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JonasLeisure offers a complete range of leading leisure and recreation software brands – envibe, Centaman, Gladstone Health & Leisure, The Retention People, Nutrition Complete and…read more
Tokyo Olympics organisers confirm use of facial recognition technology for 2020 Games
The organising committee for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympic has announced that a facial recognition system will be used at Games’ venues to enhance security.
Marking the first time that such technology has been implemented during the Games, the system will be used to verify the identity of athletes, officials, other staff members and media representatives during the Games.
Its introduction is in line with the organiser’s plans to deliver “the most innovative Games in history”.
The system, to be provided by IT solutions company NEC Corporation, a gold partner of Tokyo 2020, will store facial images of every accredited person in a database prior to the events which will then be used to identify people at accreditation check points.
It is hoped that the system will help preclude spoofing, forgery and the use of lost or stolen accreditations, while also improving overall comfort and convenience.
It is anticipated that it will help increase security at more than 40 venues, including the media centre and Athletes' Village.
Introducing the technolocy to the media, Tokyo 2020 Executive Director of Security Tsuyoshi Iwashita said those who are accredited will be subjected to the facial security check every time they enter a venue, advising “the key to Games security is to prevent unauthorised people or items from entering venues.
"Tokyo 2020 will utilise an automated face recognition system for accredited people, a first for an Olympic or Paralympic Games, to prevent unauthorised access.
"This latest technology will enable strict identification of accredited people compared with relying solely on the eyes of security staff, and also enables swift entry to venues which will be necessary in the intense heat of summer.
"I hope this will ensure a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games and help athletes perform at their best."
NEC Corporation Senior Vice-President Masaaki Suganuma added “with our extensive experience and knowledge of biometric identification technologies, NEC is well placed to help ensure the Tokyo 2020 Games can be operated smoothly, safely and securely.
“NEC is a global leader in such technologies, including identification using facial images, iris scans, fingerprints, palm prints, finger vein, voice and ear acoustics, and has supplied more than 700 systems in over 70 countries and regions.”
Facial recognition technology was also provided by NEC at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei.
Image courtesy of Tokyo 2020.
29th June 2018 - Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers look to showcase green technology
13th November 2017 - Facial recognition to drive new sporting revenues
6th November 2017 - IOC looks to centralise Olympic Games ticketing
21st August 2017 - Protests disrupt opening of Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade
19th June 2017 - Japan looks to future sport industry growth
4th August 2016 - New sports confirmed for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
31st July 2016 - ‘Dynamic and exciting’ new sports approach Tokyo Olympics approval
7th November 2014 - Allphones Arena delivers ultimate connected fan experience
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TEMECULA – The Temecula Valley Craft Brewers Guild, in partnership with California State University San Marcos, released a report revealing the city’s 10 craft breweries produced an economic output of approximately $35 million last year. The research shows that Temecula Valley’s brewers increased barrel production by 55% since 2016 and anticipate continued growth over the next 12 months. In 2018, Temecula craft brewers also made a significant impact on the local community, donating over $80,000 to various local organizations and employing more than 130 people. See the full report at university’s College of Business Administration website.
To put this impact in perspective, The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival had an economic output of about $2.8 million in 2018. Excluding hotel and restaurant revenue from the assessment, independent craft breweries in Temecula had an economic output of more than 10 times that of the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival in 2018.
In comparison to Riverside’s wine industry in Temecula, Temecula craft breweries had approximately $27 million in revenue in 2018, while the wine industry had approximately $65 million in revenue in 2016. This amount is significant considering that Riverside’s wine industry has more than 40 wineries and saw its first open in 1974 with Callaway Vineyard, while the craft beer industry currently has 10 breweries and only saw its first microbrewery open in 1994 with Blind Pig Brewing.
“Our key objective with this economic impact report is to help drive awareness that the Temecula craft brewing community has a significant, positive and growing impact on the local economy in terms of economic output, job creation and financial support for local nonprofit organizations,” Todd Colburn, the university’s craft brewing industry adviser, San Diego Brewers Guild board member and founder of Higher Gravity Brand Advocates, said. “Our hope is that this information ultimately helps consumers understand the importance of consciously choosing local, independent craft beer and supporting Temecula breweries.”
The report found that 70% of Temecula brewers predict an increase in barrelage production over the next year and 60% of Temecula brewers plan to hire more employees over the next year.
The Temecula Valley Craft Brewers Guild, in partnership with the city of Temecula, was created in 2017 in response to the craft beer industry emerging in Temecula. The guild offers an opportunity for local craft brewers to get involved and help shape city zoning regulations that affect this industry.
Since inception, the guild and the city have met on a regular basis and have created numerous marketing campaigns to promote the breweries including the Ale Trail Guide and Visit Temecula Valley’s Craft Beer Month.
Building on an innovative 28-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution, dedicated to preparing future leaders, building great communities and solving critical issues. Located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the city of San Marcos, it is the only public four-year comprehensive university serving north San Diego, southwest Riverside and south Orange counties.
The university enrolls 17,000 students. With approximately 2,000 employees, the institution is a Great College to Work For according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award since 2014 – a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion – California State University San Marcos is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. For more information, visit www.csusm.edu.
The College of Business Administration, in conjunction with the University Library and the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences, is offering a suite of research services for a fee to benefit small businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Office of Business Research and Analysis unites faculty expertise with student researchers to produce business plans, economic impact analyses, econometric analyses, geographic information systems studies, industry sector forecasts, marketing analyses and more. For more information, visit www.csusm.edu/coba/obra.
Submitted by California State University San Marcos.

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The price of dogecoin (Doge) soared more than 19% on Friday before retreating later after Tesla began accepting the cryptocurrency, initially created as a joke, as payment for certain branded merchandise.
Tesla billionaire CEO Elon Musk announcement development on Twitter on January 14, a month after it was first hinted that the electric car maker would try the same cryptocurrency as a payment option.
Dogecoin rose above $0.20 after the news, although it later fell back to around $0.18, according to data compiled by CoinGeckco. As of this writing, the coin is down 3.78% in 24 hours, but up 21% in the past week.
Created as an online satirical piece, the digital asset has soared 4,000% since last year, largely thanks to Elon Musk’s tweets. The billionaire loves Doge: he has described it as the “crypto of the people”. Musk also thinks dogecoin is more suitable for transactions than bitcoin.
Musk moves market prices
His tweets often move the prices of both cryptocurrencies. In March last year, Musk revealed that Tesla would start taking BTC for payment, but reversed the decision two months later citing environmental concerns.
Bitcoin rose 5% after Musk announced it as a payment option, but prices fell 12% when the plan was scrapped in May 2021.
According to Tesla’s website, customers can now choose to purchase a selection of items using dogecoins, including Tesla-branded belt buckles (835 Doge or $159) and off-road vehicles for children (12 020 Doge or $2,283), which are currently sold out.
The company says purchases are non-refundable and cannot be returned. If “an order is overpaid in dogecoin, the overpayment amount will not be refunded to the original payment method,” Tesla explains, adding that “it may take up to six hours for the Dogecoin network to confirm your payment”.
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The value of a child’s toy can vanish along with its head after a mishap on the playground but the value of companies making those toys is going up and up.
Toy and video games sales have jumped this year as families have been forced to stay at home, according to NPD Group, a market researcher. Sales of toys were up 19pc in the 12 months to September, while gaming purchases rose 23pc.
Here we take a look at the best gaming stocks to buy as a present that could grow in value by December 2021, rather than ending up in the charity shop.
This FTSE 250 firm makes and sells miniature tabletop war games and figurines, famously the Warhammer series. Rob Burgeman of wealth manager Brewin Dolphin said: “Despite its strong high street presence, it has been one of the success stories of lockdown with its shares up an extraordinary 71pc this year. This has propelled it to the doors of the prestigious FTSE 100 index.”
Last week the company announced that pre-tax profits of £90m between June and the end of November, up from £59m over the same period in 2019. It also increased its dividend by 20pc to 60p per share, which will be paid on 25 January 2021.
This Singapore-based gaming company’s stock has risen fivefold this year on the back of lockdown sales and the fast bounce back in Asia’s economy. It is the largest holding of the £1.7bn Baillie Gifford Pacific fund.
The fund’s co-manager Roderick Snell said: “Sea’s smash hit Free Fire, a survival shooter game, was the world’s most downloaded mobile game in 2019 and so far in 2020. It now dominates gaming markets across Asia and South America, and has used these profits to build the number one online shopping platform across south east Asia.”
The company also offers financial services via SeaMoney, so is well placed to benefit as we do more shopping and paying – as well as gaming playing – online.
Orders for the new Sony PlayStation are well ahead of what the company expected. Many online retailers sold out of of the PlayStation 5 in seconds when it launched in November and the company’s share price is up by about a third compared with January.
"This bodes well for the additional sides to the business that support this such as new game releases and films,” Mr Burgeman added.
Analytics firm Omdia said Sony would sell more PS5s this year than its rival Microsoft will sell of its Xbox consoles and said the margin would continue to widen in coming years. However less than half of Sony’s business comes from gaming. Other areas, such as electronics and films, have not been growing as fast.
This American video game company has also done well this year. Its player base grew by 30pc in the 12 months to June, adding more than 100 million monthly gamers.
Activision Blizzard owns popular series such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, as well as Candy Crush. It has the advantage of not being tied to a particular console or platform, so can make games to play on a computer, mobile, Xbox or PlayStation.
The Walt Disney Company
The company has had a tough year due to Covid-19 with its parks, film releases and gift shop sales all disrupted and its cruise ships berthed.
However, at Christmas, there is "something for everyone from Disney" according to Mr Burgeman, with its film catalogue including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar family favourites and Marvel.
The firm should also do well as it develops its streaming service, Disney+ and as resorts and cinemas hopefully reopen next year.
VanEck Video Game and E-Sport ETF
This exchange-traded fund offers general exposure to the gaming market. It invests in a basket of about 25 video game stocks including Sea Limited, Activision Blizzard and Nintendo. It returned 72pc for investors between January and December this year compared with 13pc from the global stock market.


