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PhonePe now looks to find its place in the Walmart Sun – here’s how
As part of the Walmart-Flipkart deal, PhonePe became the former's first financial acquisition. Co-Founder Rahul Chari speaks on what it means to be a part of Walmart.
After a year of speculation, and anticipation, the mother of all deals for the Indian startup ecosystem has finally been sealed. American multinational Walmart acquired as much as 77 percent stake in Flipkart for $16 billion, giving the former a strong foothold in the vibrant Indian ecommerce space, and teeth to take on Amazon in the online retail segment.
What sold the deal for Walmart was not just Flipkart’s market dominance, but its ecosystem play which encompasses all aspects, from logistics to payments. This was clear from the Walmart-Flipkart Investor presentation, which highlighted the contributions of Flipkart’s largest subsidiaries, Myntra and PhonePe.
For the Indian fintech sector, the interesting part of the deal was that PhonePe became the first financial platform to be acquired by Walmart. The multinational already has its own payment operations - Walmart Pay.
In an interview with YourStory, Rahul Chari, PhonePe's Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer speaks on what made the Bengaluru-based payment system a lucrative offering, and what may be in store for Flipkart's group companies after the acquisition.
YS: How crucial was PhonePe in the Flipkart-Walmart deal?
Rahul Chari: I think Walmart highlighted multiple times in its announcements and conversations that when they look at the Flipkart group, they don’t just see the ecommerce side of things, but rather the entire ecosystem play.
The whole ecosystem play being logistics through eKart, fashion and lifestyle through Myntra, and payments with PhonePe.
What worked in PhonePe’s favour was its platform approach. Walmart liked how we were completely interoperable, not just with UPI but rather even on a PPI level, by getting other wallets on to our platform.
(Note: Over the past few months, mobile wallet players like Freecharge and Jio Money have come onboard PhonePe's platform, helping it to take its payment container approach forward.)
There were also some parallels drawn between PhonePe and some players in China. So, it is difficult to say the value of one when the entire deal was being assessed as a package.
Digital payments are crucial for any digital player to be a successful business in any country. From that perspective, I believe PhonePe played an important role in completing the process.
YS: With a significant investment coming in for the entire group, how much more will be earmarked for PhonePe?
RC: Frankly, as of now, the amount earmarked has not changed with this round, but we are sure it will change for each of the business units. We expect a significant increase in the investments in each of Flipkart’s group companies, for faster growth of these business units. But we yet don’t know the exact amounts.
Since we have just come out of the 'closing of funds' phase, discussions with the group companies haven’t yet happened. Obviously, there is always a lag, but we will see them happening soon.
Further, as part of the Flipkart Group, we do not ascribe independent valuations, and have never approached things in that manner.
YS: There are talks about certain internal structuring after this deal. Will there be structural changes in PhonePe? Who will PhonePe's founders report to?
RC: To be honest, I do not expect any change within PhonePe. It is business as usual for us. Sameer and me will continue to head PhonePe, and we will report to Binny (Bansal) who is the Group CEO of Flipkart.
YS: On a strategic front, how do we see PhonePe helping Walmart with its payment strategy?
RC: Well, Walmart is learning a lot about payments through PhonePe, and they are excited about the approach and growth we have shown. We are talking, and they have been open to learning more and more about payments.
However, it's still early days, and discussions haven’t started on how PhonePe can be leveraged for Walmart.
YS: What are the opportunities you see where you fit in the ecosystem?
RC: The team here at PhonePe is definitely more excited because we see Walmart as a strategic partner along with an investor. Apart from bringing funding, it also brings in the drive to spread even more mindshare, innovation and R&D trial etc.
Further, long-term strategic partners tend to become friendly, and start investing in radical ideas, while growing businesses. I would be excited to see whether there are opportunities in the offline space where we can accelerate our offline vision.
Walmart has a strong focus to bring digitisation for kirana and offline stores, which are a part of its cash and carry network. In that, I would be excited to see if there are synergies being explored with PhonePe for digital payments and solutions in the digital space.
YS: Will you help Walmart in its international projects?
RC: I think the way the PhonePe platform has been built, it can very easily cross borders and go international if there are other payment rails we can integrate with. No question about that.
But right now, our focus is on India, and to take market leadership in the next two to three years. International will be a distraction for PhonePe for the moment. We need to be focussed in India, and there are a lot of India-specific problems still to be solved.
We are looking at more value-added services which will increase the stickiness and transactions on our platform. Further, as part of the Flipkart Group, what we are building for PhonePe, we will build the same for even Flipkart to reach that user base as well. That is a part of our strategy anyways.


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Following their trend for the past years, Dhiraagu kicks off Ramadan with exciting new promotions. Dhiraagu makes an extra effort to ensure that their customers make the most of this month in terms of nurturing family relationships and doing good.
In a press conference held at Dhiraagu Head Office, Advertising and Events Assistant Manager, Hassan Sharih stated that Dhiraagu always strives to bring their customers the very best promotions, and that the telecommunications company will not disappoint this year as well.
Special Roadha Data Bundles
Dhiraagu has introduced two new data packages, specially for Ramadan. Dhiraagu customers can now request for 1.5GB data for MVR 120, and 4GB data for MVR 250. Upon activation, customers will be entitled to 1GB data free for social media usage. The data bundles will be valid for up to 30 days.
As Ramadan is the month of giving, Dhiraagu is giving you the opportunity to help someone in need. With every purchase of our Special Ramadan Data bundles, 10% of what you spend will be donated to Tiny Hearts of Maldives.
Instagram Photo Competition
Customers on Dhiraagu network can take part in Dhiraagu’s instagram photo competition simply by sharing their roadha moments on instagram with the hashtag #RoadhaMoments, where one lucky winner will win a GoPro Hero 6. The instagram account has to be public in order to participate in this competition.
“Mee Koacheh?” Twitter Competition
Dhiraagu will be posting a macro photo on twitter every night at 10PM. Answers have to be tweeted between 10PM to 12AM with the hashtag #MeeKoacheh. The twitter user with most number of correct guesses each week will stand a chance to win a breakfast for five people at Seahouse Cafe.
Umra Trip for one lucky Dhiraagu customer
All users on Dhiraagu network will stand a chance to win an all expenses paid Umra Trip for two people. New customers on the network will also be entitled to the luckydraw.
In addition to the above promotions, Dhiraagu has introduced special rates to call to Saudi. Customers can now call Saudi numbers for simply 1.88 Laari by using the code 019 instead of 00.
The popular “Dhivehinge Raha” will also be back by popular demand for this year’s ramadan as well. Dhivehinge Raha will be posted every Monday and Thursday.
Dhiraagu has also provided the option to pay Zakat through SMS, in addition to receiving free prayer alerts. Customers simply have to activate the service through #8*123*.

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The government is asking owners of five million recalled Ford vehicles to bring their automobile to a local dealership to have a cruise control switch system repaired since the problem is tied to engine fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said about twelve million automobiles were affected and five million have still not been fixed. The organization issued a second advisory to owners of particular Ford, Lincoln and Mercury SUVs, pickup trucks, passenger cars and vans who did not respond to the first recalls.
Ford’s popular F-series pickup trucks were affected by the recall with several owners complaining and filing lawsuits in regards to engine fires. As part of the recall, dealers have installed a fused wiring harness into the speed control electrical system. The government said replacement parts are also available. Owners can take their vehicle to a dealer to have the cruise control deactivated until the parts arrive. For a complete list of the models affected in the recall, please visit http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.


