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As the UK still languishes in a transition period after leaving the EU, concerns are emerging that the race for warehousing space could spike as many manufactures begin to stockpile products due to customs delays.
Midland Pallet Trucks, which specialises in lifting and material handling equipment for the warehousing, factory, retail and manufacturing industries including pallet trucks, manual stacker trucks and lift tables, expects stockpiling to begin imminently. The West Midlands firm predicts a notable increase in stockpiling goods from overseas before the Brexit deadline at the end of 2020.
This will place a further strain on an industry that has struggled to cope with the demands of both retailers and online shoppers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with many of the UK’s warehousing spaces already at full capacity.
One such company to start stockpiling essential parts is luxury car manufacturer Bentley which currently imports around 45 percent of components from continental Europe. Fears that these components will be delayed at customs due to a no-deal Brexit and stop manufacturing are said to have driven the Crewe-based manufacturer to spend millions stockpiling essential products from overseas suppliers due to the lack of a trade deal.
With the deadline fast approaching and the COVID-19 situation making matters worse for both UK and European businesses, it is anticipated that many will be seeking additional warehousing space over the next few months in order to offset price increases, import tariffs and expected customs delays.
With the UK warehousing industry still struggling to attract and retain skilled workers to cope with heightened demand, many industry members are also concerned about the health and safety implications that the additional strain that Brexit related customs delays will cause.
Compounding the space issue is the fact that the warehousing sector is facing a talent shortage, with not enough experienced operatives to deal with heightened demand.
Phil Chesworth, Managing Director of Midland Pallet Trucks said, “With Brexit still continuing to play a central role in the already overwhelmed warehousing sector and the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, we expect to see warehouses and their employees stretched like never before. It’s a unique set of challenges but underlines just how vital our warehousing spaces and the overall industry is to the day-to-day operations of the entire country. We expect space to be at a premium within the next few months, with that demand growing the closer we get to the deadline. For many organisations, stockpiling is a business continuity issue as there is no clarity as yet what delays we can expect to see in the aftermath of transitioning out of the EU.”
Midland Pallet Truck products are vital to the safe operation of any busy warehousing, factory or logistics operation and can streamline the process of the entire shipping and delivery process.
To find out more about Midland Pallet Trucks, visit https://www.midlandpallettrucks.com/


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Def Jam Recordings, one of the most iconic labels in hip-hop history, officially launched its celebration of 35 years of shaking the culture Sunday night with the star-studded Def Jam 35 Night Market bash in Brooklyn.
As VIPs and Def Jam artists past and present—2 Chainz, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Teyana Taylor, TJ Porter, Fetty Luciano, Slick Rick, Suzi Wu, Def Jam CEO Paul Rosenberg, Joseline Hernandez, and DJ Premier—mingled, an all-female DJ lineup led by DJ Jazzy Joyce, Nyla Symone and Odalys kept the party rocking. A pop-up from Scarr’s Pizza fed the masses, Courvoisier and Heineken kept the vibes going and VIPs enjoyed special activations—a Puma basketball court and a Snipes bodega hosted by special guests Stretch and Bobbito offering limited-edition T-Shirts and the Puma x Def Jam Clyde Court. A surprise performance from Fabolous and Jadakiss closed out the evening’s festivities.
The Brooklyn Night Market event was the latest salvo in an ongoing Def Jam 35 celebration that includes the co-curated Hip-Hop Classics: Def Jam playlist via Spotify, the newly launched Def Jam: Essentials playlist via Apple Music, the revival of the original signature Def Jam varsity jacket and capsule collection via streetwear giant KITH, the forthcoming Tony Touch mixtape documentary feature From Scratch, an experiential activation at ComplexCon Long Beach and much more.

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Published on July 19th, 2022 | by Bibhuranjan0
Ripple faces a crash: What can be the reasons?
Ripple recently celebrated a fresh year-low for commodities market. Its worldwide capitalization had fallen beneath one trillion dollars at some billion, a decline of about twelve percent from earlier. That value among all major cryptocurrencies have decreased at about one trillion dollars this year, and nearly these of them are currently worth twice somewhat lesser in comparison to its data that is accessible. These sharp sales among traders amidst rising inflationary concerns and thus the suspension of withdrawals by cryptocurrency loan firm the blockchain company appeared to have been the primary causes of another cryptocurrency meltdown. The equities are being affected by traders continued avoidance of risky investments. You can know about Ethereum you can trade in numerous crypto assets that are onto a good path of financial well-being.
According to analysts, this sharp decline in the purchasing power the cryptocurrencies is still a sign indicating buyers’ approach to explore was declining. Investors were obviously leery about speculative bets. Cryptocurrency is amongst the most unstable financial tools due given some of its unknowns or even volatility. Above the previous few years, its Treasury Department had raised taxes so stabilize prices, exerting strain upon that cryptocurrencies. According to cross & director of cryptocurrency effective profitability the majority of virtual assets lost money well over evening amid a great purchase followed the figures suggesting American hyperinflation surpassing a half – century record.
Some days back, there are a lot more cryptocurrency write downs because buyers appear – having worried. Since like right now, Bitcoins were selling near the cheapest rates, having fallen any more or around 7 percent both. Throughout the upcoming weeks, this negative tendency might indeed persist, said warned. Although typically cryptocurrencies had fared worse than Btc, these times there are within increased demands from appropriate legal obstacles. According a analyst featured together in the piece, just a few cryptocurrencies were expected able endure these fluctuations in demand.
According to Mr. Thakral, chief operating officer of digital currencies, this same marketplace for cryptocurrencies is under a lot economic crisis as a result of increasing grocery, fuel, and then fuel costs, since Bitcoins like Ethereum had experienced dual declines out over reported period. Capital systems around the world had experienced a significant decline afterwards when the aggregate demand revealed that biggest deflation after 1981, added Thakral. Governments’ worldwide keep reporting sharp increases, as well as the marketplace was anticipated likely stay bumpy with in upcoming days. Analysts anticipate experienced traders will profit first from present fall of exchange rates, which enables people to trade cryptocurrency for 2021 pricing. Darshan claims why most consumers are concerned that its own federal will need to importance of implementing via tightening monetary policy more quickly then expected if price level don’t begin to deteriorate shortly.
Overheated territory for bitcoins
BTC suffered a further big correction, falling to around dollars 20,000, its worst in far more than five weeks. Its DXY which has gained 2percent throughout the last session, may be at a six-month peak, which has caused a decline with in equity or cryptocurrency sectors. Upon that regular timespan, its Bitcoin movement had deviated somewhere under the previously created pyramid shape. $24,000 is anticipated as an urgent yet crucial assistance. Experts from the application’s development of financial markets report that the price action fell under thirty when Bitcoins reached its overbought region.
Fluctuation: Ripple was extremely unstable, same as in all digital currencies. It was a capital value because the cost could spike or drop sharply at any time. Considering assembling a varied asset allocation comprising people on low assets prior engaging to Ripple. Thier investing budget must only comprise a tiny portion from slightly elevated holdings such cryptocurrencies.
Regulatory disputes: XRP is embroiled in such a dispute. Along with all other digital currencies, Ripple is subject of continuing regulatory oversight, discussion, even lawsuit.
Although Currency’s domination rose beyond 48 percent during the first moment in maybe ten months, ETH. had a week-long correction from over twenty percent whilst experiencing a somewhat that eleven percent decline in value relative to BTC. A falling band formation has just been breached on the Ethereum-Bitcoin graph, that have dropped underneath the prior resistance level around 1.10. That 0.076 mark is predicted to be another resistance between Ethereum-Bitcoin, researchers stated.
Photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash