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Today has seen a ton of Toyko Game Show related news be announced as the Japanese Games Industry prepares itself for their biggest gaming event of the year. Now, in a recent interview with 3D Juegos, Capcom Global Head of Production Keiji Inafune has tease about the next turn in Capcom’s Resident Evil series.
“Given the great success that supposed for us Resident Evil 5, we want that Resident Evil 6 leaves as rapidly as possible to the market. In fact, you will shortly have the news of Capcom about this…”
Could TGS be getting a Resident Evil 6 announcement? Only one way to know and that’s to stay tuned.


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In a stock exchange announcement on Friday the company also says that its end-of-year results for 2006, due in April, will not be available until early May.
But the board has reassured shareholders by promising an interim dividend of 2.
5p per share payable on 13 April.
CI Traders is the largest private retail employer in the Channel Islands and includes the Checkers supermarkets, Safeway, the former Ann Street pub chain and the Marks & Spencer franchise in Jersey, MMD shipping in Portsmouth and a bottling plant in France.
This latest announcement follows an initial statement in October last year that CI Traders was in ‘tentative’ talks about a possible buyout.
At that time chairman Tom Scott said discussions were at a very early stage and that he was unable to reveal the identity of the potential purchaser because of stock exchange rules.


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Six Degrees of Separation Explain the Global Trade Pain to HSBCSimon Kennedy
The world economy is suffering from “six degrees of separation.”
That’s the conclusion of HSBC Holdings Plc economists Stephen King and James Pomeroy after they probed the deceleration of global trade since the 2008 financial turmoil.
Having grown almost twice the pace of economic growth in the run-up to the crisis and about three times its rate in the immediate aftermath, trade now barely outpaces expansion even as the volume of commerce keeps setting new highs.
While weak demand is to blame for much of the slowdown, at least half of it is the result of structural shifts that have frayed ties between countries and risk holding back the world economy, according to HSBC.
Such an environment marks a reversal from the pre-crisis years when the birth of the Internet, use of container ships and proliferation of free trade rounds were among the factors propelling exports higher.
To explain the reverse, the HSBC economists zeroed in on six explanations for why the world is no longer as linked-up as it once was.
For one thing, supply chains have been interrupted by environmental risks such as Japan’s Tsunami, geopolitical threats and faster wage gains in once-cheap emerging markets, according to King and Pomeroy. In the face of such trends, companies such as Caterpillar Inc. in the U.S. have even repatriated production.
Secondly, some developing nations such as China are also now able to supply their own inputs that their manufacturing industries previously imported, according to HSBC.
Protectionism is also mounting, mainly in the form of trade barriers outside of traditional tariffs such as regulatory standards for manufactured goods.
A fourth structural reason for weak trade is that services now account for a greater share of economic activity and are less easily tradable than merchandise.
Accessing trade finance may also be a challenge, according to HSBC, while some governments have implemented procurement requirements that favor home-grown producers. 2009 legislation in the U.S., for example, contained a “Buy America” provision that among other things required government transportation-infrastructure projects be built with American-made products.
There are some reasons for HSBC to think trade may improve. Trade deals such as the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership may be struck, while emerging markets are set to trade more with each other as their economies modernize.
For the moment, King, HSBC’s chief global economist, is worried. “World trade growth is remarkably soft,” he said in a presentation. “There are some structural changes coming through.”


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Facebook recently expressed their feelings about Apple and Google‘s HTML5 efforts, blaming them for not making their mobile browsers better at rendering HTML5 websites. Facebook says that the mobile Facebook site has twice as many users as on native Facebook apps on iOS and Android, combined. While this may seem like an inefficiency on Apple and Google’s part ( well, it is ), there is more to the story. It is clear that Facebook wants to be a next generation platform, powering a multitude of web apps, and hence is in direct competition with Google and Apple. Also, the native Facebook apps suck, and are highly inefficient compared to the mobile website. And there’s a clear possibility that Facebook has not allocated enough resources for the development of these apps, so that people switch to the mobile site. A platform that Facebook controls, and not Google / Apple. On the other hand, Google and Apple have a strategic advantage in not developing the HTML5 capabilities of their mobile browsers, so that developers looking to deliver an awesome experience through their apps, keep developing on their platform, rather than switching to HTML5. All the latency issues that come with developing a HTML5 app, can be solved if the browsers get better. At the same time, the crappy Facebook apps can get better, if well, Facebook makes better apps ( which it can ).
So, it could be said that both the companies are right in their own terms to be doing what they are doing, pushing their platforms forward. But, as a developer, I can say that this war is Facebook’s to win. Looking technologically forward, it is clear that the platform of tomorrow, just like the apps that run on it, will be online, and social. And the last time I checked, that platform is owned by Facebook. And Google for one knows it, and is putting its best foot forward to make their own social + online platform. Google+ [ and its 2 users ] and the Google Apps [ docs etc ] environment, now strengthened with the help of just launched Google drive are just that. Google’s online+social platform. Apple has decided to suck in this area, and just be Apple. And despite that, they might become the world’s first trillion-dollar company. Apple is pretty good at being Apple! One company that is going to benefit from this war though, is Microsoft, owing to their close alliance with Facebook. ( Microsoft just sold Facebook a bunch of patents, at almost no profit, or maybe even at a loss! )


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When Eagle County’s Weston Snowboards wants to open a store in a new market, they hitch it to the back of a dually pickup truck and drive on down the road.
After the founder of the Minturn-born brand retired, the new owners invested rent they would have paid for a traditional storefront into the buildout of a 300-square-foot tiny home that allows them to take their shop anywhere, from A-Basin’s beach to a real one at sea level.
“We realized we had to get our showroom and shop on wheels,” says co-owner Mason Davey (pictured standing in the doorway at right, with partner Leo Tsuo, seated). “Not only to bring our boards out to the people where they are doing their riding but also to realize our dreams. Traveling ski area to ski area, it’s a dream come true.”
This season, you’ll find Weston parked outside ski shops like RMU, resort base areas, and up on Loveland Pass, letting potential customers demo their wares while getting a few turns in themselves. Heated with a high-efficiency wood stove, insulated with recycled blue jeans, and powered by the sun, Weston’s tiny home isn’t just off the grid. In snowboarder slang, it’s off the hook.


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The full extent of the rift between HP and EMC in the storage market emerged at a press conference in New York last week.
Describing EMC's technology as an ageing and proprietary technology, Marilyn Edling, general manager of the enterprise systems group at HP, also confirmed it had struck a partnership with Hitachi Data Systems and rolled out products and strategies for "open" storage management in the future.
Edling said: "We believe [EMC's] Symmetrix will be an ageing architecture. We believe HP's new product will do it better and we have real doubts whether Symmetrix can achieve the highest level of reliability."
HP sold EMC Symmetrix technology and HP accounted for about $1 billion of its $5 billion turnover in the last financial year. Sources close to HP said that the company had approached EMC to OEM its product but was refused permission.
Now HP will push an open architecture which will include support for multiple operating systems and platforms, said Edling.
She promised that the company would become number one supplier in the enterprise market of storage solutions and open storage area networks (SANs).
Alea Fairchild, managing director of Greiner International, a market research organisation specialising in corporate infrastructure, said: "It's a wise move for HP. Its strength is in systems management. Corporate customers are looking for choices in the storage arena. EMC will have to look at its business model and whether it wants to continue selling direct."
That could mean EMC will now be forced to strike deals it has not contemplated before.
To comment on this story, email [email protected]
Are you paying attention?
Private equity firm Permira only acquired Magento from eBay for $200m three years ago
Before robots can take over from humans, we need more humans
It's not easy not being evil


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NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- A California candy store hopes a giant chocolate concoction will land them in the record books.
North Hollywood's The Candy Factory has set out to break the world record for the largest peanut butter cup.
Workers poured the chocolate and peanut butter into a kiddie swimming pool.
The current record-holder is a Vermont chocolate shop which made a 230-pound cup, but these dessert makers hope their creation will top that.
Calif. candy store attempts world's largest peanut butter cup


