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Category Archives: Action
Sat, Dec 07, 2013 | 16:55 GMT
An online ad shows a January 28 release date for Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. The game is set for release on PS4 and Xbox One according to the VGX ad, which is close to what Amazon Italy posted back in November – January 24 which is likely the EU release date. The pack includes all DLC released for the Crystal Dynamics adventure, and comes with an art book and premium packaging. Square Enix said news on the collection would be released in early December, so expect news on this tonight during the VGX Awards. Thanks, AGB.
Sat, Dec 07, 2013 | 15:44 GMT
Like many of us suspected, the “Fallout 4 teaser site” was a big fat fake. It was updated last night with a video of the Tunnel Snakes from Fallout 3, dancing around in that meme video going on about how they rule and such. There was also a “hidden page” showing a door that when opened says “fuck you” which was pulled from Reddit. Nice. Supposedly it was created by a member of the Fallout community who runs a Fallout Facebook page who got bored, and decided to create the fake site,according to IncGamers. That’s all you really need to know. That and Bethesda finally spoke up last night on Twitter saying: “If you don’t hear it through an official channel like this, assume all rumors and speculation are false.” Thanks, Gumpy.
Fri, Dec 06, 2013 | 17:56 GMT
A Ubisoft survey has cropped up, asking fans about future Assassin’s Creed games and whether they would be interested in pirate game set outside the franchise.
Fri, Dec 06, 2013 | 04:38 GMT
War of the Vikings, Fatshark’s in-beta followup to War of the Roses, is open to all comers this weekend, and even has some new content to show off.
Fri, Dec 06, 2013 | 00:33 GMT
Deep Down’s armour and equipment will vary depending on what era of dungeon the player explores.
Thu, Dec 05, 2013 | 16:36 GMT
Dark, Realmforge’s blood-spattered, vampiric stealth action title, has some new DLC available. Titled ‘Cult of the Dead’ is now available for PC and Xbox 360. You can check out the launch trailer for the content below, which provides a look at the new environments and enemies the protagonist, Eric Bane, will encounter. Players will be tasked with finding the Book of the Dead, play through five new maps in challenge mode, face the Sniper, and try to best the new boss: the Cultist. It will run you $5.99/£3.99/€4.99.
Thu, Dec 05, 2013 | 15:32 GMT
APB: Retribution is the tactical, top-down shooter from Reloaded Productions and Blazing Griffin. Think Hotline Miami meets GTA and you’re along the right lines. We’ve just received the game’s first trailer, and you can check it out here.
Thu, Dec 05, 2013 | 14:51 GMT
GameStick developer PlayJam has announced a new partnership with Ubisoft to bring Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame “to the storefront this year”. GameStick is available today in-store and on pre-order from GameStop, GAME and Amazon for £79.99/$79.99/€99.99. PoP: The Shadow and the Flame was released on Android and iOS back in the summer.
Thu, Dec 05, 2013 | 11:35 GMT
Surgeon Simulator 2013 developer Bossa Studios has announced a new project called Time to Live, a deathmatch bloodsport gameshow. You can play the free demo right now.
Wed, Dec 04, 2013 | 21:14 GMT
Mad Max developer Avalanche Studios wants players to feel the same “sense of mystery” when roaming about the game world, as movie goers felt when watching the films.
Wed, Dec 04, 2013 | 20:00 GMT
Yakuza Restoration – known in Japan as Yakuza Ishin – will feature gamplay elements other than just beating up enemies. According to a new video released, featuring producer Masayoshi Yokoyama and designer Shinnosuke Hirasawa, the game will also contains some dungeon crawling. Yakuza aficionados needn’t worry though: combat will remain similar to previous games in ther series, only with a feudal Japan twist. In the video, you will see two-handed fighting using a katana, and dual-wield sword and pistol moves. The game launches in Japan on February 22 for PS4, PS3 and PS Vita. Thanks, Siliconera.
Wed, Dec 04, 2013 | 22:58 GMT
Saints Row 4′s latest DLC pack includes the three stars of web show Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin’?
Tue, Dec 03, 2013 | 21:52 GMT
Splinter Cell: Blacklist developer Ubiusoft Toronto wanted the game to be easy to pick up and play, but to teach players not to run-and-gun via difficulty spikes.
Tue, Dec 03, 2013 | 16:44 GMT
Just Cause 2′s multiplayer mod will arrive on Steam December 16, according to it’s page on Steam. The final beta test for the mod is scheduled to end two days earlier. “JC2-MP is a project to bring multiplayer to Just Cause 2 in all of its magnificent glory,” reads the page blurb. “Imagine the chaos of normal Just Cause 2, then extending it out to dozens, hundreds, and even thousands of players.” The final beta phase ends on December 14. Thanks, Eurogamer.
Tue, Dec 03, 2013 | 11:12 GMT
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain has “enormous volume,” and as such, will take some time to complete. Creator Hideo Kojima has also explained why the game will take so long, and why he chose to split the title into both Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain segments.
Tue, Dec 03, 2013 | 09:06 GMT
Batman: Arkham Origins – Initiation is tomorrow, courtesy of Warner Montreal. They’ve just sent us a new trailer to mark the occasion.
Fri, Nov 29, 2013 | 00:39 GMT
Sony Pictures has registered thelastofusmovie.net, which naturally has sparked speculation that a film adaptation of the already strongly cinematic PlayStation 3 exclusive is on the way. Try not to get too excited; it may just be a defensive purchase. There have been no whispers suggesting such a thing is on the way, but these things can move fast when they get started; the Need for Speed film seems to have rocketed into existence.
Thu, Nov 28, 2013 | 01:27 GMT
Quantum Break has been confirmed as one of the exclusive debuts airing during this year’s Spike VGX awards night.
Thu, Nov 28, 2013 | 12:24 GMT
Star War 1313 seems to have gone the way of the dodo, but EA Canada appears to be working on an open-world, next-gen Star Wars game.
Thu, Nov 28, 2013 | 09:05 GMT
Batman: Arkham Origins gets its first major post-launch DLC drop next month, with “a little bit of narrative”.


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Why a National Cannabis Company Took Interest in Minnesota
From an outsider’s perspective, Minnesota’s medical cannabis market probably doesn’t seem like the most promising business opportunity. Today, the state’s medical cannabis program serves just shy of 30,000 patients, a small fraction of the 5.7 million people living here.
Compare that to a place like Oklahoma, which legalized medical marijuana just three years ago and already has hundreds of thousands of residents enrolled in its program. Though Minnesota’s medical cannabis program has been in place since 2015, it’s much more restrictive than programs in other states, even historically red states like Oklahoma and North Dakota.
Why, then, would a national cannabis operator even want to do business in Minnesota? At the tail end of 2021, Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries Inc. announced that it acquired Cottage Grove-based LeafLine Industries, one of just two licensed cannabis operators in Minnesota. In a news release, Green Thumb CEO Ben Kovler said he hoped to “broaden access to cannabis products for Minnesota patients.”
Green Thumb, which operates 73 retail locations in 15 states, also hopes to grow the number of patients enrolled in Minnesota’s program.
Observers see the acquisition as part of a broader trend in the industry. As the country’s patchwork cannabis industry continues to evolve, cannabis companies have been transforming into multi-state operators in the hopes of capitalizing on both medical and recreational markets. As an example, consider the remaining Minnesota-based cannabis cultivator: Goodness Growth Holdings, formerly Vireo Health. Though it’s based in Minneapolis and operates several medical dispensaries in Minnesota, Goodness Growth has since opened recreational stores in Maryland and New Mexico.
“This [acquisition] follows a national pattern,” said Jason Tarasek, a cannabis attorney with Minnesota Cannabis Law. “Green Thumb is a multi-state operator who has economies of scale and historical knowledge of how this game works in other places. … The businesses succeeding in this industry have a multi-state presence.”
To date, 38 states have legalized medical cannabis, and 19 have authorized adult use recreational cannabis.
Though Minnesota’s program is small, Green Thumb is evidently betting that it will one day grow. As the state loosens restrictions, the company may soon find itself in a prime position to capitalize on new customers. Minnesota has already added to the list of qualifying conditions over the years, and, in 2021, the state allowed dispensaries to sell smokable forms of the plant – a move that both operators said would drive down costs and bring more patients into the program. At the time, Goodness Growth CEO Dr. Kyle Kingsley said that both companies were operating at a loss, largely due to the limited number of patients enrolled in Minnesota’s program.
“One of the benefits of being in Minnesota, despite the smallness of the market size, is that there isn’t a lot of competition,” said Chris Walsh, CEO at national cannabis industry publication MJ Biz. “If you’re in that market and things do loosen up, you’re going to be sitting pretty. Any company interested in a market like Minnesota is likely looking at the long-term play.”
Walsh noted that there’s a lot of attention on big markets on the East Coast, like New York and New Jersey, which both recently legalized recreational cannabis. “But there are also companies looking for plays in markets that seem off the radar, like Minnesota,” he said.
To be sure, there’s money to be made in the medical market alone, depending on a state’s restrictions. Thanks to lax regulations, Oklahoma, for instance, is now home to the largest number of cannabis farmers in the nation, despite its small population. “In terms of sales, Oklahoma is one of the largest medical cannabis states in the country,” Walsh said. “It’s kind of mind-boggling.”
Where Oklahoma’s program is perhaps the loosest in the nation, Minnesota’s is on the other end of the spectrum. Still, Walsh and other observers see recreational as a foregone conclusion, eventually. “Any state that has legalized medical is poised to legalize recreational one day,” Walsh said. “Lawmakers can change their mind and embrace cannabis very quickly.”
Green Thumb leaders are apparently hopeful that day comes soon. “Once Minnesota legalizes adult-use marijuana, these companies can be grandfathered in as vertically integrated providers,” said Tarasek, referring to companies that grow marijuana, process it, and sell it in a retail setting. “That’s how you make the money in this space: Dominating in all three areas.”

