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A popular mobile app that allows users to send money to their friends has just made a huge announcement regarding cryptocurrency.
Venmo which is owned by Pay Pal just announced that they will start allowing their credit card users to use their cashback from purchases to buy cryptocurrency.
The new promotion is called “Cash Back to Crypto” and will allow users to use their 1% to 3% cash back from purchases to buy Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin Cash.
Venmo started to offer credit cards to users in February and now with their new “Cash Back to Crypto” promotion more people are signing up for their credit cards.
The days of cryptocurrency only being useful on the dark web are long gone and the days of cryptocurrency being useful in everyday life is starting to become more of a reality.
Venmo will let credit cardholders automatically buy cryptocurrency with the cash back they earn and says there will be no associated transaction fees (@sarahintampa / TechCrunch)https://t.co/AW88OjbuLBhttps://t.co/Ug8LW7oK3Y
— Techmeme (@Techmeme) August 10, 2021
Venmo is expanding its cryptocurrency offerings https://t.co/ELMEQ6p0tM
— Bloomberg Technology (@technology) August 10, 2021
Fortune covered the story and had these details to add:
PayPal-owned mobile payment service Venmo announced Tuesday that it would let its credit card users buy cryptocurrencies using cash back from purchases.
The “Cash Back to Crypto” service is live as of this week and enables Venmo credit card users to use the 1 to 3% cash back received from purchases on the card to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash.
To enable the new feature users can select the rewards tab on the credit card home screen in the Venmo app and tap “Get Started.” Customers can also set up automatic monthly conversions from cash back to cryptocurrency through the app. From the rewards tab, users can turn automatic monthly conversions on or off or change the type of cryptocurrency they’d like to purchase that month.
All crypto purchases associated with the feature will have no purchase fees as the conversion fees for swapping assets are built into a monthly transaction statement.
Venmo to allow credit card holders to automatically buy cryptocurrency with their cash back. Unlike when buying cryptocurrency directly, these automated purchases will have no transaction fees associated with them https://t.co/aiFdJTRRju
— Monica Jasuja (@jasuja) August 11, 2021
Bloomberg covered Venmo’s big announcement too:
PayPal Holdings Inc.’s Venmo is expanding its cryptocurrency offerings just months after allowing the digital assets on its platform.
Venmo created a new “Cash Back to Crypto” offering that allows credit cardholders to automatically buy crypto from their Venmo account using cash back earned from purchases, the company said Tuesday in a statement. The crypto purchases made using this option won’t have any transaction fees, but there will be a cryptocurrency conversion spread built into each monthly transaction.
In April, PayPal said it would allow users of the Venmo app to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrencies, opening the company’s platform up to these digital assets. Other finance firms and startups have also started offering more crypto options, with Renaud Laplanche’s Upgrade Inc. introducing a Bitcoin rewards card in July.
“The introduction of the Cash Back to Crypto feature for the Venmo Credit Card offers customers a new way to start exploring the world of crypto, using their cash back earned each month to automatically and seamlessly purchase one of four cryptocurrencies on Venmo,” Darrell Esch, a senior vice president and general manager of the Venmo app at PayPal, said in the statement.
— michael angelo adigue (@AdigueMichael) August 12, 2021
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Bogota | Reuters –– Colombia’s coffee sector needs a complete overhaul to recover from a huge loss of global market share, says a government-commissioned report, seen by Reuters, in which the recommendations include deregulation of exports and the introduction of a minimum price.
Despite the undisputed quality of its mild arabica coffees, Colombia now supplies only a tenth of global exports versus 18 per cent around 1990, prompting fierce debate over what steps one of the country’s largest employment providers should take to regain share.
The study, carried out over two years, recommends scrapping the minimum quality standard for exportable beans so growers can enter the fast-growing low-end coffee segment, where prices are higher abroad.
The report, to be delivered this week or next to President Juan Manuel Santos, was commissioned to address Colombia’s marginalization in global coffee.
Controversially, it advocates a smaller role for the National Coffee Growers’ Federation, which exports about a quarter of Colombia’s coffee, a suggestion that has drawn a fierce response from federation members when raised in the past.
The report suggests splitting the farmer-funded entity into a private trading arm and one that would provide technical support to growers. It argues growers may earn more by dealing with a more competitive, exclusively private, export sector.
Private exporters complain the federation, which publishes its fluctuating guaranteed purchase price daily to set a market floor, competes unfairly because it is tax-exempt and because its shipments face fewer bureaucratic hurdles.
The federation says its presence ensures growers receive a better price, while the study says it is a drain on government funds, which are used to supplement the six cents per pound the federation earns from a tax paid on coffee shipped by private exporters.
Growing Colombia’s prestigious high-altitude beans provides a livelihood for 350,000 families and provides important social cohesion in a country where a 50-year war with leftist guerrillas has been fought mostly in rural areas.
The federation has opposed tampering with the sector’s economic model, while private exporters say that lack of flexibility has led to Colombia’s decline, as the industry has not adapted to new trends in global coffee.
Instead of the federation’s price guarantee, the report recommends government-funded support for growers when prices drop low enough. This would emulate the mechanism used in the world’s top coffee grower, Brazil, to ensure growers’ variable costs are always met.
— Peter Murphy reports for Reuters from Bogota, Colombia.

domain: news


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Not for the first time, Face ID – the facial recognition scanner built into iPhone X – has been fooled by a complicated replica of a human face. This time with attention detection activated, which in theory should add an extra layer of security. It won’t be the last we hear of this sort of biometric deception, as the internet loves a scare story almost as much as it loves dissecting everything Apple does. But the real questions is: does it matter?
For the average consumer we’d argue that no, it doesn’t matter. In fact, unless you’re an infamous spy or a head of state, you can probably chill out. The mask created for the deception in the news right now is extremely elaborate. It cost around $200 to create using a 3D printer and various other tools, and was only possible because the device owner made a detailed scan of his head from all angles using a professional camera setup. Has anybody papped you against your will with a circular rig of interconnected cameras lately?
The video proves that, under a very specific set of circumstances, it is possible to trick Face ID into unlocking for a mask rather than a human face. But in the real world? Any would-be thief would need unchecked access to your face, the iPhone itself, and a considerable arsenal of tools, skills, and effort. We’d be surprised if these kind of attacks happened at all in the real world, much less to random individuals. If you’re worried about a smaller-scale attack, such as being forced to unlock your device by looking at it, you can quickly disable Face ID on the iPhone X by holding the power button and either of the volume buttons for a couple of seconds.
If you’re keeping state secrets on your device, you probably shouldn’t be using biometric authentification anyway. A strong alphanumeric password is miles more secure than any other method of locking your phone. For the rest of us, though, the convenience of Face ID or Touch ID far outweighs the risk of an elaborate biometric subterfuge.


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Luna, Amazon’s new cloud-based gaming service, is available starting today across a variety of platforms to a small set of users in the United States as part of an early access test.
Luna is currently available on the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Amazon’s Fire TV stick.
On Apple’s iOS platform, Luna is available through a web app due to Apple’s tight App Store rules requiring providers of game-streaming services like Google Stadia or Microsoft xCloud to separately submit each streaming game to the App Store for approval. According to Amazon, invitations have been sent to a small number of customers in the United States to test Luna. Early testers can optionally purchase Amazon’s $50 controller to play Luna games.
“We are just getting started and need streamers and players of all kinds — core, casual and first-time gamers — to provide feedback,” Amazon says. “We want to hear what customers like, what they don’t like, and what they want to see us build.”
The service costs six bucks per month after a free seven-day trial versus five bucks per month for Apple Arcade. Luna provides unlimited access to 50 cloud-based streaming games. The launch titles can be found in Luna’s Game Channel. More titles are set to come to the platform, including Ubisoft titles like “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” via their own channel within Luna.
Similar to Google’s Stadia and Microsoft’s xCloud, a cloud-based Luna game that’s streamed to your device actually runs on a remote server. Your device acts as a thin client that sends inout to the cloud and decodes the constant gameplay video stream, rendered by servers in real-time based on your input. As a result, resource-intensive games can be played on less powerful devices as long as one has a speedy Internet connection with low latency.
You can sign up for early access on the Luna website. Early access is issued on a rolling basis.


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The superstar runner already has one location for his Tracks and Records restaurant in Kingston and plans another 15 eateries in the UK.
Superstar track runner Usain Bolt is to bring a 'fast' food chain to the UK, thanks to a deal with SME Group, following a successful opening in Kingston, Jamaica in 2011.
The chain, called Tracks & Records, serves traditional Jamaican food including jerk pork, janga soup and pan chicken as well as the athlete’s own creation “burgers a la Usain”.
“London has always been a special place for me [and this] is giving us the opportunity to share our vision and our culture with you all,” said the now-retired runner.
The runner of Jamaican heritage is regarded worldwide as one of the greatest track runners of all time, holding eight Olympic medals.


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Google Maps, one of the second-largest services after Google Search, is now easy to take for granted, and it has had a profound impact on the way we travel, but Google hasn’t stopped making the Google Maps experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. In fact, the Android version of Google Maps has introduced or is still rolling out major features designed to make life easier, especially for electric car drivers.
The Android version of Google Maps now shows 3D renderings of buildings, giving users an idea of what these places look like, as well as demonstrating Google’s technical capabilities. In the first few years, it was great and fun, but it turned out to be very tiring. It is also a waste of resources, especially for devices with weak hardware capabilities. Unfortunately, in previous versions, users had no way to turn it off. Users can now turn off 3D rendering in version 10.28, and users can tap the layer icon in the map and turn 3D views on or off as needed.
Electric cars are becoming more and more popular, but no charging points can be found. Now, the new version of Google Maps has helped drivers find the most convenient charging point based on their cars and preferences, but drivers have to switch to another app when they actually pay. However, Google Maps 10.30 or later may allow users to pay directly for charging directly from Google Maps. However, the feature is still unavailable or invisible because Google may still be trying to negotiate specific steps with automakers.