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– The U.S. auto industry finished 2018 bearing in mind sales of 17.3 million further vehicles, which inflection expectations, but the tilt for 2019 is uncertain. in the middle of the twists and turns upon the road ahead are the fallout of a slowdown in China and in the U.S., the overhang of tariff wars, the impact of supplementary technologies such as driverless vehicles, and the preferences of millennial and Gen Z consumers, which will drive sophisticated demand. Car Rental Harrisburg Pa Airport
If the in imitation of year motto forest closures and layoffs at companies such as General Motors, the industry heads into 2019 afterward more investments, alliances and forays into electric vehicles and additional newer technologies. even if the industry began the year upon a tepid note in the manner of an conventional sales end in January, it does not purpose auto companies wont ride out any bumps, according to experts at Wharton and elsewhere. Car Rental Harrisburg Pa Airport
Long and Winding Road
Pros and cons exist for each of the factors influencing the U.S. automobile industry, explanation Wharton management professor John Paul McDuffie, who is next director of the Program upon Vehicle and Mobility momentum at the schools Mack Institute for innovation Management.
For each one there could be a definite spin and definite angle upon it, and a negative spin and a negative angle upon it, McDuffie said. He proverb the industry facing a decent amount of uncertainty, and that he was neither optimistic nor pessimist very nearly the year ahead. We stir in interesting times, turbulent times.
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MacDuffie believes the auto industry is dealing subsequent to a broader range of issues than he has encountered in the many years he has studied the industry. He critical to technological changes, electric and autonomous vehicles, the current allow in of trade and the threats of tariffs. on the tariffs front, the U.S. auto industry is bracing for cutting edge duties on steel and aluminum imports after April, afterward a 90-day deferment of cutting edge tariffs by the U.S. upon imports from China expires. The industry is after that worried not quite the impact of tariffs that President Trump has threatened to impose upon car imports from the European Union.
Concerns loom about the strength of various economies the U.S. and China in particular. As huge a issue as the tariff risk is the risk of Chinas economy slowing mannerism down, said MacDuffie. The Chinese promote has been the main engine for many of the global automakers, he added. I astonishment what its when to be a senior government in these auto companies and have to treaty similar to this unbelievable difficulty and this amazing uncertainty.
Paul Eisenstein, publisher and editor of TheDetroitBureau.com, a notice focused on the automobile industry, noted that even if the consensus was that 2018 would be a year of decrease in the U.S. make known and China would go to slower than it had in later than years, exactly the opposite happened. The U.S. actually gained, albeit by just a hairs breadth in 2018, and China posted its first grow less that weve seen in the past the explosion of that publicize assist regarding the position of the other millennium, he said. Most people expect that China will rebound a little bit this [year] and the U.S. puff will once more slow.
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Above all, much depends upon President Trumps actions, said Eisenstein. He is continuing to talk about ramping in the works his trade wars, he noted. The industry is preparing for the outcome of some key negotiations such as those amid the U.S. and the European Union, he added.
MacDuffie and Eisenstein shared their insights on the emerging terrain for U.S. auto industry for a series titled 2019: A see Ahead on the [email protected] radio action upon Sirius XM. (Listen to the podcast at the top of this page.)
Tesla Plugs into China
One automaker that is bullish upon China even as the country grapples following an economic slowdown is Tesla, which is planning to construct a factory there. Tesla is always out there at the dangerous edge of something, said MacDuffie, noting that it wants to construct a other factory in China even as its own finances are stretched. upon the additional hand, he sour out that Tesla is the first foreign company that China has allowed to construct a forest on its own without a Chinese joint venture partner. That means less fortuitous of knowledge leakage and having to part suggestion [with Chinese firms or the Chinese government]. But it with means the risk is not shared anymore.
Also encouraging for Tesla is the fact that the Chinese organization is pushing on several fronts to be the biggest electric vehicle shout from the rooftops in the world, MacDuffie said. They have a lot of levers at their manage to create that happen, including swine competent to require that foreign automakers make a lot of electric vehicles to sell there. So, its not appropriately risky for [Tesla founder] Elon Musk to figure that in building capability there, there will be demand for electric vehicles. The $2 billion project could start selling its cars by as in front as the second half of this year, according to a Quartz story that cited Chinese government officials.
At the thesame time, many Chinese startups that have come in to attempt to compete at the high stop of the electric vehicle puff have struggled, MacDuffie said. He prickly to Faraday progressive as one of those. It had seemed to be amply financed and had a lot of good talent, and theyve had nothing but trouble. So, its a dangerous bet to make that huge of an investment [as Tesla is planning in China]. But as a bet on a puff thats going to have electric vehicle demand, it is not appropriately much [of a risk].
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Eisenstein noted that consensus is growing in the auto industry that electrification is the way of the future. though global sales of all electric vehicles, including hybrids, plug-ins and fixed battery electric vehicles still run under the 5% mark, you see a clear and increasingly brilliant upward curve that tells you that you avoid the electric make known electrification at your own peril, he said. China is an handsome announce for electric vehicles, he added, noting that it has introduced rules that will require automakers to manufacture a minimum level of plug-in models that can comport yourself in positive conditions in zero emissions mode. Car Rental Harrisburg Pa Airport
Similar regulations are with received in the U.S. in 2025 behind new fuel economy standards, although the Trump administration has said it would roll them back, said Eisenstein. He pointed to several comings and goings by U.S. automakers to diversify into electric vehicles. One is Ford Motors commercial that it will foundation an all-electric explanation of its F series pickup, which Eisenstein said is the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. General Motors is moreover planning all-electric versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and the Sierra, he added, referencing his explanation on the development.
U.S. Auto Investments: Divergent Trends
While some U.S. automakers are prickly encourage capability at plants that no longer bring in the desired revenues and profits, their foreign counterparts are making well-ventilated investments. A skirmish in narrowing is the decision General Motors made last November to close five birds in North America, lay off some 14,000 workers, and retire six of its 15 car models. The GM have emotional impact wasnt a big admiration if you straightforwardly looked at how much the request for the products made in those nature had slowed pretension down higher than a mature of a couple of years, and the general shift away from sedans to SUVs, said MacDuffie. The hard-won wisdom is that its enlarged to make these cuts in good get older than wait for bad mature and subsequent to you may have actually made them worse. He established such adjustment of employment to the publicize demand to continue.
For the foreign auto companies, the U.S. is still the biggest shout from the rooftops in the world, neighboring to China, said MacDuffie. To come here, to build here, to construct brand here, and to build reputation here nevertheless makes sense. That logic explains Volkswagens pretend to have to invest $800 million to make electric vehicles at its forest in Chattanooga, Tenn., and a joint venture with Toyota and Mazda in an assembly plant in Huntsville, Ala., he added. Car Rental Harrisburg Pa Airport
Theyve got demand for those vehicles here and its a showing off to be protected adjacent to some of the risk of tariffs. Employment will go in the works and alongside across plants, and across companies. Its the overall portray of enlargement for the industry in the world economy that probably these companies are in point of fact watching.
Alliances vs. Mergers
Another trend that Eisenstein highlights is alliances with automakers. He listed the Ford-VW partnership to create trailer vans and pick-up trucks, the Honda-General Motors partnership for autonomous vehicles, and the Toyota-Mazda joint venture. However, youre not going to look many of these alliances become full grow old partnerships or marriages, he said. Others adjoin Toyotas partnership when Panasonic to build electric batteries, which moreover happens to have related like Tesla. These are limited, anti-monogamous ventures. A great example is Toyota. For most of its existence, it kept away from everything tying it to unorthodox manufacturer. But just in the last couple years were seeing it tie taking place in the same way as BMW, Mazda, Subaru and in view of that on.
MacDuffie recalled that Sergio Marchionne, the former CEO of Fiat Chrysler who passed away last July, made a strong feat for consolidation in the auto industry. He was famous for predicting that the industry was inevitably going to have to consolidate to a small number of big players because he felt [that considering] the economies of scale, it was incredibly wasteful of capital to have every these firms developing all those vehicles, he said. Car Rental Harrisburg Pa Airport
Even so, the industry has a long history of bungled mergers, MacDuffie noted. The Nissan-Renault Alliance that eventually included Mitsubishi has been described as the most booming long-term attachment that wasnt an outright merger, he said. However, the alliance is facing examination time after the recent arrest and the handing over of its chairman, Carlos Ghosn. Even so, it nevertheless has some inherent strengths if they can figure [a exaggeration out of the crisis], he added. The issues on the table are further governance mechanisms and the description of capability in the company of France (Renault) and Japan (Nissan), he cutting out.
MacDuffie said he has never been optimistic just about such consolidation attempts. Ive always thought that consolidation to a small number of companies was unlikely, that what was more likely would be a entire sum lot of projects in which costs are shared, and where its advantageous for the partners. He cited a partnership amid Toyota and Peugeot in a diesel engine project in Europe, which worked capably for several years, but was disbanded as the technology changed. Incidentally, Peugeots parent Groupe PSA recently struck unorthodox partnership when Toyota. Similarly, Toyota and Volkswagen had similar to make pickups many years ago, and they moved in and out of that, he added.
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You could look these as unproductive projects or you could look them as agreed pragmatic, often short-term calculations to agreement afterward cost pressures, needs for technology, needs for a product in the immediate term, said MacDuffie. Its actually a healthy adaptation to all the volatility and uncertainty as opposed to the big bet afterward a Daimler-Chrysler merger, which eventually failed.
Used Cars Preferred
One industry trend to watch is increased car buyer preference for used, rather than new, vehicles, especially if the latter are of recent vintage once the latest or near-latest safety and supplementary features.
Eisenstein said that prices [of additional cars] have taking into account going on to close photograph album levels of surrounded by $35,000 and $40,000 each for a typical vehicle. He extra that even those who can afford extra autos at those prices are actively in imitation of qualified pre-owned vehicles. Typically, [they are] off-lease, which means that buyers took good care of them because they would instead be penalized upon the return, he noted. They are a year or two old and often identical to the models that are in the showrooms as other vehicles. That is something the industry has created, and it has become a threat to its own further car market.
From the standpoint of dealer margins, those trends seem to make sense. One of the relatively renowned secrets of dealer economics is that extra cars have belittle margins than used cars, which have degrade margins than repair, which have lower margins than aftermarket parts., MacDuffie said. To the extent that the dealers are the ones in the ascribed pre-owned vehicle market, they probably realize well.
Ridesharing and Autonomous Vehicles
Eisenstein in addition to noted trends in the ridesharing and car-sharing markets. He said one significant move ahead of the subsequent to year came from Waymo, a spin-off from Googles parent Alphabet, later than it announced the foundation of its robotaxi sustain Waymo One. He wondered whether it would be truly autonomous or have backup operators at the back the wheel.
If theyre accomplished to make this work, and if the drivers dont have to at all times intervene, they may acquire approval within the bordering year or two to start fielding totally driverless vehicles, Eisenstein said. That changes the equation because if you take on the driver out, the biggest cost of a ride sharing vehicle goes away. rudely you potentially create it reachable for companies taking into consideration Waymo One, Uber, Lyft and some of the others that are coming to undercut the idea of owning a vehicle, particularly in urban markets that may acquire thousands or even millions of drivers to abandon the idea of personal vehicle ownership.
MacDuffie said 2018 was a year of a little bit of reality and retrenchment in the advancement of autonomous vehicles. He prickly to a fatality last March in Phoenix involving an Uber car as one of the huge setbacks. Were going to see more and more experimentation, and more and more pilots [in 2019], he said. The pilots back up the companies learn and get better, add up their algorithms, and it lets the public see these other things, and be more doable about what works and what doesnt. Its a slow hobby towards both onslaught and public acceptance.
Millennials to the Rescue
MacDuffie critical to complementary driver of the industrys fortunes: the emergence of millennials as lively car buyers. For a while, everybody said millennials dont care very nearly cars anymore, they deserted care not quite their gadgets and thats a generational shift that will shake occurring the auto industry, he said. It now looks subsequent to as millennials get older, they acquire married, they influence out of the cities to the suburbs, they have kids, theyre buying cars and maybe their finances now allow them to complete that too. Thats a kind of rapid source of demand. Car Rental Harrisburg Pa Airport
The U.S. auto industry booked solid sales gains last year, exceeding 17 million vehicles for the fourth year in a row. If we go from 17.2 million to 16.8, its actually not a tragedy for the industry, MacDuffie said. Its on customary because weve had these surprises (such as the demand from millennials) that it hasnt made that dip yet.
Millennials basically saved the industry from a second consecutive year of decline, said Eisenstein. Every analyst Ive talked to said that it was largely an growth in millennial sales that surprised them. We are likely to continue to look that as they get older, they get wealthier and they can begin buying new vehicles. However, higher than period he expected millennials (those born amongst 1981 and 1996) and the Gen Z population (those born along with 1995 and the further on 2000s) to opt for used vehicles, either because they desire to be smarter more or less their money or tighter subsequently their budget if they are saddled in imitation of teacher loans.
What vehicles those extra buyers prefer is choice big ask for automakers, Eisenstein said. Will they switch to electrified vehicles or clean vehicles? Will they with continue the shove into crossovers and satisfactory sport utility vehicles? [Some of the younger buyers] are saw I dont desire what dad had. So, theres a lot of uncertainty practically where the millennial generation and the next-door generation will go.
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Isnt it peculiar like people never excitement to go online to acquire a few car insurance quotes? It only takes a few minutes and can keep people a bundle, correspondingly why dont more people attain it? maybe theyre uninformed practically the process. After all, getting a quote online is quicker and easier than calling an agent upon the phone.
Instead of giving out a slew of instruction beyond the phone, you just enter a few details and send off your quote request. Shopping online is quicker and easier, thus you can acquire three quotes in the mature it would take to get just one greater than the phone. The Web makes it easy to follow the advice of money-saving experts and acquire three prices on everything before you buy.
Old Habits Die Hard
It is common for people to select their out of date ways. Someone who has always gotten insurance through referrals from friends and family is delightful play it that way. Cousin Mike says he gets a good deal, suitably the insurance shopper automatically goes once Mikes agent, never checking the price.Car Rental Harrisburg Pa Airport
Little does our shopper know that Mike thinks hes getting a good deal, but he never infuriated to get three quotes either. Hes paying quirk too much for his insurance and getting a policy past his agent will put you in the thesame boat.
Other shoppers have just been considering the similar company thus long, they would tone treacherous to go shopping approaching to different one. Understandably, you may be emotionally attached to your agent. She may be totally kind and understanding. She may allow outstanding customer service. But at what cost?
People fiddle with insurance companies every the time. No one will hold it adjacent to you. Of course, you could always grab a few online quotes and manage to pay for your agent a fortuitous to stress the price. That way, you arent just organization off to unusual insurer without giving your agent a inadvertent to save your business.
Some people just desire to go taking into account a broadcast they know, suitably they go directly to the company that they look the most upon TV. Some companies bombard combination channels with a slew of ads that have nothing to say. all they want to realize is grab your attention afterward a gimmick hence you will see their logo. They know that the absent-minded will straightforwardly gravitate towards that logo like they go insurance shopping. Car Rental Harrisburg Pa Airport
But those who fail to stop and think a moment just about saving maintenance stop occurring paying too much for car insurance. Companies that splash their names every beyond television spend millions upon advertising. Who attain you think they pass that cost onto? Their customers of course! Dont be lulled into a untrue sense of security just because you are familiar with a company logo. That wont keep you keep and it wont get you augmented car insurance. The best situation you can attain is shop around, and what easier way to pull off it than online?
Fear of the Unknown
Many consumers have had a bad experience shopping online for extra items, hence they distress approximately getting car insurance quotes online. They are scared of inborn bombarded similar to emails or phone calls. even if this may have been a genuine business at one time, consumer auspices laws are in area now to guard shoppers from brusque telemarketers. If you dont in the same way as getting e-mails from a company that sent you a quote, conveniently unsubscribe through a link at the bottom of the message. Its two seconds of your time for potentially hundreds of dollars in savings.
And you dont have to bother if you are midway through your policy. Your insurance company will refund any payments you have made towards the permanent policy period. You have a right to invalidate your policy any epoch you desire and you have a right to get overpayments back. Usually, youll have the money incite later days; sometimes it may bow to going on to a month.
If youre yet not convinced, think of it this way. How has the Internet affected your life? Has it been fine or bad? Can you get more in less epoch or does it slow you down? Has the Internet saved you grant by making cheaper retailers easy to find, or are you paying more keep than you should? Its a fine bet that whatever you reach online has been beneficial to your lifestyle. Online banking, e-mail and social networks have every made your simulation easier and more fun. Car insurance is no different.
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Get in the Game
Its period to wise stirring and get in the game. Compare quotes from every other providers and get the best deal available. Continuing to purchase insurance the outdated mannerism is subsequently proverb you could care less roughly saving money. Its such a easy time saver. Anyone who has gotten quotes online back knows that the obsolescent artifice just doesnt compare. There is no faster or easier artifice to acquire the insurance you obsession at the best price you can find.
Quotes that be in a propos Your Schedule
Now that you understand the sustain of buying car insurance online, theres no defense not to try it out and look for yourself how quick and simple it is. You can pull off it next you have time, not just during the insurance agents office hours. Dont lose productivity at perform a pain to get it finished during regular thing hours. Just go online any mature of day or night, or even on the weekend. The Web is never closed, suitably the entire process revolves almost your schedule, your preferences and your needs.
Several online companies can pay for you quotes speedily and easily from our interface. Some of the companies are conventional insurers that along with accomplish business online. Others are companies that reach everything online. Either way, using technology lowers the insurance companys costs, and you acquire the help of those savings. all you have to complete is enter your zip code in the box at the top of the page and follow a few prompts. Its fast, its simple and it can save you a bundle.
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When you buy a car, it is your answerability to make definite it has automobile insurance. It’s important to carry auto insurance, because you never know following you’re going to get into an accident. Someone could crash into and cause grave damage to your car or truck, and without insurance you would have to pay for every of it. Even worse, it you don’t have insurance and you govern into unconventional vehicle you can owe tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars if you seriously insults out of the ordinary driver.
If you steer often in the US, you know the roads are crash prone and automobile collisions can occur frequently. Accidents can occur because of the cavailier attitude of drivers, the terse failure in a tire or engine or a multitude of other reason. If you have car insurance, you can get out of easy as you may have to pay a deductible, but not the fixed idea amount of the broken to your car or someone elses.
Here at CarInsuranceQuotesComparison.com we have many major companies that have the funds for insurance on your car at affordable rates. You can get started now, by entering your zip code above and after that checking out the prices. It’s never been easier to compare car insurance quotes online following our customzied software that allows you admission to companies when Geico, Nationwide, Progressive, GMAC and AIG.
Every insurer has a substitute exaggeration of determining your car insurance quote, so it pays to acquire multipart rate quotes from exchange companies. It’s important you’re comparing apples to apples in the rate quotes. Some quotes will count general responsibility others won’t. Some quotes will have a $1,000 deductible, some may solitary have a $500 deductible.
If you get pulled exceeding by the police, one of the first things they will question you for is proof of insurance. If you can’t play-act proof of auto insurance, it can be a no question large fine in around every state. This is one more explanation why it’s imperative that you pay for car insurance at every times.
There are a few perks to having auto insurance. If you acquire in an accident and your car is totaled, there’s a good chance your insurance company will set you up considering a rental car unitl your damaged car is resolved or replaced.
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Take get older out of your lively schedule and get complex rate quotes. 10 minutes of your grow old could keep you hundreds of dollars upon car insurance, you owe it to yourself to get that done.


