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WASHINGTON: The US trade deficit surged to a record high in February as the nation’s economic activity rebounded more quickly than that of its global rivals and could remain elevated this year, with massive fiscal stimulus expected to spur the fastest growth in nearly four decades.
The economy is roaring as increased COVID-19 vaccinations and the White House’s $1.9 trillion pandemic rescue package boost domestic demand, a chunk of which is being satiated with imports. President Joe Biden last week proposed a $2 trillion infrastructure plan, expected to pull in even more imports and fire up economic growth.
The trade deficit jumped 4.8% to a record $71.1 billion in February, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a $70.5 billion deficit. The goods trade gap was also the highest on record.
Exports dropped 2.6% to $187.3 billion. Exports of goods tumbled 3.5% to $131.1 billion, likely hurt by unseasonably cold weather across large parts of the country. The decline was led by shipments of capital goods, which decreased $2.5 billion.
Consumer goods exports fell as did those of motor vehicles, parts and engines. There were also fewer food exports. The pandemic remained a drag on services exports, especially travel.
Imports slipped 0.7% to $258.3 billion. Goods imports fell 0.9% to $219.1 billion. The drop likely reflected supply-chain constraints, rather than weak domestic demand. Indeed, imports of capital goods hit a record high, boosted by civilian aircraft, medical equipment and electric equipment among others.
Imports of industrial supplies and materials were the highest since October 2018, thanks to $1 billion worth of crude oil imports. That resulted in the United States recording its first petroleum deficit since December 2019.
But imports of motor vehicles, parts and engines decreased as did those of consumer goods. The reduction in trade flows in February was partly due to harsh weather, logistic and transportation problems at ports.
A separate report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) on Wednesday showed applications for loans to buy a home fell 4.6% last week, dropping for a second straight week. According to the MBA, the 30-year mortgage fixed rate has risen to 3.36%, a 10-month high. That, combined with higher house prices due to an acute shortage of properties, is making home-ownership more expensive for some first-time buyers.


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A hitchhiker’s guide…
Back in its Spring Indie World Showcase one title that Nintendo featured was Road 96, a game from DigixArt – it’s a studio that was started up by former Ubisoft employee Yoan Fanise, who has titles like Valiant Hearts on their CV. The studio has 15 in the team now, and its upcoming Switch release is looking rather intriguing.
First of all there’s a new trailer (above) and release details; it’ll land on Switch eShop on 16th August, priced $19.96USD / €19,96.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com

domain: news


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At one time not too long ago, Tower Records was the biggest record chain in the universe. In 1999, it grossed $1 billion through its stores in 30 countries on five continents. Seven years later, Tower was dead, bankrupt, killed by piracy, the rise of digital downloads and the fall in sales of physical product like CDs. The company never even got a chance to get a piece of the vinyl boom, which really didn’t start until two years after Tower was dead.
There’s a new documentary coming from Colin Hanks (Tom’s son ) called All Things Must Pass. It’s a look at the fall of Tower Records and features interviews from people like Bruce Springsteen and Dave Grohl (a guy who once worked as a clerk at Tower, something he remembers as his worst job ever.) It looks great. Watch for the doc All Things Must Pass this fall.


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Click on the image to embiggen!
The creations of Canadian raised designer Jason Wu — a line he created specially for Target — are available for one day only between noon and 6 p.m.
Jason Wu’s collection for Target launched across the United States earlier this month and promptly sold out, amid much jostling and chaos. Well, are you ready Southern Ontarians? Because for once, it pays to be a polite, patient Canadian: to promote its impending launch of Canadian stores next year, Target is bringing a pop-up store […]
With the intensity of Black Friday shopping starting to fade, store chains know they are under pressure to keep the sales momentum going as they enter the next phase of a competitive holiday shopping season. Chains such as Macy’s Inc, Target Corp and Best Buy reported large crowds this year on Black Friday, the day […]
Harper plans to play to his base Ratko Mladic: 16 years in hiding, tending his goats Close to home, but off Target Hudak would bring back work gangs for inmates
In today’s edition, a fox “accidentally” shoots a hunter with a rifle, and a cat in Boston is trying to get out of jury duty. Here is what you need to know for Jan. 14. Fantastic Mr. Fox Oh, how the tables have turned. A wounded fox shot a hunter…and no, we didn’t get our […]
In today’s edition, we share the latest exploits of everyone’s favourite volcano (but no smoke rings this time) and discuss the Target-Zellers deal. Here is what you need to know on Jan. 13. Thank You for Smoking Sicily is feeling the heat after Europe’s largest active volcano erupted on Wednesday. Mount Etna is also famous […]


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CNBC: Dan Hill on Starbucks' Free "Game of Thrones" Media Buzz
May 7, 2019
CEO of Hill Impact and expert communications strategist, Dan Hill, offers insight to CNBC's Sarah Whitten on the forgotten coffee cup that sparked so much chatter on the latest season of "Game of Thrones". Starbucks got all the credit - and free publicity - for a cup that wasn't theirs.
Read more on the value that Starbucks gains from this TV show blunder here.


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Published Tuesday, January 28, 20 | By PaulvHill
No country on earth is developing hotels at a faster speed than China. For the past two decades, the nation has seen a craze of construction, with the utmost of the major international brands now represented in the world’s most crowded nation. It is all good news for the self-governing traveler, meaning greater choice and, with some careful research, the opportunity to stay in a brand-new five-star hotel at sweetly priced opening rates. In the nation’s two most famous cities — the capital, Beijing, and the commercial center, Shanghai, almost every month sees the opening of a new hotel; the higher end of the market frequently caters to local officials and travelers rather than just visitors from across, as the population becomes more wealthy and more transient.


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Did you miss a session from GamesBeat Summit Next 2022? All sessions are now available for viewing in our on-demand library. Click here to start watching.
Have you ever built a product that small businesses would love, but you’re not sure which clients are your best targets?
With its expertise in the space, San Francisco-based Bizness Apps claims that it is ideal for new sellers who are targeting SMBs. It’s less expensive than more established CRM tools like Salesforce, Zoho, and SugarCRM on the market that are built for corporate salespeople.
“We organize local leads by industry clearly and concisely and then narrow them down based on numerous optional criteria,” Andrew Gazdecki (pictured, left), chief executive of Bizness Apps explained.
The tool lets you hone in on those small businesses that are most active in self-marketing, or those who could really benefit from your product or service. Other features include a sales tracking pipeline, an appointment scheduling calendar, a metrics dashboard, and a native iPhone app to track sales on the go.
On stage at the DEMO conference in Santa Clara, Gazdecki introduced the product to a roomful of investors and fellow entrepreneurs. He pointed out the vast size of the market and the untapped opportunity: “There are over 500 million small businesses in the world today and tens of millions of people selling to these small businesses,” he said. “With business apps and business CRM, we feel that we have a multibillion opportunity on our hands.”
The panel of sages at DEMO were impressed with the technology, but had some advice for the founders. “It would be even better if it was ingesting some Big Data for predictions and better lead-scoring,” said Pete Sonsini of New Enterprise Associates. Ross Fubini of Kapor Capital followed-up with a particularly salient point. To succeed, Bizness CRM will need to educate small businesses about the benefits of CRM. “[Many of them] don’t understand CRM,” said Fubini.
Gazdecki told me that since implementing Bizness CRM internally for Bizness Apps resellers, the company has seen about 25,000 small business deals created, and about 5,000 of these deals turned into won sales in the first two months.
Since launching at the Spring DEMO conference in 2011, the company has raised $100,000 from angel investors.
Check out the video for more information.
[vimeo 43254859 w=500 h=281]
Bizness Apps is one of 75 companies and 6 student “alpha” startups chosen by VentureBeat to launch at the DEMO Fall 2012 event taking place this week in Silicon Valley. After we make our selections, the chosen companies pay a fee to present. Our coverage of them remains objective.
Top image courtesy of Morgan Lane Photography, Shutterstock
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


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With Halloween around the corner, we shared some articles on how to make holiday inspired treats. We also took the time to share a story about how how you can help out women in need, and how the food community is coming together to help with the fires in Northern California.
Mondays are hard, but since National Boston Creme Pie Day fell on one this year, it definitely helped! This delicious recipe by pastry chef Stella Parks will do the trick!
In honor of National Food Day on October 24, we shared four ways that you can give back and help the hungry, courtesy of The Advertiser. That’s what the ‘Give’ in Eat Love Give is all about!
Halloween is just days away. What better way to celebrate the scariest holiday and todays ‘National Greasy Food Day’ than by checking out these spooky fast food items?
October 26 was your last chance to grab Krispy Kreme’s very limited edition of their Pumpkin Spice Glazed Donut in honor of National Pumpkin Day! Did you manage to grab any before they sold out?
Did you host a Halloween party this past weekend? Food Blogger “Hellen Die” shared some dangerously, delicious recipes to make for your guests. Wash these meals down with an American Beer too, to celebrate National American Beer Day!
At Eat Love Give, we believe we all have a responsibility to give back to our communities. What better way to celebrate National Chocolate Day than by bringing light to Change Her World’s Chocolate Extravaganza, taking place on November 4. The charity aims to educate needy and vulnerable girls in northern Malawi, Africa. It also helps their families and communities by providing school supplies, teaching materials, and birthing kits. If you’re in Vancouver that weekend, make sure you swing by. Admission is free, and participants are asked to bring a face cloth to accompany the 1,000 birthing kits they send to Malawi each year. Read more about it here!
With all of the devastating natural disasters that have occured this year, we are very thankful for everyone who has stepped up and helped out. Eat Love Give is based out of Los Angeles, and it has been heartbreaking to see the devastating effects the wildfires have done to Northern California. We want to extend our gratitude and thanks to everyone who has helped out the vicitims of this awful tragedy. Here’s an article paying tribute to food trucks who have come out to help the vicitms, thanks to Off The Grid. Check out their amazing efforts here!
We hope you enjoyed these stories this week! Remember to always eat well, love more, and give back.
The Eat Love Give Family.


