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CNET On Cars
Sony also promises that the Android 4.3 update is "right around the corner" for the rest of its Xperia lineup.
A limited-time promotion sees Sony giving away hundreds of dollars worth of movies, music, and apps for the Xperia Z1, Z1S, and Z2.
No time to find a repair shop? This service will dispatch a tech to your home, office, or another meeting place.
The company says that the devices will run KitKat as standard and include some updates to native apps.
Sony can't meet demand for its new 4K-shooting flagship phone -- while preorders should go out in April, the general public won't see the Z2 until May.
About 5.7 million people have pledged cash through the crowdfunding giant since it kicked off nearly five years ago.
At Google's I/O Conference, the company says 20 billion text messages were sent each day from Android devices over a 30-day period.
The Xperia Z1F is a sawed-off version of Sony's waterproof flagship Android smartphone, with a 4.3-inch screen instead of a 5-incher.
The Sony Xperia Z1 gets that shrinking feeling with a new, smaller version officially announced in Japan.
Mobile purchases, more social connectivity, and yes, 3D Blu-ray playback: Xbox One gets a handful of new perks in a software update coming soon.


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An announcement was made by Square Enix’s Global Brand Director, Akio Ofuji, that Final Fantasy XV Game Director, Hajime Tabata, has resigned from his position and the company. Hajime Tabata was also part of Square Enix’s subsidiary company Luminous Productions. Tabata’s resignation resolved on October 31.
Tabata decided to leave the company to start his own business. He stated in an open letter that he was working on a new project and that this business would directly support that project. Tabata was the head of Luminous Productions since it was founded back in March. The company; however, recently reported a huge loss of 3.73 billion yen (around $33 million) during a six month period ranging from March to September of this year.
Final Fantasy XV originally launched for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2016. Since then, it has received many updates including story packs for its characters, a co-op mode, and more. Recently, a Royal Edition of the game launched on March 6 for the same consoles which included all DLC from the initial season pass. A Windows 10 edition of the game also launched on March 6.
If you wish to see the special announcement concerning Tabata’s departure for the company, a video was made available on the official Final Fantasy XV YouTube channel, which you can watch below:
We wish Tabata good luck in his project. Hopefully, it is game related and we get to see what he can do outside of Square Enix and Final Fantasy.

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2024 Hyundai i30 hatch’s second facelift spied again, due later this year
After the i30 N hot-hatch version was spotted in South Korea, the second styling update for the standard version of the top-selling Hyundai i30 hatchback has been photographed testing Europe.
The second 'facelift' for the 2024 Hyundai i30 hatchback has been caught on camera, ahead of first European and Australian showroom arrivals anticipated by the end of this year.
The images of the standard i30 hatch captured by Drive's spy photography partners follow photos of the updated i30 N hot hatch taken in South Korea earlier this month, with similar amounts of black camouflage disguising its design changes.
The second update for the current i30 hatch – after its launch in 2017, and the first facelift in 2020 – is designed to extend the life of one of Australia's top-selling small cars until the middle of the decade.
While a new generation of its Kia Cerato twin is planned, the future of the Hyundai i30 after 2025 or 2026 – and into another generation – is unclear, amid declining small-car sales globally.
A next-generation Hyundai i30 hatch may adopt electric power as its Europe, its most popular region, is due to roll out even more stringent emissions standards from 2026 that some models in the current i30 range may not meet.
Arrival timing for the second Hyundai i30 update is yet to be confirmed, however Drive understands it could be in showrooms in Australia – the largest single market for the vehicle – by the end of this year.
It has been confirmed for European showrooms in October 2023, in standard and i30 N hot-hatch forms.
The Hyundai i30 Sedan in Australian showrooms – which rides on newer underpinnings than the hatch, with Hyundai's latest technology and design cues – is also due for an update later this year, in what will be its first facelift since its 2020 launch.
The amount of camouflage on this prototype makes it difficult to discern how extensive the styling changes will be.
However, the grille, headlights, tail-lights and wheels appear to be unchanged, as do key sheet-metal components such as the roof and bonnet – suggesting visual changes will be mild at most.
The V-shaped LED headlight signatures may look new to many Australian buyers, but they have been available on Czech-built Hyundai i30 models since its first major facelift in 2020.
The only Czech-made i30 model sold in Australia is the i30 N hot hatch; standard versions are produced in South Korea, with Australia one of the final markets that imports i30s built in this factory.
Part of the dashboard in this i30 prototype is obscured, which Drive's spy photography partners in Europe – who took these photos – have speculated may point to interior upgrades.
It is unclear how extensive this would be, and if the i30 hatch – now six years old in Australia – would be able to support the Hyundai group's latest widescreen digital instrument cluster and other high-tech interior features.
Plans for changes under the bonnet are also yet to be disclosed.
The i30 N is expected to retain its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (206kW/392Nm) with no upgrades, as the now decade-old motor is nearing the end of the road.
It is understood the engine – which remains in only two Hyundai N cars, the i30 N hatch and i30 Sedan N, as the Kona N SUV is about to be axed – will not be upgraded to meet new 'Euro 7' emissions standards due in Europe in 2026.
The full Hyundai i30 range is not expected to survive in European showrooms beyond the introduction of Euro 7, as it does not offer any form of hybrid power – and its older engines may not meet the strict new rules.
It could continue in Australia beyond its death in Europe – at which point it would be 10 years old – and Drive understands the remaining lifespan of the vehicle differs by market.
A next-generation Hyundai i30 hatch is not believed to be a certainty – contrary to some overseas reports – but Hyundai N executives have expressed interest in offering an electric i30 N hot hatch by 2030, which could pave the way for a standard, battery-powered i30 hatch.


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The retail giant announced on Tuesday that an unidentified number of gift cards sold over the holidays was not properly activated.
The company did not disclose exactly how many cards were affected, just saying the number is less than .1 percent of the total sold. Stores will honor the affected cards.
Target is asking customers to check the balance by following instructions on the back of the card.
Customers can bring faulty cards to any Target service desk or call (800) 544-2943 for assistance.
The problem comes less than two weeks after a massive credit card breach that affected some 40 million debit and credit card holders who shopped at its stores between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15.
On Friday, Target backtracked and said that debit-card PIN numbers were among the data stolen. However, it said the stolen personal identification numbers, which customers type into keypads to make secure transactions, were encrypted and that this strongly reduces risk to customers.
In addition to the encrypted PINs, customer names, credit and debit card numbers, card expiration dates and the embedded code on the magnetic strip on back of the cards were stolen.
Target has said it is still in the early stages of investigating the breach. It has been working with the Secret Service and the Department of Justice.
Customers who see suspicious charges on their statements were advised to report them to their credit card companies and call Target at (866) 852-8680.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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CBD Oil that comes from the hemp plant is legal across all states in the USA after the introduction of the 21 Jul 2019 Quickly, travelers, does your CBD oil conform with that law? As Hawaii residents know, marijuana, for medical use, is legal in this state and 10 Jul 2019 CBD (cannabidiol) is one of the 100+ chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. Unlike the other well-known compound THC 23 Jul 2019 Retail Merchants of Hawaii cautions Island stores about CBD product "Many retailers that we see selling illegal CBD items may know of a
A complete directory of marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii, including Honolulu and Maui. For more information on Hawaii marijuana laws, click here. Although
The industrial hemp was made legal in Hawaii through the enactment of 2014 Senate Bill 2175. The following passages shall elaborate on what are the two 3 May 2019 KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) — The Hawaii Department of Health issued a statement Wednesday reiterating that cannabidiol has never been
LEGAL LIMIT .3% OR LESS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT When THC production genes are turned “on” and CBD is turned “off,” plants are THC dominant,
Nejnovější tweety od uživatele Locicbd (@locicbd). LociCBD HempCBD Helping people and animals https://t.co/734lLmGs0l. Los Angeles, CA In the United States, the use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal in 33 states, four (out of five) permanently inhabited U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, as of January 2019. And another plus of using the CBD Oil is a natural origin. It’s much better than taking harmful painkillers.Is CBD Legal? The Legal Status of CBD in 2019 | CBD Originhttps://cbdorigin.com/is-cbd-legalWhile CBD laws have become more clear, the question still remains: is CBD Legal? CBD is legal, but under specific conditions. Learn the facts in our 2019 guide. Until recently, the answer was a matter of intense debate. But the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill has dramatically changed the legal landscape of CBD. In march, the bill failed to even be considered by the Senate Health Committee and Senate Ways and Means Committee so was unable to progress onward to the full senatorial review. We make it easy for you to find the right doctor, dispensary or delivery service in the USA, Canada, Netherlands, Spain and throughout Europe.Cbd Cream In Hawaii - State sets record straight about CBD…ariasana.orgAnderson said that information is incorrect. In epilepsy research, CBD changed the way the body processed other drugs.
1 day ago Hawaii Legislature Seeks Legal Standard For Unregulated CBD Products. Twitter icon. Share. Submitted by Marijuana News on Tue,
Is CBD oil legal? There are still a few states that completely prohibit CBD regardless of where it comes from. This guide explains it all. The cannabis plant family includes both the marijuana plant and hemp plant, and the laws surrounding each differ greatly. Learn all the details.