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LOS ALAMOS MAINSTREET NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos WinterFest takes place this weekend, Dec. 2-4, with a variety of holiday festivities for the entire family.
Los Alamos MainStreet is once again hosting the Holiday Lights Parade taking place along Central Ave. beginning at 6 pm, with this year’s theme, “There’s Gnome Place Like Home.” Central Ave., from the roundabout to Oppenheimer, will be closed from 4 pm to 8 pm for the festivities. Judges this year include Mike Holtzclaw, Chancellor of UNM Los Alamos, Jacci Gruninger, owner of High Mountain Wellbeing, County Councilor, Keith Lepsch, and Teianna Mitchell, Marketing Manager for PEEC, with parade announcer, Donavan Price from Enterprise Bank and Trust. HMS Implacable, the local chapter of The Royal Manticoran Navy, is again supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign and asks that the public consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy to the parade. Uniformed crew members will be collecting the toys alongside their float entry.
Several local vendors and community businesses will also be hosting giveaways and items for sale at the parade. Wolf & Mermaid Enchanted Roasters, currently located in the Los Alamos Business Accelerator Pop-up Stores at 181 Central Park Square, will be open during the event and also have a booth with coffee and other drinks for sale. A community favorite, Blue Window Bistro, will be open for this special Saturday event beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are strongly recommended. The restaurant will also have holiday drink specials for the entire family. Rose Chocolatier in Central Park Square will be open 5:30-7:30 pm on Saturday, selling cocoa, whipped cream, brownies, and fudge. Gift card sales will also be available for use during the last two weeks of December and into the new year.
Directly following the parade, the community is invited to attend the tree lighting at Ashley Pond.
For more information about WinterFest activities and events throughout the holiday season, as well as a local Holiday Shopping Guide, visit LosAlamosMainStreet.com/WinterFest.


