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(Reuters) - Earlier than ever store openings at Macy’s Inc, Target Corp and Best Buy Inc this year were such hits with shoppers that their midnight start on Black Friday will likely become the norm.
Macy’s said about 10,000 people thronged its Manhattan flagship at midnight on Thursday, while a Best Buy store in Union, New Jersey, had people lined up for hours before.
Most retailers last year kicked off Black Friday at 4 a.m. But this year, some decided not to cede an inch of opportunity to rivals. And the strategy seems paid off.
“Now that we’re open at midnight, we’re getting an entirely different customer,” Macy’s Chief Executive Terry Lundgren told Reuters, speaking of night owl shoppers under age 30.
More traditional shoppers, who prefer to sleep off turkey dinner before hitting stores, came later in the morning as usual, Lundgren said, giving the chain two waves of customers.
The crowds at Macy’s, Target, Best Buy and elsewhere mean midnight openings will be irresistible to more retailers.
“After seeing what I saw last night I can’t imagine that this is going to be a one year only shot,” said Charlie O’Shea, senior retail analyst at Moody’s.
A major benefit is that it gives shoppers more choices.
“I did Black Friday at Target (in a prior year), I stood in line from 12:30 to 6 o’clock in the morning. I don’t have to do it this year,” said Desiree Schoolfield, a 49 year old public servant from Queens shopping at a Toys R Us in Manhattan Wednesday evening.
For the retailers, there are competitive considerations in what promises to be a tough holiday season.
Soon after Macy’s announced it would move up its Black Friday opening to midnight, rival Kohl’s Corp followed. And it would be unthinkable for Best Buy to be closed while Target is open, and vice versa.
Still, some bucked the trend this year and suffered little if any consequence.
J.C. Penney Co Inc stuck to its 4 a.m. opening, with the only apparent effect of rivals’ earlier opening being a morning shopper traffic peak that came minutes earlier than last year, said Penney executive Mike Thielmann.
At 4:15 am on Friday, the parking lot at North Point Mall in suburban Atlanta, which has a Penney and Macy’s, was 80 percent full, hours after 1,500 lined up for Macy’s opening, said general manager Nick Nicolosi. And the Penney at Newport Center in Jersey City, N.J., was packed in the early morning.
Still, analysts say it is just a matter of time before the competitive pressure prompts holdouts to open at midnight too, in a continuation of “store hour creep” that has seen Black Friday sales start earlier and earlier. Only a few years ago, a 6 a.m. start seemed outrageously early.


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OurCrowd made waves recently after announcing that the Israeli equity crowdfunding platform has driven over $23 million in funding for 28 companies to date. CEO Jon Medved claims that this makes OurCrowd the “world’s largest crowdfunding-for-equity site.”
Now OurCrowd has announced a strategic co-investment partnership with GE Ventures, the venture capital arm of GE.
At GE Ventures, we combine capital, technical and commercial expertise, infrastructure, and the GE global network of businesses and partners to scale great ideas that drive growth for partners and GE. Our goal is to become the global partner of choice, to make the world work better, to build, power, move and cure.
Under the agreement, GE Ventures will have the right to co-invest in early-stage ventures with OurCrowd. Of course, it adds to the allure of listing on OurCrowd’s growing equity platform as well, and should help the emergent company find deal flow of increasing quality in the future.
We are thrilled to partner with GE Ventures on co-investments via our equity crowdfunding platform. GE brings unequalled expertise and experience in a broad range of technologies and businesses that will add real value to our portfolio companies and to our investor community. To partner with a company of GE’s size and stature will allow OurCrowd to help break new ground in innovation finance.Jon Medved, OurCrowd CEO
GE Venture’s CEO Sue Siegel said, “OurCrowd has created a unique platform for dynamic early stage origination and funding. They offer a quality investment environment and the partnership will give GE increased access to early innovation.”

domain: news


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If you are someone, who has an interesting outdoor life, a delicate smartphone cannot be your deal. To understand the need of the tough and rugged people, Samsung has launched a waterproof..
After thin, light, compact, and technologically advanced smartphones, it’s now time to say Hello to a completely transparent smartphone. Taiwanese tech company Polytron technologies has revealed an all-new transparent smartphone, the prototype..
From Bottle Opener iPhone Cases, to Pepper Spray one, we have seen it all. But, finally, we found the coolest iPhone case ever! The Uppercup Case, will solve your early morning blue’s..
Is one smartphone not enough for your needs? Now, carry a Dual Screen smartphone as NEC launches Medias W in Japan. NTT DoCoMo and NEC have teamed up to offer the Medias..
What is Nomophobia? It is an ‘irrational fear’ of losing your phone. A whopping 66 per cent of us are suffering from this phobia, even without discerning. And, I’m sure if you..
Dear Apple iPhone5, your new competitor has arrived! Mozilla Foundation revealed two preview smartphones, which will try its new open-source mobile operating system challenging Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Geeksphone is developing..
Have you had enough of Smartphones and all their baggage? Nokia Asha is a feature phone that may not be as equipped or smart as your Smartphones by the Special Edition models..
With just about everyone opting to use mobile phones to communicate with fellow human beings, NTT DOCOMO has developed a phone specially designed for pre-teens. Designed to give parents better control on..
Analog Photography lovers rejoice! As, Lomography launches Film Scanning device for smartphone. Well, Lomography has wowed us in the past with products like LomoKino Adapter for iPhones, but this time it’s gone..
Oh don’t you hate the winters! Not for the biting cold or roads blocked with snow, but for the reason that it makes texting so hard! Don’t you hate that you can..


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Home Tags Bugbear Entertainment
Tag: Bugbear Entertainment
Bugbear Entertainment has announced that their upcoming destruction derby racer, Wreckfest, is now set to land on consoles in 2019.
Wreckfest has been in Early Access almost since Early Access became a thing. It was Bugbear Entertainment's triumphant return to the racing game genre with a game which hoped to reignite the love for games like FlatOut - of which they created, and Psygnosis' Destruction Derby franchise.
Bugbear Entertainment have released a brand new trailer for their upcoming destruction racer, Wreckfest, to celebrate a week before launch.
Wreckfest, Bugbear's spiritual successor to the FlatOut franchise is finally fully launching after an incredibly long stint in Early Access.


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Six minutes ago online movie rental company Netflix sent the following email to its subscribers:
For a limited time, we're offering our valued members a special opportunity to give your friends and family one month of free Netflix service; that's twice the length of our regular free trial! Just forward this email to your friends and family, and they can enjoy a month of DVD rentals for free. We're only offering a limited number of these special memberships, so pass this on soon!
-Your Friends at Netflix
- Extending the period for free trials is equivalent to a price cut for new subscribers. It allows Netflix to attract new subscribers without cutting its profits from current subscribers, who may be devoted to the service and thus less price sensitive than potentially new subscribers.
- Does this promotion suggest that Netflix is failing to achieve its new customer goals? Netflix is now underpriced by Blockbuster Online, and Blockbuster recently outlined plans to further expand its online movie rental service.


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Have we gone too far?
Just what you'd expect
More leaks are popping up
A Pixel 7 Pro was also sold
Might show up for the Pixel first
Google isn't happy
From a new system called Imagen
No secrets this time
At least for the second beta
Including some burning questions!
Your next Fitbit alternative
Packed with more punch
Same power made more affordable
It's an ultra-rare partnership
The story of a mysterious lost-and-found device
Coming in 2023
Apps will stop working
Just in time for Google I/O
And other trackers
Topics discussed during Google Health’s The Check Up event
iOS got it first
It's going to be a tech-filled F1 season
The Tensor is coming back
Protecting the integrity of Philippine elections
Only a few tiny changes
Google for Startups Accelerator programs and more
Besides Apple’s macOS, desktop and notebook users have a limited number of options for operating systems outside of Windows and Linux. Well, if you have a...
Samsung, OPPO, vivo, and Xiaomi users rejoice
Rollout continues this year
First time in eight years
Posted in new job listings
More news that it's coming
With its own processor and OS
ICYMI, here's 2021 in a nutshell
Jake Gyllenhaal, Yen Santos, Kim Seon-ho, Hidilyn Diaz, Leni Robredo, and more
Google's first in-house watch
First midrange Pixel without a headphone jack
In-depth review one month later
Battle of the best smartphone cameras!
Coming early next year
Google to play big part in PH economy
As cheap as $45 per month
The Google Pixel phones have always been about harnessing the best of what Google has to offer and putting in a smartphone. This concept is even...
Get that Magic Eraser out
The best Pixel yet?
Confirmed by Target
As reported by Google
Plus other digital services
Can never be too safe


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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — Shoppers looking to stock their pantries in preparation for this weekend's expected storm have a few extra hours to do so at Stop & Shop supermarkets.
The supermarket chain announced Thursday night that it will keep all its New England stores open until midnight Thursday and reopen at 6 a.m. Friday in advance of storm Nemo.
Stop & Shop officials recommend people stock up on staples, including milk, bread, soup, crackers batteries, paper goods and, of course, rock salt and shovels.
"With record amounts of snow predicted for New England, Stop & Shop is doing all we can to help our customers prepare for the storm," Suzi Robinson, spokeswoman for Stop & Shop New England Division, said in a statement. "We are working closely with our store and transportation teams and supplier partners to keep our stores stocked and ready to serve our communities."
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Don’t forget Max Battery Booster: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.faygroup.maxbatterybooster
Microsoft and Nokia were recently in advanced negotiations about a possible purchase deal, but the negotiations ultimately broke down on the topic of price.
Little is known about the talks; anonymous sources say they happened as recently as this month and focused on Nokia’s device business. The same sources also say that they are unlikely to be revived, no matter how synergistic such an acquisition might be.
After all, Nokia chose Microsoft’s Windows Phone to power its smartphones. Microsoft, for its part, invests in Nokia’s operations to bolster the company.
Neither Microsoft nor Nokia responded to our request to comment for this story.
A Potential Disaster
Microsoft isn’t the only company to have reportedly expressed an interest in the Finnish handset maker, however. Chinese smartphone vendor Huawei, for example, was recently named as potentially having an interest, though the company has apparently since denied it.
That may be just…
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Posted Mon Jun 17, 2013 at 07:00 AM PDT by Joshua Zyber
This week in Blu-ray brings us one of the biggest movies of the year. Well, one of the tallest, at least. It was kind of a bust in other respects. As is so often the case, some of the smaller releases may be a lot more interesting. Read about all the latest discs in the blog today.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


