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Chobani, the Chenango County company that is the leading Greek yogurt maker in the United States, is giving Cornell University a $1.5 million grant to set up research and training program focused on dairy industry quality.
Chobani also named Alejandro Mazzotta as its first vice president of global quality, food safety, and regulatory affairs.
The two moves come a month after Chobani launched a voluntary recall of yogurt made at its facility in Idaho because some containers were infected with a mold that made nearly 100 people sick.
That incident was the first blemish on what has otherwise been the remarkable path Chobani took since its founding in 2005 in a former Kraft dairy plant in South Edmeston, Chenango County. The Greek yogurt segment of the dairy market has grown dramatically, and Chobani has helped New York state become the leading producer in the country, with about 70 percent of total sales.
The new dairy program at Cornell "will strengthen the science behind New York's dairy industry," Kathryn J. Boor, the dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences said in a statement. "Our goal is not only high-quality dairy products, but also economic growth in communities that need it the most."
Chobani's grant will establish a research and training program that will support graduate student research along with work force development in dairy quality, according to the company.
Greek yogurt is an ancient variety that is generally called strained yogurt in other parts of the world, where many people eat it daily. It is denser and higher in protein than the yogurt most Americans have been accustomed to.
Chobani's growth was so strong that after a few years serving all its customers out of its Chenango County facility it built a second plant in Twin Falls, Idaho.


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State Rep. Steve Johnson’s legislation protecting the use of cannabidiol (CBD) oil derived from hemp in Michigan has been signed into law.
“CBD oil derived from hemp doesn’t get you high,” Johnson said. “It contains no more than 0.3 percent Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). But the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs decided last summer to start classifying it the same way they do marijuana, which contains 5 to 35 percent THC.”
Johnson’s legislation clarified that CBD oil and other products derived from hemp fall under the definition of industrial hemp, instead of the definition of marihuana. This prevents a scenario where a medical marijuana card could be required to possess industrial hemp products.
“Many people use CBD oil derived from hemp to treat pain, anxiety and depression, and to reduce the prevalence of epileptic seizures,” said Joe Brown, a farmer in Saranac who makes hemp wellness products. “Hemp is fundamentally different from marijuana, and I’m grateful to Rep. Johnson for his work to ensure this is reflected in Michigan law.”
Johnson’s House Bill 6331 is now Public Act 62 of 2018.
Today, State Rep. Steve Johnson of Wayland was appointed by Speaker-elect Jason Wentworth to serve as co-chair for the Republican Policy Action Plan Committee for the 2021-2022 legislative term.

domain: news


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Belgium’s drug regulator said it had seized counterfeit versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's popular obesity drug Wegovy, which is in the form of injector pens and contains insulin.
On suspicion of being fake, the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP), which is the drug regulatory authority of Belgium, took nine mailed packages of GLP-1 medicines into custody this year. These packages include Wegovy and Novo's diabetes drug, Ozempic. FAMHP reported that two of those packages contained drugs not manufactured by Novo Nordisk or another GLP-1 drug manufacturer.
A lab analysis confirmed that one of them contained insulin. Insulin is used to treat diabetes and may cause serious health problems like hypoglycemia, leading to dangerously low blood sugar and seizures when not properly administered.
Last week, health inspectors in Australia reported that many people were admitted after injecting suspected fake versions of Ozempic.
BASG, the country's health safety regulator, stated that the patients experienced side effects suggesting the product contained insulin instead of semaglutide but did not comment on whether it had been confirmed through lab analysis.
Britain issued a warning on Thursday regarding the purchase of potentially counterfeit weight-loss injection pens that claim to be either Ozempic or Novo Nordisk's older weight-loss drug, Saxenda. This caution comes following reports of a "very small number" of hospitalizations.
The increasing demand for Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs has led to shortages and a rise in counterfeits.
A spokesperson for Australia's health regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, stated that this year the agency concluded 14 cases of counterfeit obesity drugs.
Last week, Belgium's health minister announced the country's intention to temporarily prohibit the use of Ozempic for weight loss treatment for a few weeks or months. This decision is due to concerns that such usage could lead to a shortage of the medicine originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, which is the primary purpose of GLP-1 drugs.
Law enforcement, anti-counterfeiting, and public health officials took steps by opening inquiries into complaints of fake drugs, monitoring e-commerce and social media for purchase offers or advertisements, and training customs officials to address counterfeits to stem the surge.
(Input from various media sources.)


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Following the disaster called “Samsung Galaxy Note 7”, people expected that the Korean company will suffer. And the company suffered. Samsung has taken a hit on its reputation, and it showed in sales. But Samsung is still the most popular and dominant smartphone company in the world. And the numbers back that up. Samsung saw a 14% decline in sales in third quarter year over year, which is the worst performance ever. But the research, published by Gartner, still shows Samsung at the top of popularity.
Samsung still holds the top spot for most smartphones sold. Here are some of the numbers that Gartner came to.
– Samsung sold 71.7 million smartphones in Q3 in 2016
– Apple sold 43 million smartphones in Q3, holding the second spot
– Huawei cemented itself as the third most popular company, selling 32.49 million smartphones in Q3
– Other Chinese companies like Oppo and BBK Communications nearly doubled their sales in Q3, and they now hold fourth and fifth spot
– Overall, shipments of smartphones increased by 5.4%. Companies sold more than 373 million units in Q3
– Android is still the most popular and dominant smartphone operating system. More than 88% users around the world use an Android powered smartphone.
Samsung Market Share Drops
It was logical to expect Samsung’s market share to drop following the Note 7 disaster. However, nobody expected the numbers to be that bad. The company experienced its biggest market share drop in the history of the company. The year on year drop showed Samsung controlled 23.6% of the market in 2015, and that number fall down to 19.2% in 2016. Those 4.4% are more than what Apple lost in this year. Here are some numbers to get you thinking:- Samsung controlled 23.6% of the market in
– Samsung controlled 23.6% of the market in 2015, and 19.2% in 2016
– Apple controlled 13% of the market in 2015, and 11.5% in 2016
– Huawei went from 7.7% in 2015 to 8.7% in 2016
– Oppo, another Chinese brand went from 3.4% to 6.7%, nearly doubling its market share
– And then there is BBK Communication Equipment, which went from 2.9% to 5.3%.
What can we expect in 2017?
As the charts show, Chinese companies are gaining ground. And that might not be a good thing for Samsung, Apple, and other high-profile smartphone companies. China is the biggest market in the world.
Samsung and Apple are both banking on their highly successful 2017 model to get them back to the top. Samsung has the Galaxy S8 scheduled for April release, and the Korean company hopes that the “better than perfect” phone will keep them on the top. Apple, on the other hand, has the 10th generation of iPhone scheduled for next year. For the anniversary model, Apple is rumored to vastly improve the design, and much of the specs.But the biggest factor will be America’s next president. Americans choose Trump, and he promised that his administration will have a saying on the “trade war” with China. That means that Chinese brands will have a hard time penetrating the American market.
But the biggest factor will be America’s next president. Americans choose Trump, and he promised that his administration will have a saying on the “trade war” with China. That means that Chinese brands will have a hard time penetrating the American market.


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The commercial deputy Chairman of ACCI- Mr. Mohammad Yonus met with H.E Yao Jing- Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan at Chinese embassy in Kabul on Monday 13th March 2017 and conversed over joint trade and business relations.
Initially, Mr. Mohammad Yonus Mohmand greeted the cooperation conducted by Chinese Government in previous years and moreover briefed that: “ACCI is always ready to pave investment facilities to Chinese business people across the country and tries its best to provide these business persons investment and business updated information.”
Chinese Ambassador was explained about the new business programs which is planned to be implemented in 2017 in Kabul and Chinese republic government was called for further cooperation. The very less obstacles on the way of trade and business between the two countries has been keenly resolved by Chinese republic embassy in Kabul. He additionally added that: “fortunately, visa issuance problems has also been resolved and commitment on decreasing the current problem was subsequently announced.”


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Don't Have a Hissy Fit: Study Finds Dog Owners Are Happier Than Cat Owners
The study also found that dog owners are more likely to be married.
Maybe its because most cats don't come when you call-even though they know their names-but something has dog owners claiming they are happier than cat parents.
According to Country Living, the General Social Survey-an annual survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago that covers a wide range of topics-found that more dog owners than cat owners reported being "very happy."
The exact breakdown: 36% of dog owner surveyed said they are "very happy," while only 18% of cat owners came back with the same answer.
Additionally, the survey also found that between cat parents and dog parents, it is dog moms and dads that are more likely to be married and more likely to own their own home, reports The Independent. The survey also found that marriage and home ownership both contribute to life statisfaction.
According to Bustle, the survey also showed that a higher percentage of dog owners reported having a close relationship with their pet. More dog owners than cat owners responded that they see their pet as part of the family and that they often taken comfort in their furry's friend presence.
We're sure cat owners and dog owners have their own explanations and disagreements with these findings, but we can all agree that pets make life better.


