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Fiscal problems continued to plague San Francisco-based cataloger/retailer Sharper Image during the quarter ended April 30. Total first-quarter revenue decreased 26%, to $106.8 million from $144.9 million forthe first quarter of 2005. And the company reported a net loss of $12.6 million, compared witha net loss of $4.6 million a year ago. Total store sales for the first quarter decreased 28%, to $56.8 million; comparable store sales decreased 29%.
Direct marketing sales decreased 16%, to $23.5 million from $27.9 million last year. Internet sales fell 26%, to $17.2 million from $23.2 million. Wholesale sales dropped 45%, to $6.5 million from last year’s $11.8 million.CEO Richard Thalheimer addressed the company’s fiscal concerns in a statement: “The first quarter’s operating results reflect a continuation of previously discussed trends, especially weaker revenues from our Ionic Breeze line of air purifiers, and massage chairs. We have given significant attention to improving our advertising return on investment, and we were pleased to see increased advertising productivity in the quarter. Although we’ve meaningfully reduced overhead and advertising expenses, we now must achieve an improvement in our revenue trends.”Thalheimer added: “Going forward, we need to build top-line sales growth with a significant amount of exciting new products, and we have begun this process in earnest. Our new product introductions have started flowing into the retail stores, catalog and online, and this season’s Father’s Day catalog showcases 45 new products. Some have excellent high-volume potential.”


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American Rice tries olive oil, cookies at Freeport
American Rice trying olive oil, cookies at Freeport
Published 5:30 am, Thursday, October 20, 2005
Houston-based American Rice Inc. announced plans today for a $110 million expansion at Port Freeport, which will be the headquarters for the North American operations for the company as it enters new ventures.
The expansion by the subsidiary of Grupo SOS Cuetara of Spain will include facilities for two new business lines for American Rice: olive oil bottling and cookie-making. The company also plans to add a warehouse, steel storage bins and an instant rice plant.
Constuction is expected to begin in the middle of 2006 on facilities that are expected to add about 335 jobs at Port Freeport, where the company already employs about 350 rice mill workers.
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The company is seeking permission from the state to sell $45 million in industrial development revenue bonds to finance the work.

domain: news


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Topic: iPhone 5
02/14/2013, 07:02 am
A new security flaw discovered in Apple's mobile operating system lets anyone bypass the passcode lock on iPhones running iOS 6.1 in a matter of seconds, revealing access to the phone's contacts, voicemails, and photos.
02/12/2013, 11:02 pm
According to new findings published on Tuesday, Apple rode strong demand of its new iPhone 5 to sell more handsets in Japan than any other manufacturer during the full 2012 calendar year, a first for the Cupertino, Calif., company.
02/08/2013, 05:02 pm
A little over two weeks after Apple released iOS 6.1, a number of iPhone users are reporting battery drain and overheating issues possibly related to the newest update, while Vodafone UK sent out a warning telling iPhone 4S owners not to upgrade to the latest OS version as it has been found to cause 3G performance.
01/23/2013, 06:01 pm
Apple will more than double the number of carriers that support fast 4G LTE data service for its flagship iPhone 5 next week, with 36 new LTE carriers joining its existing pool of 24.
01/23/2013, 05:01 pm
Responding to rumors out of Apple's supply chain that iPhone production has been cut, Apple CEO Tim Cook said Wednesday that it's inadvisable for market watchers to place much faith in such reports.
01/22/2013, 09:01 am
Apple's iPhone accounted for 6.2 million of the 9.8 million smartphones Verizon sold in the last quarter, powering record smartphone adoption numbers at the nation's largest carrier even as Verizon posted a big loss for the quarter.
01/17/2013, 02:01 pm
U.S. carrier Sprint announced Thursday that its 4G LTE network, which offers faster connections to the iPhone 5 and Apple's latest iPads, will expand to 28 new cities in the coming months.
01/16/2013, 02:01 pm
AT&T announced on Wednesday it will enable FaceTime over cellular at no extra cost to any customers with a tiered data plan and compatible iOS device.
01/15/2013, 08:01 am
While recent reports about iPhone 5 component orders being reduced have caused "great confusion," the reality is consumer demand for the iPhone 5 has not waned.
01/14/2013, 02:01 pm
Wall Street analysts are dismissing recent concerns over iPhone build plans, with one market watcher saying the order cuts could instead be a sign that Apple seeing improved component yields and product margins.
01/14/2013, 08:01 am
Shares of Apple stock dipped below $500 in early trading Monday morning, as investors reacted to new reports claiming the company had made significant cuts to iPhone 5 orders.
01/14/2013, 12:01 am
Apple reportedly sent word to suppliers in December that it would be reducing parts orders for the recently released iPhone 5 on "weaker-than-expected" demand, with some orders being cut in half from original expectations.
01/09/2013, 10:01 am
Verizon announced on Wednesday that it activated 9.8 million smartphones in the 2012 holiday season, with a "higher mix of Apple smartphones," suggesting the carrier accounted for more than 5.3 million iPhone sales in the quarter.
01/08/2013, 10:01 am
The 2012 holiday season was a record setting span for AT&T with 10 million total smartphones sold — at least 8 million of which are expected to be Apple iPhones.
01/04/2013, 11:01 am
Best Buy and other retailers have complained to attorneys general in numerous states, accusing Walmart of misleading advertising in the holiday shopping season, including a discount on Apple's iPhone 5.
01/04/2013, 09:01 am
Big-screen "phablet" devices, positioned between a smartphone and a tablet, are predicted to be a big trend at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.
01/03/2013, 12:01 pm
A new report out of China claims that Apple is considering a new display technology, dubbed "touch-on," for use in its next iPhone model to address issues with the current "in-cell" display found in the iPhone 5.
12/28/2012, 12:12 pm
Customers in both Hong Kong and China have demonstrated considerable interest in Apple's newly launched iPad mini, leading to stock-outs and limited availability.
12/26/2012, 08:12 am
The new Bluetooth-enabled MetaWatch will forever change how you use your iPhone, though in its current form the advanced wrist watch is not yet ready for the mass market.
12/26/2012, 07:12 am
The total number of 3G subscribers in China reached 222 million in November, up 88 percent year over year, giving yet another indication why the market is so important for continued growth of Apple's iPhone.


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Woman with computer chip implant in hand
The diffusion of chips under the skin for payments is growing that use NFC, the same technology with which payments are made with smartphones in the shop. In particular, it is Switzerland that leads this new trend in the tech world.
Will chips under the skin be the new trend in the tech world?
It was iplastic surgeon Christian Kohler that has implanted NFC chips under the skin of a group of young Swiss entrepreneurs technology enthusiasts. Depending on how the chip under the skin is programmed, it can be used for various purposes. In fact, it is possible to pay by bringing the part of the body where the chip was implanted close to the POS.
This chip can also be used to open doors or for other authentication operations. The possible applications are many. These installed chips are not eternal and they can break or simply become obsolete. In any case, with an operation similar to the one performed for the first installation it will be possible remove or replace them.
In the near future, therefore, the installation of subcutaneous chips could become a new trend in the tech world, always looking for new solutions to innovate and amaze. We’ll see what the fate of this technology will be.


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There is no denying that Samsung knows a thing or two about security; heck, even Google incorporated components of the Korea-based company’s Knox Security technology into Lollipop. But in an attempt to capture a larger slice of secure-device market, Samsung is going one step further.
It seems BlackBerry devices don’t see much use here in America unless you work for the US government, as “only BlackBerry is designed to meet the high-security needs of U.S. and allied government agencies,” said a BlackBerry spokesperson. That was stated following the news that our nation’s White House staff is internally testing devices from both Samsung and LG, possibly looking to get President Barack Obama off of his beloved BlackBerry device. (more…)
Are you one of the millions of former BlackBerry users that couldn’t, for whatever reason, let BlackBerry Messenger go? You probably have the BBM app for iOS and Android installed on your devices, then, and will be delighted to hear that an update with new features in tow will be made available for download today. It’s that BBM 2.0 update we mentioned not too long ago, and it seems like the wait might have been worth it. (more…)
Did you know BlackBerry was still around? Their stranglehold on the smartphone industry may be a distant memory, but the beleaguered company is still committed to supporting its existing products. Need proof? One of them, BlackBerry Messenger for Android, is the target of a minor update today. (more…)
We typically try to avoid Blackberry talk as much as we can on DL, but this latest update to Blackberry 10 brings in all sorts of Android fun. We grabbed the update’s changelog for Verizon’s Blackberry Z10 since the changelog is a solid 5 pages long. On the bottom of page two, there is a reference to it including a full Android Runtime that includes support for running native versions of Android apps that are APKs.
In the past, there was some half-baked trickery involved that needed to be performed in order for Android apps to run on a Blackberry device, but now with Blackberry 10.2.1, there is full support for Android apps. APK files can even be directly installed through a browser, with a wizard walking you through the setup. (more…)
According to CrackBerry, BlackBerry has released an updated beta version of BBM for Android, which features a nice changelog that users should all enjoy. For starters, it is reported that the update brings a ton of new emoticons to use, improved file sharing, BBM Channels, and more importantly, BBM Voice. With BBM Voice, BBM users can call each other for free over a WiFi network, a feature that we were hoping an update to Google’s Hangouts app for Android would include, but still has yet to arrive. As reference, the Hangouts app on iOS has had Google Voice and calling integration for months now. (more…)
LG and BlackBerry announced a new deal this morning, that will have BBM come pre-installed on upcoming devices from the Korean manufacturer, starting with the G Pro Lite. According to BlackBerry, this will help phone buyers access one of the world’s premier mobile communication services. The app sure has come a long way since being delayed time and time again on Android, so we think its good that BlackBerry has been able to squeeze a bit more life out of this service. (more…)
Last month, Blackberry finally brought its once-amazing BBM service to Android. It was viewed as a way for Blackberry to still stay somewhat relevant in today’s market, but wasn’t received very well thanks to delays to its release. Another problem is that this strategy was not selling any Blackberry devices for the struggling company. If these leaked images from Crackberry are true, Blackberry might be trying to bring Android onto its devices. (more…)