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Phil LeBeau is a CNBC auto and airline industry reporter based at the network's Chicago bureau. He is also editor of the Behind the Wheel section on CNBC.com.
LeBeau has reported one-hour documentaries for the network, including "Dreamliner: Inside the World's Most Anticipated Airplane," "Ford: Rebuilding an American Icon" and "Saving General Motors" and "Failure to Recall: Investigating GM."
Prior to joining CNBC, LeBeau served as a media relations specialist for Van Kampen Funds in Oak Brook Terrace, Ill., and was instrumental in implementing an initiative to communicate the company's mutual fund and investment practices to the public and the press. While at Van Kampen, LeBeau held a Series 6 license.
Previously, he held general assignment reporting positions at KCNC-TV, the CBS affiliate in Denver, and KAKE-TV, the ABC affiliate in Wichita, Kan. LeBeau began his career as a field producer at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, where he wrote, produced and researched consumer stories. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism with a bachelor's degree in journalism and broadcasting.
Follow Phil LeBeau on Twitter
Two thirds of the way through the year, the Toyota brand finds itself in an unusual spot in the U.S. It's #3 behind Chevy and Ford. The Japanese brand could still close the gap and catch Chevy for #2, but I don't see it catching Ford for top brand honors.
By moving to trademark the term "Range Anxiety," GM has created some low level chatter about its soon to be released "Chevy Volt." And in an added bonus, it has made those competitors ripping the move look childish while also calling in to question if others can offer what the Volt promises.
Once again, many in the auto industry are howling about the latest attempt by the government to push the industry toward better fuel economy. The issue is whether new cars and trucks should come with a "Guzzler Grade" on the new car sticker prices.
Right now, you might be saying to yourself, "Who is Dan Akerson? What does he know about running a car company?" Fair questions. But they may not be the most important question to ask following his selection to become the new CEO, and ultimately chairman, of General Motors.
Shares of electric car maker BYD rebounded on Friday, after management sought to reassure investors that operations were continuing as normal.
Elon Musk has lost over $1 billion on his Tesla holdings recently, but he may soon be happier, if analysts are right.
Cadillac will incorporate streaming video into the CT6's rearview mirror.
Consumer Reports' annual roundup of the best cars considered road test scores, reliability surveys and cost per mile.
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Stirling Newberry writes "One of the important moral principles that has made everything we relish about the internet possible, from Wikipedia to YouTube, is that internet service providers need to have a safe harbour from what their users do. Writes Jimmy Wales to announce the launch of Change.org petition against the extradition of TVShack's Richard O'Dwyer. He does not defend violating copyright, but does argue that providers have a safe harbor from what their users do – and as the founder of what may be the largest user created site on the internet, not surprising.
His other point is that O'Dwyer is being extradited for activity that was not a crime in the UK, and for which he was not prosecuted there, raising the troubling question of who can be arrested under what laws in the internet era. For example, could you be extradited to India for blasphemy for running an atheist site so long as people in India could access it?"
Link to Original Source


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If you’ve ever owned a Tamagotchi or enjoyed playing Nintendogs, chances are you’ll like this concept. New research suggests that following the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people looking for a furry friend to keep them company has reached new heights, not only physically, but also in the metaverse.
Pets in the Metaverse
The question is, are pets in the form of non-fungible tokens entrenched or just reflecting temporary pandemic fashion?
The Metaverse is often seen as the next iteration of the Internet as a virtual world or Web3, enhanced by virtual and augmented reality.
There are a number of ways to buy or adopt a pet in the Metaverse, and they each serve varying purposes. On the open-world virtual platform Decentraland, you can buy a puppy and walk it, or buy a fish and display it in a bowl on your dresser.
Another way to get a pet in the metaverse is to simply buy an image in the form of a non-fungible token (NFT) on a market, for example OpenSea. These examples have one thing in common: they both only exist in the digital world, much like buying an Axie in Axie Infinity, they don’t exist in the physical world either.
However, projects that aim to blend the digital and physical world are currently gaining momentum. For example, ClassicDoge, which was created in November 2021, allows you to scan and tag a 3D rendering of your pet in the real world as well as bring it with you into the metaverse.
This trend is likely to gain even more fans
Saylor Howell, Head of Growth and Partnerships at ClassicDoge, said that while the pandemic may have been an ignition moment for pet NFTs, they were an inevitable metaverse development:
“If you analyze the facts, you will see that the world is changing. And I think this turns out to be a really good opportunity for the metaverse to start virtualizing the things that we love. »
Although the project is still in its infancy, its marketing director Kade Cooper stressed that the team’s long-term strategy is to “become a gateway to bring your true pet into the metaverse” :
“At the end of the day, you can walk your dog again, keep it forever by your side even if it’s passed away. »
Web traffic referencing “pets” or the number of keywords relating to dogs and cats on the OpenSea NFT Marketplace peaked at more than 636,000 in October 2021, according to data from the intelligence firm Similarweb. However, in December last year, that number fell to 246,000.
The trend was consistent with web searches for NFT pets and related keywords. Similarly, searches peaked at around 206,000 in October before dropping to around 93,800 searches in December.
The idea of adopting NFT pets has also sparked the interest of some experts in the NFT space, such as NFT blogger and YouTuber Matty DCL.
The idea of owning a pet virtual is far from new, even if it has never been so realistic. Initially, it was popularized in the late 1990s and early 2000s after Tamagotchi came into being. In fact, the trend described in this article has rekindled interest in virtual pets: Tamagotchi’s website attracted over 125,000 visits in December 2021, which is an increase of almost 750% compared to the month of December 2019.
Receive a digest of news in the world of cryptocurrencies by subscribing to our new service of newsletter daily and weekly so you don’t miss any of the essential Cointribune!
If cryptocurrencies are synonymous with financial freedom, then they must play a key role in the financial emancipation of women. With the right education, crypto can be a powerful tool in waging the battle against gender inequality.


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A children’s clothing company which revolutionised gender-neutral clothing for girls has turned their attention to boys, launching a crowdfunding campaign on Tuesday that reached 50% of its funding aim in the first hour.
Frustrated that they couldn’t find shirts for their five sons with unicorns on them or bright colours, animals, sparkles and rainbows, Eva St Clair and Rebecca Melsky decided to make them themselves.
“Gender stereotypes work both ways,” said St Clair. “Things that have been deemed ‘for girls’ do not appear on boys’ clothing anywhere and that limits what all kids can be and do.
“My son always tells people his favourite colour is ‘rainbow’. But shirts with rainbows or even just bright colours are only in the girls’ section,” she added. “As a parent, I think it’s important for his development to encourage him to embrace what he loves rather than force him into a narrow definition of masculinity.”
The new clothing line will offer boys’ clothes with motifs and colours usually found only on girls’ clothes: ice-cream sweatshirts, sparkly unicorn shirts and brightly coloured winter coats.
Parents have already reacted with enthusiasm: their crowdfunding campaign set a goal of $20,000 (£15,200) to bring seven Boy, Wonder products to market. An hour after it launched, more than $10,000 had been pledged.
A survey by St Clair and Melsky found that “parents want clothing that helps communicate to their sons that their gender does not limit their interests - the same way parents of daughters want their girls to stay interested in science while twirling in a fancy dress”.
Dr Christia Brown, a professor of child psychology and the author of Parenting Beyond Pink and Blue, said: “The ripple effects of this can be profound: a boy who is affirmed and allowed to be his authentic, unique self grows up to be a man who is comfortable expressing himself, who can embrace those interests and traits that make him unique. Allowing young boys to embrace a variety of interests helps them grow up to be happier, healthier adults.”
This style of parenting is a strong counter to the cultural pressure of toxic masculinity – suppressing emotion and eschewing anything considered feminine – and therefore weak and inferior, said Melsky.
“Rather than pushing them away from what has been viewed as traditionally feminine, these parents are encouraging their sons to take a view that those things are compatible with – indeed, a desirable part of – having a male identity,” she added.


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- upcoming Aston Martin Valkyrie hybrid hypercar is a contender for lap record glory
- the Valkyrie AMR Pro can pull 3.0G in corners, and hit a top speed of 360kmph
Porsche recently decimated the Nurburgring lap record with its 919 Evo and you can read about it here. However, Aston Martin just might take the fight to Porsche with its upcoming Valkyrie hypercar. The track version of the Valkyrie hypercar called the AMR Pro is capable of creating 1000 kg of downforce at full tilt, helping to keep the 1000kg and 1100bhp hypercar on the tarmac.
Aston Martin claims the Valkyrie AMR Pro can pull 3.0G in corners, and hit a top speed of 360 kmph. Just 25 examples of the track-only variant will be built, and they've all reportedly been sold already in addition to the 150 standard road-going units.


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Move over, glitter boobs. This festival season, Instagram models are pasting flowers on their breasts.
Accessory designer Hanna Webb unwittingly started the sustainable trend by selling petals that stick to faces, which she sells on her online store Face Florals.
But her customers started to press them onto their chests instead.
It’s certainly a more eco-friendly trend than glitter boobs, a beauty trend where women paste sparkles and gems onto their breasts. That look was an Instagram favorite at last year’s Coachella festival — and it was also potentially harmful for the environment. (California first banned the substance in schools for that reason in 2015.)
But festivalgoers probably aren’t donning petal pasties for the environment’s sake.
“Having flowers on your boobs is certainly a talking point,” Webb says. “We would love to see flower boobs become a staple part of festival fashion.”