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Amkor’s $2 Billion Investment Elevates Peoria’s Tech Landscape with Advanced Semiconductor Facility
Photo courtesy of city of Peoria
Amkor Technology, Inc., a leader in semiconductor packaging and test services, has announced a transformative $2 billion investment to establish an advanced packaging and test facility in Peoria. This development is set to create approximately 2,000 new jobs, significantly boosting the local economy and positioning Arizona as a pivotal player in the American semiconductor industry.
Amkor, the sole U.S.-headquartered OSAT (outsourced semiconductor assembly and test) service provider with advanced packaging technology capability, plans for this facility to be the largest of its kind in the United States. This move aligns with the national effort to expand the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, a key focus for both the industry and the government.
Governor Katie Hobbs praised the initiative, highlighting its impact on national security and supply chain resilience. She noted the project’s alignment with Arizona’s longstanding leadership in advanced manufacturing. Her sentiments were echoed by Giel Rutten, president and CEO of Amkor, who emphasized the company’s commitment to strengthening America’s semiconductor capabilities and supporting a robust supply chain.
The new facility, spanning approximately 55 acres, will feature over 500,000 square feet of clean room space. The first phase is expected to commence production within two to three years. Amkor’s vision includes supporting key markets such as high-performance computing, automotive, and communications with high-volume, leading-edge technologies.
A strategic partnership has been formed with Apple, shaping the initial capability of the Peoria facility, which will package, and test Apple’s chips produced at the nearby TSMC fab. This collaboration cements Amkor’s position in a vibrant ecosystem of semiconductor manufacturers in Arizona, including TSMC, Intel, Applied Materials, and ASML.
The city of Peoria, the Arizona Commerce Authority, and government authorities have shown strong support for the project, recognizing its potential to revitalize the local high-tech sector and contribute to the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area’s economic dynamism.
Amkor’s initiative aligns with the objectives of the CHIPS and Science Act, a federal program designed to enhance U.S. competitiveness and innovation in the semiconductor industry. Amkor has applied for funding under this act, which will play a crucial role in the project’s success.
Amkor’s substantial investment in Peoria not only marks a milestone in the city’s technological advancement but also signifies a crucial step in bolstering the United States’ position in the semiconductor industry, promising economic growth and enhanced national security.
Hopewell Development Secures Major Leases at Cactus 101 Business Park in Peoria
Hopewell Development, a Canada-based firm, has successfully secured two significant leases at the Cactus 101 Business Park in Peoria, marking a substantial advancement in the area’s business landscape. The leases, totaling nearly 100,000 square feet, have been signed with LD Products Inc. and Clopay Corp.
The Cactus 101 Business Park, located at the strategic intersection of 91st Avenue and Cactus Road, just east of the Loop 101 and north of Grand Avenue, comprises a newly built infill project. It features three buildings with a combined space of 232,881 square feet, including a 92,615-square-foot building, a 75,234-square-foot building, and a 65,032-square-foot building.
Representing Hopewell Development in this venture are Melissa Marks, Brian Gleason, Bonnie Halley, and Danny Schuster of Colliers in Arizona. Gleason highlighted the project’s prime location along the Loop 101 as a key factor in securing leases with these national credit companies before the construction was even completed.
LD Products Inc., a leading online store for aftermarket printer ink and toner cartridges based in Long Beach, California, plans to occupy the entire 65,032-square-foot building for more than five years. This new location in Peoria will be LD Products’ second in the metro Phoenix area and its first in the West Valley. LD Products was represented by Michael White of Savills in this transaction.
Additionally, Clopay, a garage door manufacturer headquartered in Mason, Ohio, has signed a lease for nearly 30,000 square feet in the second building, leaving approximately 45,000 square feet still available. Clopay intends to use this space as its first distribution center in Arizona, further expanding its network of distribution centers across the United States. Jeff Hays and Sam Rutledge of Commercial Properties Inc. represented Clopay in this deal.
These leases at Cactus 101 Business Park signify a significant boost to the local economy in Peoria and mark an important step in the development of the area as a key business hub.


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KYLIE Jenner looked incredible in a neon orange minidress as she waited for baby Stormi to wake up.
The 21-year-old mum wowed in an eye-catching frock while relaxing at home with her daughter as she slept.
In two snaps posted to Instagram, the make-up mogul showed off her famous curves.
One sees her pose outside with her hand resting behind her head.
A second shot sees her sat down on a white chair, revealing a pair of matching orange heels and handbag.
She captioned the pic: "Waiting for my baby to wake up like.."
It comes as she gave fans a glimpse into her palatial mansion earlier this week.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, the model gave fans and followers a look inside the home that money can buy.
Money is clearly no object for the young businesswoman, who was recently celebrated by Forbes magazine for being on track to become the youngest ever self-made billionaire.
Judging by Kylie’s pad, she has put her money to good use by buying herself an incredible space for herself and baby daughter Stormi to grow up in.
Footage showed a huge swimming pool, a huge double bed, and a large tennis court.
The reality star has banked herself a considerable fortune after launching a successful cosmetics line.
And she has used her far-reaching social media outlets to plug her lip glosses and other products, pushing herself to a huge fortune of $900 million (£700 million).
MOST READ IN TV & SHOWBIZ
“Social media is an amazing platform,” Kylie gushed to Forbes Magazine as they celebrated her projected self-made billionaire status in July.
“I have such easy access to my fans and my customers,” she added.
Her cover sparked a backlash from fans, however, who argued Kylie was not worthy of being granted the title “self made billionaire”.
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Harley Davidson Bike In Nepal
Harley Davidson is one of the premium segment motorcycles that has been now introduced in the Nepali market.
Harley davidson bike in nepal. After much speculations Harley Davidson finally made its debut in Nepal officially headlining the NADA Auto Show last week. January 1 2001 Haunting Yeti. Harley Davidson Price in Nepal 2021.
When it comes to the Nepali market the price of this motorcycle is around Rs 55 million. Harley Davidson Iron 883 has been unveiled at the Nada Auto Show 2018 which is being held till the 16th of September. The official Harley-Davidson Nepal page.
As per our sources IME group is said to be releasing ten models of Harley Davidson in Nepal. Nepalese motorcycle industry will witness a change in trends in the coming months. 2462 likes 8 talking about this.
21977 likes 11 talking about this 214 were here. We fulfill dreams inspired by the many roads of the world by providing extraordinary motorcycles. Harley-Davidson or Harley-Bike in this case has just released its new line of E-bikes in both the US and Europe.
Harley Davidson motorcycles need no introduction. Bajaj Pulsar 150cc bike is the most popular bike among youngsters in Nepal. Talking about the price range of Harley Davidson motorcycle Harley is supposed to be priced from 20 Lakhs to 60 Lakhs in the Nepali market.
BS6 Yamaha MT-15 Launched In Nepal At An Introductory Rs 449 Lakh. Harley Davidson started operations in Milwaukee USA in 1903 after William S. The latest launched Bikes are priced on the basis of international offerings without including shipment costs and taxes.
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- 2019 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special Youtube
- 2019 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Lowering Kit
- 2019 Harley Davidson Road Glide Ultra Review
- 2020 Harley Davidson Road Glide Special Billiard Red


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Cambodian's commerce regulations and political stability has led to an increase in companies applying to operate in the Kingdom in the first 7 months of the year, according to Ministry of Commerce Secretary of State Chan Nora.
Some 1,835 ventures have applied to operate in the Kingdom from January to July this year, a 35 percent rise on the same period last year, Ministry of Commerce statistics show.
“The increase is due to Cambodia’s political stability, strict commerce regulations and reliable government,” said Chan Nora.“The rising number of commercial companies regsitering [in Cambodia] will hasten economic growth.”
Cambodia's growth in firms highlights growing investor interest in Cambodia’s market, said economist Kang Chandararot. “Once these new firms process their production lines, it will provide additional jobs for the population,” he said.
The country has a total of 503,008 businesses nationwide, of which 19 percent are based in Phnom Penh, preliminary results of the Ministry of Commerce’s first economic census, EC2011, show. “The results of the EC2011 will be used for formulating various policies, academic research, management strategy and market research in the private sector, and so on,” a statement said.


