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What to Know
- Businesses may require consumers to sign a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement before offering a refund or compensation
- Consumers have the right to ask for additional compensation in exchange for their silence
- Consumers may want to consult a legal expert before signing a confidentiality agreement
NBC Bay Area responds to consumer complaints and holds companies accountable. But some businesses are firing back, and silencing the consumers we assist.
- Faulty solar panels costing $25,000
- A shady used car deal worth $15,000
- Bad hearing aids to the tune of $9,000
But you won't be reading about any of those consumers. They had to sign a confidentiality agreement, sometimes called a non-disclosure agreement or NDA, to get their refunds.
That meant no TV interview, no posts on social media -- not even a word to their friends and neighbors.
Attorney Scott Kaufman sues automakers. Like us, he's seen companies hushing more consumers. "It's horrible," Kaufman said. "What they're saying is 'Look, we've been cheating people and hurting people, but we don't want anyone to know.'"
Kaufman says agreeing to keep quiet forever puts the crosshairs on the consumer who agrees to the NDA.
"If you ever say anything to anybody," it could lead to legal trouble, Kaufman said. "What if you never did, and they say that you did? They can still sue you. You've got to hire a lawyer. It'll cost a fortune."
If you're ever faced with non-disclosure, what can you do about it? Santa Clara University law professor Anna Han says consumers may be able to negotiate. Confidentiality is sometimes just one part of a written settlement.
"If you think about it, all this is to the benefit of the company," Han said. "The consumer can say, 'I won't agree to this provision.' You can cross it out. You can initial it, have the other party initial it -- it's no longer in the contract."
It's possible a business might still insist on confidentiality. University of San Francisco law professor Robert Talbot says this is where consumers can determine how much their silence is worth.
"Depends on the money," Talbot said. "Depends on how mad I am."
Kaufman agrees. He says consumers should tell the company to pay them above and beyond the refund -- in exchange for their silence.
"Ask for maybe $10,000 to sign [an NDA]", he said.
In addition to cash, Kaufman says consumers should weigh whether they're also signing away their right to file a complaint with the government. New consumer protection laws arise from consumers' reports to regulators. Han says consumers could be signing away their chance to warn others about a defective product or a deceptive service.
"If it turns into something more than your particular case, like a massive class-action or a real product liability situation, you're silenced," Han said. "The manufacturer gets away with things that perhaps they shouldn't."
Attorneys we spoke with offered differing opinions, but they all agree on this: Get expert advice. If you're asked to keep something confidential, you probably want to have a lawyer look at it to make sure your silence is in your best interest.


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Pushes Steam's running total to 80 Linux titles
Following last month's beta release of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero for Steam on Linux, the game has officially launched -- for real. Not the most thrilling news of the day, I'll agree to that, however the brief announcement also mentions that there's plenty more where Condition Zero came from: "More Valve titles are heading to Linux in the coming weeks and months."
Slowly but surely, a tipping point will be reached where enough worthwhile games are available for Linux via Steam that switching over -- whether it be for Valve's living-room PCs or any other reason -- won't seem like a big deal. That is the hope, anyway.

domain: news


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Crestwood aldermen were scheduled this week to consider whether to continue a relationship with a developer that has sued the city.
The Board of Aldermen was set to consider Tuesday night — after the Call went to press — amending a contract with the Novus Development Co. to develop a medical office/retail building at Big Bend Crossing.
Jonathan Browne, president of Novus and the Big Bend Crossing Redevelopment Corp., filed suit against the city in 2002 after the Board of Aldermen rejected Browne’s request to approve a credit union business for another lot at Big Bend Crossing. Attorneys for Novus challenged that decision in the lawsuit.
Aldermen rejected the construction of a First Community Credit Union in 2002 largely because a credit union would not generate as much sales-tax revenue as other retail stores would. The board pointed out at that time that another sales-tax producing business would generate $390,000 across a 10-year period while the credit union would collect $9,000 over that time.
Mayor Roy Robinson said that even with the lawsuit still pending, he and other city officials believe that it would be best for all parties if any planned development at Big Bend Crossing still continues before the suit is settled.
“We’re trying to work something out,” Robinson said Monday. “I can’t go into details. We’re trying to work out details with and cooperate with Mr. Browne to see what mutually we can agree to that’s beneficial to go on that property. But we didn’t want to hold up the one that he’s got a contract on. They’re ready to go. We didn’t want to hold that up with this agreement. So that’s what the board will be voting on — to change that agreement to allow that to start the process.”
Specifically, aldermen were scheduled Tuesday night to vote on changing the use of Lot 1 at Big Bend Crossing to allow for the medical office, which is expected to be occupied by a urology physicians group and some retail. That lot currently is designated for retail stores, restaurants or a hotel, and aldermen were set to vote on whether to also allow medical use.
“We were looking at hotels or restaurants,” Robinson said. “But what we were looking for is a certain amount of retail over there and we’ve gotten that in that building. And plus, we’re getting the additional medical office complex there, too, and I think some underground parking and everything.”
In a memo from Economic Development Specialist Ellen Dailey to City Administrator Frank Myers, the mixed-use medical office and retail lot consists of 42,000 square feet of medical office and 14,120 square feet of ground-floor retail. The lot, which would be constructed by Hensley Construction if approved by aldermen Tuesday night, also will include three levels of underground parking for the urology center and retail stores.
Dailey also estimates that based on the property’s expected increase in assessed value once the project is complete, the medical office/retail center on Lot 1 is estimated to generate $23,000 per year in new property-tax revenue and $40,000 per year in sales-tax revenue.
Big Bend Crossing has already seen the development of Sam’s Wholesale Club on Lot 4 and Hardee’s Restaurant on Lot 2.
Robinson said that any plans for Lot 3 likely would have to wait until the city settles the lawsuit with Novus. The credit union was proposed to be built on that lot.
“The lawsuit has not been dissolved,” Robinson said. “It’s still there, but we’re trying to work with Novus to work out a solution agreeable to both sides.
“It’s tough sometimes because past actions create a problem for some. But we’re trying to work with them to try to get the best use of that property — especially with people who are interested in developing over there. It’s an ongoing process. Hopefully, we’ll know what happens with Lot 3 soon.”
Big Bend Crossing is a $20 million project spread across 17 acres southwest of Big Bend Boulevard and Interstate 44.
In Novus’ lawsuit against the city, the developer seeks a declaratory judgment that the section of its contract with Crestwood that is in regard to permitted uses within its area is “void and unenforceable.”
The lawsuit states that Novus is asking the court “for an order declaring Section 2 of the development contract as void and unenforceable as an unlawful act of contract zoning and does not prohibit the use of property as a retail store offering financial services to the general public as set forth in the CUP (conditional-use permit) application.”
Novus’ suit contends that a CUP for a credit union would be “within the general use description of ‘retail stores’ under Section 2 of the development contract.”
Novus had asked aldermen in September 2002 to allow First Community Credit Union to construct a retail banking facility on Lot 3. The developer proposed that the credit union would have a 20-year lease with the right to exercise four, five-year extensions.
Because of concerns about the drop in sales-tax revenue that the city would see at that location if a credit union were approved, aldermen denied that request and said the redevelopment agreement allowed for retail stores — not credit unions — at that location.
Robinson, who previously said at an October 2005 town-hall meeting that the lawsuit with Novus essentially was settled and being finalized, indicated Monday that no settlement has been reached and that the city is still working with Novus to come to an agreement.
“It has not been settled,” Robinson said. “We’re working towards that direction to try to have some kind of an agreement or understanding with Mr. Browne. We’ve been working diligently to try to settle that and get those properties under development.”
Browne was not available for comment before press time.
Besides considering the further development of Big Bend Crossing, aldermen also were scheduled Tuesday night to vote on approving residential rezoning for the relocation of the Arban/Crain House.
The house, which is at Sappington Square, is in danger of demolition at its current site. As proposed, it would be moved in October to 8659 Pardee Lane.
That lot currently is zoned M-1 light industrial and is proposed to be switched to R-4 residential zoning.
Resident Tom Batsch is working with Sappington Square Corp. to contribute funds associated with the cost of moving the house to its new location. The house is planned to be used as a museum or for community purposes.


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And as of next week, Crooked Handle also will be expanding its brewing capacity by adding equipment to allow the brewery to sell kegs to more bars and restaurants in the area, Moore said. Crooked Handle already has sold kegged beers to Dorothy Lane Market stores and Sycamore Country Club, among others.
The wine license, obtained from the Ohio division of Liquor Control today, also will allow Crooked Handle to sell gluten-free ciders, Moore said.
The brewery seats 50 and is located at 760 N. Main St. (Ohio 741) in the Marketplace at Settler's Walk retail center in Springboro. For more information, check out the Crooked Handle Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crookedhandle.
>>> Region’s newest brewery already eyeing expansion
>>> New Brewery coming to Springboro
>>> New Brewery breaks ground in Springboro


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Last Updated: 1:23 AM, February 28, 2013
Posted: 1:23 AM, February 28, 2013
Gov. Cuomo has no plans to let the city’s soon-to-be-enacted ban on super-sized sugary drinks spill over across the state.
Cuomo yesterday said he won’t be following Mayor Bloomberg’s lead in banning the sale of sugary drinks over 16 ounces in restaurants and other establishments regulated by the Health Department.
“It is not something we are considering at this time,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo was responding to Bloomberg’s suggestion that the state ban sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces in stores that it regulates.
The city’s ban takes effect on March 12.
“Keep in mind we’re trying to save the lives of these kids, particularly kids . . . The state should do exactly the same thing in stores,” Bloomberg said a couple of weeks ago.
Large-sized drinks can still be sold within the city in grocery stores and supermarkets that are regulated separately by the state, not the city.


