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Australis Capital Inc. AUSAF AUSA provided a corporate update.
New Jersey – AUDACIOUS Receives Notification From New Jersey
On October 25, 2022, the State of New Jersey State issued AUDACIOUS its conditional class 1-cultivator and conditional class 2-manufacturer licenses. The company can now submit conversion licenses applications to convert these conditional licenses to annual adult usage cultivation and manufacturing licenses. Once received, the annual licenses allow AUDACIOUS to grow, manufacture, sell and distribute adult use cannabis in the State of New Jersey. It is expected that the state will soon open the application process to allow Class 1&2 holders to officially apply for Class 3&4 licenses.
ALPS Subsidiary LarssenGC Projects Secured in India and the U.S.
The project in India, to be located in Pune near Mumbai, will be a 64-acre greenhouse for the cultivation of vegetables. LarssenGC also was engaged by a large U.S. based vegetable grower for end-to-end consulting and construction management services for a greenhouse complex of up to 70 acres. This is a significant project with up to $2 million in contract fees for LarssenGC.
The company recently completed its first harvest in New York with its partner Hempire. The harvest has now been pre-processed. The company’s cannabis will now be further processed into vapes and edible products, to be sold to social equity dispensaries.
The company announced a funding relationship with LDA in December 2021. While the company has utilized some of the facility, it has switched gears to secure alternative sources of capital, including the recently announced credit facility provided by Terry Booth-owned Lola Ventures.
Terry Booth, CEO, stated, “I have nothing but good to say about our funding partners at LDA. They have come through for us on the terms discussed. However, the nature of the instrument is such that we were able to secure terms better suited for our shareholders at this time. The company is also pursuing other major sources of capital to accelerate our growth. We are grateful to the LDA team and do not exclude further collaboration with them in the future.”
In addition, the company has expanded its facility with Lola Ventures to provide funding of up to $4 million, the previous facility was $2.5 million.
Cease Trade Order
The company is still under a cease trade order. An update from the company’s audit team says the financial reporting required is progressing in a satisfactory manner.
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As Curaleaf Taps Ex Jushi & Clever Leaves Executives Other Big Cannabis Players Also Make Key Leadership Changes
Audacious FY22 Revenue Grows A Staggering 1200% YoY, What’s Their Secret?
AUDACIOUS Enters Into Credit Facility With Lola Ventures
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Tinder so you can kill digital money, metaverse plans in the midst of Matches Category earnings loss; Tinder will lose their Ceo
Written by ABC AUDIO on November 27, 2022
Notably, Tinder President Renate Nyborg could well be departing the company once shorter than simply annually from the better jobs. Match Category is even destroying Tinder’s plans to embrace the brand new tech, instance virtual currencies and you can metaverse-situated dating.
Inside a shareholder page, Suits Class Ceo Bernard Kim indicated fury that have Tinder’s current efficiency, listing standard dating application has not been capable read the normal monetization victory for the past pair quarters which will be failing to meet the business’s brand spanking new requirement for funds growth having aforementioned 50 % of 2022.
Kim chalked up Tinder’s dilemmas so you can “disappointing delivery toward multiple optimizations and you will new service effort,” however, extra one to Tinder’s equipment delivery and you may speed you certainly will nevertheless be enhanced.
- Faye Iosotaluno, formerly Fits Group’s head method manager, given that Tinder’s COO
- Mark van Ryswyk, since the Tinder’s head unit administrator. Ryswyk is an experienced playing manager exactly who joined the organization inside the Summer.
- Melissa Hobley, previously OkCupid’s CMO, once the Tinder’s chief sales manager
- Tom Jacques, once the Tinder’s chief tech administrator. An enthusiastic eleven-12 months Fits Classification experienced, he has already been Tinder’s CTO during the last 5 years.
- Coach Aericas and you may fifteen-season Fits Classification veteran often advise the latest Tinder government team into tool roadmap and you can gains.
Reading between the traces, there can be plus a sign your younger age bracket of users may have destroyed its appetite to own relationships apps for example Tinder – a society change which can not you need to be chalked as much as constant pandemic impacts. New letter cards that individuals has actually gone earlier COVID lockdowns and re-registered “a typical traditions,” but their readiness to test online dating programs for the first go out has not yet gone back to pre-pandemic accounts.
Within Tinder’s renovate, its “dating metaverse” dreams have been dramatically scaled straight back. The business is likely to leverage its Hyperconnect purchase so you’re able to manage a new types of dating from inside the an online environment, however, those things are on stop once the Fits Category now has to address greater activities.
“…Considering uncertainty about the best contours of metaverse and you will exactly what usually otherwise wouldn’t performs, and more difficult doing work environment, I’ve coached brand new Hyperconnect team so you’re able to iterate although not purchase heavily inside the metaverse at this time,” authored Kim. “We are going to continue to look at that it space carefully, and we will believe moving forward on appropriate day whenever we have more quality on the total chance and you can become we enjoys an assistance that is well-positioned to succeed.”
Relationships large Matches Class launched several changes to help you Tinder’s management party with the announcement from disappointing next-one-fourth earnings with the Saturday
Plus toward cutting block is digital money, and this Meets Classification is actually trying out since the Tinder Coins. (When you’re Suits Group hadn’t gotten as much as so you’re able to mention blockchain integrations toward gold coins, new digital currency’s part with its wide metaverse agreements ideal crypto will be section of its much time-term roadmap.)
“After watching combined is a result of review Tinder Gold coins, we have ine one initiative as a result it is also better contribute in order to Tinder’s revenue,” said Kim. “I including want to would so much more considering digital products so you can guarantee that they are a bona fide driver to have Tinder’s next base of growth that assist you open brand new untapped strength pages to the hornet bezplatnГЎ zkuЕЎebnГ verze platform,” the guy extra.
He demonstrated the choice to stop the brand new work that have Tinder Coins since the “difficult,” but important in buy discover something best. The company shared no schedule in order to a good relaunch, and alternatively is about launching the brand new quick-title subscription about slide.
The company told you it’s still planning build has and work out Tinder more appealing so you’re able to lady, and a subscription-mainly based plan that provide “curated recommendations” plus possess designed to score family working in introductions. Around the almost every other items, it is going to turn to additional features, including livestreaming films, to drive adoption.
Overall, Fits published Q2 2022 funds away from $795 million, right up a dozen% seasons-over-seasons, but unhealthy Wall Street estimates from $ billion. Additionally, it published a loss in $ mil, or 11 cents for every single express, as opposed to 46 cents in-ago one-fourth. Experts had been pregnant earnings off 57 dollars for each show. Match said the working losses is $ten mil, affected by an excellent $217 mil produce-off of intangibles connected with straight down financial outlooks for its Azar and you can Hakuna software away from Hyperconnect.
Meets Classification paying pages was up 10% year-over-seasons so you’re able to sixteen.cuatro billion. Tinder head revenue expanded thirteen% on the past quarters, determined because of the fourteen% increases in order to 10.9 billion paying pages.
Estimates with the one-fourth to come weren’t a either, which have Suits Group predicting flat Q3 increases so you’re able to $790 mil to help you $800 mil in the funds, below rates out of $883 billion. Tinder money development is expected to settle new “middle solitary digits.”
On the an investor name, Kim accepted the fresh new Tinder Gold coins unit wasn’t launched during the an effective analytical ways given that, generally speaking, a friends perform basic perform demand for virtual products and you may collectibles before moving away a money
Upgraded 8/2/22, 6:00 pm Et to describe Tinder had not formally launched blockchain integrations getting Tinder’s virtual currency. 8/3/twenty-two, 1 pm Mais aussi with a remark about trader name.