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Returnable glass bottles are crucially important to recycling and environmental protection, and Banks Holdings Limited (BHL) is urging Barbadians to play their part by consistently returning the empty bottles.
The Company recently launched another “Bottles for Bucks” drive which runs until November 26. During the campaign consumers will receive BBD .25 cents for every bottle returned to the Newton Wholesale depot, at Banks (Barbados) Breweries Limited Complex, Newton, Christ Church.
Charles Walcott, Marketing Manager, AB InBev, said consumers need to be aware of the important role they play in preserving the environment, through the return of empty beverage bottles for recycling.
Walcott said the Company appreciated every single bottled returned and encouraged consumers to help in hygiene maintenance by returning their bottles in as clean a condition as possible.
“The Bottles for Bucks drive is our way of encouraging consumers to collect and return the empties from all our products including Banks and Deputy Beer, Corona and Stella Artois; also not forgetting Guinness, Twist, Tiger Malt, Vita Malt, and Plus. I want to make special mention of Vita Malt, which some people mistakenly seem to think is a disposable bottle. The fact is that all of our glass bottles are returnable and recyclable as part of our Company’s commitment to environmental protection.”
Walcott said BHL’s focus on recycling was about protecting Barbados’ environment, and part of AB InBev’s larger commitment to the achievement of global environmentally sustainable goals.


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NEW YORK — Bergdorf Goodman Men has opened the first full-line Bottega Veneta in-store shop at its Fifth Avenue men’s store.
The 500-square-foot shop on the third floor brings together the company’s accessories and ready-to-wear in one location and also includes furniture designed by Bottega’s creative head, Tomas Maier.
“We had the line in different places throughout the store,” said Margaret Spaniolo, senior vice-president and GMM of men’s for Bergdorf, “but it’s now at the point in its evolution that we were ready to put it together.”
The shop also allowed the store to increase the amount of accessories, particularly the best-selling neckwear and jewelry, and offer items with higher price points.
“Bottega Veneta offers another notch of luxury for Bergdorf Goodman,” added Tommy Fazio, the store’s men’s fashion director. “Tomas Maier’s aesthetic is elegant and understandable but with its own personality.”
The area was formerly a multi-vendor room, but Fazio said the decision was made to “give it a point of view.”
Spaniolo said the men’s team felt is was important to give Bottega its own unique space now, in advance of the company’s planned renovation of the third floor at the end of the year. Although details have yet to be finalized, the floor, which houses advanced designers, is expected to be renovated beginning in November and continuing through August 2009. The floor will be renovated in three parts so that selling can continue during the work, they said.
The plan calls for opening up windows onto Fifth Avenue, capturing some backroom stock space and creating a more-open feeling by removing walls and breaking down shops. “This is the original floor from when we opened the store in 1990,” Spaniolo said. “It’s held up well and I think we’ve managed to keep it fresh and current, but it’s time for an update.”
Following the renovation, she said, the merchandise offerings will remain the same and there will be additions.
“Our DNA is very special and we won’t change it,” Fazio said. “We’ll just expand on it.”
But before the big third-floor revamping, Bergdorf is rejiggering its second floor to prepare for the first in-store shop for Tom Ford. The boutique will span most of the length of the back of the floor—flanked by Ralph Lauren Black Label and Thom Browne’s exclusive tailored clothing—and will be just under 1,400 square feet. “It goes under construction in a couple of weeks,” Spaniolo said, noting that much of the mill work is being done off-site.
The shop will include all of the designer’s products as well as a dressing lounge. “It will have the whole romance of Tom Ford,” she said, noting that it will be “a mini-version of his [Madison Avenue] store.”
@fearofgod and @maxfieldla have teamed up on a pop-up installation. The store, located in the gallery space across from Maxfield’s Melrose Ave location, is the site of the brand’s House of God pop-up in which Fear of God founder @jerrylorenzo has created a church-inspired installation. A dozen vintage church pews sit in front of an LED screen playing 90s gospel singers in an effort to re-create an environment akin to a Southern Baptist Church, Lorenzo explained. Read more about the pop-up on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: Jennifer Johnson)
Known for his sleek, sophisticated American glamour, Norman Norell is the subject of an upcoming exhibition at @fitnyc. “Norell: Dean of American Fashion,” which runs from February 9 through April 14, will feature approximately 100 ensembles and accessories. His best work is exemplified by the designer’s glittering “mermaid” gowns frosted with thousands of hand-sewn sequins – like the one pictured. (📷: William Helburn) #wwdfashion
For pre-fall 2018, @balmain didn’t let go of the glitz. A crystal embroidered baseball jacket priced at around $40,000 hangs in the “couture” section of the brand’s first men’s pre-collection. Sporting the words “Balmain Army” across the back, the item took around two months to make. “When it was completed, it was like Christmas, it was like, ‘It’s done, it’s exactly what I wanted,’” said Balmain’s creative director @olivier_rousteing during a tour of the collection in a Paris showroom on Monday. #wwdfashion
Eighty degree temperatures and outdoor installations at the annual Art Basel Miami Beach called for bright, elevated beachwear. See more street style pictures on WWD.com. #theyarewearing #ABMB (📷: @lifeinreverie)
Following September’s emotional tribute to her brother Gianni, Donatella Versace wanted to bring the spring show’s deep sense of intimacy to her @versace_official pre-fall collection. Donatella found inspiration in Versace Palazzo in Milan and from Gianni’s opulent apartment. Archival patterns and new motifs were splashed on silk shirtdresses and fitted jersey frocks. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com. #wwdfashion
Demna Gvasalia continues to shake up the Paris fashion calendar — and experiment with new runway timetables for his @vetements_official brand. WWD has learned that Vetements plans to stage its next coed show for the fall 2018 season on January 19 during Men’s Fashion Week in the French capital. Details about the timing and venue have not been confirmed — stay tuned on WWD.com to catch the latest. #wwdnews (📷: @giovanni_giannoni_photo)
@zacposen's go-to holiday gift? Cookies! "I'll usually bake cookies and send them as a gift," said the designer, who recently released his cookbook "Cooking With Zac: Recipes from Rustic to Refined." Get the recipe for his Brown Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies via link in bio 🍪🍪🍪 #wwdeye #cookingwithzac
For @monsemaison’s pre-fall 2018 collection, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim honed in on the brand’s many signatures — men’s wear, which was tweaked and feminized through deconstruction, proportion play and lots of bare shoulders. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
On Friday night, @yohjiyamamotoofficial received the Design for Asia Lifetime Achievement Award in Hong Kong. The 75-year-old designer has been celebrated for many years and is best known for his dark and avant-garde tailoring. “In my long career, in design, architecture, [I’ve been to] so many parties, this is the very first time that I have such a warm feeling, I really appreciate this,” Yamamoto said. #wwdfashion (📷: @dominiquemaitre)