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“Opening Plenty’s first commercial-scale farm in Compton makes it possible for us to provide California retailers with a reliable supply of fresh leafy greens year-round. From expanding our presence in Whole Foods Market to bringing new, leading California retailers like Gelson’s on board, we’re giving more consumers access to regional produce that is grown clean,” Worth said in a press release.
Enabling retail expansion through new facility, consumer demands
Earlier this year, Plenty opened its Compton farm, which allowed it to scale its production of leafy greens to 4.5m pounds annually. With this facility, Plenty will be able to provide its Baby Arugula, Baby Kale, Crispy Lettuce, and Curly Baby Spinach throughout the state.
“Prior to this farm in Compton, we actually had a small farm in San Francisco. … That farm in San Francisco allowed us to serve a smaller quantity of Whole Food Stores for the last four years. With the coming online and the opening of the Compton farm, we’re able to expand that … to all Whole Foods in California, as we announced, as well as to take on additional customers in Southern California, in this case, including Gelson’s.”
Plenty’s expansion “[coincides] with a long-term megatren
…. to be continued
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : FoodNavigator – https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2023/08/30/Indoor-farming-brand-Plenty-doubles-retail-distribution-breaks-ground-on-strawberry-facility?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS


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ASUS is getting into the gigantic phone market in a big way. After their initial offerings in the Fonepad line (that's large, tablet-style phones, not to be confused with the docking Padfone) the company has announced a new model and at IFA in Germany, along with a previously announced but unreleased one. The Fonepad Note 6 (ME560CG) is a conventional "phablet" design, complete with stylus, which we saw back in June.
Hello, dear readers. I'm sitting here at Los Angeles International Airport waiting for my flight to Berlin to board (and probably grabbing a beer before I do), and I thought now would be a good time to give you a quick look at what we'll be up to at IFA 2013.
What is IFA, exactly? Think of it like Europe's CES. While us mobile gadget bloggers focus in on the smartphone / tablet / connected stuff aspect of the IFA show, it's actually a huge event encompassing many categories of consumer electronics.
Say whatever you like about Sony, but it's hard to deny that their high-end phones look great. Case in point: the unannounced Honami, which is almost certainly the successor to last year's Xperia Z flagship. The folks at XperiaBlog got their hands on a collection of official rendered press photos, and this thing looks fantastic.
The Honami was previously reported as having the retail title of "Xperia i1," but now it's going by "Xperia Z1." Whether this is a mix-up form a previous leak or a different model for a different region is still up in the air.
It's not often that you'll see executives of multi-billion-dollar international companies speak frankly about unannounced products, but The Korea Times managed to get a few gems of information out of Samsung Executive Vice President of Mobile Lee Young-Hee. She confirmed that the Galaxy Note III will be unveiled at the upcoming September 4th "Unpacked" event (which is hardly a surprise), and also that the often-rumored Galaxy Gear smartwatch will be in attendance.
It was only a matter of time. Samsung just sent out invitations to the their latest Unpacked press event, this time labeled "Episode 2." It's scheduled for 1PM EST on September 4th, just under one month from today, before the annual IFA show in Berlin. Android newshounds will recall that the original Galaxy Note got its debut at the same venue back in 2011.
There's little doubt that new Note hardware will be the focus of this event: stylized text reading "NOTE THE DATE" is emblazoned on the invite.
Samsung will be holding an event on August 29th at IFA in Berlin. Sound familiar? It should, because Korean news publication Digital Daily outed this event back in mid July. At the time it was said that Samsung would be announcing the Galaxy Note 2, which seems to be highly likely considering the event invite:
It doesn't really get any more obvious than that, so we'd be willing to put some money on the table that the next iteration of the Note will definitely be the highlight of the event.
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 seemed like a promising tablet when announced at IFA, despite the fact that it was evidently not headed for the U.S. Those hoping to get their hands on the device however will be interested to learn that the 7.7 has disappeared from IFA altogether. All that is left of the device's display is a drab curtain and velvet rope.
The latest news has come in the form of an official statement from Samsung, sent to thedroidguy indicating that the removal of the 7.7 from IFA did in fact have to do with a court decision made on September 2nd.


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Samsung Galaxy M40 gets its WiFi certification, 128 GB internal storage in tow
Those who think that none of the three existing Galaxy M handsets is the right one for them might want to wait for the upcoming Galaxy M40 because the device with the model number SM-M405F has just received its Wi-Fi certifications and also seems to be the first Galaxy M to run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.
According to SamMobile's sources, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy M40 will also feature 128 GB of internal storage. Sadly, this is where the information provided by the aforementioned website in its exclusive Galaxy M40-related article. Obviously, we can try a few rather safe guesses regarding some the features of this upcoming handset: a generous battery with at least 4,500 mAh, a Super AMOLED display, as well as an Exynos processor.
In addition to the above, the Galaxy M40 will probably sport a triple main camera setup and an in-display fingerprint reader. Since the first three Galaxy M handsets were unleashed in India first, it wouldn't be surprising for the Galaxy M40 to follow suit.
Do you think that Samsung is on the right path in the low-end and mid-range areas of the market with the Galaxy A and Galaxy M families? Are you one of those who already purchased one of these new handsets? Feel free to share your thoughts with the rest of us in the comments section, as usual.


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Apple News & Reviews - Page 12
More Apple News
DAILY VIDEO: Apple is sued over alleged iPhone 6 touch-screen problems; Opera is hit with a sync breach, forces a password reset; HPE grows its machine learning capabilities for big data analytics; and there's more.
Three iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners filed a class action lawsuit alleging that the touch-screens on the devices are failing due to a defect.
For an extra $20 a month, Unlimited Freedom mobile plan customers can now also get unlimited HD quality video streaming.
The service will boost tethering to 3G speeds, while adding a $25-per-month option that adds faster 4G LTE tethering plus fast HD video.
Constant news about Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and Google's advances in AI and machine learning perhaps gave Apple pause. Because it invited in a reporter.
DAILY VIDEO: Apple iPhone 6, 6 Plus suffer from 'touch disease'; Intel, Nvidia trading shots over AI, deep learning; Microsoft: 60 percent of U.S. teens keep secret online accounts; and there's more.
Parallels Desktop 12 for Mac Desktop includes a new Toolbox for Mac for developers, which is available with the desktop package or can be purchased separately.
iPhones are suffering from "Touch Disease," a gray bar and unresponsive touch-screen, caused by a logic board issue when the phones are bent, iFixit reports.
DAILY VIDEO: The next Apple Watch won't have LTE due to battery life issues; Intel is ready to ship silicon photonics modules this year; Twitter will extend protective controls to all users; and there's more.
Built-in cellular service in Apple's next smartwatch is being delayed as the company continues to struggle with LTE and battery life.


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*Membership spots not really limited!
DC has released a preview of the pencil art
Source: DC Blog - Press Release
We know so far that the current "Trinity War" cross-over leads directly into September's Villains Month event and the "Forever Evil" mini-series. To further tease us the DC Blog has released a few previews of the pencil art from Justice League #23 by Ivan Reis.
As for what’s specifically in store for JUSTICE LEAGUE #23? “The only thing I can say is that it is soooooooo DAMN COOL! There will be so many important moments going on!”
Justice League #23 hits stores on August 23 !
Written or Contributed by IvCNuB4
READ THIS ARTICLE ON THE FRONT PAGE, HUMANS!


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Key take outs:
GUEST RESEARCH: The COVID-19 outbreak has brought the preparedness of Australia’s healthcare sector into sharp focus. As the immediate disruption from the pandemic recedes, the Australian healthcare sector will continue to face significant challenges and opportunities. Healthcare providers will need to gain a clear understanding of the landscape to determine where they sit and how they will compete in a rapidly changing environment, according to Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand.
It’s no secret that businesses making significant investments into data will often see improved outcomes, but it can sometimes be hard to point out just what those improved outcomes are.
Singapore has pledged to continue investing in innovation and technology as part of its attempt to revive the country’s COVID-19 hit economy by creating new business and employment opportunities.
Steer well clear of Intel-based models unless you need a Mac Pro with Intel processor for super high-end animation and[…]
That was a nice article, wasn't it Alexa, now turn the page Alexa.I said turn the page to Alexa."What are[…]
What's the big deal? Should Fedora no longer meet my needs, I can change distributions in an hour.
Hi Hedware, I asked, they’re in Sydney Australia.The full list is here:https : // www . alibabacloud . com /[…]
Looks like the ban hammer struck again on innocent players! I was one of them! been missing out on 2[…]


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‘Tea export to Pakistan remains steady despite strained ties’January 1st, 2009 - 9:45 pm ICT by IANS
Kolkata, Jan 1 (IANS) Undeterred by the recent strained relationship with Pakistan, the Tea Board of India expects to export 11,000 tonnes of tea to that country this year, a top official said here Thursday.”We expect that the export to Pakistan will be decent this fiscal. There is no problem yet with tea trading though official visits are stopped,” Basudeb Banerjee, chairman of the board, told reporters.
The total tea export to Pakistan last year was in the tune of 5,000 tonnes.
Ruling out any impact of the global economic meltdown on the tea industry, Banerjee said: “Demand for tea won’t be affected due to the slowdown. Rather, tea consumption rises during recession as people shift from other costly beverages to tea.”
Talking about the export in the current fiscal (2008-09), Banerjee said: “Our export this year will be more than what we did last fiscal.”
Last fiscal, India exported 189,000 tonnes and this year it expects to achieve 195,000-200,000 tonnes against a target of 205,000 tonnes, he said.


