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Recall Alert: Approximately 1.4 Million BMW Vehicles Affected by Two Separate Recalls Involving Potential Fire Risks
Rusting valve heaters and faulty wiring in the air conditioning system could potentially cause a fire to start in numerous BMW models
BMW is experiencing quite a bit of bad luck when it comes to vehicle fires. A story exploring the tendency for some of its vehicles to suddenly burst into flames recently created negative buzz for the German automaker.
Now, the risk of a fire hazard is leading to the recall of approximately 1.4 million BMW vehicles.
The 1.4 million vehicles affected are not part of one overarching recall, but rather two separate recalls, both issued due to the the risk of potential fire hazards. Some of the vehicles are affected by both recalls, placing the overall number of vehicles affected by one or both recalls at about 1 million.
The first of these recalls covers 670,000 3 Series models built between 2006 and 2011. Faulty wiring in the heating and air conditioning system have been found to potentially overheat, increasing the risk of a sudden fire.
Reports surrounding this issue date back to 2008. However, as the root cause was not yet determined at that point, BMW monitored the models for any similar incidents.
The second, larger recall also affects a wider range of BMW vehicles. 740,000 BMW vehicles built between 2007 and 2011 are set to be recalled for the potential rusting of the vehicle’s valve heater.
Included are models from the 128i, 3 Series, 5 Series, Z4, X3, and X5 lineups. In rare cases, rusting in the valve heater area can potentially cause a fire.
Those vehicle owners affected by the recall are scheduled to be alerted sometime between now and early December. Repairs for the vehicles are expected to begin on December 18.
BMW dealerships are set to replace both the aged valve heaters and the faulty wiring for the air conditioning system when affected vehicles are brought in for repairs.


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In step with a brand new record from Bloomberg, Samsung has joined Apple in taking an unheard of step to protected cobalt provides for its next-generation smartphones. Samsung C&T, one of the various fingers of the Samsung conglomerate, is reportedly negotiating at once with a mine within the Democratic Republic of Congo to protected cobalt.
The component is a very powerful element within the rechargeable batteries utilized in smartphones, however expanding festival — in particular from electrical automobile producers — has made an already-scarce component much more precious.
The record on Samsung’s actions follows^( that Apple was once additionally in negotiations with a miner to protected cobalt provides. Samsung’s case makes a bit of extra sense — the company manufactures some batteries in-house, while Apple contracts out all battery production — however it’s nonetheless an atypical transfer for Samsung to head at once to the miners.
Even supposing the electrical automobile marketplace continues to be slightly small at the moment, auto producers are getting ready for a steep build up in call for for electrical automobiles in the following couple of years. That may pressure the sector’s provide of cobalt, and that fact is mirrored within the present value. Bloomberg notes that Cobalt costs have soared from a bit of over $20,000 according to metric ton again in September 2018 to $80,000 according to metric ton at the moment.
That’s brought about the firms that depend on cobalt essentially the most to head at once to the miners and signal contracts to make sure long term provides, whilst additionally locking in a worth to hedge towards long term value will increase. Two-thirds of the sector’s cobalt manufacturing comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a area now not precisely identified for its balance.

domain: news


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What happened: China is leading the way in environmentally friendly mass transit, with 300,000 electric buses in operation compared to the US’ 1,600. By the end of this year, electric buses will have cumulatively displaced three times more diesel demand than all the world’s passenger electric vehicles (EVs) combined. Although Tesla holds about 12% of the global EV market and is looking to make waves in China, the brand’s impact is far smaller than that of China’s massive army of electric buses.
Why it’s important: With China having taken up a leadership role in tackling climate change, it is making strides toward reducing carbon emissions on both a provincial and national scale. With EV technology becoming more efficient and affordable, electric-powered transit—both personal and public—is on the rise. Electric vehicles made up 7% of new vehicle sales in China last year, and internal combustion engine vehicle sales decreased by 20% between 2017 and 2018. Paired with world-leading developments in mass transit technology, China is poised to continue down the path of pollutant-free transportation.


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Nissan to unveil new model at Frankfurt
Dubai, September 3, 2013
Japanese automaker Nissan is set to showcase a new production model at the 2013 International Auto Show in Frankfurt on September 10.
The Friend-Me concept car will feature Nissan’s next-generation design language and explores the possibilities of a fully-connected, fully-interactive cabin, said a statement.
Created around the needs and desires of permanently online passengers, Friend-Me integrates passengers into every journey, positioning itself as a hub for information and entertainment, it said.
"Despite the down turn in the overall market, Nissan attained record market share last year and we are on target to match that achievement in 2013," said Guillaume Cartier, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Nissan in Europe.
The automaker is also set to offer customers a new personalization programme at the show, with more accessories and colour options to choose from. It will also launch an innovative new 3D web configurator that offers buyers the opportunity to preview their design. - TradeArabia News Service


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Skyscanner, one of the world’s leading travel companies, has released the top travel destinations for 2021, which of course included Greece.
The list was curated using extensive traveller data and insights from expert travel commentators, including predictions on the soon-to-be trending destinations.
Skyscanner’s Top 2021 Travel Trends & Destinations are:
- Zooming out – As the world looks to embrace a world beyond the screen, these notification- free nature spots provide the ultimate escape – Atacama Desert Chile, Coral Coast Australia, Scottish Highlands.
- Sporting Heroes – Japan, South Africa – Almost a year of empty stadiums has led the world to crave the buzz of stadia, couple that with two of the world’s biggest destinations hosting major sporting occasions those considering an atmospheric adventure will look to the land of the rising sun for an excursion of Olympic proportions.
- Recovery Bubbles’ – South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam – Locations that responded quickly to the virus, maintaining domestic travel ensures their tourism infrastructure thrives, South Korea’s once up and coming international travel scene is expected to bounce back with aplomb.
- Greece is the word – Whitewashed vistas with deep blue Aegean waters flooded most social media feeds in 2020, Greece firmly placed itself top of almost everyone’s travel wish lists.
- Swell times ahead – Surfing cruises its way into the Olympics for the first time ever in 2021, with the world embracing outdoor pursuits of the socially distanced variety, Californiatops the list for swapping sofa surfing for the waves!
- Don’t forget the classics – 2020 highlighted the resilient popularity of some mainstay destinations that are likely to bounce back the moment their fans can return – New York & The Balearics top the charts.
- WFP: Working from Paradise – There’s no question the 2020 office looked a little different this but The Maldives, The Caribbean & Mexico look set to host the ultimate 2021 office upgrade.
- Regenerative Travel – As many consider how their return to travel impacts those communities and ecosystems that rely on travellers Costa Rica, Jamaica & The Azores are leading the way when it comes to conscious travel.


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Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) has acquired InterCLICK Inc (NASDAQ:ICLK), an advertising targeting and optimization software company for $270 million. What makes this deal interesting is that for the last few months, Yahoo! was rumored to be ripe for an acquisition themselves. InterCLICK’s data targeting and advertising optimization technologies will be rolled into Yahoo!’s own platforms. InterCLICK will allow Yahoo! to pool their inventory into premium packages.
Yahoo! has noted that InterCLICK’s team is ?experienced in selling audiences across disparate sources of pooled supply.? InterCLICK’s platform is split into two tools – Open Segment Manager and Genome Platform. interCLICK is headquartered in New York City and has offices in Chicago, LA, SF, Dallas, and Miami. Their advertising partners are spread across the retail, electronics, Internet, software, automotive, travel, pharmaceuticals, and the entertainment industry.


text: Close San Antonio Auto and Truck Show SA Auto Show KENS 4:04 PM. CST November 11, 2016 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN GOOGLE+ PINTEREST Roman visited San Antonio Auto and Truck Show and you won’t believe the stunts he pulled! San Antonio Auto and Truck Show Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center This Weekend! Purchase your tickets today! saautoshow.com CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN GOOGLE+ PINTEREST JOIN THE CONVERSATION To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Leave a Comment TRENDING VIDEOS One of the biggest Spurs fans isn't even from San Antonio Family pleads for pleading for information that could assist in the investigation into the murders of their loved Abandoned church has become a haven for criminal activity Two killed, one arrested, one on run after southwest-side shootings Gunfire erupts near Lee High School and the search is on for the gunman Body found in Chick-fil-A parking lot identified 'Black and Boujee' teacher: "I would do it all over again." Fiesta: First night of Night in Old San Antonio kicks off downtown The food and festivities of NIOSA 2017 Around Town More Stories Lover's quarrel turns deadly for S.A. man Apr 26, 2017, 7:04 a.m. MEDALS MOST WANTED: NIOSA, Taste of Northside, 100 Club... Apr 26, 2017, 8:14 a.m. Fiesta: Special cameras keep thousands safe at NIOSA Apr 25, 2017, 11:25 p.m.


