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Blockbuster's Keyes brings big returns
EmptyWhen James Keyes was appointed CEO of 7-Eleven in 2000, investors could pick up a share of stock for less than $9. Five years later, a Japanese firm bought the convenience store chain for $37.50 a share.
Investors hope Keyes will have similar success turning around video rental store giant Blockbuster, which last week lured him out of retirement and named him chairman and CEO.
At 7-Eleven, Keyes ended a decadelong trend of falling same-store sales by harnessing the power of technology to figure out which items were selling best at which stores -- and when there was peak demand for those products.
Business colleagues and observers expect him to bring this laser-like focus on consumer needs and new product that allows the rental chain to cross-sell related merchandise to Blockbuster.
At 7-Eleven, said Roger Enrico, the DreamWorks Animation chairman who is a friend of Keyes, "he got the business focused on the customer. It wasn't rocket science, but it was a heck of a lot of work."
To explain his business philosophy, Keyes in a telephone interview trudged back to the beginning of the long history of 7-Eleven, recalling how, in 1927, a company in Dallas selling blocks of ice suddenly found itself competing with the widespread adoption of refrigerators.
An employee known as Uncle Johnny Green, according to Keyes, "stood on the dock after Frigidaire came out with its newfangled device and asked his customers what he should do. They said, 'We bought a refrigerator, why don't you sell us milk?' Literally, that change in their business allowed the birth of the convenience store."
The company's stores soon were selling just about anything a customer would want to put in their fridge, and more, and their business hours were extended from 7 a.m.-11 p.m., hence the name change to 7-Eleven.
By 1980, the company operated 6,000 stores. Its purchase of Citgo Petroleum three years later put it in the gas-selling business, and Keyes entered the mix when he joined Citgo in 1985.
Then, a leveraged buyout of 7-Eleven saddled the company with massive debt right around the time gas stations nationwide were turning themselves into competing convenience stores.
The firm was in trouble in the U.S., but licensees were thriving in Japan. Keyes went there to learn their secrets, including the high-tech way Japanese store managers were controlling their inventory.
Bringing the Japanese model to the states got Keyes noticed, but not all his ideas were immediately embraced. In the 1990s, for example, he argued that 7-Eleven should be one of the first retailers to let its customers use new credit card readers to pay for their gas at the pumps. It was a controversial plan because it negated the need for consumers to enter the stores, where they might make an "impulse purchase." Keyes said a convenience store should strive, above all, to be "convenient," and he won over the skeptics.
Blockbuster skeptics, though, seem to be everywhere these days. Last year, the humorists at the Onion skewered the company by suggesting Blockbuster couldn't drum up business even if it paid consumers to shop there.
Under Blockbuster's new plan, according to the Onion's parody news story, customers could take 50 movies for free, plus "be driven home by Blockbuster chauffeurs, who will also install a brand-new 32-inch flat-screen TV upon the first rental."
Not enough. "Something about that place just rubs me the wrong way," a "customer" told the Onion.
Keyes said it's too early to say what changes might be afoot at Blockbuster now that he's in charge, except that he intends on figuring out what customers want and giving it to them.
At 7-Eleven, he would use computers to find which beer brands sold best at which locations and at various times of day and how weather patterns affected those sales. He promises he will do similarly at Blockbuster.
And he likely will introduce new and exclusive products, like when he convinced Anheuser-Busch to stock 7-Eleven stores with beer in aluminum bottles that hadn't before been seen in the U.S. and, in doing so, turned flat sales into 5%-8% increases.
"The ability to stay in stock with the right products at the right store literally at the right time of day is critical," Keyes said.
It might be too early for Keyes to be specific about changes at Blockbuster, but there's no shortage of pundits with opinions.
Rick Munarriz, a senior analyst with investment information and services firm Motley Fool, suggests a revamp of all stores to include:
Children's play areas, with movie-themed toys, tables and games.
Less candy, soda and popcorn -- which might appeal to theatergoers but not necessarily movie renters -- and more real food for those interested in dinner and a show in the comfort of their own homes.
Flashier aisles with themes, like one decked with a red carpet featuring only Oscar-nominated movies.
"When I walk into a Blockbuster, I can't tell if it's a church or a Church's fried chicken," Munarriz joked. "It's a sea of movie covers. There's nothing distinctive. And there's no reason for me to go there except to rent or return a movie. It's not conducive to commerce."
Cross-merchandising is something "we haven't done a good job of," Blockbuster board member Gary Fernandes said. "That's one thing Jim wants to focus on. What else can we sell people while they're in the store?"
And if anyone can bring customers back into Blockbuster stores, it's Keyes, colleagues and friends say.
"He's a visionary," said Ed Moneypenny, who was CFO at 7-Eleven from 2002-06. "He demands everybody be at the same level of excellence that he's at, and he holds people accountable."
Moneypenny said that Keyes not only whipped 7-Eleven into shape but made sure that Wall Street noticed the changes.
"We'd go to investor conferences and he'd interject humor into the seriousness," he recalled. "The stock was doing great, and then the buyout occurred. It wasn't like we were bought because the stock was cheap. We really had the convenience store business model well in hand."
DreamWorks chairman Enrico knows Keyes and his predecessor, John Antioco, from his days as CEO of PepsiCo.
Antioco also was an executive at 7-Eleven and had been CEO of competitor Circle K Stores when Enrico tapped him to head Pepsi's Taco Bell unit. Enrico is a fan of both men.
"John is more flamboyant. We were struggling at Taco Bell, and he quickly fixed it. Honest to God, I never did figure out what he did," Enrico said.
Keyes, on the other hand, "is a terrific bridge between customers at the store and suppliers at the other end. Entertainment executives will find that he's open to new thinking."
Added Erle Nye, the chairman emeritus at energy company TXU Corp. who also knows both men: "Jim's more thoughtful, John is more direct. I'd go to war with either one of them."
Like Ted Turner, Tom Selleck, Gene Autry, Philip Anschutz, Ronald Reagan, Adolph Zukor and others, Keyes is a recipient of the Horatio Alger Award.
Named for the Civil War dime novelist whose rags-to-riches tales featured industrious heroes who succeed against the odds, the award is given each year to community leaders who exemplify "honesty, hard work, self reliance and perseverance."
The association's Web site describes Keyes as the youngest of six children who grew up in a small home built by his father and grandfather. It had no heat or running water.
When he was 5, his parents divorced and he lived that first summer with his older sister before returning to his father. At 10, he was caring for his grandmother and his dad, who was stricken with cancer.
After his father died, he lived with his mother and her boyfriend, which he described as "embarrassing and difficult." He got a job at McDonald's when he was 15 and was promoted to shift manager within a year. He was with Gulf Oil from 1980-85 before joining Citgo when it already was a subsidiary of 7-Eleven.
Keyes, who lives near Blockbuster headquarters in Dallas, is a member of the board of governors of American Red Cross, Dallas Center for Performing Arts, Cooper Institute and SMU/Cox School of Business. He also founded Education is Freedom, a foundation that provides college scholarships to hard-working students.
Nye, also on the board of the Dallas Center for Performing Arts, said Keyes "can slip up on your blind side. He's not the first one to speak up, but when he does, you need to pay attention. He's honorable and forthright."
Enrico said that if Blockbuster is to thrive, it needs to be the leader in every facet of the movie-rental business, including stores, DVD-by-mail and digital delivery. For now, Blockbuster lags Netflix by a wide margin in the DVD-by-mail category, and its digital strategy is a mystery.
Asked whether a successful turnaround would benefit the movie industry, Enrico said: "It's important for Blockbuster, but, honestly, not for the industry. There's no shortage of companies focused on distributing content more conveniently and less expensively. If it's not Blockbuster, it will be somebody else."
Georg Szalai in New York contributed to this report.


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Packaging Just Got More Innovative, Thanks to Mushrooms
We’ve long championed more sustainable alternatives to un-recyclable packaging, such as our recyclable polypropylene options, along with recyclable sleeves for our Digital Direct Mail campaigns – which customers are able to return to us free of charge.
That’s why we’re excited to see a new innovation in the packaging world in the form of mushroom-derived biodegradable packaging, a plastic-free option which can be broken up and placed to biodegrade on home compost heaps and flowerbeds.
The Magical Mushroom Company has announced its new packaging offers the same performance to traditional polystyrene, and can be used for goods including cookers, cosmetics and many other consumer products.
The technology behind the packaging, mycelium composite technology, is the brainchild of US firm Ecovative Design LLC, which takes post-processing waste from agricultural products and combines it with mycelium, using the result in 3D packaging moulds. These moulds are then baked until the mixture hardens. The entire process takes a total of 14 days.
According to the Magical Mushroom Company, the packaging produced is 100% biodegradable, breaking down in soil within 40 days – and also breaks down in water in 180 days.
Paul Gilligan, the founder and CEO, commented, “We’re thrilled to be open for business and excited by how quickly we’re scaling up our production and securing ever bigger contracts.”

