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From speculation about its inherent value to theories about it being the payment method of choice for criminals, cryptocurrency is having a tough time keeping a clean name. One of the most common accusations is that cryptocurrencies perpetuate the sale of illicit drugs, a view recently expressed by United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. CryptoX takes a look at the impact of cryptocurrency on illegal drug sales and whether it should shoulder more of the blame than cash.
U.S. government clamps down
The watershed moment for the U.S. taking decisive action against illicit drugs being purchased with cryptocurrency happened in 2013, when FBI agents rushed into the San Francisco Public Library to arrest Ross Ulbricht, a man who played a central role in the digitalization of the international drug trade. Operating under the pseudonym ‘‘Dread Pirate Roberts,” Ulbricht was the mastermind behind the Silk Road — an anonymous, Amazon-like marketplace located on the darknet — which let users buy and sell anything, regardless of legality. Although the site listed weapons, stolen credit card details as well as legal products, illicit drugs were by far the most common listing. The Silk Road pioneered the use of Tor, the network software used to access the darknet, and Bitcoin (BTC) escrow to conceal purchaser and seller identities and their activity. Although U.S. agents had hoped the seizure of the Silk Road would curb darknet activity, the news site DeepDotWeb wrote that the bust was “the best advertising the darknet markets could have hoped for,” with a number of copycat sites popping up in subsequent years. In 2014, the FBI seized 27 darknet sites during Operation Onymous, a joint effort between the FBI and the European Union Intelligence Agency Europol to stamp out illicit markets. In 2019, darknet markets are still selling illicit drugs that can be purchased with cryptocurrency, but U.S. law enforcement continues to take a hardline approach, arresting a couple in California on Aug. 6 for selling drugs on the darknet in exchange for Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
Recent events seem to confirm the firm policy of U.S. government officials. Less than two weeks ago, the Department of the Treasury added multiple crypto addresses to its Specially Designated Nationals, or SDN, list under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.
The Kingpin Act serves to clamp down on transactions between international drug traffickers seeking to smuggle drugs into the U.S. and ban transactions between those traffickers and U.S. entities. The act also gives the government the ability to coordinate and investigate foreign traffickers, the names of whom are brought to the attention of the president, who ultimately decides whether or not to impose sanctions.
Such legislative measures have been established in response to the state of illicit drug consumption in the U.S.: The country is currently in the throes of a serious opioid epidemic, with a person in America dying every 16 minutes from an opioid overdose. The White House issued two advisories outlining its concern that fentanyl, along with other synthetic opioids, are being purchased using cryptocurrencies.
Intended to help financial institutions and digital payment platforms, the advisories named the cryptocurrencies most requested by sellers of illegal drugs:
“Individuals located in the United States search for fentanyl and identify potential websites that may provide the opportunity to purchase illicit drugs online. Foreign representatives will instruct the U.S.-based individual to send payments through CVC, such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, or Monero.”
In an act to clamp down on the online drug trade, the advisories urged financial institutions to come forward with any suspicious user data, including:
“Virtual currency wallet addresses, account information, transaction details (including […] hash), relevant transaction history, available login information (including IP addresses), information obtained from analysis of the customer’s public online profile and communications, mobile device information.”
Where are drugs bought with crypto?
According to Ciphertrace’s report on Anti-Money Laundering, or AML, almost all drugs sold on darknet marketplaces are purchased with cryptocurrencies. For the most part, “drug sales on the dark web” is a phrase that has become synonymous with “drugs purchased with cryptocurrencies.” The dark web is a part of the internet that is accessible via specialized network software that allows users to navigate anonymously while their activity is largely untraceable. Given the increased surveillance powers of governments — most notably in the U.S. following 9/11 — the dark web provides an environment that is attractive, lucrative and, for the most part, safe for illegal drug traffickers.
Professor Talis Putnins, co-author of an influential University of Technology Sydney report on cryptocurrency and illegal drugs, told CryptoX that cryptocurrencies have had a big impact on the way drugs are purchased:
“Cryptocurrencies have fundamentally transformed the way illegal drugs are bought and sold, shifting much of the activity from a cash-based, physical ‘on the street’ market to an online marketplace.The online illegal drugs trade needed two fundamental things to take off. One is an anonymous communications platform, which was provided by the darknet and underpinned by TOR (an anonymous communications protocol). And the second important piece was an anonymous or private way of making digital payments that was difficult to trace by authorities. That is the role that cryptocurrencies have played. Thus, they are an integral part of the online drugs trade.”
On the other hand, Europol spokesperson Jan Op Gen Oorth expressed the opinion that the transparent nature of cryptocurrency renders transactions easier to trace compared to those involving cash:
“Payment for drugs using cryptocurrencies naturally makes more sense when compared to, for example, bank transfers. On the other hand, most cryptocurrency transactions are far better traceable due to their inherently transparent nature than cash.”
How widespread is cryptocurrency in illegal drug sales?
By virtue of their unaccountable nature, it is hard to estimate the exact market share of cryptocurrencies in illicit trade. The University of Technology Sydney report estimates that around 46% of illegal activity per year is associated with Bitcoin. While it is fair to note that this figure does not represent illegal drug sales alone, the report found that Bitcoin is the most commonly used cryptocurrency for purchasing drugs on the darknet. Putnins also noted to CryptoX that, although the use of Bitcoin for illegal purposes has increased, legal transactions using the cryptocurrency are also on the rise:
“What our research shows is that the dollar value of illegal activity in Bitcoin has continued to rise, as has the number of Bitcoin users involved in illegal activity, those growth rates have recently been outpaced by the strong growth in legal users, largely speculators. As a result, the percentages or shares of Bitcoin activity that is involved in illegal activity have fallen in recent years. Therefore, while the online black market has continued to grow, cryptocurrencies are increasingly being used for legitimate reasons.”
A joint report between Europol and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) found that when compared with the annual retail value of the EU drug market, darknet sales volumes are still modest but have potential to grow. The 2019 Global Drugs Survey notes an all-time high of 27.1% of surveyed drug users obtained illegal substances for the first time via the darknet in the last 12 months, up from 19.9% the previous year, which highlights the trend of the increasing digitalization of drug trade.
The report states that over the last six years, there has been a year-on-year increase in the percentage of surveyed participants obtaining drugs on the darknet. In addition, 30% of respondents claimed that the range of drugs they use has increased, and a further 5% reported that they had never tried drugs before accessing them via the darknet. The increase in both darknet sales and wider drug usage among respondents indicates that the digitalization of the drug trade is making narcotics more accessible — thanks to anonymous buying and selling as well as untraceable payments using cryptocurrency.
Moreover, according to the Global Drugs Survey, the ready availability of drugs on the darknet that are purchasable using cryptocurrency has increased their use and made them more attractive to those considering first time use:
“Over one quarter of participants reporting darknet market use in the last 12 months began their use in the year 2018: that is, they were new recruits to the darknet. These data confirm that darknet markets continue to attract new participants and that they are an increasingly significant players in the sale of distribution of illicit and prescription medication.”
How does cryptocurrency compare to other payment methods for drugs?
Prior to the advent of cryptocurrencies, cash was largely considered to be the most anonymous means of carrying out illicit transactions, owing to the fact that it is largely untraceable. However, even as Bitcoin’s popularity grows, cash still seems to retain its central role in facilitating criminal gains.
In its report, Europol notes that this happens for several reasons. The first of which is that cash is a tried-and-tested payment method that has been used for centuries. Consequently, well-established methods for laundering cash exist. Another advantage that cash has over its digital counterparts is the fact that it is equally as untraceable (with the exception of serial numbers) and anonymous while being easier to exchange.
Most — but not all — cryptocurrency exchanges and online wallet providers require at least some basic Know Your Customer, or KYC, procedures in order to confirm the identities of their customers. The Europol report states that exchanges are usually very cooperative when it comes to identifying bad actors. Cash, on the other hand, can be physically exchanged between strangers and laundered in any number of ways without information about those involved being made public.
A Ciphertrace report found that, while there is a variety of cryptocurrencies used on so-called dark markets, Bitcoin remains the coin of choice in 76% of transactions. This is perhaps unsurprising, considering Bitcoin is — by a considerable stretch — the most well-known and widely accepted cryptocurrency: Litecoin is reported as being used in only 7% of cases, while privacy coins such as Monero (XMR) are only cited as being used in 4% of transactions, contrary to popular belief.
How have cryptocurrencies changed the purchase of illegal drugs?
The most fundamental change that cryptocurrencies brought to the drug market is the ready availability of anonymous electronic payments. Beforehand, a drug trade would have to take place via traditional, offline networks where payments were made via a physical transfer of cash. This naturally restricts the accessibility of illegal drugs to established networks and exposes the entire supply chain and payment structure to a risk of interception by authorities. On the other hand, the anonymous digital payments made possible by cryptocurrencies are particularly attractive to drug dealers and play a role in creating an increasingly large and sophisticated network of dark marketplaces and “black e-commerce.”
According to Tom Robinson, co-founder and chief scientist at blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the benefits of anonymity for drug dealers can be limited by the ability to cash out their crypto profits:
“The challenge for drugs traffickers is how to cash-out the proceeds of their sales. Most cryptocurrency exchanges make use of cryptocurrency transaction monitoring tools such as Elliptic’s, which use blockchain analysis to determine whether funds are coming from sources such as dark markets.”
Although Ciphertrace’s report found that a very small share of darknet transactions involve privacy coins, Robinson believes that they are nonetheless an impediment to law enforcement’s ability to help victims of cybercrime, compared to cases that involve other cryptocurrencies:
“One trend we are seeing is the increased acceptance of privacy coins such as Monero on dark markets where narcotics are available to purchase. Most new markets now accept Monero payments, typically alongside Bitcoin. This represents a threat to law enforcement’s ability to trace this kind of activity and bring those involved to justice.”
Robinson explained to CryptoX via email that while Monero use is increasing, he is surprised that it has not disrupted the overall popularity of Bitcoin in illegal trade:
“First, what has become apparent and is slightly unexpected is that the emergence of privacy coins has not overly impacted the widespread use of the less anonymous Bitcoin in illegal trade. The privacy coins offer many advantages to criminals, but it seems the ‘first mover advantage’ of Bitcoin makes it difficult to replace now that its adoption in dark markets has become widespread. Put simply, it is not the best cryptocurrency to use for crime, but nevertheless remains the most popular.”
Are cryptocurrencies the best payment option for drug dealers?
Anonymity is a fundamental characteristic of cryptocurrencies that has been both celebrated and criticized in equal measure ever since their invention. Nevertheless, people buying and selling drugs with cryptocurrency aren’t as untraceable as they might wish. The blockchain records publicly accessible details about every transaction made from one address to another. Unless the user launders the transaction through a series of intermediary accounts, both the origin and destination of the transaction can easily be discovered. The addresses can then be linked to public records, as was confirmed by Robinson:
“Cryptocurrencies are far less anonymous and less private than many people in the drug trade might hope. The analytical methods that we have developed for the Bitcoin blockchain allow a lot of the illegal activity to be identified and monitored. Continued raids and crackdowns by law enforcement agencies also speak to the ability of authorities to track at least some of the illegal activity in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.”
Cryptocurrency is still a young technology with limited usage. Although it may make transactions more anonymous than conventional wire transfers, cashing out crypto that was previously used for illegal purposes remains a complicated and unsafe procedure. For these reasons, cryptocurrency is unlikely to fully replace cash as the currency of choice for illegal activity any time soon. While the view that cryptocurrency is just a payment system like any other may be more or less correct, its anonymity undeniably makes it more attractive to individuals looking to buy or sell illegal drugs. However, as technology advances and anonymous cryptocurrencies become more widely accepted, privacy coins have the potential to impact the structure and development of dark markets and the illicit drug trade in a significant way.


