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Natural vs. Synthetic Diamonds
What was once considered impossible is now a reality; Synthetic gem quality diamonds are here! They are affordable, and they are creating quite a stir in the market.
In Rapaport’s News Briefs this morning, March 29, 2023, De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver, speaking yesterday at the IDMA 40th annual Congress, is quoted as saying that synthetic diamonds make up “a distinct and separate category, and one that has a totally different value proposition from natural diamonds.”
So, no worries?
Like Synthetic Colored Stones
Many in the gem world have compared synthetic diamond to synthetic colored gems, such as synthetic emeralds, rubies, sapphires, opals, etc… The technological advances needed to grow gem crystals were, and still are, applauded. When first created, all of these synthetic gem materials, including diamond, were valued not only for their beauty, but also for their technological breakthroughs. They were all expensive to make.
However, once the technological miracle became a reliable commercial production (generally speaking), their costs decreased (for most, costs dropped dramatically), their affordability increased, and they found their own product lines. It has also been noted that they have made little impact on their natural gemstone counterparts.
But will that same scenario happen between natural and synthetic diamond? Read on …
Mikimoto vs. Natural Pearls
On the other side of the planet, just outside of San Francisco, California, there’s a synthetic gem quality diamond manufacturer called the Diamond Foundry. In a recent interview in Forbes.com (subscription), Martin Roscheisen, CEO and cofounder of the Diamond Foundry, is quoted as saying synthetic diamond is the next cultured pearl. “It’s like how Mikimoto popularized cultured pearls. It started with Jackie Kennedy not wanting to pay up for ‘natural’ pearls in favor of those that are cultured. You can still find all-natural pearls at outlandish prices, but they’re only 1% of the market.”
Okay, so the Jackie Kennedy comment may not have been the best reference (see Jackie Kennedy’s triple strand of faux pearls auction Bonhams). However, it is true that many women in the 1950s had a strand of cultured pearls. And most women, and men, who have pearls today have purchased cultured pearls, all thanks to Mikimoto.
As a quick reminder, in the early 1900s, Koichi Mikimoto developed a way to implant mother-of-pearl beads into mollusks, which then grew nacre over the beads to create perfectly spherical white pearls (cultured as opposed to natural). While it took several years and harvests to create a commercially available product, and then more years to create a welcoming market, the Mikimoto cultured pearl eventually overtook the natural pearl market.
Remember This from Last Week?
… with a serious prediction! You should read this.“
The serious prediction was this:
The story of pearling, which rapidly collapsed after World War I with the introduction of artificial pearls [gr – not artificial – they were Mikimoto Cultured Pearls] and the Great Depression, holds particular importance in the history of the UAE — particularly as it faces a looming reckoning with another extractive industry. While crude oil sales built the country after its formation in 1971, the Emirates will have to confront its fossil fuel legacy and potentially plan for a carbon-neutral future as it hosts the United Nations COP28 climate talks later this year.
Will the Crude Oil Industry become the next Natural Pearl Industry for the UAE?
Wait and See?
One could certainly make the cultured pearl / natural pearl comparison to synthetic diamonds / natural diamonds, that cultured pearls make up a distinct and separate category, with different value from natural pearls. But you should also know that cultured pearls almost eliminated the natural pearl market (as noted in the UAE story above).
So, should the natural diamond market simply cast off the synthetic diamond category as just another product category, or should it prepare for an industry life threatening battle?
While the debate rages on, the production of synthetic gem quality diamond increases exponentially. – gr


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AMD to contribute to MeeGo development
At this year's MeeGo Conference currently taking place in Dublin, processor manufacturer Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has announced that it has joined the MeeGo open source project. MeeGo is a Linux-based distribution for various mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, netbooks and In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems, that is the result of the February decision to merge Intel's Moblin platform and Nokia's Maemo platform under the aegis of the Linux Foundation.
AMD says that it will provide engineering expertise aimed at helping to "establish the technical foundations for next-generation mobile platforms and embedded devices". Discussing the announcement, AMD Corporate VP of Software Development Ben Bar-Haim said, "MeeGo represents an exciting, open-source mobile operating system we expect to be adopted by mobile and embedded device makers over time," adding that, "We are glad to provide engineering resources to joint industry efforts like MeeGo and expect that this operating system will help drive our embedded plans and create expanded market opportunities for our forthcoming Accelerated Processing Units".
According to AMD Operating System Research Center Director and Linux Foundation Board Member Chris Schläger, "upstream first" is important to his company, as is the development of existing open source projects. AMD already works on a number of open source projects, such as the Linux kernel, and is a Gold Member of the Linux Foundation.
- AMD Joins MeeGo Linux Open Source Project for Next-Generation Mobile, Embedded Platfo, press release from AMD.
- MeeGo 1.1 for Core, Netbooks, IVI and Handsets arrives, a report from The H.

domain: news


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* Will cut Sears Canada stake to 51 pct, from 95 pct
* Q1 adj loss 31 cents/shr vs Street View loss 67 cents
* Sears shares up 11.1 percent in morning trading
By Phil Wahba
May 17 (Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp said on Thursday it plans to spin off a large chunk of its stake in its struggling Canadian unit, which Chairman Edward Lampert had spent years trying to gain control of, in the latest move that will shrink the company.
Separately, Sears Holdings, which includes its namesake chain and the discount Kmart chain, reported a first-quarter adjusted operating loss that was significantly better than the loss analysts had estimated.
Sears Holdings owns about 95 percent of Sears Canada , which will be trimmed to about 51 percent after the spinoff to Sears Holdings’ shareholders - effectively a stock dividend.
Sears Canada has seen its sales and earnings plummet in recent years and been a drag on Sears Holdings.
Shares of Sears Holdings surged 11.1 percent to $56.52 in early trading. Since early January, the stock has nearly doubled as the company announced plans to shed assets, including stores and leaseholds, and to spin off its Sears Hometown and Outlet businesses. The company expects this spinoff, which could raise as much as $500 million in cash, to close later this year.
In December, it had spun off Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corp.
Credit Suisse analyst Gary Balter called the Canada spinoff another example of a move “to what we believe is a liquidation of the Sears Holding Company.”
Spinning off a good part of its Sears Canada stake won’t raise cash, but will allow shareholders to cash out a part of their investments, and could attract investors interested in Sears but not in its Canadian unit.
“It’s a way of taking some value out of Sears Holdings and distributing it directly to shareholders,” Imperial Capital Managing Director Mary Ross Gilbert told Reuters.
“It’s a way for them to be able to monetize a piece of Sears. If you distribute the shares to them, they could sell it.”
Sears said it could, later, further reduce its Sears Canada stake. Sears Canada shares will continue to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Sears Canada and Sears Holdings said in separate statements that the spinoff would allow each to focus on its business.
Sears Holdings also reported on Thursday that it earned a net income of $189 million, or $1.78 per share, in the quarter ended April 28, helped by the sale of some stores and leasehold interests, compared with a $170 million loss, or $1.58 per share a year earlier.
The retailer reported an adjusted loss from continuing operations of 31 cents per share, much better than the 67-cent loss analysts expected, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Overall, Sears Holdings revenue fell 2.8 percent to $9.27 billion, hit by store closings, declines in sales of appliances and home electronics, and weakness in Canada, but exceeded the $9.15 billion Wall Street analysts had expected.
A few weeks ago, Sears Holdings laid out a blueprint for boosting results, urging everything from investing millions of dollars in the retailer’s “Shop Your Way” rewards program to improving the layout and signs in its stores.
Sears Holdings has seen lower sales every year since Lampert combined Sears with Kmart in 2005.
Two years ago, the company significantly added to its stake in Sears Canada by buying 17.3 percent of the Canadian unit from hedge fund manager William Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Ma n agement, bringing its ownership at the time to 90.4 percent.
Ackman and other minority investors had thwarted Sears Holdings’ attempt in 2006 to buy the shares of Sears Canada it did not already own.
When Sears bought out Ackman’s stake in 2010, analysts praised the move, saying the cash-rich Canadian unit was a way to improve Sears Holdings’ financial position.
But Sears Canada’s fortunes have reversed course since then, and it has been a drag on overall results.
On Wednesday, Sears Canada reported sales at stores open at least a year - a key measure for retailers - fell 6.3 percent, a far steeper drop than the combined 1.3 percent decline at Sears’s U.S. stores and Kmart discount chain.
That follows a 7.7 percent drop in 2011, as well as declines in the two preceding years. In 2011, Sears Canada had an operating loss of $20 million, compared with a $390 million profit two years earlier.
And Sears Canada faces the prospect of even tougher competition next year, when Target Corp opens as many as 135 Canadian stores.
Meanwhile, Wal-Mart Stores Inc’s reported on Thursday that its Canadian same-store sales in the first quarter were up 3.7 percent. The company plans to open more stores there in what Walmart International CEO Doug McMillon described as “the largest expansion program in Walmart Canada’s 18-year history.”


