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Believe in Yourself is a nonprofit on a mission to provide young women a brand new dress for free and to empower themselves. » Read More
By: Elizabeth Gurdus
Jim Cramer told investors not to blame earnings reports for tame market action and focus on individual stocks instead. » Read More
By: Sarah Whitten
Earlier this month, WowWee filed a federal lawsuit against 165 sellers of counterfeit Fingerlings. » Read More
The S&P 500 Retail ETF was climbing more than 2.5 percent Friday afternoon, making up for recent losses. History shows that should continue.
Investors may want to take a longer term view appraising profit streams in this increasingly disruptive digital world.
Katrina Lake was once sexually harassed by an employee of Lightspeed Venture Partners, which was an early investor in her company.
"The death star cannot destroy everyone. Some of them have force fields right now," Jim Cramer says.
Stitch Fix shares debut on the Nasdaq at $16.90, having priced at $15 the previous night.
Leaving any amount unpaid results in retroactive interest due.
Shares of Foot Locker spiked 30 percent Friday after the shoe retailer posted stronger earnings, on track for its best day since 1977.
CNBC picked the best gifts for Android users this holiday season.
Abercrombie & Fitch posted quarterly same-store sales growth after more than a year of declines and forecast robust sales for the holiday quarter.
Shares of sports retailers soared on Friday after Foot Locker, Shoe Carnival, and Hibbett Sports reported better-than-expected quarterly profits.
Plan on getting your pet a present this holiday? Here are 14 must-have toys and treats for all the non-human members of your family.
US department stores have struggled to attract shoppers because they've failed to introduce new ideas, the managing director of Harrods says.
But Ron Johnson said the internet retail giant could come back swinging with another blockbuster acquisition.
Gap also raised its earnings outlook for the full year, citing momentum headed into the holidays.
Wall Street suddenly thinks Wal-Mart is 'playing offense' against Amazon thanks to a big earnings beat and online sales.
Investors have concerns about the path to profitability for Stitch Fix, which priced its IPO Thursday evening.
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Smart speakers have grown in popularity over the past few years. But as cyber security and hacking scandals mount, does it concern you that they can hear everything you're saying?
The App Store charts always provide some interesting nuggets of information on Christmas Day and other big holidays as you can see the sudden influx of app downloads. This year, the Alexa app for Amazon Echo smart speakers topped Ap...
The "Echo Spatial Perception" update is now live for all of Amazon's Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers. With ESP, only the speaker that's closest to you will respond to your command
Coming later this year, new Wi-Fi-connected ceiling lights from GE will include built-in microphones that let you talk to Alexa or Google Assistant -- no smart speakers needed.
Pioneer and Onkyo have announced their range of smart speakers which include the Amazon Alexa-ready Pioneer Smart Speaker F4 and the Google-ready Onkyo Smart Speaker G3.

domain: news


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This week, the Toncoin, Sushi and Uniswap communities will vote on key changes that will shape the future of projects. Meanwhile, popular altcoins like Cardano and Shiba Inu (SHIB) introduced a number of new partners.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) continues its expansion with Welly Burger
Shiba Inu (SHIB) took over the Middle East’s second largest economy in partnership with Welly Burger. Welly’s co-founder Stefano Gugl suggested that SHIB-themed burger restaurant Welly relocate to Dubai, the second largest Arab economy.
In a tweet, Stefano Gugl is seeking partners or investors for a “game-changing fast food venture.” Gugl also mentioned that the move would be a chance to open a new store together under a new company, not a franchise. The founder had included plans to expand to New York in January.
TON validators will vote to suspend wallets holding $2.5 billion
The Open Network (TON) validators will vote to suspend 195 inactive addresses on the proof-of-stake blockchain, with a vote scheduled to begin February 21. These addresses currently hold $2.5 billion worth of TON tokens, representing 21.3% of the total supply.
For wallets to be suspended, at least 75% of validators must participate. If approved, the proposed suspension will last four years and affected addresses will not be able to take any action during the freeze period.
Sushi DAO implements offer to channel xSUSHI revenue to treasury
The Sushi DAO is poised to implement an action that will see all fees generated by xSushi holders diverted to the DAO’s treasury, following the results of the final vote earlier in the week. Previously, xSushi holders received 0.05% of every transaction, 10% of which were forwarded to the SushiSwap treasury wallet. After the offer was applied, the fee rate increased from 10% to 100% and there are no more token rewards for xSushi holders. Monday’s vote was unanimous, unlike the previous vote, which was a tight contest.
Uniswap preparing to be deployed on BNB Chain
The proposal to deploy Uniswap v3 on BNB Chain garnered early support and will now be submitted for full management voting at the Uniswap DAO. Data from the snapshot shows that 80% of the 6,495 wallets that participated in the preliminary surveys are in favor of the move. These voters tossed 20 million UNI tokens to support the proposal.
After voting, the proposal will now move to a full management vote. The proposal, revealing 0xPlasma Labs, aims to deploy Uniswap v3 on BNB Chain, with Celer selected as the bridge protocol of choice. If approved, BNB Chain will be the sixth network to support the popular decentralized exchange.
Vitalik Buterin shared his views on the promises and challenges of cryptocurrency wallets
In a recent development from Ethereum, Buterin has published a new “hidden addresses” guide to provide a high-level overview of the upcoming important development in Ethereum (ETH) privacy operations. In general, a private address is a new type of address that is visible only to the sender and receiver of this or that transaction. Functionally, it does not work unlike one-time email addresses, which are offered to protect users from spam messages after registering with various digital services:
Another way to look at it is this: private addresses provide the same privacy features as Bob generates a new address for each transaction, but does not require any interaction from Bob.
Cardano launches side chain software tools
According to the announcement of Input Output Global, the software company tasked with developing the Cardano protocol, the new Sidechain Toolkit will open up a multitude of new possibilities for all stakeholders in its ecosystem.
The company initially highlighted the key benefits the new side chain will bring, including the introduction of new platforms for further innovation and custom-built solutions, as well as improved revenue streams for Stake Pool Operators (SPOs) and delegates. You can check the details in the official announcement:
In another development from Cardano, IOG announced its collaboration with MLabs10 to create an auction reference implementation using Hydra protocols. Blockchain and fintech consulting firm MLabs10 will help build an auction’s reference implementation using the Hydra head protocol.
In a recent blog post from Cardano, he states that the partnership will begin with the introduction of an article that lays out the pros, cons, and barriers to conducting an auction, along with the necessary steps for the implementation phase:
cryptocoin.comAs you follow, Tim Harrison, vice president of Cardano (ADA), recently announced the new version, which will be implemented in February.
UDPN introduced in Switzerland in 2023
The Universal Digital Payment Network (UDPN) was introduced in Switzerland at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023, recently held in Davos. UDPN’s white paper describes the ecosystem as a distributed ledger technology (DLT). What SWIFT as a messaging system does for financial firms, UDPN aims to do for CBDCs and stablecoins. The network mirrors SWIFT as an option to remove barriers between stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
TangleHUB launches decentralized storage solution for businesses
TangleHUB, a software development company specializing in decentralized storage solutions, has announced the release of its minimum viable product (MVP) for Hub Cloud. At the heart of Hub Cloud is PIPE, the open source decentralized storage and transport infrastructure. It eliminates any single point of failure and provides the necessary decentralization that delivers performance on par with other centralized solutions.
TangleHUB also conducted BETA testing for Hub Cloud, and customers gave the service full marks as they know that data is stored on the decentralized network.
Two giant brands plan to create a loyalty program on Polygon
According to the announcement made by brand membership platform Hang on its official Twitter account, the platform will partner with the famous tea store chain Cha Cha Matcha. As part of the agreement, the two brands plan to create a loyalty program on Polygon. The project will be the first fully integrated Web3 PoS solution.
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The other part of GroupM’s new Media Inclusion Initiative is a “diverse voices accelerator,” which serves as a positive-impact fund to support diverse and Black creators, writers, producers, directors, talent and studios. The platform will look to support Black people and groups in the development, funding, distribution and marketing of content for GroupM’s clients. The “diverse voices accelerator” will initially focus on Black-owned initiatives and companies and will subsequently expand its reach
“We don’t have enough Black-owned media, which is a bigger issue,” McDonald says, adding that GroupM’s 2% commitment could represent support and investment in up to 30% of all available Black-owned media.
“We don’t want to just share up the pie differently, we want the pie to grow,” McDonald says. “We need to find a way to support more diverse media ownership, not just support what’s out there.”
To this end, the Media Inclusion Initiative is designed to invest in the Black-owned media companies and creators that exist today and invest in supporting new Black-owned media companies and creators for tomorrow, McDonald says.
This initiative falls under GroupM’s “responsible investment” buying framework, which focuses on brand safety, data ethics, diversity, equity and inclusion, responsible journalism and sustainability. In February, the agency struck a two-year deal with OZY, a multi-platform media and entertainment company that boasts a connection with diverse audiences and is owned by Carlos Watson.
The announcement comes ahead of the Black Owned Media Upfront this week, which will put the spotlight on Black-owned media companies including Revolt, Ebony Magazine, Urban Edge Networks and The African Channel. Black-owned media companies, led by media mogul Byron Allen, have rallied together in recent months to call for brands to spend a minimum of 2% of their ad budgets in Black-owned media.
Last week, IPG Mediabrands announced it is committing to invest a minimum of 5% in Black-owned media across all of its clients in aggregate by 2023.


