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Primark has launched its first ever range of jeans made from 100 per cent sustainable cotton. Produced in three different washes (indigo, black and light blue), the women’s skinny jeans will be sold in stores across all markets in the UK and Europe. The launch is an important step as it moves towards using sustainably sourced cotton across its products.
Primark’s sustainable cotton uses more natural farming methods, including minimising the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers and reducing water consumption, as well as increasing the income of cotton farmers to improve their livelihoods. The new range follows the introduction of sustainably sourced cotton into one of Primark’s most popular product lines – women’s pyjamas – which have sold over 11.2 mn pairs since launch, Primark said in a report.
The jeans are made with cotton from Primark’s Sustainable Cotton Programme, which launched in India in 2013. The programme helps farmers grow cotton using more natural farming methods, including minimising the use of chemical pesticides and reducing water consumption, whilst also increasing their incomes. Following the expansion of the programme into Pakistan last year, Primark has announced that more than 28,000 farmers1 across both markets have now enrolled in the training. Early year one results recorded in Pakistan are promising, with farmers’ profits already increasing. They are also starting to see average reductions of more than 20 per cent in chemical pesticide and fertiliser use and more than 15 per cent in water use.
The jeans – launched under the Primark Cares initiative – are Primark’s latest sustainable staples following its recent, in-demand collaboration with Alice Liveing, which featured a top and leggings set made from recycled polyester, as well as two biodegradable water bottles. More sustainable cotton products will be released in the coming year, including homeware.
“Following the successful introduction of sustainable cotton pyjamas into store, we are so proud to introduce this range. From harvesting the sustainable cotton from fields in India and Pakistan, right through to using recycled paper for our Primark Cares labels, sustainability has been at the heart of every stage of developing and designing these jeans,” Paula Dumont Lopez, trading Director at Primark, who leads buying, merchandising and design of Primark’s womenswear, said.
Developed in partnership with agricultural experts CottonConnect, and local NGOs SEWA (the Self- Employed Women’s Association) in India and REEDS (the Rural Education and Economic Development Society) in Pakistan, the programme trains farmers in the most appropriate farming techniques for their land. This ranges from seed selection, sowing, soil, water, pesticide and pest management, to picking, fibre quality, grading and storage of the harvested cotton.
“Our Sustainable Cotton Programme is not only good for the planet, but it is also changing lives in India and Pakistan. That’s why I was so passionate about using the cotton in jeans, one of our most popular product ranges,” explained Lopez.


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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd – ADR (NYSE:BABA) rose over 1.16% in pre trading session on Tuesday as travel restrictions loosen across Asia, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) fintech unit Ant Group has vowed to assist four Asian e-wallets in expanding into South Korea with its cross-border payment service Alipay+.
Reuters reports that e-wallet customers utilizing Alipay+, such as the Philippines’ GCash, Malaysia’s Touch’n Go, Thailand’s TrueMoney, and AlipayHK, may now pay at over 120,000 businesses in South Korea using their local mobile payments applications.
Taxis, duty-free shops, and convenience stores will be among the first merchants to become available.
When collecting and analyzing behavioral data for personalized adverts, the corporations neglected to notify service users and gain prior consent.
Alibaba Out to Inject $1 Billion into Cloud Computing
Alibaba announced a $1 billion investment over the next three fiscal years to help its cloud computing clients as the Chinese e-commerce giant seeks to re-ignite development following a record slump.
The investment includes “financial and non-financial incentives, such as cash, rebates, and go-to-market strategies,” according to a press statement issued by Alibaba on Thursday.
The company also stated that it is developing a program to assist its clients in localizing their cloud computing business demands based on the market.
According to Gartner, Alibaba is the world’s third-largest cloud computing company, after only Microsoft and Amazon. While cloud computing is now a minor component of Alibaba’s overall business, management sees it as a crucial component to future development and profitability.
Because to the revival of Covid in the world’s second-largest economy and a harsher domestic regulatory environment. Alibaba has faced an unprecedented halt in growth amid Chinese economic depression. Alibaba disclosed its first-ever flat revenue increase in the April-June quarter.
Revenue growth in the company’s cloud computing sector has also decreased from the previous quarter. Alibaba’s investment announcement is also part of the company’s larger attempt to develop its cloud computing business outside of China.
Alibaba has established additional data centers outside of China in recent years in order to gain clients in regions such as Singapore and Thailand.

domain: news


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Jake Heinz, vice president of product marketing and strategy at XO, said authorized Toshiba dealers can now offer their Toshiba IPedge customers a SIP trunking solution as part of an enterprise telephony system. ...More
VIRGO CEO John Siefert watches PlanetOne connect agents and providers at the recent Phoenix Open, and says fostering such relationships has become more critical than ever as we enter the era of cloud services. ...More
Part 1 of a five-part article: As IT and communications technologies converge with cloud and managed service delivery, will master agencies continue to play a role and, if so, what, if anything, must they do to master it? ...More
This week's Business Value Toolbox News Desk explains why one segment of cloud services is set to make some serious strides in the years to come; plus, is your business overconfident about security? We have results of a surprising new study.


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Volvo revealed its most important model of the year, the new S60 sedan, at the Geneva Motor Show. This doesn’t mean it will arrive at the upcoming Paris Motor Show empty handed, as the Swedish company confirmed that it will bring a hotter S60 R-Design version.
As seen before with other upgraded Volvo models, the R-Design version will definitely bring a range of new accessories for the S60. These include a body kit, special options, and might even add a retuned suspension or improved handling.
Until the Paris show starts, Volvo USA has officially revealed that the S60 will be making its way into dealerships next month. At first, it will pack a 300 HP 3.0-liter inline-six, with all-wheel drive, starting at $37,700. Next year, the range will also see the addition of a cheaper front-wheel drive five-cylinder model.


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Four Star Ninja Academy jumps into Fargo fitness scene
FARGO - If you feel like hanging out, jumping up, or running around, Four Star Ninja Academy stands ready to accommodate you.
The fitness and training facility at 4410 18th Ave. S., opened July 1 and will hold its grand opening celebration Thursday, July 25, with special guest “Island Ninja” Grant McCartney of TV’s American Ninja Warrior fame.
“Our main focus here is kids’ fitness,” co-owner Brad Butcher said Friday, July 19. “They come in here and run and jump and they don’t realize they’re exercising.”
The front of the 12,700-square-foot facility has a ninja obstacle course and training walls scaled for the younger set.
In the back is a ninja training course to challenge teens and adults, as well as a free weight-training area.
Butcher’s business partner, Dustin Hjelmstad, said the facility has become more popular now that the Fourth of July holiday and Red River Valley Fair are over.
“People are excited. They say we’ve needed places like this,” Hjelmstad said.
“It’s all about the kids,” Butcher said. “Get ‘em away from the TVs, the iPads, the phones.”
On Friday, Michelle Warren had brought in her children Jacob, 7, Evan, 10 and Alivia, 12, to burn off their excess energy.
They took turns climbing and testing their strength on a “campus wall” and a pegboard, as well as running up vertical ramps and swinging ring to ring on the kids’ obstacle course.
“They watch ninja things on YouTube,” Warren said. “I thought it would be better for them to do it than watch it.”
- Incognito Burrito adds Mexican flavor to north Fargo's Bison Block
Crossroads Dental gives Nygard's W.F. practice new name, location
Mr Wok, Ice Point add fast, tasty options to West Fargo food scene
Construction, store expansions continuing at Fargo's West Acres mall
The ribbon cutting for the grand opening will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Grand opening events include demonstrations by McCartney, ninja competitions with prizes, and raffles. Among the prizes are a free membership, training package, party room reservation, and an autographed Carson Wentz photo.
The Heavenly Hawg food truck will also be at the facility.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event.
For more information, go online to fourstarninja.com or to the business’s Facebook page.


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The sales war rages on between Europe’s three top luxury car makers on Chinese soil, starting off with Mercedes-Benz.
Daimler AG’s luxury car unit sold an astonishing 11,300 vehicles, a 100 percent increase compared to the previous year.
In second place is BMW with a reported group sales total of 12,440 vehicles for April. Compared to their sales the same month in 2009, last month’s figure registers a 115 percent increase for BMW AG three brands, namely BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce.
However, in every competition there has to be a winner, and Volkswagen AG’s luxury car unit takes the trophy selling the most vehicles in China. For the month of April, Audi sold 19,606 vehicles, registering a 61 percent increase compared to their sales figure the previous year. Counting from the month of January this year, Audi was able to sell as many as 71,000 vehicles, marking a 73 percent growth from 2009.
Comparing Audi’s figures to those of Mercedes-Benz, Daimler AG has a lot of work to do to catch up since their January-to-April figures only add up to a little more than half of Audi’s at 35,400 vehicles.
Still, it’s a very good year for Mercedes-Benz. And it just seems to be getting better and better.