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Food Bank Special
More families and young people in the West Midlands are turning to food handouts to feed themselves and their children.
All this week we're looking into the growing number of food banks, which are being created in the West Midlands.
There are currently 10 set up with the support of the Trussell Trust across the Black Country in Warwickshire, Coventry and Tamworth. Four more are in the process of being created in Hinckley, Kidderminster, Rugeley and Worcester.
Food banks rely on people donating products and money which is then spent on food. The food parcels are handed out to people who are in crisis to help feed them and there families for up to three days to help get them through a difficult time.
One man receiving a parcel told us that he would starve if it wasn't for the emergency help he was getting through the food bank.
Patricia Hoskins has set up the food bank in Ladywood in Birmingham and us that food stores are running critically low.
Food parcels are made up of non-perishable items, which can be easily stored, and a typical shopping list can include:
Milk (UHT or powdered) Sugar (500g)Fruit juice (carton) SoupPasta saucesSponge pudding (tinned) Tomatoes (tinned) CerealsRice pudding (tinned) Tea Bags/instant coffee Instant mash potato Rice/pastaTinned meat/fish Tinned fruitJamBiscuits or snack bars.


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New ‘Pandemic Ranking’ from $20T investor network warns that, with over 70% of animal agriculture firms at ‘high risk’ of creating future pandemics, COVID-19 could be the “straw that breaks the meat industry’s back.”
Global meat giants such as Brazil’s JBS and India’s Venky’s, both suppliers to household names such as McDonald’s, are among 44 firms highlighted by investors for their inability to prevent the emergence of new zoonotic diseases. The report highlights seafood as a lower-risk alternative; and points to a boom in sales that sees plant-based meat alternatives well positioned to win market share, as animal agriculture struggles to implement costly biosecurity and other pandemic-prevention measures going forward.
The findings are from new research produced by FAIRR — a global investor network supported by institutional investors managing assets of over $20 trillion, working to address ESG issues in protein supply chains.
In March, just as the WHO declared the coronavirus a pandemic, FAIRR released the FAIRR Climate Risk Tool™ — a first-of-its-kind tool to model the financial impacts of climate change on five leading meat firms and the animal protein sector at large. The tool forecast that the imminent physical impacts of climate change and the rapid and continuing growth of alternative proteins will put billions of dollars at risk for the sector.
Since then, we have been weathering the enormous economic and human health shocks caused by COVID-19 — which, along with the travel industry and the sharing economy, have hit the meat industry particularly hard: Share prices of four of the US’ largest meat processors (JBS, Smithfield, Tyson and Sanderson Farms) have plummeted 25 percent (versus the market at 9 percent); and widespread meat plant closures led to Tyson Chairman John Tyson warning last month in a Washington Post ad that the “food chain is breaking.”
AI Cultivators: Transforming Food and Agriculture
Join us as HowGood, Journey Foods and Mineral — AI-powered solution providers tailored for the food and ag industry — share their perspectives on the transformative potential of AI in addressing the sector's most pressing challenges, at SB'23 San Diego.
He’s not wrong: FAIRR’s An Industry Infected report finds that 73 percent of the world’s largest, listed animal protein producers (collectively worth over $220 billion) score as “high risk” in its Pandemic Ranking. Due to their very nature (squeezing as many animals into as little space as possible), CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) or factory farms create optimal conditions for cross contamination among animals — and ultimately, for the workers who slaughter and process them. Combine that with the widespread routine antibiotic use in the industry, which accounts for over 70 percent of antibiotic use worldwide: Antibiotic resistance has already posed additional challenges in treating COVID-19 patients, and sector leadership is needed to prevent antibiotic-resistant superbugs causing the next pandemic.
These producers’ poor performance across a set of seven criteria that are vital to preventing future zoonotic pandemics — including worker safety, food safety, deforestation and biodiversity management, animal welfare and antibiotic stewardship — demonstrates that intensive animal production is at serious risk of creating and spreading a future pandemic.
While none of the companies ranked qualified as “best practice” or “low risk,” four of the five highest-ranked companies are from the aquaculture industry, due to their stronger performance across all risk factors considered — particularly, low risk in terms of antibiotic use, deforestation and biodiversity loss. Also, unsurprisingly, the research points out that sales of plant-based alternatives have continued to skyrocket across markets including the US and China during the pandemic; and some have been able to compete directly on price for the first time.
FAIRR says that the Pandemic Ranking can inform investor conversations with portfolio companies during and post COVID-19. The scores point to a clear lack of best practice across ESG risk factors, many of which will be critical to mitigating volatility and building resilience against possible future external shocks, such as the next pandemic. Financial losses to the US cattle industry have been predicted at more than $13 billion; and Jeff Currie, head of commodities at Goldman Sachs, has listed livestock alongside oil as one of the two most precarious commodities for investors next year.
Read more about FAIRR’s Pandemic Ranking here.


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Trials HD fans have been asking one question of developer RedLynx for the past few months; where the bloody hell is Trials Evolution?
It's coming, says the developer, who's been silent on the XBLA sequel that was originally pinned for a 2011 release.
"Quick update on the Trials Evolution release date - obviously we did not make 2011, we are sorry about that," it said, finally acknowledging the delay.
"We have been very busy with the game, but 2012 is the year. We can't say when yet, but we are super busy, so that's a clue," it went on to hint.
"We hope to have a big announcement with a more solid release date within the the near future. Thanks for your patience," said the dev on its Facebook page.
Trials Evolution is the sequel to XBLA game Trials HD, revealed back in June last year for a 2011 release.
RedLynx's Trials HD is one of the best games available on Xbox Live Arcade, and it formed the basis for the more recent MotoHeroz game on WiiWare.


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A GOLD shopping standard has been achieved by Gretna Gateway Retail Outlet Village for the 11th year in a row.
The coveted Five-Star Tourist Shop status has been retained following its latest inspection by national tourism body, VisitScotland.
And it comes hot on the heels of the Outlet Village’s most successful trading month since it opened in 1999 – bucking the national trend.
Total sales for December 2011 were up 14 per cent on the previous year and were Gretna Gateway’s highest-ever monthly figures. December visitor numbers were up 15.5 per cent and monthly like-for-like sales up 12 per cent.
Despite the difficult economic climate, full year trading figures were also impressive with total sales for the year six per cent ahead of 2010 and overall visitor numbers up four per cent.
In adition, the number of coach visitors also rose 22 per cent on the previous year, highlighting Gretna Gateway’s appeal to the tourist market.
Peter Gardner, general manager at Gretna Gateway, said: “We are delighted to have retained our Five-Star Tourist Shop rating for the 11th consecutive year. Over 1.9 million shoppers visited Gretna Gateway last year, demonstrating the appeal of our combination of outstanding year-round quality, value and customer service delivered in a pleasant, welcoming environment.
“This award is the result of a lot of hard work, commitment and loyalty from everyone at Gretna Gateway so we’re extremely pleased to be ranked once again amongst the country’s top leisure shopping destinations.”


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Driving a car is a convenient way to get around. Paying for parking and parking tickets? Not so convenient.
What if there were a way for urban car owners to avoid both by renting out their cars at the airport, and possibly even make some extra money on the side? Two companies think they have come up with marketable solutions.
RelayRides and FlightCar are both introducing new services at San Francisco airport that will allow car owners to rent their cars to travellers in exchange for free parking and in some cases, extra income.
FlightCar already has an airport service which allows car owners to park for free in Millbrae (a town next to the airport). In exchange, the company rents out the cars to travellers. Owners of newer cars can earn up to $20 a day.
Over the weekend, the company introduced FlightCar Monthly, a new service that offers guaranteed fixed payment to car owners each month. Owners must be willing to commit to a month-to-month plan, and have access to their own cars for only four days each month. In exchange, they receive a fixed monthly payment of between $150 and $400, depending on the age and model of their vehicle.
The guaranteed monthly payment is a first in the nascent peer-to-peer carsharing industry. Regardless of whether the vehicle is rented for two hours or 27 days, owners receive the pre-determined monthly payment. The service is ideal for people looking for a reliable source of income (peer-to-peer income is typically unreliable), or people who really don’t use their cars much. It doesn’t work well for people who frequently need their cars on short notice, or who don’t want to travel to the airport each time they need their car.
RelayRides is the newcomer to the airport rental market. The 3-year-old company is known for peer-to-peer car sharing in cities, but has recently been enticed by the potential of the larger, more lucrative airport rental industry. This month, the company is launching a new service called Free Airport Parking. As with FlightCar, RelayRides will operate its service from a parking lot in Millbrae. The main differences are that the lot is shared with the Aloft Hotel and RelayRides will shuttle passengers to and from the airport using Aloft’s shuttle (FlightCar uses limo service to transport passengers back and forth).
Free Airport Parking builds on RelayRides’ existing airport service option, introduced in June, which allows car owners to indicate their presence at SFO. Using this system, owners had to drive to the airport to pick up travellers. With Free Airport Parking, RelayRides will have a pool of cars available to rent near the airport. However, owners will not be paid for renting out their cars, they’ll only receive free parking.
Both FlightCar and RelayRides are leveraging two inconveniences for car owners: the limited number of parking spaces in San Francisco, and the high cost of parking at SFO. Both companies offer up to $1 million in insurance and a free car wash before the car is returned to the owner. The rentals should also be substantially cheaper than traditional rental car companies.
From one perspective, everybody seems to win. Fewer cars downtown theoretically means easier parking. Car owners, instead of paying for transportation to the airport and for airport parking, can use their own vehicles to get there, and park for free — or even make money with FlightCar.
But the airport is certainly not winning, at least not with its existing fee structure.
FlightCar is currently tangled in a lawsuit with the city of San Francisco which operates SFO. The lawsuit is based on the city’s contention that the company is a rental car company, yet is isn’t paying the 10% airport service fee as Hertz, Avis and other traditional rental companies do. FlightCar pays only $3.65 each time it picks up or drops off a passenger with its black limo service. RelayRides, which will use hotel shuttles, will pay nothing directly to the airport.
It’s easy to see airport fees as something worth disrupting, much as the archaic taxi medallion system is in the taxi industry. But airport fees are actually a way to charge people who use the airport, rather than taxing the population at large. This makes sense given that not everyone uses the airport.
SFO collects over $90 million a year in fees from traditional car rental companies — money that goes to fund airport operations and improvements. As convenient and innovative as these new carsharing services might be (and I for one, would definitely be interested in trying out either or both) if they become more widespread, SFO will have to find a way to make up the lost revenue.


