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powered by artificial intelligence.Services will be provided based on the results of a survey of 81 countries
China will offer customized data services for disaster prevention thr
ough its Fengyun meteorological satellites for more countries along the Belt and Road, said a
senior official of the China Meteorological Administration’s National Satellite Meteorological Center.
The services will be provided based on the results of a survey of 81 countries. By the end
of April, 22 countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Libya and Sudan, had responded to the survey.
“From chips to its self-developed operating system, Huawei has long been preparing for in
dependent research and development in core technologies. It has the ability to adjust to changes in the glo
bal market,” said Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Information Consumption Alliance.
Huawei has also made preparations with core chipsets. Existing stocks
are thought to provide the company with a buffer of six months to a year, he said.
Shares of Luckin Coffee, a fast-growing rival to Starbucks in China, rose 20 percent in their US stock market debut Friday.
The Chinese company, which opened its first store in Beijing less than two years ago, has 2,370
locations and plans to surpass the 3,700 stores Starbucks has in China by the end of the year.
It brought in $125 million in revenue last year, but spent much more than
that on coffee beans, store rent and other costs. Last year, it lost $475 million.
Most of Luckin’s stores are small, have few seats and are used mainly as a place to pick up mobile orders.
It also offers delivery in 30 minutes and promises a refund for delays or spilled drinks.
hina’s financial center Shanghai boasts the best business environment in the country, according to a report on China’s urban busi
ness environment index jointly released by the China Strategic Culture Promotion Association, the C
hina Economic Media Association, WANB Institute and YICAI Research Institute.
With an index of 86.73, Shanghai topped the list of Chinese cities with best business environment, followed by the capi
tal city Beijing at 84.63, and then Shenzhen, in South China‘s Guangdong province, at 84.48.
The report evaluates Chinese cities according to five “soft environment” indexes — technological innovation, finan
cing, talent, culture and life — and two “hard environment” indexes, natural resources and infrastructure.
Just a few minutes ago, the Louvre received the most saddening news. The architect behind the pyramid of
Louvre Museum, the Chinese architecture we just mentioned a few days ago, Mr I.M. Pei, one of the greatest architectural mas
ters in the world, died on May 16. He was 102. You may have gone to heaven, but you and your works will be forever rem
embered by the world,” read the Louvre’s official Sina Weibo account this morning.
“Mr Pei’s outstanding architectural designs made greatly important contributions to t
he history of architecture. As a Chinese-American, Mr. Pei was devoted to promote mutual und
erstanding between China and the US, and to further cultural exchange between the East and the West.
“The embassy building of China’s embassy to the US is an exempla
ry work that merges the East and the West and that manifests the long-term friendship and co
mmon future between the two nations. We recall with sentiments the architectural legacy Mr Pei has left us, and
the influence he has had on the world,” read a statement from the embassy of the US to Chin


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The first Halal Guys location in Arizona is scheduled to open in Tempe in January of next year, according to a spokesperson from the chain.
The restaurant will be located at 1015 South Rural Road, previously home to The College Store near Arizona State University's campus. Ahipoki Bowl, a quickly-expanding chain of fast-casual poke restaurants, is expected to open a location there as well next year.
Have no idea what all the fuss is about? The Halal Guys is a chain that started from a food cart in New York City. They serve sandwiches, but are most famous for the "chicken and rice" platter, which features juicy chicken on a bed of orange rice with lettuce, pita, and tomato. Aficionados know to douse their platters with sauce, whether it's the popular "white sauce," a spicy red sauce, or even barbecue.

domain: news


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including an explosive device in Madrid's Almudena Cathedral that police defused in February. In claiming responsibility for the Oct. 2 attack at Our Lady of the Pilar, the group said it was punishing the church's alleged links with Spain's fascist past and its colonialist incursions in South America. The court said the suspects also were planning to cause an explosion at a basilica within the monastery of Montserrat, burberry coat , AAA Pawnbrokers, owned by Earl's son, Greg Driggers. These dealers are the worst of the worst, either intentionally or negligently selling handguns that violates federal law, 'Well, if you don't do it, we'll drop you.' He said that numerous times," said Jayme Nitz. burberry coat, No other information was immediately available. Tiffany Co. would be joining other national luxury retailers including Brooks Brothers, Michael Kors and Saks Fifth Avenue at the Canal Street shopping center. What do you think of Mel Kiper's first mock draft selection for the New Orleans Saints?
burberry coat, you don't get money. You do it because you love it. It's so pure and beautiful the freedom, the movement, the gestures. burberry coat The fun part was just seeing them all together in one place. Judging by Grudt's images, it looks like the Americana also happens to be hosting a few of those Toyota solar sunflowers, which made for an interesting juxtaposition. Supercars right off the showroom floor mingled with old timers from as far back as the Eighties. Satin wrap tops ranging from long sleeves to no sleeves, and asymmetrical skirts. The skirts are definitely fun and sexy black is the hotest color, sequens are very popular, and beaded silk is definitely in.
Two gas cylinders also were impounded by police, the judge said. Velasco ordered the Chileans to be held in custody awaiting trial. Three other suspects were arrested Wednesday and later released, including an Italian woman, burberry coat , " says Earl. "They work very closely with me." According to Bloomberg's office, all 15 dealers named in the suit sold a gun to a team of undercover investigators who wore hidden cameras during the undercover operation. the men gathered up jewelry and other valuables before forcing the two women into the bathroom, duct taping their hands and leaving them. The men were last seen running from the store with bags bulging with jewelry. "They took a lot of valuable items. They spent a lot of time in there, burberry coat, Retired Fla. officer Curtis Reeves tells moviegoer to stop texting, then fatally shoots him, police sayFollow live coverage of Jefferson Parish Council debate on hospital leaseHow much do you think Victor Butler and Joe Morgan can contribute next season?.
burberry coat, " The new issue, on newsstands in Europe on Feb. on Feb. 28, offers up features on the American Ballet Theatre, burberry coat CLK DTM, Ford GT, Dodge Viper, Cizeta V16t, Maserati MC12, You may also want to check out some of the other designers such as Blugirl, Calvin Klein, and Prada.


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The growth means IBM is now the second largest technology company by market value. Apple still holds the top slot with a value of $362bn (£232bn).
Since the beginning of 2011, IBM’s share price has made steady gains and is now 22% higher than at the start of the year, according to Bloomberg figures. By contrast, Microsoft’s value has dropped 8.8% over the same time period.
Analysts put the switch in the number two slot down to a decision IBM made in 2005 to sell off its PC business to Chinese manufacturer Lenovo to concentrate on software and services.
“IBM went beyond technology,” Ted Schadler, a Forrester Research analyst told Bloomberg. “They were early to recognise that computing was moving way beyond these boxes on our desks.”
By contrast much of Microsoft’s revenue comes from sales of Windows and Office software used on PCs. Also, Microsoft is between releases of Windows which can mean a fallow period for its revenues.
Windows 7 was released in 2009 and Windows 8 is not expected to be released until late 2012 at the earliest.
Many have also claimed that the rise of the web, mobile computing and tablets spells the end of the PC era. In early August, Dr Mark Dean, one of the designers of the original IBM PC, declared that the centre of the computing world had shifted away from the humble desktop.
Source: BBC News


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[Photo by MK DB]
South Korea’s real household income fell for the first time in more than a year while spending in groceries and daily necessities slipped in the third quarter as inflation ran at its strongest since 1998 in the wake of Asian liquidity crisis.
According to data released by Statistics Korea on Thursday, the nominal monthly income per household averaged at 4.87 million won ($3,634.94) in the third quarter, up 3 percent from a year-ago period and extending growth for five consecutive quarters.
Real income, or income after adjusting for inflation, fell 2.8 percent, the first decline since the second quarter of 2021.
The income from wages rose 5.4 percent to 3.11 million won per month, contributing most to the nominal income growth. Real income from wages however inched down 0.4 percent.
Income from business operations grew 12 percent, and transfer income up 28.7 percent thanks to an increase in self-employed workers and small business owners amid recovery in the service industry after lifting of virus-related restrictions.
Inflation gained 5.9 percent against a year-ago period on average in the third quarter, the strongest since 6 percent in the fourth quarter of 1998.
Monthly expenditure averaged at 2.7 million won, 6.2 percent higher from the previous year. But consumer spending after reflecting inflation hardly grew, up 0.3 percent, meaning most of the spending was due to higher inflation.
As a whole, spending on outdoor-related items soared while spending on indoor-related items dropped as Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.
Consumer expenditure rose in areas such as food and accommodations (22.9 percent), and games and entertainment (27.9 percent), but fell in areas such as groceries and non-alcoholic beverages (5.4 percent), and household goods and services (9.1 percent).
[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]


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If you’re a Steelers fan, how would you like to hang out with current and former players? What about having dinner or a conversation with them all while cruising to the Bahamas?
A 10-year-old girl in a Philadelphia hospital is waiting for a donor lung to save her life, and her parents are doing everything they can to get that lung.
Have you heard of helicopter parenting? Some recent studies have shown that it can actually do more harm than good to children as they get older.
The tornado carved a path of destruction Monday in Moore, Okla., and the National Weather Service has now upgraded it to an EF-5 tornado with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour.
Would you like to make some money from the clothes you don’t wear anymore? Or do you have designer taste but not the income? A new website called Tradesy just might be for you.
Dog owners could pay dearly if their pup gets hold of a penny. There’s an element in the coin that could be deadly to your dog. And veterinarians say it happens more often than you think.
Coffee, soda and energy drinks – millions of people turn to them for a quick energy jolt. But now there’s a new product that’s said to offer up that same kick.
If you’re worried about how you are going to pay for college, you’re not alone. However, there is help out there in the form of scholarships. There are plenty out there for varying amounts, but you need to find them and apply.
These days, people are looking for any way to stretch a dollar. One way can be by holding onto your car longer. Today the average vehicle has been on the road nearly 11 years, according to Polk Research. Consumer Reports can help you go the distance and save you big bucks.
From the moment they’re born, parents want the best for their kids – helping guide, teach and encourage them as they grow. One way parents do that is with words, especially praise. But is all praise… good praise?
A local man received a prestigious honor in Washington, D.C. today.
Have you tried the new gel manicure at the salon that dries instantly and lasts for two weeks without chipping? It’s great, but it’s pricey — usually starting at $40.
If you’re not ready for Valentine’s Day, no fear. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to treat your sweetheart.
Healthcare costs are expected to rise this year on everything from prescription drugs to co-pays. However, there are ways you can save and even get care for free.
KDKA-TV’s Kristine Sorensen got the chance to meet a wonderful family recently. They are so upbeat, despite what they’ve been through and are grateful for the care their son has received at Children’s Hospital.


