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Reliance Jio Happy New Year 2018 plans have been launched and start at Rs. 149 for prepaid customers. The new offers come with additional data benefit. The Jio Happy New Year 2018 will be available at as low as Rs. 149 where existing and new Jio prepaid users will get unlimited calls, and 4GB data for a month with a validity of 28 days. The new Happy New Year 2018 plans are likely to be announced officially on Monday which is also the last day for Jio's Triple cashback offer.
There's another Rs. 199 prepaid plan where consumers get 1.2GB per day with a validity of 28 days and will have unlimited calls which include local and STD as well as on roaming across the country.
Reliance has also unveiled Rs. 299 plan under which Jio prepaid customers will get 2GB per day data for 28 days and will have unlimited calls. Though, the validity of the pack is said to 28 days.
For users who like more data can also opt for Rs. 399 plan which comes with 70 days validity and offers 1GB per day data. It also comes with unlimited calls.
Rs. 459 plan under "Happy New Year 2018" will come with 84 days of validity and will have 1GB data per day on offer alongside free unlimited calls. Rs. 499 pack comes with 91 days of validity and comes with 1GB per day data benefit. It also comes with unlimited calls pan India. Rs. 509 plan comes with 49 days of validity and offers 2GB per data 4G data alongside unlimited calls.
Apart from additional data benefits, the company will offer free voice, data, unlimited SMS and access to Premium Jio Apps for all Jio Prime Members until March 2018.


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DHL Supply Chain has extended its contract with electrical retailer Dixons Carphone, landing a new three-year deal worth £78m. The contract will see DHL making deliveries to store for the company’s Currys and PC World brands and undertaking home delivery trunking to Dixons Carphone’s 16 customer service centres across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The haulier said it will save Dixons Carphone “millions” with a redesigned network, projects to increase efficiency and collaborative initiatives. These, said DHL, include […]
Bradford-based logistics firm Expect Distribution has closed its two-man e-retail delivery operation, following a number of “operational challenges”.
Last month MT exclusively revealed that Yodel chief executive Jonathan Smith is to leave the parcels firm after two years in charge of the combined DHL Express Domestic UK and HDNL (not to mention 18 months in charge of the DHL business alone). Smith’s CV shows more than 20 years’ experience in parcels, including a spell as chief executive of City Link – before its problematic take-over of Target Express – and a regional director role at British Rail’s parcels […]

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Sky launches 5G network with free access for VIP customers
The telecoms company will piggyback on O2’s infrastructure to bring 5G to 20 UK cities
Sky Mobile has launched its 5G network, offering access to the next-generation of mobile connectivity for free for both new and some existing customers.
The 5G service will initially be available in 20 cities across the UK, including the likes of London, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Derby and Norwich, with a total of 50 coverage locations expected to become available by the summer of this year.
However, it’s worth noting that while 5G will be available in a host of the UK’s major cities, it won’t come in the form of blanket coverage.
Coverage is particularly patchy in London, for example, in some cases only covering the immediate area around tube stations, with very few major landmarks being serviced. According to Sky Mobile’s coverage map, areas such as Mayfair, Covent Garden, Canary Wharf, and most of Westminster, don’t have 5G coverage.
If you or your business is fortunate enough to be in an area covered by Sky Mobile, and you have a 5G-compatible smartphone, then Sky Mobile is offering 5G tariffs for as little as £6 per month, though that only offers 3GB of mobile data. Move up to 9GB of monthly data allowance, and that price also quadruples to £12 per month for the 5G data allowance.
But for customers who are members of the Sky VIP loyalty programme or new customers that join it, access to Sky Mobile’s 5G service is free, though it’s worth noting that the need for a 5G-ready handset can be quite expensive.
While the likes of EE and Vodafone have been leading the charge to deliver 5G to a handful of major UK cities, Sky has been a little slower on the uptake, though this is likely down to it using O2’s 5G network rather than building it’s own; O2’s 5G launch happened in October 2019, a few months after that of EE.
However, Sky Mobile had previously said it would launch its 5G services in November 2019, although IT Pro understands that this was delayed in order to ensure its service was up-to-scratch for its customers.
“We wanted to bring all the benefits of 5G to Sky Mobile customers as early as possible, but we also wanted to take the time needed to make sure that we had the right phones, coverage and network performance to make it a great service before launching,” a Sky Mobile spokesperson told IT Pro.
As more 5G services come to the fore and coverage of the next generation of cellular connectivity increases, more competitively prices mobile packages and generous data allowances can be expected as telecoms companies compete for supremacy in the space.
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With it was difficult for folks in the US to hear last week that the Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update will be here in a couple of “months”, it now looks like there may be more salt rubbed into those wounds.
US Samsung Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update may come after S2 users overseas
Sammobile reports that Samsung Sweden has confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S2 will get the update to Jelly Bean in November. That’s right, next month!
What this means is that the Android Jelly Bean update will be on all of the top end handsets from Samsung before the year is out, outside of the US. Samsung Sweden also said that the Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Note would get the Jelly Bean update in Q4. The update will be available either OTA or through KIES.
The update to Jelly Bean brings many new features, which include, better performance with the help of Project Butter, settings menu that has been reorganised, 2 home screens and a new notification bar, along with Google Now and a pop up play screen.
Given that the Samsung Galaxy S2 is a whole year older than the Samsung Galaxy S3, it is certainly disappointing to hear that S2 users overseas will already be on Jelly Bean while we’re running ICS on our shiny new toys. Common US carriers, pick up the game!


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– An 18-year-old Swiss woman has been found guilty of copyright infringement in
connection with operating a file-sharing site, and given a two-year suspended
jail sentence and pay a fine, TorrentFreak reported.
Record label trade group
IFPI’s branch in Switzerland
produced evidence that the unnamed woman was making available 4,200 songs and
270 movies on a file-sharing network.
If the woman fails to pay the fine — a
sum not mentioned in the article — she will instead have to spend 30 days in
TorrentFreak noted that in a previous case in Switzerland, the administrator of
an eDonkey file-sharing network site was found guilty of copyright
infringement, but the penalty in that case was a fine of just $4,200.


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Local news stories affecting the auto body industry in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska and Wyoming
Five deserving individuals and families from Nevada received their keys to completely refurbished vehicles by the National Auto Body Council (NABC), at its annual Recycled Rides Luncheon on Nov. 2nd at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Speed’s Auto Body, a company founded in 1958, is an established auto body shop to which Portland customers can turn.
The famous quote, "Love what you do and do what you love," rings true for many people in career-technical education programs.
To increase students' chances of landing a job after graduation, Clackamas Community College and Subaru have partnered to bring Subaru University education to the college's Automotive Department curriculum.
Copart, Inc., a global online vehicle auction company, is excited to announce the recent expansion of its Reno, NV, location, one of more than 200 globally.
One Orcutt man’s Friday was made extra special when he was reunited with one of his most prized possessions.
It's almost deer season for hunters, but Oregon's drivers are No. 1 in the West when it comes to run-ins with deer.
Manheim California is gearing up for the third year of its “Flip this Car” project, which enables Valley High School students in Santa Ana, CA, to recondition cars and auction them off.
The city of Vallejo, CA, is known for being the home of the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park, the now-defunct Mare Island Naval Shipyard, the regional office for Region 5 of the United States Forest Service and the birthplace of racing legend Jeff Gordon.
A warehouse fire in New Industrial Kohanaiki Park has left the business owner baffled and frustrated.
The Boyd Group Inc. announced the acquisition of a collision repair center in Issaquah, WA, previously operated as Gilman Auto Body.
The Automotive Body & Painting Association of Hawaii hosted two seminars in September, instructed by Larry Montanez from P&L Consultants.


