Uber pretty much trolled the hell out of the mayor by adding a “de Blasio” ride option inside its app.
It wasn’t a real ride option, of course, just a way for Uber to show how long it would take to get a ride if de Blasio’s Uber freeze went into effect.
The company started an online petition as well.
“New York overall would not see reduction in congestion from capping for-hire vehicles using Uber but instead would halt progress made through technological innovation over the past few years. Uber’s technology has helped expand service to those who were previously underserved, providing a safe and reliable transportation option to all New Yorkers while looking to a future with fewer cars on the roads — not more,” said Uber.
This debate brought out Uber’s friends in high places, as well.
Limiting new for-hire vehicle licenses and taking away jobs from New Yorkers is not the answer.
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) July 21, 2015
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) July 22, 2015
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also took issue with de Blasio’s Uber freeze.
The agreement between Uber and the Council requires Uber to give up some data it’s been holding onto for the study, and a spokesperson for de Blasio said that “Uber must adhere to the agreement … otherwise the cap gets put back on the table.”


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With Paramount Plus launching today, here's a selection of stuff on the service that's actually worth a watch.
There are four new Xiaomi Redmi phones to look out for, including one with a super-high res main camera.
Updated GTA 5 on PS5 and Xbox Series X will be expanded and enhanced', here's everything you need to know.
There's a lot of information out there about HDMI cables which can get you all tangled up, so we're here to help sort through the mess.
Resident Evil Village showed off its ray-tracing capabilities at the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT reveal event, but AMD recommends using other models.
techradar deals These Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 deals are offering some significant discounts this week at Amazon.
The Nubia Red Magic 6 is the gaming phone to beat with a 165Hz refresh rate, 500Hz touch sampling and more.
Updated Leaks suggest the OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 9E will be landing soon – here's what we know so far about the upcoming Android phones.
Despite the top 10 spaces being dominated by older cards, these Nvidia GPUs are still growing in popularity.
How to watch SpongeBob needs to rescue Gary in his second big screen adventure - here's how to watch new SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run online today.
How to watch Get ready to feel old, 90s kids - here's how to watch The Real World Homecoming reunion online and stream the Paramount Plus launch show wherever you are.
In Depth You might not know about this Xbox feature, or at least I didn’t after all these years.
Rockstar Games' remaster of GTA on PS5 and Xbox Series X will be much more than a 'simple port'.
Updated We feature the best free PDF readers, which offer more than just reading by way of additional features, including editing, annotating and blocking security threats.
Apple has discreetly launched a way for you to move your iCloud photos to a Google Photos account – here’s how you can do it, too.
In Depth Will Micro LED take the crowning spot for premium TV technologies? Here's what you need to know and what the future of Micro LED TVs looks like.
Canon might be about to announce its biggest single batch of new lenses, according to credible rumors.


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Kansas City Area Companies Ran Phony Sweepstakes That Netted Millions, Lawsuit Alleges
Ten Kansas City-area companies and their owners ran a fraudulent sweepstakes operation that took in more than $110 million since 2013, according to a lawsuit filed this week in federal court in Kansas City, Missouri.
The suit, filed jointly by the Federal Trade Commission and the state of Missouri, charges that the companies sent out mailers to consumers in the United States and abroad falsely representing that they had won, or were likely to win, cash prizes of as much as $2 million. In return, the consumers were required to pay fees ranging from $9 to $139.99.
The lawsuit alleges that consumers who paid the fees – sometimes several times over before they realized the operation was a sham – did not receive any of the promised cash prizes. Many of the victims of the alleged schemes were elderly, according to the suit.
Named were two individuals, Kevin R. Brandes and William J. Graham, said to be owners and officers of the sweepstakes companies; and 10 corporate defendants, including Next-Gen Inc., Westport Enterprises Inc. and Opportunities Unlimited Publications Inc. Most of the companies listed their principal place of business at 1401 Armour Road in North Kansas City or 21 NE Skyline Drive in Lee’s Summit.
Brandes and Graham did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants sent out three different types of mailers:
- Notices such as “Congratulations, You Have Just Won $1,230,946.”
- Fliers claiming the recipient could win a cash prize by answering a simple arithmetic question and paying a registration fee. The fliers, however, didn’t disclose that there were multiple rounds to the “game of skill” and recipients would have to pay additional fees to advance to the next round.
- Mailers that appeared to be notices that the recipient had won $1 million or more but turned out to be solicitations for newsletter subscriptions.
The mailers were made to look authentic by using stock certificates or signatures with titles like “Senior Director of Payments.”
In a statement, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley described the operation as “one of the largest direct mail schemes in the country.” He said the defendants had targeted elderly victims for years.
The other corporate defendants named in the complaint are Opportunities Management Co.; Summit Management Team LLC; Contest America Publishers Inc.; Reveal Publications LLC; AOSR Corp.; Lighthouse FLA Enterprises LLC; and Gamer Designs LLC. Many of the defendants did business under a variety of different names.
Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor for KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.