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Court Ruling prohibits Actavis from withdrawing Cheaper Alzheimer’s Drug
Ruling of a federal appeals court has barred Actavis from removing its most popular drug for Alzheimer's disease drug from the market. The company's move was intended to bolster its coffer by forcing patients to switch to a more expensive extended-release version.
New York's attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman, sued the company for attempting to kill competition from generic drug makers. The ruling by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit brought victory for Schneiderman.
An order in December by Judge Robert W. Sweet of Federal District Court Q was upheld by a three-judge panel to prohibit Actavis from withdrawing the drug from the market.
The lawsuit against Actavis came from Schneiderman last year, after learning that the company is determined to discontinue Namenda IR to clear the way for Namenda XR. The same active ingredient, memantine, is present in both the drugs; the only difference is that patients need to take Namenda XR once instead of twice.
Actavis fears loss of $200 million in sales if ruled to withdraw Namenda IR. However, the court said, "By removing Namenda IR from the market prior to generic IR entry, defendants sought to deprive consumers of that choice".
Laws in about 30 US states require pharmacists to substitute a generic drug for a brand-name drug whenever an exact equivalent is available.
Michael Carrier, a Rutgers University law professor, said the court's ruling is a real aggressive move to force the company to keep Namenda IR in the market.
- Hyundai aims to add 20 new electric models, inflating list of its EVs to 23 by 2025
- Lucid Air Dream to challenge dominance of Tesla Model S Long Range
- Washington’s Snoqualmie Casino wins COVID-19 insurance claim lawsuit
- Tesla’s stock can reach $3,000 by 2025 if it executes really well: Elon Musk
- Plug-Ins account for 18.5% of Volvo’s total U.S. sales in August 2021
New Zealand News
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- Porsche’s recently unveiled Mission R Concept previews electric race cars of future
- Chinese manufacturer GAC’s Aion V e-SUV can charge 0-80% in just 8 minutes
- Oshidori International exits Japanese casino race, citing serious ethical irregularities
- CATL and LG Energy account for nearly 54% of global xEV battery market: SNE Research
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ON THE BOARD: Matthew Wyles becomes new CEO of Hampshire Trust Bank
Matthew Wyles has taken over as boss of Hampshire Trust Bank.
Wyles, 59, was on Nationwide's board from 2007 until 2013 before leaving to work at mortgage firm Castle Trust.
He was chairman of the Council of Mortgage Lenders for two years.
He is known for his outspoken views, once slamming the City watchdog for what he called its 'Nanny knows best' approach.
He started yesterday at Hampshire, which focuses on commercial mortgages and finance for developers.
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Regionally Speaking: Speaking: PNC Survey Shows Business Owner Optimism Continues to Soar Amid Improving Economic Conditions
PNC's latest semi-annual survey of small and mid-sized businesses, which concluded Feb. 1, 2024 shows that business owner optimism about economic conditions over the next six months has reached a 22-year high amid lessening fears of a recession.
Highlights from the survey show that 55% of small and mid-sized business owners surveyed are optimistic about the national economy. 79% are highly optimistic about the prospects of their own business. Inflation pressures are easing with fewer than half expecting to raise prices in the next six months. Regionally Speaking host Dee Dotson speaks to Ershang Liang, an economist with the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
For more information visit https://www.pnc.com/en/about-pnc/media/economic-reports.html?lnksrc=relres


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The company on April 19 also will release Video SmartStart, which will provide the tools customers need to run CloudAXIS; the tools include the RealPresence platform, and implementation and adoption services. Video SmartStart 100 works for up to 100 users, while Video SmartStart handles up to 500. SmartStart is available as a capex purchase or on an opex-based three-year lease.
Enterprises have been able to buy CloudAXIS since March 31, Polycom noted, and only through channel partners.
CloudAXIS lets Polycom users, from an Internet browser, extend enterprise-quality conferencing to people using third-party video services including Skype, Facebook and Google Talk on laptops, smartphones and tablets. At the same time, the RealPresence platform comes with other new features including HD and SmartPairing, where Polycom’s RealPresence app will connect a mobile device to the Polycom conference room phone.
The development reflects the overall trend of vendors opening their technologies to work with consumer and rival video services.
“We are delivering on our vision and promise to make enterprise-grade video collaboration ubiquitous and available to anyone, which we believe will help drive a network effect of video and transform how people and industries collaborate and work,” said Andy Miller, president and CEO of Polycom.
CloudAXIS soon will work with the Macintosh operating system, Polycom said.
.@informatechhq adds IHS Markit's TMT assets to its growing portfolio of products and capabilities. goo.gl/fb/whGbsh
May 24 2019 @ 15:22:08 UTC


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An ominous cloud of confusion surrounds this brand new teaser trailer from the developers of The Witcher series, could it be teasing The Witcher 3? Is The Witcher 3 the same game as Cyberpunk 2077?
One thing is for sure, this game allegedly made up to be an action sci-fi RPG set in the distant future where killer robots are the norm is going to be awesome. They’ve also stated that it is going to be open world, even more awesome! Will it have massive online multiplayer, maybe maybe not.
The Psycho Squad specializes in combating “psychos” — individuals who overuse implants and substances that boost or otherwise alter the human body.
There comes a point when they overdose on these innovations, and their bodies start to rebel against their biological body parts as well as all things organic around them. Simply put, they start killing people, who they now derisively call “meatbags.”
When a psycho goes on the rampage, strange things can happen. There’s carnage, and the psycho might be taken down by regular police, but they’re not always able to get the job done.
When things spin out of control, they call in MAX-TAC (Maximum Force Tactical Division), popularly called the Psycho Squad.
Check back soon for more news about Cyberpunk 2077 as it is revealed.
More info: http://cyberpunk.net/


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It seems like there’s a data breach every few weeks. These breaches can happen with governmental agencies, shopping centers, banks, and even social media platforms. Hackers and criminals will try anything to get your personal data.
In 2017, when Equifax was breached, around 145.5 million Americans were affected. More than half of the population of adults in the United States found that their sensitive personal data was compromised in this breach.
These data breaches have caused people to become more protective of their data. It may seem like companies can’t be trusted with your personal information anymore. That’s why it’s up to you to take certain precautions with your information.
What to Look Out for in 2019
Experian has made five data breach predictions for 2019. It’s good to know about these so that you can protect your personal information as best as you can.
Hackers are trying to close in on biometric hacking and expose the weaknesses of touch ID sensors, facial recognition, and passcodes. Biometric data is considered one of the most secure methods of authentication. However, it can be stolen or altered. Sensors can be manipulated or broken down with too much use.
Credit card skimming uses hidden devices that are designed to steal credit card information and passcodes when consumers swipe their cards. Previously, hackers targeted individual ATMs or gas pumps, but now they’re going after entire banking networks. They are trying to load malware into banks’ computer systems in an attempt to get consumers’ information.
Wireless Carrier Attacks
iPhones and Androids will be under attack in 2019. Hackers are trying to get personal information off millions of cellular devices. They will possibly disable all wireless communications in the United States. An attack like this will be similar to an attack on a critical infrastructure and could halt businesses, government, and more due to the lack of a wireless network.
According to Experian, cloud breach is a matter of when it will happen, not if. Lots of people use a storage cloud to save files and personal information. A cloud breach would mean that billions of pieces of data would be compromised affecting some of the world’s largest companies.
With online gaming communities growing, the threat of hackers posing as gamers to gain access to other players’ computers and personal data is a real issue. It’s easy for a hacker to pretend to be another online gamer and create a profile that seems legitimate. However, by doing this, cybercriminals are taking advantage of other people and stealing their credit card information. More people will fall victim to online identity theft for this reason.
Protecting Your Digital Identity
How can you go about protecting yourself in 2019 from identity theft with these new predictions?
- Don’t share personal information with strangers over the phone, via text messages, or email. Don’t send sensitive information like credit card numbers, passwords, and Social Security numbers.
- Sign up for credit monitoring alerts so that you can be notified of your credit activity. This will help you know if someone is using your personal information to open new accounts.
- Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi and when connected to an unsecured network- you should never access or transmit personal information.
- Be aware of phishing emails cybercriminals send in an attempt to gain access to personal data.
If you’ve been a victim of financial scams or identity theft and your credit has been damaged, give Lexington Law Firm a call. For over a decade, we’ve helped clients remove negative information that is unfair, inaccurate, and unverifiable. Call our credit specialists for a free personalized credit consultation today.


