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Before Apple kicked off this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, the company announced this year's finalists for the annual Apple Design Awards. Now, with the conference about to wrap up for the year, the winners have been revealed.
Passwords have been around long enough that it's a ubiquitous element to securing things just about anywhere. But while there are always strides to make them as secure as possible, there's always that chance it won't be enough. Which is why companies like Apple and many others are working on new ways to go beyond the password.
It's par for the course for Apple executives to start making the rounds after major announcements. And the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference is certainly no different. Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of Software Engineering, has already done some interviews talking about the big announcements from this year's event. But now he's doing something a bit different this year.
Earlier today, Apple officially unveiled the next major software updates for its platforms at this year's WWDC. It shouldn't surprise anyone that a large range of Apple's devices support updating to the upcoming updates. So you can find a list below of the supported devices that will be updated later this year.
Apple announced the upcoming iPhone iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 at WWDC on June 7, 2021. New features like enhanced Memoji customization, Focus options to maintain center, and advancements in Notification management will be making their way to your device this fall. However, there is one important thing you will not be waiting to receive: that brand new iOS 15 wallpaper for iPhone and iPad.
Apple announced the latest update for its desktop line, macOS Monterey at WWDC on June 7, 2021. With experiences for FaceTime like SharePlay, iMessage photo collections, and group tabs for Safari, the new upgrade has something for everyone. One thing that we want for the iDB Wallpapers of the Week community is that hot new macOS Monterey wallpaper.
During its keynote event for this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple revealed a big change for its stock Wallet app. It's been requested plenty of times over the years. And the company itself has said the Wallet app is meant to, eventually, let you actually leave your physical wallet at home. And now it's one step closer.
Apple is introducing iOS 15 today at its keynote for Worldwide Developers Conference. And, as expected, the Weather app is getting some love this time around.
One of the major selling points for Apple and its platforms is privacy and security. So it's no surprise to see the company making improvements in these areas with its next big updates. In this case, Apple is expanding its privacy efforts across its most popular platforms.
Along with updates to iOS and the other major platforms, Apple has also released an updated version of its App Store Review Guidelines. Apple makes these types of changes on a semi regular basis, aiming to give more power to developers in some capacity. And this year is no different.
Apple is bringing Siri to third-party devices, but it's not what you think. Rather than let Android smartphone owners use its digital assistant, Apple is bringing Siri to smart home devices.
Apple already doesn't "force" iOS users to upgrade. In fact, it keeps track of folks out there in the wild still running earlier versions of its most popular operating system. However, the company does try to have plenty of reasons to upgrade. This year, though, if you want to stay on iOS 14, Apple appears to be okay with that.


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Face++, the Chinese facial recognition technology startup behind Alibaba’s selfie payments service, has secured an additional $25m in a series B funding round, taking the total raised to $47m. Existing investors Qiming Venture Partners and Innovation Works contributed to the round, the company told TechCrunch.
- NFC World launches Go to Market service for innovative technology suppliers
- Google includes support for FeliCa NFC payments in Pixel 3 smartphones
- Standard Chartered unveils IoT payments platform that automatically triggers a payment when a connected product arrives at a destination
- Commonwealth Bank to test ‘smart money’ that knows what it can be spent on
- Alipay: Hackers have used stolen Apple IDs to lift funds from mobile wallets

domain: news


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REEBOK’S GROUPIES: Reebok International and Foot Locker are cosponsoring the “Rock the Mic” tour, a hip-hop bonanza expected to stop in 35 cities in the U.S. and Canada this summer. Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Fabolous will be headliners, with Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Sean Paul and Bonecrusher making appearances in select cities. Fabolous has starred in ads for Reebok and Foot Locker, and Jay-Z and Elliott also have plugged Reebok.
As part of the deal, Jay-Z will do “meet and greets” at some concert stops, encouraging fans to try on Rbk footwear for the chance to win a pair of concert tickets. Both brands will have a strong presence at each concert. Foot Locker will promote the tour on video monitors and in-store displays in select markets.
Micky Pant, Reebok’s chief marketing officer, said, “Reebok’s sponsorship of the tour is part of our strategy to align the brand with athletes, artists and events that reflect youth culture.”
SHARAGANO GETS SPORTY: Sharagano is the latest label chasing the activewear trend. The company ships its new Sharagano Sportive line of athletic-inspired sportswear to specialty stores as well as its freestanding stores in New York’s SoHo district and in the Roosevelt Field Mall in September. First-year projected wholesale volume is between $6 million and $8 million, said Kenny Phelps, sales manager.
“We thought it was the right time to be doing this,” he said. “Activewear has caught on in the past six months.
Jumpsuits, skirts, warm-up pants and jackets are featured in the 60-piece line. Sharagano Sportive, licensed by Adamo Sportswear, is being shown at Sharagano’s new 4,000-square-foot showroom at 214 West 39th Street in New York.
FIXEL SPARKS UP: Susan Fixel has teamed up with Cigarette Racing Team to design its new women’s sportswear. Skip Braver, a Chicago businessman who purchased Cigarette last year and plans to dive into other categories, said, “Our lowest-priced boat is $250,000 [and goes up to $800,000]. We wanted to offer our customer more than a T-shirt and cap.”
Cigarette’s logo apparel includes tanks, long-sleeve shirts and corseted tops and debuts this summer at Cigarette boating events and boat shows. New Yorkers will get a glimpse of the styles at a fashion show at Chelsea Piers’ Surfside Marina on June 13. The 20-piece collection wholesales from $24 to $60.
CAPEZIO’S NEW SONG: Capezio’s Harmony label will begin selling dance-inspired sportswear to specialty stores and department stores this fall. The new Harmony collection, which will carry an Energy hangtag, will consist of knit pants, capri pants, hooded sweaters and other casual looks that will wholesale from $12.50 to $16.50. It is designed to appeal to a wider range of customers and is more geared for performance purposes, a company spokeswoman said.


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Google announced that one of its services, Google Maps, has released a new feature that will greatly assist toll road users in Indonesia in getting an estimated cost for using toll road services.
The announcement was made by the Google Maps Community Manager via a community blog and confirmed the feature will be available for both Android and iOS users.
“To help and make it easier for users to decide between toll roads and regular roads, we are launching toll price estimates on Google Maps for the first time. You will see the estimated toll prices to your destination before starting navigation thanks to reliable information from local toll authorities,” said Shweta in his upload on the Gmaps community quoted on Friday (17/6).
This feature will probably be present in the next few weeks and thus begin to be felt by Google Maps users.
In more detail in this feature, users will be able to see the choice of payment methods whether to accept cash or have to use electronic money.
The price will also be adjusted according to the payment method used by the user of the feature.
Options for routes on Google Maps such as “Avoid toll routes” or “Avoid flyovers” are also still provided by Google to continue to accommodate users who avoid toll roads.
Apart from Indonesia, this feature will also be available on more than 2,000 roads in the United States and India.
Google also plans to expand the use of this feature to other countries in the next few months. (Ant/OL-12)


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SAN FRANCISCO, March 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In recent weeks, we’ve seen shortages in everything from hand sanitizer to packaged pasta. As demand spikes in both rural and major metropolitan areas alike, toilet paper continues to be the one item consistently in short supply, and as the toilet paper scarcity continues, many are looking to bidets for smarter solutions in toilet paper replacements. This demand has prompted bidet sales to skyrocket tenfold in the last two weeks.
Brondell, the premier bidet manufacturer for the North American market, has seen a dramatic spike in sales volume since the toilet paper run really took off in the last couple of weeks. Sales of all bidet products have increased exponentially with purchases through some channels up over 10 times on average and they are expected to surge even further as big box stores and grocery chains become inundated with what are shaping up to be the “toilet paper wars” of 2020.
“We’ve seen incredible demand for our bidet products in light of the demand spike and subsequent toilet paper scarcity that it has prompted,” says Steven Scheer, Brondell’s President. “The transactions we’ve completed in just the last few days have dwarfed even our biggest sales holidays such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday, even during our best years. This is truly unprecedented but we’re happy to be able to provide the public with these toilet paper alternatives and are doing our best to make sure we’re able to fulfill as many orders as possible.”
Aside from their comprehensive line of bidet products, Brondell promotes a total healthy home experience across all living spaces with products like air purification and water filtration. These products, especially water filtration and air purifiers, have also seen a significant spike in sales volume with so many people working from home and promoting social distancing.
“These are times where people are truly looking to create healthier home environments and it’s something we’ve been promoting for over 16 years,” says Daniel Lalley, Communications Director. “We’re not thrilled about the circumstances under which this spike in demand has evolved, but we’re certainly glad to have built this foundation for when people really need our products and services.”
Brondell plans to ramp up its inventory position across all product lines in anticipation of this modern bidet boom and the resultant long-term growth. The current toilet paper shortage could be the catalyst that finally brings the bidet mainstream in bathrooms across North America and Brondell is prepared to be the go-to brand in terms of not just products but education as well.
With over 16 years in the business of healthy home innovations, Brondell brings a unique perspective to the kitchen and bath industry. Brondell has its roots in technology, a keen eye toward design, and a scrappy San Francisco startup spirit. In their mission to bring the hi-tech bidet market to the American consumer, they’ve managed to imagine some of the most innovative and bestselling products in their class while expanding into the markets of smart air purification and efficient water filtration. Over the years, they’ve garnered a reputation for disrupting the status quo, winning awards from Wired, Good Housekeeping, Home Magazine and many others for their distinct products and pioneering vision.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthy-home-pioneers-brondell-come-to-the-rescue-amid-toilet-paper-shortages-with-bidet-products-and-innovations-to-make-home-life-healthier-301027851.html
SOURCE Brondell Inc.
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A BOLD plan by Warrnambool’s traders and business organisation Commerce Warrnambool aims to lift the city’s profile and attract more visitors.
The group is seeking support for the Business Improvement District Program which, based on rates notices, would add between $100 and $6000 a year from each business to implement its strategy aimed at developing, marketing and promoting the city.
The average retail, commercial and industrial properties in the city would pay $446 annually, a little more than $1.20 a day, in an attempt to raise $600,000 in 2014-15.
While some CBD business operators have indicated a reluctance to contribute to the scheme, Commerce Warrnambool board member and local businessman Tony Herbert said the volunteer group was “at the crossroads” and would need to be financed to improve its outcomes.
As one of Victoria’s few regional centres without a chamber of commerce, Mr Herbert said the long-term proposal strived to make Warrnambool a place people wanted to live, work, study and shop.
“We believe we need to do this as a way to compete with regional centres doing a better job of promoting to tourists and keeping residents from leaving,” Mr Herbert told The Standard.
“This was considered the best and most effective way of raising some money for Commerce Warrnambool to actually do something.
“We’ve been operating for the past four years through volunteers and it’s been hard to be an organisation with weight and opinions without any resources.”
As well as improved communication and advertising, the Commerce Warrnambool program would aim to run various expos, work experience programs, forums and community initiatives to show businesses, students, workers, tourists and shoppers the benefits of Warrnambool.
Mr Herbert said he expected some hesitance from certain business operators, but it was a case of “spending money to make money”.
“This thing won’t be imposed on people. Some will see this as another charge, another levy, another rate.
“I appreciate that times haven’t been great, especially in retail and other sectors throughout the city, but I think personally as a whole, can we afford not to do it?
“I really hope that’s the way businesses can see it.
“It’s a charge that hopefully will make Warrnambool a greater business centre.
“We really would love to see some enthusiasm because we are part of a very small number, two or three in Victoria, that doesn’t have a chamber of commerce.”
Warrnambool City councillor Brian Kelson, owner of Gateway Jewellers, said he agreed with the aims of the program but did not believe business owners would buy in.
“It’s all very admirable, there’s no doubt on that ... but I can’t see the businesses of Warrnambool being able to afford that,” he said.
Warrnambool business owner and councillor Peter Hulin, along with Cr Kelson, suggested Commerce Warrnambool should alternatively be funded by the council’s waste collection fees charged to businesses.
“It’s beyond belief that council in Warrnambool thinks that businesses at this stage could handle another cost on their business,” Cr Hulin said.


