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FTSE CLOSE: Pendragon's shares slump as car dealing group warns on profits; Intu shares jump 14% as higher takeover bid tabled; China's economy losing steam
The footsie got off to a good start on Friday morning, surging 0.3 per cent to 7,047.96. This is despite disappointing Chinese data overnight.
China's economy grew at a pace of 6.5 per cent in the most recent quarter, marking the slowest pace since the financial crisis.
In company news, car dealer Pendragon has warned on profits, claiming it will generate £10million less this year. It blamed new EU regulations for a dip in new vehicle sales.
And Intu shares have jumped 14 per cent after a consortium of investors upped its takeover bid for the shopping centre group.
The footsie finished 22.81 points higher at 7,049.80.
SpreadEx analyst Connor Campbell has the rundown:
A decent US open allowed the Eurozone indices to (just about) trim their Italy-fearing losses, while also lifting a previously listless FTSE into the green.
The Dow Jones shot up 190 points after the bell, re-crossing 25550 in the process, a price it has soared past and sank through umpteen times this week. These gains appear to find their root in the rebound managed by the Shanghai Composite this morning, the index rising as regulators sought to reassure investors following the lowest Chinese GDP reading since the financial crisis.
While still in the red, the positive start from the Dow did make things a bit better in the Eurozone. The DAX is now down 0.3%, with the CAC slipping 0.4%, both indices struggling in the face of the European Commission’s aggressive dismissal of the Italian government’s budget proposal, a rejection that the country has until Monday lunchtime to respond to.
As for the FTSE, it continued to flit around 7050, the index rising 0.2% to lurk at a level that is hasn’t had much luck breaking beyond of late. Sterling, meanwhile, nudged up 0.1% against the dollar to sit just below $1.305, a very slight improvement on what turned into a tough second half of the week for cable.
The fantasy games company's shares are down 3.3% today to 3,060p following on from the fall yesterday after it ominously warned of 'uncertainties' ahead.
House of Fraser, now under the ownership of Mike Ashley's Sports Direct, is reportedly set to shutter its iconic Kendals store in Manchester.
The store would have remained open under the terms of the firm's former owners' CVA.
The move is understood to put 160 jobs at risk.
It comes as Ashley plays hardball with landlords to renegotiate many of House of Fraser's lease terms. The retail tycoon previously pledged to keep around 80 per cent of the firm's 51 stores open.
The President of Toyota has warned of the negative implications that a no-deal Brexit could have on Japanese-owned car plants and said this scenario should be avoided 'at all costs'.
He warned that logistic and production costs would spiral for manufacturers and car prices would rise as a result.
Akio Toyoda called for an 'unimpaired' trade environment between the UK and EU to be maintained.
According to a report in the FT, Facebook's new head of global affairs is the UK's former deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
Connor Campbell, analyst at Spreadex -
The Eurozone indices took a dive on Friday, as investors continued to process the news that the European Union officials had struck down the Italian government’s controversial budget.
Mulling over Italy’s proposals for just a tad more than 48 hours, the European Commission didn’t hold back when criticising the debt-ignoring budget, labelling it an ‘unprecedented’ violation of EU rules. ECB chief Mario Draghi also implicitly put the boot in, saying that ‘there is no evidence that to undermine all the rules will lead to prosperity’.
This only increased the market’s fears that a more dramatic showdown between the actors could come down the road, especially if the Italian coalition bite back with their response (which they have until noon on Monday to deliver). With the country’s bonds back in trouble – Italian bond yields hit a 4 year high – the Eurozone indices continued to suffer; the DAX dropped 90 points, pushing it back towards 11500, while the CAC fell 1.1% and the FTSE MIB slid 1.5%.
Despite its own EU-related issues, the FTSE managed to avoid properly joining in with the Eurozone losses, instead dipping just 0.1%. Sterling, meanwhile, was basically unchanged, remaining at a 2-ish week low against the dollar following a rough few sessions.
Turning to this afternoon and the Dow Jones doesn’t look like it is going to add much to the overall narrative, with the futures pointing to a 40 point increase when the bell rings on Wall Street.
Intercontinental Hotels Group saw a greater return on its rooms in the third quarter, but growth was comparatively slow after last year's performance was boosted by hurricanes.
The group, which owns a range of brands including Holiday Inn, also announced a 500 million US dollar (£383.5 million) special dividend on Friday, to be paid out to shareholders in 2019.
Shares in the company dropped 7.3% in morning trading.
John Hawksworth, chief economist at PwC, comments on the latest public finance data:
'Today's public finance data brought some more good news for the Chancellor ahead of the Budget. Not only was public borrowing in September almost £1 billion lower than last September, but estimated borrowing in the first five months of this financial year was also revised down by around £2 billion.
This borrowing undershoot should give the Chancellor a little extra wiggle room for his Budget, but it will not be enough on its own to cover the cost of announced increases in spending on the NHS, let alone other priority areas where there is pressure to bring austerity to an end.
The Budget is therefore still likely to require some tough choices between net tax rises, higher borrowing in the medium term and allowing austerity to continue in parts of the public sector.
The Chancellor may, however, choose to present this as only a preliminary set of Budget decisions for the next year or two, with firm decisions on tax and spending for later years postponed to next Spring by which time the position on Brexit will hopefully be clearer.'
Amazon is to open a new office in Manchester as part of plans to create more than 1,000 research and development jobs across the country.
600 new software development, machine learning and R&D jobs will be created in Manchester, at the Hanover Building in the Northern Quarter.
Doug Gurr, Amazon's UK country manager, said: With the UK taking a leading role in our global innovation, we are delighted to announce plans to create capacity for over 1,000 new highly-skilled roles across the country.'
Embattled doorstep lender Provident assured it is on stable footing as it continues to recover from a string of regulatory sanctions, but said home credit collections are still below historic levels.
Provident - which sells high-cost credit through its Vanquis Bank, Moneybarn and consumer credit business - said in a trading update that 'performance management' for home credit collections was impacted by the roll-out of a new operating model.
It left collections 10% below historic levels in the third quarter.
Public sector net borrowing, excluding state-owned banks, fell by £800 million in September to £4.1 billion, the Office for National Statistics said.
This was the lowest September borrowing since 2007. Economists had expected a figure of £4.5 billion.
The ONS said borrowing in the financial year to date was £19.9 billion, which is £10.7 billion less than in the same period in 2017.
The well-documented troubles gripping the UK’s High Streets have brought a wide-spread malaise over the retail sector, with most retail stocks coming under pressure.
But while the High Street shakeout, and the tens of thousands of job losses that come with it, weighs the sector down, resilient retail still has its brightspots – and these could be wildly undervalued.
So, if you love a bargain (and are impartial to risk), there are some potential investment opportunities for the taking in retail.
Car dealer Pendragon has seen its share price crash 21 per cent in early trading to 24p per cent after it issued a profit warning.
The company expects profits to come in at around £50million, compared with more than £60million the previous year as demand for new cars has stalled.
Shares in shopping centre landlord Intu jumped more than 14% on Friday morning after a consortium of investors upped its takeover bid for the company.
Retail analyst Nick Bubb says: 'There is no indication of what the Board thinks of the offer (which is a lot higher than the share price was at a few weeks ago, but a lot lower than the abortive Hammerson offer earlier this year), but it has granted access for due diligence and is working on a Sept 30th property revaluation.'
The London Stock Exchange disappointed investors with a quarterly update today that saw sales come in 3 per cent below expectations.
Revenues were still higher on the previous quarter but due to a £9million accounting charge fell short of consensus.
New boss David Schwimmer announced that they would be acquiring another 15.1 per cent stake in clearing house LCH Group for $438million, taking the majority ownership to over 80 per cent.
The strength of the dollar has pushed the pound back to just above 1.30. Brexit remains front and centre and with no substantive progress over the last week we could see the pound squeezed lower from here.
Look out today for the latest UK borrowing figures at 9.30, which are likely to show a further drop in the level of net borrowing. The data will be of particular interest with the Budget due at the end of October.
Italy’s budget remains the chief cloud for European equities, Wilson adds.
The European Commission has voiced serious concerns about the plan. It described some of the measures in the budget as ‘unprecedented’ in the history of the Stability and Growth Pact. Good to see democracy alive and well in the EU as always.
Now Italy has had the speaking to from its masters, it’s got to go back and redo its homework. The question now is whether Italy does enough tweaking to the plan to satisfy the EU.
European stocks are looking positive despite Chinese data overnight disappointing, says Neil Wilson, chief market analyst for Markets.com.
Third quarter GDP growth hit 6.5 per cent, China's lowest level since the financial crisis and missing expectations. Despite this the Chinese market rallied as the regulator stepped in with fresh measures to support liquidity and investment.
Growth of 6.5% rather than 6.6% is a pretty nice problem to have but the trade war with the US, higher debt levels and a depreciating currency remain a concern. Any bounce in Chinese stocks needs to be seen in the context of the three-year collapse in equities.
Yesterday the Dow Jones notched a 300+ decline, while the S&P 500 was down 1.4% to 2,768.78. The triumvirate of yields, trade and tech valuations seems to be the narrative here. If the market is to make fresh highs it won’t be a smooth ride and we should likely see more down days like this one.
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Acer announced the presence of the latest version of its environmentally friendly laptop, namely the Acer Aspire Vero 15 AV15-53P . Still prioritizing recycled materials, this laptop is now armed with the 13th generation Intel Core processor.
Acer Aspire Vero 15 Specifications
In a press release received by alomaki, Thursday (27/4), it was explained that apart from relying on the 13th Generation Intel Core processor, the Aspire Vero 15 is also supported by Intel Iris Xe graphics. Laptops also have Intel Evo certification which promises high responsiveness, long battery life, fast charging, instant wake, and smart collaboration.
The screen measures 15.6 inches with a Full HD 16:9 IPS panel and 100% sRGB, which means it is ideal for both enjoying entertainment and work. On the front, Acer has embedded a 1440p QHD camera complete with Acer PurifiedView and PurifiedVoice technology, as well as AI Noise Reduction technology for a clearer conference call experience.
Supported by Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, the Aspire Vero 15 offers a wide selection of ports including two Thunderbolt 4/USB Type-C, two USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, DC in, and an audio jack port. The memory is LPDDR5 with a capacity of up to 16 GB and the storage supports two M.2 SSDs up to 1 TB.
What’s interesting is the matter of environmentally friendly materials. The Aspire Vero 15 was designed incorporating more recycled materials and minimizing waste by increasing the device’s lifespan. Compared to the previous generation of eco-friendly laptops, the percentage of PCR plastic used by the Aspire Vero 15 has increased.
The chassis parts are now made using up to 40% PCR plastics (previously only 30%) and produce 30% less CO2 emissions in chassis production. The chassis is also made without the use of paint and uses non-volatile organic compounds, while the key caps and adapter casing use 50% PCR material. The smooth OceanGlass trackpad also incorporates recycled plastic obtained from the oceans.
The Aspire Vero 15 is packaged in a versatile recycled packaging made from 100% recycled paper and up to 90% recycled cardboard.
Acer Aspire Vero 15 price
The latest generation of Acer Aspire Vero 15 will be introduced at the next@acer global press conference.

