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Shoppers have told how unruly gangs of children are causing chaos in a North Staffordshire supermarket - including doing forward rolls on the travelator.
StokeonTrentLive readers have shared the bad behaviour they have seen from teenagers at Sainsbury's in Biddulph.
It comes after staff at the store have been given body cameras during work to help prevent incidents.
The personal safety gadgets are worn around the neck and it starts recording when a button is pressed.
The move comes after police say shoppers were 'very concerned' about a large group of youths standing in the store's doorway on Wharf Road.
Hollie Golightly was shocked by the behaviour of a group of teenage girls last Saturday (March 7).
She said: "They were doing forward rolls down the travelator. The security in there is a joke.
"The police know who it is hanging around as it is always the same ones but there probably isn't much they can do except keep moving them on.
"They also hang around the cash machine on the front which is very unnerving and annoying."
Another shopper said: "I got to work before 10am and a group of teenagers were sitting next to our colleague entrance smoking pot!
"If it isn't at Sainsbury's it's everywhere else. It's definitely the parents' job to keep them on the straight and narrow! The public shouldn't have to suffer."
And Valerie Kirkham, aged 76, from Biddulph, said: "We've seen them hanging around and racing around on push bikes and some sit in the corners.
"On one occasion if I hadn't have moved, a boy on a push bike would have run into me and he only just missed the car. If they're just standing and talking I don't mind, but it's the racing around.
"I'm not surprised the staff have got to wear cameras now but it is a shame it has to come to that, hopefully it will deter them.
"I sometimes feel a bit intimidated, we usually come shopping at about 8pm when it's dark and people feel intimidated then.
"It shouldn't be like that, but that's how it is now."
Sainsbury's say the safety of their customers and colleagues is 'extremely important'.
A spokesman said: “We’ve recently introduced personal safety devices in our Biddulph store. The safety of our customers and colleagues is extremely important to us and we regularly review the security measures in our stores.
"We’re in close contact with the local police and Biddulph Town Council."


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Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen secured European parliamentary approval on Tuesday to become the first female European Commission president after she won over socialists and liberals with her vision of a greener, fairer and rule-based Europe.
- Russia’s oil production down 461,000 barrels daily in July, twice above OPEC+ deal commitments – CDU TEK
- Gazprom Neft-Lubricants sees no sanction-related risks for its foreign business partners
- Gazprom says gas output up 2.3%, export to Europe down 5.6% in 6.5 months of 2019
- Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is 66.3% completed, Gazprom says
- EU steps up pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro
- Neighbors Face Off Over Texas’ Other Lucrative Resource: Water
- Moldovan President to meet Gazprom management to discuss discount on gas supplies
- Sberbank hopes to develop AI technologies with Yandex and Mail.ru
- Mexico plans cut in Pemex tax rate in revival effort
- Moldovan leader worried about possible halt of gas transit through Ukraine
Tatneft plans to put into operation the first stage of an oil and gas chemical complex (OGCC) development in 2021, with Russia’s first maleic anhydride plant to be built within its framework, the oil producer’s press service told TASS on Tuesday.
- Influential Hindu group says India should not issue foreign currency bonds
- Fintechs are best at improving their finances
- Banks bad loans down at Rs 9.34 lakh crore at FY19-end, says Nirmala Sitharaman
- Demand for bonds to finance tourism SMEs ‘four times initial target’
- Lagarde formally resigns from IMF ahead of likely ECB posting
- Finance Ministry cuts rates on government domestic loan bonds in hryvnia
- Fiat Chrysler slumps after Goldman Sachs says to sell the stock
- WTO opens way for Chinese sanctions against U.S. tariffs in Obama-era dispute
- CBO issues treasury bills worth OMR45mn
- Deutsche Bank to poach 13-strong team of ultra-rich bankers from Credit Suisse
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde announced on Tuesday she had submitted her resignation from the global lender.
- Wall Street edges lower after mixed bank earnings, Trump comments
- Burberry bounce helps to push European stocks to 1-week high
- Wall Street slips after mixed bank earnings, Trump comments
- Stocks slip, U.S. yields rise on retail sales data
- Major stock market indices worldwide
- U.S. stocks open lower amid earnings
- Wall Street muted after mixed bank earnings
- Wall Street set for subdued open after mixed bank reports
- Ryanair halves 2020 growth plans on Boeing MAX delays
- China farm produce prices rise modestly
A gauge of global equities fell on Tuesday and U.S. Treasury yields climbed as a stronger-than-anticipated report on retail sales raised the possibility the Federal Reserve could move towards a less dovish stance.
- Where to shop online that isn’t Amazon
- Get up and go bots getting closer: Engineers succeed at 3D printing sensors embedded inside robots but find materials need improving
- Best anti-Prime Day sales: Top deals from Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and more
- A new immersive classroom uses AI and VR to teach Mandarin Chinese
- Three pillars for scaling intelligent automation: process, technology, people
- 5G RailNext wins grant to bring AR to South Korean and U.K. subways
- What’s the biggest barrier to AI adoption in healthcare?
- Canada set to delay Huawei 5G decision
- Poste Italiane opens country’s largest e-commerce logistics hub
- Apollo was NASA’s biggest win — but its legacy is holding the agency back
That smart speaker in your home could serve as the base for another smart — and adorable — idea if you buy into what Eric Grudzien and Karen McIlquham have created.
- SAIC General Motors Is Sticking With Low-Emission, but Unpopular Engine
- Tesla drops cheapest Model X, S variants, cuts prices to simplify lineup
- Spanish judge blocks Madrid council bid to lift car ban
- Carmakers drive acceleration of US manufacturing output in June
- News analysis: Can Fiat-Chrysler meet challenges in betting big on new electric Fiat 500?
- South Korea accuses Japan of “lukewarm” stand on NK sanctions
- Tesla slides after cutting prices of vehicles shipped to China and downsizing its US product lineup
- China’s struggling economy faces moment of truth
- Zelenskyy Urges Voters Not To Vote For Servant Of The People Clone Candidates
- Skoda Rapid Rider limited edition launched in India for a starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh
They were the earliest adopters of the G3 — the first electric vehicle built by homegrown carmaker Xpeng Motors.

domain: news


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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Spark the Vote will hold a press event on September 16 to announce the launch of a national campaign to mobilize cannabis voters in advance of the November 3 General Election.
Cannabis voters are an incredibly diverse and growing voting bloc that have already made real impacts in state and local elections. In 2016 President Donald Trump won Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio by less than a million votes. Estimates by NewFrontier Data show that cannabis voters could have made a significant impact in these states with 2.5M cannabis consumers in Florida, 1.4M in Michigan, 1.4M in Pennsylvania and 1.3M in Ohio. In an era where presidential elections are regularly decided by less than a million votes, cannabis consumers have a huge role to play in local, state, and federal elections.
Spark the Vote is a campaign of the Consumer Cannabis Policy Council (CCPC) and is helmed by Campaign Director Jimmy Fremgen. Fremgen was formerly the lead committee staffer on cannabis for the California State Assembly and Senior Policy Advisor to Congressman Elijah Cummings and the House Oversight Committee during the Obama Administration.
As part of the event, Spark the Vote will announce details on its strategic roll-out as well as other key staff and Advisory Board appointments.
What: Spark the Vote Launch Media Event
Nate Bradley, CCPC Executive Director
Jimmy Fremgen, Spark the Vote Campaign Director
Brandon Bolton, Cannabis Equity Coalition
Sabrina Fendrick, Berkeley Patients Group and Boardmember of the United Cannabis Business Association
Tiffany Johnstan, Turnout Nation
Other guests TBD
Speakers will be available for questions
When: 9:30AM PST, Wednesday September 16, 2020
Where: The event will be held on Zoom: Click here to register – https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PZlAjwsWRe-nSxJBDBLaVQ


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According to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the prices of goods used in residential construction ex-energy (not seasonally adjusted) climbed 0.5% in April, following upwardly revised increases of 1.9% and 2.4% in March and February, respectively.
This adds up to an 4.9% increase in building materials prices since the start of 2022. Building materials prices are up 19.2% year over year and have risen 35.6% since the start of the pandemic.
Specific material increases include:
In the slideshow below, there are two separate quotes for lumber: One from April 2021, one from May 2020. Notice the difference in the cost of a standard 2x4 stud. This is a fraction of the total lumber package for a new home in North Carolina with a sales price in the $300s. Lumber production must increase.
As we all know, Lumber Prices have been on the rise for a while now, with no decline in price in sight. This not only affects the building industry directly, but, it also affects home buyers and homeowners looking to remodel.
A lumber industry veteran told CNBC on Thursday he expects the hot lumber market to persist, at least for a few more months, keeping both prices and volatility elevated.
NAHB - As lumber prices remain sky high, home-building activities continue to suffer across all aspects of the industry — including remodeling projects. Home owners have had an opportunity while sheltering in place to examine their homes and identify key areas in need of repair. But many have been apprehensive to tackle these projects because of the uncertain costs and availability of project materials.