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December 25, 2017
New Fungicide Helps Control Mildews and Rot in Ornamentals
Greenspire Global, Inc. has developed Procidic, a bactericide and fungicide that provides effective disease control without synthetics.
December 21, 2017
Dümmen Orange Confirms Presence of Xanthomonas in Begonia Stock
In a December 16 letter to its customers, Dümmen Orange said it had encountered an issue in its El Salvador-based Las Mercedes production facility, where bacterial leaf spot had been confirmed in begonia production.
December 21, 2017
Plantpeddler Provides Guidelines for Xanthomonas Bacterial Leaf Spot in Begonias
A leading producer of Begonia young plant liners and finished plants, Cresco, IA-based Plantpeddler has issued the following informational guidelines on Bacterial Leaf Spot in Begonias.
December 18, 2017
California Growers Have a New Disease Control Tool
BASF’s Orkestra Intrinsic fungicide has been approved in California for control of several ornamental plant diseases.
December 14, 2017
New Biofungicide Approved for Disease Control in Ornamentals
Certis USA recently introduced Carb-O-Nator, a new broad-spectrum foliar fungicide that works on contact to control powdery mildew, Alternaria, Anthracnose, Botrytis, Septoria leaf spot, and other diseases.
December 13, 2017
New Webinars Address Effective Propagation Techniques
e-Gro, an online clearing house for alerts about greenhouse disease, insect, environmental, physiological, and nutritional disorders, recently posted two new propagation-related webinars on YouTube.
December 12, 2017
New Products Designed to Protect the Quality of Plants During Transportation
The innovative technologies from Oasis Grower Solutions are aimed at ensuring that the supply chain delivers the best possible consumer plant experience.
December 8, 2017
The Sustainability of the Peat Industry Looks Better Than You Think
Despite talk about alternative products and differences of opinion over its sustainability as a resource, peat is here to stay.
December 6, 2017
How Mycorrhizae Provide Value at Your Greenhouse or Nursery
Mycorrhizae create a connection between the roots of a plant and the surrounding growing media. This ultimately leads to better crop health through enhanced nutrient and water uptake.
December 4, 2017
Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants Debuts as Roberta’s Finalizes Purchase of C. Raker & Sons
On December 1, Eric Wallien of Roberta’s Inc. in Waldron, IN, officially purchased C. Raker & Sons in Litchfield, MI. The new identity of the company is now Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants, according to a Dec. 1 letter to Raker’s customers, suppliers, and business partners from Vice President Susie Raker-Zimmerman. “There have been minimal changes in management and we will be providing the same products and services on which we have built our reputation in the industry,” Raker-Zimmerman said in the letter, which also announced the name change and new logo. The sale of C. Raker & Sons was announced in September . A series of events affecting Raker’s financial situation caused the need for the operation to find an alternate solution. Roberta’s had been a customer of Raker’s since 2011, and the fourth generation, family owned grower-retailer was a fan of Raker’s commitment to quality. The agreement to purchase C. […]
November 28, 2017
Take a Survey About Remote Sensing in the Green Industry
A team of researchers is planning to submit a proposal to conduct research on the use of remote sensing in indoor and outdoor crops to assess plant traits. But before they submit the proposal, they need your help.
November 27, 2017
4 Opportunities to Educate Yourself on IPM Practices in the Greenhouse
The Michigan State University Extension floriculture team has developed four greenhouse integrated pest management sessions that will be presented at the 2017 Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo in Grand Rapids, MI.


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Win Exclusive Sk8-Hi's featuring BLACKDIAMONDSKYE Tour Art
Posted 10/06/2010 05:55:53 by Kelly
The epic touring force of BLACKDIAMONDSKYE (featuring Alice in Chains, Deftones and Mastodon), is currently carving its way across North America. Acclaimed as one of the most epic line-ups of recent history, Vans has teamed up with BLACKDIAMONDKYE to offer the perfect way to commemorate the event. Vans has created an Exclusive Limited Edition Sk8-Hi, featuring BLACKDIAMONDSKYE artwork. With only 150 of these to ever be produced (and not for sale), these will be a rare collector’s item. In addition, win a limited edition Jermain Rogers poster from a stop of the tour. Enter now to win!


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FIFA 20’s Future Stars Promo Kicks Off Today With a Tasty New Squad
FIFA 20's best promo, Future Stars, kicks off today with a new squad of young players juiced to their predicted potentials.
Every year in FIFA Ultimate Team, there are a few promos that really bring out the FIFA points. Obvious ones like the Team of the Year at mid-cycle and Team of the Season squads during the summer are the big boys. However, last year EA introduced a new promo that was among the most popular. Future Stars takes the young stars of world football and gives them player cards boosted to their predicted potential. That means guys like a 72-rated Max Aarons and turn him into an 85-rated stud. This year, we’re actually getting two squads. The first dropped this afternoon, and it’s a doozy.
The ⭐⭐⭐ of the Future are shining today.
The first #FUTureStars team is available in packs now!
— EA SPORTS FIFA (@EASPORTSFIFA) January 31, 2020
The standouts here that you’re hoping to pack are Joao Felix and Tonali. If you can pair that Felix with like a Ronaldo and a Eusebio, your frontline is basically set until FIFA 2022 (not a typo). Of course, even the lowest-rated version of the Portuguese Icon will run you 3.6 million coins. Regardless, Felix is one of the hottest young players in the game and his card is going to be in high demand. Tonali has a league SBC card that already feels broken, so getting this massive boost is just going to be silly.
The rest of the squad is largely just okay. They aren’t guys you’re going to build a Weekend League squad behind but would be a welcome addition to many teams. Personally, I’d love to get that Mason Mount card in my team, just to pair him with the Headliners Tammy Abraham we got a few weeks ago. It will be interesting to see where prices fall for guys like Mason Greenwood and Rodrygo. They’re both currently sitting above a million coins, but I don’t think they can possibly hold those numbers for very long.
EA added more than just the new squad though. We’re also getting a new objective player and, honestly, this might be one of the few good things EA has done with FIFA in awhile. Basically, by completing a very easy objective, you’ll unlock an 80-rated Odegaard. From there, you can upgrade the card by completing more objectives. Over the course of the next season, you can raise him all the way to an 87-rated player.
That’s awesome. The Storyline players they’ve been handing out during seasons have been pretty boring thus far. By the time you unlock them, the power curve has passed them. And so far, there hasn’t been any way to upgrade them. This move opens the door for that to finally happen. Sure, Odegaard can only get to an 87 overall, but it’s a fun grind to get there.
FIFA 20 is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. This is only the first day of Future Stars, so I would expect several more fun players to pop up. Fingers crossed for a new Kubo! But whatever you do, just remember, don’t spend FIFA points.


