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From 1st to 2nd of April, Tel Aviv hosted the CannaTech and according to the organisers one thousand participants from 45 countries gathered in Tel Aviv to join the event.
Over the past years, Israel has been among the leading countries in cannabis research. Israel legalized medical cannabis a few years ago. With export possibilities coming up in the near future the industry is expected to grow rapidly.
For example the Israeli Health Minister Basson has seen a boom in applications for licenses for growing medical cannabis in Israel, and it seems that things are expected to change positively in the times to come: "So far, 565 farms have submitted requests to the Ministry of Health to obtain licenses to grow medical cannabis,” he said. “Of these, 384 have already passed the first round of tests in the licensing process, and this was after they underwent police checks and land ownership verification.” In addition to that, Ehud Olmert, former Israeli prime minister, is the second Israeli ex-prime minister to join a cannabis company.
On the other hand the industry is still facing challenges. There are 40,000 patients using medical cannabis in Israel, and the supply struggles to keep up with the demand. As we reported on Tuesday, a few people were protesting in front of the CannaTech location against the strict new GMP regulations that currently prevent one of the eight supplying companies into adding its produce to the market, making it impossible for patients to access to cannabis-based medicines.
Saul Kaye, the CEO and founder of CannaTech and iCAN: Israel-Cannabis said that “patients in Israel are not getting medical cannabis fast enough,” urging the government to move quicker to reform the process so patients who need help could obtain it. He also stated that Israel “immediately needs a legal cannabis framework for the 2 million Israeli cannabis consumers.”
Check out our photo report of the event here!
iCan is an Israeli cannabis business incubator that helps entrepreneurs with their cannabis projects. Their booth showed the array of services with which the companies support the medical cannabis industry.
So, novelties are underway, and CannaTech was the event were the industry could meet and share opinions, information, best practices and products so to better serve the pharmaceutical industry and patients.
Growers, suppliers and patients gathered at the venue, where they could see the recent developments in the market. From data-driven automated systems that allow growers to monitor every parameter of the growing facility, to innovative light solutions that work also as crop protection thanks to UV rays.
One of the novelties proposed by the Israeli company Seedo
On the final day, a pitch contest was held, where five companies presented their projects and ideas. Judges were present, listening carefully to the different pitches. At the end of each one, they asked questions to the presenters in order to have a better idea of their projects.
Kassi won the pitch contest thanks to their consumer-oriented product.


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Chicago-based Load Delivered Logistics added 24,000 square feet and 60 new jobs to its River North office. By the end of 2016, the company aims to grow to over 250 team members.
“The Midwest has always been a major hub for the supply chain industry specifically focusing on frozen food and meat companies,” says Robert Nathan, chief executive officer. “There is a tremendous need for reliable temperature-controlled transportation providers. We chose to specialize in this mode of shipping when we founded the company during the 2008 recession. People weren’t buying plasma TVs, but they still needed to eat.”
Today, temperature-controlled shipping is still prevalent and accounts for nearly half of the company’s business. Load Delivered Logistics serves several Chicago-based companies across an array of industries with particular expertise in the food and beverage industry.
The expansion, which will be completed in early August, features a workout facility and a Center for Excellence, which doubles as a training facility for employees and a home for the company’s many philanthropic efforts such as after-school tutoring and mentorship programs.
“Our office expansion enables us to scale our growth to continue to meet our clients’ needs,” says Nathan. “We’re growing fast, and we want to prepare for our next growth cycle. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the hard work and dedication of our team, so we want to ensure our office accommodates them.”
In addition to the office expansion, Load Delivered Logistics announces new members of the board of advisors. New advisors include:
Dave Mullen, formerly the CFO and executive vice president of NAVTEQ Corp., currently serves as a director of Mattersight Corp. and Avid Technology, Inc. Mullen joined NAVTEQ as the CFO in 2002. Prior to serving at NAVTEQ, Mullen led Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. through their IPO as the CFO and president.
Arthur Mesher, former CEO of Descartes Systems Group, Inc., currently serves on the board of directors for Versapay, Nulogy Corp. and QHR Technologies Inc. Mesher led the creation of the first on-demand logistics network that provides application and communication capabilities.
Paul Fisher stepped down as the president and CEO of CenterPoint Properties Trust in April 2013 after building and taking the company public. In addition to his current role as the vice chairman of CenterPoint’s board of trustees, Fisher serves as the chairman of the Supply Chain Innovation Network of Chicago.

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PETN DESI hearing
PETN DESI hearing: Began Oct. 5 and is scheduled to run through Oct. 25 in room 4-35-A at FDA's Parklawn Building in Rockville, Maryland. Witnesses that will be cross-examined include representatives from Warner-Lambert and Bolar, as well as FDAers and outside experts representing the agency. In 1984, FDA proposed to withdraw the NARDs for single-entity coronary vasodilators containing pentaerythritol tetranitrate, citing the lack of the products efficacy for treating angina.
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Ying Huang was named CEO as his predecessor came under investigation in China and as partner Janssen was getting closer to seeking US FDA approval for its lead CAR-T therapy.
In addition to agreeing to emergency use of the Oxford University/Astra Zeneca and Sinovac vaccines, Brazil's medicines regulator has also published good manufacturing practices certificates for Pfizer and Janssen vaccine. It has questions about the Sputnik V authorization request.
There can be no such thing as a COVID dividend, but the renewed digital push and momentum for health system change perhaps come closest.


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Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro could be among the first to arrive with the Snapdragon 875
After Apple yesterday introduced the world’s first processor with 5nm lithography – A14 Bionic, smartphone manufacturers on the Android platform have also started to gather pace. Yesterday it was also revealed that Samsung will produce the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 875, which will also be manufactured using 5nm lithography.
The Snapdragon 875 is Qualcomm’s 5G AP chip for premium smartphones and is scheduled to come out in December. Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S21 (tentative name) and high-end phones of China’s Xiaomi and Oppo will be powered by the new Qualcomm AP.
Now, through his official account on the Chinese social network Weibo, Lu Weibing – Vice President of Xiaomi – has left hints of the next Redmi smartphone which will be equipped with this processor. It is true that the VP ended up not mentioning names, but considering the usual timeline of the brand, everything indicates that it will be the Redmi K40 Pro.
Redmi places itself head to head with Xiaomi in the high-end segment
Bike Price in Nepal 2023 (30+ Brands)
After being created to focus on launching even more affordable smartphones, Redmi has evolved in an incredible way in the quality of its smartphones, also betting heavily on the high-end segment. Although its main focus continues to be the launch of smartphones that offer an incredible quality / price ratio, Redmi has managed to expand its portfolio in an incredible way.
It is expected that both brands (Xiaomi and Redmi) will continue to follow the same strategy, increasingly presenting themselves as two forces to consider in the various segments, instead of Redmi being just a “cheaper version” of Xiaomi.
When will the first Xiaomi flagship phones arrive in 2021
Even though there was no information to confirm the launch dates for 2021 , the brands’ history allows us to speculate when this might happen with some certainty.
As happened this year, it is expected that in 2021 Xiaomi will present the alleged Xiaomi Mi 20 before the Spring Festival in China, which will take place in February. Redmi, on the other hand, should also maintain its tradition and launch the Redmi K40 and K40 Pro the following month, in March.
Therefore, it is being speculated that Xiaomi might launch at least two smartphones equipped with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 processor during the first quarter of 2021.


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On July 15, an application has been filed with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) which seeks the centralization of all federally-filed ovarian cancer claims in a single court in order to coordinate pretrial proceedings. At least 11 product liability claims concerning talcum powder and ovarian cancer have to date been filed in 10 federal jurisdictions. The consolidation motion asserts that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois “would permit convenient travel for the parties and counsel as compared to travel to the East or West Coast,” reports Business News.
“The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) talcum powder litigation already exceeds 1,200 cases on the state level. The federal docket also has the potential to be large, and would likely benefit from centralization, as coordinated pretrial proceedings would eliminate duplicate discovery and inconsistent court ruling,” states a representative of victims of defective medical devices, drugs, and consumer products. Allegedly, women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after years of regular use of talc-based products for feminine hygiene purposes.
Claims of repeated application of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower products to the genital area can increase a woman’s risk for ovarian cancer. Talc particles allegedly can make their way into the vagina and migrate to the ovaries, where over time, the accumulating talc can result in the sort of inflammation that promotes the growth of cancer cells. Since the 1970s, a number of studies have implied that J&J failed to take any steps to warn women of this possible risk.
Over 1,200 talcum powder lawsuits have been filed against J&J with centralized litigations underway in St. Louis, Missouri, and New Jersey Superior Court. A St. Louis jury awarded $55 million in compensatory and punitive damages to an ovarian cancer victim who used J&J’s talc-based powders for almost 40 years as part of her feminine hygiene regimen. Another Missouri trial in February, ended with an award of $72 million for the family in a similar case, according to Business News.