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MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Regional and global industry leaders throughout the Caribbean are in Jamaica for the 3rd Annual Tourism Outlook Seminar to discuss a range of key issues relating to travel, tourism and marketing opportunities.
The theme of this year’s seminar is Challenges, Changes & Opportunities in Tourism – Rising Above the Current Global Economic Landscape.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett held the attention of seminar delegates at a reception ahead of the start of the third annual Tourism Outlook Seminar, at the Rose Hall Resort on February 1.
From left to right: Alec Sanguinetti, Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA); Jamaica’s Tourism Director John Lynch; Minister Edmund Bartlett; Flavia Sanguinetti, wife of Alec Sanguinetti and Carlos Vogeler, Regional Representative for the Americas, UNWTO.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett (second left) has the rapt attention of Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Hugh Riley (left) at a reception at the Rose Hall Resort on February 1 ahead of the start of the two-day Tourism Outlook Seminar, being held at the Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall. Listening attentively to the Tourism Minister are Carlos Vogeler (second right), Regional Representative for the Americas, UNWTO and Tourism Consultant, Tony Hall.
Photo Credit: Noel Thompson


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Humans are by nature attracted to shocking or violent news. At least, this is what numerous studies on the neurology of behaviour claim. Certainly, any basic review of media statistics seems to bear this out. The more violent or outrageous the headlines, the more sales a newspaper apparently makes. And various politicians are using this tactic (as politicians have through the ages), knowing it brings extensive free news coverage.
Similarly, some retail companies recognize the tendency and manipulate this attraction to the offensive with shock ads that cause instant outrage on social media but create profits. With Halloween looming, shocking outfits on shelves are already creating the expected reaction and profits.
So, why do we have such a fatal attraction to the scary, bizarre and horrific?Continue Reading


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If you’re not in the loop regarding South Africa’s tech startup scene, then you’re missing out—ecosystems in Jo’burg and Cape Town have in recent years produced some of the world’s most innovative tech startups. Much of this has to do with an increase in capital flowing into the continent at large: in 2015, Africa received just shy of $276.5 million in startup funding; last year, that number rose to $366.8 million.
South Africans in particular have a knack for building innovative startup offerings. And with the local job market exploding with tech talent, the region will no doubt continue lead in tech innovation for the foreseeable future. The following are 11 of the best tech startup from South Africa not to be missed in 2017.
Pineapple has developed a fully-functioning, peer-to-peer insurance platform for automotive and household coverage. The company’s decentralized insurance model has been covered by the likes of CNBC Africa, Moneyweb, and Ventureburn, to name a few.
Domestly offers users the services of a professionally-trained cleaner, complete with the freedom of choosing cleaning slots and online scheduling—all from a streamlined app. The company has receive numerous citations, including MTN Best Consumer App, Apps Africa Most Disruptive Innovation, and Cape Talk Business of the Year Finalist, among others.
Custos Media Technologies is attacking the global problem of online piracy head-on with its blockchain-based solution. The company’s software and watermarking technology provides information such as when content was leaked and by whom.
Delvv.io has developed a crowdsourcing platform that allows companies and agents to gather feedback about their products. The company was recently announced the winner of IIeX2017 EU.
Optimal, healthy living has never been a more attainable goal than now, especially with offerings from companies like LifeQ. The startup provides tailored health and risk management solutions for people from all walks of life.
For many South Africans, unemployment is an unfortunate daily reality; M4JAM strives to bring a change in unemployment rates with its micro-jobbing platform—the solution connects brands to its on-demand workforce via mobile device.
Flexy is a platform that makes finding and screening freelancers and independent professionals a trivial affair. Customers purchase services from a curated network of independent contractors, freelancers, public speakers, design thinkers, and consultants with a myriad of skill sets.
Integrating eco-friendly living with revenue generation is a winning combination and The Sun Exchange embodies this ideal. The startup aims to help anyone go solar while allowing investors make money from installations.
Zoona launched to help bank the unbankable and assist those with no access to banking facilities or financial establishments. After raising millions in funding this company has big plan that should not be missed in 2017.
Kalido is a trust-driven global services app that features a proprietary matching engine for connecting users to exchange services, colleagues and classmates, nearby friends, and more. The offering is available for both iOS and Android devices.
OfferZen’s tech jobs platform allows candidates to reach over 550 companies at once and features personalized Talent Advisors that assist throughout the entire job search and hiring process. The service is currently available in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Winelands.
South Africa is increasingly recognized as the home of various global tech startup brands—and with such a rich diversity of people it comes as no surprise. Be sure to keep these 11 tech startups on your radar in 2017 and beyond.


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“Asia is where it’s all going on,” says Vivienne Rudd, Mintel’s director of global innovation and insight, beauty and personal care. And while innovation in Japan has always been a source of inspiration, in recent years Korea has become something of a beauty powerhouse.
“The West is looking east for inspiration at a time when the most financial growth in the industry is also coming from there. Korea is more accessible than China and has a well-developed beauty industry. Japan has been in recession for ages so it’s not such a profitable pool,” explains Kathy Phillips, international beauty director for Condé Nast Asia.
Skin clarity has long been an Eastern preoccupation and as a result skin brightening ingredients, such as kojic acid, mulberry and liquorice extracts popular there have migrated to the UK. In the future other ingredients will join them. Look out for big brands investing in peony extract, already present in products made by Fresh, Dior and Origins, and bearberry extract, currently in various Paula’s Choice and Strivectin products.
Beyond whitening and brightening, fermented ingredients have become something of a skincare buzzword.
Carbonic acid or fizzy skincare products could well be the next big thing, with bubbles promising to boost circulation and help lift dirt from pores
“This is a big trend in Asia and Korean brand Su:m 37 is very active in this area,” says Ms Rudd. “Different actives, such as yeast, garlic and ginseng, may be fermented for up to a year before being incorporated into products where they are credited with anti-ageing or skin-smoothing properties.”
But imported ingredients aren’t always about skincare actives; expect to see textural innovation too. Essences have already started to make in-roads with Shiseido, SK-II, Tom Ford and Estée Lauder all now offering one. They’re designed to clear dead cells and refine wrinkles, and are described by Ms Phillips as “not just a toner, not quite a serum and not only a moisturizer, but with some of the benefits of all these”.
Jelly formulations, such as Astalift’s Jelly Aquarysta, introduced to the UK by Japanese brand Fuji, are also infiltrating the mainstream. For example, there’s Garnier’s Miracle Sleeping Cream with “self-smoothing texture”. And, according to The Future Laboratory, carbonic acid or fizzy skincare products could well be the next big thing, with bubbles promising to boost circulation and help lift dirt from pores.
Whether it’s blow-dries or waxes, there’s no doubt that South America, and specifically Brazil, has had a huge impact on the global beauty industry.
Research by market analysts Mintel found that between August 2013 and July 2014, 90 per cent of all Brazilian-inspired products were launched outside Brazil, with 14 per cent of these launches being in the UK.
So what is it that Brits love about Brazil? In part it’s the fact that the Amazonian rainforest offers a wealth of natural extracts. And while, as in many developing countries, the population is becoming more affluent and they’re more likely to want to buy multi-national brands than local ones, there’s still interest in what’s on the doorstep.
“Brazilians definitely make use of their natural ingredients and are very proud of the country’s biodiversity,” says Ms Rudd.
One of the Western brands capitalising on this is L’Occitane, who created a specific line, L’Occitane au Brésil, using extracts from indigenous ingredients, such as the vitória-régia flower, the mandacaru cactus and the jenipapo tree. While originally launched for the Brazilian market, some of these are available in the UK.
Fans of suncare and bodycare should also keep an eye on what’s coming out of Brazil.
“Bodycare is possibly a larger part of the market in Brazil than skincare,” says Ms Rudd. “And, as Brazilians might be showering two or three times a day, formulations that can be reapplied easily, penetrate fast and dry quickly are very much in demand.”
If you want to know how to deal with sun-damaged skin, it makes sense to go where there’s a lot of sun, which might explain the success of Environ, the vitamin A-based range developed in South Africa after a dermatologist wanted to understand how to protect his patients from skin cancer.
Nearly 30 years on, the range is still developed and tested there, with their latest launch, a peptide-packed moisturiser, Avance DFP 312, debuting here in September.
But then the African continent has always done moisturising well. “African skins have the highest rate of trans-epidermal water loss, and therefore get and feel dry very quickly,” explains Nausheen Qureshi, founder of skincare brand Elethea, who grew up in Kenya.
As a result, traditional African emollients, such as shea butter and argan oil, have been incorporated in Western formulations. More recently brands such as Korres, Nude and Ole Henriksen have used baobab and moringa oils, while African Botanics have built an entire range around marula oil.
“All these ingredients are known to be superb antioxidants and have been a part of the African diet for years, yet their application in skincare has only recently been realised,” says Ms Qureshi, who is tipping similar “food-style” ingredients as ones to watch.
“I’m particularly excited about tamarind seed extract, which is over 40 times more effective than hyaluronic acid, at attracting water,” she says.
As with so much of modern skincare, it’s not just about throwing a handful of the hot new ingredients into a formulation. “We can use recent scientific advances to make these ingredients even more powerful in skincare by adapting them or attaching cell communicating ingredients to them,” says Ms Qureshi. “They are no less natural, but much more effective this way.”


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The big news for iOS 8.4 is Apple Music, but there's a long list of tweaks and fixes to iBooks and more in the latest iOS update.
A core component in the rumored next iPhone will be a new Qualcomm-developed LTE chip that doubles its maximum potential Web-connectivity speeds, according to a new report.
The Audiophiliac can't cover even a tiny percentage of the audio shows sprouting up all over the world, but when there's one in his hometown, he's on it!
From mods to cool stock designs, here are the PC cases that caught our eye at this major trade show in Taiwan.
How does Apple's streaming service stack up against longtime favorite Spotify? We lay it all out here.
USB Type-C becomes truly universal as Intel aligns the latest Thunderbolt standard with USB's new reversible port.
As the latest virtual reality hardware gets set for full consumer launch, Nvidia gives developers new tools to make their VR look better than ever.
Nvidia announced a new flagship graphics card delivering smoother 4K graphics for PC gamers, plus new G-Sync screen technology for smoother gaming on laptops.
The latest version of Google Cardboard works with iOS and supports 360-degree video.
The Creative Sound Blaster X7 offers a ridiculous number of features for the money and sound quality is generally very good, but its appeal is limited.


text: As readers may know, there have been several media reports by book publishers, book authors and their supporters raising an alarm about the rising levels of piracy of printed texts. Japhet Otike, a professor at Moi University, offers a user’s perspective in a recent newspaper article titled: “Photocopying of a copyrighted book is not quite illegal”. His overall argument, which this blogger concurs with, is that copyright is and should be balanced to take into account the rights and interests of owners and users of copyright works respectively. In this regard, Otike argues that the term ‘piracy’ should be reserved only for those involved in mass production of copyrighted materials for commercial purposes. Thus students and teachers who produce a few pages from a book for non-commercial purposes should not be lumped together with hardcore pirates making a fortune from making, distributing and selling unauthorised copies of printed works.