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The up and down sides of social media
Juliana D. Norwood | 1/18/2012, 5 p.m.
Social networking, which seems to have magically appeared on the stage only about 10 years ago, virtually dominates many American lives today, from the way we receive information, communicate, interact with one another to the way we do business.
In many cases, we tweet, text, link-in rather than talk. We carry electronic tablets to read books, magazines and newspapers, and we scroll through the Internet to catch up on what's happening around our cities, nation and world.
Technology has indeed made the world flat. Our heroes today are often computer geeks--Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and, to a lesser extent, Google founders Larry Page, Sergey Brin.
Our lives are circumscribed by such social networking sites as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, LinkedIn and numerous others.
A recent study by the Neilsen Co. found that social networking takes up more than 10 percent of the time that Americans spend online, with emailing ranking as the most popular mobile Internet activity.
Few would deny that a lot of good has come from these new forms of technology. Many businesspeople can say that even in the face of recession they have seen increases in sales due to their ability to reach untold numbers in cyberspace and better showcase their products and services. Long-lost family members and friends credit these sites for reuniting them. Some couples even meet their matches online.
But there are just as many downsides as upsides to social media--lack of privacy, loss of jobs to technology, the battle to maintain healthy human interaction, the inability to control what children see online and with whom they communicate, social media addiction, and the effects that it has on the environment.
Many people brush off any concerns about the lack of privacy, saying that people only expose as much as they want and insist that most forms of social media are equipped with privacy settings so individuals determine what strangers can know about them. But even with these nifty little privacy tools, it is still quite easy to get very private information on complete strangers.
Lately there has been a buzz arising for "Do Not Track" legislation. This isn't meant so much to stop Internet sleuths from tracking you, but more than likely to stop the giant companies who control these very forms of interconnectedness such as Facebook, Yahoo and Google from misusing your information.
Facebook has admitted that it tracks logged-in members, logged-off members and even non-members in a series of interviews with Byron Acohido in USA TODAY.
Facebook inserts a tracking cookie into your browser. If you have ever visited any Facebook page, even if you have never opened an account, Facebook keeps a running log of site preferences every time someone visits a webpage that has a Facebook "Like" button, or another Facebook plug-in. This plug-in works in conjunction with the cookie to alert Facebook of the date, time, web address of the page they went to, their IP address, screen resolution, operating system and browser version. In essence, by visiting Facebook they have just given Facebook the ability to create a profile of their Internet preferences, and Facebook can connect that to their computer's unique IP address. Google, Yahoo, and a plethora of other sites have similar capabilities.


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Tesco has called on the government to stop deforestation by encouraging insect farming, days after the supermarket was accused of dealing with “forest destroyers”.
According to a WWF report, insect meal could replace around 540,000 tonnes of soy – mainly used for animal feed – in the UK every year.
Over 100,000 hectares of rainforest is felled annually to grow soy.
Tesco claimed the UK was “lagging behind” other countries, and that the government should help insect farming grow through “financial incentives”.
READ MORE: Tesco accused of forcing out refugee charity
The EU is planning to legalise feeding insect protein to livestock, leaving Britain as one of the few European countries where it is still banned.
UK farms could produce around 240,000 tonnes of insect meal annually, the WWF believes.
“The development of alternative animal feeds like insect meal is vital in tackling the environmental impact of food production,” Tesco chief product officer Ashwin Prasad said.
“Retailers like Tesco and the food industry as a whole have a key role to play in scaling up the use of insect feed.
He added that the Big 4 grocer was testing insect meal in its seafood supply chain.
“Producing feed for the 80 billion animals reared for human consumption each year is putting immense pressure on our planet’s resources,” WWF executive director Mike Barrett said.
“It’s vital that the food we eat here in the UK isn’t driving deforestation overseas.
“We encourage the UK government and retail industry to take urgent action to get environmentally damaging practices out of our supply chains and off our shelves.”
The supermarket has sparked fury by purchasing meat from JBS, a company repeatedly linked to illegal deforestation of the Amazon.
Greenpeace protestors gathered outside Tesco’s annual general meeting last week to wave placards spelling “Forest Crime”.
“Tesco’s chicken is reared on soya that’s driving deforestation and fires across Brazil,” Greenpeace forests campaigner Elena Polisano claimed.
Activists have also stencilled “Tesco meat = deforestation” on around 200 stores, apparently planning to do so across the country.
“We require all our suppliers to meet our environmental and zero-deforestation standards,” a Tesco spokesperson told City A.M.
According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, over 290,000 acres of the Amazon rainforest was cut down in May.


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A NEW Tesco store will create 400 jobs at a struggling retail park.
West One, in Eccles, cost £53m to build and opened in November 2001.
But many of the 17 retail units have stood empty after firms including Gap and Adams closed their stores and no new tenants were found.
Developer PBN Holdings, owners of the shopping centre, hopes Tesco will spearhead a revival of the centre and boost the Eccles economy.
The town centre has suffered in recent years despite getting a £750,000 bus station, a Metrolink terminus, and a Morrisons superstore.
Morrisons has prospered but other stores on the main precinct have not benefited with shoppers travelling to the store via the Metrolink or by car.
PBN Holdings is proposing a new footbridge across the busy Gilda Brook Road into Eccles and a Tesco Extra store on the site.
It hopes to claw back customers being lost to the Trafford Centre, a little over a mile away.
The new store will be only slightly smaller than Morrisons just 300 yards from West One.
Patrick Kearney, of PBN said: "This £30m investment will not only transform West One, it will also provide a major boost for local employment and help to prevent the current leakage of customer spending from Eccles."
The 8,214sqm Tesco will create about 400 permanent jobs. A recruitment scheme will target the long-term unemployed, with help and advice given on making the application and interview skills. Those who complete a six-week training programme will be guaranteed a job.
Tesco Regeneration Partnership stores focus on improving numeracy and literacy and provide opportunities for lone parents, older people who have been made redundant, people who have never worked before and those with disabilities.
Deborah Hayeems, of Tesco, said: "In these tough conditions we feel our Regeneration Partnership is more important than ever. In a climate where many people are worried about job security, we are delighted to be creating further employment."
The plans can be viewed at www.the-extra-connection. co.uk
New Tesco to create 400 jobs
A NEW Tesco store will create 400 jobs at a struggling retail park. West One, in Eccles, cost £53m to build and opened in November 2001.


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A wild brawl broke out between two couples at a Walmart in New Jersey on Sept. 16.
The Daily Mail notes that the couples’ children watched as their parents fought near the jewelry section in the store.
Two little girls tried to break up the fight between the first couple — a woman and man both wearing black tops — and the second couple who wore red and burnt yellow shirts.
The fight ended with the couples being chastised by customers and Walmart staff for fighting in front of the children.
(Source: Daily Mail)


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Malaysia: Re-engineering the plastics industry for survival and growth
Date Published：1/20/2009 11:01:00 AM
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Yang Berhormat Tuan Haji Fadillah Bin Yusof ann
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Yang Berhormat Tuan Haji Fadillah Bin Yusof announced in November 2008 that "The plastics Industry must take cognizance of the challenges that global economies are currently facing, and determine the measures it can take to overcome these challenges". He was speaking at the opening of the 4th MPMA International Plastics Conference (MIPC), which is organized by the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA). The MIPC is a significant event as it provides companies in the plastics sector with information on the latest business technical developments and innovations that can be used as a springboard in the development for better products and an impetus to companies to invest in R&D activities. MPMA's President, Lim Kok Boon recognized that the Malaysian plastics industry has to overcome many challenges. In the same event, he said that "For the industry to sustain growth and be competitive in the dynamic global market, companies must look towards product and business improvements, be it in manufacturing excellence, in speed of production, in quality output or in product design". He added that for this to happen, the industry needs to look towards the latest in technology and know-how. He therefore urged its members to continue to invest in new technology/machines to remain competitive and to ensure consistent quality output. The MIPC themed "Re-engineering Your Business for Survival and Growth", has been a significant one for the plastics industry as it provides business information related to price trends of raw materials and its impact on future business; advanced technology that offers new business and growth potential for the industry; and information related to environment and recycling which will have an impact on the industry.
Capability upgrade neededLim also urged those in the plastics industry to adopt measures and strategies such as upgrading manufacturing capabilities by improving design capabilities, and moving towards being original design manufacturers (ODMs) instead of just being original equipment manufacturers (OEM) suppliers. He stressed that the industry needs to work towards creating own brands (OBMs) or collaborate with foreign partners to produce complete products and build successful brand names as well as strengthen R&D in partnerships/joint ventures with leading foreign companies with the technical know-how, given that USA and EU companies are looking at Asia as a manufacturing base. Much support is also being extended to boost the industry誷 capability. The 40-hectare Kertih Plastics Park (KPP) in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER), was officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in December 2008. The KPP is Malaysia's first fully integrated plastics park and the third in Asia. The park is in the vicinity of the Kertih Integrated Petrochemical Complex (KIPC) and the Petronas Polymer Technology Centre, and offers competitive advantages for potential investors. Plastic product companies investing in KPP can look to the state-of-the-art Petronas Polymer Technology Centre, set up last year, for technical support. Located near the main sources of polymer resins within the Kertih-Chukai-Gebeng petrochemical area, including the Gebeng Integrated Petrochemical Complex, KPP will also provide these companies convenient access to reliable and just-in-time feedstock supply, which means savings in logistics and warehousing costs, he said. Besides feedstock could also be readily imported via Kuantan Port. In addition, companies in KPP can take advantage of the proximity to the Kertih Port for liquid cargos and Kertih Terminal for dry and bulk cargoes, using centralized tankage and be linked to the Kuantanike
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text: News Scott's Switch 21 August 2012 Sarah Karmali Picture credit: GoRunway L'WREN SCOTT is to show during Paris Fashion Week for the first time. The designer has been a regular fixture on the New York Fashion Week schedule for the past 10 seasons - since her collection debut in 2007. It is thought that the primary reason behind the move is Scott wanting more time to work on her spring/summer 2013 show, which was originally scheduled for September 13. An exact date and time for the new show has yet to be confirmed, but Paris Fashion Week will run from September 24 to October 2. L'WREN SCOTT TALKS TO VOGUE The designer currently lives in Paris with partner Mick Jagger, which could point to the switch being made a permanent one.


