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National Cookie Day is Thursday, Dec. 4. Cookie lovers can take advantage of a few deals:
Dunkin’ Donuts: Dunkin’ Donuts has introduced their cookie flavored holiday drinks in addition to hosting a Twitter contest for National Cookie Day. If you aren’t feeling lucky, you can still get a deal. Now through Friday, enroll in DD Perks with your Dunkin’ app to get a $5 DD Card and free beverage. The promo code: BONUS http://dun.kn/Perks5Fb
Great American Cookie Company: Any customer wearing a Santa Claus hat who visits a Great American Cookie company location on National Cookie Day will get a free original chocolate chip cookie. If you don’t have a Santa hat, you can get a downloadable cut and paste hat can be found on the Great American Cookies Facebook page. No purchase is necessary for this offer.
Mrs Field’s: During the 12 days of Sweet Deals promotions, Mrs. Field’s offers a new deal each day. Dec. 3 was free shipping on select items. Check the website on National Cookie Day to see what new deal will be offered.


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Hello Paisa, the money remittance startup service that’s part of Hello Group has recorded strong growth figures in the 16 months that it has been active.
According to Nadir Khamissa, the Hello Group founder and CEO, in the past 6 months, Hello Paisa has grown by 500% and so far it has registered over 70,000 sign ups who use the service to send money from South Africa to Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
Despite the massive potential that the emerging economies’ remittances market possesses, making a name in that space is very difficult.
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There are a number of well financed visible brands that have established themselves so startups like Hello Paisa have had to develop strategies to stand out.
Hello Paisa has resolved to compete with other providers by offering a cheaper remittance alternative. It currently offers its service at a flat 5% charge on any amount sent.
That’s half the standard rate for other alternatives and according to Khamissa, this fee can sustain a scaled remittance service.
Khamissa believes that Hello Paisa, much like other remittance services providing a solution for an emerging market community that is counting every cent, has to factor in this reality in aspects like pricing.
Other than competitive pricing the Hello Paisa strategy has also included the creation of a wide network of strategic receiving partners. In Zimbabwe, this network has included the postal network Zimpost, the retail bank CABS, TM Stores countrywide and a tie up with mobile money service, Telecash.
Khamissa says the Telecash partnership has been a strong contributor to Hello Paisa’s growth locally thanks to the convenience it provides recipients who can access the funds from any mobile money agent. It’s also emerged as a preferable channel in the wake of the cash crisis that has gripped Zimbabwe which has positioned digital money tools like mobile wallets.
The Hello Paisa story in all its service markets including Zimbabwe, won’t end with just the remittance service, though.
Khamissa believes their startup is geared to provide a gamut of downstream services in fintech which not only tie in with remittances but can tap into other rapid changes taking place in financial services.
These will not only tie in with remittances but can tap into other rapid changes taking place in financial services.
However, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done especially through collaboration and an appreciation of the competencies that different service providers can bring to the improvement of financial services.

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You can’t go wrong with a clean shave, but new research says that scruff is hotter. In fact, women rated stubble as the most attractive type of facial hair, according to a recent Northumbria University study. Still, you want to avoid the Brett Keisel look. Maintain your 5 o’clock shadow with the Wahl Stainless Steel Lithium Ion
that has a comb especially designed for scruff ($100, amazon.com
). Just make sure hair isn’t creeping down your neck like shotgunned beer during your college days.


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Singapore producer prices continued to decline in September, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Tuesday.
The manufactured product prices fell 4.5 percent year-on-year, following the 4.1 percent decrease in August. Oil and non-oil prices plunged 16.5 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.
On a monthly basis, producer prices remained unchanged in September after the 1.9 percent rise in August.
Another report showed that import prices dropped at a pace of 4.9 percent, extending the 3.9 percent decrease in August. On a monthly basis, import prices gained 0.2 percent, in contrast to the 0.7 percent fall a month ago.
At the same time, exports prices grew 0.5 percent on month but fell 3.2 percent annually in September.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com


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Great Quarter For Storage
The first quarter of 2018 was very, very good to the storage industry, according to IDC. The Framingham, Mass.-based market research firm, in a condensed version of its IDC Worldwide Quarterly Enterprise Storage Systems Tracker, estimated worldwide enterprise storage systems factory revenue in the quarter grew 34.4 percent over last year to reach $13.01 billion, while worldwide external enterprise storage systems revenue grew 19.3 percent to reach $6.26 billion.
As is normal, total storage capacity shipped rose 79.1 percent year-over-year to reach 98.8 exabytes in the first quarter.
Overall, the top storage vendors did well during the quarter, with Dell EMC showing renewed strong growth after a period of decline. However, those vendors need to look over their shoulders. While upstart Pure Storage continues to catch up on the leaders, even more important is the huge growth being seen in the ODM direct storage business which saw its sales nearly double over last year.
For a look at how the different vendors and different segments of the storage market are doing, turn the page and look behind the numbers with CRN.


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ApeCoin (APE), the governance token associated with the popular NFT project – Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), made quite a lot of investors rich.
According to a recent tweet, Founder and CEO of Accelerate Financial Technologies, Julian Klymochko, made an annual return of 270,000% after minting BAYC NFT one year ago.
The exec’s one-fifth annual returns came from the recent ApeCoin governance token that has been on a tear this month.
His Canadian firm, Accelerate, earlier launched Accelerate NFT Fund LP (“Accelerate NFT Fund”), the first Web3 investment vehicle in Canada, during which he stated,
“Over the coming years, Web3, the next era of the internet, will become a more prevalent aspect of our everyday lives. NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, allow users to not just participate in, but to own Web3. We believe that the most popular NFT collections may become the Googles, Amazons, and Facebooks of Web3.”
Klymochko has been a very vocal proponent of the space. In February this year, the CEO said, “NFTs are another step in the human race’s movement from the physical toward a digital reality.”
The hype-driven volatility has managed to sway APE’s price to a new high above $17 this week.
For the uninitiated, APE was released by a decentralized autonomous organization called ApeCoin DAO. Even as the DAO is a separate entity from Bored Ape Yacht Club creator Yuga Labs, APE has witnessed adoption as the primary token for the NFT ecosystem, in addition to the upcoming Yuga products and services.
The latest surge in APE’s price may be attributed to the rumor that the owners of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) NFTs could receive virtual lands on the Yuga Labs’ upcoming “Otherside” metaverse via a Dutch auction. As a result, the token saw a rebound after falling amidst a broader market meltdown from the recently achieved ATH.
BAYC has strengthened its position as one of the top NFT collections. According to Dapp Radar, it stood at $1.41 billion in total volume traded at the time of writing.
With the massive hype around NFTs, several celebrities have and are still joining the club in droves, such as late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon, American Rapper Post Malone, NBA star Steph Curry, Accpopular YouTuber Logan Paul, NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal, among others.
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Elon Musk: Germany is the “leading choice” for new Tesla Gigafactory in Europe
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said in a recent statement that the US-based electric vehicle manufacturer is considering the possibility of opening a new Gigafactory in Germany. Tesla has already confirmed expansion of its operations in China and with new factory in Germany, the company can expect much better support and response to its vehicles in Europe. Tesla has also planned improvement in its supercharging network in Europe.
Tesla already has its Gigafactory 1 located in Nevada, and is expected to soon announce its new Gigafactory in China. However, the company has also hinted in the past about a full battery and vehicle factory in Europe.
In that connection, Musk has now said that Germany is the “leading choice” in terms of a potential location for a Tesla Gigafactory in Europe. The statement by Musk comes against the backdrop of the fact that a number of European countries are trying to attract Tesla for a potential factory location.
Tesla already has a European factory which is located in Tilburg in the Netherlands. However, the automaker uses that factory only for the ‘final assembly’ of its Model S and Model X electric cars. Other than the ‘final assembly’ factory in Tilburg, Tesla also has its European headquarters in Amsterdam.
Musk’s recent confirmation that Tesla’s next Gigafactory might come up in Germany implies that the automaker apparently has three new factories in the works --- a Gigafactory in China, a planned Gigafactory for Model Y production, and a new Gigafactory in Europe (possibly Germany).
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) start-up NIO is all set to deliver its first production vehicle to the market; and its first EV service center in Beijing is coming up right next to EV manufacturer Tesla’s service center.
According to an Automotive News report, German automaker BMW plans to discontinue its i3 all-electric compact car and i8 plug-in hybrid sports car ahead of introducing its next-generation electric vehicles (EVs).
The monthly sales figures for plug-in electric cars for March 2018 have revealed that Toyota’s Prius Prime plug-in hybrid managed to achieve a startling sales total for the month among plug-in electric cars.
According to reports, the electric-car sales system which is being adopted by China is similar to the one applicable in California.
In a noteworthy move aimed at making public transport more sustainable in the Netherlands, “world’s largest charge depot” for electric buses has recently gone live in Amsterdam.
In a move which marks the latest electrification effort by UPS, the parcel delivery giant has placed an order for 1,000 electric delivery vans with Ohio-based truck manufacturer Workhorse.