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The price at which the company is being sold is 97% lower than the price at which trading in the share began in 2007.
Israel Postal Company is expanding its cooperation with retailers.
The New Zealand farming cooperative is buying the stake in the dairy farm systems company from Kibbutz Afikim and Fortissimo.
The $10 million acquisition price could rise as high as $34.3 million, depending on performance.
Fresher is the fourth CEO of a major Israeli bank to resign in the past year.
The Palo Alto Networks founder and CTO blasts Check Point for putting too much emphasis on profit rather than investing in growth.
The Israeli carrier, which last operated flights from London Stansted in 2009, will launch a five-times a week service starting June 28.
The acquisition of Growers Holdings is part of Israel Chemicals strategy of enhancing its digital services.
The merger will make Cellcom, Israel's largest mobile phone operator with 3.4 million subscribers.
Minister of Transport Bezalel Smotrich: If the state wants to preserve its civil aviation, it has to help.
Terms have been agreed between the two mobile phone companies. The merger will make Cellcom Israel's biggest mobile phone operator.
Despite the possibility of a rate cut from 0.25% to 0.1%, the shekel continues to appreciate.
The Israeli defense electronics company has now won over $1 billion in contracts this year.
Fourth quarter 2019 quarter revenue and profit fell short of the analysts' consensus.
Strauss Group's 3C joint venture will pay NIS 167 million for Mitsui Alimentos Ltda.
The CityPass consortium made a NIS 1 billion profit as the Israeli government, inexperienced in such projects, bought back the Red Line for NIS 1.6 billion.
Gonen Usishkin says all airlines are in crisis over the coronavirus and El Al may have to make painful decisions.
Leader Capital Markets macroeconomist Yonatan Katz: Annual inflation has fallen to 0.3% and is expected to continue falling, increasing the likelihood of an interest rate cut.
Insurance and finance group Harel bought 4.5% of the real estate company from the Prashkovsky family.
Mobile telephony company Golan Telecom is in the midst of negotiations on an acquisition by Cellcom.
A court ordered Teva to restore the Copaxone rights for treatment of diseases other than multiple sclerosis to Proneuron, but the patent has expired, rendering the rights useless.
The investment is through BGI Investments, controlled by Rami Levy and Shalom Haim.
The Israeli freelance platform's new product will enable small businesses to create a new logo in seconds.
The acquisition of Golan Telecom by Cellcom would preempt a merger between Hot and Partner.
However, Berkshire Hathaway still has a loss on paper on its investment in Teva of about $230 million.
Nice CEO Barak Eilam: We are in a very strong competitive position to capitalize on the changes taking place in our markets.
Sharon was responsible for Electra Consumer Products' 2017 acquisition of Golan Telecom, and received 10% of Golan Telecom's shares in the deal.
Low-cost competition was causing the Israeli carrier turbulence well before the East Asian virus but falling fuel prices may ease the pain.
Market analysts believe there is a 50-50 chance of a rate cut this month.
The company's Dead Sea plant was shut down for a month, affecting production, while Chinese orders have been delayed.
Eli Kalif tells "Globes" that growth will be enhanced by streamlining factories rather than more closures and selloffs.


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Whole Foods rewards program, we hardly knew ye: After about one year in existence, the grocer is planning to discontinue the service at the start of next month. The future of Whole Foods discounts, Jeff Bezos has decided, will be as an exclusive perk for Amazon Prime account holders. Amazon broke the news in an email warning current members that they’ve got until May 1 to redeem any unused rewards and digital coupons before they expire — right alongside their actual online accounts, which will shutter then, too.
The change is being teased on the Whole Foods website as well. “A few of the features on our website have been retired — find out more below,” it says on a new FAQ page for rewards, digital coupons, and online accounts, before requesting that you “stay tuned” because “something great is cooking with Amazon. We can’t wait to tell you about it.” Underneath a pic of some nice-looking fruit, it adds: “Starting May 2, 2018, we’re retiring the Rewards Pilot Program, Digital Coupons within our mobile app and website, as well as in-store loyalty programs such as Whole Body Benefits.”
Of course, no one can call the move a shock. It’s exactly what Amazon promised to do last August when it took over. The upside is, if you’re a Prime account holder then congratulations: You’ll soon start getting discounts on organic avocados and antibiotic-free turkeys, and maybe even deals like free maca-root powder with every in-store purchase of an Echo.


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Security researchers have responded to the vulnerability's with caution and concern. "It's not a screwup where there's a missing semi-colon somewhere or a line of code that was overlooked," explains Martin Hamilton, who has a background in cybersecurity and is now a futurist at Jisc. "It's a fundamental problem in the design of WPA."
"It’s some great academic research which will ultimately help improve security for all," security architect Kevin Beaumont wrote in a blog post. "Do not panic".
Meanwhile, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre says it is looking at the guidance but cautioned that attackers would have to be close to the targets physically and it doesn't appear to work on websites properly implementing HTTPs encryption. Ahead of the KU Leuven research being published the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Cert) issued a warning to 100 organisations stating that "most or all" of the correct uses of the Wi-Fi standard were vulnerable.
The disclosed security flaws are within the WPA2 protocol. This means that any product using the WPA2 standard could be affected. "If your device supports Wi-Fi, it is most likely affected," Vanhoef and Piessens explain.
The vast majority of Wi-Fi enabled devices and networks use WPA2 to protect information being sent across the network. For a device to be Wi-Fi certified by the organisation that sets the standards (the Wi-Fi Alliance), it's been a requirement to have WPA2 as standard since 2006.
As described in a research paper, Krack can be used by a hacker who is near a Wi-Fi access point. "Our main attack is against the 4-way handshake of the WPA2 protocol," the researchers write. "This handshake is executed when a client wants to join a protected Wi-Fi network, and is used to confirm that both the client and access point possess the correct credentials."
During the attack, a hacker could trick a device into reinstalling one of the encryption keys that is already being used. To do so the handshake messages are manipulated and replayed. It is through this that the data being transferred can be accessed.
Using the vulnerability and a series of other hacking tools to remove encryption, the researchers show how it is possible to trick a device to "intercept and manipulate" all data transmitted. On an Android device, which was weaker than some other systems tested, the researchers were able to intercept an email address and password of a person attempting to login to a fashion website.
Open standards are the answer
While WPA2 may have been compromised and there is a threat to everyone that uses it, the problem can be fixed. "Implementations can be patched in a backward-compatible manner," the original researchers write. For this to happen, device manufacturers need to fix the issue and send out security updates for their devices. Changing passwords on Wi-Fi networks won't make a difference, the only fix will be installing updates when they're published.
Some early fixes for Krack are already being released. For instance, Ubiquiti Networks, which makes networking products, has issued firmware updates, as has OpenBSD, a Unix-based operating system.


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ATHENS – The Greek government is scrapping the twice annual sales periods to let retail stores set the prices they want any time they want, to resistance from the PASOK Socialists who are in the coalition administration.
Retail stores will be able to have special offers on merchandise on any day of the year, even throughout the year and on the day before the start of sales seasons, without having to announce them to the Development Ministry and the local tradesmen’s association, according to a ministerial decision that came into effect on Nov. 12.
The decision was opposed by some traders and consumer groups while PASOK called it a “cheap trick.” They are partners in the government led by Prime Minister and New Democracy Conservative leader Antonis Samaras.
The decision by Deputy Development Minister Gerasimos Giakoumatos also sets specific criteria for the determination of a store as a stock outlet.
It will have to sell stock from previous seasons or lines, and will be allowed to sell used or faulty goods provided this is clearly indicated. Items that are stock from previous seasons will have to be clearly marked, too, with a note next to the product’s price.
The government had been under pressure from its international lenders to allow stores to be more competitive, including more Sunday openings.


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Unique ID To Be Delivered By Post.
Posted on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Department of Posts has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) which India Post has been designated as official carrier of Unique Identity Numbers and will deliver the UID communication to the citizens of India.
The department of posts, with a vast network of 155,015 post offices of which around 90 percent are in the rural area, would use its flagship product, Speed Post, for the purpose. India Post is also providing the comprehensive business solution of printing and pre mailing activities and last mile delivery of UID letters to the recipients of UID number. Whenever and wherever required by UIDAI, Department of Post will also do biometric authentication of each UID letter delivered.
At present, DoP is also involved in mammoth task of implementing the work of distribution of nearly 10,000 tonnes of Census material from 15 printing presses to nearly 12,000 taluk and municipal level locations across the length and breadth of the country through its Logistics Post in connection with Census 2011 as its official carrier. India Post will also be undertaking the reverse logistics for collection of filled in census forms from these locations and delivery to the respective Directorates of Census Operations and scanning centers in the States. The Project started in February 2010 and will be completed in June 2011.


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Northampton BID launched the ‘Discover Northampton’ campaign, a three-part campaign that will showcase all that the BID area has to offer.
Businesses in the BID area were invited to the new Borjia Bar, Castilian Street, to ‘Discover each other’, last night.
The aim of the event was to get businesses in the BID area to learn about each other, work together and promote each other’s businesses to new and existing customers.
The event was an informal opportunity for businesses to ‘buddy’ with a complementary business and for each to proactively promote their ‘buddy’ to their customer base through recommendation. It was also an opportunity to learn in detail what ‘Discover Northampton’ is all about.
Northampton BID Director, Yvonne Spence, said: “It was great to see so many businesses attend the launch of Discover Northampton. This campaign is designed for the businesses, it is all about the businesses and needs the businesses for its success.
“I hope from tonight’s event, business owners promote a complementary business in the BID area to new and existing customers through word-of-mouth recommendation, and sign up to the next two phases. And finally help Northamptonshire to DISCOVER just what and how much the Town Centre has to offer.”
To find out more about the BID visit: www.northamptonbid.co.uk