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The buy-now-pay-later train is showing no signs of slowing down with Australian investors keen to jump aboard new BNPL investment opportunities as evidenced by the opening day of trade for Laybuy Group (ASX: LBY) as an ASX-listed company.
Founded in 2017 by Gary Rohloff and his family in New Zealand, Laybuy Group has emerged as the primary BNPL platform in New Zealand, while also operating in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Raising $80 million from its IPO at an Offer Price of $1.41 per share, early investors were quickly in front on LBY’s official listing on the ASX yesterday when shares opened at $2.10, an instant rise of 49.8% on their IPO price.
Investors who missed out of the stock quickly piled into on-market purchases, pushing LBY shares as high as $2.30 before closing their first day on the boards at $2.05.
Rohloff and his wife Robyn are firmly entrenched as the largest equity holders of the Company with 29.56% ownership retained with funds raised from the IPO to be applied towards expansion in the UK where the Company has brand partnerships with English Premier League teams Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.
As has become the norm within the BNPL sector, Laybuy does not charge interest or admin fees to customers who repay their purchases in six weekly installments, but does charge late fees for missed payments.
The Company already boasts more than 470,000 active customers and 5,600 merchant partners, which for FY20 delivered the Company NZD $13.74m in revenue. Like other operators however, Laybuy is not yet profitable, having reported a $16m loss – a trend in the BNPL space where competitors Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) reported a $19.8m loss and Zip Co (ASX: Z1P) a $20m loss.
Unlike its competitors, Laybuy runs credit checks on its customers via independent third parties and has a Laybuy Boost function enabling customers to exceed their purchase limit by paying the difference of the purchase and their cap upfront.
The BNPL sector is expected to see change over the coming months as payments conglomerate PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) prepares to launch its BNPL product shortly, to its existing 300 million customers, a competitor welcomed by the Laybuy founder.
“It’s a great thing when you have a brand like PayPal come into the sector it legitimises the sector,” said Rohloff.
“I think PayPal will accelerate the adoption of this technology by consumers.”
LBY shares were again in hot demand on their second day of trade on the ASX, opening at $2.17.
- Healthia earnings up 91% as pandemic boosts Aussie health consciousness - February 25, 2021
- Overcoming off-field budget cuts, Catapult analytics prove essential across pro sports - February 25, 2021
- New rides and Theme Park upgrades – Ardent Leisure poised for pandemic recovery - February 25, 2021


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Dragonfly Energy gets $2 million investment
A $2 million investment in Reno-based startup Dragonfly Energy Corp. is expected to accelerate expansion of its manufacturing capacity. Dynavolt Renewable Power Technology Co. Ltd. invested $2 million to acquire 2 million shares of stock in Dragonfly Energy, which makes lithium-ion batteries. The investment represents a one-third ownership stake in the company.
The grand opening of Dragonfly Energy will be at 12:30 p.m. July 12 at 4814 Longley Lane, Reno. In attendance will be the CEO of Dynavolt, a representative from Senator Harry Reid's office, Senator Ben Kieckhefer, Assemblywoman Jill Tolles and Washoe County Commissioner Bob Lucey. The event will feature facility tours and a product demo with a go-ped using Dragonfly batteries. The public is invited.
Dragonfly Energy started as an research-and-development company developing manufacturing methods for reducing the cost of energy storage. The company grew to manufacture and market a line of 12-volt deep cycle lithium-ion batteries for RV, marine and off-grid solar applications. The company currently manufactures and sells batteries for consumer and original equipment manufacturer applications with a focus on serving the marine and RV industries.
Denis Phares, chief executive officer of Dragonfly Energy, said the company is using the proceeds from the Dynavolt investment to widen its product offerings and accelerate its R&D program.
Phares said expansion of Dragonfly Energy’s manufacturing capacity marks a major step in the company’s goal of lowering the costs of lighter, longer-life energy storage options for customers who currently rely on lead-acid batteries. The company relies on patented, environmentally friendly processes that reduce manufacturing costs.
Dynavolt, a leading maker of energy storage products, increasingly expects that lithium-ion and other renewable technology will drive its future growth. Dynavolt chairman Lewu Chen said that the investment in Dragonfly Energy, which is the China-based company's first U.S. investment, gives it access to technology that is expected to lower manufacturing costs.


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Just days after its initial rollout, the WhatsApp Business app has now debuted in India. The standalone app offers a simple tool for small businesses to let them communicate with their clients and customers in an easy way. Facebook-owned WhatsApp announced the plans to kick off its WhatsApp for Business initiative back in September last year and launched a pilot by partnering with companies such as BookMyShow, Netflix, and MakeMyTrip. The new app, for small businesses, arrived first in a handful of markets, including Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the UK, and the US, on Friday. Interestingly, the app was initially tested in India and Brazil ahead of its public release.
The WhatsApp Business app is now available for free download via Google Play in India. It is compatible with devices running Android 4.0.3 and above. A version with similar features is also expected to be available for iOS devices in the coming future.
"WhatsApp Business", asks for a separate phone number from the one users have for their individual WhatsApp account.
"People all around the world use WhatsApp to connect with small businesses they care about from online clothing companies in India to auto parts stores in Brazil," the Facebook-owned app had said in an earlier statement.
"WhatsApp Business will make it easier for people to connect with them, and vice versa, in a fast and simple way," the company added.
Targeted at small businesses, the WhatsApp Business app allows companies to connect with their customers and be a part of the messaging platform that has over 1.3 billion users worldwide. Unlike the original WhatsApp app, the business-centric offering allows businesses to create their own profiles with information such as business description, email, or store addresses, and website. It also provides smart messaging tools to let businesses use quick replies and give fast answers to frequently asked questions. The app also has options to send greetings messages to new customers and set away messages when the companies are busy. Further, there are metrics such as the number of messages read and WhatsApp Web support to let companies send and receive messages directly through a desktop.
"People will know that they're talking to a business because you will be listed as a Business Account. Over time, some businesses will have Confirmed Accounts once it's been confirmed that the account phone number matches the business phone number," WhatsApp said.
People can continue using WhatsApp as usual as there's no need to download anything new.
"People will continue to have full control over the messages they receive, with the ability to block any number, including businesses, as well as report spam," the company added.
According to WhatsApp, 84 per cent of SMBs in India think that app helps them communicate with customers, which explains why the company is focusing on this segment. WhatsApp also plans to add bigger enterprises to its services and these might be monetised in the future.
As per the official data provided in February last year, WhatsApp has over 200 million monthly active users in India. The instant messaging platform is making things difficult for its rival by introducing compelling features such as Delete for Everyone, YouTube integration, and Notification Channel support for Android Oreo devices. Moreover, it is exploring new avenues and is apparently even set to integrate a UPI payments feature in the near future.


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As 2016's tougher fuel economy and emissions standards draw closer, automakers are racing to green up their fleets with electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.
But with electric vehicles come worries about limited driving range and a skimpy network of charging stations. This has automakers turning to various technologies to convince the public that owning an electric vehicle can be as convenient as owning a traditional gasoline-powered ride--and that charging will be substantially cheaper than gassing up.
Here are some of the technology steps related to charging electric vehicles that automakers envision.
Nissan North America Inc. plans to introduce its Leaf electric sedan in the United States late this year. In January, Nissan selected AeroVironment Inc., of Monrovia, Calif., to supply and install home charging stations for Leaf customers. The stations will cost $2,200, but buyers can apply for a tax credit to cover half of the amount.
AeroVironment produces military drone aircraft, among other products.
The Leaf can drive 100 miles on a full charge, which takes 8 hours. The vehicle plugs into a 220-volt outlet similar to the one used for an electric clothes dryer.
The idea behind smart charging is to let people schedule the ideal time to plug in their vehicles to reduce the strain on the electric power grid and take advantage of off-peak rates for electricity.
In late April, Nissan Motor Co. and General Electric Co. entered into a three-year agreement to research smart charging stations.
Energy management software
Ford is teaming up with its Sync partner, Microsoft Corp., to offer customers software to help monitor home energy use. Ford will offer customers Microsoft Hohm beginning with the introduction of the electric Focus small car next year.
The goal here is to create public charging stations that can juice up an EV in 30 minutes or less. Two charging companies--Coulomb Technologies Inc., of Campbell, Calif.; and Aker Wade Power Technologies, of Charlottesville, Va.--have announced plans for a network of these 480-volt stations.
In Japan, Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Subaru have teamed with Tokyo Electric Power Co. form the CHAdeMO Association, which is working on a global standard for fast-charging stations.
Norwegian EV maker Think Global has a deal with AeroVironment to develop a demonstration system that would fast-charge a Think City's fully drained battery back to 80 percent of capacity in just 15 minutes. Ordinarily, that would take 9.5 hours.
Think says it expects U.S. fleet customers would be the first users of such a system, but businesses such as shopping malls and parking garages may adopt it as well.
The Think City is scheduled to arrive in some U.S. cities this year.
Telematics, smart phones
The research firm Frost & Sullivan estimates that more than 80 percent of electric vehicles sold by 2015 will have some kind of telematics technology and that navigation systems will be standard on all electric vehicles.
The most important telematics services will be those that give drivers the location of the next charging station along their routes and those that allow them to book time at a charging station remotely, a Frost & Sullivan report says.
General Motors Co.'s OnStar unit has launched a smartphone application for the Chevrolet Volt that will allow people to monitor their vehicles remotely, initiate battery charging and find out how many miles of all-electric driving they have left.
French automaker Renault plans to take battery ownership out of the equation through its partnership with the startup Better Place.
Better Place plans a network of robotic battery-swapping stations that would operate similar to gasoline stations, allowing people taking longer trips to exchange a depleted battery for a fully charged one. Drive in, pay, the robot removes your depleted battery and installs a fresh one, drive out. But that assumes a standard battery size, shape and location for all electric vehicles.