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January 30, 2014
2 Min Read
Bonduelle can plant in Russia
The Bonduelle Group, a world leader in prepared vegetables, has partnered with Crown Food Europe to install a new metal packaging production line inside the company's Novotitarovskaia plant in Krasnodar Krai, southern Russia.
Russian consumption has been growing significantly over the last five years, driven in no small part by international companies like Bonduelle. The brand had been present in the Russian market for more than a decade when Bonduelle took the decision to open its first Russian plant in 2004 in Krasnodar Krai. In 2012, Bonduelle acquired the Russian operations of French cooperative Centrale Coopérative Agricole Bretonne (CECAB), adding a second plant in Timashevsk to its portfolio. Today, the company is a leading brand of canned vegetables in Russia.
"As Russian consumption continues to grow, it is critical to ensure that our operations run as efficiently and as effectively as possible," says Hervé Caroff, general manager, Bonduelle Russia. "With Crown locally manufacturing our food cans, it provides our company with the best opportunity to improve its flexibility, service and product delivery."
By installing a can line in-house, Bonduelle has been able to streamline its production process and supply chain in the Novotitarovskaia plant, helping manage can inventory and simplify logistics as well as minimizing operational downtime and ensuring high-quality products. The line has been operational since August 2013 and manufactures cans to pack sweet corn and peas.
"Crown and Bonduelle have a long history of partnership and we are committed to supporting them to develop their business in growth territories." explains Didier Sourisseau, svp, Crown Food Europe.
The addition of the Novotitarovskaia line also expands Crown's own presence in Russia. The company first opened a facility in Timashevsk, southern Russia, in 2003.
Source: Crown Holdings Inc.
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It's easy to create a stack using tags, giving you a shortcut from the Dock to your tagged documents.
Geared toward Apple employees, the purported training docs detail how to set up and use Apple Pay for purchasing items on the go via an iPhone.
Newly unsealed legal file indicates Samsung paid Microsoft $1B in 2013 alone to license patents Android allegedly infringed.
Tapping the option to Reset All Settings vaporizes some iCloud Drive files, say a handful of iOS users.
Barracuda Network's cloud storage service is simple, yet robust.
Google fills in a gap in its browser-based OS, building software to run scanners and an interface to let Web apps use it.
Here's what you can change in the System section of the Settings menu...and what you'll have to go into the Control Panel to do.
A New York Times report, triggered by the leak of new documents, sheds light on how US officials so quickly concluded North Korea was the source of the November hacking attack against Sony Pictures.
The company says it needs more time to file its quarterly report because certain computer systems won't be back online until next month.
Researchers with Google's Project Zero security team say they've found three flaws with high severity that have yet to be patched.


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These sectors help deliver significant revenues for football clubs across Europe
The biggest deals in football used to be multimillion dollar transfers to land the sport's biggest stars. These days, arguably the most important signings for Europe's top clubs are the corporate sponsors on the front of their uniforms, reports the Wall Street Journal.
The 2010/11 European Jersey Report released by SportundMarkt this week, demonstrates the current landscape and development in jersey marketing in the six top European football leagues. The Premier League (England), Primera División (Spain), Ligue 1 (France), 1st Bundesliga (Germany), Serie A (Italy) and the Eredivisie (Netherlands), and paints a rosy picture of the commercial value of European club football, with shirt sponsorship up by 18 percent across the major leagues.
The report's findings go on to detail that two sectors dominate jersey sponsorship: banking and gambling. The latter is largely due to the liberalization of the French gambling market, said Gareth Moore, a director for SportundMarkt. France opened up its online horse-racing and sports-betting industry to competition in June, relaxing a state monopoly on gambling that traces back to the 16th century.
Online gaming companies such as BetClic Enterprises Ltd and Bwin Interactive Entertainment AG now see football shirts as a way of differentiating their brands in a very competitive market. BetClic ranks third among a host of new brands entering the football market with Euro 20 million paid for jersey sponsorship deals with Juventus FC, Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique Marseille.
This season, seven of the 20 clubs in the English Premier League have jerseys emblazoned with the names of online betting companies and in Spain, Real Madrid's famous white jersey carries the corporate logo of Bwin, the club's major sponsor following a deal worth roughly Euro 23 million.
Future liberalization of the gambling market, particularly in Germany, will ensure the market for elite football jerseys continues to rise, suggests Gareth Moore.


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Korea Digital TV News
INNOPIA becomes Netflix Hailstorm Hybrid partner with Synaptics and NAGRA
Nov 13, 2019 – At the Android TV Bangkok Summit, INNOPIA officially announced a Netflix integrated, Android TV DVB-C Hybrid STB platform (IMT-M6900) based on its own DVB stack with Synaptics SoC and NAGRA Connect and Protect security clients.
News categories: INNOPIA, Synaptics, NAGRA, Netflix, HeeWon Park, Saleel Awsare, Maurice van Riek, Android TV, Cable TV, Content Protection, Digital TV, Korea, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Worldwide
Alticast to spin-off media business into new company
Oct 31, 2019 – Alticast plans to establish a new company (tentatively, 'Altimedia Corporation') by spinning-off its media business targeting Korean cable and EMEA/Asia broadcasting companies, excluding media business targeting KT/Skylife and North American broadcasting.
News categories: Alticast, Korea, MnA, Worldwide
ATBiS to manufacture Triveni Digital ATSC 3.0 broadcast gateway
Oct 17, 2019 – Triveni Digital has announced a partnership with ATBiS under which ATBiS will serve as the manufacturer of Triveni Digital's ATSC 3.0 Broadcast Gateway, enabling TV stations to make a smooth transition to the next-generation standard.
News categories: Triveni Digital, ATBiS, Ralph Bachofen, Mark Simpson, Sam Eom, ATSC, Content Distribution, Korea, Terrestrial, USA
TV Panel makers cut capacity to reduce losses
Oct 7, 2019 – According to WitsView, Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese panel makers have all started to lower their utilization rates for TV panel products from September on, in order to improve severely unbalanced supply and demand, and stabilize prices.
News categories: WitsView, Anita Wang, China, Digital TV, Japan, Korea, Market Research, Smart TV, Taiwan
SK Telecom and Samsung together realise 8K TV powered by 5G
Sep 9, 2019 – SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM) has announced that it has signed an MOU with Samsung to jointly develop and commercialize the world’s first 5G-8K TV. The TV will direct receive 8K video over SK Telecom’s ultra-low latency and ultra-wideband 5G network.
News categories: SK Telecom, Samsung, Park Jin-hyo, 5G, Digital TV, Korea, Smart TV
LG Uplus adds 92,000 IPTV subscribers in 2Q 2019
Aug 9, 2019 – LG Uplus (KRX: 032640) has announced results for Q2 2019. The company finished the quarter with 4.241 million IPTV subscribers, up 92 thousand over the period, and up 451 thousand (11.9%) versus Q2 2018.
News categories: LG Uplus, Digital TV, IPTV, Korea, Results, Subscribers
KT adds 147,000 IPTV subscribers in 2Q 2019
Aug 7, 2019 – Korea's KT Corporation (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT) has announced results for Q2 2019. The company finished the quarter with 8.113 million IPTV subscribers, up 147 thousand over the period, and up 441 thousand (5.7%) versus Q2 2018.
News categories: KT Corp, IPTV, Korea, Results, Subscribers
Five million IPTV subscribers for SK Broadband
Jul 31, 2019 – Korean telecommunications provider, SK Broadband, has announced that it now has more than five million subscribers to its IPTV service 'B tv'. The service launched 13 years ago in July 2006.
News categories: SK Broadband, Digital TV, IPTV, Korea, Subscribers
Samsung and KT Skylife demonstrate 8K satellite broadcasting
Jul 30, 2019 – Samsung Electronics and KT Skylife have demonstrated the transmission and reception of 8K satellite broadcasting on a Samsung QLED 8K television at the Mokdong Broadcasting Center in Seoul.
News categories: Samsung, KT Skylife, ETRI, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Korea, Satellite, Smart TV
- DVB approves DVB-I specification
- Partner Communications selects Broadpeak for server-side ad insertion
- Irdeto and Amlogic launch Netflix-integrated Hailstorm Hybrid STB platform
- INNOPIA becomes Netflix Hailstorm Hybrid partner with Synaptics and NAGRA
- Synaptics VideoSmart SoC approved for Widevine CAS on Android TV
- Discovery partners with Inscape for TV audience measurement
- SVoD subscriptions in N. America to grow at 9% CAGR from 2019 to 2023
- ITV announces new addressable advertising platform: Planet V
- Eutelsat signs up Orao Telecom Congo for CIRRUS hybrid satellite/OTT
- Disney+ gets some traction, Apple TV lags in streaming wars
- Disney+ launches in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands
- Czech Television completes transition to DVB-T2 with Synamedia
- Thomson Broadcast and Viaccess-Orca secure DTT deployment in Mali
- Irdeto, Amlogic and Skyworth launch Android TV hybrid STB reference design
- NAGRA and KAON introduce Android TV streaming solution for pay-TV operators
- NAGRA, SDMC and Amlogic offer Android TV solution for pay-TV operators
- TRAI issues consultation paper on STB interoperability implementation
- Beenius signs reseller agreement for Caribbean and LatAm markets
- BBC explores targeting of promotional content using Sky technology
- Disney+ expected to reach 101 million subscribers


