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April 28, 2017
It was a good year in the making, but well worth the wait: Today we are proud to announce the launch of our new retail data analysis platform, LZ Retailytics. As the strapline 'Smart Intelligence for Grocery Retail in Europe' implies, its mission is to provide the food retail industry and its business partners with insight, analysis and forecast data to support their business in Europe. This English-language digital and mobile platform will also deliver workshops, training courses and projects. LZ Retailytics tracks and analyses the business development of more than 1,000 grocery retail banners in 40 European countries. Want to know more?
April 27, 2017
Enter the dragon and bring on the girls
It was some Grand Opening in Shanghai this Tuesday. Five weeks after the soft launch, Aldi Süd (Aldi South), Germany's most profitable discounter, officially presented its new online shop to the People's Republic of China. No pains or expense were spared for the official ceremony at the Waterhouse in Shanghai. The gentle-voiced and incredibly popular, local singer Chen Kun had been recruited for the occasion. Perhaps a little incongruously for a retailer whose initial offer only includes 100 own-label food lines, the audience were also treated to a fashion show where young ladies with willowy bodies strutted their stuff on the catwalk. Of course, it could all have been just a glamour item, but perhaps the privately-run retail giant is hinting at introducing its successful fashion collection to the Middle Kingdom? At any event, when one considers that Aldi has opened an office with 40 staff in the centre of Shanghai and a big distribution centre in the port of Ningbo, its cooperation with Alibaba B2C platform Tmall Global looks far more than a toe-dipping exercise in the South China Sea. And as journalists we can only exult because the low-profile retailer authorised country manager Christoph Schwaiger to talk with Lebensmittel Zeitung.
April 12, 2017
The heinous and cowardly terrorist attack in the heart of the Swedish capital last Friday was above all things a crime against humanity and another sad chapter in man's seemingly limitless capacity for inhumanity towards his fellow man. As with the hostage-taking at the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi in September 2013, this tragic event regrettably also has a retail context. A hijacked lorry was first deliberately driven at shoppers on Drottninggatan, Stockholm's busiest shopping street, and then into Sweden's largest department store Åhléns City. All responsible retailers will therefore again be asking themselves what more they can do to protect their customers. Few, understandably, wish to discuss their security measures in public. We therefore asked Will Geddes, CEO of International Corporate Protection in London, for his advice on enhancing retail security.
March 9, 2017
P is for pasta, A is for Aldi
Mamma mia! Fruitbook Magazine has actually flown over Aldi's first distribution centre in Italy and shot some photos. The site in Oppeano, 20km from the centre of Verona, is still under construction. But, as the picture taken in mid-February below shows, the German discount giant is well on the way to setting up shop in Venetia. One real estate developer tells us that Aldi is already searching for another DC of around 60,000m² to the south of Milan. Luigi Rubinelli, managing editor of RetailWatch, believes this could be in the vicinity of Piacenza. He also says that Aldi has just signed the lease on a first store in Merano. True to form, Hofer, Aldi South's Austrian subsidiary responsible for group expansion in bella Italia, remains tight-lipped. This gives free rein to speculation on how big the company wants to become south of the Alps. So what have we been able to piece together for our readers so far?
March 9, 2017
Will Kaufland stock Crocodile Dundee hats in Australia?
"Strewth, cobber, another one's coming!" This, or similar, could be the reaction of Crocodile Dundee on hearing that German discounter Kaufland will be arriving soon in Oz. The Schwarz Group subsidiary and Lidl sister company has confirmed that a feasibility study on market entry has "already made considerable progress" but refrains from giving a specific starting date. The low-profile retail giant, with 1,230 compact hypermarkets in Germany and six Central & Eastern European countries, needn't be so coy, however. An increasing number of its top brass have been seen returning from Australia with a suntan of late, and we are happy to reveal that the corporate HQ will be in Melbourne. A glance at Kaufland Australia's new website (www.kaufland.com.au) confirms that they are already actively recruiting for a "letting manager". The company is also searching for locations with a minimum plot of 10,000m² and a preferred size of 15,000m²-20,000m², including 200 to 300 parking spaces. Want to know more?
March 1, 2017
Sign of the times: Out with the old and in with the Asian online new
Women can fascinate by changing the way they look every day, if they so please, but big retailers are under a different set of constraints. Tinkering with the corporate logo can be a dangerous game because customers generally expect consistency from their local shop. Small wonder then that grocers generally opt for a conservative approach when it comes to design and optics. In the past, few retailers were more conservative than Aldi Süd (Aldi South), but the German discount giant has become noticeably more adventurous on its home market over the last two or three years. The new buzz is multifacetted and can be seen, for instance, in plans for an online shop in the People's Republic of China this spring. Soon shoppers in Old Europe, Donald Trump country, and Oz will also be greeted by a company sign worthy of our exciting new cyber age.
February 16, 2017
Kickstart: Will Lidl speed growth in the US with an acquisition?
It is doubtful whether Donald Trump knows Lidl, and it is unlikely that Melania or Ivanka will ever go shopping in one of its no-frills stores. But, if the US president-in-tweet really means what he says about American jobs and putting more spending money in the pocket of the Average Joe, then he should be one of the very first to welcome the German discounter. We now know that Lidl will enter the US this summer, at least six months ahead of schedule. Twenty stores are planned for Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina in a first wave and up to 100 outlets across the East Coast by mid-2018. This will create around 4,000 new jobs over the same period. That's quite a bold start, but it took arch-rival Aldi 40 years to become even America's 20th-largest retailer. So, if Lidl doesn't want to wait most of this century before it joins the US big league, could the company go an a buying spree?
February 3, 2017
Metro Group: Run by a succession of portfolio managers masquerading as retailers
Next Monday the long-suffering shareholders of Metro Group will be asked to rubber-stamp management plans to split the German retail giant into two separate public limited companies. Weird-sounding "Ceconomy AG" will then soon house Europe's largest entertainment electronics retailer, Media-Saturn, while niftily-named "Metro Wholesale and Food Specialist Company" will combine Europe's leading wholesaler, Metro Cash & Carry, and "real,-", Germany’s largest Big Box retailer by sales. If one harkens to the siren song of Metro Group CEO Olaf Koch, international investors will soon be able to participate in an exciting international growth story: "We are now bringing two strong, successful and strategically-focused companies to the start(ing block)." Is this really the case, or is the financial community being sold another round of snake oil?
January 12, 2017
Goodwill: Now you see it, now you don't
Chief Executive Officer Olaf Koch likes to joke about his surname when discussing plans to split German retail giant Metro Group into two separate entities by mid-2017. Koch means 'cook' in German, so the pleasantry is moderately witty in his home country, however fatal it would be in English-speaking business circles. So, all things considered, perhaps 'magician' would be the better word to use. After all, a man who can make nearly €580m in goodwill disappear off a corporate balance sheet in a perfectly legal way is little less than a financial wizard.
January 7, 2017
Lidl's Czech model: "Black as my own face" (Othello)
Over the last seven years, this satirical column has been particularly critical of Lidl and its parent company Schwarz Group. Along with some trade unionists and NGOs, German Retail Blog has often questioned the ethics of this low-profile German discount giant. The company has been termed "ruthless", "hard-nosed" or "redneck" and its management "macho". Doubt has also been cast on an internal decision to burnish corporate morals. Even a recent move by the c-suite towards a less formal management culture has been teased without mercy. But an apology is now called for: Lidl has proved that a leopard can change its spots. How did this conversion of Saul to Paul on the journalist road to Damascus come about? A threat of legal action? A chummy lunch with the publisher? The promise of a job in the press department? No, Lidl has revealed its moral integrity through the eloquence of action.


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tech2 News StaffMar 27, 2019 12:59:01 IST
Microsoft's unveiled its next-gen workplace Surface Hub 2 last year. The giant conferencing room system featured a 50.5-inch multi-touch display to co-create, harnessing the power of Microsoft Whiteboard, Office 365, Windows 10 and the Intelligent Cloud.
Microsoft now seems to be preparing to showcase its first wave of its new Surface Hub 2 conferencing systems. The company is holding a 'work-focused' press event in New York on 17 April. Microsoft has already started sending press invites for the same to select media outlets.
"Microsoft and Steelcase invite you to experience new ways to work better, together," the invitation reads. For the uninitiated, Steelcase is a leading manufacturer that has been working with Microsoft on office furniture and accessories including rolling frames, mounts for the Surface Hub.
Notably, Microsoft announced the Surface Hub 2S in fall last year and promised that it will roll out the conferencing system in the second quarter of 2019. The company didn't share many details about its Surface Hub 2S, however the company at its Ignite annual conference for developers last year mentioned that the next-gen software and services for the platform will be rolled out in 2020.
As per reports, Microsoft is said to bring a Surface Hub 2X upgrade cartridge in 2020 that will likely include new software and the ability to rotate the device, multi-user login as well. In addition, the Surface Hub 2X in 2020 is said to be powered by Microsoft's Office 365 service.
Further reports note that the hardware, cameras, and display will be nearly the same in both the Surface Hub 2S and Surface Hub 2X. The Microsoft Surface Hub 2S features a 4K+ 50.5-inch multi-touch edge-to-edge display. Microsoft reportedly claimed that the Surface Hub 2S is affordable to fit any workspace or work style.

domain: news


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Unfortunately this has been the most difficult year in the firework business. It started on December 4th in Liuyang, China with a major firework accident. This accident shut down all firework manufacturing, putting over 300,000 people in the firework industry out of work up until Chinese New Year. From that point on the COVID-19 virus […]
The Oldest Traditions Call for the Latest and Greatest Fireworks.
We’ve got some good news for those who just can’t wait to get into some of that intense, heart-pounding, firework action. Intergalactic is going to be showing off new products from our in-house brands at our annual demo on May 31st, and we want you to be there! We’re going to be lighting hundreds of […]
Memorial day is a very special day of remembrance, and because of that, Intergalactic Fireworks would like to share our annual Memorial Day sale with you. As always, we’ll have stacks of 500G Cakes throughout the store in Langhorne PA, that you can pick up for only $100. Each stack contains a wide variation of […]


