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Thomson Holidays is launching a £5 million advertising campaign more than two months before the traditional turn-of-year period.
The Tui Travel-owned tour operator’s biggest-ever branding campaign will make its TV debut on October 22, with a 90 second advertisement during ITV1’s X Factor.
Traditionally, major operators launch their sales campaigns on Boxing Day to tap into the peak New Year booking period and their campaigns are kept a closely-guarded secret in the run-up to Christmas.
Thomson’s campaign runs until May 2012 and will feature across TV, cinemas, online and national newspapers.
It features a young boy talking about what is important in life and why time together is so special. Filmed at a variety of Thomson resorts, it encourages viewers to switch off and focus on the importance of spending time with loved ones.
In the ad, the boy says: “Time. So much to answer for. Never enough hours in the day. Not enough days in the week. It’s time you put down your phone and held your loved one’s hand. Those close to you; share with them a week or two and they’ll cherish it forever.”
Music accompanying the ad is an orchestral arrangement of The Pixies track “Where is My Mind” by acclaimed producer Guy Farley.
Thomson’s head of marketing Jeremy Ellis said: “This campaign is the biggest and boldest Thomson has ever embarked on. As a company we pride ourselves on understanding our customers better than anyone else and we know how important quality time is.”


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When it comes to seals of approval on the domestic home front, it's hard to beat a "thumbs up" from Martha Stewart.
When it comes to seals of approval on the domestic home front, it's hard to beat a "thumbs up" from Martha Stewart. A trio of Eastern North Carolina food businesses is vying for just that after surviving round one of the lifestyle diva's American Made Awards program.
The annual event showcases artisans, entrepreneurs and other innovators who bear the torch of quality craftsmanship, not to mention old-fashioned American elbow grease. Following an open nomination period in which anyone could add their favorites, including themselves, to a roster of thousands in categories including food, crafts, design and style, a team of professional scrutinizers from Martha Stewart Living whittled the field down to about 620 finalists. Eventually, judges including Stewart herself will bestow a $10,000 prize upon 10 winners to help grow their companies.
It's not hard to see why the Stewart team named Samantha Smith's Sugar Island Bakery in Surf City a wildcard finalist in the contest. Her no-nonsense and no-shortcuts approach to sweet treats and savory snacks has helped the little-pie-shop-that-could expand into a thriving Pender County company after relocating from her original spot in downtown Wilmington's Old Books on Front Street last year. The extra attention has Smith equal parts elated and apprehensive.
"Now you've got this whole new level of expectations," Smith said. "But I do like a good challenge, and I think that's why I went after it in the first place."
While the nod hasn't translated into an immediate sales boost, Smith is anticipating an uptick in her limited mail order offerings. The biggest advantage so far, she said, is exposure to a large number of prominent national food writers, bloggers and other media personalities.
Sugar Island, located at 206-C North Topsail Drive, recently launched a pie-by-the-slice service (Sundays only) which, when combined by one of her frothy lattes and a 30-second stroll to the beach, beats waiting in line for brunch.
Joining Smith in the Stewart contest are Pink Hill-based Carolina Wild's bottled muscadine grape juice and Elizabeth's Pecan Products, which is headquartered in the Sampson County community of Turkey. Both earned finalist status in the food category along with Sugar Island.
Dennis Tracz, CEO and co-founder of Carolina Wild with his wife, Elizabeth Maxwell, launched the fledgling business last year to compete with emerging brands of healthier fruit juices like pomegranate, black cherry and other antioxidant-rich beverages that have found shelf space in area supermarkets.
While the healthful properties of muscadine grapes have a well-established history in helping sell wine made from the fruit, few sources for the unfermented juice exist. A sponsor of PBS program "A Chef's Life" filmed in nearby Kinston, Tracz said the product has gotten orders rolling in from across the country thanks to the TV exposure.
Carolina Wild aims to be a national brand as it grows. Tracz projects a need for 5,000 acres of grapes to sustain its model. In the first year alone, sell 20,000 cases in the goal. While not in area stores yet, Tracz said the brand would appear soon.
Already on shelves in Harris Teeter stores across the region, Elizabeth's Pecan Products was lauded by the American Made Awards for its White Satin Pecan Brittle and for dark-chocolate-coated pecans, in addition to the bags of unadorned nuts the company sells.
Online voting, which will help determine an audience favorite, begins Sept. 15 at www.MarthaStewart.com/AmericanMade. Winners will be announced Oct. 17.
Contact Paul Stephen at 343-2041 or Paul.Stephen@StarNewsOnline.com. Find him on Twitter @pauljstephen, or drop a note at the Port City Foodies' Facebook page.

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Image: Alaska Seafood / FIS
USDA Purchases Wild Alaska Salmon and Pollock
Thursday, February 22, 2024, 07:10 (GMT + 9)
USDA Releases Bids to Purchase Over 1.7 Million Cases of Canned Wild Alaska Salmon and 15 Million Pounds of Wild Alaska Pollock
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) is pleased to share the U.S Department of Agriculture’s recently released bids for more than 1.4 million cases of canned Alaska pink salmon, three hundred thousand cases of canned Alaska sockeye salmon and 15 million pounds of Alaska pollock fish sticks and fillets.
Each case of salmon consists of 24 cans, regardless of size. All of the pink salmon will be in “tall” cans that contain 14.75 oz. and the sockeye salmon will be split between the 14.75 oz. “talls” and the smaller 7.5 oz. “halves”.
This is great news for the Alaska seafood industry and food insecure Americans around the country, who will benefit from these nutritious and desirable products through USDA’s food and nutrition programs this year.
These salmon and pollock products will be sourced in the U.S. from Alaska’s sustainably managed fisheries. This purchase will be a boon for Alaskan fishermen, processors and communities who have faced challenging market conditions in 2023.
At the request of the seafood industry, ASMI initiated requests of the Secretary of Agriculture for assistance under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935.
This program assists U.S. agricultural food markets by purchasing commodities to relieve market surpluses.
Bruce Schactler, ASMI’s Global Food Aid Program Director, worked closely with USDA, industry and the Alaska delegation in Washington, D.C. throughout the process, which relies on economic review of the sector to gauge need.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Mary Peltola were instrumental in supporting the requests and securing approval from the Secretary of Agriculture, the arbiter of the program.
ASMI and the Alaska seafood harvesters, processors and industry appreciate the USDA’s partnership to support the Alaska seafood industry while providing products with exceptional nutrition to consumers across the country.
ASMI encourages USDA to continue to expand access to high quality, health promoting, sustainable wild Alaska Seafood for its program participants and align their offerings with dietary guidelines that recommend two servings of seafood per week for all Americans, starting at one year of age.
Source: Alaska Seafood


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Top Turkish official eyes Bahrain investment
Manama, February 26, 2013
Bahrainis are being encouraged to invest in Turkey by a top Turkish official.
The governor of the Turkish city Bursa is visiting Bahrain as part of a delegation invited by Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa to celebrate the official launch of Manama being named 'Capital of Arab Tourism 2013.'
Bursa Governor Sahabettin Harput said that he wanted to explain Bursa's strong points in Bahrain, exposing Bahrainis to their culture and business, in order to gain tourism, investment and cultural exchanges.
"We want to share Bursa's beauty with our Bahraini brothers and sisters," said Harput.
"We have everything from greenery, to lakes and mountains. We produce more than 50 per cent of Turkey's fruit and vegetables," the top official was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.
The Governor said that he had brought a group of over 100 people along with him representing the various businesses and companies in Bursa, including agriculture, textiles and energy companies.
He pointed out that these businessmen were interested in investing in Bahrain. "We've been negotiating with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry," stated Harput. "Talks still continuing, so we want to invest here too," he added.
There is a stand set up in Bahrain City Centre that will stay up for today which will show visitors different aspects of Bursa, including food and health stalls.-TradeArabia News Service


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Faraday Future has launched a new teaser image online that shows the front of their upcoming fully electric car.
The Tesla rival model is about to get launched a whole year ahead so that they can cope up with competition and create a fanbase earlier.
The automobile brand is dedicated to making fully electric vehicles and is backed by a Chinese technology giant. The designers have already released a couple of teaser videos showcasing their electric car but it was heavily camouflaged and didn’t give an idea of what to expect in terms of looks. The new teaser is however promising and gives us our first glimpse of the concept model’s production version. It is every inch as stylish as Faraday Future touted it to be in the past and from the eye-catchy design, it is evident that the brand is heading towards the right direction.
The front end is sleek, sharp with LED lighting and signature curve that runs throughout the bonnet. The design is heavily inspired by the brand’s concept car FFZERO1 they showed at the 2016 Consumer Electronics show this year. The latticework grille and the low ride height indicates a sporty car. However, according to the announcement made by the company, it is not a sedan but rather a SUV. We might see a crossover design with a sleek front end but the passenger space that people have come to love, bringing the best of both worlds together.
In the previously launched teaser image, the car had large SUV sized alloy wheels. The pricing of the new EV will be geared towards the premium end of the market, confirmed Faraday Future. The actual body is still under wraps as it was not revealed in any of the teaser images so far. The company on their official Twitter channel confirmed that a production version of the car will make its appearance at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show.
Spy photos released in the recent past confirmed the Faraday Future electric SUV is geared towards rivalling the Tesla Model X. It features swooping rooftline, long wheelbase with large door mirrors and big headlights. Such design elements are not common in the auto industry but the relatively brand is aiming to create a style statement of their own with their first ever EV launch. Besides an electric motor, the cars are also expected to be equipped with autonomous driving technology. Top tech firms including Apple and Google are working with car makers to provide support for connected services and big data management.