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DAVIDO WILL BE LAUNCHING HIS CLOTHING LINE THIS YEAR…
After waiting for the announcement of the launch of his clothing line, the Nigerian music act has finally come through with the announcement.
He has announced his clothing line will launch in the summer 2016.
This is another means of staying relevant in the industry as he will continuously supply the globe with his designs.
Davido said “OBO BRAND CLOTHING ….. COMING SUMMER 2016 …”
Here are samples of what to expect…
Glitter… mAdE t.V!


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Tui Travel, Europe’s largest travel operator, said holiday booking continued to be robust as customers were not prepared to forgo their summer holiday despite the credit crunch.
Chief executive Peter Long said the group’s “power brands” – Thomson in the UK and Tui in Germany – were holding up well in the economic climate.
“It seems that our customers are not prepared to forgo their main summer holiday and we don’t believe they are prepared to forgo their second winter holiday either, no matter how hard the credit crunch hits,” he said.
The unpredictability of English summer weather was also driving people overseas, while cheaper destinations outside of the Eurozone were proving more popular.
Tui Travel reported a 39 per cent rise in third-quarter underlying operating profit to £65.4m, while group pre-tax profits before exceptional items increased six-fold to £171m
The number of summer holidays available had been reduced as the company stripped out unprofitable destinations as part of the merger between Thomas and First Choice, Long said.
However, it expects sale prices to rise by 6 per cent in the UK and between 2-4 per cent in other markets. The group said it was also on track to make £150m in cost savings and had hedged some of its fuel and foreign exchange to protect against risk.
Numis Securities analyst Wyn Ellis said the statement “paints a very encouraging picture” and reiterated the stock as a buy with a target price of 303p.
Tui shares fell 5 per cent to 222.75p.
Analysts: Can TUI continue to withstand the downturn?
Mark Reed (Landbanski): “Yes: TUI have not seen a slowdown in 2008 and have performed strongly. I am confident that 2009 will be another good year for them because they have acted responsibly now by cutting charter capacity and raising prices. They are sure to increase their hold on the market with the command they have over hotels.”
Darren Greenfield (Collins Stewart): “Possible: In order for TUI to maintain the same profit margin they will need to increase prices by 6 per cent and reduce costs, particularly on jet fuel. For this they intend to reduce aircraft capacity by 15 per cent. However, this will prove tough to implement; the aircraft leases are both difficult and expensive to terminate.”
Cameron Cartmell (Ernst & Young): “Most people would have booked their holidays before food and energy price rises started to hit them in the last three to four months, so there is a bit of a lag which will show up among travel companies results in the next half. In the next year travel companies will need to manage costs and revenues.”


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Scarlet Nexus was presented at The Game Awards 2020 and will arrive in Summer 2021 for Xbox Series X|S. According to their website, it will also be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One. Scarlet Nexus, developed by BANDAI NAMCO Studios, is an action RPG that is set in the futuristic city of New Himuka and players will navigate this stunning game as Yuito Sumeragi. The game is available now for pre-order.
『Brain Link Cable Connected』 #TheGameAwards
Connect your minds to unleash your power and save our world from destruction. SCARLET NEXUS will arrive in Summer 2021 for Xbox Series X|S
— Scarlet Nexus (@scarlet_nexus) December 11, 2020
The first announcement trailer was announced on May 7, 2020 so this has been a long anticipated game for the community. The brand new trailer shown at The Game Awards 2020.
With a timeframe set of Summer 2021, BANDAI MANCO Studios will release updates throughout the next year.


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As cold and flu season picks up, consumers may soon find that their go-to medications are nowhere to be found.
A Novartis manufacturing plant’responsible for cold and flu medication names like Neocitran, Buckley’s Cough Syrup, Triaminic, Excedrin and Otrivin’remains closed for "maintenance and improvements," which has led to a supply shortage in both Canada and the U.S.
Several products were voluntarily recalled last January "because the products may potentially have contained stray tablets or broken or chipped tablets," the company said in a statement. The Nebraska plant, which also supplies Canada, was closed at the same time, reports CTV News.
The recalls and closures for maintenance were the result of last year’s FDA inspections which found quality-control problems at the plant’s Nebraska location.
In the event of a drug shortage, how will you stay well during cold and flu season?


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The Yorkshire Trading store on the High Street in Northallerton is still open on a daily basis. It stocks essential items and is observing current social distancing measures for the safety of its customers and staff.
Due to the greatly inflated demand caused by the Corvid-19 pandemic they have decided to take the temporary action of closing down our online store. The warehouse team is working hard to clear our backlog of open orders. They aim to be open again shortly.


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Microsoft with record results
Microsoft achieved revenues of 7.74 billion US dollars (8.7 billion €) in the second quarter of its fiscal year, an increase of 18 percent from 6.55 billion US dollars compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
The gross profit is 2.84 billion US dollars (3.19 billion €), after deduction $ 2.28 billion remains with the private plaintiffs' class action reserve of $ 660 million. This results in a profit of 0.41 US dollars (0.46 €) per share.
Microsoft justifies the high numbers with the introduction of Windows XP, the Xbox and MSN7, Windows XP alone has been around since the Introduction sold 17 million times. The Xbox has been sold 1.5 million times and the number of MSN subscribers rose to 8 million users.
For the next quarter, sales will be between 7.3 and 7.4 billion US dollars predicts earnings to level off between $ 2.8 billion and $ 2.9 billion, equivalent to earnings per share of $ 0.50 or $ 0.51. The press release can be read here at Microsoft.


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YORK recorded the largest increase in rents of any retail location outside of London as figures across Yorkshire rose for the first time in 10 years, according to a new report.
The city of York saw rents rise by 19 per cent year on year, bolstering Yorkshire and Humber’s average rental growth by 1.9 per cent and resulting in real rental growth for the region for the first time since 2006 of 0.6 per cent.
Colliers International’s annual Midsummer Retail Report 2016, which is launched in Leeds today, found that of the 21 centres analysed across the region, five recorded increasing rents, three saw a decline and 13 remained stable.
The region’s largest cities of Leeds and Sheffield both recorded increases in so-called ‘Zone A’ rents with four per cent and six per cent, respectively.
Colliers retail director Tom Cullen said: “Although only a nominal increase of 0.6 per cent, it is encouraging to see real rental growth for retail locations in the Yorkshire & Humber region for the first time since 2006.
“Leeds and Sheffield continue to perform well as retail destinations and this is attracting additional investment in the form of a host of new development in the pipeline for both cities over the next 12 months.
“York’s significant rental growth is due to the fact that the city has a very tight historical centre with a strong affluent pool of young professionals, student population and thriving tourist scene, which all contribute to driving a strong demand for retail and lack of supply.”
Other retail centres which saw impressive growth since 2015 were Whitby and Scarborough, which reported rental increases of 13 per cent and seven per cent, respectively, albeit from relatively low bases.
At the other end of the scale, Colliers’ report, which analyses vacancy rates in 15 centres nationally, found that Rotherham had the lowest rental values in the region. Over a quarter of its shops are vacant, up from 13.3 per cent in April 2015.
Mr Cullen added: “This increase is almost exclusively led by increasing numbers of vacant units on secondary pitches, where 28.3 per cent of units are now vacant in secondary parts of Rotherham centre.
“Vacancies are generally seen in the smaller unit sizes, of less than 1,300 sq ft on average, indicating that some consolidation of smaller units is necessary to bring accommodation in line with modern consumer expectations.”
Beverley and Keighley also saw a decline.
Meanwhile, there is over 1.2 million sq ft of shopping centre space planned for Leeds and Sheffield over the next five years including Victoria Gate in Leeds, the second phase at The Moor in Sheffield, a small extension planned for the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds and additional space at Monks Cross Shopping Park in York, through the creation of mezzanines and reconfiguration of units.
There is also a further 600,000 sq ft of retail warehousing planned for Leeds and Sheffield over the next three years, including new schemes at Thorpe Park and Armley Retail Park in Leeds, as well as the new Ikea Sheffield.


