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Bundled “Pass” makes it easier for individuals to support environmental causes
BURLINGTON, VT — 1% for the Planet is excited to announce My Planet Pass, a new program modeled after popular multi-mountain ski pass programs with the goal of increasing individual engagement with the environmental movement.
With one easy transaction, My Planet Pass holders become 1% for the Planet members as well members of Protect our Winters (POW), TreeSisters, National Forest Foundation, Save the Waves Coalition, and Slow Food. Pass holders also receive access to exclusive member benefits, including gear from these partner nonprofits, beyond what is available to the general public.
“We all know that our planet needs more support than it’s currently receiving,” said Marc Randolph, Co-Founder of Netflix, and 1% for the Planet Board Member. “That’s why it’s so important to see organizations like 1% for the Planet engaging individuals in new ways and encouraging them to support the environmental issues that impact all of us. Without continued evolution and innovation, the environmental movement will never deliver the results we need.”
Throughout 2018, 1% for the Planet has focused on expanding its outreach beyond businesses, and building a movement of individuals. The company’s recently launched 1% for the Planet Pledge campaign has already garnered around 13,000 new individuals vowing to become members and give back to environmental nonprofits through monetary and/or voluntary support.
“By packaging environmental giving as a product that many consumers are already used to purchasing, whether it is a ski pass or a subscription to their favorite streaming service, the My Planet Pass takes the intimidation out of environmental giving,” said Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet.
The My Planet Pass Program drew inspiration from the popular multi-mountain pass programs that have revolutionized the ski industry, making skiing and riding accessible beyond its core audience.
“The ski industry in recent years has demonstrated innovation with its season pass offerings to attract new participants and to make it more convenient to go directly to the slopes,” said Win Smith, Owner of Sugarbush Mountain Resort in Vermont. “It’s inspiring to see 1% for the Planet learning from this example and launching a new membership pass that encourages a larger, more diverse group of individuals to support environmental causes. I hope that they see the same success that the ski industry has—because our planet needs it!”
The Pass is available for purchase for $200, $300 and $400 membership levels. For more information and to see the break down of the member benefits, please go to pass.onepercentfortheplanet.org.
About 1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet is a global organization that connects dollars and doers to accelerate smart environmental giving. Through our business and individual membership, 1% for the Planet inspires people to support environmental organizations through annual membership and everyday actions. Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, our members have given more than $175 million to environmental nonprofits to date. Today, 1% for the Planet is a network of more than 1,500 member businesses, a new and expanding core of hundreds of individual members, and thousands of nonprofit partners in more than 60 countries.


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Chinese economy to grow 9.28% in 2011
Updated: 2011-08-22 09:01
SINGAPORE-- The Chinese economy will grow by 9.28 percent in 2011 if the United States can stay out of a double- dip recession and the eurozone can steer itself clear of a sovereign debt crisis this year, economists from China's Xiamen University and the National University of Singapore said in their latest forecasts released on Saturday.
The China's Macroeconomic Outlook 2011-2012 and Policy Simulations report also projected that the consumer price index (CPI) inflation will hit 5.34 percent for the full year.
It forecast a GDP (gross domestic product) growth of 8.91 percent and a CPI growth of 4.93 percent for 2012.
"We think that China's GDP growth will inevitably slow down at the stage it is at, due to weak recovery in the external markets and the macroeconomic policies gradually coming back to normal in China," the report said.
"The Chinese economy is most likely to grow at a range between 9 percent and 8 percent for some time to come," said Li Wenpu, an economist from Xiamen University and one of the leaders of the research.
Chen Kang, professor of economics from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, said that the forecasts were based on "prudently optimistic" assumptions that the United States economy will grow by 1.7 percent this year and further bounces back to achieve a normal speed of growth and that the eurozone will stay out of a sovereign debt crisis this year and slows down a bit next year, dragged by the deepening crisis.
The interest rates in China is assumed to stay stable this year and the money supply M2 grows by 16 percent this year and 17 percent in 2012, respectively.
Impact from possible US double-dip recession
If the United States slips into a double dip recession in the first and second quarters of 2012, with the economic growth lower at 1.1 percent, however, the Chinese economy will grow by 8.24 percent in 2012, 0.67 percentage point lower than the base forecast.
The forecast was based on a slowdown in eurozone and China cut its interest rates by 0.25 percentage point early next year.
The CPI inflation will also be lower at 3.95 percent, the report said.
"Given the complex factors leading to the inflation, it will take quite some time for it to be stabilized. The inflation will stay high at 4 percent to 5.4 percent this year and next year," it said.
The researchers said China should keep its hand tight on inflation and avoid excess investments aimed at too fast growth of the economy by stimulating it.
Xiamen University and the National University of Singapore have been releasing their forecasts for the Chinese economy twice a year since 2006. They also partnered with the Economic Information Daily of China to release the forecasts in China.
Package unveiled to boost HK economy 2011-08-18 10:41
Chinese economy will not derail 2011-08-16 10:43
China economy by numbers - July issue 2011-08-12 15:37
Growth in oil use to slow in tandem with economy 2011-08-12 10:19
- Chinese economy to grow 9.28% in 2011
- Dagong refutes claims of AAA 'generosity'
- Buffett's backing fails to help BYD
- Chinese banks to face capital stress
- Race is on for fastest supercomputer
- Illegal rare earth mining rampant in E China
- Guidelines to promote logistics sector
- Philips aims for healthy expansion in China

domain: news


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The U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) Assistant Administrator, Office of Women’s Business Ownership, Natalie Madeira Cofield has been confirmed as keynote speaker for the in-person event, Latinas in Business 2022 Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Summit (WEES), a unique conference that year after year gathers successful Latinas and other minority women entrepreneurs in the region to Learn. Connect. Succeed!
The summit takes place on June 24, 2022, from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm at the co-host Berkeley College’s Mid-Manhattan Campus. Registration is now open at https://2022wees.eventbrite.com/.
The 2022 theme, “SUCCEED! How Women Entrepreneurs Make It in America” alludes to the struggle that minority women entrepreneurs and female founders face to start and expand their businesses in an environment of discrimination and barriers to opportunities.
From 11:30 am to 2:30 pm ET, the event includes a inspiring keynote speaker, panel speakers of who’s who in each area of development, along with a lunch reception and their signature peer-to-peer networking session that will help women entrepreneurs elevate themselves and their businesses.
“We selected three areas in which most women entrepreneurs continue to struggle to achieve their own goals: Personal Power, as they have to confront the demands of home-schooling young children, caring for their parents, and running their business; Financial Wellness, struggling with funding and business barriers; and Business Innovation, all the new requirements and adaptation that the post-pandemic world is demanding from their businesses,” Susana G Baumann, president and CEO, explains.
From 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm ET, 14 successful Latinas will be awarded for excelling at growing their businesses or building their communities during the Leaders of the Month Awards Ceremony. Relax and enjoy in a camaraderie environment with peer-to-peer networking and a fantastic open bar Mixology Reception with our Stand-up Comedian Celebrity Speaker Gina Brillon.
Join us for this must-attend event where Latinas in Business Inc. will help you gain tools, insights, and resources while connecting with other like-minded women, that will propel you and your business forward to SUCCEED!
For registration: https://2022wees.eventbrite.com/


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Dickey's Barbecue Pit Kicks off Holiday Season with New Fredericksburg Location
Published: 17 Dec 2013
(Fredericksburg, VA) Just in time for the holiday season, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Fredericksburg will be open on Thursday, December 5. The first 50 dine-in customers who purchase an item that day will receive a gift card for up to $50. The opening festivities continue for three-days. “The Fredericksburg community needed an option for good barbecue and I just know locals will appreciate our slow smoked, authentic barbecue,” said local owner Eric Wilborne. “We are looking forward to serving the community.” Friday, radio station 93.3 FM will be on site from 11:00a.m to 1:00p.m and they will be serving $2 Pulled Pork Barbecue sandwiches. Three lucky winners will win FREE barbecue for an entire year and one customer will win a $500 gift card. Festivities conclude Saturday with a day full of merchandise giveaways. Eric Wilborne previously worked in the technology industry for over 10 years. He decided it was time to return to his passion in the restaurant business. Wilborne will be operating this location along with his business partner Jeff Rose, who just recently retired from the Marines. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Fredricksburg is located at 10008 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 100 across the street from Wal-Mart on Southpoint Parkway. Their phone number is 540-710-0700. To find out more about this local Dickey’s check out their Facebook page. Click to tweet. #DickeysFredricksburg.


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American watchmaker Fossil Group said total revenues took a dive in the second-quarter, on the back of soft sales in traditional watches and retail disinterest across all regions including Asia.
For the three months ended July 1, the company’s net sales slipped 12.9 per cent to US$596.8 million from $685.4 million.
By region, Asia was the best performing market, but still recorded a 9 per cent dive in revenues. This bettered the Americas down 16 per cent, while sales in Europe fell 10 per cent, said Fossil Group.
By category, watch sales decreased 9 per cent, despite an increase in the connected watch business.
Sales also declined in the company’s leather category, which was down 25 per cent, and in the jewellery category, slumping 22 per cent.
“With the first half of 2017 now behind us, we believe that our traction in wearables, our significant progress in our supply chain evolution and our reduction in infrastructure costs show that we are pursuing strategies that can improve our profitability and return the company to solid growth over time,” said Kosta Kartsotis, chief executive officer, Fossil Group.
The company’s net loss came to $344.7 million, or $7.11 a diluted share, compared with net income of $6 million, or 12 cents, a year earlier.
Moreover, Fossil’s chief financial officer Dennis Secor has left the company due to personal/family reasons. The company said Jeff Boyer is set to join Fossil on October 16 as the new CFO. He is already a board member.