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The chain also indicated its sales have been hurt by the breach, cutting its forecast for fourth-quarter earnings and a key sales barometer.
Its stock slipped in premarket trading.
Target Corp. announced in December that about 40 million credit and debit cards may have been affected by a data breach that happened between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 - just as the holiday shopping season was getting into gear. But the net has now been cast wider, with more shoppers potentially impacted.
The company told customers Friday that its investigation of the breach has shown that personal information had also been stolen and more customers were affected.
"I know that it is frustrating for our guests to learn that this information was taken and we are truly sorry they are having to endure this," Chairman, President and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said in a statement.
The company said customers won't be liable for the cost of any fraudulent charges that stemmed from the breach.
It's also offering a year of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection to customers that shopped at its stores. Individuals will have three months to enroll in the program, which Target said it will provide more details next week.
Target lowered its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings guidance to a range of $1.20 to $1.30 per share, down from $1.50 to $1.60 per share.
Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect earnings of $1.24 per share.
The Minneapolis company also said that it now foresees fourth-quarter sales at stores open at least a year will be down about 2.5 percent. It previously predicted those sales would be about flat.
Target cautioned that its fourth-quarter financials may include charges related to the data breach. The chain said the costs tied to the breach may have a material adverse effect on its quarterly results as well as future periods.
Shares of Target declined 84 cents to $62.50 before the market open.
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The quest for innovation in the smartphone market drives some interesting ideas, the latest of which is starting to make the back of this smartphone look like a spider staring you down. The front sports a large display and there is a notch on the top that houses the front-facing camera and an earpiece.
Even though the pictures might be really promising, we must be cautious as this leaked image isn't yet confirmed.
Moreover, a penta-lens smartphone camera system must not come as a surprise.
On the back side of the device there are five lenses. This new image adds a bit more strength to the earlier rumours and could give us an idea as to what Nokia's next big flagship could be. There is a single flash for all the five shooters from what the Nokia 9 live image indicates.
But after you shake off the heeby jeebies, the thought of equipping a phone with five cameras isn't actually that ridiculous. The new Nokia 9 might have these screen design scheme as well.More news: Miami Heat Players Mourn Rapper Mac Miller’s Tragic Death
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We'll be hones from the get-go: we don't know how to react to this.
The cameras were made by the German lens manufacturer Zeiss. HMD's Nokia 9 will likely feature a 5.9-inch display with QHD resolution (2K) and OLED technology. It is also stated that the handset will feature a Snapdragon 845.
Nokia 6.1 Plus users can no longer hide the phone's notch due to Google requirements, an HMD Global representative said. Other rumored specifications include Gorilla Glass 5 protection, a 3,900mAh battery and 256GB of built-in storage. It was also then reported to launch at IFA as well, but that didn't happen either.
This is the same design that appeared in sketches of a Nokia device that leaked earlier this year.


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Stocks in Asia rose in Thursday morning trade as optimism over the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic continued to keep investor sentiment afloat.
South Korea’s Kospi led gains among the region’s major markets as it rose 1.76% in early trade, adding to its nearly 3% Wednesday surge.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 added 1.06% while the Topix index advanced 0.85%.
Meanwhile, shares in Australia also rose, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.89%.
Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index traded 0.41% higher.
On the economic data front, Australia retail sales for April is set to be released around 9:30 a.m. HK/SIN on Thursday.
Source : CNBC


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Nigerian Traders In Ghana: Federal Government Plans To Recall Nigerian Envoy
The Federal Government has said it was dismayed by the painful videos of forceful closure of shops of Nigerian traders in Ghana.
This is even as revealed plan to recall the Charge d’Affaires of Nigeria in Ghana for consultation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who made this known on his Twitter handle, @GeoffreyOnyeama, said urgent steps would be taken to halt the situation. He said the government would take necessary steps to put an end to the trauma faced by Nigerian traders in Ghana.
“Nigerian government has watched with dismay, the painful videos of the forceful closure of the shops of Nigerian traders in Ghana. Urgent steps will be taken,” he said.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, Onyeama said Ghanaians were insisting on retail trade because it is meant for Ghanaians only.
Onyeama added that the retail code has been there for sometime, but that an agreement was reached over a year ago which led to why Nigerian traders had been operating till date.
He recalled his visit to Ghana as a special envoy of President Muhammadu Buhari where he met with Ghanaian President Nana Akuffo-Addo, followed by a meeting between both presidents and the issue was resolved.
Onyeama, however, said obviously, the issue has reared its head again and it seemed not to be resolved.
According to Onyeama, the Ghanaian code on retail trade is in conflict with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on trade.
“So, this is something we want looked into at this non-respect of the ECOWAS protocol. What is the point of having an economic community if at the end of the day, each country would just make laws and regulations that are in contradiction of that? So, I think that is an issue that has to be addressed,” Onyeama said.
On the concrete measures the government is adopting to curb the situation, Onyeama said the first step is to be sure of all the facts before the government can act.
“So, this will entail hearing from the Ghanaian government. Our Minister of Trade is going to engage with his counterpart. We have summoned the Ghanaian High Commissioner who has given us information, we have the intention of recalling our Charge d’Affaires in Ghana for consultations and again, to get the facts because she is on the ground there.
“And we are also going to get in touch with ECOWAS to also understand clearly what the ECOWAS perspective on this is; if this law is in contravention of the ECOWAS protocol. Once we have all the facts, then we will consider all our options with the Ghanaian government. “
There has been lingering crisis between Nigerian traders in Ghana and Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) which led to the closure of over 400 Nigerian businesses in the country in the recent past.
The closure resulted to protests by the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and Nigerian Union of Traders Association, Ghana (NUTAG) before they were eventually reopened.


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By any measure, Thailand's rice subsidy program has been an expensive boondoggle – and a big driver of the current political unrest – but ending it will bring its own troubles.
"The whole country, the rice industry has suffered a lot. The quantity of exports declined about 35 percent (and) revenue declined by 25 percent" in the program's first year, said Vichai Sriprasert, CEO of Riceland International, one of Thailand's biggest rice exporters.
"We used to be the rice champion of the world in (terms of) rice exports," he told CNBC. "With the program, we lost our championship. We became the third (biggest exporter). Revenue went down, quantity went down."
(Read more: Thai market may muddle through state of emergency)
The program was meant to buy rice from farmers at much higher than market rates, aiming to increase rural incomes to stimulate consumption, but farmers haven't been paid in around four months as funds ran low.
Some farmers, who generally offer a solid base of support for the current government, are falling deeply into debt as they borrow from moneylenders. One of the demands of anti-government protestors currently crippling the capital is to end populist programs such as the rice subsidies, viewing them as vote buying.
The rice subsidy program lost around $4.3 billion on the 2011-2012 crop, the last time losses were reported.
(Read more: Has Thailand's government survived the gauntlet?)
Vichai believes the program has been badly managed, estimating at least a third of the $24 billion in total funding was lost through stealing and corruption and only about a third actually reached farmers. He wants the program to be completely eradicated, saying it has distorted the rice market.
"It's a huge problem," he said, noting the government has around 20 million tons of rice stockpiled, equivalent to around two years of the country's "best exports," with another 10 million tons from the current yearly crop on the way.
The rice program is likely to come to an end, whether or not the current government survives the latest round of political turmoil, Pimpaka Nichgaroon, head of research at Thanachart Securities, said in a note. She noted the program has already nearly come to a halt as it is facing fresh legal limitations and she expects other populist policies will see major cuts.
(Read more: Have the protests hobbled the Bank of Thailand?)
There are solid indications that the populist programs may have helped to alleviate poverty in rural Thailand, with poverty reduced from a peak of around 42.6 percent of the population in 2000 after the Asian Financial Crisis, to around 13.2 percent in 2011, according to the World Bank; most of the poor live in the country's rural areas.
Thanachart estimates the yearly investment in the rice subsidy program at around 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Some analysts put Bangkok's contribution to GDP at around 30 percent, indicating regions receiving the subsidies are significant contributors to the country's economic growth.
"We see disruption to (the subsidies) curbing the purchasing power of upcountry people," which is likely to hurt retail sales, Thanachart said in a note. "Upcountry growth has played a vital role in driving retail industry growth." It downgraded the retail sector to "underweight" from "overweight."
(Read more: Thai unrest casts doubt on investment expansions)
To be sure, not everyone thinks ending the subsidies would hurt retailers much.
"We've only had (the program) for the past two years," Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, an analyst at Standard Chartered, told CNBC. Farmers don't appear to have adjusted their consumption patterns, he said, noting sales growth at specific companies were steady with levels prior to the subsidy's introduction.
He also believes clearing the government's stockpile will lead to increases in rice prices ahead.
In addition, not everyone is convinced that ending the rice subsidies will mean the end of populist measures.
"Obviously, the farmer should be helped. Subsidies should go directly to supplement their income. We call it income support rather than price support. That would not distort the market," said Riceland's Vichai, who noted that he wants to see current government out of power.
—By CNBC.Com's Leslie Shaffer; Follow her on Twitter @LeslieShaffer1


