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Introduced in 2000, 16 years ago more precisely, Nike released the Air Presto. It didn’t take too long until sneakerheads around the globe started to collect this model thanks to a lot of good colorways and the great comfort that the Air Presto provides. A decade and a half later since the release, the icon has been given an update with new materials and technology – the result is the Nike Air Presto Ultra Flyknit.
The signature one-to-one fit becomes even more profound thanks to the use of Flyknit in the upper, which delivers stretch in the collar, ventilation in the toe and tongue, and support in the heel and underneath the toe cap. The cage is re engineered to fit the Flyknit upper, while the ultra tooling with rubber in high contact wear areas delivers improved comfort and durability.
The Nike Air Presto Ultra Flyknit will be available at all Sneakersnstuff locations on May 5th.


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The next time you buy an Android smartphone, there's a good chance that you'll fatten Microsoft's bottom line. Windows Phone may be struggling, but a new patent deal with the Chinese giant mobile manufacturer ZTE means that 80% of all Android smartphones in the U.S. and the majority worldwide are covered by Microsoft patent deals.
Yesterday Microsoft signed a patent deal with ZTE, China's second-largest manufacturer of mobile phone equipment, for ZTE devices that use the Android and Chrome operating systems. Horacio Gutierrez Microsoft Corporate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Legal & Corporate Affairs, announced the deal on a Microsoft blog. The deal comes shortly after Microsoft announced a similar deal with the Chinese manufacturing company Hon Hai, which is Foxconn's parent company.
As a result of both deals, Gutierrez wrote:
"...we have successfully entered into license agreements with nearly all companies on the list of the world's largest Android smartphone vendors and their manufacturers. In fact, 80 percent of Android smartphones sold in the U.S. and a majority of those sold worldwide are covered under agreements with Microsoft."
Microsoft didn't reveal the financial details of either deal, although it did say that in the Hon Hai agreement, it will receive royalties, so it won't be just a patent-sharing deal. Gutierrez's blog didn't say whether the ZTE agreement includes royalties, but a Microsoft spokesperson told ars technica that Microsoft's patent deals are "generally royalty-bearing."
Android patent deals bring in significant revenue to Microsoft, likely more than Microsoft gets from Windows Phone. In August, 2012 the analyst firm Trefis said that Microsoft received $792 million in patent royalties from Samsung and HTC in a single quarter. And in in October, 2011, Goldman Sachs estimated that Microsoft would get $444 million in Android licensing fees for for all of 2012.
Neither of those numbers can be verified. But since those estimates, Microsoft has signed many more Android patents, and Android sales have skyrocketed. So even though Windows Phone has only a 2.6% global market share according to IDC's most recent report, Microsoft is still getting significant mobile revenues.

domain: news


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When Natalie Mariduena first appeared in the 2021 SI Swimsuit Issue, people were immediately struck by how relatable the influencer appeared. Turns out, this is exactly what she was hoping for. With her debut SI Swim appearance, Mariduena wished to represent women with her body type and show body normalcy in a positive light.
The 2022 SI Swimsuit model told Fox News Digital that she fits a niche in the industry that frankly hasn’t been explored to its fullest. “In the industry, you see models who are very thin or you see plus-size models, but there isn’t this genre of modeling that’s right in the middle,” she said.
More from SwimLife
The 25-year-old has found that her 8 million followers have responded enthusiastically to finally seeing someone who looks like them in a publication. “I’m often told, ‘I have your body type — thank you for showing this,’” Mariduena said. “These people are showing their appreciation towards me and I want to give that love back. Because I have this platform, I think it’s more important than ever that I provide positivity for women.” said Mariduena, who has shared tips on how to combat negative comments with her followers, promoting “Do Good” initiatives.
The model told Fox News Digital that SI Swimsuit has given her a home that’s aligned with her mission. “Being part of Sports Illustrated is probably one of the most empowering experiences I’ve ever had,” she said. “I’m able to celebrate my body.”
Representing the average body type and promoting body normalcy has been at the forefront of Mariduena’s work as a model. “I want to be an example of that and show that it’s cool and it’s beautiful,” she added. “[On social media] I show my body, I show my life, I show what I represent and what I value with no filter. Whether it’s a bikini image or just an image of me out in the street in a cute outfit, I want to show that the normal body size is valued."


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With WhatsApp getting ready to launch UPI (Unified Payments Interface) based payments feature within the app, existing payment players are devising their own plans. Google is working on expanding the reach of its payments platform (Google Pay) in India and sources say that it will launch a new project through its partners using an SDK which will be rolled out later this year.
Google is going to introduce an in-app engagement rewards platform which should help developers and businesses to get better engagement on their apps. Called as Project Cruiser, the initiative has been led by Google’s Next Billion Users team, and has been under development since last year.
After successfully incorporating the feature into their apps, developers will be able to offer rewards to users to when they use the app. For instance, when a user places their first order, or when they invite their friends or family to use the app, and so on. In return, users will be able to earn a small amount of money. This is similar to the reward ‘scratch cards’ you get when you use Google Pay to make payments.
According to TechCrunch, a Google spokesperson declined to comment on the plans but said, “We’re always looking at ways to serve the next billion users better, but we have nothing to share at this point.”
Google recently announced that it will be expanding the payment methods available on Google Pay. As of now you can connect your bank accounts and make use of UPI, but soon support for debit cards and credit cards will be enabled.
It is noteworthy that the Delhi High Court had recently questioned the RBI regarding the legality of Google’s Pay operation in India. The question arised after a petition was filed against Google Pay for violation of Payment and Settlement Act.
Some petitioners have also raised privacy concerns, saying Google Pay has unmonitored and unauthorised access to personal information. To address the issue, Google has started rolling out options to disable certain features that may have compromised on privacy. These include allowing Google to share your creditworthiness with other companies, allowing the use of personal information by other companies owned by Google, and allow Google to inform third party merchants whose site or app you visit, and if you have a Google Pay account.


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Al Baik, a fast-food brand from Saudi Arabia that has garnered a cult following thanks to its signature crispy chicken and reasonable prices, has finally landed in the UAE.
The brand this week opened its first UAE branch in one of The Dubai Mall's food courts. On Wednesday, customers were seen queuing up for a taste of the fast-food favourite.
The new 355-square-metre venue serves more than just the fried chicken it is so famous for. A wide array of seafood, grilled dishes, vegetarian options (such as falafel sandwiches), side dishes, desserts and beverages are available.
The launch has been organised in collaboration with ServQuest, a company by Abu Dhabi's National Holding, which said it is "dedicated to operating and expanding Al Baik across the seven emirates".
“Many visitors to Saudi Arabia return with fond memories of Al Baik,” said Karim Hajjali, chief executive of ServQuest. "Likewise, Saudis and former KSA residents living overseas will often find themselves craving for Al Baik dishes.
"We are proud to partner with this much-loved brand on its long-awaited arrival to the UAE and are delighted to introduce diners in Dubai to the unmistakable taste of one of the kingdom’s unmissable culinary treats."
Al Baik was founded in Jeddah in 1974 and has since amassed a huge following.
It has previously been named by CNN as one of the eight foreign fast-food chains worth trying. It also regularly features in surveys of most popular brands in the region.
Given its popularity, it comes as no surprise that the brand is expanding exponentially. It recently opened an eight-lane drive-thru for food trucks in the Saudi city of Tabuk that attracted a queue of cars more than four kilometres long.
Al Baik also opened two branches in Bahrain towards the end of 2020.


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AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.
The new 4G LTE-capable iPad went on sale last Friday, March 16, and in that 24-hour span, sales were the greatest AT&T has seen for a new iPad model. Previous, 3G-capable versions of the iPad were also sold through AT&T.
While the Friday launch was a record, AT&T declined to give specific numbers on just how many iPads were activated on its network, or how many the carrier sold in its stores or online.
The brief statement from the company said it saw "robust demand for the new iPad." It was released soon after Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said in a conference call with analysts that he was "thrilled" with the new iPad's launch weekend.
Though Cook also declined to give any specific sales figures, he did say that the third-generation iPad had gotten off to a record start over the weekend.
The new iPad is Apple's first-ever 4G LTE-capable device. Unique models compatible with the high-speed wireless data standard are available for both AT&T and Verizon, the two largest wireless carriers in the U.S.
As of last quarter, Apple sold 55 million total iPads to date. Predictions have called for Apple to sell one million of the new iPad over the launch weekend alone.
The iPad went on sale last Friday in a total of 10 countries, making it Apple's biggest launch yet. Wall Street analysts generally expect Apple will sell about 10.1 million iPads in the current March quarter.


