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* Says profit to be affected by uncertain economy * 2012 profit benefited from incentive scheme payout * Plans 0.80 eur/share dividend (Adds details from statement) BRUSSELS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - D'Ieteren, owner of car window repair company Autoglass, expects its profit to shrink by up to 15 percent this year, given the uncertain economic outlook in Europe, it said on Tuesday The company said the benefits of a cold snap at the ...
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Sears Holdings made its plans to raise over $2.5 billion by forming a real-estate investment trust public on Wednesday. The REIT will purchase around 254 Sears and Kmart stores.
The struggling retailer has filed its first set of IPO paperwork for the trust, and agreed to partner with General Growth Properties Inc., on a real-estate joint venture.
Tax time is still months away, but it's never too early to consider how fund structures impact your investments. Additionally, many people start looking for more ways to do good, including with their investments. In a recent interview with ValueWalk, Michael Carrillo of fund services provider Apex Group explained how most of the intellectual maneuvering Read More
REIT to lease back to the retailer
Sears Holding is forming the REIT to acquire close to 254 of the retailer’s properties. The sale proceeds from the property are anticipated to exceed $2.5 billion. The REIT, Seritage Growth Properties, would lease the Sears and Kmart properties back to the retailer. Seritage, a Maryland based REIT, plans to use debt and other credit to finance the acquisition.
The retailer indicated that its shareholders will receive subscription rights, on a pro-rata basis, to buy common shares of Seritage. Sears CEO Lampert and his hedge fund ESL Investments Inc., who together hold a 48.5% stake in the retailer, intend to exercise their pro-rata portion of the subscription rights in full.
As part of the deal, Sears also agreed to partner with General Growth Properties and contribute 12 properties at the landlord’s malls. The retailer has contributed the 12 properties located in GGP malls in exchange for a stake in the joint venture and $165 million in cash from the REIT. The retailer will continue to operate the 12 stores, which are valued at $330 million.
Sears is expected to “enhance financial flexibility” from the deal, while it offers GGP an opportunity to redevelop and re-lease up to 50% of each property.
Sears working to dismantle its stores
Sears has been doing poorly lately and is working to dismantle its stores. The firm posted a loss of $159 million over the holidays as revenue plunged 24% to $8.1 billion.
As reported by ValueWalk, Sears previously indicated its plans to raise over $2 billion by selling off 200 to 300 stores in a REIT by May or June. After wading through the rapidly shrinking retailer’s 10-K filings, analysts at Evercore expressed their biggest concern as the retailer’s exceptionally high rate of FCF burn which actually accelerated in 2014 compared to the previous year. The analysts pointed out that without some stabilization in sales and material inflection in the rate of FCF burn, the retailer’s asset monetization remains the only path to offsetting current operating losses.
Once the Seritage REIT is finalized, Sears will eventually sell its 50% stake in the joint venture to Seritage. Echoing optimism over the joint venture, Sears Chief Executive Edward Lampert said in February that the joint venture is “an important step in the continued transformation” of the company from a store-focused network to a “more asset-light, member-centric retailer’.

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Shooting Range Offers Online Training, Permits
One local gun range is targeting busy residents who want to get their concealed carry permit by offering an online course.
Click Like For New Mexico News Updates:
For the first time, people who want to get their concealed carry permit can train on a computer from the comfort of their home or business in an online course offered by Calibers.
"Sitting in a classroom for seven or eight hours a day, that can get pretty droll. So what we like to do is make it as interactive as possible," Calibers Trading Manager Jordan Nighbert said.
So instead of sitting in a classroom for an entire weekend, New Mexicans who are interested in the permit can take an online course over 30 days.
"I'm proud to say this is the first of its kind in New Mexico and certainly the first of its kind in the nation as far as complexity goes," Nighbert said.
The class requires students to watch in-depth videos on what they shouldn't do and take detailed tests on what they've learned. It also requires students to interact with their peers and instructions.
"Our online program goes above and beyond what is required," Nighbert said.
Applicants are still required to come to the shooting range for supervised shooting.
"You have to have a certified instructor viewing your shooting and verifying your results of your target," Nighbert said.
Those applying for a permit online are still subject to a background check and must pay the same amount as the traditional class.


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The Company’s stand will be located in the Travel Technology Hall (stand number TT310), featuring Emerging Travel Group’s very latest IT solutions for the travel business.
The divisions that are taking part in the exhibition include supply, sales, accounting, integrations, product, metasearch and tech teams, and are headed by the Group’s CEO Felix Shpilman.
Felix Shpilman, CEO of Emerging Travel Group, commented: “We are excited to participate in WTM London for the first time and to showcase our brands at one of the leading events for the tourism industry. Our B2B brand RateHawk already has more than 10,500 partners from over 100 source markets, and our B2C booking tools ZenHotels and Ostrovok are used by millions of travelers worldwide. We see WTM as an opportunity to meet top industry players and reconnect with our partners, creating new growth opportunities for our further development.”


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Some of you are mad about the new Froot Loops breakfast pizza in Iowa
Love the idea or hate it, one thing is clear: there are lots of strong opinions about the new "Loopy Fruits" breakfast pizza at Fong's Pizza.
The new pie, made with Froot Loops and cheese, is one of the breakfast pizzas Fong's has rolled out at their location at 3018 Forest Ave. in Des Moines. Alongside cereal pizza, they've got steak and eggs, bacon popper and vegetarian breakfast pizzas on the menu.
Making interesting pizzas has always been a part of Fong's ethos, owner Gwen Page said — and breakfast pizzas are just one way the business is trying out something new.
Reaction to a recent Des Moines Register article about the cereal breakfast pizza was mostly a mix of anger, confusion and disrespect. The ratio of 2,423 quote tweets to 648 likes and 205 retweets as of 1 p.m. Saturday proved people had feelings — and plenty to say — about it.
One Minnesotan threatened to close the border between the states, although it's unclear if she's got that sort of power.
Frozen pizza maker DiGiorno (yes, the ones you find in the grocery store), weighed in.
Washington Post data reporter Christopher Ingraham gave his followers an action item: "The midwesterners must be stopped."
Former Register staffer Jake Kurtz tweeted the cereal is "Still better than pineapple" on pizza, which is sort of like the "Is a hot dog a sandwich" debate, but for pizza.
Not Dwayne Haskins!
Kum & Go came with a "Jurassic Park" quote:
New Jersey with the stereotypes.
Things even got political.
Someone tried to involve the FBI?
As you now know, she was wrong:


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By Andrew Austin, Gaia Intern
This past Monday I joined UC Santa Cruz students, locals and tourists as they once again spent a spring afternoon in the Porter Meadow smoking weed to celebrate 4/20. As a freshman I was really excited to finally see it after hearing so much about it, so I walked over about an hour before the “big moment” and spent some time observing the mellow spectacle. As a cloud started forming above the crowd and people struggled to light impossibly large joints, I couldn’t help but think about the sheer amount of plants, papers, and concentrates being smoked during the day’s festivities. All over the world people were setting up camps in parks and around government buildings on 4/20 to participate in the mildest form of civil disobedience to come out of the sixties, and that adds up to a lot of pot. According to local reports, several thousand people came out at UCSC and about 10,000 gathered at “Hippie Hill” in Golden Gate Park.
The holiday has become huge, and represents not only cannabis culture but the inevitability of legalization itself. More Americans than ever think that recreational marijuana use should be legal. The industry is growing rapidly and this is unsurprisingly starting to raise some environmental concerns, particularly in areas like the Southwest that are already facing severe drought. High demand for an agricultural good translates to increased water, land, and energy needs. And while the true ecological impact of finished cannabis products varies significantly based on growing methods and processing, some Californian growers require over 1,000 gallons per plant per season. Slightly less water-intensive indoor growing methods still take up a significant amount of household electricity statewide. Even though food products like meat and almonds take up much more of the water supply, experts say that scaling down water use is crucial for all kinds of agriculture in California. Agriculture collectively accounts for 80% of the state’s “water budget,” which doesn’t include all the cannabis farming/water use that goes undocumented.
Some of the biggest problems with resource use in the cannabis industry are caused by prohibition, since the black market side of it is unregulated and has an incentive to cut corners. Whether growers comply with state laws or not they are usually more concerned with avoiding federal enforcement than conserving water or preserving land. In the “Emerald Triangle” region of Northern California and Southern Oregon, growers have deforested huge amounts of land and left tons of trash behind, and have even withdrawn so much water from streams illegally that it is threatening an already endangered salmon species.
Just two days before Earth Day on April 22, I watched people fill the meadow and the forest with smoke and reggae music. It was entertaining in the moment, but I think it’s important for students and other participants to think about what it actually took to get all of those dried, trimmed plants, brownies, and butane-filled lighters together in one place.
I don’t mean to be a buzzkill — it’s just easy to forget how much of an impact our modern consumption habits can have, especially when you’re really stoned.