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COCHISE COUNTY — People are calling each other names over it. Some have made up their minds about a person’s political views depending on whether they wear one or not. Many individuals say that people who wear them care about others, and those who don’t wear them are selfish and disrespectful.
A security guard in Michigan was even shot to death because of it.
Face masks — whether they’re multicolored and fashionable, or clinical-looking and plain — are no longer just a precautionary measure amid the pandemic. They also have become a topic of controversy and contention that seem to be dividing people in all sorts of ways.
In Cochise County, the majority of people questioned in man-on-the-street interviews conducted by the Herald/Review, believe wearing a mask should be a person’s choice, not a government mandate.
Interviews were done in Douglas, Bisbee, Sierra Vista, Benson and Willcox during the last week, and more people than not were not wearing masks. Those who were donning masks — except for one man in Bisbee — said they should be worn by choice.
Mayors from some of the cities and towns also weighed in, and like their constituents, said face coverings should be an individual’s option.
Some opinions were stronger than others.
“Everybody is giving mixed messages, it’s just nuts,” said Hereford resident John Smith on Tuesday as he sat outside a coffee shop in Sierra Vista “It’s clearly political. It’s all about the president and trying to get him out of office.”
“This whole thing (masks) is FUBAR,” added Smith, who was not wearing a mask. “You know what that means, right?”
A few tables away from Smith, Chris Froelich, a major in the Army who works on Fort Huachuca, said wearing one should be a personal choice unless it’s required by a business owner or government entity.
But he also said he would feel pressured if he were the only one in a public place not wearing one.
According to several published reports, that’s what recently happened to Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House’s coronavirus task force. Pence sparked an outcry after he visited the Mayo Clinic in April and was the only person in his group not wearing a mask.
Likewise, President Donald Trump appeared maskless in public on Memorial Day and was lambasted for it, while former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill, both donned black masks on their Memorial Day outing. Trump later mocked Biden for the face covering. Biden said of wearing a mask, “It’s about respect.”
That sentiment its echoed by signs posted on the doors of some of the trendy shops on Bisbee’s Tombstone Canyon. “Bisbee is a community that RESPECTS others rights to be healthy. Please respect our town and our population. And wear a mask.”
But the sign was not posted on the door of the Killer Bee Wild Desert Honey shop, also on Bisbee’s main thoroughfare. Store manager Betty Krug had a purple mask around her neck.
“It’s all about making people feel comfortable,” Krug said. “I always ask people if they want me to put mine on. They say ‘no.’ They ask me if they should put it on, and I say ‘no.’”
“People are frightened. But it should be up to them to wear one or not,” Krug added. “Making it mandatory would be fascist.”
None of the businesses and shops visited by the Herald/Review in other municipalities had signs on their storefront doors.
While employees at grocery stores and other businesses around Cochise County are required to wear masks by their respective employers, none of the businesses are forcing their patrons to.
At the Bisbee Coffee Co. last week, several people sat outside and none wore face masks. Some were locals, others tourists.
Bisbee Mayor David Smith recently told the Herald/Review that he urges people to wear masks and gloves whenever they’re in public.
On the Facebook page Bisbee City Watch, Smith posted this: “The mask vs. no mask argument is unwinnable by either side and perhaps we should remember that this virus wave will end, and friendships fractured over this polarizing argument may not mend.”
“We are all in this together and we still have personal choices and in reality, only answer to ourselves. Hopefully, all of us will do a better job of respecting each other’s personal decisions by taking the hygiene steps you feel appropriate and removing yourself from being around those that you feel don’t. Business owners DO have the right to require masks be worn in their place of business and although I cannot mandate, I do strongly recommend the continued use of masks in public settings.”
On the same Facebook page where Smith posted his views, another Bisbee resident said: “Just came back from Safeway and couldn’t believe the number of stupid people not wearing masks...totally oblivious to reality!!”
On the same Facebook page, others bemoaned the fact that tourists are not wearing masks while in Bisbee.
Maynard Kreps, who lives in the Warren district of Bisbee, is the only person interviewed by the Herald/Review who said masks should be mandatory.
Kreps, who was about to take off on his electric bicycle after patronizing the Bisbee Coffee Co., was not wearing a face mask at the time.
“I would wear one all the time if they weren’t so uncomfortable,” Kreps said. “I don’t wear it when I’m on my bike, but I have it with me and I think they’re necessary and so they should be mandatory.”
“I wear it whenever I go into a public place,” Kreps added.
The Centers For Disease Control’s website recommends cloth face masks in public settings where social distancing can be a challenge. But the CDC also calls the masks a “voluntary public health measure.”
“The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations,” its website states.
Mayors in other Cochise County cities said masks are recommended and give people a sense of safety, but they should not be imposed on anyone.
Tombstone Mayor Dusty Escapule said the masks are recommended by “people who have knowledge and know about these things.”
Escapule, whose town also depends heavily on tourism, said city employees and store owners are wearing masks, but are not forcing anyone else to.
“I think it’s more a feeling that we care about their (visitors) safety,” Escapule said. “I would say that about 70 percent of the people who are visiting here are wearing masks, and most of them are older.”
Toney King, mayor of Benson, said he wears masks in public and he also carries hand sanitizer.
“I recommend that people wear them, but it should be their choice,” King said.
Sierra Vista Mayor Rick Mueller said: “Face masks are highly recommended, not required.”
While many people interviewed said they would not begrudge anyone who wears or doesn’t wear a mask, an article written by Seth J. Gillihan, Ph.D., in Psychology Today, says “masks are triggering conflict and rage.”
An extreme example of that rage occurred in April in Flint, Michigan, where a security guard at a Family Dollar was shot to death by three members of a family after the victim asked one of the individuals to put on a mask before entering the store. The governor of Michigan had previously put out an order making masks mandatory in public.
One of the perpetrators was arrested and Flint police are still searching for the other two, according to the Associated Press.
In his Psychology Today article, Gillihan, a psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychology in the Psychiatry Department at the University of Pennsylvania, says it’s not the mask itself that irks people.
“Like many points of controversy, it’s not the thing itself but what it represents,” he said in the article. “Masks may be seen as a marker of political loyalty, triggering feelings of ‘us-versus-them.’”
“A politically liberal person may assume that someone wearing a mask is ‘on their team,’ while those who don’t wear masks must be Fox News-watching Republicans,” he wrote. “The anger they feel is not simply about the mask, but about believing the non-mask wearer is a certain type of person.”
“On the flip side, the politically conservative might interpret calls for masks as politically-driven efforts to play up the seriousness of the coronavirus,” Gillihan added. “Being asked to don a mask then becomes not just a request to protect the health of others, but to give up their worldview and political allegiance. “
In a guest column in the New York Times on Monday, Margaret Renkl echoed Gillihan’s assessment, saying that “wearing a mask has become the political equivalent of wearing a bumper sticker on your face.”
In some areas of Cochise County, it may not be so much a political statement, but more a revelation of where someone is from.
Susie Vaughn, owner of Buffalo Sisters Antiques and Collectibles in Willcox, said she knows when an out-of-towner is visiting the area.
“If someone comes in wearing a mask, I know they’re not from here,” Vaughn said. “I have a mask, but I don’t require that anyone wear one in my store. I’ll only wear one if I have to.”
A few doors down from Vaughn, Rodney Brown, owner of a barbecue eatery, said people in Willcox are not too worried about the mask controversy.
“I believe in choices,” Brown said. “I don’t look down on people who wear them, or don’t wear them. Willcox is pretty laid back. We’re not even worried about most of it.”
Douglas resident Jacqueline Suarez said she would like to stop thinking about COVID-19 and the mask versus no-mask debate. But every time she sees someone wearing a mask, it evokes feelings of desolation.
“When I see everybody wearing one, I feel really sad because people are turning away from you,” Suarez said. “When this all started I was in Walmart and it seems that everyone was wearing a mask except me. I had to cough and I held it. I think people need to get over this and get on with their lives.”
Benson resident Michael Phillips had a white surgical mask around his neck as he sat on a bench outside the Ace Hardware on 4th Street last Friday. Like Suarez, he said society is becoming too frightened.
“I wear a mask out of respect for other people,” Phillips said. “But I wish people wouldn’t be so afraid of each other.”


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The selection of available options in the meat department has decreased, mostly because of coronavirus outbreaks in the meatpacking plants.
Meat producers were forced to temporarily close plants, and those who managed to stay open only with some skeleton crews had to focus entirely on producing more basic products, like bone-in cuts.
Plus, given that those essential large orders from restaurants and schools were cut down substantially, it’s no surprise that everyone had to adapt.
Even more, beef and pork production in May 2021 were down 25 percent and 15 percent in 2020. Even if you might not be able to get the exact cut you wished for, there are still plenty of options to purchase out there!


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Fri, 13 Jan 2023 | ADMINISTRATION
Nine restaurants are to close and 12 other sites will transfer to a newco after the company behind fast-casual chain Burger Byron fell into administration. Interpath Advisory’s Claire Winder and Chris Pole were appointed as joint administrators to Famously Proper Ltd, which operates the Byron and Mother Clucker chains, on January 13.
Upon their appointment, the joint administrators immediately concluded the sale of the business and assets of 12 sites to newco Tristar Foods Ltd. Nine of the company’s sites will close with immediate effect, leading to the loss of 218 jobs.
The business had previously closed more than half of its 51 sites in a pre-pack administration resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 12 months, it had faced further trading difficulties, including rising costs for food and utilities and a drop in consumer confidence amid the cost-of-living crisis. While several options were explored to secure the future of the business, no solvent offers were made, leading the firm’s directors to appoint administrators.
Sites will close in Manchester, London – Wembley, Edinburgh Lothian Road, Bluewater, Chelmsford, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Southampton and Salisbury.
The sites that will transfer to the new owners are: London – Covent Garden; London – Central St Giles; London – White City; London – Old Brompton Road; Liverpool; Edinburgh Royal Mile; Cambridge; Bury St Edmunds; Ipswich, York; Norwich; and Oxford.
Commenting on the process, joint administrator and Interpath Managing Director Claire Winder said: "Like many other companies across the hospitality sector, Byron had seen a boost in trading following the end of the COVID lockdown measures. However, the sky-high inflation seen in 2022 saw costs spiral and resulted in reduced customer spend, which in turn placed significant cashflow pressure on the business.”
"We are pleased to have concluded this transaction which will see the Bryon name continue to trade on high streets across the country and which, importantly, has preserved a significant number of jobs."
Find out about the pressures hitting the UK hospitality sector are creating acquisition opportunities.
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The mega-mania surrounding OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other AI chatbots has led to what might be called the Bacon Effect.
Not content with chatbots that simply answer everyday Wikipedia questions, engineers and entrepreneurs are rushing to use the new technology in just about everything imaginable, from cooking aids and crisis hotlines to appliances of sexual stimulation.
The mantra seems to be: “When in doubt, throw some ChatGPT on it!”, writes Gizmodo, Telegraph reports.
Tech blogs in late 2021 and 2022 were filled with countless stories of generic activity. There were fashion metaverses, Taco Bell NFTs, and yes, there were plenty of porn metaverses, too.
Generative AI tools already seem to have significantly more long-term staying power than cryptocurrencies or expensive JPEGs – or at least some identifiable use cases – but that hasn’t stopped some from pushing AI integrations to the limit of the mind.
Below you can see some of the weirdest AI chatbot integrations you’ve seen so far. /Telegraph/
Artificial intelligence was integrated into an eating disorder helpline
ChatGPT helped write a script for a Marc Jacobs fashion show


