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By Monica Gutschi
Chinese President Hu Jintao took time out of his G-20 commitments to visit the Toronto facility of Bombardier Inc., one of the Canadian companies with the greatest ties to his country.
Accompanied by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Canada’s Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan, and Bombardier’s Chief Executive Pierre Beaudoin, Hu spent about an hour at the factory that builds the Q400 turboprop and Global Express business jet. Bombardier has significant operations in China, with about 10% of its new C-Series mainline aircraft to be built by China’s AVIC II. Several Chinese airlines fly Bombardier’s regional aircraft, and the company also sells its business aircraft, rolling stock, and subway cars in the country.


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2022 Lexus NX 350h features a number of revisions on the outside as well as the inside; derives power from a 2.5-litre petrol/hybrid powertrain paired with a six-speed CVT
Lexus India has announced the launch of the new NX 350h in the domestic market today and is priced at Rs. 64.90 lakh for the Exquisite, Rs. 69.50 lakh for the Luxury and Rs. 71.60 lakh for the F-Sport trims (ex-showroom, pan India) – well over Rs. 6 lakh more than the respective previous iterations. The NX made its global debut nearly four years ago and its portfolio was expanded with the inclusion of the NX 300h last year.
The 2022 Lexus NX 350h can be reserved at the Lexus Guest Experience Centers across the country and in the international markets, the luxury crossover is available with different engine choices such as a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, a 2.4-litre four-pot turbo unit, a plug-in hybrid in the NX 450h+ and a 2.5-litre petrol/electric setup. It continues to compete against Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Volvo XC60.
For India though, a single powertrain and gearbox choice has been chosen and it makes better performance than the previous model. It features a 2.5-litre four-cylinder gasoline mill working in concert with two electric motors to produce a maximum power output of 240 bhp. It is connected to all four wheels through a six-speed e-CVT automatic transmission.
It is claimed to do 0-96 kmph in 5.5 seconds as the new crossover is certainly quicker than the old NX 300h model. It is underpinned by the modular TNGA-K architecture with a lower centre of gravity and improved torsional rigidity thanks to laser peening welding as the driving characteristics have been improved and in addition, the rear hatch area is larger.
The platform has also helped in saving weight by 91 kilograms. On the outside, the 2022 Lexus NX 350h features a restyled spindle grille at the front with U-shaped blocks, newly designed headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights, full-width LED tail lamps, a large greenhouse, aggressive bonnet structure, sporty alloy wheels, etc.
The interior follows the brand’s Tazuna cockpit concept and it gains a large touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a panoramic sunroof, a host of driver-assistive features, 64-colour ambient lighting, electrically foldable rear seat, a 10-speaker audio system, wireless charging facility, coloured heads-up display, 360-degree parking camera, digital instrument console, new steering wheel with mounted controls, etc.

domain: news


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The fires in the Amazon have caused great concern around the world. The deforestation and burning down of the rainforest has a major impact on our climate - and we all bear the responsibility for it. Now we need to support all the indigenous people who are fighting to defend the Amazon. It is the best way to protect the rainforest, writes Alex Brekke from the organization Amazon Watch.
The fires in the Amazon have received a lot of attention around the world, but it is important that everyone understands the reason and solution to the crisis. The fires are only part of a much more extensive problem.
The Amazon is more threatened than it has ever been before. These include industrial extraction (oil, mines and the like), livestock farming (for example, the production of meat and leather), soybean farms, the construction of a whole host of giant dams and motorways and more. Everything is financed by governments, multinational companies, big banks and by ordinary people who ultimately buy the products that are manufactured.
The Amazon is home to almost 400 different groups of indigenous peoples. These people depend on the rainforest for their physical and cultural survival and have been its stewards for millennia. Indigenous peoples represent about 4 percent of the earth's population, but they protect 80 percent of the world's biological diversity.
The best way to stop deforestation is to recognize the right of indigenous peoples to live where they live and to involve them in the management of the rainforest. Areas where indigenous peoples actually have control over their territories are more conservative than even national parks and nature reserves.
Deforestation will solve Brazil's economic problems
Brazil, which controls most of the Amazon, has a new president this year named Jair Bolsonaro. He has an enormously poor view of women, has expressed himself as a proud homophobic and voted for racist and anti-democratic views. Not only that, he also wants to solve Brazil's growing economic problems by ravaging the Amazon. This will result in huge deforestation and emissions of large amounts of greenhouse gases.
In order to be able to implement his plans, he wants to put an end to the activities of environmental organizations in Brazil and remove the obstacles that exist to being able to devastate the rainforest. In addition, his Minister of Agriculture Tereza Cristina has selected an area as large as France for felling.
But the burden does not fall solely on the Brazilian government. It is a systematic problem that has existed for a long time in all the countries that include the Amazon. The western world also bears a large part of the blame as it is this part of the world that contributes both to the financing of industrial extraction, but is also the consumer of all the products that are produced.
Everyone is responsible for the Amazon
We all live on the same planet and we all share the responsibility. American and European companies must take responsibility for their involvement in this ongoing tragedy because they encourage and finance deforestation. We must continue to put pressure on the Brazilian government (and all the other governments in the region) to ensure the protection of the Amazon and its indigenous peoples, who are on the front lines defending the rainforest. We must each look at ourselves and do what we can to protect our rainforests and our planet for future generations.
This year's forest fires in Brazil increased by over 80 percent compared to this time last year - and over half of the fires were in the Amazon region. The Amazon has long been considered fire-resistant due to its humid climate, but due to climate change, the rainforest has been hit by more frequent and intense droughts. In addition, many of these fires have been deliberately started by farmers who have expressed that they have been spurred on by Bolsonaro's rhetoric about opening up more rainforests to agriculture.
Indigenous peoples are trying to stop industrial extraction and deforestation by asserting their right to the territories they have lived in for thousands of years. But they are exposed to state-sanctioned threats, violence and in some cases murder. All the indigenous peoples who are fighting to defend the Amazon need our support - because the best way to protect the rainforest is to defend the rights of indigenous peoples.
The rainforest is the planet's best defense
A rainforest that is doing well is one of our planet's best defenses against climate change. The world's tropical forests - and the Amazon is the largest of these - currently absorb about 20 percent of the carbon dioxide produced from the burning of fossil fuels.
In addition, one-fifth of all freshwater is in the Amazon, and it plays an important role in regulating global and regional climate change. Water condensation, evaporation and transpiration across the Amazon are key drivers of the global atmosphere's circulation.
The Amazon is the most species-rich tropical rainforest in existence. Just one acre of the Amazon contains more species of trees than are found throughout North America. The biodiversity is simply enormous.
In everyday language, the Amazon is usually called for the lungs of the earth, and although it is not entirely technically correct (as climate deniers are often quick to point out), I suggest another name that even better describes what the Amazon means to our planet; The Amazon is the heart of the earth!
I hope to see you at Odenplan in Stockholm now on Saturday (7/9) at 12, for a demonstration for the Amazon.


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Google Adverts Have Trojans
Google said on Wednesday: "We have canceled customer accounts that display ads redirecting users to malicious sites or that advertise a product violating our software principles."
"We actively work to detect and remove sites that serve malware in both our ad network and in our search results. We have manual and automated processes in place to detect and enforce these policies."
Being proactive against malware is an uphill battle to be sure, and Google certainly has their work cut out for them.


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Cos launched the Restore programme in 2022 and the project is led by Bleckmann‘s specialised unit of circular fashion experts, The Renewal Workshop.
Having successfully navigated a year-long pilot phase that has received positive feedback, the core of this operation entails a process for renewing garments that blend lower-impact cleaning methods, data-rich tracking capabilities and invisible mending expertise.
The team restores pre-loved Cos items to like-new conditions, which are subsequently offered at a discounted rate in its stores throughout Europe, including prominent cities such as Paris and Amsterdam.
Tamara Zwart, director of Renewal at Bleckmann said: “Working with Cos is a true partnership, built on our collective commitment to advancing circular fashion solutions.”
This innovative circular fashion venture aligns with the retailers “omni-circular” strategy, aimed at prolonging the lifespan of its products and curbing clothing waste.
The triumph of this initial phase has propelled the brand to extend the project beyond its experimental stage. Francesca Lilley, head of sustainability and brand strategy at Cos said: “The more we grow Cos Restore, the more economies of scale we can achieve, further enhancing our circular fashion offering.”
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In pursuit of its ongoing commitment, Cos has recently introduced fresh Cos Restore collections in its Madrid and Vienna outlets. Plans are also underway to incorporate store-damaged items alongside products submitted by customers.
This includes Cos Resell, an online peer-to-peer commerce platform that allows users to buy and sell verified Cos items.
Lilley highlighted the broader implications, stating: “By including more markets and more renewal streams in the Cos Restore offering, we can extend the lifetime of many more garments.”
Since its establishment in 2015 and subsequent acquisition by Bleckmann in 2022, The Renewal Workshop said it is dedicated to helping fashion and lifestyle brands integrate more circular solutions into its existing business models.
Lilley concluded, “Bleckmann’s Renewal Workshop was the ideal partner to launch and grow the Cos Restore programme thanks to our shared values and their professionalism, agility and collaborative test-and-learn approach.”


