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Intel unveils new Pentium III, its fastest chip ever
February 17, 1999
From Correspondent Don Knapp
SAN JOSE, California (CNN) --- With smoke, music and a great deal of hoopla, Intel unveiled Wednesday the fastest computer chip that it has ever built -- the 550-megahertz Pentium III.
"What you'll see is a much richer involvement of data (and) information coming to you on the Internet," said Craig Barrett, Intel's chief executive officer. "This chip was designed to improve multimedia performance."
Intel promises that the new chip will provide more realistic games, better speech recognition, Internet images that viewers can grasp and turn over, and smooth video that's more like TV.
However, the promised benefits come only with new programs designed to take advantage of the Pentium III's speed and efficiency.
"What Intel hopes it will do is attract consumers and commercial buyers back to a more expensive PC, so they can sell their higher-end processors," says industry analyst Van Baker of Dataquest.
Helping Intel's strategy is the huge success and appeal of the Internet, which becomes easier to use with faster chips. But Intel is not the only chip company going after that market.
AMD, which has been eating away at Intel's market share with low-priced chips, is now going after the higher-end market as well, which could be good news for consumers.
"There will be a combination of prices dropping as well as performance escalating," said Atiq Raza, chief operating officer of AMD.
But one feature built into Intel's new chip is drawing flack from privacy advocates -- it contains a distinct serial number that others may be able to track. However, Intel's Mike Aymar insists customers will still be in control.
"This serial number is not automatically broadcast. It is not automatically available," Aymar says. "It is only available if a consumer allows it to be available."
Game developers rally behind the AMD-K6
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Couple sue Posh
by JAMES MILLS, Daily Mail
They allege that Posh Spice flew into a rage in their memorabilia shop claiming that autographed photos of her England football captain husband David were fakes.
The altercation, during which she was said to have screamed abuse, made headlines in March.
Since then, Timothy and Glynis McManus claim their shop, GT Recollections, has seen a sharp decline in trade as suspicious customers are reluctant to buy their goods.
The couple have issued a writ accusing the star of slander and malicious falsehood.
Mr McManus said last night: 'It has had a devastating effect on the business and my family. We are close to going out of business.'
Mrs Beckham was reported to have visited the shop at the Bluewater Shopping Centre, in Kent, with her mother Jackie and son Brooklyn after spotting signed photographs of her husband in the window.
But when she examined the £65 framed pictures closely she claimed the autographs were forgeries.
The shop assistant was then subjected to a tirade from the 26-year-old singer when he assured her they were genuine and had been bought from a reputable collector.
She was reported to have told other shoppers not to buy them and added: 'It's so unfair on parents who spend a lot of money buying these for their children, and they're not the real thing.'
Mr McManus, 48, claims sales have dropped dramatically since the accusations. He said: 'The whole episode has brought the shop to its knees. Our life savings are tied up in the shop and if that goes we have no livelihood.'
Mr McManus, who started his business four years ago, said he had tried to resolve the problem by taking the offending photo from the display.
'I wanted to resolve all this in a respectful and friendly atmosphere. But she was far from friendly and respectful.
'I am suing to compensate for the loss of business, but more importantly to let our customers know that what she said was false.'
Last night a close friend of the star said she had acted in good faith in informing the shop owners that she believed the autographs were not genuine.
'She was concerned that children would be paying for something that was not real,' the friend said.
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Redbox Files Lawsuit Against DVDXpress3 Aug, 2017 By: Erik Gruenwedel
Redbox has filed a lawsuit against kiosk operator DVDXpress, alleging the rental service is illegally using its federally registered red kiosks and false release window from studios, among other issues.
The suit, filed July 31 in U.S. District Court in Chicago, alleges DVDXpress redesigned its kiosks to unlawfully copy Redbox’s distinctive “red” color.
The suit claims the redesigned, red kiosks are confusingly similar to Redbox’s. It also claims DVDXpress advertises the availability of new-release movies 28 days before Redbox, which is inaccurate.
In addition to unspecified fiscal damages and a “disgorgement” of profits, Redbox is seeking a court injunction prohibiting DVDXpress from further infringing upon its trademark and trade dress.
It also asks that DVDXpress change the exterior of its kiosks; remove and destroy all false advertising; be prevented from engaging in additional false advertising; and required to issue corrective advertising.
Notably, DVDXpress, which was co-founded by Greg Meyer in 2001 and acquired by Redbox’s former corporate parent Coinstar in 2007, was reportedly spun off as a separate entity thereafter. A private equity group acquired Redbox in 2016.
Meyer, a former Blockbuster shareholder, in 2010 publicly challenged Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes, claiming the executive was out of touch with the rapidly changing rental market, including competitors Netflix and Redbox.


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It's impossible to have a conversation about Gen Z without talking about social media. It shapes everything from the platforms they use (or don’t use) to their interactions with friends and family — and, of course, the brands they consider. For Gen Z, what is happening online and on social media is what is happening IRL.
In August of 2019, Origin, Hill Holliday's in-house research arm, conducted a study to examine the social profile of Generation Z. Intended to serve as a follow-up to earlier research from the agency in 2017, Meet Gen Z: The Social Generation, this updated report surveyed 998 members of Gen Z about their social media attitudes, purchasing behavior, and interactions with brands. The shifts in the last eighteen months are significant – and perhaps surprising.
As Gen Z continues to consume social content, what is the impact on their emotional outlook and brand engagement behavior? Download our report, Meet Gen Z: The Social Generation Part 2 to take a deeper dive into reaching and engaging the Gen Z social audience.
To access the original report, Meet Gen Z: The Social Generation Part 1, click here.


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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- FAW Group, Chery Auto, Hyundai Motor, Panasonic and other Baidu Apollo's partners have showed off Apollo-powered products at Auto China 2018. In the meantime, the world's first human-vehicle interactive AI system has been officially presented to the public.
FAW Besturn unveils SENIA R9 equipped with DuerOS for Apollo
At Auto China 2018, FAW Besturn unveiled the SENIA R9 that is expected to go on sale in May this year. The SENIA R9 is embedded with the Baidu Apollo in-car system dubbed “DuerOS for Apollo”, which possesses powerful functions of speech recognition and semantic analysis.
Besides, the “DuerOS for Apollo” holds the powerful map with a huge bulk of location information and a wide coverage of road network and has massive music and audio resources that let drivers listen to their ideal programmes whenever they want.
Baidu Apollo extends cooperation with FAW Group in diverse areas, such as autonomous driving, IoV (Internet of Vehicles) and cybersecurity, etc. The automaker and Baidu had previously co-built the Apollo Vehicle Cybersecurity Lab to research on the subject related to intelligent driving cybersecurity. Additionally, more ICV (intelligent-connected vehicle) and autonomous driving models co-developed by both parties will be promoted in the future.
Chery Auto showcases LION cockpit, monitoring house through video-calling
Chinese state-owned automaker Chery Auto showcased the EXEED concept model and the LION intelligent cockpit, which are co-developed with Baidu. Same as FAW Besturn's SENIA R9 mentioned above, the LION intelligent cockpit is equipped with the “DuerOS for Apollo” as well, which endows the cockpit with industry-leading capabilities of speech recognition and analysis.
Meanwhile, car owners are able to know the condition of their houses at any time by virtue of the video-calling, a trailblazing function that is applied in the "DuerOS for Apollo".
Moreover, the LION cockpit is able to provide tailored services according to users' routine habits, such as adjusting the seat based on drivers’ riding behaviors and selecting desirable music for users. The LION will purportedly be installed in the EXEED production models.
Hyundai Motor, Baidu Apollo co-build user-friendly in-vehicle terminal
Baidu Apollo and the Korean automaker Hyundai Motor jointly exhibited some ICV solutions at the event, such as facial log-in, voice-controlled vehicle and fatigue driving monitoring, etc. Besides, both exhibitors demonstrated that human can control some smart-home devices like desk lamp, curtain and air cleaner from vehicle via the “DuerOS for Apollo”.
Reportedly, the “DuerOS for Apollo” is available for the manipulation of over 20 types of smart-home facilities, such as lamp, socket, air cleaner, heater, and so on. Meanwhile, vehicle owners are able to control car doors, windows, and air conditioning and receive vehicle data from home.
Based on DuerOS, the world's first human-vehicle dedicated AI system, Apollo takes the lead in providing the solution of AR (augmented reality) navigation, which is greater than conventional navigation system in visual effect, accuracy and responding speed.
BAIC BJEV launches Darwin System based on Baidu AI tech
BAIC BJEV launched the vehicle artificial intelligent (AI) system, Darwin System, at Auto China 2018. Besides, the EU5 equipped with the Darwin System started presale with price range between RMB 129,900 and RMB 161,900, after eliminating the NEV subsidies.
Through cooperating with foreign and domestic partners, especially Baidu Apollo, the Darwin System has realized an array of intelligent diving functions, including ADAS, L3 autonomous driving, intelligent cabin monitoring and valet parking.
By virtue of Baidu's AI core technologies, BAIC Motor and Baidu Apollo will accelerate the mass production of L3 and L4 self-driving vehicles in the future base on the Apollo platform and the automaker's vehicle platform.
Baidu Apollo to build splendid autonomous driving ecosystem
Aside from the cases mentioned above, Baidu Apollo also joined hands with other domestic and oversea companies to showcase cooperative achievements at Auto China 2018.
For instance, Apollo and the world-leading electronics provider Panasonic jointly exhibited industrial ICV solutions, which are based on the "DuerOS for Apollo" and BAIC BJEV's vehicle platform.
In addition, Pandauto, the car-sharing platform of Lifan Group, demonstrated the autonomous pick-up and drop-off function at the event since it formed strategic cooperation with Baidu in November last year. Meanwhile, JAC Motors and WM Motor also brought products based on the Apollo platform to the splendid auto show in Beijing.
What's more, the Chinese EV startup BYTON, whose first model the BYTON Concept attracted a lot of attention again after the CES 2018, had announced that the company had teamed up with Baidu Apollo to cooperate in AI in-vehicle system. Both parties will co-develop multifarious functions, such as voice assistant and picture recognition, which are applicable to BYTON's interactive interface.
Trial rides of Baidu's self-driving bus Apolong was open to the public during the Digital China Summit from April 22 to 24 in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province. This was the first-time L4 self-driving vehicle trial rides open to publics in China. According to relevant introduction, the Apolong is the China's first self-driving microcirculation bus co-developed by Baidu and the Chinese commercial vehicle maker King Long.
On April 19, Baidu unveiled the Apollo 2.5, the latest version of the open autonomous driving platform that currently supports vision-based high-speed autonomous driving in limited areas.
At the ceremony for Apollo's one-year anniversary, Baidu announced that BYD has officially joined the Apollo platform and became its 100th partners. Meanwhile, the Internet giant also announced the establishment of the Apollo Automotive Cybersecurity Lab to further promote the safety implementation of autonomous driving.
Gasgoo not only offers timely news and profound insight about China auto industry, but also help with business connection and expansion for suppliers and purchasers via multiple channels and methods. Buyer service: [email protected] Seller Service: [email protected]
All Rights Reserved. Do not reproduce, copy and use the editorial content without permission. Contact us: khoahocxaydung.info.


