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SloanLED (Ventura, CA) has promoted COO Steve Shotwell to the dual role of president and COO.
Since rejoining the company two years ago, Shotwell has made improvements to the supply chain and sales efforts while “piloting multiple strategic initiatives,” according to a release.
SloanLED has also promoted Warren Turner, director of lighting systems, to general manager of North American lighting systems. He is credited with leading the development of the company’s product roadmap and strengthening its network of industry partners.
For more information, visit sloanled.com.
Published first here: https://signsofthetimes.com/sloanled-promotes-steve-shotwell-to-president/


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New Delhi: Procurement of services from government portal GeM is expected to touch Rs 1.5 lakh crore this fiscal on the back of an increase in buying by ministries and departments, a senior official said on Wednesday.
The Government e-Market (GeM) portal was launched on August 9, 2016, for online purchases of goods and services by all the central government ministries and departments.
"Services procurement was just Rs 3,069 crore in 2019-20. It reached Rs 65,957 crore in 2022-23. This fiscal it is expected to reach Rs 1.50 lakh crore," GeM CEO P K Singh told reporters here.
He said that the top buyers of services included Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) like Coal India, NTPC Ltd and ONGC, and states (like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Nagaland) and central ministries such as coal, power, defence and finance.
The main service categories which are in demand include manpower outsourcing; vehicle hiring; mine development and operations; handling, transport and other mining services; insurance; IT and medical.
As many as 175 orders are placed by subsidiaries of Coal India, having order value of Rs 24,558 crore for handling, transport and other mining activities.
About 10 types of insurance services are available on the platform such as group mediclaim, assets, liability, motor, livestock, crop and medical.
Singh said that insurance companies have registered on the portal, and it has removed the role of agents.
He also said that some unique services are in demand such as leasing of high value medical equipment; market research/survey; hiring of chartered aircraft; examination service and air international logistics service.
He also added that the procurement of goods and services from GeM has reached Rs 1.10 lakh crore (goods) and Rs 90,000 crore (services), respectively to date.
GeM has over 63,000 government buyer organisations and over 62 lakh sellers and service providers offering a wide range of products and services.
Currently, government departments, ministries, public sector units, state governments, and central armed police forces are allowed to carry out transactions through this portal.
The portal provides a wide range of products from office stationery to vehicles. Automobiles, computers and office furniture are some of the major product categories.
Services, including transportation, logistics, waste management, webcasting and analytical, are listed on the portal. South Korea's KONEPS is the largest such platform in the world.
GeM stands at the third position after Singapore's GeBIZ.

domain: news


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NuVinci Retrofit Kits
by Byron on Mar. 27, 2007 at 8:09 AM
Tagging its product as the biggest drivetrain innovation in 50 years, NuVinci announced that Seattle Bike Supply will ship their continuously variable planetary (CVP) hub and CruiseController as a boxed and wheel kit.
Bike Hugger met with…» Read More »


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Agency Undercurrent produced the event for 200 competition winners. On the evening, all on-site teams used Samsung devices to check-in guests and capture the night in pictures and film.
Screens from the technology company displayed a live social media dashboard, and the online reach of the event was measured at eight million. To be in with a chance to win signed merchandise, guests were encouraged to share their experience with the hashtag #GS5OllyMurs, in reference to Samsung's new Galaxy S5 model.
Consumers who purchased the handset throughout February and March via the Vodafone retail channel were given the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to Murs' nationwide tour.
Damian Clarke, managing director of Undercurrent, told Event: "This final activation of the three-month, fully integrated campaign has proved to be a fantastic success for Samsung and Vodafone. KPIs have been hit across the board and it has been a pleasure working with the product, retail, digital and social teams in both businesses."
Comment below to let us know what you think.
For more in-depth and print-only features, showcases and interviews with world-leading brands, don't miss the next issue of Event magazine by subscribing here.


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OPPO has unveiled its latest technology, the Under-Screen Camera (USC), at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2019. This new tech offers a “real full screen” user experience by placing the camera beneath the upper display. Also showcased in the event is the company’s own version of the future of intelligent connectivity, featuring the Reno 5G and its IoT open platform solution.
OPPO has introduced the first Under-Screen Camera that offers immersive full-screen experience. This innovation allows users to see and capture the entire screen, take photos, use face unlock, and make video calls. By integrating the front camera into the screen, it provides users with a complete view for a truly immersive screen. According to OPPO, this technology will be used soon in the brand’s new-generation smartphones.
The latest notch-less solution from OPPO, the USC features a customized camera module that captures more light and employs zoning control on the screen. This camera works together with “highly-transparent” material that enhances transmittance of light through the screen.
In addition to that, OPPO’s customized algorithm, the haze removal algorithm and white balance algorithm, allow the USC to create a complete photography experience with support for features like smart beauty mode and photo filters.
But that’s not all. OPPO also explores 5G and IoT smart home application scenarios and embraces the new era of 5G + intelligent connectivity. The company showcased its latest achievements in 5G and IoT. In particular, there’s the OPPO Reno 5G, which can load large-scale mobile games in the cloud using 5G network, enabling users to enjoy 5G cloud gaming.
In the IoT Smart Home Zone, OPPO featured its IoT open platform. The platform is compatible with products across more than 20 categories. This includes more than 260 devices from a variety of brands.
OPPO has been dedicated to both users’ needs and frontier technologies. The company is committed to optimizing user experience through Research and Development innovations. The latest technologies showcased by OPPO at MWC 2019 Shanghai indicate OPPO’s breakthrough and achievement in the smartphone industry. The company is making sure in bringing innovative 5G experience to users and will continue to facilitate the potential of application scenarios that feature 5G+ intelligent connectivity in the emerging 5G era.


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30 June 2022
With’s newest client, Bitmovin sits at the heart of the media tech landscape as a pioneer in streaming infrastructure technology. CEO and co-founder Stefan Lederer co-created a video streaming standard that’s used the likes of YouTube and accounts for more than 50% of the worldwide internet traffic today. He founded Bitmovin 10 years ago to enable even higher quality streaming experiences, and the business counts the BBC, Class Pass and The New York Times among its clients.
Following a competitive process, With has been chosen to support Bitmovin on a retained basis, helping transform its newsroom and build integrated editorial and content campaigns.
The company targets a wide range of business and technical audiences, from devs to CTOs in both major media enterprises and more disruptive new media businesses. These businesses – which span multiple sectors like fitness and e-learning – are rapidly expanding their content streaming services as a key route to engaging audiences.
“The With team is so impressive and brought a tonne of creativity, energy, and passion to the pitch. We’re incredibly excited about the ideas they presented – it was abundantly evident they know how to craft a killer pitch and make that sing through different content formats. At the end of the day, we need powerful PR not just to help us commercially but also with a compelling corporate positioning.” comments Sophie Light-Wilkinson, SVP Marketing at Bitmovin.
“With a wide range of audiences to reach and in a highly competitive, fast-paced sector, clear-sighted strategic advice and creative delivery are vital. Identifying a single story, we can tell in many ways helped us deliver a pitch that the team can’t wait to get their teeth stuck into” comments Debbie Zaman, CEO of With.


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Traffic bedlam in Kay Court
CURIOSITY has caused traffic chaos again in Kay Court at North Point Retail with the opening of a new store, Howards Storage World. Motorists became enraged and traffic ground to a halt as cars tried to neg??otiate the four-way intersection, of Heaths Road and Kay Court which does not have traffic lights. With the opening of yet another large store in the busy commercial street Kay Court retailers want traffic lights at the intersection as soon as possible. Main Roads has allocated responsibility for the traffic lights to home entertainment store WOW Sight and Sound, a retailer in Kay Court. WOW Sight and Sound's development application to build a store in the street was approved because they agreed to pay for the design and construction of traffic lights by July 2009. Retailers expect gridlock again this weekend as shoppers continue to come and check out Howards Storage World in its second week of business. Staff at McDonald's, which is on the corner of the intersection, are hoping there will not be a repeat of last weekend. "Customers could not get out of our carpark into Kay Court. At one stage we couldn??t move anyone through the drive-through, there was gridlock. People were waiting 15 to 20 minutes in their cars," McDonald's store manager Jarred Symons said. "It is a continuous problem for us. There is too much traffic for the intersection, there are accidents there once every fortnight," he said. The owner of the Howards Storage World franchise, Noel Brand is considering hiring a police officer to direct traffic on weekends if other retailers in the street are willing to chip in. When WOW Sight and Sound opened before Christmas the store hired traffic controllers as well as police to manage the traffic. Mr Brand said the opening Howards Storage World had not caused the same traffic chaos which was seen with the opening of WOW Sight and Sound, but there were a few near accidents at the intersection and 'heated arguments' amongst motorists last weekend. Main Roads Mackay District director Ken Williamson said the volume of traffic seen with the opening of Howards Storage World was as expected and his department was continuing to monitor the situation at the intersection. "Main Roads have remained in contact with the owners of the development (WOW Sight and Sound) who have advised they will look at providing signals earlier than specified in their agreement," Mr Williamson said.