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New Traffic- and Security ManagerNiklas Hermansson is the new manager for the Traffic and Security department.
In previous news we wrote about our new sustainability manager Linda Astner. Her previous role has now been taken over by Niklas Hermansson, who now leads the same department, but under the new name Traffic and Security. The responsibilities Linda has brought with her in to her new role are first and foremost about sustainability and digital development, other issues remain with the Traffic and Security Department. Niklas department is thus given a more streamlined function and the tasks with traffic, freight, logistics and security issues are now easier to keep together than in the old organization's "Port Authority". Under the umbrella of the department there are, among other things, the port's tugboat operations and the Port Traffic Office.
Niklas has a background in the private sector as a shipping agent for a 15-year period, which was a solid school to gain the basic knowledge of how the shipping industry works. In 2009, Niklas moved on to start working as a customer manager for railway companies in the public sector (Banverket / Trafikverket). He also worked in a couple of other positions within the Swedish Transport Administration, partly as a national strategic planner with a focus on issues relating to freight transport, logistics and shipping and partly as an action planner and contract coordinator within the Swedish Transport Administration's Region Center. Niklas has worked with decision documentation for the national plan for the transport system and was responsible for the "Maritime transport" report for the orientation documentation 2018-2029. During his 10 years in government service, Niklas also participated in an EU project on inland shipping and worked as a sub-project leader in a government assignment regarding analysis of the development potential for inland and coastal shipping in Sweden and handled R&D issues in the maritime area.
“When there was a job opening in Port of Gävle in 2018, I saw the opportunity to work in a municipal port business and still with several types of traffic. I started as a logistics developer. Then after only about a year in the port the opportunity opened up to take the job as the manager of Traffic and security. It feels both exciting and challenging, after all, the leadership is a new role for me. The department has incredibly talented and ambitious employees, so a lot of the operations are almost like a self-playing piano, and that makes me feel very comfortable in the new role. Port of Gävle has a vision to become Sweden's best port and my impression so far is that it is not far from achieving that ”
Quay cranes arrive at Gävle Container Terminal
After two months of travel, three new quay cranes have now arrived at the largest container terminal on the east coast of Sweden.Read more
Results of the Efficient flow project
During three years, the Port of Gävle has participated in an EU-funded project named Efficient Flow. The project is nearing completion, but for the Port of Gävle, work continues with the Port Activity App ™, which is the primary result of the project.Read more
Port of Gävle received its largest delivery of wind turbines to date
During the third quarter of 2020 a vessel containing 111 wind turbine parts arrived to Port of Gävle.Read more
Full warehouses at terminal Granudden yet again
The volumes at Granudden terminal in Port of Gävle have been high throughout the third quarter of 2020 despite covid-19.Read more
Autonomous vehicles in Port of Gävle
During the autumn of 2020, the technology company Semcon will investigate how transport flows in Port of Gävle can be made more efficient.Read more
Inauguration of CFS Paper in Gävle
On August 19th the world unique automated high-bay warehouse for paper was inaugurated in the Port of Gävle. The ceremonial ribbon cutting was done by Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Minister for Nordic Affairs, Anna Hallberg.Read more
Port activity app - a digital solution to share information
Port activity app is a digital solution to share information that will be implemented in Port of Gävle during 2020. Gävle Hamn AB is at full speed to implement a test version with a small group of key partners.Read more
New collaboration opens for hydrogen investment in Port of Gävle
Port of Gävle, Gävle Energi and Statkraft have signed an agreement to investigate the possibilities of creating a hydrogen plant in the port of Gävle.Read more
New Traffic- and Security Manager
Niklas Hermansson is the new manager for the Traffic and Security department.Read more
Experienced employee in new position
Since Port of Gävle has high ambitions in the area of sustainability, we have now chosen to add a new function that is responsible for sustainability and digital developmentRead more


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Early Tuesday morning, a number of stores on West Pratt Street were damaged or even destroyed. A pawn shop was set on fire around 3 a.m., and it took firefighters hours to knock out the flames.
Across the street is a beauty supply store that sells wigs. Like other stores, it was trashed by rioters. The store's owner told FOX 5's Bob Barnard that he had been in business for 32 years, working six days a week.
Volunteers were out later in the morning to help business owners clean up the debris.
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BALTIMORE RIOTS: State of emergency in effect; cleanup underway
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake under fire for 'balancing act' comments
Obama: 'No excuse' for violence in Baltimore
Baltimore Police: Gangs said to be targeting cops
Thousands attend funeral for Freddie Gray in Baltimore


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In 2008, General Motors announced that their subsidiary, Chevrolet, would be coming out with its own plug-in hybrid electric compact car to compete with Toyota Motor Corp.’s highly praised Prius. Like the Prius, it is powered by a lithium-ion battery. General Motors dubbed their new Chevrolet venture the Volt and marketed it as “the most fuel-efficient compact car in the United States.”
But now, their acclaimed plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is raising major concern amongst consumers, with the auto manufacturer, safety groups and, more significantly, the United States government and their auto safety regulating agency, the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The NHTSA recently announced a “safety defect investigation” into the Chevy Volt after 3 crash tests, which were specifically design to simulate common real-life car crash situations, revealed a dangerous flaw. After a crash, the Volt’s lithium-ion battery is susceptible to combustion. Even days after the crash a fire could ignite within the battery compartment and lead to serious damage or injury.
In an effort to save the Chevy Volt’s reputation, General Motors announced plans to loan out cars to owners while the auto manufacturer’s engineers work with the NHTSA to find the cause of the fires and how to fix the problem. GM was quick to point out that the Chevy Volt fires occurred days after the crash, not at the time of impact. Where as, with gas-powered vehicles the risk of fire is immediate if a major accident occurs.
Jeremy Anwyl, Chief Executive Officer of Edmunds.com (an auto research website based in Southern California), pointed out that the Volt is General Motors’ “counter to the Prius. They will do everything the can to make sure people don’t draw negative conclusions.” Many other analysts are more concerned about how this development will affect public opinion towards hybrid electric vehicles as a whole. All hybrid electrics use similar lithium-ion batteries. The concern is that consumers will be swayed by fear and rethink their decision to opt for an eco-friendly, fuel-efficient vehicle.


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New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) MG Motor India on Tuesday reported a 41.2 per cent increase in its retail sales at 2,851 units in August.
The company had sold 2,018 units in the same month last year, MG Motor India said in a statement.
The recently-launched Hector Plus is witnessing significant traction from the family segment as people begin to travel with easing restrictions, while there was good traction in the electric vehicle (EV) segment as well, it added.
With the support of state government in Delhi, the company hopes that the EV category would see a further increase in momentum soon, MG Motor India said.
MG Motor India, Director – Sales, Rakesh Sidana said, “We have ramped up the overall production in August compared to July. We are working on fulfilling existing backorders for the Hector and prioritising vehicle deliveries for the ongoing festive season.
The recovery in upcountry markets has been faster which should augur well during the festive season, he added.
The company is also getting ready for the launch of its new SUV Gloster by Diwali this year, the company said.


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A former editor at Vanity Fair has been working for more than a year to create a digital publication with a business twist: Its writers will share in subscription revenue.
Think of it as Vanity Fair meets Substack, the subscription newsletter platform that has attracted big-name authors.
The new company behind the publication, Heat Media, hopes to unveil it in the coming months, four people with knowledge of the matter said. The start-up is partly the brainchild of Jon Kelly, a former editor at Vanity Fair who worked under its previous editor in chief, Graydon Carter.
If all goes to plan, the start-up’s contributors would include writers whose contacts include the power elite of Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Washington and Wall Street. An annual subscription would cost $100 and could include a daily newsletter, a website and access to events, the people said. The publication does not yet have a name. One under consideration is Puck, the name of an American humor magazine of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
invest in the “geek culture” website Fandom, which recently acquired gaming website Focus Multimedia. Last year, a TPG affiliate acquired the soccer site Goal.com, and the firm recently announced plans to acquire a stake in DirectTV.
The cash from the two firms would give the start-up some security at a time when some of the biggest players in digital publishing, such as BuzzFeed, Vice, Vox Media and Group Nine, have stumbled as the pandemic ravaged the ad industry.
Mr. Kelly’s business partners are Joe Purzycki, a founder of the podcasting company Luminary Media, and Max Tcheyan, who helped build the sports site The Athletic, the people said.
Two people who have seen a pitch deck on the company’s plans said that its potential competitors are the Washington news site Axios, the tech news site The Information and Vanity Fair.