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Intel To Manufacture AI Semiconductors for Microsoft
- By Chris Paoli
- February 22, 2024
In what is estimated to be a $15 billion deal, Intel will supply Microsoft with its upcoming line of semiconductors.
The deal was announced during an event by Intel to unveil its new Intel Foundry a business aimed at establishing a more sustainable and systems-focused foundry operation for the manufacturing of AI-based chips. Microsoft will rely on Intel to produce the new hardware based on Intel's 18A (1.8nm-class) process technology, a new design aimed at creating smaller and more energy efficient semiconductors.
"We are offering a world-class foundry, delivered from a resilient, more sustainable and secure source of supply, and complemented by unparalleled systems of chips capabilities," said Stuart Pann, senior vice president of Intel Foundry. "Bringing these strengths together gives customers everything they need to engineer and deliver solutions for the most demanding applications."
While neither Microsoft nor Intel has explicitly said what these new chips will be used for, Bloomberg reports (paywalled) that it will be for an in-house Microsoft-designed hardware. This week's deal aims to supply Microsoft with the semiconductors it will need to expand its datacenters.
"We are in the midst of a very exciting platform shift that will fundamentally transform productivity for every individual organization and the entire industry," said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "To achieve this vision, we need a reliable supply of the most advanced, high-performance and high-quality semiconductors. That’s why we are so excited to work with Intel Foundry, and why we have chosen a chip design that we plan to produce on Intel 18A process."
For Intel, this partnership and its Intel Foundry initiative are designed to drive increased manufacturing demand for semiconductors created in the United States. Intel also said that it has an internal goal of overtaking market leader and current Microsoft partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in overall production output.
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger emphasized the revolutionary potential of AI, stating, "AI is profoundly transforming the world and how we think about technology and the silicon that powers it. This creates an unprecedented opportunity for the world’s most innovative chip designers and for Intel Foundry, the world’s first systems foundry for the AI era."
Microsoft in November announced that TSMC would be behind the manufacturing of the Microsoft Azure Maia AI Accelerator and the Microsoft Azure Cobalt CPU – both internally developed chips aimed at Microsoft's cloud datacenters. It's unclear whether Intel's semiconductors will also contribute to these two chips.
Intel said that its 18A technology will be ready for production at the second half of 2024 and it's reasonable to assume that Microsoft's yet-unveiled hardware could arrive as early as 2025. Along with Microsoft, Intel has stated that it has three other unnamed large companies that have signed up for its 18A manufacturing technology.


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While many of us might enjoy a bottle of Bordeaux during this festive season, a case of the wine is also sitting in space – strictly off limits to the astronauts.
A dozen bottles have been sent to the International Space Station as part of research which could lead to new insights for the food and drinks industry and help breed hardier plants that adapt to climate change.
“In the beginning we were not thinking this project was serious,” said Professor Philippe Darriet from the Bordeaux Scientific Institute of Vine and Wine, where the cargo was packed in special metal containers for the rocket journey.
Image: Wine-making is a complex process involving yeast, bacteria and chemical processes
“But we took this opportunity to consider the stay of the wine on the ISS. It gives us the possibility of studying the effect of microgravity, of the solar radiation, on the evolution of the wine component. And our speciality in this institution is to study the wine component-taste and flavour and so on.”
Twelve bottles of Bordeaux made their way to the ISS aboard a capsule where they will be left to age for a year. The space wine will then be compared to 12 bottles of the same wine left to age on Earth.
The project is the first of six missions which will be carried out by the start-up “Space Cargo Unlimited” including sending vines into space. But the aim is get insights which stretch way beyond improving wine.
Image: The wine will be left to age for a year before being compared to wine left on Earth
The company’s chief executive and co-founder Nicolas Gaume says wine-making is a complex process involving yeast, bacteria and chemical processes which makes it good for space study.
More from Science & Tech
He told Sky News: “Wine is actually a very interesting liquid to study from a biological standpoint. It has all the key ingredients of what we are interested in studying which is the future of agriculture and food on Earth.”
Space and what happens there can give scientists important information which could help plants fight disease and thrive in a changing climate.
Image: Twelve bottles of Bordeaux made their way to the ISS aboard a capsule
“What we really want is to expose a number of living organisms to the specific conditions of space… and then possibly bringing back interesting new evolutions of life in space that could allow us to get more resilient plants to respond to a specific parasite, plants that are going to grow to a different environment with climate change,” he added.
The project has been years in the making and the first results will be back in the coming months when the space wine will be tasted and analysed.
The big challenge for now could be keeping the astronauts’ hands off the cargo over the festive period.
Source : Sky News


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Search Results for " ios"
Amazon.com today announced the release of an updated Amazon Santa app (1.1) for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire. Available for a few weeks now, this newly tweaked and free app lets
A number rumors of an HTC Deluxe have surfaced over the months, and even more so in the wake of the Droid DNA. Expected to hit the global markets as
Doxie Go is a unique type of scanner in that it lets you scan and save your documents while on the go, making them immediately available in multiple capacities. Moreover,
This edition features RadioShack, Spacetime Studios, Twilight (yeah that one), Amazon discounts, Slice 2.0, Combiform, Parkmobile, Skip-Bo, Trulia, Kendall Jackson wines, and more.
As many of our readers are finding themselves as proud owners of new Android tablets, we’re hearing feedback from the community. One question we often get is, “What’s a good
This week features Toy Defense, SHADOWGUN, Apps World, Predators, Humble Bumble 4, illo, Songza, Pocket, iLuv, Thumbstar Games, and more.
After announcing the Nexus 4, Nexus 10, and the 32GB Nexus 7, Google caused quite a stir in the tech community. Most of our first reactions were in response to
Barnes & Noble dropped us a line early this morning to let everyone know that their two new Android-powered tablets, the Nook HD and Nook HD+ are ready to roll.
With all the hub-bub going around today about the Nexus bomb that Google dropped, some have noticed that in the specifications for the Nexus 4, there’s no mention of LTE.
The team over at Rovio have been incredibly busy lately, what with their upcoming Angry Birds Star Wars (due November 8) and other games in the series. We just reported


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Bangalore, September 2019: Bangalore-based couple – Jyoti Pahadsingh and Arun Balachandran – started greenBUG in 2015 to find an alternative to the use of plastic garbage bags at homes. Back then, the concept of eco-friendly bags was still at a nascent stage and the couple understood the need for a durable, eco-friendly option to dispose of waste. They created upcycled, biodegradable dustbin liners made of newspaper and all-purpose flour. To further the positive impact they could make in society, Jyoti and Arun decided to train underprivileged women in the manufacturing process of the product, thus empowering them to have a better livelihood.
For a handmade cottage industry product like greenBUG, there was an immediate need to train and acquaint women with the manufacturing process of these garbage bags. Access to a wide market was imperative considering the time and effort involved in training and producing the bin liners. greenBUG work with women and provide them with flexibility as well as an additional source of supplemental income. Over four years, greenBUG has trained nearly 400 women to manufacture these products.
In 2017, greenBUG joined Amazon India’s online selling platform through the Amazon Saheli programme which works to support women entrepreneurs by training them to list and sell on the website. Post listing on Amazon, the startup witnessed a threefold increase in the volume of orders and sales. Initially started as a pet project, greenBUG has grown massively, gaining access and servicing nearly all states from across the country.
Amazon Saheli was started as a pioneering programme aimed at empowering and enabling women entrepreneurs across the country to sell their products on the Amazon marketplace. Today, over 100,000 women entrepreneurs are empowered through this programme. In the last one year, over 20,000 women entrepreneurs from across the country joined the programme and will be participating for the first time during the upcoming Amazon Great Indian Festival that starts from September 29, 2019 and ends on October 4, 2019. Ahead of the festive season, customers can purchase some of the most unique products such as the one offered by greenBUG.
“Through Amazon’s Saheli programme, we could gain insights on consumer demand on design, product specifications, shipping and packaging at the right price that creates value for consumers. This, in turn, led to the creation of our pack of 75 bags where we were able to balance the value offering to our customers while ensuring our costs are covered,” said Arun Balachandran. “The success of greenBUG due to the increased brand visibility through the Amazon Saheli storefront has led to a rise in the awareness and purchase of greenBUG bags. This has helped us train and work with and support underprivileged women which we find to be extremely gratifying,” added Jyoti Pahadsingh.
The Amazon Saheli storefront on Amazon.in features unique products produced locally by regional women entrepreneurs from across the country. These majorly comprise of handicrafts, apparel, handbags, and home décor items which are directly sold by women entrepreneurs. Launched in November 2017 with SEWA and Impulse Social Enterprise, Amazon Saheli currently has some of the most unique product offerings by women entrepreneurs. Through the programme, Amazon conducts extensive training and skill development workshops for its partners to help women entrepreneurs understand nuances related to online selling and to help them develop skills and capabilities necessary to grow their business on Amazon. Till today, Amazon Saheli has impacted over 1,00,000 women entrepreneurs in the country selling products across categories like clothing, office products, handbags, jewellery, grocery, home and kitchen accessories.