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With the festive season on course, various forms of entertainment, including esports games, are gaining traction. Some of these games also entail prizes and winnings in cash and kind.
Online games, such as Dota 2, Counter-Strike, Valorant, Call of Duty, and others are very popular within the young gaming population in India.
According to a report published by consultancy firm EY in 2021, “it is estimated that India has 150,000 players and around 60,000 teams”.
“Over 90 per cent of esports players participate in online mobile esports tournaments,” the report adds.
EY further shared that in FY 2021, IPL offered Rs 250 million in prize pool for the tournament. Esports tournaments offered Rs 150 million as prize pool.
But with this many players participating in esports event and winning prizes, the question that arises is how much money do the winners actually get to take home after paying taxes?
Indirect Taxation – GST
Goods and Services Tax (GST) is charged on games, but a different rate is charged depending on the type of the game.
Betting And Gambling Games: Archit Gupta, founder and CEO of Clear (formerly Cleartax), a tax filing assistance company, explained that GST is computed on gross gaming value or stake instead of the gross gaming revenue (total stake minus winnings distributed) or service fee.
“Hence, a 28 per cent GST is charged and collected on betting and gambling under the HSN code 999692 on the total stake or bet value,” adds Gupta.
HSN code is the harmonized system of nomenclature that classifies goods and services worldwide.
Game Of Skills: Esports is a game of skill, and so are some of the card-based games. Gupta highlighted that betting and gambling are games of chance in that they differ from the game of skills, such as e-sports and some card-based games.
“Game of skills, such as puzzles, e-sports, and gaming attracts 18 per cent GST under HSN 998439 on a commission fee,” Gupta adds.
Direct Taxation – Income Tax
The income tax rules are also different, based on the type of games one is playing, i.e., whether they are a game of chance or a game of skill.
Hence, before you calculate how much tax you have to pay for your esports or other games winnings, determine the type of game you are playing, whether it’s a skill or luck-based game.
In August 2021, the Supreme Court had ruled that Dream 11, a fantasy sports game is a game of skill and not a gambling, wagering, and/or betting game.
Saurrav Sood, a chartered accountant (CA) and practice leader (International tax and transfer pricing) at SW India, an advisory, assurance, tax, accounting and outsourcing services company, said, that the Income-tax Act, 1961 does not directly mention the terms ‘game of skills or ‘game of luck’. It mentions the type of games which will be taxed at a flat rate of 30 per cent on a gross basis.
“Applying the principles of Ejusdem Generis, one can say that where there are winning from such games or events which are akin to a game of chance, there is a higher rate of tax (30 per cent), and games which are skill driven, and hence, excluded from the provision, will be taxable as income from other sources (IFOS) on net basis i.e., deduction of expenditure shall be allowed from the receipts,” adds Sood.
“The amount of income tax calculated on the income by way of winnings from such lottery or crossword puzzle or race, including horse race or card game and other game of any sort or from gambling or betting of any form or nature whatsoever, shall be at the rate of 30 per cent,” says Section 115BB of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
Abhishek Soni, CEO and co-founder, Tax2win, a tax filing assistance company, said, "if any income is earned by way of a game of luck like the lottery, gambling, or others it will be considered as special income and will be taxable at a flat 30 per cent plus applicable cess without any basic exemption limit benefit."
Gupta further added that “any loss cannot be adjusted against such wins, and accordingly TDS at 30 per cent will also get deducted on such winnings”.
Winnings In Kind: Esports winnings are mostly in cash, but some other online games do give out players’ winnings in kind.
Gupta explains this aspect with an example. “The fair market value of kinds received as winnings will be considered for computing capital gains and assessable value for TDS under income tax,” he says.
“For instance, if the fair market value of the winning is Rs. 60,000, then 31.2 per cent (30 per cent tax rate plus cess) of 60,000, i.e., Rs.18,000 plus surcharge, if any, will be the income tax liability to be deposited with the government,” he adds.


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Rookie Chase Elliott is the latest to jump on the retro bandwagon, as late Friday afternoon, Hendrick Motorsports unveiled his throwback paint scheme for the Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
In the Labor Day weekend Darlington race, Elliott will wheel an old-school yellow-and-black No. 24 NAPA Auto Parts Assurance of Quality Chevrolet SS.
According to a team, the scheme is based on a design introduced by NAPA in 1963, with the logo being the last version before the modern day yellow-and-blue look seen today.
More from FoxSports
"The logo introduced in 1963 was meant to remind customers that NAPA was nationwide and represented quality with knowledgeable employees -- traits that still hold true today," the team said in a release.
"The yellow and black is based off of NAPA's old logo," Elliott said. "The logo was actually on one of their delivery trucks in the 1960s, and we modeled the entire paint scheme off of that truck. I think it turned out really good. I like it, and I'm excited about running it in Darlington. I think we have a car that will certainly stand out, which is good."
Elliott has had a strong rookie season replacing Jeff Gordon in the Hendrick No. 24. He enters Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (FOX, 5:30 p.m. ET) seventh in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings.
Elliott qualified 12th for NASCAR's longest race.


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Speedway, an Ohio-based convenience mart and gasoline retailer, is scouting for locations in the Pittsburgh area.
David Glickman, a director in the Pittsburgh office of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, said he is representing two properties for which Speedway has expressed interest.
“I won’t speculate on how many units, but it seems like they’re looking throughout the market, in all directions,” Glickman said.
Shane Pochard, a spokesman for Speedway, said the company doesn’t comment on market speculation and declined to confirm if it’s working to expand into the Pittsburgh market, adding that “Speedway is always interested in opportunities to expand” if it makes sense for the chain’s core business.
Based outside Dayton, Speedway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Oil Co., and it operates 1,460 convenience stores in seven states, mostly throughout the midwest as well as south into West Virginia and Kentucky.
If it follows through and sets up shop in the Pittsburgh market, Speedway would join retailers including GetGo, the convenience store format owned and operated by Giant Eagle, and Altoona-based Sheetz.
With its advantage card program designed to tie its grocery store customers into using the fuel stations at its convenience stores, Giant Eagle has been aggressively expanding its GetGo chain throughout its territory and now operates at least 35 GetGo stores in the Pittsburgh area. Meanwhile, Sheetz, with more than 424 stores, has largely been expanding southward into Virginia and North Carolina, where it recently opened its 45th location.
“They’re going to have stiff competition with GetGo and Sheetz,” Glickman said. “But if Speedway can get good locations and they design their properties well, and their convenience and their service is good, they can certainly establish loyalty.”
It could take time to get strong locations, added Glickman, noting the region can be challenging for finding good retail sites.
Craig Cozza, a Collier-based developer who recently bought an empty Roth Carpet location in Monroeville that he is working to repurpose, said plenty of retailers window-shop for locations only to opt out of coming here.
“There’s a lot of people who come to town to look,” he said. “The question is, will they pull the trigger?”


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Rice prices have risen due to concerns rainfall in Vietnam could affect production levels during peak harvest season. Rising exports from Pakistan to Iran have reduced supplies for domestic consumption, further increasing prices.
Palm oil prices have fallen, due to an expected production recovery in areas affected by El Niño. Global production is now expected to rise 9% year on year to 63.9 million tonnes in 2016/17. Prices have also fallen to remain competitive with declining soyabean oil prices.
Sugar prices fell as Brazilian sugarcane harvests continued. In addition, supplies of sugar have further increased as crushers prefer it to ethanol.
Rapeseed oil prices have fallen in line with the declining prices of competitor vegetable oils, alongside reports of improved rapeseed production.


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GAME has announced that GAMEfest 2012 will not be going ahead as initially planned, but has added the caveat that it may return in 2013.
GAMEfest debuted for the first time in 2011 and was a pretty impressive show, letting gamers try out some of the upcoming games - though the queues were monstrous. It even threw a bit of a spanner in EuroGamer's works, since it launched just a few weeks before EuroGamer Expo and therefore had many of the same games on display.
However this year, due to financial issues that should be immediately obvious at this point, GAMEFest will not be occurring. It would probably have been a bit insulting for the couple thousand employees that lost their jobs to hold a show that cost millions to set up.
"I'm afraid GAMEfest won't be happening this year but we do have some cool things in the works," the company said via the official Twitter account, before adding: "by the way - this doesn't mean it won't happen next year. *wink*"
E3 is the next big show, but the absence of GAMEFest leaves late summer in the UK to Eurogamer. See you guys there.


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Pointing out her favorite variety of pansies is Holly Ozsvath,… (Baltimore Sun photo by Amy…)
Coming out of the snowiest Maryland winter on record, thousands of Marylanders got a jump-start on spring at the Maryland Home & Garden Show where tulips, daffodils and pansies were in full bloom.
Last month's blizzard inspired McCarroll Nole of Baltimore to attend the annual show on Sunday for the first time.
"We are tired of the white stuff. We want to see some green. We want to see something come out of the ground," said Nole, who brought a camera with him to record ideas for sprucing up his flower garden.
The annual event at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium typically attracts 60,000 visitors over two weekends. This year's event, which started on Saturday, is on pace to surpass the usual attendance by 20 percent, said Jay Plummer, the show's producer.
"Everyone has been cooped up all winter because of the snow," he said.
Jim and Geri Moorhouse of Riverside are perennials at the show, but they said they were looking forward to the event more than usual this year.
"It's a touch of spring. It's something green," said Jim Moorhouse, holding poppy seeds, clover and Canadian flowers he had just purchased. The thigh-high snow that once blanketed his backyard has melted, he said, but remnants of a 10-foot snowdrift in the front of the house left by a snowplow remain.
Phyllis Floyd, a semiretired church secretary, couldn't wait for the home and garden show, itself a harbinger of spring.
"We are so glad to have no snow, and it's so good to get out," said Floyd, who bought two plant stands made out of willow branches.
She might return next weekend to buy some plants. Her garden in Lutherville is still partly under snow, so there won't be planting for some time. "But I'm waiting - and I'm hopeful," the 70-year-old said.
Some exhibitors said visitors seemed to be in a sunnier mood.
"They are glad to see the snow melting, and I am, too," said Kim Carlisle, owner of Wellspring Gardens in Rockville. "They are eager not only because of the snow, but because of the sour feel in the economy."
Tough financial times have created many first-time gardeners, Carlisle said, adding that sales of such edible plants as tomatoes and herbs have blossomed.
"They are staying at home," she said. "They are fixing their houses. They want to enjoy their landscapes. Even with the bad economy, last year was my best year ever."
The show features about 450 exhibitors pitching garage doors, shea butter, pools, pest control, landscaping, water jets, garden furniture and just about anything else for inside or outdoor living.
Plummer said this year's attendees are loosening their purse strings. During the fall show of 2008, when the stock market was in a tailspin and the Great Recession well under way, visitors didn't spend much, he said.
"Now, all of a sudden they are breaking free," he said. "Our exhibitors are saying they are doing fantastic."


