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After months of rocketing traffic and climactic media coverage, Facebook is about to open its London office, bring a UK PR team on board and begin its European offensive in earnest. It's a little bit of Silicon Valley gloss in Soho Square... should we start calling it Valley-Ho?
I was well and truly briefed yesterday in the deluxe surroundings of the Soho Hotel, and sent away with a basket of juicy Facebook stats. Not least, the UK now has 5.2m Facebook users each month, and is the third biggest Facebook market worldwide.
The company has revised its audience target from 40m to 60m unique users each month by the end of 2007 - reflecting at least 3% growth each week and 200,000 new users every day.
The revenue power Facebook's page views, claimed chief revenue officer Owen Van Natta, have reached 60bn a month. And this is a pay-per-view advertising model.
The page use per user is pretty dense at around 50 pages per user per day, but the site is trying to include more information on fewer pages.
Facebook's real power as an advertising platform, of course, is in the goldmine of personal data that the site holds about us all. As much as Google has that lucrative 18 months of data on all our searches, email and lord knows what else, Facebook has the potential to similarly ramp up its advertising to target only the most relevant users for each brand.
"Advertising usually means banners and button, or search," said Chamath Palihapitiya, vice president of product marketing and operations.
"We honestly believe if we make advertising more compelling and more socially relevant, we can have significantly less but have it being more valuable. We have an incredible number of page views and could become the most high traffic site in the world. The thing is not to have as many ads as possible but to make them as essential and necessary as possible. And then it is not viewed as advertising, but as content."
Facebook is not a social networking site When the site started in the US it was limited to college students, hence the demographics of its users being slightly younger in the US. Elsewhere, including the UK, the typical user is over 25 and that is also the age group showing the fastest growth. Why is that?
"We don't single out a particular group or vertical as more important - we want to create as much diversity as possible. We have to be impartial so that 1000 flowers can bloom. There's a strength in letting people choose for themselves."
The difference between Facebook and others social networking sites, they told me, is that Facebook isn't a social networking site. Despite that perception among users, the Facebookers insisted that the site is simply a utility, a communications tool, and a social graph that maps the real world actions of its users.
The privacy issue A little too much has been made of the new Public Search Listing tool, said the Facebookers.
In short, in a few weeks' time, a summary of user profiles will be made available to search engines, though only those who made their profiles discoverable. So if your privacy is turned up to eleven, and no-one can find you on Facebook.com, no-one will be able to find you on Google either.
If you do want to be found, your stalkers will only get a thumbnail picture, your name and four links to message or befriend you. I read this change as a move to expand the Facebook user base, but with an appropriate balance between that expansion and the privacy of users.
Four of our five users have more than one application The key differentiator for Facebook so far has been the applications platform, where external developers have access to key sections of code so that they can build their own plug-ins for Facebook. There are 3,000 such applications on offer, from a Flickr photo plug in to "adopt a local dog". (I'm guilty of that last one, I confess.)
At least 80% of users have tried at least one application - an indication of how powerful the platform has been in taking the widget phenomenon to the mainstream. Users don't need to know these are widgets, or even how they work.
This is all extremely cunning of Facebook, who are trying to build the web within the web. It's the equivalent of a lens of your social circle through which a person uses and views the web, as chief revenue officer Owen Van Natta explained.
Why go to Flickr, Hotmail and YouTube when you can view all that content within Facebook?
Palihapitiya told me that Facebook's traffic nearly doubles that of traffic to four big photo-sharing sites combined: Flickr, Photobucket, Shutterfly and Webshots. Similarly with events, Facebook is 2.5 times bigger than Evite.
We strive to be like Google The Facebookers see themselves as lowering the access barriers to tech entrepreneurs and developers, enabling all of them - whether a major corporation or a pair of student developers in India - to build on the Facebook applications platform.
"We strive to be like Google, like that kind of technology company," said Palihapitiya.
"We make a product and a utility to be as simple as possible for consumers. And for developers, we can short cut what has taken years on the open web by offering growth and engagement out of the box."
The Facebookers are adamant that this is a technology company, not a media company - and perhaps that is key to their success. There's an implied serendipity in Facebook's business plan, that the pull of the most applications and functions within the site will dictate how the business develops - to be, as they explain, "functionally useful rather than media focused".
That is precisely the kind of strategy that strikes terror into the hearts of power-crazed media executives, many of them still clinging to their frigid old media world. Even when they do open up a little, it always feels like a bolt-on. Will the gap between technology companies and old world media ever be bridged? I'm wondering if the new movers are just filling that void already. It's a whole new way of thinking.


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Nintendo is continuing to drive discussions regarding future plans for the Switch and whatever the successor to the popular hybrid console will be. But in a new interview with the Japanese publication NikkeiNintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa spoke about the company’s approach to developing its hardware.
As for Nintendo, the company doesn’t follow a strict timeline when it comes to releasing or even developing its gaming hardware. Instead, Furukawa said it is “continuously researching technology” in an effort to improve existing services, explore new opportunities and create differentiated experiences.
“The hardware and software development teams are in the same building, communicating closely and thinking about how we can propose new forms of entertainment,” Furukawa said. Nikkei. “To create a single piece of hardware, we have to prepare a lot in advance several years, so we are working non-stop. Ultimately, the deciding factor on whether to commercialize a product is whether it can create a new experience.”
This process is clearly reflected in Nintendo’s financial statements. The company previously doubled about its in-house game development capabilities and continue to spend hundreds of millions of dollars about research and development.
In addition, Nintendo’s continued use of the phrase “between its life cycleWhen it comes to Switch, it’s something Furukawa and management intentionally use because they feel its software offerings could help extend its life even further.
“We always say that we are in the middle of the Switch lifecycle, and since one piece of hardware can be used to play both stationary and mobile games, we can offer a wide range of software for this purpose. ,” Furukawa told Nikkei. “The life cycle can still be extended.”
With that in mind, Furukawa and Nintendo are focusing their fans with new and exciting games while continuing to lower the barrier to playing those games.
Nintendo is also tracking trends across the entire entertainment industry. Furukawa notes that the company has experienced “downfall” several times in the past, and sees the year as a key time to continue to improve.
“If we don’t come up with fresh and surprising offers to new customers, we will always be forgotten,” Furukawa told Nikkei.
New Nintendo Switch appeared recently surpassed 100 million units soldovertakes the original PlayStation and Nintendo Wii consoles in lifetime sales.
https://dotesports.com/hardware/news/nintendo-president-says-the-company-is-focused-on-the-switchs-software-offerings-not-a-successor Nintendo president says company focuses on Switch software services, not successors

domain: news


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Search revenue increased by 5 percent in the first quarter of 2014, while display ad revenue saw a modest uptick of 2 percent.
Yahoo released their first quarter earnings report for 2014, and they just barely beat Wall Street estimates for their earnings. Analysts predicted that Yahoo would report earnings of $0.37 per share on a revenue of $1.08 billion, while they actually earned $0.38 a share on $1.087 billion in revenue.
Both search and paid click revenue increased for the company. Search revenue increased 5 percent over the first quarter of 2013 to $445 million. Their paid clicks increased by 6 percent, while the price per click rose 8 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013. Yahoo's display advertising didn't perform nearly as well, despite an increase of 2 percent in overall revenue. The price per display ad went down by 5 percent, however they sold 7 percent more display ads.
Yahoo has $4.6 billion in cash as of March 31, 2014. The company used $450 million to repurchase shares and paid a net $22 million for acquisitions during the first quarter.
Marissa Mayer, chief executive (CEO) of Yahoo, was pleased with the results and pointed to mobile as the anticipated driver of continued growth. "I am really pleased by our first quarter performance... And, with mobile pivotal to our future growth, we're delighted to now see more than 430 million monthly mobile users accessing Yahoo's new products."
After the earnings were announced, Yahoo stock went up, however that was largely attributed to the fact that the company has a 24 percent stake in China's Alibaba, which saw its revenue increase by 66 percent in the fourth quarter, a 110 percent increase. Alibaba is expected to go public this fall.
Pro Rank Tracker is a cutting-edge ranking tracking tool for keeping you up-to-date with all the latest changes in the rankings of your websites and videos.
Jennifer Slegg began as a freelance writer, and turned to search engine optimization and writing content for the web in 1998. She has created numerous content-rich sites in niche markets and works with many clients on content creation, strategy, and monetization. She writes about many search industry and social media topics on her blog, JenniferSlegg.com and is a frequent speaker at search industry conferences on SEO, content marketing and content monetization. Acknowledged as the leading expert on the Google AdSense contextual advertising program, she runs JenSense, a blog dealing exclusively with contextual advertising. She is also the founder and editor of The SEM Post. She is known by many as her handle Jenstar on various webmaster forums.
Traditionally desktops have shown to convert better than mobile devices however, 2015 might be a tipping point for mobile conversions! Download this report to find why mobile users are more important then ever.
Have you ever wondered what factors influence online spending or why shoppers abandon their cart? This data-rich infogram offers actionable insight into creating a more seamless online shopping experience across the multiple devices consumers are using.
October 13, 2015
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November 12, 2015


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Retail Ireland responds to introduction of mandatory face coverings in shops
Retail Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the retail sector, today said the health and safety of customers and staff is paramount and retailers will continue to follow the direction of government when it comes to the use of face coverings in shops. While business fully appreciates the important health considerations involved, there are also very significant staffing issues that arise, which need to be reflected in any new approach.
Retail Ireland Director Arnold Dillon said: “When it comes to enforcement, it is crucial that it does not fall to retail staff to ensure compliance. With incidents of violence and abuse directed at retail staff unfortunately a regular occurrence, it is important that enforcement is left to the appropriate authorities. Retail staff should not be exposed to the potential disputes and discord that might arise.
“It is vital that there is flexibility when it comes to the application of any new rules for retail staff. Retailers have made enormous efforts to protect staff, who are working all day in retail settings, including putting in place screens around cash registers and counters. This needs to be reflected in the approach.”