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With the advent of music streaming, catalogs of music have been made more accessible to a greater number of people in the United States, and it is slowly contributing itself to independence in our tastes and most successful songs.
To gauge the extent of streaming this year, there have been over 184 billion on-demand audio streams reported from music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music since the beginning of 2017, a 62% increase from the same time in 2016, according to Nielsen.
This news comes after it was reported that on-demand audio streaming’s share of music consumption reached 38%, and had surpassed those of digital sales in 2016. It is highly probable that streaming’s share could rise even further by year’s end given Nielsen’s 2017 mid-year findings.
Russ Crupnick, managing partner at music market research firm MusicWatch, details one reason why the streaming phenomenon has rapidly taken place in recent years. “It wasn’t always convenient to play vinyls, cassettes, or CDs,” he says. “Streaming is more convenient because it works with all kinds of different devices with access to 30-40 million songs. The amount of variety is limitless!”
With greater access to these multi-million song libraries, it is evident that less people would be willing to pay for one album on a digital store like iTunes when they could essentially have access to that same album and millions more with streaming memberships for a similar price.
As streaming continues to provide music more directly to the consumer, its dominance rises with each passing year since 2013 when digital track sales suffered a 5.7% decline that year, according to Billboard.
Now in its phoenix moment, the music industry celebrates 2017 as the year that saw Ed Sheeran break numerous Spotify records, and R&B/Hip Hop become the genre with the highest share of streaming distribution among Nielsen’s recognized genres.
This year also made clear of the industry’s shift to promote artists with generally high streaming numbers and audiences associated with them, with seemingly unconventional crossover collaborations transcending geography, language and culture.
From The Weeknd and Daft Punk to Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber to Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé, Billboard’s chart topping singles this year showcased an array of diverse artists and genre bending in today’s pop music world.
The novelty of streaming has since become beneficial to a recovering music industry which seems to be less at the discretion of record labels and more of its own consumers.


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- Business park
- Start production
- Projects of the industrial park
- Investment application
There are plans to launch the first in Russia production of sprayers for pharmaceuticals. Last week, the company ARUNA, which produces packaging for Miramistin and Okomistin pharmaceuticals, was visited by representatives of two European companies supplying equipment for medicinal products. An Italian company CANTONI is the leader in the production of molds for manufacturing products of various shapes (bottles, lids, nozzles, etc.), an Austrian company ENGEL is engaged in the production of injection molding machines, the molding devices themselves. The creation of a sprayer plant will attract 10-12 million euros of investments, and the company will create 100 new jobs.
"This visit was a result of lengthy negotiations on creation of a project of sprayers for medicine, perfume, food industry, as well as for household chemicals. Today, there are simply no such productions in Russia, all products of this kind are 100% imported. We are forced to purchase spare parts for aerosols abroad. The country mainly buys sprayers in China. Organization of the enterprise in the Kaliningrad Region will allow not only to bring safety to our market, but also to reduce the cost of the components, which will affect the final price of the products for the consumer", says Director for Development of the INFAMED K LLC, an advisor to the governor of the Kaliningrad Region on Investment Policy, Andrey Gorokhov. According to him, at this stage, an agreement has already been reached with the regional government to include this type of products in the list of import-substituting goods.
At the meeting with representatives of the foreign companies, the issue of expanding production of pharmaceutical packaging already existing in Aruna was also discussed. The equipment for it will be supplied by the Austrian company Engel. Andrei Gorokhov says that the production of pharmaceutical packaging by Aruna is a prototype of a large production in Bagrationovsk. 'We showed our German comrades, partners that we can do packaging of the same quality, and cheaper than theirs," Mr. Gorokhov said.
The first building of the plant "Aruna" is a compact brick building in several floors. Raw materials, which are used for the production of Miramistin vials, are brough from Austria (there are no counterparts in Russia). In the production zone, there are machines, where bottles and their components are formed, which are then sent for sorting into a special automated clean room (this provides the conditions for production in a clean environment). It is completely constructed from the Russian components.
When creating a clean room in the second building, only the components provided by Kaliningrad companies were used. "We are now able to make clean rooms ourselves. In the production of pharmaceutical products, this is the most difficult and expensive: the quality of product essentially depends on the preparation of air and water, "- says Andrei Gorokhov.
The purchase of new machines will allow Aruna to proceed with non-waste production. New equipment after itself does not leave secondary waste. Another advantage of new equipment is the speed of production of plastic containers. To replace one such machine, you will need about four old-type machines. In the second building, there is still preparation for future production. The equipment here is also adjusted for manufacturing of various products: vials, caps, urethral nozzles, packaging for eye drops.
'Sprays that nobody produce in Russia': report by RUGRAD.EU


text: At first glance, it’s hard to tell, isn’t it? Well, that’s no accident. Confusion works in the tobacco companies’ best interest. They WANT you to think products like chew tobacco, vape, mods, JUUL pods, and flavored cigars are as fun and as harmless as candy bars are to kids. That’s because tobacco products are becoming less and less popular and tobacco companies are trying to get people addicted to nicotine in other ways. And it’s working. A recent study right here in South Dakota reports that 47% of young adults have tried e-cigarettes. Most of them are people who would never even think of smoking cigarettes. It’s a trick, not a treat. Nicotine in any form is poison and ADDICTIVE! Don’t buy it.


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On the Road Again: Willie Nelson's Cannabis Brand Headed Up to Canada
One of Colorado’s largest recreational pot companies is planning to bring Willie Nelson’s marijuana brand to Canada and go public in Toronto.
LivWell Enlightened Health LLC is planning a series of deals that include taking over management of a Calgary-based cannabis firm and a reverse takeover of investment company Target Capital Inc., the companies said Monday.
It is also changing its name to LivWell International and striking a side deal that will give it perpetual distribution rights in Canada to Willie’s Reserve, the U.S. country singer’s namesake marijuana brand, they said.
The transactions were first reported by Bloomberg News.
LivWell is expected to have an enterprise value of about C$300 million ($228 million) after going public, according to people familiar with the deal. The Denver-based company has about 500 employees and generates about $80 million in annual sales from marijuana growing, processing and retailing, according to its website.
The deals will bring one of the best-known American marijuana brands to Canada, while continuing a trend of U.S. pot companies heading to Toronto to tap investor demand for weed stocks. With U.S. law curbing its ability to expand globally, listing in Canada will give LivWell access to international markets.
The company already had a toehold in Canada through a stake in Calgary-based 51st Parallel. LivWell is taking over management of 51st, which is raising C$50 million, completing the takeover of Target Capital, and buying a $20 million stake in GCH Inc., the owner of Nelson’s weed brands.
The GCH deal will give LivWell 12 percent of that company and a seat on its board, along with a first crack at Canadian rights to other brands GCH develops.


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The European Union (EU) Agricultural Council voted on Thursdayto extend its moratorium on commercial use of bovine somatotropin(BST) until Dec. 31, 1999.
Although the council agreed to allow limited use of the growthhormone by farmers in member states for "testing purposes," neitherthe animals nor the milk can be marketed within the EU or exported.A milk quota system is in effect in the EU until the year 2000.
According to Monsanto Co. spokeswoman Lisa Watson, the EUcouncil voted to modify the moratorium so that farmers could "gainpractical experience" with the use of BST. St. Louis-based Monsantohas marketed BST under the trade name POSILAC in the U.S. sinceFebruary 1994 and received approval for the product from the EUCommittee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) in 1993.
Watson said that the exact limits on BST use will be determined byeach EU member state individually. "We view this very positively,"said Watson. "Up until now, the EU has not allowed any use of theproduct. This is a step in the right direction."
However, the EU council called for further collection of data on howBST affects the health of cows. Monsanto has committed to theCVMP that it will conduct "pharmacovigilance" studies in the EUsimilar to those it is currently conducting in the U.S. under FDAguidance.
The Pure Food Campaign, which has called for an internationalboycott of genetically engineered foods, issued a statementapplauding the EU's decision to continue to ban the sale and exportof milk, dairy and beef products made using BST. "This decision isdevastating to Monsanto," said Pure Food spokesman RonnieCummins. _ Lisa Piercey
(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.


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The Museum of Fine Arts is all about the bling. Featuring about 75 pieces spanning four millennia, the new exhibit, “Jewels, Gems, and Treasures: Ancient to Modern” showcases jewelry from around the world and attempts to shed light on how various cultures have defined the concept of treasure.
When this reporter first went to view the exhibit, which wasn’t officially open at the time, patrons attempted to peer through doors, wondering audibly, “Wow, I wonder how much that one costs!”
Besides obviously expensive jewelry and artifacts, “Jewels” also features pieces such as an “empty” diamond ring, which artist Liesbeth Fit says may cause the viewer to “question perceptions of beauty and glamour.”
She muses, “Might diamonds be as empty as the wire frame?”
Curator Yvonne Marko-witz says she “loves the provenance of pieces,” and the exhibit has no shortage of stories.
From a necklace purchased by Samuel Colt to Coco Chanel’s favorite bracelets — including jewelry the bereaved Mary Todd Lincoln hocked after her husband’s death — each piece’s story only adds to the glitter.
The exhibit is the first installation of a permanent jewelry gallery. Next year, it will feature costume jewelry that Markowitz calls “the story of what you can create when you are free to work with items that aren’t costly, [allowing the artists to] unleash their whimsy and imagination.”