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ADM serves Car Dealers, Automotive Marketing Pros and Internet Sales Managers
Does your dealership have tools that should help your sales and business development people be more effective?
As consumer transparency becomes more important in the automotive industry dealers are hooking up with more vendors that allow for transparency. It is no secret that some…Continue
Added by Stan Sher on October 7, 2013 at 4:29pm — No Comments
Providers can now influence live conversations initiated through their services.
Contact At Once! is launching new integration capabilities in its chat platform that allows authorized partners to share key sales messaging and talking points with dealers while a chat is in progress. The first partner to create a plug-in for sharing real-time data in an ongoing chat is PureCars.…
Added by Aaron Hassen on February 7, 2013 at 7:40am — No Comments
Making it easy for dealers to engage consumers at key points during their car shopping experience.
Contact At Once!, the dealer chat leader, announced the addition of PureCars as a member of their dealer chat network. Dealers may now quickly and easily add Contact At Once! dealer live chatfeatures to PureCars Value Reports, PureCars…Continue
Added by Aaron Hassen on February 1, 2012 at 4:30am — No Comments


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Last month, Visa’s $5.3 billion acquisition of Plaid terminated, despite many months of their anticipated merger. This termination occurred a few months after the United States Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit on Nov. 5, 2020.
Plaid, whose name might not ring a bell, interfaces apps such as Venmo and Robinhood, apps that are wildly popular amongst college students. Plaid, a San Francisco-based startup, helps cut the bank middleman out of the loop, simplifying transitions for many apps, also including Betterment and Coinbase.
Many experts suggest the $5.3 billion undervalued Plaid’s place in the marketplace, so Visa would have benefitted from owning the platform, whether to improve Plaid’s systems, or, more sinisterly, to eliminate competition.
Following the agreement’s termination, Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division said, “In a victory for American consumers and small businesses, Visa has abandoned its efforts to acquire an innovative and nascent competitor,” in a statement published on the United States Department of Justice’s website. “American consumers and business owners rely on the internet to buy and sell goods and services, and Visa – which has immense power in online debit in the United States– has extracted billions of dollars from those transactions. Now that Visa has abandoned its anticompetitive merger, Plaid, other future fintech innovators are free to develop potential alternatives to Visa’s online debit services. With more competition, consumers can expect lower prices and better services.”
James Markulic, adjunct professor in the NJIT Computer Science and Information System Masters programs, described the U.S. government’s role in preventing monopolies in technology companies. Markulic has previously taught an undergraduate class at NJIT called “Computers, Society, and Ethics,” which is a required course for majors within the Ying Wu College of Computing. This is a discussion-based course that involves using ethical codes and philosophy to analyze the impacts of technology on society.
“The Justice Department’s overall role in mergers is to prevent monopolies or mergers in general that either have the possibility of reducing the overall quality of service in the industry or gives one company the ability to control pricing for an industry. A good comparison would be the recent ‘New Jersey healthcare system merger would increase price and reduce quality of healthcare’ press release,” explained Markulic, referring to the Federal Trade Commission’s Dec. 2020 suit against Hackensack Meridian Health’s proposed merger with its competitor, Englewood Healthcare Foundation. “The government’s role is easier to understand in a healthcare discussion that can impact everyone vs. a discussion regarding the credit/debit card industry which can require industry knowledge. For example, up until recently, the government has not been overly concerned with monopolies in social media. One school of thought is that the government (due to the age of lawmakers) does not understand the power of social media. The recent attacks on the Capitol certainly gave them a quick lesson.”
“Since financial services have such a large lobbying influence, you will see the government have an increased interest,” continued Markulic. “The issue here is similar to the hospitals. Visa already has a large portion of the industry. Banks and other credit/debit card providers do not want to see that increase and allow Visa to push other providers out of business. The industry’s focus on fintech is the battle for the younger generation’s banking business. So these can be looked at as battles for the future of the industry.”
The United States has had antitrust laws dating back to the 19th century. These laws, such as the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, were designed to better manage the monopolies of the Gilded Age, a time period of rapid industrial and economic growth.
“Capitalism promotes competition with the belief that it makes the market better (the market being Fintech in this discussion),” explained Markulic. Markulic further explains how in business ethics, such mergers would be encouraged because they increase shareholder wealth. “This school of thought would justify acquiring companies to limit competition against your company. The less competition, the more a company has the ability to control pricing and quality. The effect on society, however, is secondary in “old-school” business ethics. That’s where government has the responsibility to stop that from happening.”
“The effect of [mergers in] society is hard to judge, but here’s an example to think about. What would the effect on society have been in the camera and film industry had [a major film corporation] decided to acquire the right to digital photography back in the 1990’s? What effect would there be on society if items like phone cameras and police body cameras were discouraged by the industry and not available as they are today and tech like facial scanning was promoted and heavily used? In the 1990’s it would have been difficult to imagine the effect those decisions would have had on society today. It’s only in hindsight, when it’s easy to see the effect a company or industry controlling an evolving technology can have on society,” said Markulic. “Business ethics could say controlling an industry is good because it increases shareholder wealth. Societal ethics would have a vastly different view.”
There’s evidence that anti-competition already exists in the Fintech industry, even before a merger happened. Plaid has incurred some controversy for its phishing practices, which Markulic said “highlights one of the concerns with fintech and other technology companies.” Essentially, Plaid emulates the login pages of legitimate banks to serve as a middleman between the client’s bank account and apps like Venmo and Robinhood.
“Since Fintech is for the most part unregulated, they get away with this type of behavior, which in my opinion is always unethical. It’s unethical to make someone believe that using your services have the oversight and backing of another company and industry. Using a bank gives you government protection against fraud and insures your money. Fintech often does not have these guarantees, and tricking consumers into thinking they are directly dealing with a bank is certainly unethical.”
“Another example to the effect of what protection the government could provide is to look at Zoom. Zoom claimed to have a totally secure platform. Very early in the pandemic, everyone found out that was not the case. If Zoom was part of a regulated industry, government auditors would have evaluated security within Zoom and be in a position to force banks (as an example) to fix security flaws before it was released to the public. Zoom’s security would have been verified by the regulators and they would not have been allowed to promote their platform as secure. Tricking the public into thinking that Plaid is a bank site also tricks the consumer into thinking they are using their bank and has their bank’s protections instead of actually using an intermediary. It gives the appearance that consumers are protected when they are not. This can never be ethical, but these are unfortunately common practices in evolving tech companies.”
Despite the recent crackdown by the Department of Justice that seeks to prevent anticompetitive measures, it remains evident that such competition already exists on large levels. Companies, including Visa and Plaid, require a close watch in the coming years.
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There’s one app millennials can’t live without, and it’s not Instagram, WhatsApp, or Snapchat.
Flipboard is becoming one of the biggest drivers of traffic to news stories on mobile.
Snap Inc. reported that its daily active user base grew to 166 million in Q1. That’s an increase of 36% over year-ago levels but only a 5% gain from the previous quarter.
Close to half of Snapchat’s adult audience was aged 35 and older as of December 2016, marking a dramatic change from a year earlier.
This infographic from M2 Onhold illustrates how Snapchat can be used for marketing purposes.
Roughly seven in 10 US teen smartphone users spend at least three hours per day watching video on their phones.
The use of social media marketing by small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the US continues to grow.
A majority of US social media users who comment, post, share or vote in response to content they view on TV do so on Facebook.
More than 52 million people in the US will use Twitter on a monthly basis.
A recent study from Appboy takes a look at various app categories, based on the behavior of 1.6 billion users on more than 500 apps in the first half of 2016.