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Punjab government has brought the modified silencers ban into place; we’re expecting other states to adopt the same strategy
India is the largest two wheeler market in the country and youngster like bikes with sporty and loud exhaust note but due to laws, manufacturers have to keep certain limits. In order to achieve this, most of the customers usually prefer aftermarket exhaust which gives them excellent exhaust note.
One of the advantages of using these aftermarket exhausts is that they reduce weight of the bike and also gives slight bump in performance. But increase in performance comes with low efficiency. Even if you change any mechanical parts, it will have an impact on performance and efficiency on any bike or car.
The problem with these exhausts is that it not good for environment and noise pollution is high with it. Usually these type of modifications are done on Royal Enfield bikes to achieve the past thug noice which is missing in modern vehicles. But the number of modified exhaust on bikes is increasing at an alarming rate across the country.
Even though these are not allowed in the country, people still do this. Punjab government has decided that all bikes with modified exhaust will be seized. We are expecting other states also to adopt this same strategy to stop customers doing this as government is looking to reduce pollution from automobiles.
Punjab Environment Minister Om Prakash Soni also said that work for online services of pollution checking centres is going on and details of every vehicle will be available online soon, which is very helpful for the government. Along with this, customers will also get a SMS on phone one week before expirations of their vehicles pollution certificate.
To further reduce pollution, Punjab government will allow only CNG auto rickshaws to be registered in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala. They are also planning to reduce water contamination and strict action will be taken against industry or areas, which does not follow these norms.


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These are difficult times for vertical farming companies but the people at Aerofarms are working hard to get the business back on its feet following its Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing in June. With fresh plans to sell company assets to a newly formed investment entity – ‘AF NewCo Inc’, the business also continues to increase shipments of microgreens from its indoor vertical farm in Danville, Virginia.
Asset Purchase Agreement
On Monday, July 10th 2023, Aerofarms signed an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with AF NewCo, Inc., a newly formed entity owned by a group of existing Aerofarms investors including Grosvenor Food & AgTech, INGKA Investments Ventures US BV, Cibus Fund, ACEG Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH. The APA calls for AF NewCo to act as Stalking Horse Bidder to acquire Aerofarms assets.
The following day, at the US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, AeroFarms filed a supplement to a previously filed motion, to Approve Bid Procedures for Court approval to enter into an Asset Purchase Agreement (“APA”) and designate a Stalking Horse bidder.
Aerofarms is seeking to conduct an auction to sell company assets under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, while it continues ordinary operations of the business. Subject to the Court’s calendar, Aerofarms is seeking entry of an order from the Bankruptcy Court confirming the results of the 363 Sale on or before August 22, 2023.
AF NewCo has provided a Debtor-In-Possession (“DIP”) loan of US$10 million, and under the terms of the APA will be credit bidding its DIP, assuming substantial operating liabilities and funding the wind-down of the Chapter 11 proceedings.
Aerofarms received Court approval to continue paying employees, vendors and other entities in the ordinary course of business and will utilise the funding provided by the DIP loan to do so.
Product availability continues to expand from Danville
AeroFarms’ strategic focus remains on its commercial indoor vertical farm in Danville, Virginia that continues to scale and meet increased demand for its award-winning microgreens. The farm is capable of growing over 3 million pounds of leafy greens annually.
The firm has recently announced the expanded retail availability of its award-winning microgreens at both Walmart and Stop & Shop across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, respectively.
This expansion follows the national expansion with Amazon Fresh online and at all Amazon Fresh grocery store locations, building on AeroFarms successful national launch with Whole Foods Market in 2022, which marked an industry-first for an indoor leafy greens grower to be part of Whole Foods Market Global Planogram.
“We are excited by the growing customer demand for our market leading microgreens and to be expanding our retail presence and look forward to emerging stronger and better positioned to prosper into the future,” said Guy Blanchard, President of AeroFarms. “We will continue to work in close cooperation with all of our stakeholders to conduct our financial and operational restructuring, which will position us for long-term success.”


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Bakers in Argentina give away 5 tons of bread in protest
Bakers in Argentina are threatening to continue protests if the government does not lower the cost of flour.
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Bakers from the province of Buenos Aires gave away five tons of bread on Wednesday - the second time in 6 weeks - to protest the rise in the price of flour, threatening to expand their protests if the Argentine government does not address their demands.
"We are thinking of taking other steps to make the government agree to a dialogue so a solution is provided. We want millers to stop raising the price of flour. They shouldn't be selling it in the local market at the same price that they export it," Yanina Brigliano, a member of the Commission of Bakers of the West, told EFE.
Brigliano, who is the owner of a bakery in Moron, in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, said that bakers have also been affected by a rise in the rates for electricity, water and gas, making it impossible to break even when flour is sold "at dollar prices."
The bakers are demanding that the price of the kilo of flour be reduced to what it was at the beginning of the year, namely 350 pesos ($14), compared to the 800 pesos ($32) they currently pay.
With current flour prices, according to the bakers, a kilo of bread should cost 90 pesos ($3.50), although most bakeries sell it for 50 pesos ($2), absorbing the difference.
"We are here to succeed, to fight together with our colleagues from Greater Buenos Aires, from the province and from the whole nation. We will continue to fight and we want the governing party and the opposition to understand that they must address our demands," bakers union official Abel Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said that the more than 400,000 employed in Argentina's 40,000 bakeries would not be able to continue making a living if the economic policies of the conservative government of President Mauricio Macri were not "modernized."


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The drought and soaring demand for Australian lamb means the industry will target the best-value markets with its reduced supply of product.
Domestic lamb consumption rates will be just one of the hot topics at Lambition 2019 in Bendigo on July 20.
Meat & Livestock Australia corporate chef Sam Burke will attempt to outdo his amazing menu from Lambition 2018 at the 2019 event on July 20.
Buyers were able to pick and choose their purchases a little more at last week's Australian wool sales.
Industry leaders say lamb producers shouldn't take their foot of the reform pedal despite record sheepmeat prices.


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‘Asia’s economy: taking centre stage’ is the first of three reports on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and recovery in a G-Zero world, featuring ANZ Chief Economist Richard Yetsenga and Eurasia Group & GZERO Media President Ian Bremmer.
The G-Zero world refers to an emerging vacuum of power in international politics created by a decline of Western influence and the domestic focus of the governments of developing states, resulting in a geopolitical environment in which no country or group of countries can effectively meet global challenges.
· Geopolitical tensions between the US and China will increase the complexity of the business environment in countries trying to balance relations with the two powers.
· Economic fallout related to COVID-19 has accelerated the relative decline of the US as the world’s economic engine and increased the centrality of Asia — and particularly, of China — to the global economic cycle.
· The combined effects of US-China trade and technology conflict, the global downturn triggered by COVID-19, and the rapid growth of China’s neighbours have reduced the importance of the US consumer market for Asian economies.
· This trend is likely to continue as trade and supply-chains become more regionally concentrated, and as Asian economies recover more quickly than the US.
Eurasia Group & GZERO Media President Ian Bremmer said: “The fragile geopolitical backdrop in this G-Zero world will result in a longer and deeper coronavirus crisis than any of us would like to see. The pandemic has further weakened US global leadership and economic influence. These geopolitical shifts will undoubtedly lead to a higher degree of risk and business complexity for countries across the globe.”
ANZ Chief Economist Richard Yetsenga said: “Asia’s resilience to the pandemic has allowed many countries to emerge from the crisis with a more central role in the world economy.
“China is likely to help lead a global demand recovery, while ASEAN countries have already surpassed the US to become China’s largest export customers in the first quarter of 2020. We believe the trend will continue, placing Asia at the centre of the global economy.”
ANZ Group Executive International, Farhan Faruqui said: “The pandemic has changed the way we live and work forever. The forces that shape this new post-COVID world won’t be unfamiliar but the pace at which these forces move will be vastly accelerated. Digitisation, data, robotics, automation, and cloud investment will be more critical considerations for business than they have been before. We’re also seeing a big move towards de-risking of supply chains.”
For the full report click here.


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Can you legally sports bet in Connecticut?
Where can I bet on sports in Connecticut? If you are 21 years old and inside Connecticut state lines, you can bet at three legal online sportsbooks: DraftKings, FanDuel and PlaySugarHouse. Bettors can also wager at retail sportsbooks at the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino.
When can I gamble on sports in CT?
Connecticut’s statewide launch occurred on Oct. 19. DraftKings launched retail sports betting at its location inside Foxwoods Resort Casino, and FanDuel launched retail sports betting inside Mohegan Sun Casino on Sept. 30, 2021.
Can you bet FanDuel in CT?
The Connecticut Lottery Corporation, the Mohegan Tribe, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe may begin offering online wagering to all adults of legal betting age through their online gaming operating partners, which include Rush Street Interactive, FanDuel, and DraftKings, respectively.
Can I bet on DraftKings in Connecticut?
Anyone who is at least 21 years of age, has a valid United States Social Security Number, has had their identity verified, and is physically within the state of Connecticut can bet with DraftKings Sportsbook in Connecticut. … DraftKings Sportsbook offers dozens of American and international sports for users to bet on.
Can I bet on sports online in Connecticut?
Connecticut launched online casino gaming and sports betting on Oct. 19, with thousands of bets placed in the first few hours. The state’s first legal online sports bets happened on Sept. 30 with a soft launch of the new gaming system.
Can you sports bet on FanDuel?
With easy deposits and fast payouts, FanDuel Sportsbook features all major U.S. sports, including NFL odds, college football odds, NBA odds, MLB odds, soccer odds, golf odds, boxing odds, NASCAR odds, and more. … Join FanDuel Sportsbook and customers can enjoy their first bet risk free up to $1000 when you sign up today!
Can I gamble online in CT?
Yes, online casinos are now legal in the state of Connecticut. You must be of the legal age, which is 21 years or older, and be within Connecticut state lines to be able to access the online casino apps. Sign up via the free apps and you can now begin to play instantly.


