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Some might argue that bloggers aren't he most objective sources of public opinion on whether online journalists deserve the same First Amendment rights as traditional reporters. But even they, like the courts, are conflicted about the issue as it pertains to Apple Computer's related case heard in a California appeals court today.
Apple Computer faced tough questioning by a panel of judges this morning in its bid to gain access to electronic records of Mac enthusiast sites that published leaked details of an unreleased product. Apple subpoenaed the online ISP and publishing carriers of the blogs in an attempt to determine who leaked information about "Asteroid," a FireWire audio interface for GarageBand.
While it appears bloggers tend to side with their fellow Web scribes in the case, some are also defending Apple's role in protecting its trade secrets. Where they seem to agree, however, is that whatever the judge decides, it's likely to have broad reaching effects.
Blog community response:
"The sad thing is that Apple, who likes to encourage expression and creativity is taking up the role of 'The Man' here. They are arguing that the rumor site does not qualify as a true media outlet. How insane is that? The defendant, PowerPage.org is one of the most popular Mac sites on the web. They are not some shot in the dark company. They may report on things as insignificant as Mac product news, but they are definitely a press organization. The truth is that Apple has not been able to enforce their own NDA's with workers and contractors and are thus going after the recipients of this leaked information."
"It will be spun where this is a case of bloggers' rights and that they should have the right to blog about anything...I am going to have to side with Apple on this issue. Having the technical ability to write whatever you want does not mean you should write whatever you want. It's my understanding that the freedoms offered to the press were written to keep our government in check with it citizens. I feel corporations should be protected by these same principles...I believe Apple Computer Inc. has a duty to all its stake holders to plug the leak."
"In a country that supposedly protects its citizen's rights, its Bill of Rights and its Constitution as the highest standard under God, let's hope the court remembers not to be divisible. Corporate America already holds too much power as it is...The digital freedom of bloggers within the law is essential, including keeping its ability to speak and protect the truth. Especially for stories based in truthiness..."


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Salient to Investors:
RealtyTrac said foreclosure sales fell 22 percent in Q1 from a year earlier as rising prices reduced the incentive to sell for owners underwater
Daren Blomquist at RealtyTrac said rising prices take away the urgency from banks and homeowners from having to do a short sale. Blomquist said for metropolitan areas with populations of more than 500,000, Stockton, CA led in distressed sales at 44 percent, followed Modesto, CA at 41 percent, Atlanta at 38 percent, Chicago at 35 percent, and Orlando, Florida, and Sacramento, California, both at 30 percent
States with the highest proportion of distressed sales included Georgia at 35 percent, Illinois at 32 percent, California at 30 percent, and Arizona and Michigan, both at 28 percent.
S&P/Case-Shiller indicates US home values rose 10.9 percent in the 12 months through March, the most in 7 years and versus a 9.4 percent gain in February – all 20 cities in the gauge had year-over-year price increases.
Brian Jones at Societe Generale said low interest rates, scarce inventory, and rising consumer confidence are helping fuel a continued, gradual recovery in housing.
Foreclosure-related properties sold for an average discount of 30 percent to non-distressed properties in Q1.
Read the full article at http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-30/foreclosure-deals-drop-22-as-rising-prices-delay-sales.html
Click here to receive free and immediate email alerts of the latest forecasts.

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LG’s tendency to update its devices incredibly slowly has become something of a running gag in the tech community, especially after the company unveiled a ‘Software Upgrade Center’ last year that didn’t change matters much. It seems like the company’s current flagship is receiving Android 10 in a timely manner, but don’t get excited yet.
There is currently one confirmed report of Android 10 rolling out to an LG G8 ThinQ in South Korea, courtesy of Reddit user Jerry101923. They posted the update confirmation on Reddit, then shared additional screenshots with GSMArena.
We weren’t able to find any additional reports on social media, so the rollout seems to be extremely limited for now. If previous upgrades are anything to go by, those of you outside the Korean Peninsula will be waiting several more months to get Android 10—while the G7 got Pie in January of 2019, models in other countries didn’t get it until July.


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Survey: Teens use Tumblr more than Facebook
Teenagers, and investors alike, have been showing great interest in Tumblr. Recent research has revealed that social network and blogging platform is now used more than Facebook among young adults.
Founded in 2007, Tumblr now boasts over 89.5 million blogs and over 40 billion posts. The site's tens of millions of registered users create over 120,000 new blogs every day resulting in some 18 billion page views each month.
While those figures pale in comparison to Facebook's volume of users and status update count, there is one Tumblr statistic that might surprise, found Y Combinator start-up Survata. Their survey of 1,038 young adults, split equally between the age groups 13-18 and 19-25, found Tumblr was the most-used out of major sites including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
Fifty-nine percent of those between the ages of 13 and 25 said they use Tumblr regularly compared to 54% who said they use Facebook regularly. Among the younger of the two age groups, the percentage who said they use Tumblr regularly rises to 61% compared with 55% who said they use Facebook regularly.
One in five respondents between 13 and 25 said they use Twitter regularly, followed by 16% for Instagram and 9% for Snapchat.
Advertising on Tumblr is subtle - no banner ads or social ads. Instead, 'sponsors', as advertisers are referred to, are presented via Tumblr's Radar feed, as well as front and center in their Spotlight feature.
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New Hyde Park-based Kimco Realty paid about $261.7 million for ownership interests in seven shopping centers comprising 1.3 million square feet and sold 10 centers totaling 887,000 square feet for $75.6 million in the second quarter, according to a company statement.
Some of the properties bought by Kimco were Devon Village, a 69,000-square-foot center in Devon, Pa., that cost $28.6 million; Davidson Commons, an 89,000-square-foot shopping center built in Davidson, N.C., that was acquired for about $15.9 million; and Overlook Village, a 154,000-square-foot center in Asheville, N.C., that was purchased for about $25.5 million.
The underperforming retail properties Kimco shed had an average occupancy of about 76 percent.
The company now owns interests in more than 930 shopping centers totaling 136 million square feet of leaseable space across 44 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and South America.
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TikTok’s Net Worth: How Much Is TikTok Worth Right Now?
TikTok is the latest in a series of red-hot apps primarily aimed at teenagers and millennials. TikTok describes itself as the “leading destination for short-form mobile video,” with a mission to “inspire creativity and bring joy.” Based in China, the app was founded by Zhang Yiming, who remains something of a mystery, not giving many interviews.
Unlike its relatively unknown and secretive billionaire founder, TikTok is already well known on the global stage. The company’s parent ByteDance continues to maintain offices from Los Angeles and London to Beijing, Warsaw, Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai, Ho Chi Minh City and Bordeaux, to name just a few. Read on to learn more about Zhang’s invention, how it’s used and whether or not it may be a good investment going forward.
|TikTok Company Snapshot|
TikTok Net Worth: $50 Billion
TikTok’s worth is valued at $50 billion. Recent estimates place the value of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, at $180 billion. This is based on the company’s most recent attempts to raise $2 billion. This more than doubles the company’s most recent round of fundraising. TikTok itself has been valued at $50 billion by investors willing to bid that much to break off the company from its parent, ByteDance.
TikTok’s Founder Net Worth
Zhang Yiming founded TikTok in 2012. He has become an unqualified success in the business world. The 36-year old former software engineer is now worth over $27.7 billion, making him the 9th-wealthiest person in China, according to Forbes’ China Rich List.
What Is TikTok’s Primary Product and Source of Revenue?
TikTok is an app that allows users to create and share short videos. It comes with an extraordinarily wide range of features that users can employ, from music clips to famous TV show moments to other TikTok videos.
If that overall description of TikTok sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because it’s somewhat reminiscent of the app Vine, which was all the rage in 2013. Due at least in part to the popularity of Vine, video as a method of expression — and generating revenue — exploded in the mid-2010s, popularized still further with the explosive growth of Snapchat, Instagram (owned by Facebook) and YouTube.
How Exactly Does TikTok Work?
TikTok allows users to film their own videos of up to 15 seconds. A database of sound bytes, songs or effects can enhance videos at a user’s creative whim. Typically, videos involve lip-synching or acting out comedy sketches, the only limitation being one’s imagination.
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, reportedly generated $17.2 billion in revenue in 2019 alone. About 2/3 of this amount was from domestic ads on the Chinese version of TikTok, dubbed Douyin. Additional revenue came in the form of live streaming, games and ecommerce.
Current Top Shareholders
The Chinese arm of Sequoia Capital counts itself as one of the early investors in TikTok via parent company ByteDance. Additional investors in TikTok parent ByteDance include the following, according to CrunchBase:
TikTok’s Top Shareholders
- CMB Wing Lung Bank
- Morgan Stanley
- Goldman Sachs
- Bank of China
- K3 Investors
- Primavera Capital Group
- Kohlberk Kravis Roberts
- Tiger Global Management
- GGV Capital
How Does the Future Look for TikTok?
The company has been perfectly positioned to benefit from the global quarantine created by the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020’s first quarter alone, the app was downloaded more than 315 million times. TikTok claimed 689 million active monthly users as of October 2020, according to DataReportal. That amounts to more active monthly users than either Twitter or Snapchat, which is a staggering statistic.
One roadblock for TikTok has been the U.S. government’s efforts to ban the app in America due to security concerns. A deal was struck for Oracle and Walmart to take over the U.S. operations of TikTok, but that deal is not yet complete. If that deal were to fall through, TikTok would have to make other arrangements to continue to operate in the U.S.
TikTok still has a long way to go before it competes with the $2 trillion valuation of companies like Apple. However, the bottom line is that user penetration and in-app revenue are both showing strong, consistent gains, pointing the way to a bright near-term future for TikTok.
Should I Invest in TikTok?
Consider this before investing: TikTok is not a publicly traded company. Unlike so many of its “unicorn” brethren that have commanded multimillion-dollar valuations and then had a splashy IPO, you won’t find TikTok traded on say, the New York Stock Exchange. Since TikTok remains private, you’d have to find a way to convince management to accept your investment, which isn’t likely for most.
However, there could be good news around the corner. ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, is indeed eyeing the public markets for a possible IPO for TikTok Global. According to the latest market rumors, ByteDance is considering listing those shares in the United States sometime in 2021.
If this comes to pass, you’d want to determine if investing in TikTok would even make sense for you as an individual investor.
Consider these before investing:
- Reputation: Unlike a company like Disney or Walmart, TikTok is far from a “blue chip stock.”
- Private Company: TikTok isn’t subject to the same disclosures as a public company, meaning you won’t have access to quarterly earnings reports and other financial disclosures.
- High Risk/High Reward: Combined with the high valuation and the fate of similar companies that have gone before (e.g., Vine), TikTok solidly resides in the “high-risk/high-reward” camp.
- Security: Possible security concerns raised by the U.S. government fears that information on millions of Americans could be passed to China’s Communist Party.
The bottom line is that any investment in TikTok at this time would have to be considered very speculative.
If you’re still interested in investing in TikTok, you might want to strongly consider enlisting the help of a fiduciary financial advisor, such as a Registered Investment Adviser or a Certified Financial Planner.
These types of professionals, particularly those from one of GOBankingRates’ Best Brokers, can not only help analyze your own investment objectives and risk tolerance but may also have better access to information about what an investment in TikTok would entail.
Company Net Worth Guides
- How Much Is Apple Worth?
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- How Much Is Facebook Worth?
- How Much Is Google Worth?
- How Much Is Netflix Worth?
- How Much Is Shopify Worth?
- How Much Is Tesla Worth?
- How Much Is Zoom Worth?
Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy.
- TikTok. "About TikTok."
- Money.com. 2019. "Who Owns TikTok and How Does It Make Money?"
- Reuters. 2020. "Exclusive: Bytedance Investors Value TikTok at $50 Billion."
- Forbes. "China Rich List."
- The New York Times. 2019. "How TikTok Is Rewriting the World."
- TechCrunch. 2020. "ByteDance Valuation Under Huge Pressure as Tiktok Sale Nears."
- CNN. 2020. "Tiktok Exec Says She 'Misspoke' In Hearing."