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JERSEY-based listed home shopping company Flying Brands is no longer in takeover talks.
The potential buyers, private equity firm West Coast Capital, announced on Friday that they had been unable to reach agreement with the board of Flying Brands on the terms of the bid.
The share price tumbled by 16.4% to 30.5p on the announcement — the lowest since the company was floated 15 years ago.
Flying Brands is incorporated in Jersey and also has a UK holding company. The packing and plug plant operation is at Retreat Farm in St Lawrence, with the marketing and administration based in Chelmsford.
• Picture: The new chief executive, Tricia Killen, at Flying Brands


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DUBAI UAE, 24 February 2023: Emirates has recycled more than 500,000 kg of plastic and glass throughout 2022 by collecting discarded bottles onboard for repurposing.
500,000 kg, or more than 550 tons, is almost the same weight as a fully loaded Emirates flagship A380 aircraft.
The cabin crew onboard every flight arriving in Dubai quickly separate glass and plastic bottles for recycling at a plant in Dubai.
The glass is separated by colour and crushed. This ‘cullet’ or recycled glass ready to be re-melted is then sent to glass manufacturers in the UAE to include in their batch mix for new bottles. The plastic bottles are cleaned, chopped into flakes, melted into pellets, and sent to manufacturers to make other plastic products. As a result, Emirates and Emirates Flight Catering divert thousands of kilograms of glass and plastic away from landfill each year.
The glass and plastic recycling initiative onboard was suggested by the environmentally conscious Emirates cabin crew in 2019 as part of regular webinars and events where they are given a platform to share feedback and encouraged to share innovative ideas with key departments. The proposal was well-received and implemented within weeks.
Emirates has several other initiatives which focus on repurposing plastic or using sustainable materials where possible;
Emirates blankets made from recycled plastic
Emirates has offered cosy sustainable blankets made from recycled plastic bottles to Economy passengers on long-haul flights for the last six years. The soft and warm blankets are made from 28 recycled plastic bottles. The bottles are shredded into plastic chips before turning into a yarn, creating a fleece material. The fine thread is then woven into soft blankets. Over the 6 years since the initiative was introduced, Emirates blankets have prevented more than 95 million plastic bottles from going to landfill. As the largest sustainable blanket programme on board in the airline industry, the manufacturing process of using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) also reduces energy emissions by around 70%.
Prioritising responsible sourcing
Emirates has embedded an environmental requirement in the supplier code of conduct and considers the entire lifecycle of products from the design stage. For example, wooden tea and coffee stirrers, paper straws and inflight retail bags are made using wood and paper from responsibly managed forests.
Emirates reusable onboard amenity kits
Emirates’ Premium Economy and Economy Class range of amenity kits are complimentary for customers on long-haul flights and feature designs that represent the four essential elements of nature – fire, water, earth, and air. The pouches are reusable and made from washable kraft paper with bespoke art printed in non-toxic soy-based ink. The contents include a selection of durable travel essentials made from environmentally friendly materials. The toothbrush is made from a combination of wheat straw and plastic, and the socks and eyeshades are made from recycled plastic, in this case, rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate). The packaging used for the dental kit, socks and eyeshades is made from 90 per cent rice paper.
For more information visit:
For flights or bookings, visit www.emirates.com
(Your Stories: Emirates)


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Company: Johnson & Johnson
2019 sales: $5.03 billion
Projected 2026 sales: $1.39 billion
Projected CAGR: -17%
Used for: psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease
Once a giant in the immunology field, sales of Johnson & Johnson's Remicade have slipped precipitously after years of biosimilar competition. The future doesn't look much brighter, unfortunately, and J&J is looking for winners in its portfolio to make up the gap.
Remicade hit $5.03 billion in sales in 2019, and it could see a catastrophic 17% decline in sales through 2026, according to Evaluate Pharma. That forecast would put Remicade's 2026 sales at roughly $1.36 billion.
The wheels have already come off Remicade's sales after more than two years of biosimilar pressure. In the second quarter, the drug's sales dipped by 14% from the same period last year at $935 million.


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TIANJIN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has full confidence and capability to overcome various difficulties to ensure sound and fast economic growth for an even longer period of time, said Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Davos Forum in the north China port metropolis of Tianjin, Wen said China is in the stage of rapid industrialization and urbanization, and has huge potential for economic growth. The important period of strategic opportunities for China's development will last quite a long time.
Despite the heavy snow and sleet storms and the devastating earthquake and a complex situation both at home and abroad the nation faced, China have overcome difficulties one after another and maintained the momentum of steady economic growth.
"There are many favorable conditions for China to maintain sustained and fast growth, such as abundant supply of labor and capital as well as huge potential of increased domestic consumption and investment demands, vast market and more competitive and dynamic enterprises," said Wen.
The demands for investment, consumption and export are growing in a more balanced way. The economic fundamentals in China remain unchanged and the economy is moving in the direction envisaged in the macro-economic control policy, he added.
The two-day forum, also known as the New Champions 2008, has attracted about 1,400 participants from nearly 90 countries and regions, including business elite and senior officials, to discuss topics about the theme "The Next Wave of Growth".


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Beer Cartel,Flat Rock Brew Cafe andRiverside Brewing Company are joining together to undertake an Australian and world first; an in-venue and in-home online beer tasting led by Riverside’s Head Brewer, Dave Padden.
Australian beer tasting events are very popular, with venues like The Local Taphouse in Sydney and Melbourne at the forefront of this growing trend thanks to their ‘Ale Stars’ evenings. These events have had brewers from Australia and overseas attend to talk about their beers, with brewers even skyped in from abroad, where distance would otherwise make their participation impossible.
Taking this idea Beer Cartel is collaborating with Flat Rock Brew Cafe and Riverside Brewing Co to create a tasting event with a twist. Instead of consumers having to visit a specific location to attend the event, the tasting will instead be broadcast live over the internet, with the beers pre-ordered online through Beer Cartel, allowing patrons to take part in the tasting from the comfort of their own home.
The event will be held on Tuesday 19 August at 7pm and will be broadcast from Flat Rock Brew Cafe in Naremburn, Sydney – where a limited number of spots will also be made available. It will utilise Beer Cartel’s website and will distribute beers to people across Australia that want to take part in the event. A live video feed will be made available to participants so they can taste and learn about the beers from Riverside’s Head Brewer, Dave Padden.
To participate online in the event, consumers will be required to purchase a Riverside tasting pack on the Beer Cartel website. This will include four Riverside beers to be featured during the tasting; 55 Pale Ale, 44 Amber Ale, 77 IPA and 88 Robust Porter. Three of these were recently awarded medals at the Australian International Beer Awards. The tasting pack is priced at $25 excluding postage, and is available here.
For those looking to attend the event in person tickets can be purchased by calling Flat Rock on (02) 9460 6696, or emailing here.


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Google's VR Push Is Now A Lot Stronger Than Cardboard
Google's expanding its VR initiative with Google Jump, which aims to streamline the process of shooting and producing virtual reality videos.
For all its merits, Google's cardboard virtual reality headset always seemed like kind of a joke. It's hard to see how Google expects to compete in the VR space with this dinky little OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT.
"I'm excited to announce that GoPro plans to build and sell a Jump-ready 360° camera array," Google exec Clay Bavor said.
Looks like Google's next big contribution to virtual reality centers around this wild camera rig. The tech company announced their new VR initiative Jump at their annual I/O Developers Conference, which involves strapping 16 GoPro cameras together to record 360° video.
But the camera's only the start — Google also unveiled an assembler that will do all the hard work of stitching together 16 feeds into one smooth, stereoscopic video. That footage can then be uploaded to YouTube, which now supports VR material.
Google has about a dozen GoPro rigs out in the wild right now, and there's already a few examples of 360° footage on YouTube. These include an Avicii music video, and footage of sports cars doing donuts. So, the marketing team sure knows what they're doing.
Google's new initiative comes just as the VR arms race is heating up; multiple hi-tech headsets are getting ready to launch. With Google Jump, the tech company is clearly hoping to fill an oft-overlooked gap in the burgeoning sector — the creators.
While most companies are focusing on the VR hardware, cameras and headsets alike, Google's initiative offers a streamlined process for shooting, producing and distributing VR video. That could lighten the technical burden on creators, broaden the VR market, and make Google a lot of money — assuming it catches on.
Let's not totally forget about little Cardboard, though. Google also unveiled a new model of its simple VR viewer which can accommodate larger phones, and announced Cardboard will now support iOS.
The company also announced its shipped over 1 million Cardboard headsets, and has more than 500 Cardboard apps on the Google Play store. That's important because, as Wired writes, "Google Cardboard is VR's gateway drug ... [the] device that makes you realize how amazing this technology can and will be."
Google says it plans to make the blueprints for their Jump rig available to the public this summer, just like they did with Cardboard. Given that the technology revolves around 16 $400 cameras, this DIY project comes with a significantly larger price tag.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
Who's who on Twitter? 'Verified' impostors blur the lines
Impostors have always been a problem on social media, but some worry that Twitter's new verification process is a step in the wrong direction.
Twitter hunts GitHub user who posted source code online
According to a legal filing, the computer code on which Twitter runs was leaked on a site called GitHub.
20-year-old founder of 'major hacking forum' arrested
A 20-year-old was arrested for operating a online forum where hacked personal information was allegedly being sold.
39 dead in fire at Mexico migrant facility near US: official
Images from the scene showed rows of bodies lying under shimmery silver sheets outside the facility in Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas.
As The Covenant School mourns, so do its Nashville neighbors
Nashville residents have responded to Monday's mass school shooting by creating a memorial outside of the school.
How are U.S. jobs reports compiled?
The data is based off estimates and not full official counts of the entire labor force, which is now over 160 million strong in the U.S.