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In 2019, he promised to produce 1,000 solar panels a week, and in 2020 he called Tesla’s stock price overpriced.
The SEC indicated to Tesla that Elon Musk’s tweets about the volume of production of solar roofs (batteries) Tesla and the value of its shares were published without prior approval from lawyers, writes The Wall Street Journal, citing the regulator’s correspondence with Tesla.
In May 2020, the SEC told Tesla that the company had failed to enforce procedures and monitor Musk’s tweets. Tesla, SEC and Musk did not respond to WSJ requests for comment.
The SEC questioned a tweet Musk wrote in July 2019. In it, Musk reported that Tesla wants to produce “about 1,000 solar roofs a week by the end of this year.”
In August 2019, the commission sent a letter of violation. Tesla responded that Musk did not submit the tweet for legal review, and later they considered it “completely desirable.”
On May 1, 2020, Tesla’s stock price fell after Musk called it overvalued.
After that, the SEC sent another letter to Tesla. The company replied that the tweet is Musk’s “personal opinion” and therefore does not require legal permission. The commission, however, considered that the tweet concerned the financial condition of the company and lawyers should have considered it.
In June 2020, the SEC told Tesla’s lawyers in a letter that it hopes to resolve the dispute without going to court. But the company and its lawyers “refused to engage in substantive dialogue about the May 1 tweet.”
According to the WSJ, the situation did not end with anything – Tesla objected to the SEC claims about the tweets, and the commission did not go to court. In its latest letter in June 2020, the regulator called for measures to control disclosure of information and prevent “further harm to shareholders.”
- In 2018, the SEC accused Elon Musk of fraud and asked the court to remove him from Tesla’s management. The regulator’s claims were related to Musk’s statement about plans to make Tesla a private company: he wrote about it on Twitter. Musk later said that after investor requests, he changed his mind about buying back the shares.
- Musk agreed to step down as chairman of Tesla’s board of directors and pay the company a $ 40 million fine. The company also had to introduce “additional control measures” over Musk’s messages on social networks.
- In February 2019, the SEC sued Musk and accused him of misleading shareholders. The commission also found that he did not seek legal advice before tweeting. After that, Musk agreed not to disclose Tesla’s plans and performance on social networks without the approval of a lawyer.
- In April 2021, a Tesla investor filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk over “promiscuous” tweets and a violation of an agreement with the regulator.


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We live in an era where business prevails in almost everywhere, whether you’re an owner of a small-scale shop or an owner of a large-scale start-up.
We all are familiar to the story of big-developed companies buying & acquiring start-ups to give it a name of its own? This story is very similar to it only that it involves the first Indian company to reach $100 billion market capitalization – Reliance Industries Limited. (RIL)
The company ranked 203rd on the Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s biggest corporations as of 2017.
What is the latest news?
According to sources, there has been information regarding talks between Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industry Limited and fashion e-commerce platform Fynd. As per sources, the RIL has been involved in a negotiation to acquire Fynd, for about one and a half month.
Sources also added that the probable structure of the deal has also been finalized by both the firms and on the lines of acquisition of Edtech start-up Embibe, RIL may acquire over 70 percent of Fynd. However, it could be a complete acquisition also.
Why is the deal important?
The deal will help RIL in its entry in consumer Internet space with this acquisition. The company is expected to start-off its e-commerce operations by April-May this year.
The company ranked 8th among the Top 250 Global Energy Companies by Platts as of 2016 and today it is getting buckled up to take on Amazon and Walmart, and disrupt the e-commerce market and is slated to touch $84 billion value by 2021.
What is the reply from Fynd?
Fynd which lets fashion and lifestyle brands sell online was backed by Google and had raised over ₹100 crore on its name from over 50 investors including IIFL, Kae Capital, Patni and Axis Capital amongst many others. While the information is yet to be confirmed and the deal value needs to be ascertained, Fynd co-founder Harsh Shah said that the company is not looking to get acquired at all.
“There are many people, financial investors and strategically who have shown interest in investing in Fynd but there are not strong conversations going on and none of them are for an acquisition,” said Shah. RIL has not yet responded anything to the information. This will be RIL’s fourth acquisition in the start-up world, though he has acquired stakes in Embibe, EasyGov, Reverie Technology, and Sankhya Sutra Labs.
None of the firms have confirmed its legitimacy but looking through the business perspective, the deal is important to both the parties. We expect positive responses in the months to come.


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Beyonce announced last year that her Ivy Park line would be partnering with Adidas and the new collection is finally here!
“January 18: Save the date in your G-cal, set a reminder on your phone, and notify the group chat, because it’s the day Beyoncé’s Ivy Park x Adidas range officially debuts. She initially teased the line in her ELLE January 2020 cover story, and I, for one, was READY. Then, in the wee hours of Wednesday night, January 8, Beyoncé turned to Instagram with a spicy photoshoot and beautiful accompanying video of her and models showcasing the unisex pieces. My savings account is shaking.” -ELLE
Click HERE to read the full article.


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With holiday shopping starting earlier than ever this year, American’s ought to think more creatively this season
LEHI, Utah, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Neighbor, the peer-to-peer self-storage marketplace, recently released its first-ever Gift (Hidingus) Report. Neighbor surveyed 1,000 Americans to learn more about their struggles with keeping holiday surprises under wraps. The survey uncovered the most popular places to store presents, the first place people look, and more.
Of all the hiding spaces in one’s home, more than 50% of all Americans hide their presents in the bedroom closet. Ironically, this is also the spot most people check first, resulting in almost half of all hidden gifts being discovered before the big day. Rounding out the top five most popular hiding locations are:
- A spare room: 31%
- Coat closet: 26%
- Under the bed: 26%
- In the trunk of the car: 25%
The study also shows the 2021 holiday shopping season is well underway. As of Oct. 27, 62% said they had already started shopping for the holidays, giving snoopers more time to look for their gifts. According to survey respondents, 47% of people are hiding their purchases from (you guessed it!) kids. See below to find out who else we’re hiding purchases from ahead of the big day:
- Partner: 38%
- Friends: 20%
- Siblings: 20%
- Parents: 18%
- Extended Family: 17%
“It’s fun to see where people are finding places to store holiday presents, but I think it’s getting more difficult. Houses are being built smaller and people are running out of space,” said Joseph Woodbury, Co-Founder and CEO of Neighbor. “As we conducted this survey, we learned a few people got resourceful by using a self storage unit or asking a neighbor to keep their presents until the holidays. This mirrors the trends we’re seeing on Neighbor’s marketplace. Hosts are listing their extra space as self storage to capitalize on this need and earn extra cash, while renters can store presents outside of their homes and keep holiday presents a surprise.” Read the full study.
Founded in 2017, Neighbor is a community marketplace based in the Silicon Slopes of Lehi, Utah. The company connects people with unused space in their garages, attics, basements, and driveways to renters looking for affordable self storage. Neighbor benefits renters by providing safer, more accessible storage for half the price of a traditional self storage unit, while allowing hosts to earn thousands of dollars per year from their unused space. Neighbor’s investors include leaders in real estate and marketplace experts, such as Andreessen Horowitz, Fifth Wall, and the CEOs of DoorDash, Uber, Overstock and StockX.
Learn more about Neighbor at neighbor.com.


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Lexus is getting ready to pull the wraps off the new 2016 RX. Continue Reading...
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Lexus is preparing a major update for the RX crossover and new spy photos give us a glimpse of its fresh styling. Continue Reading...
Lexus’ secret Detroit Auto Show reveal is now out in the open. Continue Reading...
The Lexus SC saw its last year in 2010, but it looks like the nameplate may return to the Japanese luxury automaker’s lineup. Continue Reading...
The new 2015 Lexus RC 350 F Sport will be making its debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show alongside the RC F GT3 race car. Continue Reading...
Comments Off on Lexus Vision Gran Turismo Concept Teased in Sketch
Quite a few automakers are taking part in the “Vision Gran Turismo” project by designing impressive looking concept vehicles and making them available to drive in the Playstation 3 driving simulation game. Continue Reading...
Toyota is set to bring its first turbocharged four-cylinder engine to the market under the hood of a Lexus, starting in late 2014 or early 2015. Continue Reading...
Lexus has admitted that it is missing inspiring coupes from its lineup, and in light of that, have reportedly confirmed the LF-LC concept will make it to production. Continue Reading...
Lexus just offered up some early test drives of the Lexus IS in prototype form, and now the brand has confirmed that the car will debut during the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. Continue Reading...
The next generation Lexus IS is overdue for an update, and our spy photographers have just caught the 2014 IS out testing. Continue Reading...
Lexus recently unveiled the redesigned ES and ES hybrid, and now the Japanese luxury brand has released the first commercial for the new car. Continue Reading...
The Lexus CT200h has been a success for the company, drawing in younger buyers as well opening up a new low-price point to enter into the luxury segment, and now the car may spawn some new models. The “possibility to build other vehicles off that(CT200h) platform” is likely, said Mark Templin, Lexus U.S. group vice president and general… Continue Reading...