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Recently, the media exposed a group of rendering drawings of Audi A8 e-tron. The new car is positioned as a large pure electric car and will become the new flagship of Audi e-tron family in the future. This set of renderings was drawn by foreign media designer Josh Byrnes. Although it has not been officially recognized by Audi, according to the current development of Audi electrification, this car may become a reality. The future competitors of Audi A8 e-tron may be Mercedes Benz EQS and BMW i7.
At this year’s Munich auto show, Audi has shown the world its latest brand planning electrification strategy, in which the Audi grandsphere concept car has become the most dazzling star on the booth. Audi officials also hinted on the side that this car will become the future A8 electric model, so the shadow of the grandsphere concept car can also be seen in the rendering released this time.
The appearance of the Audi A8 e-tron is round. Different from the traditional Audi A8, the new car adopts a more sporty design, and the headlamp group also adheres to the consistent high recognition of the “lamp field”, and the chrome plated decoration at the front face details looks more exquisite.
In terms of power, referring to the Audi grandsphere concept car, the new car will be built based on the new pure electric PPE platform and share the power module with the upcoming Porsche Macan pure electric and Audi A6 e-tron. The comprehensive power of dual motors is 530KW (710hp) and the peak torque is 960nm. The new car will be equipped with a battery pack with a capacity of 120kwh, with a pure electric range of 750km. Under the 270kw fast charging mode, the power can be charged from 5% to 80% in only 25 minutes.
Editor’s summary: I believe many fans have a new understanding of the electrification development of Volkswagen Group and Audi brand after watching this year’s Munich auto show. As the three German luxury brands, Audi will also open up a new battlefield with Mercedes Benz and BMW for the development of new energy in the near future. Let’s wait and see.


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The combination of CBS and Viacom is a victory for Shari Redstone (photo), the leader of a family business that controls both companies.CreditCreditDrew Angerer/Getty Images
By Edmund Lee
After more than a decade apart, CBS and Viacom, both under her control, agreed to merge on Tuesday in a deal that will reunite a roster of once-mighty media businesses. Viacom’s Paramount film studio and MTV and Nickelodeon cable networks will be added to the broadcast giant CBS and the book publisher Simon & Schuster.
The deal will allow the company to invest more in streaming, which is the future of entertainment. CBS already has a thriving digital television service with original series, including the forthcoming “Star Trek: Picard,” and Viacom owns an ad-supported streaming service called Pluto TV.
With the merger, CBS’s digital service could see the addition of children’s content from Nickelodeon, and Pluto TV could include some of CBS’s ad-driven digital networks like its 24-hour sports news service CBS Sports HQ. The companies can also negotiate for better terms with pay-TV operators, which could make cable bills more expensive.
The combination of CBS and Viacom is a victory for Ms. Redstone, the leader of a family business that has led the two media giants for two decades. The two companies were once a single entity, called Viacom, until they were split up in 2006, and their reunification was seen as necessary at a time when television audiences have eroded. Tech platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Netflix have chipped away at big media, eating into the once-fat profits that companies like CBS and Viacom reaped.
Ms. Redstone had pushed for a deal for at least three years but faced fierce opposition from CBS’s board, including its former chief executive, Leslie Moonves. Mr. Moonves was pushed out last September after several women accused him of sexual assault, charges that he has denied. Ms. Redstone will be chairwoman of the combined company.
“I am really excited to see these two great companies come together so that they can realize the incredible power of their combined assets,” she said in a statement. “We will establish a world-class, multiplatform media organization that is well-positioned for growth in a rapidly transforming industry.”
Viacom’s chief executive, Robert M. Bakish, will lead the combined company, which will be called ViacomCBS, and Joseph Ianniello, the CBS acting chief executive, will remain as head of a newly designated CBS unit, the boards of both businesses said in a statement.
When the two companies split, Viacom’s cable networks were seen as the faster-growing business and CBS the aging, out-of-step broadcaster. Fortunes reversed in the last decade as CBS became the most-watched television network and Viacom’s youth-centered channels were eviscerated by the internet.
The deal also represents the last in the current wave of mega media mergers. Two major transactions totaling more than $150 billion closed just last year. AT&T buttoned up its $80 billion acquisition of Time Warner. Shortly thereafter, the Walt Disney Company beat out its rival Comcast to win the majority of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox business for $71.3 billion.
But the combination of CBS and Viacom amounts to a fraction of those deals, underscoring the need for such a merger. The deal is what is known as a stock swap, and values Viacom at about $11 billion as of Monday’s closing market price. The combined company also expects to see about $500 million in cost savings, which typically come in the form of layoffs.
Under the swap, an investor with 1,000 shares of Viacom would receive 596.25 shares of CBS. CBS shareholders will in effect own about 60 percent of the combined business. The deal does not include any cash, making it a tax-free transaction.
The offices of CBS in New York. Its reunification with Viacom was seen as necessary at a time when audiences across television have eroded.CreditJeenah Moon for The New York Times
The media industry’s decades-long success had been contingent on people continuing to pay for cable television, and customers have been cutting the cord for years. The inexorable shift toward digital entertainment has profoundly reshaped the industry’s economics. Netflix, for example, has a significant lead with more than 151 million subscribers around the world while the rest of the media industry — including CBS and Viacom — are still at a fraction of that size. CBS’s streaming platforms, CBS All Access and Showtime, have about eight million subscribers in the United States.
Still, it’s better late than never. “Like all good things, it was worth the wait,” Mr. Bakish said in an interview. “We’re really creating a global premium powerhouse.”
He listed a three-part strategy that includes selling more streaming subscriptions, elevating its digital advertising sales and creating many more original shows for other streaming platforms, including Netflix. The company aims to be both a wholesaler and a direct-to-consumer business for digital television.
“Together, Viacom and CBS will become a significant player,” he said.
The deal is an important moment for Ms. Redstone, who has long waited in the shadow of her father, Sumner Redstone, the combative, cantankerous entrepreneur who over decades forged a media empire through a series of mergers bankrolled by big loans. He built a corporate empire only to dangle succession in front of his daughter, creating a caustic relationship that led to one of the most bitter family disputes in corporate America.
Ms. Redstone, who has been vacationing in Greece with her family, was not present during the negotiations, but her ascent in the business is sure to portend further deals for the company. She has started to weigh the possibility of snapping up other media businesses after the merger, several people familiar with her thinking have said. She has considered the few media companies remaining, including the cable network Starz, which has a budding international business, and Sony Entertainment, which has a large television production business.
The boards of both companies had been locked in negotiations over the last few months, haggling over the value of the transaction and the management team, in particular the role of Mr. Ianniello, whose employment agreement included a hefty severance package if he was not named chief executive of the current CBS. Mr. Ianniello will have a new role in the company running a newly created division housing all of CBS’s brands, including the digital service, and will receive a $69 million payout based on his agreement.
“Because I know these assets so well, I know the most about them, it made sense to oversee those assets,” Mr. Ianniello said in an interview. “That made the most sense, and it allows me to get even closer to the business than I could as a C.E.O.”
Mario J. Gabelli, the chief executive of Gamco Investors, which owns more than 9 percent of Viacom’s controlling shares and 13 percent of CBS’s controlling shares, said the merger took a long time to consummate. “It was a marriage made in hell but it’s done,” he said, adding that the business needed to speed up its push into streaming.
“They’re going to have to jump into it more aggressively,” he said. “The digital world gives the consumer what they want at a lower cost and you’re going to figure out how to do that.”
Both companies have experienced a decline in ad revenue as well as a slowdown in the licensing fees paid by distributors like Comcast and Dish as cord-cutting takes a bite out of business. The largest pay-television businesses lost a combined 2.9 million subscribers last year with 2.8 million more fleeing in the first half of 2019.
In a touch of irony, when CBS and Viacom were split, Mr. Bakish, then a rising executive at the company, was a key architect of the separation. He helped sort out which units would go with CBS, such as Simon & Schuster, and what would remain under Viacom, like Paramount.
“I’ve seen the businesses evolve,” Mr. Bakish said. “That was a decision that everyone thought made sense for the time, and what we’re doing today makes sense for now. Everything’s changed.”


