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Managing the Unintended Consequences of Apartment Cleaning During COVID-19
Elevated levels of apartment cleaning are taking an expensive toll on various surfaces and fabrics in multifamily facilities, particularly due to cleaning agents either used incorrectly or not intended for constant use.
Apartment cleaning shifted into high gear with the onset of COVID-19, including deep cleansings of everything on the property. Surfaces, floors, appliances and just about everything else were scrubbed with potent disinfectants and sanitizers to prevent the spread of the virus.
More than a year later, however, the after-effects of frequent cleanings – some with harsh chemicals – are starting to show. Carpets are yellowing, doorknobs are changing colors and vinyl floors are pitting. Overuse and misapplication of disinfectants and sanitizers, some of which require personal protective equipment (PPE) to apply, are the likely suspects.
“This is a big topic,” Shaw Industries National Director Jim Mannes said during a recent cleaning podcast. “There are a lot of unintended consequences that we are seeing.”
Mannes said powerful products once reserved for annual deep cleanings have been used much more over the past year. Overuse, overspray and spreading by human feet are taking a toll on floors.
But other touch points are being affected inside apartments and common areas. Just about all interior finishes have in some way been exposed to chemicals used for disinfection and sanitization, despite precautions.
“When you consider the interior-built environment, a lot of these products as we know get spread around,” Mannes said. “Human beings are very efficient transporters of soil and contamination. Where you typically see that problem present itself is anywhere where you transition from a hard to a soft surface.”
The soup on the floor
Mannes has seen first-hand a lot of damage at apartment communities resulting from chemical over- application during apartment cleaning. Shaw Industries, a residential and commercial flooring supplier, is working to understand exactly the effects of quaternary and phenolic compounds and oxidizers used in disinfectants and sanitizers.
Use and handling of such chemicals require following directions to ensure proper application and, in some cases, personal protective equipment. In the hands of inexperienced users, the compounds can cause surface damage, even health issues.
Contributing to problems is periodic unavailability of certain cleaners because of short supply and unfamiliarity of substitutes among users. As demand for products accelerated, properties scrambled for products, sometimes taking what was available. It wasn’t uncommon for apartment maintenance teams to use a variety of disinfectants and sanitizers, each with their its own learning curve.
With it came the potential for misapplication and damage.
Mannes explains that in many cases, professional cleaners and facilities managers had limited access to disinfectants. They were sometimes gone overnight. They might have used one for a month and switched to another the next month. Mannes calls it “the proverbial soup on the floor.”
Taking care in apartment cleaning
This soup is showing up on plank flooring, tile, grout, carpet, as well as doorknobs and other surfaces. Eventually, the damage will have to be remediated – if it’s not too far gone. And identifying the source of the problem can take a little investigating.
Multifamily operators should ask the right questions when issues are discovered, says Mannes. “Engage that maintenance team,” he says. “Ask them to tell you what they’ve used.”
Also, always used manufacturer-approved products from reputable, compliant vendors.
He added that rental properties should always be diligent and careful about how disinfectants and sanitizers are applied, and wear the proper PPE equipment when applicable. Failure to follow safety procedures can result in hefty fines: since COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued millions in citations.
With this issue, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Shaw Research and Development has looked closely at the effects of many popular disinfectants and sanitizers on their flooring products. Most of the traditional products have negative long-term effects on interior flooring finishes.
Shaw did launch ‘Shaw Pure’ Disinfectant, Fungicide and Deodorizer in 2020 to offer their clients a product to safely treat interior finishes. For more info visit ShawPure.com
“Let’s be careful in cases where we don’t know what we are getting into,” Mannes says. “We want to raise awareness that this is undiscovered territory; we’re inheriting all the good and bad behavior from the past year, and we want to keep the good and eliminate the bad.”
Proper education on using cleaning chemicals is important for the safety of residents and staff, as well as protecting assets. Work with trusted and credentialed multifamily vendors to help maintain your property.


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The Biden administration plans to keep some Trump-era policies in place as it reins in China’s unfair trade practices. The top trade representative says she’ll talk to her Chinese counterpart as China failed to make good on its purchasing promises from 2020.
Biden’s New China Trade Plan Echoes Trump’s
NTD Business Oct 4, 2021
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May home sales rose 23%, but pending sales fell
Sales of single-family homes increased 23 percent in May in the Albany, New York, region compared to a year ago, but the real estate market appears headed for another slowdown, according to data released today.
A total of 723 new and existing houses were sold through the Capital Region Multiple Listing Service, compared to 587 in May 2009, according to preliminary figures released by the Greater Capital Association of Realtors.
GCAR represents agents in 11 counties, but the vast majority of sales occur in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties.
The big jump in closed sales was largely due to the federal government’s tax credit of up to $8,000 for homebuyers, GCAR said. Buyers had until April 30 to sign a purchase contract to qualify.
The torrid pace of closings will slow in the summer, GCAR predicted. That’s because the number of purchase contracts signed in May dropped 35 percent. It generally takes about two months for a pending contract to proceed to a closing.
“This is not unexpected,” GCAR President Laurene Curtin said. “We know that many homebuyers who would have otherwise gone to contract during May, June and perhaps even later pushed their purchase up to meet the April 30 deadline for the tax credit.”
The median sale price for a house fell 3 percent in May, to $184,000, compared to a year ago. The median is the point at which half of the prices were higher and half were lower.
The average price fell 2 percent, to $209,636.
The results were as follows in the four main counties:
Albany County: pending sales down 45 percent; closed sales up 17 percent; median price down 8 percent, to $191,000
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After old schools BMW 3-Series when the day of announcement it was 25 years ago. This 2014 BMW M3 was appeared on four different generations and evolved from a 2.3 liter inline-four cylinder engine with 200 HP to an impressive V8 hitting 420 HP. 2014 BMW M3 maybe not the best sport cars out there, but it have the most needed functions as sport cars such as extraordinary look, great performance, the best class handling, and a luxurious interior. The brand new 2014 BMW M3 concept was continuity from 2013 models which the sports car’s history will move on to its next chapter as BMW will be set to reveal the new generation M3.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu the first global version of the popular mid-size Chevy, has finally been revealed in 2011 New York Auto Show. 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was revealed one day before at 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu concept will take all of modernism of car design include exterior and interior of the car. Like 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T in New York 2011 Auto Show, the Chevy got many eyes look on its beautiful modern design style. The new Malibu is 4.5 inches smaller in wheelbase at 107.8 inches, and it’s 191.3 inches long–but an inch wider.
The new 2012 Subaru FT86 will be revealed on Tokyo Auto Show according to topspeed informations. This new 2012 Subaru FT86 will be unveiled its new details actually in this later year and will be expected a longer than average life cycle for the car and is looking at variant packages. 2012 Subaru FT86 is including with a possible STI version which as the usual STI models are all about being turbocharged, the FT-86 STI will keep the engine naturally aspirated. This car will be offered a new performance driving experiences.
On New York 2011 auto show, Dodge was revealed the new 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T. The 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T models will be distinguished by the rest of the Avenger type of Dodge cars. 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T will show its future sporty design with a sportier look that includes a unique body-color grille with the Dodge badge, menacing black headlamp background, the war paint motif R/T decal on the front quarter panel, a rear spoiler, the R/T badge, and a new set of 18 inch aluminum wheels. Like Dark Blue 2011 302 Ford Mustang Unveiled by SMS Supercars, this car show the latest sporty style to its fans.
Although Lamborghini was prepare to replace the Gallardo with the more powerful car rumored named Cabrera in 2013 SR Auto Group was not finish to presents you tons of tuning packages for the Lamborghini Gallardo. This 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo was very exciting to review with its pure black design like an Devastator. Of course SR Auto Group was named this latest project Devastator which tuned from a 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo. Actually, a lot of best tuning will probably come from SR Auto Group who seem to gravitate towards the vehicle in every other project they undertake.
Related Auto Show & Car Showoff for 2014 auto show in naples florida at AutoCarShowOff.com
Today without being noticed by many people in the world, Suzuki was design a concept of their new mid-size sedan, Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge they named it. The Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge was adapted eco green concept which will be a future technologies. Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge was featured in Suzuki’s first-ever Super Bowl ad, a modified version [...]
2013 Chevrolet Malibu the first global version of the popular mid-size Chevy, has finally been revealed in 2011 New York Auto Show. 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was revealed one day before at 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu concept will take all of modernism of car design include exterior and interior of the car. [...]
Lamborghini was introducing their brand new supercar limited edition named 2012 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento which bring cool side of sportcar in mens color. 2012 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento reported will be arrive in October 2011, they will produce this supercar only 20 units and each carrying a price tag of 1.9 million euro, or about $2.8 [...]
After last year of Peugeot RCZ Asphalt and this year with the new 2011 Peugeot RCZ Asphalt LE, and what the differents of both of it? This brand new car is only limited into 75 units for right hand drive at UK and the goal is 500 unit at end of this year. The price [...]
Unveiling their old 326 series car which has been modernism to 2011 BMW 328 Hommage and got the best looking sport car concept make BMW so proud of it. The systematic design of this BMW 328 Hommage was make its successful at the world of sport car. The BMW 328 Hommage success was given by [...]
Minagi compact crossover concept was released for new 2012 Mazda CX5 since 2011 Geneva Motor Show. But in that time is only the concept of this awesome 2012 Mazda CX5 which has been hinting at production of its attractive. At New York 2011 Auto Show Mazda was finally released the true car named 2012 Mazda [...]
Whatever Murcielago is not the future of Lamborghini anymore, but it certainly doesn’t mean that we’ve seen the last of this highly popular supercar. Lamborghini Murcielago can be sure tuned by tuning companies like Wheelsandmore which are still around. This 2011 Lamborghini Murcielago LP720-4 Final Edition is pretty sick projects in the past have outdone [...]
2012 Mazda3 is the brand new little compact car from Mazda that showed off at New York 2011 Auto Show. This 2012 Mazda3 coming with a mid cycle refresh that not only provides a refined exterior and interior. 2012 Mazda3 performance is dishes out a new engine that utilizes Mazda’s innovative SKYACTIV fuel saving and [...]
The famous cars with the latest tuning program for the luxury sports saloon from Porsche comes courtesy of Vorsteiner. This 2011 Porsche Panamera comes with German tuning firm which released their new V-PT body kit for the Panamera, one that includes a plethora of materials made using carbon fiber and finished in multiple layers of [...]
2012 Subaru Impreza was release the first debut at New York 2011 Auto Show with despite initial fears the design of the new small car. 2012 Subaru Impreza is also 30 percent more fuel efficient than the model it replaces, making the new 2012 range the most fuel efficient all-wheel drive car on the market. [...]