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PepsiCo has always tried to engage with customers and consumers alike in unique ways. The brand has made a name for itself in applying diversified marketing and promotional strategies. These strategies focused on resonating better with their core target audience; youngsters and adventure seekers.
Read more: Alibaba is in talks to Invest in Grab!
We are familiar with Pepsi’s earlier potential innovations; one of the recent ones being Pepsi Café. Recently, PepsiCo has announced the launch of a new soft beverage named Driftwell. In case you are thinking that this drink will put you to sleep, you are absolutely right.
On Monday, September 14, the company made its announcement regarding the new ‘enhanced’ water beverage. Pepsi’s newest beverage will help drinkers become relaxed as they gradually fall asleep.
HOW DOES A DRINK MAKE ME FALL ASLEEP?
The new drink, named Driftwell, contains L-theanine. This helps relieve people from stress, as well as anxiety. Furthermore, the drink helps to improve the mental functioning capacity of consumers. Essentially, Driftwell will serve as a liquified sleep-inducing catalyst, easing your sleep deprivation hassles.
The drink will contain 200 mg of L-theanine, along with an additional 10% of the daily magnesium value requirement. In the current times surrounding the global pandemic, this drink will serve as a wellness product. Pepsi wants to position the beverage in the minds of the consumers as a relief from the daily struggles with increasing stress and anxiety.
According to PepsiCo, the brand is confident about the timing of the launch. Driftwell is scheduled to launch in the final quarter of 2020. The idea for an “enhanced” water drink initially originated from an in-house incubation program designed by PepsiCo.
Speaking on the increasing rate of consumer demand for a wellness enhancement drink, Emily Silver, Vice President of Innovation & Capabilities of PepsiCo North America said,
“I think we’re launching this at a time when there’s more consumer interest than there previously was, given everything that’s going on from a macro perspective.“


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Today at PDC, Microsoft announced that the next version of Microsoft Office will be available as browser-based tools in addition to being desktop software products, too. The online apps will include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote and they will run in the browser thanks to the Silverlight plugin. Plans are to support Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari.
The group of these online apps will be called “Office Web Applications” and they will be made available via the Office Live Service and as part of the Office Suite. Businesses will have the option to run the hosted apps by means of a subscription service. Volume licensing for larger businesses will also be offered.
The Office Web Applications are lightweight versions of the robust desktop software programs known collectively as Microsoft Office. However, you can rest assured that you no longer have to choose between rich functionality or a web application. Office Web Apps aren’t “dumbed down” suites, but real alternatives to desktop software. See a first look at the suite on Channel 9 now.


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British Soft Drinks Association
With the trend for sweet flavours sweeping most drinks categories, it seems an obvious path for producers to follow. But with obesity now a...
Last week was a challenging one, on top of a difficult year for UK soft drinks....
It was another busy day for the PR folk who have to defend the soft drinks industry yesterday....
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Lucozade Ribena Suntory COO Peter Harding has been elected as the new president of the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA).
Here's a look at what was happening on this day in...
The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) has urged health critics to “bring it on”, saying the industry has nothing to hide over sugar content.
The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) has spoken out over a government report warning against excessive consumption of soft drinks by children.
The head of the British Soft Drinks Association has highlighted to the UK Government the economic benefits that the industry brings to the country.
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Carine Roitfeld has been named global fashion director of Harper’s Bazaar. Roitfeld, a renowned fashion expert, is also editor-in-chief of CR Fashion Book.
Articles by Caysey Welton
Benjamin Gilbert is now senior associate editor for Engadget. Gilbert was formerly a senior reporter at Joystig.
CTOIndustry DiveAge: 29Takeaway: Dickinson built much of the digital infrastructure for Industry Dive. The mobile b-to-b publisher launched in January 2012, and now offers five verticals but plans to double that number by the beginning of 2013.
Chris Allen has been named as publisher of Active Interest Media’s Sail Magazine. Allen has served in executive roles for Time Inc. and Hearst, and spent 20 years as Cooking Light’s senior vice president and publisher.
Marie Claire has welcomed back Anne Fulenwider to serve as its editor-in-chief. Fulenwider had previously served as the magazine’s executive editor, but was most recently editor-in-chief for Brides.
Seth Rosenfield has joined Investment Bank Petsky Prunier as managing director. Rosenfield joins the company from BMO Capital Markets, where he led information services and business media coverage.
This week Source Interlink Media’s SLAM magazine introduced a new outlet for football fans to get the latest football news. SLAM is a print and online publication for basketball fans.
Anthony Licata has been promoted to editorial director of Bonnier’s men’s group. Licata had been serving as the company’s outdoor group editorial director.
TV Guide Mobile has launched a new app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch that connects users to multiple interactive features.
Carolyn Bekkedahl has been named senior vice president of digital sales for the Meredith Corporation. Bekkedahl had previously served as president of Mochilla Inc.


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No flat screen TV for you
Black Friday is almost upon us. Retailers are already advertising specials on the internet, and there are websites dedicated to finding the best deals. Unfortunately for Wisconsinites, the best deals may be over the border in Illinois because of Wisconsin’s minimum mark-up law, still in effect. In an article I wrote for the MacIver Institute, our friend Chris discovered the hard way the cost of the minimum mark-up law:
Chris was scouring the internet advertisements for pre-Black Friday deals when he came across a 42″ LCD TV at Wal-Mart for $498. Chris thought Christmas came early, loaded the family up in the car, and went to Wal-Mart to take advantage of the “in-store” special.
Unfortunately for Chris, he did not notice that the online advertisement said, “Prices and availability may vary in AK, HI, OK and WI.”
At Wal-Mart, the clerk told Chris they could not honor the sale price because of Wisconsin’s minimum mark-up law. The bargain television Chris was hoping to buy shot up in price from $498 to around $650. Chris decided to pass on the new television.
Chris was out a bargain on the new television. Wal-Mart was out the sale of the television. The state of Wisconsin was out the sales tax. Miller Park did not get the sales tax revenue, either. Everyone lost, and Chris’ children will be watching Frosty the Snowman on an old television with a tuning knob. I’m not sure if it even gets UHF.


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The metal back of the Galaxy On7 Prime also has a single 13-megapixel camera with an f/1.9 aperture and autofocus. Travel to the Olympic Games became a tricky subject during negotiations because of current multi-layered United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Sony has been producing OLED TVs for some time, but an OLED phone would be a first for Sony. Furthermore, it is adorned with a gold Olympics logo and gold rings as inspired by the Olympics Torch. The hearing will not be open to the public. "I'm planning to organize community service events with fans to promote the Olympic and Paralympic Games". Some individual Russian athletes will still be able to compete, however.
Rest of the specifications remains the same. Basically, here is the official unofficial song for all 15 events going on in Pyeongchang.
Huawei announced the P10 and P10 Pro at MWC 2017. We don't have much information in terms of specs but should learn more details soon. The screens occupy almost the entire front of the device, though lacking the curved sides that have become the signature of Samsung's premium phones.
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HMD Global, the new home of Nokia phones, is promising that MWC 2018 will bring awesome news. The A11 chip found in the iPhone 8 and iPhone X can indeed perform around 600 billion operations per second, which is impressive.More news: One-Third Of Americans Give Trump A Failing Grade As President
You could think of it as detente - with an asterisk. The company will be giving the handset exclusively to all Paralympians at the Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
Some very special athletes will be coming to Vernon next year.
It was recently revealed that Chinese company Xiaomi will be present at MWC 2018.
In other Galaxy Note news, a concept video of the Galaxy Note 9 shows major changes. It has the same metal unibody, which feels sturdy.
Samsung is working with Korean engineers to push its AI ambitions into chip form. Concerns for such a proposal include ramifications of increasing the size of the roster to accommodate North Korean skaters.