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Weekly travel agenda: The Savoy reopens
Friday 08 October 2010
This weekend sees The Savoy Hotel reopen as one of London's most iconic establishments, following the most expensive refurbishment in British history. Next week, HM The Queen is set to name Cunard's new ship Queen Elizabeth before it sets sail on her maiden voyage.
The Savoy Hotel reopens
One of the most iconic hotels in the world, The Savoy is set to reopen October 10 after a closure of almost three years. The extensive refurbishment has seen the addition of the Beaufort Bar, a champagne, cocktails and cabaret bar, and Savoy Tea, a bijou teashop and patisserie.
Queen Elizabeth maiden voyage
The maiden voyage of Cunard's latest 2,092 passenger ship sold out in 29 minutes, according to reports, suggesting that the appetite of travelers for grandeur at sea hasn't passed with the decommissioning of the QE2. Queen Elizabeth features a huge shopping arcade, a spa and artwork by the renowned artist David Linley.
TFWA World Exhibition
TFWA is the industry event for the duty free and travel retail world, showcasing the latest new products that will hit airports in the coming months. Five hundred exhibitors will fill 40,000 square meters of space to network and showcase premium products, as well as attending a concert by Mika and keynote speeches from L'Oreal CEO Jean-Paul Agon and branding expert Martin Lindstrom.
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
October 28 - November 1
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
The Fort Lauderdale event celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and the 2010 show is likely to rank again with Dusseldorf and Genoa as one of the largest and most influential shows in the world. The show features everything from green boat technology to fishing tackle, and at 278,000 square meters, is thought to be the largest exhibition in terms of floor/dock space.
Haneda International flights begin
The international terminal at Haneda Airport is expected to welcome its first arrivals October 31, with several large airlines already confirmed to be using the new building. Travelers will enjoy a closer location to Tokyo than the existing Narita, as well as a brand new building and excellent transport connections.
The Setai Fifth Avenue opens
New York, USA
Soaring 60 storeys above New York City, the Setai Fifth Avenue is the latest in a series of landmark hotels that have sprung up in the city this year. Owners claim that its 157 rooms will be among the largest in the city, and the property will also feature a restaurant, bar, fitness center and spa/salon.
World Travel Awards Grand Final Ceremony
The Grand Final of the World Travel Awards marks the culmination of five regional galas that have seen a selection of winners crowned from around the world. The event highlights excellence in the worldwide travel and tourism industry and as such, celebrates some of the outstanding achievements of key organizations and individuals.
Airshow China 2010
The only international aerospace trade show in China that is endorsed by the Chinese central government, Airshow China showcases both Chinese and foreign aircraft and technology. Entertainment comes courtesy of the Pakistan Air Force and Chinese Air Force, both slated to wow the crowds with aerobatic performances.
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Special to The NEWS
In support of Parksville’s local food bank this holiday season, Santa cruised into town and stopped in at Bayview Custom Motorcycles on Saturday, as staff welcomed residents to participate in photos in exchange for food and clothing donations.
“It’s a wonderful thing when the community can come together in support of one another,” said Paul Nielsen, founder and owner of Bayview Custom Motorcycles.
“Just as the community has supported us from the ground up, it’s our duty to support them,” says Nielsen. “All food donations will be taken to Parksville’s local Salvation Army Food Bank, and clothing to the SOS.”
Despite harsh weather conditions over the weekend, moms and dads brought their little biker babes dressed to impress as they sat on Santa’s knee for a photo.
Though not your traditional setup, “We parked the old ’74 shovelhead chopper in the showroom for Santa to sit on,” said Nielsen. “The kids thought it was pretty cool!”
Santa passed out candy canes to kids and even treats to family pets, while parents cruised the shop checking out bikes and custom builds.
While all non-perishables and clothing donations sit under the Christmas tree in the Bayview showroom, the crew at Bayview is openly accepting further offerings leading up to Christmas.
“We sincerely want to thank everyone that has taken the time to donate to the cause thus far,” said Nielsen. “We’ve seen quite a bit of support.”
With boxes overflowing from donations, the guys and gals at Bayview prove benevolence is a team effort.
“We want to share and give the best way we can,” Nielsen said. “We all deserve to have a little something to wake up to over the holidays.”
As contributions continue to find themselves under the Bayview tree, Nielsen said motorcycle enthusiasts aren’t as rough around the edges as they may seem.
“We have a soft spot in our hearts, too,” said Nielsen.
“On behalf of our family here at Bayview Motorcycles, in addition to donations we’ve been able to help support a local woman in need this Christmas, which is what it’s all about. Together the crew raised $500 to help get her on her feet while she gains strength and support to leave the hospital.”
Come the New Year, the crew at Bayview Custom Motorcycles plans the carry-over of support throughout the local community. Nielsen mentions that everyone’s big-heartedness this season has enthralled ideas for 2017.
“We’re planning on starting a ‘Garage Night,’” said Nielsen. “We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable learning about their bikes, how to work on them and feel supported within our motorcycle community, no matter what kind of ride they have.”
Nielsen reminds us this holiday season:
“Sometimes giving a little inspiration to be the change that someone needs in their world is all it takes.”


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South Korea’s LG Chem said it would engage in a joint venture to make electric vehicle (EV) batteries with China’s Tianjin B&M Science and Technology (B&M), which specialises in cathode materials.
B&M’s capital investment in LG Chem’s Gumi EV batteries cathode production plant will result in a 49% stake in the JV with the remaining 51% to be held by LG Chem.
Both partners said they would commit a total of 500 billion won ($403 million) towards the initiative between now and 2025.
The EV batteries JV would be led by Kim Woo-sung, current president of LG Chem’s Gumi site, the South Korean company said.
Vertical Integration System
“The establishment of the joint venture further cements our vertical integration system with key raw materials to produce affordable, high quality cathode materials,” Shin Hak-cheol, the chief executive of LG Chem, said.
He said the JV would focus on manufacturing NCMA (nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminium) cathode materials for next-generation EV batteries.
“We will continue to strengthen our efforts to supply best-in-class EV batteries materials to our customers,” he added.
LG Chem plans to begin initial mass production at Gumi in the second half of 2024. The annual production capacity of 60,000 tonnes will be enough to power about 500,000 high-performance EVs, each with a driving range of 500 kilometres.
- George Russell