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Announcement of special awards for domestic and foreign participants in Dubai Expo
Residents of the UAE and foreigners visiting the more than 200 pavilions at the exhibition will receive “special passports” as souvenirs, as well as ordinary passports that will allow them to collect monuments at the end of the Dubai Exhibition.
The Government of the United Arab Emirates has announced a special award for national and foreign participants in the Dubai Expo. According to the details, a special award has been announced for domestic and foreign participants in Expo 2020, under which UAE residents and foreigners visiting more than 200 pavilions at the Expo will receive special passports as souvenirs. Available in all official stores in Dubai at a price of 20 dirhams, it will also be available in Terminal 3 of Dubai Airport and in the online stores of the Expo.
Such a passport is said to encourage exhibitors to see more and more pavilions at the 182-day event and also give them the opportunity to carry their souvenirs at the end of the Dubai Expo, just like a normal passport. -page layout and illustrations are adorned with themed pavilions from the exhibition, Possible Mission, Opportunity Pavilion, A, Mobility Pavilion & Terra and Sustainability Pavilion, on the special passport pages of Crown Jewel Maqam Al-Wasl Plaza, Dubai . Other landmarks will include images of the Skyline and other landmarks around the country.
According to government officials, the yellow passport will also have additional security features, including its unique number, space for photos the size of a passport, personal details of the passport holder, and hidden watermark sketches. On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the United Arab Emirates, a tribute was also paid to the Founder of the Nation, His Excellency Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and a special stamp of gold Sheet. The United Arab Emirates was born as a nation.
The video prepared by Emirates for the Dubai Expo 2020 became popular right out of the box
To promote tourism in the UAE during Expo 2020, Emirates Airlines has recruited Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as part of its new promotional campaign.
To promote tourism in Dubai, UAE during Expo 2020, Emirates Airlines has hired Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as part of its new promotional campaign and the Emirates-produced video for Dubai Expo 2020 became popular.
The video features Jane Wilder’s soundtrack ‘Pure Imagination’ playing in the orchestra that the children are singing in chorus. The campaign is based on the theme of technology, innovation and creativity. The video was shot in 2019. And now, ahead of Expo 2020, he has used a series of CGI animations to show what the event will look like.
In a press release, Australian actor Chris Hamsworth said that he worked with Emirates and Expo 2020 in 2019 to show how important this event is to the world because we all have this power. To build a better future and the past year has shown us that when we work together, an infinite series of possibilities begins, just like the Dubai Expo 2020 to the world with a sense of partnership, we will be connected to provide real-life solutions that they will benefit future generations.


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Owlet Smart Sock Plus
With the Smart Sock Plus, Owlet has answered a call from existing customers to expand the life-span of their popular wearable baby monitor to children up to 55 pounds or 5 years old. While the company continues to make refinements to both the algorithm and sock that make the device function and fit better, there isn’t a huge difference here from the third-gen version. The $359 package is a high price for new customers, but Owlet owners will likely be happy to pay $69 for the expansion pack.
- Fewer false alerts
- Better fit on sock
- Device and algorithm have a much longer shelf life
- More expensive than last version
- Still difficult to keep on kids


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Empty Amsterdam during confinement by coronavirus (Image by Peter Noordendorf)
As soon as the confinement imposed by the pandemic is over, in Amsterdam the model called “donut” or double circle has begun to be adopted, to try to repair the situation in which the economy has remained, but based on a different criterion, based on the balance with the planet.
While much effort is still being made in the Dutch capital to keep citizens safe, city officials and British economist Kate Raworth, a fellow at the Institute for Environmental Change at Oxford University, have been designing how the city can rebuild in a post-Covid-19 context.
They have considered that the current crisis is mainly due to the global attachment to economic growth and to the laws of supply and demand typical of neoliberalism, and proposed for this new model devised by the economist Raworth a guide of what it can be for countries, cities and people thrive in balance with the planetary ecosystem.
It is based on Raworth’s best-selling book of 2017: “Donut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist,” which has been read by countless people and described by The Guardian columnist George Monbiot as a “Innovative alternative to the growth economy”.
The outer ring of the two concentric circles represents the ecological limit drawn by scientists of the planetary system. It marks the limits that humanity should not exceed in order to avoid damaging the climate, soils, oceans, the ozone layer, fresh water and abundant biodiversity.
Located between the two rings is the area where the needs of everyone and also the planet are met. The inner ring is defined by the individual survival and well-being needs for each human being (food, housing, health, education, work, information, displacement, communities, etc.)
The model has been formally adopted by the municipality of Amsterdam as an experiment to define public policy decisions, being the first city in the world to do so.
“I think it can help us overcome the effects of the crisis,” said Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam Marieke van Doorninck, who participated with Kate Raworth in an interview with The Guardian via Skype prior to launch. “It may seem strange that we are talking about the post-coronavirus period, but as a government we have to plan … It is to help us not resort to easy mechanisms.”
“When we have to worry about climate, health, jobs, housing and care, and communities, is there a theoretical framework that can help us with all of that?” Raworth says. “Yes there is, and it’s ready to roll out.”
The central premise is simple: the objective of economic activity should be to satisfy the basic needs of all the inhabitants of the city, but within the means that the planet allows. Kate Raworth reduced the model to provide Amsterdam with a “city portrait” that will show where basic needs are not being met and where “allowed planetary limits” are exceeded. It shows how the problems are interrelated.
For example, residents’ housing needs are increasingly unmet, as nearly 20% of city tenants cannot meet their basic needs after paying rent, and only 12% of the approximately 60,000 applicants of social housing, they are successful.
One solution could be to build more homes, but Raworth’s model for Amsterdam highlights that the area’s carbon dioxide emissions are already 31% above 1990 levels. Imports of construction materials, food and consumer products from outside the city limits contribute 62% of those total emissions.
Van Doorninck says the city will need to regulate this to ensure that builders use recycled and bio-based materials, as much as possible, like wood. But the model’s approach also encourages policy makers to change their views.
“The fact that the houses are too expensive is not only due to the fact that very few are built. There is a lot of capital flowing around the world trying to find an investment, and right now the real estate sector is considered the best way to invest, which drives up prices, “he says.
“This new model does not give us the answers, but rather gives us a way of looking, so that we do not continue moving with the same structures as before.”
The port of Amsterdam is the largest importer of cocoa beans in the world, mainly from West Africa, where the workforce is usually very exploitative.
As an independent private company, these products could be rejected and suffer the economic impact, but at the same time almost one in five households in Amsterdam is entitled to social benefits due to their low income and savings.
Van Doorninck says the port is studying how to move from fossil fuel dependency as part of the new vision for the city, and hopes this naturally evolves into a broader debate on other pressing dilemmas than the Kate Raworth model. has brought to the fore.
“Give space to talk about whether you want to be the place where the products produced by child labor or other forms of labor exploitation are stored,” he says.
The strategy aims to significantly reduce the use of new raw materials and materials and thus contribute to a sustainable city. In the coming years, the city will map the various material flows, from entry to processing, to conserve valuable raw materials. The goal is to halve the use of new raw materials by 2030 and achieve a fully circular economy by 2050.
The Councilor for Sustainability, Marieke van Doorninck, says: “We currently live in an economic system that incinerates valuable products and raw materials as ‘waste’. Big mistake, given the shortage of raw materials in the world. It is not what we want: nobody wants to live in a disposable society. We have to see our economy in a different way: in the way we consume, produce and process. By starting to process high-quality materials and raw materials, we can prevent them from ending up as waste. We also have to share more products and repair them, if only part of it breaks. In this way, we can preserve the raw materials we so badly need and reduce energy consumption. ”
The strategy implemented in Amsterdam contains a large number of measures that companies, the municipality and also citizens will have to face in the next five years. Citizens will treat their waste differently and waste less food, construction companies will build with sustainable materials, and the municipality will buy as many used products as possible.
After the coronavirus, three quarters of the citizens of Amsterdam are willing to buy fewer new items for the benefit of the environment. To facilitate different and lower consumption, the municipality will work with companies, local initiatives and knowledge institutions to establish a sub-platform infrastructure, second-hand stores, online markets and repair services that works well and is accessible in a three year term.
Councilwoman Van Doorninck concludes by saying, “To ensure that the repair and reuse of equipment really pays off, we have asked the government to change the labor tax to the raw materials and energy tax. This will make repairs cheaper, while buying a new product will be more expensive. It will also create more jobs in the manufacturing industry. ”
The Kate Raworth model experiment has been planned for five years, to be evaluated in late 2025. In the Netherlands, an average of 41 kilos of food per person per year is thrown in the trash. To combat waste, the municipality is already beginning to work with policies directed at specific sectors such as hotels. It also tries to discourage citizens from wasting food, and the municipality is committed to bringing the surplus to the people of Amsterdam who need it most. By 2030, this should produce 50% less food waste.
During the production of new construction materials, such as concrete, a lot of CO2 is released. Furthermore, materials cannot always be reused when a building needs to be renovated or demolished. So the city is going to reinforce sustainability requirements in tenders. The city currently works with companies and institutions on more than 200 projects that contribute to a circular economy. For example, the municipality is already conducting a pilot project with the paint industry and used goods stores to collect the discarded latex paint and make it suitable for sale.
The municipal organization itself wants to reduce its consumption by 20% by 2030 and only resort to circular purchases. The municipality will be the first to look at consumables and the arrangement of municipal buildings. In this way, the municipality wants to buy fewer new products focusing on use, rather than ownership. “The changes start at home,” says Council Member Van Doorninck.
Translated from Spanish by Lulith Van


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Who Is Tracking You While You Are Searching The Web?
In her recently published book, Dragnet Nation, Julia Angwin, former journalist with the Wall Street Journal, documents how she tried to lessen her dependence on online searching through major web browsers, cell phone use, Facebook accounts and other mainstays of everyday digital life, so her privacy would be more protected. She undertook an experiment for one year and found it was often difficult and required much high-tech knowledge to protect her privacy while still trying to maintain normal communication with family and friends.
Along the way, she used alternate identities, chatted on disposable (and sometimes Faraday caged) cell phones, used DuckDuckGo (which does not store data) instead of Google (which does) and tried Riseup, an email service designed to protect privacy. She also gives a tip for strengthening passwords: make them longer and avoid simple dictionary words.
In a recent article in the New York Times, Molly Wood writes on “Sweeping Away a Search History.” She notes that web searches are usually tracked and stored in databases where the information can then be used for almost anything. Many of the major search engines allow one to delete a search history, but that alone does not keep one from being tracked by advertisers.
While turning off a search history is one thing, a search engine such as DuckDuckGo is an alternative way to go as it collects no personally identifying information. It claims it does not need to save search histories in order to make money on ads. You can also try Disconnect Search, whose web version lets you search Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. without sharing your internet address or saving a search history.
As Ms. Wood notes at the end of her article, “Privacy matters for many reasons, both tangible and not, and it’s wise to exercise control when you can.”


