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McDonald’s has found a buyer for its restaurants in Russia, who will rebrand them under a new name.
Alexander Govor, who already operates 25 of the restaurants in Siberia, has agreed to purchase all 847 of them, the quick meals big stated.
Mr Gover has agreed to preserve the entire firm’s 62,000 Russian workers for at the very least two years on equal phrases.
He will even pay the salaries of the burger chain’s company workers till the sale closes.
The Russian businessman, a licensee since 2015, can also be the co-founder of Neftekhimservice, a refining firm, and a board member of one other enterprise that owns the Park Inn resort and personal clinics in Siberia.
The sale, made for an undisclosed sum, is anticipated to shut inside just a few weeks after it receives regulatory approval.
McDonald’s has beforehand stated that it could take successful of greater than $1bn (£848bn) due to the exit.
The firm stated it could take away its name, golden arches and branding from the restaurants however preserve its emblems in the nation.
McDonald’s has operated in Russia for greater than three many years.
The firm temporarily closed its Russian stores in March and continued to pay workers.
The firm stated it had been dropping $55m (£45m) a month due to shutdowns in each Russia and Ukraine.
On Monday, McDonald’s stated that holding on to its enterprise in the nation was not tenable nor according to its values, citing the humanitarian disaster in Ukraine and an “unpredictable operating environment”.
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Chief government Chris Kempczinski stated it has been a troublesome resolution but it surely was “impossible to imagine the Golden Arches representing the same hope and promise that led us to enter the Russian market 32 years ago”.
The first McDonald’s in Russia opened in Moscow in 1990, shortly after the autumn of the Berlin Wall.
As the primary American quick meals restaurant to open in the Soviet Union, it was a strong image of capitalism prospering as Cold War tensions eased.


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Southeastern Grocers Closing Stores for Thanksgiving Day
Following the lead of Target and Walmart, Southeastern Grocers has made the decision to close all of its stores on Thanksgiving Day, according to a letter President and CEO Anthony Hucker sent to company associates.
“With our heartfelt gratitude, we have made the decision to not open our Bi-Lo, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 26) to provide you – our dedicated and heroic associates – with a day to rest with your family and make memories around your holiday tables at home,” Hucker wrote in his letter, which described Southeastern Grocers as “a people-first organization … dedicated to being there for our associates, customers and communities when they need us most.”
Hucker also lauded the company’s front-line employees in the following terms: “You have worked diligently and with extraordinary kindness to provide our customers with a safe and friendly place to shop in this time of great need and adversity.” He went on to acknowledge the sacrifices made by associates’ loved ones during an uncertain time that has often resulted in employees working long hours.
Earlier this year, several food retailers, including Southeastern Grocers, closed on Easter Sunday to provide a much-need respite for workers in the thick of the pandemic.
Jacksonville, Florida-based Southeastern Grocers is one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the United States, with grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies serving communities throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. The company is No. 34 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2020 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America, while Walmart U.S. and Target are Nos. 1 and 7, respectively, on the list.

domain: news


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A joint venture has broken ground on a 38-story tower that will add more than 500 new luxury apartments to downtown Jersey City.
The leaders of Normandy Real Estate Partners have agreed to sell their operating platform and an interest in three funds to Columbia Property Trust, a New York-based real estate investment trust, in a $100 million transaction that is slated to close by year-end.
The owner of a Princeton-area office building has inked three leases for a combined 20,000 square feet, brokers with Newmark Knight Frank announced Friday.
The Burlington City school district has sold a nearly 14,000-square-foot facility, in a transaction arranged by Wolf Commercial Real Estate.
Two apartment complexes in Middlesex County have changed hands for a combined $11.3 million, under a set of newly announced transactions by CBRE.
Users in New Jersey’s booming industrial sector have faced a severe lack of supply in recent years, leading to unprecedented rent growth and an unabated race to find development sites. New space is on the way — and plenty of it — with millions of square feet slated to come online in the next two years. Yet market experts say demand will continue to outpace supply, given the continued upside of e-commerce and a race by traditional retailers to update their supply chains.
A new Trader Joe’s is coming to a well-known shopping center in Denville, under a nearly 15,000-square-foot lease with Retail Properties of America Inc.
A development group has opened the doors to its newest project in Hoboken, a 424-unit luxury apartment building on the city’s emerging west side.
Atlantic Health System has acquired a 92,326-square-foot property in Rockaway for nearly $26 million, becoming an owner-occupier at a site that already houses many of its medical services.


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Chocolate is a rich source of bioactive compounds, particularly a group of molecules called flavonoids, plant compounds associated with several positive health impacts. But teasing out the possible effects of such compounds in your diet, and how they may interact with various diet interventions, is rarely studied. It could be that simply consuming chocolate in combination with dietary interventions has no effect, or it could make such diets even more effective in the right dose.
To test the idea, the researchers divided volunteers aged 19–67 into three groups. One group followed a strict low-carbohydrate diet, another group followed the low-carbohydrate diet and also consumed 42 g of dark (81%) chocolate per day, and a control group followed their status quo diet. Besides tracking their body weight and measuring blood chemistry before, during, and after the intervention, subjects filled out questionnaires to assess sleep quality and subjective well-being, a key predictor of dietary compliance.
The researchers found that the low-carb group lost weight compared to the control. But surprisingly, the low-carb plus chocolate group lost 10% more weight. In addition, the weight loss persisted, compared to the low-carb group, which saw a return of the weight after three weeks. The chocolate group also reported better sleep and well-being, and their blood cholesterol levels were significantly reduced.
“To our surprise, the effect of chocolate is real,” said lead author Johannes Bohannon, research director of the nonprofit Institute of Diet and Health. “It is not enough to just consume chocolate, but in combination with exercise and reduction in carbohydrates, our data indicate that chocolate can be a weight loss accelerator.”
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The Co-operative Group has appointed Adrian Buxton as general manager at its new £20m food distribution depot in Avonmouth, which is due to open later this year. Buxton, who previously managed the group’s 320,000ft² composite DC in Thurrock, Essex, will head up the new RDC, near Bristol, which will employ up to 900 staff. He joined The Co-operative in an administrative role in 1979, before working his way up to managing food stores and moving across to logistics. Prior to […]
Stobart Group has completed a sale and leaseback of its DC at Carlisle Airport for £16.9m.
Hermes is rolling its click and collect ParcelShop service out to more than 450 Co-operative stores after a trial with the retailer.
A new study from ParcelHero, released today, warns that Brexit red tape and increased duties could see UK traders face a 35% drop in sales of products sourced overseas.


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BRANFORD, Conn (WTNH) — The Connecticut lottery is set to go live with 275 Keno monitors statewide.
Due to software testing, the start has been pushed back to sometime in the month of April.
In the first three years, expectations are that the new revenue produced will grow from 25 to 50 and the $70 million
Jackpots can be large and small, from over $100,000 to $2.50.
At Allegra’s in Branford, they are awaiting the launch.
TV monitors are wired directly to the Connecticut lottery, now it’s just a matter of getting the green light and going live.
“They have ’em in Massachusetts, they have ’em in Rhode Island, the have ’em in New York,” said Paul Allegra.
Joann Allegra compared the game to lottery and bingo rolled into one.
You can fill out a card with up to ten spots, wager up to $20 and choose numbers from 1 to 80.
The hope is that customers will stay to play, and in the process buy food and drinks.
It also means being prepared, a new game kicks off every four minutes from open until close.
“We have to be ready for it, we are excited, going to be excited to see what happens,” said Paul Allegra.
The tribal nations will each receive 12.5 percent of the gross revenues from sales of Keno.
For any lottery product, including Keno, retailers receive a 5 percent commission on every ticket sold and a 1 percent cashing commission.
In order to bring in Keno, lottery needed to be added, as well.
According to the owners, it’s been popular with patrons and even produced some significant winners.


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Nashra Balagamwala is a Pakistani designer, who recently transformed elements of Pakistan and India’s flags to form stunning peace symbols.
Celebrating Independence Day Abroad is important not only to show solidarity but also to instill the national spirit in the next generation also.
Here are 14 things that happen on the of the 14th of August that are SO Pakistani, only true Pakistanis will recognize them.
Being the true Pakistani's we are, there is one thing we know we do better than anyone else in the world and it's just what you thought.
Costa Coffee is elated to announce the opening of its third store in Pakistan, debuting in the vibrant capital city of Islamabad.
hair loss and hair regrowth journey of a 23 year old student. The silent battles ofevery person who faces hair loss at a young age.
The Pak China Friendship Center recently witnessed the grand finale of the Zindigi Prize, Pakistan's premier entrepreneurship program.
JS Bank participated in Global Pinktober Month, dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection.
evoltt smart watch by ZERO lifestyle has caught the attention of the glitterati turning heads wherever they make an appearance.
Taking care of men’s private part is important but that much, really? Dari Mooch is trying to introduce the eighth wonder of the world in Pakistan.
© 2023 MangoBaaz. All Rights Reserved