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UAE mums: grab your free coffee now before it’s too late!
Coffee lovers, rejoice! Here’s a bit of good news for you – McDonald’s UAE is bringing back free coffee week and will be offering all its customers a free steaming cup of coffee all day from September 12th until 18th.
Caffeine fans across the country can get their fix free of charge with any order they place at participating McDonald’s restaurants across the UAE. Simply walk into any McDonald’s restaurant at any time of the day, and get a freshly roasted and brewed cup of coffee, made from 100% Arabica beans.
The UAE is a country of coffee aficionados, and McDonald’s knows that. Over the past few years, the company has heavily invested in its McCafé beverages business. There is greater focus on the beans selection process, making McDonald’s UAE restaurants one of the coolest destination for a caffeine fix.
“We all love coffee and what better way to celebrate our consumers than by offering them a free cup with their McDonald’s meal. We pay extra attention to our coffees to ensure freshness, as well as the finest brew possible, and the effort is evident in the end result that is simply delicious,” said Walid Fakih, General Manager at McDonald’s UAE.
Details: From September 12th until 18th, customers can enjoy a range of free coffee based hot beverages including cappuccino, latte, mocha, Americano and espresso, at any of McDonald’s UAE restaurants across the country throughout the entire day.


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This special profile is part of the Evesham Journal's #GrowInEvesham campaign
A YEAR after he opened his doors the Evesham greengrocer says the decision to set up his own business in the town remains the best he ever made.
Rob Bowers first took on his shop, the Evesham Greengrocer, in Bridge Street, in May last year with his partner Karen Walden.
At the time he said it was the best decision he has ever made and he stands by that just over a year on.
"It's still the best thing I have ever done starting up on my own," he said. "Considering everything we have had to deal with, all the external issues, like the bridge and the closing down of a number of shops, it's been good.
"I am very happy and I am not going anywhere."
Mr Bowers believes that during the closure the town has been well supported by residents, the council and independent traders.
"I think we have been very well looked after," he said. "The local support has been great and we have lots of repeat customers. We have also had good support from the council.
"There is the free parking and 20p parking, it's nice these organisations have been helping. The YES scheme was great and the new loyalty card being set up by Real Evesham looks great."
Mr Bowers, who has always worked in the horticulture industry, first made the decision to open the store as there were no greengrocers left in Evesham.
And since opening the Evesham Greengrocer he has continued to sell fruit and veg, alongside local meat, bread, cakes and cheeses.
"We are like a miniature farm shop," added Mr Bowers, who lives in Twinning, near Tewkesbury. "People always comment on that but how cheap it is."
The Evesham Greengrocer is now looking forward to the future and the continued support of the local people.
For more information visit the store in Bridge Street, Evesham.


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Sizing up the financially underserved market
The Financial Health Network’s 2019 ‘Financially Underserved Market Study’ shows that spending on financial product fees and interest among underserved consumers continues to climb, reaching $189 billion in 2018 and a projected $196 billion in 2019.
However, many of the current offerings in the largest and fastest growing product categories may be hurting rather than improving these consumers’ financial health. The substantial revenue opportunity and levels of unmet consumer needs highlight the opportunity for stakeholders across the financial health ecosystem from fintechs to established financial institutions and even regulators to support development of innovative, high-quality credit products and services to improve the financial health of underserved consumers.
Who are financially underserved consumers?
They are consumers who struggle to access mainstream financial products because of low-to-moderate or volatile incomes, credit challenges and/or being unbanked or underbanked. With the most acute unmet needs, financially underserved consumers are, in fact, only a subset of the 178 million adults in the US who are not financially healthy, according to our 2019 US Financial Health Pulse study. This implies that the market figures are likely a conservative estimate of consumer demand for products that support financial health. There may be an even bigger opportunity for innovators to provide higher-quality financial products and services that would benefit the larger group of financially struggling Americans.
Credit products dominate the size and growth of the financially underserved market
Credit products represent 87 cents per dollar spent by underserved consumers on financial product fees and interest in 2018. Beyond representing the largest market shares, credit categories also fueled overall market growth. A closer look at the credit categories and trends:
- Short-term credit was the largest product category with underserved consumer spending at $66.1 billion, including for fees and interest on subprime credit cards, installment loans, and others such as rent-to-own and title loans. Installment loans experienced particularly high growth, likely supported by a broader transition away from payday loans, but not necessarily a reflection of higher quality.
- Long-term credit spending of $59 billion, including on Subprime Auto Loans, Buy Here, Pay Here Auto Loans, Subprime Auto Leases and Private Student Loans, also experienced growth across the board.
- Overdraft generated $25.4 billion in fees and interest among underserved consumers as the largest slice of the $39.9 billion Single Payment Credit category.
Opportunities in high quality credit innovation
Given the substantial revenue pools and levels of unmet consumer needs, these credit areas remain ripe for innovation. Fintechs, large financial institutions and policymakers/regulators all have a role to play in supporting higher quality credit product and service innovation that meets the needs of underserved consumers.
In alignment with the Financial Health Network’s Compass Principles, high-quality credit products share several characteristics: They are made with high confidence in the borrower’s ability to repay, are structured to support repayment, and are priced to align profitability of the provider with success of the borrower. They should be transparent, accessible and support the rights of borrowers. Ultimately, they should create opportunities for upward mobility and greater financial health.
In fact, we see several promising areas of innovation. A few notable areas include:
- Alternative measurements of borrower risk
A variety of non-bank lenders are pioneering the use of consumers’ deposit and spending patterns to assess creditworthiness. This offers the potential to develop more nuanced underwriting and credit-building techniques for the millions of consumers who remain unscorable through traditional credit risk assessment.
- More affordable, transparent alternatives to overdraft
Some providers, mainly fintechs, are experimenting with subscription services that advance small amounts of credit specifically to enable users to avoid overdrawing their accounts. Loan offers are automatically triggered when checking account balances fall below a pre-set threshold. Savings to consumers appear substantial as the monthly subscription fees and voluntary payments received by these innovators are far less than what users would otherwise pay in overdraft fees.
- Advanced cash management/savings tools
Some of the most promising offerings for meeting smaller credit needs are actually tools that help consumers better manage their day-to-day spending and thereby help avoid cash shortfalls. These can effectively reduce demand for credit while addressing the daily challenges of managing limited or volatile incomes and spending budgets. These tools have been introduced as both stand-alone fintech tools and as account features by a growing number of banks.
The potential has never been greater for fintechs and financial institutions to introduce new ways for consumers to better manage their cash and borrowing needs through better forms of credit and improved spending management and savings tools. Regulators also have a role to play in promoting innovation in such products and services that measurably improve the financial health of consumers.
The size, growth and unmet consumer needs in this market continues to highlight the opportunity to develop innovative, high-quality products and services to improve the lives of the underserved consumer and all people living in the US who struggle with financial health.