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TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- Coca-Cola Co., KO, -0.20% the Atlanta soft-drink giant, said it acquired a controlling holding in Kerry Beverages Ltd., a bottling joint venture it formed in 1993 with Kerry Group, a Hong Kong conglomerate. Financial terms weren't disclosed. Kerry holds majority control of 11 joint ventures that produce and distribute Coke products in nine nrovinces in China. KBL also has a minority interest in the joint-venture bottler for Beijing. After the transaction, Coke will hold 89.5% of KBL and will have agreed to buy the rest by the end of 2008 at the same price per share as the initial purchase plus interest.
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Research conducted by men's fashion retailer High & Mighty revealed that boredom is one of the key problems, as workers often find themselves snacking because they have nothing better to do.
The company's survey discovered that 50 per cent of male office workers have something of a snacking addiction, as they simply cannot stop reaching for treats throughout the day.
It also seems that many men feel unable to resist high-calorie snacks if they are being passed around the office.
Three in ten male respondents admitted they feel left out if they do not accept the offer of cakes and biscuits, compared with just 17 per cent of female office workers.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, therefore, 42 per cent of survey participants said they had put on up to a stone in just one year as a result of being tied to their desk and unable to resist unhealthy snacks.
Gill Politis, managing director of High and Mighty, commented: "You're going to lose and gain weight throughout your life, it's unavoidable.
"But our research seems to show that you're more likely to gain weight during your office life."
Another factor that could compound the problem is competitiveness, as many workers feel the need to bring in ever bigger and better treats.
"It's the perfect storm that conspires against the diet-conscious," Ms Politis added.
If you're battling against office weight gain and struggle to turn down the offer of unhealthy snacks, it's probably best to bring your own nibbles into work with you.
This will mean that you'll feel less hungry and be more able to say no when people are passing around calorie-laden treats.
Examples of healthy items to keep close-by include slices of carrot and pepper with low-fat hummus, a bunch of grapes or a box of cereal bars.
If you work in quite a close-knit environment, it may also be worth discussing the possibility of choosing just one day a week when people bring in cakes, biscuits and sweets to share.
And of course, it's always sensible to leave the workplace at lunchtime and get some fresh air and exercise.
This will also give you the opportunity to enjoy your healthy lunch in peace, without having to watch your colleagues tucking into packets of crisps and chocolate bars!


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Learn from Cultural Marketing of French Wine Regions
Write | WBO Team
Translate and Edit | WBO Kiwi
In recent media reports, a number of Chinese cultural celebrities, including actor Guoli Zhang were awarded by Jurade de Saint-Emilion in the ceremony held in China National Stadium.
Several French wine regions have such honor award ceremonies
Apart from this, WBO found that before the opening of VINEXPO in May 29th, Jurade de Saint-Emilion also held an honor award ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, and several Chinese vintners were awarded such honor.
Saint-Emilion is located on the right bank of the Garonne River in Bordeaux, France. The members of “Jurade de Saint-Emilion” are known as “Jurat”, and they are scattered around the world as the promotion ambassadors of St. Emilion wines, including the celebrities, such as the Russian President Putin and the prince of Monaco, Albert II.
Jurade de Saint-Emilion is just one prime example, the same kind of ceremony happened in other wine regions of France too. During the Bordeaux VINEXPO in June last year, Commanderie du Bontemps de Medoc, des Graves, de Sauternes et de Barsac, also give Chinese vintners honors in France.
Other wine regions of France, such as Burgundy, Cognac, and Armagnac, also have consumer opinion leaders and wine dealers in China or Asia.
Not only exporting wines, but also delivering wine culture
The report points out that in order to attract China market, St. Emilion has been awarded to many Chinese celebrities in recent years.
“China has become the largest market for Bordeaux wine. This is a huge potential consumption group”, said Jean-Francois Galhaud, chairman of Conseil des Vins de St-Emilion.
Some vintners believe that this kind of event is very pertinent and effective, targeting at Chinese celebrities and vintners, which exert influence on business side and consumer side, plus with the strong sense of ceremony, which has played a subtle educational role for China market.”
“This is part of the cultural marketing of the French wine industry. Vintners seldom been awarded by New World wine regions.
In fact, honors awards ceremony in France does not cost much, but it gives emotional input to Chinese vintners”, a wine importer analyzed.
“The candidate is generally recommended by the local wineries or negociants in Bordeaux to the local wine associations, and their first choice is of course the Chinese importers who have a strategic partnership with them,” said Mr. Lin, a Chinese importer who was awarded the honor 5 years ago, “And the cost of the gala dinner is paid by local wineries or negociants.”
What’s more interesting? In the past, similar ceremonies were held in France, however today, this kind of honors ceremony has been transformed into a global tour activity, and the purpose of promotion and public relations is even stronger.
Beware of overuse
Although the honors have a sense of ritual, certain wineries have used this kind of marketing too much.
A few years ago, WBO reporter visited a Bordeaux wine group, and the winery also held a ceremony to give a collective honor to the Chinese importers and media visitors, put on red robe, taking group pictures and awarded with certificates.
The organizers explain to WBO: Many Bordeaux wine associations and wineries have the rights to award importers, the influence is the only difference.
Such ceremony held by authoritative associations can be understood as promoting local wine culture, and to improve global market influence of the region. But when in the over use of it, this will lose its own value and looks like game, which eliminate its real sense.


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UK Crime Agency Hit By DDoS AttackEvent Comes in Aftermath of Stolen Card Ring Takedown
The United Kingdom's Serious Organised Crime Agency, which recently took down 36 websites selling stolen credit and debit card data, was hit May 3 by a distributed denial-of-service attack.
Soca told the BBC that the site was taken offline at 10:30 p.m. local time. Although Soca couldn't confirm the source of the attack, the agency took steps to limit the impact of the attack on clients "hosted by the [same] service provider," a spokesperson told the news agency.
The site was back online May 4.
In April, Soca announced that it had taken down 36 websites that were selling stolen debit and credit card data for more than 2.5 million accounts (see: Websites Selling Stolen Cards Foiled). The UK crime agency worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice and other international organizations, making three arrests during the operation, which involved two years of tracking e-commerce sites.


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In a recent interview with toy enthusiast website Toy Hype USA, Jakks Pacific SVP of Marketing Craig Drobis confirmed that the company’s first articulated Sonic figures will arrive in the fall. The line will launch with four figures, including Sonic, Eggman, Tails and Shadow, each of which also come with an accessory from the games. In addition to these figures, Drobis also revealed that a yet-to-be-shown articulated Metal Sonic figure will be released before the end fo the year.
When asked about whether or not Sonic Heroes’ Neo Metal Sonic was in the cards, Drobis would only say that they hadn’t gotten to the character yet, because there focus has been on “classic and modern Sonic characters,” likely meaning any Sonic characters from the mid-2000s that are no longer relevant are currently out of luck.
These figures were first shown at the New York Toy Fair back in February, alongside a variety of other Sonic merchandise. The interview featured the first clear images of these figures, which you can check out below.
via Toy Hype USA


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NFTs with real-world utility
Public minting for NTR1-META sneakers commences on March 17th at 13:00 UTC.
The collection, which will feature 5,555 units in total, will be launched as NFT collectibles on the Swappable marketplace on the Polygon blockchain. 5,000 sneakers will go on sale on March 17th, with the remaining 555 to be launched during the Decentraland Fashion Week taking place from the 24th to the 27th of March.
Swappable users can purchase the digital wearables on Swappable.
A closer look at the NTR1-META sneakers
The NTR1-META sneakers are inspired by the magic of the changing Chameleon.
“We aren’t talking about any change, but the evolution of the highest spheres. Digital to physical luxury goods. These sneakers are conceptualized for those revolutionary challengers seeking to evolve and seize the cutting edge of luxury goods as they morph into our digital future,” said Marco Staglianò, CEO of AN1.
NTR1-Meta Sneakers launch on March 17th, 2022
NTR1-Meta will be the world’s first 3-in-1 phygital (physical x digital) handmade, Italian high-end sneakers.
Swappable is an NFT platform built by TrustSwap, a multifaceted crypto ecosystem covering every aspect of DeFi. TrustSwap boasts more than $4.5 billion total value locked and over 13,000 projects using their services. In the last year, Swappable has facilitated auctions by several high-profile artists and celebrities.
AN1 is a one-stop shop to design, produce, crowdfund, and trade hype fashion, both digital and physical. The unique platform features cutting-edge technology like the Initial Shoe Offering (ISO) module, which, with AN1’s first-class expertise in design and manufacturing, can create a marketplace for anyone to pitch, crowdfund, manufacture and distribute their own sneaker.