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A butcher that sold ‘lamb’ mince laced with beef and pork and two eateries that flogged ‘nut free’ dishes containing nuts have been rapped by food hygiene inspectors.
Council bosses in Oldham took legal action against a takeaway, a restaurant and a market hall trader after they were caught serving ‘potentially dangerous’ meals - or food that was not as described to customers.
Another takeaway was fined after inspectors discovered a rodent infestation.
Experts discovered traces of peanut protein in a ‘nut free’ thai chicken noodle dish served at Siam Orchid in Royton , which has now closed.
The meal was sent off for lab tests after inspectors visited the Middleton Road eatery on April 19.
Results revealed 14 mg per kg of peanut protein in the dish.
Food hygiene bosses said the dish could have posed a ‘serious health risk’ to a customer with a nut allergy.
An earlier inspection, on January 25, uncovered an ‘uncontrolled’ rat infestation at Siam Orchid as well as ‘poor’ cleaning methods.
The business, run by Siam Middleton Ltd, was fined £1,900, with a victim surcharge of £90 and costs of £1,650, at Tameside Magistrates’ Court.
Owners admitted four offences under The Food Safety Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, Regulation 19 and two offences under The Food Safety Act 1990.
The business has now shut and the unit is under new ownership.
Bosses at Ashton Road takeaway Shalimar were hauled before the courts after tests revealed a ‘nut free’ chicken tikka masala dish contained 20 mg per kg of peanut protein.
Former Owner Mohammed Amzud Ali Salik, 54, of Werneth Hall Road, Oldham, was fined £175, with a £30 victim surcharge and costs of £975, after pleading guilty to an offence under the Food Safety Act.
In another case, a butchers trading as Totties Market Hall, Oldham, was caught serving up beef and pork in minced lamb.
A sample of the ‘lamb’, bought on April 19 last year, had 20pc cow DNA and 5pc pig DNA.
Totties was fined £700 with a £70 victim surcharge and ordered to pay costs of £1,045 costs after bosses admitted falsely describing or presenting food.
In a fourth case, Godfather Fried Chicken and Pizza on Union Street, was fined after inspectors found evidence of a rodent infestation.
Staff were also said to have not worn protective clothing.
The owners were fined £2,800 with a victim surcharge of £140 and costs of £1,375 after admitting 11 offences under The Food Safety Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, Regulation 19.
Oldham council ’s neighbourhoods boss Barbara Brownridge said: “We are committed to dealing with serious lapses in food hygiene, especially where the safety of residents is put at risk.
“We will not hesitate to take action.
“Business owners who run food establishments must comply with food hygiene laws - or be prepared to face the consequences.”
Got a story or an issue you want us to investigate? Want to tell us about something going on where you live? Let us know - in complete confidence - by emailing email@example.com, calling us on 0161 211 2323, tweeting us @MENnewsdesk or messaging us on our Facebook page . You can also send us a story tip using the form here .


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“When you say tomato, immediately we are thinking of super food”, say the scientists from the prestigious medical centers.
In order to see why the tomato is considered as a super food, the experts from the University of Taiwan, decided to do an experiment.
The experiment included women from different age groups, weight and origin and they drank a glass of tomato juice each day for 2 consecutive months.
The fast weight loss was the first noticeable change and the experts say that that was a result of a fat burned and not a loss of body liquids.
“The participants had a strict workout and diet plan which lead to surprising results in just days”, state the scientist responsible for the experiment.
Furthermore, the blood of each participant was analyzed before and after the experiment.
“The cholesterol level in the blood was drastically lowered, but the lycopene level was higher on the contrary – an antioxidant found in tomatoes which has many health benefits”, say the scientists.
The experiment has also showed that one glass of tomato juice a day strengthens the immune system, prevents hearth disease, and lowers the risk of cancer development. Even more, this refreshing drink helps with indigestion, prevents fluid retention, improves overall health and prevents bladder, pancreas, liver and lung diseases.
The tomato juice is great for the skin and for the tan, and another benefit from consuming tomato juice is the fact that reduces the cough, prevents from anemia, and alleviates the rheumatic symptoms.
If you have over trained and your muscles are sore, drink one glass of tomato juice and the fatigue is gone for good and that’s a result of the high levels of magnesium found in tomatoes.
It also contains calcium, potassium, proteins as well as carbs and vitamin C.
If you plan on using a tomato juice from the market, make sure it’s organic, otherwise you won’t get the full benefit. It would be best if you can make your own homemade tomato juice, mixing 13 pounds of tomatoes with 4 tbsp. of sugar plus 2 tbsp. of salt.
Directions: Carefully wash the tomatoes with cold water. Cut and grind them, then add salt and sugar and boil the mixture.
Stir frequently to prevent burning, and when it comes to a boil, cook for 10 more minutes stirring constantly. Pour the hot, cooked tomato juice into a sterilized glass bottle and close tightly. When cooled, store the bottles in a cool place.


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Apple in Talks With Multiple Lidar Suppliers to Buy Sensors for its Self-driving Car
【Summary】Apple Inc. is reportedly in talks with multiple lidar developers to supply the perception sensors for its secretive "Apple Car" project, Bloomberg reports. Rather than develop complex hardware in-house, Apple is looking to outside vendors to supply components for its planned autonomous and electric vehicle, the people said.
Computer giant Apple Inc. has successfully kept its self-driving plans secret for the past several years. But the company's latest talks with automaker Kia about building an Apple-branded electric vehicle have revealed that Apple is indeed up to something.
Now according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified due to the private nature of the discussions, Apple is reportedly in talks with multiple lidar developers to supply the sensors for its car project, Bloomberg reports.
Rather than develop complex hardware in-house, Apple is looking to outside vendors for the hardware for its planned autonomous vehicle, the people said.
Like Apple, the world's automakers are also forming partnerships with lidar suppliers as vehicles come equipped with more automated driving features, rather than developing the technology in-house.
As advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) become standard on many new vehicles, there is a growing demand for lidar technology and automakers are turning to lidar developers like Luminar and Velodyne Lidar Inc to supply low-cost automotive-grade lidar sensors at scale that can be installed in a vehicle during production.
Lidar is also a vital sensor to support new vehicle safety features, such as automotive emergency braking (AEB) and automated cruise control (ACC), which are offered in many new models today as standard.
Lidar, which is an acronym for "light detecting and ranging", is an important sensor for self-driving vehicles, acting as an extra set of eyes on the road ahead. The technology works by sending out pulses of laser light and measuring the time its takes for the light to reflect back off objects.
The light reflected is used to create a 3D representation of a vehicle's surroundings known as a lidar point cloud. These lidar images act as the "eyes" of a self-driving vehicle. Lidar is used to identify nearby vehicles, trees, buildings, bridges and pedestrians and enables safe navigation.
Lidar images are often combined with cameras, radar and AI-powered perception software.
The ongoing discussions at Apple signal that the company has not yet found a preferred lidar supplier. More than likely, Apple mulling different designs for the supplier that meets its unique needs.
With the recent advances in autonomous driving, the race to supply lidar to the auto industry has led to a number of high-profile lidar startups launching IPO to raise capital on Wall Street by merging with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), also known as "blank check" companies. The most recent IPO was from Volvo-backed lidar developer Luminar in December.
In May of last year, lidar startup Luminar Technologies Inc. made headlines when it was chosen by Volvo Cars to supply lidar technology for the automaker's future generation of self-driving vehicles. Luminar's partnership with Volvo will support the automaker's first self-driving technology for highways called "Highway Pilot."
South Korean automaker Kia Motors was thrust into the global spotlight in January and again earlier this month after rumors began swirling that it was in talks with Apple to jointly develop an electric car.
The reports said that Apple was moving forward with its self-driving car project and was aiming to produce a passenger vehicle as early as 2024 that could include advanced battery technology developed by the iPhone maker.
Earlier this month, A South Korean newspaper reported that Kia received a $3.6 billion investment from Apple as part of a collaboration to make electric vehicles. According to the report, the deal was supposed to be signed on Wednesday, Feb 17 and the Apple Car was slated for manufacturing in 2024. Now Kia says those talks are on hold.
Apple's secretive electric car project is code-named "Project Titan."
Originally hailing from New Jersey, Eric is a automotive & technology reporter covering the high-tech industry here in Silicon Valley. He has over 15 years of automotive experience and a bachelors degree in computer science. These skills, combined with technical writing and news reporting, allows him to fully understand and identify new and innovative technologies in the auto industry and beyond. He has worked at Uber on self-driving cars and as a technical writer, helping people to understand and work with technology.
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- Senate Finance Committee Advances Bill That Includes Raising the Federal Tax Credit up to $12,500 on U.S.-Made EVs
- The Audi A7 PHEV Named Best Luxury Plug-in Hybrid of 2021 by U.S. News & World Report
- Volvo’s Concept Recharge is a Blueprint For the Brand’s EV Future
- General Motors Could Replace the Camaro With an Electric-Performance Sedan
- Ford Mustang Mach-E Helping Brand Reach New Buyers
- Amazon Testing Rivian Electric Delivery Vans in San Francisco
- Volvo’s New Electric XC90 to Come with LiDAR & NVIDIA's Orin Processor for Autonomous Driving
- Tesla Reports is Highest Quarterly Profit Ever, Predicts the Model Y Could Become the World’s Best Selling Vehicle of Any Kind
- China’s Tesla Challengers NIO Inc. and XPeng Both Report Record Electric Vehicle Deliveries in June
- Automaker Stellantis Announces its Bold EV Plans, Will Invest $35 Billion to Electrify its Global Vehicle Lineup


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Fort Bonifacio opens its new Commissary
FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – The Philippine Army inaugurated here its newly-constructed Fort Bonifacio Commissary & Exchange Store (FB C&X) on Monday, February 24 with Lieutenant General Virgillo O Domingo, the Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP as the Guest of Honor and Speaker.
Lt Gen Domingo was warmly welcomed by the Army Chief, Major General Hernando DCA Iriberri, who is also a special guest during the inauguration.
In his speech, Lt Gen Domingo said that the AFP recognizes the importance of maintaining a high state of morale and welfare of the soldiers and their families as an essential factor in the accomplishment of its goals.
“This is why the AFP leadership remains committed in its aim to meet the needs of the AFP personnel in the most convenient means possible. Likewise, it is also desired that their dependents be also provided with the same benefits in return for the service they selflessly rendered throughout the years,” said Lt Gen Domingo.
The C&X stores provide most of the basic commodities the soldiers and their families need in a day to day basis. It is the cheapest of its kind, compared to those sold in other regular grocery stores and supermarkets outside military camps, because the items are VAT-exempt.
With a floor area of 1,578 square meters, the new concessionaire can accommodate wide range of products which is neatly organized in shelves. The large area is also air-conditioned, which makes it more convenient for the shoppers who are mostly soldiers, military dependents, and civilian employees. Previously, the commissary occupies a very limited space, which was originally intended to be the Enlisted Personnel Mess Hall.
Aside from its well-organized interior features, the new commissary has a Drug Store to cater to the basic medical needs of its primary customers.
The plan was conceptualized by the Office of the Army Chief Engineers (OACE), but was funded by the AFP Commissary Exchange Store. It costs P15 million. The construction, which was carried out by a private contractor, the ACS Development and Property Managers, Inc., started on September 24, 2013.
For the past several years, the government has continued its unending support to all Commissary and Exchange stores nationwide by providing millions worth of tax credit certificate which eventually garnered millions worth of profit that sustain its operations.