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World Payments Report 2013
04 Oct 2013
Global non-cash payment volumes continue to surge, with more than 333 billion transactions in 2012 as cards and mobile services grow in popularity, research from Capgemini and RBS suggests.
19 Sep, 2013
Capita explores how commercial models are changing the face of testing.
07 May, 2013
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston reports on the evolution of mobile payments technology two years on from its original paper in 2011.
30 Apr, 2013
The US Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association presents a compendium of post-flash crash studies into HFT behaviour.
17 Apr, 2013
In the biggest-ever experiment carried out into how people use social media, UK bank first direct asked volunteers from across the UK to change their Facebook and Twitter habits for a month.
27 Feb, 2013
A GSMA and Visa study finds women in developing economies are an underserved market for financial services.
21 Jan, 2013
The Foresight Panel
The UK government's Foresight panel explores how changes in technology, politics, economics, our environment and demographics will affect our notion of identity.
09 Jan, 2013
Kansas City Fed
New regulations have pushed down the fees charged to merchants for processing debit card transactions, but the ultimate impact on merchants and consumers may depend on the debit card industry's new revenue strategies, according to the Kansas City Fed.
21 Dec, 2012
Deutsche Bank analysts explore the future of mobile payments and the strategic options for banks.
21 Dec, 2012
Deutsche Bank Research
Measured as a percentage of revenues, financial services firms spend more on IT than any other industry. Research from Deutsche Bank asks how much output is generated from the IT input.
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While dollar sales across the dairy aisle are on the upswing, the amount of gallons of milk, cheese sticks and tubs of butter making their way into consumers’ grocery carts has definitely cooled.
According to data from The Nielsen Co., New York, for the 52 weeks ended July 12, total dairy department unit sales were 18,033,191,099, down 1.6% from the same period a year earlier and down 2% from the period ended July 17, 2004. Dollar sales, meanwhile, totaled $42,187,684,556 in the period ended July 12, 2008, up nearly 12% from the same period a year ago and up approximately 17% from July 17, 2004, according to Nielsen.
For the purposes of providing data for the dairy category, Nielsen breaks the segment into 12 main groups: total butter and margarine; total cheese; total cottage cheese, sour cream and toppings; total dough products — refrigerated; total eggs — fresh; total juices and drinks — refrigerated; total meal starts — refrigerated; total milk; total puddings/desserts — dairy; total snacks/spreads/dip — dairy; total yeast — refrigerated; and total yogurt.
With the exception of total yeast, every category posted higher year-over-year dollar sales in the 52-week period ended July 12, but only three categories — total meal starters, total snacks and total yogurt — managed to post year-over-year volume gains. While total meal starters and total snacks may be considered fringe dairy categories, with combined unit sales of less than 335 million, the same may not be said about yogurt, which moved approximately 3.7 billion units during the most recent 52-week period, according to Nielsen.
Just say yes to yogurt
Several reasons for the sustained growth in yogurt exist, not the least of which has been the influx of new products touting health attributes.
"Consumers are increasingly looking for opportunities to make choices that are healthier, especially when they can come with convenience and affordability," said Chuck Fugua, spokesperson for the National Yogurt Association. "The live and active cultures contained in yogurt have a number of potential health benefits."
In the 52 weeks ended July 12, total yogurt dollar sales totaled $3,587,834,857 on unit sales of 3,668,687,607, up 10.6% and 0.9%, respectively, from the same period a year ago and up 30% and 16%, respectively, from the 52 weeks ended July 17, 2004.
Mr. Fugua said innovation in the inclusion of cultures in yogurt, coupled with the public awareness of what is contained in yogurt and how it adds to healthy nutrition, have been instrumental in the category’s growth in sales.
"The convenience, nutritional value and taste all figure in to consumers choosing yogurt as part of their daily menus," Mr. Fugua said. "Researchers around the world are studying the potential attributes of live and active culture yogurt in preventing gastrointestinal infections, boosting the body’s immune system, fighting certain types of cancer and preventing osteoporosis. More research must be done to establish a definitive link between live and active culture yogurt and these health effects, but the results to date are encouraging.
"Additionally, the live and active cultures found in yogurt break down lactose in milk. This allows lactose intolerant individuals who commonly experience gastrointestinal discomfort when they consume milk products to eat yogurt and receive the nutrients contained in the milk product without the side effects of abdominal cramping, bloating and diarrhea."
Looking ahead, Mr. Fugua was optimistic that yogurt will be able to maintain its growth pace.
"It is hard to predict the future in any field, but yogurt is recognized as a nutritional part of a healthy diet," he said. "And, as that is the case, one would expect for consumers to continue buying the product and for more to join as well."
Michael Neuwirth, senior director of public relations at The Dannon Co.,White Plains, N.Y., echoed many of Mr. Fugua’s remarks, noting there remains a tremendous opportunity for continued growth.
"We believe that the U.S. yogurt market is still fairly underdeveloped and poised for continued growth, and we are making the needed investments in R.&D., innovation and consumer communication to fuel continued growth," Mr. Neuwirth said. "In fact, we see the U.S. as a ‘frontier’ market for yogurt growth. In the grocery retail environment, yogurt is growing at a rate almost double that of refrigerated grocery shelf space (6.3% annual yogurt growth vs. 3.9% annual shelf space growth). We’re working to expand refrigerated grocery shelf space, which has constrained yogurt category growth."
Innovation in cheese
Although overall category unit sales have fallen sharply during the past year, cheese stands out as a category within dairy where positive consumption patterns are taking place amid higher prices.
According to "Dietary Assessment of Major Trends in U.S. Food Consumption, 1970-2005," published in March by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cheese availability
contributed significantly to the 6% overall increase in milk and milk products during the period spanning 1970 to 2005. The U.S.D.A. said the availability of cheese (excluding cottage cheese) during the period nearly tripled, rising to 31 lbs per person from 11 lbs.
The introduction of convenient cheese products, such as resealable bags and cheese sticks helped pace the growth. Sargento Foods, Inc., Plymouth, Wis., has been a key player in the category, introducing its Limited Edition, Artisan Blends and Finishers product lines. The products are intended to be on-trend with focuses on personalization and customization.
LiveActive natural cheese sticks and cubes from Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods Inc. also have been received favorably in the marketplace. The LiveActive line of products are made with the live, natural probiotic culture bifidobacterium lactis that helps promote regularity in 14 days.
These products and others helped contribute to dollar sales in the cheese category that eclipsed $10 billion for the first time, according to Nielsen. Dollar sales in the cheese category had been roughly unchanged for the past two years before spiking nearly 11% in the 52-week period ended July 12, Nielsen said. After several years of unit sales gains, the cheese category fell 2.2% in the most recent 52 weeks, and at 3,465,164,566 units was only marginally ahead of sales of 3,452,920,704 in the 52 weeks ended July 17, 2004.
There have been pockets of the cheese category that have weathered the commodity crunch storm, though. Specialty/imported cheese, the most consistently strong cheese sub-category over the past five years, experienced unit volume growth of nearly 2% in the most recent period tracked by Nielsen. Shredded/grated cheese, a category in which many of the new Sargento products fall under, sustained a 1% decline in unit volume sales after several years of higher volume. But even in face of the volume decline, the shredded/grated cheese category by all accounts is performing well, as dollar sales jumped an impressive 15.7% to better than $2.8 billion.
In a June interview with Food Business News, Louis Gentine, president of consumer products at Sargento Foods, talked extensively about efforts undertaken by the company to add value. One example of that effort was the launch of Vermont sharp white cheddar, first Limited Edition variety in the company’s shredded cheese line.
"We really are attempting to create the sense of excitement around high flavor cheeses the consumer may not normally find or even know about," Mr. Gentine said. "It is a very on trend idea, because it offers continued variety, flavor and brings news to the category."
What’s missing in milk?
No discussion of dairy consumption patterns would be complete without examining the state of the milk category.
According to the U.S.D.A.’s March report, beverage milk availability plunged 33% between 1970 and 2005. The cutback in availability comes even as the U.S.D.A. has maintained its recommendation that Americans consume 3 cups of milk and milk products per day (based on a 2,000 calorie-per-day diet). Currently, the U.S.D.A. said Americans are not meeting the recommendation, instead getting about 1.8 cups of milk and milk products per day.
Data from Nielsen support the U.S.D.A.’s statistics on milk. In the 52 weeks ended July 12, total milk unit volume totaled 4,622,690,365, down 2.8% from the same period a year ago and down 6.7% from the 52 weeks ended July 17, 2004.
Why the decline?
Earlier this decade, a number of beverage companies targeted the milk category with products geared toward convenience and taste. The flavored milk category, thanks in part to the introduction of fortified Nesquik products and extensions to the Slammers line from Bravo! Foods International Corp., North Palm Beach, Fla., topped $500 million in annual sales with nearly 290 million units sold, according to Nielsen. But innovation has slowed, and the category has been on a downward slide for several years. In the just ended 52-week period, unit sales of dairy-flavored milk fell 10% to 246 million.
But through it all, the International Dairy Foods Association, which represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing segments and their suppliers with a membership of 570 companies, remains optimistic consumers will continue to search out dairy products.
"Dairy products remain a solid value for consumers," the association said in a mid-June update on factors affecting dairy prices. "Penny for penny, no other food offers as much nutritional value for America’s families as milk. While food budgets are tight for many people, dairy products remain an important staple ingredient for their great taste and nutrition."
This article can also be found in the digital edition of Dairy Business News, August 19, 2008, starting on Page 1. Click