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Ford, quite possibly the auto brand most associated with the United States, has been developing its lineup in leaps and bounds. And while styling has been across the boards captivating, the real breakthroughs have been in its in-car technology packages. Now, in its push to make the Focus a global car, comes word that in addition to SYNC and MyFord Touch, the car will also have WiFi hotspot capabilities - with roll-out already having started in Europe.
Using an Internet card or tethered smartphone, the system works in conjunction with SYNC and MyFord Touch to share the mobile broadband signal with up to five other devices (used of course by passengers only). Cool stuff indeed, and while we're sure it will eventually be offered here, we can't help but feel a little jealous. Maybe by the time you finish peeping the press release, we'll have more news, but probably not.
FORD DELIVERS ROLLING ONLINE HOT SPOT: ALL-NEW FOCUS TO OFFER WIFI IN 2012 WHEN FORD SYNC LAUNCHES IN THE UK
- Ford SYNC with MyFord Touch featuring WiFi connectivity to debut on new Focus in 2012, signaling a new era of in-car technology in the UK
- SYNC with MyFord Touch will create a password-protected WiFi hotspot inside the vehicle allowing up to five WiFi enabled devices to connect
- Utilising customers' existing USB modem or compatible Smartphone* will mean no subscription and no additional expense
Brentwood, Essex, 3 MAY 2011– The all-new Ford Focus will be transformed into a rolling WiFi hot spot when Ford SYNC with MyFord Touch technology makes its UK debut next year.
Ford Focus owners will be the first in the UK to benefit from SYNC's class-leading connectivity, which will be rolled out to several other Ford vehicles following its debut on the new global C-segment model.
By using an owners' existing USB modem or Smartphone, the SYNC-equipped Focus will be able to deliver a secure wireless connection that can be broadcast throughout the vehicle. Passengers with any WiFi-enabled device can then easily connect and access the internet. All this allows for simple, easy to use WiFi connectivity on the move for up to five devices.
Using SYNC's far reaching connectivity potential, Ford will offer individuals and families a level of in-car internet access that was until recently only available to the owners of considerably more expensive vehicles.
In-car internet access is no longer only demanded by chauffeur-driven executives. The increasing availability and popularity of WiFi compatible devices means that, as long as there is a data connection brought into the car, Ford passengers will be able to stay in contact with friends, keep abreast of the news and even play the latest games on the move and at all times.
"Ford is an automaker that is quickly becoming a personal technology company as well," says Christof Kellerwessel, chief engineer for electronic and electrical systems. "We're finding that Ford customers are tech savvy and – while travelling as passengers in cars – they want to be able to use their WiFi enabled devices while on the move.
"A reliable in-car internet connectionis therefore extremely important to them, and that's exactly what SYNC will offer when it makes its UK debut on the Ford Focus in 2012. SYNCwith MyFord Touch will offer rolling connectivity to Ford customers and everyone in a SYNC-equipped car can benefit at no additional expense."
Upgradeable and secure
One of the main advantages of the SYNC with MyFord Touch WiFi system is that it will allow customers to make use of a variety of USB devices, eliminating the need to purchase specifically compatible equipment. SYNC will use software updates to ensure it remains compatible with the latest hardware and devices, so customers can be sure that their SYNC-equipped vehicles will always allow them to make use of whatever USB mobile broadband modem or smartphone they are using – even devices that have yet to go on the market.
"We knew from the beginning that our connectivity solution would have to keep pace with the rapid advancement of consumer electronics and be flexible and upgradeable in order to remain useful to customers for as long as they own their vehicles," Kellerwessel said.
SYNC's WiFi capability will be a user-friendly solution to connecting Ford vehicles to the internet on the move. When it arrives on the new Ford Focus in 2012, the factory-installed system will seamlessly integrate the hardware into the vehicle, unlike internet connection systems from some manufacturers that require a bolt-in receiver and transmitter. With no subscription fee and the ability to provide a secure WiFi connection for up to five devices, SYNC with MyFord Touch will make the Ford Focus the best connected vehicle in its class.
"Because it will be able to make use of a customer's existing USB modem device or obtain a connection through a smartphone connected via Bluetooth, SYNC will offer the best value and flexibility for Ford customers," Kellerwesselsaid.
Using the SYNC WiFi system, a signal will be broadcast throughout the vehicle. Default security is set to WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), requiring users to enter a randomly chosen password to connect to the internet. When SYNC sees a new WiFi device for the first time, the driver must specifically allow that device to connect, preventing unauthorised users from "piggybacking" on the SYNC-provided signal.


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Excitement over legal marijuana businesses is reminiscent of the dot-com boom, but it's not all high times, says Politico
On the first day of business, Colorado's legalized pot shops saw $1 million in revenue. A week later pot stocks soared, up 1,700 percent in some cases.
The legalized marijuana market is expected to grow 64 percent this year, faster than the global smartphone market, projects ArcView Market Research, a company that provides data on the pot industry, says Politico.
Entrepreneurs and investors are already crawling all over the budding opportunities, and given the prospects, more people are expected to follow suit. But, Politico notes that with legalized marijuana comes many struggles.
Although pot is legal in Washington and Colorado, it's still illegal according to Federal law. And, many businesses have distanced themselves from the marijuana industry.
“Some check-the-box items that should take a couple of hours take a month,” says Brendan Kennedy, CEO of Privateer Holdings, a private equity firm that focuses on legal pot.
Many property owners don't want to rent space for pot businesses. From sales to payroll, much of the the pot business is limited to cash-only transactions because banks don't want to open accounts or make loans. And, the Colorado Bar Association prohibits lawyers from getting involved with marijuana businesses, so pot shops can't even get help drawing up contracts, says Politico.
There's also a long list of requirements from regulators that must be met to allow marijuana businesses to operate without FBI raids. In Washington, for example, pot shops must be 1,000 feet from parks, churches and schools.
Compliance translates into costs, which makes competing with the underground market more difficult.
Legalized businesses are essentially gambling on consumers' willingness to pay a premium for legitimate products, says Politico.
“For this experiment to succeed, you have to undercut the black market. And you have to remove the inefficiencies and let capitalism work its magic. That means producing at scale,” says Kennedy.
Kennedy told Politico his firm envisions large corporations eventually moving into the market, creating another risk for small business owners.
But some expect the marijuana business to get easier as society, lawmakers and service providers change their attitudes.
It's not just entrepreneurs and investors who stand to benefit from marijuana. Legalization is a smart move for states, and more should follow Washington and Colorado, says Fox Business
Marijuana provides another industry to tax. The Tax Foundation estimates pot will mean an additional $70 million in taxes for Colorado's coffers, notes Fox.
If all states were on board, savings from drug enforcement coupled with new tax revenues could total $17 billion, Fox says the Cato Institute estimates.
Then there's the public health benefits. Some suggest alcohol and drugs, such as cocaine, are more likely to cause costly health problems. If pot is legal, people may opt for the better choice, Fox adds.
© 2023 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.


