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Dearborn, Mich., March 13, 2017 – We’ve all been there: You’re in a rush, need to drop off your vehicle for a service appointment, and upon arriving at the dealership, you realize a half-dozen other customers are already in line ahead of you.
This scenario is one example of why – to save customers time and make their lives easier – Ford and Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, are testing an industry-first Smart Service Kiosk aimed at increasing customer convenience related to vehicle service. The kiosk allows customers to come to the dealership at any time to drop off and pick up their vehicle key or obtain keys to a loaner vehicle, select needed services from a quick-pick menu, and pay for service using a credit or debit card.
“At Ford, our goal always is to make customers’ lives better, through both our products and services,” said Brad Brownell, director, Ford Global Distribution Strategy. “Smart Service Kiosk enables Ford customers to drop off, pick up, select and pay for their vehicle service on their time, whether it’s outside of dealership service hours or to avoid waiting in line if the service staff is busy.”
Designed for ease of use by Panasonic in collaboration with GoMoto, drop-off begins with customers entering their name and address using the kiosk touchscreen or by scanning their driver’s license QR code, then entering their e-mail and phone number. From there, they enter vehicle information, create a security PIN (for kiosk key-retrieval at pick-up), select services from a quick-pick menu (detailed comments also can be entered) and deposit their key. Customers receive an e-mail confirmation with a QR Code that must be scanned for key retrieval if picking up using the kiosk.
At pick-up, the customer scans the supplied QR code, enters their PIN and pays any outstanding service bill to retrieve their key.
Testing of the Smart Service Kiosk began in January at Lafontaine Ford in Birch Run, Mich. and is slated to span a 90-day trial period. Both Ford and Panasonic plan to assess the results of this initial test to determine next steps before committing to additional testing or implementation.
Ford customer Donavon Black recently used the kiosk at Lafontaine.
“The whole process of using the Kiosk from start to finish took about five minutes,” said Black. “It took a lot of the pressure off and I didn’t have to worry about anyone trying to upsell me. It even asked me if I wanted to approve a dollar amount. It was all taken care of in one step right there at the kiosk.
Services available through the Smart Service Kiosk quick-pick menu include those for: air conditioner, air filtration, alignment, battery, brake, cooling system, drivetrain, engine, inspection, oil change, recall, suspension, tires, transmission, windshield and others.
The Smart Service Kiosk is one example of how Ford’s technology team is focused on innovative technology solutions that drive the business and contribute to a more integrated and compelling customer experience, said Marcy Klevorn, group vice president, Information Technology, and chief information officer.
“The Smart Service Kiosk is a great example of Ford striving to find innovative solutions that make our customers’ lives better,” Klevorn said.
Ford leveraged the expertise of Panasonic, who collaborated with GoMoto, for the kiosk.
“Panasonic is thrilled to work with Ford on its connected solutions strategy. The new Smart Service Kiosk is an innovative solution designed to enhance Ford’s customer experience,” said Matt O’Connor, vice president, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic was featured in Fortune Magazine’s 2016 ranking of 50 companies that are changing the world and doing well by doing good. Specifically cited were its smart and sustainable technologies, including its contributions to smart cities and the electric vehicle revolution. Learn more about Panasonic at us.panasonic.com/news.
GoMoto develops progressive technologies for automotive service lanes and showrooms that modernize the dealership experience and drive customer engagement. Our turn-key hardware and software solutions complement the online shopping journey and empower customers to take control of buying process after they arrive at the dealership. GoMoto bridges the technology gap for modern consumers, provides dealers greater operational efficiency, and ultimately, increases customer satisfaction by reducing overall transaction time at the dealership. For more information visit www.gomoto.com.


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Did you see the Trump ad this week that said “Support Our Troops” over a photo of Russian MiG-29 fighter jets and Russian models holding Russian weapons?
I’m not making this up.
Even FOX covered this story.
The photo was created by Russian Arthur Zakirov and was purchased by the Trump campaign on Shutterstock, a website where anyone can get stock images of anything for about $5 per image. The photographer’s Shutterstock page even links to his very clearly Russian Facebook page.
If your whole campaign is about “America First” and “Making America Great Again,” shouldn’t you start by using American-made images of Americans?
If you’re running a campaign that’s been dogged by reports and investigations of undue Russian influence, shouldn’t you avoid using cut-rate stock images of Russian models and avoid pretending that they’re Americans?
What are the possible defenses of this blunder?
- Potato. Potahto. Who can tell the difference, really?
- Fake news! You’re being gaslighted.
- Look! A bald eagle on a flagpole!
Republicans, here’s why this matters: Your side is continually telling us that we can’t trust what’s in the media, but your side is the one putting forth things that are faked and things that are untrue, like this ad or the manipulated videos of Biden that Trump retweeted just today.
But, hey, at least everything in the “Support ‘Our’ Troops” ad was spelled correctly, unlike that other ad this week that announced Trump’s nomination for the “Noble Prize.”