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- Chip and Joanna Gaines' "Fixer Upper" reboot, "Fixer Upper: Welcome Home," aired in January 2021.
- In 2019 I visited the couple's hometown, Waco, Texas, where the "Fixer Upper" duo opened Magnolia Marketplace.
- Before the pandemic, "Fixer Upper" fans visited Waco to see the Silos and shop for home goods.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
As a former Texan, I know Waco as the small city that is half-way between Dallas and Austin, Texas.
Waco is about an hour and a half drive out of Dallas or Austin.
But fans of the HGTV show "Fixer Upper" and discovery+'s "Fixer Upper: Welcome Home" know it for its abandoned silos-turned-marketplace called Magnolia Marketplace.
In 2018, Waco saw 2.6 million tourists, according to the Waco Convention & Visitors Bureau. Tourism decreased slightly in 2019, and in 2020 they were more than cut in half.
HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines flipped their first home together in Waco two decades ago, and the town has played an instrumental role in the couple's rise to fame ever since.
As Insider previously reported, the couple married established their businesses, and started a family in Waco.
The couple went on to flip countless homes in the area and build a lifestyle empire, and the couple is often credited with revitalizing Waco.
The couple is known for transforming rundown properties in the Waco area into beautiful homes.
I was one of those tourists in October 2019. While visiting Austin, Texas, I took a Flix Bus to Waco.
I took a Lyft from south Waco ...
... to the Silo District in Downtown Waco, a town square with food and shopping, all with a rustic theme.
The Silo district has its own free trolley that stops all over downtown Waco, so shoppers can easily get from store to store.
The trolley is on a flag-stop route, meaning if you see a moving trolley that you want to get on, you can flag down the driver.
I got on the trolley at Magnolia Marketplace at the Silos ...
... and when I saw a sign that said both "candy" and "soda," I decided to get off the trolley at the next stop.
The establishment was called the Sweet Station.
The building served as a gas station in the 1920s and was renovated in 2019 to accommodate a new business — sugar, as KCENTV reported.
I came in for a soda. This is only about half of the selection of soda available at the Sweets Station.
Overwhelmed by the choices, I went with the bubbly beverage I already knew was good.
I paid $2.17 for my refreshment and continued on my journey.
When I walked outside, I noticed this little message on the side of the building.
I thought it was a nice touch. But it wasn't the only mural in the area.
Just across the street, a larger and more colorful mural defines Waco as "a city with a soul."
The mural used to say "Waco feels like home," Waco Tribune-Herald reported. The new phrase comes from eight articles from the early 1900s that describe Waco as a "city with a soul."
Tourists from all over the world come to Waco to shop at the Findery for their homes.
The Findery has had customers from as far as Singapore shop at their store, Waco Today reported in 2017.
Some customers even travel by van to get the most out of their trips to the Findery.
A couple drove all the way from Ontario, Canada, and stuffed their van with goods to take home, according to the same article.
But despite its global impact, the Findery is a family-owned business ...
... and it feels like one too. They even have recipes and suggestions next to some of their cooking products.
After my trip to the Findery, I headed back to the Silos, which are just a block away.
And that's when I realized the Silos were more than just a store.
Magnolia Market has a bakery, food trucks, and a stage.
The Market is open with measures in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, like mandatory face masks and nightly deep cleaning.
The marketplace seemed pretty busy for a Monday, even in pre-pandemic times.
To me — a 24-year-old renter who spends money on everything but home goods — Magnolia Market was pretty much the same as the Findery, except bigger.
They sold a lot of Magnolia souvenirs, like these mugs.
Even on a Monday afternoon, there was a line at check-out.
After window shopping at Magnolia Market, I headed towards Silos Bakery, where the line was out the door.
Chip and Joanna's new coffee shop Magnolia Press was much easier to access, maybe because it's a block away from the Silos.
I was surprised to find the coffee shop so calm compared to the bakery after I learned that Magnolia Press just opened in October 2019.
After my trip to the Silos, I explored more of downtown Waco, where many abandoned houses and buildings have renovation plans.
The fixed-up homes are easy to spot in downtown Waco ...
... especially because they're next to houses that look abandoned.
Some homes had succulents out front in true Texas style.
My downtown stroll led me to another home goods store called Interior Glow ...
... where I saw candles with pictures of Chip and Joanna from "Fixer Upper" on them.
I eventually reached the Dr. Pepper Museum, which has been a Waco staple since its opening in 1991. The admission is $10 for adults.
The Dr. Pepper Museum is open with coronavirus regulations in place like mandatory mask-wearing.
The Dr. Pepper Museum is located in Waco because Dr. Pepper was created there.
In fact, Dr. Pepper used to be referred to as "Waco" because Waco was the only place you could get it, according to Roadside America.
I ended my Waco journey in Austin Avenue District in downtown Waco.
After a long day of walking, I stopped at Coffee Dichotomy and Spirits for a latte.
I wasn't too surprised to find that even this coffee shop had been fixed up.
This coffee shop was designed by local businesses, artists, and artisans. It certainly captured the rustic charm in all the home goods stores I had been in that day.
I sat and sipped my lavender latte, which set me back $4.16 ...
... and wandered up to the rooftop deck ...
... where only one person was sitting on this Monday afternoon. It was a peaceful way to end my day in downtown Waco.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that "travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19."


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Facebook’s Mobile Ad Revenue Reaches $13 Billion and Shows No Signs of Stopping
At one point, Facebook was just an idea. Zuckerberg wanted to socialize the web, and since that moment of inspiration, the building blocks were set over and over again to where we are today. Now, Facebook brings in $13 billion, and that’s just through mobile ads.
In just three years, Facebook went from nearly $0 to $13.2 billion in mobile ad revenue (via The Motley Fool).
In Q2 of of 2012, 3% of Facebook’s total revenue came from mobile. Last quarter, Q4 of 2015, mobile accounted for 80% of their total revenue. That’s quite the increase in a short amount of time. It wasn’t long ago that people criticized Facebook for a lackluster mobile experience, where concerns grew louder and louder around the company’s vision.
Clearly, Zuckerberg knew exactly what he was doing, and now, they have the dollars to prove it.
Facebook is officially a mobile juggernaut, extending well beyond its standalone app too. They own WhatsApp, they own Instagram, they own Messenger. They’re thinking big picture with investments in 360-degree video, artificial intelligence (Facebook M), virtual reality (Oculus), and Internet.org.
It will be exciting to see how Zuckerberg and his teams plan to monetize Messenger and other Facebook owned products. We’re already seeing an increase in ads in our Instagram feeds, and it might not be long before that $13.2 billion number gets even higher.
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Another 40M Yuan in Digital Yuan Red Packets to be Distributed in Beijing and Suzhou
With the Lunar New Year right around the corner, China has amped up its efforts to test out its upcoming digital yuan. And while extensive pilot projects have already taken place in some of the country’s biggest financial hubs, local governments seem eager to incentivize even more real-world use of its national digital currency.
According to the latest report from the South China Morning Post published on Feb. 8, two more large-scale digital yuan tests are set to take place in the country right before the Lunar New Year. Beijing and Suzhou will hold trials of the national digital currency this week, government notices from both cities have shown.
The China Daily acquired the government notice stating that 10 million yuan will be distributed in Beijing in digital rec packets throughout this week. Each red packet, the notice said, will be worth 200 yuan, or around $31, and distributed via a lucky draw on Wednesday, Feb. 10. Winners of the packets will be able to spend their digital yuan both online and offline until Feb. 17, in stores covering clothes, shoes, cinemas, hotels, and various other areas.
At the same time, another red packet distribution project will take place in Suzhou. However, the Suzhou trial will be much larger in volume, with the city distributing 30 million yuan in red packets. As in Beijing, the red packets distributed in Suzhou will all be worth 200 yuan. Citizens can apply for a lottery distribution program that’s virtually the same to the one in Beijing, where they will be able to receive the packet via a lucky draw.
The Suzhou trial, however, will last until Feb. 27 and cover much more retailers. The South China Morning Post reported that over 10,000 businesses are expected to support payments using the digital yuan during the trial, covering items ranging from groceries to clothes.
Back in December last year, Suzhou held its first trial of the upcoming digital yuan, distributing 20 million yuan in red packets to its citizens. The trial turned out to be a huge success, with the system processing hundreds of millions of yuan in transaction volume over the course of the trial. If this week’s trial follows the success of the city’s previous pilots, there could be up to a billion yuan in transaction volume processed within 10 days.
Beijing’s own DCEP trial is a direct result of the city’s latest commitment to test the digital yuan. At the end of last month, the city, alongside Shanghai and Guangdong, published a report pledging that it would offer new pilot projects for the digital yuan and introduce infrastructure that would support the creation of a digital currency innovation zone in Shenzhen.


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For several years in a row, the global e-commerce market has been continuing to grow rapidly. The total e-commerce income has exceeded $1.8 trillion in 2018, and by 2022, according to international analytical services forecasts, will reach $2.6 trillion. Together with the general development of e-commerce, the b2b e-commerce market is developing intensively within this segment of the economy. The marketplace platforms are using all opportunities of growth in all possible e-commerce areas. According to forecasts, in the next five years more than two thirds of the total volume of online spending will fall on marketplace.
The main reason for the marketplace-platforms high popularity is the concept and global idea of their work. Many such stores are working according to the sharing economy principles and allow people both to purchase goods profitably and conveniently and also to resell unnecessary things, rent and lease property. According to Coresight Research's research, several models can be chosen for the marketplaces development:
- vertically integrated e-commerce for specific categories and tasks;
- local marketplaces for certain markets;
- marketplaces for additional services using the principles of the "sharing economy".
More and more traditional retailers are aware of the need to build a development strategy, taking into account the possibility of competition with the marketplace or participation in it. The platforms are providing their users with maximum opportunities. Convenience of searching, price comparison, purchases, access to a wide range of sellers and buyers are the main advantages of the structured marketplaces. For merchants, such ecosystem allows starting a business relatively quickly and inexpensively.
All of these benefits will continue to ensure the rapid growth of the b2b e-commerce market, as well as its expansion, not only in the field of retail goods, but also in the business relations segment and the cryptocurrency market (which Syntera is currently directly involved in).
The use of the sharing economy principles opens up unlimited possibilities for the exchange of goods and services between people. Many experts are saying with confidence that the marketplaces, which are based on these principles, is the future of the economy. And Syntera is one of the first companies which is confidently going into this future. We are preparing to launch our own marketplace, news about it will soon appear on our resources. This platform will not only allow members of the community to buy goods with a big discount, but also will further increase the price of SSC, increasing the demand for it, as for SSC you can now buy and sell goods and services. Become an investor of Syntera now by investing from $100 to your account, in order to get the most benefits tomorrow!
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December saw the launch of Bentley’s latest Continental, advertised exclusively across Ocean’s iconic digital advertising network.
The campaign heralds a return to Outdoor advertising, a significant step for one of the world’s most luxurious brands who normally focus their communications strategy through premium press . This iconic British brand chose Ocean’s premium portfolio, which is widely regarded for its quality locations, audiences and digital reproduction values.
“Bentley is one of numerous luxury goods brands that have recognised the qualities of digital outdoor. The impact delivered, combined with the audience delivery is a compelling proposition for brands”
Richard Malton, Marketing Director, Ocean.
To see more Automotive brands who have advertised across the Ocean digital network across 2012, click here.