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Pizza Hut reveals set of Captain America & Iron Man pizza boxes, all-new Stuffed Garlic Knots $5 Flavor Menu item, and first-ever post-online ordering entertainment platform at www.PizzaHut.com/CaptainAmerica
PLANO, TEXAS (April 11, 2016) – Pizza Hut is joining forces with Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War to give pizza lovers the power to choose a side in what is destined to be one of the year’s biggest movie battles. Although there may be a war onscreen, Pizza Hut is putting an end to all dinner table battles with its $5 Flavor Menu – and with the addition of the ALL-NEW Stuffed Garlic Knots to the $5 Flavor Menu, pizza fans now have even more reason to say “yes” to their favorite Pizza Hut items. An order of Stuffed Garlic Knots includes 10 knots stuffed with mozzarella cheese for just $5.
“The new Captain America movie is centered around the concept of picking sides – Iron Man versus Captain America – but at Pizza Hut, we know picking sides doesn’t have to lead to an all-out battle,” said Jared Drinkwater, Vice President of Marketing, Pizza Hut. “With the $5 Flavor Menu, we’re giving customers the power to choose at a price that allows them to say ‘yes’ to all of their favorite items, including medium 1-topping pizzas.”
As part of the promotional partnership, Pizza Hut and Marvel have developed an action-packed Captain America: Civil War-themed digital hub for adult audiences at www.PizzaHut.com/CaptainAmerica. The hub, which launches April 11, gives Marvel fans and pizza lovers access to exclusive Captain America: Civil War content, including never-before-scene clips and stills from the latest Marvel film. The site also features a quiz allowing users to pick which side they should root for – Captain America or Iron Man – for the chance to win epic prizes, including a trip to a future Marvel movie premiere, behind-the-scenes access to a Marvel prop house and more.
The hub will serve as a housing agent for content that can exclusively be experienced at www.PizzaHut.com/CaptainAmerica. This is the first entertainment from Pizza Hut designed to provide consumers with material to stay engaged while awaiting their order.
“Being able to provide our customers with unique content exclusively through our channels is one of the many exciting ways we are bringing this effort to life,” added Drinkwater. “A wide variety of prizes and unique experiences tied directly to the film will be fun and entertaining for Marvel and Pizza Hut fans alike.”
In addition to the digital hub, Pizza Hut will launch a fully integrated marketing campaign for adults, including a new television spot featuring Captain America: Civil War footage, two new Captain America: Civil War-themed boxes – one highlighting Captain America, the other featuring Iron Man – and more.
“In Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, we see the Avengers team during one of their toughest times. They’re torn apart by conflict, and we’re left wondering if anything can bring the team back together,” said Mindy Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships, Marvel Entertainment LLC. “Whether you are Team Cap or Team Iron Man, we are excited to give our fans the opportunity to choose their side through this effort with Pizza Hut and unite Marvel fans around the film’s release.”
Pizza Hut introduced its first value menu – the $5 Flavor Menu – earlier this year. The nationally-available menu features nine delicious items, including the new stuffed garlic knots, a medium one-topping pizza, eight bone-out WingStreet® Wings, the Ultimate Hershey’s Chocolate Chip Cookie, Hershey’s Triple Chocolate Brownie, Tuscani Pasta, a double order of breadsticks or flavor sticks and four 20-oz. beverages, for just $5 each when ordering two or more.
As the first national pizza chain to remove artificial flavors and colors from its core pizzas, Pizza Hut also has the world’s busiest website in the pizza category at www.pizzahut.com, with nearly 50 percent of the company’s orders coming through digital channels and more than 30 percent via mobile device.
About the Contest
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Promotion begins on 4/11/16 at 12:00:01 a.m. ET and ends on 5/8/16 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. Open only to legal U.S. residents residing in the 48 contiguous US/D.C. who are 18+. See Official Rules at pizzahut.com/CaptainAmerica for additional eligibility restrictions, prize descriptions/restrictions/ARVs and complete details. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Pizza Hut, Inc.
About Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), delivers more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant in the world. The company began 58 years ago in Wichita, Kansas, when two brothers borrowed $600 from their mom to start a pizzeria.
What started out small has become the biggest pizza company in the world and today operates more than 15,600 restaurants in more than 97 countries serving innovative pizzas, traditional favorites like the signature Pan Pizza, and much more. Pizza Hut also is the proprietor of the BOOK IT!® Program, which is a long-standing children’s literacy program used in more than 630,000 classrooms nationwide. For more information, visit www.pizzahut.com. Follow Pizza Hut on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PizzaHut), Twitter (www.twitter.com/pizzahut) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/pizzahut).
*For all media inquiries, please contact Pizza Hut:
About Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War”
Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.
Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Frank Grillo and Martin Freeman, with William Hurt and Daniel Brühl.
Anthony & Joe Russo are directing with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Nate Moore and Stan Lee are the executive producers. The screenplay is by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Get ready to pick a side and join the nonstop action playing out on two fronts when Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” opens in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2016.
Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of violence, action, and mayhem.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2016 MARVEL


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A second-generation Chevrolet Cruze has been caught completely uncovered in a parking lot outside General Motors’ plant in Shanghai. This example reportedly represents a China-only model with a shorter wheelbase, which will debut next month at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show.
As pre-production photos suggested, the new Cruze’s front end bears close resemblance to the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The two-tier grille features a narrow upper section with a wide-mouth lower part, flanked by two fog lamps and a strip of a LED lights. The body is sharper overall with a higher waistline and a coupe-like sloping roof. Out back, the taillights are slim and angular, with a third center-mounted brake light integrated into the trunk-lid.
The Cruze will debut the all-new Ecotec 1.4-liter turbocharged and 1.5-liter engines for the Chinese market. The 1.5L will produce 113 hp and 108 lb-ft of torque, while the turbo will make 140 hp and 173 lb-ft. It will be available with either a six-speed manual transmission, or a seven-speed dual clutch automatic unit.
According to Car News China, the mildly refreshed version of the current generation Cruze which was spotted earlier this month will be sold alongside the new 2015 model in China as the Cruze Classic, to serve as a budget alternative to the all-new Cruze, much like what Ford does with the Focus and Focus Classic in the country.
The second-generation U.S. market Cruze was originally scheduled to debut later this year, but the launch was pushed back until December of 2015 due to “engineering changes”. No details on the U.S. model have been confirmed so far.