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Royal Enfield, today announced a unique online sale of 15 limited edition Stealth Black Classic 500 motorcycles that were part of National Security Guards’ Motorcycle Expedition ‘Fight Against Terror’ ride in September 2017. Aptly called ‘Tribute to the Bravehearts’, the sale will go online on December 13th 2017. To be decorated with a unique NSG insignia, the motorcycles are distinctive and offer buyers an opportunity to own a part of history. The entire proceeds from the sale of these 15 motorcycles will go to Prerna, a not-for-profit initiative supported by NSG for differently abled children.
Royal Enfield’s recently launched Stealth Black Classic 500 motorcycles were a part of NSGs 40 day motorcycle expedition, aimed at spreading awareness about fighting terrorism and serving the nation. Covering over 8000-kms across the length and breadth of India on these motorcycles, 15 Braveheart Black Cat NSG Commandos spread the message of collective responsibility towards fighting terror among citizens. This NSG motorcycle expedition also commemorated the NSG’s 33 years of service to the nation. Flagged off on 07th September 2017 by Mr. Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs of India, 15 Black Cat commandos of NSG rode across NSGs Kolkata, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad and Chennai bases and culminated their expedition on 16th October 2017 at the NSG headquarters in Manesar, Haryana, wherein they were felicitated by the Vice President of India - Shri Venkaiah Naidu.
Beginning 8th December 2017, buyers can go online and register themselves thereby expressing interest to purchase. These motorcycles will be sold at a special price of Rs. 1,90,000. The sale will go ‘live’ on 13th December 2017 with a format of ‘first-come-first-serve’
Classic Stealth black 500cc is the latest color variant of the best-selling Classic franchise which is equipped with both front & rear disc brakes. The Classic 500 is one of the most successful products from Royal Enfield’s fleet.
Royal Enfield’s tryst with the Indian armed forces dates back to 1955. Since then Royal Enfields have been the most popular and trusted steeds of the Indian armed forces due to its resilience, durable design, and manoeuvrability across terrains.
Also Watch: Dubai Airshow 2017 and Travelogue | Feature | Cars18

domain: news


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Asher Resources Corporation (“Asher” or the “Company”) announced today that it has entered into an amalgamation agreement with 2500527 Ontario Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asher (“Asher Subco”), and Drone Delivery Canada Inc. (“DDC”) dated January 19, 2016.
Asher Resources Corporation (TSX-V ACN) has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Drone Delivery Canada Inc. whereby Asher and DDC have agreed to merge their respective businesses resulting in a reverse takeover of Asher by DDC and change of business of Asher from a mining issuer to a technology issuer.
Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) a Canadian drone delivery services provider pioneering drone delivery technology in Canada has been selected by SHOP.CA to utilize its drone delivery technology. This relationship will provide next generation UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) logistic services to its Canadian customers.
Drone Delivery Canada a Canadian drone delivery services provider which is pioneering drone delivery technology in Canada has commercially launched. Drone Delivery Canada’s founding partners include Tony and Paul Di Benedetto, two Canadian technology entrepreneurs who have collectively founded and operated several technology assets in Canada in the; Technology, Communications and Internet sectors.


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Sega has given the first detail of its partnership with International Sports Multimedia to create official games of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Eurocom Entertainment is behind 360, PS3 and PC versions of the game (the only ones being talked about at the moment) that'll be available this summer. Sega says the games will feature "authentic simulations" of over 35 events and incorporate control schemes that allow n00bs to learn how to play the game "while providing experienced gamers the chance to set new records".
That old chestnut. How hard can it be to learn the old "bash-the-buttons-as-fast-as-you-can" technique? There'll also be online game modes that hope to bring out the Olympic Spirit in us all, but we doubt it somehow - especially over Xbox Live.
"After the successful launch of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, we are delighted to announce the official video game of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," said Gary Knight, marketing director at Sega. "Combining an enjoyable game with a truly global sporting license will provide a fantastic sports game experience for gamers everywhere".
More in the build up to the opening ceremony. In the meantime, take a look at the first screens below, taken from the 360 version.


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It is a full-powered P-C with tablet-like size and weight.
It has a 12-inch screen and weighs less than the smallest Apple Macbook Air.
It's 14-percent thinner than it's predecessor and is the thinnest product with an Intel core chip.
You can buy in black, purple and red.
It has full friction hinge allowing users to tilt the screen to any angle. Also, a stylist so the computer can be used like a note pad.
Microsoft is also offering an updated, thinner type cover to protect the screen and give the keyboard an improved trackpad.
Prices for the Surface Pro 3 start at 799-dollars.
The more things change, the more they stay the same, at least with Facebook.
Facebook wants to make it easier for you to tag your favorite songs, t-v shows and movies.
They've added an audio-recognition feature to do just that. It uses you phone's microphone to I-D what's playing.
The feature will be on Android and IOS devices right about now.
Easier tags makes for easier targeting of ads. Those rascals.
And don't think you can't be hacked. New numbers show nearly one-half of Americans were hacked last year.
The Ponemon Institute says 110 million Americans had their personal information exposed over the last 12 months.
Adding up all the accounts we have, that's 432 million accounts hacked.
Even if it's basic stuff, the info could be paired with stolen credit card data giving a hacker power.
Researchers believe we're experiencing "data-breach fatigue," because there's so many cases of this each year. If we start to tune out, that makes it easier for the hackers. A reminder to take this very seriously.
Dan on Twitter
Dan on Facebook
Copyright 2016 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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A May-quarter earnings report for BlackBerry stock comes late Thursday, with management expected to provide an update on the pending sale of its intellectual property portfolio. The BlackBerry earnings report arrives amid continued volatility for BB stock and other social media-driven meme stocks, such as AMC Entertainment (AMC).
Check trading on “https://immediateedge.biz/”
Analysts expect BlackBerry (BB) first first-quarter revenue to fall 20% to $171.3 million, mainly due to lower intellectual property licensing revenue ahead of the pending sale. BlackBerry earnings are expected swing to a 5-cent loss from 2-cent profit in the year earlier period.
Blackberry stock has gained some 95% in 2021, though shares have retreated a bit from a rally in early June. Investors using social media have sent up BB stock as well as other meme stocks, including movie chain AMC, GameStop (GME) and Clover Health (CLOV).
“We believe the (BlackBerry) rally reflects trading dynamics, as opposed to materially improved fundamentals,” RBC Capital analyst Paul Treiber said in a note to clients. “We anticipate that BlackBerry’s core software business will remain soft.”
BlackBerry Stock: Update On Intellectual Property Sale?
Treiber said Blackberry management could provide an update on the sale of intellectual property assets.
“Due to the pending patent sale, we expect licensing and other revenue to decline 71% to $15 million, in line with BlackBerry’s guidance,” Treiber added.
“The sale of BlackBerry’s patent portfolio will help finance new software investments,” he went on to say. “However, we estimate that BlackBerry’s patents are worth $1 billion in a sale scenario, which we believe is already priced into the shares.”
BB Stock: Pivot To Enterprise Software
BlackBerry stock fell 2.3% to near 13 on the stock market today. Here’s an in-depth look at BB stock, using IBD technical and fundamental analysis, ahead of the BlackBerry earnings report.
A one-time leading maker of mobile devices, BlackBerry was a driving force in pagers and cellphones. But its hardware business collapsed in 2008 amid competition from Apple (AAPL) iPhones and Android devices.
BlackBerry pivoted to mobile security software under Chief Executive John Chen. Also, BlackBerry has been a provider of software in the automotive market for entertainment and mapping programs.
Follow Reinhardt Krause on Twitter @reinhardtk_tech for updates on 5G wireless, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing.


