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|By PR Newswire||
|November 6, 2012 08:01 AM EST||
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- America's number one motorsport video game is back and better than ever as Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that NASCAR® The Game™: Inside Line is available now at retail outlets nationwide on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. Created by leading independent game developer Eutechnyx, NASCAR The Game: Inside Line delivers the most authentic, fast-paced racing experience yet, putting players behind the wheel of the world's most powerful stock cars, and comes fuelled with more content than ever before.
NASCAR The Game: Inside Line gives fans the true NASCAR experience, featuring over 40 of NASCAR's top drivers and teams, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Danica Patrick, as they vie for the Sprint Cup Series Championship on 23 officially licensed tracks from Daytona to Sonoma. For the first time ever, using telemetry data from the past two seasons, players will have the chance to relive and rewrite historic NASCAR moments in over a dozen different scenarios. Fans can also purchase the NASCAR The Game Inside Line Pack, which will offer new downloadable content and challenges throughout the 2013 season. With re-mastered camera options and driver animations, players will truly feel the rush of pushing their speedometers to the limit.
Featuring deep and rewarding gameplay, NASCAR The Game: Inside Line delivers an engrossing experience. Career Mode allows players to live the life of a NASCAR champion, competing for points across multiple seasons on the road to victory. Authentic race weekends offer players the chance to hone their skills in practice and qualifying races before every match. A massive set of customization options gives drivers total freedom over their vehicles, including paint schemes, performance upgrades and extensive under-the-hood fine-tuning for precise handling on each track. Keep the competition going with 'Season' and 'Race Now' modes, unique invitational events and an enhanced online multiplayer system, which hosts up to 16 players (on Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 system only), as well as local split screen play. To bring it all together, commentary is provided courtesy of Fox Broadcasting's Darrell Waltrip and Mike Joy, while spotter Ty Norris and crew chief Ray Evernham are in the driver's ear offering helpful assistance.
NASCAR The Game: Inside Line is available now in North America for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 system for a suggested retail price of $59.99, and the Wii™ system for $49.99. The game is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB. For more information on NASCAR The Game: Inside Line, visit www.NASCARTheGame.com, or follow along on Twitter (@NASCARTheGame) and Facebook (facebook.com/NASCARTheGame).
Eutechnyx is the world's leading independent racing game developer. With a history spanning over 24 years, the studio has won numerous awards for its million-plus selling titles and garnered exceptional acclaim in the business sector. As well as its headquarters in the Gateshead (UK), the company has studios in Hong Kong, Chengdu (China), Charlotte (USA) and a publishing office in London (UK). For more information, please visit www.eutechnyx.com.
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America's premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. In the U.S., races are broadcast on FOX, TNT, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, SPEED and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. NASCAR fans are among the most brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 100 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as two international series. Also part of NASCAR is Grand-Am Road Racing, known for its competition on road courses with multiple classes of cars. NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races at 100 tracks in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., NASCAR has offices in eight cities across North America. The next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, will air November 11 on ESPN at 2p.m. ET. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com. Follow NASCAR on www.facebook.com/NASCAR or on Twitter: @NASCAR.
About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the expected release date of NASCAR the Game: Inside Line are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
©2012 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. Nintendo trademarks and copyrights are properties of Nintendo. Eutechnyx is a registered trademark of Eutechnyx Ltd. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.
For information, contact:
SOURCE Activision Publishing, Inc.
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24-May-2016 - Pub operator Redcomb Pubs has announced plans to develop a casual dining concept as it looks to 'stretch and broaden' its business portfolio.
24-May-2016 - A top Soho restaurant has become the first fine-dining venue in London to permanently offer a fully vegan tasting menu in response to growing customer demand.
24-May-2016 - Clare Smyth, the first female chef in England to hold three Michelin stars, is in advanced talks on a site in London’s Notting Hill for her own restaurant, according to...
24-May-2016 - Shoryu Ramen founder Tak Tokumine has partnered with two Michelin-starred restaurant The Araki to launch a new ‘accessible’ Mayfair restaurant.
23-May-2016 - Fish & chips brand Harry Ramsden's will make its entrance in Edinburgh this week with the opening of two new sites in the Scottish capital.
23-May-2016 - Street food development Boxpark Croydon has released details of its (almost) final line-up four months ahead of its opening.
23-May-2016 - The trio behind Mayfair’s North Audley Cantine and Chez Chow are set to debut a new Hawaiian-themed restaurant in London this summer.
20-May-2016 - Restaurants are missing out on thousands of vegan customers by failing to offer a variety of dishes without animal products.
20-May-2016 - More than £53m is to be ploughed into a Kent-based town centre regeneration scheme that will see the opening of a Travelodge and six restaurants next autumn.
20-May-2016 - The team behind Fitzrovia's neighbourhood restaurant Picture are to open a second site in Marylebone this July.
19-May-2016 - North London-based restaurant and pub operator The Masseria Group is opening a second site under its Ostuni brand.
19-May-2016 - The Duke of Westminster’s property firm Grosvenor is to develop a £5m restaurant and retail space in the Grade-I listed former St Mark’s Church in Mayfair.
19-May-2016 - Leased pub owner Punch is pushing forward with plans to boost its accommodation business across the UK after seeing success with a pilot scheme in Scotland.
19-May-2016 - Young’s pub group has launched its first standalone BurgerShack & Bar restaurant after the concept proved a hit with younger diners.
19-May-2016 - Interstate Hotels and Resorts Europe has signed 13 new management contracts for hotels in the UK, bringing its total number of UK-based operational and signed pipeline hotels to 74.
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18-May-2016 - Customers at the UK’s major high street chains will be able to buy their coffee using Google’s Android Pay from today.
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18-May-2016 - Healthy fast food chain Leon has signed a five-year deal to open restaurants at railway stations across the UK.
18-May-2016 - Nordic smokehouse and bar Rök has announced plans to open its second restaurant in Islington on 1 July.
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17-May-2016 - Travelodge has acquired three mid-market branded hotels - Ramada Encore hotels in Milton Keynes and Chatham and a Days Inn in Derby - boosting its estate to 530.
17-May-2016 - Barbecue brand Smoke Shack has launched a crowdfunding campaign to expand from two sites in to a national restaurant chain.
17-May-2016 - Hospitality businesses in the North West are set to benefit from a £15,000 fund to market the region to Chinese tourists.
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domain: news


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integration with suppliers will be key to success in 2002
London — More than 50% of medium-to-large enterprises believe collaborative commerce is vital to maintaining a competitive edge, according to research by SAP.
A survey of 125 UK companies revealed that integration with suppliers, partners and customers is a key area for investment over the next twelve months. Over 25% of those surveyed already have a collaborative commerce strategy in place and another 25% are looking to implement one in the near future.
More than 30% of respondents identified improving integration with suppliers as the primary driver for collaboration. 85% of these are currently looking at ways to integrate and automate procurement procedures with vendors.
“The key driver behind implementing integrated systems is the need to increase efficiency in the procurement processes,” said Peter Robertshaw, marketing director at SAP. “Collaboration is also a major focus for many companies looking to maximise customer retention.”
Uptake of collaborative commerce is slightly higher in the manufacturing industry than it is in the service sector. 28% of manufacturers surveyed had a collaborative commerce strategy in place compared to 24% in the services market.
“Supplier relationships have always been important in the manufacturing sector,” continued Robertshaw. “Most manufacturers rely on component parts from a network of suppliers and this can include companies from all parts of the globe. Maintaining an efficient and cohesive network is therefore vital.”