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Amazon Studios announced on February 13 that the award-winning writers, producers, and actors Donald Glover (Atlanta) and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) will create and star in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a new series based on the 2005 New Regency film. Glover and Waller-Bridge will also serve as executive producers, with co-creator and executive producer Francesca Sloane (Atlanta, Fargo), who will serve as showrunner, and executive producers Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer (New Regency), and Jenny Robins (Wells Street Films).
“Talk about the dream team! Donald and Phoebe are two of the most talented creators and performers in the world. It’s truly a dream for us, as it will be for our global audience, to have these two forces of nature collaborating as a powerhouse creative team,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “Mr. and Mrs. Smith is an iconic property, and we can’t wait to see how Donald, Phoebe, and Francesca make it their own. We’re thrilled to be working with them, and with such great partners at New Regency.”
Said Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer of New Regency, “Having had the pleasure of successful collaborations with the incredibly talented Donald Glover, most recently on Guava Island, we all started talking about other projects to do together and when he suggested the idea of a new take and iteration on the New Regency film, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, we jumped at the chance to get going right away. Adding Phoebe and her company Wells Street Films as a collaborator and co-star takes everything up another level and makes the project worthy of a reimagining for both new audiences and past fans of the original film. We are so excited to be working with Donald, Phoebe, Francesca and the entire team at Amazon Studios.”
The 2005 feature film Mr. and Mrs. Smith, from New Regency and starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, grossed $487 million worldwide during its release.
Francesca Sloane is currently under an overall at Amazon Studios, where she is also developing a series based on Anais Nin’s erotic fiction.
This article is auto-generated by Algorithm Source: www.bollywoodhungama.com


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Future Retail Ltd (FRL) said Amazon has moved to the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court verdict that dismissed the status quo on Future Group’s proposed Rs 24,713 crore-deal with Reliance Industries.
It additionally said that it will seek legal consultants and advocates for defending the matter.
Future Retail’s scrip on BSE was exchanging at 1.83% higher rate at an amount of ₹77.85 on during late exchange.
On 8 February 2021, the Delhi High Court delivered a verdict and passed a stay order on status quo to Future Retail Ltd (FRL) and its associates in the matter concerning the deal between them and Reliance.
The court decided that the authorities cannot be barred from acting as per law.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh allowed the appeal filed by Future Retail contesting the February 2, 2021 verdict of the single judge bench.
The judges additionally declined Amazon’s plea to maintain the order in suppression for seven days so it can take appropriate legal measures.
The court while passing the stay order on February 2, 2021, had notified that legal authorities like National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Competition Commission of India (CCI) and The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) cannot be disallowed or barred to continue or carry out their duties as per law.
The court likewise gave notice to Amazon and directed it to submit its response on FRL’s plea by February 26, 2021, when it will begin its hearing on the matter.
The reports from the first week of February suggested that Amazon has moved the Supreme Court in an attempt to impede the Future-Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) deal.
Amazon in its defence contended that the division bench of the Delhi High Court did not have the authority to take cognizance of the appeal filed by Future Retail Ltd (FRL’s) against the online business operator.
In furtherance of its contentions, Amazon submitted that the bench is not conferred with the power to pass any order that acted against the Singapore International Arbitration Centre’s 25th October emergency mediation plea that restricted Future Group from making any developments regarding resource deal with RIL.
In its previous decision, the Delhi High Court permitted Future Group to keep pursuing its deal with RIL, expressing that the US-based business mogul cannot meddle in the arrangement.
Subsequently, Amazon had moved to the Delhi High Court requesting for implementation of the interim order of the Emergency Arbitrator (EA) at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) that had limited FRL from proceeding with the business deal with Reliance.
Single Judge Justice Midha delivered a status quo verdict directing FRL and its associates to abide by the judgement until further deliberation.
Amazon and Future have been entwined in a legal battle after Amazon approached SIAC, contending that the FRL had abused their agreement by signing a business deal with Reliance Company.
Amazon had dealt into Future Coupons in August 2019, with an alternative of buying the flagship of FRL after a time of 3 to 10 years.
In August 2020 Future Group signed a business deal worth of Rs 24,713-crore with Mukesh Ambani’s’ Reliance Industries Ltd. to sell its retail, co-ordinations and warehousing units


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Apple’s next-generation smartphone may be known as the iPhone 5S, signifying an incremental update over this past September’s iPhone 5. Or it could also be known as the iPhone 6, a much more advanced device than its predecessor in more than a few ways.
Rounding up all the hot specifications-related rumors ahead of the new year, the iPhone 6 will most probably be an improved device in terms of display resolution, camera quality and processor speed. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek had opined earlier in the year that the next-gen phone may have a full-HD display (similar to the 1080p display on the HTC Droid DNA, but most likely with a 4-inch screen or thereabouts) and an improved rear camera sensor. Misek had also hypothesized that the next iPhone may be out in March – this may suggest an incremental update which would be the iPhone 5S, but hopes still remain high for a complete overhaul once the next iPhone is out. The new processor, which could be called A7, may be a quad-core, allowing Apple to keep up with the times.
Those were just some of the hottest rumors and speculation on the iPhone 6’s basic specs. But Apple’s patent applications and third-party concept renderings provide even more insight, and an exciting look into what could be the future of the iPhone. Wireless integration to Mac OS X devices is one of the possibilities based on aforementioned third-party renders, while the patent scene suggests that Apple will be working on a “curved display” for the iPhone 6 which involves a glass-molding technique called “slumping.”
On a “lighter” note, the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 could be the first to be offered in different flavors, and not just the standard black and white options. Like it or not, smartphone buyers can be quite sensitive about color, and one reason people believe the iPhone 5 hasn’t sold as many units as it should have has been the lack of variety when it comes to color. Rumors suggest that red and yellow may be among the new colors offered for the next-generation iPhone.


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The National Football league is said to be in talks with tech companies, including Apple and Google, as they search for a streaming partner for three London-based games the league plans to stream next season.
Reuters reports that Apple has expressed an interest in the deal, perhaps as plan to secure the rights for the games for their Apple TV set top streaming device.
A December report indicated Apple was also involved in talks with the league to obtain streaming rights to NFL Thursday Night Football on a non-exclusive basis. The league was also reported to be in talks with Google, Amazon, and Yahoo about the rights. No announcement has been made as to who may have secured the package for next season.
Live streaming is becoming an important part of the plans technology companies and sports leagues have to remain relevant and create revenue streams in an increasingly digital world. Yahoo live streamed an NFL game from London during the 2015 season. The game was available online free to viewers. The experiment was considered a success, as the NFL reported over 15 million viewers watched some part of the game.
London games scheduled for the 2016 season are: the Indianapolis Colts vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 2, the New York Giants vs. the St. Louis Rams on October 23, and the Washington Redskins vs. the Cincinnati Bengals on October 30.
Details of the financial package for the three London games has not been announced, nor has it been learned whether the three games will be offered as a package deal, or split up among participants. Yahoo is said to have paid $15 million for the rights to last year’s single game.


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Oracle OpenWorld 2015 Day Three: Oracle Moves Toward a Safer Cloud Environment
SAN FRANCISCO — Cloud computing promises to offer businesses efficient and cost-effective solutions to modern challenges, but a common concern in recent years has been the security involved with storing or transferring sensitive data in environments that may be susceptible to threats. On day three of Oracle's OpenWorld here at the Moscone Center, speakers detailed Oracle's approach to this issue. Particularly vocal was Larry Ellison, the company's CTO, who in his afternoon keynote laid out for attendees the updates Oracle has concocted to alleviate this concern.
Ethical users "are losing a lot of cyber battles" to companies, individuals, and countries with malicious or self-serving intentions, Ellison pointed out. "We have to rethink how we deliver technology, especially as vast amounts of data are moved to the cloud."
Ellison outlined some rules of thumb and emphasized that while security is necessary at every level, it is vital that it be pushed "as low in the stack as possible," beyond the applications, databases, operating systems, and servers, and within the silicon of the hardware itself. This is largely "because software…can be changed," Ellison said.
Disabling security should not be an option for customers, Ellison argued. While it might have made sense to offer safe encryption as an option in the past, today the risks are far too high, Ellison noted, and cost isn't a great enough factor to justify it. It is inevitable that if security has a switch, someone will eventually forget to turn it on and cause deeply felt damage, Ellison suggested.
To that end, Oracle introduced memory intrusion detection and wide key encryption. The "high-speed encryption" feature promises low performance impact, according to a slide Ellison showed during his presentation. The company has bolstered its M7 chip, calling the new version Silicon Secured Memory. With the added protection layer, security breaches like Heartbleed and Venom could have been prevented in real time, Ellison said.
Thomas Kurian, Oracle's executive vice president of product development, guided attendees through the various product updates in his morning keynote. In a media and analyst Q&A session following the keynote, Kurian noted that over the past year, the company has introduced 183 new software-as-a-service (SaaS) modules. As far as CRM is concerned, the company has reached beyond sales, marketing, and service to offer new products in the area of field service, e-commerce, order management and capture, and policy automation, Kurian said.
"We've also verticalized CRM into a number of industries, because as you know, CRM is different in different industries," he said. The company provides specialized capabilities to professionals in industries ranging from financial services and telecommunications to consumer packaged goods and pharmaceuticals.
When asked how aggressive the company would be in encouraging customers to move from on-premises solutions to the cloud, Kurian said that customers would be permitted to move their databases to the cloud at their own pace. "We're not forcing anyone to move to the cloud," Kurian said. "We think that most customers know exactly what workloads they want to move into the cloud and when."
During a customer panel moderated by Steve Miranda, executive vice president of applications development at Oracle, end users discussed their experiences in moving various business operations to the cloud. When asked whether there was any data they were hesitant to move due to security reasons, Larry Freed, CIO of Overhead Door Company, noted that while the company was uneasy about exposing confidential employee information to a vendor, it ultimately felt a level of confidence in the applications.
At Oracle OpenWorld Day Two, Speed of Big Data Processing Plays Starring Role
Data has no value unless you mine it quickly and effectively.
At Oracle OpenWorld Day Three, It's All About the Customer
In the age of the empowered consumer, customer experience teams need to "step it up."
Oracle Gets Serious About the Cloud at OpenWorld 2014
Oracle's updated customer experience cloud promises deep integration and "extreme innovation."
Oracle OpenWorld 2015: Oracle Continues its Ascent into the Cloud
Oracle addresses rising standards in customer experience with new cloud-based tools.
At OpenWorld 2016, Oracle Unveils Adaptive Intelligent Cloud Applications
On days one and two of its annual user conference, the vendor expands its cloud-based product portfolio with 'next generation' applications that learn over time.
Oracle OpenWorld 2017: Oracle Fortifies its Cloud Offerings with AI
At its annual user conference, Oracle announces new AI tools for its Adaptive Intelligent Apps and Intelligent Bot solutions.