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MUZAFFARABAD: Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against the elements involved in illegal production of cigarette in Muzaffarabad here on Tuesday.
According to detail, FIA lodged FIR at police station Sheikhupura in which it is claimed that National Tobacco is a registered company. This company has two brands including Kissan and Classic. The company reserved the copy rights of both the brands. But, Raja Babar Taj, Raja Muhammad Amjid, and Raja Abbas Khan are doing production of substandard and illegal cigarettes due to which the reputation of the company is being disturbed badly. The sale of these cigarettes is putting bad impacts on the health of smokers. The sale of these illegal cigarettes is also damaging the national exchequer. These cigarettes are being sold in the packing similar to the original brand. Strict action against the elements involved in this business demanded in FIR.
The issue was firstly raised by the civil society of Muzaffarabad.


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Carvana Co’s shares soared as much as 55% on Friday after the struggling online used-car retailer’s surprise second-quarter profit forecast caught bearish investors on the wrong foot.
Carvana endured a turbulent 2022 as the company struggled to offload used cars purchased at higher prices during the pandemic due to weak demand over affordability concerns.
Short positions in Carvana were at $488 million, with short sellers estimated to have lost $142 million since the stock started trading higher in after-hours trading on Thursday, according to analytics firm Ortex.
“Some short sellers will add to the buying pressure as they try to close their positions and, therefore, causing a short squeeze,” Ortex co-founder Peter Hillerberg said.
Investors heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday after Carvana said its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization(EBITDA) were expected to be positive in the second quarter.
Carvana, known for its car vending machines, has cut costs and is trying to restructure its debt, some of which was taken on to buy auction firm ADESA’s U.S. physical auction business.
Analysts, however, were still cautious.
“This stock isn’t for the faint of heart, given ongoing solvency concerns and a very real risk of macro deterioration,” Piper Sandler analysts said in a note on Friday, as they bumped up their price target on the stock by $1 to $21.
“For us to turn constructive… CVNA would need to return to sustained profitable growth. This is unchartered territory in our view given the company’s history and particularly in what we believe is going to be challenging used car supply environment in the medium-term,” J.P. Morgan analyst Rajat Gupta said.
Carvana shares have risen 52% so far this year amid interest from retail investors after shedding 98% of their value last year.
(Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)


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California Tree Nut Report
Fruit Grower Report
Idaho Ag Today
Low-Tariff Beef to Japan and Bird Flu Outbreaks Serious
New Tailpipe Emmissions Standards Leave Out Ethanol
AFBF on Fuel and Energy Costs
David Sparks Ph.D.
Fruit Grower ReportAfter COVID slowdowns, Washington Wine Commission's Chris Stone says the state's wine industry is back on track and on a roll.
Fruit Grower ReportIt is March and that means it is Taste Washington Wine Month. Washington Wine's Interim Executive Director Chris Stone tells us about the month-long celebration!
Fruit Grower ReportIt will have a decidedly different look to it, but Taste Washington Wine Month is here for the entire month of March.
Fruit Grower ReportMarch is Taste Washington Wine Month


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Last week at the AMD Tech Summit in Sonoma, California, AMD provided an update on its upcoming Zen CPU architecture to select journalists. At the New Horizon event in Austin, Texas on Tuesday, AMD shared these details with the general public. Here’s everything we know so far about AMD’s upcoming CPUs.
For starters, the Zen CPU architecture will come to market carrying the name Ryzen, with the first set of ‘Summit Ridge’ desktop CPUs now expected to ship in Q1 2017. Ryzen will be the culmination of a four-year effort by AMD to regain the market share and mindshare it has lost to Intel in the high-performance desktop market.
Jim Anderson, Senior Vice President and GM, Computing and Graphics, believes that with PC gaming hardware sales growing thanks to VR and other use cases, the “market is right for a powerful new desktop processor”. AMD, of course, believes that Ryzen is the answer.
Based on the new AMD AM4 platform, Ryzen desktop CPUs will have 8 cores (16 threads) clocked at 3.4GHz+ and 4MB of L2 cache as well as 16MB of L3 cache. Details on the AM4 platform are scant except for the fact that it supports DDR4, PCIe Gen. 3, USB 3.1 Gen. 2, NVMe, and SATA Express technologies.
One of the demos at the press event showcased a 'Summit Ridge' Ryzen CPU without any speed boost feature in a head-to-head battle against an Intel Core i7 6900K at 3.2GHz with Turbo Boost on. While the two finished the test in nearly identical times, AMD’s demos showed the Ryzen CPU using less power, with the company claiming it is on track to achieve its earlier claims of 40 percent more instructions per clock using the same amount of energy.
The performance gains and the efficient energy use are attributed in part to the new AMD SenseMI technology. The five key features of this are: Pure Power, Precision Boost, Extended Frequency Range, Neural Net Prediction, and Smart Prefetch.
Starting with Pure Power, at the heart of the CPU are a set of embedded sensors which allow for monitoring of temperature, speed, and voltage in real time. Coupled with Infinity Fabric, they allow for greater power efficiency than before. While AMD was silent of the inner workings of Infinity Fabric, we do know that it’s a protocol that makes this kind of monitoring, and other communication, within the SoC possible.
Precision Boost allows for fine-grained frequency control, which means instead of the CPU operating at non-turbo and a higher frequency turbo speeds, it can now increase (or presumably, decrease) the frequency in 25MHz increments, allowing for greater power efficiency. Extended Frequency Range will please enthusiasts as it permits frequencies above and beyond ordinary Precision Boost limits, with exact clock speeds scaling with the cooling solution used. Best of all, it will be fully automated with no user intervention required.
Neural Net Prediction will let the CPU anticipate future decisions, preload instructions, and choose the best path through the CPU, further increasing overall efficiency. Smart Prefetch will let Ryzen CPUs anticipate the location of future data accesses by application code and then prefetch vital data into a local cache so it’s ready for immediate use.
As stated earlier, the desktop-grade ‘Summit Ridge’ AMD Ryzen CPUs will ship in Q1 2017, with ‘Naples’ chips for serves due to arrive in Q2 2017. ‘Raven Ridge’ chips suitable for use in notebooks will be available in the second half of next year. AMD President and CEO Dr. Lisa Su believes Ryzen will give AMD the “best product stack we've had in a decade”, and it’s safe to say the company has a lot riding on it.
Disclosure: AMD sponsored the correspondent’s hotel for the press event in Sonoma, California.


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Broadband providers are rushing to offer new deals in response to Ofcom’s report into poor performance, which said the average speed delivered was only half the advertised rate.
Orange cut the cost of its basic mobile broadband package last week and capped the penalty charges for exceeding download limits at £40. For £4.89 a month on an 18-month contract, existing Orange mobile and home broadband customers will get download speeds of up to 3.6 megabytes per second and a free dongle.
The usage allowance is just 500Mb but the company has also introduced “early bird” tariffs between midnight and 9am for those who want to download more, starting at £12.72 a month.
Virgin Media has issued a “best speed promise” with a pledge to end…


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Editor’s note: September 29 marks National Coffee Day in the U.S. Throughout the month of September, Human Nature is publishing a special series of reports on the Sustainable Coffee Challenge, a coalition working to make coffee the world’s first sustainable agricultural product. This post is the third in the series.
The coffee sector has a labor problem – or maybe multiple labor problems.
Pruning and weeding of coffee trees, and picking the ripe cherries, is all done by hand on the vast majority of farms, and this labor accounts for up to 60 percent of production costs. Meanwhile, climate change, disease outbreaks and price fluctuations can disrupt traditional labor patterns and lead to labor shortages and create conditions for poor labor practices.
So we have to ask the question: Who is picking our coffee?


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Dean Hall, who is in London, has confirmed his new studio will be based in the city.
The former Oamaru man is the creator of DayZ, a zombie survival game which has sold more than 3million copies since its initial release.
''I'm hoping to bring that kind of success back with me through this new studio,'' Mr Hall said yesterday.
A popular game such as DayZ could be made for a few million US dollars but could generate hundreds of millions in revenue, he said.
His Dunedin studio, RocketWerkz, would have an international focus across ''multiple genres and of varying scope''.
A small team of between five and 10 would be employed, but that was likely to grow, he said.
His work history includes serving with the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the New Zealand Army.
''It is my firm belief New Zealand is extremely well positioned to be a centre for making innovative video games.''
While he had not spoken to the Dunedin City Council about his studio, he said he had received ongoing support from several Otago companies and his bank, which helped with his international affairs and to manage his personal success from DayZ.
His move has been welcomed by Ben Kenobi, of the New Zealand Game Developers' Association, who said it was ''awesome news''.
''Dean's presence shines an international spotlight on the New Zealand games industry.''
New Zealand was catching up with the rest of the world in the understanding of what games could do for culture and the economy, he said.
His return would help show the rest of New Zealand about the economic importance of games, while providing an opportunity to showcase ''our games to a global audience''.