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Digital TV News: Kenya Broadcast
Kenya Broadcast's Signet DTT now distributed via AMOS-17
Nov 3, 2021 – Spacecom (Tel Aviv: SCC) has announced that Kenya Broadcast Corporation’s Signet DTT service is now being broadcast via its AMOS-17 satellite. Spacecom’s also provided professional services to migrate Signet’s DTT service to AMOS-17.
News categories: Spacecom, Kenya Broadcast, Oren Tepper, Job Karimi, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Kenya, Satellite, Terrestrial
Kenya invites bids for broadcasting signal distribution licences
Feb 16, 2011 – The Communications Commission of Kenya has advertised a tender for two more digital television signal distribution licences in an effort to fast-track migration from analogue to digital TV broadcasting ahead of Kenya's 2012 switchover deadline.
News categories: Communications Commission of Kenya, Digital TV, Kenya, Terrestrial
NGB to partner with KBC to provide Digital Pay TV services in Kenya
Feb 15, 2010 – Next Generation Broadcasting AB (NGB) has confirmed plans to enter the Kenyan market. NGB Kenya will launch its bouquet of Pay TV services under the brand name SMART TV using the latest digital TV service based on the MPEG 4 technology.
News categories: Next Generation Broadcasting AB, KBC, Digital TV, Kenya, Terrestrial
Kenya launches DTT in Nairobi
Dec 9, 2009 – Kenya has launched the first phase of its roll out of digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting. Transmission covers Nairobi and its environs, among them Kajiado, Machakos, Naivasha and Murang'a.
News categories: KBC, Digital TV, Kenya, Terrestrial
Kenya to test digital terrestrial TV in October
Sep 16, 2009 – NAIROBI -- Kenya is planning to begin testing digital terrestrial TV transmission in October according to its Permanent Secretary for Information. Tests will be conducted by the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
News categories: KBC, Digital TV, Kenya, Set Top Box, Terrestrial, TV Services
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation-DStv to launch Mobile television
Oct 24, 2007 – Television viewership in the country is set to undergo a major transformation following the partnering by national broadcaster KBC with Digital Mobile Television (DMTV) Limited to bring mobile TV to the country.
News categories: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), DStv, Digital TV, Kenya, Mobile
Kenya to switch to digital TV by 2012, says information minister
Oct 4, 2007 – On 17th June 2015 it will be mandatory that all TV stations countrywide switch from the current Analogue format to new digital broadcasting format.
News categories: Digital TV, Kenya, Terrestrial, TV Services
- FAST growing quickly in the U.S. and across the globe
- Antenna Hungária partners with mediaClass to launch advanced DTT service
- Verizon teams up with B&O to launch soundbars with Stream TV built-in
- VIZIO adds AVOD content to its WatchFree+ streaming service
- Cross Screen Media provides access to Roku ad platform
- CIMM to develop Guide to Converged TV Measurement Providers in the U.S.
- Operations of Digi Communications in Hungary acquired by 4iG
- OTT revenues poised to surpass pay TV revenues in MENA by 2024
- Astro Malaysia debuts addressable TV advertising with Synamedia
- Kaltura powers Vodafone TV in Germany
- Roku #1 TV streaming platform in Mexico
- ATEME brings HDR10+ support to live transcoding
- BBC iPlayer arrives on PlayStation 5
- BARB UK adds SVOD and video-sharing platform measurement
- Baltcom strengthens position in Eastern Latvia with Microlines acquisition
- ATSC issues RFP for broadcast core network technologies to enhance ATSC 3.0
- Verimatrix launches cybersecurity solution against video piracy
- Agama and Antecna to provide video monitoring and analysis for m:tel
- ViacomCBS and NENT Group to roll out Pluto TV in the Nordics
- Iskon launches OTT service in Croatia with Beenius


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BIDDEFORD, Maine — Business has taken off in recent weeks for a pair of Maine entrepreneurs after their lobster company enjoyed a whirlwind of attention through a pair of recent network television appearances.
Cousins and Maine natives Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis first got an exposure boost during an October episode of the ABC show “Shark Tank,” in which they pitched a plan to expand their burgeoning lobster-themed California food truck business to a panel of potential investors — including celebrities such as Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
Lomac, originally from Scarborough, and Tselikis, of Cape Elizabeth, convinced panelist and real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran to invest $55,000 in their venture, and the appropriately named Cousins Maine Lobster hit the big time.
In addition to their popular Los Angeles food truck, Cousins Maine Lobster added a Pasadena-area restaurant and — perhaps most significantly — an online salespoint for gourmet themed dishes, such as lobster pot pies and lobster macaroni and cheese.
“We were really, I would say at the moment, we were a little overwhelmed,” recalled Lomac, who returned to Maine this week. “It was a great decision for us, but there were really a lot of emotions. There was a big build up. We thought about it a million times and we finally got to do it. We loved how it turned out. We’re working with Barbara Corcoran and she’s absolutely amazing.”
But the fledgling company’s proverbial 15 minutes of fame didn’t end with the airing of “Shark Tank.” On Nov. 1, the cousins appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and built even more momentum. Lomac said the morning show appearance made clear to potential customers that they didn’t have to travel to southern California to try a Cousins dish — that the company was promoting a robust online business as well.
“We did about 2,500 sales in one night that Thursday,” Lomac said. “We were just slammed. Previously, people just saw us on [‘Shark Tank’] and said, ‘That’s great, but they’re just a food truck in LA.’”
Although Tselikis and Lomac are now headquartered in the Los Angeles area, they rely on their Maine ties to get their hands on the state’s signature seafood quickly and efficiently. They employ as many as 50 people at a 7,000-square-foot processing facility in Biddeford, where online sales orders are fulfilled.
Lomac said Gov. Paul LePage plans to recognize the company for creating Maine jobs and for promoting the Maine lobster brand across the country.
“We want to be the people where, if you think of Maine lobster, you think of Cousins,” Lomac said. “We want to get more trucks on the road, we want to open up some more restaurants. But the next big focus is building the online presence and making the best possible products. Really, the sky’s the limit. Every day, more and more opportunities present themselves. You never know what’s going to happen next.”


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The Swift Windsong is powered by only one engine option, which is the tried and tested 1.3 liter Multijet diesel.
RC Bhargava, chairman of the country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki, has cautioned the government against…
LIC, that holds 6.8 per cent stake in the Maruti Suzuki India, however, is the missing link and the life insurance firm is keeping its cards close to its chest.
Maruti Suzuki and Nissan have said they meet the country’s current safety standards and will keep up with required changes.
Country’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India is investing up to Rs 4,000 crore in the next 2-3 years…
Conform to all the regulations applicable in India: Companies
Car sales in the festive month of October have been a dampener, with the overall industry surprisingly expected…
MSIL announced that its board of directors has recommended to raise the FII shareholding limit from existing 24 per cent to 40 per cent.
Maruti Suzuki India sold 3,21,898 units of vehicles during Q2, a growth of 16.80 per cent.
A slew of earnings announcements from blue-chips will set the tone for stock markets this week: Experts
Reviving agriculture and manufacturing is the new government’s key challenge.
Maruti Suzuki is the biggest car maker in India by a large margin, and has been for a long time now.
The partnership will see Petronas gain access to Maruti Suzuki’s entire sales and service network.
The Ciaz has already received over 10,000 bookings since September 3, said Maruti’s MD Kenichi Ayukawa.
The Ciaz will be taking the fight against the Honda City, which is by and large the favorite in the segment.


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Cincinnati Process Technologies (CPT), a distributor of machinery, parts, and services for the injection molding industry, has added new products to its offerings, including Asian Plastic Machinery molding machines and the WETEC line of automation equipment. Sales Manager Dane Bales said in a release that the company has a plan in place, including new products, expanded facilities, and great marketing outreach, to boost sales in 2014 by 20%.
As a part of that strategy, CPT, which will be exhibiting in booth 1755 at this year's PLASTEC Midwest (Sept. 10-12; McCormick Place; Chicago), recently hired Scott Drake as a Midwest account manager. Based in Chicago, Drake is building a network of independent sales representatives throughout the country as his company makes a bid to expand beyond its current Midwestern base.
In addition to new injection molding equipment, automation, and robotics, CPT also offers new, used, and remanufactured parts; control system retrofits; total machine repair services and calibration; and energy management systems.
Earlier this year, CPT expanded its offices, repair, and manufacturing facilities in Cincinnati to better serve customers. In conjunction with that, it continues to add engineering and service personnel. In addition to covering several models of injection molding machines, it provides remote diagnostic capabilities through the control retrofit systems it provides molders.
As a final leg of its growth strategy, CPT recently selected Cleveland-based Business Communications Solutions (BCSI) as its agency of record for marketing, advertising and public relations. BCSI founder and President Greg Rosenberg stated in a release that his company has built a strong presence in the plastics industry, including partnering with Polymer Ohio as well as several plastics manufacturers/compounders to promote the overall industry and drive sales, as well as improve employee awareness, morale and retention at those companies through targeted internal communications efforts.


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Published on January 6, 2017
1. wwww.etailingindiaexpo.com eCommerce Fosters Fashion Retail Startups In India Myntra, the country’s largest fashion ecommerce company, is reviving an incubation programme aimed at providing 10 small brands with technical, design and financial support, targeting about $500 million worth of business from them in the next five years. #DigitalErra Thought Corner Myntra’s chief executive officer Ananth Narayanan said a Myntra team of more than 40 designers and the company’s rich consumer data would help small brands scale up their businesses. “We know what consumer preferences are and we are able to translate into better designs. Therefore, the design success rate is much higher,” he said in an
2. wwww.etailingindiaexpo.com interview. “We supply to 19,000 pin-codes the day we launch the brand.” In the past as well, online companies such as Amazon, Myntra, Snapdeal, Indianroots and FashionAndYou have partnered with numerous designers who were once, struggling to sell exclusive lines. Previously, Amazon India launched its designer store to divert traffic from individual sites and had roped in talented designers onto its platform. Myntra, on the other hand, had expanded its design store portfolio by offering incubation programme for designers/ startups to design specifically for online audiences. Designers now get their 90% of business from online channels. A surprising fact is much of the demand for designer wear comes from tier2 and 3 cities. The best part of these incubation programmes is that the startups are working closely with major eCommerce firms to bring special assortment which is affordable by a larger audience.
3. wwww.etailingindiaexpo.com Stable Funding Scenario Even though most of the sector got bitten by funds scarcity in 2016, several fashion startups including 6Degree, Blinge, Shopwati, Hoppingo and Coutloot raised funds from investors that include Venture Catalysts, ex-Flipkart CBO Ankit Nagori, IAN and others. Tiger Global- backed fashion discovery app Roposo raised $5 million in the second round of funding in April from Bertelsmann India Investments.
4. wwww.etailingindiaexpo.com More Fashion Players Zooming on Earlier, it was just the online biggies including Amazon India, Koovs, Flipkart, Myntra and Jabong that were trying to cash in on the high- margin fashion business. But now, the market is seeing renewed activity with entry of specialized players such as Aditya Birla Group's Abof, Reliance Industries' Ajio and Arvind's NNNow, apart from several small-scale startups. Need For Brand building Today India is bubbling with opportunities. The business environment is both competitive and conducive at the same time. Brand building is on the minds of most entrepreneurs today. Given the pace and scale at which most ventures today operate, navigating through opportunities can be a challenging task for the entrepreneur. Incubation programmes creates and manages brands by providing expert teams across disciplines and providing network of resources that will help entrepreneurs realize their ambitious plans. Conclusion Ecommerce majors are helping startups with multiple content and product expertise along with incubator funds which impacts startups growth trajectory through business and brand incubation. *Image Credits : Economic Times