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A bottle of whiskey so special that it traveled to Nebraska under lock and key is the star of a tasting Wednesday night at downtown’s Mercury.
The bar is bringing the bottle, of The Balvenie 40 Year Single Malt, which retails for $5,000, to Nebraska for the first time.
Mercury co-owner Clark Ross said the bar has worked hard to curate its selection of spirits but wanted to bring more rare spirits in for its customers to experience. This particular bottle can retail for $1,000 a pour, so it’s something that most drinkers wouldn’t likely get to try on their own.
“Single malt scotch is the most complex spirit there is,” he said. “It’s steeped with a ton of tradition.”
Wednesday night, Balvenie ambassador Jonathan Wingo will be in Omaha to lead the tasting, which will begin with a special 12-year scotch cocktail from Mercury, to be followed by a tasting of Balvenie 12-year, 15-year, 17-year, 21-year and finally the 40-year scotch.
Wingo said he’ll show a short film detailing the history of the distillery, which is in Dufftown, Scotland, and is still family owned. Tasters will get a sense of the location where the whiskey is made and the time that goes into it.
This bottle is particularly expensive because of its age, Ross said, and also the time and attention given to it by The Balvenie’s malt master, who has constantly monitored this barrel to make sure, over the years, that it becomes more complex and mellow.
“That’s where technique really shines through,” he said.
Wingo said that not only is this tasting a rarity in Nebraska, it’s also rare throughout the country.
“To taste a 40-year-old in and of itself is a very interesting experience, and its very rare to find in any whiskey, much less something that we can drink in Nebraska and in Omaha.”
Typically, he said, bottles like this one get scooped up by larger markets, such as New York and Chicago. If a bar in a smaller market like Omaha wants one, the owners have to make a convincing case.
“That’s when it gets fun for us,” Wingo said.
Ross said he first contacted Balvenie’s importer to see about getting a rare bottle and, once he got wind of the 40-year, expressed interest. When Wingo, who had been to Omaha and Mercury before, heard about the request, he got excited.
“It shows their muscle and how much they are willing to tackle,” he said. “They are playing the whole game. It’s a journey for them, and they really are going to want to showcase it.”
Ross said he doesn’t think it’s an exaggeration to call the tasting a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“This is never going to happen again,” he said.
Even so, Ross said the event is the first of more experiences like this one for Mercury; later this year the bar plans an event with a 40-year-old rum.
“Why have a really cool bar,” he said, “when you can’t do really cool stuff?”
Mercury is at 329 S. 16th St. The tasting takes place Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited, and a few tickets, at $140 per taster including fees, remain. The ticket price includes the cocktail, snacks and the tasting. For more information, or to get a seat, visit eventbrite.com/e/balvenie-40-year-master-tasting-tickets-33633571919.