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Regional government workers in France are taking part in a pilot test of NFC car key technology. Twelve Renault Twingo cars shared by staff in Toulouse have been equipped to allow the vehicles to be booked and located via a mobile phone. The car doors and ignition are also operated via NFC.
- Mobeam passes 40m in-store transactions
- Apple Pay adds more than 20 US banks
- EMV Migration Forum releases EMV testing and certification white paper
- Samsung Pay adds support from 39 US banks
- The State Bank of Vietnam urges transition to EMV


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When MyPhone announced that MyPhone Iceberg will feature a wireless display feature, we were very excited.
However, it’s only now that the company released the necessary wireless display dongle needed for the feature to work. You can now buy this accessory for Php2,500.
Here’s how MyPhone’s Wireless Display Dongle Works:
|Displaying Plants vs Zombies 2 on a TV from a MyPhone smartphone using MyPhone’s Wireless Display Dongle.
Photo by Dan Villarba Buenaventura and Ryan Mejia.
In order to make this wireless display dongle work, you have to plug it into your TV’s HDMI port. It will then give off a Wi-Fi signal that you need to connect with.
|Photo by Dan Villarba Buenaventura.|
Whatever you see on your phone gets mirrored on your TV.


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American Express will launch its new credit card, made using recovered ocean plastic, to the public in the next 12 months
Credit card giant American Express has become the latest company to cut its plastic footprint, announcing a plan to release a new credit card made from ocean plastic. The card is currently in prototype...
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With the right digital tools, natural capital approaches can transform a business' relationship with nature, argues AECOM's Robert Spencer
A 1.55 magnitude tremor stops work at Preston New Road, just days after operations resumed following a seven-month hiatus


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Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Living Essentials LLC, the makers of 5-hour ENERGY shots, announces the launch of a new carbonated energy beverage in a 16-ounce can. The company announced the beverage this week with simultaneous exhibits and events at the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) convention in Las Vegas, and at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) convention in Chicago.
"5-hour ENERGY is already a top three energy brand, so the addition of the 16-ounce carbonated beverage product is a natural progression," said CEO and Founder Manoj Bhargava in a statement.
The new beverages are available in three flavors: Berry, Grape and Watermelon. The launch flavors are among the most popular of the shot.
Bhargava began the announcement tour at NBWA, where he also is speaking about the new product launch at the opening session of the National Beer Wholesalers Association's annual conference in Las Vegas.
The new 16-ounce beverage will be distributed nationally via independent beverage distributors and other channels. The 2-ounce 5-hour ENERGY shot has nearly 90% market share in the category and is available at more than a quarter-million retail locations, the company says.


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Scrapbookers may love to make their albums look gorgeous, but the Better Business Bureau is warning that a once-reliable embossing firm, Goldstamp Custom Albums, has been disappointing loyal customers recently.
The complaints consumers have filed with the BBB recently are especially troubling because some of the Arnold firm's customers had had good service from the company in the past. But now the firm appears to be falling down on the job, keeping money customers paid without fulfilling their orders.
Online shopping can be convenient, often offering customers more choices and the chance to comparison shop from home. However, if a company undergoes a change of ownership or an owner is unable to fulfill orders, customers may have limited recourse for recovering their money or merchandise.
The BBB can help customers by attempting to get a company to respond to a consumer's complaint. Customers also can challenge a sale with their credit card company if that's how they paid. Here is today's BBB press release about Goldstamp:
St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 12, 2012 – A St. Louis area company that sells specialty scrapbook albums and personalized embossing services has drawn several recent complaints from consumers, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns.
Customers of Goldstamp Custom Albums of Arnold, Mo., say the firm has kept money or personal albums – in some cases for months – without filling their orders. Most complainants claim that they have tried repeatedly to contact the business about the delays, without success.
“I have not heard anything from the company,” said a woman from St. Peter, Minn., who said she mailed seven albums to Goldstamp for embossing work more than two months ago but has been unable to communicate with the firm since then. She valued the items at about $210. “I just want the albums back.”
Goldstamp Custom Albums has an “F” grade with the BBB, the lowest grade possible. The company’s website says it has been in business more than 30 years, but records with the Missouri secretary of state show it was first registered under the name Goldstamp Creations in 1998.
Michelle Corey, BBB president and CEO, said it appears that until recently Goldstamp had a reputation for quality products and service. Some complainants said they had been loyal customers for years until experiencing problems in recent months.
“It’s a shame whenever a good business suddenly goes sour,” Corey said. “Hopefully whatever happened can be fixed, and Goldstamp can get back on the right track.”
A woman in Centennial, Colo., said she sent the company 10 albums for embossing in May, but the work has not been done and the items were never returned. She valued the items at $500.
A customer from Tulsa, Okla., said she had been ordering from the company for about 15 years and had always been pleased with the company’s work. In March, she paid Goldstamp $47 for imprinting work on a personal photo album. More than five months later, “they still have my album.” She said the company is not responding to emails or phone calls. “It’s very
sad, but I will never use them again,” she said.
Another customer, from Westlake Village, Calif., said she ordered a custom album and imprinting work from the firm in late December 2010. Four months later, she filed a complaint with the BBB when the company still had not processed the order. “It was annoying,” she said. “I’ve wasted four months.” She ultimately recovered her $126 payment through her credit card company and paid another firm to do the work.
The BBB has been unable to determine the current owner or owners of Goldstamp. At the time the business was first registered with the Missouri secretary of state, Robert N. Bradshaw was identified as president and Stephen
Bradshaw as secretary.
In February 2006, Stephen P. and Joseph B. Bradshaw were identified as owners of Goldstamp Technologies. The BBB could find no registration for Goldstamp Custom Albums.
The company’s website, www.goldstamp.com, has been suspended in recent days. The site did not identify any company officials or owners, but listed an address of 1243 Water Tower Place, No. 231, a postal box in Arnold. A check of the website registration identifies the registrant and administrator as Stephen Bradshaw.
The BBB has received no response to phone calls or emails to the company. On its website, the company writes, “your complete satisfaction with every order is guaranteed.”
The BBB offers the following tips to consumers ordering merchandise online:
- Order from reputable businesses and be careful of those businesses you know little or nothing about.
- If you do decide to order from an unfamiliar company, try to make direct
contact with a customer service representative by phone or email before
- Pay by credit card whenever possible so that you can challenge the charge
with the credit card company in case there is a problem.
- Get a BBB Business Review by going to www.bbb.org or calling 314-645-3300.