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On April 13th Epic Games announced it had raised an additional $1 billion in funding at a valuation of $28.7 billion. Sony added on to prior strategic investments in Epic and provided $200 million in funding in this round.
The large funding round means Epic Games remains privately owned for the time being, but the ambitious press release headline for the announcement “Announcing a $1 Billion Round to Support Epic’s Long-Term Vision to the Metaverse” is another signal of Epic’s long-term ambition. If the company continues spending aggressively to reach its goal of creating the metaverse, its likely Epic Games will have to tap public markets in the years to come.
For everything you need to know about Epic Games and when an IPO could be on the horizon, read on below!
What is Epic Games?
Epic Games is a videogame maker that is responsible for Infinity Blade, Gears of War, and the Fortnite gaming franchises. There have been no announcements for Epic Games stock IPO as of April 2021. Founder and CEO Tim Sweeney has said little about filing for a public offering.
Expected IPO Date:
2022 or later
- As of April 2021, Epic Games was valued at $28 billion. Epic Games has raised about $4.4 billion since its founding.
- Epic Games stock is not currently publicly traded. We’ve detailed ways to invest in Epic or similar investments below.
- Epic is behind the wildly popular Fortnite series of games that currently has more than 350 million players.
- Fortnite alone reportedly grossed $1.8 billion in 2019.
- Unreal is also behind the wildly popular Unreal Engine game development platform
- Epic is engaged in a high stakes legal battle with Apple and Google that could turn out poorly.
- If Fortnite popularity declines in popularity it could drag Epic stock down with it.
If you think GameStop is a can’t-miss stock, it’s likely you are waiting for the day Epic Games’ stock symbol debuts on the public markets. And that makes perfect sense, Fortnite might take place in a fantasy world with fake V-bucks being the currency of choice, but the profits are very real.
But it’s not just gamers looking to own this company, even Wall Street suits are highly interested in getting in on Epic Games. Epic Games stock IPO is likely to be, well, epic. However, it’s important to note Epic Games stock faces a variety of risks and could disappoint investors that buy shares after Epic Games’ ticker is available as an IPO.
Here’s what investors should consider before buying shares once Epic Games’ stock is available to the public.
Here’s Why Investors Want to See Epic Games IPO
With the game engine, creator Unity having IPO’d in 2020 and Roblox recently hitting public markets, Epic is one of the — if not the — largest privately traded gaming companies.
With a combination of powerful software that helps companies build graphically intense games (Unreal Engine) and a development studio that’s riding high on the success of Fortnite, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about an Epic Games IPO.
Bull Case: Why Buy Epic Games Stock?
Have you played Fortnite? Then it’s likely you understand why the stock will be a hot ticket once it hits the markets. The game has become a cultural phenomenon and a rite of passage for many teenage boys. With more than 350 million players, if Fortnite Nation were its own country it would be larger than the United States.
The Wall Street Journal wrote an article about the addictiveness of Fortnite, pointing out that parents are locked in an “unwinnable war” to get their kids to turn off the game. While the game is free to play, very soon players are snapping up V-bucks to buy customization gear in the game and Battle Passes to unlock additional features.
These purchases quickly add up. A 2018 study reported 70% of Fortnite users to buy digital items and those who do spend an average of $84.67. According to data from Nielsen, Fortnite alone grossed revenue of $1.8 billion in 2019.
Smart observers understand that Fortnite is more than a video game and more of a culture and lifestyle brand that has many ways to monetize its massive audience. For example, last year rapper Travis Scott grossed $20 million on Fortnite…for a nine-minute digital concert!
But this is just getting started! The video game industry has a long runway for growth. Gaming is no longer considered a waste of time… esports is quickly becoming a serious career choice, with a global market that generates more than $1 billion in revenue from an audience of nearly 500 million viewers.
The Fortnite universe will be instrumental in shaping esports and the gaming community for decades to come and that’s just one franchise.
But it gets even better for Epic Games. The company will benefit regardless of whose name is plastered on the title screen. In-the-know investors understand the power of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine game development platform. Unreal Engine has quickly become the de facto gaming development platform for publishers like Microsoft Studios, which partners with Epic Games on the Gears of War franchise.
Bear Case: Why pass on Epic Games’ stock at IPO?
The biggest risk against buying Epic Games stock centers around the epic (pun intended) battle between the company and app ecosystem companies Apple and Google. App developers have expressed anger at both companies that collect transaction fees that can be as much as 30% of the transaction value, but Epic Games has been the most aggressive in pushing the envelope.
In August, Epic Games created a payment system that cut Apple out of this fee in its Fortnite app and the tech giant quickly removed Epic Games’ valued game from the App Store. Rather than work behind the scenes to resolve the conflict, Epic Games launched a public-relations campaign to rally developers against Apple and then followed up by filing an anti-trust lawsuit alleging Apple was violating antitrust law.
Make no mistake, this is a significant long-term concern as mobile revenue is a large driver of growth and helps to introduce new players to Epic Games’ stock of video games.
To date, however, it does not appear that Apple’s bans have significantly dented demand for Epic Games’ Fortnite. In December, the company tweeted that a record 15.3 million concurrent players participated in an event with another 3.4 million watched through YouTube and Twitch.
The success of Fortnite creates a halo effect around new titles and the Unreal Engine but switching costs are low for consumers, which are fickle and could easily flock to a new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game as soon as another popular game is created.
When Can I Buy Epic Games’ Stock?
Epic Games’ stock remains private and, provided you are a non-accredited investor (those meeting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s definitions of annual income or total net worth limits), you’ll have to wait until the company files for an IPO or does a reverse merger with an existing “blank check” special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC.
Unfortunately, Epic Games’ stock market debut doesn’t appear to be in the cards for 2021. Tim Sweeney has not outlined his timeline for filing for going public but Epic Games doesn’t need to take public money as private investors have stepped up to take ownership.
Furthermore, Tim Sweeney has been outspoken against revenue-enhancing practices he considers harmful to consumers like loot boxes and user manipulation to increase monetization. These practices are common in games owned by publicly traded companies.
Even after 30 years, Tim Sweeney holds a majority stake, pointing to the fact he likes to maintain control. Ultimately, tapping the public markets means ceding control and it’s possible he views the quarterly demands of shareholders as could conflict with his long-term vision.
(However, there is a backdoor way you can own Epic Games’ stock…see below)
Epic Games Stock: Who Owns It Now?
Epic Games doesn’t have to tell the public much about its private stock, including the current investors, the current Epic Games stock price per share, or the value of the company.
However, because of intense interest, we know a lot about the company. Sweeney founded Epic Games as Potomac Computer System in 1991, and he remains the company’s CEO. According to Forbes, Sweeney is worth $5.3 billion due to his ownership stake in the company.
Epic Games stock has a large list of venture capital backers, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company, and Smash Ventures. Even government workers are getting in on the action, those north of the border anyway. The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board participated in the most recent round of funding.
With an enviable list of backers, it’s understandable that many retail investors are itching to get exposure to Epic Games…and you can!
When you own shares of KKR & Company, Sony, or Tencent Holdings Incorporated, which have exposure to Epic Games. While it’s not recommended you buy companies solely due to their investments in other companies (outside of possibly Berkshire Hathaway), it is notable that Tencent has approximately 40% ownership of Epic Games.
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Epic Games Stock Chart: How Much Is It Now?
Unlike many privately held companies that will take funding from anybody willing to provide it, Epic Games takes a more strategic view. Despite a history that stretches back nearly 30 years, it has been reported that entering 2021 the company has taken approximately $3.4 billion in funding in only three rounds with the last funding at a post-money valuation of $17.3 billion.
We know it’s likely when Epic Games IPO occurs it will certainly be at a higher valuation than current, as Epic Games stock value will change each time the company undergoes a new investment round.
However, we can look at the chart below that includes cumulative money and the valuation per round to see the significant equity growth.
With its newest funding round in April 2021, Epic has now raised approximately $4.4 billion in funding and its equity valuation now stands at $28.7 billion.
That places Epic Games among the most valuable private companies in the world, but it may still prove to be cheap. Consider that Unity recently IPO’d and is worth $28 billion as of April 2021. Roblox’s valuation is even higher, tipping the scales at $45 billion.
What is Epic Games’ Stock Symbol?
Only public companies have stock symbols because they exist to inform investors of stock price changes on public exchanges and allow investors to quickly see their investment performance amid a sea of blinking tickers. Epic Games has no reason to have a stock symbol because it remains a private company.
Epic Games will eventually have to choose a stock symbol when they decide to come to the public markets. While it’s possible they will choose the New York Stock Exchange, it’s more likely the company will list its equity on the NASDAQ exchange.
Historically NYSE, aka the “Big Board,” has been preferred by more established companies like equity investor Sony. However, newer-gen stocks want to list on the tech-focused NASDAQ exchange. Additionally, there’s precedent in video game stocks listing on the NASDAQ, most notably World of Warcraft competitor Activision Blizzard.
An NYSE listing is not entirely out of the question for Epic Games’ stock ticker when it occurs. Recently, Tim Sweeney congratulated Roblox via Tweet on their upcoming debut on the public markets. Unlike most companies that are planning to do a SPAC or an IPO, Roblox is choosing to do a direct listing with NYSE, a process that is easier than an IPO because it raises no new capital and merely places existing shares on the public markets.
Regardless of whether Epic Games chooses to do a SPAC, direct listing, or traditional IPO, the stock symbol will not be affected. However, if it chooses to list on the NYSE or NASDAQ might weigh on Epic Games’ stock symbol. New York Stock exchange-listed stocks generally have symbols of three letters or less – SNE for Sony – while stocks on the NASDAQ tend to have four letters (ATVI).
If Epic lists on the NASDAQ, it has a choice of symbols like EPIC and GAME to choose from once it goes public. If it chooses the NYSE, EPG is available and would seem like a natural fit for Epic Games’ stock ticker.
Epic Games’ Stock: Should You Buy the IPO?
Many retail investors don’t know about Epic Games’ IPO, including if it will ever happen. Without knowing the price per share or carefully reviewing Epic Games’ financials, it’s difficult to recommend buying or avoiding the IPO currently.
However, we do have some preliminary information that is helpful for potential investors. Unlike other recent IPOs, Epic Games’ stock value seems to be reasonable by traditional metrics. Earlier forecasts for 2020 revenue were $5 billion, which means Epic Games’ stock price is valued at approximately 5.6 times revenue. Compared to publicly traded companies, Activision Blizzard, at 10 times revenue and Roblox which trades at nearly 50 times 2020 revenue, Epic Games’ stock value seems like a steal now.
But risks abound. Understandably, Epic Games’ revenue is mostly driven by engagement with the Fortnite game, meaning 2020 will be a good year for the top line. However, growth is not guaranteed as it was reported revenue in 2019 was $4.2 billion, a decrease of 25% from the prior year.
Public investors prefer stocks with a solid history of revenue growth, which could be difficult for Epic to produce as interest in its games will vary over time. Finally, IPOs tend to underperform existing companies over the first five years.
This is all hypothetical as it appears Epic Games will not file for its IPO in 2021. For long-term investors, Epic Games stock is one of the best ways to gain exposure to esports and the rise of gaming in general. There’s no wonder why investors are excited to see the company debut on the public markets.