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Mobile World Congress
With over three billion mobile phone users around the globe, the enormity of mobile experience dwarfs the experience on Internet Connected PC's (1.1 Bn) and the experience on TV's (1.5 Bn). The growth is accelerating and is mostly coming from the developing countries. Of the four rapidly growing emerging economies, India and China together added 45 M net subscribers in Q4 2007 alone. Over 55 thousand mobile industry professionals gathered from around the world to Mobile World Congress(MWC) in Barcelona last week to take advantage of the enormous opportunities and to address inevitable challenges. We have summarized the highlights in this report. In his final keynote presentation as GSMA chairman, Craig Ehrlich called on the leadership to be agnostic to the choice of radio technologies and embrace the entire constituency.
Mobile Internet is Coming of Age
Many in the industry believe that experiencing Internet on a mobile phones is finally becoming acceptable. 2008 will mark the year where the advancements in mobile phone capabilities and network speeds enable a practical user experience for accessing the Internet. This has tremendous social and business implications. As the Nokia CEO said, the next billion Internet users will connect through mobile phones. Craig Ehrlich called for the need to bring together the Silicon Valley community and the mobile community to create a future for the wider ecosystem. The Vodafone CEO called the Mobile Internet the New New Thing. Vodafone picked Microsoft's top mobile executive to run its Internet services division. Device makers are rushing to develop Internet services strategies. Nokia pioneered this trend with Ovi entertainment services last year, followed by Sony Ericsson's announcement of PlayNow arena. At the show, Samsung announced a similar Internet services strategy. LG will launch phones preloaded with unlimited music subscription from Omnifone's MusicStation Max service in second half of 2008.
Mobile Broadband: Moving Towards One Standard?
VHS won over Beta. One standard! Blu-ray just won over HD-DVD. One Standard! Will there be one standard for mobile broadband networks? Is LTE set to win over WiMAX and UMB? Several operators are evaluating LTE technology, including Verizon Wireless in US, Vodafone in Europe and China Mobile just joined the bunch. Telstra of Australia anticipates a move to LTE as well. Infrastructure vendors are happy to help with the migration to LTE. Ericsson, a long time LTE supporter, claims to have made the first voice call using LTE technology. Nokia Siemens Networks announced a few LTE products. Alcatel-Lucent and NEC are starting a joint venture to work on the LTE infrastructure. Interestingly, Vodafone who seemed to be against WiMAX last year, is pondering whether WiMAX can be part of LTE in some way. Vodafone CEO is urging the industry to come up with a single set of standards. Samsung is a big proponent of mobile WiMAX. The company argues that WiMAX is available here and now in contrast to LTE that is a future solution. Samsung has provided mobile WiMAX infrastructure to SK Telecom in Korea. According to SKT, there are only 1000 active users on their WiMAX network. According to ETSI, move to LTE is also driven by economics of reusing cell sites and infrastructure. Australian operator Telstra claims high speed networks pay for themselves. Their HSDPA network has attracted 2.6 M subs with $20 extra Average Revenue Per User. So, payback is less than 2 years. To Qualcomm's disappointment, we heard no talk of UMB.
Devices: Is More iPhone Better or Is It Just More?
Every one agrees that iPhone has raised the bar for mobile phones and their user interface. Overnight, multitouch screens have become popular on phones. We are seeing new phones from, such as LG KF700, that have multiple input methods to "maximize user convenience". They have full touchscreens, they have shortcut dial, and they have keypads. Are we confusing the users with too many buttons and GUI's? Dedicated service buttons on phones help adoption if you can get them. Yahoo saw a 75% increase in traffic when Softbank put a Y! button on its mobile phones.
Google Getting Mixed Messages from Mobile Players
Google lost two mobile carriers and added one handset vendor to its search partnerships. The company lost 90 million mobile users of its search engine when its first European partner, T-Mobile replaced its Google search with Yahoo. Tele2 Sweden is also dropping Google as search provider in favor of Mobile Content Networks. However, Google and Nokia announced a partnership to integrate Google's search engine with Nokia's search application on select handset models. Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of Softbank argued dependency on advertising on mobile Internet is much smaller than on PC Internet. He added that glory of Google may not last another 20 years. On the "Moving from Search to Discovery" panel, Yahoo argued that mobile search is different from Internet search. Being best search engine online does not equal being best search engine on mobile. Many chip vendors, including Freescale, Marvell, NEC, Qualcomm and TI, showed prototype handsets of their ARM-based chips with Android. However, Vodafone said it will not endorse Android until they are certain that Google will not use the technology to control the mobile Internet.
Is Our Love Affair with Symbian dying?
In a shocking announcement, Sony Ericsson showed off its newest high-end XPERIA X1 device running Windows Mobile platform. The phone is a converged device for both personal and professional use. With competition heating up from iPhone's OSX platform, Google's Android platform and LiMo Foundation's platform, Symbian will have to run faster to grab the new design wins for disruptive phones.
Mobile Search and Discovery: What Is New?
Admittedly, we didn't hear anything brand new. Everyone talks about contextual search and serving of relevant ads that will be beneficial to users. Conceptually, it makes sense. In reality, we are far from understanding the context of mobile users and how they would welcome unsolicited ads. Mobile operators are holding on tight to potentially valuable raw data about their subscribers claiming privacy and trade secrets. Data mining this vast array of transactional, behavioral and demographic data enables precision targeting of ads. As mobile industry executives, we are salivating. As users, we feel scared, exposed, and vulnerable.
Mobile Advertising: Operators Taking the Rein
Vodafone, Telefonica O2 Europe, T-Mobile International, FT-Orange Group and 3 are teaming up to define common metrics and measurement processes for mobile advertising. The operators have formed a working group as part of GSMA's Mobile Advertising Program, with UK as the first target. Masayoshi Son, CEO of Softbank, mentioned in a keynote speech that mobile advertising is different from online advertising. He believes banner ads are too noisy and has instructed his team to get rid of them.
Mobile Content: Is Anybody Using It?
Mobile TV is not picking up yet. A new M:Metrics study shows former mobile TV users have grown twice as fast as current mobile TV users. Price, quality, and reliability are cited as main challenges. We chaired the session on "DRM - Fight for the Right to Make Money" where Real sided with the DRM- free camp, HP called DRM-free an interim solution, and Turkcell remained DRM-agnostic. See our complete show coverage of DRM issues on DRMWatch.com.
What Do You Get When You Combine a Base Station and an Access Point?
You get a femtocell and a 3G hotspot. Femtocells increase cellular channel capacity and help with coverage inside buildings. Telefonica O2 Europe is trialing femtocells in UK with commercial launch planned for early 2009. Sprint in the US has done a limited rollout of femtocells. Qualcomm's CEO, Paul Jacobs, cautioned that increasing capacity by adding more network pieces from macrocells to microcells to picocells and now femtocells produces a complex heterogeneous network. Technologists should address this challenge by creating a self-optimizing and self-adapting network.
We found a bit of the green with Nokia's eco-friendly Remade phone. Flexenclosure makes base stations powered by renewable energy. Robert Redford and Isabella Rossellini are big believers of mobile channel. Congratulations to our friends at INSIDE Contactless and mChek for winning GSMA awards!


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Beauty YouTuber Laura Lee apologized after old offensive tweets of hers surfaced. But there’s way more going on here.
You don’t have to be a Baby Boomer or Gen Xer to bow down to the Queen of Soul.
Space Force + young people + Twitter = all the snark
President Donald Trump is infamous for his angry Twitter diatribes and unscripted, off-the-cuff rants about people he doesn’t like. That’s plenty of ammo for his own personal burn book.
Forbes has a clear reason for considering Kylie Jenner self-made. Twitter (and the dictionary) don’t quite buy it.
Social media isn’t just stalker*ish* — it’s outright stalking.
Social media can give you FOMO. But it can also bring good advice, positive affirmations, and heartwarming stories.
If you’re a Starbucks addict and need your caramel Frappuccino fix every morning, then you should make alternate coffee plans for May 29th.
Some of these feel a little TOO true…


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With almost 1 billion users by this Summer and all age groups represented is obvious the increasing interest that marketers and agencies have in Facebook advertising. According to the Microsoft Advertising 2012 report, most marketers across the World are planning to increase social media advertising budgets, mainly in Brazil (81%) and the US (64%). Here is how to design, launch and optimize a Facebook advertising campaign.
Within all social advertising platforms, Facebook seems to have the “magic wand”, showing great results that directly impact on brand awareness. The value of a fan in Facebook is 2 – 3X the value...» Read More
The search for social engagement has lately turned into one of the key aims in any marketing campaign on social media. Here's how to easily calculate it for Facebook and Twitter
Updated formula as for 29/05/2013 here Social engagement on Social Networks, mainly Facebook and Twitter has lately turned into one of the crucial aims in all Social Media Marketing campaign, both for brands and...» Read More


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BLUE BELL, Pa. Jan. 26, 2011
In addition, 17 percent of respondents cited cybersecurity as their top IT investment priority for 2011, while 15 percent said cost-cutting would be their top priority in the new year.
RELEASE NO: 0126/9015
Unisys is a registered trademark of Unisys Corporation. All other brands and products referenced herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.