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Pakistan faces shortage of Paracetamol, and other life-saving drugs following tussle between govt and PPMA
According to reports, Pakistan is facing a shortage of ten life-saving drugs, following the tussle going on between the government and PPMA.
Sources say that this came after the government imposed a sales tax of 17% on pharmaceutical raw materials, following which the industry has stopped import. If the government does not take rigid action and take stakeholders into confidence, in the new few days, 80% of drugs will be removed completely from the market.
Life-saving drugs shortage
There is a shortage of the following drugs:
In a meeting head by Saleem Mandiwala, Shaukat Tareen expressed support for the removal of 17% sales tax from raw materials, which was meant for manufacturing medicine.
Chairman of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), Qazi Dilawar reported that the sales tax has led to a 20% shortage of daily-use medicines across the country. He further informed that the PPMA has asked for an increase in the price of medicine from 20% to 25%, which includes the elimination of 17% sales tax on raw materials and a refund from FBR of Rs40 billion.
Dilawar said that the industry has been in a crisis for six months, but the government is not paying attention. He added that the government has collected Rs40 billion, which isn’t being repaid. Hence, they do not have the funds for important raw materials. Similarly, the increase in prices of gas, energy, and petroleum has led to a 45% increase in production costs.
”About 95% of the raw materials for pharmaceuticals come from abroad and the tariff per container has increased from the US $1,000 to $9,000,” he added. The prices of locally manufactured products are going up on a daily basis, but medicines prices are not being increased to this hike.
If this problem is not resolved, Pakistan will have to import medicines of $8 billion to $10 billion annually. The medicines will also be 500% more expensive for the average patient than domestic medicines.
Dilawar warned that if their demands are not met, PPMA would go on strike after 22nd June 2022.
What are your views on this? Share in the comments bar below.


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Global Ports Pledge to Keep Cruise Industry Afloat
Tuesday 19th February, 2019-The Chairman of Global Ports Holding PLC Mehmet Kutman has described the agreement with the government to manage the cruise facilities as one of the toughest negotiations they have undertaken.
Speaking for the first time publicly since the agreement was inked; Kutman apologized on his company’s behalf for not engaging the general public, which has led to much skepticism in some quarters.
He stated the company when bidding for cruise ports adopt a holistic approach, whereby everyone benefits, unlike cruise companies.
The Global Ports Chairman has pledged to join with the government in keeping the cruise industry in calm waters.


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Earth Day 2021: the pandemic's effect on the environment; biking up over 100% but so is garbage
After a year of forced changes and subsequent adaptations, Earth Day 2021 can be a time to reflect on how people have impacted the environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, Asheville environmentalists say.
As the world prepares for a return to normal, they reflect on the ways people were both kind and unkind to the earth.
How we've helped the planet
1. We've gotten outside more. Participation in outdoor activities skyrocketed in a time where people were unable to gather at indoor group settings.
Ritchie Rozzelle, owner of The Flying Bike, which offers bike tours of downtown Asheville, said the business was seeing an almost 50% increase year-over-year each month after the initial shutdown from March to May of 2020.
"We we able to be very lucky by pretty immediately regaining a steady business that ultimately grew to be some of our most successful months in the three years that the company has operated," Rozzelle said.
The Flying Bike uses electric bikes, which operate at least in part with a motor with no carbon emissions, which add to the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. They also rent and sell the e-bikes.
Rozzelle said he believes people turned to cycling during the pandemic because of the mental health impact staying inside can cause.
"Our minds sort of craved movement and space, and bike-riding is that," he said.
City of Asheville Sustainability Director Amber Weaver agreed, saying that though mental health may not seem like a part of helping the environment, it is. "If we're not healthy then we cannot focus on other areas of our lives," she said.
Allison Glackin from Connect Buncombe, a nonprofit organization that promotes greenways, also reported extreme growth in bike traffic on Asheville greenways.
Traffic is tracked at greenway in North Asheville and the River District. At North Asheville, biking in 2020 was up 72% over 2019. At the River District, it was up 124%.
"As much as we're sad for all the negative things that have happened, the use of greenways, people getting outside, has increased for recreation," Glackin said. "Things like the greenways and streets and sidewalks have become community centers."
2. We've planted more flowers. As people were forced to stay home, they rolled up their sleeves and got in their gardens more.
"There has been an increase in gardening. People have been expressing interest in growing their own food or doing something from home that connects them to the earth," Asheville GreenWorks executive director Dawn Chàvez said.
In March 2020, Asheville GreenWorks launched a Certified Pollinator Habitat program through its Bee City USA - Asheville initiative The goal is to save pollinators like bees and butterflies and promote native plants.
About 50 gardens have been certified as pollinator habitats since it was launched at the start at the pandemic.
"There's lots of information out there about gardening. We've tried to leverage that interest and channel it into native pollinator planting, rather than just ornamental or invasive plants that are not great for the environment," Chávez said.
Without the uptick in gardening due to the pandemic, Greenworks may not have been able to certify so many pollinator gardens over the past year.
"One in every four bites of food we eat is thanks to pollinators," Chávez said. "Our whole ecosystem is dependent on having healthy pollinators."
3. We've traveled less. Environmentalists agree the greatest contributions humans have made to the planet during the COVID-19 pandemic is staying put. Traveling by car or plane creates toxic emissions for the environment. Without this type of travel, the planet has benefited.
"Every mile that's not driven in a car. Every mile that doesn't release atmospheric contaminants is beneficial," Flying Bike's Rozzelle said.
Working from home has been a huge help in reducing carbon emissions from cars, said Sara Nichols, Clean Cities coordinator for Land of Sky Regional Council, a planning and development organization.
Allowing people to continue to work from home after the pandemic could show great results in reduced emissions.
"That will keep those vehicle miles traveled just to and from a workplace as a permanent reduction, not a temporary pandemic reduction," Nichols said.
While people stopped traveling for a while, many environmentalists are concerned that this trend is not going to stick.
Sophie Mullinax, director of the Blue Horizons Project, a nonprofit that promotes clean energy, said she predicts as more people get COVID-19 vaccines and more places open up, the progress made in reduced emissions from less travel is likely not going to make any lasting change.
"It was good while it happened, but I don't think anyone's making a permanent lifestyle change really of stopping flying or driving a lot less," she said. "Once we have those freedoms again, it really is up to the individuals to make those lifestyle choices that are lower impact."
How we've hurt the planet
1. We're ordering more delivery and takeout. That means more plastic waste from to-go packaging. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, containers and packaging create 39 million tons of waste yearly.
Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR) Executive Director Jane Anderson estimated delivery and takeout in local restaurants has increased 500%.
"It became a survival mechanism that now (the restaurants) are rethinking the way they're doing things in that regard," Anderson said. "A lot of them never did takeout or delivery, so they've now learned."
AIR is a membership nonprofit organization, to which more than 100 independent restaurants belong.
Those restaurants, Anderson said, are aware of the product waste created by takeout and delivery and are working to solve them.
"The independent restaurants try to do things the right way if they can," Anderson said. "Compostable disposables has been on the radar for quite a while. The restaurants are very concerned about food waste, products like paper and things like that and trying to make as small of a footprint as possible."
But keeping their doors open has been restaurants' No. 1 priority during the pandemic, Anderson said, preventing them from focusing too much on product waste.
"Keeping afloat, staying in business, has been the major focus. The fact that as many of our restaurants survived the year from hell is incredible," she said.
2. We've created more waste as a whole. The EPA states containers and packaging contribute over 23% of the material reaching landfills. With the uptick in grocery delivery and Amazon orders, this number is expected to be much higher from the pandemic.
If you're able to go to the store to buy things, Nichols said, go. Buying things in-person and bringing reusable shopping bags can help reducepackaging going to landfills.
Litter also has been an extreme issue during the pandemic. Due to COVID restrictions on group size, GreenWorks couldn't deploy as many volunteer clean-up groups as it has in the past, Chávez said.
"Litter has always been a problem in the area, but we've just seen it getting more so," she said.
Stopping excessive online ordering could be difficult once the pandemic rounds out, Nichols said.
3. We're getting right back to our old ways. While the environment saw benefit from the pandemic for a short time, environmentalists said the greatest environmental issue is that people are going back to their pre-COVID habits.
Walking or biking rather than driving and not using air travel are not things that local conservationists think will become permanent parts of life.
"I just hope that these lessons stick," Rozzelle said. "I hope that the pandemic hasn't created a temporary thing but a lasting change."
Takeout is expected to stick around as a prominent part of life also, local restaurants predict.
"As with many things during COVID, people have gotten used to certain ways and they're not just going to walk away from it forever," AIR's Anderson said.
If people go back to old ways, carbon emissions could rise as a result of increased travel once people are able to. A decrease in biking and walking could be eminent. The world could go back to where it was, local environmentalists say, and that could mean a negative impact on the planet.
"Just because everyone stayed home for a minute does not mean that everything's better," Lad of Sky's Nichols said.
Shelby Harris is a reporter covering education and other topics. She can be reached at email@example.com or on Twitter @_shelbyharris.


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Hyundai Leaving Japanese Market on Weak Sales
Unlike in the rest of the world's major markets, Hyundai's vehicle sales in Japan are so low that the automaker will retreat from the region, Automotive News reports.
In the eight years it's been in Japan, Hyundai has only sold 15,095 units. Yes, you read that correctly. Comparatively, the country's best-selling import car brand, Volkswagen, sold 61,996 vehicles in 2008 alone.
The Korean automaker is scheduled to notify its 46 dealers of the pullout tomorrow, December 1. Commercial vehicle operations will continue in Japan, though the division is plagued with lackluster sales as well.
Globally, Hyundai has seen a sales improvement of 7.2% through October, with U.S. sales up 4%.


