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Preparing for the Worst: The Top Emergencies That Require a Food Supply
As the saying goes, hope for the best but prepare for the worst. In the UK, emergencies can come in many forms, from natural disasters to power outages to illness outbreaks. And while we may not be able to predict when these emergencies will occur, we can prepare for them by ensuring we have an adequate supply of food. In this article, we'll explore the top emergencies that require a food supply, and provide tips on how to stock up and stay safe.
Emergency #1: Natural Disasters
The UK is no stranger to natural disasters, with flooding and severe storms being common occurrences. According to the Environment Agency, around 5.2 million properties in England are at risk of flooding. During such emergencies, it's important to have a stockpile of non-perishable food items such as canned goods, dried fruit, and nuts. It's also important to have a supply of clean water, as water supplies can be contaminated during floods.
Emergency #2: Power Outages
Power outages can occur for a variety of reasons, from severe weather to equipment failure. In the UK, power outages are estimated to cost businesses up to £1.5 billion per year. During power outages, it's important to avoid opening refrigerators and freezers as much as possible, as this can cause food to spoil more quickly. A stockpile of non-perishable food items such as crackers, cereal bars, and canned soups can help you weather the outage.
Emergency #3: Economic Crises
Economic crises can have a major impact on food supplies, as we saw the economy suffer in the wake of the national lockdowns in 2020. In the UK, food bank usage has risen sharply in recent years, with over 2 million emergency food parcels being given out in 2020. During an economic crisis, it's important to have a supply of non-perishable food items, and to consider growing your own food if possible.
Emergency #4: Political Unrest
Political unrest can disrupt food supplies, as we saw during the 2011 riots in the UK, when many supermarkets were looted. During political unrest, it's important to stay safe and avoid going out if possible. Having a supply of non-perishable food items can help you avoid having to leave your home during a potentially dangerous situation.
Emergency #5: Pandemics
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of having a supply of non-perishable food items. During pandemics, national restrictions may be enforced, making access to food stores more difficult - having a stockpile of food items that can last for several weeks is an advantage and provides further peace of mind.
Emergency #6: War
While we may hope that we never have to experience war on UK soil, it's important to prepare for the possibility. During wartime, food supplies can be disrupted, and it may be difficult to access fresh food. It's important to have a stockpile of non-perishable food items, as well as water, in case you need to shelter in place. It's also important to have a plan in place for what to do if you need to evacuate your home. In addition, it's important to be aware of the risks of food contamination during wartime, as food supplies may be limited and sanitation may be compromised. By taking steps to prepare for war, we can help ensure that we and our loved ones are safe and well-fed during difficult times.
While we may not be able to predict when emergencies will occur, we can prepare for them by ensuring we have a supply of non-perishable food items. Whether it's natural disasters, power outages, economic crises, political unrest, or pandemics, having a stockpile of food can help us weather the storm. So take some time to stock up on non-perishable food items, and stay safe during emergencies.


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Fiat Chrysler May Be Forced To Buy Back Thousands Of Defective Pickups, Jeeps Over Mishandled RecallsFiat Chrysler could be required to lay out hundreds of millions of dollars to get potentially defective Ram pickups and older Jeeps off the road under a deal with safety regulators to settle claims that the automaker mishandled nearly two dozen recalls.
Apple Buys Back $40B In Shares; CEO 'Surprised' By 8% Price DropApple has reportedly repurchased $14 billion of its stock in the two weeks after its first-quarter financials and second-quarter revenue outlook disappointed investors.
SF, Oakland Plan Weekend Holiday Gun Buyback The buyback on Saturday will offer $200 each for up to three weapons per person. Only gun owners with verified residence in either San Francisco or Oakland qualify.
Hayward Police Holding Gun Buy-Back EventPolice are attempting to disarm dangerous situations in Hayward before they happen through the department’s annual gun buy-back event set to occur Saturday.

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UltraSense Systems on Tuesday released a sensor that aims to eliminate mechanical buttons on the sides of smartphones.
The San Jose, California-based startup was founded by semiconductor industry veterans from InvenSense, a company that supplied motion sensors to phone makers such as Apple Inc and others before being acquired by Japan's TDK Corp for about $1.3 billion in 2016.
The new firm is joining a race to replace physical buttons on the side of smart phones with technology based on ultrasonic sound waves. Some phone makers such as Asustek Computer Inc are already selling phones aimed at gamers that allow the user to hold the phone horizontally and tap "Air Triggers" along its top edge as virtual buttons with their index fingers while their thumbs tap the screen.
The company said on Tuesday that it had released a chip that is about the size of the head of a ballpoint pen that will allow users to tap the frame of a phone rather than mechanical buttons to control volume levels, take pictures or carry out other functions. The system works regardless of whether the phone frame is made of steel, aluminum, glass or plastic.
UltraSense said that the new chips will be included in several consumer electronic devices next year, but did not disclose which companies they would come from.
The company joins a growing field of competitors vying to replace mechanical buttons. In October, Sentons, a startup headed by an ex-Apple engineer, launched a chip aimed at the same purpose, saying that it had Asus and two other smart phone makers whose names it did not disclose signed up as customers.
Inside smart phones, every millimeter of space is highly prized by phone designers because it can be used to pack in more features like larger batteries or new, larger antennas that will be required to handle 5G, the next generation of mobile data networks. Replacing buttons with a chip also makes phones easier to manufacture, said Daniel Goehl, UltraSense's chief business officer
"We are seeing a paradigm shift," Goehl told Reuters in an interview. "We're eliminating mechanical buttons, physical cutouts and waterproofing."
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The fall-through rate on transactions in the UK has dropped to its lowest level since late 2012, with fewer than a fifth of sales collapsing in the third quarter of this year.
The Quick Move Now company - a quick-purchase company which monitors transactions across the market - says the sale fall-through rate of 19.62 per cent for the third quarter of this year represents a dramatic reduction on the 36.34 per cent reported in quarter two.
The firm has also released six-monthly fall-through data which shows a 27.99 per cent rate between the start of April and end of September.
“Buyers are coming to the market better prepared in order to make themselves more attractive to vendors when competing for property" says Danny Luke, business manager at Quick Move Now.
"Also, with continued market buoyancy and predicted interest rate rises, buyers are keen to secure properties quickly before they're priced out of the market" he says.


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Author: Terry Lovell (Head of Sales), Orbis Exchange
Market Report - 13/02/23 - 17/02/23Key Points
- CPI Data out for the UK
- GDP Figures out in the Eurozone
- CPI Data out for the US
Last week we saw GDP figures released in the UK, the last 3 quarters results showed negative growth, so a small growth this time round from -0.2% to 0% is only a slight positive as the BoE still expects the economy to shrink by 0.5% this year. This week we have the unemployment rate being released, if we see an increase in the rate then this typically leads to a negative effect on the Pound, but should we see a drop in the unemployment rate then this can be seen as bullish for the GBP. we also have CPI data being released this week, it is expected to see the third consecutive drop in the inflation levels, conversely a drop in inflation levels indicates potentially smaller interest rate hikes in the future, so typically a higher-than-expected results tends to be seen as bullish for the GBP, but a drop in price levels could have a negative effect on Sterling quotes.
Last week the main piece of data we had released for the Eurozone was retail sales on Monday, this saw a bigger than expected drop from -2.5% to -2.8%. This set the Euro up to an average week where we saw no real losses or gains against its 2 major competitors. This week we have GDP figures coming out Tuesday, this data release is important as if we see another drop in the GDP figures then this could see the Eurozone slip further into recession as their last 2 releases have both seen a drop. However they are expected to avoid this which is in part why the Euro has strengthened against the Dollar and GBP in the New Year. This main information in terms of data coming out in the Eurozone, this means that this week we could look elsewhere for Euro movements as data in the UK and US could be the big market movers for the Euro.
The Michigan Consumer Sentiment was released at the back end of last week, we saw the results translating into greater spending and faster economic growth, this could potentially mean a pickup in the inflation levels although is still positive for the economy. This could push the Fed to be more hawkish when it comes to the next interest rate decision. This week we have inflation levels being released, typically, a rise in the price levels could be seen as positive for the Dollar but if we see a drop as expected then this could have a negative effect on USD quotes. As well as this we also have retail sales figures coming out for the US. a huge jump in the sales figures is expected, the last results had retail sales figures at -1.1% whereas the consensus has come in at 0.9%. Typically, any rise in the sales figures is seen as positive for USD quotes, but if we see a further drop in the figures then this can be seen as bearish for the Dollar. We will also be keeping an eye on U.S Foreign Policy towards flying objects that have been spotted over U.S Airspace and what global uncertainty this may bring.
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Something monumentally important was announced today. Not the Nexus 6. Or Nexus 9. Or Android 5.0 Lollipop or the Nexus Player and Android TV. It’s the new Android. A friendlier, more accessible, ready for the public Android. And it’s going to propel Google into the future.
Google has been working towards ... Read More »
Google has released a new video teasing the name of Android L. This latest addition continues to fuel the Nexus and Android fire that’s hitting the Internet right now. In the video, Google has a casting call with all sorts of different desserts that start with the letter L trying out for the honor of ... Read More »
We’ve seen the Nexus 7 and the Play Store promoted in TV ads in the past, but Google has finally kicked off a marketing campaign that promotes the diversity of Android. The three short clips all use Android characters which were most likely built the with Androidify app, all enjoying differently sized phones, tablets and Android Wear ... Read More »
In late June, Google officially introduced Android Auto, a new way for Android users to experience the platform while in an automobile. The platform is essentially an extension of their Android smartphone, with a specialized user interface designed for easy access to certain features on a large display. It’s scheduled to launch in late ... Read More »
Not getting enough Google in your Android diet? Your next device may help satiate your appetite.
The Information reports that Google is increasing the requirements that manufacturers must follow when making an Android device. Those changes include an increase in the number of preinstalled Google apps up ... Read More »
It’s nearing the end of 2014. Android is dominating the smartphone market and common folk actually know what Android is. Developers are creating apps for both Android and iOS, just like it should be. But apparently, no one told Rovio this. The company is releasing Angry Birds Transformers for iOS with a 15-day exclusivity period.
... Read More »
Last year, Samsung unleashed a pair of giant smartphones onto the market, both of which fell into the Galaxy Mega lineup. Now, the manufacturer has decided to go ahead and announce the Galaxy Mega 5.8′s followup, while also increasing the display size for good measure.
Samsung has officially announced the ... Read More »
Bluetooth accessories are not rare when it comes to mobile devices, especially for tablets, and Microsoft has just unveiled a new contender for your hard-earned cash. The new Universal Mobile Keyboard is a low-profile, “chiclet” style keyboard meant to help you boost your productivity while you’re on the go.
At the tail-end of August, HTC officially announced the Desire 510. While taking several design cues from the other Desire-branded family members, the new device lacks the high-end BoomSound front-facing speakers that several other HTC devices have launched with recently. Sprint has seen fit to give the mid-range device a launch date and a ... Read More »
In June of 2014, Google officially introduced Android One, an initiative to make sure that stock Android is on a lot more devices across the globe on affordable devices. Now, several months later, the initiative has launched in India with support from several manufacturers, and more coming down the line.
Google ... Read More »