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Experts predict big improvements in blockchain, the backbone of bitcoin, in the next year. Experts believe that the dominance of crypto will grow in 2021 and more investors will join the digital revolution. The top business apps for cryptocurrency: Blockchain, bitcoin, cryptocurrency are going to launch this year.
Blockchain – New Transaction standard
The crypto market is an instrument of the future. There are already many things we can expect. Technology is changing the world and for companies who want to keep up and thrive, they’ll need to focus on some of the most important technologies for the future. Here’s a closer look at blockchain, bitcoin, and other technology predictions for 2021. One of them is the fact that blockchain technology will become the standard for transactions.
New crypto platforms
According to research, this year’s market is just a prelude to what’s going to happen in 2019. In 2019, we will see cryptocurrency regulation. 2019 will also be when tokens become transparent and compliant with KYC regulations. Besides, we’ll see the end of ICOs and new platforms warding off the crypto market in 2019. To know more about bitcoin trading you can visit the Bitcoin System site and collect information according to your needs.
As per IDC, 80% of all data will become digitized in the next decade. This is the reason why blockchain technology can be used to solve things like identity management. Besides, it can be used to develop a single decentralized marketplace that would give people a single online shopping experience.
No matter how many regulations are introduced, blockchain technology will remain dominant. Regulators and token holders do not want different coins in their portfolios because they are afraid of diversification risks. It is better for everyone involved if there is only one coin that can solve all problems for everyone involved. With larger user bases and more sophisticated features.
The peak time of cryptocurrencies
As for 2020, this will be the year when the crypto market will hit its peak. It will be booming and hype will reach new heights. It will also be common for employers to ask for a blockchain developer’s experience as part of their resume. An Expectation of More Transactions Being Filled Through Cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrency transactions have a lot of advantages compared to traditional fiat-based transactions.
Bitcoin Dominates Cryptocurrency Market
With this rise in the value of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, as the most popular cryptocurrency, has also witnessed an astronomical increase in the value of its market cap which sits above all the other leading currencies. To put this growth into perspective, the Bitcoin market cap during the end of 2017 sat at around $50 billion, which was more than a 50 percent increase from the $30 billion market cap recorded at the beginning of the year. The price increase of Bitcoin made it one of the most valuable digital currencies in the world and it has been crowned as the currency with the longest stretch of price growth ever recorded.
Bitcoin Dominates the Crypto Market Despite Vulnerabilities
The volatility of Bitcoin is also a serious concern for those who invested in it or own it. As shown in the graph below, Bitcoin is the most volatile currency with up to a 5 percent return in just two days, whereas the average return over the last year has been 1 percent. It is for this reason that the creation of a new crypto asset is being considered with the goal of reducing the volatility of Bitcoin and making it more attractive to investors.


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Indian Broadband War: BSNL launches 1Gbps broadband to counter rivals
It isn't limited to these three anymore as Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha has unveiled a next-generation optical fiber-based BSNL network.
State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited will now offer high-speed broadband connections with a 1Gbps download speed.
BSNL launches 1Gbps broadband service
BSNL, the second internet service provider to offer 1Gbps speed
Launching the Next-Generation Optical Transport Network (NG-OTN), Sinha said the state-run telco has implemented the project in 45 cities, including capitals, in tune with PM Narendra Modi's Digital India Programme.
100 major cities will be covered under the project by the end of the current financial year.
With an expenditure of Rs. 330 crore, it would be implemented in three phases.
Enhanced capacity will help retail customer base: BSNL
BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava said: "This project aimed to enhance existing 10G capacity to 100G capacity of Optical Fibre infrastructure of BSNL. This means now in back-end we will have 10 times more capacity and will be launching new plans with 10 times more speed."
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New technology's features can restore damaged networks at any mid-location
BSNL CGM Anil Kumar Jain said the 100G OTN will be helpful in servicing Centre's projects like BharatNet, SWAN (State Wide Area Network), NKN (National Knowledge Network) etc.
It will also help BSNL to quickly restore telephone services if its network is damaged, especially due to natural disasters.
Currently, BSNL offers top speeds of 24Mbps (fixed line broadband connection) and 100Mbps (FTTH network).
BSNL has more users than Airtel
The data available with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) showed that as of 31 March, the state-run BSNL was leading the Indian wired broadband market with 10 million users followed by Bharti Airtel with 1.95 million subscribers.
Airtel, BSNL prepare to take on JioFiber
Reports about Reliance Jio testing JioFiber have been making rounds since last year.
Soon, Airtel rolled out V-Fiber broadband at 100Mbps in Dec'16, covering eight cities.
JioFiber would launch around Diwali likely with a three-month preview offer and a base plan of 100Gb data at Rs. 500 a month.
In Jun'17, BSNL reduced home broadband tariffs in the lead up to JioFiber's launch.
Can scale-up subscriber base without compromising on quality: BSNL
In Jun'17, BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava said: "We are open to revamping our fixed broadband plans and match tariff with Jio if needed. We have the largest optic fiber-based network with 700,000 km of cable laid across India."
Hyderabad, the first Giga city in India
Entering the FTTH broadband war to counter Reliance Jio and Airtel, Bengaluru-based ACT (Atria Convergence Technologies) Fibernet launched India's first Gigabit connection in Hyderabad in Mar'17.
While the new service is available only in Hyderabad at present, ACT plans to launch the service in 11 more cities soon.
The 1Gbps plan is being offered at Rs. 5,999 per month with 1TB FUB limit.


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ROCKLEIGH, New Jersey — The 2015 Volvo XC60 Ocean Race T6 Drive-E SUV, a special model that pays tribute to extreme mariners, starts at $43,025, including a $925 destination charge. It debuted at the 2014 Miami International Auto Show.
The top-of-the-line XC60 Ocean Race T6 all-wheel-drive model starts at $44,525, including shipping.
Volvo Cars of North America announced XC60 Ocean Race pricing on Thursday.
In comparison, the base 2015 Volvo XC60 is priced at $37,125, including shipping.
The XC60 Ocean Race arrives at Volvo dealerships in December.
"This special edition pays tribute to the courageous men and women racing across the oceans, with special design elements that truly embody the soul of human challenge in the special comfort of a Volvo," the automaker said in a statement on Thursday.
Details include a Volvo Ocean Race tread plate, exterior emblem, start-up logo in the console screen, orange stitching on door panels and floor mats and a Volvo Ocean Race rubber tag.
The 2014-'15 Volvo Ocean Race began in Spain on October 4 and ends in Sweden next June. The world's top sailors will race 38,739 nautical miles around the world.
Edmunds says: The perfect Volvo XC60 for seafarers — or landlubbers.


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When the U.S. plays the England in their first World Cup match, the battlefield will be more than Wayne Rooney vs. Landon Donovan. Rivals Nike and Adidas are spending millions of ad dollars, and heading into the tournament, Nike’s got the buzz score edge, according to market research firm YouGov’s BrandIndex report.
The Brandweek Buzz Report by YouGov is a weekly consumer perception report that analyzes the most talked about brands based on buzz: The scores are based on weighing positive and negative perceptions of a brand. A +100 score is positive, a -100 score is negative, and a rating of zero means that the score is neutral.
YouGov interviews 5,000 people each weekday from a representative U.S. population sample. Respondents are drawn from an online panel of 1.5 million individuals.
The report spotlights:
• Nike vs. Adidas
• Ford vs. Japanese imports
• Credit card brands
Nike Takes Center Field
Nike has had some challenges during the first half of this year generating the elevated levels of positive buzz the brand is used to. The footwear giant lost momentum with the general population, dropping several buzz points through April. Nike’s close relationship with Tiger Woods and controversial warfare-themed ads during the Washington Wizards locker room gun brandishing incident were likely contributors to the decline. By the time the NBA All-Star Weekend rolled around, Adidas was passing Nike with the young men demo.
But the tables have turned. Nike’s three-minute “Write the Future” spot has been viewed more than 12 million times on YouTube. It has become the online World Cup rallying cry, nudging Nike’s buzz score to nearly 20.7, almost the same level as at the beginning of the year.
Adidas, holding steady for the better part of 2010, recently got caught in the crossfire of the soccer world with its official Jabulani ball. (It was criticized for being too light and curvy from several top players in the world.) Adidas tackled the criticism head-on and appears to have weathered the storm. Recent data shows Adidas’ buzz scores trending above its yearly average through the first week of June. The boost is attributed to World Cup anticipation and the recent appearance of Adidas’ own viral video, a star-studded Star Wars cantina scene parody that premiered on June 4.
Ford Leads the Pack
Taking the buzz score pulse of consumers over 18, who will make a car purchase within the next year, Ford has broken away from the pack since the beginning of the year. Its buzz score currently stands at 43.5. The Euro-style Fiesta vehicle won’t be out until this summer, but it’s already being marketed heavily by the automaker. Ford debuted new ads for the Fiesta on Fox’s American Idol in mid-May, accompanied by a tongue-in-cheek video showing how the Fiesta is better suited for escaping zombie attacks than the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit.
So far this year, storied Japanese brands have stumbled along the way. Honda, mirroring Toyota’s crises, and impacted by its own recalls and an aging Odyssey minivan line, had its buzz score of 31 cut in half in early spring. It has recovered only modestly. At one point, Honda’s buzz score was several points away from the domestic auto sector average. Despite the setbacks, Toyota has not missed a beat advertising its models, and has revived its buzz score from -58.3 in late March to its present -29.5.
The Credit Card Revival
Like other financial institutions, most of the credit card sector was pounded during the economic meltdown. However, with the passing of The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act in May 2009 and some provisions that took effect in February, credit cards have received a new lease on life in the eyes of consumers. The sector’s buzz scores have gone far above from what they were a year ago.
Combined with increased consumer spending, the score rebound was impressive. In final buzz score order, sector leader Visa soared from 28.5 a year ago to 50.5; followed by Mastercard, which went from 8 to 37; Discover from 2.7 to 31.4; and American Express from 3.4 to 28.1.