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Location independent. Digital nomad. Whatever you call it, freelancers have the chance to live a life some can only dream of –- a life on the road. When you can work from anywhere, you can live from anywhere. “Work” being the key word there. The following gadgets, apps, and websites let freelancers wonder around the world while still making money. Because how else are you going to fund your nomadic lifestyle? You gotta work hard to play hard.
34 Recent Stories
Google is rolling out an online marketplace for third-party apps on Google Drive, the company announced Thursday. The apps, which Google is calling add-ons, are available to Google Drive users in Docs and Sheets, the free online word-processing and spreadsheet services.
Google has announced a price cut on Drive, its cloud storage system, with current subscribers set to automatically pay less. 100 gigabytes of storage will now cost $1.99 per month, previously $4.99. One terabyte will be $9.99 per month, down from $49.99.
A new Gmail update will let you view and save attachments directly to Google Drive from within your message. Google announced the news on its official blog and showcased the new feature with an accompanying GIF. See also: 6 Tips for Sorting Your Gmail Contacts The new feature is twofold. First, attachments are now visible as previews at the bottom of a message.
Google Drive is rolling out a few new visual updates to its platform, including more color and tools.
Happy Birthday, Google! Sept. 27 has become the day Google honors its own anniversary. Technically on Sept. 4, 1998, Sergey Brin and Larry Page incorporated the company that would go on to become the world's largest search engine and offer products that touch nearly every part of our lives.
Last week, Apple announced that it would be making its iWork for iOS suite available free of charge for new iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. Now, Google has made its Quickoffice document editing app available for free as well. In a blog post titled “Freeing Quickoffice for everyone,” Google notes: Everyone likes free stuff, which is why starting today we’re making Quickoffice available for free, for everyone.
Google has added support for 18 new languages to its Google Drive web app suite. Besides Drive itself, this includes Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. The newly supported languages are Afrikaans, Amharic, Basque, Chinese (Hong Kong), Estonian, French (Canada), Galician, Icelandic, Khmer, Lao, Malaysian, Nepali, Persian, Sinhalese, Spanish (Latin America), Swahili, Urdu and Zulu. With these 18 languages, Google Drive now supports 65 languages in total.
Google is consolidating storage between Drive, Gmail and Google+, now offering users 15GB of free storage shared across all three platforms. “Life gets a bit easier when your Google products work well together—whether that’s inserting a Drive file into an email or sharing a photo from Drive on Google+. As this experience becomes more seamless, separate storage doesn’t make as much sense anymore,” Clay Bavo, Google’s Director of Product Management said in a blog post announcing the change.
Is Amazon gunning to replace Dropbox and Google Drive? Its latest file-syncing feature for its Cloud Drive service may indicate so. The online retailer announced on Monday users of its Cloud Drive Desktop app will now be able to access files such as music, movies and documents across multiple computers and mobile devices. Although the app launched for Windows and Mac in May 2012, the lack of file-syncing prevented it from becoming a true Dropbox killer in the past.
From Dropbox and Google Drive to SkyDrive, all of the major online storage services have their own unique strengths, but we wanted to answer one question: Who has the fastest cloud?
Days after the product's early leak, Google officially rolled out its new Evernote-like service, Google Keep. On its blog, Google describes Google Keep as a way to "quickly jot ideas down when you think of them and even include checklists and photos to keep track of what's important to you." With Google Keep, you can create notes, checklists, photos and voice memos -- and all the content syncs across your devices.
Google has launched a Realtime API for Google Drive, enabling developers to create apps that can tap into Drive's real-time editing capabilities. The API provides developers with collaborative versions of data objects such as maps, lists, strings, and JSON values, which are automatically synchronized, and all modifications to them are stored. Developers can create apps that read from and write to these objects like any local object.
Google has already restored service to its online document storage platform Google Drive, which has been experiencing issues Monday morning.
On the heels of Google's spring cleaning to get rid of some products, the search engine giant may be rekindling its hand in note-taking with Google Keep.
Google has added file previews to Google Drive, a nifty feature which will help users quickly find the document they want. Previews will show up automatically when you open photos, videos or PDF files. For Google documents, you can also get the preview by right-clicking on the file name and selecting "preview". The preview window offers a fair share of options as well. Once you open it, you can check out other files by clicking on arrows on either side.
Google has launched a new extension for Chrome called "Save to Drive," enabling users to save web content to their Google Drive. After installing the extension, users will get an additional icon in Chrome, letting them save an image, an entire page or an image of the visible page to your Drive. Users can also save the HTML source code of a webpage or a complete webpage in web archive (.mht) format. Finally, they can simply right click on web content to save it directly to Drive.
Users of free cloud-storage providers, such as Dropbox, Google Drive and Apple iCloud, are often faced with file-size limitations and lack of privacy. What's more, upgrades typically require recurring fees. One Santa Clara, Calif.-based company is offering an alternative way to share, access and protect files.
Google announced Tuesday that it will be integrating Google Drive into Gmail, a move that will make it possible to send files up to a massive 10GB in size over email. A new button in the Gmail compose window will give users the ability to attach a file from their Google Drive account rather than attaching the file itself to the message.
Google Chrome is coming to the iPhone and iPad. Just a day after Google released the final version of Google Chrome for Android, the company is bringing its popular web browser to iOS. Google showcased the browser at Google I/O running on the iPhone and iPad. As with the Android version of the browser, users can sync browser tabs and bookmarks with Chrome instances on the desktop and other mobile devices.
Google has acquired QuickOffice, maker of mobile productivity software. The company's software will be integrated into Google Apps, enhancing their functionality and compatibility. In a blog post, Google says it decided to buy QuickOffice because it has an established track record of enabling interoperability of popular file formats.
HelloFax got one step closer to its goal of eliminating the fax machine this week. The service has been integrated into Google Drive. HelloFax's Google Drive integration allows you to fax any document from Google Drive, as well as receive faxes from others in a special HelloFax folder within the drive.
Cloud storage service Box is bringing a number of updates to its service Wednesday. Updates include a new API for its open platform, 15 new OneCloud application partners and partnerships with two centers of technology excellence based in New York City –- General Assembly and TechStars. Box has been in the cloud storage game since 2005. Ten million people use the service globally, and more than 120,000 businesses use it.
Welcome to this morning's edition of 'First To Know', a series in which we keep you in the know on what's happening in the digital world. Today, we're looking at three particularly interesting stories. Google Launches Google Drive After months of speculation and rumors, Google has finally launched its cloud file storage service, Google Drive, with 5GB of storage for free. Check out how it stacks against its competitors in our analysis.