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Cybersecurity companies in Truckee CA talk about the impact of cybercrimes
Cybersecurity companies in Truckee CA explain that the danger of cybercrime to the world is second only to that posed by terrorism. Small companies have valuable assets that need to be protected, but cybercriminals know they lack the resources. As a result, hackers target small firms more often than big ones. Even if your firm lacks the resources of more prominent firms, it still has to protect its vital assets. In many cases, modern cyber attack technologies must give the best defense at the lowest possible cost. Here are some impacts of cyberattacks:
Cybercrime has a direct impact on the financial markets
Cybersecurity companies in Truckee CA explain that companies need to be aware of the dangers of cybercrime. According to a recent study, at least 60% of small firms in the United States targeted by hackers would collapse within the following six months. Cybercrime may have a long-term influence on a company’s image and capacity to thrive, not to mention a negative impact on earnings. Because of a lack of resources, many small company owners cannot adequately defend their organizations.
Cyber assaults cause business interruption and productivity loss
Cybersecurity companies note that cybercrime can be crippling. An assault on a company’s computer network may result in expensive and time-consuming damage. It’s not only about fixing and upgrading your systems; it’s also about re-educating your staff and mending your brand’s reputation. Even after the cyber assault is over, the harm is still there.
Reputational harm is another long-term effect of a cyber assault
Cybersecurity companies explain that security upgrades and immediate damage mitigation aren’t the only things businesses need to focus on in the wake of a cyberattack. They often have to cope with the loss of financial data or intellectual property. Companies may have to conduct financial audits and account transfers and make efforts to reclaim their stolen intellectual property (IP). The company may never recoup the entire value of the assets it lost.
Businesses all around the country may be targets of organized criminals working in the rapidly expanding field of professional cybercrime. When it comes to protecting your company from this cyberthreat, Cyber Assurance is here to help.
Best cybersecurity companies in Truckee CA for cyberthreats
Contact Cyber Assurance for all of your cyber security needs. Why pay for a full-time CISO when you can get a fractional vCISO for less? We meet your compliance needs for a fraction of the cost with adaptable programs that exceed every client’s cybersecurity expectation. We are located in Truckee CA, near Lake Tahoe area and the heart of Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and surrounding areas and can service your company anywhere inside or outside the United States.


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News: But you already know what they are.
Sony Japan has updated their 2006 release schedule (a Google Translate version can be found here) and included six PS3 games in the mix. The six titles are:
Angel Rings (RPG)
Everybody's Golf 5 (AKA "Hot Shots Golf 5" in America) (Sports)
The Eye of Judgement (genre undecided)
Genji 2 (Action)
Gran Turismo series (Racing)
None of the six have any kind of a release date and all are said to carry "temporary" titles. It also should be noted again that this list came from Sony Japan, so some of these games may never make it to America.
If you'll recall, these six titles were first announced by Sony during the 2005 Tokyo Game Show, so this list isn't anything new. But it's good to know Sony is at least thinking about the PS3.


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Hernando County BOCC approves Incentive Package for Barrette Outdoor Living Expansion
At the April 11, 2018 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a $239,620 incentive package for Barrette Outdoor Living. Barrette is a national manufacturing company that plans to build a 100,000-square-foot, $6.5 million distribution facility adjacent to its existing 210,000-square-foot manufacturing location at 2401 Corporate Blvd. within the Brooksville – Tampa Bay Regional Airport & Technology Center. Barrette currently employs 247 at the Brooksville facility and intends to hire 43 new, full-time workers with an average annual wage of $37,506 by December 2019.
“Existing business expansions are just as important for economic development as new companies moving in,” County Administrator Leonard Sossamon said. “Barrette’s expansion will increase the ad valorem tax base by $60,000 and bring new jobs to our community.”
As part of the agreement, Barrett will lease an additional 4.6 acres to construct the new facility and partner with Hernando County departments to improve drainage along Corporate Boulevard.
The following incentives will be payable over fiscal years 2020 through 2026 once Barrette’s performance measures are met and appropriate documentation is submitted:
Job Creation Incentive – $129,000
Impact & Building Permit Fee Mitigation – $110,620
Rapid Response Permitting – Barrette will be assigned a Rapid Response Permitting Team to expedite the review process
Barrette is the North American leader in wood, vinyl and aluminum fencing as well as the new Resalite Core Technology, aluminum, steel and vinyl railing, outdoor storage buildings, plastic lattice and many more Outdoor Living products. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and with more than 1,100 employees, Barrette manufactures and distributes more than 6,000 different items across the United States and Canada to specialty retailers, home centers and lumberyards.
The mission of the Office of Economic Development is to attract, retain and expand businesses that will make our community prosper. Hernando County offers an extraordinary mix of logistics and livability in the northern Tampa Bay region of Brooksville, Spring Hill and Weeki Wachee. Our diverse economy includes building, manufacturing, agriculture, retail trade services and tourism, as well as government, education and health care. Property taxes are very reasonable, our work force is able and the pro-business climate is as sunny as our weather.


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After what seems like the longest delay in history, CD Projekt Red has finally announced that The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 next-gen editions will be arriving in early 2022. Players can look for Cyberpunk 2077 in Q1 2022 and The Witcher 3 in Q2 2022 for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The revelation of the next-gen console release dates came during a recently released earnings report for the company.
CDPR Group President and CEO Adam Kicinski said, “We are hard at work on the next-gen version of Cyberpunk, scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2022, alongside another major update for all platforms. There is also ongoing work on the next-gen version of The Witcher 3 and the Cyberpunk expansion.”
The earnings report also details developer personnel and how individual teams are shifting from Cyberpunk 2077 to other, as-yet-unnamed projects. Last year, the majority of development was centered on Cyberpunk 2077 but over the course of the past year, personnel has been reallocated to other projects including a Cyberpunk expansion, and to “other projects”.
Check out the earnings report linked above or head to the CD Projekt Red official site to learn more about the company and its projects.


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The Instillery and Origin have unveiled plans to merge businesses to create a tech provider capable of challenging tier-1 incumbents in New Zealand.
Business Intelligence / News
‘We act as if any competitor we can imagine is already here’ – Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin
Chris Quin outlines how the local grocery co-operative is tackling disruptors: from global brands to changing customer habits
Aider has announced its entrance into the United States and Canada by simultaneously unveiling integrations with Square, Shopify, QuickBooks Online and Amazon Alexa.
‘It is less about replacing human workers and more about augmenting and enabling them to make better decisions faster’
Both are looking forward to three years of innovation through technology
A cryptocurrency platform that lost access to millions of dollars when its founder died with sole knowledge of company passwords has been granted a temporary reprieve from creditor lawsuits.
Movers and shakers: Anthony Grasso of Cyber Toa, Melanie Hobcraft of Auldhouse and Crawford del Prete of IDC
A roundup of the latest business technology executive appointments and events in New Zealand
Launches TOBi the chatbot as an innovative way of offering customers a quicker web chat service.
When it becomes law, Australia will be one of the first nations to impose broad access requirements on technology firms, after many years of lobbying by intelligence and law enforcement agencies in many countries, particularly the so-called Five Eyes nations
The real question is, could the intrusion have been detected earlier?
Xero’s latest research on what is top of mind for SMEs
Tim Sheedy, principal advisor at Ecosystm, details where organisations need to make ‘smart investments’ as AI reaches mass market adoption.
Peter Radich explains how extracting - and acting on - meaningful data is critical to the success of their operations on both sides of the Tasman.
How less developed companies are falling for the AI fad so they can persuade others that they are innovating
Those that have been more successful with the technology recognise AI oversight is not optional
Small business brings in 28 per cent of GDP, what if we increase this to 50 per cent? asks the managing director, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, at Xero.
We need to take into account the increased risk of cybersecurity breaches when considering the design of the open banking regime, writes Nicole Buisson of Xero
The algorithms fundamental to artificial intelligence have huge potential to benefit business, government and society. But how can we ensure transparency and accountability when algorithms are used for important decision making? Frith Tweedie of EY writes about steps to help manage algorithmic risk in both the public and private sectors.
Chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar talks about Vector's latest foray into AI
ICT executive Alin Ungureanu ponders on the ethical challenge of using AI in healthcare today


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At a projected $7.8 billion, Cyber Monday 2018 was on pace to shatter previous online shopping records, according to one early analysis, and Denverites were doing their part to propel the annual shopping event to a high-dollar finish.
Adobe Analytics made its $7.8 billion prediction Monday morning on the strength of $531 million in online purchases made before 10 a.m. on the East Coast. The eye-popping figure represents an 18.3 percent increase over Cyber Monday 2017, putting it on track to be the “biggest online shopping day in U.S. history,” according to Adobe.
Adobe crafted its prediction from data culled from 80 of the nation’s top 100 online retailers, according to a news release. The software company claims its retail report is based on the analysis of more than one trillion visits to retail websites.
One local morsel of info Adobe’s deep look shook loose is that since Thanksgiving, Denver shoppers have made the biggest online purchases on average than any city. An average Denver purchase totaled $163 over the weekend. That’s $25 more than the national average and $6 more than runners-up New York City and San Francisco.
The research doesn’t provide insight into why Denver spenders shelled out more than counterparts in other parts of the country, but it could be that the city has been a magnet in recent years for young people much more at home with buying stuff online than previous generations.
Cyber Monday will only become more popular for the foreseeable future, said University of Denver associate professor Ali Besharat. That’s because right after the millennial generation comes Generation Z, another cohort of digital natives obsessed with reading online reviews and open to making many purchases online.
“It’s going to grow a lot more,” the professor said of Cyber Monday. “Gen Z is starting to grow up and have spending power.”
Besharat, who is the co-director of the Consumer Insights and Business Innovation Center at DU’s Daniels College of Business, studies behavioral economics including why people make irrational decisions when buying things.
In his observations, shopping online can help people make more rational decisions because there is more data at their fingertips. They often buy TVs, electronics and other products where the specs and capabilities are well known. They compare prices and can zero in on the best deal.
The same availability of data can also contribute to more spending, however, as shoppers who don’t find the deal they want have the option to easily move on to the next site.
“Other available alternative products could be a couple of clicks away as opposed to driving to another store or just changing your mind to not buying it at all,” Besharat said.