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The media and marketing industry is awash with stories about the sudden emergence of flash delivery services. This new concept is very much the talk of the town, and a source of unrest in certain circles. Not only do they represent new competition for the supermarkets: platforms like Just Eat Takeaway, bol.com and Amazon are also competing with flash delivery services for service provision and convenience. But just how fast is this development actually taking place in the Netherlands? MeMo² shares the results of the first large-scale survey into this new phenomenon on our streets.
A new look on our cities’ streets
The question is in fact easily answered: it depends where you ask and who you ask. Outside the Randstad conurbation, and above all in the 45 plus age group, 69% have never even heard of the concept of flash delivery. “For those living or working in larger cities, this may be difficult to imagine,” says Marcel Vogels, founder of MeMo². “The trams in the bright livery of Getir and the outdoor advertising campaigns by Gorillas, Flink and Zapp have created a new look on the streets. Not to mention the flocks of delivery riders racing through the streets in their branded outfits. A sort of Randstad 2.0.”
This new look seems to be bearing fruit in the streets of the Netherlands’ three biggest cities: in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, flash delivery services have achieved 80% awareness. Among the 18 to 34 year-old residents of those same cities, the awareness rating in fact rises to 89%. In no time, the phenomenon has become a household name, at least in the big three cities.
Gorillas is not monkeying around
For the time being there is one major winner in terms of brand awareness, and the title goes to the delivery riders from Gorillas. This particular player is known to 4.9 million over-18s in the Netherlands, followed at some distance by the competitors Flink (3.2 million), Getir (1.7 million) and Zapp (1.1 million). More than 1 million over-18s in the Netherlands have in fact already made a purchase via one of the flash delivery services.
In the big three cities, just over a quarter of the population made use of a flash delivery service in 2021 (26%). And those same cities also recorded the highest name awareness scores: Gorillas has an awareness rating of 67%, followed by Getir (44%), Flink (43%) and Zapp (20%). Nevertheless, we may be witnessing the birth of something that is here to stay. Although ‘only’ 26% of consumers in the three big cities have used a flash delivery service so far, there appears to be a large group of potential users. More than half suggest they are considering a flash delivery service. And with the recent introduction of stricter COVID-19 measures, those considerations may soon be converted into adoption and penetration.
The brands together have helped boost awareness of the category, and the time is right for Gorillas, Flink and Getir to convert the latent demand into actual purchases. MeMo² expects to witness a rapid spread of disruptive flash delivery riders over the coming period. One forgotten food item or no time to complete your Christmas shopping list? “No problem,” according to Vogels. “A delivery rider will be at your doorstep ‘in a flash’, with the missing item.”
Read full press coverage below:
About the survey
For this survey, MeMo² made use of THX., an innovative platform capable of continuously measuring actual consumer behaviour. The tool helps advertisers determine the success of their media, brand and retail efforts. THX. includes more than 500 profile traits and makes it possible to gather new traits and opinions in next to no time.
For this survey, Dutch residents aged 18 years and older were asked whether they had heard of Gorillas, Flink, Getir and/or Zapp. If they confirmed knowledge of flash delivery services, they were asked which of the flash delivery providers they would consider using and from which flash delivery provider(s) they had already made a purchase. 1,811 Dutch people took part in the survey.
THX. was once again a prize winner this year. With THX., in cooperation with Publicis, Albert Heijn, Duracell and Iglo, MeMo² won 4 IAB Research Awards in the categories Best Use of Research Budget, Brand Advertising Effectiveness, Crossmedia Research and Research Innovation. It was also recently announced that MeMo² had received the worldwide I-COM Award 2021 for the development and impact of the THX. platform, and it was announced this year that MeMo² had been acquired by global market leader for research and analytics services Kantar (WWP/Bain).


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The desktop version of iPhoto, and indeed all of Apple’s iOS apps until now, use Google Maps. The new iPhoto for iOS, however, uses Apple’s own map tiles – made from OpenStreetMap data (outside the US).
Big deal. Very big deal. After Foursquare, Google is losing another major Maps user.


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Health and wellness apps maker Palta raises $100M Series B led by VNV Global
05 Aug, 2021
– OnBuy.com, a Bournemouth UK-based online marketplace, raised £35M in Series A+ debt and equity funding.
– The round was led by Bring Ventures, Norway Post venture arm, Fuel Ventures, Guy Hands (founder and chairman of Terra Firma Capital Partners), Knut Frängsmyr (Deputy CEO of Klarna) and Richard Goulding (founder of Play.com) amongst other strategic investors.
– The company intends to use the funds to to expand its leadership team, further develop its product offering for both sellers and consumers, and pursue global expansion.


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Original title: Tencent "ruthless hands"! The most serious game in the history of game addiction prevention measures have been upgraded. "The glory of the king", the online age of underage players has plummeted.
On Nov. 6, Tencent held a "Minor Conservation Ecology Co-construction Conference" in Shenzhen hosted by Tencent Growth Guardian Platform. Tencent cooperated with Samsung, Huawei, vivo, OPPO and millet hardware terminal manufacturers in terms of function placement, account access, equipment management and control, in order to unite more social forces to build together. Setting up a healthy game environment for juveniles. According to the latest data, the one-day online time of minor users of "Wang Zheng Guang" has dropped by about 52.3% compared with last year's high. (Securities Times)
Waonews is a news media from China, with hundreds of translations, rolling updates China News, hoping to get the likes of foreign netizens


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Final Fantasy XIV has garnered quite the community over the years which has allowed it to start throwing its own biennial Fan Festival. This year’s festival will be taking place at three different spots around the world but if you don’t already have a ticket then you’re probably out of luck for the live event. Rest assured that Square Enix will be livestreaming the event with bonuses in tow for those who purchase a virtual ticket.
You have to purchase a virtual ticket of $29.99 to livestream the event at any location you choose which includes Las Vegas, Toyko and Frankfurt. Purchasing a virtual ticket will not only grant you access to the two day event but it will also gift you with a costume from Final Fantasy X. There’s also minions being given away and for those who want to collect them all feel free! Each ticket you purchase at a different location will grant you another item.
The Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival will take place on October 14 and 15.


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As it marks its five-year anniversary as a publicly traded company, Vantiv announced in a press release that it now processes more debit and credit transactions in the United States than any of its competitors.
When the Nilson Report publishes its annual U.S. Merchant Acquirer Rankings, it will reveal that Vantiv is the top merchant acquirer in the country. This is the first time since 1996 that a new company has come out on top, based on this metric, noted David Robertson, publisher of the Nilson Report, which is one of the most respected sources of news and analysis of the global card and mobile payment industries.
“I always say our success is our people,” said Charles Drucker, president and chief executive officer at Vantiv. “Over the last five years, we have grown dramatically and achieved many milestones, thanks to our employees’ relentless hard work and winning attitude. Nilson’s new rankings — published at our five-year anniversary — clearly validates that we are on the right track with a bright future.”


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Last year, Palsgaard tapped into growing consumer demand for sustainable food products, cutting net emissions from 12,029 tons in 2010 to zero in 2018.
In 2010, the company committed to becoming entirely carbon-neutral and embarked on a ten-year journey to eliminate its carbon footprint across all its global production sites.
According to Palsgaard CEO Jakob Thøisen, it not only achieved that goal two years ahead of schedule, but it is the only company in the emulsifier industry to have achieved this.
“Climate change is now attracting widespread attention and the research shows that both consumers and retailers are increasingly demanding sustainable products,” he said.
According to research published by the International Trade Centre and the European Commission, 98% of food retailers in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain reported increased sales of sustainable products over the last five years.
In pursuit of neutrality
In 2015, Palsgaard’s largest site – in Denmark – was declared carbon-neutral after it reduced emissions by 16,000 tons. The company was also the first in the country to achieve CO2-neutrality at its Mexican plant. Its plants in Brazil, China and Malaysia are also CO2-neutral.
To achieve this, Palsgaard introduced heat recovery and insulation techniques; converted heavy fuel oil to biogas; and used renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power. It also introduced its own straw-fired central heating systems in Denmark.
Palsgaard also claims to be the world’s only commercial source of fully sustainable emulsifiers based on RSPO SG-certified palm oil.
At FiE, the company will showcase its extensive range of specialized emulsifiers (and emulsifier/stabiliser systems) that can improve the quality and extend the shelf-life for bakery, dairy, confectionery, condiments and ice cream applications.
Its products can also help manufacturers produce better-for-you products with improved taste, mouthfeel and texture while using less resources.
All Palsgaard products are non-GMO, and meet halal and kosher requirements.