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Pilot Flying J lays off 50 at corporate headquarters Monday
Pilot Flying J laid off 50 at its corporate headquarters Monday, according to a company statement.
The Knoxville-based company’s main offices on Lonas Road employ about 1,200.
“As part of our strategic process, internationally respected consulting firm Deloitte recently created an analysis of our business as we embark on exciting new initiatives and areas of growth,” Pilot Flying J President Ken Parent said in a statement. “With these new strategies, we will be re-allocating resources to shift attention to new opportunities and to streamline our operations. We have a tremendous appreciation for every one of our team members across the country and had difficult decisions to make. We do remain focused on continuing to build upon our standards as an industry leader, having opened 15 new stores this year, building nine more, and creating 17 truck care centers as we look to more efficiently grow our company footprint."
According to the company, Pilot Flying J has added 1,140 jobs since January, of which only 93 were truck drivers.
Last year Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway bought a 38.6 percent stake in Pilot Flying J. The Haslam family retained a 50.1 percent stake, but by 2023, Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway’s share will increase to 80 percent.
Pilot Flying J is largest travel center operator
Pilot Flying J, which does about $20 billion in business annually, is the country’s largest travel center operator. It employs 27,000 at more than 750 retail locations. It also operates the fourth-largest tanker truck fleet in the country, and two moves this year brought Pilot Flying J heavily into serving the oil industry.
In June, Pilot joined with Produced Water Transfer LLC and Complete Vacuum and Rental LLC to form PDPS LLC — operating as PWT LLC — to carry salt water for the oil and gas industry by truck and pipeline, according to an Aug. 1 news release. Pilot will own a majority of the business.
Then in July, acting through the PWT joint venture, Pilot bought Bridger Environmental LLC to add to its salt water carrying capacity, the news release said.
Jim Haslam opened his first Pilot gas station in Gate City, Virginia, in 1958. The company’s first convenience store opened on Knoxville’s Alcoa Highway in 1976, and the company has grown steadily ever since through its own expansion and acquisition of related businesses.
Jim Haslam’s son Bill became Pilot company president in 1996, while his other son, Jimmy Haslam, became CEO. Jimmy Haslam continues in that role, but Bill Haslam stepped down in 1999, becoming mayor of Knoxville and governor of Tennessee.
Pilot Travel Centers merged with Flying J Inc. in 2010, nearly doubling the company’s locations to more than 550.
The Haslam family has given tens of millions to various causes, many education related; in 2014, the University of Tennessee renamed its business school the Haslam College of Business after a $50 million donation.
In this year’s Top Workplaces survey, Pilot Flying J employees rated the firm as the fourth-best large company to work for in the Knoxville area.
Former company President Mark Hazelwood and more than a dozen of his subordinates were convicted or pleaded guilty this year in a fraud scheme that overcharged trucking companies $56.5 million for fuel over five years.
Secret recordings related to that investigation revealed Hazelwood’s racist comments made in 2012 to other Pilot Flying J executives, including derogatory comments about the Cleveland Browns football team, which Jimmy Haslam owns.