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Identified membrane transporter in rice that regulates the accumulation and localization of silicon in the leaves. Silicon (Si) is abundant in terrestrial environments and
Rice is one of the world’s most important staple crops, and some varieties are extremely water intensive. More frequent occurrences of severe drought threaten rice production as
The team at National Chung Hsing University that created an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered irrigation calculator capable of reducing water use in rice farming by 20 percent.
© 2012-2023 Rice News Today


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July 18, 2016
Best combination ever?
After its initial application failed, Amoeba Records is launching a bid to open a cannabis dispensary within its 25 year-old flagship store in Berkeley, California, reports East Bay Express.
Last week, Berkeley City Council voted to add two more medical cannabis dispensaries to the area, given high consumer demand and relatively low supply in the college town. This week the Council will choose from five candidates, of which Amoeba is said to be the strongest contender.
Amoeba is keen to diversify in this climate of falling physical sales. “Weed can help save music — absolutely,” Amoeba co-owner David Prinz has previously said. “College kids don’t buy as much music as they used to. It also fits in with what we do, who we are. It’s counterculture to a very high degree.”
We’ll let you know what happens with the result; fingers crossed for Amoeba. For now take a virtual tour of the chain’s enormous outpost in LA.


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CannTrust Receives Licence Suspension Notice from Health Canada
September 17, 2019
By: Marcie Culbert
CannTrust Holdings Inc. will not be able to produce cannabis for a while.
Officials say they received a licence suspension notice from Health Canada earlier today.
The company will still be able to harvest and cultivate existing plants it's greenhouses in Pelham, but it won't be able to produce or sell pot.
CannTrust has been under investigation for allegedly growing marijuana plants in unlicensed rooms.
The company also decided to slash 20 percent of it's workforce earlier this month, laying off 180 people.


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Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory has leaked online, suggesting Square Enix is working on a new entry in the much-loved Disney-RPG franchise.
Kingdom Hearts Melody Of Memory Leaks
As reported by Twitter user 13th Vessel, the logo for Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory was unearthed on the official website for Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road. Right now there’s nothing much to go on, and there’s still a chance it could be a mobile outing rather than major console release.
However, Kinda Funny’s Imran Khan has heavily indicated that the game is a rhythm-based title of some sorts, as when promoted to elaborate on the finding, he simply said, ‘It’s what it sounds like.’ Well, it does sound like a music title, right? So it could very well be that.
The last entry in the franchise launched back in early 2019 for PS4 and Xbox One in the shape of Kingdom Hearts 3. You can read our review on that here.
Given its popularity, it’s very unlikely that Square Enix will abandon the Kingdom Hearts series anytime soon, so expect more details on this soon.


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Metaverse Platform, BlockchainSpace to Onboard 20,000 Guilds With 2.4M Strategic Funding -Breaking
- BlockchainSpace has announced that it raised $2.4million in its latest funding round.
- Funds will be used worldwide to board the next 20,000 guilds.
- BlockchainSpace will launch an Open Guild Marketplace for 2022.
- These new tools will allow for automated credit scoring as well as loan issuance.
BlockchainSpace announces a $2.4 million strategic funding round that comes right after last month’s seed round. The team claims that the money will be used to help onboard more than 10,000,000 people and guilds across the globe.
This fund will help to grow the rapidly-developing NFT Gaming industry. Considering the NFT gaming industry’s explosive evolution, BlockchainSpace will continue to develop its platform to provide more tools and features for guild owners to operate their guilds.
Organizations such as Morningstar Ventures led the round, along with other participants like Crypto.com and Alameda Research, Kingsway Capital and OKEx Ventures. This was responsible for the success of the financing round.
BlockchainSpace can be described as a metaverse platform. BlockchainSpace is a metaverse platform that creates tools to empower the play-to earn gaming community. BlockchainSpace’s focus will be on Guild Performance Monitoring, Guild Data Back and a Guild Financial Bank, which are all designed to help the NFT gaming industry expand.
The platform is home to over 2,000 guilds, 545,000 P2E gamers and has been a great place for scholars or new gamers looking to get into P2E gaming. In return for sharing a percentage of their profits, scholars can access P2E gaming without having to invest upfront.
BlockchainSpace offers a platform and community that empowers guild leaders to measure and vet players and bring on board new scholars.
BlockchainSpace offers players and guilds the opportunity to get capital to start or expand their guilds. BlockchainSpace also aims to empower the next generation play-to earn gamers and guild leaders to be successful entrepreneurs through providing them with digital tools and funding.
BlockchainSpace is launching its Open Guild Marketplace. This will enable the addition of TradeFi and other decentralized finance tools, to increase economic opportunity for members and guilds.
In addition, the platform intends to launch its Ecosystem Fund in 2022 as well as new features for automated credit scoring and loan issuing.
Fusion MediaFusion Media and anyone associated with it will not assume any responsibility for losses or damages arising from the use of this information. This includes data including charts and buy/sell signal signals. Trading the financial markets is one of most risky investment options. Please make sure you are fully aware about the costs and risks involved.


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Gone are the days when OnePlus was used to be a company delivering flagship killers as the company has a lineup that can best be described as convoluted. We have seen so many phones from OnePlus under various brand names and the next one is going to be the OnePlus Ace, and for those wondering, OPPO already has a phone with the same name.
OnePlus Ace Looks a Lot Like the Phone No One Asked For
The leak is coming from Digital Chat Station and according to the renowned tipster, the first device in the OnePlus Ace series is going to bring a MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chip, 150W fast wired charging as well as a Sony IMX766 primary camera sensor.
On the other hand, there is another leak that suggests that OnePlus Ace will have the model number PGKM10, and will also have a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera and a 4,500 mAh battery. The device will be available at CNY2,599 (~$408) in China.
Another Weibo user has decided to leak a few renders of the phone that you can look at below.
For those wondering, the OnePlus Ace looks a lot like any other OnePlsu device. However, the alert slider seems to be missing here.
Sadly, at the moment, there is very little known about OnePlus Ace but if the company does end up launching this series, it will only convolute the current portfolio as we have the numbered OnePlus flagships that are for higher-end users, the mid-range Nord series, and then we are going to get the Ace series which will target entry-level devices? It is too early to say anything.
Do you think OnePlus needs a new way going forward to maintain its identity? Let us know your thoughts below.
The post OnePlus Ace Will be Announced This Month with 150W Charging and More by Furqan Shahid appeared first on Wccftech .


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Cuy Sheffield, the head of Crypto at Visa, says that central bank digital currencies (CBDC) could potentially prove to be one of most important developments in the coming decade.
Sheffield, who previously worked in business development at TrialPay, is now responsible for overseeing Visa’s crypto-related initiatives.
He noted via Twitter:
“As governments evaluate CBDC, the path they decide to take will have major implications for privacy, monetary sovereignty, geopolitics, and financial inclusion, as well as global adoption of crypto dollars and Bitcoin.”
“I’d argue that central bank digital currency is one of the most important trends for the future of money and payments over the next decade. Regardless of anyone’s personal views of whether it’s good or bad, the reality is that global interest in it is not going away.”
He further noted:
“What used to be an occasional paper from an analyst at a central bank every few months has evolved into a steady stream of content from many different experts, academics, and organizations making it harder to keep up with the latest considerations”
In May 2020, Sheffield had claimed that reserve banks weren’t too interested in consumer-facing virtual currencies. Earlier this year, Visa filed a digital currency patent application.
Central banks throughout the world have been exploring the potential benefits of developing and issuing a CBDC.
The Bank of Japan has confirmed that it will be testing out the feasibility of issuing a virtual yen, in order to determine whether the digital token can improve the nation’s existing financial system.
China has been working on its own CBDC for well over 5 years. The nation’s government recently revealed that it had completed the top-level and back-end design of the virtual yuan, however, no official launch date for the CBDC has been announced.
Last month, the Bank of Canada confirmed that it was testing out various CBDC solutions. The bank had also noted that financial privacy enhancing zero knowledge proofs (ZKPs) were not ready for integration with CBDCs.
Sweden’s Riksbank has said that consumers might shift their financial holdings to stablecoin denominated assets if the existing payments systems aren’t improved.
CBDCs could enable more efficient cross-border payments and potentially improve resource distribution, like with stimulus cheques, according to a June 2020 report.
Last month, the South Korean reserve bank appointed a legal team to explore the feasibility of issuing a digital currency.