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DRUG SPENDING: Increased 84% Over Five Years
Spending on prescription medications soared an astounding 84% between 1993 and 1998, according to a new study released by the National Institute for Health Care Management. The study found that retail price increases accounted for 64% of the total increase, a finding that counters drug manufacturers' "assertions that increased use of prescription drugs, rather than higher prices, accounts for most of the spending increases." It also found that the "10 most heavily advertised drugs," including Claritin, Propecia and Zocor, "accounted for 22% of the total increase in drug spending from 1993-1998." All told, drug companies spent $8.3 billion on product promotion in 1998, about half what they spent on R&D. Insurers and employers picked up most of the tab for the increased drug spending, USA Today reports, with their costs going up 123%. Consumers saw their out-of-pocket costs go up 13% (Appleby, 7/9).This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.


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By Nick Mackie, Global Head of Urban Mobility, Visa
Urban mobility is a great example, relevant in every country, of how removing friction from payments can realise the full potential of a customer experience and encourage more people to take advantage of public transit. A recent survey from Visa found that globally, nearly one in three (32%) riders cite contactless payments as a top feature that would entice them to use public transit, with nearly all riders (91%) expecting contactless payment options to be available on public transit. The economic, ecological and social importance of public transit are well-known to public transit stakeholders, and while open loop, contactless payments may be a convenient, secure and seamless way for riders to pay their transit fares, it’s important to note that transit operators similarly benefit.
We know that urban mobility operators who offer digital fare payments enjoy overall cost savings of up to 30%, increased ridership, time savings, enhanced risk management, and much more. One example of the importance of saving time at the point of payment is, of course, keeping schedules running to time, and keeping dwell times minimal. If a rider pays with a contactless card or contactless payment-enabled device, it’s likely that they’ll spend less time getting onboard, looking through their pockets for change, a ticket or travel card. Studies show that 84% of travelers in major U.S. cities were frustrated by customers ahead of them taking a long time to purchase a ticket, and 67% report missing a train due to long ticket lines. Digital payments can improve customer throughput and increase efficiency. Forty three percent of riders rank faster journey times as a top motivator that would encourage them to use transit more often.
But crucially, open-loop contactless fare payments, based on an EMV technology stack, can serve as a foundation for innovation that will foster inclusivity and equity, and enhance the overall experience for all those living, working, and visiting the city. Many examples will come to fruition in the coming years of transport operators migrating legacy ticketing and smart card technologies to EMV-based technologies to ensure that all transport use cases, and all customer segments, are well served. There will be a proliferation of fare capping to ensure passengers pay the fairest fare for their journeys without needing to decide which ticket to buy in advance (fare capping limits how much a rider pays for their total rides in a day, week, or month, eliminating the need to tie up funds on a monthly pass or transit-dedicated card). And digital ID technologies will be used to verify concessionary riders and allow them to use their own bank card to travel at discounted rates.
Open loop payments are an opportunity to give unbanked and underbanked individuals a tremendous lift, and to begin participating in the broader financial system. Urban mobility will serve as a catalyst for this.
Ensuring transit services meet the needs of residents and visitors alike is a goal for all cities seeking to optimize their networks and improve overall urban health. Transit systems help city residents sustain their livelihoods, connect to services, and pursue activities that create a vibrant city life. When global transit operators can draw in more passengers and improve the overall experience, everyone wins.


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The Marketing Dive Awards for 2017
The awards recognize the industry's top disruptors and innovators. These executives, companies and trends are transforming the industry and shaping the future.
Executive of the Year
Nearly 11 months after making a high-profile speech demanding a better digital media ecosystem, the executive's words and actions continue to reverberate through the industry, resulting in substantial change.See the full story
Marketer of the Year
From a $20,000 meteorite shaped like a chicken sandwich to a bonafide romance novella, the brand's marketing stunts this year have consistently grabbed consumer attention with a knowing wink and distinct flavor of deep-fried weirdness.See the full story
Disruptor of the Year
Industry thought leaders have long positioned the company as a potential third major digital advertising force. A number of surprising moves this year and an expected $1.65 billion in ad revenue show it's getting there faster than many expected.See the full story
Campaign of the Year
With an estimated $135 million in earned media and a top creative award at Cannes Lions, the fast food chain's device-hijacking stunt asked: what happens when an ad disrupts technology?See the full story
Controversy of the Year
Some digital marketing practitioners — both legitimate and underground — have played fast and loose with brands’ reputations for years. In 2017, the day of reckoning arrived.See the full story
Fail of the Year
The Kendall Jenner-starring ad, intended to promote unity, achieved almost the exact opposite of its goal, plunging the brand to its lowest consumer perception levels in a decade.See the full story
The 2017 Dive Awards were distributed across our fourteen vertical markets: BioPharma, CIO, Construction, Education, Food, Healthcare, HR, Marketing, Mobile Marketer, Retail, Smart Cities, Supply Chain, Utility, and Waste. See all the Dive Award winners here.
Follow Peter Adams on Twitter


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From: Timber Processing Staff
Weyerhaeuser Co. and Plum Creek announced a merger that will leave nearly two-thirds majority ownership in Weyerhaeuser shareholder hands. The combined company creates a $23 billion timber REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) with more than 13 million acres of timberland in the U.S.
The combined company will retain the Weyerhaeuser name. As previously announced, Weyerhaeuser intends to move its headquarters to Seattle in mid-2016. Weyerhaeuser brings nearly 7 million acres and Plum Creek 6.3 million acres to the deal.
Weyerhaeuser also announced it is exploring “strategic alternatives” for its Cellulose Fibers business, including a possible sale. The company’s Cellulose Fibers business includes pulp mills in Port Wentworth, Ga.; Vanceboro, NC; Grande Prairie, Alberta; and a modified fiber mill in Columbus, Miss.; as well as other facilities internationally.
Plum Creek operates a medium density fiberboard plant, plywood mill and a board sawmill in Columbia Falls, Mont.; a plywood mill in Kalispell, Mont.; and a stud mill in Kalispell/Evergreen, Mont.
Weyerhaeuser operates approximately 11 sawmills in the Southern U.S., four in the Northwest and three in Canada. It also operates various engineered wood products facilities in North America.
Weyerhaeuser’s Doyle Simons will serve as president and CEO of the combined company. Plum Creek’s Rick Holley will serve as non-executive chairman of Weyerhaeuser’s board, which will be expanded to 13 directors, which will include eight directors from Weyerhaeuser and five from Plum Creek.
The transaction requires the approval of shareholders of both Weyerhaeuser and Plum Creek and is subject to customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in late first quarter or early second quarter of 2016.


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Arlington, VA and Reykjavik, Iceland—September 14, 2020—Kerecis®, the company pioneering the use of fish skin and fatty acids for tissue regeneration and protection, is donating its Kerecis Omega3 Burn product for burn victims of the fires in California, Oregon and Washington. Qualified medical personnel wanting to take advantage of this offer should contact firstname.lastname@example.org.
“These horrific fires are having a devastating effect on human lives and habitat,” said G. Fertram Sigurjonsson, founder and CEO of Kerecis. “We want to help those who have been burned to heal as quickly and easily as possible. We encourage medical professionals to contact us to get a supply of Kerecis Omega3 Burn for their patients.”


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Electric two-wheeler maker Hero Electric announced on Friday that it had no deliveries to dealers in April as it was hit by ongoing global semiconductor shortages that led to a halt in production.
The company experienced extreme chip shortages and supply chain constraints, Hero Electric said in a statement.
The automotive industry is still struggling with the international shortage of chips, which is causing production downtime. Hero Electric was affected and had zero shipments as of April 2022, it added.
“This has further increased the waiting list for its customers to over 60 days and some of the dealers have no stock to display,” the company said.
Sohinder Gill, CEO of Hero Electric, commented on the situation, saying it’s like applying an emergency brake to a fast-moving train.
“Our sales have almost doubled month-on-month and we’ve somehow managed to source from different regions, but the war (Ukraine) has collapsed a key supply chain, leading to this disruption,” he said.
The company has established alternative sources and would resume production soon, Mr Gil added.
“Meanwhile, we’re using this time to improve our factory capacity to increase our production volume and revamp our battery-related systems and processes to further strengthen the quality assurance of our bikes,” he said.
Referring to the recent incidents of electric scooters catching fire, Mr Gill said it was a “wake-up call for the industry”, adding: “We believe that even the best companies should review and constantly improve their designs and quality in order to build trust.” into the electric scooter mobility that’s going through such a robust growth path”.


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StoneAge, Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-pressure waterblast tools and automated equipment for industrial companies and contractors worldwide. Our products have been an industry standard for over 30 years and we continue to lead the way with automated equipment designs that promote safety and advance productivity for a wide variety of applications.
StoneAge is pleased to welcome our newest StoneAge Europe team members: Steve Ellis, Jan van der Wal, and Andrew Birt.
E-blast, January 2017
StoneAge will directly support industrial cleaning contractor needs in Western Europe by adding sales staff throughout the U.K., Netherlands and France as well as opening its European headquarters in the United Kingdom. Non-Western EEA markets will continue to be served by its realigned and exclusive distribution network.
PRWeb, January 2017
StoneAge is pleased to welcome two new Regional Sales Managers to our outside sales team: Sean Baker and John Graham.
E-blast, December 2016
CEO, Kerry Siggins, announces changes to StoneAge's global sales structure to improve support to the company's international dealer network and growing global customer base.
E-blast, December 2016
Each year, OUTSIDE recognizes the top 100 companies in the United States that help their employees strike the ideal balance between work and play.
Outside Magazine, November 2016
Access our top resources including tool manuals, jetting, tolerances, videos, and contact information right on your mobile devices.
"We recognize StoneAge as a long term business partner. The products we purchase are of the highest specification from a technical, quality, and health & safety perspective."
- Andrew Dobson, Veolia
"The City of Los Angeles manages one of the largest wastewater collections systems in the country. They benchmarked the new Warthog Magnum against the competition and confirmed that it was the best cleaning tool available."
- John Pujol, Advanced Infrastructure Technologies
"StoneAge helped us get our equipment fleet 100% automated."
- Doug Mcgee, Evergreen Industrial Services
"My customers are very happy. When we’re doing research and development along with StoneAge, they think it’s a big plus to have engineers that can get out in the field and work right along with us."
- Richard Bombard, PSC