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In a dank, disheveled office on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon, Richard Vinal is marveling at the handpan steel drum he has just unboxed, shipped here to Hillsboro from Asheville, North Carolina. "I know the guy who makes these," he crows. "I got a sweet deal." He strums it lightly around the edges, sending a Caribbean-tinged sound from one side of the room to the other before wedging the drum back into its box and ending his unscheduled break.
A few feet away lies the sticky product of the work to which he'll return: freshly cropped cannabis plants, lining crystal-dusted Tupperware containers stacked multiple feet up, a few grams of sorted and trimmed bud in each. In the next room, in the basement of a 75-year-old barn that once kept dairy cows sheltered from Oregon downpours, there are a few dozen leafy green plants of all shapes and sizes, glistening beneath glowing tubes of the finest LED lights money can buy. The difficult task at hand: deciding which of the 80 different varieties now stretching to size should actually make the cut and go into production. The music break will help.
As pot farms go, Hifi Farms' operation is a minuscule one, especially when you zoom out and consider the vastness of the 50-acre farm Vinal helped co-found in 2015 upon which these few small plants have taken up residence. But it's the unused space that's significant here; shortly after the new year Hifi—of which Vinal is director of operations—earned final approval for an Oregon license to grow cannabis for recreational use, freeing them to sink up to $2 million in investor capital into growing monthly output from 15 pounds to more than 100. Hifi's pretty plants will expand from their diminutive footprint in the basement to hundreds of towering flora housed in a set of greenhouses the company has erected over the past 10 months.
As the product of effort from a few guys who once grew weed only to fund their dreams of being music producers, these expansion plans are impressive, especially in a billion-dollar industry weighed down with ever-morphing regulations and the looming threat of an anti-pot attorney general in Jeff Sessions. It's no small feat to coax $4.2 million out of investors to grow a product that's still illegal at the federal level—and that still requires navigating the byzantine laws of the three separate state agencies that have a hand in governing Oregon cannabis companies. And when a dozen different farmers are all selling (what they claim is) Sour Diesel, convincing dispensary owners to hawk your particular brand of that, or Blue Dream, or Grape Ape, feels a bit like selling tea and spices in a bustling Istanbul market: To much of the buying public, this cannabis sure looks and smells a lot like that cannabis. Hifi has gobbled up market share to emerge near the top of a dauntingly long list of Oregon farmers who grow very good weed, which gives hundreds of competitors hoping to siphon their share of the "green rush" in the nine states where cannabis is (quasi-)legal something to look at.
What's Hifi's secret? It has everything to do with Vinal's shiny new steel drum.
Before Hifi was any kind of cannabis farm, it was the scattershot operation of a few guys in Athens, Georgia, who grew weed to pay the bills the music industry couldn't. Lee Henderson and C.K. Koch dreamed not of running a pot farm but a recording studio, and they risked incarceration during those days of outright prohibition in the hope that one day they'd make it big in the music industry, not in cannabis.
Instead, the reverse happened. After moving to San Francisco in 2005, Henderson did set up a recording studio, and they did sign promising artists like Lera Lynn of Nashville. But they also kept growing weed, and when Measure 91 passed in November 2014 and created a haven of state legalization in Oregon, Koch and Henderson decided to set their musical ambitions aside and head north, joining a legion of other formerly black market pot growers eager to legally ply their trade.
In October 2015, Henderson invited his pal Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers to bring his guitar over to his house, a stunning mansion nestled into a quiet southeast Portland neighborhood. Then he invited 100 people to watch Patterson play, serving pre-rolled Hifi joints on the wraparound porch outside. It was a fun way to spend an evening; it also connected the company's love of cannabis and music, leaving an indelible impression upon those in attendance.
"Their company loves music. My company loves weed," Hood says. "It makes sense."
Henderson's abode, the Harry McCormick House, has since hosted Justin Townes Earle (Steve Earle's son), Stephen Malkmus of the band Pavement, China Forbes of Pink Martini, and Henderson's old friend Lynn.
"You'd never have gotten Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band without cannabis, or Rubber Soul, or Revolver, or Highway 61 Revisited, Birth of the Cool," Henderson says, who describes himself as "pretty much a sober person," dabbling only occasionally in smoking weed himself. "I don't think you have to be high to write a good song. But Bob Dylan was definitely high when he wrote 'Like a Rolling Stone,' and John Lennon and Paul McCartney were definitely high when they wrote 'A Day in the Life.' Music and cannabis go together."
By summertime, Hifi hopes to figure out a way to thread Oregon's tricky regulations about public consumption of cannabis and host a music festival on its farm, sort of like the Coachella of weed. Henderson is also developing a partnership with the local nonprofit CASH Music and a sister publication called Watt, which provide online tools for artists to get their music heard outside of streaming juggernaut Spotify. The house concerts will continue as well, all part of an effort to continue a strong link between the company and the art.
"I've yet to see more than three or four companies tapping into the cannabis market in a way that normalizes it, and allows people to feel comfortable associating with it," says Sam Chapman, one of the owners of Portland-based New Economy Consulting, which advises new cannabis companies on an array of topics from amassing capital to connecting to consumers. "Surfers, musicians, hikers—these are craft demographics that exist across the country. Hifi has built its brand around these identities. That's a massively important thing to understand. If you're going to connect with your constituency, you have to associate with people's lifestyles."
Marrying music and weed was the easy part. Making money is harder. So Hifi's founders made a critical decision before they got started, one that helped set them apart from the vast majority of newly minted "ganjapreneuers" clamoring at what must have seemed like piles of easy money on a product with a delicious markup. They brought in a ringer, Sara Batterby, who joined Henderson as the CEO of Hifi Farms seven years after meeting him at a party. Batterby didn't know much about cannabis, but she did have six years of experience selling real estate and a decade of finance experience in Silicon Valley.
"I was like, 'I don't know, let's take a look at the business plan,'" Batterby says. "In the end, it was just another startup, except it was three guys in a basement growing weed."
She built the brand like she would any other company, but because it was cannabis—already rebellious by design—she decided to break some new corporate ground. She gave all of Hifi's employees stock in the company, making Hifi a role model in an era where corporations-as-evil dominates the conventional wisdom.
"People are in this position where they're trading their labor for cash, which makes it a depreciating asset," Batterby says. "If we don't find some ways to vest the workers in the success of what's going to be the largest wealth-creating industry in America in the last several decades, we're really missing a huge opportunity. Cannabis can afford to pay people well."
Hifi jokes on its website that its organic strains contain ".0057 percent R.E.M.," but Henderson isn't kidding when he says he wants the company to think like the Austin-based rock band that hails from his hometown of Athens. "R.E.M. is incredibly successful and principled. They're involved in nonprofits, politics. They're able to put their money with their mouths are."
As Batterby works to make the brand more corporate (in a good way), her partners continue to make the brand more craft. Music is still key as the cannabis industry evolves from one dominated by "stoner" loyalists who would risk jail time to grow, sell, and smoke weed to a refined craft industry enjoyed by law-abiding baby boomers who haven't draped a Bob Marley poster from their walls since the '60s. "Music helped establish us as something we always wanted to be," Henderson says, "which is a sophisticated but cool cannabis brand."
Even the coolest weed farmer can't expect to survive with competition as fierce as it is without giving consumers a reason to seek his weed out. Sam Heywood, co-owner of Farma, one of Portland's best cannabis dispensaries, buys product from just two dozen of Oregon's commercial growers, which means "90 percent of the people who approach us don't get past the first meeting." Hifi made the cut, and not just because they understand how to grow pot.
"The other piece of selling cannabis is narrative," Heywood says. "It's the same story you tell if you're a winemaker, a craft brewer, a leather maker. You have to help people understand the who and where, the little morality plays. [Hifi is] the model modern cannabis producer, which is sophisticated and organized, but not faceless and corporate. It's a fine line to walk."
It seems Hifi Farms is walking it. "We can't grow enough weed," Batterby says. "The minute it's ready, it's gone."


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Project Canvas, the much-awaited internet-connected TV platform, has been officially named "YouView" and more details about the service have been released »
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10,000 Channel 4 programmes will soon be free »
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There is enough here to make it enjoyable but too many inconsistencies and errors »


