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Volga Baikal AGRO NEWS Update on the Development of the Russian Agricultural Sector !!!
Russia has got all the resources to obtain the status of a leading agrarian power.
Russia has all the resources to become a leading agrarian power, although so far its share in the world market for agricultural products is about 2%.
Nowadays, Russia is one of the four leaders in terms of arable land with more than 100 million hectares, or almost 10% of the global indicator. Also, Russia accounts for 20% of the world’s fresh water reserves, it is in second place after Brazil in terms of the volume of dynamic reserves of water resources. However, if we compare the current state of affairs in Russia with other leading countries in terms of arable land, it turns out that the cost of agricultural products produced in China is almost $ 1 trillion, in India – $ 400 billion, in the United States – $ 340 billion, whereas Russia – about $ 85 billion. One of the reasons for the low volumes is that Russia is located north of the listed countries, but Canada is located at a similar latitude with 38.9 million hectares of arable land.
The next question is the cost of exported goods. So, now Russia exports agricultural products for about $ 30 billion a year, while the United States – for $ 150 billion. According to him, the average cost of one kilogram of products supplied to foreign markets from Russia is $ 0.38, and from the USA – $ 0. 65. This indicator is extremely important, since the higher it is, the more value added in goods and less logistics costs relative to the value of the goods. At the same time, a kilogram of agricultural products from the Netherlands, Brazil and China costs at least $ 1. “For now, products without deeper processing prevail in our export balance,” – said D.Aveltsov. He also said that in the whole world for the year, the average price of one ton of exported commodities rose from $ 228 to $ 385, that is, global prices increased by 60%.
Dmitry Aveltsov, Acting Director of the Center for Agroanalytics
We have a good supply of crop production and processing. And we have a stock at world prices, which are now growing and are favorable for agricultural products. There is now a global window of opportunity that needs to be exploited.
Speaking about the theses for the strategy of representing the interests of Russia at the upcoming UN Summit, the meeting participants noted the problem that a traditionally limited group of countries forms the main agenda, which sounds nice, but is often far from real problems on a global scale: people are still starving, resources are available not for all. And this situation is well reflected in the figures: in Europe, a person consumes an average of 83 kg of meat per year, in Russia – 76 kg, and on average around the world – 43 kg, the head of thecited data Sergey Yushin.
Now a number of manufacturers from developed countries are actively lobbying for allegedly cleaner production, for example, with a minimum use of antibiotics and a decrease in carbon footprint. However, this will lead to a significant increase in the cost of agricultural products, and any unreasonable environmental restrictions are additional costs. According to the general director of the National Union of Poultry Breeders Sergei Lakhtyukhov, it is possible to produce products without antibiotics, but whether consumers are ready to pay several thousand rubles per kilogram of such a bird is a big question. “When they talk about the carbon footprint, comparing the indicators of the EU and Russia, the question arises: what problems does Russia have with this? Does Russia have such an agenda as a carbon footprint? She’s not there, but we are playing it,” -Yushin said.
In general, according to the participants in the meeting, the agenda promoted by the UN on food programs is often far from Russian realities, but manufacturers of agricultural products have to participate in it in order to be part of the world community now and in the future. For example, Lakhtyukhov said that the UN FAO proposes a set of measures to stimulate the abandonment of animal protein in favor of plant protein. Such proposals are unlikely to be relevant in Russia, – experts say.
Now, according to Lakhtyukhov, the Russian agro-industrial complex is developing not so much in an extensive way, so much through an increase in efficiency. It is necessary to introduce advanced genetics, animal health control and technologies that would reduce the overall need for land resources, – he said. However, only highly profitable agriculture can think about something “high”. But how to achieve sustainable profitability, if the very policy of the state contradicts these objectives, Yushin argues. “With what money to perform feats?” He asks.
Despite disagreements with world politics, Russia cannot go against it, since the work of our agro-industrial complex is now aimed at export, said the general director of theYuri Kovalev. “It is very important not to run ahead of the locomotive and not go against it,” he stressed. At the same time, Russia needs innovative technologies in all sectors, and this requires money, therefore, it needs to be present on export markets.
At the same time, revenues fell by 10% compared to 2013, and costs increased by 18%, – compared Artem Belov, director general of the“ . “Profitability in business is falling, but the state wants everything at once. We ourselves make ourselves uncompetitive <…> when we introduce export restrictions, and we can become a general’s widow who whipped herself in order to live worse. By our actions, we also create instability in the global market, which undermines confidence in us, ”he added. At the same time, according to Belov, it is still worth thinking about the carbon footprint so as not to end up in the same position as the Russian fuel and energy complex with a carbon tax in the EU.
“We say that our agenda does not correspond to the world one, but how are we going to dictate our agenda? After all, this is ensuring the presence of our food and business in foreign markets,” – asked Dmitry Krasnov, head of the Agroexport center subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture. According to him, it is precisely entering foreign markets that often solves the issue of financing agro-industrial complex projects: without an international stable program and sales markets, it will not exist.
“In foreign markets, the rules of the game are set by companies that develop standards that are different for each country, – saidKonstantin Korneev,executive director of However, they need to be streamlined, and Russia, as an international player, should take part in their formation. In addition, he drew attention to how our country treats domestic products: every day there are news about the high content of antibiotics, growth hormones in meat and mice in sausage. In his opinion:
It is worth starting to respect your agricultural products and promoting this position!


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NYK Line (North America) announced the promotion of Peter Keller to president and corporate officer on the Japanese carrier's board, effective April 1.
Keller is currently executive vice president and chief operating officer of NYK Line (North America).
"Mr. Keller's appointment to the NYK Board signals the evolution of NYK from a traditional Japanese shipping company towards a global integrated logistics group", said Saburo "Sam" Yamagata, chairman of NYK Line (North America), president and chief executive of NYK Group Americas Inc., and chairman of NYK Logistics (Americas), Inc..
Keller's promotion was one of a number of management changes announced Friday.
Yamagata will take over as chairman of Crystal Cruises Inc. and relocate to Los Angeles.
Replacing Yamagata in all capacities will be Tetsuichi "Tony" Nozaki, currently managing director of NYK Line (Hong Kong). He will relocate to New Jersey.
Kenji Mizushima, president and chief executive of NYK Line (North America) will return to Japan as general manager of the container trade management group and has been appointed a corporate officer.
Other personnel changes, also effective April 1, include:
Yasushi Orito is being promoted from general manager of strategic marketing and trade management to executive vice president of NYK Line (North America).
Yukihiro Tatara, executive vice president of the western area, will be assigned as general manager of the management coordination group in Tokyo.
Kiyoshi "Karl" Sato, currently president of NYK Line (Canada) and vice president of Japan sales in North America, will relocate to Japan with Tokyo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd. (TSK Line).
Kazumi Komazaki will succeed Sato as vice president of Japan sales and president of NYK Line (Canada).

domain: news


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If you’re an old-fashioned romantic, there’s no better time to express your love for that special someone than Valentine’s Day. Some Romeos go beyond the traditional chocolates and roses and offer their Juliets an engagement ring. But even if you don’t pop the question on February 14, all the work involved in planning a wedding can take away from the high of getting hitched. Researchers at Rakuten, though, are taking some of the pain out of the process with a platform that allows users virtual previews of possible venues for the big day.
The Virtual Wedding System takes users on an immersive visit to a wedding venue with high-definition, 360-degree photos of what it looks like inside and outside. It can save couples the time and effort involved with visiting multiple wedding venues, which are often being used and not available for visitors. Users put on an Oculus Rift head-mounted display (HMD) to see the images and can then “navigate” through the virtual environment with a standard game controller.
In one example, 134 high-resolution omnidirectional images were taken using a Ricoh Theta camera at a wedding hall in Saitama Prefecture north of Tokyo. Users can explore the facility’s courtyard and swimming pool, entrance hallway, dining room, grand staircase and table of honor by following glowing green arrows that seem to float on the 360-degree imagery. If you’ve never tried the latest wave of virtual reality (VR) gear including Oculus Rift, it’s like Google Street view for your eyes. You may soon forget your real surroundings as your brain accepts the wraparound imagery, and you’ll feel like you really are descending a grand staircase into an elegant banquet room.
“Photographing this venue only took a few hours, but it would have taken at least three months to recreate it as a 3D computer model,” says Naoki Chiba, a computer vision researcher at the Rakuten Institute of Technology who has been working on virtual reality for about 10 years. Chiba developed software to merge the images into a seamless virtual experience, a process that only takes about a day.
Chiba previously used the platform to capture two famous religious sanctuaries in Nagano Prefecture: the Buddhist temple of Zenkoji and the Shinto shrine of Togakushi. Rakuten introduced the virtual travel experiences to the public in 2014, with another event the following year featuring the scenic garden of Kenroku-en in Ishikawa Prefecture. People who can’t easily travel due to age or infirmity expressed particular appreciation for the experience.
“The camera system for Google Street View would cost around 2 million yen, but the Ricoh Theta is only about 40,000 yen,” Chiba notes. “One of the reasons we’re having a VR boom is that the cost of components for the display and sensors in the HMD, as well as the capturing device itself, is much lower than in the past.”
The Virtual Wedding System is being provided by Rakuten Wedding, a wedding search and planning site, and will be shown off at bridal fairs this year. With the consumer launch of the Oculus VR’s Rift HMD this spring, Chiba believes that 2016 will be a banner year for VR with big potential for applications.
“This is a new type of media for Rakuten services that could be used by merchants, hotel owners and wedding venue owners to generate their own immersive content,” he says. “Instead of designing webpages using photos and text, in the future we may want to design a virtual reality system highlighting the unique features of each venue.”
*Photograph courtesy of TAKE AND GIVE. NEEDS Co., Ltd.