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CUPERTINO, Calif., April 29 (UPI) -- Apple released Tuesday its updated versions of the Macbook Air line, making them faster and dropping $100 off the price of all four models.
The price drop puts the 11-inch Macbook Air at $899, making it the first time that Apple has sold a notebook to the public for less than $900. The price cuts in all four models represent a 7.7 percent to 10 percent discount depending on the model.
The refresh centers around Intel's Haswell CPU, with the 11-inch base model MacBook Air getting a speed bump thanks to a 1.4GHz Core i5 processor. For an extra $ 150, buyers can opt for the 1.7GHz Core i7 processor.
The new processor, along with the power saving features of OS X 10.9 Mavericks, gives the Macbook Air all-day battery power with the 13-inch MacBook Air capable of lasting 12 hours.
Apple has upgraded the storage on the notebooks as well with the faster PCI-e storage replacing the mSATA-based SSD found in previous models.


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Student fashion show benefits SNAC pantry
Published: Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Updated: Monday, September 30, 2013 23:09
The Taggart Student Center Ballroom was dark as it quickly filled up. Lights started flashing around in blue, green and purple. Sometimes they were strobing, and other times they were just lighting up different areas in the room. Music pulsed with today’s pop hits.
The family and consumer science education 3080 class, dress and humanity, hosted “Re:Play, Fashion with a Cause” on Monday night. Each year, the class hosts this event to showcase the FCSE 3080 students’ designs, said Dr. Lindsey Shirley, assistant professor to the FSCE department.
“The purpose of them creating the design is to apply the elements and principles of design to creating a look...in recyclable materials,” Shirley said.
The cost to get in was a can of food. All cans were donated to the Student Nutrition Access Center, a food pantry serving USU students and the Cache Valley community. The pantry, run entirely by students, received more than 500 cans of food.
The students had to design outfits individually or in groups as their first assignment in FCSE 3080. They had multiple category choices to design from, which included role play, video games, playground, outdoors, music, movies, “let’s pretend,” card games, board games and sports. There were nearly 85 different outfit designs in the show, as well as models ranging in age from babies to college students.
“I went and bought a dress at Deseret Industries, so I went and asked all my friends if the dress would fit them,” said sophomore Cameron Etherington, who won the video games category. “The first one who said they were free tonight, and the dress fit, became my model.”
Different factors inspired the outfit design.
“I was just trying to think of something that nobody else would do,” Etherington said. “So I originally thought of playing cards, then I thought, ‘Why not take it one step further and make it out of Pokemon cards?’”
Shirley said her favorite part of the event was seeing what the students created and also the empowerment of students to walk on the runway and be proud of something they’ve created.
The students had many different challenges while they were designing their outfits and put a lot of time into them. Etherington dedicated 14 hours to his design, and others needed up to 20. There was also the issue on how the designers would keep their outfits together.


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UK supply chain price rise double whammy
COVID-19 and Brexit uncertainty are pushing up supply chain costs, with those costs being pushed onto the consumer
COVID-19 and Brexit are causing headaches for UK supply chains, with costs already rising even before the UK is due to leave on 31st December 2020. Among 557 UK supply chain managers surveyed by CIPS, 16% expect stock to run low this winter due to COVID-19, on top of which will be added delays caused by bottlenecks in supply chains resulting from Brexit.
For those with EU suppliers, 45% expect goods to be delayed by a week or more at the border if there is no deal and 19% expect border delays even if there is a deal. Previously acquired stockpiles had been used up by 20% of suppliers as a result of Covid-19.
Half of the survey’s respondents admitted to being less prepared for Brexit compared to last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A third said they had lost at least one supplier due to COVID and 30% of businesses with an international supply chain said they had moved at least one supplier back to the UK. Seventeen percent said they did not have the resources to prepare for Brexit because of pandemic pressure. Forty-four percent plan to hold extra stock to cope with the transition on 31 December.
Fifty percent of supply chain managers with EU suppliers see further lockdown restrictions as a bigger threat to supply chains than a no-deal Brexit.
The British Poultry Council warned that there would be a shortage of Christmas turkeys and higher prices unless the British government granted quarantine restriction exemptions to seasonal foreign workers. The supply of other Christmas goods could also be disrupted because of the supply chain remapping instigated by the pandemic.


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KEYE-TV - Search Results
Retail Austin Gasoline Prices Up 6 Cents
Drivers across Texas have been paying more for gasoline this week with retail prices up an average nickel per gallon, and six cents higher in the Austin-area.
AAA Texas on Thursday reported the statewide average price at the pump has reached $3.18 per gallon. Gasoline prices also rose nationally this week, adding 2 cents to reach $3.31 per gallon.
The association survey found Dallas has the most expensive gasoline in Texas at $3.22 per gallon. The cheapest gasoline statewide is in El Paso at $2.99 per gallon. Austin had an average of $3.17 a gallon.
AAA Texas predicts gasoline prices will rise through April or early May but at a slower pace than last year. Experts say it's typical for prices to go up during winter months due to season demand and in anticipation of the switchover to more expensive summer-blend gasoline.
To find the cheapest price for gas in the Austin-area, go to http://www.keyetv.com/community/features/gas-watch/?wap=0&/#.UO8ZeNWwVbI.
(AP contributed to this report.)


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KUALA LUMPUR (June 29): Hiap Teck Venture Bhd’s net profit surged 119% to RM65.93 million for the third quarter ended April 30, 2021 (3QFY21), from RM30.05 million in the preceding quarter, on higher steel prices, cost optimization efforts, and contribution from its joint venture entity.
Earnings per share rose to 4.79 sen from 2.21 sen in 2QFY21, the steelmaker’s bourse filing showed.
Revenue fell 7.41% to RM329.64 million, from RM356.02 million in the preceding quarter, on lower sales volume for both trading and manufacturing divisions attributable to the Chinese New Year holidays in February.
Hiap Teck said its joint venture entity’s profit improved to RM19.81 million, from RM2.88 million in 2QFY21.
On a year-on-year basis, the group said its net profit saw a 13-fold jump from RM4.92 million in 3QFY20, while revenue doubled from RM164.59 million.
On prospects, Hiap Teck said the extension of the latest movement control order (MCO 3.0) will have a negative impact on the group’s performance in 4QFY21.
“Nonetheless, the board and management remain confident on the outlook of the group post lockdown, given the strength of steel prices and the JV entity’s continuous investments in plant and equipment to achieve cost efficiencies.
“The joint venture entity’s first 200,000 tonnes of coke oven plant is expected to complete by the second half of 2021, in which substantial cost savings can be achieved,” it added.
Hiap Teck’s share price settled half a sen or 0.88% lower at 56.5 sen today, with some 25.61 million shares exchanging hands. It saw a market capitalisation of RM855.78 million.


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VNU Net: PC giants unveil Transmeta-based notebooksJun 27, 2000, 15:07 (0 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Jo Ticehurst)
By Jo Ticehurst, VNU Net
Four PC manufacturers will demonstrate 'ultralight' notebooks incorporating processors from startup chip maker Transmeta at the PC Expo show in New York this week.
Fujitsu, Hitachi, IBM and NEC will unveil prototype models of notebooks based on the low power processors. IBM will also confirm plans to manufacture the Crusoe chips at its microelectronics division, with full production expected in the second half of the year.
Transmeta was founded five years ago by a former Sun Microsystems employee but shot into the limelight when it recruited Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux operating system. Crusoe was announced amid industry fanfare in January as a rival to processors from Intel. Both Gateway and America Online are among a group of investors that have injected $88m (£59m) into the young chip manufacturer.
Although the notebooks are all only prototypes, the four manufacturers are expected to start shipping products based on the chips in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Crusoe chip enables lightweight notebooks to provide up to eight hours of battery life. It includes Transmeta's LongRun power management technology which enables the processor to optimise its performance to the actual application it is running, while continually adjusting its speed and voltage so that it delivers the maximum battery life.
Transmeta said the ultralight notebook designs are also quieter, because the Crusoe chip does not require noisy fans to keep cool.
Tim Bajarin, president of research company Creative Strategies, said: "The Crusoe-powered units being demonstrated in the Transmeta booth represent a significant step forward in the evolution of ultralight notebook design. The Crusoe processor makes it possible for these OEMs to offer designs for all-day computing with full PC capabilities in a lightweight form factor."


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Egy Crops aims to use potatoes as a ticket to enter the Russian market for the first time in the coming season.
Chairperson of Egy Crops Makarem El Shetoory said that the company operates in exporting several agricultural commodities, including herbs, spices, bird feed, and legumes, adding that they introduced new varieties of fresh produce last season, including onions, garlic, and citrus.
She explained that the company is also negotiating with a number of Russian companies to enter the market there for the first time through exporting about 500 tonnes of Egyptian potatoes per month as a start and gradually increasing the quantity over time.
El Shetoory said that the Russian market is very important for Egyptian agricultural crops, as it is a large and populated market.
She added that the company’s exports declined last year due to the fuel price hikes and the government’s decision to float the Egyptian pound.
She noted that the company exported 12,000 tonnes of food goods per year, but the quantity declined over the past two years to only 3,000 tonnes.
Moreover, she pointed out that the company’s board of directors intends to establish a packaging terminal with investments of EGP 5m, as there is a demand from several foreign markets on packaged vegetables, including the United States.
As for the most important markets that Egy Crops exports to, she highlighted the European Union, America, and some Asian and African countries among the most important current markets.
She stressed the importance of the Ministry of Agriculture’s restrictions to improve the quality and reputation of the Egyptian product and expand into new markets.