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The 3rd largest network provider of US, Sprint would be offered cheaper plans in this week, according to a latest report. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Claure is preparing to roll out new price plans which might be offered much cheaper price, as compared to the previous plan.
The Claure has also said that -We are going to change our plans to make sure that they are simple and attractive and make sure every customer in America thinks twice about signing up to a competitor,” said. He said the “very disruptive” rates would be coming this week.
According to The Journal:
“In Chicago, Sprint tested a plan that offered unlimited talk, text and data for $50 a month — $30 less than a similar plan from T-Mobile and something market leaders Verizon Communications and AT&T don’t offer … In Portland, Ore., (it) tested a family-focused plan that offered lines for four smartphones and 20 gigabytes of data to share for $160, the same price as plans offered by AT&T and Verizon, but with twice as much data. … And in Buffalo, N.Y., the carrier has offered its “Framily” plan at a $10 discount per line, so any group of five users could pay $25 a month apiece for unlimited talk, text and 1 gigabyte of data.”
On Sunday, company spokeswoman Jennifer Walsh said, “Sprint has not made any announcements and does not have any comment.”


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As mentioned in our Alpha Pre-Workout post yesterday, Impact Week is on now at Myprotein, with huge savings on all of the UK brand’s sports nutrition supplements, functional foods, and accessories. Alongside its all-new and well-dosed pre-workout, the hugely popular Myprotein has launched a whole series of authentic flavors put together in collaboration with the nostalgic Power Rangers.
Myprotein has created a flavor of the refreshing Clear Whey Isolate protein powder for each of the five core Power Rangers, Red, Blue, Black, Yellow, and Pink, as well as the Green Ranger. The Red is Cherry, Blue is Blue Raspberry, Black is Blackcurrant, Yellow is Lemon Sherbet, Pink is Pineapple Grapefruit, and last but not least, the Green Ranger is a candy-themed Sour Gummy.
All six of Myprotein and the Power Rangers’ flavors of Clear Whey Isolate are now available through myprotein.com at £21.99 (30.29 USD) for a tub of 20 servings with unfortunately no Impact Week discount applying. Myprotein has launched one of the six special edition Power Rangers Clear Whey Isolates in the US with the Black Ranger, although instead of Blackcurrant, it is Grape-flavored.
Myprotein has maintained its usual Clear Whey Isolate formula for its collaboration with the Power Rangers. They all provide a solid 20g of protein per serving from premium hydrolyzed whey with only 1.2g of carbohydrates, under half a gram of sugar and fat, and a calorie count of 85.


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As the effects of economic uncertainty continue to reverberate throughout the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, consumers are still attempting to ease budgetary strains and embrace a wide variety of money-saving strategies.
The latest research from SymphonyIRI Group’s Times & Trends, “2012 CPG Year in Review: Finding the New Normal,” provides insights into today’s capricious consumers and the impact their behaviors are having on CPG growth trends.
“For 2012, we forecasted that shoppers would continue to define value largely based on price, manufacturers and retailers would pass ongoing commodity price increases on to the shopper, and private label sales would continue in their current ranges,” said Piyush Chaudhari, president of the Americas, SymphonyIRI. “These predictions largely came to pass, and we expect 2013 to resemble these same trends in many ways.”
SymphonyIRI predicts shoppers will remain frugal in 2013 despite continuing signs of economic recovery:
- Shoppers will reduce the number of channels they visit. Share of consumers shopping at fewer than five channels grew three percentage points between Q1 and Q4 2012, and this trend will continue as shoppers limit spending to channels that are perceived as offering the best value.
- While an increasing number of positive economic signs are emerging, count on shoppers to remain intensely focused on value. There is enough negative news about the federal budget deficit and costs of the new healthcare law, for example, to reinforce shoppers’ frugal behaviors left over from the recession.
- Millennials are becoming the new baby boomers. Millennials are a 50-million-strong shopping group now forming habits and loyalties. Tailoring offerings to this group and providing outstanding service will pay dividends for decades to come.
- “New” media is rapidly becoming traditional media. The trend of shoppers leveraging the Internet for information and deals is growing and will continue to gain momentum, as millennials age and a new generation that is even more tech savvy than the millennial generation enters the market.
"The nation is far from having a firm foothold on growth and stability, and consumers and marketers alike are very aware of this reality,” said Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, SymphonyIRI. “Consumers’ pursuit for value is as intense as ever, and it has served to amplify industry competition. Innovation that supports key shopper rituals, such as those around self-driven, home-based living, is being well received in the marketplace and will continue to help spur growth.”
To effectively compete in 2013, CPG manufacturers and retailers should consider the following action items:
Identify opportunities and risks: Manufacturers should closely track the evolving competitive set at the channel and retail level, including traditional brick-and-mortar as well as the online arena, to ensure appropriate alignment of distribution strategies. Retailers should use value-oriented pricing and promotion programs to protect and grow share, particularly across categories that are most closely aligned with the needs and wants of key shoppers.
Evaluate pricing and promotional strategies: Manufacturers should continually re-assess and adjust pricing to maintain an optimal price gap between private label and name brand offerings. Retailers should adopt everyday pricing strategies that underscore their value proposition and rely on promotional pricing to address short-term tactical opportunities.
Enhance new product development initiatives: Manufacturers should constantly evaluate product development opportunities at the value and premium ends of the spectrum, including those that address key consumer trends. Retailers should explore opportunities to partner with manufacturers to develop complementary national and private label assortments across categories.
SymphonyIRI Group is a global leader in innovative solutions and services for the CPG, retail and healthcare industries. SymphonyIRI’s full report is available for download online.


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MTR Rechtsanwälte | View firm profile
Groups deemed to be at risk can redeem vouchers for FFP2 masks. Pharmacies that waive the two-euro personal contribution are violating competition law according to a ruling of the Landgericht (LG) Düsseldorf – the Regional Court of Düsseldorf.
In order to protect those at particular risk against being infected with the coronavirus, the German parliament has adopted legislation (Coronavirus-Schutzmasken-Verordnung, SchutzmV) that provides for and regulates the distribution of FFP2 masks by pharmacies to the most vulnerable people. The country’s health insurance funds have sent vouchers for FFP2 masks to their insured members, which the latter can redeem in pharmacies. In return for a personal contribution of two euros they receive six masks.
Some pharmacies have advertised that they are waiving payment of the personal contribution and offering the FFP2 masks to those at risk completely free of charge. They need to tread carefully. We at the commercial law firm MTR Rechtsanwälte note that waiving the personal contribution, as well as similar discount initiatives, may amount to a breach of competition law.
That was certainly the verdict of the LG Düsseldorf in an expedited hearing from January 15, 2021, which resulted in one such discount initiative being banned (Az.: 34 O 4/21). The lawsuit was filed by a competition association against a pharmacy holding company that was promoting its affiliated pharmacies with reference to waiving the personal contribution.
In its reasoning, the LG Düsseldorf held that the provisions of the SchutzmV concerned with the personal contribution ought to be viewed as a regulation governing market behavior, and that failure to comply with this regulation thus amounts to an anticompetitive infringement.
The court went on to state that the purpose of the legislation is to ensure that FFP2 masks are distributed in a consistent and appropriate manner in order to protect particularly vulnerable groups of people against being infected with the coronavirus, noting that this is the reason why the masks ought to be used sensibly and not wastefully. The FFP2 masks were said by the court to be intended for those who really need them and who are prepared to pay the personal contribution of two euros.
While the ruling is not yet final, it has already sent an important signal. Violations of competition law may be met with severe penalties. Heavy fines are a real possibility.
Lawyers with experience in the field of antitrust and competition law can serve as advisors.


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As part of its expansion strategy in India, PepsiCo India has announced plans to invest INR 1,266 crore in establishing a flavor manufacturing facility in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Spanning 22 acres, the facility is expected to significantly enhance PepsiCo’s beverage production in the country, create employment opportunities, and have a positive impact on the local economy.
The new factory is expected to be functional by the first quarter of 2026, with construction expected to start in 2024.
PepsiCo India & South Asia CEO Jagrut Kotecha said, “With backing from the state government, we aim to expand our footprint while making impactful progress in improving the socio-economic landscape of the region.”
George Kovoor, Senior Vice President of Beverages at PepsiCo India, stated that the new facility will be the company’s second flavor manufacturing plant in India.
Continue Exploring: PepsiCo India diversifies Lay’s portfolio with launch of new sub-brand ‘Shapez’
“We intend to boost production to meet the rising demand for our beverages. Kovoor went on, “This strategic investment reaffirms our responsibility to advance sustainable practices throughout our entire business and our commitment to providing our customers with the best beverages possible.”
PepsiCo’s first flavor manufacturing facility in India is located in Channo, Punjab.
PepsiCo India stated that in alignment with its global sustainability objectives, the new manufacturing facility will run entirely on renewable energy sources, resulting in a significant reduction of 1.9 metric tonnes of carbon footprint per day.
Utilizing zero liquid discharge technology, the plant aims to achieve around 90% overall water efficiency. The company ensures responsible water resource management by replenishing 100% of the water used at the facility.
Continue Exploring: PepsiCo India appoints Jagrut Kotecha as new Chief


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Qubee will launch its new WiMAX service, for both commercial and residential users, in Dhaka at the beginning of October. From there it plans to rapidly build-out its network and extend its services into the other major population areas -- and eventually across the country.
Qubee’s WiMAX (News - Alert)-based broadband service is already available in Pakistan and is set to launch in Bangladesh at the beginning of October.
The company has reportedly been working with consultants and local telecoms experts to identify the requirements for customer support. It reportedly selected Interactive Intelligence’s contact center platform because it is entirely software-based and is modular in architecture, so can be scaled to match requirements as Qubee grows in the region.
It also didn’t hurt that Interactive Intelligence already has some installations in the region and is therefore able to provide support.
"The existing users of Interactive Intelligence in Bangladesh showed me how well the system works, and we have had excellent continuing response from the whole company," said Anna Jordan, Qubee director of marketing, in a press release. "They have proved to be very reactive and very good at delivering to our tight timescales."
Qubee is also reportedly using Interactive Intelligence’s training services to train new agents on how to use, expand and support the system.
The new contact center will deliver customer service in two languages, Bangla and English.
"Markets like Bangladesh are currently limited by slow, unreliable and expensive internet connections," Jordan explained. "But there is a very hungry customer base. We need to make our customers feel supported and secure in using our services.”