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Oreos are about to get a whole lot more romantic.
The classic cookie is getting a Valentine's Day twist, debuting with a limited edition red velvet flavor in February.
The red velvet Oreo is the first time that brand has released a new flavor and color since the golden Oreo debuted in 2009. It has a cream cheese-flavored cream center, too.
Mashable employees sampled the new cookies, and the reviews were mixed. Most felt red velvet was the best of the speciality flavors (like cookie dough and marshmallow), but could still not live up to the original.
Several also reported a "fruity aftertaste" and described the filling as creamier than the typical cookie frosting (we don't have a problem with that). One particularly astute food critic on staff said the cookies were "like eating Dunkaroos."
At least we've moved on from the watermelon Oreo flavor, also known as the day dessert died.
Red velvet Oreos hit store shelves on Feb. 2 in the United States. Boxes will still cost $4.49, but the package will contain four fewer cookies than a box of original Oreos. They will be available for six to eight weeks.


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BERLIN – After 17 years in Berlin, Apple Discount Drugs will close next week.
Apple Discount Drugs on Franklin Avenue in Berlin will close its doors Sept. 22. Owner Jeff Sherr said Rite Aid would be purchasing the store’s files and inventory.
“It hurts me because our job is to take care of the community,” Sherr said. “It’s just a move that has to be made.”
Apple Discount Drugs, which opened in Berlin in 2003, has faced a number of hurdles in recent years that led to its closure, according to Sherr. The store lost business a few years ago when Worcester County signed an agreement with CVS Caremark, making it less convenient for employees to go to independent pharmacies like Apple.
Though the situation has since been remedied, Sherr said the damage had been done. On top of that, in the fall of 2018 there was a fire at the Berlin store. The fire, caused by an electrical issue with the store’s sign, damaged primarily the top of the building but repairs kept the store from fully functioning for months.
“It took until May of 2019 to get us back together,” Sherr said. “It hurt our business.”
The arrival of 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated Apple’s troubles. Sherr said when Rite Aid approached, interested in files and inventory but not the brick and mortar building, Apple Drugs took advantage of the opportunity.
“It’s strictly a business decision,” he said. “The sad part is when you’re a locally owned pharmacy, your heart and soul is in it. We go out of our way for people. When you deal with chains, it’s just a job.”
Sherr says independent pharmacies are closing throughout the country as the prevalence of pharmacy benefit managers grows and drug costs are mandated by insurance companies.
“The busyness of a store doesn’t necessarily correlate with the profitability of a store…,” he said. “The idea is, you take care of the customer and you make a profit. The insurance companies are negating that.”
Sherr said Rite Aid would be reaching out to those who had prescriptions filled at Apple in Berlin to share the news of the agreement. Sherr said some of the Apple staff in Berlin would be moving to Rite Aid while others would take positions at Apple Discount Drugs in Fruitland.
Sherr said Apple Discount Drug’s lease on the building didn’t expire until 2022 but he expects the landlord to try to rent the location in the meantime.


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It’s only being a day Mozilla launched its new Firefox version, the version 16th, the company confirmed security hole in browser which will lead to have malicious site determining which websites users have visited by accession URL parameters. There are no words or indication that this vulnerability is currently being exploited in the wild or not. But, as taking the things to precautionary measures, users can downgrade to version 15.0.1 although the company planning to release a patch today with which users will be automatically upgraded when the latest version is made available. We will keep an eye on this and will inform as soon as company updates.
Update: Mozilla has now released a patch for Android and can be downloaded from Google Play Store.


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Whales moved practically $1.74 billion price of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) throughout 14 transactions within the wake of the crypto market’s sizeable correction over the weekend.
Within the largest transaction, an unknown pockets sent 15,073.45 BTC price a whopping $737.4 million to a second unknown pockets on Sunday, in line with the crypto tracker Whale Alert.
— Whale Alert (@whale_alert) December 5, 2021
The Bitcoin was then moved seven extra instances earlier than it reached its remaining vacation spot. That eighth and remaining receiving pockets is at present the 51st richest Bitcoin tackle on this planet, in line with BitInfoCharts.
In one other giant transaction, a deep-pocketed crypto investor shifted 10,000 BTC price over $482 million from international crypto trade Binance to a pockets of unknown origin.
— Whale Alert (@whale_alert) December 6, 2021
Different giant Bitcoin transactions within the final 48 hours contain the relocation of BTC between a crypto trade and wallets of unknown origin. One switch moved Bitcoin from an unknown pockets to a crypto custodial agency.
Right here’s the abstract of the BTC actions that occurred on Sunday and Monday:
Ethereum whales have additionally come to life because the crypto markets reel from the pullback. During the last two days, eight transactions account for the shifting of tens of 1000’s of ETH from crypto exchanges to unknown wallets. One switch noticed Ethereum transfer from a pockets of unknown origin to a crypto trade.
Right here’s a fast rundown of the most important ETH transactions prior to now two days:
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Every day Hodl aren’t funding recommendation. Traders ought to do their due diligence earlier than making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital belongings. Please be suggested that your transfers and trades are at your personal danger, and any loses it’s possible you’ll incur are your duty. The Every day Hodl doesn’t suggest the shopping for or promoting of any cryptocurrencies or digital belongings, neither is The Every day Hodl an funding advisor. Please notice that The Every day Hodl participates in internet affiliate marketing.
Featured Picture: Shutterstock/DEYASA_346/PremiumArt


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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced this week that they have taken action against two large debt buyers for deceptive practices against consumers. Encore Capital Group and Portfolio Recovery Associates allegedly pressured consumers to pay unsubstantiated or out-of-date debts with false statements and churned out lawsuits using robo-signed court documents. The two companies must now refund consumers $61 million and pay penalties of $18 million. Encore Capital was found to have harassed consumers with repeated or continuous calls with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass them into paying.
“Encore and Portfolio Recovery Associates threatened and deceived consumers to collect on debts they should have known were inaccurate or had other problems,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Now, the two biggest debt buyers in the market must refund millions and overhaul their practices. We will continue to take action to protect consumers from illegal and obnoxious debt collection practices.”
Unfortunately, these actions are all too common among debt buyers. If you’ve been the victim of harassing robo calls or deceptive practices from debt collectors, we offer a free consultation to seek legal help.


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Full profile →'">
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
United States economic growth in 2016 will look a lot like the last few years, but with a different texture. Housing will be stronger and eventually business spending will grow, but foreign trade will prevent too much economic expansion.
Consumer spending will follow the overall economy in 2016, not lead it. Consumers have been increasing their expenditures by just under four percent per year, right in line with disposable income. Borrowing is growing just a hair faster (aside from student loans). If the economy were to surge forward next year, consumers would follow along. If the economy were to slow, consumers would follow along. But they will not lead the overall economy anywhere in 2016.
Housing is very likely to expand in the next two years. Vacancy is dropping for both traditional houses and multi-family units. Population growth is increasing so the demographic-driven demand justifies ten percent gains for two years or more. However, rising mortgage rates will limit housing construction in the second half of 2017.
Non-residential construction will grow slowly. Vacancy rates are declining across most commercial categories, but at too slow a pace to justify new investments in many parts of the country. Public sector construction will be little better than flat.
Business investment in equipment and software is likely to expand—but I thought that a year ago. Corporate executives lack optimism about future unit demand. Their current spending emphasizes cost-cutting, as in automation of labor-intensive tasks. Full blown capacity expansion will be needed given the overall growth of the economy. Companies have been increasing their inventories relative to sales levels, which is scary. Better technology for managing inventories should drive inventory-sales ratios down, not up as we have seen in the last few years.
Business To-do List for 2016: if you carry inventories, review your target levels and actual levels. Make sure that complacency has not led you to bloat your stocks of finished goods and work in process.
Government spending will be weak. Federal purchases of goods and services from the private sector will be stagnant, though state and local governments will expand at a modest pace, just under three percent plus inflation.
The federal deficit will continue to shrink as the growing economy drives revenue up but gridlock prevents spending increases. This good news is temporary, though, as the baby boomers’ use of Medicare will trigger skyrocketing deficits in the five-to-ten year horizon.


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Hackers attempted to hold Netflix ransom by threatening to release episodes of the new season of Orange Is the New Black on the Piratebay before they are available on the service. Netflix decided to ignore the threats, and the videos were leaked.
Although the hack offers a reminder that even the best security can be undone by the so-called “weakest link”—Netflix can’t do much if a vendor is compromised—it provides a bigger lesson in how the internet has largely shifted away from torrenting. If a show lands on The Pirate Bay and nobody watches, did it really stream?
Consider that in 2011, BitTorrent accounted for 23 percent of daily internet traffic in North America, according to network-equipment company Sandvine. By last year, that number sat at under 5 percent. “There’s always going to be the floor of people that are always going to be torrenting,” says Sandvine spokesperson Dan Deeth. That group will surely enjoy whatever Piper’s up to in season five. But the idea that so small a cohort might prompt Netflix to negotiate with hackers seems absurd.
Netflix is an absolutely terrific example that the way the combat piracy is extremely simple. Offer a better experience and people will be happy to pay handsomly. In 2011, BitTorrent was often the only way to watch high quality content such as HBO without paying for a full cable subscription and some form of premium package which included HBO.
BitTorrent is useful, and is certainly user friendly in comparison to previous peer to peer options, but it is much more laborious than simply logging on a website. By 2014, BitTorrent was already losing popularity to those illegal streaming sites which basically offered that experience, in exchange for a lot of adware and antagonizing ads. While I can't find the article now, I remember one particular scenario where a bar was using an illegal streaming service to broadcast the game during an event sponsored by the RIAA. Quite simply, the best experience to watch most sports live back then was through those sites.
Netflix didn't bother trying to deal with people pirating their content. In fact, they rolled out profiles which actually improved the user experience for all the millions of people sharing Netflix accounts between households. Netflix has always held strong that they provide the best possible experience to watch high quality content, constantly working to iron out any possible frustrations for the end user. As a result, Netflix is now arguably in the strongest position of any media network moving forward.
This has played out identically in the music industry with Spotify/Apple Music.