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LISTEN TECHNOLOGIES TO EXHIBIT AT HOUSTON & NEW YORK EVENTS
Listen Technologies Corporation, a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of assistive listening products for over 16 years, has teamed with Almo Professional A/V to give resellers, integrators and consultants the opportunity to “charge up” their businesses by attending the award-winning E4 AV Tour, which is stopping in Houston on September 11 and the New York Metro area on October 8. Listen will be displaying selections from its full product line during these events.
Now in its sixth year, the E4 tour has traveled to cities around the country to provide product, technical and business training needs to thousands of resellers and installers while creating the ideal forum for professional networking. The program fuels up AV professionals by offering a full day of educational sessions worth InfoComm Renewal Units as well as exclusive access to the newest high energy AV products and services.
Listen Technologies Sales Operations Manager Kevin Jewkes will be representing Listen at the Houston and NY Metro events. He states, “We look forward to meeting with vendors, installers and consultants in the Houston and NYC areas at these E4 events, and we also value the opportunity to share a presentation on ADA guidelines and thank Almo for their continued support on this topic. We have done several events now with Almo, and we are very impressed with their organization. We know this will be a success for both manufacturers and attendees, and we are excited to share our tools with the industry.”


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2016 is set to be a hugely exciting year for fans of the long-running and hugely successful MMORPG RuneScape as developers Jagex recently announced the upcoming release of a brand new continent and the nearly sold-out RuneFest event. The London based event will be taking place later this year on Saturday 17th September at the Battersea Evolution, offering attendees the opportunity to embark on an epic journey as they explore the new mix of islands and ocean alongside the brand new continent.
[quote cite=”David Osborne, Lead Designer, RuneScape”]“We can’t wait to meet up with our fellow ‘Scapers at RuneFest 2016 as they join us for an intrepid celebration as RuneScape pushes new horizons. We’ll be showcasing the new frontiers of the Eastern Isles and announce some of new content heading to RuneScape in the year ahead. We’ll also be unveiling our plans for other games in the family, including Old School RuneScape and its ever growing popularity in the eSports sector, mobile versions of Chronicle: RuneScape Legends, and the upcoming 0.5-player game, RuneScape: Idle Adventures.”[/quote]
RuneFest will see the developers release more information on The Easter Isles update alongside news for Old School RuneScape, Chronicle: RuneScape Legends and more.
The last few remaining tickets are available to purchase on the official website.
Source: Press Release


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May 20, 2020 — The introduction of Governor Brown’s Phase One Reopening for certain businesses in 28 Oregon counties, including Lane County, included restaurants, salons and retail stores.
The reopening brought many visitors to Florence’s Old Town District over the weekend.
Phase One changes include a reduction of seating capacity for restaurants to allow for social distancing requirements, which still remain in effect.
The Port of Siuslaw boat ramp was also reopened for anglers. There were fewer than anticipated boaters over the weekend according to Port Manager David Huntington.
“There were only about five or six boats that went out on Saturday and I’m not sure how many went out on Sunday” he said. “So, I would say we probably had a total of maybe 10 boats go out over the weekend.”
Phase One of the governor’s reopening period continues through June 5 when, should the state’s metrics remain positive and barring any significant jump in the spread of COVID-19, Phase Two of Oregon’s reopening plan will go into effect.


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BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- According to Russian Satellite Network, 23, Russias Ochakovo Food Ingredients Joint Plant has successfully bred artificial meat, which may have appeared at the counter of Russian shops before 2023 at a price of 800 rubles per kilogram (about 90 yuan).
It is reported that the manufacture of artificial meat is based on the treatment of calf muscle tissue. Russian experts gave local anesthesia to calves, obtained small pieces of muscle tissue, and put muscle tissue cells into the culture medium to maintain their growth and division.
For consumers, the price of artificial meat is still on the high side, but experts predict that with the development of technology, the price of artificial meat will drop dramatically in Russia in the future.
If the price of meat growth medium is lowered, the cost will be reduced to 300 rubles per liter, compared with 150 to 300 rubles per liter currently produced in Switzerland. At the same time, the growth rate of cells will be no less than that in Swiss medium.
In this case, the cost of meat itself will begin to decline. It is not excluded that in a few years, artificial meat may compete with traditional tenderloin meat on the shelf.
Source: Responsible Editor of CNN: Wang Fengzhi_NT2541


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Airbnb isn’t a home rental company anymore—it’s a travel agency.
The eight-year-old company is branching out from home and room rentals for travelers to offer them something to do when they get there. On Nov. 17 it unveiled Trips, a platform that allows guests to book tours operated by local guides, buy concert tickets, and book restaurant tables—experiences that Airbnb proclaims will “make travel magical again.”
The startup is looking for new areas of growth to justify why it could be worth even more than its current $30 billion valuation. The company had been testing the platform —internally dubbed “Magical Trips”—for several months (paywall).
Airbnb hopes to gain a bigger economic foothold in communities, just as it faces legal challenges in several major cities.
Visiting Los Angeles? Take a few classic cars for a spin in Malibu. Jetting off to Tuscany? Spend a day truffle hunting. In Detroit, visit the Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Project.
Trips currently includes 500 “experiences” in 12 cities.
It’s Airbnb’s way of doubling-down on local residents—the lifeblood of its business—and an attempt at giving fickle travelers that elusive and lucrative quality of travel: authenticity. (Hopefully there won’t be much confusion with Google’s new travel app, also called Trips.)
Trips will also include more than 1 million recommendations on places to visit from Airbnb’s hosts and will offer city insider guides. The platform will also offer audio tours for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Paris, London, Toyko, and Seoul, starting in early 2017.
The platform is a direct shot at some of Airbnb’s more traditional competitors. For example, Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company, has an “Experiences Marketplace” where it allows its most loyal customers to cash in points for tickets to football games or Broadway shows.
Airbnb says it will later add flight searches to the platform—an area it has gotten closer to through airlines’ frequent flier programs and a few other gimmicks—sealing its new identity as a one-stop-shop travel agency.


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Reebok International will launch a global advertising campaign on Super Bowl Sunday tagged "Defy convention."
Eschewing the big game, a 60-second spot will break Jan. 28 during the premiere of CBS' Survivor II: The Australian Outback, which airs immediately following Super Bowl XXXV.
The commercial features many of Reebok's premier athlete en-dorsers, including Venus Williams (tennis), Allen Iverson (basketball), Jevon Kearse (football), Julie Foudy (soccer), and Steve Francis (basketball).
"'Defy convention' is a celebration of individuals who have defied the odds; people who encounter difficulties and find the wherewithal to succeed, despite those challenges," said John Wardley, vice president of brand communications for Reebok, Canton, Mass. "The campaign is also a celebration of the Reebok brand and our new innovative and stylish products which truly defy convention," he said.
The effort was created by Berlin, Cameron & Partners, New York, and will also include additional TV spots, print ads, point-of-sale materials, Internet executions and various retail and consumer promotions. Ads are scheduled to run in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the U.S. and the U.K.
Print executions will begin appearing in the March issues of national and international fashion and vertical publications, including GQ, InStyle, Self, Shape, Jane, Glamour, Details, Maxim and Entertainment Weekly.
Reebok International spent $30.9 million on ads in 1999, and $37.9 million for the first nine months of 2000, according to Competitive Media Reporting.
Reebok last year created a series of Survivor-themed ads that ran solely during that series. Those efforts featured fictitious characters Nate and Brian and the line "Want better advice?"
The client's principal operating units include the Reebok Division, The Rockport Co., Ralph Lauren Footwear and The Greg Norman Collection. Sales for 1999 totaled approximately $2.9 billion. Anthony Dixon / LFI


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United Airlines Update
It’s no secret that the RoundAbout Travel office runs at its best when we’re fuelled up with good coffee – it’s not just coffee folks, it’s a way of life! Most of us like to start our day the same way when we’re travelling too, so you can imagine our excitement when we heard the latest on United’s in-flight service.
They have welcomed Illy, one of the world’s best-known premium coffee brands, as their exclusive provider both on-board and in United Clubs. Illy was chosen after a long process of testing with United customers and its employees, and the airline believes the brand reflects their commitment to creating a premium experience for passengers worldwide.
In other United news, new United Club locations opened in Atlanta (Hartsfield-Jackson) and San Francisco (International) last month. Both have been done out with a modern design and feature panoramic views of the airfield. There’s also comfy seating, healthy food choices and complimentary beverages. The Atlanta club is located between gates 11 & 12 on the mezzanine level of Concourse T, while the San Francisco club is in the newly renovated Terminal 3 on the East Concourse. Expect more new lounges and refurbishments over the next few years as United invests over $100 million in their Club locations.