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There’s a new direct connection to St. Kitts for those in the New York metro area.
JetBlue announced this week that it would fly direct, year-round service from New York’s JFK International Airport to St. Kitts’s Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport three times weekly beginning November 2, 2023.
JetBlue will operate the service on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays on its Airbus A320 aircraft. Bookings are now open.
The service will be the first year-round, direct service from New York for St. Kitts, an island that is aiming to grow its tourism footprint, including launching a new Venture Deeper marketing campaign last year. St. Kitts already has year-round service from London Gatwick and Miami.
"JetBlue's service to St. Kitts heralds an exciting future for tourism, opening a world of possibilities for travelers seeking to experience our island's authenticity and rich culture," said Ellison "Tommy" Thompson, CEO of St. Kitts Tourism Authority.
"As we work to further build brand awareness and generate demand, it is anticipated that this increased accessibility will bolster our tourism industry and enable new opportunities to further develop the tourism product."
For JetBlue, the new service continues to grow its international network—the airline recently announced new routes to some European destinations including Amsterdam, London, and Paris, and has recently grown its network in the Caribbean with additional flights to Barbados and more.


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What began as a series of interviews to promote a new book seems to have turned into something else for Whole Foods CEO John Mackey.
Mackey, whose new book “Conscious Capitalism” asserts that companies must have a higher purpose than just generating money, has long been a critic of the president’s Affordable Care Act. He took that criticism a step further this week in an interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep where he said he believes Obamacare is “more like fascism.”
Mackey has since walked the comment back a bit, but Mike Barnicle and Mark Halperin began their interview with Mackey by asking him if he thought his comments would have any impact on Whole Foods’ business. Whole Foods, a natural and organic grocery store, has more than 340 retail outlets and did $11.7B in sales in fiscal year 2012, per the company Web site.
“Does anything happen to your base because of that remark?," Barnicle asked.
"It's a little early to tell, but I don't think it will hurt sales. When we had health care controversy back in 2009 because of the Wall Street Journal op-ed, sales actually went up. A lot of people get upset, but this is America. There's a lot of diversity in opinions and that's what makes for a vital democracy," Mackey said.
At the time, some shoppers took umbrage with Mackey's op-ed and began boycotting the company.
Other U.S. companies have also been critical of the president's health care plan, which requires businesses with more than 50 employees to offer health care for its full-time workers. Some of these businesses have responded by hiring more part-time workers.
Now, what does Mackey truly want for health care? His latest Huffington Post column elaborates.
I believe that, if the goal is universal health care, our country would be far better served by combining free enterprise capitalism with a strong governmental safety net for our poorest citizens and those with preexisting conditions, helping everyone to be able to buy insurance. This is what Switzerland does and I think we would be much better off copying that system than where we are currently headed in the United States.
During his Morning Joe discussion, Mackey noted that Whole Foods offers employees health care coverage, although one must work at 30 hours to be eligible.
“Every team member that works for the company that works 30 hours or more—which is 75%—is automatically enrolled in our health insurance plan. We pay their premiums. It’s a high-deductible plan, they have to get past a deductible of about $3,000, but we deposit about $1,800 in a personal wellness account for them to use toward their deductible…We let our team members vote on it every three years; we take morale surveys. Our health care plan is very popular with our team member base.”
The one seeming discrepancy between what Mackey said on air and what he wrote in his 2009 column is that, in the column, he writes that Whole Foods contributes "up to $1,800" and not just a flat amount of $1,800. The Whole Foods benefits page seems to corroborate this.
Either way, Mackey says he doesn't believe the government "should overly dominate things." However, he declined answering Halperin's perhaps less-than-subtle question of whether or not Obamacare is going to destroy America.
"That’s a pretty loaded question. I think I’ll avoid that one," Mackey responded.


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Five things to know about the hot consumer trends for 2019
Ericsson report reveals that autonomous and mood-predictive technology could soon play a bigger role in people's everyday lives
Awareable technology: Six in 10 users think devices that sense and react to our moods will be mainstream in three years. When this happens, devices will act on situations rather than commands. Fifty-six percent of virtual assistant users want a smart speaker that lowers its voice in such a situation. Smart quarrels: What will happen when we let different types of virtual assistants (VAs) into various devices in our homes? Thirty one percent think VAs in their own household would start quarrelling like family members and 66 percent believe such family scenarios will be common three years from now. Spying apps: The feeling of having someone looking over your shoulder is becoming almost impossible to shake off. In fact, 47 percent of respondents believe many popular apps use cameras and location information to collect data about their behaviors – even when the apps are not being used. Enforced agreement: Forty seven percent of consumers think the internet needs a new business model beyond advertising. And as many as 42 percent of respondents in the study say the internet needs to be changed fundamentally if it is going to be a force for good in society again. Internet of skills: Imagine a YouTube video that interactively personalises instructions to help you do something you have never tried before. Eighty-two percent of AR/VR users believe that this type of instruction will be mainstream in only three years.


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As the college Class of 2018 ventures out into the working world, many of them will choose to work for themselves, or at least entertain the thought.
Q1 hedge fund letters, conference, scoops etc, Also read Lear Capital
A variety of factors – less security in the traditional job market, more innovation (especially through social media), a desire for more fulfilling work and independence – has led to a steady trend toward entrepreneurship among graduates in the past 10 years.
Recent surveys of graduating classes found nearly half want to become entrepreneurs post-graduation. The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, for example, saw a quintuple increase in its graduates starting their own company during a seven-year study period, according to Business Insider.
Slightly over 50 percent of small businesses fail in their first four years, according to Small Business Trends, but those startup-failure rates apparently don’t deter grads.
“I am amazed at the dramatic increase in interest among students across all disciplines in starting a business,” says Jeremy Greenberg, Entrepreneur in Residence at The Wharton School and founder of Avenue Group (www.AveGroup.com).
“At the same time, while it’s wonderful to have that dream, it’s daunting. Most don’t make it. Most have no idea what they’re getting into. Those who do have to embrace the whole challenge, from learning every step of the way to taking action.”
But Greenberg says there are plenty of cautionary tales they can learn from, and he offers five factors college graduates should seriously consider before taking the leap:
- You can’t do it all. Young entrepreneurs quickly get in over their heads when they wear too many hats or aren’t sure which hats fit. “This is especially common among inventors and technologists with superb ideas but no business-building skills,” Greenberg says. “Very few people are both inventors and operators. Most successful entrepreneurs must determine early on which category they fall into and find a complementary partner/company to provide the skills they lack.”
- Indecisiveness is crippling. Entrepreneurs cannot be stagnant. “Lack of action due to fear of making the wrong decision impedes success and growth,” Greenberg says. “There is inherent risk in starting a company, and, in order to become successful, we must be willing to take risks and make bets along the way.”
- Motivation is not the answer. “Working long hours isn’t enough. It’s the development of new habits that drives lasting behavioral changes,” Greenberg says. “There’s a brief period of motivation required early on when improving our work habits. However, once we make a change in our behavior – be it ever so small – and it becomes a habit, it overrides the need for motivation.
- College debt may slow you way down. This can snuff out start-out hopes. “Getting access to capital is a challenge many small-business owners face, but it can be particularly difficult when you’re saddled with student loans,” Greenberg says. “Being in debt makes self-financing that much tougher and taking on the entrepreneurial dream much harder. Sometimes, having a ‘normal job’ while experimenting with a new company is a good way to mitigate this burden.
- Being overly optimistic is dangerous. “It’s easier to believe in your business when you’re growing it, but there will always be setbacks and you have to be prepared, starting with adding a cushion to your budget,” Greenberg says. “It’s amazing, all the costs associated with starting a business. The only thing you know for sure about a planned budget is that it’s wrong – and 99 percent of the time it’s wrong in a negative way for the business.”
“We do not need to sacrifice our lives for a business,” Greenberg says. “You have to decide early on if it’s worth all the sacrifice. It certainly can be, once the foundation is set, and if you have a passion for it.”
About Jeremy Greenberg
Jeremy Greenberg is the founder of Avenue Group (www.AveGroup.com), a firm that advises executives of Fortune 500 corporations, private equity firms and mid-market companies. Avenue Group builds businesses through advising leaders (Advisors division), operating early-stage companies (Ventures division), and sharing business knowledge (Educators division). He is also the co-founder and CEO of Flyte Fitness, an exercise equipment and education company. Greenberg built multi-million-dollar businesses for two Fortune 500 companies (Capital One and Avon Products). He holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Greenberg serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at The Wharton School.