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Making an energy efficient upgrade to your home won’t just save you money on utilities, it could also earn you a tax credit. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, approved on January 1st of this year, says that homeowners who made some type of energy efficient upgrade in 2012 or who plan to do so in 2013 can receive a federal tax credit for up to 10 percent of the cost of the upgrade.
Energy Star doors qualify for tax credit
If you didn’t make some type of upgrade in 2012, plan now to make one in 2013. One upgrade you might consider would be switching out your old front door for a new Energy Star qualified fiberglass door. The tax credit for a qualified door can be up to $500. Derek Fielding, senior product manager for Therma-Tru Corp, a manufacturer of fiberglass doors, said, "Fiberglass doors are some of the most energy efficient doors available in the marketplace today. Compared to a solid wood door, a fiberglass door has four times more energy efficient value."
Front doors impact curb appeal
And the benefits of a new door don’t stop there. Front doors can add or detract significantly from a home’s curb appeal, thus making a sizeable impact on the overall value of the home. Fielding explained that the front door isn’t the only one that could qualify you for a tax credit, however. Actually, "the really good news about this tax credit is that it qualifies for both replacement doors on a principle residence and for the installation of a new door in the home where there previously wasn’t an opening." This means that if you’re planning an addition to your home, getting an Energy Star door for the new section would qualify you for tax credit.
Interior Decorating and Remodeling News Brought to You by EZSnapCovers.com


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Nielsen acquires data service Exelate
In years past, the Nielsen box was a fixture in some homes and the surest way for networks, advertisers and media companies to evaluate the viewership of popular programming. Today, however, more Americans consume media through streaming sources, on-demand platforms and other methods. As a result, companies like Nielsen have had to rethink their approach to assessing the value of TV programming, which requires new and flexible data.
Mergers and acquisitions can be the solution for companies in changing industries, and this week Nielsen announced it has acquired Exelate, a company that specializes in data solutions to facilitate advertising. This fits naturally within Nielsen's long record of data collection for advertisers in media spaces, according to TV News Check.
"This acquisition creates a tremendous opportunity for Nielsen in the programmatic media ecosystem," said Steve Hasker, global president of Nielsen. "Adding Exelate's solutions to the Nielsen family furthers our ability to help marketers improve the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and to help media companies better sell their content."
Exelate uses data from 200 online and offline providers to gauge consumer interactions with media. This includes the intent of consumers, which is valuable to marketing products and services. Understanding consumer behavior has led to the rise of machine-learning marketing platforms, which get to know consumers' habits, preferences and unique buying behaviors. Exelate also focuses on demographic trends, a longtime focus of Nielsen's business model.
As industries diversify their offerings to consumers, methods of evaluating the reach and effect of advertising on consumers has become even more important. For a company like Nielsen, moving into the next phase of service requires a dynamic approach that a good acquisition strategy can help provide.


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SteadyPay, the FCA licensed app solving the issue of volatile pay in the growing gig economy, announces that it has closed a $3.8m seed equity and debt funding round, with the equity investment led by venture firm Hambro Perks and Fair By Design, the social impact fund by Ascension Ventures.
Hambro Perks backs and builds leading technology companies and with its recent investment, Elena Moneta, Principal at Hambro Perks, joins SteadyPay as a Director. The investment will enable the company to scale-up in the UK and reach 5,000 customers in the next 12 months.
Launched in 2018, SteadyPay is a smart solution for gig economy workers to protect their pay. A subscription-based app, SteadyPay automatically tops up workers’ bank accounts when their earnings are below average and allows customers to repay over easy and interest-free installments.
With a third of workers in the UK currently in ‘atypical employment’, half of the total workforce to be engaged in some form of independent work in the next 5 years, and more millennials and Gen Z’s wanting to become their own bosses, SteadyPay is providing a powerful solution to an issue that will affect an increasing number of freelance and contract workers in the UK.
Going direct to consumers rather than working with employers, SteadyPay maintains the relationship with its customers throughout their employment journeys; this is a viable solution for the modern worker who will have a number of employers throughout their career, as well as giving the employee privacy on their financial situation. SteadyPay owns its relationship with the customer, meaning the company will fast become the go-to financial service provider for the gig economy. SteadyPay uses open banking and has developed a bespoke credit decision engine, which is used to better understand and accept the creditworthiness in the growing industry of gig-economy workers, who can often be excluded by traditional credit providers.
For over 50% of workers in the UK, financial uncertainty is one of the prime reasons for stress. Banks and other lenders are often complicated, expensive and inaccessible for gig economy workers, adding to financial strain. With SteadyPay, there is no risk of falling into a debt spiral. The app reduces the need for gig economy workers to use high-cost credit for everyday expenses or to divert their savings. There is also never any interest added, which further adds to SteadyPay’s ethical solution to the growing problem of volatile pay. With a transparent weekly subscription cost, the company maintains an honest and clear model for its customers that avoid any difficulty of calculating and budgeting for interest and repayments.
John Downie, co-founder, and CEO of SteadyPay says; “We’re delighted to have Hambro Perks and Ascension Ventures leading SteadyPay’s latest funding round. This raise will further strengthen our commitment to service the UK’s gig-economy with a powerful and ethical solution to income volatility. We’re thrilled with the results and customer feedback to date, and we look forward to driving scale in 2020.”
Elena Moneta, Principal of Hambro Perks and Director of SteadyPay adds; “Hambro Perks is thrilled to support SteadyPay in its mission to help gig economy workers overcome the hurdles of volatile pay. For the increasing number of gig and self-employed workers, having access to a simple and ethical solution to address the financial complexities that come with such work is key. As the company engages with its customers directly, we believe it will become the go-to financial partner for atypical workers.”
Fair By Design Investment Manager, Emma Steele, said: “We are very excited to bring on SteadyPay as another vital solution to the Poverty Premium. Along with the other solutions in the portfolio, SteadyPay solves a very important societal issue. By enabling freelancers and gig workers to have access to a more predictable income stream through their income top-up tool, we believe SteadyPay addresses a key aspect of financial vulnerability. We look forward to working with the team to support them on their journey to scale.”


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Talks are underway to expand the Mexican-inspired fast-food restaurant chain Taco Bell into Southeast Asia.
The Thai franchisee of the chain, Siam Taco, is said to be in early talks with the franchiser to operate the brand in neighbouring countries Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Siam Taco is a joint venture between Thoresen Thai Agencies and the Mahagitsiri family-owned CM Capital. The JV currently operates five restaurants in Thailand since launching in January, with plans to grow its network to 40 restaurants within the next five years.
According to Siam Taco director Chalermchai Mahagitsiri, the huge market potential in CLMV countries is what is attracting the company to expand there.
Taco Bell Asia Pacific and Middle East MD Ankush Tuli confirmed the talks but said no final agreement has yet been reached.
Tuli said that Thailand and the rest of Asia Pacific will be the key sales drivers for Taco Bell. It is 300-735 pdf scheduled to open in Indonesia and Malaysia next year, as it intends to double its overseas network to more than 500 over the next few years.
In the Philippines, Taco Bell has six restaurants, operated by its local partner Philippine Pizza Incorporated.
“Asia-Pacific will be our big growth driver because about two-thirds of the global population comes from this region,” said Tuli.
Owned by Yum! Brands, Taco Bell has more than 7000 restaurants in the US and a presence in 30 countries globally.


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It’s hard to believe, but Porsche sells more SUVs and sedans today than sports cars. A lot more. It’s hard to believe because until this century, Porsche only produced sports cars — small, lightweight, and powerful machines considered by many to be the best in the world.
Although larger, more practical offerings like the Macan SUV and Panamera sedan are now paying the bills, the German automaker is still cranking out great sports cars. In fact, just this year it has completely redesigned the 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera, creating the eighth-generation of the unique rear-engine 2+2 that was first introduced in the mid-1960s. It’s the first redesign of the 911 since 2012. Porsche, which was founded by engineer Ferdinand Porsche just after World War II, has increased not only the sports car’s performance, but also its comfort and sophistication. With a base price just under $100,000, it competes with the Chevrolet Corvette, Aston Martin Vantage, Jaguar F-TYPE, and Mercedes-AMG GT-Class.


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Giant Food Stores has entered into an agreement with Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. to acquire the Nell’s Shurfine Market located in Carlisle, Pa. Following the acquisition, which is expected to close by the beginning of March, there will be two Giant stores in Carlisle, the banner's longtime hometown.
The 51,800-square-foot store will close temporarily on Feb. 28 to be converted to a Giant Food Store scheduled to open in late March. The pharmacy will stay open during the conversion, and Nell’s employees will be able to apply for positions at the rebannered store.
“Giant has been proud to call the Carlisle community home for more than 90 years,” said Giant/Martin’s President Tom Lenkevich. “We are always looking for ways to grow our business and provide convenient locations to help our customers save money, save time and eat well.”
The converted store is expected to feature Giant’s newest marketplace-style produce section, its latest bakery department layout, an updated and expanded prepared food and deli department, and a larger natural and organic department.
A division of Ahold USA, Giant/Martin’s operates 196 stores in four states and employs more than 33,000 associates.


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The late US fashion legend Virgil Abloh, who was managing the project before he passed away in late November, was honored with musical performances by local musicians and skate sessions by both experts and amateurs at the unveiling of Ghana’s first skate park in the heart of the capital, Accra.
In honor of late US fashion artist Virgil Abloh, who was directing the project before his death in late November, Ghana has launched its first skate park in the center of the capital, Accra.
Organizers paid respect to the American designer of Ghanaian ancestry with musical performances by local musicians and skate sessions by pros and beginners during the park’s unveiling.
“Abloh was here,” is prominently written on a park fence wall, among the list of celebrities who contributed to the Freedom Skatepark’s funding.
Abloh, who was the artistic director for Louis Vuitton’s men’s collections and whose family originated from Ghana, died of cancer last month at the age of 41, after becoming the industry’s first significant black designer.
Abloh rose to the top of the fashion world from Chicago’s skate and DJ scene, first with his own red-hot label Off-White, and then in the luxury sector in Paris.
But he never forgot his Ghanaian roots; earlier this year, he walked the Vuitton runways wearing Kente, a traditional Ghanaian fabric.
His Off-White clothing line is one of the sponsors of the new park, which was built with the support of Surf Ghana, a local group dedicated to empowering youngsters via extreme sports instruction.
Skating, according to Sandy Alibo, the creator of Surf Ghana, is a lesser-known sport in Ghana.
However, she feels it will help enhance tourism and provide networking chances for young Ghanaians.
“We’re not talking only about sports, but we’re talking building self-confidence in the youth, about tourism and developing youth entrepreneurship,” she told AFP.
“They connect and share ideas. Skateboarders make the city alive because they entertain people and that is what Ghana needs.”
Alibo expressed her desire to see Ghana compete in international skateboarding contests one day.
“Skateboarding has been accepted at the Olympic Games and that can help develop the sports in Africa.”
According to Joshua Odamtey, a skateboarding coach, the park would also assist children to develop their passion for the sport.
“We share what we know with the minors because in some years to come we’ll not be here anymore,” he said.
“Skateboarding is a way of exercising and also to have fun.”
Last month, African designers praised Abloh, saying he had paved the way for them and given them a voice in the global fashion market.


