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60,000 to 70,000 books to choose from during 30th annual book fair at Wilson College
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Bargain hunters, bookworms and collectors from the Tri-State area and as far away as Chicago, Ill., stood in line for nearly an hour on Friday for the doors to open at the Friends of Legal Services Book Sale.
Now in its 30th year, the three-day event held at Wilson College’s Laird Hall in Chambersburg continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Proceeds from the book sale benefit Franklin County Legal Services and several other legal services and organizations that provide free legal assistance in civil cases to low-income families and survivors of domestic violence in Franklin, Fulton, Cumberland and Adams counties, according to Carolyn Carter, a volunteer with the Friends of Legal Services.
“We’ve sold about 1.5 million books in 30 years,” Carter said.
Over the last few years, she said the organization has sold about $50,000 worth of books.
With 60,000 to 70,000 books in 50 categories, Carter said there’s something for everyone.
“We have an especially good collection of children’s books and thousands of mysteries. I bet we have 10,000 mystery books here,” Carter said. “We have terrific science fiction, military (books), and we have thousands of romance novels.”
The sale also features collectors’ books and artwork at a silent reserve auction, she said. The bidding closes at 5 p.m. today.
Most paperbacks cost 50 cents, and typical hardbacks range from $1 to $4, Carter said.
Prices are also reduced further as the event progresses.
From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, everything is half price. And, on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., shoppers can fill a brown grocery bag full of books for $5, she said.
Martha Downey of Houstontown, Pa., had already taken eight bags of books to her car and lugged three more through the crowded book sale.
“I usually spend about $250 each time I come. I buy for my grandkids, my daughter, my son-in-law and for me,” Downey said.
Downey said she has been coming to the sale since her grown children were young.
She arrived at the first day of the sale 45 minutes before the doors opened.
“Books are the only thing I wait in line for,” she said.
James Buchanan High School library assistants Joyce Czuprynski and Amy Stine were stocking up on some new additions to their library.
“We found some great young adult books,” Czuprynski said.
Beth Baer of Chambersburg has been attending the sale for about 10 years.
“It’s really big, and they have such a good selection,” Baer said.
She was checking out books for herself and her husband, who loves the Civil War.
Since her husband couldn’t attend the book sale, she would snap a photo of the cover of the book with her phone.
“He’ll text me back and tell me what he wants,” Baer said.
Elta Brouse of Chambersburg and her daughter, Hannah, 17, were gobbling up the bargains.
Brouse had four books on religion, and Hannah had a bag full of miscellaneous books at the checkout area.
“It’s amazing how you can get this many books for $20, and if you buy one book (in a store), it would cost you that much,” Hannah said.
What: Friends of Legal Services Book Sale
Where: Wilson College’s Laird Hall in Chambersburg
When: Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m.


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Consumers may get carried away with such payment schemes, so service providers need to be reined in to protect the vulnerable groups.
With buy now pay later (BNPL) payment scheme picking up steam globally amid pandemic-driven economic strife, vulnerable consumers may be exposed to financial risks if they over-consume or over-extend credit lines.
One country has taken steps to minimize BNPL risks: the Singapore FinTech Association (SFA), guided by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, has announced the of a workgroup constituting BNPL fintech firms Atome, Grab, and Hoolah to mitigate risks of consumer over-indebtedness.
The BNPL Working Group is meant to ensure that such payment credit schemes will have a positive impact on Singapore consumers. It is expected to be launched in the second half of 2022.
The BNPL Framework will be a compendium of published documents that will address behavioral guidelines and enforcement mechanisms for organizations offering BNPL solutions.
The BNPL WG will hold itself and its members to the highest ethical and professional standards outlined by the BNPL Framework. Workgroup members will also adhere to the following guiding principles during deliberations around key issues:
- Upholding fairness, transparency, and inclusivity: All the varied views and concerns of stakeholders from the public and private sectors will be considered, to ensure that decision-making processes are as transparent as possible. Outcomes should serve all consumers well, especially those in vulnerable circumstances.
- Protecting consumer interests: A fair and ethical environment for the payment industry will serve to protect consumers’ interests, and instill confidence in consumers around BNPL services and providers.
- Focusing on outcomes: The goal is to achieve the best possible outcomes in terms of promoting innovation and consumer safeguards.
The BNPL WG has brought on other industry players such as Ablr, Fave, Latitude Pay, Pace, Rely, Split, and Zip. Collectively, these players offer potential benefits which include the improvement of financial inclusion for underbanked and underserved segments and the democratization of credit for the general populace.
Shadab Taiyabi, President of the SFA, said the workgroup will “ensure that consumer interests are protected, promote growth for industry players,” while Loo Siew Yee, Assistant Managing Director (Policy, Payments & Financial Crime), MAS, said the BNPL Framework “will be an important step forward to formalizing standards for the industry to ensure consumers’ interests continue to be protected.”

domain: news


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SMEs are the unsung heroes of any economy- producing numerous jobs, the backbone to big corporates to scale up and still struggling to sustain themselves. They are unable to innovate as fast as younger companies and lack the funds that larger corporations have.
As we enter a new decade, over half (58%) of small businesses in the UK anticipate a plateau, or for their business to struggle in the year ahead. Only one in four predict to see growth.
A recent report by takepayments limited surveyed 1,000 small business owners and sole traders across the country including decision-makers taking a snapshot of the current UK small business landscape. Here is a look at the key challenges for small businesses in 2020 and tips on how to approach these challenges.
Financial challenges are the biggest concern for businesses in 2020
Small businesses listed finance and tech issues at the top of the list, followed by changes in society. Finances are a major challenge, with 63% of small business owners being “self-taught” about taxes and invoicing. When asked in more detail, pricing and cash flow came up as key worries in this area.
- Financial challenges 36%
- Technology risks 21%
- Societal changes 13%
- Talent and people 12%
- Supply and logistics 5%
“Pricing structure and cash flow are both key to driving a business forward and yet for small businesses, many have had no or very little training. There are plenty of online courses available but, it’s not just training that can help.
Technology such as Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) systems can be beneficial in giving key insights real-time to business performance, saving time on accounts and getting a true reflection of what products and services achieve the best margin.”Sandra Rowley, Head of Marketing at takepayments Limited
The study revealed that 49% of small businesses have seen a decrease in consumer spending and so implementing technology to improve your business could be a smart step to help overcome a variety of finance related challenges.
Is there a small business tech gap?
Technology-related challenges are the second biggest challenge for small businesses – 1 in 5 named it their main concern for 2020. Keeping up with technology was a key issue, as was cybersecurity, compliance and online marketing.
All three of these areas are specialist skills and a small business won’t always have the resource available to be “experts” in each. Social media marketing, in particular, stands out as a key area where small businesses could see quick wins in 2020…
- 45% want to try more social media marketing but lack the knowledge and the same percentage say they are worried about keeping up with social media marketing
- 52% say social media has helped their business grow and gain new customers, proving the potential of this marketing strategy
Focus on sustainability is here to stay
51% of small businesses have noticed that their clients/customers are caring more about sustainability over the past year. This trend is set to grow further in 2020 and businesses need to make it a consideration in all areas, from supply chain to décor, employee wellbeing, and product packaging.
How to cope in a cashless society?
Currently, 42% say that a move towards a cashless society would be “bad news” for their business, despite the benefits that can come with this. This is likely because they do not have systems in place to support the trends.
More than five million people lead a close to cashless lifestyle according to a BBC report and so making sure businesses are prepared for cashless technology will be crucial for the year and beyond.
There will be plenty of change over the year following Britain’s exit from the EU, so make sure to stay up to date with news. Especially if your business is reliant on imports and exports. 42% are worried about potential changes to rules regarding this.