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Inteplast Group (Livingston, NJ) is inviting youngsters to color their way to an understanding of plastics recycling. The materials supplier and plastics processing company has published Journey to the Big Time Recycling Extravaganza, a coloring book designed to teach kids about the science of recycling and helping them, as well as teachers, retailers and grocers, to understand that plastic bags have a value that should be recovered.
The 28-page coloring book, which also has a glossary, maze, word search puzzle and more, is a resource that clearly shows how the plastics industry can package an educational punch with a bit of creativity. Children and their families learn about reusing plastic bags and keeping marine life safe, and are taught terms such as extruder, polyethylene and post-consumer resin.
Colleagues across the company’s departments and locations—from sales to intellectual property and including EFS-Plastics, a recycling process center and joint venture partner of Inteplast Group—took part in ensuring the coloring book was fun, accurate and engaging.
In Journey to the Big Time Recycling Extravaganza, readers meet Lenny and his friends Polly and Ethel (a play on the word polyethylene), who have big dreams of making it to the recycling processing plant. However, when a pesky raccoon makes a curbside appearance, their dreams literally are blown away.
“We felt this would be a fun, friendly way to get the recycling facts and benefits of plastic carryout bags out to communities,” stated Inteplast’s Grocery & Retail Unit Vice President and General Manager Tony Myers. ”We want to connect learners of all ages with practical information, which we hope will offset some of the confusion that exists about sustainability and plastic bags.”
Inteplast Group President Dr. John Young believes that all plastics companies should take a holistic and transparent approach when supporting sustainability initiatives. “It is our collective responsibility as manufacturers to support all sustainability efforts,” said Young. “At Inteplast, we have developed a ground-up approach to take plastic waste from curbside all the way back to newly recycled products in order to complete the recycling loop. Technology is available for recycling plastic films and bags and we are making use of these latest advances. In other areas, we wish to promote reusability for solid substrates like pallets, containers and carton boxes, which will hopefully make the concept of ‘single use’ obsolete for billions of boxes and more.”
“Proper education and outreach are equally important so that we may include children and their parents in this important task. In my view, a more informed audience is actually good for manufacturers since this massive ecological undertaking can only be successful when done hand-in-hand with the entire population participating in all aspects of this project,” Young explained.
More than 8,000 complimentary copies of Journey to the Big Time Recycling Extravaganza were given to grocery and retail store managers, local school districts across America and Canada, and to Inteplast Group employees.
Brenda Wilson, Senior Director of Human Resources and Communications, noted that plastics manufacturing workforces can be effective allies of all recycling and anti-litter initiatives. “At Inteplast, we are conscious of educating employees and their families about the recycling loop and, specifically, their role in it,” she said. “We do not shy away from talking about this and accepting our responsibilities to the planet. In fact, our employees proudly embrace this role.”


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Network O2 has decided it's time to start whacking up its monthly contract costs, with the UK mobile provider adding 3.2 per cent to all monthly tariffs from next February. Regardless of what you signed up for.
The changes only affect those paying monthly line rental fees, so those on PAYG deals who pay by the minute, message or megabyte won't see any changes.
To be fair to poor old O2, it sounds devastated about having -- HAVING -- to do this. On its price change page the network says: "To date, we've held off putting our tariff prices up for as long as possible. Even when our competitors raised theirs. But now, because of inflation, we need to change the price of your tariff. From 28 February 2013, your line rental will go up by 3.2%. That's in line with the current rate of inflation as at December 2012 when we made the announcement."
So if you're on a £26 a month tariff, that'll increase to £26.83 from next February, while those paying £36 at the moment will see their bills rise to £37.15. There's a checker tool on O2's site that does the maths for you, and it doesn't even have the common courtesy to display a sad-face emoticon when it breaks the news.
And, as you can see from the image above, O2 is heading off any potential complaints by pointing out the small print in the agreement you didn't bother reading that said it's allowed to raise prices whenever it wants. [O2 via Cnet]


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HEROES BRING IN THE BIG ONES — Vietnam combat purple-heart veterans Noel Pitre (left) and Rich Roma participated in the Castaway Charters’ Fishing With Heroes program and brought in a pair of Lake Erie walleye.
MICHIGAN —Last Monday, my day job took me on a five-hour drive to Michigan, only a few minutes away from a store that is advertised as “a shopping experience for your wild side,” the Cabela’s® Superstore in Dundee, Mich.
The store was located just a few minutes from the hotel, but it took another five minutes to find a parking spot. The store is a giant, stand-alone store, with hundreds of parking slots, but unless you don’t mind walking 200-300 yards from your car to the front door, you might be looking for a spot for quite some time.
In the firearms center, multiple popular makes and models of shotguns, rifles and handguns are displayed behind gigantic, sliding glass wall cases and inside glass countertops, covering about 250 linear feet. Many folks were looking to acquire a self-defense firearm. Others were looking for a new hunting firearm, a rifle or shotgun.
Like a meat deli, customers take a number, to get served at Cabela’s firearms counter.
About a 45-minute wait later, I was able to ask my questions, about 22-caliber ammo. “Any in stock?” I asked. The young salesman was smiling when he said, “Are you kidding? When it comes in, it goes right over there, on that shelf, on your side of the aisle, and it is gone in about 10 – 20 minutes. It comes every week or so, but it goes fast.” Behind the glass cases, just about every firearm was on display and for sale, including AR-15’s in many calibers, hundreds of certified used firearms too.
In the archery center, there were more models of crossbows than compound bows, compared to only three or four models of recurve and long-bows. The store even offered cedar arrows.
The fishing department was the largest section in the store, with approximately 30 aisles of merchandise, including every little thing you might have ever thought of. Rods, reels, lines, depth finders, tackle boxes, thousands of lures, fly fishing, waders and the terminal tackle and color options list is endless. When entering the store, I promised myself to just “go looking.”
So how did I do? Two hours later, the register clerk said, “That comes to $43 and change, sir.” Now, how did that happen? Cabela’s carried all these neat little things that you cannot seem to find anywhere else, when you really need them.
So, with the recent announcement that Cabela’s was coming to a site near Walden and Union, across the street from the Galleria Mall, it is understandable that local sportsmen groups are anxious for open doors. It means none of us 104,000 licensed sportsmen in Erie County will need to drive five hours west to Cabela’s or three hours east to Bass Pro, for outdoor supplies. I found an extraordinary selection at Cabela’s and the greater Buffalo area should expect similar effective store merchandise.
The Cheektowaga store will be a bit smaller than this Dundee superstore, but at 88,000 square feet, it is not a small store, with construction scheduled to begin this fall. This will be the first Cabela’s store in New York state. By comparison, the Bass Pro store in Auburn, N.Y., is about 98,000 square feet, another new Bass Pro store planned for the Utica, N.Y. area in 2014 is estimated to be about 65,000 square feet.
Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer Tommy Millner said, “We have thousands of loyal customers, across the state, that are passionate for the outdoors and who share the Cabela’s lifestyle, plus Cheektowaga’s proximity to Canada, where we also have a loyal following, makes this the perfect location.”
The store is expected to employ up to 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees and the new store location will be termed “Cabela’s Crossing.” The site will be owned and managed by Benderson Development.
In addition to thousands of quality outdoor products, the new store is planning a large mountain replica, a gun library, bargain cave, boat shop, indoor archery range, deli and fudge shop. Currently, Cabela’s operates 44 retail stores, across North America. Archer numbers rising
The first nationwide archery survey recently showed that 18.9 million Americans, ages 18 and older, participated in archery and/or bowhunting in 2012. The Archery Trade Association recently released the results of the survey, which was conducted in the same manner as a Gallup poll.
“Often, the number of archers and bowhunters in the U.S. is estimated by the number of bows, arrows and other equipment sold, and hunting licenses issued, within a given year,” said Jay McAninch, ATA’s president. “The results of the survey provide an accurate assessment of where the archery industry is currently and where it has room to grow.”
The ATA has helped to fund, develop and implement programs to grow archery, for more than a decade. Membership in many archery groups, the demand for archery products and media attention for the sport have increased, in recent years. However, a lack of scientific data has made it impossible to determine true nationwide archery participation and interest. McAninch said that some of the most useful survey results pertained to archery participation, regions where the sport is popular and the bows archers use.
The ATA commissioned the national participation survey through Responsive Management, a surveying firm for outdoor activities. With emphasis on obtaining an accurate and precise sample of the population, RM called 8,335 randomly selected cell phone and residential phone numbers.Niagara Fish Odyssey Derby starts Saturday
The Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey will start this Saturday and run through Aug. 25. This competition is opened to Niagara, Erie and Orleans counties and encourages family-oriented fishing fun, with a special Junior Division. Species categories for adults include salmon, smallmouth bass, walleye, carp, lake trout and brown/rainbow trout. For the kids, categories will be salmon, trout, bass, walleye, carp and panfish. All panfish catches will earn a drawing ticket, to be drawn at the awards ceremony for special prizes – one per day. The week-long entry fee will stay the same, at $20 for the adults, for the week, $10 for a one-day pass and free for the kids. There are cash prizes for each category and a $2,500 grand prize. Register online at www.fishodyssey.net.
The only Erie County weigh station is located at Tony Scime’s Variety and Tackle Store on Niagara Street.Outdoor calendar
Aug. 15: 3D Archery Shoot, West Falls Conservation Society, 15 targets, 4 p.m. – dusk, unlimited shooting, open to the public. For more information, call Mike at 655-5030.
Aug. 15: NYS Waterfowl ID Course, Hamburg Rod & Gun Club, Hickox Road, 6 p.m. – done. For more information, call 681-5690.
Aug. 17: NYS Archery Certification Course, Bison City Rod & Gun Club, 511 Ohio St., 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 627-9861 or 874-1206.
Aug. 17: NYS Hunter Safety Training, West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., home-study course, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Sept. 8: 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 662-5657.
Aug. 17 – 25: Niagara Fish Odyssey Derby, $10 or $20 entry, visit www.fishodyssey.net, for more information.
Aug. 20: 3D Archery Shoot, Allied Sportsmen Club, 12846 Clinton St., Marilla, 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit alliedsportsmen.com.
Aug. 21: 3D Archery Shoot, Evans Rod & Gun, Cain Road, 4 p.m. till dusk. For more information, call 549-0333.
Aug. 21: 3D Archery Shoot, East Aurora Fish & Game, 1016 Luther Road, East Aurora, 5 p.m. – dusk, unlimited shooting, target bunks, open to the public. For more information, call 982-7069.
Send outdoor information to Forrest Fisher Column 10 days in advance, via email to firstname.lastname@example.org.