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MULTINATIONAL BOOST. Of course, some sectors stand to do better than others. The biggest winners from a typical dollar decline are suppliers of consumer staples, energy, materials, and technology, while laggards tend to be financial services, utilities, and telecom, Merrill says.
Better results are already showing for U.S. multinationals such as McDonald's Corp. (MCD ), which reported on May 13 that its sales in Europe rose 19% in April. Most of that was the result of foreign-currency translation, not because the Oak Brook (Ill.) giant sold more burgers and fries in Europe.
With higher profits have come an improved stock market and increased investor wealth -- another plus for the economy. Fatter corporate profits should also relieve some of the pressure on companies to slash costs to boost earnings.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. Over time, manuf


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Ports of Auckland (POAL) has detailed plans to take on major competitor Port of Tauranga’s (POT) catchment in the Bay of Plenty region.
Timing its news just 24 hours ahead of the release of POT’s annual results, POAL revealed that its third inland port will be located right on POT’s doorstep at Mt Maunganui in Tauranga. It will be run in a new relationship with Australasian logistics company Toll Group.
Like POT’s Metroport in Auckland’s industrial heartland, the new POAL freight hub will link Auckland and Tauranga by rail.
It will open at the end of the year, offering container handling facilities and ‘other value-added logistics services’.
Cargo offloaded by shipping lines in Auckland and destined for Bay of Plenty and adjacent areas, will be railed to POAL Tauranga for onward distribution, with the process repeated in reverse for export cargo being railed to Auckland for shipment.
Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson said the new hub was “part of a concerted strategy to invest in a network of freight hubs or inland ports across North Island to improve shipping options for New Zealand exporters, reduce their costs, and retain POAL’s position as New Zealand’s leading container port by volume and productivity”.
In the 2013/14 financial year POAL handled 968,000 teu, against POT’s 759,000 teu.
POT chief executive Mark Cairns told IHS Maritime he couldn’t complain about the development and potential competitive threat. He pointed to Port of Tauranga’s 16 years of efficient operation of its Auckland IP Metroport, which earlier this month opened a new inland port in Port of Lyttelton’s South Island catchment.


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Wahyoo, an Indonesian online retail startup, has raised USD 5 million in a Series A funding round led by Intudo Ventures, the company announced on Wednesday. Other investors participating are Amatil X, the corporate VC arm of Coca Cola Amatil, Kinesys Group, Arkblu Capital, Indogen Capital, Selera Kapital, Gratyo Universal Indonesia, and Isenta Hioe.
Founded in 2017 by Peter Shearer, Wahyoo equips local street-side eateries—locally known as wartegs—with digital solutions that allow them to purchase goods at competitive prices and manage business operations. The startup also provides merchants with offline and online training on best practices through the Wahyoo Academy program, on how to prepare high-quality food or manage their finances.
Wahyoo currently works with 13,500 warteg merchants in Greater Jakarta. The company will use the fresh capital to expand its team and boost expansion into new cities. “We’ll focus on Java for now as we hope to acquire new merchants in Bogor, Bandung, and Surabaya,” founder and CEO Peter Shearer told KrASIA. “We also want to strengthen our team by hiring the best talents, especially in tech and product division.”
Wahyoo and its partners are not immune to the COVID-19 effects. Shearer said the warteg business has slowed down as orders dropped by 50% in April and May, especially for merchants who are located in offices areas. Wahyoo has been making various efforts to support them, for example by collaborating with GoFood to help warteg partners strengthen their online presence.
The crisis is forcing entrepreneurs to get creative in order to keep their business and employees. Wahyoo is one of few companies finding new opportunities amid the pandemic. In July, it quietly introduced a new business line, an online grocery platform called Langganan. “As a company, we need to protect our revenue, especially during the crisis,” Shearer explained. “We saw the demand for online groceries increasing since the government implemented social distancing restrictions in April.”
Tapping the online catering segment
Before Langganan, the startup already operated a B2B online groceries unit to supply merchants, so the infrastructure was in place, including warehouses and delivery partners. “Seeing this opportunity, we decided to expand this service with a business-to-consumer model.”
The Langganan app was built within only a month. It currently serves customers in residential areas around West Jakarta and Tangerang, Shearer said.
The company is also tapping into the B2B online catering segment to boost sales of Wahyoo merchants. “Many companies are looking for efficiencies due to the pandemic, but their employees still need food that is affordable, tasty, and trustworthy,” he said. “To fill this need, we’ll work with companies and provide them with food prepared by our warteg merchants.” The catering service will run on a separate platform too, but will still utilize Wahyoo’s infrastructure. The new business unit is expected to launch in two months, according to Shearer.


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sharepoint 2010 - News, Features, and Slideshows
Battling with a virtually useless intranet, Australian energy utility Ausgrid set about finding a platform its users could trust and one that would provide some benefit to the organisation.
The federal Attorney-General's Department (AGD) is to drop its TRIM-based records management system and move to one which integrates with the agency’s new Microsoft SharePoint environment.
Minimising overthinking of governance issues when deploying SharePoint is vital if CIOs are to achieve long term innovation, a SharePoint specialist has claimed.
Twitter has been integral to the popularity and adoption of SharePoint, according to evangelists of Microsoft's collaboration, file-sharing and Web publishing suite.
If Microsoft is going to tell large global enterprises how to roll out a social networking platform, the folks in Redmond sure as heck better do it themselves.
Sony Electronics, the division of Sony Corporation that designs and develops the company's cameras, computers, TVs and other devices, is making a broad move to SharePoint 2010 to improve search, social networking and document sharing.
- NATO security certification opens new markets for Australia's Senetas
- Senator wants Whisper to explain how it tracks users, shares their data
- The 'Backoff' malware linked to data breaches is spreading
- Cyberespionage group launches sophisticated phishing attacks against Outlook Web App users
- Disaster as CryptoWall encrypts US firm's entire server installation
- 5 great examples of augmented reality in marketing
- Catch of the Day retailer hooks fresh customer insight with NPS
- Tourism Australia's Nick Baker wins AMI Marketer of the Year
- Content marketing can't be measured on the last-click: Outbrain CEO
- Latest crowdsourced guide rates top A/B testing vendors for marketers


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Back in June when Ford delivered a conventionally-powered 2014 Ford Fiesta to our driveway for a week-long visit, I realized that, “The subcompact buyer who wants to chase fast cars on twisty roads must move the Fiesta to the top of the list.”
With its direct and interactive steering, back-road handling chops, and surprising ride quality, the 1.6L-powered Fiesta was really rather entertaining despite its underhood shortcomings. The Fiesta easily proved why it’s used as the foundation for a genuine hot hatchback, the Fiesta ST.
Unfortunately, that which is found under the hood of the vast majority of Fiestas is a true disappointment. On paper, there’s 120 horsepower. In action, the 1.6L doesn’t want to rev. You’ll always want a lower gear, yet you’ll never find yourselves smack dab in the centre of a powerband. No subcompact should be forced to fight with such a grumpy mill. (Read More…)
You may have noticed that Ford has been advertising its EcoBoost line of engines everywhere lately. Where I live ads for their EcoBoost Challenge event seemed to be on TV every commercial break. You’d know if you have seen one of these ads if you have heard any of the following lines:
“The Escape blew my mind. Yee Haw!”
“I love love love love it.”
“I don’t know when Ford went out and just like got awesome.”
“I felt like I was driving my mom’s car when I was in the Camry.”
“The Rav4 feels outdated. Feels like, hmm, maybe 20 years ago this could have been great.”
“Does this car also un-park itself?”
“If I had to choose between the Fusion and the Lamborghini Aventador, I’d take the Fusion.”
Even though Ford Ranger is dearly missed, Ford is claiming that Ranger customers are content with upgrading to an F-150 with one of Ford’s V6 powerplants – and they’re hardly alone in opting for the smaller powerplant.
The 3-cylinder Ecoboost engine developed by Ford won’t necessarily stay at its current displacement of 1.0L. According to the Blue Oval, there’s a fair bit of power – and displacement – left on the table.
Starting with the redesigned 2013 Accord, Honda will introduce its new, ultra-efficient/more powerful Earth Dreams engine lineup. And it’s far from the most silly moniker attached to automotive technology.
While both General Motors and Chrysler are putting their money on Compressed Natural Gas options for their pickup-truck lineups, Ford is going with pretty much everything but CNG as it examines alternative fuel strategies for future vehicles – and for now, the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 will be the standard bearer for light duty versions of the Ford F-Series.