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Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is well-known as a tech pioneer across the globe, and so is Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk. But, the former isn’t completely sold on what the latter vows to accomplish and believes “there’s too much hype” around the electric automaker and its founder.
This is not the first time Wozniak, who’s been a Tesla fan and owns two Model S vehicles, has bashed the company for not being able to deliver on its promises (or meeting all the deadlines it proposes).
During a talk session at the Nordic Business Forum in Stockholm, Apple’s co-founder has criticized Tesla for the use of fluffy marketing for its self-driving tech, as well as “cheap” tactics to deflect mistakes or accidents caused due to the same. Wozniak did talk about his past experience but went on to shed light on an incident with his own Tesla. He then added,
Our first Tesla slid off some ice late at night up at Lake Tahoe, and we ended up in a snow bank. There was no damage, but it was clear we needed a four-wheel-drive Tesla.
This episode led him to upgrade to the newer Model S, which was laden with sensors and came with the assurance that it’ll be able to drive itself cross-country without any human intervention. This was also the Tesla vehicle, which came with the much-talked “summon” feature that sees the vehicle driving up to you at the press of a button.
But, Wozniak’s dream came to a standstill when Tesla (out-of-the-blue) announced that they’re no longer integrating sensors from its Israeli supplier and would be building new hardware and software for the Autopilot in-house.
This update took a massive hit on the trust Wozniak had developed for Tesla because he believed that the company’s next car would’ve delivered the features it promised. But, as usual, it didn’t due to delays in production and other reasons. To this, Wozniak addressed the audience saying,
I believed that stuff. Now I don’t believe anything Elon Musk or Tesla says, but I still love the car.
And if you’re thinking that’s all for today, then you’re gravely mistaken. Steve Wozniak was far from done talking about Tesla and then turned the gun towards its self-driving tech. He said that the company has been working on the tech for quite long, but reputed car makers such as Audi and BMW have moved far ahead in the game.
He then added that Tesla’s Autopilot software, which will one day help drive the vehicles on their own, has been stuck in beta for as long as he can remember. And it is one of the main reasons that the company serves you a platter when something goes wrong on the road. It says that you’re not to look away but stay attentive at all times, even when you switch to a autopilot. Wozniak then added,
When a Tesla runs in any condition on a highway that is a little unusual — a cone in the middle of a lane — you have to move over. A dumb human or a smart human can easily do it, but the Tesla can’t. Man, you’ve got to be on your toes all the time with it.
While Wozniak did bash the technology used in Tesla’s electric vehicles, he compared Musk’s salesmanship with his friend and Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs. This sings high praises of the man who’s well-regarded, as well as hated in the technology ecosystem.
But, Wozniak driving his Chevy Bolt EV on the daily instead of the Tesla (which he usually uses for long hauls) also proves a point. However, do you think it’s logical for Apple’s co-founder to be looking down on Tesla and its founder? And is he saying the right things? If so, let us know your opinions in the comments below.


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AS Roma has announced an extensive €36 million deal with blockchain company Zytara Labs. The deal takes the form of a three year partnership and includes match shirt sponsorship, NFT collectibles, and a greater fan/club interaction.
The famous Italian football club will be fully integrated into Zytara Lab’s DigitalBits blockchain network, with the DigitalBits logo to be displayed on the home, away, third and goalkeeper jerseys of the men’s and women’s first-teams.
The deal will be commemorated in a unique fashion, with the first eleven jerseys of the 2021-22 season worn during the friendly between Roma and Montecatini, to be sold. Additionally 25 commemorative gold rings will be available for purchase, with current Serie A players to receive the other 25, the proceeds of which will go to charity Roma Cares.
Guido Fienga, CEO of AS Roma, commented on the partnership between AS Roma and DigitalBits:
“We could not be more excited to have AS Roma officially join the DigitalBits ecosystem. DigitalBits is a blockchain known for its speed, efficiency, and sustainability: traits that mirror the values of our club and will allow us to deepen the engagement with our fans worldwide in numerous ways.”
Here’s what the Founder of Zytara and the DigitalBits blockchain, had to say:
“This historic relationship with AS Roma, one of the most legendary football teams in the world, is transformative, not just for Zytara and DigitalBits, but for the blockchain industry as a whole. AS Roma will be expanding the collective imagination by demonstrating how blockchain technology can be leveraged to elevate the connection between sports teams and their community of fans and other supporters.”
AS Roma may not be the first European sporting organisation to partner with a blockchain company, however this deal is notable as it is considered to be the greatest partnership between a blockchain company and a mainstream sports club in terms of length of contract and gross value of sponsorship deal.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.


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Microsoft has announced today that a new “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn”, live-action digital mini series is being created as a prequel series. That will “take fans back to the terrifying beginning of the Human/Covenant war”.
The new Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn live action series has been created in partnership with top Hollywood talent from film, television and new media to bring the new live action series to life, says Microsoft.
Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn live action series will be arriving in October on Microsoft’s Halo Waypoint service as a five episode series, as well as being released on the gaming website Machinima.
When announcing the new live action series Microsoft also confirmed that The limited edition version of Halo 4 will include access to the “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” Special Edition via Halo Waypoint. Bringing owners of the set extra footage, as well as extra behind-the-scenes content to enjoy.
Source: The Independent
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The version 1.1.1 update makes only a single change, which is thought to eliminate a bug which allowed players to duplicate items, by inviting a second player to their island and then performing an exploit.
It’s not clear if any action will be taken against players who performed the exploit.
The platform holder said it would offer Switch Online subscribers server backups in “special circumstances”, such as damage or loss, later this year.
In a move likely design to combat spoilers, Nintendo’s previous Animal Crossing update stated that “time travellers” (players who change their system clock to move game time forwards) would not be allowed to experience in-game events until real-life time matches their activity dates.
- Related: Animal Crossing guide – 21 tips for a happy island life
New Horizons’ first event, Easter, will run from April 1 until April 12 and requires an online connection to check the real date when the event first starts.
Players must also have a connected Nintendo account when this check is performed.
It was revealed this week that Animal Crossing: New Horizons enjoyed the biggest Nintendo Switch launch to date in Japan.
According to Famitsu data, the Switch exclusive sold some 1.88 million copies in its first 3 days on sale in Japan, clearly surpassing the previous record holder Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield (1.3m).
Around 392,000 Nintendo Switch consoles were sold in the week ending March 22, which is the console’s biggest sales week ever in Japan – higher than even its launch (330k).


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Private Equity: KKR Suspends Operations on Goodpacks Exit
KKR is suspending its efforts to exit its investment in Goodpacks, a Singapore based supply chain solutions company.
While the company’s primary container leasing business to food and rubber companies has remained steady with little to no impact form the coronavirus economic slowdown, the bids received by KKR were far beyond what the private equity firm had hoped to obtain for Goodpacks.
KKR and Goodpacks
Potential buyers reported difficulty putting the financing in place during the current period of turbulence in the financial markets. This is another indication that this could be a rough year for private equity firms looking to exit deals. Valuations have dropped dramatically around the world. At the same time, the Initial
Public Offerings markets and lending for leveraged buyouts have tightened up considerably since the beginning of the current global slowdown.
Private equity and venture capital companies, including Blackstone (BX), Warburg Pincus, Silicon Valley, Sequoia Capital, TPG, and CX Partners, had exit deals fall though in India in the past month as that nation saw it equity markets collapse. As many as two dozen Indian companies postponed their public offering until market conditions improved. This forces their private equity owners to wait longer to ring the cash register.
Once the virus has lessened its hold on the world and the economy, KKR is likely to bring Goodpacks back to the market and attempt to exit for at least $2. KKR bought the logistics company six years ago for roughly $1.6 billion.
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Supervalu Earnings: Grocer's Woes Continue with Profits Down 40%
Supervalu (SVU) reported a net income of 31 cents per share this morning for their first quarter of fiscal 2011, which ended May 10, a 40% decline year-over-year. An after-tax charge of 12 cents per share that brought the figure down, but the quarter was a disappointment regardless. The 14 analysts covering the company expected average earnings of 42 cents per share.
The numbers are in line with the underwhelming report earlier this month from competitor Safeway (SWY), whose report, while compatible with overall analyst estimates, also marked a 40% decline in earnings per share. Safeway's struggles with margins and price cutting proved to be the issue that the entire industry would have to deal with.
New strategy has not paid off yet
Consumers have shown a strong preference for less expensive goods in the past few years, and Supervalu has had to shift its focus accordingly. The franchiser of the Bristol Farms, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Lucky, Save-A-Lot, Shop 'N Save names is now concentrating more on discount stores and cutting costs aggressively.
With this initiative, management hopes to give Supervalu an edge in the highly competitive grocery industry. Almost the entire team of executives is new. Most notably, Craig R. Herkert became CEO and president in 2009 after having the same role in the Americas for Wal-Mart (WMT).
However, both the business environment and company's financial position have limited its effectiveness in translating the new plan to a better bottom line. As consumers demand cheaper goods, stores must cut prices and margins. Supervalu took a hit from the small margins especially hard because it is also in a deleveraging stage.
The problem was exacerbated even further by the choice to close a number of its locations because of the renewed focus on discount stores. Net sales have fallen nearly 10%, largely due to the smaller number of sites. Cutting debt from the balance sheet in a situation where revenue has decreased and margins are depressed is a difficult strategy to implement.
Still, these measures are absolutely necessary for the company's longer term prospects. It is better to face the strategic and financial issues sooner, as the management team is doing, rather than pretend they do not exist. While the present is bleak for this franchise, there is a good chance that the effort will create a more profitable future.
Grocers have seen bad times so far, but if their initiatives are successful, these times will be short lived.