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- Simu Liu has been revealed to be playing one of three versions of Ken in the upcoming “Barbie” movie.
- The other two will be played by Ryan Gosling and Ncuti Gatwa.
- Margot Robbie, who is set to play Barbie, won’t be the only one either, with Issa Rae and Hari Nef taking on two other versions of the character.
Ever since Simu Liu was announced to be in the upcoming live-action “Barbie” movie, fans wondered where he’d fit into the world of the Mattel dolls – most recognizable by their classic blond hair and blue eye features. Is the world ready for an Asian Ken?
As it turns out, the upcoming film is taking notes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe that Liu broke out in as its first Asian superhero, Shang-Chi. A multiverse is coming to Barbie, and it will involve three separate Kens, according to New York Times’ Kyle Buchanan, who divulged new insights from the Cannes Film Festival to Twitter on Wednesday.
Simu Liu reveals that script for his upcoming project ‘Barbie’ was one of the best his agent ever read
- Simu Liu revealed his reason for joining the cast of the upcoming “Barbie” movie, starring Margot Robbie.
- Liu described the film as “wild” and “incredibly unique,” adding, “I wish I could just show you what we do day to day because it’s crazy.”
- “Barbie” is expected to release on July 21, 2023.
Simu Liu is going from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a life in plastic. And it’s fantastic.
The “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” star recently revealed it was a junior agent from his management team that pushed him to audition for the upcoming “Barbie” film after finding the script to be one of the best he’s ever read.
- Mattel’s Barbie Tribute Collection, which celebrates individuals who have “helped shape and impact culture,” includes a Vera Wang Barbie, released on May 5.
- Vera Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer well known for her bridal wear designs who was honored as “Womenswear Designer of the Year” in 2005.
- Wang said she was “overwhelmed” after being asked to join the Barbie Tribute Collection and is honored to be represented by “the ultimate icon.”
- The Vera Wang Barbie doll can be purchased online for $40.00 on the Mattel Creations website.
Mattel released a Barbie doll in honor of Chinese American fashion icon Vera Wang as part of its Barbie Tribute Collection on May 5.
The Tribute Collection celebrates the legacies of individuals who have helped “shape and impact culture.” Wang is the latest to be added to the Barbie collection in honor of her impact on the fashion industry.
- This past week, toy company Mattel, Inc. released a new collection of ethnically diverse barbies modeled after several notable businesswomen.
- The first-ever South Asian American Barbie revealed was based on Deepica Mutyala, the founder and CEO of makeup brand Live Tinted.
- Dubbed the “Desi Barbie,” the new doll represents multicultural beauty and is pictured wearing some of the brand’s most popular products.
- Other women who inspired the collection include Nigerian American fashion designer Autumn Adigbo and Korean American entrepreneur Carol Han.
The first-ever “Desi Barbie” has been introduced in honor of Women’s History Month.
Last week, toy company Mattel, Inc. released their newest collection of ethnically diverse dolls in celebration of Women’s History Month. The South Asian American Barbie was revealed to have been modeled after Deepica Mutyala, the founder and CEO of makeup brand Live Tinted.
Simu Liu confirms his role in ‘Barbie’ movie starring Margot Robbie: ‘I guess it’s salad for dinner’
- Simu Liu confirmed his casting in the upcoming film “Barbie” by tweeting a joke about only eating “salad for dinner.”
- Liu will be joining Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, who will be playing Barbie and Ken.
- Details regarding the plot of the film or Liu’s role have not yet been confirmed.
To officially announce he would be joining the cast of “Barbie,” set to be directed by Greta Gerwig, Simu Liu tweeted that he will be eating “salad for dinner.”
Liu uploaded the tweet to his official Twitter page earlier today, confirming his role in the film.
- Mattel is set to release a Barbie Lunar New Year doll in partnership with Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei and facilitated by the Asian Couture Federation.
- The doll will be available for purchase starting on Jan. 24 for $75.
Mattel has launched a Lunar New Year Barbie doll in partnership with world-renowned Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei.
The doll, set to release today, features Guo’s “signature embroidery detailing,” with intricate designs of golden phoenixes and water and wave motifs that traditionally appear on attire worn by Chinese royalty, according to Mattel.
Mattel has issued a statement regarding its alleged lack of an Asian doll in its Tokyo Olympics Barbie collection.
The backlash: The latest wave of criticism started after Barbie repromoted the five-doll collection on July 28. Social media users alleged that none of the toys looked “Asian,” despite the fact that the Games were in Tokyo and that Asians had been winning medals from day one.
Barbie’s new collection of “medical role model” dolls highlighting healthcare workers features an Asian American doll designed after Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz.
Cruz’s doll: Cruz, an internal medicine physician from Las Vegas, was chosen as the U.S. representative due to her work advocating for Asian Americans, reported Fox Business.
Barbie is being called out on social media after the Mattel brand repromoted its Tokyo 2020 collection without visible “Asian” representation.
The collection: First unveiled in February 2020, the collection was designed by Mattel as part of a licensing agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It features five dolls reflecting five sports debuting or returning in the Tokyo Games, namely (1) baseball/softball, (2) sport climbing, (3) karate, (4) skateboarding and (5) surfing.
Mattel designed a new Barbie doll modeled after tennis star Naomi Osaka as part of their Role Model series.
Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, the first Malaysian artistic gymnast to qualify for the Olympics in 20 years, has been named a “Shero” by American toy company Mattel.
Farah, 26, is also the first Malaysian woman to have a Barbie modeled after her, according to SAYS.
Jian Yang is an avid Barbie doll collector who happens to be quite talented in designing and creating fancy dresses for his Barbie dolls.
A self-confessed “toy nerd,” the 38-year-old collector from Singapore has been building his collection since he was a teenager. With over 6,000 Barbie dolls (plus thousands of other assorted dolls and action figures), Yang is known as one of the world’s biggest Barbie collectors.


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Connecting the Plug to Emerging Media
Tim Hanlon is used to puzzled looks when he hands people his business card. Few have ever heard of his title -- director of emerging contacts -- and fewer still understand what he does.
Hanlon, 35, doesn't mind explaining. In his role at Starcom IP, the online division of media-buying company Starcom Worldwide, Hanlon studies new ways for advertisers to get their messages in front of consumers. If you think putting ads on fruit is the limit (both ABC TV and Web site Ask Jeeves have tried this tactic), Hanlon has news for you.
Interactive TV, handheld devices, personal video recorders, and other techie gadgets all have the potential to change how advertising works, he says. His job is to figure out which of these innovations might stick in the marketplace so advertisers can take advantage of them. "I trace a road map to this space, just like an equity analyst would at an investment bank," he says.
There are a handful of Hanlons in the advertising business these days. Over the past two years, media-buying companies owned by such conglomerates as McCann-Erickson, Bcom3 (the holding company created by the merger of Leo Burnett and the MacManus Group), Grey Global, and WPP Group have recruited senior-level directors to research new forms of media that go way beyond the Web.
No one knows exactly what to call these seers, which explains their quirky titles. All of these futurists share years of experience in media buying and planning: the art of crafting the right mix of ads on TV, radio, billboards, Web sites, and other outlets so a client reaches as many of its target consumers as possible. Now they've been charged with answering the question: What's next?
THE OLD ROUTINE.
Their answers could have big implications in one of the most competitive businesses in the world. For decades, media buying was fairly routine: An agency's creative team would dream up a clever campaign for a client -- then leave it to in-house media buyers to crunch the data and find the best outlets to promote the campaign.
During the past several years, however, several large agencies have spun off their media-buying and planning units into separate companies. Starcom emerged from ad agency Leo Burnett in 1998, for instance, while Young & Rubicam formed Media Edge in 1997. The motive behind such spin-offs was simple: Expand the client base.
Media-buying companies now compete for an advertiser's business just like an agency fights for its creative account. Some clients keep all of their work within the same advertising family, but others don't: Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, for example, retains ad shop Goodby, Silverstein & Partners to handle creative work for the Discover card but goes to Starcom for media buying.
GOLD IN THE BANK.
Suddenly, media-buying companies have a huge incentive to differentiate themselves from competitors -- and hiring futurists is one way to do that. "It gives them luster for sure," says John Sweeney, advertising professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "And if they see the right combination a year ahead of everyone else, it will be gold in their bank."
Plenty of "gumshoe investigation" is needed to discover that gold, says Starcom IP's Hanlon. Indeed, emerging-media specialists say they spend the bulk of their time attending trade shows, meeting with companies that are developing interactive technologies, and testing new products to weed out duds. Then they share their knowledge with staffers and clients through road-show presentations or research papers.
Universal McCann's director of media futures, Mitch Oscar, writes a weekly newsletter about important domestic developments. "It's not just evangelizing the space," adds Director of Science and Technology Russ Booth at Grey Global's Mediacom. With so many companies pitching new technologies and services, he says, part of his job is to help clients evaluate which ones may stick around for the long term.
The whole idea, of course, is to sign up advertisers for pilot tests. That isn't an easy task given that market penetration for many new-media technologies is low. Still, some companies are willing to give emerging media a chance. Pharmaceutical maker GlaxoSmithKline recently agreed to advertise on Wink Communications, an interactive-TV provider, after several months of prodding by David Adelman, director of convergence at Digital Edge, the digital-media division of WPP's Media Edge. Wink will run GlaxoSmithKline commercials that let viewers request additional product information by clicking on an icon with their remote control.
Adelman got his start in advertising 12 years ago as a media researcher at Young & Rubicam. Before his current gig as director of convergence, he led the technology practice at Media Edge, overseeing tech support and developing an application that filters data on media spending to create reports for staffers. When Media Edge CEO Beth Gordon asked him about a year ago to switch gears and study emerging media, it was a welcome change.
"I was up to my neck in wires and servers," Adelman says. His new job is more satisfying, he adds, because it brings him closer to the company's core product: media buying and planning.
Starcom IP, for one, has decided to expand its emerging-media practice. This month Hanlon was joined by four staffers who will handle direct-marketing, legal, research, and creative aspects of emerging-media projects.
The direct-marketing person, for instance, will make sure a client running an interactive-TV commercial has adequate customer-service support to answer incoming consumer queries. The legal expert will handle consumer privacy issues that arise from interactive advertising. "We think this area is going to be a big part of our future," says Starcom IP head Rishad Tobaccowala.
Could be, but much depends on consumers. Will they really flock to a device, such as TiVo, that pauses live TV? Or to a wireless gizmo that beams a message to their set-top box so it records an episode of E.R. while they're away from home? "For every killer app, there are many more silly toys," Sweeney says. Emerging-media futurists -- and the companies that employ them -- are betting they'll be able to tell the difference.
By Jennifer Gill in New York
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Walmart launched Get on the Shelf today. It's a contest.
Anyone can enter for the chance to get their product sold on Walmart.com and the stores as well.
Any product in any category currently covered by Walmart is eligible ranging from housewares and electronics to toys and apparel.
The nationwide contest is the latest announcement from @WalmartLabs and similar to the popular American Idol television show, contestants will create videos of their latest inventions and the public will vote online for the winners.
HOW IT WILL WORK:A two-round public voting process will determine the top three products to be sold on Walmart.com.* The Grand Prize winner's product will be sold on Walmart.com and featured on the site's home page, and also get valuable shelf space in select Walmart stores across the country.*
The contest opened with a sneak preview a few weeks ago and
already has nearly 60 entries including a new hot sauce, cube game, hair
accessory, iPad pillow and paw puffs for dogs from individuals across the
Contestants can submit an entry video at http://GetOnTheShelf.com until February 22
when the submission round ends.
Videos will be screened for appropriateness
before posting them to the site. The first round of voting will take place March
7th through April 4th at which point the top 10 finalists will be announced.
The second round of voting will take place April 11th – April 24, at which point the top three contestants and grand prize winner will be announced.
All voting will happen at http://getontheshelf.com. The contest is only open to participants in the United States. Walmart employees are not eligible for the contest. Products already carried by Walmart or Walmart.com are not eligible for entry.
For more information, rules and an introductory video about Get on the Shelf, visit http://getontheshelf.com.