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Investment in young technology firms in the Czech Republic, also known as start-ups, fell by 75.5 percent to 11.4 billion crowns last year. The usual investment in a start-up hovered around 24 million crowns, which is six million less than in 2022. There were also fewer investment rounds in the hundreds of millions of crowns. The reasons include cost-saving measures by foreign investors, high inflation in the Czech Republic, and rising interest rates.
In 2023, a total of 98 rapidly growing companies received financial amounts. Nine companies developed by Czechs were bought by major foreign players such as IBM and Cisco, who paid them billions of crowns. The number of invested companies is also lower. In 2022, 112 investments took place alongside seven company sales, often for higher amounts than the previous year.
Iva Brejlová, who analyzes start-up data on the CzechCrunch platform, pointed out that technology companies faced several difficulties last year. “They were affected by savings in the start-up ecosystem abroad and problems caused primarily by the collapse of the American Silicon Valley Bank, the most significant bank for start-ups. High inflation and rising interest rates also negatively affected the domestic market.
According to Czech Crunch analyst Peter Brejčák, the Czech Republic has resisted the lousy mood from abroad for some time. “Companies still laid off employees and tried to extend the time they could get by with investments from previous years as much as possible. They postponed plans, typically expansions abroad. And some start-ups sold shares far below the price of previous years. However, there was no major layoff, such as in the United States,” he added.
According to earlier CzechCrunch surveys among investors, the valuation of young companies fell by a quarter, sometimes even by 40 percent. So-called exits, or sales of entire companies, are in higher orders. The most expensive company sold last year was Manta, which shows companies their data in an understandable form. It moved under IBM for more than three billion. The start-up Smartlook, which helps understand user behavior on the internet, received a price tag exceeding two billion when Cisco bought it. Shoptet and UltimateSuite were also sold for over half a billion.


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Tag: Jack Dorsey
(AP) — Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey says the social media platform accidentally suspended his account. Dorsey tweeted TuesdayRead more »
(AP) — Twitter is taking the smartphone shackles off its live-video service Periscope in its latest attempt to broaden itsRead more »
(AP) — Twitter’s growth remains at a crawl as CEO Jack Dorsey struggles to come up with a strategy toRead more »
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EAST LANSING, MI -- Whether it's a car dealership, an engineering firm, a bakery or anything in between, businesses all have something in common -- they were started by someone with an idea, a passion and the willingness to take a risk.
Some of those individuals will be honored Thursday, March 7, at Eagle Eye Golf Club during the 19th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards.
Established by Greater Lansing Business Monthly publisher Chris Holman, the awards are given in a number of categories.
"It's an honor to once again host this prestigious event in our community," Holman said. "The key to a growing and thriving economy, like the one in the Greater Lansing region, is men and women entrepreneurs like the ones we've honored for nearly 20 years."
Past winners include Kellie Dean of Dean Transportation, Patrick Gillespie of Gillespie Group, Sherrill Freeborough of Hyundai of Lansing and many more.
Co-hosting this year is M3 Group President and CEO and past Entrepreneurial Award winner Tiffany Dowling.
For more information or tickets, call 517-203-0123.


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Computer researchers have found yet another flaw in the upgrade to the chip-based credit cards in the United States.
The chip on these credit cards have been praised for making them nearly impossible to counterfeit. While the cards also contain a magnetic strip, that strip is supposed to tell the payment machine to use the chip.But there's a relatively easy way to knock down that safeguard.
Computer security researchers at the payment technology company NCR demonstrated how credit card thieves can rewrite the magnetic stripe code to make it appear like a chipless card again. This allows them to keep counterfeiting -- just like they did before the nationwide switch to chip cards.
They presented their findings at the Black Hat computer security conference on Wednesday.
This glaring hole in EMV, the chip-based system, is possible because of the way many retailers are upgrading their payment machines: They're not encrypting the transaction.
"There's a common misperception EMV solves everything. It doesn't," Patrick Watson, one of the researchers, told CNNMoney.
The discovery of this flaw bolsters the retail industry's complaints against the upgrade, which was forced upon shops by banks.
The National Retail Federation has long complained about the upgrade, which is estimated to cost American retailers $25 billion.
This latest research shows that retailers could spend millions of dollars upgrading to EMV and still not protect their customers from a massive credit card theft like the Target and Home Depot hacks two years ago.
CNNMoney reached out to the major machine makers, Verifone and Ingenico, as well as the major credit card companies, Visa and MasterCard.
Currently, retailers focus on protecting the computer network that support their payment system. But that leaves the actual conversation between your credit card and the machine in plain text, readable to any hacker who breaks into the system.
During their presentation, the NCR researchers advised shops to "encrypt everything" in a transaction. They also said consumers should pay with special apps on their phones and watches whenever the high tech option is available, CNN reports.


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- Business of Brands
Now, Parag Milk Foods to foray into fresh cream in a bid for diversification
Launches Go-Fresh Cream
The Pune-based company, which owns and markets brands Gowardhan and Go, said the new product will increase its presence in the market.
“We are keen to consolidate our presence in the market in the dairy segment,” said Devendra Shah, chairman at Parag Milk Foods.
Parag manufactures 40 tonne of cheese per day and is bullish on the Rs 850-cr segment.
The company, which is popular for its Go range of cheese, launched Go Culinary Creations on Wednesday to co-create recipes with partners from the hotels, restaurants and catering segment.
“We are also looking at digital media as a platform for consumers and food bloggers to exchange their recipes using Go Fresh Cream, among other products in its portfolio,” added Mahesh Israni, chief marketing officer, Parag Milk Foods.


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Just a week before Curren$y’s The Stone Immaculate finally arrives, Big K.R.I.T. and Wiz Khalifa get acquainted in his way of life on its closing track.
Curren$y gives fans a chance to get a first listen of his debut “The Stoned Immaculate” in stores June 5th. Pre-order it now on iTunes!
The Slaughterhouse team checked in with Jusin Credible of the L.A. Leakers and talked new album & favorite hip hop albums.
Official video for 2 Chainz’s “Undastatement” off of the ‘T.R.U. REALigion’ mixtape


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The health and future growth of British brands depend on a serious commitment to innovation, according to BrandZ’s first UK top 50, especially if homegrown companies want to compete on a global scale.
While Dyson leads the way as the UK’s ‘healthiest’ brand, companies such as AO.com, easyJet and Premier Inn are proving their brand strength despite not having the scale to enter BrandZ’s UK top 50 this year.
Jennifer Atkinson became CEO of ITC at just 34 and has turned it from a loss-making company to a multi-million pound business.
Having gone independent from former parent company Huawei in November, Honor has ambitions to become a top three smartphone brand in the UK by 2024.
Once ubiquitous in UK households, Freeview has become a brand only passively engaged with. The platform hopes to change this with a new campaign, while attracting younger audiences and pushing its credentials in innovation.
At the Festival of Marketing, the audience heard how the long-form properties of podcasting drove Transport for London to make podcast sponsorship a vital part of the communications strategy for its ‘#TogetherAgainstHate’ campaign
Brand extensions and DTC goals are distractions from real innovation and meaningful growth, argues Helen Edwards.


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- Battery electric vehicles accounted for 3.1% of sales in 2022
- In 2021, electric vehicle sales tripled leading to 20,665 plug-in electric vehicles sold.
- Currently, transport is Australia’s second largest source of national emissions at 19%.
1.0 Electric Car Sales in Australia
|Year||Number of Electric Vehicles Sold|
Electric car sales only started to gain traction in Australia from 2011 onwards; coinciding with electric car models increasing in availability. 6,718 fully electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars were sold in 2019, 0.6% of car sales within Australia in that year.
Sales of electric vehicles tripled in 2021 with 20,665 plug-in electric vehicles sold due to increased model availability, lower prices and state and government electric vehicle incentives . As of 2022, battery electric vehicles accounted for 3.1% of all motor vehicle sales.
With many of these incentives introduced in the later part of 2021, the impact on total electric car sales was limited. However, in the ACT 5% of all sales were attributed to electric cars, due to the ACT’s incentive being in place for the entirety of 2021.
When it comes to EV models it was Tesla’s Model 3 that accounted for nearly 60% of electric vehicle sales . The second most popular model was the MG ZS EV and the third was Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV (plug-in electric vehicle).
The increasing number of electric vehicles sold in 2022 indicates that Australians are committed to decarbonising their transport choices. And with rising sales, consumer demand will continue to increase despite the long wait times and supply constraints due to fuel efficiency standards.
2.0 Electric Vehicle Incentives in Australia
In 2022, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia incited new Electric Vehicle Incentives.
In Queensland, the state government announced a $55 million incentive for electric vehicle drivers.
The package offers $3,000 grants for electric vehicles under $58,000 and a further $10 million towards electric vehicle charging infrastructure and zero emission vehicles into the Queensland Government’s fleet.
These incentives may provide an opportunity for more families and road users to own an electric vehicle in Queensland.
In Victoria, the state government has put forward $7.2 million in electric vehicle subsidies; 2,600 subsidies at $3,000 per vehicle.
The additional incentive supports the Victorian government’s expansion of charging infrastructure and is an extra push for motorists who were not sure whether they should move to an electric vehicle.
In 2022, the Western Australian government announced that $60 million of funding had been allocated to support the adoption of electric vehicles. This includes 10,000 rebates of $3,500 for Western Australians who purchase a new electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
The package also includes funding for new charging infrastructure and is the next step towards electrifying Western Australia’s road network.
3.0 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Further investment in infrastructure for electric vehicles supports ongoing initiatives to reduce Australia’s emissions, create a cleaner vehicle fleet and ensure that the automotive industry is sustainable.
New South Wales
In 2022, New South Wales announced a further $38 million towards electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The aim is to build 500 kerbside charging points and equip 125 apartment buildings with new EV charging upgrades on top of ultra fast charging stations and charging opportunities at regional businesses and tourist locations that were previously announced.
By continuing to invest in EV infrastructure, this will enable further accessibility to electric vehicles from the wider general public and encourage further emission reduction from Australia’s automotive fleet.
4.0 National Electric Vehicle Strategy
In 2022, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water published the National Electric Vehicle Strategy: consultation paper seeking views on proposed goals, objectives and actions for said strategy.
The consultation paper raises a number of key issues including, vehicle price, model, availability, battery supply, emission reduction, and further support for road users when considering the development of charging infrastructure and purchase incentives.
The department proposed these goals:
Make EVs more affordable
Expand EV uptake and choice
Save Australians money on fuel
Increase local EV manufacturing
And these objectives:
Encourage rapid increase in demand for EVs
Increase supply of affordable and accessible EVs to meet demand across all segments
Establish the systems and infrastructure to enable the rapid uptake of EVs.
And once those objectives are achieved then barriers to EV uptake will address the following:
Limited availability of affordable EV models across all vehicle types
Range anxiety due to gaps in EV charging networks and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure Information for consumers.
5.0 Electric Car Discount
On 25 November 2022, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Bill 2022 was passed in Federal Parliament.
This bill removes import tariffs for electric vehicles beneath the Luxury Car Tax Threshold ($84,916) and aims to exempt low and zero emission cars from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).
This law not only supports the National Electric Vehicle Strategy but also provides a financial incentive for road users looking to purchase an electric vehicle.
While there is more to do, this is a great first step towards challenging Australia’s policy settings to support Australia’s goal to decarbonise the light vehicle fleet.