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Harley-Davidson was one of the first major motorcycle manufacturers to add electric motorcycles to its lineup last decade. It should come as no surprise then that the company’s CEO Jochen Zeitz is already saying that the brand’s future will be 100% electric.Expand Expanding Close
Jochen Zeitz rang the opening bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange this morning, marking the start of trading and the official listing of LiveWire on the NYSE. The all-electric motorcycle company formed by Harley-Davidson will now be traded on the NYSE under the LVWR ticker.Expand Expanding Close
Testing Harley’s LiveWire S2 Del Mar electric motorcycle: First you ride it, then you want to buy it
If the last thing you need is to try and convince your significant other of why you need to buy another motorcycle, then do yourself a favor and don’t ever get on a LiveWire S2 Del Mar. Because as soon as you do, you’re going to want one. Trust me, it happened to me.Expand Expanding Close
If you’ve been champing at the bit to put down a reservation for a LiveWire S2 Del Mar electric motorcycle, then we’ve got good news for you. The wait will soon be over as Harley-Davidson’s electric sub-brand LiveWire will be re-opening reservations later this month.Expand Expanding Close
A Tesla Model S Plaid lined up for a drag race with a Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle earlier this week in the first known case of this EV matchup.Expand Expanding Close
What happens when a Tesla Model 3 Performance goes up against a Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle in a straight-up electric drag race?
Let’s find out right now.
Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire electric motorcycle has been making waves ever since the production version was unveiled last November. Despite its high $29,799 price tag, Harley-Davidson deserves props for its early embrace of EVs, beating many other major motorcycle manufacturers to the market.
But would you believe that a group of engineers actually built the first electric Harley-Davidson over 40 years ago? Check out their impressive effort below.
Harley-Davidson unveiled its Livewire project two years ago almost to the day. While the all-electric concept with only ~60 miles of range was lacking compared to other models already available today, it showed that one of the most iconic motorcycle company, which is also obviously entrenched in internal combustion engines, is at least looking at other powertrain technologies.
At the time, Harley-Davidson made it clear that Livewire was only a concept (and good-looking one – see pictures below), but now the company confirms that it plans to bring its first electric bike to market “within the next five years”.
Amid financial troubles and co-founder scuffles, Mission Motorcycles, a maker of high-end electric motorcycles, filed for bankruptcy last week. In a letter obtained by local news-outlets, CEO Mark Seeger said the company is so low on cash that it can’t afford to pay for an attorney for the bankruptcy filing process.


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As one of America’s top 100 food companies, OSI Group has been easing the hunger of customers all around the world. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois. Forbe’s recognizes it as the 58th biggest private company in America as of 2017. The current Chairman and CEO of OSI group is Sheldon Lavin. OSI Group provides fast food products to restaurants all over the country. They produce items such as meat patties, hot dogs, pizza, and even vegetable products.
In 2016, a deal between Baho Food, a dutch company that produces deli meats, and OSI Group was made. OSI Group purchased a controlling stake of Baho Food. OSI group has decided not to cease operation and has kept Baho Food up and running. Baho Food also has five subsidiaries called Gelderland Frischwaren, Henri van de Bilt, Q Smart Life, Bakx Foods, and Vital Convenience.
During the same year, OSI Group also purchased Flagship Europe. Flagship Europe was a subsidiary of Flagship Food Group and was a supplier of the food service industry all over the U.K.
2016 wasn’t just a year of company mergers for OSI Group, they also purchased a brand new building in Chicago. The building, an old Tyson Foods plant, was purchased by OSI Group for 7.4 million dollars.
To finish off an excellent 2016, OSI Group was presented with the Globe of Honour Award from the British Safety Council in November. The award is given to companies that exhibit an outstanding stance on environmental efforts.
“On behalf of the trustees and staff of the British Safety Council,” began Lynda Armstrong, representing British Safety Council at the award luncheon in London. “I sincerely congratulate OSI Food Solutions UK Ltd on winning a Globe of Honour for 2016.”
This marks the third time OSI Group has been given this prestigious award. They were also the recipients of a Globe of Honour in 2013 and 2015.
Contact OSI Group: www.crunchbase.com/person/sheldon-lavin


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BREAKING | Uniswap Launches NFT Trading and Announces $5M Airdrop
Uniswap Labs is launching NFT trading today, along with an accompanying $5M airdrop, according to a press release received by Lucky Trader.
Uniswap's NFT platform will serve as an aggregator, combining listings across OpenSea, X2Y2, LooksRare, Sudosap, Larva Labs, Foundation, and NFT20 at launch. The protocol is promising better prices, faster indexing, and safer smart contracts as its primary differentiator from existing aggregators.
Uniswap is also promising gas savings of up to 15 percent when compared to other aggregators. This is tied to its new open-sourced Universal Router contract that powers the marketplace, which can "save tens of thousands of gas units over other marketplaces."
The Universal Router will allow traders to unify ERC20 swaps with NFT purchases in one transaction and will soon become the default swap router for all Uniswap swaps. It will also allow users to split and interweave Uniswap trades, partially fill trades, wrap/unwrap ETH, and perform time-bound, signature-controlled token approvals.
The NFT trading marketplace will utilize trustless and open-source code, leveraging the same design principles from the decentralized crypto exchange protocol. In doing so, Uniswap becomes the first major NFT trading platform to open-source its code.
"NFTs and ERC-20 tokens have largely existed as two separate ecosystems within crypto, but both are essential to growing the digital economy," said Uniswap spokesperson, "Launching NFTs on Uniswap is our first step in building more interoperable experiences between the two."
As a token of appreciation, Uniswap is airdropping $5 million to more than 15,000 wallets who had previously made trades with Genie, an NFT aggregator purchased by Uniswap earlier this year.
The airdrop snapshot was taken as of April 14, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. ET and has two tiers:
- A $300 tier is available to wallets that completed more than one transaction before the snapshot.
- A $1,000 tier is available to wallets that held the Genie:Genesis NFT as of the snapshot.
- Users are eligible per unique address, meaning multiple Genie:Genesis NFTs in the same wallet are only eligible once.
- This tier is also available to wallets that purchased a Genie:Genesis NFT or a Genie:Gem NFT between 12:59 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. ET on June 21st.
Users can check their wallet eligibility using a Dune dashboard provided by the Uniswap team.
To claim the $USDC airdrop, eligible participants should navigate to app.uniswap.org, connect their wallets, and if eligible a button will appear with the text "Claim Uniswap NFT airdrop."
Eligible participants will have 12 months to claim.
Gas Rebates Promotion
Uniswap is also running a gas rebates promotion to welcome new users trading NFTs on their platform.
The promotion begins today, Nov. 30, and runs through Dec. 14, 2022. The gas rebate is claimable starting Jan. 16, 2023, through the Uniswap app and will be available for 12 months.
The first 22,000 unique wallets that purchase an NFT during this period will qualify for the rebate on their first NFT transaction, and the rebate will be capped at 0.01 ETH ($12.75 at the time of writing). To reap the full rebate, users will need to have spent more than 0.01 ETH in gas. Those spending less than 0.01 ETH on gas will receive the amount of gas spent.
Overall, this is major news for NFT market participants as Uniswap has 4.45 million total users (compared to 2.4 million OpenSea users), who have executed over $1 trillion in trading volume (compared to OpenSea which is closer to ~$34B). The potential for token swaps and NFT purchases in one transaction will be a brand-new feature for the space and a major time and cost saver.