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In rare cases, some people might permanently lose their sense of smell or taste, or only partially recover. Kaye and other experts have theorized that the virus can cause inflammation and swelling in the nasal cavities, which could inhibit your ability to smell or taste. She recommends foods with a bit of crunch — consider carrots, chips, or nuts. Many who’ve had COVID-19 have experienced the loss of smell and taste. The... Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? since, “No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention”. Loss of smell and taste can linger after Covid or come back different. ... (WBRC) - We’re On Your Side with ways you can re-train your nose after smell loss from COVID-19. Coffee smells like chemicals. Over time, as more evidence of this symptom accumulates, medical experts will also begin to better understand how exactly it works, and eventually offer more insight into what might help. The burnt orange hack has gone viral, and people claim it can bring back a lost sense of smell or taste after COVID-19. You may not lose all sensation. Not to worry, some enterprising Wisconsin TikTok users have apparently devised a unique way to help sufferers regain their senses post-infection — using burnt orange and brown sugar. Depending on the cause, lack of taste may resolve on its own or by treating the cause. Finally, it's important to remember that for most people, loss of smell and taste from COVID-19 (or any other respiratory illness) is likely to be a temporary condition. However, this can vary person to person, so it may require some testing to see what works for you. (CNN)In mild to moderate cases of coronavirus, a loss of smell, and therefore taste, is emerging as one of the most unusual early signs of the disease called Covid-19. If you can't taste anything at all, other characteristics of food can still be enjoyable, most notably texture. Others claimed that the duo’s so called “TikTok trend” is actually a traditional Caribbean medicine. Preliminary evidence demonstrates that a majority of people with COVID-19 who lose their sense of smell and taste will recover it, but there is concern it might be permanent for some, according to Rowan. And coffee drinkers, rejoice — one common flavor that tends to stick around is coffee, Kaye said, although it's not clear exactly why. However, some TikTokkers think they may have found a solution: In a new trend on the social media platform, people who've recently been diagnosed with COVID-19 are trying a home remedy that requires you to char an orange over an open flame and eat the flesh with brown sugar to restore your … For example, loss of these senses due to a cold typically lasts for 3 to 7 days . 83,012, This story has been shared 73,146 times. 8It can take a while to regain your sense of smell and taste. Get it now on Libro.fm using the button below. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Coronavirus: RIGHT NOW. For most people, loss of smell and taste is temporary, but there are people where it's unclear at this stage whether their senses will go back to normal. Even if some of the scents may seem distorted, don't be discouraged as this is not uncommon. Back to School & Beyond. "Different textures can help you continue enjoy eating," Kaye said. Loss of smell or taste due to COVID-19 appears to last slightly longer compared to other upper respiratory infections. Sitemap Either way, no one's really sure what helps you regain your sense of smell and taste after COVID-19. “With COVID-19, a loss of taste or smell can come on suddenly and occur early, sometimes before other COVID-19 symptoms develop. The clip concludes with Kotlowski popping a strawberry in her mouth and gasping in surprise, indicating that the unorthodox remedy worked. But if you can, start adding more of the things you do register to your meals or routine so you can still have those experiences.". The loss of the sense of smell or taste, known as anosmia, among some people infected by COVID-19 has been recognized as core symptoms of the bug. There's still a lot we don't know about how that works, according to Dr. Rachel Kaye, assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. 43,734, This story has been shared 40,206 times. Account active Oil pulling helps promote oral health, thereby helping you get rid of the foul taste in your mouth (14). Similarly, if you enjoy spicy food, that may provide some respite. “We currently don’t have taste and smell,” explains alleged COVID-19 sufferer Katie Kotlowski in a clip that has almost 390,000 views. December 15, 2020 | 1:38pm | Updated December 15, 2020 | 1:38pm. We've received your submission. "There's no reason not to believe it works the same way as other viruses and conditions". Privacy Notice Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Your California Privacy Rights Making Lifestyle Changes Eat foods rich in zinc. Cheese tastes like chalk. Here's everything you need to know. "We haven't defined whether it's impacting sense of smell or taste independently.". In an attempt to cure their symptoms, the college student and her roommate can be seen using a lighter to flambé the outside of an orange until black, like a burnt marshmallow. Here’s why doctors aren’t convinced. Most people are likely to regain their senses once they've recovered. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories, inflammation and swelling in the nasal cavities, which could inhibit your ability to smell or taste. On Your Side Investigations. Once you've self-isolated, there are ways to cope and still enjoy some sensory experiences. It may also help manage symptoms of sore throat and refresh the taste in your mouth. Some people exposed to the novel coronavirus have reported losing their sense of smell and taste. Then the next question is how that happens.". One of the most common symptoms of COVID onset is loss of taste and smell. "We haven't fleshed out exactly why this happens, we need to study it a lot more and ensure that there's hard scientific evidence," she told Insider. Like what you see here? Looking for smart ways to get more from life? However, Kotlowski alleged in the comments that her “smell is 10X better.”. Your Ad Choices Nearly 90 percent of COVID-19 patients who lose their sense of smell or taste or both after becoming infected will see these symptoms begin to resolve within a few weeks. Tips to regain sense of taste, smell after recovery from COVID-19 Dr. Al Knable from New Albany is one of the unlucky few who still hasn't recovered his senses of smell and taste after … About three weeks after her disappointing avocado toast and bland breakfast cereal, she says her sense of smell and taste "are 100% back now." It may also damage sensory receptors or nerves, which could explain why some people with COVID-19 report having no sense of smell or taste at all. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Many aromatherapy practitioners and specialists recommend COVID patients to try out olfactory training- i.e. A defining symptom of COVID-19 is loss of smell, and for some people, that can last weeks or months. It could be an early or subtle symptom of infection and may indicate you could spread the virus. It can still be unpleasant. You'd assume that if it's related to nasal congestion, after that resolves, this would resolve," Kaye said.
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We still have several months to wait before Google finally releases its highly anticipated new Android L update, but a few apps and nifty tricks gave eager enthusiasts a way to experience certain elements of L right now. Among them was Shen Ye’s great Android L Keyboard app, which — as the name might suggest — allowed users to install the sleek new keyboard from Android L on their smartphones running earlier versions of Android.
Unfortunately, Google has removed the app from the Google Play store.
Ye confirmed the removal in a post on his Google+ account, saying only “after 800k downloads, my keyboard got Scroogled.” The app developer also posted the following screenshot showing the removal notice from Google:
It’s not exactly a surprise, but it means that most of us will now have to wait for Android L to start hitting smartphones in official updates before we can use Google’s great new keyboard. More experienced users who don’t mind rooting their phones can still enjoy the keyboard and several other elements from Android L, of course.


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BIPV’s Global Outlook: “Limitless” Potential
- May 01, 2015
Demand Rises Worldwide; Research Could Help U.S. Catch Up
By Brad Berton
Recent projections strongly suggest that building-integrated photovoltaic installations will grow steadily worldwide over the coming decade. Citing the both growing demand and falling cost of generating energy on-site, a recent report from BCC Research characterizes BIPV’s global market potential as “essentially limitless.” BCC is projecting that worldwide revenue of BIPV suppliers from $1.4 billion in 2014 to $1.9 billion in through 2019 ($1.9 billion).
Lux estimates that BIPV installations will rise 20 percent globally each year over the coming decade. Installations should total around 500 worldwide by the end of this decade and 900 by the middle of the next. Façade and window applications will drive most of the growth.
Of note, the pace of installations in the United States is expected to trail that of Asia and Europe. And Ranade pointed toward the reluctance of architects and their developer clients to take advantage of the efficiencies of scale offered by mass-produced BIPV modules. It may be no coincidence that Europe and Asia are the locations of several significant efforts to remove that hurdle.
About a year ago multiple private and public BIPV stakeholders launched a three-year initiative dubbed SmartFlex, aimed at facilitating cost-efficient production of custom BIPV façade modules through automated design and production. Prototype testing is taking place at the headquarters of Glassbel, a glassmaker, in Klaipeda, Lithuania.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, Hanergy Holding Group, the world’s dominant manufacturer of the fast-growing “thin-film” PV modules, is experimenting with various BIPV installations (curtain walls included) at its headquarters complex. The expectation is that the installations will ultimately meet the facility’s entire electric load.
BIPV advocates hope that successes with these ventures will inspire broader adoption of the technology in the U.S. Hanergy’s experiments bring to mind some recent non-façade applications, ranging from walkways at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., shading devices like the brise soleil at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pa., and parking lot canopies along Bay Area Rapid Transit system routes in northern California.
For more about trends in BIPV technology, be sure to read “Will BIPV Bust Out?” in the May issue of CPE.


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A continued move from straight transport to logistics activities including warehousing, packing and freight forwarding helped Glasgow-based Gordon Leslie Group achieve a 20% rise in pre-tax profit in the year to 30 September 2012. Turnover in the year fell around 8% to £4.8m (2011: £5.2m), but profit before tax came in at just over £487,000 (2011: £405,000). MD Craig Leslie said the firm had made a “fairly conscious move” in the last two years to reduce its reliance on some […]
7) Richard Burnett Title: Chief executive RHA For the general public, Richard Burnett is the face of the road transport industry. When he became chief executive of the RHA in summer 2014 Burnett would hardly have believed he would have to be a man for a crisis. But life isn’t always that straightforward.
The RHA has warned vehicle operators not to assume current haulage costs will be sustained during 2015 when negotiating any end-of-year rate increases with customers.
Online retailer Shop Direct – owner of the Very and Littlewoods brands – is to open a 500,000 ft2 automated fulfilment centre near Castle Donington in Leicestershire.


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Just a couple of days ago, it was revealed that the next-generation Audi A8 will become the German firm’s first car to draw on the Audi Prologue Concept for design inspiration. Now a Teamspeed forum member has decided to render how the new Audi A8 could look using the Prologue as a base.
The most obvious difference between the new Audi A8 and the Prologue Concept will be the fact that the A8 has four doors rather than the Prologue’s two. Beyond that obvious change, the designer has maintained many of the design elements of the Audi Prologue into the new A8 with both the front and rear fascias appearing almost identical in this side-on image.
While recently discussing how the new Audi A8 will become the automaker’s first model to draw on the A8 for its design, Audi’s technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg said, “I gave Marc his first job of designing the new A8, and the Prologue concept is a trailer for that. This concept is the next step of Audi design. The new A8 will launch by the end of 2016.
“The next A6 and A7 will also have this look. In the A8, there will be a lot of features from the Prologue. The face and the interior in particular; I’m not a fan of concept cars that are too spectacular, so that’s why you’ll see so much of this design in the new cars.”