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The Famicom (the Japanese version of the NES) launched in Japan back in 1983 to huge success. In fact, just last year it sold another 2 million systems. Part of its popularity is due to the large number of video game developers creating games for the console. There are well over 100 games currently for sale on the Famicom, and many of those same third party developers are itching to release games in the United States.
However, there are some hoops that have to be jumped through in order to release games for Nintendo’s new system. In the hopes of avoiding another cataclysmic video game crash caused in part by a glut of awful games at high prices, Nintendo has put in a security chip in the NES that will block unauthorized Game Paks from working. This is a patented piece of code that only Nintendo has the key to. So, for a game to be released on its system, it has to meet the standards that Nintendo sets forth. Japan had no such lockout chip, and although the Famicom is still a success, the market was flooded with unsavory titles that went against Nintendo’s family-centric image. So, just because a game was released for the Famicom doesn’t mean it gets a green light for the NES. Each title must be individually approved to get released in the U.S. market.
At the Summer CES earlier this month we heard rumblings that some third parties are officially opening up business in the U.S., including Data East and Konami. No official word on what games they could be bringing over, but we’re hearing that these third parties want to get some titles on store shelves in time for Christmas. Perhaps we’ll see games like Dig Dug or BurgerTime from Namco make their way over here? Computer Entertainer has heard the same thing and has its full report below. We’ll keep you updated on this exciting development!


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According to a new research, introducing babies and toddlers to a lower-protein Nordic-style diet with a greater focus on plant-based foods may be the key to healthier eating habits.
The new Nordic diet includes roots, berries, fruit, and vegetables. Some infants began to receive taster portions of the new Nordic diet along with formula milk or breast milk at the age of 18 months.
These infants were eating vegetables in an amount 46 percent higher than those to whom a conventional diet was given. This is almost double the amount of vegetables eaten by infants who were fed s conventional diet.
Researchers from Sweden and the United States studied two groups of infants which included infants from 4 to 18 month-old. Two hundred and fifty (250) infants took part and 82 percent completed the study.
The study shows that the eating patterns of toddlers in the two groups were quite different.
Those taking the new Nordic diet, and receiving Nordic homemade baby-food recipes, protein reduced baby-food products, and social media support from other parents, consumed 42 to 45 percent more vegetables and fruits at 12 to 18 months of age as compared to those who took the traditional diet advised by the Swedish Food Agency.
Fruit consumption remained constant in the traditional diet group, however between 12 and 18 months, infants who received the traditional diet ate 36 percent fewer vegetables.
The average protein intake in infants who were on the Nordic diet was 17 to 29 percent lower than that of those on the conventional diet at 12 to 18 months of age.
This protein reduction in the Nordic diet group was replaced by more carbohydrates from vegetables, not more cereals, together with some extra fat from rapeseed oil.
According to the lead researcher Dr. Ulrica Johansson, lower protein intake did not appear to have any negative effects.Dr. Ulrica Johansson
The Nordic diet, which is a protein reduced diet, is safe and feasible and may contribute to healthy and sustainable eating during infancy and early childhood.
This new research is expected to pave the way to broaden the taste spectrum in infants and to provide effective strategies for instilling healthier eating habits early in life.


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HONG KONG: Tommy Hilfiger Posts US$132.2m FY Income
The Hong Kong-listed company also reported a 0.7 per cent dip in revenue to US$1.87 billion for the year, down slightly from US$1.88bn in the prior 12 months.
"Our performance for the quarter exceeded earlier expectations due to stronger than anticipated European operating results and favourable currency translations," CEO David Dyer said.
"Our focus during the quarter remained on implementing the necessary steps to improve the productivity of our business and position the company for a return to long-term growth."
Through its subsidiaries, Tommy Hilfiger designs, sources and markets a variety of men's and women's sportswear, jeanswear and childrenswear under its namesake trademark.
Companies: Tommy Hilfiger Group
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The number of Americans traveling during the July 4th holiday weekend
will increase 1.2 percent from a year ago, the smallest rise since 2000,
as high fuel costs cause people to cut back, AAA said. A record 40.7
million Americans will take trips during the long weekend, the summer’s
biggest travel holiday, up from 40.2 million last year, according to the
Approximately 34.3 million people will travel by car, up 1.3
percent from last year, the report said. About 14 percent of the U.S.
population will travel by road, rail or air over the holiday. Rising
fuel prices have resulted in a 29 percent rise in gas from a year ago.
Regular self-serve gasoline averaged $2.859 a gallon nationwide, AAA
reported. The top U.S. travel destination will be Orlando, Florida.
Research for the July 4th holiday travel was based on a survey of
1,500 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, for AAA.


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Cooperation between Orange and MegaFon continues
30AMD/min in roaming until December 31
Today Orange Armenia announced the prolongation of the partnership between Orange Armenia and MegaFon thanks to which Orange customers can join MegaFon network when roaming in Russia and benefit from unprecedented tariffs. In particular, when using the roaming service in MegaFon network, Orange Armenia customers make and receive calls to and from Orange Armenia and MegaFon customers at only 30 AMD/minute fantastic rate.
Bruno Duthoit, Orange Armenia CEO, said: « Russia is one of the most popular destinations for Armenians and during previous months we noticed together with MegaFon that a lot of people found this offer comfortable. Thanks to it roaming is no more a luxury element and becomes just a service that makes travelling more comfortable. Now Armenians do not need to buy a SIM card of a local operator when going to Russia. We are happy that MegaFon is also interested in prolongation of this cooperation as with this we offer the best to our customers».
On MegaFon network Orange Armenia customers have other advantages as well. The minute rate for all other incoming calls and for outgoing calls to other Russian operators will be 60 AMD, while calls to other operators’ customers in Armenia will be charged at 120 AMD/min. Orange Armenia customers will also have an exclusive tariff for GPRS roaming: only 90 AMD/MB.
The exclusive roaming rates are available until December 31.