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Aleafia Health Secures Licence for Toronto Distribution Centre, Expanding Supply Chain and Ecommerce Opportunity
TORONTO, Feb. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH, OTC: ALEAF) (“Aleafia Health” or the “Company”) today announced its wholly owned subsidiary Emblem Cannabis Corporation has received a Health Canada Processing Licence (the “Licence”) for its new Distribution Centre (the “DC”). Located minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport, the DC greatly strengthens the Company’s downstream supply chain, allowing for immediate expansion of same day delivery service, and eventual direct-to-retailer cannabis distribution.
Launched in April 2020, the Company’s AssureHome Delivery has provided patients in the Greater Toronto Area (“GTA”) and surrounding communities with same day cannabis delivery, for orders made by noon on any business day. With the new DC, the Company intends to significantly expand this service. This includes later order cutoff times, weekend and after-hours deliveries, and an enlarged service area. Additionally, it will allow for more efficient order fulfilment of adult-use shipments to provincial government wholesalers.
Located in Vaughan, a suburb of Toronto, the DC is within a two-hour drive of nine million people, or 25 per cent of the Canadian population. Due to this proximity, the Company expects to be able to continue to expand market share in the medical cannabis market.
“COVID-19 has resulted in a rapid expansion in ecommerce, coupled with greater demand for same-day delivery. Yet while supply chain logistics is among the most important cannabis industry competencies, it is also the least developed,” said Aleafia Health CEO Geoffrey Benic. “We plan to capitalize on this through a continued expansion of our AssureHome Delivery platform, which allows us to offer our customers and patients what they want, when they want it.”
The DC builds upon Aleafia Health’s existing production supply chain, which features two low-cost cultivation facilities and a value-added extraction and manufacturing site, all of which surround the GTA. The Licence was granted on February 12, 2021, expires on February 12, 2024, and authorizes cannabis storage and the fulfilment of orders to other licence holders, medical patients, adult-use provincial wholesalers and international customers.
Geoffrey Benic and Chief Operating Officer Greg Rossi were among the founding team members of the award-winning online grocery fulfillment and delivery service, GroceryGateway.com. The pair have also worked as executive consultants on supply chain logistics projects for some of the world’s largest companies including Walmart Inc., Nestlé S.A., Kraft Heinz Company, Campbell Soup Company and Mondelez International.


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Halo: Infinite delayed to 2021, Xbox Series X release window announced!
Microsoft and 343 Industries are hitting fans with a mixed wave of news as the release window for the Xbox Series X has been narrowed to November of this year, but the highly-anticipated Halo: Infinite has been delayed to 2021, no longer being a launch title for the next-gen console.
“Our vision at Xbox and 343 Industries has always been to deliver the most ambitious Halo game ever for our fans, while also balancing the team’s well-being,” Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief, wrote in the official announcement. “To do that, we will need some more time to finish the critical work necessary to launch Halo Infinite, which will come in 2021.”
“The decision to shift our release is the result of multiple factors that have contributed to development challenges, including the ongoing COVID-related impacts affecting us all this year,” Chris Lee, 343 Industries Studio Head, wrote in the studio’s official statement. “I want to acknowledge the hard work from our team at 343 Industries, who have remained committed to making a great game and finding solutions to development challenges. However, it is not sustainable for the well-being of our team or the overall success of the game to ship it this holiday. We know this will be disappointing to many of you and we all share in that sentiment. The passion and support the community has shown over the years has been incredible and inspiring. We wanted nothing more than to play our game with the community this holiday. The extra time will let us finish the critical work necessary to deliver the most ambitious Halo game ever at the quality we know our fans expect.”
Despite this delay, however, Microsoft has confirmed its next-gen console will be hitting shelves globally this November with over 100 titles optimized for the Xbox Series X, as well as featuring thousands of games to play across the four generations, and the console will feature hardware-accelerated Direct X raytracing, frame rates up to 120 frames per second, faster loading times and Quick Resume for multiple games. Some of what players can look forward to upon the console’s release include:
In addition to the titles players can purchase for the new console, developers are also hard at work for new games set to come to Xbox Game Pass, which will now extend past its PC and console base to Android phones or tablets that will allow games to be played on the go beginning September 15! The backwards compatible team at Microsoft is currently working to expand their curated list of titles from across its four generations of consoles to be played on the Xbox Series X, with new optimizations including increased resolutions up to 4K, new HDR reconstruction techniques for games developed years before the tech came into existence, applying anisotropic filtering to improve image quality and creating ways to increase or double the frame rate of some titles!


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Cubans to gain access to mobile internet in 2018 - Xinhua
Cubans to gain access to mobile internet in 2018
HAVANA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Cuba's state telecommunications company Etecsa announced it will provide internet service through mobile phones starting next year, local media reported on Saturday. In an interview with Youtube channel Cuba Hoy (Cuba Today ...
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Former Bachelor star Bob Guiney is set to host HGTV’s newest home makeover competition series, premiering on September 12.
Showcase Showdown sees local interior designers competing against other in American cities to complete 10 room makeovers. In every episode, two professional designers have the same budget and schedule to creatively design their newly-built, identical model homes.
Aiming to impress potential buyers in an open house tour, the winner will be determined by who gets the most votes from these potential buyers.
The design showdowns will take place across the U.S., from Oklahoma City, to Saginaw, Michigan.
“I love being in the middle of the action when I’m hosting Showhouse Showdown,” said Guiney. “For the designers, it’s a chance of a lifetime to showcase their talent on HGTV.”


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A new video wraps up all the unconfirmed reports about Apples next handset. And there’s a lot to work with. Details about the iPhone 11 have been leaking out steadily, even though the launch is still half a year away.
Do you ever wish that your entire iPhone was just one giant screen? With Apple continuously making displays bigger and bezels tinier, it seems inevitable that the iPhone will boast a display that wraps around the front and back.
The folks at ConceptsiPhone have come out with a wild iPhone 11 concept that envisions what an all-display iPhone would look like. Imagine all the new possibilities created for apps with a 360-degree display. Also, imagine how much Apple would charge to repair it.
Apple hasn’t released a new iPod Touch since 2015. Rumors indicate that an update could come out this year. Details are pretty scarce on what the new features could be, so the folks at ConceptsiPhone busted out a brilliant imagining some sleek new additions that would make it truly lust-worthy.


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Nine Canadian and U.S. meat and livestock groups challenging the revised country of origin labeling law have filed their initial appeal brief. The groups were turned down an injunction request that would have stopped the regulation in its tracks. R CALF supports the COOL regulation and CEO Bill Bullard says the meat groups are just re hashing arguments that the judge originally turned down and will have a difficult time winning their appeal.
The meat groups are still arguing that the COOL rewrite is an arbitrary and capricious rule. Bullard says the Judge already disagreed with that argument in the original decision and any change in that decision is unlikely as well.
Bullard also says the meat group plaintiffs are on shaky ground by arguing the World Trade Organization which called for the COOL rewrite supercedes the U.S. Constitution, administration, and Congress and that the Judge should be bound by WTO decisions.


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TRICHY: Wholesale vegetable traders
at congested Gandhi market
on Saturday said they were not ready move to the Kallikudi integrated market
district administration held a consultative meeting with traders to push them to relocate to the new market.
The meeting concluded without any consensus as vegetable traders in a single voice rejected the requests of the district administration.
“Do not push us to move to Kallikudi market. The traffic snarl issue in Gandhi market is not because of us but because of the street vendors and departmental stores nearby,” S T Babu, a trader representative said.
The Rs 77crore Kallikudi integrated market on the Trichy-Madurai highway, which was inaugurated in June 2018, remains locked as traders refused to use the premises citing distance factor.
Traders have sought time to relocate to a private market they have proposed near Palpannai on the Chennai-Trichy negational highway.