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The president of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic, unveiled a three-quarter length statue of inventor Nikola Tesla on the grounds of his former laboratory in the small Long Island, NY town Shoreham. The Tesla Science Center has lobbied for 20 years to turn the laboratory into a museum and has finally managed to acquire the site early this year.
The statue shows Tesla with his arms outstretched in the midst of some sort of experiment. About 100 people attended the dedication and was the latest step in making the Wardenclyfee Tesla Museum into a reality. The museum project was funded through an Indiegogo campaign started by popular web-comic The Oatmeal’s Matthew Ingram last year. The Indiegogo campaign last year raised $1.3 million, far above the $850,000 goal. The state of New York contributed matching funds to ensure the museum could be built.
Read more about the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyfee.


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Last week we reported about Uber selling its China business to rival Didi Chuxing and planning to concentrate more on the rest of South East Asia. Uber has already started taking action in India. According to a sources, the company is planning to hire 150 people in next few months for its Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad, taking the total head count to 500.
The Hyderabad facility is the only Centre of Excellence of Uber in India. It was started earlier this year post its $50 million investment in Hyderabad. It currently gives support to both drivers and riders and the plans are to add more people to the existing 350 memeber team, to ramp up the support.
Uber India head – Community Operations, Bansi Kotecha said in a statement:
“Responsiveness is at the heart of what we do, and we are committed to build a support network in India that ensures a seamless experience before, during and after every Uber ride.”
It is the first such facility in Asia which has been built to provide rapid and efficient telephonic support experience to drivers in India who are not comfortable with emails and more formal means.
The CoE also boasts of an emergency response team which provides support in case of safety issues. It also offers support for large global accounts of Uber which use its key enterprise product Uber for Business.
Overall in India, Uber has employed over 600 people across various departments including sales and marketing. The company also has plans to take this number to 100 by the end of this year.
India is its third largest market in the world in terms of the number of trips. Post its showdown in China, Uber is getting more aggressive in India that can prive a game changer for it.


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BETTENDORF, Iowa (KWQC) - Despite travel concerns over the Novel Coronavirus, a Bettendorf travel agent said her business is not experiencing many vacation cancellations.
“I think that the folks in the Midwest, no matter how bad our winter is, they want to get out of here. So actually we've been really busy. I think we've had a busier winter than last winter,” Teresa Gonzalez, owner and manager at Gulliver’s Travel Duck Creek in Bettendorf, said.
Monday, American cruise ship passengers being held off the coast of Japan since Feb. 3, including some who tested positive for the Coronavirus, returned back to the United States.
14 Americans who tested positive are being held in quarantine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
"These individuals were brought here because we have the personnel, we have the facilities, we have the resources and the expertise to handle these kind of individuals," University of Nebraska Medical Center Dr. Christopher J Kratochvil said at a press conference.
Gonzalez believes people should feel safe traveling to other parts of the world.
“I think travelers who are in China or Hong Kong would be concerned. I think the passengers around here should feel pretty confident because they are taking so many precautions to stop the spread,” she said, “In the 30 years I’ve been here, I’ve seen a couple different things like this come through, like H1N1 for example. I feel like there was not as good of information on how to stop the spread. And now that there is, it's actually making quite a difference.”
The Diamond Princess Cruise Ship, where passengers were being held quarantined, is just one of hundreds of cruise ships around the world.
“Cruise ships are taking every precautions necessary. Screening people before they get on the ship. The cruise ship that was out there was off the coast of Japan. Everything in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, everything is very safe,” she said.
If you do book a vacation, stay informed on current travel advisories from the federal government. Gonzalez also recommends purchasing travel insurance.
Globally there have been more than 71,000 confirmed Coronavirus cases. More than 1,800 people have died, but only four outside of mainland China.


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Many marijuana advocates love to discuss the many ways marijuana legalization would benefit the United States economically if it were to occur. But it turns out that the benefits could be even greater than previously thought.
A new study from New Frontier Data says marijuana legalization in the United States could be extremely lucrative. According to their data, they say that if all 50 U.S. states were to legalize marijuana, the industry would create an estimated one million jobs for the country. They also estimate that doing so would generate $131.8 billion in tax revenue between 2017 and 2025, assuming a 15 percent retail sales tax, payroll tax deductions and business tax revenue.
The economic reasons for legalizing marijuana are pretty overwhelming, and you almost have to wonder if the legalization community should begin focusing on them. While promoting the medical benefits of cannabis is worthwhile, many Americans don't particularly care about an issue unless it involves their wallets. As James Carville once said, "It's the economy, stupid!"
Perhaps as more states legalize marijuana and the country realizes just how big the economic impact of cannabis can be, they'll begin to change their minds. Until then, we'll just have to hope more states continue pursuing rational policies.
(h/t Washington Post)


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I remember the first time I ever got behind the wheel of an Audi, I was making a beer run for a High School party in an early 80’s Audi 5000 S. The car in question belonged to my friend Jennifer’s Dad and truth be told he had no idea we were driving it as they were conveniently out for the evening. I remember it was silver with black leather interior, had great pickup and was actually quite fun to drive. At this point in my life I was more interested in chicks than cars, but even so, I knew that being behind the wheel of this German sports sedan was a treat.
For the last 40 years Audi has been selling cars in America. They started off with the Audi 100 and Audi Super 90, two little cars that would eventually help Audi become one of the best known automotive brands in the world. Recently Audi hit a milestone, a BIG milestone because on July 20 in Van Nuys, California a customer walked into Keyes Audi and purchased the 2 millionth Audi sold in America. The car in question was an Audi A3 TDI and according to the company, they wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America stated that, “The story of Audi in the U.S. is really a story written by the hundreds of thousands of people who’ve invited our brand into their lives,” “We’re grateful for those opportunities.”
Selling two million of anything is quite an impressive feat, but for a car company to do so in this day and age is just downright amazing. Cheers Audi, it’s time for another beer run.


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Toyota's introduction of the Mirai, its first production-level fuel cell car, has thrust fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) back into the spotlight. However, while the performance of FCVs makes them ready for commercial launch, the industry is still focused on the two key requirements for larger-scale market introduction: driving down vehicle costs to be competitive with battery and hybrid vehicle technology and developing the hydrogen infrastructure necessary to fuel the vehicles.
“Commercial FCVs are finally available to drivers in select markets, with early indications of real customer interest and signs that manufacturers are getting serious about pricing FCVs to compete at the premium-vehicle level,” says Lisa Jerram, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “Automakers serious about fuel cell technology are expected to tackle the fueling infrastructure problem head on, with much needed investments in station buildout.”
Until the infrastructure is available, the market for FCVs is expected to remain supply-constrained, with vehicle production at low levels, according to the report. To facilitate the creation of FCV infrastructure, automakers are collaborating with new partners in retail fueling and hydrogen supply.
The report, Fuel Cell Vehicles, discusses the key infrastructure and cost issues related to FCVs, and profiles a few of the key players in the FCV market.
Source: Navigant Research
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Hertz has filed for chapter. Citing the introduced Friday that it had filed for Chapter 11 safety in Delaware. The corporate, which additionally operates Greenback, Thrifty and Firefly rental-car manufacturers with some 12,400 workplaces worldwide, will purpose to restructure and keep in enterprise. The submitting is without doubt one of the highest-profile enterprise bankruptcies within the wake of the virus disaster up to now.pandemic’s swift and cataclysmic affect on its enterprise, the large
“The affect of COVID-19 on journey demand was sudden and dramatic, inflicting an abrupt decline within the firm’s income and future bookings,” the corporate stated in a press release. Certainly, with shelter-in-place orders across the globe, rental automobile corporations have been hit onerous by tremendously diminished journey bookings, very similar to the, resort and industries.
The pandemic’s affect on its enterprise might have been sudden, however Hertz’s monetary decline has been an ongoing concern for a few years. In 2019, regardless of reporting a file annual income of $9.eight billion, it booked a $58 million loss, itself a considerable enchancment on the $225 million loss the corporate reported in 2018.
As a part of its bankruptcy-filing announcement, the corporate confirmed it has over $1 billion in money available to assist persevering with operations, however in accordance with CNN, the corporate is combating towards $18.eight billion in debt as of March 31, a rise of $1.7 billion for the reason that finish of 2019.
Hertz has been telegraphing its monetary misery for a while. In late April, it was reported that the corporate had missed a lease cost, and athat Hertz was “…lowering bills, deferring capital expenditures, and adjusting fleet ranges and staffing,” additional noting that the corporate was having ongoing conversations with lenders and the US Treasury.
Hertz’s chief govt, Kathryn Marinello, left the corporate on Could 16, and the board named her substitute, Paul Stone, beforehand the corporate’s govt vp and chief retail operations officer, on Could 18.
In its assertion, Hertz revealed it has “applied furloughs and layoffs of 20,000 workers” up to now, representing about half of its international workforce. Of that complete, it is estimated that in North America, the corporate has already shed 12,000 workers this 12 months and positioned an extra 4,000 employees on furlough.
Hertz has all however halted the ordering of recent vehicles from automakers, and it wasa few of its specifically liveried and high-performance leases, fashions among the many crown jewels of its fleet.
Lately, together with taxi corporations and the remainder of the standard car-rental trade, Hertz had been battered by the rise of Uber and Lyft, together with startups like . The corporate has itself tried to make inroads into these rising companies, launching initiatives like its 24/7 car-sharing service in addition to to fight an increase in automaker . Moreover, yearly will increase in telecommuting previous to the pandemic has additionally been curbing business-related journey, lengthy a pillar of rental-car bookings.corporations like
Whereas not surprising, Hertz’s chapter and the heightened misery of the rental trade as an entire through the COVID-19 disaster is already taking a toll on the auto trade at massive. Rental corporations are estimated to be accountable for round 10% of automobile corporations’ yearly new-vehicle purchases.