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Chingari – a video sharing app that’s similar to TikTok – said it finally replaced Instagram at the top of the charts, thanks to a surge in interest that resulted from its recent moves to embrace cryptocurrency.
The app’s creators – Sumit Ghosh, Deepak Salvi, Aditya Kothari and Biswatma Nayak – announced their digital currency push earlier this year with the launch of the platform’s $GARI token at a special event hosted by brand ambassador Khan.
Chingari is aiming to use $GARI as the basis of its burgeoning in-app economy and generate millions of dollars in revenue by helping creators to monetize their content on its platform.
Chingari has high hopes that users will embrace $GARI, using the tokens to buy merchandise and send donations to their favorite influencers. It will also enable content creators to sell NFTs on the platform.
So far, the reception has been positive, with Chingari able to raise more than $6 million through an IDO sale on the SolRazr platform earlier in December. That followed an earlier, $19 million raise in November, which saw the participation of more than 30 venture capital funds and private investors.
Chingari rose to fame in the wake of India’s controversial decision to ban the TikTok app from the country back in 2018. Founded in 2018, Chingari was in the right place at the right time to benefit from TikTok’s demise, serving as an instant replacement for fans starved of video-based entertainment.
The way Chingari works is very similar to TikTok, in that users upload short videos with background music, adding in visual effects using a variety of filters. The most popular creators on the platform tend to film themselves performing funny antics, singing and dancing.
It’s a simple concept that’s had big success, with Chingari boasting almost 100 million downloads and a community of more than 32 million daily active users.
With the recent move to embrace cryptocurrency and create an ecosystem to reward its most popular creators and influencers, it’s no surprise that Chingari has finally displaced Instagram in the popularity stakes.


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Worldwide shipments of devices - PCs, tablets and mobile phones - will total 2.16 billion units in 2020, an increase of 0.9% from 2019, according to Gartner. In 2019, global shipments of devices totaled 2.15 billion units.
Apple is likely to extend the adoption of glowing scissor switch keyboards to its new iPad lineup, with prospects of continuing such design for the comprehensive lineups of its notebook and tablet products in the future, according to industry sources.
Highlights of the day: IT firms gearing up for 2020
IT firms worldwide are taking aggressive actions for their businesses in 2020 with some adopting strategies to defend its market status such as Intel, which is looking to cut its PC processor prices in the second half of 2020 to attract...
Inventec Appliances is expected to obtain more orders for Apple's AirPods in 2020 thanks to the availability of additional capacity after the firm's new plant in Nanchang, China's Jiangxi province, comes online later in the year, according to industry sources.
Intel to cut PC processor prices in 2H20
Intel is expected to initiate price cuts on its PC processors in the second half of 2020 to defend its market dominance, according to sources at PC makers.
There will be hidden concerns about Taiwan's economic development if high-level scientific research talent is not sufficient, according to Liang-gee Chen, minister of science and technology.
Highlights of the day: Strong demand for TWS earbuds
Strong demand for TWS earbuds is resulting in tight supply for button cells that they use. Now cell suppliers are increasig their production capacities to embrace the rising demand. The PC market may be slow, but Intel still sees a lot...
PC market still full of opportunities: Q&A with Frank Soqui, VP of Client Computing Group and GM of Gaming Division at Intel
Intel currently still holds an 80% share in the global PC market, but the growth of the CPU giant's PC platform business has weakened, thanks to prolonged shortages of its processors amid keen competition from AMD, who has TSMC's advanced manufacturing process support.
Intel CPU shortages likely to persist through end-2020
Shortages of Intel's PC processors are likely to persist through the end of 2020, prompting notebook makers to adopt AMD's chips in more of their notebooks including business models, according to industry sources.
At CES 2020, many brand vendors showcased devices with support to the latest network standards such as Wi-Fi 6 and 5G, and emerging technologies such as foldable screen, but a lack of Windows' support may still hinder foldable screen devices' development.
Traditional PC shipments grow 4.8% in 4Q19, says IDC
The worldwide market for traditional PCs, inclusive of desktops, notebooks, and workstations, finished an impressive 2019 with fourth quarter growth of 4.8% on year, according to IDC.
Taiwan's backend service provider ASE reportedly will be packaging mmWave 5G antenna modules for Apple's products to be launched this year. The iPad is said to be in Apple's 5G product roadmap this year, apart from the iPhone. Apple may...
Taiwan's backend leader Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) has reportedly broken into the supply chain for Apple's mmWave 5G iPhones and 5G iPads with its substrate-based FC_AiP (flip chip antenna-in-package) technology.
Synnex Technology sees decline in 2019 sales
IT and consumer electronics channel distributor Synnex Technology International saw its consolidated revenues for 2019 drop 11.00% on year to NT$341.038 (US$11.4 billion).
Hinge makers budget higher capex for 2020
Taiwan-based hinge makers including Shin Zu Shing (SZS) and Jarllytec both will spend more to expand their production capacities this year, according to the companies.
Although World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) both expect the US, Japan and Europe to suffer from weakening economy in 2020, several Taiwanese industrial sectors are expected to remain unaffected thanks to strong demand from the 5G and AI markets, according to Taiwan's...
Highlights of the day: AMD to see a robust 2020
Intel has yet to fully eased its processor shortages, which is sending notebook vendors adopting more of its competitions from AMD in 2020. AMD's new Zen 3 architecture is expected to have a record-high development projects commenced...
NAND flash demand for new-generation gaming consoles featuring 1TB and higher-density SSDs is set to grow robustly in the second half of 2020, according to industry sources.
ASMedia remains major chipset partner of AMD
ASMedia Technology has reportedly secured orders for AMD's 500- and 600-series chipsets, which will buoy the Taiwan-based chipmaker's sales performance in 2020 and 2021, according to industry sources.
AMD CPU gaining popularity among PCs
The shortage of Intel's PC processors has already prompted OEMs and brand vendors to increasingly adopt AMD's CPUs in their products since 2019, and the trend will likely persist this year, according to industry sources.
Wistron chairman expects stronger 2020
Wistron chairman Simon Lin expects the company's results in 2020 to be better than in 2019 because business re-organization last year brought limited change to the company's revenue scale but an obvious improvement in profitability.
Despite a truce in the US-China trade war, notebook ODMs will continue their capacity relocation to Taiwan and Vietnam, with the two becoming their major production bases outside China.
Intel CPU shortages continued troubling the notebook market in fourth-quater 2019, with notebook makers seeing weaker-than-expected shipments in the period. Their notebook shipments are expecte to slide 10-15% in the first quarter of...
Taiwan handsets – 3Q 2019
Taiwan makers shipped 14.21 million handsets in third-quarter 2019, up 3% sequentially but down 34.8% on year.
Taiwan LCD TVs – 3Q 2019
Taiwan's TV maker shipped a total of 7.39 million LCD TVs in the third quarter, up 3.2% sequentially.
Taiwan LCD monitors – 3Q 2019
Taiwan PC monitor shipments continued to grow on-year in the third quarter of 2019 at 5.8% to arrive at 23.73 million units.
Global server shipment forecast and industry analysis, 2020
Digitimes Research estimates that global server shipments moderately declined 1.4% in 2019 but will turn to show positive growth...
Mini/micro LED: Challenges and opportunities in the display industry
Mini LEDs and micro LEDs are expected to become improved backlighting solutions that can significantly enhance displays' quality...
Global LCD panel shipment forecast, 2020 and beyond
Global small- to medium-size LCD panel shipments are estimated to drop from 2020 to 2024, while large-size ones will continue...


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As we reported previously, the U.S. Department of the Interior (Department) issued a letter on August 6, indicating it had declined to take action regarding Florida’s state-tribal gaming compact (the Compact) within the 45-day window prescribed under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). As a result, the Compact is “considered to have been approved” by operation of law. On August 16, two Florida-based gaming operators filed a lawsuit seeking to vacate the Department’s decision. If the Department can overcome this legal challenge, its August 6 decision will likely inspire tribal-state gaming expansion in other states.
This past Monday, August 16, the New York Gaming Commission unanimously approved a final set of mobile sports betting regulations. The regulations address, among other things, employee and vendor licensing requirements; compliance and reporting obligations; internal control standards; and mobile betting system requirements. The full sports betting regulations are available for review on the Commission’scontinue reading
On Friday, August 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior (the Department) issued a letter indicating it has declined to take action regarding Florida’s state-tribal gaming compact (the Compact) within the 45-day window prescribed by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). As a result, the Compact is deemed to have been approved, paving the way for the Seminole Tribe to officially “launch” sports betting operations on October 15, 2021.
As we reported previously, Connecticut enacted legislation on May 25, 2021, authorizing retail and online sports betting, online casino gaming and online daily fantasy sports, to be offered exclusively by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation and the state’s Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Indian Tribes. continue reading