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Corrections or additions?
This article was published in U.S. 1 Newspaper on July 22, 1998.
Between the Lines
The other day we were talking about missed opportunities
with a Nassau Street stockbroker. He told us about ignoring his
son a few years back, when his son urged him to buy McAfee stock
everyone would soon own a computer and all the computers would need
That was nothing, we told the stockbroker. We recalled a moment seven
or eight years ago when we informed a computer supplier that our
was going to ignore the Macintosh platform and instead go 100 percent
into Microsoft PCs with Intel chips and Hewlett Packard printers.
"If you love the product so much you should buy the stock,"
the guy told us. That seemed like a foolish way to pick stocks, we
thought at the time.
Oh well. Unlike all of you and everyone else in the world, it seems,
we didn’t buy those blue chips seven or eight years ago and now we
are still working for a living. But we do spend a little more time
thinking about today’s opportunities.
A one-time opportunity to check out what’s new in technology presents
itself on Thursday, July 23, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Novotel when more
than a dozen exhibitors will participate in the U.S. 1 Computer
and two panels — at 4:15 and 5:15 p.m. — will present the
insiders’ view of the Internet. Attorneys Rachel Lilienthal Stark
and John MacDonald of Stark and Stark will describe the hazards of
Internet law. The Internet of the future — using it without a
computer — will be the topic for a panel moderated by Mark Meara
of Princeton Internet Group with Mary Evslin of ITXC Corp. and Michael
Wynblatt of Siemens Corporate Research.
We noted in the story about ITXC in the July 15 issue that it has
already gained first round financing of $10 million. Hmmm. Could there
be an opportunity here? What do we know? But this time, at least,
we will be there July 23 to find out what we could be missing out
IN THE JULY 8 STORY on Biomimetics, U.S. 1 erroneously reported that
Schoemaker’s Gourmet Pizza had gone out of business. Erik Schoemaker
did close his retail business on Palmer Square in 1994 but continues
to operate Schoemaker’s Gourmet Pizza from a virtual office at 4371
Provinceline Road (609-921-2854). His wholesale pizza products are
manufactured and packaged in Ohio.
Jet Messenger did indeed buy out the Macy’s Courier Service (U.S.
1, July 15) and has changed the mailing address to 54 Ethel Road,
Edison 08817, 732-521-5530; fax, 732-287-1052. But, says Jim Oshry,
the sales manager, the 40-year-old firm has not permanently closed
the South River Road office. Rather, it is installing a
dispatching system in that office. Founded in Edison, Jet Messenger
has offices nationwide; it specializes in time-sensitive (same-day)
delivery of anything from documents to freight — mail runs,
mail, legal documents, critical parts for assembly lines, and home
health care equipment.
The correct numbers for the Equifax automated credit report request
system (U.S. 1, July 8) are 800-685-1111 and 800-997-2493.
Corrections or additions?
This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com
— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.


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James MacSween, the managing director of third generation family firm MacSween, the market leader, said his exports to the EU would be halved this year. Expat Scots now face missing out on the traditional January 25 Burns Night haggis feast.
“It has become significantly more difficult to do just routine trade into Europe,” said Mr MacSween, “It is challenging to get stuff into Europe. There’s no denying it.”
“It’s easier for me to export haggis to Canada. I’ve got experience of Canada. Canada now recognises that I’m an exporter, I’m approved for Canada,” Mr MacSween said.
Heat treatment and health certificates
The Edinburgh-based company will export 3.5 tonnes of haggis to Canada this year, which is double the amount being sent to Germany.
MacSween exported about 3.5 tonnes of haggis to Germany, the biggest EU haggis market, to beat 2020’s end of year Brexit deadline and secure supplies for the last Burns Night.
Before Brexit, a haggis exported to Germany could simply be put on a pallet on a truck. Now, the pallet must be heat treated and documents, including an export health certificate, packing list and commercial invoice, provided.
“The amount of protocol that I have to do to get into France and Germany is the same as I have to do for Singapore and Canada,” Mr MacSween said.
Those restrictions also apply in Northern Ireland, which, under the terms of its protocol, continues to follow some EU rules to avoid a hard Irish border.
Mr MacSween said, “I don’t see any other haggis producers trying to export. Potentially it is easier for me to export to Canada than export to Northern Ireland. There’s a lot of anxiety about getting those pallets into Northern Ireland.”
MacSween, which was established in 1953, exported four tonnes of haggis to Northern Ireland in December but has a long history of navigating customs rules.
‘Nothing to do with food safety’
This month, the US agreed to change its import rules to allow UK lamb to be sold and MacSween plans to begin haggis exports there next year. The company overcame a US ban on haggis dating back to 1971 by selling vegetarian haggis in the States.
A Defra spokesman said haggis was an “iconic Scottish product” and the Government wanted producers to succeed as the dish gained in global popularity.
He said the UK had been “working closely with the EU” and “encouraging them to act pragmatically” on export health certificates but advised producers to speak to EU border control posts in advance to ensure haggis would be allowed through.
The European Commission said there had been no progress in recent UK-EU meetings to ease the trade in animal products.
Scottish Conservative Ian Duncan, a former minister, MEP and now deputy speaker of the House of Lords, said: “Something is clearly wrong if a product that met every EU food regulation but a few months ago is suddenly off the menu.”
“It’s almost as if the impasse had nothing to do with food safety,” he added.
Alyn Smith, the Scottish National Party MP for Stirling and former MEP, said the haggis situation was “beyond bonkers”.
“There’s a wider context here that there is not a single product that has had an advantage from Brexit. Not a single one,” he said.


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Awards season 2015 jumps across the pond!
Some of Hollywood’s hottest stars made the trip to London on Wednesday, Feb. 25, for the Brit Awards 2015 at the O2 Arena with some head-turning ensembles.
Kim Kardashian stole the show in a black crochet long-sleeve Julien Macdonald jumpsuit that showcased her ample cleavage. Kanye West‘s wife, 34, paired the sultry vibe of her outfit with her signature combo of subtle smoky eye makeup and a nude lip.
A day after slaying the red carpet at the Elle Style Awards 2015, Taylor Swift returned to her demure style in an elegant black Roberto Cavalli Atelier gown that featured a bright dragon-inspired embroidery on the back. The “Blank Space” singer, 25, also ditched her slicked-back hairdo in favor of an elegant side-swept style.
Rita Ora was back to blowing Us away on the red carpet after rocking three incredible gowns at the Oscars 2015 on Sunday, Feb. 22. For this event, the “R.I.P.” singer, 24, went Old Hollywood glam in a gold sequin Zuhair Murad jumpsuit with a plunging neckline and a long cascading train. Ora wore her hair pulled back in a loose tousled style, and accessorized with a sparkly earcuff and bold rings.
FKA twigs bared her toned torso in a shimmery black crisscross Alexander McQueen dress with an Aztec print with wide-leg pants. The British singer 27, sported clean makeup and a half-up hairstyle.
In one of the more risqué ensembles of the night, Charli XCX‘s look drew stares to her sheer embroidered gown. The “Fancy” singer’s dress was held together by tiny strings, and she teased a wardrobe malfunction by stepping out without a bra.
Which look was your favorite at the Brit Awards 2015? Tweet @UsWeekly using the hashtag #stylebyUs!
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!


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- Government releases vision for 6 high powered, open access charge points (150 – 350 kilowatt capable) at motorway service areas in England by 2023
- Ambition for 2,500 such chargers by 2030 and 6,000 by 2035
- New stipulations on these chargers relating to consumer ease and access
Commenting on the release of the Department for Transport’s vision for rapid charging along the strategic motorways and A-roads, Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive of the REA said:
“We welcome the vision released today for rapid charging along the major motorways and A roads. Targets are important, and that these are being bolstered by a major pot of funding for electricity network upgrades shows significant Government commitment to this agenda.
“This is an important moment for the UK’s electric vehicle sector, one which should give confidence to investors, fleets, and individual drivers alike. Rapid charging is a crucial part of the overall network that the industry is building, and complements the slower chargers currently being installed en-mass on-street, in businesses, and in homes across the country. Ensuring consumer choice in where, how, and with whom drivers charge is a key part of this major technology change.
“Equally important as the vision for the number of chargers is the Government’s comments on how chargers need to be easy to use. Consumers should be able to charge simply, and should have the option access data on their charging sessions.”


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Simbe explains its expansion of the Store Intelligence offering to support large-format retail environments like BJ’s Warehouse Club.
Brain Corp listed some of its accomplishments in 2023, including new record numbers of robots deployed and hours of autonomous operation.
The company’s new Deming shelf-mounted robots feature live video feeds. Deming has been proven to help retailers improve supply chain efficiency and reduce costs.
Spacee launched a new version of its Deming shelf-mounted robots that feature live video feed capabilities.
The deployment, powered by Brain Corp, is changing the warehouse retail space for robotics.
Investment will enable Zippedi to expand its market into the U.S. to meet the market demand in both the Home Improvement and grocery sectors.


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Date night just got easier with this list of five local theaters that serve more than just popcorn and Junior Mints.
“There’s a social-action part of being a Jew, where you’re supposed to do something good in the world,” Dinberg explains. “Farming allows me to do that—care for the earth, be a partner with God, provide opportunities for people through good food.”
Investigators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture say they cannot figure out how genetically modified wheat got into an Oregon field. Now GM wheat has been found growing in Montana, too.
What does it take to get chickens off antibiotics? According to Perdue Farms, an added dose of the “good bacteria” known as probiotics can help crowd out the harmful microbes that make a chicken sick.
The biggest threat to business? Not the new crop of oyster bars popping up around town and elsewhere in the nation. Nor is it keeping up with consumer demand—for now. No, Hog Island is dealing with a different kind of problem.
San Francisco is one of many U.S. cities rolling out incentives to grow food on unused land. But some San Franciscans argue that land should be used to address the acute affordable housing shortage.
Perdue Farms, one of the country’s largest suppliers of chicken meat, says its hatcheries are working better now without antibiotics. Public health advocates call it “a big step” forward.
Foster Farms has been accused of poisoning its customers with salmonella bacteria. But in recent months, the company has become a leader in the poultry industry’s fight against the foodborne pathogen.
AB 1871 raises the daily stall fee for each vendor at a certified farmers’ market in California. Those fees would pay for county inspections to help insure produce labeled organic is, actually, organic.
Orange juice sales are at their lowest point in 10 years. Florida’s citrus industry is reeling from a disease called “greening,” while consumers face dozens of other choices in the supermarket aisle.
As California faces a historic drought, many farmers are relying on groundwater reserves to carry them through the dry season. Pumping groundwater is currently unregulated in California (that could soon change), and drawing on reserves now could cause shortages in the future. Sustainability-minded farmers are looking ahead and using an arsenal of methods to conserve water. Here are just a few.
In most cases, even certified organic produce is not pesticide-free. But compared to most conventional produce, it can mean a big step in a less-toxic direction.
Forget about Kickstarter or Indiegogo. Barnraiser allows consumers who are interested in changing the food system back projects that will.
Carolino Abolio of Miss Arepita / Arepa Mobile discusses her burgeoning North Oakland business and her signature savory Venezuelan flatbreads.