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Auditors are reminding companies to take a close look at their accounts payable to be sure they haven’t inadvertently created debt that might alter leverage ratios and violate other loan covenants.
As companies and their lenders have innovated in recent years in search of new ways to access working capital, structured payable programs have become more popular, says Robert Rostan, CFO and principal at education firm Training The Street. It’s a program where a company arranges with a lender for its vendors to be paid under a factoring arrangement.
Depending on the specific facts and circumstances, such arrangements could turn short-term accounts payable into longer-term debt that requires different treatment in financial statements. It could also change the equation in leverage ratios and affect other loan agreements that set limits on the amount of debt the company is allowed to carry. “Banks and finance companies have been aggressive pushing for these, and it’s the end of the year,” says Rostan. “These things tend to sneak up on you.”
A recent alert from PwC says structured payable programs are increasingly popular, especially with companies that have big buying power and are looking for ways to lengthen payment terms of their trade payables. Working with a third party, such as a bank or other finance company, the company arranges for the vendor to monetize the receivable. That way, the vendor is paid, and the buyer owes the payable to the bank instead of the vendor.
On the balance sheet, the difference between a short-term trade payable and a long-term debt arrangement is not critical, says Rostan. “How it goes through the cash flow statement is even more important,” he says. “The SEC has been concerned about cash flow presentation, whether or not you’re accurately reporting into the three categories of cash flow.” Those three categories are operating, investing, and financing activities. Debt belongs in financing activities, while trade payables are classified as operating activities.
Charles Goldstein, managing director at consulting firm Protiviti, says he sees such arrangements in distress situations where companies are looking for creative ways to stretch their liquidity. It’s also a means by which companies can free up cash to finance growth, he says.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve continued to get questions as banks have approached companies with some ideas on how to arrange their cash. Companies are always looking for ways to arrange their cash better.”
Donald Doran, National Office Leader, PwC
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve continued to get questions as banks have approached companies with some ideas on how to arrange their cash,” says Donald Doran, PwC’s national office leader in financial services. “Companies are always looking for ways to arrange their cash better.”
Accounting guidance has little to say about how to classify such structured payable arrangements, says Brian Markley, a partner in transaction services at professional services firm SolomonEdwards. “There’s not a specific GAAP standard to address structured payables, so a company needs to look at the substance of the transactions,” he says.
In the absence of specific accounting rules, accountants and auditors are still relying on a handful of speeches by staff members at the Securities and Exchange Commission roughly a decade ago, says Mark Scoles, a partner at Grant Thornton. “Oftentimes it’s very facts-and-circumstances specific,” he says. “We’ve seen more of these in the past two years than in the five previous years. The banks are out there selling these products and services.”
TRADE PAYABLE OR DEBT?
Below, PwC gives companies some considerations to weigh in determining whether an obligation is akin to a trade payable or a debt.
Notwithstanding these considerations, the presence of certain terms may suggest that the obligation is, in substance, debt. These include:
An incremental increase in the price of the goods to compensate vendors who provide extended payment terms
The original liability being extinguished, such as when a company charges the payable balance to a credit card
Interest accruing on the balance prior to the due date (although penalties for non-payment may be imposed after that)
The bank having the right to draw on the company’s other accounts without its permission if the designated payment account has insufficient funds, if not part of the company’s normal banking arrangement
Altering the trade payable’s seniority in the company’s capital structure
Requiring the company to post collateral on the trade payable
Default on invoice payment under the arrangement triggering a cross-default (other than a general debt obligation cross-default)
To distinguish the proper classification of structured payables, accounting experts say there are a number of indicators to consider, no one of which provides a clear-cut answer by itself. “If you’re extending the terms, if the price is changing, if it will cause default of other debt,” says Rostan. “One of these things is not going to break the camel’s back, but a bunch of them will make it look like debt.”
Doran says the analysis should look at various terms of the arrangement. For starters, the analysis considers the jurisdiction in which the company is operating and whether there are standard terms that vendors have with suppliers regarding how long until payment is due and whether there are discounts for early payment. “That would be a typical trade payable,” he says. “It’s what’s on the invoice and it’s standard for that particular jurisdiction.”
Add to that a review of the arrangement itself. “If you start having guarantees, if you start to pay the bank any fees related to the arrangement, if you start to have different rights and obligations than you did when you had an invoice with a payable,” those might be indicators that the structured payable should be classified as debt, says Doran.
Another important factor, says Scoles, is whether the buyer’s rights with the vendor change as a result of the structured payable arrangement. “Did their rights to return goods that were normal returns change in any way?” he says. “Or damaged goods? Do they have to pay that payable regardless because now it’s payable to a bank? Those are the types of things you have to consider.”
Goldstein says it’s critical for companies anytime they enter into a structured payment arrangement, or even consider it, to assure the finance folks are communicating with the accounting folks to flag it for accounting purposes. “Companies need to make preparations for this beforehand,” he says. “It’s going to affect how payments are reflected in the system, so there are extra steps to make sure it is accounted for correctly.”
It’s also important, says Goldstein, to assure the other parties to the arrangement are treating it the same way in their books. “You can’t have one treat it as a payable and another treat it as a loan,” he says. “There has to be symmetry.” Finally, the arrangements also have implications for bankruptcy proceedings, should that ever come into play. “Under preference in bankruptcy proceedings, within 90 days of the filing, all payments made to creditors are subject to avoidance,” he says. “This type of arrangement muddies that look-back period.”
Scoles says it’s critical for accounting staff to recognize they won’t find written guidance in GAAP to tell them what to do. “If you go trolling through the [Accounting Standards] Codification, you’re not going to find anything that’s going to help you,” he says. “If there’s a three-party arrangement, you need to be on the lookout for it and assure it is classified correctly.”


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The reports were spot on. The LG Chem battery plant in Holland, MI – which was intended to make batteries for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, but has not yet started production – is not only furloughing its 200 employees, those breaks are "extending and expanding," according to reports on local TV news station WZZM 13, citing statements from the company. The rolling furloughs started April 30.
Lg Chem Battery Plant
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently announced that LG Chem will expand the state's lithium-ion supply chain by constructing an electrolyte production facility alongside the battery maker's $303-million facility in Holland, MI. The 600,000 square-foot battery cell plant is already under construction and LG Chem expects it to be fully operational in 2012. The electrolyte production plant is in the early design stage and LG Chem is expected to make a more formal progress announcement in the we
GS Yuasa, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors launched a joint venture (JV) back in 2007 to manufacture lithium-ion batteries for the i-MiEV. Those batteries have been produced and the vehicle, that diminutive i-MiEV, is now available for purchase in some countries. While Mitsubishi's battery-powered plans may have began with the i-MiEV, the company's future is filled with more electric dreams.


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CHICAGO, IL— In the startup world, investors hold special powers… for one, the moolah. That, along with their vast connections and business smarts, can take a fledgling startup from idea stage to a multi-million dollar company.
Sought after like rockstars, these influential people not only invest in, but mentor and nurture, the few early-stage companies fortunate enough to be included in their portfolios.
The investors we spoke with stay atop the newest trends, surround themselves with talented people, and seek out the deals which, they hope, will one day lead to the big exit. So, what are they thinking now?
Five of the most influential people in Chicago’s startup ecosystem — investors Howard Tullman, Karin O’Connor, Paul Lee, Kevin Willer, and Matt McCall — reveal how they got their start as early stage investors, some of their notable trends in 2012, the companies they are keeping an eye on today, and their forecasts for 2013.
Learn how the current so-called “Series A Crunch,” or shakeout — when many unprofitable startups are expected to disappear, will affect new companies looking for funding in the coming year.
More info on BLACKLINE REVIEW: Chicago Investors Share Startup Trends
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The Chevrolet Volt has been in the news recently due to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's revelation that one of the crash-tested Volts caught fire while sitting in a storage facility weeks after a collision. While the issue only affects Volts that were in an accident, the potential danger has shined the spotlight onto the Volt as a whole.
Even before the safety issue with the fire arose, many in the industry had been questioning the viability of the electric vehicle, which arrived to much fanfare last year. General Motors set a sales target of 10,000 vehicles, but it now appears they will fall significantly short of that target, as the model is on track to sell 8,000 units by year's end, reports The Wall Street Journal. And with potential customers now possibly scared off due to the fires, it could actually be less than that.
"We're getting a lot of interest, we're just not getting a lot of buyers," William Willis, a Chevy dealer in Delaware, told the news source. "Customers come in, they are wowed by the display, the quick acceleration. It's just going to take a while for the American public to accept the price."
Whether you have a brand new Volt or a used car that's decades old, its important to keep everything functioning correctly through regular auto maintenance, including brake service and tune-ups.