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The OnePlus team is doing everything to ensure that the upcoming July 27 virtual reality launch event will be successful. Just yesterday, the OnePlus guys took to Reddit their excitement by setting up an AMA (Ask Me Anything) page where geeks can ask “almost anything” about the 2nd-gen OnePlus smartphone.
The OnePlus 2 will be launched in a VR event where participants only need Cardboards to view what’s happening “on stage”. During the AMA, a number of questions were asked. First to be asked was if there will be multiple variations or screen sizes of the phone. OnePlusser David (devildv) replied by showing an image of a OnePlus One with a OnePlus 2 underneath. Of course, we can’t see the new model but we know now that it will be smaller. No mention about the bezel or screen size but this one seems to be slimmer too.
When asked if the camera is a high priority for OnePlus like it has been for Samsung and LG, Carl (carpe02) replied with a flat “Yes” and that it “will set the OnePlus 2 apart”. As for the battery life, OnePlus boasted the OnePlus 2 will have a 3300mAh battery even if phone is smaller than its predecessor. A bigger battery will offer 10 percent more juice.
The OnePlus One reportedly has touchscreen issues and when asked how the company plans to deal with them, Michael (oklar) said that the OTA update released recently already fixed those issues. As for the next phone, OnePlus is confident about it because several intensive testings are being made. There was also a question about OxygenOS changes and OnePlus just shared the phone will have “really a lot of good stuff”.
How about that issue about the menu button and layout of capacitive buttons, OnePlus said they have a solution for that. Charging cable? Whatever the OnePlus team is cooking up, they said it will make us happy.
We learned a lot from this Reddit AMA but we were left hanging about the most important details. We just know that OnePlus is really confident about the OnePlus 2, that the platform will remain open and accessible, the OnePlus cardboard won’t be available for sale, and the OnePlus One will still be available. We learned the following as well: early supporters will be prioritized, StyleSwaps will be better, phone is a big step up, an improved version of the invite system will be implemented, camera is teased as a #HYPE and it’s legit, price will be less than $450 USD, and that everyone is invited to the launch “virtually”.
The AMA was fun to read but OnePlus was such a tease. The guys could have told us that the OnePlus 2 will be great. When asked about what are they most excited to share about the new phone, they gave this answer:
“How the **** of the OnePlus 2 is **** and how the **** works extremely well thanks to the **** and ****. :D”
I’m tempted to fill in the blanks but I won’t.
Interestingly, a OnePlus 2 back cover was sighted on orzly.com. It doesn’t say much about the upcoming smartphone but the protective case will have rubberized texture, toughened Polycarbonate Material, will be slim, lightweight, and will be available starting August 27 with a £12.99 price tag which is about $20 USD.


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health in aligarh district]
By HT Correspondent | Hindustan Times,Lucknow
UPDATED ON AUG 11, 2019 04:22 PM IST
A growing awareness about pesticides and wax in vegetables and fruits is turning more and more people towards organic food. The idea of a kitchen garden and Urban Bagiya is fast catching up, with schools and individuals practising it with a lot of success.
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The BikeExchange share price closed 6.67% higher today at 24 cents.
What did BikeExchange report?
BikeExchange, which only listed on the ASX earlier this month, reported revenue of $2.005 million for H1 Fy21.
The company reported a loss of $79,100 for the half-year ending 31 December 2020, a drop from the $165,522 profit achieved for the same period in 2019. The company attributed the loss largely to initial public offering (IPO) costs.
BikeExchange advised that operations progressed well during the period as the company raised $20 million in new capital.
Furthermore, trading in the second half of FY21 has started well with January e-commerce transactions showing strong growth on the prior corresponding period (pcp). Overall the group expects the second half of FY21 to demonstrate meaningful total transaction value and revenue growth on that recorded by the BikeExchange Group for the first half of FY21.
The subscription revenue run rate was positive entering the third quarter with increases across retailer sign-ups providing an increasing contribution. In the coming half, the group expects to interact closely with its retail and brand customer base. This will assist and enable them further with consumer engagement and organic growth.
Looking ahead, BikeExchange expects continued strong growth in e-commerce. The company is also looking to improve its conversion and commission rates with a boost from increased marketing.
Also aiding to growth, revitalised media partnerships are expected to contribute uplift to media revenues from the 4th quarter of FY21. BikeExchange also noted that there will be new products launching in the next financial year.
About the BikeExchange share price
BikeExchange is an online global marketplace exclusively dealing with bikes and all things related. Operating in 8 countries, the marketplace aims to provide an efficient, technology-driven platform to connect consumers with retailers of bicycle products and accessories.
Since listing on 9 February this year, the BikeExchange share price has lost 7.69%, falling from 26 to 24 cents.


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2019 promises to be a very exciting year in the phone technology industry. Big shots, Apple, are obviously not being left behind. Reports from Macotakara , a Japanese site, informed fans of the iPod Touch that their long wait for an upgrade might be over. They have not refreshed the series for the past four years, but that might change this year. They plan to move the iPhone to USB-C like the iPad Pro in 2018. Prayers for the release of iPod Touch 7 will surely be in plenty this year.
The part about moving to the USB-C port is very viable. The former about giving the iPod Touch some love is raising a few eyebrows. The fact that they have neglected the series since 2015 goes to say that there should have been a higher chance of them removing it from stocks than refreshing it. The company does not even try that hard to sell the product. We’re always talking about the likes of iPhone X these days, is the iPod Touch age over? It is completely possible for them to come up with a new low-end non-iPad iOS device. Whether or not they choose to do so is another matter. Given the device’s handicap in cellular connection, it seems to be unlikely. However, considering Apple has the iPhone 5s wildcard, iPod Touch 7 seems logic. Filling the void left by the 5s will be the iPod Touch 7.
Macotakara reports are vague in both it’s posts with the use of touchy words like ‘might’. The report says that Apple ‘might’ move the iPhone to USB-C this year. This looks very possible since they already did a test-drive with the technology on the iPad Pro. Since the iPhone is still so far from being announced, there is enough time to speculate and gather updates on proceedings.


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Comment: A further step rippling from Labour’s threat to renationalise the water industry. MPs are sharpening their knives and even a cursory glimpse of the report on the collapse of Carillion will reveal a new appetite for highlighting boardroom greed. Carillion collapsed as a result of “recklessness, hubris and greed” among directors who put their own financial rewards ahead of all other concerns, according to an excoriating report into the firm’s demise that spreads the blame between board members, the government, accountants and regulators. Bob Earll
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is today launching an inquiry into the Regulation of the Water Industry. The inquiry will consider how well the water industry serves consumers and the environment, how innovation can be encouraged and whether current regulatory enforcement mechanisms are fit for purpose. Further, it will consider the potential benefits of regulatory divergence post-Brexit.
Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said:
“The water industry is facing a number of challenges. As the UK’s population increases and the impact of climate change becomes more apparent, pressure will be put on water resources and the industry’s ability to provide a reliable and safe supply of water to commercial and domestic consumers. “Ofwat has recently criticised water companies for their performance around incidents of leakage and pollution, as well as of their financial arrangements. Our inquiry will scrutinise this essential industry closely and, where necessary, lay out the steps necessary to resolve any issues that are identified”.
Terms of reference
In particular, the Committee seeks written submissions that address the following issues:
- Is regulation of the water industry improving outcomes for consumers and the environment?
- Is the water industry adequately delivering a “twin-track approach” of increasing water supplies and reducing water demand?
- How can innovation be increased in the water industry?
- Are penalties and enforcement mechanisms encouraging responsible behaviour?
- Are there any potential benefits for the environment that could be achieved though regulatory divergence post-Brexit?