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French fashion brand Balmain are known for recruiting new faces to join their ‘Balmain Army’ each season.
We’ve seen the likes of highly sought-after A-listers such as Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Kim Kardashian all feature in the luxury brand’s campaigns.
But this season, it’s unlikely you’ll recognise the new recruits.
That’s because they’re not real.
Balmain have revealed three CGI models who will make up their new ‘virtual army’ to show off their latest offerings.
The brainchild of the label, creative director Olivier Rousteing, used technology to create a virtual version of his #BalmainArmy.
The army consists of three models; Shudu, Margot and Zhi.
Shudu already has quite the impressive CV. With the title of "the world’s first digital supermodel" to her name, she has modelled for Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty dark skinned range and has amassed over 141,000 followers on Instagram.
While the other two models were created exclusively for Balmain.
All three models were designed by British photographer Cameron-James Wilson, and according to the press release, aim to reflect the brand's "unfettered celebration of inclusion."
"When my team and I saw the first generation of CGI models, we told ourselves that if this was the way the world was going, we wanted to ensure that diversity plays a strong part in that future," Rousteing wrote in a press release.
"Anyone and everyone is always welcome to join Balmain army’s growing ranks – they need only share our bold spirit of adventure as our new virtual icons, Margot, Shudu and Zhi who mirror the beauty, the rock style and the confident power," added Rousteing.
While Rousteing insists the brand’s forward-thinking approach promotes diversity, critics argue Balmain could have hired real-life models of different colour and backgrounds for the campaign.
The fashion house has posted several images of the CGI models on their Instagram page, and the overhwleing majority of followers aren’t happy about it.
"Just hire real models of color. This is disgusting," commented one user.
"As if our ideals of beauty in this industry aren’t shitty enough already. You just gotta love a fake colored woman. What a joke," posted a follower.
"It's no longer just art when a male caucasian is profiting off creating ethic models who had it hard already working in the fashion space. Everyone start boycotting and reporting their handles," fumed another.
Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Prada and are just some of the other high-end brands using CGI model to promote their products.
Maybe Jenner should join her sister Kylie’s billion dollar beauty empire before she's out of a job.


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By Jack Stubbs
Bellevue’s CBD has been a hotbed of development and investment activity in recent months, and a unique investment opportunity—which is adjacent to a 750,000 square foot office property 100 percent leased to Microsoft and a two-tower 455-unit luxury residential complex—is now on the market.
The Shops at Bravern, a three-story, 313,119 square foot retail destination located in the heart of Bellevue’s central business district, was put on the market recently. The property is exclusively marketed by several HFF offices. This company did not respond to requests for comment about the property in time for the publishing of this story.
The Shops at Bravern encompasses approximately 40 luxury and entertainment retail stores in a three-level open-air format setting. The retail village, developed in 2009, is part of a larger mixed-use project that consists of 455 luxury residential units and 750,000 square feet of Class A office space, which is 100 percent leased to Redmond-based, technology giant Microsoft. The development also includes the Meydenbauer Center (a convention center that attracts around 150,000 visitors per year) and a seven-story parking garage that contains 3,130 stalls.
The property is located at 11111 NE 8th St., in the center of the main commercial corridor on the corner of 8th St. and 112th Avenue. The asset is roughly half a mile from access to Interstate-405 and about two miles from Washington State Route 520. Additionally, the retail destination is directly adjacent to the under-construction Wilburton East Link Light Rail station, a $3.7 billion project set for operation in 2023. Once active, the light rail station will serve more than 50,000 passengers a day, connecting Bellevue to downtown Seattle and SeaTac Airport.
According to HFF’s marketing flyer for the property, The Shops at Bravern currently has an occupancy rate of 87.9 percent, a figure indicative of a property that offers significant and immediate value creation through continued lease-up of available space and mark-to-market rent opportunities. The flyer states that these two factors will help to grow the NOI for the property to over 145 percent in the next ten years. The NOI currently sits at just over $8.5 million and could grow to $20.5 million over the next decade.
The retail complex includes various high-end national and international luxury retailers—including Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Moncler, Prada and Hermes Paris, among others—several of which do not have other competing locations in the area or in the Pacific Northwest, according to the flyer. Since 2014, ownership has replaced or added 19 new tenants, replacing middle-tier retailers with global luxury brands. Over the past 25 months, over 96,000 square feet worth of new leases and lease expansions have been signed (with 8 new leases/lease expansions encompassing 85,550 square feet signed in 2017). Some of the other tenants in the complex include Dollar Shop, Lifetime Fitness and Gene Juarez Spa and Salon.
The Shops at Bravern, located in Bellevue’s CBD, sits in a demographically affluent area. Within a 5-mile radius of the site, the average household income is $166,000, a figure almost three times greater than the national average. In a 10-mile radius of the property, there are over 58,000 millionaires. From 2010 to 2018, Bellevue’s population increased by 12.9 percent; and the city’s population is project to increase from 138,141 in 2018 to 146,948 by 2023. Bellevue is home to some of the nation’s major corporations including Microsoft, Expedia, Concur Technologies and Paccar, an American Fortune 500 Company.
The recent listing of the Shops at Bravern—one of the premier retail destinations in the Pacific Northwest—shows that activity in the city shows little signs of slowing. The property is also right across the street from where more commercial redevelopment activity is occurring. On March 19th, San Francisco-based developer Stanford Hotels Group acquired three parcels in downtown Bellevue—which could be slated for redevelopment—for a combined $128 million from Plus Investment USA Inc., an entity affiliated with Seattle-based Plus Capital Partners.
It is still yet clear what plans Stanford Hotels has for the parcels. However, according to a project description on Plus Investment USA’s web site, Plus Investment has plans in the works to develop a luxury, mixed-use 4-tower project called Elev8—located at the same address as the purchased parcels —that will include 350 condos, 423 apartment units, and 1,698 parking stalls.
The project, designed by MZA Architects, will also include Class A office space, a five-star hotel, retail space and urban pocket parks. According to the web site, “the project will bring a massive half-block transformation to what is currently the Griffin surface parking lot, a church building, and the Yuen Lui Photography building.” Plus Investment USA submitted preliminary project plans to the city of Bellevue in early March 2016.


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Image source: royalcaribbean.com.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd's late-March announcement that its new Quantum-class ship Ovation of the Seas will debut in China focused attention on the rapid growth of the Chinese domestic market for cruise vacations. But Royal Caribbean is hoping to make China into a cruise destination for Western travelers as well.
The Motley Fool recently spoke with Royal Caribbean President and COO Adam Goldstein about the company's inbound growth strategy in China, which will likely involveoffering add-on land vacations and balancing the shorter cruises Chinese travelers like with the longer ones U.S. and European travelers prefer.
New builds, new cruise routesWhen Ovation arrives in Tianjin next April, it will be one of five Royal Caribbean ships homeported in China, along with Quantum of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas. As the newest ships in China, Quantum and Ovation are expected to strongly appeal to Chinese cruisers. The opportunity to sail on a new, high-tech ship, most likely to ports of call in Japan and South Korea, may appeal to dedicated cruisers from other countries, as well. (Royal Caribbean's other new Quantum-class ship, Anthem of the Seas, will homeport at Cape Liberty in New Jersey starting in November.)
Longer cruises for Western vacationersOne consideration for Royal Caribbean in China is that Chinese and Western leisure travelers vacation differently. "We need to attract Chinese customers, and they tend to take shorter vacations than people from the U.S. and Europe," Goldstein said, adding that Chinese vacationers usually prefer 4- to 6-night getaways, while U.S. travelers go for week-long vacations, and Europeans linger for up to 14 days of R&R.
One approach, Goldstein said, might be to "intersperse shorter cruises with 6 to 8 night cruises on the Quantum class ships, which we expect to draw a higher percentage of international travelers."
Land trip and cruise packagesThen there's the matter of making the most of such a long trip. "If you're going to go to the other side of the world, you probably want to go out there for a couple of weeks," Goldstein said. "China's a phenomenal 'bucket list' place to visit. There's been extraordinary development in the past 25 years, and there's 5,000 years of history."
Royal Caribbean plans to sweeten its Chinese cruise deals by experimenting with the sort of pre- and post-cruise land vacations the company offers in other parts of the world.
Making the most of government support in ChinaGoldstein noted that the Chinese government is looking for ways to boost inbound travel. "The Chinese want to benefit from the cruise economy. Employment is critical for their economic development, and we are interested to have the cruise economy benefit the Chinese in a variety of ways."
One way the cruise market could help would be to offset some of China's vast and growing "tourism deficit," which has been an issue since 2008. Rising costs within China, air-pollution woes, and travel-related red tape have contributed to a drop in the number of inbound travelers.
Meanwhile, more Chinese vacationers than ever are traveling beyond their country's borders, and spending money in ways that have sparked intense competition for their business. In 2014, Chinese vacationers abroad spent $164.8 billion, while international travelers to China only spent $51.2 billion. The $113.6 billion gap is 50% larger than China's 2013 tourism deficit, according to the International Business Times. Cruises that bring foreign vacationers to spend money in China -- ideally for a couple of weeks or longer -- could help reduce the gap, and their development will almost certainly have government support within China.
No one expects inbound cruise travel to China to grow at the same rate as the country's domestic market, which is currently the fastest-growing in the world. But by planning to appeal to international travelers as well as local cruisers, Royal Caribbean can expand its reach in China and give itself a buffer against any headwinds in Chinese consumer spending trends. And if Chinese cruises become popular among European and American vacationers in the next few years, more developmental support from the Chinese government will likely follow.
The article How Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd Plans to Get U.S. and European Cruisers to China originally appeared on Fool.com.
Casey Kelly Barton has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.
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Target cut its profit forecast and a key sales outlook Wednesday as it saw fewer customers in its stores and acknowledged it didn't push the second part of its "Expect More, Pay Less'' slogan.
The Minneapolis-based discounter's second-quarter net income fell nearly 10 per cent, though that was better than what most had expected. Sales at stores open at least a year fell 1.1 per cent, reversing seven straight quarters of gains. Its main competitor, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., reports results Thursday.
Target's shares fell $4.74, or 6 per cent, to $70.74 in afternoon trading.
Customer traffic fell for the first time in a year and a half as Target struggled to get its grocery offerings right and shoppers looking for deals on essentials like detergent were turned off. Other issues, both company-specific and industrywide, ranged from a lack of new electronics for sale and lingering disruptions caused by the sale last year of its pharmacy business to CVS.
Sales by markets also varied, with weakness on the East Coast but pockets of strength in California.
"Our No. 1 focus is driving traffic back to our stores and accelerating business to our site,'' Chief Executive Brian Cornell said.
Target joins retailers such as department store chain Macy's that are struggling with fewer customers coming in as shoppers buy more online. The bright spots in retail have been T.J. Maxx's parent company TJX Cos. and Home Depot as consumers look for clothing bargains and focus more on their homes.
Under Cornell, Target has been trying to reinvigorate itself restore its cheap-chic status after a series of headline-grabbing setbacks such as a 2013 data breach. It's focusing on categories like fashion, home furnishings and wellness products, creating vignettes featuring home products and launching the children's line Cat & Jack.
But striking the right balance between stylish clothing and bedspreads while offering toothpaste and detergent at good prices has been tricky.
"Our progress in apparel and home has been really significant,'' said Cornell. "And we've got to make sure we never lose track of the other side of our brand promise and that's the ''Pay Less" side. And that's all about those core household essentials that we have to make sure are presented effectively.''
To boost sales and traffic, Target plans to increase marketing for its essentials and work with key vendors like Apple to push more innovation and to also improve presentations. Apple product sales were down 20 per cent and the electronics department was a "significant drag,'' Cornell said.
Target is still struggling, however, to reinvent its food section—an area where Walmart is particularly strong. Grocery sales represent about 20% of Target's total business but it has seen disappointing results from perishables like fruits and vegetables.
Its nonperishable items have been doing well, and it's marketing more organic, natural or gluten-free products. Yarbrough noted that Target faces stiff competition on the low end from Walmart, which is focusing on lowering prices further, and at the high end from the likes of stores like Whole Foods and others.
"Grocery is going to be more difficult to fix,'' said Brian P. Yarbrough, a senior analyst at the Edward Jones investment firm, which downgraded Target's stock to "hold'' from a "buy'' rating Wednesday. "They're not a destination for food. They don't offer a whole suite of products.''
While nowhere near the online volume of Amazon, Target is expanding its online services. It's doubling the number of stores that will be used to ship products directly to online shoppers' homes, which will result in speedier deliveries. Online sales rose 16 per cent in the second quarter, lower than the 23 per cent gain in the first quarter.
Target also is spending to modify some stores after an outcry from some customers about its policy of allowing transgender customers and staff to use the bathrooms that identifies with their gender identity.
Chief financial officer Cathy Smith said the backlash hasn't had a "material'' impact on sales, but some customers are still upset. "We are listening to our guests,'' she said. Target is investing $20 million in building single-stall bathrooms in stores.
Target reported net income for the quarter of $680 million, or $1.16 per share. That compares with $753 million, or $1.18 per share, a year earlier. Adjusted per-share earnings were $1.23, beating projections of $1.14 from Wall Street, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research. Revenue fell 7 per cent to $16.2 billion.
The company now expects earnings this year from $4.80 to $5.20 per share, lower than the $5.20 to $5.40 it had projected earlier. Same-stores sales could fall as much as 2 per cent in the second half of the year, Target said.