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Microsoft is roaring into CTIA. Redmond's grab bag of assorted announcements take in new Windows Live applications, the Windows Mobile application Marketplace (including word of that), and new themes featuring designs from haute fashionista (and Target chum) Isaac Mizrahi. The news gives Microsoft's mobile arm a much-needed jolt of excitement to follow up on its February announcement of the .
Windows Live, Hotmail, Facebook
For more than a year, we've been wondering when Facebook and Microsoft were going to grace Windows Mobile phones with an official and native Facebook app like its free, downloadable applications for BlackBerry, iPhone, and Palm. While we weren't able to get anything out of Facebook back then, on Tuesday, Microsoft made Facebook's presence official. Microsoft's Facebook application is due in April, followed by a native MySpace application set to descend sometime "in summer."
For those who live in the moment, Microsoft has already made Windows Live for Windows Mobile available to download on platforms running version 6 of the operating system or higher. The Windows Live services suite installs mobile versions of Hotmail, Messenger, Live Contacts, Spaces, and Live Search on the phone. Those with older phones can still access Hotmail with a new beta version optimized for the Web, accessible at m.mail.live.com.
Windows Marketplace: Apps and refunds
Not to be outdone by Apple and BlackBerry, Microsoft is readying its own application storefront, dubbed Windows Marketplace for Mobile. The few details released in advance of Microsoft's Thursday keynote showcase application developers whose apps will be featured in the mobile Marketplace. EA Mobile, Gameloft, and Hands-On Mobile are well-known game makers. AP Mobile, Accuweather, and Pandora also stand out in an otherwise obscure lineup.
Also Marketplace related, Microsoft says it will let customers buy applications two ways--through a credit card, or as an add-on to the monthly cellular bill. In addition, Microsoft will let remorseful users return unwanted applications within 24 hours of purchasing, a refund service that neither Apple nor RIM has offered so far for the iTunes App Store or forthcoming BlackBerry App World.
Haute interface themes
Microsoft hasn't traditionally been hailed as computing's graphical genius, but its recent efforts at interesting design haven't gone unnoticed. Microsoft is taking that a step further with designer themes it's offering through luminaries of the likes of haute couture icon Isaac Mizrahi, among others that will be later announced. In addition, Microsoft's partnerships with Design Museum London and the Council of Fashion Designers of America will churn out additional themes. An online Theme Generator, set to release later in the year, will let you match the navigation and scroll bar colors to your select photo.
There's little doubt that Microsoft has more to share of its plans once CTIA gets officially underway--particularly details related to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile. We'll keep you posted.


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Perhaps the biggest perk of being a rideshare driver is the flexibility. Turn the app on when you want to work and shut it back off when you are finished. Work a 60-hour week or a 2-hour week. The flexibility is unparalleled to any other job.
Uber understands this and, in an effort to make their Driver app the “absolute best platform”, Uber has added new key features that give drivers three main things: even more flexibility, more choice, and more support.
Uber is dedicated to showing drivers how much they will earn and where they will be going before accepting a trip. According to Uber, “we’ve completely reimagined the way drivers accept rides. Our new trip request screen makes it easier for drivers to decide if a trip is worth their time and effort by providing all the details—including exactly how much they’ll earn and where they’re going—upfront.”
Uber’s new Upfront Fares Driver request screen was piloted in a handful of cities earlier this year and Uber stated that they noticed both the driver and rider experience improve.
This is perhaps our teams most favorite new feature, Trip Radar! In the past, drivers have been sent just one trip request at a time. However, with Uber’s new Trip Radar, drivers will be able to see a list of other trips happening nearby will have the AND will have the ability to pick another trip that might work better for them.
In addition to the above two new features, Uber has also partnered with Mastercard, Branch, and Marqeta on a new Uber Pro debit card and checking account that will help drivers save on gas, fees, and more.
According to Uber, “When drivers pay for gas with the Uber Pro Card, they’ll get cash back at any station, in any city. The higher their Uber Pro status, the more cash back—that means up to 7% cash back on gas at select stations with Diamond status.” Further, because the Uber Pro Card is a debit card, there is no credit check or annual fees!
Also, Uber is planning to bring back their Uber Pro Program this coming November to better recognize and reward drivers. With Uber’s Pro Program, drivers will get Area Preferences (choose preferred pick up and drop off areas), discounts on drinks and snacks at 7-Eleven, and a Gold Star Membership from Costco for new members.
What do you think of these new initiatives? Will this help Uber to retain more drivers? Let us know in the forum!


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Sky Broadband hosts virtual race in Fortnite to celebrate ‘Gigafast’ product
Sky broadband, alongside creative agency partner Engine, has launched its biggest integrated marketing campaign to date for its Gigafast product, which will see the brand enter the metaverse for the first time.
In the short spot, viewers see a group of Minions quite literally being blown away by how fast the broadband speed is.
“With our Gigafast full fiber broadband rolling out across the UK, we wanted to bring to life what it feels like to be on such amazing broadband speeds,” said Dave Stratton, marketing director at Sky Broadband.
“By leveraging the power, engagement and fame of the Minions franchise in a fun and immersive way, we’ve aimed to create standout work across all media channels. It’s also important we test and learn in emerging channels and, as an endemic brand, I’m excited to see our first ever campaign in the metaverse.”
Support for the campaign will come through a number of activations, with Sky Broadband adopting a ‘70/20/10’ approach. This allowed it to spend 70% of the time on the overall integration of the project, 20% went to fun real-life installations like a super-fast slide at London’s Westfield Stratford City complex and the final 10% went to its foray into the metaverse.
“Fast speeds are a well-worn trope of broadband campaigns, but Sky Broadband’s latest product goes way beyond the usual speed upgrade; Gigafast is 25 times faster,” added Kat Thompson, business director at Engine.
“So we wanted to turn the dial on the creative work and push the feeling of speed to the extreme. All across the country, Minions will be seen blasted back by our Gigafast broadband; smashing into TV screens in living rooms, cracking phone screens, breaking billboards and even uprooting bus stops. We loved the idea that not even Minions can handle the incredible speeds Sky Broadband can now offer.”


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Norman and even Roman lime based structures exist that are still only superficially carbonated after many centuries.christian louboutin outlet store paris nord comThis transplant from San Antonio makes authentic Neapolitan pizzas in an oven imported from Italy. But many of those commenting on yesterday's news see it as further proof, were any needed since the collapse of Parabis, that the alternative business structure experiment is condemned to failure.
The pay back rate on the investment is small and so the equipment has to be operated long after its obsolescence in order to finance the next investment round.christian louboutin outlet store paris nord (1:26)Emailcomment10:44 PM GMTJason SobelESPN Senior Writer Close Covered golf since 2004 Former writer at Golf Channel Winner of four Emmys while at ESPNEmailprintcommentDORAL, Fla. Obviously those of us that want the best for Scotland will vote for the party we believe will deliver the best future.christian louboutin outlet store paris nord
Christian Woronka, Head of Cologne Convention Bureau, was at EIBTM 2013 in Barcelona and he explained to ITCM that, looking at what Cologne had to offer, the city and its region are strong in the fields of space research and in the media. So what I need is a pretty window seat like this, where I could sit and enjoy the view, from the comfort and warmth of my sitting room. Having said this I still suspect the majority of voters do not do research and base their views on media and propaganda.christian louboutin outlet store paris nord


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Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) held close to weekly highs on Friday, despite reports that workers in Buffalo, NY have voted to unionize at least one café. Four other stores are trying to set a vote (three in Buffalo and one in Arizona), with successful efforts likely to stoke similar drives in other locales. Even so, market players may be discounting the Buffalo vote due to the city’s progressive reputation, where a Socialist candidate was beaten in November’s mayoral race.
Union Tempest in a Teapot?
Hourly wage issues are plaguing all sorts of retail and industrial operations as a result of rising inflation triggered by the two-year pandemic, as characterized by well-publicized strikes at Deere and Co. (DE) and Kellogg Co. (K). Whether or not this turns into a nationwide phenomenon remains to be seen, with well-entrenched management and a generally union-adverse American work force that’s repulsed by the Socialist stigma of collective bargaining.
MKM Partners analyst Brett Levy dismissed the unionization effort last week, upgrading Starbucks to ‘Buy’ with a $130 target. As he notes “Despite an operating model facing near-term pressures related to internal decisions, macro-related factors, and the understanding that a straight-line recovery is unlikely, we are choosing to look past these short-term hurdles. We have long been supportive of SBUX’s brand strength/scale; development opportunities; and the balancing of investments in its brand, people, technology and returns to the investment community”.
Wall Street and Technical Outlook
Wall Street consensus stands at a ‘Moderate Buy’ rating based upon 15 ‘Buy’, 7 ‘Hold’, and no ‘Sell’ recommendations. Price targets currently range from a low of $105 to a Street-high $142 while the stock will open Monday’s session about $9 below the average $125 target. This modest placement bodes well for higher prices but that might have to wait until investors can gauge the impact of the Omicron wave, if any, on same store sales around the world.
Starbucks topped out near 100 in July 2019 and sold off to a 20-month low during March 2020’s pandemic decline. The subsequent uptick reached the prior high in November, yielding an immediate breakout that added points at a healthy pace into July 2021’s all-time high at 126.32. The subsequent pullback has carved an inverse head and shoulders pattern across the 50-day moving average, with a breakout setting off buying signals that favor a test of the rally high.
Catch up on the latest price action with our new ETF performance breakdown.
Disclosure: the author held Kellogg in a family account at the time of publication.