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Sure, 2021 wasn’t exactly the smoothest year when it came to the gaming industry. Activision Blizzard continued its monstrous practice of honoring multi-million dollar payouts compared to taking care of its employees; PAX attempted to make an in-person return and didn’t fare well at all (while also closing down the much-beloved PAX South); Battlefield 2042 arrived with all the impact of a wet fart; and several games were delayed into 2022, mainly due to the COVID pandemic.
But…not all the news was bad. In fact, 2021 was a hallmark year in a number of ways, thanks to some surprise returns, new announcements and other bits and pieces that made us feel good about being part of the industry.
Begone, bad news! Let’s take a look at the ten standout stories that made us feel all warm and fuzzy this year!
Dead Space Returns
Visceral Games may be no more, but its premiere title Dead Space continues to live on, as the team at EA Motive are hard at work on an inspired remake that promises to be creepier and more thrilling than ever before. Now if it could just lead to a fourth chapter in the series…
Oh, Look, G4 Is Back!
As it previously promised, G4 made its long-awaited return last month, bringing back a number of hit programs (not Cops) and bringing back familiar faces like Adam Sessler and Kevin Pereira, pairing them up with newcomers such as Austin “Xavier Woods” Creed and Gina Darling.
Welcome back, guys. Now don’t leave again!
Xbox Owners Got To Play MLB The Show 21 For…Free?
Talk about your surprises. Hot on the heels of the news that the series would go multiplatform for the first time ever, Microsoft just went and offered Sony’s MLB The Show 21 to Game Pass subscribers for…free? That’s right, PS5 owners had to pay full price, but Xbox subscribers got to enjoy this awesome baseball game for the price of nada. Now that’s what we call a grand slam.
Welcome Back, Metroid!
While the wait continues for Metroid Prime 4, Nintendo and MercurySteam have given us something to chew on in the meantime with the awesome side-scrolling adventure Metroid Dread. It’s hard as nails, but absolutely fun to play and jam-packed with killer visuals and sound.
Get it if you haven’t already.
Halo Infinite Bounces Back!
Following the premiere of a gameplay trailer that left some people underwhelmed, 343 Industries bounced back with a number of new features in Halo Infinite that we can’t wait to try. The multiplayer is already epic; and the single player campaign should be better than ever. Plus, that grapple ability is awesome as hell. C’mon, December 8th, get here.
Forza Horizon 5 Smashes Records
We knew that Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 5 would be a hot sequel for Xbox fans. But we had no idea it would get as hot as a volcano. Within the first week of the game’s release, it saw over ten million players joining the fold. And with the holidays fast approaching, that number is set to grow even further. Viva la Mexico!
Smash Bros. Goes Out On A High Note
Bad news: players weren’t getting the Waluigi reveal that they wanted. However, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate did get something just as epic, as Sora from the Kingdom Hearts series closed out the roster in high fashion. He’s a lot of fun to play, and matching him up against Nintendo and other legends is icing on the cake. Now, let Masahiro Sakurai rest, people.
Surprise! Guardians Of The Galaxy Rules
We didn’t despise the Marvel’s Avengers video game, but some folks did, and wanted Square Enix and Marvel to make up for that mistake. Well, they did with the magnificent single player game Guardians of the Galaxy. It encompasses all the action of the unrelated Marvel films, while going off in its own fun direction at the same time. Plus, that 80’s soundtrack!
PC Gaming Takes A New Direction With The Steam Deck
Who the hell needs a Nintendo Switch when you’ve got a Steam Deck? OK, obviously we do, but it’s great that Valve is hard at work on an alternate way to enjoy PC games without the need of lugging around a PC. We will have to wait for the system to ship early next year, but it should be worth it – especially without the need to upgrade graphics cards. Oy.
Huzzah, Scott Pilgrim Returns!
Ever since its delisting on platforms a few years back, players have been dying to see the return of the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World video game. Now, they have it, thanks to Ubisoft’s vibrant re-release on modern platforms. Not to mention that Limited Run Games gave it the physical treatment with a special edition. We’ll never let Scott slip out of our grasp again.
BONUS: 50 Cent: Blood On the Sand on Xbox!
To commemorate with its 20th anniversary on the market, Microsoft released a slew of backward compatible titles for Xbox – including one that players shouldn’t miss out on this time around. 50 Cent: Blood On the Sand is an exciting action game, where the rap star and his posse take on all sorts of enemy soldiers while “hitting that ramp” and hunting for that mother fuckin’ skull. It may cost a bit to hunt down a physical copy, but, damn it, it’s worth it. Go, shorty.
You’re not seeing things – we’re giving away a game system of your choice for the holidays. Find out how to win here!


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Microsoft must fight to remain influential, say analysts
Far from dead -- its lock on the enterprise remains safe -- but must focus on consumers to stay at the table
Computerworld - Stormed by a shift to tablets and smartphones, and threatened, even in its enterprise bastion, by new demands from workers, Microsoft may lose its place at the table reserved for major technology players, an analyst argued today.
But it's not in danger of disappearing, either overnight or as far as forecasts predict.
What is at risk, unless it turns around what by all appearances has been a faltering mobile strategy, is its importance in the industry, one it's dominated for decades, said Carolina Milanesi of marker research firm Gartner.
"To be relevant, to continue to play an active role from a ecosystem standpoint, they need to win the consumer battle," Milanesi said. "To remain relevant, to remain an influencer, consumers need to seek out their products."
Milanesi's argument stemmed from forecasts that Gartner published last week showing traditional PC sales, the platform that Microsoft has long dominated, and will continue to, remaining virtually flat over the next five years.
Through 2017, sales of PCs will climb just 5%, Gartner predicted. Meanwhile, tablet sales should more than quadruple in that same stretch, and before 2017, will outnumber PC sales. At the same time, mobile phone shipments, most of them smartphones, will continue to climb until, in 2017, they will number 2.1 billion, 22% more than currently.
Technology's growth over the next five years, then, will be in tablets and smartphones. PCs, in contrast, will, after a dip this year, first struggle to regain 2012 sales volumes then climb ever so slowly.
Those forecasts fueled blogger, pundit and media interpretations, creating a brouhaha last week as Microsoft naysayers looked at the numbers and said the company was a goner, destined for the history books. Others defended Microsoft, saying the PC was far from dead, still would have a part to play in five years -- and beyond -- and that the Redmond, Wash., company had a long life ahead of it.
Both sides scored points, if sometimes ignoring any nuance, Milanesi seemed to say in an interview this week.
"If," she said, stressing the word, "Microsoft does not make progress in consumer, then it risks losing its relevance."
She based that on the explosion in tablet sales, and a belief that increasingly, most people will be satisfied with what they get from a tablet, and will use it as their primary computing device. In turn, that means PCs will become increasingly less important to consumers, resulting in fewer sales overall and longer intervals between system refreshes.
"It used to be, consumers went to the store every few years, selected a PC, which had Microsoft [Windows] on it," Milanesi said. "But if consumers aren't seeking out [Windows devices], then PCs become something that IT hands them [at work]. Microsoft cannot go about its business by leaving it in the hands of IT. Microsoft has to change. They need to put more focus on consumer than the enterprise."
- Microsoft plans to patch critical under-attack IE bug next week
- Ballmer regrets not aping Apple sooner
- OS upgrades: Cheap is better than pricey, free is better than cheap
- Update: More top-tier Microsoft execs head for the door
- Microsoft ships Office 2013 SP1 the old-fashioned way
- Microsoft's 'go-low' play puts Windows revenue on the line
- Microsoft: Android Nokia not our call to make
- Gates sells another 20M shares; lead over Ballmer shrinks to nearly nothing
- Hey Microsoft, where's the next Mac Office?
- Microsoft dubs 'confusing' Office Web Apps as Office Online
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- How 19 Tech Titans Target Healthcare
- Twitter Suffering From Growing Pains (and Facebook Comparisons)
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- iOS vs. Android: Which is more secure?
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- Taking Windows Mobile on Any Device Taking Windows applications mobile has many advantages, but the process of identifying a solution is complex. Learn how to solve this complex problem...
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Teenagers in the digital space
Adolescents share a lot of information on the social media, however, surprisingly, only a few teenagers live an online life publically without restraint. Most of them, in fact, actively restrict and shape their profile. According to an American research of 2013, the profiles of 60 percent of teenagers are not public, which is a much higher rate than in the case of adults. Moreover, many adolescents set different „levels of security” even among their friends.
On the questions of data protection regarding adolescents, you can read Dr. Andrea Jádi Németh’s article on origo.


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Your shampoo, along with other common household products, produces almost as much air pollution in the U.S. as the millions of cars, trucks and other vehicles belching fumes into the atmosphere.
According to a recent paper published in the journal Science, so-called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, contained in consumer products and industrial sources like shampoo, perfume, paint and cleaning supplies emit two to three times as many pollutants as scientists previously believed.
That is surprising, in part, because people use roughly 15 times more fuel by weight compared with petroleum-based compounds in products. Previous data from the Environmental Protection Agency had suggested that 75 percent of fossil VOC emissions (by weight) came from fuel-related sources, with about 25 percent derived from chemical products.
The latest research is based on previously unavailable atmospheric data and more up-to-date chemical production statistics.
"Gasoline is stored in closed, hopefully airtight, containers, and the VOCs in gasoline are burned for energy," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist Jessica Gilman, a co-author of the new paper, said in a statement. "But volatile chemical products used in common solvents and personal care products are literally designed to evaporate. You wear perfume or use scented products so that you or your neighbor can enjoy the aroma. You don't do this with gas."
The findings come at an awkward time for the EPA. Under Administrator Scott Pruitt, the agency has focused on reducing environmental regulations, including the Clean Power Plan, passed under the Obama administration. Pruitt and President Trump also have expressed doubts that climate change is a man-made phenomenon.
Steven Milloy, an attorney who was a member of Mr. Trump's EPA transition team, dismissed the study, which involved some 20 researchers affiliated with universities and research facilities in the U.S., Canada and Korea.
"It's a nonsense study," he said in an interview. "Do consumer products with scents emit VOCs? They always have. This is just playing on people's paranoia."
An EPA spokesman said the agency is reviewing the study.
"EPA continuously reviews the latest scientific developments to inform its approaches to calculating air pollution amounts and sources," he said. "As new methods and information become available and proved reliable, EPA updates its approaches."
The EPA estimates that VOC pollution fell 42 percent between 1990 and 2016 thanks to the Clean Air Act. Ground-level ozone, created by the reaction of VOC and nitrogen oxide along with sunlight, has plummeted 31 percent between 1980 and 2016.
Ozone has been linked to global warming. VOCs also have been linked to particulate matter or soot, which causes asthma and other health problems.
One reason air pollution from consumer products is drawing the attention of scientists is that emissions from motor vehicles have fallen in recent years thanks to cleaner-burning gasoline and the emergence of vehicles powered by electricity and other alternative energy sources.
"As transportation gets cleaner, those other sources become more and more important," said Brian McDonald, a scientist in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, working in NOAA's Chemical Sciences Division, in a statement.
for more features.