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For all the turmoil and bad news in the book business in Australia in the past year, the Australian Booksellers Association annual conference and the Australian Publishers Association Book Fair, held the last week of June in Sydney, had a surprisingly positive tone.
The emphasis was, as the ABA's conference theme put it, building the industry. And surely the book trade there was receptive.
Booksellers and publishers together suffered from the introduction of GST, a national goods and services tax, last July 1, which raised book prices an average of 10% (and caused sticker shock for consumers and administrative headaches for stores and publishers), and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, which for the duration of the games seemed to bring book buying to a standstill in Australia's largest city.
Beyond that, the state of the Australian dollar, which has hit an all-time low and made imported books even more expensive, and the government's moves to create an open market, added further pressures. The move toward an open market appears halted for the moment—the opposition parties in the Australian Senate apparently are opposed to it—but not before the matter caused some bitterness between publishers and booksellers when the ABA changed its longtime position and officially came out in support of an open market. In March, the APA went so far as to pass a resolution at its annual general meeting to suspend cooperative relations with the ABA.
(Many booksellers and publishers continue to support Australia's unusual 30-day rule, which essentially provides protection for Aussie copyright holders who offer titles in Australia within 30 days of their publication in other countries. As one major publisher commented, "In effect, we have a controlled open market.")
Already many booksellers and publishers were indicating that while it had been a tough year for some of them, particularly booksellers in and around Sydney, sales are stabilizing and they are somewhat optimistic about the coming year. A few publishers and booksellers, albeit outside Sydney, reported double-digit gains in the last 12 months. One independent said she had had her best year in 16 years in business and was going to begin paying herself a salary.
Still, some industry participants believe the business could be down as much as 10%. Many booksellers reported erratic sales, with a new week-to-week or even day-to-day focus on figures.
Saying that there is "too much doom and gloom in the industry," conference keynote speaker Michael Webster, head of Webster AAP and former head of D.W. Thorpe (Oz's equivalent of Bowker), recounted some of the positive aspects of the book business. Among these: studies showing that reading among young people is popular; young people "still crave careers in bookselling" despite low wages and "iffy training"; Australia continues to have an international reputation as "a center of publishing excellence"; investments in publishers' warehouses may create a "de facto" national wholesaler, something this country does not have. Australia has "great bookshops," although it continues to lack a "market leader"; the book business continues to influence political debate to a degree unusual in other developed countries and the weak Australian dollar has "no doubt curbed Amazon's reach into the Australian market." The Internet is drawing new customers to books and offering new merchandising and direct-marketing possibilities to the Australian book industry, and with the Australian introduction of Book Track (in which Webster has an interest), the business will have access to sales information that was unavailable before.
However, he berated the industry for whingeing (Aussie for whining), which works against the industry in political debates over the open market and a hoped-for rollback of the GST on books. While the Democrats have indicated their support for a rollback, the Labor Party needs "facts and figures" and is "exhausted by opinions" about the effect of GST, Webster warned. If there is a rollback, he continued, the industry should also be prepared to forgo the compensation package enacted for it when the GST was put into effect.
Part of that compensation package included A$8 million (a little over US$4 million) over four years to create a national book advertising and marketing campaign. The result, Books Alive, has been organized by the Australia Council, the federal government's arts funding and advisory body, and is a bitter disappointment for the business, which has felt excluded from key decisions. An image of a man and woman butting heads with the tagline, "Lose your head in a book," appears on bookmarks, posters and TV ads and has garnered extremely mixed responses among booksellers.
The program is currently under review and may yet be changed in a way that would achieve what booksellers want: a kind of branding, like Book Sense in the U.S., or the Dutch campaign Collective Propaganda for the Dutch Book, which was presented at last year's ABA conference by the Collective's director and was enthusiastically received by Australian booksellers.
Webster called the split between the ABA and APA "silly," adding, "If we work together, the future of the industry is pretty bright."
Other panels focused on nuts-and-bolts issues of bookselling as well as putting the challenges and opportunities of the Australian book trade in context. One panel featured members of the music and film businesses whose experiences show parallels to the book world. For example, the open market for music has led music labels to be more creative in marketing and advertising and to work with retailers in improving cross-merchandising possibilities with films and books.
A group of publishing house marketers focused on the attraction of the book to readers. Maggie Hamilton of Random House Australia noted that massive social and economic changes have led people to feel "shell shocked" and "out of control." Understanding that customers need to have things made easier for them, from finding book recommendations to enjoying escapism in reading and the reading experience, will help the business. People are "beginning to dream the big dreams again," she said, and booksellers and publishers should try to tap into "the desire for fun and adventure and expansiveness."
Mary Drum of Hodder Headline recommended "short articulated messages" about what a reader will feel if he or she buys a book, since the emotional power of the reading experience is key. "Price is about the cost of entry to get the emotion a reader wants," she emphasized.
Jim Demetriou of HarperCollins offered specific suggestions for the business, including an accurate national bestseller list; a change in tradition so that bookstores keep long-running bestsellers in the front of the store and not relegate them to backlist areas; and for publishers to publish fewer books and publish them better.
For one evening at least, Australian publishers and booksellers seemed to bury the hatchet—and not in each others' backs.
In fact, the tone at the industry banquet Thursday night, attended by more than 500 book people, was highly promising, with several top publishers and booksellers expressing the need to work together despite some differences. In an amusing address listing the many things he "hates"—including speculators who are ravaging the Australian dollar and the professor whose long-running campaign against supposedly high book prices has been used against the industry by unsympathetic politicians and others—outgoing Australian Publishers Association president Sandy Grant lauded the Australian Booksellers Association and said that this is "an exciting era for bookselling and publishing. There is a vibrant and expansive retail segment." He praised the investments in Australian retailing of such retailers as Borders and W.H. Smith (which just purchased chain Angus & Robertson/Bookworld) as well as investments by publishers in better warehouses. Noting the contretemps between publishers and booksellers over discounts and the open market, he said, "There is much to fight about and much to cooperate about."
For her part, Margie Arnold, president of the ABA, told the crowd: "We will continue to talk. As with any relationship, we can have hard times. But it's also an opportunity to move forward. I believe by this time next year we'll be well on the way to having a positive industry."
Among the many awards given at the banquet was the Book Data Asia Pacific/ABA Book of the Year, which went to The Blue Day Book by Bradley Trevor Greive (Random), a nonfiction inspirational bestseller. The APA Independent Bookseller of the Year was Readings, the Melbourne store owned by Mark Rubbo that won Bookseller of the Year in 1998 and has long been acknowledged as one of the best bookstores in Australia. The APA Chain Bookseller of the Year was Angus & Robertson/Bookworld, the new Oz branch of W.H. Smith. The Thorpe/APA Publisher of the Year was Allen & Unwin, one of the few large independent Australian publishers, which was praised by some booksellers in attendance for its list—and for not tightening up terms in the way some other publishers have.
One of the hosts of the awards ceremony was a politician beloved by the book business: Senator Natasha Stott Despoja. Two years ago, she voted against the introduction of GST and has since become leader of the Senate Democrats and supports a rollback of GST on books.
One of the casualties of the difficult sales year and tensions between publishers and booksellers in Australia was the APA Book Fair itself, which was, as Random House Australia head Juliet Rogers said, "in its death throes in its existing form."
The trade show floor was significantly smaller than last year's, and, like some ABA-BEA shows in the U.S. in the mid-'90s, lacks some of the major national publishers. This year, for example, Penguin Australia, HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan and Lothian did not take booths on the floor—although they were represented in the invitation-only trade publishers lounge. Fair managers Expertise Events sought to add participation by related industries, such as newsstand operators and stationers, which helped boost attendance somewhat. But plans for a rights center fizzled. Altogether there were officially 100 exhibitors.
Expertise Events managing director Gary Fitz-Roy told PW that he was "quietly confident about where the show is going" but acknowledged that the difficult year for the Australian book business affected the trade show. Still, he said feedback from many exhibitors—and even some non-exhibitors interested in showing next year—was good.
Like other industry people, he said the business ought to aim for a more positive approach. "This should be a celebration. No industry can lose a chance to bring together buyers and sellers and provide education."
In yet another difficult area familiar to the American industry, there is debate over when and where to hold the fair in the future. Publishers, whose organization began putting on the fair a decade ago after the booksellers had run it as an adjunct to their annual conferences, have wanted to hold the fair only in Sydney. But booksellers from Sydney, those most likely to attend, already have strong ties to and good representation from publishers. Booksellers from other Australian cities and the countryside have more reason to go the fair, but many find it difficult to afford.
The APA Book Fair will take place again in Sydney June 19—21, 2002. Booksellers, who several years ago voted for the conference to rotate between Sydney and Melbourne, may well return to Melbourne—or go to another site. The ABA, APA and Expertise Events presumably will negotiate these issues.
Talk about what to do about the fair and the tension between publishers and booksellers was an important topic at several events.
Jeff Higgins of Dymocks, one of the three national bookselling chains, said publishers and booksellers need to work together and continue talking. But if there is no fair, he wondered, "When will the industry get together and talk about issues?"
Random House's Rogers noted that the Australian book industry sometimes has "the bad habit of throwing out the baby with the dish water. It's a sad day because we're very, very close to it."
Both Higgins and Rogers, who is from New Zealand, speculated that Australia might benefit from the type of industry organization in place in New Zealand, which shares many characteristics with Australia, although it is much smaller (with a population of three million compared to Australia's 18 million). Booksellers New Zealand, which is comprised of booksellers and publishers, is "a healthy model but doesn't institutionalize antagonism," Rogers said. "Not that there aren't tensions," but the structure allows members to debate and discuss issues and to have special interest groups, she continued. "The majority of members are booksellers. Publishers are smaller but loud."
Booksellers New Zealand was enacted by "a small group of like-minded booksellers and publishers" who saw a need for a change a decade ago when the book business in New Zealand was suffering from problems similar to those plaguing the Australian book business today. The process of change wasn't "democratic," Rogers said. "But there's no question anyone would want to revert to the old system."
Happy Americans Down Under
Two of the happiest exhibitors were American wholesalers Ingram International and Baker & Taylor International, who despite a weak Australian dollar that makes importing very expensive, reported many new contacts with booksellers and librarians. Australian readers are keenly aware of American titles and many will pay more to get those books. In an example of global media's immediate power and the far reaches of America's best bookseller, at one ABA conference panel Mary Drum of Hodder Headline noted that the day after Oprah picked Andre Dubus III's House of Sand and Fog as a book club selection, 15,000 copies of the book were sold in Australia.
Borders Edges Bigger
After a slow beginning, starting with its first store in Melbourne in 1998, Borders announced plans for more openings, including its second store in Melbourne, a second in Sydney and one in Adelaide. The second Sydney store, however, recently hit a snag: it was scheduled to open in the Skygarden shopping center in the Pitt Street Mall in Sydney's central business district, where the center's owner sought to evict businesses to make room for the book retailer. But several tenants fought back, and a court ruled against the developer. The decision may be appealed.
New ABA Board
At the end of its conference, the Australian Booksellers Association voted in several new board members, including Jeff Higgins of Dymocks as first vice-president; Chris Harrington of Books in Print, Melbourne, as second vice-president; and Derek Dryden of Better Read Than Dead, Sydney, as treasurer. David Gaunt of Gleebooks, who among many other efforts has long been head of the ABA's standing committee on copyright (a sometimes thankless task), was made a lifetime member of the ABA.