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24/01/24: GSF Car Parts pilots electric delivery bikes in green solution to London traffic
NATIONAL motor factor GSF Car Parts is piloting an innovative new green solution to navigating traffic around its London branches by partnering with VOK Bikes.
GSF has 180 branches across the UK and Ireland, 14 of which are located in and around London, supplying OE and aftermarket parts, tools and more to independent garages, national chains and the public. This week saw GSF’s Tottenham Branch take delivery of two VOK Bikes, a nifty electric cargo bike to make short work of the busy capital and allow GSF drivers to navigate bustling streets to serve their customer in a fraction of their previous times.
With a design small enough to fit just about anywhere a traditional push bike can go, the VOK Bikes are able to travel in cycle lanes and areas restricted to motor vehicles. The branch will use the VOK Bikes as part of a trial to determine their efficiency, impact and effectiveness compared to traditional delivery vehicles such as vans and motorbikes.
GSF Car Parts CEO Steve Horne said: “We are always looking for the best, most efficient way to serve our customers across the UK. The capital city can pose more challenges than most. London has notoriously bad traffic, low average speeds and lots of stop-start driving, so we’re exploring alternative methods to get from A to B and are delighted to be piloting these VOK Bikes.
“As a business whose bread and butter is distribution, we have a responsibility to test alternative means of fuel that are greener and more sustainable for the environment, which is exactly what this trial gives us the opportunity to do.”
With delivery times cut down to as short as just 10 minutes to some garages, the bikes are already proving a hit with customers.
GSF Car Parts Tottenham General Manager Mustafa Ugan said: “We were really excited for these bikes to arrive and quickly saw the difference they’re going to make for us. We’ve even had some customers ordering straight after receiving a delivery to see how quickly we can get back to them.
“The traffic in Tottenham gets extremely heavy, especially when there’s a football match being played, so the VOK bikes will allow us to carry on uninterrupted and greener.”
The VOK Bikes are able to utilise a small electric motor along with their power assisted pedals, so drivers can choose how best to get around.
GSF Car Parts Executive Chairman Sukhpal Ahluwalia added: “These VOK Bikes allow GSF to deliver to our customers in record time, beating the obstacles that such a large city usually poses with ease. Our delivery times are tumbling and customers are clearly impressed by this new super-fast delivery service, so the early signs are that we have found a smart and climate conscious solution to get our customers the parts they need.”


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In times of crisis, such as the new Coronavirus pandemic, some will discard established processes to decrease short-term prices to maintain quarterly profitability. Management might be considering that, because we have less activity, we do not require maintenance. However, this strategy is short-sighted and positions the company for failure and chaos when recovery takes place.
Panic Creates Chaos
Nearly all companies have the required assets for producing the goods and services that provide revenue. Among companies currently experiencing a rapid decline with the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration feels intense urgency -- some might call it panic - to reduce on prices. Since the activity is low, there is a desire to eliminate maintenance.
Unplanned Downtime leads to Lost Revenues and Shareholder Value
Why maintain equipment working below capacity? The metric for maintenance includes near-zero unplanned downtime for significant assets, which consists of those used to generate revenue. Without maintenance, unexpected downtime rises, creating confusion among the employees trying to produce what income is available. With missed shipments, this insanity extends to clients at a critical time in their recovery. The anxiety turns into a sharp reduction in revenues, brand value, and shareholder value.
COVID-19 Likely a Short-term Financial Issue
In terms of the progression of this disease, the U.S. appears to be approximately two weeks behind Italy. The number of cases peaked on March 21 in Italy. For every day since Italy has observed lesser new cases than that peak. The number of every day new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. should peak in a couple of weeks. Statistics show that social distancing has reduced the spread in the U.S. Analysts predict an 80% chance that the current patchwork of social distancing, lockdowns, and self-quarantine measures will prove useful, and daily new cases are falling down to deficient levels by the end of May.
Retain Ability to Respond to Recovery
Adjust this quarter's requirements with the next Quarter. Though unemployment has increased, a large portion remained employed. Self-quarantines and social distancing caused reduced spending and cabin fever -- the combination presents significant pent-up demand. The time from practicing social distancing to business restarting has been 2 to 3 months in nations where active cases of coronavirus have fallen. Next Quarter, the expected lifting of distancing should release a surge in spending. Those unemployed will become employed, adding to the spending surge. Anticipate demand sometime in the next two quarters to spike expected before the pandemic. Those with reliable and well-maintained equipment will be positioned to react to this level of demand. Those companies that prepare for the recovery will profit.
Upgrade the Maintenance Strategy
Consider going beyond sustaining the current maintenance strategy. This period of excess capacity provides a chance to update the maintenance plan for critical assets. Consider substituting preventative maintenance with predictive maintenance using "small data" from a particular machine for condition monitoring and creating an alert when things decay.
Research has shown that maintenance costs for a piece of gear are reduced by half with Predictive maintenance (PdM) over preventative maintenance (PM). PdM schedules the work when it's really needed, i.e., as an issue starts to emerge and before the failure. Additionally, since 82 percent of resources exhibit a random failure pattern, unplanned downtime occurs during the period between scheduled PM. PdM can detect gear issues to prevent random failures.
Domestic Manufacturing Is Essential to Maintaining Emergency Supplies
Acute shortages of face masks and respirators show our far-flung sourcing of products is unfit to manage a prolonged pandemic or other long-lasting crisis.
That doesn't mean the overall model of the global market, which focuses on increasing specialization, just-in-time transportation of goods from distant sources, and production based in developing nations, has to be abandoned. This system reduced the costs of consumer goods and has helped pull over a billion people in developing countries.
However, as Covid-19 shows, the system can be fragile, and in times of pandemic, it doesn’t work for every product or service. Industries and governments will need to recognize which ones are essential in short order to measure their vulnerability to supply-chain risks, and then take action to safeguard supplies.
Covid-19 is the most significant, and latest, blow to international trade. But we have also endured through the September 11, 2001, attacks, the 2003 SARS outbreak, Japan's Tohoku earthquake, and the Thailand flooding of 2011. We have observed essential items made overseas imported with safety obstacles and other quality flaws.
Drawing lessons from these experiences are essential in moving ahead
The first step in making supply chains more resilient is currently deciding which products should have special treatment. Flat-screen TVs and Fast fashion? No, we could do without those for quite some time.
Medical supplies, devices, and drugs? Absolutely. No interruption in supply is tolerable. In a health crisis, that means personal protective equipment like gloves, masks, and shields. Medical equipment--ventilators and thermometers--which have been outsourced to other countries might be in short supply because national supply chains are either missing or rely on overseas plants for components and raw materials.
Besides the current pandemic, wars, earthquakes, fires, and man-made calamities will need elaborate contingency plans. These decisions can not be left alone in the private sector. State governments and federal agencies will need to intervene and work to ensure contingency plans are in action and ready to deploy in an emergency. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Institutes of Health, and many others require a coordinated strategy that includes a list of equipment and supplies which can be placed into service before overseas supply chains are repaired.
For example, a high domestic stockpile of medical supplies and masks would have bought the U.S. critical time to secure national domestic production. How large should that stockpile be? One alternative is based on the time it would take to develop new capacity, or to change domestic production for this particular purpose. If it needs six months to accomplish self-sufficiency, then it’s essential to have at least a six-month stockpile.
Safety issues are another concern. Some things are best produced domestically. Many over-the-counter and prescription health products that were formerly made in the U.S. are now either made in China or depend on Chinese factories to provide necessary ingredients.
Not just is it risky to rely on overseas suppliers. However, the failure of offshore producers to implement quality control and safety standards also puts lives at risk.
In 2018, the FDA cautioned that generic versions of a general blood pressure drug, Valsartan, were tainted with NDMA, a carcinogen. The drug was manufactured in China. The agency has encountered similar problems with generics made in India.
The solution is to bring more production of life-saving products back into the U.S. Costs may be higher. However, for essential drugs, the real cost is in development and research, and the expense of manufacturing is generally low.
The U.S. can't afford to lose its production base. This transition back to production would be much tougher with no skilled employees and physical factories. We must applaud G.M. and Ford's attempts to accommodate automobile manufacturing assets to ventilator manufacturing, which is a difficult transition. It takes a new supply chain for layout, part, stands gear, and capabilities to meet medical-equipment regulations. The clothes retailer Brooks Brothers have gone this route, shifting from making stylish shirts to producing gowns and masks for medical professionals.
Companies need to measure supply-chain risk and report it. Many firms aren't conscious of potential issues buried deep in their supply chains. Sometimes, they do not even know who distant suppliers are. According to a poll conducted by Deloitte in 2018, 65 percent of over 500 acquisition leaders in 39 nations have restricted or no visibility beyond tier-one suppliers. A latest Harvard Business Review article reported that according to a poll conducted by Reslinic in late January and early February after the Covid-19 outbreak in China, 70 percent of the 300 respondents said they had been attempting to identify which of the suppliers were in locked-down areas of the country.
Planning and preparation are crucial. After the 2011 monsoon flood in Thailand, which inundated several of the nation's manufacturing areas, the hard-drive maker Western Digital quickly revived operations thanks to contingency planning. It shifted equipment and inventory to higher floors in its Thai factories, moved production to a plant in Malaysia, and was able to restart shipments in less than two months. It required Honda six months to restart its production after the flood in Thailand.
Before a crisis, organizations need to map out their entire supply chains and identify potential gaps. They require to work with suppliers to generate contingency plans, as Western Digital did, to deploy as soon as disorders occur. And authorities should require them to report their mitigation plans and risks just as they do for financial risks. Yes, it costs to plan and to have some flexibility and redundancy. Consider this insurance for supply-chain breakdowns.
Transparency is also critical. The citizens would benefit from understanding more about supply chains if only to avoid the panic shopping we’ve noticed during the pandemic. Panic for a toilet-paper shortage was totally baseless. Paper products sold in the U.S. are produced mainly here: International Paper's pulp mills in North Carolina and P&G's Charmin is made in Pennsylvania. Production is consistent, so resupply is constant, as is consumption. Had customers known these facts, panic purchasing might not have happened.
In an uncertain world, firms need a two-pronged strategy to supply chains: one that takes benefit of international production for the global market, and one that maintains domestic manufacturing, possibly focusing on higher-value products.