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Kenya has received world-wide recognition as leader in financial innovation. This is a laudable achievement because finance holds the potential to unlock solutions to the real-world problems that Kenyans face in their daily lives.
The inability of low-income households to access quality healthcare is a major challenge in dealing with unanticipated shocks. The challenge is bigger for rural households. Small rural pharmacies stock almost entirely generic medicines because these are the products that patients can afford.
This segmentation study identifies Kenyans whose financial needs are not adequately met by the solutions available in the financial market, as well as the untapped opportunities they offer to financial service providers. The study was conducted by FSD Kenya and the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), using data from FinAccess 2019.
Starting with microcredit in the late 1980s, there has been a growing movement of multilateral institutions, private foundations, non-profits, corporations and governments that aims to provide formal financial services to low-income market segments around the world.
Since the launch of M-Shwari in 2012, the number of digital lenders and loans disbursed has grown substantially. Advances in credit scoring, few regulatory barriers and the widespread use of mobile phones and mobile money have enabled growth of the digital lending industry, giving borrowers a quick and convenient option for credit.
Natasha is a young woman who has a cake baking business on the outskirts of Nairobi. She has a bank account for her business which she uses intensively. Natasha’s business was doing well and she needed a loan to expand.
On the 5th of September 2019, the Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Kenya and the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), held a stakeholder validation workshop in Nairobi, where they presented the findings of a research study that identified seven key financially underserved segments of the Kenyan population and discussed the potentially viable business cases and policy implications that financial market players could tap into.
Manufacturers of cars or microwave machines are duty bound to ensure that their products are safe for use. Why can’t financial regulation introduce a similar obligation to ensure financial products and services are not negligently developed and sold, causing harm to consumers?
Kenya aims to become a middle-income country by 2030, delivering a high quality of life to all. Finance plays a central role in our economy, facilitating trade and underpinning the efficient pooling and allocation of resources and risk.
The FinAccess Household Survey, commonly referred to as FinAccess, is a series of surveys jointly conducted by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and FSD Kenya every two to three years to establish the level of financial inclusion, as well as to measure the drivers and usage of financial services in Kenya.


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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - There are a couple of distinct fall flavors, and apple is no second fiddle to pumpkin.
This week on Taste Buds the trio of food experts will discuss some of their favorite apple applications, recipes and varieties.
Where do you like to pick apples? What do you do with them all? I’ve got a bushel full from Patterson Fruit Farm and need lots of ideas! Who makes the best apple pie, or apple fritters in town?
Also on the show this week, Dominic Spitaleri and Anthony Quagliata will join me to discuss this weekend’s first-year event, Ciao! Cleveland. It’s a free, family friendly event at the Flats East Bank to kick off Italian Heritage Month. The event will feature six demos, food vendors, wine, music, a coffee lounge and event Italian cars.
Catch Taste Buds this and every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. You can watch it on the 19 News Facebook Live broadcast, our app or our website. You can also view the show on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
Chime in our topics and we’ll read your comments live on the show.


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Alibaba said orders on its e-commerce platforms during the Singles’ Day shopping extravaganza in CHina had exceeded $70 billion by Wednesday evening, as COVID-19 lockdown-weary consumers flocked to buy as many as 16 million units of discounted goods.
The world’s biggest sales event – eclipsing Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the United States – spans four main days this year, and so far has brought sellers 20 times as many orders by value than Amazon.com Inc’s two-day global Prime Day last month.
The firm began sales early this year to give lesser-known brands more exposure. It set primary discount days for Nov. 1 through Nov. 3 as well as the usual Nov. 11, and is calculating gross merchandise volume (GMV) over all 11 days.
The event, launched in 2009, is usually a splashy, single-day affair with live performances and which last year clocked record GMV of $38.4 billion. This year, Katy Perry appeared at Alibaba’s gala, albeit via livestream.
Over 340 firms, including Apple Inc, L’Oreal SA and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd., have exceeded 100 million yuan in sales, with 13 brands recording GMV above 1 billion yuan, Alibaba said.
MacDailyNews Take: Singles’ Day looks like it’s been very successful for many companies. (Note: 100 million yuan is US$15.8 million.)


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Sprint will seek to overhaul its online operations for wireless business customers with a digital platform from Synchronoss, the companies announced at the outset of Mobile World Congress this week.
The use of Sychronoss technology, officials said, would create a converged customer experience portal to simplify the order management process.
“Sprint is on the offensive looking to gain every ounce of value from its online operations to become faster, more profitable while delivering a better overall customer experience,” Sychronoss CEO Glenn Lurie said in a statement.
In addition to enabling a simple, secure process for business customers, the companies said the shift to a single platform would allow for rapid deployment of new services and revenue opportunities.
The system can be implemented quickly and will divert customer issues away from the carrier’s call centers. Analytics from the platform, meanwhile, could help build targeted offers for customers.
“Our Sprint Now transformation program is a multi-dimensional strategy, designed to offer the best possible user experience while making us more agile, innovative and profitable,” said Sprint Business Solutions SVP Kim Green-Kerr.
The system will initially focus on wireless customers before expanding to wireline, IoT and other business segments.


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NEW YORK — Now on it’s second year, Filipino Restaurant Week is back — bigger and better, with 15 popular Pinoy restaurants in New York and New Jersey participating this time.
Patterned after the New York Restaurant Week, foodies can sample a variety of Filipino cuisine at an affordable fixed price.
Three-course meals costs $25 dollars for lunch and $35 for dinner.
Filipino Restaurant Week was first launched in 2015 – it shines a spotlight on Filipino restaurants as Philippine cuisine becomes more and more popular in the US mainstream.
“Last year it was sort of an introduction to the Filipino food noh, Kasi everyone was talking about the Filipino Food as the “in” thing, kaya lang alam ba nila kung saan sila makaka-kain, “Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon Jr. said, “This time year we’re really trying really look more on how to really sustain the Filipino Restaurant business here.”
Participating business owners say the restaurant week not only elevates the profile of Filipino cuisine, it helps feed their cash registers.
“Nicole Ponseca, owner of Maharlika and Jeepney said, “We saw a bump in business, for the week, it was awesome and new faces too, gives an excuse or reason for people to come in.”
Tyrone Conshue, owner of Pinoy Filipino Restaurant said, “Every time you’re mentioned, it helps, it’s gonna really ah, around Sommerville, it’s gonna really bring a lot of people who were nosing us before around the county.”
Filipino restaurant week’s launch at the Philippine Consulate in New York also served as a way for restaurateurs to learn from each other’s experience.
Food and travel blogger Kat Popiel says running a restaurant is a tough business in New York City.
Popiel said, “Also know you have a responsibility, a good responsibility, a happy responsibility to the Filipino community to spread the message of what sinigang is or what a choriburger is, it’s all part of the business, right, the more you can promote your menu and your way of doing food, the more you’re elevating Filipino food as a status
Ponseca said, “I’m really hopeful, I feel a camaraderie for these startups, I see a lot of women, female Filipino Entrepreneurs, I reach out to them and hopefully we can support each other because this business is very very hard.”
More information about Filipino Restaurant Week and the participating restaurants and their menu can be found at www.newyorkpcg.org/frw
You may contact Don Tagala at email@example.com for more information.


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Grocery offers service SavingStar raises $9.1M
SavingStar, a Waltham, Mass.-based digital grocery savings service, has raised $9.1 million in a Series D round.
The company said Friday that the new funding comes was led by Edenred, with participation from investors including American Express Ventures, DCM, Flybridge Capital Partners and First Round Capital.
The firm has now raised $27.4 million, according to CrunchBase.
SavingStar enables users to link offers found on SavingStar.com, or the company’s iPhone and Android apps, to their grocery and drug store loyalty cards.
The offers are redeemable at more than 25,000 stores, SavingStar said.
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NewsFactor – As IBM sets out to launch its Bluehouse corporate social network to compete with Cisco and Google, word comes that Facebook and MySpace are the most popular social-networking sites for mobile-phone users.
Archive for October 8th, 2008
AFP – Research in Motion Ltd (RIM), maker of the Blackberry, unveiled its first smartphone with a touch-screen on Wednesday, its answer to the popular Apple iPhone.
Reuters – The cost of talking on the go is coming down, thanks to an increasing number of options for using Internet calling services on mobile phones as an alternative to traditional cellular service plans.
AFP – Research in Motion Ltd (RIM), maker of the Blackberry, released its first mobile phone with a touch-screen on Wednesday, its answer to the popular Apple iPhone.
Reuters – Wireless chipmaker Broadcom Corp has filed a complaint in federal court against rival Qualcomm Inc , charging patent misuse, the latest round in their battle over mobile phone technology licensing.
Reuters – The global mobile phone market should grow at much slower-than-expected rates next year as consumers put off buying new devices due to deepening economic concerns, according to forecasts from analysts.
NewsFactor – Apple may not have reached its goal of selling 10 million iPhone 3Gs yet, but the company has spurred a large number of consumers to abandon their carriers and flock to AT&T, the exclusive mobile carrier for the iPhone in the U.S.
NewsFactor – The NPD Group, a market-research firm, reports that 30 percent of the U.S. consumers who purchased Apple’s iPhone 3G from its release on July 11 through August switched mobile carriers in order to join AT&T, which holds exclusive U.S. sales rights for the red-hot device.
PC Magazine – The launch of the iPhone 3G boosted Apple’s smartphone marketshare within the United States from 11 to 17 percent, according to an NPD report released Monday.
Reuters – Thieves have hijacked sensitive data on millions of Deutsche Telekom mobile phone customers, the German company has acknowledged in its second major security scandal this year.