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Local Wegmans’ Stores to End Plastic Bag Use
COLLEGEVILLE PA – The availability of single-use plastic grocery stores in all 18 Wegmans Food Markets Inc. stores within Pennsylvania, including those in Collegeville and King of Prussia, ends Sept. 22 (Thursday), the company said. Eliminating the bags at its Keystone State locations will complete what it called a company-wide transition during the past three years.
Wegmans hopes to “shift customers to reusable bags, the best option to solve the environmental challenge of single-use grocery bags,” it said. Consumers who lack re-usable bags have the option to buy paper grocery bags, which will continue to be available, for a 5-cent-charge per bag. All money from paper bag purchases “will be donated to each store’s local United Way,” it reported.
The company’s move away from single-use plastic bags began in 2019 at its New York locations, ahead of that state’s ban on them. It also represents “our sustainability efforts and focus on doing what’s right for the environment,” according to Jason Wadsworth, Wegmans’ category merchant for packaging, energy, and sustainability.
“Early success in New York showed us the impact we could make, and drove us to continue on our journey to be plastic bag free by the end of 2022,” Wadsworth added.
Offering 5-cent paper bags “is an approach that has proven successful in the company’s other markets,” it indicated. In stores where Wegmans has already eliminated plastic bags, on average, paper bags are used for 20 to 25 percent of transactions. Consumers in the remaining 75 to 80 percent of transactions use reusable bags, or no bag at all, the company claimed.
Photo by The Post


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A filling station in Meath is claiming that they sell Ireland’s biggest 99 ice cream and is selling thousands a week after going viral.
Sean Gaughan has worked at Currans’ Service Station in Ross Cross, Meath for three years and said the monster cone started off as a competition between employees, the Irish Mirror reports.
Describing how the cone came to be, Gaughan said: “It was just a matter of seeing who could make one bigger and we started selling them then as their own thing."
The cone is pulled by eye, and Gaughan said the biggest so far was a foot-long.
The Big Boy, as its affectionately called, costs €4 with a flake and €3.60 without a flake. “When you get it, you’ll understand why it costs so much,” he said.
The ice cream machine is never off at Currans’ Service Station, Gaughan said.
“During the week, we probably sell about 200-300 a day on weekdays and on the weekends it’s about 500 a day,” he said, before adding that the shop can be a “bit mental” at times.
The ice cream has gone viral through word of mouth, with Gaughan saying they don’t even advertise “The Big Boy.”
Gaughan said that people regularly travel from Dublin and occasionally from further afield in search of the monster cone. “People just kind of know, we’ve gotten a name for ourselves, especially around the area,” he said.
The cone recently received attention on TikTok where it was sampled by Thomas Crosse from the @thisiscrossy account. Some people were keen to follow suite and try it while others labelled it a rip off at €4.
One noted, "Normal 99 in my local is €1.60, I’d rather have 2 of those."
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In-store mobile wallet payments in North America and the “EU27+2” region (EU member states plus Switzerland and Norway) will reach a combined total of €78 billion by 2017, up from €0.6 billion in 2012, according to a new report from analyst firm Berg Insight.
In Europe, from a relatively meagre baseline of €0.1 billion in 2012, Berg Insight calculates the value of in-store mobile wallet payments will expand by a robust 275 per cent CAGR through to 2017, reaching €45 billion.
This figure, says Berg Insight, will correspond to 1.6 per cent of credit card and debit card payments in the EU27+2 region at the end of the forecast period.
Driving the growth will be new projects. Berg Insight reckons there will be commercial mobile wallet services in nearly half of EU27+2 countries by the end of 2013.
Many of Europe’s largest mobile operators, banks and retailers – such as T-Mobile, Orange, Telefonica, BNP Paribas, Barclays and Auchan – are flagged up by the analyst firm as key mobile wallet players.
In North America, Berg Insight finds that mobile wallet users completed in-store payments for a total of US$0.5 billion (€0.4 billion) during 2012. However, the vast majority of these payments were made using Starbucks’ smartphone app. Mobile wallets that can be used at multiple merchants, noted Berg Insight, have yet to gain traction.
In the longer term, universal mobile wallets – such as those provided by Isis, Google and MCX – are expected to drive the majority of the mobile in-store purchase volume in North America, which Berg Insight estimates will reach US$44 billion (€33 billion) by 2017.
For companies hoping to make a market impact with their mobile wallet services, Berg Insight advises that a broad range of services should be offered to customers beyond basic payments.
“People do not have a problem with cash or payment cards today,” says Lars Kurkinen, a telecom analyst at Berg Insight and author of the ‘Mobile Wallet Services’ report. “Value-added services that enable new shopping experiences before, during and after payments, will be what truly distinguish mobile wallets from the traditional payment instruments.”
Kurkinen adds that the next few years will be a very important time during which mobile wallet operators have an opportunity to improve their services.
“Gaining an early lead in the market can be crucial, as in the long term only a limited number of mobile wallet services will survive in each market due to network effects,” he said.