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A whirlwind engagement would not be complete without a fairytale ring. And when Nick Jonas was getting ready to propose to girlfriend of two months Priyanka Chopra, he made sure to find the perfect piece of jewelry for his bride-to-be! Jonas closed down a Tiffany & Co. store to buy an engagement ring, according to the insider — and Chopra showed off the diamond for the first time in a photo with her friend and Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon on Instagram.
Tandon, 43, shared the photos on her social media account on Tuesday in which Chopra, 36, hung her left arm around her friend’s shoulders giving fans a close up look at her rock. The ring appeared to be a customized Tiffany & Co. cushion cut diamond with tapered baguettes.


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American Airlines Group Inc.'s profit fell in the second quarter, even as the carrier said strong revenue and demand trends would lift performance through the rest of the year.
American said second-quarter unit revenue, a closely watched measure of the amount taken in for each seat flown a mile, rose 5.7% annually.
Unit revenue improved for most airlines in the quarter, breaking a yearslong slump in performance by that measure. United Continental Holdings Inc., Southwest Airlines Co. and Delta Air Lines Inc. also reported improved second-quarter unit revenue this month thanks in part to wider fare and fee offerings.
American said it expects unit revenue to increase up to 2.5% annually in the third quarter and possibly more in the fourth, in part because new no-frills fares and premium products are expected to boost revenue.
"We are enthusiastic about our prospects for the second half of 2017," Chief Executive Doug Parker said in a news release.
Mr. Parker, on an earnings call Friday, said his optimism about the fourth quarter was based not on data showing just 15% of seats already booked. He said American will face easier year-over-year comparisons in the period. Other American executives talked about the carrier's fare segmentation efforts, add-on product sales and forecast for strong corporate travel demand.
American shares traded down 1.9% Friday to $49.06.
American is planning in September to roll out low-fare, low-perk "Basic Economy" fares to its entire domestic network. These cheaper tickets, also widely available from Delta and United, are a way for big airlines to selectively match prices offered by low-cost rivals while at the same time generating more revenue.
Roughly half the customers who look at these low fares ultimately upgrade to a higher ticket price that includes some perks, according to American. The company, which offers Basic Economy in only 78 markets in the U.S. and Canada, said the typical up-sell is $23 a ticket.
The largest U.S. airline by traffic has also launched a Premium Economy product on its international widebody flights. This separate cabin of 20 to 28 seats offers more perks than coach, but is less costly than business class. Premium Economy will be available on 77 planes by March of 2018 from 10 today. American said the typical buy-up by passengers is worth $400.
Fort Worth, Texas-based American said its second-quarter profit fell despite a 7.2% increase in total revenue to $11.1 billion, from $10.4 billion a year ago. The gain was due in part to higher ticket pricing and improved business domestically and in Latin America. Revenue beat Wall Street estimates.
Profit was $803 million, or $1.63 a share, down 15.5% from year-ago $950 million, or $1.68 a share. The decline was due to a jump in costs, mostly higher fuel and labor expenses. Excluding $205 million pretax in special items, American earned $944 million, or $1.92 a share, beating estimates. That figure also was down from $1 billion a year ago, excluding items.
Write to Susan Carey at email@example.com


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Batley Foodbank Officially Unveils B&M's Brand New Store
20 January 2021
More than 40 people from the local area have been hired as B&M officially opened a new store in Batley today.
The latest B&M store, located in Blakeridge Mill Shopping Centre, will allow locals to experience the variety retailer’s great selection of branded and own label products.
With everything from toys and homewares to groceries and pet, there’s plenty of items for visitors to the B&M store to shop.
And store staff were delighted to welcome Batley Foodbank as their VIP, who were invited to cut the ribbon on opening day.
Batley Foodbank is a local charity that provides seven-day nutritionally balanced food parcels and support for individuals and families in Batley. Since opening in 2013, the charity has helped thousands of people and continue to do so.
In addition to opening the new store, the charity received £250 worth of B&M vouchers as a thank you for taking part and for all their hard work in the community.
The store manager said: "It was really exciting to welcome customers through the doors this morning, the feedback so far has been fantastic.
"A big thank you to the team at Batley Foodbank who helped us open the store today, we hope that our donation can help them to continue to do the great work they do in supporting the local people."
For more information please visit our Batley - Blakeridge Mill store.


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German advert attacked for fat shaming over the story of boy who lives in a town of obese people but escapes by losing weight and flying away
- A German supermarket chain has been criticised for fat shaming
- Edeka produced an advertising campaign that critics say is insulting
- A boy who wants to escape a town full of fat people loses weight and flies away
- The supermarket say they wanted to encourage healthier eating habits
An advert made by a supermarket chain famous for its viral campaigns has been criticised for fat shaming.
German supermarket chain Edeka's new campaign called 'Eatkarus' is has caused controversy only a few days after its release.
The short film, which has amassed 8 million views across social media platforms combined, tells the story of a fat young boy who lives in a town inhabited only by the overweight.
A German advertising campaign has been criticised for fat shaming because it showed a young boy escape a town full of fat people by losing weight and flying away
In the town, which is inhabited only by the overweight, everyone eats the same grey sludge
Everyone in the fantasy world eats the same grey mash for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
However, the plump boy dreams of flying away like a bird - drawing on the Greek myth of Icarus who created wings to fly with.
The boy, distracted by creating his own wings, and inspired to eat berries by a crow he has been chasing, inadvertently loses weight in the process.
As the advert ends, the boy is seen now slimmer and wearing the wings he has designed.
While people look upon him with disgust he runs and takes flight, his new slender frame allowing him to float.
The supermarket chain provides more than just the message alone. On a separate campaign page, they provide recipe videos, diet tips and a BMI calculator.
But the boy, inspired by a black bird, wants to fly away. After stumbling upon fruit for the first time the boy gets to work on his homemade wings
The aim to combat growing obesity and unhealthy eating habits has earned the campaign praise as well as criticism.
One web user wrote: 'It is discrimination. Before you know they are also starting to make fun about people with a disability.'
Another took to social media to say: 'You can also promote healthy eating without ridiculing fat people.'
Finally, having made the wings and given up eating the grey sludge in favour of fruit, the boy flies away. Edeka, the German chain, said they wanted to encourage people to choose healthier options
In a statement, Edeka said they just wanted to raise awareness about healthy nutrition and not discriminate against overweight people.
A spokesperson said: 'With a certain exaggeration, we wanted to shake off the daily routine of fast food and the movie's unidentified grey mash, regardless of the size of an individual.
'We are aware that some people suffer from obesity because of illness, which cannot be solved with a simple diet change.'
The German supermarket chain is perhaps best known for its Christmas commercials, including a viral tearjerker commercial featuring a grandfather eating Christmas dinner all alone as none of his busy children could come over.
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Embraer (Booth No. 1420) has sold another two super-midsize Legacy 600 business jets in the Middle East, bringing the fleet to seven in the region. The first has been purchased in Beirut, Lebanon, by Adnan Kassar. He is the chairman and CEO of Fransabank SAL and chairman of the General Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. Delivery is pegged for the third quarter.
Business Aviation » Business Aviation Aircraft
News and issues relating to business, aircraft, primarily turbine-engine powered airplanes and helicopters.
Jet Aviation (Booth No. 780) announced it has received French government approval to operate the Cessna Citation Bravo into Saint Tropez- La Môle International Airport. According to the company, it is the first air-charter operator to receive this authorization. La Môle, only nine miles from Saint Tropez, is the closest airport to the popular Mediterranean resort destination.
“Last year, we did not expect any new 7X sales since we thought that long lead times would slow down the sales activity,” said Charles Edelstenne, Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO. “However, the rate of sales has remained high until the first quarter of the year.”
Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) has been sending out initial proposals for “green” corporate versions of the proposed 747-8 jetliner, for which parent company Boeing still seeks a launch customer. Here at EBACE 2006 yesterday, BBJ president Steve Hill said that a first buyer could be identified within about two months.
Business aviation devotees are increasingly tapping into the expertise of other industries catering to the high-end marketplace to find news ways to improve their products. One of the latest examples of this is here at the EBACE show, in the form of 1:25-scale mockups of Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus 350 cabin interiors at Jet Aviation’s exhibit.
Embraer believes that the new Lineage 1000 business jet may well find a significant market in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) sales region. For example, while the ultra-large category accounts for 2 percent of the world’s business jet deliveries, it represents 6 percent of the deliveries in the EMEA region.
Embraer is breaking into the business jet big league with the launch here at the EBACE show today of the new Lineage 1000 jet derived from its 190 regional airliner. The development of the $40.95 million large-cabin model was approved by the airframer’s board of directors last week on April 25 and the aircraft is expected to enter service during 2008.
Eaton (Hall 4 Stand F12) has been selected by Embraer to provide five packages for Embraer’s Phenom 100 very light jet. These include the hydraulic power generation package, design of the aircraft’s flap system and landing gear control hydraulic components. It will also supply miscellaneous cockpit controls including the throttle, landing gear and flap selectors.
The first Dassault Falcon 7X is earmarked for delivery to the French group’s patriach Serge Dassault at the beginning of April 2007 in time for his 82nd birthday. The French senator will take delivery of the first of the “more than 85” trijets currently on order–not on behalf of Dassault Aviation, the group of which he is the main shareholder–but as a private customer.
Highlighting the rising demand for business jets in Europe, Bombardier Aerospace yesterday announced sales for its two newest models, the Challenger 605 and Learjet 60XR. Developed as replacements for existing models, the airplanes included in the deals are slated for delivery to operators in Austria and Eastern Europe.