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The history of talcum powder began in the year 1882 when American pharmacist, author, and public health activist Dr. Frederick B. Kilmer suggested using scented Italian talcum powder on a patient suffering from skin irritations after using medicated plasters.
Frederick B. Kilmer was the first director of scientific affairs at Johnson and Johnson, and soon Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Powder began to be used by mothers as an effective way to prevent diaper rash and other minor skin irritations.
The brand continued to grow in popularity, and today Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Powder has been around for more than a century, used by generations of families around the world.
However, in December 2018, this trusted brand came under the scanner when the Drug Controller General of India regulator ordered a halt to production Johnson’s baby powder amid allegations that their talc was contaminated with asbestos – a toxic, carcinogenic mineral. This fuelled speculations that the use of Johnson and Johnson baby powder caused cancer.
India’s apex drug regulator barred the company from using raw material for its talcum powder from its manufacturing plants in Mulund in Maharashtra and Baddi in Himachal Pradesh. The drug inspectors began testing samples both from its manufacturing sites and markets all over India. As part of the investigative process, all other baby products were also tested for their ingredients and the use of preservatives.
This Johnson and Johnson baby powder cancer news soon spread across the media, and many users were left feeling unsure about the safety of Johnson’s products for their babies. The looming question on every parent’s mind was, does baby powder cause cancer? And was this Johnson baby powder cancer news true?
However, barely two months after the allegations, all government-sanctioned testing reaffirmed and proved that the products did not contain asbestos and that the Johnson and Johnson baby powder cancer news is not true.
According to a statement released by the company, “Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder is safe and asbestos-free. Studies of more than 100,000 men and women show that talc does not cause cancer or asbestos-related disease. Thousands of independent tests by regulators and the world’s leading labs prove our baby powder has never contained asbestos.”
Speaking to the media, a company spokesperson added, “We stand behind the safety of our talc, which is routinely tested by both suppliers and independent labs to ensure it is free of asbestos.”
Confirming this news, India’s leading publication – The Times of India reported that regulatory authorities from Singapore, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait and Egypt in recent months have also reaffirmed the purity of Johnson & Johnson’s talc.
The company also assured all consumers about the safety of their products by issuing an ad that said, “This conclusion reinforces the findings of decades of independent tests by universities, research labs and government regulators around the world that have consistently found our talc is safe.”
Ubiquitous to millions of homes, the iconic white Johnson’s powder bottle has been around for more than 125 years and safely used by mothers and baby caretakers across the world. The company has always maintained its stance on absolute talc purity and has always put health and safety first. During the investigation process, not only did the company authorities fully cooperate to help debunk the Johnson baby powder cancer news, but they also provided information as old as dating back to the 1960s.
With Government-sanctioned testing reaffirming that the product does not contain asbestos and the baseless Johnson and Johnson baby powder cancer news finally proven wrong, the company is now working on putting all the speculations to rest and regaining the trust of parents regarding the quality and safety of their products. With the DCGI order being lifted, the company has also resumed the production in its manufacturing plants in Mulund and Baddi.
In recent times, regarding Johnson baby powder cancer news, the company has released many science-backed studies on a website called www.factsabouttalc.com, which provides information about the talc and its safety for babies.
Today, Johnson and Johnson continue to work towards their commitment to providing the best quality products for babies. Continuing their more than 125-year-old legacy of quality and safety, Johnson & Johnson have always strived to better their products. The brand has consistently worked towards creating a newer range of products that use the purest ingredients to create the safest and gentlest products for babies’ delicate skin.
According to recent reports, Johnson & Johnson continue to remain the undisputed leader in baby care products not only in India but also all over the world. With various experts, medical and regulatory authorities proving all allegations wrong, it can be concluded that Johnson baby powder is pure and completely safe to use on your baby’s delicate skin.


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05 Oct 15
A public consultation has been launched by the European Commission to improve VAT for cross-border e-commerce transactions in the European Union.
15 Jul 15
Failing to claim tax rebates on overseas purchases is costing British holidaymakers millions each year, according to research by Direct Line.
28 May 15
The government has revealed its legislative goals for the next Parliament in the Queen's Speech. Here's a summary of the key bills affecting businesses.
22 Apr 15
HMRC miscalculated the number of small firms affected by the new EU VAT rules by more than 10,000%, according to a report by Enterprise Nation.


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By News Desk
Following the outbreak of coronavirus in Nigeria, the country’s Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has suspended the planned increase in electricity tariff for end-use customers.
The increase in tariff was earlier scheduled to commence on April 1st, but due to the lockdown of several states to flatten the circle of coronavirus, the increment in tariff will now take effect in July, this year.
NERC chairman, James Momoh, in a statement released on Tuesday, directed all Distribution Companies (Discos) to submit a detailed plan for the attainment of full recovery of prudent costs and allowed return on capital revenue requirements by 30 June 2021.
NERC also directed the DisCos to submit revised Performance Improvement Plans based on the key objective of improvement in service for and use customers and transiting to full revenue recovery no later than 21 April 2020.
According to the commission, the approved plans shall form the basis for future tariff reviews and full recovery.
But the proposed increase was described by most stakeholders as one of the most callous decisions in the face of epileptic power supply, as well as lockdown of economic activities and the many implications of the Corona Virus outbreak.
“The Orders of the Commission (Order No NERC/GL/184/2019 TO NERC/GL/184/2019) titled ”THE DECEMBER 2019 MINOR REVIEW OF MULTI-YEAR TARIFF ORDER (MYTO) 2015 AND MINIMUM REMITTANCE ORDER FOR THE YEAR 2020″ shall remain in force until 30 June 2020 when a new minor review Order shall be issued by the Commission,” the memo read.
“There shall be no increase in tariffs of end-use customers on 1 April 2020. The current global COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted on the availability of imported components for local assembly of meters for supply to end-use customers under the Meter Asset Provider (”MAP”) regulations and the roll-out plan for the existing stock.
“The Commission acknowledges the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and the consequential impact on the average Nigerian.
“All future tariff reviews shall be on the basis of consultations between the DisCo and customer clusters with firm commitments on rates and quality of service. The service level compact shall include a compensation mechanism for end-user customers to address the DisCo’s failure events to deliver on performance targets.”


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CEFIC joins in clean tech request to EC
CEFIC joined other associations representing Europe’s clean technology industries and their key material suppliers to send a joint letter to European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of a European Council summit. This called for “urgent and comprehensive action from the EC and Member State governments to maximise the growth potential of the Green Deal and ensure a compelling business case for clean energy supply chains in Europe, from the raw material to the product”.
Any EU Industrial Deal, it added, “must create a compelling business case for investments and competitiveness across the European clean energy supply chain, including technology producers, materials suppliers, and other critical sectors”. Five pillars are seen as vital to achieving this:
1. New agile and EU-level finance: meaning easier access for companies to existing EU financial tools at first, and new sources of EU-level funding specifically allocated to clean energy supply chains in future
2. Fast-track permitting for production and deployment, enforced at national level
3. Competitive energy prices
4. A level playing field for open strategic autonomy: Europe should design its industry and trade policies strategically to support clean tech manufacturing and supply chain goals
5. Appropriate market incentives to develop full domestic supply chains


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Marks & Spencer is extending its Simply Food chain to 171 stores after agreeing a deal to acquire 28 stores on a leasehold basis from Iceland Foods. The outlets, which will cost M&S &£38m, will be refitted to open in the summer.
CEO Alex Mahon believes the broadcaster is “stronger” and more able to deliver on its purpose “than ever” as it transitions into a post-pandemic world, having successfully grown its digital platform and increased diverse representation.
Tom Fishburne is founder of Marketoon Studios. Follow his work at marketoonist.com or on Twitter @tomfishburne See more of the Marketoonist here
Creative work can be made more efficient by minimising confusion in the review process and making responsibilities clear – and by adopting the right technology to help.
Experiential marketing has been on hold in the pandemic but, while expensive to invest in, experiences are important to consumers, so brands should let their imaginations fly again.


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Tony Williams has joined retailer Kingfisher as group HR director. Williams has previously held senior HR roles in firms including Marconi, WH Smith, IPC Media and most recently Carlton Communications where he was group HR director. He replaces Tony Stanworth who is taking early retirement.
Racecourse Holdings Trust has appointed Jonathan Duckworth as group HR director. He has an 18-year track record in lead HR roles with major employers, such as the Rugby Football Union, the Royal Opera House, motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson and English Heritage.
Maria Horn has joined coffee shop brand Costa Coffee as its new HR director. She worked for parent company Whitbread for two years and transfers from Marriott Hotels, where she held the position of group HR manager. Prior to this, she was HR director for Whitbread’s new business development team.


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These are the stocks posting the largest moves before the bell.Market Insiderread more
U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open on Monday as Treasury yields rebounded to quell fears of a possible recession.US Marketsread more
The Business Roundtable, a group of CEOs of nearly 200 major U.S. corporations, gave a new definition of the "purpose of a corporation."Marketsread more
Trump said he doesn't see a recession after the bond market spooked investors and the Dow suffered its worst day of the year last week.Marketsread more
Bianco Research's James Bianco suggests Wall Street is desperately looking for a signal that a 50 basis point cut is coming next month.Trading Nationread more
Amid the headlines of stores closures and retail bankruptcies, it can be tough to accept that the U.S. consumer is doing just fine.Retailread more
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the U.S. will extend a reprieve given to Huawei that permits the Chinese firm to buy supplies from U.S. companies.Politicsread more
Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on MondayInvestingread more
Dow to jump; Trump defends economy; Huawei hopes for US reprieve; Trump and Apple's Tim Cook meet; president ties Hong Kong protests to China trade disputeMarketsread more
We tested the best way to cut the airport commute time for New Yorkers. The most expensive of the four options we reviewed, Uber Copter, was only 14 minutes faster than mass...Transportationread more
The U.K. prime minister prepares to meet his German and French counterparts this week.Europe Politicsread more
One of the few paintings in Claude Monet's celebrated "Haystacks" series that still remains in private hands sold at auction on Tuesday for $110.7 million, setting a record for an Impressionist work.
The oil on canvas, titled "Meules" and completed in 1890, is the first piece of Impressionist art to command more than $100 million at auction, said Sotheby's, which handled the sale.
That also represents the highest sum ever paid at auction for a painting by Monet, the founder of French Impressionism and a master of "plein air" landscapes who died in 1926, aged 86.
"Meules" was one of 25 paintings in a series depicting stacks of harvested wheat belonging to Monet's neighbor in Giverny, France.
The works are widely acclaimed for capturing the play of light on his subject and for their influence on the Impressionist movement.
"Meules" is one of only four to have come up for auction this century.
Sotheby's said the painting was acquired by wealthy Chicago socialites directly from Monet's dealer in the 1890s and remained in the family until it was bought at auction in 1986 by the present sellers for $2.53 million.
The auction house did not identify the painting's buyer, who beat out five other bidders in an eight-minute auction in New York City.