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The Essential Phone got a lot of hype last year for a few reasons. It was the first phone to hit the market with a screen notch, allowing for very narrow bezels. It was also backed by Andy Rubin, who founded Android and ran the division for several years after Google acquired it. The phone didn’t quite live up to everyone’s lofty expectations, though. One of the primary issues was the abysmal camera, and now Essential admits it screwed that up. It promises to do better next time, though.
On paper, the Essential Phone was competitive with the top smartphones of 2017. It had a Snapdragon 835, 128GB of storage, and 4GB of RAM. It also sported a distinctive titanium and ceramic chassis. Around back, the phone had a dual camera array consisting of two 13MP sensors with f/1.9 apertures. It supported phase detection and laser autofocus, too.
The device itself had some performance issues, and the screen notch was awkwardly handled in software early on. Those aspects of the Essential Phone have been addressed in updates somewhat, but the camera is still a problem. Essential has always maintained it used computational photography to merge the data from the cameras into a single image, resulting in better photos. Anyone who used an Essential Phone’s camera will tell you the results were less than impressive. Images were grainy and poorly exposed compared with other phones in its price range.
Essential has pushed out several camera-focused OTA updates, but even Essential has to admit it missed the mark at this point. Essential’s head of industrial design Linda Jiang said in an interview last week that Essential has been gathering feedback and intends to turn its camera tech around. “We can say, we heard you and we’re going to do it better on the second-gen for sure,” Jiang said.
Essential has already dropped the price of its first phone from $700 to $500 or less. It’s also practically giving away 360-degree camera attachments, which remains the only modular accessory for the Essential Phone. If there’s one bright spot, it’s that Essential didn’t paint itself into a corner with its modular accessory design a la Motorola. The add-ons attach magnetically to the top right of the back panel, gathering power from two small contacts. All Essential’s future phones and accessories will be compatible.
As for when that new phone with a better camera will arrive, no one knows. We got the first teaser of the Essential Phone around this time last year, but it didn’t launch until August. That’s probably about when you can expect the new Essential Phone to arrive.
Trump Administration: End ISS Funding, Return to Lunar Exploration
The Trump administration has called for NASA to cease funding ISS operations in 2024, in order to divert that money into manned lunar exploration in 2025.
Trump Administration Denies Plan to Nationalize 5G Network
A memo leaked from the Trump administration discusses the possibility of nationalizing the 5G networks under construction in the US, but the administration states it has no plans to do so.
EA Admits Defeat, Unlocks All Battlefront 2 Heroes, Removes Pay-to-Win Mechanics
EA has revamped the entire Battlefront 2 progression system, removed its pay-to-win mechanics, and now rewards players for, you know, actually playing the game.
Voting Machine Vendor Admits Installing Remote-Access Software on State Systems
In February, a major e-voting vendor claimed it had never shipped remote access software on any of its systems. It lied — and that's not the most important part of the story.


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The last days of HOWS: Empty prepared food cases
HOWS supermarket was founded by the principals of the former Hughes chain in Southern California. The HOWS letters are the initials of the names.
The new Hughes managed to open five stores, with the North Hollywood one being their fifth. It's in a great location — up-and-coming, trendy and surrounded by plenty of foot traffic as it is near a transit hub.
After less than 3 years, HOWS is shutting down its North Hollywood location. A blog says Fresh & Easy is looking to reopen in its place.
HOWS will be back down to four stores when this closes around May 2010.
HOWS is clearing out its nonperishable merchandise, and it stopped stocking its hot case, salad bar and bakery.


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Better Bathrooms enters administration
More than 300 jobs have been lost at Better Bathrooms after the retailer went into administration.
Administrators from FRP Advisory said that 325 staff members have been made redundant although ten head office and warehouse function staff have been retained on a temporary basis to assist with the adminstration process.
Better Bathrooms’ showrooms, trade counters and warehouses have all been closed.
Phil Pierce, joint administrator and partner at FRP Advisory, said: “The challenges facing the UK retail industry are well known and and are puttng immense pressure on businesses operating in the sector.
“Unfortunately, Better Bathrooms has suffered from severe cashflow difficulties and and an extended period of soft trading, which has forced the business into administration.
“Without significant investment or the cash to continue trading, the difficult decision was made to cease trading.”
The administrators have asked that any parties interested in acquiring the assets of the business should come forward as soon as possible.
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Trade disputes have been an ongoing soap opera since President Trump took office. From steel tariffs to trade skirmishes with China, Japan, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and the European Union, among others, it's been hard to keep track!
But over the past few months we think a trend toward settlement of these disputes has emerged. Congress must still act on the new version of NAFTA with Mexico and Canada – USMCA – but as Democrats in the House of Representatives consider impeaching the president, they should also become more interested in showing they're not only interested in all scandal, all the time. Passing some broad bi-partisan legislation and USMCA would be a good start. Look for it to get passed by early 2020, putting our disputes with our two largest export markets behind us.
From the perspective of US economic growth, the relationship with China has received way too much attention in the past couple of years. Even before the trade dispute started, US exports to China were a smaller share of our GDP than exports to Japan were before the Japanese economy went into a long-term funk in the early 1990s. If the US could prosper in the 1990s in spite of Japan's problems, the US economy overall should be able to absorb softer demand for our products coming from China, which lags well behind Canada and Mexico as an export market.
But last week's news indicates a deal is getting close. It will not be a huge deal that comprehensively puts all our trade issues with China to rest; not even close. But it will likely mean no new additional restrictions from now through 2020, and some rolling back of tariffs put in place in the last couple of years.
Meanwhile, the US recently concluded a trade deal with Japan.
None of this suggests we are fully out of the woods on trade issues. We doubt China will stop its theft of intellectual property, and so, expect a trade dispute with China to re-emerge in 2021 no matter who wins the presidential election next year. In the meantime, tariffs and the threat of other economic sanctions on China were always more damaging to China than the US. That's why we never worried as much as the conventional wisdom.
But nothing that's happened in the last few years suggest we are entering some sort of Smoot-Hawley-like downward spiral in international trade. US merchandise imports dropped 70% from 1929 to 1932 while exports dropped 69%. That's a downward spiral! US imports didn't reach 1929 levels again until 1946.
By contrast, even before the recent trade deals with Mexico, Canada, and Japan have been implemented, US trade with the rest of the world has been rising. In the past twelve months, exports and imports of goods and services combined have been $5.65 trillion, versus $5.63 trillion in calendar 2018, $5.26 trillion in 2017, and $4.93 trillion in 2016. Even without deals, trade could be hitting a record high this year.
The US economy has been and will continue to be much more resilient than many think. Trade has increased uncertainty, but was never as big a threat as feared. And, as trade relations improve, stocks will make up lost ground. We were never as worried as the conventional wisdom, and now it will come around.
Brian S. Wesbury - Chief Economist
Robert Stein, CFA – Deputy Chief Economist
Click here for PDF version