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A study by part of Britain's Department of Health has found that electronic cigarettes are around 95% less harmful than tobacco. It concluded that e-cigarettes should be promoted as a tool to help people quit smoking.
E-cigarettes contain no tobacco. Instead they deliver a vapor that is laced with nicotine. Users are called vapers. They have become popular in Europe and the United States, but health organizations have been slow to advocate them as a safer alternative to tobacco. Local and national governments have introduced bills to regulate their use, especially to regular their use by teenagers.
The study was published by Public Health England and is a review of the available evidence on e-cigarette use. The study said e-cigarettes, which are already the most popular aids to quitting smoking in Britain and the United States, could be a cheap way to reduce smoking.
"There is no evidence that e-cigarettes are undermining England's falling smoking rates," said Professor Ann McNeil in a statement at the British government's website. McNeil is one of the authors of the study.
"Instead the evidence consistently finds that e-cigarettes are another tool for stopping smoking and in my view smokers should try vaping, and vapers should stop smoking entirely," she added.
Most of the chemicals that cause smoking-related diseases are absent in e-cigarettes, the study said. The current best estimate is that e-cigarette use is around 95% less harmful than smoking. Passive inhalation from an e-cigarette was also much less harmful, the study said.
Almost all of the 2.6 million British adults using e-cigarettes are current or ex-smokers who say they are using the devices to help them quit, according to the study. Only 2% of young people are regular users, the study said.
This publicly-funded study, however, is contrary to a 2014 report by the World Health Organization that called for stiff regulation of e-cigarettes and bans on their indoor use and sale to minors.
"E-cigarettes are not completely risk free but when compared to smoking, evidence shows they carry just a fraction of the harm," said Professor Kevin Fenton of Public Health England.


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The pitcher of the Astros from Houston Justin verlander has become one of the owners of a team from football in the League of Mexico.
Indeed, Verlander says he is excited to be part of the group that owns Club Necaxa FC and jokes that his pet dogs are also excited to be with Necaxa.
“I’m not the only one excited to be part of the Club Necaxa owning group… Norman and Harley (Harley to a lesser extent) are pumped too. We are very excited to offer this first NFT that represents 1% participation in the real team! First time in professional sports !! “
I’m not the only one excited to be part of Club Necaxa’s ownership group… Norman and Harley (Harley to a lesser extent 🤣) are pumped too. We’re so excited to offer this first ever NFT representing 1% stake in the actual team! First time ever in professional sports !! pic.twitter.com/HIvgLnynvI
– Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) June 1, 2021
About 1% of the shares it is offering for sale, the Mexican Soccer League has already issued a statement that such shares cannot be put up for sale in this way.
But here the remarkable thing is that the star of the Astros is investing in another professional sport, which is one of the most deeply rooted in the Mexican country and in this case in a team of the oldest such as Necaxa.
Hopefully he will be successful in his new business challenge and that we will soon see him on the hill of the sidereal that his team is quite lacking that arm.


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Emirates News Agency – Global e-book brand Rakuten Kobo adopts Arabic as primary browsing language
Mon 23-05-2022 23:00
ABU DHABI, 23rd May, 2022 (WAM) — Rakuten Kobo, the global eBook brand, has announced that it will adopt Arabic as its primary browsing language for users in the last quarter of 2022.
Based in Ontario, Canada, Rakuten Kobo is the second-largest e-reader brand in the world, hosting seven million titles in 76 languages, shipping e-books to 190 countries, and running local operations in 25 countries.
The announcement was made by Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Rakuten Kobo, during a keynote speech at the International Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries Conference, hosted by the Arabic Language Center Abu Dhabi (ALC) , part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), as part of the 2022 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
Tamblyn said Rakuten Kobo aims to improve the region’s e-book sales industry and create a thriving, large-scale digital market for book publishing. He also discussed ways to start an independent digital market using conversions, e-book aggregation and distribution, self-publishing, audiobook production and global distribution.
He called on publishers to strengthen their supply chains and strive to improve their work while benefiting from different types of support, especially government, which is necessary to succeed in the sector.
Tamblyn also discussed Rakuten Kobo’s position and the policies it pursues to open up and discover new and successful markets for e-book sales, as well as the importance and necessity of government support for e-book platforms. .
WAM/Khoder Nashar/Hatem Mohamed


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16 February 2023
According to a recent Fact.MR survey, the world-wide market for agricultural drones is expected to grow from $3.8 million to $14.2 million between 2023 and 2033.
It sounds like a good time for pilots interested in agriculture to sell their skills, tech, and knowledge to farmers, who more and more need drones to monitor livestock, spray crops, deal with irrigation management, plan seed mapping and planting, and more. Sales opportunities for appropriate drones that can help farming concerns will also expand.
Key Points from the Fact.MR Study
- The global agriculture drone market is projected to expand at an impressive CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 14.1 percent, reaching a value of $14.2 million by 2033.
- The market witnessed 7.2 percent CAGR during the period of 2018-2022.
- Fixed-wing agriculture drones dominate the market and are valued at $796 million for 2023.
- North America and Europe will dominate the market with a 32.1 percent and a 36.1 percent market share in 2023.
More Insights: Quadcopter Market to hit $94.3 Million by 2033
Fact.MR also reported that the global quadcopter market—which is estimated at $24.1 million this year—will expand to $94.3 million within a decade. At present, military quadcopters dominate the market with a 68 percent share.
“Increased use for surveillance and monitoring is boosting the sales of quadcopters,” reported a Fact.MR analyst.
The other side of the market-growth equation—and the resulting competition—is that manufacturers may need to differentiate their products with advanced tech and other unique features to survive and thrive


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Women chooses a sandwich during lunchtime at a bakery in central Seoul, South Korea, 13 October. Asia is losing some of its appetite for rice in favour of wheat, a trend that is nowhere more pronounced than South Korea where bread and pastries have become a new staple. Picture taken 13 October – Reuters
Asia is losing some of its appetite for rice in favour of wheat, a trend that is nowhere more pronounced than South Korea where bread and pastries have become a new staple.
From working mothers, who find toast more convenient to prepare for breakfast, to city dwellers flocking to new eateries for baguettes, South Koreans are at the forefront of an Asia-wide trend that has seen wheat demand climb at nearly twice the rate of rice consumption since 2008.
And while Asia is largely self sufficient in rice, demand for bread and noodles from Mumbai to Manila has made Asia the largest and fastest growing market for wheat imports, shipping in more than 40 million tons annually for the past five years or 25% of world imports.
“I eat bread with coffee almost every morning,” said Lee Seung-Hee, a 47-year-old working mother of two, who often gives her children bread as a snack between meals.
“My husband likes to have rice meals, so I try to cook rice for him. But when I’m too busy, I just give him bread.”
South Koreans spent an estimated 6.36 trillion won ($5.37 billion) last year on bread, sandwiches, bagels and pastries, according to SPC Group, owner of the Paris Croissant and Paris Baguette chains, which has even opened two stores in the French capital Paris as part of global expansion.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s rice consumption hit a record low of 65.1 kg per person last year, while flour consumption was the highest since 2006 at 33.6 kg, according to industry and official data.
“Housewives are increasingly having bread and coffee for brunch late morning instead of rice and kimchi,” said Kang Byung-Oh, a business professor at Chung-Ang University, referring to the spicy local side dish.
SPC Group, which runs Asia’s biggest bread making plant and has about 5,000 bakeries in South Korea, said the local bread market has grown at an average of 15% per year since 2005.
“You can find this trend across Asia, as Asian countries become westernised...Food products from wheat flour are quick, convenient,” said Koh Hee-Jong, an agriculture and life science professor at Seoul National University.
Rising wheat consumption has been focused on large cities where an emerging middle class is exposed to a proliferation of convenience foods from pizzas to sandwiches.
In Indonesia, noodle consumption has helped increase wheat demand in the world’s second-biggest importer by more than 60% since 2005 to nearly eight million tons annually.
Even in India, the world’s second-largest wheat grower, consumption is projected to surpass output by more than five million tons this year, sparking the largest imports in eight years.
Indian wheat demand is especially strong in the Northern Plains where it is grown, but is rising in the south where naan bread and chapattis vie with traditional rice consumption.
Bangladesh is expected to import around three million tons of wheat a year to help meet four million tons of local demand.
“We used to take rice three times a day. Now we are taking rice only once a day,” said Humayra Ahmed, a bank employee and mother of two children in Dhaka.
China has also seen wheat demand soar and consumed a record 118 million tons in 2014.
Along with record pizza sales and noodle consumption, demand for cakes and pastries is also increasing.
“It’s a symbol of lifestyle, consumers pair them (cakes and pastries) with coffee and chatting, and hanging out with friends,” said Linda Li, senior research analyst at Mintel China.
With wheat production relatively low in some countries in Asia – South Korea only produces about 1-2% of its consumption – there is little alternative but to import more.
Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, the United States and Europe have been the chief beneficiaries of Asian wheat demand, seeing collective exports swell by over 40% since 2005.
But the relentless climb in wheat consumption does place a strain on exporters in places such as Australia to keep up.
“When you look at wheat consumption, it is to a very large degree driven by general increase in consumption as well as swap out of rice and other staples,” said Ole Houe, an analyst at brokerage IKON Commodities in Sydney. “We need to produce a record crop every year just to meet the demand.”