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March 22, 2021
HBO Max has launched a new feature that allows users to customize their profile images, either by uploading a photo of their own — a first of its kind feature among streaming platforms, according to the service — or by choosing an avatar from a selection of more than 120 iconic characters.
The new feature launched March 22 and rolls out across all supported partners by March 26
“With the launch of customizable profile images and character avatars, we’re delivering on our promise of a bespoke experience that is tailored to each user, empowering their individual tastes and preferences,” said Sarah Lyons, EVP, direct-to-consumer global product management. “This is a key step toward our vision of providing users with a platform where they can build an identity that connects them to the content they love most.”
Users can upload a photo or take a new photo via supported tablets and mobile devices or can choose an avatar from popular HBO Originals, Max Originals and classic animated and kid-friendly titles. The image will then appear across all supported platforms where the user is signed in.
Users can choose characters from classics such as “Game of Thrones,” “The Sopranos” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” to newer titles such as “Insecure,” “The Flight Attendant,” “Lovecraft Country,” “I May Destroy You,” “Watchmen,” “Westworld,” “Succession,” “Raised By Wolves” and more. Avatars from these titles were specifically curated with content partners to identify the most popular characters across several demographics, according to HBO Max. Additional characters will be available to choose from in upcoming releases. For complete steps on how to manage a user profile, see hbom.ax/profiles.
HBO Max’s avatar selection also features a wide array of kid-friendly options, including characters from shows such as “Looney Tunes,” “Sesame Street,” “Tom & Jerry,” “Powerpuff Girls,” “Scooby Doo,” “Princess Mononoke,” “Spirited Away” and more. When parents create a kid’s profile, they will set an account PIN that will also be used to manage their kids’ profile images. The child will only see age-appropriate avatar options based on their parental control settings. To learn more about tailored experiences for kids, see hbom.ax/kid-profiles.
Since launch, HBO Max has rolled out enhancements to the product including the “For You” Tray, allowing each user to see a different selection of content in a tray personalized to them, Age-Targeted Kids Profiles that launch kids directly into a homepage curated for their age, and support for enhanced viewing formats such as 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on select titles.


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An off-licence caught selling alcohol to youngsters has been stripped of its licence.
Kumar's Store in Willow Avenue, Fenham, was stripped of its licence after staff sold drink to youngsters twice in two months.
On October 22 last year, a 15-year-old was spotted by police at the store buying vodka and sparkling wine.
At the time the licensee was approached by officers, cautioned and reported for the offence.
Less than two months after the caution was issued, trading standards officers carried out a test purchase at the store and a 14-year-old was served with four cans of lager.
The licensee appealed against the decision to strip the shop of its licence, but this was turned down.
And last year, Punshons, on Gosforth High Street, was barred from selling alcohol after it was revealed it did not have a licence in place.
The store had already been fined for underage sales.
The shop re-applied for a licence but it was turned down by the city council after it was revealed more alcohol was sold to 13 and 14-year-olds.


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SWARTZ CREEK — Swartz Creek Wireless opened its doors for business in Swartz Creek last month, and owner Chuck Nelson looks forward to doing business in the area.
“I like small communities. I like small, hometown environments,” Nelson said. “The community has done well supporting me so far.”
Swartz Creek Wireless is a select retailer for Boost and Virgin Mobile and sells Boost and Virgin Mobile cellular phones. By being a select retailer, it means the new store gets many products before other dealers in the area.
“We always have the newest phones in the area,” Nelson said.
Nelson started the new location with his wife, Jamie Nelson, in early May, and the couple has two other stores in Clio and Owosso. Since they first opened a pager store in Saginaw in 1996, they have always put an emphasis on customer service.
“Customer service is a big deal for us. That’s why we’ve been in business for as long as we have,” Nelson said. “Hopefully word of mouth gets out that I take care of the customers.”
The store features a full line of Android phones ranging from $79.99 to $300, including the new Evo Design 4G that they started carrying on June 7. They also have more basic phones and flips with a Qwerty keypad.
Nelson boasted about the competi- tive wireless rates being offered in his store currently, including a $50 per month unlimited plan by Boost, as well as their $55 per month unlimited plan for smart phones.
“There’s no contract, no obligation. It’s an awesome deal by all means,” he said.
In addition to cellular phones, the store carries car chargers, screen protectors, SD cards and a full line of snap-on phone cases.
“We sell a lot of snap-on cases. People like colors on their phone,” Nelson said.
They also act as a payment center for cellular phone accounts. In the competitive wireless market, Nelson believes he will rise above the competition in Swartz Creek.
“This is a tough business to be in. There is one on every corner,” Nelson said. “To survive, you’ve got to take care of the customers.”
The store is located at 9001 Miller Road in Swartz Creek, with store hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The store is closed on Sunday.


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More people are choosing to ditch air travel and jump on a cruise ship, which is turning out to be good news for the Bay of Plenty economy. More than 225,000 passengers on 114 cruise ships visited Tauranga shores during the 2018/2019 season and more ships are expected in the coming years. Reporter Caroline Fleming looked into the season just ended and where the benefits will likely fall in the future.
Bay of Plenty's economy looks set to reap the benefits of a rise in high-spend cruise ship passengers expected to flood Tauranga city.
Tourism Bay of Plenty is forecasting even more cruise ships and passengers with cash-lined pockets will visit the city and as a result, the region in the next few years.
During the 2018/19 season, Tauranga welcomed more than 225,000 passengers aboard 114 cruise ships. The season ended in April and the number of cruise ship visits was up 33 compared to the year before, translating to 75,000 more people. Almost 40,000 more crew also passed through than in the previous season.
In this time, visitors to the Bay of Plenty spent an estimated $91 million compared to $65m the previous year.
Tourism experts predict these visits and associated spending will only grow over the next three years.
Already, 110 cruise ships with 205,205 passengers are expected to dock in Tauranga in 2021. In 2022, 117 ships and 216,896 passengers are expected and 120 ships and 223,184 in 2023.
Tourism Bay of Plenty's Kath Low said although fewer ships would visit next season, there would be a higher yield of visitor spend.
Low said the passengers over the coming seasons were within a high spend bracket and
would be beneficial to the Bay of Plenty economy.
Consumer marketing manager at Destination Rotorua Tom Worsp said cruise ship passengers were a significant contributor to Rotorua's visitor economy.
Massive military vessel back in Tauranga waters
'Turbulent' weather ahead for Bay of Plenty
Worsp said the impact of this went beyond the cruise season, as cruise passengers had a high propensity for return visits to New Zealand.
Shore Trips and Tours operations manager Nigel Spence said with the cruise ship market booming in Tauranga, their business was experiencing about 20 per cent in growth per year.
About half of the tours went to Rotorua as tourists had a huge interest in the city, with about 15 per cent staying local in Tauranga. The remainder often chose Matamata's Hobbiton, he said.
Spence said the tours would make sure to stop at Tauranga food places and stores to try to filter back into local businesses. The tour company was also focusing on finding tour opportunities in Te Puke and Maketū.
"Everywhere we take people they spend money, which is great for the Bay of Plenty economy."
It is estimated about half of all cruise ship passengers independently explore Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, meaning they don't book tours and choose to stay local.
Mount Surf Shop owner Matt Saunders said he noticed more customers in his shop when a cruise ship was in town and that some ship passengers would spend noticeably more than others.
On Mount Maunganui's main strip, The Bach cafe owner Colleen Heath said the rise in cruise ship passengers definitely made a difference to business. However, she did find a large number booked tours out of town.
The 2019/2020 cruise ship season was expected to start around the beginning of October 2019 and wrap up in April 2020.


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POINT PLEASANT BEACH — A Mega Millions ticket from the New Jersey Lottery was sold at Circle K convenience store located within the Exxon station at 200 Richmond Ave.
The winnings of the lucky ticket that matched all five numbers, drawn on Tuesday, July 26, are $1,000,000, the New Jersey Lottery announced.
The winning numbers were: 7, 29, 60, 63 and 66. The gold mega ball was 15 and the megaplier was 3.
The next drawing will be held Friday, July 29, at 11 p.m.
For more on this story, read the next edition of The Ocean Star—on newsstands Friday or online in our e-Edition.
Subscribe today! If you're not already an annual subscriber to The Ocean Star, get your subscription today! For just $34 per year, you will receive local mail delivery weekly, with pages and pages of local news and online access to our e-edition on Starnewsgroup.com.


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Electric vehicles are becoming more accessible as major manufacturers roll out new models. HSBC is helping drive change on this front by supporting automakers like China's Geely, which is ramping up production of electric vehicles.6 Geely's commercial vehicle arm, Farizon, plans to roll out an electric truck in 2024.
The US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law last year, will also boost the EV market with its inclusion of tax credits for clean vehicles – up to US$7,500 for light- and medium-duty vehicles and US$40,000 for heavy-duty trucks. The European Commission in February proposed stricter emissions limits for heavy-duty vehicles, including a 90% emissions reduction by 2040, relative to 2019 levels.
But there are hurdles. While improvements in battery technology are allowing the electrification of bigger vehicles across longer distances, the lack of charging infrastructure is hindering the mass adoption of electric fleets. Charging electric vehicles also takes more time than filling a tank with diesel, which can lead to lower margins for delivery companies by forcing delivery vehicles off the road for longer periods.
The good news is that investment in electric charging infrastructure is growing rapidly. HSBC is supporting companies like ChargePoint and Blink Charging on their expansion of global EV charging networks, while major logistics businesses are installing their own chargers at their distribution centres.
Easier access to charging points would not only make operating electric vehicles more practical, but can also allow for the use of smaller batteries, which would make them considerably cheaper.