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World leaders have announced that Europeans will need to reduce their meat and dairy intake by almost one-third over the coming years!
As part of a UN report at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting, the International Resource Panel reports via Food Navigator that “expanding the amount of land used for crops to meet growing demand for food – particularly meat and dairy – and for biomass, is unsustainable under business as usual conditions.”
The report asserts that reducing meat consumption by 25 percent and cutting household food waste by at least 15 percent would save substantial land area by 2030. Cropland expansion would need to be limited in a range between eight and 37 percent.
“Reducing excessive consumption provides high untapped potential for ‘saving’ land, notably by reducing food waste and losses, shifting to more vegetal diets in high meat-consuming countries, and improving the fuel efficiency by transport and housing,” the report states.
This is definitely some great news, as any reduction in meat consumption will not only save animals, but also help protect our environment and our health.
Looking for ways to reduce your meat consumption? Check out these five simple tips!
Image source: Ewen Munro / Flickr


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STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Tronox Limited (NYSE: TROX) today said it will conduct a webcast conference call to discuss the complaint filed on December 5, 2017 by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) seeking to block the company’s proposed acquisition of the titanium dioxide (TiO2) business of Cristal, a privately held global chemical and mining company headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
6 thoughts on “Tronox To Hold Webcast Conference Call To Discuss FTC Complaint .. Thursday, December 7, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. ET”
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Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has called for a two-division Premier League with no relegation to the Football League. Gartside also wants player wage caps. Bolton chief Gartside calls for Premier League review and an end to relegation
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BSNL extends free 'work@home' broadband offer till 20 June: Details here1 min read . Updated: 25 May 2020, 05:39 PM IST
- This broadband plan is available to its landline users free of cost
- Under the 'work@home' broadband plan the telecom offers 5GB of data per day to all users at a speed of 10Mbps
State-owned telecom sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited today announced that it will extend the validity of its existing 'Work@Home' plans till 20 June, 2020. This broadband plan is available to its landline users free of cost.
Earlier, the validity was extended till 19 May after the first phase of lockdown was announced. The further extension till the fourth phase of the lockdown is a move by the telecom operator to encourage stay at home for its users amid the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country and provide high speed internet services for them.
The extension of the existing broadband plan was announced through a circular posted by the BSNL Chennai team.
Under the 'work@home' broadband plan the telecom offers 5GB of data per day to all users at a speed of 10Mbps. Once the 5GB is exhausted the connection speed drops to 1Mbps. According to the banner on the company’s site, the new offer is valid for BSNL’s “existing landline customers who have not experienced BSNL high broadband service."
The high speed internet, according to BSNL India website, can be accessed by just plugging in your modem. This plan needs no additional installation charges and security deposits but the customers need to have a modem or customer premise equipment (CPE) beforehand to use the services.
The company has provided toll free numbers to activate the offer on call. Customers can dial 1800-345-1504 to get assistance with the set up but the service is available only to those users who already have a broadband connection of BSNL.
"After expiry of promotional period, existing customers under above plan shall be migrated to regular Broadband plans," the circuclar stated.
Earlier today, the telecom operator announced its special Eid recharge plan. The plan is priced at ₹786 and offers both talk time and data. The new plan was announced by the company through its official Twitter handle.
The Eid 2020 special recharge plan offers a talk time of ₹786 equivalent to the recharge amount. Additionally, the prepaid plan offers 30GB of data with a validity of 90 days. This prepaid plan is available to customers through various platforms including BSNL’s own recharge portal.
The Eid 2020 plan will remain accessible for a period of 30 days. However, the recharge plan may only be available for a limited number of regions, it said.


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While manufacturing is expected to hold a steady share of jobs the next few years, it no longer offers the rapid growth it once did.
Manufacturing is projected to maintain its share of about 19 percent of the job market until 1990, growing along with the population and its demand for output, according to the Department of Labor`s Bureau of Labor Statistics. After that, jobs in manufacturing industries are expected to grow more slowly, as they feel the continuing effects of imports and productivity improvements. In the shorter term, the recent difficulties in financial markets could cause a dip in manufacturing output in 1988.
A major worry of factory workers continues to be imports. As imports have flooded U.S. markets, demand has shifted away from domestic goods, reducing the need for American workers.
The dollar`s lower value, though, should help regain some areas temporarily lost to foreign competitors. In theory, a falling dollar helps U.S. manufacturers and their workers.
Kenneth Goldstein, an economist with the Conference Board, a business-sponsored research organization in New York, said the cheaper dollar makes imports more expensive, discouraging consumers from buying them. At the same time, U.S. products become more competitive overseas.
But there could be a time lag, Goldstein said.
``Imports continue to come in despite falling dollar values,`` he said.
``It`s difficult to say how a declining dollar in 1988, which is almost universally expected, will affect the dollar value of imports.``
George Silvestri, an economist with the Division of Occupational Outlook in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, said a time lag is possible because the dollar`s decline ``is a recent phenomenon.``
``It helps exports, but many industries are severely hurt by foreign competition because we import such a great volume of goods.``
Exports already are improving because of the drop in the dollar, especially for industrial machinery, said Al Duarte, vice president and partner in Korn/Ferry International, an international recruiting firm based in New York.
Although the U.S. is likely to have a negative trade balance in 2000, said Valerie Personick, an economist with the Office of Economic Growth and Employment Projections in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ``export markets are expected to recover.``
Even with more U.S. goods going overseas, job growth in manufacturing may not be as strong as some workers have hoped, according to Personick.
Hefty demand for goods doesn`t always translate into additional manufacturing jobs, she said, because capital investment and technological improvements may offset some of the demand for workers. In fact, in some industries jobs have declined while production has grown.
Goldstein said jobs aren`t necessarily lost because of production gains, but it can cause employment prospects to flatten.
``By definition, productivity means increasing output with the same number of workers,`` he said. ``Workers are not displaced, but new jobs are not created.``
Workers who worry about automation shouldn`t assume that jobs will disappear, Duarte said.
``I question how fast you can increase productivity,`` he said. ``An awful lot has been done. You still need people.
``Robots are a fine example. People thought robots would replace everybody, but, of course, that hasn`t happened.
``Technology hasn`t come around as quickly as expected. It`s one of those things that works better in theory than in practice.``
Worry about the stock market crash could extend to the manufacturing sector, according to Goldstein.
``The economy is expected to grow more slowly in 1988 than in 1987,`` he said. ``The expectation is that trouble in the financial markets will flow out into real markets because of erosion of consumer confidence. A decline is expected in the willingness to spend on consumption and investment.``
Duarte, though, said nothing of the sort has happened quickly.
``My clients in manufacturing areas have not indicated they`ve scaled back their operating plans,`` he said. ``And that`s post-Oct. 19. If we talk ourselves into a recession so that consumers stop buying, that`s going to affect manufacturing companies. But most seem fairly bullish for 1988.``
Industries that can expect to do well this year are chemicals and paper and pulp, Duarte said. Computerization has done nothing to discourage the huge growth of paperwork in business, boosting the fortunes of the paper and pulp industry.
``We`re an information society,`` Duarte said. Furthermore, the paper industry sells huge amounts of packaging as long as consumer demand remains strong.
Among the fastest-growing job areas in manufacturing the next few years will be plastics, which continue to replace other industrial materials, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Also heading the list are medical and dental instruments, computers and related equipment and scientific instruments. High-tech manufacturing jobs won`t grow quite as rapidly as they did several years ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Duarte says this doesn`t look like an extremely good year for the auto industry, as foreign makers continue to strengthen their hold in this country. As for job prospects that look the poorest to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it singles out making wooden containers, leather products
(including footwear) and tobacco products.
Goldstein says that regardless of which jobs disappear, the economy has been creating new ones, many in the service sector.
``People are working in service jobs that didn`t even exist 20 years ago,`` he said.