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At the recent Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas, Panasonic debuted the PT-RZ570WU laser projector. This new flagship model has 5,200 lumens of brightness, enhanced picture quality, a 20,000-hour life and offers maintenance-free 24/7 continuous operation, making it ideal for Digital Signage applications.
The PT-RZ570WU incorporates the latest DLP module for WUXGA resolution and also features a new-generation of solid-state laser diodes. It has a four-segment Quartet Color Harmonizer color wheel that reduces energy loss from the light source, boosting perceived brightness and improving color accuracy. It also features DIGITAL LINK connectivity based on HDBaseT technology that supports long distance transmission of HDMI signals and more through a single LAN cable.
Analyst firm PMA Research has been keeping a close eye on the Laser projector market, and PMA’s latest forecast showed that the 2015 laser, laser/LED and laser/phosphor projector market grew by more than 20% over 2014.


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Tesco boss Dave Lewis will be quizzed on the performance of the supermarket’s new discount store format Jack’s next week as the group unveils its half-year results this week.
Jack’s, launched just weeks ago, aims to take on German discounters Aldi and Lidl, which have eaten into the market share of Britain’s so-called “big four” supermarkets.
Tesco plans to open up to 15 Jack’s branches over the next year, and the City will be keen to hear how the first two stores in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, and Immingham, north-east Lincolnshire, have been trading.
“There has much speculation regarding the group’s plans for its new discount outlet, Jack’s, and how many stores it will close or convert,” said Graham Spooner, investment research analyst at The Share Centre.
Mr Lewis said when Jack’s launched that prices will be “the cheapest in town” at each location.


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The COVID-19 lockdowns ushered in a golden era for digital activity: We all worked, socialized and banked from behind a keyboard. Criminals got in on the action, increasing the work for banks and financial institutions already battling a multitude of fraud issues.
“There are continued fraud threats that we do not see abating in 2023,” says Jen Martin, head of enterprise fraud services for KeyBank. “Scams, identity theft, new-account fraud and checking account fraud all have been elevated throughout the year and will continue for the foreseeable future.”
A hot area for fraudsters is peer-to-peer (P2P) fraud, which has surged in popularity as consumers increasingly send money almost instantly using tools that include Zelle and Venmo. In the second quarter of 2022 alone, year-over-year payment values increased by 29%, while payment volume increased by 27%. While the vast majority of that usage is secure and scam-free, the systems are like candy to scammers.
And even in a digital-first age, check fraud continues. “Criminals continue to look to exploit the weakest link, checks being one of these channels,” says Glenn Fratangelo, head of strategy and marketing for fraud and authentication management at NICE Actimize.
Fratangelo says his company’s internal data shows a 106% year-over-year increase in check fraud from 2020 to 2021 and an additional 30% increase in the first nine months of 2022. When you consider that there’s been an overall decline in check usage, the calculation becomes more dramatic.
Check washing may be one of the oldest tricks in the book, but it is making a comeback as fraudsters obtain a paper check and alter the payee, the dollar amount or both. To the untrained eye, the check looks valid. One issue feeding this rise is that municipal governments and small businesses are being hit more frequently by ransomware or encryption events, says Howard Globus, CEO of IT On Demand.
“As systems are compromised or unusable, these organizations have switched over to paper checks to pay vendors and recipients of program funds,” Globus says. “Sometimes it’s because there is a belief that paper checks are safer. Other times the systems are so damaged that accounting software will not run or banking partners will not accept electronic fund transfers until their systems are certified safe”
For financial institutions, fighting all fraud requires the right balance between consumer demand for speed, younger users’ growing disdain for passwords and communication fatigue. Banks are working to catch fraud instantly, but that can involve communication with a customer—and most consumers juggle hundreds of email messages, texts and social media notifications, making it harder for critical messages to cut through the clutter.
“It is a ‘Catch-22’ for financial institutions: 98% of all text messages are read by the recipient versus 20% for emails,” says Richard Dedor, vice president of digital marketing for Chatsworth, California-based Premier America Credit Union. “With the rampant expansion of text fraud, financial institutions must be extra careful about their marketing and message strategies to ensure they are educating their users on how to distinguish authentic communications from
KeyBank, for one, is breaking down the industry’s traditional silos to create a solution. “We are collaborating across the bank—fraud, risk, product and technology partners are all coming together against a common enemy,” Martin says. “A positive outcome of the past year is a greater understanding that there is not just one department or tool that can stop fraud. Real fraud prevention and mitigation requires subject matter expertise and understanding across many functional areas to ensure there are not opportunities for fraud.”
Globus says customers can also play a role. For example, they can pick up mail as soon as it is delivered, use a lockbox instead of an easily accessible mailbox, check bank accounts daily to spot fraud, use sophisticated biometrics to unlock phones and employ multifactor authentication. “The more steps you can put in place to block access to apps on your phone, the safer your data is and the more likely you are to be able to protect yourself,” he says.
To be sure, no single player can do this alone. “The global financial crimes and fraud problem,” Martin says, “is well beyond any one financial institution to solve by ourselves or as an industry.”
Discover how the fraud landscape is evolving — from phishing attacks to man-in-the-middle, vishing and now, payer manipulation — and how the industry needs to take a different approach to resolve fraud...


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Nature is healing. Buoyant hopes for a COVID-free future glimmered to life this week as legions of automotive journalists emerged from their pandemic quarantines and promptly packed themselves into the cozy confines of the biannual . At the show, Audi provided its own sparkly peek at what’s to come with the new A6 e-tron concept vehicle’s official debut.
Audi is no stranger to the luxury sedan market — in fact they’ve been one of the company’s best selling segments going back to the Audi 100s of the late ‘60s. Nor is this Audi’s first attempt to electrify the A6 model itself, what with the hybrid A6 which was released in 2011 and its 2019 PHEV variant. This concept, however, is the first vehicle to sport an A6 badge and be fully electric.
The A6 sportback concept may look like a slightly less aggressive take on the RS e-tron GT’s body styling but the two vehicles are built on entirely different platforms with the e-tron GT utilizing the same J1 system as the Porsche Taycan and the A6 concept building off Audi’s new PPE (“Premium Platform Electric”). On the other hand, this new concept bears little in common with the A6s that came before it beyond its exterior dimensions. For one thing, it’s got a ludicrously small drag coefficient of just 0.22, that’s better than the Taycan but . For another, it sports enormous 22-inch rims that simply dwarf the dubs found on the e-tron GT.
Audi certainly didn’t leave anything off its feature wishlist for the A6 e-tron concept. According to the company, future A6 EVs could boast 350 kW of power from their dual motors, driving ranges up to 700 km (450 miles) via their 100 kWh battery packs and hit 100 km/h (62MPH) from a standstill in less than four seconds. Like the e-Tron GT, the A6 concept uses an 800V electrical architecture which should deliver up to 270 kW charging current — compared to the paltry 125 kW the Q4 can handle — which is sufficient to jump from 5 to 80 percent capacity in 25 minutes. Ten minutes on the juice is enough to load up another 300 km of range. These are impressive figures to be sure but there’s no guarantee that what we see in these concepts will make it into production.
As with the upcoming Q4 EV, the A6 will come equipped with Digital Matrix headlights and customizable digital OLED technology. Since this isn’t going directly into production, Audi opted to include a few more daring design features. For example, the sides of the vehicle will have embedded LED projectors, “transforming the ground beneath them into a stage when the doors are opened,” according to a company press release, or at least let passing bike riders know you’re about to open the door and step out of your car. Four more projectors are built into the vehicle’s corners to lunimally paint the ground with turn signal indicators. And if that weren’t enough, the concept’s headlights — if directed at a flat vertical surface — will project images from the cabin’s infotainment screen. The driver and passenger will “see their respective game’s virtual landscapes projected onto the wall in XXL format – and all this via the Digital Matrix LED headlights,” per Audi.
There’s no word yet on when a fully-electrified A6 sportback might actually hit the streets or what it may cost when it does.
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And so, President Donald Trump has left for Buenos Aires to attend the annual G20 Summit, which could make or break the country’s existing trade relations with China. Chinese companies listed in the US, especially, are keeping their fingers crossed as they have been on the receiving end of the trade crisis, with their stocks getting battered despite strong operational performance.
Things aren’t looking quite rosy at the moment as Trump, only a few days back, stated that he was planning to raise the tariffs, from the current level of $200 billion of Chinese imports. If the talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping are unsuccessful at the G20 summit, Trump said, tariffs would be extended to $267 billion of Chinese imports.
Such a case would send multinational firms scrambling to move production out of China, besides inviting revenge measures from the Asian country. China has already slapped tariffs on $113 billion worth of US imports out of total US imports of about $130 billion in 2017.
However, financial watchers expect little progress in the political logjam. Trump recently revealed to the Wall Street Journal that he doesn’t wish to strike a deal as he likes the current status of affairs.
Two earlier international meets – the G7 Summit in Canada and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit – had also failed to come up with a proper joint statement.
While even US companies with global exposure are reeling under the uncertainties caused by the trade war, Chinese stocks have been hit worst. In the past 52 weeks, Alibaba (BABA) is down 12%; Baidu (BIDU) is down 23%; Weibo (WB) is down 45%; and JD.com (JD) is down 43%.
Chinese conglomerate Tencent’s music streaming arm has stated that it would decide on its US IPO date based on the outcome of the G20 Summit.
Follow our Google News edition to get the latest stock market, earnings, and financial news at your fingertips.
Ferrari NV (NYSE: RACE) reported second-quarter financial results before the regular trading hours on Monday. RACE shares fell 2.3% immediately following the announcement. The stock has increased by 8% since
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) reported better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter. Meanwhile, revenues missed the Street view. The packaged food company posted adjusted earnings of $1.40 per share for the
As the business world limps back to normalcy from the crisis set off by coronavirus, most e-commerce companies are going through a period of hectic activity, thanks to the spurt