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In our latest #90SecondsWith interview, we sat down with Ken Burns, who talks about his famous documentaries, his entrepreneurial career, and his connection to Steve Jobs.
In our latest #90SecondsWith interview, AOL co-founder Steve Case—who Forbes estimates is worth $1.3 billion—gives advice to entrepreneurs working to get their startups off the ground.
Could an innovative battery technology save the U.S. trillions of dollars and improve electric grid reliability?
This interactive infographic allows you to see firsthand what it’s like to be an entrepreneur in 10 major American cities. Using data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Enterprising Cities Regulatory Climate Index, the S.B.A., and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it ranks cities according to their regulatory environments and highlights relevant small business data for the states where these urban centers are located.
Amazon's dominance in e-commerce is under siege, as small- and medium-size businesses are increasingly collecting and analyzing the same kind of data that proved so valuable to the Seattle-based e-retailer amid a decades-long expansion. Though still in its very early stages, the democratization of the marketing analytics space is already having a profound impact on e-commerce, enabling small shops to compete against juggernauts for the first time. At the forefront of this emergent wave of disruption sits Springbot, an Atlanta, Georgia-based startup co-founded by Brooks Robinson, Joe Reger, and Allen Nance.
In honor of Father’s Day, we've created an infographic that explores how today's dads are like and unlike their own fathers both at work and at home.
The proliferation of dating sites and mobile-based apps offers a host of opportunities—and pitfalls—for male and female online daters alike. But have no fear: Online dating consultants are here to help.
David Thigpen isn’t your typical business owner. For one thing, he primarily works with prisoners and ex-convicts. For another, he decided to start his own company right about the same time he was sentenced to 25 years in a New York State penitentiary.
The produce business launched by Mark DeMichaelis’s grandfather is among a growing number of companies that are supporting the arts.
Tim Ryan, managing director at Kroll and former FBI cybersecurity expert, talks about the evolving risks facing companies today.


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Toluca hosts the food pairing of the 9th Chiles en Nogada Festival, which takes place from July 27 to September 30 in 16 State of Mexico municipalities.
16 chefs from Puebla, Morelos and the State of Mexico participate in the event, with dishes served in four courses, where expert chefs were in charge of preparing the chiles.
The president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant Industry and Spicy Foods (Canirac), in Edomex, Mauricio Massud Martínez, reported that 55 restaurants participate in the Festival and that for this year it is expected to exceed the goal of chiles sold, which is 110 thousand. To date, 60,000 have been sold.
Mexican chef Adolfo Flores stated that although the tastes of diners invite them to innovate and create new versions of Chile en Nogada, as it is a typical dish in Mexican cuisine, it seeks to preserve the classic and traditional flavors. For his part, chef Cristian Muñoz affirmed that each year there is a commitment to make a better dish.
They highlighted that in addition to the economic benefit generated by the Festival, one of the objectives is to preserve and enhance the gastronomy of Mexico.
For this edition of the Chiles en Nogada Festival, an economic benefit of more than 100 million pesos is expected, and more than 1,200 Mexican producers will benefit from this economic spill.


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For the first time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the marketing of e-cigarette products. The agency concluded that the three newly authorized products, all from R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, reduce smokers' exposure to harmful chemicals found in traditional cigarettes.
Those three products include the Vuse Solo electronic nicotine delivery system (e-cigarette) and the Vuse Solo tobacco-flavored cartridges. The Vuse cartridges contain 4.8% nicotine, which is in the moderate-to-high range. (Juul pods, for instance, come in 3% and 5% strengths, while other brands start as low as 1% and can exceed 5%.) However, along with this authorization, the FDA also denied 10 other marketing applications from R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company for flavored vape products. And the FDA is still evaluating the company's application for its Vuse Solo menthol flavor. Cartridges with flavors other than tobacco, like candy or fruit, may be more appealing to young people.
“Today’s authorizations are an important step toward ensuring all new tobacco products undergo the FDA’s robust, scientific premarket evaluation,” Mitch Zeller, J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said in a press release. “The manufacturer’s data demonstrates its tobacco-flavored products could benefit addicted adult smokers who switch to these products—either completely or with a significant reduction in cigarette consumption—by reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals.”
But Zeller noted that this authorization comes with continued monitoring to make sure the company complies with these regulatory requirements. The FDA will also be on the lookout to make sure that a large number of people who never smoked previously don't suddenly start using Vuse Solo devices and that the e-cigarettes don't find their way to young people. If that starts happening, Zeller said, “we will take action as appropriate, including withdrawing the authorization.” (As of December 2019, you have to be at least 21 years old to buy any tobacco product—including e-cigarettes—according to federal law.)
Vaping products like these have been available for years in the U.S. with little to no regulation. But after reports of rising rates of e-cigarette use and nicotine addiction among kids and teens, the FDA recently started reviewing the products on the market and cracking down on companies marketing their devices to young people. Ultimately, for the Vuse Solo products, the FDA found that the potential benefits to adult smokers outweigh the potential risks to kids and teens.
And the decision confirms what many addiction specialists and harm reduction experts have said previously: While it would be ideal for people to neither smoke nor vape, e-cigarettes are the decidedly healthier option and may help some people curb their exposure to the dangerous chemicals in combustible cigarettes. There are other nicotine replacement options that are proven to help people quit smoking, like patches and lozenges, which should still be the first choice for smoke cessation. But those don't work for everyone, and not all smokers are ready to (or even want to) completely stop using nicotine. It's those who've tried the other nicotine replacements options out there without success who may get the most benefit from switching to e-cigarettes, experts told SELF previously.
But without a ton of data on each and every e-cigarette product on the market, consumers haven't had much guidance when picking a device. And it's been challenging to balance the preferences of adult consumers with the need to keep vapes out of kids' hands. These actions from the FDA, including the authorization of just tobacco-flavored cartridges, may pave the way forward for a better-regulated vape market.


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Publix is among a growing number of companies recalling certain desserts for possible Listeria contamination.
The Lakeland, Fla., company announced this week its Publix Premium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream has been voluntarily recalled because the Aspen Hills cookie dough pieces inside the product may have Listeria monocytogenes.
Blue Bell, Blue Bunny and Chocolate Ice Cream Shoppe, which also use Aspen Hills as a supplier, recalled products this week for the same issue.
"As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted product has been removed from all store shelves," said Maria Brous, Publix media and community relations director. "To date, there have been no reported cases of illness."
Publix sold the ice cream at stores in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. The product has a UPC of 000-41415-03843 and a sell-by date of May 27, 2017 on the bottom of the half-gallon container.
Click here for more information.
Here is a roundup of other Aspen Hills-related Listeria recalls this month:
- Blue Bunny:
- Blue Bell:
- Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company:
Unrelated to Aspen Hills, Nestle USA has also recalled its Drumstick Club 16 count Variety Pack and 24 count Vanilla Pack due to the possibility of Listeria. Each product was made in California and distributed to retailers across the U.S.
"The company received positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes (LM) from equipment contact surfaces from a location on the production line where these products are made," Nestle said in a statement. "There have been no positive test results for LM present in the Drumstick cones themselves. The products impacted by the voluntary recall were put into distribution inadvertently."
Listeria can cause serious, sometimes fatal infections in certain people, especially young children, those who are frail or elderly, pregnant women and others with weakened immune systems. Short-term symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.


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Omaha, NE – Scooter’s Coffee, the Midwest-based coffee franchise that has experienced tremendous growth over the past year, is joining coffee lovers everywhere in celebrating National Coffee Day on Saturday, September 29.
Scooter’s Coffee will offer free, hot brewed coffee, any size, to anyone visiting a Scooter’s Coffee location.
“Our patrons are very passionate about their coffee,” said CEO Todd Graeve. “We wanted to give back to our loyal customers for National Coffee Day and treat them to their morning cup of coffee. Our amazing customers have supported us for 20 years, and we’re excited to experience the next 20 years with them.”
Since Scooter’s Coffee is fueling its fans with a free brewed coffee on National Coffee Day, the brand wants to know who fuels its fans on a daily basis. Starting on September 24, customers are encouraged to visit facebook.com/scooterscoffee and nominate a significant person in their life that inspires them every day. One lucky winner will receive free coffee for a year. Nominations will be accepted through Saturday, September 29.
In addition, on National Coffee Day, Scooter’s Coffee fans can upload a coffee selfie to Instagram or Twitter and hashtag #ScootersCoffeeDay. The brand will then review the posts and select winners at random for Scooter’s Coffee swag, gift cards and more!
Following National Coffee Day, on October 1, fall fanatics can rejoice with the return of the Caramel Apple Butter Latte. This fall favorite combines apple butter flavor, caramel and espresso for the perfect drink to cozy up with. The Caramel Apple Butter Latte will be available for October only.
About Scooter’s Coffee
Founded in 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles in Bellevue, Nebraska, Scooter’s Coffee roasts only the finest coffee beans in the world at its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. In more than two decades of business, Scooter’s Coffee’s success is simple: stay committed to the original business principles and company core values. The Scooter’s Coffee Brand Promise, often recited to franchisees, customers and employees is: “Amazing People, Amazing Drinks… Amazingly Fast!®” It represents the company’s business origins from 1998 and reflects a steady commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to loyal and new customers.
Scooter’s Coffee specializes in hand-tamped espresso drinks, fruit smoothies, baked-from-scratch pastries and features its signature drink, the Caramelicious®. The company also serves a line of hot and iced organic teas, single-origin coffee and the original Cold Brew & Cream. This year, one of Scooter’s Coffee’s drink innovations includes Red Bull Infusions.
Scooter’s Coffee is at the dawn of a strategic growth phase in the Midwest and nationwide. The U.S. coffee market is an estimated $48 billion a year recession-resistant industry, and Scooter’s Coffee is striving to become the #1 drive-thru coffee franchise in the nation. Visit ownascooters.com to learn more about the benefits of owning a franchise of a well-established company.
For more information, visit scooterscoffee.com, facebook.com/scooterscoffee, ownascooters.com or call 877-494-7004.
SOURCE Scooter’s Coffee