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Payment fraud is a nightmare scenario for any business. Irrespective of size, companies face substantial financial and reputational harm resulting from fraudulent activity. Depending on the severity of the crime and the losses incurred, the very survival of the business may be at stake.
Ryan Mer, CEO at eftsure Africa, a Know Your Payee (KYP) platform provider, says banking and payment fraud remains a serious concern as fraudsters use increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit process vulnerabilities and take advantage of human error.
A 2021 TransUnion report noted a significant surge in fraud and criminal activity related to financial services in South Africa, with fraud in this sector surging over 187% in the last year. An Accenture report from the previous year confirms South Africa had the third most cybercrime victims globally, resulting in losses topping R2,2 billion.
“The risk of payment fraud is not limited to any one sector or industry. Any business that makes use of Internet banking or EFT facilities is vulnerable. Fake invoices, business email compromise (BEC) and even insider scams have become worryingly commonplace,” says Mer.
What to do when the worst happens
Payment fraud happens most frequently when companies are paying invoices or doing payment runs. Mer says it’s important to remember banks require only the account number and branch code to process an EFT payment. This means the onus of making sure all payment details are correct and haven’t been altered or manipulated, is on the payer.
When payment fraud is discovered it’s vital to act quickly and methodically:
• Contact the bank immediately to freeze payments and/or accounts to prevent further monies from being stolen.
• Gather as much paperwork and bookkeeping relating to the theft as possible.
• In the event of internal fraud, ensure any laptops, tablets and mobile phones of employees are recovered and safely stored.
• Open a police docket as soon as possible.
• Contact the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS).
Prevention is better than cure
While there is a small possibility stolen money can be recovered, it is mostly not the case as the stolen funds are withdrawn very quickly. In any event, Mer says the process is likely to be time-consuming and costly. “Strict banking terms and conditions place responsibility on the account holder making EFT payments to ensure the accuracy and integrity of payee details. An additional challenge is the unfortunate reality of the South African Police Service (SAPS) being understaffed and under-resourced to deal with crimes of this nature.
“Creating a fraud prevention ecosystem is the most effective way to mitigate risk and stop payment scams in their tracks. Even the best ERP systems cannot protect you from a malicious employee while a platform like eftsure can help limit the risks of internal fraud and BEC attacks by quickly and easily cross-referencing the payments an organisation makes with verified bank account details, before every payment is released.
“Given the potential losses and the onerous process with no guarantees of recovering stolen funds, real-time prevention at the point of compromise just makes good business sense,” says Mer.
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.


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Good news for Acura and not-so-good news for Scion, Toyota and Lexus in the latest J.D. Power Manufacturer Website...
Jan 31 2014, 8:02pm CST
Source: GMC Reports
The Smart ForTwo is a two-seat hatchback that, to date, is the smallest highway-legal car sold in the U.S. Although it’s been on the market in the U.S. since 2008, it hasn’t caught on nearly as much as it has in Europe. A new model is slated for arrival in 2015, but for no ...
Full article at: GMC Reports
Jun 20 2014, 10:52pm CDT
Kelly blue Book is a popular site and often one of the first destinations when people want to find out how much their...
May 1 2008, 1:43pm CDT
Source: Hatchback Connection
The Scion FR-S is a coupe that has a lightweight, capable chassis with two doors and 2+2 seating, featuring a decently powerful four-cylinder engine. Designed for the budget-conscious driving enthusiast, the FR-S competes with the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Mazda Miata, and the Subaru BRZ. Brand-new for the 2013 mo ...
Full article at: Hatchback Connection
Jun 20 2014, 10:36pm CDT
Our E3 newscaster Stephanie took a test drive in a Scion Speedster, which features a projection screen inside the hood...
May 14 2006, 10:10am CDT
Anyone looking for affordable fun need look no further than the 2014 Honda Civic Si and the 2014 Scion FR-S.
It’s a pretty exciting choice when you come down to it. So let’s lace up the driving gloves (does anybody still wear those?) ...
Full article at: autoMedia.com
Jun 11 2014, 12:17pm CDT
Source: All Car Advice
Scion has created a bit of a problem for itself, or at least for its tC coupe. There was a time when the tC was the performance model in the stable, but it has since fallen into the shadows cast by a much more enjoyable, rear-wheel drive FR-S sports coupe–a car that might not offer quite the s ...
Full article at: All Car Advice
May 23 2014, 12:28pm CDT
Toyota revealed the Scion Fuse Sports Coupe concept car last week at the New York Car Show.
The design of the Scion...
Apr 19 2006, 1:00pm CDT


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Gigi Hadid allegedly cheated a photographer out of a big payday by posting his photo all over her social media, and now he’s suing.
According to the lawsuit, Peter Cepeda says he took a photo of Hadid in July 2016 when the Victoria’s Secret model was walking around NYC wearing a jacket with a modified Adidas logo changed to her last name.
Cepeda says he licensed his photos out, which were sold to various websites.
According to the docs, Cepeda says Hadid took his photo and posted it on her Instagram and Twitter feeds, which have a combined total of 41 million followers.
The photographer claims to be the sole owner of the copyright for the photos, and numerous demands for Hadid to remove the social media postings have been unanswered.
He’s suing for an injunction prohibiting the model from using his photos, and of course, damages.


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When Jersey Shore
's Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi
and Deena Cortese
were first labeled "meatballs" by their castmate Ronnie Ortiz- Magro
, it wasn't exactly a compliment. "We were fighting, and he said, 'You guys look like meatballs,'" recalled the diminutive duo at an exclusive photo shoot with In Touch
at The Meatball Shop in Brooklyn, N.Y. "We decided to turn it around and make it positive. Now girls with curves want to be called "'meatballs!'"


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Is it a phone, or is it a tablet? Those are just a few of the questions most consumers will be asking themselves after taking a look at AT&T’s upcoming ASUS Padfone X. The phone smartphone/tablet hybrid has been stuck in what can only be described as limbo for ages now. We actually got our first hands-on with the device during our Mobile Word Congress coverage back in February of 2013.
Since then, the phone portion of the Padfone has received a slight hardware revision, dropping the brushed aluminum in favor of what appears to be a soft touch backing, while also upgrading that Snapdragon 600 to a more updated 800 chipset. The tablet portion features a 9-inch 1080p IPS display and can actually charge the phone while it’s being docked, making it perfect for passing it off to the kiddies for a quick gaming sessions in the car.
The real news is that AT&T is finally ready to discuss pricing and availability with pre-orders opening up next Friday, June 6th. The ASUS Padfone X will be sold for $200 on-contract, or can be upgraded via the Next program for between $20 – $30 a month. With a 13MP camera, micro SD card slot, and running on Android 4.4 KitKat, the Padfone X has aged rather gracefully. Check out AT&T’s quick overview video below for more deets.


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They are: Aloti Bentil who is working with Yangosins 2021; Prince Appiah and Kingsley Dydu, who joined the app in 2019, have completed 6,035, 5,434 and 4,955 rides respectively.
Each winner received a hamper and branded Yango souvenirs.
According to the company, the competition sought to appreciate old-timers and new partner drivers for their loyalty to Youngobrand.
“This is an initiative to celebrate the loyalty, hard work and adherence of drivers to the accepted standards of the Yango brand, which strives to provide a safe and convenient transportation experience to its cherished riders,” the company said.
One of the winners, Prince Appiah, thanked the company for rewarding drivers who have been loyal to the brand over the years.
He said the Yango service was his source of livelihood and encouraged other drivers to register on the app.
“I am very happy to be one of the winners.
Yango is good. I earn some income every day and also get my bonus at the end of the week,” he added.


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The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner. Realme Philippines spreads the spirit of gift giving with its #realGALO Christmas raffle promos, which give fans a chance to win exciting treats with every realme smartphone purchase from November 23 until December 22.
To celebrate its achievements this year — from earning the title of fastest-growing smartphone brand in the country to successful online and offline sales — and share the spirit of the season with its fans, realme Philippines is offering up to Php30 million worth of freebies, the biggest set of freebies the brand has ever offered. The promo includes Php500,000 worth of raffle prizes.
Realme customers will get a free 10,000mAh power bank for a realme XT purchase and a pair of realme buds for every realme 5 Pro purchase in any of the official realme concept stores and kiosks nationwide. Customers who will purchase from any of realme’s authorized partners and resellers will receive a free realme fan.
As part of its recent collaboration with Acer, realme Philippines will gift 10 lucky realme smartphone offline and online buyers an Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop each. The winners will be announced via a livestream draw on January 8 through realme Philippines’ official Facebook page.
Capping off its holiday promos, realme announces a price drop up to Php2,000 across its realme C2 and realme 3 Pro lineups. Starting today, the realme C2 2GB+32GB variant will be available for Php4,990 and the realme 3 Pro 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB version will list at Php10,990 and Php12,990, respectively. Starting November 30, the realme C2 3GB+64GB is made even more affordable at Php5,990.
“We are very thankful to all the fans who have been supportive of realme since our launch last year. To express our real love and joy, we kick off our #realGALO Christmas promo, with the hope of being a part of the holiday celebration of every Filipino realme smartphone user. We expect Filipino fans will continue to enjoy real value through our products, especially this Yuletide season. Maligayang Pasko po!” said realme Philippines Marketing Director Austine Huang.
After being hailed the second brand with the highest sales and realme 5 as LazMall’s best-selling smartphone during the Lazada 11.11 online sale event, the game-changer brand is now gearing up for the upcoming 12.12 online sale event where fans can expect more price markdowns and freebies.
New realme users are welcome to join the realme community, the biggest and most-active Facebook community for a smartphone brand. Members can check out the engaging and growing family of realme users in the Philippines through the community page. Fans can share their experience, ask for tips and tricks, and even join exclusive activities monthly.