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Morocco reports trade surplus with Africa despite drop in exports
Morocco exported 21.57 billion dirhams in goods to Africa in 2018. The continent takes 7.8% of Morocco’s exports.
Over four years, Morocco’s exports to Africa grew 29% while imports dropped 5% as the Kingdom strengthened ties with the continent after its return to the African Union in 2017.
Some 38% of exports to Africa are made of fertilizers followed by canned food and cement. Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria are Morocco’s main trading partners on the continent.
Morocco sees potential for boosting its exports for Africa where growth rate stood at 3.5% in 2018.
The African free trade agreement will offer more openings to Moroccan exports in the continent where Moroccan private and state-owned companies have rolled out investments notably in the fields of telecommunications, fertilizer production, banking, tourism and agriculture.
However, Morocco registered a trade deficit soared to 116 billion dirhams with Europe, Morocco’s main trading partner.


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Yesterday PC World attended the eGames Expo 2009 at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. Although it was a slightly quieter affair compared to previous years, there were still plenty of games, gadgets and exhibits vying for punters' attention,...
File-sharing site The Pirate Bay should be closed, and if it isn't, two of the founders will each have to pay a fine of 500,000 Swedish kronor (US$71,500), according to a verdict in the Stockholm District Court on Wednesday.
Mobile printing has never been easier. For a busy office, reliable and easy-to-use tools are essential. Samsung's latest smart printers are equipped for wireless printing from mobile devices. Find out more about what is all about.
Google is changing the way it resolves music-related search queries through a variety of partnerships designed to help it provide more relevant and useful results.
Netflix will begin streaming movies and TV shows to PlayStation 3 consoles in the U.S. from November, it said on Monday.
France's Constitutional Council has validated the so-called "three strikes" law, clearing the way for an accelerated judicial process that will cut off the access of Internet users accused three times of downloading copyright content without authoriz...
Panasonic has announced a choice of free "high-definition" products for purchasers of Full HD Viera plasma televisions. Buyers can choose from a digital camera, a Blu-ray home theatre system, or a digital television recorder.
Sony on Thursday unveiled an impressive 3D display that can be viewed from any direction. The screen, development of which was announced earlier this week, is on show until Sunday at the DC Expo in Tokyo.
Facebook plans to let users buy music and other virtual products on its Web site, the company said Wednesday, expanding its sources of revenue as the company seeks to turn its huge popularity into fiscal profit.
Barnes & Noble's new e-reader, reportedly dubbed the Nook, propels the bookseller into an increasingly crowded market for similar devices.
Android is known for smartphones but the mobile platform will also power the new Alex e-reader from a Fremont, Calif., company called Spring Design.
Internet-linked televisions, many containing peer-to-peer download tools, are winning buyers in China despite piracy concerns and a battle between government factions over how to regulate the industry, according to analysts.
Three quarters of 16 to 24 year olds can't live without the internet, says YouthNet.
Korean personal video recorder manufacturer DVICO has announced the launch the newest product in the TViX line, the M-6600N. This premium PVR includes Wi-Fi connectivity and support for all recent video codecs. It features an internal 3.5in desktop h...
Watchers of streaming video trends are buzzing after a remark by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings in a Montley Fool podcast that DVDs may lose their number one spot for the company's video distribution after two years.
The number of visitors to Ceatec, Japan's largest consumer electronics exhibition, fell by roughly a quarter compared to last year, organizers said on Sunday.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.


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Scottsdale, AZ–DBL Distributing, which hosted its bi-annual Vendor Expo on May 5th in Scottsdale, has reported that the event was a success., noting that attendees expressed their pleasure that the exhibiting manufacturers presented a wide variety marketplace for their specific business interests. There were 70 booths, over 100 employees and more than 100 customers, who attended the expo.
DBLs vendor exposition is designed to facilitate interaction between brand name consumer electronic manufacturers, DBL sales account managers and DBL customers with a focus on products and brands in DBLs most recent catalog. Monster Power, Sherwood, Sansui, Memorex, Case Logic, Go Video, KOSS, DLO, Panasonic, JVC, Olympus, Ortofon, Sandisk, XM Satellite Radio, and JBL were a few of the participating manufacturers that provided onsite product experts and new product demonstrations at the expo.
It is always satisfying to interact with our manufacturing partners and customers in a combined environment where we can present the latest in new product lines featured in DBLs Summer/Fall Catalog. This particular event provided the perfect combination of hands-on product demonstrations and face to face interaction between sales representatives and customers, said Bruce Kuperman, senior vice president of sales, the entire day was filled with a great energyit was phenomenal!
Many DBL customers attended the vendor exposition and took advantage of the opportunity to meet manufacturers, account managers and view new products. Martin Hopkins, owner of ASC Networks, stated, “I wanted to take a moment to thank your company for the outstanding vendor show held on Saturday, May 5th. My associates and I had an informative day; meeting with manufacturers and the DBL sales representatives. I want to thank you once again for a great time.”
Exhibitors at the exposition were very positive and are already looking forward to the next show scheduled for October 2007. Roberto Perez-Vega, account executive at Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO) based in Charleston, SC, said, We were very pleased with our decision to exhibit at DBLs Vendor Exposition in Scottsdale. The show was well attended and provided us the opportunity to interact with many of DBLs existing customers, as well as exposure to a variety of potential, new retail partners. We have already signed up for the next event in October and look forward to an equally successful exposition.
Nicole Borchardt, sales manager of Innovative Consulting and Marketing based in Scottsdale, AZ, said, We felt that DBLs Vendor Exposition was a success based on having a substantial number of leads visit our booth and show interest in our line of Emphasys Home Theater Speakers.
Susan Sipe, chief financial officer of X-Spot Products, based in Gold Canyon, AZ, concurred: From a business lead perspective this show was a great success. We had in excess of 100 attendees visit with us and express interest in our products. We intend on being back in the fall.
In addition to the excitement surrounding the abundance of new products from name brand manufacturers, the event also featured exciting door prizes including products donated by Monster Power, OmniMount, Case Logic, Lorex, Ortofon, Blue Ant, TDK, Maxell, Griffin, Nextar, Nexus, Vantage Point, Sanus and Olympus.
DBLs next vendor exposition will coincide with the release of the Fall/Winter 2007 Catalog tentatively scheduled for release in early October.
For more information, visit www.dbldistributing.com.


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As part of the Coronado Island Film Festival, "Andy Baker's Tape" will be screened at the Village Theater at 6 pm on Friday, November 12.
Is this story real or fictional? This is the mystery
Every year, Christmas is a time to celebrate your loved ones by sharing special gifts, leaving memories, and most importantly, through food connections.
Watch below: Christmas breakfast waffl
New Jersey, USA-The report on "Main Participants, Types, Applications, and Forecast of Ventilation Stretch Film Market Report to 2028 by 2021" provided by Verified Market Research® includes the ge
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Pallet packaging machines are a wise investment for your business, especially when you encounter transportation bottlenecks. A machine can
The report Globe released a new study on the global plastic packaging tray stretch packaging machine market by manufacturer, region, type and application in 2021. It is planned to be carried out in
Weekly highlights, trends and technical details of weekend events.
Perhaps, on the Internet, the debate continues. Maybe on message boards, Twitter, or wherever you are lurking, you can still
In his latest installment of exploring the history of fuzziness, Josh Scott takes us through the predicament of the first effects pedal and asks: "How can they get something so right and so wrong?"


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Laptop panel shipments are expected to drop by 15% compared to last year. Reduced demand for laptops and parts supply delay from lockdown in China are main factors for this phenomenon.
According to a market research company, TrendForce, this April’s laptop panel shipments were 17.5 million units, which is a 21.5% decrease compared to last April. This is the record low since the outbreak of COVID-19. Adjustments in laptop inventory and the lockdown in China contributed to the decrease in shipments.
The downward trend in shipments is expected to continue. TrendForce estimated that laptop panel shipments this year will reach 240 million units, a decrease of 14.9% from the previous year.
TrendForce identified factors for decrease in shipments as lower demand for laptops and disruptions in the operation of parts factories. In the midst of external risks such as inflation and the Ukraine war, laptop sales in the first quarter of this year were 55.6 million units, which is a 4.5% decrease compared to last first quarter. Panel purchases from laptop manufacturers also decreased.
Low demand for laptops led to inventory saturation. 8 to 12 weeks of panel inventories were accumulated at laptop manufacturers as of April. Inventory is usually accumulated 6-8 weeks, which means that the current inventory has increased by about half.
Laptop manufacturers have been trying to secure panels for the past two years; however, they are in a situation where they have to adjust their panel orders to exhaust their inventory. There are many laptops stranded in sea and port containers due to logistics delays.
Overall panel production decreased due to the shutdown of parts factories and delays in supply and demand. TrendForce also noted a possibility of further downgrading shipments.
TrendForce said, “The decline in demand for laptop panels will continue until the third quarter. The key to change the situation in the fourth quarter depends on whether laptop inventory is exhausted.”
By Staff Reporter Yoonseop Song (email@example.com)


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Ice Cube Debuts At Number Five On Billboard 200
The Don Mega debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 after pushing almost 70,000 copies of his latest independent project, Raw Footage.
Ice Cube had the top hip-hop album on the charts, but Lil Wayne joined him in the Top 10. The New Orleans star sold over 61,000 copies of Tha Carter III to land at number seven, according to SoundScan figure. To date, Weezy has sold 2.3 millions copies of his latest album.
Nas is holding steady on the charts at number 25 with his politically-charged LP, which sold over 15,000 copies last week to push past the 350,000 copies overall.
Plies' sophomore set drops to number 39. Definition of Real sold just under 11,000 copies bringing the 11-week total to slightly under 470,000 copies.
The Florida native debuted the first single from his upcoming album recently on his MySpace page. "Pants Hang Low," produced by Mannie Fresh is the lead single from Da Realist, due in December.--LaTisha Robbins


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ANGELIQUE DUET ARTICLES
April 10, 2006 - Following a flood of releases to close out March, the Japanese game scene slowed down somewhat this past week. The biggest releases were two baseball games, with Namco and Konami facing off through the latest Necchu! and Spirits games. As expected for early in the month (we're not sure why, but this seems to be a trend) a few love simulations made it out. The DS got the latest in Koei's Angelique series, released separately and as part of a special bundle that includes a ruby-colored pouch. PS2 got its latest boys love sim through Love x Love Honey Life along with the more traditional Step of Spring.
November 18, 2005 - The PSP has thus far been the portable of choice for love simulation developers, but that isn't stopping Koei from having a go at the DS. The company has announced plans to bring the Angelique series to the DS in the form of Angelique Duet.