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By Zabryan Grant
COVID-19 has caused a decline in employment and has also caused some businesses to shut down for good.
However, this did not stop a young entrepreneur by the name of Savannah Donaldson. Donaldson has two successful businesses that she operated by herself before opening her latest one, which is Pretty Emporium. Pretty Emporium is a blacked-owned business for younger females who want to accessorize their clothing.
“I started thinking about the idea of Pretty Emporium at the end of July and soon enough I released it to the public in the beginning of August,” Donaldson said.
Donaldson decided to start the online business because someone at her previous job caught the coronavirus. Donaldson’s father suffers from a weak immune system, therefore the best decision for her was to resign from the fast-food chain.
Donaldson’s inspiration for Pretty Emporium came from social media followers asking the whereabouts of her accessories and clothing outfits.
“I was always getting messages on Instagram about where I got this and that from, and that just gave me the idea to start my own business selling accessories I was always getting asked about’,” Donaldson explained.
Pretty Emporium’s goal for its customers is to make them feel beautiful, appreciated and allow the accessory to be the finishing piece of the puzzle but in other words the outfit.
Instagram is the social media platform that the brand is displayed on, with over 200 followers. Customers can view the page to see the different accessories being sold and currently able to purchase by direct messaging the page.
“Within the next year or two, I would like to see Pretty Emporium with over 50k followers on Instagram and have my brand in a storefront,” Donaldson explained.
Donaldson said she knows the ins and outs when it comes to having a personal business and more.
“My top three priorities as a business owner is customer satisfaction, being yourself and just going for it, and being patient because patient is key,” Donaldson said.
“My website will be up and running by mid-October so customers should look out for that and also not now but in the near future clothing and shoes will be available for purchase,” Donaldson said.
Pretty Emporium’s merchandise is focused on accessories with a resemblance of the logo being involved in some way. For example, one of the hottest items selling right now is the Glamour Anklets. The anklets come in several colors with butterfly charms on them.
Another one of Pretty Emporium’s goals is to make sure the merchandise is not overpriced and affordable, Donaldson said. She added that when it came down to her pricing strategy for the brand, it revolved around her thinking about how much she would pay for an accessory or piece of clothing.
“I know quality over quantity,” Donaldson stated.
She said she’s also happy to be part of the black-owned business culture.
“It’s a great time to be a black-owned business at this time during the pandemic,” Donaldson said.
As this worldwide 2020 pandemic continues businesses are slowly working their way back into society with its restrictions. Donaldson has opened a pathway for “Pretty Emporium” to be a bankable online business.


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Juho Sarvikas, the Chief Product Officer of HMD Global, has confirmed that Nokia 6 (2018), debuting at the MWC this year, will be reaching the USA markets starting in May. Although, he didn’t give details on pricing and carrier partners.
Sarvikas, in an interview, clarified that they decided not to opt for carrier partners for the phones. He as well added that the phone would be a prospectus in the market.
The trend is that the open market is growing. If you look at this US open market, this midtier is where you have a lot of people purchasing their device. – Juho Sarvikas, the Chief Product Officer of HMD Global
Nokia 6 2018 will be priced at around £200 in the UK, which is supposed to be about $280. It was one of the five phones Nokia revealed at the MWC 2018 in Barcelona and is an updated variant of the last year’s phone of the same name. It is available in a few new color options.
Despite the rebooted 8110 banana phone or the flagship Nokia 8 Sirocco not reaching the US markets, HMD ensures that they are not neglecting the nation in selling new smartphones. Nokia 6 2018 is indeed a mid-range smartphone.
We have a more focused plan for the US and we have long-term ambition as well – it’s a key market globally. We’ll have more news to share later on this year. – Juho Sarvikas, the chief product officer of HMD Global
You know what that means. Stay tuned for Nokia!


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There doesn't seem to be anything under the sun that Costco (NAS: COST) doesn't sell, including mortgage loans. The retailer's new online financial offering had been in testing mode for the past year, and it has worked so well that it has now been launched publicly.
The program has already made more than 10,000 mortgage loans, and in typical consumer-friendly Costco style. Unlike other online mortgage services, Costco's puts the member in the driver's seat: The identity of the member is not known to any mortgage provider until the consumer decides which one is his or her top choice.
Costco has been hustling to bring its members expanded financial services, in addition to the RV and boat loans and insurance products that it already offers. The retailer plans to offer student loans and automobile loans in the near future.
A good idea, but not a new one
Retailers have been offering financial services for years, with perhaps the best-known example being Sears Holdings' (NAS: SHLD) involvement in the 1980s and early 1990s. Known then as Sears, Roebuck & Co., the retail chain had a full kaleidoscope of mortgage services, lumped together into the Sears Mortgage Banking Group. The retailer sold the subsidiary to PNC Bank in 1993.
More recently, Wal-Mart (NAS: WMT) , which gave up its plan to obtain a federal bank charter several years ago, has been edging onto the financial services scene. Its Money Card, a prepaid debit card, has been gaining in popularity, and its flat-fee check cashing service is gaining ground, as well. Recent estimates suggest that approximately $8 billion has been loaded onto Wal-Mart's Money Card product since its debut. Although the retailer has not again pursued a bank charter in the U.S., it has received one in Canada and in Mexico. In addition, Wal-Mart subsidiary Sam's Club has offered its members small-business loans of up to $25,000 since 2010.
Wait, there's more: health insurance
Costco has offered auto and home insurance in 44 states through its partner AmeripriseFinancial (NYS: AMP) for the past nine years, so it's no big surprise that the company is now getting into the health insurance game. Health-care reform is requiring most Americans to purchase health insurance by 2014, and the push is on to make those policies available, despite the battle over the constitutionality of that provision. The partnership between Costco and Aetna (NYS: AET) will offer members discounted pricing on policies, as well as lower co-pays as long as they use the pharmacies at Costco.
I can certainly see this new mortgage product, from which Costco makes money through promotion fees, as being very lucrative for the retail giant as well as its 11 mortgage servicing partners. This program will also give banks some competition, especially in the customer relations portion of mortgage lending. Instead of being perceived as predatory or adversarial during the mortgage process -- as many banks are considered to be these days -- Costco is going out of its way to make the process customer-friendly. Indeed, one lender, New Jersey-based First Choice Bank, has been tasked with making sure the other servicers adhere to Costco's member-protection policies. Expect Wal-Mart to revisit the bank charter issue again, too, if it sees success in Costco's program.
The company's online insurance offering should also be a hit, particularly as it expands to more states, giving Aetna a much-needed boost. Costco will surely see its membership income rise via these programs, as more and more consumers realize that Costco really is the place for "one-stop shopping."
If you love Costco, take a peek at our free report that will clue you in on another company that is following in that successful retailer's footsteps. It is The Motley Fool's top pick for 2012! Click here to learn more.
At the time thisarticle was published Fool contributorAmanda Alixowns no shares in the companies mentioned above.The Motley Fool owns shares of Costco Wholesale.Motley Fool newsletter serviceshave recommended buying shares of Costco Wholesale.Motley Fool newsletter serviceshave recommended creating a diagonal call position in Wal-Mart Stores. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days.
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Marvel is expanding its partnerships in the home textiles and room décor categories to focus on the college and adult demographic.
Disney made a number of announcements at its annual shareholders meeting Thursday, including news of upcoming film releases and its plans for Maker Studios.
Disney Consumer Products has wide-reaching plans for its key Marvel franchises in 2015 including programs for new releases such as Avengers: Age of Ultron and "Daredevil."
Disney Consumer Products is building out Marvel’s housewares program with a new roster of branded small appliances and additions to its home goods and décor offerings.
The classic Colorforms toy brand, which was re-launched in 2014 by Out of the Blue Enterprises, has added a number of Disney properties to its roster.
In anticipation of MAGIC Market Week, taking place now in Las Vegas, Nev., Disney Consumer Products has reveled details of its plans expand Marvel’s apparel program.
Hasbro is showcasing its 2015 lineup of brand experiences at New York Toy Fair including new offerings for all of its top brands.
Jakks Pacific has arrived at New York Toy Fair with a whole host of new licensed offerings for brands including Disney, Skechers, Nintendo, Marvel and more.
Factory Entertainment has picked up the license for Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin this week at New York Toy Fair.
Vandor has welcomed Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants to its roster of licenses and added new items for Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.
This Father’s Day, Marvel and Star Wars are celebrating fan men around the globe with designs created just for dad.
Disney Interactive and Marvel have launched a new version of the Disney Infinity hybrid toy/video game, "Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes."
Disney’s Frozen and Warner Bros.’ The LEGO Movie reached box office milestones this weekend, speaking to the power of licensed films.
It doesn’t get much more powerful than a Marvel superhero, and the company is capitalizing on that brand strength with a new strategy.
Disney Consumer Products continues to introduce new “better for you” foods featuring some of its most popular characters worldwide.
Baskin-Robbins and Sony Pictures are celebrating the upcoming film The Amazing Spider-Man 2 with a tasty promotion.
Building on the momentum from the launch of The Avengers franchise, Marvel is planning a robust licensing program for the highly anticipated sequel, The Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Kip & Sew, the new premium sub-brand of licensee Character World, is planning luxury bedding ranges featuring Disney and Marvel characters in the U.K.
©2015 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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The show will need put on January 1 next year, and marks the first time the designer is currently showing his namesake selection in New York. Polanco attends The Blonds fashion-show during MANUFACTURED Fashion-Week at Dairy Galleries in New York City on September 11, 2016. Christina Milian attends The Blonds fashion show at Milk Companies in Nyc on September 11, 2016 new york fashion week September 2016 during MADE Fashion-Week. Bebe Rexha attends The Blonds fashion show at Dairy Galleries on September 11, 2016 in Nyc September 2016 during CREATED Fashionweek. Tinashe attends the Scott fashion-show during Ny Fashion-Week on September 12, 2016 in Nyc. FKA Sticks visits the Soft Monster fashion-show in New York at Milk Companies on September 10, 2016.
Love visits the Marchesa fashion show during Nyc Fashion Week on September 14, 2016 in New York City. Mario visits FrontRow fashion-show at Metropolitan West on June 14, 2016 in New York City September 2016 during Style360 NYFW. Millie Brown and Ryder attends the Coach Women's Spring 2017 Present at Pier 76. Campbell and Woman Gaga attend Brandon Maxwell exhibit in Nyc during Ny Fashion-Week at Russian Tea Area on September 13, 2016. Jourdan Dunn and Tinashe attend the Spring 2017 fashion-show on September 10, 2016 in New York City during New York Fashion Week at Pier 94.
Jussie Smollett and Campbell attend the Hood By Air fashion-show in Nyc: The Exhibits at The Arc, Skylight at Stop on September 11, 2016 during Ny Fashionweek. Regina Perera, John Ross, Hot J attend the Cover By Air fashion show during Newyork Fashionweek on September 11, 2016 in Nyc. Jaden Smith attend the Hood By Air fashion show during Newyork Fashion-Week on September 11, 2016 in Nyc. Madison Alcohol visits the Fetherston fashion show in New York City during New York Fashionweek on September 11, 2016.