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Consumption of Indian whisky is at an all-time high, and a new wave of Indian malt whisky makers has risen to meet the growing demand.
Last year, Indian premium single malt whisky constituted a little more than half of the about 675,000 cases sold in India, data from the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) showed. Each case contains 12 bottles, with each bottle holding 750 milliliters of whisky.
Brands from indigenous whisky makers like Piccadilly Distilleries, Amrut Distilleries, Radico Khaitan, John Distilleries, DeVANS Modern Breweries, and Mohan Meakin Ltd are gaining popularity worldwide among premium alcohol connoisseurs.
Riding high on the popularity of Indian whiskies, Indian embassies abroad are showcasing made-in-India whiskies. Last month, the Indian embassy in Beijing played host to a whisky-tasting event replete with seven products from Paul John, Amrut and Indri.
CIABC director-general Vinod Giri said the industry lobby is working as an interface between the Indian missions abroad and single malt producers in India to showcase premium Indian alcoholic beverages and promote the segment’s export potential.
“Indian whiskies were recently included in the range of products with export potential in London, and missions in Seoul and Moscow have shown interest in showcasing Indian premium whiskies,” Giri said.
The popularity of Indian whisky got a boost last year when Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition from Piccadilly’s stable was adjudged among the best at the Whiskies of the World Awards 2023, winning the ‘Best in Show, Double Gold’ tag.
On Monday, 1 April, Piccadilly’s Indri Dru won the ‘Best Indian Single Malt’ at this year’s edition of the World Whiskies Awards. ‘Dru’ means wood in Sanskrit and Indri Dru is a tribute to the divine drink “soma” that was offered to the gods and collected in wooden vessels or dru, Piccadilly said in a statement, citing Indian mythology.
The launch of Godawan and Longitude 77 in India by Diageo and Pernod Ricard, two of the world’s largest Scotch malt whisky producers, endorses the success and emergence of the Indian single malt industry. Diageo launched Godawan, while Pernod Ricard rolled out Longitude 77 in December last year.
Despite concerns over the impending UK-India free trade agreement potentially favoring Scottish whisky due to reduced tariffs, Indian distillers remain optimistic. The growing domestic preference for indigenous brands suggests they will continue to thrive in India’s evolving whisky landscape.
A look at premium indigenous whisky makers that are tingling the taste buds and senses of global aficionados with their exceptional flavors and craftsmanship:
Siddhartha Sharma, founder of Piccadilly Distilleries and maker of the award-winning Indri-Trini, said, ” Our sales in India have seen an exponential growth of 67X since 2021. We have penetrated and gained a strong foothold across India and 19 countries overseas. We are present in most European countries, the US, across Asia, and the UAE. Our appetite for the international market is expanding, and 28% of our current sales comes from there. We have also recently started operating at the travel retail channel, which is anticipated to boost our sales further.”
“In all the markets we have launched our products, we have received an overwhelming response with regards to quality. Since its debut in November 2021, Indri has earned over 15 esteemed global awards. The most recent addition to the collection, Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2023, achieved the prestigious title of ‘Best in Show, Double Gold’ at the highly coveted Whiskies of the World Awards 2023, and Indri Dru won the title of ‘Best Indian Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards 2024. These accolades, coupled with other achievements, underscore the remarkable distinctiveness of Indri,” Sharma said.
On new products in the pipeline, Sharma said Piccadilly will “soon introduce more expressions of Indri for both domestic and international markets. We recently introduced the Camikara 3YO, India’s first pure cane juice rum, and we plan to expand the rum category in India. The premium rum category is currently untapped and has a lot of potential. We are looking at availability across India and increasing our footprint in more and more countries internationally.”
Piccadilly’s Indri Trini, a triple-cask single malt whisky distilled in Indri, Haryana, featured in the premier ‘New World’ category at US-based alco-bev platform VinePair, alongside Wilderness Trail small batch high rye bourbon and Glenglassaugh Sandend Highland single malt whisky. “Trini” refers to the three casks in which the whisky is matured—ex-Bourbon, ex-French wine, and PX Sherry.
“The (Indri Trini) whisky matured in triple casks reveals delightful notes of caramelized pineapple, vanilla, black tea, raisins, honey, and a lingering aftertaste of sweet fruity flavors. Specially crafted using the finest 6-row Indian barley from Rajasthan, it pays homage to the region’s time-honored traditions,” Sharma said.
Amrut began operations just three years after India gained independence. Owners of the Bengaluru-based distillery are eyeing a larger pie in the Indian luxury single malt market.
About 26% of business comes from the luxury division, Rakshit Jagdale, the managing director of the company told the Telegraph newspaper in a recent interview.
The luxury division, which produces single malt, contributes ₹130 crore to overall revenues of about ₹500 crore. Jagdale said his company has set a target to bolster turnover by 35-40% in the next five years.
Domestic sales comprise six-tenths of the business for the company, which has an annual distillation capacity of 1 million liters and plans to increase this to 1.3 million by August.
Speaking about the challenge that the impending UK FTA may pose for single malt manufacturers, Jagdale said that the agreement may lead to lower prices for “bottled in origin” products, or whisky that is bottled in the country of its production, including Scotch whisky. The implication is that Scotch whisky might become cheaper in India due to reduced tariffs. But Indian producers are prepared to face any market changes brought about by the FTA as Indian single malt whisky is on par with Scotch can stand their ground on the basis of quality, Jagdale said.
Amrut’s premium single malt accounts for over 120,000 cases of its total 5.8 million case sales, which includes gins, rums, and blended whisky. Exports of Indian malts hit 60,000 cases, and distillation capacity surged from 300,000 liters annually in 2018 to 1 million liters.
Radico Khaitan Ltd
Radico Khaitan Ltd, originally known as Rampur Distillery and founded in 1943, prides itself on “crafting magic” in the spirits industry. For over 50 years, it offered bulk spirits and bottling services to other brands before launching its 8 PM whisky in 1998. 8 PM achieved millionaire brand status, where a product reaches sales of over one million cases, within a year of its launch.
The company expanded its portfolio to include vodka, Contessa rum, and brandy by 2016, and introduced the Rampur Indian single malt whisky.
The Rampur Indian single malt whisky and Jaisalmer Indian craft gin, two of Radico Khaitan’s offerings, were recognized among the top 100 Premium Wine and Spirits Brands of the World 2023 by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards.
Sanjeev Banga, reflecting on Rampur Indian single malt whisky’s journey since its April 2016 launch, said, “It has been a very satisfying journey so far. There are seven expressions of Rampur available currently in over 40 countries and 22+ airport duty-free locations.”
“Rampur is a 100% Indian single malt and everything that goes inside the bottle is 100% Indian. Our location at the foothills of Himalayas in North India makes our malt smooth, fruity, and floral,” Banga said.
“All expressions of Rampur Indian single malt are loved around the world and have been winning accolades, including the “Best World Whisky” in the 2023 John Barleycorn Awards. Rampur is truly the ‘Kohinoor of Single Malts’,” Banga added.
The Rampur distillery, renowned for its vast malt spirit maturation capabilities, can process up to 2.6 million liters annually. It relies on traditional copper pot stills for distillation while aging the spirits in American oak barrels to ensure a distinctive flavor profile.
John Distilleries, India’s fourth-largest liquor company, boasts a diverse brand portfolio including whisky, brandy, rum, wines, and single malts. Its flagship brand, Original Choice whisky, ranks among the top 10 globally, with annual sales exceeding 11 million cases.
Operating across 12 sites in eight states, the company has significant international presence with Paul John whisky available in 44 countries.
Heemanshu Ashar, head of marketing at John Distilleries, said, “Exports of Paul John whisky have been growing steadily at 15% per year. This year we expect a growth of 16%, and hope to maintain and build on this rate of growth in the coming years.”
“Our strategies for growth include enhancing distribution depth, collaborative work with distributors and customers, and expanding the product lineup with new, limited releases,” Ashar added.
Paul P. John, the founder of John Distilleries, ventured into the alcohol industry in 1996, quickly expanding from Bengaluru, Karnataka, to various Indian states and international markets. Driven by a passion for single malts, he pioneered the creation of Paul John Indian single malts, focusing on indigenous ingredients. Committed to this vision, he established a malt plant in Goa, producing exceptional single malts that have garnered global acclaim.
DeVANS Modern Breweries
Jim Murray, a renowned whisky expert, praised DeVANS Modern Breweries’ GianChand whisky in his 2022 ‘Whisky Bible’, highlighting its delicate, refined nature compared to other Indian single malts.
“GianChand is far more delicate and refined than any other Indian single malt, with soft barley and spice taking different but vital paths as the complexity increases,” Murray wrote in his Whisky Bible, an annual guide ranking over 1,000 whiskies around the world.
Founded by former journalist Dewan Gian Chand in 1961, the company began as a bottling plant and now boasts distilleries in Jammu and Rajasthan, with popular beers such as Godfather and Six Fields in its lineup.
Based in Jammu, the 63-year-old brewery, known for supplying malt spirits, is set in the Himalayan foothills.
With a 156,000-liter capacity and growing beer production partnerships, chairman Prem Dewan told The Hindu-Business Line in October that company is targeting net revenues to the tune of ₹700 crore in fiscal 2025. The brewery aims to clock sales of ₹500 crore in fiscal 2024, up from ₹350 crore in the previous fiscal year.
Mohan Meakin Ltd
Mohan Meakin Ltd, which brews the popular Old Monk rum, introduced Solan Gold, a standout in the single malt whisky category. Originating from their distillery in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, this distillery has been producing the venerable Solan No. 1, setting a precedent for quality malt whisky in India well before it became a widespread trend. While specific plans for expanding their single malt production capacity remain under wraps, it was reported over five years ago that there were ambitions to sell 5,000 cases of the rebranded Solan Gold.
The legacy of Mohan Meakin traces back to 1855 with the establishment of a brewery in Kasauli by British entrepreneur Edward Dyer. Dyer’s initial ventures expanded to include breweries and distilleries across Simla, Solan, Lucknow, and Mandalay (Myanmar).
H.G. Meakin of the famed Burton-on-Trent brewing lineage had acquired the Simla and Kasauli operations, further expanding to Dalhousie, Ranikhet, Chakrata, Darjeeling, and Kirkee. These entities operated independently until the early 20th century, eventually merging to form Dyer Meakin and Co. Ltd.
Following the separation of Burma (now Myanmar) in 1935, the company was renamed Mohan Meakin Breweries Ltd, before simplifying its name to Mohan Meakin Ltd. Under Brig. (Dr.) Kapil Mohan’s leadership, the company diversified into a multi-faceted conglomerate with three distilleries and two breweries in India, alongside numerous franchises, achieving a turnover exceeding ₹400 crore.
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Start a company with $5,000? How the Bacon Salt guys did it
- Cheryl Isen
Anyone who's ever had a crazy business idea that gathered dust may be inspired into action when they hear the story of J&D Bacon Salt. Sharing a mutual love of bacon, Dave Lefkow and Justin Esch, two young guys working at a technology company, ditched everything to build a growing bacon-flavored empire.
Against common-sense odds and advice from experienced, insider professionals, they successfully launched a dry goods company for less than a quarter of a percentage of the $20 million they were advised they needed. Their $5,000 investment is a rags-to-riches story that has been featured in the May 16 Puget Sound Business Journal, on Fox News, ABC Radio, KOMO, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, CNET, Playboy, NPR, The Seattle Times and other media.
At a recent Northwest Entrepreneur Network breakfast meeting, the pair shared their secrets. For every entrepreneur wannabe, the J&D Bacon Salt story provides valuable lessons for building a brand on a shoestring.
Building the story: From the onset, Lefkow and Esch knew that their sea salt-based, zero calorie, zero fat, low cholesterol, kosher-certified and vegetarian seasoning that made everything taste like bacon, was more than a salt. They were selling an entertaining story -- two guys with a contagious love for bacon. They were selling a quirky vision: bacon that wouldn't kill you; bacon that you could eat often, with little consequence; bacon that you could easily add to everything.
The vision and story connected with people. Lefkow and Esch were keen enough to recognize the connection and leveraged it in every way possible. In the process, Bacon Salt evangelists emerged, maximizing word-of-mouth marketing. Here are their tips for launching and building a brand.
CHERYL ISEN is founder of Isen & Co., a strategic marketing and public relations firm. Contact her at 425.222.0779, Cheryl@IsenandCo.com or on the web at www.IsenandCo.com.
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British car manufacturing output fell for a fifth consecutive month in October, which the Society of Motor Manufacturer and Traders (SMMT) says highlights the need to secure a Brexit deal that allows free and frictionless trade.
A total of 140,374 cars were produced in the UK in October, a year-on-year decline of 9.8 percent. Of those cars built, 24,246 were made for the UK market, a 12.1 percent year-on-year fall. The 128,040 cars built for export represented a 9.3 percent decline on October 2017.
In total 1,312,304 cars have been produced in the UK so far in 2018, a 6.9 percent decline on 2017 levels, when 1,409,981 were produced. Cars built for the UK market have fallen by 18 percent, from 298,284 to 244,603. The 1,067,701 cars produced for export – 81.4 percent of all cars built in the UK this year – represents a 4.0 percent decline.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes called the fifth consecutive month of decline “concerning”, adding: “While a number of factors have been at play, there is no doubt that business and consumer uncertainty is having a significant impact.
“With eight in 10 British-built cars destined for overseas markets, the majority to the EU, the sector’s dependent on exports cannot be downplayed. Europe is our largest trading partner and securing the right Brexit agreement which allows free and frictionless trade is vital for the future health of our industry.”
Hawes comments come days after he said the car industry welcomed the Brexit Agreement that Prime Minister Theresa May had agreed with the EU, but called for further work to ensure a long-term free trade agreement.
Also read: Investment key to keeping UK car industry workforce best in Europe
Vauxhall to cut hundreds of jobs at Ellesmere Port in 2019