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Nintendo has broken its pre-E3 silence by confirming that the company will be hosting a Nintendo Direct broadcast on June 15 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.
RELATED: Nintendo Dates Three Pokémon Titles for Switch
The show will last roughly 40 minutes and will focus exclusively on Nintendo Switch software, most of which is said to be on the cards for a 2021 release. Directly after the event, a Nintendo Treehouse Live show will showcase three hours of gameplay from some of the titles featured in the Direct.
? Nintendo at #E32021: 6/15, 9am PT!
Tune in for a #NintendoDirect with roughly 40 minutes of info focused exclusively on #NintendoSwitch software, mostly releasing in 2021, followed by around 3 hours of gameplay in #NintendoTreehouseLive | E3 2021.
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 2, 2021
The official description for the Nintendo E3 2021 event reads:
Tune in for roughly 40 minutes of info focused exclusively on software—mostly releasing in 2021—for the Nintendo Switch™ system.
Stick around after the Nintendo Direct presentation for roughly 3 hours of deep dives into select games with those who know them best, as Nintendo of America’s Treehouse staff and guests stream live gameplay and commentary.
The anticipated announcement of a new piece of Switch hardware – dubbed the “Switch Pro” – is still widely expected to occur at some point before E3 kicks off on June 12. If that happens, we would expect to see a wave of Switch Pro-supported software as part of this new show.
Even if that isn’t the case, it should still be fun to see exactly what the company have got up their sleeves for the remainder of the year. Heaven knows they aren’t going to be betting on Mario Golf: Super Rush carrying them all the way through to 2022.
RELATED: Game Builder Garage’s Newest Video Shows How You’ll Make Games


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The 5-5-5 Tax Rollback
Income Tax It’s time to roll back the Income Tax hike to its traditional 5% rate. Using the initiative petition process, the citizens of Massachusetts voted to return the state’s personal income tax rate to 5% more than a decade ago. Defying the will of the voters, the Democrat Legislature maintained its 5.3% income tax hike. Standing with the voters and taxpayers of Massachusetts, Jim Lyons is fighting on Beacon Hill to roll back the Income Tax rate to 5%.
Sales Tax In the summer of 2009, the Beacon Hill power brokers increased the Sales Tax rate from 5% to 6.25%. That’s a whopping 25% tax hike on consumers and retail shops. For three decades, JimLyons has worked in his family’s small retail business. Jim is acutely aware of the negative effect that this tax hike has had upon consumers and struggling retail businesses in the Merrimack Valley, because of our proximity to tax-free New Hampshire. Jim Lyons is fighting to roll back the sales tax rate to 5% and to reinvigorate small business growth and job creation in our communities.
Meals Tax The Democrat Legislature also voted a punishing 25% hike of the meals and restaurant tax, from 5% to 6.25%. Like the sales tax increase, the meals tax hike punishes consumers and restaurants, mostly small, locally-owned businesses. Jim Lyons is fighting to roll back the meals and restaurant tax to its longstanding 5% rate.
Increasing Local Aid
Jim Lyons and 34 other reform Republicans fought for increasing Local Aid by millions of dollars in the 2011 and 2012 state budgets. Jim’s hard work is producing results: Local Aid to the 18th Essex District has increased by over a half million dollars. Jim’s sound fiscal proposals will ad $50 million in local community funding and equitably fund our school district Foundation Budgets.
Steady advocacy for Local Aid protects working families who pay the bulk of property taxes. Local Aid supports our community budgets, preserves Proposition 2 and 1/2, and caps our property taxes.
Jim Lyons is working to maintain the local services that matter most to our communities. Local Aid helps our towns sustain those services nearest to our families: education, libraries, police, fire, public safety, first responders, and public works.


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New York Times
New York Times reported profits up 4% to $75.7 million, or $0.50 per share, and sales up 3% to $823.9 million. Though advertising revenues improved, in its press announcement, the company warned, "The pace of advertising revenue growth slowed throughout the period, and this trend has continued in July."
Its newspaper group's ad revenues eked out a mere 1.7% increase. Its strongest suit by far was its New York Times Digital Internet properties, which enjoyed a 26.7% increase in ad sales, while its broadcast group grew 10.7% in the quarter.
The company said that in the second quarter, it participated in cost-containment measures, and it will continue to use that strategy the rest of the year.
New York Times' ad sales increased 3.9%, but its circulation revenues remained flat compared with the same time last year. Such results mark a departure from those of Gannett
Given Gannett's upbeat quarter, it lends to more disappointment when looking at New York Times, which many would have hoped would follow suit. Not to mention, some areas of advertising are downright sizzling -- look at Yahoo!'s
Several days ago, I observed that New York Times is attempting an interesting -- but perhaps, ultimately financially irrelevant -- summertime bid for more readers and advertising by serializing several novels. In response to the strength in the Times' Internet properties, perhaps its recent content agreement with CNET
Investors will want to watch whether the company will continue to lag the industry or jump-start ad revenue growth in the months to come. For now, a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 21 sounds like a high price to pay for shares of the company, considering that with many signs pointing to ad recovery, New York Times seems a bit behind the times.
Do you love to talk about the latest issues? Check out the Fool's Current Events discussion board.
Alyce Lomax does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned.