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The best new drugstore beauty products of 2018 are finally here, and with tons of great new, cheap options in the beauty aisle, we've picked out the best.
Tonight's episode of Grey's Anatomy deals with domestic violence. To honor that, the National Domestic Violence Hotline phone number is the episode title.
Equal pay is a problem in any industry but the dialogue in Hollywood, specifically, is tinged with certain shades of privilege that most women generally lack.
Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell reunited on the Fall 2018 Louis Vuitton Menswear runway, and it was a major moment for fashion *and* age inclusion.
The royal family released the list of gifts they received last year, and Meghan Markle's turns out to be an apron.
According to an article from Us Weekly, Meghan Markle's bachelorette party isn't going to be wild. It'll just be her and some close friends, outside of London.
Kim Kardashian wrote a letter on her app explaining her decision to use a gestational carrier and why the term "surrogate" is inaccurate for her situation.
Makeup and fragrance company Hard Candy has reportedly filed for a patent to trademark "Me Too"—the movement founded by Tarana Burke to fight sexual harassment.
In a new CBS interview, Dylan Farrow once again told the story of Woody Allen's alleged sexual abuse of her at age 7, and talks about her outrage over not being believed.
Incest survivor, Aziza Kibibi, and her daughter, Arrishtk Ayinde, share their harrowing, moving story of overcoming abuse and leaning on each other.


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Apple fans are finally laying their hands on the brand new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Eager customers joined long lines in cities like Sydney, Hong Kong, London, New York, Boston and San Francisco on Friday as the new models went on sale, more than a week after they were unveiled.
Apple is releasing the phones, which are water resistant and feature beefed-up cameras, in more than 25 countries around the world. But people who haven’t reserved one in advance won’t be able to be too picky about the color — or get the larger model. Apple said earlier this week that the iPhone 7 Plus is completely out of stock online.
“During the online pre-order period, initial quantities of iPhone 7 Plus in all finishes and iPhone 7 in jet black sold out and will not be available for walk-in customers,” the company said in a statement.
However, some consumers who thought carriers might have the larger model in stock were disappointed as the day progressed.
“The iPhone 7 Plus is not available in stores this morning, so customers who wish to get iPhone 7 Plus should go [online] to place an order,” a Verizon spokeswoman told CNNMoney.
Meanwhile, T-Mobile said its stores had “limited inventory at launch,” with shipping dates as far away as the end of November for black iPhone 7 Plus devices.
Your best bet of finding an iPhone 7 Plus may be directly through Sprint. A spokesperson told CNNMoney “most of our retail stores have [the iPhone 7 Plus] going into [today].”
An AT&T spokesperson has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Many customers who couldn’t get a device aired their complaints on Twitter.
If you’re not in a rush and don’t fancy spending your morning waiting on a sidewalk, you can order an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus online through Apple or a number of retailers.
According to Apple’s website, the jet black version of the iPhone 7 Plus won’t ship until November in the U.S. All other colors, including matte black, will ship in two to three weeks if ordered online directly from Apple. Those wait times could change.
The 4.7-inch iPhone 7 starts at $649 and the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769.
Outside an Apple Store in Hong Kong, sports coach Kala Singh said he’d reserved his matte black iPhone 7 a week ago. “I always upgrade my phone when they change the number,” he said.
Singh opted not to go for a jet black version because he said he’d heard it’s easy to get finger smudges on them.
But at the same store, Tsang Yan-yee said she was “a little bit upset” that she’d had to settle for a rose gold iPhone 7 instead of a jet black one. She also said she was disappointed with Apple’s controversial decision to remove the phone’s headphone jack.


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Suntory Beverage & Food Nigeria has announced its decision to enlarge its footprint into the Nigerian food and beverage market as owners of the globally popular beverage brands, Lucozade and Ribena.
This development follows the recent completion of the divestment of the drinks bottling and distribution business between GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc and Japanese global beverage company, Suntory Beverage & Food.
Speaking at a press conference held in Lagos to officially announce the Company’s new acquisition, Managing Director Suntory Beverage & Food Nigeria, Chinedum Okereke, described Suntory’s investment in Nigeria as a development that will yield many positive results.
“This is a clear demonstration of Suntory’s confidence in the Nigerian economy. The company relies on the strong connection between the Nigerian consumers and its Lucozade and Ribena brands and is especially confident of the nation’s immense potential for economic growth and the impressive productivity level of its people. Our conviction in the Nigerian market is responsible for the company’s decision to invest in the country and contribute to human resource empowerment to run the business as a wholly Nigerian company” he said.
“As a company, our desire is to consistently provide some of the country’s best quality drinks through well researched market insight, expertise and dedication and to also deliver high quality innovative products. Lucozade and Ribena have enjoyed impressive patronage over the years, so with a promise of continuous improvement and providing better value to our consumers, we are convinced of an improved and more rewarding relationship. Innovation, research and development will play a big part in the foundation of our operations in Nigeria” he also said.
With Suntory’s global credentials and successes, Suntory Beverage & Food Nigeria will gain a solid platform into the Nigerian soft drinks industry for its iconic Lucozade and Ribena brands.
Commenting further on Suntory Food & Beverage Nigeria’s entry, Okereke explained that the development is also an expression of the company’s trust in Nigeria as a nation. He added, “Suntory Beverage & Food Nigeria is a wholly Nigerian Company both in its operations and its people, we glad to take off with a dedicated and committed team of Nigerians that will be consistently challenged to create bigger and better brand ideas for our loyal consumers.”