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Manufactured goods valued at N577.61bn were unsold last year as the COVID-19 hit patronage, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria said on Tuesday.
MAN, in its bi-annual review of the economy, said the inventory of unsold finished manufactured goods increased to N303.22bn in the second half of 2020 from N202.16bn in the same period of 2019 and N275.39bn in the first half of 2020.
“Inventory of unsold manufactured goods in the sector totaled N577.61bn in 2020 as against N402.42bn recorded in 2019,” it said.
The association said the increase in inventory in the period was attributed to the general low consumption and renewed imports in the economy as global economies generally opened after months of lockdown.
It said, “Electrical and electronic sectoral group accounted for over 33 per cent of the total inventory of unsold manufactured products in period.
“The group are having the challenges of low patronage, high smuggling and products counterfeiting which rubbed off negatively on inventory.”
MAN said a total of 3,903 jobs were lost in the manufacturing sector in the second half of last year, noting that the pandemic had a crushing impact on the sector.
“At the moment and following the impact of COVID-19, productivity in the sector is at the lowest,” it said, adding that the sector required deliberately orchestrated action to rekindle significant productive activities.
It said at the end of the second half of 2020, an estimated 1,655,331 historical cumulative jobs were created in the sector in the last eight years.
“A total of 3,451 new manufacturing jobs were created in the second half of 2020 compared to 10,735 jobs created in the corresponding half of 2019 and 5,241 jobs in the first half of the year. However, a total of 3,903 jobs were lost in the sector in the period,” MAN said.
According to the report, manufacturing investment declined to N56.44bn in the second half of 2020 from N257.66bn recorded in the corresponding half of 2019 and N62.08bn in the first half of 2020.
It said, “Manufacturing investment totaled N118.52bn in 2020 as against N496.11bn achieved in 2019.
“Manufacturing investment declined in the period following the depressing fallouts from COVID-19 that gave no impetus for new investments in the sector.”
The association said manufacturing production value declined to N2.36tn in the second half of 2020 from N7.38tn in the corresponding half of 2019.
It said, “However, it increased by N0.32tn or 15.5 per cent when compared with N2.04tn recorded in the first half of the year. Production value in the sector totalled N4.4tn in 2020 as against N11.99tn achieved in 2019.
“The uptick in manufacturing production in the second half over the performance in the first half of the year was due to the opening up of the economy for businesses after over five months of lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.”
MAN said electricity supply from the distribution companies to the sector increased to 12 hours on daily average in the second half of last year from 10 hours per day on the average in the first half.
It however said expenditure on alternative energy in the period under review increased to N57.75bn from N34.70bn in the same period of 2019 and N24.16bn in the first half of 2020.
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Last Updated: April 05, 2023, 08:00 IST
BRUSSELS: Japanese gaming company Nintendo has agreed to repair for free beyond the legal guarantee period unresponsive console controllers following complaints from European consumer groups, the European Commission said on Tuesday.
Nintendo found itself in the EU spotlight after the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and nine national consumer groups in 2021 complained to the EU executive about its Nintendo Switch console, saying they deteriorate too quickly.
This technical problem known as the ‘Joy-Con drift’ affected both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite consoles.
The Commission said the Japanese company has now agreed to address the problem.
“Nintendo agreed to offer and indicate clearly that defective Joy-Con controllers will be repaired without charge by Nintendo’s repair centers, irrespective of whether this has been caused by a defect or by wear and tear, and even if the manufacturer’s guarantee given by Nintendo has expired,” it said in a statement.
BEUC welcomed the announcement but criticised it as a short-term solution.
“This is only a short-term fix that will allow consumers to have their defective products repaired for free. Yet Nintendo can still sell the console with the potential bug,” BEUC Deputy Director General Ursula Pachl said in a statement.
Read all the Latest Tech News here
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)


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Ford likely to build SUVs in Sonora, says state official
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After Ford Motor Co. announced that it will cease the manufacturing of sedan cars for the U.S. market, Jorge Vidal Ahumada, Sonora's secretary of Economy, said that the company's officials informed him that in the coming months it will be decided which vehicle will be manufactured at the Hermosillo plant, where the Fusion and Lincoln MKZ are currently produced.
Vidal affirmed that it will be in two or three months when it becomes known which new project will be developed in the capital of Sonora, but it is possible that it is an SUV or a crossover. This version coincides with those of local media which affirm that the facility is already being adapted for the production of a compact SUV.
"At the moment, the plan is to continue producing the Fusion and the MKZ by 2020 at a rate of 67 units per hour during two shifts," he told local press during a conference.
The official added that the staff of the factory will remain at 2,500 workers. “After having eliminated the third shift at the end of last year, no further changes are expected in this area,” Vidal said.


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11th January, 2019 1 Min read
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Attackers believed to be working out of Iran have manipulated the DNS records of dozens of organizations around the globe to intercept and record their network traffic in what appears to be a large and growing espionage campaign.
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Among those affected are commercial entities, government organizations, Internet infrastructure providers, and telecommunications firms in North America, North Africa, and the Middle East.
FireEye, which has been tracking the threat for the last several months, this week described the DNS hijacking campaign as notable for its almost unprecedented scale.
In a report yesterday, the security vendor said that it has so far not been able to attribute the attacks to any particular threat group. However, available evidence — including IP addresses and the machines used to intercept, record, and forward network traffic — suggest the attacker is based in Iran. Some of the organizations that the group has targeted so far, including governments in the Middle East, are also entities that would be of interest to the Iranian government, according to FireEye.
Read more: Dark Reading
EX.CO is a video technology platform that enables publishers to monetize video content on websites.
Justt is a chargeback mitigation startup based in Tel Aviv. Chargebacks, as defined, are demands by a credit card provider for a retailer to reimburse losses on fraudulent or disputed transactions. Justt’s objective is to assist merchants worldwide in combating false chargebacks using its proprietary artificial intelligence technology.
The cloud used to be viewed as a place of significant cost savings: rather than purchasing and maintaining dozens of server stacks, organizations could outsource this and purchase compute power on an as-needed basis. In the ensuing rush to cloud architecture, however, many companies simply lifted-and-shifted their old financial bad habits. The sheer speed of […]
Cloud computing has transformed more than individual app architectures: it’s granted both start-ups and market leaders an equal platform for innovation. New products are no longer dependent upon complex revenue-draining in-house server stacks. Instead, cloud-native disruptors such as Uber and Airbnb have been able to harness the once-unthinkable degrees of agility, scalability, and cost-efficiency that […]
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Technological disruption is no longer news to any industry. Terms such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, robotics, 3D printing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are increasingly becoming commonplace.
These disruptive technologies, asserts a new study, can transform Africa if duly utilised. However, concerns linger that Africa may not be entirely prepared to reap the benefits of the so-called Fourth Industrial revolution (4IR).
In a recent Brookings Institution study he co-authored with senior fellow Landry Signé, former Central Bank governor Prof Ndung’u, now an executive director at the African economic research consortium, says that so far, “it does not appear that Africa has yet claimed the 21st century, as it still lags behind improvements in ICT sector that have been largely driven by expanding mobile digital financial services.
Yet it is not all doom and gloom for Africa. The region had nearly half of global mobile money accounts in 2018 and will see the fastest growth in mobile money through 2025. Mobile technologies and services have generated 1.7 million direct jobs (both formal and informal), contributed to $144 billion (Sh14.4 trillion) of economic value (8.5 percent of the GDP of sub-Saharan Africa), and contributed $15.6 billion (Sh1.6 trillion) to the public sector through taxation, the study show.
However, the continent can do more to harness massive opportunities that ride on technological advances. Digitisation, the report says, has resolved information asymmetry problems in the financial system and labour market, thus increasing efficiency, certainty, and security in an environment where information flow is critical for economic growth and job creation.
It further says that adoption of AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain can enhance opportunities for data gathering and analysis for more targeted and effective poverty reduction strategies.
“Since blockchains are immutable, fraud, and thus the cost of risk, is reduced, it also has immense opportunities for job creation in Africa. Given the informal sector is estimated to constitute 55 percent of sub-Saharan Africa GDP, the tools can be transformational.”
Through mobile technologies, the transformational power of formal financial services through mobile phones, such as Kenya’s M-Pesa, reaching the underserved, including women, who are important drivers for sustainable poverty eradication, will be fully felt, according to the study.
“These financial services allow households to save in secure instruments to enlarge their asset base and escape cycles of poverty.”
By 2030, Africa’s potential workforce will be among the world’s largest, and so, paired with the needed infrastructure and skills for innovation and technology use, the 4IR represents a massive opportunity for growth.
Already, the continent’s working population virtual savings products and short-term credit platforms include Kenya’s M-Shwari, KCB M-Pesa, and Equitel, M-Pawa in Tanzania, and Mokash in Uganda and Rwanda. Mokash has been extended to Côte d’Ivoire. The study says mobile technologies and services generated 8.6 percent of GDP in sub-Saharan Africa and supported almost 3.5 million jobs in 2018. By 2023, the report adds, mobile’s contribution will reach almost $185 billion, 9.1 percent of GDP.
Population is becoming better educated too, and prepared to seize the opportunities provided by the 4IR. For example, the share of workers with at least a secondary education is set to increase from 36 percent in 2010 to 52 percent in 2030.
Digitisation, the report notes, has also impacted economic growth through inclusive finance, enabling the unbanked to enter the formal system through retail electronic payments platforms and virtual savings and credit supply technological platforms.
“More broadly, digitization is enabling entrepreneurs and businesses to rethink business models that are more impactful, sustainable, and connected to other sectors of the economy. With fintech, digitization has gone beyond the financial sector to affect the real sector and households, transforming product designs and business models across market segments,” the study says
“Businesses are able to design products and trade online, and individuals are able to operate financial services and payments for shopping and investments. The government is also migrating to online platforms to conveniently provide public services.”
It adds: “Increased financial inclusion contributes to greater capital accumulation and investment, hence potential for employment creation.”
Africa has yet to harness the full potential of its agricultural sector too, and 4IR technologies provide an opportunity to do so, the research says. Farming alone accounts for 60 percent of total employment in sub-Saharan Africa, and the food system is projected to add more jobs than the rest of the economy between 2010 and 2025.
The study notes that information on competitive pricing, monitored crop information, disease prevention tips, and disaster mitigation, support has the potential to transform the agriculture sector to improve income, production, and demand throughout the continent. Furthermore, as incomes rise across the continent, growing consumer demand for food and beverages will coincide with business-to-business growth in agro-processing.