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Australian social betting start-up Dabble has set out its plans to expand across US markets in 2024.
Dabble is a sports betting platform founded in Australia in 2020. The brand offers users a raft of social features including the ability to follow other users and copy their bets, chat with friends and comment on their activity.
In October 2023, the brand launched in the US, with a modified version of its Australian app offering daily fantasy sports games instead of traditional online sports betting.
The company had been “discussing the US opportunity since the first days of Dabble back in 2020, waiting for the right time both from Dabble’s perspective and the market,” according to co-founder and chief strategy officer Jon Robin.
Dabble opted to enter the US market with a DFS offering, while still maintaining the key social features that differentiate its online sports betting offering in Australia.
The app delivers an activity feed to users, showing the DFS activity of accounts followed by each user. It allows users to easily copy entries made by others and communicate with one another.
In addition to its social features, Dabble also offers “faster transaction acceptance, quicker resulting, and far fewer bugs/glitches” than its competitors, Robin said in an update sent to company shareholders.
Dabble’s DFS app is currently live in 20 US states, which together boast a population of 165 million residents.
As of January, the app has 450,000 registered accounts in the US. It has been ranked among the top 10 sports apps in the US App Store, alongside brands including DraftKings, FanDuel and ESPN.
By download numbers, the app outperformed sports betting competitors including MGM, Caesars, Fanatics and bet365 in December.
Dabble plans “to invest as much as possible in our growth over the next few months while maintaining sufficient reserves,” Robin said in the update, and expects to have more than 1 million registered customers by the end of June.
In order to reach its expansion targets, the company is exploring various options, including seeking DFS licensure in additional states. There are an additional five to 10 states where it could apply for further licences, it said.
The company is also considering seeking full sports betting licences in certain states, but noted that this route would be significantly more expensive and difficult than seeking additional DFS licences.
Further, Dabble wants to introduce alternative game types such as free-to-play, peer-to-peer and sweepstakes, while also adding more sports to the platform.
At present, users can make player predictions on NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, as well as college American football and basketball.
Other sports in Dabble’s pipeline include soccer, tennis, cricket, Formula One, Nascar, MMA and esports, Robin said.
To support its expansion in US markets, the company also intends to add more payment options to its platform and “double down on social features” by adding improved functionalities.
Its first priority in this area is to convert features already rolled out in its Australian app onto its US app, starting with ‘share entry’, ‘discover profiles’ and a ‘for you feed’.
Dabble counts Australian wagering giant Tabcorp and venture capital fund Yolo Investments as major investors in the business.
Welcome to the second instalment of NEXT INSiDE. In this edition, we delve deep into industry dynamics, offering insights from innovative start-ups and ambitious scale-ups.
We’ll explore captivating strategies that resonate with Gen Zs and some of the ingenious solutions game studios have adopted to tackle content challenges.
Meeting customer needs
The iGaming industry is no stranger to cutthroat competition.
But competition, as inherent as it is in all businesses, isn’t a drawback. It’s a driving force that significantly influences business strategies and has forced companies, including many start-ups, to put customer-centric approaches at the forefront of their agendas.
This isn’t without reason; as any economics textbook underscores, a pivotal strategy for standing out is tailoring your offerings to precisely match customer demands.
One striking example of a company leading the charge in this customer-focused paradigm shift is Kero Gaming.
Founder and CEO Tomash Devenishek firmly believes that Kero Gaming’s platform has the potential to reshape the industry by offering personalised in-game micro-betting experiences.
“Sports betting today is highly cognitive and testing. You have to think, you have to browse, calculate probabilities, and eventually find that one thing that you want to bet on. Twitter and Instagram are not like that. Because all you have to do is just scroll your thumb and things appear,” he said.
Recognising that betting should become more aligned with the instant gratification and social elements found in popular social media platforms, Kero Sports aims to transform sports betting into a seamless, more enjoyable experience.
Yet, the firm’s innovation extends beyond its customer-facing aspects.
Kero Gaming has developed a patent-pending single model pricing system which leverages generative AI for oddsmaking simulations.
Internally known as BetGPT, the model can produce thousands of coherent variations of a specific match when prompted.
Learning from operator partnerships
Elsewhere, emerging game studios are boldly taking on the challenge of revenue generation in an ever-evolving gaming market.
Fabíola Jaeger is CEO and co-founder of Caleta Games, a dynamic Brazilian game studio established in 2013. She champions the creation of robust partnerships with operators and aggregators, viewing the journey as an invaluable learning experience.
While some partners eagerly share insights into their audience’s preferences, helping Caleta Games identify customer-favourite games, Jaeger understands that every partnership is unique.
“We’ve embraced a fail-fast culture, and although some partners readily share insights on what resonates or doesn’t with their audience, others take a different approach,” Jaeger noted.
“However, for us, it’s an invaluable opportunity to pinpoint our successful games and identify areas for improvement,” she emphasised.
Differentiation and localisation remain the keys to unlocking success, and Caleta Games has celebrated remarkable achievements in the realm of bingo games — a genre that captures the hearts of enthusiastic Brazilians, as Jaeger pointed out.
“While there is a widespread interest in Brazil,” she stated, “navigating this vibrant landscape becomes an exciting challenge when you embrace and understand the culture.”
During an interview with iGaming NEXT, Thomas Wendt, co-founder and director of Apparat Gaming, certainly agreed.
He suggested that Apparat Gaming had come to be recognised as the embodiment of iGaming with a German accent, which involves a strong commitment to quality.
Wendt, who had substantial experience in the land-based industry before co-founding Apparat in 2020, acknowledged the current challenges faced by game studios.
“We currently have an excess of content, as several major studios are releasing new games on a weekly basis,” he said.
Blending old and new concepts
Apparat Gaming has released 19 titles to date and is affiliated with almost 150 operators and most aggregators.
“Our main focus is on finding the right mix of direct integrations and aggregators, taking platform fees into careful consideration,” he clarified.
“We’ve experimented with blending old and new concepts a few times. Although the initial outlook promised only mixed results, some have proved surprisingly satisfactory in the longer term.”
Apparat plans to release a total of 25 games by the end of the year, including captivating German-themed titles such as Oktoberfest and Autobahn.
“I expected swifter progress for Apparat. Yet, navigating the complexities of German regulations, with various operators still awaiting from Germany’s GGL approval for Apparat games that have long been approved elsewhere, posed its challenges.”
Nonetheless, Wendt maintains a strong sense of optimism when it comes to Apparat’s future prospects in the market.
Targeting Gen Zs and Millennials
Competition isn’t merely intensifying among game studios; operators, both big and small, are also undeniably feeling the pressure.
Workforce reductions and restructuring initiatives are making an impact across the board, affecting companies like Hero Gaming and Kindred Group, among others.
Nevertheless, a fresh wave of operators is emerging, aiming to secure their share of the market by specifically targeting Gen Z and Millennials.
Alongside Kero Gaming, another contender in the industry is Australian sports betting app Dabble, established in 2020 and currently embracing the scale-up journey.
“One of the significant differentiating factors for businesses that have successfully transitioned from start-up to scaling up is the presence of what we refer to as a ‘B-HAG,’ which stands for a big, hairy, audacious goal,” says Emilie Jirsch, CMO of Dabble.
Jirsch further noted that upon her arrival at Dabble, she encountered a remarkable pool of talented individuals. However, she emphasised they wouldn’t be tapping into their full potential if they didn’t have a shared goal to strive for, or “Northstar” as she describes it.
“With the help of our investment partner, Tabcorp, our exec team took a proactive approach by confining ourselves to a room within Tabcorp’s Melbourne offices for two days. Our purpose was clear: we wouldn’t be leaving without formulating both an ambitious vision and a strategy that unites everyone’s efforts,” Jirsch explained.
Dabble came up with the plan to be the social betting platform that through immersive and community-based experience wins market share of Gen Z. “And that’s a really, really bold goal in a competitive market like Australia,” said Jirsch.
Instead of relying on promotional offers, Dabble drew inspiration from platforms like TikTok.
“We asked ourselves: How can we sustain engagement by delivering exceptional experiences and a user-friendly interface?” she explained.
She added that Dabble’s goal is to create a platform that players want to share with their friends within the community they’re interacting with, instead of incurring costs for customer acquisition.
Affiliates in transition
This raises an important question: With more operators recognising the need to attract a younger demographic using new methods, how will this impact affiliates?
Raketech CEO Oskar Mühlbach recently pointed out a gradual but consistent shift towards higher quality.
This shift aligns with the consolidation efforts of operators, stricter regulations, and increasing competition within the marketing sector, Mühlbach explained.
He said that as a result, Raketech is now focusing on “fewer but better products than we did a few years ago”.
However, a change in strategy at times results in adverse consequences, and for example led to redundancies at Malta-based affiliate marketing company Game Lounge during the summer months.
Most of the layoffs impacted the company’s content division.
Game Lounge CEO and co-founder Jonas Cederholm said the company was adapting its strategy to align more closely with significant individual markets.
“This change aims to improve our responsiveness to local needs, strengthen our partnerships, and create brands that genuinely connect with users,” Cederholm stressed.
Change and opportunity
As the iGaming landscape continues to evolve, it’s evident that success hinges on a commitment to quality.
Yet, above all, it’s the ability to adapt to the times and experiment with new concepts that keeps these companies moving forward while capitalising on new opportunities.
TikTok has expanded an existing trial for sports betting advertising on its platform in Australia to include two additional operators.
Advertising trial background
TikTok had never allowed gambling operators to advertise on its platform before November last year when a trial began which allowed Flutter Entertainment-owned Sportsbet – the biggest online betting company in Australia – to place a limited number of ads on the platform.
A report at the time in The Guardian suggested the brand would use the platform’s unique demographic mix to more effectively reach both young people and women.
Ads recommending customers bet on markets such as Rihanna’s Super Bowl half-time performance subsequently began appearing on TikTok in the run-up to the event, for example.
At that point, TikTok said the trial was a “closed pilot […] for one managed client who has obtained permission from TikTok via an application process.”
A spokesperson for the company added that the ads were only shown to users aged 21 or older and were closely monitored. The frequency of the ads was also restricted, and users had the option to opt out of seeing them.
Neds and Dabble join in
Now two new brands – Entain-owned Neds and a relative newcomer on the scene in social media-inspired operator Dabble – have also been approved to begin advertising on TikTok.
While the social media platform’s advertising policies for Australia state that “ads promoting lotteries, poker, casinos, bingo or any other gambling-related content” are prohibited, “advertisers may run sports betting ads on the platform with TikTok’s explicit permission.”
According to a new report in The Guardian, Neds is now encouraging users to download its gambling app, while Dabble is creating content in collaboration with former Australian Football League (AFL) star Dane Swan.
Ads must adhere to local marketing regulations as well as TikTok’s own guidelines, including the mandatory use of Australia’s responsible gambling slogans, such as “chances are you’re about to lose.”
Criticism floods in
However, some still suspect the ads will lead to an increase in gambling-related harm.
Simone McCarthy, a research fellow at Deakin University focused on gambling, told The Guardian that responsible gambling slogans are likely to be less effective on TikTok than on television, as “when you’re watching television, you’re forced to watch that message but on TikTok most users have already swiped to watch another video.”
In addition, concerns abound around operators’ ability to strictly define their audience by age and gender, with young women likely to be targeted with inducements to place bets on non-sporting events, such as reality TV programme Love Island.
Several commentators rushed to Twitter to express their concerns.
Daryl Adair, associate professor in sports management at the University of Technology Sydney’s Business School, said: “The most popular app for kids now a haven for gambling ads. What could go wrong?”
Independent Australian politician Kate Chaney, meanwhile, insisted: “We must effectively regulate this area – communities don’t want this.”
Messages like these are indicative of a wider push in Australia to reduce the amount of gambling advertising currently seen in the country.
Criticism of the industry and its practices has already led to developments such as Entain dropping its shirt sponsorships of Australian sports teams, the mandatory introduction of more discouraging responsible gambling slogans and calls for a wide-ranging crackdown on TV advertising.
ASX-listed operator Tabcorp has agreed to make a A$33m strategic investment in the “fast growing, socialised digital wagering platform” Dabble Sports.
Tabcorp said Dabble, which was founded in 2020, is one of the fastest growing wagering brands in Australia, boasting more than 150,000 customers and generating some A$47m in annualised revenue (based on average monthly revenue during Q2 2022).
It added that the business offers an innovative, socialised betting experience, providing access to a new customer market as a younger audience currently represents more than 80% of Dabble’s customer base.
Dabble’s product allows punters to follow each other’s betting activity, as well as that of verified tipsters and sports stars, while offering the option to copy others’ bets, chat with friends and comment on their activity.
Tabcorp has agreed to invest A$33m for a 20% equity interest in the business on a fully diluted basis, giving the business a total valuation of around A$165m.
Under the agreement, Tabcorp will also have the right to appoint a director to Dabble’s board.
The investment is subject to customary conditions including approval from the Northern Territory Racing Commission, while the appointment of a new director will be subject to probity approval.
Tabcorp managing director and CEO Adam Rytenskild: “Dabble is one of the most unique and innovative wagering brands and our investment today fits perfectly with our transformation agenda. Our stake in Dabble will give us exposure to innovative product capability and ultimately to a younger customer base.”
Tabcorp said the investment provides it with both exposure to Dabble’s innovative product capability and increased strength in the younger customer segment.
The firms “will explore opportunities to create win-win innovation and growth for both TAB and Dabble,” it added.
The investment aligns with Tabcorp’s existing strategy to grow its digital market share and follows the recently announced sale of its non-core eBet business.
“We are transforming our company, with a clear strategy and united ambition to grow digital market share,” said Tabcorp managing director and CEO Adam Rytenskild.
“Dabble is one of the most unique and innovative wagering brands and our investment today fits perfectly with our transformation agenda. Our stake in Dabble will give us exposure to innovative product capability and ultimately to a younger customer base.
“The investment comes with the new TAB App now live, on time, as promised. The launch of the app has had an immediate impact with customers, delivering an 11% increase in weekly active customers compared to the six weeks prior to launch,” Rytenskild concluded.
Dabble CEO Tom Rundle added: “We’re excited to partner with Tabcorp given their new energy and direction; and look forward to growing Dabble even further together. TAB is synonymous with punting in Australia and our brands will complement each other so that Dabble can continue to expand its evolutionary social betting experience to more punters.”