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Smartphone manufacturers that commit to being eco-friendly are likely to be rewarded by consumers, according to a new study, which suggests sustainability and the environment are increasingly important considerations when buying a new handset.
A survey by PiplSay found 72% of British consumers are “excited” about Samsung’s recent pledge to use recycled material in its products and to remove disposable plastic from its packaging by 2025.
Four fifths believe brands should set strict environmental targets and act more responsibly and 71% say they would proactively purchase from vendors that take positive environmental action.
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Of all manufacturers, Samsung is seen as the one that the public considers to be the most committed towards sustainability (35%), with Apple second (29%). However, it should also be noted that 30% were not aware of any eco-friendly initiative.
Samsung’s announcement is the latest in a series of pledges made by manufacturers, operators, and other firms to reduce the environmental impact of the mobile industry. These include recycling and trade-in programmes, renewable energy use, the right to repair, and not shipping devices with a charger by default.
Every new device manufactured generates carbon emissions across the supply chain and requires the mining of precious metals. If older handsets aren’t resold, recycled, or are disposed of irresponsibly, then emissions will rise, waste will increase, and hazardous materials could be released into the environment.
A separate study by BT earlier this week found that four fifths of people have unused electronic items in cupboards, drawers, or bin bags, while 74% have admitted to sticking devices in regular household waste destined for landfill. Just over half (55%) engage in “wishful recycling” and put e-Waste in the recycling bin and hope for the best.
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Steve McCaskill is TechRadar Pro's resident mobile industry expert, covering all aspects of the UK and global news, from operators to service providers and everything in between. He is a former editor of Silicon UK and journalist with over a decade's experience in the technology industry, writing about technology, in particular, telecoms, mobile and sports tech, sports, video games and media.


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LG has announced a partnership with Hedera network. According to a press release, this collaboration is toward the launch of an NFT art lab. This medium lets people buy and sell non-fungible tokens via their smart televisions. However, the digital assets they will trade can only be minted on the Hedera blockchain.
Governing Council Member @LGElectronics has launched LG Art Lab – built on @Hedera – enabling LG TV owners to buy, sell and showcase #HederaNFTs from their screens. All LG TVs running webOS5.0 will be able to interact with the LG Art Lab app. #HelloFuturehttps://t.co/KQBUgaE2j5
— Hedera (@hedera) September 5, 2022
This update follows an earlier hint eight months ago by the electronics firm to incorporate NFT features into its TVs. It joins other entertainment companies like Samsung in delving into the blockchain space. Recall that the Japan-based outlet released an NFT marketplace for three of its televisions.
This initiative is a significant breakthrough for LG, and Hedera. Both parties are looking forward to the success of the NFT Art Lab. Speaking for the Electronics company, Chris Jo gave insights into the current level of development/ Here is the statement of the senior vice president, head of platform business at LG Electronics home entertainment company:
“Wallypto, built on Hedera, has been developing since September 2021. Its beta version of the wallet launched this week in August. While many people have heard of NFTs and would like to participate in the growing ecosystem, it can be overly complex and difficult to get started. LG Art Lab is designed to allow millions of users in the U.S. to easily access and display NFTs, without having to interact with code or directly with a blockchain themselves.”
Details of LG NFT Art Lab
Despite the early unveiling, this option is only available to those in the United States of America whose LG appliances run on the webOS 5.0 or later. More so, this feature must be directly accessible from the home screen. Meanwhile, the NFT platform offers a Drop feature that sorts out shows and different artists according to their artwork previews.
This attribute works in real time and notifies users when a preferred digital asset is available for purchase. Therefore, no one will miss the opportunity to get their favourite collectables. Furthermore, an app enables interested persons to purchase via Wallypto – a web3 wallet to be launched later this year. There are several internal tests ongoing with the alpha edition. Upon completion, the beta version of this storage platform will be launched.
According to LG, the team did homework before choosing this blockchain to host their NFT Art Lab. One of the reasons behind their decision is that users will only need to pay less than $0.0001 as gas fees when trading NFTs. There are no cut-throat costs and hidden charges. In addition, Hedera network does not burn an insane amount of energy when processing transactions on its chain.


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Burlington, Mass.-based Nuance Communications said today that it agreed to acquire VoiceSignal Technologies, also of Massachusetts.
Nuance said the acquisition will help “satisfy the accelerating demand for speech-enabled mobile devices and services.”
Nuance expects to serve more than one billion consumers within the next three years with voice-based mobile applications that help people retrieve and navigate vast amounts of data on mobile phones, in automobiles and on personal navigation devices.
Last month, I wrote a story about the growing speech-recognition arena that was getting closer attention following Microsoft’s acquisition of TellMe. Another local company, Bellevue-based VoiceBox Technologies, is also working on the technology.
Nuance said it will pay about $293 million for VoiceSignal (minus VoiceSignal’s cash and based on Nuance’s closing price of $15.28 a share yesterday). It was reported that Microsoft paid $800 million for TellMe.


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Maine Auction Brings in $500,000
At the beginning of April in Biddeford at Saco River Auction some very impressive memorabilia was sold from late New York T.V. talk show host Joe Franklin. To think these items were right here in Maine for sale is too cool.
Some of the items sold:
Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Ears (Walt Disney’s personal ears)
A cowboy hat, boots and spurs that belonged to John Wayne
Babe Ruth’s baseball glove sold for $118,000. (The top item sold)
A catcher’s mask and catcher’s mitt that belonged to Hall of Famer Roy Campanella sold for $42,000.
A harmonica that belonged to Janis Joplin went for $33,000.
A leather cowboy hat from Jimi Hendrix got $22,000.
The entire Joe Franklin auction pulled in $500,000.
Franklin, who died last year at age 88, received many of the items from celebrity guests who appeared on his show. But he also was an avid collector who bought and traded items.