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Followed behind the release of his visuals for the “Suicidal” track featuring Desiigner, Diplo goes back to back with yet another release of his official music video for “Color Blind” for his collaboration with California based rapper Lil Xan.
The tracks as you know come from his new California EP.
Before dropping the video, the Mad Decent founder went to Facebook to say the following.
“me and LIL XAN cooked this up..probably the most unique sound from the EP but a perfect match of styles to make something brand new.”
Watch the ‘Color Blind’ video below.


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Revlon has unveiled the latest chapter in its Love Is On brand mission with the launch of the Choose Love campaign. This next phase will encourage women to ‘believe in love, let go of doubts and take a chance to make love happen’.
The Choose Love theme will see Revlon’s global brand ambassadors star in TV spots – the first time all three have been featured together in a global advertising campaign – that celebtae bold choices. Olivia Wilde will kick off the season by making the first move, Alejandra Espinoza is depicted declaring her love, while Halle Berry is featured keeping the romance alive.
The TV spots will be supported by a digital and print campaign aimed at inspiring women to choose the best products for them. The company will also encourage women to upload pictures of themselves blowing kisses, accompanied by the hashtag #CHOOSELOVE, to their social media accounts.
“At Revlon, we have been thrilled with the response of women around the world who have eagerly embraced our Love Is On mission – and there is great excitement as we get ready to unveil our next big step, the Choose Love campaign,” said Lorenzo Delpani, Revlon CEO. “We believe that by inspiring people to Choose Love, we can spark a global movement around the positivity of love.”


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The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.1, JellyBean update for Verizon has leaked in the form of a new ROM.
Sprint users received the official update earlier this month, and the Verizon version is now available to those who are technologically savvy.
This is a good hint that Verizon will be rolling out the official update sometime in the near future, so for those who do not want to alter their devices with a ROM, they should hold on just a little bit longer for the OTA version.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 JellyBean update is also now available in certain regions.
The device launched with Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, and the new update brings some major enhancements to the software.
Android 4.1 is said to improve performance, add some new S Pen functions, Quick commands, Pop Up Play, and new Mini Apps.
The update is available OTA (over-the-air) in Germany.
The build of Android has been unsafe from Apple's attacks.
The California-based company has included Android 4.1, JellyBean and the Galaxy Note 10.1 in its already existing lawsuit against other products created by Samsung and Google.
Samsung and Apple have been entangled in legal battles all over the globe, which has lead to the banning of their products in certain countries. It also lead to Samsung having to pay out damages of $1.05 billion thanks to ruling under Judge Lucy Koh that confirmed that Samsung had infringed on multiple Apple patents.
Now Apple has decided to throw in both Android 4.1, and the Galaxy Note 10.1 in its all-out attack against Samsung and its partners.
In related news, Google released the Android 4.1, JellyBean update source code for the AT&T variant of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 has been uploaded by Samsung this week.
The company normally makes these codes available to developers just before the launch of a device. They use it to create new applications and programs for the software.


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China begins anti-monopoly probe into tech giant Alibaba
China has launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Alibaba, regulators said Thursday, sending the share price of the e-commerce giant tumbling and intensifying the troubles of its billionaire founder Jack Ma.
Regulators will also hold "supervisory and guidance" talks with Alibaba's gigantic financial services subsidiary Ant Group, state media reported, just weeks after its record-breaking IPO was halted at the last minute by Beijing.
The continued squeeze on one of China's most influential companies is the latest sign that the Communist leadership is ready to deflate the ambitions of big tech firms in a runaway internet sector, which has made Ma one of China's richest people with an estimated $58 billion fortune.
Investigators are probing Alibaba for "suspected monopolistic practices", the State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement.
The probe threatens to impede the growth of Alibaba, a tech juggernaut which revolutionised the e-commerce landscape of China.
Alibaba shares tumbled 8.6 percent to a five-month low in Hong Kong on the news.
In a statement, the company said it "will actively cooperate with the regulators on the investigation".
Financial services subsidiary Ant Group said it too would cooperate and "diligently study and strictly comply with regulatory departments' requests".
Ant Group made its name via its main product Alipay, the online payments platform and super-app that is now deeply embedded in China's economy.
But the company has also expanded into offering loans, credit, investments and insurance to hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses, spurring fear and jealously in a wider banking system geared more for supporting state policy and large corporations.
Its reach into the daily spend of Chinese has also caused anxiety over the potential for personal debt to turn sour and toxify the wider economy.
As global demand for the dual Hong Kong-Shanghai listing pushed the IPO toward record valuations—potentially handing Ma and Ant Group even more funding, legitimacy and clout—Chinese regulators acted.
The outspoken and charismatic Ma—a former teacher—had previously lashed out at China's outdated financial system, calling state-owned banks "pawn shops" in an October speech that led to him being summoned for regulatory talks shortly before Ant's IPO was suspended.
He has edged away from the public limelight since the IPO collapsed.
No one bigger than the Party
Noises from the top of the Chinese Communist Party are ominous for companies perceived to have outsized ambitions.
Party leaders at last week's Central Economic Work Conference vowed to strengthen anti-trust measures and "firmly oppose monopolies" while the Party's executive Politburo body has also vowed to crack down on "disorderly capital expansion".
"There is an underlying political message, that no company, and no individual, can grow so big in China to the point where they can potentially challenge the authority of the CCP," Richard McGregor, senior fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, told AFP.
This year, Beijing has also implemented new regulations to contain potential risks in China's growing online lending industry, as the fintech arms of internet firms including Alibaba and Tencent have expanded and consolidated power over the market.
"Undoubtedly, Ant will now become a very different company in structure and in balance sheet," said Ryan Manuel, Chief Asia Strategist at Silverhorn Investment.
"Its regulatory environment will appear more like that of a financial services provider and less of a tech company. Its growth will slow. Its market valuation will decrease."
China's market regulator in November issued draft antitrust guidelines for internet platform economies that highlighted examples of anti-competitive behaviour.
State media have repeatedly called for tighter oversight of these firms, warning of potential financial instability as a result of their unregulated rapid growth.
Bad debt in China's chaotic financial system is a perennial risk, and regulators launched a crackdown on a growing nationwide credit addiction three years ago owing to fears of a financial meltdown.
© 2020 AFP


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Glass particles discovery in Liqui Fruit grape juice cans sparks batch recall
An entire batch of Liqui Fruit red grape juice has been recalled after three consumers found “small shards of glass” in their 330ml cans.
“The investigation as to the root cause and extent of the issue is under way,” a Pioneer Foods spokesperson said on Sunday.
“No-one has been hurt, as far as we are aware.”
As “a precautionary measure” the company is recalling the specific manufacturing batches of Liqui Fruit Red Grape 330ml cans from the market.
“The majority of this stock is still in warehouses and has not yet been purchased by consumers, but as concern for the welfare of our consumers is paramount, we are taking all possible steps to recover this stock quickly.”
In terms of the Consumer Protection Act, such recalls have to be actioned in conjunction with the National Consumer Commission (NCC).
Acting consumer commissioner Thezi Mabuza said in a statement late on Saturday night that the NCC had yet to receive the official recall notice, but would be monitoring the recall process.
“We urge consumers who bought this product to stop consuming it immediately and return it to the retailer where it was purchased, for a full refund,” she said.
Here are the batch details:
- Pioneer Foods product code: 27327
- Outer case bar code: 6001240225615
- Shrink pack bar code: 6001240225608
- Single Unit bar code: 6001240225592 — printed on side of can
- With this specific date coding: BB 01.04.2021 C Time and BB 02.04.2021 C Time


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EXETER — The building where Herb & Rob's Auto Clinic operated for 20 years off Portsmouth Avenue is being demolished on Monday.
The garage was knocked down as Hannaford Supermarkets continues to prepare to open a new store in the plaza that was formerly home to Stop & Shop, which closed in August.
Building Inspector Doug Eastman previously said that once the demolition is complete, Hannaford plans to grade over the site and make it a continuation of the parking lot.
Rob Abounaja, the owner of Herb and Rob's, turned down a $1 million offer from Stop & Shop 10 years ago to move his auto repair business as the grocery chain prepared to open its new superstore off Portsmouth Avenue.
Abounaja has since moved his business to a new family-owned facility on Epping Road.
Hannaford took over the space after Stop & Shop closed and is expected to open its new store in the spring.


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Post contributed by Summer Johnson -
In March 2011, the first Color apps for smartphones debuted. Color is a new picture sharing app that connects multiple smartphones within a certain range to digitally share and sync photos in real time. The app then sorts pictures of individual events in a timeline and shares them with the nearby synced phones.
Although Color meant to revolutionize picture sharing and connect more people in an exclusive interactive way, some believe it gives users too little privacy. In an article for Forbes, Andy Greenberg, reports security researcher and Veracode chief technology officer Chris Wysopal had already hacked Color the night it debuted. By using an iPad hacked to allow third party applications in combination with another app, FakeLocation, Wysopal was able to change his own geographic location on Color to view all pictures in any geographic location he chose.
When Greenberg contacted Color’s spokesperson, John Kuch, about the hacking, Kuch explained that Color has never offered privacy, and said that it has always been public.
Although pictures create about 20% more interaction on social networking sites like Facebook (as stated by Buddy Media in Stan Bashmashnikov’s article, The Future of Photo Sharing), technology may be ahead of itself until applications like Color can offer more privacy to its users.
Sources - The Future of Photo Sharing, Social Media Week