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New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) Indian drug makers, including Aurobindo and Glenmark, are set to benefit from a decision by the USFDA to allow sale of generic Singulair tablets used for treating asthma and allergies in the US market.
Last week the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) announced the approval of the first generic versions of Singulair (montelukast sodium) tablets for use in adults and children to control asthma symptoms and to help relieve symptoms of indoor and outdoor allergies.
Pharma major Merck has had patent for Singulair and it has been a blockbuster drug for the company. The drug is reported to have annual sales of $5 billion.
"For people who suffer from chronic health conditions such as asthma and allergies, it is important to have effective and affordable treatment options," FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation, Office of Generic Drugs Director Gregory P Geba said.
The generic products approved would expand those options for patients, he added.
Among the Indian firms which have received approval include Aurobindo Pharma, Glenmark Generics and Torrent Pharmaceuticals.
"Apotex Inc, Aurobindo Pharma, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Glenmark Generics, Kudco Ireland Inc, Mylan Inc, Roxane Laboratories, Sandoz Inc, Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc, and Torrent Pharmaceuticals have gained FDA approval for generic montelukast tablets," the USFDA said on its website.
While Apotex, Aurobindo, Endo, Kudco, Mylan, Roxane, Sandoz, Teva, and Torrent have received approval for chewable tablets, Teva has received approval for the oral granule form.
The Generic drugs approved by USFDA are of the same high quality and strength as brand-name drugs. The generic manufacturing and packaging sites must pass the same quality standards as those for brand-name drugs, the US health regulator said.


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Indeed, the country is hard and people are complaining of adverse effect that the economy has on them and their family.
A young woman who is a victim of the harsh economic conditions in Nigeria has cried out on social media.
Relationship adviser, love doctor and online psychologist, Joro Olumofin has shared the story of a woman who wishes she could make money by selling her body.
According to her, life has been so difficult despite her rich educational background. She claims she hasn’t been able to change her underwears and wardrobe in the last three years.
Read her story below:


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News : Marchex and DoubleClick Campaign Manager Integrate
Seattle, WA, USA, Oct 13, 2016 -- Marchex (NASDAQ: MCHX), a mobile advertising analytics company, announced that it is an approved integration partner of DoubleClick Campaign Manager’s newly released Conversions API. With this integration, marketers can securely upload Marchex Display Analytics data to DoubleClick and attribute inbound phone calls to digital and mobile advertising programs, providing a more complete view of media performance.
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"Attributing offline events to our display advertising is an important priority for many of our clients", said Samantha Sowinski, Associate Media Director at iCrossing, a global digital marketing agency. "Marchex Display Analytics ties this data together for us, and we look forward to activating this connection within DoubleClick Campaign Manager."
"Marchex is dedicated to connecting real-world, offline actions to digital and mobile behavior. The integration with DoubleClick Campaign Manager further validates the need for marketers to have a complete picture of their customers’ behavior," said Marchex Vice President of Product Engineering, Adarsh Nair. "As a preferred partner of DoubleClick’s Campaign Manager, we are pleased to offer even more marketers a proven way to garner deeper insight into the customer journey, while improving ROI."
Posted by Veronica Silva Cusi, news correspondent
Today's Tip of the Day - Right Metrics?
More Editorial From Marchex
Marchex is a mobile advertising analytics company that connects online behavior to real-world, offline actions. By linking critical touchpoints in the customer journey, Marchex’s products enable a 360-degree view of marketing effectiveness. Brands and agencies utilize Marchex’s products to transform business performance. Marchex Call Analytics, the leading analytics platform for click-to-call, measures more than 250 million calls annually for brands and agencies worldwide.
Published: Monday, October 17, 2016
ConSol bridges the gap between governments, corporations institutions and their stakeholders using technology, facility provides efficient services in exchange of valuable information solutions that i...
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Teleperformance is a global provider of customer experience management in terms of revenue and global scale. We are the industry leader in security and our management has over 30 years of experience w...
Zappix transforms the user journey during contact center interactions. The cloud-based Zappix Visual IVR On-Demand platform provides a full visual experience for customers, increasing self-service ...


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ABI Research defines the post-smartphone world as one where new, hands-free interfaces — such as those that use the human voice — need to be developed. This will include more artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality, and virtual reality.
The research company made an assessment of patent portfolios, research and development spend, acquisitions and contributions to open source communities to evaluate and compare 10 major technology players from Facebook to Microsoft and Samsung.
It concluded that Amazon and Google will “lead and drive innovation around smartphones and related ecosystems” in the next six years.
“This next wave of innovation in the smart device ecosystem will be led by Google and Amazon, as their apparent strength in major growth sectors, notably computer science, allows for a more flexible approach to next-generation user experiences that are essential for creating immersive experiences and brand-new ways of human-to-machine interactions,” David McQueen, research director at ABI Research, said in a press release.
ABI’s report said Apple will “lag due to innovation complacency.”
Apple was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.
McQueen explained that established device makers like Apple, Samsung and Microsoft will be “followers” in the new market and are “not currently as well set up to drive future innovation,” mainly due to their legacy hardware businesses. But they should not be dismissed because they have a “major influence on the market” through brand and market share.
All of the major technology players are trying to release new products beyond the smartphone, with many focusing on smart digital assistants. Amazon has its Echo smart speaker with the AI voice assistant Alexa built in. The U.S. e-commerce giant has been releasing several different versions of the Echo and has also been integrating Alexa with other products from device makers.
Meanwhile, Google has brought out a rival product called Google Home with its own smart assistant. And Apple is gearing up to launch its competitor to the Echo called the HomePod, with its voice assistant Siri built in. Samsung has also been trying to push its own digital assistant called Bixby on its new Galaxy S8 and Note 8 smartphones. CNBC also reported in August that Samsung is set to launch its own smart speaker next year.
Voice assistants appear to be the next big battleground as technology companies look to offer new experiences and ways to interact with devices beyond the touchscreens on smartphones. But winning the market could require a lot of money.
“There will be a requirement for significant investment in the underpinning technologies and technical expertise as well as the creation of ‘intelligent phones’ that are able to effectively leverage these forthcoming technologies,” ABI Research said.
Source: Tech CNBC
Apple's 'innovation complacency' could see it lag Google, Amazon in post-smartphone world, study says


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On January 29, UPS, a leading multinational package delivery and supply chain management company, announced plans to construct a “super hub” in Lower Swatara Township and open three new facilities in Carlisle, Northampton County, and the Philadelphia area. The project, which is part of a $1.4 billion investment by UPS into Pennsylvania, will create an estimated 1,721 new jobs in the commonwealth.
On March 16, just a few weeks after this groundbreaking win, resulting from a persistent, multi-prong effort by the Public Strategies Pennsylvania team led by Jim Davis and Dave Bonsick, UPS announced a customized, testing-specific supply chain solution for Pennsylvania, built upon the request from the White House. This customized solution, resulting from the company’s heavy investment in technology over the past few years, is ready to provide full end-to-end support to any coronavirus testing facility or “pop-up” testing center in Pennsylvania and can ensure the fastest delivery of any test samples to any approved laboratory in the U.S.
“We stand ready at a moment’s notice to deliver for you and your citizens,” UPS Global Public Affairs President Laura Lane said in a letter to Governor Wolf.


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A former partner of Ernst and Young,
Dubai has during the last two years put in mechanisms that would prevent the easy availability of gold from conflict zones, a
This meant that the wholesale buyer will need to be sure not just about the supplier's credentials about the sanctity of the bullion, but even confirm that the supplier's own original sourcing of the same meet the norms, the report said.
Kaloti also issued a statement saying there has been no evidence in any of E&Y findings that Kaloti sourced gold from conflict zones.
"Any non-compliance during the initial audit stage was related to specific documentation anomalies, which were swiftly rectified, and not to any findings of conflict gold within the supply chain," the statement quoted Tarek El Mdaka, managing director at Kaloti.
"In all of Ernst & Young's reports and findings during the process, Kaloti was never found to be sourcing from conflict zones," he said.
A report in
Rihan led an Ernst & Young team that audited Kaloti and found it was failing to carry out the proper checks, it said.
But after he told the Dubai regulator, it changed its audit procedures. He said that allowed details of the most serious findings to be covered up, with Ernst & Young turning a blind eye.
However, the regulator, Ernst & Young and Kaloti all say they acted properly, said the
Rihan told BBC Newsnight: "The risk of conflict gold entering Dubai and entering the global supply chain is extremely high."
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Hilton Worldwide and Hampton by Hilton have released a new study on a type of traveler they've dubbed the "Seekender."
This group regularly takes advantage of weekends to spontaneously enjoy new experiences, with travel being at the top of the list:
The study, conducted by Wakefield Research, also revealed that Seekenders base their travel around four main types of activities/passions: food, sports, music or the great outdoors. Respondents across different generations also agreed that hitting the road for adventure and having experiences in life ranks higher than money.
As part of Hampton by Hilton’s efforts to inspire Americans to seize the weekend, the brand is enlisting the Ultimate Seekender Team. The group of travel savvy influencers will celebrate the weekend and boldly explore their global neighborhood. Their adventures, and other surprises, will be captured and shared at www.HamptonSeekender.com throughout the year beginning August 10.