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Biometric tech making a mark
Soon we'll log on by eye scan, fingerprint -- even butt-print
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/08/2012 (3655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Sure, it’s cool and easy to pay for stuff with the wave of a smartphone — but why bother when you could use your face?
Fast-evolving biometric technologies are promising to deliver the most convenient, secure connection possible between you and your bank account — using your body itself in place of all those wallets and purses stuffed with cash, change and plastic cards.
Biometrics is the science of human physiological or behavioural characteristics and it’s being used to develop technology that recognizes and matches unique patterns in human fingerprints, faces, eyes and even sweat glands and buttock pressure. Its potentially a huge time and effort saver, but that’s just the beginning of the technology’s usefulness.
“The basic thing is that you are the person who has to be authenticated for transactions. In addition to carrying other tokens and some knowledge, like your PIN for ATMs — you are you, so why not be used to authenticate yourself?” said IBM researcher Nalina Ratha.
As technologies advance, the use of biometrics in everyday life is shifting from traditional law enforcement and government security to a host of more consumer-friendly applications.
Touch-payment technologies that employ fingerprints as identifiers are already in the works, Ratha said, and despite being hundreds of years old, fingerprinting and its uses are still developing rapidly. In fact, IBM introduced fingerprint scan pads for personal log-ins on its then-laptops (which are now produced by Lenovo Group Ltd.) back in 2004.
The next generation of fingerprinting is being developed to go beyond simple recognition to incorporate pressure sensors that can determine if a device is being touched by a live object or not, which helps with fraud detection.
“Fraud can be done if people design [fake prints] using some moulding and they can create a gummy finger and fool the biometric technology,” said Svetlana Yanushkevich, co-founder of the Biometrics Technology Lab at the University of Calgary.
A New York-based technology company says its patented sweat-gland recognition technology will help add even more security to existing biometric devices that may be susceptible to fraud.
“With most of the biometric technologies, there are ways around most of those technologies — you could lift somebody’s fingerprint and create a Latex copy, you can create a contact lens to copy somebody’s iris and so on and so forth. We think we’ll be the only technology that’s ‘spoof-proof,’ ” said Scott McNulty, president and chief executive of BIOPTid Inc., which owns “the human barcode” technology.
The company’s One Touch cube, set to be on the market within a year, is an external device users can hook up to their computers and mobile electronics to replace passwords for Internet log-ins and banking. The cube reads a personal sweat gland barcode to verify identity from the moisture on a user’s fingertip.
“With one touch, you can log right into your social-networking site, right onto your page. You can instantly purchase something without having a credit card or form of ID,” he says.
In addition to the metaphorical connotation, he trademarked his technology as “the human barcode” because the sweat-gland patterns create a numerical reading like a computerized barcode.
Vancouver-based Face Forensics Inc., a face-recognition software company, is also transitioning its products to more transactional-based uses from their traditional law-enforcement and government-access mandate — the company typically works with governments around the world on e-passports as well as registry systems, such as licence-plate databases.
The move to digital tech for travel is happening in Canada too, which started unrolling e-passports this year.
Travellers who want to avoid long border-crossing lines can sign up for the Canadian Border Services Agency’s Nexus program, which uses kiosks to scan the iris of a person’s eye and verify their identity.
But recognition technology doesn’t end at the hand or face.
Thanks to Japanese researchers at the Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology, a car seat is being developed that aims to identify a driver by reading body pressure — technology dubbed “butt biometrics” by some tech press following its introduction last year.
Beyond simple identification, biometric situational awareness tools can help make a judgment call. For example, facial expression recognition is not just about identifying a person, but drawing conclusions about their emotional state.
“There are major expressions that can be linked to emotions, such as neutral, sad, happy, exhausted or hungry, and so on,” Yanushkevich said.
Related technology is being developed for the health-care and biomedical fields.
“Think about the care homes for the elderly. Expressions are important if these facilities are equipped with sensors. For example, the facial expression can tell you if the patient was in pain,” she said.
Thermal monitoring technology has already been used at airports to detect travellers with elevated body temperature that may by carrying diseases, Yanushkevich noted.
Industry players say they hope the trend toward biometrics in consumer products spells the end of the negative stigma associated with the field.
“Biometrics is something that’s used by governments, it’s used by ‘Big Brother’ to keep an eye on us and we want to change that,” said McNulty.
“We think biometrics is something that can be actually used by the people and it becomes their technology that they use to protect themselves.”
— Postmedia News


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US ultra low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is encouraged by the performance of its new campaign designed to educate passengers about its extreme product unbundling business model. But the real test of success is if customers complaints about Spirit actually decline.
The campaign and its accompanying tagline “Less Money More Go” debuted in May of this year. It also includes a ‘Spirit 101’ web page featuring videos and tips for customers on how to save money when flying with the airline.
“Weʼre very encouraged at the early results of this effort,” Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza recently declared to analysts and investors. “Weʼll be targeting messaging via many additional touch points as the campaign matures.”
Baldanza remarked that Spiritʼs “Bare Fare plus Frill Control” messaging “is resonating well with customers, as they see the benefit of only paying for what they truly value”.
While Spirit is unsurprisingly bullish about the campaign, the real test of its triumph in successfully changing passenger sentiment about charging for essentially every aspect of the travel experience outside of the fare is a drop in consumer complaints logged with the US government. “What really has to happen is a decrease in customer complaints sent to the DOT,” says Atmosphere Research Group travel analyst Henry Harteveldt. “Then Spirit can claim success.”
No definitive conclusions can be drawn from the latest data on consumer complaints released by the DOT covering June 2014, which was just about a month after Spirit launched the new campaign. Spirit garnered a total of 93 complaints in June, which was actually higher than the 72 complaints filed against the airline in May when the new campaign was launched. During both months, flight problems represented the bulk of complaints against Spirit – approximately 33% in May and roughly 41% in June. The DOT categorizes flight problems as cancellations, delays or any other deviations from schedule, whether planned or unplanned.
For the months of May and June flight problems represented the greatest number of total complaints registered with the DOT, accounting for 47% of the total 1,010 customer complaints in May and 41% of the 1,095 recorded in June.
Overall Harteveldt concludes that Spiritʼs passenger education initiative is a “very smart thing to do” given that the carrier “is very different from other airlines. It is important to manage customer expectations.”
However, he also believes Spirit has an opportunity to “put more attention on the front line customer service staff”, adding that acting rude should not be a byproduct of inexpensive fares. The original People Express, charging for drinks and food, was the ultra low-cost carrier pioneer, says Harteveldt. But the airline was also renowned for its friendly staff.
Along with its efforts to create more positive passenger sentiment, Spirit could also assess if it has “the right people in the right job,” says Harteveldt.
In the meantime, Spirit does acknowledge that it does have some customers purchasing tickets, that “donʼt understand our difference,” Baldanza stated earlier in 2014. Those passengers “get frustrated by some of the things we do that other airlines donʼt do. So we see an opportunity to make sure that everyone who buys a ticket on Spirit understands the value of buying on Spirit.”


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FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno city council has approved a new cannabis business ordinance, allowing up to 14 retail cannabis businesses in the city.
The measure was narrowly approved in a four to three vote. Fresno mayor Lee Brand could still veto the ordinance before it goes into effect.
This story is developing and will be updated.
An earlier version of this story follows.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Commercial cannabis and retail stores are coming to Fresno.
But now councilmembers are stepping up efforts to have more of a say when it comes to authority and regulations surrounding the industry.
The Cannabis Ordinance currently gives the power of approval to the City Manager to decide who gets a license and where.
"These changes fundamentally change that we're going to treat the cannabis industry like any other industry," said councilmember Miguel Arias.
Arias is co-sponsoring the Cannabis Ordinance that will be presented for council discussion Thursday.
According to Arias, the city stands to make millions of dollars annually off the sale of marijuana, money that he says would go to help fund the police department and other community services.
"As a whole the city estimates that about $10 million a year would be generated alone. That equates to about 100 officers we could add to the police force on a daily basis."
There are currently more than a hundred cannabis retailers in Fresno operating unregulated.
The proposed new guidelines call for up to 14 retail businesses in the city - two per council district - to set up shop within designated zones.
"We do believe that 14 retail locations are going to be more than sufficient to absorb a majority of the black market because they'll be bigger, regulated, safer, nicer looking for the customers who they have now," said Arias.
Mayor Lee Brand has yet to put his full support behind the ordinance.
"I'd like to see council come together because it's going to be a difficult ordinance to do because there were members on the council that absolutely didn't support this, either medical or medicinal," Brand said.
The updated ordinance will be presented to council members on Thursday at 11 a.m. with a vote set for November 7.
The city hopes to begin accepting business applications by next summer.
Fresno city council approve cannabis business ordinance, opening door to more marijuana business
More TOP STORIES News


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The ambassador for Volkswagen‘s new international style is the premium SUV that’s intended for the US market the new Volkswagen Cross Coupe GT that made its world debut at the 2015 North American International Auto Show.
Although it was only unveiled as a concept car, it’s another plug-in hybrid concept that we see on the show and it showcases the future design that Volkswagen wants to adopt not just for the North American market. Being a big investor in a lot of countries, the company also proudly announced that it will start production of its mid-sized SUV Volkswagen Cross Coupe. The maybe most pleasing part about this information is that it will be done in Chattanooga, Tennessee by the end of 2016.
Like Chevy’s Volt and the Mercedes-Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid, the VW SUV that’s on showcase at the Detroit Auto Show, uses a plug-in hybrid system with a maximum output of 355 hp and an all-wheel drive system that uses an electric drive shaft. The company also claims this hybrid SUV returns an impressive mileage of 30 Km/l.
Its Klaus Bischoff, chief designer at Volkswagen that says the Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE is the ambassador of a new design language developed by Volkswagen for the U.S. He further adds that the concept car has a commanding presence and that it is powerful with a look that could almost be described as aggressive.
“Numerous details hint at how we envision a future production SUV model for North America. The underlying concept combines German engineering and design with a vehicle that suits the American lifestyle. That means high efficiency, clear and powerful design, logical operation and supreme quality-combined with lots of space, superior performance, and outstanding comfort.”
We can distinguish the high-tech plug-in hybrid drivetrain vehicles with the GTE acronym that VW has dedicated for the new Volkswagen Cross Coupe. While these vehicles offer an already seen driving experience like the Grand Tourer or Gran Turismo or just GT acronym the bonus is that with the added electric motors and a very potent battery they also offer zero-emissions.
Another thing the company claims is that the Cross Coupe VW has a zero-emission range of up to 32 Km and can reach 100Km/h from standstill in just 6.0 seconds. All of this high-tech has it’s own function button on the dashboard in the form of various operating modes like E-Mode, GTE, Hybrid, Off-road and Battery Hold/Battery Charge.
Volkswagen is not a newbie when it comes to presenting concept cars in the US. Actually the Cross Coupe GTE is the third concept SUV showcased in the States, after Cross Blue in Detroit in January 2013, and the Cross Blue Coupe in Los Angeles in November the same year. All of the concepts are developed using Volkswagen‘s own modular transverse matrix (MQB) architecture.