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An Asian collector splurged nearly US$43 million on an Amadeo Modigliani painting in New York, scooping the top prize in an otherwise lackluster evening sale at Sotheby’s that kicked off the autumn auction season.
A vintage Rolex Submariner that had a starring role in the James Bond movie “Live and Let Die” is set to go under the hammer in Switzerland November 7.
A who’s who of the world’s best-selling artists in 2015, as compiled by our friends at Art Republik
A Ferrari driven by five-time Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio, will be auctioned off in New York in December.
The last lunch menu that was saved from the Titanic is being auctioned off at Lion Heart Autographs and is expected to go for $50,000 to $70,000.
Slices from the cakes of five British royal weddings dating back up to 42 years have been put up for auction.
Famed auction house Sotheby’s and eBay launched yesterday their new live online auction site, ebay.com/sothebys.
Christie’s is consolidating its ties with China by opening a grand new home at the Ampire Building, located on Shanghai’s waterfront area, The Bund.
A flawless fancy vivid pink diamond sold for a record US$17.7 million in Hong Kong late Tuesday, Sotheby’s said.
An example of the most famous and sought-after classic cars in the world, the Ferrari 250 GTO, is being sold at auction on August 14.
On 12 July 2014, Bonhams’ Mercedes-Benz Sale will feature a choice selection of some 40 motor cars manufactured by the renowned German marque over its more than a century-long history.
For the 100 years Leica anniversary Westlicht will have a special auction on May 23th, 2014.
This “chicken cup” sold for HK$281 million ($36.05 million) at a Sotheby’s auction today, setting a world record for Chinese porcelain.
Sotheby’s says an enormous diamond known as “The Pink Star” is back in its possession after the buyer couldn’t pay for the jewel and defaulted.
A Harley-Davidson motorbike that briefly belonged to Pope Francis was sold to a mystery European buyer for 210,000 euros.
Want to own a piece of the Sydney Opera House? Now you can – in a virtual sense.
The French prime minister’s official residence, Matignon, is selling 1,400 bottles of its wine, amid efforts to streamline costs.
A gold and diamond crown tiara worn by Victoria Adams when she married David Beckham is to be sold by Bonhams on Dec. 5 during their Fine Jewellery sale.
A 1964 Ferrari 250 LM has sold for a record $14.3 million at the RM Auctions & Sotheby’s collaborative auction held in New York.
The violin played by the bandmaster of the Titanic to calm passengers as it sank sold at auction for £900,000 ($1.45 million) on Saturday, a world record fee for memorabilia from the doomed liner.


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China Microblog Users Fall 9% on Tencent App CompetitionLulu Yilun Chen
Users of China’s Twitter-like microblogs fell for the first time amid challenges from new instant-messaging applications offered by Tencent Holdings Ltd. and a government crackdown on spreading rumors.
The number of users of Weibo, the Chinese version of microblogs, dropped 9 percent from a year earlier to 281 million at the end of 2013, according to a report published by China Internet Network Information Center. That marked the first decline in the platform use in figures dating back to 2010. The country had 618 million Internet customers as of Dec. 31, a 4.6 percent increase from the 591 million posted in June.
Sina Corp., the owner of China’s largest Weibo outlet that’s facing competition from Tencent’s WeChat instant-messaging application, fell in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The government strengthened punishments in September for online defamation, reflecting a stepped-up Communist Party campaign to rein in a forum that has challenged the country’s censorship regime.
“WeChat has become the trendy hot thing of the day and is replacing Weibo,” Doug Young, author of the book “The Party Line: How the Media Dictates Public Opinion in Modern China,” said yesterday by telephone. “The crackdown impacted a certain group of users on Weibo.”
Tencent shares climbed 3.2 percent, the most in more than two months, to close at a record HK$529 in Hong Kong. The stock almost doubled in value last year, compared with a 2.9 percent advance for the benchmark Hang Seng Index.
The number of people who access Weibo from their mobile phones fell 2.9 percent to 196 million as of Dec. 31.
Sina Weibo’s daily active users totaled 60.2 million from June to September, executives said on a conference call in November. The company’s Weibo unit agreed to sell an 18 percent stake for $586 million to China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., in April.
Other companies that run similar platforms include Sohu.com Inc. and a version offered by Tencent.
Sina fell 4.8 percent to $80.58 in Nasdaq trading yesterday, the most in more than three months. Sohu declined 0.4 percent to $75.57.
Sina Weibo’s active users rose in the first three quarters, Liu Qi, a spokesman for the Beijing-based company, said by phone. The Internet center’s report looks at the entire market and doesn’t accurately reflect Sina Weibo’s business, he said. Jiang Xin, a spokeswoman for Sohu in Beijing, said she couldn’t immediately comment.
The outlook for Weibo isn’t optimistic, the Internet center said. Among people who reduced Weibo usage, 37.4 percent moved to WeChat, the report showed. High-end Weibo customers showed the largest decline in usage, it said.
Mobile-phone Internet users in China increased by 19 percent to 500 million as of Dec. 31, according to the report. The number of Chinese residents shopping online jumped 25 percent to 302 million in 2013.
Social-media sites including Sina Weibo have become platforms used by Chinese citizens to expose corruption and wrongdoing in a country where all domestic newspapers, television and radio stations are state-owned. The largest service providers on China’s Internet aren’t under government ownership.
China said in September that authorities could jail web users for as long as three years for posting comments deemed defamatory, in a legal interpretation that defines punishments for people who violate government Internet controls.
People face imprisonment if defamatory rumors they post online are read by more than 5,000 people, reposted more than 500 times or cause the subjects to hurt themselves, commit suicide or “experience mental disorders,” the official Xinhua News Agency reported.


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Russia: in January the exports of grains to significantly fall – Rusagrotrans
In January 2014 the exports of Russian grains will halve compared with the previous month - to 1-1.1 mln tonnes, announced Igor Pavensky, Deputy Director of the strategic marketing department of CJSC Rusagrotrans, on January 15.
According to the experts, recent decreasing of the competitiveness of Russian grains on the world market will also influence the reporting decline of the export volumes.
Under the reporting conditions, on January 1-13 the volume of foreign supplies of Russian grains were estimated at 250-300 thsd tonnes.
As a result, Rusagrotrans reduced its estimation of the export volumes in January to 1-1.1 mln tonnes, as opposed to the estimations made in December at 1.2-1.3 mln tonnes. The volume of transshipment through the deep-sea ports of Novorossiysk, Tuapse and Taman may reach nearly 681 thsd tonnes, down 2 times compared with December 2013, summed I.Pavensky.
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USA extended sanctions against Russia for one year
Russia: buckwheat exports of buckwheat broke the record
Russia: Government not to consider the issue on cancellation of the food import ban in the nearest future – A.Dvorkovich
Russia exported record flaxseed volumes
On March 4, Russia purchased only 5 thsd tonnes of grains to the intervention fund
Russia to allow agricultural imports, if Western companies process the raw materials in Russia – D.Peskov
Russia: construction of the port Taman not to begin until 2018
On March 3, Russia purchased only 3 thsd tonnes of grains to the intervention fund


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Square Enix has been steadily working on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for over a year since the first announcement in 2022.
Earlier this year, the gaming giant showcased its first gameplay trailer at Summer Game Fest, highlighting the sequel to the well-received Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Two months later, more details about the game have been revealed.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is now confirmed for a February 29, 2024 release.
Why it matters: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a major third-party exclusive for the PS5 console in 2024, ensuring that PlayStation is able to start the year with an early hit on its hands.
The latest announcement comes from Sony’s State of Play presentation. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth became a highlight, as Sony featured a new trailer with over 3 minutes of footage.
The reveal confirmed Final Fantasy will continue its trend of PlayStation exclusivity, but the latest release appears to have a much shorter timed-exclusivity window than recent titles.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a 3-month timed exclusive for the PS5, potentially hinting at a PC release before the end of 2024. The game’s exclusivity window lasts until May 29, 2024.
Following the gameplay trailer, the director shared a message with the fans, addressing the exciting adventure waiting ahead.
— FINAL FANTASY VII (@finalfantasyvii) September 14, 2023
Director Naoki Hamaguchi explained that the studio has put a lot of effort into the project, spending several years to ensure it lives up to the excitement and anticipation.
He described the story as a bigger and more ambitious undertaking than the previous remake and said:
“We hope you will explore this world in great detail, as nearly 100 hours of adventure awaits.”
2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy 16 is expected to receive a PC port in 2024, with producer Naoki Yoshida confirming work on the PC version has already begun.
Two new DLC stories for the game are also in development, ensuring that the franchise has something for fans of both familiar and new titles from the franchise.
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Abiyan is on track to complete his Computer Science bachelor’s degree. His enthusiasm for writing and gaming motivates him to keep readers and gamers updated with the latest information from the industry. In his free time, Abiyan enjoys playing Dota 2 and Rocket League. Abiyan has also been cited in reputed websites such as Kitguru, Comicbook, GamingBible, Eurogamer and Gamingbolt.