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The government will soon begin a pilot to refund goods and services tax (GST) paid by foreign tourists visiting India as a part of a move to implement a measure that is there in the statute.
The Integrated GST Act, enacted five years ago, provides for refund on goods, which are to be taken out of the country by a tourist, a person who is normally not a resident of India, and is in the country for not more than six months for non-immigrant purposes.
Several countries follow a system of GST or VAT refund for tourists for consumption outside the country as taxes are typically not exported, a principle that is followed in duty-free shops at airports as well. In these countries products above a threshold are eligible for refund of taxes, which can be claimed at the airport and the payment can be received there or often it is transferred to the buyer’s bank account.
Government sources said with the GST regime settling down, the Centre is discussing the possibility of a pilot, which will involve outlets such as the Cottage Industries Emporium and, based on the experience, it will be expanded.
Source: The Times of India
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In order to further enhance the exchanges and cooperation with SCO sister cities, and promote the latest development of the SCODA, the SCODA organized the 2021 serial event of "Sister City Cooperation for a Common Future". The aim is to fully leverage the channels of sister cities, explore broader, deeper and higher-level cooperation with sister cities, so as to create a new brand for international exchanges, support the building of a new platform for Belt and Road international cooperation, and forge a SCO community with a common future.Since February 25th this year, when the 2021 serial event of "Sister City Cooperation for a Common Future" was launched, we have accumulatively organized 11 activities, and established close cooperative relationship with over 20 SCO sister cities and industrial zones or parks.The cooperation extended from economic and trade area to law, tourism, culture and education, etc. A three dimensional exchange network covering the government, schools, research institutes, business associations and companies of the sister cities has been formed. And a platform for local economic and trade cooperation among sister cities under the SCO framework has come into being gradually.The SCODA has won a bigger circle of friends, more partners and higher recognition!
On February 25th, the Economic and Trade Dialogue between Qingdao of China and Perm Border Region of Russia, the first activity of the 2021 serial event "Sister City Cooperation for a Common Future" was successfully held. The dialogue was organized both online and offline, with venues in Qingdao, Beijing, and Perm, simutaneously broadcast online. More than 100 company representatives from scientific and technological innovation, agriculture, manufacturing, economic and trade areas of China and Russia gathered on the cloud, to seek opportunities for pragmatic cooperation.
On the afternoon of March 12th, Xiang Zhiqiang, Member of the Party Working Committee, Deputy Director General of the Administrative Committee of SCODA had a video meeting with Chen Zhigang, President of Russia-China Business Park, and Peng Yin, Director of the Chinese Culture Center of Russia-China Business Park of St.Petersburg, Russia. The two sides carried out two-way promotions online, and exchanged ideas on future cooperation.
On March 15th, SCODA and Alabuga Special Economic Zone of Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing Economic and Trade Cooperation with Alabuga Special Economic Zone of Russia online. This MOU will enable the two areas to cooperate with each other, enhance information exchange and sharing, and work together in areas of construction and management, international trade, investment promotion, business connection, advertisement and promotion in an in-depth manner.
In order to promote the interaction between the SCODA and the Eurasian Overseas Economic and Trade Parks, the SCODA-Eurasian Overseas Economic and Trade Parks Video Meeting was held online on March 16th. Representatives from dozens of institutions such as the Eurasian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce, Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the related departments of the Administrative Committee and financial institutions of the SCODA, business institutions based abroad, overseas parks and companies, and companies within the SCODA gathered online, to seek opportunities for pragmatic cooperation in the form of interaction among industrial parks.
On April 8, Sino-Russia Economic and Trade Cooperation Dialogue, one of the 2021 serial event " Sister City Cooperation for a Common Future" organized by the SCODA was successfully held at SCO Service Center. This dialogue not only deepened mutual understanding between China and Russia, but also strengthened the Sino-Russian exchanges and cooperation in areas of economic and trade, science and technology, culture, business and tourism, thus giving full play to the role of the SCODA as a new platform for international cooperation.
On April 9, the SCODA held an online meeting with Jizzakh, Uzbekistan. Xiang Zhiqiang, Member of the Party Working Committee, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of the SCODA, and Mayor Kamil Hamradov, as well as other officials of Jizzakh, Uzbekistan gathered online to seek common development. Both sides hoped to leverage their advantages, actively promote the cooperation and exchanges between China and Uzbekistan, and explore new path of cooperation between Jizzakh and the SCODA in economic and trade, logistics, etc.
On April 16th, the SCODA held an online dialogue with Alashankou Comprehensive Bonded Area, and Horgos Economic Development Zone. Xiang Zhiqiang, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of the SCODA had a video meeting with Li Zhen, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Alashankou Comprehensive Bonded Area, and Guri Bahar, Secretary of the Party Group, Deputy Director of the Port Administration of Horgos Economic Development Zone. They exchanged ideas on the customs facilitation of Eurasian Freight Train, and cooperation in sea-rail multimodal transport. Through this meeting, the SCODA built a frequent communication mechanism with Horgos port and Alashankou port, and reached cooperation intentions in building logistics channels, trade cooperation, and interaction of industrial parks.
On the afternoon of April 21, the SCODA had a video meeting with Sasnitz of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The two sides exchanged ideas on cooperation in logistics, economic and trade, culture, science and technology, etc. Meng Qingsheng, Member of the Party Working Committee, Deputy Director General of the Administrative Committee of the SCODA, Frank Kraft, Mayor of Sasnitz, and Halm Sievers, General Manager of Mukran Port Group participated in the video meeting.
On April 26th, during the 2021 SCO International Investment and Trade Expo, Qingdao and the SCODA signed the Memorandum of Understanding with 4 cities and 19 industrial parks/areas from 17 countries respectively, delivered an expo of high-quality and high standards, and expanded the "circle of friends" for international economic and trade cooperation.
On April 27, China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area and the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao jointly hosted China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Cooperation & Exchange Dialogue. The SCODA and Forum Macao are both national platforms for China's opening up. The mutual exchange will advance various cooperation in economic and trade, culture and tourism, and investment between SCO countries and Portuguese-speaking countries.
On the afternoon of April 27, China-Belarus Economic and Trade Cooperation Dialogue, part of the 2021 serial event "Sister City Cooperation for a Common Future", was held in Jiaozhou. The dialogue was organized both online and offline, simultaneously at venues in Jiaozhou of Qingdao, Minsk, Vitebusk and Orsha of Belarus. Over 40 companies from banking, commerce and trade, scientific research areas of China and Belarus gathered through video link to seek pragmatic cooperation and development opportunities.


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Audible's stock closed up 91 cents, or 103 percent, at $1.78 on a volume of 3.6 million shares. In earlier trading, it hit $2.25, still far short of its 52-week high of $16.12.
The Wayne, N.J.-based company sells spoken-word audio downloads for personal computers, handhelds and portable MP3 players.
Under the deal, Microsoft has agreed to increase its stake in the company with a $10 million investment. The software giant previously invested in the company in 1999. The amount of the initial investment was not disclosed.
Microsoft's new investment is meant to support Audible's development of spoken-audio content and technology using Microsoft Windows Media technologies. The companies also intend to co-market the new products to consumers and corporate customers.
Earlier in the week, the Audible released its fourth-quarter and full-year results.
For the quarter, the company reported a net loss of $7.17 million, or 25 cents per share, excluding noncash amortization. The loss was wider than the year-earlier loss of $5.37 million, or 18 cents a share.
Total net revenue rose to $1.87 million for the fourth quarter, compared to the $420,263 taken in during the year-ago period.
For full-year 2000, the company lost $32.27 million, or $1.14 per share, compared to a loss of $13.47 million, or 85 cents per share, a year earlier. Total net revenue was $4.55 million, up from $1.74 million reported for fiscal 1999.
Net cash used in the fourth quarter dropped $4.2 million from $4.7 million in the previous quarter.
The company also said it reconfigured its strategic and marketing alliance alliance with Amazon.com, under which Audible provides digital spoken-word products to Amazon customers.
Audible's future minimum cash commitment to the deal was cut to $2.5 million through 2002, down from the company's original $10 million commitment.


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Some TT greats of yesteryear, both man and machine, are to feature in a set of 12 ground-breaking stamps, commissioned by Isle of Man Post Office.
Isle of Man Post Office is to welcome Tanya August-Hanson MLC as its new Vice Chairman.
Isle of Man Post Office is marking a special milestone with the release of a new stamp collection, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first Manx International Motor Scooter Rally.
Isle of Man Post Office Selects Ten Best Images To Depict The Best the Island Has To Offer
We would like to advise our customers of changes to operations and opening times over the Bank Holiday weekend.
On the news of the passing of Professor Stephen Hawking this morning, Isle of Man Post Office offers its sincere condolences to his family and friends and to Elizabeth Forrester (Executive Director) and the Trustees of the Professor Hawking Foundation, during this sad time.
The Isle of Man Post Office brings budding pilots from the IOM RAF Air Cadets to meet RAF Pilots during a special meet & greet opportunity


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Capcom has been really quiet since late 2021. The company has yet to highlight any major plans of releasing new titles for any gaming platform in 2022. However, that might change with a new announcement that the company has put up on their website which shows a countdown timer that is set to expire approximately a week from now.
Capcom countdown timer appears
Capcom is a major developer and publisher in the video game space, but since the latter half of 2021, the company has yet to announce any titles for 2022. They have yet to talk about new entries in the Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, or any other major IP’s to facilitate gamers in the new gaming year.
A new countdown timer has appeared on their website which could only mean the company is planning on announcing their next major IP’s a week from the publishing of this news.
Capcom had a successful 2021 with smash-hit titles like Monster Hunter Stories, Monster Hunter Rise, and Resident Evil 8 to mark 2021, but with us already 2 months into 2022, we still don’t know what the company has planned for the year.
Fans of famous series such as Resident Evil and Monster Hunter games are still in the dark on what to expect from the company for this year.
With how big 2022 will be because of the recent acquisitions, the competition is heating up now and fans are going to be looking at Capcom for some very rumored answers such as Resident Evil 4 Remake, and other IP announcements.
For now, all we can do is wait out the week-long timer to see what the future holds for Capcom and if it will lead to any place.
Let us know what games you are most excited for in the comments section below.


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As we earlier reported, Samsung was working on a new beta update that was spotted on the servers of different countries. Now the company is starting to roll out the eighth beta update for the Galaxy S23 devices. With this beta update, we can say that now the company could be ready to bring the stable update for the device.
Compared to last time, the company has been a little late in distributing the beta update. The One UI 5’s first beta update was available for Galaxy S22 users in early August, but this time the initial beta update was distributed to Galaxy S23 devices in mid-August. Thanks to Samsung’s activeness, it has already distributed several beta updates without wasting time.
In a couple of months, Samsung has pushed seven beta updates, of which the first was the only update that brought features, while in other beta updates, companies only brought fixes and improvements for the devices.
One UI 6 Beta 8 rolls out for Galaxy S23 Series
Currently, the One UI 6 beta 8 update is spotted in four countries, including Germany, India, Poland, the US, and the UK. However, it could be expanded to other countries in the next few days that are preselected by Samsung as beta participant countries.
Don’t be confused because of the beta number because in some countries Samsung has given one extra beta update initially while in others it has started with the second beta update. To confirm that you are receiving the last beta, you can check the firmware version number, ZWJI.
It is expected that this will be the last beta update, so if you have not joined the beta program yet, then you can now wait for the stable version, which could be available for the Galaxy S23 device in the next few days as it will be a public update, so you don’t have to do any registration or anything; it will be automatically available for your device.
Don’t miss our latest news on Samsung technology. Follow SamLover.com on your favorite social media platforms for instant notifications.
Meet RowKnee Shaw, our tech maestro at Sam Lover! Dive into the intricacies of One UI and ride the wave of Samsung Firmware updates with his expert guidance. From sleek navigation tips to the latest firmware gems, RowKnee Shaw is your go-to for unlocking the full potential of your Samsung device. Stay tuned for a tech journey like no other!