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Safest Poker Sites Week in Review May 20
There have been many big stories in the past week in the online poker world. More proof surrounding the Ultimate Bet cheating scandal surfaced. A bad business decision by Ultimate Poker related to this was changed. A large iPoker affiliate is under investigation for allowing US players to access the network. PokerStars also lost their bid to buy a US based casino.
Ultimate Bet Cheating Scandal Tapes Leaked
You cannot keep a good scandal down and that is certainly the case when it comes to the now defunct Ultimate Bet. Travis Makar, Russ Hamilton’s former right hand man, leaked tapes that clearly prove Russ Hamilton admitting he was the main person behind the cheating at Ultimate Bet. It seems there is more to the story. Former owner Greg Pierson, who now owns player verification system Iovation, appears to have known about the situation all along. Pierson and his company may have even benefited from it. All of the leaked information may be found here.
Ultimate Poker Drops Iovation
Speaking of Iovation, the first licensed US online poker room was using them, perhaps unknowing to their past. After all of this became clear Ultimate Poker dropped the use of Iovation to verify players. The company has yet to announce what company is being used for this service now. Ultimate Poker has been plagued by problems since its April 30th launch that include player location difficulties, software crashes, server crashes and a lack of software features.
All PokerVIP Players on iPoker Investigated
PokerVIP is one of the largest affiliates at iPoker, a network that does not accept US players. Many reports, including those from players and an old website belonging to PokerVIP, have made it clear that US players have been solicited to play on iPoker. The website soliciting US players has since been taken offline. All players that signed up through PokerVIP must submit to a documentation check no later than May 20th or their accounts will be suspended.
PokerStars Loses Fight to Buy Atlantic Club
Atlantic Club notified PokerStars’ parent company that their contract to purchase the Atlantic City property had expired. PokerStars fought back by filing a temporary restraining order preventing the sale of Atlantic Club. The fight came to an end when a New Jersey judge lifted the restraining order. This reopens Atlantic Club’s ability to enter into negotiations with other potential buyers. PokerStars had already paid Atlantic Club $11 million to sustain operations and may be on the hook for another $4 million for not buying the property by the April 26th expiration date. Licensing issues have plagued the potential sale, as did a statement by Atlantic Club that they were unaware of PokerStars’ previous legal troubles in the US.


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DENVER, May 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ibotta, the mobile shopping app whose users have earned more than $200 million in cash-back rebates on everyday purchases, is raising a glass to every mother in America this Mother's Day by offering a free mimosa, up to a $5 value, redeemable through the app.
This Sunday, May 14, moms everywhere can enjoy a complimentary mimosa at Mother's Day brunch, dinner or just because, courtesy of Ibotta. It's Ibotta's way of saying thanks to the nearly 60 percent of Ibotta users who are moms – and all other mothers – who make our lives so special.
"This Mother's Day, Ibotta wants to toast moms who are always putting others' needs before their own," said Bryan Leach, founder and CEO of Ibotta. "Today is their day, so we're asking them to sit back, relax and enjoy a mimosa on us."
Starting at midnight, moms can download the free Ibotta app, open the Restaurants and Bars category, tap the 'Mimosa for Mom' rebate and enjoy a mimosa at any local restaurant or bar. After purchase, they just need to upload their receipt through the Ibotta app to receive $5 cash back.
Since launching in 2012, Ibotta has been wildly popular with moms, its largest demographic. Three-quarters of the app's Gen X (36-51 years old) users are moms, while 58 percent of Ibotta's millennial users (19-35 years old) are moms.
According to an analysis of 46 million receipts, Ibotta found that moms purchase almost 20 percent less alcoholic beverages than other users of the Ibotta app, making this Mother's Day the perfect time to toast all they do.
Ibotta is transforming the shopping experience by making it easy for consumers to earn cash back on everyday purchases through a single smartphone app. The company partners with leading brands and retailers to offer rebates on groceries, electronics, clothing, restaurant dining, beer, wine, spirits and more. As the premier destination for rewarded shopping on mobile, Ibotta has paid out more than $200 million in cash back to its users, and is one of the five most frequently used shopping apps in the United States.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ibotta-honors-moms-with-free-mimosas-on-mothers-day-300455367.html


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Section 1201 of the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (1998) give DRM incredible protections: it’s illegal to bypass DRM in products you own, for legal purposes, and merely investigating or revealing defects in products with DRM can land you in jail.
Every three years, the US Copyright Office asks the public toRead More
Cole NeSmith – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Coldcut – Christmas Break (Mixmas Mix)
The Gifted Children – Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Christmas All Over Again
Banjo or Freakout – White Christmas
The Pretenders – 2000 MilesRead More
Rightscorp (previously) is the extortion outfit that terrifies people into paying it money for unproven accusations of copyright violations, enlisting ISPs to cut off subscribers who won’t cough up.
Despite high-profile support from some of the copyright industry’s biggest players, the company has been in a financial death-spiral, under increasing scrutiny over itsRead More
Allergan has disclosed that it transferred title to six of its contested eye drug patents to the St Regis Mohawk band in upstate New York, in a bid to use the band’s sovereign immunity to prevent generic pharma companies from dragging the company into court to show that its patents are invalid.
The Supreme Court of Canada just handed down a controversial ruling in which it ordered Google to block links to a page that was deemed illegal in Canada for every Google user, everywhere in the world — asserting that the Supreme Court of Canada’s jurisdiction extends to the end of the earth.


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Google—perhaps the most valuable brand in the world—recently announced a corporate restructuring with the holding company name of Alphabet. The new structure, strategy and operating details are complex and widely reported in business media and on Google’s own site. But a corporate powerhouse like Google-now-Alphabet will, according to many observers, have a major influence in […]
“You nailed it,” one doctor wrote. “Healthcare is changing and CONVENIENCE is just one of the operative concepts for future consumers of healthcare.” In our recent post about what’s really behind the CVS tobacco announcement, we raised a flag about increasing competition as CVS/Caremark and other national retailers are clearly committed to reinventing themselves as […]
Your proposal will include:
...and much more!
– Jonathan Calure, MD


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Bad Juju, Indie game store Desura’s parent company, has filed for bankruptcy.
Crytek faces even more trouble, as the director behind Homefront: The Revolution resigns
New financial research currently points to Sony possibly going bankrupt in the next 2 years
The studio contracted to make Aliens: Colonial Marines has just laid off all its staff.
Another major retailer has fallen into administration following a trend that won’t be stopped
The THQ bankruptcy saga isn’t over yet with two new complaints being filed against the way it is being handled
THQ’s financial woes continue and they now face being delisted from the NASDAQ
Some ex-THQ employees have gotten together and written an open letter to the board asking for the removal of the THQ CEO
Things look bleak for the studio behind the revolutionary LA Noire
With the economy being what it is, a lot of larger companies are feeling the heat more than most of us may think. Midway, who has been struggling for a while, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which means that they want to try and continue but are waiting for permission from the courts. Chapter 7 is the one that you don’t want to be filing for, because it’s the one that means you are going into liquidation. Here are some...
Â Midway have not been having too much fun lately. They’ve been short of money – $250 million short, to be exact – and their stakeholders would like some of that money back. Good news then for fans of the once mighty purveyor of arcade games – Its latest Mortal Kombat game, the comic-book crossover MK vs. DC has shipped nearly two million copies. Following this, Midway have announced that a new Mortal Kombat...


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USDA Celebrates National Farmers Market Week, August 4-10
Confirms Growth and Sustainability in Farmers Markets
WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 3, 2013: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today celebrated National Farmers Market Week with a kick-off event at the Columbia Heights Farmers Market in Washington, D.C.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 8,144 farmers markets are now listed in USDA's National Farmers Market Directory, up from about 5,000 in 2008. The Directory, voluntarily updated by farmers market managers, state departments of agriculture, marketing associations, and others, is published online at farmersmarkets.usda.gov. This year, the Directory has been upgraded to include a new Application Programming Interface (API) that improves customer access to farmers market data.
“Farmers markets are an important public face for agriculture and a critical part of our nation's food system,” said Secretary Tom Vilsack. “They provide benefits not only to the farmers looking for important income opportunities, but also help fill a growing consumer demand for fresh, healthy foods. In recent years, USDA has stepped up efforts to support local and regional marketing opportunities for producers, including a modernized Farmer's Market Directory to help connect farmers, consumers, communities, and businesses around the country.”
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Administrator Anne Alonzo speaking at today’s farmers market celebration at Washington, D.C.'s Columbia Heights Marketplace announced the newly updated National Farmers Market Directory information.
“Due to consumer demand for local food we are seeing an increase in the diversity of market offerings, and more participation from small businesses and farms,” Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Anne Alonzo said. “This year we are focusing on the sustainability and maturity of farmers markets– keeping new and old markets thriving and improving. Farmers markets around the country continue to be popular social events for families and communities.”
Local food and direct marketing opportunities, including farmers markets, are one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture. According to the latest Census of Agriculture, direct sales of food products from farmers to individual consumers rose by nearly 50 percent between 2002 and 2007. Worth an estimated $1 billion in 2005, local food sales grew to $4.8 billion in 2007 and nearly $7 billion last year, according to industry estimates. For nearby businesses in major cities across the U.S., having a farmers market nearby means an average increase in sales of anywhere from $19,000 to $15 million (according to a Marketumbrella research paper published in 2012).
The 10 top states account for over half (51.3 percent) of all markets listed in the Directory database: 1. California (759), 2. New York (637), 3. Illinois (336), 4. Michigan (331), 5. Ohio (300), 6. Pennsylvania (290), 7. Massachusetts (289)m, 8. Wisconsin 286), 9. Missouri (New to list in 2013 – in 2012 was ranked 19th) (246), 9. Virginia (tie) (246), 10. Iowa (229), 10. North Carolina (tie) (229).
Geographic regions like the mid-Atlantic (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia) increased to a 11.98 percent market share in 2013, from a 11.65 percent in 2012, the Northeast (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) increased to a 29.11 percent market share in 2013, from a 27.48 percent share in 2012, and the Southeast region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) increased to a 5.03 percent market share in 2013, from a 4.79 percent share in 2012.
USDA has taken several steps to support direct marketing farmers as part of the Department's commitment to support local and regional food systems, and increase consumer access to fresh, healthy food in communities across the country. For example:
- The USDA launched a new API for the National Farmers Market Directory in May which helps consumers locate farmers markets nearby. APIs enable programmers to interact directly with an open data source to work with real-time data—rather than a static data export that can become immediately out of date. The development is part of USDA's commitment to expanding opportunities for our local farmers markets and small businesses.
- USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), has outfitted more farmers markets with the ability to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), to improve access to fresh produce and healthy foods by SNAP recipients. USDA recently announced $4 million dollars in available funding to help farmers markets and direct marketing farmers purchase and operate wireless point-of-sale equipment. Currently, over 3,800 farmers markets are authorized to accept SNAP in FY 2012, and farmers markets generate over $16 million in SNAP sales.
- USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative serves the growing local and regional market segment. This Initiative coordinates and strengthens USDA's work on local and regional food systems.
Many markets will host fun activities to celebrate National Farmers Market Week, including pie contests, festivals, cooking demonstrations, events for kids, raffle drawings and giveaways. USDA officials will visit markets around the country between Aug. 4 and Aug. 10, to honor growers and commemorate National Farmers Market Week.
The USDA National Farmers Market Directory is available at farmersmarkets.usda.gov. Users can search this year's enhanced directory for farmers markets based on location, available products, and types of payment accepted, including participation in federal nutrition programs such as SNAP and WIC. Farmers markets that participate in federal nutrition program improve access to healthy food in underserved communities across the country.
Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at http://www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).