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July 18, 2018
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc has announced that Graphic Enterprise Office Solutions, Inc. has been presented with the 2018 Pro-Tech Service Award.
This marks the 30th consecutive year that the dealership has earned this award.
Graphic Enterprises Office paint Solutions, Inc., based in Ohio, has been recognised by Konica Minolta for its “outstanding service of award-winning imaging products including, but not limited to, copiers, printers and software solutions”.
They are a full service office equipment company that, according to Konica Minolta, prides itself on building long-standing customer partnerships, with reliable services and products at the heart of its offering.
“We are very excited to recognise Graphic Enterprises for this extraordinary achievement. Since the inception of the program 30 years ago, their focus on providing their customers with the highest level of service has been unwavering,” says James Ingrassia, Vice President, Solutions Support Division, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “The Pro-Tech Service Award represents Konica Minolta’s gold standard for service competency and proficiency.”
The OEM explained that, to be considered for the Pro-Tech Service Award, each element of the dealer’s operations were evaluated across a number of key parameters to ensure they are delivering the best customer and product support for their Konica Minolta devices. This includes management skills, inventory control systems, technical expertise, dispatch systems and customer satisfaction ratings.
“We continue to be proud of our strong partnership with Konica Minolta and we are delighted to have earned the Pro-Tech Service Award every year since its inception in 1988” says Ed Brudzinski, Service Manager. “It is a symbol of our quality and commitment to customer service.”
Categories : Around the Industry


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P2P lending startups mull blockchain tech to share info, curb fraud
Indian peer-to-peer lending startups are considering a private blockchain to facilitate sharing of information as a risk-mitigation strategy, and to identify fraudulent loan applications.
The Economic Times reported that P2P companies, including larger players like Faircent, as well as new startups, such as IndiamoneyMart, PaisaDukaan and OMLP2P, are looking to pool in money to create a private hyperledger. The companies may have already applied for a NBFC P2P licence from banking regulator, the Reserve Bank of India.
“We are building a multi-tenant infrastructure using blockchain, which will be used to implement the business rules like credit assessment and bring in models using smart contracts,” Faircent founder Rajat Gandhi was quoted by the financial daily.
“Further, this will also help us scale up our services, globally, and bring in more credibility since all transactions will be immutable.” The company is believed to have kept aside $1 million for the blockchain platform, and expects return on the investment once business picks up.
Rajiv Ranjan, founder of BigWin Infotech, a P2P lending startup, which runs Paisadukan, also told ET that the company was interested in the private chain as it will ensure customers or loan seekers do not end up taking multiple loans from multiple platforms and then default on them. This, Rajan said, could “cause serious trouble for the lending sector”.
“We are especially susceptible to such cases since our tech-based platforms have a shorter turnaround time and can help fraudsters take money from multiple lenders almost simultaneously,” Rajan was quoted as saying.
The report also said that IndiamoneyMart, PaisaDukaan and OMLP2P have partnered to form a private chain and expects that this will attract more customers. “We are moving as of now with three players and, once things start rolling, I believe the bigger platforms could also eventually join us, the more the players the higher the efficiency of the platform will be,” Rajat Gupta, founder of IndiamoneyMart, was quoted as saying.
The newspaper also cited industry insiders saying that P2P lending companies face severe challenges in managing loans as most customers have more than one lender. “Once we are on a blockchain platform, accessing customer data will be very simple, there cannot be any tampering of the data, thereby, increasing reliability and also maintain data security,” Surendra Jalan, founder of OMLP2P, was quoted as saying.


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Bitcoin Cash Outshines Crypto Market Rally as Avg. BTC Transaction Fees Rise
The cryptocurrency space has been witnessing a major rally in the last few days that helped bitcoin cash (BCH), a cryptocurrency created in August 2017 through a hard fork of bitcoin (BTC), surge nearly 35% in the last 30 days.
Currently, bitcoin is up by about 10.2% in the last 24-hour period, while BCH is up by 17%. This, as network activity on the flagship cryptocurrency’s network started surging. So much so that according to BitInfoCharts, the average transaction fee is currently at about $2.47.
This could be seeing various bitcoin users turn to BCH, which has 32 MB blocks to accommodate cheaper transactions and follows an on-chain scaling roadmap, and as a result cheaper transaction fees. Per the same data source, average transaction fees on the BCH blockchain are of $0.0047.
Presumably as a result, BCH is the best performing cryptocurrency in the last 24 hours. One BCH is currently trading at $363, up from $260 a month ago, according to CryptoCompare data.
It’s worth noting that last month the cryptocurrency also outshined the wider crypto market rally with a 150% rise in 30 days. After crossing the $300 mark, however, it slowed down and soon after started falling once again.
The cryptocurrency’s price growth has seemingly been accompanied by increased adoption, as data shows BCH transactions per day are up significantly since the start of this year. Some have found, however, that a mysterious address that has been active since April 8 could be responsible for nearly half of the network’s transactions.
BCH’s current performance could also be related to its upcoming May 15 hard fork, which will see it implement Schnorr Signatures, which help optimize its blockchain ...


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Oracle's founder, who stepped down Thursday as CEO, has carved out a unique -- and sometimes controversial -- persona as a titan of tech.
ECB says a database linked to its website was compromised and email addresses and phone numbers were stolen.
Harmonix says the newest title in its Dance Central franchise will be available exclusively on Microsoft's Xbox One this fall.
After activists try to organize a general strike through text messages, the country's telecommunications ministry deems SMS a security threat.
Appropriately timed for April Fools' Day, Comedy Central's new app replaces show-specific apps, creating a one-stop spot with free full episodes of "The Daily Show," "South Park," and more.
The reborn Ford GT is the hottest car of the 2015 NAIAS in Detroit. We spoke with its designer, Moray Callum, to learn about how it went from sketch to concept car in just 14 months.
The Chinese e-commerce giant's new Alipay ePass platform is designed to ease logistics for US-based companies that want to sell their wares directly to buyers in China.
Walking around inside Central Hall this morning before the 10am opening I was able to capture many of the big booths *before* they were crawling with people.
We're getting ready to live in a world where it's less about taking care of our homes, and more about our homes taking care of us. But will that come in the form of robot maids or intelligent homes?
The US military Central Command says it is investigating hacks of its YouTube and Twitter accounts by apparent ISIS supporters.


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The announcement of a deal between Jamaica’s Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL) and a Venezuelan company regarding clinker exports to Venezuela has reportedly been called off due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’.
Under the Trade Compensation Mechanism of the PetroCaribe energy cooperation agreement, Jamaica is permitted to settle part of its oil debt to Venezuela through the export of goods or services. The Mining Minister was expected to make an announcement this week regarding the export of clinker under this agreement, but the press conference has now been postponed until further notice.
CCCL has only recently returned to profit after 12 consecutive quarters of loss. A costly expansion project left the company in significant debt just as the market entered recession, but there seemed finally to be a turning point in the June quarter when the company gained market share, as well as a new export market in Panama. At the time of this announcement, it was said that CCCL hoped to enter the Venezuelan market soon. It looks like that may now be put on hold.
Edited from various sources by Katherine Guenioui
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/12092013/caribbean_cement_clinker_export_deal_on_hold_170/


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With record gas prices and skyrocketing airfare, the traditionally busy summer travel season was a budget-busting one.
Even as bigger price drops await in the fall, superheated summer prices are already starting to cool.
The national average for a gallon of gas on Monday was $4.21, a 14-cent drop compared with a week ago and a 63-cent plunge from a month ago, according to AAA. That’s still more than $1 a gallon higher than it was a year ago.
After months of increases, consumer price data showed that airfare dropped 1.8 percent in June from the month before, and lodging rates fell 3.3 percent, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s travel price index.
In a pricing forecast released Monday, travel-booking app Hopper said domestic airfare would drop to an average of $286 round-trip this month, down 25 percent from the peak cost in May.
A drop from summer to fall is normal, but this big of a decline isn’t, said Hopper’s lead economist, Hayley Berg.
“Typically, we would see maybe a 10 to 15 percent price drop,” she said. “And it really has more to do with how high prices were this summer and less to do with what’s going on this fall.”
Airfare prices peaked higher than expected in May and June, she said, thanks to spiking jet fuel prices, high demand and limited capacity.
Hopper said Monday that there’s some good news for hotel guests as well: The average cost of a night’s stay has dropped slightly from a high of $199 in mid-June to $185 now. The company expects hotel rates to keep dropping this month before ticking back up in September and October.
Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, said a slowing economy will typically lead travel companies — cruise lines, hotels, airlines, rental car companies — to cut prices if demand drops. But he warned that travelers shouldn’t expect pre-pandemic prices.
“Unless the bottom falls out of the economy, which it doesn’t appear it is going to do right now, I don’t think that we will see travel prices fall to levels below those seen in 2019 or before, at least within the U.S.,” he said.
He said that if the dollar remains strong against the euro, leisure travelers in Europe may pay relatively less than they did in 2019 for hotels, food and entertainment.
Scott Keyes, founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights, recommends traveling in late summer or early fall even for reasons beyond lower prices. The travel chaos of earlier this summer, for example, is likely to be less of an issue with fewer crowds.
“That’s just because there’s far less strain on the system in the fall,” he said.
Keyes said the weather is still generally good in the Northern Hemisphere in September and October (although hurricane season might throw a wrench in plans) and the experience of exploring new places, or revisiting favorites, can be more enjoyable.
“The number of other tourists drops to a fraction because of the academic calendar, so you’re going to have much more breathing room, much less competition when it comes to not just airfares, but hotels, car rentals, activities,” he said.
More travel news
Safety: Future of TSA | Bison attacks | Mask advice | Sandals adding carbon monoxide detectors | Travel after covid recovery | CDC travel advisories | Traveling while trans
Airlines: Modern airplane food | Family seating | Battery fire | Middle seat fans | Phone calls on flights | Airport glow-up | Delta lounges | Private jet travel | Frontier pass | First class seats | RIP, Spirit | Delta’s 'parallel reality’ | WiFi improves | Confronting unruly passengers | Fare sales | It’s physically impossible to open a plane door | Wheelchair damage | Protections for passengers with disabilities
Destinations: Spanish nomad visa | Faster customs | Real-life White Lotus | Misbehavior at national parks | Disney CEO comeback | World heritage sites | Japan’s reopening | Disney adults | Scariest places | New Bali visa | Revised Cuba policy | Disney prices | Passport-free travel | Mexico shooting | Moving to Rome
Airbnb: Is there an ‘Airbnbust?' | CEO is hosting | Fees and chores | ‘Slave cabin’ apology | No more parties | Covid refund policy ends | Accidental break-in | Pet-friendly additions | Cleaning fees
On the road: Tracing the Great Migration | Resort fee crackdown | Hotel room lights | Greyhound road trip | Green hotels | How environmentalists travel | Road trips with pets | Road trips with babies