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LONDON (AP) — Sotheby’s is displaying the startling “pink star” diamond in London before it’s being auctioned in Hong Kong next month.
The company says the gem should fetch more than $60 million when put on the block on April 4, which would represent a record for a pink diamond sold at auction.
It said Monday that the 59.60-carat gem is the largest flawless fancy pink diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America.
Sotheby’s jewelry division chief David Bennett said the gem’s size and color “surpassed any known pink diamond recorded in history.” It was mined in Africa in 1999.
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The company sold the “Blue Moon of Josephine” diamond for $48.5 million in Geneva in 2015.


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updated - May 24, 2013 Friday EDT
Are our eyes tricking us? Is that really Kim Kardashian in an orange jumpsuit behind bars in prison?
Turns out that is not optical illusion trick after all, but it's real either. The reality T.V. star ditched her usual designer wear for the more traditional prison orange jumpsuit for an upcoming episode of "Drop Dead Diva," where Kardashian ends up being imprisoned.
In the Lifetime channel show, Kardashian plays Nikki LePree, a woman who befriended Stacy (April Bowlby), only to steal the young woman's life's savings when the blond handed it over so they could open a pake shop together (pake = pie + cake).
The one half of Kimye has already guest starred in several episodes of the Lifetime show earlier this summer. The law appears to finally catch up with Kim's character, Nikki, in the upcoming episode.
"Drop Dead Diva" airs Sundays at 9 PM on Lifetime.
Watch a montage of secenes with Kim Kardashian in "Drop Dead Diva" below:
TOP 10 FRANCHISE FOR 2013


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SMathieu van der Poel wore the overall leader’s yellow jersey for six days last year in the Tour de France. Because the 27-year-old professional cyclist is quite successful and has a lot of fans because of his entertaining nature, the Dutchman not only makes his team very happy. “The value of the sponsoring is very good at the moment,” says Eduard R. Dörrenberg, the managing partner of the Bielefeld family company Dr. Wolff, which, with its hair care brands Alpecin and Plantur, lends its name to both a men’s and a women’s cycling team as a sponsor. “The transmission times are increasing, we think it’s worth it,” says Dörrenberg.
When the 109th edition of the world’s most important cycling race begins on Friday, Alpecin rider van der Poel should attract attention again. Other German companies such as the Bavarian cooktop manufacturer Bora and the Black Forest bathroom fittings company Hansgrohe will also collect the majority of the marketing equivalent for their millions in support of the cycling team in the next three weeks, although they even got one a few weeks ago with the Giro d’Italia won the three grand tours.
The tour beats other bike races by far
As one of the biggest sporting events in the world behind the soccer World Cup and the Olympic Games, the Tour de France not only trumps other sports on a global scale, but also leaves the other cycling races far behind in terms of attention. “Cycling is changing,” says Felix Appelfeller, “Head of Sponsoring” at the Jung von Matt Sports agency. In the corona pandemic, cycling has generally become more popular, and the importance of cycling goes far beyond TV broadcasts. “Many individual athletes have made themselves less dependent on sporting success and have built up a large reach through their own digital channels,” says Appelfeller, whose agency not only advises companies, but also rights holders or associations on how best to bring different sports and sponsorship together.
The younger target groups in particular obtain information primarily via the social media channels of the teams and riders – there a new generation of athletes gives much more insight into life as a professional cyclist and everyday training. As a result, young viewers are less likely to have the negative image that many Germans had at the beginning of the millennium as a result of the doping cases. “Due to the generally increased interest in cycling, digitization and the so-called ‘clean generation’ around Rick Zabel and Nils Politt, cycling is becoming a growing and increasingly exciting sponsorship environment,” says Appelfeller. The German sprinter Rick Zabel reaches more than a hundred thousand followers with his own podcast and posts on Instagram. Although he is much less successful in sports than his father Erik was, he still advertises for several brands because of his function as a kind of “bike influencer”.
Most of the money goes into football
However, football is still by far the broadest field in terms of investments, nothing can match it in Europe. The partnership between FC Barcelona and music streaming market leader Spotify underlines how much money can flow here. Created for an initial period of four years, the Swedes’ lettering should adorn the jerseys of the men’s and women’s teams from the coming season. Even the venerable stadium “Camp Nou” gets the Spotify addition. The heavily indebted top club should receive more than 300 million euros for this. Spotify is counting on the deal and joint projects to attract new customers from Barça’s huge following. There are very few partners of this size and reach, it said in March when the deal was announced.
That’s undoubtedly true. “But we also tell our customers that football isn’t always the answer,” says Appelfeller. “Due to the breadth of the fan base, you have to deal with extreme wastage. In this way you can potentially reach almost everyone, but not necessarily the core target group efficiently.” In addition, there are of course hundreds of competing companies buzzing around in football. “In the end, however, it is above all important for brands to show their attitude. Regardless of the sport, fans are increasingly demanding that sponsors position themselves authentically on socially relevant issues,” says Appelfeller. At the Tour de France, some teams and thus also their sponsors are trying to do this with advertising for equality, since this year is the first time in 13 years that a French national tour will also take place for women. The cycling circus is also hoping for a major advertising effect beyond the normal fans from a Netflix series, which is to be recorded for the first time on this tour in the style of the Formula 1 documentation “Drive to Survive”.
The pinnacle of motorsport has benefited enormously from the series – especially with regard to the younger target group and the US market. Stefano Domenicali, the top Formula 1 official, spoke of a “game changer” to the FAS that not all drivers are happy with the series – world champion Max Verstappen no longer speaks to the Netflix team because the makers in the Don’t always take the sense of the drama with the realistic depiction of the events quite so precisely – for free. The next season is already in the works.