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CDC Games, a business unit of CDC Corporation (CHINA), says it has accelerated expansion into the development of online games through the establishment of a subsidiary to be named CDC Games Studio.
CDC Games Studio expands the scope of the Online Games Developer Partner Program announced in August of 2006. The original partner program was funded by up to US$20 million and focused on investments in strategic games development partners to accelerate the development of new and original online games for the China market. CDC Games Studio will continue to place strategic investments with selected game developers and also support emerging game developers with the resources they need to rapidly develop innovative new games. The geographic scope of CDC Games Studio will also expand beyond China to include the development of games for additional targeted geographies. The original US$20 million investment ear-marked for the partner program will be increased to a total of up to US$100 million to support the broader scope of CDC Games Studio.
"We've established CDC Games as a leading publisher of online games in China and our goal is to leverage that foundation to become a leading, global developer of online games," said Xiaowei Chen, Ph.D., CEO of CDC Games. "Establishing CDC Games Studio is an important, foundational piece of this strategy as we grow beyond games distribution, into development. By expanding our Games Developer Program into CDC Games Studio, we'll position CDC Games as a leader in distribution and development of world class online games in China, as well as for global export."
CDC Games Studio seeks to attract talented games development companies around the world, including those in Korea, the United States, Europe and China, which may already have operations in China or are seeking to relocate or expand into China to take advantage of the broad market demand for new games, abundance of available talent in China for games development, and local tax incentives available to companies developing games for domestic distribution as well as for export. Resources which CDC Games Studio could offer such companies include: office space, development and technology resources such as site licenses with game related technology companies, partnerships with hardware and platform partners, as well as direct capital support. The expanded investment in CDC Games Studio will be used to fund the creation of new online games, as well as the acquisition of rights to develop world-class games titles in China, with the goal of publishing and distributing them on a global scale. Targeted areas of interest include educational games, games based on historical events, games based on scientific and problem-solving scenarios, as well as games based on popular entertainment and comic titles.
"The online games development industry in China is still in its early stages, with many emerging start-ups," said John Lee, president of CDC Games. "Through CDC Games Studio, we have an excellent opportunity to establish CDC Games as the partner of choice for global companies seeking investment to accelerate development or seeking to set up their in-house development operations in China."
CDC Games is in the final stages of negotiation with new games developers and expects to announce their participation shortly in the CDC Games Studio.


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The Tampa Bay Business Owners’ Business Symposium is drawing near! As the Bay Area’s premier community of entrepreneurs and business owners, TBBO is dedicated to bringing together businesses for education, collaboration, opportunities, and comradery through the Business Symposium. With numerous business owners and professionals in attendance, the Business Symposium is an event filled with education, networking, and tons of prizes!
This year’s Business Symposium, presented by the Walk Law Firm, will be held on Friday, October 28, 2016 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Hilton Carillon. This Symposium will feature a strategic alliance, vendor tables, breakout educational sessions, and a Shark Tank panel of experts who will share their personal experiences. The stage is set for Tampa Bay entrepreneurs and business leaders to get the most out of our area’s professional community.
“This year’s Symposium will be our biggest one yet,” says Jamie Meloni of That Business Show on 1250 WHNZ. “This is our first time in Pinellas County with and we have many new attendees and vendors that will be coming out along with many from Hillsborough County too. Lunch is included so come out and network with many of our area business owners and community leaders including our Shark Tank panel.”
If one is thinking about becoming a sponsor for the TBBO Business Symposium, the philosophy is simple: invest in them and in-turn they will partner with you, providing a unique opportunity to access an exclusive community of brand advocates. To review the Sponsorship Kit for the 2016 Business Symposium, please click here. To purchase a sponsorship package, please email [email protected] or call 727-743-3117.
Categorized in: Work
This post was written by Elevate, Inc.


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It's becoming clearer and clearer that the UMPC is just a baby tablet and, like the tablet, will soon end up smeared in blood in an ER rather than smeared with peanut butter on your coffee table.
The folks at the Inquirer headed out to Computex and tried out a few UMPCs and found that the battery life is sub-par, the interface is difficult if useless, and they're really expensive. These three things have been solved before (Nokia 770 anyone?) yet MS, Intel, and the rest of the gang just don't seem to understand the issues involved.
No compromise from me on this, friends. UMPC is dead on the evolutionary vine.
Origami UMPCs are a disaster [TheInquirer]


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Hooked: Rihanna Dropped by Nivea, Azealia Banks' Mag Cover Banned, Nicki Minaj Struts in Adidas Video
Get hooked and find out why Rihanna and Azealia Banks are too risque, check out Adam Lambert's new blonde look, and watch Nicki Minaj, Sky Ferreira and 2NE1 In Jeremy Scott's new Adidas Originals campaign video.
Rihanna Dropped from Nivea Campaign
Rihanna and famed beauty brand Nivea have parted ways, reportedly due to the pop star's sultry image and "party girl" ways. Nivea's new boss Stefan Heidenreich -- who runs its parent company, Beiersdorf -- announced that the Barbadian princess is a no-go.
"I do not understand how to bring the core brand of Nivea in conjunction with Rihanna. Nivea is a company which stands for trust, family and reliability," Heidenreich was quoted as saying to the Daily Mail. He later added that Rihanna's ads from last year should never have been aired. Rihanna's response to the drama? Posting a headshot of Heidenreich on Twitter with the words, "No caption necessary."
When Nivea originally announced its partnership with Rihanna last year, representatives said that the company was very excited to be teaming up with a "global music sensation." Oh how quickly things can change in the fashion industry!
Adam Lambert Debuts New Blonde Look
Adam Lambert has ditched his standard dark 'do for a blonde style, the former "American Idol" revealed via Twitter this week. He tweeted out a photo of the new long, along with the caption, "New 'do." We love a blonde any day of the week and this look definitely suits the "Trespassing" star. After tweeting the image, Lambert returned to his keyboard, writing, "You ask why? Why not? Change is good." Yes it is, Adam! Embracing change is a great way to experiment with different fashions and find what suits you best.
Azealia Banks' Mag Cover Banned in Seven Countries
Rapper Azealia Banks has been causing quite a stir through both the music and fashion worlds, with her fierce attitude, vulgar lyrics and hot style. Her latest shocking move? The "212" singer's cover on British style mag Dazed & Confused was so risque, it was banned in seven countries!
The cover, which has yet to leak onto the internet, reportedly features Banks posing with an overblown electric pink condom between her lips, with text that reads, "Azealia Banks Blows Up."
The magazine responded to the controversy by tweeting, "Just been told our upcoming @AZEALIABANKS cover has been banned from 7 countries so far. Thank God for the Internet, huh?" to which Banks responded, "LMFAOO!!!! The cover IS pretty much like... 'Wtf is that in her mouth' haha."
The issue hits newsstands on Aug. 16 and the cover is supposedly staying under the radar -- and off the web -- until the unveil on Monday. Stay tuned.
Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, 2NE1 Rage in Jeremy Scott's Adidas Campaign Video
Nicki Minaj and our very own Behind The Seams star Jeremy Scott's Adidas video has been released. Drenched with an electric pop vibe and Jeremy Scott x Adidas designs, the video was shot in the streets of New York City. It features the pop star-designer pair strutting and dancing in the streets in matching technicolor puffer jackets.
The video is set to Minaj's track "Masquerade" and cuts to other cities around the globe, where musicians from Sky Ferreira to Big Sean can be spotted hanging out in some killer gear. Pop group 2NE1 also gets in on the action, breaking out their best dance moves on the streets of Tokyo.
Our favorite looks are the leopard tracksuit and the flower-covered teddy bear high tops! Check out the video below.


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No decisions have been made on the future of Consumer Supply in Storm Lake after a fire last week destoyed the company's building and associated warehouses that housed or served as storage for a dozen other businesses.
According to owner Jim Bauer, rumors that he has purchased the former Wal-Mart building under development by Iowa Office Solution are untrue.
"We looked at the building just to see if it could be a possibility, but if we did anything, it would be to rent, not to buy that building," Bauer said this week. He said there are very few available buildings that could house such a business.
No decisions have been made on a possible new location for the building - or the possibility of rebuilding, which has not been ruled out at this time. Bauer said he is keeping options open, and hopes to see the company remain a part of the Storm Lake community. He hopes to have a decision made within a few weeks.
Meanwhile, Bauer said he expects his 15-20 workers to find other jobs, which will probably leave Consumer Supply to start over in finding and training a workforce.
"They have families to feed, and there is no quick solution here. Even if we rebuild, it would take about six months to do, and all of the tenant businesses will have moved on to other locations by then," Bauer said. Tasler Palet has relocated its operation out of town for now.
"All we can do is look at all options and stay positive and hope to move forward," Bauer said. Storm Lake is a town that is really on the move, we are still very enthused about Storm Lake and we have to just be thankful that nobody lost their lives in this terrible fire."


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Maruti Suzuki launches Celerio S-CNG variant, priced at INR 6.58 lakh
Powered by next generation Dual Jet, Dual VVT K-Series 1.0L engine, the new VXi variant model with S-CNG technology delivers a mileage of 35.60 km/kg and has a CNG tank capacity of 60 litres, the company said.
New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) on Monday launched the CNG variant of its new Celerio at a price of INR 6,58,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Powered by next generation Dual Jet, Dual VVT K-Series 1.0L engine, the new VXi variant model with S-CNG technology delivers a mileage of 35.60 km/kg and has a CNG tank capacity of 60 litres.
Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Maruti Suzuki has been a pioneer in the country to offer factory-fitted CNG cars. We have the largest portfolio of 8 green models on the road and have sold around 9,50,000 S-CNG vehicles. Owning a factory fitted S-CNG vehicle comes with standard warranty benefits and convenience of Maruti Suzuki’s service network spread across India, that our customers find very comforting. With green mobility in focus, we have witnessed 22% CAGR increase in our CNG sales in the past five years.”
“Interestingly, the S-CNG variant in the previous generation Celerio contributed over 30% of total sales,” he said.
The second generation Celerio was launched in November 2021 in petrol variant and received close to 25,000 bookings in the first two months. First launched in 2014, the Celerio was priced at INR 3.90 lakh.
The launch of Maruti Suzuki’s S-CNG vehicle range complements the Government of India’s vision of reducing oil import and enhancing the share of natural gas in the country’s primary energy mix from 6.2% now to 15% by 2030. The Government is working to rapidly increase the CNG fuel pumps network in the country. Maruti Suzuki factory fitted S-CNG vehicles are equipped with dual interdependent ECUs (Electronic Control Units) and an intelligent injection system, said the carmaker.