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A recall is being issued for roughly 375,000 Sure Signal heat-activated fire alarms because they can malfunction, failing to alert consumers in case of a fire. “A defective fusible link sensor (fuse) on the fire alarm can cause the alarm to fail to alert consumers of a fire.” a recall notice posted on the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) website states.
Toyota is recalling about 6.5 million vehicles worldwide, including two million vehicles in the United States, because a defect in the driver’s side window switch can lead to a fire.
Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. confirmed last week that the power-window master switch in certain vehicles may have been manufactured without enough lubricant grease, and under certain conditions this can lead to a short circuit that can cause the switch to overheat and melt. The melting switch can produce smoke and potentially result in a fire, Law360 reports. Continue reading Toyota Window Switch Defect Results in Recall of 6.5 Million Vehicles
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Bed Handles, Inc. have reannounced the recall of about 113,000 adult portable bed handles. The bed handles assist adults with getting in and out of bed by giving them a bar to grip.
When the handles are attached to the bed without the use of safety retention straps, a handle can shift out of place creating a dangerous gap between the bed handle and the side of the mattress. The gap poses a serious risk of entrapment, strangulation and death, the CPSC explains. The previous recall was announced on May 20, 2014. Continue reading Bed Handles, Inc. Reannounces Product Recall After Only 1 Percent Response to Earlier Recall
Data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture shows a sharp increase in the number of recalls of organic food products.
Stericycle, a company that handles recalls for businesses, uses this government data to compile quarterly reports on food recalls. Organic food products accounted for 7 percent of all food units recalled so far this year, compared with 2 percent of those recalled last year, according to the New York Times.
Organic food accounted for only 1 percent of the total units recalled in 2012 and 2013. Kevin Pollack, Stericycle vice president, said the growing demand for organic ingredients was at least partly responsible for the increase in organic food recalls. Pollack said it is “striking” that since 2012, “all organic recalls have been driven by bacterial contamination, like salmonella, listeria and hepatitis A, rather than a problem with a label.” Bacterial contamination can cause serious illnesses and deaths, especially for the very young, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that food-borne illnesses cause about 3,000 deaths annually. The overall amount of food recalled because of suspected bacterial contamination has increased this year, adding to an upward trend in food recalls since 2012, according to the Times. Stericycle predicts a 24 percent increase in the number of food units that will be recalled this year, the Times reports.
After refusing to declare its airbags defective for the past year and racking up $1.2 million in fines, Takata Corp. has given in to pressure from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and agreed to recall 33.8 million defective airbags. It is the largest auto recall in U.S. history.
If the ammonium nitrate that inflates Takata’s airbags explodes with too much force, it can cause the airbags to blow apart, sending shrapnel into the passenger compartment. So far, the defective airbags have claimed at least six lives and injured 100 people. For the past year, Takata has refused to declare the airbags defective, even questioning the NHTSA’s authority to order the company to launch a recall. On February 20, the NHTSA began fining the company $14,000 a day. As of Tuesday, when Takata finally agreed to cooperate with safety regulators, the company had racked up $1.2 million in fines. Other civil fines are still possible, according to The Associated Press (AP).
The agreement adds more than 18 million airbags to the existing recalls. A recall of passenger-side airbags initially affected only vehicles in high-humidity states along the Gulf Coast, but it was eventually expanded nationwide by 10.2 million vehicles. A nationwide recall of driver’s side airbags was expanded to include 7.9 million more vehicles, AP reported.
“We know that owners are worried about their safety and the safety of their families,” said Mark Rosekind, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as he announced the agreement. “This is probably the most complex consumer safety recall in U.S. history.”
Toro is recalling about 800 of its walk-behind power mowers. The affected mowers were assembled with an incorrect blade driver and blade combination, which can cause the blade to break, posing a risk of serious injury.
According to a recall notice posted on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website, the recall applies to 2015 22-inch walk-behind mowers with a red base on four wheels. The affected mowers can be identified by a black plate on the front at reads “Toro Recycler 22.” The mowers have the model number 20337. The affected machines have serial numbers ranging from 315000101 to 315000983 which are located on a decal affixed to the rear of the machine. The mowers were sold at hardware, lawn and garden stores nationwide in February and March 2015 for about $450.
Consumers are urged to stop using the recalled Toro mowers immediately and contact a Toro dealer to schedule a free repair. Consumers with questions about the recall may contact the company at (844) 521-2384 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Central Time, or online at www.toro.com.
Kraft Foods Group recalled about 242,000 cases of its Original flavor of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner over concerns that the products contain small metal parts.
The affected 7.25-ounce boxes have “Best When Used By” dates of September 18, 2015 through October 11, 2015, and are imprinted with the code “C2” directly below the date on each individual box. The “C2” refers to a specific production line on which the affected product was made, according to an FDA press release on the agency’s website. Continue reading Recalled Kraft Macaroni & Cheese may Contain Small Metal Parts
It has been 18 months since Chrysler recalled Jeeps with potentially explosive gas tanks, but drivers are still being killed in their vehicles and more than 1 million Jeeps remain unfixed.
Bloomberg News reported last week that Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Washington-based advocacy group the Center for Auto Safety is demanding that Chrysler executives do more to contact the owners of the affected Jeep Liberty and Jeep Grand Cherokee models, which were officially recalled in June of 2013. The Jeeps’ gas tanks can explode if the vehicles are rear-ended. Continue reading 18 Months After Being Recalled, few Jeeps with Explosive Gas Tanks Have Been Fixed


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President-elect bombarded Alex Salmond with letters in an attempt to block offshore wind project near Trump's golf resort
US President-elect Donald Trump spent years hounding the former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond over plans to build an offshore wind farm near the businessman's golf resort in Aberdeenshire, leaked...
NLGPS joins Make My Money Matter pledge to align its £46bn investment portfolio with Paris Agreement's 1.5C goal
Our Global Investor Study 2020 reveals investor and consumer views on company responsibility for tackling climate change, writes Schroders' Vicki Owen
Beauty arm of US consumer goods giant estimates that new refillable product line will eliminate need for roughly 300 million virgin plastic shampoo bottles
VIDEO: In our final Glimpses report looking at potential net zero gamechangers, BusinessGreen looks at the potential for hydrogen use in energy, transport and home heating


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U.S. Kills 25 Million Chickens for Food Every Day
In the eyes of executives at the world’s biggest meat companies, slaughterhouse workers are disposable, just like the animals they process. Every year, 65.8 billion chickens live and die on factory farms. They spend their lives crowded into industrial feeding operations where they barely have enough room to flap their wings. Many suffocate and die to due overcrowding. It’s sad and sadistic, to say the absolute least, and slaughterhouse workers are not immune to the brutal conditions that the factory farming industry tries so hard to keep out of the public eye.


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Dhaka Bank re-elects chairman
Dhaka Bank has recently re-elected the chairman of its board of directors. The official, Abdul Hai Sarker, is also the bank’s founding chairman and chairman of Purbani Group. He is the former vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Banks, former president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, and a former director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He obtained a master’s degree in commerce from the University of Dhaka.
Bangladesh gets $753m for trade, connectivity
The World Bank yesterday approved a $1.03 billion financing to help improve regional trade in Bangladesh and Nepal by reducing trade and transport costs and transit time along the regional corridors.The Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) Programme Phase-1 will help the governments address the key barriers to regional trade — manual and paper-based trade processes, inadequate transport and trade infrastructure, and restrictive trade and transport regulations and processes.On the Bangladesh side, the $753.45 million ACCESS Project will upgrade the 43km two-lane Sylhet-Charkai-Sheola road to a climate-resilient four-lane road, connecting the Sheola Land Port with the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway. This will cut down travel time by 30 per cent.
Local firm to invest $8.5m in Uttara EPZ
Bangladeshi company Texas Clothing Ltd is going to establish a garments factory in Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in the northwest district Nilphamari by investing $8.5 million. Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) and Texas Clothing signed an agreement in this regard at Bepza Complex in Dhaka yesterday.The company will produce annually 70 lakh pieces of different garment items like woven shirt, denim pant, twill pant, jacket and woven bottom. The factory is expected to create employment opportunity for 1,450 Bangladeshi nationals.
New DMD & CBO of Modhumoti Bank
Mr. Kamrul Hasan Khan joined Modhumoti Bank Limited as DMD & Chief Business Officer on Wednesday. Prior to joining Modhumoti Bank, he was SEVP and Head of Wholesale Banking Division at Mutual Trust Bank Ltd. He has also worked in Prime Bank, HSBC and started his banking career as Probationary Officer of Eastern Bank Ltd. Mr. Khan has a professional career of 22 years in banking sector.He has professional exposure in various capacities including Trade Services, Banking Business Restructuring, Corporate & Commercial Banking, Implementation of Core Banking Software and overall Banking Operations. Mr. Khan obtained his B.Sc. (Electronics) from the University of Pune, India and MBM from Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) and later he completed his MBA from IBA, University of Dhaka.
Local and Global Stock Indices *
|Index Name||Close Value||Value Change||Percentage Change|
|FTSE100||$ 7,312.32||↓11.09||↓0.15 %|
|Nikkei 225||$ 26,450.63||↓353.97||↓1.32 %|
World Commodities *
|Commodity||Close Value||Value Change||Percentage Change|
|Crude Oil (WTI)||$ 109.99||↑0.21||↑0.19 %|
|Crude Oil (Brent)||$ 116.34||↑0.08||↑ 0.07 %|
|Gold Spot||$ 1,816.85||↓0.88||↓0.05 %|
Major Currencies Exchange Rates Movement in Last Seven Days *
|USD 1||BDT 93.4491|
|GBP 1||BDT 113.8688|
|EUR 1||BDT 98.3187|
*World Commodities & Local and Global Stock Indices data are taken from bloomberg.com<
* Exchange Rates are taken from BB website, as on latest update.<


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I-phonedeveloper Announces: Now Interview The App Developer Before Hiring !
i-Phonedeveloper introduces an exclusive offer. Makes an announcement that you can now interview the app developer before hiring. This will allow the clients to gauge the expertise of the app developer.
i-Phonedeveloper today made an announcement which would bring smiles on the faces of appreneurs worldwide. Now you can interview the developer before hiring
Reasons To Interview The App Developer Before Hiring Explained-
Upon being asked about the benefits and reasons behind the provision of interviewing an app developer before hiring, Bilal Momin- The Co-Founder of i-Phonedeveloper explained, “Every business is different in nature and so are the requirements in terms of mobile app development. A client investing XYZ amount of dollars in mobile app development would like to know about the expertise of the app developer who will work on his/her mobile app development project. What else can help one know about the expertise of the developer than interviewing the app developer before hiring?”
Interview Trained Mobile App Developers Before Hiring
i-Phonedeveloper's glorious existence in the international mobile app development market is marked by the quality of app developers it contains. Mobile app developers at i-Phonedeveloper are not only trained mobile app development experts, but strategists and technical researchers who can be interviewed before hiring.
If you need more information about how the interview process goes, you can get in touch with the i-Phonedeveloper team.