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EAGLE BUTTE, S.D. - Nearly a decade ago the Cheyenne River Sioux tribal leaders decided to take a leap of faith and establish a tribally owned grocery store - a venture some suggested would fail.
But after a few years of refining its operations, the Lakota Thrifty Mart is a state-of-the-art grocery store offering its patrons nearly everything they might find in at an urban grocery retailer.
The enterprise was fueled by the tribe's desire to provide an employment resource for tribal members, fuel economic development and retain a valuable service to tribal members.
General Manager Bernie LaPlante said Chairman Gregg Bourland felt there were tribal members who, "if given the opportunity, could run it successfully with support from the tribe."
Lynn Fiest had operated the store in its original location for nearly 20 years under a lease agreement with the tribe. But tribal leaders, who saw little progress in employment opportunities for tribal members, decided employment prospects and management opportunities would be greater with a tribally owned store.
In December 1991, the tribe terminated its lease with Fiest and established the Cheyenne River Grocery Marketing Corp. and the Lakota Thrifty Mart. The store had 6,500 square feet of floor space and the building was well more than 30 years old.
In June 1994, the Lakota Thrift Mart moved to a new 17,500-square-foot building across the street and is now part of a retail and business plaza. When the store opened it had 32 employees, nine of them full-time. It employs nearly 60 people and more than 90 percent of its work force are tribal members, LaPlante said.
The tribe invested nearly $200,000 and used a grant to take over the store. Bourland and the council terminated the lease because they felt that Fiest failed to live up to a promise of employing and training tribal members at the store, a condition of the lease.
Tribal leaders were looking for ways to bring change for Cheyenne River's labor force, diversity in its economic development and a way to retain a valuable service to tribal members, LaPlante said.
"Tribal leaders wanted to offer a place of employment with competitive wages and benefits."
In addition, the store brought in a tidy profit for the tribe and a welcoming gathering place for shoppers.
The average sales per week have steadily increased. In 1993, the store grossed nearly $56,000 a week. By 1996, it was bringing in nearly $83,000 a week and last year, the store grossed nearly $108,000 a week last year.
Because of its phenomenal performance and outstanding sales record, it is ranked as one of the top independent stores supplied by the Nash Finch Co.
It has been featured in national trade publications as an example of how a tribally-owned grocery store has been successful in an ever-changing marketplace.
The store has outgrown two locations and it is outgrowing its present facility. In 1998, a full-service bakery department was added.
While expansion is in the planning stages, LaPlante said, an even larger building will be needed in the future.
"We've already outgrown this store and we're ready to make a move. We've seen increased sales every year we have been in business."
LaPlante, who has managed the store since it opened under tribal ownership, said many were wary of how long it might endure, but even with some growing pains the store continued to net a profit for the tribe.
The strategies, he said, were simple - a solid organizational structure, gaining name recognition and using progressive marketing techniques to bring shoppers to the aisles.
"We did a tremendous amount of advertising. We did everything we could to get our name out there. We wanted Indian country to know we were tribal owned and operated," he said.
The early years weren't without frustration and while the first five years returned gains in profits, LaPlante said growth was stymied by a board that micro-managed the operation and made it difficult for the store to keep up with inventory and marketing trends.
Under the original board, LaPlante said it found it difficult to manage day-to-day operations and make commitments to venders. Those decisions, he said, had to wait for the board's approval that took nearly a month before anything could be implemented or purchased.
An internal rift between the board and LaPlante eventually led the tribal chairman and the council to dissolve the board, giving LaPlante more responsibility for making decisions about the daily operation and greater flexibility in managing inventory.
The turning point came in 1996 when the board wanted LaPlante fired from the manager's position. After a lengthy meeting, Chairman Bourland, living up to the tribe's commitment to help LaPlante provide stable management, dissolved the board. The store moved under LaPlante' sole management and supervision of the CRST chairman and the tribe's Industrial Business and Development Committee.
"The first five years were real good, but we weren't able to grow like I felt we should. We were under a board that was structurally wrong," LaPlante said.
The store even met with resistance from tribal members who had their doubts, but as time went on it began to reclaim a market of shoppers.
"We had tribal members who didn't want the store to change hands. We had non members who were very supportive," he said.
"At one time, we were really losing a lot of business to border towns like Mobridge, Gettysburg, Pierre, even Rapid City and Sturgis. Since we built the new store we were able to reclaim it," LaPlante said.
Part of the success is credited to Nash Finch, its wholesale supplier, because the company assisted the tribe with management and provided training for LaPlante when the tribe took over.
The wholesaler helped the store regroup after Fiest's lease expired. Despite an executive search, the tribe couldn't lure a manager to live in Eagle Butte even though it offered a competitive salary.
"When we took over, they came in and helped us with the transition. They loaned us a corporate manager until we found a manager," LaPlante said. The wholesaler offered LaPlante training in an executive development program designed for its corporate employees. At the time, the company offered the same training course to retailers.
LaPlante entered the three-year program, attending annual two-week training sessions in Brainerd, Minn. The sessions, he said, sharpened his skills to effectively meet demands of marketing and stock the shelves while gauging trends for new product lines offered by venders.
"There was a very small window of opportunity," he said.
The training was accelerated and rigorous. Just 15 of the 25 managers who participated in the training course graduated, he said.
"It was a huge commitment on their part to help their retailers. Nash Finch has grown by leaps and bounds because of their commitment to the independent retailers. They have been a tremendous help," he said.
LaPlante, a Cheyenne River Sioux tribal member who carried bags of groceries for customers at the store when he was a teen, never dreamed as a youth he would be managing a grocery store. He studied for the ministry and took a part-time job at the store to reconnect with people.
Tribal leaders asked him to apply for one of the assistant managers positions because he had skills from working in the various departments. At the time he was the deli-bakery manager for Fiest's operation.
He and all the employees, including managers, were offered jobs by the tribe when the store changed hands.
LaPlante said Fiest tried to prevent the workers from leaving his company, telling them they wouldn't be hired back if they left. He told employees that the tribe had tried in the past and failed miserably, LaPlante said.
"He said, 'Those of you who jump ship remember, just remember that when they come to us and ask us to bail them out and they ask us to take the store back, you won't be hired,"' LaPlante said.
LaPlante said he understood the tribe was taking a risk, but he was willing to do the same.
"I did it with the idea of some day managing the store. I wanted to help the tribe out. Here was the opportunity for me and tribal members to step in," he said.
When the tribe couldn't find a manager, tribal leaders encouraged LaPlante to take the job even though his experience was limited. After talking to his family, he decided to give it a try, asking the chairman and the council for the patience to work through the learning curve.
"I really supported Chairman Bourland. I like his approach. He has a very progressive mind. Here he was stepping out on the limb. I wanted to be a part of it and it was really exciting."
"It's not my business, but I run it like my own. I really take a lot of pride in it and it's tribally owned and operated," said the 41-year-old general manager.
The store has made strides in technology. Computerization has helped LaPlante keep pace with the demands of managing the store. He often checks marketing and retail trends and orders new products using the Internet. Instead of weeks of on the road to trade shows, he can see much of the inventory offered with the click of a mouse.
The store is more than a tribal business venture, LaPlante said. It also functions as a purchasing agent, providing supplies to the various departments of tribal government.
The arrangement allows the tribe to save money on purchases because of the store's volume buying power.
Its state-of-the-art computer systems include a massive database and accounting program that helps him keep up with the store's inventory and the various items each governmental department purchases.
Last year, it upgraded its point of sale program allowing it to accept major credit cards.
LaPlante, whose day is consumed with minute-by-minute decisions, said he loves the challenge of the tribal supermarket.
"This business is so progressive. It is changing every day.
Chairman Bourland said, "There were a lot of people who were upset about that. There were many people who predicted we would be a failure and we were going to be begging Mr. Fiest to come back. Well, that didn't happen.
"We took that store and not only made it a success, but a tremendous success. We're probably close to being one of the top independent Nash Finch stores in the three-state region. We have broken virtually broken all the sales records.
"I attribute the success to a lot of hard work and good management by Mr. LaPlante and some very dedicated and good employees at the Lakota Thrifty Mart," Bourland said.


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The American Dream - Redefined, but Still Viable for Many
Millennials Show Most Resilience after Great Recession vs. Gen X and Boomers
ATLANTA - June 9, 2014 // PRNewswire // - Many consumers in America continue to believe in the "American Dream" despite the lingering economic conditions, but find that their standard of living has been significantly impacted since the Great Recession. The survey, commissioned by Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), found that 42 percent still believe the American Dream is alive and well but 53 percent believe that they now live in a "new normal" with different expectations about their future.
Aaron's, Inc., the nation's leading lease-to-own retailer of residential furniture, consumer electronics, and home appliances, commissioned the survey of 1,020 adults with household incomes ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. The online survey of adults ages 17 to 65 was designed and analyzed by Ketchum Global Research & Analytics and fielded by GfK Knowledge Networks on behalf of Aaron's from April 17 to 24, 2014.
The American Dream Redefined
The phrase "American Dream" was originally coined in 1931 following the Great Depression. James Thurslow Adams writes about the American Dream in his book, The Epic of America, as Americans' ability to transcend social class, rather than the acquisition of material possessions. Traditionally, it has brought to mind images of comfortable living, ownership of a home or car, financial and job security, and the freedom to pursue aspirations.
Yet, most consumers surveyed now equate the American Dream with having a good job (92 percent) and owning their own home (91 percent). However, "social freedom" (89 percent) and "believing my children will have a better life than me" (89 percent) are strong contenders to the new definition of the American Dream.
Also, 89 percent agree that being able to save money for the things you want is a critical component of their definition of the American Dream. However, 42 percent note that budgets are getting harder to manage; many (43 percent) have been spending less in recent years, and are more inclined to save money (39 percent) to make a household purchase rather than use a credit card (30 percent).
Furniture (40 percent) and technology (27 percent) products are among the most essential material things that now define the American Dream – more so than jewelry (21 percent). And despite more challenging economic times, these are items in which these consumers have continued to invest over the past 5 years (furniture at 26 percent, appliances at 35 percent, and tablets at 24 percent).
"While trying to recover from the Great Recession, many consumers are eager for alternatives to using personal credit or savings for the items they need to create a quality environment for their home," said Andrea Freeman, Vice President of Marketing, Aaron's. "We understand now more than ever the financial pressures our customers face and how much of a lasting impact the Great Recession has on their long-term dreams and financial goals."
By example of the following quotes, sentiment about the American Dream reflects that many consumers are living in an era of lowered standard-of-living expectations:
- "I believe the core definition of American Dream has changed over the years - Post 1929 depression, it was opportunity-based, post 2008 recession it has become security-based."
- "It used to be about becoming rich and living on your own accord. Now it's about staying out of debt and survival. It probably changed before 2008 though."
- "Sad to say but the new normal is being buried in debt and just trying to manage and keep up with your bills and finances."
"Within this 'new normal,' consumers are looking for a financially responsible way of maintaining their standard of living," said Freeman. "Economic challenges don't limit consumers' aspirations. As they seek an easier path to achieve their household needs, Aaron's offers a responsible financial option through lease-to-own agreements for those who would otherwise have to wait to buy quality products or forgo those purchases, simply because they don't have available credit."
Millennials Show Most Resilience
Now, less than a decade after the Great Recession began in 2007, more than 86 percent of respondents said they are still impacted by the economic downturn, and more than half (51 percent) say they are working harder to sustain their lifestyle. Millennials show the most resilience after the Great Recession with only 19 percent being negatively financially impacted versus the Gen X (32 percent) and Boomer (36 percent) consumers.
While Gen X and Boomer consumers are operating with "new normal" standard-of-living expectations, Millennials have a "just normal" or "business as usual" approach. This result is most likely because they are entering the job market and beginning to rise through the ranks in their careers despite the recession, thereby causing improvements and an increase in household income and finances.
Twenty-seven percent of Millennials reported an increase in household income since the recession vs. Gen X (20 percent) and Boomers (18 percent). Many Millennials are divided on the state of the U.S. economy with similar proportions indicating improvement and decline over the past year. And, similar proportions indicate optimism and pessimism regarding future economic outlook with 15 percent of Millennials as the most optimistic about an economic rebound and Gen X and Boomers both at 10 percent.
The survey concludes that after the Great Recession, many consumers are living in a "new normal" shaped by different expectations about their future. However, consumers are resourceful at finding flexible but financially responsible to obtain the items they need while getting by with less.
To learn more, join the conversation by "liking" Aarons on Facebook (facebook.com/aaronsinc) and following Aaron's on Twitter (twitter.com/AaronsInc).
About Aaron's, Inc.
Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 2,130 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Aaron's was founded in 1955, is headquartered in Atlanta and has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit www.aarons.com. Aaron's, Inc. includes the Aarons.com and ShopHomeSmart.com brands.
SOURCE Aaron's, Inc.
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FOTA releases new roadmap
The new roadmap for the MOBA-RPG hybrid includes the launch of a mobile version, the release of new modes, Heroes, items and more for Q4 this year.
The developers of FOTA – Fight of the Ages have released a new roadmap for their MOBA-RPG hybrid.
After releasing version 1.0.1, the team has now unveiled a new roadmap that reveals what’s in store for the last quarter of this year, taking into account all the feedback given by the community since the game’s official global launch.
Q4 of this year will feature various new updates that will introduce a variety of new features, among which is the Demo room, a practice mode split into Formation Training and Battle Training, allowing players to try out any Hero and weapon in order to better prepare for a match. Another notable game mode will be the real-time competitive PvP mode, available for players “that meet the requirements to participate in order to receive rewards” This also means that the first season of FOTA will commence, allowing players to climb up the ranks by earning MMR points when winning, getting more Aether’s Shard the higher the rank. The Shard can be “used to spin valuable rewards such as FOTA tokens, Heroes, Items…” and more.
There will also be new Heroes and items, but also an earning feature called Dual Battle where players will be able to bet tokens before the start of the match, with the winner taking 90% of the rewards while the remainder gets “distributed to the Treasury for the Burning mechanism – in addition, there will be additional rewards of the game.” The PvE interface will be getting a facelift, and so will the game’s wiki site, news page and marketplace.
Among all this, a mobile version, including Android and iOS, is also planned to be released and made available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
For more details on everything scheduled to come out in Q4 this year, check out the new roadmap on the official post here.