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Consultant: No need for another ABC store in county
The liquor market in Henderson County is saturated right now, a consultant told the Henderson County ABC Board Wednesday, and likely can’t support a sixth county package store for several years.
However, consultants from Martin-McGill told board members that future population growth could merit placing a county-run liquor store in Etowah or the Mountain Home area in three to five years.
“At this point in time, I don’t think there’s any question that from a statistical standpoint and from a convenience aspect, there are sufficient outlets in (or near) Henderson County,” consultant Dennie Martin said. “Three to five years from now, there will probably be sufficient market for another outlet.”
Board members, who earlier indicated they would disband if the study found no unmet need for another ABC store, took no action after hearing the results of the $9,000 report they commissioned in April.
Board members said they wanted to first hear from County Attorney Russ Burrell about the legality of them meeting quarterly or yearly. Martin urged them to stay active enough to retain their jurisdiction, since the demand for a new county liquor store could arise in a few years.
Martin said the addition of three ABC stores in the past three years — in Pisgah Forest, Arden and Hendersonville’s Upward Road location — have altered the equation for Henderson County’s new board, which formed after voters approved a referendum last spring allowing liquor sales in unincorporated areas.
Ellen McKinnon of Martin-McGill told the ABC board that the minimum customer base needed to sustain a new store falls between 8,000 and 12,000 people, assuming there is a strong tourism presence. A successful store should be sited within 10 minutes of potential consumers and should net at least $50,000 per year.
Henderson County’s population, which grew 1.43 percent between 2010 and 2012, is expected to balloon from roughly 109,927 to 127,963 by 2020, according to U.S. Census projections.
Though Etowah and Mills River had “marginal ABC service” before, the consultants found that a new store opened by Brevard’s ABC Board in Pisgah Forest in June has changed that scenario. They said adding a new liquor store in Etowah or Mills River would only “weaken the Pisgah Forest store and further erode sales at Laurel Park and/or Fletcher.”
By mapping existing stores within a 10-minute drive of consumers, the consultants determined there was too much overlapping competition between the eight existing stores in or near Henderson County.
“A lot can change,” said Chairman Beau Waddell. “The store in Pisgah Forest, for example, just opened. I’m sure it’s a lease. Where it is, it’s got to be at least five years. Five years from now... they could at any time say, ‘We can’t make a go of it,’ and all of a sudden that takes a big (competitor) out of the way.”
Board member George Erwin Jr. said he had a “problem going to meetings just to have meetings,” and thought without a new store to pursue, the ABC board was “basically just spinning our wheels.”
“I think there’s no sense in moving forward when we can’t do anything,” he said, adding that county leaders should re-examine the market in a few years using the feasibility study as a base. “You’ve given us a vast amount of information for future leaders of this community to move forward. But it pretty much says it all for me in this map, that right now the needs are being met in this community throughout Henderson County.”
Board members agreed to meet again in August and decide how they’ll proceed, then make a report to county commissioners sometime that month.
Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Bitcoin is scorching. So ought to traders wholesaling properties be scrambling to just accept bitcoins or is it one other main pitfall to keep away from?
The thrill about bitcoins appears to solely be rising, simply because the digital forex is rocketing in worth. So what are the real professionals and cons of dealing on this digital forex for these wholesaling homes? Is it a should have or should keep away from?
There are literally many advantages of incorporating bitcoins into enterprise for these wholesaling properties 트리플스톡.
· Making it simpler for extra people to purchase from and make investments with you
· Cashing in on the dramatic improve in bitcoin worth
· Elevated press, model visibility and viral unfold
· Consideration from tech savvy traders and patrons
After all many wholesaling CEOs are simply discovering what bitcoin is all about. Sadly, a lot of that is within the type of unfavorable media surrounding the latest shut down of Silk Street, arrest of Charlie Shrem and mega-million greenback bitcoin seizure.
On the brilliant aspect, those who have adopted this information shall be conscious that this all had little to do with utilizing bitcoins, and all the pieces to do with the unlawful actions being purchased and bought. The truth is, the truth that the federal government is reportedly promoting the digital cash it swiped makes bitcoin professional.
It is changing into very straightforward to just accept bitcoin, and increasingly companies in numerous industries are adopting it. Proper now there’s an incredible window of alternative for driving on the coattails of the forex and press by taking it. For a lot of, it might be their finest marketing transfer of the 12 months, and actually assist to launch their companies to the subsequent degree. After all this would possibly not be a door or alternative open for lengthy. We’re speaking weeks and months earlier than the novelty wears off and everyone seems to be doing it.


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By: Nate Richards, North Andover High School – September, 2011
Jobs, who has been suffering from Pancreatic Cancer for a little over three years now, sent a letter to the company’s board late Wednesday night announcing his resignation. “I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come. I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee. As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.”
Who in the world is Tim Cook? According to Apple’s website, Tim Cook has been Steve Job’s second hand man for the past five years and was responsible for the business side of the company. What this means is that Cook’s responsibilities have been the financial side of the Apple Company. What I personally think of this whole ordeal is that Apple has been through its ups and downs through the years, and the man who has always been there to pick Apple up from the ground was Tim Cook. I don’t think this will affect Apple at all. What do you think? Please share your opinions with me by emailing me at email@example.com.


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Safaricom is adopting a new model for its Lipa Na M-Pesa platform aimed at curbing leakage of personal information.
Effective June 2022, the company says it will only display the user’s first name and a few digits of their number, a move aimed at protecting subscribers’ essential details from unscrupulous hands.
“At the end of June, phone numbers and full names of subscribers making transactions will no longer be relayed to partners,” it says.
In the current practice, merchants have access to personal information which could be used to send unsolicited advertising, specifically through text messages.
Safaricom’s move comes at a time when 41% of companies have acknowledged transferring customer data to third-party providers. A survey by Ernest Ernst & Young (EY) revealed that 27% of these companies passed this information without seeking approval from their clients.
It is such practices that Safaricom seeks to remedy by prohibiting access to subscriber details.
“Pursuant to the Data Protection Act 2019 which came into law on 25th November 2019, Safaricom will be changing how they share data with Lipa Na M-Pesa Partners in general,” The telco noted.
Individuals who violate this code face a maximum fine of Sh3 million or 10 years in jail, while firms risk a fine of up to Sh5 million or one per cent of annual turnover.”
The report by Ernst & Young (EY) shows that client data was shared with partners in business, while others gave information to law enforcement officers for investigations.
In other cases, data was shared for analysis, processing transactions, and sending SMS alerts to advertisers while instances of selling the data to vendors were also rampant.
In the digital era, data is highly valuable and middlemen attempt to intercept it at any available opportunity.
Truecaller, the caller identifier company based in Stocholm notes that Kenya ranks third among countries that receive the most spam messages. An average of 102 messages are sent to subscribers per month per subscriber.


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Last week at the Capitol was all about onions, corn and other vegetables (or grains, as they were) that are healthy. On the menu this week? Ice cream, shortcake and Four Loko spin-offs.
First, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef is introducing legislation that would ban junk food from school vending machines by setting requirements on portion sizes and nutritional value.
“We’re not telling schools they can’t make money on their vending machines,” she said, appearing alongside co-sponsor Sen. Ken LaValle and members of the New York State Junior League. “They can. They’re just going to make money with better food and better drinks for our kids.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Jeff Klein, chair of the Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, is holding a hearing on high-alcohol flavored malt beverages — or, as the cool kids apparently call them, “alcopops.” Unlike the now-banned Four Loko drinks, which mixed alcohol and caffeine, these drinks leave out the caffeine. Klein has introduced legislation that would designate such beverages, made up of more than 6 percent alcohol, as liquor, to be sold in liquor stores rather than grocery stores.
These drinks, packaged with flashy names and colorful packaging, are apparently big with youth. Snoop Dogg has endorsed one such beverage, Blast. Here’s the commercial, mixed with a watchdog group’s rebuttal.
With sadness, we note that no samples were provided at either event.


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Feb 28, 2017
How one flamboyant, free-spending couple managed to destroy a staid old auto company.
Oct 07, 2016
Supercars and econoboxes both lose a lot of value when you drive them out of the lot. But with an Elantra you're out at most $10,000 after five years, compared to a Rolls that has made off with more than $100,000.
May 17, 2016
Mar 14, 2016
Dec 31, 2015
A Car Talk blogger reviews the new Rolls Royce Dawn. "Nothing exceeds like excess!"


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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — An ABC store in Downtown Richmond is closing its doors for two weeks after the roommate of an employee tested positive for coronavirus.
The location at 1217 West Broad Street next to the Siegel Center is closing. Both the employee and the roommate are home self-quarantining.
During the two-week closure, the store will be sanitized and deep cleaned. Virginia ABC is asking all the employees of the store to self-quarantine for two weeks.
No ABC employees have tested positive for COVID-19.


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Today's New York Daily News reports that Target has suddenly become uneasy about Anna Sui's Gossip Girl–themed line, ostensibly because an executive high up in the company is worried that it will encourage the youth of America to have wanton sex, accidentally murder people, and do terrible, unnamed things in Santorini.
Their source, an insider on the Gossip Girl set, reports that the show was going to shoot a scene at Sui's Soho store last week. The plan was to festoon the boutique with Target symbols and dress extras (models, of course) in the Target collection, but at the last minute, Sui backed out, presumably due to pressure from the squeamish mega-brand. The line will still come out this fall, according to the article, but it won't be pegged to Gossip Girl specifically.
For more stories from Racked LA, go to la.racked.com.