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"If just 1% of the masks were disposed of incorrectly and dispersed in nature, this would result in as many as 10 million masks per month polluting the environment.”
The covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on most people’s daily life.
Unfortunately, a major environmental crisis has been occurring as a result of incorrectly disposed of medical waste. We have relied on various types of protective products to keep us safe such as face masks, face shields, plastic gloves, plastic barriers, bottles of hand sanitiser and disinfecting wipes.
As the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) increased so did our need to revert back to disposable single-use plastics in many business settings.
For example, hospitality and business sectors that had previously embraced reusable or biodegradable packaging started using plastic products due to concerns around cross-contamination and consumer demand. This unexpected increase in municipal and medical waste collapsed many waste management facilities unprepared for this global situation.
In this article, we will review the gaps identified in the waste generation problem during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and discuss the challenges and possible alternatives for the future.
Why Is Medical Waste Generation A Global Issue?
In 2020, our health and wellbeing was undoubtedly the primary concern when compared to environmental protection.
Disposable products that significantly increased their demand due to public health directives include:
Medical face masks
Protective suits, aprons and visors (PPE)
Plastic bags used for hygienic precaution
Vaccine containers and needles
Transport packaging for medical supplies
Medication packaging (e.g. blister packs)
Take away food containers
Cleaning products & packaging (plastic bottles & aerosols)
It is important to remember that these products are now a part of our households and many institutions like hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and quarantine centres, continue to use all of the above.
The problem also comes as many of these products are catalogued as hazardous waste. This means that its improper disposal may cause the disease to spread via secondary transmission.


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A reporter from CNBC also recreated the trip in one particular day without the need of incidents. 1 week later, a group of Tesla owners recreated Broder’s trip without having difficulties. On February eight, 2013, The New York Instances published a critique by John M. Broder about a trip in between Washington, D.C., and Boston working with Tesla’s Supercharger network.
That’s cool and all, but how will you get the door open if the battery is dead? Tesla already has a tainted reputation for not being effortless to repair when factors go wrong. Tesla’s first target for starting Cybertruck production was fall 2021.
Elon Musk states final design and style for the Tesla Cybertruck is now “locked” and the updated timeline aims to start production in mid 2023. Tesla wanted to develop a truck with a stainless steel exoskeleton which resulted in this restricted style. Making it even additional fascinating, the tweet suggested the Cybertruck could be launching earlier than anticipated. That partnership was informal for most of that time but sooner or later grew to them becoming officially endorsed by Tesla last year as an authorized Tesla service and physique repair shop.
In August 2015, two researchers mentioned they were capable to take control of a Tesla Model S by hacking into the car’s entertainment system. The hack necessary the researchers to physically access the vehicle. Tesla issued a security update for the Model S the day following the exploit was announced. Also in February 2021, the German Federal Motor Transport Authority ordered Tesla to recall 12,300 Model X vehicles for the reason that of “body mouldings troubles”.
The National Highway Visitors Security Administration is aware of various fires in Tesla Inc. automobiles, the agency said in a letter sent Friday to a Florida official and obtained by Bloomberg Government. On Monday, traders will watch the release of a key financial report – the ISM’s manufacturing acquiring managers index for September – for clues about the state of the U.S. economy. Tesla has observed marked growth immediately after years of breakeven efficiency. Tesla beat Wall Street’s earnings expectations in the second quarter of 2021, creating $1.1 billion . The majority then identified that Tesla failed to establish unique circumstances in this case. Deliver students with an opportunity to analyze the monetary and accounting difficulties raised in the case in order to create a feasible trading technique.
In the case of an electric vehicle, this degradation in its total energy capacity means that its maximum variety shrinks over time. Some are possibilities by the a variety of automakers (such as how a great deal of the battery’s total capacity to make accessible narrower swings in the state of charge are friendlier to longevity) and some primarily based on the owner’s behavior. Of course, the battery’s lifespan or battery capacity retention of your brand new Tesla will be affected by several other components, just like other electric cars with an electric motor. These things incorporate the charging frequency, temperatures, the owners driving habits, etc. Gone are the days when most men and women believed of electric cars as ugly and sluggish. Now, buyers know EVs can be just as mainstream in their appearance as gasoline-powered vehicles.
When you press the accelerator the car instantly feeds power to the motor, which steadily consumes the energy stored in the batteries. According to a 2021 Tesla effect report, when its lithium-ion batteries attain their end of life, they are remanufactured or recycled. The materials that make up the battery can be refined and place into a new cell, and when that new cell reaches its end of life, it is once once more recycled into a new a single. On the other hand, Tesla makes it clear that recycling is not the first alternative. Alternatively, it tries to extend the life of a battery pack just before at some point recycling it.
Tesla has delayed the truck’s production timeline several occasions already, but on April 7, 2022, CEO Elon Musk once again promised that the truck is coming and will be out in 2023. Aside from its 1-of-a-type angular experiment of a truck, the design replaces the traditional truck frame with a difficult stainless steel ‘exoskeleton,’ equivalent to airplane design and style, and further-strong glass for the windows. Tesla announced a base price of below $40,000, but we would take that with a grain of salt, based on the company’s record of frequent cost hikes.
Even though it might seem like we don’t have a lot of history to back up any answers we may give, the truth is that modern day electric vehicle batteries have been about given that 1998, when the initial Toyota Prius was launched. In the practically twenty-5 years since, we’ve seen many hybrids and EVs deliver hundreds of thousands of miles of service. The Tesla battery is one of the most crucial elements of a Tesla automobile. It gives power to the electric motors and assists the automobile obtain high-efficiency levels. The Tesla battery is composed of quite a few thousand cylindrical lithium-ion cells. Tesla batteries are highly-priced and depend upon the selection of your model roughly, it is around $20,000.
But these defects are uncommon and nearly often covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Tesla claims its EV batteries can final between 300,000 and 400,000 miles before they die and require to be replaced. Information collected by study firm NimbleFins appears to back this up — a study of 557 Tesla cars performed by the company showed an typical of 90% battery capacity even with 150,000 miles on the odometer.
Analysts also count on Volkswagen to have ample monetary sources to fund future growth—if it can successfully take its Porsche brand public ahead of the end of this year. The spinoff is anticipated to fetch a valuation of far more than $100 billion, much more than its parent company’s current market worth. Volkswagen has a robust electric car lineup that could challenge Tesla’s dominance in Europe and China, the world’s top rated read full article two EV markets. The Model X is Tesla’s bigger SUV, which can present extra than 1,000 hp and has distinctive gull-wing doors. The dual-motor version offers the longest range of 348 miles with the 20-inch Cyberstream wheels. The BMW i4 is a pure-electric four-door gran coupe with a equivalent footprint to the 3 Series.
And there are any number of EV startups, such as rivals in the solar-powered space, such as Lightyear of the Netherlands and Aptera of San Diego. “There is a big will need for alternative energy, particularly in Europe offered what we’re seeing with new gas costs, and now it’s just about execution and production,” he stated. The Sion, which will retail in Europe for about $25,000, will be among the most very affordable EVs in its category when it goes into production in the second half of 2023, the organization mentioned. The cars will be constructed by Valmet Automotive, the Finnish contract manufacturer. Choosing a vehicle is a individual selection that is determined by numerous elements that go beyond just specifications. My wife and I are not excited by Tesla’s solutions, to be sincere.


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Given the environmental impact associated with the manufacture, transportation and use of plastic bottles, Resolute has launched an initiative to phase out the purchase and distribution of single-use plastic bottles across all its offices and facilities.
On August 23, 2018, Resolute management issued a directive regarding the elimination of single-use plastic bottles of water and rehydration drinks. This initiative will eliminate 1.7 million plastic bottles used annually at Resolute that might otherwise end up in landfills.
We want to promote the use of reusable bottles that can be filled from water coolers or from water fountains connected to municipal water supply systems, and will ensure employees have access to cool water.
Water bottles are among the most frequent single-use plastic waste items. Fewer than 50% of plastic water bottles are collected for recycling, and fewer than 7% of bottles are actually recycled. The rest is disposed of in landfills, oceans and waterways, and is detrimental to the health of humans, animals and marine wildlife. According to the United Nations Environment Assembly, more than 8 million metric tons of plastic are disposed of in oceans every year.
This initiative will be implemented over the course of the coming year to ensure a smooth transition at all Resolute facilities. Resolute employees are doing their part for the environment.