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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II attends the 99th Chelsea Flower Show which includes a special exhibit in honor of her Diamond Jubilee year.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth pays a visit to the gardens of the 99th Chelsea Flower show.
She donned a floral hat for the occasion.
The Queen and her husband Prince Philip were among the first to see this year's elaborate displays that include a special section honoring Her Majesty's diamond jubilee.
A number of growers unveiled new varieties of flowers to mark the monarch's anniversary with roses bearing names such as the pale pink Royal Jubilee.
The three-day show draws over 150,000 visitors to the London gardens each year and will open on May 23rd.
That's less than two weeks ahead of the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's 60-year reign.


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CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia MSO, +0.00% took a sharp turn north to finish the session higher by 8.4 percent, or $2.92, to $37.40 after reporting a fourth-quarter loss that was narrower than expected. However, the company forecast a fiscal first-quarter loss that would be deeper than Wall Street's projections. Still, the retail sector's main measure, the S&P Retail Index [s:$RLX] moved higher with the shares, closing at 431.94, up 0.6 percent.
Have breaking news sent to your inbox. Subscribe to MarketWatch's free Bulletin emails. Sign up here.


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Fitbit's Charge 2 wearable is now available for $150
One of Fitbit's best fitness trackers is now available globally.
Plex Cloud lets you dump your home media server
All you need is a Plex Pass and an Amazon Drive subscription.
'Minecraft' novel in the works by 'World War Z' author
'Minecraft: The Island' will be the first in a series of books.
Google is reportedly interested in buying Twitter
No deal has been agreed on but the company could receive a bid soon.
UK broadband customers also affected by Yahoo hack
If you use a BT or Sky email account powered by Yahoo, make sure you change your password.
Amazon's Handmade store comes to Europe
Browse over 30,000 items made by artisans in more than 40 countries.
This giant clock was made by driving 14 trucks in circles
It's just a shame they weren't autonomous.


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DUBAI: Dubai Multi Commodities Center has been named the Global Free Zone of the Year 2022 by the Financial Times specialist editorial team and independent judges.
It is the eighth consecutive year that the Financial Times fDi Magazine has recognized Dubai’s authority on commodities trade and enterprise, the statement added.
Award winners are selected based on a comprehensive set of criteria and a review of the free zones’ ecosystems.
Criteria used in making judgments this year included the effectiveness of each free zone’s ecosystems, business and marketing strategies, infrastructure improvements, and COVID-19 response, the statement said.
This year, the DMCC won several awards, including Large Tenant Free Zone of the Year — Global; Large Tenant Free Zone of the Year — Middle East; Middle East Free Zone of the Year; Middle East SME Free Zone of the Year; Global Excellence Award for Environmental, Social, and Governance Practices; and Global Excellence Award for Infrastructure Development.
Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: “Since DMCC was established in 2002, we have had two core goals – create a global gateway for trade, and comprehensively enhance the ease of doing business for our member companies.”
SAFEEN Feeders and Invictus Investment sign strategic agreement
A major contract has been signed between AD Ports Group’s SAFEEN Feeders and Invictus Investment to launch an international dry bulk shipping service, according to a statement.
The two companies will purchase ships through Special Purpose Vehicles — 85 percent owned by SAFEEN Feeders and 15 percent by Invictus Investment.
To operate the service, SAFEEN Feeders and Invictus Investment will form a joint venture.
Invictus Investment will own 49 percent of the joint venture and SAFEEN Feeders will own 51 percent.
The two companies are expected to invest approximately 463 million dirhams in the vessels.
From September 2022 through June 2023, five ships will be deployed of varying sizes, with additional vessels planned for the future.
This joint venture will serve as the carrier for Invictus’ dry-bulk trading business, which ships more than three million tons of commodities annually, primarily wheat and complementary grains. This business will occupy the majority of the ships’ capacity.
The agreement will also extend its commercial bulk shipping services to other companies worldwide, initially focusing on the Red Sea and Pacific corridors, the Indian subcontinent, and the Black Sea region, but with the ability to ship to anywhere in the world within international navigating limits.
Due to Invictus’ large existing trading volumes, the program is expected to generate strong returns on investment for Invictus Investment, the statement said.
Shuaa Capital has announced that its Kuwait-based subsidiary Amwal International Investment Co. has agreed to sell 51 percent of its stake in NCM Investment for 200 million dirhams ($54.4 million), according to a statement.
Shuaa Capital, a Dubai Financial Market-listed company, said in a regulatory filing that it expects the sale to close in the fourth quarter of 2022.


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Retailers Predict Healthy Holiday Sales Despite Inflation
WASHINGTON — Holiday retail sales during November and December will grow between 6% and 8% compared to last year, and come in somewhere in excess of $942.6 billion despite stubbornly persistent inflation woes, the National Retail Federation said on Thursday.
Last year’s holiday sales grew 13.5% over 2020 and totaled $889.3 billion, shattering previous records.
On average, holiday retail sales have increased 4.9% over the past 10 years, with pandemic spending in recent years accounting for considerable gains.
“While consumers are feeling the pressure of inflation and higher prices, and while there is continued stratification with consumer spending and behavior among households at different income levels, consumers remain resilient and continue to engage in commerce,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay during a conference call with reporters.
“In the face of these challenges, many households will supplement spending with savings and credit to provide a cushion and result in a positive holiday season,” he said.
The National Retail Federation expects online and other non-store sales, which are included in the total, to increase between 10% and 12% to between $262.8 billion and $267.6 billion.
This figure is up from $238.9 billion last year, which saw extraordinary growth in digital channels as consumers turned to online shopping to meet their holiday needs during the pandemic.
While e-commerce will remain important, households are also expected to shift back to in-store shopping and a more traditional holiday shopping experience.
“This holiday season cycle is anything but typical,” said the federation’s chief economist, Jack Kleinhenz.
“NRF’s holiday forecast takes a number of factors into consideration, but the overall outlook is generally positive as consumer fundamentals continue to support economic activity,” he said. “Despite record levels of inflation, rising interest rates and low levels of confidence, consumers have been steadfast in their spending and remain in the driver’s seat.”
Kleinhenz also noted what anyone who has been in a retail store lately has witnessed for themselves — that this year’s holiday shopping season started earlier this year, and that retailers responded to that demand by scheduling their first holiday sales not long after their back-to-school sales had ended.
“While this may result in some sales being pulled forward, we expect to see continued deals and promotions throughout the remaining months,” Kleinhenz said.
This year, given concerns around inflation, 46% of holiday shoppers said they planned to browse or buy before November, according to NRF’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Still, consumers plan to spend $832.84 on average on gifts and holiday items such as decorations and food, in line with the average for the last 10 years.
NRF expects retailers will hire between 450,000 and 600,000 seasonal workers. That compares with roughly 669,800 seasonal hires in 2021.
In The News
WASHINGTON — Connie E. Evans, president and CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, smiled broadly Thursday as she surveyed... Read More
WASHINGTON — Connie E. Evans, president and CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, smiled broadly Thursday as she surveyed the early morning crowd gathered to hear her and other speakers at Charlie Palmer Steak. “It’s seldom, at least in my experience, that you get a... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — The countdown toward a possible U.S. government default is in the offing — with frictions between President Joe Biden... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — The countdown toward a possible U.S. government default is in the offing — with frictions between President Joe Biden and House Republicans raising alarms about whether the U.S. can sidestep a potential economic crisis. The Treasury Department projects that the federal government will on Thursday reach its... Read More
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk was depicted Wednesday as either a liar who callously jeopardized the savings of “regular... Read More
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk was depicted Wednesday as either a liar who callously jeopardized the savings of “regular people" or a well-intentioned visionary as attorneys delivered opening statements at a trial focused on a Tesla buyout that never happened. Lawyers on opposing sides drew... Read More
Microsoft is cutting 10,000 workers, almost 5% of its workforce, joining other tech companies that have scaled back their pandemic-era... Read More
Microsoft is cutting 10,000 workers, almost 5% of its workforce, joining other tech companies that have scaled back their pandemic-era expansions. The company said in a regulatory filing Wednesday that the layoffs were a response to “macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities.” The company said it... Read More
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The world is in a “sorry state" because of myriad interlinked challenges including climate change and... Read More
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The world is in a “sorry state" because of myriad interlinked challenges including climate change and Russia's war in Ukraine that are “piling up like cars in a chain reaction crash,” the U.N. chief said at the World Economic Forum's meeting Wednesday. U.N. Secretary-General... Read More
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Rising U.S. consumer prices moderated again last month, bolstering hopes that inflation’s grip on the economy will continue to ease this year and possibly require less drastic action by the Federal Reserve to control it. Inflation declined to 6.5% in December compared with a... Read More