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CNBC reports that they have figured out the iPad event date and that the next iPad will be quad-core and feature a Retina display and LTE connectivity .
Update 12:11pm – CNBC has also learned that the event will be in New York
Update 12:11:03pm – CNBC has updated their story to say it might not be in New York
Update 12:12pm – CNBC has updated their story to say the iPad might not be the focus of the event
Update 12:12:34pm – CNBC has updated their story to say they were just kidding about the updates and that the event will be in New York after all
Update 12:12:35pm – CNBC has updated their story to say that Steve Jobs will be present at the event
Update 12:14pm – CNBC has updated their story to say they misunderstood someone in the newsroom saying that Jobs would “be there in spirit.” Jobs will not be present at the event.
Update 12:15pm – CNBC has updated their story to say they were probably wrong about the event location and it might be anywhere
Update 12:15:24pm – CNBC has updated their story to say that it definitely will be in New York and they are pretty sure that’s right, or at least like 75% sure
Update 12:16pm – CNBC has updated their story to confirm that they probably know what they’re talking about and ask readers to bear with them as they attempt to sort out the details
Update 12:18pm – CNBC has updated their story saying they were previously incorrect and that Steve Jobs could be present at the event, citing a “95% chance that this guy on Twitter is right.”
Update 12:19pm – CNBC has updated their story to correct a previous statement. “The guy on Twitter was kidding,” they say.
Update 12:20:43pm – CNBC has updated their story again to indicate that the event could be held in America, and that other locations were unlikely. Hard-hitting stuff, guys.
Update 12:20:44pm – CNBC has updated their post to note that their website was hacked and the previous update was not legitimate.
Update 12:23pm – CNBC has updated their article to announce that they have no new updates but will stay on top of the story.
Update 12:26pm CNBC has updated their story to say that they are done updating the story because they’re “like 75% sure, for real this time, you guys” that they finally have their information straight. The event will be in New York.
Update 12:32pm – Apparently while we were constantly refreshing the CNBC article for new updates, Apple went ahead and actually announced the event will be on March 7th and will be in San Francisco, not New York.
Update 12:34pm – Wow. CNBC is now reporting that the iPad 4 will be announced in Honolulu, HI next year in April. Yeah, we’re totally believing you guys. Totally.


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from the stuff-that-matterhorns dept.
Zothecula writes "Explorers have mapped the surface of the iconic Matterhorn painstakingly by foot, by satellite, and now by drone, thanks to a partnership between drone maker senseFly and nonprofit Drone Adventures. Launching a small squadron of eBee minidrones off the summit and sides of the famous Alps mountaintop, the mission tested the navigational abilities of the system and created a staggering data-rich 3D model."
The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite
of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.
-- Niels Bohr


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Container shipping line APL is building an intermodal container terminal in Joliet, Ill., to strengthen its transcontinental network in the United States, the Journal of Commerce reported.
APL purchased 43 acres within the CenterPoint Intermodal Center, an inland port developed by CenterPoint Properties on the former site of the Joliet Arsenal.
The company expects to open the terminal in December.
The yard will function as APL’s Chicago Global Gateway, the company said, eventually replacing the shipping line’s container terminal in Chicago.
Gangavaram Port hopes to tie up funds for expansion by August
Gangavaram Port Ltd, which operates the country's deepest draft port located in Visakhapatnam, expects to achieve financial closure for its INR 1,200 crore capacity expansion project by August end this year, SteelGuru reports. The expansion plan involves construction of four berths one exclusively for coal and three multi purpose berths to enhance its cargo handling capacity from the current 25 million tonnes to 45 million tonnes.
Last fiscal, the port handled about 14 million tonnes of cargo, with the target for the current fiscal being between 16 million tonnes and 17 million tonnes.
Persistent delays in clearing goods at Cameroon’s main port of Douala have brought stakeholders together into the city to seek solutions.
Director-General of Customs Ms Minette Libom Li Likeng presented the results of a study reportedly done between 2007 and 2011 before the gathering of economic players from all over the country and representatives of the clearing and forwarding and stevedoring and warehousing sectors.
According to the study, the time spent from the arrival of goods in the Douala port to their being taken out of the port was 19.5 days while the time spent on the registering of the manifest to the registering of the declaration took another 13.6 days. Read more at www.africareview....
Hundreds of cartons of medicine stolen from SLeone port Freetown
Sierra Leone's Vice President Sam Sumana on Friday slammed the theft of 366 cartons of medical supplies from the country's port Freetown, meant for a free healthcare system for women and young children.
The cartons, each containing around 750 smaller boxes, were stolen from two of 45 containers which have been held up at the port for months as an investigation is launched into drugs which have gone missing since last year.
"I am terribly disappointed that people can behave in this way," Sumana told reporters.
Mundra likely to become India’s largest port by 2014
The report on ‘Gateways to India- India Ports’ says that Mundra is likely to become India’s largest port by FY14. Backed by strong demand, Mundra is adding significant capacity in terms of coal terminals, bulk terminals and increased container capacity. More at www.moneycontrol....
Port Klang maintains top 20 ranking with 8.87mio TEUs
Port Klang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas have maintained their top 20 ranking.
In a statement today, Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd said Port Klang moved up one rung from 14th to 13th spot with 8.87 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) with Westports contributing 5.57 million TEUs.
It said PTP moved up a rung from 17th to 16th place with 6.54 million TEUs.
Westports said global container throughput hit a record 560 million TEUs in 2010, a growth of 14.5 per cent compared with the previous year.
It said according to estimates by axs-alphaliner.com -- the worldwide reference in liner shipping -- the Chinese ports led the growth, followed by South American ports which grew by 17.6 per cent.
Oiltanking Odfjell Terminals boosts storage capacity at Port of Sohar
Oiltanking Odfjell Terminals has significantly ramped up its storage capacity at the Port of Sohar, further underscoring its ambition to emerge as the premier bulk liquids storage and handling hub in the region. The joint venture, which is backed by two of the world’s biggest players in independent liquids storage and chemicals transportation, has announced the commissioning of 450,000 cubic metres of new capacity for the storage of clean petroleum products at the terminal. The increase will boost the terminal‘s overall storage capacity to a world-scale 1.3 million cubic metres. main.omanobserver...
A Chinese navy fleet comprising a frigate, destroyer and a supply ship was on Saturday dispatched to the Gulf of Aden on an escort mission, Xinhua reported. The ships left the Zhanjiang port in southern China's Guangdong province Saturday, the transport ministry said. The fleet will replace a flotilla sent earlier to guard against pirates, the ministry said on its website.
The fleet, equipped with two helicopters, is carrying about 870 seamen and officers onboard.
The destroyer Wuhan and frigate Yulin will arrive in the waters off Somalia after they participate in an international defence expo in Brunei.
Despite the crowded docks, the Port of Seattle expects to see about 62,350 fewer cruise goers this year than in 2010 — a $53 million drop in income for the city, according to the Port.
For each Seattle-based voyage, the city brings in $1.9 million as passengers eat, shop and rent hotel rooms, and vessels stock up on supplies and pay for services such as unloading and trash disposal, according to an outside assessment commissioned by the Port.
Last year a record 223 cruises took off from Seattle.
This year's drop to 195 planned departures is partly due to Princess Cruises and the Holland America Line each moving one ship to Europe. The Port of Seattle is in regular contact with the cruise executives and is hopeful they'll return to the Alaska route, spokesman Peter McGraw said.
Busiest day in 2011 with 6 cruise liners on one day
June 22 was the busiest day of the year in the Port of Helsinki at least as far as cruise ships were concerned, with a total of six cruise ships visiting. West Harbour, on that day hosted Oceania Cruises’ MARINA, Holland-America Line’s ROTTERDAM, Costa Cruises’ COSTA LUMINOSA, Tallink’s BALTIC PRINCESS, SUPERSTAR and STAR, as well as Eckerö Line’s NORDLANDIA.


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DENVER, April 17, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elixinol, one of the most influential CBD brands in the world with nearly three decades of experience in the hemp industry, announces its latest product in partnership with Ken Brown, MD of KBMD Health, KBMD CBD Extract in Elixinol’s signature Natural and Cinnamint flavors. Created in partnership with Dr. Brown, an established physician specializing in gastroenterology, this full-spectrum product contains 900mg of CBD in a 1oz tincture, and is intended to help alleviate abdominal discomfort caused by inflammation in those impacted by digestive issues.
Passionate about bridging the gap between natural and medical science, Dr. Brown has been utilizing Elixinol hemp CBD extract for over two years in his own gastroenterology practice to support the digestive wellness of hundreds of patients. Dr. Brown indicates that his patients typically report feeling relief when consuming a daily serving size of 30mg (15mg twice per day).
“Elixinol’s hemp CBD extracts have proven to be instrumental to my patients in alleviating abdominal discomfort caused by digestive issues,” said Dr. Brown. “I’ve been able to identify that a daily serving size of 30mg of CBD, paired at times with their current therapies, helps to relieve GI distress and control chronic illnesses with inflammatory flare ups. Elixinol’s dedication to quality, third-party tested CBD products, as well as clean sourcing, extraction and production processes, made it an easy decision in terms of a partner for this product.”
“Elixinol is proud to partner with KBMD Health to produce this hemp CBD extract,” said Chris Husong, VP of Marketing and Communications at Elixinol. “Specialists like Dr. Brown who’ve identified a hyper-specific need are going to help us pave the way for the future of the quickly growing and evolving CBD industry. He’s helping those who are newer to the world of cannabinoids understand the vast potential for daily health and wellness.”
KBMD Hemp CBD Extract is available at https://kbmdhealth.com/900mg-kbmd-cbd/ for a suggested retail price of $89.99 in Elixinol’s signature Natural and Cinnamint flavors.
Colorado-based Elixinol, co-founded by Paul Benhaim, hemp entrepreneur since 1991, is widely regarded as one of the most influential CBD brands in the world. With a proven track record of growing and extracting premium-quality hemp, Elixinol is one of the few CBD hemp extract brands with complete seed-to-sale control over its products. Elixinol also conducts rigorous third-party laboratory testing and quality control. Elixinol distributes hemp-derived CBD products in 40 countries globally including North and South America, throughout Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Region under its own label as well as bulk CBD and wholesale CBD. Elixinol is a wholly owned subsidiary of Elixinol Global (EXL) (elixinolglobal.com) which is publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange and on the U.S. OTC (ASX:EXL, OTCQX: ELLXF). More information available at Elixinol.com.
About KBMD Health
Dr. Ken Brown is a renowned physician in the gastroenterology field passionate about “bridging the gap” between medical and natural sciences. Truly believing that learning doesn’t stop once a Doctorate is achieved, Dr. Brown started a clinical research effort over a decade ago in order to uncover new and innovative approaches to health and wellness. In addition to the KBMD 900mg Natural CBD Extracts he partnered with Elixinol on, Dr. Brown created Atrantil Capsules, geared to relieve symptoms of bloating and abdominal discomfort with a natural approach using polyphenols. Dr. Brown has been featured in many top-tier publications, multiple TV platforms, and several podcasts. He has recently launched the “Gut Check Project” digital radio show and podcast where he hosts great guests to talk health, science, and more on his expertise and mission. More information available at KBMDHealth.com.
+1 844-804-3504 ext 420
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/50b95c38-32ee-4213-b912-ff0458b5e35d