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With new security issues cropping up each day, people are looking for ways to make their smartphones more secure. However, one man doesn’t seem to like the development and has, in turn, sued Apple for attempting to keep its smartphones safe.
According to a report by MacRumors, Jay Brodsky, who lives in New York, has sued Apple for the implementation of two-factor authentication in its smartphones.
Brodsky suggests that as the two-factor authentication doesn’t allow users to disable it after two weeks, it harms “millions of users” due to which the users can suffer economic losses.
Additionally, it is suggested that Apple’s security feature is a way to interfere in users’ usage of devices and is violating the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, California’s Invasion of Privacy Act, and other laws.
However, Apple, in its support documents, says that the disability of two-factor authentication after two weeks is meant for the various features in newer versions of iOS and macOS, which require more layers of security.
Furthermore, Jay Brodsky claims that each time the Apple device is turned on, the two-factor authentication just elongates the process.
Jay Brodsky looks for concessions for the same thing.
Do you also think Apple’s security feature is harmful? Comment down with your thoughts.
Also Read: Facebook Has A ‘Game Of Thrones’ Culture: Former Executive


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Ashaka Cement Plc , a Nigerian unit of Lafarge, plans to expand output capacity while cutting costs as it fights to regain market share from new entrants.
Ashaka, from the northeast of Africa’s biggest oil producer, said it aimed to extend capacity at its base in Gombe State to 1Mta from 850,000t within two years, and was considering adding further lines.
"Nigeria in terms of per capita cement consumption is still quite low. The market is about ... 14-15 million tonnes, but even if you put in 20 million (that level of supply) would be taken up," said Managing Director Muhammad Daggash. "We sell everything we make."
Ashaka was feeling the impact of new producers who had built cement plants in Nigeria as well as from imports following the sector’s liberalisation.
"We’re now seeing quite a bit of imported cement coming into our traditional markets and that is leading to a bit of loss of market share," he told Reuters in Cape Town on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Africa.


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While both Gilligan and Sony are remaining mum on numerous details about it, Sony did confirm that the project won't be releasing this year. Now we have word that showrunner Vince Gilligan is developing a piece of VR storytelling that might continue the saga of drug kingpin Walter White and the tormented Jesse Pinkman.
The executive further explains that the Breaking Bad VR project was born out of an event in which Sony brought seven of its Sony Pictures Television showrunners, including Battlestar Galactica executive producer Ronald D. Moore. Several of them were intrigued, but Vince was the one who said, 'I really want to do something with this. Sony Interactive Entertainment America President Shawn Layden says this deal came about because of the shift of the PlayStation Group's headquarters from Tokyo to California.
Sony's game-making team will work closely with Vince Gilligan, who now serves as an executive producer and occasional director on the BrBa spinoff Better Call Saul. "I want to experiment with this.'" He later added, "I think [this] could be another interesting way to see how VR can drive towards the mainstream".
The report also notes that this won't be a live-action VR experience. The experience will be created using computer graphics, and Gilligan is working in collaboration with Sony.
An artistic representation of what you will probably be wearing when playing the Breaking Bad VR experience.
But a virtual reality experience? While House declined to give subscription numbers, he did say PlayStation Vue now has more users on non-PlayStation devices than on the gaming console.


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TransLink has shuffled its schedule for rolling out its Compass card, meaning about two-thirds of transit users will now wait until next summer to start using the new payment system.
Officials had previously promised the cards would be available to all by late spring and that came after criticism that TransLink had failed to deliver on the “operational by fall 2013” signs on SkyTrain faregates.
West Coast Express passengers had been told they’d be first to get the new cards in December, but they have now been pushed back to late spring.
The general public won’t be offered the smart cards until sometime in the summer, said Mike Madill, the TransLink vice-president in charge of the $194-million project.
The decision to delay stems from what he called “areas for improvement” flagged with the online customer service system that Compass users will log in to register cards, load money and control options like auto-loading from their connected credit cards.
“It’s functional, but it’s not to the service standard we require for our customers,” Madill said. “We want to make sure we get it right for our customers all the way along.”
TransLink previously planned to stop selling FareSaver tickets Jan. 1 but now says the booklets of prepaid discounted tickets will continue to be sold into next summer.
WCE passengers will also be able to keep buying seven- and 28-day passes until Compass arrives for them.
First up will now be income-assisted seniors and others with disabilities who now have the BC Bus Pass, which provides unlimited transit access B.C-wide for $45 a year.
Madill said they will get Compass cards by the end of January if they’re Metro Vancouver residents, while Compass cards will also go out to Canadian National Institute for the Blind pass holders, as well as all TransLink employees to replace their current annual passes.
Since those are all annual passes that don’t require payment top-ups, there’s no need for the website to be working yet for them.
BC Bus Pass users elsewhere in B.C. – such us low-income seniors who come over from Victoria – will be able to get daypasses good on TransLink’s system for those trips.
Metro holders of BC Bus passes will be able to flash their Compass cards to ride on the BC Transit system elsewhere in B.C.
“For those folks the benefit remains the same – that was an important principle for the government,” Madill said.
Those first groups amount to 80,000 users or about a tenth of the full ridership of 800,000 that TransLink hopes to convert to Compass cards.
Madill said TransLink hopes to actually close the faregates – meaning SkyTrain access will only be by tapping in and out – by the end of summer or early next fall.
“We’re not going to take the step of closing the faregates fully until all customers have had a chance to get a card and learn how to use it.”


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ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – Flowers and chocolate are nice for Valentine’s Day, but puppies are even better. This Valentine’s Day, the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) is offering a change from the typical presents by offering the gift of a “Puppy Gram.”
A “Puppy Gram” is an opportunity for HSMO to deliver 30-minute puppy play date sessions to offices around the St. Louis area on Valentine’s Day. There are two different options, the ‘Buy It Now’ for $125 or the Puppy Gram Raffle, where you can buy $10 Puppy Gram tickets to be entered into a raffle.
All proceeds for the events will go toward the Humane Society of Missouri’s Rescued Pet Trauma Fund.
Anne McLaughlin from the Humane Society of Missouri joins us to talk more about their “Puppy Gram” program.
For more information, visit www.hsmo.org/puppygram.


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7 VCs talk about today’s esports opportunitiesTECHCRUNCH.COM — COVID-19 shutdown, venture funding rounds and total deal volume of VC funding for esports were down noticeably from the year prior. The space received a lot of attention in 2017 and 2018 as leagues formed, teams raised money and surging popularity fostered a whole ecosystem of new companies. Last year featured some big fundraises, but esports wasn’t the hot new thing in the tech world anymore.
Zoom Doesn’t Have 300 Million Users. Why That MattersINC.COM — Zoom made a big deal of the fact that, on one day last month, the company had 300 million daily users. That, as I’m sure we can all agree, is an extraordinary number of people holding meetings, visiting with friends, attending school, teaching dance lessons, and staying connected remotely. . Despite the large number, it isn’t even that hard to believe.
So your sourdough is ugly. Post it anyway!MASHABLE.COM — Internet of Yum digs into all the things that make us drool while we’re checking our feeds. It seems like everyone — except you, possibly — is baking gorgeous loaves of sourdough bread during quarantine. While you’re struggling to figure out why your starter isn’t rising, they’re researching add-ins, studying all the relevant YouTube videos, and somehow managing to stock up on flour even though finding it feels like scoring a Switch.
Monstrously fun knit masks encourage social distancingMASHABLE.COM — Face mask style is a thing, and one Reykjavík designer has seriously upped the ante. The artist Ýrúrarí is a textile designer who works mostly with knitting. She says that “adding knitted 3D elements to second hand sweaters has been the theme of my work for the past years.” She makes sweaters covered with knit lips, tongues, teeth, and other fantastical, enchantingly grotesque three dimensional features.
Playing Pandemic is deeply satisfying in quarantineMASHABLE.COM — The best thing most of us can do to fight the global pandemic is nothing: stay home, stay safe, public health officials implore. There’s one place where that’s not the case. In the board game Pandemic, players work as a team to fight the spread of disease across the globe. As a quarantine activity, knocking off “disease cubes,” playing the necessary cards for a cure, and getting to “eradication,” is deeply satisfying.
15 best celebrity graduation speeches to watch onlineMASHABLE.COM — To say that the Class of 2020 is in for a unique graduation season would be a serious understatement. As a result of coronavirus social distancing guidelines, many high schools and universities around the world have had to cancel upcoming graduation ceremonies for students. Choosing not to hold these large gatherings is definitely the smart and safe move, but missing graduation is still a huge bummer.
Why Are Smart Leaders So Dumb At Motivating PeopleLOLLYDASKAL.COM — According to a recent Gallup poll, only about 25 percent of American employees say they are engaged in their work. A near majority, 43 percent, admit they’re checked out. These results are startling. Why are so many people feeling disconnected at work? The sad truth is that even the smartest…
Layoffs hit ride-sharing industry as Lyft and Uber struggle to survive pandemicMASHABLE.COM — With most people sheltering at home during this pandemic, ride-hailing apps aren’t getting much use these days. This initially translated into quickly declining revenue for companies like Uber and Lyft, but now, more than a month into the coronavirus pandemic, both are announcing layoffs. . Uber and Lyft are very much feeling the effects of social distancing measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
Your guide to dirty talk while social distancingMASHABLE.COM — In the era of social-distancing, words have become one of our best replacements for physical intimacy. That’s especially true when it comes to dirty talk, whether it’s done over the phone, sexting, or video chat. “If I’m dirty talking with someone who’s sheltering in place in Italy or just down…
Pornhub launches ‘Cleanest Porn Ever’ campaign to fight coronavirus pandemicMASHABLE.COM — Cleanest Porn Ever is a campaign driven by Pornhub’s Model Program community featuring instructional videos from performers all around the world. They’ll start out with SFW-instructional tips by some of Pornhub’s top models like Danika Mori, June Liu, and Pornhub Brand Ambassador Asa Akira — such as how to properly wash your hands and demonstrating how far apart six feet really is.
Squad hits desktop as the social screen-sharing app aims to become Gen-Z ZoomTECHCRUNCH.COM — Zoom is an enterprise software company built to help employees meet virtually, it was never intended to be the social platform that guided a disconnected world through a lockdown. On the back of a big quarantine usage bump, Squad, a social screen-sharing mobile app popular with teen girls, is looking to eat away at Zoom’s social growth and widen its app’s appeal with the launch of a desktop web version designed to help people binge TV shows and movies together.