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New businesses that move into existing space in downtown Sidney might not have to provide extra parking.
In a move by the municipality that the mayor says could help draw new businesses to town, they are considering changing their parking bylaw. Currently, the bylaw requires five parking spaces per each retail store. If that store was replaced by a restaurant, says Director of Development Services Marlaina Elliot, the owners would be required to increase parking spaces to 10. That essentially means a restaurant could not go into that space as Sidney doesn’t have an excess of parking spots downtown.
The proposed change to the bylaw would allow commercial use of a building or storefront turn over, without the requirement for additional parking spaces.
“This proposed change could help bring business to town,” Elliot said.
Mayor Larry Cross noted the existing bylaw could be detrimental to getting business to locate in Sidney’s downtown. Yet he added he’s aware of ongoing concerns over a lack of parking — or a perceived one — in the commercial centre.
“People walk for miles in shopping malls, but in Sidney,” Cross said, “it seems people won’t walk 150 meters.”
Councillor Mervyn Lougher-Goodey added that parking lots in town are well-used, meaning there is a concern with parking availability.
“We have some problems here,” he said, “but they are good problems.”
Cross said full parking spaces is an indicator to some that the community is busy — and that’s good news.
Town staff have been directed to explore the change further.


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Blaupunkt BH11 truly wireless headphones available in India for Rs 2,099
Blaupunkt has launched its latest truly wireless headphone the BH11 in the Indian market for Rs 2,099. The new truly wireless headphones has been equipped with special features like 24 Hrs playtime, built-in mic...


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Photo: Instagram/ @ kimkardashian
The celebrity showed underwear sets their own brand, wearing them on. Fans were delighted.
American reality star, model, businesswoman Kim Kardashian-West gave a candid photo shoot. The bold frames celebrity appeared in tight-fitting outfits of their own brand of underwear Skims. Photos of Kim published in his Instagram.
39-year-old star poses wearing a bodysuit Nude. Well seen, Kim’s underwear was ignored.
Kardashian also tried on corrective underwear in a skin tone, consisting of a bra and high-waisted shorts.
Celebrity wrote under the photos that soon will start selling the new summer collection of her brand.
Fans appreciated the charm of the star and its new model. The publication has received over three million likes and almost 18 thousand comments.
Recall also that the video is tightened in a corset Kim Kardashian became a hit. Movie two hours had been viewed over 6 million times.
Before it was reported, how many are spending on the Kardashians-Jenner. Women themselves do not save. The most expensive spending – Kim.
News from the Reporter.net Telegram. Subscribe to our channel https://t.me/korrespondentnet


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Update: DxOMark has tweeted stating that this list of scores for these unreleased devices is indeed Photoshopped. DxOMark also mentioned that some of these devices have also been untested as well, but plan to update the rankings as soon as they do test them.
In Short: DxOMark scores for the upcoming Google Pixel 3, OnePlus 6T, and Mate 20 Pro have just surfaced in China. Now, before we begin, please do not that this image surfaced on Weibo (Chinese social network), and that it may be fake. That being said, according to the leaked image, the Mate 20 Pro will take the number 1 spot on DxOMark list with a rating of 116, while the P20 Pro will be second-placed with a rating of 109. The Google Pixel 3 will sit in the third place with 107 points, same as the Huawei Mate 20, while the Xperia XZ2 Premium will be fifth-placed with 105 points. The Apple iPhone Xs and Xs Max will follow, along with Meizu 16 Plus, Honor V20 and a number of other phones. The OnePlus 6T will get 99 points from DxOMark if this list is accurate, and it will claim 15th place.
Background: DxOMark is quite probably the most popular camera benchmarking website out there, and every time a popular phone gets released and praised for its camera, DxOMark benchmarks it, basically. This tool goes in depth on its analysis and publishes everything online, along with separate photo-capture and video recording scores, which are then combined into a final general score. The Huawei P20 Pro is currently the first-placed smartphone on DxOMark’s list of smartphones, though that will probably change once the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro arrive next month.
Impact: Now, it’s worth remembering that DxOMark releases camera benchmarks, and that doesn’t mean that a camera that is first placed on the list is the best out there, different people have different uses for a camera, and a ton of smartphone camera out there are really capable. Still, it will be interesting to see how will the upcoming Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, Pixel 3 and OnePlus 6T handsets line up on the list, and whether this leak is accurate or not.


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When Lady Diana Spencer joined the British royal family, the world wanted a princess, and, at least fora while, she delivered. Her glamorous wardrobe was unrivaled, and even when her outfits weren’t bespoke, they were rarely by any stretch affordable. But over the past three decades the Windsor brand has shifted to a much more approachable aesthetic, one that’s more casual and less extravagant. It’s not uncommon today to see the Duchess of Cambridge wearing Zara jeans, or the Duchess of Sussex carrying a Cuyana bag.
“I think the idea of Diana being a princess and dressing the way you’d think a princess would, with all the fanciful clothing and jewelry, in comparison with Kate being somewhat frugal, has been a real shift,” says Elizabeth Holmes, who wrote this month’s cover feature and whose book HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style is out November 17.
While the clothes the members of the royal family wear may have become more accessible, it’s still a family tradition to go big when it comes to jewelry. And the moments when the younger generation of Windsors breakout those big jewels are significant: They use those occasions to help shape the public narrative about their family.
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“Royal jewelry is beautiful, yes, but it’s also saying something,” Holmes says.“The minute any of these women step out of the car, we see pictures around the world in seconds. And what you notice first is what they’re wearing. They use that. It’s very savvy and it’s very smart, and it’s worth paying attention to.”
Few pieces show the way the Windsors use jewelry as more than adornment better than the Lover’s Knot tiara. Originally commissioned by Queen Mary from Britain’s House of Garrard in 1913, the headpiece features 19baroque pearls as well as brilliant- and rose-cut diamonds set in a repeated motif of heart-shaped knots. It was inherited by Queen Elizabeth in 1953, and though she has worn the tiara on multiple occasions, it’s best known asa favorite of Diana’s—and, now, a go-to for the Duchess of Cambridge on formal occasions.
“When you see a tiara that the queen has worn, that Diana has worn, and then to see it on Kate, it’s a reminder that these are all three women operating within the same royal family,” Holmes says, noting that it’s strategic for the queen to invoke Diana’s memory by lending the piece to Kate. “You see the continuity.”
While the Lover’s Knot is the queen’s to lend as she chooses, both Kate and Meghan Markle also have pieces of Diana’s in their own personal collections, which were given to them by their husbands. They have the power, Holmes says, to “pull on those nostalgic heartstring moments.” Markle’s something blue at her wedding reception, for example, was Diana’s aquamarine cocktail ring; in her first official appearance after the Duchess announced she was expecting her first child, she wore her late mother-in-law’s butterfly earrings. The symbolism was hard to miss.
“A butterfly, pregnancy, rebirth, the next generation,” Holmes says, spelling it out. “All it takes is a tuck of the hair behind the ear for the cameras to catch it, and the media to make the connection. It’s a reminder that this is a family.”
As the digital director for Town & Country, Caroline Hallemann covers culture, entertainment, and a range of other subjects


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Secure Beginnings Offers Air-Permeable Crib Mattress to Combat SIDS
My first, adorable-beyond-words niece was born November 30, and since then I’ve gotten a crash course on the modern rules of safe sleeping for infants. These days, they tell you to take all pillows and blankets out of the crib, lay newborns on their backs, and avoid letting them get too warm. It’s understandable why new parents never sleep—I imagine the urge to constantly check on your offspring can really interfere with your ability to rest.
But a startup based in Detroit called Secure Beginnings aims to give newborns the safest sleep experience possible with its patented line of air-permeable crib mattresses that allow babies to breathe normally even if they wiggle in the night.
Two sisters, Julie and Margie Andreae, founded the company—Julie is a mom and Margie is a pediatrician—along with Kelly Obriot, a former designer at Ford. The Andreaes lost a niece to SIDS many years ago, and Julie Andreae says the experience “ripped our family apart.” Obriot, too, has been affected by SIDS. He first began designing the mattresses after a friend lost a baby to the mysterious condition. (More on SIDS later.)
“We’ve made it user-friendly and adorable in the crib,” Andreae says. “We’ve addressed every single safety issue with crib mattresses. Our mattress uses no sheets or pads; instead, the whole sleep surface can be removed and put into the washer and dryer.”
The breathable mattress is made out of the same kind of 3D knitted fabric used in tennis shoes and seating in cars. Andreae says it naturally wicks away moisture and has passed testing by the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission. Secure Beginnings is also working with the Academy of Pediatrics, which is the entity that issues official policies regarding safe sleep.
Though doctors aren’t sure what exactly causes SIDS, Andreae says research increasingly shows a link between the disease, which typically strikes babies between the ages of one and 24 months, and the amount of carbon dioxide trapped in a baby’s bedding.
Researchers theorize that some babies are born with deficiencies in their brain stems, which can result in lower levels of serotonin. If babies with these brain abnormalities are in a situation where their breathing is compromised, it’s possible the mechanism to turn their heads won’t be triggered. “They literally sleep through it,” Andreae adds.
Babies placed on their backs for sleep is safest, Andreae stresses, but instead of betting on a baby not to roll over, an air-permeable mattress like those made by Secure Beginnings will allow them to breathe safely even if they end up face down. “Now, the Academy of Pediatrics is looking at the data and we hope for a policy change [to include air-permeable mattresses] soon,” she says.
Secure Beginnings, which was established in 2010, has been mentored by Walsh College’s Blackstone LaunchPad program for the past few months as the company looks to increase its market share. The mattresses come in three varieties, including a cheaper version and one that fits the smaller cribs used at daycare centers. Secure Beginnings mattresses are assembled in Detroit—80 percent of their suppliers are in Michigan—from U.S.-made components and are currently available on the web at places like Amazon and WalMart.com. (The standard version retails for $399.)
So far, the company has gotten by financially through bootstrapping and sales, though it is considering pursuing angel investment during the next year. Andreae estimates the value of the market to be $500 million annually in the U.S. alone.“I expect 2015 to be a breakout year,” Andreae says. “We want to be in all of the big box stores and go into full production with other products, like a hospital bassinet version, by the end of the year. We hope to one day see all crib mattresses made air-permeable.”