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JAYBHARAT TEXTILES REAL ESTATE LTD Q3 RESULTS
North B'luru emerges as next growth destination with establishments setting up low cost operations in the area
The northern periphery of the city, which currently employs over 5,00,000 personnel, is expected to add at least another 3,50,000 new jobs, capturing around 30% overall office absorption by 2025, said consulting and advisory firm Meraqi. Some of the big developers who have lined up projects in north Bangalore include TRIL, Lodha, Birla Estates, BCD Group and Prestige Group.
Despite falling distribution yields, should you look at Embassy REIT?
REIT is a vehicle through which an individual can engage in income-producing commercial realty holdings that are also professionally managed. REITs raise funds through IPO by offering their units, with the underlying assets being the real estate portfolio they manage.
Shriram Properties Q1 Results: Firm posts Rs 10.48 cr profit; sales bookings up 26% to Rs 313 cr
"The company remains focused on reducing debt and interest costs further in the coming quarters. Post IPO, the company has prepaid debt of around Rs 200 crore and refinanced about Rs 265 crore, apart from JV debt refinancing activities," the statement said.
Indian Hotels cash flows positive for first time; H2 will be better: Puneet Chhatwal
“The sum of all that we are doing is beginning to reflect in the EBITDA margins that are coming up on the consolidated level. We have hotels in London and Cape Town and San Francisco and New York and there it is very difficult to drive such high margins as one is able to do in the Indian subcontinent. We are very pleased with the new businesses as they are high margin businesses.”
Max Estates to scale up its real estate business development portfolio
The company announced that Max Estates’ SPV has been confirmed, by Axis Bank, as the successful bidder for two land parcels auctioned by them for a total consideration of Rs 220 crore.
Brokerages see over 50% return in DLF post June quarter results, reduction in debtThe gross debt also fell to Rs 3,900 crore as of June 30 from Rs 4,755 crore at the end of the last fiscal.DLF is the largest real estate company in terms of market capitalisation. It has so far developed more than 153 real estate projects comprising over 330 million square feet of area.
Piramal Enterprises Q1 Results: Profit down but retail growth strongOverall the company's assets under management (AUM) grew 37% to Rs 64,590 crore led by a four times growth in retail loans to Rs 22,267 crore after it completed the Rs 34,250 crore acquisition of the Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) last fiscal.
PNB Housing Finance's net profit 3% lower at Rs 235 croreIts loan assets portfolio shrank to Rs 56,301 crore at the end of June from Rs 60,438 crore a year back and from Rs 56,889 crore at the end of last fiscal, on account of sell down and accelerated payments in relation to corporate book. Its retail loan assets also saw a mere 1.7% year-on-year rise to Rs 50,295 crore.
Mahindra Lifespaces Q1 net Rs 75 crore, reports best-ever quarterly sales at Rs 602 croreThis was achieved on the back of strong response to our new launches in Bangalore and Gurgaon as well as robust sustenance sales across our portfolio. Our industrial leasing, at Rs 118 crore, continued its momentum,” said Arvind Subramanian, MD & CEO, Mahindra Lifespace Developers.
Omaxe Q4 Results: Firm posts loss of Rs 162 crore; income risesThe company during the 12 months, sold 1.58 mn sq ft valued at Rs 1,266 crore against 2.73 mn sq ft valued at Rs 2,051 crore in the same period last year. Major sales are in New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Faridabad, New Delhi, and Ludhiana.
JSW Steel Q4 Results: Profit falls 20% YoY to Rs 4,191 crore, revenue rises 74%The Board of Directors recommended a final dividend of Rs 17.35 per share. The dividend, if declared by the members at the 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company, will be credited to the members, subject to deduction of tax at source, on or before 30 days from the date of AGM.
Raymond Q4 Results: Net profit rises over 4-fold at Rs 264.97 cr, income up 43.38% to Rs 1,958.10 crRaymond recorded the "highest-ever revenue and profitability during the quarter", the company said in an earnings statement.
Godrej Properties FY22 profit at Rs 352 crore; sales bookings up 17%On operational front, Godrej Properties said that its sales bookings rose 23 per cent to Rs 3,248 crore. The sales bookings increased 17 per cent in the entire last fiscal to Rs 7,861 crore, of which Rs 7,781 crore came from the residential properties. It sold 9,121 homes with a total area of 10.8 million square feet in FY22.
Century Textiles reports Rs 84-crore Q4 profit as pulp and paper business revenues soarIts board declared a dividend of Rs 4 per share. The company’s stock closed 0.82% higher at Rs 886.4 on the BSE on Monday.
Century Textiles back in black with Rs 84 cr net income in Q4For the full financial year, the company which is into textiles, pulp and paper and realty businesses, booked Rs 200 crore in net income, up four-fold from Rs 50 crore in the pandemic-ravaged FY21.
Blackstone reports 63% rise in first-quarter profitBlackstone on Thursday reported a 63% rise in the company's first-quarter profit driven by an increase in its realty and credit businesses that helped counterbalance the weak showings of its hedge funds business, but what does it mean for investors?
Can this real estate stock shine after logging best-ever Q4 pre-sales figure?Lodha is among the largest real-estate developers in India, by residential sales value, and is present in premium, affordable and mid income offerings across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
NBCC Q3 net profit down 10 pc to Rs 87 crTotal income also fell to Rs 2,056.31 crore in the third quarter of the fiscal from Rs 2,149.17 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Omaxe Ltd reports 75.34% rise in consolidated income from operations in Q3 FY 22Company’s consolidated income from operations was Rs 179.83 cr for the quarter ended December 31st, 2021 as compared to Rs 102.56 cr for the quarter ended December 31st, 2020.
Real estate developer Eldeco reports booking of 2,56,000 square feet in Q3 FY 22During the quarter, the company received a booking for 2.56 lakh sq ft area translating into sales booking of over Rs 108 crore, making this the second successive quarter where we registered a historical record in value terms for the Company.
Oyo may downsize IPO; exclusive chat with Nykaa CEOOyo plans to reduce the size of its IPO to less than $1 billion, given the prevailing market conditions. In conversation with Nykaa CEO Falguni Nayar after her company’s Q3 results.
Mahindra Lifespace Q3 results: Co posts net profit at Rs 25 croreTotal income for the quarter declined over 52 per cent from a year ago to Rs 33.32 crore.
Kansai Nerolac Paints Q3 results: Net profit falls 39% to Rs 125.3 crKansai Nerolac Paints' revenue from operations during October-December 2021 jumped 13.67 per cent to Rs 1,810.35, compared with Rs 1,592.55 crore in the year-ago period.
DLF Q3 results: Co reports net profit at Rs 382 croreConsolidated revenue of the company stood at Rs 1687 crore.
Oberoi Realty Q3 results: Profit rises 63% at Rs 468 croreTotal income rose to Rs 846.19 crore during October-December period of this fiscal year from Rs 837.57 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year, according to a regulatory filing.
Embassy REIT Q3 Results: Net operating income up 30% at Rs 621 crore"We continue to see multiple positive indicators for our business - the uptick in new leasing, our delivery of the 1.1 million square feet (MSF) JP Morgan campus, our 4.6 MSF of development pipeline, and a 5 MSF potential acquisition opportunity in Chennai," Holland said.
Chalet Hotels posts revenues of Rs 164 cr for December quarter, losses at Rs 14.3 crThe company posted losses of Rs 14.3 crore compared to Rs 31 crore in the quarter ended December 31, 2020.Load More
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The Microsoft’s Co founder has joined the row between FBI and Apple, stating that Apple should fulfill the request of the government agency, FBI when it comes to terrorism analysis. Gates said that Apple should unlock the iPhone 5C belonging to San Bernardino Shooter.
Bill Gates Supports FBI, says Apple Should Unlock Shooter’s iPhone
The Financial Times reported that Gates also inquired Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook’s enactment of the case as a demand for a “backdoor”
Gates said that “This is a specific case where the government is asking for access to information. They are not asking for some general thing, they are asking for a particular case,”.
Despite support of Google, Facebook, Edward Snowden and many other reputed companies to Apple, Microsoft has backed FBI’s decision.
Mark Zuckerberg also extended his support to Apple and said “we’re sympathetic with Apple, We believe in encryption, we think that that’s an important tool”.
The FBI has asked Apple to rewrite the software on the iPhone 5C used by San Bernardino attacker, so that government agency can enter the pass code multiple times and prevent erasing of data after ten failed attempts.
Apple wrote in customer letter that “The United States government has demanded that Apple take an unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers. We oppose this order, which has implications far beyond the legal case at hand”.
Apple says it will loose trust of the users if it lets FBI hack the iPhone of the San Bernardino attacker. It seems that Apple is giving first priority to the user’s privacy. If you liked this article, feel free to share it !


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Kim Noorda on the August cover of Harper’s Bazaar UK and in the current Bottega Veneta campaign lensed by Nick Knight. Fashion fans are happy to see the Dutch beauty on the cover of Harper’s which still thankfully, uses mostly models.
Ph: Cometti for Harper’s Bazaar UK, F/W08
Ph: Nick Knight for Bottega. from Vogue UK Aug 08