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MILAN — Italian luxury clothing company Brioni is looking for a partner.
The firm is putting a 20 to 25 percent stake up for sale and has tapped BNP Paribas as its adviser, said Antonella De Simone, Brioni’s co-chief executive officer. “This is a family company. We need to think about the future and ways to develop the brand,” she said.
The controlling shareholders of Brioni are the descendants of the company’s founders: Nazareno Fonticoli, the master tailor, and Gaetano Savini, the original fashion coordinator. De Simone is a granddaughter of Fonticoli and also oversees marketing and communications. Andrea Perrone, the grandson of Savini, took over the reins of the family run group at the end of 2006 and is co-chief executive, in charge of business strategies. A third co-chief executive is Antonio Bianchini.
“These complicated family relationships could be a deterrent for an investor that is only offered a minority stake,” said an industry source.
On the other hand, the company’s production facilities, based in Penne, in Italy’s central Abruzzo region, are a lure for potential bidders. Also, under Perrone’s management, Brioni, known for its tailored, handmade suits, has been attracting a new, more casual customer with more sportswear pieces. At the same time, Perrone has been expanding Brioni in Asia and emerging markets.
After recent store openings in New Delhi; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Baku, Azerbaijan; Cannes, France; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Macao, China; and Jakarta, Indonesia, which have raised the number of boutiques around the world to 58, the company plans to open a third boutique in Dubai by yearend. Stores in Zagabria; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Istanbul and Beirut, Lebanon, are planned for the first half of 2009 and in Lugano, Switzerland, and St. Petersburg, Russia, in fall 2009. That said, Perrone keeps an eye on developed markets, too, and is looking at opportunities in New York and Houston and has secured a space in Atlanta.
Umberto Angeloni, who married Gabriella De Simone, Antonella’s sister, became ceo of Brioni in 1990 and spearheaded the company’s expansion, turning it into a luxury lifestyle brand. In disaccord over growth strategies, the Brioni heirs bought out Angeloni and his wife at the end of 2006.
Men’s wear accounts for 90 percent of sales, while the women’s business has been bumpy. After a brief stint with current Salvatore Ferragamo designer Cristina Ortiz as its women’s creative director two years ago, which received lukewarm reviews, women’s is now designed by an in-house team.
The company reported a 26.1 percent spike in operating profits in 2007, following a wave of retail expansion. Earnings before interest and taxes reached 31.4 million euros, or $48.62 million at average exchange, while sales gained 7.1 percent to 206.5 million euros, or $319.74 million.
“What he has done at Vuitton is really exceptional,” said @gameofthrones’ actress Gwendoline Christie on @mrkimjones’ final show for @louisvuitton. “He has rebooted luxury in terms of making it commercial, viable and contemporary. And most importantly artistic. He has never compromised his artistic vision for the sake of commodity.” (📷: @zefashioninsider)
After seeing a demand for men’s wear from its customers, British contemporary women’s wear label @ariesarise has added a men’s wear component and will launch a unisex collection with @mrporterlive. The 20-piece collection includes jackets, denim, logo T-shirts and more with deconstructed ‘90s vibes. Set to launch on January 18, you can shop the pieces on Aries’ website and on mrporter.com. #wwdfashion
“And so spending so much time with a character who thinks like that, inevitability you try and analyze yourself and go back and think about your own demons and dark chapters that you had in your life,” says @thedanielbruhl of his role in TNT’s “The Alienist.” The show, set in the Gilded Age of New York, also stars Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans. Head to WWD.com to read about how 39-year-old Brühl prepared for the role and why he thinks the show is so relevant to today #wwdeye ( 📷: @Eriktanner)
Now that Celine Dion’s collection has topped $10 million in sales, the pop superstar, fashion icon and newly-minted industry player is eyeing growth in Asia. Read the full report by @tiffanyap, link in bio. #wwdnews #celinedion
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
Among the familiar faces at @off____white’s show was a surprise figure: Japanese artist @takashipom, pictured here on Wednesday morning. Other show-goers included @jerrylorenzo, who spoke about his upcoming project: a @nike collaboration for back to school, with designs inspired by his childhood on the West Coast. Sitting in the front row were Future, Don Crawley, @miguel and more. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: Stephane Feugere)
According to @laurentsai, former “Terrace House: Aloha State” cast member, she didn’t know she was auditioning for the Japanese version of “Real World.” “I was telling a couple of my friends and someone’s like, ‘That sounds a lot like Terrace House.’ I was like, ’No it can’t be.’” Turns out, it was. But Tsai isn’t just a reality star — she’s an illustrator who has worked with Starbucks Japan and most recently, she’s dipping her toes into the fashion world. Head to WWD.com to read about her time on the show, modeling and her art. #wwdeye (📷: @danieldorsa)
More changes are coming to New York Fashion Week: Beginning with the spring 2019 collection, @alexanderwangny will move his New York show to June from September, adopting a biannual schedule with collections shown in June and December. Additionally, the @cfda is planning for an official summer/winter fashion season taking place as soon as June and December 2018. Read more about the upcoming changes on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @slovekinpics)


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Friday, September 22, 2017
Offers & Promotions: Three Units of the Renault Zoe on Offer by TC Euro Cars in Conjunction with Zero Emissions Day
TC Euro Cars, the official distributor for Renault cars in Malaysia, is offering a special promotion exclusively for only three units of the Renault ZOE full-electric vehicle in conjunction with Zero Emissions Day (there is a day for everything these days - mother's day, father's day, friendship day, friendzone day, hug a bear day...). The promotion offers a RM18,000 rebate on each of the three Renault ZOE on offer and free ChargEV membership for three years.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
BMW Group Malaysia have launched the locally assembled version of the new G30 BMW 530i M Sport. It now costs RM 388, 800.00 (on the road, without insurance, and with BMW Group Malaysia’s latest 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Free Scheduled Service Program and BMW Tyre Warranty Programme) which is RM10,000 less than the fully imported variant we had earlier.
The new Renault Koleos has been awarded a 5 Star Euro NCAP rating. In case any of you were wondering why it has taken so long for this announcement to come out it is because this new Koleos has only just been launched over in Europe. We got this car much earlier, September 2016 to be precise. Somehow Renault launched it much earlier here and this is a pretty good feeling to have as this is one of the rare occasions where we get a car before those in Europe do.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Ford and their Malaysian distributors, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) have launched a stripped down, back to basics Ford Ranger pick-up truck. Dubbed the Ford Ranger XL Standard, this is the new base model here in Malaysia. At RM83,588 on the road in Peninsular Malaysia and RM89,388 in East Malaysia, it makes the ever popular Ranger even more affordable to the masses.
The Malaysian chapter of the Audi quattro Cup Golf Tournament will be returning for the seventh time this year. It will be bigger, better and for a good cause at the Mines Resort & Golf Club. Yes, hitting the ball and walking over an 18 hole golf course for charity is a good thing. It will also allow Audi owners, invited guests and golfers mingle whilst doing some good.
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Things are looking pretty interesting when it comes to Korean car manufacturer Hyundai here in Malaysia. They’ve been keeping themselves busy over the past few months with some interesting car launches. Hyudai Sime Darby Motors, the official distributors of the brand had just launched the new Elantra and also added two more variants of the Hyundai Tucson. This time I got to try both of the newly launched Tucsons – the Tucson 2.0 CRDi Diesel and the Tucson 1.6 GDi TurboPetrol. (Note -The photos below are of a silver 2.0 Diesel and a Black 1.6 Turbo petrol)
Monday, September 18, 2017
Offers & Promotions: Renault Captur - '5inCaptur' Aftersales Package for CKD Cars & A RM5,000 Rebate If You Buy One from Now till 31st October 2017
The authorised distributor of Renault vehicles in Malaysia, TC Euro Cars (TCEC) has announced a new ‘5inCaptur’ aftersales package for the locally-assembled (CKD) Renault Captur urban crossover. Furthermore, there is now
a further RM5,000 rebate if anyone purchases a Captur during the promotional campaign period. This is ongoing and ends on 31 October 2017.
Friday, September 15, 2017
UMW Toyota Are Taking Bookings For New Variants of the Toyota Fortuner (2.4 VRZ 4X4/4X2), the Upgraded Toyota Hilux and the Toyota Innova 2.0X
UMW Toyota are trying to keep things fresh over here as they've opened the order books for new variants of the Toyota Fortuner - the 2.4 VRZ 4x4 & 2.4 VRZ 4X2, the upgraded Toyota Hilux and the Toyota Innova 2.0X.
DRB-HICOM, who currently own and manage Proton has announced the departure of Proton Holdings Bhd CEO Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali effective 30 September 2017. Fuaad was appointed as CEO of PHB on 1 April 2016, after assuming the position of Chief Operating Officer/Senior Group Director of DRB-HICOM in 2013. This is following the announcement of Proton's search for a foreign strategic partner, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Happenings: Shell Technovation 2017 Conference - Sharing Shell's Technical Know-How with Valued Trade Partners & Industrial Customers
This is another one of those behind the scenes events that happen all the time. Not the fancy car launches but other events that actually tell another part of the picture in the Malaysian automotive landscape. We cover everything there is to do in the automotive industry for that well rounded look at things. So here, Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd held their second annual technology conference for its industrial customers. More than 200 trade partners attended this year's Shell Technovation 2017 Conference.
HAPPENINGS: Caltex concludes its True Power from Within’ Promotion with the announcement of the grand prize winners which each win a Vespa Scooter
Chevron Malaysia Limited, which markets the Caltex brand here in Malaysia has concluded its ‘True Power from Within’ Promotion. The promotion, which kicked off in May this year was held in conjunction with the 10th Anniversary of the popular blockbuster movie, Transformers with the latest release being Transformers: The Last Knight. This conclusion comes with the announcement of the grand prize of a Vespa Scooter awarded to each of the 12 winners.
The Haval H2 is now locally assembled and is now priced from RM98,950 for the H2 Comfort Auto and from RM101,950 for the Premium Auto (inclusive of road tax and insurance). It also features a new alloy wheel design as well as an additional colour - the Haval Blue.