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Consumer prices fifth most expensive in EU
The price of Irish consumer goods was 18pc higher than the EU average last year, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show.
Despite prices falling in the past two years, Ireland is the fifth most expensive country in the EU after Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg.
But since 2009 there has been a big improvement when prices here were 26pc above the EU average.
The figures are contained in a new analysis called “Measuring Ireland’s Progress 2010.”
The report also tracks employment and the recession.
Last year unemployment was the sixth highest in the EU.
The overall employment rate went from 65.7pc in 2001 to 69.2pc in 2007 but slumped to 58.9pc by 2011.
Male employment fell sharply over the last three years from 76pc to 62.6pc early this year.
More people are also living in poverty.
In 2009, 5.5pc of the population were living in consistent poverty - up from 4.2pc the previous year.


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The company says that those dealer-centric enhancements advance what it describes as its commitment to “making buying and selling smarter, faster and easier.”
Called “Highway to Sell,” the offering includes three seller options: manual, automatic and cruise control. Those allow dealers to choose the service level that best fits their business.
In manual, dealers use TradeRev to inspect and launch their cars, and with the push of a button, they can send no-sales to ADESA.
In automatic, the KAR Global ground team will inspect and image dealer cars, and within 24 hours, the team will launch them on TradeRev. No-sales are sent to ADESA, and there they receive a full condition report and wash before being run through the lanes and broadcast on ADESA Simulcast. Any remaining cars are then listed on ADESA.com.
Cruise control incorporates all of the previous features.
Also, cruise control adds free transport to any ADESA facility under 75 miles, concierge customer support and TradeReady seller protection against arbitrations or returns.
“On KAR’s ‘Highway to Sell,’ the dealer is in control — just take the on-ramp that works best for your business,” ADESA President John Hammer said in a news release.
Read more here


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IAC is bidding $300 million for About.com, topping a $270
million offer from Answers.com for the website owned by the New
York Times Co.
IAC is bidding $300 million for About.com...
Inside the world's biggest Maker Faire
More "Future Now" »
Welcome to Digital Industry Insider, our collaboration with GE to cover the 'Industrial Internet'
More "Digital Industry Insider" »


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February 13, 2013, 4:42 PM — Never let it be said Billl Gates is a hype machine. When asked what type of computer he was using to participate in a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session, he confided it was one of Microsoft's new Surface devices that the company talks about in glowing terms.
How does Gates describe it? "I just got my Surface Pro a week ago and it is very nice."
He said he was actually viewing the AMA on a jumbo whiteboard, technology Microsoft bought last year. "I am using a Perceptive Pixel display right now - huge Windows 8 touch whiteboard. These will come down in price over time and be pervasive," he wrote and linked to this picture of himself:
Gates also responded to a query about how Windows 8 stacks up to earlier releases. "Windows 7 or Windows 8? Be honest Bill," one questioner wrote.
"Higher is better," Gates said.
He also confided what's left on his bucket list: "Don't die."
[IN DEPTH: Microsoft's Surface for Windows 8 Pro
TEST YOURSELF: The Windows 8 quiz
NAVIGATE: 12 essential Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts]
Not enough apps? There's an app for that.
While there are tens of thousands of Windows 8 apps available at the Windows Store, there are hundreds of thousands of Android apps available from Google Play. BlueStacks has optimized its software that adapts these Android apps to Windows 8, specifically to Microsoft's Surface Pro hardware. BlueStacks is available from GetYourAppsBack.com. Here's a review of it.
Dealing with Windows 8 BYOD
When workers start bringing their own Windows 8 Pro devices to work, it can pose a security and management problem for IT.
Wave Systems is introducing an upgraded version of its Wave Mobility Solution that deals with the problem and also makes it simpler for mobile end users to sign in to the corporate network.


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TWO young local artists have been discovered following a Christmas card design competition at the Plough Beefeater in Solihull.
Rebecca Bailey, eight and Charlotte Seston, 10 both from Sharmans Cross Junior School, were crowned winner and finalist respectively for their festive card creations. Rebecca’s star design won a Christmas Party at The Plough for her and classmates and the honour of seeing her design on a Christmas card for The Plough next year.
Rob Boulton, general manager at The Plough Beefeater said: “The winning design really stood out because Rebecca had used lovely bright colours that were very eye-catching and made it very festive with snow and a beautiful rainbow in the background.
“The Christmas party for Rebecca and her classmate was a great success. It was a lovely opportunity for them to celebrate Christmas together – we organised food and party games for 30 children.”
Around 200 budding young artists entered the competition and all entries have been displayed around the entrance of the The Plough Beefeater to showcase Solihull’s local artist talent.


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Leading Asean online payments provider shows strong Malaysian e-commerce performance in 2017.
GfK findings report that consumers bought around US$1.59 billion worth of smartphones, a significant increase from US$1.27 billion in 2015.
Finland-based Tapp Commerce believes its mobile payment technology can bring 'e-commerce down to the street level' across the SEA region.
iPay88 Sdn Bhd said that based on transactions recorded on its platform, it expects mobile-commerce to grow three times faster than the overall e-commerce market in Malaysia.
Smartphones are set to rule the e-commerce landscape in South-East Asia, so what can you do to ride the wave?
Lazada Group announced that it has established a technology hub in Bangkok, its third such development centre after Ho Chi Minh City (November 2012) and Moscow (February 2015).
Shopee Malaysia is claiming that it will hit its target of one million users in the country, ahead of its year-end target.
Digi said it is making available GSMA's Mobile Connect authentication solution in Malaysia, for Digi users of Mudah.my's Pro Niaga virtual storefront.
Lazada Group is claiming a total of US$1.3 billion of annualised GMV across its six SEA markets, saying this makes it the region’s biggest e-commerce player.
Fraud executives from 18 leading APAC banks all indicated that data breaches in other industries will harm financial institutions in 2016.


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NCM Local Market Audience Data Now Available in Mediaocean’s DS and OX Spot Buying Platforms With Nielsen’s Cinema Audience Reports
When we announced back in May that National CineMedia (NCM), America’s Movie Network, had partnered with Mediaocean, the leading software provider for the advertising world, to enable agencies to execute convergence buys with NCM’s premium video cinema advertising inventory and Spot TV, that was just “the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” as Humphrey Bogart famously said in the movie Casablanca.
We’re excited to say that NCM local market audience data from Nielsen’s monthly Cinema Audience Reports is now available in two of the most popularly used local Spot Market buying platforms in the U.S. media landscape – Mediaocean’s Spectra DS and OX systems – allowing Spot TV buyers to view NCM’s local audience ratings alongside those of local TV stations in 97 DMAs.
Local Spot TV buyers can now compare and contrast NCM’s local market audience delivery and composition by age and gender with the audiences of local broadcast television stations for a much more thorough and complete evaluation of all of the available audience in their local markets. For those wanting to do an audience “look-back” for trend purposes, Mediaocean will include two calendar years’ worth of historical NCM audience attendance data.
NCM’s SVP of Strategic Insight and Analytics, Doug Pulick, said, “This day has been in the making for well over a year and I have many people to thank at Nielsen, Mediaocean and NCM for bringing it to fruition. The devil is always in the details when it comes to introducing a non-traditional media data set into a more traditional media marketplace. But maybe the most important accomplishment here is that we can assure all the local market buyers who work with Mediaocean’s Spot buying systems that they can confidently plan, buy and post on NCM’s Nielsen-reported audience data the same way they’ve always done it for Spot TV, making it easier to diversify their GRPs to better reach their target audiences.”
With more than $140 billion spent in U.S. spot TV advertising annually, Mediaocean knows that advertisers are always looking for the best options in the local TV and Digital Video Spot marketplace – especially ones like Cinema that offer expanded GRP options and an alternative way of reaching younger, affluent audiences that simply can’t be found with traditional television. Now that NCM’s moviegoers are in the mix, buyers can continue to move one step closer to multiplatform media buying all in one place.
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Recently a U.S. federal appeals court upheld imposition of an opt-in consumer privacy rule protecting telecommunication subscribers despite the limiting effect this rule may have on the targeted marketing industry. This court's decision empowers the federal government to constitutionally regulate telecommunication carriers' personal data sharing practices in order to protect their customers' data privacy when the regulation restricts use of the data for marketing purposes. In this case National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) challenged a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule requiring carriers to obtain customers' advance approval before releasing their telephone record information for marketing purposes. NCTA claimed the FCC's new opt-in rule violates companies' First Amendment right to engage in commercial speech. At stake in this appeal was the constitutionally required balance between protecting consumers' information privacy in an era of pervasive data processing and protecting the rights of marketers to engage in protected commercial free speech that involves using customers' personal information. A ruling against the FCC would have limited the use of government regulation to provide information privacy protections for consumers that increasingly relate to technological advances. This article critiques the First Amendment arguments raised by NCTA and argues that protecting consumer's personal data by requiring opt-in consent does not unreasonably restrict a company's right to communicate with their customers. Considering privacy risks associated with advances in computer technology, the complexities of modern information processing and evolving mobile advertising (m-advertising) practices, privacy regulations should not be equated with unwarranted speech regulations. The decision in NCTA v. FCC articulates a new constitutional balance in favor of consumer data privacy protection and will most likely pave the way for achieving adequate data privacy protections for consumers and a more consistent regulatory environment for businesses in the U.S., which are both necessary to support the growth of the global mobile advertising (m-advertising) industry.
International Journal of Private Law, 2010, Vol 3, Issue 1/2