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Starbucks celebrated its sponsorship of London Pride with an activation that featured 'Glam Stops' and Frappucinos topped with rainbow coloured heart sprinkles in stores along the parade route. The Glam Stops gave guests the chance to get made up with glittery and glam looks for the festivities with make-up company, Gypsy Shrine. In addition, more than 240 Starbucks employees joined in the parade, marching under a #LoveHappensHere balloon.
Media and entertainment conglomerate Disney joined in the London Pride parade with a rainbow-coloured activation featuring balloons spelling out the brand name, and forming the shape of iconic Disney character Mickey Mouse. There was also a Lion King-themed aspect to the event, with the London Gay Men's Chorus teaming up with the cast of The Lion King in the West End to perform Elton John's The Circle of Life outside the Lyceum Theatre.
Wrigley-owned brand Skittles is known for its rainbow-themed advertising campaigns, but the brand made the decision to strip away its colours for its Pride activation and campaign, with the mindset that the Pride rainbow should have the spotlight to itself. The activation aimed to resonate with a millennial audience, and show support for the LBGTQ+ community, by bringing a rainbowless float to the parade which treated guests to disco music and free packs of Skittles. The float also featured the slogan #OnlyOneRainbow, and, as part of a wider campaign, the brand stripped the colours from its product packaging.
To celebrate Pride weekend, coffee chain Costa launched a new rainbow branding across several central London stores. The activity aimed to support the Pride event and showcase Costa as an LBGTQ+ friendly community. Costa Coffee is a founding partner of GLOW (Gay Lesbian Out at Whitbread), a supportive network for the LBGTQ+ community, and team members from across the business joined in to march in the parade.
More: YouTube created a Pride-themed activation at Cannes Lions Festival which aimed to celebrate diversity.
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AOT reaffirms passenger terminals (East) at Suvarnabhumi with Bt8b budget next year, while North expansion is still pending ICAO’s procurement process. Expects 440 flights during 1st day of reopening today.
ARIP will host Commart IT Expo at BITEC on November 25-29, Money Expo in Chiang Mai November 12-14.
CPANEL expects to secure building material orders from residential developers & hotels total Bt200m in 4Q, upbeat outlook from Bt1.19b pending to realize, target 25% revenue growth next year.
GPI to host BKK Motor Expo event on December 1-12 at IMPACT;
Comment: Wouldn’t be surprised to see higher sales than the market expects.
GPSC’s expected to report 15% yoy growth in 3Q21 profit, boosted by revenue recognition of Avaada solarfarm in India, keeps plans to expand renewable energy business and set up Global Renewable Synergy Taiwan to expand business there.
M expects positive 4Q SSSG, 476 branches fully opened, rolls out welcome back promotion to boost traffic upcoming holiday season, revamp online/delivery menus to boost sales.
Comment: The larger chains can maintain their workforce, the smaller ones are all currently all struggling with service quality.
ORI to open food business line within 4Q, Origin Food, via 3 strategies, building own brand, JV and franchises.
PR9: local fund, BBLAM, cuts holding by 0.6358% to 4.5258% of total outstanding on October 27.
Comment: Looks like BBLAM has been trimming positions everywhere, assets leaving? Or just a rotation.
SINGER’s firm on record high profit this and next year, averaging 50% p.a. New Bt11b capital will be used to retire Bt3.3b bond and for future lending, keeps plan to spin-off SGC next year.
Comment: Today is XR for SINGER, then the capital is due in by shareholders in December, next year they could just go gangbusters with performance.
SFT reassures 15-20% FY21 revenue growth target supported by strong demand for sleeve labels, packaging films on improving consumptions.
TOG sees lens sales jump at US & EU market, mulls expand overseas market to boost sales, eyes 10-12% sales growth FY22.


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Burger King has beef with how Arkansas taxes manager meals
A chain of fast food restaurants went before the Arkansas Supreme Court with a beef over state sales tax collections.
Flis Enterprises lets Burger King managers eat for free and pays taxes on those meals at the wholesale cost. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration wants taxes on the retail cost. The difference is about $33,000 per year.
The restaurant chain said Thursday that, since the food is never offered to the public, the retail cost never applies. The state says changing raw ingredients makes a new product with a higher value, so the taxes must be higher.
The state had said it might invoke a recent court decision barring lawsuits against the state, but Thursday's arguments remained centered on what happens when raw meat becomes a cooked meal.
(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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The Brenninkmeijer family, which controls the fashion retailer C&A, based in the Netherlands, considers selling its position in the Brazilian operation as part of a plan to concentrate business in Europe, Value.
After disbanding operations in China and Mexico this year, the Brenninkmeijers, with 65% of the fashion retailer in the country, told foreign private equity funds that they would be open to review a proposal for the asset in Brazil, listed on the stock exchange since the end of 2019.
In the financial market, the sale of C&A operations in Brazil would not be a surprise. Although until the beginning of October this year there was no formal mandate for the sale, the company has been prospecting the market through contacts made by the headquarters, testing the interest of funds and strategic groups, says an investment bank source.
A second source says that the company’s loss of market value after the covid-19 pandemic ended up discouraging a partial sale in blocks of shares on the stock exchange or the sale of control this year. But there is already a recovery in market value, and the interest in trading with funds remains.
“In 2019, before the IPO [oferta pública inicial de ações] there was already an interest in a direct sale negotiation with some foreign investor, but that did not advance at the time because of price and they opted for the public offering. But they have made clear their willingness to listen to any proposals. Their intention is to stay in Europe and concentrate investments in some more profitable European countries, such as Germany ”, said the source.
The company has been trying to find solutions for the business in the country since 2014, when it started to consider the idea of divesting the local arm, Value. Private equity funds and competing companies have even analyzed the asset in recent years, according to people familiar with the matter. “The deal was small after the IPO,” notes another source. C&A is the fourth largest fashion retailer in the country, in number of stores, and the third in revenue, according to a report by Nord Research.
In February this year the company sold the operation in Mexico to the local fashion chain Axo. A few months later, in August, he also divested business in China, for the Beijing Zhongke Tongrong fund. When he announced this operation, Allan Leighton, chairman of C&A AG, occupying the highest position in the network, mentioned the Brazilian operation in a statement. “Like C&A in Brazil and Mexico, we have always seen China as a key growth market for C&A. But we understand that the local experience with a strong network was essential to unlock the full potential of C&A [na China]”.
C&A operates in 18 countries, the majority in Europe. In emerging markets, it controlled 100% of the units in Mexico and China, and now there is only a majority stake in Brazil.
With the IPO in the country, family businesses (Cofra Investments and Incas SA) reduced their position from 100% in the retailer to 65% and pocketed almost R $ 814 million through the offering of secondary shares (for the partners’ pockets). The operation left the floor of the indicative share price range (R $ 16.50) and ended up being highlighted, in part, because of the allocation of funds. Ninety percent of the primary offer (resources for the company’s cash) went to pay loans from companies in the C&A group and only 10% (about R $ 80 million) for the expansion plan, which ended up generating questions from managers and investors about the real interest of current controllers in growing in the Brazilian market.
The retailer has 288 stores in the country, with 550 thousand square meters of sales area and net revenue this year, until June, of R $ 1.2 billion. The market leader, Renner, has 60% more sales (R $ 1.9 billion, excluding the other brands of the group), with a third more stores (387) and almost 700 thousand square meters of area.
Since August, the share price at B3 has been showing recovery. And an appreciation, with the payment of a premium on the price, would open the way for the company to move forward with the country’s exit plan, despite the scenario of uncertainties for retail in 2021. The paper reached just over R $ 5 in March, beginning of the pandemic, and on Friday it closed at R $ 12.80. A source noted that any new retailer owners in the country would be subject to the brand’s licensing agreement. And they would have to pay royalties to the headquarters (in case of making a profit) – an expense that other local networks do not have.
The change in strategy in emerging markets takes place on the eve of the arrival of a new global command at C&A. Edward Brenninkmeijer, a member of the founders’ family, will step down as CEO later this year, the network reported in August. It will be succeeded in January by executive Giny Boer (ex-Ikea). According to the Financial Times, Boer will have support to play a plan to close stores with loss, focus on the online and try to turn the results after the pandemic. Like other fashion chains, C&A was affected by the crisis, and decided to cut costs to reduce losses.
Sought, C&A says that “does not comment on rumors or market speculation”.