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Conglomerate ITC on Monday reported a 16.29 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) rise in consolidated net profit in the April to June quarter of 2023-24 (Q1FY24) to Rs 5,104. 93 crore, from Rs 4,389.76 crore, led by earnings from cigarettes, FMCG (non-cigarette), and hotels.
Consolidated revenue from operations in Q1FY24 at Rs 18,639.48 crore was lower by 6 per cent Y-o-Y, though it beat Bloomberg consensus estimate of Rs 17,811.8 crore. The estimate for net income adjusted was Rs 4,860.8 crore. Sequentially, revenues and net profit were down by 2.19 per cent and 1.36 per cent, respectively.
ITC stated that this performance was achieved amid a challenging operating environment and a high base effect in some of its operational segments. The company attributed its sustained growth momentum to factors, such as customer centricity, accelerated digital adoption, execution excellence, and agility.
The revenue generated by the cigarette segment reached Rs 8,355.66 crore in the June 2023 quarter, against Rs 7,464.10 crore a year ago
it clawed back volumes from illicit trade on the back of deterrent actions by enforcement agencies and relative stability in taxes.
Pre-tax profits from the cigarette segment reached Rs 4,944.02 crore, a rise from Rs 4,469.76 crore in the corresponding period a year ago.
In the non-cigarette FMCG segment, the revenue stood at Rs 5,172.71 crore in Q1FY24, compared to Rs 4,458.71 crore a year ago. Pre-tax profits rose to Rs 433.93 crore from Rs 206.87 crore in the same period last year, driven by expanding margins.
The company said that overall, input costs remained elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels, even as certain commodities witnessed price moderation on a high base of the previous year.
The improvement in profitability was driven by multiple interventions, the company said, including premiumisation, supply chain optimisation, judicious pricing actions, digital initiatives, strategic cost management, and fiscal incentives. ITC also said that the FMCG business witnessed ‘robust’ growth in both urban and rural markets.
The hospitality segment experienced its best Q1, driven by a strong average room rate (ARR). Revenue from this segment reached Rs 624.90 crore in the June quarter, against Rs 580.71 crore a year ago. Pre-tax profit rose to Rs 134.30 crore, surpassing Rs 116.31 crore in the year-ago period.
The agribusiness segment was affected by government-imposed restrictions on wheat and rice exports. Revenue from the segment was Rs 5,726.98 crore in Q1FY24, compared to Rs 7,492.14 crore a year ago. Still, pre-tax profit increased to Rs 352.37 crore from Rs 283.17 crore in the corresponding period last year.
Revenue from the paperboards, paper, and packaging segment amounted to Rs 2,120.76 crore in Q1FY24, a decline from Rs 2,267.22 crore a year ago. Pre-tax profit stood at Rs 471.26 crore, down from Rs 612.98 crore in the previous year. This was because of subdued demand conditions (domestic and exports), low-priced Chinese supplies in global markets, a sharp reduction in global pulp prices, and the high base effect.


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The financial health crisis is here. People are suffering amid the rising cost of living and debts are rising as disposable incomes dwindle to cover the skyrocketing cost of living. Saving money and reducing expenses for millions of households around the world is now a necessity.
Innovation in finance is driven by disruption, and one of the contenders to lead the charge started life as a data-driven tech company but has now morphed into one of America’s fastest growing digital banks.
Strictly speaking, LendingClub defines itself as a technology/financial services company. Founded in 2006, innovation and market disruption are at the heart of its business, says Scott Sanborn, CEO, who joined the company in 2010. A strong advocate for LendingClub’s work, Sanborn says its services have never been as necessary as they are now, as consumers find themselves pushed to – and, in some cases, beyond – their financial limits.
Lower cost financial options for borrowers
At its core, LendingClub offers borrowers loan services at a lower cost than traditional banks. It is able to do this because it acts as a broker matching institutional investors with potential borrowers. Customers can take advantage of a range of loan products from personal and business loans to auto refinance and patient solutions.
The system is remarkably efficient and, according to Sanborn, regularly reduces interest charges on loan repayments significantly, as it puts customers’ interests first when it comes to their financing needs.
He explains: “Imagine that you are going to buy a car from a dealership. Currently, in the majority of sales, you are going to pay more for financing than your risk would indicate. The dealer adds a markup. There is no limit to the size of this increase. And they are not required to forward you to the lender who offers you the best deal. They may also refer you to the lender who gives them the best fee reduction, rate, or incentive. So you spend all that time choosing a car, negotiating the price, but you’re not negotiating the cost of your financing. You leave the lot paying more than you would otherwise have to.
“That’s where LendingClub comes in: through its technology platform, it can match borrowers with the best loan plans, saving them vital savings in the process.”
Sanborn says that at the customer level, LendingClub realizes significant monthly expense savings. “On average, we’re saving customers about $80 a month on their car loan. Imagine – you drive the same car, pay it off in the same amount of time, but have $80 more per month in your pocket.
Developing financial services through mergers and acquisitions
Obviously, the formula works. To date, the fintech has helped more than four million customers and is the US market leader in one of the fastest growing lending categories: credit.
In 2021, LendingClub also entered the banking sector through its acquisition of Radius Bank, where it obtained its banking charter. This event saw the company grow significantly, transforming its identity within the fintech industry. So, is it a fintech, a digital bank or something else?
“I would say we’re a technology company…but we’re a technology company with a banking charter that makes us an all-digital marketplace. We are something really different. There are some direct-to-consumer banks, but we are becoming a digital market bank at a time when consumer preferences are changing a lot.
Sanborn points out that a decade or more ago, what drove customer preference for banking services was the location of a bank branch. The landscape is now noticeably different. “Consumers now see banking as something you do, not a place you go to, and they’re increasingly saying the strength of the mobile experience is what should be driving choice. So our transition to digital banking comes at a time when consumers value the digital experience, and so we can deliver tremendous value to our customers. »
The disruption of traditional credit
LendingClub has a history of disruption in lending and Sanborn believes the disruption to traditional lending models is long overdue because basically they are charging the customer a lot more than they should. “If you look at credit cards as an example, credit card companies separate their customers into two categories. Revolvers – these are people who do not pay off their credit card balance; they have a loan. And then there are the transaction agents – these are the people who use the card as a convenience mechanism and pay it off every month. These traders get benefits. They get rewards, miles, cash back and all those things. Revolvers have to pay for that.
“So you have half the customer base paying for the other half of the customer base. That’s structural inefficiency. If you looked at that customer and said, ‘Hey. What’s the true cost of credit you’re do you need?” you’ll find it’s lower. That’s what we do with personal loans.
Respond to client’s needs
In addition to taking a dynamic approach to lending, LendingClub is unusual in that its core business model increases financial inclusion by expanding access to credit at lower cost. The company sees current customers and the system as ripe for an overhaul. While LendingClub’s market model allows it to seamlessly serve a wide range of clients, its top client has a relatively high FICO score of around 700 and an annual income north of $100,000. The team is focused on providing borrowers who are charged above ratings by lenders, such as women and minority groups, with a much better deal.
“Our client is highly banked,” he says. “In fact, they are 100% banked. They are simply not well served. It works better for the banks than for them. What we are doing for them is providing a nationwide digital solution that disproportionately helps people living in areas where bank branches are closing, as more and more bank branches are closing every year.
Sanborn points to the wave of bank branch closures around the world and the fact that certain demographics are being penalized by the current system using auto loans as an example, although this is true for all credit. “It has long been documented that women and minorities end up paying a higher price at the used car dealership for their financing than others. So we’re addressing some of those systemic inequalities. Above all, we facilitate access to responsibly structured low-cost credit.
Becoming a digital marketplace has moved this process forward. “We don’t have to support bank branches, which is another structural inefficiency. We don’t have any of that – and it creates savings in our model. We also have a very profitable market and can pass those savings on to the consumer while still being very profitable. The combination of our bank, our marketplace and our large and loyal customer base is truly unique in the banking industry.
The importance of digital partnerships
LendingClub’s stratospheric success has been bolstered by the strong network of fintech partners. Currently, they work with a handful of partners, including Persado, Experian, Narmi, TransUnion, and Quad, all of which provide essential services that help LendingClub disrupt traditional banking.
“The amount of innovation happening everywhere, including in financial services, means that being effective requires constant examination of the landscape to see where the innovation is happening – and how you can harness it. Persado helps us unlock that with custom language and content that drives incremental business, which is good for the business and – given the nature of our products – good for the customer as well,” says Sanborn, which embraces the idea that a digital ecosystem serves the needs of an ever-changing environment.
“No company can do everything. There’s so much going on in document optical character recognition, fraud prevention, and data aggregation using differentiated sources. Part of being great is being able to take the pulse of innovation while creating a culture, a structure, that can identify partners and implement with them to drive the business forward.
Essentially, Persado offers a powerful platform that helps LendingClub identify what motivates customers so they can find the right product and deliver the right message to the right audience. “Persado allows us to be predictive in what we do, to get the right result,” he says.
LendingClub has been associated with TransUnion – acting as LendingClub’s primary credit bureau – since its inception. Recently, they also added Experian to the space where they are embarking on the next growth horizon focused on transparency, trust and consumer relevance.
Other partners include Narmi, a digital banking technology provider, and Quad – which provides a postal marketing service – which Sanborn says is remarkably effective. “Some analog marketing is still very important. People are often surprised by this, but it’s a great consumer experience.
A banking perspective for the future
As fintech and all-digital banking continue to grow globally, there is no shortage of opportunity for companies offering disruptive services. LendingClub, since its acquisition of Radius Bank in February 2021, is now perfectly positioned for growth. At this post-acquisition stage, the digital market bank has all of its lending products in-house and now issues them through the bank. “We fund personal loans, auto loan refinance and our purchase finance business through the bank,” Sanborn explains.
“We also launched high-yield savings accounts and CDs. It is collecting deposits to help fund the loans we hold on our balance sheet. The next big frontier will work on a core set of banking experiences that truly target our consumers. »
It’s a bright future – not just for LendingClub, but also for its customers, who are reaping the benefits of choice in a climate where expense control has never been more crucial to day-to-day survival.
“Our primary consumers are heavily banked with a high income, typically over 100,000. They have a high FICO score, between 700 and 710. But they are also heavily in debt. We help them reduce the cost of their debt, manage their expenses and find savings.
He adds, “We are moving towards a banking experience that makes it easy for people to spot where in their life they could find additional savings. If they accumulate these savings, they won’t need to use their credit card in an emergency. That’s our main focus – and the big set of investments we’ll make next.