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Silicon Valley may look peaceful and quaint to the casual observer, but inside the offices of Facebook and Google, a war over the top spot in search is getting underway, with both sides making subtle moves to get one up over each other. Facebook, which commands a little over 500 million users from all over the world, refuses to hand Google the keys to their social graph data. The search engine titan on the other hand, has responded by using its vast resources to work with other social networks in order to “socialize” Google.
Early in February, Google launched a new search algorithm, one that would include social results on the search engine results pages of users who are logged in to their Google accounts. Aside from the conventional websites and pages that make up Google’s search results, Internet users can expect to see results coming from their friends on social networks such as LinkedIn, Flickr, Twitter, Blogger and more.
If anything, this new search algorithm by Google definitely has an impact on the importance of rankings and keywords. Although it’s still experimental, this new move by Google effectively opens plenty of doors, potentially ushering in an era where link building and organic SEO are no longer as important as working on a social presence that’s more personal.
So the question is this, is Google’s official search foray in the world of social media a game changer? One can only guess, but if there’s one thing internet marketers can be sure of, it’s that more and more businesses are realizing the importance of being active in the world of social media. Now that this platform is no longer just about increasing one’s reach and influence on the Web, Internet marketers must now anticipate this evolution of search, lest they be left behind.


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The Government of India has launched a toll-free complaint number dedicated only to financial/Banking Fraud Last month. Millions of people are getting benefits f the Citizen Financial Fraud System started in the Cyber Crime Portal on May 13. As The Tech Infinite always tries to let people/ common citizens know about the ongoing financial frauds. We thought of propagating this new initiative of the Government.
Since the introduction of the new system, as a result of the prompt action taken by the police, within 20 days, more than Rs. 1 lakh 44 thousand of a victim has been saved even before the thugs could’ve known about it. It is noteworthy that a victim of cyber financial fraud can call the cyber crime helpline number and lodge a complaint under the “Citizen Financial Fraud Reporting System” in the cyber crime portal.
In view of increasing cyber crime related complaints, the service of cyber crime helpline number is now being provided 24 hours. Triveni Singh, Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime, Uttar Pradesh has said in a media briefing that
This new system will not only bring down cyber financial fraud cases but will also break the morale of the gangs involved in such crimes.Triveni Singh, Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime, Uttar Pradesh
He also once again appealed to the people to immediately register complaints in the cases of cyber financial crime so that the victim can be saved from financial loss in time. Make sure one should have all the important proof which police might ask while investigating you case.
The proof might include:
- Incoming call Number
- Payment Details
- Transaction IDs
- Chat Screenshots (If Any)
- Thug’s UPI ID
- Call Recording
All users are requested to turn your call recording when in case of suspicious calls.


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As part of a move hinted at during the welcoming of former Blackstone executive John McCormick as an investor, Ark Kapital is gearing up for global expansion, and in so much, bringing the moniker home to port.
Christened today, the financing company formerly known as ArK Kapital sets forth flying the flag of Gilion.
Somewhat reminiscent of the days of Web 2.0, when startups began getting experimental with their titles, ahem, Google, the newly created word Gilion is derived from the metric system prefix giga and combined with the English suffix used to form names of powers of a million or millions (billion, trillion, etc.). Gilion.
ArK, nay, Gilion says that the change in name is more than just an exercise in rebranding, but refers to the sheer amount of data generated daily by tech companies, data it says, thanks to AI, can be utilised to comprehend, optimise, and finance growth.
Gilion CPTO and co-founder Henrik Landgren explains:
"We are building Gilion to give founders across the globe access to everything they need to grow faster — from growth tools all the way to financing. Now, we're ready for the next phase and to start rolling it out globally.
“When a company connects to Gilion, they plug into the best AI models that growth analytics has to offer — a DNA test for your growth.”
Backed by the likes of Creandum and LocalGlobe, Gilion entered the somewhat crowded revenue-based financing market in late 2021 but immediately separated itself from the crowd with its case-by-case analysis risk assessment, one that looked well beyond ARR and/or MRR numbers.
Using what the company referred to at the time as its “precision financing” method to determine eligibility, Gilion offered non-dilutive loans ranging from €1 million to €10 million, drawing upon €150 million put up by private equity firm Pollen Street Capital.
From there on out, the company introduced a steady stream of founder-friendly services and tools, notably deciding to let the world at large have at it with a variant of its “precision financing” tool in an offer dubbed AIM (Ark Intelligence Machine), now a full fledge feature baked into Gilion.
Four months later, Gilion upped the ante expanding its capital available on tap to €400 million, and announced its entry to the German market.
At present Gilion says its platform hosts over 500 companies, over one trillion points of data, and tracks €1.5 billion in revenue.
According to Gilion co-founder and CEO Oliver Hildebrandt, the time is now for a US market entry:
“With one of the biggest non-dilutive capital pools, we are already well positioned to support European founders, but we intend to expand the pool to cover the US and the UK in the near future.”
And as for the ArK, Gilion assures me:
"No biblical figures or animals were harmed in this transition."
Lead image via Gilion


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Surge in demand for immune-support teas, highway passes for workers: How North Bay food makers are handling the virus shelter orders
The North Bay Food Industry Group, known as FIG, is a member-based organization founded in 2013 to support the growth of the specialty food and beverage industry in the region. FIG has 55 member companies representing thousands of North Bay employees. In 2016, FIG became an independent nonprofit organization.
The Business Journal caught up last week with Carolyn Stark, FIG’s executive director, to discuss how member businesses are moving forward during the COVID-19 crisis.
How has FIG been working with its members during this pandemic?
CAROLYN STARK: The fundamental purpose of the North Bay Food Industry Group has always been the sharing of best practices to create successful businesses and to help our natural-food products community thrive.
Since the COVID-19 crisis started, our companies have been sharing through email and through conversation what they’re doing in response to it. We took the email-thread communications chain to a different level … and we’ve begun weekly executive calls.
What came out of the first call (on March 18)?
STARK: We had well over 22 people on the call. It was led by Xavier Unkovic, the president of Amy’s (Kitchen), and Blair Kellison, the CEO of Traditional Medicinals. … We talked through what we’re doing now that the shelter-in-place has been instituted.
This has definitely impacted the profits of our companies, as it has everybody else. But the employees are first and foremost, and creating a safe and healthy environment for them, as well as continuing to create safe and healthy food, is a priority for all of our members.
What are some of the changes FIG’s member companies have put into place?
STARK: Well, it varies from company to company. … A manufacturing company has to divide their staff into the office staff and the manufacturing staff.
Some of the companies are putting a bigger time between the shifts so that they can contain the people in a shift in a unit. As they move through the shift change, they’re able to then do some decontamination, and then move the next shift in. So, there’s no physical interaction between those shifts as they’re making their changes, which is a good way to minimize the spread of the virus, should it be present.
Have any of FIG’s member companies had to halt manufacturing operations at this time?
STARK: No, because of the demand. (For example), Traditional Medicinals manufactures three of the best-selling immunity (support) teas. They’re experiencing extreme growth in those teas, and they’re focusing their manufacturing on that.
Are any of these companies’ office staff now working remotely?
STARK: There are certainly people working from home. In each of these companies, and in one company, in particular, (Traditional Medicinals) felt that the fires of our unfortunate recent past (2017 and 2019) has really prepared them in many ways for this because they quickly put their emergency plan into place, which provides virtual private network, or VPN, access, for employees who need to work at home. They had a cache of laptops to give to employees who now need to work at home.
Many of them (such as Amy’s) are asking people to stay home, not just if they’re sick, but if they’re a vulnerable population — (age) 65 or older — or they have an underlying health condition, they’re just saying to please stay home.
Are you hearing of any layoffs?
STARK: With the exception of companies that have retail operations in addition to manufacturing operations, the layoffs have been fairly minimal. Their greatest concern is for their employees and how they can retain them and take care of them at the same time.
I understand Costeaux is one of the companies that had to lay off staff because its retail stores had to close.
STARK: Yes. Its manufacturing operations continue to deliver product to retail outlets.
You mentioned there was recently an incident involving an employee driving to work.
STARK: Something that was very interesting is that (one of the companies said it) provided letters for all their employees, so that as they’re traveling to and from work, if they get stopped, the letter verifies they’re on the road because of essential business.
And someone on the call piped up and said, “Yes, I had an employee get stopped by the CHP this morning.”
How are FIG’s members looking at dealing with the pandemic in the long-term?
STARK: Most of (FIG’s members) feel that this is going to last a lot longer than four to six weeks. They’re planning on eight to 12 weeks of closed office space. It varies by company, of course, and it’s also part of that “plan for the worst and hope for the best.”