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An Authored article by Isha Barve and Moulika Mandal
Move over humans, furry friends are taking over as the new family members! With their unconditional love and ability to alleviate anxiety and depression, pets have become more than just companions to their owners, resulting in a significant surge in the number of pets and animals in households. In 2022, Amazon had sales of pet care products of around 23.3 billion U.S. dollars worldwide, predicted to surpass 39 billion dollars by 2027. The pandemic-induced lockdowns of 2020 only added fuel to this trend as people turned to their furry friends for comfort and companionship. The rise of new pet care businesses and products, such as pet spas, hotels, touch boards, and more, only solidifies the fact that pet owners are willing to go the extra mile for their furry friends. Pet humanization is taking the world by storm, with pet owners treating their furry friends like humans, dressing them up in the latest fashion, and decking them out with fancy accessories and technologies. They put in the same conscious thought and planning into caring for their pets as they would for a human baby, cooking nutritious and hygienic meals for their pets, much like new parents who prefer to feed their babies with home-cooked food. Join the revolution of pet humanization and explore the ways in which pet owners are blurring the line between human and animal relationships.
Is the Pet Industry Really About Our Pets?
The bond between humans and pets is one that is built on pure, unconditional love. But with all the love and joy that pets bring into our lives, it’s only natural to feel a sense of guilt when we aren’t able to give back to them. It’s clear that pet parents are more than willing to go above and beyond to provide their pets with the best possible care and attention, treating them just like members of their own family. But are these services really for the pets or the parents who feel indebted to them for their unconditional love? What about the impact on the pets themselves? That’s a question that still needs to be answered.
Making pet owners’ lives easier
Looking at it closely, the industry focuses on marketing and branding strategies that appeal to pet owners, such as cute packaging and celebrity endorsements, to increase product sales. Pet products and services aim to satisfy the desires and needs of pet owners rather than solely on the well-being of pets. Pet food companies have started producing organic, nutritious, and chemical-free pet food due to pet owners’ concerns about the quality of packaged food. Pet care businesses and products, such as dog walking services and behavior training, aim to make pet ownership more convenient for pet owners, rather than just improving the pet’s quality of life. As instance, bathing cats or clipping their nails is not a simple task, and finding someone to take care of your pet when you’re away can be challenging. With the emergence of pet spa and services, cats can get their grooming done without any hassle for the cat owner. And if you’re interested in teaching your pet to communicate with you, a click on a search engine can provide you with a list of new technologies and specialists to help. Owing to such services, owning pets has become much more convenient.
The role of human emotions
In a way, these services truly are more for the parents than the pets. The industry offers pet owners a range of services such as pet spas, hotels, touch boards, and other specialized products that cater to the owners’ desire for a luxurious and indulgent experience for their pets, rather than focusing on the pet’s actual needs. While pets require baths, and might sometimes need to be kept in kennels when the parents are away, the “luxury-fication” of these services is targeted towards the parents. We interviewed a pet parent for this piece who talked about her experience of taking her dogs Tyson (German Shepard) and Coco (Labrador) to a pet spa, where they were given baths, shampooed, massaged, and dressed up in bows. She also added that while her dogs would’ve been just as happy if they had been given a bath at home, taking them to a pet spa definitely delighted her. She said that, psychologically, it made her feel like she was giving her ‘children’ a good life. Moreover, the industry promotes indulging pets in human activities such as dressing them up in costumes or buying them luxurious accessories, despite the fact that these may not be necessary for the pet’s well-being. It plays on every human’s desire to parent a child through their pets. Many pet owners are willing to pay a premium for pet products and services that make them feel good or alleviate their own stress, rather than focusing on the needs of their pets. The industry also markets products and services as a way for owners to show their love and affection for their pets, often playing on human emotions to sell products.
When it comes to pet care, it’s important to remember that the industry is ultimately aimed at satisfying human desires rather than just meeting the needs of our furry companions. It’s easy for pet owners to get caught up in wanting to provide the best for their pets, but we must remember to prioritize what our pets truly need: love. Expressing our love can take different forms, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. We should focus on finding what works best for our unique pets and our relationships with them. Whether it’s cuddling with them, buying them toys, or simply spending time together, what matters most is showing them love in a way that works for both of us.
Isha Barve is a III year BA(psychology) student at FLAME University.
Moulika Mandal, PhD is an assistant professor of Psychology at FLAME University.


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NFTs have been all over the news in recent months – with some raking in whopping amounts for digital art on auction – but what exactly are they and why are they now being linked to commercial real estate (CRE) and property sales?
Dealing in definitions
NFT stands for non-fungible token. Something that is fungible is easily exchanged. So, for example, a $10 bill can be easily and equitably exchanged for two $5 bills. Gold is also famously fungible. You can take an ounce of gold in jewelry or nuggets, melt it down and remake it in another form, and it retains the value of its weight in gold.
Bitcoin, part thereof, and other cryptocurrencies, are also fungible. But the technology that underpins cryptocurrency – the blockchain – means that we can trace each individual instance from owner to owner, crypto-wallet to crypto-wallet.
Then there are those things that can be valued but not easily divided up and exchanged – like art. So, something like an original artwork or a vintage Cartier timepiece is worth more than the paper and paint or weight of gold used to make it, because of things like design and origin.
So, with NFTs, we have linked a specific token to blockchain technology so that it can be authenticated using the blockchain. This allows it to work as a certificate of ownership.
Application in CRE
When this is applied to property and CRE, we start to see how “tokenization” can support ownership and part-ownership of physical items and digital properties:
- One well-known example of the digital variety is Canadian artist Krista Kim’s Mars House. This digital rendering earned its maker some $500 000.
- In late March 2021, an NFT was created to rent a (real, physical) house in the Hamptons, for the month of August.
- In April 2021, a historic and architecturally significant home in New York state has been listed on the crypto art marketplace OpenSea, and claims to be the first “art as architecture NFT”.
- Virtual and digital properties within their own universes or those of specific games are also achieving huge interest.
- In the UK, the land registry has been investigating whether they can use a token system, and told the BBC that the opportunity they see in NFTs lies in innovating property lending models.
The building block(chain)s
Beyond NFTs, commentators are also seeing the potential that the distributed ledger technology (DLT) has for innovation in CRE. There are already a number of startups dabbling in these waters – with the hopes that it could speed up and democratize both homeownership and property investment.
Proceed with caution
It is not without its critics, though, including investment analysts and writers who have cautioned buyers not to get too caught up in the trend.
As a Reuters report outlines: “Investors caution, however, that while big money is flowing into NFTs, the market could represent a price bubble, with the risk of major losses if the hype dies down. There could also be prime opportunities for fraudsters in a market where many participants operate under pseudonyms.”
“At NAI Global, we have a large network of capital market experts to draw from across the world, and across specialties,” explains Jay Olshonsky, President & CEO of NAI Global. “So we have the capability to stay on top of these kinds of new market innovations, without running the risk of being swept up in the trendiness of them.”


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SILVER SPRING, USA — Choice Hotels International is strengthening its commitment to responsible tourism development by supporting Caribbean efforts to keep sustainability at the forefront of the region’s most important industry.
Speaking ahead of next week’s 12th annual Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-12), Choice Hotels director Jose Salvador Icaza said sustainability for the lodging company is more than a buzzword.
"We must embed sustainability into all areas of tourism – from hotels reducing energy costs, operators respecting the natural environment and integrating local communities to managers optimizing revenues using robust, state-of-the-art technology," said Icaza, the Caribbean franchise and emerging markets director of Choice Hotels International.
Meeting under the theme "Keeping the Right Balance: Rising above the Numbers," the conference, a collaborative effort between the CTO and the Bermuda Department of Tourism, will be held from April 3-6, 2011.
Icaza heads to the CTO conference on the heels of successful business development visits to Puerto Rico and Dominica this month, and said he looks forward to sharing the company’s new value proposition for the Caribbean and Atlantic region with local and regional hoteliers.
Icaza sees Bermuda "as among our focused target markets this year," especially with the Choice Hotels new Ascend Collection membership program.
"Ascend Collection is not a traditional franchise concept. Designed for historic, boutique or unique hotels, our partners retain their independence, authenticity and superior service while connecting to our powerful global reservations system — a true example of sustainability," he remarked.
Delegates to the conference will examine how Caribbean tourism destinations strategically plan to build upon their successes, capitalize on future trends and become more globally competitive and sustainable.


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Hamleys has released its annual predictions for the toys which will top Christmas lists this year, revealing an unlikely trend of “imperfectionism”.
Though staple favourites like movie tie-up toys and the latest tech were still prominent in its top 12 list, dolls with mismatched features and “needy” robots were beginning to see popularity.
Crate Creatures, which retail for around £40, are troll like dolls with multicoloured hair, glowing eyes and their tongues out made the list.
Even more imperfect are the Fugglers, dolls with visible stitching, different button eyes and disconcerting human like teeth, which retail for between £15 to £25.
Furthermore the £80 Boxer interactive robot buddy will purposefully bump into things, fall over and say the wrong thing, and is described as Hamleys as “needy and fallible”.
These are reportedly part of a growing trend among children who are increasingly resisting “the pressures of idealised perfection in social channels and celebrity icons.”
Hamleys’ head buyer Victoria Kay added: “We have cute, we have cuddly, we have fun, we have education, but this year in some of our toy categories we are also seeing an antidote to the highly polished perfectionism portrayed in many social media channels.
“Importantly, these toys are being delivered with character, fun and cheekiness at their heart and we love them.
“It makes for a wonderfully diverse and interesting range this year – for kids and kidults alike.”
Elsewhere in the list of predicted hits are children’s character favourites like Lego Harry Potter, Peppa Pig Royal Guards and Hamleys’ cuddly Paddington bear.
Older children are expected to drive sales of the latest Nerf Gun, while the Gravitrax system aims to teach them about gravity and magnetism.
Here is a full list of this years top 12 toys:
- Crate Creatures
- Boxer Robot
- Hamleys Exclusive Monopoly and Monopoly Cheaters Edition
- O.L. Surprise! Eye Spy Under Wraps Doll Assortment
- Hairdorables Assortment
- Ty Sequin Flippables
- Elasti Plasti
- GraviTrax Starter Pack
- Nerf Laser Ops Pro Alphapoint 2 Pack
- Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Express
- Hamleys Peppa Castle and Royal Guard Plush
- Hamleys Cuddly Paddington


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Megaupload, UAE rebate, seed controversy, trade mark liability and Sherlock Holmes
In today’s IP news roundup: what impact did the Megaupload shutdown have on movie piracy?, an incentive for patenting in the UAE, antitrust accusations against seed companies, Professor Joachim Bornkamm on trade mark liability and a Sherlock Holmes copyright dispute
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Volvo And Its Plans About the Future of Autonomous Driving
Volvo Cars, the premium Swedish automobile vehicle manufacturer plans to launch China's most advanced autonomous driving experiment in which local drivers will try the car on public roads and put it to the test through numerous road situations.
Volvo team plans to include about 100 vehicles and to spend some months in negotiations with interested cities in China in order to choose the optimal conditions for tests. Also, the team believes that the introduction of the AD technology would dramatically reduce vehicle accidents, along with reduced pollution.
As we have told you before, the Swedish company intends to reduce car accident injuries and death to the minimum by incorporating advanced technologies and safety features by the year 2020. And now, taking one step further, the team introduces the AD cars that promise high levels of safety.
Also, some recent researches reveal that AD vehicles have the potential to reduce the number of car accidents and also, in terms of congestion, AD machines reduce traffic congestion issues. How cool is that?
By all looks like Volvo team stays dedicated and consistent about delivering ever-evolving and more utilized vehicles. Hopefully, by 2020 we will witness the first ever vehicle that prevents every injury and fatal crashes.