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The 2020 report from global consulting firm IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, which researches the alcoholic beverage market and its trends, has positioned Trivento as the leading Argentine wine brand in the world. The most recent report places sales value at over US$ 256,198,000. Continue reading
Martins Wine Advisor (MWA), the winners of Best Wine Advisory Service 2019 and 2020 UK at the LUX Life Food & Drink Awards, have launched their new nine-year exclusive ‘Wines From Another World’ series in partnership with Pedro Marques Antunes from Sparrow Creative Solutions, in spectacular style in a converted warehouse setting.
Sarah Jessica Parker’s wine brand, Invivo X, SJP, has been awarded ‘Best Launch of the Year’ by the 2020 Drinks Business Awards that recognizes outstanding companies in the alcoholic drinks industry.
To celebrate the coveted award, Sarah Jessica and her business partners at Invivo Wines, Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron, filmed an awards ceremony-style acceptance speech in their homes, released today. The global wine accolade was awarded to the trio by Europe’s largest industry title, The Drinks Business – regarded as the most authoritative, international respected badge of achievement. Read more
LG SIGNATURE, maker of ultra-premium home appliances including the recently launched LG SIGNATURE Wine Cellar, has teamed up with brand ambassador and world-renowned wine critic, James Suckling, to show consumers the perfect way to start their own wine journey. Read more
Global wine production this year is set to fall to its lowest level since 1961 after harsh weather in western Europe damaged vineyards in the world’s largest production area. As Silvia Antonioli reports, the international wine body OIV says global output is expected to fall to 246.7 million hectolitres in 2017, down 8 percent from last year. Continue reading
As harvest time begins in France, wineries are worried about their output as extreme and unpredictable weather becomes the new “normal.” Nathan Frandino reports. Continue reading
The Sagrantino Italian International Balloon Challenge Cup is underway in Umbria, Italy, drawing dozens of balloonists from around the world for what organizers say is the “most relaxed event” of the year. Nathan Frandino reports. Continue reading
Linga fruit wines are produced from eight types of fruits locally grown by smallholder farmers in Malawi. The fruit wine brand started in 2006, has grown popular at home over the years and has now found its market in the United Kingdom with prospects the demand could grow to other countries in the future.
As visitors to Nuremberg enjoy mulled wine at its famous Christmas market, one local producer reveals the secrets of making a good “Gluehwein”.
(Reuters Business Report) – The French.
Born with a nose for wine – and an uncanny ability to sniff out a vintage.
Even when they’re in Ethiopia.


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- Why Bangladesh
- Trade Information
A delegation from Chana, comprising representatives from the China Knitting Industrial Association and the China Cotton Textile Association, visited the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on January 22.
The visit aimed at exploring potential collaboration particularly in the textile and apparel sector to derive mutual trade benefits.
The Chinese delegation included Lin Yunfeng, Chairman, China Knitting Industrial Association; Jing Shenquan, Vice Chairman, China Cotton Textile Association, and Wei Wei, Vice Director of Department, China Knitting Industrial Association. Besides, representatives from various Chinese companies specializing in textile machinery, chemicals, and raw materials were also part of the delegation.
During the visit, they met with BGMEA leadership, including President Faruque Hassan, Senior Vice President S. M. Mannan (Kochi), Vice President Shahidullah Azim, and Vice President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam.
BGMEA Directors Faisal Samad, Haroon Ar Rashid, Barrister Vidiya Amrit Khan, Md. Imranur Rahman, and Neela Hosna Ara were also present in the meeting.
Their discussions focused on trade and investment opportunities, fostering collaboration, and expanding business scope between Bangladesh and China in the textile and apparel sector.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan gave an overview of Bangladesh’s apparel industry, especially its strong emphasis on shift towards manufacturing high-value products, particularly man-made fiber-based garments.
He sought China’s investment in high-end textile and backward linkage industries in Bangladesh that would bring benefits to both sides.
He also emphasized China’s support in enhancing capabilities through the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise.
He said the shift to non-cotton apparels would lead to an increase in demand for manmade fiber-based fabrics, chemicals, and other raw materials, and China is well-positioned to meet Bangladesh’s requirements.
President Faruque Hassan also highlighted the high potential for garment exports from Bangladesh to China.


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I know that this is the news all Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 owners have been waiting to hear.
It's confirmed! Samsung Electronics has just announced via its official Twitter account in the UK that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software update will be coming to its best-seller, Samsung Galaxy S2.
So when is the firmware update arriving exactly? Noone knows for sure -- though I'm guessing it should hit your phones within the first half of 2012.
Learn more about Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich via the link.


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Wednesday, March 29, 2017
State Rep. Dianda praises $6.5 million grant to NMU for broadband service to entire U.P.
"This is great news for the communities in House District 110 that have long struggled without high-speed broadband service," Dianda said. "This means entrepreneurs can live here and run their online businesses, and people can finally choose to stay in the U.P. or realize their dream of moving to U.P. We have affordable and move-in ready homes and commercial properties available right now. The availability of high-speed broadband will be a game changer for communities across the U.P."
The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) was created by Michigan P.A. 270 of 1984 and has broad authority to promote economic development and create jobs. Click here to access their Web site.


text: Pinetree Plaza, home to 70 retail stores and Halpern Enterprises’ corporate headquarters in Doraville, Georgia has just undergone a complete, $3 million renovation. The center’s new look includes brick, stacked stone, EIFS accents, fabric awnings and wood shutters. Pinetree has now set a new standard for aesthetic appearance, in addition to being one of the largest and best located properties on Buford Highway. As home to the Halpern home office, it is only fitting that the center reflect the quality and value for which Halpern Enterprises has long stood. For leasing information on Pinetree Plaza, contact John Brozovic at 770-508-3314.


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Whether or not you grew up in the '80s, chances are you're familiar with Jessica Rabbit — aka the iconic cartoon character from the famous 1988 film, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Known for her sultry aesthetic, sassy attitude, and signature red lips, Jessica Rabbit is easily one of the most well-known cartoon characters in history, so naturally, fans are going to freak over the brand-new makeup collection she inspired.
That's right: A Jessica Rabbit makeup collection is coming soon, and it's all thanks to our friends at Ciaté London, the popular beauty brand most renowned for its next-level nail products. While it started hinting at the launch on social media last week, the news was officially announced on its Instagram page yesterday, February 26, in an ah-mazing teaser video showcasing the bombshell dancing and singing, as well as a look at the products themselves. "Our newest collection is inspired by 'toon town's bombshell chanteuse😍 Sashay out from behind the curtain and into the spotlight with the Jessica Rabbit collection," the caption reads.
The limited-edition line features three coveted pieces inspired by the fictional star: a nine-shade eye shadow palette made up of both shimmery and matte shades, a creamy, champagne-colored highlighter called Glow-To, and Glitter Storm, a sparkle-flecked, red lipstick reminiscent of the lip look Jessica Rabbit was notorious for. What's more, each product comes housed in packaging emblazoned with a spot-on illustration of her character, making them perfect collector's items for yourself or a Jessica Rabbit-obsessed loved one.


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Ford isn't messing around with culling its passenger car lineup.
This week, Ford made the shocking announcement that it’s killing most of its current cars in the US apart from the Mustang and Focus Active to focus on producing SUVs and pickups. At the time, Ford announced this will be a reality by 2022, but didn’t provide a timeline for when production of each model will end. Thanks to a Tweet posted by Automotive News reporter Michael Martinez, we now know the life expectancy for all Ford’s current sedans and small cars – and the automaker isn’t wasting any time.
According to the Tweet, the current-gen Focus will be the first car to get the axe, with production ending in May this year. After that, the Taurus will be killed in March 2019, while the Fiesta will be facing the chopping block in May the same year. The Fusion, on the other hand, doesn’t have a death date just yet, and will stick around for a few years according to Martinez. While production of the Focus will end in the summer, Ford will import the Focus Active from China in the middle of 2019, which is essentially a high-riding version of the standard hatchback. A Ford spokesperson has told Jalopnik the dates listed by Automotive News are accurate.
Ford’s decision to axe most cars in its current lineup is shocking, but the automaker loses money on the Focus, Fusion, and Fiesta according to The New York Times. It makes business sense when crossovers are clearly more profitable, but we didn’t expect Ford to put its plan into action so soon.