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After protracted regulatory scrutiny, final hurdle removed for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision after UK grants approval
The UK competition regulator has signed off on Microsoft’s bid in January 2022 to buy Activision Blizzard for $69 billion (£56bn).
The UK approval came after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on Friday that Microsoft’s major concession to not include cloud gaming rights in the deal, had addressed its concerns, and thus the deal was approved.
The UK had been the last remaining regulatory obstacle for Microsoft’s ambition to close the acquisition. The UK approval came as no surprise, after the CMA indicated last month that the restructured Microsoft/Activision deal had addressed its previous concerns surrounding cloud gaming.
Microsoft’s concession came when the tech giant pledged it would not acquire cloud rights for existing Activision PC and console games, or for new games released by Activision during the next 15 years.
Instead, these rights would be divested to Ubisoft Entertainment SA (Ubisoft) prior to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision.
As a result of this concession, the CMA agreed to look afresh at the deal and launched a new investigation in August. That investigation was completed on Friday, with the CMA clearing this narrower transaction.
“The CMA is resolute in its determination to prevent mergers that harm competition and deliver bad outcomes for consumers and businesses,” said Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA. “We take our decisions free from political influence and we won’t be swayed by corporate lobbying.”Read also : UK’s CMA Wins Appeal To Investigate Apple
“We delivered a clear message to Microsoft that the deal would be blocked unless they comprehensively addressed our concerns and stuck to our guns on that,” said Cardell.
“With the sale of Activision’s cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft, we’ve made sure Microsoft can’t have a stranglehold over this important and rapidly developing market,” said Cardell. “As cloud gaming grows, this intervention will ensure people get more competitive prices, better services and more choice. We are the only competition agency globally to have delivered this outcome.”
And Cardell took the opportunity to issue a rebuke to Microsoft over its response, when the CMA in April officially blocked the acquisition, citing potential harm to the nascent market for cloud gaming.
That April decision had prompted an angry war of words between Microsoft and the British regulator, after Microsoft President Brad Smith said the CMA move was “bad for Britain” and marked Microsoft’s “darkest day” in its four decades of working in the UK.”
“There’s a clear message here – the European Union is a more attractive place to start a business than the United Kingdom,” Smith was quoted as saying at the time.
Microsoft’s Smith even met with the UK’s Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in London for talks over the matter.
The CMA chief executive was also forced to defend the April veto on the deal before Parliament, after Brad Smith’s comments.
So it perhaps no surprise that Cardell on Friday directly called out Microsoft’s behaviour over the matter.
“But businesses and their advisors should be in no doubt that the tactics employed by Microsoft are no way to engage with the CMA,” Cardell said on Friday.
“Microsoft had the chance to restructure during our initial investigation but instead continued to insist on a package of measures that we told them simply wouldn’t work,” Cardell said. “Dragging out proceedings in this way only wastes time and money.”
Microsoft’s Brad Smith struck a much more conciliatory tone when he responded the CMA announcement.
“We’re grateful for the CMA’s thorough review and decision today,” he tweeted. “We have now crossed the final regulatory hurdle to close this acquisition, which we believe will benefit players and the gaming industry worldwide.”
We’re grateful for the CMA’s thorough review and decision today. We have now crossed the final regulatory hurdle to close this acquisition, which we believe will benefit players and the gaming industry worldwide.
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) October 13, 2023


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Designer News is where the design community meets.
almost 7 years ago from Karen Remsen, Senior Freelance Designer
Most definitely. Sounds like a cracking idea. Surrounding yourself with more experienced designers is the best way to improve.
Where the design community meets.
Designer News is a large, global community of people working or interested in design and technology.
© 2023 Designer News Ltd.


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Sprint is celebrating the opening of its Sprint 5G Experience, a dedicated immersive center designed to showcase and explain how 5G works and to help change the way people live, work and play.
The company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its headquarters to unveil the space ahead of its 5G commercial service launch expected to begin in Kansas City and other markets in May.
Steve Gaffney, Sprint vice president of media and experiential marketing said, “With Sprint 5G coming soon in our first nine markets, this dedicated venue will provide unique and interactive ways to tell the story of 5G and help visitors visualize the types of innovations it will bring.”
The Sprint 5G Experience features more than a dozen stations and demonstrations that use augmented reality, virtual reality and simulated displays. The journey takes visitors through the foundation for 5G from spectrum to a fiber-optics network and from Massive MIMO technology to real-world demonstrations of 5G’s lower latency.
Dr. John Saw, chief technology officer, Sprint said, “As we prepare to launch Sprint 5G with so many companies in our ecosystem, we are proud to be working with them to showcase what is possible with our next-generation technology in our new 5G Experience.”
Sprint expects to launch its commercial 5G service starting in May. Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City are among the first of its nine 5G markets. Also slated to launch in the first half of 2019 are Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and Washington D.C. Its total initial 5G footprint is expected to cover more than 1,000 square miles across all nine cities giving true mobility to on-the-go customers.


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Today, Motorola has officially announced the Moto E, a low budget dual-SIM Android smartphone. Motorola after launching the Mote X and Mote E is now seems to be interested in the emerging smartphone markets to compete with the manufacturers like Nokia by introducing its low end android budget smartphones. Motorola has already confirmed that Moto G was its best selling android phone, and most of the units were sold in Brazil.
Mote E packs with a 4.3-inch display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. Moto E has round rear camera of 5-megapixel and it does not have front camera, 4GB of internal storage, with a microSD card slot to expand the storage up to 32GB. It comes in multi-color shell options including Black, Lemon, and Turquoise, letting users to customize and change its look according to their taste and flavor!!
Moto E was unveil today in India with a price tag of Rs. 6,999, which is around $129 in the international market. Surprisingly, it is cheaper than Moto G which was released last year. Moto E is perfect smartphone with reasonable hardware and software specs at a very cheap price.
Moto E like Mote G runs the latest Android OS which is Android 4.4.2 KitKat and shall receive firmware upgrades in the future. The 1,980mAh battery is good enough which can last for at least 24 hours.
Summing all its specs with respect to its price, Mote E is an awesome smartphone for those who are looking for an Android smartphone with all the necessary software and hardware specs at a good price. However, phone does not have flash or front camera which might be not a good news for its successors. Mote E will be soon made available in the worldwide. Currently Mote E is available for Pre-order on the official website for $129 in Black and White colors and you can easily buy/order one for yourself if you’re an US resident.
Update: Rooting method for the Moto E has been released. You can root your phone here.
You can share your views and experience about this new android smartphone in the comment section below. For Android Tips, News Updates and keep visiting.


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Should Interest Rates Interest Tech Investors?
In July this year, it emerged that food delivery company Deliveroo was in advanced talks with the likes of Softbank Vision, Apple and possibly Sharp with the view of raising a next round of funding that could take the value of the business to over $1.5bn. That would put Deliveroo firmly in the mythical unicorn camp of those newly minted tech companies that have grown to be worth more than $1bn.
More recently, shareholders in the Golden Triangle based chipmaker Imagination Technologies approved a £550M takeover by Canyon Bridge, a Chinese backed private equity firm. The valuation is interesting as Imagination was a rock solid rising start well on its way to unicorn status – until Apple announced that it would not longer use its chipsets. What Canyon Bridge has realised is that the Intellectual Property and expertise within Imagination can be exploited in any number of ways – and they may believe that Apple will come back to them by one route or another anyway.
What these two examples shows is that at the exit side of the pathway, there are no signs of activity slowing down – but what about at the start, where early stage investors are active?
A recent study by equity analysts Beauhurst, quoted in The Times, reveals that equity investment across the UK has recovered from the slowdown seen in 2016. Further, figures for Q3 17 show that activity was actually the highest recorded since figures started to be collected in 2011. A total of 397 deals were completed in the 3 months, a quarter on quarter growth of 12%.
Further, it’s not just early stage investment as growth stage deals also expanded, with deals worth more than £10M almost doubling.
What all these figures show is that against a background of concern over the wider economy and low interest rates, the opportunities offered by high growth companies are perhaps being brought into even sharper relief. As ever, a lot of capital is chasing a return. Early stage investors can take advantage of this appetite but picking enough likely winners remains key.
It is said that innovation never goes out of fashion – it’s just that not every new design makes it off the catwalk.
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Northampton-based Ricoh UK has made the shortlist of Business in the Community’s annual Responsible Business Awards in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the community.
The global IT firm impressed judges with its range of initiatives and was shortlisted in the Jaguar Land Rover Inspiring Young Talent Award and the Sustainable Products and Services Award.
The accolades are the UK’s longest running and most robust responsible business awards programme.
They aim to celebrate companies which take action to address social and environmental issues and transform their communities.
Liz Needleman, from Business in the Community, said: “The shortlist highlights Ricoh for playing its part in creating a fairer society and a more sustainable future.
“It’s never been more important for businesses to demonstrate the tremendous economic value, environmental and social impact they make across communities.”
Following the release of the shortlist, Ricoh may be recognised at the East Midlands Responsible Business Gala Dinner at Athena, Leicester on June 25.
The overall winners will then be announced in London at Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Annual Gala Dinner in July this year.