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Bitcoin technology arepermeating Wall Street commercial agency
A number of prominent financial and high-tech companies began to intervene in the field of bitcoin, the signs that the innovation of institutions in the United States is exploring the use of commercial digital currency. The interest is the most obvious than Wall Street, more precise statement should be, after the leading center of the international financial companies can save the cost of this technology in Internet contact on the bank, which has had an impact on other industries. They choose in its early stages of development, the technology behind bitcoin blockchain betting, it maybe one day on the banks, enterprises, and even smart appliances capital circulation, have a significant impact on sensitive data and worldwide.
Compared to the previous generation technology, the cost of processing a data has dropped 10000 times, “the former US Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said. “Bitcoin in the financial system has brought benefits for buyers and sellers, rather than middlemen and financiers.”
But the majority of ordinary consumers for the unconfirmed, digital currency is only 6 years old, still maintained a cautious attitude, in their eyes, the digital currency often with illegal drugs, extreme price volatility and risk together. But now people are talking about, is bitcoin more potential as a low-key “background” media, rather than the mainstream media reported the money for purchase groceries.
The idea is to block chain ledger, which is verified by the independent computer network to the center, updating and maintenance, this is to allow individuals and enterprises in the equation, the first time in human history (peer-to-peer) network transactions and information assets. Will the middlemen removed, in theory, this technique can significantly cut costs, reduce the settling time, reduce the risk of default.
“It will be simplified for the Wall Street, those very old operating system the opportunity,” Duncan Niederauer (Duncan Niederauer), former CEO of Euronext New York said last week, he became a compliance bitcoin derivative trading platform TeraExchange consultant.
However, there are still a lot of digital currency important problems to be overcome, in addition to security, crime and worries about price volatility, whether the bitcoin network amplification in the eyes of many people is still a concern. The average volume of the bitcoin network, about $50 million, and the global foreign exchange market trading 5 trillion compared to the scale of not worth mentioning.
In addition, the United States, Britain and other countries of the regulators are formulating relevant rules, so that enterprises in the hope to explore the possibilities of digital currency technology innovation at the same time, and can protect the consumers. This compared with a year ago, has undergone tremendous changes, bitcoin is the majority of people regarded as computer geeks and anti government monetary liberals radical idea at the time.
January this year, the New York stock exchange, USAA bank, the Spanish banking giant SABBVA, former Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandita (Vikram Pandit) for $75 million in shares heavily bitcoin startups Coinbase.
Last week, the NASDAQ OMX Group signed an agreement to provide technical support for the New York bitcoin trading platform Noble Markets, the NASDAQ technology department executive vice president Lars Ottersg? Rd said that his company is actively exploring the blockchain technology is used to reduce the market risk of the way.
At the same time, several heavyweight Wall Street and Washington joined bitcoin companies, such as Mr. Nideaoer (Niederauer) is added to the digital currency start-ups; former JP Morgan commodities a sister Blythe Masters simply join a bitcoin Derivatives Product Company as ceo. Last October, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Arthur Levitt (Arthur Levitt) joined the Bitpay as a consultant to the company, January, digital currency startups Ripple Labs appointed former director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling as director of the company. Bitcoin mineral company BitFury hired former criminal justice department head Jason Weinstein (Jason Weinstein) as a consultant.
In addition, transactions with bitcoin related to the Wall Street emerge in an endless stream, bitcoin trading provides more powerful, more compliance of the trading environment. New York entrepreneur Barry Hilbert bitcoin Investment Trust Fund (BIT) this week publicly traded, the fund will soon usher in a very strong competitors, Taylor and Cameron Winkelvoss brothers fund if it is approved by SEC, it will become the first mature bitcoin trading fund.
On the other hand, the big brand technology companies are to test the water in this area, the computer giant IBM is working on how to use block chain technology to implement networking. The chip maker Qualcomm Corp and other top venture company invested $116 million stake in a start-up company called 21, in order to explore the application of block chain products.
Of course, there are still a lot of people are skeptical, Boston University professor Mark T Williams is a very strong bitcoin critic, he believes that for bitcoin regulation should be more severe, to protect consumers, “the complex thing is that it is a borderless currency,” he said, “what regulators should be responsible for this?”
There are a lot of people on suspicion, if a threat to digital currency such as credit card business income, this kind of traditional bank institutions one day whether to overturn this technology.
However, bitcoin technology can save costs and improve the efficiency of the potential, is undoubtedly very attractive for businesses.
“It is not only a threat, but also a potential opportunity,” Niederauer said, “if the train will be leaving the station, compared to a spectator, you should choose the car and became an inspector.”


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Consumers will have to fork out for goods and groceries in convenience stores
In Russia, they want to ban large stores from working on weekends and at night. This initiative was made by the head of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Andrei Kutepov. From his point of view, the restrictive measure will give a chance to the development of healthy competition, as well as the ability to survive for small shops “at home”. Experts think differently. Consumers will simply not be left with a choice: if large hypermarkets with more or less budget prices are closed, people will have to carry money to any open store on weekends, despite the high cost of goods. As for retailers, they will most likely compensate for lost profits at the expense of consumers, and the staff will have to be reduced.
Senator Andrei Kutepov appealed to the aide to the President of Russia Maxim Oreshkin with a proposal to restrict the work of large retail chains at night and weekends. Allegedly in favor of convenience stores. Meanwhile, products are often more expensive in small retail outlets, and in the absence of an alternative, the buyer will have to go there.
This is not the first time such a proposal has been made. A similar initiative was put forward by German Gref in the early 2000s as Minister of Economic Development. He referred to the experience of Germany, where closing stores in the evenings, weekends and holidays has long been a tradition. Then the idea was not supported.
In 2019, the topic was raised again. Aleksey Kondratyev, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture, also referred to the experience of Western countries, where large chains are closed on Saturday-Sunday. The initiative again received no support. And now a new approach …
For Russia, the introduction of such a norm will be a very serious shock, says the head of the Union of Consumers of Russia, Pyotr Shchelishch. He emphasized that working people prefer to buy food for the next week on weekends.
“People in cities go to chain stores and vote with their wallets for their products, because they are cheaper. Supermarkets can afford to sell goods at low prices, since they buy the entire range directly from manufacturers, he said. – Yes, the convenience store is by definition closer, but this is where its advantages end. “
Petr Shchelisch said that small businesses have to buy products from wholesalers, who charge a significant percentage for their services, or from small farms, which have high costs and, therefore, rather high prices. Chain stores also attract customers with stable quality and a wide range of products.
“A huge advantage of the market economy is the choice that they want to limit,” said our interlocutor. – I have no doubt that the senator who proposed the initiative has good intentions. The role and share of small business in both trade and production is much less than in other developed countries. But supporting entrepreneurs by imposing restrictions, in a coercive way is not an option. It’s like banning Russians from using buses on weekends. Do you want to go somewhere? Take a taxi! It’s not entirely fair. “
From the point of view of the consumer, such a situation will lead to the fact that people either begin to stock up on goods in advance and buy everything for future use, or will be forced to buy what they need in stores near their homes, says Anna Vovk, chairman of the committee of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“First of all, work should be done with manufacturers of goods, who compose their price proposals in such a way that the cost of the same product for detached stores is always 15-20% higher than for large retail chains. But there are also small manufacturers who produce goods in small batches, and they cannot work with large sellers, “the interlocutor of MK notes.
As for the consequences for large retailers, they will have to cut their staff, Vovk said. And large traders will begin to beat back losses that have fallen over one or two days off by increasing prices – they have no other way!
According to experts, the next bans will not give small business opportunities for development: people who are accustomed to shopping in large chains will not carry money to shops “near home”, just as they did not carry it before. As a last resort, many consumers have the option of online home delivery for their essentials.
No food until Monday


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New iPod Shuffle: Unpacking
New pictures have appeared on iLounge of a new iPod Shuffle being unpacked.
The packaging for the new shuffle is quite small and takes up just enough space to contain the device, a set of Apple earphones and a charging cable. The new metal iPod itself is not as shiny as the 5th-generation iPod nano but still glossier than shuffle’s previous generations made from anodized aluminum. The color has also shifted from bright orange to copper.
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Attendees of this year’s Digital Mortgage Conference are in for a memorable experience as loanDepot CEO and Founder Anthony Hsieh kicks off the event with a keynote focused on a topic for which he is deeply passionate: digital disruption and, more important, how consumers’ “financing first” mindset, when paired with intuitive technology, is forever redefining both the mortgage and real estate industries.
Hsieh, renowned in the lending industry for his ability to create immensely successful companies, is considered not only to be a consumer lending expert and tech visionary, but is often referred to as the architect of modern lending.
His keynote comes at a momentous time for Hsieh and the company he founded just eight years ago. In March, the company opened its state-of-the-art mello Innovation Lab, where a hand-picked team of programmers, coders and technology experts are bringing Hsieh’s technological vision for the future to life.
“There’s a massive amount of customers who want a digital experience with a trusted brand and we’re committed to delivering exactly that,” says Hsieh. “We’ve invested more than $80 million in the creation of mello, our proprietary digital lending platform that enables customers to interact with us on their terms, when, where and how they want.”
Recent research confirms Hsieh’s vision—that consumer behavior has shifted dramatically, with prospective home buyers and those seeking home renovations approaching their transactions by seeking financing first, thus placing the lender in a key position of opportunity to bring real estate agents, contractors and service providers to the consumer—placing lenders who have the technology and the networks at the top of the funnel in the purchase experience.
Says Dominick Marchetti, loanDepot’s Chief Technology Officer, “With the digital tools and data that we have harnessed, we have created a transformational experience for our customers, much in the same way that Amazon and Uber have in their respective industries.”
Digital Mortgage Conference attendees also will hear from Marchetti, who will participate in Tuesday’s panel: Lender Perspective: Getting Real World Implementation Right. He will be joined by Byce Elliot, SVP, Suntrust, and Martin Logan, CIO of Guaranteed Rate.
Interested in attending? It’s not too late. Get your tickets before registration closes on September 16th.


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Included in the bunch will be sport related and pet-raising games, with 'Arc' now set to retail in fall this year. Sony pledged a meaty line-up.
"The one piece of new information in the report is that Sony will release "around 10 or so" titles for the device within the year," reports . Sports games were to be expected with both motion tech platforms, as they have been with Nintendo Wii.
'Arc' is the name everyone feels Sony is going with for the PlayStation 3 motion controller, which has been referred to mostly as the 'PS3 Wand'. Sony has refused to acknowledge this is the final name though, saying they give "no comment" to rumour.