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Why Samsung may remain top global smartphone player in near future
Despite receiving greater competition from major Chinese handset players such as OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi, Samsung is likely to remain the top original equipment manufacturer (OEM) globally on an annual basis in the near future, a new report has said.
New Delhi, Dec 20 Despite receiving greater competition from major Chinese handset players such as OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi, Samsung is likely to remain the top original equipment manufacturer (OEM) globally on an annual basis in the near future, a new report has said.
Samsung is currently the undisputed leader in terms of smartphone shipments, and has been the top smartphone vendor every year since 2012.
"Xiaomi has been inching closer to Samsung, even displacing it as the top smartphone vendor globally towards the end of Q2 2021. While this is a major development, it does not necessarily indicate a permanent shift in OEM dynamics," said the report from Counterpoint Research.
Although Samsung has been the top global player annually for the past several years, it has not always been the top player in each quarter of these years.
For example, Samsung lost the top spot in five of the 26 quarters between Q1 2015 and Q2 2021.
Usually, Samsung loses the top spot to Apple in the fourth quarter (Q4) due to the sales of the newly launched iPhone models.
"In Q2 2020 too, Huawei, together with Honor, which was included at the time, managed to ship more smartphones than Samsung. So, although Xiaomi inching closer to Samsung in Q2 2021 is an event that needs to be taken note of, it is not unprecedented," explained Harmeet Singh Walia Harmeet of Counterpoint Research, who focuses on camera modules, MEA mobile market and the AR/VR sector.
That said, Xiaomi has been rising in multiple geographies and topped shipments in Asia and Europe in Q2 2021. While in Asia it has topped shipments often, this was the first time it was topping shipments in Europe.
"Xiaomi's rise also coincides with the decline of Huawei, another major Chinese OEM. Xiaomi, along with OPPO and OnePlus, took over large parts of Huawei's affordable market, particularly in Europe, while also being among the primary OEMs, along with Samsung, to take over Huawei's premium affordable segment there," Walia argued.
Xiaomi became the market leader in some of the price-conscious markets within Europe, such as Russia.
While Xiaomi's growth has not been accidental, its rise to the very top towards the end of Q2 2021 was also because of production difficulties faced by Samsung due to its factory in Vietnam becoming temporarily non-operational during a Covid-triggered lockdown.
"This came in a quarter where Samsung has historically seen weaker shipments (while Samsung's shipment share in all Q1s since 2015 has been well over 20 per cent, its shipment share in all Q2s since 2015 has usually been a little above or under 20 per cent)," said Walia.
Samsung's strong vertical integration and availability of its models in a wide range of price bands in every major region conveys that "while we may see Xiaomi beating Samsung for the top spot in several regions in certain quarters, and Apple beating Samsung for the top spot in Q4s, Samsung is likely to remain the top OEM globally on an annual basis in the near future", the report noted.


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- STOXX 600 down 0.9 pct
- Autos tumble on trade tariff fears
- Siemens and Airbus lead industrials down
- Multinational clothes, luxury stocks sell off
- Debenhams falls after another profit warning
An escalating protectionist war between the United States and China extended a sell-off in European shares on Tuesday, with autos, mining and technology stocks in the eye of the storm.
Europe‘s main equity benchmarks sank 1 to 1.7 percent by 0825 GMT after Trump warned Washington would impose a 10 percent tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods after Beijing decided to raise tariffs on $50 billion in U.S. goods.
“For now we are talking about the U.S. and China, not Europe directly, but certainly overall it’s a de-risking because global trade integrates everything,” said Britta Weidenbach, head of European equities at DWS.
The pan-European STOXX 600 was down 0.9 percent by 0845 GMT, at its lowest since April 26, while euro zone stocks tumbled 1.3 percent. A gauge of volatility on the Eurostoxx 50 rose to its highest level since June 8.
Germany’s DAX, home to some of the world’s biggest carmakers that Trump has explicitly targeted in his tariffs rhetoric, suffered the worst fall, down 1.6 percent.
Autos stocks were the biggest drag, with Daimler, Volkswagen and BMW down 1.4 to 2.8 percent. The STOXX 600 autos sector hit its lowest in seven months as traders priced in higher tariffs.
“The automotive sector is one of the main sectors that could potentially be impacted by import tariffs,” said Weidenbach, adding that the impact on different German carmakers may depend on how much of their production is U.S.-based.
“The devil is in the detail in the end, but certainly the discussions are not helpful for the sector,” she said.
Europe‘s companies are in general far more exposed to the global economy than U.S. counterparts, making them more vulnerable to countries slapping higher tariffs on goods.
Some 18 percent of European company revenues comes from North America and 9 percent from China, while 32 percent is derived from emerging markets.
U.S. companies get just 4 percent of their revenues from China and 10 percent from Europe, according to Morgan Stanley.
Multinational sportswear company Adidas fell 2 percent, as the fear of an end to unfettered access to global markets also bruised luxury stocks Kering, Hermes , LVMH and Moncler.
Industrial conglomerate Siemens was one of the biggest drags on the STOXX along with French planemaker Airbus .
Mining shares tumbled 2.2 percent, tracking a decline in London copper prices on the escalating trade tensions.
Highly valued tech stocks were also selling off as investors shed the sectors that have led the strong equity rally. The tech sector sank 1.8 percent, having hit a 17-year high as recently as Friday.
Outside trade war moves, the most impressive falls were in the UK retail and housing sectors.
Debenhams shares plummeted 19 percent at the open, then recovering to trade down 8.6 percent after the department store warned on profits for the third time in six months, blaming its poor trading on increased competitor discounting and weakness in its key markets.
Trade war fears have been one factor that has driven Germany’s DAX into negative territory for the year.


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Palm Beach County public schools just announced a drive to donate cash or gently used computers for at least 11,000 devices so kids without them can start online learning March 31. County schools are closed until at least April 15. Here’s what you can do:
- Earmark “Device Drive” for cash contribution to The Education Foundation, 505 S. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, FL 33426 or at org
$275 will provide one device.
- Donate gently used device on approved list below. Drop off at any Office Depot location in Palm Beach County:
Dell Chromebook 4G memory/32 G hard drive minimum; Dell Windows Desktop/Laptop 4G memory/128G hard drive minimum; Microsoft Surface Pro 4G memory/128 G hard drive minimum; Apple Laptop 2013 or later with 4G/256G drive minimum; iPad 5th generation or higher, 32G and above
- Eligible households without internet access can apply online for two months free internet access by Comcast (internetessentials.com/covid19). IComcast made available Xfinity Wifi hotspots for free and giving all customers unlimited data for no additional charge, according to the district.
“The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County has partnered with Florida Power and Light Company, Comcast, Office Depot and the School District to ensure that all of our 180,000 plus students will have internet access,” according to the school district.


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Inflation rate in the Philippines for the bottom 30 percent income households further increased to 7.7 percent in November 2022, from 7.3 percent in October 2022.
This is the highest recorded inflation for this income group of consumers since October 2018. The average inflation rate from January to November 2022 stood at 5.1 percent. In November 2021, inflation rate was recorded at 4.2 percent.
The higher inflation for this group of consumers is brought about by the increase in the year-on-year growth of the food and non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco index at 8.2 percent in November 2022, from 7.5 percent in October 2022 and restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services index at 6.0 percent, from 5.5 percent in October 2022. The rest of the commodity groups also recorded higher year-on-year increments except for the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index which retained its previous month’s growth rate.
Food inflation at the national level rose to 8.5 percent in November 2022, from 7.7 percent in October 2022. In the same month of the previous year, food inflation was recorded at 4.2 percent. The increase in the food inflation was primarily driven by the higher annual mark-up in the vegetables index at 14.8 percent, from 9.3 percent in October 2022. In addition, annual growth of the sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery index was also higher at 59.5 percent, from 54.9 percent in October 2022.
Inflation rate soars to 7.7 percent in November
Faster annual increments were also observed in the indices of the following food groups during the month:
a. Rice, 1.7 percent;
b. Corn, 10.7 percent;
c. Other cereals, flour, cereal preparation, bread, pasta and other bakery products, 8.3 percent;
d. Fish and seafood, 7.8 percent;
e. Milk, cheese and eggs, 8.5 percent;
f. Oils and fats, 17.8 percent; and
g. Food products not elsewhere classified (n.e.c), 6.9 percent.
On the other hand, the indices of meat and fruit posted lower annual increases of 9.3 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively.
Inflation rate in NCR was recorded at 9.0 percent in November 2022, from 9.1 percent in October 2022. In November 2021, the inflation in the area was posted at 1.5 percent.
The lower inflation in the area was mainly brought about by the lower annual increment for the index of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 4.0 percent in November 2022, from 4.4 percent in October 2022. In addition, lower annual increases were also observed in the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 10.4 percent and transport at 18.7 percent.