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The 2017 Volkswagen CC has been leaked online in what appears to be images from a configurator.
Like the current model, the new CC will sit atop the regular Passat in Volkswagen’s model lineup and ride on the same MQB platform. It is unsure at this stage whether the CC’s wheelbase will be stretched to liberate more interior space, but what can be sure is the sloping roofline and frameless doors will carry over.
It will share most of its hardware with the regular Passat, too. The current model’s V6 petrol engine will likely be dropped in favour of a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, while the 140TDI diesel is likely to feature.
Inside, the cabin will be jazzed up to push the CC further upmarket. There are also rumours that Volkswagen might drop the CC moniker altogether for something ‘more striking’ in order to reinvent the model.
The 2nd-generation VW CC was recently caught undergoing testing in full camouflage, with an outline that is confirmed by the leaked image here.
The all-new CC will make its debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March next year.


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Report: Ohio, Pa. Small Businesses Least Affected by Virus
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Small businesses in Ohio and Pennsylvania are among the country’s least affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by WalletHub.
The credit information website examined 12 factors in three areas: impact and access to resources, small-business financial conditions, and business environment and workforce support. A weighted score was assigned to all metrics.
Lower rankings indicate a less severe impact from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Pennsylvania ranked 49th on the list of most affected states, while Ohio ranked 48th.
For Ohio, the impact and access to resources was ranked 48 of 51 – Washington, D.C., was included in the report – while financial conditions for small businesses ranked 47th. and the business environment and workforce support conditions ranked 31st.
The Buckeye State has the fourth-lowest share of small businesses operation in high-risk industries and share of small-business employees in such fields. The state also had the third-highest share of businesses receiving loans from the Small Business Administration.
Pennsylvania, meanwhile, ranked 49th in impact and access to resources, 34th in financial conditions and 48th in environment and workforce support.
In a separate survey, WalletHub reported 87% of business owners nationwide said the coronavirus outbreak has hurt their business. Thirty-five percent said their business can survive less than three months in current conditions and 79% said minimizing deaths from COIVD-19 are more important than reopening the economy.
The survey also reported 60% of owners think restrictions put in place in response to the pandemic should remain the same or be relaxed.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.


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Entrepreneur Magazine says Salt Lake City is one of nine cities where starting a high-tech business is easier and cheaper than meccas like New York or San Francisco.
Salt Lake was named the best city for software and hardware in the magazine's rankings.
Tech companies such as Adobe and Workday are moving to “Silicon Slopes” in droves, inspired by startups launched by alumni from software pioneers Novell and WordPerfect, not to mention the easy access to world-class skiing. On the hardware side, everything from flash memory chips (one of every 14 worldwide is made here) to Skullcandy headphones calls the Wasatch Front home. VCs invested nearly $1 billion in local startups last year, making Salt Lake tops nationally in dollar-per-deal average.
The Utah Science Technology and Research Economic Development Initiative provides funding to the University of Utah in Salt Lake and Utah State University in nearby Ogden to research new technologies and spin them off into a handful of companies each year. And when the state’s insurance department wanted to ban Zenefits, a Silicon Valley startup that gives away its HR-management software for free, Governor Gary Herbert signed a law reversing the ban, stating, “Utah is open for business.”


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Leading fabric and craft retailer to award 20 entrepreneurs with grants totaling $100,000 in support of Hispanic Heritage Month
HUDSON, Ohio, September 15, 2021 – JOANN, the nation’s category leader in sewing and fabrics and one of the fastest growing competitors in the arts and crafts industry, is launching its second annual Minority Creative Grant program to support Hispanic creatives. The program will run in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month and will provide grants totaling $100,000 to 20 Hispanic business owners in need of financial support.
In addition to $5,000 in JOANN credit, each grant recipient will receive a new Cricut — an electronic cutting machine — to help increase their creativity and handmade offerings. They will also have the opportunity to connect directly with JOANN’s marketing team to discuss best practices for branding, customer retention, social media and more. Additionally, winners will be considered for paid roles with JOANN, and will receive visibility on JOANN’s marketing channels including email and social media.
The program returns after last year’s launch that supported Black creative business owners. The inaugural program drew more than 2,300 applications from talented entrepreneurs nationwide, and winners have continued to see the impact of the grant on their businesses.
‘Winning the JOANN Minority Creative Grant was the catalyst that kick-started a new chapter of my business and sparked a new flame of creativity for it,’ said Champagne Brown, 2020 Minority Creative Grant winner and artist/owner of @popshopjewelry. ‘With the JOANN cash, not only was I able to stock up on supplies that would have taken me a long time to save up for, but I was also able to gain access to materials that were in short supply due to a production shortage thanks to COVID-19.’
‘In order to inspire creativity and recognize the influence of Hispanic Americans in culture and the arts, we are continuing our Minority Creative Grant program, this season focusing on Hispanic crafters and sewists who have traditionally faced challenges including underrepresentation in the U.S. arts and crafts industry,’ said Janet Duliga, Chief Administration Officer and Executive Sponsor of Diversity & Inclusion at JOANN. ‘We hope these grants enable the recipients to propel their businesses to the next level. We want to encourage artists within the Hispanic community to continue to pursue their dreams of Handmade Happiness.’
A cross-functional team at JOANN will review the applications and rate them based on creativity, passion, level of financial need and other aspects to determine the top winners. Runners-up will also be recognized for their efforts with a prize package.
JOANN continues to reinforce its position as the most inclusive retailer in its space, celebrating diverse cultures and identities with assortments such as its Black Excellence, Pride, and Women’s Empowerment collections. Lead Product Designer Anthony R. Davila recently curated a selection of Hispanic American Heritage Month fabrics for JOANN shoppers, which celebrate the culture with bright designs and intricate motifs. Along with the Hispanic Heritage Month fabrics, the JOANN Crafted Content team also created a selection of kid-friendly crafts, including Mexican Pinch Pots, Papel Picado, and Tortilla Warmers.
Applications will open on September 15 to residents of the United States who are 18 and older. For more information on terms and conditions, to see more from last year’s winners or to apply, visit www.joann.com/minoritycreativegrants. Winners will be announced during the first week of December 2021.
For more information on JOANN’s diversity and inclusion efforts, visit joann.com/diversity-inclusion/.
For more than 75 years, JOANN has inspired creativity in the hearts, hands and minds of its customers. From a single storefront in Cleveland, Ohio, the nation’s category leader in sewing and fabrics and one of the fastest growing players in the arts and crafts industry has grown to include 855 stores across 49 states and robust e-commerce business. With the goal of helping every customer find their creative Happy Place, JOANN serves as a convenient single source for all of the supplies, guidance and inspiration needed to achieve any project or passion.
Joann Inc. published this content on 15 September 2021 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 15 September 2021 12:11:05 UTC.


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Liquid Planet is Moving to Broadway Next Week
Here's a big change to the downtown scene in Missoula: Liquid Planet, the popular coffee shop, is moving from its location on Higgins over to Broadway, where Zootown Brew used to be before it recently closed down.
The owners of Liquid Planet plan to open two new restaurants and bars at the Higgins St location, one upstairs and one in the basement, with the basement one being described as "more of a speakeasy."
The new spot for Liquid Planet isn't terribly far from the old one, so this shouldn't be a huge issue for those who want to keep going there - plus, there's still several locations around town, including at the courthouse, the airport, and near the University of Montana.
The plan is to have the Liquid Planet on Broadway open by October 1st, and the new restaurants on Higgins open by March 2020. Will you be checking them out when they arrive?


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Restoque full year comparable sales improve 2.7 percent
Restoque Comércio e Confecções de Roupas S.A. said that it focused on increasing sales per square meter and full-price sales, continuing with the restructuring of its stores, which began in 2017, by closing 29 stores in 2018 and 49 in the previous year. As a result, 2018 registered a 6.4 percent growth in net revenue per square meter and 2.7 percent in same store sales with 2.7 percent rise in Le Lis Blanc, 8.9 percent at Dudalina, 5.8 percent at John John and 1.7 percent at Rosa Chá.
In the fourth quarter, sales per square meter increased 1.1 percent and same store sales decreased 2.1 percent. The company added, despite the steady performance of Le Lis and John John (up 0.8 percent and down 0.9 percent, respectively), the quarter’s results were negatively impacted by Dudalina’s performance which, despite an annual growth of 8.9 percent, registered a SSS decrease of 7.2 percent, mainly due to lower sales during the Black Friday.
Highlights of Restoque’s performance
The company’s gross profit improved from 717.9 million Brazilian real (184 million dollars) in 2017 to 792.4 million Brazilian real (203 million dollars), representing an increase of 10.4 percent, with a gross margin of 63.7 percent. The gross profit in fourth quarter of 2017 was of 174.7 million Brazilian real (44.7 million dollars), which increased 6.9 percent to 186.8 million Brazilian real (47.8 million dollars) with a gross margin of 62.9 percent.
Aligned with the profitability improvement, the company said, EBITDA reached 350.6 million Brazilian real (89.8 million dollars). Considering the extraordinary expenses related to manufacturing plant closure in 2018, adjusted EBITDA reached 376.6 million Brazilian real (96.5 million dollars), with a margin of 30.3 percent, 12.4 percent higher than adjusted EBITDA comparable 2017. Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter was 128.2 million Brazilian real (32.8 million dollars), 30.4 percent higher than adjusted EBITDA in 4Q17.
The company’s net income was 103.5 million Brazilian real (26.5 million dollars), impacted by foreign exchange rate variation in the amount of 18.2 million Brazilian real.
The number of company owned stores decreased 10.1 percent, from 287 stores in the fourth quarter of 2017 to 257 stores in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Picture:Facebook/Le Lis Blanc