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The Kamari ZBG Launchpad Sale Ends in Minutes
Details and What’s Next
KAM ON ZBG LAUNCHPAD SUMMARY:
- 2726 people participated.
- 6,666,666 number of Kamari Coins [KAM] sold in two sessions: ZT/KAM and USDT/KAM.
- $4,000,000 in KAM was purchased.
- The sale concluded in 2 minutes and 10 seconds.
The Kamari team is proud to announce the conclusion of the KAM token offering on ZBG Launchpad . In just a matter of a few minutes, all 6,666,666 available Kamari Coins were purchased by the public in the first, extremely successful, ZBG Launchpad sale.
Be sure to stay subscribed to updates and connect with the Kamari community:
- Twitter — https://twitter.com/kamaricoin
- Telegram Chat — https://t.me/KamariOfficial
- Telegram ANN — https://t.me/KamariANN
WHAT IS KAMARI
Kamari is the currency for mobile gaming and payments that will unite one billion people. We have integrated existing gaming infrastructure and lottery licensing with a unified cryptocurrency to be used for online and mobile gaming and payments. As digital access has exploded across Africa, the Kamari coin will offer a better experience to traditional gaming and sports betting users across the continent.
With six of the ten world’s fastest growing economies, an exploding young adult population of over 200 Million, and an 80% penetration participation of mobile phone, Africa has all the right opportunities for new blockchain innovation and adoption to explode. Kamari will address the chronic need for a functional, fair, and safe cross-border trading token, which users across the continent can trust with their mobile payments.
Kamari seeks to solve:
- Cross border payment issues: fraud, volatile exchange rates,
- Parity across fluctuating exchange rates: some citizens currently benefit more in one country than another, given inflationary pressure on fiat currencies
- Trust issues with some governments on the continent
- Lack of transparency with current online casinos and digital gambling entities
- Increasing identity theft targeting new digital consumers in Africa
- Security Issues around digital accounts — persistent issues with stolen funds
The Kamari Coin allows for users to participate in widespread cross-border lotteries, sports betting, and online casinos throughout Africa. Kamari is for consumers in Africa (and eventually the world) who want to access legitimate, secure, and decentralized digital gambling.
The coin can be used in a variety of ways. It can serve as a utility token for payment through physical POS terminals and retail partners, or payment through smartphone enabled POS apps. Most importantly, it will soon allow for participation in the Kamari pan-African lottery, a new transcontinental lottery with a larger liquidity pool.
Kamari also is in talks to integrate with an existing blockchain technology platform and ecosystem. Once up and running, KAM tokens will allow users in this ecosystem to participate in gaming and payment applications through our platform.
Our launch is of historic proportions — Kamari Coin is the first, single payment method used to secure equal participation in a mass-player game in Africa. Not only will this serve to unite African neighbors together — akin to Mega Millions or the Powerball for Americans and Canadians — but it also has the opportunity to create a trusted, transferable, and interoperable platform for trade for Africa.
The Kamari Coin will democratize access to earnings potential for hundreds of millions of Africans. This utility token gives access to a variety of different methods to earn money.
Ordinary Africans that want to participate in sports betting for their favorite Football team will now have access to an even larger betting pool than just with their immediate neighbors. They will also be able to access stable, secure, and trustworthy digital casinos, and play their games with peace of mind.
Kamari is here to upset the roulette table, and unite a continent through the creation of one mobile payments currency that will give them access to wealth creating opportunities. All while introducing the continent to a trustworthy, digital payment platform, and spreading the adoption of blockchain technologies.
Stay tuned for more updates!


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If you take the concept of the paperless office seriously, Fujitsu has a meeting room just for you.
Japanese mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo has released a smartphone that can be unlocked with a mere glance.
Fujitsu has developed stamp-sized wearable sensor tags that can detect whether users have changed their location or posture, fallen down or are experiencing high heat.
Drones don't normally need wheels, but they can come in handy on upside-down roads.
In a move that could help spread IoT (Internet of Things) devices, Fujitsu has developed a thin, flexible IoT beacon that can send out location and ID information to smartphones and other mobile devices.
If parts of your phone are sometimes too hot to handle, Fujitsu may have the answer: a thin heat pipe that can spread heat around mobile devices, reducing extremes of temperature.
Fujitsu has developed image-processing technology that can be used to track people in security camera footage, even when the images are heavily blurred to protect their privacy.
Fujitsu wants to make computer security more personalized with profiling software based on psychology.
Fujitsu is continuing its push into wearables for the workplace with a prototype Bluetooth ring that lets users "write" in the air so they can work hands-free.
Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a compact RFID tag that works on surfaces such as metal, which can otherwise impede radio waves.
LED lamps lighting merchandise may soon shine invisible data that your smartphone can pick up.
Fujitsu has developed an approach to cluster supercomputers that reduces the number of network switches by 40 percent without sacrificing performance.
Fujitsu has developed a circuit that could double data rates between CPUs in servers and supercomputers
Fujitsu has developed technology that makes synthesized speech sound a little more natural and less robotic by adopting the appropriate tone for different situations.
Fujitsu Laboratories has developed wearable technology in the form of a glove and a head-mounted display that could help speed up maintenance work and other applications where NFC tags are widely used.
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Thin-gauge thermoformer Flexpak Corp. of Phoenix is hitting the next stage of its metamorphosis with changes in management and an eye on becoming 100 percent employee-owned by 2015.
Ed Bond, who has been president, CEO and chairman since the company's founding in 1974, is gearing up for retirement. Bond has appointed Steve Murray as president and Jim Boley as vice president of sales development.
It's been an interesting evolution for a company that started as a contract packager.
That was our main business until the late 1970s, Bond said in a Feb. 2 telephone interview. We got into thermoforming in a small way because of the contract packaging business.
Now, thermoforming is the core of Flexpak's business. Two years ago, officials invested in a clean room for the medical market.
Our medical-market business is now more than 50 percent of our business, Murray said. Prior to fleshing out the medical market, the business was nearly 100 percent consumer. Roughly 5 percent of its business is in food trays.
We're much stronger in two segments as opposed to being too heavily concentrated in one, he said. We've seen nice growth over the last year.
Sales growth in 2010 was a welcome change from the rough ride of 2008 and 2009. Flexpak's sales were up 30 percent last year.
We hit the abyss like everyone else in 2008 and 2009 but gained that all back in 2010, Bond said. I'm pleased with where it's at. We're being very careful. We feel very good with business we've got.
In Bond's view, ensuring a company's longevity is about relationships with employees and culture. He has sold the company twice once in 1976, only to regain it three months later, and again in 1982, buying it back in 1985.
In both those situations they lost a lot of the business we had, he said. I just always felt like it was a very viable company and I didn't want to see its demise. We committed ourselves to make it last.
Now, he's committing himself to prepare employees for 100 percent ownership. The company first began implementing its employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) in 1988. As of 2010, employees owned just a little over 50 percent of the company.
By 2015, my goal is to get 100 percent employee ownership, he said. ESOP is a great way to maintain ownership longevity of the company.
Employee ownership has its benefits, Murray said.
Motivation, [the] pure fact of being an owner, your decisions and approach to the business are that of an owner. It gets you more engaged in the business, he said.
Flexpack now has 60 employees, up from 50 one year ago. At one time, the company employed more than 300 and had expanded contract packaging with plants in Illinois and Virginia.
Bond sold all of the packaging business in 2002 and concentrated on the thermoforming operations in Phoenix.
Starting this year, he has committed himself to the ESOP.
We're being very open-book with [workers] on our company and what we're trying to do, he said. We're trying to help employees think like owners. Seventy-five percent of employees have been with the company five years or more. We're trying to reward longevity. We look at the long term, not short term.
We're not like publicly traded companies that have to show results this quarter. Sadly, so many of our business images are the stories of the high-powered, high-paid, high-bonused executives that have to show quick-term results. Then they collect their bonus and they're off to another job. In my business, you can't do that. If your goal is to build something to last, you have to look at what it takes to make it last, he said.
I think that's the reason we've lasted long-term, he said. I'm proud of our ability to stay in business 36 years when there is such a high mortality rate upon companies like ours.
Flexpak's goal is to grow at a rate that allows it to maintain financial health while maintaining results, Murray said.
I am reminded of a customer of 10 years and their recommendation letter we received during our ISO registration process boasting about our ability to deliver over 30 million parts annually, without a single missed delivery or quality issue, he said. Foremost, we need to maintain that reputation and, given the current economic conditions, we think a good supporting growth rate is about 8-10 percent.
For Bond, it isn't about being the biggest. He has read and has had his management read Small Giants, a business book about being the best.
In 1974, he started the business with a $5,000 loan. To see it evolve into what it is today has been amazing.
The steps that it has grown in, it just amazes me, he said. To have a controlled environment and to have achieved ISO, it's been a real blessing to see it happen.