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Karachi: Around 451 illegally established fuel stations in Sindh have been sealed and 205 criminal cases have been filed against their operators.
The customs department also noted that petrol and high-speed diesel was also being sold at these illegal outlets. The FBR has also issued instructions to the customs department of Balochistan to seal six supply routes of smuggled oil in the province.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the first to take action on Monday against the 80 illegal outlets of the 343 identified illegal outlets in the area. The customs department will now offer one week to make the relevant documents for legalization.
The information for this effect was passed on to the participants of the meeting of the provincial Anti-smuggling task force with the Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah in the chair.
During the meeting, the customs officials identified 15 smuggled goods that were being illegally brought from Afghanistan, India, and Iran. These goods were being locally sold in the Pakistani cities. The goods that were being sold included Gutka, cigarettes, betel nuts, tires, electronic items, cosmetics, automobile spare parts, and more.
The Sindh police have conducted around 1,279 raids in the year 2020-2021. The smuggled goods that were seized were worth around 8,314 million Pakistani rupees as the meeting was informed.
The chief secretary in this regard noted that there was a need to increase the operations of law-enforcement agencies against the smuggling activities. Regarding this, there will be an awareness campaign that should be conducted both on mainstream and social media to make people fully aware of how harmful smuggling really is for people.
He asked Additional Chief Secretary Home Department Qazi Shahid Parvez will form a social media channel to add all the focal members of the anti-smuggling organizations to improve the coordination of such operations.


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The trend towards bubble and milk tea spots continues. Later this year chain Machi Machi will be opening and outlet in the redeveloped retail space of the Vuze on Fenwick Street (formerly known as Fenwick Tower)
A new spot that appears to specialize in fried chicken and noodles is coming to Quinpool Road. Bomber Chicken has an awning up at the former home of B-well Sushi
Shahi Grocery , specializing in South Asian delicacies is opening at 278 Lacewood Dr. where The Last Game Store was. In addition to grocery they will also have prepared to go foods like samosas and biryani and are aiming to open early March.
A Tim Hortons has closed, the one inside of the Portland Street Superstore closed its doors this week, buzz is that Loblaws who already have been adding in store Starbucks locations in Ontario will soon be bringing them to some large format Atlantic Superstores
Seafarer’s Pub in Eastern Passage closed this week.
14 months after opening a showroom in Halifax Shopping Centre, bespoke men’s clothier Indochino has left town.
Things Engraved who has been slowly closing locations locally over the last few years has closed it’s remaining stores as nationally the chain has gone into receivership.
The Old Apothecary has now completed the move from Barrington to the Brewery Market
Vicki’s Seafood Restaurants started about 18 years ago as a roadside takeout in Annapolis Royal. There have been a few changes and expansion over the years but the local chain has grown with locations in Granville Ferry and Coldbrook and this month its first metro shop.
The Hudson family, which owns the chain, says it has a history with the sea as “a family of fishermen, fish-plant operators, clam diggers, lobster fishermen, seafood specialists and seafood restaurateurs.”
As you may have guessed Vicki’s specializes in seafood particularly its Haddie Bites, deep-fried or pan-fried haddock, clams, Digby scallops and fish cakes.
In addition the restaurant offers diner classics like liver and onions, hot turkey sandwiches, burgers, and poutine, “eat in or take out at reasonable prices, which elevates them to extraordinary,“ according to a news release by company.
According to the release Vicki’s Seafood will be trying some new menu items at the new location. The plan is to open the newest outlet soon at 22 Boland Rd., near Wyse Road, in Dartmouth not far from the Macdonald Bridge.
The restaurants are named after founder Vicki Hudson who managed the business until she succumbed to cancer in Sept. 11, 2017.
“Our commitment is to ensure Vicki’s continued legacy … of great portions, great prices and great service,” it stated in a news release.
To continue to honour Vicki’s memory a single table as each of the restaurants is set aside for special attention. A portion of all sales from the patrons who sit at these tables is donated to local families affected by cancer.
The chain is also launching an online fundraising campaign, Eat for the Cure, in conjunction with the new store opening and to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.
On January 16, 2012 at 10:52 AM I tweeted “Welcome to Retail updates around the HRM” and Halifax ReTales was born. 8 years later it has expanded well beyond a single tweet and I had no idea that it would become what it is is today. So thank you all for coming along for the ride whether you were there day one or this is the first time seeing anything I have posted.


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Cyber liability insurance has been around for 25 years and is a popular coverage, but we’ve found there’s still plenty of people who don’t know much about it.
Or even why they might need it.
A 2016 LexisNexis research report shows that this year compared to last year, every dollar of fraud cost merchants $2.40, up from $2.23 a year ago. The LexisNexis report also finds the volume of fraud has risen sharply in the last year in a survey of more than 1,000 risk and fraud executives in ecommerce and multichannel retail organizations.
The monthly average of successful fraudulent transactions jumped from 156 to 206, while the number of prevented fraudulent transactions also increased, from 177 to 236, according to LexisNexis. The level of fraud as a percentage of revenue has inched upward from 1.32 percent to 1.47 percent.
It’s more than that, though. For business owners with websites and online services that include merchandise, or product sales for fee-based services, or have personal information of consumers — think a medical billing office, for example — it’s critical to have secure hosting services and compliance with all regulations.
Think of it as enjoying security in an insecure world.
We spoke with Neil Waranch, a sales executive at Insco Insurance Group in Virginia Beach, about this issue and he said he personally knows a lot of people who have been affected by cyber fraud, including himself. About six years ago he got a call from his bank saying his credit card had been used in a series of transactions outside the state. Waranch traced the stolen information back to the use of his credit card in a fast-food drive-thru the previous day. So theft can happen to anyone in any situation, whether you’re hitting up a fast-food joint, a big corporation, or the federal government.
For businesses, when cyber-related fraud happens the question becomes: Who will take care of you? In an age when anyone can be hacked, Waranch says it’s critical for businesses to have both cyber liability insurance and a plan in place. It’s a must have to cover companies, damages and even court costs. Policy cost is minimal compared to the catastrophic cost that can occur.
Insco Insurance Group provides cyber liability insurance for protection purposes and Waranch suggests anyone who has a website and takes credit cards must have it. He stresses that small businesses can be absolutely devastated by a breach.
Waranch cites an example he heard first-hand of the owner of a coffee shop in a small town that got hit with a data breach and did not have cyber liability coverage. The business got wiped out by lawsuits, attorney fees and not to mention the damage to reputation.
How secure is your website hosting service? At ZZ Servers, our secure web hosting is not only affordable, especially for small and mid-size businesses, but has the topflight security that the biggest businesses demand.
Some of the features of the ZZ Servers secure web hosting services include:
— Server log retention and review;
— File integrity scanning and intrusion detection;
— Server level security and patches;
— Enterprise server hardware with multiple levels of redundancy.
— PCI Validated Web Hosting and Services are included.
For security, peace of mind and to ensure your business has a future, be sure to carry cyber liability insurance and talk to us about website hosting services


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Bankrupt Sri Lanka economy shrinks 1.6% in first quarter
Updated: 29 Jun 2022, 01:37 PM IST
- The island nation's painful downturn has seen months of lengthy blackouts, runaway inflation and severe shortages of vital consumer goods.
People wait in a queue after receiving tokens to buy petrol due to fuel shortage, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 27, 2022. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte


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Yamaha Golf-Car Company 2021 Trade Shows Shift to Virtual Platforms
Yamaha Golf-Car Company
2021 Trade Shows Shift to Virtual Platforms
Kennesaw, Ga. (January 20, 2021) — Yamaha Golf-Car Company is once again excited to showcase their industry-leading products and the overall Yamaha brand with a presence during both the PGA Merchandise Show and the GCSAA Golf Industry Show, two of the most important annual events in the golf industry.
Since both organizations are shifting to exclusively virtual platforms for the 2021 season, Yamaha Golf Car saw this as an opportunity to further enhance their online presence. As soon as the new show formats were announced, Yamaha Golf Car began working on their virtual show “booths” with the new goal of driving visitor traffic to their own company website to tell their own, personal sales story. In addition, work also began on interactive digital brochures, an updated website layout/navigation, and enhancements to the Build Your Own Car component of their company website.
Both virtual shows will be staffed by Yamaha Golf Car during the show dates, allowing their Direct, Distributor, and Dealer sales channels the opportunity to network and connect with any potential customers. Additionally, the upgrades to their website will provide longevity that extends beyond the trade show season, providing new resources for current and existing customers to reference as they shop from the safety of their own homes, offices, etc.
For more information about Yamaha Golf-Car Company, please call 770-420-6084 or visit online at www.yamahagolfcar.com.
2021 PGA Merchandise Show
Back in October 2020, PGA Golf Exhibitions, in partnership with the PGA of America, announced that they would be shifting to an all-virtual format for the 2021 show, to be held January 26-29, 2021. This decision to forego the normal Orlando event was made with guidance and feedback from exhibitors, attendees, and additional key industry stakeholders in order to prioritize the health and well-being of the golf community during the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
PGA Professionals, golf retailers, industry leaders, and manufacturers from around the globe will be able to attend the show from the safety of their homes, facilities, or offices, and establish connections that will drive business results. The virtual platform offers meeting/chat features and the ability to learn more about each exhibitor’s offerings. Full content will be available live during PGA Show Week and will remain available on-demand for an extended period of time after the show concludes. For additional event details, please visit www.pgashow.com.
Taking place during the PGA Merchandise Show is NGCOA’s Golf Business Conference 2021, of which Yamaha Golf Car is the premier sponsor. For more information, please visit www.golfbusinessconference.com.
2021 Golf Industry Show
In August 2020, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) announced that the 2021 Golf Industry Show will transition to a virtual format from the previously planned in-person event in Las Vegas in February 2-4, 2021.
The theme of the 2021 GIS — “Your space. Your pace. All in one place.” — reflects the ability of participants to attend the show from the safety of their homes or offices and consume the content on their own schedules. The 2021 show will be presented on a dynamic virtual platform, which is highly interactive, visually engaging, and easy to use. For more information about the show, please visit www.golfindustryshow.com.
About Yamaha Golf-Car Company
The Yamaha Golf-Car Company builds from the 60-plus-year legacy of the Yamaha brand to manufacture the most innovatively engineered and highest quality golf, utility, and specialty vehicles in the golf industry. Yamaha Golf-Car Company is headquartered in Kennesaw, Georgia with assembly and production of all cars taking place at our Newnan. Georgia production facility. Yamaha was the first to develop Electronic Fuel Injection technology in a golf car (producing the best gas mileage and smallest carbon footprint); the first golf car with fully independent, four-wheel suspension (producing the smoothest ride in the game); and the first gas-powered car that is almost as quiet as an electric one.