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In another twist following the controversial announcement of Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson's Spring Cruisin' the Coast dates, the Horry County (S.C.) Chapter of ABATE has announced it will boycott the two dealerships involved in the event.
Gary Balcom, coordinator of the chapter, said his group will boycott at Phil Schoonover's Harley-Davidson stores in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, according to a report on SCNow.com. The group is upset the dealer has planned to hold its event May 18-28, extending the dates of Myrtle Beach Bike Week, which runs May 11-20, and running the dealership event up against the Atlantic Beach Bike Week, which runs Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28.
Balcom said he supports the Horry County Council's idea to prohibit vendor permits from being issued during the Spring Cruisin' the Coast rally's extended dates, but he doesn't think the permits already issued for the Myrtle Beach Bike Week should be revoked. The council's Committee of the Whole is scheduled to meet on Feb. 14 to discuss its plans for the vendor permits.


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Farmers will get subsidy on buying a smartphone (indicative picture)
To promote agriculture, it has become very necessary to use advanced technology in agriculture. With the changing times, agriculture is also becoming hi-tech. Many types of schemes are being run by the government to make the farmers hi-tech. The use of modern technology in agriculture is not only providing relief to the farmers but has also improved the yield and quality of the crop. Also, it has become easier for the farmers to sell the agricultural produce. From drones to smartphones, everyone is making India’s agriculture smart. With the changing times, farmers are being made smart so that farmers can understand the changing technology of agriculture and use it in the development of agriculture.
Scheme to encourage farmers to buy smartphones- The Gujarat government has also taken a big decision to make farmers smart. According to a notification issued by the state agriculture department, it has been decided to provide financial assistance of up to Rs 1,500 to farmers in the state for purchasing smartphones. It is being told that this scheme is to encourage farmers to buy smartphones, which can be used for various purposes to increase their farm income, at a time when digital services are becoming prevalent in the field of agriculture every day. is growing.
10 percent of the cost of the smartphone
It was informed by the Department of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Cooperation that any landholding farmer in Gujarat can apply for assistance of 10 percent of the total cost of smartphone above Rs 1,500 on the i-khedut portal to take advantage of this scheme. It is stated in the Government Resolution (GR) issued by the State Government. This support is valid only for the cost of the smartphone, apart from this plan is not valid for any other accessories such as power backup devices, earphones, chargers etc. All landholding farmers are eligible for this scheme, but only one beneficiary will be eligible in a joint holding farm.
Farmers will get this information
The smartphone will make it easy for the farmer to get information about the weather forecast, possible pest infestation, various schemes of the agriculture department, modern farming techniques and expert opinion etc. The GR said that smartphones can also be used by farmers to apply online for various schemes of the state government, using smartphone features such as camera, email, text and multimedia services, GPS, web browser, internet connectivity Farmers can use Once the application is approved, the beneficiary farmers will have to provide a copy of the purchase bill of the smartphone, mobile IMEI number, a canceled check etc.
Read also: World Fisheries Day: Fish farming can play an important role in food security, know how