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At The Motley Fool, we poke plenty of fun at Wall Street analysts and their endless cycle of upgrades, downgrades, and "initiating coverage at neutral." Today, we'll show you whether those bigwigs actually know what they're talking about. To help, we've enlisted Motley Fool CAPS to track the long-term performance of Wall Street's best and worst.
Riding the Netflix roller coaster
After rushing out of the gate in January, shares of video streamer Netflix (NAS: NFLX) are now entering their third straight week of nonstop decline -- and maybe for good reason. Amazon.com (NAS: AMZN) is stubbornly sticking with its offer to undercut Netflix's pricing with "free streaming with Amazon Prime."
This month, FiOS aficionado Verizon (NYS: VZ) announced it would ally with Coinstar (NAS: CSTR) to offer a streaming service, too. And just this week, Comcast (NAS: CMCSA) piled on with a third alternative to Netflix -- one that like Amazon's, could undercut Netflix on cost by coming free with certain tiers of service. The hits, as they say, just keep coming.
But fear not, Netflix investor. According to the analysts at Raymond James, there's good news here: Despite a host of also-rans appearing to challenge its business, Netflix remains the "clear leader in digital streaming." Growth in paid subscribers at the service has been "strong," and despite all the bad headlines of late, the analyst thinks Netflix could very well be worth $104 a share.
Problem is, these shares currently cost $109.
The trouble with Netflix
And this, in short, is the bad news. Even a "clear leader" can be overpriced, and according to Raymond James, Netflix is just that. Overpriced, and doomed to "underperform" the market from here on out.
Why? RJ offers up a number of reasons, ranging from the fact that with 22.8 million subscribers on its rolls already, Netflix is now running up against "the law of large numbers," and finding little room to grow. Analyzing data from Google's search archives, RJ argues that "searches" for Netflix are "approximately flat" year over year. Instead of signing up new converts to its business, Netflix seems to be spending more time "churning" its old customers over and over, with 31 million members turning the service off-again-on-again over just the past three years.
This could prove problematic.
At 26 times trailing profits, Netflix needs strong future subscriber growth -- and strong future profit growth -- to justify its valuation. Instead, analysts say the best we can hope to see going forward is an average of 18% annual profits growth over the next five years. And while fast, that's simply not fast enough to justify the stock's price, which is up 51% since the year began, even after the recent sell-off.
Even more worrisome, Netflix may not be even as profitable as it looks. While the company claims $226 million in GAAP net earnings for the past year, actual free cash flow at Netflix (cash from operations, minus capital expenditures and spending to build out the firm's DVD library) comes to approximately $183 million -- or nearly 20% less than reported net income.
Already expensive in relation to GAAP profits, Netflix looks even more overpriced when valued on its free cash flow. Raymond James is right about the company being best-in-class among the streaming providers. Even so, the mere fact that this class is so large -- and getting larger by the day -- means there's more competition for subscribers and bigger bidding wars among rivals looking to lock up Hollywood content for their services.
Long story short: The future for Netflix looks like one of slower growth, higher costs, and lower profit margins. These aren't exactly the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster -- but they may make for an excellent sell thesis. That's why I'm personally taking Raymond James' advice and reopening my own virtual "short" position on Netflix on Motley Fool CAPS today.
Think I'm wrong? Follow along.
On Motley Fool CAPS, Rich's skepticism has served him well, and racked up a record of 72% outperformance over the S&P 500. Even so, he doesn't hate all stocks equally. To learn more about one stock Rich likes (at least, more than he likes Netflix), read the Fool's new report on "The Next Trillion-Dollar Revolution."
At the time thisarticle was published Fool contributor Rich Smith does not own shares of any company named above. You can find him on CAPS, publicly pontificating under the handle TMFDitty, where he's currently ranked No. 407 out of more than 180,000 members. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Coinstar, Amazon.com, and Netflix.
Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Microsoft Azure and Office 365 cloud offerings largely inspired by, Q2 2016 to $ 25.7 billion generated in revenue. Phone earnings from the same quarter a year ago, has dropped nearly 50 percent.
Microsoft ended 31 December 2016, its second fiscal quarter, revenue for the announced $ 25.7 billion in 2015. The company continued currency, earnings per share of $ 0.78 in earnings driven.
Numbers beat expectations. Analysts Redmond same period a year earlier to $ 26.5 billion from $ 25.3 billion, a decrease reported sales forecast, and $ 0.71 earnings per share.
This level lineup for Q2 was a strong quarter earnings, mainly driven by growth in the cloud and Office 365. Smart phones and Windows OEM sales decline were the main areas.
Microsoft to implement the change in the financial reporting structure by starting the 2016 fiscal year. The productivity services, cloud, and Windows / devices focused on three distinct business units revenue breaks down. Each division is broken down quarters here's how:
Productivity and Business Process
Office and Dynamics, which distribute it over the years due to currency fluctuations decreased 2% year represents $ 6.7 billion, generated. Constant currency, increased 5% distribution.
Year-over-year increase of almost 70% Office 365, which proceeds from the constant currency revenue growth in this division accounted for. Cloud-based Office productivity suite users extend to 20.6 million in Q2.
The company's quarterly earnings call, CEO Satya Nadella Development Office acknowledged on rival platforms. iOS and Android, Skype has more than 900 million downloads, he said, and Office applications in Q2 surpassed 340 million downloads.
The quarter when measured in constant currency revenue increased 11 percent year over year, where Dynamics, brought significant changes. Dynamics CRM customers are deployed in three-quarters of the cloud, Nadella said.
Intelligent cloud server such as Windows Server and Azure's products and services encompasses.
Q2 consistently been a strong source of revenue for the company which focus on the cloud Nadella, continues to reflect strength. Intelligent cloud division revenue $ 5.9 billion in the same quarter a year earlier, to hit $ 6.3 billion, an increase of 5 percent. Constant currency, revenue grew 11 percent.
Azure Azure premium services revenue tripled from a year earlier, with revenues of 140% in constant currency sky. Cloud services and server products saw a 10% increase in revenue.
More than a third of Fortune 500 companies have adopted Microsoft's enterprise mobility solutions, company number nearly tripled, indicating a year-over-year, reported.
"Enterprise cloud is massive opportunity," Nadella place as described, earnings call, said: "We have never participated in any major market."
More Personal Computing
Windows, hardware, search, and gaming segment containing 5% decline year over year (down 2% at constant currency), marking the revenue pulled in $ 12.7 billion. OEM revenues fell 5 percent but still came out ahead in a struggling PC market.
For more personal computing division revenue increased income levels. The sales of $ 1.35 billion, the best quarter to date was level. Pro 4's release and remove the surface income.
Mobile segment, as expected, as the quarter did not have much success. Phone earnings year-over-year 49% toppled, the company implemented in July 2015, reflecting a change in strategy, announced.
Windows 10 over 200 million devices this quarter, Nadella said. Twenty million enterprise and teaching assistants have upgraded to the new OS.
Income was looking. With more and more people communicate as Cortana, now built into the Windows 10 desktop, using the Bing search service. Search engines now because Windows 10 and Cortana engage in large part, is more than 21% of the search market share.


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WWJ and LTU's Leaders And Innovators Bring New 'Energy' To EventWWJ Newsradio 950 and Lawrence Technological University kicked off the Leaders and Innovators series Thursday with a discussion about how businesses could be more energy efficient.
Leaders and Innovators: Jason BlessingJASON BLESSING is CEO of Plex Systems Inc. in Troy. A cloud enterprise resource planning technology company, Plex Systems provides businesses integrated applications to manage manufacturing execution systems, supply chain management, customer relationship management, shop floor integration, quality management, and others.
Leaders And Innovators: Rob DeWitRob DeWit is president and CEO of the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center in Kalamazoo. The Southwest Michigan Innovation Center is a business incubator and accelerator for life science companies. The center celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and has about 75 percent of its lab space and nearly all of its office space occupied. The center initiated its Launch MI Lab, a fully equipped and staffed bioscience laboratory, in late 2012. Five companies have graduated from the center and moved on to become successful startups. Responsible for hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars added to the local economy, the center is expanding its offerings with a $600,000 Michigan Strategic Fund grant awarded in 2012. DeWit has 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry starting with the Upjohn Co. and serving the legacy companies in a variety of roles until retiring from Pfizer in 2008 as the R&D site lead in Kalamazoo. In addition to his continuous association with drug safety activities, DeWit led a complete preclinical laboratory in Japan for two years, participated in global acquisition team work, and represented safety interests for consumer health care, manufacturing quality assurance teams, and the animal health divisions of the various companies. He also aided research and leadership functions in the United Kingdom. DeWit started his career with Warner-Lambert/Parke Davis in Ann Arbor. He received his bachelor of science degree from Calvin College and his doctorate in toxicology from the University of Michigan. More at http://www.ltu.edu/leaders/bio_082013.asp
Leaders And Innovators: David VanAmburgDavid VanAmburg is managing director of the American Customer Satisfacation Index at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. ACSI is a national economic indicator of customer evaluations of the quality of goods and services from companies and government agencies. It is the only uniform, cross-industry measure that links customer satisfacation to a company's financial performance. VanAmburg joined ACSI in 1998 and was named director for ACSI's federal government satisfaction study in 1999 before being promoted to managing director of the ACSI as a whole in 2001. Most recently, Van Amburg has been named managing directo of ACSI's sister index in the UK, NCSI-UK, and also co-manages the Brazilian Customer Satisfaction Index. He ahs lectured extensively both at UM and abroad on topics related to customer satisfaction, quality, customer loyalty, and shareholder value and coauthored "The American Customer Satisfaction Index at Ten Years, ACSI 1994-2004: A Summary of Findings, Implications for the Economy, Stock Returns and Management." VanAmburg received his bachelor's degree in public policy and history from Michigan State University and a master's in history from UM. More at www.ltu.edu/leaders.