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Trade war? China has bigger problems
November 9, 2018
Hong Kong (CNN Business)China is riding out the trade war so far but its economic troubles run deep and could escalate rapidly if US tariffs really start to bite.
Beijing is already wrestling with other problems that the trade war could exacerbate. China’s economy is now growing at its slowest pace
since the global financial crisis. It’s laden down with debt and facing concerns about a real estate bubble and weakening currency.
Despite the Trump administration’s new tariffs
on $200 billion of
Chinese goods, exports are still growing strongly, up 16% in October
. But that could change in the coming months if tariffs rise to 25% from 10% at the end of December, as the US has threatened, adding to China’s growing list of problems.
error: Content is protected !!


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We are less than 30 minutes away from Square Enix sharing more info on Final Fantasy XV. We will get a release date, trailer, game-play, and more on the game tonight. The rumored release date is September 30th, but tonight it will be made official. Tune in here at the embedded Twitch video below.
The first game from Square Enix’s Tokyo RPG Factory, I Am Setsuna, will be hitting PS4 and Steam this Summer. Hopefully a PS Vita port will be announced as well for the English version.
The game has been out since February for Japan and it is inspired by older RPGs such as Chrono Trigger. I Am Setsuna actually uses the same active time battle system as found in early Final Fantasy games and Chrono Trigger so it’s bound to be a great game.
When Project Setsuna was announced at last year, Tokyo RPG Factory stated they wanted to create games that are heavely influenced by classic RPGs. Check out the trailer below.
For more video game news, visit The Geek Dojo.
Square Enix announced today that one of the best Final Fantasies is coming to PC and smart phones sometime in 2016.
Square promises new features like, “high-definition graphics, newly added achievements, auto-save, high speed mode, and several game boosting features,” similar to the other ports of FFVII and FFVIII.
There is no word on a western release, but it’s safe to assume that it will make it to the U.S. just like the Final Fantasy ports before it. Check out the trailer below for a look at the high res textures.
Fore more video game news, visit The Geek Dojo
Final Fantasy Explorers will feature a total of 12 eidolons to fight and summon throughout the game. All of the beloved classic eidolons are included, such as Shiva and Ifirit, but there are also 2 new fresh faces. Those 2 are Dryad and Amaterasu. You can check out the image below for a little bit more information on the 12 featured eidolons.
Final Fantasy Explorers comes out January 26th, 2016.
For more video game news, visit The Geek Dojo
Great job Square. You’re on to something here.
The new game play trailer was released today at the Sony PlayStation Experience and it looks gorgeous. The battle system is in real time, comparable to the FFXV system. Check out the video below as much as you would like.
The Final Fantasy VII PC port to PS4 is also available today. There is no word on when the FFVII remake will come out just yet.
For more video game news, visit The Geek Dojo
I can’t believe it! Well, I actually can because I just watched the trailer, but it’s still just to good to be true!
You read the title right! Yes, that Cloud. The Buster Sword wielding bad ass from Squarsoft’s (yea, Squaresoft) hit game, Final Fantasy 7, is coming to Super Smash Brothers WiiU/3DS. Take a look at the trailer below.
There is no word on when he will be arriving just yet, but it’s so exciting!
For video game news and more, visit The Geek Dojo
Square-Enix’s answer to Monster Hunter comes to North America January 26th 2016, exclusively to the 3DS. The game is a brand new Final Fantasy experience with customizable characters and jobs. You can also summon, recruit and level up monsters. There is also cooperative play both local and online.
The Final Fantasy Explorers has already been out for quite sometime in Japan so it’s nice to finally see it come to western shores. It’s looks to be a lot of fun. Check out the trailer below.
The update to the demo was released around 11AM EDT today and it fixes a number of issues. Since the demo has come out, Square listened to what players had to say about it and decided to fix whatever issues we had. They even threw in some new features and added a boss fight.
Coming straight from the Nova Crystallis website, here is a look at the updates:
- Added cooperation attacks that come from ally suggestions.
- Guarding just before being hit by an enemy attack will no longer consume MP.
- Evasive maneuver has been changed into a dodge roll, no longer consumes MP, and can be shifted into from various actions.
- Moving the left stick during a consecutive attack will change the attack movement.
- You can now charge great sword attacks by holding down the button.
- The Shift (Warp) command has been changed into a long Circle button hold. If you hold Circle for a short period, you’ll perform a mid-range shift.
- The areas you can warp to have been greatly increased.
- Attack power, MP consumption, and more have been adjusted.
- Camera turning speed and acceleration has been improved. The lock-on tracking has been improved, and target-switching has been simplified.
- Camera can now be moved down during combat.
- Party AI has been improved.
- “Individual action quests” that are suggested by party members has been added.
- The Catoblepas by the lake can now be fought.
It’s definitely interesting to see a demo get patched, but it shows that SquareEnix really cares about this game and wants to make it as perfect as they can. The patch is free for everyone that downloaded the demo via their voucher.
There is also a new Final Fantasy Type-0 patch that fixes motion blur and the super fast camera. I’ll definitely be getting back into that one.
Final Fantasy will be skipping E3 this year, but we will hear more about it at Gamescon in August.


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Xbox 360 owners can now download and use two new video apps via Xbox Live. One is Crackle, the Sony owned free movie and TV service. The other is CinemaNow, which has paid downloads of movies.
VidOn TV Box: the world's only Android TV box with Blu-ray menu navigation - review
Are you impressed or depressed with Windows 10 for phones?
Enter here to win a Chromebook Pixel and more!
A closer look at the Surface 3 "Full HD Plus" display
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge unboxing and first impressions
galaxy s6 edge
The Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday became the latest Hollywood studio to offer movies for sale via the Internet by providing films like recent thriller "Flightplan" to CinemaNow, the online service said. CinemaNow, which is...


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A.S.A.P. Supplies promotes Cheryll and Tom
A.S.A.P. Supplies has promoted Cheryll Gill to the post of general manager.
Cheryll joined the marine suppliers in 2007 and since then she has been committed to growing individuals within the team and supporting the company to its present position.
She previously held the position of business development director at ASAP.
“I am very much looking forward to the challenge of developing the ASAP brand within the Arleigh Group,” she said. “I have a great team around me and their enthusiasm and commitment will be what drives the business. As always, our main aim is to keep our focus on the customers.”
Darren Cook, head of marine, Arleigh Group, added: “Cherylls’ new position is a testament to her drive, hard work and dedication over the years. We all know she will excel in her new role.”
In addition, Tom Edwards has been promoted to commercial manager. Having been with ASAP for more than 15 years, Tom brings a breadth of technical, engineering and industry knowledge to his new role.
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Pricing up quotes that never result in work and doing favours for friends and family free of charge costs UK van drivers £14.9 billion a year*, according to research by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has declared October 27 as “Mates’ Rates Date” to celebrate Britain’s talented tradespeople. The date represents the 45 working days per year, that van drivers spend doing work they can never get paid for, which means that after October 27, tradesmen and women are effectively working for free.
The study by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles revealed that 77% van drivers regularly carry out work free of charge – whether it’s fixing a friend’s leaky tap or quoting for house renovation work that they never get contracted to complete.
On average, workers spend four hours a week pricing up quotes for new customers who never book the job in, plus another three hours doing free work for friends or family – equivalent to £4,300 a year*.
Tradesmen and women in London and Northern Ireland are the worst affected, carrying out 10 hours and eight hours of free labour each week, respectively. That’s compared to the south west where van drivers average less than four hours a week on family favours or new quotes.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles understands the pressure these unpaid hours put on the nation’s businesses – especially in a year that has been as uncertain as 2020. That’s why the brand operates Mobile Service Clinics, to help owners service their vehicles, while they’re not in use. Comprehensive service plans also allow vehicle maintenance budgeting and help avoid unexpected bills.
Similarly, extended opening hours at Van Centres help to minimise downtime and allow owners to collect their vans before their shift starts. The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles website also helps van drivers save valuable time, by offering a range of services and access to information at any time of day, including online service booking, a finance calculator and live web chat.
David Hanna, Head of Aftersales at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “Whether you’re a tradesmen, delivery driver, florist or gardener, your unique skills are highly-sought after. When you add up the amount of time spent pricing up jobs that never come to be, or pulling favours, van drivers are losing out on hours every week without pay – and that’s why we’ve created “Mates’ Rates Date”.
“We understand that time really is money and hope that through our Working With You promise, we’re able to support the unsung heroes with some added convenience that helps them win back the time to do the jobs that boost their bottom line.”
For more details on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ award-winning range of products and services, or to find your nearest Van Centre, please visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk.
*Article Source http://www.vwpress.co.uk