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Toyota Motor Corporation Unveils Redesign of Corporate Website.
TOKYO, Mar 27, 2019 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has updated its official website.
A uniform page design has been created with a layout that is easy-to-view, including on smartphones and tablets, to improve ease of use and accessibility to all information concerning Toyota.
The homepage, in particular, has undergone a significant redesign, and now functions as a navigation page that introduces Toyota's ideas and philosophy, the latest corporate activities, and more.
Going forward, Toyota will continue to endeavor to provide appealing content and timely information, and further strengthen communications with its customers.
Updated website URLs are as follows:
About Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937. Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles per year in 29 countries, from mainstream cars and premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell them in more than 170 countries under the brands Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please visit www.toyota-global.com.
Source: Toyota Motor Corporation
Public Affairs Division Global Communications Department Toyota Motor Corporation Tel: +81-3-3817-9926
Copyright 2019 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
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SHANGHAI—Dagong Global Credit Rating Co. said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was discriminatory in its denial of the Chinese rating company's application to be an officially recognized bond rater in the U.S., and said it is considering legal action against the agency.
The SEC said last week that Dagong's proposal to have China's securities regulator vet and broker all correspondence between the SEC and Dagong wouldn't satisfy U.S. federal securities law.
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First Data: March growth remains positive, but Easter shift takes toll
Atlanta — Dollar year-over-year volume growth during the month of March 2014 remained positive at 2.1%, but slipped from February’s growth of 2.4%, according to the First Data Corp. SpendTrend report. The report, which analyzes same-store point-of-sale data by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks from nearly four million U.S. merchant locations, found that the yearly comparison was negatively impacted by the later Easter (April 20 this year, compared to March 31 the prior year), which shifted holiday-related spending into April.
The cold weather that plagued much of the country started to loosen its frigid grip at the end of the month and helped to support foot traffic. Higher year-over-year tax refund values improved consumer confidence and job market gains also supported the growth.
Retail spending growth and transaction growth of -0.9% and -1.8% were lower than February’s growth of -0.3% and -0.4% as the Easter shift pushed holiday retail purchases and related foot-traffic into April, which also made for tough year-over-year comparisons.
General merchandise stores saw spending growth fall into negative territory for the first time since November 2013 at -1.3%, as First Data analysis indicates these retailers were clearly impacted by the later Easter timing. However, spending growth at non-store retailers and building material & supply dealers of 4.1% and 4.3% remained healthy and inched up from the prior month’s growth of 2.6% and 3.6% which helped to offset the slowdown. Building material & supply dealers spending growth gained momentum across much of the country at the end of the month as warmer weather spurred sales of home and garden supplies.
Average ticket growth was 0.2%, in-line with February’s growth. Despite rising food prices tied to California’s drought, food & beverage average ticket growth of -0.4% fell from February’s growth of 1% as weather started to normalize and shoppers pulled back on stocking up with necessities.
Looking at different types of payment, credit collar volume grew 2.9% year-over-year in March, while signature debit volume rose 3.4%, PIN debit increased 1.1%, check volume shrank 4.9% and prepaid volume slipped 5.6%.
“Despite the Easter shift to April this year, which negatively impacted year-over-year growth comparisons, spending growth in March remained healthy and positive,” said Krish Mantripragada, senior VP, information and analytics solutions, First Data. “Gains in consumer confidence and the labor market indicate that economic prospects are brightening. We also saw credit spending growth decelerate slightly compared to prior months as higher year-over-year tax refund values deposited into bank accounts spurred debit usage over credit, and the later Easter pushed holiday-related discretionary spending out of March and into April.”
Destination Maternity sales slip in Q2
Philadelphia – Destination Maternity Corp. reported declining net and same-store sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to the same period a year earlier. Net sales decreased 6.5% to $126.1 million from $134.9 million, while same-store sales dropped 5.1%.
Destination Maternity said the decline in net sales resulted primarily from the decrease in comparable sales and decreased sales related to the company’s continued efforts to close underperforming stores.
“Our sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 were considerably weaker than planned,” said Ed Krell, CEO. “We believe the primary driver of this sales weakness was the adverse weather conditions across much of the U.S. during the quarter, which included significantly colder than normal temperatures and much more inclement weather than normal, with numerous periods of snow and icy conditions which suppressed store traffic for us and many retailers in many regions of the U.S. We believe that our weaker than planned sales results also reflect the continued challenging overall economic environment, which has affected many retailers in recent months.”
EBay, Icahn end dispute
San Jose, Calif. – EBay Inc. has reached an agreement with investor Carl Icahn, ending the proxy contest before the company’s upcoming annual meeting of stockholders. Icahn is withdrawing both his proposal to separate the company’s PayPal business and his two nominees to the company’s board of directors.
The company said it has agreed to Icahn’s suggestion to appoint business executive David Dorman as an independent director to its board of directors. This will expand the number of independent directors to 10 on the 12-member board. The other two directors are eBay founder and chairman Pierre Omidyar, the company’s largest shareholder, and company president and CEO John Donahoe.
Dorman, 60, is a founding partner of Centerview Capital Technology and currently chairman of the board of CVS Caremark Corporation. Dorman was a board member of Motorola Inc. beginning in 2006 and served as chairman of the board from 2008 until 2012. After the separation of Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions, Dorman became lead independent director of Motorola Solutions. He also serves on the boards of Yum Brands Inc.
Icahn has signed a confidentiality agreement covering any non-public information that directors and certain officers of the company may share with him. In addition, the company agreed not to adopt a policy precluding such persons from speaking to Icahn, and that it would advise them that they may speak to Icahn if they are willing to do so.
“We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with Carl, settling proxy issues and enabling our board and management team to focus our full attention on a goal every shareholder agrees on – growing PayPal and eBay, and delivering sustainable shareholder value,” said Donahoe.


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Leading US carriers to form Mobile Payments Committee with Google, ISIS, and others
With the next-generation iPhone likely to dabble in the mobile payments arena, it is important for Apple to know there is a new sheriff in town.
Electronic Transactions Association CEO Jason Oxman announced the newly formed Mobile Payments Committee in an interview with VentureBeat this morning, where he explained the committee boasts representation from the four leading U.S. carriers.
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile have apparently united to grapple with mobile payments, and it appears Google, PayPal, ISIS, VeriFone, and Intuit are also members, while Verizon Executive Director of Federal Relations Jackie Moran serves as the group’s chair.
Go to 9to5Google for more information on the committee’s purpose.


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Electronic Arts has released two new DLC trailers of the recently released Ferrari and Jaguar DLC for Need for Speed Rivals.
Uhhhh.........i really need DRIVECLUB bad because this is terrible. 1383MB wasted for this? no way, not for 4 new cars.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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Insurers agree to co-fund financial counselling scheme
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) says the industry is participating in a $30 million co-funding agreement led by the Commonwealth to expand the provision of financial counselling services.
The ICA announcement today comes as the Federal Government says it has signed memorandums of understanding with the industry and other financial services sectors including the Australian Banking Association for the new Industry Funding Model for Financial Counselling.
“Financial counsellors play a vital role in supporting people who are experiencing financial hardship, and a sustainable funding model helps to ensure they can continue to provide their important service,” ICA CEO Andrew Hall said in a statement.
He says the insurance industry is committed to supporting financial counselling, and has been actively involved in discussions with other financial services and the Federal Government on the development of an industry co-funding model since 2020.
The funding model is in response to recommendations made by former deputy chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Louise Sylvan in her review of financial counselling after the Hayne royal commission referred to the importance of such services.
In her review Ms Sylvan made a number of recommendations. One was for additional funding to be collected from the financial services sector to meet the anticipated rise in demand for financial counselling.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth says the Government worked closely with industry representatives from banking and finance, energy, insurance, online gambling, Buy Now Pay Later, telco and the financial counselling sector to establish the new model.
“This new voluntary industry funding model is aimed at improving access to financial counselling services and sharing responsibility,” she said today.
“It has been designed to receive and distribute funding contributions from industries that contribute to demand for financial counselling, and benefit from these services.
“An extra $10 million a year in industry funding could help more than 25,000 people access services like face-to-face appointments with financial counsellors or the National Debt Helpline.”
The Government says the $30 million contribution from the financial services sector for the funding model is in addition to the Commonwealth’s provision of almost $50 million annually to support financial counselling services.
To support the industry funding model, the Government is investing $1.5 million to establish a new not-for-profit independent body that will collect and distribute industry funding.
The independent body will be responsible for decisions regarding funding allocations and prioritisation and will be established early next year, the Government says.


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Archive for "News" Category
25.5 billion miles driven in-game while 37 million photographs have been taken in the last 11 months.
The developer is busy.
A look at the sounds behind the fantasy RPG.
Naughty Dog remain confident in their abilities to deliver another masterpiece.
Good times in the wasteland.
Recruit certain NPCs by completing their questlines and have them hang out in your CAMP.
Watch the Phantom Thieves battle against all manner of threats in the new trailer.
Watch Midgar rendered in unimaginable detail like never before.
The developer talks about why the loot-shooter's release date was pushed back.
Other major upcoming releases like DOOM Eternal, Marvel's Iron Man VR, Persona 5 Royal, and more will also be ...
How Microsoft will price the Xbox Series X is also apparently a factor in how Sony will price the PS5.
The RPG hybrid will allegedly not be a live service title.
The final update to the fighter is here.
No doors are opened or closed for the game just yet, according to the creative director.
This has to be one of the oddest ports ever.
Pre-registration for the card game is live now.
A mysterious new trademark appears.
Two very different historical-based action games are free now.
People Can Fly's RPG shooter bears a few similarities to the likes of The Division and Destiny.
The Netflix series also contributed to the game's resurgent sales.


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There are some signs of progress. The new owner of the 99-cent store at 3rd and Ardmore Avenue plans to open a halal butcher shop next door, catering to the area's new Muslim residents. And a halal butcher nearby is looking to open a restaurant. Other Bangladeshi merchants are looking at every open storefront but say the rents are too high.Though Little India is technically in southeast Los Angeles County, the community's proximity to Orange County provides an easy entry point for local suburban residents to get a taste of some of the best Indian restaurants that Southern California has to offer (which is how I also became familiar with the area).
The community regards Little India in Artesia as a model. Although Little India, unlike Little Bangladesh, doesn't have an official county designation, it is known across the region as the place to go for saris, gold jewelry and Indian food. The new neighborhood must work to establish that kind of recognition, its leaders said.