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The “Ground-to-Glass’ distillery debuts expressions as distillery exclusives
Frey Ranch Distillery co-founders Colby & Ashley Frey have announced the launch of the first two expressions from what they have named their “Single Grain Series”, a line of whiskeys created to highlight the individual grains grown on their 1,500-acre Ranch. Frey Ranch Single Grain 100% Oat Whiskey (50% ABV, 375ml, $59 SRP) and Frey Ranch Single Grain 100% Wheat Whiskey (50% ABV, 375ml, $49 SRP), both of which are made entirely from grains grown and malted on-site and aged for six and a half years in barrels.
Located just east of the Sierras and boasting lush farming conditions due to its proximity to the Lake Tahoe Watershed, Frey Ranch Distillery is a year-round working farm and one of the rare whiskey producers that grows 100% of its grains on-site since the distillery’s founding in 2006. To stay up to date on Frey Ranch release dates and retail locations, visit www.freyranch.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The releases come after nearly a decade of planning, patience, and creativity that reflect the early pioneering spirit of co-founder and self-proclaimed “Whiskey Farmer” Colby Frey, a fifth-generation Nevada farmer. The grains used in these whiskeys were planted in the spring of 2014; a year later after harvest, Frey and his team began the distillation process with the intention of creating whiskeys that highlight the flavors of each specific grain. Frey Ranch will release more expressions in its limited Single Grain Series in the years to come; 12 unique whiskeys are currently aging in barrels.
“The release of our Oat and Wheat whiskeys has been a long time coming, and we’re thrilled to see what whiskey enthusiasts think of these new expressions,” says Frey. “Farming these grains ourselves gives us the opportunity to explore the unique flavor profiles of these single-grain variations without influence from any other grains in the mash bill and discover how they can stand out in the whiskey world.” said Colby Frey
In addition to the Single Grain Series, Frey Ranch Distillery produces its flagship Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey (45% ABV, $49.99 SRP), which was awarded 92 points from The Tasting Panel; Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey (50% ABV, $59.99 SRP), which received 93 points from Whisky Advocate, and Frey Ranch Single Barrel Whiskey (60%-66.5% ABV, $84.99 SRP), which received Double Gold at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.


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Samsung is expecting a higher revenue and profit for the company just released its notes for Q2 of 2021. According to the company, this increase is majorly for higher demand for semiconductor chips and smart devices.
We all know since the coronavirus outbreak, everything and everyone is shifting to the internet. And that shift turned the graph in favor of companies like Samsung.
In its report, Samsung is expecting a revenue of around KRW 63 trillion (nearly $55.4 billion) for Q2 of 2021 – a jump of 19% compared to Q2 of 2020. The profit expectation is around KRW 12.5 trillion (nearly $11 billion) – a jump of 53% compared to Q2 of 2020.
Previously, i.e., in Q2 of 2020, the company released its reports with a 7.4% loss in sales. The reason for that was quite obvious – the COVID-19 outbreak.
We also heard that this time Samsung is expecting to sell more smartphones and TVs than any other brand. But there is also one hurdle coming their way – a shortage of chips and other components.
It has been a long time since I joined Research Snipers. Though I have been working as a part-time tech-news writer, it feels good to be part of the team. Besides that, I am building a finance-based blog, working as a freelance content writer/blogger, and a video editor.


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"Hi Tim, Android 4.4 KIT KAT is available in October". This is a translated answer on Nestle Germany's Facebook, which seemed to confirm an October launch for Android 4.4. Well, Google didn't say much about the launch date, though rumors suggest that the release data is likely to be October 28.
Along with many leaked photos of Android 4.4, it seems that the next version of Google's platform is coming soon. As Android 4.3 only has some minor updates, many Android users expect the Nestle-inspired build should prove to be a large update. What features could this update bring us?
Photos unveiled by tech blog GadgetHelpLine showed us that Android 4.4 is likely to carry with new features like wireless display support, cellular phone plan settings, and new printing and payment options. The list below details what new features could be included in KitKat.
According to findings of an Android forum, folders are no longer limited to 16 shortcuts and will simply scroll if there are more. Widget placement moves out from the app drawer and back to the more traditional long-press method on the home screen. What's more, users might also notice that the stock Android 4.4 experience allows for more than five home screen panels.
Adjustments could be seen in the stock camera experience as well. It's said that users will be able to have options to apply filters, borders, and effects. Well, if users have already uploaded the image to the cloud, Google+ already allows for photo editing and manipulation.
The coming Android 4.4 KitKat could sport a re-designed settings menu complete with a print function, plus new photo editing tools in the gallery.
The native printing could allow for options such as paper size, number of copies, orientation, and choosing between color or black and white. It sounds that Google might simply add Cloud Print to KitKat at an OS level instead of counting on its standalone application.
Transparent navigation and status bars in Google Experience. Google Search/Now integrated within Google Experience. Leftmost home screen reserved for Google Search/Now. Google Search/Now has a "one-touch button to set a reminder." Google Search's voice input prompt is "kind of transparent on the bottom and floats instead of occupying the whole screen."
Follow Google's release history, it's anticipated that the most recent Nexus 4, Nexus 7 2013, and Nexus 10 devices, as well the previous generation Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 2012 would pick up the release first, maybe a few weeks after the launch.comments powered by Disqus


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To counterbalance the articles on this site bemoaning the increasing rates of obesity, here’s one from the Daily Mail (where else?) about Donna Simpson, the New Jersey woman who is already gargantuan and wants to become even fatter to set a new world record:
Donna Simpson already weighs 43st, but she is determined to nearly double her size to become the world’s fattest woman. The 42-year-old from New Jersey, U.S, is set on reaching the 1,000lb mark (71st) in just two years. Remarkably she insists she is healthy, despite now needing a mobility scooter when she goes shopping.
Donna Simpson already weighs 43 stone but is consuming an astonishing 12,000 calories a day in a quest to become the world’s fattest woman. ‘My favourite food is sushi, but unlike others I can sit and eat 70 big pieces of sushi in one go,’ she said. ‘I do love cakes and sweet things, doughnuts are my favourite.’
Donna, who wears XXXXXXXL dresses, eats mounds of junk food and tries to move as little as possible. Ms Simpson already holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s fattest mother, when she gave birth in 2007 weighing 38stone. She needed a team of 30 medics to deliver her daughter Jacqueline during a high-risk Caesarean birth.
Yet although she can only move 20ft before needing to sit down, she wants to be even bigger.
‘I’d love to be 1,000lb,’ she said…
[continues in he Daily Mail]


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The new store, which is on the site of the former Homebase on Winchester Road, is 84,500sq ft and offers customers more than 30,000 home improvement and garden products.
Services include paint mixing, key cutting, a garden centre, Indoor play area, café, timber cutting and in-store DIY workshops.
To celebrate the opening, British Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell joined a welcome breakfast staff.
The store hosted two days of events last weekend (December 16-17) with family activities including the famous Bunnings Sausage Sizzle, face-painting, balloon modelling and a story time session led by Santa.
Bunnings, which is a leading retailer of home improvement and outdoor living in Australia and New Zealand, acquired Homebase for £340 million in February 2016 – and plans to invest a further £500 million building the Bunnings Warehouse business in the UK and Ireland over a five-year plus timeframe.


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Rising tensions between Uber, traditional taxi drivers and governments are getting "serious" according to Wall Street Journal business editor Dennis Berman.
"When you detain two executives, put them in jail, indict the company, basically throw the book at them, it's starting to get a little real, as you might say," Berman said Wednesday on "CBS This Morninng."
French authorities took the two Uber managers into custody Monday because of "illicit activity" involving the company's low-priced service, UberPop.
While French officials expressed their frustration that Uber isn't held to the same standards as traditional taxis, Uber claims the French system is outdated.
"This is really good, I think, in the long run for Uber. They're trying to get governments to come up with rules that they can abide by. If they had to ask permission, it would take probably years; if they ask forgiveness, it's much shorter," Berman said.
Uber's strategy, says Berman, is to outlast any short-term hurdles, like getting governments on board.
Berman said the company is probably thinking: "...'By the time that's done, we are in the markets 300 cities world wide, and we have the brand name, and we're there and we're unstoppable.'"
Violent protests broke out in France, Thursday, in a nationwide strike. Drivers, angry that Uber is taking away jobs, set fire to cars and blocked streets.
In New York, Monday, Uber employees and others gathered at City Hall to protest a proposed bill that they say would block 10,000 new jobs. New York City is one of the company's largest markets, with 26,000 drivers, and according to New York Affiliate WCBS, the bill could put a cap on the number of cars it is permitted to add.
Berman said New York City cab drivers are trying to stop the spread of Uber drivers.
"Taxi drivers in New York are saying, 'Hey, we bought a medallion to have the right to run a taxi on the New York City streets, and you've thrown that out, New York City,'" he said.