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The „print replica“ magazines in Google News are the PDF versions of print editions that you could view on smartphones or desktop. Readers could still visit a magazine’s website if they wish to read the e-version of the magazine, the report said on Friday.
„This notification is to inform you that we’re discontinuing print-replica magazines in Google News.
„Publishers can continue selling content on Google News in the form of paywalled RSS-based publications – it is only the support for the sale of discrete digital files that is changing,“ read the Google email.
However, you’ll continue to have access to all issues you previously subscribed to in the Google News app, in the Following or Favorites tab, depending on your app version.
„To continue to read the latest articles, we encourage you to search for that publication in Google News, or visit the publication’s website,“ said Google.
Google started providing magazine content in 2012 with the Play Magazines app. The company later renamed it to Play Newsstand and merged it into Google News.
If you want to read more Technology articles, you can visit our Technology category.


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Kylie Jenner took to Instagram on Jan. 11 to show off a gorgeous pic of herself posing in a flattering black outfit with Spanish singer Rosalía.
Kylie Jenner, 22, knows how to get her followers’ attention and that’s exactly what she did on Jan. 11 when she posted a new Instagram photo of herself looking flawless. In the stunning snapshot, the makeup mogul can be seen posing with Spanish singer Rosalía, 26, on a black couch as they both give confident looks to the camera. Kylie is wearing a long-sleeved black fitted top, a long matching skirt, and black heeled boots in the pic and Rosalía, who was tagged in the post, is wearing a long-sleeved red and white patterned jumpsuit and white sneakers. Although Kylie didn’t specify the meaning behind the photo, she captioned it with a diamond ring emoji. Rosalía also shared the photo with a caption that seemed to respond to Kylie’s. “I said yessss💍,” it read and Kylie playfully responded with “Taken.”
It didn’t take fans long to respond to Kylie’s post with some positive comments. “So beautiful,” one comment read while another called the pic “lovely”. “My 2 favs together,” a third user wrote. Others left red and black heart emojis.
Kylie’s latest pic comes after she wowed followers when she showed off her incredible $14 million car collection in a series of Instagram pics on Jan. 10. In the photos, she can be seen posing in various ways as she stands next to her various impressive automobiles, including a custom ice blue Rolls Royce Wraith which has engraved nameplates and a starlit ceiling in it. Some of the cars that her ex Travis Scott, 27, gifted her could also be seen, including a $1.4 million Ferrari LaFerrari and a vintage Rolls Royce.
It’s always awesome to see Kylie’s amazing life through her posts! We look forward to seeing what else she’ll share this year.


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According to eMarketer, credit cards are expected to remain the most popular payment method for US consumers up to next year. The total credit card transactional value is projected to reach $3.8 trillion in 2025. However, with changing rewards and fees, consumers may find it challenging to determine which cards to use. Cardless Co-founder & President Michael Spelfogel discusses his company and the important factors consumers should consider in a shifting credit card landscape.
When choosing the right credit card, Spelfogel advises consumers to select a card that aligns with their lifestyle and spending habits. He emphasizes the diversity of credit cards available today, citing Robinhood (HOOD) as an example that caters to Gen Z and Millennials. The ultimate goal of Cardless and similar companies is to broaden access to various products in the market.
For further insights and the latest market trends, viewers can watch the full episode of Wealth! for expert commentary and analysis. This article was authored by Nicholas Jacobino.


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A new poll of KSA residents has revealed the top travel preferences and habits of today’s modern family. The research, conducted by Disney Destinations – home to the world’s most magical entertainment and recreational destinations – examined KSA families’ key motivators and preferences and the deferring spending habits of families.
The survey found that children were the biggest influence on family holiday choices, with 50% of parents stating that their children have the highest influence on vacation destinations and activities, while 14% of respondents consider social influencers to impact their holiday decisions.
Almost half (48%) of KSA residents polled look for all-inclusive vacation options which include convenience elements such as flights, transfers, food and beverages, with 31% of respondents also noting the importance of having activities and options to suit the interest of every family member when considering vacation options.
The survey found males are far more likely to book themselves online, with 75% reporting they manage the entire process themselves, compared to 46% of females. Females are more likely to seek third-party assistance, with 37% reporting that someone else manages the process for them.
A substantial number of families seek a variety of activities which cater to the age and interests of each relative, with almost one-third (31%) stating this is a priority consideration when planning their vacations.
“It’s not surprising to find that an overwhelming number of families actively seek dynamic vacations with enough variety in activities to suit every member of the family,” says Peter Welch, VP sales & marketing Disney Destinations. “And Disney Destinations offers something for all ages. From world-class theme parks and attractions, to entertainment, dining and leisure activities, we’re committed to ensuring every guest can enjoy their ultimate experience and share in meaningful moments with loved ones.”
When it comes to family holiday budgets, 55% of respondents set aside SAR10,000 or more each year for vacations with 18% expecting to spend more than SAR50,000, with the most prominent proportion of these (45%) being younger families with parents aged 18-29 years old.
“We all see the value in enjoying vacations together with our families and loved ones. Disney Parks is proud to create destinations where millions of guests make magical memories each year,” adds Welch.
Landmark Group held its 12th Beat Diabetes event on Friday, 26 November, atNovember 29, 2021 | By RetailME Bureau
Zebra Technologies Corporation, an innovator at the front line of business withNovember 17, 2021 | By RetailME Bureau
The long weekend might be over but the Etisalat Beach Canteen 2021
UAE gears up to celebrate this year’s National Day celebrations in the
UAE-based Etisalat Group has signed an agreement with elGrocer, a leading online
Amazon.ae announced that the 11.11 sale is back once again this year
Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society’s COOP City store is now open in Lake
Union Coop, a consumer cooperative in the UAE, revealed that 78% of
Union Coop has opened its 23rd branch within the UAE in Jumeirah
Nando’s has revealed their revamped Sheikh Zayed Road outlet where newcomers and
UAE-based Al Maya Group announced that it will be boosting import of
UAE-based grocery retail chain, Grandiose has opened its first hypermarket in Abu
UAE-based Carrefour announced its theme and plans for Ramadan 2021. The brand
The festive shopping season represents a significant portion of retailers’ annual revenue,
Zebra Technologies Corporation, an innovator at the front line of business with
Chalhoub Group has launched ‘The French Art De Vivre, A Dream to
There is a large trust gap between shoppers and retailers, according to
Noon.com announced its biggest ever Yellow Friday Sale running from the 22nd until 28th November. The
Abu Dhabi-based Miral has announced the launch of its Decision Analytics strategy;
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia has
Extravagant, conceptual, great food and views are some of the ways that
Abu Dhabi’s state investment company ADQ is in talks to invest about $500 million
The once powerful department stores that anchored malls and streets around the
Who isn’t a sucker for discounts? Customers today are spoiled for choice
The various e-commerce and virtual retail stores that cater to different product


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A MUM is organising three charity fashion shows on behalf of Gwynedd-based charity, Annie’s Orphans.
Jessica Edwards from Bangor is organising the shows for the organisation , founded by Rev Pauline Edwards which helps children in some of the poorest parts of the world, undertaking major building projects such as schools and orphanages. The charity has opened its first shop on Bangor High Street.
Previous fashion shows Annie has organiased raised enough money to build four schools for 'Brick Kiln Children' in Pakistan.
The aim of this year's three shows is to raise enough money to build a school and a health clinic for disadvantaged children in Burundi.
The shows are being staged at the Bulkely Hotel, Beaumaris, on March 9; Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda on March 10 and at the AOG Church, Prince's Road, Upper Bangor, on March 12. All the shows start at 7.30pm.
More details about the fashion shows on 01248 352762 and about the charity on 01248 361286.


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Researchers at Purdue University believe that rendering a virtual nose in your first-person virtual reality game can help extend the amount of time people can play it without feeling sick.
As goofy as it sounds, this is a notable piece of information for VR-minded developers because VR-induced nausea is one of the platform's primary drawbacks.
Now a group of student researchers studying the issue under Purdue assistant professor (and Game Innovation Laboratory director) Dr. David Whittinghill have found a game design trick that can help -- rendering a virtual human nose in the center of someone's first-person perspective.
"Our suspicion is that you have this stable object that your body is accustomed to tuning out, but it's still there and your sensory system knows it," Dr. Whittinghill said in a Purdue press release announcing that test subjects in the study (which is still ongoing) were able to comfortably remain in a VR rollercoaster demo for an average of 2.2 seconds longer when they had a virtual nose.
Adding the same nose to a VR demo that allowed subjects to explore a Tuscan villa helped them stay within the simulation for an average of 94.2 seconds longer before feeling ill.
"The roller coaster demo is short, but it's very intense...so people can't do it very long under the best of circumstances. We had a reliable increase of 2 seconds, and it was a very clear trend," said Dr. Whittinghill. "For the Tuscany demo it takes more time, but eventually you start getting queasy, and 94 seconds is a huge improvement."
More comments from Dr. Whittinghill and an abstract of his team's "Nasum Virtualis: A Simple Technique for Reducing Simulator Sickness" study can be found over on the Purdue University news page.