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Online fraud is set to soar Online fraud is costing UK retailers as much as £580m a year, and could rise to £1.5bn by 2010, according to research published today. Almost two thirds of retailers (64...
Attackers placed Brewery job ads on recruitment sites worldwide to provide cover for their phishing emails
Worldline CIO Ryan Bryers has been on a mission to build a high quality offshore DevOps team at low cost
James Kitching, Solicitor - Corporate, Coffin Mew, examines the phenomenon of decisions being made by machines in the justice system
The company has 30 days to audit its data practises, or face the maximum £17 million fine


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Mug cake, dry dating, micro minis and cold-girl makeup are just some of the trends none of us will be sorry to leave behind this New Year.
So what will be the next big fad - or plain bad - as the slate is wiped clean for another year?
From beauty to booze, take a gaze into my crystal ball as the Year of the Rabbit begins.
No more ‘tall, dark and handsome’ in 2023, according to dating experts.
Having a ‘type’ is so 2022, with new research by Bumble revealing that 38pc of singles are now more open to who they will consider bumping uglies with ahead of ‘Dating Sunday’, or the most popular day of the year to join or return to dating apps on January 8.
It explains the head-scratching appeal of Pete Davidson, who last year alone dated Kim Kardashian and Emily Ratajkowski, as 63pc also claimed to be more hung up on emotional maturity than looks.
Some clever marketing executive has dubbed the burgeoning dating trend ‘open casting’.
I call it taking what you can get.
Planet Fashion might have warned me that sheer clothing was here to stay for 2023 before snorting the last of the Quality Street.
Then again, in these body positive times, there may actually be bonus style points for exposing the car crash caused by one too many Purple Ones this festive season to the world.
Regarded as a knee-jerk reaction to lockdown’s slob chic, sexy see-through designs - as demonstrated by Hailey Bieber on Instagram this week - ruled the runway over the past year.
Now trend watchers warn the look could be winging its way to workplaces in the new year as the trickle down effect continues.
All I can say is good luck to the HR person tasked with explaining to employees why it’s not appropriate to have your nipples out on Microsoft Teams.
And that’s just the men.
It’s hard not to feel like the world of interiors is starting to run out of ideas when it decrees that “bowls are the new plates” for 2023.
Christened - you’ve guessed it - ‘bowl dining’ by Habitat, ‘plate bowls’ are being tipped as part of a move towards more laid-back dining at home, since they’re ideal for everything from messy pasta to humongous desserts.
Filed under ‘Japandi’ - where cosy Scandinavian and minimalist Japanese design meets, how on-trend ‘plowls’ (hey, I don’t come up with this stuff) fare with spice bag leftovers this new year remains to be seen.
Still, I suppose we should just be grateful it’s not a roof tile.
America’s Karner Blue isn’t the only endangered caterpillar hoping to survive 2023.
Beauty forecasts show how humble hairy mollies everywhere could also be in the danger zone over the coming months.
Following on from last year’s TikTok craze for bleached eyebrows, barely-there brows like those currently being championed by Nicola Peltz are tipped to be everywhere (or should that be ‘nowhere’) this year, with Doja Cat buzzing hers off entirely.
As a survivor of the original Y2K trend, popularised by the 27-year-old’s mother-in-law Victoria Beckham back in the day, I feel duty-bound to warn younger women not to pluck with their face framers for the sake of a fleeting fashion.
Sure, it’s cute now, but wait until you’re rocking the Ronald McDonald look at 40 because they haven’t grown back - or so I hear.
Move over, Stanley Tucci, as the actor’s viral Negroni is replaced by Kir Royale as the cocktail of 2023.
Believed to be named after freedom-fighting French priest Felix Kir, the 80s dinner party staple is nothing new, but has been trending on social media since featuring prominently in season three of Emily in Paris as “the perfect drink to sip and do nothing”.
With apologies to anyone mere hours into Dry January, the Netflix smash, which dropped late last month, even explains how to make the aperitif with “crème de cassis topped with champagne”, with pre-mixed versions already flying off shelves.
Unlike energy drink du jour, Prime, at least you won’t have to batter the head off a 12-year-old to get your hands on a bottle.
After a year that saw an AI artist host her first exhibition and robots making pizza, it doesn’t take an algorithm to figure out the next big thing in technology.
The bigger question for Alexa or Siri is just how far artificial intelligence could go in 2023.
Driverless cars, robot waiters, and whip-smart chatbots are among the advancements expected to become more common this year, while a new EU AI Act aims to regulate the fast-growing industry.
Ahead of Blue Monday later this month though, I’m more interested in a new AI-powered travel app enabling users to book their entire summer holiday using voice commands.
Let’s just hope one of those humanoids that Boston Dynamics is working on helps skip the queues at Dublin airport too.


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This hawker stall in Beauty World has come under criticism after its method of cooling down grilled meat raises concerns about hygiene.
Speaking to Shin Min Daily News recently, a diner shared that the owner of a stall in Beauty World Food Centre would hang skewers of meat below a signboard.
Besides kebabs, this North Indian stall also sells other fare such as pratas and curries.
The dusty signboard looked like it has not been cleaned in years, the woman said, adding that she was worried about food safety and other hygiene issues.
When a reporter from the Chinese evening daily visited the stall on Monday (March 6), he noticed that the signboard in question actually belongs to a BBQ stall next door.
An employee from the North Indian stall was also seen cleaning the signboard.
Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the 47-year-old stall owner shared that because of the limited space in his stall, he leaves the meat hanging outside to cool them down.
He has thought about changing the layout of the stall, said the man, who has been running the stall for five years.
But using the signboard to hang his food is only a temporary measure, he said, adding that it's done only during the weekends when there are more food orders.
Unwanted pests at Teban Gardens food court
In another incident of hygiene issues in coffee shops, diners at Teban Gardens Market and Food Centre were disturbed by a video of pesky birds searching for food.
A TikTok video, which a diner uploaded last Saturday (March 4), showed two tray return areas that were stacked with used cutlery and crockery.
Over a dozen birds could be seen pecking away at the leftover food.https://www.tiktok.com/@tohhongchuah/video/7206521439904599304?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7161994054723814913
In the comments, several netizens said the issue lies with the tray-return policy.
Some also pointed fingers at the cleaners and accused them of "not doing their work".
Speaking to AsiaOne on Monday (March 6), one of the diners at the Teban Gardens food court said that he found the whole thing "very natural".
"Those leftovers are unwanted by us; [the] birds are helping us to clear [the food]," he said, adding that he even found the birds "cute".
ALSO READ: Woman finds worm in laksa from Woodlands stall, netizens wonder if it's part of secret recipe


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The company will deliver most of the equipment in 2013 to one of the largest liquid crystal display panel manufacturers in China.
Orbotech Ltd. (Nasdaq: ORBK) today announced that it has won significant orders for flat panel display-related equipment, worth about $40 million. The company said that the deal is from one of the largest liquid crystal display panel manufacturers in China. Orbotech said that most of the equipment is due to be this year.
The systems, which include several of Orbotech’s latest generation automated optical inspection and array tester models, will be utilized in the fabrication of mobile devices and large screen televisions.
Orbotech FPD division president Gil Oron said, “These important bids represent a significant investment by a major customer in the latest generation Orbotech equipment for its new and upgraded fabrication lines, in response to anticipated increased demand in this part of the industry."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 17, 2013
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013


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DARKE COUNTY — While busy families are planning their fall routines for the school year, travelling to and from school, extra-curricular activities, football games, soccer matches, and gathering the daily essentials of life-on-the-go, the sobering reality of child passenger safety statistics challenges us to consider that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of childhood fatalities in the United States, and that three out of every four car seats are improperly installed. Child Passenger Safety Week 2020 (September 20 to 26) puts a timely spotlight on the “how-to’s” of keeping children safely secured in the right seats.
According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), every 32 seconds, one child under the age of 13 is involved in a passenger vehicle crash. Often, parents are unaware that that their child’s car seat may be the wrong size or installed incorrectly. With the proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts, many injuries and deaths can be prevented. Fatal injuries due to crashes can be reduced by 71 percent for infants, and by 54 percent for toddlers just by properly installing the correct car or booster seat.
“In 2019, 86 percent of the car seats our agency checked were installed incorrectly.” says Brian Phillips, Assistant Chief of Greenville Township Emergency Services, and administrator for the Darke County Ohio Buckles Buckeyes Care Seat Program. “It’s important that parents and caregivers educate themselves when it comes to car seat safety.”
The Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB) Program provides child safety seats and booster seats to eligible low-income families in all Ohio counties. The overall goal for this program is to increase the availability of child safety seats for families who could not otherwise afford them and to increase correct installation and proper use of car seats.
“Currently we have six certified car seat technicians that are here to help you keep your kids safe.” Phillips said. “We offer free car seat checks. If you have a car seat and you want to make sure your child is safely secured, please call and make an appointment.”
Often, new parents take extra precautions when bringing their baby home from the hospital; yet, as the toddler grows beyond that first rear-facing car seat, parents may overlook the importance of finding the correct forward-facing car seat — one with properly fitting harness and tether suited for their growing child’s weight and height. If the child exceeds the weight or height limits for a forward facing car seat, then parents should transition to using a booster seat. Parents and caregivers can help protect their children in every stage of life by making sure that each child is properly fitted and secured in the correct car seat for his or her height, weight, and age.
From birth to 12 months of age, the NHTSA always recommends a rear-facing car seat. Three types of rear-facing car seats are infant-only, convertible (all-in-one) car seats which have a higher height and weight limit, and allow a child to remain in the rear-facing seat for a longer period of time.
From one to three years of age, the NHTSA recommends that a child should remain in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Once the child outgrows the rear-facing seat, then he or she is ready to travel in a forward facing seat with a five-point harness and top tether.
The American Academy of Pediatrics updated their guidelines in 2018, recommending that children should remain in rear-facing car seats until they reach the maximum height and weight limit — even if they are older than two years. Moreover, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, in the event of a front-end crash (the most common type), a rear-facing car seat allows the child’s head, neck and spine to move evenly into the seat, not away from it.
From four to seven years of age, the NHTSA recommends that a child should be in a forward facing car seat with a five-point harness and top tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer. When the child outgrows the forward-facing seat, then he or she is ready for a booster seat.
From eight to 12 years of age, the NHTSA recommends that a child should be in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit into a seat belt properly — that the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest, not crossing the neck or face. For safety, a child under the age of 12 should ride in the back seat.
Furthermore, a child’s car seat should be replaced after a moderate to severe car accident, according to the NHTSA. Even if the accident was a minor “fender bender,” one should still get the car seat inspected by a safety professional, to ensure that it is fit for travel — especially if the door closest to the car seat sustained damage, or any of vehicle’s air bags deployed. Depending upon the circumstances, one’s insurance may be able to cover the cost of a replacement car seat.
“Never buy a used car seat from garage sales, flea markets or second-hand stores when you don’t know the complete history of the car seat. A used car seat can be unsafe if it has been in a crash or if it is missing parts, labels or instructions. A car seat is also unsafe if the manufacturer has issued a safety recall and the seat has not been fixed.” according to Phillips.
Parents and caregivers should also be aware of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recommendations for product safety and care. The CPSC regularly posts information about safety recalls for infants and children’s products, and this includes car seat recalls. As manufacturers suggest that car seats be registered after purchase, and not be used beyond the label’s expiration date, it is important to check the CPSC safety recalls list (www.cpsc.gov/Recalls), in case the car seat being used is actually safe. As of August 2020, the CPSC has issued several product recalls and repair/replace recommendations for car seats; some manufacturers named on the list were Graco, Evenflo, Britax, ValcoBaby, Kolcraft, and Combi. Although these manufacturers make great efforts to alert the public when a product is recalled, important information can sometimes be overlooked.
“Car seats do have an expiration date.” Phillips reiterated. “The plastic that car seats are made of can lose their integrity from being exposed to extreme temperatures. Car seats also see a lot of general wear and tear. When buying a car seat, make sure you complete and mail the registration card. If you register your car seat, the manufacturer will notify you when there is a safety recall.”
If everyone takes child car seat safety seriously, more lives may be saved. It is the path to safe passage for life’s most precious cargo.
For more information about the Darke County Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB) Program, or to schedule an appointment for a car seat safety check, call Greenville Township Emergency Services at 937-548-9339, or visit the OBB Facebook page. For more information on car seat safety, visit Safe Kids Worldwide at www.safekids.org