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Right-hand-drive Ford F-150 Lightning electric pick-up spotted in Brisbane – UPDATE
A mysterious right-hand-drive Ford F-150 has turned up in Brisbane, being the first electric F-truck spotted on Australian soil.
UPDATE: A spokesperson for Ford has confirmed the vehicle isn’t one of theirs, telling Drive: “Ford Australia has not re-manufactured any F-150 Lightnings to right-hand drive and does not have any on fleet. We are focused on beginning customer deliveries of F-150 XLT and Lariat next month.”
The story below has been updated to reflect this infomation.
An electric Ford F-150 Lightning has been caught on camera on the streets of Brisbane – and with the steering wheel on the right side.


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Vampires! Witches! Velvet scrunchies!
Every con has its pros. And every pro has a bedazzled pantsuit.
Your Cannes coverage ends here, dears.
Welcome back, judgmental bitches!
And the LEWKS just keep on coming.
Welcome back to the French Riviera, where things continue to be breathtakingly glamorous.
The Oscars have come and gone, but our judgment is forever.
Let’s just say it: this was the most fashionable movie premiere of all time.
Hey, the Globes were only like 45 news cycles ago. It’s not too late for fashion recaps!
Our long national nightmare is over* – THE DIVA RETURNS!
*JK, Trump is still president.


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The head of Percept Group’s PR agency Percept Profile, Ajay Sharma, has left
the agency to spearhead a ‘through-the-line’ approach to PR with Image Matters or ‘imatters’, set to launch mid-November 2005.
Sharma had joined Percept in August 2004. He said that the prime reason for his move was to explore the concept of ‘through-the-line’ communication in
“Presently in India, there is much happening for PR solutions, marketing solutions, advertising solutions and so on. Even when someone is speaking
about integrated marketing, necessarily it is one brand director speaking to
a cross-section of people, who are experts in specific fields, and then
drawing out a plan to achieve the brand objective,” said Sharma.
The plan of action for the new agency is to acquire a creative hot shop that
would allow it to provide clients with complete solutions for their brands.
Within the week, the agency will tie up international investors, added Sharma.
‘imatters’ has already identified the sectors to drive its growth. Sharma informed that at present the new style of working would be of use to sectors like healthcare communication, destination marketing, professional service firms and so on, where even on the international scene, PR had graduated to become through-the-line, utilising conventional and new media.
The new entity will begin with offices across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore. People have been identified for the various branches, and most details are already in place.
He explained that through-the-line brings in a change in perspective: “You have someone sitting on the other side of the table, looking at a holistic approach and then advising a plan and solutions.”
Asked if he sees space for such a concept to exist given that PR itself is still growing in India, he said, “PR still isn’t able to provide end-to-end solutions but it has been booming in India for the last year. We must not ignore the speed at which these disciplines have grown in the country – even when it comes to media training. From that point of view, this is the apt time to bring in through-the-line in India.”
The agency has already roped in some clients, like Arunachal Pradesh, which is to be promoted as a tourism and investment destination, EMA partners, a head hunting firm, and IMI mobile, a value added service provider.


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The Super Mario series is turning 35 this year, and Nintendo has big plans for the plumber’s birthday. That includes updating and bringing back most of his games for Nintendo Switch, according to a report from Video Games Chronicle. Eurogamer is backing up that report,… Continue Reading
I’ve always enjoyed watching speedrunners demonstrate their craft. As illustrated in a recent video from YouTube user Summoning Salt (also a world record-holding speedrunner), the level of precision and dedication exhibited by the community’s top performers is nothing short of remarkable.


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A day after President Uhuru Kenyatta announced subsidies that will see the price of maize flour drop to Ksh100 per 2Kg pack, Kenyans jammed supermarkets across the city scrambling for the precious commodity.
A spot check by our team showed members of the public scrambling or queuing to get their hands at a pack of maize flour which is retailing at Ksh99 at a popular supermarket chain.
Videos shared on various social media platforms also captured shoppers being ordered to line up in supermarkets or at wholesale and retail shops within the city, with fears of panic buying ahead of polls.
Some wholesale and retail shops noted that they were mulling capping the number of packets one person can purchase noting that it will help reduce inconveniences and shortages as more stock comes in.
In some supermarkets across the city, the attendants were mandated by the management to stand watch and distribute maize flour while customers queued.
These measures have been put in place to create order and avoid accidents and stampedes as customers scramble to get a packet of Unga.
A section of Kenyans also raised concerns on whether there could be a shortage amid the price reduction but the millers have assured them that there is enough maize flour to feed the nation.
Some outlets have also lowered the price of cooking oil which is retailing for as high as Ksh2,200 for a 5-litre jerrican.
The rush comes amid an announcement by the President who suspended the Import Declaration Fee (IDF) imposed on imported maize as well as the Railway Development Levy on the same.
Uhuru appealed to the millers not to hoard maize flour saying this will affect Kenyans in a negative way.
The President urged the millers to exercise corresponding social responsibility for the Kenyan people and ethical business practices.
“This moment requires us to act in unison in order to cushion the vulnerable in our society, as we continue to work out how to find sustainable means of dealing with this emerging trend,” the head of state remarked.
“If my appeal to the millers is to practice a reasoned level of social ethics, my appeal to the political class is to exercise civic responsibility. To politicize the pain of the vulnerable without offering solutions is to mock the lifestyle of the same voters the politicians are appealing to,” he added.


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Keen, the brand that claims to be on a mission to make outside inclusive and accessible to all, is expanding its Making Waves partnership with Outdoor Afro, a not-for-profit organization celebrating and inspiring Black connections and leadership in nature, and the YMCA, nationwide. First launched in 2019, the program is an awareness and fundraising campaign highlighting the alarming statistic that Black children are nearly six times more likely to die from drowning than white kids, according to the CDC. The partners want to change by raising funds for Swimmership scholarships (swimming lessons) held at YMCAs across the country.
“These alarming statistics demanded action,” states Rue Mapp, founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro. “We need to stop the drownings and give kids confidence in and around the water. It’s about saving lives and enabling stronger connections to our waterways and the outdoors. This is an important step in the right direction. We are most grateful that Keen has supported Making Waves for the last three years, and are excited that The Y is adding its strength to the effort. It’s great to see this all coming together.”
“The statistics speak for themselves,” says Erik Burbank, vice president of the Keen Effect. “We’re proud to be supporting Outdoor Afro on this movement, and it’s really motivating to have the YMCA joining the effort. Having a partner that can help us scale the program over time reinforces our ability to create change and have a significant effect on this issue.”
Also contributing to the cause is a limited-edition Outdoor Afro x Keen sandal collection. One percent of all sales will go to fund Swimmerships. The collection—including Newport H2 for men; Astoria West for women; and Newport H2 and Stingrays for kids—features artwork from Outdoor Afro volunteer leader, Leandra Taylor. Taylor has been an inspiration, teacher and friend to kids seeking to learn about the outdoor experience. The collection is available on keenfootwear.com and at retailers across the U.S., as well as select retailers in Canada, Europe and Japan.
Kids and their caregivers may sign up for Swimmerships on Outdoor Afro’s website beginning this summer. Each Swimmership provides new swimmer and 8-10 lessons. Individuals can sponsor sponsor on Outdoor Afro’s website: $10 for a lesson, $100 for a scholarship and $1,000 funds a full class. To learn more or to sign up for a Swimmership, visit.


text: Assetto Corsa is one of the most acclaimed racing sims available now. With the franchise now hitting 100-million Euros and an eSports foothold being planned. According to a press release former Ferrari executive Valerio Piersanti, to bolster the franchise’s foothold in the esports sector. “I am excited about this challenge and joining the Digital Bros group organization and I would like to express my gratitude in particular to the Galante brothers for the trust they have placed in me” Piersanti said. “Assetto Corsa is a brand that I have had the privilege of following with Marco Massarutto since the beginning, through to the collaboration set up with Ferrari. Now the goal is to fully exploit the potential it has always shown, and consolidate its positioning and partnerships in a rapidly changing context.” The latest game Assetto Corsa Competizione is now available for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.


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Indeed, many consumers do not even check Web site privacy policies when they divulge their sensitive personally identifiable information. Yet,, when consumers are given a specific choice, many may actually pay more money during a transaction in return for privacy protection.
The report, prepared by Lorrie Cranor, who directs the Carnegie Mellon Usable Privacy and Security Labs, documents that consumers would pay an extra 60 cents for privacy protection on purchases of $15. Cranor came to this result by way of a hypothetical experiment.
Of course, it is possible that the participants were more sensitive to their privacy when dealing with a sex toy purchase than they would be when purchasing more routine items. Yet, the implications of personally identifiable information getting into the wrong hands can be significant even when obtained from routine purchase transactions.
The study included only 72 participants. Thus, it is far from conclusive. A real-world experience would be more telling. If two companies offered similar competing products for sale on the Internet, only one of the two companies clearly provided written assurances of privacy protection for an extra cost, and consumers chose to purchase the products from that company for a higher price, that would really indicate something serious.
In the meantime, talk is cheap. If you want your privacy to be protected, be careful out there, and examine how companies handle your personally identifiable data.