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TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — For immigrants living abroad, it’s very important to stay connected with their family and loved ones back home. Occasionally it gets hard to keep seamless communication due to the barriers that arise while sending top-up back at home. The newly launched online recharging service, swiftrecharge.com promises a simple and fast mobile recharging facility that is intended to help the migrants living abroad to send mobile recharge to their families living back home. The service is extremely easy to use and it’s available anywhere and anytime on the web portal. The company has established its services on a global scale. It covers 600 major mobile operators in 160 countries worldwide offering its perfect service.
Not everyone who is using their services is a tech genius. Bearing this in mind, the company has set up an easy-to-follow process that can be handled by anyone. The users are required to follow four simple steps to recharge phones of their family or friends back at home. First, they need to select the country where the mobile number is from and then enter the mobile number on the website. Next, their system will validate the phone number to see if it’s accurate and exists. Then the users need to enter the amount of the top-up that they want to send. Finally, after they make the payment, they will get confirmation of the top-up immediately.
swiftrecharge.com is built with the slogan to help people living far from home to stay connected with their loved ones back at home. The swift and easy services provided by the company are helping millions to communicate through mobile phones at very affordable rates and without any hidden fees. With its special services, the company has acquired numerous positive feedbacks by making international communication smoother than ever. The company always puts its accent on the needs and requirements of the customers and try to exceed their expectations. In its quest to connect more and more people every hour, the company is touching millions of lives bringing joy and happiness regardless of their place.
The global network at www.swiftrecharge.com reaches over 600 mobile operators across 160 countries. The company works with the top mobile operators such as Digicel, MTN, Airtel, Ethiotel, Tigo, Globe, Smart, and many more. From the US to Mexico, to China, Philippines, India, or Ethiopia, the mobile recharge can be sent to a wide range of countries all over the world to any prepaid mobile number. the swiftrecharge.com is optimized for mobile devices in order to provide a positive user experience. With their cutting-edge technology, they are offering a reliable and secure way of connecting by availing the users to send mobile recharge back at home instantly within a minute. Visit https://swiftrecharge.com
SOURCE SwiftReload Inc


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Yesterday, Cyanogen himself stopped by XDA to drop some preview builds for CM10 for some of US variants of the Galaxy S III. Today, the rest of the world gets in on the action, as TeamHacksung member XpLoDWilD offers up a preview build for the international Galaxy S III (i9300). As with the previous release, this thing is packed to the brim with warnings, but when has that stopped you?
Google recently decided to make my life a lot easier by releasing the changelog for Jelly Bean. Cool!
While, of course, I take issue with its thoroughness, it also wasn't all that accurate when it was first published. It's since been corrected, but the internet never forgets. Check out this Google listing:
Yeah... There isn't actually a ringtone editor in Jelly Bean. Google seems to agree, because, after the initial posting, the mention of the editor was completely removed from the changelog.
In the middle of a rousing discussion on G+ about the uniformity of Jelly Bean's new default app dialog (GTKA article forthcoming), Adam Powell, an Android framework engineer, clued us in to the following Jelly Bean protip:
You know the app pickers in Jelly Bean? These things:
They've been given a makeover in JB.
CyanogenMod 10 is still cooking, and heck, CM9 isn't even fully baked for all devices yet. That hasn't stopped Steve Kondik, aka the guy who puts the Cyanogen in CyanogenMod, from posting preview builds of CM10 over on XDA for the AT&T and T-Mobile Galaxy S III variants. Plus, a third preview build being posted for the Sprint version by another developer. Keep in mind, of course, that "preview build" translates into "absolutely nothing is guaranteed to work." It is exciting, nonetheless.
If you bought a pre-LTE Evo phone in the last year and you've been feeling left out in the cold, worry not. Sprint and HTC are in the process of bringing Ice Cream Sandwich to your device. If your device happens to be an Evo 3D or Evo Design, that is. The older flagship Evo and this year's midrange phone are slated to reach Android 4.0 sometime in August.
Yes, we know that once again, it's not Jelly Bean.
Need some reading for the weekend? Google has you covered. To celebrate the shipping of the first batch of Nexus 7 pre-orders, Google has posted up the full, official, exhaustive changelog for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
Covering everything from Accessibility to Widgets, the changelog delivers comprehensive explanations of each and every change users can expect to find in Android's latest iteration, as well as changes to Google apps and the "new Google experience on Android," including Google Search and Google Now.
In a post to the Nexus Google+ page just minutes ago, it was revealed that the official rollout of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to the Galaxy Nexus is beginning now (just after its addition to AOSP), starting with HSPA+ connected Galaxy Nexus Devices. Users of Galaxy Nexus devices carrying the Yakju and Takju software variants should expect to receive an OTA prompt some time within the "next several days."
The post also revealed that the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus won't be alone in receiving an official Jelly Bean update.
So, you heard about Google's new predictive text engine in the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean keyboard, right? Now you can download that keyboard courtesy of Beansoft (developer of Thumb Keyboard), from the Play Store, free of charge. It's ported straight from AOSP, though it's currently in "alpha" state. The only catch is that you need to be running Android 4.0.3 or higher (Ice Cream Sandwich).
I've noticed the Android 4.1 keyboard also seems to have improved accuracy and speed (it looks ever so slightly different, too), so this is definitely worth a try.
Jelly Bean was announced at Google I/O just recently, but a posting from Google's Android open source guru, Jean-Baptiste Queru has confirmed that Android 4.1 is hitting the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository right now. Time for the developers among you to update your clients to get all the official bits.
This release will be tagged as android-4.1.1_r1 in AOSP. While the source is going live now, the full proprietary binaries for Google-blessed devices won't be rolled out until later.
When Jelly Bean was announced, it's as if you could hear the entire Android community speak in unison: CM10! Anyone who has been around the block a time or two knows, though, you just don't ask for ETAs on CM builds. Of course, it wouldn't really matter if you did at this point - the JB source code isn't even available yet. However, the CyanogenMod Team took the time to address many of the questions on everyone's minds on their G+ earlier today, and we have to admit - it all sounds pretty good.


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Storia, Scholastic’s digital reading platform, is changing to a new streaming service which will not support e-books bought through the original Storia app.
Storia was launched in 2012 and was designed for individual operating systems to provide book downloads for children and adults.
Storia School Edition will soon be released as a streaming service available through subscription for pre-K through Grade 6, according to Publishers Weekly. Based on the size of the school, subscriptions will start at $2,000. Scholastic believes that this will be a more efficient service and will lower maintenance costs of converting titles to school, but will also improve flexibility and choice for its young readers. Storia will remain the same visually and, like the first app, will have about 2,000 titles.
Scholastic plans to launch a family edition of Storia in 2015. It will be sold through Scholastic book clubs and book fairs. The company is offering refunds to those who bought a Storia e-Book through Aug. 1, 2015. The Scholastic website lists the improvements in the new incarnation.
• The 2,000 titles can be accessed from any desktop or tablet device with an internet connection.
• It will help students achieve key learning outcomes in the Common Core for English Language Arts.
• Teachers will be able to search and filter the system in order to personalize a digital library for their classrooms.
• It will track reading activity for each student.
• Each title has integrated learning tools to build vocabulary and comprehension.
This change comes at a time when Scholastic’s revenue has taken a plunge. But then, says Mercy Pilington of website GoodReader, having a success like their Hunger Games trilogy does not come every year for a publishing company. Scholastic is making a good move, says Pilington, by funding this move in the education market and keeping it student-centric. Thaks to the new SVP of Strategic Marketing, Lee Peters, ideas are underway for increasing the brand and putting Scholastic back in the classroom.
Michael Kozlowski, also writing for GoodReader, says that his biggest concern is that the transition will be difficult for parents and students who have built a library on the old Storia app.
If they are not informed, they will be surprised that they cannot pull up a book they have downloaded previously and the confusion might lead them to other providers like Amazon or KOBO.
“Our customer service lines are fielding calls, facilitating refunds and assisting schools in transitioning from individual books purchased by teachers to streaming for an entire school. The advantage is easier access and that each ebook is accessible by more than one child at a time (rather than buying multiple copies) which is a huge plus for the classroom; teachers are also learning about the new student progress tracking features and they like them.”