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House of Fraser’s new Chinese owner is planning a £150m cash injection to revamp its department stores and propel its online growth.
It is understood that the bulk of the £150m will be spent on refurbishing House of Fraser’s stores. It has 59 stores in the UK and Ireland and one in Abu Dhabi that opened last year.
Nanjing Cenbest, which is owned by Chinese conglomerate Sanpower, is planning to launch House of Fraser in China and will open its first store there within two years.
Sanpower chairman Yuan Yafei said: “We are excited to tap the significant opportunities that House of Fraser has in China, where the brand has very strong growth potential.”
Nanjing will also invest in driving House of Fraser’s multichannel offer and IT infrastructure systems to improve its operational efficiency.
Online has been a big driver of House of Fraser’s sales growth over the past few years with sales via the channel soaring 41% in its full year to January 25.
House of Fraser has set a target to grow online sales from £300m per annum to £750m by 2017.
The deal, which excludes an 11% stake held by Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley, is a landmark moment highlighting the growing economic power of China and the retail opportunities arising as a result.
Yafei said: “It is an unprecedented transaction and the largest acquisition of a foreign retailer by a Chinese listed company.”


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Punjab Food Authority (PFA) is on roll this summer and in its recent notification has warned the people to stay away from the instant drinks including Tang, Sunsip’s Limopani, Mixer Star, Fruitly, etc.
PFA states that these instant drinks contain artificial colors and flavors. They only provide calories and lack original food content in every serving. It also tried to appeal the parents to not serve these drinks to their children as it can hamper with their growth and nutrition needs.
The authority has recently started an awareness campaign to educate the masses about the dangers of various products that are available in the market. Recently, PFA revealed that the so-called ice-cream companies including Walls, Omore and Gourmet have been duping the customers as their products are Frozen Deserts, not Ice-Creams.
It also warned the unsuspecting consumers that Blue Band, just like the fake ice-cream also uses vegetable fat instead of dairy fat which is why it not a replacement of margarine. As part of its campaign to feed healthy
As part of PFA’s campaign to feed healthy food to children, it has banned the carbonated drinks in public and private school and is considering ti put an age restriction for buying and drinking cola.


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Chinese consumers still buy luxury goods, despite a relative economic dip, says business analyst Shaun Rein in the New York Times. But their preferences are shifting and diversifying, depending on demographics and spending power.
The New York Times:
“When we talk to Chinese consumers, they absolutely want to spend on luxury, but there is also a definite shift,” said Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group, a consulting firm.
“We recently interviewed three dozen Chinese worth $10 million each or more, and they told us they don’t want Louis Vuitton any more because it’s become too common,” he said by telephone from Shanghai. “They are trying to differentiate themselves and not have the same logos and the same brands that have been so popular for the last ten years.” The handbag buyer, he said, favors “Hermès, Chanel, a Bottega Veneta — brands that have high prestige but are a little bit more low-key.”
The luxury market is also fragmenting by demographic and spending power, Mr. Rein said…
Mr. Rein added that at the ultrahigh end, consumers were no longer getting prestige from a handbag, “They are looking at Ferrari and Lamborghini cars, private jets and yachts and you are seeing those markets still grow significantly,” he said…
But as brands set up new boutiques in China to capture the domestic consumer, they may be overlooking an important shift in luxury buying patterns: The Chinese are, by and large, not shopping at home…
“A lot of luxury brands look at pure economic data, see Beijing and Shanghai as the cities where the wealthiest are, and so decide to set up a flagship store there,” Mr. Rein said. “The reality is that people in Beijing and Shanghai do very little luxury shopping in China because they travel abroad more, and right now it’s much better value for them to buy in Europe as prices have not increased there, while the euro has fallen.” The real growth, he said, is going to come from smaller cities.
- Saving habits change with the generations – Shaun Rein (chinaspeakersbureau.info)
- The End of Cheap China – Reuters’ review (chinaherald.net)
- More losers than winners in fashion brands – Shaun Rein (chinaspeakersbureau.info)
- Why China is not cheap anymore – Shaun Rein (chinaspeakersbureau.info)
- Apple sales are going to be strong – Shaun Rein (chinaspeakersbureau.info)


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We’ll have a Memo Pad Deluxe and CMYK ink over a side of pencils, please
One Toronto restaurant has come up with a fun campaign to boost sales in a tough time. And, the program can help with office workers’ budgets.
Good Fortune Burger has recast its menu items as #RECEATS (to sound like receipts), which are regular menu offerings temporarily disguised as everyday office items. Their Fortune Burger is now the Basic Steel Stapler and its Parm Fries will be billed as CPU Wireless Mouse.
“We just wanted an opportunity to put a smile on some people’s faces and have them have a little bit of a giggle,” Jon Purdy, Director of Operations at Good Fortune Burger, told blogto.
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Sara Baldwin is into theater – literally and figuratively. The 49-year-old owner of New Ravenna Mosaics, located at Exmore on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, is renovating a 1938 Art Deco movie theater in downtown Exmore.
She’s transforming it from genteel shabbiness to a first-class office and showroom. “Instead of a theater for movies, it’s a theater for mosaics,” she says. “Instead of posters on the front, there are big Deco mosaics, larger than life.”
Baldwin bought the theater in 1998 for $27,000 and is just now getting around to working on 1,500 of its 9,000 square feet. To elicit the biggest bang for her buck, she’s cladding its exterior in black granite and installing a projection system to present videos to her clients.
New Ravenna is a going concern these days, offering 500 mosaic patterns and an infinite number of designs in its 250-page catalog – many with a breezy coastal design aesthetic that is perfect for ocean homes.
“We use stone, glass and metal, and everything is made to order,” Baldwin says. “We’ve also started to import some mosaics that we call ready-to-ship; these make up 20 percent of our business now.”
Every year, New Ravenna purchases tons of stone, glass and metal from nearly every corner of the globe and transforms them into acres of mosaics that fulfill tens of thousands of individual jobs.
The glass is American-made, shipped in from factories in Washington and West Virginia. Gold and silver leaf are imported from Italy, while bronze is sourced from various parts of the United States.
Intricately patterned and carefully assembled by trained artisans, the completed mosaics grace pools, baths, kitchens, foyers, fireplace surrounds and feature walls worldwide. The smallest project to date is one square foot of tile for a shower niche; the largest is for a casino in Kansas City, Mo.
“In one pattern, the stone is from 12 different countries, with little bits of different places coming together and ending up in a bathroom as souvenirs,” says Baldwin.
After getting her start in the late 1980s at the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied painting, Baldwin struggled with the direction it was taking her. She found she was attracted to the functional, rather than the cerebral. “I wanted to create something more practical,” she says.
In 1990, she walked into New York City’s iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art and came across a black-and-white Roman stone mosaic in a pattern of waves, with a figure at its center.
“Something clicked – I had my ‘aha!’ moment – and I wondered if anyone made mosaics anymore,” she says. “I decided that if nobody was, I was going to learn how to do it myself.”
So she did, first researching and developing a graduate thesis on the topic, then writing a business plan. Back on the Eastern Shore, her parents agreed to back her for a year. She visited tradeshows with her mosaics and then she got her first order – for a $6,000 project – which she and her sister fulfilled.
“We thought we were in heaven,” recalls Baldwin. “We hired our first employee in 1992, and she worked with us for 20 years until she retired two years ago.”
The company grew every year afterwards and now employs 115 people. But it’s not growth that New Ravenna hangs its hat upon. High style, instead, is its calling card.
“Every designer sees the world through a unique filter and our filter is influenced by the wonders of nature,” says Baldwin. “Earth and trees and sky and ocean – the building blocks of nature – that’s what it all boils down to for me.”
And where other designers align themselves with a single style – traditional or modern, understated or glam – New Ravenna tackles them all. Baldwin looks at mosaics as a medium, comparing her work to a painting. “It can be applied in any sort of style of building,” she says. “It’s very versatile.”
Though she’s not the only one working in the medium today – she says Miami’s renowned Art Basel was jam-packed with mosaics last year – she still commands the leading edge for design and materials.
Take, for example, her newest collection, Sea Glass, inspired by the colorful glass that has drifted and churned in the ocean for centuries, eventually eroding to a texture that’s soft and reflective.
“The glass gets tossed and turned and striated by the sand, salt and water,” she says. “The older it is, the more beautiful it gets – like wine that ages gracefully.” Which serves as a metaphor, too, for New Ravenna Mosaics.
Image Credits: Photo courtesy of New Ravenna Mosaics.


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Xiaomi files much-anticipated IPO set to value company at $100bn
Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi has finally filed its much-anticipated initial public offering.
The IPO has been filed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and takes advantage of new stock market regulations which allow companies with different share classes to list in the city. This has been taken as a positive sign for Hong Kong, as Xiaomi could have turned to New York.
Xiaomi shakes up management and margins ahead of IPO
Feature: Xiaomi – from billion-dollar startup to worldwide growth
Asia edition of Business Chief – May issue out now!
The filing is set to be the biggest IPO for a Chinese company since 2014, when Alibaba made its $25bn debut on the New York Stock Exchange.
The media has said the offering could be worth $10bn and could value the business at as much as $100bn.
The company became a Unicorn within a year or so of its foundation but then faced supply chain issues. 2016 was a tough year for Xiaomi but this was helped by an increase in sales thanks to new concentration on India, where the company has now become the number one smartphone provider.
- Apple, Walmart bet big on India, but is Amazon scaling back?Corporate Finance
- How Alibaba can bounce back after SoftBank's latest sell-offCorporate Finance
- Why Alibaba is creating six business groups to unlock valueTechnology
- Tech Mahindra’s new CEO: 10 things to know about Mohit JoshiLeadership & Strategy