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Windows Copilot is limited in its current form, but Microsoft could be working on a new version of AI that could change how you use Windows 11.
In a future release of Windows 11, Microsoft Copilot will be able to detect when your system or an app is having issues and attempt to fix it automatically behind the scenes.
Imagine you’re away from your PC, and some apps are crashing. Instead of asking you to diagnose the problem or send a feedback report, Windows Copilot will try to fix issues independently. For example, if an app is failing to connect to Wi-Fi, AI may try changing network settings or running a troubleshooter to see if it can find a fix on its own.
Similarly, Dell believes the next generation of Windows 11 AI could also attempt to change Settings depending on your location and environment.
For example, if it detects that you are using a public network at the airport, it may turn on the battery saver and improve your Wi-FI security.
A closer look at Dell’s vision of Copilot on Windows
In the above GIF shared by Dell, Copilot can be seen understanding user’s behaviour and environment and automatically applying changes to the system.
In this case, when you, as a user, connect to a public network, possibly at a location like an airport, AI recognizes your location and turns on its contextual awareness.
Due to the public Wi-Fi connection, Windows 11 AI may suggest enhancing security settings for data protection. It may also begin lowering thermal settings and turning on the battery saver. This will likely optimize device performance and battery longevity in a mobile setting.
With your voice, you can ask Copilot to change the brightness of your trackpad and Windows 11’s built-in AI will automatically pull that setting for you.
When working with Excel or PowerPoint or editing videos, you can ask Copilot to make your PC run at its fastest, which will turn on performance mode.
It is important to understand that these GIFs are just a concept from Dell, but Microsoft may likely go in that direction.
Dell has created these concepts based on discussions with its PC partner, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Copilot turns out to be the key focus in 2024.
It is widely believed that Windows Copilot is set to get a significant upgrade in 2024 with Windows Hudson Valley, also called Windows 12, in the community.
The new leadership at Microsoft’s Windows is convinced that the future of the desktop operating system is in AI and the web. The company plans to integrate AI features throughout Windows, from the taskbar and desktop to the Start menu.
The post Dell hints at Windows 11’s new AI that automatically changes your settings, fixes bugs appeared first on Windows Latest


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On the Fox game show Million Dollar Money Drop, a couple was asked which product was sold first in stores: Post-It Notes, the Macintosh, or the Walkman. They answered Post-It Notes, which is correct. They were told they were wrong.
Apparently Post-It Notes didn't go on sale nationally until 1980, but were market tested in four cities starting in 1977. So that means they beat the Walkman, which debuted in 1979. The question was not posed as "sold in stores nationally," it was simply "sold in stores." Now, while the couple's reasoning wasn't exactly sound while making their decision, they did sorta blunder into the right answer.
Will Fox correct their mistake? Probably not. But, the couple should at least know they were right, so that poor man doesn't feel guilty for the rest of his life.
Update: A rep for Fox tells us they contacted 3M before the show was taped and were informed by the company that Post-It Notes were sold for the first time in 1980. But several articles, including this one from the New York Times earlier this year, report that the product was sold in several markets as early as 1977 as part of a test, given out as free samples in certain markets in the late '70s, and then sold at retail outlets nationwide beginning in 1980. So it seems fair to say the question wasn't sufficiently clear, considering contestants were only asked when the product was first sold, not when the product was first sold in stores nationwide.
Jeff Apploff, the executive producer of Million Dollar Money Drop, issued us this statement earlier this morning on the matter: "The integrity of the questions and answers on our show are our No. 1 priority. In this case, our research team spoke directly with 3M, and they confirmed that although they had given out free samples in test markets in 1977 and 1978, it wasn't until 1980 that Post-Its were sold in stores. Million Dollar Money Drop stands behind the answer that was revealed on the show."


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When Samsung officially announced the Galaxy S8 Active earlier this year, it did so with the disclaimer that the rugged handset would have an exclusive launch window at AT&T, but that it wouldn’t last long.
The Galaxy Note 8 was officially announced last week amidst much hype and speculation. The handset managed to live up to the buzz, being the company’s first official dual-camera smartphone. Today, T-Mobile customers are in for some good news with a handful of users reportedly getting messages that their order is “being packed” and will be shipped “soon”.
Word on the street was that the T-Mobile-branded Revvl smartphone would launch on Thursday, August 10, and that is indeed the case.
If you’ve been on the fence when it comes to buying a Samsung Galaxy S8, and you happen to be a T-Mobile customer, Samsung may have a new deal that could push you over the edge.
For those of you out there under T-Mobile‘s magenta umbrella, and who haven’t yet bought a Samsung Galaxy S8, the wait may pay off in a new promotion.
For folks that prefer mid-range handsets, T-Mobile may be working on a handset that could suit your needs.
At the tail-end of March, the ZTE Quartz was photographed in the wild ahead of any kind of announcement, suggesting it would become official soon.
T-Mobile has another Buy One, Get One (BOGO) offer, resurrecting a similar deal it has launched throughout 2016.
Last week, Motorola officially began rolling out the Android 7.0 Nougat update to its latest flagships, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force.


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Trust me, I never thought it would come to this. If you had asked me a week ago what I was expecting from Google's I/O developer conference, "boring" is not the word that would've come to mind.
Yet, looking at this year's announcements, I'm struck most by how completely expected and, well, safe it all is. Sure, Google Lens was far and away the best thing Google previewed here, and a standalone VR headset is particularly enticing if you're a VR enthusiast (so far a pretty small, self-selecting group).
But none of that is exciting or especially innovative. Google Lens is just a rehashed version of Google Goggles (albeit slightly more useful), and we've been hearing rumors about Google's standalone VR headset for well over a year.
Right. That wasn't always the case. It wasn't that long ago when Sergey Brin enlisted a group of skydivers to introduce the world to Google Glass. Or when Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) division, the skunkworks behind moonshot ideas like modular smartphones, gesture-sensing radar, and clothing with embedded sensors, was a reliable source of shock and awe for I/O attendees.
This year, though, there was no sign of ATAP, which lost its chief visionary Regina Dugan to Facebook last year.
It's not just ATAP, either. There was no sign of anything remotely experimental. Instead, we got to see the most polished version of Google's augmented reality tech yet (which, by the way, started in ATAP nearly four years ago), new skills for Google's digital assistant, VR features we don't really need, and yet another fine, but also boring, update for Android.
Lost in all the announcements is the part of Google that used to be daring.
Don't get me wrong: None of these things are, in themselves, bad. Tango technology stands to be a truly valuable learning tool, Google's Assistant is starting to look like it could finally fulfill the wasted potential of Google Now, and Android O appears to be a solid, if unremarkable, update. Great.
The fact is, Google needs these services to be reliable and good and that's exactly what it's trying to deliver. But lost in all that is the part of Google that used to be daring -- the Google that was unafraid to take risks, "do epic shit," and show off crazy ideas that might never end up working outside of Google's research labs.
You could argue that Google has outgrown its moonshots. Google X, Alphabet's moonshot factory, has reportedly been reorganized amid a broader cost-savings effort. After all, the company doesn't make billions of dollars a year because it partnered with Levi's to make an app-enabled jacket or because it cracked the code on positional tracking in virtual reality.
But it's exactly projects like these -- the wild, futuristic, epic shit -- that makes Google... well, Google.
Google Glass was an abject failure and, yet, here we are a few years later and seemingly every major tech company is salivating over augmented reality. Alphabet's self-driving car arm, Waymo, is reportedly a mess, but would autonomous-car technology be where it's at now if every car and tech company in the world wasn't racing to keep up with Google in the first place? Project Ara's modular smartphones are dead (and, if we're being honest, were never remotely realistic in the first place) but in an era when all our smartphones are near-identical slabs of glass and metal, it was the last truly innovative imagining of what a smartphone could be.
All of these things will have a noticeable and lasting impact, even if it's not immediately obvious. And it was all possible because of a culture that encouraged its employees to move fast and take risks. Maybe that hasn't changed still, but you wouldn't know it from walking around the company's biggest event of the year.
You'd be bored, just like me.