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SEC suspends trading of 3 companies after they said they invest in cryptocurrency and blockchain.
On February, 16 the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States (SEC) announced trading suspension of three companies after checking they made announcement about the acquisition of cryptocurrency and assets associated with blockchain technology.
Among the offenders are Cherubim Investments, Inc. (CHIT), PDX Partners, Inc. (PDXP) and Victura Construction Group, Inc. (VICT). The suspension will lasts until March 2, 2018.
The suspension will allow the SEC to look into claims made by these companies. They have all announced plans to buy cryptocurrency and blockchain assets.
Victura Construction and PDX Partners issued press releases on January 4. Cherubim Interests issued a similar press release on January 3. All these companies are managed by CEO Patrick Johnson, former NFL journeyman wide receiver.
Companies made investments for sums that exceed any estimated market cap or gross profit of the companies.
“The SEC’s trading suspension orders state that recent press releases issued by CHIT, PDXP and VICT claimed that the companies acquired AAA-rated assets from a subsidiary of a private equity investor in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, among other things. According to the SEC order regarding CHIT, it also announced the execution of a financing commitment to launch an initial coin offering.” stated in SEC release.
SEC also mentioned additional reasons for the suspension of trading. So, in the case of Cherubim, this decision was also affected by late submission of annual and quarterly reports.
The statement notes that in August the SEC warned investors that they should be cautious regarding companies that had announced the ICO in an attempt to influence the price of their shares.
It is worth noting that the number of different cryptocurrency and blockchain announces of public companies continues to grow. One of the most notable example was the announcement of Kodak.
Earlier, in January, Jay Clayton, the chairman of the SEC, said that they “was looking closely at the disclosures of public companies that shift their business models to capitalise on the perceived promise of distributed-ledger technology.”
Nowadays, the cryptocurrency industry is experiencing not only exponential growth, but also meet first hidden rocks . So, first of all it is important for consumers to think about protecting their own interests and finances.


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13 May 2019
Stop emissions, not travel
Aviation is a key driver for the global economy, connecting people and businesses across the globe. It provides channels for trade and enables the fast-paced movement of new technologies and business opportunities. The industry’s global economic impact is currently estimated to be $2.7 trillion, equivalent to 3.6%...


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GameStop COO leaves after just seven months
Jenna Owens' responsibilities will be "absorbed by other members of the company's management team"
GameStop's executive vice president and chief operating officer Jenna Owens has left the company after only seven months.
As reported by Reuters, a regulatory filing dated from October 28 indicated that GameStop and Owens had reached a "separation agreement," effective October 25. No reason was given for her departure.
"The responsibilities associated with the position are being absorbed by other members of the company's management team," the document read.
Owens had joined GameStop in March, after four years at Amazon and four years at Google, among others.
GameStop has had a new CEO since June, with Matt Furlong joining from Amazon where he was head of its Australian business. A new CFO also joined the company at the same time, with Mike Recupero also coming from Amazon.
In September, GameStop reported its second quarter earnings, with the company reporting net sales up 26% to $1.1 billion, with net losses of $61.6 million compared to a $111 million loss in the previous quarter.


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Microsoft had a press conference yesterday and showed off quite a bit of interesting tech. One glaring statement they were trying to make; Windows 10 for all the things. Yes, that includes the Xbox One. Talk about Windows 10 for the Xbox One has been going on since Windows 10 was announced but now it’s getting closer to becoming a reality.
Microsoft bigwig Terry Myerson spoke briefly about the topic saying their new OS will be making its way to the game console very soon. This move will not only make good on the promise of a cohesive ecosystem spanning all of their devices but is the key step in making backwards compatibility a thing. Don’t get rid of those Xbox 360 games quite yet folks.
Stay with Xbox One news Myerson announced a few limited-edition versions of the console will be available for the holidays including the much talked about Halo 5 console (pictured above). The 1 terabyte Xbox One will not only come with a copy of Halo 5 but also feature a custom paint scheme on the console and controller inspired by one of the characters from the game.
Myerson summed up the announcements saying “Xbox One is going to bring some serious fun this holiday.”


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Could Wal-Mart Stores In East Texas Stop Selling Cigarettes?
Quitting cigarettes is a very hard think to do, ask anyone whose ever smoked including myself. I quit cigarettes awhile ago but in its place picked up "cigar" smoking which isn't any better either. Giving what we know about cigarettes and its dangerous effects, some retailers have begun the process of getting rid of them once and for all and that movement could be coming to East Texas soon.
The Nation's Largest Retailer Has Announced That Some Of Their Stores Have Ended Cigarette Sales.
According to ABC News via the Associated Press, a report from the Wall Street Journal on Monday cited that Walmart will no longer sell cigarettes in some of its stores despite the fact that tobacco sales can be a significant revenue generator. Some stores in California, Florida, Arkansas and New Mexico have already stopped selling cigarettes, based on anonymous sources and store visits.
Walmart is not the first national retail chain to cut off cigarette sales even on a trial basis, but it is the largest.
As I've mentioned before, the movement to end cigarette sales in large retailers is not a new phenomenon. Target ended cigarette sales in 1996 and they seem to be doing just fine. The drugstore chain CVS Health did the same in 2014 and while sales in areas outside the pharmacy fell for a few quarters after it pulled tobacco products, overall revenue has grown every year.
What Does This Mean For East Texas Wal-Marts?
Its still unknown how this decision will affect your ability to buy smokes in East Texas. Decisions about removing cigarettes at Walmart will be made on a store-by-store basis according to the business and particular market, the company said Monday. So you may have to start looking for a new place to get your cigs.


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Fertility problems are surprisingly widespread. The Centre for Disease Management and Prevention, in fact, estimates that about 10% of women (ages 15-44) have problems getting or staying pregnant. This suggests that over 6 million women alone face fertility problems.
Sadly, women aren’t the only ones who may experience infertility issues. This condition affects both genders in equal terms. Among couples facing infertility problems, around 35% are men, whereas another 35% are women. While 20% is a mix of both females and males.
Fortunately, plenty of alternative therapies are emerging to help with infertility issues. Among the common alternative option is CBD. This cannabinoid has a significant effect on fertility.
But first things first. There are basic terminologies we need to understand before we can establish that CBD can indeed improve fertility. One of which is anandamide.
Anandamide levels and their influence on sperm have not been extensively investigated. In women, nonetheless, fast altering levels of anandamide
Low anandamide levels, or endocannabinoid deficiency, could interfere with ovulation or the potential to get pregnant. Low anandamide levels at embryo implantation (as soon as that egg meets the sperm and is trying to implant into the uterus), is linked to successful pregnancy.
How does CBD affect levels of anandamide and fertility?
CBD can improve the levels of anandamide by impeding its breakdown, thanks to an enzyme known as FAAH. This compound may enhance levels of anandamide and encourage successful ovulation when high anandamide levels are needed. Low anandamide levels are needed throughout embryo implantation, which suggests that the use of CBD after conception could, in fact, interfere with the implantation of an embryo and more likely result in a failed pregnancy.
Neuroscientist and Infused Health CEO Dr. Michele Ross, Ph.D., said that CBD could aid in boosting levels of anandamide to support successful ovulation, as well as help with different elements associated with infertility, such as anxiety and stress. Dr. Ross explained that stress has an adverse effect on fertility in both men and wome. By relieving stress, she added that CBD could have a beneficial effect on fertility.
Some experts note that women who are anxious about their fertility have to take CBD tinctures daily, rub the oil on their bellies, or mix the oil in their shakes or smoothies to lower down their heart rates. According to them, CBD oil could help women recuperate their vitality so they can easily conceive.
Clinical studies on this area continue to be in infancy, and a lot of them remain inconclusive—or complicated. Hence, we cannot be certain yet whether CBD positively
But while little data is available, it does not imply that CBD can’t help you get pregnant. What is clear is that women must be careful with taking high-dose CBD during pregnancy. Men, on the other hand, must avoid consuming a lot of weed should they wish to produce healthy sperm.


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11 April 2022, 06:00,
It is for the first time ever that Visa Token Service has been offered to customers of a bank in Kyrgyzstan.
Bai Tushum Bank, a customer of Colvir Software Solutions, has launched BTB Pay application with support from Visa. The solution is based on Visa Token Service technology designed to boost digital transaction security. Making one-click purchases is a global trend in the development of cashless payment technology. As a reliable and secure payment tool, BTB Pay will make buying quick and comfortable for Bai Tushum customers, and will promote payment ecosystem and cashless payment development.
It is not for the first time that Bai Tushum leads the banking industry of Kyrgyzstan acting as a trail blazer in implementing innovative technologies. Ever since 2014, when Colvir Core Banking System was implemented at the Bank, we have witnessed the Bank’s continued commitment to developing modern technology-savvy products for the good of the Bank’s customers. For example, Bai Tushum was the first bank in the country to be granted the international SMART certificate, and to launch a market place of its own, as well as mPOS terminals. We take pride in our collaboration and in our joint projects with Bai Tushum.
Colvir Software Solutions congratulates Bai Tushum Bank on the launching of Kyrgyzstan’s first card tokenization service.