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Buy buttons are taking convenience shopping to a whole new level. In recent weeks, Instagram and Pinterest announced new buy button features that make it easy for consumers to purchase goods and services directly from their apps. Facebook, which began testing shoppable ads in 2014, announced an expansion of its program. Google confirmed that the search giant is developing a buy button so that shoppers can make purchases directly from Google ads. Why the interest? In a word: mobile.
It’s easy to see why these digital brands are instituting buy buttons. In the United States, online commerce accounts for but 7 percent of all retail sales. According to Forrester Research, by 2017 the Web will generate $370 billion in U.S. sales, or 10 percent of the total. By making it easier to conduct transactions online, the likes of Google, Instagram, and Pinterest hope to stake a claim to the $3.3 trillion in sales that will occur offline.
But why are we seeing a proliferation of buy buttons now? There’s something else going on: since 2013, consumers have preferred using their mobile devices over laptops and desktops to interact with retailers online. The shift to mobile has profound implications:
- Mobile consumers have strong purchase intent: Eighty percent of consumers who use smart phones to search for goods and services locally end up making a purchase.
- Mobile consumers have an immediate intent to purchase: according to a recently released report by Google, I Want-to-Go Moments: From Search to Store, half of consumers who conduct a local search on their smartphones visit a store within 24 hours. Nearly half of consumers trying to decide on a restaurant do their local search within an hour of actually going.
In I-Want-to-Go Moments: From Search to Store, Google noted that the number of “near me” searches (searches conducted for goods and services nearby) conducted by consumers have grown by 34 times since 2011; and 80 percent of those searches are conducted on mobile devices.
“With a world of information at their fingertips, consumers have heightened expectations for immediacy and relevance,” wrote the report’s author, Matt Lawson. “They want what they want when they want it. They’re confident they can make well-informed choices whenever needs arise. It’s essential that brands be there in these moments that matter — when people are actively looking to learn, discover, and, or buy.”
You can sense the wheels spinning at Facebook, Google, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, where consumers and brands share the same space: if consumers are collapsing the journey from awareness to purchase on their mobile devices, why not remove the friction of sending them offline to buy something? Why not use buy buttons seal the deal the moment when initial research and consideration occur on mobile devices?


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Samsung has some weird ads, sometimes they're creepy, sometimes they're fun and sometimes they're right on the money.
We're thinking that last point applies for their latest video, which points out the fact that while iPhone users are looking forward to having a bigger screen when iPhone 6 comes out later this year, everyone else already had a piece of that action.
Check it out.
Apple may be the company that helped to birth the current smartphone trend but they've been flagging behind in recent years and Samsung knows just how to go for that jugular. Apple is planning on finally upping the screen size in 2014 but we don't yet know if that will be enough to prop up the falling market share.
Look for the iPhone 6 in September 2014.


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The House Passes NSA Reform
Host: Sarah Lane
The House of Representatives pass NSA reform but does it go far enough?, Edward Snowden's first U.S. TV interview, Samsung is making a VR headset for smartphones, "Okay Google" comes to all Chrome users, eBay stripped of 80% of Google search, California to issue driverless car licenses, more bad news for HP, is this the world's fastest robot?, and Facebook wants to know even more about you.
Guest: Roberto Baldwin
Bandwidth for Tech News Tonight is provided by Cachefly.
Running time: 14:06


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President Trump indicated Tuesday a trade deal with China may not come until after the 2020 presidential election, saying that he has "no deadline" for striking an agreement with Beijing.
Speaking to reporters in London, where Mr. Trump is attending the annual NATO summit, the president said any trade deal with China would come on his terms.
"I think in some ways it's better to wait until after the election with China," the president said during a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Any deal between the world's two largest economies is "dependent on one thing: do I want to make it," Mr. Trump added.
The president reiterated that Beijing is eager to reach an agreement, but said the U.S. is "doing very well with China" and can do better.
Mr. Trump's comments come as the U.S. is set to impose another round of duties on Chinese imports Dec. 15. The latest tariffs will hit a wide range of consumer goods, including mobile phones and laptops.
The trade war with China has been ongoing for more than a year, with the two sides trading tariffs on thousands of products. An announcement from the president in October that the U.S. and Beijing reached a phase one deal, however, seemed to ease tensions between the two nations.
As part of the initial agreement, Mr. Trump said China agreed to buy between $40 billion and $50 billion in American farm products, though Chinese officials have said they would make purchases according to market needs.
Beijing, meanwhile, has been pushing for the U.S. to lift existing tariffs on products from China.
The Chinese Commerce Ministrytop Chinese and U.S. trade negotiators agreed to additional talks on a phase one deal, though it was not immediately confirmed by Washington.


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Enterprises are wasting as much as 25% of their software spend through out-of-date, non-compliant or underutilised resources.
Some simple design principles can make the most of the next generation of IT management tools, leading to maximised productivity, efficiency and quality.
Windows 7 users complain of unwanted auto-upgrades to Windows 10, and Google ups its bounty for Chrome bugs while also previewing its new mobile OS.
Specialist beverage marketer SouthTrade International has boosted sales and vastly improved marketing and reporting efficiencies using a custom-built app.
Nuance Communications has announced that Dragon Professional Group, enterprise-ready speech recognition software for professionals across multiple industries, is now available in Australia.
While the complexity and diversity of application services is fast evolving, their success will rely heavily on ensuring consistent, smooth and secure operations.
Flexera Software estimates that up to a third of enterprise software budgets are being wasted on rarely (if ever) used software as well as penalties from exceeding licensing agreements.
A build-and-buy software strategy can support an organisation's unique competitive advantages, ensuring it can continue to improve its offerings and meet changes that occur in the wider market.
Sage Business Solutions' Sage 300c combines the Sage 300 accounting and business management solution for small and medium companies with new technology to support mobile workforces.
The University of Newcastle will upgrade 10,000 of its devices across its multiple locations with Windows 10, as part of a project to enable closer collaboration between campuses.
The professionalism arm of the global federation representing ICT employees has insisted that software engineers have an obligation to refuse and even report unethical orders from higher-ups.
Therefore 2015, Canon's upgraded information management solution, features a new business analytics tool and customisable access options to streamline workflows and business processes.
The latest version of Microsoft's widely used Office suite adds numerous improvements, including enhanced document creation collaboration tools and built-in DLP.
Parallels Desktop 11 empowers Mac users to run Windows 10 and leverage the advantages of Microsoft's intelligent personal assistant, Cortana, when using both Windows and OS X.
Intego Flextivity 1.5 offers small and medium-sized businesses features that make managing security and productivity for multiple Apple Mac devices more efficient.


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Alfred Kelly, CEO of financial services goliath Visa, is unveiling the company’s long-term strategy in the crypto space as cryptocurrencies are set to play a much larger role in the post-pandemic global economy.
Speaking at the CNBC Evolve Summit, Kelly says that as more people turn digital during the pandemic, cryptocurrency is becoming a more prominent player in global transactions and Visa is looking forward to being in the middle of payment flows made through fiat-based cryptocurrencies.
“Crypto is a developing part of payments in the world. It’s in a very nascent state right now.
We are very interested in cryptocurrencies. We are not as interested in crypto that is more of a commodity-based play. We’re interested in crypto that ultimately becomes fiat-based, so there’s a clear understanding of the value when there’s an exchange of crypto for the purchase of a good or a service.”
Kelly reveals that Visa is already working with 25 crypto firms.


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Hello to everyone who makes use of online communication in any way. We can all agree that a particular Lizbeth Rodriguez video is now hot on the web. Due to the abundance of images and videos that feature the well-known online face, attention has recently been focused on her. People on social media are frantically trying to figure out whether the OnlyF model video is real or false since it is becoming viral. After several of her platform videos went viral, the subject quickly rose to the top of the list of topics being discussed on the Internet right now. Follow more updates on Hostspotnews.com
Who Is The Mystery Person, Lizbeth Rodriguez?
She is becoming more popular online because to the quick spread of her images and videos, though. She has gained a significant following on a well-known paid subscription video streaming service where she has signed up for an account in addition to becoming a social media celebrity that has gone viral.
Along with securing the well-known Rodriguez, a significant sum of money was also gathered in the process. The world’s attention has recently been captured by online video snippets that have gone viral.
The Lizbeth Rodriguez Video Becoming Viral
As an online celebrity’s fame grows, internet users’ curiosity about them grows. But all of a sudden, she becomes well-known, and people are interested in learning more about her. Unfortunately, there isn’t much online right now.
The review of the information thus far has taken into account details like her real name, upbringing, and romantic history. It would therefore be improper to mention her in any way. On the wildly popular platform, viewers are only drawn to her profile by her name, accounts, and recent videos.
Video Of Lizbeth Rodriguez
According to a 2014 video, well-known YouTuber Lizbeth Rodriguez was born on May 22, 1994, making her 28 years old. The actress and YouTuber with Mexican ancestry has become well-known. She was formerly a member of the well-known viral video production company Badabun, which can be found on Facebook and YouTube.
They recently surpassed 9.02 million YouTube subscribers on her channel. She was also referred to as an influencer because 11 million people follow her on her own Instagram. Following her on social media will allow readers who are interested to stay up to date on her most recent thoughts.