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A Belgium-based company is looking beyond the visible light spectrum to put an end to a common problem for smartphone cameras: bad color reproduction. Spectricity is debuting its new S1 multispectral sensor at CES 2023, and it could be headed to smartphones on store shelves sooner than later.
Standard camera sensors are limited to using certain bands of the visible spectrum — red, green, and blue. The S1, which is designed to complement the main camera system, can gather much more data, including in the near-infrared range. The company says this results in better color reproduction and more accurate skin tones, and it has big aspirations for this technology: CEO Vincent Mouret says he expects all smartphones to incorporate it “within the coming years.”
Even the most advanced smartphone cameras struggle to reproduce color and skin tones faithfully under challenging lighting conditions. Think of all the iPhone photos you’ve taken where your friends look orange like Oompa Loompas. Or look no further than MKBHD’s blind smartphone camera test. It’s something Google is trying to solve with the Real Tone image processing technology incorporated into its latest Pixel phones. But that’s largely a software solution to the problem, and Spectricity is focused on the hardware.
The company says its technology is currently being evaluated by “major smartphone makers” for inclusion in upcoming devices. This is a good time to try and sell phone makers on an extra camera sensor — main cameras are starting to do double duty as short telephoto lenses, which could free up some real estate for another sensor. We shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out if that comes to pass: Spectricity says the first phones with its tech should arrive in 2024.


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TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - This might be the only snow Tucson gets this year.
The Tucson Bahama Buck’s is participating in a Free Sno Day and will be giving a free Sno up to 12 oz to each guest who visits their location on Tuesday, December 3.
They are kicking off the Christmas season at their Tucson store located at 8585 E. Broadway Blvd. This year marks the 13th year that Bahama Buck’s has been celebrating the “coolest day of the year”.
Click HERE for all participating Bahama Buck’s locations.


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Kristen Stewart kicked off the Chanel show at Paris Fashion Week in France on Tuesday by leading the models down the runway.
The Twilight actress, who became the face of the brand in 2013, made her catwalk debut for Chanel by opening the Autumn/Winter show at the Grand Palais venue.
Stewart's Still Alice co-star Julianne Moore also walked the runway at the opening of the event along with actress Lily Collins, pop star Rita Ora, Johnny Depp's model daughter Lily-Rose and her singer mother Vanessa Paradis.
Kim Kardashian's model sister Kendall Jenner was given the honour of closing the event.
tap here to see other videos from our team.


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Wednesday, June 21, 2023
TIS – Tourism Innovation Summit, the global tourism innovation forum that will take place in Seville, Spain from 18 to 20 October, has just announced Ángeles Moreno as new Tourism Innovation Global Summit Congress Curator. Moreno takes over from Edgar Weggelaar, who was behind the organization of the first three editions of the conference.
Ángeles Moreno has extensive experience in the field of business management and event strategy. With a degree in Business Administration and Management with a specialization in Tourism and an MBA, she is country manager of AIM Group Spain, a company specializing in the organization of conferences and events. Author of the book The Time Is Now and nominated as one of the TOP 100 most influential women leaders in 2020 in Spain, Moreno is the co-creator of the “CX Design Playbook”, a methodology to explore business trends and innovation in the field of human centricity and innovation. Now, she joins TIS2023 to lead the content agenda of the conference, which this year plans to bring together more than 400 experts from around the world to drive smarter, more digital and sustainable tourism.
According to Moreno, “It is an honor to join this project, which in three editions has managed to position itself as a forum for debate and new trends in tourism innovation. I am looking forward to the challenge of contributing to continuing positioning the conference at an international level and generating a space for discussion and knowledge transfer to present success stories, strategies, and solutions that will help boost the tourism industry”.
This year, under the slogan Travel revolution takes off, TIS2023 seeks to boost the competitiveness of the tourism industry through technology and digitalization. This is why the Tourism Innovation Global Summit will bring together leaders from around the world to analyze and debate the roadmap for the sector at a time when the acceleration of digitalization, the importance of sustainability, and the new demands of a customer that is increasingly looking for more personalized and unique experiences, are shaping the future of tourism.
For three days, TIS2023 will host more than 150 conferences in six simultaneous auditoriums focused on each segment of the tourism industry: Destinations, Hospitality, Distribution Channels and OTAs, Business Travel, MICE, Transport, Activities or Culture and Leisure Travel. In addition to these vertical forums, the Tourism Innovation Global Summit will once again feature specific content agendas for professional profiles in the industry, so that each professional can find the trends and answers to the challenges they face in their daily work.


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There are many morning shows in which we expect fashion — women's fashion — to become a topic of conversation. They usually star Katie Couric or her acolytes in some capacity. But lately, the panel at Morning Joe has turned to sartorial matters regularly, and not just in discussing the candidates' poor clothing choices.
Blame this on Mike Barnicle, perhaps, who recently showed up on television wearing an an exercise shirt that's easy to dismiss. As The Mika put it, "This is not a dress rehearsal." Or maybe pin this on Donny Deutsch, who was charged with clothing crimes on the show last week. With his navy DB, The Mika says Deutsch looks like he stepped off the Forbes Yacht in Northeast Harbor, Maine. Only for Joe Scarborough to add: "In what year? 1982?" The cutting remarks continue from the former politician — "no matter how well you think that jacket looks, you're not getting into the club" — before he further disses Deutsch for wearing socks. Then, Scarborough bares his own bare ankles on television as a sign of WASP pride, and delivers the final blow: "Does anybody know Tom Ford? I would like to get his judgment."
I mean, Jesus. But! This morning, The Times published their latest Andrew Goldman interview, with The Mika, which sort of explains it all. Not only did Scarborough come along for her one-on-one chat, and also her photo shoot, but here's why: "He's a little bit like a gay stylist," she says. "Seriously. Talk to his wife or any of her friends. He has got a real side to him that knows style and look and color and hair. He's amazing. Amazing." Emphasis all hers, because we're going silent on this one.