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The rise of wine in a can is an example of how the wine industry is figuring us out. Continue reading “Wine-onomics: How Gen Wine, err…Y is Changing the Industry”
Previously posted on GenFKD.
Our exploration of the formation of the modern economy picks up in the aftermath of the dot-com crash that cost our drunk uncle a pretty penny. Our rollercoaster economy spent the early years of the millennium clinking and clanking back up to the top of the track. But, it was the stomach-churning drop into the Great Recession that defined our generation’s entrance into the workforce. Continue reading “How the Great Recession Shaped Millennial Careers”
To many, debt has become a necessary evil to just get by. By getting a debt reduction blueprint, this necessary evil may be a thing of the past.
You get a job, so you can afford to have a life. But then you spend all your time at work, and end up with no time to live the life you’re working for. Why?
Debt. **Mic drop** Continue reading “Debt’s Double-Sided Sword is Really Sharp on One Side”
The silver fox may come bearing gifts this holiday season, as the Fed will (probably) increase the mother of all interest rates—the federal funds rate.
In an attempt to save the economy from the financial crisis of 2008, the Fed dropped the federal funds rate down to effectively zero. For close to seven years, the rate has not budged. Finally, it seems like the Fed is okay with loosening the grip off the economy’s bike seat, and reigning in some of the money in circulation. Continue reading “What The Rate Hike Means For Us”
T.G.I.F. takes on a different connotation when talking about Black Friday. Are the deals really worth all the hustle and bustle?
This (very American) holiday that exploits our (consumerist) way of life is showing signs of hope. It’s no surprise that Black Friday has been and is still known to be the top shopping day of the year. However, with the rise in behavioral economics, retailers and consumers have realized that it is also known as the biggest day for irrational behavior. Continue reading “Hustlin’ and Bustlin’ of Black Friday”
The new and innovative sharing economy is creatively disrupting the old economy. Airbnb has risen victorious in the battle at San Francisco with “Prop F,” sending a clear message to governments and regulators to back off. Continue reading “Airbnb Defeats Regulation in San Francisco, Sharing Economy Here to Stay”
The Good Ole Days
The financial crisis of 2008 was a scary time in the U.S. Although the early half of Gen-Y had a hard time getting a job after graduation, a large portion of millennials didn’t really suffer feelings of despair, since most were still in their teens and early 20s. We didn’t have to experience first-hand our asset values melting like soft-serve on a hot, sunny day. As for bankruptcy, job loss, and car repossessions — not our style, not our time.
In order to correct the mistakes that precipitated the financial crisis of the Great Recession, the government passed the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, effectively appointing referees to call out the banks when they step out of bounds or commit a foul against the consumer. In the five years since the Dodd-Frank Act became law, financial stability has increased, but the effects of heavy regulation are starting to seep through the cracks. Unfortunately, those unintended consequences may hinder economic growth, which has been harder to find of late than a politically correct statement from a billionaire real estate mogul with a combover — but I’m not naming names.


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In its largest purchase to this day, the social network has actually purchased Instagram, the preferred photo-sharing application, for concerning $1 billion in money and stock, the firm said Monday.
It's a noteworthy move for Facebook, which has actually exclusively focused on bite-size acquisitions, worth less than $100 million.
With Instagram, Facebook will certainly get an awesome mobile player-- a location that is seen as a fancy the stretching social network. Started 2 years earlier, the solution-- which allows individuals share images as well as apply elegant filters-- has actually turned into one of one of the most downloaded applications on the iPhone, with some 30 million users. Instagram launched a version of its application for Google's Android os recently.
Facebook Bought Instagram
On Monday, both companies revealed their dedication to run Instagram as an independent solution.
In an article on his account page, Facebook's chief Mark Zuckerberg claimed Instagram would remain to work with rival social media networks. That will certainly permit users to post on other services, comply with individuals beyond Facebook, and to pull out of sharing on Facebook.
" For many years, we've concentrated on constructing the best experience for sharing images with your loved ones," Mr. Zuckerberg composed. "Now, we'll have the ability to function a lot more closely with the Instagram team to likewise offer the most effective experiences for sharing stunning mobile pictures with individuals based upon your interests."
In a different post on Instagram's Web site, the business's president, Kevin Systrom, also repeated strategies to protect the service's functionality and claimed he eagerly anticipated leveraging the brand-new parent firm's sources and ability.
The announcement comes as Facebook plans for its highly anticipated going public, extensively anticipated to happen following month.
Though Facebook is understood for smaller sized acquisitions, Instagram's rising energy most likely compelled the social network to quickly assemble a billion-dollar offer. Last week, Instagram, which has simply a handful of workers, shut a financing round worth more than $50 million with several famous financiers, including Sequoia Funding, a very early backer of Google, Thrive Capital, the firm run by Joshua Kushner, as well as Greylock Resources, an early capitalist of LinkedIn. AllThingsD initially reported last week that Sequoia was in the procedure of leading a $50 million round in Instagram.
That newest funding round valued Instagram at around $500 million, according to someone with understanding of the issue, who asked for privacy since conversations were exclusive. Facebook's purchase, one week later, means that investment has now doubled in worth.
The deal is anticipated to shut later on this quarter, according to Facebook's declaration.
Below is the news release from Facebook:
" Facebook revealed today that it has gotten to a contract to get Instagram, an enjoyable, popular photo-sharing app for smart phones.
" The overall consideration for San Francisco-based Instagram is around $1 billion in a combination of cash as well as shares of Facebook. The deal, which undergoes customary closing problems, is anticipated to close later this quarter."
Mark Zuckerberg, founder and president of Facebook, posted about the purchase on his Facebook page:
" I'm excited to share the information that we have actually agreed to acquire Instagram which their skilled group will be signing up with Facebook.
" For many years, we've concentrated on constructing the most effective experience for sharing images with your loved ones. Currently, we'll be able to function much more carefully with the Instagram group to additionally provide the most effective experiences for sharing gorgeous mobile pictures with individuals based on your passions.
" We believe these are different experiences that match each other. However in order to do this well, we should be mindful regarding maintaining as well as building on Instagram's staminas and also functions as opposed to just trying to integrate everything right into Facebook.
" That's why we're committed to structure as well as expanding Instagram individually. Numerous individuals worldwide like the Instagram application and the brand connected with it, and also our objective is in order to help spread this app and brand to much more people.
" We assume the fact that Instagram is connected to other services beyond Facebook is a vital part of the experience. We intend on maintaining functions like the ability to publish to other social media networks, the capability to not share your Instagrams on Facebook if you want, and also the capability to have fans as well as follow individuals individually from your good friends on Facebook.
" These and also many various other features are essential parts of the Instagram experience as well as we comprehend that. We will certainly attempt to pick up from Instagram's experience to build similar attributes into our other items. At the same time, we will attempt to assist Instagram continue to grow using Facebook's solid engineering group and facilities.
" This is an essential milestone for Facebook since it's the first time we have actually ever acquired a product and company with a lot of users. We do not intend on doing a lot more of these, if any whatsoever. Yet supplying the very best picture sharing experience is one reason that a lot of people love Facebook as well as we knew it would deserve bringing these 2 companies together.
" We're expecting dealing with the Instagram team as well as to every one of the fantastic brand-new experiences we're mosting likely to be able to construct together."


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According to off-shore Internet betting site Intertops.com (www.intertops.com), Ryan the produce clerk
(6-5) and Nicole the massage therapist (5-8) will most likely be the first ones voted off the island in CBS' latest Survivor incarnation,
Survivor: Pearl Islands, which debuts Sept. 18.
Voted most likely to succeed by the handicappers: Trish
the sales executive (4-1) and Burton the marketing executive (5-1), suggesting
that their "client-manipulation skills" could come in handy.
The television industry's top news stories, analysis and blogs of the day.


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It caused a stir when it hit the headlines, so it's no surprise that people have been keen to get their hands on Aldi's hot tub.
But shoppers will have had a pleasant surprise this morning when discovering that the jacuzzi is actually priced at £299.99 - £100 less than first thought.
The budget supermarket chain is selling the hot tubs as part of its 'Summer Entertaining' Specialbuys range.
So if you've always fancied a hot tub in your garden, this might be the ideal opportunity for you.
However, you will now have to wait for them to hit the shelves, as they are already sold out online despite having only gone on sale at 8am this morning.
• 120 air jets
• 2200W heater
• Circulation pump
• Integrated limescale protection system
• Rigid 3-way laminated vinyl with patented
• Fiber-Tech:copyright: construction
• Capacity approx: 795 litres
• A lockable insulating cover aids security and helps to keep heating costs to a minimum.
• Running costs are approximately £1 to 1.50 per day.
Tony Baines, managing director for corporate buying at Aldi said: "With the seasons clearly shifting into spring, now is the time to start thinking about getting the garden ready for summer.
This great-value inflatable Spa Pool is a first for Aldi and will not only enable our customers to make the most of their gardens this year, but also makes what is normally considered to be a luxury item, accessible to everyone."
The hot tub will be sold in stores from Sunday, April 9.