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IN A WEEK'S time iStore will unveil Apples new iPhone Xs and Xs Max, respectively.
As part of its new innovation iStore has partnered with FNB Credit Card, that would allow customers-new and old- new payment plans to receive a 50% trade-in value for their iPhone after 12 months thus enabling them to easily trade-in and upgrade to a new iPhone every year.
The all new iPhone Xs and the iPhone Xs Max were unveiled at Apple’s event recently, though prices for the devices were not revealed.
So, from next week 28 September, you can visit any iStore dealership and have a conversation on how to trade-in or purchase your latest gadget.
Upgrading customers to the new iPhone Xs and Xs Max get a 2-year extended warranty and a certified screen repair, normally selling for R1999, for free. To qualify, customers should secure a voucher online now at www.myistore.co.za, and subsequently redeem it when they upgrade their contract or purchase any new iPhone at iStore (iPhone 8 and higher) between now and 31 December 2018.
Just like Samsung that released its Galaxy Note 9 that is accompanied by the watch, the Apple Watch Series will also be available from September 28 while pre-orders open 21. From October 5, the iStore will offer Apple Watch Nike+ Series 4.
The Apple Watch Series will be available from the 28th of September while pre-orders open on 21st September.
From the 5th of October, the iStore will offer Apple Watch Nike+ Series 4.


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TBWA scoops £21m Lidl creative account
Lidl has appointed TBWA\London to handle its £21 million UK advertising account, ahead of a brand campaign that it hopes will emulate the success of the rival discount retailer Aldi.
The agency picked up the account after a competitive pitch that began in August last year and was managed by the retailer. Lidl’s creative work was previously handled by its in-house creative team.
Until now, Lidl has invested the majority of its adspend on tactical print work. The last TV ad was in 2009, which was created by Banana Split and focused on the freshness of the supermarket’s produce.
Lidl is now expected to create a campaign to convert those who use the retailer to "top up" their weekly shop with grocery essentials into regular customers.
The success of Aldi’s "like brands" campaign, by McCann Manchester, is believed to have prompted Lidl’s move to brand advertising.
Ronny Gottschlich, the managing director of Lidl UK, said: "[TBWA\London] understands our growth potential, where new customers lie and can deliver the messages that will take us there."
This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk
- Marketing Communications Executive Blue Skies Marketing Recruitment £25000 - £28000 per annum, Worcester
- Design Director - Brand Design and Packaging Agency - London - £55k - £60k - NP143 Stonor £55k - £60k, London (Greater)
- Traffic Planning Manager Premier Consultants c. £40,000 plus benefits, London (Central), London (Greater)
- Senior Fundraising Development Officer Comic Relief From £35,000pa, London (Central), London (Greater)
- PR Account Manager / Senior Account Manager Network Career Consultants £30000 - £40000 per annum, London
- Johnnie Walker calls global ad review
- Adam & Eve/DDB wins 2014 IPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix
- Enjoyed getting an hour back on Sunday? You'll get years back if you stop smoking, says charity
- Tiffany & Co hires MEC for $100m global media
- Mattessons Fridge Raiders campaign delivers AI robot to YouTube gamer
- Lloyds reviews media planning and buying


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On the way to a circular economy
On the way to a circular economy
13 September 2023
The issues of environmental protection and sustainability are now more than ever in the focus of the textile industry. One of the most significant challenges facing the industry is the environmental impact of microplastics from textiles, particularly from microfibres made from synthetic textiles. In an effort to minimise these impacts and move towards a sustainable circular economy, TÜV SÜD uses innovative testing methods to reduce the environmental impact of microplastics.
One of the main sources of environmental pollution from microplastics are fibres released from textiles. Nowadays, many garments are made from synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon and acrylic. When garments made from synthetic fibres are washed, fibre fragments are released and end up in the waterways, polluting the environment. TÜV SÜD is committed to mitigating the impact of microplastics on the environment.
The textile industry faces significant challenges, including a dramatic 40% increase in textile consumption in the EU within a few decades1. This industry now surpasses even air and maritime shipping in terms of greenhouse gas emissions2. In addition, of the more than 1,900 chemicals used in production, 165 are classified as hazardous by the EU3. Regrettably, only about one percent of used textiles are recycled into new clothing4.
Microplastics in textiles are synthetic fibres less than 5 millimetres long. It is the most common form of water pollution and poses a major threat to aquatic ecosystems and marine organisms. Microplastics from clothing, especially from washing synthetic textiles, is one of the main causes of this pollution5. In fact, 35 per cent of synthetic fibres in the ocean come from textiles, and between 124 to 308 mg/kg of synthetic fibres are released annually during washing, totalling about 40,000 tonnes of synthetic fibres6.
Microtextiles contribute significantly to microplastic pollution, as the majority of today's clothing is made from synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon and acrylic. These microfibres, which come off synthetic clothing when washed, are the most widespread form of microplastic in the environment and affect ecosystems worldwide. Statistics show that they endanger, for example, 52 per cent of sea turtles, 90 per cent of seabirds, 100 per cent of coral reefs and 96 per cent of all biodiversity7.
Tests for microplastics play a crucial role in determining the release of microplastics from textile products and materials. They contribute to a better understanding of the environmental impact of products and help to proactively shape legislation by identifying the amount of microfibres that enter our waters from different textile fabrics and fibres. This makes it possible to reduce microplastic pollution through a conscious choice of raw materials and to ensure that sustainability promises are met.
TÜV SÜD is actively involved in the fight against microplastic pollution and is working to make the textile industry more environmentally friendly. The company offers test methods, including AATCC TM212-2021 and ISO 4484-1:2023, to determine the release of fibre fragments when washing textiles. TÜV SÜD develops innovative microplastic test methods to assess the microfibre shedding potential of commercially available synthetic textiles. With a recognised track record in quality assurance and extensive knowledge in testing textile products, TÜV SÜD helps to achieve better product quality.
TÜV SÜD has a global network of around 25 testing laboratories for leather and textiles. Its services range from physical tests to chemical analyses. The TÜV SÜD experts offer product testing as well as on-site pre-shipment inspection, and provide auditing and certification in accordance with all leading national and international standards. TÜV SÜD thus supports manufacturers, exporters and purchasers worldwide, helping them to reliably meet all quality and safety standards.
Press-contact: Dirk Moser-Delarami
Middle East and Africa


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One of the first 200’ tall buildings in St. Tammany Parish will find its home at the interchange of I-12 and 1088 in Mandeville, Louisiana according to the St. Tammany Zoning Commission in a meeting on November 11, 2013. The 161-acre plot of land owned jointly by the Azby Fund and Wadsworth Estates LLC originally received permit approval for a mixed-use Planned Unit Development which was going to include both business and commercial structures as well as a residential community.
Issues after Hurricane Katrina and the Recession delayed the development’s timeline multiple times, but both development companies are now ready to move forward with their construction. Some of the proposed buildings will be 200’ tall (which is about 20 stories) amongst commercial and industrial venues as well as light retail that will front I-12. Nothing in St. Tammany Parish comes close to this height at present but members of the zoning board felt that the I-12 / 1088 location would be the best possible location for such a structure because of its visibility from the Interstate. The presence of such a prominent building right on the highway would literally “put St. Tammany Parish on the map.”
“Among the possibilities is a warehouse distribution center, such as Federal Express,” said Patrick Fitzmorris, assistant managing director for the Azby Fund. “The total build-out would take at least 10 to 15 years,” he said. Other industrial components would include corporate headquarters from manufacturing businesses similar to the Folgers corporate location and warehouse that is being built in Lacombe. The developers hope to attract the same type of industrial warehouse business at their development.
One of the detractors of the project brought up the position that the development was not built to accommodate the large amount of parking needed for industrial warehouse locations. However, Warren Treme, one of the principals of Wadsworth Estates, said work would begin right away to make changes to the residential infrastructure that was put in so that it can accommodate commercial uses including the parking needed for the complex.
With the installation of the interstate exit at 1088, traffic on Highway 59 has been reduced because of the “back door” access to all of the new homes and rentals available on Highway 1088. With the inclusion of light retail at this commercial and industrial development, there may now be places for homeowners to shop as well as new jobs served up by those businesses that will lease commercially.


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Disney worlds are on a collision course in Disney Infinity. Like Activision's Skylanders, you'll be able to buy real-world figurines to use in the virtual world. Then, the next Splinter Cell game is coming in August, Ubisoft has just announced. Blacklist, the first entry in the franchise to come from Ubisoft Toronto and producer Jade Raymond, is due for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC on August 20th. Finally, following Vice President Biden's round of meetings with various industries, President Obama has unveiled his list of proposals for legislation and executive orders to curb gun violence. Among them is an order for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to research the causes of gun violence, including violent media and video games.
Nikole Zivalich posted a new article, Disney Infinity, Splinter Cell Blacklist - Shacknews Daily: January 16, 2013.
Join Nikole Zivalich on this episode of Shacknews Daily. Today's Stories: - Disney Infinity preview: bringing franchises together - Splinter Cell: Blacklist coming August 20 - President Obama proposes CDC study on media violence


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TransGaming have today announced it has partnered with 2K Games to bring the eagerly anticipated title, The Darkness II, to the Mac. This represents the first title in The Darkness franchise to be made available to the Mac gaming community.
Most PC titles are playable on MAC! "Boot Camp"
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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YORK — "The thrill is in the spice" is the tagline for Sue Swietek's granola and spice rub business, Hubba Hubba Foods. But a bigger thrill for the small business owner came June 1, when she and her customers helped raise a total of $1,250 on behalf of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Swietek, whose business traditionally donates 100 percent of its opening-day sales at the Gateway Farmer's Market to cancer-related research and programs, chose this year to support Marcus Santy and his upcoming bike ride Aug. 3-4 in the Pan Mass Challenge. Santy's ride will benefit the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
"Marcus and his wife, Michelle, may be Hubba Hubba's biggest supporters, so when he approached and asked if we'd donate to his ride we absolutely said yes," Swietek said.
This is the second time Hubba Hubba has supported Santy's PMC ride, and the second time the company has become the rider's largest single fund-raiser according to Santy. One of the big reasons Santy rides the PMC is that 100 percent of his fund raising goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
"Our customers really rose to the occasion," Swietek said. "Marcus and his wife took pre-orders from friends, family and co-workers, and he even came on his bike and spoke with customers to help spread word through the market about what we were doing.
"I'm thrilled for Marcus, and so happy Hubba Hubba could help the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, since my dad and father-in-law both lost battles to cancer."
Hubba Hubba Foods sells a no-added-fat granola and a line of 11 different spice blends, and has been a vendor at the Gateway Farmer's Market for nine years.