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The Raspberry Pi has sold its 30 millionth unit some time back in December. Raspberry Pi co-founder Eben Upton took to Twitter to make the announcement on December 14, 2019.
Samsung was rumored to release a bezel-less TV this year at CES. With the mega event coming to an end on January 10, Samsung did fulfill its promise by awing us all!
We surely had an exciting time in CES 2020 that just got over on January 10 in Las Vegas. This year, more than 4,500 tech companies around the world participated in CES,
You are watching your favorite video or web series online, and suddenly the screen freezes and the video starts to buffer. How frustrating is that? We are sure you’ve had to witness it, whether you have been on Netflix, YouTube or even the new Disney Plus. While a lot depends on the internet speed, did you know that video compression plays a part tii?
HDMI has emerged as the top format for connecting TVs, AV setups, and projectors. Over the years, HDMI has expanded to a one-stop- solution connection for different audio and video formats. HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) has been developed based on HDMI protocol and can simplify AV setups.
If you are a Disney fan, by now you must have started imagining the scenes from the movies! We all love Disney series and movies, no matter how old we are. And like a child, we burst with joy when we see Lion King or Jungle Book playing on the TV.
Now you can use digital signage content management systems and digital signage content apps to display anything you want without breaking a sweat. You can sign in into your content management system, change the content, and update the information on the digital signage outside your store in a matter of minutes!
The time of the year is almost here, and people are already preparing themselves for the Black Friday deals. Retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, Target, and Walmart are out with their discounts and promotions, and it's hard to keep up!


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HTC has announced the HTC Shift – a truly ultraportable laptop, with a keyboard, and a Touchscreen with stylus. It has a 7-inch widescreen display (800×480 resolution), with 1GB of memory and a 30GB harddrive. No word on CPU or chipset or graphics chipset, although HTC claims it will handle Microsoft Windows Vista’s Aero interface.
PC Magazine had a Hands-on with the Shift and had this to say:
Most importantly, the Shift has a lust factor. It’s bigger than other nanoportables like the OQO, but its soft metallic luster, high-res screen and real-looking keyboard made us, at least, believe that could get some work done on it. The device will launch in the third quarter of this year through “standard PC channels,” not at cell phone stores, and it will be “aggressively priced,” HTC reps conveyed.


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Plans & Pricing
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The share of internet users in Germany who have paid for digital content or services is modest but growing, across all adult age groups, according to recent survey data.
January 2017 polling by DCI Institute and Hochschule Fresenius found that 17.6% of internet users ages 18 and older pay for digital services or content, a 37.5% increase from the 12.8% who said the same in a February 2016 version of the study.
Moreover, this increase was spread across age groups. The biggest jumps this year were among older internet users, led by those ages 45 to 54 and 55 to 64. Both groups saw the share of respondents paying for digital content or services increase by 86.0%—to 18.6% and 16.0%, respectively. The proportion of those ages 65 and older who had paid for content rose nearly 85%, to 13.3%.
Among 18- to 44-year-olds, that behavior rose an average of 25.6%. Overall, 25-to-34-year-old respondents were the most likely to have paid for digital content or services, with 21.7% having done so last month.
Games were the leading content category purchased by those internet users who had paid for digital content or services, at 54.3% of respondents, followed by music (53.1%). Those rankings are the reverse of last year’s, due to a nearly 14% increase in response rate for games, and a drop of almost 3% for music.
Movies and TV series, trade and specialized information, and news all saw gains this year in the share of internet users who paid for those content types. However, the share of respondents who had purchased ebooks fell approximately 6%, to 26.2%.
This study follows a report by Germany’s music industry trade group Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI), which found that sales of digital formats represented a record-high 38.0% of the country’s music sales last year, with streaming subscriptions responsible for the largest portion of that number.
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The new Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort have to be the most anticipated and desirable locations to stay in Walt Disney World. For me anyway. While I won't be staying there anytime soon, the new concept art Disney has released is just as tantalizing.
Sales for the new DVC property will begin on January 12th for DVC members and everyone else can pick the scraps on February 9th. The first phase of opening is scheduled for April 1st which will include the 20 Bora Bora bungalows and the less exciting regular villas that include the first connecting deluxe studios. Disney also showed off some concept art for the redesigned feature pool.


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St. Tropez has named a new brand ambassador, celebrity makeup artist Jackie Gomez, who has tended to famous faces like Beyoncé, Candice Swanepoel and Lily Aldridge.
“St. Tropez shares my belief that healthy, glowing skin is integral to any beauty look,” said Gomez.
Gomez joins St. Tropez’s team of Skin Finishing Experts, including Sophie Evans in New York, Fiona Locke in L.A., and Nicola Joss in London. In her new role, Gomez will represent the brand during events and shoots and will also collaborate on product development for new St. Tropez skin-finishing products.
“Jackie’s aesthetic is completely attuned to St. Tropez’s and we’re excited to incorporate her point of view,” said Maggie Ciafardini, managing director of PZCussons Beauty North America. “She has an eye for skin and creates fresh looks that are beautiful and universal.”


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A day's sale of liquor in Karnataka after the lifting of the lockdown ban on its sale went much higher than it was expected to be. Over 1,500 liquor outlets across the state sold more than 12.4 lakh litres of liquor within 10 hours on Monday, 4 May.
Rs 45 crore revenue earned
According to the excise department, Rs 45 crore revenue was earned through Monday's sale. This includes the sale of 3.9 lakh litres of beer and 8.5 lakh litres of Indian made liquor.
The liquor shops across the state were allowed to open on Monday from 9am to 7pm. Serpentine queues and throbbing crowds were found in front of the stalls right from the break of the dawn.
Most of the customers eagerly waited for the opening of the shops disregarding all aspects of social distancing and many appeared even without wearing a mask.
According to State excise minister H Nagesh, an expectation sale of Rs 25 crore was expected, but this is higher. Of this, as a thumb rule, 40% is from Bengaluru alone, he said to the media.
"People need not rush to make purchases as there is sufficient stock. There are 26.5 lakh boxes of IML and 16.5 lakh boxes of beer, a ten-day stock. From Tuesday liquor prices will rise according to state budget and an additional 6% excise duty will be levied - which will come into the effect from this fiscal," said the minister.
The liquor sales in the state generally go over Rs 65 crore every day according to the officials.
But the state on Monday had allowed the functioning of only two licence holders- take away outlets and MSIL.
Through these outlets only, the state was able to collect the whopping revenue amount within a day!
The excise ministry has fixed the sale of 2.3 litres per person although most of the people purchased more than that so as to keep a stock of it at home. The department has therefore assured the people on the extended operations of the stalls for the coming days too.
The people, all in ecstasy, thanked the Chief Minister and the government officials for letting open the stalls after a period of long 40 days.
While some burnt crackers to commence the liquor stalls reopening, others performed aarthi in front of the shops.


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Funeral consumers took another hit this week as Australia’s largest ASX listed funeral company made its latest acquisition of an local independent funeral home in Australia.
In another blow to consumers concerned about the rising cost of funerals, InvoCare has announced a conditional purchase agreement to acquire Australian Heritage Funerals located in Toowoomba Queensland. It performs around 300 funerals each year and generates approximately $2 million in annual revenue. The business was established in 1998 by the McGrath-Colquhoun family and is managed by Judith McGrath-Colquhoun. As a fifth generation Darling Downs family, the team have a long, established history in the region.
InvoCare, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (IVC:ASX), is Australia’s largest provider of funeral, cemetery, crematoria and related services. It currently operates over 290 funeral locations and 16 cemeteries and crematoria, across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
InvoCare, owns well known funeral home brands such as White Lady Funerals, Guardian Funerals and Simplicity Funerals, and has control of more than 34% of the Australian funeral market. It also owns related services and products HeavenAddress; LifeArt coffins; Guardian Funeral Plans, MyGriefAssist, MyMemorial and Funeral Planner.
Peter Erceg said, “This latest acquisition by InvoCare may be good news for shareholders, but not for consumers in the Toowoomba region and independent funeral homes”.
Despite several inquiries into the industry, government regulators in Australia have failed to tackle ongoing community concerns about the industry, including rising costs, misleading practices and a growing concentration of market share by two publicly listed companies (InvoCare and Propel Funeral Partners).
“Unless consumers and independent funeral directors can operate as a co-operative alliance, they will continue to hit with rising costs and a lack of choice. This is not in the interests of grieving families and family owned funeral homes”, he said.
eziFunerals supports individuals and families cope with end of life decisions, death and funerals. We are an independent, Australian-owned and operated company, and are not a subsidiary of any other corporation. We do not conduct funerals and we are not part of any other funeral company.