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FIFA is one of the biggest game releases every year, but this year, gamers will have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on a copy of the game.
Usually scheduled for a late September release, this year’s edition has been pushed back until October on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
In previous years, each edition of FIFA was usually launched in September, closer to the kick-off times of various domestic leagues around the world.
This year, however, the launch date on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One has been pushed back until October, while there is still no official release date for FIFA 21 on next-gen consoles, despite both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X hitting shelves in November.
The demo for FIFA 21 was also cancelled with the developers keen to get the full game finished ahead of its release date in early October.
We aren’t releasing a demo for FIFA 21.Instead we’ve made the decision to focus our development team’s time on delivering the best full game experience for current & next-gen consoles.We look forward to EA PLAY members jumping in 10 days from now and launching the game Oct 9.
FIFA 21 was pushed back from its initial late September 2020 release date due to delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The global pandemic initially caused cancellations for competitive gaming and esports, with EA Sports forced to suspend the FIFA 20 Global Series and cancel numerous events in the FUT Champions Cup calendar.
The E3 video game conference scheduled for June was cancelled for the first time in the event’s history, which was usually when EA Sports revealed information about the new FIFA release.
EA was also forced to shut down offices in Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul and Milan, while it advised all its employees in North America, Europe and Australia to work from home.
These closures and remote working have led to delays around the production of marquee titles such as the Last of Us Part II and FIFA 21, which saw their intended release dates pushed back.
Gamers will first get their hands on a digital copy of FIFA 21 from October 1 when EA Play and Origin Access allows users to get a 10-hour trial of the game.
The full game will also become available for download on October 6 for anybody who pre-ordered the Champions Edition or Ultimate Edition of FIFA 21.
Video game magazines and websites usually receive the game in advance to allow them to review it ahead of its general release, but with the lack of a demo and the delays because of the coronavirus pandemic, it is expected that review copies will also be delayed.
As a result, reviews may not start appearing online until the end of September or even the start of October when the EA Play and Origin Access trial period begins.
Copyright © 2020 Goal.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Goal.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal.com


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Avaya said it has filed to restructure in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, obtained debtor-in-possession financing, and decided it won't sell off its contact center unit at this time.
In a statement, Avaya noted that its foreign affiliates aren't included in the filing and will operate as normal.
Avaya said the $725 million in debtor-in-possession financing, via Citibank, is enough to minimize disruption and continue business operations. Avaya's products cover communication and messaging, video conferencing, call center, networking, and software and services.
The company said the bankruptcy restructuring will give it leeway to change its debt structure. Selling off units such as its Contact Center business would hurt its efforts to restructure debt at this time. However, Avaya said it is in ongoing negotiations to monetize other assets.
CEO Kevin Kennedy said:
This is a critical step in our ongoing transformation to a successful software and services business. Avaya's current capital structure is over 10 years old and was put in place to support our business model as a hardware-focused company, which has evolved significantly since that time. Now, as a result of the terms of Avaya's debt obligations and the upcoming debt maturities, we need to recapitalize the company.
Separately, Avaya reported its fourth quarter and 2016 results. The company posted a net loss of $505 million on revenue of $958 million, down from $1 billion a year ago. For the fiscal year ending September 30, Avaya reported a net loss of $750 million on revenue of $3.7 billion. Avaya has $6 billion in debt maturing within a year.
Avaya was a spin off of Lucent Technologies in 2000 and became a private company in 2007 via a deal with Silver Lake and TPG Capital valued at $8.2 billion. In 2009, Avaya acquired Nortel Enterprise Solutions to expand into networking.
CES 2017: The Big Trends for Business:


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Create and design logos and other graphics.
The next evolution in wireless networking holds promises of self-driving cars and movies that download in the blink of an eye. 5G is big at this year's Mobile World Congress, but don't expect it until 2020.
Can Mercedes-Benz convince Americans its tri-star logo belongs on a compact SUV?
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch reveals his feelings about playing comic book superhero Doctor Strange and why he notices genius Alan Turing's influence in unexpected places.
ColorWare, a company that custom-colorizes computers, goes back in time by outfitting a MacBook Air with a retro look to evoke '80s Apple.
Despite yonic and phallic symbolism claims, Brian Chesky maintains the company logo is all clean -- just like its service.
Some of the most important names in tech started off with awful logos.
The social media check-in app introduces new features that will give users personalized suggestions that are "all about you."
Locked out of your computer? There's no need to panic, all Macs include a built-in password reset utility.
The carrier plans to launch a health platform to help monitor and break down data from fitness trackers. Separately, AT&T will also power Philips GoSafe's medical alert service.
A partnership with Verizon and other carriers is aimed at bringing the browser-based operating system to wealthy countries. But don't expect ordinary slab-of-glass phones.


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A recent report from Business Monitor International’s Saudi Arabia Tourism report for Q2 of 2012 revealed that Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry is unique in that despite limitations of strict entrance visa regulations, the industry has strong growth potential. A growth forecast was projected for tourist arrivals to increase by 8% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 14.87 million in 2012. This number of tourist arrivals will grow by an average of 6% y-o-y through to the end of our forecast period in 2016.
As per the report, one of the main drivers for tourism industry is religious tourism. The hospitality sector too looks set to grow in tandem with tourist arrivals. BMI forecasts that there will be about 424,000 hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia by 2016, up from a projected 317,000 in 2012.
Saudi authorities have stated that diversification is the need of the hour from dependence on oil, with the tourism industry as a focal point. Government expenditure has been focused on developing religious tourism and business travel sectors in particular. The government is also keen to develop its domestic tourism market in an effort to capture some of the capital spent by the millions of Saudi citizens that travel abroad each year. Saudi tourists mainly travel to other countries in the Middle East.
Despite efforts to encourage more Saudis to holiday at home, BMI forecast the number of citizens travelling abroad will increase from 10.72 million in 2012 to 13.55 million in 2016. International tourism expenditure is also forecast to increase, reaching US$10.8 billion by the end of the forecast period.


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T-Mobile to Kill Off Premium SMS Programs
T-Mobile today said that it will "terminate all billing for premium SMS, except for charitable and political giving" as soon as feasible. The move is a response to customer complaints about the fraudulent billing practices of some premium SMS providers. T-Mobile says it has already ceased doing business with one of the largest such companies. This change does not impact T-Mobile's standard SMS service, nor does it affect purchases made via SMS through device marketplaces or applications. T-Mobile customers who believe they've been charged inappropriately for premium SMS services can request a refund from T-Mobile.
Facebook Messenger Brings SMS Back to Android App
Facebook today said Facebook Messenger users will once again be able to send SMS messages — as long as they're running Android. Essentially, Android users can set Messenger as the default SMS app, which will route all SMS messages and conversations through Messenger rather than any other SMS apps that may be installed on the device.
T-Mobile Pitches Free MLB Content to Customers
T-Mobile today said baseball fans will be able to watch every regular season Major League Baseball game on their smartphones for free. T-Mobile has again partnered with MLB and is providing customers with access to a free year of MLB.TV Premium, which includes MLB.com At Bat Premium.
T-Mobile Makes It Easy to Get Premium SMS Refunds
T-Mobile today said it will reach out to customers who it believes were charged for unwanted premium SMS services so that they might request a refund. T-Mobile ceased offering premium SMS services last year when it ascertained some providers were charging customers even though the customers never requested the service in question.
AT&T Agrees to $105M Settlement in Cramming Case
AT&T and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission today announced AT&T has agreed to pay fines totalling $105 million in order to settle allegations that it profited from cramming.
THIS WILL CAUSE A LOSS IN CUSTOMERS FOR TMOBILE -> TAKING MY BUSINESS TO CRICKET
I can't help but wonder if some cosmic rift caused both this and the death of Sylvia Browne in the same week. Maybe tomorrow the post office will stop offering discount postage for junk mailers.


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February 20, 2008 - Grundig Business Systems will launch a new mobile dictation recorder Digta x410, equip with a 32MB hard disk, which allows for up to 5 hours of voice recording, at HIMSS 2008.
The USB interface can turn the device into a PC dictation microphone.
The company will also showcase its DigtaSonic xMic, which received the International Forum Design’s (IF) 2008 product award. Designed for height and slimness, the microphone reportedly allows users to keep their hand low and supported rather than having to lift the device up to speak.
The Digta CordEx, a wireless dictation microphone that communicates with the PC via a USB receiving station will also be on display.
For more information: www.grundig-gbs.com


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Developer Ronimo Games just confirmed that its MOBA title, Awesomenauts, is headed for PS4.
You can view the official tweet and announcement trailer below:
Awesomenauts PS4 Announcement Trailer: http://t.co/5XsRpnNnni
— Ronimo Games (@RonimoGames) August 14, 2013
The release date is still being kept in secret.
What did you think?