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Updated August 17, 2022 - 12:36 pm
At a desert crossroads, four stories up, it’s a trip through the pasture, and a plunge to the briny deep. For $20 million.
Ocean Prime, the first Las Vegas location from the luxury steak and seafood restaurant brand, is taking shape atop Project 63, at the corner of West Harmon Avenue and the Strip. It’s a particularly posh stretch of the souk, a center-cut portion also populated by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and Aria, The Shops at Crystals and the Waldorf Astoria.
The $20 million build-out encompasses a main dining room, two bars, three private dining rooms, double-height ceilings and more than 400 seats across 14,500 square feet. A curving wall of glass — Ocean Prime is fashioned in an oval — partitions the restaurant from a 2,500-square-foot terrace overlooking the Strip.
Ocean Prime currently has 17 locations, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York City. The $20 million cost of the Vegas restaurant exceeds the second-priciest Ocean Prime (NYC) by $7 million and the third priciest (L.A.) by $10 million.
But big bucks — exceptionally big bucks — are part and parcel of being in Vegas, Cameron Mitchell, founder and CEO of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, parent company of Ocean Prime, said in an exclusive interview with the Review-Journal.
“In Vegas, everything is over the top to a certain extent, and we wanted to make sure this restaurant matched that. It’s going to be our flagship restaurant, our most expensive, our biggest restaurant to date. It is the most glamorous restaurant we’ve ever built. At one of the busiest and best-known intersections in the United States.
“It is an iconic location in this iconic city for what we think is an iconic brand. We think it’s a perfect match.”
Lots of beef hereabouts
That match has been awhile in the making, Mitchell said. “We’ve wanted to be in Vegas for years and years.” Meetings in summer 2021 with the developers of Project 63 led to the deal that will see Ocean Prime open in spring 2023.
When it debuts, the restaurant will have plenty of competition, including the $10 million Toca Madera steakhouse that recently opened very nearly next door. The Strip (and Vegas generally) does not lack for spots brimming with steaks, seafood and loaded cocktails.
“I like competition,” Mitchell said. “It’s like the sun coming up every morning: It’s going to come. We can’t stop it, so we spend time focusing on what we do within our four walls. I think great competition around you begets a better atmosphere. I’d rather be around several successful restaurants; we like being in the mix.”
Another important aspect of the Ocean Prime approach is harnessing brand power without being blandly formulaic.
“We look at ourselves as a collection of independent restaurants,” Mitchell said. “We’re particular about where we go and how we design the restaurants. We want them to fit within each city. We don’t want 100 Ocean Primes around the country. That’s a nightmare for us to be a cookie cutter.”
Menu standards; Vegas pizzazz
As part of its exclusive discussion with the RJ, the restaurant shared several signature dishes from the menu:
— Berries & Bubbles cocktail featuring organic lemon and basil vodka, marinated blackberries, lemon, sparkling wine and furls of dry ice smoke.
— Ahi tartare with avocado, ginger ponzu and sesame seeds.
— An Ocean Roll, from the sushi menu, uniting tuna, salmon, hamachi, avocado and jabs of chili garlic oil.
— Chilean sea bass graced with truffle sauce.
— USDA Prime Grade steaks (filet, bone-in filet, New York strip, ribeye and so on) accessorized with béarnaise, black truffle butter, Maytag blue cheese, Oscar topping, garlic shrimp scampi and a lobster tail.
— 10-layer carrot cake rising from the plate.
“We’re also adding some bells and whistles here in Vegas,” Mitchell said, like caviar service, an enhanced sushi menu and a hot seafood tower (a twist on the usual chilled assemblage).
The terrace will be a prime perch for eats and drinks.
“You can be seen from everywhere,” Mitchell said. “You’ve got the view, but it’s close enough to the street that you’re getting the street vibe and energy and action. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is going right by us. It’s the catbird seats on our terrace to watch that.”
Mitchell got his start in the business washing dishes in a restaurant at 16. At 18, he knew he wanted to be the president of a restaurant company, he said. Mitchell attended the Culinary Institute of America, one of the world’s best culinary schools. He founded Cameron Mitchell Restaurants in 1993. The Ocean Prime brand started in 2006.
Today, the company, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, operates 40 restaurants (Ocean Prime and other concepts) across the country, and this year, Mitchell was named one of the country’s most influential restaurant CEOs by Nation’s Restaurant News, the leading trade publication.
Mitchell is proud of his company’s independence, the fact it’s still privately held.
“We’re not owned by a private equity firm,” he said. “We’re not owned by the stock market.”
The Vegas Ocean Prime will generate about 160 full-time positions, Mitchell said. Those new employees, like new employees across the country, will be served a chocolate milkshake at orientation.
The milkshake recalls the time that Mitchell, years ago, ordered a chocolate milkshake for his son at a restaurant. The item wasn’t on the menu, and several staffers told Mitchell the milkshake couldn’t be made, even though the restaurant had the ingredients and equipment. Eventually, he convinced the restaurant to honor the order.
Mitchell vowed that his restaurants would make that milkshake — and other customer requests. “If we can do it, we will,” he said. “It’s a major piece of our corporate culture. It defines our hospitality.”
Call it the milkshake method.


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Kia Sedona Minivan Will Be New for 2022, and Here's a First Look
From the car and driver
Kia has released a sketch of the next generation Sedona minivan that shows a preview of its style.
The current Sedona has been around since 2015 and it has to be redesigned to keep up with newer minivan competitors.
We expect the new Sedona 2022 to arrive in the U.S. sometime in 2021.
Kia is one of the few automakers that still sell a minivan in the U.S., and the Sedona is about to be redesigned. This sketch shows a preview of the new Kia Sedona 2022, which will be launched later this year before arriving in America next year.
We like what we've seen so far because the new Sedona has clear lines and nice details. We expect it to run on a new platform that may be shared with the Kia Telluride and will continue to use a naturally aspirated V-6 engine. Inside, all sorts of family-oriented features will be available, including possibly a refined version of the optional second-row lounge-style seats with footrests.
The new Sedona is geared to the current state of the minivan, as the Toyota Sienna has just received a bold redesign for 2021 and the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey have recently been updated. The Kia sells in fewer numbers than these more established rivals, but this new model may be looking for a larger piece of the shrinking minivan cake.
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text:
Animation Factory Starts Operations in Cape Town, South Africa Offering Quality Animations at Affordable Prices
Cape Town, South Africa – (News4us.com) May 03, 2013
Animation Factory today declared the opening of its doors in the city of Cape Town.
The company is providing animated video creating services at affordable rates for businesses, brands, organizations and educational facilities among others.
The company supplies instructional videos, explainer videos, safety videos, television commercial videos, informational videos and corporate videos among others.
Animation Factory, a Modern company providing superior animation video production services at affordable prices, today declared the opening of its doors in the city of Cape Town.
The company offers animated video services including 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics, stop motion, mixed media and app and website demo among others.
According to the sources, the expertise of the company lies in production of animated explainer videos, instructional videos, safety videos, informational videos, television commercial videos and corporate videos to name a few.
Speaking on the occasion a spokesperson of the company stated, “We are highly excited to announce the launching of our company – Animation Factory and proposes to present superior animated videos at inexpensive costs to businesses, brands, organizations and educational facilities among others.
We assist in presenting data of the information age in an amusing, inventive and memorable way.”
He further added, “Napoleon Bonaparte once said and I quote, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ Now just imagine the power of moving pictures.”
If experts of the subject are to be believed, featuring an animated video for a company’s products and services provides an edge over the competition.
The videos can competently pass on a company’s value proposition to their customers 24 hours a day, seven days of the week.
Videos are also recognised to pull in more extensive audience base merely because the competition is lower in the playing field and over 80 percent of the people prefer watching a two minute video than reading a long piece of text.
About Animation Factory
Animation Factory is a Cape Town, South Africa based company that started operations in the year 2013.
The company was founded by Riaan Theron and offers animated video production services.
Riaan has more than 10 years of experience when it comes to animation, production and lecturing.
Contact Person: Riaan Theron.
Contact Number: +27(0)82 350 2097 +27(0)21 761 2590
Email id: firstname.lastname@example.org
Short URL: http://www.news4us.com/?p=17474