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A trio of lawsuits filed by Voltage Pictures and other copyright owners against Internet service providers for refusing customers who repeatedly illegally copy their movies have been settled.
Less than a month after the indictment, the manufacturing companies behind Dallas Buyers Club I feel beautiful and Colossal moved to dismiss their cases, according to court documents filed on Friday. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Copyright is the weapon of choice for copyright owners who are increasingly turning to court over the piracy of their films. Serial litigant Voltage Pictures has sued piracy sites, VPN companies and even individual downloaders. In September, the company turned its attention to Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Comcast, accusing them of turning a blind eye to customers who illegally distribute and download movies. It requested a court order to force Internet service providers to adopt policies that provide for the termination of repeat offenders’ accounts and to block certain piracy websites.
The producers claimed that the ISPs knowingly contributed to copyright infringements by their customers.
“Verizon has not terminated customer accounts even when it received information about a large number of repeated breaches of those customer accounts,” the complaint reads. “Verizon Communications Inc. for example, has allowed hundreds of breaches on certain accounts, despite receiving at least as many infringement notices related to those accounts. And Verizon users have reported receiving multiple breach notifications from Verizon without their accounts being terminated.”
The lawsuits alleged a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which criminalizes services designed to circumvent measures that control access to copyrighted works. It provides liability protection for service providers, but there are conditions attached. By law, ISPs must initiate repeat offenders.
Voltage argued that the defendants have no safe harbor because they do not enforce a policy that mandates terminating the accounts of customers who repeatedly receive notices of copyright infringement.
Under AT&T’s policy, the receipt of multiple copyright warnings by a subscriber is just one factor used by the company to determine whether to terminate the services, according to the lawsuit. Comcast says under its policy it will fire up repeat violators, but only counts the number of violations a customer receives in a single month rather than counting the total number of violations. Verizon’s policy makes it too hard for manufacturing companies to notify about copyright infringements, according to the lawsuit, and does nothing about piracy, even if it’s aware.
Judgments in similar lawsuits by rightholders who have gone to court have proven expensive for Internet service providers. In 2019, Cox Communications was hit by a $1 billion judgment won by 53 music publishers who accused the company of taking advantage of repeat offenders. The jury awarded nearly $10,000 in damages for more than 10,000 works infringed in that appealed case.
Lawyers representing the production labels at Dovel & Luner and Culpepper IP, which filed the three lawsuits, declined to comment.
Verizon, AT&T and Comcast did not immediately respond to requests for comment.


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The Awami League party (one of the two major political parties of Bangladesh), along with garment industry employers, have intensified their crackdown on apparel workers following mass walkouts over wages and working conditions in December.
In recent weeks, the international media and giant international retailers, alike, have voiced concerns about the situation in Bangladesh after tens of thousands of workers took to protest in connection with the conditions of their employment, namely the harsh conditions and poverty-level wages. The Bangladesh government and garment factory owners fear the eruption of such protest efforts will negatively impact investor profits.
One of the largest exporters of cheap apparel and accessories, Bangladesh’s garment industry earned $28.1 billion or 82 percent of exports last year. Around 4.5 million individuals – 80 percent of which are women – are employed in over 4,500 sweatshops throughout the country. The industry is highly lucrative for Bangladesh factory owners, as the country – which maintains much lower wages than other industrial centers, such as China, and extremely lax human rights laws – is a hotbed for international big businesses seeking cheap manufacturing. The country’s garment sector is a major source of profit for giant retail corporations in the U.S. and Europe, such as Wal-Mart, H&M, and Marks & Spencer, among others.
Commenting on the garment industry – which came under fire on an international scale particularly in 2013 after the collapse of the Rana Plaza building, which housed a large array of garment factories that served as suppliers to popular Western brands, killing 1,135 laborers – at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stated: “We are highly committed to ensuring compliance with regard to labor rights, workplace safety and environmental standards in the industry.” As noted by various human rights groups, as Hasina made these remarks, her government was stepping up its repression against garment workers.
On December 11, for instance, a group of workers at Windy Apparels factory in Ashulia walked out on strike and were quickly joined by about 150,000 workers from more than two dozen factories. The strike continued for 10 days over 16 specific demands, including a wage increase to 16,000 taka ($US200) a month, up from the current below poverty-level 5,300 taka.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (“BGMEA”) responded to the strike by locking out workers at 55 factories. An estimated 1,600 workers were fired in connection with their protest efforts, although some reports claim the number was much higher, at over 3,500. Around 249 workers, including 14 local union leaders, were arrested. Many workers and union officials went into hiding to escape from house raids by security forces. Union offices have been vandalized and forcibly shut down, with membership documents burned and furniture removed.
Many of those arrested were charged under the Special Powers Act, a law introduced by the Awami League in 1974 to quash so-called “threats to state security.”
One of those arrested, brutally beaten and threatened with death by Bangladeshi police in connection with the larger protest efforts was Nazmul Huda, a well-known native journalist. Huda has been charged with violating section 57 of the Information and Communications Technology Act, which carries a minimum sentence of seven years’ jail.
On January 22, the New York Times published an article entitled, “Protests in Bangladesh Shake a Global Workshop for Apparel,” voicing concerns now being raised in the U.S. and Europe. The newspaper interviewed Jhorna Begum, the wife of Jahangir Alam, a local trade union president in Ashulia, one of those still imprisoned by Bangladesh authorities.
Begum told the Times that police raided their home in search of her husband. After he failed to return home, she hired a lawyer to track him down and discovered that he was being detained in an extremely dark and crowded cell. Begum was only able to speak to him briefly. “We live hand to mouth, waiting for the pay check at the end of the month,” she told the Times.
Following the death of garment union leader Aminul Islam, who was found tortured and murdered in April 2012, many garment workers are cautious about speaking to the media. Islam went missing near the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity office in Ashulia, where he worked as a senior organizer. His body was later dumped near the Ghatail police station.
In addition to coverage by the New York Times, which stated that “the brutal recent crackdown on protesting garment workers is proof that clothing manufactured in Bangladesh is still exacting a terrible price from the people who make it” and that “failure by the garment industry and Ms. Hasina’s government to adhere to its principles stains an industry and threatens the economy and stability of Bangladesh” – Forbes recently reported that a Bangladeshi garment worker earns $0.13 an hour, compared to $7,283 an hour (pre-tax) compensation for one of the 350 top chief executive officers (CEOs) in the United States. “This would roughly equate to the hourly rates of 16,000 employees from Bangladesh combined.”
Still yet, Pennsylvania State University associate professor Mark Anner told the Financial Times last month that production costs and the real value of Bangladesh workers’ wages have been declining in recent years. Since 2013, he said, the dollar price for a pair of cotton trousers has dropped 9.3 percent in real terms. The ongoing expansion of the Bangladesh garment industry was “based largely on its cost competitiveness.”
Still yet, BGMEA vice president Mohammed Nasir told the Financial Times: “The buyers go to each factory and get a detailed quote for the work … then they take the cheapest deal offered for each part of the work and demand that factories meet that overall price … Factories are desperate, so they agree. It means retailers pay around $5 for a piece of denim clothing that would sell in the west for $60.”
Twenty major international apparel retailers, including H&M, C&A, Esprit, GAP, Li & Fung and others, have issued a statement warning Prime Minister Hasina that industrial unrest in Bangladesh may damage the country’s reputation as a reliable sourcing market. They called on the government to form a new wage board for the garment workers. At the same time, the giant retailers said they “do not condone illegal activities by workers, labor groups.”
The call for a new garment industry wage board is an interesting one, consider that the existing wage board’s efforts have proven futile. The board failed to review workers’ pay last year, for instance, in contravention of existing labor laws, and some factories still refuse to grant a pay rise recommended by the wage board in 2013. It would not be entirely surprising if the aforementioned retailers were merely trying to save face, particularly given that their businesses dependent entirely on the cheap goods, such as the ones that they can export from Bangladesh.