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Kansai Nerolac paints a better picture in Q12 min read . Updated: 25 Jul 2017, 08:04 AM IST
Kansai Nerolac's double-digit volume growth helped it clock a revenue growth of 11.15% y-o-y to Rs1,320.67 crore, beating analysts' estimate of Rs1,127.40 crore
After growing in low single-digits for the past few quarters, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd’s industrial coating segment posted double-digit volume growth in the June quarter.
“This growth was led by traction seen in the automobile and consumer durable sectors. Within autos, demand was driven by passenger car vehicles and tractors; however, demand from commercial vehicles and three-wheelers is subdued. Also, infra-based paints demand is yet to witness significant revival," said H.M. Bharuka, managing director.
According to analysts’ estimates, Kansai Nerolac enjoys nearly 35% market share in the industrial paints segment, which contributes 45% to its overall revenues. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd is its largest client.
Its decorative business too posted double-digit volume growth. Overall, the company has registered 10-11% volume growth in the June quarter, said analysts. They were expecting limited impact of GST (goods and services tax)-led destocking on the paint sector since firms have a small number of dealers and rely more on direct distribution.
Double-digit volume growth helped the paint maker to clock revenue growth of 11.15% year-on-year to Rs1,320.67 crore, beating Bloomberg analysts’ estimate of Rs1,127.40 crore. Net profit increased 11.31% year-on-year to Rs140.81 crore, exceeding expectations of Rs138.70 crore.
However, increased raw material prices restricted improvement in operating margins.
Ebitda margins stood at 17.7%, flat when compared to the year-ago level. Ebitda stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. “Gross margin contracted 40 basis points as industrial margins were affected by increase in input costs. In the decorative segment, input cost increase was offset by the two rounds of price increases taken since March 17," an IIFL Institutional Equities Research report said. A basis point is 0.01%.
Kansai Nerolac resorted to a price hike of 2.5-3% in March and 3% in May this year. However, it didn’t take a price hike in the industrial segment. “The company is not looking at increasing prices in the near term," added Bharuka.
Now that the price of titanium dioxide—a key input raw material—has stabilized and so has the foreign currency movement, an improvement is foreseen in operating margins. While inflationary pressure would moderate due to drop in prices of crude oil, a material respite on crude oil linked derivatives would start reflecting only during the second half of the fiscal year, said analysts.
Meanwhile, the Kansai Nerolac stock is trading at a one-year forward price-to-earnings multiple of 37 times, lower than its larger peers. However, on a year-to-date basis, it has rallied 40%, outperforming key benchmark indices and competitors.
Given the positive outlook for auto sales in the coming quarters, expectations are that recovery seen in the industrial coating segment would sustain. Also, a good monsoon augurs well for its decorative paints segment.


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Representatives of the department have identified a number of difficulties that Russians encounter when operating and servicing cars from the Middle Kingdom. The main problem, according to experts, is the acute shortage of spare parts at dealerships. The shortage of components leads to an increase in vehicle repair times and provokes dissatisfaction among car owners.
The absence of a number of components is also observed in many car services, whose specialists cannot begin repairing cars on time. The reason is the unavailability of spare parts catalogs for specific models in Russian. As a result, in the event of breakdowns, car owners are faced with long vehicle downtime, as well as additional costs.
The worst situation is for owners of Chinese cars imported to Russia through parallel imports. At the same time, companies officially represented in our country also have problems with the logistics of components. Market players hope that in the near future Chinese manufacturers and Russian dealers will create centralized warehouses for spare parts, establish supply chains, and also translate technical documentation into Russian.
At the beginning of March, queues of Chinese cars formed at Russian car service centers. Then experts complained about the low quality of cars from the Middle Kingdom.
Chinese ambulance: they helped restore the Russian auto industry


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BMW, Ford Motor and Toyota were downgraded by Moody’s Investors Service and their major European, U.S. and Japanese competitors were put under review for possible cuts as the coronavirus pandemic raises risks for automakers worldwide.
BMW, the European automaker with the best credit profile, was dropped one level to A2, while Ford’s rating fell to Ba2, another rung into junk.
Moody’s put General Motors under review along with Daimler, Jaguar Land Rover, PSA Group, Renault, Volkswagen, Volvo Cars and McLaren Holdings. In Japan, Toyota, Nissan and Honda were downgraded on Thursday.
The rapid spread of the outbreak, a deteriorating economic outlook, falling oil prices and asset price declines are “creating a severe and extensive credit shock,” Moody’s said in a statement. “The combined credit effects of these developments are unprecedented.”
Automakers and their parts suppliers have halted factories on both sides of the Atlantic amid government measures to isolate populations and…


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HDMI 2.0a is the latest update to the HDMI specification. Here's what it is, and what it means, and why you should care.
News, analysis and tips on the Google Android operating system, and devices and apps that use it.
The first update for the new Mac Pro offers stability and power management improvement during the boot process and when using Boot Camp.
It's baaack! But it won't be for long. Grab this popular Windows alternative before it's gone. Plus: a great deal on a Star Wars game bundle.
Later this year, LG will do something rare and exceedingly welcome in the Smart TV universe: roll out a free, worldwide update to existing TV owners, bringing the operating system faster response times and new features.
Microsoft wants to bring pirated copies of current Windows software back into the fold. Plus, Windows 10's hardware requirements have been laid out.
A major PS4 firmware update is causing systems to crash, but Sony is aware of the problem.
The next generation of the iconic roadster inches towards landfall in North America with today's announcement and official pricing info.
Details on pricing and availability are now official for Sony's 2015 televisions, and the company is focusing on 4K and charging a mint for many models. New for many sets is Android TV, while HDR arrives on the flagships.
Some of our favorite TVs from last year were Vizio's M series, and now they're back with 4K resolution for inexpensive prices. The company also said its Reference series sets, first announced 15 months ago, would be released sometime in 2015.
Pioneer is the first aftermarket car stereo manufacturer to offer Apple CarPlay software thanks to updated firmware for the Pioneer's NEX multimedia car receivers.


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Greg Karber was bothered by our story about Abercrombie refusing to make clothes for large women since CEO Michael Jeffries apparently doesn’t consider that group to be part of the “cool kids.”
So Karber, an LA-based writer, decided to give Abercrombie a “rebranding” by giving away its clothes to homeless people.
The Huffington Post tipped us off to his video, which is quickly going viral.
Karber scoured thrift stores for Abercrombie clothes. Then, he went to Los Angeles’ Skid Row and began giving them away.
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SEE ALSO: Abercrombie & Fitch Refuses To Make Clothes For Large Women >
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Apple’s 5.5-inch phablet version of the next flagship device iPhone 6 has long been rumoured to face productions issues, pushing the release date to early 2015, and now a recent report, citing issues with in-cell touchscreen panel, is the latest addition to the list.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 model is facing issues with in-cell touchscreen panel and colour unevenness in the metal casing, resulting in a delay in the release date to next year, leaving the 4.7-inch version to be the only model to debut this fall.
Although earlier rumours pointed at a delay in launch, recent reports suggested that both the variants of the iPhone 6, to enter production stage at the same timeframe, but the larger version will be limited in terms of supply.
Kuo said that the Cupertino is facing production bottlenecks even in the 4.7-inch version of iPhone 6, related to the same issues, but the problems are a kind of “even more complicated” in the larger version.
He explained that with the increase in size of the in-cell touch panel, the edge of panels might turn insensitive to touch. He added that he doesn’t expect the iPhone 6 sapphire display for the 5.5-inch, touted to be scratch-resistant to “easily pass the drop test near term,” which he said could also prompt delays.
However, in a video showing the purported sapphire front panel undergoing stress tests that surfaced last week, the display had survived certain drop tests, but it apparently shattered when run over by a 1.6 utility vehicle.
Kuo noted that the larger version, even after the lunch, could start with initial shipments of less than 15-20 million units and increase eventually, suggesting supply constraints.
He said the “most conservative scenario” is that the company launches the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 model in early 2015. But he did hold out some hope for a 2014 launch, noting that even if it happens, it will be likely after mid-fourth-quarter, around mid-November.