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Get a head start on the market by subscribing to Seeking Alpha’s Stocks to Watch, a preview of key events scheduled for the week ahead. The newsletter keeps you informed of the biggest stories that will make headlines, including upcoming IPOs, investor days, earnings reports and conference presentations.
To catch up on what you may have missed this week, watch Saturday’s Alpha TALKS episode or listen to the podcast, part of Wall Street Breakfast, our flagship daily newsletter delivering everything you need to know every day. Stocks to Watch subscribers can also tune in on Sundays for a curated podcast available on Seeking Alpha, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.
Investors will tackle huge wildcards on interest rates and Ukraine, even as big earnings reports from companies like Walmart (NYSE: WMT)Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and ViacomCBS (NASDAQ:VIAC) to pay. Next week’s economic calendar includes updates on producer prices, retail sales, housing starts and existing home sales. Fedspeak will once again be front and center with Chicago Federal Reserve Chairman Charles Evans, New York Federal Reserve Chairman John Williams, St. Louis Federal Reserve Chairman James Bullard, and Cleveland Federal Reserve Chair Loretta Mester, all of whom will deliver speeches. The FOMC minutes are also due out on February 16.
Earnings Spotlight: Monday, February 14 TreeHouse Foods (NYSE:THS)Advanced auto parts (NYSE: AAP)Budget Reviews (NASDAQ:CAR) and Arista networks (NYSE:ANET).
Earnings Spotlight: Tuesday, February 15 Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR)ViacomCBS (VIAC), Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB)Akamai Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:AKAM)Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ:WYNN) and Roblox (NYSE:RBLX).
Earnings Spotlight: Wednesday, February 16 Kraft-Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC)Analog devices (NASDAQ:ADI)Shopify (NYSE: SHOP)Energy transfer (NYSE:ET)Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO)Nvidia (NVDA), Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT)Matterport (NASDAQ: MTTR) and Door Dash (NYSE: dash).
Earnings Spotlight: Thursday, February 17 Walmart (WMT), Auto Nation (NYSE:AN)Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU)Shake Shack (NYSE: SHAK),
Earnings Spotlight: Friday, February 18 Deere (NYSE:DE).
IPO and SPAC monitoring: No IPO is expected to start trading next week. End of analyst silence period for NSTS Bancorp(NASDAQ: NSTS) February 14th. IPO lock-up periods expire on Crescent Capital (NASDAQ: CCAP) February 14, Iris Energy (NASDAQ: IREN) February 15, Newlake Capital Partners (OTCQX: NLCP)sweetgreen (NYSE:SG) and user testing (NYSE:USER) February 16 and CYNGN (NASDAQ:CYN) February 17. IPO blocks only apply to certain blocks of shares. On the SPAC calendar, shareholder votes are set for Roth CH Acquisition III Co. (NASDAQ: ROCR) agreement to take QualTek public, Astrea Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ: ASAX) agreement to publicize HotelPlanner and Reservations.com, as well as Healthcare Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: HCCC) consent to publicize Alpha Tau Medical.
Projected dividend increases: Companies planning to increase their quarterly dividend payouts include Foot Locker (NYSE:FL) to $0.38 from $0.30, Bruker Corporation (NASDAQ: BRKR) at $0.05 from $0.04, Kinsale Capital (NYSE: KNSL) to $0.13 from $0.11, Humana (NYSE:HUM) to $0.78 from $0.70, Louisiana-Pacific (NYSE:LPX) at $0.20 from $0.18, Analog Devices (ADI) at $0.76 from $0.69 and Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) to $0.72 from $0.67.
Nvidia revenue overview: Nvidia (NVDA) will release its results on February 16 and is expected to discuss the impact of ending its pursuit of Arm Ltd acquisition during the conference call. Analysts believe the company’s data center growth will be one of the key takeaways from the report, with consensus calling for a 68% year-over-year gain to $3.2 billion. Bank of America thinks supply remains main constraint for Nvidia, but points to positive updates from AMD (NASDAQ:AMD)Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE:TSM) and its own controls over Steam/cloud gaming portal capex trends. Also look for comments from Nvidia management on a downturn in the crypto industry and more details on the software’s benefits with the Omniverse platform. The conference call will be closely watched to see if there are any hints of new mergers and acquisitions. Nvidia closed Friday about 30% below its 52-week high.
3M Spotlight: 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) is due to hold a strategy update event on February 14. The company plans to discuss how its core strengths are leveraged across businesses to create value, as well as updates on strategic priorities, growth trends, capital allocation priorities and sustainability . The company will also provide its financial outlook for 2022 and host a Q&A session. Deutsche Bank sees the event sparking interest in 3M shares with the likelihood of discussing a medium-term financial framework as well as its longer-term strategic priorities. Shares of 3M rose more than 10% in the six weeks following a similar event.
Walmart Revenue Snapshot Walmart (WMT) is set to report results on February 17, with analysts expecting the retail giant to generate $150 billion in revenue, 5% comparable sales growth and EPS of $1.48. Walmart should have posted a strong holiday quarter and reported market share gains in some key categories. The conference call could see executives highlight some of the new revenue streams for Walmart, delve into the implications of food inflation and discuss the impact of overshooting stimulus quarters.
Corporate events: Metaplatforms (NASDAQ:FB) will hold a general employee meeting on February 15 during which a major announcement is expected on how the company plans to achieve its vision of the metaverse. Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) will be watched closely with CEO Pat Gelsinger and other executives due to discuss the company’s business strategy on February 17. Nu Skin Enterprises (NYSE: NUS) is expected to provide financial advice during its Investor Day on February 16. Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) will hold its Investor Day on February 18. Check out some of the other events scheduled for next week that could lead to stock price movements in Seeking Alpha’s Catalyst Watch.
Leisure games: Citi explained how investors should view the entertainment sector with five important themes highlighted. Advice to investors is to consider the sustainability of the external push, late reopening games/pent up demand, unprecedented pricing power, supply chain constraints/product availability and labor shortages/availability. The stocks that Citi says pass the test are Polaris’ best (NYSE:PII)Six Entertainment Flags (NYSE: SIX) as a turnaround story meets an underrated reopening game, Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) as the best operator in the hardest hit sector, Brunswick Corp (NYSE: British Columbia) with its distinctive long-term transformative plan, Winnebago (NYSE: WGO) as the best game in the secular growth VR industry and Cedar Fair (NYSE: FUN) for its combination of pricing power, pent-up demand and improved balance sheet.
Information on mergers and acquisitions: The M&A calendar is marked by the closing of the Xilinx (NASDAQ: XLNX)-AMD agreement (AMD) on February 14. Also on the agenda is the expiring takeover bid on Oracle (NYSE: ORCL)-Find out (NASDAQ: CERN) agreement and a UK court hearing involving Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Holdings (NASDAQ:OCDX)-Quidel (NASDAQ: QDEL) merger on February 15. Shareholders with Monmouth Real Estate Investment (NYSE: MNR) vote on the Industrial Logistics Properties Trust (NASDAQ: ILPT) agreement on February 17.
Annual meetings: Companies with annual meetings scheduled for next week include Plexus Corp. (NASDAQ:PLXS)English markets (NASDAQ:IMKTA) and model N (NYSE: MODN).
Mentions of Barron: The annual list of the best sustainable companies includes Intel (INTC), Clorox (NYSE: CLX)Ecolab (NYSE:ECL)best buy (NYSE:BBY) and HPV (NYSE: PVH) on top. This is a distinction that is becoming increasingly important in the context of ESG investing. The sports betting backdrop is dissected by the Super Bowl pre-post. The total addressable market for sports betting and iGaming is now expected to reach $20.6 billion by 2025. DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG)MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM)Flutter Entertainment (OTCPK: PDYPY) FanDuel and Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR) are noted to have around 80% market share between them, with Penn National Gaming (NASDAQ: PENN) via Barstool Sports and Bally’s (NYSE: BALY) are also looking to break through. A dormant pick in the industry would be Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD)who owns a 5% stake in FanDuel that could be worth more than $500 million.
Sources: EDGAR, Bloomberg, CNBC, Reuters, Renaissance Capital