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The Spanish group Gas Natural Fenosa officially announced that it has begun the procedures for the sale of its assets in the Republic of Moldova. The transaction is generously estimated at about 500 million euros by the Spanish website http://www.eleconomista.es.
The company is constantly working to review and optimise its business portfolio, and its non-strategic activities and territories, . “Based on this strategic review of its international positioning, the company has decided to undertake competitive sales processes for its electricity distribution business in Moldova and its power generation business in Kenya.”
Rumors of this intention were raised earlier in mid-January. Moldovan media reported that potential buyers would be a Czech billionaire, as well as a businessman from the Republic of Moldova, unconfirmed information.
GAS NATURAL FENOSA reached a net profit of 1.36 billion euros in 2017, 1% more than in 2016, as EBITDA reached 3,91 billion euros, down 16.1% from 2016, „due to interruptions in the gas distribution and marketing businesses in Italy, gas distribution in Colombia, electricity distribution in Moldova and power generation in Kenya”.
Gas Natural Fenosa distributes electricity to more than 20 million customers in over 30 countries of the world. In the Republic of Moldova it has about 878,000 customers, for a market share of 70%.
In 2016, Gas Natural Fenosa, through its power supply unit, sold 2.91 GWh in the Republic of Moldova.


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Fallout 76 developer Bethesda has confirmed it is issuing temporary bans to players who access a hidden "developer room" full of lucrative and unreleased items for the online game.
News of the room's existence on Fallout 76 servers started leaking out publicly last week, with videos showing an area filled with boxes containing every legitimate item in the game, as well as a few cosmetics and weapons that have yet to be officially released (and a curious human-like NPC named "Wooby.") Details of the apparent teleport hack being used to access the room in the PC version of the game were harder to come by without lurking in private Discord channels and hacking forums, though.
Soon after public discovery of the rooms, Bethesda started automatically issuing temporary bans for players who accessed it. The company reportedly also sent banned players an e-mail message asking them to "please describe the way [the developer room] was accessed in a reply to this email. This detail should provide the information necessary for us to correct any corruption issues on this side and safely release this account and return these characters back into the world."
That email seemed to leave open the possibility that some users were inadvertently stumbling on the room without hacking the game. In a translated statement provided to Eurogamer, though, Bethesda now confirms that the room was "only accessible to PC players that are using 3rd party applications to get into these areas."
Bethesda also confirms in the statement that "in an effort to ensure the integrity of these characters and accounts, these accounts are being temporarily disabled pending further investigation. Players that have accessed these areas and have had their accounts impacted are encouraged to contact our support team."
Previous Fallout games have featured similar "dev rooms" that could be easily accessed via console commands. But the discovery of the dev room in Fallout 76 has had a more profound effect on the online game's economy by unleashing a trove of unearned and otherwise unreleased items onto some servers. Some players reportedly used dummy accounts to access the room and then sell or give the items to other players, who could then avoid Bethesda's bans. Reddit trading post Market76 had to ban posts advertising items from the dev room that are "not legitimately obtainable right now."Last month, Fallout 76 also faced widespread problems with a duplication glitch that let players create infinite copies of arbitrary items. While the discovery of the dev room probably had less of an impact on legitimate players, it's still not a great sign for a game that has already had its fair share of issues since its November launch.


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Everything You Need to Know About Holiday Travel in 2021
The holidays are upon us and that means festive decor, special treats, and plenty of people taking to the roads and skies.
This year, Thanksgiving will see numbers that rival pre-pandemic levels, experts told Travel + Leisure. It's a trend that is expected to continue through the December holidays. All that will likely mean higher prices, crowded airports, and even the potential for flight cancellations.
"Last year was the road trip year. We saw a huge increase in travelers booking staycations," Adit Damodaran, an economist at Hopper, told T+L. "This year, it's going to shift a lot more toward travelers flying because of vaccinations. Travelers feel generally more comfortable."
This is what travelers should know ahead of the busy holiday season, from staying safe amid the pandemic to how to prepare for a flight cancellation.
Will airports and roads be crowded this holiday season?
The short answer is, yes. About 53.4 million Americans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, according to AAA data shared with T+L. Of those, the overwhelming majority (48.3 million) are expected to drive, with about 4.2 million people slated to fly.
Overall, 2021 Thanksgiving travel numbers are within 5% of what they were in 2019. "People are going all in for Thanksgiving," Ellen Edmonds, a spokeswoman for AAA, told T+L. "Everything that we're seeing is indicating people are returning to travel, and will continue to return to travel."
Hopper predicts Christmas air travel will likely go beyond that, surpassing Thanksgiving numbers.
How busy will the airports be?
About two million travelers are expected to pass through airports in the United States each day over the Christmas holiday, or around 80% of 2019 levels. That is lower than before the pandemic, but not necessarily something the average traveler will notice when they're trying to get through the airport rush, said Damodaran.
"We're ramping up even more… because we now have domestic travel [that] has mostly recovered and international travel is also starting to pick up," he said. "For all intents and purposes, when you're at the airport, it's going to feel like 2019."
For Thanksgiving weekend, the busiest U.S. airport will be Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, followed by Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport, according to Hopper. Overall, airports will be most crowded the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 24, except for hubs that tend to see more international departures, like New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, which will likely be busiest earlier in the week.
Are most people driving or flying?
The majority of people who plan to travel for Thanksgiving will be driving, according to AAA, but the number of those who are choosing to fly is growing. In 2020, cars accounted for 94.6% of all Thanksgiving travel, but this year, they only account for 90.3%. Whether you're flying or driving, these expert holiday travel tips will help you maximize your time off.
Should travelers expect flight cancellations and delays?
Unfortunately, probably. Widespread flight cancellations have plagued major airlines in recent weeks, including Southwest and American Airlines, due to a combination of bad weather and staffing woes. And experts say that's likely going to continue.
"That's sort of the friction that we expect with demand ramping up so quickly this year. In some ways, it is unprecedented to have to ramp up service so quickly," said Damodaran. "I would expect [cancellations] to happen occasionally, especially on a busy travel weekend, but it's hard to predict when those occurrences could happen."
So, should you book a backup flight?
No. A new concept called "trip stacking" has emerged this year in which travelers book multiple trips or flights for the same time period in case one gets canceled or needs to be postponed. But when it comes to flights, experts told T+L they don't recommend it.
Edmonds said it's a risky move that could end up costing customers a non-refundable ticket, and may even be flagged by the airline since many carriers have systems in place to spot duplicate bookings. Instead, she said the best way to protect a trip is to invest in travel insurance.
For its part, Hopper offers customers the option of adding on a "flight rebooking guarantee," which costs $24 on average and allows customers to book a new flight to their destination on any airline if theirs is canceled or delayed by more than one hour.
With more people traveling, does that mean things will be more expensive?
Simply put, yes. When it comes to rental car prices, for example, the daily rate has increased about 4% compared to Thanksgiving last year, and is coming in at $98 per day on average, Edmonds said. That's mostly due to demand, but there is hope: "The sooner you can lock in a rate, whether it's a rental car, flight, or hotel, you'll get a better [price]," she added.
For flights, domestic prices for Christmas are averaging about $390 round-trip, fairly on par with Christmas airfare in 2019, according to Hopper. But travelers can still get a deal on international flights, with prices coming in at about 25% less than the same time in 2019. You can find more holiday travel hacks here.
How safe will travel be?
Damodaran pointed to a number of factors that are making travelers feel safer this year compared to last, including availability of vaccines and experience with things like wearing marks. A federal mask mandate has been extended until at least January 2022 for all public transportation, including on planes, buses, and trans, as well as in airports.
"I think it will be business as usual in terms of most travelers knowing what they have to do," he said. "I hope travelers will be as patient as possible and abide by the federal regulations."
Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.


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Leading solid-state drive (SSD) chip maker SandForce today announced a next-generation of controllers that offer double the performance over its legacy models along with improved encryption capabilities.
As anticipated, Apple today refreshed its MacBook Pro notebook line, turning to Intel's new Sandy Bridge chip architecture and adding a new connectivity technology dubbed Thunderbolt that transfers data at speeds up to 10Gbps.
Apple today pulled the retail version of its MobileMe sync and storage service from its online store, and dropped the service from the list of optional factory-installed software for its Macs.
The Anonymous hacking collective this morning defaced the Web site of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church in the middle of a live radio show that included a church spokeswoman and a member of Anonymous.
Worldwide server revenue and unit shipments continued a yearlong recovery in the fourth quarter of 2010, but growth is likely to slow this year, research company Gartner said on Thursday.
The U.S. agency that tracks complaints of criminal activity on the Internet reported Thursday that fewer people complained about Internet fraud in 2010 than in the previous year.
Apple said earlier this week that it will hold an event on March 2 in San Francisco, with all signs pointing to an iPad 2 unveiling. This lit up the blogosphere with predictions about what might be in the iPad 2, whether or not Steve Jobs will be pre...
Many of my friends hate Apple. They hate Apple's arrogance and the way the company manipulates the market. A great example of what they despise: Apple recently kicked out all book reading apps other than its own nice-to-look-at-but-not-well-featured-...
Spitting into tea cups, poking goat entrails, tracing the movements of the stars across the heavens, dialing up the Psychic Friends Network -- these things pale in comparison to today's preferred method of divination: Parsing the invitations to Apple...
Despite years of marketing pressure and products that are simpler to use and more widely available, desktop virtualization hasn't taken off to the extent that vendors and analysts expected even a few years ago.
Many small businesses have relied on Microsoft's Small Business Server (SBS) family of servers to get their feet wet with their first server and network. Introduced back in 1997 as BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0, SBS has matured into a tightly ...
Free streaming services are replacing piracy as the chief culprit of music industry revenue loss in the minds of fiscally frustrated executives, if a number of panel discussions at a New York digital music conference are any indication.
Apple today updated its MacBook Pro range of notebooks with newer graphics and CPU components, using Intel's latest Sandy Bridge chipsets.
Virtualization, video and massive amounts of data are all driving enterprises and service providers toward 100-Gigabit Ethernet, but the cost of the fledgling technology remains prohibitively high and few products have been installed, industry observ...
Apple will officially unveil the iPad 2 on March 2 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, putting an end to one set of rumors and sparking a whole new set.
There's never been a better time for a business to refresh its devices. Intel offers a range of business solutions, from Servers to SSD, but also 2 in 1 products and also the NUC unit which is set to revolutionise your desktop. Click here to read more information on these products.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.