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BBC News - UK
Updated: 14 hours 32 min ago
Thursday's papers look ahead to how the government might lift the lockdown restrictions.
Boris Johnson will chair his cabinet, after suggesting some restrictions could be eased from Monday.
New mothers are missing out on support for their babies amidst lockdown restrictions.
"We had to leave all our shopping," a mother tells BBC News.
People from the travelling community say they are struggling to access water, electricity and sanitation.
Campaigners want veterans who have moved abroad to have their right to a full pension restored.
Coronavirus means people are marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day from their own homes.
Almost half a million people are at "high risk" of homelessness, local councils warn government.
John Rees, 88, was stabbed to death while shopping in a Co-op supermarket in Rhondda.
With the UK in its seventh week of lockdown, how different have people's experiences been?
Bicycle shops across the UK say demand for new bikes - and repairs for old ones - is high, and transport policymakers are trying to adjust.
New services aim to prevent some going to hospital where there's a higher risk of catching Covid-19.
Joan and Don, both in isolation, share their VE Day memories as an online choir entertains them.
BBC Reality Check breaks down what is coronavirus testing and why it matters.
A union representing taxi drivers estimates 80,000 "are in danger of becoming destitute" in lockdown.
Many people who started jobs in March cannot get furlough payments despite the scheme being extended.
Specialist school travel company PGL is refusing refunds for cancelled holidays.
Seventy-six dentists will help the sector hardest hit by the virus; students will work in pharmacies.
Debenhams will permanently close more stores, after failing to agree new terms with some landlords.
Demand for milk has dropped with the closure of cafes and restaurants during the coronavirus crisis.


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Zimbabwe instituted some export restrictions on unrefined ore. They wanted to encourage international financial investment into refineries in the country to export refined products to benefit their people more. And Indonesia did the same thing for nickel.
There’s a huge amount of hunger in emerging economies to enter these industrial sectors and hop on to the clean-energy transition and benefit economically. You see this in India, Indonesia, Zambia, DRC, and Zimbabwe. Part of me wonders sometimes whether even in just five or 10 years we’ll look back on this US-China supply chain debate, anxiety, paranoia, or whatever and it’ll all just seem silly, because supply chains will look completely different.
Do you think clean tech will become as politicized as the semiconductor industry is right now? Let me know your thoughts at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Catch up with China
1. A year after the “CRISPR baby” scientist He Jiankui was released from prison, he’s quietly getting back to academic roles. Meanwhile, gene-editing technologies in the West have evolved beyond what He did, prompting new questions. (New Yorker $)
- My colleague Antonio Regalado first broke the story of He Jiankui’s experiment on gene-edited babies back in 2018. (MIT Technology Review)
2. At the massive auto show in Munich last week, German brands like Volkswagen were feeling the competition from Chinese electric-car companies. (Bloomberg $)
- The EV industry has replaced consumer internet to become the new investor’s darling in China. (Wall Street Journal $)
3. Chinese government-linked social media operations are using image-making AIs to create visual content, according to a Microsoft report. (Washington Post $)
4. Beijing has ordered central government officials to stop using iPhones and other foreign smartphones at work in order to cut the country’s dependence on foreign technologies. (Wall Street Journal $)


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Nestlé Australia said that over 40 million 45g KitKat chocolate bars will be packed in the 30% recycled content wrapper in 2023, reducing the use of virgin plastic by about 250,000m²
Nestlé Australia has announced that its KitKat chocolate bars will be wrapped in soft plastic made with recycled content, as part of its sustainability efforts.
With the company’s latest move, KitKat will become the country’s first chocolate bar with a wrapper using recycled plastic.
Nestlé Australia said that over 40 million 45g KitKat chocolate bars will be packed in the 30% recycled content wrapper in 2023.
This will reduce the use of virgin plastic by about 250,000m², which is enough to cover more than 200 50m swimming pools, said the company.
Nestlé Oceania general manager Chris O’Donnell said the company aimed to reduce the use of virgin plastics by a third by 2025.
O’Donnell added: “Introducing recycled content in our packaging will make a significant impact against our 2025 ambition. We’ve implemented a number of changes to reduce our use of virgin plastic but this switch, the first of its kind, will be a huge step change.
“We know consumers want our packaging to use more recycled content, so we’re delighted to deliver the KitKat 45g bar as Australia’s first food product to be wrapped in soft plastic made with recycled content.
“For KitKat fans, the news is all good. The 30% recycled plastic wrapper will keep KitKat bars crisp, fresh and delicious, while we focus on giving the planet a break. When they’re finished, they can continue to recycle their wrappers through the REDcycle scheme.”
The wrapper, supplied by Huhtamaki, is also Nestlé’s first soft plastic food wrapper globally to use recycled content.
O’Donnell added: “Soft plastic with recycled content that’s suitable for food packaging isn’t widely available anywhere in the world – we’ve been searching high and low to find as much of this material as we can from our suppliers. As more becomes available we’re hoping to increase the amount we can source for our packaging.
“We’re focussed on less packaging, better packaging and better systems. This is a big step in the right direction but we’re not at our end destination yet. This is a journey of ongoing innovation.
“In the meantime, we’ve committed to invest CHF 2 billion globally to stimulate the market and lead the shift from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics.”


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SanDisk sampling iNAND extreme embedded flash drive to OEMs for use in next-generation tablets built with the newest Intel Atom SoC
MILPITAS, Calif., Sept. 19, 2013 – SanDisk Corporation has announced that the iNAND Extreme embedded flash drive (EFD) has been optimized to provide advanced digital storage in tablets powered by the new 22nm Intel Atom system-on-a-chip (SoC) introduced by Intel last week. The new enhancements to the iNAND Extreme make it faster, more responsive and highly compatible with the SoC formally known as “Bay Trail.”
SanDisk is currently sampling the iNAND Extreme to leading mobile device manufacturers for use in future, cutting-edge Android and Windows 8 tablets featuring high-performance and energy efficient Intel Atom Z3000 processors.
Offering outstanding sequential and random read and write speeds, SanDisk’s innovative iNAND Extreme supports the high performance of the Intel Atom Z3000 series. It enables outstanding user experiences – from smooth streaming of HD1 video, to fast synchronization with data in the cloud, to quicker application launching.
“We are pleased to offer the tremendous storage performance of SanDisk’s iNAND Extreme for use in tablets incorporating Intel’s impressive new Intel Atom platform,” said Drew Henry, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile and Connected Solutions, SanDisk. “We have clearly just scratched the surface of the potential for tablets to transform the user experience, and our iNAND Extreme enables developers to introduce the next wave of highly responsive tablets that offer richer entertainment, awe-inspiring graphics, and more productive business applications.”
According to Strategy Analytics, branded tablet shipments are expected to reach more 180 million units worldwide in 20132.
“Robust consumer demand for more convenient and better mobile computing options has driven rapid growth in the tablet market, with branded tablet shipments up nearly 55 percent worldwide in 2013 compared to last year,” said Peter King, director of Tablet & Touchscreen Strategies at Strategy Analytics. “Notable advancements at the semiconductor level pave the way for a new generation of tablets that offer longer battery life, more responsive digital entertainment, and computing experience that is more closely aligned with what was once only possible on a PC.”
iNAND Extreme, available in capacities of up to 128GB3, brings nimble and low-power flash-memory storage to tablets. Based on SanDisk’s intelligent flash memory architecture, iNAND Extreme significantly improves multimedia synchronization speeds and operating-system responsiveness in mobile devices. iNAND Extreme offers sequential write/read speeds up to 45/150 MB/s, and random write /read speeds up to 800/4K IOPS4.
For more information, visit www.sandisk.com.