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Martha Stewart CBD, under Canopy Growth, launched new CBD gummies
Welcome back to our weekly series, Schaeffer’s Cannabis Stock News Update, where we recap what happened in the world of marijuana stocks, and look at how the cannabis industry is evolving as we make our way through 2022.
The world of cannabis saw massive growth in 2021 and 18 states plus D.C. officially legalized the adult-use of cannabis by the end of the year. Thirty-one states plus D.C. had taken decriminalization measures regarding cannabis by the end of 2021. As of late 2021, marijuana is classified at the U.S. federal level as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. In other words, cultivating, distributing, and possessing cannabis remains illegal at the federal level.
In addition, here is a quick summary of the major (and action-worthy!) cannabis stock news from this week:
On Monday, Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE:IIPR), a cannabis-centric REIT, declared a dividend for the first quarter of 2022. The dividend payout will be $1.75 per share of common stock, marking a 33% increase year-over-year and equating to an annualized dividend of $7.00 per share. IIPR’s dividend will be paid on April 14 to shareholders of record on March 31.
Martha Steward CBD, a brand under the Canopy Growth Corporation (NASDAQ:CGC) umbrella, launched its latest product line, Tropical Medley CBD Wellness Gummies, on Monday. According to Canopy Growth, “The new Tropical Medley CBD Wellness Gummies feature three delicious flavors and are made with Canopy Growth’s high-quality, U.S.-grown CBD isolate, which is the purest and most potent form of CBD, offering consumers the consistent and great-tasting experience they’ve come to love from Martha Stewart CBD.”
Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) announced on Monday the signing of a distribution agreement with Israel-based, DNO Group. The agreement addresses the logistics for distributing FLGC’s Mind Naturals brand in Hong Kong. According to Flora Growth, “We are excited to see the continued expansion of Mind Naturals into new international markets, especially those with a high demand for skincare products. We look forward to working with DNO to bring this unique offering to key markets around the world.”
Later in the week, Flora Growth received its increased 2022 export quota from the Colombian Government, with an allotment of up to 43,600 kg of high-THC cannabis. Only high-THC and psychoactive cannabis require a formal export quota from the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection quota system. With this updated quota, FLGC can now export a sufficient amount of medical marijuana to fulfill current and future supply agreements.
urban-gro, Inc. (NASDAQ:UGRO) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Emerald Construction Management Inc. for approximately $7 million. According to UGRO, “The Emerald C.M. acquisition represents an important step in our strategy to supply the global indoor CEA (controlled environment agriculture) market with turn-key design-built facilities. The market for mid-sized turn-key cultivation facilities and vertical farms is underserved, providing urban-gro a unique opportunity to bring the expertise and experience that is needed to deliver high-performance facilities. This acquisition enables us to get our clients to market more quickly while maintaining elite service levels.”
Agrify Corporation (NASDAQ:AGFY) entered into a debt financing agreement on Monday to secure up to $135 million in a Senior Secured Note facility with an institutional lender. The proceeds of this agreement are planned to be used as working capital and general corporate purposes.
*NEW CANNABIS STOCK ALERT* Akanda Corp. (NASDAQ:AKAN) went live for trading on Tuesday, March 15, and saw a 163% surge on day one. AKAN opened at $30 and closed the day at $10.50.
On Tuesday, IM Cannabis Corp. (NASDAQ:IMCC) announced the completion of three acquisitions that were originally announced in 2021. The acquisitions include Vironna for $3.3 million, Pharm Yarok for $4.6 million, and Panaxia for $7.2 million. According to IMCC, “Each of these strategic acquisitions are key progress points for our Israeli and global expansion strategy. Our business model enables IM Cannabis to oversee the entire supply chain and ensure that the procurement and movement of quality supplies across our Israeli, German, and Canadian operations are done efficiently while providing our customers with premium quality cannabis.”
Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance Inc. (NASDAQ:REFI) led a $30 million senior secured credit facility to an unidentified medical cannabis company in Florida. REFI contributed $22.5 million of the $30 million that will be used to build a brand new cultivation and processing facility. According to Chicago Atlantic, Florida’s medical marijuana market is “attractive” based on limited license structure and rapidly increasing patient count.
Tilray Medical, the medical marijuana division of Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY), launched the first EU GMP medical cannabis oil products in Malta. According to TLRY, “Demand for medical cannabis in Malta is growing rapidly and we are incredibly proud to service patients with the high-quality medical cannabis products they rely on and in the formats they prefer.”
The Valens Company Inc (NASDAQ:VLNS) provided an upbeat update on its recreational marijuana Canadian market share. In November 2021, Valens was ranked #12 in overall market share and jumped to #10 with 3.1% overall market share in February 2022. According to VLNS, “We have shown strong quarter-over-quarter growth, as we continue to execute on our business strategy across all our brands in the Canadian recreational market.”


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Overview: The past week was very quiet for mortgage rates, and they ended with little change. The economic data was modestly stronger than expected overall, but its impact was small.
The housing sector reports released over the past week contained mostly positive news. In December, sales of previously owned (existing) homes increased more than expected from November to the highest level since February 2018 and were 11% higher than a year ago. National median existing-home prices were up 8% from a year ago. On the flip side, the inventory of homes for sale dropped to just a 3.0-month supply, a record low, and it was 9% lower than a year ago. A 6.0-month supply is generally considered a healthy balance between buyers and sellers.
Since a lack of inventory has been holding back home sales in many regions, Friday's report on home construction was very encouraging. In December, housing starts surged 17% from November, far above the consensus forecast, and were at the best level since 2006. They were a massive 41% higher than a year ago. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) index of home builder confidence also remained near the highest level since 1999.
In addition to homes, confident consumers have been rapidly purchasing a wide range of items in recent months. The latest report showed that consumer spending remained solid during the holiday shopping season. In December, retail sales rose 0.3% from November and were up an impressive 5.8% from one year ago. As usual, growth in online sales was sizable while department stores struggled.
Existing Home Sales (millions)
January 23 — European Central Bank meeting
January 27 — New Home Sales report
January 29 — U.S. Federal Reserve meeting
January 29 — Pending Home Sales (PHS) Index


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Nvidia says next high-end GPU due early March
CeBIT debut as predicted?
Nvidia has confirmed speculation that it will announce its next-generation graphics chip architecture at CeBIT. The head of the company's Taiwan sales operation, Paul Sun, this week said the chip maker will introduce a new high-end GPU in early March.
Sun, cited by DigiTimes, also said a full line-up of GeForce 7-class GPUs will be available worldwide by 1 February, suggesting an imminent product announcement, quite possibly the rumoured GeForce 7200 and 7600.
Last week, Nvidia launched the GeForce 7300 GS - its first 90nm GeForce 7 part - pitching the chip at entry-level systems. Five days later, the company's arch-rival, ATI, launched its Radeon X1900 GPU, the part Nvidia's own next-generation chip, codenamed G71 and believed to be branded the GeForce 7900 GTX, is expected to go head-to-head with.
The 7900 GTX is thought to contain 32 pixel-processing pipelines in a core clocked at 700-750MHz. The GDDR 3 memory will run at 800-900MHz (1.6-1.8GHz, effective). CeBIT 2006 kicks off on 9 March. ®


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Rendering of Amazon's new Redmond, WA facility
Amazon is securing 111,000-sq.-ft. of additional office space in Redmond, Wash. for Amazon Web Services (AWS) employees.
The new office space in the Redmond Town Center development will host tech and engineering teams supporting Amazon Web Services’ database services and will open in 2021 with capacity for more than 600 employees.
Since 2010, Amazon says it has invested more than $38 billion in the Puget Sound region, including infrastructure and compensation, creating more than 55,000 jobs in the region. The e-tail giant also estimates that its investments have contributed to the creation of an additional 244,000 jobs on top of our direct hires.
In February, Amazon said it is on track to hire more than 15,000 employees in Bellevue, a Seattle suburb in the Puget Sound region, in the next few years. To support this growth, Amazon plans to build common space along NE 6th Street in Bellevue, including a ground level with thousands of square feet reserved for local retail and other uses, including a day care center to support Bellevue families. The development also includes a new meeting center to host company and community events.
"Our new Redmond office is part of our plan to continue growing and creating jobs in the Puget Sound region," said John Schoettler, Amazon VP of global real estate and facilities. "In addition to Redmond’s strong existing talent pool and close access to our Seattle and Bellevue locations, these new facilities will also provide more flexible work options for employees, allowing us to continue our sustainable growth in the region for years to come."
"AWS finished 2019 as nearly a $40 billion run rate business and it continues to grow," said Shawn Bice, VP of databases for Amazon Web Services. "We continue to build new capabilities and services at an accelerating pace to meet and anticipate customers' needs, and you can expect us to continue to innovate and invest not only across our database services, but in other key areas like compute, storage, networking, analytics, robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and so much more, in order to do so."


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Eyebobs is getting into the prescription business, as it looks to become an “edgier version of Warby Parker.”The eyewear brand, known for its fashion-forward, ready-made reading glasses, is to roll out a new program in October. Chief executive officer Michael Magerman projects that the prescription program will double Eyebobs’ sales over the next two years.“We’ve been working on it for about a year — it grew organically out of demand that already existed from our customer base,” said Magerman, who joined the firm in May 2016.Magerman says that Eyebobs readers’ $79 price point — matched with its quality and style — lent themselves to expansion into prescription.“When I got to the company about 15 months ago, we started interviewing consumers and our own customers and it turned out that 30 percent of consumers were buying our frames and bringing them to optical retailers to have their prescription put in. Consumers found that Eyebobs’ styles, colors and quality are similar to that of a $200 to $500 acetate style from other brands,” he said.Eyebobs prescription glasses, launching on October 1, will be priced at $199 for single-vision lenses and $299 for progressive prescriptions. The cost will include both lenses and frames.“We also found in our research that people want simplified pricing — the cost of frames and lenses tends to lend itself to a lack of transparency,” said Magerman.This fall, Eyebobs will open a retail laboratory at the ground floor of its corporate headquarters in Minneapolis. The space will serve as a litmus test for the brand’s retail concept — which it plans to replicate in up to 15 cities over the next 24 to 36 months.
@beyonce chose a custom gown by @falgunishanepeacockindia for mother @mstinalawson 's second annual Wearable Art Gala last night. The gown, which took 10 days to make, was inspired by Nubian warrior queen Amanishakheto. Reporting by @hernameislex . #wwdeye 👑 🐝#beyonce
After dressing @justintimberlake for his Super Bowl halftime performance last month, @stellamccartney has designed the star’s "Man of the Woods" tour wardrobe. Timberlake will be wearing a mix of pieces from McCartney’s fall men's collection as well as custom designs and items from his own closet. #wwdfashion
@carmeloanthony is upping his fashion game once again, introducing a hat collection with @goorinbros. Called Fresh Greens by Melo x Goorin, the line consists of five unisex models, all of which are made in America from 100 percent wool. Each hat is lined with Anthony’s signature and the inscription “Knowledge of self, wisdom and understanding.” You can purchase the collection line at Goorin’s website as well as three off its stores in San Francisco, New York City and Las Vegas #wwdaccessories
“I am of tradition, but that doesn’t mean I have an old outlook on life,” Hubert de Givenchy told WWD in an interview in 1978. The legendary designer, who died last week at the age of 91, achieved wide success soon after launching his own couture boutique in the early ’50s, but he refused to pine for that time. For the first time since its original publication, read our interview with Givenchy on his awe for Audrey Hepburn and looking forward. Link in bio. #wwdarchives #fbf (📷: Pierre Schermann)
About last night: @alexachung and @supergausa toasted the launch of their capsule collection. “It’s the shape that I love, so rather than amend the last and make the sole crazy or do anything wild, we just did really subtle additions that I think make it look really luxe-y,” said Chung. #wwdfashion (📷: Marc Patrick)
Exclusive: @off____white’s @virgilabloh is launching an exclusive eyewear capsule collection @sunglasshut. The unisex collection, which is made up of three styles, first made its debut on the brand’s fall runway show in Paris. Get all the details on WWD.com – link in bio. #wwdnews #wwdfashion


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Google's Android mobile operating system is taking the world by storm. People from just about every continent on the globe are quickly warming to the idea of adopting Google's operating system, and even those that have yet to take the plunge and buy an Android device are thinking quite seriously about doing so. In fact, Forrester recently found that Android and Apple's iOS, users, combined, outpace BlackBerry users in the enterprise. That's no comfort for most CIOs, who have legitimate reasons to be concerned about Android-based smartphones and tablets in the workplace. Here are 10 good reasons why.
This article was originally published on 10-06-2011


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- December 21, 2020
- Posted by: virtualxstore
- Category: trading
The UK Retail Sales m/m data (Actual: -3.8%, Forecast: -4.0%, Previous: 1.3% revised from 1.2%) released last Friday indicated a strong decline in consumer spending due to the return of nationwide lockdown in November.
GBP/USD’s next is at 1.34600 and the next is at 1.38160.
Look for short-term selling opportunities of GBP/USD .