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The Risoil Terminal in Chornomorsk will handle about 4.5 million tons of cargo next year
In 2018 LLC “JV Risoil Terminal Ltd.” in Chornomorsk with the help of new production facilities plans to increase cargo turnover to 4.5 million tons.
Over the past year, for effective transshipment of goods, the company has involved new construction projects. Thus, the terminal was put into operation transport gallery (equipped with high-roller conveyors), silo-type tanks, engineering and transport infrastructure, station for unloading vehicles and universal warehouse No.2 for outdoor storage of cargoes. The unloading station is equipped by three unloading points, that makes possible to process simultaneously 18 vehicles per hour (approximately 9.000 tons of cargo per day).


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Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will receive OS and security updates for a minimum of three years
Buried deep in the official spec sheets for the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is something that will be very good news for people who care about long-term software support.
Google says it will update the new generation Pixels for three years at a minimum. That is for both OS and security updates, mind you. Here’s a snapshot of the official wording in question:
For the first generation Pixels launched in 2016, Google promised a minimum of two years of OS updates, and three years of security updates. So this is certainly a step forward, though if it stops OS updates right after the three year mark, Google would still trail Apple in this regard. While the iPhone maker doesn’t specifically promise minimum update periods for its handsets, we often see four year old smartphones receiving the latest OS versions.
Google’s new three-year OS update promise probably has something to do with Project Treblebeing implemented in Android 8.0 Oreo, since that undertaking was specifically meant to allow longer update periods even without the involvement of the chipset producer.


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Alex Herlihy, the town town historian in Rye, is trying to find a new owner for an 1800s colonial home before it’s demolished.
I’m not a big fan of summer, but I do love heading to my city’s farmers market to buy fresh veggies and see old friends. Luckily I live in New Hampshire where there are plenty of winter farmers markets. Here are some of our top picks throughout the state. Merrimack...
In November, there were about 1,400 single family homes for sale in New Hampshire, according to the New Hampshire Association of Realtors. Comparatively, in 2014, there were 10,000 units for sale.
The House of Representatives this week passed the 5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement (SALE) Act, a bill cosponsored by Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02)
Here are seven suggestions for offbeat shopping this holiday season where you can do good and buy where few shoppers have gone before.


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If you have an iPhone 6s or later, your phone is compatible with iOS 15 and you must have the latest version, iOS 15.6.1. Likewise, if you have a 5th generation iPad, 4th generation iPad mini, or 4th generation iPad Air, you can run iPadOS 15.6.1.
But those with older iPhones and iPads are stuck on iOS 12, which doesn’t get regular updates. Every so often, however, Apple releases an update for this year-old operating system with critical security fixes. Some security vulnerabilities are so important that getting them out is urgent, even for the few users who still cling to iPhones or iPads from more than six years ago.
Well, iOS 12.5.6 is one such release. It includes a fix for the same critical WebKit vulnerability that was fixed in iOS and iPadOS 15.6.1:
Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
WebKit is the browser engine used by Safari and all other web browsers on iPhone and iPad, and this is a particularly annoying security vulnerability — and one that may have already been exploited in the wild.
So if you have an older iPhone or iPad that is stuck on iOS 12, open the Settings app and go to General > Software update to download iOS 12.5.6 today.


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Vega comforts young girls with #FlauntYourBefikar campaign
Mumbai: Health and beauty accessories brand Vega has come up with a #FlauntyourBefire campaign featuring Bollywood actor Ananya Pandey. The brand’s campaign was launched on International Women’s Day.
Ananya’s tangy campaign reel spells out her #Befikar mantra reflecting a free-spirited and joyful vibe centered on self-acceptance.
The brand tells young girls to feel good about themselves. “The campaign is about owning your day and your attitude by not letting yourself be swayed by perspectives catapulted into the speed of light. Rather, it’s about celebrating the individual for who they are and what they stand for,” Vega said in a statement.
“The campaign strives to reinvigorate the balance between the multiple roles women play in their lives and living their true selves,” commented Vega CMO Eiti Singhal. “She highlights how women can be the #Befikar version of themselves and define their beauty ideal and be comfortable with it.
“In a world increasingly clouded by opinions and perspectives, it’s time to look within. What you have to prove to yourself. With #FlauntYourBefikar, we wanted to change the needle to be confident and comfortable in your own skin,” said Sunil Gangras, NCD of Liqvd Asia. way.”


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The fall season is fast approaching and the team over at Yahoo! Canada is preparing for a busy advertising season, full with new ideas and initiatives on how they plan increase their market share here in Canada. This year’s event will once again be taking place at a venue in downtown, Toronto on September 8.
Ross Levinsohn, EVP of Americas will be attending the event shares Yahoo’s vision and what it means for consumers and advertisers. Michel Protti, Country Manager, Yahoo! Canada (who is based in Sunnyvale, California) with also be on hand giving an update on the Canadian business. Paula Presley, Executive Director of Sales, who also presented last year will showcase the latest opportunities to connect with highly engaged Canadian audiences by providing you an exclusive look at our newest consumer channels and upcoming launches.


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The global economic slowdown is a key downside risk for commodity markets in 2023. Slowing manufacturing activity amid softer consumer and B2B demand, as well as weaker capital investment due to high borrowing costs and lingering recession concerns, are expected to dent demand for energy and metal commodities. As consumers pull back on spending amid high inflation, food commodities will also suffer from weaker demand.
On the other hand, the anticipated rebound in demand from China following the end of its zero-COVID policy, softer-than-expected landing of Western economies and potential supply disruptions due to geopolitical tensions and extreme weather events could provide upward pressure for prices across all commodity groups over the year. In addition, as a weakening US dollar makes the US dollar-denominated commodities cheaper in non-dollar currencies, the expected depreciation of the US dollar from last year’s highs could boost commodity demand and prices in 2023.
Energy prices to ease in 2023, but multiple upward risks persist
Energy prices are set to average lower in 2023 compared to last year amid weaker global demand prospects and a healthy supply outlook. As per the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) estimates, healthy oil supply growth in the US, Canada, Brazil, Norway and Guyana is expected to offset the restrained output in Russia and other OPEC+ countries. There are, however, upside risks, including stronger-than-expected demand from China’s manufacturing sector, cuts in global supply and US dollar depreciation. In addition, extreme heatwaves could limit hydropower generation and boost electricity demand for cooling.
Natural gas prices in Europe saw the sharpest decrease in January 2023, as Europe has come out with higher-than-expected natural gas storage amid mild weather and strong liquified natural gas (LNG) imports. The drop in prices and strong stocks have mitigated the risk of energy shortages in the region over the near term. Nevertheless, in 2023, natural gas prices are projected to remain historically elevated, as European stock replenishing ahead of next winter without Russian gas supplies, along with reviving demand from China, will put upward pressure on LNG demand. Meanwhile, oil prices inched up in January 2023, driven by an improving demand outlook from China, which is expected to drive roughly half of global oil demand growth in 2023, according to the IEA.
Although energy prices eased from the 2022 peak, businesses continue to face elevated cost pressures and squeezed margins, especially across energy-intensive industries, such as chemicals, metals, cement and transportation. To mitigate the impact, companies are increasing investments in renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions, optimising energy consumption, turning to alternative fuels, stockpiling, price hedging and relocating to regions with lower energy costs. For example, British chemical multinational INEOS raised EUR3.5 billion for the construction of a highly energy-efficient ethane cracker facility in Belgium, which will be powered by low-carbon hydrogen.
Weaker consumer demand to limit agrifood price growth
Prices for agrifood commodities inched up in January 2023 thanks to rising grain prices. Prices for corn and soybeans strengthened as severe drought in South America intensified supply concerns, while rice prices rose on the back of greater demand. Intensification of the war in Ukraine is another upside risk for grain prices, as poorer harvest in Ukraine and disruptions to grain exports from the Black Sea region could fuel a price rally. In contrast, wheat prices declined in early 2023 on higher supply expectations from projected record harvests in Australia and India and recovering exports from Russia and Ukraine.
Despite supply fears and upward pressures stemming from China’s reviving consumption, prices for major agrifood commodities are expected to stay softer in 2023 relative to a year before, with lingering cost-of-living crisis and higher borrowing costs translating into weaker demand for food and feed from consumers and farmers. Moreover, weaker prices of fertilisers will increase the affordability of inputs for farmers, and higher use of fertilisers could help boost crop yields and supply. Softer agrifood commodity prices are set to ease cost pressures for food and foodservice businesses.
Prices of metals forecast to remain stable, but insufficient supply remains the key risk
Prices of the key basic metals are forecast to increase in Q1 2023. The reopening of China’s economy and better-than-anticipated industrial sector growth in Europe in large part support faster demand for growth metals. The depreciation of the US dollar also helps to stimulate the demand for industrial metals as it is cheaper for international buyers to purchase commodities.
Despite the price increase in Q1 2023, prices of metals still remain lower than in Q1 2022 as the global supplies recovered after the initial shock caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Prices of key metals are forecast to remain stable throughout 2023 as weaker global economic and investment growth as well as the slowdown in the construction sector are expected to outweigh positive effects on the global demand side for metals and cap the prices.
Insufficient production volumes of metals are the biggest risk factor for price stability in 2023. Despite the recovering demand, investments into new mining projects remain subdued and could cause supply problems. For example, one of the world’s largest copper miners, Freeport-McMoRan, noted that the mining industry does not have enough investment planned to avoid potential supply disruptions. US aluminium producer Alcoa also indicated that its inventory levels in 2023 will remain low and could be insufficient to meet the demand if economic growth in China accelerates.
Shortages of the non-ferrous metals would in large part hurt industries focusing on renewable energy and battery production. Sustained price pressures on steel and aluminium could also impact automotive, aerospace, machinery and construction sectors that, on average, spend 2-6% of total costs on the basic iron and steel and non-ferrous metals. Higher prices of metals would increase operating costs and are likely to pressure companies’ profit margins.