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Sticking with the Nokia Surge
Alvin is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
Nokia’s (NYSE: NOK) stock price has risen significantly since Jan. 10, when the company reported sales of its Lumia smartphones. Check out the following chart.
Back on Nov. 12, I wrote a post titled “Buying Nokia? Now Looks Like a Good Time.” The post’s main thesis was that the holiday quarter presented a great opportunity for Nokia to make a lot of progress on its turnaround. The main reasons given were that Nokia had made positive strides in its other business segments, it had recently launched its new flagship smartphone, the Lumia 920 (which has really good hardware and received good reviews), the smartphone market has a lot of room to grow, and it was the holiday quarter. These reasons along with the decline in stock price after the 2012 elections provided a good opportunity for investors bullish on Nokia to buy shares.
When making a risky investment on a turnaround, investors should always set business goals that they want the company to meet during a set period of time. If the company fails to meet the goals, then investors should sell out of the investment. This strategy helps keep investors disciplined. In the case of Nokia, the company is mainly battling against Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and companies using Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android. Nokia is betting its future on Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and the Windows Phone OS. Since the holiday quarter presented the best opportunity for significant progress in Nokia’s turnaround, no sequential improvement in financial results meant that investors should sell their shares.
Nokia’s preliminary numbers are good. The company reported sales of 4.4 million Lumia smartphones. In comparison, in Q2 and Q3, Nokia shipped 4 million and 2.9 million Lumia smartphones, respectively. Also, the new Lumia smartphones were released in the beginning of November and as a result were only available for two months in the quarter. In addition, sales of Lumia smartphones were coming off a lull in Q2. Thus, it is likely that the sales number does not fully represent the demand for the new generation of Lumia phones.
Most importantly, Nokia reached somewhere between break even and a positive 2% non-IFRS operating margin for its Devices & Services business segment for the fourth quarter. In comparison, in Q2 and Q3, this number was a negative 9.1% and 7.4%, respectively. Out of all its business segments, Devices & Services provides most of the company’s net sales. Devices & Services includes sales of smartphones and feature phones. Additionally, the Nokia Siemens Networks delivered record underlying profits. In Q3, the Nokia Siemens Networks generated 48% of Nokia’s net sales.
Keeping It Simple
While Nokia has climbed a lot recently, the company is still far from its potential. Back in 2007, Nokia earned $10.5 billion, which at a modest PE of 10 would put Nokia’s stock price at around $28 per share. Since the stock price is still way below its potential and the company is making progress, investors looking to hit the home run should hang on.
Looking forward, Nokia has a lot of work cut out for it. Apple and Android are not easy opponents. In Q3 2012, Android and iOS controlled 75% and 14.9% of global smartphone shipments, respectively. Windows only had a 2% market share. Additionally, Research In Motion (NASDAQ: BBRY) is looking to make a comeback with BB10, which is scheduled to launch on Jan. 30. The company reported that it still has 79 million users. Additionally, RIM held a developer competition over the weekend during which developers added 15,000 BB10 apps in a span of two days.
For Q1, Nokia gave a preliminary outlook of non-IFRS Devices & Services operating margin of negative 2%, plus or minus 4%. Nokia Siemens Networks is expected to generate a non-IFRS operating margin of around 3%, plus or minus 4%. However, Q1 is seasonally a slow quarter and the projected numbers are better than the results from Q1 2012. The projected Location & Commerce margin is lower, but this business segment is relatively small.
Overall, Nokia looks like it is heading in the right direction. Additionally, there are no obvious dangers from competitors that threaten to derail the current progress Nokia is making. The smartphone market is still growing so there is plenty of room for everyone. It should be emphasized that Nokia remains a high-risk, high-reward stock.
iamgreatness owns shares of Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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On Wednesday, June 20, the city’s most hectic thoroughfare turns into a giant yoga studio. That’s when an estimated 9,000 downward-dogging yogis will show up for the annual day-long Solstice event.
During four all-levels classes, you can focus your gaze at gleaming skyscrapers while throngs of tourists gaze back at you (and, for at least an hour, refrain from bumping into you). Sound intense? Think about the sound of Oms echoing down Theater Row, and drowning out all the honking taxis for a few precious minutes.
“It’s the ultimate test of serenity and quietude and seeking peace in the most excited place on the planet, says Douglass Stewart, a New York City yoga teacher who helped pioneer the event in 2003.
Now, practicing en masse in urban spaces like this one is on the fitness bucket list of many New Yorkers.
There’s still room to sign up, says an Athleta spokesperson. The fitness fashion brand, with two New York City stores, is sponsoring the event and supplying yogis with freebies: The first 1,500 people attending each class get an Athleta yoga mat, and there will be giveaways like branded headbands at the Athleta tent.
Classes are free, however, you must register in advance (and pick only one):
7:30 – 8:45 a.m. Drisana Carey, California-based yoga instructor, Athleta ambassador, and sports model
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Bikram with Rajashree Choudhury, instructor and wife of Bikram Choudhury
3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Douglass Stewart, senior teacher at Ishta and YogaWorks
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Dana Flynn, founder of Laughing Lotus
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According to a GizmoChina report, the Samsung Galaxy A02 and Samsung Galaxy M02 smartphones are listed on the Bluetooth SIG website. Several models of these two phones have been reportedly seen on this website. According to the report, the Samsung Galaxy A02 smartphone is listed on the website with 5 model numbers, while the Galaxy M02 smartphone with three model numbers has appeared on the Bluetooth SIG site. Talking about the model numbers of Galaxy A02, it is listed with SM-A022F, SM-A022M, SM-A022F_DS, SM-A022M_DS and SM-A022G_DS. While the model numbers of Galaxy M02 phones are listed with SM-M022M_DS, SM-M022F_DS and SM-M022G_DS.
It can be speculated that these may be model numbers of different markets. All three variants of the Galaxy M02 will reportedly come with dual SIM support, while the two variants of the Galaxy A02 will come knocked down with a single-SIM slot.
As we said, this phone has also been listed on many other websites. In the Geekbench listing that has been revealed before, some specifications of the Galaxy M02 have been revealed, it was said that the phone will have 3 GB RAM or it can be one of the many variants of the phone. Apart from this, the base frequency of the processor will be 1.80 GHz and it will be an octa-core Qualcomm processor. The phone has scored 128 in single-core test and 486 in multi-core test. It will run on Android 10. Looking at its specifications, it appears to be an entry-level model. Apart from this, talking about the Geekbench listing of Samsung Galaxy A02, the single core score of this phone is 746 and the multi-core score is 3,810. Apart from this, in the listing, this phone was listed with 2 GB RAM and Octa-core Qualcomm processor. It is believed that it may be Snapdragon 450 processor. Apart from this, this phone can work on Android 10 based One UI Top.
For the latest tech news, smartphone reviews and exclusive offers on popular mobiles, download the Gadgets 360 Android app and follow us on Google News.


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ACME announced the release of single WONDERFUL WORLD out on October 30 and with that, revealed new artist photos showing off their costumes made in collaboration with fashion brand maxsix.
Now the band has taken this collaboration further as they will release a T-Shirt combining these designs together that can be seen in their artist photos!
The T-Shirt is made-to-order, comes in small, medium, and large, and costs ¥12,000. This will be available to pre-order from now till September 30 with delivery commencing in early October. See the design and CHISA modeling it below!
Twitter (SHOGO) (将吾)
Instagram (SHOGO) (将吾)


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Already, substantial price hikes and importer headaches have begun to plague those in the industry.
The wine business is facing a number of issues that could be significantly impacted by Trump administration priorities, including climate change, reduction in scientific research
Rhode Island Senate Puts a Hold on Home Wine Delivery
Proposed Bill for Texas Wine Stirs Up Controversy
Legislation for the Promotion of Mexico’s Wine Industry
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Hurts CA Grape Farmers


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(Filed Under wholesale Sleepwear News). The U.S. Product Safety Commission has announced the voluntary recall of approximately 9,200 Roberta Roller Rabbit children’s kimono robes, lounge sets and slumber short sets due to flammability risk. According to the Product Safety Commission, the recalled sleepwear fails the meet the federal children’s flammability standard, posing a burn hazard to children. At this time, no consumers have reported injuries from the styles.
The recall involves garments sold in children’s sizes 0 (12 months) to 10 at Roberta Roller Rabbit retail stores in New York City, East Hampton, NY and Santa Monica, Calif. from January 2005 through February 2010 for $50. They were manufactured in India. The Product Safety Commission has advised customers to stop using the recalled robes and lounge sets and return them to Roberta Roller Rabbit locations for store credit.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in comments published on bodymagazine.us are those of the comment writers alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of Bodymagazine or its staff.
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The system is expected to be related to the current Accord Hybrid's powertrain, which pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
Honda is reportedly making progress developing a new hybrid powertrain that will make its production debut in the US market.
A test mule spotted by Autocar is presumed to contain the new system, which is said to be related to the Accord Hybrid's powertrain. The latter model combines electric power with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine, delivering 212 horsepower and achieving a 48-mpg combined rating.
The latest report suggests the new hybrid setup will be used for a new dedicated model geared for the US market. Unlike the Acura Sport Hybrid systems, the Honda offering is expected to focus on miles per gallon instead of combined power output.
Honda has had a checkered past with hybrids, retiring the Insight in 2014, but CEO Takahiro Hachigo has stated that electric vehicles will be critical moving forward and half of the company's all-new models arriving in the US in the next two years will be electrified.
The new hybrid model could be revealed sometime next year.