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Chinese giant Huawei has announced yet another Android smartphone – the Huawei Vision. Touted as the company’s sexiest smartphone to date, the Vision comes with a uni-body design, and uses the latest 2.3 Gingerbread OS (just like the Huawei Ascend II, released not long ago in the US by Cricket).
Apart from having a stylish aluminium case, the Huawei Vision offers a pretty nice set of features, including: 3.7 inch WVGA display, 3D carousel UI, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, GPS, 5MP autofocus camera with LED flash, 720p video recording, and a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.
“We are very excited to present Vision, the smartphone which strikes the perfect balance between technology and style. The unique 3D user interface heralds in a new era in Huawei’s leadership, as we continue to create devices that enhance the user experience through stylish design and smart functionality,” declared Victor Xu, chief marketing officer of Huawei Device.
The Huawei Vision will be launched in September, coming with four popular games pre-installed: “Angry Birds”, “Asphalt 6: Adrenaline”, “Guerrilla Bob HD”, and “Order & Chaos Online.” Huawei didn’t unveil the price of the Vision.
If you liked the post, you might find these interesting too:
- Huawei Vision with Android Gingerbread released in Australia
- Huawei’s first Android smartphone looks sharp, although very iPhone-like
- Huawei Vision U8850 with Android Gingerbread headed to North America, maybe via AT&T?
- LG Optimus Black with Android (upgradeable to Gingerbread) announced
- UK: Phones 4U won’t sell the Huawei Vision after all, even though it was supposed to be an exclusive


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Industry Study Finds that 55% of Enterprises Plan to Implement Physical Security Locks for Laptops, Notebooks and Mobile Devices in 2015
Redwood Shores, CA, November 11, 2014 – Kensington, a worldwide leader in delivering smart. safe. simple. computing accessories, today announced findings from a North American survey on the security risks created by bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies in the enterprise. Findings show 73 percent say that BYOD represents greater security risks for their organization, and yet 59 percent still approve the use of personal devices for business usage.


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The non-profit-making organization Moda e Modi, in collaboration with Fondazione Roberto Capucci, has launched a contest aiming at stimulating the growth and the scouting of new talents capable of gathering within a single project the suggestions coming from the most diverse branches of creativity.
The common thread of the initiative will be the art and creativity of Roberto Capucci. Eight sculpture-like outfits designed by the great master of Italian fashion will be the source of inspiration for the freelance designers and the students from creative schools aged 18 to 25 that will participate in the contest.
The deadline to send the applications is 18th November 2012. The best works will be displayed at an exhibition-event to be held at the Salone del Mobile 2013, alongside with 50 original sketches by Roberto Capucci and the eight sculpture-like outfits that have inspired the competition.
All info on Concorso Capucci's website.
Last On Vogue
A chat with Kristin Prim, the founder of The Provocateur, the site that publishes letters written expressely by leading women addressing the whole female world. Vogue.it presents you an exclusive preview of the letter written by Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer


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John Hammons woke up on New Year’s Day, went to the garage of his Tustin home – and realized his two guitars were gone.
Culprits had slipped into his unlocked car in a back alley and grabbed the garage-door opener. So he called police and reported the missing guitars, torch lighter and aging iPhone with the cracked screen.
A Tustin police officer showed up and asked Hammons if he’d ever tracked his phone before. He hadn’t, but he got on his computer and tried. He didn’t get a hit, at first. The phone had been turned off. He tried again and again, and later that day he learned that his iPhone was at The Outlets at Orange.
“They’re trying to sell my guitars at Guitar Center,” the 52-year-old recalled thinking.
Smartphones – specifically their whereabouts – have become a tool to help officers snag the bad guys, albeit a rare strategy, in part because the phones need to be on, and some thieves are aware of their tracking abilities. Sometimes, getting back the phone itself is the goal, with some models cracking $650 each.
Sometimes, the phone is just the key to solving the crime.
That New Year’s Day, Hammons called police and raced over to Guitar Center.
“My heart was racing,” he said. “I’m looking around, thinking it could be anyone.”
Employees told him someone had dropped by to ask if the store purchased guitars. He told them about his electric one and a 12-string guitar, valued at perhaps $1,200 together, and asked that they be on the lookout. That evening, police summoned him to the store after three men and a woman showed up.
He confirmed the guitars they had were his, and the quartet was arrested.
Both Apple and Android include the ability to track your missing devices. The Find My iPhone app lets you log into your Apple account and track, using GPS, where the phone is. You can find it with someone else’s device, too, if you had previously allowed others to track the phone. Android has a similar function.
Law-enforcement officials say tracking apps can be helpful – but non-cops should be careful.
“We suggest people call us rather than try to confront someone,” said Officer Jennifer Marlatt, a spokeswoman for Huntington Beach police.
Marlatt said there are often arguments when phone owners accuse others of having their phones, and getting back a tracked-down phone is rare.
On March 11, a woman walked into the La Habra Police Department to report her phone had been taken while she was at a shopping center.
But she’d tracked its location – and police discovered that the address was associated to someone with an outstanding warrant and went to the La Habra house.
“Basically, we got there and pretty much walked into it,” Sgt. Brian Miller said. “People hanging out there, and narcotics.”
After officers found more than 5 ounces of heroin and 15 grams of methamphetamine, five were arrested.
In 2015, a woman reported that her phone had been stolen at Knott’s Berry Farm. She tracked it to a Hesperia home, and San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies not only recovered the phone but discovered a marijuana-extraction lab inside the residence as well, authorities said.
Last year, five teenagers robbed another group of youths at a Whittier drive-through restaurant, police said. The armed suspects made off with phones and other items – before being tracked down through one of the cells and getting arrested.
Cops, of course, have limits – even with such evidence as a tracked-down stolen phone.
“Having a phone ping at a certain location does not give us the right to kick the door in or … go inside and look around,” said Marlatt, the Huntington Beach officer.
If people say they don’t know about a phone or deny a search, there isn’t much else officers can do. Some agencies stress that though they will try to help retrieve your phone, the case is weighed against a list of other, likely more serious, investigations.
But, officers add, certainly tell them.
Hammons, the Tustin guitar lover, never did get his iPhone back. He is just glad he couldn’t get anyone on Craigslist to buy it – figuring that saved him his beloved guitars.
Now, all of his family’s phones are poised to be tracked.
“It took just one time for them to turn (the phone) on that led me there,” he said.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7865 or email@example.com


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Carrefour faces troubled waters as shareholder dissatisfaction mounts - COMMENT
In a tumultuous week for Europe's largest retailer, robust full year results failed to mask internal rumblings at Carrefour. On Thursday (8 March) the French retail group posted a 3.3% rise in profits, excluding exceptional items, just one day after chairman Luc Vandevelder was essentially given his marching orders and France's richest man bought up a big stake in the company.
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Government of Maharashtra got enacted a new law which extends the existing ban on cow slaughter to bulls and bullocks along with the ban on eating or possessing beef. Those who violate the law face up to five years in jail and fines up to Rs 10,000.
The Devendra Fadnavis government actively pushed to get the law enacted as the “protection of cows and their progeny” was on the BJP’s manifesto. It had been passed by the Maharashtra assembly 19 years ago and was awaiting presidential assent. Several states have already enacted similar laws.
The Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act 1995 received presidential assent this week. It prohibits the possession of beef. Its import and export is banned. So is the transport, sale or purchase of cows, bulls and bullocks for the purpose of slaughter. Beef is priced at just half the rate of mutton and is the most affordable red meat.
The state contributes around 25% to the country’s beef and buffalo meat market.
Maharashtra had banned the slaughter of cows and calves in 1976. The new law extends the ban to bulls and bullocks. It only excludes female buffaloes and their calves which need a fit-for-slaughter certificate before being butchered.
According to traders, the move will significantly impact beef trade as a bulk of the business depends on the meat of bullocks and bulls.


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The biggest tech rumors of the week get tackled! We cover the Microsoft Surface release date and pricing rumors, Google's Nexus Tablet's big reveal, the successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note and the little brother of the new Retina MacBook Pro!
Noah K.. or rather Jon Rettinger.. or perhaps Batman.. tackles the biggest tech rumors of this week!
All the rumors about the Microsoft Surface Tablet including release date and pricing, Google Nexus Tablet has a reveal and the successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note!
Rumor Roundup is a show taking a look at the latest trends, rumors, and leaks buzzing around the technology industry hosted by Noah Kravitz - a well-known and respected tech editor who's been involved in the industry for years. Not only does Noah deliver the news in full force, but he also provides his analytical thoughts and insight leaving one wondering of what lies ahead in the world of tech.
TechnoBuffalo isn't just a rehash of information from other websites. It provides tech reviews, insights, news and rumors from the best and brightest editors in the technical review space!
Want the most recent episode of this show always up to date on your website? Use this self-updating embed code!
Microsoft just announced their latest Windows powered creation - the Surface 2.0.
Google IO is slowly creeping up, bringing with it the rumored announcement and unveiling of Google's Asus built Nexus tablet.
According to the rumor mill, the successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note, appropriately named the "Galaxy Note 2", is coming sooner than expected!
For the folks who have been lusting over the new Retina loaded MacBook Pro, but haven't pushed the "Buy It Now" button just yet due to it's size? You're in luck! It appears that Apple is rumored to be releasing a 13 inch Retina loaded MacBook Pro this coming October.