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SYDNEY, Aug 19 (Reuters) – Australian nickel refiner Queensland Nickel has yet to fill its laterite ore quota from New Caledonian suppliers and was eager to increase volume as the South Pacific (Hamburg: AJ4.HM – news) country faces pressure to lift a ban on exports to China.
China’s stainless steel mills typically use nickel pig iron, a cheaper substitute for nickel, made from laterite ore, in the manufacturing process. But since Indonesia banned ore exports in January 2014, producers’ stores have dried up.
New Caledonia has ruled out exports of nickel laterites to China, citing longstanding supply agreements in Australia, prompting protests from local mining service workers who want to see the China market opened to encourage the development of more mines.
“Queensland Nickel reconfirms its commitment to New (KOSDAQ: 160550.KQ – news) Caledonia after spending more than A$ 1 billion ($ 734 million)in recent years growing the economy of the Pacific archipelago, and is happy to take increased volumes of its laterite ore,” refinery owner Clive Palmer said in an email to Reuters.
Palmer also said his refinery had confirmed to nickel miner Societe Le Nickel in New Caledonia that it was “ready and willing” to extend its contract for five years.
Palmer did not comment on reports in New Caledonia that Queensland Nickel might dig its own mines in Australia. Queensland Nickel holds mining rights on known deposits in Australia. ($ 1 = 1.3622 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Jim Regan, Cecile Lefort; Editing by Michael Perry)


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PALMA City Council is looking at how control can be tightened on vans and lorries loading and unloading merchandise in authorised areas in Palma a spokesman confirmed yesterday.
Technical reports, he said, will also look at how disturbances to the public as a result of such activity can be minimised.
The investigation forms part of the wider European Sugar project which is involving other major cities in its research such as Barcelona, Paris and London.
Palma City Council has apparently made an evaluation of the main nuisance factors that are caused by the poor positioning of authorised loading and unloading areas, their restrictive size and the undisciplined manner in which they are used.
Technicians are also documenting the fact, said the spokesman, that there are other major nuisance factors for people living in Palma such as the noise that is produced by heavy goods vehicles, the danger they represent to pedestrians and the fact that frequently they take up more space than is allocated in designated parking areas.
Solutions that the City Council is proposing include providing better information on the movement of goods vehicles to planning departments so that they are aware of transportation requirements and realities.


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New Zealand's first Taco Bell is set to open soon as Restaurant Brands has started the recruitment process, advertising for Auckland staff to start in mid-September.
The NZX-listed fast-food operator, which owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Carl's Jr restaurant chains in New Zealand and 36 Taco Bell stores in Hawaii and Guam, is seeking assistant managers for the long-awaited New Lynn store.
The restaurant will replace the space left behind the failed franchise Wagamama in the New Lynn Mall.
The now-departed chairman of Restaurant Brands confirmed to the Herald in July that New Zealand would get a Taco Bell store in New Lynn and a range of alcohol would be on the Mexican brand's menus.
Restaurant Brands have applied for a liquor licence for the store, which will cover Monday to Friday, 8am-1am.
Restaurants Brands plans to have two Taco Bell stores open in Auckland, and two in Sydney, this year. The remaining 50-odd will be rolled out across both countries by 2024.
Restaurant Brands group chief executive Russel Creedy gave a little update on the launch of Taco Bell in New Zealand earlier this year.
"Our newest brand Taco Bell presents an exciting opportunity which we are eager to get under way in New Zealand and Australia," he told shareholders.
"Our plans are already progressing with the first stores expected to open during the 2019 calendar year."
Creedy said the launch of Taco Bell in New Zealand and Australia was not expected to have a material effect on the group's FY20 earnings.
Restaurant Brands announced in April that it would not pay a final dividend after lifting annual earnings 3.3 per cent in the 2019 financial year.
It said that it wanted to retain cash for a capital spending programme that included the roll-out of 60 Taco Bell stores across Australasia.
As of February, Restaurant Brands had 283 stores across all brands, made up of 142 stores in New Zealand, 64 in Australia and 80 in Hawaii.
During the year the company refurbished 16 KFC stores and introduced self-serving kiosks. It also transitioned the New Zealand Pizza Hut business to a master franchise model with the sale of individual stores to franchisees.
Ted an Arkel retired as company chair at the end of the meeting. Jose Pares has been appointed as the new chairman.


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Moss Physical Release Officially Announced by Polyarc and Perp Games; Coming Next Month
After being leaked by Amazon yesterday, Polyarc and Perp Games have confirmed that Moss will be releasing physically on PS4 next month.
Yesterday, a physical release of PlayStation VR platformer Moss was leaked on Amazon, release date and all. Today, developer Polyarc and publisher Perp Games confirmed that they will be releasing a physical version of the critically acclaimed PlayStation VR title next month.
According to its developers, the physical version of the game will be available at most major retailers, and can already be pre-ordered online via sites like Amazon. The game will be available physically on June 12, and will cost players $29.99. There does not seem to be anything extra included with this retail release, but it should still please those who prefer to collect games physically all the same.
Tam Armstrong, CEO and Co-Founder of Polyarc, commented on why the developers decided to release Moss physically:
“Our goal when creating Moss was to build a special, unique world people could transport themselves to and really experience the magic of VR. Launching Moss as a digital-only game was a great way to introduce Quill to players around the world. And now, with the release of the Moss disc, we’re excited to share with even more players who prefer a physical copy of the game.”
Meanwhile, Rob Edwards, Managing Director of publisher Perp Games, discussed working with Polyarc on the physical release of the game:
“Like the rest of the world, we fell in love with Quill when we first met her during E3 last year. Polyarc combined incredible storytelling techniques with extensive development skills, and the result was outstanding. Moss is quite simply breathtaking, and it is an honor to work with Polyarc on the physical boxed release.”
You can check out a new trailer for this physical release below. Moss is currently available on PS4 (for PlayStation VR) digitally, but will be available physically on June 12.


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February 16, 2022
February 16, 2022
Contributor: Sarah Hippold
To avoid, absorb, and recover from the disruptions caused by geopolitical conflict, supply chain leaders must gain visibility into all tiers of their network, especially tier-1 suppliers.
As tensions along the Russian and Ukrainian border continue, concerns about severe interruptions to globally integrated supply chains are rising. Koray Köse, Senior Director Analyst, and Sam New, Senior Principal Analyst, both with the Gartner Supply Chain practice, weigh in on the most pressing questions around the geopolitical conflict in Ukraine and its effect on global supply chains.
Download now: 14 Tactics to Counteract Supply Instability
Right now, it is hard to predict how the situation is going to develop. Possibilities range from an extreme scenario — a military conflict that would have disastrous effects on supply chains — to severe economic sanctions that would create volatility, and impact production capacity and critical logistics routes. Even a stalemate positioning would drive further unpredictability into supply chains, especially in key industries such as high-tech electronics, semiconductors, energy, rare earth minerals and other key materials.
We see six supply chain issues organizations will face if escalations continue over Ukraine:
Key material shortages
Material cost increases
Production capacity impacts
Logistics route and capacity constraints
We expect severe shortages of hydrocarbon, critical minerals, metals and energy. Prices for those items will likely spike, thanks to both the shortages and behaviors such as irrational buying and protectionism. This will, in turn, impact manufacturing operations up- and downstream as much as raw material mining.
Learn more: Your Ultimate Guide to Supply Chain Management
Additionally, important logistics routes such as the Black Sea route and rail and roads east to west and vice versa will be impacted and result in delays and disruption. Spillover to Chinese ports and other key transportation nodes is also expected. Supply chain leaders need to evaluate vulnerabilities based on different scenarios now, so they can start to create redundancies and alternatives.
Critical strategic supply chains and infrastructures are prime targets, especially high-tech- and aerospace/defense-related industries, but also energy and agriculture. As of February 15th, we have seen the largest ever cyberattacks on Ukrainian key infrastructures, and those will spill over globally as this situation continues to unfold. Attacks on organizations in critical infrastructure sectors have increased dramatically, from less than 10 in 2013 to almost 400 in 2020 — a 3,900% change. Supply chain leaders in high-risk industries should brace for an increased number of attacks and prepare accordingly, for example, by creating incident response plans focusing on detect, protect and recover. Security incidents are a matter of “when,” not “if.”
Visibility into all tiers of the supply chain is key to evaluate potential risk exposure, and determine vulnerabilities and the best response strategy — most urgently among tier-1 suppliers. Our 2021 risk and resilience research shows that only about 53% of companies have tier-1 visibility above 90%. Additionally, the implications of the conflict in Ukraine can span much further than direct supply chain ties into the region, so it is critical to get n-tier (all-tier) visibility as soon as possible.
The short answer is no, but it’s always a good idea to look at your organization's risk appetite, posture and risk management capabilities. Resilience drivers, like diversifying sources and routes where possible, and preparing risk response plans for the most fragile supply chains are critical. In the long-term, supply chain leaders must increase resilience by balancing investments in dedicated teams, processes and technologies that will enable their organizations to implement end-to-end risk management. This includes tactics like deploying strategic redundancies that not only drive competitiveness, but also secure critical value networks and supply ecosystems.
Join your peers for the unveiling of the latest insights at Gartner conferences.
Recommended resources for Gartner clients*:
Supply Chain Brief: Risks of Growing Russian-Ukrainian Tensions Put Global Supply Chains on High Alert
Quick Answer: Geopolitical Risks Are Growing in Ukraine; What Can Be Learned From NotPetya?
Supply Chain Executive Report: The Future of Supply Chain 2022
*Note that some documents may not be available to all Gartner clients.