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AMD Radeon RX 480 owners have discovered a trick that lets them upgrade their graphics cards to the RX 580.
AMD has unveiled its new Radeon RX 500-series graphics cards.
We compared the South African pricing and specifications of the latest desktop processors from Intel and AMD.
South African retailers have listed pre-order pricing for AMD’s Ryzen 5 processors.
AMD has released a solution for reduced Ryzen processor performance on Windows 10.
AMD’s Ryzen 7 processors are competing against Intel in the high-end desktop market.
“AMD slides” detailing the performance and pricing of Ryzen 5 processors have leaked online.
AMD has unveiled its new Naples processor aimed at disrupting the high-performance server market.
A group of professional overclockers at AMD’s Ryzen showcase have broken the Cinebench R15 world record for eight-core processors.
We compared a single graphics card from each architecture, focusing on GPUs of the same performance class.
Here’s one page every PC gamer should have bookmarked.
AMD has announced that it will be showing a sneak peek of its new Zen CPUs.
Despite rumours concerning AMD and HDR limiting, the problem actually lies with the HDMI standard.
Let’s find out how the new generation of budget graphics cards stack up against each other.
Check out this list of HDR compatible graphics cards to see if you’ll be able to experience the next level of graphics technology.
Thinking about buying a new graphics card? Read this first.
This is what to expect from AMD’s upcoming Vega graphics cards.
Nvidia graphics cards haven’t aged nearly as well as AMD GPUs.
Can this generation of AMD processors finally topple the mighty Intel?
Alienware has unveiled its new lineup of Pascal and Polaris-powered gaming laptops.


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The dual-core Sony Xperia S and AT&T branded 4G LTE capable Sony Xperia Ion handsets drew much attention on the CES 2012 and It looks like we’ll have some more pretty interesting Sony handsets arriving in this year. Just a few moments ago, we published a story about the Sony LT22i Nypon handset’s appearance on NenaMark website, now we have some more details about the Sony ST25i ‘Kumquat’ handset’s AnTuTu benchmark scores. Sony ST25i Kumquat has also appeared on recently leaked roadmap.
According to the rumors, the Sony ST25i "Kumquat" is expected to be featuring 3.5-inch Reality Display with Bravia Engine with 480 X 854 pixels of resolution, powered by a dual-core ST-Ericsson NovaThor U8500 clocked at 1GHz frequency, equipped with a 5 megapixel rear-facing Exmor R sensor, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11 Wi-Fi b/g/n connectivity and it will be running Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread OS. Hopefully, it will be shipped with Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich OS.
Looks like it is a low-end spec’d Sony-branded handset. There is no word on when the Sony ST25i “Kumquat” will be released, but stay tuned and we’ll keep you posted.


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MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has acquired 51% of shares of the privately owned company Flintstone Technology Ltd.
Flintstone specializes in technology and products within the mooring and fluid handling business.
“Offshore operators and field owners are looking for cost and weight optimized technologies in order to be more efficient. Flintstone has developed several products that reduce offshore installation time, bring weight savings onboard the floaters, and in some cases even contribute to more safe operations,” says Høye Høyesen, vice president, MacGregor Advanced Offshore Solutions. “Our ownership stake in Flintstone is a good fit for providing these solutions together. Flintstone’s offering complements MacGregor’s portfolio in the offshore segment and also expands our existing product portfolio into new market areas.”
“We are very happy to join MacGregor. We see a lot of potential we can bring along and add value for the customers. Becoming part of a bigger company brings also many benefits, both for customers and our employees,” said Andrew Clayson, managing director, Flintstone Technology.
BW Offshore retains a minority stake in Flintstone.


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The English court announced today its results, against what Sule be his tradition of years, in which he waits for general meeting of last Sunday of August., company won in year 2017-2018 (saw in February, after sales) 202 million euro S, 24.9% more than a year before. Turnover grew 2.8%, until 15,935,000,000, with what it signed its fourth consecutive year upwards. At end of year, company, which invested about 350 million, had 92,078 employees in staff, 0.4% more. That is to say, it earns 2,193 euros per employee.
In 2016, net result was affected by provision of 178.4 million that company had to provide to cope with its preretirement plan. Without it, benefit would have been that year of 294 million. The gross Operating income (EBITDA) of 1.054 billion, 7.4% more, and net (EBIT) of 412 million, higher in 28.9% of previous year.
"The bases have been set for group to return to its best times and to live a new golden stage," said Fuenets of company, which is still far from results of 2007, before outbreak of menu, when it won 747.6 million , billed 17,989,000,000 and achieved an EBITDA of about 1.4 billion company plans to recover that figure "within a reasonable time".
The English court raises a new bond issue for second half of year, while its possible exit to bag remains frozen. Company sources have underlined that group strives to meet corporate governance standards to match listed companies.
These fuenets attribute figures of 2017 to evolution of business and to improvements in management, which have allowed to raise gross margin ( difference between what y buy and sell) and to contain operating expenses. Among improvements of management highlights decision to merge Hipercor with department stores El Corte Ingles.
In proforma figures, that is to say, as if already in 2016 had operated jointly, sales of department stores rebounded 3.2%, until 11,396,500,000, and EBITDA 6% (815.2 million).Subsidiaries
Travel El Corte Ingles, for its part, billed 2,533,600,000 ( 5.7%) and increased its EBITDA 2.3% (54,130,000), while turnover of supermarkets Supercor and Supercor Express added 641.7 million, 4.6% more; and its gross operating result was In 33 million, 19.9% more.
Computer Science The English court raised its sales 2.8% (667.4 million) and its EBITDA 14% (32,270,000), while insurance English cut lowered its business 39.7% (165,150,000) because in 2017 had extraordinary revenues related to preretirements). The insurance area's EBITDA rose 12.8% (65 million).
Sfera, textile chain of group already in 15 countries, billed 270.9 million, 9.4% more, and placed its EBITDA in 40.8 million, with an annual upturn of 27.2%. For its part, DIY chain and equipment for home Bricor sold 22.9% less (85.24%) and threw a loss of exploitation of almost 9 million euros.
"We are integrating teams of Bricor with those of English court to improve little by little ir profitability," said sources of group, who have emphasized that, for moment, do not pose a merger like one carried out with Hipercor.
The English court, which will distribute 61 million in dividend and by whose centers passed 701 million people, closed 2017 with a debt of 3.834 billion euros, a figure similar to that of one year before (3,877,800,000) and a 22.8% lower than that of 2014.Share in Facebook share on Twitter OtrosCerrarCompartir at LinkedinCompartir on GooglePlusCompartir on Pinterest


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In this file photo, insulin injections and other diabetic medical supplies are pictured in Irvine, Calif., on March 24, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Oct. 7 that would have limited insurance companies from charging patients more than $35 for a 30-day supply of insulin in California, saying the costs would be passed on to patients in other ways.
Senate Bill (SB) 90, by Sen. Scott Wiener, targeted the out-of-pocket expense for diabetes patients buying insulin in the state.
In a letter explaining his veto, the governor said bringing down the cost of prescription drugs has been a long-time priority for him but California’s plan to produce its own state-branded insulin
would be cheaper.
Such would cost patients $30 per 1,000-unit vial or $55 for five 300-unit vials, according to Mr. Newsom. The medicine is not expected to reach the market until next year.
“This is a fraction of the current price for most insulins, and CalRx biosimilar insulins will be available to insured and uninsured patients nationwide,” Mr. Newsom wrote in his Oct. 7 letter.
Mr. Wiener responded Saturday to the governor’s decision, calling it a “missed opportunity.”
“People are choosing between paying for insulin [and] buying food,” Mr. Wiener said in a post
on X, formerly Twitter. “This veto is a missed opportunity to ensure people can afford their medicine.”
In March, Mr. Newsom announced
signing a 10-year partnership with generic drug maker Civica
. The company was founded in 2018 by philanthropies and national health systems to reduce and prevent drug shortages and price spikes.
California has invested $50 million into development, manufacture, and distribution of the medicine.
Civica plans to produce three insulins—long-acting glargine, short-acting lispro, and short-acting manmade aspart insulin—which are expected to be interchangeable with current insulin name brands Lantus, Humalog, and Novolog.
Each type will be available
in vials and prefilled pens under the CalRx label, according to the company.
The insulin will be manufactured at the company’s plant undergoing construction in Petersburg, Virginia, according to Civica. The manufacturing plant is funded
mostly by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the state of Virginia.