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Apple Inc.’s talks with Hyundai Motor Group have broken down without an agreement for the South Korean auto giant to assemble vehicles for the iPhone company, Hyundai affiliates said Monday.
In regulatory filings, Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. said they are “not in talks with Apple over developing an autonomous vehicle.” The two auto makers have fielded multiple requests from other firms to jointly develop autonomous electric vehicles, though no initial steps have been determined, according to the regulatory filings.
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As ride-sharing ballooned in popularity throughout the Chicago area and the rest of the world, it wasn't always easy to tell the difference between its two large players, Uber Technologies and Lyft.
Now it's simpler: Uber is the one that keeps getting into trouble.
UPDATE: Uber CEO Travis Kalanick resigns under investor pressure
Yet after suffering nearly six months of self-inflicted damage, missteps and public relations snafus, Uber vows it's on the road to recovery. That's good to hear, but it's going to be a tough journey — one that can't afford any more detours into the bad or boorish behavior that's giving the company a reputation as a well-funded social pariah.
Making amends with customers who are angry and disgusted with the company's behavior is among Uber's biggest challenges. The company must win over those who are ticked off about its damaged corporate culture, one that's widely regarded as overly aggressive, sexist and insensitive.
Grass-roots Uber opposition is shaping up. Social media is rife with anti-company posts, and companies are boycotting Uber or rethinking their ride-sharing needs. Meanwhile, rival Lyft is building its Chicago presence and expanding into new markets.
Between February and June, about 2.5 percent of established Chicago-area Uber customers defected mainly for Lyft, according to West Coast-based TXN, which tracked more than 3 million ride-sharing credit and debit card transactions. While not an earth-shattering drop, it is the second-highest defection percentage in the country after Uber's hometown of San Francisco, reports TXN.
Last week, Uber unveiled sweeping recommendations to address claims of sexual harassment that emerged following a monthslong probe into the company's culture. At the same time, co-founder and CEO Travis Kalanick temporarily stepped aside and will return to a diminished executive role.
Yet even as such mammoth changes are unfolding, Uber is under fire from detractors.
On Twitter, #deleteuber leads the anti-Uber brigade with a multitude of tweets criticizing management for the sexual harassment claims. The vast majority who post say they'll never use the ride-sharing service again.
Board member David Bonderman also felt the Twitterati's wrath last week after saying during a company meeting — which was actually addressing a need for greater board diversity — that adding women would result in "more talking."
Shortly after his crack, Bonderman resigned from Uber's board, saying he didn't want to be a distraction to the company's revival.
If Uber's brass thinks such Twitter flare-ups are merely malcontents grousing because they have time on their hands, they should reconsider the power and reach of social media.
"Corporate America is becoming much more sensitive and starting to respond to social media, where the waves of consumer concern first flow through," says Jack Gillis, spokesman for the Consumer Federation of America, a Washington, D.C., watchdog group.
Outside of cyberspace, Uber also is being questioned by more corporate clients. They fret that being associated with the Uber brand could, by extension, send the wrong signal about their companies.
In February, web developer and project manager Basecamp banned the Uber app and stopped reimbursing employees for the service, encouraging them to use other transportation options. In doing so, it wanted to disassociate itself from Uber's unbecoming conduct.
While this isn't a scientific finding, it's interesting to note that another local company executive — who didn't want his name used — told the Tribune he may stop using Uber to ferry clients and staff. He too is concerned about inadvertently sending a signal that his company is OK with Uber's out-of-bounds behavior.
I'll wager there are plenty more company managers going through the same thought process.
While the Uber saga has taken center stage, competitor Lyft has been shrewdly and quietly advancing while wisely staying out of the spotlight.
During Uber's travails, Lyft has added 150 more markets, giving it a total of 350. In April, Lyft raised $600 million and now has a market valuation of $7.5 billion, including at least $500 million from General Motors.
That's chump change when compared with Uber's whopping market valuation of $50 billion to $60 billion.
But in this rapidly changing world of new technology and fickle consumer taste, size isn't everything.
Uber is a wounded giant that's surrounded by competitors and detractors. Marketplace circumstances can change quickly, investment money can dry up and consumers can get angry and leave.
In other words, Uber can't afford to make any more dumb mistakes.


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Google Places is being hailed a ‘key SEO strategy’ for startup businesses wanting to make a dent in the search stratosphere. Ever wondered whether your company could rank on the first landing page of Google search results? Using Google Places to up your business ranking, your digital domination of the number 1 search results is finally at hand.
The search quality highlights of Google’s algorithm changes in February 2012 named the Venice update as the way forward for local business listing rankings. Discussed on Google’s Small Business blog, the Help Desk Hangout on Air highlighted Google Places as a strategic search engine optimisation approach.
4 SEO Google Places benefits for small businesses:
Double up on revenue and organic traffic by using Google Places alongside traditional SEO practices. A virtual elevator to Google’s coveted number 1 search results page, Google Places is THE optimisation tool for small businesses and a cost-free way to meet more of your potential customers.


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Capitalism is often described as “creative destruction.” Markets evolve to respond to consumer demand, and if a business is unable to adapt, the business fails to survive.
Blockbuster Video, which was the leader in home entertainment not so long ago, is one example. Today the chain is in the process of closing the last 300 of its retail locations. Its business model, while perfectly suited for the 1990s, doesn’t work in an age when viewers have all the options that current technology provides.
That should be a lesson to cable and satellite TV providers, yet it’s one they seem unwilling to learn. Companies still refuse to allow their customers to “unbundle” television channels from their predesigned channel packages. TV viewers end up paying for channels they would rather not invite into their homes, and many have repeatedly asked that they be given the freedom to buy only the channels they want. Content providers stubbornly insist it can’t be done, yet that’s not stopping savvy consumers from doing it anyway.
Devices like AppleTV and Roku, alongside Internet subscription services like Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus, are making it easier for people to get their content online without having to rely on a cable or satellite company. Better still, they are able to exercise complete control over their viewing choices. It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see this is where the market is heading, whether the cable and satellite providers like it or not.
The numbers tell the story. Consumers are abandoning cable. Cable subscriptions fell by 607,000 in the second quarter of 2013, which represents twice as many cancellations as were made in the first quarter. Yet still, cable TV prices continue to rise. These numbers may signal trouble ahead unless the industry adapts.23 comments on this story
Cable providers defend their intransigence by pointing out that unbundling would cost them close to $70 billion and force many smaller channels out of business. That may be true. It’s also irrelevant. It is a prediction that relies on the market standing still, which is something markets never do. The home entertainment industry is inexorably moving in the direction of consumer choice, and, as Blockbuster demonstrates, the market tends to get what it wants.
Wise executives should understand that survival requires giving people what they want. In this case, what people want is a greater array of entertainment and payment choices and the ability to keep unwanted content out of their homes.


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Honest Tea, started in a Bethesda kitchen in 1998, says it recently sold its one-billionth bottle of organic tea.
It also says, to date, it has purchased roughly 22 million pounds of organic ingredients, 50 times the weight of the Statue of Liberty.
“Sixteen years ago, it almost felt like I sold every bottle myself,” says co-founder Seth Goldman (who goes by the title TEA-E-O.) It’s nice to see our brand and mission reach an audience well beyond my personal sales route.”
The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) took a 40 percent stake in Honest Tea in 2008, and bought the company outright in 2011. It had more than $100 million in sales last year.


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- Lifestyle - http://asianjournal.com/lifestyle -
Corn for diabetics, great alternative to rice –research prof
Posted By Philippines News Agency On July 29, 2013 @ 11:52 AM In Eat+Drink,Health | No Comments
MANILA, July 28 (PNA) — There are various alternatives to rice as a staple and with a lot of dietary benefits as well; one of the most popular ones we known of today is corn.
According to University of the Philippines Los Baños research professor, Dr. Artemio Salazar the best thing about using corn instead of rice was that it not only tasted similar, it also had significantly higher protein, dietary fiber, minerals, anti-oxidants and amylose than other staples.
Salazar explained in a recent seminar, that white corn, in particular had higher amylose content than rice which explained its ability to have a harder gelatinization and slower digestion.
This, he said was good news for diabetic patients because it was exactly what they needed to keep their digestion in the right pace.
“Foods with low GI (glycemic index) can lessen the risk of diabetes by slowly releasing glucose into the blood stream,” Salazar said.
“Low GI food helps delay hunger and promotes weight loss,” he said. “Low GI food is a slow-releasing fuel for the muscles which can extend endurance.”
However, Salazar also explained that while corn was a good staple to try out, Filipinos are not usually used to shifting to eating something they have already been used to.
“Shifting from rice to pure corn is difficult, hence rice blend is recommended,” Salazar said, explaining how it was rice blend (rice composite) has acceptable taste similar to rice alone.
“The acceptable ratio for the rice blend is 70:30,” he said.
Another benefit of corn as a staple was shown in a study wherein there was a one kg weight gain of children fed with 70:30 rice blend.
Article printed from Lifestyle: http://asianjournal.com/lifestyle
URL to article: http://asianjournal.com/lifestyle/corn-for-diabetics-great-alternative-to-rice-research-prof/
Copyright © 2013 Asian Journal. All rights reserved.