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Four years ago, BWG was in a spot of bother, with piles of debt and vulture funds looking to finish it off and sell its organs to the highest bidder. Enter – as you are well aware – SPAR South Africa, which bought the business for €55m, lock, stock, barrel and €130m worth of debt. In 2017, BWG showed turnover of €1.4bn, with operating profit of €33.3m, and they’re expecting profit growth in the double digits this year. “[SPAR] would tell you that we've outperformed, above their expectations, which is great because from their perspective it was a big move for South Africa to invest in Ireland," says ebullient Irish CEO Leo “The CEO” Crawford. After the SPAR transaction, BWG went on to acquire rival Londis, and have just been given the nod by the authorities to buy 4 Aces, a supplier to other rival Gala, and who knows whether Gala itself might not be next. Certainly Mr Crawford isn’t saying.
Comment: The gift that keeps on giving for SPAR, whose move to diversify at a critical time will surely find a place of honour on the business’ figurative mantelpiece one day.


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Joe Pompliano, the founder of Huddle Up, a media platform that breaks down the business and money behind sports, is known for revealing the remarkable amounts of money made by some of the biggest stars in the world, and has this time lifted the lid on tennis great Roger Federer.
According to Pompliano, Federer turned down a sponsorship deal worth £7million from sporting giant Nike three years ago, before going on to make a huge £440million with the lesser known brands Uniqlo and On Running.
Federer and Nike parted ways in 2018, allowing the Swiss star to find a new clothing and footwear deals elsewhere.
Is Roger Federer the greatest tennis player of all time? Let us know your view in the comments section below.
In a thread on Twitter, Pompliano revealed Uniqlo swooped in to partner up with the 40-year-old, agreeing to pay him £220million over 10 years – three times more than what he received from Nike annually.
Federer’s Uniqo deal does not include a retirement clause, while it also only covers clothing and not trainers, meaning the Swiss was able to find a separate deal for footwear elsewhere.
Federer continued to wear Nike on his feet without being paid, but after wearing shoes made by On Running while in training, Federer then signed an equity deal as well as becoming a global ambassador of the Swiss brand.
Federer now owns three percent of On Running, which means his stake is worth around £220million, as On Running was valued at £7.4billion after going public.
Pompliano finally rounded up his remarkable findings by explaining that after leaving Nike’s £7million deal, Federer went on to make a combined £440million thanks to his new sponsorship and business venture.
After revealing all about Federer’s substantial sponsorship earnings, Pompliano finished off his tweet by talking about the impressive charity work the Swiss carries out with his wealth.
Federer has spent £11million on opening 80 schools in Africa, while spending over £700,000 on meals for African children whose schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Read Full Article


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Remember the early days of web browsers/ Netscape Navigator proved to be hands-down the winner, the 800lbs gorilla among the crowd, but eventually, it resembled more of a dinosaur and went extinct rather than thrive like mammals. According to analysts over at Net Applications have come up with a rather startling and interesting conclusion, that around the world, Microsoft’s different versions of Internet Explorer still remain the most widely used web browser among PC owners. StatCounter, however, says otherwise, touting that Google’s Chrome is top dog in the world of PC web browsers.
How did Net Applications and StatCounter arrive at their respective conclusions? Well, they too, cast a glance at the big picture where recording browser use is concerned. Based on a survey of 7,295 IT workers, it seems that the firm Internet Explorer still commands a market share of 40.2% in businesses, while Google’s Chrome remains some ways behind at 27.9%, with Firefox in third place at 25.4% and Apple’s Safari web browser far down the rungs at fourth with a mere 1.8%. Quick, take a glance at all the cubicles in your office, which web browser version are they using?


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UK and Australia conclude post-Brexit trade deal
THE UK and Australia have finalised a post-Brexit trade deal, the first post-Brexit deal that goes beyond rolling over a previous EU relationship, reports Bloomberg News.
The agreement includes controversial provisions to open up the British market to Australian agricultural goods.
The UK government predicts a 0.08 per cent boost to GDP over the next 15 years, with international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan declaring it as a benefit of leaving the EU.
The final text will ease business travel between the UK and Australia, and give British services firms more access to the Australian market.
“Today we demonstrate what the UK can achieve as an agile, independent sovereign trading nation. This is just the start as we get on the front foot and seize the seismic opportunities that await us on the world stage,” said Ms Trevelyan.


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Currently we have re-launched services at 10am. However, we recognize that COVID has shifted the way we do things.
- 10am services online will continue
- Additional safety measures have been put in effect for Eastside Kids, details below
- Please stay home and participate in the online services and activities if you or your child:
- Has had a fever in the past 14 days.
- Shows any symptoms of COVID-19.
- Has been around anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.


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‘Anna Rexia’ Halloween Costume Pulled From Shelves
Hmmm…what to be for Halloween this year? There are the old standbys â€“ French maid, naughty nurse, slutty school girl â€“ or I can really mix it up and be an eating disorder. That’s right, there’s an actual costume, called “Anna Rexia,” which is a play on anorexia nervosa (you know, that hilarious mental illness with a crazy high mortality rate). The costume consists of a black mini-dress with a skeleton on it, a tape measure and a hairpiece in the shape of a bone.
Who comes up with these things?!
The costume has apparently been around for a couple years now, but since Halloween is just around the corner, it has begun surfacing once again. And, not surprisingly, it’s pissing people off. Online costume retailer Ricky’s, for one, is under major scrutiny for selling it on its website. In fact, it removed the costume within one hour of posting it because people were complaining.
According to Gothamist, a Ricky’s rep said, “We seriously apologize if this costume has offended anyone. The costume has been taken down from our store due to complaints and we didn’t realize the kind of harm this would cause.”
Didn’t realize?! Look, I like to think I have a pretty good sense of humor (I even plan on buying some “Schweddy Balls” ice cream once it’s out!). But this just takes ‘offensive’ to a whole new level. Anyone who has been affected by an eating disorder â€“ or really anyone who has a brain-slash-heart â€“ knows that it’s a serious condition. And with children as young as five years old being hospitalized for the disorder, it’s no laughing matter.
Oh, and P.S., the costume comes in a plus-size version as well. WTF?!


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Irish Toll Charges To Increase
Irish toll chargers are to increase from January 1st 2023. The price increase coincides with the current rate of inflation. The inflation rate has increased by 8.6% from August 2021 to August 2022.
It is reported that the tolls can be increased further beyond this rate. There are 10 tolls on the national network. Eight of them are run through public-private partnerships (PPPs), while two, the M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel, are run by Transport Infrastructure Ireland directly (TII). The Dublin Port Tunnel is the only route that will not be affected by price increases.
New Price of M50 Tolls
The tolls will increase by 20 or 30 cents per trip depending on the payment method. For tag users, they will rise from €2.10 to €2.30, while those captured on video will rise from €2.70 to €2.90.
For the past ten years, there have been no price increases for cars purchased using the tag payment system.
Depending on the size of the vehicle and the manner of payment, the cost for goods vehicles travelling on the M50 will also increase by between 20 cents and 60 cents every trip.
the M50 brought in €140 million in tolls and fines last year
Public-Private Partnership Tolls
As part of their annual plans, the eight other toll roads run by PPP companies submitted their toll price calculations to be increased to the maximum level.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland examined and approved these increases.
With the exception of 2022, the TII reported that these tolls had barely increased over the past ten years.
The cost to drive on the M4 will increase by 20 cents, from €3.00 to €3.20.
The remaining seven toll highways (M1, M3, M7/M8, M8, N6, N25WF, and N18-LT) will cost 10 cents more to drive on.
Dublin Port Tunnel will not see a price increase. HGVs currently use the Port Tunnel free of charge and this will also remain the same.


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2016 Mazda Mazda6
The Mazda 6 is a good counterpoint to the relentlessly functional four-doors pitched to families. It's no Passat or Altima: it's an evocative, sleek sedan with some of the best road manners in its class.
The 2015 Ford Edge, for which we posted our first driving impressions this past week, has been fully redesigned to fit right in with Ford’s latest lineup of cars and crossovers, and reengineered to have a far more refined yet responsive freel from the driver’s seat.
Much has changed in the compact-sedan class over the past five years or so. And even though both the Chevy Cruze and Hyundai Elantra are hardly the freshest faces in their class, they're quite highly rated here.
Aston Martin Vanquish-based 'Thunderbolt' from Henrik Fisker Design and Galpin Auto Sports
If you ever wondered what the latest Aston Martins may have looked like if Henrik Fisker was still penning them—recall that Fisker helped design the current DB9 and Vantage—then wonder no more as the Danish designer and entrepreneur, who is now running his own design firm, HF Design, has created a new car based on the bones of the current Vanquish supercar.
When GM launched its redesigned Malibu in 2008, it garnered immediate critical praise, proving that GM hadn't entirely ceded the mid-size market to Honda and Toyota. The seventh-generation car was a major victory for then GM vice chairman Bob Lutz, and would go on to win the coveted North American Car of the Year award.
It was like 2014’s spectacular season for Mercedes AMG never ended, with the team finishing up yesterday’s 2015 Formula One World Championship season opener, the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park, with a decisive one-two finish.
2012 Toyota RAV4 EV, Newport Beach, California, July 2012
Certain 2012 through 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV electric cars will be recalled to address a flaw in the software of the vehicles' Tesla-supplied electric-motor assemblies. The affected vehicles may spontaneously shift into neutral while in motion, resulting in a complete loss of motive power.
The Nissan Leaf is by far the highest-volume electric car ever sold, with total sales now approaching 200,000 units. First launched for 2011, the Leaf got some updates in the 2013 model when production for North American sales moved from Japan to Smyrna, Tennessee.
Few topics get our commenters more riled up than ethanol. Both sides weigh in with fervor and passion, debating energy security versus agricultural policies and costs, comparing studies on wells-to-wheels carbon dioxide profile versus the impact on older engines, and more.