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oyd Gaming Corporation and FanDuel Group announced Monday the debut of FanDuel Sportsbooks at four Boyd Gaming properties: Blue Chip Casino Hotel and Spa in Michigan City, Indiana; Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque, Iowa; Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood, Iowa; and Belterra Casino Resort in Florence, Indiana.
The openings follow the debut of the FanDuel Sportsbook at Boyd Gaming's Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, in March, as well as the companies' launch of mobile sports betting across that state in July. In the coming months, the two companies also plan to introduce mobile sports products under the FanDuel brand in both Iowa and Indiana, pending the receipt of required regulatory approvals.
In honor of the kick-off of the 2019-20 professional football season, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel celebrated their newest retail sportsbooks with ceremonial first bets placed by four retired football stars: Chicago Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher (Blue Chip); Green Bay star wide receiver and world champion Antonio Freeman (Diamond Jo Dubuque); Minnesota Hall of Fame defensive end John Randle (Diamond Jo Worth); and Cincinnati's legendary quarterback Ken Anderson (Belterra Resort).
"Together, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel Group continue to successfully capitalize on the historic opportunity afforded by the legalization and expansion of sports betting in new states across the country," said Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming. "The FanDuel Sportsbook is off to a great start in Pennsylvania, contributing to solid growth in visitation and profitability at our Valley Forge Casino Resort near Philadelphia. We are confident our partners at FanDuel will deliver excellent results in Iowa and Indiana as well, further expanding Boyd Gaming's customer base and enhancing our long-term competitive appeal."
FanDuel Sportsbook at Diamond Jo Casino in Northwood, Iowa
The grand opening of the partnership’s first retail sportsbook in the state of Iowa took place August 29, as Football Hall of Famer and Minnesota sports legend John Randle placed the ceremonial first bet as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The FanDuel Sportsbook features three betting windows, six video displays including a large video wall, 11 self-service IGT PlaySports betting kiosks and one sports ticker. FanDuel provides its proprietary risk and trading technology that leverages the IGT PlaySports platform. It offers bets on all major U.S. sports, including baseball, soccer, football, basketball, golf, boxing, motorsports racing, and more.
FanDuel Sportsbook at Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque, Iowa
The grand opening of Boyd Gaming and FanDuel’S second retail sportsbook in that state was held at Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque on September 4.
The FanDuel Sportsbook opened to the public today at noon, one day ahead of the kick-off of the 2019-20 professional football season. Legendary Green Bay wide receiver Antonio Freeman placed the ceremonial first bet as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
It is located near the south entrance of Diamond Jo Casino’s floor and features four betting windows, 14 video displays including a large video wall, nine self-service IGT PlaySports betting kiosks and three sports tickers.
FanDuel Sportsbook at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Indiana
The official debut of the FanDuel Sportsbook at Boyd Gaming’s Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, Indiana took place September 5. Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher placed the ceremonial first wager, just hours before the kickoff of the 2019-20 professional football season.
“We are thrilled and honored to have a Chicago sports legend like Brian Urlacher join us to celebrate the debut of the FanDuel Sportsbook at Blue Chip,” said Ted Bogich, Executive Vice President, Operations for Boyd Gaming. “This state-of-the-art sportsbook – managed by FanDuel, one of the nation’s premier sports-betting brands – will be a tremendous addition to our first-in-class amenities, and give customers yet another reason to visit the leading regional entertainment experience we have created at Blue Chip.”
“Today is the perfect day to open our doors in Indiana, as the regular season kicks off tonight in Chicago,” said Keith Wall, Vice President Commercial Retail, FanDuel Group. “We are excited by the opportunity to bring the FanDuel Sportsbook to the Chicagoland market, and look forward to a highly successful partnership with Boyd Gaming at Blue Chip, Indiana’s leading entertainment casino resort.”
FanDuel’s new sports betting retail location is located near the main entrance of Blue Chip, adjacent to the property’s sports bar, The Game. It features five betting windows, 13 video displays along a large video wall, 13 self-service IGT PlaySports betting kiosks, two sports tickers, and ample seating for sports bettors interested in watching the game from the sportsbook.
FanDuel Sportsbook at Belterra Casino Resort in Southern Indiana
The partnership’s latest retail sportsbook and second in the state of Indiana opened its doors Monday, September 9, as legendary Cincinnati quarterback Ken Anderson placed the ceremonial first bet as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
FanDuel’s new sports-betting retail location is located near the main entrance of Belterra’s casino floor. It features five betting windows, 14 video displays including a large video wall, 13 self-service IGT PlaySports betting kiosks and a sports ticker.
"Working with Boyd Gaming to open four Sportsbooks across Iowa and Indiana in such a short timeframe is an incredible achievement and something our retail team is proud of," said Matt King, Chief Executive Officer of FanDuel Group. "Boyd Gaming continues to be a key partner as we further expand our offerings nationwide by bringing FanDuel's first-class sports betting experience to the Midwest."
The partnership between Boyd Gaming and FanDuel Group includes collaborative efforts between the two companies in mobile and online sports betting and casino games, where permitted by law. The agreement includes states where Boyd Gaming holds gaming licenses, excluding Nevada, as well as additional states covered under Boyd Gaming's current market-access agreements. Boyd Gaming currently has access in 15 states nationwide, representing more than 36% of the U.S. population.
In addition to their retail and online gaming partnership, Boyd Gaming and FanDuel are engaged in extensive co-branding and cross-promotional efforts, as the two companies actively market each other's properties and products to their respective customer bases nationwide.


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The Federal Trade Commission has released its final agenda for a June 25 workshop in Chicago that will examine scams involving cryptocurrencies.
Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, will give opening remarks at the workshop followed by three panel discussions. The first panel will provide background on consumer uses of cryptocurrencies. A second panel will examine different types of cryptocurrency scams. The last panel will discuss enforcement approaches to combating cryptocurrency scams, including law enforcement actions taken to date and challenges in effective enforcement.
The workshop, which is free and open to the public, will be held starting at 1 pm, Central Time at DePaul University located at 1 East Jackson Blvd., Suite 8005, Chicago, IL 60604. Pre-registration is not required, but attendees are encouraged to register for the event at [email protected]. This event will be webcast on the FTC’s website. A webcast link will be posted on the event page on the day of the event.
The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.


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Indonesia the world’s third largest two wheeler market saw decline in the sales of two wheelers in the month of January. There were total 645,863 units of two wheelers were sold in the month of January 2012 which is down by 2.9% compared to January 2011 as reported by Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI). However the sales is up by 40.2% compared to December 2011 when 460,355 two wheelers were sold.
Honda (Astra Honda) the largest two wheeler manufacturer in Indonesia sold more than 382,635 units in the month of January 2012 up by 15.4% compared to last year. The automatic scooter accounted for 53% of total sales. Honda is the only major two wheeler manufacturer which has reported sales growth in the January 2012 in Indonesia. The second largest two wheeler manufacturer Yamaha reported sales of 205,304 units which is down on year on year basis, however up by 54% month on month basis. The company sold 133,403 units in the month of December 2011.
It is to be noted that the production and sales of two wheelers in the month of January 2012 and December 2011 was heavily affected due to the flood in Thailand. However in January 2012 the situation is improved considerably. AISI hope that the sales will be back on track from the month of February 2012 and it hopes to achieve 9 million units of two wheeler sales in the year 2012.
– Mahavir Kothari


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Apple’s iPad is the overwhelming favorite for businesses. Data collected by ChangeWave Research revealed that 84% of the 1,604 IT buyers surveyed last month said they intended on going with the iPad – that’s more than ten times the nearest competitor. And businesses aren’t the only ones pining over the iPad, either.
According to PCWorld, ChangeWave has never seen the iPad’s share of future business purchases fall below 77%. In comparison, tablets from competing manufacturers dropped across the board in the most recent survey. For example, Samsung was the choice of 8% of buyers, while the Amazon Kindle Fire was the choice of 6%. Research In Motion was close to last with only 3%.
The release of the new iPad is likely to pull Apple ahead even more. “The impending release of the new iPad is also having an impact on business purchases of tablets made by other manufacturers,” ChangeWave said in a blogpost. In addition, Apple has dropped the price of the iPad 2 by $100, with the 16GB Wi-Fi-only coming in at just $399.
ChangeWave previously noted the iPad has remained dominate because of the device’s high satisfaction ranking. In a November 2011 survey, 3/4 of iPad owners admitted they were “Very Satisfied” with the device. The highest ranking competing tablet came in at 25 points less.
[via PC World]


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Thankfully, Governor Corbett’s attempt to provatize liquor sales in Pennsylvania stalled in the state legislature back in June, weighed down by fears that it will cause job layoffs, damage to family-owned beer distributors, a drop in state revenues, increases in sales to minors, and a loss of consumer convenience, particularly in areas like ours.
But it’s clear from the billboards along our highways, paid for by Sheetz convenience stores, that the special interests are still trying to push the governor’s privatization scheme again this fall, and spending big money to do it.
Now the special interests may still care about this issue, but few regular Pennsylvanians do. An independent Franklin and Marshall College poll released in May showed that 57% of Pennsylvania voters would rather see the existing system modernized or kept the same, rather than privatized. Another recent Franklin and Marshall poll showed only 5% of voters view liquor privatization as a priority for the state legislature.
Rather than totally dismantling the current system, the legislature can just make changes that will improve the current system without creating the disruption, job loss, and revenue decline that privatization would cause.
There is a bipartisan bill that would allow more wine and spirit stores to be open on Sunday, allow longer hours and flexible pricing, and enable the PLCB to put more stores into or next to grocery stores. These changes could generate as much as $100 million more in revenue for Pennsylvania taxpayers.
If our legislators follow the interests of the regular Pennsylvanians, instead of special interests, that’s what they should pass.
A Pennsylvania Citizen