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© Getty Images
Last week, after reports that hair and mold were found in her brand's lipsticks, Jaclyn Hill uploaded an apology video to YouTube. In the video, she sits solemnly, wearing a gray hoodie, a large bedazzled crucifix, and, notably, no make-up.
Well, maybe no make-up is an exaggeration, but she is certainly wearing a lot less make-up than usual. Her skin is even-toned, hinting at a base layer of foundation, and her lips are unnaturally rosy (at least for her). But that’s it - no blush, mascara, or eye make-up. This is possibly the first time we’ve seen Jaclyn without false lashes and heaps of mascara. Upon reflection, we also realised that her lack of make-up may be purposeful, meant to project a specific message to the viewer - maybe one of genuine remorse. But let’s investigate further.
In the apology video, Jaclyn speaks to the camera authoritatively, rapidly defending herself and her products. She speaks so fast it’s hard to process what she’s saying before she’s onto the next thing. Jaclyn explains that it took a few days to get the video up because she’s been doing an “in-depth investigation” into what went wrong with the products. In this way, the absence of heavy make-up subtly implies that she’s simply been too busy figuring out what went wrong to focus on her own make-up. The no-make-up-make-up look tells the viewer that she’s had more important things to do than take time to apply make-up, and that she’s taking this issue very seriously. But applying mascara doesn’t typically take a lot of time, so there have to be other reasons why she chose to go make-up-free.
On YouTube, there’s an infamous canon of influencer-apology videos that have spurred parodies and eye rolls, the exaggerated nature of the videos making them easy targets for poking fun. It makes sense that these videos would draw ire since it’s very difficult to come across as sincere in a video that’s been preplanned, or attempts to use persuasive tactics (such as “receipts” and carefully crafted language) to cast away blame and sway public opinion. The videos often feel manipulative, including fake tears and pleas that they "didn’t mean to hurt anyone”; like asking for forgiveness but without real remorse.
One of the most controversial and parodied videos was, rightfully, Laura Lee’s apology after racist tweets of hers were discovered in August 2018. In the video, she leans close to the camera, creating a sense of intimacy; her hair is up and she isn’t wearing a lick of make-up. Throughout the video, she wipes her eyes (she's supposedly wiping away tears but that’s...questionable), something that you can’t do if you have eye make-up on. The cynical among us (me) also say that wearing mascara would reveal that the tears were nonexistent, since there would be no mascara running down her face.
Read more: Does KylieSkin Live Up To The Hype?
More recently, after a major beef with Tati Westbrook (who also wore subdued make-up looks in her multiple videos about the drama), James Charles faced the camera with a clean face and apologised in a hushed tone. After reviewing the footage, we have reason to believe that the underlying message was that he was too distraught to focus on make-up, which for a beauty influencer means it’s serious business.
While the lack of make-up in apology videos may seem unplanned or organic, it is worth considering the ways in which these influencers could be projecting a very specific version of themselves. Just as celebrities and brands have crisis PR plans ready for issues or controversies that may arise, it’s necessary to remember that make-up vloggers and YouTubers are also their own brands. As a result, they have to carefully consider every aspect of how they present themselves when addressing a controversy, including what they’re wearing on their face.
Though it may seem a bit hypocritical, beauty vloggers who’ve built careers on over-the-top make-up who ditch their usual looks for fear of appearing insincere seem to imply that make-up is unprofessional and not appropriate for something somber like an apology. We don’t think so, but that’s what their choice of not wearing make-up in apology videos seems to suggest.
So how can beauty YouTubers apologise sincerely? One idea is to post a notes app apology like everyone else. And if you find yourself in need of some comic relief after watching your favorite YouTuber apologise, may we suggest this hilarious musical rendition of famous YouTube apologies? We can’t get the catchy jingle out of our head, so proceed with caution.
This article was originally published by Teen Vogue


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ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS
Who'd have thought ten years ago...or maybe even five...that you could buy a new house online? It's about to happen here in Oklahoma City now that Jeff Click Homes has teamed up with NewsOK.com and this year's Bid & Buy '08 Online Auction. Just today, the team at NewsOK launched our listing for 1...
This weekend, the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association will open the doors to its annual Home & Garden Expo at the Cox Business Center in downtown Oklahoma City. The girls and I will be making our way out there on Saturday to browse the dozens of exhibits, booths, and displays. We're excite...


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By | Feb 21, 2019 at 10:06 am
With the challenge laid down by the Samsung S10 and Galaxy Fold, what does Apple need to do to ensure its iPhone range can compete? We look at the key tech areas where Apple needs to step up its innovation, make up lost ground, or concede the race altogether.
By | Feb 20, 2019 at 5:54 am
Apple has purchase PullString, a start up that specialises in voice activated toys. What turned PullString into Apple's Dreamhouse? It's a sign that the tech giant is increasingly interested in the power of audio AI and sees itself as a major player in the space.
By | Feb 19, 2019 at 10:57 am
Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released some details about loads of Apple products expected to be coming our way in 2019, including a new MacBook Pro, two new iPads and even a new iPod Touch. Kuo often has the inside track on Apple, but should we trust his analysis?
By | Feb 14, 2019 at 11:18 am
Apple's reported subscription news service before its even got going. Publishers are, apparently, not keen on the terms of the deal that Apple is proposing — which involves the company taking as much as 50% of all the subscription revenue generated.
By | Feb 4, 2019 at 12:29 pm
While Apple's iPhone revenues declined 15 percent from the prior year, all other products and services' revenue grew 19 percent. There's a reason Tim Cook is proud of Apple's 1.4-billion-strong active install base – it's core to the company's service-led future.
By | Jan 29, 2019 at 7:31 am
Users of Apple FaceTime have uncovered a serious privacy issue this week, with the ability to listen in and even potentially watch another person using the Group FaceTime service, without their knowledge. Apple has removed the feature from its devices while it races to find a fix
By | Jan 14, 2019 at 11:13 am
New leaks might have revealed the design and some of the internals of the iPad Mini 5. Released by a Chinese Twitter user seemingly with access to Apple prototypes and pre-production models, the new iPad Mini 5 images reveal another case of evolutionary design changes for Apple.
By | Jan 14, 2019 at 10:15 am
Apple's wireless charging mat, the AirPower, is finally going into production after almost two years of delays. According to sources familiar with the Apple supply chain, the AirPower is being made by two Chinese companies, both of whom are already Apple contractors.
By | Jan 7, 2019 at 11:54 am
CES , the biggest consumer electronics show on the planet, has dropped a bombshell early on, with the revelation that Samsung is working closely with its long-term rival, Apple, to bring an iTunes app to the latest Samsung TVs, plus to 2018 models via a firmware update.
By | Jan 7, 2019 at 10:52 am
Leaked renders have revealed that the next iPhone might have an unusual and potentially controversial triple camera arrangement. So, are these leaks to be believed? And, if so, are we looking at the next iPhone? Read on for more detail on the potential iPhone 11.
By | Dec 11, 2018 at 11:28 am
Apple is paying the price for taking so long to launch the HomePod and its first smart speaker is being brushed aside into obscurity by Amazon and Google's better alternatives.
By | Dec 3, 2018 at 1:48 pm
News has sprung up of a radically unexpected change to the iPhone lineup: Apple will be returning to its fingerprint readers for the next generation of it's tech, and making the feature work on-screen, according to a new report.
By | Nov 12, 2018 at 6:00 am
Find all the best Apple Watch Series 4 discounts with Tech.Co this Black Friday. We round-up all the best Apple Watch deals, so you don't have to spend an age comparing different retailers.
By | Nov 5, 2018 at 11:26 am
Apple has lost its trillion dollar status after announcing some disappointing financial forecasts for the next quarter. We've taken a look at what that means for the company, why it's happened, and what it can do to put it right.
By | Oct 31, 2018 at 1:10 pm
Apple's new iPad Pros are so powerful, we wonder whether they could replace your MacBook. And whether Apple is planning to replace the MacBooks with iPads in totality in the long term.


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FRIDAY, February 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) – Bedtime without a partner on Valentine's Day can make sleep difficult to catch. But a new study suggests a remedy: cuddling up with a piece of his or her clothes.
Researchers say having a natural scent of a loved one nearby could be an effective sleep aid like melatonin.
"One of the most surprising findings is how a romantic partner's scent can improve sleep quality even beyond our conscious awareness," said senior research author Frances Chen. said. She is an associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver.
In the study, 155 people were given two T-shirts to use as pillowcases. A person who has been worn by their lover; the other is clean or has been worn by strangers.
While the partners of the participants are wearing shirts, they are advised not to use deodorants or scents or to do anything that could affect their body odor, such as smoking. , exercise and eat some foods. T-shirts are frozen to keep their scent.
Participants spent two consecutive nights sleeping with each shirt. They did not say which shirt it was, but they reported that they felt more comfortable after using a sweet-smelling T-shirt. Data from the sleep monitor validates it.
"Our findings provide new evidence that just sleeping with a partner's scent will improve sleep efficiency. Our participants improved sleep efficiency by an average of more than 2%," …


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Konami releases Castlevania NFTs to celebrate 35th anniversary
Fans will be able to get their hands on NFTs featuring game scenes, music and new artwork
Castlevania, the gothic horror action-adventure video game developed by Konami, is celebrating its 35th anniversary by issuing the Konami Memorial non-fungible token (NFT) collection.
Castlevania NFTs will be auctioned on OpenSea, said to be the world’s largest marketplace for NFTs. The auction is scheduled to take place from 12-15 January (time zone depending).
The NFTs will feature scenes from the game, background music and newly drawn art from the Castlevania series.
Although the commemorative tokens come out in 2022, Castlevania’s actual 35th anniversary was in 2021 as the game was released in 1986.
Konami president’s NFTs hint
Kimihiko Higashio, president of Konami, had recently told shareholders: “As we move into the future, our business fields will continue to expand with the advancement of electronics such as mobile devices and home game consoles, as well as with the emergence of new distribution platforms that utilize cloud technology.
“With the evolution of technologies such as AI, 5G and NFTs, as well as the increasing recognition of esports as a sporting event, we expect the market to be revitalised by inventive new ways to enjoy games.”
Have your nickname on Konami site
By purchasing a Konami NFT, the owner can have their nickname placed on the Konami website.
Nicknames of the owners of the NFT will be on the site from February 2022 to December 2022, although this period maybe extended.
Tarantino to release Pulp Fiction NFTs despite Miramax dispute
Recently, award-winning director, screenwriter, producer and actor Quentin Tarantino announced that a series of Pulp Fiction NFTs would be auctioned from 17-31 January, despite his quarrel with the Miramax LLC film studios.
Soon after the announcement of the NFTs, the firm filed a complaint with the US District Court Central District Of California regarding alleged breach of contract, copyright infringement, trademark infringement and unfair competition.
The company is currently seeking damages and compensation, in an amount to be determined at trial, and an injunction preventing alleged violations of Miramax’s rights in and to Pulp Fiction.
However, SCRT Labs, the company behind the Secret Network data privacy platform which powers the NFTs, said: “Tarantino owns the exclusive rights to publish his Pulp Fiction screenplay and the original, handwritten copy has remained a personal creative treasure he has kept private for decades.
“In collaboration with SCRT Labs, Tarantino has turned chapters from this historic document into a one-of-a-kind NFT publication,” they added.