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On September 24th, the City partnered with the Escondido Chamber of Commerce to hold the 2nd Annual Escondido Business Walk. 12 pairs of volunteers (consisting of one Chamber representative and one City representative) set out with a combined list of 86 businesses. All the businesses had been mailed a notification letter in advance of the visit. This year, we took a "deeper dive" into Escondido's business community, choosing businesses based on specific industries that tend to offer higher paying jobs like manufacturing and professional services rather than businesses with whom we already have strong relationships or that we visited at last year’s Business Walk.
Volunteers made personal contact with 50 businesses, collecting business cards and leaving surveys for the primary contact if they were not available. In-person surveys were completed for 27 of the businesses visited. Final survey results are still being tabulated, but preliminary data are positive, showing that the majority of the businesses surveyed are growing and hiring. Two especially important contacts were made during the Business Walk: one that revealed a specialized manufacturing business outgrowing their space and considering moving out of Escondido, and one business that would like to fund a City park improvement project. City staff members are now working with these businesses. Additionally, innovative businesses that were not previously on the City’s radar will now be featured in Innovate 78 branding activities.
The Escondido Business Walk is a valuable economic development tool, and we appreciate all the volunteers who helped make it happen this year. A final report of the survey data will be ready soon and posted on the City's Web site at https://www.escondido.org/business.aspx.
Originally Posted October 13, 2015


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Aamir Khan is no longer part of the Indian governments’ major tourism campaign called Incredible India after serving as its brand ambassador for 10 years.
Rumours were abuzz that the Bollywood megastar has been removed as the face of the campaign because of his recent comments on the growing cases of intolerance in India.
However, according to a report by NDTV, India’s Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma denied the rumours saying the 50-year-old actor is not part of the campaign any more only because his contract has expired.
The minister also said that Aamir had a contract with advertising firm McCann Erickson not the Indian government. “Since the contract with the agency is no more, automatically the arrangement with the actor no longer exists,” Mahesh was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Responding to the government’s decision, Aamir issued an official statement today. He confirmed that he was no longer brand ambassador of the campaign and said he respected the government’s decision not to extend his contract in this regard.
“It has been an honour and a pleasure for me to be the brand ambassador for the Incredible India campaign for the past 10 years,” the statement read.
“I was happy to be of service to my country, and will always be available for it. I would like to clarify that all public service films I have done till date have all been free of any cost to me. It is always an honour for me to be of service of my country, and this is how it will always be.
“It is the prerogative of the government to decide whether they need a brand ambassador for any campaign and, if so, who that ambassador should be.
“I respect the decision of the government to discontinue with my services. I am sure they will take all appropriate steps to do what is best for the country. Whether I am brand ambassador or not, India will remain Incredible, and that’s the way it should be,” asserted the actor-producer.


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7 Workers Perish during Tank Cleaning
Seven workers have died while cleaning a tank at a brewery in Mexico City for Grupo Modelo, the parent company of Corona beer, the company has confirmed.
The company released no details in the seven deaths, which occurred Sunday morning during tank cleaning and maintenance at the company's oldest brewery.
“Modelo is deeply sorry for this incident and will support the affected families permanently,” the company said in a statement Monday (April 8).
Workers Reported Trapped
Grupo Modelo spokeswoman Jennifer Shelley said, “Early in the morning of April 7, we had an accident at Cervecería Modelo in Mexico City, which occurred in a confined area in a tank in which cleaning and upkeep works were being done. Unfortunately, the accident resulted in seven deaths.”
The Guardian Express, based in Las Vegas, quoted brewery building manager Francisco Lopez Bravo as saying that the workers had gotten locked inside the cistern as they went about cleaning the tanks.
The company said it was "deeply sorry" about the accident, which claimed seven lives, but it offered no details.
Mexico City prosecutors are looking into whether the workers died from inhaling toxic fumes, a spokeswoman told the Associated Press.
There was no mention of the accident on the company's website as of Tuesday afternoon.
About the Company
Since June 2012, Belgian-based Anheuser-Busch InBev has been in the process of acquiring the half of Grupo Modelo SAB that it did not previously own.
The $20 billion deal has been held up by antitrust objections from the U.S. Justice Department. A tentative agreement to resolve those issues was announced Monday, and a final agreement is expected later this month.
Grupo Modelo makes Corona, the No. 1 imported beer in the U.S., and other popular beers.
The Mexico City plant is the oldest of Grupo Modelo's breweries. The company, which produces Corona beer, is half-owned by Anheuser-Busch Inbev of Belgium.
The Mexico City facility had a capacity of 11.1 million hectoliters in 2011, about 16 percent of Modelo's total, according to the company's website.


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In our earlier post, you had read about Apple’s plans for building an AR Headset. Reports from earlier this week have confirmed this news. According to these reports, Apple has now purchased a VR and AR hardware startup- Vrvana for a whopping $30M. Vrvana is famous for building a Mixed Reality headset – Totem. This MR Headset is a wearable device with around 11 sensors. These sensors include 2 cameras and 3 gyros. Also, the display of Totem is OLED with Full HD Display. Furthermore, it is also a renowned AR Headset Company.
Vrvana – AR Headset company bought by Apple
Well, it’s now pretty evident that Apple has been betting on AR and favors it more in comparison with VR. The headsets build buy Vrvana are usually a combination of AR and VR. Meanwhile, the experiences produced through these headsets are extraordinary and more of an extended reality. Although Totem never made it to the stores, it was extensively demonstrated across the globe. Furthermore, Totem has proven to be a better product in comparison with Microsoft’s Hololens in many different aspects.
The acquisition of Vrvana is expected to mark an important milestone in the history of Apple. According to the reports, Apple’s future iPhone could make the most of the Augmented and Virtual Reality data to deliver the best to their users. Meanwhile, Apple’s headset could be shipped in 2020 as per several unconfirmed reports. Apart from acquiring Vrvana, Apple has also purchased SMI, FlyBy Media. Metaio, Faceshit, and Emotionet which are all AR-VR Related. Apple might just compile all the outputs given by these startups and implement it either on Apple’s Headset, glasses or even future iPhones.
Although the news regarding the purchase has not been confirmed yet, many leading blogs like TechCrunch have begun reporting it as per their reliable sources. Keep reading this space to stay updated on Apple’s further plans for AR Headset and more.


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Orchid Restaurant Launch Coverage by HUM TV - Video Blog
(Copyrights of Hum tv). The launch of a new restaurant that specializes in Chinese and Thai food, Orchid restaurant at its launch event gathered many people belonging from different areas of Lahore, cricketers and fashion models. The ambience is pleasant and the food is being enjoyed by the guests.
Cuisine type: Thai and Chinese.
Restaurant name: Orchid Restaurant.
Menu item: Noodles, rice, appetizers, soups and salads.


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Narrow your search
Two updates were beset by technical issues, forcing Microsoft to issue another update to remove the faulty software.
According to a patent filed by the software giant, Microsoft has a vision of a future in which phones silence themselves when they realize they're in a theater or similar situation.
Microsoft has a vision of a future in which phones silence themselves when they realise they're in a cinema or other situations.
InfoWorld's Bossie awards are supposed to judge the best open-source software, but publication ends up muddying the water with business models.
The database giant has fixed 78 different holes across most of its major product line.
The old cliche applies to Steve Jobs and NeXT Computer. Out of failure comes success.
Thirty years ago today IBM launched the 5150. We take a look back at the creation of the PC with an interview with Dave Bradley, the guy who invented Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and look forward with Michael Miller, former editor of PC Magazine.
Researchers at Kaspersky say the TDL-4 is extremely sophisticated and has already infected 4.5 million computers around the globe.
Werner Vogels, the now legendary CTO of Amazon and one of the key drivers of the AWS vision, was awarded InfoWorld's CTO of the Year Award. I'm left wondering why it took this long.
A number of testers have talked about the zippy feel of the pre-beta version of Windows 7, but InfoWorld says its benchmarks show the new operating system is just on par with Vista.


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Reason magazine is a great magazine for those Americans that are concerned and interested about freedom in America. Their articles are well written, well researched, and are much more connected with reality than most options in the main stream media. 1,462 more words
Tags » Reason Magazine
Mexican Libertarians Use Social Media to Build Movement of Millennial Activists - Elizabeth Nolan Brown
Mexico’s Libertarian Party is taking cues from classically liberal counterparts in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Argentina.
Will Northern California become the nation’s 51st state?
I love Reason’s articles so very, very much. I can always count on them to be levelheaded when it comes to this topic:
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This week, in an editorial titled “
The libertarian crowd has been at the forefront of the anti-patent crusade. It is important to understand that libertarians are not consistent with classical liberals, such as the founding fathers and Locke. 1,174 more words
John Mackey is co-founder of Whole Foods, which is all about locally sourced this and organic that and fair-trade whatever. The grocery chain started in 1980, and as CEO he carefully studies core customers – snobs willing to pay higher prices (hence the chain’s nickname, “Whole Paycheck.”) 257 more words


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Polaris Industries Inc. may be known for rugged, testosterone-tinged ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles, but it just bought a whole lot of cute in the form of French-made “quadricycles.”
The recently purchased A.M. Holding S.A.S. gives Polaris a line of tiny but sporty “enclosed” passenger vehicles that can be driven on most European streets without a driver’s license. The company, which goes by the name Aixam Mega, also makes light-duty commercial vehicles. Both passenger and commercial products run on diesel fuel or electricity.
Aixam quadricycles will give Polaris $110 million in annual sales and a network of 400 dealers across Europe. Quadricycles are described as being “carlike” but are lightweight, low-speed and don’t meet the criteria to be considered a true “car,” officials said.
Regardless, Aixam’s petite four-wheelers hand Polaris’ small-vehicle portfolio a decided boost. Medina-based Polaris bought two electric car makers in 2011 — the low-speed Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) it acquired from Chrysler and the French-made Goupil Industrie line of “ultralight” industrial electric/hybrid trucks that sell in 18 European countries.
Polaris paid cash for Aixam but did not disclose the amount or terms. CEO Scott Wine described Aixam as an “excellent fit” because it not only increases Polaris’ small-vehicle offerings but its international reach, as well.
About 33 percent of Polaris’ $3.2 billion in 2012 revenue came from overseas and the goal is to push that higher.
Polaris already sells off-road ATVs, utility vehicles and/or snowmobiles in Europe, Canada, Australia and Latin America. In July, it announced a 50/50 joint venture with Eicher Motors in India. And it recently announced plans to build a factory in Poland.
Adding Aixam Mega expands Polaris’ presence in Europe, which has seen growth in recent years thanks to increased demand for snowmobiles in Sweden, Norway, and Russia. The new on-road offerings presented by Aixam “is indicative of our confidence in Europe … to be a contributor to Polaris’s pursuit of … growth,” Wine said.
Polaris’ stock rose Thursday by $1.81 to $89.61 a share.