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In 1930, Kilgore was a cotton and timber town. Streets were dirt and dollars were hard to come by. A year earlier, in the fall of 1929, the stock market collapsed and the nation fell into a depression that would last a dozen years.
As the economy stagnated, the price of cotton fell and the population of Kilgore shrunk from about 1,000 to 500.
The city's fortunes were reversed in October, 1930 when oil was discovered in Rusk county. Three months later, a second successful well — this one in Kilgore — was completed and Kilgore boomed. In a matter of days the population jumped to 10,000.
And in 1930, amidst the bustle and grit of an oilfield boom, the Kilgore News was established.
TRANSITION, NEW SERVICES
Since 2001, after some decades of out-of-state corporate ownership, the Kilgore News Herald (a unit of locally-owned Bluebonnet Publishing, LLC) boasts local control and local management. Publisher/partner Bill Woodall is active in economic planning, downtown re-development, chamber of commerce and a number of local non-profit groups, making the newspaper a key partner in the city's economic progress.
In concert with the global transition to a digital, knowledge-based economy, the News Herald and Bluebonnet Publishing have created KNH Marketing. The new division is designed with the explicit mission of helping local businesses meet their customers — old and new — on the Internet.
The traditional Kilgore News Herald, freshly re-designed and re-energized with a curious and vibrant staff, and KNH Marketing will help design internet landing pages, host Websites for local organizations, maintain and service websites for local retailers and offer eCommerce solutions. The newspaper counts about 20,000 unique visitors and 2 million page views to its websites and delivers 6,500 copies of the printed newspaper to local readers each week.
Businesses looking for new ways to reach new markets will love dealing with KNH Marketing. We handle the hassle.


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PC giant flags Xerox’s falling revenue and missed targets
"Enrique Lores" news, interviews, and features
News about Enrique Lores
Staples Technology’s Karl Sice talks about his experience with the newly formed HP Inc.
Australian MD says more developments are needed but space remains exciting


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After three months of working around the clock on a tight deadline, the Integrity mobile application team has launched the next innovation in the shipping world.
Worldwide Express Shipping Solutions is one of UPS’ largest express shipping partners who works to ensure that growing companies can focus on other things besides shipping needs.
As a rapidly growing company, Integrity totally gets that need. That’s why we were happy to work with WWEX to create one of our largest iOS apps to date.
And a pretty kick ass one, we might add.
Gone are the days of traveling with a briefcase full of notebooks and leaky pens. The WWEX app that we developed and designed from scratch allows shipping experts to manage customer relations from their mobile devices. Using the app, WWEX employees can now upload important information, locate customers and record calls and emails automatically from the field.
On top of replicating all of WWEX’s Customer Relationship Management features and making them editable from within the app, our developers even created a custom mapping feature that allows WWEX to track companies in their vicinity who ship with them the most often.
Our designers were sure to honor WWEX’s professionalism with a modern and simplistic design that is accessible for customer service representatives working from a mobile device.
Our team went above and beyond to make sure that the WWEX team has everything it needs to simplify shipping.
Integrity XD proudly announces that Carson Antoine from Chicago, Illinois, has joined our team as the newest software engineer.
We are excited to announce that Integrity XD’s own Senior Strategy and Marketing Lead, Erin Sucher-O'Grady, will be presenting two must-see lectures at the upcoming STL Tech Week.


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Ariana Grande posts rare no-makeup video to promote her beauty line
Ariana Grande’s got nothing to hide. The pop star went makeup-free in a new Instagram video Monday before showing off the powers of her new R.E.M. Beauty concealer.
She captioned the posts “before” and “after,” sipping from a mug while showing off her bare face. Fans went wild for the rare natural moment, with one tweeting, “ariana grande is so beautiful even without makeup.”
The brunette bombshell launched her makeup line in 2021 with eyeshadows, lip colors and highlighters, but her Sweetener Concealer ($24) — out July 28 —marks her first foray into face products.
While fans eagerly await the arrival of Grande’s latest product, which will be available to purchase in a whopping 60 shades, all of R.E.M. Beauty’s previous launches are available to shop on rembeauty.com and at Ulta.
Grande, 29, is far from the only big name with her own beauty business; Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, Halsey and more have released makeup brands in the past few years. But the “Don’t Look Up” star says she’s not here to compete.
“I’ve thought a lot about this, of course, because I don’t want to just hop onto any bandwagons ever. I think that … I wear my peers’ makeup as well, just like I listen to their music,” she said in an interview with Allure ahead of the brand’s launch.
“I’m not going to say, ‘Oh, there’s too many female artists.’ I love and I’m [a] huge fan of my peers that do both, and I think that it’s just another way to tell stories. Because you can never have enough makeup, just like you can never have enough music.”
[Disclaimer: This news has been made on the basis of information received from the website. NewsKosh does not confirm this from its side.]


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Virgin Media has launched a number of new ‘pay monthly’ mobile phone tariffs today, including an unlimited data deal.
The ‘Premiere’ tariff offers unlimited data, unlimited text messaging, unlimited voice calls to UK landlines and 2,500 minutes for calling UK mobiles every month (subject to terms & conditions). It’s priced at £26 per month for a two-year minimum term, with a £5 monthly discount available for customers who already subscribe to other Virgin Media services at home.
The new tariffs will also include insurance for the length of the contract, along with online contact backup and remote handset tracking.
A recent survey from Virgin Media revealed that more than 72% of Brits didn’t have mobile phone insurance, despite most having broken or lost a phone in previous years.
Virgin Media’s mobile service is a virtual network hosted by Everything Everywhere.


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Coffee Shop Market Heats Up: In the vibrant landscape of Singapore’s kopitiams, a coffee shop in Serangoon Central Drive is making headlines for its impending sale at a staggering S$40.5 million. The announcement comes on the heels of last year’s notable transaction where a kopitiam in Yishun fetched S$40 million, capturing attention for its high valuation. However, the record for the most expensive coffee shop sale in Singapore was set in July 2022, with a Tampines establishment commanding an eye-watering S$41.6 million.
Wan Jin Coffeeshop, located at 261 Serangoon Central Drive, is set to join the elite list of kopitiams that have crossed the S$40 million threshold. Spanning an area of 390 square meters or approximately 4,198 square feet, the coffee shop’s impressive valuation equates to nearly S$10,000 per square foot. This surpasses the per-square-foot prices of the Yishun kopitiam (S$9,361) and the Tampines coffee shop (S$6,964), making it a historic deal in Singapore’s property market.
While the caveat for the coffee shop, filed in September, reveals a remaining lease of 65 years, the buyer, identified as “AMK Food Court,” remains optimistic about the investment. AMK Food Court, the owner of Broadway Food Centre, sees potential in this strategic acquisition.
Wan Jin Coffee Shop, boasting 13 stalls including popular options like Fried Rice King and Yishun 925 Chicken Rice, is a bustling hub for locals. Its enduring popularity, evidenced by long queues at its stalls, has contributed to the high valuation. However, there is concern among the hawkers and locals about the potential impact of such a high sale price on stall rental prices. The sale of the Tampines coffee shop led to a reported rise in rental prices to S$10,000, prompting some stalls to relocate. Similarly, the Yishun kopitiam saw several stalls moving out following its S$40 million sale in July last year.
As the record-breaking coffee shop deal in Serangoon Central Drive unfolds, the spotlight is on whether this historic transaction will usher in changes to Singapore’s kopitiam landscape, particularly for the food stall holders and patrons who frequent these beloved establishments.
Our Reader’s Queries
What is the coffee shop trend in 2023?
One of the latest trends in the coffee industry is carbonation. Many independent coffee shops are now adding fizz to their beverages by using tonic or sparkling water instead of flat H2O. This innovative idea has gained popularity among coffee enthusiasts and has become a simple yet effective way to enhance the taste of coffee.
Is the coffee industry growing or declining?
By 2024, the Coffee market in the United States is expected to generate around US$11.4bn in revenue. Over the next four years, it is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3.01% (CAGR 2024-2028).
What is the trend in the industry of coffee shop?
Sales for U.S. coffee chains have surged by 10% from June 2021 to June 2022, bringing them closer to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, the market has expanded as chains have increased their presence, resulting in a 2.8% increase in branded coffee shops compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Despite early COVID-related closures and staffing challenges, the coffee industry has shown resilience and growth in the face of adversity.
What is the future of the coffee shop industry?
The coffee shops industry is set to experience significant growth between 2023 and 2030. Currently, the market is growing steadily, and with the implementation of effective strategies by key players, it is expected to continue on an upward trajectory. This trend is projected to continue well into the future.