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In September, Sony and its PlayStation 5 ended Nintendo’s 33-month streak of having the highest-selling console in the U.S. It was the first time since November 2018 that any platform besides the Switch led the U.S. market in unit sales. But the OLED model boosted Nintendo back into its comfortable pole position.
“October this year is only 3 percent lower than what was sold last year, which I think we can all agree was a bit of an anomaly year when it comes to overall hardware sales,” Bowser said, referring to the covid-19 pandemic. “So we think this is a solid start for the OLED model. We also think this is a very strong indicator of the performance we can expect as we go through the holiday season.”
There’s some good news for Metroid fans, too: “Metroid Dread” sold 854,000 copies in October, which Bowser said is the best launch in series history. That Nintendo is proud enough to announce these numbers bodes well for the franchise, which has had a shaky sales history.
He said many of the Switch units sold were purchased by people who already own a Switch and were either buying another unit for themselves or for their families.
This messaging is reflected in a new advertisement starring Christina Aguilera, who is shown having her own Switch console and playing with her children. Bowser touted these celebrity-focused ads (including another recent one with Neil Patrick Harris) as very effective in selling the machine’s appeal to a wide variety of audiences.
Nintendo’s exclusive intellectual property also continues to boost the console’s sales. The two top-selling Switch games are “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” (a seven-year-old game that still tops monthly games charts) and “Animal Crossing: New Horizons," which have sold 38 million and 35 million copies respectively. Bowser said new Switch owners are often filling up their library with Nintendo’s back catalogue, which keeps these games selling better than newer, modern titles.
Despite the Switch’s strong library of almost 7,000 games, longtime Nintendo fans continue to wonder why the company refuses to sell its decades-old archives of classic games from older platforms, like the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and GameCube. Its previous platforms (Wii, Wii U and 3DS) each had robust digital shops filled to the brim with retro games.
The Switch, by comparison, has only focused on new games. Instead of a digital shop, Nintendo has decided to pack its annual online subscription service with games from the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and, in recent weeks, the Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis. Those last two were added as part of an “Expansion Pack” to its online services, altogether priced at $50 a year, as opposed to the original $20 plan for Nintendo Switch Online, which remains available to customers.
Bowser said Nintendo wants to continue to offer more classic games within that service in the future.
“As we looked at the Switch platform and we looked at the way people are engaging in games today, we thought that the Nintendo online service and its original offering of NES and SNES games was a great place for us to bring those games to market and offer value to that service overall,” Bowser said. “We’re at a point now where we have over 130 games available across all four of those different platforms [NES, SNES, 64 and Genesis], and the plan is to continue to focus on the quality of that content and adding to the value as we go forward.”
There are no strong signs in the Switch’s sales curve that might indicate it will “redefine” the console cycle, although the Switch has done “incredibly well so far” in its lifetime, said Mat Piscatella, executive director and game industry adviser at market research firm The NPD Group.
“And ultimately the consumer is going to make the decision of when the life cycle of a console slows,” Piscatella added.
But Bowser said October’s result and the Switch’s top-selling performance since 2018 keeps him optimistic going into 2022. He has good reason to be: 2022 is looking to be a banner year for Nintendo exclusive titles, including the long-awaited sequel to “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” “Pokémon Legends: Arceus,” “Splatoon 3,” “Bayonetta 3” and “Kirby and the Forgotten Lands.”
The Switch’s launch was augmented considerably by the simultaneous release of “Breath of the Wild," as initial sales of both the game and the console were almost one to one. Beyond the sequel to that game, the upcoming Pokémon game promises to reinvigorate the formula of the world’s most popular media franchise for the first time in decades by offering gameplay that mirrors the experience found in “Breath of the Wild.”
“This is really part of an arc that allows us to start really bringing forward some of the biggest franchises to the platform,” Bowser said. “While most video game consoles start to see some slowing down at that point, we don’t believe that will be the case with the Switch. The games that we’re offering have something for everyone.”


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In a stunning industry development overnight, the chief executive of Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi, Brazilian-born Carlos Ghosn, will be fired by Nissan and has been arrested by Japanese authorities for what Nissan has called "significant acts of misconduct" dating back to 2011.
Carlos Ghosn: Legacy of "Le Cost Killer"
The allegations relate to the 64-year-old understating his income to Japanese financial authorities to the tune of $110 million over a five-year period. He has also been accused of using company assets for personal use, according to Nissan.
It’s understood that Mr Ghosn handed himself in to authorities.
A second board member, American Greg Kelly, has also been implicated in the scandal for under-reporting his income to the Japanese stock market, and is also set to lose his job.
Mr Ghosn is still the CEO of both Renault and Mitsubishi – which was purchased after a Japanese-market emissions scandal crippled the company back in 2015 – for the moment.
However, some sources suggest that the high-profile firing – prompted by an internal whistleblower - is a sign of a deeper schism within the alliance. Executive salaries are a matter of public record in Japan, and previous transgressions have been dealt with via fines.
As well, despite Nissan contributing the most profit to the group every year, it has no power to stop Renault – which owns 43 per cent of Nissan – taking billions of dollars of profit out of the Japanese company, which only owns 15 per cent of non-voting stock in Renault.
The Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi alliance is the biggest car-maker in the world, selling more cars than Toyota (10.6m cars versus 10.3m) in 2017, which equated to one in nine new cars sold globally that year.
Mr Ghosn, who was raised in Lebanon, is one of the most feared executives in the automotive world, and he recently cut a swathe through the local arms of both Nissan and Renault, which resulted in the outing of their respective CEOs.
That same no-nonsense manner, however, turned Nissan's floundering fortunes around earlier this decade.


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Prof. Konstantin Ordov criticized the digital ruble project. He suggested that the digitized version of the currency was part of a plan to control society. In his opinion, however, CBDCs may eventually fail and will not fulfill their tasks.
Konstantin Ordov attacks CBDC
In an interview with Regnum Konstantin Ordov, professor of financial management at the Russian University of Economics, entered on the ideas of the Russian central bank related to the digitization of the ruble.
– If the main and only advantage of the digital ruble would be that it would be possible to find out everything about all financial transactions at any time [konsumenta]interest in this digital innovation will disappear even in Russia, not to mention its chances of becoming a global currency – He said.
Let us recall that the Russian central bank, like many other central banks in the world, is currently working on the creation of the digital currency of the central bank (CBDC). It is said that there are chances that this year Russia will launch a pilot platform through which e-currency tests will be conducted.
CBDCs are becoming more and more popular as an idea. After all, they exist mainly as ideas on paper for the time being. As a superpower, China is the closest to full-blown digital yuan. This may take place later this year.
However, some experts are loudly targeting CBDC. Supposedly, the digital ruble will be created “centralized database“ behavior of Russian citizens, which may help in their surveillance.
CBDC – a potential opportunity for Russia
Ordov believes CBDC has “Huge economic potential for Russia”. The condition is the proper implementation of the project.
He added that the central bank should be inspired by cryptocurrencies and explore how to create a system for making cheap and fast transfers. Otherwise digital rubeand “it will not be able to survive on its own and provide potential benefits.”
Russia’s digital currency should be “Integral part of the digital economy” through full integration with the world of blockchain technology, cloud-based technology and smart contracts.
The professor added that this would mean cutting off support for “An inefficient banking sector and a bloated bureaucratic apparatus that monitors and regulates what can be done with algorithms, without corruption or conflicts of interest.”


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Weekly Trading Forecast: Trump Speech May Define Market Mood
- DailyFX•2 days ago
Gold Prices March into Fresh 2017 Highs- Fed Outlook in Focus
- Market Realist•2 days ago
Newmont Mining (NEM) released its 4Q16 earnings on February 21, 2017, and reported adjusted EPS of $0.25, compared to the consensus estimate of $0.33. NEM's top line of $1.8 billion beat the consensus ...


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After the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Met Gala is set to take place again on the first Monday in May as the world gradually returns to normalcy. Last year’s fashion show was postponed due to the pandemic, but in 2021 it resumed with a double version that will continue until 2022. The first part, which showcased the theme “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”, was launched on September 18, just days after the 2021 Met Gala held on September 13.
The Met Gala’s 2021 theme, A Lexicon of Fashion, focused on recognizing American designers and the pandemic’s cultural and socio-political impact. It also aimed to acknowledge the support that the American fashion community received. The Met Gala, which began in 1948, is an annual event that celebrates fashion and raises funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, and the 2021 theme embodies the event’s spirit.
The upcoming fashion event is set to take place in New York on Monday, May 2nd, and will be a continuation of the first exhibition held in September with the theme “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.” The theme for the second exhibition is “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” which is intended to focus on the works and contributions of previous and often overlooked tailors, dressmakers, and designers, many of whom were women.
It is customary for attendees to dress according to the theme of the 2022 Met Gala, projecting its essence. Some of the dress codes to anticipate include outfits inspired by different eras and scenes from late 19th century New York, such as The Age of Innocence and The Gilded Age. Additionally, guests can expect to witness stunning appearances from A-list celebrities, just like in previous years.
The Met Gala keeps many details confidential, such as its rules against phone use and social media sharing during the event, as well as the list of invited guests. The guest list typically includes prominent figures like Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and various designers, among others, with a total of around 600 attendees expected to participate.
In general, those on the guest list do not have to pay to attend the show, but for individuals who want to purchase tickets, they cost $30,000 each, and tables are priced at $2745,000.
The hosts for the Met Gala 2022 were announced via a social media post from Vogue on April 21. Hamish Bowles, Vanessa Hudgens, and Lala were revealed as the hosts for the event.
Similar to the previous year, the Met Gala 2022 will be broadcasted live on Vogue’s website, with the Red carpet commencing at 6:00 pm EST.