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Camera lens makers sending dual-lens samples for next-generation iPhone
Feb 2, 16:29
Taiwan-based Largan Technology as well as Japan- and China-based camera lens makers have sent dual-lens camera samples to Apple for testing, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. Apple is reportedly planning to adopt a dual-lens camera for its next-generation iPhone Plus.
FPCB maker Ichia sees decreased January revenues
Stockwatch - Feb 2, 12:18
Flexible PCB and keypad maker Ichia Technologies has reported consolidated revenues of NT$473 million (US$14.15 million) for January 2016, dropping 5.74% from the previous month and 41.22% from the period one year earlier.
Handset baseband IC market declines 12% in 3Q15, says Strategy Analytics
Jan 29, 11:01
The global cellular baseband processor market declined 12% from a year earlier to US$5.1 billion in the third quarter of 2015, according to Strategy Analytics. Qualcomm, MediaTek, Samsung LSI, Spreadtrum and HiSilicon grabbed the top-five baseband revenue share spots in the quarter.
Global 2016 IC market to rise 4%, says IC Insights
Jan 26, 15:38
Market research firm IC Insights has forecast that the global IC market will log a 4% increase in 2016, and fab capacity utilization rates will range from 90% to 93% with 12-inch fab capacity utilization rates coming higher at about 95%.
Fingerprint sensor market growth continues upward trajectory, says IHS
Jan 26, 15:00
Fingerprint sensors, used primarily for mobile device login and payment security systems, have become an expected feature in high-end smartphones and, to a lesser extent, in tablets and notebooks. Led by Apple's iPhone, shipments of fingerprint sensors have grown from 316 million in 2014 to 499 million...
China market: Force touch sensor demand to increase in 2H16
Jan 22, 10:22
More China-based Android phone developers are ready to roll out new models featuring force touch screens in 2016, but orders for force touch sensors from China are unlikely to see significant increases until the second half of 2016, according to sources at Taiwan-based touchscreen IC specialists.
Sensor hubs market growing fast, IHS says
Jan 21, 10:12
The demand for sensor hubs, dedicated processing elements used for low-power sensor processing tasks, is booming. In fact due to "always on" sensor processing trends and the limitations of battery technology, the overall market for all types of sensor hubs will exceed 1.0 billion units in...
Digitimes Research: MediaTek facing challenges from mobile AP market in 2016
Jan 19, 21:32
MediaTek is currently a major mobile application processor (AP) supplier in China and is enjoy high shares in the country's smartphone and tablet AP markets; however, lacking clients from western countries, the company is only able to achieve limited growth in its share of the worldwide AP market and...
Qualcomm, TDK form JV to provide RF front-end solutions for mobile devices
Jan 14, 11:13
Qualcomm and TDK have announced an agreement to form a joint venture to enable delivery of RF front-end (RFFE) modules and RF filters into fully integrated systems for mobile devices and fast-growing business segments, such as Internet of Things (IoT), drones, robotics, automotive applications and...
Fingerprint sensor prices to fall 40% in 2016
Jan 13, 21:52
Fingerprint sensor prices, which fell more than 30% in 2015, are expected to fall further in 2016 due to more competition in the market, according to industry sources.
Qualcomm regains competitive edge in China solution market
Jan 11, 11:53
Qualcomm has regained its competitive edge in China's smartphone solution market as it has managed to renew licensing agreements with a number of China-based handset vendors, according to sources from Taiwan's handset industry.
MediaTek December sales fall 12%
Stockwatch - Jan 11, 10:33
IC design house MediaTek has announced consolidated revenues of NT$18.52 billion (US$553.7 million) for December 2015, down 11.6% sequentially but up 8.5% on year.
Catcher cuts capex for 2016 in response to client orders
Jan 7, 11:46
Catcher Technology is planning to cut its capex for 2016, and the amount will be much lower than those budgeted in the past two years in response to its clients' upcoming orders, according to company chairman Hong Shui-shu.
Largan sees decreased December revenues
Jan 5, 21:23
Smartphone-use lens module maker Largan Precision on January 5 reported consolidated revenues of NT$3.979 billion (US$121 million) for December, shrinking 30.28% on month and 30.84% on year.
Ichia reports decreased December revenues
Stockwatch - Jan 5, 10:52
Handset-use flexible PCB and keypad maker Ichia Technologies has reported consolidated revenues of NT$502 million (US$15.3 million) for December 2015, decreasing 10.84% on month and 33.62% on year.
Qualcomm signs more patent license deals in China
Dec 31, 10:37
Qualcomm has disclosed two license deals it has reached with China-based Haier and Beijing Tianyu Communication Equipment, which will pay the chip firm royalties for using its 3G and 4G wireless technologies to make smartphones and other mobile devices.
Catcher to see strong 2016, says paper
Newswatch - Dec 29, 15:48
Market watchers remain optimistic about Taiwan-based Catcher Technology's operation in 2016 as the metal chassis maker will continue to be supported by its non-Apple clients, and will also remain as the largest chassis supplier for Apple's upcoming new iPhone products, according to the Chinese-language...
MediaTek looks to emerging markets for 2016 growth
Dec 29, 11:03
China has seen robust 4G smartphone demand during 2015, and demand for 4G devices in India, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East is set to rise in 2016 driving MediaTek's performance, according to Ching-Jiang Hsieh, president for the smartphone chip provider.
MediaTek December sales to fall
Dec 21, 15:15
MediaTek will likely report a substantial decrease sequentially in December revenues, due to a cutback in orders from handset vendors, according to industry sources.
ZTE to develop smartphone application processors in house
Dec 21, 15:13
ZTE has stepped up its efforts to internally develop smartphone chipset solutions, aiming to re-capture the title as one of the top-three smartphone vendors in China, according to a China Business News (CBN) report.
Samsung likely to stick with QHD displays for smartphones in 2016
Dec 17, 15:44
There are various reports circulating in Korea's media regarding whether local smartphone vendors will release new smartphones equipped with Ultra HD (4K) panels. A latest report from iNEWS has stated Samsung Electronics in particular will stick with QHD (2560 by 1440) panels due to lack of...
Egistec sets IPO price
Newswatch - Dec 17, 10:27
Fingerprint sensor maker Egis Technology (Egistec) will debut on Taiwan's over-the-counter (OTC) securities market with an initial price of NT$115 (US$3.51) per share on December 23.
Merry to issue 63 million new shares to Luxshare-ICT
Stockwatch - Dec 10, 11:04
Taiwan-based headset maker Merry Electronics has announced it has signed an agreement to sell 63 million new shares to a subsidiary of China-based connector maker Luxshare-ICT for a total of NT$3.78 billion (US$114.89 million) via a private placement.
Foxlink November revenues down on month
Newswatch - Dec 8, 15:35
Handset chassis maker Foxlink Technology has reported revenues of NT$10.753 billion (US$326.59 million) for November 2015, down 23% sequentially but up 17.3% on year.
Catcher November revenues hit record
Dec 7, 11:43
Metal-alloy chassis maker Catcher Technology has reported consolidated revenues of NT$8.341 billion (US$257 million) for November, hitting a monthly record for the fourth consecutive time with sequential growth of 1.42% and on-year growth of 50.26%.
Largan posts strong November revenues
Dec 7, 11:19
Smartphone-use lens module maker Largan Precision has reported consolidated revenues of NT$5.707 billion (US$176 million) for November, slightly dropping 1.07% from its monthly record generated in October. The November figure is the third-highest monthly on company record.
Egistec to list on Taiwan OTC
Dec 3, 11:25
Fingerprint sensor maker Egis Technology (Egistec) will be listed on the Taiwan over-the-counter (OTC) stock market as early as the end of December, according to the company.


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Glensheen Mansion reveals new exhibit featuring past fashion
DULUTH, MN. (Northern News Now) - The Glensheen Mansion in Duluth dug deep into their closets to reveal a new exhibit on Friday.
The Gibson Girls (& Guys) of Glensheen is now open to the public and allows visitors to view fashion from the past.
Dresses, top hats, wool bathing suits, and more will be on display throughout the mansion.
There will also be jewelry and other personal items featured on the tour that gives insight into historical trends.
Mike Mayou with Glensheen says seeing these pieces provide an additional experience for visitors.
“You can imagine yourself in some of these pieces and how it would feel to be in the era as you walk around the house,” said Mayou.
The Gibson Girls (& Guys) exhibit is a free addition to the regular self-guided tour.
For more information, you can visit Glensheen’s website.
Click here to download the Northern News Now app or our Northern News Now First Alert weather app.
Copyright 2023 Northern News Now. All rights reserved.


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Galaxy S7 is the new upcoming flagship phone from Samsung. Samsung is working over the latest 20MP ISOCELL sensor for the new Galaxy S7 but rumors are coming that Samsung is showing interest over Xperia Z5 camera.
As per the rumors, Samsung is well impressed with the new IMX300 sensor used in Xperia Z5 and so they want it to install in their new Galaxy S7 as well.
We think they won’t ditch the sensor names ISOCELL, they may include something different on their other devices model in the same way as the processor set up in the previous versions of Galaxy phones.
Sony wants to keep this feature for its Xperia range phones but the company is also keeping an eye on the selling of Samsung phones. Sony phones with such a sensor can be a reason to boost the selling. Samsung Galaxy S6 was featuring a 16MP sensor, on the other hand, Xperia Z5 is featuring a 23MP one.
As per the rumors, the latest 20MP ISOCELL on which Samsung is working has a new color pattern of RWB which enhances the light in the camera and this makes the pic look better even in the low light.


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PSP2 will be the first truly first HD handheld, claims an anonymous source.
The rumors about the PSP2 keep coming thick and fast. Yesterday came the news that Sony would make an announcement about the handheld on January 27th, and today we learn that it could be in stores as early as October.
The rumor comes from an anonymous, “high-level” source, who said that Sony had already consulted with publishers about release windows and getting content ready for the device. Apparently, Sony hopes to capture gamers’ attention by being the first company to offer genuine high-definition portable gaming. This would align nicely with previous rumors that Sony planned to give the device the comparative power of a PS3.
Sony is said to have specifically asked publishers and developers for rich, deep content in order to differentiate it from cell phone gaming. The source also said that while gamers would be able to download games to the PSP2, it would also make use of physical media in order to keep retailers in the loop. Interestingly, this information conflicts with rumors from last month, which said that the device would be download only.
At this point, it seems pretty likely that the PSP2 does exist, and a mid/late fall release date seems pretty plausible. It’s a little harder to believe that it will be some kind of pocket PS3, but it certainly isn’t impossible either, especially if Sony is indeed trying to snare gamers with graphics.


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This is a request to boycott atleast two of NOVARTIS drugsr (Voveran and Calcium Sandoz) in India because of their unethical policies. (see below)
PRESS RELEASE: RE-LAUNCH OF “BOYCOTT NOVARTIS” CAMPAIGN
Novartis’ Supreme Court case threatens access to medicines in India and across the world
Drug Action Forum – Karnataka objects to Novartis’ five year long legal attack on health safeguards in India’s patent law
The Drug Action Forum – Karnataka (DAF-K), an organisation engaged in promoting issues related to public health in India, announces a call to boycott all products manufactured by Swiss MNC, Novartis, till Novartis withdraws its Supreme Court case (SC 20539 – 20549/2009) for seeking a patent on Glivec/Gleevec and abandon all its attempts and plans to misuse Indian decision making and redressal systems for its narrow ends. This is a renewal of the boycott call as the Supreme Court case hearing starts on 29th November 2011.
DAF-K has decided to renew the boycott call after prolonged deliberation, given the intransigent attitude shown by Novartis in obstructing access to a vital medicine for blood cancer. Imatinib mesylate is useful in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) a type of blood cancer. In addition to Novartis, several Indian companies – viz. NATCO, Cipla, Ranbaxy and Hetero — also produce and market this drug. Treatment with imatinib mesylate manufactured and marketed by Novartis costs Rs. 1,20,000 per patient per month, whereas Indian companies market the same drug at about Rs. 8,000 per patient per month.
The huge difference in the price of the same drug is an illustration of how a patent monopoly can be used by drug companies to generate super-profits while endangering the lives of thousands, or even millions. Health safeguards in India’s patent law – most notably Section 3(d) have prevented Novartis from getting a patent on this medicine in India. In a bid to get its patent, Novartis’ earlier attempt at the removal of Section 3(d) failed at the Madras High Court. It is now in the Supreme Court hoping instead to dilute the provision. But this case will not only impact patients dependent on the affordable, generic versions of this cancer medicine. It will also impact people living with HIV, heart disease, mental illness. In fact, the impact will be felt across the health spectrum as generic production of medicines for all diseases will be under threat if the health safeguard – Section 3(d) of India’s patent law is weakened in any way.
Novartis’ continuing legal attacks on Indian law
The legal saga of the Novartis case currently in the Supreme Court dates back to 2005 when India’s patent law was amended to comply with the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Keenly aware of the importance of generic production of medicines in India, the Indian Parliament included important provisions in the amended patent law that if properly implemented could ensure that patents are granted only for truly innovative and new medicines and that companies would not be able to use tactics like evergreening (making new forms or combinations of existing medicines) to get patents on old medicines. This provision is Section 3(d) of India’s Patents Act.
The Indian Patent Office examined oppositions filed against Novartis patent application for the beta chrystalline form imatinib mesylate including by cancer groups and in 2006 rejected Novartis’patent application on several grounds including Section 3(d). When Novartis did not get the patent, it challenged the constitutional validity of Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act before the Madras High Court. Section 3(d) was specifically introduced by the Indian parliament as a safeguard against the misuse of product patents on medicines and has been used by health groups to ensure that key medicines are not patented including AIDS medicines.
It is a matter of grave concern that a foreign company chose to challenge the constitutionality of a law that has been passed by the Indian Parliament to safeguard public health. The consequences of a change in the safeguards in the Indian Patent Act would not be limited just to India. Today India is known globally as the “Pharmacy of the Third World”, because Indian companies export cheaper versions of patented drugs to over 150 countries. For example, over 80% of medicines currently used for AIDS treatment in developing countries come from India. Many reputed personalities publicly appealed to Novartis to withdraw the court case. They include Erik Solheim, Minister of International Development, Norway and Henry Waxman, Chairman, Congress of United States.
The Madras High Court’s decision on 6th August, 2007 to dismiss Novartis’s plea has vindicated our stand. The Chennai High Court stated clearly that Section 3(d) was introduced by Parliament keeping in mind the obligation of the government to fulfil the right to life and health under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
Instead of accepting the Madras High Court’s decision, Novartis has now decided to try and weaken the interpretation of Section 3(d) by once again challenging the denial of a patent on Imatinib mesylate before the Supreme Court. Novartis has also held out a veiled threat in its response to the dismissal of its petition by the Madras High Court. Chief Executive, Daniel Vasella, has been quoted by the Financial Times as saying: “This [ruling] is not an invitation to invest in Indian research and development, which we would have done. We will invest more in countries where we have protection. It’s not a punishment. It’s just a question of the culture for investment.”
This is the background of DAF-K’s boycott appeal. We once again appeal to Novartis to desist in persisting to challenge the Indian legal system and in attempting to jeopardise the lives of millions. We appeal to the Medical community and consumers in India to unite in a show of opposition to the methods used by Novartis that compromise access to vital medicines, by signing the boycott by signing the online petition at http://novartisboycott.org/. The two best selling products marketed by Novartis in India are Voveran (a pain killer and anti-inflammatory drug) and Calcium Sandoz (a calcium supplement). Further information is available on the website. We are sure that patients would not suffer because of this boycott, because good substitutes are available in India for all Novartis products. When and if a substitute is not available in a city/village for a Novartis product, we would urge doctors to boycott other Novartis products.
(Dr. Gopal Dabade)
President, Drug Action Forum – Karnataka