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Bud Light is trying to put laughs back in its advertising. And the nation's largest brew is relying on Amy Schumer and Seth Rogen to get the job done. The two comedians will star in a new campaign for the brew called "Bud Light Party" that has a political theme and will run during the Super Bowl.
Bud Light Puts Amy Schumer, Seth Rogen in Super Bowl Ad
The campaign, which will rely heavily on celebrities, is timed to election season and will run through November. A new tagline, "Raise One to Right Now," will be featured in the spots and live on even after "Bud Light Party" concludes. The campaign marks the debut effort for Bud Light by Wieden & Kennedy, New York and comes as the brewer's most important U.S. brand seeks to reverse a sales slump.
Bud Light does not plan to take any political stands, despite its signature blue color. Rather, the brand is trying to inject more fun and comedy into its marketing by giving a light-hearted take on cultural moments. "We are not going to give commentary on a political stance -- absolutely not. We are just going to remind people to come together, to enjoy life, to have fun," said Bud Light brand VP Alexander Lambrecht.
He described the humor in the ads as "quirky and witty humor that is still easy to be understood by a large percentage of the population." The brand chose Ms. Schumer because "we like her down-to-earthness. We like the fact that she is real," he added.
A teaser released today (above) shows Ms. Schumer and Mr. Rogen preparing to take the stage for a political rally, as they pull on Spanx and apply lotion. The teaser will run on TV during this weekend's NFL games. A 60-second Super Bowl ad will feature the two comedians leading a political rally and inviting people to join the "Bud Light Party," which is meant to evoke the dual image of a political party and a festive party. Actor Michael Pena will also appear in the ad, according to the brand. More celebrities, such as UFC fighter Ronda Rousey, are expected to join the campaign in the second half of the year.
A-B InBev, which is the exclusive beer category advertiser for the Super Bowl, will also run two ads for Budweiser (a 30-second and 60-second spot), one 30-second ad for Shock Top and one 30-second ad for Michelob Ultra. The brewer had originally secured a total of three minutes of time, but recently bought an additional 30 seconds to have more time for Budweiser.
The new Bud Light campaign comes at a critical time for the brand. The brew is by far the largest beer brand in the U.S., controlling more than 17% of the beer market. But Bud Light's sales to retailers fell by "low single digits" in the third quarter in the U.S., A-B InBev reported, as the brand lost 0.45 share points, bringing its total share loss for the first nine months of last year to 0.35 points.
Executives began hyping the new campaign last year, with CEO Carlos Brito describing it as "revolutionary" on an earnings call in October.
"Raise One to Right Now" replaces the two-year-old "The Perfect Beer for Whatever Happens" campaign that was launched under BBDO and positioned Bud Light for spontaneous fun and included such stunts as branded town takeovers. A-B InBev U.S. Marketing VP Jorn Socquet inherited the campaign from former marketing VP Paul Chibe. In an interview last year, Mr. Socquet critiqued "Whatever" for trying too hard to appeal to young adult drinkers.
"Up for Whatever" was also mostly devoid of humor. Instead, ads often showed larger-than-life experiences, like one spot that showed a man running through a life-sized Pac-Man maze. The Pac-Man ad debuted during last year's Super Bowl under Mr. Socquet's watch.
"We are going back to where we used to be the best: Humor is a big statement for the brand again," Mr. Socquet said Thursday during a presentation to reporters in New York. In an interview, Mr. Lambrecht said that humor is what "made Bud Light a cultural icon over the decades, whether it was Spuds MacKenzie or 'Real Men of Genius,' " referring to two popular campaigns.
"Our message is going to be intended for everyone," he added. "It's not going to be tailored for any specific age demographic. We are a brand that stands for the young and the young at heart."
The brewer on Friday also released a teaser for Shock Top's Super Bowl ad, which will feature actor/comedian T.J. Miller:


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The next-gen Ram 1500 is currently under development and will launch in the US market in 2018. Here are five things we know about the 2018 Ram 1500.
The 2018 Ram 1500 is still taking shape, and engineering mules are being tested in the current generation model's body. However reports say that the exterior changes will be evolutionary. The headlights will be smaller and better integrated into the chrome grille than the current model. The shape of the raised hood and prominent grille will be changed slightly. The tail lights will be smaller and the back-up lights will be integrated vertically near the tailgate.
The next-gen Ram 1500's spy shots are proof that the cab design and wheelbase will be notably larger and longer respectively compared to the current model. The crew cab version may have a larger door opening and more rear-seat cargo space.
Spy shots have partially revealed the interior of the 2018 Ram 1500. Most of the switchgear is apparently carried over from the current model, while the steering wheel is new, borrowed from the Chrysler Pacifica minivan. Production test mules may have more changes inside. A new, flattened center console design is expected, which would make room for additional storage space.
The next-gen Ram 1500's body panels will majorly will be steel-made; FCA doesn't plan to follow Ford by switching to aluminum construction. It will probably be offered with upgraded versions of the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engines. The Pentastar engine is expected to get direct injection and optional turbocharging. Fuel-saving belt-start generators should be incorporated for fuel economy improvements.
The 2018 Ram 1500 will be built in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Prototype production, originally scheduled to commence in October 2017, has reportedly been delayed to January 2018.


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Blue Jean Billionaire: Inside Diesel, Renzo Rosso’s $3 Billion Fashion Empire
When Renzo Rosso arrived in Manhattan to open his first Diesel jeans store, he deliberately picked a spot directly opposite Levi’s on Lexington Avenue. “I wanted to show how beautiful our product was, in front of them,” says Rosso, a mischievous grin spreading across his tanned, unshaven face. Diesel didn’t have enough merchandise to fill the 15,000-square-foot space back then, in 1996, so Rosso did...Read Full Story
Photo: Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images Europe
Venice’s iconic Ponte di Rialto is ready to get a makeover. On Tuesday, Renzo Rosso and the city of Venice finalized the sponsorship contract that will see the Italian entrepreneur financing the restoration of the 16th-century bridge through his OTB Srl holding. Rosso has pledged to donate 5 million euros, or $6.5 million at current exchange, for the restoration, which will be overseen by the city’s municipality.
“I believe in a very modern...Read Full Story
On Saturday, October 11th, an ambitious musical event will take place with seventeen different parties happening simultaneously in seventeen different countries to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of one of the most daring and distinctive denim labels. The architect of this sheer musical madness is none other than Italian maverick, Renzo Rosso of Diesel. He’s made an entire career out of defying conventions and doing things his own impassioned, witty, idiosyncratic way.
Where did you get the...Read Full Story
Diesel founder considering jewelery and Japan to beat slowdown Nov 17, 2012 , 21:46 PM , from yahoo ROME (Reuters) - Diesel brand founder Renzo Rosso is considering expanding into jewelery and launching a new project in Japan to fuel growth at his fashion group despite the global economic turmoil. Known as the "king of high-end casualwear", the rockstar-looking businessman is one of the most dynamic figures in a fashion industry threatened by a slowdown in its core markets. A painful...Read Full Story
Storm – V2 Vice – Rose Gold – Rubber – Limited Edition
Storm – V2 Vice – Rose Gold – Rubber – Limited Edition – A watch with a modern design and futuristic appeal featuring 2 rotating discs showing dual times for an inimitable look. The chunky case is made from stainless steel and sits on a sleek rubber strap.Black rubber strap – Stainless steel case – Japanese movement – Hardened mineral lens – Double pushers clasp with safety lock – Water resistance 5 ATM
Rating: (out of reviews)
List...Read Full Story
Renzo Rosso Wall
Renzo Rosso is the founder of Diesel S.p.A., an Italian clothing company.


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Apparently, AMD isn’t the only company that was negatively affected by a prolonging bearish trend in the crypto industry. Galaxy Digital, a crypto-oriented merchant bank, made an announcement about a whopping $134 mln loss in its recent first-quarter earnings report.
Galaxy Digital ends up in flop territory
Galaxy Digital is a crypto merchant bank, which founded by Michael Novogratz, a well-known hedge fund manager and a Goldman Sachs partner who made a cut on Forbes 2007 and 2008 billionaire lists. This week, the Novogratz-led company published its very first financial disclosure, and it seems like Galaxy Digital turns out to be a mammoth-size flop. The company incurred a significant decline ($134 mln) mainly due to unrealized losses which accumulate $85.5 mln worth of digital assets.
What explains the loss?
Since the company had appeared only one month before Bitcoin (BTC) price reached its all-time high (and almost immediately plunged into oblivion), the startup did not manage to profit off the short-lasting bull run. The cryptocurrency market hit a roadblock and could not recover from the abovementioned bearish trend up until now. Despite recently reaching $8,300, Bitcoin still has a long way to go match its highest peak.
Optimism is the key
However, Novogratz doesn’t seem to be overly bothered because of the devastating losses. Former Wall Street trader claims that he is proud of the progress that his company has made 2018, and he vows to continue working on the legal recognition and mainstream acceptance of digital assets. Remarkable enough, Novogratz invested in Galaxy Digital more than $300 mln of his funds. The Wall Street vet definitely won’t go down without a fight as he plans to acquire a Canadian company Coin Capital which would help to produce more growth amid positive market sentiment.


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Apple and Beats Scrapped Sonos-Like Speaker Post Acquisition
Before it was acquired by Apple, Beats Electronics was working on a Sonos-like Wi-Fi-connected loudspeaker that would play music from services like Pandora and Spotify straight from the Internet, reports Variety. The news comes days after learning that the new Apple Music streaming service will not immediately be compatible with Sonos speakers.
Case in point: Beats Electronics, which Apple acquired for $3 billion last year, was working on a Wifi-connected loudspeaker that could be used to play subscription music services straight from the Internet, according to multiple sources familiar with the project. That would have put Beats in direct competition with Sonos, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based speaker manufacturer succeeding with a very Apple-like product lineup.
The product was set to be launched during the holiday season of 2014 but was scrapped after Apple acquired Beats. The headphone maker was looking to first introduce a powerful speaker for the living room before introducing smaller, more affordable speakers for other rooms like kitchens and bedrooms. The speakers would incorporate Bluetooth alongside Wi-Fi and NFC to make music playback as seamless as possible when entering rooms. The biggest speaker would cost around $750, according to Variety.
Beats was looking to build the technology for the speakers from scratch, but ran into problems and had to switch chipset manufacturers and delay the project multiple times. Because of these issues, Apple decided to kill the project. However, another source tells Variety that Beats and Apple management have simply decided to put the project on hiatus.
It's unclear if or when the project will be revisited, especially as Variety reports that the workforce at Beats is far smaller than it was pre-Apple acquisition, with one source saying the headphone company is 50% smaller than before. Additionally, Beats chief product officer T.J. Grewal and head of loudspeaker engineering David Titzer have left the company, according to their LinkedIn accounts. In July 2014, it was reported that Apple trimmed 200 employees from Beats in areas where Beats and Apple overlapped.
Apple has discontinued speaker projects in the past, most famously the iPod Hi-Fi in 2007. More recently, the Cupertino company has had to recall Beats Pill XL speakers due to a possible fire hazard, with Apple issuing customers a $325 refund rather than replacing the units.