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Stock futures were flat in overnight trading on Monday as investors looked to big tech profits for more clues about the health of the US economy.
Futures related to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were trading flat, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures were down 0.05% and 0.09%, respectively.
Amazon shares fell nearly 1% in aftermarket trade due to reports of a hiring freeze, while Discover the financial shed more than 3% On disappointing earnings results.
Stocks benefited from Friday’s gains during Monday’s regular trading session, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 417.06 points, or 1.3%, to close at 31499.62. The Nasdaq Composite finished 0.9% higher, and the S&P 500 added nearly 1.2%, as nine of the 11 sectors ended higher, led by Healthcare.
This week, investors are still focused on the earnings of the largest technology companies, with reports from Alphabet and Microsoft due on Tuesday. Meta Platforms reports on Wednesday, followed by Amazon and Apple on Thursday. Due to its sheer size and market capitalization, any moves are likely to drive the market forward.
So far this season, companies have proven that they may be doing better than expected. This is partly due to the fact that analyst earnings estimates have fallen in recent months as companies have faced foreign currency headwinds and other concerns about growth. This could lead to a stock rally when results may be better than concerns.
“Earnings have already fallen somewhat,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment analyst at CFRA. “Maybe investors are happy that it is up 2% and not down 2% but we are also seeing cuts in our 2023 outlook. Perhaps this bear market will have to play its part even if we get a market rally in the near term.”
Reports from UPS, General Electric, Coca-Cola and General Motors are due before the bell on Tuesday. Chipotle Mexican Grill and Texas Instruments will release a report after Tuesday’s close.
On the economic data front, S&P/Case-Shiller house prices for August, August FHFA house prices and October consumer confidence are due.
“Beer fan. Travel specialist. Amateur alcohol scholar. Bacon trailblazer. Music fanatic.”


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Six medical societies from across the globe are emphasizing the importance of individuals obtaining the daily recommended dose of vitamin D, especially given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on outdoor time.
The statement, “Joint Guidance on Vitamin D in the Era of COVID-19,” is supported by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the Endocrine Society, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, among others.
They felt the need to clarify the recommendations for clinicians. Central to the guidance is the recommendation to directly expose the skin to sunlight for 15-30 minutes per day, while taking care to avoid sunburn.
The statement noted that “vitamin D is very safe when taken at reasonable dosages and is important for musculoskeletal health. Levels are likely to decline as individuals reduce outside activity (sun exposure) during the pandemic.”
It added that “most older and younger adults can safely take 400-1000 IU daily to keep vitamin D levels within the optimal range as recommended by [the US] Institute of Medicine guidelines.”
The statement also noted that the scientific evidence clearly supports the benefits that vitamin D (in combination with calcium intake) plays in building a strong skeleton and preventing bone loss.
Other societies supporting the statement are the European Calcified Tissue Society, the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
What role for vitamin D in COVID-19?
Over recent months, the role of vitamin D in relation to prevention of COVID-19 has been the subject of intense debate. Now, these societies have joined forces and endorsed evidence-based guidance to clarify the issue around obtaining the daily recommended dosage of vitamin D.
During the pandemic, orders to stay at home meant individuals were likely to spend less time outdoors and have less opportunity to draw their vitamin D directly from sunlight, which is its main source, other than a limited number of foods or as a dietary supplement, the societies explained.
However, they acknowledged that the role of vitamin D in COVID-19 remains unclear.
“The current data do not provide any evidence that vitamin D supplementation will help prevent or treat COVID-19 infection; however, our guidance does not preclude further study of the potential effects of vitamin D on COVID-19,” the joint statement said.
Research to date suggests that vitamin D may play a role in enhancing the immune response, and given prior work demonstrating a role for the activated form of vitamin D – 1,25(OH)2D – in immune responses, “further research into vitamin D supplementation in COVID-19 disease is warranted,” it added. “Trials to date have been observational and there have been no randomized, controlled trials from which firm conclusions about causal relationships can be drawn. Observational studies suggest associations between low vitamin D concentrations and higher rates of COVID-19 infection.”
Medscape Medical News previously reported on the existing observational data regarding vitamin D in COVID-19. A recent rapid evidence review by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence failed to find any evidence that vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk or severity of COVID-19.
A version of this article originally appeared on.


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The new iPad — what a stupid name — hasn’t been released yet in mainland China. But, like all iPads before it, it has found its way here via gadget scalpers in Hong Kong and the United States, who smuggle the devices into the country on the assumption that there will be a market for them. Previously, that has been so true that scalpers can sell the devices at obscene markups and still move product. But with the new iPad, things seem to be different.
The first clue came a few days ago, when the average price of gray-market new iPad imports dropped by 500 RMB ($79). Generally speaking, limited supply and extreme demand drives import prices up, not down, especially in the weeks immediately following the official overseas launch. when customers know the official China version of the device is likely still months away.
Then, perhaps in response to this, a large number of ethnically Chinese customers were seen returning bundles of new iPads to the New York Apple store yesterday. According to China Business News, these people were iPad scalpers who had planned to export the new iPads to China, but apparently for the first time ever, the gray imports from Hong Kong alone seem to be enough to meet the demand in China.
Part of the reason is that the supply from Hong Kong seems to have increased, and another reason may be that Chinese customs is rumored to be getting better at stopping US-based smugglers from getting the devices into China. But there is also a clear lack of interest in “the new iPad” when compared with previous Apple releases. When the device was first announced, I wrote a bit about why it might not hold a lot of appeal for China, but even I didn’t expect that that would actually affect sales. (After all, we wrote the same thing about the iPhone 4S, and that seems to be doing fine).
It will be interesting to see how much of this is lowered demand and how much is the increased Hong Kong supply driving prices down and US competitors out. The real China launch of the new iPad — whenever that is — should give us an indication of how excited people are about it. The norm for launches these days appears to be massive lines of scalpers and violence, so if we see anything less than that for the new iPad launch, then we’ll know for sure Apple’s latest shiny brick is a dud in the middle kingdom.
[China Business News via Sina Tech]


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All Notebooks News
Wednesday, 25 Mar 2015
HP announced that it is teaming up with Bang & Olufsen, the 90-year old Danish company known for its high-end audio products, for the audio solutions of its future products.
Tuesday, 24 Mar 2015
ASUS hopes to hold on to their crown as the number one notebook and 2-in1 device maker in Malaysia with the launch of two new devices.
Monday, 23 Mar 2015
MSI has a wide range of gaming notebooks for gamers to choose from, and they have recently added a new series which is equipped with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 960M mobile GPUs.
According to Apple's Boot Camp support document, Apple's newly refreshed MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models don't support running Windows 7 with Boot Camp, and will only work with Windows 8 or newer.
Tuesday, 17 Mar 2015
Many have dubbed USB Type-C as the port of the future, but it comes with some serious security problems since it is based on the open USB standard.
Friday, 13 Mar 2015
With the Razer Blade refreshed with new hardware in February, it was only a matter of time before the Razer Blade Pro gets its due. Find out what's changed in the New Razer Blade Pro within.
Thursday, 12 Mar 2015
Google's new Chromebook Pixel has arrived, and judging from its hardware, it's faster, cheaper and better than its predecessor.
Google has more or less confirmed that the new USB Type-C port will be the new standard for power, data, and display on upcoming Android smartphones.
Building on the success of the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft is reportedly working on its successor to challenge Apple's recently announced 12-inch MacBook.
Tuesday, 10 Mar 2015
It's not an exaggeration to say that the new MacBook is Apple's most beautiful notebook to date.


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There is a positive base effect which needed to be look out for across both in capital goods as well as consumer goods, says Gaurav Kapur, RBS.
"If the global environment, especially the commodity price correction persists, especially on oil, then there is room for upside to these numbers."
Instant food to instant education, don’t diss the new-age Indian parents, who are young professionals with lives that don’t necessarily revolve around their kids. But do brands obsessed with the youth market really see this influential subset?
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has admitted both the petitions, said Amit Kapur, counsel for Reliance Power.
The scenario for merger and acquisitions in the country is looking good even though there are some apprehensions among investors about the impact of new laws coming into force.
Hidesign will cover important areas including expansion into tier II and III cities, like Siliguri and Nagpur along with a store at Bangalore airport.
Amid a raging row on two prime South Delhi properties gifted by IFFCO to its top executives, its Managing Director U S Awasthi and his deputy today said they will return their posh accommodations.
However, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, has cancelled his scheduled key note address at the conference.


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Some think online shopping is more convenient than going to the mall during the holidays.
However, the increase in online shopping does allow for more opportunities for package thieves.
Package and mail theft reports to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office have tripled in recent weeks, according to a post on the office’s Facebook page. Almost 40 percent of package and mail thefts occurred in the Lynnwood area.
The vast majority, 98 percent, of thefts happen between the hours of 8:30-10 a.m. and 1-4 p.m., when packages are often delivered and homeowners are often away at work.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office offers these tips to protect deliveries:
It takes only seconds for a thief to steal from your porch, mailbox or doorstep. Here’s a few tips to protect your deliveries:
- Hide packages. Give delivery services a specific spot to leave your packages (e.g.”behind the big planter” or “tucked behind the grill near the back door”).
- Schedule the delivery. Pick a delivery time when you know someone will be home. Some services even have the option to receive an alert when a package has been delivered.
- Request a signature. When shipping something of high value or just to be sure items aren’t left unattended, request a signature for packages to be released. For example, the USPS offers USPS Signature Services that require a signature at the time of delivery.
- Going out of town? Place a vacation hold. Before leaving town, plan ahead to have packages held. FedEx allows vacation holds on shipments for up to 14 days and the USPS offers Hold for Pickup, where customers can collect packages at their local post office or redirect incoming packages to a different post office through USPS Package Intercept.
- Request a ring. If possible, instruct delivery drivers to always ring your doorbell or knock on your door when leaving packages. FedEx Delivery Manager, for example, allows customers to leave those instructions.