domain: news


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LONDON (Reuters) - Samsung's 005930.KS Nexus S phone, based on the latest version of Google's GOOG.O Android software, will go on sale this month in the United States and Britain through Best Buy BBY.N and Carphone Warehouse CPW.L.
The two retailers said they would be the exclusive sellers in those two markets of the Nexus S, which supports a technology that lets people use their handsets instead of credit cards for payments, and would take pre-orders from 1600 GMT on Monday.
Google's Android software has rapidly overtaken Apple AAPL.O and BlackBerry RIM.TO to become the second most popular platform worldwide after Nokia's NOK1V.HE Symbian, and the most popular in North America and east Asia.
Offered free to cellphone vendors since coming to market two years ago, Android has helped fuel a boom in the smartphone market, which is expected to double this year to about 340 million units, although it has helped drive prices down.
The Nexus S will include an NXP NXPI.O near-field communications (NFC) chip, which allows consumers to pay for items by tapping the phone against a special terminal.
NXP, a pioneer of NFC technology, announced a strategic collaboration with Google to provide a complete open source software stack for the NFC chip.
Carphone and Best Buy said they would offer the Nexus S unlocked for $529 in the United States or for $199 with a T-Mobile DTEGn.DE contract.
In Britain, it will cost 549.95 pounds ($862) unlocked, or will come free with a contract of 35 pounds per month for a term and with an operator yet to be announced.
The previous flagship Google Android phone, the Nexus One, was made by Taiwan's HTC 2498.TW. Samsung has also produced a tablet computer based on Android, the Galaxy Tab.
“Deals with Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy underline the importance of independent distributors beyond operators to Google,” British telecoms research firm CCS Insight said. “Despite the initial failure of Nexus One, Google’s intent clearly remains unchanged.”
U.S. consumer electronics retailer Best Buy and British mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse have a joint venture in Europe that includes stores in Britain, and a chain of Best Buy Mobile stores in the United States.
(Editing by David Holmes)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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The smaller battery means less range, but it's also cheaper and lighter.
Engadget takes some of Zero's electric motorcycles our for a quiet, EV spin.
Bigger batteries, more efficient motor, and two new models are the big news for the 2016 Zero Motorcycle lineup.
Bad news for those rooting for electric motorcycle manufacturer Zero - the brand is recalling 94 bikes built between December 26, 2013 and February 18, 2014. This is the second recall for the small-scale manufacturer in the past year, following a larger, 268-unit recall in August.
Curse you, Zero Motorcycles! The biggest producer of two-wheeled electrics has just introduced its 2014 lineup at EICMA in Milan, Italy, and while its mainstay S and DS models host significant improvements and a $1,000-dollar price cut, any savings customers might have realized are likely to be re-invested in the company's new $2,495 Power Pack range extender (more on that below).
Wired Autopia honcho and Autoblog alum Damon Lavrinc is finished with the internal combustion engine. And four wheels. And a closed cabin in which to commute. For the next six months, Lavrinc will be staring Range Anxiety right in its cold, dead (battery) eyes, while splitting lanes and commuting through San Francisco on a long-term-test 2013 Zero DS ZF 11.4 electric motorcycle.
Any "CHiPs" fanatic who has ever wondered what it'd be like for Ponch and Jon to not have to yell over their Kawasaki bike engines, it's Zero Motorcycles to the rescue. The California-based maker of electric-powered motorcycles made a version of its DS available for police work last year and is expanding that option to the S model. Zero says it plans to boost production of police- and security-oriented bikes because more squads in Asia, Europe and South America are "taking interest" in electric-
We got pretty excited when Zero Motorcycles announced its new and highly-improved 2013 lineup in October and have spent a good deal of time since looking at the pictures, poring over awesome numbers (54 horsepower, 68 pound-feet of torque and 11.4 killowatt-hours!) and daydreaming about excellent electric adventures. Now that it's actually 2013 however, we want more.
Our socks, they are knocked off.
Zero Motorcycles has come a long way since the company first showed up on our radar back in 2007, and has only seemed to gain momentum since then. In fact, it just announced a 240 percent increase in year-on-year first quarter sales. It's not been by accident.
The 69th Milan International Motorcycle Show (EICMA) is now officially underway and the first order of business for electric motorcycle enthusiasts is the reveal of the 2012 line up from Zero Motorcycles. If you were hoping for better looks, better performance and better range from each and every model, you got it. Big time.
London's boys in blue are to embark on a greener era of patrol with the unveiling of the Metropolitan Police's first electric motorcycle: the 2011 Zero DS.
If you happen to be in Scotts Valley, CA and are considering climbing in someone's windows and snatching people or their stuff up, we have two things to say. First, that's not cool. How do you think your mother would feel if she knew you were up to this kind of villainy? And two, be warned that the long arm of the law in that town now rides an electric Zero DS from Zero Motorcycles with which they could quietly slip up behind you and put an end to your evil, no-good snatching ways. So, be nice o
Zero Motorcycles DS – Click above for high-res image gallery
Arnold Schwarzenegger endorses Zero Motorcycles – Click above for high-res image gallery
2010 Zero Motorcycles range – Click above for high-res image gallery


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“The new C7 is something else” and “the car’s performance is simply awesome,” says Automobile Magazine who named the Corvette Stingray its Automobile of the Year on Saturday. Tadge Juechter, Corvette’s lead engineer, was also named Automobile’s Man of the Year. The news comes only days after the Corvette Stingray was named Performance Car of the Year by Road & Track.
In its report, Automobile says the Corvette Stingray’s improved interior, 460 horsepower and the fuel-efficient 29 highway miles per gallon presents "a tremendous performance value.”
To be eligible for the award, a car must be completely or substantially new for the new model year. This is the second major award for GM in recent weeks. The Cadillac CTS was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year earlier this month.
This week at the 2013 LA Auto Show, the Corvette Stingray won several other awards including Motor Press Guild’s 2013 Innovation Vehicle of the Year (more than $29,000 category), Car & Driver’s 2014 10 Best Cars, and Yahoo Auto’s 2014 Car of the Year.
Tim Mahoney, global chief marketing officer for Chevrolet, said the awards add credibility to the vehicle.
“It’s fantastic because it’s based on innovation,” Mahoney said after receiving the Motor Press Guild award. “That’s one of the things that the brand stands for is technology and innovation. So it’s a real honor to receive it.
” The Corvette Stingray is a finalist for the North American Car of the Year award, which will be awarded in January at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Click here to read Automobile Magazine’s full report.
Read what the media think and share this news with friends and family:
- “In CNNMoney's own test drive of the new Corvette, we found it be a huge improvement over an already very credible sports car. The new interior has a much nicer design and higher quality than the outgoing model, while the car feels quicker, better balanced and more intuitive to drive.” – CNNMoney
- “To many, the Corvette is kind of obnoxious. It's eye-candy for school boys and grown men who never lost their inner "boy racer." But Corvette matters. Like the simple full-sized pick-up truck, Corvette represents a vehicle that the American car industry, and specifically Detroit, does better than anyone else in the world.” – AOL Autos
- Call: 1-888-267-5511
- Click: www.CourtesyChev.com
- Visit: 1233 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014


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Free for Xero Silver and above partners or A$149 a month as part of Xero Practice Studio.
Accounting software company Reckon is hoping sharp pricing will propel its cloud accounting program at its re-launch on 31 May. The refreshed Reckon One looks better than the old one and has some neat features such as a customisable and interactive dashboard. But it’s biggest drawcard will be the price. The base package is A$5 per month and extra modules start at A$3 each. “A builder with basic payroll and bank feeds would pay just A$11 a month,” said Sam Allert, Reckon’s new managing director for Australia and New Zealand, at the Sydney roadshow. Reckon One is the only program…
Two developers have written 5Things, a daily email which sends a business owner advice on what they should focus on to improve their business.
From July 1 Xero will charge A$2 a month for every employee over 100 on the Premium 100 plan up to a maximum of 200 staff.
Users can view how many outstanding items are waiting, how many are not ready for export, and how many items are in processing.
Journalists were given a sneak peak of the redesigned user interface this week at an expo held by Amazon Web Services, which hosts the online application.
Xero’s year on year subscriptions grew 81 percent to $NZ121 million. However, the company made a net loss of $NZ69.5 million.
MYOB has released an early version of its fringe benefits tax form to a closed group of partners. The beta online tax program includes digital signatures.
The tool is only available from the Advisors menu and is not intended to be used by business owners.
When a user clicks on a Microsoft document Dropbox opens it in Microsoft Office Online, a lightweight version of Microsoft Office that runs in the browser.
Last month Reckon let slip new delivery dates for its accounting software.


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Crystal Dynamics confirmed that it was working on a new Tomb Raider game using Epic Games’ newly launched Unreal Engine 5 yesterday, and while the developer didn’t provide a lot of details on what fans might be able to expect in terms of story and gameplay, there’s a possibility that it might be influenced in some part by Bend Studio’s excellent post-apocalyptic zombie game, Days Gone.
The possibility stems from a recent tweet by Jeff Ross, the director of Days Gone, which can confirm that he is now employed at Crystal Dynamics’ as its newest design director. Ross hasn’t clarified what project he’s working on yet at the Redwood City studio, but there’s a decent chance that it could be Tomb Raider, with that being one its top franchises. (Crystal Dynamics is also assisting Microsoft with its new Perfect Dark game.)
I'm excited to announce I now work at the amazing Crystal Dynamics as Design Director. That's all I can say other than I'm thrilled with the project, and especially the team of really wonderful people.— Jeff Ross (@JakeRocket) April 5, 2022
I will become a Seattleite this summer.
Also–Come work with me! https://t.co/HjDFIFk7MF
Those of you who haven’t checked out Days Gone yet on PC might want to grab a copy now, as the game is currently available at a significant discount at various keyshops. These include GameBillet, which is offering Days Gone at 60% off ($19.98). Unlocked frame rates and improved graphics are just two of the improvements that make the PC version superior to the PlayStation ones.
Days Gone Game Overview (PlayStation)
Do you have the skill – and nerve – to survive the horrors of a broken world in this massive open-world action adventure?
Step into the dirt flecked shoes of former outlaw biker Deacon St. John, a bounty hunter trying to find a reason to live in a land surrounded by death. Scavenge through abandoned settlements for equipment to craft valuable items and weapons, or take your chances with other survivors trying to eke out a living through fair trade… or more violent means.
With humanity devastated by a global pandemic and ravaged by feral creatures known as Freakers, any mistake could be your last in your attempt to carve out a new life in the hostile Pacific Northwest high-desert.


text: SnapAV Offers Holy Snap Rewards Program Holy Snap is a five-month rewards promotion offering huge rewards to certified SnapAV dealers who sign up and earn points. By RS Staff Published: August 6, 2015 ⋅ Updated: April 15, 2019 SnapAV has launched Holy Snap, a five-month rewards promotion offering huge rewards to certified SnapAV dealers who sign up and earn points. By earning one point per new SnapAV category purchase and double points on select brand categories, this program offers real rewards to custom installers for taking care of business. Points can be redeemed for rewards such as an Apple Watch or a 2016 Jaguar 3.0 Sport Sedan. Holy Snap is the property of Charlotte-based SnapAV, a designer, manufacturer and exclusive source of more than 1,800 electronic home solutions for both residential and commercial channels. “Our dealers work hard and have dedicated themselves to a fast-paced industry,” said John Heyman, CEO of SnapAV. “We owe a huge part of our success to their work ethic, and thought it was only right to reward them for those efforts.” SnapAV launched its original Holy Snap program five years ago, and it quickly became very popular, largely due to the scope of prizes it offered. This time, Holy Snap isn’t just giving away great gear. “We wanted to make sure these folks could earn the experience of a lifetime,” said Heyman. “We’ve got golf sets, jet skis, exotic cars, hunting trips, time in Vegas—even Caribbean cruises. People are going to be able to choose what they want to work toward.” While other rewards programs are modeled on sweepstakes lotteries, where only one or two people are eligible to win, Holy Snap makes sure everyone who signs up for the program can work toward amazing, easily reachable rewards.