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Get ready to be swept off your feet this Christmas as Ukrainian beauty DJ Liza Brown takes over the console. The internationally acclaimed DJ... ...http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141225/jsp/bihar/story_5172.jsp
30 people were killed in Maitalu bustee and six in Junglee bustee in Sonitpur district when heavily armed militants belonging to the Songbijit... ...http://post.jagran.com/assam-carnage-death-toll-reaches-53-in-bodo-militant-attacks-1419353088
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king o' jungle........
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SA retailers likely to lose out if they avoid e-commerce
By Phumi Ramalepe - Oct 21st, 08:14
Traditional retail businesses in SA could stand to lose out on the value of e-commerce due to their reluctance to embrace online business, according to a report by global management consultancy Accenture.
Accenture says local retailers exhaust a lot of their efforts on their brick-and-mortar stores at the expense of the online side of the business. This means that they stand to lose out on potential profit that the online business can generate in the $3.5-trillion retail industry.
The study reveals that SA retailers particularly find online operations unprofitable, too costly to maintain and also find “it difficult to measure the return on investment of their online offerings”.
Local retailers still find physical stores to be less risky compared to their online counterparts. In addition, one Visa survey found that 63% of South Africans prefer to go to physical stores, while Urban Studies found that 76% of consumers visit a mall once a week. This makes it challenging for both retailers and consumers to fully embrace the benefits of e-commerce.
Trend translator and future finance specialist for Flux Trends Bronwyn Williams suggests that local retailers have more than enough reason to be wary of fully embracing e-commerce.
“The e-commerce game globally has really evolved into quite a homogenous sector whereby your biggest e-commerce retailers are eating up all the smaller ones. We’ve seen it in the SA market how Takealot has really absorbed most of that online commerce space”, she said.
Williams says chain stores such as Mr Price and Truworths stand a higher chance of succeeding in e-commerce because they have their own brands and products, which play a role in allowing them to manage their own online presence.
Small stores, on the other hand, stand a smaller chance of making it.
“The other reality is that smaller retail stores will have higher delivery costs and those costs will be higher to purchase from a small e-commerce store [compared to] an aggregator such as Takealot … and that means even if you do list the stuff online, the risk is that some other bigger store can cannibalise your sales.”
Given the shift towards the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), retailers find themselves under increasing pressure to keep up with the times for the survival of their businesses. With the 4IR disruptive technologies and trends, such as robotics, virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), are changing the way people live and work.
Some international online retail giants, such as Amazon, Walmart and eBay have had a lot of success in the online market and are indicative of the benefits of e-commerce.
Since 2010, Amazon quintupled its sales, while in 2019 “half of all US households were subscribed to Amazon Prime”, according to Accenture.
MD for Accenture Retail in Africa John Watling believes that there is potential for local retailers to “unlock value trapped in their core business”. “If local retailers can follow suit by offering experiences such as those of Amazon, eBay, Zappos, and others, customers will be more trusting of online shopping and less reluctant to use it.”
According to Accenture, the opportunity “is there for the taking” if they embrace e-commerce in the near future.
Checkers brings world-class retail to Constantia with new flagship store
27/11/2019 - 13:01
Checkers has opened the doors to its state-of-the-art 2 330 m² flagship supermarket at the Constantia Emporium as the retailer continues to take innovation to new heights.
Woolworths carves out market share in SA
27/11/2019 - 10:11
In Australia, David Jones's sales declined 2.1%, with the company saying a store refurbishment contributed to the decline.
Push and pull strategies work together to keep consumers coming back for more
26/11/2019 - 10:20
The retail sector is under increasing pressure as consumers have shrinking disposable income in a strained economy. Maintaining share of wallet is critical. Relying solely on a push route to market strategy from manufacturers into retailers is not enough to get consumers buying products. A pull strategy needs to coexist with the push to drive brand consumption. Integrating these strategies requires intelligent and insightful decision-making. This, in turn, requires data generated through smart technology which provides line of sight across the value chain from manufacturer to distribution, retailer to the consumer.
Exclusive leases must fall: Commission cracks whip on Shoprite, Pick n pay, Spar, Woolies
26/11/2019 - 09:57
The Competition Commission Inquiry into Grocery Retail, published on Monday, called for an end to the exclusive leases negotiated by national retail chains in all shopping malls across the country in a bid to open up access to markets for smaller players.
Today’s customers are loyal to speed and convenience, not brands
25/11/2019 - 11:15
Consumer expectations are rapidly shifting as technologies such as mobile, geolocation, social media and increasingly, Internet of Things devices and wearables, connect people to a world of easily accessible information and convenient services. With the ability to browse, compare and order with a few swipes and taps, consumers are becoming trained to value convenience and service above nearly anything else.


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Settlement over mislabeled meat forces Bashas’ to donate $1.5M to food banks
Bashas’ Inc. has agreed to donate $1.5 million to Phoenix and Tucson food banks after entering into a legal settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Arizona and U.S. Department of Agriculture over mislabeling expensive tenderloin steaks and Kobe-style ground beef at its AJ’s Fine Foods stores.
In the settlement, Bashas’ executives admit AJ’s employees mislabeled the meat packaging between 2010 and 2012. The mislabeling resulted in consumers being overcharged by nearly $1.5 million.
In a letter to federal prosecutors, Bashas’ vice president of legal affairs Gregg Tucek said the Chandler-based grocery store chain’s upper management was not aware of the mislabeling by AJ’s meat departments.
Tucek said some of the employees and meat department managers involve in the mislabeling have been reprimanded or fired.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Phoenix has agreed not to prosecute Bashas’ and involved employees as part of the legal deal.
The company donations will go to the St. Mary’s Food Bank, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank and other charitable organizations.
“Both parties agreed this was a great way to remediate the damage done and help others in need, because there was no means of identifying which customers bought the affected items, and each customer’s loss was so minimal, issuing individual restitution would have been logistically difficult, said Bashas CEO Edward “Trey” Basha said in a statement provided to the Phoenix Business Journal and other media.
Basha said AJ’s meat department workers mislabeled some USDA Choice steaks as USDA Prime (a higher grade), and added cuts to steak to Kobe-style ground beef to improve its consistency.
Basha said the Arizona chain is also bringing on a chief compliance officer to avoid future mislabeling.
Mike Sunnucks writes about politics, law, airlines, sports business and the economy.
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A Muslim employee of the kosher market told French media on Saturday that he helped hide several people, including a baby, in one of the freezers downstairs.
Lassana Bathily, 24, told Metronews that his knowledge of the store and a cool head helped him act quickly to lead a number of shoppers who were cowering at the back of the store down the stairs and conceal them from the gunman.
“I opened the door of the freezer and a number of people went inside, I turned off the lights and the freezer itself,” he told the newspaper.
Bathily, who is originally from Mali, said he told the shoppers to stay calm, closed the door and managed to flee the store using an elevator. He was then able to tell security forces about the people hiding in the freezer and give them an indication of what was happening inside.
When the siege was over, he said people came over to congratulate and thank him.
For more on the victims and the siege, see: Four Jews cut down by an Islamist killer who ‘showed no mercy’


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Nintendo has announced it will be releasing a new model of the original Nintendo Switch console in September. The new model will look identical but will contain an improved battery.
On the company's website it has listed that the new model will carry the HAC-001-01 model number which features a new improved battery that delivers between 4.5 to 9 hours of gameplay on a single charge as opposed to 2.5 to 6.5 hours on the original.
The Nintendo Switch Lite that was announced earlier this month will feature a battery capable of delivering between 3 to 7 hours of gameplay.
The official release date for the newer Nintendo Switch model has not been announced yet, but it is expected to release in September along with the Nintendo Switch Lite.


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BENTON HARBOR — Whirlpool Corp. grew sales modestly in the first quarter of 2017.
The Benton Harbor-based appliance manufacturer generated $4.8 billion in sales in the quarter ending March 31, a slight increase compared to the $4.6 billion it reported in the same quarter the previous year.
At the same time, Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) also modestly increased net earnings in the quarter to $153 million, or $2.01 per share, compared to the $150 million, or $1.92 per diluted share it reported in the same quarter the previous year.
For its full fiscal year, Whirlpool expects to generate net earnings between $12.65 per share and $13.40 per share, according to updated guidance issued by the company. Whirlpool reported net earnings of $11.50 per share for its 2016 fiscal year.
“We made progress toward our goals of revenue growth and free cash flow generation, with strong growth and margin expansion in North America and Latin America,” Chairman and CEO Jeff Fettig said in a statement. “As we continue to execute our plans and work through the elevated complexity of our European integration, we remain confident in our ability to deliver both $1 billion of free cash flow and record earnings per share in 2017.”


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Market Metrix, the leading provider of guest and employee feedback management solutions for the hospitality industry, has opened an office in Singapore at 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, 08-01, The Central, Singapore 059817. The new office will allow Market Metrix to expand its presence in Asia and support its growing client base.
Despite global economic uncertainty, the Asia Pacific hotel industry is robust and growing rapidly. “While hospitality brands operating in Asia have been focusing on expansion, they are now also honing their understanding of customers, and refining their products and services to keep up with the evolving needs of travelers,” said Leonard W. Nash, CEO and co-founder of Market Metrix.
“Market Metrix is known for providing powerful technology and research tools to its customers in the gaming and hospitality industries. Last year, we expanded our presence in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Now we are opening an office in Asia for our growing staff already working there. The new Asian office is intended to better serve existing customers and support our growth,” said Nash.
The opening of Market Metrix’ Singapore office is a continuation of the company’s growth that began 15 years ago. Market Metrix currently serves hospitality clients throughout Asia, including Raffles Hotels and Resorts, Dusit International, Pan Pacific, Langham Hotels, Oakwood, Nikko Hotels, and many others.
Market Metrix has appointed Boris Federau, an experienced hospitality industry professional, to head its Asian operations. According to Mr. Federau, "By being closer to the rapidly growing Asian hotel market, speaking multiple languages and embracing regional differences, Market Metrix will help hundreds of clients, new and existing, transform feedback into strong business performance.”
Market Metrix derives a sizable share of its total company sales from companies outside of the US and plans to significantly grow its revenue in Asia and other global markets over the next two years. Market Metrix offices, currently located near San Francisco, California; Barcelona, Spain and Singapore, serve thousands of hotels worldwide in more than 70 countries.
About Market Metrix
Market Metrix is the leading provider of customer and employee feedback solutions for hospitality companies around the globe. By connecting feedback with revenue, Market Metrix helps hospitality businesses make smart investment decisions that both improve the guest experience and produce higher profits. Real-time feedback and action management drive timely service recovery, turning potential negative reviews into online raves. And no other feedback program offers the detailed global benchmarking of MMHI, allowing clients to spot gaps and opportunities in the context of key competitors. Market Metrix is essential to more than 14,000 businesses in over 70 countries, and has been helping forward-thinking executives profit from feedback since 1996. For more information, visit www.marketmetrix.com.
Logos, product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.