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McLaren Automotive is expanding its U.S. retail footprint by partnering with one of the largest dealership groups in the country, the Suburban Collection, for a new store near Detroit.
McLaren Troy will be in the Troy Motor Mall, about 15 miles north of Detroit.
The 4,000-square-foot showroom is to open in the fourth quarter, the automaker said. A temporary sales and service site will open this month.
"The state of Michigan is a key area in the United States that we have not yet been able to properly service," Tony Joseph, president of McLaren North America, said in a statement. "With a deep base of both existing clients and potential customers in the region, we felt that Detroit and the surrounding areas needed a more localized point of sales and service."


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Ad fraud driven by poor procurement culture says VivaKi boss
As the industry wakes up to the sheer scale of online advertising fraud, Marco Bertozzi, VivaKi's president of audience on demand, EMEA, has said the root of the problem is procurement departments that push agencies to chase increasingly lower CPM rates.
The boss of Publicis' ad tech solutions business said that the entire procurement model is in disarray and forces media agencies to buy cheap, low quality and high risk inventory from online "cesspools" filled with ad fraud.
Speaking at MediaTel's Automated Trading Debate on Monday (6 Oct), Bertozzi said: "We have a situation where every day advertisers, procurement departments and auditors are pushing agencies to buy cheaper and cheaper inventory. The only sign of success is a lower CPM year on year.
"The idea of value doesn't seem to have any resonance...the whole procurement model is a mess."
Bertozzi said that as cost saving initiatives begin with procurement departments, tackling a culture in which measurable value is discarded in favour of using cheap inventory (where ad fraud is likely to operate) is only feeding the problem.
Forecasts suggest, globally, ad fraud could cost marketers as much as $11 billion in 2014, a 22% increase over 2013.
The problem came to prominence in May after a story in the Financial Times revealed that an online Mercedes ad was viewed more often by automated computer programmes - 'bots' - than by human beings.
"It's more concerning because it's very, very clever," he said. "Publishers are also underestimating the scale of the problem because they are often blind to it.
"Fraudsters are able [to mimic] different websites. You think you're viewing a top premium site, but someone is manipulating that to sell it to someone else."
The solution, both Bertozzi and Ricci argue, is to place a renewed emphasis on value and adequate measurement as well as higher pressure from advertisers to only use premium quality inventory.
"We should not be fishing in these cesspools," Bertozzi said. "Don't accept a £4 CPM from a video ad network and then say it's quality - it's not."
Paul Longhurst, founder of Longhurst Communications, an advertising consultancy, said the industry has not helped itself by being so slow to tackle the problem.
"If you look at the IAB [Internet Advertising Bureau], they've developed a code of practice and I think there's a good understanding within the industry that this is a real problem and I think the guidelines, the principles and policies are gradually coming into place," he said. "It's just not going fast enough."
In the US, the IAB, 4A's and ANA last week announced plans to create a first-of-its-kind cross-industry accountability program designed to fight ad fraud, malware and the piracy of intellectual property, in an effort to increase marketplace transparency in the US.
Established as a jointly controlled body, with its own board and leadership, the organisation aims to "operationalise principles around the critical issues that face the industry in this arena."
AOL UK's managing director, Noel Penzer, whose business publishes The Huffington Post, TechCrunch and MyDaily, said ad fraud is a growing concern and that he is now looking at the UK's IAB for guidance.
IAB UK told Newsline that it is currently in talks with the US team about taking action in the UK, and that it hopes for a clearer picture in the coming months. The IAB added that any proposals made will require further agreement from JICWEBS.
To understand more about the fast moving connected marketplace, Mediatel Connected features the latest market data, consumer surveys and analysis to keep you ahead.
Find out more


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4G devices are still a prime priority in many countries even as 5G is picking up steam. And as if the existing problems weren’t enough, a new report says the 4G, 5G SoCs. And its components are facing a shortage in supply.
Digitimes report says that according to a few IC distribution sources, there is a good deal of demand for 4G, and 5G SoCs. This is a no-brainer but sources say that their supply is facing a shortage. One of the reasons is reportedly the shortage of PA components for both 4G and 5G models. Here, PA refers to Power Amplifiers that filters, amplifies network frequency while selecting a home network(local).
Also, as per the report, the main reason for the shortage of 4G SoCs is due to Huawei’s heavy stockpiling of IC components. The company had to do it in order to evade an impending shortage it could face after the reinforced restrictions of the US that took effect from September 15. The report adds that PA components are frequently present on IoT devices these days apart from Smartphones.
As a result, IDMs(Integrated Device Manufacturers) including Skyworks have extended the delivery time of FR. And PA components to 8-12 weeks. For the unware, Skyworks(Skywork Solutions Inc.,) is a US-based semiconductor company. It manufactures RF(Radio Frequency), and mobile communication systems. Coming back, if the report is true, the squeeze on supply will relax before 2020 ends.
However, despite a steady demand from China, the procurement figures of 5G SoCs will largely depend on the sale of 5G devices in the upcoming Double Eleven festival. And New Year Holidays in China. This is understandable considering 5G devices are wildly popular in China. And its 5G deployment is ahead of the rest of the world.
Although the IC distributors will have to adjust the inventories as per the fluctuating demand, they will reportedly flourish in Logic. And Analog IC shipments including memory chips for desktop and notebooks(laptops) as work from home situation still exists.
4G, 5G, System on a chip, Distribution, Huawei
World news – THAT – Distributors face Shortfalls of 4G & 5G SoCs, and their PA components that are in demand: Report – Gizmochina


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AFTER its now rested sponsorship of the reality show called Amstel Malta Box Office, and a current bid with comedy artistes, Nigerian Breweries’ (NBL) low sugar malt brand, Amstel Malta, is joining forces with Africa Magic to stage the first edition of the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA) as headline sponsor.
The event which had artistes like Jide Kosoko, Saheed Balogun, Chidi Mokeme, Funlola Awofiyebi, Uti Nwachukwu and Genevieve Nnaji in attendance was a glamorous cocktail party at the Porsche Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Mr. Tokunbo Adodo, NBL’s Marketing Manager – Non-alcoholic, said at the nominee unveiling ceremony, that the partnership was timely: “Amstel Malta is a brand that inspires individuals to be the best they possibly can at everything. What better opportunity to anchor that value than a gesture that is aimed at giving back to people who have indeed worked very hard in our very own continent.”
According to Adodo, the AMVCA is a platform for rewarding talent, which aligns with one of Amstel Malta’s core value of rewarding loyal consumers. “We constantly seek new ways to reward our loyal consumers. The AMVCA will not only reward talents, but also encourage the upcoming ones to strive to excel so they can be recognised and rewarded,” he added.
Speaking on the brand’s sponsorship of the event, Mrs. Adedoyin Owotomo, Brand Manager Amstel Malta, said: “At the core of the Amstel Malta brand is the conviction that everyone has what it takes to be the best. The brand therefore believes in providing platforms that not only give opportunities to young talented individuals but also inspiration. AMVCA is a platform that recognises and celebrates the best in the movie and TV industries; a platform of inspiration to encourage young talents in the industry to ensure they make smart choices that will show their originality and that they are unique and discerning individuals that deserve to be recognised and rewarded.
The Managing Director, M-Net Africa, Biola Alabi, said the partnership with Amstel Malta was commendable: “At M-Net, we look forward to walking this path with Nigerian Breweries and we believe that this marriage will go on for decades to come” she stated.
Some of the notable nominated Nigerian thespians include: Genevieve Nnaji, Funke Akindele, Osita Iheme and Kunle Bamtefa among others.