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Industrial engineers have proposed a new system to warn of an impending pandemic by monitoring signals in human behavior, resulting in using a simple icon on a television screen to warn of future phases of an outbreak.
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Duffield, Va. – Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) has partnered with Food Country USA in a pilot project to provide fresh, local beef to consumers in the region. In early 2022, ASD’s Appalachian Harvest Food Hub staff worked closely with Brandon Jones, owner of Jones Cattle, Lee County, Virginia to pilot an expansion of the food hub’s offering of beef into current markets. With a goal to reduce the carbon footprint of cattle hauling in the production phase of meat processing, ASD worked with Jones to coordinate getting cattle to Double L Meat Processing, a local meat processing facility located in Lee County, Virginia. Double L Meat Processing became a USDA certified and inspected facility in April, 2022.
Currently, Food Country USA in Duffield, Virginia is carrying Appalachian Harvest Beef in their fresh meat department for purchase. In partnership with ASD, the Food Country USA meat department staff has shared their expertise with ASD to ensure that the pilot has a strong foundation for success as the program scales up. In the coming months, ASD will work with Food Country USA to provide local beef to additional store locations in the region.
Mark Brown, Director of Store Operations at Food Country USA comments, “Our fantastic partnership with Appalachian Harvest with close to home, fresh beef is another step in keeping high quality meats and produce readily available to our customers.”
Consumers can be reassured that any beef with the Appalachian Harvest brand has been USDA certified and is of the highest quality and consistency. When consumers purchase beef through this pilot, they will also be supporting local farmers.
This new brand line within ASD’s Appalachian Harvest Food Hub, sets a natural path for the large number of livestock farmers that ASD aims to bring to larger scale markets over the next few years. ASD is blazing the trail for local beef that will create opportunities for its Groundwork and Ag Education programs with access to new business segments that the organization has not been able to reach before.
About Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD)Living Better. Locally. Its what drives ASD’s commitment to propel its mission to build a thriving regional food and agriculture system that creates healthy communities, respects the planet, and cultivates profitable opportunities for Appalachians. Since 1995, ASD has been working in Central Appalachia, providing hope, and making a difference for the people who call the region home. What began as opportunities for struggling tobacco farmers to grow fruits and vegetables have become lasting solutions to regional challenges that impact economic development, workforce development, food access, health, and wellness. Over the years, ASD has expanded its reach from northeast TN and southwest VA to include partners in WV, OH and KY, enabling the organization to bring resources back to the region. For more information, visit https://asdevelop.org.


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With fintechs, big-techs and startups already eating into traditional financial institutions’ market share, banking and insurance company chief executives need to identify their organisations’ strengths and build on them – or they will quickly flounder and die.
According to Gartner’s CIO Agenda 2018, digital transformation is now more important to the traditional financial services sector than any other industry. We are all aware that banking’s elevated historical status won’t last long. Rising costs and continuous threats from competitors will adversely affect the profitability of financial organisations if they don’t re-think their business strategies.
Financial institutions must adopt flexible platforms for new business models and partner with fintechs to boost innovation. I am not surprised, therefore, that according to a recent PwC report, 74% of Russian financial services companies plan to increase fintech partnerships in the next 3–5 years.
A holistic mobility and cloud strategy is key
An overarching mobile and cloud strategy is paramount for financial institutions in empowering employees, rolling out innovative and convenient services for customers and driving business growth.
To truly differentiate mobile banking offerings on the customer side, financial institutions must tap into new ideas to identify opportunities enabled by cloud and AI, such as robo advisors. Orange Business Services, for example, recently partnered with European robo advisor additiv to provide a highly-secure cloud platform that will enable financial institutions to plug in game-changing mobile products that will map the entire journey to provide valuable customer insight.
From an internal point of view, financial institutions need to support a growing mobile workforce in terms of sales, collaboration and productivity applications. Today’s employees want the same mobility and ease-of-use at work as they get on the devices they have become accustomed to in their personal lives. Millennials expect a mobile work experience. Mobility is fast becoming central to retaining staff.
Financial institutions need to master mobility as a matter of urgency to keep both employees and customers happy.
Getting value from data
In the past, financial institutions have focused on products and straightforward sales. But with big-techs using data sources to better understand their customers, customer service and experience are taking their place centre stage.
Financial institutions are adopting digitisation to provide intuitive websites and apps and are looking at technologies such as chatbots to address customer queries faster. But many financial institutions have yet to fully grasp the concept of the frictionless customer journey across multiple channels and touchpoints.
Financial institutions have a huge advantage over their new competitors in the troves of valuable data they are sitting on. By leveraging this data, they can gain remarkable insight into each and every one of their customers. Customer monitoring through advanced data analytics will enable financial institutions to spot opportunities and better up-sell and cross-sell the right products to customers at the right time – and strengthen the bond between themselves and their customers.
Cyber threats: a ticking time bomb
Financial institutions must face up to a growing security dilemma. Customers’ money and personal data are prime targets for cyber criminals. Last year, hackers stole 960 million rubles from individuals – and tried to steal 1.5 billion rubles from organisations across Russia, according to Russian Central Bank. Digitisation requires enhanced security measures. The global cost of cybercrime may have cost as much as $600bn last year alone, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The financial industry makes up a significant part of this.
Yet many banks have unsustainable security infrastructures incapable of dealing with new and ever more sophisticated cyber threats. True, they have a complex arsenal of security tools, but they lack the threat automation and deep analytics capabilities necessary to protect themselves and their customers. According to EY’s Global Banking Forecast 2018, 89 percent of banks see enhancing data security as a major business challenge.
Financial institutions need a new mindset when it comes to cybersecurity. They should embed security into the whole organisation and work with a partner that understands their industry via an intelligence lead approach. The traditional financial institutions that can transform, push beyond their boundaries, transform, digitise and diversify will survive.


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Retailer Marks and Spencer is to return to its roots by opening a new stall at the Leeds market where it was established nearly 130 years ago.
The food and clothing chain is to set up a heritage and coffee shop in Kirkgate Market in March, the city council confirmed.
Marks and Spencer said the new stall would give people in Leeds a chance to learn more about its origins.
It started as a penny bazaar when it opened in the market in the 1880s.
Sue Burgess, manager of Kirkgate Market, said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for the market and for Marks and Spencer as well. Michael Marks’ birthplace of M&S coming back to the market, it doesn’t get better than this [for us].”
Oct 15, 2018 0Last week, Birmingham officially launched one of the largest wholesale markets in the United Kingdom.
Sep 24, 2018 0
Sep 17, 2018 0