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Many Dropbox users are reporting that they’re being bombarded by spam e-mails. This led users to believe that Dropbox was once again hacked, like last year when hundreds of users were receiving spam emails to email accounts only used for their Dropbox account. A spokesman from Dropbox has stated that it’s not the same this time around, and assured users that its service wasn’t hacked.
Many users took to Dropbox’s support forums and stated that many of their Dropbox-exclusive e-mail accounts were compromised. They are receiving phishing e-mails from fake LinkedIn and PayPal e-mail addresses, as well as “offers” from casinos and gambling sites. The PayPal phishing e-mails are more frightening because they appear very similar to real PayPal transaction e-mails, and to the unaware user, could result in their computers being infected by malware.
Dropbox states that this attack may have been a long, postponed effect from its previous security compromise last July. The attacks doesn’t seem as widespread as they were last year, but then again, more affected users can come forward and post their own reports soon.
If you believe you’re one of the affected users, Dropbox encourages you to forward the spam emails to their support e-mail address. A spokesperson for Dropbox stated, “If you’ve received spam to an email account you only use for Dropbox, please send the message (including full headers) to firstname.lastname@example.org to help our ongoing investigation.” It is also suggested that you change your e-mail password as well as your Dropbox password.


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The Regina Pats Hockey Club is pleased to announce the details surrounding the 2019 Prairie Classic, outdoors at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday, October 27 against the Calgary Hitmen.
The Pats will be celebrating their connection with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and the entire Canadian Forces in their annual Military Appreciation game. There will be members of all three arms of the Canadian Forces, Infantry (PPCLI), the Navy (HMCS Queen) and the Airforce (15-Wing Moose Jaw).
The Pats will be wearing commemorative Prairie Classic jerseys for the game, they will be auctioned off online beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 22 at reginapats.com/auction2019.
Pats goaltender Max Paddock will be wearing a Prairie Classic commemorative mask for the contest. That mask will be raffled off at the game, tickets will be three for $10 and available on the concourse at Mosaic Stadium behind section 108.
“We couldn’t be more excited for Sunday,” said Pats Chief Operating Officer Stacey Cattell. “To play outdoors, honour our countries military and celebrate the roots of the game at Mosaic Stadium is going to be a once in a lifetime experience.”
Fan Fest from Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic will be open outside Mosaic Stadium prior to the game starting at 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Prairie Classic merchandise will be available at the stadium and tickets for the game are available at reginapats.com. More than 10,000 tickets have already been sold. Puck drop against the Calgary Hitmen is at 2 p.m.


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SINGAPORE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec 1, 2020–
Eat Just, Inc., a company that applies cutting-edge science and technology to create healthier, more sustainable foods, today announced that, after a rigorous consultation and review process, its cultured chicken has been approved for sale in Singapore as an ingredient in chicken bites. The company has developed other cultured chicken formats that will be an extension to this product line.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201201006251/en/
GOOD Meat Cultured Chicken bites (Photo: Business Wire)
The first-in-the-world regulatory allowance of real, high-quality meat created directly from animal cells for safe human consumption paves the way for a forthcoming small-scale commercial launch in Singapore of Eat Just’s new GOOD Meat brand, details for which will be disclosed at a later date. This breakthrough for the global food industry builds on Singapore’s reputation as a world leader in business, technology and culinary innovation and


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Airport event brings boost to distillers
GLENDALOUGH gin was one of 26 Irish made gins that was showcased at Dublin and Cork airports recently.
The Spirit of Gin Festival, which was aimed at promoting small Irish craft gin producers such as Glendalough Gin, generated a 240 per cent increase in Irish gin sales during August and September
The festival ran in both Dublin and Cork airports and was aimed at showcasing the best of Irish gin alongside the global leaders in the industry.
The Glendalough Distillery was Ireland’s first craft distillery and was set up by five friends from Wicklow and Dublin, who were committed to reviving the heritage of craft distilling in Ireland.
Established in 2011, the team work with local forager Geraldine Kavanagh of Wild Wicklow Foods to gather the seasonal produce to make a gin for each season.
Earlier this year airport staff from The Loop joined Geraldine and the Glendalough team to forage for Summer Botanicals. Their efforts combined to create a special edition of Glendalough Gin, which is exclusively available at The Loop.
Hazel Killeen, Kathleen Morris and Mary Scarfe at the opening of ‘The Pottery’ restaurant in the Arklow Bay Hotel.


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Confectionary and chocolate brand Franzese has launched its first line of premium chocolates for the holiday season.
As part of a three-piece gift set, Franzese’s Bon Bon chocolates feature a thin, tempered chocolate shell with a creamy ganache filling.
In fitting with the holiday season, the chocolate Bon Bon’s offer three seasonal flavours: gingerbread, raspberry cream and vanilla caramel.
“Our chocolates are truly in a class of their own,” said Franzese’s co-founder and CEO Paolo Franzese.
He added: “We are here to bring a chocolate ‘experience’ with our handcrafted and indulgent line of premium chocolates. They will make great stocking stuffers for the holidays or an any-time indulgent treat and the packaging is just beautiful.”
Other products in the Michigan-based food brand’s portfolio include premium hot chocolate and a variety of gelato mix flavours.
As part of its partnership with retailer Nordstrom, the product will be available exclusively in its stores across the US and Canada, for an RRP of $7.95-$8.85 and $9.50 respectively.
Franzese chocolate Bon Bon gift packs are also available to purchase on the company’s website as of 29 November.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2020


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Research has consistently shown that cannabis
A topical cannabis spray that helps treat skin conditions is in development
and a solution for acute cannabis overdoses may soon be underway
This is Lo with Veriheal keeping you up to date with the latest in cannabis news…
What can’t cannabis do for your health?
Research has reported that cannabis can help with many ailments from mental health to gut health.
There is even a bustling cannabis beauty sector
But cannabis for skin health, unfortunately, is largely underreported.
Thankfully, help may be on the way
The product is a result of a partnership between Israeli company Cannasure and Swedish pharmaceutical brand Lipidor who specializes in dermatology. Cannasure plans to utilize Lipidor’s existing formulation and add cannabinoids that can target these aggravating skin issues.
Next in news,
Now that cannabis legalization is expanding rapidly across the country, the rate of ER visits due to cannabis has more than tripled in the last decade.
These ER visits are largely made up of people who have overconsumed cannabis edibles.
An overdose simply means you took too much of something, it doesn’t always necessarily mean that it’s lethal.
Anyone who has eaten cannabis edibles will tell you that when you consume too much THC, it can certainly create intense discomfort
but it always passes.
But an even quicker solution may soon be on the horizon for those who aren’t willing to wait out the high
A company in San Diego has been awarded an $850,000 grant to produce an injectable form of a drug called Drinabant, to help treat an acute cannabis overdose.
At this time, Drinabant can only be taken orally but that delivery method takes too long for the body to absorb for it to be of any help.
Drinabant is thought to work by binding to the CB1 receptors and replacing THC and other cannabinoids to help reverse the effect of too much THC.
So, why even develop something like this if a cannabis overdose isn’t lethal?
Well, let’s not forget about synthetic cannabinoids which pose a more severe threat.
K2 and Spice notoriously cause overdoses that can turn deadly because they are often made of unknown artificial chemicals that’s sprayed on plant matter which, then, is sold illicitly.
Though natural cannabinoids are significantly less harmful than synthetics, they both still bind to the brain’s cannabinoid receptors in the same fashion.
So, something like Drinabant will certainly come in handy in this instance.
It’s a great thing to not only see this plant becoming normalized but to witness the great things that research is uncovering.
So go ahead and like this video and give us a follow at Veriheal for the latest in cannabis news.
Thanks for watching!
Looking to find your medical cannabis in a state that hasn’t yet legalized it? It may be tempting to drive across neighboring state lines with more cannabis-friendly laws. However, the number of states that will authorize qualified patients from out-of-state medical marijuana programs is still relatively small. Which States Accept Out-of-State MMJ Cards? States That…
So you love smoking cannabis, but you’re tired of the same ole rolling papers. Perhaps you recently learned about the potential dangers and risks associated with tobacco blunt wraps and want a healthier option. Let’s explore some rolling paper alternatives that work well for blunts, joints, and spliffs. Types of Rolling Paper to Absolutely Avoid…
Despite the fact that the legal cannabis industry is growing, many people are still purchasing from the illicit market. A recent study investigated this matter and found that buying cannabis from the illicit market may be “better” than legal weed. The obvious reasons for choosing the illicit market over the legal market include the likes…
Nations across the globe are beginning to recognize the dangers of restrictive drug policies—aka the “war on drugs.” Colombia and Mexico recently came together for an international conference focused on “redesigning and rethinking drug policy” given the “failure” of prohibition. The two countries will collaborate with other Latin American leaders to create new drug policies….
Mixing cannabis with recreational drugs, medications, or alcohol can be a rollercoaster ride for your mind and body. While it may seem like an exciting idea to indulge in some extra fun, the pursuit of pleasure could come with undesired risks down the line. With a unique mix of over 550 chemical compounds and 100…
A new Israeli study has confirmed that smoked cannabis extracts offer a more effective way to treat back pain than ingested CBD…
Gone are the days when cannabis was just an occasional treat—today, it’s a powerful source of holistic healing. According to a 2021…