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If your summer holiday has already come and gone, then it may be the perfect time to start planning some Thanksgiving or Christmas travel. Not only will making plans now give American travellers something to look forward to, but Expedia.com has released flight data that shows booking holiday travel early can lead to some significant savings.
The online booking company looked at 2016 data and found that more than 85% of holiday travellers missed out on the lowest airfares for two of the busiest travel periods last year. “Timing is a big factor in getting a good deal on airfare,” said Sarah Gavin, vice president of global communications for Expedia in a statement. “People typically know pretty far in advance whether they’re going to travel for the holidays, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on prices months out”.
If you’re hoping to get away for Thanksgiving, the company says that the best time to book is 61 to 90 days before, which yielded about a 10% savings last year. That window is open until about 23 September. Those who waited less than six days before booking paid 20% more than the average price. When it comes to Christmas – one of the most expensive times to travel – the cheapest time to book is about 14 to 20 days away from the holiday, which led to savings of about 5%. Waiting until the last minute could mean you’re paying about 15% more than average.
The company even took things to the next step, finding out the destinations where American travellers can save some money on flights from September to November. Flights to France, China and the Philippines are about 20% cheaper to book for that period right now, while Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea and India are all around 15% cheaper.


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One of the more intriguing luxury auto makers in the electric vehicle space is Lucid Motors (NASDAQ:LCID). Indeed, LCID stock is one that has inspired growth investors to jump aboard this year. Retail investors who got in early to Lucid Motors continue to be rewarded, with shares of LCID stock trading again above the $20 level.
That said, this is a stock that also traded near $65 per share earlier this year. Since then, Lucid, like most speculative stocks, saw valuations come back to earth.
However, there remains a significant number of investors who believe another rally may be around the corner. There is still a lot of capital looking to find a home. And speculative stocks have begun to gain momentum in recent days. That is especially true for companies that came public via special purpose acquisition company, like Lucid.
Today, LCID stock is up more than 5% on an otherwise red day in the markets. Let’s dive into what’s driving this move.
LCID Stock Higher on Impressive EPA Rating
Today, Lucid announced that its flagship luxury EV, the Lucid Air Dream Edition R, received the longest-ever range rating by the EPA.
Indeed, this vehicle’s 520-mile rating is impressive. This goes far beyond what any other EV offers, and suggests Lucid may be onto something with its battery technology.
Lucid’s styling and impressive specifications have driven many prospective luxury EV owners to consider Lucid as a real threat to its rivals. However, battery range is a very important feature many car owners tend to focus on, particularly those making longer commutes on a frequent basis.
This massive 520-mile range for the Lucid Air Dream Edition R is more than 100 miles ahead of the competition in terms of range. Indeed, if Lucid can deliver on its production targets, this could be a stock that could gain some real market share quickly.
At least, that’s what investors seem to be betting on today.
On the date of publication, Chris MacDonald did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.


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Real estate jargon is known for its hyperbole. The term “luxury” is often thrown about like confetti and in more recent years as if that wasn’t enough, “ultra-luxury” has also come into the fray. But what does that mean? Can we define those terms beyond more than agent/broker speak? Yes, as it happens, we can. If a luxury condo is valued at over $4-5 million then an ultra-luxury condo is valued at $10 million and over, according to different sources. And this sector of the market has recovered incredibly well for the events of the last 18 months. Let’s dig a little deeper.
Billionaires’ Wealth Has Increased
After Covid wreaked havoc on real estate sales in New York, many real estate professionals were concerned about how the luxury markets, especially the ultra-luxury, would fare. They needn’t have been worried. According to data from Forbes, Bloomberg, and Wealth-X as highlighted on CBS News, billionaires got 54% richer during Covid. While that statistic won’t ease the hardships that many families have suffered, it has meant that there is enough available cash to support high priced sales in the city, which in turn helps support the rest of the real estate industry, keeping offices open, people employed and deals on the table.
Recent Ultra-Luxury Sales Are Up
Recent statistics, support the healthy state of the luxury market. Over 40 contracts were signed in the last week of May for property prices at $4 million and above including 21 in the $5-10 million category and two in the $10-20 million range, according to Corcoran data, marking the 17th consecutive streak of over 30 such contracts being signed. The priciest deal was a Greenwich Village townhouse on Washington Place that was listed for $17.75 million. The second-highest contract bowed in a tad less at $17.7 million for a penthouse at 90 Morton Street, a 28 unit condo development in a former printing plant in the West Village.
Ultra-Luxe Yachts and Private Jet Sales Are Also Up
A good indicator of the state of the ultra-luxury real estate market is to look at the sales of luxury yachts and private planes. The three usually go hand in hand. We all know that the pandemic saw Amazon’s Jeff Bezos personal fortune skyrocket to the detriment of bricks and mortar retail stores, so it’s hardly surprising that he has chosen to splurge on a superyacht that is likely to cost more than $500 million. The high-end nautical business is exploding.
“The market’s been roaring,” confirms Sam Tucker, head of superyacht research at London-based VesselsValue in Bloomberg. The number of transactions in recent quarters “was record-breaking — the second-hand market is absolutely red hot.”
Equally, Forbes notes that private jet sales are soaring. Hardly surprising perhaps amid fears of catching the coronavirus by flying commercial, but also an indicator that the ultra-wealthy have the cash to spend, which would seem to indicate that sales of ultra-luxury real estate, whether in Manhattan, the Hamptons, or Miami shows no signs of slowing down.
The saying “it takes money to make money,” is largely true, assuming the people with the money know what they’re doing. The increased wealth accrued by the very wealthy over the last eighteen months has meant that there is more cash than ever to be spent on ultra-luxury real estate. We are seeing the effects of that a sales continue to soar in the upper echelon of New York’s property market. As restrictions fully lift and life gets back normal around the world, long may it continue.


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Customers of online retailer zulily can now add Apple Pay to their list of available payment methods when shopping.
The company announced Tuesday (Aug. 25) its plans to offer Apple’s NFC-powered payment method as the latest enhancement to its customer experience.
“We are excited to offer our customers Apple Pay, a convenient option for payment,” Mona Akmal, zulily’s vice president of store, said in a company release.
“We are continuously looking at ways to enhance the ease of shopping and customer experience for our users to bring them back to the store each and every day.”
According to zulily, 56 percent of orders on the curated flash sales site in the second quarter of 2015 took place on a mobile device, which is why mobile remains a major driver in its efforts to change the shopping experience.
While Apple Pay’s empire seems to keep growing, some retailers have also expressed doubts. A Reuters survey released back in June — which polled the top 100 U.S. retailers according to the National Retail Federation — found “fewer than a quarter of the retailers said they currently accept Apple Pay, and nearly two-thirds of the chains said categorically they would not be accepting it this year.”
The retailers’ decisions were allegedly influenced by low customer demand, among other factors.
As of last week, online retail giant QVC will reportedly acquire zulily for $2.4 billion in a cash-and-stock deal as part of QVC’s growing efforts to build up its omnichannel reach and shift from its televised home-shopping approach, which has recently seen decline.
Post-acquisition, the two companies will be held under the common ownership of Liberty Interactive, the parent company of QVC. Meanwhile, Seattle-based zulily will continue to be managed by its current CEO and President Darrell Cavens.
“I am staying on and look to be here for a very long time,” Cavens said in an interview last week withThe Wall Street Journal. The company is now focusing its efforts on cutting down delivery time, he added.


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What’s Google up to with Nexus 7 accessories in the Play Store?
What a long, strange trip the Nexus 7 dock has had on its way through the Google Play Store. We got our first look at the dock back in December, already five months since the tablet itself became available, and then it took the dock all the way until early March before Google started hawking them itself. The dock’s been in the Google Play Store for only three months, and now it already looks like Google could be giving it the boot.
If you check the Play Store today, you’ll see the Nexus 7 dock marked as “not available in your country.” Furthermore, it doesn’t show up in the list of accessories displayed on the tablet’s page.
So, what should we make of all this? The less interesting explanations might be along the lines of Google simply not selling enough of these docks to be worth its while, and decided not to re-up when stocks ran down. On the other hand, we’ve been talking about the possibility of a new Nexus 7 on-and-off, and we could understand the argument that winding-down the sales of first-gen Nexus 7 gear could precede the arrival of a new version.
That may be reading a bit too much into things, however, and we could be looking for drama where there really is none. What do you think: innocent enough, or sign of a new Nexus 7?