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If you’ve been following the tech industry for the past few years, you’re well aware that Huawei is in a heap of trouble.
While uncountable smartphone trends were hitting the market in 2019, Huawei was dealing with the accusations leveled by the United States government. The Chinese company has been under fire from the US government since May of 2019, resulting in what is informally known as the “Huawei ban.” This ongoing battle has forced Huawei to drastically change its business practices, which has given a chance to other companies like Vivo to fill the void left by Huawei.
A Basic Gist: Why Huawei Got Banned
Huawei is one of the world’s largest telecommunications firms. At the start of 2019, the company was anticipated to overtake Samsung as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer by the end of the year.
Despite its success, Huawei has faced numerous accusations of shady business practices throughout the years. It has also been accused—albeit without substantial evidence—of using its products to spy on other countries. This is a worrisome thought considering the company’s close links to the Chinese government.
In May 2019, US declared that Huawei, along with numerous other Chinese companies, would be sanctioned. These companies were added to a list known as the Entity List, which means they are ineligible to do business with any organization operating in the United States.
How is Vivo Filling the Vacuum Left by Huawei?
Following Huawei’s demise, smartphone company Vivo has ascended to the top of the Chinese smartphone market, beating its nearest competitor OPPO thanks to a consumer-friendly product lineup.
Vivo phones scored #1 in Counterpoint Research’s Monthly Market Pulse Service, with a 20 percent market share. The strong market reaction to its product line-up, which included the X, V, and Y series, drove the company’s position throughout the quarter.
With smart devices and intelligent services as its core, Vivo maintained strong momentum. According to Counter Research, Vivo topped China’s smartphone market in 2021 with a market share of 22 percent.
Vivo has now expanded its sales network to more than 60 countries and regions, and it is loved by more than 400 million people worldwide.
Aside from the favorable circumstances, Vivo phones are outstanding in terms of build quality and performance. The company understands user needs and continues to introduce new devices with good price tags and designs.
As previously stated, despite Huawei’s downfall, the company already has one of the greatest smartphone market shares in the world, so it will be interesting to observe how this latest growth affects its influence.
Many of the company’s phones are currently exclusively available in Asia at this early point in its worldwide expansion, while a rising number are also available in Europe. However, for European buyers, this does not detract from the outstanding hardware packed in the Vivo mobile phones.
Data Security Issues
As a result of the aforementioned charges of stealing customers’ data as well as recording surroundings, Huawei received a hefty penalty of being banned. Anyone can be affected by this. You’ll be dealing with security issues whether you are using a Vivo, OPPO, Huawei, or any other mobile device.
Well, you can’t control it, but you can deal with it. There are numerous choices for storing data for back-ups, such as the cloud or Google Drive. What if you can’t access any of them? In the event, you’ll need a portal to keep your data safe and you can easily restore it.
However, using a monitoring app could be an option if you are thinking about protecting your data online. Xnspy is a monitoring app that could be the source of your backup data. Let’s suppose your mobile is lost. You can easily trace it remotely with the GPS locator. Moreover, it helps you keep a backup of your incoming and outgoing calls, pictures, videos, text messages, and important emails.
Moreover, if you have accidentally deleted any of your social media apps, your data will be saved, which you can easily access on your laptop or PC by logging into Xnspy.
Is Vivo a good phone for enthusiasts?
Vivo phones were not made to serve all the dimensions in the first place. Vivo mobile phones were introduced with explicit camera features for a better photography experience. But to ensure its survival in the already high-maintenance market, the company decided to improve the performance of its devices. Vivo’s latest phones have better processors, bigger batteries, and better displays.
However, gaming is another interesting aspect. Vivo phones for gaming are not as popular as other companies. However, some phones, such as the Vivo X70 Pro 5G, Vivo V23 Pro 5G, and Vivo Y50, could be useful for gaming. These are the top three Vivo gaming phones.
Vivo was one of the first brands to release 5G devices, with the Nex 3 5G and iQoo Pro 5G models.
There’s also the company’s sub-brand to consider, which sells remixed versions of its parent brand’s products at a more competitive price/performance ratio, with a slight gaming focus. If you have a little more money to spend, the Nex line—which used to be the firm’s actual flagship space until the Nex 3—is no longer available, and rumor has it the company is re-branding its high-end line.
Vivo’s flagship series, the NEX and X series, are centered on photography capabilities, and the S and U series are focused on value for money. Y focuses on low-cost customers, whereas iQoo focuses on online channels.
A Quick Note on Software
Vivo currently uses two operating systems. Origin OS is mainly accessible on Chinese models and is confined to the company’s most recent phones. Funtouch OS is present on global launches, although it will be phased out in favor of Origin. The few phones with official European versions also include Funtouch, but it’s a stripped-down version that’s closer to standard Android and much better.
The Final Verdict
Even though Huawei has been dealing with allegations (some of which may be untrue) for the last several years, the company has not given up. Huawei has introduced its own operating system called Harmony OS, also known as Hongmeng, which is rapidly gaining popularity and may be adopted by other Chinese phone manufacturers.
Vivo is implementing aggressive business and product strategies to compete with Huawei by manufacturing quality phones and attempting to fill the Android vacuum left by Huawei.


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Capacitor manufacturers affected by the devastating March earthquake and tsunami in Japan were able to quickly bring their leadtimes down and their inventories up between the months of April and May, according to a recent report by Dennis M. Zogbi, the founder and chief executive officer of Paumanok Publications Inc. and Passive Component Industry Magazine. Is this a testament to the efficiency of the electronics supply chain, or is it something else?
Leadtimes for all types of capacitors spiked in April — ceramic capacitors in particular saw leadtimes stretch by a whopping 32 percent — but were approaching more normal levels by May. While it's true that capacitor demand soared as a direct result of the earthquake, that wasn't because factories reported damage, says Zogbi: It was panic buying by customers.
“One of the things that hasn't changed about the supply chain is human involvement,” said Zogbi in a phone interview. While the supply chain overall has improved significantly in terms of forecasting, visibility, and manufacturing efficiencies, all of those measures can be undone by a short-term run on the market. “The resiliency of the manufacturers is amazing. We predicted they would overcome this problem quickly, and they have.”
Here are some of the data points from Zogbi's recent analysis:
- Lead times increased in April 2011 for capacitors (all parts combined) to an average of 21.79 weeks (a month-to-month increase of 16.3%); but then relaxed downward to 19.34 weeks (a month-to-month decrease of 11.24%) by the end of May.
- Lead times for tantalum capacitors continued to return to normal levels and were not affected by the Japan events. Lead times for May 2011 declined by 11.8% on average in May 2011, compared to the prior month.
- Lead times for DC film capacitors decreased by only 1.7% in May 2011, after a 23% increase in April (due to Japan quake in late March). Global lead times for DC film capacitors remain at an elevated level of 29.25 weeks at the end of May. As we have noted, snubber capacitors remain the most difficult product to get, averaging about 40 weeks.
- Lead times for aluminum electrolytic capacitors decreased by 12.8% in May after a 29.7% decrease in April…
- Lead times for ceramic capacitors decreased in May 2011 by 17.9% after jumping up by a whopping 32% in April following the panic buying that occurred in the market in response to the earthquake in Japan. We note that MLCC of all case sizes and electrode types eased up May 2011 to 20.43 weeks, after spiking to 23.43 weeks in April 2011…
Whether the market sees a continuing return to normality “is hard to say,” says Zogbi. “Right now, it looks to me as if everyone who wanted to stock up did, so I have to wait another 30 days to see if [leadtimes] continue their downward trend. What will be even more fundamental to the market is the trend in the global economy.”
Zogbi's report is available at TTI MarketEye.


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According to their website, Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Downtown Bellevue is permanently closed. It was located at Bellevue Square. The restaurant opened in 2002.
The chain restaurant is known for its finest cuts of USDA Prime beef, award-winning wines, and happy hour.
Ruth’s Chris posted a message on their website saying that the Bellevue location is permanently closed. They thanked the community and said that they look forward to serving customers at their other steak houses.
In a press release written in March 2020, Ruth’s Chris Hospitality Group, Inc., explained that the locations that closed did not have success with just takeout and delivery options. They closed 23 of its 135 restaurants in the United States as one of many measures to help their financial position. They detailed that the locations that closed did not have success with just takeout and delivery options. They also furloughed many team members and reduced the salaries of all staff.
CEO Cheryl Henry said, “our management team and Board of Directors have taken significant measures to enhance our financial flexibility during this time which includes drawing down and expanding our credit facility, suspending our dividend, and materially reducing capital expenditures as we weather the challenges related to COVID-19.”
The Seattle location is open, according to their website.


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Huawei Nova 5 Pro receiving stable EMUI 10
Huawei introduced the Huawei Nova 5 Pro devices running exclusively in China. For this device, the company started EMUI 10 beta program for in November last year and now meeting its conclusion with a stable EMUI 10 release.
According to the information, Huawei has started to roll out the stable EMUI version 10.0.0.152 and EMUI 10.0.0.153 for the existing beta testers and a direct full-size OTA for users that are operating EMUI 9.1.
Ahead of this update, Huawei rolled out an update (EMUI 126.96.36.199, 188.8.131.52) for Huawei Nova 5 Pro users on EMUI 9.1. This upgrade brought system performance and stability optimizations.
The company has recently started the EMUI 10 internal beta for other Nova 5 series phones including the Nova 5i.
The latest version of EMUI brings new changes in the UX design including Magazine Style UI layout, Morandi Colors, Dark Mode, Golden Icons, New Animations, Improved privacy features.
Launched in June last year, Huawei Nova 5 Pro offers a 48MP quad rear camera setup, waterdrop notch display to house selfie camera of 32MP, flagship Kirin 980 processor and more.


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The administrator of Arvand Free Zone custom reported on that it’s prohibited buying the Arvand plaque cars by Ahvaz’s citizens not the citizens of Abadan & Khorramshahr.
According to Arvand Free Zone public relation bureau: Jabbar Aboudzadeh stated: the citizen who Buy and sell Arvand plaque cars should note that Document transmission can be conducted only by numbering bureau of Arvand Free Zone, Otherwise. If there be any violation by the car, the first owner of car will be known as offending.
Director of Arvand Free Zone Customs Affairs added: According to cabinet legislation, only the citizens of Abadan & Khorramshahr are able to buy Arvand plaque cars.
He reiterated: if there be any car procurement by Ahwaz’s citizens and other citizens of province from trading firm, the car will be fined by the regulations.
He claimed: a new survey will be run on Arvand plaque cars on May 9, 2012 to ascertain condition through installed GPS.