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Windows 12, the highly anticipated next-generation operating system from Microsoft, has kept tech enthusiasts on the edge of their seats. Despite its elusive nature, Windows 12 continues to captivate minds, as the possibility of a new milestone release looms. With Windows 11 facing low adoption rates, speculations arise that Microsoft might be ready to leave it behind and dedicate its efforts towards Windows 12.
Window 12 is similar to window 11
The whispers are true: Windows 12 is on the horizon, but how will it stack up against its predecessor, Windows 11? While Microsoft hasn’t officially spilled the beans, rumors suggest a strong resemblance between the two. But is Windows 12 just a cosmetic upgrade or will it pack hidden punches? Let’s delve into the expected similarities and potential divergences.
Similarities: Familiarity Breeds Comfort (Window 12 is similar to window 11)
- Core foundation: Both operating systems will likely share the same underlying architecture (possibly the “Germanium” platform), ensuring compatibility with existing software and hardware.
- Design DNA: Expect a similar design language to Windows 11, with refinements rather than a complete overhaul. Think of it as an iPhone upgrade – familiar with a touch of fresh appeal.
- Feature continuity: Popular features like the Start menu, Snap Layouts, and Widgets are likely to carry over with potential improvements.
Potential Differences: Where Windows 12 Might Shine
- UI tweaks: Expect subtle refinements to the user interface, potentially including a revamped search bar and weather integration.
- AI integration: Microsoft’s recent focus on AI suggests intelligent features like AI-powered assistants or enhanced multitasking capabilities.
- Performance boost: Under-the-hood optimizations could lead to improved performance and resource management.
- Cloud focus: Increased cloud integration might offer seamless file access and collaboration across devices.
The Verdict: More Evolution Than Revolution
While Windows 12 might not be a radical departure, it’s more than just a visual refresh. Expect refinements, performance upgrades, and potential AI-powered features that build upon the Windows 11 foundation. Remember, this is all speculation – stay tuned for Microsoft’s official reveal to see the true extent of Windows 12’s evolution!
Windows 11’s Annual Feature Update:
A recent announcement on the Windows Insider Blog revealed the upcoming Windows 11 Insider Preview Build (26052). While primarily focusing on an update for the Canary and Dev Channels, the blog post disclosed that “Windows 11, version 24H2 will be this year’s annual feature update.” Though not explicitly stating the absence of Windows 12, this official naming effectively dampens expectations for a Windows 12 24H2 upgrade.
The Future of Windows 12:
Microsoft’s reluctance to confirm the development of Windows 12 fuels assumptions that it may serve as the name for the culmination of their current feature updates. Thus, these updates offer glimpses into the direction Windows 12 will take, acting as a de facto beta version. However, the exact timeframe for a potential rebranding remains uncertain, possibly extending to 2025 or beyond.
In the Meantime:
While we await the arrival of Windows 12, exciting developments lie ahead with Windows 11’s version 24H2 update. The Windows Insider blog post already unveils a range of new features anticipated in the upcoming preview build. Get ready for the introduction of the Linux-familiar Sudo command, enhanced support for Bluetooth Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) hearing aids, and improved Copilot integration. For a comprehensive list of features currently being tested, visit the Windows Insider Blog.
Windows 12’s enigmatic presence continues to tantalise tech enthusiasts worldwide. Although the official release remains a mystery, Microsoft’s dedication to refining their annual feature updates offers glimpses into the trajectory of Windows 12. In the meantime, users can look forward to the imminent Windows 11 version 24H2 update, packed with exciting new features. Stay tuned as the future unfolds, bringing us closer to the highly anticipated Windows 12 experience.


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Security researchers at Kaspersky Lab revealed at the Kaspersky Security Analyst Summit in Singapore that a dark net marketplace in which hackers are selling digital fingerprints has emerged.
According to a report in ZDNet, Kaspersky Lab said at the summit criminals are selling the digital fingerprints of more than 60,000 individuals. Dubbed Genesis, the marketplace emerged in the fall of last year when the creators started advertising it on forums where hackers sell payment card details they’ve stolen. The report noted users who had been hit with malware or installed a bad browser extension had their account passwords and browser details copied and then sent to the operators of the marketplace. The profiles include a bevy of information on the consumer, including fingerprints. Operators of the marketplace sell the data to cybercriminals who use it for identity theft, online fraud, and other crimes. The information sells for anywhere from $5 to $200. The hackers use the information to steal money, personal photos or documents.
Criminals can only use the information by installing a Chrome extension that the operators of Genesis create, noted the report. With the Chrome extension, which is free, the Genesis-purchased identity is automatically imported. The buyer’s browser then becomes almost an identical clone of the user’s real browser, reported ZDNet. The report noted that it found an online ad in which the backers of Genesis claim to review the 283 major banks and payment systems to figure out what tracking detection systems the stolen fingerprints have to get through. During the summit, Kaspersky said Genesis is being used by some cybercriminal gangs to get passed anti-fraud measures put in place by banks and payment companies.


text: If tapping your cheek to ask Siri a question isn't futuristic enough, Bragi's new "wireless ear computers" might impress you. The headphone maker has announced two new versions of its high-end Dash earbuds, the "Dash Pro" and the "Dash Pro tailored by Starkey" (a hearing-aid manufacturer). These wireless, in-ear devices will also be powered by a new operating system (OS). The Bragi OS3 will bring new features like real-time face-to-face translation, a hands-free gestural menu system, and AI built right into the earpieces. Existing Bragi Dash owners can also upgrade to BOS3 to get these tools.


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The company is already in Dizraptor’s portfolio since Aug 10. New offerings are possible in the future
About the Company
Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) was founded in 2013 to serve the trucking industry. But today the company provides hardware and software to industries ranging from construction, oil and gas to distribution, moving and storage. Motive serves over 120,000 businesses and more than one million drivers and employs 2,400 people worldwide.
The company provides cutting-edge technology leveraging the latest advances in artificial intelligence and computer vision for vehicle-related businesses – spanning video-based driver safety, Electronic Logging Device (ELD) compliance, GPS tracking, dispatching, and fuel and maintenance.
According to a Motive release, the global middle class has tripled in the past 20 years to more than 1.7 billion people. As incomes rise, so does consumption, and expectations for quality, reliability and speed of delivery are higher than ever. This exponential growth in demand combined with continuously rising expectations is putting unprecedented strain on the industries that power the physical economy – agriculture, manufacturing, construction, field services, trucking and logistics.
The physical economy accounts for about 50% of global GDP, and yet it is largely ignored by the technology industry. To modernize the physical economy, Motive is focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence. The global IoT market is projected to grow from $478.36B in 2022 to $2,465.26B by 2029 at a CAGR of 26.4% over the forecast period.
Financials and Valuation
Since its foundation in 2013, the company has carried out 7 investment rounds and raised $417M. Investors include Google Ventures (invested in Uber, Lemonade, Slack) and Index Ventures (invested in Datadog, Slack, Etsy).
In June 2021, Motive raised $190M from G2 Venture Partners, IVP and Scale Venture Partners and funds managed by BlackRock and others valuing the company at $2.3B. The previous round in April 2019 was valued at $1.4B.
Currently, there is no revenue data on Motive in open sources. Despite the pandemic's effects, the company said it has experienced 70% annual growth, largely due to expansion into new markets.
The trucking industry, which remains a major market for Motive, has suffered because of the pandemic. Freight companies experienced constant fluctuations in demand and were unable to forecast operations effectively, incurring significant losses because of it.
As the company's customer base expands, so does its list of competitors. Motive competes with such major players in the trucking optimization product market as Ontruck, Convoy, CargoX, Flexport. It also competes with software providers for agriculture, manufacturing, construction, gas and oil industries, and others.