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RFI cuts lead times with in-house blending
The Blauvelt, New York-based firm said the new facility, which is located at its corporate headquarters, will be used for contract dry blending of custom powder blends for capsules and tablets as well as blending and packaging powdered drink mixes.
“With the addition of our own blending facility, we will now have further control of bulk and final product blending, testing and packaging. Since the facility is located within our corporate headquarters, which also houses our in-house laboratory and warehouse, we expect shorter lead-times for all production resulting from the elimination of unnecessary transport time,” said Jeff Wuagneux, RFI’s president and CEO.
Time and money
Until now, RFI has been outsourcing most of its blending, and lead times have ranged between six to eight weeks. With in-house blending at the new facility, lead times can be reduced to around four to six weeks, RFI told NutraIngredients-USA.com.
This could also potentially cut costs for customers due to fewer transportation and shipping costs, but the firm would not reveal any specific levels of cost savings.
Another key benefit for customers is in-house GMP controls and a quicker response to customer blending needs.
Capacity and certification
RFI said it ultimately plans to conduct the majority (around 85 percent) of its blending in-house. The new facility, which was up and running in June this year, is currently at 30-40 percent capacity and plans to be running at full capacity in a year’s time.
At full capacity, the facility can handle around 10,000 kilos of powder blends per day.
RFI said its facility is kosher and Halal-approved, and also has organic certification.
The firm’s main focus is on organic ingredients for the functional food and dietary supplement market, such as beverage mixes, spirulina and chlorella.
Other ingredients the company provides include antioxidants, fruit and vegetable powders, cereal grasses, and botanical compounds.


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Mitsubishi rejects Which? claims of misleading mpg figures
Published yesterday (23 April), the report says the vast majority of news car on the market are unable to meet their official fuel consumption claims.
It also claims that the car that performed worst compared to its official mpg figure was the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which according to the consumer group overstated its mpg by 120%, costing £459 a year in unexpected fuel costs.
In response, Mitsubish Motors UK has published a statement saying it rejects the claims.
It added: “To measure a car’s official fuel consumption, manufacturers are required to use the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) and to display the results from this test on all technical and marketing materials. Car makers agree that the current test is out dated. It was created in the 1970’s and takes no account of current plug-in hybrid technologies, but manufacturers are required by law to put every new model through it and to publish the results. Most manufacturers, including Mitsubishi Motors, make clear that the figures are for comparison purposes and are not intended to reflect what customers might actually achieve, as this will depend on many factors including driving style.
“The official NEDC figure for the Outlander PHEV is 148mpg. However, with average UK daily commuting distances the vehicle can achieve considerably more than this. Longer journeys may reduce this figure but the Outlander PHEV will still return impressive economy. Even the 67.3 MPG suggested by WHICH? is good for a large 4×4 SUV like Outlander.”
Lance Bradley, managing director, added: “The current test regime for emissions and fuel consumption is outdated and does the industry no favours but the suggestion that we in some way are misleading car buyers is well wide of the mark and irresponsible.”
Mitsubishi Motors UK added that it has always made real life MPG very clear in its advertising and printed material and said that at the Outlander PHEV’s launch several top motoring magazines all reported on the ‘refreshing honesty’ with which the company had presented its real life MPG expectations.


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commerce between Florida and Israel reached $651 million in 2022
ISRAEL – Whereas on a historic commerce mission, Governor Ron DeSantis met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Florida continues to have a robust relationship with Israel, each economically and culturally.
Florida and Israel’s Financial Relationship
Bilateral commerce between Florida and Israel reached $651 million in 2022, demonstrating the rising partnership between the 2 international locations. Over the previous 5 years, bilateral merchandise commerce has grown by 65% and over the past ten years, bilateral commerce has grown 176.1% between Florida and Israel.
Israel is the nineteenth largest international investor within the state of Florida, with Israeli associates estimated to have whole holdings of $647 million. There are greater than 50 Israeli firms supporting greater than 2,400 jobs in Florida.
Florida has one continuous flight from Miami Worldwide Airport to Tel Aviv which helps to help enterprise relationships and promote tourism.


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According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, via his Power On newsletter, Apple will not be holding a “special event” in November.
“I wouldn’t expect a third event this year or any other major announcements. Apple held three events last year because Covid-19 caused delays and disrupted its schedule. If Apple had any more Macs to launch this year, it would have announced them this past week—even if they wouldn’t be shipping until later this year. There’s really nothing else left of substance in the road map that would be ready for 2021.“– Mark Gurman
Last year, we got three EXCELLENT events in the fall — one in September, one in October, and another in November. That had everyone wondering if we’d see the same this year. The answer? Apparently not.
This doesn’t really come as a surprise, as both of Apple’s fall events this year were absolutely packed. With Apple’s Mac event already out of the way this month, there really is no need for a third event — and also… there’s nothing left to release.
It’s looking like our next major Apple event will happen more towards March / April of 2022.


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News Briefs for March 24, 2021March 24, 2021
•Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based e-commerce player GoPuff is now valued at nearly $9 billion, following a new round of funding that will inject $1.15 billion into the business. The delivery platform has received investment from D1 Capital Partners, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Baillie Gifford, Eldridge, Reinvent Capital, Luxor Capital, and SoftBank Vision Fund 1. The new funds will go toward GoPuff’s expansion—both in the U.S. and internationally—as well as adding new products and technological upgrades for the overall platform. GoPuff made a splash in the drinks business last year with the acquisition of West Coast retail chain BevMo.
•Kentucky’s Bardstown Bourbon Co. has announced its second collaboration with California wine brand The Prisoner, set to hit shelves on April 1. The whiskey—the latest in Bardstown’s Collaboration Series—is a 10-year-old Tennessee bourbon, bottled at 50%, and finished for 18 months in barrels used to mature The Prisoner’s flagship red blend. Bardstown Bourbon Company & The Prisoner Wine Company Collaboration will retail for around $124 a 750-ml. and will be available in limited quantities in Bardstown’s distribution footprint. Constellation Brands is a minority stakeholder in Bardstown Bourbon Co. and the owner of The Prisoner family of wines.
•Livermore, California’s Wente Family Estates has named David Enderle as chief sales officer. Enderle joined Wente in 2015 and has served as the company’s senior vice president, national accounts. Stepping into Enderle’s previous role is Chris McAllister, a four-year veteran of the company who most recently was vice president of national accounts. Finally, Aly Wente has been promoted to vice president of marketing and customer experience. This new role will expand Wente’s responsibilities, adding oversight of the company’s hospitality business.Subscribe to Shanken News Daily’s Email Newsletter, delivered to your inbox each morning.


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Bengaluru based electric vehicles maker automotive startup company Ultraviolette Automotive on Tuesday unveiled the F99 factory racing platform at the Auto Expo 2023. The F99 is the upgraded version of F77 which has a more powerful motor, battery pack and more specifications. It has been made with carbon fibre composite components.
The company said that the Ultraviolets F99 is a high speed and long range electric bike. It has a peak power output of 50 kW(65Hp) and gives a high speed 200 km/h. This electric bike is equipped with a 37 kWh large battery with advanced battery technology, innovative carbon composites and efficient aerodynamics. The company claims that this bike will impress the customer who loves sporty eco-friendly electric bikes.
The co-founded CEO of Ultraviolette Narayan Subramaniam said that the world of racing has a lot of hurdles which often push companies to innovate and this kind of new concept bike is the product of it.”This F99 is a new concept bike beyond the conventional technologies in the EV space today. It has been made to combine aviation and racing principles.”- he adds during the unveiling at the expo.
The recently launched Ultraviolette F77 is getting good response from customers. The company claims that the new F99 which is made with cutting edge technology will get more response in future. Our main goal is to introduce top technology and a superior riding experience for customers. This expo is a great platform to showcase our new plan and innovation for future EVs.


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Photo by James Mitchell
Co-owner Debbie Hayes shows her 1-year-old son, Gavin, the long-standing A&W sign that will soon be replaced when she and husband, Mark, open a coffee shop at the location. The Jefferson Avenue landmark business has awaited new owners since root beer sales ended about three years ago.
By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON — Progress on a coffee shop to start serving up business in place of the old A&W, 2975 W. Jefferson, is taking a little longer than expected.
Co-owners Mark and Debbie Hayes know that customers have been patiently awaiting development at the location, long a part of the community makeup at the entrance to Elizabeth Park.
A summer opening “may or may not” happen, Mark Hayes said. “It’s been quite an education in how to open a brand new business.”
It’s been about three years since the root beer giant last served frosty mugs to passengers, either seated inside or awaiting service order through parking-lot speaker menus. Before reconstruction can begin, the Hayeses must first unload an assortment of fixtures, signs, kitchen equipment and — for the nostalgic-minded — outdoor menu boards equipped with microphones and speakers. Through a partnership with Detroit Metro Auction, Mark Hayes said the items will be available for potential buyer inspections from noon to 3 p.m. July 8. The online auction (www.detroitmetroauctions.com) will close at 7 p.m.
The memories of a community, Debbie Hayes said, can’t be as easily bought or replaced, and what may be called Elizabeth Perk Coffee House will salute the past as much as possible. Decoration plans include filling the walls with black-and-white photos of Trenton from days gone by, to include summer evenings when crowds lined the parking lot.
She said she had been working at the location earlier this month and overheard an older gentleman walking with a curious grandchild about his having worked in the restaurant when he was 16.
“A lot of people come through, stop and say how they used to come here,” Debbie Hayes said of the built-in customer loyalty.
Although A&W will be gone, she said the iconic roof will remain a fixture, as will the sign frame facing Jefferson.
When exactly that will be remained uncertain last week. The Hayses said they still have some details to work out with the city’s planning commission, but contractors have been hired for a parking lot overhaul, and new heating and cooling systems await installation.
Mark Hayes said he’s limited in progress until the restaurant fixtures are gone, either through the auction or other means.
Hayes, a Grosse Ile Township resident and co-owner of Dotte Pub in Wyandotte, purchased the property and building in March from Signature Associates. A previous offer of $65,000 he made in February had been turned down, and negotiations continued until an acceptable price was found. Final details of the agreement were not disclosed. Before opening plans could be made he had to deal with a once-flooded basement and other drainage issues at the site.
“We originally thought we’d be open a month ago,” Mark Hayes said last week. “That being said, it could be a while.”
Debbie Hayes said the planning has kept them busy, but they were anxious to have the details settled.
“We’ve a long way to go, but it’s exciting,” she said.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])


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Niantic’s location-based augmented reality hit Pokemon Go racked up an estimated $795 million from in-app purchases in 2018.
That’s according to mobile data firm Sensor Tower, which claims the figure represents a 35 per cent increase on 2017 sales.
December 2018 alone saw the game pull in $75 million, up 32 per cent from $57.2 million during the same month the year prior.
On average Pokemon Go is thought to have made around $2.2 million a day.
The game proved most popular with US players in 2018, a userbase that represented 33 per cent ($262m) of all gross revenue. Japanese players meanwhile made up 30 per cent of sales ($239 million).
Overall that puts Pokemon Go’s lifetime IAP revenue at an estimated $2.2 billion.
It should be noted that use of IAPs isn't the only way Niantic makes money from the game. In the past the company has brought in revenue from sponsored locations in the game, while it also runs its own ticketed real-world events.