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Caribbean Fever - Your ONLY destination to all things Caribbean and more
Many aren’t always in agreement with the Israeli government, however those in the movement for natural health will agree with their health ministry’s recent ruling.
Its common that food corporations manipulate the rules in terms of product labeling: naming almond beverages as “milk” when in reality they only contain under 2% of natural almonds for example, and labeling genetically engineered ingredients as “natural” to name others.
The health ministry in Israel has taken a step forward by tackling misleading advertising that is fed to the public. Heinz Ketchup is known across the globe, but should it be labeled as ketchup?
The new ruling relays a flat “no,” and assessing why it is so will have you agreeing with the ruling.
Heinz Ketchup Should Be Called “Tomato Seasoning
The Heinz Corporation has been clearly opposed to GMO labeling, as they donated half a million dollars against California’s GMO labeling bill in 2012. The corporation isn’t for wholesome and organic ingredients in the US, except everywhere else.
In the American supply, the products have GMO sugar beets (labeled as “sugar”), GMO corn syrup, and vinegar that is mostly made out of GMO corn. Despite these findings, many consumers still label Heinz Ketchup the #1 choice for ketchup every year.
This controversy has spread and now the company is under public scrutiny.
“The brand Heinz may be synonymous with ketchup for most of the world, but no longer in Israel,” quotes the newspaper Haaretz.
The article pointed out that the local manufacturer Osem argued that its competition’s product failed to meet ketchup standards that were implemented by Israel’s standards institute.
Test information from Osem found that Heinz ketchup is about 21% tomato concentrate in Israel, but has to be at 41% to meet qualification standards.
The Heinz Corporation reports that that level is at 61%. The distributor, Diplomat, for Heinz in Israel says the popular brand Osem has a huge stronghold over the market and was working to ensure its protection by proving Heinz Ketchup isn’t ketchup.
The company is lobbying to have standards lowered for the amount of tomato concentrates required in its products to be labeled as real ketchup (this is a clear indicator that something is up and an example of how big food corporations work around the rules requiring the use of healthy, organic ingredients).
Europe has a more stern approach in ketchup standards than America does when it comes to the amount of tomato solids in a product to be labeled as ketchup.
For now, the Israeli version of Heinz Ketchup will be labeled as a “tomato seasoning” instead. It’s hilarious seeing the Heinz corporation get bent over the way they went around the rules.


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Chris Kaman out at least 3 weeks
LA Times reports:
His new footwear, unfortunately, was not a fashion statement.
The Clippers' Chris Kaman, who has been limited to 10 games, will have to wear a plastic walking boot for his left foot for at least two weeks, allowing the bone bruise and ligament to heal. And he will be out for a minimum of three weeks.
"Let it heal instead of just beating up on it," said Kaman, who will stay behind and rehab the injured ankle when the Clippers travel east Tuesday for a three-game trip.


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US: TJX posts full-year net profit growth
- Full-year net income increased 11.3% to $1.4bn
- Sales rose 6% to $23.2bn.
- Fourth-quarter net income increased 42.1% to $475.3m
- Sales rose 6% to $6.7bn
Off-price retailer The TJX Companies Inc has reported a jump in full-year and fourth-quarter profit thanks to strong sales, and announced plans to build its e-commerce operations in the year ahead.
The comapny said that for the full-year ended 28 January, net income rose 11.3% to US$1.4bn as sales increased 6% to $23.2bn. Comparable-store sales increased 4%.
Over the fourth-quarter, profit jumped 42.1% to $475.3m on the back of a 6% sales increase to $6.7bn.
"I am extremely proud of our performance in 2011, which marked another great year for TJX and underscores the power of our flexible business model to perform in almost any kind of economic environment," said TJX Companies CEO Carol Meyrowitz.
"Above all, we delivered extraordinary values on ever-changing assortments of current fashions and brands to consumers, and ended the year with significant gains in customer traffic.
"We enter a new fiscal year with considerable momentum in our business and are off to a very strong start in 2012. With favorable weather patterns in February, comp store sales are trending toward a 7% increase for the month."
In fiscal 2013, the Meyrowitz said the company plans to invest in its supply chain and infrastructure, new stores, store remodels and building an e-commerce business.
It is forecasting full-year earnings per share in the range of $221-2.31 against $1.93 earned in fiscal 2012. The outlook is based on comparable-store sales growth of 1-2%.
Lured by warm weather and promotions to clear summer merchandise, US shoppers hit the stores in July giving an overall boost to many apparel retailers - but the results shed little light on back-to-sc...
The following is a general roundup of US apparel and shoe retailers' July 2012 sales results....
A number of US retailers have reported worse than expected June sales after experiencing rocky demand across the month....
The following is a general roundup of US apparel and shoe retailers' June 2012 sales results. ...
- Low labour cost countries linked to highest risks
- Why should brands care about China cotton?
- China cotton: implications and opportunities
- COMMENT: Skills or new technology?
- UK reshoring hub hit by sweatshop claims
- South Africa to grow grass for recyclable textiles
- Activewear driving US apparel spend
- JC Penney share price falls on Q4 loss
- Sri Lanka and Bangladesh FTA talks underway
- Delta Galil open to M&A as profit grows
- Outdoor performance apparel: peaks, valleys, and green fields
- Myanmar's Garment Sector - Opportunities & Challenges in 2015
- Global market review of swimwear - forecasts to 2019
- Management briefing: Outlook 2015: Apparel industry issues in the year ahead
- Apparel Retail: Top 5 Emerging Markets Industry Guide


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Intel scored access to code for location-based services when it acquired Telmap, but it didn't get the all-important location data needed to make the code sing. Rather than leave developers to find the content themselves, Telmap has struck a deal to get mapping information from TomTom. Navigation apps built around Telmap's work will soon have access both to TomTom's base maps as well as 3D maps, junctions, points of interest and voice mapping. While there's no mention of exactly when TomTom data will show up, the union is characterized as a "long-term partnership" -- we'd expect TomTom routing to quickly become a mainstay of Telmap's platforms (and potentially Intel's) in the near future.
TomTom and Telmap Announce Long-Term Partnership
~ New agreement gives Telmap customers access to world-class TomTom maps and road information ~
Mobile World Congress 2013
Barcelona, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TomTom and Telmap today announce an agreement for TomTom to supply maps and road data to location-based services provider Telmap. With this partnership, Telmap, an Intel company, will utilize TomTom content to enhance its products and services, including mobile navigation apps distributed via application stores and mobile operators worldwide.
In addition to highly-accurate maps, Telmap users can now access other TomTom content, including Points of Interest, Junction Views, 3D City Maps and Voice Maps. This enables Telmap to add new functionality to its products and services, which means users of Telmap's apps will benefit from better routing and improved visuals.
"We're at the forefront of the move towards mass adoption of mobile location-based services," says Oren Nissim, Telmap Chief Executive Officer. "This means we need to have the best routing and road data available, and that's why this announcement is so important to us. Thanks to TomTom we can now deliver an even better search, mapping and navigation experience to our users, and improve the data we supply to app developers."
"We're delighted to add Telmap, a world leader in mobile location-based services, to our portfolio of partners," says Charles Cautley, Managing Director Licensing at TomTom. "This partnership means that even more people can benefit from our industry-leading maps and road information, and enjoy an improved navigation experience. It's a very significant and exciting step for us."