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With 800,000 members, The Sun’s loyalty program is driving other revenue streams
British tabloid The Sun overhauled its loyalty program 18 months ago. Since then, it has grown to 800,000 members, enough for it to use this first-party data on its most loyal audience to inform other parts of its business, like driving more branded content deals, affiliate and in-app ad revenue.
The loyalty program — called Sun Savers, its former loyalty scheme was Sun Perks — was primarily built to reward readers through discount vouchers when the title still had a paywall but only ever amassed around 30,000 members, according to the company. The publisher learned giving away easily accessible discounts doesn’t lead to long-term loyalty.
In July 2017, the program was upgraded primarily to stem the tide against print circulation losses: Members need to digitally enter voucher codes gained from the paper each day to earn £5 ($6.38) in credits a month which can be spent with The Sun’s partners like travel operator Haven and hotel and attraction company Merlin Entertainments.
“Two-for-one dining is wallpaper stuff, you don’t often see tactical promotions in The Sun often anymore,” said Nathan McPherson, chief marketing officer at The Sun. “To get cut through, chasing the casual sale through those offers don’t work.”
As expected, the scheme captures its most loyal base. According to the company, 22 percent of its 800,000 members entered a code in the last two weeks, which is a tight scale. Often subscription publishers look at recency to gauge how engaged their subscriber base is but over a longer period. The Financial Times, for instance, which has a very different paid-for product, looks back over the last 90 days. McPherson said that 67 percent of Sun Savers use the Sun Savers app to enter their code.
The Sun Hols, a promotion the title runs three times a year — during January, April and July — where members pay £9.50 ($12.12) for a holiday, is the biggest driver in getting people to buy copies of The Sun and sign up to Sun Savers. Last year the publisher sold 2 million holidays through Sun Hols. The Sun Hols site drives an extra 2 million unique visitors over the year, according to the publisher, where it sends traffic to its third-party travel operators.
The revenue The Sun gets from the affiliate deals is slim, but the focus with promotions like Sun Hols is on driving loyalty rather than a direct revenue stream. According to McPherson, Sun Savers has helped stem the decline in print circulation by 5 percentage points year-on-year; the rate of decline is 8 percent year-on-year, he added.
“We’ve never chased revenue from partners, we’ve kept that price point [for Sun Hols] for 20 years,” said McPherson. “We’d rather generate other revenue streams. It’s a more efficient way of enabling better commercial deals. It’s a powerful beast having that money sitting in wallets.”
The Sun Savers app will soon carry ads, adding another stream. Also, News UK uses Sun Savers videos, particularly this video where a couple gets a new fridge and a Sun Saver member gets a new Amazon Kindle, as examples of high engagement when it’s pitching commercial deals, said Derek Brown, head of video at the publisher. “There’s a lot of brands out there where it’s eye-opening stuff, the reaction they get and tapping into that value is spot on for what brands are trying to do,” he said. “It’s a good sentimental feeling.” So far it hasn’t yet won a deal off the back of Sun Savers.
The richness of its most loyal members can feed into News UK commercial pitches that include branded content solutions, linking to their online wallets. “As data co-owner, we can build pretty good profiles and customer segmentation through key Sun loyals to hard-working mums, what they like and where they shop and where they want to go on holiday,” said McPherson.
The challenge is to continue evolving a paper-based loyalty scheme into a digital business. The publisher is improving the backend of the platform so it can forge more direct partnerships with different brands. It’s also improving the customer journey to integrate other parts of The Sun universe — like Sun Bingo and fantasy football vertical Dream Dream — encouraging relevant audiences to use its other services.
More in Media
The news rating service’s new features will track disinformation on websites, social media and video channels.
iHeartMedia, Spotify, SiriusXM and Acast reported year over year revenue growth in their podcast businesses in Q4 2023, noting signs of an improving ad market.
An analysis of four publishers’ Q4 and full-year 2023 earnings.


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Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A) is adding to its portfolio yet again. The firm announced that it has acquired an equity stake in the largest operator of travel centers in North America, Pilot Flying J.
According to the terms of the deal, Berkshire Hathaway will now own a 38.6% minority equity stake in Pilot Flying J, while the Haslam family, which runs the company, will retain a 50.1% stake. However, Berkshire Hathaway will become the majority shareholder in 2023 when the firm will acquire an additional 41.4%, leaving the Haslams with a 20% ownership stake.
Also Pilot Flying J President Ken Parent and the current management team will remain in place and the company will continue to be headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee.
For some quick background: Pilot Flying J is the largest operator of travel centers in North America, with more than 27,000 team members, 750 locations across the United States and Canada, and more than $20 billion in revenues.
Warren Buffett, board chair, president and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, commented:
Pilot Flying J is built on a longstanding tradition of excellence and an unrivaled commitment to serving North America’s drivers. Jimmy Haslam and his team have created an industry leader and a key enabler of the nation’s economy. The Company has a smart growth strategy in place and we look forward to a partnership that supports the trucking industry for years to come.
Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J, added:
Given the impeccable reputation of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, and our shared vision and values, we decided this was an ideal opportunity. As a family business that has evolved and prospered over the last six decades, we knew that any potential partner would need to share our commitment and have a proven track record as a long-term investor. We have that in Berkshire Hathaway – they believe in our strategy, support our team and are excited to see Pilot Flying J grow. We are honored and humbled to partner with them.
Shares of Berkshire Hathaway were last seen at $278,400.00, with a 52-week range of $213,030.00 to $278,500.00.


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Mayor Jorge Elorza encourages everyone to support our city’s small businesses on Saturday, November 28th and every day! Providence is participating in Small Business Saturday, a nationwide holiday tradition that has grown significantly since it started in 2010. According to Buy Local RI, if we shift just 10% of our buying from chains to independent locally owned businesses each year, we can inject $373 million into Rhode Island’s economy.
At a press conference, the mayor said, “We’re all ambassadors. When local businesses thrive, the whole community does too.” He asked consumers to use #thinkpvd to inspire others to Think. Shop. Buy. PVD. Beyond shopping, he suggested buying local produce and dining at locally owned restaurants that support Rhode Island and Massachusetts farms.
Christine Francis, owner of Carmen & Ginger (pictured above), announced a special hat, glove and sock drive in the Arcade on Small Business Saturday. In return for bringing new items for the homeless into her shop on Saturday, people will receive vouchers for discounts and deals at participating businesses. Rogue Island will offer 10% off, Lore Collection will offer 10% off certain purchases, Goddess Closet will offer 20% off everything in the store, and more! Volunteers from Help the Homeless, RI will distribute the items. Find more details by liking the Arcade Providence on Facebook.


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Here's the Uber Investor Letter That Forced Travis Kalanick Out
On behalf of Benchmark, First Round Capital, Menlo Ventures, Lowercase Capital, and Fidelity Investments, we are writing...
The ride-hailing giant's former leader purchased a Soho apartment with a private 20-foot outdoor pool in a Renzo Piano-designed building
Travis Kalanick, co-founder of ride-hailing giant Uber who was pushed out as chief executive by investors last year, has inked a deal to buy a glamorous New...
Here's the due diligence report Alphabet wants to use in its lawsuit against Uber
A report that Alphabet...
UBER'S LEGAL NIGHTMARE TAKES ANOTHER TURN
This time, a Texas city's firefighter pension fund is claiming the company and Travis Kalanick misled them.
VanityFair 9/26/17 by Maya Kosoff
After a year spent...
Benchmark has addressed an open letter to Uber employees as to why they are suing Travis.
Benchmark is doing its best to blocking Uber share sales...
I'm going to list my reasons as to why I hate Uber (and to a certain extent Lyft)
Reasons why I hate Uber (1 and 4 don't necessarily apply to Lyft but the rest mostly do)
1) Travis Kalanick: This evil man deserves every bad thing that karma and the universe serves him no matter how unfortunate...
Uber has absolutely no good reason for keeping tipping out of its app
The cringe-worthy moment came 22 minutes into a Q&A between Uber drivers and Uber ride-sharing president Jeff Jones.
I noticed today that when you put in the destination it tells you exactly how much it's going to cost. Is this a set price, and if so, how is that legal? If pay is by mile and minute how is it legal to charge the passenger a set price, unless Uber is subsidizing additional fees?


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We are driven with the mission of making online payments trivial.
Technology is a great enabler and we constantly innovate to ensure that we create solutions that empower merchants to start collecting online payments quickly and easily.
How are village level entrepreneurs collecting online payments?
At a recent event hosted by CSC in New Delhi presided by the Honorable Minister of Communications and IT, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, team PayU presented how village level entrepreneurs can take online payments via tools that they are well versed with like: Email and SMS.
VLEs, technology and payments
350+ village level entrepreneurs from across India attended the event. Collecting payments on time has been one of the biggest problems which VLEs face.
Most VLEs are adopting to new tools for doing business eg: facebook, Email and Smartphones.
Collecting payments easily via the Email invoice and SMS invoice from their PayU dashboard inspired VLEs to see their business move faster while providing an easier payments option for their customers.
VLEs re-instated our mission
The meeting with VLEs inspired us to pursue our mission of trivializing online payments and be part of the phenomenal growth story that India will be in the times to come.
We invite all emerging entrepreneurs to make it easier for their customers to pay on time and online! Click on the ‘register here‘ link to start collecting online payments with PayU.
The presentation for reference from the event:


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Software patch will not fix zero day
Barracuda Networks suggests that its users remove and decommission a line of affected hardware as the only way to fix a zero-day bug.
Reaching up to 2TB in capacity
Seagate has joined the crowded consumer SSD market with its newest Barracuda SSDs which will be available in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities as well as hitting read and write speeds of up to 540MB/s and 520MB/s, respectively.
2.5-inch BarraCuda in Backup Plus Portable Drive
Following the launch of its highest capacity 2.5-inch 5TB BarraCuda HDD earlier, Seagate has now squeeze that same HDD inside an aluminum enclosure allowing it to claim the world's first 2.5-inch USB 3.0 5TB external drive with the Seagate Backup Plus Portable Drive 5TB.
As well as a 5TB 2.5-inch BarraCuda HDD
Seagate has unveiled an addition to its FireCuda hybrid HDD lineup, the 2.5-inch 2TB FireCuda, as well as a 5TB 2.5-inch mobile HDD which will be a part of its BarraCuda lineup.
Die Deutschen like them big


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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce.com [NYSE: CRM], the world's #1 CRM platform, today announced that Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff will keynote an exclusive customer town hall event at ExactTarget Connections 2013 on Monday, Sept. 16 at 4:00 p.m. EDT in Indianapolis. Benioff will join Scott Dorsey, CEO, ExactTarget and Salesforce ExactTarget Marketing Cloud, on stage to discuss the future of marketing.
Experience the Future of Marketing at Connections 2013 Connections 2013 is the premier digital marketing event, offering more than 6,000 marketing leaders and industry experts an inside look into the future of marketing. The event also features keynotes from leadership icons, including Condoleeza Rice, 66th US Secretary of State; Jim Collins, best-selling author of Good to Great; and Walter Isaacson, historian and author of multiple biographies, including Steve Jobs.
Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase salesforce.com applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce.com has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information please visit http://salesforce.com, or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE.