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Your lipstick in a gold and metallic tube may add more colour and drama to your makeup kit, but do you ever evaluate the amount of plastic used in the packaging to make it look fancy and funky?
Once used, it would be chucked in a matter of a minute, adding to the 8 million tonne of plastic waste washed into our oceans every year, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems.
The need of the hour, clearly, is to rapidly scale up packaging innovations and infrastructure across the circular economy value chain.
A quintessential sustainable package provides the brand experience, is robust, easy to handle and efficient to store, and is recyclable as well once its purpose is lived out.
It’s no wonder then that when e-commerce giant Amazon announced to eliminate single-use plastic from its supply chain by June 2020, the first step was the introduction of paper cushion, an environment-friendly and fully-recyclable packaging solution, which has replaced plastic dunnage across all its fulfillment centres in India.
The brand has also launched packaging-free shipments to reduce waste generated from secondary packaging of customer orders.
The plastic currently used in its packaging mailers and bubble bags is made of 20% recycled content as well.
Amazon’s box-sizing algorithm calculates the right size of the box for an order, minimising the packaging waste generated.
According to Acumen Research and Consulting, a global provider of market intelligence and consulting services, the global sustainable packaging market is expected to reach around $255 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7% over the forecast period of 2019-26.
There are several brands today that are working actively to create sustainable packaging solutions by replacing or recycling plastic in their supply chains.
For starters, choosing sustainable options is one way to avoid harmful chemicals.
Bamboo, glass, metal, recycled plastic and silicone—an eco-friendly material made from silica easily found in sand—are good options, as are recyclable and non-hazardous materials such as cardboard, paper wrap, paper tape, wood, starch, cotton, etc.
These also have relatively less energy consumption as compared to plastic.
Bengaluru-based Packmile, a B2B sustainable packaging enterprise, has been working with Amazon for two years and offers products in kraft paper, which is biodegradable and recyclable.
Founder and CEO Pawan Maheshwari says most of its products have been rigorously tested by various industries for different packaging applications.
“A lot of detailing goes into packaging like lifecycle analysis, shipment, product safety, drop tests, transit timings, product handling, conditions of the container, etc… these aspects help in getting the right packaging.
Some products are cheaper than current plastic products.
However, most are 10-15% costlier than single-use plastic.
For example, CORM (corrugated box recycling machine) is a great replacement for thermocol.
BHive is a patented product and replaces traditional plastic bubble wrap. Paper tapes directly replace plastic tapes stuck on boxes,” says Maheshwari, who works with industry bodies like the Confederation of Indian Industry, Industrial Waste Management Association, besides brands such as Amazon, Vilvah, Bare Anatomy, SoulTree, etc.
Natural personal care and beauty label SoulTree has also made a start towards sustainable packaging.
The brand has introduced biodegradable packaging, which can be decomposed naturally with the help of moisture and microorganisms.
Once decomposed, the compounds either return to nature or disintegrate, leaving no waste behind.
“The Ayurvedic facepacks, for instance, use biodegradable sachets made with natural substances like wood, paper, starch, cotton or waste, created with relatively less energy as compared to plastic,” says founder Vishal Bhandari, who tried his hand at various businesses before conceiving the idea of SoulTree in 2008.
He extensively worked with a small group of organic farmers in Uttarakhand to promote organic farming and generate sustainable livelihoods in rural communities.
Bhandari has also eliminated plastic packaging material for shipping orders and switched to eco-friendly solutions such as cardboard boxes, paper wraps and tapes, etc. “Sustainability is not only inculcated in the process, it’s also a value.
At every stage, from sourcing to manufacturing, our endeavour is to become a reliable choice for Indians seeking natural products,” says Bhandari.
The brand has over 60 in-house beauty products made from Ayurvedic extracts, using natural and certified organic raw materials.
Bhandari also ensures there is no environmental degradation in the processes through which the ingredients are made.
“From making certified ‘natural’ products, setting up water harvesting projects for dry land farmers to using no harmful chemicals and processing every natural ingredient following Ayurvedic traditions for maximum benefit, we ensure good choices for everyone,” he adds.
A slew of brands have understood the need to thrive in the next decade and have put sustainability first in terms of packaging.
By 2025, Unilever plans to make all of its plastic packaging fully reusable, recyclable or compostable. L’Oréal Paris’ Seed Phytonutrients, a personal care brand, uses thin plastic shells protected by an outer layer of recycled paper, besides planning to make 100% of its packaging refillable or compostable by 2025.
Dior, too, has revealed its new perfume products which are refillable.
Forest Essentials has also added recycling as a way of giving back to the environment. “Customers can return used bottles, which are then given to Chintan, a UN award-winning NGO, to recycle… the money generated is used to educate ragpicker children and run a programme called ‘No Child In Trash’.
The outer packaging has always been in biodegradable cartons.
We have replaced the plastic bubble wraps with recyclable paper inside cartons to transport goods to the consumer,” says Samrath Bedi, CEO, Forest Essentials.
With a goal of responsible retailing and in compliance with the guidelines laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), online beauty store Nykaa, too, has set up a recycling system for packaging.
“Customers have three options to recycle packaging: drop it at designated municipal bins, at CPCB-designated collection centres, or send to our warehouses.
Shakti Plastics, a pioneer in waste management systems, helps us recycle packaging to be reused or repurposed,” says Manoj Jaiswal, chief supply chain officer, Nykaa.
Dabur India is also taking progressive steps to reduce plastic waste while raising awareness about waste management. Shahrukh Khan, executive director, operations, Dabur India, says the brand is committed to becoming a plastic waste-neutral company by the end of March 2021.
“We have already put in place an ecosystem for processing and recycling post-consumer plastic waste with ragpickers and recyclers.
We are on course to collect over 20,000 metric tonne of post-consumer plastic waste annually across the country from 2020-21.
This covers both recyclables (like PET, HDPE) and non-recyclables (multilayered plastic),” he says.
Dabur has also been recycling PET bottles collected under its plastic waste collection drive to make T-shirts that are distributed amongst community members and school children.
Between 2018-19 and 2019-20, Dabur has collectively reduced plastic usage in secondary and tertiary packaging by 250 metric tonne.
Procter & Gamble (P&G) India produces 25% of its shampoo and conditioner bottles with ocean plastic, which they’ve collected and recycled from littered coasts.
In November 2019, P&G India announced a `200-crore Environmental Sustainability Fund to collaborate with external partners, offering environmentally sustainable business solutions.
The announcement was in line with P&G’s global sustainability goals ‘Ambition 2030’ aimed at creating a positive impact on the environment and society.
The goal is for all P&G’s leadership brands, including Whisper, Ariel, Ambi Pur, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Pampers and Tide, to enable responsible consumption through packaging that is 100% recyclable or reusable by 2030.
In 2019, P&G also launched the second edition of P&G vGROW External Business Partner Summit, a platform to identify and collaborate with businesses and individuals offering solutions in packaging, renewable sources of energy and reducing carbon footprint. Globally, P&G will source at least 5 billion litre of water by reusing the water used in existing operations.
In 2019, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), too, announced to halve the use of virgin plastic by 2025.
The brand has invested in multiple-use packs (such as reusable and refillable formats), no-plastic solutions (alternative packaging materials and naked products) and a reduction in the amount of plastic in existing packs.
“We have developed coating technology to replace the polymer coating in our soap bar cartons and migrated to recyclable flexibles across our portfolio, starting with pilots in a few brands like the soap wrapper of Lifebuoy, Sunsilk Shampoo sachets and Pond’s tubes.
The use of rPET (80% recycled PET) in our blister packs for personal care brands such as Pepsodent toothbrush, Vaseline lip care and initiated use of rHDPE (25% recycled HDPE) in personal care bottles like TRESemmé ensures there is an application for newly available recycled plastics, driving circular economy,” says the company spokesperson.
HUL has also launched Love Beauty & Planet, a personal care brand in India, which offers shampoos, conditioners, bodywashes and body lotions in four unique collections, each infused with natural ingredients and packed in 100% recycled plastic bottles.
It’s not just big brands that are putting in their best efforts to curb the excessive use of plastic, home-grown startups, too, are doing their bit.
The Moms Co., for one, uses recyclable plastic material for packaging its products.
Founded in 2016 by Malika and Mohit Sadani, the natural, toxin-free baby grooming products company has also associated with rePurpose Global, a social enterprise building plastic credit platform, to reduce its plastic footprint. So everytime a customer shops on The Moms Co.’s website, he/she has an option of donating `1 towards recycling single-use plastic equivalent in the order.
The donated amount not only helps in recycling unwanted single-use plastics, but also empowers marginalised women who work in waste management.
All the packaging cartons are sourced from factories that use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) paper, where the paper used is environment-friendly and fully recyclable.
“rePurpose Global is working with leading consumer packaged goods brands in the personal care and beauty segments to make them plastic-neutral.
The Moms Co. has tied up with the enterprise and offers options for customers to add just `1 to their order to make their individual purchase plastic-neutral, thereby addressing the problem of unavoidable plastic packaging in the most immediate way possible,” says Aditya Siroya, co-founder, rePurpose Global.
For every `35 contributed, the platform guarantees to remove and recycle an additional 1 kg of plastic waste otherwise bound for oceans, landfills or incineration.
Another premium natural baby care brand Maate uses glass or high-grade PET-G plastic.
The cartons used for packaging are made from certified paper and high-grade chemical-free ink.
“Sometimes a great design may not go well with an environment-friendly material… sometimes better sustainable material is available, but does not support the applicability of the product.
Like using glass sounds good, but isn’t safe for a baby or in wet areas.
Plastic is more user-friendly for bath products, but does not support sustainability like glass.
So brands need to come up with products that are both safe and sustainable,” says Priyanka C Raina, founder, Maate.
Brands such as WOW Skin Science and Plum also use recyclable plastic in packaging.
Zlade, an online-first brand, too, uses responsible packaging.
“Packaging is the first thing that goes into the hands of the consumer, so it’s important to get it right.
The consumer can’t look at and feel the package before making a purchase decision,” says Suraj Chaudhari, co-founder, Zlade.
“We focus on not adding unnecessary layers to a package and don’t use any plastic to wrap or fill the package.
Recyclable and biodegradable materials such as corrugated boxes, paper, cloth paper bags can be used in packaging instead of plastics, bubble wraps and shrink wraps,” he says, adding, “Like the West, India will gradually see shampoo bars packed in paper once the costs of material come down and consumers become more aware and start demanding sustainable packaging.”
Ohria Ayurveda, which makes environment-friendly and palm oil-free products, uses glass bottles for packaging products.
“For brides, we have launched sustainable cotton muslin potlis, an ancient way of packaging, storing and gifting.
We have omitted plastic shrink wrap and use paper seal tapes to seal our products to minimise wastage,” says founder Rajni Ohri.
Long road ahead
The replacement of plastic, however, isn’t without its challenges.
The biggest is high production cost. “As the cost of the materials increases… it gets more challenging to invest in packaging as there is no profit-making for companies and lack of awareness acts as a barrier,” says Raina of Maate, adding, “Since it’s not cost-effective for buyers when compared to traditional ways of packaging, it’s an added cost for them and so they end up not investing in sustainable products.
Most businesses try to achieve it without compromising on the quality of the packaging design.”
Agrees Chaudhari of Zlade: “The cost of sustainable packaging is more than current available packaging options as it is still a new phenomenon and, hence, economies of scale cannot be achieved…
The costs are high and the manufacturers need to invest huge upfront amounts to set up new, or replace current, machinery.
The switch to sustainable packaging might add up to 25% in added packaging costs.
We need more innovation in sustainable packaging alternatives before we start seeing mass market products being offered in environment-friendly packaging,” he says.
Maheshwari of Packmile believes more brands will have to be eco-conscious and make it a part of their company culture.
“Eco-friendly products are slightly more expensive and in this current nascent stage, the raw material cost itself is high.
Thus, it has a cyclic effect in manufacturing.
But our biggest focus is to keep the costs of our products as low as possible.
So we’ve gone one step further on recycling: upcycling.
In essence, the discarded scrap boxes which are given away to the kabadiwala can be converted into packaging material.
Thus, companies don’t have to buy new plastic/styrofoam packaging material.
The cost of scrapped boxes is much lesser than new plastic/styrofoam material and eco-friendly too,” he says.
While solutions exist, the waste management sector remains severely underfunded.
“We face a $5-billion per year financing gap for effective waste management in five Asian countries alone, and unless we fill that, our world cannot transition to a circular economy.
Through rePurpose’s PlasticNeutral certification, individuals and businesses can mobilise financing to help bridge this gap and fight plastic pollution,” says Komal Sinha, head of partnerships, rePurpose Global.
Published on financialexpress.com