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The United States has levied hefty tariffs of over 450% on certain steel products imported from Vietnam that are alleged to have originated in Taiwan and South Korea.
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) in a statement said it is imposing up to 456.23% in duties on exports of certain steel products from Vietnam after making three preliminary affirmative circumvention rulings.
“The circumvention rulings cover certain steel products that are first produced in Korea and Taiwan, which are then shipped to Vietnam for minor processing, and finally exported to the United States as corrosion-resistant steel products (CORE) and cold-rolled steel (CRS),” said the agency in a release on July 2.
As a result of the affirmative circumvention rulings, DOC said it will instruct the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to begin collecting cash deposits on imports of corrosion-resistant steel products and cold-rolled steel produced in Vietnam using Korean- or Taiwanese-origin substrate.
These duties will be imposed on future imports, and also on any unliquidated entries since August 2, 2018, which is the date Commerce initiated these circumvention inquiries.
“The applicable cash deposit rates will be as high as 456.23 percent, depending on the origin of the substrate and the type of steel product exported to the United States,” said the agency.
Under U.S. law, Commerce may find circumvention of antidumping duty or countervailing duty orders when merchandise that is the same class or kind as merchandise subject to existing orders is completed or assembled in a third country prior to importation into the United States.
These inquiries were conducted upon the request of U.S. domestic producers of CORE and CRS, said Commerce.
Analysts say this U.S. action seems to be bringing the trade war to Vietnam, a major trading partner that has emerged as the main beneficiary of the tariff war between the United States and China.
DOC said shipments of CORE from Vietnam to the U.S. increased from US$22 million (in the 40-month period of September 2012 until preliminary duties imposed on South Korean and Taiwanese products in December 2015) to $933 million (40-month period from imposition of preliminary duties in January 2016 until April 2019). This is an increase of 4,076%.
Additionally, shipments of CRS from Vietnam to the U.S. increased from $49 million (in the 38-month period of January 2013 until preliminary duties imposed on South Korean and Taiwanese products in February 2016) to $498 million (38-month period from imposition of preliminary duties in March 2016 until April 2019), which is an increase of 922%.
Photo: Dr. Cris Moen


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Bill Would Create CFPB Panel For Small Financial Firms
Law360, New York (April 3, 2014, 5:34 PM EDT) -- A bipartisan bill introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday would require the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to create a panel of small financial services firms modeled on other advisory boards the bureau already has in place.
The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Small Business Advisory Board Act, introduced by Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C., and Rep. Denny Heck, D-Wash., would for the first time require the CFPB to have regular meetings with a group of small-business owners working in the consumer finance field and affected by the bureau's regulations.
“As a former small-business owner, I understand the frustration of watching...
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Are you ready for the Baking Industry Awards 2020?
Taking place via an online ceremony on Wednesday 20 January at 18:30, the awards celebrate the best and brightest the industry has to offer. To watch the awards, visit bakeryinfo.co.uk/BakingIndustryAwards
If that isn’t enough to tempt you, here are four more reasons to tune in:
Come together as an industry
We might not be dressed in our finest tuxes and gowns sipping fizz at the Royal Lancaster, but that doesn’t make the celebration any less special.
“The baking industry has gone above and beyond to keep the nation fed in 2020, so we want to shine a spotlight on all of the hard work and offer an evening of celebration,” explains British Baker editor Amy North.
“The 2020 awards represent a new approach, but our mission remains the same – to reward the people, products and businesses who make this industry so special.”
Find out who the winners are
Want to know which of our finalists is taking home the trophy?
The secret garden-themed broadcast will see the winners revealed in 13 categories including Rising Star, Baker of the Year, Supermarket Bakery Business of the Year and Bakery Innovation.
“We’re so excited to reveal the winners,” says North. “The calibre of entries was outstanding, so our judges had some tough decisions to make.
“Make sure to reach out and congratulate the winners and finalists afterwards. That email or message will be even more meaningful as we can’t pop a celebratory bottle of fizz in person.”
Learn from your peers’ success
Uncovering the inspirational stories behind the people, products and businesses shortlisted for the Baking Industry Awards is not to be underestimated.
Here lies a wealth of knowledge when it comes to facing, and overcoming, challenges, grasping new opportunities and adapting to customer needs.
Take the Out of Home Business of the Year category, for example. Finalists Broken Clock, Costa Coffee and The Little Kitchen have all had to adapt to a new way of working as the pandemic and consequent lockdowns meant it wasn’t ‘business as usual’.
Enjoy the entertainment stylings of Alexander Armstrong
Your host for the BIAs 2020 is Pointless presenter and Classic FM host Alexander Armstrong.
As an actor, writer and singer, Armstrong is one of the most accomplished and recognisable hosts in the country. He is one half of Armstrong & Miller, writing and starring in the comedy sketch show with fellow actor and university friend, Ben Miller. He is also the co-host of the popular quiz Pointless, has presented Have I Got News For You more times than any other guest host.
“Alexander Armstrong is an excellent choice for the Baking Industry Awards. He brings personality, a smattering of comedy and even some musical entertainment in the form of a song,” adds North.


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Black mass demand in South Korea gets further support from battery raw materials prices
Increased prices for key battery raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and lithium are continuing to assist demand for shredded nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) lithium-ion batteries
Low supply and improved buying interest for cobalt has led to Fastmarkets’ benchmark cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam rising steadily throughout the month of June.
Prices for lithium hydroxide in the cif China, Japan, Korea market have continued to trade at their highest levels since April 2023, while prices in the Europe and US market for the same material have showed signs of life and also moved up to their highest since April.
Intake of black mass has risen at some major Korean processors in recent weeks in line with higher demand for battery raw materials, sources told Fastmarkets. These processors are typically able to produce materials such as lithium hydroxide, cobalt hydroxide or nickel mixed hydroxide precipitate from black mass.
A South Korean consumer source told Fastmarkets this week that demand for battery raw materials was going up but that some black mass offer prices were coming in too high to conclude deals.
Offers for NCM black mass were heard at around 81% cif South Korea for nickel and cobalt – including the value of lithium, they said. This was for material of lithium content in the range of 3-5%, the source said, but only around 75% cif was workable from the buyer side for this material, they added.
Higher lithium pricing recently is increasing pressure on buyers in markets such as South Korea to provide separate lithium payables for black mass rather than the traditional method of including the value of lithium in the nickel and cobalt payables, although several buyers are still resisting this currently. In recent days, Fastmarkets has heard of assessments at about 7-10% for lithium payables based on black mass of 3-4% lithium content.
A European trading source reported workable payables of around 70-73% cif South Korea for nickel and cobalt, including the value of lithium, in the week to Wednesday June 21, while a Southeast Asia consumer source agreed with this valuation.
A deal for NCM black mass was heard at 72% cif South Korea for nickel and cobalt, including the value of lithium in the last seven days.
Fastmarkets’ assessments of the black mass, NCM/NCA, payable indicator, cobalt, cif South Korea, % payable Fastmarkets’ standard-grade cobalt price (low-end) and the black mass, NCM/NCA, payable indicator, nickel, cif South Korea, % payable LME Nickel cash official price were both 70-75% on Wednesday, up by 3 percentage points from 67-72% week on week.
A Singapore-based trading source pointed out that the position of China in black mass importing will have an important role to play in pricing moving forward.
Several sources have reported to Fastmarkets over the past fortnight that Chinese authorities are clamping down further on imports of black mass – which are officially banned because they are viewed as a waste product.
Despite that, Fastmarkets has heard of Chinese-owned companies claiming they are able to import the material although no single harmonized system (HS) code is known to cover the material.
“Chinese buyers want black mass as there is a shortage in that market. If authorities don’t relax their rules, then payables could still rise because Chinese companies need to buy more black mass into Southeast Asian [for processing into intermediary products which can be imported to China],” a Singapore-based trader source said.
If authorities in China relax import rules because they recognize the importance of securing critical battery raw materials through the secondary route, payables to South Korea will rise sharply, they said.
The only way they saw payables dropping for black mass in Asia over the short term is if there is a drop in demand in key markets such as Korea or Southeast Asian nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines, they added.
Want more insights and forecasts for the battery recycling market?
Keep up to date with global market insights and predictions for the battery recycling market with the Fastmarkets NewGen Battery Recycling Outlook.