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Hideo Kojima – the highly lauded game director and designer, responsible for the Metal Gear Solid franchise – spoke about his partnership with Guerrilla Games, and using their Decima engine to run upcoming title Death Stranding.
In a series of Tweets, Kojima compared the relationship to the Cold War era space race.
1/4— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) December 10, 2016
The space development competition has been stagnated after the Cold War. Due to the steep rise in price of space development cost, pic.twitter.com/m1r9axh1ZS
2/4— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) December 10, 2016
the investment for the earth has been strengthened and they gave up on the space shuttle program. pic.twitter.com/nhu9WBlD1f
3/4— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) December 10, 2016
Meanwhile I who wants to proceed myself to the moon, met the guerrilla whose plan was to go to the mars. pic.twitter.com/HXBgJfB3CE
4/4— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) December 10, 2016
We decided to make the rocket by reforming their engine. And by doing so it enables us to go to the mars but even to the jupiter. pic.twitter.com/E5x8FHlVQD
Guerrilla Games is better known for the Killzone franchise. They’re currently developing open-world action game Horizon Zero Dawn.
During The Game Awards, Kojima showcased the latest trailer for Death Stranding. While it was light on details, it showed new characters – including one portrayed by Hollywood actor Mads Mikkelsen. During a panel at the PlayStation Experience, it was revealed that the trailer was running in real-time on a PS4 Pro.


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Cushman & Wakefield has completed a 71,237-square-foot industrial lease in Napa, representing both tenant Collotype Labels and landlord Whal Properties in the transaction. Glen Dowling of the firm’s Marin/North Bay office arranged the signing, with Collotype Labels expanding from its original 51,000 square feet at 21 Executive Way in Napa.
“The wine market industry is growing, and all signs are that it will continue to grow,” said David Buse, president of Collotype Labels, the largest wine label printer in the market. “We’re growing with the market and needed additional equipment and people, and the additional space to accommodate that growth.”
Co-tenant with Collotype Labels is Sutter Home Winery, which relocated to the site earlier this year in a transaction similarly arranged by Dowling.


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The 15th generation of iPhones from Apple won’t be out anytime soon. But persistent rumors have surrounded the anticipated attributes and specifications of the upcoming iPhones. According to a claim made by MacRumours, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the entry-level models of the iPhone 15 series, may suddenly be less expensive than their predecessors, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
Leaks of the iPhone 15’s range have shown off a number of potentially alluring improvements and eye-popping price rises. However, a recent report suggests that Apple may lower costs.
Even after accounting for continued pandemic-related component shortages, historically trustworthy industry insider yeux1122 reports that Apple’s internal review of the dismal iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus sales found that their fall is “far outside the range projected.” As a result, Apple will set its prices aggressively.
The insider claims that “the price is the major issue.” This is logical. Despite having a poorer display, CPU, camera, and an outdated design, the $899 iPhone 14 Plus cost just $100 less than the iPhone 14 Pro. There isn’t much of a rationale to choose Plus over Pro as the majority of customers spread their purchase expenditures over a two-year carrier contract.
According to Yeux1122, Apple has considered a number of methods to address this, including decreasing the feature differences between the standard and Pro variants of the iPhone 15, but has come to the conclusion that more aggressive pricing for standard units is the most likely course of action.
Update on December 31: The Mini form factor won’t be returning, despite Apple’s projected price reductions for normal iPhone 15 models. The significant discussion has grown around Apple’s “aggressive” pricing plan since after yeux1122 disclosed it.
Slashing the price of the iPhone 15 Plus sends shockwaves through the pricing of the iPhone 15, iPhone 14 (which is probably going to stay on sale), and even the base-model iPhone SE. As a result, it makes a lot more sense that Apple could simply drop the Plus and release an iPhone 15 Mini with the iPhone 15. This would allow Apple to lower the price of the entry-level model, increase the price differential with the iPhone 15 Pro versions, and maintain the costs of the other variants.
According to rumors, the 2023 iPhone lineup will include the standard iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and the brand-new iPhone 15 Ultra. The smartphones are expected to debut in September, as usual. Despite the generic style, Apple is rumored to provide a titanium chassis for the Pro models. Apple is rumored to incorporate a USB Type-C charging connector in the iPhone 15 series. Using Thunderbolt or USB 3.2, it is expected to offer data transfer rates up to 40Gb/s.
The obvious choice would be to reduce the price of the iPhone 15 Plus by $100 to $799, hence reducing the price of the iPhone 15 to $699. The iPhone 14 would now cost $599 and would still be available for purchase. At that price, Apple runs the danger of undercutting sales of the $429 iPhone SE, which explains last week’s allegations that the firm is contemplating completely scrapping the 2023 iPhone SE.
It’s interesting to note that a new flagship, the iPhone 15 Ultra, is rumored to cost even more than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, while yeux1122 also supports this and claims Apple will make the iPhone 15 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro different from one another. According to Yeux1122, there are variations in the cameras and materials, which is consistent with rumors that the Ultra has a titanium chassis.
In the end, any suggestion of price reductions will come as a surprise because it contradicts numerous sources that claim Apple would raise, not lower, the majority of iPhone 15 prices. Having said that, yeux1122 has a track record of successfully leaking material that goes against the norm.
Notably, the insider refuted allegations that the iPhone 14 will have thinner bezels than the iPhone 13 in March; a week later, schematic leaks confirmed this. Despite numerous reports, yeux1122 predicted in August that iPhone 14 pricing wouldn’t rise. Ultimately, Apple froze prices in its largest markets. The leaker also distributed iPhone 14 Plus cases in September, proving that previous “iPhone 14 Max” branding rumors were unfounded.


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Take any pricey product with a profitable resell value, that is also difficult to track once stolen, and you’ve got a perfect recipe for theft, says Sgt. Frank Quinn of the major offenders division with the Houston police department. “These thefts are just like anything else; the trends are constantly changing depending on what’s hot and in demand at the time,” says Quinn. “Hair extensions are an expensive product,
and there are plenty of people who are willing to pay good money for them right now on the underground market. It makes them an easy target.”
Oftentimes selling for as much as $250 to $300 a pack—with at least two packs needed on average to complete a weave—Remy hair extensions give crooks the opportunity to make a high-profit margin—and quick. Once stolen, Quinn says it isn’t uncommon to see thieves take the hair to the streets—selling the commodity out of the backs of vans; peddling their stolen goods to underhanded stylists; or even marketing the merchandise via fake websites or eBay.com accounts. In the last year alone, Houston’s major offenders division worked nearly 30 to 35 of these types of cases, with reason to believe that organized crime rings were behind many of the offenses, says Quinn. The FBI’s property crimes unit, which handles these kinds of thefts, refused to comment on the issue.
Lisa Amosu, owner of the My Trendy Place salon in Houston, may be considered one of the unluckiest victims of this kind of theft to date. In May 2011, the suspect who burglarized her business pulled iron bars off of the windows, then outsmarted motion detectors by slithering across the floor to the back storeroom with three large duffel bags attached to his body. By the time the culprit was finished, she says he made off with more than $150,000 in human-hair extensions, wigs and hairpieces. “These hair thieves are not stupid by a long shot,” says Amosu. “Human-hair extensions are a hot commodity, and let’s face it, the hair business is basically recession proof. “There are many women out there who will forego paying an important bill just so they can purchase high quality hair.”
[Image: Courtesy of Anne Davis, owner of Hair Divas Distributors]