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Apple has rejected a judge’s order to help the FBI break into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters, warning it was “too dangerous” to create such a backdoor to the smartphones.
US magistrate Judge Sheri Pym ordered Apple on Tuesday to provide “reasonable technical assistance” to the FBI, including disabling an auto-erase feature after too many unsuccessful attempts are made to unlock the iPhone 5c.
Federal prosecutors had filed a motion requesting Apple’s help after the FBI failed to crack the phone’s code two months into the investigation into the December rampage.
Syed Farook, a US citizen, and his Pakistani wife Tashfeen Malik gunned down 14 people at an office party in San Bernardino, California, before they were killed in a shootout with police.
But Apple said it would fight the judge’s order, firing the latest shot in a growing debate over encryption pitting the government against tech companies.
“The United States government has demanded that Apple take an unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook said in a statement on the company’s website.
“We oppose this order, which has implications far beyond the legal case at hand.”
Cook said it was too risky to provide the requested software because it could allow ill-intentioned individuals to unlock any iPhone and raises major privacy concerns.
“The US government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create. They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone,” Apple said.
“In the wrong hands, this software which does not exist today would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession.
“While the government may argue that its use would be limited to this case, there is no way to guarantee such control,” he said, adding that Apple has cooperated with the FBI thus far.
By disabling the security features, the FBI would be able to attempt as many different password combinations as needed before gaining access to the phone.
It was the property of the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, which employed Farook, and the authority had agreed to the search of the phone.
Pym ordered Apple to provide software that would only run on the device in question, or any other technological means to access its data.
But Apple said it was impossible to create such a tool that could only be used once, on one phone.
“Once created, the technique could be used over and over again, on any number of devices,” Apple said.
“In the physical world, it would be the equivalent of a master key, capable of opening hundreds of millions of locks from restaurants and banks to stores and homes. No reasonable person would find that acceptable.”
The US government is concerned that commercially-available encryption benefits criminals.
Tech companies, intent on securing the trust of consumers after government spying revelations made by Edward Snowden, have been reluctant to be seen as helping authorities spy on users.
“We can find no precedent for an American company being forced to expose its customers to a greater risk of attack,” Apple said.
“The implications of the government’s demands are chilling.”
“If the government can use the All Writs Act to make it easier to unlock your iPhone, it would have the power to reach into anyone’s device to capture their data.”
Cook warned that if Apple complied with the order, the government could demand surveillance software to intercept, access health and financial data, track users’ location or access a phone’s microphone or camera without the user’s knowledge.
“We are challenging the FBI’s demands with the deepest respect for American democracy and a love of our country,” Cook added.
US Attorney Eileen Decker had earlier called the order “another step a potentially important step in the process of learning everything we possibly can about the attack in San Bernardino.”
FBI Director James Comey revealed last week that investigators had not been able to crack open the phone two months into the investigation.


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After around a year of construction, the new ZKW logistics center in Wieselburg is now in operation. The highly automated warehouse system at the former parking lot on Scheibbser Straße guarantees a fast and efficient supply of materials for the entire production site. Additional assembly lines have been connected to the new system each week since mid-October. The goal is to have all 28 production lines linked to the logistics center by the first quarter of 2022. The smart warehouse not only provides additional storage capacity, but also clears up former storage areas to be used as new production space. “Thanks to the new logistics center, in the future the entire flow of goods – from receipt to manufacturing – will be fully automated and will include no extra steps to move goods into or out of storage. Now it takes just 15 minutes from the time materials are ordered on the assembly line to the time the required parts arrive” says Stefan Hauptmann, General Plant Manager for ZKW Lichtsysteme Wieselburg.
ZKW installed the first version of the pioneering LED Matrix light in the Opel Astra in 2015. Now, the next stage of development is ready to launch: With a total of 168 LED elements (84 per headlamp), the “Intelli-Lux” Pixel Lite developed by the Wieselburg lighting specialists delivers a precise and fluid lighting gradient tailored to the specific situation at hand, without creating glare for other road users. The light module and electronic components are integrated into the extra-slim front headlamps. The Intelli-Lux precisely cuts out oncoming vehicles in just milliseconds. The other areas continue to be illuminated with full high beams. “The intelligent Pixel Lite used in the new Opel Astra is setting new standards in the compact class. It provides adaptive support to the driver, ensures driving comfort, and delivers more road safety” explains Oliver Schubert, CEO of the ZKW Group.
ZKW has been manufacturing high-quality lighting systems for the NAFTA region in the Mexican city of Silao since 2016. Now, the lighting specialist is expanding the location by an additional 21,000 square meters. This step increases the production area to a total of 35,000 square meters. In addition, the company plans to hire over 600 new employees, in order to expand its staffing levels to 1,600 by 2023. The location produces front headlamps and auxiliary lamps for clients such as BMW, Ford Lincoln, Freightliner, General Motors, Mercedes Benz, Navistar and Volvo. The planned production volume is 2.2 million units per year. “The goal of the second phase of expansion is to significantly increase capacity at the site, and increase competencies in the Design, Engineering and Research & Development areas. In doing so, we value a multicultural, integrative and sustainable corporate culture” explains Jan Seumenicht, General Plant Manager of ZKW Mexico.
Cooperation with Silicon Austrian Labs, Evatec, EV Group and TDK Electronics advances light projection technology
Together with research partners Silicon Austrian Labs, Evatec, EV Group and TDK Electronics, ZKW is working on “micromirror” technology. This microelectromechanical system (MEMS) consists of a chip with integrated, microscopic mirror mechanics. The micromirror can be pivoted around two axes by means of piezoelectricity and enables a laser beam to be directed specifically and precisely. In the future, this will enable smart lighting functions for vehicles, such as the projection of symbols (for example arrows) and warnings onto the road, or flexible, adaptive vehicle lighting. This technology can be used in front lights, rear lights or as side projection, as well as in LIDAR systems for optical distance measurement. “Micromirror could be a strategically important key technology enabling new automated lighting functions for autonomous driving. The goal of this so-called ‘smart road lighting’ is to make vehicles smarter, safer and more interactive,” explains Oliver Schubert, CEO of the ZKW Group.
Headquarters in Wieselburg and Chinese site in Dalian awarded for very high delivery reliability
The ZKW sites in Wieselburg and Dalian (China) received the “GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award” for their excellent performance as a reliable automotive supplier. The awards honored the high level of delivery reliability that the lighting system specialists offer General Motors. Despite numerous restrictions due to the pandemic, ZKW was able to fulfill its delivery contracts with GM on time, reliably, and with a high level of quality. “In these turbulent times, we are particularly proud of these awards. They honor our everyday efforts for our customers worldwide”, explains Oliver Schubert, CEO of the ZKW Group.
Energy savings, waste avoidance and the conversion to green power reinforce sustainable, eco-friendly production – all ZKW products projected to be CO₂-neutral by 2038
Sustainable business is a central concern of both the ZKW Group and its customers. As part of its group-wide “Corporate Sustainability Project,” ZKW is working harder to avoiding waste, save resources and implement environmental protection measures at its sites in Austria, Slovakia, Mexico, the US, China and South Korea. The goal is to develop and manufacture products more efficiently and more sustainably. ZKW is focusing on energy-efficient production machines that reduce CO2 output. Green power will also be used by the plants in Wieselburg and Wiener Neustadt beginning in 2022. In Krušovce, ZKW has built Slovakia’s first company building with a class A0 energy label – an award given for the building’s uniquely eco-friendly and energy-saving design. The plant’s staff is contributing by developing a waste separation and prevention initiative and by recycling. The plant in Silao/Mexico was also constructed according to innovative, environmentally-friendly standards. In addition, the employees are supporting local environmental protection by planting 240 trees in the La Purisima natural conservation area. “As a global player, we are aware of our social and corporate responsibility. Because of this, we are converting our production sites to CO2-neutral production by 2025. We want to take an active role in shaping climate protection, and take a close look at the CO₂ footprints of our products” explains Oliver Schubert, CEO of the ZKW Group.
Last year, the Wieselburg lighting system specialist applied a total of 57 innovations for international patents – 50 of them in Europe, and seven in China. The automotive supplier leads the patent rankings in Lower Austria for 2020. ZKW is 4th place in Europe among all Austrian companies that submitted their inventions in Europe. ZKW secured a top placement thanks to the company’s many innovations in intelligent lighting and sensor solutions required for autonomous driving. Research and development are central at ZKW. New products with modern measurement technology are tested in the company’s lighting channel, which is one of Europe’s largest. “Our patents represent the values of our company. Innovation is essential to us, to illuminates a path towards the future” explains Oliver Schubert, CEO of the ZKW Group.
ZKW is working with Newsight Imaging to develop highly precise, adaptive high beams – including for retrofitting
New technology integrates light sensor and controls directly into the front lighting
The strategic partnership ZKW entered into with Israeli startup Newsight Imaging in 2019 is already achieving results. Newsight Imaging won ZKW’s “Drive Light Sight” competition in 2019. Now, a new prototype for a glare-free high beam has been developed as an initial result of the cooperation; the high beam can be integrated directly into the headlamp with its associated sensors and controller. This eliminates the need for a separate front camera. The project, which is currently known as “senseZ” could be ready for series production soon and be manufactured by ZKW. “The autonomous high beam system can be added to or used to retrofit older vehicle models that do not have a front camera or an infrastructure designed for ADB. However, the innovation can also be used to upgrade existing adaptive high beam technology with a higher resolution” explains Oliver Schubert, CEO of the ZKW Group.
ZKW is researching the control units of the future alongside AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and FH Wiener Neustadt
FFG-funded “zoneZ” project is built on interdisciplinary collaboration
As part of the “zoneZ” research project, ZKW is working alongside the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and the Mechatronics department of the Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt (FHWN – The University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt) to research an all new class of control units for motor vehicles. The “zoneZ” project is financed and supported by the Federal Ministry of Climate Protection as part of the FTI program Mobility of the Future, and is managed under the Austrian Research Promotion Agency. The goal is to develop a control unit that can control future vehicle sensors, such as radar, camera, and LiDAR, as well as actuators such as headlamps and displays. This will help driver assistance systems activate spotlights for targeted illumination of hazardous objects, or activate the parking assistant or pedestrian protection to avoid accidents. “Our objective is to structure the electronic vehicle architecture of the future in sections, defined by geometric proximity. The goal of the research project is to create a functional pattern that can be used in a statistical model, as well as in a test vehicle” explains Oliver Schubert, CEO of the ZKW Group.
After almost a year of development and optimization, the ZKW COBOT program has now gone live. Collaborative robots are working alongside personnel on the production line. While industrial robots are placed in a separate cell, shielded behind protective installations and safety doors, the ZKW COBOT is free-standing and can interact with the operator. Currently, the intelligent machine is used to assemble headlamp light guides. Initial experiences are promising: Working on a team with the smart robot helps facilitate exhausting manual work for employees, accelerates the assembly process by around 20 percent, and helps ensure consistently high production quality. “Economic efficiency, safety and quality are the focus in the COBOT project. The purpose of the collaborative robot is to deliver targeted support to our employees in manufacturing” says Oliver Schubert, CEO of the ZKW Group.