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A secret offshoot of McDonald’s with “its own unique personality” is nearing opening outside Chicago and has observers snapping pictures of a potential menu rivaling Starbucks.
Adjacent to an existing restaurant in Bolingbrook, Illinois, construction of a new yellow and purple branded fast food establishment neared completion with a callback to the ’80s. Along with the resurgence of the Grimace mascot this year, the latest move from the franchise at the least has pulled its name from a decades-old alien character and will be known as CosMc’s.
Locals snagged images outside the premier location when signage was revealed featuring a solitary version of the iconic golden arches stylized much like a planetary ring.
— Scott Fredrickson (@skotfred) November 30, 2023
Others caught a reveal of a menu board that listed international menu items like McPops along with a wide array of drinks. While unclear if the posted offerings would be the official fare of the new restaurant, the listing included coffees, slushies, iced teas and lemonades, as well as items called Signature Galactic Boosts.
Additionally, there were sandwiches and snacks.
McDonald’s is launching a new concept and I was just there and grabbed pics of a whole new menu of items never been offered before
The concept is being launched in Bollingrbook, IL and it’s called CosMc’s
It’s not open yet and there was a full team of actors in the drive thru… pic.twitter.com/Z64g4ykZXT
— Iman Jalali (@Stealx) November 29, 2023
TikToker @snackolator said, “The kind of conventional thinking is that this is going to be something of a competitor to like Starbucks, where it’s going to focus on the McCafe stuff and the coffee and the drinks as opposed to serving burgers and fries, which makes even more sense when you realize that this CosMc’s is being built directly next to an existing McDonald’s.”
@snackolator I think the new CosMc’s will be a lot of fun and I am hoping McDonald’s keep bringing some of the fun McCafe items from around the world. What do you think of the new CosMc’s store and menu? #mcdonalds #cosmcs #mccafe #fastfood #fastfoodtok #macdonalds #mcdonaldslife #newfastfood #mccafetiktok #starbucks ♬ original sound – snackolator
During an earnings call earlier this year, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski touched on the new restaurant and the opportunity that opened up as consumers embraced express options in the wake of COVID.
“CosMc’s is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s, but its own unique personality,” he described.
“A big reason that we can now look at [smaller models] is because of the growth that’s happened with the digital and delivery, where you don’t necessarily need the big dining rooms that you needed in our traditional restaurants,” explained the CEO. “So you’re now able to look at real estate sites that previously would have been sort of off-limits to us; those become opportunities.”
Kempczinski’s comments spoke directly to the reported $7.3 billion in earnings McDonald’s made through the first three quarters of 2023 from the heart of their business model — real estate.
Detailed by USA Today, “As of the third quarter of 2023, there are 41,200 McDonald’s locations in over 100 countries. And yet, the company itself operates only about 2,100. The rest are owned and operated by its many franchisees.”
The $7.3 billion in rental income represented 63.5% of franchisee-generated revenue for 2023 and 38% of the overall revenue for McDonald’s as its top source of revenue.
USA Today went on to note, “When McDonald’s decided to turn to a 95% franchised model, it affected the top line. Revenue is down about 11% over the past decade, but the company exchanged a low-margin revenue source (food sales) for a higher-margin one (franchise fees and rental income).”
Neither an opening date for CosMc’s nor other locations for its “limited geography” launch in 2024 were readily available but were anticipated for the upcoming investor’s day.
A look back at the original CosMc marketing can be viewed below via YouTube:
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Palm oil prices surge as floods in Malaysia raise supply concerns
March 3, 2023
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March 03, 2023 (MLN): The price of palm oil has surged due to concerns over supply caused by floods in Malaysia, according to Abdul Hameed, director of sales at Pakistan-based Manzoor Trading.
Heavy rainfall in Malaysia has disrupted production, leading to fears of a shortage of the commodity. Hameed believes that this, combined with the weaker ringgit against the dollar, could push the price of crude palm oil (CPO) futures toward MYR4,400 in the short term.
Furthermore, the lower-than-expected soybean crop in Argentina is also providing support for CPO futures prices, as the two crops are often used in similar products and tend to trade in tandem.
As of May delivery, the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract is MYR30 higher at MYR4,324 per ton. The higher prices for palm oil are expected to have a significant impact on the food and cosmetics industries, as palm oil is a key ingredient in many products.
This surge in prices may also have a knock-on effect on consumers, as companies may be forced to raise prices to compensate for the higher cost of production.


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Marc Jacobs' dog Neville lands new campaign
The Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 15 campaign starred some of the world's most talked about models – including Anya Rubik, Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss, Joan Smalls, Jessica Stam, Natasha Poly, Issa Lish, Adriana Lima and Anna Ewers.
Source:http://www.buro247.com/me/fashion/news/marc-jacobs-ss15-campaign-full.html Now, the ever-inventive American designer has decided to step away from the model agencies for his new BookMarc ad campaign, and look a little closer to home... Casting his beloved pet dog – Neville Jacobs.
In the visual, Neville is captured by iconic photographer David Sims, wearing Marc Jacobs glasses and a bow tie whilst reading a book by Guido Palau. The black-and-white bull terrier is already accustomed to the spotlight, with over 100k followers on Instagram – making him one of the most followed dogs on social media.
We wonder how Karl Lagerfeld's pet cat Choupette feels about this...


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A reputable company has announced the Marketing Manager Jobs in Lahore April 2020 for the Pakistani Citizens.
In these Lahore Jobs 2020 the eligible Male/Female candidates from across the country can apply and can get these Jobs in Pakistan 2020
Latest Posts/Vacancies in Marketing Manager Jobs in Lahore April 2020
The requirements are mentioned in the ad below:
Jang Newspaper Jobs 2020


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US pending home sales edged higher in September after falling 1% in August with a rise of 0.3% reported. While below expectations for an increase of 1.0%, sales from a year earlier rose +3.0%, the sharpest annual lift recorded since July last year. Sales slipped in two of the survey districts, the largest in the Midwest which has now seen 4-consecutive monthly declines, while two districts reported gains with the South logging a rise of 1.4% following a 1.5% contraction in August.
US service sector activity grew at a slower pace in October with Markit’s ‘flash’ services PMI gauge falling to 57.3. The reading, below the 58.9 level of September and expectations for a decline to 57.8, was the lowest level seen since April this year. While the employment component held steady at 4-month highs new business growth fell slightly with the index dropping to lows last seen in August.
Manufacturing activity across Texas and surrounds grew at a slightly slower pace in October with the Dallas Fed manufacturing index slipping to 10.5. The reading was below the 10.8 level of September and expectations for an increase to 11.0. While only five of thirteen survey components deteriorated during the month it was interesting to see that most of the weakness was concentrated around wages, employee numbers and the length of the average workweek.
Eurozone M3 monetary growth accelerated at the fastest pace since May 2013 in the year to September with the ECB reporting an increase of 2.5%. The reading was higher than the 2.1% rate of August and expectations for an increase of 2.2% with private-sector loans, having contracted for the past 29 months, improving to -1.2%, the slowest annual decline since May last year.
The ECB bought €1.704b worth of covered bonds in the first week of their latest stimulus program. A long way to go to reach the €1t balance sheet expansion they are looking for? Certainly some ‘unknown’ sources at the ECB think so, at least according to Reuters, with the news agency reporting that the bank may start directly buying of sovereign bonds as soon as early 2015.
German business confidence fell for a sixth-consecutive month in October, the longest stretch of declines seen since late 2012, with the IFO expectations index slipping to 98.3. The reading was below the 99.3 level of September and median economist forecast for a decline to 99.2 and was the lowest level seen since December 2012. Mirroring the fall in the expectations measure, the current economic assessment index also deteriorated with a decline to 108.4 reported. The reading, the fourth-straight monthly decline, was below the 110.4 figure of September and expectations for a fall to 110.0 and left the index at lows last seen in May 2013. In what will come as a surprise to few, expectations and the current assessment indices topped out in April this year, the same month the Russia was first slapped with sanctions following the annexation of Crimea.
UK high street sales grew at a fast clip in October with the CBI distributive trades balance holding at +31. 48% of retailers reported sales higher than a year ago whilst 17% recorded falls, an outcome that left the survey balance at +31, above the +25 level expected. In a sign that a similar outcome is likely in November, the expected sales balance rose to a 2-month high of +31 from +26 in September.
The Day Ahead (AEDT)
The ASX 200 looks set to get off to weak start this morning with SPI futures pointing to a decline of 15pts on the open. With the commodities complex mixed, buying in higher-yielding names, particularly the banks, likely to slow before the NAB reports on Thursday and with the FOMC rate decision arriving later in the week, a meandering day of trade, probably around breakeven, appears the most likely outcome today.
Another forgettable performance from the AUDUSD overnight with the pair operating in a small range between .8789 to .8813 throughout. With no major domestic news or data scheduled and with the FOMC policy decision, along with US Q3 GDP, arriving on Thursday, another lacklustre session appears likely in the absence of an unexpected, market-moving headline. Support starts at the overnight low of .8789, .8775 and at .8750 with resistance kicking in at the overnight high, .8813, with further selling likely at .8822 and again above .8850.
The weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence survey will be released this morning at 9.30am. Elsewhere in the region we’ll receive retail trade and small business confidence from Japan, industrial profits from China along with South Korean consumer confidence.
Data releases this evening include durable goods orders, Case-Shiller house price index, consumer confidence and Richmond Fed manufacturing index from the States, German import prices along with Italian business confidence.