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The UK’s largest poultry seller has warned that the price of chicken is set to rise because of supply chain problems.
The chief executive of 2 Sisters Food Group, Ronald Kers, said that “in reality food is too cheap”.
Mr Kers told the BBC that the price of chicken, the UK’s most popular meat, should be higher to reflect the extra costs the business is facing.
The firm has 600 farms and 16 factories across the UK.
Mr Kers told the BBC’s Today programme that the company has had to cope with additional costs because of Brexit, Covid, labour shortages and logistics issues.
He added that the “significant” inflated costs of packaging, energy and CO2 were also “bulking up the price of food”.
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On Wednesday, the founder of 2 Sisters Food Group, Ranjit Boparan, warned that chicken prices would rise by 10%.
“How can it be right that a whole chicken costs less than a pint of beer?” he said.
Mr Boparan said the days of low prices were “coming to an end” and that “transparent, honest pricing” was needed because of mounting costs.
The company has seen its CO2 costs rise by more than 500% in three weeks, while energy costs have increased by more than 450% from a year earlier.
It also said feed costs at farms have risen by 15%, with commodity costs in the farming process also up by around 20%.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Kers said: “If you look at the price of chicken now it is £3.50, while a decade ago it was £5 – it should have gone up.
“People on farms are struggling – we don’t have enough people on our factories, farms or enough HGV drivers and as a result we’re seeing empty shelves and reduced choice,” he continued.
“There’s no margin in the whole supply chain”.
The government’s visa scheme for short-term workers meant the company was able to bring in an additional 700 people to secure the volume they needed for Christmas, but Mr Kers said the scheme came “a little to late and a little too short”.
2 Sisters sells 60% of all turkeys in the country and while Mr Kers said the overall supply chain was “clearly very fragile”, he advised shoppers to buy “normally”.
The firm produces about a third of all the poultry products consumed in the UK and processes more than 10 million birds each week.
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The OPPO ColorOS 12 operating system, which is based on Android 12, will be released soon: Here’s all you need to know.
ColorOS may incorporate a number of new features from Chinese Android skins like as Xiaomi’s MIUI, Meizu’s Flyme, Smartisan OS, and HydrogenOS, among others.
It has been verified by OPPO that the newest version of the ColorOS operating system would be formally introduced in China between the middle and end of September.
According to GizmoChina, although OPPO has not yet officially announced a specific launch date for ColorOS 12, the firm is expected to debut the next version of its own Android overlay before the end of September, according to the company.
ColorOS’s newest version is likely to include a new feature known as ‘Cross-Screen Interconnection,’ which is comparable to Huawei’s Multi-Screen Collaboration technology.
In addition to new fast tiles and widgets, ColorOS 12 is expected to include features from Android 12, such as enhanced one-handed mode, notification settings, a visual revamp, new app pairings for split-screen viewing and privacy enhancements, among other things.
According to reports, ColorOS may incorporate numerous new features from Chinese Android skins such as Xiaomi’s MIUI, Meizu’s Flyme, Smartisan OS, and HydrogenOS, as well as other Chinese Android skins.
It was only last month. OPPO was expected to introduce the OPPO Enco Buds and OPPO Enco Air smartphones in India in the near future. The business has now verified that the former product would be launched in the nation on Wednesday, as previously announced.
It’s said that these new entry-level earbuds would provide an excellent battery experience as well as crystal-clear, concert-like music. According to the manufacturer, these earbuds are designed for users who are interested in upgrading to fully wireless earbuds for the first time.
ColorOS-enabled devices may be quickly connected to the earphones through Bluetooth. It is equipped with 8mm dynamic speakers and has an 80ms low latency game mode, as well as ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) for phone calls and calls in general.