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A prestigious roll-call of significant brands from across the world were celebrated this week at a glitzy black tie gala evening in London for the International Loyalty Awards.
A review of every entry that made it to the Finalists stage of the judging for the International Loyalty Awards 2022
pretty far with just a great idea and a little bit of investment. During that time, the term “disruptive” was second only to “Blockchain” in every elevator pitch I heard from my fellow founders who were also chasing investment in the fundraising circuit! writes Andy Kulina, consumer engagement & retention strategy director, Oracle EMEA


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iQOO is gearing up to launch its next flagship phone, the iQOO 12, in India. The gaming smartphone will arrive in the country on December 12, and the company has been teasing its details for a while.
The iQOO 12 launched in China earlier this month and will run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. The company has now revealed the software update policy for the device in the Indian market.
iQOO 12 Will Get 3 Major OS Updates And Won’t Have Bloatware
The smartphone will run on the latest FunTouch OS 14 based on Android 14 in the global market. iQOO 12 will receive three years of OS updates and four years of security updates.
The iQOO will receive updates up to Android 17 in 2026 and security updates until 2027. Furthermore, the iQOO 12 will not ship with any bloatware such as Hot Apps and Hot Games like its previous smartphones.
iQOO phones are notorious for shipping with Hot Apps and Hot Games folders, which show app recommendations on tapping them. These apps are recommended from Vivo’s app store instead of the Google Play Store. Although you can hide them in the Settings, there is no option to disable them.
The iQOO 12 will be the first non-Pixel phone in India to ship with Android 14 out of the box. It will also be the first phone in the country to run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
iQOO 12 Specifications
The iQOO 12 made its debut earlier this month in China and has a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. Furthermore, the phone has a resolution of 1260×2800 pixels and a peak brightness of 3000 nits.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powers the phone, which is paired with up to 16GB of RAM. It will run on FunTouch OS 14 based on Android 14 and will have up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage.
On the back, the phone will have a 50-megapixel primary camera and a 64-megapixel periscope lens. In addition, there is a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 16-megapixel selfie camera on the front.
The iQOO 12 packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 120W wired charging. Furthermore, it will have a dedicated Q1 Supercomputing chip and will be available in three different colour options.


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Review by Christos T. Panagopoulos
The millionth cruise ship passenger will arrive in Dubrovnik on Tuesday 17th of September. This year has been a bumper one for cruise ships in Dubrovnik, with more cruise ships and more passengers than ever before passing through the Port of Dubrovnik.
From the beginning of this year till the end of August just over 700,000 passengers passed through the port on 445 cruise ships, according to figures released by the Port of Dubrovnik.
And September was just as good as August, with passenger numbers well up. By the end of 2013 711 cruise ships will have docked in the Port of Dubrovnik, a massive 63 more than in 2012.
Source: Dubrovnik Times


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UPDATE 1-Apple working on curved iPhone screens, enhanced sensors: report
Nov 10 (Reuters) - Apple Inc is developing new iPhone designs including bigger screens with curved glass and enhanced sensors that can detect different levels of pressure, Bloomberg reported on Sunday, citing a unnamed person familiar with the plans.
With screens of 4.7 inches (11.9 cm) and 5.5 inches (14 cm), the two new models would be Apple's largest iPhones, the person told Bloomberg.
The new handsets are still in development and plans haven't been completed, Bloomberg said citing the person, adding Apple probably would release them in the third quarter of next year.
Natalie Kerris, a spokeswoman for the Cupertino, California-based technology company, declined to comment.
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The Latino Coalition (TLC), the leading, national non-partisan advocacy organization representing Hispanic businesses and consumers, recently hosted the Capturing the Momentum Summit: The Hispanic Economic Agenda at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
The summit brought together leading executives, small business owners and government officials to discuss economic policies that can boost entrepreneurial opportunities. The one-day event provided entrepreneurs with a series of informative panels, key breakout sessions, procurement meetings and an opportunity to expand personal and professional networks. Attendees and speakers delved into topics ranging from the current federal regulatory conditions to international trade, and from immigration to the unfolding tax reform debate on Capitol Hill.
“The Capturing the Momentum Summit provided an opportunity to speak plainly about what helps and hurts Hispanic business development,” said Hector Barreto, TLC Chairman and former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. “We also, for the first time ever, facilitated a town hall meeting of Hispanic leaders who discussed the state of Latino economic and political power. This provocative conversation touched on topics that should be top-of-mind for the political leaders of today.”
Speakers at the event included U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza; U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross; Gerónimo Gutiérrez, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States; Melissa Lavinson, Vice President of Federal Affairs and Policy, PG&E Corporation; Bernie McKay, Chief Public Policy Officer, Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs at Intuit; Jackie Puente, Executive Director for External Affairs at Comcast; Thomas M. Sullivan, Vice President of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46), U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07), U.S. Rep. Peter J. Roskam (IL-06) and U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus (PA-12).
During the event, Chairman Barreto announced new partnerships through a Memorandum of Understanding with BAU International University, the U.S. Guatemala Chamber of Commerce and The 60 Plus Association. These organizations join TLC’s network of 100+ partners working to enhance the overall business, economic and social objectives of the Hispanic community.
“The entrepreneurial spirit of this nation is something to be celebrated, especially when America’s 28 million small businesses account for half of the nation’s economic output,” said Barreto. “Our event showcased that entrepreneurial strength, and pushed for business initiatives that leverage partnerships, create more jobs and grow this nation’s economy. We look forward to building on this message on October 12 at our Upward Mobility Summit in Kansas City, Missouri.”
Title sponsors for the event were Wal-Mart and Google. Event partners included 1800 Contacts, Act Wireless, AltaMed Health Services Corporation, Altria Client Services, Alvarado Smith, American Express Open, AT&T, Bank of America, California Resource Corporation, Centene Corporation, Coca-Cola, Comcast/Universal, CTIA, Direct Selling Association, Dun & Bradstreet, East West Bank, Edison Electric Institute, Herbalife, Hispanic Business Roundtable Institute, Honda, International Franchise Association, Intuit, JP Morgan, KOCH, Master Your Card, MasterCard, National Association of Broadcasters, National Cable & Telecommunications Association, NV Energy, Paychex, PG&E, PhRMA, Quicken Loans, Reset Public Affairs, Ronald Reagan Trade Center, Southern California Edison, The Latino Coalition Foundation, The Libre Initiative, T-Mobile, Tributo Tequila, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, Univision and Verizon. Media Partners were Conexión, Finding Productions and Tico Sports Productions, LLC.
The Latino Coalition (TLC) was founded in 1995 by a group of Hispanic business owners from across the country to research and develop policies and solutions relevant to Latinos. TLC is a non-profit nationwide organization with offices in California, Washington, DC and Guadalajara, Mexico. Established to address and engage on key issues that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States, TLC’s agenda is to create and promote initiatives and partnerships that will foster economic equivalency and enhance and empower overall business, economic and social development for Latinos.