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NEW DELHI: In the New World Odour, Asia smells the worst, says Unilever, suggesting it's time we Asians did something serious about it.
The stench seems to have reached the company's London and Rotterdam headquarters because, according to Russel Taylor, Unilever's global V-P for Axe deodorants, "No one had yet found a way of making Asians self-conscious about body odour." And for good measure, he adds that the region offers a billion-pound opportunity (for Unilever's deodorants) — "the last empty space on the map."
The comments made to the British media comes from a company that has two high-profile Indians — Harish Manwani and Vindi Banga — on its board. And while the controversial remarks may raise a huge stink here that Unilever's deodorants may not be able to kill, a Unilever spokesman insisted that the statements "should not be taken out of context to construe other meanings."
àFMCG cos set sights on aspirational products
àFMCG sector to grow by 16 pc in 2008-09: FICCI
àLuxor to diversify its biz; foray in other consumer segments
àDabur's oral care range grows faster than foreign firms
The British media quotes Mr Taylor that the consumption of deodorants in India is 'virtually nil' and that only 7% of Asians use deodorants. His solution: an ad campaign to induce shame about sweat stains and body odour across the region.
ET has learnt that the comments have not gone down well with the Hindustan Unilever (HUL) top brass. A Unilever spokesperson told ET: "It is true that Unilever sees a big opportunity to grow sales in parts of the world, especially Asia, where use of deodorants is relatively small. It is a fact that all humans perspire and emit some body odour. When they were first introduced, many people in many countries took a great deal of convincing that they needed to use deodorants."
According to a HUL spokesperson, "Axe is market leader in the male deodorant segment. We have many activities and communication campaigns planned at driving deodorants penetration in India."
Admitting that the penetration of deodorants is very low, especially in markets such as India where it is still under 2%, the HUL spokesperson added that the category is now growing at almost 50% in the country.
Promoting deodorant usage in dramatic and almost politically incorrect ways is nothing new to Unilever. It tapped into the Russian market with a campaign that told the Russian woman that since attracting a man is fundamental to her, she would not look beautiful if she didn't use deodorants.
The FMCG giant had also targeted the British market four decades ago by stating that Britain in the 60s was a 'remarkably smelly place' — a land of sweat, wet wool, occasional bathing and shiny suits.


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The evolution of Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the world and companies adopting this technology are delivering better performance. Recent to join the bandwagon is the oil and gas companies.
To plan and implement a mobile application that best suits your critical business needs, discovering and hiring a right mobile app development company with skilled developers is a must.
Statista report claims that both Android and Apple stores have more than 2.2 million apps. What do you infer from this report? Yes, mobile apps are growing at breakneck pace and it is expected to reach 3 million in the future. Applications are no longer confined only to gaming and personal users but have extended enough to reach business customers
When it comes to evolution of the mobile applications, a major share contributed by Google’s Android can’t be neglected. Android app store is considered most utilized store as it is flooded with a wide array of applications across every genre. Given the simplicity and easy to use nature, Android applications are the most widely consumed in 83% of global countries.
Finding an app developer with app development proficiency, specially coding, is tough nowadays. Recent findings point out there is a steady rise in recruiting skilled talent and this may further increase in the years to come. With mobile dominating the global workspace, it is highly difficult to find a skilled developer with flawless mobile technology expertise.
80–90% of C-level executives are investing in digital transformation. The rise of Internet of Things, 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence points out digital technologies are evolving fast and dealing with the disruption of technologies the biggest challenge staring at top level executives of different organizations.
To snatch the foothold among fierce competition, retailers have no other option but to provide every piece of information their customers need instantly. Ecommerce owners are left with no choice but to find out a way for showcasing their products to online customers effectively and efficiently.
Of late, most news portals are focusing on one thing: Internet of Things (IoT) security breaches. This is due to two reasons: (1) the explosive growth of IoT has garnered the attention of everyone around the world; (2) the security breaches could impact every user owning a IoT product at home or anywhere.
Gartner says mobile devices can’t be considered as toys anymore but technology-enabled tools to leverage workforce and business. The report further adds the gigantic growth of mobile apps hints at establishing cohesive strategies for developing and deploying apps that can enhance customer base and ROI.


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In costly California, small businesses can find it difficult to survive if they become the target of a lawsuit. And that’s the problem faced by six entrepreneurs in San Luis Obispo who are being sued by convicted pedophile Robert McCarthy on the grounds that their facilities do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reported the Tribune.
McCarthy, who uses a wheelchair, has a history of such lawsuits. In the past 13 years, he has sued approximately 250 businesses in California. Each lawsuit targets alleges ADA violations and seeks money.
And he isn’t the first person to focus on the ADA’s potential for such lawsuits. Jarek Molski previously sued more than 400 California businesses, with 90 in San Luis Obispo.
Tracking these litigants is the work of Julie Griffiths, who represents California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse. She contends that McCarthy and others are deliberately targeting small businesses, who may offer money in order to avoid the expensive process of a long, drawn-out court case.
“I’d say there’s about 15,” estimated Julie. “They keep busy.”
In the case of McCarthy,who has been convicted previously for both fraud and sex charges, the six San Luis Obispo county lawsuits allege that the targeted businesses are discriminating against the disabled community because they are not sufficiently accessible.
The businesses range throughout the county, including Morro Bay’s Bay View Inn and Best Western El Rancho, Atascadero’s Bay Laurel Nursery, Clubhouse Sports Bar & Grill in Los Osos, Morro Bay Market & Spirits, and quaint Cambria’s Creekside Inn, shown below.
“Plaintiff alleges there is a national public interest in requiring accessibility in places of public accommodation,” claims his lawsuits.
Each lawsuit requests $4,000.
For example, McCarthy charges the Bay View Inn for allegations that the lobby lacked the International Symbol of Accessibility and an overly high lobby counter.
Tim Hayden, operator and partner at Creekside Inn, responded with his views.
“As a local community member I am outraged that a con man from Arizona who spent time in prison for fraud feels he can come to San Luis Obispo County and target businesses for predatory lawsuits and personal gain. He’s using the California legal system as a personal ATM.”
Nancy Rice owns the Bay Laurel Nursery. She expressed her fear about the impact of a hefty lawsuit on her own small business.
“This is a very small, privately owned nursery,” she said. “We don’t have a lot of funds.”
One problem with such lawsuits resides in the lack of clarification as to whom the ADA is intended to protect, reported the Modesto Bee.
For those who are disabled and experience insurmountable obstacles for such essential tasks as going to the grocery store, a company’s failure to comply with ADA regulations can be extremely frustrating. In contrast, small businesses who are targeted in lawsuits that allegedly abuse the legal system feel helpless.
And although it’s been almost 25 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, many small businesses still have not complied. As a result, says Griffiths, they are ideal targets for what she considers predatory lawsuits.
“It’s moving in. It’s coming your way,” warned Griffiths.
As the Inquisitr reported, San Luis Obispo is considered the happiest place in the nation. But for the small businesses in that county attempting to survive, the reality of coping with a pricey lawsuit can be the price that they pay to survive.
What do you think? Should something be done about such lawsuits? Post your comments below.
[Photo By Harold Cunningham/Getty Images]


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Spain Emerges as the Fastest Growing Market For World ID Registrations In The EU
- Worldcoin’s World ID platform experiences staggering growth in Spain with over 150,000 registrations since launch, solidifying Spain’s position as the fastest growing market for World ID in the EU.
- By utilizing blockchain technology, Worldcoin ensures that personal data remains private and protected, offering individuals greater control over their online identities.
- The rapid growth of World ID registrations in Spain and Portugal demonstrates a growing recognition of the importance of digital identity in today’s interconnected world, empowering individuals with greater control over their digital identities while fostering a more trustworthy online ecosystem.
Worldcoin has reported a staggering surge in World ID registrations in Spain, with more than 150,000 people signing up since its launch in Madrid over a year ago.
The platform has been attracting over 20,000 new registrations each month, solidifying Spain’s position as the fastest growing market for World ID in the European Union.
The World ID, a unique digital identity system, offers users a secure and decentralized way to verify their identity online. With its growing popularity, World ID has gained significant traction among the Spanish population, who are embracing the benefits of a secure and reliable digital identification system.
The rapid adoption of World ID in Spain can be attributed to various factors, including the country’s increasing technological advancements and the growing demand for secure digital services. By utilizing blockchain technology, Worldcoin ensures that personal data remains private and protected, offering individuals greater control over their online identities.
In addition to Spain’s remarkable growth, neighboring Portugal has also witnessed a significant uptake of World ID registrations. Earlier this year, the number of World ID registrations in Portugal exceeded 1% of the country’s population, demonstrating a notable interest in the platform’s capabilities.
Worldcoin’s expansion into Spain can be seen as a response to the country’s thriving AI boom and its increasing reliance on advanced technologies. As Spain continues to foster innovation and digital transformation, Worldcoin aims to meet the rising demand for secure digital identity solutions and contribute to the country’s technological progress.
The World ID platform not only enhances online security but also opens up new possibilities for streamlined digital interactions across various sectors. From financial services to e-commerce, the integration of World ID can revolutionize the way individuals authenticate their identities, reducing fraud and improving overall efficiency.
The rapid growth of World ID registrations in Spain and Portugal indicates a growing recognition of the importance of digital identity in today’s interconnected world. With Worldcoin’s expansion and continuous innovation, more individuals are expected to embrace the advantages of a secure and decentralized digital identification system.
As Worldcoin expands its World ID access in Spain and responds to the country’s AI boom, it is likely that the platform will continue to gain traction across Europe and globally. With increasing concerns over data privacy and security, blockchain-based solutions like World ID offer a promising path forward, empowering individuals with greater control over their digital identities while fostering a more trustworthy online ecosystem.
DISCLAIMER: The Information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.