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Koffee has been certified silver for her hit single “Toast” in the UK.
Koffee has something else to celebrate before her Super Bowl Weekend performance, as her single “Toast” hit a new landmark.
The 2019 hit single has been certified “Silver” in the United Kingdom, for amassing sales of more than 200,000 copies.
The announcement was made by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), which is the body responsible for issuing certifications for singles and albums in the UK.
The achievement has since been praised by Columbia Records UK President, Ferdy Unger-Hamilton.
According to Unger-Hamilton, Koffee is a ‘once in a generation artiste,’ and they are privileged to have worked with her.
“If you look closely on what Koffee has done in just over a year you will see that her fans love everything she does. This is really just the beginning for Koffee,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
The Grammy-nominated star rose to international acclaim in 2019 after “Toast” charted in numerous countries around the world.
The single peaked at number 70 on the UK Official Singles Chart, and also topped the Reggae Digital Song Sales chart. The single has over 95 million views on Youtube, making it one of the most successful Reggae singles ever.
Koffee is set to perform at the Super Bowl Weekend along with other Jamaican acts Shenseea and Squash.


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UK Gambling Commission Announces Ban On Gambling With Credit Cards
The UK Gambling Commission has announced a ban on gambling with credit cards.
We reported yesterday that the UK’s gambling regulator was gearing up to announce a ban on gambling with credit cards this week. Well, today (January 14), the UK Gambling Commission has announced that gambling with credit cards will be banned at online gambling websites from April 14th, 2020.
The decision to ban credit cards comes after the UK Gambling Commission reviewed online gambling and held a consultation on the use of credit cards and after the UK government reviewed how the gambling industry can contribute to the economy while also be safely regulated to protect gamers.
According to The Guardian, which first reported the Commission’s announcement, the ban may also cover e-Wallet payments such as PayPal but that has yet to be confirmed. However, the Commission has stated that the credit card ban will apply to all online and offline gambling services except lotteries.
In the Commission’s official announcement, the regulator stated that 24 million adults in the UK gamble and around 10.5 million of them gamble online. UK Finance estimates that around 800,000 customers use credit cards while separate research by the Commission states that 22% of online gamblers using credit cards are classified as problem gamblers.
What They Say
Neil McArthur, the Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission, said in a statement: “Credit card gambling can lead to significant financial harm. The ban that we have announced today should minimise the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have. Research shows that 22% of online gamblers using credit cards are problem gamblers, with even more suffering some form of gambling harm.
“We also know that there are examples of consumers who have accumulated tens of thousands of pounds of debt through gambling because of credit card availability. There is also evidence that the fees charged by credit cards can exacerbate the situation because the consumer can try to chase losses to a greater extent.”
He continued: “We realise that this change will inconvenience those consumers who use credit cards responsibly but we are satisfied that reducing the risk of harm to other consumers means that action must be taken. But we will evaluate the ban and watch closely for any unintended circumstances for consumers.
“The ban is part of our ongoing work to reduce gambling harm. We also need to continue the work we have been doing with gambling operators and the finance industry to ensure consumers only gamble with money they can afford to spend.”
Culture Minister Helen Whately said: “Whilst millions gamble responsibly, I have also met people whose lives have been turned upside down by gambling addiction. There is clear evidence of harm from consumers betting with money they do not have, so it is absolutely right that we act decisively to protect them.”
“In the past year, we have introduced a wave of tougher measures, including cutting the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals, bringing in tighter age and identity checks for online gambling and expanding national specialist support through the NHS Long Term Plan. We have also secured a series of commitments from five leading gambling operators that will include £100 million in funding towards treatment for problem gamblers.”
She continued: “But there is more to do. We will be carrying out a review of the Gambling Act to ensure it is fit for the digital age and we will be launching a new nationwide addiction strategy in 2020. We will not hesitate to take any further action necessary to protect people from gambling harm.”


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on topics essential to the future of agricultural and food truck transportation.
The sessions include: Renewable Fuels - Future Challenges for the Trucking and Agriculture Industries; Agricultural and Food Truck Transportation for the Future: A Global Perspective; Agriculture and Food Truck Transportation, Regulatory & Business Issues; and Agricultural and Food Truck Transportation - Issues in Congress and Beyond 21st Century Challenges. The summit also will include other informative sessions and more than 40 speakers discussing critical commercial agricultural and food truck transportation issues.
"The Summit is designed to focus on commercial agricultural and food truck transport's importance to the American economy. We will examine the challenges and opportunities facing these industries as they deliver agricultural commodities and food - everything from farm to fork,' according to Fletcher Hall, former executive director of the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference.
Among those speaking are: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns; House Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson; Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Assistance Hunter Moorhead; Wal-Mart Stores Vice President Tracy Rosser; Archer Daniels Midland Senior Vice President Greg Webb; Jet Express Inc. President Kevin Burch; and Washington Post columnist and Fox News political analyst Jeff Birnbaum.
For summit updates and registration information visit: www.agandfoodtrucking.org or contact Summit Executive Director Fletcher Hall at (703) 838-7999 or email@example.com.


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MALAYSIA will no longer have direct air connectivity with Germany from March 1 when Lufthansa suspends its Frankfurt-Kuala Lumpur service which it had been operating since 2004.
While a decline in tourism volume is to be expected from the lack of direct flights, industry experts contacted believe the impact will not be major.
Manfred Kurz, managing director, Diethelm Malaysia, said: “We did a check and found that only 18 per cent of our guests travelled on Lufthansa. The other 82 per cent came through a Middle Eastern airline. Thus, we don’t expect this news to have a big impact (on business). Our partners have indicated that they will continue to sell Malaysia.”
Alex Lee, CEO of Ping Anchorage Travel & Tours, foresees a slight drop in the high-end segment from Germany, but expects volume to be maintained among middle class travellers and backpackers who are likely to fly with a Middle Eastern airline to get to Malaysia.
With no direct flights, Tourism Malaysia will also have to leverage on the connectivity provided by other airlines instead, but is sanguine Malaysia’s natural offerings will still entice European tourists.
Azizan Noordin, deputy director-general, international promotion, Tourism Malaysia, said: “Malaysia is considered a value-for-money destination for German tourists. There are many ecotourism products in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo such as Royal Belum Rainforest, Danum Valley and Taman Negara National Park.
“Malaysia is also blessed with unique wildlife such as the orang utan and proboscis monkeys. These can be packaged together to offer unique ecotourism experiences that have high appeal for European travellers.”


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- Published: August 13, 2015
- Written by The Editors
Breaking news for the full foodservice equipment and supplies distribution channel. Includes information on dealers, distributors, design consultants and multi-unit operators spanning leadership changes, mergers and acquisitions, trends, data and much more.
The Foodservice Consultants Society International’s Revit Task Force has updated its foodservice equipment standards document, which is available to members and non-members alike.
Sparrow takes over as president of the Association for Healthcare Foodservice.
Parent company of Taco Cabana and Pollo Tropical hopes to double sales generated via to-go, online ordering, catering, drive-thru and mobile app orders in 10 years.
Czizek and Bianco join the quick-service seafood chain.
Ruiz assumes leadership role with the barbecue restaurant chain.
Former Weight Watchers' executive to lead the healthy food-focused concept.
Ali Group's Geile recognized for his commitment to the college and university foodservice segment.
Foodservice equipment manager announcing the addition of seven new team members in 2015.
Furniture industry veteran Patrick joins the Washington-based division of Foldcraft.