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“One way you can give a gift to yourself while shopping for friends or family is to shop at local and small businesses here in Delaware,” said Governor Markell. “Your money, when spent locally, not only helps to keep Delawareans working – it’s money that can then be used by small business owners to support other small and local businesses – and from it, the benefits to our economy keep growing.”
As much as we’d love to spend the holidays relaxing with friends and family, the first few weeks of December can be some of the busiest of the year. Businesses are sprinting to reach their end of year goals, students are cramming for tests before winter vacation, and many people are still running around trying to […]
In his Thanksgiving Week message, Governor Jack Markell sends a message of thanks to Delawareans, who make this state a great place to grow up, raise a family, go to work and retire.
Turkey, parades, heading out to see the family, the formal kickoff of the holiday shopping season – This week means a lot of things to a lot of people.
Governor Markell thanks servicemen and women who continually and unselfishly display incredible levels of loyalty and patriotism in service to their country.


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By Nadine Walker
The team behind the successful fashion concept ‘Bold Souls have announced an exciting project during London Fashion Week centered around the roaring twenties.
‘Bold Souls’ lady Silvia Pellegrino has revealed her plans for ‘Prohibition Glamour’ taking place in The Rainbow Rooms in Glasgow’s city centre. The event will feature three fashion shows and a unique shopping experience, giving Glasgow an exciting date in the diary during London’s Fashion Week.
Pellegrino, Chouchou Couture designer, spoke about the event on 22nd February which is in aid of Association for International Cancer Research (AICR). She said: “All proceeds and 10% of the sales on the day will be donated to AICR. Ticket prices will also include a complementary Kopparberg.”
‘Prohibition Glamour’ bring together five of Scotland’s best emerging designers Chouchou, Lilly Wiggler Couture, Rene Walrus, Nadine Schloen and Ursula’s Designs.
What makes ‘Prohibition Glamour’ so unique is the opportunity to see the latest creations live on the catwalk and then have be able to purchase one-off pieces directly from the designers straight after the show.
Doors open at 6:30, Shows start at 7, Event finishes by 10pm. Price: £8 / £7 concessions. Venue details- The Rainbow Room International Salon, 24 Royal Exchange Square G1 3AB.
For more information visit http://www.chouchoucouture.com/prohibitionglamour


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A$AP Bari recently unveiled a quick tease of a Tupac Shakur collaboration with his VLONE clothing line. The streetwear imprint is fresh off of its fragment design partnership and it looks like there’s no stopping Bari’s highly sought-after label with this new project. On Instagram, YoungLord shows us an image of what looks to be a garment printed with an image of the iconic rapper, his name in text, and the words “Rebel of the Underground.” The picture comes from photographer Michael Miller‘s Pac portraits.
Other rumored info surrounding the project puts the collab alongside a restaurant pop-up this coming weekend. Stay tuned as we get the full word on the release sometime tomorrow.


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CAPACITY on the major Asia-North Europe trade route is forecast to rise six per cent next year as sixty-nine 10,000-plus TEUers are delivered, unless carriers cancel services or increase blank sailings, according to SeaIntel Maritime Analysis.
Container shipping capacity on the tradelane in 2015 could increase by as much as 9.5 per cent compared to this year, if less capacity than seen over the last year is blanked, reported Lloyd's List.
The largest of the 69 mega vessels slated for delivery between now and the end of 2015 will be supplied to China Shipping Container Lines, which has five 19,000-TEU ships on order.
SeaIntel said in its capacity outlook for 2015 that it expects most of these 10,000+ TEU vessels to be put into operation on the Asia-north Europe trade, replacing smaller vessels that will be transferred elsewhere.
As a result, the analysts anticipate the average weekly capacity to increase 9.5 per cent year on year from 246,000 TEU to 270,000 TEU, if carriers continue to blank capacity in the same manner.
"This hidden capacity growth equals that of 1.2 extra average sized Asia-North Europe services launched from the start of 2015," said SeaIntel chief operating officer Alan Murphy.
SeaIntel added that if demand in this trade increases by one per cent in 2015, 0.9 average-sized service would have to be pulled in order to keep the current supply-demand balance, yet if demand increases by four per cent only 0.4 average sized-service would have to be cancelled.
The increase in capacity, however, will not remain flat throughout the year, as newbuildings will be gradually rolled out throughout the 12-month period, said SeaIntel.
Therefore, it expects capacity in the final quarter of 2015 to grow 7.2 per cent, compared to the fourth quarter of the current year, unless carriers take action to reduce capacity.
If carriers fail to reduce capacity then SeaIntel expects weekly capacity to grow 15.4 per cent year on year in the final quarter of 2015.
"If carriers want to keep the current supply-demand balance, we should expect to see the carriers cancel an average-sized service in Q3 or Q4 in 2015, besides the cancelling of one of the 2M carriers' current services," said Mr Murphy.


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The Food Marketing Institute on behalf of the food retail industry did just that by achieving a landmark U.S. Supreme Court victory (6-3) in its fight to protect retailer and shopper privacy. As FMI’s counsel stated soon after the Court issued its opinion, “This case reversed decades of circuit opinions, which doesn't happen often. FMI is now a part of history."
Frank Yiannis, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deputy commissioner of food policy and response, gave FMI’s and GMA’s joint initiative urging industry-wide adoption of standard date-label language a ringing endorsement in his recent letter to the industry, stating the agency’s strong support of food company’s voluntary efforts.
The Food Marketing Institute presented oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in a case with broad implications for large and small commercial enterprises. We have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the appropriate standard for exempting store-level Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data from public release — including whether the plain meaning of “confidential” should be applied or whether businesses must prove substantial competitive harm in every instance.
© 2019 Food Marketing Institute. All rights reserved.
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October 4 isn’t just the day after Mean Girls Day. It also happens to be National Taco Day.
And of course National Taco Day wouldn’t be complete if the nation’s favorite taco chain didn’t take part.
To celebrate National Taco Day, Taco Bell is offering a $5 National Taco Day Gift Set today, which includes four tacos of your choosing. The tacos included are favorites like Nacho Cheese, Cool Ranch, Fiery Doritos Locos, and of course the classic Crunchy taco.
The prices aren’t the only thing getting into the festive spirit—Taco Bell also has themed wrapping and boxing to highlight the special day.
Taco Bell has pushed the promo on social media too, even creating a special animated ad, the “classic tale” of “Glen and the Magic Taco.” Taco fans can participate in the action as well, with special “TacoGrams” the retailer has created.


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Authentic Brands Group and footwear retailer DSW Inc. on Oct. 10 teamed up to acquire fashion company Camuto Group Inc.
DSW said in a release that the total consideration paid to Camuto Group will be about $375 million. It will pay $200 million for all of Camuto's global production, sourcing and design infrastructure, and a further $56 million to acquire a 40% stake in the intellectual property of Camuto Group's proprietary brands.
Authentic Brands will acquire the remaining 60% of Camuto's intellectual property but did not disclose the size of its investment.
Camuto, known for the Vince Camuto and Lucky Brand labels, sells footwear, accessories, fragrances and apparel in more than 8,000 retail locations.
The acquisition will expand New York-based Authentic Brand's portfolio to more than $8.3 billion in annual retail sales. In a press release, the company said the deal "takes a page from its acquisition playbook for Aéropostale and Nautica, creating a similar structure that secures a dedicated operating partner in footwear."
Separately, Authentic Brands also agreed to purchase the intellectual property of Bernard Chaus Inc., in partnership with Ariel Chaus, the apparel retailer's CEO. Financial details were not disclosed.
Both transactions are subject to customary closing conditions and are expected to close within 30 days.


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Budbo, a suite of cannabis solutions powered by blockchain, provides a secure delivery marketplace for cannabis retailers, with token integration, a cryptocurrency wallet, and a gamified token reward system. Ahead of the upcoming launch of Budbo’s 2.0 mobile application, the […]
Archive – Browse all of StartUp Beat’s past stories/posts.
StartUp Beat has relaunched to take a new and improved look at startups from around the world. We will continue to profile the world’s most innovative early-stage startups through company pitches, interviews and guest columns from entrepreneurial experts. StartUp Beat is now based in Medellín, Colombia, one of Latin America’s burgeoning tech hubs.


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PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chalice Brands Ltd. (CSE: CHAL) (OTCQB: CHALF) (“Chalice” or the “Company”), a premier consumer-driven cannabis company specializing in retail, production, processing, wholesale, and distribution, is pleased to announce it will report its third quarter 2021 financial and operating results on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, after market close.
Chalice Brands management, led by Mr. John Varghese, Executive Chairman, and Mr. Jeff Yapp, President and Chief Executive Officer, will hold a conference call for investors to discuss the results on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. ET followed by a webinar for shareholders providing a corporate update and a summary of the third quarter.
REGISTRATION: Please visit click here to register and stream the conference call.
Once registered, registrants will receive an email for this event inclusive of a calendar invite and details on how to connect. A replay of the webcast will be available online immediately following the call on the Company’s website at investors.chalicebrandsltd.com where it will be archived for one year.
About Chalice Brands Ltd.
Chalice Brands is a premier consumer-driven cannabis company specializing in production, processing, wholesale, distribution and retail, with twelve owned and four managed dispensaries in and around Portland, Oregon. The Company is committed to developing a dynamic portfolio built around the recognized brands of Chalice Farms, with a focus on health and wellness. Chalice operates nationally through Fifth & Root and has operations in Oregon and California.
Visit investors.chalicebrandsltd.com for regular updates.
Chalice Brands Ltd.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