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Can Kojima break the Internet?
Yesterday we found out that Hideo Kojima was working on one final Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain trailer that would serve as a kind of “goodbye” as well as a tribute to the fans. Now we know exactly when this trailer is expected to hit the Internet. The trailer had been set for an August 25 launch and Kojima took to Twitter today to announce that it will be released at 9 AM EDT (New York time)
Kojima has been pointing to this trailer as one that is “hand made” and he had actually alluded to making this final launch trailer a couple of times over the last few weeks. Over the weekend, he made comments about how the trailer was certainly going to be showing off things that hadn’t been seen yet in previous trailers but was also going to be one big thank you to fans of the series who have remained extremely loyal over the years.
For those not on the East Coast who aren’t really good at time conversion and want to know exactly when they can first see this video, those in the Pacific time zone will have access to it at 6 AM while those in the Central time zone will get it at 8 AM. UK Metal Gear Solid fans will be able to see te trailer hit at 2 PM and Japan has to wait all day long as it will be 11 PM when the trailer goes live there. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain officially launches on September 1.


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INDOZONE.ID Samsung has wrinkles recently Galaxy Z Flip-smartphone folding his latest after Galaxy the. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, even with the concept of the folding screen, which is different than the Galaxy wrinkles.
It means that Samsung will release the successor to the Galaxy Fold predicted by the name of Galaxy wrinkles 2. The current leaks about the smartphone, you fold the a lot of circulating on the internet, one of these leaks, the of the students.
Recently leaked render of the Galaxy Fold 2 were outstanding, and shows the design very cool. This is because Samsung took the design of the Galaxy S20 Ultra and combined with the concept of a folding partition Galaxy wrinkles.
If you are on the Galaxy Times of the first generation, the second screen in the smartphone has a size that is quite small, this time the size of the screen, the second screen is made to be larger, just like smartphones in General.
In addition to the screen that folds is still the same concept as the Galaxy. Otherwise, the use of a notch punch hole a is that they apply already before in the galaxy Z Flip.
Of course, the design of the Galaxy Fold 2 like me, then this smartphone is likely to fold to a smartphone of the best this year, and beat other vendors such as Motorola and Huawei has already brought down the industry.
Other Interesting Articles:


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Are your passwords putting you at a higher risk for identity theft? If they’re on the “Worst Passwords of 2015,” list the answer is probably yes. For the past five years, password management company, SplashData, has released a collection of the most common and hackable passwords based on a study of different data breaches in North America and Western Europe. This year’s top 25 is topped by the painfully obvious “123456” and “password.”
Other popular passwords on the list include sports like baseball and football as well as different combinations of QWERTY keyboard characters in the order of their appearance. One of the newest additions is “starwars,” undoubtedly due to the film franchise’s latest release.
According to Morgan Slain, the CEO of SplashData, these annual lists indicate certain patterns of behavior in password creation. This past year, for example, demonstrates some attempts at being more secure, though they weren’t always well-executed.
“We have seen an effort by many people to be more secure by adding characters to passwords, but if these longer passwords are based on simple patterns they will put you in just as much risk of having your identity stolen by hackers,” he said.
SplashData said that this year was the first that longer passwords made an appearance on the list but urged that length does not equate to better security.
The list shows that too many people still don’t take password creation seriously, especially for seemingly innocuous online accounts. Most likely, these passwords were created to be easily memorized. What these users still don’t realize is that any weak log-in information can be exploited and lead to identity theft. SplashData reported that someone’s password is hacked every three seconds, with adults aged 60 and older, women aged 30 to 45, CEOs, politicians and sports fans among the most vulnerable candidates.
After a tough year of data breaches for major retailers, social sites and organizations, strong passwords are more important than ever. This has prompted many sites to require certain types of passwords for account creation, but users are often put off by all that complicated memorization. TechCrunch estimated that the average internet user has to remember more than 25 passwords to access sites commonly used on a daily basis. This is likely why so many passwords on 2015’s list were obvious combinations of letters and numbers.
Creating a strong password starts with using a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. If this sounds like it could get too difficult for you, SplashData recommends putting spaces or symbols in between short words so your password is easy for you to remember but harder for others to guess. You should also avoid using the same username and password combination for multiple accounts as well as using a favorite sport, person’s name or birthday in the password.
For even more personal protection consider what tools or services you might invest in to protect your identity. A good identity theft protection service monitors your credit, Social Security Number and public record, and alerts you to certain activity in your credit file that could indicate fraud. You also want to look for a service that provides software tools like keystroke encryption or anti-virus, and education on digital privacy and how you can lower your risk. These tools can bolster your protection as you work to strengthen weak passwords.


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Bobby Kotick, the longtime chief executive of videogame publisher Activision Blizzard told employees Thursday he would take a pay cut and end mandatory arbitration for internal harassment and discrimination claims amid regulatory probes into the company’s culture.
Mr. Kotick, 58 years old, was the second-highest paid chief executive nationwide, earning $154 million in 2020, according to The Wall Street Journal’s annual ranking of pay and performance for leaders of S&P 500 companies.
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In the latest development of its electronic book strategy Microsoft Corp. Wednesday won over more
than 30 book publishers for its production launch program.
Traditional college and mainstream publishers will dispense more than
800 of their books for Microsoft Reader when it launches later this summer.
eBooks will also be offered for sale in barnesandnoble.com’s
The production launch program offers publishers, Microsoft
and other industry partners an early opportunity to test the
functionality of Microsoft Reader and its conversion and production tools.
The book titles made into e-books through the program cover a broad range of
subjects, from contemporary fiction to self-help, travel and other
All books available for sale at the launch of the barnesandnoble.com
eBookstore will run on Microsoft’s new Reader software, which features
ClearType, an innovation that improves the clarity of text displayed on
Windows-based PC and Pocket PC devices.
“We have been able to develop production scenarios and a wide range of
layout and content requirements that could only have been
possible by working with books in print that are now being widely
distributed, rather than public domain works that are already available in
electronic formats,” said Jeff Alger, group program manager of eBooks at
While Microsoft will benefit by gaining access to titles in virtually every
genre, the deal shows that traditional publishing firms are taking steps to
embrace new media. Some of the more prestigious publishers participating in
the launch include academic firms such as Yale University Press, Cambridge
University Press and Columbia University Press.
“In this new century, many of our new customers will be reading chapters and
whole books in digital rather than printed form. AMACOM’s goal is to make
our books available to customers around the globe in as many formats as
possible,” said Rosemary Kane Carlough, vice
president of Intellectual Property and Web Strategy at the AMACOM Publishing
Division of the American Management Association.
Microsoft Wednesday also lassoed publishing software maker Quark to help in its production scheme. The
companies plan to work together to build a Quark XTensions software module
for avenue.quark — an enhancement to QuarkXPress that allows printed
content to be repurposed for the Web and other media outlets.
Microsoft hopes QuarkXPress 4
will easily convert content to Microsoft Reader format for multiple devices.
The deal is the second eBook play in as
many weeks. Last Tuesday, Microsoft teamed with Simon & Schuster and
barnesandnoble.com to test the offering of electronic books on pocket PCs.
In that deal, the behemoth arranged for 15 Star Trek titles to be
downloaded from Barnes & Noble.com for users of the Microsoft Reader
application on the pocket PC.


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Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) called on Congress to stop the sugar industry’s “sweetheart deal” by ending subsidies.
“The sugar program is a sweetheart deal for a small group of sugar growers and processors that’s costing our country jobs and hurting our economy, and it’s time we pass the Sugar Reform Act to put money back in the wallets of American families, businesses and taxpayers,” Shaheen said Friday.
“It's time to end the government's wasteful sugar program,” Toomey said. “I believe that Congress can and will eventually rein in our flawed sugar policies.”
Congress recently passed a five-year farm bill that continued sugar subsidies for major growers and producers.
The senators said nearly $300 million taxpayer dollars went to the sugar program in 2013 while U.S. candy makers have moved jobs overseas.
“Big sugar has cost American consumers more than $130 million in the past 15 years, and it's time for real reform,” Kirk said. “Senators Shaheen, Toomey and I will continue working to ensure no more American jobs are lost because of the costly sugar lobby.”