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Bega extends offer period for Warrnambool
- From: AAP
- December 11, 2013
BEGA Cheese has extended the offer period for its takeover bid for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter.
Bega's offer will now remain open until December 20, a week later than its previous closing date.
Bega is one of three companies vying for control of Warrnambool, and has offered 1.5 Bega shares plus $2 in cash for each Warrnambool share, which at current prices represents a value of $8.60.
Canadian dairy giant Saputo has offered $9 for each Warrnambool share, and $9.20 if more than half of Warrnambool's shareholders take up the offer.
Warrnambool's board has supported the Saputo offer, and the Canadian company has gathered 14.6 per cent of Warrnambool shares.
But the Takeovers Panel has issued interim orders stopping Saputo from processing the acceptances.
Australian dairy co-operative Murray Goulburn has offered $9.50 for each Warrnambool share, but it is conditional on no objection from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or authorisation being granted by the Australian Competition Tribunal.
Warrnambool shares dropped four cents to $9.15 and Bega dropped four cents to $4.40.


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Today is the day that Google begin their worldwide roll out of their mobile friendly update. Google are elevating sites on search results which are mobile friendly. This was inevitable and my only shock is that their Algorithms were not boosting mobile friendly sites sooner.
As the update is deployed searchers will now find mobile friendly and high quality sites more easily where the text is readable without tapping, zooming or having to keep scrolling across which i’m sure everyone agrees is extremely frustrating. At the moment the update will only afftect the rankings of individual pages rather than the whole site but I believe this will come soon enough.


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Supervalu Inc. was within its rights to conduct stealth campaigns to block development of stores from rivals like Wal-Mart Stores Inc., a judge ruled.
The Wall Street Journal reports on the ruling by federal Judge Harry D. Leinenweber, who dismissed a suit by property developers against Eden Prairie-based Supervalu and a consulting firm. The developers had claimed the retailer engaged in fraud when it secretly organized citizen opposition to shopping centers that would have included Walmart stores, even paying for a lawyer who helped block the deals.
The judge basically acknowledges that Supervalu was being sneaky, but said that was allowed.
The Journal had also reported the original revelations of Supervalu's involvement back in 2010.


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P2P lending company Landbay has begun implementing Netverify, a product created by credentials management company Jumio.
Netverify is set to authenticate lenders’ identities, comply with anti-money-laundering regulations and improve user experience.
The multi-year deal will see Jumio’s ID verification technology become part of Landbay’s ‘Know Your Customer’ compliance process. Since the implementation of this technology, the speed of customer onboarding has improved by a factor of five.
Gray Stern, CCO at Landbay, said: "Jumio’s technology is simply a step above the rest in the market. We needed a solution which could help streamline processes for both lenders and borrowers and for us as a business. We have this with Jumio."
David Pope, director of marketing EMEA at Jumio, said: "Compliance with KYC regulations designed to prevent financial crime, balanced with a simple and quick customer-friendly experience, has never been more important. With new cutting-edge financial institutions, such as Landbay, the benefits of mobile technology are being seen by consumers and businesses alike."


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Photo Credit: Dan Malll
First Black-Owned Bakery, Sweet T's, Opens Inside Philly's Reading Terminal Market
For the first time since its inception in 1893, Reading Terminal Market will have its first Black-owned bakery: Sweet T’s Bakery & Snack Shop.
“It has been 120 years, and it was never an African-American bakery in here. We are the first. We are trailblazers,” co-owner Mark El said in an interview.
Sweet T’s Bakery is currently a pop-up cart in the market. The husband and wife duo specializes in all things sweet potato. On the menu, you will find sweet potato cheesecake, sweet potato pound cake, and a traditional sweet potato pie with buttered crust. But what the bakery is most famous for is the Sweetie’s Pie. It’s a three-inch sweet potato pie with a graham cracker crust. Yum!
“Sometimes a tear rolls down my eyes. I can’t believe it,” Tia El told ABC 6. “My husband and I have been working so hard for an opportunity like this.”
The bakery is now open and replaces the former Metropolitan Bakery. Delivery will be available.


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Aonuma didn’t go into much detail of how the game is, but he did mention that the monster that was in the E3 trailer could be something that would require a high-speed chase across the countryside, a first for the series. Aonuma also delve into the decision of the art style saying:
“Rather than seriously considering something photorealistic using the real world as a model, the vision comes from inspiration by Japanese animation and such from the past that I may or may not have watched before. That’s how the [vision] came to be.”
To make this news more exciting, Aonuma revealed that the game now looks better than the E3 trailer that premiered earlier this year. While they are still working on it and how to properly develop a Zelda game on a vast and seamless world, Aonuma said that we are likely to see something about the new Legend of Zelda game at E3 2015.
The Legend of Zelda for Wii U is expected to be released sometime in 2015.
I don’t see how The Legend of Zelda on Wii U looks even better than it does now. If there wasn’t enough reason to get a Wii U already, a potential open world Legend of Zelda game would be it. It may take about a year for the game to be released, but I trust Nintendo on delivering a great Legend of Zelda game.
Jesse Webster is a Senior Writer at MONG and has three Zelda games he needs to play on the 3DS. You can find him on Twitter.


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From big data to scurrying robots, warehouses and distribution centers are becoming a high-tech arena, driven by the e-commerce and omnichannel marketing boom.
Tags: E-commerce, Robots
Ford is celebrating 100 years of trucks on July 26, 2017. The date marks the centennial of the first Ford truck, the Model TT, offered to the public. Read more here. Photos courtesy of Ford.
Tags: Ford, Ford F-Series, Ford Super Duty, Historical Vehicles, Ford F-150, Trucking History
More photos from the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta, Sept. 24 - 28, 2017.
Tags: Atlanta, Trade Show, NACV Show


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Idaho Hand Washing Experiment Goes Viral
We always hear about the importance of washing our hands, but this experiment may have you scrubbing more frequently and thoroughly.
In the experiment, teacher Dayna Robertson of Idaho Falls used 5 pieces of bread. One-piece was rubbed on laptops in the classroom. Another piece of bread was passed around to students with dirty hands, another piece of bread was handled by kids who had used hand sanitizer, another was handled by kids who had washed their hands with soap and water, and the last piece of bread was stored untouched. The results were shocking!
After a few weeks, the piece of bread that had not been handled at all and the piece of bread that was touched by the kids with clean hands remained mold-free. However, mold still grew on the piece of bread handled by kids who had used hand-sanitizer, the one that was handled by kids with dirty hands grew more mold, and the piece of bread rubbed on laptops turned black!
Robertson says the experiment has certainly encouraged the kids in her classroom to wash their hands more frequently and to keep kids clean. The post about the experiment has already had over 64,000 shares.


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HSF Funds Hotel Construction Near Disney World With $140M Loan
Doradus Partners has pinned down a $140M construction loan to build four new hotels near Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, according to HALL Structured Finance (HSF), which originated the debt.
The Huntsville, Ala.-based developer plans to use the proceeds to bring a total of 997 new guest rooms to Flamingo Crossings Town Center, a Disney-backed shopping complex that the entertainment giant is building about three miles southwest of its Magic Kingdom theme park. The new hotels will include a 273-room Fairfield Inn by Marriott, a 272-room Home 2 Suites by Hilton, a 229-room Homewood Suites by Hilton and a 223-room Residence Inn by Marriott.
An HSF spokeswoman declined to provide the terms of the loan.
The Doradus hotels will make up a portion of the seven lodgings that are planned for Flamingo Crossings. Two others, a SpringHill Suites by Marriott and a TownPlace Suites by Marriott, are already up and running. The development will also include 200,000 square feet of retail, as well housing for some of the thousands of college students that Disney hires as temporary workers.
Target and Walgreens both plan to open stores at Flamingo Crossings. Ben & Jerry’s, Dunkin’ and Five Guys will be among the food sellers.
Three of the four planned Doradus assets — all but the Fairfield Inn — will be extended-stay hotels, a strategy designed to serve families visiting the area’s theme parks, according to Brad Ferguson, the HSF executive who originated the loan.
“The extended-stay hotels are intended to capture families who want to have a kitchen, a living room and a little bit of extra space, who are going to be in the area for a little bit of extra time,” Ferguson said.
Guests will be able to book rooms through Disney’s website as well as from Hilton and Marriott, which, Ferguson said, should boost their visibility with travelers.
More than 52 million people visit Disney World each year, but the planned properties will have to vie against the 36,000 hotel rooms located within the resort for those guests. Ferguson also pointed out that Disney World is not the only attraction that brings people to the area.
“It’s a unique destination. There’s one primary demand driver, but there’s also the convention center, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios,” Ferguson said.
Those two theme parks are both about 10 miles from Flamingo Crossings.
Disney first announced plans for the shopping development in 2007, but delayed work the site when the 2008 recession began, according to Orlando Weekly. The 450-acre budget-oriented development will angle to compete with two similar non-Disney retail campuses nearby: Winter Garden Village in nearby Winter Garden, Fla., and Margaritaville Resort Town Center in Kissimmee.
Doradus Partners couldn’t be reached for comment.