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The 8th generation of Intel processors are finally finding their way on to notebooks and MSI has detailed which of its latest products will sport the chips.
The big talking point in the line-up is the GT75VR Titan which features an unlocked 8th Generation Intel Core i9 processor. That can be paired with either a single Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 or GTX 1080.
For those that need more grunt the GT75 Titan can also be configured with dual GTX 1070 cards in SLI.
Regarding performance MSI says that users can expect a 70 percent performance boost when using the Core i9 compared to a Core i7 from the previous generation.
“The extra cores are especially beneficial for gamers who stream their gameplay, or for advanced multitasking workloads,” says MSI.
You also get a mechanical keyboard thanks to MSI’s partnership with SteelSeries.
The GS series is also getting a refresh which is great news because we fell in love with the older GS63VR Stealth.
Not much has changed, the notebook is still thinner than a Macbook Pro and it packs a lot more tech.
Inside the GS65 Stealth Thin is an Intel 8th generation processor running on a HM370 chipset. The notebook can be configured with an Nvidia GTX 1060 or a GTX 1070 which uses the Max-Q design that keeps heat down while keeping performance levels up.
The firm will also be releasing the GT83 Titan, GT63 Titan, GE63 Raider RGB and the GE73 Raider RGB notebooks later this month all of which sport Intel’s latest tech.


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The auto industry will need to substantially increase the market share for advanced-technology vehicles in Japan, if it hopes to achieve future carbon-dioxide emissions targets, Honda’s Fumihiko Ike says....More
More than two-thirds of all Japanese-brand models sold in Europe now are produced there, an industry group says. Imports from Japan fell to 371,576 units in 2013, down 8.2% from 401,870 compared with prior-year....More
The current foreign-exchange rates “represent, for the yen, an appreciation that not only far surpasses all prior projections by (the domestic) auto makers, but also totally fails to reflect Japan’s economic fundamentals,” executives say....More
Members of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. are discussing ways to address likely electricity shortages in the coming months. One idea is to halt production one day a week in order to conserve energy....More
We call out vehicles with problematic fit-and-finish, materials, ergonomics or unfortunate design choices. Each of these items resulted in points deducted as WardsAuto editors selected the 2016 Wards 10 Best Interiors.


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Ascade has around 100 employees and offices in Stockholm, Miami, Dubai and Singapore.
Although financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Ascade posted net sales of €11.3m in 2010, according to CapMan’s website.
CapMan made its initial investment in the company in 2002. Prior to the transaction, the firm owned around 41.4 per cent of Ascade’s shares.
“During our investment period, Ascade has expanded internationally, improved the scalability of its business, and reached a significant strategic position with a top-tier customer base,” said CapMan Technology senior advisor Lennart Jacobsson.
“We are confident that Ascade will continue to thrive under new ownership.”
The sale marks Capman’s third in less than two months, following the exits of Finnish discount chain Tokmanni to Nordic Capital and Russian telecoms service provider Tascom.
The exit does not impact CapMan Plc’s result for the current year as the selling funds are not in carry, it said.
Copyright © 2012 AltAssets


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Internet sales tax fight comes to Dayton
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The tax could bring billion of dollars in taxes, including $629 million to the state of Ohio and local governments, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Watt says larger companies who support the tax such as Amazon have to pay the tax because they already have a physical presence in each state, but he says they have an economy of scale he can’t match. He’ll be traveling to Washington next week as part of a group of companies lobbying Ohio lawmakers on the issue.
More than 1,800 businesses could suffer if states force retailers to collect Internet sales tax, according to a report from the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy. While that’s under 5 percent of all online retailers, these companies bring in 57 percent of total online retail sales in the U.S., the report found.
U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester, has been a vocal opponent of Internet sales taxes, and was part of the effort that creates a 7-year moratorium on the issue in 2007.
“That’s the best approach for our economy, small businesses, and American consumers, and House Republicans will continue to fight to make the ban on Internet taxation permanent,” Boehner said at the time.
But other lawmakers don’t agree, including several Ohio Republicans who say it’s about fairness for local businesses.
“The way we collect our sales tax today discriminates against businesses that have jobs and investments in our local communities, and it favors companies that primarily operate over the Internet,” Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, told the Plain Dealer.
Studio Sales Associate – Photography (Entry Level) Portrait Innovations | Dayton, OH
Sales Manager Aaron's Sales and Lease | Dayton, OH
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A look at the day's business stories from media outlets around Dayton.


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Whether you're someone who uses the app daily or someone who thinks it's dumb AF, you've definitely heard of Snapchat in the last couple of years – it's the social media app with over 158 million users daily, which, y'know, is a lot.
The social media app recently took off and skyrocketed to the top of online popularity, with users spreading their dog selfies from one inch of the internet to the other, but now Snapchat has a new medium they're taking aim at: television.
So what does Snapchat TV look like?
The model seems to be two to three new episodes of original content every day at around three-to-five minutes a piece.
Where can I watch?
The episodes will be offered under the Stories section on your snap.
What kind of content can we expect?
Snap is also expected to announce a deal that will bring Food Network-related content to the app #moreGuyFieriplease
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Is there anything else like this out there?
No, not really, but Twitter did recently announce plans to bring live video 24/7 to users with partners like Live Nation, MLB, and Bloomberg.
Where can I download Snapchat?
What do you think?
Are you stoked about Snapchat TV, or do you think this is a silly feature that will eventually fall by the wayside?
Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Cella writes for iMore on social and photography. She's a true crime enthusiast, bestselling horror author, lipstick collector, buzzkill, and Sicilian. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @hellorousseau
Apple doubles down on 8GB Macs despite calls to increase the base spec ahead of M4 devices
Apple's iOS 17.4 browser choice is under fire, despite increased adoption of third-party alternatives
Google is about to give iPhone owners a privacy and security headache as it prepares to shut down another key service


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MINNETONKA, Minnesota (FOX 9) – A former Nordstrom employee at the Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka is accused of a scheme in which he allegedly stole goods while working and then sold them online for profit.
The Minnetonka Police Department said Wednesday that officers arrested Denis Palamarchuk, 47, of Minnetonka, and his ex-wife, a 48-year-old Plymouth woman, on May 4 after searching a Plymouth home, where the detectives found approximately $500,000 in stolen goods that included handbags, shoes and high-end clothing, according to a criminal complaint filed May 6.
Police also recovered more than $46,000 in cash, the apparent proceeds from the sale of the stolen property. At the time of the arrest, the couple had 215 posts on their eBay account, police said in a news release.
Palamarchuk is charged with theft. He is due to make his first court appearance on July 5.
In April, Nordstrom Asset Protection employees began investigating missing high-end items in the loading dock area, where items are placed daily for outbound shipments, the complaint states. Store workers reviewed surveillance video, which appeared to show Palamarchuk blocking off the high-end clothing shelf and repeatedly moving security cameras.
Palamarchuk would then leave through the loading dock door instead of the employee door, which was against store policy, and drive his vehicle to the loading dock door, according to the complaint. Cameras then captured him leaving with boxes, which he loaded into his car.
As part of the investigation, Nordstrom employees placed a secret camera in an office that captured items from Palamarchuk’s packaging store in a box and put them in his car, according to the complaint. Employees identified the stolen items and confronted him as he left. He admitted to stealing two high-end bags from the apartment where he was staying and that they were currently for sale on Craigslist.
Palamarchuk admitted to investigators stealing about 20 items, according to the complaint. He said he put the stolen purses in black plastic bags and hid them in the rafters of the underground garage of the apartment where he was staying during his divorce.
He began stealing items to pay his bills because of a pay cut, he said, the complaint states.
According to the charges, Palamarchuk’s ex-wife admitted to police that she knew Palamarchuk was selling Nordstrom items, adding that she was helping him sell the items. She is named a co-defendant in the case, but it is not known if she has been charged.


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Kaspersky Labs has released its latest report on the state of the cryptocurrency sector. Digital assets and their infrastructure contain a unique mix of technological and financial risks, which Kaspersky regularly tracks.
But this time, the report makes a few future predictions. In 2019, the drive for blockchain applications would abate, as businesses realize blockchain has limited applications beyond the creation of cryptocurrencies.
“The reliable application of blockchain beyond cryptocurrency has been explored and experimented with for years, but there is little evidence of achievement. We expect 2019 to be the year people stop trying,” stated the report.
Additionally, digital assets may also see dropping usage as the payment use case unwinds. Problems with high network fees, as well as the inherent price volatility, made merchants give up on carrying crypto assets as a payment option.
But the most pessimistic prediction of Kaspersky is that the valuations of late 2017 and early 2018 will probably never return, leaving both Bitcoin and altcoins to hover at much lower prices.
“We believe there is a finite audience for whom cryptocurrencies are of interest, and once that limit is reached the price will not rise further,” commented Kaspersky Labs.
The prediction followed another day of selling, where digital assets lost between 10 and 20% once again on a rapid sell-off. For about two weeks now, these mass selling events have repeated, dragging down Bitcoin (BTC) well below $4,000, with expectations of a breakdown under $3,000.
After a prolonged price stagnation, a series of crashes in November brought prices down to levels not seen since before the rallies. Additionally, other elements of the crypto infrastructure show a withdrawal of investors. Mining slowed down for Bitcoin and some of the major coins, and Ethereum fell out of favor due to the low adoption of distributed apps.
Still, a few new models for digital assets established themselves in 2018, mostly relying on Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS). But even the successful projects have fallen significantly since their peak prices.
The entire cryptocurrency market’s valuation has dropped to $121.2 billion, down from peaks above $795 billion reached in January 2018. The massive spike in prices is now seen in hindsight as a bubble that may not repeat, as the crash renewed skepticism for the markets.