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Yahoo acquires ad-service, URL-shortener Bread
Published on Oct 13, 2013 3:25 PM
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Yahoo said on Saturday that it acquired tech company Bread, a URL shortener that allows users to design then target advertisments to readers who click on their links.
"Through this acquisition, we're gaining a team of six engineers and product managers who will join our advertising technology organization in Sunnyvale," a Yahoo spokesperson said.
Bread, which has already been shuttered, allowed users to make and insert ads that people clicking through to a shortened link's webpage would have to view, according to media.
"When we launched Bread in 2011, our goal was to help social media influencers and publishers better monetize their online content," the company said in a statement.
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Faraday seeing growth in 28nm chip market
Apr 28, 15:55
Faraday Technology, a Taiwan-based ASIC design service and IP provider, has expressed optimism about 28nm chip market growth. The company has received new orders for 28nm NRE (non-recurring engineering) designs.
UMC to roll out 22nm process as early as 2018
Apr 28, 11:46
Foundry chipmaker UMC has disclosed plans to roll out 22nm process technology as early as 2018. UMC has started IP development for its 22nm process, and expects to introduce the node technology in 2018 or 2019, the foundry said at its recent investors meeting.
PTI eyeing to become largest backend house in Japan
Apr 28, 11:44
Powertech Technology (PTI) will strive to become Japan's largest backend house following its acquisition of Micron Akita and a majority stake in Tera Probe, according to DK Tsai, chairman and CEO for the Taiwan-based company.
SPIL posts profit drop in 1Q17
Apr 27, 11:10
IC packager Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) has reported net profits of NT$996 million (US$33.1 million) for the first quarter of 2017, down 64.8% sequentially and 37.9% on year. EPS for the quarter came to NT$0.32.
UMC expects flat performance in 2Q17
Apr 27, 11:08
United Microelectronics (UMC) expects its wafer shipments and ASPs to stay flat sequentially in the second quarter of 2017, when the foundry chipmaker's capacity utilization rate will fall to 90-93% from 96% in the first quarter. Gross margin will climb to about 25% from about 20% in the prior quarter,...
SMIC reportedly hires former TSMC R&D exec
Apr 26, 22:00
Speculation has emerged that Mong-song Liang, formerly a senior director of R&D at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) advanced modules technology division, will work for Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) starting May.
Micron talks about its integrated global operations
Apr 26, 15:37
Micron Technology has been actively allocating its global resources to enhance its DRAM and NAND flash product lines, according to Wayne Allan, VP of global manufacturing at the US-based memory chip vendor.
PTI looks to sequential revenue growth through 4Q17
Apr 26, 11:09
Packaging and testing company Powertech Technology (PTI) expects to post mid single-digit sequential growth in revenues for the second quarter of 2017, said company president JY Hung at a April 25 investor meeting. Revenues are set to enjoy sequential growth through the last quarter of the year.
Ardentec breaks ground for new plant in Nanjing
Apr 25, 15:05
Taiwan-based Ardentec, which specializes in testing services for logic and memory chips, has recently broken ground for a new plant in Nanjing, China where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is also constructing a new 12-inch fab.
TSMC talks about its next growth drivers
Apr 25, 11:40
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is seeing robust growth in demand from the mobile computing, automotive electronics, IoT and high-performance computing sectors, and is striving to maintain its technology leadership in the foundry segment, according to company co-CEO Mark Liu.
AMEC aims to grow revenues to CNY2 billion in 2020
Apr 24, 11:28
Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) aims to grow its revenues to CNY2 billion (US$290.4 million) in 2020, and is striving to be among the world's top-5 semiconductor equipment suppliers by 2050, according to Gerald Yin, CEO for the Shanghai-based chip equipment maker.
Taiwan March unemployment rate down, says DGBAS
Apr 24, 11:21
Taiwan had 445,000 jobless citizens in March 2017, equivalent to an unemployment rate of 3.78% which dropped 0.07pp on month and 0.11pp on year, according to statistics released by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) on April 24.
Global billings for semi equipment makers reach 16-year high in March
Apr 24, 10:59
North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted US$2.03 billion in billings worldwide in March 2017 (three-month average basis), according to SEMI. The billings figure is 2.6% higher than the revised February level of US$1.97 billion, and 69.2% above the March 2016 billings level...
Samsung completes qualification of 2nd-gen 10nm process technology
Apr 21, 13:57
Samsung Electronics has announced that its second-generation 10nm FinFET process technology, 10LPP (Low Power Plus), has been qualified and is ready for production. With further enhancement in 3D FinFET structure, 10LPP allows up to 10% higher performance or 15% lower power consumption compared to...
Several China 12-inch fabs put construction on hold
Apr 21, 11:42
Several 12-inch fab projects implemented by China-based emerging chipmakers have been put on hold raising speculation about the country's overambitious plans to revamp the local chipmaking industry.
Taiwan March export order value up, says MOEA
Apr 20, 22:30
Taiwan received export orders worth US$41.12 billion in total in March 2017, increasing 21.8% on month and 12.3 on year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on April 20.
Intel to unveil Basin Falls, launch Coffee Lake ahead of schedule
Apr 19, 15:23
Intel will unveil its Basin Falls platform, i.e. Skylake-X, Kaby Lake-X processors and X299 chipset, at Computex 2017 in Taipei during May 30-June 3 two months earlier than originally scheduled, and will bring forward the launch of Coffee Lake microarchitecture based on a 14nm process node from January...
Intel to build second Spreadtrum chip
Apr 19, 14:56
Intel and Spreadtrum Communications have extended their foundry ties under which Intel will start making another 14nm chip for the China-based mobile SoC supplier, according to industry sources.
Taiwan science parks post January-February revenues of over NT$358 billion
Apr 18, 21:26
Government-developed and run Hsinchu Science Park (HSP), Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) and Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) generated combined revenues of NT$358.506 billion (US$11.8 billion) in January-February 2017, growing 14.43% on year, according to statistics released by the Ministry...
Certification service provider IST posts NT$0.55 EPS in 1Q17
Apr 18, 21:04
Certification service provider Integrated Service Technology (IST) has reported net profits of NT$33 million (US$1.1 million) for the first quarter of 2017, up 61.8% sequentially but down 58.7% on year. EPS for the quarter came to NT$0.55.
USI reports increased earnings for 2016
Newswatch - Apr 18, 15:20
Universal Scientific Industry (Shanghai), a subsidiary of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE), has reported net profits of CNY806 million (US$116.98 million) for 2016, increasing 5.8% from a year earlier.
Gartner raises 2017 chip market outlook to 12% growth
Apr 17, 11:43
Worldwide semiconductor revenues are forecast to total US$386 billion in 2017, an increase of 12.3% from 2016, according to Gartner. The prediction is up from the research firm's previous estimate of a 7.2% increase.
PTI to buy Micron backend plant in Japan
Apr 17, 11:12
Taiwan-based Powertech Technology (PTI), a backend house specializing in NAND flash and DRAM memory chips, has announced plans to fully acquire Micron Akita, Micron Technology's assembly and test plant in Japan.
28nm to be SMIC growth driver in 2017
Apr 17, 10:50
Semiconductor Manufacturing International's (SMIC) sales generated from 28nm process technology will play an important source of company growth during 2017, according to the China-based pure-play foundry.
Over 100,000 wafers embedded with eMemory NeoEE IP shipped
Apr 14, 12:18
Embedded NVM IP provider eMemory Technology has shipped more than 100,000 wafers embedded with its NeoEE IP solutions, according to the company. The eMemory NeoEE IP has been successfully implemented in foundries worldwide for a variety of applications including fingerprint sensors, 2.4G wireless ICs,...
TSMC cuts foundry growth outlook for 2017
Apr 14, 12:14
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has revised downward its forecast for 2017 global foundry growth to 5% from 7% due to elevated inventory in the supply chain.
Zhaoxin to partner with TSMC
Apr 12, 11:36
Shanghai Zhaoxin Semiconductor is scheduled to roll out its in-house developed ZX-D series processors that will be built using a 28nm process technology by Shanghai Huali Microelectronics (HLMC) in the second half of 2017, according to company vice president Cheng Fu.
China fab toolmakers targeting advanced-node production
Apr 12, 11:32
Naura Technology (formerly Beijing Sevenstar Electronics) has started shipping ion etch equipment for the manufacture of 14nm chips to chipmakers, while Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) is being engaged in the development of etch tools for the production of 5nm chips, according to industry...
Tsinghua Unigroup breaks ground for Nanjing plant
Apr 11, 10:45
Tsinghua Unigroup has recently broken ground for a memory plant in Nanjing which will be engaged in the manufacture of 3D NAND flash and DRAM chips, according media reports from China.
Certification service provider IST posts record March revenues
Apr 11, 10:37
Certification service provider Integrated Service Technology (IST) saw its March revenues climb to a record high of NT$243 million (US$7.9 million), while revenues at fellow company Material Analysis Technology (MA-tek) climbed 16.3% on year to NT$137 million.
ChipMOS 1Q17 revenues slip 2%
Apr 11, 10:27
ChipMOS Technologies, a backend house targeting the LCD driver IC and memory chip sectors, saw its first-quarter revenues slip about 2% sequentially and outperform its estimate of a 4-8% sequential decrease.
Taiwan sees increased March export value, says MOF
Apr 10, 23:43
Taiwan recorded total export value of US$25.71 billion for March 2017, increasing 13.5% on month and 13.2% on year, while the corresponding total import value of US$21.78 billion grew 12.8% on month and 19.8% on year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on April 10.
ASE 1Q17 revenues rise 6.7%
Apr 10, 23:38
IC packager Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) saw its consolidated revenues increase 6.7% from a year earlier in the first quarter of 2017, while sales generated from its core IC ATM (assembly test and material) business grew 8% on year.
TSMC 1Q17 revenues miss guidance
Stockwatch - Apr 10, 16:15
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) saw its first-quarter revenues miss its target range, whereas fellow foundry companies United Microelectronics (UMC) and Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) both managed to meet their guidance.
PTI revenues increase in March
Stockwatch - Apr 10, 15:56
Powertech Technology (PTI) has reported consolidated revenues of NT$4.268 billion (US$139.35 million) for March 2017, representing a 6.61% increase on month and 19.71% increase on year.
SPIL, KYEC March revenues increase
Apr 10, 11:20
IC packaging and testing houses Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) and King Yuan Electronics Company (KYEC) have reported on-year revenue growth of 3.9% and 6.7%, respectively, for March 2017.