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Honda Rebel 500
Kia Sonet Kia QYI
2020 Hyundai i20
Royal Enfield Meteor 350
BMW X2 - Motorshow Focus
21/12/2018 - 10:55
The BMW X2 was displayed at the recently held Thai Motor Expo. The coupe-crossover has been on sale in Thailand in a price range of THB 2,969,000 - 3,329,000 (INR 63,42,171 - 71,11,178). he
BMW X2 - In 8 Live Images
15/11/2017 - 18:27
AutoJunk.nl has shared images of the new BMW X2. The crossover was spotted for the first time in the flesh at the BMW Museum in Munich. The X2 is the latest entrant in BMW's X range of SUVs and..
BMW X2 M rendered in near-production guise
03/11/2017 - 11:16
Just last week, BMW revealed the production BMW X2. Now, X-Tomi Design has released a speculative rendering of a near-production BMW X2 M. ] The BMW X2 M in the rendering features a
BMW X2 reportedly confirmed for India
27/09/2017 - 11:49
The BMW Concept X2 will hit the global market in production form as the BMW X2 next year. According to a report from CarDekho, the coupe-crossover model has been confirmed for India. e
BMW X2 unveiled at a private event, world premiere in January 2018 - Report
27/09/2017 - 09:54
One of BMW Blog's readers was invited to a private event hosted by BMW BeLux, where the German manufacturer privately unveiled the all new BMW X2. It's scheduled for a world premiere in January..
Camouflaged BMW X2 snapped at Milano Fashion Show
23/09/2017 - 16:24
Although we hoped that the BMW X2's debut would take place at IAA 2017 in Frankfurt, BMW instead unveiled a slew of new concepts. However, that has not stopped them from teasing the pre-production..
Exclusive first images of the production BMW X2 in urban livery
09/08/2017 - 19:18
Ahead of its debut at the 2017 IAA in Frankfurt, Highsnobiety has acquired high resolution images of a pre-production BMW X2. Even with the the urban-themed wrap, this is our best look at the..
Rear of the production BMW X2 rendered based on patent leaks
08/08/2017 - 09:17
Based off the patents of the production BMW X2's body, Shoeb Kalania has digitially illustrated the rear of the BMW's next coupe-SUV. Expected to world premiere at the IAA 2017 next month, the X2 is..
Production BMW X2 rendered based on patent image
08/07/2017 - 16:38
BMW's new coupe-SUV illustrated in production guise. The production BMW X2's patent images leaked this week and based on details revealed by the images and spy media, IAB's illustrator Shoeb..
Production BMW X2 leaked in patent images
05/07/2017 - 12:34
Will reportedly debut at IAA 2017 in September. BMW unveiled the BMW Concept X2 at the 2016 Paris Motor Show and is currently testing its production version on the roads. Months ahead of the..
BMW to launch 25+ new models by 2021 - Report
15/02/2017 - 11:50
Global premium car sales expected to grow to 9 million units by 2021, and BMW wants a big share of it. In a product offensive, BMW will launch over more than 25 models by 2021, as per a new report..
Production 2018 BMW X2 prototype sheds camouflage
16/11/2016 - 18:24
Expected to be shown next year Just months after the BMW Concept X2 made its world debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, BMW has started testing its production version (codename: BMW F49) with..
BMW X2 "absolutely right" for Australia, says country's product head - Report
24/10/2016 - 14:23
Will reach the global market in 2018. The BMW X2 (codename: BMW F49) was previewed by the BMW Concept X2 at the Paris Motor Show last month. In the latest, the X2's Australian launch has been..
Production BMW X2 - Rendering
11/10/2016 - 19:45
Expected to be unveiled late next year. BMW unveiled the Concept X2 at the 2016 Paris Motor Show a fortnight back, revealing the proposed exterior design of the new SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle)...
Karim Habib describes the BMW Concept X2's design - Video
09/10/2016 - 12:06
Production version to arrive in 2018. The BMW Group has released a new video in which Karim Habib, Head of Design Team, BMW, describes the BMW Concept X2's design. The smallest of BMW's 'Sports..
BMW X2 vs. BMW X1 - In Images
03/10/2016 - 15:36
BMW X2 will appeal to the younger generation of car buyers. At the 2016 Paris Motor Show, BMW revealed the newest entrant to their ever-growing lineup of 'X' crossovers - the BMW X2. Although it..
BMW X2 Concept - In 8 Live Images
29/09/2016 - 18:36
The BMW X2 concept made its debut today at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, which opened for the media today. The long-rumored X2, which debuts as a concept today, is expected to launch in Europe in the..
BMW X2 rendered ahead of Paris Motor Show debut
04/07/2016 - 14:24
Will go on sale in Europe in 2017. The long-rumoured BMW X2 is finally set to go official this year as the Bavarian automaker's third 'Sports Activity Coupe' after the BMW X6 and the BMW X4. A..


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Dairy sector welcomes the Windsor Framework
Calls for involvement of businesses in the development of Framework implementation planning
The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland (DCNI) has welcomed the Windsor Framework but cautions that the approach to implementation of it will be critical.
Dr Mike Johnston, Chief Executive said:
“The main concern of the dairy industry throughout the negotiations was that nothing would be done to interfere with the operation of the Protocol in allowing trade with customers in the EU Single Market to continue,”
“Therefore, we welcome the agreement since it underpins our continued access to both the EU Single Market and the GB market. We are also pleased that issues associated with moving goods from GB to NI have been addressed.”
DCNI also welcomed the decision to withdraw the NI Protocol Bill saying it had represented a significant threat to continued access to the EU Single Market.
Dr Johnston said:
“The Protocol Bill undoubtedly posed a threat to continued access, with that threat removed and with the new agreement in place, the approach to how it is implemented will be critical; it is important therefore, that businesses are closely involved in the development of implementation plans to ensure that the objective of unfettered and easy movement of goods is achieved.”


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Hyundai India has successfully launched their first compact SUV in the country. They have also confirmed their future plans in the Indian market, which is a vital market around the globe.
The Korean based automobile manufacturer has confirmed that they are working on new platforms. Among their new products Hyundai will introduce its first MPV in the country.
They had previously showcased a concept back in 2012 called Hexa Space. Hyundai engineers and designers will use it as a template to create their first MPV for Indian market.
Undoubtedly the MPV will get Hyundai's Fluidic 2.0 design language. It is currently unclear what this model could be named, however, Hexa Space does not sound all that bad.
Just as they introduced the Creta with an AMT option in diesel engine trim, a similar move could be applied to their all-new MPV model, which could make its Indian debut at 2016 Auto Expo.
In terms of engine options, it is a bit too early to discuss that and Hyundai could use their existing engines. Priority lies in introducing an AMT option, which will push the sales of their MPV as soon as it is launched.


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NetEase technology news October 6th, according to the Wall Street Journal reported that the global technology industry is engaged in the battle for talent, but in China, foreign Internet Co are losing their appeal.
once upon a time, for the big American Internet Co to work for some people in China is very attractive. But now, even some prominent American Internet Co, it is difficult to attract Chinese high-end talent.
Airbnb is one of the world’s highest valuation startups. A year ago, the company said it had introduced new investors in China, in part to help its chief executive officer (CEO). But sources said the short rental website is still looking for this candidate.
similarly, Uber began to look for more than two years ago in charge of its business in China, but also has no results. Two months ago, the company took the initiative to give up, agreed to sell its business to competitors China China drops in exchange for travel, travel by 20% of the shares, and travel drops in on the deal worth $36 billion.
is difficult to attract a strong leader, is a foreign Internet Co in China is generally in the plight of a symptom, but also one of the causes. Farsighted executives of these companies to avoid, because they had a premonition that they cannot succeed in China — and in turn, the lack of top talent, let more difficult to successfully explore the Chinese complex market companies.
Li Kaifu, chairman of
Innovation workshop, said: "the chances of success for a multinational Internet Co in China are close to zero. So why would he take a chance to accept a job with a near zero chance of success?." Li Kaifu had led Google China business during 2005 to 2009.
China’s huge number of Internet users and rapid growth, has reached 710 million. YAHOO, eBay and Amazon have tried to develop the market, but it is difficult to adapt to the country’s unique consumer culture, fierce competition and the regulatory environment of trouble.
consulting firm (EgonZehnder) in Chinese Office of former partner Bill · (Bill King); Kim said: "I often encourage some popular candidates, perhaps they could become the first truly successful people and create a legend. They have strong leaders, but many choose to give up."
but there are exceptions. LinkedIn has been working very successfully since its launch in China in 2014. Observers attributed this to the company’s hiring of former Google China executive Shen Boyang as its head of China operations. Shen Boyang said he asked the LinkedIn to grant him greater autonomy, this requirement has been met.
when Uber entered the Chinese market in 2014, had very high expectations


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“When you run a business called Time Out and the whole world is spending its time in, you know things are going to be very difficult,” says Julio Bruno, global CEO of the Time Out Group, of the past 12 months. But the good news, says Bruno, is that as more countries succeed in vaccinating their populations against the Covid-19 virus, the world’s urban centres are reopening.
“We are now seeing the renaissance of the city, albeit little by little,” observes Bruno, who urges consumers to get out there and show support for the bars, restaurants, theatres and cinemas that might otherwise never grace the Time Out listings again. These businesses, often small independent enterprises run by entrepreneurs, are the lifeblood of city life, he points out, but we have only just realised how crucial they are. “One thing I’ve seen during the pandemic is that people are no longer taking these places for granted,” Bruno says.
Time Out itself rebranded as Time Out In at the height of the pandemic, but has weathered the storm. In large part, that reflects the firm financial footing Bruno has put the business on since joining in 2015. Capital raising has given the company the firepower to diversify its activities through acquisitions, as well as providing a safety buffer. The group floated on the Alternative Investment Market, the junior stock market of the London Stock Exchange, in 2016, and while the share price plummeted during the worst of last year’s crisis, it is making a steady recovery during 2021.
Looking forward, Bruno is optimistic that as soon as lockdown restrictions are eased, people will return to the activities they once enjoyed – to the advantage of Time Out commercially as advertisers and readers return. “You can see that in the cities that have already begun to reopen, where the bars and restaurants and public spaces are already full,” he says.
Bruno’s argument is that while people have embraced leisure experiences in their homes, from streaming film, theatre and comedy to ordering more takeaway food, they are ready to get their old lives back. “We are social animals – we want to go out and share experiences,” he says.
The popularity of Time Out Group’s newly opened Time Out Market Dubai proves the point, Bruno suggests. The venue, which launched last month, is the latest in a series of such markets that the company has opened around the world, offering consumers in a number of cities an opportunity to eat and drink at outlets run by local bars and restauranteers in a food hall setting. It is a good example of the diversification on which the company has embarked.
Elsewhere, Bruno is also upbeat about the prospects for the travel sector, another industry where Time Out Group has a keen interest after years of publishing guides and schedules for travellers. “We are already seeing rising interest in travel at a national level with people now exploring their own countries more than ever,” he says. International travel will take longer to return, he concedes, given the restrictions ongoing in so many parts of the world, “but again, people want to travel – they want to see how people live in other countries”.
What about the idea that Covid-19 will lead to permanent lifestyle changes for many people? For example, if people no longer have to work in the office five days a week, might they decide to give up living in the cities that Time Out has documented for so long?
Bruno is not buying such arguments, pointing to longstanding research suggesting that urbanisation will be a continuing theme globally, with the United Nations predicting that up to 50% of the global population living in cities within the next 25 years or so. “Cities are going to remain at the cultural centre; they are the places people come to meet people who feel and think like them, who share their curiosity,” he argues.
All of which augurs well for the long-term future of a business that has already come a long way since Tony Elliott published the first Time Out listings pamphlet in London in 1968. Elliott would retain ownership of the business for more than 40 years, but since he sold down his stake in 20111, the company has invested in its digital assets and expanded worldwide. Its reach is now remarkable, publishing content on more than 350 cities in 58 countries
It is the sort of innovation and growth often associated with start-up businesses, rather than industry stalwarts, but Bruno is at heart an entrepreneur. Alongside the day job, he’s an active angel investor, providing capital, as well as strategic advice and support to a portfolio of small enterprises. “The start-up community is very important to me,” he reflects. “Their passion is inspiring.”
Current interests include the consumer health company Audicus, based in New York, where Bruno has been involved since 2013. He also serves as an advisory board member at Spain’s Top Seeds Lab, and holds a similar role at the business school Birkbeck.
The key, he suggests, is to practice what you preach – larger businesses can be agile too. “The disruption of Covid has been a double whammy for us, hitting our advertising in our publish businesses but also forcing us to close our food markets,” he says. “But we pivoted to Time In for a while – and now we’re getting back out there.”