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The 7 percent unemployment rate accompanied a gain of 203,000 jobs
A Needham & Co. report estimates that most cable TV channels would vanish if consumers could—as they say they'd prefer—spend $30 monthly on 15 to 20 channels
Democrats have a lock on the dozen largest cities in the U.S.
It lets customers go off the grid when utilities charge their highest rates and provides a backup during outages
The settlement ends an eight-year legal fight waged by African American brokers
Jeff Bezos's plan to deliver packages via unmanned aerial drones is crazy—which means you shouldn't bet against him
After selling out 5,000 designer Starbucks cards in six minutes last year, Starbucks is offering a mere 1,000 of them at noon on Friday
Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management reclaims the top stop after a two-year absence
Immigrant entrepreneurs and companies with intellectual property are more likely to hire
WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images
By Adam Fusfeld
There are thousands of pro athletes in the U.S. Whether nose guards or power forwards, welterweights or speed skaters, most of them are unknown to all but the most dedicated fans. But for every dozen or so of the anonymous jocks warming the bench or in the basement of the rankings, there is a star. They are the lucky men and women whose skill with a ball, puck, or their hands has made their names and faces known around the world. Some are more powerful than others—by that we mean they not only dominate their sport but also have the presence and personality to help sell billions of dollars' worth of goods and services every year. Such an athlete is Tiger Woods, who, despite ending the year embroiled in scandal, earned the No. 1 ranking in the 2010 Power 100. Woods earned an estimated $103 million in 2009, on and off the golf course, and, at least through last Thanksgiving, was among the most sought-after endorsers on the planet. While his ranking is likely to change in 2010, there are many other elite athletes who will continue to inhabit the influential intersection between sport and commerce. To see the 100 most powerful athletes, read on.


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CHICAGO, Ill. /eNewsChannels/ — NEWS: Super Sikh Comics LLC commenced production of issue #1 of their comic book series after successfully launching Issue #0 at C2E2, Chicago. With over 1,200 copies of Issue #0 sold in a single weekend, the immediate success of “SuperSikh” exceeded all expectations.
Combining science fiction with meditation and spirituality, this comic book is a new unique approach to the genre and bares personal significance to its creators: “Why are the guys that are wearing turbans always the bad guys?” Ravi Singh used to ask his mother when watching Saturday morning cartoons as a child. His mother’s response was, “Go ahead and create your own Superhero.”
A multiracial team of superheroes who activate their superpowers according to their chakras with yoga and meditation, greatly resonated amongst even the youngest fans. In the beginning, Co-Creators Ravi Singh and Amar Dev Khalsa (who is just 15 years old) had a vision to create a comic book about superheroes that children from all ethnic backgrounds within American communities can identify with. The goal was to promote equality and diversity through the means of art.
Over several drafts, artist and owner of Super Sikh Comics LLC, Erik Carillo, developed the design of the main character “SuperSikh” along with his 7 friends, “The Atma Defenders.” Supersikh is sporting a beard and wearing a turban, while working as computer specialist in a modern American society. The antagonist of the story line is not merely a person or evil organization, but “Death” and “The 5 Thieves.”
Jai Nitz, award winning writer of the “Green Hornet,” has agreed to serve as Chairman of Super Sikh Comics LLC Advisory Board: “I am thrilled to bring a multiracial superhero team to fruition. We are excited to hear from the fans on social media.”
Issue #1 is in production and planned to be released in multiple languages in mid 2015.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/fnnihOrdHJE .
More information: http://supersikh.com/ .
This version of news story is Copr. © 2015 eNewsChannels™ (www.enewschannels.com) and the Neotrope® News Network – all commercial and reprint rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in whole or in part without express permission is prohibited.


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Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Monday alongside representatives from Mastercard and Urban Impact the creation of the #BuyBlackBham partnership, an initiative to support local Black-owned businesses in Birmingham during the holiday season.
The mayor’s office said the initiative will serve as “a catalyst in how the community uplifts and supports Black-owned businesses.”
The program will be led by Urban Impact, a local economic development agency, with support from Mastercard and the city.
“We are pleased to partner with Mastercard and Urban Impact to encourage spending with Black-owned businesses. We want this to transition from a campaign into a community of support,” Woodfin said. “I am committed to building a resilient and inclusive economy. This program is one of many to support and grow Black businesses which have been historically under-resourced.”
The campaign officially began this Monday and will continue through Kwanzaa, Jan. 1. The BuyBlackBham website allows for receipts of transactions at Black-owned businesses in Birmingham to be recorded and show the amount of money circulating through the local businesses listed, and allow customers to create a profile to log their receipts and qualify for a raffle of prizes and rewards, according to the mayor’s office.
“Birmingham is one of seven cities where Mastercard is working to close the racial wealth and opportunity gap, taking a concentrated approach alongside local governments, partners and community organizations,” said Miguel Gamiño, executive vice president of global cities for Mastercard. “For Black-owned businesses, the holiday shopping period is one of the most critical times of the year and we’re pleased to support the City of Birmingham and Urban Impact on this important initiative to encourage shopping locally and consciously. Despite the challenges of the past few years, there has been a resurgence of entrepreneurship and innovation and Mastercard is dedicated to helping small businesses adapt, digitize and thrive.”
Mastercard previously included Birmingham as one of the seven cities in the company’s “in Solidarity” initiative, which commits $500 million to close racial wealth and opportunity inequality for Black Americans nationwide.
The “Ascend Birmingham” program, launched in August by the city and Mastercard, likewise seeks to help small “cash only” Black-owned businesses in Birmingham by providing resources for creating websites and digital forms of payments for businesses that qualify.


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New Delhi: Online marketplace Snapdeal
will invest Rs 200 crores on 360 degree marketing
campaign over the next 60 days in a run up to the upcoming festive season, the company said in a statement.
According to some estimates last year cash-rich biggies such as Flipkart
and Snapdeal, Paytm as well as smaller startups, together burned around Rs 2,000 crore in the four months around Diwali as they tried to wean away more consumers from traditional stores to online marketplaces during the all-important festival season.
Snapdeal said the new campaign will be launched next month on television, YouTube, print, digital and social media and will also be seen outdoors on billboards and external installations.
The marketing investments, while timed with the festive season, are also part of a longer term effort to create a distinctive positioning for Snapdeal, the statement said.
"Diwali is the most relevant shopping season in India and we have decided to leverage this opportunity to strengthen our distinct position in consumers’ mind. It is not just advertising, but our whole ecosystem is gearing for the season. Our platform and logistics are geared to handle huge surges as India gets into the festive spirit, while our sellers are readying their stocks to offer the best assortment and choices to our consumers," said Kanika Kalra
, vice president-marketing at Snapdeal.


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The 32-year-old Black Eyed Peas singer is the first global star to consent to product placement in her songs - agreeing to include the provocative clothing line Candie's in her lyrics.
While other artists routinely drop in name brands into their songs or even accept fees to show products in videos, the musician born Stacy Ann Ferguson, who once ripped it up as a child star on "Kids Incorporated," is making history by blurring the lines between jingle and pop song.
Under the deal with Candie's, a skimpy, teen-oriented clothing line, Fergie will be appearing in TV advertisements and also allowing Candie's "style advisers" to dress up fans at her shows. On the Candie's Web site (where the Fergie agenda is endorsed, noting "It's all about the flossy, flossy"), a video of the Californian singer appears prominently on what they call "C-Tube."
While Fergie was on tour last week, her advisers said such product placement marked the future of music.
Read whole article here