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Leicestershire and Turkish businessmen have met in the city to agree an overseas trade treaty.
Leicestershire Asian Business Association (Laba) president Jaspal Singh Minhas hosted a visit by H Bahadir Tuzcu, the secretary general of the Association of Anatolian Businessmen (Askon).
The two men agreed a deal which will see trade missions for Laba members to Turkey and Leicestershire hosting a business delegation from Turkey early next eyar.
The agreement will also mean businesses in the East Midlands will have a single point of contact in Leicestershire to do business with Turkey.
Among those attending the meeting was Tankut Aydin, the chief commercial consul of Turkey in Birmingham.
The Turkish government has already helped Oadby-based Laba to plan four trade missions to Turkey in 2014 and six in-bound missions to the Midlands. Laba has about 1,000 members.
Uday Dholakia, Laba chairman, said: "International trade is a bilateral phenomenon.
"By supporting imports equitably with exports, one creates long-term traction with business institutions that becomes beneficial to both sides.
"This includes universities, colleges and specialist research organisations.
"I see no reason why we cannot piggy back on our relationship with Turkey and promote inward investment directly into the Midlands, by-passing the London-centric nature of the UK inward investment drive.
"Added to this, Leicestershire and the Midlands has a significant Turkish community, who have traditionally been very entrepreneurial in food and drink retail and manufacturing."


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USDA responds to Idaho Delegation letters to assist food producers due to COVID-19 impacts
Washington, D.C. -- On Monday, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced $470 million in food purchases under Section 32 funding to occur in the third quarter of the 2020 fiscal year. Section 32 funds are used for a number of purposes to support the agricultural supply chain. As part of the announcement, Secretary Perdue designated $50 million in surplus potato purchases, the highest of any specialty crop, and $120 million in surplus dairy purchases.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to restrict demand on dairy and fresh potato products, the USDA’s surplus commodities purchase is welcome news for Idaho farmers and producers struggling to sell and distribute goods,” said Senator Mike Crapo. “The USDA’s purchase of excess potatoes and dairy will help provide short-term, immediate relief for many Idaho potato and dairy farmers and will supply food banks and nutrition assistance programs throughout the United States. A farmer’s job does not stop because a global pandemic strikes, and I will continue to work with my colleagues and the Administration to support their hard and steady work in this difficult time.”
“Idaho’s agricultural industry has been severely disrupted by COVID-19, with supply chains shrinking or disappearing altogether. Potatoes and dairy, two of Idaho’s largest agricultural commodities and industries that produce heavily for the food service pipeline, have been hit especially hard as their traditional markets have nearly vanished overnight,” said Senator James Risch. “I appreciate Secretary Perdue recognizing this present difficulty and taking an initial step to provide much needed assistance to our farmers. I will continue working with the Secretary to find ways to support all facets of our agricultural industry and provide relief to our farmers and ranchers.”
“Idaho farmers and ranchers have felt a drastic impact from COVID-19 from the slowdown of the food service industry. Crops have not stopped growing and cows have not stopped producing milk, so the work of our essential agricultural industry has not stopped even though their markets are drying up through no fault of their own. That is why I am so thankful to Secretary Perdue for today’s announcement on food purchases, especially for dairy and potatoes,” said Representative Mike Simpson. “There is still more work needed to help our Idaho farmers and ranchers but the food purchase announcement is welcome news.”
“Today’s announcement by Secretary Sonny Perdue is great news for our farmers and ranchers. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of Idaho’s markets to dry up, but our crops continue to grow and our cows continue to produce milk,” said Representative Russ Fulcher. “I look forward to working with the Secretary as we administer CARES Act funding to assist Idaho’s many producers during this difficult time.”
“With sit-down restaurants closed as part of the effort to contain the coronavirus, markets for many of the products made from Idaho milk have dried up. At the same time, many more people who have lost their jobs are relying on food banks to keep their families fed and healthy in their time of crisis,” said Rick Naerebout, CEO of Idaho Dairymen’s Association. “Every USDA announcement to purchase and donate food to nonprofit assistance organizations to distribute to the public includes milk, cheese, butter, yogurt and other dairy products. The Idaho Dairymen’s Association thanks Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and his entire team for their help to the dairy industry in our time of crisis.”
“The Idaho Potato Industry very much welcomes this positive and hopeful news,” said Nick Blanksma, Idaho Potato Chairman and Idaho Potato Grower. “We’re grateful to Secretary Perdue, Undersecretary Ibach and the entire team at USDA. Given the loss of 60% of the market for Idaho Potatoes and potato products in the Food Service sector, this is a good down payment that hopefully begins the process of restoring the normal movement of Idaho potatoes in our nation.”
Background: In April, the Idaho Delegation sent a letter to Secretary Perdue requesting assistance for Idaho farmers and ranchers who have been impacted by COVID-19. Specifically, the delegation outlined the effects to dairy, potato, onion, cattle, sheep, grain, and hops production and asked that the $9.5 billion provided in the CARES Act for agriculture include Idaho’s diverse agricultural industry. USDA’s final rule for allocating CARES Act funding for agriculture relief is still forthcoming. In addition, the delegation has sent letters to the USDA concerning payment limitations, risk management, labor, local FSA utilization, cattle, specialty crops, and dairy in relation to COVID-19.


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15 May 2019 Some CBD products could have more THC than the label claims. test he took as part of a job application came back positive for marijuana. that I had heard, CBD oil wasn't supposed to show up on drug tests.” CBD is going mainstream. Late last year, Congress made CBD from hemp legal at the federal 13 Sep 2019 All that's standing between you and an awesome new job is a mandatory Will that CBD oil you've been taking for pain relief cause you to fail the test? This story discusses substances that are legal in some places but not in Sie können THC-Öl auch selbst herstellen, aber dies ist nicht legal und Forschungsarbeit auf dem Gebiet von CBD unternommen und darum können die + Anwendung des Wirkstoffs Cannabidiol im CBD Öl. Per Erlass hat das Bundesministerium für Arbeit, Soziales, Gesundheit und Ist Cannabisöl legal? 12 Sep 2019 Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is legal and raises lots of Not only could a CBD oil user be fired from their job for an honest
The explanation below summarizes the legal basis for taxing or exempting hemp Prosecution For Simple Possession Of Hemp Oil Products” (April 15, 2015).
11 Aug 2019 While CBD is legal in most states, there are exceptions to the rule. The sale of CBD oil and other hemp products is a major business with a of CBD that contains too much THC will not be allowed to work a federal job. 18. Jan. 2019 Eigentlich wird CBD-Cannabis in Deutschland normal verkauft. Trotzdem kommt es immer wieder zu Polizei-Razzien. Wir erklären, was es mit 21 Jan 2020 Your job could be in jeopardy if a CBD product inadvertently contains the Jeanette Hales, a 58-year-old former school bus driver in Salt Lake 26 Nov 2019 A 54-year-old woman in North Carolina who used CBD oil to treat a Judge David S. Cayer said CBD oil is a legal product under North Carolina law office ignored her direct supervisors' recommendation she keep her job. 8 Aug 2019 Find Out if CBD is Legal In Your State. A full list of states that allow the use of CBD.
26. Apr. 2019 Aus für Cannabidiol (CBD)-Supplemente bei Rossmann und dm: Nachdem die Erst vor wenigen Monaten hatte dm CBD-Öle der Marke „Limucan“ und CBD Öl wird legal in Deutschland durch den cbd öl Anbieter einige Tropfen ausprobiert und kann manche nicht nutzen bevor ich zB zur Arbeit gehe.
11 Jul 2019 CBD without the THC that gets people high has been legal in Kansas for about a year. CBD oil with significant amounts of THC is still illegal to 19 Sep 2018 This is part of an on-going series of Sun-Times info guides about cannabis. Today, we look at CBD oil: what it is; how it works; what it treats plus 3 Jun 2019 Even if you have a felony record, there are jobs within the cannabis industry is illegal, many times things like CBD oil and terpenes are legal.
17 Oct 2019 Cannabidiol has entered the mainstream, but effects are unclear.
20. Jan. 2020 CBD-Öle sollen entspannend, schmerzlindernd, entzündungshemmend und angstlösend wirken. Aber sind sie überhaupt legal? 15 May 2019 “From everything that I had heard, CBD oil wasn't supposed to show up on Late last year Congress made CBD from hemp legal at the federal level. After losing his job because of the failed drug test, the lawsuit says Horn 26. Juli 2017 In Österreich gibt es immer mehr Läden, in denen man ganz legal über leichte Bauchschmerzen geklagt, wenn sie CBD-Öl genommen 8 Aug 2019 A syringe loaded with a dose of CBD oil is shown in a research Retailer, Legal Expert Say Legal Clarity Needed For Wisconsin's CBD Industry "That makes law enforcement's job a little bit more difficult because if they 10 May 2018 He worries a positive drug test resulting from legal CBD oil use could status of an individual to perform the functions of their job," Betz said. 21. Aug. 2019 In der Schweiz können Sie legal CBD-Waren wie Liquide, Öle, Cremes, Blüten und mehr kaufen, für Bestellungen nach Deutschland müssen