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Published 5 years ago.
About a 3 minute read.
Atlanta, GA - UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced a collaboration with Thor Trucks, Inc. to develop and test a fully-electric class 6 delivery truck in Los Angeles, Calif. The truck is expected to be ready for deployment later this year.
UPS continues to work with a range of companies to test and deploy promising alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles that will help it meet its sustainability goals. Electric vehicles, and the charging infrastructure needed to support them, play a critical role in UPS’s vision for its fleet of the future.
UPS continues to work with a range of companies to test and deploy promising alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles that will help it meet its sustainability goals. Electric vehicles, and the charging infrastructure needed to support them, play a critical role in UPS’s vision for its fleet of the future. The Thor electric delivery truck will have a driving range of approximately 100 miles powered by a Thor-designed and built battery that will be lightweight, durable and allow long-range driving distances.
“UPS believes in the future of commercial electric vehicles. We want to support the research needed to make advances and the companies developing those innovative products,” said Carlton Rose, president, global fleet maintenance and engineering for UPS. “Performance is critical in our fleet. We are excited to get this vehicle on the road to test how it handles routes in and around Los Angeles.”
For six months, UPS will test the medium-duty electric delivery truck as part of its fleet. Testing will include off-road evaluation to address durability, battery capacity, technical integration, engineering and any items found during on-road testing. Depending on the success of the deployment, UPS may make additional purchases of the electric vehicle.
“We’re excited about working with a forward-thinking company like UPS, particularly as our first collaboration,” said Dakota Semler, co-founder and CEO of Thor Trucks. “UPS is committed to sustainability and operates one of the most well-respected and complex fleets in the country. This is also an incredibly valuable opportunity to gain insight into what it will take to fulfill our mission of getting entire electric fleets on the road.”
UPS continues to expand its use of electric vehicles and works with a wide array of manufacturers including ARRIVAL, Daimler, Tesla, Thor, Workhorse and others. Using its “Rolling Laboratory” approach, UPS deploys about 9,300 low-emission vehicles to determine which technology works best in each route configuration. This includes all-electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, ethanol, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and propane.
For more information on UPS’s sustainability initiatives, please visit www.ups.com/sustainability or view the company’s 16th annual Sustainability Report.
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. UPS is committed to operating more sustainably – for customers, the environment and the communities we serve around the world. Learn more about our efforts at ups.com/sustainability. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com. Our new sustainability eNewsletter, UPS Horizons, can be found at ups.com/sustainabilitynewsletter. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.
Published Aug 7, 2018 12pm EDT / 9am PDT / 5pm BST / 6pm CEST


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Okta provides identity management. The company has announced a developer edition of its software in the hope that programmers will build applications with an identity layer built directly into the app.
The firm says that the two divergent spheres of information access control and mobile device management are separated into distinct technology silos and it wants to coalesce these two entities.
Okta Developer Edition is a "fully productized" (Ed — they mean its usable) version of the company's APIs, which gives software developers a way to build Okta's identity components, including secure authentication, single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, and Active Directory integration, directly into their web or mobile applications.
Adobe Systems is using Okta's platform to secure federated enterprise access for Adobe Creative Cloud for Enterprise.
Okta opened up its platform last year, expanding the reach of its APIs and developing SDKs for different languages.
The Okta identity platform handles the set of enterprise identity requirements and its APIs are supported with SDKs, sample applications, and a dedicated developer community, all of which are available at developer.okta.com.
We're addressing identity management — traditionally a very complex and time-consuming part of application development says Todd McKinnon, CEO of Okta.
"Whether one developer is at a startup, working in internal IT at a mid-size company, or part of a 50-person development team at an ISV, Okta will secure an application and provide the authentication services to get the product to market safely," he added.


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30th September, 2019
Diesel drivers, numbering 470,000, demanded compensation from Volkswagen over an emissions-rigging scandal in Germany’s first-ever class-action lawsuit.
Volkswagen is also facing the national vzbv association of consumer groups, which is acting on behalf of around 470,000 owners of diesel-powered vehicles produced by the Volkswagen Group.
Presiding Judge, Michael Neef, said, as proceedings began in the Braunschweig Higher Regional Court, that the court deems the class action case admissible. However, Neef suggested that the parties should seek a settlement outside the court.
“A settlement is very difficult but possible, however, placing a value on the damage done to diesel owners was far from simple,’’ Neef said.
The association of consumer groups expressed satisfaction with the start of the proceedings in Braunschweig, located not far from the German carmaker’s headquarters in Wolfsburg.
VZBV lawyer, Ralf Stoll, said he was positively surprised that the court has conducted the case very well and “has given indications in our view that it could reach a judgement in our favour’’.
Head of VZBV, Klaus Mueller said “we believe that Volkswagen deceived them and now they must face the consequences.’’
Germany began allowing class-action lawsuits in 2018, having the Volkswagen case as the first for German court proceedings. Due to the expected massive public interest, the first hearing in the case was moved to Braunschweig’s civic hall. The carmaker argues that customers did not suffer any damage as all the cars could be driven and were safe.
Volkswagen, however, said it has reached settlements with individual customers in many cases, but in the case of the class-action, its lawyers see the settlement as barely conceivable. The company has so far spent $30 billion in dealing with the fallout of the diesel scandal in Germany and abroad, particularly in the U.S.
The former and current bosses of the car giant are also facing court cases. The scandal has not, however, put the carmaker in a financial crisis.
Volkswagen had net profits in the first half of the year of 7.2 billion euros or 8.4 percent more than in the same period in 2018.


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Setting aside months of speculation of where Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma was after he was not seen on a public platform for months, the Chinese billionaire appeared on a public platform through a video meeting with 100 rural teachers in China on Wednesday morning.
This was the first public appearance of the entrepreneur since October which resulted in a jump in the stocks of the e-commerce giant at the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Following reports the Ma was not present at the final episode of a TV show featuring him as a judge, there was a surge in speculation over social media about the whereabouts of China’s highest-profile entrepreneur. The speculations were also fueled because of a regulatory clamp down in China of the Ma businesses.
During his last public appearance on October 24, in a speech at a Shanghai forum Ma had severely criticized the regulatory system of China which resulted in a confrontation with the Chinese regulators with the final outcome being the suspension of a $37-billion IPO of Alibaba’s financial affiliate Ant Group.
The first reports of Ma having met the teachers via a live video conference on Wednesday appeared on Tianmu News, a news portal under Zhejiang Online, which has the supported of the provincial Zhejiang government.
Ma participated in the online ceremony of the annual Rural Teacher Initiative event on Wednesday, said the Jack Ma Foundation. The attendance of Ma in the online event was also confirmed by Alibaba Group.
After the reports of his reappearance, there was a 6 per cent jump in Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares whereas the wider Hang Seng index increased by 0.64 per cent.
What makes Ma’s reappearance interesting is that fact Alibaba is set to raise at least $5 billion from the sale of a US dollar-denominated bond later this month. It has been reported that the sale proceeds from the bond could yield as much as $8 billion which would potentially be used for general corporate expenditure by the e-commerce giant.
Chinese regulatory authorities launched an antitrust investigation last month into the business practices of Alibaba. In recent months, the regulators have initiated measures to clamp down on alleged anticompetitive behaviour by the companies in China’s booming internet industry.
In the video message which lasted for only 50 seconds, Ma was seen wearing a navy pullover while speaking directly to the camera placed in a room that had grey marble walls and a striped carpet. The exact place from where Ma was speaking was not apparently clear from the video or the Tianmu News article.
Teachers who were awarded the Jack Ma Rural Teachers Award were addressed by Ma.
“We cannot meet in Sanya due to the epidemic,” he said in the speech, which did not discuss his whereabouts. “When the epidemic is over, we must find time to make up for everyone’s trip to Sanya, and then we will meet again!”
“We shouldn’t over-interpret his reappearance into public view this time, said Xie Pu, founder of Chinese tech website Techie Crab. “Alibaba still has a good governance structure — there are partners and a board of directors.”
(Adapted from Reuters.com)