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Entries are now open for 2016 Appsafrica.com Innovation Awards looking to celebrate the best in mobile and tech from across Africa following the success of last year’s Awards which celebrated 10 winners from over 200 entries across 21 countries.
Returning to Cape Town where they were held last year, the awards are looking for applications in 10 categories from ventures who can clearly demonstrate innovation using mobile or technology to meet the needs of any African market. The ten are-Disruptive Innovation Award, Best Social & Messaging Award, Best African App Award, Enterprise Solution Award, News & Entertainment Award, Educational Award, Fintech Award, Social Impact Award, Brand On Mobile Award and last but not least the Women In Tech Award.
The Appsafrica.com Innovation Awards are held in association with Mobile Monday South Africa and the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) will take place in Cape Town on Monday 14th. November. The deadline for entries is September 10th, 2016.


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UEFA moves to stop website selling Euro 2016 tickets
LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - UEFA has taken legal action in France to prevent a website from offering tickets for this year's European Championship, European soccer's ruling body said on Saturday.
A French court has granted UEFA an order against guaranteetickets.com, ordering it to stop selling tickets to the matches and not to use UEFA trademarks.
Akirma Ventures Limited, the company behind the site, will be fined 1,000 euros ($1,127) for each day it fails to comply.
"This summer will see a fantastic festival of football but fans intending to travel should only do so if they have bought tickets from official channels," UEFA solicitor Nick Bitel said in a statement.
The site has advertised on Google but UEFA says it has no right to sell Euro 2016 tickets and that tickets bought through unofficial channels may not gain the buyer entry to the matches.
Akirma Ventures Limited could not be reached for comment despite efforts to contact the company by phone and email.
Major sports events recently have been marred by a number of websites selling tickets which they then fail to deliver.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland have qualified for the tournament starting in June and UEFA is expecting unprecedented numbers of British fans to travel to France.
UEFA is concerned that because of the high levels of demand fraudsters will target fans desperate to follow their teams. The ruling body has already taken down several unauthorised websites illegitimately offering to buy or sell tickets. ($1 = 0.8876 euros) (Reporting by Ed Osmond; Editing by Ros Russell)
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Three Dog Bakery launched its annual "Feed a Dog Food Drive" on May 1 to help local dogs in need. Participating Three Dog Bakery stores across the
US, Canada and Hong Kong are holding food drives to help feed dogs
in their local communities, and the drive will run the entire month of May.
“This is a wonderful event that we are proud to
support every year,” said Jamie Wiebrecht, director of franchise operations.
“There are many phenomenal organizations that are dedicated to serving
homeless and neglected animals. We are extremely happy that we can play a
role in raising awareness about shelter dogs while helping to provide thousands
of pounds of food. Our hope is that the Three Dog Bakery food will help these
organizations continue to make a difference for animals in their area.”
Since the inception of Three Dog Bakery’s “Feed
a Dog Food Drive” in 2011, more than 50,000 pounds of dog food has been donated
to dogs in need. In addition to the contributions collected in the bakeries,
Three Dog Bakery headquarters will donate up to 500 pounds of additional food
and treats to the three bakeries with the most donations.
Is the Proportions whole food nutrition program a healthier alternative to conventional diets?
We asked Carol Jones-Adams, who founded and runs functional treat maker Overby Farm with her husband and business partner, Bob Adams, to tell us more about her company
The maker of raw and holistic diets seeks to help transform pets through its products, philosophy, education and research
Read more of Dr. Mukund Parthasarathy's insights on the changing petfood retail market and how it affects petfood manufacturers large and small
While petfood shoppers continue to show strong brand loyalty, pet products have not been immune to the store brand swing
Now is the time for packagers, producers, marketers and manufacturers to capitalize on the traveling with pets trend
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Victoria Beckham Page 1
Last night, a slew of Hollywood’s finest ladies took to the red carpet in London for Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards and whether or not they delivered any glamour is up for debate. Rita Ora put on the most ritz, wearing a silver and tulle confection by Marchesa. Others offered a series of shorter hemlines, and a whole lotta pants.
It’s time to rethink your next Victoria Beckham-inspired ensemble and self-diagnose. The Spice Girl-cum-fashion designer has been the cause of widespread epidemic: Poshitis.
We sure hope so. We know the spritely 38-year-old became famous for footie in the first place, but we wouldn’t mind if his just-announced retirement from the game opened more time in his schedule for hanging around sans shirt. Of course everyone’s calling dibs on David Beckham now that he’ll be stepping off the pitch, so let’s dig in for a little speculation.
Well, that’s one way to do it.
It’s been more than 15 years since Victoria Beckham covered US Vogue, and yet we remember it like it was yesterday. Yes, this is probably because January 1998 was right at the height of our Spice Girls obsession, and seeing the fivesome on the front of the fashion bible was something of a dream come true, but we’ll always have a soft spot for that particular issue. Which is just one of the reasons we’re excited to hear that the artist formerly known as Posh Spice may be covering the title yet again, but this time all by her lonesome.
It’s Victoria Beckham’s 39th birthday today! And oh how far she’s come. To celebrate her big day, we’re taking a look back at her modeling days, although this time we’re not going all the way back to her cheesy teenage glamour shots, but to 2003, when she donned satin jackets and booty shorts in a campaign for Jay-Z’s label, Rocawear. Needless to say, they’re pretty great — AND one of them co-stars an Afro-sporting Naomi Campbell!
We’ll never tire of looking at old photos of Victoria Beckham. Sure, she’s now one of the most glamorous women in the world, but a quick look back in time reveals cheesy teen modeling shots, ridiculous getups, and beauty flubs galore. The Spice Girl-turned-designer told Hello magazine that at least one of these things is going to remain firmly in the past, however. Do you think she’s making the right call?
Models have to be prepared to get themselves into some pretty strange situations on the job. But you’d think certain people would get a pass, namely Kate Moss, who, after 25 years of modeling, can pretty much say “no” to whomever she so pleases. Victoria Beckham likewise doesn’t strike us all that easily persuadable. And yet, Juergen Teller has captured both women in less than glamorous poses. How did he do it?
Victoria Beckham is launching her namesake label’s first e-commerce site in February, and to hype it up, she’s released several teaser videos, one of which is completely seizure-inducing.
Do we sound bored? We’re not.
These days, Victoria Beckham comes in just behind Anna Wintour on the list of people we would least expect to see leaving the house in knockoff designer duds. But not so back in the early aughts, before Beckham had truly exploded on to the fashion scene, and was photographed while carrying her son and *gasp* a fake Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse graffiti handbag.
We have always loved the ever-fashionable Victoria Beckham. We wanted to be her back when she was Posh Spice (who are we kidding, we still want to be her!) and now we adore her style. But it turns out things weren’t always so perfect for Beckham!
Spice Girls reunion! Spice Girls reunion! Well, almost.
You saw a sneak peak of the highly-anticipated, Karl Lagerfeld-lensed editorial earlier this week, but now Victoria Beckham‘s entire spread and cover for French Elle are out. Check out the rest of the images after the jump!
Earlier this summer, Victoria Beckham tweeted some behind-the-scenes pics of her Karl Lagerfeld-lensed photoshoot for French Elle inside Coco Chanel‘s home on Rue Cambon. We got a glimpse at the fancy hair accessories and clothes, which were Chanel couture, naturally, and now, we’ve got another sneak peek at her spread.
Ok, let’s get this out of the way — we think speculating about the contents of a woman’s womb is pretty tacky. But sometimes a girl’s gotta stoop, so stoop we will. News of Victoria Beckham‘s maybe-pregnancy is making the rounds right now, backed up by reports of the 38-year-old designer’s strange eating habits as of late, refusal to drink alcohol, and a quote she gave Glamour in September saying she’d “never say never” to popping out another baby Becks.
Before she was a celebrated fashion designer, before she married a world famous soccer player — hell, before she was even Posh Spice, Victoria Beckham was just another aspiring teenage model. And we’ve got the pics to prove it.
As much as we’re dreading this year’s Fashion’s Night Out, we were pretty amazed at its new PSA. It failed to hype us up for FNO, but it did make us giggle. The normal fashion crew of Marc Jacobs, Karlie Kloss, Victoria Beckham, Jessica Paré, and Solange Knowles make appearances in the video. But wait, hold the phone — is that Tyson Chandler?? Yeah, he’s in it too! And why is Darren Criss singing a Madonna song?