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PORTLAND, Ore., April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Rentrak Corporation (NASDAQ: RENT), the leader in multi-screen media measurement serving the advertising, television and movie industries, today announced its Senior Vice President of Product Innovation and Custom Research, David Algranati, PhD, will be a featured speaker at the SymphonyIRI Summit which is a broad-based industry share-group designed to help senior manufacturers and retailers find growth in CPG.
The program will bring to light strategies for finding growth opportunities with shoppers via cutting-edge content, predictive analytics, technologies and retail best practices.
Dr. Algranati will address the distinct need for a consistent, cross-channel gross rating point (GRP) approach as well as strategies to identify and implement the best metrics for media planning and buying as well as approaches to increase total media ROI through a consistent cross-channel measurement.
Dr. Algranati's session, "GRP vs. ROI: Identifying the Best Approaches for Measuring Multi-Channel Campaigns," will take place Tuesday, April 16 from 2:00 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time during the SymphonyIRI Summit which will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas located at 3131 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV.
SOURCE Rentrak Corporation


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In 2011, investors witnessed civil unrest, tense debt-ceiling negotiations, and the potential collapse of the European Union. All of these events resulted in a gut-wrenching ride that concluded with an unimpressive finish.
When trading ceased Friday, the S&P 500 closed four pennies (yes, pennies!) lower than it started 2011, and the Dow recorded a modest year-over-year gain of 5.5%. Still, exasperated investors can take comfort in a few sectors that performed well along the way, and perhaps 2012 will offer better prospects.
Let's take a look at how consumers and economists feel about the year to come.
Consumers reveal holiday spirit
Every month, a nonprofit organization known as The Conference Board captures the mood of Americans through the consumer confidence index. The index reveals how Americans feel about their job prospects and personal financial situation. It also functions as a tool for estimating economic growth.
Last week, the index indicated consumers are increasingly pleased. In fact, the U.S. consumer confidence index hit an eight-month high, rising to 64.5 from 55.2 in November. This figure still lags the index average of 98 reported prior to the real estate bubble, but stands just above the 53.7 average since the end of the recession.
Considering household purchases (including health-care costs) account for approximately 70% of U.S. GDP, the slightest uptick in consumer confidence can be a reassuring sign for the broader economy.
Rising spirits could boost stocks
A confident consumer provides a boost for consumer goods companies like Procter & Gamble (NYS: PG) and 3M (NYS: MMM) . Over the past year, the stock prices of both companies have hit a wall, with P&G's share price growing only 3.1% and 3M's falling 3.8%. This could imply significant upside potential in a stronger economy, and investors can take comfort in P&G's and 3M's dividend payouts of 3.1% and 2.7% , respectively.
Furthermore, online spending increased 15% when compared to the prior year. Major online retailers including Amazon.com (NAS: AMZN) and Apple (NAS: AAPL) stand to benefit from this trend. Amazon leads this category, reporting $34.2 billion in 2010 online sales, a figure that was three times the size of its closest competitor, Staples (NAS: SPLS) . Apple, on the other hand, is a key player in the rise of mobile commerce, with 92% of mobile sales originating from an iOS-enabled device like an iPhone or iPad.
Consumer goods companies and retailers are hoping the holiday cheer carries over into 2012.
But what about those grumpy economists?
Labeled the "dismal science," the study of economics sometimes gets a bad rap. Sure, economists can be downers from time to time, but they often take their cue from overall American sentiment. Heading into the new year, rising consumer confidence plays a critical role in their economic projections.
According to a recent survey, economists predict only a slight decline in unemployment figures in 2012, but forecast increasing GDP growth to 2.4%. This figure is up from the modest 2% growth estimated for 2011. Furthermore, a housing price decrease of 3.4% revealed in the most recent S&P Case-Shiller Index has failed to downplay the bullish outlook for economists. Recently, Citigroup's U.S. equity strategist, Tobias Levkovich, released a report titled "The Raging Bull Thesis," which described six reasons to expect a strong bull market in the next 12 to 18 months. Likewise, his firm projects stock market returns of 15% in 2012.
The year ahead could provide another stomach-churning experience for investors. However, the positive influence of rebounding consumer confidence will outweigh the negative implications of sluggish housing and unemployment, in the eyes of many economists.
While the general outlook is positive, developments in the rest of the world are cause for concern. Can events in Europe, North Africa, or even China derail the U.S. recovery? The U.S. market's resiliency is difficult to gauge, but consumer confidence trends indicate the economy will keep its resolution in 2012.
For investors still underwhelmed by modest 2.4% estimates, more promising opportunities exist beyond our borders. Latin America shows incredible potential, for example, and Brazil quietly overtook the U.K. as the world's sixth-largest economy last week. Rapid growth in Latin America bodes well for the top stock recommended by our chief investment officer. For further insight, check out the recent free report "The Motley Fool's Top Stock for 2012."
At the time thisarticle was published Fool contributor Isaac Pino does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article. Follow him on Twitter @TMFBoomer.The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Amazon.com. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of 3M, Staples, Amazon.com, Procter & Gamble, and Apple. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended creating a diagonal call position in 3M and creating a bull call spread position in Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Awake Purified Water, a subsidiary of Kasapreko Company Limited has won “Product of the Year” at the just ended 29th edition of Chartered Institute Of Marketing Ghana (CIMG).
The award scheme which seeks to acknowledge individuals and organisations for their marketing excellence and innovations in the marketing field, pulled together quite a number of companies and corporate affiliates.
The awards had 6 categories including CIMG Hall of Fame, Personalities, Media, Business, Product and the President’s Special Award. The event was held at the Accra International Conference Centre on 28th September 2018 under the theme ‘Marketing: A catalyst for driving Ghana Beyond Aid”, awarded creditable businesses.
Chris Addo-Sarkodie, Marketing and Sales Manager for Awake Purified Drinking water speaking to the media indicated that “we’re elated for this awards us an outfit this means a lot for us and our cherish customers who have contributed in the version of Awake Purified Water.”
“Customers should continue to patronize Awake purified water to aid the Cardiothoracic Center of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital”, Mr. Addo-Sarkodie added.
Awake Purified Drinking Water, Ghana’s first charity-driven water, has since January 2016 donated and resources the National Cardiothoracic Center.
Commenting on the award win, Director of Water and CSD’s at Kasapreko Company Limited producers of the product, Eunice Adjei Bonsu, described the recognition by the CIMG as honourable.
She said Awake water has since inception embarked on several innovations geared at giving stakeholders and end consumers the needed experience.
“It is the first water brand to have initiated a charity cause in Ghana which supports patients with heart disease and has since 2016 contributed over ¢800,000 to the National Cardiothoracic Centre.
“We appreciate everyone in our route-to-market chain and with this award, dedicate it to our business partners who have supported us on this wonderful journey.
“We will continue to deliver exceptional innovations as we provide quality water to Ghanaians and support patients who need medical assistance,” she added.


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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Bybit NFT Marketplace is celebrating a number of outstanding achievements as we aim for even more success in 2023.
Bybit NFT Marketplace is a one-stop place to list and trade NFTs that span digital art, collectibles, GameFi, the metaverse, and more. The marketplace, launched in January 2022, continues to grow. In August, Bybit announced the launch of its brand new dedicated NFT portal GrabPic to offer even more affordable NFT launches to its users.
Marketplace now more like an antique shop or art gallery where smart, savvy collectors and investors can find nuggets among a treasure trove of creativity. It also features many premium collections from renowned artists and blue chip creators.
To highlight its growing reputation, Bybit has taken Twitter by storm. Bybit and partners, Oracle Red Bull Racingand Azuki’s creator, Chiru Labs, made F1 history by placing an NFT blue chip on the team’s cars in the season finale. This is the first time an NFT blue chip has graced a Formula 1 racing car or taken part in a race.
The NFT features Lei the Lightning, an Azuki character based on Azuki’s IP #8494, the original Azuki from the anime-inspired NFT collection, and represents the transcendence of worlds symbolized by the real and virtual worlds.
To celebrate this historic milestone, Bybit has released a commemorative NFT collection based on Lei the Lightning, available for free to pre-registered users. Excited fans claimed that all 7700 NFTs were available within five seconds.
In the same week, Bybit received the Best NFT Marketplace award at the Middle East Blockchain Awards in Abu Dhabi.
The double success contrasts sharply with the market. It has been a difficult year for NFTs and the ongoing crypto downturn has further impacted NFTs. Rapid adaptation to market conditions and active engagement with real Web3 users means Bybit remains optimistic.
Bybit has full confidence in the long-term future of NFTs and their usefulness. We view the recent market correction as a positive sign and opportunity for the sector as it forces NFT makers to reevaluate real consumer demand and compete for innovation and value,” said Gary Hamilton-Walker, head of corporate affairs at Bybit. We believe that the true catalyst for the launch of NFT is Web3. This is where the true potential of NFTs will be realized as they evolve to help rule a hyper-connected world.”
Bybit is a cryptocurrency exchange established in March 2018 that offers a professional platform where crypto traders can find a super-fast matching engine, great customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is proud to be a partner of the Formula 1 racing team, Oracle Red Bull Racing, NAVI, Astralis, Alliance, Virtus.pro, Made in Brazil (MIBR) and Oracle Red Bull Racing Esports esports teams, and Borussia Dortmund football associations . and Avispa Fukuoka.
See original version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/bybit-nft-marketplace-sees-scorching-success-514418133
2022 News Direct Corporation.