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The impending switch-off of fake and substandard mobile phones is sending shockwaves to dealers who have resorted to the wait-and-see-approach, resulting into am increase in prices of original handsets.
A survey by BusinessWeek at major mobile phone shops at Kariakoo has established that prices of handsets range from Sh100, 000 to Sh1.5 million, depending on the type of phone and the manufacturer.
Prices of other phones range from Sh25,000 to Sh70,000.
However, as the June 16, 2016 approaches and all fake and substandard handsets will be switched off, dealers’ stocks of mobile phones are decreasing, sending prices of original ones up.
Until earlier this week, an original handset that fetched as low as Sh25,000 has gone up to between Sh35,000 and Sh50, 000. The phones in this category include Samsung duos 310, Tecno T483 and Nokia 108.
There is also Nokia 2250 which has gone up from Sh80, 000 to Sh130, 000.
This was the situation that a resident of Vingunguti in Dar es Salaam, Mr Abdallah Salehe, found himself in when he went to buy a new handset that was similar to the one that he had just lost last week. He bought a phone for Sh35,000 two months ago but when he went to buy a similar one last week, he was offered a new price of Sh45,000.
“Frankly speaking, the price of original phones has gone up gradually after the Tanzania Communication and Regulatory Authority (TCRA) announced to ban fake phones come June 16, 2016,” said Dotinata Joseph, who sells mobile phones at KZG Shop that is found at Kariakoo.
Helen Maziga, who is a sells similar items at Kariakoo’s Gedo General Mobile Company concurred with Ms Dotinata, noting that while the move to switch-off all counterfeit mobile handsets is well intentioned, it has created confusions among buyers.
She said most buyers have lost hope about the authenticity of some of the phones available in the market. “People get scared to buy mobile phones because some of them fail to identify which one is fake and what is original,” Ms Helen said.
Kenya and Uganda embarked on a move to switch fake mobile phones in 2012, forcing traders of such products to find a new home in Tanzania.
Tanzania embarked on the exercise to switch off substandard or fake mobile phones following the launch of the Central Equipment Identification Register (CEIR) which is expected to upgrade security of phones.
CEIR intends to ensure safety for users when using mobile communications accessories including mobile phones and tablets. Also the establishment was part of implementation of the Electronic and Postal and Communications Act of 2010.
After June this year all fake and substandard or stolen communications accessories and mobile phones that will remain in the market will be no longer able to work.
Credit: All Africa


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Fort Myers Recreation Vehicle Show motors into Lee Civic Center
Entering it’s 24th year, the Fort Myers Recreation Vehicle Show motors into the new year at the Lee Civic Center this weekend, from Jan. 22 to 25.
This year’s show promises to continue providing patrons the opportunity to see the latest and best camping products available to local RVers and lovers of the great outdoors, explained Dan Wylie, president of Florida RV Trade Association – Region One.
“This year’s show will offer hundreds of recreation vehicles of all different types and prices. It also will feature 100 outdoor and camping supply vendors,” he said. “For many years, the Fort Myers RV Show has been the top RV show in Florida simply because of the high quality products, outstanding displays and cost-saving prices for consumers. I’m proud to say that this emphasis on quality has enabled the show to grow into the largest dealer show in Florida and one of the largest RV shows in the Southeast.”
This year’s RV show will feature dealers from throughout Florida displaying a wide selection of new recreation vehicles of all styles, brands and price ranges, including pop-ups, gas and diesel motorhomes, travel trailers, toy haulers, 5th wheels, park models and van campers.
Besides RV dealers, the show will feature 100 outdoor and camping vendors displaying equipment and accessories to help outfit RVers or provide information on where to camp throughout the nation. Items include new braking systems, specialized camping equipment and high-tech engine enhancers.
RV ownership has reached record levels in the United States, with an estimated 30 million RV enthusiasts, including renters, according to the national Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). On American roads today are 7.2 million RVs. That’s nearly one in every 12 vehicle-owning households in the United States, according to a study by the University of
Michigan. And, with the economy pinching consumers’ budgets, RV travel remains an affordable option.
PKF Consulting, an international consulting firm with expertise in travel and tourism, found that “typical RV family vacations are on average 27 to 61 percent less expensive than other types of vacations studied,” even factoring in RV ownership and fuel costs.
“With the economic downturn, prices for RVs have never been lower,” Wylie
continued, “making the RV lifestyle surprisingly affordable. Since the Fort Myers RV Show is among the first shows of the 2009 season, many residents make this event a ‘must see’ since it enables camping enthusiasts to view the large variety of RV’s available from Florida dealers.”
The 24th Annual Fort Myers RV Show will be open this weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $7, with children under 16 free. Parking is free. Thursday’s
tickets are half-price. To reach the Lee Civic Center, take Exit 143 (State
Road 78) and go east three miles. For more information, visit www.frvta.org/region1.asp.


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After undergoing a price cut and then a brief delay, NVIDIA finally launched its Android-powered SHIELD gaming handheld late last month. That may not be the only piece of NVIDIA-branded hardware that we see this year, though, as some new information has popped up to suggest that the company may be prepping a tablet of its own as well.
Chinese site MyDrivers recently shared photos of a black tablet with the words "Tegra Tab" inscribed on its backside. The device looks quite a bit like ASUS's Nexus 7, which was powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, but it's speculated that this device is actually made by Shenzhen Homecare Technology. Interestingly, that company recently announced that it was building a Tegra 4-powered tablet and even shared an image of the device, which looks somewhat similar to the Tegra Tab.
The Verge notes that Shenzhen Homecare Technology also recently took meetings with NVIDIA executives and documented the process in photos. Additionally, NVIDIA filed for the trademark to the name "Tegra Tab" in the U.S. back in April 2013. The application includes a lengthy list of products that NVIDIA could apply the name "Tegra Tab" to, and included in that list is a "tablet computer."
When it comes to the Tegra Tab itself, there aren't a whole lot of details available quite yet. The device appears to be in the 7-inch size range, and we can see a headphone jack, USB port and possibly a micro-HDMI port on the side of the unit. On the opposite side is what looks to be a stylus slot, which would line up with the image posted by Shenzhen Homecare Technology that includes a stylus.
While still a rumor at this point, I could see NVIDIA launching its own small, Nexus 7-like tablet. The company wasn't chosen by Google to power the new Nexus 7, and so it may have decided to go out and craft its own tablet that's similar to the Nexus 7 but is powered by its own Tegra chipset. This could allow NVIDIA to showcase what its Tegra 4 chipset can do while using the knowledge it gained from Project Kai to create an affordable tablet that has features that Google's new Nexus slate doesn't. What do you think of this Tegra Tab? Would you be interested in a 7-inch stylus-equipped tablet from NVIDIA?


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Mastercard digital inclusion drive with Samsung
phos and Mastercard pilot for Android mPOS
Klarna joint payment solution with Wirecard
PSR on Access to cash
EC Study on IFR impact
Paysafe looks for expansion with Mastercard
Nets acquires Polish PSP
Amazon ‘Just Walk Out’ technology
The aim is to enable digital access to consumers and small businesses in emerging markets through Mastercard’s extensible Pay on Demand platform. The platform brings together FIs, original equipment manufacturers and telcos to solve issues that have limited device financing in emerging markets.
The pilot enables merchants to accept contactless payments on Android mobile devices without the need for any additional hardware. The project uses Paynetics as the acquiring and involves c200 merchants across the participating countries of the UK, Germany, Bulgaria and Romania.
All three Klarna shopping methods, Pay Now, Pay Later and Klarna Financing, can now be embedded into merchants’ checkout via a single integration with Wirecard. The solution, that sees Wirecard processing all transactions, is currently available in nine countries, with more geographies to be included in 2020.
The PSR is considering the information received and the feedback provided has been taken into consideration as it deicides what will be its key priorities on this important subject.
In the UK Budget the government has announced it will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash for those who need it. This will ensure industry continues to meet the changing needs of cash users.
The study finds that the main objectives of the Regulation have been achieved, as the interchange fees for consumer cards have decreased by 35% between 2015 and 2017. An increase in cross-border acquiring services and card transactions has also led to a higher degree of market integration.
The new agreement is designed to support Paysafe’s growth and card acceptance in the EEA with a particular focus on Paysafe’s card issuing solutions, including its Skrill Prepaid Mastercard and NETELLER Net+ Prepaid Mastercard. Mastercard will also support Paysafe’s product development and innovation, including digital enablement for its services.
The deal further strengthens Nets’ presence in Poland, adding SME focussed capabilities in ecommerce and POS, of which PeP has 125,000. The transaction values PeP’s at €405m. The acquisition follows the recent acquisition of Dotpay/eCard and the strategic alliance with Przelewy24, both of which are strong in e-commerce, making PeP’s POS strength a good fit.
Branded ‘Just Walk Out technology by Amazon’, a new website is to go live offering the service. Amazon says it already has “several” signed deals with customers. Shoppers will insert a credit card into a turnstile to enter a store, rather than scan an app as used for Amazon Go.
OTG’s CiboExpress outlets are to be the first to use Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology.
Three of the CIBO Express Gourmet Markets that operate in major US airports are to be fitted with the Amazon technology in a move aimed at revolutionising the airport experience for travellers.
Users gain access by scanning their debit card, with cameras and ‘smart shelves’ tracking purchases and automatic payment on exit. Similar to Amazon Go but does not require an app.