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JK Tyre franchise can be a great business option because the brand is one of the leading tyre manufacturers in India. In fact, the pioneer brand of radial tyre technology in India has widened its business in more than 100 countries as well. Having covered most of the Tier 1 cities in India, JK Tyre is now looking to expand through franchise mode in the tier 2, 3, and 4 cities of the country. Thus, despite more than 4000+ JK Tyre franchise / dealership outlets in India, there is scope for further growth and expansion. Keep reading this article to find out how to open JK Tyre franchise in India, investment costs, area requirements, and other necessary details.
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Save a pound, get one free
BRITAIN is on course to introduce a lavishly subsidised savings scheme where every pound put away is matched by a pound from the state.
The controversial plan is designed to help people - particularly those from poorer households - to build up significant savings.
The Treasury operated pilot projects in Hull, Cambridge, Cumbria, Manchester and east London between 2002 and 2004.
Despite numerous concerns about such a 'free money' scheme, the gateway project is to be 'taken forward' in Gordon Brown's Pre-Budget Report, a Treasury source told Financial Mail. The report is expected late next month or in early December.
The scheme is similar to a taxpayerfinanced plan in Ireland - described by Bank of Ireland chief economist Dan McLaughlin as 'probably the most generous fiscal incentive in the history of the world' - but could be even more of a giveaway.
Ireland's savings scheme involves the state contributing one euro for every four saved over a five-year term. This resulted in a staggering £10.7bn being built up in special savings accounts - equivalent to 10% of national income.
Ireland's savings scheme was originally designed to drain consumer spending out of the economy at a time of breakneck growth.
The country chose this option because it had been unable to put the brakes on the economy by raising interest rates as it had joined the euro. The Irish taxpayers' bill for the scheme eventually reached more than £400m a year.
The first of the five-year savings plans in Ireland ended in May and the last will finish next April. Billions of pounds are being disgorged into Ireland's economy as the schemes end.
McLaughlin said there were concerns over Irish inflation and soaring consumer spending as the extra money hit the economy, but added that it was 'hard to disentangle the effect of the scheme' from general economic buoyancy.
Land and property prices in Dublin are already being driven beyond the reach of many, but there are concerns that the economy could come to a shuddering halt when the flood of cash is exhausted.
A Treasury source confirmed that the UK would be studying the Irish experience closely for ways of avoiding 'deadweight costs' - giving people money for doing something that they would have done anyway.
For Britain, the equivalent cost to the taxpayer would be about £4bn, or about 1.3p on the basic rate of income tax.
Treasury Minister Ed Balls, who is taking a close interest in the scheme, said he was 'keen to learn' from the Irish experience.
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Despite overwhelmingly being approved by voters in November, recreational marijuana has been slow to garner support at the local level.
Since the bill was signed into law Feb. 22 and guidance was issued on legalized marijuana, towns around the area have been quick to adopt their own legislation all but banning the recreational smoking of marijuana despite voters supporting it by a 67% to 32% margin. All but three of the state’s 565 municipalities voted in favor of it at the polls.
“This is what happens when police goals conflict with policy implementation,” said Benjamin Dworkin, director of Rowan University’s Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship. “In the state it’s popular, but it comes down to where you live.”
Under the N.J. Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act, towns have until Aug. 21 — 180 days from the adoption of the state law — to create any local enforcement structure. Towns that do not act by then will be governed by the state’s law.
The legalization of marijuana is expected to generate $126 million in tax revenue for the state, according to a marijuana advocacy group.
MAYS LANDING — A Pleasantville woman pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in a 2018 cra…
For Ocean City, banning recreational marijuana use was a natural progression. The resort has banned alcohol sales since its inception as a Christian resort in the late 19th century.
“We don’t allow alcohol sales, we shouldn’t allow this,” Councilwoman Karen Bergman said after voting to ban recreational marijuana in the city.
In practice, cannabis enforcement for adults in the resort will be similar — anyone over the age of 21 coming to town with a six-pack of beer or a bag of weed for consumption at home is perfectly legal.
Unlike Ocean City, Atlantic City has embraced recreational pot and its financial benefits. The city, which has a medical dispensary on the Boardwalk and a planned second location, also expects to take advantage of a 2% tax the city can collect on sales of cannabis products.
“The state should consider the opportunities that may be created by new initiatives, including the legalization of recreational use marijuana, as potential sources of political and financial support for the efforts to restart and recover Atlantic City,” according to a state-issued report outlining the resort’s path to post COVID-19 pandemic recovery.
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP — State Police seized a large quantity of drugs and cash after a traffic …
Municipalities’ quick opposition to recreational marijuana could be rooted in some considering it a “gateway drug” and the stigma attached to it, political analysts said.
“It’s kind of unique. You don’t see too many illegal products that become legal,” said John Froonjian, executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. “I guess it’s the association with drug abuse and the decades-long war on drugs, going back all the way to the movie ‘Reefer Madness’ in the 1930s.”
Demographics also play a role in municipalities’ decisions to ban recreational marijuana, Dworkin said.
“Older populations have a traditionally negative view,” Dworkin said. “We have gone 50 years of messaging that marijuana is a bad thing. These are still very powerful messages that residents and politicians have.”
Froonjian said he sees a comparison to restrictive zoning towns do to prevent certain types of businesses, such as adult bookstores and strip clubs, on moral grounds.
WILDWOOD CREST — It looks increasingly unlikely that a legal pot shop will find a home in th…
“One difference is some of these adult bookstores and clubs are able to sue under the First Amendment,” Froonjian said. “This law gives these towns a window (of time to restrict cannabis businesses). So that makes it really different. … You may have to allow the adult bookstore, but not the legal dispensary.”
While some towns are against the use of recreational marijuana, many are keeping their options open to a medical or retail dispensary.
Northfield has said it would keep its options open.
“I look at Northfield as more of a retail opportunity,” said Councilman Paul Utts during a recent City Council workshop meeting.
He said the potential to generate tax revenue and create jobs is there as Tilton Road acts as a corridor to nearby shore towns.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — Adults can smoke marijuana in this state now recreationally, but that do…
He proposed storefronts for recreational marijuana only be permitted in a specific zone that runs near the Dunkin’ on Tilton Road and heads west to the Egg Harbor Township border.
Cultivating and manufacturing marijuana would not be permitted through the proposed ordinance.
“If the price point is correct, if it’s not overly taxed and cultivators can grow it at a price point that’s below the street, then you’ll deprive the street of that revenue,” he said. “Organized crime, which brings these drugs in … we’ll deprive that revenue and hopefully it’ll just be the recreational, legal version that gets taxed. It’s not that we’ll attract organized crime, it’s that we’re trying to defeat organized crime. If you tax it too much, and it’s more expensive than the street, then the street will continue to thrive.”
Middle Township has supported a proposal for a medical marijuana facility at the site of a former La Monica seafood processing plant. The Massachusetts company Insa plans to build a new facility at the site to grow and sell cannabis and cannabis-infused products to those with state-issued medical cards.
Depending on how things go, towns could change their minds, Froonjian and Dworkin said.
“We are in the very early stages,” Dworkin said. “I think that some will let it settle and then see what happens.”
Where does your town stand on legalized marijuana?
The city introduced and passed on first reading June 17 establishing permitted zones for certain cannabis-related businesses.
City Council on June 17 published a map on its website showing the proposed areas where specific types of licensed cannabis establishments would be permitted to operate. An ordinance has been introduced to change zoning to create the cannabis zones.
A public hearing and vote for adoption of the ordinance will take place 5:30 p.m. July 15 at the Municipal Complex, 500 Mill Rd.
ATLANTIC CITY — City Council voted on July 21 to restrict recreational marijuana sales from the Boardwalk.
Council's vote came despite protests from a union representative and employees from The Botanist, a medical marijuana dispensary at 1301 Boardwalk. "The rational behind this ordinance is that we are trying to bring the family atmosphere to the boardwalk," Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz said Thursday.
Borough Council voted on June 23 on an ordinance banning any cannabis-related businesses from operating in the borough.
Township Committee passed an ordinance on May 4 that would prohibit the operation of any cannabis businesses in the community.
Officials here voted May 12 on an ordinance banning any type of cannabis business in the municipality.
BASS RIVER TOWNSHIP
The Burlington County township adopted an ordinance on July 12 allowing the operation of "certain classes of cannabis businesses."
On Aug. 17, the City Council approved an ordinance that would provide control and regulations for the cannabis establishments in the city.
City Council voted May 5 to prohibit the operation of any class of cannabis businesses within its geographical boundaries.
The Borough Council in a March 8 agenda noted, “Marijuana legislation will need future discussion."
CAPE MAY CITY
City Council adopted an ordinance April 6 banning smoking of marijuana in public places. While on June 15, the council adopted an ordinance prohibiting the sale of marijuana in the city.
On July 12, city council approved an ordinance prohibiting any class of cannabis business from opening in the city.
Township Committee approved an ordinance on June 8 prohibiting any class of cannabis business in the town.
An ordinance prohibiting the operation of certain classes of cannabis businesses within its limits was introduced April 12.
EGG HARBOR CITY
City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Aug. 12 establishing six marketplace classes of licensed cannabis businesses.
The ordinance states that all classes other than retail will be permitted in the city's industrial use or purpose zones. The ordinance also stipulates that one retail cannabis establishment can be included on both Philadelphia Avenue and the White Horse Pike.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP
The township has adopted two ordinances that would clear the way for recreational cannabis businesses within its borders.
The township decided there could be a maximum of four cannabis retailers and four cannabis delivery businesses within its boundaries.
Cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers will pay a $10,000 application fee and $10,000 annually afterward. Cannabis delivery businesses will pay a $2,500 application fee and $2,500 annually afterward.
The township is allowing recreational cannabis businesses in the following four zones only — highway business, special highway development, light industrial and general commercial.
The city on July 7 adopted an ordinance prohibiting the operation of any class of cannabis business in the city limits.
Galloway’s Planning Board voted unanimously to recommended to the Township Council that any company wanting to cultivate, manufacture, wholesale, distribute or deliver cannabis would need to enter into a redevelopment agreement with the council, so the governing body would have more of a say on guidelines that needed to be met before the business was approved.
Previously, Township Council voted May 11 to prohibit smoking cannabis in township recreation areas.
The town is reviewing options and will have some legislation by the 180-day deadline, a town official has said.
Hamilton The Township Committee is expected to hold a public hearing and final vote Aug. 2 on an ordinance to permit cannabis establishments, distributors and delivery services anywhere in the township. A hearing and vote will also take place on an ordinance to impose a local cannabis transfer tax and user tax as revenue sources.
This spring, Columbia Care New Jersey, LLC, was also seeking planning board approval to build a state licensed medical marijuana dispensary with drive-thru window involving a currently vacant commercial property located at 4436 East Black Horse Pike, according a public notice.
No record of recent legislation, but at least as early as September 2019, town officials voiced opposition to locating a dispensary in town.
The town's governing body will vote to adopt two ordinances on May 13; one ordinance will prohibit the establishment of any recreational cannabis business in the township; another will medical cannabis dispensaries in its M-1 business zone.
City Council introduced an ordinance at their July 14 meeting that would prohibit the retail sale of all cannabis products within city borders.
The ordinance also would prohibit the use of marijuana anywhere in the city but an individual’s private residence.
A public hearing and final vote is set for Aug. 11.
LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP
No action taken. In minutes of the township’s senior advisory board, the township’s police chief spoke against it in 2019.
Borough commissioners were expected to approve an ordinance banning cannabis-related businesses at their June 2 meeting.
In a 5-0 vote on Tuesday July 6, the township became the first municipality in Cape May County to say yes to retail cannabis sales.
The approved zoning ordinance will allow one license in each of two zones; the retail area in the North Cape May section of the township and in the industrial zone near the Cape May Airport, although Cape May County officials have said the use will not be accepted on the airport property itself.
The City Commission voted June 17 on two cannabis-related ordinances. One banned all cannabis businesses from setting up shop here, and the other made it illegal to use cannabis products in public.
A representative of United Food and Commercial Union in Egg Harbor Township said the union called on the commission to reverse its actions, saying "cannabis creates good union jobs."
City officials said the ordinance bans all forms of cannabis for public use.
Middle Township has scheduled a public hearing and final vote on an ordinance that would preliminarily ban recreational cannabis establishments and distributors for 6 p.m. Aug. 2.
Mayor Tim Donohue said his administration felt most comfortable putting the idea of cannabis sales on “pause” until it receives further guidance from the state, including with regard to who receives what percentage of revenue generated by cannabis sales.
The township also is proposing to ban the smoking of marijuana in public areas.
“The time to act is now,” Donohue said.
The city's Planning Board will hold a public hearing June 7 seeking resident input on regulations for cannabis businesses.
For more information: The agenda will be published on the City of Millville website located at http://millvillenj.gov/310/planning prior to the meeting, as usual. Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone using the following URL or access phone number: From your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/645672285 Using your phone. United States: +1 (669) 224-3412 Access Code: 645-672-285 New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/645672285 The Board Secretary will be taking the names of those in attendance once callers enter the meeting.
Township Committee voted to introduce an ordinance prohibiting any cannabis-related businesses from opening in its boundaries. A public hearing and final vote will take place June 22.
City Council will hold a final vote May 18 on banning any type of recreational cannabis business in the city.
A public hearing and final vote to allow cannabis sales in the city is set for Aug. 10 after a divided council introduced it in June.
City Council has also introduced an ordinance that would ban sales.
Council President Tom Polistina said the two-side approach was intended as a safety net, in case the other ordinance falls through.
“We’re in the air right now,” he said. “If you don’t act, then you are tied in with whatever the state puts forth.”
That's a reference to local town's Aug. 21 deadline to either accept the state's legalization or to come up with their own laws and policy.
On April 8, the city adopted ordinances aimed at keeping out dispensaries.
City council adopted an ordinance banning vaping, and smoking of cannabis, marijuana and hashish on the boardwalk, in parks and in recreational areas following a public hearing May 27.
The city has previously approved a medical marijuana dispensary. No legislation regarding recreational marijuana has been brought up, according to a review of minutes.
The City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on final adoption on June 15 on an ordinance banning the operation of any cannabis-related business in the city limits. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 143 Main St.
SEA ISLE CITY
The city will vote May 11 to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the sale or operation of any recreational marijuana manufacturing, cultivation, processing, distribution or dispensaries as well as the delivery of cannabis. The vote also will include prohibiting the public consumption or smoking of cannabis in public.
A public hearing on an ordinance to amending zoning regulations to prohibit all manner of marijuana-related land use and development will be considered for final adoption following a public hearing 7 p.m. July 22 in City Council Chambers, 1 West New Jersey Ave.
The Township Committee will hold a public hearing and final vote May 11 on an ordinance prohibiting "the consumption of cannabis items."
A previous township law, established in 2020, prohibited the operation of marijuana retail establishments, marijuana cultivation facilities and marijuana product manufacturing facilities.
The borough voted May 4 to prohibit the sale of marijuana, as well as the operation of an marijuana-related business. Smoking and ingesting cannabis also will be prohibited.
The township on May 10 adopted an ordinance aimed at keeping out recreational marijuana dispensaries.
No information could be found regarding legislation. At a Jan 5, 2021, meeting, the board was asked for support for a marijuana growing operation application.
The City Commission on May 13 introduced two separate ordinances that would prohibit the creation of any cannabis-related businesses and the smoking of marijuana on public property.
On June 10,the city will hold a public hearing and final vote on both ordinances. The meeting will be held 5:30 pm, in Commission Chambers City Hall, 6201 Atlantic Ave.
The city's Zoning Board took the issue up at a recent meeting. It's unclear what action was taken.
WEST CAPE MAY
West Cape May voted in July in favor of allowing cannabis sales. The borough became the second municipality in Cape May County to do so, joining Lower Township, which approved its own ordinance July 6.
The borough adopted an ordinance May 7 prohibiting the operation of "all classes of cannabis businesses" within its borders.
Wildwood Crest will vote on May 12 on final adoption of an ordinance that would prohibit anyone under the age of 21 from consuming cannabis on private property.
The township adopted an ordinance following a public hearing on July 7 that prohibits the operation of any class of cannabis business in its jurisdiction.
Contact Nicholas Huba :