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Market Opening: Nifty, Sensex follow global trends, open in red
Updated: 24 Aug 2022, 10:27 AM IST
- BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty opened lower in trade on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 following global trends after dismal US home sales data.
FILE PHOTO: A man speaks on his mobile phone past a new brand identity for Nifty Indices inside the National Stock Exchange (NSE) building in Mumbai, India, May 28, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas


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A Sioux Falls meatpacking plant was forced to close when it became the epicenter of COVID-19 in South Dakota. Three weeks after executives from its Chinese owner, WH Group, visited the plant, a month after President Trump’s ban on travel from China, nearly 600 of Smithfield Foods’ 3,700 employees tested positive for the virus, as have 135 additional people in close contact with employees. Smithfield Foods was started in 1936 by a family in Virginia. Today, the Chinese own Armour and the famous Smithfield hams, together with the most quintessential American brand of all: Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, with its iconic annual eating contest. In 2013, Smithfield Foods was bought by the Shanghui Group, later rebranded as the WH Group, for $4.7 billion. It remains the largest total acquisition of a U.S. company by the Chinese. With that purchase, the Chinese owned one in four pigs raised in the U.S. and, by adding 146,000 acres, continued to be the world’s largest buyer of American farmland. The purchase was underwritten with a $4-billion Bank of China loan facilitated by the Chinese Communist Party. The deal was an integral part of the CCP’s 2011 five-year plan to improve the Chinese economy with purchases of overseas farmland and food processing companies. Food is poised to become the oil of the 21st century, with demand increasing for a scarce resource.
READ MORE AT THE AMERICAN THINKER


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CEO Randy Pitchford of Gearbox Studios confirms that they are working on brand-new games for the next-gen consoles, including Brothers in Arms: Furious Four which will also be re-imagined as a new IP
At the PAX Prime panel, Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pichford announced that the studio is working on two new franchises for the Xbox One and PS4.
"A lot of people know that there are new consoles coming," Pitchford stated. "Gearbox is in development on a couple of original things -- new IPs -- that we'll announce later." This is in addition to other new projects the company is currently working on, added Pitchford. During the panel, Pitchford joked, "Should we announce Borderlands 3?"
Gearbox Software announced last year that it has put in a significant amount of work towards Brothers in Arms: Furious 4, revealing plans to "evolve" the game into a new franchise.
During the panel, Gearbox Software also gave new details about the upcoming 2013 Community Day event. This year's event is scheduled for September 14 and will be streamed online, which you can buy via its Twitch channel for $20. If you purchase the "digital bonus pack" for the Community Day event, you will be able to stream the event in high definition.This pass also includes exclusive Borderlands 2 heads and skins along with a free download of Homeworld HD and Homeworld Classic.
Gearbox also announced the latest DLC for Borderlands 2, the $5 Digistruct Peak Challenge which was released yesterday, and a few days later for those on the PlayStation network. Borderlands 2 was launched in September 2012 and has shipped over 7 million copies. A Game of the year version is scheduled for an October release.


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German granite sink manufacturer opens US subsidiary
Granite sink manufacturer Schock has opened a subsidiary and warehouse in Pennsylvania, USA, to establish an independent distribution network.
Sven-Michael Funck, marketing and export director at Schock, commented on the move: “Having operated in the US with our partner Houzer for the past three years, we are now responding to the market’s renewed growth. This move puts us even more in touch with our customers.”
Funck continued: “We will now be working with our own very large warehouse to enable our customers in North America and Mexico to benefit from the best possible service and short lead times.”
The US subsidiary, Schock North America, will be led by president and CEO Kenneth Fey, who explained the company has developed sink and tap models specific for the country. Fey said: “We’ve developed several sink and tap models for the American market, which will enable us to meet the regional needs even better than before”.
These models will be supported by a product catalogue, available to download now from the Schock North America website.
Schock operates internationally in more than 70 countries world-wide and moved into seven new markets in 2013 alone.


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Honor 8 Lite launched in India at Rs 17,999; features 5.2-inch display, Android 7.0 Nougat – The new smartphone will be available across all Honor retail stores in India.
Huawei’s sub-brand Honor introduced a new smartphone in the Indian market, dubbed the Honor 8 Lite at a price of Rs 17,999. The device will be available in black and blue color variants. It will be available across all Honor retail stores in India.
In terms of specifications, the Honor 8 Lite features a 5.2-inch FHD display with a double sided 2.5D curved glass. It is powered by a Kirin 655 octa-core processor paired with 4GB of RAM. It includes an internal storage of 64GB which can be further expanded up to 128GB via microSD card.
Running Android 7.0 Nougat with the company’s EMUI 5.0 skin on top, the device features a 12MP rear camera along with an 8MP front-facing camera. A 3000mAh battery completes the package.
Commenting on the launch, P Sanjeev, Vice President- Sales, Huawei India Consumer Business Group said “The Honor 8 Lite is set to revolutionise the sub-20K segment. This phone is ideal for consumers looking for a power packed phone with stunning design. The 8 Lite is a refreshing change from the current selfie offing that runs on outdated chipsets; and provides users with a device that is awe-inspiring both in looks and performance. Running on powerful Kirin 655 octa-core chipset backed by a 4GB RAM+64GB ROM, running on the latest Android Nougat, the Honor 8 Lite, is the best smartphone choice for consumers. We and our channel partners are very excited to launch this product and are sure that the Indian offline consumer will fall in love on their first glance at the all-new Honor 8 Lite”.