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WOOSTER, Ohio – Oct. 9, 2018 – A worldwide beacon of quality, celebrating 40 years as an industry leader, Certified Angus Beef LLC reported record sales of its signature Certified Angus Beef ® brand, marketing 1.21 billion pounds of product in Fiscal 2018 (ended Sept. 30).
That’s the 12th consecutive annual sales record, extending a 14-year streak of year-over-year growth and the third year for sales above 1 billion pounds. The 8.1% increase represents an additional 91 million pounds.
“For the past 40 years, a community of people from farm to plate – each necessary to deliver the Certified Angus Beef ® brand to dinner tables around the world – have shared much: a passion for excellence, a dedication to quality, and ideas and inspirations to achieve our goals,” said John Stika, the brand’s president. “Along the way, we’ve built relationships on trust and a shared vision. By doing so, what started out as a simple idea among a small group of cattlemen has become the world’s leading brand of beef.”
Family farmers and ranchers drive the brand forward
True to its 1978 inception, a community of farmers and ranchers remain the backbone of the Certified Angus Beef ® brand, committed to supplying consumers with consistent and pleasurable eating experiences. Their efforts to raise quality cattle meeting the brand’s 10 exacting standards enabled licensed processors, distributors, restaurateurs and retailers to meet consumers’ growing demand for premium beef.
Responding to economic signals from the consumer marketplace, cattlemen raised a record 5.18 million cattle that met all of the brand’s requirements this year – an increase of 14.3% over 2017. Further, the rate of cattle eligible to earn the brand name rose to a record 32.5%, up from just 17.8% a decade ago.
International, Retail, Foodservice and Value-added Products Divisions all set records
A global network of nearly 20,000 licensed partners found individual business success through brand recognition in retail meat cases and on restaurant menus. Manageable prices in concert with strong demand led to sales records in every division of the Certified Angus Beef ® brand.
The most robust growth took place in the International Division, with 207 million pounds exported to 50 countries outside the United States – an 18.6% increase over last year and the best in the brand’s history. What comprised more than one-third of total brand growth was due to the strong market in South Korea followed by Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Mexico.
Quality-focused retailers remained the largest contributor to total brand sales, approximately 41%. A more favorable price spread relative to other commodity beef options led to more Certified Angus Beef ® brand items featured in circulars, thus growing retail sales by 8.3% to a new high of 494 million pounds.
Nearly 11,000 licensed restaurants are included in the Foodservice Division, which netted sales of 405 million pounds (a 5.3% increase). Known for consistency in growth, the division boasted a ninth consecutive year of record sales: further proof of the brand’s value to chefs and restaurateurs who prize its consistent quality, and patrons who crave its flavor.
Processors responded to growing consumer demand for high-quality convenience meals in both retail and foodservice with branded value-added products. Sales rose by 8.1% to 29.2 million pounds, driven most by smoked brisket, marinated fajita meat and burgers in the frozen case.
Monthly sales records and category growth
Illustrating a steady desire from the industry’s most discerning customers, and the rising tide of quality at the ranch, sales of the brand’s exclusive Prime product extension achieved its highest growth ever at 31.2%.
Continuing a trend from last year, the brand experienced a balanced rate of growth across product categories. Backed by traditionally strong demand, particularly for celebrations and special occasions, sales of middle meats, such as premium steaks, grew by 6.5% over last year. Reflecting consumer appeal for a better burger, ground beef increased 10.3% over 2017. Sales of roasts and other end meats, which are often the centerpiece of family meals, rose by 8.2%.
Through combined efforts and resulting successes, the Certified Angus Beef ® brand set sales records in all 12 months of its 40th anniversary year. More than 100 million pounds were sold in the months of March, May, June, July, August and September. Seven of the brand’s 10 highest months in history were in 2018, with August being the most successful month ever recorded.
About the Certified Angus Beef ® brand
World renowned for its exceptional quality and generous marbling, the Certified Angus Beef ® brand is the original brand of premium beef. It was created 40 years ago, in 1978, and is still owned today by family ranchers who are determined to bring the best Angus beef to the table. Ten exacting standards ensure superior taste and tenderness in every bite. For more information, visit CertifiedAngusBeef.com or follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn.


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The easing of Melbourne’s water restrictions has opened the way for larger horticulture sector profits.
However the car wash industry is complaining that its strict usage limits have been maintained.
Melburnians have been turning on the taps to water their lawns and gardens, fill inflatable swimming pools and wash their cars since the government eased restrictions last month.
The Nursery & Garden Industry of Victoria estimates the easing of water restrictions will provide a $100 million windfall to the sector each year.
“It is great for the start of spring and a big benefit for our members," Nursery & Garden Industry chief executive Steven Potts said.
“The industry is worth $1.6 billion to the Victorian economy."
Mr Potts said the increase in customer spending would be “across the board", driven by greater demand for landscaping services, irrigation supplies, vegetables and thirsty summer plants such as pansies and petunias.
“It’s all about confidence that the home gardener can now go out there and buy the right plants with the knowledge that they will continue to grow into the future," he said.
“People have let things die over the last few years and now they’ve got the confidence that if they do replace something they can maintain it over the summer months."
In a further boost for the garden sector, the government is providing a 28-day exemption this summer, allowing Melburnians to water their lawns until they are established.
Advance Turf director Joanna Hulland said sales had improved since the initiative was introduced and she expected interest would grow as summer approached and the impact of recent rainfall diminished.
It is also important to landscapers who lay the lawn, including Jurassic Turf director Rex Stephens.
“It’s a major advantage to us having the water restrictions lifted – it means we can properly install turf and it’s improving our business out of sight," he said.
But the car wash industry is angry.
Australian Car Wash Association chief executive Charles Warren said his members had been placed at a “best-practice disadvantage" when Water Minister
“Conceivably, anyone can wash their car at home with no water restriction, provided they use a bucket or a high-pressure cleaning device," Mr Warren said. A car washed under stage 3a would be hosed down with 70 litres of water, in contrast to 100 litres at stage 2, he said.
“With new equipment and water recycling, operators could get down to below 70 litres per wash using recycled water. However, the cars don’t get a good enough rinse at the end," he said.
Many operators faced an uncertain future after spending up to $100,000 installing water recycling devices.
The Australian Financial Review


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_Melissa-Little Sony and the World Photography Organization have just unveiled the list of nominees of the Sony World Photography Awards 2015, selecting the best pictures from over 173 000 photographs from 171 countries! The winners will finally be announced on April 23, 2015.
The Sony World Photography Awards, an annual competition hosted by the World Photography Organisation, just announced its shortlist of winners. This year's contest attracted 173,444 entries from 171 countries.
As the first and longest-running competition dedicated to iPhone photography, each year the IPPAWARDS presents a selection of truly compelling photos, all taken with an iPhone, iPad or iPod. Check out the winning entries of this year’s competition here!


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Loma Linda University (LLU), the small, private health and sciences university in San Bernardino County that turns out top-notch graduates in the fields of science and medicine now has a first-class bookstore to support its campus.
The private, four-year Seventh-day Adventist university recently partnered with Barnes & Noble College to operate The Campus Store at Loma Linda University. To mark the redesign and total renovation of the bookstore, a grand opening celebration was held.
Jeremy Hubbard, Director of Business Innovation for Loma Linda University, said the renovation made the bookstore a more welcoming, vibrant environment. “When I walk in there now, it’s a place that I want to hang out and relax – similar to the Barnes & Noble brick-and-mortar stores,” Hubbard said. “It’s the kind of place you wouldn’t mind picking up a book, sitting down and hanging out for a couple of hours. With our previous store, you went there to get your business done and then leave.”
Imani Abraham, an LLU student and store employee, praised the new color scheme of red and olive green, and for providing a more convenient and welcoming shopping experience for students, faculty and the surrounding Loma Linda community. “Seeing the store now is mind-blowing,” Abraham said. “It looks fantastic and the student employees are more customer-friendly now. Everyone is excited about the new store.”
In addition to the items students found in the previous store, the new space offers a variety of textbook options (new, used, rental and digital), school and medical supplies, snacks, university gift items, and boasts one of the largest assortment of medical reference books of any university in the state of California. The store also houses a Spirit Shop selling Loma Linda University apparel and a Tech Store, selling the latest computers, computer accessories, NOOK® readers and tablets. The store also added a “campus living room” for general reading with comfy seating for students to read and study.
“This was a full store renovation done with the intent to create a dynamic, relevant retail space second to none,” said Denise Nakakihara, Barnes & Noble College Regional Manager. “The end result is a warm and welcoming store that reflects and supports the needs of Loma Linda University and the surrounding community.”
Barnes & Noble hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration, in conjunction with LLU and the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce, as a way to celebrate the newly transformed campus store and spread awareness to the community. “I was thrilled that so many University stakeholders and community leaders attended the event,” Nakakihara said. “It was an incredible opportunity for all to celebrate the joining of Barnes & Noble with LLU and all of the possibilities this partnership provides.”
Hubbard added that what impressed the University the most about Barnes & Noble College is its commitment to collaborate with the campus to create a retail space that is reflective of the culture and methodologies of Loma Linda. He said that Barnes & Noble’s renovation to The Campus Store has completely changed the image of the bookstore while still maintaining Loma Linda’s spirit and personality.
“Every time I walk into the store now there are people everywhere saying ‘Hi, how are you? How’re you doing? How’s your day? Can I help you find something?’” Hubbard said. “I would have never experienced that in the last six years that I’ve worked here. To me, that speaks volumes about the way Barnes & Noble does business. We couldn’t be happier.”