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There are conditions for the central bank to cut its key rate at the upcoming meeting on Friday, inflation is slowing, national top lender Sberbank CEO German Gref said. “On the whole, there are objective reasons for a key rate cut”, he said. “There is a problem that in the third and fourth quarters seasonal…Details
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Kazakhstan specified three prospective markets for agricultural products supplying: the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and Iran, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan Atameken Tulemis Shotanov declared. In particular, JSC NC Food Contract Corporation supplies more than 60% of its general export volumes of grains…Details
According to Kazakh Agrarian Ministry, over the last season Kazakh wheat exports to China were four times as high as in 2014/2015. In 2014/2015 MY 110 KMT was exported and in 2015/2016 the volumes reached 414 KMT. This became possible due to the possibility to transport grain in sacks as well as bulk according to…Details
Analysts of APK-Inform Agency have increased the forecast of corn exports from Ukraine in 2016/2017 MY to 17.7 million tons, up by 6% YoY. Barley supplies to foreign markets will grow to 5 million tons (up by 13.3%). (APK-Inform/Business World Magazine)Details
Kazakhstan plans to export 8.5 million tons of grains in 2016/2017 MY, including flour in grain equivalent, the Deputy Chairman of Board of the National Company Food Contract Corporation JSC Sabit B. Kashkimbayev declared. In terms of the forecast grain harvest in the country, the export volumes will reach 8.5 million tons of grains, including…Details
Global oil demand growth is slowing at a faster pace than initially predicted, and supply will continue to outpace demand at least through the first half of next year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report. “Our forecast in this month’s Report suggests that this supply-demand dynamics may not change significantly in the…Details
Athens has offered Prometheus Gas, a joint venture of Russian gas giant Gazprom and Greece’s Copelouzos, to invest 700-800 million euros in the development of a coal field in the country’s north and expansion of a local power plant. The deposit’s resources are estimated at around 140 million tons of coal. Energy Minister Alexander Novak…Details


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According to the 2021 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, Cape Town remains such a wildly popular destination with international travellers that it was voted the number one city in the Middle East and Africa.
Travel + Leisure is one of the biggest travel magazines in the world with a reach of more than 35 million people worldwide.
“This is the most phenomenal recognition of our city! It’s amazing to see how many international people love Cape Town and all the things it brings, from well-known icons like Table Mountain to the lesser-known gems, such as the dunes of De Hoop,” says Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management.
This is not the first time the home of parliament has made a major splash on the international travel scene. Last year Cape Town was named “Africa’s Leading Festival and Events Destination” in the World Travel Awards and was dubbed the “Greatest City in the World” by Telegraph Travel Readers Award for the seventh consecutive year.
Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism says, “With vaccination numbers climbing and strict safety protocols in place, we are ready to welcome people back. What this award shows is that despite an extremely challenging 18 months, the Mother City remains a huge part of the global travel landscape and one of the most beloved city destinations in the world.”


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The once-mighty Nokia said its second quarter sales and profits would be substantially lower than expected. The company added that, given this unexpected change in its quarterly outlook, it would no longer be suitable to provide an annual target for 2011.
The market reacted badly to this news and drove Nokia's share price down 18 per cent, with one London-based analyst rating the company as a "sell." "No one wants these handsets. This is a real terrible year for these guys," Lee Simpson, an analyst at investment bank Jefferies International, told Bloomberg.
Nokia revealed that net sales of its handsets and services would fall below its earlier forecast of between €6.1 billion and €6.6 billion for the second quarter, adding in a statement, "while visibility is very limited, Nokia's current view is that second quarter 2011 Devices and Services non-IFRS operating margin could be around breakeven."
The root cause of Nokia's heightened problems has been blamed on an upsurge in competition, particularly in China and Europe, and a shift in demand for its less profitable low-end handsets. However, looking to deflect attention away from these immediate problems, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said that the company is still planning to ship its first handset running on Microsoft's Windows Phone platform in the fourth quarter this year. But he conceded that the switch in strategy has been troublesome.
"Strategy transitions are difficult," he said in a statement. "We recognise the need to deliver great mobile products, and therefore we must accelerate the pace of our transition."
WestLB analyst, Thomas Langer, told Reuters: "Given the internal turmoil that will be generated by this news, it is increasingly difficult to see that Nokia can leapfrog one handset generation and be on par with the competition in early 2012. Investors should be more than concerned about the dividend possibility."
Adding further gloom, Dow Jones Newswires reported Swedbank analyst Jari Honko as saying that Nokia's profit warning looked grave and indicated that the competition was taking advantage of the company's current difficulties, and that its attempts to defend market share were failing. With the devices and services division unlikely to make a profit in the second quarter, Honko maintained that the whole group would make a loss, adding that there was the possibility of worse to come given that Nokia's third quarter may only see minor improvement.
Nokia is consigned to becoming a minor player
Nokia's Elop pledges Symbian support until 2016
Nokia survey finds users want Symbian and MeeGo, not WP7
Nokia slashes 4,000 jobs, outsources Symbian to Accenture
Analysts: Nokia struggles, will produce poor Q4 results


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Apparently, big changes are in store for the upcoming Galaxy Note 9. DJ Koh, Samsung’s president, promised that the new smartphone will go through a “bold reinvention”. However, new leaks show that might not quite be the case here.
Due to a bunch of recent leaks, we are starting to doubt whether Samsung is able to implement their big promises into the Galaxy Note 9. This in turn might be a big hit to Samsung’s credibility, especially after the minor improvements to the Galaxy S9/S9 Plus, which did not impress critics all that much.
The biggest argument is probably the leak coming from KGI Securities’ trusted insider, Ming-Chi Kuo.
Back in August 2017, he revealed that Samsung would implement the first fingerprint reader built inside the display in the Galaxy Note 9.
However, recently he went back on this statement and said that the company is currently going back and forth on the topic of performance vs. power usage.
The next hit comes from IceUniverse, another well-known and trusted leaker, who stated the following:
“The optical fingerprint reader of the screen is still under intensive testing.”
Other journalists now believe that the technology will not be ready for any kind of mobile device for the following 6 months from now.
This leaves Samsung exposed. Due to the unchanged battery in the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, we have reason to believe it won’t be any different for the Galaxy Note 9.
Also, the camera innovations Samsung promised for 2018 are already present in S models. Therefore, we have yet to see what Samsung means by “bold reinvention”.
Whichever the case may be, Samsung does not have much time left until the launch. So, besides fixing the camera issues from the Galaxy S9, it does not look like Samsung has a lot of options to ensure success for their next smartphones. We can but wait and see..
What are your thoughts on what will happen with the Galaxy Note 9? Tell us in the comments down below! And as always, stay tuned for more Samsung news and leaks!


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As we noted earlier this week, the spin serve is very likely on its way out as the USA Pickleball board votes Friday on proposed rules changes. Pickleball Cafe has analysis of the other proposed rules changes on the table, and this one on questionable clothing deserves highlighting (pun intended):
“Avoid Wearing Clothing…
…that closely matches the ball color. (Keep your mind out of the gutter!) There are actually two parts to this change. The most impactful change is to rule 2.G.1. which adds the mention of clothing that ‘approximates the color of the ball’ as something that could be a ‘Safety’ or ‘Distraction’ issue, and may require the player to change apparel.”
Specifically, the rules change reportedly spells out that:
“Players [should] avoid wearing clothing that closely matches the ball color;” and2.G.1. Safety and Distraction. A player may be required to change apparel that are inappropriate, including that which approximates the color of the ball.
What’s interesting is that the rules changes still don’t outright ban ball-matching apparel and still leave it up to the discretion of tournament directors.
Our guess is that we amateurs will still be allowed to get matchy-matchy with our Duras and Franklins at fun, local events, but the professional, high-stakes tournaments will put an end to outfits like NBA legend Rick Barry’s traffic-stopping court wardrobe…
Bottom line: Proceed with caution and perhaps save the neon for glow pickleball night.