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Gourmet grocery Lemon Tree debuts in Downers Grove
Posted by Phil Vettel
"We're a gourmet market focusing on prepared foods," says Tim Canning, a Kendall College culinary arts grad who's opening Lemon Tree Grocer in downtown Downers Grove.
Lemon Tree (5101 Mochel Drive, Downers Grove; 630-969-9869) opened quietly last week, but will have its grand opening Friday, with a ribbon-cutting in the morning and giveaways (coffees in the morning, wine tastings in the afternoon and evenings, food samples all day) Friday through Sunday.
Nestled in a newish complex of upscale condominiums, between the town's Main Street Metra station and the public-parking garage, Lemon Tree is perfectly positioned as a commuter's best friend.
In the morning, you can grab a coffee or espresso, maybe a pastry or even a sandwich for later. In the evening, Lemon Tree is a honey-on-your-way-home destination, serving a variety of ready-to-eat entrees, cheeses, wine and craft beers, as well as butcher and seafood counters for those who plan to cook.
Need a last-minute bouquet? Lemon Tree has a few arrangments, prepared by a local florist.
"The commuter traffic that travels by, Monday through Friday, is pretty overwhelming," Canning says. "That activity is kind of intoxicating. If we're doing the volume we're projecting, that'll let us bring in better products."
Canning, who's partners with Shaun Black, has a staff of chefs whipping up "gourmet TV dinners" that include wine-braised short ribs with horseradish whipped potatoes and turkey meatloaf with apple-fig compote, as well as made-to-order salads and sandwiches. There's a cheesemonger, a seafood expert, and a real butcher carving the meats.
"We hired this guy who's one of the last true journeyman butchers," he says. "He can work his way around a whole swinging cattle, and can make recommendations on what kinds of cuts to be buying and how to prepare them."
Because the Metra Station is also home to Downers Grove's weekend farmers market, Saturday mornings are a big opportunity for Lemon Tree as well.
"Last week we had a booth at the farmers market," Canning says, "preparing and serving products from the vendors themselves."


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Although users have reported to have packed on more than 30 lbs of muscle in 8 weeks, the dianabol meditech price in india dianabol benefits and gains come at a price.In an interview, a doctor who sells the drugs on India market said "If the drug is taken out of the bottle, it may cause vomiting, dizzy spells or headache, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) dosage. The drug needs to be swallowed. It is a very good drug and many patients say, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) price. There is the price of the drug, pfizer genotropin pen turkey. That is why users need to be aware and watch out. But as far as cost of the drug, the drug is less than the prices of other drugs of the same class. This drug is the cheapest drug I have ever seen, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) how to use." According to the research center, doctors have reported to have received orders for 100kg of dianabol for less than Rs, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) how to use.500, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) how to use.In contrast, other studies have found that weight loss of 6 to 12 kg takes from 24 to 48 weeks in healthy obese people, pfizer genotropin pen turkey. As per a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), one-third of women in South Asia are obese and have not had the body mass index (BMI) under 25 in the last ten years."India has seen an increase in the number of adults over 30 years of age suffering from diabetes, meditech india. Diabetes cases in India currently number around 11 million, but it may be as many as 16 million if the trend is not reversed," Dr. Anish Agarwal, chairman of the department of Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Hospital (RIH) in India reported in the Indian Medical Journal (IMJ).According to the report, India's prevalence of diabetes is five times higher than in North America or Western Europe, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) dosage. India had around 25 million people with diabetes in 2000 with nearly 35 percent of people suffering from the disease by 2008 which means diabetes prevalence could have been over 50 Percent as in Europe.The report also highlighted that diabetes is the most common cause of blindness in India where nearly 35 percent of people with diabetes have some type of vision loss, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) price."Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in Indians. With over 35 million people with diabetes, almost 35 percent of them have some type of vision loss, meditech india. About 2, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) price0.9 per cent of people who have diabetes also suffer complications of diabetes, like kidney failure, diabetes-like signs, type-1 diabetes, type-II diabetes (which results in a lack of insulin), and autoimmune (nephrotic syndrome), which is a very serious condition of the immune system," Agarwal said, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) price0. "About 10.9 million people in India have type-2 diabetes, which is a condition where the body becomes infl
The price in India and in other countries to buy Meditech steroids is reasonable when compared to similar productsin the US and Europe, said Shashank Jain, who runs a drugstore in Gurgaon in the US. In India, the company plans to open a factory in the US sometime this year.But, India's market is expected to shrink, as consumers look elsewhere for quality, safety and efficiencies, the company said on Monday.Slideshow (4 Images)"Today in India we have no competition because they are all owned by large pharmaceutical companies for the last 50 or 60 years or more," said Pankaj Sahaiya, Meditech's vice president of business development.PURGESON'S FUTUREMeditech started off as a small company, the largest of several that have since emerged from the industry, but has since made a business of itself with products that include steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, anti-itch cream and blood thinners, meditech india.The company says it has more than 1,000 drugs on the market in 20 countries, mainly in the developing world, including the United States, Mexico, China and Europe.A recent survey showed that over 85 percent of the respondents of the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual global health survey - which tracked health conditions - said they tried Meditech products.For most of this year, the health-care giant has been expanding its product lines with stronger, newer versions of its medicines, although in some markets its products have been slow to catch on, pfizer genotropin 12mg 36iu cartridges.A Reuters reporter witnessed a sales pitch in October at a Mumbai health-care facility for a combination therapy that has been a hit among patients in India, meditech india. The sales pitch - including images of doctors smiling at patients - was designed to encourage patients to buy the brand's products rather than expensive generics that have been available for years, pfizer genotropin pen 12mg (36iu) how to use.As of December, Meditech had 4,500 distributors who were "in active conversations" with consumers and healthcare professionals and would be making "sizable" inroads into the Indian market as the company continued to "develop a strong product cadence in the next three or four years," Jain said.The US-based company, which is the market leader, is seeking to make up for lost time in India by investing more in quality, a higher quality and increased capacity in its manufacturing facilities, he added, pfizer genotropin pen 5 mg.Meditech has invested about $600 million in India in the last year, including plans for additional factories, pfizer genotropin cartridge 12mg.
Individuals who now possessed anabolic steroids for the purpose of athletic performance or muscle enhancement or any related cosmetic purpose were in violation of the lawbecause the use of anabolic steroids for any such purpose for the first time, or to acquire or use anabolic steroids to further an existing or future desire or purpose for an athletic competition, was prejudicial to the interests of such athlete. If the law imposed a greater penalty. Any individual who had previously been found to have violated the law was guilty of a second offense.The penalties of each misdemeanor violation were three days in jail; three months of community service; and a $1,000 fine. The court ordered any person convicted of a second conviction to reimburse the cost of the probation department or any community service program, court-approved counselor, or educational or counseling professional who had provided such services.The law also forbade a person, without the consent of the person's parent or legal guardian, to use or possess anabolic steroids for the purpose of:(1) gaining an unfair competitive advantage through the use of anabolic steroids or other substances for the purpose of gaining an unfair competitive advantage through the use of anabolic steroids or other substances;(2) obtaining an unfair recreational advantage from the use of anabolic steroids or other substances for the purpose of gaining an unfair recreational advantage from the use of anabolic steroids or other substances; or(3) procuring or using anabolic steroids or other substances obtained or used under any of the above offenses.In addition, the offender forfeits the value of any athletic competition or athletic apparel purchased or leased by using anabolic steroids or other substances obtained or used under other than anabolic steroid prescriptions or prescriptions derived from prescriptions obtained from a practitioner.Related Article:


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“In the new world,
it is not the big fish which eats the small fish.
It’s the fast fish which eats the slow fish.”
Founder & Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum
As a small CPG manufacturer, you already know the advantages you hold over bigger companies. Small companies are often the driving force behind industry innovation thanks to their openness to new ideas and their ability to act quickly to make those ideas a reality.
In the CPG world, think of brands like Chobani or Swiffer. As one of the first to introduce the US market to greek yogurt, Chobani reached $1B in sales in less than five years, while Swiffer became the first quick-cleaning mop with disposable fixtures, pioneering a new sub-category of cleaning supplies. Often, it’s not about the finish line – it’s about who starts the race first.
So how can small companies take full advantage of their innovative agility?
McKinsey’s global survey, “How leaders in data and analytics have pulled ahead”, may help to answer this question. The survey’s authors set out to determine if investing in data and analytics really impacts a company’s bottom line. They compared high-performing companies – or those who have grown organically at least 10% over the past three years – to all other companies, to see what the secret to their success might have been.
Spoiler alert: investment in data and analytics pays off. But read on to see exactly how investing in data and analytics empowers small and medium sized CPG manufacturers to innovate smarter and grow faster.
Set a holistic data strategy
While 21% of respondents from high-performing organizations identified setting a data and analytics strategy as their number one key to success, the proof is in the comparison to lower-performing companies: High-performing businesses were also 57% more likely than their peers to report altering their long-term strategy in response to data and analytics. These companies also took pains to set a strategy that aligned data and analytics with the overall business strategy: 60% of them say these strategies are mostly or completely aligned, compared with just 44% at other companies.
Notably, these numbers have jumped since the previous iteration of this survey. That 21% dedicated to a data strategy is an increase from 14% the previous year. The tide seems to be turning even more quickly for smaller businesses (McKinsey defines these as those with annual revenue under $1B): 46% are now extracting novel insights from data they were previously not using or ignoring, compared to 41% of companies of all sizes. It’s clear that the trend to drive business strategy with data is not slowing down anytime soon.
Build a “data-first” culture
One of the biggest gaps between high-performing companies and the rest were incorporating daily data practices for every member of their organization, from the top all the way down. 46% said their C-suite team included at least one data leader, and 43% said data is broadly available to frontline employees whenever they need it. That’s a massive gap compared to lower performing companies: high-performing orgs say they have a data leader in the C-suite 70% more often than lower performing companies do, and also claim they make data broadly available to frontline employees 65% more often than lower performing organizations say they do.
Companies looking to emulate this model not only have to support their employees in becoming comfortable with data, but perhaps even more importantly, they need to simplify and streamline the data and analytics tools offered to employees. In another McKinsey study, “Reducing data costs without jeopardizing growth”, it was found that between 30 and 40% of the reports that businesses generate daily add little to no value. Some are duplicative, and others go unused, wasting considerable resources. It’s crucial, then, that companies choose streamlined reporting tools that make high-quality analytics reporting a quick and easy process.
As an emerging CPG brand, you may not have the army of analysts you need to turn a billion disparate data points into actionable insights – that’s why we’ve built Byzzer from the ground up, especially for smaller CPG companies to bypass the data mining and get straight to the solutions you need to grow your business.
Treat data and analytics as an investment
Older models of doing business still matter. Industry expertise, relationships and intuition have gotten many a CPG product on shelves. But only an investment in data and analytics will ensure your product remains there.
For smaller businesses, the need is even more urgent. 36% of these smaller companies said their traditional competitors have already gained a material edge by integrating data and analytics into their core business.
Building a “data first” company doesn’t happen overnight. Evolve your company and culture one step at a time. Promote employee education around CPG data and analytics. Task leadership with setting strategies that enable quick iteration based on insights drawn from your analytics. And choose a data and analytics tool that helps you do that efficiently and effectively – we think Byzzer can help you with that part.
Get the advanced analytics you need to take your small CPG business to the next level.
Start with a free alert and report today.


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Google officially announced YouTube Go six years ago, as an official light version of YouTube, designed for slow connections and simple smartphones with Android Go. However, now the company has informed its community that they are going to close the application in august of this same year.
After Google permanently closed YouTube Vanced, another alternative that will disappear is YouTube Go. Instead, the company recommends users move to the official version of YouTube or that they access from the web.
With the launch of Android Go, Google has created minimalist versions of their applications followed by the term Go. One of these is YouTube Go, which claimed to be more practical in areas where the Internet connection is unstable. For this reason, videos could be downloaded to the cell phone to see them later.
YOU CAN SEE: Neither Apple nor Samsung: know the 10 most powerful cell phones currently sold
And it didn’t come down to that, but rather the app is lighter, managing to be suitable for cell phones with little storage space. Once downloaded, YouTube Go uses about 40 MB of storagecompared to 150 MB, not counting data and cache, of the official one.
Now it is announced that YouTube Go will close from august. Thus, in addition to not being updated very frequently, it already shows a banner that invites you to switch to the normal version of YouTube.
Between the reasons that led to Google to justify the end of the service, it is known that the standard YouTube app has improved performance for slow networks and less powerful computers.
YOU CAN SEE: Did Facebook go down? Users report failures in the famous social network of Mark Zuckerberg
Finally, Google suggests considering use the main YouTube app or, in any case, the web.


text: Stagecoach chief executive Sir Brian Souter has revisited one of the Perth-based transport group\'s most humbling investments with the acquisition of large parts of his former Coach USA operation in North America. Stagecoach is to pay up to £101 million for nine businesses belonging to Coach America, seven of which it previously owned. Sir Brian said: \"Our North American division is the fastest growing part of the group and this transaction will allow us to acquire selected businesses and vehicles at attractive prices in markets and regions we know well. \"These businesses will benefit from both our management expertise and ability to invest for growth.\" The bus and train group was badly hit when its 1999 acquisition of Coach USA for £1.2 billion turned sour. The deal left Stagecoach taking millions of pounds in losses and cost two chief executives their posts. The group eventually offloaded the bulk of the business. This included the sale of its south central and west region units to private equity house Kohlberg in 2003 for £94m.This formed the basis for Coach America. Having rebuilt its presence in the US through the expansion of its Megabus budget coach network, Stagecoach has agreed to pay $134.2m (£85m) in cash to buy back much of the business it sold to Kohlberg. This will add 800 vehicles to the 1900 Stagecoach already runs in North America. Coach USA has the option to sell Stagecoach as many as another 85 coaches for up to $25.6m. A Stagecoach spokesman said it is a \"quite different business\" to that sold in 2003 because at that point Stagecoach had to bundle together a package of both underperforming and strong units. Coach America has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since January 2012. This has allowed Stagecoach to cherry-pick the businesses it wants, which together account for around a third of Coach America\'s turnover. The businesses being acquired include contract, line-run, charter and sightseeing operations. The units in San Antonio and Dallas, Texas and Sacramento and Anaheim in California will be integrated into Stagecoach\'s rapidly expanding Megabus network. The other businesses in Atlanta, Georgia; Cleveland, Ohio; Gillette, Wyoming; Elko, Nevada; Hanover, Maryland; and Portland, Oregon will continue to operate under local brands. The Cleveland and Portland businesses were not previously owned by Stagecoach. Sir Brian said: \"We see significant potential to roll-out megabus.com\'s successful package of low fares and high quality service to new locations in the United States. \"The acquisitions in Texas and California in particular will give us an extended geographic footprint to accelerate our growth strategy for the brand, which already covers around 80 key locations in North America.\" When Stagecoach initially launched Megabus in the US in 2006 it set up an operation in California but soon decided to focus on the north east of the country. David Pitura, analyst at JP Morgan Cazenove, said: \"Coach America currently owns a significant number of the businesses that Stagecoach (through Coach USA) used to own – and some that it did not. Given the previous ownership, Stagecoach should have a good working knowledge of these businesses.\" Stagecoach has handed over a $16m refundable deposit and will pay with existing bank facilities. A US bankruptcy court will decide next week whether to approve the deal. Last year Stagecoach took $529.4m in revenue from North America, generating operating profit of $45.4m. The business being added made $164.4m in revenues with operating profit of $13.3m. Sir Brian will be banking on a very different experience to a decade ago when Coach USA struggled in the face of an economic downturn in the US, exacerbated by the impact on the 2001 World Trade Centre attacks on demand for transport services. That foray into North America cost chief executives Mike Kinski, followed by Keith Cochrane, their jobs. Mr Cochrane is now chief executive of Glasgow-based engineering company Weir Group. Meanwhile Sir Brian, Stagecoach\'s co-founder, returned to frontline duties and remains Stagecoach\'s chief executive.


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SWINDON’S economy could receive a welcome £100m boost over the next five years after Vodafone selected the town as one of the first in the country to roll out its new 4G mobile phone service.
From May 22, the improved mobile internet, which is about six times faster than 3G, will be available to Vodafone customers with smartphones in Swindon, ahead of those in Bristol, Oxford and Reading.
Independent research from Capital Economics highlights Swindon’s potential growth as a result of the cutting-edge technology.
It says consumers are likely to have more faith in the town’s businesses and companies.
Business leaders hope other firms will now see Swindon as an attractive location to get services from or be based thanks to the increased reliability for remote working provided by the internet service.
Heydar Faramarzi, the president of Swindon Chamber of Commerce , who previously worked for international telecom firm AT&T, said: “This is fantastic news, it is good for consumers, business owners and employees.
“It is a great vote of confidence that a big company like Vodafone wants to bring this to Swindon ahead of places such as Bristol and shows we are a location for businesses to prosper.
“This will hopefully attract companies looking to expand and move to new places as internet speeds will be one of their criteria when assessing where to move.
“These days we are a society on the move so the speeds will help a lot with those that work out of office and even people looking to buy things online, as the service will be so much more reliable and quicker.”
The benefits of 4G will make web browsing, streaming, file transferring and accessing emails easier in the office or on the move.
The improvements are part of a £1bn investment by Vodafone to improve mobile internet speeds across the country.
Excalibur, a company which provides phone and IT services to businesses, has been campaigning for improved mobile internet services in Swindon.
James Phipps, the chief executive officer of the company, which is based in Stonehill Green, said: “We’re really pleased that we have played a part in Vodafone launching 4G in Swindon.
“It’s a positive step towards our town becoming one of the best in the south west to run a business.
“As one of Vodafone’s largest UK partners, with a 20-year trading relationship, we are committed to working to supply seamless and solid coverage across the south west.
“Swindon has suffered from connection issues in the past which has held businesses back but we are now in a position where we can address that.”
Thousands of Vodafone customers with smartphones, who currently have a 3G service, will see their handsets automatically transfer to 4G when it launches.
Fergal Kelly, Vodafone’s chief technology officer, said the company is also continuing to improve the region’s 2G and 3G mobile phone services.
He said: “Mobile connectivity plays a vital role in keeping communities in touch and helping to support the local economy.
“Our improvements will ensure more people in Wiltshire will have the opportunity to take part in the smartphone revolution.”