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Russia is the second largest gold mining country in the world, and its gold exports were estimated to be worth £12.6 billion in 2021. When the UK, the US, Japan and Canada unveiled their plans to ban new gold imports from Russia earlier this week, Britain said the measure would have a "huge impact" on Vladimir Putin's ability to fund his armed forces and oligarchs' attempts to avoid the impact of financial sanctions by buying bullion.
Industry analysts are less enthusiastic, describing the ban as largely symbolic because penalties imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine have effectively already closed off European and US markets. And even flows to traditional centers of trading in London and Zurich have mostly dried up due to self-sanctioning by the industry.
Preparations for the new sanctions package are ongoing and some nations will be pushing to add more measures to the proposals before they are presented to member states for approval, one of the people said.
The new package will also cover fixes to previously approved measures, which could include adjustments to rules around the transit of sanctioned goods to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private discussions.
Some officials have raised concerns that Lithuania could be pressured into allowing banned goods to transit through the country to Kaliningrad.
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Differences have emerged between the Tata Group and the founders of CaratLane over the valuation of the residual stake held by the founders, leading to a months-long deadlock, said people aware of the matter. India’s largest omni-channel jewellery brand is majority owned by Tata Group company Titan.Baring, Blackstone, 3 Others in Fray to Acquire Indira IVF
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In Chicago, food trucks aren’t allowed to operate within 200 feet of a brick-and-mortar restaurant. These mobile businesses struggle to survive in pockets of busy, overcrowded “parking zones,” which are the only places they are allowed to sell to hungry customers.
Vendors have endured a long struggle with City Hall for the right to do business in Chicago.
"Opening and operating a food truck in Chicago is somewhere between difficult and impossible," said Robert Frommer, an attorney for the D.C.-based Institute for Justice. "The city has put together a menagerie of rules that seem almost intended to make it as hard as possible to open up and be successful."
But it turns out Chicago isn’t the only place where officials don’t want to allow for innovation in local cuisine.
City Council in Peoria, the state’s seventh-largest city, voted down a proposal to legalize food trucks in 2012. The proposed ordinance, which was as strict as Chicago’s in many ways and even worse in others, at the very least would have made it possible for food entrepreneurs to pursue their businesses and bring new flavors to residents.
At the time, Mayor Jim Ardis (who still holds office today) told the Journal Star newspaper: "I firmly do not think [the ordinance] will create new people spending money to eat out in Peoria," Ardis said. “… The existing brick and mortar business people have to pay for air conditioning when its 100 degrees out and pay for heat when it's 10 below. The mobile vendor keeps his truck in the garage."
Ardis is wrong to expect that expanding business opportunities and dining options in his city would have a negative effect on the community. And he’s wrong to project negativity on a new branch of the local restaurant industry because it doesn’t have to incur the same costs as brick-and-mortar competitors. Food trucks don’t offer the same dining experience – they don’t provide the same ambience as traditional restaurants and they certainly won’t replace them. Food trucks don’t offer the chance to slow down and savor a meal. But they do provide great dining options for customers who are on the go and want to experience something new.
Now Peoria City Council is considering food trucks again. Councilman Ryan Spain told Peoria Public Radio: “I hope that with food trucks, this is just my view, that we might attract a few more people downtown. But I also think we have huge opportunities to retain more of the people that work downtown, that are constantly leaving to go somewhere else.”
The mayor shouldn’t decide what residents can eat and who can serve it to them based solely on the fact that he thinks allowing a new model “isn’t fair” to entrenched businesses. What’s not fair is the intentional, politically forced exclusion of dining options that would bring new flavors – and new work – to the city.
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This year, the annual international wine festival "Bolgrad Wine Fest" will take place from 13 to 14 November.
The place of celebration invariably remains the central city square (Cathedral Avenue). The event aims to restore the traditions of winemaking, develop the identity and culture of the region, and create an attractive climate for the development of tourism.
Guests of the festival are expected to taste wines and snacks for wine, an exhibition, and the sale of wine products. Along with wines, the festival guests could taste the national food of Bessarabia: kavarma, vegetable and fruit pickles, bryndza cheese, milina, homemade sausages, and much more.
The Bolgrad Wine Fest Festival is a platform for meeting new business partners and establishing new contacts.The organizer's team
Spectators will be entertained with thematic shows, performances of folklore ensembles and musical groups.
There will also be an opportunity to visit the traditional autumn fair and participate in the lottery.
The organisers announced an exhibition and sale of technological equipment for viticulture, winemaking, cooking, agriculture, etc.


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The stock of Hero Moto, the country’s largest motorbike maker, trades at a one-year forward price-earnings multiple of 18.7, a 3% premium to Bajaj Auto, according to the data from Bloomberg.
Correlation And Dependence
The business fundamentals of non-banks including growth potential, asset quality and capitalisation, still look solid.
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The automotive industry is the fastest to recover, though the Indian economy is yet to come out of the woods. November has been a steady month, but brought negativity back to the market, dotting double-digit dip. As we enter December 2020, the industry remains on edge about the surprises in store for 2021. It could open a new can of disruptions for ‘Auto’, India’s most organised sector.
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Xbox has announced the official kick-off for its Xbox Mentoring Program, designed to enable ‘aspiring talent’ to enter the video games industry at all levels. The initiative was announced as part of the company’s International Women’s Day celebrations, and is planned to take place across a number of regions including Australia and New Zealand in 2022.
Registrations of interest will open across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, and Korea from 6 April 2022, with anyone looking to enter the games industry encouraged to register interest with their assigned country mentee here.
While the mentorship program is led by women, anyone is able to apply.
Mentors announced hail from a range of disciplines, including social marketing, game production, business, esports and communications.
- Hailey Geller (US) is an Xbox Social Marketing Manager who specialises in creative marketing and campaigns.
- Louise O’Connor (UK) is the Executive Producer of Everwild and has over 20 years experience working in the games industry.
- Venessa Nyarko (Canada) is a Producer at The Coalition, and works to bring teams together to develop fresh narratives, cinematics and gameplay sequences.
- Tania Chee (Australia and New Zealand) is the Xbox Business Lead for Australia & New Zealand, and is responsible for driving business growth across the region. She has over 20 years experience working across gaming and tech, and has worked for Xbox across a number of global offices.
- Ina Gelbert (France) is the Director of Xbox France and works to make gaming a diverse, inclusive space for everyone.
- Melek Balgün (Germany, Austria & Switzerland) works across esports, web, TV and events as a host, and is a former professional gamer.
- Mie Koshimizu (Japan) is the Xbox Category Manager and currently works to advocate for women in games across Asia. Her specialisation lies in consumer and market research, as well as user experience and customer needs.
All mentors will be paired with promising candidates looking to break into the industry, and will take part in 1:1 mentoring sessions designed to help individuals skill up.
Those in Australia and New Zealand will be paired with Tania Chee, who specialises in business-focussed skills.
While the program is operating on an individual basis, it will likely be expanded in future as Xbox works to encourage diverse voices to enter the games industry. With only 24% of games industry workers identifying as women, there’s certainly a lot more work to do.
Mentorship plays an essential role in fostering individual skills and behaviours, and programs like this are important to creating a more diverse and accessible gaming industry. Having women play such a prominent role in these mentorship opportunities is also key to highlighting women’s contributions to the global games industry.
The Xbox Mentoring Program is accepting submissions from 6 April 2022. Those interested in applying for mentorship in Australia and New Zealand should head to the program hub here.