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A judge in Bangladesh resumed the trial on Monday (31 January) for the industrial tragedy of Rana Plaza that took place in Dhaka on 24 April 2013 and led to the deaths of more than 1,000 garment workers and injured thousands more.
A report published by France24 claims a judge has ordered the trial to be resumed for 36 of the original defendants, however, three have since died, and a prosecution request to vacate the two suspended indictments will be considered separately.
The 2016 trial was put on hold due to several defendants trying to get their charges vacated, and the country’s high court suspending the indictments of two local officials accused of approving the building, according to France24.
Chief public prosecutor Sheikh Hemayet Hossain told Agence-France Presse (AFP) at the start of the trial this week: “We want to conclude the trial as quickly as possible. Already too much time has been wasted.”
He added: “The building didn’t have any (construction) plan. It would shake when machines were switched on. And the owner of the building, Sohel Rana, used hired muscle to force the workers to go to work on the day of the collapse.”
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France24 also reports that Hossain said all of the accused except Rana have been freed on bail and Rana’s father, who was a co-owner of the complex, is among the defendants who died before facing trial, according to fellow prosecutor Shamsur Rahman.
Mostafiz Uddin, managing director of Bangladesh’s Denim Expert Limited told Just Style he has mixed feelings about the news.
“On the one hand, I think it is important that justice is done for the people who lost their lives and their families. On the other, I am frustrated like many others that this case has dragged out for so many years,” he said. “These continued delays do not help anybody, least of all the families but also the international reputation of Bangladesh. Let us hope that this case can be resolved, justice be done, and the perpetrators punished and held to account for their crimes. We can never, ever forget Rana Plaza but the families who lost loved ones do need closure and a resolution of this case might help with that.”
Ahead of the eighth anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse last year, the IndustriAll Global Union urged consumers to join social media action to campaign for safe factories for garment workers.
Just Style’s official sourcing guide to Bangladesh reveals that Bangladesh’s apparel sector has come a long way since the Rana Plaza tragedy and it’s growing its position as a key outsourcing hub and the second-largest apparel exporting country in the world.
However, a recent report conducted by University of Aberdeen’s Professor M. Azizul Islam, in collaboration with non-profit organisation Traidcraft Exchange, found female garment workers in Bangladesh had to contend with tougher production targets and no overtime payments due to cancelled retail orders during the pandemic.


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The automotive industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. As new megatrends, like autonomous vehicles (AV) and electric vehicles (EV) take off, OEMs are forced to move faster than ever to keep up with increasing competition from the technology companies that have disrupted the market in recent years. Customers are also increasingly concerned about their environmental impact, prompting manufacturers to invest heavily in alternative powertrains to diversify their fleet. The growing awareness of climate change has pushed governments to tighten
regulations meaning manufacturers must improve traceability to demonstrate compliance.


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Apple’s upcoming iPhone will reportedly feature a pressure-sensitive home button.
Bloomberg reports that this new button won’t physically click, but will use haptic feedback technology instead. This has the added benefit of reducing the number of mechanical parts, which would in turn lead to a lower failure rate.
It’s also believed that the new home button could be better for preventing water and dust from getting into the innards of the device. The removal of the headphone jack, should this actually happen, will also improve the water-resistant properties of the device.
Bloomberg’s report also details the dual-camera setup. Apparently, each sensor will "capture colour differently" to "produce brighter photos with more detail." These are then combined to produce sharp photos with vivid colours, as shown by the Huawei P9.
Apple is expected to announce the new iPhone in September, possibly as soon as September 7.


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Busted! National Review Crops and “Dirties” Photo From Austin Walmart, Claims It Shows “Venezuela”
Get a load of this….
So Michelle Malkin in National Review did a piece on Bernie Sanders a few days ago, still whining about the underarm deodorant issue…
Wow, horrible pic of some lady in a store with empty shelves and disgustingly dirty too — along with a caption “Venezuela’s vibrant economy.”
So I did an image search and turned up this….
Now it appears that this may be a Wal-Mart in Wisconsin (?), but it’s not clear from the story. But if you look at a larger version of the image, you can see the English signs in the background, so it’s clearly NOT from Venezuela.
So whoever posted this story to National Review purposely cropped out the English signs and then applied a dirty filter to it — because we all know Hispanics are filthy people, right?
In an argument with a wingnut friend of mine, his response was “It’s clearly a stock photo.” ORLY? Even if true, why crop it, make it dirty, and label it as a sign of Venezuela’s economy?
So, bottom line, a scare story about empty shelves that will plague the U.S. if Sanders is elected used a picture from a Wal-Mart in the U.S. that had trouble keeping their shelves stocked.
LGF contributor Backwoods_Sleuth discovered the true origin of the photo, from a 2005 post at this blog: Fergie’s Tech Blog: Austin Hurricane Panic Insanity.
The photographer was Jay Janner from the Austin-American Statesman, and the photo shows a Walmart in Austin, Texas. The original caption from their front page:
“Preparing for Hurricane Rita, Maria Chavez of Austin looks for a loaf of bread Thursday in the empty shelves of a Wal-Mart at Interstate 35 and Slaughter Lane. The store was sold out.”


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Sparks fly: the iPod Nano model MA099J/A, which stopped investigating the safety of the iPod Nano in 2006, after reports that A celebrity music player was Sparks when charging.
A Japanese official investigating possible defects in nano said the problem of lithium
There are suspected ion batteries in the model MA099J/.
The problem surfaced in southern Kanagawa Prefecture.
On January, Apple reported west of Tokyo. No-
One person was injured in the explosion, but lithium
Recently, a series of fires have occurred on laptops, resulting in large-scale recalls around the world, and ion batteries have been blamed.
The Japanese government has instructed Apple to find out the cause of the iPod-related fire and ordered the company to report it.
Apple shipped about 425,000 ipod s of the same model to Japan.
It is not clear how much has been sold and how much may still be in the store.
In recent years, the iPod has become a symbol of Apple's successful fashion image.
But its sales momentum is likely to lose momentum.
Only 22 apples were sold.
1 million ipod units for the holiday season ended December 31-
25 million units below analysts' expectations.
This raises concerns that the company may be affected when it tries to convince consumers to buy higher products --end iPods -
A key part of the strategy.
In the past, there have been some problems with the battery in Apple products, mainly related to battery wear
Fire is not easy.
In 2006, Sony apologized to consumers for defective lithium.
Dell, Apple, Lenovo and other major manufacturers have found ion batteries in Sony's laptops and products. The Tokyo-
It is reported that some of Sony's power packs caused the computer to overheat and catch fire, and the company recalled about 10 million batteries. The lithium-
Due to the size of the ion battery, the charging efficiency and the ability to fit the product, it is considered a good technology as a whole.
However, one of the main reasons Toyota and other automakers are cautious about using it in eco-cars is that it may catch fire.
Toyota Prius gasoline-
The electric hybrid uses different types of batteries, and the switch of the future green model will be used for lithium-
Ion batteries will be seen as a considerable breakthrough.
Shipments of IPod models began in September 2005 and stopped after September 2006.


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Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: PNK) today announced it is offering players a wealth of extraordinary benefits in its mychoice guest loyalty program. Just one year after enhancing the program, Pinnacle is now offering an innovative new benefit: annual trips to Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas. Atlantis joins an array of iconic brands already available to mychoice members such as the opportunity to earn an annual lease on Mercedes-Benz vehicles, cruises on Royal Caribbean International and stays at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55465-pinnacle-entertainment-mychoice-casino-rewards-program
Helzberg Diamonds is proud to announce a partnership with leading jockey, Javier Castellano, rider of Gemologist in the 2012 Kentucky Derby on May 5, 2012. Castellano will drive awareness for Helzberg’s featured products in advance of the 138th Run for the Roses.
“Our customers consider us their gemologist, so it was a natural fit since Javier is riding Gemologist in the 2012 Kentucky Derby,” said Beryl Raff, chairman and CEO of Helzberg Diamonds. “We are thrilled to partner with Javier, who is an incredible athlete and a true success story. He has worked his way to the pinnacle of racing success after years of dedication and hard work.”
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56000-helzberg-diamonds-jockey-javier-castellano-on-gemologist-kentucky-derby
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: PNK) today announced it is reshaping casino industry rewards with the re-launch of its mychoice™ guest loyalty program. The new mychoice offers guests the opportunity to earn annual lease payments on Mercedes-Benz vehicles, cruises on Royal Caribbean International® and stays at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, two of Las Vegas’ premier resort properties, through an innovative cross-marketing agreement with Wynn Las Vegas, LLC.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/pinnacle/48881/
SCAD’s second annual deFINE ART, which ran Feb. 22 - 26, attracted thousands of visitors. deFINE ART featured lectures by prominent figures in the art world, special exhibitions, commissions, student showcases, performances and other events, all of which were free and open to the public.
As one of the highlights of this year’s programming, deFINE ART honored performance artist Marina Abramović for her groundbreaking work and influence on contemporary art. Her keynote lecture was given at SCAD’s locations in both Savannah and Atlanta. Abramović’s solo exhibition remains on view through April 3 at the university's Pinnacle Gallery in Savannah, featuring three videos and an iconic photographic series.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/scad/48515/
Official Buddy Launch. Introducing the first direct Buddy; the pinnacle of customer service. There to help with any problem, 24 7 365. Watch how the Buddies, who are highly trained in everything, come to the rescue time and time again and inject some much needed human interaction into people\\\'s everyday lives.


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Department store group, Beales, which fell into administration last month, is set to close 20 of its 23 branches after administrators KPMG failed to sell the estate.
The 12 stores will run closing sales over the next eight weeks and staff will keep their jobs until then. Beales employs about 1,050 members of staff.
The stores to be closed are located in Bournemouth, Hexham, Worthing, Tonbridge, Peterborough, Mansfield, Keighley, Perth, Spalding, Wisbech, Bedford and Yeovil.
The 140-year old business, that is majority-owned by Tony Brown since he led a management buyout of the firm in 2018, reported a loss of £3.1m in March 2019, up from £1.3m the year before.
Beales is the latest high street store to suffer major losses as UK’s high streets continue to struggle amid high business rates and rising popularity of online shopping.
The group's rivals, Debenhams and House of Fraser, have also faced recent setbacks, having gone financial restructuring to prevent them from going bust.