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If you’re managing type 2 diabetes, it’s natural to be curious about whether CBD might help you manage those symptoms, too, to help stabilize your blood sugar. In fact, the prevalence of cannabis use increased by 340 percent among people with diabetes from 2005 to 2018, according to a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence in July 2020, which surveyed people on their use of cannabis (CBD or THC, in any form) in the previous 30 days.
How People With Type 2 Diabetes Are Using CBD
Still, in the aforementioned survey, 78 percent of people used cannabis that was not prescribed by a doctor. “Diabetes patients might still use cannabis for medical reasons, but not have a prescription,” says Omayma Alshaarawy, MBBS, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of family medicine at Michigan State University in East Lansing, who led the study. Recreational use is another factor. She points to a separate study, published September 2019 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, that found that more than 50 percent of people with medical conditions such as diabetes or cancer use cannabis recreationally.
Scientific Studies on CBD and Type 2 Diabetes, and Barriers to Research
The organization receives thousands of inquiries about cannabis therapies a month. It keeps a registry of these callers, where they live, and their health conditions. Jackson says that people with type 2 diabetes are not a large percentage of the callers, but they currently have 540 people with diabetes in their database.
And the numbers nearly double for adults who have tried it once or more. According to a 2019 Consumer Reports CBD survey:
While it shows plenty of promise in treating various conditions, “it is not a one-size-fits-all [remedy] to treat specific conditions or symptoms of those conditions for every individual,” says Manisha Singal, MD, the founder of Aethera Beauty . “Research on the benefits and action of CBD in topical formulations as well as ingestible forms is ongoing. That experimentation is in its preliminary stages and there is a long way to go. The medical potential for CBD and other cannabinoids is undeniable, but medical research takes time and careful analysis.”
CBD statistics by method
The CBD market exceeded $4 billion in 2019, according to a study by the Brightfield Group, and they expect the industry to top $25 billion by 2025.
CBD statistics in America
People claim that CBD can treat everything from acne to cancer. But the most common uses are for pain, inflammation, anxiety, and insomnia.


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The move comes shortly after Britannia Industries, launched its super-premium chocolate chip cookie Good Day Chunkies exclusively on Amazon.
At Rs 25,000 crores in the organised branded space, biscuits are among the largest categories in the food space, touted to be 10% of the FMCG market.
The plan will essentially have details on new segments, expansion strategy into international markets and how to scale up its dairy business.
Biscuits and confectionery manufacturer Parle Products will only be focussing on its existing range of products to consolidate its market position over the next 1-2 years rather than launching new items.
In her current role, Mondelez International's Anuradha Aggarwal is responsible for the biscuits portfolio at Mondelez for the Asia Pacific region.
The team members are issued with rations of dried prunes, powdered cottage cheese, biscuits, chocolate, as well as coffee, tea and sugar.
There is, after all, a hoary tradition of naming foodstuff after leaders and celebrities, from the Victoria sponge cake and Melba toast to Garibaldi biscuits and pizza Margherita.
IndiGo is not the only brand which has realized that reusable tins are a neat way to involve customers beyond the actual use of the product.


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President Trump took a very brief break from tweeting about Tuesday night's debate (and retweeting other peoples’ opinions about the debate, and tweeting about James Comey) to comment on a 2018 study that suggested a chemical found in McDonald’s fries could prevent hair loss.
More than 50 Black former McDonald’s franchise owners are suing the burger chain, saying the company steered them to less-profitable restaurants and didn’t give them the same support and opportunities given white franchisees.
McDonald’s former CEO is asking a court to dismiss the company’s lawsuit against him, calling it “meritless and misleading.”
McDonald’s is suing Steve Easterbrook, the CEO it ousted last year over an inappropriate relationship with an employee, alleging he covered up relationships with other employees and destroyed evidence.
Authorities are searching for a suspect who allegedly assaulted a fast-food worker over missing ketchup.
A woman in England is livid after allegedly finding a piece of a face mask baked into a McDonald’s chicken nugget, claiming her young daughter nearly choked on it while eating.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski recently spoke about recent decisions the company has made amid the coronavirus pandemic. He specifically suggested that law enforcement may be called during situations when a customer won’t wear a mask.
The fast food giant is the latest business to announce a mask mandate for customers in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
The announcement from the fast-food chain comes as multiple areas across the country are reinforcing lockdown restrictions in efforts to clamp down on surging COVID-19 cases.
The roles are part of the company’s seasonal hiring effort, with both full- and part-time opportunities.
Workers at McDonald's restaurants in 20 cities will go on strike Wednesday to put pressure on the company to improve employee protections during the coronavirus outbreak.
McDonald's at Navy Pier reopened Wednesday to serve thousands of hot meals to Chicago hospital staff and emergency workers during the pandemic.
McDonald’s will offer free Thank You Meals*, between Wednesday, April 22 and Tuesday, May 5, for health care workers and first responders.
A mom in England whose kids are missing their favorite McDonald's meals amid lockdown has recreated their fast-food order -- complete with realistic packaging.
The Double Big Mac comes just as you’d expect, with special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions — and not two, but four beef patties.
McDonald’s announced that fans will have the opportunity to get a free Egg McMuffin on Monday, March 2!
According to reports, a female employee was struck by a customer who was apparently angry after being offered a free cup of water. A second female employee was reportedly hit when she attempted to intervene.
Ever wanted your house to smell like McDonald's?
The green in spring is coming a little earlier this year as the iconic McDonald’s Shamrock Shake returns Feb. 19, marking the 50th anniversary of the delicious treat.
A Florida woman was not “lovin’ it” after she was arrested last week, accused of threatening McDonald’s employees when she didn’t get the dipping sauces she wanted with her meal, police said.


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Three weeks after the collapse of Bulb, the biggest energy supplier to go bust, the head of OVO Energy has doubted the government’s decision to put the company into a special administration regime.
Last month, Teneo was appointed to be Bulb’s special administrator after the government allocated £1.7 billion to cover the cost of the process.
In an interview on Bloomberg, OVO Group Founder Chief Executive Stephen Fitzpatrick commented on this move: “It’s a bit of a mystery. There were very workable solutions on the table.”
It had been previously reported that several energy suppliers had previously approached Ofgem to submit plans that would have allowed Bulb’s customers to be moved into alternative providers at less cost to consumers and taxpayers.
Last week, a Citizens Advice report criticised Ofgem for ‘mistakes’ and ‘missed opportunities’ while estimating that the collapse of 26 suppliers in recent months had left customers with a bill of £2.6 billion.
A government spokesperson told ELN: “Our overriding priority is to protect consumers, which is why the Energy Price Cap will remain in place to hold back a wave of instant bill increases this winter to ensure millions of customers pay a fair price for their energy.
“The Special Administration Regime was the only viable option for Bulb to ensure 1.7 million customers received continued supply. The Government will seek to recoup costs at a later date, ensuring that we get the best outcome for Bulb’s customers and the British taxpayer.”
On 19th November, Ofgem Chief Executive Jonathan Brearley sent a letter to Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng writing that an application for an Energy Supply Company Administration Order is “essential in the circumstances”.
Mr Brearley said: “The company has been subject to the volatility in the wholesale energy markets and on 18th November informed Ofgem that its board of directors had reached the view that the company needed to enter into a formal insolvency process.
“Given current market conditions and the company’s large number of customers, the Authority does not consider that it would be feasible or in the best interests of consumers to use our Supplier of Last Resort powers.”


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Snap's only physical offering to date, the Spectacle sunglasses, has done a little favor to Snapchat's progenitor. Snap recently revealed that it generated $5.4 million in revenue from its subsidiary business while stating about its weak earnings in the second quarter.
That roughly adds up to the conclusion that 41,500 units of the device were sold in Q2. Compared to earnings from the subsidiary business in the first quarter which was $8.3 million, Snap Inc. has seen a decline of 35% in revenues. The declining sale of Spectacle is quite evident.
Snap is now retailing the device on Amazon as well as in retail stores of various ventures. However, how well the Spectacle does with revamped efforts will be a mystery until the reports for the third quarter is generated and made public. Snap also started selling the Spectacle through Snapbot vending machines in Europe in June 2017. Which leaves room for speculation that the sale in the second quarter in the US had gone further down.
Snap is reported to be involved in talks with a Chinese brand that specializes in manufacturing Hover selfie drones. The deal is said to have taken place with figures somewhere in between $150 million and $200 million. The news gives us a hint that Snap will try hands in a similar product.
Spectacle from Snap is a pair of sunglasses that has an inbuilt camera and connects to smartphones through a wireless connection. It streams videos to the Snapchat app and users need not pull out their smartphone each time they want to record a post for Snapchat.