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World renowned chef Jamie Oliver has won his battle against world-wide brand McDonald’s in their use of ‘pink slime’ as filler in hamburgers. The mega-corporation announced that the recipe for their hamburger meat – and here we thought that the recipe for ground beef patties was ground beef – will be changed. To what the recipe will be changed was not announced.
Pink slime is the process whereby meat scraps and fat is washed in ammonium hydroxide, rinsed in water, and then ground before being added to other meat cuts as a filler. Before the chemical wash the scraps and assorted slaughter remnants are considered unfit for human consumption. Oliver said about the process, “Basically, we’re taking a product that would be sold in the cheapest way for dogs, and after this process, is being given to human beings.”
Oliver has led a campaign for the last several years to let people know about the “pink slime process”, a phrase coined by Oliver, himself. He said, “Why would any sensible human being put meat filled with ammonia in the mouths of their children?” Ammonium hydroxide is poisonous to humans.
Oliver made headlines in previous years by exposing the American schools for serving low quality food to school children, as well as products made with pink slime.
Watch Jamie Oliver explain how pink slime is made, and how it is then served in American schools here.
h/t: Political Blindspot


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The UK government has recently adopted a tax measure that affected Tesco. In 2011 the UK government increased the VAT rate from 17.5% to 20% with the aim to increase government revenue by £13 billion per year (BBC, 2011, n.p). Crossley et al. (2009, p. 3) contend that an increase in the VAT rate leads to lower customer spending. Therefore, an increase in the VAT rate negatively affected the sales revenue generated by Tesco. Sales revenue is the key source of income of the organisation and thus it holds a substantial effect on profits (Atrill, 2009, p33).
The UK government has also proposed to adopt a fat tax with the aim to control obesity and limit the medical problems associated with it (The Guardian, 2011, n.p.). Such measure can adversely affect the sales revenue of certain products retailed by Tesco. Tesco is responding to such a threat. Indeed, in 2014 Tesco launched a “brand new healthy food range” (Tesco, 2014, n.p.).
The UK economy is showing positive signs of recovery from the financial crises. Higher economic growth rate was forecasted and the gross domestic product was estimated to be 2.7% higher than the pre-crises peak (BBC, 2014, n.p.). A growth in economy is a positive sign for Tesco because it results in a growth in the supermarket industry, which is the main industry in which Tesco operates. When there is an economic recession, which is the opposite of economic growth the rate of unemployment increases. This results in lower disposable income in the hands of the British people. Therefore, customers will decrease spending and will shift to products of a lower price (Mankiw, 2012, p97). Therefore, recovery from the economic recession stimulates revenue growth for Tesco.
The number of elderly people is increasing in the UK due to the baby boom generation. In the past years there was a decrease in the birth-rate and an increase...


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Betsson Group has introduced its flagship brand, Betsson, in Denmark.
This move involves rebranding the previous Casino.dk domain, which will now operate under the Betsson name.
Betsson stated that the launch in Denmark underscores the group’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the Betsson brand as a prominent global entity and expanding its geographical presence, resulting in advantages across various marketing initiatives and worldwide sponsorships.
Betsson CCO Ronni Hartvig commented: “Denmark has always been an important market for us. By consolidating our operations under the unified Betsson brand, we aim to harness the power of consistency, scalability, and synergy.
“This rebranding approach empowers us to further optimise resources, cultivate a cohesive brand identity, and extend positive impact through diverse marketing initiatives and global partnerships”.
The Denmark launch comes just a few days after Betsson unveiled a global marketing concept titled “A Bet Makes the Difference.”
In Q2 2023, Betsson generated nearly 22% of its total revenue of €236.8m in the Nordics.
While Betsson doesn’t disclose country-specific figures, it did mention that Denmark achieved “all-time high revenue” in Q2, driven by “growth in both the sportsbook and casino products”.
Notably, Betsson’s total casino revenue surged by 35% to a record of €165.1m, while sportsbook revenue increased by 13% to €69.5m.
Betsson also operates in Denmark through its NordicBet brand.
iGaming NEXT has caught up with Betsson CCO Ronni Hartvig to discuss the operator’s recent shirt sponsorship deal with Boca Juniors, one of Argentina’s most prominent football clubs.
The specific financial terms of the partnership were not publicly disclosed, but according to local media reports, it is estimated to have a value of around $7.5m.
iGaming NEXT: This substantial investment raises the question: What are your expectations and objectives for this partnership?
Ronni Hartvig: The commercial value of being associated with such a renowned club is undeniable. Boca Juniors never had a gaming sponsor before, making this deal unique.
The club boasts a massive fanbase and an extensive presence on various social media platforms, with over 25 million followers across different channels. Its popularity extends well beyond Argentina and into Latin America in general.
Besides, Boca Juniors is one of the most iconic football clubs globally, so this partnership even offers the opportunity to promote our brand globally.
Just to give you one example. We kicked off our partnership by sponsoring the farewell match for Boca midfield maestro Juan Román Riquelme, where Lionel Messi was also present.
Messi shared a picture of Riquelme wearing the shirt with the Betsson logo on his Instagram, which has around 477 million followers.
This has provided us with an incredible marketing opportunity and placed our brand in the spotlight.
iGN: Could you elaborate on Betsson’s marketing and expansion strategy in Argentina?
RH: We have been strategically focused on expanding our presence in the Latin American region for some time now, and Argentina was a key target.
We believe in localisation and building trust by associating with recognised brands or ambassadors. However, instead of immediately investing significant sums in sport sponsorships and marketing assets upon entering a new market, we prefer a conservative approach.
We first invest in affiliation and other digital channels to better understand customer behaviour, lifetime value, and cost per acquisition. Once the foundation is established, larger investments, including television advertisements, are made.
In Argentina we adopted a similar strategy, gradually building our team and gaining the trust of the local market. The partnership with Boca Juniors aligns with this growth strategy and offers a platform for expanding brand recognition and trust in the region.
iGN: With three licences in Argentina, are you planning to add more?
RH: Argentina is regulating region by region. We obviously look at the different regions, however, we carefully evaluate the expansion process in each regulated region, considering factors such as market size and requirements for licence applications.
Some regions are small, and if they have different requirements for applications, it becomes a lot of work to prepare for a new licence.
Our focus is to understand each regulated region and tailor our strategy accordingly. We look at every region in this way and Latin America is one of them.
iGN: Considering the increasing restrictions on sport sponsorships in some markets, is expanding into geographies where such marketing placements are still possible part of Betsson’s strategy?
RH: We are aware of the evolving landscape of sport sponsorships in some markets. It is a topic that occupies a significant portion of our discussions and planning.
The Boca Juniors sponsorship, in particular, offers us a unique advantage as it provides a global reach. For instance, when the news of the partnership spread in Argentina, it also caught the attention of audiences in other countries, such as Greece, where we have an established presence.
The ability to generate brand exposure and engagement across regions through a single partnership is a valuable asset, and we will continue exploring similar opportunities to enhance our global reach.
iGN: Besides Latin America, what other markets are currently high on your agenda?
RH: In Europe, many markets are regulated and face marketing restrictions. However, even some of the larger regulated markets in Europe, like Spain and Greece, are still growing despite these restrictions. The barriers to entry are relatively high but if you’re already established in those markets, there are still opportunities for growth.
I also believe Africa is a continent that everyone should pay attention to. While it may not be receiving much attention now, I think in three to five years, the situation will be very different.
We have a long-term strategy for Africa. Currently, we are present in Nigeria and have some experience in other African countries like Kenya. Expanding in Africa requires dedicated efforts in product development, marketing, and customer acquisition.
Our expansion plans for the continent are cautious and focused on the long-term, but the opportunities are certainly exciting.
NordicBet has launched a new communication concept and brand identity, which marks the first example of work created by Betsson’s international design and creative hub that will streamline and scale the operator’s creative output.
The concept, called “makes sports bigger”, aims to strengthen the brand’s position in the Nordics, not only by showing its passion for sport, but also by representing the supporters’ passion for sport in a unique way.
“With our new international design hub we will be able to leverage marketing campaigns across brands and markets, creating synergies and efficiencies across the group,” said Betsson CCO Ronni Hartvig.
“The Nordics are first out with this kind of collaboration and other markets will follow,” he added.
NordicBet was one of the first sports betting brands in the Nordics to offer bets beyond the top-tier leagues.
Betsson CCO Ronni Hartvig: “With our new international design hub we will be able to leverage marketing campaigns across brands and markets, creating synergies and efficiencies across the group.”
The brand is now taking new steps to further strengthen its identity with a more cross-market approach.
Director of brand and creative Kay Hook commented: “Like the soccer player, the hockey player or the handball player, many of the supporters and fans have their own routines, or even rituals, which they believe they must do to support their team.
“It can be wearing the team’s shirt, putting on lucky socks or having the same match day routines; all to support their team and doing whatever it takes to win.
“That perception is the starting point for NordicBet’s new campaign. But we have taken this a little further, adding true feelings, sometimes uncommon rituals and friendships, that makes sports bigger,” he added.
The concept is launched, among other things, with a new TV commercial and has been developed in collaboration with advertising agency Hong Kong.
Award-winning Danish director Jeppe Rønde, known for the film Almost Human with Stephen Fry, and production company Bacon, have also been involved in NordicBet’s new TV commercial.


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Remember last year when Philly got one of the best rooftop bars this city's ever seen? Earlier today, Philly.com announced that tomorrow, July 7, is the official re-opening of Bok Technical High School's rooftop bar, and this year, it's got a new name: Bok Bar.
Last year's Bok roof had a bit of a Parisian twist with Courtney Dow and Vince Joseph's (who now own Center City's Fine Palate) catering services, and this year, Scout Ltd. owner Lindsey Scannapieco opted for the Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander route: Vietnamese and Filipino bar bites by chef Ronan Libunao. Check out the drink and food menus here.
The rooftop's open Tuesday through Sunday, weather depending, and the bar stays open till 11 p.m. earlier in the week, 1 a.m. on Thursdays, and 2 a.m. on weekends. You must be 21 to be allowed access to the roof, but Sundays are for family-time: between noon and 6 p.m., children are welcome as long as they're accompanied by adults.
According to the report, Scout Ltd. is already planning for a permanent indoor restaurant to accompany the makers and crafters renting space within the school's mixed-use facilities.