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Menparekraf: wellness tourism, key to the recovery of the national and global tourism sector and the creative economy
Solo, Central Java, August 5, 2022 –
Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said wellness tourism is key to the recovery of the national and global tourism sector and the creative economy.
Inaugurating the “International Wellness Tourism Conference and Festival (IWTCF) 2022” which was marked by the beating of gamelan (Javanese traditional musical instruments) at Alila Solo Hotel, Thursday (5/8/2022), Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno said that in the past two years, the world has faced the extraordinary challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tourism and creative economy industry has also experienced a slump. However, on the other hand, health issues have become a new way of life which is impacting the increase in travel, especially wellness tourism.
“I believe that the industry that resists the crisis is the wellness industry, especially after the pandemic, health becomes everyone’s priority. People put health first. Prevention and promotion of health are now becoming an unstoppable trend. They want to be healthy by preventing and promoting a healthy lifestyle. And wellness tourism is the key to the recovery of global and domestic tourism,” according to Menparekraf Sandiaga. of heightened health concerns after the pandemic proves that wellness tourism products are becoming one of the resilient, inclusive and crisis-responsive industries.
Indonesia itself has huge market potential for global wellness tourism. According to the Global Wellness Institute (2017), Indonesia is ranked 17th among wellness tourism markets and 2nd in Southeast Asia, creating 1.31 million workers.
“Indonesia is ranked 17th as a wellness tourism destination market. We should be in the top five globally. 1.31 million new quality job opportunities,” he added.
Thus, the MOTCE presents the IWTCF 2022 event. Besides being one of the side events at the G20 summit, it is also a means of promotion, presentation of creative products and wellness destinations in Indonesia. to be better known in the global community, as well as a conference to gather ideas for national action. Plan 2022-2026.
The theme was also in line with the current state of global tourism, namely “Sustainability Strategy for the Recovery and Growth of Global Tourism through Wellness Tourism for All”.
“The point is wellness tourism for recovery, that we will discuss the latest issues, promote and showcase creative products. Because wellness tourism is about democratizing health, health can be supported not only by hospitals but also by MSMEs. This is the concept of wellness tourism and we will facilitate networking and business matchmaking,” he continued. “I want the ideas collected at this conference to become a 2022 – 2026 national action plan on wellness tourism. We must take this opportunity to bring together government, the private sector, relevant associations, the media and academia to promote this wellness tourism,” Sandiaga said.
He expects the IWTCF 2022 to raise more awareness of the health tourism services that Indonesia has with the spirit of mutual cooperation that is Indonesia’s identity.
“I hope that this event will not only be part of the G20, but can also be organized and improved in the years to come. Therefore, we can present the target of 1.1 million new quality job opportunities in 2022 and 4.4 million in 2024, one of which is supported by wellness tourism,” he said. -he declares.
MOTCE Tourism Products and Events Deputy Rizki Handayani explained that IWTCF 2022 is the first wellness tourism event combining three concepts at once, namely a conference that features more than 30 high-level speakers level at the international level, a workshop and an exhibition. .
“With this new breakthrough, I hope that later, Indonesian wellness tourism can be a priority for both domestic and foreign tourists,” according to Rizki Handayani.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo, represented by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartanto, who attended the online event, responded positively to the 2022 International Wellness Conference and Festival, which is a means of dialogue for the development of wellness tourism as well as the promotion of wealth and the strengthening of wellness tourism destinations in Indonesia.
Wellness tourism is known to have a great contribution to the global economy, there was an increase from $4.2 trillion in 2017 to $4.5 trillion in 2019. Wellness tourism is expected to increase in 2022 with an average growth of 7.5 percent per year and this represents approximately 18 percent of total global tourism.
“This momentum will continue and the global community will become increasingly aware of the importance of their health, and health tourism will be worth $1 trillion in the near future. Thus, health tourism should continue to be developed with professional management, and it should be widely promoted to domestic and foreign tourists who will definitely have more interest in health tourism in Indonesia,” Airlangga said.
Mayor of Surakarta Gibran Rakabuming Raka expressed his gratitude to Solo for hosting the IWTCF 2022. This had a major impact on Solo’s economy as evidenced by an increase in hotel occupancy rate which has reached 100%.
“I hope this event will be a springboard for our MSMEs and that our wellness products such as jamu (herbal drink) and beksan (Javanese traditional yoga) will gain recognition and interest in the global market. “, said Girban. Attending the offline IWTCF 2022 were MOTCE Permanent Secretary, Ni Wayan Giri Adnyani; Head of the Food and Drugs Oversight Agency (BPOM), Dr. Penny K. Lukito, MCP. South Africa’s Acting Ambassador to Indonesia, Inayet Hassan; Mexican Ambassador to Indonesia: Armando G. Alvarez; Attaché of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Indonesia, Li Chen; Assistant to the Tourism and Creative Economy Coordinator of the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment, odo RM Manuhutu; as well as IWTCF 2022 trainers.


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Two Pinterest Directors Resign from Nextdoor’s Board
The Justice Department has announced that two directors from Pinterest have resigned from Nextdoor’s board in response to new efforts to enforce an antitrust law. This law aims to prevent executives from holding similar positions at competing companies simultaneously.
The department specifically cited Section 8 of the federal Clayton Act, which generally prohibits company directors and officers from serving on the boards of rival companies at the same time. As part of an enforcement initiative by the antitrust division, 15 interlocking directors from 11 boards have already resigned.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Andrew Forman of the department’s antitrust division emphasized their commitment to protecting competition by preventing interlocking directorates that violate Section 8 of the Clayton Act. He stated, "We remain steadfast in our commitment to protect competition by preventing interlocking directorates that we believe violate Section 8 of the Clayton Act."
The resignations of the directors from Nextdoor’s board became effective on August 1st, but according to the department, neither the directors nor the companies admitted any liability.
Nextdoor responded to inquiries on Wednesday by referring to a regulatory filing made in July. According to that filing, Leslie Kilgore and Andrea Wishom, the resigning directors, notified Nextdoor of their decision to step down on July 25th. Nextdoor clarified that their resignations were not a result of any disagreement with the company on matters relating to its operations, policies, or practices.
While Pinterest did not immediately provide comments when approached by the Associated Press, both Kilgore and Wishom are listed as directors on the company's website. Pinterest, a social media platform for image-sharing, is also headquartered in San Francisco.