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Chicago-based private equity firm Wind Point Partners has acquired A& R Logistics, one of the largest providers of integrated dry bulk logistics solutions for the chemical and plastic industries in North America.
Wind Point announced that Mark Holden will remain on as A&R’s president and chief executive officer. Holden has experience as an executive in the logistics space, previously leading four separate investments to a successful sale or IPO.
Holden’s most recent role prior to A&R was as president and CEO of Prime Distribution Services, a non-asset based provider of logistics and freight consolidation services. Holden and the entire management team will remain with the business and retain a meaningful ownership stake in the company alongside Wind Point.
"We are excited to have Wind Point as our partner for a number of reasons, key among them a deep knowledge of the logistics space and a reputation for strong collaboration with the management teams they sponsor," said Mark Holden, President and CEO of A&R Logistics. "We are very excited to work with Wind Point to grow A&R Logistics, and we see significant opportunities ahead for our company, customers, employees and partners as we grow the business organically and through acquisition."
A&R's organic growth strategy for the domestic dry bulk plastics market will focus on expanding its transportation infrastructure and national network of value-added warehouse facilities. In addition, A&R will support its customers' growing needs for export solutions by establishing large and flexible export networks for plastic resins.
A&R plans to launch multiple new facilities totaling at least two million square feet in the Ports of Charleston and Savannah to support the packaging and export of numerous resins including polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene, among others.
A&R's acquisition strategy will focus on acquiring companies that provide dry bulk transportation and warehousing services to producers and distributors of chemicals and plastics. The company will also seek to expand through acquisition into complementary services, including liquid chemical supply chain services.
Wind Point is an active investor in transportation, logistics and route-based businesses, with select prior investments including Dicom Transportation, St. George Logistics, Valicor Environmental Services, RailWorks and AIR-serv.


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The market for humanoid robots is forecast to grow to $4 billion in about five years, according to a new report by ReportsnReports.
The researcher values the current market at approximately $320 million in 2017. So that would mean annual growth of more than 50 per cent.
Humanoids include such robots as Pepper and Nao, which are owned by SoftBank Robotics, as well as Emiew, produced by Hitachi, and Honda’s famous Asimo, although that one is more of an exhibition robot.
Costa Cruises is bringing five of the latest generation of Pepper robots on board the flagship of the fleet, to entertain guests during their vacations
Costa Diadema, flagship of the Costa Cruises fleet, has introduced Pepper, the first robot in the world able to recognize main human emotions and proactively interact with the surrounding environment.
Five Pepper robots will be operative on all seven-day cruises of the Costa’s flagship in the Western Mediterranean: their task will be to entertain cruise passengers, making their on board experience even more unique and unforgettable.
Japanese communications giant SoftBank is to acquire ARM Holdings for £24.3 billion, according to a report on the Financial Times website.
SoftBank has been on something of a spending spree in recent years and is looking to raise its profile in markets outside of Asia, where it is already well-known.
The company is particularly interested in computer technology –including artificial intelligence, robotics and automation — and the proposed takeover of ARM would seem to fit into this plan. Continue reading SoftBank to buy ARM
Japanese people may have become somewhat accustomed to the sight of a robot greeting them when they enter a store or some such place since robots have been employed as receptionists in Japan for some time now.
However, Europe is catching up, with new reports of two separate instances of robots being employed as receptionists.
In one report, the Guardian highlights the employment of Pepper, the SoftBank robot, now greeting visitors and patients at hospitals in Liege and Ostend, in Belgium.
In another report, the Telegraph showcases Betty the robot, who is employed managing an office in Milton Keynes, UK. Developed by the Strands Project, Betty may not be as aesthetically pleasing as Pepper, but she has more responsibilities, such as checking to see if staff are working late and if doors are closed and so on.
In the future, all customer relations could be managed by robots. That’s what science fiction films have been telling us for decades. And now, perhaps more than ever, that vision is becoming more real than ever.
As part of a newly announced collaboration with SoftBank Robotics to reimagine the future of digital customer interactions, Accenture Interactive demonstrated a new prototype based on the Pepper robot in Paris at Pepper Partners Europe event during InnoRobo (May 24-26), one of the world’s largest robotics events.
Pepper is the ground-breaking humanoid robot with the ability to read emotions that was developed by Softbank Robotics (previously Aldebaran Robotics) and first introduced in Japan in 2014.
Cruise liner company Costa Group has signed an exclusive agreement with the French company Aldebaran for a pilot project with Pepper robots.
Aldebaran, which is a subsidiary of the SoftBank Group through SoftBank Robotics Corp, said the contract was worth more than a million euros.
Pepper is the world’s first robot that reads main human emotions, says the company, adding that it is ideally suited to help and delight guests on board of cruise ships. Aldebaran adds that Pepper will improve guest experience and provide help and entertainment on board the ships of the Costa Group’s cruise brands: AIDA and Costa. Continue reading Costa Group to test Pepper humanoid robots on cruise liners
Cloud robotics are enabling robots to access large amounts of computing power that their bodies do not have the physical space to accommodate. Hundreds if not tens of thousands of servers are potentially at the service of small robots which can be in remote locations well away from the nearest supercomputer or data centre, only being connected by, for example, Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
This allows robots to call on powerful, cloud-based applications, such as speech recognition and language, when they are interacting with their users.
At the moment, most cloud robotics systems are linked to specific robots. So, for example, SoftBank’s Pepper robot is linked to the cloud robotics artificial intelligence system developed by Cocoro, another SoftBank company.
Pepper has about 25 onboard sensors to collect a wide range of information – sight, sound, touch and movement. That covers three of the five senses that human beings generally use, the two missing are taste and smell.


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Colorado-headquartered Gores Guggenheim (NASDAQ:GGPI) is the shell company bringing Swedish electric vehicle (EV) maker Polestar to Wall Street. Taking a small position in GGPI stock could be a winning strategy as Polestar just released positive news.
Polestar’s electric vehicles are designed to be powerful and luxurious. The company also has a strong focus on sustainability and recently introduced updates to reduce the climate impact of the Polestar 2 vehicle.
While there is certainly risk involved in investing in Gores Guggenheim and Polestar, the long-term rewards could be substantial.
What’s Happening With GGPI Stock?
GGPI stockholders have already experienced the downside risk of holding shares. After hitting a 52-week high of $16.41, the stock has retraced to $10 and change.
In order to invest in Gores Guggenheim and Polestar with confidence, it’s important to have a long-term perspective. Polestar is a small company now, but it plans to have its cars available in 30 markets by 2023.
Moreover, Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath is preparing stakeholders for bigger and better things, including the rollout of an SUV. “We believe our future growth will be further accelerated by our entry into the lucrative SUV market later this year with the world premiere in October of the long-awaited Polestar 3 electric performance SUV,” Ingenlath explained.
A Revised Forecast Isn’t All Bad News
So, here’s a good news, bad news situation. The good news is that, during the first four months of 2022, Polestar’s vehicle sales more than doubled to roughly 13,600. This suggests that Polestar is driving in the fast lane.
The bad news is a reminder to keep our expectations in check. Due to “prolonged government COVID-19 lockdowns in China during the first half of 2022,” Polestar reduced its 2022 customer vehicle delivery forecast from 65,000 to around 50,000.
There’s nothing wrong with modifying expectations when it’s warranted. Fortunately, Polestar’s delivery projection is still strong despite the challenges presented by Covid-19 lockdowns in China.
Besides, Ingenlath is sticking to his guns when it comes to Polestar’s long-term objective. “Any short- to medium-term economic effects have not dented our goal of selling 290,000 cars in 2025 – 10 times more than we sold in 2021,” he assured.
Take a Small Bet on GGPI Stock
It’s generally risky to invest in EV startups. However, Polestar is unique in the EV market with its powerful, futuristic-looking cars.
In time, GGPI stock could return to its prior peak price. Even with a revised forecast, Polestar is still shooting for the stars and demonstrating growth. So, a small position in the stock could be a worthy bet on an interesting EV contender.
On the date of publication, neither Louis Navellier nor the InvestorPlace Research Staff member primarily responsible for this article held (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.


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Walmart may make a bid for 345 store Hong Kong supermarket chain known as ParknShop that is owned by Hutchison Whampoa, according to a Reuters report that cited people familiar with the matter.
Walmart is often linked to international retailers as a potential acquirer and according to the Reuters report it is among eight potential suitors for ParknShop who have until August 16 to submit preliminary offers.
Walmart currently operates roughly 380 stores throughout China, a market it entered in 1996. Its growth preference for much of the past decade was to acquire retailers in existing and new markets. However, more recently, the company has suggested its primary international growth strategy is to drive growth though the addition of selling space in existing markets and improved productivity of existing selling space while being prepared to take advantage of acquisition opportunities when favorable circumstances arise.
Click here to read the Reuter’s story.