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Team Digitrends is participating in DUPHAT (Dubai International Pharmaceutical and Technologies Conference and Exhibition) 2023. That is starting from 10th January 2023 till 12th January 2023 at Dubai World Trade Center.
The 28th Dubai International Pharmaceutical and Technologies Conference and Exhibition, popularly known as DUPHAT 2023. It is set to begin on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the Dubai World Trade Center. The three-day event will bring together top professionals, experts, and business executives from the pharmaceutical sector. And it is being organized by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions, a division of INDEX Holding.
The world’s best manufacturers and pharmaceutical businesses may showcase their products at DUPHAT, the region’s top pharmaceutical industry event, and share knowledge and develop in the fields of technology, medicine, and patient care.
The DUPHAT conference and exhibition gives pharmaceutical businesses the chance to launch new products, discover cutting-edge scientific research, connect with industry peers, exchange information and experiences with subject-matter experts, and think about solutions to the difficulties facing the sector.
Every component of the pharmaceutical industry’s value chain, from raw material suppliers to formulation specialists to distributors and drugstore networks, is represented at this one-of-a-kind event.
- Create connections and network with 20,000+ participants.
- Pre-arrange B2B meetings with 60+ carefully chosen Buyers.
- Obtain fresh leads from more than 75 participating nations.
Over the last 27 years, DUPHAT has had a considerable impact on the pharmaceutical industry in the MENA region.
Originally designed as a conference and exposition for the local market, it is today the top regional location for executives in the pharmaceutical sector to learn and network. Major pharmaceutical companies hold DUPHAT in high respect. DUPHAT is the biggest pharmaceutical exhibition in the Middle East and Africa.
Digitrends at DUPHAT
In 2010, DigiTrends was established as a versatile digital company spearheading the mission to digitize the pharmaceutical industry and several other industries. With a variety of marketing solutions and online services, it swiftly established itself as a cutting-edge digital company.
By digitizing several prestigious companies and sparking a local digital revolution, DigiTrends soon established itself as a leader in the field. Our success earned us extensive praise and inspired us to broaden the extent of our industry expertise and our global presence; DigiTrends eventually developed into a full-stack digital corporation.
Since its founding, DigiTrends has overcame many challenges and won the trust of more than 600 organizations, including Fortune 500 companies and well-known companies worldwide. With dependable digital services and informed marketing solutions, DigiTrends is dedicated to empowering its customers.
They work together with pharmaceutical companies to evaluate, organize, and implement a thorough digital strategy. Moreover, our consulting approach to problem-solving has helped organizations begin their digital transformation by
Integrating communication strategy, digital channels, and analytics to create better customer experiences and more customer engagement.
Furthermore, the team from Digitrends will comprise of:
Regional Head of Middle East Division Dr. Abdul Hameed Khan and Marketing Head Akbar Raza.
DigiTrends is a Manifest 2022 top ranked software house and digital solutions provider firm. It is meeting different sector’s digitalization needs since 2000. Moreover, Digitrends, being the official 2022 member of Forbes Technology council, is well recognized by Inc. 5000, DesignRUSH, Clutch and Goodfirms.
Moreover, ranging its offices from USA, UK, and UAE to Pakistan, Digitrends has been providing customized digital solutions to healthcare sector, primarily pharmaceuticals; education, finance and other regions. With a diverse expert team, Digitrends has delivered exceptional AR/VR, artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology (Fintech) projects.


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A Leesburg teen was arrested after allegedly cashing a stolen check at a convenience store.
Stacy C. Harvard, 18, allegedly cashed the $450 check at 7 Stars Discount Store at 2005 W. Main St. in Leesburg, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
The next day the store manager received a call from the owner of the Mobil gas station down the street from 7 Stars Discount. He was told by the Mobil owner that someone had tried to cash a check that he thought might have been stolen from the Brick & Barrel, a business in Leesburg. The 7 Stars manager went to Brick & Barrel and was told by the manager that a number of checks had been stolen. The 7 Stars manager then called police and showed officers the video of Harvard cashing the check. He told them that Harvard had been a customer of 7 Stars Discount for several years and was well known by store employees.
The police contacted the manager of the Brick & Barrel who confirmed that the check cashed by Harvard had been stolen from his business. Harvard was arrested on charges of forgery, theft, and dealing in stolen property. Harvard was booked into the Lake County Jail with bond set at $5,000.


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South African-based auction house, Aucor, are continuing to lead the way in terms of transformation within the auction industry.
In a ground-breaking and first-of-its-kind partnership, Aucor and De Beers South Africa have announced the launch of Aucor Limpopo.
Jacques van der Linde, Aucor Bloemfontein Managing Director says: “The opening of Aucor Limpopo is a true step towards our commitment to transformation and empowerment. We have directly involved members of the local community that surround the De Beers Venetia Mine and partnered with the owners of a local auction house, Amagidi Auctions, as majority shareholders in this venture.”
At the heart of Aucor’s business strategy and in line with their 50 year celebrations, the company is constantly investigating the possibilities of opening new branches around South Africa and making auctions accessible to smaller provinces.
“The aim of the new venture is to grow the skills and scope of our community partners. In turn, we will be growing the Aucor brand and teaching the locals about the intricacies of the auction industry whilst maintaining Aucor’s high standards and credibility.”
Aucor Limpopo held its first official auction on Thursday, May 3, at the Venetia Mine. The auction and launch event was attended by local government dignitaries and officials. Media and Aucor and De Beers management were also present to officiate this auspicious occasion.
Gerrie Nortje, Venetia Mine General Manager, says: “Supplier development is still a major focus for the mine as it forms part of the transformation agenda of the socio economic landscape of our people. The launch is yet another great example of how we are committed to build strategic partnerships.”
From humble beginnings in 1968, Aucor has grown into one of the most successful and experienced auction houses in southern Africa over the past five decades.
The company boasts a national footprint with six permanent auction sites – Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Limpopo – covering categories including vehicles, trucks, mining and construction; warehouse and loose assets; property and online auctions.
The company also has representation in Namibia, Lesotho and Botswana.


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Government says raw milk supply surged to 83 million litres this year, up from 79,6 million litres recorded in the previous year, buoyed by the accelerated five-year dairy sector development plan.
In an 18-page paper titled The State of Industry and Commerce submitted to Cabinet recently, Industry and Commerce minister Sekai Nzenza said the country still required imports to cover the supply gap.
“The five-year dairy sector development plan is being accelerated and so far, raw milk supply has increased from 79,6 million litres in 2021 to 83 million litres,” Nzenza said.
“Imports continue to cover the supply gap to meet the national demand of 130 million litres,” she said.
Government has been supporting the dairy sector through national budgets.
Apart from government, several other schemes led by the private sector have also been supporting the sector.
Under the livestock and recovery growth plan, milk production is expected to rise from the current annual production of 79,9 million litres to 150 million litres.
In addition, the dairy herd is anticipated to grow from 39 980 to 60 000 by 2025.
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Dairy players produced 79,6 million litres in 2021, representing a 4% increase from 76,69 million litres produced in 2020.
According to the document, there are 520 smallholder farmers and 200 medium- to large-scale farmers supplying 98% raw milk on the local market.
However, Nzenza said the dairy industry revitalisation programme for heifer imports had yielded positive results.
She said the sector had doubled its capacity utilisation from 34% to 60% to date as a result of the programme.
Zimbabwe's annual demand for milk stands at 130 million litres, which the southern African country has been failing to reach for over a decade now.
Since the country cannot produce enough milk, the excess demand is met through powdered imports mainly from neighbouring South Africa under a duty-free quota system to approved importers.
However, analysts have called upon smallholder and medium-scale farmers to venture into dairy farming so as to boost milk production in the country and meet local demand.
The Zimbabwean dairy industry recorded a sharp decline in milk production from 262 million litres in 1990 to 37 million litres in 2009. There was a steady but slow increase to 82 million litres in 2021.
Early this year, Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers business and growth development committee chairperson Peter Muzariri said historically milk production was only done by commercial farmers, adding that smallholder farmers should fill the supply gap.
“There is a huge deficit in terms of milk supply, we must ensure that we increase to meet our national requirement. Over and above that once we are above the national requirement, we can export, which will ensure the much-needed foreign currency in the country,” he said.
Follow us on Twitter @NewsDayZimbabwe


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India’s biggest pet convention is back with double the activities and fun
Here’s your chance to be a part of an event dedicated to you and your pet and also participate in activities to attempt a Guinness World Record.Updated: Jan 30, 2017, 19:00 IST
What if we tell you that you could have a fun day out with your pet and also contribute towards their welfare at the same time? The third annual Pet Fed— India’s biggest pet festival— is back with a weekend full of fun filled activities for you and your pet. The annual event which was started by Delhi University alumnus Akshay Gupta not only aims to give visitors a chance to have a blast with their pets and participate in activities but also to be a part of a Guinness World Record attempt.
“I am glad that this year the response that we are receiving has already reached the top-hole. All the pet parents are enthusiastically looking forward to take part and have booked their tickets much in advance. We all are very excited as this year we’re attempting India’s first ever Guinness World record for dogs,” says Gupta. “The festival is expected to have a footfall of over 25,000 people and 3000 pets, and the world record will be attempted for most number of dogs wearing bandanas at the venue,” he adds.
Activities at the venue will include a fashion show for pets, games, and contests amongst other things such as dog swings and rides, a dedicated cat zone, pet bakery and more. Visitors can also avail products and services from over 100 stalls that will be showcasing products for both pets and pet parents. Highlights of the fest include a special art gallery for dogs. Actor Dino Morea will also attend the do. So make sure you bring your furry friend along for this event, and remember to carry a bandana for them too (they might just get famous).
- What: 3rd Annual Pet Fed
- When: December 17 - 18
- Where: NSIC Exhibition Grounds, Okhla
- Timings: 10 am – 8pm
- Nearest Metro Station: Govindpuri on the Purple Line