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iOS 5 Announced at WWDC 2011
Apple just announced the next major update of their mobile OS, iOS 5. Worldwide Developers Conference 2011 (WWDC 2011) is going on in full swing and Apple just took the wraps off iOS 5.
iOS 5 brings a number of new features. Notifications, Newsstand, Tabbed Browsing in Safari, Twitter integration in iOS etc.
The keynote is still going on and this is a developing story. We’ll update as soon as more details are unveiled at WWDC 2011.


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Apple TV+ has announced “The Big Conn,” a new four-part documentary series that tells the true story of the larger-than-life attorney, Eric C. Conn, who defrauded the government over half a billion dollars in the largest Social Security fraud case in history.
All four parts of the series will premiere alongside an Apple TV+ Original companion podcast that will explore Conn’s con and outrageous lifestyle further with additional interviews and behind-the-scenes details. “The Big Conn” series and podcast will make their global debut May 5 on Apple TV+ and Apple Podcasts, respectively.
Created by Emmy Award-nominated filmmakers James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, “The Big Conn” is produced by FunMeter (McMillion$), with Hernandez, Lazarte, and Peter King serving as executive producers. Co-executive produced by Matt Kaye and Shannon Pence.
“The Big Conn” will make its world debut at SXSW with a screening of the first two episodes of the series on Wednesday, March 16 in the Paramount Theatre, followed by a Q&A with writer/directors James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte.
The audio series will be a part of the Apple TV+ Original podcasts now streaming on Apple Podcasts, including the duPont-Columbia Award-winning “The Line,” “Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy,” “Hooked” and “The Problem With Jon Stewart,” as well as official companion podcasts for Apple TV+ series “Foundation” and “For All Mankind.”
South by Southwest ( SXSW) is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas.


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Nike shares could get a boost when the company reports fiscal-year first-quarter earnings on Sept. 24, Cowen’s John Kernan said in a note to clients. Indicators of traffic to the company’s website and app, along with demand for its shoes on resale sites, point to solid recent growth, he wrote, and an update from management confirming those trends could send the stock higher.
Nike stock (ticker: NKE) was effectively flat Wednesday afternoon, up 0.1% to $86.70....


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Dr. Mehmet Oz, perhaps the most recognized physician in the country, is facing some backlash from his peers around the country. A group of doctors has called for Oz’s removal from the faculty of Columbia University, where he is the vice chair of the Department of Surgery.
The chief complaints, which have plagued Oz before, focus on his repeated endorsements of products which he was later forced to admit in court lacked evidence for the treatments they claimed to deliver.
In June, Oz told a congressional panel for consumer protection that he knew a number of those items “don’t have the scientific muster to present as fact.”
One such endorsement was for green coffee extract as a weight-loss supplement, which the study’s researchers later could not validate, after probing from a watchdog organization. Another time, Dr. Oz suggested that many brands of apple juice contain dangerous levels of arsenic, though testing from the FDA found no such thing.
“We are surprised and dismayed that Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons would permit Dr. Mehmet Oz to occupy a faculty appointment, let alone a senior administrative position in the Department of Surgery,” the doctors wrote to Lee Goldman, dean of medicine at Columbia University.
“As described here and here, as well as in other publications, Dr. Oz has repeatedly shown disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine, as well as baseless and relentless opposition to the genetic engineering of food crops. Worst of all, he has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain.”
During the congressional hearing, Senator Claire McCaskill told Dr. Oz, "I don't get why you need to say this stuff when you know it's not true. When you have this amazing megaphone, why would you cheapen your show?... With power comes a great deal of responsibility."


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In a recent Bredin Fastcast, our CEO Stu Richards spoke with MarketForce’s senior vice president of growth/new business, Bruce Kimmel, about the recent wave of new small businesses. MarketForce provides data on newly registered businesses in the U.S. and Canada to help marketers connect with companies early in their formation process.
Kimmel provided valuable insight into the profile of these startups.
STU RICHARDS: What can your data tell us about the number of new business startups and how this compares with historical data?
BRUCE KIMMEL: MarketForce tracks new business registrations from the moment an entrepreneur files with their state or local authority, so we are able to look back and see what’s different today. From January 2005 through approximately 2013, registrations were basically flat at about 200,000 to 220,000 a month, with a dip around 2008-2009 during the last recession. Then from 2013 to early 2020, things started to take off with about 300,000 new business registrations a month. As we all know, that changed in March 2020. But, when state offices opened that summer, we saw an all-time high 553,000 new registrations posted in July 2020. Even under current economic conditions, the new normal seems to be about 400,000 per month, well above the pre-pandemic levels.
RICHARDS: What are the forces for this uptick in business formation?
KIMMEL: The COVID-19 pandemic created vast societal change and challenges that fueled startups and opportunities that encouraged new business formation, including:
- Emerging needs. The pandemic necessitated a sudden demand for delivery services, home additions and remodeling, and home office support. This led to a surge in businesses such as drop shipping, warehousing, construction and IT support.
- Layoffs. Some people turned hobbies or side hustles into full-fledged businesses using government support or severance as a cushion when they were laid off.
- A world-wide labor pool. The widespread acceptance of remote work enabled entrepreneurs to hire and partner with people and companies around the world.
RICHARDS: How are these businesses different from their more established peers?
KIMMEL: Naturally, we’re tracking an increase in home-based businesses – in 2021 the number of businesses registered to home addresses grew by 27% over 2020. This is due in part to the pandemic lockdown and also the nature of the businesses being formed and the growth in technology. For example, service-oriented businesses or e-commerce businesses with drop shipping and warehousing don’t really need a commercial location. We’re also seeing a lot of startups owned by women. During lockdown when students were learning remotely, it often fell to women to help children with their education. Many women from the corporate world were able to start home-based businesses, which enabled them to be there for their families while continuing to earn.
RICHARDS: What are the top locations for business startups?
KIMMEL: Eighty-two percent of new businesses in 2021 come from just 20 states. We saw a lot of migration to southern states like Florida, or people migrating from California to less populated states like Wyoming, Utah, Montana and South Dakota. As certain states saw an influx of population, there was a need in those regions for new businesses to serve the growing population. Also, as people realized they could work from anywhere, many chose to move to less expensive or less populous areas. It was cause and effect. As the population moved, business trends followed.
Need help understanding and/or engaging SMBs? Bredin can keep you up to date on evolving SMB needs and challenges through quick-turn, actionable market research. We can also help you develop high-value content and social posts to boost SMB awareness, brand perception, leads, conversion and revenue.


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Jim Cramer wants investors to stop doubting the Chinese consumer already. They have let weaker auto sales cloud their judgment about what is selling in China and what is not, and the Shanghai stock exchange is not reflective of the wealth in the People's Republic.
"I say that because Nike's conference call last night made everyone who had been skeptical about anything good from China look like total dopes," the "Mad Money" host said.
Nike blew away earnings on Thursday when CEO Trevor Edwards confirmed that revenue in greater China was up 30 percent. He went on to say that the gains were driven by strong performance across almost all key categories; he said he expects incredible growth to continue for years to come.
Cramer interpreted Nike's results as confirmation that China is its strongest market in the world.
"How strapped can this nation of 1.3 billion consumers be if China's leading the world in Nike sales, which are much stronger than they are in the United States?" Cramer asked.


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National Exhibition of ‘Kids’ World’ in Tehran
The national exhibition of ‘Kids’ World’ opened on Tuesday (Jan 27), at the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA), on Hijab Street in Tehran.
The four-day exhibition showcases products and services of the most famous and reputed local companies in six categories: toys, educational and books, intelligence and creativity, health and safety, baby room decoration, and layettes, MNA reported.
Tens of local manufacturers and service providers are presenting their latest products and services including toys and dolls, educational equipment and facilities like puzzles and board games, bedroom furniture for babies and children, dietary supplements, prams, books and magazines, decorative and ornamental items for parties and celebrations, and sports equipment like scooters, skates, balls, etc.
The main objectives of the exhibition are to pay special attention to issues of welfare and health care for babies and children, improve competition between manufacturers and suppliers of goods and services in this field, concentrate on local production and exchange of experiences between producers and suppliers of services in the area, introduce effective toys for physical and intellectual development of children, and familiarize toy manufacturers with the needs of target groups.
Some stalls at the exhibition provide mothers with the necessary information from the prenatal stage till the birth of their babies. Other special stalls have been set up to examine children and infants free of charge which include physical examinations, eye exams, and intelligence tests.
A number of workshops have also been organized on the subject of promoting the culture of judicious use of water, gas, and electricity as well as waste separation for children.
Organizers of the exhibition have tried to create a space full of games and fun for Iranian children, and to showcase the best products and services in the field for parents.
The exhibition will conclude on Friday January 30.