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Botswana Farmers share blockchain via Startup Compete. Farm Shares in Botswana How can Botswanan Farmers raise the capital needed to begin fully utilizing the water and topsoil of their lands?
By selling Farm Shares over the blockchain for bitcoin or other cryptocurrency. What is the blockchain? The blockchain is a distributed book or ledger that details the history of every transaction made since the start of the chain. Many millions of dollars worth of computers compete to secure that blockchain,so that no one can trick it. Blockchain and the Internet of Things disrupting Food & Agriculture. In the last decades we have seen a tremendous increasing wave of mass food production in order to supply the high demand of developed countries.
Consumers claim food quality and transparence in the process but, without the ability to track and trace food through the entire supply chain, producers have failed providing meaningful solutions. With the rise of technologies to analyze big data, track and trace products, and intelligent supply chain mapping, many of these problems can be solved with a few sensors and apps on our smartphone. Agricultural and nutritional experts have already identified innovative technologies that would improve not only the quality of the food and the transparency of the process, but it will help us optimising the resources needed to bring food from the farm to the kitchen while reducing the negative impact on the environment. Sydney agritech startup Full Profile uses blockchain tech to help farmers get paid in real time. The potential of Australia’s agricultural sector was recently brought to light by a StartupAUS report, revealing that, supported by agritech, the agricultural space can develop into a $100 billion industry by 2030.
The report sought to highlight how technology can improve farm productivity, management and sustainability through the use of drones, smart sensors and robotics. However, a technology that has been less talked about in terms of agritech is blockchain. Traditionally used in the fintech sector, blockchain’s multitude of applications has caused other sectors like health and now agriculture to consider its use.
Still yet to be widely adopted in Australia, mainly due to people still questioning what it is and how it can be used, blockchain technology is now being recognised as a tool to speed up settlements and lower costs for both small and large companies. “This is hugely important as it reduces counterparty risk for growers, a known problem in the agribusiness industry. Blockchain Joins Efforts to Improve Food Traceability amid Rising Waste and Safety Fears. Blockchain technology has emerged as a tool for addressing an important global issue: the growing complexity of the food supply chain and the increasing amount of wasted food, according to a senior research fellow at the University of Surrey.
Writing in The Conversation, an online source of information from the academic and research community, senior research fellow, Phil Godsiff said that a recent analysis suggested that half of U.S. food production is wasted, with global estimates above 30 percent. The growing use of sensors in the food supply chain, paired with blockchain technology, could reduce food waste and make food data more transparent through the supply chain.
Food Supply Chain in Crisis Retailers want perfect produce, leading to waste throughout the food supply chain. Blockchain Could Save Agriculture In Nigeria - BTC Nigeria. With the decision of the Federal government of Nigeria to diversify the Nigeria economy and with the inadequate availability of agricultural products in the country, it seems that we would have to begin to take agriculture seriously.
In the past few weeks for example the price of a basket of tomatoes has really being on the high side compared to what it used to be. If we must go farming as a country, we would have to go on a big scale so as to cater for the huge population, we will need everything to improve agriculture from what it used to be, one of the things we might want to improve upon is the use of technology in agricultural sector, which by far seems to be the sector that is least impacted by technology.
Blockchain Tech Can Make A Significant Impact On Agriculture. There are many possible use cases for blockchain technology these days.
Ranging from financial services to revamping supply chains, the possibilities are nearly limitless. But what about those industries that direly need a technological connection, such as agriculture? Could such a revolutionary technology improve one of the world’s most complex industries to date? Several Potential Agricultural Use Cases For Blockchain Tech.
Farming Business in a Russian Village Transferred onto Blockchain. Nocookies. Facebook App: Open links in External Browser There is a specific issue with the Facebook in-app browser intermittently making requests to websites without cookies that had previously been set. This appears to be a defect in the browser which should be addressed soon. Australian software developer brings blockchain to local grains industry - Rural News - ABC Rural. Posted A Sydney-based technology firm says blockchain technology could solve a range of problems for grain growers by increasing the integrity of the whole grain supply chain.
Since the grain industry deregulated in 2008, growers have been increasingly exposed to payment risk — not receiving money for their crop once a shipment legally changes owners. Sans titre. Blockchains could help restore trust in the food we choose to eat. Companies around the world are exploring blockchain, the technology underpinning digital currency bitcoin.
In this Blockchain unleashed series, we investigate the many possible use cases for the blockchain, from the novel to the transformative. If the food industry is not in crisis, it certainly contains an increasing level of complexity and associated risks. A recent analysis suggested 50% of US food production is wasted, with global estimates above 30%. Retailers want perfect produce, leading to wastage occurring throughout the food supply chain. They also seek low prices, leading to industrialisation of processes. The Blockchain and Mobile Money for Agriculture in Developing Countries? Many compare the emergence of the decentralized blockchain payments system to the emergence of the internet.
While there were those who predicted the collapse of the internet there have been others who predict the collapse of the world’s first decentralized payments infrastructure. Fortunately, there has not been any US federal crackdown but instead a cautious consideration of the potential to move beyond the 500+ year old, obsolete framework of our global, centralized payments system. Blockchain: can it be of help for the agricultural industry?
During my economics study in the seventieth of last century (indeed a long time ago!)
One of the courses I followed was agricultural economics. Recently I met a Canadian (with Dutch roots) from the agricultural business and we were talking about the opportunities for using blockchain technology in this area. Up till now there has been very little talk of blockchain applications within core agricultural areas. But he told me that this is changing and that the agriculture industry is now increasingly exploring the potentials of using blockchain for the “agri sector”.
Blockchain could change Agriculture Industry – InfoCoin. Agriculture is one of the main sources of employment in a Global Level, Counting with About 40% of the global workforce and big industry now is using Blockchain. They have many agricultural solutions with the potential of the Ledger Distributed emergence, this according to Agfunder News.
Using Smart Technology Agriculture blockchain can transmit data to Climate Changes test, SMS alerts, machinery Protocol and GPS positioning. With Filament Platform Users connect physical objects and existing networks ” Wider networks and applications” becoming the smart Agricultural Technology in reliable infrastructure. World’s First Village To Adopt Blockchain In Its Farming & Management. The small village of Kolionovo, outside of Moscow Russia, has become the first in the world to integrate Blockchain technology into its farming business and agriculture management. Kolionovo uses a decentralized Blockchain system for some local organizational, financial and legal issues. Moreover, people in this village launched their local cryptocurrency tokens called “Kolions” to manage their economy and business by themselves.
Kolion tokens – local tool against crisis CoinIdol.com world cryptocurrency news outlet contacted the inspirer of the project in the village, Mikhail Shlyapnikov, and asked for details. FarmShare: Blockchain Community-Supported Agriculture. Practical Applications of Blockchain Technology - Agriculture. Filament lets you build a connected business without becoming an expert on security, scalability, or network stacks. Blanket a factory in sensors, or control the streetlights of an entire city - Filament's standalone networks span miles and last for years, all without WiFi or cellular. The Filament Tap lets you deploy a secure, all-range wireless network in seconds. Taps can talk directly to each other at distances of up to 10 miles, and since each Tap has BLE, you can connect them directly to your phone, tablet, or computer. With built-in environmental monitoring, a USB port for your own sensor or device, and a battery life of up to 20 years, it's the perfect grab-and-go connectivity solution.
"Filament is a startup that is taking two of the most overhyped ideas in the tech community—the block chain and the Internet of Things - and applying them to the most boring problems the world has ever seen" From Bitcoin to Agriculture: How Can Farmers Benefit from Blockchain? - AgFunderNews. Editor’s Note: Emma Weston is co-founder and CEO of Full Profile, where she leads blockchain strategy and development under the AgriDigital brand.
She is also a grain grower in Australia. Here, Weston, and co-author Sarah Nolet, founder of food and ag consultancy AgThentic, explain how the agriculture industry is using blockchain, and the challenges ahead for this segment of the industry. Update: Full Profile recently pitched at Finovate in New York City. Sans titre.


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Persona fans have a lot to enjoy on the Nintendo Switch. A grand total of 5 games are available on Nintendo’s hybrid console. A couple of them, Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden, launched on the console earlier this year. The franchise has a lot of fans, but companies are always wanting more, and SEGA and Atlus are no exception.
You see, Persona series creative director and producer Kazuhisa Wada spoke to SEGA Asia in an interview recently. In the interview, which was translated to English by Persona Central, Wada says that “we are working on various ways to bring the Persona series to a wider audience”. As for the franchise’s future, all Wada said is that “I can’t say any specifics at this time, but please look forward to it”.


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However, this is unlikely to be needed as the UK has always protected such goods, said Iain Connor, an intellectual property expert at Pinsent Masons, the law behind Out-Law.com.
EU laws place restrictions on the sale or production of certain goods that are synonymous with particular areas of Europe. This means that Scotch whisky, Parma ham and champagne, among other products with a protected geographic indication (PGI), can only be referred to as such if they are produced in accordance with strict rules and within certain areas.
The leaked paper calls for the protection "not to be undermined by the withdrawal of the UK from the EU". In return, the EU would recognise eligible UK intellectual property rights, the Financial Times said.
The paper said that new legislation may be needed in the UK to protect designations of origin, such as traditional specialities and criteria for wine.
"The leaked paper fails to acknowledge that the UK has always protected regional products with sufficient reputation through its passing off laws," said Connor.
"Before the EU introduced a unified PGI regime, the UK courts always protected regional products and had, for example, stopped the sale of 'Spanish champagne'. Further, since the PGI regime was codified, UK courts have afforded protection to product classes, such as vodka, which would not have been eligible for PGI status. Accordingly, new legislation is unlikely to be required to give effect to these demands given that the UK has led the world in affording such protection," he said.


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Vodafone has added Samsung’s 4G-enabled Galaxy Ace 3 smartphone (GT-S7275) to its portfolio and will sell it to pre-paid customers for $249.
Harvey Norman has been named exclusive Australian launch partner for Nokia’s Lumia 1520 smartphone, making it the sole retailer of the vendor’s first ‘phablet’ play.
The term ‘selfie’ went from social media slang to officially-recognised noun when it entered the Oxford Dictionary in August (and was even named 2013 Word of the Year), and online electronics retailer, Kogan, is now looking to capitalise with what it...
The LG Optimus F3 smartphone was first announced back in June, and like the rest of the F-series, promised low-budget access to 4G. Five months later, the device has hit Australian shores, and will be available via Telstra for $249.
Telstra is poised to be the sole stockist of the HTC One Max when the Android smartphone goes on sale from November 26 across the carrier's retail stores.
Telstra will become the first – and likely the only - Australian telecommunications provider to stock the LG-manufactured Google Nexus 5 from November 26, with pre-orders open online now.
It's here! It's here! Google’s new smartphone is (FINALLY) here!
Samsung has announced three new products this morning at an event in Berlin: The Galaxy Note 3, the rumoured Galaxy Gear smartwatch, and the Galaxy Note 10.1 ‘2014 Edition’.
At Berlin's Sony Center, models went for a swim with what could be Sony's new Z1 waterproof smartphone
The latest beta of Canonical's Linux smartphone system shows the outlines of a possible winner
Google has announced the Google Chromecast, a small device that lets you stream online content and sync your phone, tablet or laptop with your TV.
Apple's iOS is closing the gap on rival Android in the US market, according to new statistics released today by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, which says that the three months that ended in May 2013 saw iOS' share of the American smartphone market grow b...
Australian telecommunications provider, iiNet, has unveiled a range of 4G mobile plans with no lock-in contracts
Google today rolled out a redesign of its Play store for Android, changing the interface for smartphone and tablet users looking for apps and media content.
A new report shows just how much smartphone users love Facebook, checking it as much as 14 times a day. In advance of Thursday's Facebook phone announcement, this could be good news for the social network.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
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The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Board of Directors has chosen Deputy Commissioner Chantal Figueroa as one of the 2011 Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing. The honor is given to leaders in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries for measured accomplishment during the past year.
The recipients were judged by a panel of senior industry executives for their recent work based upon the following criteria: creativity and innovation, cutting edge sales or marketing campaigns, triumph in challenging situations and sales efforts that resulted in dramatic gains, according to HSMAI.
“The ‘Top 25’ is the “who’s who list” of sales and marketing professionals that we celebrate each year as they are innovators and have produced strong results in their respective industries,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “These professionals have succeeded in growing business for their own organizations and have continued to inspire and raise the bar for the rest of the hospitality industry.”
In her role as deputy commissioner, Figueroa has oversight of the DOT’s marketing initiatives. including advertising, public relations, film promotion and online marketing. A Virgin Islands native, she has held various positions within the department since 1997, first serving as director of meetings and conventions, then assistant director and director of marketing before assuming her current role. She holds a Master of Science degree from New York University in the field of travel and tourism management.
Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty said, “Chantal is an exceptional leader, whose hard work and dedication to our tourism industry is evidenced by the many successful destination promotions and marketing campaigns she’s led over the last several years. We are proud of her accomplishments and pleased she has been recognized by this distinguished international trade organization.”
Deputy Commissioner Chantal Figueroa said, “I am truly honored by this award and will continue to give my all to promote the U.S. Virgin Islands as a world-class destination with a special Caribbean charm.”