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SAN FRANCISCO — Lyft officially signaled on Monday that it sought to have the biggest technology initial public offering since 2014, setting the stage for a bonanza of riches for young tech companies this year.
The ride-hailing company said in a new regulatory filing that it hoped to be valued at up to $23 billion when it lists on the stock market as soon as next week, the highest number for a tech company since Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, went public at a $169 billion valuation in 2014. Lyft’s target value is significantly greater than its $15.1 billion valuation in its last private funding round, a sign that it expects a warm reception from investors.
That provides a benchmark for other tech companies that are preparing to go public this year, including Lyft’s chief rival, Uber, as well as Pinterest, Postmates, Slack and others. All are seeking high valuations, with their offerings likely to bring a wave of wealth to tech investors, founders and early employees that will once again rev up the Silicon Valley start-up ecosystem. Lyft’s I.P.O. is expected to be quickly eclipsed by Uber, which may go public at a valuation of up to $120 billion.
“We’re looking at Lyft as a bellwether for the summer I.P.O. market,” said Matthew Kennedy, a senior I.P.O. market strategist at Renaissance Capital. “The others in the pipeline are all watching Lyft and looking to see whether investors are interested in companies that are highly unprofitable but highly valuable.”
But in a troubling trend for some investors, Lyft’s new filing also revealed how tech founders are continuing to assert control over their companies in a way that gives other shareholders very little say. Because of a mechanism that gives Lyft’s two founders — Logan Green, the chief executive, and John Zimmer, the president — outsize voting rights, the duo will own less than 5 percent of the company’s outstanding stock once it is public but they will control nearly 49 percent of its voting shares.
The filing coincided with the start of Lyft’s so-called road show, a two-week run of meetings during which company executives and advisers will try to persuade prospective investors to grab a piece of what will the first ride-hailing firm to go public.
Lyft’s offering will test how investors value the ride-hailing business model. Lyft and Uber have demonstrated rapid growth but neither company is profitable, and each spends heavily on subsidies for riders and drivers in an effort to win market share from each other. Lyft lost $911.3 million last year on revenue of $2.2 billion, the company disclosed in an earlier filing.
In its new filing, Lyft proposed a high-end share price of $62 to $68, a range that would generate about $2.1 billion, and perhaps as much as $2.4 billion if demand for shares is great enough for the company to increase the number it makes available.
Mr. Green and Mr. Zimmer are set to reap hundreds of millions of dollars apiece as a result of the offering, the updated prospectus showed. Mr. Green’s stake would be worth about $569 million at the high end of the expected initial share price; Mr. Zimmer’s would be worth about $393 million.
Perhaps more important, the two men would retain control of Lyft, thanks to their ownership of a special class of shares that gives them 20 times the voting power of regular shareholders, despite each of them owning less than 3 percent of the company.
The arrangement is common in I.P.O.s by founder-led technology companies. Facebook and Snap, for example, ensured that their creators would keep an iron grip on their businesses. But the practice has been criticized by investor advocates who say that it creates a disadvantage for regular shareholders.
“This arrangement imposes a significant gap between those who exercise control over the company, and those who have economic exposure to the consequences of that control,” a coalition of institutional investors wrote in a letter last week to Lyft’s board that asked them to reconsider the arrangement.
In a video promoting the company’s roadshow that was also released on Monday, Mr. Green and Mr. Zimmer discussed their reasons for founding Lyft. The video showed Mr. Green, 35, riding a public bus in San Francisco and recalling a visit to Zimbabwe, where he drew inspiration from car pools he saw there. Mr. Zimmer, 34, reflected on his time in hotel management while wandering through a hotel parking garage.
In the video, the pair then meet in the back seat of a car, where they hinted at their advantages: Their company is still led by its founders, they said, and is solely focused on consumer transportation without side bets in food delivery and freight shipments. Their message was a dig at Uber, whose founders are no longer in executive roles at the company and which has expanded into food delivery with Uber Eats and freight shipments with Uber Freight.
“Car ownership in the U.S. is failing people,” Mr. Zimmer said in the video, suggesting that the transportation industry will eventually flip from car ownership to ride services like Lyft.
The price for Lyft’s shares is expected to be finalized on March 28, according to Ipreo, setting the company up to begin trading on the stock market on March 29.


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If there’s one thing we expect from the Consumer Electronics Show, it’s massive TVs, and LG is already getting the big set hype started with its new 4K line-up. The company’s 2015 Ultra HD range will debut Wide Color LED, LG’s latest finagling of pixel technology that uses various different phosphor-based LEDs for the promise of better color depth and pictures that are more lifelike. That’s not the only improvement over outgoing sets, however.
For instance, there’s also LG’s Quantum Dot technology, which boasts a 30-percent jump in color gamut. Some have accused Ultra HD sets of pushing vibrancy over accuracy, but LG is saying this new tech should keep things looking lifelike without sacrificing visual appeal.
The existing True Black Control local-dimming, which can adjust different areas of the LED backlight to boost contrast, is joined by Natural Color that’s said to trim down color reproduction errors, meanwhile.
Outside of the IPS panels, there’s a new ULTRA Slim design casing, with slimmer bezels and – for those putting their sets in the middle of the room – more consideration to what the rear of the TV looks like.
Harman/Kardon speakers have been integrated, though whether that will be enough to tempt people away from the usual surround-sound system remains to be heard. The LG UF9500 high-end 4K TVs will have a so-called Auditorium Stand, too, which is specially shaped to bounce sound in the direction of the viewer.
Under the hood, there’s webOS 2.0 which now boots up to 60-percent faster than the previous version, has more connectivity, and more customization. You can now tweak the default launcher menus, for instance.
Since Ultra HD content is still relatively rare, the 4K upscaler has been upgraded. For those times you actually can pipe in real Ultra HD, there’s support for 30p and 60p content, for some degree of future-proofing.
Exact model details – as well as pricing and availability – will be announced next week.


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The interface can withhold up to eight customizable complications, which makes it the "ultimate health and fitness watch".
More complicated Apple Watch facesLook at all those options!
Whether this overloads things or ends up making the watch more convenient to use, we'll have to find out when we get our hands on one ourselves.
The series four also features a leather collaboration with watch brand Hermés that cost more than $2400.
And the new dynamic watch faces positively dazzle on the large new display. It is powered by the new dual-core 64-bit S4 processor, that the company says offers two times faster performance.
The new watch can detect if you have taken a fall and call emergency services.
There's also a focus on detecting heart anomalies.
The third feature is made possible by the electrocardiogram on the back. The data is reliable enough to be used for medical purposes, although the feature won't be available until later this year. The process will take about 30 seconds and then the user will receive a heart rhythm classification. Apple even brought the American Heart Association's president and practicing cardiologist Ivor Benjamin on stage to tout the feature and its ability to evaluate your heart and find risks to possible heart issues.
Additionally, through new accelerometer and gyroscope hardware, the Apple Watch can detect hard falls by analyzing wrist trajectory and impact.
We loved the Apple Watch Series 3 when we reviewed it at Express.co.uk. Of course, your mileage may vary. Apple claims the Watch Series 4 will still run for 18 hours in everyday use, while workout tracking will be possible for as many as six hours.
Announcing the launch, Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams said the company had received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA to allow the product to be used as a medical device. Nevertheless, let's not overlook them.
iPad may also get some attention, with two new and improved models possibly on the schedule. The new smartwatches are bigger than what we have seen from the company in the past.
Many users have held onto older Apple Watch models, and this represents a massive change to the device that could convince users to upgrade. The Apple Watch 4 is $399 and $499 with Global Positioning System as starting prices.
Apple has unveiled a new smart watch at their annual launch event that is not just faster and sleeker but also capable of saving lives.
Pricing has gone up a little from the Series 3.
This time around, there will be both GPS-only and cellular variants again, along with the usual Nike and Hermès collaborations.
Maps, photos and calendars were also redesigned in the watch, which will come in space gray, black and gold aluminum.


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Retail sales drop points to slow recovery
Sales fall after a surge in the previous month, but the drop is smaller than forecast.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Retail sales fell in September after a popular program aimed at boosting auto sales ended, but the drop was smaller than economists had expected, government data showed Wednesday.
The Commerce Department said total retail sales fell 1.5% last month, down sharply from an increase of 2.7% in August, when overall sales were boosted by the government's Cash for Clunker's program.
Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast a decline of 2.1% in September sales.
Sales excluding autos and auto parts rose 0.5%, compared to a 1.1% increase in August. Economists expected a gain of 0.2% in September sales, excluding auto purchases.
Consumer confidence growing. The stronger-than-expected gain in sales outside the auto industry suggests that consumers are gradually becoming more confident as the U.S. economy emerges from a deep recession.
"Today's report is broadly reflective of what we're seeing in other areas of the economy, and that is a slow and gradual recovery," said Tim Quinlan, an economist at Wells Fargo.
Looking ahead, the improved sales data means retailers could see "modest continued growth" in months ahead, Quinlan said.
Fingers crossed for fourth-quarter boost. That bodes well for the retail industry, which brings in the bulk of its profit during the fourth quarter, as record high unemployment threatens to damp holiday sales.
Furniture sales jumped 1.4% and clothing sales rose 0.5% in September.
Total retail sales jumped in August as auto sales surged on the Cash for Clunkers program, which paid buyers up to $4,500 for their used cars when they purchased more fuel-efficient models.