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Sears Holdings (SHLD) Chief Executive Edward Lampert is the struggling retailer's largest shareholder and perhaps its biggest cheerleader as the once-venerable chain tries to counter mounting skepticism about its long-term viability.
Striking a tone that was both optimistic and defiant in his annual letter to shareholders released today, the billionaire hedge fund tycoon made his case for why the naysayers, who have predicted the retailer's demise for years, were wrong and why he's right -- or will be proven right at some future date.
Lampert noted adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, depreciation, taxation and amortization) in the fourth quarter rose to $125 million, which was the result of lower expenses reflecting his efforts to shrink the company. Moves such as spinning off preppy clothing brand Land's End and the sale of a significant stake of the chain's holdings in Sears Canada generated $1.4 billion and laid the groundwork for further improvements at the Hoffman Estates, Illinois, company, according to Lampert.
"We believe that our focus on profitability will contribute to a meaningful improvement in performance in 2015 and beyond, and we are seeing early signs of this progress as part of our most recent quarterly results," he wrote.
The results in the latest quarter, though, were pretty dismal. Sears reported a narrower loss of $159 million, or $1.50 per share, compared with a loss of $358 million, or $3.37 a share a year ago. But sales slumped 24 percent to $8.1 billion. Wall Street analysts were expecting a loss of $1.89 per share on revenue of $8.3 billion. Shares of the retailer closed nearly 5 percent lower on Thursday, down $1.85, to $36.05.
In the decade since Lampert orchestrated the merger of Sears Roebuck & Co. and Kmart Holdings, the company has had only one quarter of positive same-store sales, a key retail metric measuring activity at stores opened at least a year.
It was more of the same in the latest quarter, which showed a 4.4 percent same-store sales decline. As of the end of January, Sears had about $250 million in cash, down more than 70 percent over the past year. It also had about $800 million available on its credit line.
Howard Davidowitz, the head of the retail consultancy and investment bank Davidowitz & Associates, told CBS MoneyWatch he thinks Lampert can hang in there for another two to three years.
"He's burning through$2 billion in cash per year. Two billion ... and that number hasn't improved, it's gotten worse," he said, adding that he thinks a turnaround at Sears is doubtful.
Sears, not surprisingly, see things differently. A blog post written in December by CFO Robert Schriesheim argues that the retailer isn't as stressed financially as some may think. "Sears Holdings has demonstrated a consistent ability to generate liquidity from a variety of sources," he wrote.
Lampert also doesn't seem ready to throw in the towel. He closed 234 underperforming stores last year and plans to sell as many as 200 to form a real estate investment trust, a move Sears says will generate $2 billion in proceeds. Moreover, he says the chain's Shop Your Way loyalty program is resonating with consumers as are services such as enabling people to pick up their online purchases at a store.
"Transforming from a series of brick-and-mortar locations that sell products into an integrated retailer that builds relationships with our members and delivers seamless experiences hasn't been easy," Lampert wrote. "We've logged some successes and experienced setbacks. We've come far and are seeing signs of progress, but have a long way to go."
There's no arguing with Lampert's last statement.
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Virtual reality goggles are hip again, with Sony (SNE) and Microsoft (MSFT) developing headsets for their newest video game consoles.
A staple of science-fiction movies since the 1980s, VR goggles have yet to break through to the consumer market. Now, major video game companies are jumping into the segment for the first time since Nintendo (NTDOY) flopped with its Virtual Boy goggles. Those goggles were launched in July 1995, but then discontinued within a year.
Late Tuesday, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the development of Project Morpheus, a virtual reality system for its PlayStation 4 game console. The device is in the prototype stage and the company is planning a future commercial launch, Sony said in a press release.
Sony Computer Entertainment announced “Project Morpheus,” a virtual reality system for the PlayStation 4 video game console, on Tuesday... View Enlarged Image
Morpheus represents an opportunity "to push the boundaries of play," Shuhei Yoshida, president of SCE Worldwide Studios, said in a statement. "Project Morpheus is the latest example of innovation from SCE, and we're looking forward to its continued development and the games that will be created as development kits get into the hands of content creators."
With Morpheus, Sony wants to create an experience where players feel like they are physically inside the virtual world of the game. Morpheus features a visor-style head-mounted display that works with Sony's PlayStation Camera and PlayStation Move motion controller. Using sensors to track head motion, the image of the virtual world rotates naturally and intuitively in real time as the player moves, Sony says.
"In supporting games, the player can use a PlayStation Move Motion Controller as an object, such as a sword," Sony said. "Morpheus will reproduce the player's hands and sword within the game so the player feels like they are physically fighting off enemies with their sword in the virtual world."
Sony is providing game developers with hands-on experience with Morpheus at the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, which started Wednesday and runs through Friday.
Rival Microsoft is reportedly developing virtual reality hardware for its Xbox One console, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
Meanwhile, startup company Oculus VR announced Wednesday that it is accepting orders for a new development kit for its Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles. The $350 development kit will ship in July. No word on when a consumer version of the product will hit the market though.
Related: Wal-Mart taking on GameStop in used games; good luck with that


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His new album, Jay Armstrong Johnson Live at Feinstein’s/54 Below, was released September 16 and followed up with a celebration at The West End Lounge September 18.
The CD release was celebrated at The West End Lounge September 18.
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Nissan has unveiled its all-new 2013 Sentra, the third of five new vehicles being introduced in a 15-month period. The new Sentra – which measures in at 4,625mm long, 1,760mm wide and 1,496mm high – is 68kg lighter than its predecessor while still having larger overall dimensions and a more spacious interior. Sitting on a wheelbase of 2,700mm, the Sentra adopts the automaker's new signature trapezoid-shaped grille and large wraparound headlights with LED accents.Wed, 05 Sep 2012
With a debut at the Paris Motor Show on 27th September, McLaren releases the first teaser photo of their new hypercar. We’ve been anticipating the reveal of the new McLaren F1 – the McLaren P12 – for some time, and expected it to appear at Pebble Beach last month. The new car at Pebble Beach turned out to be the McLaren X-1 (although McLaren did take an iPad presentation of the new F1 for the delectation of the privileged few) but now we know for certain that the new McLaren will get its public debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.Mon, 11 Nov 2013
The new MINI is being teased again ahead of its debut The all new MINI for 2014 is due to be revealed next week on the anniversary of the birth of its creator, Sir Alec Issigonis, and MINI are squeezing in another tease for their new baby ahead of its official debut. We’ve already had a couple of teases from MINI in the run up to the reveal – including a good look at the new MINI with the MINI Vision Concept – so we’ve got a good ideas of what’s in store for MINI buyers. What we get this time is plenty of moody shots in low light of the new MINI’s features to keep the interest going, although much of the DNA of BMW’s MINI are carried forward from the current MINI.


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Ready for the Indian Summer : Most Awaited Cars to be Launched Soon
With the Auto Expo 2014 , this year has seen some of the largest releases of cars in India. With the automobile market facing slump, the companies are desperate to revive the automobile segment. They are doing so by releasing new cars and giving discounts and offers on old ones. This summer looks exciting as there is a whole range of cars lined up for there summer debut. Here are some of them:
Toyota Etios Cross
Toyota recently launched the Etios Cross for the Brazilian market and it is expected to now make its Indian debut at the 2014 Auto Expo. Much like the Volkswagen Cross Polo and the Ford EcoSport, it will be the Japanese automaker’s entry into the rapidly expanding compact crossover segment. It has been spotted running in and around Pune which means that it is likely to have got its ARAI approval and will go on sale shortly after the Auto Expo.
The Toyota Etios Cross is a beefed up version of the standard car and much like the Cross Polo, it gets a large plastic based body kit. The interiors and the feature list remain the same as the standard car with the exception of some new seat fabrics and trim accents. We expect that Toyota will offer the Etios Cross only in the top spec petrol and diesel variants.
The Toyota Etios Cross will compete with the VW Cross Polo, Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster and the Nissan Terrano of which the latter two will be in the lower spec variants.
Toyota Corolla Altis 2014
The 2014 Corolla as we had said earlier has been derived from the Furia design philosophy. While it is a complete departure from the current vehicle in terms of its aggressive appearance, it is however, more conservative than its American counterpart. All four wheels have extremely flared arches and the doors slope forward on the side. At the back, Toyota has retained some of the aggressiveness from the American spec car due to the wrap around tail lamps.
Design bits are expected to be in beige with standard fabric for the seats. However, the top-spec variant is expected to get fake wood inserts as well beige leather upholstery trim for the seats. Standard features across variants are expected to include driver and passenger airbags, ABS with EBD, rear AC vents, parking sensors and electronically internally adjustable OVRMs. On the higher specs, we can also expect front parking sensors, Xenon lamps, touch screen infotainment system as well as electronically adjustable seats.
The Toyota Corolla competes with Skoda Octavia, Chevrolet Cruze, VW Jetta and the Hyundai Elantra. We expect that this new car will be priced between Rs 12 lakh to Rs 17 lakh for the top-spec diesel variant.
Ford Fiesta Facelift
The 2014 Ford Fiesta gets a similar fascia to that of the Ford EcoSport which in turn is in line with the American automaker’s family face and one Ford global programme. Its most striking feature is the Kinetic design Aston Martin-esque grille which is now is a standard feature across all its models.
The facelifted Fiesta remains the same as the outgoing model in terms of the interiors so this means fabric seats, leather- wrapped steering wheel reverse parking sensors, climate control (the last three being applicable for Trend and Titanium), airbags and ABS with EBD. However, what’s new on this model are the rain sensing wipers, push button start, ambient lighting and Ford’s patented SYNC technology which made its Indian debut with the EcoSport compact crossover.
We expect that Ford will price the facelifted Fiesta in the range of Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh but may price it even lower if it is only going to produce diesel models for the domestic market. It competes with the Honda City, Renault Scala, Nissan Sunny, VW Vento and the Skoda Rapid
Audi A3 Sedan
The A3 sedan is Audi’s answer to Mercedes-Benz CLA and BMW 1 Series sedan. The sedan was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and is set to debut in India at the 2014 Auto Expo, to slot in below the A4 as one of the entry-level models for the German marque. This sedan is smaller than the A4, so the space will also be a relatively less. The front seat space won’t be much of an issue, but the rear could be a little cramped. The Audi A3 sedan is expected to be launched in April 2014.
Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG
The car was unveiled earlier this year at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo and is speculated to be launched here in July. While the ‘regular’ CLA will be locally assembled at the company’s plant in Pune, the CLA45 AMG will be imported directly as a completely-built-unit (CBU). The 2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged motor produces 360bhp and 450Nm of torque which is good for an electronically limited top speed of 250kmph. Mercedes-Benz is no longer the best-selling luxury car brand, thanks to Audi and BMW. The German manufacturer has set the target to get back on top by 2016 with its new range of MFA (Modular Front Architecture) platform-based cars.