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Qualcomm terminates purchase of NXP
Nearly 21 months after saying it would buy NXP Semiconductors, Qualcomm has abandoned the deal and agreed to pay the Dutch chip manufacturer a $2 billion break-up fee for failing to secure antitrust approval in China.
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Global Competition Review (GCR) is the complete source of news and analysis for competition practitioners. It keeps you up to speed with the issues and trends that matter, giving you the detail, and depth, you need to operate successfully.


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China’s property sector is grappling with a worsening slump, adding pressure to the country’s economy. In August, new home prices experienced their fastest decline in 10 months, dropping by 0.3% month-on-month, following a 0.2% decline in July. On a year-on-year basis, prices were down by 0.1%. This decline comes despite recent efforts to boost home buying sentiment through policy measures, including eased borrowing rules and relaxed home purchasing restrictions in select cities.
Additionally, property investment continued to decline for the 18th consecutive month, falling by 19.1% year-on-year in August. Home sales also saw a decline for the 26th consecutive month. While major cities like Beijing saw a slight increase in new home sales due to recent policies, concerns remain about the sustainability of this growth, especially in smaller cities.
China’s broader economy is showing signs of stabilization, with growth in industrial output and retail sales. However, the property sector remains a significant concern, with major Chinese developers struggling to avoid default. Analysts believe that more aggressive property easing measures might be necessary to drive a genuine recovery. Moody’s recently downgraded China’s property sector outlook to negative, citing economic growth challenges that could dampen sales despite government support.
The property crisis in China is viewed as a major hurdle to achieving a sustainable economic recovery, with increasing risks of default among private developers posing a threat to the country’s financial and economic stability.
Disclaimer: The information provided is based on analysis and does not constitute endorsement or political bias.


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Sony Computer Entertainment's Chief Executive Producer Phil Harrison says the company is "not worried" by Apple's decision to launch a video-enabled version of its iPod MP3 player.
PlayStation Portable is the pre-eminent portable video device in the world at the moment, Harrison told BBC TV last night following Apple's launch.
Cradling a black PSP in his hands, Harrison said that millions of people around the world were already enjoying the benefits of the PSP's video playback functions. When asked if he was worried about iPod with video, Harrison smiled and said, "No, we're not worried".
iPod doesn't have any game support, but thanks to the features it now shares in common with PSP - namely playback of video and music downloaded to the device from a PC - it's likely to be considered a serious competitor to Sony's shiny black and white niche from now on.
Sony may be putting on a brave face for the cameras, but it's bound to be slightly concerned - along with the new iPod, Apple last night declared that it had sold more than 28 million iPods since 2001.
Amusingly, Sony may receive a very slight short-term boost in its battle to fight off competition in this sector from an unexpected - Microsoft's Xbox 360, currently rolling off production lines in Asia, ships with support for media playback direct from current iPod models and PSP, but given the timing of Apple's announcement it's conceivable that it'll be a little while before the console can stream video stored on the new iPod.


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THE MANAGEMENT of the Kumasi Children’s Home has taken delivery of assorted food items to support in the proper upkeep of the children.
The largesse was made possible following the timely intervention of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kokag Construction Company Ltd, Kwame Kodua, an estate developer.
Mr. Kodua, who turned 40 years recently, decided to mark the memorable day in his life by donating to the home in order to be a blessing to the children.
The items include bags of rice, cooking oil, fruit drinks, boxes of sardines, tomato pastes, washing powder, soaps, toothpastes and a bag of salt.
Among the items that were presented included liquid soaps, spaghetti, toothbrushes, boxes of mackerel, pampers and other consumables.
Mr. Kodua disclosed that the items which he presented was worth a staggering GHC 12,000, adding “the items also included toiletries and others”.
According to the popular building contractor, it was blessing to give than to receive, promising that his positive action would not be a nine-day wonder.
Mr. Kodua said he would not hesitate to donate to the home again, urging the affluent in society to always support the needy in society.


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The National Biodiesel Board now has a 24-hour hotline that truckers can call to find biodiesel retailers. Michael Frybarger, a Maryland owner-operator who runs his business on a 20 percent biodiesel blend, made the ceremonial first call to 866-BIODIESEL, or (866) 246-3437, at a press conference Friday at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas.
A live operator told Frybarger the exact locations of two Dallas retailers that sell biodiesel, which blends they sell and what fuel cards they take. “Wow, it works!” said Tom Verry, director of outreach and education for the National Biodiesel Board.
Looking on was radio veteran Bill Mack, host of the Overdrive Top 10 Countdown, who talks weekly with biodiesel advocate Willie Nelson on XM Satellite Radio. “In all my years on radio, I’ve never had anything come on so strong in such a short time as biodiesel,” Mack said. “It’s word of mouth. It works, it’s clear, and we have to have it. This is what the truckers are saying.”
The hotline will be staffed around the clock by live operators with access to a database of more than 500 biodiesel retailers nationwide. It will answer the second most common question asked by truckers at biodiesel events: “Where can I get it?” (The first most common question, Verry said, is “Where’s Willie?”)
By the end of 2007, U.S. biodiesel demand will have tripled to more than 200 million gallons a year, Verry said. By next year’s GATS, a billion gallons of biodiesel production capacity will be online to meet that demand, he added.


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Tribes India launches new outlet in Jabalpur
The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has expanded the retail presence of its brand ‘Tribes’ by opening a new showroom in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
The store is in the city of Jabalpur, making it the third outlet in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The showroom will house authentic tribal handicrafts and handlooms from traditions such as Maheshwari, Pochampally, Chanderi, Bagh from across all the states of India with segments like apparel, jewellery, and footwear.
“The empowerment of the tribal people is the main objective of TRIFED. All our efforts, be it in getting better prices for their produce, helping them add value to the basic produce, or enable them to get access to larger markets, are targeted at achieving this. We are continuously working to expand our retail operations”, Pravir Krishna managing director at TRIFED said in a statement.
Launched in New Delhi in 1999, the brand currently has 131 retail outlets across India. Tribes India has also partnered with leading e-commerce firms like Snapdeal, Amazon, Paytm, and GeM to market and promote tribal products through portals.
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It's been expected by many analysts and fanboys alike that AMD would eventually either produce their own ARM-type chip or license one of ARM's creations. Today, AMD has finally done one of those options by licensing the ARM Cortex-A5. The Cortex-A5 will find its way into AMD's APU line of CPUs.
It's not actually the processing functions of the Cortex-A5 that AMD is after, however. This is the unexpected part. Instead, AMD is looking to use the security features that ARM has been working on for some time. Dubbed TrustZone, ARM has produced hardware and software which make data transfers and transactions more secure.
The Cortex-A5 was chosen as it is the smallest of ARM's chips and will take up only a marginal amount of space on one of AMD's APUs. If produced on the 28nm process, it is expected the A5 will add about 10-15mm2 of die size. The A5 will take care of all of the security functions for securing online transactions.
"With AMD's support for, and inclusion in, the expanding TrustZone ecosystem, consumers and businesses can rest assured their data and content are secured by an industry-standard security solution that spans a multitude of devices and operating systems," said Wolfe. "This example of AMD's ambidextrous strategy, which leverages our history of x86 and graphics innovation while also embracing other technologies and intellectual property, will help drive a more secure computing experience for our consumer and businesses customers."