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With ViacomCBS International Studios continuing to increase the amounto f projects in development, the media giant has just announced that a new series focused on Cristóbal Balenciaga is in the works.
The scripted series will tell the story of the Spanish fashion designer who started what is now the Balenciaga fashion house. The series will be written by Kas Graham and Rebecca Pollock and directed by James Kent. Braven Films’ Frida Torresblanco will be executive producing the series from ViacomCBS.
Production for the series is set to start in 2021, and will be documenting the life of Haute Couture’s “Master” and his elevation to the point of becoming one of he most idolized and influential designers in fashion history. Even though Balenciaga led a revolution in the fashion world via his perfectionism and attention to detail, he was also known for being very private and secluded. That being said, throughout his career that lasted half-a-century, Balenciaga had only given 2 press interviews.
This series showcasing the life and rise of Cristóbal Balenciaga is only the most recent announced by ViacomCBS International Studios’ creation of relevant and timely projects.
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After a difficult month for the cryptocurrency markets in May, the token is still trading at a price that is 36 percent lower than it was a month ago, which was $7.46.
PancakeSwap is a decentralized exchange (DEX) that was developed on the BNB Chain, and Binance Labs, the venture capital arm of Binance, the world’s most prominent cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has made an investment in the company.
As a result of the news made on Monday, the price of CAKE, the native token of the exchange, increased by about 10 percent.
Also Read, Crypto Market Bounce Back
At the time this story was published, CAKE was trading at $4.77. Despite the recent gains, the token is still trading at a discount of 36 percent compared to its price of $7.46 one month ago. This comes after a difficult month for the cryptocurrency markets in May.
The funding is going to be used to further enhance PancakeSwap’s technology, marketing, and community support. Further, it will also promote Web 3-based services, according to Binance Labs’ plans.
PancakeSwap is an automated market maker (AMM) that was presented in September 2020. It gives users the ability to trade and exchange decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens. With over 400,000 users, it has quickly become the most popular decentralized application (dapp) running on Binance’s blockchain network, BNB Chain.
The amount of the investment was kept confidential throughout the discussion.
There was no one accessible at Binance to provide a remark right away.
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NFTHI does not recommend any kind of Investment in NFTs or NFT trading. All the strategies are merely educational references.
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In response to the global crisis of infection, each country is undergoing unprecedented technological innovation. Looking at history, humankind, which has evolved over the crisis, has undergone major changes in response to the spread of infection worldwide.
"Non-contact business" that attracts a lot of attention due to the corona sickness Will it continue to grow even after corona?
The epidemic of the new coronavirus, which began earlier this year, has disrupted various industries in China while providing opportunities in some areas. "Non-contact business" is one of them. There is also a view that the renewed attention to non-contact business in this situation will be a turning point in the industry. But we should also look at the basic issues that exist in non-contact businesses here.
The fields and products included in the non-contact business can be broadly divided into three. The first is unmanned retail business such as unmanned convenience stores and unmanned product shelves. The second is a smart delivery locker. The third is delivery robots such as catering robots.
Reorganized unmanned retail business
Regarding unmanned retail businesses such as unmanned stores and unmanned product shelves, there was a boom in the establishment in 2017, but as a result, it was not accepted by the market, many have already fallen into poor management, and some companies are still alive. Very few.
In 2016, when the completely cashless payment "Amazon Go", which is often referred to as an unmanned supermarket, appeared, companies engaged in unmanned retail business were founded one after another in China. Known companies that were born in this movement include "Bingo Box," "Xingbianli," and "Guoxiaomei."
Unmanned convenience store "Bingo Box"
From 2017 to 2019, at least 50 companies were founded, and the top ten companies raised a total of 3 billion yuan (about 45 billion yen). In addition to major investment companies, major IT companies such as Alibaba and Tencent have also entered the industry. But the industry soon entered a restructuring phase. Kagami merged with "Fanqie Bianli" in the second half of 2017, and started reducing the number of staff and removing product shelves in 2018. Following that, a large-scale restructuring was also carried out in the unmanned product shelving business operated by the fresh EC "MissFresh" and Ryoko Sakka.
There are unmanned stores and unmanned product shelves that are still in operation, but in most cases only processes such as payments are unmanned. In many cases, they are backed up by large companies. Bianlifeng, an unmanned convenience store under Alibaba, is also "unmanned" only for payments, and since there are still staff in the store, it cannot be regarded as a successful example of unmanned retailing in a pure sense.
Unmanned product shelves for "convenient bees (Bianlifeng)"
Smart parcel locker struggling to monetize
Compared to the unmanned retail business industry, which has tended to be decentralized, the smart parcel locker industry, which has developed under the initiative of large companies, has a prominent tendency to be centralized. Leading companies include "Ching I Ching (sposter)", "Toyosu (Hive Box)", and "Tomitomo Treasure".
Companies that invest in China Post are the state-owned logistics giant China Post Group, Alibaba-affiliated logistics company Cainiao Network, and investment company Fosun Group. ) ”Is lined up. Behind Toyosu is the logistics giant“ Shunho Express (SF Express) ”, and behind Tomyu Treasure is the financial company group“ fuiou (fuiou), which focuses on online payments. ) ”Is waiting.
One of the major reasons why the parcel locker industry is backed up by logistics companies and financial companies is that it is difficult to monetize despite the large initial investment. The main sources of income from locker operations are advertising revenue from companies, revenue from delivery services, and revenue from temporary luggage storage services. Revenues from delivery services are small but relatively stable, but otherwise they are struggling to monetize.
Food delivery platforms such as "Meituan Waimai" and "Ele.me" are currently showing the most remarkable movements regarding non-contact delivery lockers. During the new coronavirus epidemic, Meituan sold 1000 smart food lockers for food delivery all over the country. Ele.me's head of logistics, Wu Xueyi, also announced that he plans to deploy 1,000 lockers in Shanghai and 3,000 lockers nationwide.
Non-contact delivery process by Meituan Waimai (data from the official website of Meituan Point Review and the Center for the Development of Public Securities)
The delivery locker has the same problem of difficulty in monetization as the delivery locker. Furthermore, since sterilization and heat retention are required, it is a big issue to balance user satisfaction and cost. In this area, it would be reasonable to leave it to the food delivery platform, which has accumulated experience in food delivery.
Serving robot at a crossroads
Due to the epidemic of the new coronavirus, the demand for robotic serving services, which had been fading for a while, increased. Serving by robots has come to be used not only in special places such as infectious disease endemic areas and medical facilities, but also in general restaurants as a powerful means of giving consumers peace of mind in terms of infection prevention. In addition to manufacturers specializing in catering robots such as "PuduTech" and "KEENON Robotics", IT companies such as "Cheetah Mobaile" are also entering this field.
Serving robots are two to three times more efficient than humans, and the monthly fee for one robot is 3,000 yuan (about 45,000 yen), which is much lower than the labor cost. If mass production progresses in the future, the usage fee may decrease further. However, the problem is that there are very few parts that robots can handle in the complex environment of restaurants at this time.
Furthermore, there are common problems in each field belonging to the contactless business. The contactless business was activated this year due to the special situation of the new coronavirus epidemic. Can these areas continue to develop even after society returns to normal?
Is a contactless business really needed?
Demand created under special circumstances will not last forever. In the long run, the market will return to its original supply-demand relationship.
In China, labor costs are gradually increasing due to the decrease in the workable population and the improvement of education standards. There are great opportunities for non-contact businesses that aim to reduce labor costs and improve operational efficiency. However, companies should carefully consider the balance between operating costs and revenue.
The biggest reason to prevent the unmanned product shelves from deploying is the possibility of theft due to the open shelves. However, adopting a closed-stack smart product shelf such as a convenient bee requires equipment costs and technical requirements. The hurdles are high for companies that have just been founded. In many cases, smart delivery lockers and the like cost 10,000 yuan (about 150,000 yen) or more per box. It also adds the cost of building and maintaining a link between the user management system and the electronic waybill.
Large, well-financed companies will be willing to accept these costs, but the rationality of new solutions needs to be considered. For example, unmanned convenience stores can reduce labor costs, but facility / equipment costs and maintenance costs will increase significantly. In addition, the cost of introducing an IC tag (RFID) will be incurred. Considering whether it can be more profitable than a conventional convenience store, it turns out that it should not be considered very positively.
Some companies are currently trying to improve their business conditions. Toyosu announced on April 28 that it will offer a free parcel delivery service for up to 12 hours and will collect 0.5 yuan (about 7.5 yen) every 12 hours after the excess. Subsequently, on the 30th, a paid membership service will be launched, and monthly members will be charged 5 yuan (about 75 yen) per month, and seasonal members will be charged 12 yuan (about 180 yen) each season. Although there was no limit on the number of times the service could be used and the luggage storage period was set to 7 days, users expressed strong dissatisfaction.
Real unmanned is still ahead
In the "Shanghai New Economy Development Promotion Action Plan (2020-2022)" issued by the Shanghai Municipal Government on April 13, "contactless delivery" is one of the priority areas for accelerating development. According to the plan, the city of Shanghai will reorganize and reorganize its logistics resources with high efficiency, work to make operations smarter and improve its coordination capabilities, and realize an all-weather logistics service that can handle a wide range of services. It is a policy that works in favor of companies involved in non-contact delivery.
However, looking at the market as a whole again, it seems that the labor shortage will not intensify rapidly, and at present it is more economically efficient to leave the work that can be handled by "unmanned" to human resources. The future of completely "unmanned" offline businesses will not come very soon.


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Petal announced intention to expand its credit card program.
The fintech company announced this plan after receiving credit funds in the amount of $200 million. This financing was provided by the investment firm Victory Park Capital. The relevant information is contained in the press release of the fintech company, which was published last Thursday, August 3.
The firm said that the implementation of this intention will allow achieve the goal of issuing cards to those consumers who are new to the field of lending. This solution is beneficial to customers because it does not imply the need for credit points to qualify.
The company’s press release contains information that about 400 thousand consumers currently have approval for the use of Petal credit cards. Separately, the firm noted that more than 100 thousand means of payment were approved last year.
Jason Rosen, co-founder, and CEO of Petal, says that in the foreseeable future in the United States, every consumer will be able to use their banking history in order to qualify for financial services of a new format and a higher level of quality. He noted that for his company, the implementation of this scenario means the opportunity to expand the availability of credit to reach a consumer audience of millions of people who did not have access to acceptable services and were out of the spotlight of financial institutions.
Experts say that traditional methods of determining credit risk and providing funds as a practice of action limit the rights of many potential customers. As a result of this situation, various platforms and alternative data sources have appeared in the space of traditional financial services that meet the needs of those to whom banks with a standard concept of activity are accustomed to ignoring.
In the USA, an industry study was conducted, according to which it turned out that 25% of consumers were refused at least once when applying for credit funds. It was also found that many of those who unwillingly fell into the category of so-called credit marginals, with a high degree of probability, will not resume attempts to obtain these services. At the same time, 26% of respondents stated that they do not apply for a loan due to low credit scores. Another 21% of respondents say that they are afraid of being rejected and for this reason, do not make any attempts to obtain services in the field of lending.
In the case of credit marginals, a kind of vicious circle is formed. Initially, they receive a negative response to a loan request, as a result of which they lose the opportunity to replenish points, which then becomes the reason for another refusal.
Petal’s new debt program came three months after the company received new financing and spun off its Prism Data business, creating two fintech firms that use open banking data to expand access to services for consumers who do not have accurate credit ratings.
Prism Data, a Petal subsidiary that specializes in data transmission infrastructure and business process analytics (B2B), offers cash flow underwriting technology to financial institutions, fintech, and other businesses.
As we have reported earlier, Triple and Prizeout Team for Digital Gift Card Offering.