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Samsung is the best-selling smartphone brand in the world. That statement alone makes it easy to assume the company's mobile strategy is unbeatable. However, increasing competition across all price points means Samsung needs to shake up its strategy to maintain its margins. With that in mind, the company is overhauling its Galaxy S model release schedule.
For years, the company has been launching three new Galaxy S models each year. For example, last year's Galaxy S22 comes on the standard variant, the S22+, and the Galaxy Note-mimicking Galaxy S22 Ultra. This three-pronged device strategy will almost certainly continue for the upcoming Galaxy S23 range.
Looking ahead to 2024's Galaxy S24 range, it now seems the South Korean company is ready to ditch one of those models and release just two devices. Korean outlet The Elec reports Samsung is cancelling the Galaxy S24 Plus and suggests “the current state of the smartphone market” as the reason.
We are just weeks away from the launch of the Galaxy S23 series on February 1, so the company is already well into development on the S24 models. It seems this year will be the last chance for customers to buy the Plus model. This is essentially a standard Galaxy S with a bigger screen and a slightly better camera.
Samsung seemingly is seeing less value in this incremental upgrade on the standing S model. Instead, the company will differentiate the standard Galaxy S24 with the much more powerful and better in most ways Galaxy S24 Ultra. This will set up a clearer standard and premium version of the device, with no in-between option.
Tip of the day: Whether it's for a presentation, song, or YouTube video, at some point in your life you'll need to record audio from your computer. Windows 11 has multiple options to record sound due to its litany of apps. In our tutorial, we show you how to record audio using the built-in Windows 10 Voice Recorder and the freeware audio editor Audacity.


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Businesses hit hard
Two vessels carrying over 1,00,000 tonnes of wheat, yellow maize and yellow peas from Argentina and Canada arrived at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong Port in the middle of this month.
Before the water transport workers started a wildcat strike since April 20 midnight demanding a pay hike among other things, just about 5,000 tonnes of goods could be unloaded from the two vessels -- MV Mykonos Seas and MV Lara.
But due to the ongoing stalemate, two lighter vessels with these 5,000 tonnes of goods remain stranded at a private jetty on the Karnaphuli river for the last nine days.
For each day's overstay, mother vessels have to pay $15,000 in demurrage.
BSM Group Chairman Abul Bashar Chowdhury, who imported the wheat, yellow maize and peas, yesterday said they were counting a loss of Tk 50 to Tk 60 lakh a day. This includes the cost of demurrage, damage of goods' quality due to overstay and bank interest.
Such a deadlock would disrupt the whole supply chain, he said.
The trouble continues because although the water transport workers lifted their strike on April 26, cargo vessel owners stopped operating their vessels across the country protesting the wage hike proposed by the shipping ministry.
As a result, unloading and transporting of some 14 lakh tonnes of goods from over 60 mother vessels, including the two mentioned above, at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong Port remain uncertain.
Another 7.8 lakh tonnes of goods in 681 lighter vessels remain stranded in various private jetties in Chittagong, Narayanganj, Baghabari, Nogorbari, Bhairob, Ghorashal and other districts, said sources in the Water Transport Cell, a private organisation that coordinates schedules for lighter vessels.
These goods include wheat, raw sugar, poultry feed, urea, gypsum, raw materials like cement clinker, limestone, iron rod and scraps.
On Wednesday however, some industry owners, including Abul Khair Group, Meghna Group, TK Group, Bashundhara, Akij Group and Premier Cement, have managed to resume unloading and transporting from some 26 mother vessels on a small scale with their own lighter and cargo vessels.
Industry owners have only 200 cargo vessels while three organisations of cargo vessel owners have some 3,000.
Power and cement productions have already been hit by the stalemate.
State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid in a Facebook post on Wednesday said the non-operation of water vessels was hampering countrywide supply of fuel oil, affecting electricity generation at oil-based power plants.
According to Cement Manufacturers' Association, production in at least 10 cement factories remains fully or partially suspended.
For example, production at Premier Cement factory with a daily capacity of 8,000 tonnes remained completely halted till April 26.
Amirul Hoque, managing director of Premier Cement Mills Limited, said they had to count $10,000 in daily demurrage for each of their three vessels stuck at the anchorage.
“On top of that, we lost market share as our supply chain was affected due to the complete suspension of production for those six days. Who is going to pay for the loss…?”
The factory resumed partial production on April 27 by transporting raw materials with their own small vessels.
WAGE HIKE DEBATE
In 2009, the lowest wage for the transport workers was fixed at Tk 3,000. Following workers' strike in 2013, it was raised by 20 percent to Tk 4,100.
On April 20, Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation called the latest strike demanding a minimum monthly wage of Tk 10,000 and also an increase in overtime pay, festival bonus and other benefits.
Following a meeting between workers, owners and ministry representatives on April 26, the workers called off their strike as the ministry proposed to fix Tk 9,000 in minimum wages.
The next day, cargo vessel owners stopped operating their vessels in protest against the hike.
Khorshed Alam, senior-vice president of Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners Association, said after the 2009 hike, the next raise was due in 2014. But in 2013, workers forced owners to give a 20 percent increase.
Now they demand a 150 percent hike, which is illogical and impossible for the owners to pay, he added.
“In the last three years, fuel cost has been increased thrice though the vessel fare was not hiked. Though we are not in a position to increase wage this year, we proposed for an increase but the ministry favoured the workers and put pressure on us,” he added.
Terming the owners' decision not to operate vessels “whimsical,” Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam, general secretary of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation, said workers' minimum wage of Tk 9,000 fixed by the ministry was still too little to cope.
“How can a worker do such a risky job without feeding himself? A worker needs at least Tk 3,500 a month for himself. Then how can he run the family with the rest of the money?” he said.
The shipping ministry yesterday asked the Chittagong Port Authority chairman to sit with all stakeholders. The chairman is expected to hold a meeting to discuss this today, sources said.
Ministry Secretary Ashoke Madhab Roy told The Daily Star that they also sought help from Chittagong Chamber leaders in this regard.
He termed the vessel owners' opposition to the wage hike “illogical”.
“We negotiated to fix the minimum wage at Tk 9,000. This was logical because it is difficult for the workers to do their job with a pay lower than that,” he added.