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US stocks snapped a five-day losing streak as strong earnings and a rebound in European equity indices buoyed investor confidence.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc logo BMO Capital Markets re-issued their market perform rating on shares of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:REGN) in a research note released on Monday morning, AnalystRatings.
DETROIT Ford Motor Co's (F.N) chief executive, Mark Fields, said on Tuesday he wants the company to act "like a startup" as it prepares for an evolution of the auto industry, after it posted second-quarter profit that handily beat expectations.
Consumer confidence slumped in July by the most in almost four years as households became less upbeat about the outlook for the economy, employment and their finances, figures from the New York-based Conference Board showed Tuesday.
Volkswagen surpassed Toyota as the world's largest automaker in the first half of 2015, fulfilling a long-held goal, despite a sales slump in the U.S.. Volkswagen sold 5.04 million vehicles in the first six months of the year, edging Toyota's 5.02 ...


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BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the US state of South Carolina has doubled its capacity for production of high-voltage batteries.
The plant’s own battery facility now produces the new fourth-generation batteries.
These are intended for the plug-in hybrid models of the new BMW X5 and the future BMW X3, also produced in Spartanburg.
Michael Nikolaides, senior vice president engines and electrified drivetrains, BMW Group, says: “We have invested around ten million US dollars in a new battery assembly line and expanded the area to more than 8,000 square metres.
“This means we could double the number of batteries produced if needed to meet market demand.”
The new assembly line will be able to produce different types of fourth-generation batteries to serve the growing range of electrified vehicles locally.
These batteries are based on a new technology concept that further enhances their performance.
More than 120 people will be employed in battery production at Plant Spartanburg by the end of the year, having completed a comprehensive training programme to acquire the technological know-how needed for battery production.
Knudt Flor, president and CEO, BMW Manufacturing, says: “We have produced batteries on site at Plant Spartanburg since 2015 – making the BMW Group a pioneer for electromobility in the US.”
In the past four years, the plant’s battery assembly team has produced a total of more than 45,000 batteries.
Further investment in production
Between 2015 and 2018, BMW Group Plant Spartanburg built the first series produced plug-in hybrid vehicle, the BMW X5 xDrive40e (combined fuel consumption: 3,3 l/100km; combined power consumption: 15,3 kWh/100km ; combined CO2-emission: 77 g/km), for the core BMW brand.
The start of production for the new BMW X5 xDrive45e (combined fuel consumption: 2,0-1,7 l/100km; combined power consumption: 23,5-20,3 kWh/100km; combined CO2-emission: 47-39 g/km) will be in August 2019; production of the BMW X3 xDrive30e (combined fuel consumption: from 2,4 l/100 km; combined power consumption: from 22,7 kWh/100 km; combined CO2-emission: from 56 g/km; provisional figures) will get underway in December.
Flor says: “The BMW X5 and BMW X3 are currently among the top-selling BMW models in the US. We expect their plug-in hybrid variants to be just as popular with customers.”
Since the start of the year, the BMW Group has invested a further ten million US dollars in production of plug-in hybrid models.
An additional 225 vehicle assembly workers received training in the production of electrified vehicles, adding to the Plant’s already skilled staff.
International production network for batteries
The BMW Group currently has three battery facilities: at the Competence Centre for E-drive Production at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany, at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the US and at Plant Powertrain of its joint venture, BMW Brilliance Automotive.
The BMW Group also produces batteries for local car production in cooperation with a partner in Thailand. The BMW Group’s battery research and pilot plant are located in Munich.


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As of December 1, all Dunkin’ restaurants in New England will be fully transitioned to the double-walled paper cup.
In an effort to reduce waste and create a higher standard for the industry, Café Yumm! has announced that it will now provide disposable single-use items only when requested.
McDonald’s, Apex Clean Energy, and Ares Management Corporation’s Infrastructure and Power strategy, announced a 220 MW virtual renewable power purchase agreement between McDonald’s and Aviator Wind
Arcos Dorados, the world’s largest independent McDonald's franchisee, announced that it has eliminated approximately 200 tons of single-use plastic, roughly equivalent to the weight of 100 cars, si
Just Salad is partnering with Beyond Meat to introduce Beyond Beef Meatballs as a permanent menu item at all US locations beginning September 12, 2019.
Chick-fil-A announced on September 12 it has reached its goal to serve No Antibiotics Ever (also known as “NAE”) chicken in its 2,400-plus Chick-fil-A restaurants in the United States.
Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it was the only U.S. company honored at the Compassion in World Farming's Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards.
Copper Branch, the largest plant-based restaurant chain in the world, has announced that in honor of World Oceans Day on June 8th, it will donate 1 percent of sales of its plant-base
LevelTen Energy announced the close of a three-project renewable energy portfolio purchased by Starbucks, comprising wind and solar farms in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas from developers ALLET
Starbucks Corporation announced that it has completed issuance of a $1 billion Sustainability Bond.
Just in time for Earth Day, Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt, the quick-service brand known for serving real fruit smoothies with over 30 locations nationwide, announced an exciting new explor
Starbucks, Cypress Creek Renewables and U.S. Bank announced they are teaming up on a portfolio of solar farms across Texas.
Just Salad and S’well, two NYC-based brands committed to reducing plastic waste, have joined forces to launch a limited-edition Sustainability Kit.
Where should quick-service operators look when it comes to zero-waste initiatives and sustainable practices?
The Wendy's Company announced a commitment to advance sustainable packaging solutions in the foodservice industry and its own operations through its partnership with the NextGen Consortium.
Farm Forward, a national animal-welfare nonprofit, has invited Burgerville to join its Leadership Circle, a program intended to leverage the buying power of insti
Chipotle Mexican Grill announced the first class of the Chipotle Aluminaries Project, a seven-month-long accelerator program sponsored by the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation in partnership with Uncha
The chicken chain wants to reach its new goal by 2025.
Bellagreen celebrated Earth Week last year with a pledge to cut its plastic footprint in half by March 2020.
Just Salad, home of the World’s Largest Restaurant Reusable Program, has appointed Janani Lee as its first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer to lead the company in expanding its sustainability prac
Restaurants need to lead by example.
Wendy’s wants to continue to improve transparency, traceability, and accountability of its food.
The undertaking has been nearly two years in the making.
Did you know that the coffee we drink depends on the health, prosperity and well-being of 25 million coffee producers, 10 million hectares of coffee farms, and the continued ability of nature to su
The coffee crop is highly vulnerable to rising temperatures. In fact, one study showed that climate change has the potential to cut the world’s coffee-growing area in half by 2050.
Marking the November 1 deadline set out by the brand in July, CAVA - the Washington D.C.
Restaurants are rallying to ban plastic straws, and it could be the first step in a much larger movement.
Farm Burger, a restaurant group offering 100 percent grassfed, grass-finished beef burgers, has been recognized for its role in promoting good food and sustainable food systems on the annual Good F
Just ahead of National Coffee Day this Saturday, Dunkin’ and National DCP (NDCP), the franchisee-owned supply chain management cooperative, announced a five-year agreement with World Coffee Researc
Freight Farms, a leading innovator of smart hydroponic software and containerized growing environments, announced the addition of Grown by Freight Farms, an on-site vertical farming service, to its


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J Crew ad featuring five-year-old boy with neon pink toenails sparks debate about gender identity in children
A J Crew childrenswear ad featuring a young boy with his toenails painted pink has sparked debate across the U.S. about gender identity in children.
The image, which featured in an email mailer to customers last week, stars Jenna Lyons, the chain's president and creative director, and her son Beckett, five.
The mother-of-one is seen with a bottle of neon pink nail polish, painting her son's toenails.
Debate: J Crew has sparked questions about gender identity in children after mailing an ad featuring the store's creative director, Jenna Lyons, painting her five-year-old son's toenails neon pink
The headline reads: 'Saturday with Jenna... See how she and son Beckett go off duty in style.'
Below the picture is a quote from Ms Lyons which reads: 'Lucky for me, I ended up with a boy whose favorite color is pink. Toenail painting is way more fun in neon.'
But a number of psychiatrists have slammed the ad, claiming that promotion of such an image 'celebrates transgendered identity'.
Psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow told Fox News: 'This is a dramatic example of the way that our culture is being encouraged to abandon all trappings of gender identity.
Media commentator Erin Brown of the Media Research Center also had strong views, calling it 'blatant propaganda celebrating transgendered children.
In the pink: Ms Lyons has been credited with transforming J Crew's image - but some psychiatrists have slammed her new ad theme, claiming that it 'celebrates transgendered identity'
She wrote: 'Not only is Beckett likely to change his favorite color as early as tomorrow, Jenna's indulgence (or encouragement) could make life hard for the boy in the future.
'J Crew, known for its tasteful and modest clothing, apparently does not mind exploiting Beckett behind the facade of liberal, transgendered identity politics.'
It is an extreme view, and not one that is shared by Jo B. Paoletti, author of Pink and Blue: Telling the Girls From the Boys in America.
She told Fox News that critics of the ad are are overreacting.
She explained: 'Lots of kids, say seven and under, might ask their parents for something that would seem to be cross gender, and I think most parents, especially in the privacy of their own home might think, what’s the big deal?'
Ms Lyons, who joined J Crew in July last year, has been credited with transforming the company's image.
She became something of a celebrity in her own right after appearing on Oprah just a month later. Oprah Winfrey declared herself a fan of the brand, which is also a a favourite with Michelle Obama and her daughters, who have all worn J Crew for public appearances.
Neither J Crew or Ms Lyons responded to requests for comment on the new ad at the time of publication.
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