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Venture capital investments could also be slower, however that appears to be giving mission capital companies a while to move out and lift finances of their very own.
Sequoia Capital is the most recent to reportedly be elevating two new US-focused finances, valued at as much as $2.25 billion, The Information reported earlier this week,
The e-newsletter reported that Menlo Park-based Sequoia is having a look at $1.5 billion for a US expansion fund serious about later-stage corporations and a $750 million fund concentrated on earlier-stage startups. Those finances are anticipated to near in July.
This information comes out simply over a month after the mission capital large informed founders that it was once anticipating an extended financial restoration. Colleagues reported Sequoia telling them“With the cost of capital (both debt and equity) rising, the market is signaling a strong preference for companies who can generate cash today.”
Last October, TechCrunch reported on Sequoia Capital debuting a large shift in technique because it seemed to spice up its returns amid larger festival available in the market for startup financing. The storied mission capital company introduced that it was once breaking with custom, leaving behind the standard fund construction and their synthetic timelines for returning LP capital. The company’s long run investments, it stated, would now flow through a “singular, permanent structure” called The Sequoia Fund.
The VC company isn’t by myself in elevating new finances in recent years. For instance, previous this week, Drive Capital said it raised another $1 billion to put money into startups positioned in the midst of the rustic, bringing its property beneath control to $2.2 billion. Conversion Capital introduced previous this week a new $122 million fund to again early-stage fintech and infrastructure startups. Meanwhile, Simple Food Ventures made a primary shut towards its $15 million fund for more healthy grocery retailer staples. Within the previous few months, we additionally noticed Anterra Capital announce its 2d world meals and agriculture tech fund of $260 million and Vine Ventures shut on $140 million, part of which is able to move into Israeli startups.
“Source of This Article:- “https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/01/sequoia-capital-reportedly-raising-two-funds-and-despite-slower-vc-environment-its-not-alone/
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Laphroaig Live 2015 Returns Home to Celebrate 200th Anniversary
Ninth annual malt whisky event returns to the isle of Islay for live, worldwide broadcast
Deerfield, Ill., September 16, 2015 – On September 24th, the ninth annual Laphroaig Live returns to the island of Islay, birthplace and home of Laphroaig® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, to celebrate the distillery’s 200th anniversary. Created in 2006 as the first-ever live tasting event, this year’s unique meeting will broadcast live on the web from Laphroaig’s malting floor, bringing together some of the world’s foremost whisky experts and the global Friends of LaphroaigTM community, both new and old, for an extraordinary interactive educational experience.
Master Distiller, John Campbell, along with whisky journalist and Master of the Quaich, Bernhard Schäfer, and editor of Allt Om Whisky, Emma Andersson, will lead a panel discussion and guided tasting of select Laphroaig expressions. Conversation will be driven by the worldwide audience of Laphroaig lovers, who will pose their questions either prior to the event via Laphroaig’s website or live via social media.
“Laphroaig Live provides a unique opportunity to talk about Laphroaig and the evolving industry with the global community – it’s hugely anticipated amongst malt whisky lovers,” says Campbell. “It’s particularly special to have the event come home to Islay for the 200th anniversary, and we’ve pulled together an extraordinary program to celebrate the occasion.”
Five generations of distillery managers – John McDougall, Denis Nicol, Murdo Reed, Colin Ross, and Iain Henderson – as well as Robert Hicks, Master Blender, and Marcel van Gils, author and Laphroaig collector, will attend the event as special guests of Laphroaig to provide additional insight and commentary. Laphroaig U.S. Whisky Ambassador, Simon Brooking, along with 75 Friends of Laphroaig, will also engage with panelists and follow the tasting via a live feed from New York City.
Four extremely limited anniversary expressions will be showcased during the Laphroaig Live broadcast: Laphroaig® 15 Year Old, the official expression of the 200th anniversary; Laphroaig® Cairdeas 2015, a limited-release expression distilled using only the original small stills; Laphroaig® 21 Year Old, an expression created for the Friends of Laphroaig’s 21st Birthday, also this year; and Laphroaig® 32 Year Old, a rare expression 100% matured in sherry barrels.
Laphroaig is encouraging friends and fans to virtually join the whisky experience by tuning-in and raising a glass in celebration of Laphroaig’s 200th anniversary. Laphroaig Live can be viewed live at http://www.laphroaig.com/live/ on Thursday, September 24th at 3pm EST.
Panel questions can be submitted until the broadcast via http://www.laphroaig.com/live/ or live during the discussion via Twitter and Facebook using #LaphroaigLive. Whisky fans and publications can host the broadcast on their own websites using the embed code found at http://www.laphroaig.com/laphroaigll2015/press/assets/iframe-
Laphroaig (La-‘froyg) literally means “the beautiful hollow by the broad bay.” Born from
the streams and blue peat smoke of Islay, Laphroaig® is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a distinct taste and story in every bottle. The secret to Laphroaig® is that it benefits from the happy circumstances of where it is produced—next to ocean water and on land that gives Laphroaig® a unique peaty taste. It is one of only a few distilleries that still uses traditional malting floors and dries and infuses its own malt with the thick blue smoke from old peat-fired kilns. It’s also the only Single Malt Scotch Whisky to bear a Royal Warrant bestowed by HRH Prince Charles.
About Friends of LaphroaigTM
Each bottle of Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky comes with a gift of friendship. Created by
Laphroaig Master Distiller John Campbell, Friends of Laphroaig is a distinguished loyalty group, which today boasts over 600,000 members from more than 150 countries. Each Friend of Laphroaig is given a lifetime lease on a numbered, one square foot plot of land in Islay that runs alongside the important Laphroaig water source – the Killbride stream. The plot is registered and can be visited in person or via video on the Friends of Laphroaig website –www.Laphroaig.com/Friends. Throughout the year, Friends of Laphroaig from all over the world get together and share photos, tasting notes, Scottish history and more. To become a member of Friends of Laphroaig, consumers can enter their unique code found on each bottle of Laphroaig® on the Laphroaig Facebook Page –
- www.Facebook.com/LaphroaigUSA or Friends of Laphroaig website at
About Beam Suntory Inc.
As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the flagship Jim Beam bourbon and Yamazaki Japanese whisky, as well as world renowned premium brands including Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur. The company generates annual worldwide sales exceeding $4 billion excluding excise taxes.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial culture. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.


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Miracle: Belarus exports 5 times more produce than it harvestedStaff Writer | October 8, 2016
The Russian authorities have uncovered a "miraculous" apple harvest in Belarus. This country managed to export five times more apples to Russia than they had harvested, writes The Moscow Times.
Miraculous apple harvest Using falsified Belarussian papers
“Products that are boycotted by Russia are often conveyed over the border using falsified Belarussian papers,” say Russian authorities. “Almost 573,000 tons of apples and mushrooms have been imported from Belarus in 2015. That is five times more than Belarus actually harvested.”
The government of Belarus stated that they arrested a network of smugglers last week.
Russia still sticks to destroying illegal products. Recently, 758 kilos of apples were destroyed because there was no indication of the country of origin found on the boxes.
The apples were discovered in the region Khabarovsk in a batch of onions from Kazakhstan. ■


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Interactive workshop on ‘Marketing Linkage for Wool Growers of Kashmir’ held at Lalmandi
Post by RK News on Sunday, November 20, 2022
Srinagar, Nov 19: The Central Wool Development Board in association with PHD Chamber of Commerce, Directorate of Sheep Husbandry Department Kashmir and Wool & Woolens Export Promotion Council on Saturday held an interactive workshop on ‘Marketing linkage for Wool growers of Kashmir at Lalmandi, here.
The Central Wool Development Board had roped in Reshamandi from Bangalore to develop the marketing linkage and model for providing forward and backward linkages for wool growers of Jammu & Kashmir.
The event was attended by more than 50 Wool growers from all districts of Kashmir and the event was graced by G.S.Bhati, Executive Director-Central Wool Development Board as chief guest and guest of honour was Romesh Khajuria, Chairman Wool & Woolen Export Promotion Council.
A detailed presentation on the model of Reshamandi was presented by Kshitij Kuthiala AVP - Expansion and Projects - Strategic Initiatives. The wool growers and FPOs presented their suggestions and wool farmers thanked the department for such an initiative to streamline the wool sector of Kashmir.
The Reshamandi assured that they will come up with a marketing plan with best prices for growers and will develop a value chain as has been developed by them in Silk and Cotton sectors.
The event was also attended by Dr Imran Khawaja, Technical Officer Sheep Husbandry Kashmir; Dr Basharat, Joint Director Sheep Husbandry Department; Bilal Kawoosa General, Convenor PHDCCI; Ubair Ahamd, Convenor Agriculture and Agribusiness along with Co Convenor, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat and Nasir Ahmad attended the session.


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FRAMINGHAM (CBS) – Papa Gino’s has announced it’s closing seven pizzerias in New England, just weeks after new ownership took over the restaurants.
The closures affect two locations in Framingham (Worcester Road and Cochituate Road) and Papa Gino’s in Natick (Worcester Road), Wilbraham, Melrose and Brockton (Crescent Street). A Papa Gino’s in Seabrook, New Hampshire is also closing.
“We do not anticipate any additional closings,” CEO Bill Van Epps said in a Papa Gino’s Facebook post. “We are doing everything we can to take care of the managers and team members at these locations, including transfers to other Papa Gino’s locations or placement assistance to help them find new jobs.”
About 95 Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo locations suddenly closed last fall, surprising employees.
Private equity investment firm Wynnchurch Capital has since bought the restaurants and formed a new company called New England Authentic Eats.
Earlier this month, the company announced they would be “modernizing the restaurants” and taking “a top-to-bottom look at everything from cooking equipment to the menu to the restaurants themselves.”
Papa Gino’s was founded in 1961 in East Boston as Piece O’ Pizza. It changed its name to Papa Gino’s in 1968 and expanded throughout Boston, other parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.


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The company's S-1 lays the groundwork for what is widely expected to be one of the largest initial public offerings of the year, second only to Uber's IPO in May. It's also...Technologyread more
Fraud investigator Harry Markopolos' accusations extended beyond GE's management to actuaries, auditors and analysts who he claims overlooked billions in liabilities.Marketsread more
Trump's tweet comes a day after Apple put out a press release describing the money it spends on U.S.-based suppliers and vendors.Technologyread more
CNBC combed through Wall Street research to see which stocks are still a buy after their earnings reports.Marketsread more
President Donald Trump held a call on Wednesday with the CEOs of three major U.S. banks, according to people with knowledge of the situation.Marketsread more
Despite aggressive strides, Waymo needs one thing before their self-driving cars become a seriously useful transportation system: people. We talked to the ones closest to it.Technologyread more
Scientists say the smoke plumes, filled with megatons of tiny, harmful particles, could travel to other areas of the world and cause serious respiratory problems for people.Weather & Natural Disastersread more
Some Weight Watchers loyalists applaud Kurbo by WW. But nutritionists worry Kurbo promotes an unhealthy relationship with food during an especially impressionable time.Health and Scienceread more
Benefits from what President Trump called "the biggest reform of all time" to the tax code have dwindled to a faint breeze just 20 months after its enactment, writes John...Politicsread more
Epstein, 66, was found in his cell in Manhattan federal lockup Saturday morning and transferred to a nearby hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.Politicsread more
Air travelers faced delays at U.S. airports on Friday afternoon after a computer issue snarled processing of international arrivals.Airlinesread more
Washington's trade imbalance with Beijing — the stated motivation behind President Donald Trump's punitive tariffs — will continue expanding in the years ahead, according to Yale University's Stephen Roach.
"When you don't save and you want to spend and grow, you import surplus savings from abroad and you run these massive balance of payments and trade deficits to attract the foreign capital," he told CNBC Monday at the annual China Development Forum. "That's the way it's always worked."
The Trump administration budget deficits are "going to push our savings rate lower and if anything, our trade deficits are going to get bigger in the years ahead, including the one probably with China."
Reducing the U.S. trade deficit is one of Trump's top policy goals — he's argued that it hurts American job creation and weighs on overall growth. But many economists, including Roach, say trade imbalances are not a good metric for economic health since they are influenced by a variety of macroeconomic factors.
"The bilateral trade deficit in the U.S. is really pretty meaningless," Roach said.
And Trump's $1.5 trillion tax cut, which was signed into law in December, is unlikely to change the status-quo.
The fiscal stimulus package "is going to take debt-to-GDP ratios up by 1 to 2 percentage points a year, relative to what they otherwise would have been," Roach said.
"For an economy like the United States, where the savings rate is already low, that's going to push our savings rate even lower. So, we're going to have to keep importing the surplus savings and running these balance of payments deficits to square the circle."