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Charles Frump appointed as the new Managing Director at Volvo India
Volvo Cars made an announcement today of appointing Charles Frump as the new Managing Director at Volvo India. Charles takes over the new responsibility from Tom von Bonsdorff, who is headed back to Finland to pursue a new assignment within the Volvo Group, states the company. Taking care of the responsibility in the interim period was Jyoti Malhotra, director-Sales & Marketing, Volvo Auto India
Charles has been associated with the Swedish car brand for over eight years and has spent 17 years in the automotive industry. He has worked in a variety of markets which includes Japan, China, Sweden and the US. The company states that his experience in handling a fast emerging economy will hold him in good stead for spearheading the Volvo Cars entrenchment in the India luxury car segment.
Volvo Cars states that it has attained a volume growth of 32 per cent with new product launches, network expansion and other service initiatives. The company will soon be rolling out the first Made in India Volvo car, which we believe will be the recently unveiled Volvo XC40.
Volvo also added a new dealership, Krishna Auto Sales, in Ludhiana today making it the second in Punjab. The new dealership will be catering neighbouring cities like Jalandhar, Patiala and Bathinda. The 24,000 sq ft facility has a 9000 sq ft of showroom space and 15000 sq ft of service centre.
Starts Rs 39.9 Lakhs
- 2022 Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder: More interior details revealed
- 2022 Mahindra Scorpio-N unveiled in India, bookings open July 30
- 2022 Mahindra Scorpio-N launched in India, prices start from Rs 11.99 lakh
- 2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG review, road test - the best CNG car you can buy?
- Mahindra Scorpio-N Vs Mahindra XUV700: What's different?


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For the first and only time this century, Middleburg’s ZIP Code 20118 will match the date on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018.
The occasion is known in U.S. Postal Service circles as “Date Meets ZIP” and offers residents an opportunity to get a card or letter stamped with matching numbers.
The Middleburg Post Office, located at 113 W Washington Street, will offer a special postmark to commemorate the event. Residents and businesses are invited to bring their own postcards, letters or purchase items from the Middleburg Post Office and have it stamped with the commemorative postmark to mark the occasion. The postmark will be available for 30 days after the event.
“We are honored to serve Middleburg and be a proud member of this community,” said Middleburg Postmaster Ken Quinn. “We welcome customers to stop by Thursday and join us in celebrating this unique event in our town.”
The Middleburg Post Office will served light refreshments on Thursday, Feb. 1, during normal business hours, 9 a.m. to noon.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.


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Netflix Series to Spotlight Eleven Madison Park's Reopening
When the world’s then-reigning “Best Restaurant” according to the World’s 50 Best Restaurants decided to shut its doors and reinvent itself from the literal ground up—as New York City’s renowned Eleven Madison Park decided to do last year—it was a big deal. (Sure, Noma kind of did the same thing. They were both big deals!) But was Eleven Madison Park’s remodel and reopening television-worthy? A new Netflix show thinks so.
A forthcoming Netflix series called 7 Days Out plans to devote an entire episode to highlight Eleven Madison Park’s 2017 journey from the best to the hopefully-even-better, according to Eater. The documentary-style series sets out to cover “the most significant historical and cultural events in the worlds of fashion, food, space, sports, and entertainment,” and yes, you could definitely describe EMP’s transition as a significant cultural event in the world of food. By comparison, other episodes will apparently deal with things like the Westminster Dog Show and Chanel’s fashion show.
But though dogs and models always make for good television, the EMP episode seems especially fitting because Eater says this new Netflix show comes courtesy of the same creators as another food-focused Netflix series, Chef’s Table. For their dive into Eleven Madison Park, the crew apparently followed around owners Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, as well as “their entourage,” for the week leading up to the restaurant’s big reopening—which sounds like it provides a hint into where the show got its 7 Days Out name from.
There’s no mention of when the show is actually set to debut on Netflix—but it’s probably safe to assume that the episode will appear sooner than you’d be able to score a weekend dinner reservation at the actual Eleven Madison Park. And your annual Netflix subscription definitely costs less as well.


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Online giant Amazon has announced that it plans to open a new fulfilment centre in Doncaster by 2017, creating 500 new jobs.
The new site in iPort will be Amazon’s third fulfilment centre in Doncaster and will take the total number of full-time permanent jobs for the town to more than 1,000 by the end of next year.
Amazon has so far invested more than £4.6bn in the UK economy to build and run its UK business since 2010, including two other fulfilment centres in Balby Carr Bank, which opened in 2010, and a in Water Vole Way, which opened last year.
John Tagawa, Amazon’s vice president of UK operations, said: “We are delighted to announce the opening our third fulfilment centre in Doncaster in summer 2017. We already have two fulfilment centres in Doncaster so know from experience that there is strong talent in the region who would be well suited to working for Amazon.”
Amazon also confirmed that two new fulfilment centres will open in Manchester and Coalville, Leicestershire, creating 1,500 new permanent jobs over three years, later this year, whilst revealing that it plans to open a brand new London office in 2017.


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Posts tagged "Elle Magazine"
Alright ladies, now that Halloween has come and gone the eternal question remains: What to do with your costume now?
Well, we have good news! Joe Zee, the fabulous Creative Director at ELLE, posted an article on the magazine’s website about re-purposing your Halloween costumes into outfits that you can wear year-round! We were pleasantly surprised when the costumes (which are pretty amazing to begin with) were turned into very wearable, fashionable looks.
Chapeau, Monsieur Zee!
(Oh and ladies, if you want to get a head start on Halloween costume inspiration for next year, this article can definitely help you with that too!)


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McDonald's to open 50 new restaurants and hire 20,000 people across the UK
Monday, June 21, 2021
McDonald's is hiring across eleven restaurants throughout the UK in a massive recruitment campaign.
The fast food chain expects to open 50 new stores by 2021 and a further 100 over the next two years as its boss Paul Pomroy has said in the UK.
The fast-food chain is set to fill 20.000 jobs and open 50 more restaurants around the country over the next 12 months - and expects its staff capacity to rise in line with government guidance.
The company said the additions would not replace jobs that were lost during the pandemic and instead, were preparing for restaurants to serve more.
The restaurant openings are part of a wider investment plan by McDonald's to ensure that its restaurants, including its flagship UK roads, are "fit for the future" and that the experience is in line with the latest customer wishes and expectations.
McDonald's push for expansion comes amid widespread doubts about the future of urban areas, with many workers saying that they are not keen to return to bureaus full-time and the streets are already struggling because of the rise of the Web.
It is also considering more flexible restaurant layouts to work with the different ways in which customers use their restaurants at various times of the day.
Paul Pomroy said: 'It's fantastic to be able to offer an additional 20.000 people an opportunity to work with us'


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RedPort Global has launched its new Optimizer Crew satellite broadband Wi-Fi router, to be used for managing access to onboard communications systems.
Thuraya has certified the RedPort Optimizer Wi-Fi router and the RedPort XGate e-mail and data service software.
Cisco has announced that Diamlemos Shipping has decided to implement the Cisco-based SmartBox-V system for its vessels’ communications.
Astrium Services has upgraded its SkyFile Mail software, which is now available for all types of FleetBroadband terminals and compatible with tablets and smartphones.
Astrium Services has released a new software version for its XChange connectivity platform, which allows crews to use their own smartphones on board.
Navarino says that 1,000 vessels are now equipped with Infinity, its bandwidth optimisation and management service.
Globe Wireless has announced that NSB (Niederelbe Schiffahrtsgesellschaft) will standardise 85 vessels of its fleet with the Globe iFusion system.
UK-based Buzz Marine, the suppliers of HubbaX mobile broadband for maritime, has developed a system for its mini-dome to allow automatic switching from a vessel’s VSAT.
After two years of development, Setel Hellas has announced that it is set to launch its SmartBox-V system.
Digital Ship magazine provides the latest information about maritime satellite communications technology, software systems, navigation technology, computer networks, data management and TMSA. It is published ten times a year.
Digital Ship Ltd


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Dairy prices take a hit in changing global climate, with Russia sanctions high on agenda for processors, government and farmers.ROB HENSON August 13, 2014 3:36am
Dairy prices have fallen but the industry is not crying over spilt profits just yet, according to processors and industry analysts.
The Fonterra Global Dairy Trade has declined sharply by more than 20 per cent in the past month.
Rabobank senior analyst Michael Harvey said the majority of product sold at GDT auctions was New Zealand product and predicted the fall in Australia’s fortunes would not be as drastic.
Mr Harvey said good growing conditions, especially in Europe and New Zealand, had put downward pressure on prices.
‘‘Strong milk production growth, that’s what’s been putting pressure on the market,’’ he said.
In the wake of season 2013-14, the milk price was about $7/kg milk solids, inflated by strong demand from China.
‘‘The reality was we were always going to come off the record prices,’’ Mr Harvey said.
He said the current four-year forecasts of between $6.10 and $6.30 had some potential to be reduced due to the risks associated with Russian sanctions — currently the world’s second largest dairy importer.
Russia has cut Australian dairy products for a year, along with beef, pork, fruit and vegetable produce, fish and poultry.
Mr Harvey said this could further oversupply global markets, particularly in cheese.
‘‘The trade between Australia and Russia is not huge, rather it’s the knock-on effect we’re all worried about.
‘‘Russia imports a lot of cheese, mostly from Europe, and if they impose this ban, a lot of European cheeses will be diverted to other products or other markets and that’s a real threat to Australia as a large exporter of cheese.’’
He said there was uncertainty on whether Russia would impose the ban for an entire year, potentially creating food shortages in the country.
‘‘We think things will remain weak the rest of the year, then see signs of recovery early next year.’’
Murray Goulburn managing director Gary Helou said Russia was an important market for the company with almost $95
‘‘The trade sanctions announced by the Russian Government on food exports from Australia will have some impact on our ability to maximise returns as we place this product into other markets,’’ Mr Helou said.
‘‘Given the importance of Russia as an importer of dairy products, particularly from the EU, we will monitor the impact of the sanctions on global dairy market settings.’’
Australian Dairy Industry Council chair Noel Campbell said Russia was an important market for the Australian dairy industry.
VFF president Peter Tuohey said he trusted the Federal Government to deliver a free trade agreement with China with reduced tariff barriers.
For example, China’s tariff for Australian milk powders is 10 to 15 per cent while New Zealand is charged 4.9 per cent.
‘‘What’s happened in Russia, just highlights the need for us to get strong FTAs in place that open up more markets for Australian exports, such as China,’’ Mr Tuohey said.
A $200 million funding boost for agriculture aims to bring more jobs and people to rural Victoria.
Yarrawonga’s Bre Elliott played the most “consistent golf of her life” over three days to win the Fuccillo Kia Championship at Capital Hills by carding a 2-under 69 on the final day.
Heather Donaldson was re-elected president of Tatura Hospital Ladies Auxiliary at the annual general meeting on Thursday, which was attended by 33 people.
THE family of the 18-year-old Bendigo woman who went missing during a jog last week has issued a statement.
THE 2015 National Blood Donor Week festivities will make the Rochester region Victoria’s new red light district.
Community workshop to consider issues to help form Campaspe digital strategy
Heather Stamp brings a long experience of the Salvation Army to Seymour.
Berrigan Shire Council have approved a development application for six more independent living units to add to Berrigan’s Amaroo Self Care Unit block.
THEY may be a familiar sight across the Heathcote district, but some of the much-loved birds in the region are in decline.
Cobram District Health will farewell two of its dedicated board members with the resignations of president Jennie Gould and treasurer Rod McLeod.
Deniliquin and district boasted two major winners at the Australian Sheep and Wool Expo at Bendigo from July 17 to 19.
Riverine Plains is set to hold the first in its series of farm walks for the 2015 season as part of its research into stubble retained cropping systems.
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Ancaster Nissan a reputed firm has opened up a new dealership in West London. The new state of the art dealership is located in Heathrow where earlier a Vauxhall showroom was once located.
The new showroom has a new fresh from the oven kind of smell and has a wide display of the Nissan car range. Some of the cars on display include the Juke, Qashqai, Micra, and Leaf. There are also wide arrays of pre-owned cars on display at the showroom.
The new showroom has Sales and Service which is a great way to handle all the needs of the customers under one roof.
Ancaster Nissan will be serving the customers of Heathrow, Staines, Felltham and surrounding areas. Customers wishing to have a look at their favorite model can do so by booking an appointment with the dealership.