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And this grape is now who?
The state Duma of the Russian Federation called on the government to impose sanctions against Georgia.
Relations between Russia and Georgia remain tense, after a statement of the Russian Deputy in the Georgian Parliament led to mass protests in the country.
Russia has banned flights to Georgia, now is the turn to the main export products of Georgian mineral water and wine.
Correspondent.net has gathered information on new Russian sanctions.
The incident with the TV channel
On the evening of 7 July, the TV channel Rustavi 2 journalist Giorgi Gabunia, used foul language against the President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
At the beginning of its author’s PostScript program, leading more than a minute swearing in Russian, referring to Putin and his parents.
Shortly after the program aired about the building of the TV company began a spontaneous protest of citizens dissatisfied with the statements of the journalist. The protesters demanded the dismissal Gabunia.
The management of the Rustavi 2 apologized for the trick Gabunia, saying that the host has breached ethical standards and the editorial policy of the channel.
Gabunia act was condemned by many Georgian politicians, including the President, Salome Zurabishvili. She stated that “unequivocally condemns incitement to hatred and verbal aggression.” “They run counter to Georgian traditions and serve only to divide and increasing tensions in the country”, — said the President.
In the end, the TV station suspended the journalist from working for two months, but did not dismiss it.
The reaction in Russia
After this incident, the United Russia faction in the state Duma decided to raise the issue of the termination of deliveries of wine and water from Georgia, and prohibiting money transfers to this country.
“We see that still in Georgia there are Russophobic sentiments, this endangers the citizens of Russia… Those unfriendly actions currently being taken against (the Russians) must have an adequate assessment”, — said the head of the faction, Deputy speaker of the state Duma Sergey Neverov.
The Commissioner for human rights in Russia Tatyana Moskalkova said that he would ask to maintain social remittances to Georgia, in particular related to pensions and support for large families.
In the end, the state Duma called on the government to impose sanctions against Georgia. A statement “About possible additional economic measures in connection with anti-Russian provocations in Georgia” was adopted unanimously.
The document notes that “the open attacks of the radical forces of this country will lead to further deterioration of Russian-Georgian relations”.
Vice-speaker of the state Duma Pyotr Tolstoy, speaking at the meeting, even called Ukraine and Georgia a “vicious people.”
“Only because of our country today on the world map there are these two evil disabled, failed state without a part of its territory — Ukraine and Georgia,” he said.
Tolstoy added that Russia can not just ignore the insult to the President and to allow to speak in such a tone. He noted that it is necessary to leave in the past “conciliatory foreign policy of the 1990s”.
July 8 came into force a ban on the transportation of Russians in Georgia for Russian airlines, and Georgia — the ban on flights in Russia.
Now it was the turn of mineral water and wine. The import of these of Georgian products to Russia were banned during the war with Georgia in 2008.
Russia is the third largest state in terms of export of Georgian products. Ahead of only Turkey and Azerbaijan. In January 2019 turnover between Georgia and Russia was about to 88.1 million dollars to 10.7% of the total foreign trade turnover of Georgia.
Since the beginning of 2019 from Georgia to the Russian Federation have taken about 3.5 thousand tons of natural grape wine, more than 8.6 thousand tons of ferroalloys, more than 6 thousand tons of mineral and fresh water, 2.3 tons of centrifuge 400,6 tons of alcoholic drinks and so on.
Russia – the main importer of Georgian wines in January 2019 in the Russian Federation have taken more than 4.6 million bottles (0.75 liters) of wine. Exports to the neighboring country increased by 30% compared to January 2018.
In the Russian Federation have been discussing the closure of Georgian restaurants. The head of the Georgian Diaspora in Russia Georgiy Tsurtsumia believes that a possible ban on wine will strike a restaurant with Georgian cuisine in Russia.
Although some of the dishes are prepared from products produced on the territory of Russia, however, there are components in the menu, which are imported exclusively from Georgia, he says. This, in particular, Georgian wines, mineral water, various spices, jams and much more.
“Georgian wine has made an amazing breakthrough on the Russian market after the abolition of the embargo — says the Director of the research Center for Federal and regional market of alcohol Vadim Drobiz. It was the product for the middle class. A bottle of Georgian wine cheaper than 400 rubles, it is difficult to find in domestic retail. For most Russians it is expensive. 70% of the wine consumed in Russia worth up to 250 rubles for a bottle.”
According to experts, the volume dropped will be replaced Georgian wine beverages from France, Italy, Spain. Russian guilt, according to Drobeta not be able to occupy the vacated niche – who wants to drink domestic, and so it buys. The expert stressed that Georgian wine will replace all physical volumes. “The market in the medium price segment will take a significant part of the sweet, dessert wine, fortified wine, beloved by Russians. This product is completely different from that offered to the consumer winemakers Old and New world. The Georgian taste and aromatics to replace will be nothing,” he says.


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Moving Walls Malaysia has launched a new campaign, Lookup Lah, which hopes to educate Malaysian advertisers on the importance of investigating marketing data and figures found online.
Not all of it is credible, said the company as it launched an OOH campaign in the form of billboard around the city. These included eye catching personalised messages addressed directly to brands, to statistics on digital billboards and bit sized information on page impressions.
The campaign was launched in line with a new marketplace for OOH media assets in Asia, powered by a Geo-Spatial data platform that provides data on OOH media assets. Some brands which Lookup Lah has showcased on its billboards include Maxis, AIA, McDonald’s, Huawei and L’Oreal, to name a few, as featured on their website.
Here are some of the OOH billboards:
[gallery link="file" ids="138574,138573,138571,138565"]


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The move is aimed to put pressure on suppliers to eradicate the minerals (often used in devices such as mobile phone and cars) associated with financing wars in Africa, from their supply chains.
The policy, which aims to find alternatives, also applies a broader definition to include any minerals used to fund conflict in any part of the world.
The university will also link with research on conflict minerals, promote student engagement through learning and teaching, and raise awareness among staff and students.
Fairtrade Fortnight - a series of events raising awareness of fair trade and sustainable procurement - is currently underway at the university.
The university will work collaboratively with procurement consortia and the wider public sector to meet its commitment. Complex international supply chains mean that many electronics purchased could knowingly or unknowingly contain conflict minerals.
Suppliers will be asked to report on their supply chains, the risks of conflict minerals being present in the goods they sell and strategies they are taking to eradicate conflict minerals. Every effort will be made to use responsibly sourced natural minerals.
Dave Gorman, director of social responsibility and sustainability, said: “The University is committed to sustainable procurement, from the electronics that we buy in large amounts such as computers, down to individual purchases made by staff.
“This new policy gives us a framework within which to work with our suppliers to encourage transparency in supply chains, take action where conflict minerals exist, and advise on more suitable alternatives to support companies with good working practices and ultimately improve the lives of vulnerable communities.”
The new policy builds on the university’s sustainable procurement strategy that seeks to create socially responsible supply chains.
Edinburgh is a founding member of Electronics Watch, an EU-wide initiative which supports public buyers in calling for fair working conditions in electronics manufacturing.


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Sony learns that in the end it really does come down to price.
There was no doubt in my mind that Sony had pitched the price of the PS3 way too high for it to catch on beyond hardcore Sony fans and those who live to game. The idea that parents and those who dabble in gaming was going to shell out the kind of dough that Sony wanted for the PS3 en masse was just crazy. And now the numbers prove it. Sony announced yesterday that PS3 sales were up a staggering 135% in the two weeks following the $100 price cut.
Good news for Sony.
However, it's not all good news. Numbers released by NPD Group show just how much ground Sony has to make up to catch up with Microsoft and Nintendo. Here are the sales numbers for last month:
- 382,000 Nintendo Wii consoles
- 198,000 Microsoft Xbox consoles
- 99,000 PS3 consoles
Things are also pretty dismal on the games front, with 7 out of ten of the two selling games for June being for the Wii or DS platform.
Sony's got a lot of catching up to do, and Microsoft and Nintendo can easily sink its recovery efforts by following suit and cutting prices.


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Engine Group is renaming its North American business units — digital agency Deep Focus, business intelligence firm ORC International, and media agency Engine Media — under the simplified Engine to better present itself to clients as a full-service, data-driven marketing solutions company.
“Amidst the disruption in today’s marketing industry, we at Engine have chosen a different way forward," says Rick Eiserman, CEO of Engine U.S. "We discovered that we could innovate, evolve and grow far faster by moving beyond our four walls, [also known as] our own companies," adding that "we know we can only get there all together.”
According to Eiserman, this new structure maintains the company’s original mission of “transformation through collaboration.”
“We took that philosophy and translated it into our operating model,” he says.
Today, Engine U.S. is a $300 million company with a client mix that includes equal parts media agencies/ad agencies (33%), publishers (31%) and brands (36%), such as Nationwide, Sprint and Sonos.
"Having the opportunity to focus the majority of our energy and talents on the work itself, versus fighting for work, is a path we’ll choose every time," says Eiserman. “This new open ecosystem encourages collaboration, innovation and ongoing partnerships across the entire marketing industry versus feeding a state of constant competition.”
These once separate companies will now be unified through a new single, integrated data platform called Engine Connect that combines client data with Engine's analytics, including behavioral data from EMX, Engine’s new programmatic media marketplace, as well as third-party data that will work across some 100 million user IDs.
"As a result, we’ll be able to provide clients with a complete view of their customers to inform richer insights, engaging customer experiences, more relevant content, better targeting and more," says Eiserman."All these changes enable our clients to do and get three things,” Eiserman adds. Those things include the ability to better leverage data as well as optimize marketing investments. The new setup also makes it easier to access the company and its array of assets, he says.


text: The import of used and old cars recorded a growth of 166 percent during the first seven months (July–January) of 2020-21 owing to significant increase in local cars’ prices as well as lack of safety equipment. According to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the import payment for used and old cars surged to $116 million during the first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared with $43.64 million in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year. Officials in Pakistan Customs attributed the growth in imported cars to ease in travel restriction following decline in coronavirus cases across the world and start of vaccination to cure the pandemic. As per import policy of Pakistan, every person can bring a new motor car by paying prevailing rate of duty and taxes. However, the commercial import of motor cars is not allowed. The import of used cars is allowed under various schemes to facilitate Pakistanis living abroad. The overseas Pakistanis can bring motor cars under personal baggage, transfer of resident or gift schemes. New vehicles can be imported into Pakistan freely by any one against payment of duty & taxes under generally applicable import procedures and requirements.