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Procter & Gamble are one of the first advertiser to reduce digital ad spending
Following the brand safety scandal, Procter & Gamble (P&G) have recently become one of the first advertisers to significant reduce their digital advertisement. To read the full article on Marketing Week, click here.
In March of this year, we witnessed corporate advertisers such as, Heinz, The Guardian, and Lloyd’s Bank suspend their advertisements on YouTube (owned by Google) after The Times reported advertisements had been running ads alongside explicit content, some of which was terrorist propaganda videos. Subsequently, consumers associate the brand with negative images, potentially having a detrimental impact on sales, and company reputation. We can only estimate that these are some of the reasons P&G reduced their digital advertisement spending.
Earlier this year, you may recall other big brands withdrew their advertisement with Facebook. The Guardian reported that Havas, the media agency, ‘pulled its entire £175m UK digital ad spend’ back in June. This followed accusations that Facebook were promoting fake news advertising.
Interestingly, The Guardian quoted Adam Smith, director at GroupM, stating ‘No traditional media owner has made as much of this as they should have done’. As a traditional media owner, are The Guardian simply confessing to the fact that they did not take advantage of the negative press surrounding digital advertisement? Or are they positioning themselves as righteous for not drawing attention to digital advertisement’s weaknesses? These are questions to consider when reading the article, especially after PwC forecasts, ‘The Internet advertising industry will be worth £14.4bn in 2021 accounting for 53% of all advertising spend, growing at 8.2% CAGR over the next 5 years and showing no signs of slowing down.’
Although digital advertising continues to dominate, we need a solution to overcome digital marketing issues such as, brand safety. The Report believes that algorithms for contextual marketing needs to become more advanced, in order to align audience-specific advertisement and appropriate context.
Feature image credit: “digital-marketing-banner” by Automotive Social. Licensed by CC BY 2.0. Subheading removed from original


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No one can deny that the London street food scene has taken a bit of a battering in the last 12 months but the sector has been showing signs of life recently. LALALAND is the latest big opening set to grace the capital, with the Shoreditch venue taking over from the now defunct Dinerama in July this year.
A food market set around a central courtyard with tumbling waterfalls, living walls, fire pits and a ‘sparkling plunge pool’ – LALALAND will certainly tick all the boxes visually, however, its food offering remains a bit of a mystery, with the company behind the project keeping tight lipped about which street food venues will be available at launch.
regardless, LALALAND looks like being one of the most exciting food & drink launches of 2021.
More when we have it!
The LALALAND website can be found here.
Information on other great street food markets in London can be found here.


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Congratulations to Daimler Trucks North America who have officially unveiled their SuperTruck at this weeks Mid America Trucking Show. We are extremely proud that the PTS50 pneumatic landing gear has been included on the trailer for this project, our inclusion demonstrates the multitude of benefits the PTS50 has to offer and confirms there is a viable modern day alternative to the archaic crank. While the trailer has not been on display at MATS it will be exhibited at other events throughout the year.
ITC Logistic GmbH, a German transport company offering comprehensive collection and distributions logistics throughout Europe […]January 12, 2016
The PTS50 pneumatic semi trailer landing gear is now available through Wabash Canada (Aurora Parts […]November 11, 2015


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Racists and Taliban supporters have flocked to Twitter’s new audio service after executives ignored warnings
Live audio – from Twitter Spaces to that on Clubhouse – is a boom industry with plenty of interest and investment. The ease of use of joining or creating a live audio space, enabled by tech and habit formation over the pandemic, has effectively created a new mainstream medium.
But innovation has outpaced moderation here. As the above article notes – despite being warned ahead of time – there is a problem with Twitter’s foray into owning he live audio space. The chief unintended consequence? It’s effectively providing a safe space for the worst sort of people:
“Fast forward six months and those problems have become reality. Taliban supporters, white nationalists, and anti-vaccine activists sowing coronavirus misinformation have hosted live audio broadcasts on Spaces that hundreds of people have tuned in to, according to researchers, users and screenshots viewed by The Washington Post.”
Media companies riding the eCommerce wave seek to consolidate their successes
Last year supercharged eCommerce, with lockdowns ensuring that both the total number of online shoppers and frequency of purchases increased fivefold. So which publishers are taking advantage of that? Chris Sutcliffe rounds up the key eCommerce moments of the year as part of our Media Moments 2021 report.
European regulation of online disinformation may be a “game changer” in 2022
There’s any number of reasons to be worried about regulation of online information (and disinformation). First and foremost – who’s doing the regulation, and on behalf of whom? This article from CJR makes a good go at explaining why examples of regulation in Europe have a decent chance of being misused.
Blunder prevents early BuzzFeed employees from selling their shares
After BuzzFeed went public some early employees who had been kept on side with share options ended up losing out. More importantly Jonah Peretti finally said what I’ve expected to hear for years – that he’s unwilling to accept a news organisation that loses money. It’s been a long time coming, but without a plan to make BuzzFeed News profitable, the writing is on the wall.
This content originally appeared in The Media Roundup, a daily newsletter from Media Voices. Subscribe here:


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There’s no denying that the games industry has been moving its way towards a predominantly digital future. For better or worse, both game publishers and console manufacturers have been going all-in on purely digital services and hardware. With that in mind, many are unsure as to whether or not the upcoming batch of consoles will be the last “traditional” ones. In fact, there’s a fairly high-profile name who appears to be just as unsure: PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan.
In an interview with CNET, Ryan was asked point blank whether the (still unnamed) upcoming PlayStation console will be the Sony’s last. Quite frankly his response was, “I actually don’t know.”
With an industry that’s as unpredictable as video games, it truly can be impossible to see what the future is like. People widely predicted that the PlayStation 4 would be the end of the console as we know it, but with 96 million units shipped, that’s far from the case. Of course, that question is being brought up again now that digital- and cloud-based gaming is becoming a cornerstone of the entertainment landscape in general.
While Sony is obviously prepping itself for an increasingly digital world (simply look to its landmark deal with Microsoft), Ryan admitted, “Who knows what the world looks like in five years time?” Sony already has a game streaming service, PlayStation Now, and it’s all but confirmed Sony will put more focus on it with the PS5. We’re already seeing a bigger focus on digital-only platforms now, with Google Stadia and the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. However, it doesn’t appear that, at least for now, there’s no plan to get rid of a box altogether.
That could change in the future, though. Whether PlayStation eventually ditches the box or not, Ryan assured fans that “any transition will be steady and gradual.” One possibility he mentioned was a hybrid “between console and some sort of cloud.” He also stresses that, whether we’ll play it on a box or not, one thing will remain the same: PlayStation’s library of exclusives, calling them one of the brand’s “enduring strengths.”


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I’m not sure what the weather is like in OKC, but in Dallas, it’s a beautiful clear day with the high expected to be in the low -70s and even warmer on Saturday. Almost spring-like.
It seems fitting since I’m at the Dallas Market Center to see spring fashion and accessories. This morning, Gregor Simmons of Gregor Simmons Ltd. buying office in New York City, said she’s excited about all the color (pinks and oranges), longer skirts and maxi dresses.
Of course, she also said super-short shorts are coming on strong for spring. That’s a trend best left to the firm of flesh and under 20 crowd.


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On May 15, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., introduced the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act of 2019, which aims to “transition” the U.S. vehicle fleet to 100 percent zero-emission models by 2040
Co-sponsored by Presidential candidates Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., the legislation would establish a federal Zero-Emissions Vehicle or ZEV standard to boost the market for battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
[Above photo by Noya Fields.]
It requires that by 2030, 50 percent of new passenger vehicle sales would be ZEVs, ramping up 5 percent each year to 100 percent by 2040. The bill’s ZEV standard is only applied to the sale of new cars, Sen. Merkley said in a statement.
“This legislation embraces the opportunity for America to sell to the world the revolutionary technology that will make our air cleaner, communities healthier, and workforce stronger,” he said. “If we lead the world in cutting-edge vehicle deployment, we can beat our global competitors, create good jobs here in America, and win the innovation race for new technologies.”
Rep. Levin noted that 10 states currently require that a certain percentage of new vehicles sold within the state must be ZEVs and while state commitments like these play a “vital role” in the transition to electric and zero-emission vehicles, a federal policy is needed to ensure the entire country experiences the benefits of ZEVs, he stressed.
This is but the latest electric vehicle-related legislation to be proposed in 2019.
A bill introduced May 2 by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, proposes to overhaul and consolidate 44 “energy incentives” within the federal tax code three technology-neutral provisions to spur more “clean electricity, clean transportation, and energy efficiency.”
On April 10, four U.S. Senators and one member of the House of Representatives introduced a bill that would both maintain and extend tax credits for consumers purchasing an eligible electric or hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle.
That followed legislation re-introduced by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., on Feb. 6 that seeks to end electric vehicle federal tax credits while imposing a fee on operators of all alternatively fueled vehicles – be they powered by electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, etc. – that will be collected over the next 10 years and paid into the Highway Trust Fund.


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It seems that the previous rumors about a flagship Google Android tablet are true. Faced with the ongoing success of Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle Fire, Google is teaming up with Asustek to debut a new 7-inch tablet that should bloom with Android-based software in late spring.
Industry sources are stating that the co-branded tablet is being jointly developed by Google and Asustek.
This Google ushered introduction to the market could not only hope to dethrone the Kindle Fire from the top of the seven inch tablet kingdom, but also take on Apple’s iPad.
It has long been rumored that Apple will introduce its own seven-inch tablet – a nano-like iPad – but the third generation iPad has just been released and there has been no officially announced plans for an iPad mini. Barnes and Noble recently released a slimmed down Nook tablet for $199 to compete with the Kindle Fire’s price tag, and it is believed that Google and Asustek will keep their own tablet in the $199-250 range.
The Kindle Fire has a 7 inch, 16 million color display with a resolution of 169 pixels per inch, which was exceeding the iPad 2, though the newest iPad has leapfrogged the Kindle’s display capabilities.
Any Google/Asustek tablet would be expected to at the very least match the Kindle Fire’s specs, because Google hopes to really outshine the Amazon machine. As consumers, we still do not know what to expect from a Google-branded tablet, but we do know that other Android-based products and apps have thrived in a market that once only favored Apple.
People like having a choice and this new device could offer consumers another tablet with adept, innovative, and intuitive software with droves of apps and tight Google service integration.
Google and the Taiwan-based PC maker Asustek are planning to release the 7-inch co-branded tablet as soon as May 2012, reports DigiTimes. We will look on with our curiosity perked.