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There's something oh-so nostalgic and whimsical about incorporating your favorite childhood memories into your wedding day. That's why we're falling hard for this adorable wedding shoot inspired by Beatrix Potter's classic Peter Rabbit stories.
Pink Parasol Designs and Coordinating, a wedding event company in Buda, Texas, was behind the shoot, which was inspired by a "childhood tea party with your favorite storybook characters."
"I know it's hard to believe it gets cold here in Texas, but it does," Pink Parasol designer Cari Wible told The Huffington Post. "Every year I really look forward to spring -- the vibrant colors and crisp spring air. So I envisioned myself as a little girl reading a book while it rained outside hoping for spring."
See more inspiration -- including tons gorgeous flowers and even a real bunny! -- from the shoot below:
See the full vendor list here.


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Kicking off with a particular livestream on January 27.
Fb has introduced a pilot program for its personal recreation streaming platform.
The main focus of Fb’s new Gaming Creator Pilot Program, according to the announcement post, shall be capitalizing on its already huge viewers to create a thriving group for gaming content material creators.
The platform will enable creators to livestream in 1080p/60fps, and Fb has dedicated so as to add further options primarily based on enter from creators. Fb can also be inspecting monetization choices, which shall be out there to contributors within the preliminary pilot program.
Though some content material creators have already made a reputation for themselves by way of Fb Dwell, the official launch of this system will open the platform to further gaming personalities. Fb says the pilot program is targeted on serving to creators construct extra significant and engaged communities on Fb than wherever else. This system additionally goals to extend visibility by way of Instagram and Oculus, that are owned by Fb.
One other acknowledged objective is to allow creators to make a dwelling wage, and create “a platform the place creators at each degree have the chance to thrive.” These fascinated by this system can sign up here.
This system will kick off with a particular livestream on January 27 at 5:15pm PT/eight:15pm ET (January 28 at 1:15am UK/12:15pm AET) on the H1Z1 Facebook page, and can characteristic many livestreamers taking part in this system. Fb additionally mentioned it’s going to use the platform to take care of a presence within the video games trade starting with PAX East in April.
Brian Barnett is an IGN freelance author and newbie Twitch streamer himself! You may comply with and chat with him (he is tremendous pleasant) on Twitter at @Ribnax.


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Subaru Announces Major Integration of Location Technology From what3words for Address-Free Navigation
Imagine being able to navigate to any place in the world using only three simple words like "cat, dog, house" instead of having to input hard to remember street names or numerical addresses into a vehicle's navigation system. Soon, Subaru Outback drivers will be able to do this.
At the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, automaker Subaru announced a major partnership mapping company "what3words" to include the company's navigation technology in the new Subaru Outback, with integration with other models to follow.
what3words is a London-based geospatial, location, mapping and navigation technology developer. The company extensively mapped the entire globe and divided it up into 57 trillion, three meter squares. Each individual square area can be located using just three simple words (e.g. "table.lamp.spoon") that each 3 meter square has been uniquely assigned.
The grid coordinate system covers the entire globe, never needs updating, and works without internet coverage, according to what3words. With the what3words global address system, a driver can find an exact location with three common words, by typing it or using their voice.
Traditional addresses are often long and complex to type. In addition, many published addresses are imprecise, covering too much of a general area. But what3words addresses can be remembered more easily. These 3-word addresses can even be emailed or sent via SMS so others can find the precise location anywhere in the world.
Addresses or specific locations can also be entered and saved in navigation software more easily. The location technology works with popular navigation services such as Google Maps, Bing, and Waze and others.
Through the new partnership with Subaru, Outback drivers will be able to navigate to any precise 10ft x 10ft location in the world using just three simple words. It also adds an additional layer of safety by making its easier to quickly enter an address in the vehicle navigation system, which can be a frustrating experience while driving.
"We're confident that our technology will enhance the driving experience of Subaru drivers across the US and we're excited to see how this partnership progresses," said Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of what3words.
what3words says that around 75% of the world's countries lack a reliable address system. The problem is compounded in the era of mobility-on-demand and e-commerce delivery services, which often require a precise location to meet a rider or drop off a parcel.
For example, finding a specific entrance in a sprawling shopping center or sports stadium is difficult when there is only one published address, as these locations usually have multiple entrances and buildings. What3words solves this issue with its precise location technology.
In addition, many people have experienced having a package delivered to the wrong address or an Uber driver dropping them off a few doors down from an entrance to a building since street addresses are not always precise enough, or they don't exist in outdoor spaces such as parks or rural areas.
While roughly 80% of drivers use satellite navigation in their cars such as Google Maps, 87% of them don't trust it to direct them to the right destination every time. Some drivers have even complained that the popular Google Maps app guided them down dirt roads or poorly maintained rural roads.
During a recent Sierra Nevada Mountains snowstorm in Dec 2021, hundreds of California drivers got rerouted then stranded on dangerous and snowy mountain roads by following directions from Google Maps that were supposed to guide them around the hazardous conditions.
what3words can help eliminate these issues, and even provides easy location references in places with no street addresses, such as beaches, national parks and remote hiking trails.
Subaru caters to outdoor enthusiasts and many owners want to get away from the city. However, these outdoor recreation spots rarely have street addresses.
Suppose a group of drivers want to meet at a specific location in a National Park, using what3words mapping technology, the precise spot can be shared with the entire group using the three simple words assigned to it by what3words.
If a driver wants to navigate to an exact three meter square for an Instagram worthy photo of the Golden Gate Bridge, which is one of the world's most photographed man-made objects, they can enter the what3words address of "///usual.trying.highs" and navigate to the precise location that offers the best view, or share that exact location with others.
"At Subaru we're known for being more than a car company. We want our drivers to be out exploring the world, and with this what3words integration, adventure has never been easier," said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc.
The what3words grid system is being built into in-vehicle navigation systems from automakers around the world, including Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Lamborghini, Lotus and Ford Motor Co.
Outside of uses for navigation, the what3words technology is being used by emergency call centers in the UK, US, Australia, Germany, Belgium, Canada, and other major countries to help locate those in distress.
The free what3words app is available for iOS and Android devices that enables people to find, share and navigate to what3words addresses in 50 languages.
- Uber and its Technology Partner Aurora to Expand Autonomous Trucking Pilot in Texas
- Electric Automaker XPeng and Bosch Join the ‘ELISA Project’ to Promote the Use of Linux in Safety-Critical Automotive Applications
- China's Tech Giant Baidu Plans to Rollout the World’s Largest Fully Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service by Next Year
- Vietnam-based Electric Vehicle Startup VinFast Ships its First Vehicles to the U.S.
- Tesla’s Model 3 is Reportedly Getting a Redesign to Make it More Appealing as Competition in the EV Segment Grows
- LG Chem is Investing $3.2 Billion to Build a Cathode Manufacturing Facility for Electric Vehicle Batteries in Tennessee
- Mercedes-Benz is Offering a Performance Upgrade as a Yearly Subscription on its EQ Electric Vehicles
- LG Develops ‘Invisible’ Speaker Sound Technology That Could Revolutionize In-Vehicle Audio


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Prom season is almost upon us and it’s time for many of our sons and daughters to dress up and hit their high school proms! Now a rite of passage in the UK, proms are huge news and parents and teens alike spend weeks, and even months perfecting plans right down from hair and makeup […]
Category Archives: Prom
We had young Charlotte here today at our daylight studio and what a beautiful day it was! It’s always wonderful when the weather is beautiful and sunny and provides us with the perfect lighting that we need to get some gorgeous shots. We have created some fun fashion styled images from the mini shoot that […]
Here are a few images of Chloe who visited us at the weekend for a prom makeover trial with Rachael. Chloe was a natural in front of the camera and looked stunning after her glamorous prom makeover! We’re looking forward to welcoming Chloe back in a couple of weeks ready for her on-the-day makeover.
It’s that time of year when a certain group of school boys and girls, take the big step out of the school world, and move onto college. They have all spent many years following the school bell routine, and now they have grown into young adults. To celebrate this historic point in their life, we are seeing more […]