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This year is looking good for diamond traders as the recently concluded International Diamond Week in Israel opened up a lot of opportunities for the market. With more visitors attending and exhibitors participating in the annual event, dealers are happy that the mineral is gaining more attention.
The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) event was held at the Ramat Gan bourse from February 5 to 7. Enthusiasts from all parts of the globe attended to see the high-quality diamonds of exhibitors. Compared to last year’s attendance, the International Diamond Week 2018 had more visitors and exhibitors.
Venus Jewel senior sales executive Digesh Shroff tells to Rapaport News that shortages of rough diamonds are good for the market. Digesh adds that the production of the high-valued mineral is now less than what it used to be. This scarcity in supply is causing an aggressive demand from Israel, America, and Asia.
Another expert, who remained anonymous, says that the shortage will result in one of two things: either the prices of rough diamonds will go down or the price of polished diamonds will go up. He adds further that the latter is more likely to happen.
Aside from the positive outlook of the attendants at the event, the diamond industry in Israel is also getting a little boost from the government. As a support to the industry, Economy Minister Eli Cohen said during the event that they are going to donate more than $286.6 million for future projects.
The said industry could see even more growth and activity next year as it opens up a world of new possibilities with a few interesting reveals.
CARATS.IO enters the crypto community
At the event, the IDE also revealed Carats.IO Diamond Currency, also called as CDC. The said diamond exchange and Israeli startup Carat.io will be in charge of the cryptocurrency. IDE president Yoram Dvash says that CDC would be a new financial instrument.
Haaretz reports that CDC will be based on diamonds coming from the IDE in Ramat Gan. Prices of the currency will be based on the price index of the mineral in Israel.
Aside from being a new viable investment for enthusiasts of the mineral, the IDE also hopes that the CDC will also help boosts trading in the market.
The IDE is opening up new investment options with CDC, and other than that, it is also giving traders more marketplaces when it comes to purchasing diamonds.
Alibaba.com now offers diamonds
At the International Diamond Week, the IDE also announced that it is launching a partnership with Alibaba.com, the world’s leading platform for global wholesale trade.
IDEX Online reports that the partnership makes the IDE the first diamond bourse to sell polished diamonds and jewelry on Alibaba.com direct from the source.
There are over 150 members of the IDE, and they will all be able to set up an online jewelry store at the website. It’s also worth noting that shops endorsed by the IDE only sell the top-quality minerals.
Right now, there are already 80 IDE-certified shops selling their products on Alibaba.com, and the number is expected to grow more within the year.
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Jobs axed at Sharp solar panel site
Hundreds of jobs at a solar panel factory are set to be lost after electronics firm Sharp announced plans to cease production at its facility in Wrexham, North Wales.
Bosses at the electrical giant have blamed "unavoidable market conditions" in their decision to cut 250 posts and not to renew around 350 agency workers' contracts.
Company CEO Hiroshi Sasaoka said a 30% drop in the unit price of European solar panels since the start of 2012 had left Wrexham's output uncompetitive in the UK.
He said: "It is with sincere regret we have decided to end solar panel production in Wrexham.
"Our employees are our greatest asset, and we have been fortunate to have a loyal, hard-working and committed workforce since we began solar production here in 2004.
"The Wrexham facility will continue to produce microwave ovens, and we will be investigating additional products for development."
Mr Sasaoka stressed that Sharp's European solar business was currently in the process of "transforming" to ensure "regeneration and long-term growth".
The news, which came nine days before Christmas, has been described as a hammer blow by community leaders, union officials and Wales' Business Minister, Edwina Hart.
Mrs Hart said: "This is very worrying news for the company's employees and their families especially coming just a week before Christmas.
"Severe competition in the UK and European solar markets, combined with wider financial pressures, have forced the company to take this difficult decision.
"Sharp has stated its current solar operation in Wrexham is unsustainable but has told us they will be investigating additional products for development at the site.
"Welsh Government officials will be exploring all potential options to support the site and in the meantime our partners will do all we can to support those who are facing redundancy."
That sentiment was also echoed by local MP Ian Lucas.
He said: " The loss of 615 jobs at Sharp is a hammer blow to Wrexham.
"May I say how sorry I am for those who are losing their jobs in the run up to Christmas and I will work with Wrexham Council and all local agencies to support them at this difficult time."
Production of solar panels at the factory in Llay is set to cease in February.


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We’re still a few years away from getting some consumer-friendly LCD sunglasses, but wouldn’t you know it the military’s already rocking a pair. The Office of Naval Research TechSolutions department has delivered the first 30 sets of what it calls Fast-Tint Protective Eyewear (FTPE). They can change tint automatically based on exterior light, much like currently available prescription glasses, but thanks to their LCD construction can go from dark to clear in just a half-second. This means a SEAL squad could blow a door and infiltrate a room without having to ask the terrorists to hold their fire while everyone takes off their shades. Initial reports are good and SOCOM is planning on buying another 100 sets. Maybe by the time they’re delivered someone will release a picture of the things and we won’t have to use a stock photo like this one.
Continue reading NAVY SEALs getting fancy LCD sunglasses, will surely show up as DLC in next SOCOM game
NAVY SEALs getting fancy LCD sunglasses, will surely show up as DLC in next SOCOM game originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We’ve had a feeling that LG was going to tackle 3D smartphones heads-on sometime in February, and after a spat of rumors today purported to be showing off the Optimus 3D (pictured above, via Phandroid), the company’s flat-out confirmed its Mobile World Congress debut. The Optimus 3D sports a dual-lens 3D camera, a glasses-free LCD display, and HDMI / DLNA for sharing on whatever 3D sets you have. A live demo will be at Barcelona, but whether that means we’ll get to hold it in our own hands. Other specs? We’ll have to wait and find out. Press release after the break.
Continue reading LG confirms Optimus 3D for MWC 2011: glasses-free screen and 3D camera
LG confirms Optimus 3D for MWC 2011: glasses-free screen and 3D camera originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Let’s be honest, the original Dell Streak had a bit of an identity crisis. The 5-inch device wasn’t sure if it belonged in the tablet or smartphone world, and ultimately it was targeted at a pretty niche user. But its larger brother, the Streak 7, is more self-aware. It’s a honest-to-goodness tablet meant for doing all those tablet-y things — surfing the web, reading e-books, watching video and more. Sure, the Streak 7 may just look like an enlarged version of the 5-inch version, but they differ in more than just screen size: the 7 packs a powerful 1GHz dual-core Tegra T20 processor, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, 5 megapixel lens on the rear, T-Mobile “4G” HSPA+ connectivity, and 16GB of internal memory. The tablet runs Android 2.2 with Dell’s Stage UI for now, but Dell promises an upgrade to Honeycomb once it’s ready. It sounds like one of the more well-rounded 7-inch tablets on the market right now and at just 0 on contract at T-Mobile (it’s 0 without), it’s actually quite well priced. However, there are quite a few things that are going to keep 7-inch tablet seekers from forking over the cash. What are those? We’ll tell all in our full review — read on for more!
Continue reading Dell Streak 7 review
Dell Streak 7 review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s been hard to open a laptop or turn on the television over the last week without hearing news of the unrest in Egypt. On YouTube, thousands of videos of the protests have poured in, whether as unfiltered footage from the demonstrations themselves, or as news reports from our media partners around the globe.
We understand how closely the world is following these events, and want to help people access and share this information quickly and easily on YouTube. We’re helping people do this in three ways:
- Highlighting the latest footage on CitizenTube, our news and politics channel, and inviting people to submit video they’ve come across.
- Pointing our users directly to these videos through banners at the top of YouTube pages, and through links alongside YouTube videos.
- Streaming live coverage of Al Jazeera’s broadcasts about the unfolding events, on both their Arabic and English YouTube channels.
And our Google colleagues have also turned on a speak-to-tweet service to help people in Egypt stay connected at this difficult time.
Here’s a playlist of videos that have come in:
YouTube has used similar tools and live streaming technologies in the past to give our users access to information on major world news events, such as the Haiti earthquake and the protests in Iran. We hope this footage provides a unique window into the events unfolding in the streets of Cairo, Alexandria and many other cities across Egypt.
Olivia Ma, YouTube News and Politics, recently watched “28th Jan. 2011 – Storyful – Kasr Al Nile Bridge clashes.”
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We haven’t heard an awful lot about the Brammo Empulse since it launched last summer, but Asphalt and Rubber managed to catch the thing doing its thing at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California. The bike and its crew were out for some testing, abbreviated tail all taped full of telemetry and spitting back data as the it quietly screamed its way around the track. The race-ready Empulse RR is getting ready for the 2011 TTXGP series for electric race bikes, where it’ll be competing against the likes of the Mission R — which hopefully will have put its fairings back on by then.
Continue reading Brammo Empulse RR electric race bike goes screaming by at Thunderhill test (video)
Brammo Empulse RR electric race bike goes screaming by at Thunderhill test (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Daytona International Speedway is synonymous with speed, auto racing, and . . . blind people? Virginia Tech’s Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa), along with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), recently debuted its sight-optional and street-legal SUV at the famed racetrack. Dr. Dennis Hong and his students first let blind folks drive a dune buggy without the help of a sighted copilot in 2009 — as a first step to achieving the goal of a street-legal SUV for the sightless crowd. The SUV in question was designed for the NFB’s Blind Driver Challenge, and is equipped with a drive-by-wire system — also seen in the RoMeLa autonomous vehicle — that was modified for use with RoMeLa’s SpeedStrip and DriveGrip tactile interface technology. It works by using a laser rangefinder to map the surrounding area, relaying information for acceleration and braking to the driver by rumbling the SpeedStrip seat, and passing along turning info through vibrations in the DriveGrip gloves. The system was not developed solely for the purpose of getting blind drivers on the road, however, as Virginia Tech suggests that its technology could also be used in gaming applications. We’re not quite ready to see blind drivers on actual roads just yet, but why shouldn’t our sight-impaired friends get to enjoy Gran Turismo 5 with the rest of us? Video’s after the break.
Continue reading Hokies give (tactile) sight to the blind so they can drive, no word on turning water into wine
Hokies give (tactile) sight to the blind so they can drive, no word on turning water into wine originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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You can’t always just hang around waiting for the next big Microsoft security update. Sometimes you have to go and make your own destiny — even if it means probing a few dusty ports. That’s apparently the mantra of modern hackers who are, according to Akamai, increasingly looking back at telnet as a means to gain unapproved access to systems of all shapes and sizes. Admins of course should be relying on SSH for such remote shell access, far more secure, but apparently many like to keep port 23 open for old time’s sake. Green-screen nostalgia is, apparently, a dangerous thing.
Hackers increasingly using telnet for attacks, port 23 looking younger than ever originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Solar power is the most egalitarian of all energy sources, yet residents in many parts of the world still lack access to electricity. Three University of Michigan engineering students have created an affordable solution to this problem — to the delight of camping geeks everywhere — with the Emerald, a portable solar panel that does double duty as both a cellphone charger and personal light source. We’ve seen the personal solar panel idea before, but the price of entry made it an untenable solution for developing nations. Solar-powered light bulbs have been around for a while too, but the Emerald’s light lasts for eight hours on a charge (as opposed to the bulbs’ two to six hours), and it’s able to fully charge a phone in the same time it takes an outlet to do the job. They aim to sell the device for the low, low, price of under twenty bucks for customers in the developing world, which is 90 percent cheaper than other solutions and 100 percent more awesome.
Continue reading UM students make cheap and portable solar charger / light source for developing nations
UM students make cheap and portable solar charger / light source for developing nations originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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University of Hawaii economists have revised their visitor arrivals forecast for 2013, saying growing occupancy and higher room rates at the state’s hotels are slowing visitor industry growth.
The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization said in its recently released third-quarter forecast that the total number of visitors will likely increase 5.5% across the Hawaiian Islands this year, a dip of just over a percentage point from projections the group made earlier this year.
“After several years of robust expansion, growth in the visitor industry is tapering off,” the economists said of Hawaii’s visitor business. “Room rates are higher and occupancy tighter, limiting incremental gains.”
The organization is forecasting a 7.4% boost in statewide visitor expenditures this year.
“While the large rise in room rates is good for hoteliers, higher room bills are squeezing spending on other tourism activities, dining, shopping, and so forth,” the report said. “A healthy rebound in U.S. household income would help to alleviate this squeeze.”
The organization expects overall visitor arrivals to increase 2.3% in 2014 and another 1.7% in 2015.
According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Aloha State welcomed nearly 8 million visitors in 2012, an all-time high for the destination.