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« July 2013 Table of Contents
What's in Store: Lean and green
New retailer Green Zebra Grocery plans to keep it small, simple, sustainable
By Christine Blank
July 01, 2013
Healthful food on the go is a retail concept that gained traction over the past year or two. However, a startup grocery retailer may be the first in the United States to marry healthful food and convenience in one location.
Green Zebra Grocery in Portland, Ore., will open its first store in the city this fall and launch two additional stores by the end of 2014. The company plans to open 20 stores by 2020 in Portland and the surrounding area. The 6,000-square-foot Green Zebra stores include most of the traditional supermarket departments, but on a much smaller scale with unique offerings like espresso and juice bars.
The retailer’s philosophy is to offer grab-and-go foods made fresh with healthful and local ingredients such as sustainable seafood, local produce and grass-fed beef.
“Eaters can get overwhelmed by too much choice, so we think of it as category curation,” says Lisa Sedlar, president and CEO of Green Zebra Grocery.
Plus, the stores are meant to fill a need in Portland neighborhoods that don’t have grocery stores nearby, following the goals of The Portland Plan. The city initiative aspires to provide neighborhoods with access to all the goods and services they would need within a 20-minute bike ride or walk from their home.
“The idea of the 20-minute neighborhood really resonates with me and I think our smaller-sized stores will fit well into a lot of Portland neighborhoods,” Sedlar says. “A grocery with fresh produce, meat, seafood, deli and other items is a key anchor to building and supporting these neighborhoods and creates a more sustainable lifestyle.”
While Green Zebra’s format is unique, it faces significant competition in Portland, including grocery operators like Safeway, Albertsons, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s.
Grocery retail veteran Sedlar recognizes that the new format offers something different from its competitors.
“When you are in the grocery business, everyone who sells groceries is technically your competitor because you are competing for trips. We will be different in that we are healthy and convenient, and no one else is really competing in this space,” Sedlar says.
Sedlar’s experience as CEO of New Seasons Market in Portland should come in handy as she expands the brand and differentiates it in the marketplace. Sedlar started as president of New Seasons in 2005, then served as COO, and finally as CEO. While New Seasons features locally grown and sustainable produce, seafood and other fare, its stores are set up more like traditional smaller-format grocery stores, averaging 30,000 square feet.
While Green Zebra’s fresh seafood departments will only have around 6 feet of retail space next to the meat department’s 8-foot section, the protein will play a big role in offerings throughout the stores.
“Seafood is a big part of our diet in the Pacific Northwest, so we’ll definitely be featuring a lot of seafood options in our prepared-foods department,” Sedlar says.
Those products will include grilled salmon, crab cakes, salmon cakes, shrimp salad and tuna salad.
A small selection of wild and sustainable seafood will be offered in Green Zebra’s fresh seafood department, and at least a quarter of the SKUs will be oven-ready, grab-and-go seafood dishes.
“We will offer a lot of oven-ready options as we think that’s a big part of what it means to be convenient. This is a growing trend because not everyone is super knowledgeable about seafood preparation,” Sedlar says.
Retailing sustainable seafood is the “only” option for Green Zebra, according to Sedlar, with the Marine Stewardship Council as its primary eco-label.
“We’ll also be working directly with local fishermen to ensure the fish we sell are caught using sustainable methods,” she says. Contributing Editor Christine Blank lives in Lake Mary, Fla.


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== Desire for quality, not quantity ==
The premium beer market is where there has been strong growth in volumes across the countries in recent years - the latest regional figures from Euromonitor show that total sales volumes for all three states rose by 26.5 per cent between 2000 and 2005.
Although Latvia saw the largest increase, with beer sales increasing 35.9 per cent over the five-year period, the Estonian beer market also grew by 33.9 per cent in volume terms, while in Lithuania the figure was 19.4 per cent.
Brewing-wise Estonia is the most sophisticated of the three Baltic states, however, all of its main breweries are foreign owned. Beer consumption is now 81 litres per person with many drinkers switching to more expensive and recognisable brands since the country joined the EU in 2004.
Dating back to 1820 and now wholly-owned by Carlsberg, Saku is the biggest and oldest of Estonia's seven breweries. Since the end of the 19th century, it has been among the leaders in Estonia and now offers more than 10 different brands, foremost of which is Saku Originaal, the country's leading beer brand since 1995, according to market researcher Emor.
Estonia's number-two brand is A Le Coq, owned by the Finnish independent Olvi, and number three is Viru Õlu, owned by another Danish brewery Harboes Bryggeri.
Finland is the largest market for Estonian exports and Cardo Remmel, chief executive of Saku Brewery, says that thanks to Estonia joining the EU his brewery has improved opportunities abroad. "Our objective is to increase our exports and sell more than 2 million litres of Saku Originaal in Finland," he says.
The A Le Coq brewery has close links with the UK. The original Tartu brewery was founded in 1826 but bought in 1913 by a London based company, A Le Coq, which was looking for a brewery in the Russian Empire where it could produce Imperial Stout rather than exporting it from England.
Strong dark stouts are a firm favourite in the region and during the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-05, A Le Coq made generous donations of porter to the Russian military hospitals. As a reward, the company was granted the right to supply the Imperial Court with its beer. Production of the porter stopped some time in the sixties but was revived again in 1999.
A Le Coq's operating profit grew by 12 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2008. The company says its total sales including beer and soft drinks in the first three months of the year were 28.1 million litres, 2 per cent more than the same period in 2007. The largest rise was in exports, which grew by 49 per cent in the space of a year to exceed e2.56 million (40 million kroons). First quarter results reveal the biggest increase in A Le Coq's sales was in beer, with a rise of 6 per cent - more than 10 million litres sold from January to March.
A Le Coq director Tarmo Noop says the larger-than-expected beer sales are the result of the additional 3.5 per cent market share it gained in the category in 2007.
The company continues to invest in new products, most recently an extra-cold beer, A Le Coq Premium. Noop says the launch of a cold beer was timely, as consumers have been ready for such an innovation for a long time . He adds that you can't stop searching for solutions to keep every new product fresh, which is why giving added value to A Le Coq Premium - the company's best selling beer - is a logical step.
A total of 215 refrigerators and special ice-coated beer taps are being installed in larger stores and bars around Estonia to chill the beer to -2°C - 3-4°C degrees lower than the normal temperature for beer. The company claims chilling premium to below zero gives it a softer flavour, while additional chilling gives it an even lighter taste. Bottles and 50cl cans of premium will also be stocked at -2°C .
== Estonia's on the global beer map ==
There is one group of entrepreneurs that wants to take an Estonian beer and turn it into a world beater. London-based Brand Independence owns the Viru beer brand, brewed under licence at the A Le Coq brewery.
Viru is the name for the north east area of Estonia, but the Independence version has no relation to the beers from the Viru brewery, being based on a beer from the A Le Coq range. The
5 per cent abv brew is sold in a unique octahedral bottle said to be inspired by the churches and towers of Tallinn, the country's capital .
Brand Independence director Paul Baxendale says: "Viru launched in the UK around two years ago and has had significant success in quality venues, such as the Lanesborough Hotel, Coq d'Argent Restaurant and the Soho Hotel.
"Internationally, we had a successful launch in Italy late last year and have just started in Switzerland. Plans are under way for launches in Sweden, Spain and the US in the coming months and there is interest from the Far East. It has also proved to be successful in Mozambique. Viru is probably already one of the biggest-selling beers from the Baltic region and we are committed to making it into a global brand."
== Latvia's consumption swells ==
In Latvia, beer consumption is now 58 litres per person a year, according to Brewers of Europe, and the country has three dominant brewers - the Carlsberg-owned Aldaris, Cesu Alus and Livu Alus, owned by Royal Unibrew - a Danish-based brewery group which also has interests in Lithuania, Poland and the Caribbean.
Aldaris produces more than a dozen different light and dark lager beers based on traditional recipes. This includes the beer that carries the company's name, Aldaris, which is the oldest and most popular beer brand in Latvia.
Within the first two months of this year Cesu Alus sold 7 million litres of beverages on the local market and, in comparison with the first two months of last year, the volume of beer sales has increased by 34 per cent, the company claims.
"We are glad about the successful results in the beginning of the year, but now they are over and all company employees are preparing for the summer season," says chair of the Cesu Alus board Eva Sietinsone.
== New age for Lithuania ==
Historically, brewing in Lithuania dates back to the 11th century, but despite this, it too has proved to be fertile ground for international brewers. Carlsberg, and its ?vyturys-Utenos Alus brand, is the market leader with a strongly defended
market share of around 48 per cent. Company
figures reveal that Carlsberg
itself now accounts for 70
per cent of the international premium beer segment in Lithuania .
Considerable investments have been made in the modernisation and expansion of the ?vyturys production facilities to meet rising demand. And ?vyturys' beers are becoming known around the world - S vyturys Wheat recently winning a space on Tesco supermarket shelves in the UK.
Lithuania's fastest-growing brewery is Kalnapilis and its history dates back to 1902 when it was founded as a private brewery by the name of Bergschlösschen. In 2001, Kalnapilis was acquired by Royal Unibrew after the country's competition authority told Carlsberg it must divest itself of some of its interest in the country. The company also owns Lithuania's Vilniaus Tauras brewery.
Today, according to Royal Unibrew, Kalnapilis is the fastest-growing brewery in Lithuania and holds around a quarter of the beer market in Lithuania.
== Premium trend ==
Given the relatively high level of per capita beer consumption in the Baltic states, particularly Estonia, it is no surprise that no one is predicting the same rate of expansion for the three markets as found elsewhere in central and eastern Europe.
Despite concerns on alcohol misuse, these rapidly expanding economies are likely to provide increasing potential for premium beers.
Euromonitor International forecasts that the premium lager category across the region will have grown by 41 per cent in the five years up to 2010, compared with only 10.7 per cent growth for the standard category and a 12.3 per cent decline for the economy sector. Euromonitor also foresees that innovation in beer will increasingly be tested in the on-trade, while the off-trade is likely to lose its dominance.
Like so many other beer markets in the world, these Baltic states seem destined to become dominated by strong beer brands as younger drinkers become richer and more aspirational.