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- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasizes the importance of federal infrastructure grants for improving cargo gate access for trucks at the Port of Miami.
- The grants aim to strengthen the supply chain and enhance efficiency in the trucking industry.
- Improved cargo gate access will benefit truck drivers and help streamline operations at the port.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently visited the Port of Miami to highlight the significance of two federal infrastructure grants in enhancing the supply chain. These grants specifically target improving cargo gate access for trucks, providing a much-needed boost to the trucking industry. Buttigieg emphasized the importance of efficient transportation systems in facilitating economic growth and ensuring the smooth flow of goods. With better cargo gate access, truck drivers will experience improved efficiency and reduced wait times, ultimately benefiting the entire industry.
The federal infrastructure grants signal the government’s commitment to investing in the transportation sector and recognize the critical role trucks play in the supply chain. By streamlining operations at the Port of Miami, these grants aim to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, benefiting not only truck drivers but also the overall economy. The improved cargo gate access will enable trucks to move in and out of the port more seamlessly, reducing congestion and minimizing delays.
As the trucking industry continues to evolve and adapt to modern challenges, investing in infrastructure is crucial to keep up with the increasing demands. By prioritizing the improvement of cargo gate access, Secretary Buttigieg and the federal government acknowledge the importance of trucking in facilitating trade and commerce. This move is a positive step towards strengthening the supply chain, promoting economic growth, and ensuring the efficient movement of goods.
Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s visit to the Port of Miami and his emphasis on federal infrastructure grants for trucking highlights the government’s recognition of the essential role this industry plays in supporting the economy. By investing in improved cargo gate access, the government is prioritizing efficiency and streamlining operations. This move reflects a positive commitment towards strengthening the trucking industry and its contribution to economic growth.
This blog post has been generated using the information provided in the article:”Buttigieg Promotes Grants to Boost Miami Port’s Supply Chain” by “Noël Fletcher”.
Check it out at: https://www.ttnews.com/articles/buttigieg-grants-miami-port.


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Rockwall, Texas | COVID-19 Response
The City of Rockwall issues Mayoral Declaration of Local State of Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency
Among the measures in the Declaration:
Rockwall restaurants, bars and coffee shops are to limit occupancy to fifty percent as determined on its Certificate of Occupancy. Restaurants are encouraged to make use of curbside pickup or delivery services.
The City of Rockwall is taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and is recommending the postponement or cancellation of all public and community events greater than ten persons, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control, within city limits.
Declaration Submitted by City of Rockwall


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Warm temperatures allow for Christmas on the beach
Tybee Island, Ga. (WTOC) - While some people across the country are experiencing a white Christmas, people out on Tybee Island are having a tropical one.
Tybee Island was jam packed with visitors celebrating Christmas.
There were dozens of people on the pier and beach enjoying the weather.
Many of these individuals seem to like visiting for the change of pace.
“Me and my fiancé decided to come out here to Tybee and see what was going on you know. Maybe we start making the situation coming out of this it’s coming to Tybee and just enjoying the beach and everything like that for Christmas it’s just something different,” said Dillon Pye, a beach-goer.
People from all over the country came out to spend time at the beach Saturday.
Copyright 2021 WTOC. All rights reserved.


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Fox Consumer Products EMEA has secured new UK licensing partners for US author Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid bestselling book series.
In the lead-up to the August 3 premiere of the newest film in the franchise, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, and the November launch of book seven, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel, Fox has signed on UK partners BM Fashion for kids t-shirts and sweatshirts, Danilo for greeting cards, and Robert Frederick for stationery products.
To date, six million copies of the series and five million copies of book six, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever have been sold worldwide by UK publisher Puffin.
More than 75 million books in the franchise are currently in print in 36 territories, translated in 35 languages worldwide. The book series was also recently voted as the best children’s book series of the last decade, beating Harry Potter, in a Blue Peter Poll of UK kids.


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Economic yearbook 2011
Miami-Dade - Yearbook
Stepping up to the Plate
ROOKIE PLAYER: Ornare — Brazilian furniture retailer Ornare opened its only U.S. store in Miami in 2006, part of a wave of Brazilian companies making a mark in the city. In 2010, profit at the Miami store rose 30%, which the company credits to both an increase in home purchases and an increase in Brazilian visitors. One-fourth of Ornare's sales in 2010 were to Brazilians, up from 5% in 2009, mirroring a 17% overall increase in Brazilians coming to greater Miami. Brazil was the No. 2 source of foreign tourists for the first nine months of 2010 (the latest data available from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau), behind Canada.
EMERGING STAR: Barlington Group — Barlington Group has quietly developed and acquired more than $50 million worth of real estate — mainly condo conversions — since its founding in 2004. Now, the revitalization of part of downtown Miami, and the possible fate of the downtown Macy's store — rests in its hands. In January, the company announced it will invest some $2 million to renovate 20,000 square feet of unoccupied space on the ground floor of the Macy's building. Barlington Group, which leased the property from Macy's, has already announced leases with a Cuban coffee shop, a jazz and blues club and a wine bar, with the rest of the space in negotiations. Macy's asked Barlington to fill up the space with the goal of increasing traffic and reinvigorating the area, where Flagler Street meets Miami Avenue. The new eateries and clubs are expected to open this summer, and the stakes are high: If they do not draw more traffic to the area, it's possible that Macy's will vacate when its lease expires in 2016, leaving a space that dates back to 1912, when it was Burdines.
HEAVY HITTER: Burger King — The burger chain went private in 2010, when Brazilian-backed private equity firm 3G Capital purchased it. Despite assurances that its headquarters would remain in Miami-Dade, the new owners cut some 260 headquarters workers in a single layoff. The area lost a Fortune 1000 Miami-based company, gained a new Brazilian influence and was left wondering if it will lose the corporate headquarters altogether.
Alberto Dosal, president/CEO, Compuquip — Alberto Dosal, who co-founded IT services company Compuquip 30 years ago, grew the business by a reported 21.7% in 2010.
He has become a quiet leader of Miami's technology industry, serving as chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's Technology Committee. This year, he chairs the chamber's key domestic business development group, overseeing 12 committees. Observers say he is on the fast track to the chamber's presidency if he's interested.
Marc Billings, CEO, Digiport; founder, Incubate Miami — In 2009, Marc Billings had the idea to turn space in downtown Miami into an incubator and approached the Enterprise Development Corp. about running it. Incubate Miami opened in 2010 in space sublet from a company Billings owns, and since then he has continued to be a tireless advocate for the downtown startup and technology communities, working to bring a TedX conference to the area and co-founding Innovation Week Miami. In January, Incubate Miami became one of only 17 organizations named to the White House's TechStars Network.
Richard Schuchts, senior vice president, Jones Lang LaSalle — Richard Schuchts heads up the effort to lure bioscience companies to the University of Miami's Life Science & Technology Park. Having already lured one out-of-state tenant, he is pitching the building — and Miami's future as a bioscience hub — to companies all over the U.S., Europe and Latin America.


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Mount Pleasant drinks in record year; sale delayed
After a record year, the 134-acre Mount Pleasant Estates winery in Augusta, Mo., is no longer for sale, at least for now.
Mount Pleasant’s sales of $3.5 million in fiscal 2011 blasted past its $2.9 million in 2010. That high mark and a dearth of winery and vineyard buyers in the down economy prompted the decision to delay a sale.
“As we’re having a record year, I have been advised that we are not likely to command a commensurate price in this economy,” said Chuck Dressel, president. “We determined that we should take the winery off the market and enjoy our success.” He said he also rearranged his schedule to spend more time with his family on weekends.
Most of the year-over-year increase was in retail sales, up 21 percent to $1.9 million, Dressel said. Private event sales were up a whopping 119 percent to $367,430. The winery has been expanding its tourism and food-service offerings, adding a full culinary staff and improving its capabilities for hosting weddings and other events. It doubled its weddings last year and hosted 57 private events in all.
Dressel said Mount Pleasant also is benefiting from increased tourism in Augusta. “Instead of going to Napa in this recession, people are noticing the gems that are an hour away,” he said.
Jim Anderson, executive director of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, said sales were hurt as companies cut back on corporate gifts and holiday and other entertaining during the recession, but total wine sales in Missouri have slowly improved. They totaled 11.2 million gallons in 2009, 12.2 million gallons in 2010, and what may be 12.3 million gallons or more when all 2011 numbers are tabulated. “The concern going forward is that there is still a lot of wine on the market, a bit of a glut,” he said.
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