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Irvine-based Microsemi Corp., a maker of chips for military, aerospace, consumer and industrial uses, saw its shares surge Friday, a day after reporting strong quarterly results and upping its outlook for the current quarter.
Microsemi’s shares closed up about 9% to a market value of nearly $1.9 billion.
The surge defied a slump on Wall Street, particularly among technology stocks after Cisco Systems Inc. on Thursday warned about results for the current quarter.
For the current quarter, Microsemi said it’s expecting to tally $180 million to $186 million in sales, up about 62% from a year earlier and topping analysts’ expectation of $152 million in sales.
The chipmaker is looking for adjusted profits of $30 million to $32 million, up about 42% and in line with Wall Street’s expectations.
Microsemi said its outlook includes results from its most recent deal, in which it scooped up Mountain View-based rival Actel Corp. for $430 million.
The deal is expected to close by the end of the month, according to Chief Executive Jim Peterson.
The rosy sales outlook comes on the heels of Microsemi’s results for the September quarter, which also beat average expectations.
Microsemi reported sales of $151 million up 38% from a year ago and surpassing analysts’ expectations of $147 million in sales.
Excluding charges for stock compensation, acquisitions and other one-time costs, Microsemi posted profits of $29 million, up 81% from a year ago and just ahead of analysts’ expectations of $28 million in profits.
Microsemi’s chips go into a wide variety of devices, including satellites, light emitting diode screens, weapons guidance systems and X-ray body scanners.


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BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Wealthy Chinese feature prominently in the new Hurun Global Rich List, with notable headlines from the annual report including Jack Ma of Alibaba Group and Lei Jun of Xiaomi. This contributed to the fact that technology overtook real estate to be key source of wealth.
Released on Tuesday, the list ranking U.S. dollar billionaires on a snapshot of wealth calculations on Jan. 17 is headed by Bill Gates, who takes back top spot from Mexican Carlos Slim for the first time in three years. Gates's fortune increased by 14 billion U.S. dollars to a total net worth of 68 billion.
Warren Buffett and Amancio Ortega, founder of Zara, occupied the second and third places for the second year running, with 64 and 62 billion U.S. dollars respectively.
Jack Ma, 50, ranking 192th with 7.1 billion U.S. dollars, is preparing to take Alibaba public in what is expected to be one of the largest IPOs of the Chinese private sector, the report noted.
Pony Ma of Tencent ranked 70th with 14 billion U.S. dollars. The two Mas have been racing against each other in instant communication tools, cab-hailing applications and many other fields since 2013.
Lei Jun, 45, founder of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, made the list for the first time with 28 billion yuan (4.6 billion U.S. dollars). He was the "fastest riser" this year.
Li Ka-shing continues to be the richest man in Asia with 33 billion U.S. dollars. He sold off many of his properties in the Chinese mainland last year, sparking concern among investors about China's property market.
A record-breaking total of 1,867 billionaires are included on the list this year, among which 824 individuals, or 51 percent, reside in Asia. North America and Europe account for the second and third-biggest portions.
The report also mentions Chinese stock exchanges attracted more billionaires than the United States for the second year running.
The average age of the listed billionaires is 64. One in nine is female, and over half of the list's self-made female billionaires are Chinese.
The Hurun Global Rich List is compiled by Hurun Report Inc., a Shanghai-based company which has grown into a leading luxury publishing group after being established as a research unit in 1999 by British accountant Rupert Hoogewerf.
Its interests include four luxury magazines, the Hurun Research Institute and a business events division targeting China's entrepreneurs and individuals of high net worth.


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In the early 2000s, game publisher Bethesda was best known for its Elder Scrolls series of technologically ambitious fantasy games. In the last 15 years, however, it has expanded greatly, snapping up several legendary video game franchises as well as starting an original series of its own. The company now produces the Fallout post-apocalyptic role-playing games; the iconic, hellish shooter Doom; tongue-in-cheek Nazi-killing romp Wolfenstein; supernatural steampunk assassin sim Dishonoured; and Rage, a Mad Max-style romp around a devastated world.
At its E3 press conference last month, after showing new Doom, Rage, Fallout and Wolfenstein titles, Bethesda teased the next entry in its Elder Scrolls series as well as a new sci-fi role-playing game called Starfield. For both, 100 hours is a conservative playtime estimate.
It’s been nearly seven years since the last massive, single-player Elder Scrolls, Skyrim – though it’s been rereleased so many times on different consoles that you could be forgiven for thinking it was only a few years ago. Pete Hines, Bethesda’s senior vice-president of PR and marketing, cautions that “the Elder Scrolls VI is still two games away from Bethesda Game Studios”, which means another one or two years at least. But a lot has changed about both video games and the fantasy genre since Skyrim, not least the world-conquering popularity of Game of Thrones. How will The Elder Scrolls remain relevant?
“With The Elder Scrolls, you’re looking at a 25-year-running franchise. It has stood the test of the Lord of the Rings movies becoming popular,” says Todd Howard, the hugely influential game designer who joined the company in 1994 and now leads Bethesda’s game development. He asserts that the Elder Scrolls series has always tackled relevant themes.
“People look at Skyrim and say, ‘That’s a dragon-killing power fantasy,’ but the actual underlying theme was: do you take a nationalistic view of your own country, or look at the whole world? I think that’s still pretty topical today,” he says. “The thing that helps with [genre fiction], whether that’s science fiction or fantasy or post-apocalyptic, is that it lets you handle themes like racial stereotypes in ways that you don’t notice at first, and then become very obvious.”
In 2010, Bethesda plugged the long gap between its own Fallout games by letting another developer, Obsidian, give the series a spin. The result was Fallout: New Vegas, a game that used Bethesda’s technology but had a different style of writing and characterisation, filling in more shades of grey in the game’s moral choices. According to Howard, this isn’t something that Bethesda plans to do again.
“I wouldn’t say never,” he says. “[But] now that our company is so big, it’s always better to keep stuff internal ... it becomes less likely, but I could never say never. I thought the Obsidian guys did a fabulous job.”
Howard also demurred on something that fans are constantly asking for, especially since Skyrim was rereleased on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch: modern remasters of Bethesda’s older games. “I’m happy that you can play Morrowind now on an Xbox One, as it’s backwards compatible. I’m really happy that Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo and others are making it easier for people to play [older games] as they were played at the time. I actually prefer that over remasters,” he says. “I’d rather you play Morrowind the way it was ... I think the age is part of its identity.
“For Skyrim Remastered, we had done some work on it but it was already pretty visually close. But for something like Morrowind, my personal preference is not to remaster it. We [also] get asked a lot to remaster [1997’s] Fallout 1, and I usually say, if you have a PC you can play Fallout the way it was. I think that’s how it should be. I think streaming technology is definitely coming, and it’s gonna make people’s access to games infinitely easier. You’ve seen it happen to music and movies and I think it’s a great thing.”
As for Starfield, Bethesda’s new sci-fi role-playing game, Howard says we shouldn’t expect to play it soon: “We’ve been talking about it for a decade, we started putting things on paper five, six years ago, and active development was from when we finished Fallout 4, so two and a half, three years.” When it comes to both The Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield, he says, “everyone should be very patient. It’s gonna take a while for what we have in mind to come out.”
Bethesda is revered for these gigantic worlds that set out a banquet of options for the player. But from Fortnite to League of Legends, many of the most popular and profitable games around in 2018 are competitive multiplayer games, which has led to speculation about the future of the expensive single-player experience that Bethesda is known for. This year’s Fallout 76 is an online game that throws people together to cooperate or clash – not the lone player experience fans expect.
Nonetheless, Hines is bullish about the future of epic single-player adventures. “Well, we keep doing it,” he says. “There was a lot of hand-wringing around [2017’s] Prey, but we just announced a huge update. Rage 2 is a giant single-player game, [the next Doom game] Doom Eternal is single-player, and Wolfenstein: Young Blood is single-player. Single-player is still a thing; it might continue to grow or evolve, but it’s part of who we are, and we still think there’s room to be successful. That doesn’t mean that we should keep doing things the way we did five or 10 years ago – we’ve got to continue to change how we approach it.”
Howard acknowledges players’ fears about the diminishing prominence of single-player games. “It’s understandable. That would be my fear too,” he says.
“Games have gotten so big and interesting that they’ve moved beyond the toy/entertainment space,” says Howard. “It’s not just a diversion from their regular lives; for a lot of people it becomes an important part of their lives. I think we see that across a lot of games now, where people are getting joy and personal pride out of the time they spend in them ... I always felt that way. I can still remember sitting in my bedroom playing Ultima, really being transported, even though they were just little 16-pixel-high guys on the screen. That’s what I want our games to do: to transport people for the time they’re in it.”
Bethesda has been expanding into areas beyond its single-player epics for a while. The Elder Scrolls Online is a massive multiplayer online interpretation of the fantasy series, made at a different studio; TES: Legends is a card game, currently playable on iPhones and PC; and TES: Blades is a free-to-play dungeon-crawler for phones. But none of those things, says Hines, come at the expense of the huge, absorbing games that Bethesda has always made. “The Elder Scrolls: Legends is never going to reach the same size audience as Skyrim, but it doesn’t have to,” he says.
“If there’s another platform that it is a good fit for ideas that our developers have, great. It’s not like we’re asking the developers of Rage 2, what is your mobile experience? What are you doing for VR?”
Howard has been at Bethesda for 24 years, Hines for nearly 19 – but neither is bored. “I think this is the best form of entertainment in the world. I don’t think that’s really arguable,” laughs Hines. “It doesn’t mean we don’t read or watch TV shows or movies – they affect and inform everything that we make creatively. But this is the single best form of entertainment in the world.”
“I think it’s the mix of the technology and the storytelling,” says Howard. “Games are unique in that. They can put you in a place; they transport you. That’s why we’ve always done big, open-world stuff: it’s what a game does really well. We like technology, we like storytelling, we like art. But saying, ‘Hey, look what we made the game do’ – that is, on a day-to-day basis, on a week-to-week basis, the most rewarding.”