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Bass Pro Shops to host Spring Classic
Bass Pro Shops is dedicated to ensuring families continue to have fun outdoors through their exciting, educational events such as the Spring Fishing Classic. Last year, more than 5 million people attended this event at Bass Pro Shops stores across America and Canada and this year promises to be even bigger. And, it is at a price everyone can afford -- free.
The 17-day event begins Feb. 25 and goes until March 13 at 50 of the Bass Pro Shops retail stores in the United States. There are new fishing products to browse through, live demonstrations to see, new tips and techniques to learn, music and entertainment, boat shows, and kids events. Attendees can also enter to win a free fishing vacation and other great prizes.
Anglers will be able to learn the secret techniques and strategies used by the best anglers in the world by attending the Free Fishing University seminars and tank demonstrations going on Feb. 25-27. See and hear experts like nine-time BASS Angler of the Year Roland Martin, four-time BassMaster Classic Champion Rick Clunn, legendary angler and TV host Bill Dance, America’s favorite fisherman and TV host Jimmy Houston, three-time BassMaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam, and many more.
For more information, visit www.basspro.com/classic.
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Floresville tennis team wins in Victoria (August 26, 2015)
Volleyball scores (August 26, 2015)
Crime Stoppers golf tourney set for Sept. 19 (August 19, 2015)
Kosciusko Open ends with playoff (August 19, 2015)
Meet the Bears rally Thursday (August 19, 2015)
Texas A&M’s Kyle Field reopens with music, fireworks (August 19, 2015)
Volleyball scores (August 19, 2015)
Clements to play football for Hawaii (August 12, 2015)
FC cheerleaders host golf tourney (August 12, 2015)
JK Memorial golf tourney next month (August 5, 2015)
La Vernia Fall Ball (August 5, 2015)
Poth boosters plan golf tourney (August 5, 2015)


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Furthermore, rumours are such that HMD Global may not use the metallic build for the Nokia 2, considering the fact that the smartphone could be an ultra affordable one.
The smartphones will range in price from €149 for the Nokia 3 up to €249 for the Nokia 6.
Earlier reports have hinted at Nokia 3310 with 3G support, and new evidence makes the new phone's arrival imminent.
Nokia 8, the flagship phone from Nokia is expected to launch on August 16 in India.
The need for an entry-level phone will be fulfilled by Nokia 2, while the flagship phone would be the upcoming Nokia 8.
Nokia 8 launch event will be held on August 16 and it is expected that HMD global will reveal Nokia 8, the Flagship phone of Nokia. The handset comes with a 2.4-inch display with curved screen and packs in more than 16MB internal storage. According to the recent leaked price of Nokia 8 also leaked and it was with a price tag of Euro 589 (approximately Rs.43,400). Its standout features include a smart audio amplifier, dual speakers powered by Dolby and a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. According to the leak, the phone's design will share an uncanny resemblance with Nokia Limia 620. Additionally, it is also observed that the Nokia 2 runs on the Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS. During this press meet, the company is expected to unveil their new collaboration with Carl Zeiss optics.
First, the Nokia 8 will launch globally just like the previous Nokia Android phones.
As per the popular leakster on Twitter, the new Nokia 8 is expected to come in Blue, Silver and Gold color variants.
It is rumored that the new Nokia 8 will come with the following specs, a dual-camera system with 13-megapixel sensors and Carl Zeiss optics.
Teigen was proud to announce Monday morning that Trump finally got exhausted of seeing her trolling techniques after nine years. Teigen has never been one to back down from adversity, so somehow, someway, she will probably survive this.
A new rumor, however, suggests that the All-Star might be willing to waive his no-trade clause for a third team. Carmelo Anthony and the Thunder "are officially circling each other " according to Bill Simmons of The Ringer.
Swiss police had earlier admitted they did not know where Wrousis had gone, and he could have crossed into Germany. Authorities say the suspect has previous convictions for weapons offenses and has no fixed residence.
Various Israeli security officials are holding talks with their Jordanian counterparts also in an attempt to resolve the matter. Two Jordanians were killed and an Israeli wounded in an apparent attack on the Israeli embassy in the Jordanian capital.
After the Iranian ship did not respond to the various signals, the US boat fired warning shots in an attempt to avoid a collision. US Naval Forces Central Command has said the Iranian vessel stopped it's unsafe approach after the shots were fired.
The girl, who researchers did not identify, started on HIV drugs when she was 2 months old and stopped 40 weeks later. The other two children who have had similar successful outcomes were in France and Mississippi.
Of course, adding any one of the Suns first-round picks including Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, or even T.J. Warren will give the Cavs a young talent it could develop if LeBron bolts for another team after the 2017-2018 season.
Moto Z2 Force has been one of the most sough smartphone since last month when Moto Z2 Play was launched kicked off the Z2 series. For a limited time, buyers will get a free Insta-Share Projector Moto Mod , a $299 value, via mail.
He reiterated that Russia believes the restrictions are "counterproductive" and are harming both USA and Russian interests. But Russian officials said it was too early to tell how they would respond to any imposition by President Donald Trump.
"In conversation with the chief today, she and I agreed that she would step aside to make way for new leadership", Hodges said . But that doesn't explain the death of an unarmed woman in pajamas dying as she approaches a police vehicle .
Pope prays for ill baby Charlie Gard and parents
Judge Nicholas Francis said Tuesday that the hearing would resume Wednesday and that he expects to issue a ruling later that day. Very few people who develop the condition in infancy survive to their teenage years, and there is now no known treatment for it.
Andrew Luck Placed on the PUP List
Luck had surgery to fix a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder and only began throwing last week. The same is true of defensive lineman Kendall Langford and offensive lineman Brian Schwenke .
Army Injures 21 Palestinians Near Al-Aqsa Mosque, In Jerusalem
Tensions over the site, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, have increased in the few days. The mosque was reopened after a two-day closure, with Israel installing metal detectors and cameras at the mosque's gates.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 To Come In More Colors Than Expected
This month, Samsung fans have been sharing a "leaked" picture of what they believe is the brand new handset across the web. Which new features will be incorporated into the Samsung Galaxy Note 8? This smartphone comes in two colors, Black & Gold.
Jason Garrett, Cowboys were unaware Lucky Whitehead was arrested
The Cowboys' selection of Ryan Switzer in the fourth round made Whitehead a long shot to return to the Cowboys for a third season. But making matters worse, Whitehead was ordered to appear in court on July 6 and according to court records, he didn't show.
Jordan Spieth emerges from epic duel to win British Open
Tiger Woods had a vicious lip-out in his bid for 62 in the second round of the 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills. Open , with his third-round score of 63 against par-72 to set against Grace's third-round score of 62 against par-70.
Everything You Missed in the GAME OF THRONES Comic-Con Trailer
That, my friends, is something worth fighting for, especially when women are so frequently underestimated on Game of Thrones . As part of the annual Game of Thrones panel at Comic-Con International, HBO dropped a new trailer for the seventh season.


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Coca-Cola to plant 5 million orange trees
- Staff Tampa Bay Business Journal
The Coca-Cola Co. will spend $2 billion to plant orange trees on 25,000 acres of Florida land.
The announcement was made at the company’s juice production plant in Auburndale just east of Lakeland.
Coca-Cola said the fruit will be grown by two growers, Peace River Citrus Products in Vero Beach and Cutrale Citrus, based in Brazil, the Tampa Tribune said. This marks Cutrale’s first effort at growing oranges in Florida.
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) owns Minute Maid and Simply juice brands. The decision to plant what will be about 5 million trees marks a major infusion to the citrus industry in the state which has seen the amount of acreage used for citrus decline in recent years, the Tribune said.
John Sicher, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest, said the move demonstrates a concerted effort by Coca-Cola to attract customers who are seeking drinks with “health, wellness and natural attributes.”
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Angels & Cowboys has released their Rosé 2015.
The first vintage came out in 2013. Sales of the brand have already increased tenfold in three vintages, the company reports.
Consumers continue to be drawn to a dryer, crisp style of rosé that can be consumed year round. According to a 2015 Nielsen report, “U.S. retail sales of premium imported rosé wines (those priced at or above $12 a bottle) grew by 41 percent on volume and 53 percent on value in 2014.” Angels & Cowboys’ rosé production doubled from 2014 to 2015.
This dry rosé features flavors of citrus blossoms. It is well matched with seafood dishes like ceviché, and is an ideal picnic sipper.
The suggested retail price is $20 per 750-ml. bottle.