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Stewart National Title Services Bolsters Texas Sales Team
May 10, 2012
Stewart National Title Services announced the addition of Walker Molinare, who will serve as vice president, sales manager, Houston commercial. In this new role, Molinare will be responsible for leading a team of commercial sales associates charged with expanding the company’s services in the Houston market while also growing regional and national business.
“Houston is one of the key markets we are targeting this year to markedly increase our revenue and market share. Walker’s diverse industry experience makes him an outstanding choice for this important new role in our organization,” said Paul Sands, executive vice president and director for Stewart National Title Services.
As a 15 year veteran of the real estate industry, Molinare has an extensive background in business development with specialization in sales training, professional and personal development, management, title and closing. Most recently, Molinare served as director of builder, developer and commercial sales, eastern operations for Stewart Title, and prior to that was the builder and developer division manager for Gracy Title in Austin, Texas. Molinare holds a BBA in finance and marketing from Stephen F. Austin University.
“Walker is a great addition to our national sales team,” remarked Tom Konkel, senior vice president and national sales director for Stewart National Title Services. “I’m confident that he and the Houston commercial sales team will be strong contributors to our growth this year.”
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Maruti Suzuki Alto VXI+ Launched with dual front airbags, ABS & SmartPlay Studio at ₹3.80Lakh
Maruti Suzuki India Limited today announced the launch of the new Alto VXI+ which offers SmartPlay Studio a 17.8 cm touchscreen infotainment system, enabled with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Maruti Suzuki Alto VXI+ is priced at ₹3.80 Lakh Ex Delhi.
Further, the new Alto VXI+ also comes with elegant aero edge design, stylish dual-tone interiors, high fuel efficiency, and latest safety features.
Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “At Maruti Suzuki, We have always strived to delight the first time car buyers with aspirational and modern features. In fact, 38-lakh strong Alto customers are a testament to people appreciating the timely upgrades and newness in the brand. The new Alto VXI+ with the Smart play Studio is tailor-made to offer a unique technology-driven experience to our customers. Alto VXI+ also carries forward the legacy of the Alto which is India’s best-selling car for 15 consecutive years. We thank our customers for their continued faith and trust. “
Alto VXI+ with BS6 compliant engine delivering a high fuel efficiency of 22.05 km/l at an ex-showroom (Delhi) price of Rs. 380,209/-. Alto VXI+ will be available with enhanced safety features: dual front airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with EBD, reverse parking sensors, speed alert system and seat belt reminder for both driver and co-driver.


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The avocado trend looks to be rising from “popular” to “star.” With some celebrities touting a love of the green fruit enough to even get it tattooed onto themselves, West Pak Avocado is launching a brand fit for the fame with the all-encompassing I Love Avocados program.
Currently, I Love Avocados is starting with a strong online presence in the making at ILoveAvos.com, as well as an easy concept already popularized via hashtags on Instagram and other social media. The brand specifically targets the ever-growing millennial demographic–a group that studies show as both brand loyal and the most likely consumer to buy impulsively.
With a foundation of loyal fans already in place, the I Love Avocados brand reaches a consumer base, a majority of which are millennials, who are already on board.
Out of the gates at its PMA Fresh Summit launch in October, the I Love Avocados brand is already resonating with its target audience and could easily ripple out to those who may not yet know the health and flavor benefits of the fruit.
Beyond the supermarket, will we see avocado t-shirts, hats, and other merchandise that promotes a healthy love and lifestyle for produce?
The sky is the limit.


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Ahmeek, MI - March 14, 2016 - Neuvokas Corporation will be honored as one of the "Michigan 50 Companies to Watch" at an awards ceremony during the twelfth annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business gala event, May 5, 2016 in Lansing, Michigan. Every year the State's entrepreneurial community honors Michigan's most exeptional small businesses at this event.
Neuvokas Corporation is an Upper Peninsula based manufacturing company specializing in basalt fiber reinforced polymer rebar. Neuvokas' GatorBar product has equivalent performance characteristics and is cost competitive with steel rebar. Further, it is corrosion resistant and 1/7th the weight. The product is currently being used in infrastructure projects around the country.
"It is an honor to be recognized alongside some of Michigan's most innovative companies," said Erik Kiilunen, CEO of Neuvokas Corporation. "We are proud of our progress as a company and are working hard to grow Neuvokas even more in the coming years."
Companies making it to the "Michigan 50 Companies to Watch" list are a remarkable group of second-stage companies. Defined as having six to 99 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants, these companies form the backbone of Michigan's economy. Companies like Neuvokas are known for their exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, creation of innovation or use of innovation in creative ways, and their sustainable competitive advantage.
Winners were selected by Michigan-based judges from the banking, economic development, entrepreneurship development, and venture capital communities.
Michigan 50 Companies to Watch is presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business.
Information about Michigan Celebrates Small Business can be found at www.MichiganCelebrates.biz.


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The partnership is established for a period of five years, subject to extension, and GiG will be the go-to platform account management or PAM provider for Playr.bet during this period. This will allow the brand to pivot towards new opportunities in the regional online gaming market.
Another Big Stride in the Latin American Market
GiG’s PAM system is a powerful tool that is an agile instrument, allowing companies to leverage it online as well as to support their retail operations. This creates the opportunity to create an omnichannel experience that further elevates a partner company’s profile.
Joy Entertainment director Luis Mussi welcomed this opportunity and hailed it as an important development for his company. He spoke about GiG’s own contributions:
This is a new venture into an unknown vertical for us and it was clear from the start that GiG’s technology would enable us to access the opportunities inherent within our existing customer base.
Joy Entertainment director Luis Mussi
Mussi was particularly pleased with the new partner’s offer as he saw it as a partner that is hoping to help address the challenges that lie ahead as well as bolster the current operations.
GiG’s process is thorough and carefully through-through to provide partners with everything they need to remain competitive, the executive noted. He was joined by GiG’s own chief executive, Richard Brown, who was similarly pleased with the opportunity:
Delivering new revenue streams for organizations with established online customers is at the core of what we can offer.
GiG CEO Richard Brown
Brown said that his company took pride in bringing the technology necessary to strengthen prominent operators’ businesses and help them move forward. It’s also an opportunity to build relationships with new partners. GiG has more than 25 years of experience in the delivery of in-demand solutions for brands and operators in the iGaming and betting sectors.
GiG Continues to Build Up European Momentum
GiG has been working to actively expand its footprint in global markets and has been successful. The company recently signed an agreement to provide cloud-based products and platform services & performance marketing for an unnamed entity in the iGaming industry earlier this week.
GiG also entered into a similar partnership with an unnamed company in Switzerland, “an established land-based and digital casino operator” in the country.


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Bali tourists face booze shortage as officials seize thousands of bottles of spirits
Holidaymakers in Bali are facing a rather sober stay after the government seized thousands of bottles of spirits from the island's top hotels, restaurants and bars.
Officials targeted hotels, restaurants and bars across the island
The raids were carried out in popular tourist areas such as Kuta and Nusa Dua as part of a customs crackdown on counterfeit tax labels.
Tourism chiefs now fear the alcohol shortage will deter tourists from visiting Bali during what is traditionally the high season.
Ida Bagus Subhiksu, head of the Bali Tourism Board said: "We asked the customs office to stop the process and if they have to do something, please continue it later on, after the high season."
It is also feared that the shortage of branded drinks will tempt people to try the local rice wine - known as arak - instead. At least 26 people, including two British tourists, were killed in Bali and nearby Lombok by drinking the home-made spirit, which was tainted with methanol.
Ex-pat Alan Colen, 59, who had lived on the holiday island for 13 years, died after buying a bottle of the wine from a roadside stall hear his home in Canggu, North Kuta.
A post-mortem showed high levels of concentrations of methanol in Mr Colen’s blood.
Fellow Briton Rose Johnson, 48, also died after drinking from the same batch of poisoned arak. The successful painter, who was based in Phoenix, Arizona, was on holiday on the island at the time.
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Southern Nevadans are swiping their credit cards more often and racking up debt faster than most consumers nationally, a new report shows.
Residents of the Las Vegas metro area had $3.88 billion in credit-card debt as of June 30, up 4.48 percent from a year earlier, according to Atlanta-based Equifax.
That was the fifth-fastest rate among the 25 metro areas listed in the report.
Nationally, consumers had $604 billion in credit-card debt as of June 30, up 2.94 percent year-to-year.
Houston-area residents took on credit-card debt at the fastest pace in the past year, up 5.45 percent. That was followed by Orlando, Fla., at 4.89 percent, Miami at 4.76 percent and Dallas at 4.7 percent, Equifax found.
Las Vegas consumers are shopping more as the economy improves, even though wages are largely stagnant and many families still struggle to recover from the recession.
Some 56 percent of Nevada households are in a “persistent state of financial insecurity” with little or no savings, according to the nonprofit Corporation for Enterprise Development.
A family of four would need about $5,900 in savings to carry them for three months in the event of a job loss, health crisis or other emergency, but more and more middle-class homes in Nevada “fall short of that amount,” the organization has said.