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McDonald’s Fiji has joined the Fijian Drua vuvale as a major sponsor for both the men and the women’s teams.
Signing the deal today at the Fijian Drua HQ in Nadi, Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans said the partnership is an integral one for the club given the charity work that McDonald’s is known for.
“This essentially means that the Ronald McDonald House will be the official charity for the Fijian Drua.”
McDonald’s Marc McElrath said it was an opportunity not to be missed to be linked with the Fijian Drua.
“This means a lot to us. We have been expanding little by little but with this partnership we will definitely be able to do more in the work that we do with the sick children and their parents who are accommodated at the Ronald McDonald House.”
“I just know that this will bring joy to the children and their parents. At CWM hospital we have a small section where there is a dining room and kitchen facilities where parents can rest.”
“In Labasa, it is abit more extensive, we have the Ronald McDonald House where there are 11 rooms that parents of sick children can rest and recuperate while looking after their kids.”
“For Lautoka, we are beginning a new project where we will have a hospitality cart that will make rounds around the ward with essential supplies like toothbrushes and toothpaste and other bits and pieces that will be beneficial for the children.”
The deal is for three years.


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The lifting of initial COVID-19 restrictions on retailers and restaurants brought activity back to downtown Grand Rapids, but officials still see persistent effects on the city’s core that stem from a reduction in downtown office workers. As officials with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) — which manages the Downtown Development Authority and the Monroe North Tax Increment Financing Authority — see steadily increasing activity, they remain focused on bolstering the downtown housing stock and development along the Grand River. DGRI President and CEO Tim Kelly recently discussed downtown retail trends and ways the organization is getting creative to maintain vibrancy.
Do you expect foot traffic to keep picking up downtown in 2022?
Foot traffic right now has definitely been picking up on the visitor side from where we were last year. September and October were our busiest months of the year, primarily driven by ArtPrize. November was higher than any other month aside from September and October. We have seen a steady increase in visitor traffic.
We’re working now with the city and the (Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority) to bring ice skating to Van Andel Arena, and World of Winter events will kick off in early January. Those are things that will continue to bring people here. What we’re focusing on in 2022 is finding creative ways to bring people downtown to let people know there is a lot to do here and a reason to come downtown.
Are you still seeing many downtown businesses with shortened hours, and do you think that will continue into 2022?
We are seeing less so now than we were in the summer. ArtPrize was a huge boon to a lot of businesses and a lot had their best days ever during ArtPrize. It helped them staff up, which was crucial for a lot of places and showed them there was still demand. (Shortened business hours) is certainly still a problem and staffing shortages are still an issue, but we’re in a better place than we were.
The expectation is also that people will continue to use offices, but we know a lot of businesses are still planning their return strategy. Staffing for sure is a huge obstacle as well as getting consistent foot traffic that stores and restaurants rely on.
What has the ratio been in downtown for business closures compared to how many new businesses have opened?
Since we’ve been tracking it around May 2020, we’ve had 53 businesses open and 34 close, so a net positive of business openings. That’s fairly typical to what we’d expect to see in pre-COVID times. There was a fear we’d have a massive wave of closures, but it hasn’t been as bad as many expected.
What is the biggest challenge facing downtown Grand Rapids going into the new year?
The biggest thing is related to housing. That’s a main focus of the city and also of ours: Having a dense population downtown helps support a lot of things for businesses. We expect to see announcements for more housing projects downtown. There are still demands for that and that’s something we expect to see.
What are you excited to see going into next year in downtown Grand Rapids?
The (Downtown Development Authority) just approved support for Gazelle Sports to come downtown. The past 12 to 18 months for us has been about thinking about downtown retail and creating a vibrant environment for people when they come downtown. Right now, Grand Rapids has a lot of pocket retail and doesn’t have a main retail corridor.
Getting Gazelle is a step in that direction. It is appealing for a number of reasons because they have their own regional name recognition and are very outwardly facing because they do their own events and are really interested in becoming part of the downtown.
What is an area where downtown Grand Rapids is lacking?
We continue to be hyper focused on the river. It is a unique asset and there are a lot of big projects and conversations going on. As those plans develop, we want to make sure that we’re still finding creative ways to activate the river and provide better access because we know it is a draw. That’s one of our biggest opportunities. Beyond that, we’re looking at some of the outdoor spaces and projects we have involving how to enhance public spaces. These were ideas heightened during COVID that forced us to think creatively about how we use outdoor spaces.