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Don’t let anyone tell you album covers are dead. Album artwork continues to express the visions of artists and the musical content of the albums themselves as powerfully as covers did in the era of album-oriented rock. Memorable album covers of 2017 reflect a year in which artists made compelling political and personal statements.
Three years ago, Apple looked like a music dinosaur. The company was reeling from the embarrassment of foisting upon iTunes customers digital copies of U2’s Songs of Innocence – an incident that laid bare Apple’s reliance on downloading at a time when the music industry was marching inexorably toward streaming. But Apple has regained its groove, and the purchase of irresistibly fun and popular music discovery app Shazam is but one indication.
After licking its wounds in the aftermath of the U2 debacle, Apple focused its considerable resources on launching a streaming service, Apple Music, in 2015 — and then proceeded to show how quickly one of the world’s most powerful brands can right the ship.
Apple Music now boasts 30 million paid subscribers. Although its biggest rival Spotify has double that amount, Apple has eclipsed nearly everyone else in the streaming industry within 24 months, making it and Amazon the only alternatives to Spotify to lead the streaming music business. Just as remarkably, Apple had developed its own brand of cool by building a well-regarded catalog and affiliating itself with the right artists through endeavors such as Beats 1 radio.
A Deep, Well-Curated Catalog
Apple Music’s mix of algorithms and human curation appears to be working. The company put the right talent in place to curate its catalog, starting with Scott Plagenhoef, Apple’s global head of programming and editorial. Formerly editor of the oh-so-hip Pitchfork, he joined Beats Music in 2012, and then joined Apple in 2014 when the Apple bought Beats. And although Apple Music’s playlists haven’t gained as much acclaim as Spotify’s vaunted artificial intelligence-based curation, Apple is earning respect. Recently Apple Music scored a major coup when hip-hop tastemaker Andrew Barber agreed to curate Apple Music’s New Chicago playlist, which provides exposure for up-and-coming Chicago talent as Barber’s Fake Shore Drive blog has done for years.
No longer is Apple the brand that forced uncool U2 down our throats. Apple Music is now where you go to stream radio shows hosted by the likes of Charli XCX, Drake, Frank Ocean, Continue reading
In the United States, only 9.6 million people use virtual reality (VR) at least once a month, and by 2019, VR will penetrate 5.2 percent of the population, according to eMarketer. And yet, the VR industry has already become a complex ecosystem. As the VR Fund’s VR Industry Landscape illustrates, the ecosystem encompasses a multitude of companies spanning applications/content, tools/platforms, and infrastructure:
When I recently did a Google search for VR, my top 20 search results revealed diverse uses of VR spanning architecture, entertainment, healthcare, pornography, retail, sports, and travel/hospitality. Why has VR spawned such a complex ecosystem touching many industries when so few consumers actually use it? A few reasons stand out:
- A wide range of corporations are adopting VR. Businesses such as John Deere, KFC, UPS, and Walmart are using VR for training workers. Brands ranging from Alibaba to Audi have launched VR experiences that reimagine retail. Do a Google search of your own, and I suspect you’ll have similar results as I did, uncovering articles such as “Virtual Reality Walkthroughs Are Transforming Architecture” and “Virtual Reality is Reshaping Medical Training and Treatment.”
- Venture capitalists have been generous in their funding of VR start-ups. Meanwhile, content specialists for VR have emerged in fields such as healthcare.
The moment was freighted with poetic symmetry: I was on my sofa reading Joe Hagan’s newly published Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine when I noticed our postal carrier dropping off the latest issue of Rolling Stone. The cover of Hagan’s book features Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner standing in front of a gallery of rock legends such as Mick Jagger. The latest issue of Rolling Stone features Elon Musk on the cover.
Welcome to the new generation of rock stars. The giants of Wenner’s generation wanted to change the world with music. Today’s rock stars want to use technology to re-imagine how we live.
The contrast between the old and new felt stark as I read the first third of Sticky Fingers, when Wenner launches a magazine in 1967 as rock gods walk the earth. The first issue of Rolling Stone featured John Lennon. Think about that for a moment. You launch a new magazine with zero promise of ever succeeding and no credibility. And coming right out of the gate you land one of rock’s most influential artists ever. John freaking Lennon.
Recently Amazon and Facebook announced new products that will extend their reach into the corporate world:
- Amazon’s Alexa for Business, unveiled November 30, is a platform for a business’s employees to use the Amazon Alexa voice assistant (in Amazon Echo speakers) to manage everyday tasks such as scheduling conference calls and managing calendars. Amazon believes that with Echo smart speakers embedded in corporate conference rooms and offices to manage the mundane things, people will be freed up to focus on more productive work.
- Facebook’s Oculus for Business, announced October 11, is a bundled set of Oculus products designed to help businesses apply virtual reality (VR) to do everything from train employees to design cars. In fact, although VR has experienced slow adoption among consumers, the corporate world is a different story, where VR is penetrating industries including entertainment, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. Facebook believes that by making it easy to purchase hardware, accessories, and associated services needed to employ VR in the workforce, more companies will adopt Oculus over competing products.
These announcements are more than landmark moments for Amazon and Facebook. Alexa for Business and Oculus for Business are also manifestations of something else: the ambitions of Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg to be market makers with artificial intelligence-based voice assistants and virtual reality.


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Dr M. Ahsan Qureshi
Pakistan’s economy has faced significant challenges over the years, including inflation, energy shortages, and a widening trade deficit. However, the horticulture sector offers a glimmer of hope for Pakistan’s economic revival. The horticulture sector has the potential to create employment opportunities, increase income for farmers, and earn foreign reserves for the country. Horticulture has long been an integral part of Pakistan’s agriculture sector, with a diverse range of crops grown across the country. However, despite its immense potential, the horticulture sector has not received the attention it deserves in terms of investment and policy support.
This has resulted in the sector being largely untapped, with significant untapped potential for growth and development. The horticulture sector employs over 6 million people and contributes over 12 per cent to Pakistan’s agriculture GDP. In 2020, Pakistan’s horticulture exports were worth approximately $610 million. However, this represents only a fraction of the potential market. There is significant untapped potential for exports of high-quality horticulture products, particularly to the Middle East and Europe, where there is a growing demand for fresh produce. In order to fully realize the potential of the horticulture sector, there is a need for investment in infrastructure, logistics, and research and development.
This includes investment in cold chain facilities, which can help preserve the quality of horticulture products during transportation and storage, and support for farmers in adopting new technologies and best practices for production and post-harvest handling. With the increasing global demand for fresh produce, there is an urgent need for Pakistan to tap into the potential of its horticulture sector. Horticulture products, such as fruits, vegetables, and flowers, have the potential to be a significant driver of economic growth and development in the country. Pakistan has a competitive advantage in producing high-value horticulture crops such as mangoes, citrus, and dates. These crops are in high demand in international markets, particularly in the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Entrepreneurs and investors can invest in the production, processing, and marketing of these crops, both for domestic consumption and export. Investing in organic farming practices and certification can help Pakistan tap into the growing demand for organic horticulture products in international markets. By producing high-quality organic horticulture products, Pakistan can earn premium prices and contribute to foreign reserves. Diversifying horticulture product portfolios can also help increase export earnings. Pakistan has the potential to produce a range of horticulture crops, such as avocados, pomegranates, and berries, which are in high demand in international markets.
There is a significant need for post-harvest management in Pakistan’s horticulture sector. Entrepreneurs and investors can invest in cold chain facilities, packaging, and storage solutions to improve the quality and shelf life of horticulture products. This can help reduce post-harvest losses, increase the quality of horticulture products, and contribute to export earnings. Developing horticulture value chains can create opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors to link farmers to markets, provide input and output services, and offer market information. Entrepreneurs can invest in building efficient and effective value chains that can create employment and income generation opportunities. Processing and value addition can increase the value of horticulture products and create opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. Entrepreneurs can invest in processing facilities for drying, canning, and juicing of horticulture products. This can help increase export earnings, create employment opportunities, and contribute to foreign reserves. Horticulture nurseries can supply high-quality planting materials to farmers and gardeners. Entrepreneurs can invest in the production and sale of high-quality seedlings, grafted plants, and other planting materials. Effective branding and marketing of horticulture products can increase their visibility and demand in international markets. By investing in branding and marketing initiatives, Pakistan can create a strong brand identity for its horticulture products, which can help increase export earnings and contribute to foreign reserves. Pakistan’s horticulture sector has the potential to be a major exporter of high-quality fruits and vegetables.
With the increasing demand for fresh produce in international markets, there is a significant opportunity for Pakistan to increase its export earnings by tapping into this market. However, this requires a concerted effort to improve the quality and standardization of horticulture products, as well as investment in infrastructure and logistics. Horticulture can also help build climate resilience in agriculture. Horticulture crops are often more adaptable to changing weather patterns and require less water than traditional crops. This makes horticulture an attractive option for farmers who are struggling with the impact of climate change on their crops. Finally, promoting horticulture can help improve the nutrition of Pakistan’s population. The consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. By increasing the availability and accessibility of horticulture products, Pakistan can improve the health of its population and reduce the burden of disease.
Horticulture has the potential to earn significant foreign reserves for Pakistan through exports and the diversification of its horticulture products portfolio. The country has the potential to produce a range of horticulture crops, such as avocados, pomegranates, and berries, which are in high demand in international markets. By investing in the production and marketing of these crops, Pakistan can increase its export earnings and contribute to foreign reserves. The government of Pakistan can promote the horticulture business for economic revival by taking the following steps:
Provide incentives and support for horticulture farmers: The government can provide incentives such as tax breaks, subsidies, and low-interest loans to horticulture farmers. This can help reduce the cost of production and increase the profitability of horticulture farming. Improve infrastructure: The government can invest in improving infrastructure such as roads, cold storage facilities, and processing units. This can help reduce post-harvest losses and increase the shelf life of horticulture products, making them more competitive in domestic and international markets. Enhance research and development: The government can invest in research and development to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant horticulture varieties. This can help increase productivity, reduce production costs, and enhance the quality of horticulture products. Facilitate market linkages: The government can help horticulture farmers access markets by facilitating market linkages and creating market information systems. This can help farmers sell their products at better prices and reduce the role of intermediaries in the value chain. Promote exports: The government can provide support for horticulture exports by streamlining export procedures, providing market intelligence, and negotiating trade agreements with other countries. This can help increase the foreign exchange earnings from horticulture exports and reduce the trade deficit. Capacity building: The government can provide training and capacity-building programs to horticulture farmers and stakeholders. This can help improve their skills and knowledge and enable them to adopt best practices in horticulture farming.
In conclusion, the horticulture sector has significant potential for growth and development in Pakistan. However, this requires a concerted effort to invest in infrastructure, research and development, and policy support. The government should work with private sector stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategy for the development of the horticulture sector, which can help revive Pakistan’s economy and improve the livelihoods of its people.