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For Sale By:Private Seller
Number of Cylinders: 8
Drive Type: Four Wheel Drive
Exterior Color: Green
Nampa, Idaho, United States
For Sale 1972 Ford F250 4x4 Highboy. Has a 460cu with a carter afb 4 barrel carb, 4spd trans, divorced dana 24 gear driven transfer case. I has all new brakes in the front axle along with new kingpin bearings. Has power steering but manual brakes. stops well just takes more effort than one with power assist. Also the truck is a aircab! Has all the dash air conditioning parts but would need a compressor to get a/c working. The truck does run and drive and steers real tight. Could use a tune up as it does miss fire randomly. I just installed a new timing set, fuel pump, starter, and starter solenoid along with rebuilding the front axle. Has good potential for a restore or just drive as is. Tires are also at about 50% all 4.
Vehicle is in Nampa, ID and can be seen if needed. Buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping and vehicle is sold as-is no warranty
Judging by the destruction the Oklahoma City area experienced earlier this week, residents are going to need a lot of help in coming months. Fortunately, a number of automakers - including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Honda and Toyota - have stepped up to donate money, supplies and vehicles to aid in the recovery and rebuilding processes.
Here's a quick rundown of which automakers have pitched in and what each contributed so far:
Ford Motor Company has donating $250,000 and a Transit Connect to the American Red Cross, and it will match all other donations made to the Red Cross (up to $250,000) using a special URL tied to the latter's website (link here). Additionally, its local Oklahoma dealers have thrown in an extra $150,000 for the United Way and the automaker will be offering an extra $500 toward the purchase of a new Ford vehicle.
If you're planning on buying a new car in the next month or so, you might want to pick from what's on the lot, because there could be a long wait for new vehicles from the factory. Locomotives continue to be in short supply in North America, and that's causing major delays for automakers trying to move assembled cars.
According to The Detroit News, there are about 180,000 new vehicles waiting to be transported by rail in North America at the moment. In a normal year, it would be about 69,000. The complications have been industry-wide. Toyota, General Motors, Honda and Ford all reported experiencing some delays, and Chrysler recently had hundreds of minivans sitting on the Detroit waterfront waiting to be shipped out.
The problem is twofold for automakers. First, the fracking boom in the Bakken oil field in the Plains and Canada is monopolizing many locomotives. Second, the long, harsh winter is still causing major delays in freight train travel. The bad weather forced trains to slow down and carry less weight, which caused a backup of goods to transport. The auto companies resorted to moving some vehicles by truck, which was a less efficient but necessary option.
General Motors must be pretty pleased with sales of its two newest pickups, the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado, as it's announced price hikes for both models, as part of a planned price tweak.
Prices will be bumped by as much as $1,500, although weirdly, they'll be offset by as much as $1,500 in cash-back offers through the end of October. Fox Business reports that GM spokesman Jim Cain said of the price hike, "With the sell down of the '13 models nearly complete, this price adjustment was planned and is a normal part of business."
The move, as Fox is quick to point out, is an interesting one, as sales of the twin pickups struggled last month relative to the Ford F-Series, while both of GM's crosstown competitors have been aggressively undercutting Silverado and Sierra prices. The F-150 starts at $24,070 and the Ram 1500 comes in at $23,600, not counting any cash on the hood. A base Silverado, meanwhile, retails at $25,575.


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Muscat, Feb 27 (ONA) Qais bin Mohammed al-Yousef, Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(OCCI) received in his office today Rubens Hanoun, President of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in the presence of Abdulazim al-Bahrani, CEO of OCCI.
by Times News ServiceQais Mohammed al Yusuf has been elected as the new chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
He said ICCI would like to sign MoU with Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
and Oman Embassy should cooperate in this effort.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Monday issued Royal Decree 45/2017 promulgating the Bylaw of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
From April to July 2017, the total amount of transactions with Qatar which were ratified by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
has equated to more than a quarter of a billion Omani Rial," a Chamber of Commerce spokesman told Time of Oman.
He also stressed on how keen the Sharjah Chamber is to develop relationships with brothers in the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
to realize the targeted success.
17 (BNA): The 120th Session of the board of the General Union of the Arab Chambers, hosted by the Sultanate represented by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(OCCI) began on Wednesday chaired by Mohammed Weld Mohammed Mahmoud, Chairman of the General Union of the Arab Chambers and Chairman of Mauritanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the presence of Dr.
Nahla al Hamdi industry head Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
stated a special committee including authorities related to the manufacturing industry would execute the strategy.
On the sidelines of the 3rd edition of Business Opportunities Forum organized by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
, the Syrian delegation met the Omani Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali al-Saidi, who affirmed the necessity of enhancing cooperation between Syria and Oman and exchanging expertise to meet the needs of the Syrian and Omani markets.
The agreements were signed by the Al Dakhiliyah branch of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(OCCI) and the Mazandaran's Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture during a recent visit by a 16-member Omani delegation to the northern Iranianprovince of Mazandaran.
Primedia International, a Bahrain-based media solutions company and its affiliate Tele-Gulf Services have launched 2013 edition of the Oman Industrial Directory for the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Summary: MUSCAT -- The deliberation of the first GCC Businesswomen Forum was concluded in Muscat on Tuesday, which was organised by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
in conjunction with the Federation of GCC Chambers of Commerce.


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Photo: wikipedia.org/Screenshot from the alpha version of World of Tanks
World of Tanks developer leaves Russia and Belarus
During the transition period, only active products will remain available to Russians and Belarusians, which will be managed by the new owner.
The Belarusian game developer company Wargaming, popular with the World of Tanks series of games, has announced the termination of its activities in Russia and Belarus. About it says in a company Facebook post.
It is noted that the company has already begun the process of closing the studio in Minsk.
It is known that earlier Wargaming transferred the gaming business in Russia and Belarus under the control of Lesta Studio.
“The company will not profit from this process either today or in the future. On the contrary, we expect significant losses as a result of this decision. Despite the magnitude of this decision, we as a company are confident in the future of our business and strive to provide our players with quality games,” the company said.
Recall that earlier the Ministry of Foreign Affairs listed the companies that left the Russian market. At the same time, those who remained to work in the Russian Federation were shown in the OP.
Disney has banned the distribution of its films in Russia
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Unveiled within X019 last November, Drake Hollow, the new game from the creators The Flame in the Flood, has recently announced its release date on PC and Xbox One.
The announcement was made Wednesday by the Twitter account of The Molasses Flood, and relayed by our colleagues from Xboxygen. We learn that Drake Hollow will be available on the PC and Xbox One on 17 Julyand that, in addition to its Windows 10, the title will be available on Steam. Players can also add the title to their wish list on the platform of Valve.
We have exciting news to share ! Drake Hollow will be launched on July 17, 2020 on Xbox One, Windows 10 and, now, on Steam. (…)
In Drake’s Hollow, players will play a young adventurer whose goal is to save the Dragores, a people plant particularly fragile. To do this, it will eliminate many of the demons, but also develop a real village, in which everything will be implemented to ensure the survival of Dragores.
Trailer Drake Hollow – X019
By MalloDelicJournalist jeuxvideo.com


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This is quite incredible.
If anyone isn’t fully convinced that the eurozone is flirting with deflation, the latest batch of data from Europe and Japan should remove those doubts entirely.
The eurozone’s consumer inflation rate is currently lower than that of Japan, a country that has become the poster child for deflation over the past two decades. Deflation is an economic phenomenon under which prices are continually falling.
Here’s the data to prove that. The eurozone’s annual consumer inflation rate, represented by the harmonised consumer price index(HCPI), stood at 0.7% in January, slipping from 0.8% in December.
Core inflation — excluding food, energy and alcohol and tobacco prices — crawled to 0.8% in January from 0.7% in December.
How does that stack up against Japan?
According to the latest data, Japan’s consumer price index for December was up 1.6% from a year ago, and up 10 basis points from a month ago. (100 basis points make one percentage point.)
Core inflation — excluding food, energy and alcoholic beverages — was at 0.7%, only marginally lower from that of the eurozone.
Japan’s inflation rate has been improving in recent months as a result of the Bank of Japan’s (BoJ) shock-and-awe monetary easing measures introduced early last year, with the intention of lifting the inflation rate to 2% in the medium term.
The country has been battling falling prices for two decades and the BoJ is hoping to reverse that trend by going all out and implementing big-bang measures, rather than taking timid steps one-by-one, as it used to do earlier.
Meanwhile, European Central Bank officials continue to wait before taking action against the looming threat of deflation.
(To find out more about why deflation is such a big threat to economies, click on this earlier blog post of mine.)
Even if Japan’s inflation doesn’t continue to climb (and there are many who believe it won’t), the recent data should convince ECB officials of the need for more urgent and stronger monetary easing measures.
Deflation is coming, Europe. It’s time to take some decisive action. Quickly.