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Meta said it would release a web version of its metaverse social platform Horizon Worlds and a new mixed reality device later this year. Read More
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Published: The Voice of Fashion, June 13, 2019
Working for the sustainability industry may be a noble choice but it is an ongoing struggle for those who must also make it commercially viable
A label or company that offers sustainable products or services has many challenges in a consumer world that is still unclear about the need for sustainability. These include agreeable pricing, finding suitable collaborators, marrying retail expectations with sustainable production cycles, raising awareness, and through it all, making ends meet.
Here Mumbai-based founders of Chindi, Nadiya Paar and Verandah, who are trying to make a difference with their entrepreneurial ventures on how they negotiate the odds.
The Pricing Bubble
An enterprise driven by sustainability has to deal with the lack of awareness about what goes into creating a sustainable product, and consequently, the rationale behind its higher price point. Chindi, a social enterprise that recycles textile waste into luxury accessories handmade by low-income craftswomen in India, finds that sustainability is still a niche space. Says founder Tanushri Shukla, “It’s also difficult to compete with fast fashion brands who have changed customers’ perception of how much products should rightfully cost.” This renders the retail of sustainable products difficult, with the consumer unwilling to absorb the cost.
Therefore, such an enterprise may not always be profitable—and seeing this prevents other entrepreneurs from taking the leap. Also, there is no benefit from a funding standpoint—as Shukla points out, with social enterprises not being legal entities in India, they do not get the same benefits available to non-profit organisations.
On the other hand, Anjali Patel-Mehta, founder of resort label Verandah, finds that while the concept of a sustainably-made garment is not understood by many, it is being used as a marketing device. Thus, there is a blurring in the minds of a consumer.
Patel-Mehta struggles to replace her luxury staples like cotton and silk with more sustainable fabric alternatives which have the same texture but are not as taxing on the environment (cotton, for example, requires a great deal of water in its production). She also stresses the need for industry-certified sustainable vendors.
One of the biggest challenges faced by conscious designers is the slow and limited production cycles. Says Megha Kanera of Nadiya Paar, that specialises in handloom saris, “A big challenge is the pace of the ethical industry versus fashion cycles. A piece takes a great deal of effort to produce and stores want new products every four-six months.”
The Impact of Change
Shukla feels that change doesn’t have to come from the customers as much as from non-sustainable brands making their money by flogging cheap products that exploit their labour force. She says, “They are the ones who have conditioned customers and their voice is loud—so that should be the first point of change. Customers, on their part, would benefit from building a sense of empathy and awareness about what goes into making and selling handmade, sustainable products.”
But as awareness slowly rises about the searing need for a sustainability conversation, more brands begin to buy into the philosophy, automatically increasing the scale, acceptance, and viability of the sustainability dialogue. For example, Verandah didn’t start out as a conscious label. Patel-Mehta says, “Initially we didn’t stress on sustainable textiles. As our awareness grew about the ‘true cost’ of fashion, we felt it imperative to have sustainable practices.” Today, Verandah’s RTW (ready-to-wear) lines speak the language of upcycling, azo-free dyes and mindful fabrics, while their eco-friendly swimwear line, launched this summer, mostly uses ECONYL® yarn, regenerated from waste materials.
Making Sustainability Work
Shukla started Chindi in response to witnessing first-hand the vast quantities of tailoring waste dumped in Deonar (Mumbai), Asia’s largest landfill. Says Shukla on the motivation to keep going, “It is all on the belief that the work is making an impact. The word ‘chindi’ (which means thrift), which was once considered a negative thing, has now entered the daily parlance of designers.
She also points out that, “As social entrepreneurs, we cannot always measure our success in the same terms that a commercial entrepreneur does. Money may not always flow in, but the impact goes beyond money. We need to pay attention to our stories of change as much as our bank balances.”
Patel-Mehta, who believes she still has a long way to go, says, “I think success is in the efforts and goal-based approach by setting small metrics for your personal philosophy. There is no finish line.”
At the end of the day, the strongest impact is in building a mindful community. Kanera, who shares best practices—like the brand’s seed tags—with her fellow designers, puts it best when she says, “We share vendor or material detail with other labels who now use a similar concept. I also travel with fellow designers to craft hubs so we can give combined bigger orders to weavers to make it viable for them. We do not treat anyone as competition, rather as people working and walking in the same direction.”


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Peel Ports has spent £5.5m ($7m) replacing the Royal Bridge Pontoon to increase overall throughput capacity at Sheerness, part of the London Medway cluster of ports.
The work includes a new 12 metre wide, 45 metre across ramp, which will allow larger stern ro-ro vessels to berth at the port.
“It comes as new opportunities in the unaccompanied freight and automotive sectors brings new customers to the port, with the facilities able to support a higher volume of larger vessels,” the British port operator said.
Riccardo Tonelli, port director ro-ro, added: “The new ramp facility at the Royal Bridge Pontoon will allow us to provide a better service to existing customers, increase volumes and gain new opportunities in unaccompanied freight.
“Forward-thinking solutions which improve efficiencies and add value to our customers’ supply chains will in turn benefit their businesses and allow us to continue to expand our services to meet their needs.”
The ramp, which has a lifespan of 25 years, was assembled and installed by Ravestein, which has worked with Peel Ports on similar projects at Liverpool and Heyshamin northern England.
London Medway, headed by Sheerness and Chatham, is a group of ports on the Thames Estuary in southern England.
Earlier this year Peel created 9.3 hectares of additional space for vehicle storage on the former Thamesteel site at Sheerness. The port’s automotive customers are the VW Group, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Ford, as well as logistics providers Gefco and the IM Group.


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By Phil Izzo
All but one of 49 economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal last week said Greece will be forced to restructure its debt.
Fifty-three economists, who are mostly U.S.-based, take part in the survey, but not everyone answers every question.
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This year is quite filled with surprises and one of them is the recent announcement from Apple. As per the recent developments from the Apple’s corporate league, a new and killer app is going to take the iOS 7 to the next supreme version and beyond that.
As per the report from the representatives of Morgan Stanley, it is said that Apple is on the look out of making a huge impact through the launch of the iOS7. And what makes this particular device awesome and the thing to watch out for, is the full-fledged mobile application which is one of its kind. The spokesperson said that the app looks killer and top-notch and it is really going to be craved by most of the Apple users.
Unluckily, that is not the place where the good news ends. There has been speculations that the iOS 7 will be launched in the month of June during the Apple’s Worldwide Conference for Developers or at least there are chances of an upgrade which will roll-out. However, some feel that the app could be delayed. As per the information from the inside source of Apple Inc, it is said that the release date of the app could be delayed by a year or two.
Already, Apple has dipped its toes in proverbial sense the year before, during the launch of its app the Passbook. The app was basically used for storing tickets and coupon information which turned out to be less efficient and user-friendly with regard to making payments digitally. Even there are certain speculations that the iPad and the iPhone would be having the necessary NFC technology which would be a standard one. Frankly, this is one of the areas where the Apple is really dangerously falling behind.
Nowadays, many Windows Phone 8, Android, BlackBerry 10 phones have NFC and it is really surprising to know for some basic reason Apple has decided to stay away from the party. Now in case of the digital wallet, there are certain basic speculation that it is going to take off in a huge way, especially in the coming years. However, where and when Apple would join the affrays, it would really be nothing more than a news.
Even there are a huge amount of speculations on how the new iPad Mini 2 and iPad 5 would be. One has to really wait and watch to see whether the devices have the potential of wowing us in case Apple gets them right.


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CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LendingTree® (NASDAQ: TREE), the nation's leading online loan marketplace, today announced that J.D. Moriarty will be joining the company as its Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, effective April, 2017.
In his new role, Moriarty will be responsible for business development and strategic acquisitions as the company continues to expand its footprint in the lending and financial technology industry.
"We couldn't be more excited to welcome J.D. as an official member of the LendingTree team," said Doug Lebda, founder and CEO of LendingTree. "In his prior role at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, J.D. served as a valuable partner with a deep understanding of LendingTree's business, market position and growth opportunity as he guided our team through several critical transactions. Now as a member of LendingTree's team, J.D.'s business acumen and experience in the financial services sector make him the ideal leader to drive continued growth through strategic business development and capitalize on LendingTree's market opportunities."
J.D. Moriarty comes to LendingTree with almost 23 years of experience with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, most recently serving as Managing Director & Head of Americas Equity Capital Markets. Prior to this leadership role, he had responsibility for equity origination in a wide range of industry sectors, including Technology.
"I have always enjoyed advising exciting and innovative growth companies, and I am incredibly excited to go all in and fully join the LendingTree team. The company has an exceptional brand and market presence and there is an awesome growth opportunity in front of us," said Moriarty.
Moriarty received a B.A. from Bucknell University and an M.B.A. from The Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) is the nation's leading online loan marketplace, empowering consumers as they comparison-shop across a full suite of loan and credit-based offerings. LendingTree provides an online marketplace which connects consumers with multiple lenders that compete for their business, as well as an array of online tools and information to help consumers find the best loan. Since inception, LendingTree has facilitated more than 65 million loan requests. LendingTree provides free monthly credit scores through My LendingTree and access to its network of over 450 lenders offering home loans, personal loans, credit cards, student loans, personal loans, business loans, home equity loans/lines of credit, auto loans and more. LendingTree, LLC is a subsidiary of LendingTree, Inc. For more information go to www.lendingtree.com, dial 800-555-TREE, like our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter @LendingTree.