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China aims to see economic expansion at around 6.5 percent this year, unchanged from 2017, according to the government work report released Monday.
"Given China's economic fundamentals and capacity for job creation, GDP growth of around 6.5 percent will enable China to achieve relatively full employment," Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said while addressing the opening of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's national legislature.
AN ATTAINABLE GOAL
The same GDP growth target was set last year, but the world's second largest economy outperformed, expanding 6.9 percent in 2017, picking up speed for the first time in seven years.
The projected economic expansion this year should also be within reach without much difficulty, according to Chinese economic observers.
The International Monetary Fund in January raised its forecast for China's GDP growth from 6.5 percent to 6.6 percent amid an upbeat outlook for the global recovery. International investment banks including UBS, J.P. Morgan and Nomura also revised their China 2018 GDP growth prediction upward to as high as 6.7 percent.
China's future economic growth is not without headwinds. Recent rising trade friction with the United States is widely considered to be a major roadblock checking the country's external demand, but its impact might be overestimated.
Targeted tariffs and restrictions may hurt related sectors, but the macro impact on China's exports or GDP growth will be very small as a stronger global recovery helps to drive 2018 export growth beyond earlier forecasts, more than offsetting any negative impact from trade friction, according to Wang Tao, UBS chief China economist.
Despite possible slower infrastructure and property investment this year, consumption growth should stay resilient in 2018 thanks to solid income growth, underpinned by robust export and service sector activity, Wang added.
The record high spending by travelers and movie-goers during the week-long Chinese New Year holiday heralds a thriving year for consumption as increasingly affluent Chinese are more willing to pay for higher-quality products and unique experiences.
China's economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, expects retail sales of consumer goods to rise around 10 percent in 2018, as well as a rising prominence of the service sector, whose added value might share 52.2 percent of GDP.
A DIFFERENT GROWTH
Although China's economic expansion target is unchanged, it might deliver different growth as China prioritizes growth quality over pace.
The projected growth rate reflects China's position of not over-emphasizing speed but stressing improvements in quality and the effect of development, according to another NDRC report.
"We will strongly promote high-quality development," Premier Li said.
The 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress as well as the central economic work conference both played down the necessity of pursuing high-speed GDP growth.
The world's second largest economy has sailed into a new era when the country gears up to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, not just impressive economic figures.
A more sensible approach towards GDP targets is also being taken by local governments. Of the provincial governments, 15 lowered this year's growth target and 15 kept their figures unchanged, with only one expecting a higher growth.
With less emphasis on GDP as the sole performance evaluation indicator, local governments can shift more attention to other key indicators that gauge growth quality such as people's income, and the development of healthcare, education and the environment, according to Liu Shijin, a national political advisor and former senior state think tank official.
China has composite advantages, Premier Li said, citing a complete industrial system, a vast market, abundant human resources and dynamic entrepreneurs and innovators.


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ShipLinx is recognized as an “Acumatica-Certified Application” by the cloud ERP company
Scottsdale, AZ — January 17, 2023 — RateLinx, top enterprise-quality TMS made for SMBs and Gartner top-ranked TMS solution, today announced that its software has been recognized as an Acumatica-Certified Application (ACA). Acumatica, the world’s fastest-growing cloud ERP company, was recently recognized by customers for its positive relationships and usability, leading to 10 No. 1 rankings in G2 Business Software and Services 2022 reports.
Acumatica is a comprehensive, browser-based Cloud ERP solution optimized for ease of use, adaptability, mobility, speed and security. The ACA title highlights outstanding development partners whose applications have met the highest standards set for Acumatica integration and functionality.
“Customers who want to stay competitive need flexible, responsive technology to execute their long-term business strategies,” said Christian Lindberg, vice president of partner solutions at Acumatica. “Our ACA label is built to help customers find applications capable of delivering that. We’re proud to recognize ShipLinx as an Acumatica-Certified Application. It masterfully utilizes the Acumatica platform to meet customers’ evolving business demands.”
To become an Acumatica-Certified Application, RateLinx has demonstrated commitment to quality by passing the Acumatica software test and aligning to future Acumatica roadmap releases.
“Now, small-to-medium size businesses have access to an enterprise-quality transportation management system at an affordable price. Our mutual customers will have two best-in-class solutions. The RateLinx TMS will allow businesses to have one system for all modes of freight, which will allow them to simplify the shipping process while taking advantage of more sophisticated strategies that will ultimately save them money on their freight,” said Shannon Vaillancourt founder and president of RateLinx, “we are proud to align with an organization that emphasizes long-term success of their customers just as we do.”
RateLinx, based in Scottsdale, AZ, is a Gartner top ranked TMS and market leader for shipping, tracking, and freight payment. Their solutions handle simple to complex logistics for global SMBs in retail, ecommerce, manufacturing, and distribution. SMBs have a competitive edge with the power of an enterprise-quality TMS that’s easy-to-use and affordable. The TMS platform, the RateLinx Suite, includes ShipLinx, TracLinx, and PayLinx. Each solution is available individually or as a powerful platform to ship, track, and pay smarter, faster, and simpler to maximize productivity and cost savings. Learn more by visiting RateLinx.com.
Shannon Corgan, Director of Marketing


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OfficeMax Inc reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, hurt by continued weak sales of technology products and fewer shoppers visiting its stores, although it announced a special dividend of $1.50 per share.
Its shares rose 10 cents to $11.85 in premarket trading.
Continue Reading Below
OfficeMax also said that sales continued to decline in April, yet were slightly better than in the first quarter. It expects sales to decline both this quarter and this year.
The news comes as the retailer awaits regulatory approval for its pending merger with rival Office Depot Inc. OfficeMax said on Tuesday that it is working on its responses to the Federal Trade Commission's request for additional information, and still expects to receive approval in order to close the deal late in 2013.
The duo trail Staples Inc in their share of the office supply market and are under much pressure from investors to boost profitability as well as shareholder value.
OfficeMax's first-quarter profit available to shareholders rose to $56.3 million, or 64 cents per share, from $4.9 million, or 6 cents per share, a year earlier.
Excluding items, the company earned 11 cents per share. Analysts on average were looking for a profit of 23 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Sales fell about 6 percent to $1.77 billion, while analysts expected $1.83 billion.
WEAKNESS EXPECTED TO PERSIST
Office supply retailers, often seen as a barometer of economic health, have suffered as demand for their products fell after the recent U.S. recession. They also face strong competition from Amazon.com Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc in selling everything from pens and notebooks to furniture.
OfficeMax expects sales to be down in both the current second quarter and the full year versus the same periods of 2012, including the projected favorable impact of foreign currency translation. Year-over-year declines in sales are expected to continue throughout the year, though at a less severe rate of decline than the first quarter of 2013, it said.
The company plans to close 15 to 20 of its U.S. stores this year, relocate and shrink the size of some others, and also open some smaller stores. In Mexico, it plans to open four stores and close one store.


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URI celebrates Earth Day 2011
Despite a chilly, windy day on campus, URI’s First Annual Tree Planting to commemorate Earth Day went without a hitch. After a few words from Provost DeHayes and Vice President Weygand, including a quick tutorial on how to properly plant a tree, a Green Mountain Sugar Maple was welcomed into its new home outside of Green Hall. Those who came by to celebrate were invited to take turns shoveling some dirt and have the opportunity to proclaim that they helped plant a new tree at URI. We also had a “pot your own” table on hand with recycled mini-pot planters, fertilized soil, and a variety of vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower seeds available for free to anyone who wanted to take home a special planting of their own to remember the day. Visit the URI Sustainability Facebook page for more memorable photos.


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Many brands are already flagging up recycled content, with UK Plastics Pact signatories aiming for an average of 30% post-consumer recyclate by 2025.
Meanwhile, reverse vending could be a second piece in a drinks brand’s circular jigsaw. Some speculate that a national deposit return scheme may never happen, despite stated government intentions, but whether this materialises or not, brands can steal a march on competitors in this area.
Metal, too, has a great story to tell regarding its recyclability and recycled content, benefiting hugely from being collected in a dedicated stream. Brands that use plastics and aluminium could use reverse vending for both.
Retailers are already trialling the technology in-store, and may want to keep the branding to themselves, as in the case of the Morrisons and Iceland trials. Quite how redemption rates inside the four walls of a supermarket will shape up is a matter of debate.
As the co-operation between Coca-Cola and Merlin suggests, the biggest wins may be in on-the-go consumption settings, whether in high streets, shopping centres or entertainment venues.
Much has been said about the impact reverse vending could have on the viability of kerbside collection. But could forward-thinking brands not partner with cash-strapped local authorities to trial strategically-located reverse vending?
In terms of collection-volume numbers, the reputation of the brand and the local authority would be boosted and the move would also provide useful data nationally.
Paul Gander is a freelance editor and journalist.


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Return Path: Majority of spam complaints relate to legitimate emails
Marketers risk being labeled a "spam brand", according to new research from Return Path that found the majority of "this is spam" complaints relate to legitimate emails. The solution? Keep recipient enthusiasm high.
Email recipients are flagging legitimate email newsletters and notifications as spam, according to Return Path's July-September Email Intelligence Report. In fact, marketing messages were found to account for a whopping 70% of spam complaints.
Marketing messages also accounted for 60% of all hits on spam traps, email addresses used to catch and flag spam.
According to George Bilbrey, Return Path co-founder and president, the high percentage of spam complaints from marketing messages results from email recipients failing to use a formal unsubscribe process, and instead choosing to use the "this is spam" button.
Compared to the same period in 2011, marketers' inbox placement rates have decreased about 5%. The practice of spam reporting instead of unsubscribing could well be behind declining email deliverability rates, according to the report.
"While this makes it more difficult for marketers because a previously interested recipient may now be marking their information as spam, it is also important that marketers learn from these actions and consider changing their email marketing strategy to keep recipient enthusiasm high," said Bilbrey.
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[newsimage]http://static.rankone.nl/images_posts/2011/04/GKjPRQ.jpg[/newsimage]Over a month after a massive 8.9 earthquake shook northern Japan, the country's consumer electronics industry is still feeling the effects. Companies like Sony and Panasonic reported myriad issues -- from facility flooding caused by the subsequent tsunami to injured workers -- soon after the quake. Analysts predicted higher prices and supply shortages would also hit manufacturers, with the impact trickling down to consumers in the weeks to come. Two new reports from research company IHS are splitting the difference - projecting falling prices for one consumer electronics sector, and a production shortage due to impeded supply for another. Read the full article here: [http://www.myce.com/news/japanese-earthquake-still-affecting-consumer-electronics-43122/](http://www.myce.com/news/japanese-earthquake-still-affecting-consumer-electronics-43122/) Please note that the reactions from the complete site will be synched below.
In the longer term, none of these factories have to remain in Japan. They can be diversified around Asia for greater stability. That is kind of weird that these Japanese companies can gouge laptop monitors amids weakened demand for PC’s… good luck with that, as the last price hikes caused demand for laptops to fall off a cliff. Demand is already increasing for tablet computers, this will push more consumers in that direction instead.