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Satellite Television (DBS, DTH, DSat, DVB-S, DVB-S2) News
Sumitomo selects SiTune ISDB-S3 tuner for 4K/8K set-top box
Oct 17, 2019 – SiTune has announced that its ISDB-S3 silicon tuner has contributed to the market success of Sumitomo's Cable STB for 4K/8K satellite broadcasting. The STB has been available since March and has been distributed to several CATV operators.
News categories: SiTune, Sumitomo, Marzieh Veyseh, Hiroaki Nishimoto, Cable TV, Digital TV, Japan, Satellite, Semiconductor
Globecast provides media operations for Orby TV
Oct 16, 2019 – Globecast has announced that it has been selected by Orby TV to provide turnkey broadcast media operational services. Launched throughout the lower 48 United States in spring 2019, Orby TV is a pay-as-you-go satellite TV service.
News categories: Globecast, Orby TV, Eddie Ferraro, Michael Thornton, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Satellite, USA
New Zealand Rugby to become 5% shareholder in Sky NZ
Oct 13, 2019 – New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and Sky have announced a broadcast agreement which extends Sky’s existing SANZAAR broadcast rights to 2025. The agreement includes NZR becoming a 5% shareholder in Sky.
News categories: Sky New Zealand, New Zealand Rugby, Martin Stewart, Steve Tew, MnA, New Zealand, Satellite
Dish TV India launches range of 'Smart Connected Devices'
Oct 11, 2019 – Dish TV India has launched an Android-based HD Set Top Box and a Voice enabled Alexa Built-in smart kit. The smart kit dongle allows subscribers to access OTT Apps and Alexa skills on their existing set top boxes.
News categories: Dish TV India, Anil Dua, Apps, Digital TV, India, OTT, Satellite, Set Top Box, Smart Home
Successful launch of EUTELSAT 5 West B
Oct 10, 2019 – Eutelsat (Paris: ETL) has announced that EUTELSAT 5 West B satellite was successfully launched into super-synchronous transfer orbit by ILS using a Proton Breeze M rocket that lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 12.17 pm CET on October 9.
News categories: Eutelsat, Rodolphe Belmer, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Europe, Middle-East, Satellite
Foxtel selects CommScope for its iQ4 set-top box in Australia
Oct 7, 2019 – CommScope has announced that the New Foxtel Experience leverages CommScope technology to deliver thousands of hours of TV and on-demand movies as well as access to Netflix for subscribers in Australia through Foxtel’s iQ4 set-top box.
News categories: CommScope, Foxtel, Steve McCaffery, Apps, Australia, Cable TV, Digital TV, Satellite, Set Top Box, UX
Ethiosat DTH TV platform for Ethiopia launches on NSS-12
Oct 3, 2019 – Ethiosat has launched – the first Ethiopian TV platform to host Ethiopia’s most popular local channels. This has been made possible by agreements between the Association of Ethiopian Broadcasters (AEB), the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), and SES.
News categories: SES S.A, Association of Ethiopian Broadcasters, Ferdinand Kayser, Amman Fissehazion, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Ethiopia, Satellite
India Q2 2019 pay DTH average active subscriber base at 54.26 million
Oct 1, 2019 – According to figures submitted to TRAI, Pay DTH had an average active subscriber base of around 54.26 million in the quarter ended 30th June, 2019. This is in addition to the subscribers of DTH Free Dish (free DTH services of Doordarshan).
News categories: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Digital TV, India, Satellite, Subscribers
Kartina TV to expand reach using ASTRA 1N at 19.2°E
Sep 30, 2019 – SES has announced that OTT platform Kartina TV plans to expand its reach in Europe by also broadcasting a bouquet of its Russian-language TV channels on a new FTV (Free-to-View) encrypted DTH platform on ASTRA 1N at 19.2 degrees East.
News categories: SES S.A, Kartina TV, Håkan Sjödin, Oleg Jecov, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Europe, Satellite
- Xandr adds Clypd to its portfolio of products and services
- ATBiS to manufacture Triveni Digital ATSC 3.0 broadcast gateway
- Sumitomo selects SiTune ISDB-S3 tuner for 4K/8K set-top box
- Synamedia and Triveni Digital partner for ATSC 3.0 video delivery
- Rohde & Schwarz supports 5G Broadcast trial in Brazil
- EU imposes interim measures on Broadcom in TV chipset market
- Globecast provides media operations for Orby TV
- Switch Media unveils fast-to-market OTT platform
- Allegro DVT acquires Amphion Semiconductor
- Australian SVOD poised to break billion-dollar AU$ barrier
- HEVC Advance adds JVCKenwood, NEC, Intellectual Discovery, and Korean Patent Investment as licensors
- TV Time acquires Mediamorph
- Apple TV App and Apple TV+ coming to the Roku platform
- Amobee launches fraud-free guarantee for Connected TV inventory
- GTPL Hathway digital pay TV subscribers up 150,000 in 3Q 2019
- ARK Multicasting and Microsoft partner for rural broadband and cloud services
- Phoenix Model Market adding 2nd NEXTGEN TV transmission site and SFN
- Melita grows TV subscriber base to more than 100,000
- Orange France Livebox 5 powered by SoftAtHome
- Viewers in Australia feel overwhelmed in streaming battleground


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Dennis Maguire Named President of Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment Worldwide15 Oct, 2009 By: Erik Gruenwedel
Veteran home entertainment executive Dennis Maguire has been named president of Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment Worldwide, replacing former president Kelley Avery, who left the studio in May.
Maguire, who joined the studio in 2006 as president of international operations with Paramount Home Entertainment, will oversee the studio’s sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment content in the United States, in addition to overseeing 12 offices internationally.
Under his leadership, Paramount Home Entertainment’s international operations in 2007 for the first time generated more than $1 billion in revenue. Maguire also advanced the studio’s business interests in Russia and China through partnerships with Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video, respectively.
He reports to Rob Moore, vice chairman, Paramount Pictures.
“Dennis has an exceptional understanding of the home entertainment industry on a worldwide basis,” Moore said. “He has been an integral part of the phenomenal growth of our international business, building strong relationships and overseeing our expansion into new regions.”
Moore, who headed Paramount Home Entertainment operations following Avery’s departure, said Maguire’s promotion precludes the appointment of successors to oversee domestic and foreign home entertainment operations.
“We will no longer have a separate president of international or domestic [operations],” Moore said. “Dennis will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of both domestic and international.”
Moore said the home entertainment industry has experienced as much change in the past year as it did in the previous 10 years, underscored by the burgeoning rise of kiosk rental.
The studio in August signed a five-year distribution deal with Redbox that calls for the kiosk operator to pay Paramount $575 million in revenue through 2014. The studio has the option to terminate the deal after four months. Moore said the studio’s relationship with Redbox would be tested in the fourth quarter.
“We have three giant titles [Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and Star Trek] in the next six weeks that will be very informative as to what our perspective on [kiosks] is,” Moore said. “[We will be] getting a sense of what the impact of Redbox is, if any, on sales and our overall revenue profile.”
Moore denied speculation the studio was looking to meld home entertainment operations in “some giant joint-venture option” with a third party or studio.
“Ultimately, the marketing and sale and distribution of our home entertainment product is a critical component of the studio and certainly something we are going to manage and control directly,” he said.
Moore said every element of how the studio creates physical media and gets it into stores and sold will continue to be analyzed in context with today’s revenue environment.
“While maybe for 25 years video delivered consistent revenue growth, that has certainly not been the case over the last 12 to 18 months,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time focused on the top line of this business, we also need to spend a reasonable amount of time looking at the bottom line.”
Moore said he has maintained a separation between physical and electronic distribution (which is headed by Tom Lesinski) due to DVD and Blu-ray continuing to represent a “gigantic” business despite the lack of significant growth this year.
He said the retail, marketing and distribution components of home entertainment represent a completely different business than a digital license relationship with third parties such as Apple iTunes, Microsoft Xbox Live and Netflix.
Moore said the studio had success last year with the digital distribution of Jackass 2.5, generating incremental revenue he said helped offset (but not replace) declines in packaged-media sales.
“A key right now is looking at every element of your cost structure and saying ‘how do I make sure more of this revenue gets to the bottom line,’” the vice chairman said.
Maguire’s responsibilities also include oversight of Paramount Home Entertainment’s efforts on behalf of MTV Network Properties, CBS, PBS, Hasbro, and fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.
Prior to Paramount, Maguire spent 23 years at Buena Vista Home Entertainment, most recently as president of Buena Vista Home Entertainment International, where he oversaw all international sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution of the company’s home entertainment products, leading the division to record-setting results.
Maguire thereby joins Universal’s Craig Kornblau as former protégées of former Disney Studio chief Bill Mechanic who went on to head separate studios.


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Earlier today, United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin delivered a press briefing addressing the increasing prevalence of cryptocurrencies and the Treasury’s stance on such digital assets. Mnuchin spoke of ‘very serious concerns’ about cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Facebook’s Libra.
The Treasury Secretary began his address by acknowledging the widespread rise in interest in cryptocurrencies ‘such as Bitcoin and Libra’.
Mnuchin went on to state that the Treasury has ‘serious concerns’ regarding the growing misuse of virtual currencies by ‘money launderers, terrorist financiers and other bad players’. Directly after this statement, Mnuchin then referenced to the representatives of Facebook’s Calibra subsidiary who will be appearing at a Senate hearing regarding their proposed cryptocurrency tomorrow, July 16th .
Facebook’s Libra project received the brunt of the Treasury Secretary’s criticism, who voiced ‘very serious concerns’ about the potential misuse of the Libra cryptocurrency in particular, delivering the mainstream narrative of Bitcoin as the tool of illicit activity.
‘Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have been exploited to support billions of dollars of illicit activity like cybercrime, tax evasion, extortion, ransomware, illicit drugs, human trafficking. This is indeed a national security issue’.
Mnuchin voiced support of greater restrictions on digital asset service providers and an increase in measures to ensure cryptocurrencies were not being used for illicit activities, stating that such providers must implement the same anti money laundering and countering financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) safeguards as traditional financial institutions.
In addition, ‘money transmitters of cryptocurrency’ must comply with the relevant Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), whose mission, explained Mnuchin, is to ‘safeguard the financial system… through the dissemination of financial intelligence’.
In the hours directly after the Treasury Secretary’s address, the price of Bitcoin rose more than $400.
Sporting a sweaty brow, Mnuchin fobbed off one closing question regarding the President speaking about the economy by responding that ‘the economy is doing fabulous, it’s the bright spot of growth’.
President Trump recently stated publicly via Twitter that he was ‘not a fan’ of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. He then proceeded to suggest that Facebook would need a bank charter to launch their proposed global cryptocurrency.
With the briefing also coming shortly after the recent comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell likening Bitcoin to gold, cryptocurrencies are currently enjoying the mainstream limelight. Though the attention is mixed in its sentiment, recent events certainly imply a level of increased cryptocurrency awareness within the traditional politico-economic system.
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Good guy Google have announced that their upcoming wearable project, Glass, will be manufactured in the United States. The manufacturing will be done by Hon Hai Precision Industry, aka Foxconn, at a factory in Santa Clara, California.
President Obama himself has asked for more manufacturing to be done in the US, where we've already seen Apple investing $100 million in American manufacturing. I think this is a great step by Google to get some manufacturing done in the US and I still can't wait to try out Glass for myself.
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