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The Llano "accelerated processing unit" has been on AMD's roadmaps for over a year, but surprisingly few details have made it out into the news. To coincide with the International Solid-State Circuits Conference in San Francisco, however, AMD has taken the time to provide fresh technical details and pimp the new design. The folks at EE Times jotted down some of the information.
Llano will include four microprocessor cores, 4MB of L2 cache (1MB per CPU core), and a graphics core on a single die manufactured using GlobalFoundries' 32-nm silicon-on-insulator process. According to EE Times, the CPU cores will each take up 35 million transistors and 10 mm² of die area. Clock speeds will be upward of 3GHz, and supply voltage should fall in the 0.8-1.3 V range.
AMD will base Llano's cores on the same "Stars" architecture that powers today's Phenom IIs. Why not Bulldozer, AMD's next-generation architecture? When we asked the company that question last year, the company replied that it wanted to use a "well understood, existing core" as the basis for its first 32-nm APU. That decision mirrors Intel's "tick-tock" execution model, which involves transitioning to new process technologies using existing architectures to minimize implementation snags and delays.
Llano will tread new ground not just with its built-in GPU and 32-nm SOI silicon, but also with new power-management features that will allow each core to fit into 2.5-25W thermal envelopes, "depending on the performance demand." EE Times says those features will include core power gating, which allows each core to be shut off completely from the power supply; improved on-die temperature measurements; and a new clock grid design, which EE Times says "reduced the metal capacitance in the grid by more than 80% and reduced the number of final clock buffers by better than half."
AMD's latest desktop and mobile roadmaps place the arrival of Llano in 2011 as part of the Lynx and Sabine platforms. On the desktop, Lynx will succeed the existing Pisces and Kodiak platforms that combine Athlon II processors with AMD's 785G chipset. In the notebook market, meanwhile, Lynx will follow in the footsteps of last year's Tigris platform.
Correction: Judging by the AMD slides posted at Anandtech, Llano will have thermal envelopes of 2.5-25W per core, not for the whole chip as EE Times states.
|Corsair Lighting Node Pro brings light strip control to every PC||8|
|In the lab: Asus' Tinker Board SBC||14|
|In the lab: HyperX's Alloy FPS mechanical gaming keyboard||10|
|Team Group Cardea SSDs are ready to handle the heat||7|
|Gigabyte's Ryzen motherboards are home, home on the range||32|
|Zotac molds GTX 1050s into low-profile tiny terrors||7|
|TR forums spotlight: krazyredboy's crazy simulator PC||13|
|Deals of the week: a high-end Mini-ITX mobo, fast RAM, storage, and more||27|
|Steam Audio SDK promises better surround sound gratis||19|
|Best part of the article? We're flying home with Ryzen review samples as of this writing.||+44|


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We heard an acapella version of Kanye West’s/G.O.O.D. Music’s “New God Flow” on last night’s broadcast of the BET Awards, and earlier this evening the official version hit the Internet. It’s been a while since we’ve heard Pusha sound like this: he goes off and it’s most welcome. As for Kanye, well, his verse has already spawned thinkpieces. Hear “New God Flow” below and while we’re on the subject, watch Kanye’s erotic promo for Anja Rubik’s new fashion mag 25 at New York Magazine.
If that comes down you can stream at kanyewest.com.
G.O.O.D. Music’s Cruel Summer is out 8/7.


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Flexible card at Finnish Wärtsilä
Wärtsila is one of the world’s leading suppliers of technology for the marine and energy market. When they had to change their system for employee cards, they turned to SafeIT, one of Nexus’s retailers that have integrated Nexus solutions into their product portfolio.
“SafeIT supplies security systems and even integrates these at the client’s location. As part of our offerings we also have, among other things, systems with components from Nexus, such as card readers and employee cards”, says Harri Lotta, chief executive officer at SafeIT.
Wärtsilä is one of Finland’s largest employers, and the system change affects not only employees, but also the company’s many visitors. This also places a huge demand on function and quality.
“Nexus products are a critical part of the system that we sold to Wärtsilä. That we chose Nexus in particular has to do with the high quality of the products, but even also the rapid and good support that Nexus has to offer. All in all, this means that we can feel completely confident about the integration of the products into the solutions to our own customers”, Harri Lotta says, finally.


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Digital video revenues from the likes of Netflix, Sky, Amazon and Apple overtook DVD and Blu-ray disc sales for the first time in 2016.
Digital video revenues reached £1,309.3m in 2016, up an impressive 22.8%.
In contrast physical revenues were down 16.9% to £893.6m with both DVD and Blu-ray suffering double-digit declines.
The figures from the ERA (Entertainment Retailers Association) confirm that the video market is now a majority (58%) digital business.
The once dominant physical rental market has shrunk to £49.3m, down 21.2% year on year.
The biggest-selling video of the year was Star Wars: The Force Awakens with sales of 2.3m units.
The ERA said that booming digital services helped the music, video and games markets achieve new all-time record sales of £6.3bn in 2016, up 3% on the previous year – and over £1bn more than they were as recently as 2012.
Digital services account for 57% of music revenues and 74% of the games market.
ERA CEO Kim Bayley said, “The music, video and games industries were understandably nervous about the advent of new digital services, but these figures provide resounding evidence of the benefits of our members’ investment in innovation. To have added over £1bn in new revenues in just four years is an incredible achievement. To put it another way, take away today’s digital services and the entertainment market would be barely a third the size it is today.”
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IGT’s cashless solution is live in NSW across all 110 EGMs at Club York in Sydney’s CBD, as part of the state government’s trials – topical for all venue operators in relation to the cashless solution space and potential future regulatory requirements.
This locally developed solution is created on the back of already tested and proven IGT global product, providing IGT with a competitive advantage in having the right technology to develop a seamless solution that suits the Australian market requirements.
There are significant differences with IGT’s locally tailored solution, with the primary difference being one less step in the funding process than the existing international IGT Resort Wallet. “It is important to ensure that digital wallets work in a way Aussies are already used to,” said John van Waard IGT’s Director of Systems Product & Sales for AsiaPac. “And that is to replicate the payment process already in use on sports betting apps”.
At AGE the IGT Systems team will demonstrate the digital wallet sign-up journey including app download, one-step wallet deposit from a debit card, establishing harm minimisation parameters, tap on to play at the gaming machine and transferring funds between machines, and back to a bank account. This simple and intuitive digital wallet application provides flexibility to players and venues alike.
Visit the Systems Team on the IGT Stand at AGE to experience the cashless evolution and the latest ADVANTAGE CLUB system solutions.


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MONTGOMERY, Ala., June 1, 2018 –Production of the all-newly redesigned 2019 Santa Fe began today at Hyundai Motor Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA). During the balance of 2018, the plant plans to produce more than 84,000 of the Hyundai crossover vehicle to meet the growing demand in this popular segment. HMMA will continue to produce the popular Sonata and Elantra sedans.
“We’re thrilled about the design and technological features of this generation Santa Fe,” said Dong Ryeol Choi, president and CEO, HMMA. “This SUV features Forward Collision-avoidance Assist; Safe Exit Assist to warn drivers if a car is approaching when they exit the vehicle; and Rear Occupant Alert to remind drivers to check the rear seats when exiting the vehicle.”
President Choi added, “As we launch the new Santa Fe, take pride in every step of the production process – build each SUV as if it were your own. We must challenge ourselves to achieve the highest quality levels while producing the Santa Fe, Sonata and Elantra.”
HMMA’s nearly 3,000 Team Members and local dignitaries celebrated the official start of production with vehicle roll-off ceremony and parade lead by the 2019 Santa Fe throughout the Montgomery, Alabama plant.
Since late 2017, the plant has been coordinating retooling, robot programming and other logistical projects to prepare for start of production on June 1.
About Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA), headquartered in Montgomery, Ala., is an independent manufacturing operation of Hyundai Motor Company, based in Seoul, South Korea. HMMA currently produces the 2018 Sonata, 2018 Elantra sedans and the 2019 Santa Fe. HMMA can produce 400,000 vehicles annually. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed throughout North America, Canada, United States and Puerto Rico. In the United States, Hyundai vehicle sales are managed by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by over 800 Hyundai dealerships nationwide.
Additional information on Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama can be found on the Internet at: www.HMMAUSA.com
Cell (334) 296-3385


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Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has said it has sold more than two million smartphones in India in the third quarter that started in July and ended in September. This is the highest ever sales since the company started operations in the country.
The boost in sales is attributed to expansion in the offline market and new online partners, along with a large product portfolio and manufacturing capacity. Altogether these have led to a 150% growth in sales in the last quarter, when compared to the sales during the same quarter in 2015.
"We crossed two million plus sales in one quarter in the third quarter for the first time; compared with our performance last year, we have attained more than 150% growth year-on-year," Manu Jain, head of India operations, told the Economic Times.
"Mi India has been warmly welcomed by users, which is why we are one of the fastest growing brands in the smartphone industry today - one out of every four smartphones sold online was Xiaomi," he added.
According to IDC data, the highest sales have pushed the company to the fourth position with a 7.4% share in the smartphone market in India, falling just behind Micromax. The company's chief executive officer Lei Jun expects Xiaomi to become India's topmost smartphone brand within the next five years.
Xiaomi has been selling one million to 1.5 million smartphones every quarter in 2016. During the Diwali sales, for three days, the company sold 247,000 units through its online site and until 8 October, the overall sales crossed one million.
Alongside launching online stores, Xiaomi increased its reach through online retailers such as Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal, Paytm and Tata CLiQ, allowing consumers to buy phones. According to IDC, in the July to September period, Xiaomi was in the second position in online sales after Lenovo. The Redmi 3S and Redmi Note 3 have contributed significantly to the online smartphone market.