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This prompted Tieken and his colleagues to develop, design, and patent the Spooter II and Spooter 134 refrigerant recovery pumps. They were developed to offer service techs an inexpensive tool that meets EPA requirements. In the process, they gave their inventor experience in manufacturing.
Tieken’s company, ICOR International of Indianapolis, IN, has expanded to include a variety of refrigerants and refrigeration products.
REFRIGERANT REPLACEMENTS“When government regulations necessitated the reclamation of R-12,” Tieken said, “the company recognized the need for a safe, affordable alternate refrigerant, so we developed and patented Hot Shot™ (R-414B), a refrigerant blend which duplicates R-12’s operating characteristics.”
The HCFC-based refrigerant was said to have less global warming potential than the CFCs it was replacing.
The company’s next objective was to come up with an R-22 alternative that could be used in existing systems. The refrigerant, NU-22™, is a direct replacement for R-22 and is non-ozone depleting. It is described as a patented refrigerant blend with a zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and comparable to R-22, with lower operating pressures and discharge gas temperatures.
After a series of independent tests were conducted, NU-22 was found to be nontoxic and nonflammable. It has an ASHRAE designation and safety classification of A1. It’s energy efficient, and it’s compatible with all standard system oils (mineral oils, alkylbenzenes, and polyolesters), said Tieken.
STRONG SALESCompany officials reported that they are already two to three years ahead of their projected sales for the product.
“Even though the price of R-22 is at its lowest level in years, and the federal mandate banning the use of R-22 is several years away, the desire to ‘go green’ is growing in popularity throughout the country,” said Gordon McKinney, national sales director for ICOR.
“We had anticipated a strong response from the service industry to the product, but mostly in the form of inquiries and not necessarily orders this early in the process.”
ICOR officials said the bulk of their sales and inquiries are coming from the commercial air conditioning and refrigeration segment. That includes military installations, federal facilities, industrial gas manufacturing facilities, and food processors.
McKinney said both equipment and component manufacturers and wholesalers-distributors are showing interest in the refrigerant.
Jim Terry, ICOR International product engineer, said, “We are confident that this product will be accepted and used by several equipment manufacturers in the future. Manufacturers can continue to produce their equipment utilizing R-22-designed components and lubricants, and this will enable the service industry to limit the number of replacements necessary to service both new and existing systems.”
In the education area, ICOR’s ICARE (Instructing Customers on Alternative Refrigerants for the Environment) program offers product educational seminars across the country. The company says it welcomes inquiries from anyone interested in an educational program regarding the selection and use of alternative refrigerants.
ICOR also was recently registered as an ISO 9001:2000 company. Its 42,000-sq-ft production facility is on a 21-acre site. General manager Jim House commented, “We have the ability to add 400,000 square feet of production area and increase our on-site refrigerant storage to 50 million pounds.”
For more information, call ICOR International at 800-497-6805 or visit www.icorinternational.com (website).
Publication date: 05/06/2002


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Editor Robyn Rosenfeldt speaks with Helena Norberg-Hodge concerning the localisation motion, and why we should be creating stronger native meals programs and stronger connections inside our group.
Author and movie maker, Helena Norberg-Hodge is the founder and director of the worldwide non-profit organisation, Local Futures, a pioneer of the brand new economic system motion, and the convenor of World Localization Day.
Over the previous few years, now we have been experiencing growing issues with our nation’s provide chains which can be leaving us with empty grocery store cabinets and points accessing recent produce and different provides.
To fight this, we should be creating stronger native meals economies, the place the meals we eat is grown inside our native communities and never shipped in from throughout the globe.
How is it that meals shipped from the opposite aspect of the planet is cheaper than the meals grown regionally? And why is meals grown in a single nation shipped the world over to be processed, solely to be returned and bought again to that nation once more?
It comes right down to international provide chains and commerce agreements that favour massive enterprise and industrialised agriculture, which make it virtually inconceivable to outlive as a small grower.
Creating native meals economies will increase not solely our native meals safety but additionally our happiness, as it’s connection and group that people crave.
Norberg-Hodge shares her information and expertise of making native meals economies throughout the globe and concepts about how we will do the identical.
To discover about extra about Helena’s work and the localisation motion go to www.localfutures.org


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On April 14 evening, many firemen showed up at an Amazon stockroom in Fresno, California, as thick tufts of smoke poured from the top of the 880,000-square-foot distribution center
Last Year Amazon was forced to take all its solar panels offline after the panels caused six separate fire and explosion incidents.
Approx. 230 solar panels and other equipment at the facility, known as FAT1, were damaged by the three-alarm fire
Amazon worker wrote in one of the inward reports, All of Amazon's U.S. operations with sun based must be taken disconnected for a brief time, inside records show.
In June 2021, a warehouse fire in Perryville, Maryland, caused $500,000 in damages. A state fire marshall said the cause was accidental and included a solar panel system incident


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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is expected to issue another solid jobs report Friday — and if it does, it would ease concerns that the economy is struggling.
Economists have forecast that employers added 175,000 jobs in July and that the unemployment rate dipped to 4.8 percent from 4.9 percent in June.
That level of job growth would be in line with this year's average monthly gains, which remain below last year's healthy pace of about 230,000. Despite the downshift, an increase of 175,000 would likely be enough to reassure investors — and perhaps Federal Reserve policymakers — that the economy will keep growing at its slow but steady pace.
The economy slumped in the first half of this year, with an annualized growth rate of just 1 percent. Growth has been powered by consumers, who ramped up spending in the April-June quarter at the second-fastest pace since the recession.
That figure underscored the importance of strong hiring, which puts more paychecks into more pockets and supports greater spending. Many analysts expect the economy to rebound in the second half of the year, with one of the most optimistic estimates coming from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta: It predicts that annualized growth will reach 3.7 percent in the current July-September quarter.
Solid hiring in July would confirm that a sharp fall-off in hiring during May was only temporary. Job gains have swung sharply in recent months, from a meager increase of 11,000 in May to an explosive gain of 287,000 in June.
Still, the jobs report isn't likely to alter public perceptions of the economy, which have been largely negative during this election season despite low unemployment. A top adviser to Donald Trump said last week that the annual economic growth rate of just 1.2 percent in the April-June quarter was "catastrophic."
Hillary Clinton has tended to credit the Obama administration for rescuing the economy from the Great Recession but has also said "none of us can be satisfied with the status quo."
Overall, most recent economic data have been mixed. Americans are confident enough to step up home purchases, aided by near-record-low mortgage rates. Sales of existing homes reached a nine-year high in June, and sales of new homes accelerated to an eight-year high.
Services companies, which range from retailers to banks to shipping firms, expanded at a healthy pace in July, according to a survey by the Institute for Supply Management, a trade group. Their expansion slowed a bit from the previous month. But new orders picked up, a sign that growth could remain healthy.
But manufacturing continues to struggle and is weighing on hiring. Factories received fewer orders in June for a third straight month. Weak growth overseas and a stronger dollar have cut into many companies' overseas businesses. And auto sales have leveled off, according to data released this week.
The slowdown in manufacturing has cost jobs: Factory employment has fallen about 30,000 in the past year, depriving the economy of key middle-income positions.
Job growth has been stronger in higher-income occupations, such as managers, engineers and accountants. Lower-wage jobs at hotels, restaurants and retail stores have also grown at a healthy pace. Both trends add to a long-running dynamic that has caused hiring for middle-income jobs to lag behind hiring for high- and low-paying positions.


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According to a new survey, the biggest complaint people have about their cell phones today is that their friends and family get mad at them for not checking their phones enough. 39% of cell phone owners say someone's complained because they don't respond fast enough to calls or texts.
The second-biggest complaint, ironically, is that a cell phone makes you too available to other people at all times. That got 24% of the vote. The rest of the list included:
15% say the cost is the worst part.
12% complained about bad reception or dropped calls.
8% say battery life is the biggest issue.