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Okidokeys Smart-Lock offers tons of options, but you might not get past its looks.
Newer, smaller models are said to be available as soon as this month.
Pricing not available
Camera, knock sensor, and a digital set of keys to unlock your door via Bluetooth: the install-it-yourself Goji Smart Lock aims high.
August is another entrant into the smart lock market. Its relatively low $199 price makes it an appealing option for DIY home automation fans.
This new Danalock smart lock boasts some welcome wireless network and aesthetic design options.
The Grand S Pro is a good deal with a carrier agreement, but U.S. Cellular has other phones that are faster and more reliable.
Because let's face it: keys are dumb.
The Wii U will be region-locked when it is released, Nintendo has confirmed, leaving fans of rare imported games out in the cold.
Nintendo let slip the news that its next-generation console will include region coding for its games.
The company told famed Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu that gamers in different parts of the world won't be able to play games available in other regions.


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2018: Year in Review
2018 has been a busy year for HiddenWires, from the announcement of budget OLED TVs, Sonos’ rollout of Google assistant support and an “eyesore” home cinema project at the centre of a £1 million lawsuit, we take a look back at the top ten most popular HiddenWires stories of 2018.
Dominating the news in 2018 was the announcement that Sonos had set a date for its rollout of Google Assistant support Sonos’ speaker line at the end of 2018.
Sadly for those itching to try it out, Sonos confirmed that a 2018 release is no longer possible, with Sonos saying in a statement that it will “look to lock down a date in 2019”.
There had been quite a buzz around Sonos products during the year, with reports on the Sonos one wireless speaker and Sonos beam soundbar suggesting that they could lose their support for Amazon Alexa, with only “limited access” available according to the filing sent to the US securities and exchange commission.
On the topic of integration, ears were pricked when Crestron announced that its control systems would integrate with Apple TV, Siri and Homekit as part of Crestron’s continued focus on embracing integration with third party companies.
It is speculated that Crestron’s integration rollout will be limited to the United States, as the home integrator’s integration with Alexa didn’t arrive in EMEA until 10 months after its initial launch.
UK TV provider Sky launched HDR content on its SqyQ platform alongside other significant service updates including dishless use of the service.
While the release took longer than originally anticipated, SkyQ users are now able to enjoy HDR content and more 4K programming and brought Netflix and Spotify to SkyQ later in the year as part of a package that includes SkyQ’s 4K programming.
Chinese manufacturer Hisense announced its desire to make “budget” OLED TVs a reality, making good on its promise in late November 2018 with a limited launch of its first OLED TV in Australia.
The Hisense 55-in OLED TV features 4K ultra support as well as wide colour gamut out, 200 smooth motion technology, VIDAA U 2.5 smart TV OS and Hisense RemoteNOW smart app compatibility. The 55-in model retails for $3,499 AUD ($2,518.88 USD) while the 66-in version retails for $4,999 AUD ($3,598.71 USD).
Not to be outdone, LG is introducing its second generation of TV processor in 2019, with the a9 2nd-gen providing high rate frames of up to 4K/120fp9, bringing a “four step” noise reduction process running from a specially developed algorithm, with announcements on LG’s new TV’s being announced at CES 2019.
In products, IKEA revealed that it is preparing for the launch of its own line of smart blinds, with the first peek of the smart blind being detected when filing for a control unit was passed by the FCC, indicating that a US launch could be coming soon in 2019.
The Ikea smart blinds are rumoured to start as low as €99.95 ($112) for the ‘Kadrilj’ roller blind model and €139 ($157) for the ‘Fyrtur’ blackout option, according to information spotted on the retailer’s website – a move that could undercut the pro market significantly.
Vodafone launched its V-Home smart home service IoT service in Spain in May, with its rollout of V-Home continuing into other countries through the year. Vodafone’s V Home starter kit ships with a hub, smart camera, multipurpose sensor and a siren.
Bang and Olufsen announced in October announced that UK based installer Smart Homeworks had been appointed as its exclusive installation partner for the UK, taking effect from October 2018. Smart Homeworks said its goal is to improve more than 1,500 homes and businesses through the integration of infrastructure, automation and control solutions to deliver “convenience, security and cost savings” by 2020.
And finally, in a story that made a splash in UK headlines, a senior UK financier is suing for damages of £1 million in the high court for a floating home cinema project that allegedly went badly wrong.
The financier, Philip Freeborn, claims he was “inspired” by the architect’s vision of a “sleek, modernist cube” to house a home cinema, billed as being an “architectural jewel” built in the roof space of his pool room.
The cinema, described as “ugly” and an “expensive white elephant”, was designed and built by architect Daniel Marcal, who argued that every stage of the project was approved by the financier from design to creation to creation, while working on an “ad-hoc" basis.
Mr Freeborn accused Mr Marcal of creating an “eyesore”, with the steel supports used in construction allegedly created an “industrial feel” that only demolition and a complete rebuild could fix.
Judge Martin Bowdery QC will rule on the case at a later date.


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The Underground Railroad is a highly anticipated series based on the acclaimed novel by Colson Whitehead, which is set to premiere on Amazon Prime this May.
The Underground Railroad is set to premiere on Friday, 14 May 2021, on Amazon Prime. The long-awaited series by Academy Award winner, Barry Jenkins, is based on the multi-award-winning novel of the same name by Colson Whitehead. According to the streaming platform, the series will centre around Cora Randall’s desperate attempt for freedom in the antebellum South. As she makes her way out of the Georgia plantation, she discovers that rumours about an underground railroad were not fictional, as there is actually a railroad based beneath the Southern Soil.
The Underground Railroad is led by South African actress, Thuso Mbedu, and also stars Chase W. Dillon, Aaron Pierre and Joel Edgerton. The series will include 10 episodes, which will be released at once for continuous streaming on Amazon Prime.


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Photo by: Tareq Ismail
Being a soccer fan in Canada just became more expensive with MLS making the move from TSN and ESPN to Apple TV+ at the start of the 2023 MLS season. To watch games now, fans must have an Apple TV+ membership, which is $8.99 per month, and subscribe to the MLS season pass for $12.99 a month or $79.99 for the season.
In 2022, MLS saw a record attendance of more than 10 million, which blew the previous record of 8.6 million in 2019 out of the water. They also set a record in viewership on television with an over 13 per cent increase in viewership on American channels such as Fox and ESPN, while also seeing an 8 per cent increase in viewership in Canada.
With numbers soaring through the roof, it is easy to see why MLS made the move to Apple TV+, who outbid the likes of Amazon and Paramount for the rights to all games. The Apple and MLS deal came in around 250 million USD over 10 years, a huge jump from their previous deals with ESPN and TSN, which netted them approximately 9 million dollars annually.
But will the move to Apple TV+ hurt their viewership now that they are not on easy-to-access TV networks such as TSN and ESPN?
When it comes to hardcore MLS fans, it is safe to say that many will pay the subscription in order to watch that specific team play throughout the season.
But for more casual fans of the league, some may make the switch to more talented leagues such as the Premier League and Bundesliga, which are both on subscription services that cost relatively the same as Apple TV+. The MLS already has a relatively small fan base compared to these other leagues, which makes it challenging to justify the cost of the subscription fee for lower-quality soccer, especially when LaLiga – the Spanish league – is available on TSN.
The switch from regular programmed television to Apple TV+ could hurt MLS’ viewership, despite generating more revenue on the TV deal.