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COIMBATORE: Union textile minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said it is time for the Indian textile sector to give a significant push to promote sustainable textiles by recycling the clothing materials.
Addressing the gathering virtually during the third edition of the sustainable clothing and textile recycling conference held in Coimbatore, Goyal said this textile recycling industry is predominantly found in the US, European Union
"India does not properly use a large part of the waste that is generated in the textile sector. Sadly, such waste goes to landfills and often gets incinerated for energy production instead of being recycled or reprocessed. However, we have a tremendous opportunity to become the source of sustainable apparel by taking into account the pre and post-consumer textile waste," the minister added.
He further suggested the textile units work together for faster development in the areas of textile recycling, upcycling and creating sustainable fashion products for a sustainable future. The usage of sustainable textiles in hospitality, tourism, construction, automobile industry, sports, home decor, footwear, medical and other similar areas is increasing, he noted.


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Jeep Compass Recall Issued To Rectify Wiper Assembly Issue
In all, 547 units of the SUV have been affected and customers are currently being contacted.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has issued a recall for 547 units of the Jeep Compass SUV to rectify an issue with the wiper assembly. All of the affected Jeep Compass units were manufactured this year, the company states.
The firm states that it identified an “opportunity to improve the fitment of a brace nut which is used in the wiper assembly” of MY20 Jeep Compass SUVs. This issue, according to FCA, was found during a regular vehicle quality audit process.
Done as a precautionary exercise, the recall will see the brace nut in question tightened to the specific torque that would improve its grip on the wiper pivot and thus rule out any possibility of the wiper assembly malfunctioning. The process would be completed within 15 minutes, free of cost.
FCA India in its statement says that “the torque-induced brace nut should firmly clamp the wiper arm on to the wiper pivot assembly, enabling them to swivel as one unit when activated”.
It further adds that “a malfunction of the brace nut can result in the wipers not swivelling when activated by the wiper combi-switch behind the steering wheel”.
Customers are being contacted regarding the Jeep Compass recall, while authorised workshops will assess the vehicles and take necessary action.
There have been a slew of recalls like the Jeep Compass recall of late. Maruti too issued a recall to fix a possible fuel pump issue in over 1.3 lakh vehicles that were affected. The models recalled were the Wagon R and the Baleno.
Source – ETAuto.com


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Independent retailers wanting more support from local police in tackling antisocial behaviour and making age-related sales are being encouraged to join a Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP).
Made up of retailers, local authorities, police, schools, neighbourhood groups and health providers, the partnerships work together to make a positive difference to the health and well-being of young people.
Director Kate Winstanley told betterRetailing there is a “clear role for independent retailers to play”. She said: “We help give store owners a feeling that they are part of the solution, and help them to avoid feeling isolated within their own community.”
In its latest annual report, published two weeks ago, the company showed CAPs helped reduce weekly drinking for 13-to- 16-year-olds by 62% over the past six months, cut antisocial behaviour by nearly half (42%), as well as reduced the number of residents reporting children and young people drinking in public places to be a “very big” or “fairly big” problem by 68%.
Jalpesh Patel, manager of a Londis in Broadstairs, Kent, praised the partnerships for giving him more confidence in making age-related sales.
“It used to be more of a problem – two or three times a week we had children in here trying to buy alcohol and when we refused, they would start arguing,” he said.
“The CAP has been helpful for the business, underage refusals and proxy buying are less.
“People understand now, and it has given us confidence.”
A Best-one owner in Ramsgate, also in Kent, added: “A couple of years ago, people were running away with drink, and being part of a CAP has been a great deterrent.”
When asked what the main benefits were to being involved in a CAP, Winstanley said: “Helping retailers build relationships with their local police officers is definitely one of the biggest advantages.
“We have monthly meetings which give everyone belonging to a CAP the opportunity to get together and this is a good chance for retailers to meet their local officers.”
Winstanley confirmed officers have committed to having more of a presence around certain stores who reported an uplift in antisocial behaviour.
“It allows retailers to share intelligence,” she said. “In most cases, officers would make sure they patrolled that area to help deter issues.”
The ACS helps fund CAP, and is also a board director. Chief executive James Lowman said: “The core principles of CAP – to engage local partners, prevent underage access to alcohol and educate young people – have proved to be the most effective approach to tackling underage drinking and associated harm.”
Read more news and articles about retail crime


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Live streaming and the explosion of the “creator economy” are igniting the current rise in social media app use and rapidly changing the landscape, a new study finds.
This year alone, consumers have already downloaded more than 9.2 billion apps and are expected to spend 740 billion hours on them. That includes an estimated 548 billion hours of them live streaming – in top apps including TikTok, Twitch and Instagram, according to mobile data and analytics tracker App Annie in its “The Evolution of Social Media Report” released Monday.
Other report findings show that this year’s hourly usage on apps will likely surpass last year’s total of nearly 800 billion hours mostly in part to increased use in mobile and other devices due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, App Annie executives told USA TODAY.
App Annie cites the usage surge of Twitch, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. As Twitch initially rose to popularity with gamers and has more than 30 million people who visit the site daily, more consumers are turning to Twitch to make connections outside of game streams from everything ranging from music to comedy, App Annie found.
“Authentic, real-time connection is driving meaningful growth and is set to underpin the future landscape of social media apps,” App Annie said.
Marcus “djWHEAT” Graham, Twitch’s head of community productions who’s been with the platform since its start in 2011, told USA TODAY in June that Twitch has empowered millions of…


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Apple CEO Tim Cook has told a Chinese news agency the computer giant expects China to overtake the United States as its biggest market.
"China is currently our second largest market. I believe it will become our first. I believe strongly that it will," the Xinhua News Agency quoted Cook as saying in an interview.
Cook was visiting Beijing to meet with Chinese regulators and managers of state-owned phone companies.
Xinhua said Cook did not respond to rumors Apple might be developing a lower-cost iPhone for developing markets such as China.


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British retailer Marks & Spencer said on Sunday it was reviewing the future of its French business, with new trade rules in place since Britain left the European Union continuing to impact product availability in stores.
Wein is replacing Katarzyna Niemirowicz, who has been named general manager of H&M Italy, and maintains his post as regional country manager South Europe, whose regional headquarters have now moved to Barcelona.
Gap Inc on Thursday raised its full-year net sales forecast for the second time, betting on hot demand for its Old Navy and Athleta clothing brands as socializing makes a comeback with easing pandemic curbs.
There was some good news coming out of Marks & Spencer for once on Friday as it upgraded its profit outlook after shoppers went online to buy more of its revamped clothing offer and also bought plenty of its foods.
Footwear brand Clarks has been facing major challenges in recent periods but the company has scored a notable success with its email personalisation drive and has used technology to boost conversion in this area.


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Lat week insider sources at LG said that the company has no plan to update the 2014 flagship device aka G3 to Android 5.1.1. Today we get to hear that LG has no plan even for G4 the current flagship smartphone for 2015. LG Hellas took their official Facebook page to inform the news when a user asked for the same. This shouldn’t be the worst news for G4 users across as the device runs on Android 5.1.0 out of the box but may hit hard for G3 users who were expecting the update. But there is possibility that LG might roll out Android M update instead of 5.1.1 although there is no official confirmation but skipping the major update might be an indication.
When LG has officially confirmed G3 has no update schedule, many users must have probably thought the same as we are expecting, but unfortunately LG is silent in this regard. Android M is the latest Android version that is being showcased during Google I/O 2015 along with many other keynote announcements. M will probably roll out by the end of this year along with this year’s Nexus smartphone which is made by LG and it is rumored to feature a 3D camera and a dual camera setup. In the meantime do check out our Articles about Android M and its features. Stay tuned


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Burn off those extra calories that you’ve accumulated by chowing down on delicious food this holiday, and maybe start a healthy habit, by taking Apple’s 2019 Thanksgiving Day challenge.
As noted by Kyle Seth Gray, Apple wants you to get your exercise in by completing a 5K (3.1 miles) walk, run or wheelchair workout on November 28. You can log your session in the stock Workout app or in any other app that records these workouts into the Health app.
As an incentive, you’ll bag special awards by completing this challenge, like an exclusive badge in the Activity app and animated stickers for Messages and FaceTime. Tim Cook announced this challenged in a tweet yesterday.
Thanksgiving Day challenge! Close your rings with your family and friends. Earn a Thanksgiving badge by moving 5K tomorrow.🏃♀🦃 pic.twitter.com/sLJbEAyb92
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) November 28, 2019
This challenge is localized and limited to US-based Apple Watch owners who should receive a wrist notification this morning announcing the new challenge from Apple. Apple has issued similar 5K Thanksgiving challenges in years past including in 2016, as well as in 2017.


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Let’s face it: with the holidays come bills. And with that in mind, the financial site WalletHub polled 1,000 Americans and crunched the numbers to see just what we want, how much we’ll spend, and how long we’ll take to pay for it all.
First things first: don’t put off picking out that special something for that special someone — 46% of people think last-minute shoppers give bad gifts.
Here are some other holiday gift-giving facts from WalletHub’s survey of 1,000 American adults
- 27% of consumers will spend less on holiday shopping this year than last year.
- 52% of people don’t think black Friday sales are anything special — 54% of women feel that way, as do 49% of men.
- 64% of people older than 59 don’t buy into Black Friday deals; 37% of people 18 to 29 don’t, either.
- 36% of people say Santa is less generous now than when they were young.
- 35% say he’s more generous.
- 29% say there’s been no change.
The holidays and debt:
- 35 million Americans still have debt from last holiday season.
- 1 in 5 Americans will owe holiday credit card debt into February at least.
- 58% will pay their credit card debt in full by due date.
- 19% will pay in full by New Year’s Day.
- 23% will have a holiday balance after January.
What does everybody want?
- Gifts cards — 32%
- Electronics — 30%
- Clothes — 15%
- Books/E-books — 8%
- Furniture Appliances — 7%
- Jewelry — 5%
- Toys — 3% (Hey, these were adults who were polled.)