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This is big news for Target and probably a result of the huge stimulus passed by Congress. I expect things to settle down with companies like Target and Walmart once we get out of stimulus mode where the government isn’t printing so much money. For now, investors in Target like myself are benefiting.
Target Corp. reported robust quarterly sales and a jump in store visits, a sign the retailer continues to grab market share even as consumer buying habits change during the pandemic.
Comparable sales, those from stores and digital channels operating for at least 12 months, rose 23% in the quarter ended May 1 compared with the same period last year. The sales growth rate was twice as high as the same quarter last year when people rushed to buy food and household staples early in the pandemic.Wall Street Journal


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Wellness will continue to be top-of-mind for many consumers, but it will increasingly come in liquid form, driven in large part by consumers looking for added benefits like energy, mental health and gut health support.
IFIC’s 2022 Food and Health Survey found that “more energy and less fatigue” were the most sought-after benefit from foods and beverages, with 37% of Americans saying so. You can expect to see options that cater to those wishes multiply, such as “alt caffeine” choices to old standbys like coffee and tea. Along with yerba mate, keep an eye out for more yaupon tea, a lower-caffeine alternative with a sweet flavor profile, which is derived from a species of holly native to the deep South.
Mocktails and nonalcoholic cocktail options continue to take up more and more real estate on menus and grocery store shelves and are especially popular among younger consumers. Perhaps a reaction to the early days of the pandemic (where alcoholic sales and consumption spiked), be prepared to see a growing wave of nonalcoholic options not just during Dry January and Sober October.
While energy was the most sought-after food benefit for all adult population groups, according to the 2022 Food and Health Survey, “emotional/mental health” was among the top three sought out by Gen Z, with more members of the generation desiring this benefit compared to their older counterparts. Among those who made a change to their nutrition or diet in 2022 to manage or reduce their stress, 33% said they consumed foods/beverages that are supposed to reduce stress or the effects of stress, and 24% said they drank less alcohol.
Plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy are old hat, but plant-based pasta, rice and snacks will be a growing trend in 2023. These products point a new lens on sustainability and innovation, often relying on “upcycling,” which takes plant-based food components that ordinarily would have gone to waste and processes them for use in other products—such as pulp and spent grain from soy milk or oat milk being added to flour. Upcycling reduces food waste and contributes to sustainable food production.
The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans shone a light on the importance of diversity and cultural traditions in reaching more of the U.S. population. The United Nations agency UNESCO recently added to its list of “intangible cultural heritage,” new entries which are replete with foods and beverages that are steeped in tradition and ritual. At the same time, food companies are also looking to values like diversity, equity and inclusion as ways to attract the best talent and grow thoughtfully.


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Auto Trader surveyed 3,000 motorists for the Owners’ Guide, revealing that more than half of motorists in the UK, at 55 per cent, are prepared to invest large amounts in a vehicle with enhanced safety features.
Of those surveys, 88 per cent of motorists believe safety is an essential factor when buying a car. This is particularly the case for new motorists aged 17-24 years old – who are involved in more than 400 fatal crashes each year in the UK – with 68 per cent saying that would pay more for a car with advanced safety technologies in comparison to just 49 per cent of 55-64 years olds.
Meanwhile, 81 per cent of those would be willing to spend up to £2,000 more on safety features such as advanced accident avoidance systems, showing a potential £26bn extra investment in the new car market.
According to the report, motorists fear that high-tech gadgets will in fact prove a hazardous distraction to some drivers, as a majority of 81 per cent of motorists surveyed think features such as interactive dashboards and hands-free technology could cause more harm than good.
When looking at car manufacturers drivers identify most with safety, results revealed that Volvo came out at the top of the list with almost a third choosing it above any other manufacturer. According to the survey, the top-five manufacturers motorists associate most with safety are:
1. Volvo – 32 per cent
2. Mercedes-Benz – 17 per cent
3. BMW – nine per cent
4. Volkswagen – six per cent
5. Audi – six per cent
Group marketing director at Auto Trader, Jonathan Williams, said: ‘Gradual improvements in the wider economy have had a significant impact on consumers’ ability and willingness to spend when it comes to buying a new car; noticeably investing more in advanced safety features.’
He added: ‘It is clear however, that there is a relatively low understanding of some of the more advanced safety features available today, which is why we are launching a ‘Safety Week’ initiative on Autotrader.co.uk where motorists can learn more.’


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Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway dumped a portion of its Visa and Mastercard holdings and greater publicity in Nubank, the major fintech financial institution in Brazil which is also popular amongst the country’s Bitcoin investors.
In a securities submitting late Feb. 14, the industrial conglomerate disclosed that it experienced bought $1 billion worth of Nubank Course A inventory in Q4/2021. On the other hand, it offered $1.8 billion and $1.3 billion really worth of Visa and Mastercard inventory, respectively, signaling a shift away from credit rating firms to acquire publicity in their fintech rivals.
Buffett, the so-referred to as “Oracle of Omaha,” is well-known for his cautious strategy to investing, specially in the market’s hottest sectors these types of as fintech. The veteran trader experienced also downplayed emerging decentralized finance remedies like Bitcoin (BTC), ridiculing it as an asset that “does not make nearly anything.”
But Berkshire’s new stake in Nubank displays that Buffett has been softening up to fintech these days. In depth, the business experienced invested $500 million in the startup in July 2021. Its returns on the said expense amounted to $150 million in December 2021 following Nubank debuted on the New York Inventory Trade (NYSE).
$NU Buffett-backed Nubank stock established for NYSE debut as IPO pricing valued corporation at about $41.5 Billion.
— InvestingDesk (@InvestingDesk) December 9, 2021
So significantly, Buffett has not revealed any intention to promote his place in Nubank.
The Buffett-Bitcoin connection
Buffett’s further financial commitment into Nubank displays his acknowledgment of the fintech sector’s underlying concept the digitization of economic providers, as effectively as his willingness to affiliate with corporations that are associated in the cryptocurrency sector.
In detail, Easynvest, a buying and selling platform that Nubank obtained in September 2020 has been actively featuring a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) because June 2021. Dubbed QBTC11, the ETF is backed by QR Asset Administration and is listed on the B3 inventory exchange, the second-oldest bourse in Brazil.
So, it appears that Nubank, which remains exposed to the emerging crypto sector by means of Easynvest, could use the added income options to profit its leading trader, Warren Buffett, in spite of his views that Bitcoin is a “rat poison squared.”
That is largely mainly because of the expansion of crypto-related investment decision goods in 2021. Notably, their figures doubled in the yr, growing from 35 to 80, as for each Bloomberg Intelligence info, although the full valuations of the belongings they held reached $63 billion as opposed to $24 billion at the start of 2021.
Emily Portney, main financial officer at Bank of New York Mellon Corp. — one more agency in Buffett’s expense portfolio — mentioned that electronic assets could turn into a “meaningful supply of earnings” for investment decision banking firms as Bitcoin financial investment motor vehicles become more mainstream.
Associated: Bitcoin’s 30% restoration in two months has BTC whales back in accumulation mode
Meanwhile, Leah Wald, chief executive of crypto-asset supervisor Valkyrie Investments, predicted an increase in the money flows into crypto-associated investment autos, saying they have turn into a “phenomenon which is commencing to choose off,” prior to commenting:
“If you glimpse at inflows from a quantity standpoint, not only has it been continuous even with the price corrections that Bitcoin is notoriously famous for, but you happen to be looking at a large amount of establishments leap in.”
Buffett’s portfolio comprehensive of crypto-loving businesses
Although Buffett may not spend in Bitcoin specifically, he is previously attaining oblique exposure as corporations in his portfolio foray into the crypto sector.
For occasion, in Oct 2021, just a thirty day period ahead of Bitcoin achieved its all-time high of $69,000, fifth-premier U.S. bank U.S. Bancorp introduced a cryptocurrency custody provider for its institutional financial investment supervisors, noting that they witnessed an maximize in need from their “fund providers customers” around the last couple decades.
Equally, in a further announcement designed Oct 2021, Lender of America released a cryptocurrency investigation initiative, citing “escalating institutional desire.”
Months in advance of, BNY Mellon introduced that it would keep, transfer and challenge Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies for its asset-administration purchasers.
Announcing the generation of the BNY Mellon Digital Property device – A crew devoted to setting up the first multi-asset custody and administration platform for conventional and digital belongings, which includes #cryptocurrencies. https://t.co/aZ7wMfAXqg pic.twitter.com/L54TFVpJNv
— BNY Mellon (@BNYMellon) February 11, 2021
“The Nubank financial commitment can be tagged as Buffett’s way of supporting the fintech/crypto environment devoid of taking back again his criticisms of the earlier,” asserted Greg Waisman, co-founder and main operating officer of crypto wallet company Mercuryo, incorporating that the Berkshire boss is now backing the “digital forex ecosystem indirectly.”
“Even an indirect exposure is sure to enhance the good sentiment that might drive much more traders into the place.”
The sights and viewpoints expressed right here are entirely these of the author and do not necessarily replicate the sights of Cointelegraph.com. Every single expenditure and trading shift requires risk, you really should conduct your personal investigate when generating a determination.
The views and thoughts expressed right here are solely individuals of the author and do not essentially mirror the sights of Cointelegraph.com. Every financial investment and buying and selling go includes chance, you should perform your individual analysis when producing a decision.