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You can’t put lipstick on a pig. And you can’t make business year 2020 look any better for the commercial radio industry in the United States. It simply sucked.
And here’s a new chart that shows the big hurt that COVID-19 put on the industry.
“As anticipated, the radio industry took a very big hit in 2020 due to the pandemic and subsequent cutbacks in overall spending activity,” said BIA Advisory Services in its announcement.
“According to the first quarter edition of BIA Advisory Services’ 2021 Investing In Radio Market Report, over-the-air advertising revenues dropped to $9.7 billion, a 23.6% decline from $12.8 billion in 2019.”
Even hardened radio sales veterans may swallow hard when they hear that the industry’s revenue fell below the $10 billion mark.
BIA said digital ad revenues at stations “demonstrated their continued strength,” declining only slightly to $939 million in 2020 versus $1 billion in 2019.
Still, that’s the first time in memory when the digital portion of our radio industry’s revenue went south in a given year.
SVP and Chief Economist Mark Fratrik said in the announcement, “Local radio stations have been feeling the impact of new competition for the past few years; unfortunately, the pandemic just exacerbated the problem and it will take some time to recover.”
Even though those blue digital columns are still pretty small compared to the green OTA ones, he called online digital advertising radio’s “shining star.”
“Those broadcasting groups that have invested-in and oriented their companies toward digital will benefit faster from that foresight.”
The green lines in that chart start to grow again because Fratrik thinks 2021 total local radio revenue will be $11.7 billion, with about $1 billion from online revenues, a 9.7% increase.
Another measure of the economic lockup: BIA said station sales transactions fell “to levels that hadn’t been seen in years.”
It counted 534 stations sold in 2020 for an estimated value of $139 million, “a stark contrast from the 1,080 sold in 2011 for $1.1 billion.”


text: Posted in TurkeyTurkey cars sales in May 2016 almost recovered all the negative gap July 4, 2016 Turkey cars sales in May 2016 almost recovered all the negative gap with year to date sales down only 0.2% Fueled by the Clio wonderful score, Renault gained the market leadership.This content is for Annual Base Membership members only.Log In RegisterShare this:ShareLinkedInFacebookTwitterRelated ArticlesTurkey Autos Market in April 2016 fell down. Renault jumped on topTurkey car sales penalized in January by the previous year rush.Turkey Autos Market starts the 2016 down. New Fiat Aegea already in second place.Turkey car market flat in July, breaking negative string! Toyota up, Renault down.2014 Turkey automotive sector struggles hit by huge domestic market fall.Turkey car sales in April 2012: the 9th drop in a row. Fiat leadership is under VW attackTurkey: Light Vehicle Sales Summary: Top Brands and Models ranking.Turkey: car market is hot and in May rose 15%. Fiat was back market leader.


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SUNNYVALE, CA -- 11/30/16 -- QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QUIK), a developer of ultra-low power programmable sensor processing, display bridge and programmable logic solutions, today announced a strategic initiative to substantially broaden its market reach. The company will selectively license its proprietary ultra-low power programmable logic technology under the trade name ArcticPro™ eFPGA.
This embedded FPGA initiative is being launched in conjunction with a partnership agreement jointly announced today by GLOBALFOUNDRIES and QuickLogic. This partnership enables SoC design companies to acquire a license from QuickLogic to embed ArcticPro ultra-low power eFPGA technology in designs targeting GLOBALFOUNDRIES' new power and cost optimized 22nm FDSOI fabrication technology, which is scheduled for production in 2017. ArcticPro IP is also available now for designs targeting GLOBALFOUNDRIES' widely used 65nm and 40nm fabrication technologies. QuickLogic expects to announce additional foundry partners in the future.
According to research firm Markets&Markets, the embedded semiconductor intellectual property market is expected to grow from $3.09 Billion to over $7 Billion by 2022. One of the primary drivers behind this growth is the expected rapid expansion of the IoT market, which is forecasted to reach nearly $11 Billion by 2022. This growth opportunity presents SoC designers with new challenges.
Unlike the mobile market, which is dominated by smartphones, the IoT market includes an extremely wide variety of end products and product variants that are difficult to address with a single fixed SoC design. This fact, combined with the steadily rising cost of bringing SoC devices to market, is prompting the trend to increase the flexibility of SoCs to accommodate a wider selection of end product designs. At leading edge fabrication nodes, this is economically accomplished with embedded programmable logic.
"With nearly three decades of experience in developing ultra-low power and silicon efficient programmable logic technology and design tools, QuickLogic is in a unique position to support the rapidly growing need to add flexibility to SoC designs," said Brian Faith president and CEO of QuickLogic. "This strategic initiative enables us to leverage years of investment and experience to substantially expand our reach into markets we were not previously addressing directly."
To further lower design risks and speed the implementation of ArcticPro eFPGA technology in new SoC designs, QuickLogic will introduce the new Borealis™ Design Tool Suite in Q1 2017. These tools will enable SoC designers to easily evaluate, target and define custom eFPGA logic cell array sizes and generate all the necessary design files for SoC integration.
ArcticPro eFPGA IP is currently available for designs targeting GLOBALFOUNDRIES 65nm and 40nm processes and will be available with the new 22nm FDX process in 2017. Availability with other leading foundry partners will be announced in 2017.
QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QUIK) enables OEMs to maximize battery life for highly differentiated, immersive user experiences with Smartphone, Wearable and IoT devices. QuickLogic delivers these benefits through industry leading ultra-low power customer programmable SoC semiconductor solutions, embedded software, and algorithm solutions for always-on voice and sensor processing. For more information about QuickLogic, visit www.quicklogic.com.


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According to a report by SamMobile, Samsung is currently developing a new app called Private Share, which will reportedly leverage the power of the blockchain to ensure a more secure file transfer.
According to the report, both the sender and recipient will need to have the Private Share app installed on their device. The sender will then send a transfer request which, when accepted by the recipient, will create a channel and initiate the transfer.
The sender will also be able to set an expiration date for the files. Once the expiry date has passed, the shared files will be automatically and permanently deleted from the recipient’s device. Recipients will further be prevented from taking screenshots and resharing such files with other people. The report does, however, point out that it is impossible to offer protection from taking videos or pictures of the information using external devices.
The report suggests that we should see the implementation of Private Share with Samsung’s new line of smartphones in early 2021.
Samsung is no stranger to blockchain technology. With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S10, Samsung introduced a blockchain wallet for users to securely store their Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The smartphone manufacturer also recently partnered with crypto exchange Gemini, allowing users of the blockchain wallet to directly buy and sell crypto.


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Despite reaching end-of-support this year, Windows XP remains in second place behind Windows 8 and WIndows 8.1.
Latest from Zack Whittaker
With Windows 8.1 just out the door, Windows 9 is slated for a late 2014 release. With little to go on except sheer creativity and a bevy of ideas, designers and enthusiasts have published what they think the next-generation desktop, notebook, and tablet software should look like.
When Android first launched, it was widely panned by critics and consumers alike. Five years later, it’s installed on more than half of all U.S. devices. Despite its initial struggles, Windows RT could still strike it lucky, according to two of the chipmaker's product executives.
The PC maker, which recently revamped its range of business devices, says Windows 8 has barely made a dent in its enterprise customer base, despite the push away from Windows XP.
The German government says Windows 8 and TPM 2.0 chips, used in conjunction, can increase security but have the potential to reduce a user's control over software and hardware. The common-sense advice for government IT experts has been distorted by some observers into wild claims of "backdoors" or spying by the U.S. National Security Agency, or the Chinese.
June usage share statistics show that while IE10 is gaining traction thanks to support in Windows 7, IE8 remains on top. Meanwhile, Windows 8's usage share has finally surpassed Vista's share.
The mobile phone giant is waking up to the fact that the Android and iOS bubble may pop, and it needs a fallback plan. Given a choice between Windows Phone and BlackBerry...
The tech media, and unlikely mainstream outlets, have given Microsoft a beating over the past year. But in recognizing the difficulties with Windows 8 (and Windows RT), the software giant is eating humble pie. Here are the next steps Microsoft should take with the Windows Blue update.
Microsoft sold about the same number of Windows 8 licenses in six months after release as it did with Windows 7. But its usage share stands at one third of what Windows 7 had in the same time. There's a disconnect between what's being sold and what's being used. Here's why.
Microsoft flips the 'off' switch on Windows XP and Office 2003 support a year from now, and with no more security updates and patches coming, corporate security could be at risk.