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Official figures from Registers of Scotland (Ros) showed that a total of 19,802 properties changed hands between January and March, the highest volume of sales for these months since the 2007 to 2008 financial year.
The figures come just weeks after property experts warned that parts of Scotland were experiencing a crisis in the demand and supply of properties on the market. Estate agents warned that prices could rocket as the number of homes coming up for sale continued to fall behind the number of house hunters in the market.
The total value of sales across Scotland increased by 8.3 per cent compared to the previous year to just over £3.15 billion. Edinburgh recorded the largest market, with sales of over £554.6 million for the quarter, up 3.3 per cent. Midlothian recorded the highest increase in value, with sales of over £63m, an increase of 56.5 per cent compared with the same quarter last year.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen City, hit by the crisis in the oil industry, showed the largest decrease in market value, down 22.7 per cent to £162.7m.
Kenny Crawford, RoS’ director of commercial services, said: “We’ve seen a sustained increase in the volume of sales throughout the 2015-16 financial year. While volumes are up this quarter, prices are down by 8.4 per cent compared to the previous year, bringing the average price to £159,198.
“This time last year, we saw a spike in house prices, with an increase in the number of high value property sales. By comparison, this year has seen an increase in the volume of lower value properties being sold, which may account for this year’s lower average price. Future sales statistics will determine whether this is a one-off decrease, or whether this is a trend that will continue.”
East Renfrewshire recorded the highest average property price at £222,303, down 7.9 per cent on last year. The largest percentage rise was seen in North Lanarkshire, where the average property price rose 6.6 per cent to £116,738. The highest percentage fall was recorded in East Lothian, with an average price of £207,276, a fall of 16.5 per cent on last year.
All property types showed an increase in sales volumes, with flats showing the biggest increase at 24.2 per cent. They also all showed a decrease in average price this quarter, with detached properties showing the biggest decrease, down 11.6 per cent to £236,249. Semi-detached, terraced, and flatted properties showed price decreases of 8.5 per cent, 10.5 per cent, and 7.4 per cent respectively.


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What?! Rihanna's 'Rated R' Album is On Sale for $3.99!
Listen, we liked Miss Fenty's new album, which went on sale today. In our review, we pointed out that the album is raunchier and edgier than previous albums, but the songs are strong, contemplative and the album is good, albeit not for young children. But why did we look on Amazon and found that Rated R is on sale for $3.99? We know it's a recession and all, but really?! Is this a ploy to ensure that her album debuts strong or is the record company doubtful of its success?


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Economic Watch: China seeks to boost industrial chain resilience amid COVID-19 strains
Work has restarted in most Chinese firms, but more needs to be done to reinforce the country's industrial chain resilience as challenges from demand deficiency and imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remain.
Chinese, Swiss FMs vow to jointly keep global industrial, supply chains stable
China and Switzerland should work together to keep the global industrial and supply chains stable amid the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday in a phone call with his Swiss counterpart, Ignazio Cassis.
China to step up financial support for key enterprises of industrial chains
China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the sector regulator, issued Thursday a circular requiring banking institutions to crank up financial services for enterprises at the core of industrial chains, reported Xinhua Finance, a financial information platform run by Xinhua News Agency.
China beefs up work resumption of industrial chains
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a circular Thursday, stressing coordinated work resumption of industrial chains while containing the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
China sees no major movement of industrial and supply chains to other countries due to epidemic: FM spokesperson
China has not seen any major movement of industrial and supply chains from it to other countries due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wednesday.
Chinese FM calls for joint efforts with Japan to ensure stablility of industrial chains
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi suggested Wednesday that China and Japan jointly ensure the stability of their industrial chains and supply chains and reduce the COVID-19 epidemic's impact upon bilateral cooperation as much as possible.
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Netflix is stepping up its expansion plans, with the news that it plans to be available in 200 countries within the next two years.
That's up from about 50 countries where you can currently sign up for the streaming service.
Neflix will also add controversial comedy 'The Interview' to its roster this weekend, though only in the US and Canada.
It's growth has been quick by anyone's measure, adding a whopping 4.33 million subscribers in the last three months of 2014. That's 260,000 more than in the same period in 2013.
But its growth is slowing in the US, its home country. The last three months of 2014 saw 1.9 million new customers join, compared to 2.3 million in the same period the year before.
CEO Reed Hastings said it would spend more on original programmes, the likes of which – 'Breaking Bad', 'Orange is the New Black', 'Marco Polo' – have won critical acclaim.
It will make 320 hours of original content this year, comprising new series and returning ones like 'House of Cards'.
It won't be short of competition. Amazon recently announced plans to branch out into films, releasing 12 movies a year and screening them within a month or two on its Prime Instant Video service.
But all this competition can only be good for us viewers.


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India, China sign a 'fishy' deal
Updated : November 29, 2018 09:36 AM IST
India and China on Wednesday signed an agreement allowing Beijing to inspect imports of Indian fish meal and fish oil, as the two nations work out a broader trade deal following a thaw in relations this year.
The decision was part of discussions between India's commerce ministry and a six-member Chinese delegation, led by Vice Minister, General Administration of Customs of China, Hu Wei, on easing market access for exports of various farm products, the ministry said in a statement.
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