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Samsung has started rolling out the Android 10 update to Galaxy Tab S6, its flagship tablet from last year. The update is rolling out to the LTE variant (SM-T865) of the device in Germany and South Korea. It should hit the Wi-Fi-only Tab S6 (SM-T860) in the coming days.
The Android 10 update for the Galaxy Tab S6 packs the March 2020 Android security patch. In a surprising move, Samsung has also included One UI 2.1 in this update for the Tab S6.
One UI 2.1 is the latest iteration of Samsung's custom Android skin. It first shipped with the Galaxy S20 flagships and the Galaxy Z Flip last month. The newest Samsung software has since been released for the Galaxy S10, Note 10, and the Galaxy Fold as well.
Android 10 update brings One UI 2.1 to the Galaxy Tab S6
The Galaxy Tab S6 is currently receiving a big software update in Germany and South Korea. The update comes with build number T865XXU2BTC7 and T865NKOU2BTC7 in the two countries, respectively.
Android 10 brings a host of new features and enhancements to Samsung devices, including the Galaxy Tab S6. You get a redesigned camera UI, Trash feature for Contacts and My files, full-screen navigation gestures, speed and time units converter in the calculator, and much more.
Samsung Daily replaces Bixby Home on Android 10. Samsung has also added a multilingual translation feature, a text undo/redo feature, and an ability to search for music in Spotify on Samsung Keyboard.
From enhanced dark mode to improved icons and colors, and smoother animations, the latest Android version packs several UI changes as well. The new software also promises better text over wallpapers.
Further, a couple of One UI 2.1-exclusive features also make it into the Galaxy Tab S6 with the new update. Quick Share, Samsung's alternative to Apple's AirDrop, is part of the new software. This feature allows you to share photos, videos, music, and other files with other Galaxy devices running One UI 2.1 with a single tap.
You also get Music Share, which lets you share your device's Bluetooth connection to media devices with other users. You can find the complete set of new features and enhancements in the update changelog here.
The Android 10 update for the Galaxy Tabe S6 should be available in more countries in the coming days. You should get a notification to download the update once it becomes available for your Tab S6. You can also manually check for the update from the Settings app on your Samsung tablet.


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NEW YORK, NY – Integral Ad Science, media valuation platform, today announced that it has appointed Niall Hogan as its new United Kingdom managing director to lead the expansion of its business in the UK and across Europe. Integral provides digital technology solutions that help advertisers plan, execute and target their audience in an environment that associates their brand with quality and drives ROI. The company has a large footprint in the US, UK and Asia Pacific. Hogan’s appointment signifies Integral’s increased focus on growth across its key markets.
Hogan brings nearly a decade and a half of experience in developing and growing online digital and technology businesses to the position. Prior to joining Integral, Hogan served in a variety of key management positions at Adotube UK, the leading global in-stream technology company, Tribal Fusion, Hearst Digital, Emap and Capital Radio PLC. In line with responsibility for Integral’s European sales and growth, Hogan is slated to set up several regional offices and will oversee key hires across the region.
“The UK and Europe are growth markets for Integral, and we have been investing heavily in expanding our presence in the region,” said Bryan St. John, SVP, international, Integral. “We are thrilled to have an experienced and talented executive of Niall’s caliber leading our UK team. It positions us for great success throughout 2013 and beyond.”
“I am excited to join the Integral team at such a high-growth period and look forward to introducing more of its game-changing offerings, like TRAQ Score, to buyers and sellers across the region,” said Hogan. “Buyers in our market are hungry to bring their media budgets online with a confidence in quality, and sellers are just as eager to earn more for quality and learn how to improve what they deliver. Integral delivers value to both.”
Integral has grown overall 6X year over year, and it has increased its revenue in the UK by nearly 300 percent in the last year. Today, Integral is working with many of the UK’s largest advertisers as well as most of the major agency holding companies and their trading desks.
About Integral Ad Science
In November 2012, leading brand safety and viewability pioneer AdSafe Media rebranded to Integral Ad Science to reflect expanded capabilities and a broader focus on media quality. Integral Ad Science is a media valuation platform. It is the only platform that evaluates the media environment and establishes a TRAQ Score (TRue Advertising Quality). This holistic measure of media quality, encompassing safety, viewability, suspicious activity detection, professionalism, ad clutter detection and other key metrics, supports advertisers’ ability to plan, execute and target their audience in an environment that associates their brand with quality and drives ROI. Integral is headquartered in New York with operations in San Francisco, London, Tokyo and Sydney.


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This page contains news, event information, and other items added by the market managers.
CTFC Market Open for November 29 Pick-up
Ordering is open for the Saturday, November 29 pick-up. The order window will close Sunday, November 23.
After this, there is only one delivery remaining in 2014 – on December 20. Please note that this is three, rather than two, weeks from the November 29 delivery.
The first 2015 delivery will be on January 3.
The delivery schedule for the rest of 2015 will be posted in January.
for Cross Timbers Food Cooperative


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Jerky pet treats manufactured in China may be linked to the deaths of approximately 500 dogs, according to officials with the Food and Drug Administration.
A new estimation of complaints filed with the agency point to over 2,600 reported cases of illness possibly associated with the treats. The complaints received involved 3,243 canines, 501 of which resulted in death. In addition, one death was among the nine illnesses reported involving feline victims.
NBC News reports that the Food and Drug Administration has not yet solidified a direct link between the animals’ illnesses and consumption of the treats in question. However, testing by New York state agriculture officials prompted two major retailers to issue a voluntary recall of the jerky treats.
Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch treats made by Nestle Purina PetCare Co. have been voluntarily removed from shelves, as have Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers home-style dog treats from Del Monte Corp.
Also joining the recall is Publix, which removed its Chicken Tenders Dog Chew Treats, and IMS Pet Industries Inc., which added its Cadet Brand Chicken Jerky Treats to the recall list.
According to KY3-TV News, the recall comes on the heels of test findings issued by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Results showed that trace amounts of antibiotic residue in the jerky products, made in China, were not significant enough to cause harm.
The Food and Drug Administration plans to continue investigation into the jerky treats and what part they may have played in the 500 canine deaths. The agency also issued warnings in 2007 and 2008 regarding animal illnesses related to the jerky products. Following a lull in cases over the following two years, the agency has seen the numbers rise again since 2011.
Will your pet be affected by the jerky treat recall?


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Geoffrey Frost was Motorola's Chief Marketing Officer, and the RAZR was his baby. Last month, we got a letter from his former personal adviser, Numair Faraz, written to current Motorola CEO Greg Brown about how a cabal of inept, out-of-touch executives more worried about their golf score than the company drove once… »
A month after he personally seized the reins at Motorola's beleaguered handset division, CEO Greg Brown is already looking to hand off the responsibility—and maybe the flak?—to someone from outside. Maybe a new perspective is what it needs, all those RAZRs start to look the same after a while. Oh wait. [Into Mobile] »
Just like they did at last year's ceremony, Motorola is gifting 2008's Oscar nominees with personalized versions of its as-yet-unreleased ROKR E8.
Yeah, yeah, you probably think we are turning into a celebrity website, but, given the past few weeks of will they, won't they? speculation as to whether they are getting… »
Amid rumors that Motorola may spin off the handset division into its own company, CEO Greg Brown has announced he will be taking control of the unit in an effort to remedy its poor performance. With 3GSM around the corner and all eyes on Moto, they better have something good in the pipeline. [Reuters via RCR Wireless… »


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Spacelords Interview -- Director Talks Relaunch, Cross-Play, Free to Play, Next-Gen, and Much More
MercurySteam Studio Head Enric Álvarez explains what went into the upcoming relaunch of Raiders of the Broken Planet, which will become Spacelords.
By now, you probably already know that MercurySteam‘s Raiders of the Broken Planet is going to be relaunched as Spacelords and it’s going to be free to play.
Yet, this kind of operation is definitely complex, and can’t be covered simply by a press release. Earlier this week, DualShockers traveled to San Sebastian de Los Reyes, Spain, and visited MercurySteam’s HQ to talk with the developers and learn about this massive change and what it entails.
First and foremost, we interviewed Studio Head and Game Director Enric Álvarez, who talked about a wide variety of topics.
We learn the concept behind the title “Spacelords” and the fact that the developer never considered loot boxes despite going the free to play route. We even heard that the game would be perfect for the Switch, but manpower constraints prevented the studio from porting the game to Nintendo’s new platform (yet, never say never).
Interestingly, Álvarez explains how cross-play will work (PC players will be able to play with both PS4 and Xbox One players, but the two consoles will predictably remain separate), and gives his opinion on the possibility of having full cross-play in the future, which would actually make life easier for developers as well as gamers.
You can watch the full interview below, and stay tuned for much more over the next couple of days.
If you want to learn more about Raiders of the Broken Planet‘s relaunch as Spacelords and see the new trailer, you can check out our dedicated article.
The update that will turn the game into Spacelords will be available on August 23rd for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.