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Digital asset custody service provider Fireblocks has announced it will acquire First Digital, a fellow Israeli company, for $100 million. The acquisition, which is said to be Fireblocks’ first, comes less than three weeks after the company revealed it raised $550 million in Series E funding.
Fireblocks’ $8 Billion Valuation
Fireblocks, a digital asset custody firm, is set to acquire the stablecoin payment platform First Digital for $100 million, a report has said. The acquisition, when consummated, will enable Fireblocks to bolster the capabilities of its current payment platform.
According to a report by Calcalist, Fireblocks will be able to do this by enabling payment service providers (PSPs) and acquirers to accept crypto payments and to make payouts in digital currencies as well.
The custody firm’s purchase of the Israeli fintech startup comes a few weeks after Fireblocks was reported to have raised $550 million in Series E funding. Following this funding series, which brought the total value of funds raised to $1 billion, Fireblocks saw its valuation rise to a reported $8 billion.
Fireblocks Not Focused on Further Acquisitions
Meanwhile, the report quotes Fireblocks’ CEO, Michael Shaulov, who lists some of the reasons for this acquisition. He said:
They built one of the strongest teams when it comes to crypto, payments, and product and they will complement our capabilities. First’s significant advantage is that like Fireblocks, they built a technological platform that easily connects to the different payment providers and allows them to easily receive payments in cryptocurrencies.
While the acquisition is set to become Fireblocks’ first, Shaulov is quoted insisting that his firm’s objective now is not to go out and make more acquisitions. Rather, the focus is “to integrate First [Digital]’s team who have capabilities in many sectors.”
First Digital CEO Ran Goldstein is quoted in the Calcalist report explaining the difficulties that eventually forced the company to dismiss 90% of its staff in 2018. It would be in the latter half of 2021 when First Digital’s gambit finally paid off.
“I think our gamble paid off as at the end of 2021 we attracted a lot of interest from many payments companies who wanted to add crypto payments to their offering and from crypto companies who wanted to branch out beyond trading,” Goldstein is quoted explaining.
What are your thoughts on this story? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, T. Schneider
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.


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Apple will soon turn iPhones into mobile payment terminals after the tech giant's recent acquisition of the startup, Mobeewave Inc. for $100 million.
Mobeewave partnered with Samsung Electronics in 2019 to test the technology on its phones while PitchBook also reported that Samsung's venture arm has also invested more than $20 million in the startup.
According to Bloomberg's sources, Apple brought the startup that developed technology that turns iPhones into mobile payment terminals. Mobeewave says its technology is a seamless way to accept credit card payments.
Cardholders just need to tap their credit card or a smartphone at the back of another phone to process a payment using an app from Mobeewave. The system does not require hardware beyond a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip, which has been included in iPhones since 2014.
"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," an Apple told Bloomberg confirming the deal. However, a reported $100 million price was not confirmed when Apple CEO Tim Cook stated its acquisition strategy in an interview with CNBC on Friday, July 31.
Cook said Apple's acquisition approach is different from other tech companies as Apple buys a company and incorporate its technology into the iPhone. The CEO also mentioned that he did not receive any questions on acquisition in the recent congress hearing.
Following Cook's statement, Apple could incorporate Mobeewave's technology into the iPhone or other Apple products in various ways. Apple can use it to compete with Square's point of sale system with Apple Play's service expansion. Also, Apple can integrate Mobeewave's technology in the Apple Card system and Apple Wallet app.
"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," an Apple spokesman told Bloomberg.
Apple has recently acquired the weather app Dark Sky, which is now the basis of new Weather app features in iOS 14 on iPhone. Also, Apple acquired virtual reality company NextVR, which provides VR experiences for watching live events. The tech giant also bought Voysis, Xnor.ai, and Inductiv to enhance Apple's artificial intelligence, including Siri, as well as enterprise device management company Fleetsmith.
Read also: How To Move WhatsApp From iPhone To Android
How to use the Moobeewave app?
According to its website, Moobeewave believes that payments "should be simple, frictionless and effortless" for both clients and merchants. Users can process credit card payments using the app in three easy steps:
Step one: Enter the transaction amount
Step two: Tap the client's credit card or smartphone onto the back of the device with active app
Step three: Process the payment using the mobile app
With this acquisition, Apple will be in more direct competition with Square Inc., which provides both payment hardware and software for smartphones and tablets.
Apple is said to retain dozens of Mobeewave employees after the deal. They will continue to work out of Montreal, according to sources who requested anonymity.


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It's a perfect time of year for this next Girls Jordan. Rich in color and texture, the Retro 11 'Night Maroon' is a style
It's the most wonderful time of year when the possibility of receiving new sneakers and athleisure styles are in the cards. This holiday season, we wanted
This week brings us the biggest release of the year, the Air Jordan 11 "Space Jam" for 2016. in addition, adidas Spice up the
adidas is on a roll with their AlphaBounce shoe and just recently released a new version with an engineered mesh upper. With the first
Nearly 30 years after the first Air Jordan model released, there’s still no feeling like lacing up a fresh pair of MJ’s finest. Let’s
By Drew Hammell [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w-PHXPhnCc] In 1995, there was a Revolution brewing in the US. It was born in the ‘60s by the Black Panther Party.
When you have style and color working together, that's a hole-in-one on the streets. The adidas Gazelle Sports Pack not only gives you some flare, but gives you an opportunity to make a statement the moment you walk out the door.
Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks (96) knocks the ball away from San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin


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NEW YORK (Reuters) – KAR Holdings Inc, which runs auctions for used vehicles, plans to go public and raise as much as $400 million, according to a regulatory filing on Monday.
KAR, based in Carmel, Indiana, runs 214 physical auction sites and several websites that facilitate the sale of cars unloaded by dealers, repossessed vehicles and “salvage” vehicles, such as those that have been damaged and declared a total loss by insurance companies but then repaired.
It does not take possession of the vehicles, but earns a fee from the buyer and seller in each sale.
KAR listed EBay Inc’s (EBAY.O) eBay Motors used car auction website among its competitors.
In 2008, KAR facilitated the sale of 3.2 million used and salvage vehicles and currently has 150,000 registered buyers according to the prospectus it filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
KAR plans to use the IPO’s proceeds to pay down debt and pay fees to its equity owners, which include private equity firms Kelso & Co., Parthenon Capital, and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners (GS.N).
KAR warned in the filing the tight consumer credit market could hamper demand for used cars.
Net revenues fell 5.3 percent to $881.6 million in the first half of 2009, while net income from continuing operations more than tripled to $9.3 million from $3 million over the same period.
The prospectus did not indicate when KAR might try to price the IPO.
KAR is the eighth company to file for a U.S. IPO in September, as companies continue to rush to submit paperwork to go public with markets now more hospitable. There were 20 filings in July and August combined and only five in the first six months of 2009.
The IPO will be underwritten by Goldman Sachs & Co. (Reporting by Phil Wahba; editing by Andre Grenon)


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Tesco has launched an own-brand range of Champ – a flavoured potato meal – for the Irish market. Packaging for the three-strong range is by rostered consultancy Pemberton & Whitefoord. If successful, the range may be extended to include more flavours, says consultancy co-founder Adrian Whitefoord.
From an orbital-inspired bar to a restaurant-club hybrid space, these hospitality projects have caught our attention lately.
The studio drew inspiration from the typography and botanical images found in the RHS Lindley Library.
All the latest moves and changes happening across the design industry.
The inside track of everything you need to know about the new railway, from temperature-controlled train carriages to a regal visual identity.


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Singapore Airlines’ more than US$17 billion deal is one of the company’s biggest orders yet.
Southeast Asia’s biggest carrier has been finding ways to boost earnings as profit margins continue to be squeezed by the slowdown in the global economy.
Analysts say SIA could still find other ways to increase its passenger yields, such as revamping SilkAir and partnering up with other Asian airlines.
Singapore Airlines is beefing up its fleet with newer planes.
It is also pumping money back into its core segment – the business class.
It will roll out an upgraded version of “next-generation’ cabins come September 2013.
Leithen Francis, editor of Aviation Week, said: “The decision to introduce a new business class offering will definitely perk up interest in the market place and encourage people to fly business class on SIA.”
SIA also signed a contract to overhaul its entire customer experience this month.
SIA signed a contract with Accenture for the development of a new IT system to enable the airline to deliver an enhanced travel experience that focuses on meeting more of its customers’ travel needs. Implementation is scheduled for the second half of 2014.
All this is done in an attempt to reverse dwindling fortunes as the airline industry suffers due to falling global demand.
SIA’s cargo business have already taken a hit and the airline had already grounded two of its cargo planes to cut costs.
Asia Pacific cargo freight continues to weaken as well, falling 0.4 per cent in April compared to a year ago.
It is an indication of tougher times ahead for the aviation industry, and a sign of the weakening global demand.
Just last quarter, the company reported a S$44.2 million loss in the three months ended March 31.
Shukor Yusof, aviation analyst at Standard & Poor’s, said: “It has not performed as well as many have expected it to be because of uncertainty in key markets in Europe, North America and sluggishness in those economies. Also, because its premium sector which is dependent on the profitability of SIA has been under pressure.”
Premium class travel makes up about 40 per cent of SIA’s revenue and that has been hit by companies cutting down on travel budgets.
SIA did report pretty disappointing results in the last financial year but analysts say that’s due mainly to the global economic situation that has affected other legacy carriers as well.
But if SIA were to revamp SilkAir to capture more business traffic in Southeast Asia, that could have positive impact on its bottomline.
Leithen Francis added: “SilkAir seems to be very much positioned as a leisure carrier but I think you’re going to see SilkAir make more of a concerted effort to really win over and cater to business travellers. There is definitely going to be a growing demand for business traffic on short-haul routes within Asia and that’s the market SilkAir caters to.”
To tap into China’s vast travel market, SIA recently signed a code-share agreement with Shenzhen Airlines.
Shashank Nigam, CEO of Simpliflying, said: “It really depends on what partnerships they strike. That’s going to be key for SIA because they’re not going on their own mettle. The fleet size will remain the same at 101 planes this year. So it’s really about striking partnerships in India, China and even the Middle East carriers, like what Emirates has done with Qantas.”
Analysts say they expect SIA’s passenger numbers for the next financial year (FY14/15) to grow by about 4 per cent to 5 per cent.