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When Covid-19 began spreading in early 2020, the erroneous assumption among real estate experts suggested luxury market sales would slow as shoppers held their money until they saw how the pandemic would progress. Instead, purchasing has boomed to the point that top-shelf communities and destinations have few available listings to peruse.
As a result, many buyers who hesitated to jump into the hot second-home market of the last two years must alter their expectations and search through whatever homes are left, regardless of size or type. Sensing the urgency, many developers are turning over turnkey concepts to boost offerings—serving up high-end, furnished, pre-decorated homes allowing the buyer to pay, take the keys and enjoy.
By way of case studies, the turnkey push has found its way to Hawaii, Grenada and California with separate developments and price points, but the “move in now” theme stays the same.
The residential community at the Four Seasons Hualalai on the big island of Hawaii, for example, reports no sales inventory among its more than 350 homes for the first time in 25 years. According to Rob Kildow, director of sales and principal Broker for Hualalai Realty, the site saw a 20% jump in demand during the pandemic—creating a local market that’s all turnkey for now.
More: Pickleball Takes Its Place as the Must-Have Luxury Amenity
“When our residents sell their home, a buyer from a smaller property here buys it and moves into the bigger space,” Mr. Kildow said. “They leave the smaller home fully furnished while they create their new residence. I then have a three-page waiting list of buyers interested in that smaller property.”
Mr. Kildow explained that the turnkey residences at Hualalai routinely sell within days at or above asking price. Residents enjoy the natural beauty of the Kona coast with access to the Four Seasons’s elite amenities, including the Jack Nicklaus-designed main resort golf course and a second private course tucked in among the community’s homes.
When the pandemic slowed bookings during Hawaii’s aggressive testing and quarantine edicts, the Four Seasons Hualalai used the time to complete a $100 million renovation on the resort side to upgrade all guest rooms, complete two new villas and add a 1.8 million-gallon swimmable aquarium.
“There’s a clear trend toward single-family, ‘want it now’ homes,” Mr. Kildow added. “Psychology always provides different sales drivers, and the pandemic pushed buyers on the fence to buy—in some cases ‘sight unseen.’”
More: Courtyard Houses for $10 Million and Up
Kandace Douglas, real estate sales and marketing director at Silversands Villas on the island of Grenada, cited the pandemic-driven challenges of construction as a driving force in buyers looking to grab turnkey spaces as they hit the market.
“Given the low inventory of furniture and materials, buyers want something fully turnkey and ready to be enjoyed,” Ms. Douglas said.
Strongly embracing the luxury “move in now” mentality, Silversands Villas sells fully furnished homes featuring original artworks carefully curated by CEO and Ora Developers Chairman Naguib Sawiris. The art in question stays with the home, so each property’s collection will be owned by future residents of the villas, adding investment value.
The Silversands Villas offer an additional advantage many ready-made housing developments can’t manage—a sort of turnkey citizenship program. Grenada offers Citizen by Investment by which home buyers and their families can apply for citizenship after making a minimum investment of $220,000. Once approved after a vetting process, those buyers are soon able to receive a Grenadian passport granting them visa-free access to more than 140 countries.
At Rancho Palos Verdes along the Southern California coast, the resort real estate development of Terranea covers 102 acres, offering nine dining spots, a 50,000-square-foot spa and a nine-hole golf course. Resort President Terri A. Haack reports a familiar increase in buyer interest.
“The demand for Terranea properties cannot be satisfied as there is only one available property currently for sale,” Ms. Haack said. “Since selling out all of the available for-sale properties at Terranea, owners have shown little interest in selling their property.”
Terranea buyers cannot use their space at the resort as a primary residence due to California laws, so they opt for the simplicity of buying into preexisting, “ready to enjoy” spaces.
“Turnkey homes offer peace of mind and instant enjoyment —while avoiding construction costs and labor force issues presented by today’s economy,” Ms. Haack added. “Time is priceless.”
Kathleen Benoit, real estate agent for Russ Lyon/Sotheby’s at the massive Desert Mountain community in Scottsdale, insists buyers looking to get into that golf community value acquiring a second home easily over hanging onto a long list of potential accoutrement options.
“It’s all about instant gratification, simplicity and getting to the end game of a resort home that one can just walk into to begin enjoying that lifestyle,” Ms. Benoit said. “Whether or not the buyers like the furniture, the convenience of enjoying the home immediately outweighs whether they will end up replacing items in the home.”
More: With Working From Home Prevalent Across Australia, Two Are Better Than One When It Comes to Home Offices
Back in Hawaii on the quiet island of Kauai, the 1,010-acre real estate project of Kukui’ula stands only 25% into its overall build and is already leaning into the single family, turnkey trend.
Kukui’ula Development president Richard Albrecht explained their buyers are eager to purchase longer-term residences where they can live for extended periods throughout the year. Rather than buy an open lot and work through the design and construction process (which Kukui’ula also offers, if desired), many buyers come to Mr. Albrecht looking for easy access into a growing community.
“Our buyers are looking for second homes, not vacation homes,” Mr. Albrecht said. “We’re currently designing our next phase, including carefree, furnished residences. We built four of these turnkey homes in December 2019 for presale, and they all sold within hours.”
Kukui’ula current construction includes 14 new homes targeted to sell in the $4.5 million to $6 million range. A collection of 45 smaller homes now underway are projected to sell around $3 million to $4 million.
More: A Preview of the Season’s New Developments
Kukui’ula life revolves around the community’s 21,000-square-foot-clubhouse, the home for the Umeke Kitchen restaurant and the Huaka’i Outfitters that equips residents for a variety of ocean activities. Residents also come to this Kauai haven to enjoy the 18-hole, Tom Weiskopf-designed Kukui’ula Golf Course.
Mr. Albrecht believes half the people making up the luxury real estate market never wanted to go through the design and building even before the pandemic. Those buyers come to his Kukui’ula team willing to trade choices of household elements for convenience.
“We built turnkey condos on the property during our earlier stages,” he said. “At this time, we have no intention of building more condos. We’re looking to single-family homes when we offer that turnkey option. Houses last on the market here for different amounts of times based on price point, but none of our turnkey properties linger very long.”


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The three-day National Fruit Fair 2019 is going to start on Sunday at A K M Gias Uddin Milky Auditorium premise in Farmgate area of the capital.
The Ministry of Agriculture is organising the fair, focusing on the slogan ‘Planned fruit cultivation, will bring food with nutrition’ this year.
Fruit buyers and participants of the fair will gather information on fruits produced in Bangladesh, it’s varieties, production and export information.
The organisers also arranged essay writing and drawing competition for children at the fair.
The exhibition will continue till Tuesday, 18 June.


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Intel’s new Kaby Lake CPU hits the market today, but is it a worthwhile upgrade? How much performance did Intel’s improved 14nm process yield? We review the core, explore these questions, and discuss our findings.
AMD’s Ryzen / Zen core is looking good in leaked benchmarks. For the first time in five years, an AMD-built CPU looks to be capable of competing against its Intel counterpart, even if Chipzilla maintains an overall advantage.
Apple’s latest laptop is the first MacBook Pro to fail to earn a Consumer Reports recommendation. The culprit? Incredibly terrible and wildly varying battery life. Apple can claim its hardware is performing as designed all it wants, but end-users are clearly seeing something different.
Microsoft has finally acknowledged that its “Get Windows 10” campaign made a significant mistake by pushing a malware-style update that changed how the GWX.exe application functioned. The company’s explanation of how it ‘learned things’ from the process, however, still rings false.
A brand new report from Bloomberg offers an interesting counterweight to Tim Cook’s confidence. According to that investigation, Apple has made a number of strategic decisions that took emphasis away from the Mac design teams.


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Kanye West Announces 10-Year Yeezy, Gap Partnership
Kanye West has announced a 10 year partnership between his Yeezy clothing brand and Gap.
The full collection is titled YEEZY Gap and is set to be launched early 2021. Kanye West also tweeted a first look at what to expect from the new project complete with the caption “#WESTDAYEVER.”
According to a statement issued to The New York Times, the YEEZY design studio under Kanye’s creative direction will produce “modern, elevated basics for men, women and kids at an accessible price point.”
Announcing the partnership, Global Head of Gap Brand Mark Breitbard said: “We are excited to welcome Kanye back to the Gap family as a creative visionary, building on the aesthetic and success of his YEEZY brand and together defining a next-level retail partnership.”
Gap is reportedly aiming to bring in $1 billion in annual Yeezy Gap-generated sales by the five-year mark. West’s Yeezy, meanwhile, stands to gain royalties and potential equity.
The Herald NG. – Faith