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BUSINESS GROWTH LuLu to go ahead with Saudi expansion plans
Regional retailer LuLu Group has revealed that it is going ahead with its expansion plans in Saudi Arabia despite the challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the world. The group will open five new hypermarkets this year in the Kingdom.
Currently there are 34 LuLu hypermarkets and supermarkets, including 17 commissaries in Aramco and Petroleum Research Center, five outlets on the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) campus, and four shopping malls in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Alkhobar regions, in addition to other hypermarkets — serving more than 250,000 customers daily.
Jubail and Tabuk, which have witnessed exponential growth. With the completion of these five new projects, our aim is to provide employment to 1,000 more Saudi nationals, in addition to 2,800 already employed by us, including more than 1,000 ladies.”
He added: “As per our plans, three hypermarkets were supposed to be opened, but we had to postpone the inauguration due to the global pandemic situation. Now that the restrictions have been lifted and with resumption of normal activities, we have decided to go ahead and launch new hypermarkets on a priority basis.” As part of it’s commitment to supporting and promoting the Kingdom’s non-oil based trade, LuLu has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Saudi Export Development Authority to promote Saudi dates and local products outside the Kingdom in Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Egypt and the GCC countries.
Another focus area, Ali said, is the expansion of LuLu’s online shopping services to cover a wider range of grocery items and fresh produce.
“Thanks to the visionary leadership of the Kingdom, the pandemic situation has been controlled very well and various sectors including the retail, tourism and other trade activities are returning to normal and this will further accelerate the national economy.
We are proud to be part of the Kingdom’s overall development and will continue to support sustainable development strategies.” During the lockdown period, the role played by leading hypermarkets and supermarket chains such as LuLu has been highly commendable, as they successfully maintained the uninterrupted supply of food from around the world at affordable prices, ensuring that there was no panic situation in the Kingdom.
LuLu is one of the top retailers in the Middle East. Garnering more than 1,600,000 shopping patrons every day, it is the fastest-growing retail chain across 10 countries.
Our clients now have the opportunity to support the fight against the coronavirus by investing in companies that are researching the solutions for it. Dino Ibric Vice Director at Swissquote MEA


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AMSTERDAM (AP) — Dutch brewer Heineken NV says both sales and earnings rose in the first quarter, due to a combination of growth and one-time gains.
Net profit was 25 percent higher at €175 million ($230 million), from €151 million in the same period a year ago, but included a €20 million gain on a stake in a Haitian company reappraised at a higher value. Sales rose 6.8 percent to €3.83 billion, 3.5 percent of that due to higher volumes and 3.3 percent due to higher prices.
The family-controlled company, which only issues a full earnings report twice annually, said Wednesday it expects to benefit in 2012 from growth in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and from cost-cutting — notably employees — in developed markets.
The company is expecting raw material costs to rise 6 percent.


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Renaissance Imports toll-free at (877) 632-2021 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or online at www.renimp.com and click on "Product Recall Info" for more information.
This recall involves Autumn Run brand girls Gemma II style boots with SKU number 0529-02613-1050. The SKU number can be found on a tag which is located inside the shoe, on the inner side of the collar. The brown roper style boots were sold in girls sizes 5 to 11. A paisley-print fabric sash and a leather beaded strap are tied around the boot.
Consumers should immediately take the recalled boots from children and inspect the boots for exposed staples. Instructions for inspecting the boots can be found online at www.renimp.com. Boots that are stamped "INSPECTED" on the reverse side of the inside label have been inspected for staples and are not included in this recall. Consumers can return recalled boots to any Academy Sports + Outdoors store for a full refund.
Renaissance Imports has received one report of a consumer who was punctured by an exposed staple in the sole.
Academy Sports + Outdoors stores nationwide and online at Academy.com between July 2012 and October 2012 for about $23.
Renaissance Imports, of Matthews, N.C.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
For lifesaving information:
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800


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It’s a typical sunny day in Hāwī on Hawai‘i Island, and sitting outside the Kohala Coffee Mill café, barefoot and bright-eyed, is Christopher Bornstein, cofounder of Hawai‘i’s newest hot-sauce company, Spicy Ninja Sauce.
It took some time for Bornstein, a former millionaire and Navy guy who spent three years biking across the Mainland, to reach hot-sauce perfection. “The first batch we made was terrible,” he says, and things didn’t get any better with time. “Each batch was literally worse than the one before,” says Bornstein. “The colors ranged from gray to a muddy brown. The taste wasn’t any better.” Bornstein was losing hope when he had a stroke of luck. “I just put all these ingredients into a blender and hit the button. Just like that this beautiful orange color blossomed. When I tasted it, I was like, ‘Hallelujah! This is it.’”
But, says his business partner and girlfriend, Lauren McKinley, “we had no idea how we made it.” The couple experimented for months hoping to re-create what happened that day until finally the first recipe manifested. They named it “Three Wrongs Make a Right!”
The company has come a long way since then, and Bornstein and McKinley have invented more than thirty flavors. Each has a similarly playful name, such as the very hot “Advanced Tactical Weaponized Starfruit Death Star O.G.” with starfruit juice and ghost chili, or the “God Fearing Monkeys in the Temple of the Sweet Chili Bang Bangs” with local and organic lemongrass, ginger, ghost and Hawaiian chili peppers and bananas. Sourcing locally is a company mission: Even as they expand into restaurants and stores throughout the state and on the Mainland, Bornstein and McKinley are committed to featuring Hawai‘i produce.
As any Island businessperson will tell you, that’s not always easy. Bornstein and McKinley have overcome some challenges, but while it’s been a learning experience, the two are determined never to forget where they started. “We want Spicy Ninja Sauce to support local farmers and local agriculture. We want the world to see all that Hawai‘i has to offer,” McKinley says.


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MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Supreme Court of India has barred Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (GLEN.NS) from making and selling copies of U.S. drugmaker Merck’s (MRK.N) diabetes drugs Januvia and Janumet, according to a court document released on Friday.
The court has, however, allowed Glenmark to continue to sell existing inventory, according to the document posted on the Supreme Court’s website after a hearing.
The decision against Glenmark comes two years after Switzerland’s Novartis AG NOVN.VX was denied patent protection for its cancer treatment Glivec in a landmark decision by India’s Supreme Court that was widely seen as boosting the local generic drugs industry.
Anti-diabetes drugs are the top-selling therapy area in India, where about 65 million people live with the disease and that number is expected to reach 100 million by 2030.
Merck sued Glenmark in 2013 for infringing a patent it has on sitagliptin, the chemical compound in Januvia and Janumet, both of which the company has been selling in India since 2008.
A month’s dose of Merck’s drugs costs about 1,300 Indian rupees ($20) and 1,900 Indian rupees ($30), respectively. Merck has licensed the drugs to Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (SUN.NS) for sale in India.
Glenmark sells the medicines under the brand names Zita and Zita-met at a nearly 30 percent discount to Merck’s price.
Glenmark is barred from producing sitagliptin until the next hearing on the case, the order said.
Spokespersons for Glenmark and Merck declined to comment.
“This is an interim sort of measure taken by the court, and the decision on the patent of sitagliptin is subject to final orders,” said Ameet Hariani, managing partner at Mumbai-based law firm Hariani & Co.
($1 = 63.6500 rupees)
Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui and Nivedita Bhattacharjee; editing by David Clarke


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PARIS — France’s leading perfumery chain, Marionnaud Parfumeries, is getting a makeover. Its nips and tucks might force some others in Europe to take a good, hard look at their own retail concepts.
Marionnaud, which gradually built strength across France — and Europe — as the mom-and-pop store for beauty, is entering the modern age with a more consistent, professional approach that focuses on hands-on service.
In a press conference held in Rungis, on the outskirts of Paris Thursday, Marionnaud (which is owned by A.S. Watson — the retail division of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.) unveiled to the press two full-size models of the company’s new perfumery concept, due to go into beta test publicly during the first half of 2007.
Located in a huge hangar in an area full of warehouses, the 4,220-square-foot and 1,335-square-foot perfumeries are two iterations of the new Marionnaud retail concept — that soon will include a signature beauty institute — to be tested and tweaked on a regular basis. So far, the company has invested about $3.9 million in market research for the “laboratory.”
“Why a lab?” Laurence Paganini, managing director of Marionnaud France, asked rhetorically. He explained that the company believes in the importance of testing retail ideas on volunteers. Marionnaud has hosted numerous groups of 30 people each that have included beauty manufacturers, plus “Marionnaud shoppers, ex-Marionnaud shoppers and Sephora shoppers,” according to one executive, referring to Marionnaud’s prime competitor in France. Sephora follows in market share but has been pioneering retail concepts, including recently focusing on beauty services and niche brands.
The space is also used as a research center to evaluate future consumer needs, ways to update the stores and as a site to train Marionnaud beauty advisers.
Paganini said Marionnaud has learned consumers believe the perfumery’s strengths are its accessibility, both in terms of geography — there are 1,250 of its stores stretching across most of Europe, of which about half are in France — and the personal attention it proffers, plus its professionalism.
“A new focus will be on pleasure,” said Paganini.
To help add this facet, Marionnaud signed Philippe Kauffmann, of Atelier K., who redesigned the perfumery’s logo and retail space, keeping its new motto, “Take care of yourself,” in mind.
Kauffmann said the company decided to maintain Marionnaud’s black script typeface, since it’s part of the chain’s heritage and signature.
Kauffmann did add a puff of reddish dots, which run under the “M” in Marionnaud and get denser as they go.
“It gives a bit more air and is more modern, without losing the history,” said Kauffmann.
For the store, he said it was clear Marionnaud needed more than a superficial touch-up.
“It was important to reposition the brand,” agreed Thibault Ponroy, the company’s director of strategic marketing.
“It was key to give dimension to the concept,” continued Kauffmann, explaining Marionnaud needed to be updated, although consumers already love the brand, which is a stalwart in France. It was developed for some two decades by Marcel Frydman, who purchased the first Marionnaud door as a gift to his wife. (In spring 2005, Watson took over the chain.)
Unlike its multinational rivals, including Sephora, which is known for its self-service retail concept, and Douglas, which is of a similar open plan, Marionnaud kept true to its perfumery heritage, boasting strong in-house beauty adviser support. Yet the retail concept evolved very little over time, save for some Marionnaud megastores. One was opened on Paris’ Champs-Elysées and another in Marseilles. Most Marionnauds have traditional layouts with gondolas and products arranged by brand and category.
The next-generation Marionnaud is another story, however.
For its exterior, Kauffmann designed huge glass windows, meant to let people feel drawn into the interior.
Inside, the space is organized in terms of three different time periods consumers might spend in the store, explained Kauffmann. In one area, there are shelves containing products that can be easily selected by consumers in a hurry. Kauffmann said he made certain not to cram shelves with items, so as to “create spaces for the eye, spirit, a place to breathe.”
Inside that area and following its perimeter is a section chockablock with tables with lit surfaces.
“The approach here is less immediate,” said Kauffmann, who said the tables are meant to have themes, either based on brands or particular trends. “New designer fragrances” could easily be displayed here, for instance.
The third, central space is for the most hands-on, adviser-heavy beauty. Kauffmann envisions tables here that highlight interactive services, such as manicures, a selection of creams to be tested or jewelry-like decals that can be pasted on skin, almost like tattoos.
“There are advisers who are dedicated to this space,” said Kauffmann, of the area that’s also peppered with “mini institutes,” partially closed-in areas carved out either by opaque, white curved dividers or purple glass, undulating screens, behind which beauty services can be given on an even more confidential basis.
The store’s color code — beiges, pinks and purples — was inspired by various skin tones, said Kauffmann.
Evidently, nothing about the store has been left to chance. Lighting, in the form of modern chandeliers that look like paper cutouts, is not consistent in terms of each fixture’s brightness, but rather adjusted according to an area’s needs. The music playing in the store has been chosen by executives to create a relaxed ambience, while numerous versions of a new beauty-adviser uniform (with colors in keeping with Marionnaud’s decor) are being tried out in the lab.
Also being tested are electronic devices dotted around Marionnaud’s walls. These machines are to be swiped with products’ barcodes so that beauty information can pop up on screens. When Marionnaud fidelity cards are swiped, consumers can find out how many points they have accrued in-store.
The new Marionnaud perfumery will make its way outside the lab environment soon. According to Ponroy, two to three pilots of the concept will be tested in malls and in city centers during the first half of 2007. Of those, one will be tried out elsewhere in Europe.
The testing of a full-service Marionnaud beauty institute will begin in the lab within a few weeks. Although Marionnaud does not advertise its existing institute services, it has built acclaim in the field. Already, the company boasts 750 aestheticians and 300 institutes.
“This brand is extremely strong,” said Kauffmann.
A new Marionnaud spa institute concept could be unveiled to the public in the first half of 2008.
Seemingly, nothing about the Marionnaud’s renovation is being rushed.
“Last year was one of reorganization, of reinforcing the team — in France, we closed 25 platforms without problems — and perfected the logistical system,” said Hugues Witvoet, chief executive officer of Watson’s Luxury Perfumeries and Cosmetics division, who added that Marionnaud opened 30 stores in Europe and registered 4 percent sales growth on a like-for-like basis in 2006 overall.
This year is more about updating the retailer’s image. Ponroy said while Marionnaud stores are being changed, the company is careful to respect and reinforce the brand’s traditional values.
But again, the revamping is not being rushed. “This is not a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde process,” he said.