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ESPN Announces New NFL Show Hosts A-B InBev Launches Global Media Review NBA Creates New Team Exec Award Wichita State Would Join AAC If Invited Coca-Cola Global CMO Leaving Company Disney Extends Bob Iger's Contract Ovechkin To Don Custom Russia-U.S. Skates MJ's Son Partners With Tech Startup WaitTime U.S. Wins Its First World Baseball Classic Proposal Made To Lift Crandon Park Restrictions
SBD/September 7, 2011/Marketing and SponsorshipPrint All
The NFL yesterday announced the renewal of its partnership with PepsiCo with a new agreement that will take effect in '12. The deal will align several PepsiCo brands with the NFL, including Gatorade and Frito-Lay, which will continue their relationships with the league, and Pepsi Max, which will remain the league's official soft drink. Additionally, Quaker Oats and Tropicana will be new partners with the NFL, and PepsiCo will continue to sponsor the NFL Int'l Series (PepsiCo). Sources estimated that PepsiCo "will invest up to $2.3bn through its NFL sponsorship up to 2022." The sources added that the NFL will receive "between $15m and $20m a year for each brand" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 9/7). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Matthew Futterman reported the deal is "one of the largest sponsorships to date in U.S. sports." A source said that "in addition to the national rights fee, PepsiCo could spend an estimated $1.3 billion on marketing and other NFL-related spending during the agreement." The NFL previously "announced new sponsorship deals with insurer USAA and electronics company Bose Corp., as well as a renewal with auto maker General Motors Co." NFL officials said that "sponsorship revenue will rise 15% this year, pushing projected league revenue to a record $9.5 billion, $100 million more than was previously projected." PepsiCo Senior VP/Global Sports Marketing Jennifer Storms said that "securing the NFL extension was an important goal, with the current deal set to expire at season's end." NFL Media COO Brian Rolapp said that the "PepsiCo deal would have been tough to pull off had the lockout not ended" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/6). PepsiCo Chair & CEO Indra Nooyi said, "We'll have all kinds of engagement with the fans in-stadium and fans at home because we have an incredible lineup of products." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: "We're fortunate. Our sponsorship business is up, particularly coming off of a difficult lockout and obviously we're still going through a very difficult economy. But I think it shows the strength of the NFL and our relationships. ... This is more than just a sponsorship agreement. This is really a partnership to promote each other's brands and to make them stronger and do that on a global basis" ("The Call," CNBC, 9/6).
NEW LODGINGS: Marriott Int'l yesterday announced it signed a multiyear deal with the NFL to be the league's exclusive lodging category sponsor. Courtyard by Marriott will be the official hotel of the NFL, and will continue its four-year relationship with NFL Network, NFL.com and NFL Mobile from Verizon throughout the partnership (Marriott International).
NBC Sports is on pace to sell out its Super Bowl telecast earlier than ever before. The broadcaster only has "a handful" of spots remaining in the game telecast, and NBC has had conversations for all those units, according to NBC Senior VP/Group Sales & Marketing Seth Winter. NBC has sold some of its spots for a record-setting $3.5M per 30-second spot, Winter said. Last year, Fox sold 30-second Super Bowl spots for about $3M. Fox also went into last season with only a handful of spots, officially selling the game out in October. NBC looks to be on a similar pace. NBC was not authorized to identify specific advertisers that committed to the Super Bowl telecast, but Winter said the automotive category continues to set the pace, followed by soft drinks, malt beverages and movies. "The usual suspects are back in the Super Bowl," he said. The pregame show has more spots remaining, though it also is selling well. It has sold hour-long sponsorships and exclusive windows to some advertisers. Its "Sunday Night Football" regular-season schedule is more than 90% sold and its revenue so far this season exceeds the revenue NBC Sports brought in from last year's NFL schedule. Winter credited a scalding hot market and NBC's sales strategy for selling across several of its properties. Every one of the Super Bowl's ad sales has an ad component beyond the game, including golf, the NHL, college football and the NFL regular season. Its schedule of Notre Dame games is virtually sold out. "College football is probably the second most sought after sports media platform," Winter said. "I wish we had more" (John Ourand, THE DAILY).
WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT? ADWEEK.com's Anthony Crupi reported "automotive dollars sparked the demand" for Super Bowl XLVI. Fox landed eight automakers for 20 commercials during Super Bowl XLV, and Winter acknowledged that NBC's broadcast "will be just as flush with car dollars as last year’s production." He said, "You will see the same strength in auto this year that you did last year. I can literally count on the fingers of one hand the number of car advertisers who won’t be back.” Along with the "in-game spots, NBC is doing well with its shoulder programming around the event" (ADWEEK.com, 9/6). USA TODAY's Bruce Horovitz reports Mercedes-Benz "won't return in 2012" after airing a spot during this year's Super Bowl. Conversely, Kia Motors America VP/Marketing & Communications Michael Sprague said that the South Korean automaker "will return to the Super Bowl for the third-consecutive year." Teleflora spokesperson Missy Miller said the flower delivery service will return, while Skechers has purchased a 30-second spot "to air during the two-minute warning of the first half." GoDaddy.com Founder & CEO Bob Parsons said that the company "will be back for its eighth Super Bowl with at least one and possibly two slots." Driver Danica Patrick again will star in the Super Bowl effort. Parsons noted that Go Daddy "has 12 possible Super Bowl ad scripts and will select from those" (USA TODAY, 9/6).
The NBA earlier this summer "quietly signed Sprint Nextel to a new four-year sponsorship deal," according to Terry Lefton in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Sources said that the $45M rights fee paid by Sprint "was one of largest ever collected by the league and that total value of the agreement approached $250 million, including media commitments and other contractual requirements." Sources said that it was "fervent interest by upstart cell brand MetroPCS and the subsequent leveraging of Metro against Sprint that allowed the NBA to sign Sprint to what one well-placed source said was 15 percent to 20 percent more than what incumbent NBA wireless sponsor T-Mobile had been paying." T-Mobile had been one of the league’s "most active sponsors over the past six seasons." With the start of the '11-12 season in jeopardy due to the lockout, activation plans "are scant," but sources said that Sprint’s "newfound NBA rights have much more to do with content, similar to competitor Verizon’s NFL rights deal." Sprint "did not have any NBA team sponsorships at the end of 2010, so it will likely add those." Sprint’s Boost Mobile prepaid cell brand was a Knicks sponsor for the '10-11 season, but that category "is now open at MSG" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/5 issue).
Following the Univ. of Maryland's football team debuting it new Under Armour jerseys during its win Monday night over the Univ. of Miami, the jersey's "hideousness became a trending topic on Twitter," but what the uniforms "really did for Maryland was create a national buzz, however uncomplimentary," according to Kelly Whiteside of USA TODAY. Critics were "commenting on every detail from the yellow and black/red and white helmet modeled after the state flag down to their matching cleats." ESPN's Skip Bayless wrote on his Twitter feed, "These Maryland uniforms are shockingly hideous. But guarantee you, they'll be talked about on every show tomorrow. National pub for Terps." Whiteside noted UM "warmed up in different uniforms, including helmets." The pregame helmets "used a Tortoise shell design, consistent with the school's 'Fear The Turtle' slogan" (USATODAY.com, 9/5). UM coach Randy Edsall noted the team kept these uniforms "under the lid" when it unveiled the new UA jerseys last month. Edsall: "This was our ‘Pride’ uniform, Maryland Pride, part of the new branding we’re doing at Maryland. We want everyone to feel a part of what we’re doing and incorporate the state colors. We’re playing for every person in the state of Maryland, we’re playing for everybody that’s ever worn the Maryland jersey." Edsall said he showed the team prior to the game a video from Under Armour about the jerseys, and the players “just blew the roof off the hotel.” He added, "I’m just so proud of our partnership with Under Armour and them giving us the opportunity to wear all the uniforms we have. But this was really something special. We wanted to make it something special because we were on ESPN primetime. ... It’s great to see that the uniqueness and the innovation that Under Armour has that allows our kids to wear those great uniforms" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 9/5). ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich wrote UM QB Danny O’Brien “was surprised" when told the jerseys were "getting blasted on Twitter." O’Brien: “For real? We thought they were cool” (ESPN.com, 9/6).
GREAT WAY TO MARKET SCHOOL, PROGRAM: SI's Stewart Mandel indicated that the UM's uniforms "gave a previously unbuzzworthy program a national identity." Mandel: "As ugly as (the uniforms) were to anyone over a certain age, it accomplished exactly what they want it to. For three hours [Monday] night, everyone was talking about Maryland football. When's the last time anyone talked about Maryland football?" UM Associate Media Relations Dir Shawn Nestor "didn't deny that the goal of the uniforms" was to create "some buzz, but said that they were just a nod to the state's heritage" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/7). USA TODAY's Reid Cherner writes Edsall "is a marketing genius trying to rebuild a program." Cherner: "What is better than a coast-to-coast splash on opening night?" (USA TODAY, 9/7). ESPN’s Tony Reali said, “If the idea is you want people to talk about them, then this worked. Maybe next week they come back with the turtle shell helmet” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 9/6). SportsNet N.Y.'s Eamon McAnaney said, “It worked. Maryland on national TV made a splash. ... The Terps hadn't had this much exposure for in forever” ("The Wheel House," SportsNet N.Y., 9/6).
DESIGNED TO MAKE A SPLASH: In Baltimore, Rosen & Barker note UA "intended for the uniforms to make a splash," but maybe "not this much splash." UA Senior VP/Sports Marketing Matt Mirchin said, "It probably got a little bit more attention than we thought. It was a little bit polarizing. You either like it or you don't like it." Rosen & Barker report UM "had originally planned to debut the look for the Notre Dame game" on Nov. 12, but there was "so much at stake during Monday night's game -- new coach, a season opener -- that the team decided, why wait?" (Baltimore SUN, 9/7). Also in Baltimore, Kevin Cowherd wrote “The Terps’ new look is hideously spectacular. And I mean that in a good way -- sort of.” Edsall “is pulling out all the stops trying to energize the Maryland football program and its lethargic fan base.” He is “trying to draw attention to the Terps any way he can,” and when UM “came out in their garish new unis ... it was mission accomplished.” Cowherd: “How to describe the new look? It’s as if Salvador Dali ... got together with the Under Armour uniform designers and they all smoked something ... and decided: ‘Random patterns from the Maryland state flag in a sequential pattern – or not! Can you see it?! Yes! Perfect!” (BALTIMORESUN.com, 9/6). YAHOO SPORTS’ Matt Hinton wrote UM gave us a “fair warning last month, rolling a line of 32 new uniform combinations.” But somehow the team "managed to come out ... in something even weirder for their rare turn in the national spotlight.” Hinton: “Screw it: I like ‘em. That’s right. The new look is original, it’s extremely specific to Maryland” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/5).
PAGING MR. BLACKWELL: ABC News’ Diane Sawyer previewed a report on UM's uniforms titled “Ugly Uniforms?” by noting the Internet "was flooded with chatter about the uniforms based on the state flag,” and many people were asking whether they were the “ugliest sports uniforms ever” (“World News,” ABC, 9/6). Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s David Kaplan asked, “Did you see these absolutely brutal looks? Those things were awful" (“Chicago Tribune Live,” Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 9/6). SportsNet N.Y.'s Chris Carlin: "Those things are God awful! I thought Dale Earnhardt Jr. was going to drive down the field looking across the finish line with that checkered play. Hey, next time just match them up with those old-time NFL Zubaz pants. It’ll complete the look” (“Loud Mouths,” SportsNet N.Y., 9/6). ABC’s Sharyn Alfonsi said the uniforms were “part comic book villain, part medieval times jester" (“GMA,” ABC, 9/7). In Phoenix, Bob Young: "Hideous is too kind. We might call an injury lawyer" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/7). The AP's Jim Litke: "We have glimpsed the future of college football, and it's not good" (AP, 9/6).
UGA criticized for wearing "circus gear"
during season-opening game
COMPANIES GETTING WHAT THEY WANT: In N.Y., Lenn Robbins notes the attention paid to the jerseys worn by UM, UGA and Boise State was "exactly what the marketing folks at Nike and Under Armour were hoping would happen." They created "something really repulsive and let the media provide billions of dollars in free advertising." Oregon "needs its Nike uniforms to help it develop into a brand," but Maryland and Georgia "are brands." UGA fans "should have been insulted to see the Dawgs dressed in traveling circus garb," while UM fans "should have cringed when their team took the field looking as if they found old rugby helmets and slapped on [some] face masks" (N.Y. POST, 9/7). In DC, Ned Martel asked if the UM jerseys were "yet another salvo in a very colorful corporate contest" between UA and Nike (WASHINGTON POST, 9/7). ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said the uniforms were "brilliantly ugly, because this is going to set the agenda for what every school in America is going to do with their uniforms.” Wilbon: "Teams will scrap their uniforms before Saturday and call Kevin Plank” (“PTI,” ESPN, 9/6).
MORE TO COME: In West Palm Beach, Jason Lieser notes Michigan and Notre Dame, which are both adidas schools, "plan to wear unconventional jerseys" for their meeting Saturday night. UM "will wear maize and blue striped tops that are a combination of modern and retro," while Notre Dame will "wear gold helmets that have a large, green clover on each side" (PALM BEACH POST, 9/7).
Santa Barbara-based footwear brand UGG will debut its first TV spot featuring Patriots QB Tom Brady during Monday's Patriots-Dolphins "MNF" game on ESPN. “Steps,” from M&C Saatchi, L.A., is the first wave of a campaign with Brady to support the UGG men's line of footwear and outerwear, which will run across TV, digital, print and outdoor. Three additional spots will run online.
Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin has signed a long-term global endorsement deal with Bauer. The deal covers on-ice equipment -- including skates, sticks, gloves, helmets and pads -- and follows last week's announcement of a deal in which Nike locked up Ovechkin for base layer and other apparel rights. He had been under contract to CCM for hockey equipment. IMG Managing Dir, Senior VP & Head of Global Consulting David Abrutyn, who handles Ovechkin's marketing, could not be reached for comment. Bauer is the latest in a series of deals Ovechkin has signed since aligning with IMG in November '09. He has added Gillette, Verizon, Capital One, and Cadbury/Kraft Foods for its Mr. Big candy bar (Terry Lefton, THE DAILY). YAHOO SPORTS’ Greg Wyshynski noted Bauer “isn’t showing its hand on whether the marketing approach with the Washington Capitals captain will have floating-head-inside-the-locker whimsy" like CCM's efforts with Ovechkin. Bauer President & CEO Kevin Davis said, “We’re going to evaluate that with Alex as we go forward. We’re going to do something that’s authentic, true to the sport and true to the athlete.” Asked if Ovechkin could wear a Bauer hat during an NHL press conference, since the league has an official deal with Reebok, Davis said, "If Alex would like to put on a Bauer hat, I’m sure he’s welcome to. He’s welcome to put on a Nike one as well.” He added that there “are different rules for different press conferences for the NHL” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/6).
MOSCOW'S HOMETOWN HERO: CSNWASHINGTON.com's Chuck Gormley noted when Ovechkin’s contract with CCM expired, Bauer "jumped at the opportunity to sign Ovechkin to a six-year partnership, which will carry through the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.” Davis: “Russia and that area of the world is a great growth opportunity for us, especially leading up to the 2014. What we know is that hockey is as iconic to that country as it is in some of our biggest markets.” Bauer and Ovechkin “have agreed to donate 108 sets of equipment to the Dynamo Hockey School in Ovechkin’s hometown of Moscow," as well as to the Kettler Capitals Iceplex and the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association in DC (CSNWASHINGTON.com, 9/6).
EPL club Newcastle United is launching its own line of branded lingerie in a "move to raise the club's appeal to its female and male fans alike," according to Reynolds & Farey-Jones of MARKETING magazine. The "range of black-and-white lingerie includes bras, French knickers, stockings, suspender belts and camisoles, and will be sold in a variety of sizes." The "garments are emblazoned with the club crest," and Newcastle has made a deal with "underwear specialist Premier Lingerie to supply the underwear." Prices for the lingerie range from US$11-43. The products "are now available to buy from the Newcastle United online shop" (MARKETINGMAGAZINE.co.uk, 9/7). Premier Lingerie said that "women now form about a fifth of regular football supporters in the UK, but only between three and five percent of club merchandise is aimed at them" (GUARDIAN.co.uk, 9/6). Wolverhampton was the first EPL club to "stock lingerie in their club shops," and West Ham United "famously launched limited Katy Perry lingerie in 2009 after the singer turned up at the MTV Awards sporting underwear in the club's colours" (DAILYMAIL.co.uk, 9/7).
AD WEEK’s Anthony Crupi noted Nissan last Saturday debuted a new campaign starring past Heisman Trophy winners including Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen, and Doug Flutie. Like a hybrid of MTV’s “The Real World” and HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” the “Heisman House” concept “gathers under one roof many of the most celebrated college football players of the last 30 years.” The spot aired on “ESPN Saturday Night Football on ABC” and will run each Saturday night throughout the college football regular season. Nissan has “cued up four 45-second Heisman House spots.” The spots are “an extension of Nissan’s ongoing association with the Heisman, which includes sponsorship of a season-long campus tour as well as print, digital, and other cross-platform buys” (ADWEEK.com, 9/2).
ACE IN THE POCKET: In N.Y., Claire Atkinson noted during Stacey Allaster’s two-year tenure as WTA Chair & CEO thus far, league revenue “is up 10 percent year on year, while sponsorship revenue is up 60 percent.” Sony Ericsson is “the biggest supporter” of the WTA, having spent $86M "on the sport since 2006.” Allaster is “currently negotiating for an extension of the current marketing deal, which will culminate at the end of 2012.” In the last few months, the WTA “has signed programming deals with Tennis Channel and ESPN that will take the year-end championships through 2013.” In addition, Allaster has “been working hard to grow interest in the sport in Asia” (N.Y. POST, 9/4).
SAM I AM: Charter Communications announced Rams QB Sam Bradford will star in its new ad campaign. The campaign kicked off yesterday with cable and broadcast TV ads, in print, online and via outdoor media. The creative features Bradford alongside other Charter customers and employees. Charter is the first large St. Louis-based company for which Bradford has agreed to serve as a spokesperson. This comes after Charter recently expanded its deal to sponsor the Rams (Charter). As part of the Rams' deal with Charter, the team’s press conferences, interviews and studio shows “will be conducted in the newly renamed Charter Studio at the team’s facility.” Charter will also “carry additional team-related VOD programming including player profiles and cheerleader footage” (CABLEFAX DAILY, 9/7).
RIDE WITH ME: Cycling teams Leopard-Trek and RadioShack will merge “to form a new cycling squad for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.” Leopard-Trek on its website Saturday said that the team “will be rebranded as the RadioShack-Nissan-Trek Professional Cycling Team and use Leopard-Trek’s existing World Tour license.” The Luxembourg-based team will be managed by Johan Bruyneel (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/5).