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The team of Design Las Vegas won four of five categories at Canstruction 2018 in Mandalay Bay. This year's theme was 'Champions Against Hunger.' The Design Las Vegas team's entry was 'Hulk Smash Hunger,' featuring the Incredible Hulk smashing the word hunger. The seven-foot tall design included 2,000 cans and several layers of plywood, wood spacers, nuts, bolts, velcro and rods to keep the structure intact.
Donations of cans of food are being accepted from the public and the People’s Choice Award will be determined by the number of cans donated to each design entry’s corresponding bin. Each can of food is considered a vote for that particular entry.
The exhibition will run from April 24 to May 5 (available 24 hours).
The Design Las Vegas entry won Best Use of Labels, Best Meal, Best Original Design and Structural Ingenuity.
The team consisted of Ewa Koza and Edgar Antonio Nunez (TSK); Eric Gross, Whitney Nelson, Christian Boholano, Rudy Hernandez and Eileen Elento (KME Architects); Sandra Contreras, Sheldon Anguay and Kyle Stringmann (Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto); and Sara Rind (Simpson Coulter).
The team went up against five other architecture and engineering teams.
As the AIA Las Vegas website describes Canstruction, "this challenging design competition provides a way for architects, associates, engineers and others to collaborate on the design and construction of a structure made entirely out of full cans of food and at the same time, provide a great benefit to Three Square."
Robert Svedberg, principal for Atlanta-based TVS Design, which is heading a team of architects and designers known as Design Las Vegas, on Monday gave a Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority committee and an oversight committee supporting the $860 million expansion project an early look at the schematic design phase of the project, which is about half completed.
The multimillion-dollar expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center that officials say will allow the city to remain at the top of the list of trade show destinations will have a modern design tied by a ribbon-like roof on the outside and iconic imagery inside.
City officials have big plans for Henderson.
They envision a suburban utopia filled with plenty of open spaces, parks, community gardens and access to all modes of transportation — maybe even a light rail. Restaurants and retail stores will fill downtown.
As a first step in their vision, the Henderson City Council adopted Henderson Strong, replacing the city’s master plan that was adopted in 2006.


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Posted originally on the conservative tree house on March 2, 2022 | sundance
On the geopolitical side, the situation in Ukraine is quickly becoming BRICS -vs- NATO et al. However, on the corporatist side, the multinationals must align with their World Economic Forum masters.
This could ultimately backfire if it was real (think of where the stuff is manufactured). Alas, in this example of Nike corporate hypocrisy, it’s just a virtue-signaling position created in the branding suites of multinational PR firms.
March 1 (Reuters) – Nike Inc has made merchandise purchases on its website and app unavailable in Russia as it cannot guarantee delivery of goods to customers in the country, an update on the sportswear maker’s website showed on Tuesday.
This is the latest response by a U.S. company to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Hollywood studios Disney, Warner Bros, and Sony Pictures Entertainment saying they would pause theatrical releases of upcoming films in Russia.
The update on Nike’s website, however, directed its customers to their nearest Nike stores, although it was not immediately clear when the disclosure popped up on the website. Nike is a great example of how private companies can impose sanctions against Russia, Ukrainian Member of Parliament Lesia Vasylenko tweeted. (read more)


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Today, Uber Freight is bringing that same transformative power to the trucking industry with the introduction of Facility Ratings,” Uber Freight announced in a blog post. While we tend to think of truck drivers on the road, the fact is they spend nearly as much time at the facilities where they go to pick up and drop off shipments, often even spending the night at these facilities. In fact, according to a survey of 150 trucking companies in 2018, 80 percent of carrier respondents refused to take loads from facilities for reasons including inflexible appointment hours and lengthy detention times, which the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates costs truckers a total of $1.1 to $1.3 billion in earnings each year. Uber Freight hopes its Facility Ratings feature will help change this by allowing drivers to “share their experiences with those who have the power to improve it.”. The data that Uber Freight is providing with Facility Ratings in their platform is a great validator for making improvements to our operations, whether that means reorganizing personnel shifts or even moving to a bigger facility,” says Robert Fisher, Nestle North America Procurement.
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Why Executives Need to Prioritize Corporate Sustainability
Corporate sustainability is increasingly popular. In fact, a recent study showed that 80 percent of businesses have established internal environmental sustainability goals. Yet creating goals is not impactful alone. A report from 2022 found that most big companies are falling short of sustainability targets and exaggerating their progress. More businesses need to incorporate sustainability into their strategy and 2024 planning, but at the same time more executives need to ensure that reaching sustainability targets is a priority.
The private sector has immense power and potential when it comes to helping the planet. Recent data and news stories have shown that reducing emissions and pollution are as critical as ever. While many individuals are concerned about their own contributions to climate change, the reality is that businesses make up the majority of carbon emissions and waste. There is an opportunity for businesses to rethink their operations and to work harder to reduce their negative impact, and if more companies do so, the effects could be felt globally.
Executives, though, often have more pressing concerns than saving the planet. Ultimately, running a profitable business is their number one priority. Luckily, profit and sustainability are not at odds. In fact, corporate sustainability has the power to boost business success in a few critical ways.
Improving Operations and Eliminating Waste
Businesses waste 30% of the energy they consume on average, according to some estimates. This is much higher in certain industries, such as restaurants, who use 5 to 7 times more energy per square foot. This is the result of inefficient practices and equipment. Rethinking operations and investing in energy efficient equipment can eliminate this waste and significantly lower energy consumption. It’s a simple way to help your business’s bottom line.
Equipment upgrades like LED lighting and energy efficient HVAC units are some of the most significant ways to cut emissions. But there are plenty of opportunities to reduce energy waste at every level of operations, from electricity-powered or hybrid delivery vehicles to work-from-home days that can keep employee cars off the road. Some businesses can also install solar energy panels to reduce the amount of energy they need to buy from fossil-fuel sources. Rethinking operations can also involve buying from more eco-friendly suppliers, or eliminating single-use products at the office, which can also cut costs in many cases as well. There are countless simple ways to lessen negative environmental impact while also eliminating waste and cutting costs. They can all add up to a big difference.
Attract Consumer, Talent, and Investors
As mentioned above, most businesses are not prioritizing sustainability. That means the ones that do can gain an advantage. In competitive industries, every penny saved can put you ahead of the competition and ensure your business has the most longevity.
At the same time, making real strides to lower your carbon footprint can have other positive impacts beyond direct savings. Focusing on sustainability can help a business attract loyal consumers, top talent, and even investors.
Investors are increasingly considering climate change and other ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) factors into their business decisions. That is largely because, as they consider future potential, they understand that sustainable businesses come with less risk. One example of this, of course, is the growing and often unstable prices of fossil fuels. From a more zoomed out perspective, climate change itself poses a risk to businesses, as extreme weather events can cause serious, costly damage. For these reasons, more investors around the globe are seeking to decarbonize their portfolios and invest in companies dedicated to doing the same.
At the same time, individuals are taking sustainability more seriously as well. Studies show that consumers are increasingly keen to spend their money at businesses who can demonstrate their efforts to help the planet. Similarly, employees are more likely to take an offer from a company they perceive to be green. Acquiring customers and attracting top talent are key ways to get a competitive edge and to cultivate long-term business success.
Avoiding the Upfront Cost of Sustainability
In 2023, talking the talk no longer cuts it. When it comes to corporate sustainability, businesses need to walk the walk, too. And frankly, businesses who do not incorporate environmental goals into their strategy—or who do not put considerable effort into achieving their goals—are doing themselves a disservice. The business impact of focusing on these goals can be felt quickly. When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint with energy efficiency and renewables, the fiscal impact can be felt almost immediately.
Some businesses may struggle to justify the upfront cost of these changes. Investing in EnergyStar appliances or solar panels costs money, and especially for large or multi-location businesses, the capital required can be prohibitive. Not to mention the logistics of installation and maintenance. Fortunately, there is a simple, scalable solution.
Working with an energy-as-a-service (EaaS) provider like Budderfly makes sustainability upgrades easy by removing the need for any upfront capital. We pay for and install the highest performing energy-efficient equipment and solar panels at no cost to our clients. Plus, we use our innovative energy-saving technology to monitor energy performance and provide full transparency to our customers for how much energy they are saving—and valuable sustainability metrics such as how much their carbon footprint is being reduced.
We work with 5,000+ businesses and large franchises across all 50 states to make sustainability possible without companies having to use their own financial and time resources.
Curious how we make this work? Want to hear about some of our biggest success stories? Contact one of our experts today to learn more.