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Kanye West Announces ‘The Life Of Pablo’ Pop-Up Shop In London
18 August 2016, 16:51
Everything you need to know about Kanye West's new pop-up shop, including the London location.
Kanye West will open special ‘The Life Of Pablo’ pop-up shops around the world this weekend.
The ‘Famous’ rapper will sell merchandise linked to his latest album at 21 locations across the world, including London.
Yeezy is keeping quiet on what exactly he plans to sell in his temporary stores but he has tweeted out a map showing their locations.
21 PABLO STORES WORLDWIDE THIS WEEKEND LOCATIONS HEREhttps://t.co/tYuzqs7kJW— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) August 18, 2016
The only UK pop-shop will be at London’s Kachette event space, located on 347 Old Street, EC1V 9LP.
According to Kanye West’s official website, the store will open Friday – Sunday between 10am and 7pm.
In March, a similar Kanye-themed pop-up shop opened in New York’s Soho District for three days.
Extremely high demand led to customers queuing outside for several hours before being able to browse inside.
Vogue claims the shops will sell t-shirts and hoodies with their corresponding city’s name written in gothic script.
In the past, Yeezy has opened pop-up shops for his albums ‘Yeezus’ and Jay Z collaboration ‘Watch The Throne’.


text: NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Crude oil futures added to earlier gains on Tuesday, after a report that showed retail sales jumped a better-than-expected 2.7% in August. Separate reports showed manufacturing in the New York region improved in September, while producer prices were up 1.7% last month. Crude oil for October delivery gained 70 cents, or 1%, to $69.56 a barrel. Ahead of the data, crude futures stood at $69.47 a barrel. Natural gas futures continued their recent surge, gaining 6% in electronic trade.


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Asia, the world's largest and most populous continent, with over 4 billion people, is set to emerge as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The Asia-Pacific is expected to receive more than 100 million MICE tourists by 2015, up from 40 million in 2002. Meetings and incentives planners keen to take advantage of Asia's rise would be well advised to consider attending one of the established industry showcases in the region.
The China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM) is Asia's largest business industry trade show, and has been held in Beijing for the past five years. CIBTM, held at the China National Convention Centre (CNCC) is one of five Reed Travel Exhibitions international shows dedicated exclusively to the meetings industry - the others being EIBTM in Barcelona, GIBTM in Abu Dhabi, AIBTM in Baltimore, and AIME in Melbourne.
"With China being the most dynamic and the fastest-growing economy in the world, the country's capital city is clearly the ideal location to support the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector in Asia." said Jeffrey Xu, project manager of CIBTM.
The award winning exhibition attracts thousands of buyers and trade visitors from around the world, eager to meet regional and international meetings and incentive suppliers.
CIBTM 2010 featured an expanded Hosted Buyer programme for more than 300 buyers. Speaking ahead of the 2010 event, Xu said: "The participating exhibitors this year will be more diversified and representative of the MICE industry. Far more tourist destinations, convention centres, hotels, professional MICE related tourist agencies, and event organisers will be present at CIBTM this year."
CIBTM also plays an integral role in China Meetings Week - supported by the local private sector, local and regional authorities and international industry associations such as ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association), Site (Society of Incentive & Travel Executives) and MPI (Meeting Professionals International).
Speaking at CIBTM 2010, Shane Jameson, director of sales for Jebel Ali International Hotels Dubai, said: "CIBTM takes place in the most prolifically fast moving market in the world. We are here for the long term - 150 percent. We will not survive as a destination without business from China and CIBTM will help us deliver it."
Sean Mahoney, global vice president of corporate and incentive sales for Silversea Cruises echoed these sentiments. "We are big fans of the Reed Travel Exhibitions portfolio of meetings events and attend them all," he said.
"What appeals to us about CIBTM is that everyone here sees the potential in this market. We are building brand awareness, finding potential partners, and as China is the number-one market in Asia for us, we have a serious strategy for our business here."
The 4th China and Asia Meetings Industry Research Report, launched at the show, demonstrated that the meetings business in China and Asia is growing and that there has been a significant increase in the number of events held, with a wider range of industry sectors holding meetings and events.
Visitors to CIBTM rose 16 percent on 2009. CIBTM 2010 was backed by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the Beijing Tourism Administration (BTA), with the intention of making CIBTM the premier MICE event in China and the Asia Pacific by 2015. The 2011 event will again be held in Beijing from August 30 to September 1.
Attended by 2,000 delegates from more than 60 countries every year, Bangkok's IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific is a double-bill dedicated to promoting Asia as a MICE destination. With its 19th year being celebrated in 2011, IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific is an established, leading exhibition for the industry and essential for planners. Destinations covered at the event include India, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Australia and New Zealand.
IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2011 promises to be an exhibition putting planners in touch with everything from suppliers to services, conferences, seminars, pre-show city tours and post-show incentive trips.
Organised by TTG Asia Media, and with a host committee including Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and Thailand Incentive & Convention Association (TICA), the 2011 event will be held on 4 to 6 October 4 at the Bangkok Convention Centre.
Launched in Singapore in 2008, ITB Asia is a three-day travel trade show gaining ground on more established regional events. ITB Asia features the full range of travel products, services and goods, and also functions as a knowledge platform for the industry, along with the concurrently held ITB Asia Convention.
Messe Berlin has organised the highly successful ITB Berlin for more than 40 years. It attracts more than 110,000 trade visitors each year to see over 11,000 exhibitors from 180 countries and regions. Now ITB has brought its expertise and know-how to Asia, recognising the potential for the region.
ITB Asia 2011 will be held at Suntec in Singapore from 19 to 21 October.


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After Zen 3’s hugely successful launch, AMD is ready to repeat history with its Zen 4 line of desktop CPUs, codenamed “Raphael“. According to AMD’s second-quarter earnings call, they are “on track” to launch both Zen 4 CPUs and RDNA 3 GPUs next year.
We remain on track to launch next generation products in 2022, including our Zen 4 processors built with industry-leading 5 nanometer process technology and our RDNA 3 GPUs. – President & CEO Lisa Su
Zen 3 was a historic release for AMD. After nearly 14 years of tailing behind the monopolistic lead of Intel, Ryzen 5000 was the final nail in the coffin that toppled Intel over the edge. Thanks to massive IPC uplifts and higher core clocks alongside massive efficiency gains, Zen 3 was finally able to beat Intel’s contemporary 10th Gen “Comet-Lake” processors in both productivity and gaming.
11th Gen (Rocket Lake) wasn’t Intel’s brightest release either. Not only did they make only slight improvements to their 10th Gen counterparts, in many areas, Rocket Lake performed worse than its 10th Gen contemporaries and simply could not hold a candle to Ryzen 5000, especially in high-end computing.
Unlike Intel, whose downfall was primarily marked by its perpetual laziness and lack of innovation, AMD is looking to maintain its lead in the desktop CPU segment. Zen 4 will be the fifth consumer desktop release under the Ryzen brand for AMD and, according to AMD themselves, it will come out in 2022.
If the rumors and leaks are to be believed, next-gen Ryzen will be manufactured on TSMC‘s 5nm process. Zen 4 will also shift to a new platform and introduce a new socket called “AM5“, which will reportedly move AMD Ryzen away from the PGA pin layout to an LGA one, similar to Intel. This platform change will allow for PCIe Gen 5.0 support on a hardware level.
DDR5 support is also expected to be included alongside, for the first time, integrated graphics on a mainline Ryzen processor. If true, this can perhaps close the last gap between AMD and Intel, where Intel has had the advantage of offering SKUs with iGPUs for the longest time. According to widespread rumors, Zen 4 will feature RDNA 2 integrated graphics onboard.
The Appetizer Before The Main Course
Before we even see the first glimpses of Zen 4, AMD is already well on its way to reveal high-end Zen 3 desktop CPUs that leverage the 3D “V-Cache” chip-stacking technology AMD debuted back in June at Computex.
We also recently demonstrated the next major advance in our triplet strategy with our differentiated 3D dissecting technology that enables significantly denser and more efficient connections between stack chips. Based on the strength of our long-term roadmap and the deep partnerships we have established, we expect to continue growing significantly faster than the market. – President & CEO Lisa Su
Speaking of RDNA, AMD also saw success with its recent RDNA 2 lineup of GPUs. It blew expectations out of the water by offering genuine competition to Nvidia’s RTX 30 series by matching it in terms of performance but undercutting it in price. Case in point, the RX 6900 XT cost $500 less than the RTX 3090 yet delivered somewhat equivalent performance.
While not as triumphant as Zen 4, RDNA 2 was still a success and one that AMD looks to build upon. RDNA 3, aka Radeon RX 7000 will be the first series of GPUs in the industry to house a Multi-chip Module (MCM) design. TSMS’s 5nm process will also be utilized here.
Big Navi 31, the flagship RX 7000 series GPU reportedly features up to 15,360 cores on a 256-bit memory bus. It’s still expected to use GDDR6 VRAM instead of the upgraded GDDR6X found on some of Nvidia’s latest cards. All in all, the RX 7900XT is supposedly 2.5 times faster than its current-gen counterpart, the RX 6900XT.
TSMC 5nm (MCD 6nm)
MCM: 2 GCD + 1 MCD
6 SE (3/GCD)
60 WGP (30/GCD)
no more CUs
larger Infinity Cache
256 Bit GDDR6
release expected H2/2022
perf target: N21 x2.5
— 3DCenter.org (@3DCenter_org) July 26, 2021
RDNA 2 was the first true contender to Nvidia’s graphical domination. Touting performance comparable to the best of the best Nvidia can offer but at an even lower price. AMD had never been this close to dethroning Nvidia at their own game. If everything goes as planned, maybe, RDNA 3 is just what they need to recapture the GPU market and mark their reign in yet another desktop computing segment.
Unfortunately, AMD also reinstated that supply constraints will follow for the rest of the ongoing year, but production is expected to ramp up at the start of 2022. AMD is confident it can grow its production threshold significantly in the remaining half of 2021 to open the following year on a vastly improved supply chain.
Despite these concerns and a prevalent graphics card shortage, AMD looks to remain on track to launch not only its RDNA 3 lineup of GPUs but its Zen 4 lineup of CPUs in the coming year, as well. Expect marginal performance improvements throughout the product portfolio at, hopefully, a competitive price.
You can take an in-depth look at the second-quarter earnings call for AMD here.