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The Galaxy S10 won't have Samsung's most revolutionary smartphone feature of 2019 - BGR
The Galaxy S10 won't have Samsung's most revolutionary smartphone feature of 2019
About a year ago, we learned that the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) developed a “graphene ball” that can be used to make lithium-ion batteries charge even faster and last longer. That kind of technology is supposedly coming next year, ...
Samsung's folding 'Galaxy X' phone rumoured to arrive next month
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 review: Hands-on
Samsung Leaks Hint At Revolutionary Galaxy S10 Smartphone
Published on 23 Oct 2018 at 12:51PM


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If you want to know what’s in your food, nutritionists recommend looking beyond the nutrition panel.
Actually, they recommend looking below it to the ingredients list.
“The label that’s just as important, if not more important, is the ingredient label,” said Katherine Tallmadge, a registered dietitian and author of Diet Simple.
Tallmadge said the nutrition panel will tell you how much protein or fiber is in your food, but it doesn’t tell you the source of the nutrient.
“You sometimes find fiber in the most unlikely of foods, like candy bars,” said Tallmadge, “Because the manufacturer has added fiber to it so they can say high fiber.”
Tallmadge also recommends figuring out how the percentages and grams listed on the nutrition panel fit into your diet.
“My clients don’t bother with those percentages because those percentages are based on someone who eats 2,000 calories a day,” Tallmadge said.
If her clients are trying to lose weight or gain muscle, she adjusts their calorie intake to achieve their goals, which could be more or less than 2,000 calories.
Lauranne Gordon has been working with Tallmadge to make adjustments on her diet. After looking at the ingredients list on her almond milk, she switched back to regular milk.
“On the almond milk, the first ingredient is basically water,” Gordon said.
Gordon finds looking beyond the nutrition panel to the ingredients list has helped her make healthier choices.


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Germany’s worst industrial scandal in recent memory arrived when auto companies fiddled with emissions tests to make diesel cars seem greener than they are. Now a new study suggests that electric cars touted as a diesel alternative also aren’t so great for the environment.
A study this month by the IFO think tank in Munich found that a popular electric car releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than a comparable diesel engine. The authors compared CO2 output for a Tesla Model 3 and a Mercedes C220d sedan. They calculated that the diesel Mercedes releases about 141 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer driven, including the carbon emitted to drill, refine and transport its fuel. The Tesla? Between 156 and 181 grams.
The main Tesla problem—and subject of a long-running debate—concerns the CO2 emitted to manufacture the battery. The IFO report pegs this at between 73 and 98 grams per kilometer, assuming a 10-year battery life at 15,000 kilometers of driving per year.View Article


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Tata Motors has launched two passenger vehicles in Ghana to augment their presence in the market.
The Company has introduced the Tata Manza sedan and the Tata Aria, a 7-seater SUV with a purring 4×4 capability in the market.
The company has also officially appointed Modern Auto Services (MAS), as its dealer in Ghana for both the passenger and commercial vehicles.
Launching the vehicles at an event held at the plush Labadi beach Hotel in Accra, the Managing Director, Tata Africa, Mr. Thami Mbele said, “the new passenger vehicles from Tata Motors is yet another step towards consolidating Tata Ghana’s commitment to aspiring customers.
“With our wide network and service support from our new partners, Modern Auto Services, we are confident that our customers will continue to have a smooth ride.”
Mr. Johnny Oommen, Head of International Business — Passenger Vehicles, Tata Motors — said “Ghana is one of the key markets for Tata Motors in Africa. We have embarked on a journey with a commitment to excite our customers globally and we look forward to unfold our strategy in Ghana for a deeper presence in this market across several product segments.
“We are delighted to further expand our presence in this exciting market with the Tata Manza Sedan and the exciting SUV, Tata Aria. Going forward we plan to augment our offerings by including other products in our portfolio on a regular basis. We are very confident with Modern Auto Services and we believe that their extensive network along with our global expertise will bring into the Africa market a range of exciting Tata passenger vehicles.”
He said, the new Tata Aria 4×4 unleashes raw power on road – and surprises customers with its smooth handling. The Aria is powered by a proven and frugal Tata 2.2L Turbocharged, Intercooled Dicor diesel engine.
It comes with several safety features like Driver Air Bag, Passenger Air Bag, Antilock Braking system with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) and host of convenience features like a fully flat rear seat for extra luggage space, sliding middle seating row, air cooled glove box, reverse parkingsensor, steering wheel mounted audio control system, power windows, electrically operated mirrors and for better ride and aesthetics’ 17 inches alloy wheels.
Powered by 1.4L Safire petrol engine, generating 90PS of power, the Tata Manza is a spacious sedan and comes with a Driver Air bag, Passenger Air Bag, Antilock Braking system with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) and a host of convenience features like all contemporary infotainment called Bluetooth 5 capable of pairing 5 smart phones for hands-free mobile calls during driving. Other features include steering mounted control systems, engine immobilizer as an anti-theft feature, front and rear fog lamp, height adjustable driver seat, power windows and electrically adjustable rear view mirror including the huge luggage space of 450 L.
On his part, Mr. Nouhad Kalmoni, CEO, Modern Auto Services (MAS), described the occasion as a historical moment for Modern Auto Services as firstly, it marks the addition of a big brand like Tata Motors, to our current portfolio Secondly, it demonstrates our continuous commitment to satisfy the quest of the Ghana market for relevant and innovative products.”
He announced that MAS will provide pan Ghana sales and service in Accra– with 18 bays, which have ultra-modern work-shops and showroom. Adding that, the company will offer sales and service facilities in other 3 major cities namely Tamale, Takoradi and Kumasi.
Tata Motors entered Ghana in 2004 and since then has been a major player in the Ghana auto industry with an on-road presence of over 7,000 passenger and commercial vehicles.
Tata Motors entered Ghana in 2004 and has since been a major player in the Ghanaian automobile industry with an on-road presence of 7,000 vehicles from passenger cars to heavy commercial vehicles.
Tata Motors is India’s largest automobile company, with consolidated revenues of Rs. 1, 88,818crores ($ 34.7 billion) in 2012-13 through subsidiaries and associate companies. It has operations in the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa and Indonesia. Among them is Jaguar Land Rover, the business comprising the two iconic British brands. It also has an industrial joint venture with Fiat in India. With over 8 million Tata vehicles plying in India, Tata Motors is the country’s market leader in commercial vehicles and among the top in passenger vehicles. It is also the world’s fifth largest truck manufacturer and fourth largest bus manufacturer.
Modern Automobile Service Limited (MAS), a member of the Kalmoni Group of Companies, was established in April 1978.With its head office on the Graphic Road, South Industrial Area, Accra.
The company has five sales and service centres strategically placed to cater for its numerous customers nationwide. Equipped with a complete range of after sales service products, MAS service centres are located in Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale.
The company is reputed for popularizing the use of Daewoo vehicles in Ghana during its maiden years in business and currently holds the franchise for SsangYong and Foton vehicles.
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Pokemon GO continues to be a popular mobile spin-off of the franchise that allows players to go outside and catch their favorite creatures in the real world. Although the game has been hit hard by various factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Pokemon GO still hosts regular events. This is beneficial for those players who prefer or can only play the game remotely. There will be another event this weekend, this time featuring the long-awaited addition, Ultra Beasts.
Ultra—monsters are a special group of Pokemon that were introduced in Pokemon Sun and Moon, where their strange design and extra-spatial existence set them apart compared to other Pokemon. It was announced that Ultra Beasts will appear in Pokemon GO in early June at the Pokemon GO Fest, which showcased creatures such as Buzzswole and Phermomosa, which will appear in a mobile spin-off. A recent tweet from the official Pokemon GO account confirms when players will be able to get hold of these creatures.
This teaser is designed as a series of short horror films in which Pokemon GO players encounter Ultra-monsters around the world. This includes players from Japan, the USA and Germany who have different videos in which live action elements are combined with 3D Pokemon models. For example, one unlucky player finds Nikhilego (codenamed UB-01 Symbiont) on the streets of Shibuya, which is later accosted by their swarm. The end of the video teaser shows that players will be able to catch these creatures this weekend, starting on August 28 at 10:00 local time.
Other elements of this teaser showcase some of the Ultra-Monsters that will appear in Pokemon GO, presenting these situations in a more terrifying light if these creatures end up in the real world, not just in the ARG video game. One of these videos shows Bazzwal, whose imposing beetle-like physique lands in front of a man recording footage, while one man in Japan is facing a power outage due to the invasion of Xurkitree.
This isn’t the first time the Pokemon series has dabbled in a horror story with found footage, as previous Pokemon Legends: Arceus teasers have played up this concept by revealing new Pokemon. The presentation works incredibly well for Ultra Beasts, however, given their mysterious origins and how creepy some of the designs and knowledge behind Ultra Beasts can be. Fans highly appreciated the use of this image in these teasers, many found it suitable for the upcoming event.
Pokemon GO is now available for mobile devices.


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COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus City Utilities is choosing not to disconnect customers, despite the state moratorium preventing shutoffs expiring.
While the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has chosen not to extend the state’s moratorium on disconnections past Aug. 14, the utilities department will not be disconnecting customers at present, said Arron O’Neal, city utilities manager of finance and business operations.
“We want to be a partner in the community and realize there’s still many residents and businesses struggling during this time and having financial hardships,” he said.
One of IURC’s orders is that the utilities must offer payment extensions for all delinquent customers, regardless of their customer class. These extensions must be a minimum of six months. O’Neal said Columbus City Utilities will offer a standard six-month payment plan, as well as nine-month plans and 12-month plans considered on a case-by-case basis.
He said that the department is making every effort to reach out to delinquent customers about these plans.
“We’ve done emails, phone calls,” he said. “We’re putting it on the website. … We have also put it on every single customer’s bill that if they need assistance, to reach out to us. We have an online form that they can fill out and submit to us. They can call us. They can come to our office. So we’re trying to be as transparent with all of our customers to give them a chance to get on the payment plans.”
The current deadline to sign up for a payment plan is Oct. 30, but it’s possible that the IURC or the governor’s office may choose to push that date back.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.


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The reporter has recently learned from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: Under the efforts of the various parties of the industry, “5G + Industrial Internet” has exceeded 1,500 projects, covering more than 20 national economy important industries. At present, 5G applications are being produced by the production of peripheral production site monitoring, and the plant intelligent logistics and other scene applications have extended deep extensions to the product. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the first “5G + Industrial Internet” 10 typical application scenarios and 5 key industries practices. “These typical application scenarios have been applied to a certain scale of electronic equipment manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, steel, mining, and electricity.” The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology introduced the “5G + Industrial Internet” typical scene and Key industry.
According to the Quanxin treasure, the two sides have repeatedly paid many times in the book for patent disputes.Collaborative effect.However, the store decoration is also very important to the online store.The “Daily Economic News” reporter found that the 2018 Oaks Groups patent fees were surged from 2017 to $ 290.Although it is “first in the workplace, the customer service robot is not inferior to highly specialized service skills.The Oaks Group claimed to have more than 25 years of professional refrigeration course, has become the top three in the Chinese air conditioning industry.
ST. LOUIS (AP) A 16-year-old boy is hospitalized in stable condition after being shot soon after allegedly stealing the tip jar at a St. Louis restaurant and being confronted by a customer.
The shooting happened Thursday afternoon. Police say the teenager and an acquaintance were causing a disturbance and were asked to leave the restaurant. The teen allegedly grabbed the tip jar on the way out.
A 56-year-old customer confronted him outside the restaurant. Police say the teen shoved the man to the ground and began beating him. The man suffered facial injuries but declined medical treatment.


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The Boston Globe reports that Starbucks seems to be successful at "grinding down" the unionization movement taking place at some of its cafes, though the process of doing so also seems to be taking its toll on the company.
Here's how the Globe frames the scenario:
"Three months ago, baristas at a Starbucks in Beverly narrowly voted to unionize, hoping for better wages, working conditions, and benefits.
"Now only four of the 14 employees who cast votes in that election remain at the cafe, said barista Rob Stevens — a high turnover rate that threatens the union’s momentum as Starbucks pushes back. Many baristas left, after what Stevens said were petty retaliations by managers, such as dinging them over dress clothes prohibitions, or scheduling them for either too few or too many hours. (Starbucks denies those allegations.)
He intends to hang on, but it’s getting lonely … His is a fairly common sentiment among veteran baristas at newly unionized Starbucks locations across the region, as the fight to organize the Seattle coffee giant enters its third year.
"Starbucks remains one of the biggest-name battlegrounds in the wave of union activity that has swept the country since the COVID pandemic, with an estimated 9,000 workers at nearly 380 stores nationwide, and around 20 in New England, voting to join Starbucks Workers United.
"But only a few of these locals have sat down with the company to even begin negotiations. (Starbucks has around 15,000 retail locations in the United States.)"
The Globe continues:
"In a high-turnover industry, such delays can quickly sap enthusiasm, threatening to bring the union campaign that came to define the resurgence of American labor to a standstill.
"At the same time, the dispute dented Starbucks, too. The National Labor Relations Board has issued over 100 complaints against the company, alleging retaliation against union workers and a failure to bargain in good faith. And company shareholders voted earlier this year for an independent assessment of its behavior toward workers. It found no evidence of an 'anti-union playbook,' but suggested increasing training for managers, evaluating disciplinary actions, and strengthening its Global Human Rights statement. Days later, on Dec. 8, Starbucks sent an open letter asking the union to resume contract negotiations.
"And on Dec. 13, federal regulators also accused Starbucks of illegally closing 23 stores to suppress union activity and moved to force the company to reopen them."
The company denies retaliating against pro-union employees.
- KC's View:
I think it is fair to say that the pro-union forces have only been marginally successful in organizing employees, and to this point spectacularly unsuccessful in getting Starbucks to negotiate in good faith.
At the same time, it seems to me that Starbucks come out of this looking like a smaller, lesser company - a company in which management was out of touch with what was happening in its stores, and the degree to which employees were dealing with unsustainable conditions. This insensitivity can only be attributed to problem in upper management.
This hasn't been a good process for anyone, but nobody seems to be acting like they want to really resolve the impasse between the two sides. The road doesn't just go nowhere, but also seems endless.


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Earlier this week, Sprint announced its new Cut Your Bill in Half Event that’ll halve the bills of AT&T and Verizon customers that switch to Sprint. The promo sounds pretty awesome at first, but today a Sprint executive downplayed the deal a bit.
Sprint CFO Joe Euteneuer spoke today at a Merrill Lynch conference and said that customers that take advantage of the Cut Your Bill in Half promo are “probably getting a 20 percent sort of net discount” on their old plan. That’s because when you sign up for the Cut Your Bill in Half Event, you need to lease a new phone, pay the full price in installments or pay for it outright. Additionally, Sprint’s offer only covers the calling, texting and data parts of a bill, meaning that your taxes won’t be slashed in half.
Euteneuer went on to say that many people find that Sprint’s regular plans are cheaper than the halved AT&T and Verizon bills.
While Sprint’s Cut Your Bill in Half promo may not end up being quite as awesome as it initially sounds, the offer is still getting Sprint in the news and getting the idea of switching to Sprint in the heads of AT&T and Verizon customers. Ultimately, that’s a good deal for Marcelo Claure and Co.


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Apple’s suppliers will only be able to ship 20 million iPhone X units before the end of the year. This is half the number Apple had been planning to make in 2017, according to Nikkei.
Launching Nov. 3, the iPhone X has been plagued by production issues and component delays both before and after the device was announced on Sept. 12. The publication notes Apple suppliers initially had issues with the bonding process for the handset’s new OLED display.
As others have also reported, quality issues with the iPhone X TrueDepth camera system have also slowed production.
Pre-orders for the iPhone X begin this Friday, Oct. 27 at 12:01 a.m. PDT time.
For extended iPhone X coverage, see:


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Laird says 3rd-qtr rev up, on track to meet forecast
Oct 23 (Reuters) - Laird Plc, which makes electromagnetic shielding and heat control devices for electronic equipment, said quarterly revenue rose as its wireless systems business benefited from robust demand in the North American automotive market.
The British company, which designs and supplies a range of high-specification wireless antennae and machine-to-machine wireless modules, also said it was on track to meet its full-year expectations.
Laird, which counts Apple as a major customer, said revenue rose 10 percent to 133 million pounds ($213.25 million) in the third quarter, boosted by a double-digit growth in September.
Revenue from its wireless systems business rose 11 percent to 49 million pounds while performance materials division was up 9 percent at 84 million pounds.
Laird, which was founded as a shipbuilding company in 1824, makes devices for tablets, phones, televisions and gaming consoles.
Laird's shares, which have risen 40 percent this year, closed at 216.7 pence on the London Stock Exchange on Monday.
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Brink to be playable at insomnia42 this weekend
Bethesda has announced that they will be giving the general public the chance to play Splash Damage's first multiplatform title, Brink at the insomnia42 games show in Newbury.
From 4pm on Saturday FPS fans will be able to put the long-awaited shooter through its paces and test its claims of seamless integration of single player, co-op and multiplayer action.
Brink puts players right into a situation where humanity is on the brink of destruction and you have to save mankind's last refuge, called Brink. This refuge plays host to a dynamic battlefields and extensive customisation options that you can use to battle for humanity's survival.
Brink is set to arrive on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on May the 13th that's Friday the 13th for those who are superstitious.
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- Microsoft celebrates the 1st birthday of the Xbox One with free access to Sunset Overdrive
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- RedLynx promises online multiplayer is coming to Trials Fusion early next year


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KENOSHA, Wis. — An online store has stopped selling merchandise supporting an Illinois teen who killed two people and wounded a third during a Wisconsin protest.
Prosecutors have charged 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse with multiple counts in the August shootings in Kenosha. Rittenhouse maintains he fired in self-defense and some conservatives have praised him.
The Kenosha News reports that his family started selling “Free Kyle” merchandise through Printify last week, saying the money would go toward his legal defense.
Printify tweeted that it has terminated the Rittenhouse family’s account because it violates a policy banning content that promotes or condones violence.
“We have chosen to discontinue our business relationship with this store in order to mitigate business risk,” the company said in a statement. “Ultimately, we don’t want to be affiliated with a store that’s involved in such a complex, controversial and ongoing case.”
Kimberley Motley, an attorney for one of the men Rittenhouse shot called the merchandise “disgusting.”
According to FreeKyleUSA social media, which the Rittenhouse family operates, the family is trying to secure another company to handle merchandising. They criticized Printify’s decision to drop them as “a powerful, concerted effort solely focused on preventing the truth from getting out.”