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- Primark has revealed its Christmas decorations for 2019, and the Disney baubles are going straight onto our tree.
- Featuring the classic Mickey Mouse head shape in a variety of different colours, they're a festive must-have.
If our Christmas tree isn't 12 foot tall and eight foot wide this year, we're gonna have a massive problem, because Primark has announced it will be bringing back its extremely popular Disney baubles for 2019 and we're obsessed.
Even though it's only September, we genuinely already have Christmas 2019 planned, and the decoration theme mainly centres around these adorable Mickey Mouse baubles. If you don't remember the baubles from last year, you're in for a real treat because they're the perfect mixture of nostalgic Disney-goodness and super-festive. What more could you want?
The Mickey and Minnie Mouse baubles are completely adorable, and at just £4 a pack we'll definitely be getting more than one.
There's also sets of six smaller baubles, also £4 a pack.
But that's not all! There's another iconic Mickey Mouse pack which are guaranteed to be the talking point of your tree:
And bigger packs, each containing 25 baubles, which will be selling for £12.
You'll be fighting off every Disney fan in the country, so you'd better keep an eagle eye out for them hitting your nearest store.


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Wikipedia to Go Dark Tomorrow in SOPA Protest
Google will place a protest link on its home page.
“We oppose these bills because there are smart, targeted ways to shut down foreign rogue websites without asking American companies to censor the Internet,” Samantha Smith, a Google spokeswoman, said in an e-mail today.
The Stop Online Piracy Act in the House and the Protect IP Act in the Senate are backed by the movie and music industries as a means to crack down on the sale of counterfeit goods by non-U.S. websites. Hollywood studios want lawmakers to ensure that Internet companies such as Google share responsibility for curbing the distribution of pirated material.
Twitter, which also opposes the bill, will not shut down.
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Designer Cecelia Porter examined the lives of popular superheroes and pointed out five life lessons their stories taught society.
According to St. Thomas Public Safety logs, theft incidents have increased this year, but there are ways to avoid becoming a victim of crime.
Designer Sam Wisneski analyzed a study that linked personality with language used in Facebook statuses to find out how the two are linked.
St. Thomas student-athletes have earned the most MIAC Elite 22 academic awards among all conference schools during the fall sports season.
From Kindergarten to college, educational technologies are continuing to revolutionize educational eviroments with cloud computing, mobile technology and others.
Designer Bailey Jordan found four creative recipies to use up all of your Thanksgiving leftovers.
‘Tis the season to shop, and Designer Danielle Duet complied the statistics about which groups of consumers hit stores on Black Friday, what they buy and when they go.
A suspicious email, a stolen backpack and an intercepted fake ID in the St. Thomas Mail Room are all part of this week’s Public Safety briefs.
Designer Danielle Duet compiled tips for students looking for affordable airfare.
With more than 200 million users about 460,000 new accounts created, and billions of posts each week, Twitter has taken the social media world by storm.
Designer Danielle Duet designed this test based on Gary Chapman’s five primary love languages to find out your preference for emotional communication.
Design Manger Genevieve Cossette complied a list of the some of the common characteristics of happy people.
The Tommie Award, which began in 1931, has a storied history that includes trends around gender, race and campus involvement.
Evidence of the Christmas creep, the seemingly inevitable early slide into the holiday shopping season, is already prevalent.
Designer Bailey Jordan highlighted the top four apps that most apply to college students’ lives.


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Xiaomi Unveils Apple AirPower-Like $90 Wireless Charging Pad Capable of Charging Three Devices Simultaneously
At its product launch event today, Xiaomi announced a wireless charging pad that’s capable of charging three devices, each up to 20W simultaneously, for a total of 60W across the pad.
Xiaomi says the charging pad includes 19 wireless charging coils, enabling devices to be charged anywhere they’re placed on the pad. Typical wireless chargers require precise and nimble placement of devices for them to receive a charge. Xiaomi is looking to challenge the status quo, giving customers more freedom as to where they place their devices.
The pad will charge any device that supports Qi wireless charging, including newer iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods. Xiamoi’s pad bears striking similarities to Apple’s now canceled AirPower charging mat, which it announced in 2017, only to cancel two years later due to its inability to meet its own high-quality standards.
Apple never announced a price for AirPower, so a comparison is hard to make. Xiamoi’s wireless charging pad will retail for $90. The company’s devices, ranging from smartphones to tablets, have been publicly criticized in the past for heavily borrowing design elements from Apple’s iPhones and iPads, and adopting marketing materials tactics similar to Apple’s.
This article, "Xiaomi Unveils Apple AirPower-Like $90 Wireless Charging Pad Capable of Charging Three Devices Simultaneously" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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March 29, 2021 at 05:51AM


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Michael Owusu Addo, widely known in showbiz as Sarkodie, the “No Pressure” man, has to respond to individuals who think his sneakers are expensive. In an attempt to defend himself after being dragged over a 700Gh shoe, Sarkodie stated that he cuts his clothing according to his size and does not blow his cash.
Sarkodie preached genuineness in a post while selling a sneaker costing 700 Ghanaian cedis to his Twitter fans and followers. This act by the rapper got him shamed because most people think it’s way too expensive and some people can’t afford it.
He cuts his coat according to his size, which simply implies he lives within his means, according to him. As a result, if the 700GH sneaker is beyond your price range, there are others that are so low that practically everyone can purchase them without complaining.
He went on to say that while he cuts his coat to fit him, he has no plans to acquire a Bugatti right now. To him, his wages will not help him if he buys such an expensive car, the cost of whose maintenance alone may buy another car.


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Compared to many states, Texas has relatively sound economic policies. Taxes are quite low, labor is at-will and therefore mostly paid at market rates rather than union or government mandated levels.
It’s less complicated to start a new business or build a new building here than in many states, and so it’s easier to create new jobs. And while Texas is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, we have also diversified our economy over the past few decades to be reasonably insulated from fluctuating oil and gas prices.
But while Texans, or at least conservative Texans, like to think of Texas as a state that exemplifies a philosophy of free markets and limited government, I have bad news for you.
There are several areas where elected Republicans in Texas have confused being pro-market with being pro-business, and so they have enacted policies designed to protect incumbent businesses or traditional business models from disruptive competition, which would not not only better for consumers, but also would encourage higher economic growth and job creation in our state.
When you say you believe in free markets, that means you believe in robust competition – new competitors within the state, competition from outside, disruptive new technologies, and experimentation with new business models.
But when you enact policies designed to protect powerful business interests, you are protectionist and not liberal.
Texas’ tedious and unnecessary laws governing the sale and distribution of alcohol is an area where your elected Republican lawmakers repeatedly leave in place outdated regulations that protect a small number of private, family-owned liquor chains from competition. big box stores.
A particularly infuriating example is a new measure passed by Republicans in 2019. It barred companies outside of Texas from bidding on new electric transmission projects. My fellow Republicans, who claim to believe in free markets, have overwhelmingly passed legislation to protect a small number of huge transmission companies in Texas from new competition from out of state.
With fewer companies bidding on transmission projects, that just means those projects will cost more, and when you have a small number of companies legally allowed to bid, that introduces the possibility of collusion. It’s bad for Texas taxpayers, but good for the public services lawmakers have chosen to protect. In other words, the legislators made a pro-business choice, but certainly not a pro-market one.
However, perhaps the most immediate and compelling example is how Texas Republicans are using the power of the law to force Texas consumers to buy vehicles through the traditional car dealership model. Residents of 31 other states can buy vehicles directly from manufacturers such as Tesla and Rivian, but not Texans.
For Texas Republicans-elect, protecting auto dealerships from low levels of disruptive competition is more important than upholding their free-market principles and allowing Texas consumers to take advantage of new business models. They are happy to recruit Elon Musk’s company from outside of California, although the cars built here are still difficult to buy.
Some Republicans in Texas may think that to support fossil fuels they must necessarily oppose electric vehicles, but that’s ridiculous. The electricity that charges electric vehicles doesn’t come out of nowhere — it’s generated by our natural gas power plants here in Texas.
In all of these cases, Republican lawmakers in Texas have chosen campaign dollars from big contributors over fidelity to their stated free-market principles. They chose to favor businesses over consumers.
Being a conservative lawmaker in Texas shouldn’t be about more guns and fewer abortions. We can open our state to even more economic growth, job creation, consumer choice, and overall economic freedom. But it will require elected Republicans to live up to the rhetoric of their campaign mailings and adopt policies that actually expand markets rather than protect well-connected business interests.
Tom Giovanetti is president of the Institute for Policy Innovation, a free-market think tank in Dallas.