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Whitney Tilson’s email to investors discussing Gabriel Grego’s presentation and thoughts on Allergan’s stock price; Tesla in China; Lunch with a reader in Albuquerque.
1) Kudos to my friend and former student, Gabriel Grego of Quintessential Capital Management. He crushed it on the short side with his epic takedowns of Folli Follie and Aphria (APHA) at my shorting conferences last May and December, respectively.
ADW Capital’s 2020 letter: Long CDON, the future Amazon of the Nordics
ADW Capital Partners was up 119.2% for 2020, compared to a 13.77% gain for the S&P 500, an 11.17% increase for the Russell 2000, and an 8.62% return for the Russell 2000 Value Index. The fund reports an annualized return of 24.63% since its inception in 2005. Q4 2020 hedge fund letters, conferences and more Read More
He's also done great on the long side, pitching pharma company Allergan plc (NYSE:AGN) at $140 at the Sohn Hong Kong Investment Conference on May 30. Here is a link to his presentation, and here are his comments on the AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) deal announced yesterday:
We are pleased that our long thesis on Allergan, which we presented in Hong Kong three weeks ago, has just been validated by a $63 billion buyout by AbbVie. Congrats to QCM's investors and to the Sohn Conference Foundation, to which we have pledged 10% of our personal profit.
Allergan is a remarkable franchise and we are not surprised that AbbVie snatched it at what we believe was an attractive price, even after a generous 40% premium. Kudos to Allergan's management which, at last, made the right capital allocation decision.
I think that Allergan is worth more than the offer price – I would say at least $200 but probably more than that. The stock traded over $300 not so long ago, so for some shareholders the outcome is bittersweet. That said, I believe that shareholders overall will approve the deal for a few reasons:
1) The premium of 45% is generous;
2) Allergan's stock price has been languishing for a long time;
3) There is some (in our opinion unjustified) uncertainty on the future prospects of the company, especially regarding its Botox franchise; and
4) The deal is supported by AGN's management and shareholders have been supportive of management in far more controversial decisions such as the vote on the motion to separate the roles of CEO and Chairman. I would therefore expect them to be supportive in this decision, which is clearly in line with shareholders' interest.
We notice that Allergan's stock price shows a considerable spread vis-a-vis the bid price and therefore believe this could be a good merger arbitrage opportunity.
I think that AbbVie's shareholders do not understand the value that they just acquired. They believe that the situation is similar to Bristol-Myers Squibb's (BMY's) acquisition of Celgene, where BMY was acquiring a company where most of the free cash flow generation originated from a drug that was losing exclusivity soon. AbbVie investors probably fear that, similarly, sales from Botox may be drying up soon.
Based on the extensive due diligence we did, we believe that this is not true. AGN's cosmetic franchise is here to stay, so the acquisition makes sense for AbbVie's shareholders who will soon understand it as well.
2) My main thought as I read this article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, After Struggling to Deliver in China, Carrefour Packs Its Bags, is how unlikely it is that the Chinese market will be the savior for Tesla (TSLA). Excerpt:
Carrefour, one of Europe's largest grocery retailers, is unloading most of its operations in China, where big-box retailers are struggling to keep up with nimble delivery providers that are winning over shoppers.
The move also marks the latest retreat by a Western company in China in the face of stiff competition from homegrown rivals.
Carrefour is selling an 80% stake in its China business, including more than 200 stores, to Nanjing-based retailer Suning Co. for about $700 million. The French company, once a dominant force in many Chinese cities, saw its sales in the market fall 5.9% to €4.1 billion ($4.67 billion) last year.
Western companies, lured by a once surging Chinese economy, often find the country brutally competitive and fraught with regulatory hurdles. McDonald's Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Uber Technologies Inc. are among those that have pulled back or changed strategy in recent years.
While Tesla is the rare company that isn't being forced to do a joint venture with a local partner, there's little doubt in my mind that even if Tesla is able to compete straight up with the nearly 500 local electric-vehicle companies, it won't matter. Even if the Trump administration forces the Chinese to make some concessions to get the tariffs reduced/lifted, it's still a totally rigged market.
I think the most likely outcome is that the Chinese will simply steal Tesla's technology and never allow the company to ever make a meaningful profit...
3) In response to my June 18 e-mail that I was going to be in Albuquerque for the National Senior Games over the weekend, longtime reader Tim McCord reached out and we had a lovely meal at the classic Central Grill. Here's a picture of us...


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A file photo shows Dov Charney, founder of American Apparel Inc., standing for a portrait in a company retail store in New York, on July 29, 2010.
Facebook said it had on average more than 650 million daily active users on mobile devices in June. Credit Luong Thai Linh/European Pressphoto Agency.
The S&P 500 has closed at a new record high after strong Apple earnings lifted the tech sector on a mixed day for stocks. The S&P 500 added 3.48 points (0.18 per cent) at 1,987.01, breaching a record set three weeks ago by about three points.
NEW HAVEN, Conn., July 23 (Reuters) - A former Jefferies Group Inc managing director convicted of defrauding investors who traded mortgage bonds through a government program established in response to the 2008 financial crisis was sentenced on ...
New Zealand's central bank signaled a pause in the developed world's first round of interest-rate increases this year as the nation's soaring currency curbs inflation.


text: According to a recent study by Strategy Analytics the PS4 is on its way to outpacing the Xbox One by 23 million in lifetime sales through 2018. The Connected Home Devices report suggests that 80 million PS4 consoles will be in use by 2019, compared to 57 million Xbox One consoles. That's a 40% higher install base for Sony. 2019 is near the projected top for both consoles' life cycles, but there will be room for "modest future growth," Strategy Analytics says. Last week, Sony reported that 18.5 million PS4s have been sold since the console launched in November of 2013. The Xbox One has shipped an estimated 12.4 million units during the same time frame, according to the study. At those paces, the PS4 is closer to first-year sales of the PS2, which initially sold 20.1 million. The PS2 remains the best-selling console in history, selling 150 million units in its lifetime. The Nintendo Wii, coming in second place, sold more than 100 million units.


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Businesses in today's technology-driven consumer market need to lean heavily on reliable systems that ensure productivity and customer satisfaction, while also maintaining data security. The segmented EMV mandates of last few years allow compliant companies to better keep customer financial information safe and prevented many instances of fraud and data theft.
However, some businesses, specifically small ones, feel certain credit card-related security measures could be increased further. The majority of credit cards issued in the United States today use chip-and-signature instead of chip-and-PIN verification. Almost 50 percent of small retailers believe cards requiring a PIN over signature would do more to keep their businesses secure, according to a National Retail Federation Survey.
"Chip-and-PIN cards are standard in most international countries."
Signatures do not always equal safety
PINs and signatures on EMV credit cards work as second forms of authentication. According to Credit Card Insider, PINs are considered more secure than signatures because generally, only the cardholder is capable of providing them, rendering the card useless if stolen. Transactions with chip-and-signature cards can easily be fraudulently signed for by a thief with a stolen card.
Banks determine the security measures present on their issued cards. Chip-and-PIN cards are standard in most international countries using EMV. In addition to increased security, banks sometimes issue cards with PIN and signature functionality to make them more compatible overseas.
According to a National Retail Federation report, in 2015 ahead of the first EMV directive, the FBI planned to issue a mandate requiring banks to distribute cards with chip-and-PIN capabilities. However, banks argued the initiative would be too costly and the FBI later reversed their decision. It instead issued a public service announcement about the potential dangers of using signature confirmation over PIN.
The NRF survey also pointed out that, by the end of the year, around 81 percent of America's small brick-and-mortar businesses will have installed chip card readers. But even with the upgrade in technology, they fear the use of signature-based EMV credit cards could still put them and their customers at risk for being victims of fraudulent activities.
Many businesses are adopting other means of data protection. Another NRF survey found 93 percent of retailers will implement point-to-point encryption by the end of 2017.


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EU Launches Inquiry Into Web Companies' online Behaviour
BRUSSELS: The European Commission on Thursday launched an inquiry into the behaviour of online companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon to try to gauge whether there is a need to regulate the web.
The public consultation seeks answers on a broad range of issues, from the contractual restrictions online groups may impose on other businesses, for example, companies seeking to display ads, to how proactive they should be in removing illegal content online.
It is not clear whether the inquiry will lead to any regulation of the Internet in the European Union, but it provides more evidence that mainly U.S. tech companies are coming under increasing scrutiny in Europe for issues ranging from their privacy practices to taxation.
"Platforms are part of a thriving digital economy but questions are also raised about their transparency and use of content," said European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip, who is in charge of digital issues.
France and Germany have been among those pushing strongly for regulation to allow smaller European start-ups to compete with American tech giants. This prompted U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this year to accuse Europe of taking a protectionist stance.
In the 46-page questionnaire the Commission asks both individuals and companies whether they think platforms are transparent enough in the way they collect and use data.
It also asks app developers, businesses or rights holders if platforms include certain clauses such as "parity clauses" in their contracts with them. Parity clauses require the platform to be offered terms at least as good as those of its competitors...


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Universal Reports Revenue Decline Amid Q3 Headwinds
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The Warren, Mich.-based asset-light transportation and logistics company posted net income of $23 million, or 88 cents a diluted share, for the three months ending Sept. 30. That compared with $48.5 million, or $1.84, during the same time the previous year. Total operating revenue decreased by 16.7% to $421.3 million from $505.7 million.
“Although our individual operating segments experienced varied results, Universal as a whole delivered a solid financial performance for the third quarter of 2023,” Universal CEO Tim Phillips said. “In this extremely challenging freight environment, depressed volumes and low rates continue to exert downward pressure on the results of our intermodal and company-managed brokerage segments.”
Phillips added that the trucking segment experienced similar macro-level factors. But he also noted that a strong performance in the wind-energy business enhanced the overall financial results in the segment.
“The highlight of Universal’s third quarter was the recurring, strong performance in our contract logistics segment,” Phillips said. “Although we are acutely aware of the risks posed by ongoing union labor disruptions, our contract logistics solutions continue to be in high demand by our OEM customers in automotive and other industries. We believe that Universal’s diversified service offerings continue to differentiate us in the market.”
The results were mixed in terms of Wall Street expectations. Analysts had been looking for $1 per share and quarterly revenue of $416.6 million, according to Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Trucking segment operating revenue decreased 2.5% to $97.1 million from $99.6 million during the same time last year. The average operating revenue per load increased 13.3%, while load volumes declined 13.1%. The segment revenue also included $28.8 million of brokerage services, compared with $43.1 million during the 2022 period. Operating income increased 36.9% to $6.56 million from $4.79 million.
Contract logistics revenue decreased 0.7% to $208.1 million from $209.5 million during the year-ago quarter. The company managed 73 value-added programs compared with 63 last year. The revenue also included $9.1 million in separately identified fuel surcharges from dedicated transportation services, compared with $11.3 million during the same period in 2022. Income from operations decreased 0.8% to $35.1 million from $35.4 million.
Intermodal revenue dropped 43.9% to $86.6 million from $154.4 million. The average operating revenue per load decreased 24.7%, and load volumes fell an additional 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. Intermodal segment revenue also included other accessorial charges such as detention, demurrage and storage. Income from operations fell to a loss of $4.32 million from a gain of $28.1 million during the same time last year.
The company-managed brokerage segment reported revenue decreased 30.8% to $28.1 million from $40.6 million. The average operating revenue per load decreased 11.1%, while load volumes decreased 12.3%. Income from operations fell to a loss of $1.07 million from a gain of $1.08 million.
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