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Around half a million workers have lost jobs in recent months, according to the labour ministry.
That is official confirmation of what the anecdotal evidence has already told us—that the export slowdown in employment-intensive businesses such as textiles and jewellery making has led to growing unemployment.
The number needs to be put in context. India’s total labour force has at least 500 million people and only one out of every 10 of them is employed in the organized sector. The other nine are in low-wage and low-productivity jobs in the rural and urban unorganized sector, where job losses are a permanent reality.
Illustration: Jayachandran / Mint
There are two points of comparison here: The International Labour Organization says that globally 198 million people will be unemployed this year, an increase by 18 million over 2007. China has already lost around 20 million jobs in its export industries and could be sitting on a political powder keg as these disgruntled millions go back to their villages.
None of this, however, means that India should not worry. There are both social and political reasons why those who are losing jobs in this downturn deserve attention, as job losses may mount in the coming months. What can the government do?
India does not have much of a social security net. The government’s most prestigious social security scheme—the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme—does not cover urban workers. Public finances are already under strain thanks to the profligacy of the Manmohan Singh government during the boom years, when record tax revenues should have been used to slash the deficit and create space for a massive fiscal stimulus during a downturn.
There are two indirect solutions worth considering. First, industries that are employment-intensive should be moved ahead in the queue of distressed industries seeking government help. It would make more sense to lend a helping hand to textile companies rather than airlines.
The second indirect way to help struggling workers is to be more wary of food inflation. Though the inflation rate tracked by the financial markets is falling—and we may perhaps even see mild deflation later this year—many of the prices of items that make up large chunks of working-class household budgets are still rising very rapidly. Food is the most obvious example.
There is a danger that higher job losses will provide ammunition for various business lobbies to get more money out of the government, to shield shareholders rather than workers. There should be a clear deal that money handed out to help struggling sectors is used to protect jobs rather than shareholder wealth.
How can workers who have lost jobs be helped? Tell us at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Famous for its imposing architecture and canals embellished with artwork created through the medium of light, the Amsterdam Lights Festival attracts tourists from across the globe. Art connoisseurs flock to the beautiful city every year, and this year was no different other a very unique artwork on display at the festival!
One of the Amsterdam’s most famous streets, the Herengracht has on display an artwork that is puzzling to many. The work of art is actually Bitcoin’s code.
Called the “Code”, the unique artwork is the creation of Dutch artist Frederike Top. the 37 years old artist says she has been conscious of where the artwork is placed. Interestingly, Top has displayed the art over an erstwhile bank building. The website of the festival elaborates on the artwork and explains that Top is making a statement by highlighting how the cryptocurrency threatens traditional banking.
The website reads:
“Central control is no longer needed for digital transactions as opposed to the traditional financial world. Cryptocurrency is a real threat for governments and banks as Top highlights in her installation by positioning it in front of the enormous, ‘closed’ former bank building.”
Interestingly, the BTC address includes the word ‘bank’. The purpose of the Bitcoin address is actually a charitable one where those wishing to send the money to the address are donating it to a foundation called Huis van de Tjid. The charitable organisation supports older people suffering from the illness of dementia.
Earlier in 2018, the House of Nakamoto, which is named after the creator of Bitcoin, was opened in the city of Amsterdam. It is a Bitcoin museum and it aims to inform the masses about the world of digital currencies.
Comparatively, Amsterdam is a Bitcoin-friendly region. The House of Nakamoto situated in the city has a retail store that sells digital currency-based products.
Frederike Top’s artwork is seen as a bold interpretation. The artist, who usually works with furniture and lamps, says that her artwork needs more engagement from the users. ‘Code’ is on display till January 20, 2019.