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Independent News and Media PLC., the Irish newspaper publisher, has revealed that it is in "exclusive but nonbinding talks" with the Alexander Lebedev, the Russian billionaire owner of London's Evening Standard, over the possible takeover of its non-profitable UK publications, the Independent and its Sunday supplement.
As has been confirmed by Independent News and Media, a Dublin-based group, it is currently tied in exclusive talks with Russian tycoon Alexander Lebedev over the sale of its publications the Independent newspaper and its Sunday section.
According to the group, it has entered into an "exclusive, non-binding agreement", with the Russian mogul regarding the publications and discussions are scheduled to take a final turn by 15 February.
It is a good day for Andrew Barron, the strategy development head of Virgin Media, as he has been promoted to the post of the chief operating operator after the company's decision to reshuffle its management.
Barron holds the credit for the reorganization of the customer operations at all levels of this company and he is all set to become the main man for Neil Berkett, the chief executive in the month of January.
Britain’s leading CD retailer HMV Group expressed optimism about Christmas sales after posting a narrowed half-year pre-tax loss of £24.9 million as compared with £27.5 million loss in the same period of last year.
UK-based HMV said sales at HMV stores in the UK and Ireland jumped 1.6 per cent during the six-month period ended October 24.
Sales across the group stood at £797 million, up 5.6 per cent, however like-for-like sales plunged 2.1 per cent.
iViewer, a new TV set which will offer people the opportunity to gain access to and view the BBC iPlayer directly, was recently launched. Introduced by Cello, a leading British firm, the iViewer boasts built-in internet access and users who have a broadband connection can use it to view channels offered over the net.
The iViewer also supports Wi-Fi connectivity, and till March 1, 2010, the gadget will be exclusively sold in all Marks and Spencer outlets.
Freeview HD transmissions are now available across some British areas, but a good box for the service had been missing till now, but the Freeview HD revolution has once again been thrown into the spotlight over the announcement that 3view is all set to release the world's first HD set-top box which will offer built-in internet connectivity.
A 5.2% hike in the number of job advertisements across the country has been recorded for the month of November, leading experts to stress that this is by far the most prominent sign of a recovering economy. The rise has come after a 1.7% fall recorded last month, but is still 12.3% higher than the lowest figure registered for July this year.
A forecast posted by GroupM, the media agency owned by WPP, has estimated that advertising revenues across UK, which have shown a slight rise after a long gap of 18 months, will continue to rise as confidence among marketers has started to come back.
For the current year, the forecast expects the country's ad spending to slip by 11.6% to 11.3 Billion Pounds ($18.6 Billion), an improvement on the earlier set prediction of 14%. The outlook for the coming year has also improved by 0.1% as compared to 2009.
The UK ad market is expected to recover earlier than expected as Group M foresees a year-on-year rise of 0.1 per cent in ad spending in 2010.
The Media buying agency Group M said that the UK would be one of the first nations, which would emerge from ad recession in 2010.
It also predicted that ad revenues for the final three months of this year would be better-than-expected.
Lately, Google has been trying to make the most of the popularity of its YouTube videos portal, which the search engine giant acquired in 2006, and in what seems to be a step towards the same goal; Google has entered into "preliminary discussions" on the subject of charging users who want to stream full episodes of television sitcoms.
Responding to the newspaper industry's concerns that their content is being exposed to various undesirable sources through Google's search result listings, the search engine giant on Tuesday announced that it would soon let publishers set a daily limit on the amount of free content that users can view through search engine listings.
Virgin Media introduced a new mobile broadband dongle that increased the speed up to 7.2Mbps. Virgin’s previous dongle was providing a speed of 3.6Mpbs.
Virgin claimed that its new dongle would allow its mobile broadband customers connect quicker and anywhere.
Virgin further added that improved speed would allow consumers to get access to their favorite TV shows as well as Youtube clips in much shorter time.
News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch has recommended that the rest of the media industry should start charging for their online content.
Mr. Murdoch was speaking at a U. S. Federal Trade Commission workshop on the Internet's effect on journalism.
He said good journalism is expensive and should not come free of cost.
Speaking on the issue, Mr. Murdoch said, "We need to do a better job of persuading consumers that high-quality, reliable news and information does not come free."
Johnston Press, a British publisher of local newspapers, has started charging for online access to some of its contents, a move that could be followed by others.
Johnston Press will charge £5 for providing online access to six of its titles for three months.
Three-month subscription will include titles such as the Whitby Gazette and Northumberland Gazette in Britain and the Southern Reporter in Scotland.


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Engineers in the US have shown how fabrics coated in a 2D material called MXene can block potentially dangerous electromagnetic interference and radiation.
MXene was first discovered in 2011 by scientists at Philadelphia’s Drexel University. Its EMI-blocking properties were initially touted as an antidote to potential cyber threats like credit card cloning and laptop hacking. While those risks turned out to be exaggerated, the rise of wearable tech presents a new market opportunity for the material, shielding wearables form the EMI produced by smartphones.
“Wearable devices will need shielding from the electromagnetic interference (EMI) regularly produced by mobile devices, and that shielding should be integrated as part of the garment,” said Yury Gogotsi, PhD, Distinguished University and Bach professor at Drexel, who led research recently published in the materials science journal Carbon.
“We have known for some time that MXene has the ability to block electromagnetic interference better than other materials, but this discovery shows that it can effectively adhere to fabrics and maintain its unique shielding capabilities.”
MXene flakes suspended in solution naturally adhere to the fibres in conventional cotton and linen fabrics because of their electric charge. This produces a thorough and durable coating, without the need for the pre- or post-treatment processes to produce most commercial conductive yarns and fabrics. The most recent work of Gogotsi and his colleagues showed that dip-coating regular cotton or linen fabric in a MXene solution transforms it into a highly effective shielding material, blocking EMI at greater than 99.9 per cent effectiveness.
“MXenes are well-suited for use as shielding because they can be stably produced as a spray coating, an ink or a paint, so they can be applied to textiles without adding much weight or taking up more room,” Gogotsi said.
“We have also discovered that MXene shielding can absorb and reflect electromagnetic waves, so it not only protects the wearable devices and electronic gadgets, but also protects people from strong electromagnetic fields.”


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Tesla CEO Elon Musk has denied a burgeoning rumour that his company is planning a car plant in Russia. A Russian media outlet had reported that Tesla was planning to build a factory in Korolev near Moscow.
Elon Musk has now contradicted the report, which cites two sources in the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Twitter: “Tesla has not yet decided on a fourth Gigafactory location.” However, the “not yet” indicates that the site search is ongoing.
India is also considered a potential location for a new plant. Tesla had set up a subsidiary in Bangalore earlier this year and announced its intention to start selling its vehicles in India this year – initially with imported models. In February, however, an Indian regional government had announced that Tesla also wanted to build a plant on the subcontinent. Having its own production facility in India could make sense for Tesla. The fact that the Californian companys’ electric cars are not yet being sold there is partly due to the high import duties.
However, the Indian government is said to be rethinking its customs policy. At least that is what the Reuters news agency recently wrote. According to this, there could be a “sharp” reduction in import duties: For electric cars with a value of less than 40,000 dollars (cost of the vehicle, insurance and freight), the rate is to drop from the current 60 to 40 per cent. For vehicles costing more than $40,000 including the aforementioned costs, the rate is to drop from the current 100 to 60 per cent.
India is the fifth largest car market in the world with around three million vehicles per year. The subcontinent largely relies on motorised two and three-wheelers for personal transport. Electric cars currently have a very small market share, and the majority of vehicles sold in India cost less than 20,000 dollars, according to Reuters.
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The NFT is “a symbolic expression of Satoshi’s vision, forged out of the very code that lies at the genesis of it all.”
October 7, 2020
The winning bidder will need to provide the auction house with a crypto address hosted on a registered, compliant trading platform.
October 2, 2020
Paris’ pet is forever immortalized as an NFT.
August 17, 2020
Crypto artist sold his “I Can’t Breathe” art piece for crypto on a blockchain-backed social network.
May 31, 2020
U.K. and Ireland-based auction house Wilsons Auctions to sell ~$430,000 in crypto that was seized by Belgian police
February 21, 2019
Blockchain is coming to one of the world’s best-known auction houses this month in a trial by Christie’s
October 12, 2018


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Aleph Farms Ltd., co-founded in Israel by The Kitchen Hub, the first company to grow real meat cuts directly from cattle cells, announces it has raised US$12M in series A investments. This new influx of support includes a blend of classic venture capitalists and strategic partners.
The investment is led by VisVires New Protein (VVNP), Singapore; with Cargill, one of the world’s largest beef producers; and M-Industry – the industrial group of Migros, Switzerland, as new investors. Existing investors also joining this round include Strauss Group, Israel; Peregrine Ventures, Israel; CPT Capital, UK; Jesselson investments, Israel; New Crop Capital, USA and Technion Investment Opportunity Fund, Israel.
The injection of capital will allow Aleph Farms to accelerate product development of its slaughter-free meat and to transform Aleph’s prototype (released last December) into a commercial product. Its cultured meat will grow in large, clean bio-farm facilities similar to a dairy facility.
Highly successful round
“This round has been highly successful and includes diverse food companies and VCs from multiple regions around the world,” says Matthieu Vermersch, Founder and Managing Partner of VisVires New Protein. “This is a vote of confidence in Aleph Farms’ leading 3D technology and its capabilities for growing real beef steaks. Strategic partners from the food industry are important because we need to build a sustainable ecosystem for cultured meat.”
“We will be part of the long-term solution,” declares Didier Toubia, Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. “We intend to lead an open dialog with farmers and food and feed producers. In addition, we continue to work closely with the regulators to ensure our products will be completely safe, healthy and properly labelled. We welcome the collaboration with the USDA and FDA as an opportunity to promote transparency and build trust with all stakeholders.”
Click here to read the Aleph Farms interview with vegconomist.


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VersaPet, a manufacturer of private label and branded cat litter products, will run under Pestell Group’s pet products business unit.
Blue Ridge Beef’s natural raw pet foods are now available through Phillips Pet Food & Supplies distribution centers in four states.
Purina has partnered with Animal Planet’s “Evan Goes Wild” Dr. Evan Antin to help promote its ActivFresh daily oral chews line.
Kristen Wellen will help Wag N’ Wash Natural Pet Food & Grooming boost its national branding and franchise development.
Tim Siedlaczek will head PetGuard’s national sales force as director of sales.
Dogtopia, which has 250 additional locations in the pipeline, opened its new center in Deer Park, Ill.
Pet Valu customers can purchase limited-edition American flag pet bandanas to benefit The United States War Dogs Association from July 4th through Sept. 11.
Pet food companies named in the FDA’s latest report say more research is needed on the potential link between certain diets and heart disease.
Fourth quarter net sales for the pet segment grew 38 percent to $406 million, while operating profit of $110 million increased 82 percent.
The company’s Charlee Bear and Hound & Gatos brands are now available in Florida through a new agreement with Complete Animal Nutrition Distribution.


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Puma is breaking into the basketball endorsement industry, and it appears its first big signing is Duke freshman Marvin Bagley III.
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic is reporting that Bagley is inking a multi-year endorsement deal with Puma that will be the largest rookie shoe deal since Kevin Durant’s seven-year, $60 million deal back in 2007.
Marvin Bagley, projected to be one of the top picks in the NBA draft next week, is going to sign a five-year deal with Puma that is expected to be the largest rookie shoe deal since Kevin Durant, sources tell @TheAthletic— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) June 14, 2018
Bagley is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, so it’s a good start for Puma, which has not endorsed an NBA player since Vince Carter back in 1998.
But the company isn’t done.
Signing unproven players like Ayton and Bagley to such lucrative contracts is risky, but it could make Puma a legitimate force in the basketball endorsement industry if they become the stars they are projected to be.
Right now the market is dominated by Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour.


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AppliedVR is a Los Angeles-based startup which has a very specific set of goals in mind for their business. Together with their partners Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Stanford, they are looking into clinical applications of VR. More specifically, the company is looking into drug-free alternative treatments for pain relief. This is specifically for procedures like blood work, epidurals and chemotherapy.
AppliedVR and applied VR
The science behind AppliedVR’s work appears to be around distracting the patient from the pain. According to a study reported by Technology Review, just 20 minutes in a calm VR game decreases acute pain. The decrease in the pain felt was similar to using narcotics, and is potentially far cheaper. All that is needed is a calm VR game, without an in-game death of fail-state. The example given in Technology Review is a simple game called Bear Blast. This game revolves around tossing balls to cartoon bears by moving the head.
Brennan Spiegel, director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai is cautiously optimistic about the potential benefits of VR. However, a clinical trial of AppliedVR’s tech still needs to be conducted to get official results. Furthermore, Spiegel says honestly that this treatment might not work well for everyone. “We have to be careful about not overselling virtual reality, or any other digital technology,” he says in Technology Review.
Exact pricing of AppliedVR’s product is not available, but it will definitely be more than what consumers currently pay for Samsung’s Gear VR. However, the CEO of AppliedVR does say that his product will be significantly cheaper than the current VR headsets. The tech is still in a nascent stage so consumers are unlikely to get their hands on VR medical treatment anytime soon. The implications for healthcare are enormous however, should the clinical trials be successful.


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Scottish MP George Kerevan Proposes Digital Currency “ScotPound”
George Kerevan, a Member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party, has suggested the introduction the “ScotPound,” a digital currency like Bitcoin, which would help alleviate Scotland’s heavy reliance on the British pound. The idea first came from the New Economics Foundation (NEF), an independent economic think-tank.
Last year’s referendum on Scottish independence has kickstarted an intellectual debate on the currency along with Scotland’s relationship to it. Researchers Duncan McCann and Josh Ryan-Collins of in the NEF published in a proposal, which which states, “Scotland is perfectly placed to create a new digital currency and payment system,” and that “such a scheme could stimulate local economies, create a level playing field for small businesses, and support social justice for all its citizens.”
Neither Kerevan nor the NEF is suggesting that Scotland completely sever ties with the pound; rather, a “new payment system could operate alongside sterling and provide social and economic benefits that complement the continued use of the UK’s national currency.”
The document addresses the merits of a choice in currency: “Digital innovation has opened up exciting possibilities for new kinds of money and exchange,” and that “Scotland, like the rest of the UK, would benefit from a pluralist monetary system that includes forms of money not based on bank debt creation to mitigate the worst consequences of the current system and create a more diverse and resilient economy.”
NEF states many economical and social boosts could be gained from the introduction of ScotPound, all under £3 million and without adding to the UK deficit. ScotPound would initially be introduced with 1 billion ScotPound distributed to every Scottish citizen, similar to what “country” currencies like Auroracoin were trying to achieve in Iceland and its airdrop.
The potential benefits of implementing ScotPound are far-reaching. Besides increasing the purchasing power of every Scottish resident with virtually no downside to the existing financial infrastructure, local business would likely boom due to lower costs associated with payment systems. Furthermore, money would become socially inclusive, as it would be accessible to all with a phone or internet access.


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180solutions Withdraws Lawsuit Over 'Spyware' Label
Although both sides claimed victory, it appeared that 180solutions--under siege from a variety of sources--has gained little, if anything, from having brought the case, which accused Zone Labs of creating the impression that 180solutions' ad-serving software was "spyware."
Zone Labs previously labeled 180solutions' Zango program as "dangerous," and warned users that it tried to monitor keystrokes. By November--the same month that 180solutions filed suit--Zone Labs had tweaked its description of Zango, reclassifying it as "suspicious" rather than "dangerous." Zone Labs also now states that Zango "may" try to track or log keystrokes, as opposed to the previous warning that Zango "is trying" to monitor keystrokes.
John Slavitt, general counsel for Zone Labs' parent company Check Point Software Technologies, said that those edits were in the works before 180solutions filed the case. What's more, he said, Zone Labs informed 180solutions of the upcoming changes, and provided 180solutions with applicable screenshots, before the company filed its lawsuit.
"Nothing was done as a result of the lawsuit," Slavitt said, adding that the company hadn't agreed to any changes in exchange for 180solutions' withdrawal of the lawsuit. "We're not going to give in to companies just because they're bullying us--just because they're filing lawsuits," Slavitt said. He could not provide the precise date that Zone Labs changed its program, but it apparently had been revised by November; a post on the 180solutions blog dated Nov. 30 discusses the changes.
180solutions maintained Monday that the language revision convinced it to drop the lawsuit. When the company first filed the suit, Sean Sundwall, director of corporate communications, said that the terminology that Zone Labs used to describe 180solutions derailed a potential deal between 180solutions and another company.
Sundwall yesterday said that situation had changed, now that Zone Labs describes 180solutions' products with slightly different language. "The slight change in labeling ... has allowed us to move forward with a handful of business deals that the original labeling prevented."
But, he added, the labeling is "still over the top and fearmongering in its nature."
Eric Howes, a spyware researcher and director of malware research at Sunbelt Software, tested Zone Labs' product Monday and said it didn't appear that the user experience had changed since last November.
Lately, 180solutions has been battling greater challenges than labeling by Zone Labs. Last week, the nonprofit watchdog Center for Democracy & Technology filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, charging that 180solutions engages in "distribution practices that appear to be broadly unethical and in many cases, illegal."
180solutions also faces a class-action lawsuit alleging non-consensual installations of its software; in addition, the company last fall laid off 50 employees, or 20 percent of its workforce.