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Time was when getting your first chequebook represented an important step on the road to maturity and adulthood. This is an era clearly at an end due to cheques having experienced a 45% falloff since 2016 as consumers continue to flock toward electronic payments.
The latest figures from Banking & Payments Federation Ireland show that cheque usage continued to decline in Q1 2020 with 6.6m cheque payments, a 15% reduction from 7.8m in Q1 2019, and from 12m in the first quarter of 2016.
Cheques have declined as both business and consumers move to electronic payments, with an ever increasing reliance on cards to pay for shopping, both online and in store. A recent consumer survey commissioned by BPFI showed that only 2% of consumers prefer to pay a bill by cheque, while only 4% prefer to donate to charity by cheque.
“Given the fast-changing nature of consumer preferences away from cheques and towards electronic transfers, cards and mobile banking, these figures are not a surprise,” said Gill Murphy, Head of Payment Schemes, BPFI. “This continued drop in cheque usage by consumers is a trend we expect to see continue as consumers and businesses are provided with more choice and convenience regarding payment methods.” At the same time, however, 6.6m cheque payments Q1 2020 is not insignificant and demonstrates that some consumers and smaller businesses in particular are in no rush to shred their chequebooks just yet.
“The challenge for us is to try to ensure that there is a full awareness of what the alternative options are and the potential benefits of those options for both consumers and businesses.”
Ireland is now one of only a handful of countries worldwide where cheques are still regularly used, including Canada, Cyprus, France, Portugal, Singapore, the UK and the US, based on figures from the European Central Bank and the Bank for International Settlements. Both Ireland and the UK have seen substantial falls in cheque usage in the past decade, with Irish cheque usage per capita down from 22.1 in 2009 to 6.4 in 2019.
Figures from the BPFI showed a strong recovery in the value of contactless payments in May as spending reached almost €600m, the highest monthly total to date. On average consumers made €19.3m worth of contactless payments per day during May, up 7% on figures in February before Covid-19 hit. In volume terms, contactless payment usage was 1.25m, down from 1.51m ‘taps’ per day in February. While this is unexpected due to the lockdown and restrictions on movement during March through to mid-May, overall the figures indicate that consumers are spending more than before through contactless payments with the May figures accounting for the highest value on record this year.
The uplift in retail and hospitality spending should signal further growth in contactless volumes, which is further supported by research showing that 92% of all adults have now used contactless payments, with one third opting for contactless as their preferred method of payment in cafes and over a quarter preferring it for grocery shopping.


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Commercial Credit News
|Financial Services firms must take data security more seriously warns Advanced 365|
|Wednesday, 20 May 2015|
Financial Services firms must take data security more seriously and adapt their strategies to mitigate the risk of emerging cyber-threats in what is tipped to be the sector’s next disruptive decade. These are the findings of a new white paper commissioned by leading managed service provider, Advanced 365 (Advanced).
Security attacks impacting the financial services industry are on the rise with 93% of firms experiencing data breaches in the last 12 months. The average loss in reputational brand value for a company is estimated to be between £117 million and £210 million but could be even higher when considering the damage to customer trust.
Forums International Ltd
Attendance at your first meeting is free of charge, and please quote reference 'CCR2016' to receive the special 10% discount off of your first annual subscription.
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The latest edition of CCR Magazine, the leading editorial publication in the UK credit industry, is out.
CCR is the premier magazine for consumer and credit professionals. It provides an independent voice to the industry, breaking major news stories and running in-depth features.
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Providing information and analysis for thousands of senior credit professionals worldwide, every quarter.
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Inertia. Momentum. Mojo.We try to build and capitalize on these powerful forces every day to change and accelerate the.
My last post here generated some great conversations with readers, especially among people who wanted to go deeper into.
Creative has changed. Gone are the days when a brand could sink all of its heart, soul and budget.
Netflix will announce its Q1 ’19 earnings on Tuesday – when we’ll know for sure if its subscription price.
Global economic uncertainty is lurking in the shadows and it’s coming for all of us. This ghost lingers, but.
It did not take long for the Golden State to borrow a page from the European Union’s consumer privacy.
Most of us like to believe that we’re inherently logical people, especially when it comes to purchasing decisions. However,.
Nielsen describes the millennial generation as today’s “most coveted consumer demographic from a marketer engagement perspective,” and brands and.
Digital outdoor advertising has increased 35 percent since 2010 according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, and is projected to overtake traditional outdoor.


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Shoppers anxious to get their hands on their Missoni for Target merchandise may be in for a long wait.
Consumers received a message on Friday informing them that many of their orders would be delayed for at least a month, despite being given a more optimistic delivery date at the time of purchase.
But the line in the email that caused the most alarm was buried at the end of the message:
"If we can't deliver your item(s) by this new estimated delivery date, we will automatically cancel your order."
The message went on to say that if shoppers wanted Target to continue to attempt delivery beyond the tardy date, they would have to log onto the site to approve future dates.
"The nationwide launch of Missoni for Target on Sept. 13 was met by unprecedented demand, both in our stores and online at Target.com. This demand impacted our Target.com site and affected the shipment and delivery of select guest orders," a spokesperson for Target told the Daily News, regarding the shipping snafu.
Last week, all over the U.S., consumers braved Target's stuttering website and endless lines at stores just to buy Italian brand's clothing and home accessories in colorful stripes, knits and chevrons.
"I knew Missoni was coming but didn't know it would be such a big deal," a shopper told the Wall Street Journal. "I have never seen such well-dressed, well-coifed, tan, yoga-looking moms at Target at 9 a.m."


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Red Devil to provide further spark to energy drink sector
Red Devil, a premium energy drink amongst the top three in the energy category in the US and a number of European countries, is set to launch in Australia and New Zealand before the end of the year.
The first shipment will go on sale in the ACT and WA later this month and will add another competitor to the increasingly lucrative sector.
The Frucor-owned ‘V’ remains the market leader in Australia from Red Bull, with Coca-Cola Amatil finally starting to make inroads thanks to the relaunch of Mother, which has surpassed expectations. Coca-Cola yesterday reported that, since the re-launch a few months ago, the Mother brand has managed to take a 12.7% share of the energy drink sector in the grocery and convenience channels.
Red Devil, created in a lab in the Netherlands in 1995, has managed to lead the energy category in Russia as well as claiming second spot in the E.U. and UK, and has been making its mark in the US since its launch last year. Renowned for their provocative marketing strategy, the company often sponsors major racing events such as the World Rally Championship and uses the slogan “Taste of Energy” to promote the brand.
US gelato brand, ‘Gelato Fiasco’, is now available in 7-Eleven convenience stores across Australia.
Woolworths has launched a private label ‘ready-to-heat’ meal range called ‘Woolworths Simply’.
Australia’s central government food standards agency, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) h...
Could ‘liquid apple pie’ be the next beverage trend to take Australia by storm?
Primo is now selling a new range of premium deli meats.
Global meat processor JBS has launched a new premium Australian beef brand for top-end restaurants i...
Crust Pizza is now selling low carb pizza bases in hopes of appealing to those after a healthier tre...
Nestle has debuted its first chocolate bar to use its new sugar reduction technology.


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The prototype of the mysterious hypercar Bugatti went to testsOctober 24, 2020
The French automaker has brought a new track-focused hypercar to the test, virtually unlike any Bugatti product we’ve seen before. Moreover, the hypercar is completely different from the electric one.
Bugatti produces cars in small volumes, so it doesn’t deviate too much from the norm when it comes to new models. Even the 2020 Bugatti Centodieci, which is considered a separate model, uses the same platform and engine as the Chiron. But earlier this week, Bugatti unveiled a mysterious new hypercar that was unlike any of its current models. Such conclusions can be drawn from the teaser image of the taillights, the light signature of which looks more like a jet than a car.
This new model will debut on October 28, but up to this point, photo spies have managed to capture it at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France. The car is covered in white-blue-red camouflage and is very similar to the recently unveiled Lamborghini Essenza SCV12. Unlike the Chiron, this model is expected to be quite simple: even the headlights have been stripped to save weight. The massive rear wing and roof bucket and X-shaped taillights give the car the look of a racing hypercar.
Unfortunately, in the video, the driver does not strain the car too much, although at some points you can hear how it sounds. It is unlikely that Bugatti will develop a new engine specifically for this car, so the 8.0-liter W16 Chiron four-cylinder engine with over 1,500 horsepower is likely to be installed in the rear.
At the very least, the video proves that the car is not completely electric, as many expected Rimac to buy Bugatti from the Volkswagen Group and launch a high-performance electric car under the famous French brand.
- Features of the new Honda Civic Type R 2022
- Toyota officially unveils second-generation hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan
- Bentley unveils new tweed trim
- Cupra will build a yacht on the Volkswagen electric platform
- Named the debut date of the new Toyota Land Cruiser