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For Westerners, the site is nowhere near as ubiquitous as Amazon or eBay but in China Alibaba dwarves its American counterparts when it comes to one-day online sales.
Singles Day, an annual online shopping day in China similar to Cyber Monday in the US, has exploded in popularity since 2009. Held on 11 November each year, it draws its name from the “bare sticks” represented by the the four number ones in the date. Last year shoppers spent $9.3bn in one day. This year, Singles Day has eclipsed that amount by $5bn – read on for some of the staggering statistics of China’s passion for online shopping.


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The Associated Press reported today that Smithfield Foods plans to cut 1,800 jobs and close six factories as part of a restructuring.
Smithfield Foods Inc., based in Smithfield, Va., announced the closures and layoffs as part of a plan to consolidate and streamline its pork business. The company plans to save $125 million a year by 2011.
Plants slated for closure include: Smithfield Packing Co. plants in Smithfield, Va.; Plant City, Fla.; and Elon, N.C.; as well as a John Morrell plant in Great Bend, Kan.; a Farmland Foods plant in New Riegel, Ohio; and an Armour-Eckrich Meats factory in Hastings, Neb.
The report that this was excerpted from leaves out a few key facts, from what I've been able to determine.
First: There will still be a plant open in Smithfield; the operations from the Smithfield South plant will be transferred to the Smithfield North plant, according to the press release from the company today, and more than half the employees will be offered transfers there.
Second: The world-famous "Smithfield Ham" isn't one of the products produced in Smithfield. This may come as a shock to many people. In fact, according to the Virginia legislative site:
§ 3.1-867. (Repealed effective October 1, 2008) Smithfield hams defined.
Genuine Smithfield hams are hereby defined to be hams processed, treated, smoked, aged, cured by the long-cure, dry salt method of cure and aged for a minimum period of six months; such six-month period to commence when the green pork cut is first introduced to dry salt, all such salting, processing, treating, smoking, curing and aging to be done within the corporate limits of the town of Smithfield, Virginia.
(Code 1950, § 3-667; 1966, c. 702; 1968, c. 140.)
Needless to say, the company didn't issue a press release on the repeal. But I could not find any stories on the Web about the repeal, either. Chalk that up to the shrinking media presence -- newspapers may be trying to do more with less, but when it comes to being the watchdog of the goverment, less is simply less.
According to the Smithfield Foods site, dry curing of hams now is done in Elon, NC.
But today's press release was rather terse: "The Smithfield Packing Company plant in Elon, North Carolina, will close late in the summer and country ham production there will cease. About 160 employees will be affected."
So where does that leave the world-famous ham? There are three other companies in Smithfield that cure hams. I put in a call to the Smithfield Foods corporate communications office in New York City, but have not heard back from them.
The town of Smithfield must be reeling. From its Web site:
Nurtured by trade and commerce, Smithfield soon became a town of industry with four plants devoted to the art of curing the world famous "Smithfield Ham". Once a commercial center for shipping, Smithfield has evolved to host one of the area's largest meat-processing industries as well as the home to one of Hampton Roads' largest employers - Smithfield Foods, Inc. - a Fortune 500 company with its corporate headquarters in Smithfield. Smithfield was just recently named "one of the 50 best small southern towns".


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A penguin forced to entertain shoppers at a luxury mall in China was kicked and slapped by a worker who was trying to force-feed the bird, according to MailOnline. The maltreatment was caught on video by a bystander, who’s demanding that the shopping mall issue a public apology.
The cruelty occurred at Wanda Plaza—a popular shopping center in China—where two birds were held captive in a glass enclosure in an attempt to attract shoppers during midyear sales. The mall is owned by Wang Jianlin, “China’s richest man.”
Penguin is kicked by worker as it is forced to entertain shoppers at shopping mall owned by China’s richest man https://t.co/4RRcYm8O04
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) June 20, 2017
According to the bystander who filmed the abuse, the worker was forcefully attempting to feed fish to one of the two penguins kept in the enclosure. When the bird tried to turn away, the worker kicked the penguin. After the penguin spat the fish out, the worker slapped the bird repeatedly.
The bystander messaged Wanda Plaza online to express her concern. According to MailOnline, the mall responded by apologizing for the “unhappy experience.” A spokesperson also reportedly told the bystander that the penguins being held in the enclosure are Magellanic penguins and aren’t used to the mall’s environment. The spokesperson also said that the bystander had misinterpreted the feeding process and that the worker hadn’t abused the penguins—he was trying to get the birds adjusted to their new environment after they’d traveled for a long period of time.
Unfortunately, this is not the first instance in which mistreated animals have been kept in Chinese malls. Last year, the Grandview Mall Aquarium in Guangzhou opened the doors to its animal prison and was quickly dubbed “one of the saddest zoos in the world” because the animals there suffer from neglect, poor care, lack of stimulation, and lack of natural light. The zoo is located in a shopping mall.
— PETA Asia (@PETAAsia) March 15, 2017
Although many Chinese citizens have spoken out against the animals’ living conditions at the zoo, more awareness must be raised to help put a stop to this cruel attraction.
Speak Out for Animals at the Saddest Zoo in the World
Your help is urgently needed! Click the button to send a letter to your local Chinese ambassador to ask them to use their influence to close the Grandview Mall Aquarium and ensure the welfare of the animals who are imprisoned there.


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Seattle’s Internet startups are pretty skeptical about the benefits of online advertising. That’s one of the main things we learned at the Online Advertising forum, hosted by the Seattle Online Network in mid-February. For one, there wasn’t a single Seattle-area Internet company among the forum sponsors. And the four panelists, all in the online advertising biz, were often put on the defensive.
Why? Seattle Internet companies are fairly young and don’t have national brands. So Internet advertising for them remains a big gamble. Instead, they’re more focused on traditional media-print (Onvia’s one-page ads), billboards and buses (mylackey.com) and even TV (Blue Nile, the diamond e-tailer).
Affiliate-marketing programs are also quite the rage. Gear.com, for instance, is just about to launch an affiliate program (other websites agree to feature its discount sporting goods). And in the process, it’s tapping into new target audiences, like kids going away to camp and members of 4H clubs.
What makes for an effective online campaign? Here’s the gist of panelist comments:
- *** Lower expectations by 75%. This sobering advice came from John Durham, VP of Sales of Winstar Interactive, which works to establish brands on the web. And then, he added, the startup should come up with a plan for the next 18 months based on those very low expectations, even before the online ad campaign launches.
*** Test, test, test. It’s stupid to throw money at a full-blown campaign without first gauging potential response. Also consider using online focus groups; they’re been found to be as effective as live focus groups.
*** Don’t make too many assumptions about your target audience. A lot of the stereotypes are being broken down. An ad for tights on a financial site may pleasantly surprise a college co-ed enough to respond.
What about websites wanting to attract advertising? Again, Durham of Winstar told it like it is: The vast majority of ads are going to 75 top sites, he said. Typically, you must have at least 600,000 hits a month to be considered for ads. And then you must know your users’ patterns well enough to make promises to advertisers that are realistic.
Big-name ads do add a certain legitimacy to new sites, the panelists agreed. And that’s something that car companies have evidently used to their advantage.
Soula Jones is Content Chief at Seattle24x7.com


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ICC announces ticket booking dates for Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Shortly after releasing an updated schedule for the ODI World Cup 2023, International Cricket Council (ICC) has now announced the dates for booking of tickets for the flagship event slated for later this year. Read on for every essential detail on the biggest cricketing event.
Tickets for the tournament will go on sale this month, ICC Head of Events Chris Tetley announced, calling on hundreds of millions of fans of the sport to register their interest from next week to ensure they are one of the first to receive the news.
While speaking about the announcement, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO Hemang Amin said the administrative body “will leave no stone unturned” to ensure the fans have an enjoyable experience at all the hosting venues.
When And How To Book Tickets For ICC ODI World Cup 2023?
While ticket sales for the upcoming tournament will go live on August 25, fans will be allowed to register their interest in purchasing from August 15 at this website. The registration process will ensure the interested individuals are the first to receive ticket-related news.
Notably, ICC has decided to divide ticket sales for the event according to the venue. While tickets for all non-India matches will go on sale from August 25, fans will need to wait until August 30 for tickets for India’s warm-up matches.
The interest in the upcoming India – Pakistan clash in Ahmedabad is quite prominent. Tickets for the highly-anticipated match will go on sale on September 3, while tickets for the semi-finals and finals will be available for purchase from September 15.