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What were you saying? Oh yes… Toy companies are trying to cash in on the power of the mind with various electronic products claiming to hone concentration skills.
First, it was a helicopter that can be moved by focused thought, and now there’s computer games controlled directly by brainpower and designed to help children become more attentive.
Instead of using a game controller or a mouse, players of computer game “Focus Pocus” make virtual characters run, jump or fly, by wearing a headset and staring at a screen. The headset picks up on electrical activity along the scalp and transmits commands to the computer.
Hong Kong toy company Me100fun has imported three of the Focus Pocus sets from the United States, offering them for sale for HK$1,280 (US$165) to HK$1,980, Ming Pao Daily reported Thursday.
“We believe that the games can help children to learn to concentrate and relax, and can help children who are hyperactive,” Me100fun’s manager was quoted as saying.
If that doesn’t get your attention, Puzzlebox Orbit could be the go.
It’s a brain-controlled helicopter that users move around a cage with a headset and the power of concentration, according to the product’s official page.
Besides being fun, the gadget can also be used to practice staying focused or for mental relaxation.
It’s now available in Hong Kong for HK$2,680, Apple Daily reported earlier this year, citing Francis Jone, managing director of local company JC International Group Ltd.
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China Telecom recently announced that the company had signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Meituan Dianping.
According to the agreement, the two parties will use their respective resource advantages to implement cooperation in six major sectors, including 5G intelligent connection business and service, new retail O2O channel model innovation, enterprise service and Internet infrastructure construction, Internet of Things ecology, artificial intelligence, and capital operation.
Wang Guoquan, deputy general manager of China Telecom, said that external cooperation enhancement is a necessary measure for innovative development and core competitiveness improvement. At present, global consumer behaviors are changing and digitalization and internetization are the future trend. Innovative models like new retail are emerging and new technologies like 5G and edge computing are driving the transformation and upgrading of the information industry. China Telecom will follow the trend and promote its online sales service ability improvement and sales service digital transformation.
In their future cooperation, China Telecom and Meituan will focus on a customer-oriented concept to jointly launch products and services to meet customer demands.
China Telecom said that with the strategic cooperation, the two parties will further expand their cooperation space, enhance cooperation strength, improve strategic partnership, and create more cooperation achievements.


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Cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient in cannabis, but without the high, has been finding its way into everything from dog treats to coffee and body lotion to bath bombs. With that growing popularity comes questions about how CBD should be regulated.
The Food and Drug Administration treats substances derived from CBD just like any other substances and they are subject to the same authorities. However, as laws and the market for CBD have changed, the FDA has made it clear that its role in the regulation of CBD also is evolving.
Under its statutory authority, if a product is marketed as a drug, then it’s regulated as such and can’t be sold without FDA approval (or, in the case of an over-the-counter drug, an FDA monograph).
However, food and dietary supplements are regulated differently and it is illegal to market CBD as, or in, a dietary supplement.
In July, the FDA issued a warning letter to Curaleaf Inc., a Massachusetts-based company that sells products infused with CBD. The letter cited the company for marketing and selling a wide range of products and making “unsubstantiated claims that the products treat cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, opioid withdrawal, pain and pet anxiety, among other conditions or diseases.”
The FDA pointed to Curaleaf’s website, social media sites and blogs, in which the company promoted everything from pain-relief patches to CBD oil used to treat anxiety.
Curaleaf issued a press release in which it said it would review all of its claims and take action. It also noted that its products “are all derived from hemp and meet the requirements of the Farm Bill,” which in 2018 legalized the commercial production of hemp, so long as the THC concentration does not exceed 0.3 percent.
Shortly thereafter, the company scrubbed its website and deleted social media posts that the FDA determined to be in violation of federal law and FDA regulations.
Curaleaf isn’t the only company to have received a warning letter this year. In March, the FDA and Federal Trade commission jointly issued three warning letters to companies selling products containing CBD.
Relievus, a chain of pain clinics operating in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, received a warning letter citing unsubstantiated claims the company made about its products’ ability to limit, treat or cure a number of serious diseases and conditions including cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, autoimmune diseases, opioid use disorder.
Relievus also was told it was in violation of Federal Trade Commission rules regulating the advertising of their product.
Nutra Pure LLC, based out of Vancouver, Washington also receive a joint warning letter for marketing its CBD infused products as dietary supplements used to treat everything from anxiety to Alzheimer’s disease.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Pot Network Holdings was the third company to be cited for the sale and marketing of its Liquid Gold gummies and blue C.B.D. crystals isolate.
In May, the FDA conducted a public hearing to allow those who have a stake in the growing CBD industry to provide scientific data and other information related to cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds, including CBD.
FDA noted there are a number of questions that still need to be answered about the use of CBD products outside of the approved drug context. Among them are:
- How much CBD is safe to consume in a day? How does it vary depending on what form it’s taken?
- Are there drug interactions that need to be monitored?
- What are the impacts to special populations, like children, the elderly, and pregnant or lactating women?
- What are the risks of long-term exposure?
So far, the FDA has only approved the use of CBD as a treatment for two rare forms of epilepsy.
The FDA notes that it will continue to work toward a new regulatory framework for the use of CBD, while at the same time continuing to protect consumers from unsubstantiated claims.
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The information provided is meant to be a guide and not meant to be a substitute for professional advice. Readers are responsible for making their own assessment of the information presented here and any use of our products based on such information.


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Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. UBS Group started coverage on Apple in a report on Wednesday, September 12th. Maxim Group lifted their price objective on Apple to $221.00 and gave the stock an average rating in a report on Thursday, September 13th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Apple to $250.00 and gave the stock an average rating in a report on Wednesday. Argus lifted their price objective on Apple from $210.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, June 8th. Finally, BidaskClub raised Apple from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nineteen have issued a hold rating and thirty have issued a buy rating to the stock. Apple currently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $220.66.
AAPL stock traded up $5.01 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $225.43. 575,109 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 36,063,280. The stock has a market cap of $1,092.09 billion, a PE ratio of 24.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.33. Apple has a fifty-two week low of $150.24 and a fifty-two week high of $229.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.31.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 31st. The iPhone maker reported $2.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.18 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $53.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $52.43 billion. Apple had a return on equity of 43.50% and a net margin of 21.98%. Apple’s revenue was up 17.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.67 earnings per share. equities research analysts predict that Apple will post 11.76 earnings per share for the current year.
In other news, CEO Timothy D. Cook sold 265,160 shares of Apple stock in a transaction on Monday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.79, for a total value of $57,749,196.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Johny Srouji sold 14,140 shares of Apple stock in a transaction on Friday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $214.98, for a total value of $3,039,817.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 68,302 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,683,563.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 378,400 shares of company stock valued at $81,052,754. Company insiders own 0.08% of the company’s stock.
A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AAPL. Fort L.P. purchased a new stake in Apple during the second quarter valued at about $119,000. Delphi Private Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Apple during the second quarter valued at about $120,000. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Apple by 76.1% during the second quarter. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC now owns 699 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock valued at $129,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares during the period. Quattro Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Apple during the first quarter valued at about $133,000. Finally, Smart Portfolios LLC acquired a new position in shares of Apple during the first quarter worth about $134,000. 58.54% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Apple Company Profile
Apple Inc designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, and personal computers to consumers, and small and mid-sized businesses; and education, enterprise, and government customers worldwide. The company also sells related software, services, accessories, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications.
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In the past, gamers have had little reason to consider a Mac configuration for gaming. But according to Apple itself, that could change in the future. The Mac maker confirmed its plans to get serious about PC gaming in a recent interview, which could potentially make it more appealing to gamers.
“Of course, you can imagine the pride of some of the GPU folks and imagining, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be great if it hits a broader set of those really intense gamers,’” Apple vice president of platform architecture Tim Milet mused in an interview with Tom’s Guide. “It’s a natural place for us to be looking, to be working closely with our Metal team and our Developer team. We love the challenge.”
Apple’s embrace of PC gaming comes on the strengths of its M1 processor. The company had initially announced a timeline to transition away from Intel CPUs on the Mac at WWDC 2020. In the same interview, Apple executives stated that before the company could enter the gaming space, it had to make the Mac powerful and power-efficient.
In order to make the M1 processor a compelling switch for the company and devoted Mac fans, Bob Borchers, Apple vice president of worldwide product marketing, said that Macs have to retain strong battery life and deliver solid performance with Rosetta for emulation to make the transition from Intel CPUs as seamless as possible. With the 13-inch MacBook Pro delivering a stated battery life of 20 hours — Apple nearly doubled what was previously possible on a comparable Intel build — as well as subsequent reviews of the laptop that showed performance was no slouch, Apple is now setting a third goal for its M-series processors: Bringing gaming to the Mac.
Like Apple’s A-series processors on the iPhones and iPads that have turned the company’s smartphones and tablets into very capable portable consoles for casual gaming on the go, the M-series Mac CPUs combine ARM processing cores with custom integrated graphics cores. This is different from traditional PC gaming systems, which oftentimes are outfitted with powerful discrete graphics cards, like Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3000 series or rival AMD’s Radeon RX 6000 series. Apple will take the contrarian approach here, eschewing more powerful discrete GPUs for integrated graphics with the M-series.
However, with rumors swirling that future iterations of the M-series chips could come with as many as 16 or 32 graphics cores, Apple’s venture into gaming shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise. Gaming apps, after all, became a big catalyst for the iPhone’s early success when Apple brought the App Store to its smartphones. Apple likely wants to repeat history for the Mac. The 32-core M-series chipset was previously rumored for a future revision of the Mac Pro desktop, which if accurate, could radically transform Apple’s pro-grade workstation into a monster gaming rig.
Apple’s push into gaming also appears to be a natural evolution of the company’s business strategy. After years of investing in hardware sales, Apple is now looking to grow its services, which includes iCloud subscription plans, App Store and in-app purchases, Apple TV+ streaming, Apple Music, Apple News+, and more. Bringing gaming to the Mac would only grow the App Store catalog on the Mac and generate more revenue for the company.
It’s unclear what Apple’s long-term strategy for PC gaming on a Mac will be. Whether Apple will try to repeat the success of the iPhone by bringing casual, yet highly immersive gaming experiences to the Mac with a number of inexpensive titles or if it will work with developers to port AAA titles that are available on Windows platforms is unknown. Either way, the potential success of gaming on a Mac that’s powered by an M-series chipset should come as a credible threat to Intel — which is also developing its own discrete graphics cards — as well as GPU makers Nvidia and AMD.
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TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust.
Apple will now offer free recycling for all of its used products via its retail locations. After recently launching a mini site outlining how the company maintains its green efforts and with a new progress video on its upcoming eco friendly "Spaceship" campus in Cupertino, now the company will take all your used Apple products to ensure they are properly recycled.
Apple already takes in iPhones and iPods at a number of its global retail locations that are of good enough quality in exchange for in-store credit. According to reports, Apple has now extended the program and will be offering both recycling and gift cards (on products in good enough condition for resale) at all of its retail locations and for any of its products.
Apple's electronics recycling efforts extend much further than the new program mentioned above though, the company has diverted more than 421 million pounds of gear from landfills since 1994 via various recycling programs. In locations where Apple doesn't have physical drop‑off/pickup locations it sets up events where the company arranges "for pickup, transport, and environmentally sound recycling of electronics," 90% of which aren't even Apple products.
In 2010, the company set a goal for itself to achieve a world wide recycling collection rate of 70% of the weight of products it sold to the public in years earlier. Apple said it has consistently hit 85%, as "others in the industry" are at about 20%.
Launched Monday, the mini site along with the new recycling initiative are nicely timed with Earth Day 2014 and coincide with VP of Environmental Initiatives Lisa Jackson's goal to push Apple as a leading innovator on environmentally conscious business practices.