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Loykratong Pattaya QuietPattaya vendors found small group of customers during mourning period.
PATTAYA – November 14,2016 [PattayaDailyNews]; Pattaya journalists explored Jomtien beach on Loykratong day. The number of tourists are less compared with previous year.
Miss Malai Klinmee 72-year-old Kratong vendor revealed that Loykratong day is quite quiet this year. She believes that it is during mourning period.


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Bloomberg|Marissa Wollmann|2 Mar 31 00:19:16The number of edible oil companies operating in the US has been growing faster than other industries.
The number of the US edible oil industry has been increasing steadily from 7,000 to 16,000.
“It’s a very interesting time in the edible oil world, but the real opportunity is in the middle of the year,” said Mark Koehn, co-founder and CEO of the American Food Products Association.
The industry has seen a shift in the food industry, as consumers shift from meat and dairy to non-animal products, like vegetables, fruits and fruit juices.
But some edible oil products are more challenging than others, according to industry experts.
Koehn said it’s important for the edible oils industry to keep an eye on the climate.
“A lot of the things that we have learned from the past are still applicable,” Koehrn said.
An estimated 15 percent of US edible oils were grown on-site, up from 10 percent in 2015, according the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Koehns said this represents a shift from the previous agricultural system.
But the edible products industry is changing in other ways, too.
While the industry has long been focused on producing edible oils for use in food, Koehm said the edible companies have shifted focus from that to other products like cosmetics and food-related products.
In addition, the edible industry has had to adapt to climate-related changes.
There have been several cases of natural disasters and outbreaks of infectious diseases that have impacted edible oils.
“There are certain food-borne pathogens that are more persistent, more persistent and more virulent,” Kowhns added.
As a result, the industry is working to ensure products meet the strictest standards for environmental protection and quality.
“The edible oils we produce today are all designed to be food-safe,” Koeshn said.
Koehhn said the industry’s goal is to become more transparent about how it is using and disposing of edible oils and how that affects environmental quality.
“We want to be able to tell the whole story,” Kowehn said, adding that the industry will continue to work with federal and state governments on developing standards.


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With a device called ProCap, Bert Straus says he invented headgear that could reduce concussions in National Football League games. He never got the chance.
As his chartered Cessna flies above the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Katanga province, Mussadiq Hamid Merican flips through the pages of his Malaysian passport, counting Congolese visas.
Premier Foods Plc , the maker of Hovis breads, said it’s in advanced negotiations to sell its meat- substitute unit, which it may divest to reduce debt.
Premier Foods Plc , which makes Hovis bread, agreed to sell its canned-food business to Mitsubishi Corp.’s Princes unit for 182 million pounds ($294 million). The cash will be used to cut debt.
Premier Foods Plc, the British maker of Mr Kipling cakes, plans to raise 828 million pounds ($1.4 billion) by selling shares and bonds to refinance debt that once brought it close to collapse.


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The holiday shopping predictions are in.
Forester Research reports online retail sales this holiday season will reach US$27 billion in the United States alone. JupiterResearch is a little more optimistic, adding $5 billion to that cheery figure. Jupiter further predicts that a record 114 million users will buy online this holiday season.
Researchers agree that mullah galore will pour through the online channel this November and December (and even into January), but what are the key trends that will drive the revenues? Will retailers continue to push the last-minute shipping envelope? Will there be any shockers this holiday season? Industry analysts weigh in on the trends pushing the billions in the last two months of 2006.
“I think we’ll see the continued trend of people shopping a little bit later,” JupiterResearch Retail Analyst Patti Freeman Evans, told the E-Commerce Times. “Even though the ultimate peak might be around the 15th, we don’t expect to see a dramatic drop off during the following week.”
Jupiter’s research shows that nearly half of those surveyed were willing to purchase after the ground shipping cut-off dates, even if they have to pay for an upgraded shipping service. UPS and FedEx are the most trusted delivery services, Forrester surmised in its holiday shopping research report.
Evans hopes to see e-tailers post shipping cut-off dates earlier in the season so that shoppers can plan accordingly. Her studies show that shoppers want to know who can ship what and when, so they can make decisions about where to make the purchase.
The Time-Starved Consumer
The last-minute shopper ties into another trend: time-starved consumers. While price-driven consumers dominated the landscape of online retail for years (and are still a major driver this year), Forrester sees a more lucrative value proposition for online retail in making life easier for busy shoppers.
“There are four ways to shop online: go to a search engine, go to a marketplace, go directly to the Web store or go to a comparison shopping site,” Ken Powell, CEO of Marketworks, told the E-Commerce Times. “We are seeing a new generation of shoppers coming online now that may not go directly to Amazon.com to buy their books. E-tailers can’t rest on their laurels anymore.”
That new generation may be more likely to go to a comparison shopping site than straight to a Web store. These aggregate properties continue to make an impact because they offer convenience to the time-starved customer. In just a few clicks, shoppers can see the price and selection from several vendors and then choose the best deal.
Whether or not they visit comparison shopping sites, bargain-hunters may be pleasantly surprised this holiday shopping season as analysts expect e-tailers to introduce lower prices earlier in the game.
“Shoppers are getting savvy to the deal sites out there, such as Fatwallet.com. They are going there first before they start their online shopping,” Megan Howie, programming director for AOL Shopping, told the E-Commerce Times. “Price-sensitive shoppers will find deals this year.”
Leveraging Multiple Channels
Free shipping offers with minimum purchases will remain this year, though Evans expects more e-tailers that have a bricks-and-mortar presence to rely on multi-channel shopping.
“We’ll see a lot of promotions around the convenience of in-store pick up, which is a good thing for everybody,” she noted. “The retailers have a guaranteed sale and also drive more people into the store. The consumer is assured that the product that they are looking for is available and they can get it on time.”
The Web, however, offers one advantage that the bricks-and-mortar world does not — greater selection. Small businesses may have an advantage in the selection category, according to a Yahoo Small Business survey.
Three out of four holiday shoppers said they plan to shop for holiday gifts online, and 75 percent said they are likely to purchase gifts online from small businesses. Nearly a third of holiday shoppers said that they would do half or more of their holiday shopping online, and nearly two thirds said online specialty, “niche,” or boutique retailers are one of the “best places” to shop for unusual or hard-to-find gifts, according to the survey.
“Many consumers rely on small businesses that are online during the holiday shopping season because they offer variety, value and unique gifts that aren’t always available in stores,” said Rich Riley, vice president and general manager of Yahoo Small Business.
“The survey shows that shoppers have high expectations, but also high confidence in buying holiday gifts online with small businesses,” he added.
Looking for Ideas
Shoppers who are stumped will go online looking for gift ideas this shopping season, Howie predicted. She said clothing, accessories, digital cameras, cell phones and, of course, video game systems will be hot items this year.
In essence, this year is “more of the same” in the e-commerce realm. Many of the same trends, but much more activity online, and greater revenues across the board both during the peak season and after Jan. 1 when the frantic pace dies down.
“We’ll see a continued trend toward post-holiday purchasing which has been a trend offline as well,” Evans said. “A tremendous amount of business will occur from the week between Christmas and New Year’s and the first week or so of January.”
The take away is that e-commerce continues to grow exponentially. AOL drove a mere $1 billion in 1998 holiday sales. The entire 1999 holiday shopping season posted $7 billion, according to Jupiter. By 2011, online retail will comprise 9 percent of total retail sales for a whopping $270 billion.


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The New York Times is reporting this morning that Verizon is going to be launching their video streaming service at some point this week. It's said to be an over-the-top video streaming service and named "Go90". In fact, there is already a website set up for it. According to the NYT, the service will be free but ad-supported. The most interesting part of this is that it will be available for those that are not on Verizon. So if you're on Sprint, AT&T or T-Mobile, you'll still be able to use their service on your smartphone. Go90 is aimed at the 18-to-34-year-old demographic as well. Not too surprising, since they are the ones that are the biggest cord-cutters these days.
The report also states that Go90 will feature some live events as well as original web series and prime-time television. Instead of having a number of channels available on the service, Verizon will have popular shows from networks including Discovery, NFL Network, ESPN, Food Network and Comedy Central. The service is also going to be including popular online series from AwesomenessTV, Vice, Tastemade and Machinima. All part of that AOL acquisition that took place not too long ago.
In this day and age, you'd expect Twitter to have some part in this, and it does. According to the New York Times, Twitter and Facebook will be integrated into Go90. Where customers will be encouraged to share video clips on both social media networks. There are also plans to expand that to more social media networks in the future (hello Google+?). The New York Times also stated that Verizon is thinking about expanding the service to televisions, but for now the company is content on keeping it as a mobile-only platform. But as things often do, that could change.
We've been hearing about Verizon's video streaming service for quite some time now. The rumor mill only got stronger when they bought AOL earlier this year. Many thought AOL was gone, but they actually own a few websites named Tech Crunch, HuffingtonPost and a few others. So it was a big acquisition to get Go90 on their feet and running.


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Microsoft and Toyota have announced plans to work together to bring internet services to Toyota vehicles.
The world's biggest carmaker and the world's biggest software company are investing $12m (£7.3m) in Toyota Media Services, a Toyota unit which handles digital information services.
The aim is to provide features like GPS, power-management and multimedia services.
Toyota's 2012 hybrid vehicles will be the first to get the services.
The carmaker hopes to be able to offer them to customers worldwide by 2015.
The services will use Microsoft's "cloud computing" - the remote storage and handling of data - system called Azure.
"This new partnership between Microsoft and Toyota is an important step in developing greater future mobility and energy management for consumers around the world," Toyota president Akio Toyoda said.
Microsoft has been involved in the auto industry for several years but has so far focused on working with Ford.
It designed Ford's Sync entertainment system, which was rolled out in 2007 and allows drivers to make phone calls, listen to text messages and use GPS.


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Kameel Srouji has New Dishes Commissioned by Walmart
From the venue:
Aviva by Kameel's Chef Kameel Srouji is one of nine chefs nationally by Walmart to take part in Rediscovering America . From now to October 2, Atlanta residents can get a special taste of Walmart’s produce in Chef Srouji’s dishes—Mmjadara, Vegetarian Gluten Free Pasta, and Sweet Sauteed Cabbage—at Aviva By Kameel.
The retailer is also awarding ten, $10,000 scholarships to female chefs and chefs of color across the country through the James Beard Foundation.


text: Nike has combined technology and the traditional sneaker to revolutionize the sneaker with its latest technology of self-lacing. Nike has said that they are working on enhancements to make the process even more automatic over time, but for now the first when place your foot in the sneaker the heel will hit a sensor that automatically tightens your laces. There are two buttons on the side of the show to tighten and loosen to adjust the fit. The collection will be called HyperAdapt 1.0 and will be hitting stores in time for this years holiday season. I can just imagine that these will be sold out in minutes.


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Last month, the CFPB delivered preliminary results of a study into the use of arbitration clauses in consumer products. The study is mandated by Dodd-Frank and began in April of 2012. Final results are to be delivered to Congress. The full report is available here.
Although the CFPB stated that there is more analysis to be done and the preliminary results are not necessarily indicative of their ultimate determination, the data presented may indicate a preference for class action litigation over the use of the Federal Arbitration Act. Dodd-Frank authorizes the CFPB to limit or even prohibit arbitration clauses if it determines such action is in the public interest.
The CFPB researched the use of arbitration clauses connected to consumer credit cards, checking accounts, payday loans and reloadable pre-paid cards offered by 27 lenders across the 30 most populous counties in the nation. Although the report estimates that there are 160 million credit card holders, 105 million households with checking accounts, and 2 million households that use payday loans annually, the CFPB identified just 1,241 arbitration filings (1,033 credit card disputes, 71 checking account disputes and 137 payday loan disputes) to form the basis of its preliminary conclusions. The report admits that “the number of arbitrations was low relative to the total populations using these products.”
The findings present some interesting information on arbitration clauses. In the credit card market, larger bank issuers are more likely to include arbitration clauses than smaller bank issuers and credit unions. As a result, while most issuers do not include such clauses in their consumer credit card contracts, just over 50 percent of credit card loans outstanding are governed by them. There was a similar concentration of arbitration clauses used by larger banks in the checking account market where only 8 percent of lenders required them but that accounted for approximately 44 percent of all checking consumers. Eighty-one percent of pre-paid credit cards had arbitration clauses. An estimated 72 percent of all consumer arbitration filings were initiated by the consumer.
Turning to the clauses themselves, the CFPB noted that nearly every one included a provision forbidding consumer participation in a class action. Citing the American Arbitration Association, the report states that there is an average of only 415 arbitration actions filed annually across all four markets. In only 53 percent of the cited arbitration claims was the consumer represented by an attorney, whereas the lender had legal representation in almost every case.
The relatively low number of arbitration filings seems to suggest to the CFPB that arbitration clauses are not the best means of securing the rights of consumers. The report found arbitration clauses to be more problematic for consumers in a number of ways, including a short time frame for filing, added expense, inconvenient locations and rules about confidentiality and disclosure. The report cited a low opt-out rate for class action settlements as an indication of consumer preference for that avenue.


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AB INBEV has sold SABMiller’s stake in China Resources Snow Breweries (CR Snow) to its joint venture partner in the company, China Resources Beer (Holdings) (CRB), for US$1.6bn.
CR Snow is headquartered in Beijing and brews several brands of beer, including the world’s biggest-selling beer, Snow, as well as Blue Sword, Huadan and Shenyang. CRB has the majority 51% stake in the company, while SAB Miller owns 49%. The deal has been approved by the CRB board and the majority shareholder, so no further shareholder meetings will be necessary.
The sale is part of ongoing divestments both AB InBev and SABMiller are making as part of efforts to address regulatory concerns regarding their £71bn (US$108bn) merger announced in November 2011. Last month, SABMiller announced it had sold Peroni and Grolsch to Asahi for just under US$3bn.
The completion of the sale is dependent of the merger of AB InBev and SABMiller receiving regulatory approval and will conclude at the same time. CR Snow will then become a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRB.
Catch up on the latest news, views and jobs from The Chemical Engineer. Below are the four latest issues. View a wider selection of the archive from within the Magazine section of this site.


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ALTHOUGH the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has not implemented its directive on vessel diversion to eastern ports, some people seems to have proffer solution on the good side stressing that vessel diversion will promote efficiency, reduce vessel waiting time and this had been described as a positive development which in the long run will engender cost efficiency and timely release of cargo at the ports.
It will be recalled that recently the NPA stated that vessels which have waited to berth at any terminal within the Lagos Pilotage District will be diverted to other terminals with capacity to berth vesels within the district. It also added that in the event that all terminals in Lagos cannot discharge any veesels within four days, such vessels will be diverted to the Easter Ports (other pilotage districts) for immediate berthing.
Speaking to National Daily correspondent, Mr. Abdulazeez Babatunde, Managing Director, Mickey Excellency Nigeria Limited, said the plan was a positive one and charged NPA to implement the diversion fully since ports in Lagos could not deliver efficient and cost effective ports handling operations.
Mr. Babatunde who is also the National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, (ANLCA) added the looming congestion in the ports was occasioned by shipping companies and terminals operations for their refusal to grant waivers to importers and customs agents on cargo in their possession.
He maintained that if shipping companies and terminal operators could grant waivers, it would spur quick clearance of overtime cargo in their terminals.
“It is very well, if the Western ports cannot deliver on core mandates of efficient and cost efficient ports handling operations, then NPA should do the needful by implementing this new model to the letter which is cost effective in the long run.
Moreover, both shipping companies and terminal operators are not ready to grant waiver as cost benefit to importers, Babatunde stressed.
However, NPA said the decision was taken to promote the Ease of Doing Business Policy of the federal government and curtail the negative economic impact, that the long run turn-around-time of vessels has on stakeholders.
It added that it will liaise with other relevant government agencies on behalf of stakeholders to expedite the clearance of vessels and cargoes where necessary.


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With self-driving cars already making their way to the road in a test capacity and flying cars completing successful flights, a new prototype unveiled at the CeBit computer-electronics show in Hanover, Germany, in March is setting out to test other new technologies, especially those involving design flexibility.
As CNET pointed out, the "EO Smart Connecting Car," designed by the Robotics Innovation Center at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), and is so flexible it can turn its wheels in a perpendicular fashion to allow it to travel side-to-side. In the future, it will even lengthen to allow for more passengers.
But CNET reports that's not all:
More dramatic, though, is that the car is designed to link up with an as-yet-unbuilt second model while both vehicles are being driven.
"The goal is coupling while in motion to demonstrate the validity of the concept," said project researcher Martin Schroer.
What Schroer is describing is what CNET puts as building a "platoon" or "train" of cars. The benefit of linking up in this fashion would be to recharge the batteries of the all-electric car while still in motion.
Check out CNET's footage of the car at CeBIT in March:
Here is the concept video of the EO -- Latin for "I go" -- by the Robotics Innovation Center lead by Prof. Dr. Frank Kirchner at DFKI:
More recently, USA Today reported a DFKI researcher describing the car as "half-robot, half car." While this vehicle is not yet street ready, in a few years it could be using camera, laser and remote-control technology to cart passengers around in both cross-country and inner city situations.
The goal of having a morphologically flexible design, according to the project website, is to allow the car to "adapt to practically all driving situations possible."


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Maruti Suzuki Commercial Showroom opens in Gurgaon; it will be followed by another dealership in Faridabad
Maruti Suzuki has commenced operations of its new commercial showroom in Gurgaon, Haryana. Back in August, we revealed details about the CV dealerships Maruti Suzuki were planning and already there have been three other similar outlets established in Ludhiana, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
The commercial showroom in Gurgaon is the fourth of its kind to be set up in the country with a new corporate identity and it will showcase and retail the Super Carry LCV launched at the end of July this year. Mainstream auto manufacturers like Tata Motors and Mahindra have significant presence in the commercial vehicle segment for years now.
Also Read: Exclusive: First Look at Maruti Suzuki Commercial Showroom; 5 Products in Planning
Maruti Suzuki’s entry into the LCV space has started to heat up further as another brand commercial vehicle outlet will be opened shortly in Faridabad, Haryana. The Indo-Japanese brand’s car division has two kinds of sales network. One for regular line of cars and the other is Nexa for premium branded vehicles.
While S-Cross kicked things off for Nexa, Baleno has become the volume turner for the brand and it is likely to be accompanied by the upcoming Ignis micro-SUV, Ciaz Facelift and Baleno RS next year. As identical to the Nexa being crowded with new products, the commercial showrooms are expected to feature Eeco Flexi, Omni Flexi and the Dzire Tour soon as well.
Also Read: Upcoming Cars in India by 2016-17
Maruti Suzuki has already become the only automaker to have established three different kinds of sales outlet, besides Truevalue, in the entire industry. The Super Carry has seen an investment of Rs. 300 crore in a hope that it will sweep sales volume.
It gets power from a 792 cc two-cylinder diesel engine, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. It is the same unit found in the engine bay Celerio but de-tuned to produce 32 bhp peak power at 3,500 rpm and 75 Nm of peak torque at 2,000 rpm. The LCV returns a claimed 22.07 kmpl of fuel economy and the top speed is rated at 80 kmph.


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Data show solid 11- month results for poultry, eggs
January 13, 2020
A strong November made for a solid first 11 months of 2019 for exports.
U.S. turkey and broiler exports gained in both volume and value, while egg exports increased in volume for January through November 2019, according to new trade data released by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.
Cumulative turkey exports for January through November 2019 increased by 5.6 percent in volume and 9.2 percent in value, while broiler exports increased slightly in both volume and value.
Egg exports (table eggs plus egg products in shell egg equivalent) rose 1.1 percent in volume although they were down 11.5 percent in value.
Broiler exports for in January- November 2019 were 3,124,900 metric tons, up 0.6 percent from the same period of last year, while export value was $3.176 billion, up slightly or 0.03 percent.
See more information in the Jan. 13 edition of MondayLine.


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- The gongs of Behmai: 35 years on, will justice be served?
- Mann Ki Baat: Start-up India to crop insurance, here's all that Modi said
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The robust IIP numbers are a surprise, but a turnaround cannot be confirmed yet
Next Tuesday, will the RBI take a cue from the suddenly robust industrial production numbers and go for a rate cut? Will the numbers undergo a drastic downward revision next month and if so, would the GDP growth rate projections for the year begin to look conservative again? Most critically, do the trends encourage companies to begin investing again in greenfield projects, or will they wait for cues from the next budget? None of these questions were answered by the industrial output data released by the Central Statistics Office for October. The numbers surprised on the upside, coming in at 8.2 per cent ó almost double the 4.5 per cent estimated in a Reuters poll. Within manufacturing, all the segments showed improvement, with capital goods production showing the most impressive turnaround. The numbers, which had averaged a minus 13.7 per cent till the end of September, have grown to a positive 7.5 per cent in October. If the trend persists, the economy should be heading towards a strong recovery in the second half of the year. Allied with the impressive recovery in consumer durables (cars, washing machines), the Indian economy would seem to have kicked off the sloth. The actual figures for car sales in October support these numbers. Sales were at a 22-month high.
The discordant notes in the data are the low base from last October, which makes the recovery look impressive, the re-emergence of a slide in November and inflation. Car sales in November dipped by 8.25 per cent; fortnightly credit figures from the banking sector have also fallen. The general consumer price index in November has almost touched double digits from 9.75 per cent in October. It would seem that even the slightest sign of growth returning to the economy has spurred inflation. Worse, inflation is now clearly higher in rural India than in urban areas. Partly, this reflects the rising purchasing power in villages, but given the greater difficulty of organising the food logistics chain beyond the cities, the challenges of income security become higher.
- China is not India’s sibling, nor is China India’s nemesis
- Bureaucrats are an obstacle in path of ‘parivartan’, ‘vikas’
- Out of my mind: Netaji will always remain a promise never fulfilled
- Reverse Swing: A Manifesto for Middle-Eastern Migrants in Europe
- Equality before law must be accompanied by equality in social practices
- Indian policymakers underestimate problems emanating from emerging economies


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March 22, 2022
Acclaimed Detroit Restaurants Make Tennessee Debut at Capitol View
Joe Muer Seafood and Andiamo Presto, two concepts owned by the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, are set to open their first Tennessee locations in January 2023 at Capitol View, the mixed-use urban district in downtown Nashville, developed by Boyle Investment Company.
Joe Muer Seafood, an iconic Detroit staple, and Andiamo Presto, a new casual concept from the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, will have separate, unique dining rooms and patios but share a kitchen in the 12,000 square-foot restaurant space.
Both restaurants will be located at the 500 11th Ave. North Block building home to HealthStream, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. The award-winning Joe Vicari Restaurant Group has been based in Metro Detroit for over 30 years, and the expansion to Nashville is the brand’s first move into the Tennessee market.
Joe Muer Seafood, a staple in Detroit since 1929, will offer an upscale dining experience serving fresh seafood, premium aged meats, free-range hormone-free chicken, and an award-winning wine list. Andiamo Presto, a new take on the classic Andiamo Italia restaurant, will feature a relaxed, casual atmosphere paired with the handmade pasta, soups, and salads for which the brand is known.
“We felt it was time to take our ideas, concepts, and menu items and expand them outside of Michigan,” said Joe Vicari, president of the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group. “It’s a big step; but we are excited to be doing so in Nashville, which has shown extraordinary growth over the years and has the demographics to support the concepts for our restaurant brands. Capitol View checked all the boxes of downtown access with a true neighborhood feeling. We look forward to serving the Nashville market an exemplary dining experience complete with exceptional food and drink choices in a gorgeous ambiance.”
The district, which is easily accessible from the downtown core and the surrounding Nashville neighborhoods, has been the location of choice for many first-to-market brands, including VICI, Condado Tacos, VSL Nails, Central BBQ, and the addition of Joe Muer Seafood and Andiamo Presto.
“We’re excited for Nashville to get to experience the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group,” said Mark Traylor, partner at Boyle Investment Company. “Their ability to weather the COVID storm shows their acumen and prowess as restaurateurs, and we’re proud that they chose Capitol View for their expansion. The combination of classic Nashville staples and highly successful brands from other markets opening their first locations in Nashville makes the Capitol View project unique.”
Joe Muer Seafood and Andiamo Presto will join tenants including M.L.Rose, SVM Boutique, Starbucks, Clean Juice, Pokéworks, Jón Alan Salon, Sercy + Co., Club Pilates, Massage LuXe, drybar, and HOTBOX.
Quote: “Capitol View checked all the boxes of downtown access with a true neighborhood feeling. We look forward to serving the Nashville market an exemplary dining experience complete with exceptional food and drink choices in a gorgeous ambiance,” said Joe Vicari, president of the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group.


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Bike Events in Saalfelden Leogang
Fore 2021 a number of event highlights are also on the programme. The Mercedes Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will start in June. This year, two disciplines will be held in the EPIC Bikepark Leogang. From 11-13 June 2021, the world's best riders will give their best in exciting downhill and cross country competitions. But that's not all: the weekend of 10-12 September 2021 will once again be dedicated to the Continental BIKE Festival Saalfelden Leogang, where you can already test the products for 2022.


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Join India’s festival of giving from October 2nd to 8th along as celebrities and citizens come together to bring a change
New Delhi – Daan Utsav, India’s festival of giving, is celebrating 10 years of bringing joy in giving from October 2 – October 8, 2018. The festival has become the biggest platform for philanthropy across India with many NGOs, corporates, schools, colleges, communities and celebrities associating to make it a bigger success. From CXOs to homemakers, vegetable vendors to designers and schoolchildren to company employees– this is a people’s movement to offer their time, skills, money, etc. for social good. The 2017 edition of the festival saw more than 6 million people from over 200 towns, cities and villages across the country celebrating the festival.
|10th year of Daan Utsav
· Mumbai: Art Pathshala for children of BMC schools
· New Delhi: Book Donation Drive
· Chennai: ‘Thank You’ meal for sanitation and conservancy workers
· Bangluru: Create 100 childrens’ playground
· Kolkata: Pujor Jama
Driven entirely by volunteers, the 10th edition is gearing up for a range of interesting, large scale initiatives across the country. In Mumbai, more than 20,000 volunteers will conduct an Art Pathshala for children of BMC schools on October 6, teaching them the art of making paper bags and conserving the environment. Chennai will see thousands of citizens coming together to provide sanitation and conservancy workers a sumptuous “thank you” meal on October 2. Bangalore will get together to create 100 children’s playgrounds in different parts of the city during the Week. A Book Donation Drive in Delhi will help ensure that books reach those in need at the earliest. In Kolkata, Pujor Jama will see thousands of new clothes being donated to children in need.
Events are planned across the length and breadth of the country, not just in the major metros but even in small towns, like Tilonia and Assagao in the West, parts of Tripura in the East, Nainital in the North and in the porta-cabin schools of several naxal-affected districts of Chattisgarh. Villages across Odisha will once again organise a series of Seva Mahotsavs, involving thousands of villagers.
Most large scale national events will continue to happen this year too. Across over 20 cities in the country, the Goonj #DaanUtsav Buses will travel through the city, enabling people to donate stationery, toys, clothes and other material. Hundreds of IOC petrol pumps in multiple cities will become venues for non-profits to showcase their work and seek support. And with the “digital era” upon us, online platforms will not be far behind, as people can make donations across various e-commerce and online grocery platforms, travel portals, cab aggregators and food delivery services.
#GivingTuesdayIndia will be celebrated on October 2 and expects to see over Rs15crore raised through online challenges and crowdfunding campaigns this year. Platforms like Danamojo, SmallChange, GivNow, Donatekart, Letzchange, GlobalGiving and several others will offer matching and challenge grants. The NPCI will promote giving via UPI to 500+ NGOs, while the IamHere app will allow 8700+ nonprofits to create engagement opportunities for the public.
The 10th year celebrations have a special logo. Rapper Big Deal alias Samir Mohanty has created a special #DaanUtsav rap, while Aman Shahpuri from Lucknow has composed a soulful song about giving to commemorate the 10th year.
Sharing and giving, brings smiles and happiness not only to the receiver but also to the giver – so let’s celebrate and encourage the spirit of giving with Daan Utsav. Gifting a small sandwich to the hungry child sitting on the streets, or teaching slum children can bring a smile or a real and long-lasting change. The idea of this movement is to create a culture of social commitment among individuals and institutions alike in making differences in the lives of the less privileged with all our support.


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Plastic pollution has been an environmental problem for decades. However, the Novel Coronavirus pandemic has caused a massive surge in the volumes of plastic waste generated. Reportedly, about 50% of all plastic is used only once and then discarded to land in canals, rivers, and oceans. Some of it goes to landfills, but wherever it lands, plastic takes centuries to decompose. Each year Americans produce over 233 pounds per person, of which only about 20% goes for recycling.
Plastic pollution — a global enemy
Although plastic breaks down into smaller pieces, it never goes away. A vast amount of it lands in our oceans where it entangles and often kills sea life. An image of a sea turtle with a drinking straw up its nose went viral on the internet. Countries, local governments and companies promised to take steps to reduce plastic use. Stores started charging for plastic carrier bags and encouraged consumers to bring their own cloth bags.
New York passed a ban on plastic carrier bags to start in May. However, before it could become effective, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant increase in single-use plastics. France is the only country to order a ban on single-use plastic cutlery as of January 2020.
The impact of COVID-19 on plastic pollution
The pandemic caused a change in priorities, and the use of more single-use plastics surged. The fear of spreading the Novel Coronavirus caused a new ban on personal cloth shopping bags in many stores. Take-outs increased during the lockdown, causing a massive increase in consumers’ collections of plastic utensils and polystyrene containers. Therefore, New York and several other states put their bans on plastic on the back burner.
Drawers of shame
A survey shows that the number of take-outs in May was 26% more than in March. In addition, it shows that 44% of adults nationwide used take-outs and food delivery services in May. As a result, almost every American household has a drawer of shame, filled with plastic cutlery and sauce sachets.
Can the nudge theory limit plastic pollution?
Advocates for change suggest the nudge theory may resolve this issue. This will change the default by which restaurants assume that every customer needs plastic cutlery. Instead, they must make it optional and ask customers whether they need plastics with their orders. Encouraging consumers to make that decision might create awareness of the plastic pollution problem. After all, during the quarantine, most people eat their take-outs at home, using their own cutlery.
A behavioral economist says food delivery services can use the same nudging. Their apps can include the facility for clients to choose whether they need plasticware with their orders. He says Grubhub has almost 24million active diners. If only 50% of those diners decline plasticware, about 12 million utensil sets will not land in kitchen drawers.
Nudging could form part of the new normal
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many ways. Every restaurant that does not provide plastic utensils by default will contribute to the worldwide effort to prevent climate change. Similarly, each consumer who says “no thanks” for plasticware will support the nudge theory.


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Businesses seeking to leverage their environmentally-friendly initiatives and products will find the ideal target market at their local state parks, according to a five-year study on state park visitors.
Conducted by the Government Solutions Group (GSG), a marketing agency that facilitates cause-related marketing partnerships between corporations and state parks, the research also reveals that these consumers purchase organic food twice as often as the rest of the U.S., and 61 percent make purchasing decisions based on a product or a company’s environmental impact compared to 23 percent of the general population.
Dubbed “America’s Backyard,” U.S. state parks draw repeat visitors within local driving distances, to use the parks as an extension of their own backyards to hike, bike, run, camp and fish, said GSG. The research finds that state park visitation is on the rise across the country, with 730 million total state park visits in 2008, showing a 5 percent increase over the previous year.
As a result, green marketers looking for loyal consumers can find their target market of high-income, highly educated consumers who care about the environment at their local state parks.
The report reveals that 61 percent of state park visitors make buying decisions based on a product/company’s environmental impact compared to 23 percent of the general population. When purchasing an automobile, 29 percent consider the environmental and social policies of the manufacturer in their decision versus 15 percent of the general population.
State park visitors also rank environmental issues “very important,” over 2.5 times more than the general population.
GSG creates cause marketing programs on behalf of state park agencies. One of GSG’s most recent projects — “2009 20% For Parks” program has gained support from several big brand companies including Odwalla, Geico, Nestle Beverage, General Mills, Dasani, Subaru, and Sports Authority. The program is designed to help companies support state parks nationwide, while connecting consumers to their environmentally conscious brands.


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Home Tags Middle-class
AFRICANGLOBE - In 1999 Sudan began exporting oil. A decade-long economic boom transformed Khartoum and Sudan as a whole – and vastly expanded the size of the middle class. Businessmen, property developers and contractors in the oil industry joined doctors and engineers (both particularly highly regarded in Sudanese society) in the swelling ranks of the reasonably well-off.
AFRICANGLOBE - The rise in Africa’s middle class has been over-hyped in recent years, but it is still a genuine phenomenon that is generating huge commercial and political opportunities, a new study says.
AFRICANGLOBE - Two years ago the African Development Bank estimated that Africa’s middle class reached nearly 350 million in 2010, amounting to a third of the continent’s population, or about the same size as its Chinese and Indian counterparts. That figure compares with about 126 million, or 27 per cent, of the population in 1980.
AFRICANGLOBE - Many of the people who go around talking about President Obama hasn’t done anything for the poor and middle class generally break...
A rainbow nation of shoppers poured through the racks of fashion giant Zara's brand new store, its first in South Africa, where the Spanish chain hopes to tap an increasingly diverse middle class. With deliveries from Spain twice a week, the low-price retailer opened the store in November in a posh shopping mall in South Africa's commercial hub, Johannesburg, where officials are already smiling over the response.
Don Buckley lost his job driving a Chicago Transit Authority bus almost two years ago and has been looking for work ever since, even as other municipal bus drivers around the country are being laid off. At 34, Mr. Buckley, his two daughters and his fiancée have moved into the basement of his mother’s house. He has had to delay his marriage, and his entire savings, $27,000, is gone. “I was the kind of person who put away for a rainy day,” he said recently. “It’s flooding now.”
A new detailed survey and report on Nigeria's expanding middle class, issued by the leading emerging markets investment bank, Renaissance Capital, has portrayed Nigeria as a nation that is optimistic about economic growth, values entrepreneurship and is well positioned to capitalise on a boom in consumption.


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UK: Diageo "reticent" over Twitter use for marketing
Diageo has been "reticent" over its use of Twitter as a marketing tool
Diageo is "reticent" over fully embracing Twitter as a marketing tool until the social media site has introduced age-gating, it revealed today (May 14).
Fennell revealed he had met with Twitter representatives in recent weeks about the issue but did not elaborate on the result of those talks.
Diageo currently has “community managers” who are monitoring Twitter and Facebook, Fennell said. A number of its key brands, such as Guinness and Smirnoff, have Twitter feeds, but stress users must be over legal drinking age.
The company's recent experience of Twitter has not been a happy one. It was targeted by users last week after an employee is alleged to have intervened to prevent Scottish craft brewer, BrewDog, from winning an industry award. News of the episode prompted a huge backlash on the social media site.
Meanwhile, Fennell said the company would continue its marketing focus on the over-50s, as it is a group that has been “historically ignored” by marketeers.
“Over-50s are discerning and experimental and they have the disposable income to treat themselves,” he said. The company pointed to the use of stars such as George Clooney and Denzel Washington in advertising campaigns as ways it is targeting this group.
Marketing to women has also been stepped up with the use of Christina Hendricks in a Johnnie Walker campaign. “We are changing our media targets as we think there are material opportunities for us,” said Fennell. This also includes a focus on the US's "multicultural population", the company said.
The company currently spends 20% of its GBP1.7bn (US$2.74bn) global marketing budget on social media, with the rest on traditional media, according to Fennell.
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- Diageo appoints head for Asia marketing unit
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- Second senior exec to depart Bacardi
- AG Barr poaches Diageo exec to be FD


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When Rihanna disappeared from Instagram in April, people replaced her with someone that look just like her. Meet 22-year old Andele Lara from Boston, Massachusetts who look strikingly similar to Bajan star, Rihanna.
Andele states that she is approached by screaming fans, has a huge social media, companies pay her thousand to endorse their products, landed clothing contracts last year and now plans to become a professional Rihanna look alike...
She`s often mistaken for the singer in public and is swarmed by fans - it`s a tough life.
The lucky student is funding a lavish lifestyle by looking like Rihanna, with brands paying her thousands to endorse their products including trainers, mascara and hair accessories.
Lara told the Daily Mail: The comments started in my sophomore year. My friend had a magazine with Rihanna on the cover. He held it up to my face and was like, You look like her!`
She also said that she`d happily give up her part-time job and studies to have a career as a Rihanna lookalike.
Just for the record, this is the real Rihanna.
And this is Andele, again. Compare and contrast...


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In a small number of the tires being recalled, Toyo Tire Canada said, production variances in the belt package during the relevant production periods may have created conditions that may put undue stress on the belt edge, potentially contributing to separation of the belts.
Drivers may experience vibration or uneven tire wear during early stages of separation, the company said. If undetected, this condition potentially may contribute to a tread/belt separation and/or loss of inflation pressure, which may increase the risk of tire failure and a vehicle crash.
The tires were manufactured at Toyo plants in Sendai and Kuwana, Japan, which have the U.S. Department of Transportation ID codes of CX and N3, respectively. The Toyo-brand tires were produced from November 2008 through June 2013 and the Nittos from May 2007 through April 2012.
Owners of affected tires should return to their tire dealer as soon as possible for free replacement tires, Toyo Tire Canada said. Assistance also is available by phone at 877-682-8696 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.
Additional information, including a list of authorized dealers and how to read a tire sidewall, can be found on the respective Toyo and Nitto tire brand websites.
The tires being recalled are:
Toyo Open Country H/T with Tuff Duty:
- Size LT235/85R16 120Q E/10 — DOT CX 9JF41 5108 through CX 9JF41 4211 and N3 9JF41 2010 through N3 9JF41 2713;
- Size LT245/75R16 120R E/10 — DOT CX A3F1E 4408 through CX A3F1E 4211 and DOT N3 A3F1E 2310 through N3 A3F1E 2513;
- Size LT265/75R16 123Q E/10 — DOT CX LTF31 4908 through CX LTF31 4211 and DOT N3 LTF31 4210 through N3 LTF31 1012;
- Size LT285/75R16 126Q E/10 — DOT CX LFF42 5108 through CX LFF42 4211;
- Size LT265/70R17 121R E/10 — DOT CX 7KF43 0109 through CX 7KF43 4211 and DOT N3 7KF43 4710 through DOT N3 7KF43 0812;
- Size LT225/75R17 116Q E/10 — DOT CX DXKAM 0210 through CX DXKAM 1112; and
- Size LT235/80R17 120R E/10 — DOT CX A0LCC 2111 through CX A0LCC 4411.
The Nitto Dura Grappler Highway Terrain:
- Size LT275/65R18 123Q E/10 — DOT CX BWEAW 3307 through CX BWEAW 4211;
- Size LT265/70R17 121Q E/10 — DOT CX 7KEFA 2907 through CX 7KEFA 4211 and DOT N3 7KEFA 4710 through DOT N3 7KEFA 2012;
- Size LT265/75R16 123Q E/10 — DOT CX LTEAW 2207 through CX LTEAW 4211 and DOT N3 LTEAW 4610 through N3 LTEAW 0912; and
- Size LT245/75R17 121Q E/10 — DOT CX BXEFA 2507 through CX BXEFA 4211 and DOT N3 BXEFA 4310 through DOT N3 BXEFA 1812.