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Inexpensive wine could be nicer than you think, at least if someone lies to you about how much it cost: In a realistic field experiment, researchers who deceived participants about the price of wines discovered that budget wine tasted better when it was presented as expensive.
In the study, published March 9 in Food Quality and Preference, the researchers gave out three types of wine at a public event, "Uni Nacht," on the campus of the University of Basel in Switzerland. One wine was inexpensive and unrated by experts. The second had a middling price and expert rating and the third was expensive and very highly rated.
The team recruited 140 Nacht-goers, who drank six glasses of wine in randomized sequences. Three glasses contained the trio of wines, but with no price information whatsoever. In a fourth glass, the middling wine was always presented with its real price. The fifth and the six glasses, however, were trickier. The cheapest wine was sometimes priced accurately and sometimes quadrupled in price. Similarly, the costliest wine was either priced accurately or reduced to a quarter of its retail listing. After drinking the wines, participants rated their pleasantness and intensity on scales of 1 to 6.
The results were striking.
"If we looked at pleasantness — so, how much the people liked the wine — then pricing had quite an effect," Jens Gaab, a psychology professor at the University of Basel and an author of the paper, told The Academic Times. "The cheapest wine, given with a very high price, increased in pleasantness, but the high-priced wine didn't change. So, you can sell a very expensive wine as cheap and it still tastes the same, but if you sell a cheap wine as very expensive, it's perceived as much more pleasant."
"Interestingly, pricing did not have an influence on the intensity," Gaab added. "There was a linear relationship. The cheapest wine was not as intense as the middle, which was not as intense as the most expensive one."
Gaab wonders whether wine experts take intensity into account when ranking wines. "Maybe professional wine tasters just go for intensity because you can't fake that — you can't change that by pricing," he said. "It seems to be quite a real indicator of something. But the question is, of what? Is a more intense wine better than another wine? In the end, it's a subjective rating."
Gaab says he was inspired by the psychologist Irving Kirsch's work on the placebo effect of antidepressant medication. "It's not just medication — it's everything," he said.
Gaab wanted to see if other contexts could be manipulated to shape our perceptions. "We did a study on art in a museum," He said. "We gave different information about a piece of art in a real museum. Interestingly, that did not change the perception of art — so art seems to be real."
This latest investigation builds on the brain scanning research of neuroscientist Hilke Plassmann, who found that we believe pricier wines are more pleasant, even if the wine is actually cheap. But Plassmann carried out her research in a laboratory; participants drank the wine through a plastic tube while sitting in an MRI machine.
Gaab and his colleagues wanted to see how price impacted pleasantness in a more realistic setting — hence "Uni Nacht." "We were the only ones giving out alcohol — I think they were all sober when they came up," said Gaab. "The testing environment we had, which was a booth in a very crowded university building, maybe wasn't that ideal, but on the other hand, maybe it was rather realistic when it comes to wine tasting."
Unlike Plassmann, this team could not repeatedly test wines. "We used one day," said Gaab. "And we were not able to give all wines with all prices to all people. It would have been nice to manipulate the conditions in a better way, but that would have meant that one person would have been drinking up to a bottle of wine, and then they would have been drunk. We couldn't risk that." Still, the team's results were basically in agreement with Plassmann's.
Gaab wonders how the study would have gone if they had compared three comparably intense wines. He has also thought about comparing wine experts with non-experts.
Interestingly, older people tended to give lower rankings than younger people. But the relationship was relatively weak and runs contrary to earlier research. "It was a minor effect," Gaab said, noting that it could be a statistical artifact.
The study could have troubling implications for wine drinkers, as it implies that companies could mark up cheap products and consumers would be none the wiser. "I would guess the wine industry is aware of these impacts," Gaab said. "It would be interesting to see the breaking point, where increases in price do not lead to increases in selling. Is there a point where it becomes implausible to do this?"
When it comes to interpreting his findings, Gaab recalled Albus Dumbledore's words to Harry Potter: "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry. But why should that mean that it is not real?"
The study, "Price information influences the subjective experience of wine: A framed field experiment," published March 9 in Food Quality and Preference, was authored by Christoph Patrick Werner, University of Basel and The University of Sydney; Johanna Birkhaeuer, Heike Gerger, Nadja Heimgartner, and Jens Gaab, University of Basel; Cosima Locher, University of Basel and Plymouth University; and Ben Colagiuri, The University of Sydney.


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Walmart has reduced 20mn tonnes of emissions through Project Gigaton initiative
The US retail firm, Walmart, has announced that since launching its Project Gigaton initiative in April 2017, its suppliers have saved more than 20mn metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in global value chains.
The ultimately initiative aims to reduce emissions from the company’s global value chain by 1 gigaton by 2030.
Project Gigaton has recently expanded in China and the UK, raising its supplier participation to over 400, spanning across 30 countries.
“In its first year, Project Gigaton has helped to inspire action that has led to the avoidance of millions of metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and has expanded into an international campaign that includes the participation of several hundred suppliers,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for Walmart, Kathleen McLaughlin.
“The early success of Project Gigaton parallels ongoing progress in our operational efforts that seek to double our U.S. renewable energy use and expand our customer electric vehicle charging hubs to retail outlets across more than 30 states.”
Walmart discussed its tactics to reduce emissions, highlighting goals to expand commitments with wind and solar power, and electric vehicles.
“This annual milestone marks a pivot point for Walmart and 400 of its suppliers to share solutions and lessons learned,” stated Carter Roberts, President and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
“The next step is to deepen commitments that unlock the potential of this platform. We need collaborative initiatives like Project Gigaton and We Are Still In.”
“With sufficient goals and results they can help define our country’s ability to build a sustainable future.”
“And they also shape the world’s understanding of our commitment to solving climate change.”


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High trust in organic during Covid helped produce sales soar by 50%
High levels of trust in organic during the Covid-19 crisis helped produce sales soar by 50%, and follows a “banner year’ for organic 2019, says US trade body the Organic…
Contactless coffee: Better Food partners with City to Sea to revive reusables
Bristol-based Better Food Company is partnering with plastic pollution non-profit City to Sea on a #ContactlessCoffee initiative that is enabling the organic, local and ethical retailer to create a safe…
Potency of Amazon-purchased supplements ‘far below label claims’, NOW tests show
US-based natural products company NOW Foods has made public the results of tests it carried out on CoQ10 and SAMe products purchased on amazon.com, which showed potency far below label…
Vitafoods Europe 2020 cancels, shifts to ‘large scale virtual event’
Vitafoods Europe, which had been rescheduled for the 1-3 September (from its traditional May dates) due to the Covid-19 crisis has has cancelled its 2020 edition. It will be replaced…
UK vitamin company told not to repeat Covid-19 claims
UK-based vitamin company Revival Shots has had social media ads banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for making “misleading” Covid-19 claims.
As vitamin D deficiency is shown to raise COVID-19 ICU risk 20-fold, urgent trials get underway
As evidence builds that COVID-19 patients with vitamin D deficiency are much more likely too experience worse clinical outcomes, urgent trials in Europe and North American are underway to evaluate…
Seaweed extract shown to reduces flu severity
Australian researchers have demonstrated that a natural compound derived from seaweed is effective in significantly reducing clinical symptoms and lung damage in a severe influenza A H1N1 model.
Online grocery sales set for ‘phenomenal’ 33% hike in 2020
Online grocery sales in the UK are set to rise by 33% in 2020 as the COVID-19 crisis produces dramatic – and possibly lasting – changes in shopping habits.
Organic foods ‘getting coronavirus boost’
The coronavirus pandemic is leading to a surge in demand for organic and sustainable foods, reports Ecovia Intelligence.
We need your shelf space! – Sweden’s specialist food firms’ plea to supermarkets
Over 50 specialist Swedish food firms – many of them organic – have written to the bosses of the country’s biggest supermarket chains urging them to free up self space…


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The head of BGI has left to start an ambitious bid to revolutionize health with computerized efficiency.
Google’s latest pie-in-the-sky idea is robots. It’s not as crazy an idea as you might think, and one closer to Google’s traditional strategy than many people realize.
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The UK’s most visited online bike shop launched Bazaarvoice social commerce technology today. Wiggle.co.uk has employed Ratings & Reviews in an effort to drive sales and improve natural search rankings.
“Customers already share their experiences around the web, so sharing reviews, photos and videos on our site is a fantastic opportunity to build our own community,” said Steve Mills, Web Manager of Wiggle.co.uk. “We want this service to be integral to our site.”
Monthly promotional emails will encourage cycling enthusiasts to share their experiences of over 250,000 products available on the website. This month’s promotion is a competition offering reviewers the chance to win a Focus bike worth £750.
Read more about the launch in our press release.


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Maguire dealership complex stalled in town
A proposal for a complex housing several combined dealerships and headquarters for Maguire Automotive Group appears to not be going anywhere soon, but consideration of it focused attention on potential development along the Town of Ithaca's Inlet Valley.
The Ithaca Town Board tabled consideration of Maguire's plan earlier this month. Maguire sought a zoning change, but town Supervisor Herb Engman said the preferred approach would have been to seek a designed planned development zone. That approach amounts to the town and developer coming to an agreement on details and standards for a specific project rather than rezoning land then reviewing specific site plans.
A rezoning could allow many other uses if the initial plans weren't carried out, and Engman said he and board members were wary of that possibility.
The company proposed roughly 1.2 million square feet of building space to house corporate offices and dealerships selling Subaru and Hyundai, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, and Nissan brands. There would be buildings with solar panels, solar charging stations, rainwater harvesting and a green roof for the the Hyundai and Subaru store built into the hillside.
The site features plans for vineyards and orchards with apple and cherry trees, and flowering meadows, and a proposal for trails and a park expansion.
"The proposal has some very good points to it," Engman said.
One was the complex could serve as an anchor store to spur spin-off commercial development of the kind that can create jobs, something the town lacks in that area, Engman said. The new Ithaca Beer site had such an effect, with Greentree Garden Supply moving into its former building, he noted.
"Once you get business kind of percolating it can continue to grow in a positive way."
Maguire president Phil Maguire said the PDZ approach would take longer than a rezoning, which is important when multiple land transactions are involved.
"One kind of puts the design process in advance of the zoning change, and the other one is a zoning change and then you go through the design process," he said Monday.
But the company would still like a place with more room to better serve customers' needs and for inventory, as well as to pursue new franchise opportunities, he added. What is needed is a tract of land large enough and close enough to the area's population center.
"I think inevitably, whether it's there or somewhere else, we're certainly looking to expand and will continue efforts to do so."