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JPMA refutes media reports about dangers of baby bottle materials
MT. LAUREL, N.J. The media has been asked by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association to halt stories with claims of purported negative health effects from using baby products containing bisphenol A (BPA). JPMA claims that statements of ill health linked to items containing BPA are often misleading and frighten consumers.
According to JPMA, research has shown that when used properly, products made with BPA do not pose a health threat.
Robert Waller, Jr., the president of JPMA, said, “JPMA is extremely disappointed in the media for speculating that Health Canada’s assessment of BPA would recommend labeling the chemical a dangerous substance, when in fact the report has not even been issued yet.”
Claims in the media have stated that risk may come from the plastic shields on pacifiers, parts of baby bottles or sippy cups being broken down or chewed, and then ingested with food or saliva. Scientific findings indicate that BPA may cause estrogenic effects in laboratory animals, and so concerns about the safety of baby products, especially bottles, has been under scrutiny.
JPMA, whose mission is to educate consumers and industry professionals about juvenile products and safety, is referring consumers to its Web site, www.babybottles.org, for more information on BPA and related health findings.
Medicine Shoppe opens 100th in-store diabetes center
ST. LOUIS Medicine Shoppe International recently celebrated its 100th store operating a Specialized Care Center for diabetic patients. The centers offer education and counsel from pharmacists, who receive certification as diabetes managers, as well as products specifically for people with diabetes.
“There currently are nearly 15 million diagnosed cases of diabetes in the U.S., plus an estimated six million undiagnosed cases,” said Keith Cook, vice president of pharmacy solutions for MSI. “As this population grows, so too does the opportunity and challenge of helping customers with diabetes. People with diabetes need pharmacies where healthcare professionals can dedicate enough time to provide thorough education on proper diabetes management. It is our goal to be a destination for these individuals.”
In order for pharmacists to qualify as diabetes manager, they must pass an intensive certification program entitled “Pharmaceutical Care for Patients with Diabetes,” a program developed by the American Pharmacists Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators.
Pharmaca acquires Seattle pharmacy
SEATTLE Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy has acquired Morton’s Pharmacy in Seattle, a 46-year-old neighborhood store. The purchase is expected to be complete by the end of May and will bring Pharmaca’s store count to three in Seattle.
“I felt an obligation to sell to someone who would continue dedicated service to my loyal customers,” said Morton’s owner Bill McNary. “They [Pharmaca] are a good fit for this area of Seattle.”
Pharmaca, based in Boulder, Colo., opened its first store in Seattle in 2002 and a second in June 2007. The acquisition will give Pharmaca a total of 22 stores ranging from Seattle to Albuquerque, N.M.


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Germany-based BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, has opened a new R&D centre in Ansan, South Korea. The new facility houses a Consumer Electronics Competency Centre and a combined R&D team from BASF’s recent acquisition of Belgium-based Solvay’s polyamide business.
Andy Postlethwaite, senior vice-president of performance materials, Asia-Pacific, at BASF, explained in a company press release: “The new facility is a clear signal of our commitment to support our customers in developing innovative solutions. Pursuing innovation in new products and applications is our goal. We will leverage the extensive know-how of the combined business to develop advanced customer-oriented material solutions, as well as to drive more projects with our customers.”
The company’s recent acquisition of Solvay’s polyamide business has strengthened the company’s R&D capabilities and enables it to better serve its customers in Asia-Pacific. The new R&D team in South Korea will complement the company’s existing R&D operations in Shanghai.


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Hartley Charlton / MacRumors: Kuo: camera bump on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max smartphones will increase about five percent in each dimension due to a larger 48MP sensor — The increased size of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max’s rear camera array is due to all-new 48-megapixel Wide camera […]
Faiz Siddiqui / Washington Post: Sources detail NHTSA’s difficulties regulating Tesla as it rolls out self-driving features, resorting to threats and flattery in exchanges with Elon Musk — SAN FRANCISCO — The first time Washington regulators tried to investigate Tesla’s Autopilot software, CEO Elon Musk was irate.
Christopher Mims / Wall Street Journal: How global supply chains are morphing into “supply webs”, as the pandemic, trade wars, and geopolitical conflicts force tech companies to become more resilient — Supply chains are designed to be cost-effective, but not necessarily resilient. Companies are transforming …
Shannon Bond / NPR: Researchers identify thousands of computer-generated profile pictures being used on fake LinkedIn profiles for lead generation and product promotion — Loading… At first glance, Renée DiResta thought the LinkedIn message seemed normal enough. — The sender, Keenan Ramsey …
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Apple Pay will no longer support Russian card payment system Mir, closing a loophole that let Russians continue to use the service amid economic sanctions put on the country, according to a report from Reuters. “Apple has informed NSPK [Russia’s National Payment Card System] that it is suspending […]
Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images The Academy Awards return this weekend to celebrate a standout year of film releases. With vaccinations now widely available, theaters saw record-breaking ticket sales as moviegoers seemed more willing to return to auditoriums to watch highly anticipated releases. But theaters haven’t completely edged out streamers — Netflix swept […]
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Apple is reportedly planning to release an iPad Pro with the rumored M2 chip sometime between September and November of this year, according to Apple tracker Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter. Gurman expects Apple to issue a major update for the upcoming generation of iPad Pros, which will […]
Users could previously watch delayed simulcasts for free on Crunchyroll. | Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Crunchyroll will no longer offer free ad-supported streaming for newly-released episodes, the anime streaming service announced in an update on its site (via Gizmodo). Viewers who want to watch episodes of new or continuing series […]
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Amazon workers claim they weren’t all properly alerted as what they thought was smoke filled the third floor at a Bessemer, Alabama warehouse on Friday, according to a report from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) (via Input). While workers on the third floor were told […]
Cars are crashed, martinis are shaken, not stirred, and more.


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Small Business Week (October 16 – 22) is upon us — and it couldn't have come at a more exciting time. Alberta's business sector is humming, and the future continues to look bright as startup communities grow stronger and small businesses gain better access to tools and infrastructure to scale up or bring their new ideas to market faster.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper kicked off Small Business Week on October 16 with these words:
"Our Government is doing its share to support the efforts of small businesses to create jobs and growth in Canada. We are reducing red tape, keeping taxes low and have declared 2011 the Year of the Entrepreneur — highlighting the role entrepreneurs are playing in the success of our country. On behalf of Canadians, I thank small business owners and entrepreneurs for their continued efforts to keep the Canadian economy strong."
There has been no shortage of inspiring business activity in Alberta over the last week. A few notable highlights include:
- Cybera President and CEO Robin Winsor spent the day in Lethbridge on October 17 meeting with representatives from tecconnect, a new facility in Lethbridge designed to attract, incubate and develop technology companies.
- Congratulations to Edmonton, which was recently ranked a top city for entrepreneurs.
- Welcome to AcceleratorYYC, Calgary's first entrepreneur-led co-work space, which officially opened its doors last week.
Happy Small Business Week to all of Alberta's business innovators!


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The real ale campaign group Camra says that British pubs are closing at a rate of 12 per week, and that above-inflation tax on beer is partly to blame.
Lancashire and the West Midlands are most severely affected by pub closures, their study found. Pubs in towns are closing twice as fast as those in the countryside.
Camra is urging people to sign its e-petition calling for an end toabove-inflation beer tax increases in response to a 42% increase in duty since2008. More than 33,000 have signed up so far.
The group's chief executive Mike Benner said: "Pubs are so central to our society that whole communities can grow around a particular pub. A threat to the future of traditional pubs is therefore also a threat to countless social groups within Britain that thrive because of their local."


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Criminals are "bombarding" homeowners with fraudulent offers to try and cash in on the cost of living crisis, a leading property association has warned.
The National Association of Property Buyers say the number of scams has now reached epidemic proportions – and will only increase in 2023 as the push to Net Zero gathers pace.
Both the UK and Scottish Governments are committed to the drive, although homeowners north of the Border are being pushed harder by the SNP/Green administration.
NAPB spokesman Jonathan Rolande said: "There are more and more scams out there and fraudsters are becoming so much more sophisticated in the way they target their victims.
"As well as out-and-out cons linked to offers on green energy and insulation, criminals are now using creative marketing which imply Government backing.
"Some of the scams we’ve seen are linked to subsidies such as scrappage schemes for boilers or grants for insulation. Very often these take the form of discounts on already inflated prices.
"Unsolicited texts and emails, which are increasing in number too, should be treated with suspicion. Many scammers use these to prey on those hoping to save money on their spiralling energy costs. It’s reached epidemic proportions."
The NAPB warning comes after one watchdog warned the number of households being offered fake green home improvements had nearly doubled in a month.
85 per cent increase in green energy scams
Trading Standards said fraudsters were trying to capitalise on the push towards Net Zero, which is being pursued more rapidly in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK.
An analysis of 10,000 call-blocking devices showed an 85 per cent month-on-month increase in scam artists offering households bogus grants for solar panels, loft insulation, spray foam, double or triple glazing and new boilers.
Trading Standards said households also faced an "onslaught of calls" from scammers trying to capitalise on rising energy prices.
Matthew Upton, of Citizens Advice, said: "Anyone can be a victim of a scam and you shouldn't feel embarrassed if you're caught out. Reporting your experience gives us the best chance of fighting back and stopping fraudsters in their tracks."
- SNP minister REFUSES to apologise to Scots who will lose money due to change in winter payments
- Nearly half of Scots cutting household spending due to energy bills, study finds


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Food Commission press releases
This page provides an archive of press releases from the Food Commission and The Food Magazine, 1998 to 2008. Many of the stories from our independent research and scrutiny of the food industry and its effect on our health and on the environment have made national and sometimes international news headlines.
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
Leading food manufacturers are accused today of misleading consumers by marketing 'junk' foods with added vitamins and minerals as healthy foods. (09/10/1999)
British beekeepers could find themselves unwittingly selling illegal honey if their bees visit trial sites of GM oilseed rape, as the crop has not been approved for human consumption. (09/10/1999)
It is unacceptable for some supermarkets and food companies to say their food is 'free of genetically modified (GM) ingredients' and then allow a 'tolerance level', in some cases up to 2%, of GM material. (30/06/1999)
Over thirty five ingredients and additives derived from genetically modified crops are present in our foods but do not need labelling, according to a report from the Food Commission. (31/03/1999)
The international scientific agency charged with assessing the safety of the genetically engineered milk-boosting hormone rBST has been manipulated, according to a respected observer of the assessment process. (31/03/1999)