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US$740M in crypto assets recovered in FTX bankruptcy, a fraction of the missing money
The company tasked with locking down the assets of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX said they've managed to recover and secure US$740 million in assets so far, a fraction of the potential billions of dollars likely missing from the company's coffers.
The numbers were disclosed on Wednesday in court filings by cryptocurrency custodial company BitGo, which FTX hired in the hours after the company filed for bankruptcy on November 11.
The biggest worry for many of FTX's customers is they'll never see their money again. FTX failed because its founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried and his lieutenants used customer assets to make bets in Bankman-Fried's trading firm, Alameda Research. Bankman-Fried was reportedly looking for upwards of $8 billion from new investors to repair the company's balance sheet.
The US$740 million figure is from Nov. 16, and since then additional assets have been steadily been recovered.
The assets recovered by BitGo are now locked in what is known as "cold storage" in South Dakota, which means they're cryptocurrencies stored on hard drives not connected to the Internet. BitGo provides what is known as "qualified custodian" services under South Dakotan state law. It's basically the crypto equivalent of financial fiduciary, offering segregated accounts and other security services to lock down digital assets.
The assets recovered include not only Bitcoin and Ethereum, but also a collection of minor cryptocurrencies that vary in popularity, such as the Shiba Inu coin.
California-based BitGo has a history of recovering and securing assets. They were tasked with securing assets after the cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox failed in 2014. The company is also the custodian for the assets held by the government of El Salvador.
Wouldn't it be nice to never have to work again? While this may sound like a dream to many, it is entirely possible. CTVNews.ca personal finance contributor Christopher Liew shares a handful of helpful tips on how to potentially achieve financial independence.
Recent homebuyers with variable-rate mortgages will find the adjustment to higher interest rates more painful, said Bank of Canada senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers.
Buying your first car can be as exciting as it is daunting. Whether you’re buying a car off the lot from a dealership or purchasing a car in a private sale, contributor Christopher Liew shares in an exclusive column for CTVNews.ca a few basic tips that you should always keep in mind.
In March 2022 alone, food banks across Canada had 1.5 million visits, a 15 per cent increase from the year prior and the highest recorded usage on record.
Many Canadians have one or two old credit cards that they no longer use. Before you jump to close your old, unused credit card, CTVNews.ca contributor Christopher Liew outlines some of the pros and cons of closing a credit card account, so you can make the most informed decision.
Canadians are buying less expensive food, stockpiling food and even eating less to cope with food prices as inflation soars, according to a new survey.
Most Canadian seniors would prefer to stay in their homes for as long as possible, what is referred to as aging in place, rather than in an assisted living facility, according to recent studies that have come out this year. Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew shares some practical tips on how to age in place, so you can continue living life on your terms.
With the holidays approaching, financial expert Robyn Thompson advises that now is the time to use old gift cards as rising inflation affects their purchasing power.


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Cryptocurrency wallet provider Blockchain.com has launched full support for altcoin Stellar (XLM), which will be followed by an airdrop of $125 million worth of XLM to its user base, the company announced in a blog post on November 6, 2018.
Stellar Foundation to Airdrop $150 Million in XLM
In celebration of adding full support for XLM in the Blockchain Wallet, and reaching 30 million users, the Blockchain Wallet will be giving away $125 million worth of XLM to its customers.
According to the company’s blog post, this will be the largest airdrop in the history of crypto and likely the largest consumer giveaway ever. The company said “blockchain airdrops” were a great way for crypto creators to drive decentralization and adoption for new networks.
Blockchain also said that the main benefit of crypto airdrops for consumers is that they are able to “test, trade, and transact” unfamiliar crypto assets without having to mine or invest first.
Blockchain CEO Peter Smith told Fortune the company is working with Stellar in part because he believes it represents a superior blockchain capable of massive transaction volumes. Blockchain said that it is not paying anything for the arrangement, but rather that Stellar is using its platform as a vehicle to distribute the lumen currency.
Blockchain’s Distribution Process
The team at the Stellar Development Foundation is hoping that the partnership will further the of XLM to rival other cryptocurrencies in the market. Jed McCaleb, the co-founder of Stellar, said:
“We believe that airdrops are central to creating a more inclusive digital economy. Giving away lumens for free is an invitation to communities to design the services they need.”
The team at Blockchain wallet states that once identity has been verified after signing up on the wallet, $25 worth of XLM will be distributed to each individual. Blockchain’s blog post also noted that there is a first-come-first-served clause in the airdrop that says the offer will only be available until the reserved supply of XLM is depleted.
Smith rejected the suggestion that Stellar Lumens was effectively paying people to use its platform, saying that there were plenty of reasons people would use the platform and that a $25 airdrop wasn’t enough to “entice your product forever.”
Smith added that it is not unusual for startups to offer users incentives to use their products. He cited the example of PayPal, which has admitted to paying early customers to use its product. PayPal co-founder Elon Musk has said the company spent as much as $70m on referral fees in its early years.
“It certainly worked,” Smith told Yahoo Finance. “This is probably, adjusted for inflation, about the same level.”


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Capcom Is Killing Monster Hunter Explore While It's Still In Soft-Launch
Goodbye, Monster Hunter Explore. We hardly knew ye.
If you were looking forward to Capcom's Monster Hunter Explore, you may be out of luck -- it looks like the game is actually being shut down while it's still in soft launch. That's definitely disappointing, especially since it was meant to release worldwide in the coming months.
Unfortunately it looks like this is very official since on July 23 Capcom put up a notice on the game itself making note that the game would cease in-app purchases on June 30 and then the entire game going offline in late July. That's a bummer, especially since not everyone got to experience the game just yet.
Apparently, it seems that perhaps the game may not have been exactly what Capcom was looking for or perhaps it just wasn't the success the company was hoping for. In any case, it looks like this is going to end up harming Capcom's already fractured public perception from mobile game enthusiasts. Hopefully this isn't indicative of any kind of trend going forward.


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Nagaland, India: The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited has recently felt delightful to announce that it will organise a two-day tribal artisan mela in the Wokha district of Nagaland starting on May 9.
The prime objective behind the mela is to find new craftsmen and new products at the sourcing level, as per the update shared by the Federation earlier this week. It further informed that similar mela will also be organised in other districts of Nagaland, including Mokukhung (on 12 and 13 May), Tuensang (on 15 and 16 May) and Phek (on 18 and 19 May).
In order to establish the details for the successful running of the mela, a meeting was conducted on Saturday at the office of the Wokha deputy commissioner with representatives from NGOs, civil organisations, business owners, and the Wokha Chamber of Commerce and Industries, among others.
Anuranjan Singh, a Wokha skill development official, emphasised the mela’s goals and objectives by stating that it will concentrate on increasing the number of tribal producers and items with tribal roots in various communities throughout the northeastern states.
It will also try to encourage people to start their own businesses.
In the mela, he said, artisans can display textiles and handicrafts, metalwork, jewellery, organic foods, and paintings.
In order for the selection committee to choose the items/products and bring them within the purview of the Supply Chain of Tribes India, Singh urged members of the scheduled tribe, SHGs, societies, and farmer-producer organisations to create enough samples of their goods.
After the selection process, Singh said, the products can be placed in retail establishments. He continued, “Product exhibitions will also be held and later posted in the e-commerce portal.”
“This partnership will significantly increase the visibility of tribal goods and improve the opportunities for tribal artisans in the district and the entire northeastern region to earn a living,” the official said.
As per the update, in order to register, the craftsmen must present ST certificates, Aadhar cards, PAN cards, bank passbooks, and passport photos.