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According to Aristotle, money must have the following properties:
Intrinsic Monetary Value
So Aristotle regarded intrinsic value -- the exchange value...
Crypto News promises to be a fair and objective portal, where readers can find the best information, recent crypto currency news. Newspaper is the best selling News Theme of all time and powers this amazing demo!


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We have been talking about this phone for so long now and here is yet another clear evidence as our most acclaimed source @evleaks yet again comes up with another leaked press render of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, which is actually a rugged version of the one of the most successful Samsung device the Galaxy S4.
The analysts around the tech world had already pointed that the device will be announced at the London event which is expected to take place on June 20. The images shows that the this Galaxy S4 Active is a special AT&T variant, with a sliver and black mixed back cover there is a prominent AT&T logo which tells the whole story.
We have seen some leaked pictures of the Galaxy S4 Active earlier but this one looks a bit different with a special mono gray tone found around the entire body of the device with no other colors to be added all over it except some darker shades of matte gray that can be seen on the top and the bottom of the device. The 4 screws however are much more prominent as we see them in leaked images shown on GSMArena earlier last month, and even the Video which joined the rumors later.
The guys at @evleaks claims that the device will have a Dual-core Snapdragon 600 processor, same super AMOLED full-HD 5-inch display with high-end 441 ppi pixel density found on a Galaxy S4.The phone will come up with a 8 megapixel main camera and will support AT&T 4G-LTE connectivity.
We already have made some specs sheet of the device in our previous posts, you should check them out too. But one thing’s clear all these informations are rumors and we can expect something different packed inside the Samsung Galaxy S4. Stay tuned as we will bring more about this Hardcore Galaxy S4 Active in our future posts.


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Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Vs Samsung M20: After impressing all in the Indian smartphone world, the tech giant Xiaomi is all set to launch its new device Redmi Note 7. According to the reports, Xiaomi will release the new smartphone in February. The tech experts have predicted that Xiaomi’s new phone will catch all the attention as it is loaded with a 48-megapixel camera.
Xiaomi’s new phone will take on Samsung’s M20, which is already available in the market and it would be an interesting contest between both the gigantic companies. Samsung had launched Galaxy’s M20 smartphone last month, which has been priced around Rs 10,990 and to compete with Samsung’s product Xiaomi is likely to keep the price around Rs 10, 000. The reports suggest that it will come in 3 variants 3GB, 4GB and 6GB version phones. While the rival company Samsung has only 3GB and 4GB smartphones versions to offer.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Vs Samsung M20: Comparison and specifications
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
The phone comes with a 6.3-inch Full HD+ (2340 ×1080 pixels) display. Which has a 19:5:9 aspect ratio, 2.5D curved glass.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 comes in 84% NTSC Color Gamut and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection
The latest Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is powered by Qualcomm octa-core Snapdragon 660 processor and company has coupled it Adreno 512 GPU processor.
To shrug off the device hang problems, the company is offering the latest device in 3GB RAM with 32GB of inbuilt storage, 4GB / 6GB of RAM with 64GB of inbuilt storage, expandable up to 256GB with microSD.
The smartphone runs on Android 9.0 Pie.
Its also called as a camera phone as it has a 48-megapixel primary rear camera with LED Flash, 0.8μm pixel size, f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, EIS.
A secondary camera 5-megapixel is also mounted to click the perfect pictures.
On the front side of the device, a 13-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture is given to capture the memorable moments.
It is mounted with a rear fingerprint scanner. A powerful 4000mAh battery with Quick Charge 4 support.
The Samsung’s smartphone has 6.3-inch Full HD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels) TFT T which has Infinity-V display with 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 2.5D curved glass.
The recently launched phone carries its own octa-core Exynos 7904 processor with Mali-G71 GPU.
It has a 3GB RAM with 32GB inbuilt storage capability.
Its 4GB RAM phone has 64GB of inbuilt storage, with expanding facility up to 512GB with microSD.
Samsung M20 also has an Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung Experience 9.5 on top.
The device is mounted with 13-megapixel primary rear camera with f/1.9 aperture, PDAF, LED flash, 5-megapixel ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture.
The Samsung phone is also mounted with 8-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 aperture.
The phone is comes with a fingerprint scanner and a face unlock.
It has a huge backup with a 5000 mAh battery support.
The phone is offering Dual SIM connectivity with a microSD card slot.


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Hewlett-Packard’s split will not affect Costa Rica operation, company says
Hewlett-Packard’s (HP) decision to split into two companies on Sept. 1 will not involve any staff cuts at its operations in Costa Rica, the company said in a statement.
HP will split its enterprise-facing hardware and service business and its consumer-facing computer and printer segments, with both companies trading publicly. The business-oriented company will be called Hewlett-Packard Enterprise while the PC focused business will be called HP Inc.
The change only will apply at the operational level and will not have any impact on the company’s staff in the country, currently at over 6,000 employees, HP reported.
Eighty percent of the local staff will work for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, which will focus on corporate services and software. The remaining 20 percent will work at HP Inc., which will manage the printing and personal computers divisions.
The company in October 2014 officially announced the move and explained that the strategy will provide both of the companies with the focus, financial resources and flexibility to quickly get used to changing market and customer dynamics.
The split will be effective in all 150 countries where HP currently has operations and responds to a global strategy of CEO Meg Whitman.
Human Resources Manager for Central America María Luisa González said there will be little change for Costa Rica employees, and while some will have increased responsibilities, they also will see improvements in their careers. HP launched operations in Costa Rica 13 years ago.
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Amy Rolph writes about Seattle.That probably seems like a pretty general news beat, right? You mighteven say it's not really a beat at all. It is. And it isn't.Amy writes about education and government for seattlepi.com. She also covers entertainment, businesses, the economy and crime. Sometimes, she writes about personalities and nightlife.In other words, Amy writes about Seattle. Much of her work appears on the Big Blog, a place designed to showcase stories for and about the people who live and work in Seattle.Amy covered education and government for Seattlepi.com's newspaper predecessor. More recently, she wrote about business for The Daily Herald in Everett.A fifth-generation Washington native, Amy lives in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood.Know a story you think she should tell? Email her at email@example.com or find her on Twitter as @amyrolph.
Howard Schultz, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks delivers his speech at the Starbucks Partner Family Forum in Beijing on April 18, 2012. (Getty Images)
As Starbucks continues its march of world domination world-wide expansion, it’s running into some cultural issues. Take China for example, where the Seattle-based company has more than 600 stores.
AdAge China has an interesting look at how consumers react to the Starbucks brand. Takeout business is trumped by in-cafe customers. And coffee itself has a curious reputation for being against the masculine tradition.
Election day is almost upon us, and that means a lot of things. It means we’ll soon know who will be the next president of the United States. It means those campaign ads will disappear from TV — finally. And it means you can get free stuff.
We’ve rounded up some of the election-day freebies you can get in Seattle this year. Know of more? Tell us in the comments section and we’ll add them to the gallery above.
I recently posted an email from a reader seeking insight about moving to Seattle, and folks responded with a heaping helping of advice. The original question related to whether it’s tough to make new friends in Seattle, but some Seattleites weren’t having any of that.
One of the most-contentious tips? Don’t bring an umbrella.
Yes, no umbrellas allowed. Once again, Seattleites revealed their biases against umbrellas with a few short remarks.
“For the love of god do not bring an umbrella to this town,” one commenter wrote.
This isn’t a shocking sentiment. I often encounter this opinion when writing about the things that make Seattle distinctly Seattle — but I’m not sure I understand why some people hate umbrellas so much.
That’s right. I’ve lived in Seattle my whole life, and I occasionally use an umbrella.* Surprised?
Food truck fans, get excited. Seattle is getting another Portland-esque food truck pod, operating downtown for lunch, dinner and late-night eating.
The pod, featuring a rotating calendar of local mobile-food favorites, is setting up shop at Second Avenue and Pike Street. So far, the lineup looks pretty impressive. (Pretty sure I’ll be stopping by for grilled cheese some Thursday night in the near future.)