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In today’s world there are so many choices to invest your time and money, so why choose Singapore?
Seagate Technology, a world leader in storage solutions, today announced it is shipping the world’s first 2TB, 7mm hard disk drive (HDD) — the Seagate Mobile HDD.
World Moto, Inc. today announced that it has shipped Moto-Meters to entrepreneurs establishing motorcycle taxi fleets in Gurgaon.
Axiata Investments (UK) Limited is said to acquire majority stake of Nepal’s Number One Mobile Operator, Ncell.
Honda on Thursday unveiled its first private jet before it hits the market this summer, as the Japanese giant, better known for making cars, targets deep-pocketed business flyers.
One of the leading product photographers, Product Photos Inc. shares why product photos are crucial for E-commerce businesses.
Nepal College Basketball coach, Nripesh Shrestha in partnership with colleague Sajan Rajbahak has started the Pheonix sports lounge and bar.
Mega Bank Limited in partnership with Sakchyam access to Finance Programme rolled out Megha Arthik Sakchyam project with introduction of TAB banking today.
Japan’s NEC on Monday unveiled a technology that sniffs out even the most convincing counterfeits by reading microscopic patterns on everything from a luxury purse to a metal bolt.
iDirect, today announced the iDirect Asia Pte Ltd team has partnered with Mercantile Communications Pvt Ltd to deliver VSAT communications to Mount Everest.


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[Press Release, Guildford] Kate Lester honoured for services to industry at a prestigious courier event in London.
Kate Lester was recognised on 17 October 2017 for her passion, commitment, determination and belief in the courier industry by being presented the 2017 IoC NCA Services to Industry Award at a glittering event last night in London.
The Institute of Couriers (IOC) seeks to encourage knowledge sharing and development of individuals own competence in the application of courier skills. The IoC showcases that members are committed to industry standards and have the quality of skills to benefit the service provided.
According to the IoC, Kate was singled out for this award because of her unwavering approach to logistics and the development of logistics:
“… Her caring ethos does not give in to anything that is not right for the business. Her belief and passion in the joys of an industry that she has truly supported. She has evolved and encouraged a new generation of express courier businesses to flourish. Her peers and the industry recognise these accomplishments in this award.”
Kate says, “I am honoured to be the first female recipient of the Services to Industry Award. Diamond has always sought to be an outstanding contributor to this vibrant and important industry, and this award recognises not just our Culture but our Values too. As a company on a mission to provide the most equal, diverse and inclusive opportunity in logistics I hope this award showcases what we have achieved and hope to achieve in the future.”
For further information about Diamond Logistics, contact 0333 567 5888 or email firstname.lastname@example.org.
About Diamond Logistics
Diamond Logistics Ltd is a specialist same day, overnight, international delivery and fulfilment company providing a wide range of organisations with delivery and fulfilment solutions. Working with SMEs, blue-chip corporate and local government and healthcare providers Diamond delivers anything, anywhere, anytime.


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Booming caravan and motorhome sales are being fueled by the growing popularity of staycationing, reports a leading dealership.
Salop Leisure attracted nearly 19,000 to its annual West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Spring Show in Shrewsbury last month, which was 18 per cent up on last year and sales across the business increased by between 15 and 20 per cent.
It’s not only caravan, motorhome and campervan sales that are booming. Sales in the Love Coffee restaurant and the caravan and camping accessories shop are also flying and the company’s sister business, Love Plants has increased turnover by 30 per cent cent in the first five months of 2017.
The really positive news for bosses at Salop Leisure is that sales of caravans and motorhomes span customers of all ages, from young families to retired couples.
An aerial view of Salop Leisure’s headquarters.
“We are attracting a mixture of existing owners and first time buyers, which is very pleasing,” said chairman Tony Bywater. “The first-time buyers are mainly for touring caravans and motorhomes because they love the idea of staycationing.
“Some people still want to go abroad on holiday for a week or fortnight every year, but also want to make the most of their leisure time by owning a caravan holiday home, touring caravan, motorhome or campervan.
“Whether they are working or retired, their leisure time is becoming more important to their health and wellbeing. That’s why caravans and motorhomes are so popular: they offer the freedom to enjoy a break in different locations whether it’s for a week or a couple of days.
“Owning a caravan or motorhome appeals to young people because they work long hours and want something enjoyable to do at weekends. As people get older and start families, they like to get away with their children for the weekend.
“Caravans offer long-term value for money and perfect for people who enjoy golfing, walking, cycling, rock climbing or just chilling out and relaxing. Many families like to play football and cricket on the beach as it’s a way of escaping to the fresh air from computers and i-pads which tend to dominate our lives.”
Around 250 new and pre-owned touring caravans, static holiday homes and luxury lodges, motorhomes and campervan conversions were on display at the West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Spring Show. Visitors were able to see the latest innovations in new holiday homes, touring caravans and motorhomes, with new models from Atlas, ABI, Carnaby, Willerby and Swift set be launched at the event.
Representatives from 20 quality holiday holiday home parks across Mid Wales and the Heart of England attended the show to help first time buyers find the ideal location for their holiday home or luxury lodge.
Member since: 10th July 2012
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Auto Car Insurance QuotesTM
online resource for auto, truck or motorcycle insurance.
Auto Insurance Rates Increased by More than
10% in 2002
but consumers don’t shop for rates
Calif., March 6, 2003 –
InsWeb Corp., one of the largest producers of automobile insurance
in the U.S., announced the updated results for its Auto Insurance
Index based on fourth quarter 2002 data. The Index is designed to
identify and track general pricing trends of personal auto
to data from InsWeb, the index revealed that as a whole, prices for
auto insurance nationwide in 2002 increased on average by
approximately 11% over the prior year. For example, the average
price quoted for a six-month auto insurance policy on InsWeb's
marketplace during 2002 was $1,350 compared to $1,200 during 2001.
Based on this data, consumers could be paying as much as $150 more
for six-month policies when compared to 2001.
from the U.S Department of Labor indicate that the after-tax income
for the average American household in 2001 was approximately
$45,000. "According to this data, the cost of auto insurance
based on a six-month policy in 2002 accounted for approximately 6%
of the average household's income, a full percent increase over the
prior year," said Hussein Enan, Chairman of InsWeb Corporation.
"Auto insurance is a major expenditure for the average
household. A few minutes spent researching alternatives can save
most consumers several hundred dollars, and help them mitigate the
effects of price inflation."
in a survey conducted in March of this year by Progressive Auto
Insurance, researchers found that people were more concerned with
reusing wrapping paper than shopping for lower auto insurance rates.
Auto Insurance studies the rates of different companies each year in
a variety of states, to determine the spread in auto insurance
rates. This year, they
studied the rates of more than 107,000 consumers in 26 states, and
found rates from different companies with comparable coverage could
vary an average of $586 every six months.
in a telephone survey that coincided with their annual rate survey,
Progressive found that an astonishing 73 percent of consumers have
shopped around to save money on groceries, 51 percent have shopped
to save money on paper goods, but only 20 percent have shopped auto
no secret people want to save money and our survey found that
they’ll do things like reuse plastic baggies, charge their friends
a cover charge at parties and even ‘go on a corn diet because
it’s cheap!’” said John Babagallo, product research and
development director for Progressive.
“We want people to know that there may be an easier way to
save a lot more money – just take about 20 minutes or so to shop
around for auto insurance.”
need to keep in mind the “big picture” concept when attempting
to save money. Recycling used wrapping paper and bows from Christmas
packages can be a viable exercise in economizing, but the old adage
of being “penny wise and pound foolish” certainly might apply


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"In our opinion, the AmRest business model is becoming more and more geared towards digitization, which should translate into increased revenues and improved operational efficiency, and as a result allow to reduce the cost of operating a restaurant. In addition, we expect that AmRest will not make further acquisitions in the near future and focus on the integration of recently acquired restaurant chains, which should increase the company's profitability, "the report says.
Analysts expect that through their involvement in Glovo (which recently bought pizzaportal.pl), AmRest will grow in the food supply segment.
"In markets where Glovo is not present, AmRest will cooperate with local partners, which should allow expanding the customer base and, as a result, increase sales," the report says.
Ipopema Securities estimates that the company will improve its profitability mainly due to operations in Western Europe.
"After the acquisition of SushiShop, which took place about a year ago, we believe that synergies resulting from the optimization of this business should appear at the beginning of 2020," the report says.
The first publication of the report took place on October 4 at 08:02.
Source: company website, investor relations, current and periodic reports.