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Beware of Barbie.
That seems to be the message from the FBI after an internal memo reportedly leaked from the agency's Sacramento field office this week.
There have been no reported incidents since the toy was first released in July. Washington television station NWCN received a statement from Mattel, the toy's manufacturer, in response to the memo:
The FBI is not reporting that anything has happened. Steve Dupre from the FBI Sacramento field office has confirmed there have been no incidents of this doll being used as anything other than its intent. Mattel products are designed with children and their best interests in mind. Many of Mattel's employees are parents themselves and we understand the importance of child safety - it is our number one priority.
The FBI memo, dated November 30, seems to be a few months behind TechCrunch, where reviewer Paul Carr called the product "child abuse waiting to happen" during a review at the time of the product's release. He described it as "creepy," then read from a press release from the PR firm that sent Tech Crunch the toy: "Unsuspecting subjects won't know that Barbie is watching their every move."
"This is for frickin' pedophiles!" Carr exclaimed.
While the product's capabilities may give some parents second thoughts, it appears to be a hot item this holiday season. A reporter for CBS 13 in Sacramento found that a local WalMart was sold out of the item, and also said that it was sold out online.
KIRO in Washington reports that the FBI has had cases of child abuse involving Barbie dolls as well as cases involving hidden cameras, which makes them worried about the combination in this particular toy.


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Pendle MP launches Christmas card competition for children
and live on Freeview channel 276
The competition has once again been sponsored by Silentnight and the chosen design will be re-produced on the front of Mr Stephenson’s official Christmas card which goes to thousands of people including local councillors, fellow MPs, the Prime Minister and even Her Majesty the Queen.
Mr Stephenson said: “I am delighted that Silentnight have again agreed to sponsor this year’s competition, meaning that there are some excellent prizes on offer. Every year my office receive hundreds of wonderful designs from school children across Pendle and I can’t wait to see this year’s entries.”
Last year the competition was won by Brooke Burgan, ageed 11 from Park Primary School in Colne, with runners up Esme Shuttleworth,(6) from Roughlee Primary School and Humaira Ahmed (10) from Gisburn Road Primary School in Barnoldswick.
To enter, children’s designs must be returned to Andrew’s Barnoldswick or Nelson office (4 Church Street, Barnoldswick or 9 Cross Street, Nelson) by Friday November 12th. The winning design will be chosen by Monday November 15th.


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The pandemic at COVID-19 has proven a catalyst to increase live streaming abilities for the music industry and provide artists with available payment options. However, many companies have also found a diverse way to enhance Black and Latin cultures and stream more widely to overlooked countries. Many firms raised the music industry to have a lasting effect beyond the 2020 economic and social turmoil. In the music sector, 2020 was a busy year for Mark Gillespie. While much of the mess was caused by the pandemic, normal business development still had a great deal to do with it.
- Neon 16
For more than a decade, Tainy was a revolutionary in reggaeton and produced chart-top hits for Cardi B, J Balvin, and Bad Bunny. In cooperation with Interscope Records last year, he teamed up with former Roc National exec Lex Borrero to create Neon16. Neon 16 is doing its slogan not only to fear a new Latin talent like Dylan Fuentes and Álvaro Diaz but by extending its goal for urban Latin culture to include live shows, television, film, and gaming. Neon16 has organized and hosted events such as Reggaeton Art History during Art Basel and famous e-sport tournaments.
The quarantine between veteran music producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz soon began as friendly rivalry on Instagram Live, which became one of the most extensive entertainment breakouts of 2020. Verzuz is a forum for music fighting with iconic R&B and rap artists, hit by hit, confronting each other. In July, Verzuz concluded a non-exclusive Apple deal to simulate battles with Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, and Instagram Live. Verzuz has also been used by artists who may have peaked years earlier, and commercially he has also dubbed The Verzuz effect as a means of generating streaming numbers and revived interest.
For producers to sell their beats to musicians, BeatStars is an online marketplace. The business got a big boost when the beat used for the 2019 “Old Town Road” track of rapper Lil Nas X came on the platform. But it’s not a one-hit-wonder, BeatStars has proved. The company agreed with Sony/ATV to open a label for BeatStars producers and artists to publishing and administration services. The group of BeatStars has expanded to over 2 million users with over $100 million in payouts.
Bandcamp is an online music platform where new musicians can endorse their recent work and sell their merchandise. It has been a favorite of artists since the launch in 2008, mainly because of its revenue model, which only takes 10-15% of digital products and 10% of physics. As a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bandcamp continued to reduce its profit to 100 percent every Friday through 2020. Bandcamp has also introduced Bandcamp Live, a ticketed live streaming service wholly integrated into the platform that seamlessly makers merchandise and acknowledges that persons’ concerts were not more feasible.
Music was as comfortable as it was a catalyst for progress in 2020—a snapshot of our way of living and a means to strengthen it. This year, so many artists produced delightful, devastating songs. We celebrate the voices that transform the sounds of those we hear and talk about today into some of the most important cultural conversations. These cultural conversations include structural injustice, inclusion, pay equality, ownership of, and freedom to do your work. Everything we do mirrors the environment in which. Then, the music industry itself is always a microcosm of social problems, from stereotyping to shooting within various cases.


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Langley’s berry farmers are getting ready for a season transformed by a pandemic – but with U-pick in local fields.
“Everything’s changing daily,” noted Rhonda Driediger, of Driediger Farms, which produces strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
But she noted that change is pretty typical for farmers, who have to constantly adjust to weather and shifting markets for their products.
“You have to learn how to farm in a crisis, because every year is a crisis,” Driediger said.
Strawberries are set to ripen around early June, if the weather holds, and local farms are planning to harvest and to invite the public out to the fields.
“Everyone’s asking right now if u-pick will be open,” said Driediger.
She confirmed the plan is to host u-pick, with physical distancing between visitors to the fields. The farm is getting ready and is opening its market building on 72nd Avenue already, largely for pick up of advance sales.
As at public locations like grocery stores, the farm will provide guidelines for visitors, but it will be up to the visitors to stick to them and respect physical distancing, Driediger said.
One of the other issues farms are facing is labour.
Driediger Farms uses about 30 temporary foreign workers during the intense harvest season. A dozen of them arrived in Canada before the lockdown, and another 18 are scheduled to arrive in May or June.
Under current legislation, they’ll have to spend 14 days in quarantine before they can start work. The federal government is offering a $1,500 per worker supplement to help with that cost.
Driediger said she wasn’t sure if the workers will still have to be quarantined by the time they come up for the summer season, and the farm is waiting to see what happens.
Other farmers are also adjusting to the new rules.
Blueberries are expected to ripen starting in mid-June and different varieties will be harvested through the summer into late August or early September, said Leeann Froese, speaking for the B.C. Blueberry Council.
While there are temporary foreign workers used in some blueberry harvesting, there are even more local, Canadian citizens who take part in the harvest as seasonal workers.
National numbers showed that as of the end of April, the number of foreign workers who had already arrived in Canada was about 85 per cent of the number from April of 2019, Froese said.
It isn’t known if more workers will be arriving in May or not, or if Canadian employers will use fewer foreign workers this year.
“It’s expected those seasonal workers will come back,” Froese said. “There may be the opportunity to grow that work force.”
By the time of the peak of harvest, every worker is needed on berry farms, Froese noted.
Other local farms are also adjusting to the changes. Krause Berry Farms, another longtime local farm, has partnered up with Joseph Richards Group restaurants, who are now carrying the Krause frozen pies, frozen berries, and preserves as part of the JRG curb side take out and DIY meal kit services the restaurants have launched in the Lower Mainland.
So far, while the pandemic has caused a lot of adjustments, the weather has been good for local farmers, according to Driediger and Froese.
“We’re pretty optimistic,” Driediger said.


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Buy Nearby is a permanent, year-round, feel-good program designed to promote Michigan retail businesses and communities. It’s a call to action, a symbol of pride and celebration, a rallying cry across Michigan and an economic driver for our state. Each year, Michigan celebrates the Buy Nearby campaign on the first weekend in October, "I Buy Nearby Weekend."
Cheryl Medler, a Lansing resident, was promoted to vice president, finance. She previously held the position of controller for the organization.
Medler joined MRA as a staff accountant in 2014 and was promoted to controller in 2015.


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Early abolitionist and slave texts discovered
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Volunteers sorting through donated books for a book sale found an abolitionist text and a slave’s memoir, both dating to the 19th century.
The books were discovered together last month in a single leather-bound volume, said Liza Holzinger, coordinator of the Bethlehem Area Public Library’s book sale.
“When this appeared on my desk, I couldn’t believe it,” Holzinger said. “I was pretty impressed by it, especially after I started doing research on the topic.”
The volume contained a first edition of Lydia Maria Child’s 1833 book, “An Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called African,” and an 1840 second edition of “The Slave: Memoirs of Archy Moore.”
Daniel Wilson, professor of history at Muhlenberg College, said Child’s book was an early abolitionist text that received a lot of attention when it was published.
“They’ve got something valuable there,” he said. “I’m not a book dealer, but this was a very influential text in terms of abolition and convincing people, particularly in New England, to adopt the abolitionist cause.”
Holzinger said Child was a well-known author of popular novels and the advice manual “The Frugal Housewife.” In “An Appeal,” she wrote about the cruelty of slavery and its contradiction to the nation’s founding principles.
There is no indication why the books were rebound together or who donated them, Holzinger said. She expects to price the volume for at least $500. The library is not interested in keeping the book because its rare-book collection focuses on the Lehigh Valley, Holzinger said.