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Iran Pharmaceutical Importers Body Elaborates on Supply Shortage
EghtesadOnline: Iranian government’s fight with hoarding is heating up. Back-to-back reports being published on police confiscating goods in warehouses across the country are meant to assure people that, despite economic upheavals, the government seeks to protect them from hardship and exploitation.
However, this policing strategy of confiscating goods has impinged on the commercial liberties of pharmaceutical firms and honest traders.
“The government committed several mistakes in its policies on foreign currency market and now, economic players are being treated with suspicion,” Nasser Riahi, chairman of Iranian Pharmaceutical Importers Association, told Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture’s news outlet, according to Financial Tribune.
“Such an approach is against the presumption of innocence, the principle that one is considered innocent unless proven guilty.”
It was around mid-July that Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari appointed his commercial affairs deputy, Hassan Younes Sinaki, the head of Consumers and Producers Protection Organization, Mahmoud Navvabi, and the head of ‘Tazirat’ (a judiciary-affiliated oversight body dealing with trading offenses), Jamal Ansari, as members of the newly-formed taskforce named “Intensified Fight Against Hoarding and Stashing”.
According to the minister, the taskforce would help maintain market balance by overseeing imported commodities or those produced using imported raw materials purchased at subsidized forex rates and prevent disruptive activities such as hoarding and stashing.
A few days later, he unveiled a list of goods to be targeted by the new taskforce. It included a wide range of products from essential goods to home appliances, spare parts, rubber, publication paper, washing powder and construction material. The items also included a category titled “production raw materials”, without further elaboration.
Officials called on the public to inform authorities of hoarding and stashing cases.
Since then, news of hoarded goods being confiscated in warehouses across the country, the capital city in particular, have been splashing all over the media to attest to the taskforce’s “unflagging” efforts in carrying out its responsibility.
At times, representatives of oversight bodies such as ‘Tazirat’ pay visits to warehouses that do not really intend to hoard things. They have just stored their commodities to sell them later on.
Riahi said hoarding is not practical in the case of pharmaceuticals.
“The import and clearance processes of pharmaceuticals from customs require permits from the Ministry of Health. The ministry only grants clearance permits to businesspeople who have gone through several stages of import formalities and received the permits. The Health Ministry is in the know of the amount of pharmaceuticals at customs,” he said.
The official explained that since medicines should be stored and transported within a GMP framework, they can only be kept for a short period at customs and their customs clearance should be accelerated.
Good Manufacturing Practice is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled, according to quality standards. It is designed to minimize the risks involved in any pharmaceutical production that cannot be eliminated by testing the final product.
“Distribution companies are in charge of receiving medicines from customs at the time of clearance. As a result, importers don’t have access to pharmaceuticals, except for a limited amount they keep as sample,” he said.
Referring to an electronic tracking system distributors are obliged to use to locate the imported drug, Riahi said, “The Ministry of Health also has access to this tracking system, so the likelihood of hoarding and smuggling is close to zero. But, sadly, people with little knowledge make baseless allegations against pharmaceutical industrialists.”
Asked about the news of a confiscation of a warehouse full of expired pharmaceuticals last month, Riahi said, “Those who possess expired medicines are required to destroy them in the presence of the representatives of Iranian National Tax Administration, the Ministry of Health and the Interior Ministry at specific venues. So it is wrong to say that this warehouse was full of hoarded pharmaceuticals.”
Fearing the smuggling or people’s storage of drugs more than what they need, the Food and Drug Organization of Iran has warned distributor companies against providing pharmacies with medicines more than their monthly need.
“Pharmacies should match their supply with demand. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical industry is obliged to have strategic pharmaceutical storage sufficient for three months. Therefore, it is natural for them to have medicines in warehouses,” he added.
Riahi noted that warehousing is a normal stage in the cycle of production, supply of goods and providing services.
“Repeated monitoring by the inspectors of oversight bodies creates constant concerns for economic operators whereas all these medicines are traceable before they enter pharmacies,” he added.
So Who’s to Blame?
Riahi, who is also a member of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, believes that any shortage of medicines is mostly due to a lack of capital, untimely allocation of foreign currency and the government’s failure to pay its debts to companies.
Noting that pharmaceutical importers don’t approve of receiving subsidized foreign currency, Riahi said, “They would rather obtain their needed foreign currency from the open market. The government can pay the difference between the subsidized and open market rates to consumers.
“In doing so, producers and importers of pharmaceuticals won’t get entangled in battles of getting forex from the government. For about 20 days in the Iranian month Tir (June 22-July 22), the government was unable to provide importers with forex,” he said.
Iran’s market descended into panic after the value of rial fell drastically over a very short period following, among other reasons, the US decision to quit the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, and reimpose sanctions on Iran’s economy.


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Work began on Monday, April 30, on the anticipated Payne Park Playground. Chris Hutchinson, the foreman from Gator Grading and Pavement, said that there is still plenty of work to be done including creating the handicap ramp and putting in all the flat work and concrete.
The playground will have Rainbow Turf, which is created out of recycled materials, designed to cushion any falls. The colorful, circus-themed playground pieces are on site and wrapped up in plastic and will be put in piece by piece over the next few months.
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4 Meet the Sky
5 Volunteer Connect Meeting
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
9 Back to School Bash 2014
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
9 Cat Depot Leash Walking Class
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FYI Friday — Your weekly news roundup
Catch up on the week's most important and most interesting news stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County with FYI Friday.
Men arrested for use of counterfeit bills
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men early Friday who attempted to purchase items at several convenience stores with fraudulent $100 bills.
Woman arrested for June theft
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested Jessica Barker of Lehigh for the alleged theft of more than $300 worth of merchandise from Ulta Beauty on South Tamiami.


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MotoE is the premier electric motorcycle racing series. Data and advancements from the world-class race teams help Energica develop products for the roadways, and sustainability is a major goal for the budding electric racing circuit. As the MotoE tire supplier, Michelin shares the same goals.
The French tire manufacturer isn’t a stranger to green initiatives. It recently committed to producing 100-percent sustainable rubber by 2050 and championed a method for recycling plastic bottles for use in tires. Now, Michelin is applying is special alchemy to repurpose used race slicks in MotoE.
Each race weekend, MotoE teams receive a 16-tire allowance. That tire allocation consists of four fronts and five rears along with three wet front tires and four wet rears. Most slicks don’t last more than one session, as racers prioritize grip over sustainability. That leaves a lot of rubber unused, and Michelin is pioneering a way to recover and reuse those lost resources.
Partnering with Swedish recycling company Enviro, Michelin will implement the brand’s patented pyrolysis method to extract key components from partially used tires. Once broken down, the recovered carbon black material can be reused for high-quality race tires. The leftover steel can also be repurposed at Enviro and Michelin’s smelting facility.
Michelin hopes that the new process will increase the company’s already impressive sustainability figures. MotoE currently features rear tires composed of 40 percent sustainable materials and front tires don’t trail too far behind with 33 percent sustainable materials. To meet those goals, Michelin utilizes ingredients like orange and lemon peel, pine resin, sunflower oil, hevea sap, worn truck and car tires, and scrap steel in lieu of petroleum-based additives.
Over the course of the seven-race 2021 MotoE season, Michelin estimates that 4.6 tons of sustainable materials will go into its tires. That’s a lot of lemon peels and sap, but it’s much better than the alternatives. Of course, if Michelin can apply Enviro’s pyrolysis process more broadly, it can also reduce the amount of crude oil used to produce new carbon black.
Similar to Energica’s developments, hopefully, Michelin can apply its race-born technology to consumer goods in the near future as well.


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Frozen yogurt chain Yogurt Lab is adding four locations in the Twin Cities area.
Its newest shop is in Eagan and opened last week, and a shop in downtown Wayzata will open at the end of the month.
Yogurt Lab CEO Aaron Switz said he was drawn to the Wayzata location because it is across from Sunsets restaurant and Lake Minnetonka, a popular spot for families in the summer.
"Being right on that street by the water will be great," Switz said.
Switz and his wife, Andrea Switz, opened their first Yogurt Lab shop near Lake Calhoun in late 2011. The couple started the business as a hobby, Aaron Switz said, and as a way to offer a different product in the expanding national frozen yogurt market. Since then they have opened three more locations downtown. The Lake Calhoun shop continues to serve the most customers.
Minneapolis-based Yogurt Lab also plans to open two more locations in the fall — in Uptown Minneapolis and in Apple Valley.
"We’re now tackling the suburbs," Aaron Switz said. "We want to be able to get to enough spots so that people who like it don’t have to drive 30 minutes."
The four new locations will bring in about 40 new employees, as each shop employs seven to 15 people, depending on the season.
Yogurt Lab’s expansion reflects the rapid growth of the frozen yogurt industry in the Twin Cities. The trend began in California with chains such as Pinkberry and expanded to the Twin Cities with players such as Bloomington-based Leeann Chin's Red Cherry, Oklahoma-based CherryBerry, and Chaska-based Freeziac.
"Minnesota a year ago was way behind," Switz said. "We’re not saturated yet but we’re getting close."
The founders aim to differentiate Yogurt Lab with healthier, organic options. The chain makes all of its own flavors and uses hormone-free milk. It will soon start fortifying all flavors with added probiotics, a process rarely used by frozen yogurt chains, Switz said. Red Mango, a popular national franchise with no Minnesota locations, also includes "super-biotics."
The probiotics will bring up the company’s cost structure slightly, Switz said, but the expansion and added customers should help offset the increase.
Switz said he thinks the frozen yogurt market is starting to diversify in the Twin Cities.
"I think at first everyone was painting the same brush," Switz said. "People are now developing a palete and are starting to pick who they like."


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LAHORE: Two persons were critically injured and five shops and 10 vehicles reduced to ashes when several liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders exploded one after another at Garden Town’s Barkat Market on Tuesday.
The incident took place at four LPG refilling shops located in the rear of the market famous for food outlets. The blasts and flames created panic in the area as most traders and residents came out of their shops and houses amid apprehension of terrorism in the city.
Fortunately, no loss of life had been reported, police and Rescue 1122 officials told reporters.
The mobile phone footages went viral on social media showing multiple blasts causing huge flames ripping through the shops. A footage was filmed by a resident from rooftop of his house and it showed blasts in the market and people running for shelter.
Panic-stricken people also found five shops, 10 vehicles damaged
Police and rescuers said five shops and 10 vehicles were damaged in the incident which resulted in critical burn injuries to two persons who were later shifted to hospital in a life-threatening condition.
An eyewitness said some people had been running ‘illegal gas refilling stations’ at the most busiest market of the city after greasing the palms of the district government authorities. He said the incident occurred when a shop owner was refilling an LPG cylinder and he noticed gas leakage but in a moment, it caught fire as a result of which the shop owner was critically burnt.
Meanwhile, some customers present there came out of the shop and the owners of other shops and customers also ran helter-skelter when the fire intensified. A few moments later, they heard the deafening noise of a cylinder blast which left another person injured.
The eyewitness said the shopkeepers were refilling LPG cylinders through connecting pipes with pressure controller. More cylinders caught fire and exploded, he said, adding that five shops and vehicles, mostly cars, parked outside were damaged.
Area people complained that the illegal decanting had been going on unabated at the cost of public safety.
More than 10 special vehicles rushed to the site to take part in the operation, a spokesperson for the Rescue 1122 said, adding that they controlled the blaze after hectic efforts of two hours or so.
The district government has launched an inquiry into the incident to fix responsibility for running illegal business of LPG cylinders.
Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2021