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The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant payment dates resume on Tuesday, 19 April 2022, this week beneficiaries will be able to access their money at the South African Post Office (SAPO).
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) have confirmed the Sassa R350 grant payment dates for another week of April 2022. The first allocations for the month April 2022 started on Friday 1 April 2022. On the 1 April 2022, South Africans collected their R350 grants as it was one of the SASSA R350 grant payment dates. The second R350 grant payment date for April took place on Friday 8 April 2022.
No R350 grant payments date for the second of April was because Sassa was busy distributing other Sassa’s permanent grants such as child support grants, disability grants and older persons grants.
There will be four R350 grant payment dates this third week of April 2022. The SRD grant has no fixed payment date, and last three digits of your ID number determine on which days you may collect your R350 grant from the South African Post Office.
No R350 grant payments on Monday 18 April 2022 as it’s a public holiday. Sassa will resume R350 grant payments on Tuesday 19 April 2022. Here are the rest of the R350 grant payment dates for the rest of April following today’s SRD grant payments.
Here Are The R350 Grant Payment Dates For This Week
|R350 Grant Payment Dates for April 2022||ID Numbers|
|Monday, 18th April 2022||No Payment|
|Tuesday, 19th April 2022||082 & 087|
|Wednesday, 20th April 2022||083 & 088|
|Thursday, 21st April 2022||084 & 089|
|Friday, 22nd April 2022||080 & 085|
Before you collect your R350 grant, you should always wait for an SMS confirmation informing you that your SRD grant is ready to be collected.
If you receive your R350 grant pay through a bank account, you must be aware that there is no set R350 grant payment date because Sassa has informed you that you will receive your SRD grant payment.
Do you want to collect your SASSA R350 grant at the South African Post Office? click here for all SASSA status check for R350 payment Dates for April 2022.
Image Courtesy: www.thesouthafrican.com


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American Airlines back on Orbitz
Three days after American Airlines pulled its flight listings from Orbitz, the online travel agency announced Friday that it had reached an agreement to again list the carrier's fares.
American, which pays Orbitz for bookings that come through its site, said earlier this week that fliers no longer would be able to book their tickets on Orbitz because the two companies had failed to reach an agreement on those costs.US Airways, which merged with American last year, was to follow suit Monday.
But Orbitz now says American has returned, and flights and fares to travel on the world's biggest airline would be listed immediately.
"We are pleased that our longstanding relationship with American Airlines allowed us to quickly resolve business matters and that we continue to offer a broad range of options, including American Airlines and US Airways flights, to the millions of shoppers who book travel on our global sites each day," Sam Fulton, president of Orbitz.com, said in a statement.
Orbitz and American have tussled before.
In December 2010, American also pulled its fares off the online site in a dispute that revolved more around American's desire to have Orbitz receive flight information directly from the airline rather than through global distribution systems that traditionally have channeled such information.
During that spat, Orbitz saw its traffic drop roughly 5%, according to Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst for Atmosphere Research Group.
Like this go-round, the two companies soon reached an agreement.


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MONTROSE — Weeks before Glendale police launched an investigation into allegations that former City Councilman John Drayman had embezzled money from a local organization, the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. began to ratchet up financial oversight of its Sunday farmers market, records and interviews show.
The board of directors on April 7 created a “Harvest Market Oversight Committee,” according to minutes of the meeting. In recent weeks, market vendors say they were briefed on a new procedure for the collection and recording of their weekly cash payments.
And on Tuesday, the board voted to hold a special closed session meeting next week to review the Harvest Market budget and operating procedures.
Board members for the association either could not be reached or declined requests for interviews. And Glendale police, who served a search warrant on Drayman’s condominium on May 17, have declined to divulge the organization involved in the investigation.
The weekly market, which was organized and championed by a small group of Montrose tenants, including Drayman, who say it attracts new business to the area, has become a financial black hole for the shopping park association.
For years it has operated in the red, costing thousands more to produce than it brought in. Organizers have defended it as generating additional foot traffic. But many tenants along Honolulu Avenue say it competes with their own businesses or at best doesn’t help, since many of the shops there aren’t open on Sundays.
Until recently, the association’s financial woes were deepening. As of March 3, the market had brought in an average of roughly $600 per week and was forecast to have an annual loss of $52,000, according to a treasurer’s report. In 2007, the market was bringing in more than $1,500 on average each week.
But that all changed shortly after the new oversight committee was created. Suddenly, reported revenues spiked. While a treasurer’s report was not available for April or May, market manager Mark Sheridan said April 10 and 17 were the best revenue generators of the year.
Even Drayman, in an April 17 email to a News-Press reporter, referred to the rise in reported revenues as a “strange, but really terrific” event.
He did not return phone calls seeking comment.
In a later email, Drayman attributed the revenue spike to high gas prices keeping people close to home, and Sheridan said winter months are generally the slowest of the year because of bad weather and the types of produce available.
In the years since he helped create the Harvest Market in 2002, Drayman has maintained an active role in the Montrose Shopping Park Assn. and the market, even after winning a City Council seat in 2007.
A 2008 board roster listed him as “Harvest Market/events coordinator,” and board meeting minutes show he was on the finance committee that prepared the 2009 budget and that he continued to work with Executive Director Dale Dawson on a variety of tasks.
Some vendors said they gave Drayman their cash payments — 10% of their revenues for that day — when other organizers weren’t around to collect the money.
“A couple of times, when Mark [Sheridan] was busy, we would give it to him,” said Charlotte Youngblood, of Youngblood Farms.
Jeff Decker, a Drayman acquaintance, served as manager of the “Thieves Market” section, where clothing, jewelry and other items are sold. A contact number for Decker listed on the association’s website leads to a voicemail recording in which Drayman thanks callers for contacting the Harvest Market.
While Drayman does not currently have a formal position with the association, in his April 17 email he spoke of his active role with the farmers market.
“We have been working extra hard to bring in some great vendors and growers in the past month,” he said.
Weeks later, vendors at the market were introduced to a woman who would be in charge of a more formal method for collecting money.
“That’s all I was told. This is going to be the person collecting the money,” said new vendor Jay Jubal, of Tutti Frutti Farms. “[Sheridan] said, ‘They’re just changing things.’”
Previously, vendors say, the cash collection had been more haphazard.
Beyond a haphazard cash collection system that appeared to rest on whichever organizer happened to be around prior to the change, budget records for the shopping park show that recording the cash was also casual.
Monthly treasurer’s reports from 2008 — the year that market revenues dropped by nearly 60% — show that money went undeposited for months at a time.
Roughly a third of the association’s annual $300,000-budget comes from tax assessments paid by tenants within the associated business improvement district, which the association operates through a contract with the city.
Operating the market cost the association tens of thousands of dollars each year — money some merchants say could be better spent on other promotions.
“For several years now, while I write out a check for the MSP assessment, I feel that the money is not serving the majority of the shopping park,” Ken Grayson, owner of Grayson’s Tune Town and former board treasurer, said in a letter he sent to the city along with his latest assessment check.
Despite the money-losing venture and growing dissatisfaction among Montrose business owners, the association continued to tout its effectiveness and shut out anyone who made critical inquiries about revenues and costs associated with the Sunday event, said several merchants, who declined to speak on the record for fear of retribution.
While the city receives annual budgets from the association board as part of its management contract, the budgets are opaque with minimal break-down of line-item expenses or revenues.
And with few merchants attending the board’s monthly meetings, some local merchants say the closely-knit group goes largely unchecked.
Bylaws were approved in 2008 that reduced the size of the board from nine to six seats, with just four members needed for a quorum. Mary Dawson, wife of Executive Director Dale Dawson, is a member of the board, which approved paying him $12,000 a year for his new position, starting in 2010.
“I have no clue as to who approved that,” said Village Travel Service owner Charles Beatty, who is a member of the shopping park association.
—Bill Kisliuk contributed to this report.


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Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.
11-20-2013, 01:36 AM #1
Trader Receives 30 Month Prison Sentence for $1 Billion Apple Stock Scheme
A Connecticut court recently sentenced former trader David Miller to 30 months in prison for enacting and conspiring on an unauthorized purchase worth $1 billion of Apple stock. The ruling of US District Court Judge Robert Chatigny put an end to the seven-month long case, which saw Miller plead guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy according to Reuters.
For those of you who didnít know, Miller was arrested in December 2012 by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for a fraudulent stock purchase and was subsequently charged with wire fraud. Prosecutors in the case said the trader conspired with one other person to purchase 1.65 million shares of AAPL stock on October 25, 2012, on the chance that prices would rapidly increase after a quarterly earnings announcement scheduled for that day. The second person continues to remain unidentified.
According to the reports, a client had informed Miller to make a buy of 1,625 AAPL shares, worth $1 million. Instead the trader purchased 1,625 million shares worth $1 billion. Millerís former employer Rochdale Securities was reportedly put out of business due to the illegitimate buy. Rochdale ended up facing $5.3 million in losses on top of the unauthorized share purchase, forcing the firm to shut its doors, according to the document from a parallel civil suit involving the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, Miller is said to have persuaded another firm to sell 500,000 shares of Apple stock as a hedge against his billion-dollar bet. Court filings indicate the brokerage, which has remained unnamed, was able to come out of the ordeal with a profit.
11-21-2013, 12:37 PM #2
Wow, so a guy trying to steal $900,000 gets 30 months in prison while poor people trying to steal $400 still may as well be getting their hands cut off in this country.9


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Looting o pagnanakaw, nangyayari na sa Tacloban City
admin • November 11, 2013 • 2848
Ang ilan sa mga residente sa Tacloban City na nangloob sa mga establisyimento upang makakuha ng mga bagay na kanilang mapapakinabangan nitong Linggo, Nobyembre 10, 2013. (REUTERS / Romeo Ranoco)
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Dahil sa hagupit ng super typhoon Yolanda sa Samar at Leyte noong Biyernes ng umaga, nag-iwan ito ng maraming casualty sa ilang bayan ng Abuyog Leyte, Tanauan Leyte, Palo Leyte, Tacloban City at maging sa bayan ng Basey Samar.
Pinangangambahang libu-libong tao ang namatay at patuloy pang nadaragdagan hanggang sa kasalukuyan, at marami pa ang nawawala dahil sa natabunan ng mga nasirang bahay at ang iba naman ay kasamang inanod sa dagat.
Dahil dito, marami ngayon ang nagugutom sa mga apektadong lugar partikular sa lungsod ng Tacloban.
Lahat ng malalaking mall, convenient stores, mga bodega ng bigas, maging mga appliance centers ay sinira at sapilitang pinapasok ng mga tao upang makakuha ng anumang bagay na kanilang pakikinabangan.
Kahit may mga pulis at sundalo na nakabantay ay hindi ito pansin ng mga residente.
Ang mga may-ari naman ng building dahil sa takot na saktan ng mga tao ay iniwanan na lamang ang kanilang mga tindahan.
Sa pagbisita ng Pangulong Binigno Aquino III sa Tacloban kahapon, nabanggit nito na magdagdag ng puwersa ng mga pulis at militar upang mapanatili ang peace and order sa lungsod.
Patuloy naman ang panawagan ng mga ating mga kababayan sa ibat-ibang ahensya na sana’y agad na makarating sa kanila ang tulong partikular na ang pagkain at maiinom na tubig. (Jenelyn Gaquit / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)
India became the latest country after Brazil and Thailand to ban the sale of e-cigarettes in what could potentially be the biggest move against vaping globally over growing health concerns.
The ban, which also covers the production, import and advertising of e-cigarettes, cuts off a huge future market from e-cigarette makers at a time when the number of people smoking worldwide is declining.
“There has been a 77 percent increase in addiction of e-cigarettes among school-going or college-going young adults, teenagers, and children because nicotine addiction is quick and it is harmful as well,” Indian Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Preeti Sudan said.
India has 106 million smokers, second only to China.
The ban could also dash the expansion plans of companies such as Altria, backed Juul Labs, and Philip Morris International into the country.
“$150 billion opportunity, now that’s what is estimated, the nicotine market is going to be, why are we denying our farmers that, why are we denying our citizens a right to a less harmful product, these are questions that I would really like to ask the government,” Praveen Rikhy, Trade Representatives of endsin India said. (Reuters)
Facebook Inc. unveiled new models of its Portal video chatting devices on Wednesday (September 18), making the company’s first foray into TV streaming hardware but offering a limited selection of subscription services.
The launch comes as Facebook is trying to pivot toward more private forms of communication, after years of slowing user growth, data-sharing scandals and calls for change to its hands-off approach to content moderation.
The company is already one of the biggest global players in private messaging, with its WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram apps used by 2.4 billion people each month.
It is keeping the focus of its new Portal line on video calling, adding the capability for WhatsApp calls along with improvements to a wide-angle camera that keeps users in focus as they move about a room.
Facebook is also expanding Portal sales into countries including the UK, France and Australia, while lowering prices to more closely compete with industry-leading smart speakers from Amazon and Google that sell for under $100.
Standard models of the Portal, which ship on Oct. 15, will come in $129 and $179 versions. Portal TV will cost $149 and hit the shelves on Nov. 5.
Facebook is hoping the social nature of its products will be their selling point, allowing users to watch shows together while interacting via video call on the same screen.
“I think that in a couple years’ time, if you have a smart streaming device that doesn’t have a camera allowing you to video call people, you’re not going to have a competitive product,” said vice president of AR/VR Andrew Bosworth. “I think this is the killer feature for a device like this.”
Bosworth also touted privacy protections like local processing of smart features on the devices, which means most user data will not be sent back to Facebook servers.
But Portal TV offers only a few music apps and has limited options for TV programming, meaning it could face a stiff challenge in attracting consumers used to content-rich rivals like Apple TV, Netflix and Roku.
At a demonstration in San Francisco on Tuesday, the only way to stream shows appeared to be via Facebook’s Watch app. Executives said Portal TV would have Amazon’s Prime Video app loaded by the time it is available.
The company declined to say whether it had approached other content providers like HBO, Hulu or Disney.
Facebook does not disclose how many Portals it has sold since the device’s launch late last year, but hardware accounts for a tiny slice of the company’s total sales.
The social media giant makes less than 2 percent of its revenue from non-advertising sources. (Reuters)
UNTV is a major TV broadcast network with 24-hour programming. An Ultra High Frequency station with strong brand content that appeal to everyone, UNTV is one of the most trusted and successful Philippine networks that guarantees wholesome and quality viewing experience.


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Online streaming platforms, in today’s time, are getting more popular than television channels. From Netflix to Amazon Prime Videos, ALT Balaji to Zee5 and Hotstar, OTT platforms are growing tremendously and one of the budding OTT platforms is Eros Now.
The platform that has presented series like Modi, Smoke, Side Hero is gearing up for a bunch of new content.
One of the upcoming Eros Now series, Antariksh is creating a lot of curiosity and buzz among the audience. The series is claimed to be India’s first space fiction web series. Written and directed by Badrinath Sabat, the series is produced by Dustbin Ideas Production House. Actors Bidita Bag and Ruhaan Rajput’s names were already out for the series, and the latest reports suggest that veteran actress Pallavi Joshi has also come aboard for it.
Pallavi, who was last seen in the political thriller movie the Taskent Files will be seen playing an interesting role in the series.
Are you excited for the series? Let us know in the comment section below.


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The end of the "ICE age" is about to begin.
GM's premium Cadillac brand could transition to one that only sells battery-electric vehicles by the year 2030, says Cadillac President Steve Carlisle, provided that there is adequate demand. Thanks to GM's large forthcoming investments into electrification, Cadillac will be in a position to make the leap to pure-electric by 2030, but even if not, the majority of new Cadillacs sold by that point will be BEVs.
Bucking the trend followed by the rest of the industry, Cadillac has little interest in hybrids and hydrogen fuel-cell cars; Cadillac believes strongly that battery-electric powertrains are the way to go.
Critics will recall the Cadillac ELR - GM's up-market version of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and a car that hardly managed to take the luxury car market by storm, selling fewer than 3,000 units in all. But things are different now; speaking to Roadshowthis week, Cadillac's President joked that the end of the 2020s will be "the end of the ICE age," ICE being an acronym for Internal Combustion Engine.
Cadillac will take point on GM's push into pure-electric vehicles, as luxury car buyers are "demonstrably more open-minded to electric cars and automated driving." After all, those technologies are necessarily expensive, making them an easier sell to buyers with deep pocketbooks.
Cadillac's first BEV will be the electric crossover the brand teased last month (above), which could replace the mid-size Cadillac XT5. But in a move that's sure to please many, Cadillac's EV push will see the company eschewing its current alphanumeric naming scheme and returning to more traditional names; that shift may or may not start with this forthcoming electric crossover.
Cadillac's next substantial announcement regarding the new crossover will come during the first quarter of next year. It has an initial range goal of over 300 miles, and an eventual target of 400 or more miles of range.


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NEW YORK, April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy percent of consumer packaged goods coupon users still use print-based coupons such as those in free standing inserts (FSI) typically found in Sunday papers to find savings1 according to a study that will be presented by GfK Custom Research and News America Marketing at the Association of Coupon Professionals' 10th annual Industry Coupon Conference on Thursday, April 16 in San Antonio.
The new study reveals surprising statistics about consumer coupon usage including that traditional FSI coupons are redeemed at a rate eight times that of digital coupons2, and that among heavy CPG coupon users, those using paper coupons spend 8% more annually than their digital counterparts3.
"While consumers continue to adopt digital savings tools, this study reaffirms the value of the traditional print FSI," said Mark Peiser, VP, Marketing Research, News America Marketing. "When you look at the numbers, you can see that print coupon redemption rates still dominate consumer savings."
So, too millennial coupon users are looking to the FSI – with 63% of this age group using traditional print coupons. 1
The presentation is based on a series of studies conducted throughout 2014 and analyzed and compiled at the beginning of this year. It's unique in that it focused only on Consumer Packaged Goods coupon users, not the larger universe of clothing, home store, or other types of retail shoppers.
"The data we collected shows that while digital coupons are an important saving tool, traditional paper coupons are still a predominant player in the world of savings," said Neal Heffernan, SVP, Shopper & Retail Strategy, GfK Custom Research.
1 ECI research, 2014
2 Inmar, 2015
3 GfK Retail, 2014
About News America Marketing®
News America Marketing is the premier marketing partner of some of the world's most well-known brands. From our iconic Sunday coupon insert, SmartSource Magazine®, to our innovative digital savings platforms, News America Marketing's SmartSource®-branded advertising and promotion programs are an integral part of America's shopping routine. We reach millions of consumers each day through our network of 1,900+ publications1, 56,975+ retail stores2, and 500 online partner sites including our own SmartSource.com3. Since 1988, we have delivered advertising and promotions that are proven to help brands succeed.
1NAM market list effective January, 2015
2Based on an aggregate of NAM cycle 5, 2015 SSCM for all classes of trade with the exception of specialty stores that accept only Carts or Shelftalk
3As of December 2014
GfK is the trusted source of relevant market and consumer information that enables its clients to make smarter decisions. More than 13,000 market research experts combine their passion with GfK's long-standing data science experience. This allows GfK to deliver vital global insights matched with local market intelligence from more than 100 countries. By using innovative technologies and data sciences, GfK turns big data into smart data, enabling its clients to improve their competitive edge and enrich consumers' experiences and choices.
SOURCE News America Marketing


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One thousand people will be able to buy tickets to a Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert in May after a March 31 drawing for consumers who complained to the state about Ticketmaster's February online sale of Springsteen tickets.
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority's random ticket drawing is part of the settlement between New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Ticketmaster that resolves more than 2,000 complaints from consumers who sought to purchase tickets Feb. 2 to Springsteen's May 21 and 23 concerts at the Izod Center in East Rutherford.
The Division of Consumer Affairs submitted 1,861 names to the sports authority after sorting through 2,200 complaints and removing all consumers who had already obtained tickets.
Each of the drawing's 1,000 winners will be notified by mail and sent a credit-card authorization form to purchase two tickets, which will cost either $98 or $68. They must send back the authorization by April 16. Tickets must be picked up the night of the concert.
The remaining 861 consumers will receive $100 Ticketmaster gift certificates and will be given the opportunity to purchase two tickets to a future Springsteen concert in New Jersey.
Consumers may not select a concert date or ticket locations. The 1,000 tickets to each of the two concerts comes from the sports authority's reserve of seats that were not included in the Feb. 2 sale. These seats are held back for the band, its record company, the authority and its sponsors.
The drawing for tickets is part of the agreement reached after a state investigation into Ticketmaster's sales practices.
The investigation was sparked by consumers who complained of being blocked from the Ticketmaster website and re-directed to its subsidiary, TicketsNow, a secondary ticket market where seats were being offered for sale for hundreds of dollars more than their original price. As part of the settlement, Ticketmaster agreed to put a wall between the primary sale website and TicketsNow for at least one year.
Previous Star-Ledger coverage:


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Martin's Super Markets announced the opening of a prepared foods-focused convenience store — its first c-store venture — in its hometown of South Bend, Ind.
"We are trying to broaden our customer base while at the same time meeting customer demand for convenience," a company spokesperson told SN in an email.
Called Martin’s Express, the store features Eisenberg jumbo all-beef franks, Bob Evan’s biscuits and gravy, Martin’s Signature doughnuts, Bosco sticks, popcorn chicken and a variety of fresh sandwiches, wraps and salads. Beverage options include a Coffee Beanery coffee bar as well as Caribbean Cream and F’Real Milkshakes. The store has an eat-in seating area.
Other offerings at Martin’s Express include convenience grocery, dairy, frozen and automotive supplies.
Although the retailer had used the Martin’s Express name for a smaller format store in Goshen, Ind., that opened last year, a spokesperson told SN the convenience store would be different.
“Initially, when we opened the Martin’s Express in Goshen we didn’t know if the store would have the capacity to carry the products as our traditional stores, specifically ad items. As a result, we decided to name the store Martin’s Express. However, the store does have the capacity to carry all ad items in addition to a wide selection of items from other departments. Therefore, the name has officially been changed to Martin’s Super Markets,” the spokesperson said.
Martin’s operates 22 stores in Indiana and Michigan.


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Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) has reported its financial results for the third quarter, posting net sales of $3.7 billion. The company’s net earnings for the quarter were $326 million, or $0.90 per share. Excluding one-time items, the company’s earnings for the quarter were $0.95 per share, representing an increase of 2.2% over the same period in the previous year. John Bryant, President and CEO of Kellogg, said that the company is excited by the potential and opportunities it sees for growth in the categories in which it operates. Bryant said that as a result of this, the company is making the difficult decisions necessary to address structural cost-saving opportunities which will enable it to increase investment in its core markets and in opportunities for future growth.
Troubled smartphone maker BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ: BBRY) said that it is abandoning its plan to find a buyer. Instead, the company is now looking to raise $1 billion in fresh funds by selling convertible notes to a group of investors, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The sources also said that the company will replace its CEO Thorsten Heins and certain directors. The report comes after Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., which had offered to acquire BlackBerry for $4.7 billion, walked away from the takeover plan.
Discovery Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISCA) posted sharp increase in fiscal third quarter profit, driven by strong revenue growth both in the U.S. and international networks. Shares gained as the company backed its full-year outlook. For the latest period, the Company earned 80 cents a share, on adjusted basis. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected earnings of 72 cents a share. Total revenue for the period climbed 28% to $1.375 billion from $1.076 billion, aided 59% growth at its international networks and 10% growth in U.S. Networks. Analysts’ consensus estimate was for revenue of $1.39 billion.
Shares of Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD) rallied on Wednesday. The restaurant chain, after the market close on Tuesday handed stronger-than-expected fiscal third quarter results. Lower prices of chicken wings and strong sales growth both at company owned location and franchises owed restaurants bolstered the results. For the latest period, Buffalo Wild Wings posted earnings of 95 cents a share on revenue of $316 million, topping analysts’ expectation for earnings of 85 cents a share in revenue of $311 million. Same-store-sales at company owned locations rose 4.8% while at franchises owned location it increased 3.9%.
The online professional networking company, LinkedIn Corp. (NYSE: LNKD) comfortably beat fiscal third quarter results; however, shares have been under pressure due to a weak outlook for the current quarter. LinkedIn, after the market close on Tuesday said that it earned 39 cents a share on revenue of $393 million, beating analysts’ consensus forecast for earnings of 32 cents a share on revenue of $385 million. For the current, the Company expects revenue to be in the range of $415 million to $420 million while analysts had expected $438 million.
Oil and gas company, Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: OXY) on Tuesday said that fiscal third quarter profit climbed 14%, driven by higher oil prices along with an increase in domestic production. Shares gained as both non-GAAP earnings and revenue exceeded analysts’ expectations. For the latest period, Occidental’s domestic production stood at 476,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE), which was an increase of 7,000 BOE from the same period of last year. In the same period, Occidental’s daily oil and gas production volume averaged 767,000 BOE compared to 766,000 BOE in the same quarter of last year.
The United States’ largest waste disposal and recycling company, Waste Management Inc. (NYSE: WM) said on Tuesday that fiscal third quarter net income rose 36%, aided by the recent acquisition which bolstered the revenue. Nevertheless, the company’s recycling business continued to face headwinds. For the latest quarter, Waste Management reported net income of $291 million or 62 cents a share compared to a profit of $214 million or 46 cents a share, in the year ago period. Excluding onetime items, the adjusted earnings came in at 65 cents a share up from 61 cents. Revenue edged up 4.6% to $3.62 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected earnings of 62 cents a share on revenue of $3.59 billion.
Department store chain, J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) reconfirmed for the third time in just over four weeks that sales-trends were showing an improvement. J C Penney also backed its guidance for a positive same-store-sales percentage growth for the fiscal third quarter. Shares gained sharply following the announcement. Last month, JCP came under tremendous pressure after the company said that it will make a secondary offering to raise funds for general corporate purposes. Speaking to investors on Monday morning, J C Penney’s Chief Executive, Myron Ullman, “I told lenders it would be one thing if we had two things wrong and they couldn’t be fixed. We have 30 things wrong and they can all be fixed.”
Mosaic Co. (NYSE: MOS) announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire CF Industries Inc.’s (NYSE: CF) phosphate business in an all cash deal of $1.2 billion. The deal will allow both companies to focus more on their core businesses. While Illinois based CF will be able to concentrate more on nitrogen fertilizer business, its main revenue generator, Mosaic’s phosphate production capacity has received a major boost from the deal. Shares of CF, which is the United States’ biggest nitrogen producer, rose about 3.5%, while shares of Mosaic were mainly flat.


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One of the original selling points of the original 2G iPhone was the promise of visual voicemail, a way of accessing your voicemail messages on your own terms. In Australia, the only carrier to launch the feature was Vodafone, but it was quite often criticised for messages arriving late or disappearing altogether. But now, according to some online chatter, Telstra is launching the service for NextG iPhones... for just $5 a month.
UPDATE: Telstra have confirmed the service. It's called MessageBank Plus, and will cost $5 a month. If you want to sign up, here's how.
It's worth noting that the service is free on Vodafone, so Telstra's decision to start charging for it isn't going to win it any adulation.
Reports say that the service is due to officially launch today, but we haven't actually received official word from Telstra about it yet - we'll update with confirmation when we do.
In the meantime the question has to be asked - would you pay $5 a month for visual voicemail?


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The NBA is extending its move into micro-payments by reportedly making League Pass games available for purchase by the quarter.
Games which cost $6.99 will be on offer for $4.99 for the final three quarters, $2.99 for the second half and $1.99 for the final quarter.
The sales will be in effect for Monday’s 11 games. The NBA introduced fourth-quarter-only options in September.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver told SportBusiness in March: “There is no doubt that people will see on social media that there is an exciting finish to a game so might be more inclined to watch the last five minutes.
“But I also think there is going to be an audience for people early in the evening who know that for whatever reason they only have time during the first or second quarter to watch a game but don’t think it’s a good consumer proposition to buy a whole game. So I’m looking forward to experiment in the first half of the game as well.”