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USA – The Nestle Purina Petcare Co. has announced that it will invest more than US$450 million to transform a former Triad brewery into a factory that will produce dog and cat food.
The plant, which will occupy 1.3 million square feet of building space, will eventually employ 300 with an average wage of US$43,053.
The St. Louis-based company could receive almost US$50 million in state and local incentives to transform the former MillerCoors brewery in Eden if it meets employment and investment benchmarks.
Nestle Purina is buying the 1,365-acre property that straddles the North Carolina-Virginia border but the sale has not closed so terms were not available. It hopes to start operations at the facility in 2022.
The state of North Carolina approved US$24.6 in incentives for Nestle Purina, and Eden and Rockingham County will provide an additional $24.4 million.
Details of the incentive packages were not immediately available but will be contingent on Nestle Purina hitting benchmarks for investment and job creation. In the case of the state incentives, the company will need to meet a 90 percent minimum requirement for job creation, wages and investment in the property.
The company must also retain its current 23 N.C. employees to be eligible for the grants.
Nestle Purina also considered sites in Ohio, which offered a US$42 incentive package, and Kentucky, which offered US$40 million.
Nestle Purina has introduced the world’s first recyclable pouch for wet pet food, which it has committed to convert over to all its products by 2025.
Made of Polypropylene (PP), the pouch is lightweight, recyclable, and has high-heat resistant while equipped with “the appropriate product barrier properties”.
“We want to contribute to creating a world where pets and people can thrive, and initiatives like this support our goal of offering food that is good for pets, and the planet,” said Bernard Meunier, CEO at Nestle Purina Petcare in EMENA.
“This latest innovation on Felix pouch is a significant step forward in our drive to deliver recyclable or reusable packaging on all of our products by 2025,” he added.
According to the company, the packaging will be piloted for a year under the Felix brand in the Netherlands.
Besides creating recyclable pouches for wet food, Purina is also piloting reusable packaging systems where customers can use their own containers to fill with dry pet food.
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A-B to Roll Out First Reclosable Aluminum Bottle
ST. LOUIS -- Anheuser-Busch (A-B) is bringing Bud Light Platinum in reclosable aluminum bottles to cold vaults in the Las Vegas market later this month, making it the first beer to be made available in A-B's new reclosable aluminum bottle.
The new 11.5-ounce bottle will roll out nationally later this year, according to a company release.
"We handpicked Bud Light Platinum to launch our company's first reclosable aluminum bottle because of our confidence in the beer," said Rob McCarthy, vice president of Bud Light. "Platinum has been able to elevate the premium light beer category with its blend of image and flavor, and we believe it will do the same for the perception of aluminum bottles."
The design of the Bud Light Platinum reclosable aluminum bottle, which features a twist-off cap, provides for a tool-less opening. The bottle is also more than 50 percent stronger than a standard aluminum can and helps the beer get colder faster, according to the brewer.
"The new reclosable bottle continues our long tradition of innovative packaging that delivers the freshest, coldest, best-tasting beer possible," added Pat McGauley, vice president of innovation for Anheuser-Busch.
The Bud Light Platinum reclosable aluminum bottle will first be available at Las Vegas-area retail stores in 10-packs. Bud Light Platinum will also become available in 12-ounce glass bottles, 22-ounce single-serve bottles and the 12-ounce sleek can, which launched nationally this January.
Bud Light Platinum made its debut in January 2012 in Texas. It was recently named one of the top-selling consumer packaged goods brands of 2012 by Information Resources Inc., as CSNews Online previously reported.
St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev.


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Trustwell Law is accepting cases on behalf of e-cigarette users who have experienced:
E-cigarettes, full name electronic cigarettes and also known as e-cigs, are battery-powered devices used to “vape” (inhale vapor of) nicotine instead of smoking it. Touted as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes and used by some people to quit cigarette smoking, e-cigarettes may come in flavors, such as fruit flavors or candy flavors. Many e-cigarettes contain more nicotine than traditional cigarettes. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances there is.
People harmed by vaping e-cigarettes may be entitled to compensation. Contact us for a free consultation about filing an e-cigarette lawsuit if you or a loved one has used e-cigarettes and experienced:
Our experienced attorneys take a personalized, compassionate approach. We cut through the legalese and partner with our clients. We also have access to the expertise, resources, and manpower to fully investigate each case and fight for and with our clients to get the justice they deserve.
We are now pursuing e-cigarette lawsuits for people who vaped and qualify. You pay nothing unless we win your case. Call us at 202-914-1454 or submit your case details online and someone will contact you shortly.
The FDA has contacted at least one e-cigarette manufacturer—Juul, which is also the most popular brand with the largest market share—to warn them that their claim that e-cigarettes are safe may have violated the law, because the FDA has never approved such a claim. Furthermore, use of e-cigarettes by teens and young adults has been increasing yearly in the U.S., and e-cigarette companies have been criticized for marketing that has been deemed aimed at youth. Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, said, “Juul has ignored the law, and, very concerningly, has made some of these statements in school to our nation’s youth.”
In April 2019 the FDA released a statement warning to the public that 35 cases of seizures in e-cigarette users had been reported to poison control centers over nine years—most involving younger users. The agency deemed the data enough to warrant further investigation, also noting that since reporting is voluntary, there may have been more instances of seizures among vapers than were known.
The FDA therefore requested that health-care providers and consumers report instances of seizures experienced by e-cigarette users on the FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal (SRP) for Tobacco Products.
Symptoms of seizures may include:
Some of the seizures described in the FDA report were grand mal seizures, which are dramatic to experience or observe and therefore easily identifiable as seizures. But there are other, milder types of seizures that may not be recognized for what they are and therefore may go unreported.
Studies have shown that nicotine, from any source, can increase the risk of seizures. While e-cigarette labels may list nicotine content, many have been found to be inaccurate. Some are off by over 10 percent, and at least one was found to have 172 percent more nicotine than was listed on the label.
All across America, adults and teens who vape have been hospitalized with acute breathing issues, and some have died. In some cases, they are suffering from yet unnamed lung ailments, with the common trait being severe respiratory distress. Some are suffering from so-called popcorn lung, whose medical name is bronchiolitis obiterans.
Some e-cigarette users assume the FDA regulates and has tested these products, but that is not true. The FDA has not tested them. In fact, there are ingredients used in e-cigarette mixtures that are not allowed to be added to traditional cigarettes, which the FDA does regulate.
The flavorings used in e-cigarettes may pose health risks. The Surgeon General’s report cautions that the ingredients in flavors were evaluated for ingestion, not inhalation. In addition, many flavoring compounds are not even identified on e-cigarette packaging. The report further states that many of these flavorings have already been found to cause adverse health effects when inhaled.
Researchers at Yale University designed a machine to capture and analyze the vapor produced by JUUL e-cigarettes, the most popular brand. They found that the chemicals in the aerosol (vapor) they analyzed were not just those listed on the label. They found that new chemicals formed when those in the vape juice were aerosolized to create the vapor, and that those new, unexpected chemicals could irritate users’ airways along with the listed chemicals and ingredients. Lead author of the study, Hanno Erythropel, said, “People often assume that these e-liquids are a final product once they are mixed, but the reactions create new molecules in the e-liquids…”
One disease that has been identified in some e-cigarette users is bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP), which may also be referred to as cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP). It is a rare lung disease characterized by inflammation that exhibits swirls of fibrous tissue filling the bronchioles and alveoli in the lungs. There are at least two published case studies of e-cigarette users who contracted BOOP. Both these individuals required hospitalization and mechanical ventilation.
However, the symptoms of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia are similar to all the symptoms experienced by e-cigarette users who have been hospitalized. They include:
A 2017 study by the European Lung Foundation found that e-cigarettes caused stiffening of the arteries in humans as well as increased blood pressure and heart rate. Arterial stiffness has a correlation with increased risk of strokes and heart attacks later in life. The study involved healthy young adult volunteers and noted their heart rate and blood pressure after 30 minutes of vaping. Both were found to be elevated. And their arterial stiffness was three times higher than the nicotine-free group.
Other symptoms of stroke include:
The most efficient way to identify a stroke is by using the National Stroke Association’s “FAST” acronym:
Nicotine is a highly addictive drug. It produces pleasurable physical and mood altering effects. It absorbs quickly into the blood and so is delivered to the brain within 10 seconds of inhalation. The effects also dissipate quickly, motivating the user to use more. This addictiveness and the fast dissipation make quitting use of nicotine extremely difficult. The body becomes addicted—and users become habituated to using more nicotine to replenish the physical and mind altering affects. So when they try to quit, the body craves nicotine strongly and at close and regular intervals, causing withdrawal symptoms that the body is used to the user addressing by having more nicotine. These symptoms include, in addition to simply craving more nicotine:
JUUL reports their pods contain two strengths of nicotine: 3 percent and 5 percent. The 5 percent pods contain as much nicotine as an entire pack of traditional cigarettes. However, at least one research study at the University of California, San Francisco, has found that JUUL products deliver significantly more nicotine to the bloodstream per puff than other e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes.
As dangerous and unhealthy as nicotine is for all, it also poses particular risks for teens and younger people, because it:
Popular e-cigarette brands include: