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In West Stockbridge, lemonade stand gives kids a taste of entrepreneurship
WEST STOCKBRIDGE — Tyler Campbell, 10, says he was born for this.
Sitting outside Public Market on Friday afternoon with his brother, Cody, 12, the two sell lemonade to raise money to buy school supplies and books for the fall.
"One time I made $20," Tyler says of his lemonade-selling skills. "I was selling them for 10 cents a cup, too. I did it in like two hours."
"You had your friends help you," Cody says.
"Nuh-uh, it was just me and Mom," Tyler replies.
"I love selling lemonade. I love making it and going on the street and selling it; it's fun," Tyler says. You meet people and then "they become your friends."
Also, he adds, "It beats doing nothing."
The brothers are participating in an event called Lemonade Fridays, which was started by Tim Walsh, owner of Public Market. For just about any Friday through the fall, a West Stockbridge child can put out a table, make a sign and sell lemonade under the Public Market awning. Kids need to register first by calling the store and getting the OK from Walsh.
He came up with the idea after driving by neighborhood lemonade stands and noticing that, oftentimes, there weren't places for potential customers to park.
"I've seen a lot of kids with lemonade stands and no traffic," says Walsh, a father who coaches Little League baseball. Lemonade Fridays is "for someone who doesn't have a house or a long driveway or they live down a dirt road, whatever it is. They can stand in front of the store and do great."
In rural communities, lemonade stands can be a rough business for kids. Living among the mountains, farms and trees usually means there are fewer sidewalks and potential customers than in the suburbs or cities. In a rural town, a kid's closest neighbor could live a half-mile down the road.
And there's always the looming threat of being shut down. Nationwide, a few news outlets have reported instances of children's lemonade stands being closed for not having proper business licenses. In May, Denver police posted a notice to the department's Facebook page defending the recent closure of a lemonade stand.
At the last Lemonade Friday, there were two stands outside Public Market, a Main Street general store that's also a popular spot to grab a bite. Walsh says the boy who ran the first stand did well, collecting a small basket-worth of dollar bills and change.
On Friday afternoon, Cody and Tyler were selling lemonade, Laffy Taffy and Twizzlers for donations. In their first half-hour, the brothers made $10.
As customers come and go, they chat up the boys about school and what it's like to run a business. The boys say they're raising money to defray the cost of back-to-school supplies and buy more books, maybe something like "Doglands" or one from the Indiana Jones series.
"You've got to spend money on bills," Tyler says. "School supplies are really expensive."
Kristin Palpini can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org, @kristinpalpini on Twitter, 413-629-4621.
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The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) has launched a new leasing service in the UK. It has joined forces with Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions to offer a wide range of the most popular EV models currently available in the market at prices starting from just £227.99 a month for a five-door Nissan Leaf 110kw N-Connecta 40kWh.
The RAC points out that EVs can work out cheaper than popular petrol models, particularly when factoring in the savings on fuel. For example, 10,000 miles of petrol for a car capable of doing 50 miles per gallon would set drivers back in the region of £1,179 a year at the current UK average price of 131p a litre in stark contrast to equivalent electricity cost of around £167 – a saving of more than £1,000 (£1,012) a year. And, as EVs are exempt from car tax, there’s a further saving of nearly £500 over three years which equates to £163 a year. This means that between fuel and car tax, EV drivers can be over £1,300 a year better off than those in petrol or diesel cars.
As a result, when taking all running costs into account over the most common lease period of three years, the RAC believes it can work out considerably cheaper to run an electric car than a similar sized petrol one.
Drivers using the new RAC leasing site can also select a service and maintenance plan so they can be even more certain of their costs. In addition, the top deals featured are based on in-stock vehicles so customers can have their new car delivered in just a few weeks.
RAC director of EVs Sarah Winward-Kotecha said: “We know from RAC research there’s a growing desire among drivers to go electric but that the high upfront cost tends to be the biggest barrier to take-up, so we’ve teamed up with Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions to help people make the switch more easily and more affordably.
“Using the RAC’s manufacturer relationships, combined with Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions’ expertise and buying power, we’re able to offer some of the most competitive leasing deals available. Some of these are extremely compelling, so much so that a customer can lease a brand-new EV from as little as £227.99 a month. All customers need to do is find the best insurance for them.
“On top of this drivers also have the savings on fuel from driving electric which can amount to several thousands of pounds over the course of a three-year lease. And, the fact there’s no car tax to pay on EVs means there’s also a further saving of nearly £500 compared to a new petrol car.
“We’d urge any driver thinking of changing their vehicle to think about all the costs they’ll pay for the period they have the car, as with an electric model there are substantial savings to be had.”

domain: news


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PayPal, the US-based payments giant, announced yesterday that the company has increased its weekly cryptocurrency purchase limits in the US for eligible customers. PayPal clients can now purchase up to $100,000 worth of cryptocurrency assets.
According to an official press release from PayPal, there will be no annual purchase limit on cryptocurrencies. The financial services provider aims to facilitate its clients in the buying process of cryptocurrency assets on its platform.
PayPal is a California-based online payments platform. In 2020, the company announced support for cryptocurrency assets and enabled crypto transactions. Since the start of 2021, PayPal’s crypto volume has surged significantly due to a substantial rise in demand for digital currencies.
Commenting on the latest increased crypto purchase limit, Jose Fernandez da Ponte, VP & GM, Blockchain, Crypto and Digital Currencies at PayPal, said: “Since launching our cryptocurrency capabilities in the U.S. in October 2020, we have been actively engaging with our customers to better understand their needs to help ensure we are providing a trusted and secure platform to buy, hold, sell and checkout with cryptocurrency.”
PayRetailers Continues its Strong Growth in 2021Go to article >>
“As part of our efforts to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers, we are pleased to announce that we have recently raised the purchase limits of cryptocurrency for eligible PayPal customers in the U.S. to $100,000 per week with no annual purchase limit. These changes will enable our customers to have more choice and flexibility in purchasing crypto on our platform,” Ponte added.
During a recent interview with TIME Magazine, PayPal CEO, Dan Schulman said that the demand for cryptocurrency assets surpassed the company’s expectations. Moreover, Schulman predicted a significant decline in the use of cash and mentioned that Bitcoin and other digital currencies can take advantage of the situation.
In its latest quarterly report, PayPal reported a payment volume of $285 billion. Furthermore, the company added nearly 14.5 million net new active accounts during the first three months of 2021.


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– Manfred Brunel: The Porsche Kuwait team was distinguished by its innovative sales campaigns
– Hani Marei: The company’s team faced the challenges of 2021 with positivity and creativity
“Porsche Center Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company”, was awarded the “Best Dealer in the Middle East and Levant for the year 2021” award, which is considered the highest award offered by “Porsche Middle East and Africa”, in honor of the company’s efforts and distinguished services in the field of sales and for achieving the highest levels. customer satisfaction.
The work performance of the 18 authorized Porsche dealers throughout the Middle East and Africa was evaluated according to specific criteria and compared to the results of last year, focusing on individual and team performance during the different stages of owning the car.
Dealer evaluation included a wide range of criteria, including customer satisfaction, service quality and attention to detail, which are equally important with selling new cars and providing outstanding after-sales services. made by the team and in recognition of the dedication and teamwork.
He pointed out that Porsche dealers in the region were distinguished by their great commitment and dedication, which led to a great start to this year, pointing out that choosing one winner was very difficult, stressing the distinction of the Porsche Kuwait team with commitment to customers through innovative sales campaigns and enhancing loyalty. Which reflected on the desire of customers to repeat the experience and buy more cars of the brand or update their existing cars.
He added that this loyalty has been established in the long-term customers thanks to hard work and superior service, and that this award comes in appreciation of the efforts of the entire team of Porsche Center Kuwait, starting from the sales department, passing through the service center, and reaching the employees in offices and outside, who strive to achieve The common goal is to be the best Porsche at all levels.
He continued, “During the past year, we witnessed an increase in the number of showroom visits compared to 2020, with an increase in the number of personal consultations and the return of group events.
For his part, General Manager of Porsche Center Kuwait, Hani Maree, indicated that the team faced the challenges of the year 2021 with positivity and creativity, and looks forward to achieving more achievements in 2022.
“I cannot thank the team enough for their tremendous efforts throughout the year, and we look forward to more success in the future,” he said.
“I am very excited about the future, especially with the arrival of the Taycan GTS and looking forward to the launch of the first all-electric model of the Makan. It is easy to remain passionate about working for a brand like Porsche, and I am delighted to see the enthusiasm and commitment from everyone in our team.”


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It seems that buying a cute teddy bear for Teddy Day is just not enough these days with the introduction of designer teddy bears. The luxury shopping center, DLF Emporio in New Delhi has incorporated the theme, ‘Made With Love’ to celebrate Valentine’s Day, which includes a pop up store with designer teddy bears and other gifts from some of India’s leading fashion designers. There will be exclusive pieces from designers like Manish Arora, Ashima-Leena, Varun Bahl, Neeru Kumar and Suneet Varma.
In a statement, senior vice president of DLF Emporio, Dinaz Madhukar said,”The limited edition teddy bears were a big favorite last year and we are extremely delighted to present a new range of bespoke teddy bears designed exclusively for DLF Emporio. This year we are also introducing an array of designer gifts like t-shirts, pocket squares, stationery and much more to choose from”.
The pop up store will be available until February 15th. What do you think of designer teddy bears? Let us know in the comment section below.


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The U.S. Postal Service is Testing Mail Delivery Using Self-Driving Trucks From TuSimple
【Summary】The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) began a two-week trial on Tuesday transporting mail across three Southwestern states using self-driving trucks in a partnership with San Diego-based TuSimple. The pilot program will test the driverless truck technology to see how it might improve delivery times and operating costs.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) began a two-week trial on Tuesday transporting mail across three Southwestern states using self-driving trucks in a partnership with San Diego-based TuSimple, a self-driving truck startup that is looking to disrupt the trucking industry.
TuSimple said its self-driving trucks will transport mail between USPS distribution centers in Phoenix and Dallas. The pilot program will test the driverless truck technology to see how it might improve delivery times and operating costs.
The self-driving trucks will travel on major interstates, including Interstate 10, which runs across Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
The pilot program involves five round trips, each totaling more than 2,100 miles (3,380 km) which takes around 45 hours of driving. It is unclear whether self-driving mail delivery will continue after the two-week pilot.
"This run is really in the sweet spot of how we believe autonomous trucks will be used," said TuSimple Chief Product Officer Chuck Price to Reuters. "These long runs are beyond the range of a single human driver, which means today if they do this run they have to figure out how to cover it with multiple drivers in the vehicle."
While the trucks will be autonomous, there will have a safety driver behind the wheel ready to take over in any unexpected situations, as well as a second engineer in the passenger seat to further monitor the truck's self-driving hardware, computer systems and overall operation.
TuSimple is working to transform the $800-billion U.S. trucking industry. Self-driving trucks have the potential the transform the trucking industry by increasing safety and becoming a solution for the industry-wide shortage of drivers.
The American Trucking Associations estimates a shortage of as many as 174,500 drivers by 2024, due to an aging workforce and the difficulty of attracting younger drivers.
Driverless trucks can also operate more hours per day, since human drivers are limited by regulations capping the number of hours they can drive each day. Unlike in the past, new regulations require that truck drivers to electronically log their miles, which prevents them from exceeding their daily hours behind the wheel.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which monitors the trucking industry, truck drivers are limited to driving 11 hour per day within a 14 hour driving window. Whereas a self-driving truck can operate nearly 24 hours per day.
Utilizing autonomous long-haul trucks could reduce operating costs by about 45 percent, saving the trucking industry between $85 billion and $125 billion, According to McKinsey.
TuSimple developed a long-range camera-based perception system tailored specifically for driverless trucks. The cameras on TuSimple's fleet of Peterbilt trucks have a vision range of 1,000 meters, which is more than any other autonomous perception system today, according to the company. This gives the self-driving trucks trucks plenty of time to react to any unexpected situation that may arise on the road.
Self-driving trucks might appear on public roads even before self-driving cars. From an engineering standpoint, highway driving is much easier to navigate autonomously. On the highway, there are fewer scenarios that a self-driving truck's software must be able to handle, such as navigating around pedestrians and bicyclists and driving autonomously in crowded urban areas.
TuSimple and the USPS declined to disclose the cost of the program, but USPS spokeswoman Kim Frum said that no tax dollars were used and the agency relies on revenue from sales of postage and other products.
"The work with TuSimple is our first initiative in autonomous long-haul transportation," Frum said to Reuters. "We are conducting research and testing as part of our efforts to operate a future class of vehicles which will incorporate new technology."
TuSimple has raised $178 million in private financing, including from Nvidia and Chinese online media company Sina Corp.
TuSimple plans to have its first commercial driverless truck operations underway by the end of 2020.
resource from: Reuters
Originally hailing from New Jersey, Eric is a automotive & technology reporter covering the high-tech industry here in Silicon Valley. He has over 15 years of automotive experience and a bachelors degree in computer science. These skills, combined with technical writing and news reporting, allows him to fully understand and identify new and innovative technologies in the auto industry and beyond. He has worked at Uber on self-driving cars and as a technical writer, helping people to understand and work with technology.
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- Tesla Vehicles Made Up 80% of all EV Sales in the First Half of 2020


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Should You Buy Stratasys?
Shares of additive manufacturing technology companies (or, 3D printing companies) have been weak so far in 2014. Investors were irrationally exuberant when it came to the future prospects of these companies. While they are correct in believing that additive manufacturing is going to change the way that products are designed and manufactured, these stocks had simply risen too far too fast.
One name that has held up better than the competition is Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS). While the stock is down 25 percent for the year, it has held up better than its peers:
- 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) is down 43 percent.
- Organovo (NYSEMKT:ONVO) is down 27 percent.
- Voxeljet (NYSE:VJET) is down 38 percent.
- ExOne (NASDAQ:XONE) is down 48 percent.
Furthermore, Stratasys has set itself apart from its peers in its aggressive acquisitions. Just last week it bought the following three companies.
- Solid Concepts — a California-based additive manufacturing firm.
- Harvest Technologies — a Texas-based specialty product additive manufacturing firm focusing on end-use parts and applications.
- Interfacial Solutions — a producer of thermoplastics that can be used in additive manufacturing.
The company’s outperformance, along with its aggressive capital allocation strategy made it a target for profit takers and short sellers on Monday, who sold the stock down more than 7 percent. In fact, it briefly breached the $100/share level for the first time since October before ending the day at $101.54.
While the correction in Stratasys and its peers may not be over, I think it is time to start adding to these positions. In particular, Stratasys stands out as the fastest growing of the larger additive manufacturing companies. It has been more aggressive in its acquisitions than competitor 3D Systems, and as a result, Stratasys is no longer in second place.
Stratasys has been clear both in its public statements and in its actions that it wants to be the leading vertically integrated company in the additive manufacturing sector. The fact that it acquired a specialty thermoplastics manufacturer on Friday speaks to this point, and it shows that management is not just interested in building 3D printers. It wants to have the technology necessary in order to develop the materials that these machines will use.
Furthermore, the company is devoting all of its profits and cash-flow to growing its business, and it has reached the point where it actually posted a small loss in 2013. This sort of emphasis on vertical integration and maximizing investment reminds me of Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), which has broken free of its competition to become the clear cut leader in e-commerce.
Thus, while investors don’t seem to be so thrilled that Stratasys is trading at 11 times its sales, we should realize that the company is worth this premium given its growth rate. Sales came in at just uner $500 million in 2013. Just four years ago in 2009 sales were just $100 million. Furthermore, while we are seeing economic weakness there is no evidence that the growth in additive manufacturing is slowing down. These companies, and Stratasys in particular, are finding new ways to offer a more efficient and reliable solution to companies in various sectors of the economy from medical devices to aerospace.
While other companies recognize the opportunity in the future of additive manufacturing, no company has come close to preparing for it like Stratasys. I suspect the company to continue to outperform so long as it remains aggressive in growing a vertically integrated additive manufacturing firm. While this means we won’t likely see profits any time soon, it does mean that the company will be better prepared in the future to deliver them.
Right now, additive manufacturing stocks, including Stratasys, are trending downwards. There is a good possibility that this downtrend is not over. Too many people became too enthusiastic last year, and we need some pessimism to enter the market before a bottom is in place. However, I think now is the time to start looking at opportunities and taking small positions.
Disclosure: Ben Kramer-Miller is long Stratasys shares.


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sausage pizza :
- n tomato and cheese pizza with sausage
News & Articles
- Area lunch menu's Jan. 27-31, 2014
Lamar Elementary Schools Monday -- Breakfast: Assorted yogurt, graham crackers, assorted canned fruit Lunch: Beef taco pie, refried beans, seasoned corn Tuesday -- Breakfast: Breakfast sausage pizza, orange juice Lunch: Popcorn chicken, seasoned rice, carrots Wednesday -- Breakfast: Biscuit and sausage gravy, assorted canned fruit Lunch: Frito pie, mixed vegetables Thursday -- Breakfast: Egg and ...
Jan. 26, 2014 - The Lamar Ledger


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Global trade is slowly picking up after the historic contraction in the second quarter, when World Trade was hit hard by the COVID crisis. It was announced by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
According to the WTO, international trade in goods is showing cautious signs of recovery after the historic contraction, expected to reach 18.5 percent in the second quarter of this year. However, trade is still well below pre-crisis levels and the recovery is extremely fragile, according to the WTO.
The organisation believes that a 13 percent reduction in World Trade in goods will be seen across 2020. For next year, the WTO is again counting on some recovery in global trade.


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Kohl’s Department Stores has gotten in on the non-stop holiday shopping action by promoting itself as the place to be for “A Sale So Big We’re Open Non-Stop” beginning 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19 through 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24.
Meijer made the holidays very merry for 213 unsuspecting customers recently when those shoppers received a big surprise upon checkout – their entire shopping cart filled with gifts and groceries given to them as a holiday gift.
Through the new online letter collection component of Macy’s “Believe” holiday marketing campaign, customers were able to create and send a digital letter to Santa to benefit Make-A-Wish while having the opportunity to participate in Macy’s Guinness World Records official attempt for the longest wish list to Santa.
Consumers who haven’t started their holiday shopping yet have a friend in Sears. Sears, Roebuck & Co. will offer multiple sales events starting on Dec. 19, and announced Dec. 22 as the last day to order online and receive by Christmas.
Some customers are only midway through the race to finish their holiday shopping, some haven’t even left the starting line, but Best Buy is offering help to make sure they reach the finish line by Dec. 24.


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Pre-COVID-19, cruise liners were called Ships of Dreams. Post COVID-19, critics are dubbing them Ships of Fools.After all, who in their right mind would ever again board a cruise ship after witnessing the tragedy, heartbreak and uncertainty passengers were forced to endure when they were left abandoned at sea for weeks at the height of the pandemic?
How long will it take for the images to fade of body bags containing COVID-19 victims being carried down gangplanks and desperate passengers pleading from ship balconies for ports to accept them?
It's not a matter of if a virus like COVID-19 will board a cruise ship again, but when?
No matter your opinion, one thing is for sure, after being torpedoed by the killer virus, the cruise industry, more than any other travel-related business, is facing rough seas ahead:
Above: No other travel industry has suffered more because of the pandemic.
• Pre-bookings have sunk to their lowest level ever;
• Most cruise lines are facing titanic financial losses and experts expect some lines to be dragged under;
• Even the biggest cruise lines are drowning in a sea of red ink — Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean saw their stocks drop by as much as 80 per cent during the crisis;
• And governments are in no hurry to toss cruise companies an economic lifejacket like they will the airline industry. Planes are a necessity, cruise ships are not.
We are now in unchartered waters for a $50 billion (U.S.) industry that in 2019, thanks to strong demand from emerging countries like China, saw nothing but clear sailing.
That said, there are some who feel cruise lines will recover quickly. After all, the industry has dealt with many viral outbreaks in the past. In fact, there were 10 infectious disease outbreaks reported on ships in 2019 even before COVID-19 came on board, according to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Previously, the industry’s exit strategy for a crisis like this was to tempt passengers back onboard with cheap fares, free land excursions, upgraded cabins and even free flights to ports.
However, this time they may not have the financial resources to launch such recovery plans.
The bigger question, though, is will elderly passengers, the backbone of the cruise industry but the most vulnerable to a virus like COVID-19, be willing to ever again dice with death for a cheap holiday? Especially when some medical experts say the virus could remain in our midst for another two years.
Predictions are passengers won’t return for the rest of 2020, no matter how sweet the deal is, and probably not until the early part of 2021. A Harris Poll survey conducted for Forbes magazine found that 57 per cent of respondents said they won’t even consider taking another cruise for at least a year.
Cruise companies can’t wait that long.
Above: Scenes of passengers on ship balconies pleading to be rescued will be hard to erase.
“This will be a disastrous time for the (cruise) industry,” Dr. Christopher Muller, a senior professor at Boston University’s school of hospitality administration, said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper in February when cruise ships were being ordered back to ports and locked down.
“When you have 3,500 people booked on one of these mega cruises and the boat doesn’t go, it’s an enormous expense. Someone’s paying for that boat that’s sitting idle in the harbour and it’s very hard to recapture those ongoing fixed-cost losses,” said Muller.
The bigger problem for the industry post COVID-19, according to Muller, is the lasting images of passengers being stuck at sea on coronavirus-infected ships and confined to tiny cabins for weeks on end.
“The problem is the concept of cruising is that they sell luxury and safety at sea while the recent bad publicity has highlighted the fact that the rooms themselves are very small and that most of that luxury is out and about in crowded, captive places.
“They (the industry) will highlight the things you can do that you can’t do anywhere else, the luxury of this floating hotel going from place to place. But If you’re stuck in your cabin, it’s a zombie prison, and that’s the perception (of cruising) right now.”
The industry got nothing but bad press during the pandemic. Example: A The New York Times story claimed that agents at Norwegian Cruise Line were instructed to mislead potential customers with false information about coronavirus to secure a sale.
Above: It's not a matter of if but when another virus will infect a cruise ship and passengers will be quarantined.
The most negative headlines, though, were reserved for ships belonging to Carnival Cruise Line — most of the vessels infected with COVID-19 are owned by the mega operator, which handles 50 per cent of all cruise passengers worldwide.
Carnival, which has cancelled all salings until the end of July, is no stranger to such mishaps. Who can forget the Carnival Triumph farce? (In 2012, while at sea an engine room fire aboard the Triumph caused toilets to back up and human waste to flow into staterooms and hallways.) The incident was dubbed the “Poop Cruise” by global media and Carnival was forced to spend $200 million (U.S.) to repair the ship and its image.
Even though the last decade has seen record growth for cruise companies, Carnival has seen its stock steadily decline since 2018 and started 2020 with a lower stock price than it had in 2016, according to media reports.
To add insult to injury, rating agency S&P downgraded Carnival in March as the pandemic spread like wildfire through its ships.
The company, which is also facing millions in lawsuits from angry passengers who felt abandoned at sea during the pandemic, is now trying to raise $6 billion to get it through this cash crunch.
How quickly things have changed for cruise lines.
Before COVID-19, an industry trade group predicted a record 32 million passengers would set sail in 2020, up from 30 million the previous year. To meet the growing demand, cruise lines ordered 19 new ships in 2020 to add to a fleet that has grown to 278 vessels worldwide.
Now, all bets are off and the 1.2 million jobs that are dependent on the cruise industry are in limbo.
Cruise expert Stewart Chiron, whose cruiseguy.com website reviews cruises, says the pandemic “may be the worst blow the industry has ever seen.”
Even those hoping for a quick recovery would have to agree that ship has sailed. The cruise industry is now treading water and the chances of it being pulled under because of COVID-19 are very real. •


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TORONTO – Under a deal announced Thursday, Sears Canada Inc. will be getting some new owners — ones who look a lot like its old owners.
After failing to find a buyer for its 51% stake in the Canadian business, Sears Holdings Corp. decided to offer up its shares in the Toronto-based retailer to its own shareholders in a rights offering.
The move will deliver some much-needed liquidity to the U.S merchant as it heads into the Christmas season — as much as US$380-million in proceeds by early November — and the Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based retailer would no longer be the biggest shareholder of Sears Canada.
But Sears Holdings’ own CEO and biggest shareholder, Edward Lampert, will be.
How significantly Mr. Lampert’s act of financial engineering will affect day-to-day business at Sears Canada is unclear.
While the billionaire investor ostensibly has had no direct influence over the Canadian chain in recent years, he has been one of its largest beneficiaries of the special dividends Sears Canada has issued after divesting assets.
Under the deal, shareholders of Sears Holdings will have the right to buy one share of Sears Canada for each share they own at $10.60 per share.
The sale of 40-million Sears Canada shares will leave Sears Holdings with an 11.74% stake in the Canadian company.
And while the share sale will put more distance between Sears Canada and Sears Holdings, the same can’t be said for the latter’s CEO.
“Sears Holdings management will presumably in future be directing 100% of its attention to the U.S. business,” while Mr. Lampert and his hedge fund ESL Investments Inc. will oversee the management of both Sears Holdings and Sears Canada, analyst Keith Howlett of Desjardins Securities wrote in a note to clients.
“The fact that he will purchase shares at $10.60 should provide a near-term floor under the shares,” he added.
Mr. Howlett believes an operating turnaround at Sears Canada is unlikely, its worth at this point being “primarily dependent on the value of its assets to other owners.”
After the offering goes through, Mr. Lampert and ESL will have a combined 46.7% stake in the Canadian retailer, up from about 27% currently.
Thursday’s offer also assumes the remainder of Sears Holdings’ shareholders will be interested in buying into a retailer with dwindling prospects, albeit at a discount.
“A shareholder might just not do anything and let the rights expire,” said Bob Gibson, a retail analyst at Octagon Capital in Toronto.
“If you are a U.S. institution who holds Sears Holdings right now, they are worth something. Many of those portfolios would only be able to hold U.S. stock, so portfolio managers would want to sell those rights [to buy Sears Canada shares at $10.60]. For now, they would be worth something. But if the stock price goes below $10.60, the rights will have no value.”
Sears Canada closed at $11.00, down 12¢ of 1.1% in Toronto trading.
Sears Holdings has been long viewed by the financial community with a jaundiced eye.
Last month, it borrowed US$400-million as a short-term loan from Mr. Lamperts’ investment firm. That move prompted Fitch Ratings to downgrade Sears Holdings’ credit rating to junk status, saying the move was a short-term fix.
The retailer, which also operates U.S. stores under the Kmart banner, has raised money by selling or spinning off assets including its catalogue division Lands’ End, which delivered proceeds of US$500-million at the end of last year.
In May, the company hired Bank of America Merrill Lynch to look at strategic options for the Canadian unit, including a possible sale of its stake.
Sears Canada has grappled with its own capital structure amid eight straight years of dwindling sales, which fell to $3.9-billion last year from $4.3-billion in 2012.
In August it posted its ninth loss in 14 quarters, and last month CEO Douglas Campbell announced he would leave the helm of the retailer by the end of the year. In 2012 the company began selling some long-term leases in A-list malls back to its landlords to raise cash, and has slashed costs by outsourcing IT, apparel design and call centre positions.
Sears Canada also said Thursday that it will amend its licensing deal with Sears Holdings, allowing it to keep using the Sears name and certain other brand names as long as Sears Holdings maintains a 10% stake, down from the prior minimum of 25%.
The Canadian retailer would also have rights to the Sears trademarks without having to pay royalties for five years after the licensing agreement ends, up from three years. Sears Canada will also apply for a Nasdaq listing.


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No Match Found
By Lien Hoang
Airbnb Inc. has agreed to work with Malaysia on tax collection, with initial efforts to focus on a tourism levy as the government prepares to cast a wider net on the digital economy.
The San Francisco-based home-sharing company is moving to finalize a deal with tax authorities, which will apply a new tourism tax of 10 ringgit ($2.55) per night to Airbnb members who rent out five rooms or more. The tourism levy presages an agreement on goods and services taxes.
“We have been engaging the Malaysian authorities in meaningful and productive conversations,” Mich Goh, Airbnb's head of public policy for Southeast Asia, told Bloomberg Tax. “We want to help our hosts follow the rules, and we are actively keeping them informed of all regulatory updates,” she said.
The levies won't stop there, says EY partner for indirect tax Aaron Bromley. After speaking with tax officials, he expects Malaysia to widen the scope of GST to include Airbnb arrangements as early as this year. The country is one of Airbnb's fastest-growing markets in Asia, with rentals jumping 137 percent last year, the company said.
Malaysia's actions are part of a regional trend to close loopholes and find ways of taxing new digital businesses from Netflix Inc. to Uber Inc., Bromley said.
Internet-based companies are increasingly sophisticated at skirting tax laws, the OECD wrote in a report this week. It gave the example of flexible work contracts in the gig economy, which make it easier for tech companies to “minimize tax liabilities and reduce the tax base.” The OECD recommended tax collectors look at different kinds of levies, such as on property or consumption.
Australia is at the forefront, having online businesses register to pay GST, said Bromley, who is based in Kuala Lumpur but spoke to Bloomberg Tax from Sydney.
“Malaysia won't be far behind; they're talking about it,” he said, adding, “There is a great focus at the moment, like elsewhere, on digital services.”
Chan Wai Choong, executive director of PwC Malaysia, predicts the GST amendments will be issued with the next state budget, slated for October. He said officials are studying the tax model of registering overseas vendors.
“Now they're more advanced in their thinking on how to apply GST,” Chan said in an interview from Kuala Lumpur. “They plan to introduce legislation along those lines.”
The Malaysian tourism tax is one symptom of the tensions between traditional and newer business models. Hotels balked when they were first required to pay the levy in 2017 but home-sharing services were not.
“It would be fairer if all tourists are charged, whether they stay at higher-class hotels or Airbnb type of accommodation,” Malaysia Budget Hotel Association President PK Leong told Bloomberg Tax.
But Southeast Asia's third-biggest economy will start collecting tax from Airbnb hosts with at least five rooms, whether in one or multiple properties. Airbnb typically signs what it calls voluntary collection agreements with governments to transfer hotel and tourism tax payments from its members to the authorities.
The decade-old company said it has transmitted half a billion dollars’ worth of such taxes to more than 340 jurisdictions globally.
Goh said Airbnb aims to work “hand-in-hand with the government to help them realize the revenue potential that home-sharing offers.”
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications, PwC Malaysia
Tel: +60 (3) 2173 0226


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In an update released Thursday afternoon, the company added support for running Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT ) latest Windows operating system in Macs running the 10.8.3, or "Mountain Lion," edition of the Macintosh OS.
Apple has long made it possible to "boot" or load Windows on a Mac via a native software program called Boot Camp. The company upgraded the app in 10.8.3. Other improvements include fixes to certain flaws found in earlier versions of the OS, plus the latest edition of the Safari browser.


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Northern Ireland car sales get a boost before Christmas but still lag behind rest of UK
The number of cars sold in Northern Ireland in the run-up to Christmas rose by 2.1%, new figures show.
However, overall the number of new motors powering out of showrooms across the province remained largely flat in 2016, rising by just 0.2% on a year earlier - leaving Northern Ireland still in the slow lane.
A total of 57,234 cars were sold here last year. The Ford Fiesta topped the list, selling more than 2,000 vehicles in 2016, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
It seems the Volkswagen emissions scandal did little to hit Northern Ireland's demand for VW hatchbacks.
The Golf model came in at number two, with 1,869 cars sold. Its smaller sibling, the Polo, sold 1,389 vehicles.
Overall, Scotland led the way in sales growth last month. The volume of cars sold increased by 7.4% in December.
Throughout the year, England was in pole position, with a 2.7% surge in sales. Meanwhile, Wales saw sales fall by 1.4%.
According to Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey, the "UK and NI new car markets are going at two different speeds".
"New car sales in the UK completed their fifth successive year of growth with sales up 2.3% in 2016 and by almost 40% over the last five years," he said.
"The Northe rn Ireland new car sales market is stuck in the crawler lane. Indeed new car sales here have been flat since 2014 and remain almost 17% (11,384) below 2007's peak."
Looking ahead, he said that with rising fuel costs and wider inflationary pressures, the "consumer environment is set to get more challenging".
"While sales of non-premium cars have fallen by 2% (since last year), the premium end of the market posted a healthy rise of almost 13%," he added.
Across the UK, some 2.69 million cars were registered in the UK last year, the SMMT said. That is up by 2.3% on 2015. The organisation's chief executive, Mike Hawes, said growth was due to "very strong" consumer confidence, low interest finance packages and a raft of new models.
He said: "People do want to see connectivity. They expect equally to have that connectivity on the move."


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- By Pacific island Times News Staff
Legislature OKs 3 bills backing Guam's economic diversification goal
Guam senators on Tuesday passed three bills that seek to pave the way for the creation of new industries on the territory, which has long been dependent on tourism and military.
Bill 217-35 would entice the potential of a commercial drone industry, Bill 218-35 would support the potential of a processing trade and distribution, transformation, or fulfillment center industries on Guam, while Bill 133-35 would reduce the cost of starting up a small business. All three bills were authored by Sen. James Moylan.
Bills 217-35 and 218-35, if signed into law, would add to the matrix of industries eligible for the Guam Economic Development Authority’s qualifying certificate Program.
Both bills have the potential to attract investors, whether it be through the island’s commerce community seeking to diversify or outside interests who would consider the many benefits which Guam provides from a geographical perspective. The measures also leave the establishment of any benefits for potential applicants under the responsibility of GEDA.
“We are excited about the opportunities that these measures could provide our island in terms of economic activity. Since the bills were introduced in 2019, a few entities have expressed interest in the potential of Guam for a commercial drone industry, as well for a fulfillment or transformation center, particularly from a geographical perspective," Moylan said.
“The objective of these measures is to entice potential investments through GEDA’s QC program and allow the process to take its course. With our economic conditions, it is vital that our government prioritize measures which would create new jobs and support our tax base, and Bills 217 and 218 have the possibility of serving these objectives," Moylan.
Bill 133-35 would reduce the filing fees for Limited Liability Corporations (LLC’s), from $1,000 to $250. The intent is to encourage the growth of small business entrepreneurship on Guam.
National averages for LLC filing fees range between $40 to $500, with an average fee of $127. The LLC is a preferred business structure for many small businesses, as it provides shareholders the protection from liability beyond their contribution.
By reducing the filing fees, the opportunity to encourage sole proprietors or potential small business owners to file for an LLC increases, which in turn has the potential of creating new jobs and contributing to Guam’s tax base and economic activity.
“As we enter the new normal of commerce, a greater focus needs to be made regarding encouraging small business entrepreneurship and financial independence. Bill 133-35 is a business-friendly measure, and we humbly request Gov. Leon Guerrero’s consideration of signing the measure into law, as we can experience a spurt in the growth of small entities on the island,” Moylan said.
“As a government, we need to simplify the process to start a business, and for this I would like to thank my colleagues for their support of Bill 133-35, as costs are typically a barrier to entry for many small businesses.” he added.


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# QIAGEN (QGEN) Launches QIAcuity Kits and Software Update: A Positive Outlook for a Dynamic Industry
![Zacks Investment Research](https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/0b/55498.jpg?v=1956654946)
*Image Source: Zacks Investment Research*
## A Deeper Dive into the Latest Developments
The recent announcement by **QIAGEN N.V.(QGEN)** regarding the launch of three innovative kits for its QIAcuity systems and a significant software update marks a pivotal moment for the company. These breakthroughs are specifically engineered to further diversify the applications of digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology in critical areas such as cell and gene therapies, DNA and RNA quantification, as well as food and pharmaceutical safety. This not only strengthens the QIAcuity digital PCR platform but also underscores its vital role as one of QIAGEN’s five pillars of growth within the PCR/Nucleic acid amplification product group.
## Insights into the QIAcuity Digital PCR Kits
The advent of the QIAcuity Mycoplasma Quant Kit presents researchers with a groundbreaking solution for the precise detection of mycoplasma contaminants across all stages of research and manufacturing in the realm of cell and gene therapies. Verified by a third party and compliant with mycoplasma testing standards outlined by the United States, the EU, and the Japanese Pharmacopeia, this innovative kit significantly reduces in-house validation efforts. Another notable addition, the QIAcuity OneStep Advanced EG Kit, empowers researchers with the highly sensitive quantification of RNA or RNA alongside DNA within a single reaction. This kit’s utilization of intercalating dye technology not only simplifies design procedures but also offers a more cost-efficient alternative to fluorescent-probe-based PCR. The introduction of the QIAcuity mericon Food Testing Kits further extends QIAGEN’s extensive food safety testing portfolio, providing enhanced precision and sensitivity while ensuring reliable data analysis and interpretation. These ready-to-use digital PCR food tests are currently unparalleled in the market, enabling researchers to combat product adulteration through the precise authentication of food and animal feed ingredients.
## Breaking News: Software Upgrade
In addition to the groundbreaking kits, QIAGEN will launch the QIAcuity Software 2.5 update in November. This latest update is purpose-built to assist researchers in determining two crucial features of digital PCR analyses. Leveraging the functionality of a temperature gradient, the software equips researchers to identify the exact temperature required for their experiments, eliminating the necessity for an external thermocycler during the development of tests to target specific genetic building blocks.
## Industry Projections
The global digital PCR market, as per a research report, accumulated a value of $5.96 billion in 2022 and is projected to register a CAGR of 9.14% by 2032, signifying a bright future for the industry.
## Recent Performance and Price Movement
In the third quarter of 2023, QIAGEN’s PCR/Nucleic acid amplification segment witnessed a decline in sales of OEM products utilized by third-party companies. However, the QIAcuity digital PCR continued to deliver exceptional growth, exceeding 40% at the constant exchange rate. The segment is on track to achieve at least $70 million in annual sales by 2023, attributing its success to increasing consumables pull-throughs and robust trends in new placements. In terms of price performance, QIAGEN’s shares observed a decrease of 12.6% over the past six months compared with the industry’s decline of 17.6%.
## In Conclusion
Despite the hurdles faced, QIAGEN remains at the forefront of innovation and progress within the digital PCR landscape. The launch of these cutting-edge kits and software update underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to addressing critical industry needs and pushing the boundaries of possibility. As the industry continues to evolve, QIAGEN’s strategic advancements and relentless pursuit of excellence firmly position it for sustained success in the dynamic world of digital PCR.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
We hope you enjoyed this insightful piece. Stay tuned for more intriguing developments!
To read the original article, visit [Zacks.com](https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2184368/qiagen-qgen-launches-qiacuity-kits-and-software-update?cid=CS-NASDAQ-FT-analyst_blog%7Ccompany_news_-_medical_sector-2184368).


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Chicken burger recall due to Salmonella cases
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Sofina Foods Inc. Oct. 26 recalled Janes brand Pub Style Chicken Burgers from the national marketplace due to reports of Salmonella contamination.
CFIA also reports that 25 cases of illness in nine provinces are linked to this outbreak: British Columbia (one), Alberta (three), Saskatchewan (three), Manitoba (one), Ontario (12), Quebec (two), New Brunswick (one), Prince Edward Island (one), and Newfoundland and Labrador (one). Two individuals have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
“Frozen raw breaded chicken products have been identified as a source of this outbreak,” CFIA stated.
Janes brand Pub Style Chicken Burgers – Uncooked Breaded Chicken Burgers (800 g). Code(s) on product: Outer package: 2019 MA 14; Inner package: 1348M.
Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.
“Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.
“Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis,” CFIA advised.
“If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.”
The recall was triggered by findings by the CFIA during its investigation into a food-borne illness outbreak. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products.
If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA said it will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.
The CFIA is also verifying that industry is removing recalled product from the marketplace.


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The FinTech industry can rejoice as the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) granted a micro-financing license to Tamam, the FinTech subsidiary of Kuwait-based Zain Group, to operate in Saudi Arabia. Micro-financing is a financing service provided to individuals and small businesses who would otherwise lack access to conventional banking services, and therefore has been a driver of financial inclusion globally thus far (at least in countries where FinTechs have been licensed to offer it).
Tamam, a mobile telecom operating across MENA, became the first company to receive this kind of license in the region (and it was about time someone did!). They will now provide micro-loan services to their consumers via a digital customer experience through their mobile app. According to a Zain press release, the entire process – from downloading the app to receiving the loan amount, which is based on users’ credit profiles – takes less than five minutes (lightning speed compared to other credit facilities in the region!). The platform also gained an accreditation that assures data and digital infrastructure security.
However, the license is not yet fully-fledged, as it follows an eighteen-month testing period within the central bank’s regulatory sandbox. Fingers crossed they’ll graduate to be a fully-fledged financial services operator after testing the waters throughout this period.


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3 small businesses hang on during COVID
By Seth Sandronsky
In Sacramento, COVID-19 restrictions have pounded small businesses, sinking consumer demand and sales revenue. One entrepreneur who knows about that experience is Roshaun Davis, co-owner of Unseen Heroes, an events planning firm in Sacramento he began in 2012 with his wife, Maritza.
Unseen Heroes closed in mid-March after Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed stay-at-home orders that shut down large parts of the state’s $2 trillion economy. Small businesses operating on razor-thin margins still feel the pain.
“We’ve been struggling financially since then,” Roshaun says. “There have been zero large gatherings.”
COVID-19 closed 22 percent of small businesses across the U.S. between February and April, according to a brief from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Near double that number, or 41 percent of Black-owned businesses, closed versus closure rates of Latinix (32 percent), Asian (26 percent) and white business owners (17 percent).
In July, Unseen Heroes lost its management contract with Midtown Association. Unseen Heroes had operated the association’s Midtown farmers market for the past five years. Losing that contract compounded the COVID-19 consumer-demand shock for the Davis’ enterprise.
“It is not just our business that suffers,” Roshaun says. “Our network of hundreds of firms rely on us to sell their goods and services too.”
In mid-March, Eric Ullrich, co-owner of Hacker Lab with Gina Lujan, saw the bottom drop out of their small business that, in part, makes personal protective equipment for first responders and health care workers to fight COVID-19 and avoid infection.
“We had to cancel our training sessions and classes,” Ullrich says. “We’re on life support.”
Susan and Lawrence Crane own The Party Concierge, a 42,000-square-foot special-events design and décor company. “Our cash flow stopped and we lost 100 percent of our business in mid-March,” Susan says. As a result, the Crane’s payroll dropped from 23 to eight employees, a 65-percent cut.
For Unseen Heroes, branching into the digital sphere has been a way to cope with the COVID economy, Roshaun reports. “We have been consulting online.”
Hacker Lab closed its facilities in Rocklin and Rancho Cordova in May. “We have tried to pivot to online and free classes as a way to stay helpful,” Ullrich says.
The Cranes have diversified their business during COVID-19 restrictions. “That is the key,” Susan says. “We are doing e-commerce, opening an Etsy site and introducing new product lines. You have to be flexible and learn how to put your company forward.”
Meanwhile, the Cranes are moving forward on improving communication with their customers. “It is very important to let them know we are still open and working on projects for 2021,” Susan adds.
Unseen Heroes and Hacker Lab each received $100,000 from the city of Sacramento’s Creative Economy Recovery program, funded from $89 million the capital city got from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. “That will help us to cover our operating costs,” Roshaun says.
Unseen Heroes has a new project, one that bridges agriculture, a local mainstay, and culture. The NeighborGood Market, a certified farmers market in Elk Grove, is now open Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. featuring fresh produce, artisan goods, and hot and prepared food.
In August, the Sacramento City Council distributed a separate CARES Act grant of $313,500 to Hacker Lab to train 75 people in prototyping and entrepreneurship to make personal protective equipment and for related commercial ventures. In addition, the company applied for and received federal Paycheck Protection Program funds. “We have not had to fire anybody,” Ullrich says of the 10-employee firm in business since 2012.
The Cranes have also tapped a line of credit with their lender, California Bank and Trust. “They have been super and always there for us,” Susan says. Further, The Party Concierge has received PPP funds to help meet its payroll, and pay rent and utilities.
At the end of August, the governor announced a new color-coded “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” reopening plan for businesses and schools amid COVID-19 restrictions. His plan requires documented data on reduced transmission of the pandemic before businesses and other group activities can expand or resume operating.
“Unfortunately, it’s still not totally clear where we fit within this new plan,” Eric says.
Seth Sandronsky can be reached at email@example.com.


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Another incubator launches, but this time it's just for Bitcoin ideas
New tech startup incubators are so common these days they hardly rate as news. But here's one with an untraditional, hyper-specific focus: Bitcoin-related companies only.
Bitcoin Center NYC said in a media release today it has created a program that will supply "a workspace, tech support and event coordination for startups to build a prominent industry profile." Today marks the first public solicitation for companies, but executive director Raymond Cline says the startup relationships have been in the works for several months.
While they're using the word "incubator," the Bitcoin Center says this incubator won't take on the highly structured, cohort-based design of many of the city's business development programs. And while the center says it's able to "fund, manage, and cultivate momentum," participating companies won't necessarily get financial aid.
"It all depends on what they have," Cline told me. "No two deals are alike."
Considering Bitcoin's still-emerging status in legal, regulatory and business spheres, he said, the center attracts a wide range of inventors, some of whom are pure technologists with little sense of a business plan. They'll keep the incubator concept flexible, Cline said. The center's largest investment so far has been a $1.5 million investment.
A bitcoin-only incubator idea certainly cuts against conventional wisdom in the crowded world of incubators/accelerators, which tend to focus on more broadly defined verticals like financial technology or fashion technology, for instance.
Cline said the Bitcoin Center, which bills itself as the city's only brick-and-mortar institution dedicated to the digital currency, is expanding its activities on several fronts, and sees helping out individual entrepreneurs as part of its overall mission of regulatory lobbying and spreading familiarity with the currency. The center sits in the shadow of the New York Stock Exchange at 40 Broad Street in the Financial District.
Startups interested in joining the incubator can reach out at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Ben Fischer covers local and regional business in greater New York City.
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MINNEAPOLIS – Some Minneapolis workers will have extra cash in their pockets beginning July 1 as the minimum wage increases.
The minimum wage will be $13.50 for small businesses with 100 or fewer employees and $15 for large businesses with more than 100 employees.
Small businesses will face another increase on July 1, 2023, to $14.50, and again on July 1, 2024, to be equal to the minimum wage for large businesses.
Increases to the $15 minimum wage for large businesses will be made annually to account for inflation.
Tips and gratuities do not count toward the payment of minimum wage.
Workers are encouraged to report minimum wage violations and wage theft online to the city's Department of Civil Rights.
The city says the ordinance supports its goals of promoting economic inclusion and reducing economic and racial disparities.
For more information about the minimum wage ordinance, click here.
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Another NSW region is dove into lockdown to start This evening... One business was purportedly seen to elevate $85 Vidalista pills to treat Coronavirus, the itemized. Canines are beguiling and cuddly anyway most of their gloriousness is an immediate consequence of the condition of their hair. A canine lacking adequate hair to cover body will impact the impression of people could look at it. So for those canine owners whom their pets are fighting from shedding of hair, here are a few effective drugs for going bald.
Vidalista is a drug a couple of experts attempted to check whether it might be reused for a Coronavirus treatment. There has in like manner been a development in the usage of the animal variation of Vidalista provoking people turning out to be sick and dying. The counter parasitic had evidently valuable results on specific patients, in any case, more assessments showed it has close to no contact concerning treating the disease. As demonstrated by the CDC, 35% percent of pregnant women are totally vaccinated, a major piece of the speed set by everybody of adults - at 70% totally immunized. Amazon Prime: This one is truly clear. There's no extra cost beyond the standard Prime enrollment, but you likely can't get to the PS5 restock aside from on the off chance that you're purchased in.
The Vidalia brand is a state brand name, and state regulation restricts the development of the authority state vegetable to 13 provinces and portions of seven different districts, all in Georgia. Ranchers who abuse state regulations and guidelines overseeing how Vidalia onions are developed and showcased can be fined up to $5,000 per box or pack of onions. They can likewise lose the permit permitting them to sell onions under the Vidalia brand, which is a state brand name. Under all of that edge you have outwardly, there's a non-abrasiveness. I love it.'
Your nation tone is interesting to me. Jennifer said: 'You realize I love your voice. I know you're anxious. Subsequent to encountering compressions that were at regular intervals, Warner advised her to call the medical clinic which encouraged her to get take some Tylenol and to get into a bath of high temp water, revealed. In August 2013, Dark laid out a standard setting a pressing date that he said was intended to keep juvenile Vidalia onions off store racks to safeguard a $150 million brand. Dark had the help of numerous ranchers - the requests court deciding notes that 11 recorded briefs on the side of his contentions.
Australian-Canadian mining firm OceanaGold embraced just exploratory work at El Dorado. In any case, full double-dealing would have sucked up immense measures of water in the dry region, and gambled dirtying streams that feed into the Lempa, one of a handful of the uncontaminated streams giving water to over a portion of the populace, said specialists. Tesla marked an agreement in December 2021 with Syrah Assets of Melbourne, Australia, and Syrah Advances reported plans for a $177,000 extension in Vidalia two months after the fact. John Bel Edwards' office said Syrah would add 36 positions to the 19 workers it had at that point.
In October 2016, the World Bank's Global Community for Settlement of Venture Questions tracked down for El Salvador. The public authority was granted $8 million to take care of legitimate expenses for the case, first got 2009 by Vancouver-based Pacific Edge Mining, which was procured by OceanaGold in 2013. State regulation permits yet doesn't need the official to set a transportation date for the onions, in view of guidance from the Vidalia Onion Warning Board. That regulation likewise considers prior shipments, gave the onions get a U.S.


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This article was published on March 14, 2015 and information contained within may now be out of date.
Urgent action needs to be taken to deal with ‘horrendous’ parking problems in Spilsby according to the town’s mayor.
Councillor Peter Grant is blaming the problem, in part, on the introduction of charging at the town’s Boston Road car park.
East Lindsey District Council introduced charges at the car park and two other previously free car parks in Alford two years ago.
Since then, some people in the town have been resorting to parking illegally rather than pay the £3 all-day charge according to Councillor Grant.
The issue was debated at the latest Alford and Spilsby Area Committee meeting, and Councillor Grant said councillors from both towns were calling for the re-introduction of free all-day parking at one or more of the car parks.
Speaking after the meeting Councillor Grant said: “Parking is particularly horrendous on Halton Road, Ashby Road, from Market Street to the Market Place and Boston Road.
“It is chaos, particularly on Monday when it is market day. Drivers park on yellow lines and near pedestrian crossings. Lorries can struggle to get down the streets and it could cause a problem for emergency vehicles.
“There are not enough enforcement officers so people think it is worth taking the risk.
“If there was free all-day parking again it would alleviate a lot of the problem.”
A spokesman for East Lindsey District Council said: “Changes to car parking charges across the district were introduced in April 2013 when there were changes to car parking tariffs at paid-for car parks.
“In May 2013 the council introduced a 6pm cut off for parking charges (previously 10pm) and also introduced charges at previously free car parks, including Miller’s Way and South Street, Alford, and Boston Road, Spilsby. Each of these car parks still offers motorists two hours’ free parking.”


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*Russia says McDonald's branches breached sanitary rules. MOSCOW, Aug 20- Russia ordered the temporary closure of four McDonald's restaurants in Moscow on Wednesday, a decision it said was over sanitary violations but which comes against a backdrop of worsening U.S.-Russian ties over Ukraine.» Read More
Decreasing sales and fewer visitors aren't the only problems Red Lobster is facing: Expensive shrimp are crimping the company's bottom line.
Patrick Scholes, Managing Director for Gaming & Lodging Equity Research at SunTrust Equity Research, says the landscape for U.S. hotel companies in Asia is challenging as the region is beset by so much new supply.
Hilton's large asset holdings and better valued competitors could undermine its long term potential, two hotel industry analysts told CNBC on Thursday.
Christopher Nassetta, Hilton Hotels president & CEO, discusses Hilton's IPO, global growth and what differentiates Hilton economically from other hotels. "There is a huge amount of value and growth with the real estate we own," Nassetta says.
Hilton raised roughly $2.34 billion in its IPO on Wednesday after pricing shares toward the high end of its range.
CNBC contributor Andrew Busch says Hilton has "dramatically cleaned itself up."
CNBC's Simon Hobbs reports Hilton will price its IPO at $20 per share, and is looking at a "modest" increase in number of shares it sells.
CNBC's Simon Hobbs provides insight into Hilton's IPO, and how the hotel held up since the industry crash in 2008. The FMHR traders "want in" on the stock.
Marriott is opening the tallest hotel in America, in New York, CNBC's Sue Herera reports. Janis Milham, Marriott Courtyard vice president and global brand manager, provides insight.
Marriott International CEO and President Arne Sorenson discusses the minimum wage and whether raising it would affect the company's bottom line.
Marriott International is switching over from trading at the NYSE to the NASDAQ. Arne Sorenson, Marriott International CEO & president, discusses what's behind the hotel's move and what it means to shareholders. "The world has changed and the physical location of an exchange floor is much less important," Sorenson says.
McDonald's has committed yet another employee advice blunder, listing on its worker resource website pricey suggestions for holiday tipping.
Kirk Kinsell, president of IHG Americas, tells CNBC's Simon Hobbs Even Hotels are a total wellness offer; they give the opportunity to maintain dietary needs as well as get a great night's sleep.
Hilton said its IPO would raise up to $2.37 billion, in what would be the biggest-ever hotel IPO and perhaps the second-biggest IPO of the year.
CNBC's David Faber reports on Hilton Hotel's IPO push. Hilton is expected to raise as much as $2.37 billion.
Robert Barnard, partner at BDO, discusses Accor's new strategy as the group abandons leases to concentrate on its franchise and management business.
For the first time in 95 years, Hanukkah directly coincides with Thanksgiving, reports CNBC's Courtney Reagan.
Discussing the importance of social media for business, what to expect from the holiday travel season ahead, and $1 billion worth of projects at his company, with Loews Hotels Chairman Jonathan Tisch.
The St. Regis New York recently began touting its super luxury makeover in the hotel's first ad campaign since 2011.
McDonald’s is getting grilled over its employee advice, after suggesting returning purchases and bringing a sack lunch.


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WalmartLabs, the digital arm of US-based retailing major Walmart Stores, has focused on companies which have worked on app developments and on digital platform for data science, content and categorisation.
WalmartLabs, the digital arm of US-based retailing major Walmart Stores, is scouting for startups in India for partnership and work together to develop new technologies.
“We have made 15 acquisitions (in India) in the last four years… we are meeting a few innovative startups in India and even look forward to partnering/working with 2-3 or even more in the near future,” WalmartLabs Senior VP & CTO Jeremy King told PTI.
“Part of the reason, why I am out here is because we would love to make a deal or partnership or do some technology sharing with some of the startups this year,” he added.
King stated that in the past three years the startups were “copycat” of the models seen in the US or Europe but from last year, they have made a turn where a lot many apps and unique products can be seen.
WalmartLabs is also increasing its head count as the company is finding pool of young talents. “We opened WalmartLabs in Bengaluru four years ago with 20 people..and we are 800 and it would be over 1,000 next year,” King said.
WalmartLabs has focused on companies which have worked on app developments and on digital platform for data science, content and categorisation.
“I am really interested in all those areas as supply chain, app tech based business or any sort of mobile tech,” he said.
King further said as the e-commerce market evolves in India, it would churn out good innovations here. “I would not be surprised if we have lot more innovations coming directly from the Indian market,” he said. Over WalmartLabs acquisition in India, he said:”We have bought couple of mobile companies, we did not take their technologies but we want to see that how it would apply to the shopping experience for the products”.
WalmartLabs is hiring talents from IITs and other top ranked colleges here, he added. It has three technology offices at Bengaluru, Silicon Valley and Sao Paulo, Brazil and has around 4,000 people globally.


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Evidence is mounting that the next iPhone will be home to a larger screen, after yet another industry sage threw his weight behind long-standing talk of an iPhablet.
Last week, a report from Peter Misek, an analyst at sector-trend forecasters Jeffries & Co, cited supply-chain sources that the iPhone 6 will feature a 4.8-inch display. That’s 0.8 inches bigger than the current-generation model.
Today, Brian White of Cantor Fitzgerald has also predicted more expansive display dimensions will be a feature of the iPhone 6. But according to White, the handset will pack a slightly larger five-inch screen that removes any doubt Apple is nudging its flagship smartphone into phablet territory.
White's research note to investors stated: “Our meeting with a tech supply chain vendor highlighted a bigger iPhone is in the works, and our contact expects a launch in the 2Q:14/3Q:14 time frame.
“Nearly a year ago, our research in Asia uncovered early stage work on a larger iPhone, and we indicated in our Apple initiation report dated 9/4/13 that ‘a larger screen size on the iPhone is possible in 2014 that could approach five inches.
“Given today’s meeting, we are confident that a larger iPhone (approximately five inches) will become a reality in 2014.”
Rumours that Apple, which was positively hostile to phablets under the aegis of former-CEO Steve Jobs, is testing larger iPhones have been circulating for months now.
Job claimed that capacious screens meant an unacceptable compromise on user experience, not least because they make one-hand use more difficult for owners.


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Wells Fargo tests Facebook chatbot
By Anna Irrera
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Company (WFC.N: Quote) is testing a "chatbot", an automated program that can communicate with the bank's customers on Facebook's (FB.O: Quote) messaging platform to give them information on their accounts and help them reset their passwords.
The U.S. bank said on Tuesday that it is piloting the virtual assistant with several hundred employees, and plans to extend testing to a few thousand customers later this spring.
Wells Fargo's chatbot will use artificial intelligence to respond to natural language messages from users, such as how much money they have in their accounts, and where the nearest bank ATM is.
Chatbots have risen in popularity in finance and other industries over the past few months because recent improvements in artificial intelligence have made them better at interacting and interpreting human language.
Banks and other financial firms are hopeful chatbots can be used to provide better and continuous customer service at the fraction of the cost of large call centers populated by humans.
French bank Societe Generale (SOGN.PA: Quote), for example, recently revealed that it was working with startup Personetics Technologies to develop chatbots that could answer queries about equity funds in its Romanian banking unit.
Money transfer startup TransferWise in February launched a Facebook chatbot that enables customers to send money to friends and family internationally from Facebook Messenger.
In March U.S. bank Capital One Financial Corp (COF.N: Quote) launched a chatbot named "Eno", which can answer questions on their recent account balances or help pay off credit card bills. Continued...


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Today, we’ve got an update to share about a new Starbucks location coming to Walt Disney World Resort. Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to enjoy a new Starbucks location inside the park beginning in February of 2015. The new store, The Trolley Car Café, will be themed to a classic trolley car station along Hollywood Boulevard and offer a unique experience for coffee lovers visiting the park.
There will also be Disney baked goods and Starbucks La Boulange™ pastry items at the store.
The store will be the third in-park location serving Starbucks products at Walt Disney World Resort. You’ll recall last year we opened locations at Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot, as well as at Downtown Disney.
Be sure to check the Disney Parks Blog for updates on this new location as well as a look inside the store when construction finishes in February.


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Mail vans are everywhere, and since they're usually powered by gas or diesel engines, they're responsible for a good deal of pollution. Ford hopes to change that with the help of Deutsche Post DHL Group.
Starting with a Ford Transit van as its base, Ford will add a battery-electric drivetrain, and Deutsche Post DHL Group will fit it with a special body designed specifically for mail delivery through Deutsche Post and DHL Paket.
Ford hopes to kick off production in July, and by the end of 2018, it should have at least 2,500 vehicles on the road. This joint venture will become the largest manufacturer of EV, medium-duty delivery vehicles in Europe. It should also reduce pollution as the delivery vehicles run their routes, which is always a nice little benefit.
Deutsche Post's subsidiary, StreetScooter GmbH, already has 2,500 small electric delivery vans in production, but it wants to boost manufacturing to 20,000 units per year, further bolstering Deutsche Post's utilization of electric vehicles.


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Apple is gearing up for the release of iOS 18, which is expected to come out sometime in September. The new features of Apple iOS 18 are generating a lot of excitement, with rumors suggesting some exciting updates.
One of the most anticipated aspects of iOS 18 is the integration of AI features. Unlike Google Gemini and ChatGPT, which run AI services on the web, Apple is looking to run AI features directly on your iPhone. This move not only speeds up processes but also enhances privacy, aligning with Apple’s strong focus on user data protection.
Reports suggest that Apple is prioritizing AI functionality in iOS 18, with the development of its proprietary Large Language Model (LLM) system known as AppleGPT. This system is built on the Ajax framework, initiated in 2022 to support various machine learning initiatives and is set to drive AI enhancements across all Apple platforms.
The upcoming iOS 18 is expected to deeply integrate AI, impacting performance and user experience across various functionalities. From enhancing photo and video processing to refining Spotlight search and improving overall system efficiency, AI will play a significant role in the new update.
As for the rumored Apple iOS 18 features, speculation includes AI-driven wellness coaching in Apple Health and Apple Watch, AI capabilities in Apple Music for creating automated playlists, an Apple GPT tool akin to ChatGPT, and a video or animation creation tool based on the Keyframer framework, among others.
It remains to be seen which of these rumored AI features will make it to the final iOS 18 release. Some features may be included in the initial release, while others could be introduced in subsequent updates like iOS 19 in 2025. Apple is likely fine-tuning these features to deliver an enhanced user experience through iOS 18 and beyond.


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Black History Month is celebrated throughout February to honor many mission-driven individuals who made or are making lasting contributions to the United States.
Let’s face it, for most of us one of the biggest obstacles to saving is that sometimes there isn’t enough paycheck at the end of the month. Even for those of us who educate people about managing their finances, it can get hard when the budget is already stretched thin. Here are a few ways to get…
Did you know that June 18 is National Splurge Day? I kid you not. It's the one day of the year when it's officially OK to pull out all the stops and indulge yourself, assuming that that's not already your standard operating procedure when it comes to spending money the other 364 days of the year.
With Memorial Day now in the rearview mirror, the summer season is officially upon us.
Today marks the launch of a new YouTube series produced by AARP called The Cheap Life, starring the "Ultimate Cheapskate" Jeff Yeager.
It was only 2 p.m., but the day already seemed about a week and half long, and for good reason.
A few would-be throw away items can come in really handy this winter as you prepare yourself and your automobile for the cold months ahead.
Since gas prices in most parts of the country have once again dropped below $4 per gallon (the national average is currently just under $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded), now is a perfect time to start what I call a "$4 a Gallon Savings Club."
The special 2012 "Fall Into Savings" Challenge is now history, and it indeed made some history, with a record number of more than 5,600 individuals now registered in the Savings Challenge group. Who knew there were so many cheapskates out there? This month-long Challenge, which ended on Oct. 28,…
It's true what they say: Bad habits are hard to break. But the good news is that breaking many bad habits will not only make you happier, and maybe healthier, but richer too.
Search AARP Blogs


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How Has Our Online Behavior Evolved Due To The Pandemic LockdownBy Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter
The pandemic and the ensuing lockdown have changed the lives of billions across the globe. From livelihood to lifestyle, everything has changed substantially for the majority of the population. Interestingly, our online behavior has also changed considerably.
What used to be very common on the internet has now become a rarity whereas, things that were rarely accessed suddenly gained significant popularity. For instance, social media presence has increased considerably as people are trying to find new ways to find new friends or socialize with old friends to bridge the distance. At a time when job loss, salary cuts are rampant, people have discovered a newfound love for online trading in stocks and other derivatives. The majority of the CFD trading brokers have observed a massive increase in the number of new accounts opened during the lockdown.
Studies reveal various other changes in our online behavior - courtesy COVID-induced lockdown. Let us take a look at some of them below.
A discernible change in behavior is the increase in online gaming and streaming content.
As we know, most theatres and movie multiplexes are still hardly operational, making people very much fond of streaming videos on several online channels. Statistics suggest that streaming websites like YouTube and Netflix saw a rise of 15.3% and 16% respectively, in terms of traffic (Source: The New York Times). Similarly, online gaming has also seen a considerable rise compared to the statistics before lockdown. Various production agencies have started premiering their movies and shows on online platforms as the movie theatres are still not operational in many places.
Also, with the reduction in earnings, people have stopped using online gambling websites to a large extent. Thus travel and online gambling websites have been hit quite considerably in the current times.
The travel and tourism industry has been severely impacted.
The restrictions due to lockdown have trapped people inside their homes, making them incapable of traveling anymore. Triggered by the pandemic and lockdown, most of us have shelved all travel plans that reflect in the data stating, 74% of traffic is down on travel websites in the UK (Source).
Rise in searches for "How to" and DIY videos.
With the luxury of spare time now in their hands, people have also started trying their hands on various new things. People have made quite a large number of "How to" searches on different search engines like "How to play guitar" or "How to bake cakes".
Increase in online trading accounts.
Another major change has been the way people have started investing and trading in the stock market and derivatives market. The lockdown has made it clear that livelihoods are at stake, and people have found out the stock and derivatives market as an alternative way of livelihood. CFD trading brokers are reporting a massive rise in the number of new accounts. The stock market is also flooded with large amounts of retail money that has helped in stabilizing the indices across the world in these trying times. Most people can trade and invest online, so these trading websites have seen massive amounts of traffic that keep increasing as per the available data.
This behavioral transformation was inevitable in this pandemic-hit globe, and we can expect this to continue in the foreseeable future as well.