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From your Union President, Greg Frazier
Many of us will be able to remember the location where we were, when we heard or learned that Kroger and Albertson’s have come to terms to merge the two largest conventional retailers into one company! The two competitors, cutting a deal in total silence and away from any leaks, before they jointly in perfect collaboration released the exact same press release within minutes of each other.
On October 14, 2022, Kroger and Albertson’s both announced the terms to join together these companies into a model that would supply 85 million households with services. At a price of 24.6 billion dollars, Kroger will take over Albertson’s operations on a date to be announced in 2024.|
Currently, these two companies employ more than 710,000 workers in about 5,000 stores with a combined 66 distribution centers, 52 manufacturing plants, 3,972 pharmacies and 2,015 fuel centers across 48 states. This will quickly put Kroger in the east part of the country where they currently have no footprint.
In 2021 the companies on a combined basis delivered $210 billion in revenue, $3.3 billion in net earnings, and $11.6 billion of adjusted EBITDA. The sale is not finalized, as it must be approved and pass anti-trust tests. Some say it will not go through, where others feel it will.
Your UFCW International Union is evaluating and preparing to challenge or promote this merger, but it must be in the members’ best interest. There is a concern that in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington, it will result in stores being required to be sold to a competitor to pass federal regulations. No one knows which stores, but some of us remember what happened in Albuquerque when Albertson’s acquired American Stores. We have seen a number of Albertson’s stores sold off to Raley’s and a few others to comply with the Federal Trade Commission requirements. The two have created a public company called SpinCo to sell off an estimated 100 to 375 stores, because they know to be approved, they will be required to divest certain stores. The problem is we believe they will pick stores that have Union Health Benefits, and a Union Pension to spin off. Once again, first the transaction must be approved, and then there is about 18 to 24 months before this happens. Will SpinCo assume Union members’ current benefits and Union Collective Bargaining Agreements? This is something that will be pursued over the next year. The UFCW International Union, which represents over 1 million Union members is very concerned and involved because they have members across these areas mentioned above.
Your Union reached out to the New Mexico Attorney General, Hector Balderas on October 25, 2022, asking him to stop the transfer of $4 billion dollars on November 7, 2022, until more research and details could be investigated. We have some areas in New Mexico where we have an overlap of Kroger, Albertson’s, and Safeway stores.
I have seen a handful of mergers over my 28 years at Local 1564 and none match the size and scope of this one. The merger is expected to take 18-24 months if the Federal Trade Commission approves it. Your Union along with various local Unions met with the FTC over the effects and ramifications of our concerns if this goes through. We met on November 1, 2023 in Denver. We believe the FTC will reject the merger, and then we expect Kroger and Albertson’s to sue the FTC to overturn this decision. We shall wait and see.


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Retailer Auchan will invest €100 million this year in Romania, and has already injected some €40 million in revamping and re-opening all the former Real stores under the Auchan brand.
The investments also partially include work on the Coresi center in Brasov, and work on the project in Drumul Taberei neighbourhood in Bucharest, said Patrick Espasa, general manager of Auchan.
The retail is currently working on two hypermarkets, one in Brasov, within the Coresi project, and one in Bucharest. The Coresi project, developed by Auchan’s real estate arm Imochan, should be ready in 2015.
The project in Drumul Taberei in Bucharest, a €70 million investment in total, will include a hypermarket and offices. Work is in an advanced stage, with the hypermarket’s possible opening set for December this year, and the whole project ready in the first half of 2015.
Customer engagement platform SALESmanago acquired 100 new customers in the first half of 2022, including renowned European e-commerce businesses Toys R Us, operating in Spain and Portugal, Pharm24, Greece’s...


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HIDDEN away in a quiet corner of Bridgemead, a Swindon firm is working away to spark the imagination of the world’s children.
Child’s Play (International), which marks its 40th anniversary this year, may not be a household name for most parents, but some of its educational and fun children’s books are classics of the genre and instantly recognisable.
Take, for example, such titles as There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly, which has been in the top five list for nearly 40 years, or Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, which has been in the Bookstart packs given to children under the Booktrust initiative.
The books are all published at a purpose-built headquarters, in Ashworth Road, which also has a warehouse capable of storing an estimated one million books. But Child’s Play is a truly international firm, with more warehouse and sales staff at bases in the USA and Australia.
There are around 420 titles in print, aimed at children birth to eight years old, and these are sold around the world in bookshops, fairs and online, including across Europe, the USA, Australia, China and Korea.
Neil Burden first started as a trainee at the firm fresh from college in 1978, and became the publisher and managing director following the death of founder Michael Twinn in 2000. Mr Twinn’s wife Adriana still owns the company.
Mr Burden, who still writes some of the books, said Child’s Play titles were different to those of the large multi-national book publishers, who are often run by accountants whose main concern in the bottom line.
“Everything is very child-focused, everything has some kind of educational element to it,” he said. “We set great store by being inclusive. There is a good ethnic mix in every single book we publish.
“Plus we’re working very hard to include incidental images of disability in our books because one in six children has some sort of disability and we think it’s important to represent that.”
Despite growing competition from e-books, Mr Burden said sales of physical children’s books are holding up.
“Generally in the market, e-books have obviously had a huge impact on numbers, and the proportion of e-books sold within the general market has grown hugely in the last couple of years,” he said.
“However, we’re in a very specific market where we’re producing books for nought to eight years, and actually the bulk of our books are nought to five, so there’s no substitute really for the printed hard copy in a child’s hands so they can cuddle up with mum and dad at bedtime and consider that thing. You can’t do that with a Kindle.”
The books are produced in an art room in the headquarters, which has 12 staff across all areas.
Editor Sue Baker said it takes from a minimum of five months, up to several years, to get a book in print, depending on how developed the idea is.
Sometimes, for example, someone will submit an almost complete book, while other times only the words or images will be submitted, and staff may decide to work it up into a complete article.
She said: “When we look at our publishing programme for the next year, we think to ourselves, ‘Right, what’s missing? Do we need more baby books, do we need more picture books?’ We get a feel of what we need to put in for the New Year.
“And we have hundreds of manuscripts sent to us. So we look through these to see if there’s anything interesting. We also create a lot of ideas here.”
Annie Kubler, the art director, who illustrated the title Rock and Ride, among many others, said computer software was used increasingly in illustration in the last 15 years.
She said: “On this one I did the outlines and I painted very carefully all the characters and then scanned that in, but it was in a very rough form and then I worked on the textures and I moved stuff around. A lot of people do that now.”
For more information visit www.childs-play.com


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Premier Foods has its cake as results put cherry on top
Mr Kipling group Premier Foods on course to report an exceedingly good set of results.
Over the last three months the company has put in ‘a solid performance’ in spite of weak consumer spending, it said.
It is the fruit of the efforts of the management team installed during 2011, when the firm was flagging. The food giant, which also owns the Hovis, Ambrosia, and Bisto brands, appointed chief executive Michael Clarke in the summer of 2011, and finance chief Mark Moran a few months later.
Tasty results: Premier Foods is on track to report a strong set of figures
The pair immediately began concentrating on eight ‘power brands’ – the household names which are the bread and butter of its operations.
These include Oxo, cup-a-soup brand Batchelors and the Sharwood’s and Lloyd Grossman sauces. Clarke said: ‘While the market continues to be challenging, I’m encouraged by the progress we have made in 2012. This provides a solid platform to continue our growth momentum in 2013.’
But his tactics to drive profits and reduce debt have seen British casualties. Last year the group announced that two bakeries and four distribution centres in the UK would shut as part of a cost-slashing strategy that would result in the loss of 900 jobs.
Clarke also began selling off a host of brands, including Branston’s range of pickles and sauces to Japanese vinegar company Mizkan.
Premier is on track to report annual pre-tax profits of around £32million according to analyst Clive Black at Shore Capital.
He said: ‘That the statement is brief gives a clear indication of the progress that Messrs Clarke and Moran have made in stabilising this business.’
Shares, which have risen 86 per cent in the last 12 months, closed 0.5p higher at 119p.
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Adding Value with Drones
“Uber HQ, your drone is arriving now.
And it’s being flown by Truebeck Construction, an innovative, fast-growing general contractor based in the San Francisco Bay Area.”
Recently, 3D Robotics visited our Uber HQ project site in Mission Bay, San Francisco, and took drones to the sky with our in-house Construction, Technology & Innovation (CTI) team. Truebeck’s CTI team prides themselves on their use of cutting-edge technology that adds value.
The 450,000 square foot headquarters, scheduled to open in 2020, consists of two buildings—one 12 stories and the other seven stories—and sits right beside the new Golden State Warriors stadium.
“The Truebeck CTI team is increasingly looking to use drone data on a number of active projects across the Bay Area. 95% of how we use drone data is for site planning, logistics planning, and as-built surveying. We have a new logistics plan almost every day, and we want to be able to overlay these plans onto high-res, up-to-date drone maps.” – Justin Porter, Senior CTI Manager
You can read the full article here.