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Delaware has a rich manufacturing tradition. For decades, high quality, highly paid manufacturing jobs sustained our communities – and I believe they can again.
We can make products in America and manufacture them in Delaware if we put the right policies in place. In fact, we have already seen progress with the groundbreaking of a new manufacturing facility on the grounds of the shuttered Chrysler plant in Newark.
If we want to support companies that make their products in America, which creates jobs and strengthens our middle class, we have to make the right choices in our tax code.
That’s why I fought so hard to pass the Bring Jobs Home Act, legislation that would end taxpayer subsidies to companies that ship jobs overseas and incentivize companies to bring jobs back to the United States. This bill would have taken important steps to support high-quality manufacturing jobs in Delaware. Yet because of a disappointing, politically-motivated filibuster by members of the other party, this bill didn’t see the light of day on the Senate floor.
We need new policies that support companies who bring jobs back to the United States – companies like Playtex/Energizer, which manufactures baby bottle liners at a factory in Dover. In order to protect the health and safety of the families that use their products, they brought jobs home from China and back to Delaware.
Companies of all sizes have realized manufacturing in the United States can have real benefits, including to the bottom line, and it is time for Congress to show the same kind of common sense.
As our economy recovers from a devastating recession, I can’t think of a worse way to spend taxpayer dollars then incentivizing American companies to ship our best jobs overseas. Yet, our current tax code does just that. It allows businesses to deduct the cost of moving expenses, whether they are moving from Bridgeville to Birmingham, Alabama or from Bridgeville to Bangalore or Beijing.
I am working to see this loophole closed, yet fixing this fundamental injustice in our tax code is only half the battle.
We also have to invest in rebuilding our manufacturing base and the high-quality jobs that come with it. We can do that by helping companies bring jobs home and letting them keep that tax deduction for moving – if the move is back to the United States. One of the reasons I supported the Bring Jobs Home Act is that it also provides an additional 20% tax credit on the costs associated with moving production back to America.
The best thing we can do for our economy and for millions of talented Americans looking for work is to invest in them. That’s why I’ll keep fighting to find solutions that support American workers and strengthen their communities, from education to infrastructure, so we can continue to see products made in America and manufactured in Delaware.


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Mini will tackle the Dakar rally next year with a radically different car. In fact, two radically different cars.
The covers have come off a new (big) Mini buggy than will take on the daunting rally raid at the start of next year in the hands of the X-Raid team. The rear-wheel-drive car will join the four-wheel drive Mini John Cooper Works Rally that made its debut at this year's Dakar Rally, finishing sixth.
'With these two cars we have the most powerful Mini family that ever raced at the Dakar Rally,' said Sebastian Mackensen, Mini senior Vice president, at the presentation of the new car in Paris.
The reason why Mini and X-Raid have put together this new wild creation to race alongside their more traditional rally-raid vehicle is to maximise their chances across multiple classes of the event. Currently the rules for the event, which will start on 6 January in Lima, Peru, favour rear-wheel-drive vehicles such as those used by Peugeot. Putting together a second, radically different car has been described by X-raid team boss Sven Quandt as 'the biggest project in [our] company’s history'.
The buggy will certainly be no slouch. Powered by the same BMW-derived 3-litre inline 6-cylinder diesel engine that is found in the Mini John Cooper Works Rally, it puts out 340bhp and 590lb ft of torque. The buggy also incorporates all-new turbo technology, as well as a specially developed drivetrain and chassis.
It's already undertaken an extreme testing programme, that has taken it to many locations across the globe, including Morocco, and early signs have been positive. 'During this time the buggy never had to stop once due to a technical problem, which is really quite remarkable,' said Quandt.
However, Quandt is keen for the team's other car, the all-wheel-drive Mini, to not be forgotten.
'Despite all the euphoria, we must definitely not forget the Mini John Cooper Works Rally,' he said. 'There are tracks and types of terrain where an all-wheel drive has advantages. What is more, our car is extremely reliable.'


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Source: Travel News
The interior of an ESCAPE Homes property. Tiny homes are proving popular in the luxury segment. ESCAPE Homes
Skift Take: While secondary cities are having their moments, rural regions remain largely undiscovered by higher-end tourists. That's partly because of a lack of quality accommodations. But thanks to the recent tiny home phenomenon, even remote areas can attract visitors looking for something different.


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Police say it’s a problem, downtown bar and restaurant managers are frustrated, and patrons are asking for help. They can’t actually call for help because the problem is their cellphones are being stolen on a nightly basis.
Police in Lone Tree have issued a warning about a scam taking place against homeless and mentally challenged people.
Deputies in Jefferson County have released pictures of two suspects who they say released pepper spray in a store.
A thief broke into an Apple store in Boulder and made off with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise on Friday, and police say such crimes are a growing trend.
Thieves are targeting something that most people probably carry with them every day, and it’s not a wallet — it’s iPhones.


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Farm Fresh Days feature special restaurant dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients
"Kentucky Proud Farm Fresh Days is a great way to heighten the awareness of Kentucky farm food offered at Kentucky Proud Buy Local restaurants," Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles said of the 10-day culinary celebration Aug. 13-22. "Eating for a good cause has never tasted so delicious."
One of the leading producers of hardwood forest products in the South, Kentucky exported $336 million worth of forest products in 2019, which ranked among the state’s top 10 agricultural exports.
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If this email was forwarded to you, click here to sign up to receive this in your inbox on or about the 1st and 16th of every month. Stay up to date on the latest agricultural happenings from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and other Kentucky agricultural organizations and news outlets.


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Biden supporters are “triggered” by a gun store in Missouri that announced it won’t sell them guns or ammo.
Jefferson City gun store Trigger Firearms and Reloading LLC made the announcement via Facebook last week on Inauguration Day, stating “We don’t have guns or ammo for Biden Supporters. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
The store’s statement is loud and clear: they don’t support Democrats who want to outlaw the Second Amendment.
According to Joe Biden’s national policy director Stef Feldman, the new administration plans to “make big bold changes through executive action… on gun violence.”
Biden himself also claimed he’d make former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke his gun czar, even after the failed presidential candidate exclaimed during a Democrat debate “Hell yes, we are going to take your AR-15.”
The Missouri business could also be lifting one out of the playbook of Democrats, who seem to have no problem with private businesses denying service to consumers, like Twitter did to President Trump (oh, unless it’s a bake shop that refuses to serve gay people because of religious objections).
One angry Biden voter in the comments claimed he would take his business elsewhere:
“I had a few grand to spend on a small backup to my Springfield XD and some other gear and ammo,” one person said. “Good to know you don’t want my money because I don’t want a fake billionaire reality tv star as my president.”
On the other hand, most Facebook commenters applauded the business’s decision.
“Take your money to Dicks sporting goods. They love Democrats,” one person commented.
“Good idea, don’t want firearms in the hands of the unhinged,” another anti-Biden commenter stated.
“If you don’t like it, why not open your own gun shop?” yet another person stated, adding, “Am I doing that right?”
Overall, Trump won Cole County, where the store is located, with 66% of the vote, versus 32.1% who voted for Biden.


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KAMENITSA AD STEPS ON MACEDONIAN MARKET
At a special press conference for the 10th anniversary of Kamenitsa AD, the company boasted of its 31.2% share on the domestic beer market. This result places the brewery ahead of the so far leader Zagorka AD, which remains second, with a 29.8% share. According to data of Kaminitsa, however, the consumption of beer in the first five months of 2005 was 8.3% lower year-on-year. The brewery's Executive Director Andreas Zeemuller blamed the unusual meteorological condition for that substantial drop. Kamenitsa AD is owned by Belgium's Interbrew, renamed to InBev after 2004. The change was dictated by the merger between the Belgians and Ambev, leader on the market in Latin America. Thus, the biggest brewery in the world was created, holding a 14% share of the global beer market. In 2004 InBev reported a net turnover exceeding EUR8.57BN. Investments worth some BGN130MN were made in Kamenitsa AD over the last ten years. The brewery offers eight brands of beer on the domestic market: Stella Artois, Beck`s, Staropramen, Astika, Bourgasko Pivo, five different types of Kamenitsa (Kamenitsa Lager, Kamenitsa Stout, Kamenitsa White, Kamenitsa Extra and the non-alcoholic Kamenitsa 0%), Plevensko Pivo, and Slavena. Last May the company started selling beer on the Macedonian market as well.