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Simple. Beautiful. Beyond Smart. That’s the message Google are giving out with the launch of the new Galaxy Nexus and the update to their newest version of Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.
‘Beaming a video with a single tap or unlocking a device with only a smile sounds like science fiction. Now, you can actually do these things (and more) with a phone that fits in the palm of your hand.’
That is the boast on Google’s blog this morning in light of the launch of the Galaxy Nexus, launched in conjunction with Samsung in Hong Kong at 3am (UK time) Wednesday 19th October, 2011.
The Galaxy Nexus Smartphone Features
The Galaxy Nexus features a 4.65” Contour Display with true high definition (720p) resolution and a lightning-fast dual core 1.2ghz processor combined with 4G LTE or HSPA+ technology.
Ice Cream Sandwich is a mobile Android OS that works on both phones and tablets. Ice Cream Sandwich features new fonts that are optimized for HD displays and hardware buttons have been removed in favour of adaptable software buttons.
Other initiatives include a refined tab manager. As you’d expect with a Google device you can also sync bookmarks with Google Chrome, as well as benefit from what they claim is the ‘best mobile Gmail experience to date.’
The service lets you quickly search through your inbox and search messages even when you’re offline, as well as zoom in on Calendar events with ease.
Android Ice Cream Sandwich Contact Updates
Contacts have also had a revamp with the new Ice Cream Sandwich OS update with the new People app, which combines high-resolution photos and updates from ‘Google+ and other social services’. (Editor’s Note: By other ‘social services’ we are pretty sure Google mean Facebook and Twitter, but it looks like Google can’t quite bring itself to mention the F word in the press release!).
The Galaxy Nexus sports a high-end camera with zero shutter lag, automatic focus, and top notch low-light performance. Additional features include: live effects, single motion panoramic camera, quick responses, data usage and Android beam.
This weekend marks the third birthday of the G1, the first-ever Android phone. Today, more than 550,000 Android devices are activated daily.
Starting in November, Galaxy Nexus will be available in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Check out the Nexus website for a product tour and more info.


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(PRWEB UK) 19 November 2012
Many UK kitchens have had a DAB radio for years but the vast majority of our cars are still waiting for a digital switchover. Now, though, residual values and car spec experts CAP are predicting that business motorists will in future no longer have to endure crackly AM reception of Radio 5 Live or struggle to hear Test Match Special on Radio 4 Long Wave during long days on the road.
That's because the big car manufacturers are finally expected to go for the DAB digital radio standard in a big way next year. The trigger, says CAP, is BMW's decision to equip all of its cars with DAB radios from the beginning of 2013.
A few manufacturers have already been promoting DAB – for example, Vauxhall has generally been making digital radios standard when it introduces new model lines - but according to CAP, as recently as the first quarter of 2010, only 3.8 per cent of new cars registered had DAB as standard equipment. By the third quarter of this year, the figure had risen to 25.5 per cent but even now, almost half of the models sold in the UK don't even offer DAB as an option, including most of the best known business cars.
According to CAP New Vehicle Data expert David Saville: "BMW's announcement this week that DAB would become standard across their entire model range is a real shot in the arm for a less piecemeal approach by the industry to DAB.
"Whether it's in 2015 as originally planned, or later, DAB will be essential rather than a ‘nice to have' option. Experience shows us that where the Germans lead in the car market, others follow, and we therefore expect most manufacturers to start making DAB standard across their ranges in the coming year to 18 months."
For more information, visit Business Vans at http://www.businessvans.co.uk/


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ESG takes center stage amid economic crisis and social unrest
The recent outbreak of the coronavirus COVID-19 has quickly evolved from a local issue to a global crisis. In addition to the tragic human loss, the disease is having and will continue to have a profound economic impact. On this page we will be providing regular legal updates on issues affecting our clients’ businesses around the world. Below is a list of our published updates.
Investor sentiment has begun to recover, but ratings downgrades and higher pricing continue to keep loan markets on alert
Our global team has prepared the following FAQs to provide financial institutions with a cross-border perspective in navigating the governmental/regulatory response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
French M&A activity has suffered steep falls because of COVID-19, but green shoots are emerging as lockdown measures ease
The megadeals of 2019 may be off the table for now, but deal activity across healthcare and pharmaceuticals has proven resilient through the COVID-19 crisis
Low prices and excess supply have pushed oil & gas balance sheets to the brink, which means raising traditional debt will remain difficult and restructurings are expected
Remote working, online shopping and telemedicine have shielded the technology sector from the worst effects of COVID-19 lockdowns
COVID-19 is hammering leisure sector M&A—but not so much that opportunities have vanished
Even though COVID-19 has taken a toll on consumer spending and supply chains, the food and beverage industry has shown resilience and continues to tap credit markets
COVID-19 travel restrictions have put the aviation industry on the backfoot. M&A will not be an immediate priority, but consolidation and distressed deals will come in time
The COVID-19 lockdown forced restaurants, hotels, gyms, theaters and casinos to shut their doors and put balance sheets under extreme strain, but some have tapped debt markets to see them through
Retailers faced a difficult financing market before COVID-19 appeared, but lockdowns have made the situation even tougher
COVID-19 has put dealmaking in the already disrupted retail industry under further strain. Some retailers, however, have proven resilient and those that survive will see opportunity to vertically integrate supply chains and invest in technology capabilities
Czech Government Financial Assistance Measures to Address Adverse Effects of COVID-19


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For 50 years, Johnson Publishing Company and its flagship publication, Ebony Magazine, helped celebrate African American fashion while bettering the lives of African Americans on and off the runaway through its annual Fashion Fair, a traveling haute couture pageant and fashion show that garnered $55 million for African American charities, like the United Negro College Fund and […]
Fans of the fashions featured in the historic Ebony Fashion Fair Show will have one last opportunity to own some of their favorite pieces from the collection as it will soon be placed on the auction block. The legendary institution will hold the third and final installment of its three-part auction series via Leslie Hindman Auctioneers […]
Atlanta has Ebony style. The spectacular fashion exhibition, “Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair,” now showing at Museum of Design Atlanta is a powerful display of Eunice Johnson’s career-long vision to showcase iconic fashion and introduce couture to aspiring black audiences while raising money for charities — totaling more than $50 million over […]
Rolling out attended the preview on yesterday, look at what we found!