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The report on wholesale prices showed that core inflation at the wholesale level, excluding volatile energy and food, was up 0.2% in September from August and was 6.8% higher over the past 12 months.
Almost 80% of the overall increase in wholesale prices last month was attributed to a 1.3% rise in the price of goods, the largest increase since May. In September, 40% of the jump in goods prices reflected rising energy prices. Price increases for services rose a smaller 0.2%
Food costs at the wholesale level rose 2% in September while energy prices were up 2.8%, the biggest jump since a 5% surge in March.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden took actions in an effort to address the supply chain problems including announcing that the Port of Los Angeles would begin operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week to clear bottlenecks at one of America's largest ports.
Economists said that the jump in wholesale and retail prices reflected impacts of the pandemic as strong demand is running up against supply chain problems.
“The demand impact will fade further over coming months,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. “But there is a risk of more persistent headwinds from broken supply chains that could keep goods prices and inflation high for longer than expected.”
Minutes released Wednesday of the Federal Reserve's September meeting provided further indications that the central bank is preparing to start pulling back on its $120 billion in monthly bond purchases, possibly at its next meeting in November, as the first step in unwinding the extraordinary support the central bank has been providing the economy.


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MANILA -- The government of India has allowed the export of 295,000 metric tons of non-basmati white rice to the Philippines.
This is the highest allocation of rice exports allotted by India among the seven countries India allowed exports to.
India also allowed rice exports to Cameroon, Malaysia, Guinea, Cote d' Ivoire, Nepal, and Seychelles, as seen in a gazette from the India Director of Foreign Trade.
After the Philippines, Cameroon had the second highest allotment at 190,000 metric tons. Malaysia is at third with 170,000 metric tons.
India, one of the world's biggest rice exporters, recently banned some overseas sales of the grain to pull down local prices.
Philippine Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban then said they will work with the Indian government to allow imports on humanitarian grounds.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. imposed a price ceiling last month on regular and well-milled varieties of rice amid the soaring prices of the staple grain.
Despite this, inflation still quickened to 6.1 percent in September, as rice inflation grew by 17.9 percent. The price cap was lifted earlier this month.


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One of the leading electric motorcycle brands in India, Tork Motors has unveiled a new stallion that is spaced in a segment that has been untapped till now with the Kratos X. This is an all-new electric motorcycle that will be set apart for its best in class technology and design and was on display at the Tork Motors pavilion in Hall No. 6, Booth No. F-371 at the recently completed 2023 auto expo. It was being displayed along with an updated version of Kratos R while the company announced the discontinuation of the standard Kratos.
The all new Kratos X gets a comfortable ride and promises excellent performance. It also gets a larger battery while features include a 7 inch touchscreen with Android and navigation along with a host of safety features. An aluminium swingarm, new design elements on its side panels and an all new, “Furiously Fast” riding mode is also a part of its makeup.
The Kratos being a born electric bike is designed from the ground up with all components being designed towards an electric ecosystem. So the X gets a lithium-ion battery pack that offers a range of 120 kms on single charge. Acceleration from 0-40 km/h in 4 seconds and a top speed of 100 km/h.
In comparison, Tork Kratos R gets powered via a 9 kWh electric motor offering 12 hp power and 38 Nm torque.
Acceleration from 0-40 km/h is the same at 4 seconds while top speed is higher at 105 km/h.
Feature updates to the Kratos R include a new LCD dash, new dark blue colour scheme, blacked out battery pack, fast charging port and new repositioned warning lights at the front and rear. Added safety equipment will also ensure a better riding experience. It also receives new graphics as a part of its new features.
All Tork Motors customers can avail free charging networks for a period of 2 years while they also receive features such as geo-fencing, find my vehicle, track mode, crash alert and vacation mode, etc. Tork Motors has also announced the release of a new portable charger that can charge the bike as fast as a home charger while the e-bikes will also receive panniers as an accessory.
The company is setting up a new plant with a capacity of 60,000 units per annum which is slated to be operational by Q1 2023. Currently retailing its products in 4 cities, the company has stated that by March 2023, expansion is being planned to 11 cities across the country.


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Excitement Growing Around the Globe As Data Privacy Day 2014 NearsJan. 28 Day of Awareness to Focus on Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust for All Digital Users
WASHINGTON, DC, December 12, 2014 — Widespread support for Data Privacy Day (DPD) 2014 is growing in the U.S. and abroad as the annual January 28th awareness day that promotes the protection of privacy and data stewardship draws closer. Officially coordinated by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), Data Privacy Day is celebrated by hundreds of organizations and individuals who raise awareness about data privacy around the world and promote its universal theme Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust.
Since 2008 Data Privacy Day has been made successful through support and participation from corporations, governments and organizations large and small. Nearly two months remain until Data Privacy Day and already more than seventy organizations have signed on to become official DPD Champions including the Federal Trade Commission, Brown University, International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), The Council of Better Business Bureaus, McKenna Long & Aldridge and JIPDEC (Japan Institute for Promotion of Digital Economy and Community).
Intel, one of the founding organizations of Data Privacy Day, has played a continuing role in building global awareness about privacy and engaging a diverse array of stakeholders in privacy awareness and action. “Intel is proud to play a role in such a pivotal awareness effort. Data Privacy Day is an opportunity and a reminder for all organizations to hold themselves to strong data stewardship practices and prove they are accountable to individuals,” said David Hoffman, Intel’s director of Security Policy and Global Privacy Officer.
“Protecting privacy and data are key ways we can build a safer, more trusted Internet,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of NCSA. “The reach of our messages are amplified exponentially because of DPD Champions and supporters elevating the importance of protecting personal information and privacy.”
Many Data Privacy Day supporting organizations will unveil unique data privacy offerings. NCSA’s DPD Web Portal is a one-stop shop to get started participating in Data Privacy Day. Learn how to become a champion, get ideas for awareness activities, see events happening around the world and find a list of links to privacy settings at the popular websites at http://www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/. NCSA also will feature a Twitter Chat at 3 p.m. EST using hashtag #ChatDPD every Wednesday in January.
National Cyber Security Alliance will officially kick-off Data Privacy Day 2014 by hosting a global privacy forum at The Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, DC, on Tues., Jan. 28. Intel and Microsoft are Leading Sponsors of Data Privacy Day while ADP and AT&T are Contributing Sponsors and Small Business Sponsors include PRIVATE WiFi, Reputation.com and SpiderOak.
About Data Privacy Day
About The National Cyber Security Alliance


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Personal injury lawsuits hit Home Depot
- Jim Lovel
- Staff writer
Darlene Gardner was standing in the aisle of a Home Depot store in Silver Spring, Md., on Sept. 15, 2000, when, according to court records, a box fell off a shelf and struck her on the left side of the head, knocking her into the store's shelving.
She and her husband, Judge Wendell Gardner of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, sued the company for $850,000, citing permanent damages to her head, neck and left knee, which required surgery.
The Gardners' lawsuit is one of about 235 filed against the company in federal courts since 2001 by people who claimed they were injured in the company's stores, according to an Atlanta Business Chronicle search of a database of federal court cases.
The database, operated by the federal government, includes lawsuits filed in all but six of the nation's U.S. district courts. (There is no central source of information about lawsuits filed in state courts.)
The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) settled the Gardners' lawsuit in March, 17 months after it was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Like almost all the settlements the company makes with injured customers, the details aren't available to the public, sealed by a confidentiality agreement.
Gardner declined to comment. Home Depot also declined to comment. "We do not discuss litigation," said John Simley, a spokesman for the country's second-largest retailer.
So far this year, 55 lawsuits alleging injuries in Home Depot stores have been filed in federal court, the Chronicle's search of the database showed. During the same time period, 30 such lawsuits have been filed against Lowe's Cos. (NYSE: LOW), Home Depot's largest competitor with about 875 stores. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), the nation's largest retailer with more than twice as many stores as Home Depot, has had 257 federal personal injury lawsuits filed against it so far this year, the Chronicle's search showed.
Reach Lovel at firstname.lastname@example.org.
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