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03 January, 2017
Because of this, the production cuts are expected to be focused on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Indeed, Nikkei reported that a shortage of camera sensors has curbed Apple's ability to meet demand for the iPhone 7, which has two rear cameras in addition to the front shooter. Hence, if the Cupertino company indeed intends on implementing such a desirable display in its 2017 iPhone model, then the upcoming iPhone 8 will easily sport the best-looking display screen ever witnessed on an Apple-manufactured smartphone. Now it looks like the company is taking it a step further and rolling out its to date. Now, Samsung is the exclusive manufacturer of AMOLED displays.
Last week, Jordan broke down every rumor we've heard concerning the iPhone 8.
The two iPhones, which were released in September a year ago, faced criticism at their launch for being only an incremental improvement on previous models. The company has roped in its rival, Samsung to manufacture AMOLED panels for the new iPhone series, according to a report from DigiTimes, which cites Taiwan-based supply sources.
Apple to come with 5.8-inch iPhone in 2017
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. The global shipment of the 5.8-inch iPhone 8 is estimated to be at 60-70 million units. Interestingly, Ming-Chi Kuo has tipped the tech giant to incorporate OLED technology in at least one of these upcoming variants of the iPhone 8.
According to the report in Korean media, Apple has placed an order for Samsung to produce curved plastic OLED displays in millions.
Apple iPhone 8 will be the tenth anniversary iPhone from the company; the first iPhone was introduced in 2007. It was the industry's fastest growth rate for a year, and the firm expected a higher growth rate for the rest of 2016 than originally forecast. The iPhone 8 is speculated to have "all curve" display, which is similar to the dual curved 5.5-inch Galaxy S7 Edge.
Massachusetts Governor Signs Bill To Delay Pot Shops
It wouldn't affect provisions already in effect, including possession and use by adults of limited amounts of marijuana. A bill delaying MA marijuana retail sales for six months was expected to the signed by Gov.
Police seize 1.1 tonnes worth £212m in Australia's 'largest cocaine bust'
Vision of the arrests show heavily armed police arresting multiple men at night on a ship docked at Sydney's fish markets . A member of the police operation which swooped over Christmas.
Carrie Fisher Dead at 60 Following Heart Attack
But that characterization of Leia - as a wet dream for prepubescent men - is something Fisher spoke out against her whole career. After news broke that Fisher had died on Tuesday at age 60, the account tweeted once more, writing, "Saddest tweets to tweet".


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No ‘defective’ coronavirus test kit sent to Bangladesh: Chinese embassy
The Chinese embassy today confirmed that none of the 40,500 test kits sent to Bangladesh are from Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology -- the company which was under question by the Spanish government on Thursday for supplying "faulty" kits.
The statement said: "The test kits provided by China to Bangladesh do not include any product, component or element from Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology Co Ltd. All the medical supplies from China were purchased through standard procedures and from qualified suppliers."
The Spanish government has withdrawn thousands of coronavirus testing kits supplied by the Chinese company Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology from use after it emerged that those had an accurate detection rate of just 30 percent, different media reports.
In the meantime, the Chinese government and Jack Ma, one of the richest persons in Asia and founder of Alibaba Foundation have contributed 40,500 test kits of Covid-19 to Bangladesh.
The Chinese embassy statement said it observed news reports saying test kits bought by Spain from China which were later deemed faulty by the country has also raised some concerns among the people of Bangladesh.
"Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology Co Ltd, the Chinese company in question, has not been granted a seller's permit by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China, nor has it been listed as a qualified supplier of medical equipment by the Ministry of Commerce of China," the statement added.
China will always stand by people of Bangladesh and will continue to offer necessary assistance within their capacity in the fight against Covid-19, it said.
The statement also suggested that all test kits require specific conditions for storage. And testing should be conducted by professionals following strict instructions and user manuals provided by manufacturers.
"The Chinese government and manufacturers will not be responsible for any problem resulting from the mishandling or malpractice in the use of the test kits," said the statement.


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While baseball fans across the country are no doubt delighted to learn that the 2020 season hasn’t been entirely canceled, COVID-19’s war on summer fun has also been impacting the many industries inherently connected to America’s Pastime. That includes the folks who produce that most traditional of ballgame treats: whole roasted peanuts.
As reported by The New York Times, thanks to the baseball season being delayed, roasted peanuts destined for eager stadium fans are literally piling up with nowhere to go, and this is a big problem for the peanut industry. Around one-fifth of all Virginia peanuts (the name of the variety that can grow large enough, and look nice enough, not to get ground into peanut butter) are sold to concession stands. That’s a substantial proportion, and because Virginia peanuts are harvested in October and sold to peanut roasters far in advance of the actual baseball season, by the time it was clear just how impactful the pandemic would be, the roasting and packaging process was already well under way.
Now, with a mountain of product sitting in their warehouses, peanut roasters, distributors, and even the voice of the industry, the National Peanut Board, aren’t entirely sure what to do. Bob Parker, the Peanut Board’s CEO, is quoted as saying that while peanuts can be refrigerated for at least some degree of time, cold storage is not a good long-term solution, and as such the Peanut Board is exploring different ways to promote their products, including team-specific branding and grocery store promotions.
Really, though, it seems like there isn’t a clear game plan for how to deal with the surplus, particularly as the premium price of these peanuts makes it economically infeasible to process them into peanut butter. Beyond electing them to office, what does one do with a bunch of aging nuts?


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This is Bankers Hours: the Monday morning recap of bank news you missed over the weekend (where we didn't see any Super Bowl ads about Banktown's Comeback...).
BofA settles another suit
Bank of America has settled a class-action lawsuit over the bank's overdraft fee practices, according to a Bloomberg report this weekend.
The bank agreed to pay $410 million to settle charges "alleging deceptive practices in the management of customer accounts that led to excessive fees for overdrafts," the report said. The lawsuit, originally brought by a Florida customer, accused BofA of debiting accounts in a manner that would increase the amount of overdraft fees customers would pay.
For example, the bank has been accused of debiting large items before smaller items, instead of debiting in chronological order, so that more transactions would result in overdrafts.
BofA has reformed all of its debit card overdraft policies in the past year. And customers can no longer overdraw their accounts when using a debit card at the point of sale. Instead, the card is just declined if funds are insufficient.
•Reuters this weekend reported BofA, Wells Fargo and other major banks have formed a group of top executives to lobby the Federal Reserve on new rules limiting debit card exchange fees.
Adam O'Daniel covers banking and financial services for the Charlotte Business Journal. To read more of his Bank Notes blog, click here. You can also subscribe to his RSS feed here. Follow Adam on Twitter @CBJBankNews.
Got a tip or some local banking gossip? Send it to email@example.com


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Published 10:00 pm, Thursday, August 9, 2007
Ifloor will use new funding to build 10 additional stores
Tukwila-based ifloor, an online and retail provider of flooring, said it has received a $7.5 million line of credit from Comerica bank, which it will use to open 10 stores before year-end. Founded in 1998, the company has received a total of $17.5 million in funding and has opened 32 retail stores throughout the country.
Microsoft says 1 million 'Halo 3' units pre-ordered
Microsoft Corp. said pre-orders of the next installment of its best-selling Xbox game, "Halo 3," exceeded 1 million units, the highest number of early purchases of any video game.
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The highest-priced edition of the game, a $129 version packaged in a replica of the helmet worn by the main character, will probably be sold out by the time "Halo 3" is released on Sept. 25, Microsoft said in a statement.
Microsoft's goal of making the Xbox unit profitable this fiscal year hinges on the success of "Halo 3," a shooting game that pits a biologically engineered soldier against an alien race. Sales of the previous "Halo" led to the division's first quarterly profit, in the period ended December 2004. While Microsoft has lost money on sales of the Xbox console, it makes a profit on games and a related online service.
Allen sells 15 million shares of DreamWorks Animation
Underwriters Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Bear, Stearns & Co. bought 10.2 million shares in a block trade Monday, Glendale, Calif.-based DreamWorks Animation said Thursday in a statement. Allen also sold 4.8 million shares to DreamWorks Animation for $150 million. Proceeds totaled about $467 million. Allen now owns 6.1 million shares, DreamWorks said.
Marchex says it's buying VoiceStar of Philadelphia
Marchex Inc. of Seattle, an online-advertising company, said it is buying VoiceStar, a Philadelphia-based provider of marketing services, for $28 million in cash and stock. After the sale, which is expected to close by Oct. 1, VoiceStar will continue to operate from its headquarters as a wholly owned subsidiary of Marchex.
VoiceStar helps advertisers track and monitor inquiries made by phone. Marchex said it will combine VoiceStar's services with its own capabilities.
The purchase will generate revenue of about $1.5 million, and an operating loss, for Marchex this year, that company said. Marchex said it will spend about $3 million in 2007 and $5 million in 2008 on VoiceStar and other phone call-related opportunities.
Vonage reports reduced loss, fewer new customers
NEW YORK -- Internet telephone company Vonage Holdings Corp. on Thursday reported a reduced loss for the second quarter as it scaled back marketing, but it also saw a drastic drop in new subscribers.
The drop in recruitment means that Vonage is no longer the country's largest provider of Internet-based telephone service. Cable company Comcast Corp. reported 3 million digital phone subscribers at the end of the second quarter, surpassing Vonage's 2.45 million, an increase of just 57,000 lines from the first quarter.
The Holmdel, N.J., company is struggling in court with Verizon Communications Inc. In March, a jury found that Vonage infringed on three Verizon patents.
The judge barred Vonage from signing up new customers, but that decision has been stayed while an appeals court considers it.


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Embattled company Johnson & Johnson are standing by their earlier statements, emphatically denying that any of their baby powder contained traces of asbestos, despite the Food and Drug Administration saying otherwise.
The denial comes after 33,000 of the produce was voluntarily recalled after the FDA said it had discovered traces of chrysolite asbestos in a bottle obtained via an online retailer. Johnson & Johnson said that its own team had conducted 15 tests of the same bottle that had returned negative results for any kind of contamination.
Two third-party laboratories conducted testing across 48 samples of the recalled product came to the same conclusion, according to Johnson & Johnson.
While the company is facing lawsuits over allegations that the company’s baby powder caused cancer in more than 15,000 plaintiffs, Johnson & Johnson said, “We stand by the safety of our product.” Their shares rose on Tuesday after the statement.