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By Daniel Mooney
The global cryptocurrency market is estimated to be worth around $3 trillion in value with massive growth across a number of crypto-asset areas. This includes Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) which have been selling for record prices. While the market has been booming, regulation and consumer protection has been lackluster, aided in no small part by cryptocurrencies typically being designed to avoid regulation from the outset.
The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MICA) proposal was published by the European Commission in September 2020 with the stated aim of bringing the crypto-assets market into the regulatory fold as part of the broader Digital Finance Package. The Regulation was also spurred on by the Commission’s desire to avoid regulatory divergence between Member States, which would damage the digital single market. Another reason for the desire to bring regulatory control to the crypto-assets market was the concern arising from Facebook’s (short lived) Diem project and its potential to destabilize standard currency markets.
In brief, MICA aims to divide crypto-assets into a number of broad categories, with all providers being required to apply to their Market Supervisory Authorities (MSA) for a MICA license allowing operation throughout the EU. For instance, Asset-Referenced Tokens, which are crypto-assets that are tied to an item of value, will be subject to a comprehensive regime that requires substantial engagement with MSAs and other obligations regarding cash reserves. Similarly, E-Money Tokens, such as Tether, which are paired one-to-one with a fiat currency will also face significant oversight and regulation by the MSAs, particularly in relation to minimum capital reserves which ensure financial stability. The third main category of crypto-assets are utility tokens, which are the subject to the lightest rules. Issuers or providers of these tokens must draft a White Paper and notify the relevant MSA prior to launching the product although they are otherwise allowed to operate without any invasive regulatory oversight.
One of the key requirements across all types of providers is the requirement for the publication of White Papers. These White Papers essentially act as market prospectuses. They require those planning to launch a crypto-asset to set out the risks and technical details of the cryptocurrency/asset project as well as providing verification of any statements made to potential investors. Although White Papers are already common in the crypto-asset space, the Regulation would require a much more burdensome standard.
Aside from the advantages of oversight and regulation to consumers, providers of crypto-assets will also benefit by being able to gain a market ‘passport’ which allows them to be regulated in one Member State and then access the entire EU market.
Criticism has been levelled at MICA due to its complexity in respect of crypto-asset categorization. Lannoo argues that this complexity will undermine protections for consumers and make operating in the market more difficult. There are also some concerns regarding overregulation and how that may strangle innovation in the emerging market. In spite of these concerns however, regulation is arguably necessary at this point to avoid divergent regulatory regimes from developing and to safeguard the currently unprotected users of these products.
While the EU MICA looks to radically reshape the crypto-assets market, it is not the only major global market that has taken steps to curb the growth of the crypto. For instance, China first banned ‘coin substitution’ (i.e., the trading of real, fiat currency for crypto-currency) in 2019, and it has since moved to ban crypto trading altogether. The EU’s proposal of course aims to bring the market under control and within the purview of regulators rather than completely prohibiting crypto-markets altogether. It is hoped that by adopting stringent and comprehensive regulation at this key juncture, the EU can become the global standard setter for the crypto-assets market.Overall, regulation of this space is to be welcomed as it helps to safeguard the integrity of the digital single market and to ensure stability and certainty to financial operators. Furthermore, the proposals will protect consumers by mandating higher standards for those seeking to operate within the crypto-assets domain and bringing to an end the legal uncertainty that currently surrounds such assets. While some rightfully question the utility of crypto-assets in general, for those in favor of their place in the new digital environment, robust regulatory intervention will ensure their continued survival. The regulation is expected to be passed in 2022 and be fully transposed by 2024.


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According to the MoU, the top four brands in the Landmark portfolio will be offering special privileges to the Mashreqbank WOW! Credit Cardholders.
The agreement includes The Baby Shop, Shoe Mart, Splash and Home Centre.
The Mashreqbank WOW! Credit Card holder can now get offers across the 58 Landmark retail outlets in the UAE located in leading malls and prime shopping locations.
"Our agreement with the Landmark Group is truly a landmark in the history of shopping in the UAE as it synergises the strengths of two major organisations in the retail industry to directly benefit our mutual customers," said Steven Pinto, Head of Retail Banking Group, Mashreqbank.
Air-dropped in March, the packs fed approximately 4,000 individuals
Empowering growth through next-generation solutions and a commitment to financial literacy
120 projects launched in first quarter of 2024 in Dubai, housing 34,000 units
New ‘Seezar’ virtual assistant embedded on dealer websites uses advanced AI


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Automotive sector’s shutdown caused haulier to crash into administration
Haulage business Amco Services (International) crashed into administration earlier this month as a result of the automotive sector slamming its brakes on when lockdown began.
The Worcester-based business had been struggling and had lost £1m in the financial year. But its management was hopeful it could trade its way through its cash problems.
However when lockdown began, the £25m-turnover business forecast it would miss out on £5.7m of expected revenue between March and July, new documents have revealed.
75% of the haulage and warehouse business’s customers were in the automotive sector, which has also seen the pandemic magnify existing difficulties.
Advisers from Grant Thornton sought interest in the company but the only bid came from CBW Resources, a company created by three Amco directors.
The deal was completed through a pre-pack that saved all 156 jobs.
Chief executive Paul Andrews, managing director Don Mucci and David Careless paid £143,000 for the business and have also invested personal funds to support trading and satisfied new funders to provide working capital.
Andrews said: “Essentially, the business has been restructured and refinanced to give both customers and suppliers confidence and peace of mind that Amco are still the right partner for the future, especially as we begin to emerge from lockdown and flex to meet the needs of business today in the new norm.
“We have retained all of the staff and we are going forward with the same management team supported by the existing dedicated planners and administration team, warehouse operatives and frontline drivers.”
Although the failed business has creditors of £3.14m, it had a debtor ledger totalling £3.43m.
Administrators Eddie Williams and Jon Roden said “the quantum and timing” of payments to creditors will be driven by the level of debt collections.
Amco Services operated from a head office in Worcester and three warehouse and logistics sites in Redditch and Telford.
Its warehousing division accounting for 20% of its turnover but was loss-making. Its large warehouse in Redditch was underutilised and it was facing a dilapidations claim of up to £500,000 from its planned exit of the site.
The impact of Covid-19 “materially altered” its ability to deal with its liabilities.
Although the company identified ways of freeing up £3.9m in cash, most of that would have needed to be repaid within 12 months.
Despite the furlough scheme, and negotiated rent and lease payment holidays, it became clear the business “would be unable to trade out of the current position”. This ultimately led administrators to agree a pre-pack deal that offers a return to creditors and saved the jobs of the workforce.


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The Toyota Mirai is still on the market, knocking on doors, trying to convince shoppers of better living through hydrogen. Shoppers in California, at least, because that's the only state Toyota sells the Mirai in. The 2024 sedan is here with barely any material changes, but a carryover bundle of perks and a slightly higher price. For 2024, the fuel-cell electric vehicle gets standard Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 3.0, an upgrade over Safety Sense 2.5+. TSS 3.0 uses a forward-facing camera with higher resolution and a wider field-of-view, and a radar unit with a longer and wider field of vision. These additions improve the capabilities of the existing features from TSS 2.5+ and adds a seventh feature called Proactive Driving Assist that helps avoid road hazards at speed. TSS 3.0 also adds OTA updates.
Prices rise a bit over 2023. MSRPs after the $1,025 destination fee, and changes from 2023, are:
XLE: $51,215 ($690)
Limited: $68,180 ($1,155)
On top of a regular warranty benefits, buyers receive perks like complimentary rental cars for 21 days per year for the first three years, extended ToyotaCare for three years or 35,000 miles, roadside assistance for up to ten years, California's prized High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) sticker, and $15,000 in free hydrogen fuel for either three or six years depending on whether the car is leased or purchased. That $15,000 could last a few years into ownership, but it won't go nearly as far as it used to; the price of hydrogen at retail stations has skyrocketed in the past few years. Hydrogen Insight wrote that in September 2023, a company called True Zero, which runs the largest network of H2 stations, raised prices to $36 per kilogram. The XLE trim gets an EPA-estimated 402 miles on a full tank of the gaseous element, the luxury oriented Limited can go an estimated 357 miles. The Mirai takes 5.6 kilograms, meaning a refill of five kilograms costs $180.
In April 2021, that same kilogram cost $13.14, just three cents above its price in 2019. S&P Global Commodity Insights said this week that the average price for hydrogen across all retail sellers in Southern California was $33.48 per kilogram on January 4. Part of the problem is infrastructure hiccups causing shortages. In November, the same outlet wrote, "Data from the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership shows that 23 of the state’s 53 filling stations were offline at the time this article was published, including 15 out of 29 in the sprawling Greater Los Angeles area."
If you're wondering why the Mirai still exists, it's because Toyota believes in a multi-fuel mix for the global transportation industry, and that hydrogen will be a part of it. Automaker chairman Akio Toyoda said this week he expects EV market share to reach no more than 30%; something's got to fill in the blanks if gas-powered engines really get kiboshed.
And hey, 2023 Mirai sales were 31% up over 2022, and the 2023 Mirai outsold the Toyota Supra last year, 2,737 units to 2,652. It also trounced the only other hydrogen-powered competitor, the Hyundai Nexo that found 241 buyers. Honda's coming out with an FCEV CR-V to keep the Mirai company and bring a potential tipping point that much closer.
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- An analyst with a reliable track record reporting on unreleased Apple products detailed the kind of ports coming to the 2021 MacBook Pro models.
- Ming-Chi Kuo says that the two new MacBook Pro models that Apple will release in the second half of the year will have a new design that will include an HDMI port and an SD card reader.
- Last month, the same insider said that Apple would launch 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros this year, featuring a brand new design, MagSafe support, and Apple M-series processors.
A couple of distinct reports said about a month ago that Apple’s 2021 MacBooks would get a significant redesign that will “fix” some of the features that some users have been complaining about in recent years. The Touch Bar screen that replaced the function keys at the top of the keyboard is one example. But the most problematic design change that MacBook made with the current MacBook design is the lack of ports. The universal USB-C port is an excellent solution for data transfer and power, and many products have adopted it. But dongles are still required to ensure the MacBook Air and Pro can operate with certain accessories. Finally, there’s the removal of the MagSafe charging port, an iconic MacBook feature that went away in the latest MacBook redesign.
Ming-Chi Kuo penned a new research note that doubles down on the 2021 MacBook Pro redesign. And this time around, he listed the ports the new Pros are going to get.
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- Dr. Fauci says once you get your COVID vaccine, it’s safe to go mask-free around these people
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Insider says 2021 MacBook Pro is getting a redesign you’re going to love originally appeared on BGR.com on Tue, 23 Feb 2021 at 06:50:34 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Via BRG - Boy Genius Report


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FDA Looks At 127 Reports Of Seizures Possibly Related To Vaping
(CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration has received 127 reports of seizures or other neurological symptoms possibly related to e-cigarettes, the agency announced Wednesday. Investigators have yet to determine, however, whether vaping was directly linked to the cases. “The FDA is continuing its scientific investigation to determine if there’s a direct relationship between the use of e-cigarettes and a risk of seizure or other neurological symptoms,” said Dr. Ned Sharpless, the acting FDA commissioner. The FDA said the reported cases occurred between 2010 and 2019, and in addition to seizures, some people reported fainting or tremors. Sharpless said that “we still don’t have enough information to determine if e-cigarettes are causing these reported incidents” but called on the public to continue submitting reports. Additional information “may help us identify common risk factors and determine whether any specific e-cigarette product attributes, such as nicotine content or formulation, may be more likely to contribute to seizures,” he said. Dozens of new reports, no clear patterns In April, the FDA announced that it had received 35 reports of seizures related to vaping, particularly among younger users. “Seizures or convulsions are known potential side effects of nicotine toxicity,” the agency said at the time. There have been 92 new reports since then, but the FDA didn’t announce any clear pattern acro...
At least 22 people have developed some type of respiratory illness after vaping or using e-cigarettes
HIGH blood pressure is a common condition in the UK. Making certain lifestyle tweaks can help to lower a soaring reading. According to a recent study, a popular juice may also do the trick.
Review of "Atlas of Artifacts in Clinical Neurophysiology," by William O. Tatum, IV Atlas of Artifacts in Clinical Neurophysiology by William O. Tatum , IV, Demos Medical Publishing, 2018 , 419 pages. ISBN: 9780826169341 . E-book ISBN: 978-0826169358 . List Price: $185.00; Amazon New: $154.02; Amazon Used: $144.00; Kindle: $129.36. Neurodiagn J. 2019 Aug 23;:1-2 Authors: Clark-Bash RJ PMID: 31441708 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Authors: Moosavian SP, Arab A, Mehrabani S, Moradi S, Nasirian M Abstract Background: Several studies have investigated the effect of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E on oxidative stress and inflammation, but their findings are inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis is to elucidate the overall effects of co-supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E on oxidative stress and inflammation. Methods: We searched titles, abstracts, and keywords of relevant articles indexed in PubMed, ISI, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases up to December 2018 to identify eligible RCT studies. Random effects model was...
Conclusion: These results provide a potential mechanism involving AMPK activation/ROS inhibition signaling pathway in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs enhanced by resveratrol. It suggests that development of therapy towards ROS is an effective way for osteoporosis treatment. PMID: 31438780 [PubMed - in process]


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Uber and TomTom now have a multi-year contract for the navigation company to supply map and traffic data to the ride sharing giant.
Sitting at a complete stop in traffic might be one of the worst sensations in the world, and navigation system maker TomTom knows all about it. The company has been creating an annual traffic jam index for several years now, but it has just released the results of the same survey for China for the first time. Given all of the horror stories we have heard about pollution caused by the country's cars, congestion was about as bad as you might expect. The researchers found motorists there spend an a
TomTom has released its congestion index for the second quarter of 2012, and Istanbul, Turkey took the dubious honor of being the most congested city in Europe. With a rating of 57 percent, the city suffers from more than double the average congestion of the rest of the continent. Warsaw, Poland came in second with a 47-percent rating, though morning peak traffic sees that number swell to 93 percent. Marseille, France, Palermo and Rome, Italy round out the top five.
Navigation systems have been coming down in price lately, making in-car directions more accessible to the masses. At the same time massive tech companies like Apple and Microsoft have gotten into the game as well, and as TheDetroitBureau.com reports, a new study shows that these forces are converging to quadruple the systems by 2019.
It's that time of year again. April Fools' came and went over the weekend, and a handful of the world's automakers joined in on a little Spring time fun. From intelligent anti-theft devices and TSA-inspired driver aids to automated NASCAR racers and high-performance hybrids, this year's raft of pranks were as good as any we've seen in past years. With April 1 falling on a Sunday, we saw fewer wise-cracking creations than before, but that didn't spoil the fun, so we thought we'd recap them for yo
Your car could get the best fuel economy figures this side of a bicycle, but if you're driving around in circles because you can't find your destination, it kinda defeats the whole point. That's why a hybrid needs a good navigation system as much as it needs the computers that manage the charging and use of its gasoline-electric powertrain. To that end, Fisker Automotive announced a deal with TomTom to provide the sat-nav system for the Karma.
Sesame Street is teaming up with TomTom to provide family-friendly navigation narration courtesy of some of our favorite muppets. Bert, Ernie and one very special rubber duckie have been so kind as to lend their vocal talents to TomTom navigation devices. The trio are in good company. Darth Vader and Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson have both stepped into the recording booth to give TomTom customers a little entertainment over a long drive. If you like the idea of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie lea
Those of you hoping to hear the boisterous voice of Jeremy Clarkson coming out of your TomTom GPS are going to be quite disappointed. As it turns out, part of the BBC's editorial guidelines state that none of the Top Gear presenters can endorse motoring products, and thus, having Clarkson screaming out of your TomTom is a clear violation of this policy.
Top Gear fans who go orgasmic at the first note of Jeremy Clarkson's dulcet tones will be happy to hear that TomTom has released a new GPS soaked in the world's favorite car show. As previously rumored, the TomTom Go Live Top Gear Edition sat nav features driving directions narrated by Jezza, as well as plenty of petrol-laced points of interest. Those include test tracks as well as locations featured in the long-running show. There are also model-specific start-up and shut-down screens that feat
Way back when, animated characters were voiced by anonymous folks with great pipes. These days, you need A-list celebs to sell pixelated fish and other playthings. The disembodied and slightly stilted voices of navigation systems appear to be going the same way, and Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson is the latest talent to contribute his voice to giving directions – ironic, considering he's made his disdain for GPS clear in the past.
At the Plug-In 2011 Conference in Raleigh, NC, last week, Coulomb Technologies announced it will partner with TomTom to provide tools to help EV drivers locate charging stations. Some manufacturers have built brand-specific charging point location into the navigation systems included on their vehicles and the Coulomb solution will spot stations that are part of their own ChargePoint Network.
Is it the threat of the police radar gun that keeps us from accessing our inner speed demon, or does that lust for thrust simply not burn within most of us? GPS navigation giant TomTom released a ReportReport that would suggest the latter. We pulled this one from the file because we found it interesting that our traffic speeds may be more self-regulating than we realize. See full presser below.
If you have a TomTom, the eye in the sky has been watching you and tracking your interstate speeds over the past two years. Don't worry, TomTom isn't going nark you out – it's tracking the data from its Speed Profiles program to help fleet drivers find the fastest routes around the nation. The two years of data collection shows that, overall, Americans tend to drive within the acceptable limits of the law overall, but the average speed of your journey will typically be determined by where
- Most and least efficient car companies
- Fastest-depreciating cars in the United States
- Find and compare 2017 Models


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A case of 1978 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru from Burgundy’s Côte de Nuit sold for $476,280 at Christie’s Hong Kong Fine and Rare Wines Auction, held from November 22 to 24. That was the global auction record for the esteemed vineyard and one of the most expensive cases ever sold at auction. The sale price was more than three-times the high estimate for the case. To simplify, it’s about $39,700 per bottle or about $4,900 per glass. Christie’s said the buyer was from Asia.
Romanée-Conti, which is considered the top brand in China also reached the second highest spot on the list with another case of its 1978 vintage for $301,644. In a demonstration of continued strong demand for wine at Hong Kong auctions, both of these sales tripled and doubled their respective high estimate of $141,933.
“This auction emphasized the growing demand and importance for premium wines with the finest provenance,” said Simon Tam, Christie’s head of wine for China.
The third highest seller of the auction was a set of 105 bottles of Château Latour bottles that reached $301,644. Rounding out the list of the top 10 lots were four more sets of Romanée-Conti from various years, one set of Mouton Rothschild Bordeaux, and two sets of Pétrus, a rising star among Chinese buyers.


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Chicken at a record US$1.40 p/pound escalates row
Santo Domingo.- The northern Cibao region’s leading poultry producers Wednesday questioned the role played by Consumer Protection Agency director Altagracia Paulino, who would call a "one day without chicken" boycott on the meat’s high price.
But the row escalated further when the grocery stores and vendors grouped in the FENACERD agreed with Paulino, and would take part in the boycott, as chicken reached a record RD$54.50 (US$1.40) per pound.
Poultry sector leaders Eric Rivero, Wilfredo Cabrera and Ambiorix Cabrera visited the Chamber of Deputies Agriculture Committee today, to explain the meat’s production costs.
They said a pound of chicken costs RD $ 25.50 to produce and farms sell it for RD$29.00; frozen at RD$40.00 and fresh at RD $ 43.00, but they don’t regulate prices from intermediaries, such as supermarkets.
The business leaders said if the government wants to authorize chicken imports “so be it,” but it would still have to sell at RD$54.50 per pound.
Rivero said they’re earning less than 10% and confirmed they don’t control intermediaries’ prices, adding that Paulino’s boycott threat aims jeopardizes local farmers.


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Independence, Ohio-based Proforma Group, a global distributor to the printing and promotional products industry, recently held its first of what it says will become an annual Technology User Conference in July in Orlando, Florida.
The company says that conference’s theme, “Envision,” brought together thought leaders, technology innovators, executives, supplier partners, current affiliate owners and prospective new affiliate owners seeking to improve their organization using the most influential business management platform in the industry.
More than 100 affiliates were in attendance at the event, and they received the exclusive opportunity to meet Proforma’s 75-member internal technology team to discuss the newest system updates on Proforma’s $12 million business management technology platform, called ProVision.
“Affiliate Owners and their team members who attended the Envision User Conference learned the latest best practices for using our technology to drive sales and marketing results,” says Brian Carothers, Proforma’s chief technology officer. “Also, participants had the chance to network with other early adopters of the system and share ideas for even better ways to leverage the unique business intelligence and powerful workflow capabilities of ProVision to drive their business success.”
The company says the ProVision System has been in development for more than four years. The first beta users began entering orders more than three years ago, and the system entered the pre-release phase last fall.
One business owner says that using the ProVision software for the past year has allowed him to grow sales more than 32 percent and increase gross profit more than 22 percent.


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The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.
Overall business conditions in Dubai’s non-oil private sector economy improved at the fastest rate in over four years in April. This mainly reflected the trend in new business, as employment was broadly unchanged during the month. Notably, business conditions in the wholesale & retail sector
Saif Al Ghurair was born in 1924 in Deira, Dubai.
The latest report by Baltic Exchange for trading and shipping and the Xinhua news agency of the China Economic Information Service based in London has ranked Dubai fifth in the International Shipping Centre
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country’s central bank, on Friday has kept key interest rates steady to subdue the unabatedly high inflation rate. However, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the central bank (CB) maintained the growth-oriented
London FTSE 100 rose 0.8% as crude prices gained while in Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.78%.
Global trade, shipping business and supply chain industry will return to growth next year following positive news on the coronavirus vaccine that will help restore confidence in the economy, experts say.
The Indian-based firm Indus Net Technologies (INT) is keen to expand its operations across the Gulf region. We have been serving clients in the Middle East for over a decade. However, we will now look for a stronger presence in this market from 2021 onwards.


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The new Battlefield seems to be getting closer and closer with rumors flying thick and fast, with industry insider Tom Henderson teasing out some super-exciting news on the next-gen Battlefield.
In a new tweet, Henderson teased: "In BATTLEFIELD, explosions are not the only thing that can damage and topple buildings. Mother nature can do a whole lot more". In the tweet, Henderson tells us to prepare for a next-gen Battlefield where it's not just explosions that cause massive damage -- but there will be natural disasters.
He followed the tweet up with another tweet of natural disasters in the real-world including tsunamis, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. Henderson had another tweet after that, explaining that he is not joking around for April Fools and that this was serious -- EA DICE is taking destruction to the next level with the new Battlefield.
- Read more: Battlefield 2021 set in 2025, has military robots, drones, and more
- Read more: Battlefield 6 leaks: designed for over 128 players, 32v32 is standard
- Read more: Battlefield 6 has modern setting, could support up to 128 players
- Read more: EA to go all out with Battlefield 6, wants to prove itself in 2021
It begins to make more sense when you consider it was back in February when we were hearing rumors -- also from Henderson -- that EA was working on ramping up environmental destruction for the new Battlefield with unscripted skyscraper destruction shown off.
At the time EA CEO Andrew Wilson said: "The game takes full advantage of the power of next-generation platforms to bring massive immersive battles to life with more players than ever before. Featuring maps with unprecedented scale, the next edition of Battlefield takes all the destruction, player agency, vehicle and weapon combat that the franchise is known for and elevate it to another level".
I'd say tornadoes, earthquakes and volcanoes going off in Battlefield is taking the game to an entire new level.


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The operator wants to become the largest provider in Norway’s burgeoning smart building sector through the newly created company Bldng.ai
Today, Telenor has announced the creation of a new subsidiary, Bldng.ai, aiming to become a leader in the emerging smart building market.
As the number of IoT devices continues to grow at an incredible pace, each part of our lives is becoming ever more connected. From smart factories making use of thousands of remote sensors, to AI-powered televisions that automatically adjust audio settings to match the acoustics of the room in which their placed, these devices and their effective management represent an enormous opportunity for telcos, whose connectivity facilitates the entire system.
With the creation of Bldng.ai, Telenor is seeking to become a dominant force in the Norwegian smart building market. Offering both software, physical infrastructure solutions, and related services, the new subsidiary will provide a platform for customers through which property owners and tenants will gain better control of their IoT network.
The company could offer customers a way to keep track of how many people are in their building, which rooms are being used, and even keeping track of the air quality. The network can then automatically manage smart devices in these areas, such as turning off lights or the heating in rooms that are not being used.
The subsidiary is set to be led by Steffan Phillip Thorvaldsen, the current head of smart buildings at Telenor.
The move comes amidst a shift in strategy from Telenor when it comes to the wider IoT, with the company consolidating its Nordic IoT portfolio under the new ‘Telenor IoT’ brand. The move is reportedly set to bring together around 200 IoT specialists located in 18 countries around the world, with the new operating model set to “leverage on Telenor’s global competency, synchronise product development, accelerate the customer facing business and improve technical support”.


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Facebook Inc.’s valuation topped Amazon Inc., leaving the social-networking company behind only Google Inc. among U.S. Internet companies, according to the Bloomberg’s report.
“Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg now has plenty of reasons to laugh. About $82.9 billion of them. That’s how much his Palo Alto social networking company is worth on online private exchange SharesPost,” LA Times’ Jessica Guynn wrote.
Facebook’s value has jumped by more than 40 percent since mid-December last year, while Amazon Inc. shares dropped as much as 9.5 percent yesterday after a disappointing sales forecast, pushing its stock market value down to $75.2 billion.
Despite skepticism from many investors who say the stock is overvalued and warn of a technology bubble, investor demand for Facebook is soaring on the private markets as advertisers pay for the attention of a user base that’s ballooned to more than 600 million active users.
Ad spending on Facebook will more than double to $4.05 billion this year, according to researcher EMarketer Inc. The gains reflect the rising popularity of social media companies, which let users interact and carry out other tasks that were long unavailable, or only possible to a limited degree, on older Internet sites.
Facebook’s estimated worth surpassed that of EBay Inc., owner of the largest e-commerce market PayPal, late last year. It is still dwarfed by Google, the world’s biggest Internet search engine, which is worth $192 billion.
SharesPost, a marketplace for private company shares, bases value on such criteria as transactions, research estimates and venture-funding rounds. Facebook shares have sold for as much as $60 apiece on SharesPost this month, meaning some investors value the social-networking company at $136 billion.
However, the same Bloomberg also reported that a poll of global investors reveals that 69% of them think that Facebook is overvalued. Just 10% thought it was “properly valued” (and 4% thought it undervalued), while 17% had “no idea.” Bloomberg conducted the poll over the past weekend, and revealed the results yesterday.
“Those investing in Facebook, expecting it to be the next Google, might be in for some bad news along the way,” says poll respondent John J. Lee, a portfolio manager at PGB Trust & Investments in Morristown, New Jersey.
The Bloomberg poll shows that the Facebook deal has made investors uneasy about internet companies in general. More than half the respondents say the firm’s valuation signals the “beginning of a dangerous new bubble” in the market, while only 17 percent saw it as the foundation of a lasting boom.
“More than a bubble, Facebook is a manifestation of the rational excesses that only the financial markets are capable of when confronted with something without precedents and more importantly unexpected,” said Luigi La Ferla, co-founder of LTP Trade Ltd. in London. He added: “There’s too little financial information and track history to value the company like this.”
Last week Facebook Inc. said that it raised $1.5 billion in new financing led by Goldman Sachs. The investments included $500 million from the investment bank and Russian investment firm Digital Sky Technologies as well as $1 billion from Goldman Sachs clients overseas.
According to documents sent to prospective investors in that deal, Facebook plans to start reporting financial results by April 2012. The company will be required to make those disclosures by the Securities and Exchange Commission whether or not it has held an initial stock public offering.
At $82.9 billion, Facebook’s value has jumped more than sevenfold since March last year, when SharesPost introduced its Venture- Backed Index, featuring seven companies. Facebook is over $77 billion more valuable than the second-biggest member, Zynga Game Network Inc., valued at $5.7 billion. [via Business Week, Bloomberg LA Times and Fast Company]