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Joe jobs do not make a career make.
But these days Mayor Joe Fontana is making a bit of a career out of talking about them.
In a city with a jobless rate hovering a hair below 10%, Fontana has latched onto the theory that any job is a good job.
“Great week for London,” he predicted last week as council’s planning committee eyed several plans to convert farmlands and woodlots in south London into strip malls, big box stores and perhaps a movie theatre.
“London’s greatest day,” he pronounced when the committee approved the projects.
And in advance of city council’s deliberations Tuesday, he issued a news release touting the “investment and vision” brought by proponents of the four projects.
“London is on the radar for companies from across the province and beyond,” he warbled.
And during Tuesday’s debate, he added, “People continue to knock on our door . . . this is our gateway.”
He totalled the investment in new retail at $560 million, producing annual tax revenue of $13 million and 3,500 long-term jobs. (Surprisingly, he actually undervalued the project costs by about $200 million.)
Fontana is obviously hoping to end the current session of council with a flourish before the summer doldrums set in.
“Let’s send a positive image” and OK these projects, he argued during debate.
Analysts have said these will be primarily low-paying jobs that won’t do all that much to boost the city. Many will replace jobs lost in retailing areas elsewhere including, just a few hundred metres away.
Brent Toderian, a planning consultant who lent his expertise to the ReThink effort that is aimed at charging a future course for London, was blunt: “Retail sprawl does not lead to healthy economic growth.”
They aren’t like jobs in industry, a fact noted by Jim Stanford, an economist with the Canadian Auto Workers union. He noted retail jobs pay 40% less than average jobs in Canada, which pay $879 a week.
“You cannot build a community on the basis of shopping malls,” Stanford opined.
He suggested retail merely goes for money that is already within the community, whereas manufacturing jobs will attract money from outside.
Already, vacant stores have prompted Galleria and Westmount malls to repurpose themselves partially away from retail. And just across Hwy. 401 from the PenEquity-proposed retail node is the Crossroads Centre, a reasonably new retail node that is largely vacant and facing the wrecker’s ball.
Sounds a lot like cannibalistic retailing.
Some critics have called such low-paid jobs, for which hours and benefits are often poor, “McJobs.”
Fontana dismisses such talk.
“Are we going to call these jobs useless?” he asked rhetorically, adding, “Let’s not dismiss any jobs in our city. These are jobs that people want and we need in our community.”
He also pointed to youth unemployment of up to 25% and said these jobs could help them pay for their education.
Fontana promised he would produce 10,000 jobs before the end of his four-year term, which is approaching the two-thirds mark. He didn’t promise they would be 10,000 net new jobs.
So for Fontana, any job is a good job as he plots a second campaign. That was one of the reasons he wanted a faster track for redevelopment of the London Hydro lands than the 36 months forecast by a brownfield remediation firm.
He even issued a news release last week about the relocation of a grocery store in the south end that is producing another 150 jobs. He said the event demonstrates city hall is “open for business.”
Woe be the woodlot, the environmentalist, the planner, the consultant, economist or the skeptic who stands in the path of the mayor and his friends in the development industry.
It’s all about jobs these days, especially as Fontana considers his own.
But Londoners, by way of the Twitterverse, letters to the editor, the blogosphere and in other ways, have indicated they are concerned about the price being paid in their city with the focus on jobs but not necessarily on good work.
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This week, Vegan Bolognese Style Pasta Sauce was spotted at Trader Joe’s. The new tomato-based sauce is made with pea protein-based vegan meat crumbles and features the savory flavors of the traditional, slow-cooked Italian meat sauce minus the wine typically used in bolognese recipes. First spotted by Instagrammer @thesnacksoflife, the new vegan bolognese pasta sauce is making its way to Trader Joe’s shelves now and customers should contact their local store to check for availability.
Trader Joe’s launched a non-vegan bolognese sauce earlier this year and its new meaty vegan product is part of the grocery chain’s aim to stock more plant-based alternatives alongside its existing products.
Vegan at Trader Joe’s
During a January episode of Trader Joe’s podcast “Inside Trader Joe’s,” the store’s insiders explained that the chain is actively working to increase its vegan options in all categories and it’s making good on that promise. Last year, the chain launched next-level vegan meat patties in turkey and beef flavors to give shoppers more meatless options in the refrigerated section, where it now also stocks Vegan Mac and Cheese; a line of vegan cheese shreds and slices in cheddar and mozzarella flavors; a Vegan Taco Salad Kit complete with chipotle-spice seitan pieces and vegan ranch; and two new vegan dips in tzatziki and caramelized onion flavors. For dessert, Trader Joe’s recently debuted a vegan milk chocolate bar made with its Almond Beverage and vegan Cheeseless Cheesecakes in the frozen aisle.
And even more options are on the way according to Amy Gaston-Morales, Category Manager of Deli, Frozen Meat, Seafood, Meatless, and Fresh Beverage at Trader Joe’s. Currently, the chain is developing plant-based seafood options, along with new iterations of its vegan meats and additional plant-based frozen meals.
Photo credit: @thesnacksoflife


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The three-day event is an opportunity for the exhibitors to attract retailers and MBO’s across Kerala, for Onam.
"We are excited to conduct our next edition of trade fair in Kochi. We have held 6 trade fairs here, over the last 3 years, and the response we have received is tremendous. Every edition of our fair has witnessed more than 700 retailers, MBO’s and chain stores’ presence and they look forward to our event. We hope to make this edition a grand success too.” said Umesh Bani, key organiser, Apparel Manufacturers of India.
AMI had hosted its first exhibition in January 2015 with the aim of bridging the gap between retailers, agents and suppliers. Its core purpose is to grow together and build a strong network for mutual growth and they believe that entrepreneurs can easily make their dreams a reality if each one helped other, enough to achieve their goals. Till date, AMI has conducted 10 fairs across Kochi, Chennai and Hyderabad and reached out to 7,000 retailers and MBO’s. (RR)
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Over 100 consumer, civil rights, and labor groups are demanding action on the issue of forced arbitration clauses — the sneaky language commonly buried in financial service contracts to block customers from suing when they are cheated or defrauded by big banks.
During the Trump administration, Congress blocked a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to block such shady practices. Former Vice President Mike Pence broke a 50-50 tie vote in the Senate to kill the rule.
But the consumer groups say the CFPB still has the statutory authority to go after banks that cheat customers and has called on CFPB Director Rohit Chopra to do just that.
“Forced arbitration is a rigged game, one that banks and other financial industry players nearly always win,” said Robert Weissman, president of the consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen. “It is far past time for the CFPB to level the playing field and ensure that harmed consumers regain access to the courts when wronged by the financial industry.”
A leading threat
Congress recognized forced arbitration as a leading threat to the enforcement of consumer protection laws and explicitly empowered the CFPB to limit its use in the 2010 Dodd-Frank legislation. Before issuing a rule, the CFPB studied the financial sector’s use of forced arbitration against consumers and the 728-page report released in March 2015 confirmed what consumer advocates have long known – forced arbitration denies justice to customers and allows big banks to escape accountability when they break the law.
“We were exceedingly disappointed that Congress voted by the narrowest of margins to disapprove the rule before it could go into effect. However, the Bureau’s statutory authority to address this widespread problem on behalf of consumers and the public interest remains and the abusive use of forced arbitration by the banking industry has only grown worse in the intervening years. The Bureau can and must exercise its authority in any number of ways that would not be substantially the same as the regulation Congress acted to nullify,” the consumer groups said in their letter.
The groups signing the letter urge Director Chopra to engage in a public conversation on how the secret, accountability-killing practice of forced arbitration leads to greater fraud in the financial sector that affects every day Americans’ lives.
“The CFPB should act now to remove the chokehold of forced arbitration and class action bans which stands in the way of consumers seeking remedies from the well-known traps of junk fees, sky-high interest rates, inaccurate credit reporting, fake accounts, and other predatory practices in financial products and services,” said Christine Hines, legislative director for the National Association of Consumer Advocates.


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The celebrated Watergate reporter's new book, "Fear: Trump in the White House," boasted higher pre-order sales than any other title in the history of its publisher, Simon & Schuster, the company said Wednesday.
The tell-all book, released Sept. 11, sold more than 750,000 copies in its first day on sale, according to a press release from the company. That figure combines sales of print copies, ebooks and audiobooks.
Simon & Schuster, a New York City-based publisher founded in 1924, added that it ordered a ninth printing of the book on the same day it was released, sending the total number of hardcover copies in print surging past 1.15 million.
"Based on immense pre-publication and ongoing interest, the reading public clearly has an enormous appetite for what we believe, as Woodward says, is 'a pivot point in history,'" the company's president, Jonathan Karp, said in the release.
The book is based on "deep background" sources whose identities are concealed to allow for less guarded interviews. Woodward's reporting paints a picture of Trump as politically ignorant, mercurial and antagonistic to his staff, who in turn vent rage against him and, at times, undermine his own agenda.
The president has attacked Woodward and his book repeatedly since excerpts were first published in The Washington Post, where Woodward works, earlier in September.
Trump's salvos, most of which were launched from his Twitter account, assailed the book as an "already discredited" fabrication intended to help Democrats. Woodward stands by his reporting.
Woodward's book is far from the first attempt to document the internal workings of the Trump administration. Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," published in January, made incendiary claims about Trump and his administration, and broke sales records for its publisher, Henry Holt.
Former administration officials, including senior advisor Omarosa Manigault-Newman and press secretary Sean Spicer, recently published their own books documenting their experiences working for Trump.