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The star of Propertymark’s latest TV advert has been revealed and it’s Adam Kingswood of Kingswood Residential in Nottingham (pictured, right).
He will feature prominently in the soon-to-be aired follow-up to the NAEA/ARLA’s first ad which aired last month and included shots of several dozen agents carrying placards (see below) around a field, as well as a cow and a cheeky voiceover.
Adam was picked from among the two organisation’s 20,000 members to star in the ad, which will be screened soon on several TV channels including More 4, Home, Good Food, Eden, Discovery, Sky Sports News and Sky Living.
“The TV campaign has taken several months to develop, and it was really exciting to be involved in the filming of the advert,” Adam told the Nottingham Post.
“By displaying the Propertymark logo in our agency window we’re letting consumers know they’re in safe hands and their money is protected. The launch of this television advert will help to raise further awareness.”
Adam set up Kingswood Residential Investment Management in January last year and has ten years experience of the Nottingham property market including spells at Leaders, where he was branch manager, and PWR Lettings, where he started his career.
David Cox, Chief Executive of ARLA (pictured, right), says: “At present, consumers don’t know where to go for property advice or can’t be sure if they are dealing with a professional.
“Propertymark is changing this by acting as a stamp of approval for consumers when they seek property expertise.
“With the help of our members, we’re encouraging consumers to look for the ‘Propertymark Protected’ logo. This means they’re dealing with a professional who has opted for regulation in an unregulated sector and will ensure their money is protected.”


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CoinMarketCap to scale invoicing and offer crypto payments to clients via a new partnership with Gilded.
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The data aggregation platform, CoinMarketCap, has announced that they will be using Gilded, an American payments startup, to automate invoicing and offer clients crypto payment options.
Scaling CoinMarketCap with Gilded
Gilded offers interested small- and medium-sized businesses the ability to leverage cryptocurrency payments.
The New Orleans-based team also allows companies to integrate with existing accounting software. These qualities have attracted one of the largest data aggregation platforms, CoinMarketCap.
In a press release shared with Crypto Briefing, the VP of Operations & Growth at CoinMarketCap, Spencer Yang, said:
“Gilded makes the integration of the sales process to receipt of payment easier, enabling our team to focus on delivering value to customers instead of managing the payment process manually. We have more predictability and can leverage on Gilded’s initiatives on best practices as well.”
Following Binance’s recent acquisition of CoinMarketCap, Yang and his team have likely attracted several new clients. In tapping Gilded, these new clients will now be able to service invoices using cryptocurrencies.
Thanks to a February tie-up with TrustToken, Gilded users can also use stablecoin versions of the British pound, US, Hong Kong, Australian, and Canadian dollar. The CEO of Gilded, Gil Hildebrand, said:
“Digital currency empowers businesses to transact globally, while accelerating cash flow and minimizing fees. Our solution puts digital currency payments and accounting on autopilot, so businesses can focus on innovation and growth.”
The partnership between Gilded and CoinMarketCap offers a unique case study in crypto adoption. Offering users both traditional and crypto payment options may provide new users with a smooth first-time interaction with Bitcoin.
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Tapestry is helping the Ellen MacArthur Foundation close the loop on fashion.
The Coach and Kate Spade New York owner revealed Wednesday that it has not only joined the sustainability nonprofit as a Network partner, but it’s now also a card-carrying member of its Fashion Initiative advisory board, bringing with it its expertise in powering circular business models and creating durable products.
Tapestry said it believes the circular economy transition revolves around three key design-driven principles: eliminating waste and pollution, regenerating nature and circulating products and materials. It said it seeks to build on its brands’ existing efforts, including Coach’s (Re)Loved program, which has refreshed, resold and recycled more than 20,000 castoff bags since its April 2021 launch, and Kate Spade’s more recent “Pre-Loved” partnership with secondhand e-tailer ThredUp.
“Circularity is critical to building a more sustainable and resilient fashion industry,” said Logan Duran, Tapestry’s vice president of ESG and sustainability. “At Tapestry, our brands are contributing to a future that is both beautiful and responsible, and we look forward to collaborating with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Network and Fashion Initiative advisory board to continue to tackle pressing climate challenges and generate even more momentum behind the circular economy.”
Training and empowering the next generation of designers is a “crucial” part of making fashion circular, Tapestry said. To encourage Coach and Kate Spade designers to explore circular design principles, the company held its inaugural Circular Design Workshop in 2022. The same year, Coach debuted its Coach (Re)Loved Craftsperson Apprenticeship Program, based at its repair shop in New Jersey. In October, 15 design students received the Council of Fashion Designers of America x Coach Dream It Real Circular Design Scholarship.
A member of the Science Based Targets initiative’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C platform, Tapestry recently announced new environmentally preferred material targets for increasing the sourcing of materials made from organic, regenerative and recycled inputs. By 2025, it plans to obtain 90 percent of its leather from Silver and Gold-rated Leather Working Group tanneries, 90 percent of its cotton from organic or regenerative-certified sources and 95 percent of its nylon from pre- or post-consumer recycled sources. Before 2027 comes to a close, it hopes to derive 95 percent of its polyester from pre- or post-consumer recycled sources.
The Stuart Weitzman parent also has its eye on tracing and mapping 95 percent of its raw materials by 2025. In the interest of transparency, it has published its Tier 1 supplier list on its website and on the Open Supply Hub.
A circular future cannot be accomplished alone, said Joe Murphy, executive lead of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Network. He said the organization is pleased to welcome Tapestry to the fold and looks forward to facilitating opportunities with other Network members, such as H&M Group, Inditex, Lacoste, Primark, PVH Corp. and Ralph Lauren, while supporting it on its “circular economy journey.” With the rest of the Fashion Initiative, previously known as Make Fashion Circular, Tapestry will help “reimagine” how materials are “sourced, produced and consumed,” with a focus on waste reduction and recirculation.
“A circular economy for fashion creates better products and services for customers, contributes to a resilient and thriving fashion industry, and regenerates the environment,” Murphy said. “Together we can make fashion circular and help tackle the root causes of global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.”


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Nearly half of young adults in the US are living at home with their parents, and all that saved rent is fueling a luxury boom
Around 48% of young Americans are living at home with their parents in 2022, similar to levels seen in the 1940s, Morgan Stanley analysts estimated.
I shopped at Sephora and Ulta to compare the 2 beauty stores. The latter was the clear winner as it's the perfect one-stop shop.
When it comes to beauty stores, Sephora and Ulta dominate the market. I decided to shop at both to find out how they compare.
The wealthy are splurging on Ferraris, Gucci handbags, and expensive Champagne, while McDonald's customers can't afford combo meals
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Metaverse jobs with Nike, Disney and Meta are here. Here are the futuristic jobs you can apply for right now.
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Once judged for his love of trains as a teenager, 21-year-old TikTok trainspotter Francis Bourgeois is now a Gucci model.
Luxury fashion house Gucci under fire for using real tigers in ad campaign ahead of Chinese New Year
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Luxury goods stocks could offer an alternative route into the NFT market, which Morgan Stanley says could surge nearly 2,000% by 2030. The bank lays out how investors can play this overlap, including a top stock pick
In its latest metaverse report, Morgan Stanley examines how retail investors can gain exposure to the sector through luxury goods stocks.
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"As more aspects of people's lives move to the internet, demand for digital fashion and luxury goods is set to increase dramatically," MS said.
After a virtual Gucci bag sold for over $4,000, more than a real one, VC Alexis Ohanian predicts virtual fashion will be huge. Gucci and Atari agree.
People are spending more money on digital fashion and investors and brands are taking notice, pouring money into the space.
An artist whose NFT sales have surged over 800% in the secondary market shares his top tips for investing in digital art, as well as his journey from Olympic snowboarder to teaming up with Gucci
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Marketing firm Moosylvania surveyed 1,000 millennials to find their favorite brands.
Millennials are spending money on Gucci's flashiest styles. Along with the resurgence of the '90s, brand logos are back and millennials are loving it.
Gucci has reportedly extended its lease in the Trump Tower. Other companies, including Tiffany's, have pulled away from the former president.
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The price of admission to the world’s newest and largest Disneyland, opening June 16 in Shanghai, will be the lowest in the world. However, that’s not stopping netizens from complaining that prices are far too high, and that they have no intention of going.
A standard single day ticket for Shanghai Disneyland will cost 370 yuan ($56), while a peak-day ticket for festival, holiday periods, and weekends cost 499 yuan ($76). The park will offer a 25 percent discount for the disabled, elderly patrons over the age of 65, and children between 1 and 1.4 meters in height. Children under a meter high enter for free.
To put the prices in context, a one-day ticket to Hong Kong Disneyland costs 539 Hong Kong dollars ($69), while admission to Tokyo Disneyworld costs 6,900 yen ($58). Admission to US Disney theme parks located in California and Florida cost approximately $100, as does EuroDisney in France.
One person wrote, “I am disappointed at the admission prices. Are the people of the Celestial Kingdom (China) so full of money, and so lacking in sense? The holiday prices are so much more than the regular prices, so much more! You might as well travel to (the Disneyland in) Japan.”
Another person expressed their disappointment by writing, “The prices are scary high!! And there aren’t any student discount rates!!!! The enthusiasm I had for going has now disappeared. As a student, I’m not able to afford going even once.”
One person put the blame squarely on Disney asking, “Weekends, festivals, and holidays are all classified as ‘peak days’. Do you want us to skip school so that we can purchase tickets at the regular price?”
Another looked to the government: “It’s not the government’s money being invested in this, but our money — doesn’t the government’s money belong to the people? Using (the people’s) money to build something that most of us can’t attend — that’s something that only makes sense to rich people like you.”
One person simply gave up, saying, “(Shanghai Disneyland) is a tuhao (nouveau riche) world, and has nothing to do with me.”
The $5.5 billion Shanghai Disneyworld theme park will feature the world’s highest Enchanted Storybook Castle as well as an all-Chinese language version of the Lion King musical. It is expected to attract ten million visitors a year. Tickets go on sale March 28.