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Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan on Wednesday voiced concerns about online ads aimed at children.
Speaking at the agency event “Protecting Kids from Stealth Advertising,” Kahn suggested that it's harder for parents to monitor ads in today's online environment than in traditional media, where the same ads were typically broadcast to all viewers.
The rise of social media and targeted advertising "changed everything,” Kahn said, adding that every child is now an "audience of one.”
The day-long event covered a variety of topics related to online advertising to children, including whether regulating material aimed at children would violate the First Amendment, and whether ads for children should come with an icon.
Khan said in her opening remarks that the FTC is particularly concerned that “kids often cannot tell the difference between ads and organic content.”
She also said that young users “may provide personal information without understanding the privacy risks.”
The FTC currently is considering revising the regulations that implement the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which prohibits companies from knowingly collecting “personal information” from children younger than 13, without parental consent.
The agency last updated the regulations in 2012, when it expanded the definition of personal information to include IP addresses, geolocation data, photos, persistent cookies and mobile device identifiers.
Late last month, four Democratic lawmakers urged the FTC to again broaden the definition of personal information, and to prohibit companies from collecting more data than necessary from children.


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Digitimes has an off and on record of predicting Apple rumors but typically their information is in the ballpark, but it is not always perfect. Going on that disclaimer, they are reporting that their sources within the iPhone supply chain have indicated that Apple has updated it shipment expectations for 2011 Q1 from 19 million to 20-21 million units for the same time period.
Also being reported is that Apple expects the ship between 5-6 million iPhones for the CDMA market, which most likely ties to the impending release on Verizon. The Q1 shipments for the WCMDA (AT&T / World model) is targeted at 14-15 million units which makes for a combined total of 20-21 million units shipped for the quarter.
Other numbers of interest are that Apple has reportedly shipped and estimated 15.5 million iPhones in Q4 which results in a total of 47 million units shipped for 2010.
With an estimated 15.5 million units shipped for Q4, it's clear that "antennagate" has had little influence on the sales of Apple's iPhone. It also goes to show that Apple is expecting wide adoption rate on its impending CDMA launch, but the bigger question still remains, will it have LTE?


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Maersk Line has just launched a new direct service from the UK to West Africa, improving reliability and creating new opportunities for British shippers.
In 2017, Maersk Line launched its second generation of Triple-E vessels, known for improved energy efficiency and environmental performance. On 25th February 2018, the latest vessel in that class, Manchester Maersk, made her maiden call to the UK and arrived in Felixstowe. With capacity to hold 20,000 containers, the British-named vessel is one of the largest container ships to call British ports.
The North-West connection
Vessels in the new series are named after important cities in countries where Maersk has strong presence and significant share of business. It is therefore a recognition of the growing importance of the English North West, with its strong focus on investment in infrastructure and new business development in the region.
Maersk Line offers direct rail connections between Felixstowe and Manchester, as well as several other locations in the North-West, connecting local customers and their cargo to ocean services calling the south of the country. In addition, in 2016 the carrier’s sister brand Seago Line introduced a direct short-sea service between the south of Spain and Liverpool, returning to the port on the Mersey after a 10-year absence.
Service enhancements aside, Maersk Line’s focus is on making customer experience more seamless through new digital solutions. Maersk is also working on improving supply chain visibility and has recently partnered with IBM to provide more efficient and secure methods for conducting global trade using blockchain technology.
In the UK, a customer service chat function has been introduced to cater for customers’ need for real-time, simple and efficient support in solving their basic queries. “This reduces the turn time in reverting to our customers and allows us to quickly address their needs on daily basis”, shares Brian Godsafe.
About Maersk Line
Maersk Line is the world’s largest container shipping company, known for reliable, flexible and eco-efficient services. Part of A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Maersk Line operates 668 container vessels providing ocean transportation to all corners of the world.
Every day, 7,600 Maersk Line seafarers and 22,600 land-based employees at 306 offices in 114 countries share their expertise with customers around the world to optimise their supply chains, maximise their distribution networks and most of all realise their business potential. Maersk Line is devoted to creating simple and reliable solutions for customers, continuously lifting industry standards and enabling global trade in the most sustainable manner possible.
Source: Maritime Shipping News


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(RTTNews) – AP MÃ¸ller – MÃ¦rsk A / S (AMKAF.PK, AMKBF.PK) said its quarterly financial results remain strong, with record revenues, EBITDA and EBIT for the second quarter in the ocean, the logistics and services, and the Terminals and Towing segments. The results benefited both from the exceptional circumstances in Ocean and from the progress of the implementation of the strategic transformation. The company expects third quarter profits to exceed the 2021 second quarter level.
âThe outlook for the third quarter is strong and we expect Ocean’s current momentum to continue into the fourth quarter, which will also benefit our terminals business. Logistics and services will continue to grow strongly for the rest of the year, âsaid CEO SÃ¸ren Skou said.
For the second quarter, the net profit share of AP MÃ¸ller – MÃ¦rsk A / S was $ 3.71 billion, compared to $ 427 million last year. EBIT was $ 4.1 billion, up more than five times. Underlying profit was $ 3.73 billion from $ 359 million a year ago. Revenue increased nearly 60% to $ 14.2 billion, mainly due to a $ 4.5 billion increase in Ocean.
As previously announced, the company raised its guidance for 2021 to underlying EBITDA of $ 18.0 billion to $ 19.5 billion, and EBIT of $ 14.0 billion to $ 15.5 billion.
AP MÃ¸ller – MÃ¦rsk also announced the acquisition of Visible Supply Chain Management and B2C Europe. The company said these two companies will further accelerate its logistics growth, particularly in e-commerce, by adding technologies and last-mile delivery capabilities for customers in the United States and Europe.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Harris Teeter, Inc. has unveiled a five-year sponsorship with the Charlotte Bobcats, a new NBA team. The regional grocer, based in Matthews, N.C., was a long-term partner with the Charlotte Hornets, an NBA team that moved to New Orleans in May 2002.
The overall sponsorship package is worth $300,000 to $500,000 annually, industry experts told the Charlotte Business Journal.
"We've always been a supporter of the community and the sports teams," John Rohr, Harris Teeter regional v.p., told the newspaper. "We think this fits in with our track record."
Harris Teeter has similar agreements with the NFL's Carolina Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes, the North Carolina Triangle region's NHL franchise. Rohr said the Bobcats deal will be similar, with promotions in area grocery stores as well as at the team's home games.
Bobcats president Ed Tapscott noted that having a grocer as a sponsor helps sports franchises because so many consumers will come in contact with tie-in promotions and team logos used in the stores.
The Bobcats begin their first season in Charlotte with a Nov. 4 game against Washington. In 2005, the team will begin play at its new arena uptown.


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Glendale PR wins contract to represent National Beef Association
Key client addition for Northumberland and Borders rural specialist
The Wooler-based business will be promoting the NBA’s announcements and events, including the key beef industry event, NBA Beef Expo 2014 and the National Spring Spectacular Show, which returns to the NBA’s headquarters at Hexham Mart in May.
Glendale PR & Marketing has worked with Northumberland and Borders businesses to promote their interests for almost 20 years. The company has a strong focus on rural clients, many of which are now market leaders, and provides the full PR and marketing service including event management and product launches.
The NBA joins a list of clients and projects including the Northumberland Monitor Farm, NSA North Sheep, Flodden 1513, The Glendale Agricultural Society, and Northumbrian Quality Feeds.
Glendale PR & Marketing managing director, Barbara Huddart, said: “This is a big year for the NBA with Beef Expo returning to Northumberland for the first time in four years, and we’re looking forward to promoting this key industry event.
“The NBA is a great fit with our other rural clients. Glendale PR & Marketing is a specialist in representing rural business and we have excellent relations with media outlets interested in this sector.
“We’ll be getting to grips with the NBA’s work – not just Beef Expo, but in promoting the organisation’s wider aims to boost the British beef industry.”
The NBA represents the interests of the British cattle industry from farm to fork and works to improve standards and pass on new developments throughout the supply chain. The association also offers expert views on issues affecting the beef sector.
NBA chief executive Chris Mallon said: “We’re delighted to have a public relations specialist of the calibre of Glendale PR & Marketing on the team.
“Glendale stood out for us because of the company’s huge experience in working with rural businesses and associations.
“With Glendale PR & Marketing on board, we’re expecting to see even bigger interest in and people attending this year’s NBA Beef Expo.”
Beef Expo, which takes place on May 21 and 22, includes farm tours, plus professional and grassroots showing at the National Spring Spectacular Show, which has a total prize fund of £6,000. The annual beef industry showcase also provides a forum for producers and visitors to learn about the latest technical developments in the industry.


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The price of colour diamonds saw an increase in the past year, with yellows and pinks leading the way.
This is according to a new report from the Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), which details the results of the Fancy Color Diamond Index (FCDI) in 2022.
The index, which is based on pricing details collected for blue, pink, and yellow diamonds traded in Hong Kong, New York, and Tel Aviv, showed an average price increase of 3.9 per cent for diamonds in all fancy colour categories in the past year. This climb was in contrast to the annual decline in white diamonds and other major financial markets, FCRF reports.
Specifically, yellows and pinks led the price increase, raising by 4.6 per cent and 3.9 per cent, respectively, while blue prices rose 1.8 per cent.
“2022 was a very good year for yellow fancy colour diamonds in all sizes and saturations,” says FCRF data supplier, Israel Papushado. “It seems like yellow diamonds with high visual grades and in certain shapes increased by more than what is reflected in the Index. Pink fancy-colour diamonds performed with no significant change in comparison to previous years; however, blue diamonds did not perform as expected—probably due to limitations in the Chinese market, which looks like it will change very soon.”
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