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Tesla Motors' shares barely budged on Friday following news that U.S. regulators opened an investigation into the automaker due to a fatal crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into the "Autopilot" feature in Tesla's Model S cars, and this examination is the first step that may lead to recalling vehicles if declared unsafe.
"This is the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles where Autopilot was activated. The customer who died in this crash had a loving family and we are beyond saddened by their loss," Tesla said in a release.
The San Francisco-based company closed at $216.50 on Friday, up nearly 2 percent. The company's shares have dropped nearly 10 percent this year.
Tesla year to date


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EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENTS
Novia has been trusted to bring innovative presentation, meeting, teaching and learning solutions for Swiss businesses and education for 25 years through a certified reseller channel. Our strategic alliances with industry-leading companies allow us to ensure that we offer the highest quality and most innovative products to create unique solutions that will take collaboration and teaching spaces to the next level, facilitating interaction among participants and increasing productivity.
25 YEARS MOVING IDEAS
We’re excited to be celebrating our long-standing position in the industry as we continue to innovate and introduce reliable solutions for your collaborative spaces. Stay tuned!
Our News And Events
Nureva Inc., an innovator of advanced audio conferencing solutions, announces that its HDL310 and HDL410 audio conferencing systems are now certified for Barco ClickShare CX-20, CX-30 and CX-50 Gen 2 wireless presentation and conferencing devices.
Nureva is all about easy. That’s why they design plug and play audio solutions that require little time to install and maintain. And that’s also why they are always coming up with new ways to deliver on their simplicity promise. Case in point – the device setup tool they’ve just added to…
Nureva Inc., an innovator of advanced audio conferencing solutions, announces a North American distribution agreement with Axeos for a custom mount. It’s designed to hold the Nureva® HDL300 and HDL310 microphone and speaker bar above a display.
Interested in evaluating our products and solutions?


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Pfizer employs about 500 people in research facilities around St. Louis, according to the St. Louis Business Journal. A shift at the very top of the corporation comes at a trying time for the drugmaking giant.
A trade mission led by Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon heads to Taiwan and South Korea later this month.
The primary reason for the trip will be the signing of a letter of intent sealing Taiwan's purchase of $600 million of Missouri goods.
According to a press release from the Nixon's office, the deal will indicate a roughly 28 percent increase in Missouri exports to Taiwan, to about $88 million.
A Las Vegas-based gaming company has entered a deal to help finance and operate the proposed casino at the Chain of Rocks bridge in north St. Louis. The financing by the numbers:
St. Louis Public Radio is a service of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.


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Playson has partnered with online brand Magic Jackpot in the Romanian market.
Magic Jackpot is an established brand in the country, hosting gaming machines across SuperBet’s retail outlets and launched its online platform last year.
The agreement with Playson will see the provider integrate its games with Magic Jackpot’s online offering, including hit titles Eagle Power: Hold and Win, Solar Queen Megaways, and Burning Wins x2.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, commented: “We’re excited to reveal our latest collaboration in Romania, ensuring we expand our presence in a market that has steadily grown since its regulated online launch in 2015.
“We look forward to working with Magic Jackpot and supplying our games to deliver even greater engagement for its online platform.”


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Mandurah, AU – Jan 27, 2015 – Plan-et app is a new and innovative app that will revolutionize the way businesses and users interact with each other. The app was developed by two Mandurah residents who believe marketing should be simple and more affordable for businesses, while making it easy for locals and users to be more aware of the wonderful businesses around them. This prompted them to make the Plan-et app, which is an app that enables individuals to find out the events and deals happening within their area. To finish development of the last stages of the app and website, they have launched a Kickstarter campaign.
Not only will Plan-et App be a map based app that includes location GPS for web, it will also be used as a strong marketing tool for businesses. The app will be available on Apple iOS and Android to make it accessible through major smartphones. Creators Daniel Goodin and Brandon Read hoped to change the way people navigate and view the magnificent world around them.
Through the app, business can show their location, along with current specials, discounts, and job vacancies. This will attract customers who are looking for this information. The app aims to have minimal user interaction with a list based concept of activities individuals can use to influence their decision. Businesses that want to be part of this can choose from a custom or chosen app category pin on their building location. This will help them stand out from the other businesses around them. There are plans to allow a poster styled advertisement that involved the pin coming off and exposing another level of attraction to the business.
Guests and users within the area who are looking for a fun and exciting thing to do can use Plan-et App to accurately view the location and advertisement through their unique ‘live view.’ The ‘live view’ means users can view this from their smartphone camera to see the location in real-time. All ads are displayed on the Plan-et map from a 2D perspective. The purpose of Plan-et App is to allow businesses a budget-friendly choice to showcase their businesses to the world that will not compromise bottom line numbers. By showing the community and tourist what is going on near them like special restaurants, activities, festivals, accommodations, night clubs, schools, shopping, tourist attractions, and many more things that appeal to tourists., it will draw the attention of many within the area.
This app will revolutionize the way businesses and consumers interact with each other, which will bring them closer together. Even users who are over seas or local can enjoy the Plan-et App for any occasions. This makes it easier for small businesses to reach the desired target markets efficiently, which ensures budgets are spent accordingly.
Now there is a great solution for many who move to a new area and are looking for something to do. Maybe they’re foreigners traveling to this new location that needs to find a safe and secure place to eat and stay. Also, those who are looking for excitement as they travel in certain locations can use this app to get a better understanding of the best things to visit and do in the area.
To make this app a reality and become available to users all around the globe, they need help from supporters. Contributions will go towards finishing the last stages of developing the app and website. Also, it will go to their marketing campaign to bring this incredible app to the world, while offering an affordable way to market their businesses to the world. By adopting this new form of marketing, many businesses will positively influence their bottom line numbers. User can also post what they want to share how they feel to the rest of the nation.
The number of things the company and world could do with this new innovative technology is astounding. With passion and determination, many businesses can use this marketing strategy to bring their business to a new level of success. For as little as $2 a day per business, this makes it an extremely affordable option to effectively market businesses.
Plan-et App campaign is set to end on February 19th, 2015. The goal is to reach $15,000. If they do not reach their goal, then this marketing business solution can take longer to develop and become ready for the world to enjoy!
Make a contribution today at their Kickstarter campaign.
For those who cannot donate, please share this campaign with others. Any effort will help this family realize their dreams.
Company Name: Plan-et of the Apps Pty Ltd
Contact Person: Brandon Read
Phone: (08) 9582 8926
Address:31a Cooper St, MANDURAH


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MICHELLE GRAVES: A time and a place for a cold one
Is drinking in the grocery store, movie theater really necessary?
Have you ever been walking through the grocery store and thought, "I could really use a beer"?
I don't have kids, but hearing an ear-piercing wail from across the store is enough to make anyone cringe and run in the opposite direction.
Shopping with little ones can be a handful, I understand that — my sister has twin 4-year-old girls.
One grocery store chain downstate aims to help with that stress. I read an article last month that said Busch's Fresh Food Market is looking to obtain a Class C liquor license, which would allow for by-the-glass beer and wine sales.
Am I the only one who sees a problem (several, really) with this idea?
I'm sure the grocery chain thinks it's a great idea ... after a few glasses of wine, that steak or lobster may not appear so pricey, right?
The store's director of marketing says the move would help distinguish the chain from its competitors.
"Michigan is a very, very saturated grocery market," he told a MLive reporter. "It's important to stay competitive and one step ahead of competitors."
Sure, it might offer a boost for business, but when did we stop considering safety?
Did a problem with drinking and driving never enter their minds? If this is allowed ... now I might need a designated driver to go grocery shopping?
Law enforcement everywhere has been combating drinking and driving for decades. The Michigan State Police conduct a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign each year.
Drinking a cold one while perusing the grocery aisles might not be reality yet, but you can sip a sudsy brew while watching a film at many movie theaters.
Last year, Celebration! Cinema in Mount Pleasant was among those to start serving alcohol. That theater's system only allows a person to purchase one drink at a time.
Wonderland Cinemas in Niles also started selling adult beverages, however, its system limits customers to two drinks.
Proper ID must be presented to purchase alcohol and when/if a customer goes back a second time, the system flags their name after another scan.
Even still, I don't see the need for alcohol consumption in a movie theater ... or a grocery store.
I'm no prude. I did my fair share of partying when I was younger; I was a Celebration! Cinema customer myself long before the move to selling spirits.
I can honestly say, I've never sat down to watch a movie at a theater and thought, "I could really use a beer. Too bad they don't serve alcohol."
Just because its a legal drug, and apparently laws allow businesses to obtain the license, doesn't mean it's a good idea.
This country has had a long and sordid history with alcohol, and alcoholism and binge drinking run rampant.
Between 2004 and 2013, alcohol-related traffic crashes involving at least one driver over 21 years old who had been drinking, caused an annual average of 1,107 deaths and serious injuries, according to a report from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
In 2015, law enforcement officers in 26 Michigan counties made 532 arrests for drunk driving in a three week period.
Of those arrested, 78 were charged with "Super Drunk Driving," meaning they had a BAC of .17 or higher. The legal limit is .08.
Alcohol is a problem for our youth as well; 1,149 youths age 16 to 20 were admitted to treatment for alcohol in 2013.
What kind of message does it send to our children by having alcohol available in more and more places?
Smoking has been all but eliminated from public establishments, yet we're expanding options for alcohol.
I just don't understand the logic or the need.
Michelle Graves is the managing editor of the Manistee News Advocate and Benzie County Record Patriot. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or (231) 398-3106.