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Martin Lewis offers advice on rising energy bills and direct debits
Speaking on his ITV show, The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, the money expert gave some recommendations on how people can save money on their monthly bills - including car insurance, supermarket or Christmas shopping.
Martin Lewis reveiled some tricks to save money in some of the major supermarkets this month.
The money expert started by sharing a very good deal only available this month.
He explained that a litre of Baileys, which is usually £20, is now on offer for £12 in selected supermarkets.
"The cheapest I've seen!" said Martin.
Martin Lewis shares how to get boost on Christmas shopping - but 'last chance' this week
Martin also revealed a shopping tip get a boost on your Christmas shopping.
However, the trick is only available for Tesco shoppers."Tesco shoppers that do Christmas shopping at Tesco, this is your last chance to get a free boost," he said.
He explained there is a Clubcard Christmas Saver scheme in place but it must be topped up by next Wednesday.
Shoppers have to pay in and they will get vouchers back to spend in-store plus six percent extra.
"It's your last chance!" Martin said.
"So if you know you will be spending in Tesco for Christmas you put 200 quit in it and you will have 212 pounds in and it's a little bit of a boost! Merry Christmas!"
Martin also raised another question as a viewer explained a personal financial situation.
She found out her sister owes money to HMRC by opening one of her letters by mistake.
The viewer asked Martin if she should intervene and help her sister or keep quiet.
The Money Saving Expert addressed the same question on social media: "Should a woman who accidentally opened her sister's post (they share a house) & discovered that she owes £9,000 to HMRC, interfere & try urge her to get help, or is that a breach of privacy & she should just stay quiet?"
The show audience voted with the majority saying she should help her.
On Twitter, most users also voted "help her" while only 20 percent said "stay quiet"
Martin said: "You are all very helpful people out there.
"And I'm going to try and help you next week!"


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Blockchain-based technology has been already exciting public and business communities for several years. It was predicted by the best future, tantalizing prospects and a mass adoption – is not it a miracle? However, according to the latest research of the web source Forrester, many huge world enterprises, that previously expressed their wishes to implement blockchain in their business, suddenly postponed all related initiatives.
In this article we try to understand what are the reasons for blockchain dismissing and also meet you with the relevant opinions of blockchain technologies experts.
Truth vs. rumour about blockchain
The purpose of the blockchain or a ‘technology of recording and storage of data as distributed database’ system is to organize a digitally protected registry, what presents an innovative way to track all payments and customer activity. Nevertheless, there is an opinion that it turned out this vaunted technology is difficult to use for solving real problems.
Look at one interesting example: the expert analyst of Gartner company said that all cases of actual use of this technology are extremely rare. Meanwhile, the president of Endpoint Technologies Associates, Roger L. Kay mentioned that the need for the usage of this technical tool is growing, especially among the companies that deal with cloud technologies, sales of IT services and consulting assistance. There are diametrically opposed points of view – who to believe?
Many companies have some their strange opinions about this thing, and therefore blockchain overgrows with rumours and false stories. We will tell you what deserves the attention – it is statistics. Here in the diagram it can be seen that blockchain is on the rise and does not stop to develop itself:
The prospects of this technology are felt deeply by such giants as IBM, Microsoft and Accenture. The following graph shows that they own most of the products and services that are worked on blockchain:
What is a real thing of blockchain stopper?
Even the persuasive statistics can not have an effect on businessmen and make them try and use this new technology. Like many novelties in the world of financial instruments, blockchain still remains in more ways a kind of exotic.
For example, the Executive Supervisor of Enterprise Ethereum Alliance group, Ron Resnik said that many companies do not practice blockchain because of the fear of making a lot of mistakes – this area is still relatively unknown, and everyone just tests the waters. He added that blockchain has a plenty of possibilities and presents something quite interesting and useful.
One more problem of so-called a shared ledger implementation lies in the lack of necessary software which is compatible with this technology. At the present moment blockchain system is not available for processing with a large volume of transactions, and therefore it is not suitable for giant corporations. But this problem can be solved in the near future – people need to push the envelope and overcome their doubts. As it is said, it is just the matter of time and the progress.


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Dakota Bodies and begun expanding its plant to accommodate growth from existing and new customers and product lines. The expansion is expected to be completed in 1Q/2Q of next year.
Our shipping team has purchased a 75k deadweight tonne crude tanker from German owners exiting the industry. The ship will be put into a shipping pool after its initial voyage from Singapore to the middle east.
Southland Log Homes completed the move of its log and cant mill from its headquarters just outside of Columbia, SC to Saluda, SC. With this move and the addition of a third milling line, the company has dramatically expanded its production capacity in anticipation of planned growth initiatives.
2017 marks 30 years of a successful investment partnership with the Chan family.
Crestmarc has sold its Valley Ridge Apartment in Dallas TX.
Dakota Bodies recapitalizes balance sheet with expanded debt facility.
Morningside's has made a material investment in a cyclical company producing products used in heavy industries.
Morningside's refined product tankers have completed their 5 year overhauls.
Crestmarc has sold its Lakes of Williamsburg apartment complex in Grapvine, TX.


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- Funding to Support Product Innovation That Eliminates Small Business Cash Flow Gaps
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fundbox, the leading cash flow optimization tool for small businesses, announced today that it has raised $40 million in Series B financing led by General Catalyst Partners. Existing Fundbox investors Khosla Ventures, Shlomo Kramer, Blumberg Capital and others along with new investor NyCa Investment Partners also participated in the round. The company also announced a new credit facility in partnership with Silicon Valley Bank and other institutions.
Fundbox's growth has surged over the past 18 months, surpassing 300% in quarter over quarter growth. The financing will enable the company to further accelerate its rapid expansion, innovation and product development, as well as increase its marketing efforts to reach small businesses.
"This investment provides Fundbox with greater capacity and resources to bring data science backed financing solutions to small business owners in the U.S.," said Eyal Shinar, chief executive officer, Fundbox. "Our vision transcends just cash flow solutions, as our proprietary data-driven engines can fundamentally transform and modernize the entire small business economy and B2B transactions."
According to a U.S. Bank study, 82 percent of business failures are due to poor cash management. Fundbox's innovative capital on demand approach is a transformative solution to fix that pain point. The Fundbox tool is embedded directly into the workflow of a business, through existing accounting, e-invoicing and payroll software, delivering one-click financing of outstanding invoices.
Tens of thousands of businesses have connected to the Fundbox platform to eliminate cash flow gaps by instantly clearing invoices. Fundbox is advancing thousands of invoices weekly, offering small business owners the ability to optimize their cash flow by advancing payments for unpaid invoices. This effectively eliminates the net 30, 60, 90-day problem from which so many small businesses suffer.
Hemant Taneja and Adam Valkin co-led the investment from General Catalyst and Hemant has joined the company's Board of Directors. General Catalyst has a deep focus on investing in technology companies that empower small businesses including Stripe, ZenPayroll, and Bigcommerce.
Taneja commented, "Fundbox provides an incredibly easy and affordable service for small businesses to thrive and solve cash flow challenges. We are thrilled to join the Fundbox team to pursue this important mission."
To learn more about Fundbox, please visit www.fundbox.com.
Fundbox leverages deep data analytics to accelerate cash flow and clear invoices for small business. The Fundbox risk engine taps into numerous data signals within its network to assess customers and invoices for risk automatically and instantly, allowing small businesses to choose which invoices to clear with a single click. Technology and finance industry veterans Eyal Shinar, Yuval Ariav and Tomer Michaeli founded Fundbox in 2012. Leading Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, finance veterans, and venture capitalists, including Khosla Ventures, SV Angel, and former CitiGroup CEO Vikram Pandit, back the company.
About General Catalyst Partners:
General Catalyst Partners is a venture capital firm that makes early-stage and growth equity investments. The firm backs exceptional entrepreneurs who are building innovative technology companies that transform industries, including Airbnb, Bigcommerce, ClassPass, Datalogix, Datto, Demandware, The Honest Company, HubSpot, KAYAK, Oscar, Snapchat, Stripe, and Warby Parker. The General Catalyst partnership leverages its broad experience to help founders build market-leading businesses. General Catalyst has offices in Cambridge, MA, Palo Alto, CA and New York City.
JCUTLER media group


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Bulgaria's Тrade Gap More Than Doubles in Jan-Oct
Bulgaria's trade gap widened to 6.3 billion levs ($3.66 billion/3.22 billion euro) in the first ten months of the year, from 3.0 billion levs in the same period of 2017, the country’s statistical office, NSI, said on Tuesday, quoting preliminary data.
Exports added 1.4% on the year, reaching 46.0 billion levs in the January-October period, while imports rose by an annual 8.1% to 52.3 billion levs, NSI said in a statement.
In October alone, Bulgaria's exports increased by 7.4% year-on-year to 5.4 billion levs, while imports grew 13.6% to 6.2 billion levs.
Details follow (in millions of levs):
source: NSI, quoted by SeeNews
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