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Why this is important to Wisconsin businesses: E-commerce platforms provide a growing opportunity for international companies to test and market their products to consumers in China.
China’s growing middle class is seeking beauty.
As the living standards of China’s population have risen, so has the desire for beauty and personal care products. High-end and functional personal care products are highly sought, and China’s domestic companies have not been able to keep up with the rapidly increasing demand.
Sales for the sector topped ¥572.6 billion ($82.4 billion USD) in 2021 with a compound annual growth rate as high as 11% over the previous five years. The U.S. has been a major supplier, selling $17.3 billion worth of beauty and skin care products to Chinese consumers in 2020—up 31% over the previous year.
The popularity of international online shopping has made it easier for people in China to buy beauty and personal care products from overseas companies and has accelerated the pace of foreign brands selling into the Chinese market. Many of the foreign brands are able to sell their products in China through Tmall Global, which bills itself as the largest international e-commerce platform in China. In 2021, nearly 1,000 new beauty and personal care brands opened shop on Tmall Global.
Launched in 2014 as part of the Alibaba Group, Tmall Global lets foreign companies sell their goods directly to consumers in China without requiring a Chinese business license. Tmall Global also has factory production that can complete manufacturing of foreign companies’ products that are designated for sale in China.
According to GlobalData, a UK-based data and analytics company, China leads the global e-commerce market, with more than $2 trillion in sales in 2022. The U.S. came in second, with $1.5 trillion in online sales.
Wisconsin companies that are considering exporting to China can take advantage of international e-commerce platforms to test the market reaction to their products and then decide if they want to open a full-fledged shop on one of the platforms.


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Apple has won the right to use the name "iPhone" in Brazil, promising to bring an end to a 6-year-old battle over the trademark in South America's largest country. A court ruled that Brazilian consumer electronics firm Gradiente, which began selling an "iphone" last year that runs on Android, must now share the trademark with Apple.
Judge Eduardo de Brito Fernandes called Apple's iPhone "world renowned" and said giving Gradiente exclusive rights to the name would be unfair. "All the (Apple) product's renown and client following have been built on its performance and excellence as a product," the judge ruled, according to AFP.
Gradiente first requested the trademark in 2000 through the INPI, Brazil's intellectual property office. Apple was denied the iPhone trademark in 2007. IGB Electronica, which controls Gradiente, said it would appeal the court's decision.


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Imperial Tobacco Group Plc’s (LON:IMT) Fontem Ventures subsidiary announced today that it had entered a into a license agreement with Japan Tobacco International to settle a patent infringement lawsuit over e-cigarette technology.
The legal quarrel began in March last year, when Imperial filed eight patent infringement cases in the United States against its Japanese rival and other e-cigarette makers. The lawsuits followed Imperial's 2013 acquisition of global e-cigarette patents from Hong Kong-based Dragonite International, whose co-founder Hon Lik is credited with inventing the e-cigarette.
Under the terms of today’s agreement, Fontem has granted Japan Tobacco a global licence to certain patents for e-cigarettes. The financial terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed.
Fontem last month struck similar deals with the makers of the NJOY, 21st Century Smoke and Vapin Plus brand e-cigarettes. Together with the JTI deal, these agreements cover three of the patent infringement cases filed by Imperial Tobacco last year.
Fontem is the owner of blu, one of the leading e-cigarette brands in the US and the UK.
In today’s trading, Imperial Tobacco shares were down 0.2 percent at 3,554.00p as of 13:59 GMT. The stock has risen 25.3 percent since the start of the year and the company’s market capitalisation currently stands at £34.1 billion.
The 18 analysts offering 12 month price targets for Imperial Tobacco have a median target of 3,775p, with a high estimate of 4,100p and a low estimate of 2,700p. As of November 28, 2015, the consensus forecast amongst 21 polled investment analysts covering Imperial Tobacco had it that the company will outperform the market. The same consensus estimate has been maintained since August 24, 2015, when the sentiment of investment analysts improved from “hold”.


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TORONTO, Ont. – The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and American Trucking Associations (ATA) are both calling on governments to consider contingency plans if government offices begin to shut down during the fight against Covid-19.
In a joint statement, they’ve asked governments on both sides of the border to work with the trucking industry on contingencies to qualify government-issued licences or documentation that may expire during the outbreak.
Cited examples of the documents include: driver’s licences, commercial vehicle plates, oversize permits, hazmat or dangerous goods certificates, Free and Secure Trade (FAST) cards for cross-border travel, provincial driver abstracts, and other required documentation necessary for goods to move by truck both domestically and internationally.
The groups are also asking U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Canada Border Services Agency to work with the trucking industry to develop potential emergency operating measures for the Canada-U.S. border.
“These government-issued documents may become difficult, if not impossible, to renew if more drastic measures to stop the spread of the virus are implemented,” the groups say in a joint statement. “As such, trucking operations need clear guidance and support from governments on both sides of the border that operating on such expired documentation due to government shutdowns will not negatively impact their operations. Developing a contingency plan – such as temporary extensions – would help ensure that truck drivers and their companies are able to continue to deliver these critical goods to market, keep our economy running, while – most importantly – keeping the public safe with the essential products they need.”
“The business community and governments are faced with the challenge of having to react rapidly to the constantly changing developments brought on by the Covid-19 outbreak,” the CTA and ATA say. “Trucks move all of the essential products Canadians and Americans depend upon, including all medical and sanitation supplies to combat the spread of this virus, emergency relief and food products, as well as the vital operating components and raw materials used to manufacture and process these essential products, the fuels that move them, and a multitude of inter-related critical items that support the functionality of the supply chain.”
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Tag Archives: ben wilson
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 | 16:56 GMT
Future Publishing’s announced that ex-Official PlayStation Magazine editor-in-chief Tim Clark is to become the company’s new EiC of its gaming arm.
Sat, Apr 17, 2010 | 21:28 BST
Official PlayStation Magazine UK’s editor-in-chief, Ben Wilson, has revealed through the mag’s latest podcast that a new user-generated PS3 game will hit later in the year.


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Competition for Thumb area businesses offering $30K in prize money
UPPER THUMB — The I-69 Thumb Region, a seven county partnership, announced this week the launch of the I-69 Thumb Region’s Catapult Your Craft Food & Beverage Business Competition.
“This unique competition is both local and regional. Each of the seven counties in Region 6 will host a local competition, and the winners will move on to the regional competition,” states a news release. “There will be cash prizes for the local and regional winners totaling $30,000.”
The I-69 Thumb Region Catapult Your Craft Food & Beverage Business Competition aims to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners to start or grow their craft food or beverage businesses. The competition will help retain and grow Michigan businesses by providing capital to expand production and increase jobs, grow value-added agriculture by establishing craft ag businesses that will increase value of local commodities, and expand assistance to communities throughout the region.
The I-69 Thumb Region includes Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair and Tuscola counties.
Each of the seven participating counties will hold a county level competition in their community via a public pitch event awarding $2,000 to the first place winner and $1,000 to the second place winner. County-level first place winners will move forward to compete for additional funds in the regional finale.
The regional competition will award (via public pitch) $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place. Competition prizes have been made possible by grant funding through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and additional sponsors.
The competition is utilizing an online process for applications and submittal of company information. Interested companies or individuals are required to create a profile and answer a few questions about their business or business idea on the Startup Compete website using the following link: https://i69foodbeveragecomp16.startupcompete.co/. Once this process is completed, competitors have until Oct. 17 to upload their maximum three-page executive summary and upload pitch presentations of not more than 10 slides. Competition judges will be using Startup Compete to review submissions and narrow the submissions down to no more than eight for the pitch event.
The Small Business Development Center and Huron County Economic Development Corporation will be providing support to applicants that need technical assistance with registration, help writing the required executive summary or presentation coaching.
“The business plan competition allows us to continue to build the craft food and agriculture businesses in the region,” stated Carl Osentoski, executive director of the Huron County EDC. “With the development of the craft ag directory, we have discovered a broad and diverse business sector that, with this competition we are hoping to grow.”
The dates of the county-wide competitions have not been set, but they will occur in November, with the regional competition following in early December.
For more information about how to apply, visit: http://i-69thumbregion.org/ or call the Huron County EDC at 989-269-6431.


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Read the latest car news covered daily by our editorial team. Find out everything you need to know about the automotive world.
The pickup version has the most chances of becoming a production model if you ask us
This is pretty much it; official reveal pushed back another month
The coupé-SUV craze will not go away anytime soon, it seems
Here's what the next-generation sports car from Honda may look like
Is it a sedan or a crossover? Why not both?
In case you didn’t pin it, it’d be a coupe-like version of the X7 large SUV
Let's just dream without hoping, it's better for all of us
It’s a possible but so far unconfirmed rival for the Tesla Model X


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We’ve been featured on the official SciFiNow Magazine’s website with an exclusive article on their website. You can read the article by clicking on this link. Thanks to Steve Wright […]
Thanks to Sci-Fi Bulletin featured Cops and Monsters and our episode 4 crowdfunding campaign. You can read the article by clicking this link. We’ve got 16 days left to hit […]
Thanks to Starburst Magazine who have done an online interview with our show’s creator, Fraser Coull. You can read the interview by clicking here.


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CAMDEN, N.J. The Campbell Soup Co. agreed on Thursday to sell its Godiva Chocolatier unit to Yildiz Holding of Turkey, the largest consumer goods company in the Turkish food industry, for $850 million. Godiva will become part of the Ulker Group, which is owned by Yildiz.
The sale would help Campbell, which reported a 7.2 percent drop in fiscal first-quarter net income in November as a result of higher expenses, in part at Godiva. In addition, the company decided that the Belgian chocolate maker with $500 million in annual sales may not fit its increasing focus on marketing its products as part of a healthy lifestyle.
“The sale price reflects the strength of the Godiva business,” said Douglas Conant, Campbell’s chief executive. “Godiva is one of the world’s leading premium chocolate businesses and is an excellent strategic fit within Ulker’s portfolio.”