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Welch, the former General Electric CEO, will offer his program in conjunction with Chancellor University, a Cleveland, Ohio based college with an extensive online offering.
The Jack Welch Management Institute will open this week for fall enrollment and offers two accredited programs—a Master of Management and a traditional Master of Business Administration.
The online mba program offers courses in marketing, strategy, management, and finance. Welch won’t personally teach the courses, but faculty will receive input from Welch, and the curriculum will be updated weekly with an online video from Welch addressing current business news and topics.
“We also hope the program … will be an exciting option for entrepreneurs who seek to improve their managerial skills, people reentering the workforce after any length of time, and veterans who hope to translate their battlefield experience to the business world,” said George Kidd, president of Chancellor University, said in a statement.
The Welch MBA program will also offer value for students. While traditional MBA programs often cost more than $100,000, the $600 per credit hour offered by Welch means students can receive an MBA with as little as $20,000.
The 73-year-old Welch led GE from 1981 to 2001 to become a major global conglomerate. He was known as a tough manager who was a pioneer of the benchmark for business productivity and efficiency known as “Six Sigma.”
“Six Sigma” attempted to cut unnecessary costs by improving manufacturing processes and reducing defects in every aspect of the business. Motorola Inc. and Japan’s Toyota Motor were also well-known for adopting the method.
During his tenure at GE, Welch shut down factories, cut payroll, and eliminated massive bureaucracy to streamline the company’s business operations. He believed that a company should be among the leaders in any of the markets that it operates in.
Welch’s tactics won numerous accolades among business circles and on Wall Street as GE’s profitability drastically improved during his tenure as CEO.
He was also known for his brutal candor. He rewarded his top managers with big bonuses and stock options, while firing the bottom 10 percent each year.
Welch was named “Manager of the Century” by Fortune Magazine in 1999.
Online Classroom Gaining Popularity
For-profit only degree-offering universities such as the University of Phoenix and Corinthian Colleges have been gaining popularity among potential students for their flexibility and self-paced study.
Welch’s entrance in the market adds even more allure to the online degree marketplace, despite its critics, who question the quality of an online education.
According to a study by Sloan Consortium, more than 20 percent of all college students took at least one class over the Internet in 2007. That’s double the amount of students from 2003.
Some analysts say that an e-MBA is less appealing to prospective students than traditional brick and mortar MBA, where graduates could benefit from an established alumni base in the business world. (The EpochTimes)


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Speculation has been rampant for months about Wal-Mart's plans for Boulder. The company, which was previously denied the chance to open one of its Supercenters in town, now intends to open a smaller Neighborhood Market at Diagonal Plaza.
Diagonal Plaza is off 28th Street and Iris Avenue in north Boulder. The store proposed for the site is about 52,000 square feet, which amounts to a quarter the size of a Supercenter.
Wal-Mart said it intends to hire between 65 and 95 people for the store.
Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) operates the Walmart and Sam's Club chains.


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Google Acquires Motorola Mobility: What You Need to Know
No, it's not April 1. Though many of you probably looked twice at your RSS reader or emails this morning, questioning whether you were reading that headline correctly, Google is indeed acquiring Motorola Mobility and will shell out $12.5 billion for the honor.
It might seem random, but Motorola has focused solely on Android since 2008, and the company's patent portfolio is quite attractive to the patent-starved Google. If the deal is approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities, Google argues that it will be in a better position to protect its lucrative Android brand. That's great, but what's so great about patents and what does this mean for you? Are we headed for a future where only Motorola will produce Android devices? See below for all the answers.
So should we expect to see the rise of Moogle or Googorola?
Not just yet. Google insisted that Motorola will remain a separate company.
Why does Google want to buy Motorola?
Google chief Larry Page talked about buying Motorola in order to "supercharge the Android ecosystem," and what really sweetened the deal was Motorola's expansive patent portfolio.
Patents? That's kind of a boring reason.
Boring, but lucrative. Anyone keeping an eye on the tech press recently has seen no shortage of patent-related lawsuits, many from the top tech firms in the game: Samsung vs. Apple, Google vs. Oracle, Motorola vs. Apple, Microsoft vs. Android producers, just to name a few. If you latch on to just the right patent, you can make a killing on licenses alone. A recent report said Microsoft has made more on licenses for HTC Android devices than it has on its own Windows Phone platform.
So it's all about money?
And protecting the brand. Earlier this month, Google accused rivals like Apple and Microsoft of collectively purchasing patents in order to thwart the growth of Android. If companies like Apple and Microsoft hold the most valuable wireless patents, Google is vulnerable to patent-related lawsuits. Buying Motorola and its patent arsenal "enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies," Google's Page said today.
But Google is pretty big; it has to have a lot of patents, right?
Not exactly. It might be big, but relatively speaking, it's still a youngster in the tech scene at 13 years old. Patent proceedings can drag on for years, so Google hasn't had much time to build up its own portfolio. And in recent months, it lost bids to buy patents from Nortel and Novell.
Apple was one of the companies to buy into the Nortel and Novell patents. Is this setting the stage for an epic Apple vs. Google battle?
It's the stuff that tech headlines are made of, of course, but we'll have to wait and see. Google has not minced words in criticizing Apple (and Microsoft) for its approach in acquiring patents ("Microsoft and Apple have always been at each other’s throats, so when they get into bed together you have to start wondering what's going on," Google's David Drummond quipped recently), but can Google battle the Apple starpower? "We believe this deal speaks to the concerns Google had in competing with Apple in the long run, however, Google will now have access to both the software and hardware piece to the puzzle," Ticonderoga's Securities analyst Brian White said in a Monday note to investors.
Fair enough. But does this mean we'll only be able to get Android-based phones from Motorola?
Google insisted that Android will remain open, meaning that Motorola will not be the only Android dealer in town. "Many hardware partners have contributed to Android's success and we look forward to continuing to work with all of them to deliver outstanding user experiences," Page wrote.
OK, but how do other Android partners, like HTC and Samsung, feel about that?
According to Google's Android chief, Andy Rubin, partners like Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, and HTC were "very enthusiastic" about the deal. Statements from those providers released by Google, however, were very terse and basically said that they "welcome" Google's effort to protect Android. HTC later issued a longer statement that said "We are supportive of Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility as this is a positive development to the Android ecosystem, which we believe is beneficial to HTC's promotion of Android phones. The partnership between HTC and Google remains strong and will not be affected by this acquisition."
So they're freaking out, right?
Probably, though no one's really going to come out and say it. Analysts and tech journalists alike were certain that handset makers were not exactly greeting this news with open arms.
Could they just dump Android?
Anything is possible, but Android has been very good to a number of these companies. Samsung in particular had a huge year thanks to the success of its Android-based Galaxy S line of smartphones. The handset maker shipped 17.3 million devices, a 380.6 percent change from the 3.6 million smartphones it shipped in the second quarter of 2010, according to IDC, which was the largest year-over-year growth of any of the world's top-five smartphone vendors. As Gartner's Carolina Milanesi pointed out, there's "not much they can do when their smartphones sales are so dependent" on Android.
What about Windows Phone 7?
Ironically, it was Motorola's Sanjay Jha who was publicly entertaining the idea of a Windows Phone 7-based Motorola device recently. "I would have to consider whether defocusing from Android to Windows will be the right thing for us to do, but if the capabilities on Windows are such that that is the right thing for us, I think we will consider it," Jha said. That's probably less likely now, but Microsoft isn't exactly hurting for support from a major phone maker. Earlier this year, it signed a deal with Nokia, and the Finland-based company is set to unveil its first Windows Phone device by year's end. Windows Phones also aren't exactly flying off the shelves just yet, so Android likely remains a more lucrative option for the likes of HTC and Samsung. But as this morning's news proves, don't rule anything out.
Does Microsoft have anything to say?
Initially, Microsoft had no comment on the deal, but later in the day, Andy Lees, president of the Windows Phone division, said in a statement that "investing in a broad and truly open mobile ecosystem is important for the industry and consumers alike, and Windows Phone is now the only platform that does so with equal opportunity for all partners."
What about the wireless carriers? Does this impact them, too?
The big four are also keeping a lid on it. Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T all declined to comment and T-Mobile did not immediately have a comment to share.
Would this somehow involve Google TV?
Indeed. Besides phones, Motorola Mobility also develops set-top boxes and DVRs. With Motorola in its corner, there's a good chance we might see Google TV appear in cable boxes. In the announcement, Larry Page said he wants to accelerate innovation in the home devices and video solutions business, and pledged to work with the cable and telecom industries to get that done.
Have any other burning questions? Let us know in the comments.
Editor's Note: This story was updated at 9:15pm Eastern with comment from Microsoft.


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Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’ Returns To Billboard 200 Top 10April 29, 2019
Beyoncé‘s album Lemonade has returned to the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart.
According to Billboard, the wide release of Beyoncé’s 2016 album on streaming services other than Tidal helped the record to jump back onto the Billboard 200 chart, joining her newly-released Homecoming: The Live Album.
Beyoncé has subsequently achieved a pair of concurrent top 10 albums for the first time.
Lemonade currently sits at No. 9 on the chart, while Homecoming: The Live Album jumps to the 4th spot from 7th after its first full chart tracking week of activity, driven by 57,000 equivalent album units being sold.
Billboard noted that Beyoncé has two other records in the top 200, including her self-titled album and I Am… Sasha Fierce.
Lemonade, which previously had reached the No. 1 spot following its April 23, 2016 release, earned 30,000 more equivalent album units in the week ending April 25 after its wide streaming debut on streaming platforms, such as Apple Music and Spotify.
Lemonade last reached the top 10 on March 7, 2017, when the album jumped from 33rd position to 9th during the Grammy Awards season.
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