domain: news


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Motoring group RAC today accused Britain’s ‘Big Four’ supermarkets Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons of overcharging drivers at petrol pumps.
Though fuel prices fell for the fifth straight month in March, with a penny coming off petrol and 4p off diesel, RAC argues diesel prices should have fallen much further.
Wholesale petrol and diesel prices were almost identical during March but the average price of diesel at the pumps was 162.9p compared to only 146.5p for unleaded, a difference of 16.4p.
The average retailer margin on a litre of diesel in March was 21p, according to RAC.
This is three times more than usual and also three times the average margin for a litre of petrol in the same month.
If diesel prices at the pumps had come down in line with wholesale prices a litre would cost only 152p, calculates RAC.
Of the big four supermarkets, Asda sold the cheapest petrol during March, at 142.7p a litre, and Tesco the cheapest diesel at 159.6p.
But a small retailer in Shropshire managed to sell both petrol and diesel at just 142.9p a litre, reflecting the wholesale prices of both for the month.
RAC said a lack of competition in the UK meant supermarkets could exploit motorists.
In Northern Ireland, where petrol and diesel are respectively 2.5p and 10.2p cheaper than the UK as a whole, the Big Four supermarkets make up only 28 per cent of the forecourt market compared to 43 per cent for the whole of the UK.
Londoners pay 1.3p and 2.1p more for their petrol and diesel respectively than the average for the UK as a whole.
Simon Williams, RAC fuel spokesman, said: “We hope the Competition and Markets Authority is paying close attention. The situation in Northern Ireland shows just how much diesel should really be being sold for.”
“If a small retailer at Whitchurch in Shropshire can afford to sell both petrol and diesel for just 142.9p a litre, then there’s surely no reason why the big four supermarkets can’t as well”, he added.
The Competition and Markets Authority declined to comment but launched an ongoing investigation into fuel prices last year.
City A.M. also approached the Big Four supermarkets and the British Retail Consortium for comment.


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Mainframes mainstay of IBM results... Tech lobbying booms... Uber takes to courts... and more tech news
IBM has reported another quarter of declining revenue and profit, though sales of its new mainframe gave it a lift.
IBM's Watson has already proven its mettle in the kitchen and on game shows, but its latest skill set is one that could help us all: making sure our writing conveys what we want it to.
If you're responsible for an industrial component that millions of people depend on, the last thing you want is a middle-of-the-night alert that the part has failed. The Internet of Things could be your ticket to sweet dreams.
Microsoft shares new enterprise tools at partner meetup...Flash is sinking under weight of security flaws...IoT protocol Thread gains steam...and more tech news.
With the help from the city of Abu Dhabi, IBM will offer its Watson-based data analysis services to the Middle East and North Africa.
Hard on the heels of the publication of the latest Top 500 ranking of the world's fastest supercomputers, IBM and Nvidia on Monday announced they have teamed up to launch two new supercomputer centers of excellence to develop the next generation of c...
A supercomputer developed by China's National Defense University remains the fastest publically known computer in the world while the U.S. is close to an historic low in the latest edition of the closely followed Top 500 supercomputer ranking, which ...
NYSE down but it's no cyberattack... Microsoft slims down phone business again... IBM makes world's smallest chips... and more tech news
In another sign of the movement of more and more data into Cloud services, global first-quarter sales of Cloud-related hardware rose 25.1 per cent year-on-year, to nearly $US6.3 billion, according to an IDC survey.
Lenovo's design chief has come up with a wacky idea for the ThinkPad--so wacky, it just might work.
Snowflake opens cloud data warehouse... Google puts a data center in a coal plant... Facebook opens Messenger to all... and more tech news.
Ford drives into car-sharing... U.S. government ranked last on app security... Google intros free music streaming... and more tech news.
IBM and online storage firm Box have formed a wide-ranging cloud technologies partnership that will allow Box users to apply Watson Analytics know-how to their content while IBM customers can use Box's content collaboration platform.
Organizations wishing to explore the use of Docker containers can now tap into commercial support, as well as some new software, to help them manage the new technology.
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Ahead of the Apple Watch’s April launch, developers have been invited up to Apple’s campus in Cupertino to help finish up their applications. 9to5Mac reports “approximately” twenty different developers made the trip up to Apple’s walled garden to get face-to-face time with Apple engineers. The hope is to assist these developers with their WatchKit-based applications to ensure the Apple Watch has a reasonable ecosystem at launch.
“The developers invited by Apple to Cupertino range from those behind titles for sports applications and task management software,” 9to5Mac said.
Additionally, Apple has allegedly met with bank executives to work on integration with Apple Pay, which users will be able to take advantage of when the wearable is released. Among them, according to 9to5Mac, includes developers representing banks located overseas—Germany is mentioned—hinting that Apple is ready to take Apple Pay global. A previous report claimed the service was close to launching in China, while another report pointed to Canada as another possible market.
9to5Mac suggests Apple could be gearing up to show off these apps in action during a media event, which is why the developers are being urged to finish their apps. The iPhone maker is expected to send out invites to an event any day now—for one probably being held in March—where we’re expecting to hear more about Apple’s fabled MacBook Air redesign, among other things.
Developers who have had the chance to use the Apple Watch have apparently described the wearable’s digital crown as “really nice,” though other features, such as the watch’s Taptic Engine, “is not as impressive as expected.” That’s unfortunate. However, 9to5Mac says one developer very familiar with Android Wear described Apple Watch’s OS as much more sophisticated.
It’s imperative for Apple to have a strong app ecosystem when the Apple Watch launches in April. Along the same lines, it’s no surprise to hear the company might use a media event to hype up how these apps will take advantage of Apple’s wearable platform. We’ll see pretty soon here if Tim Cook and company have anything of note to show off.


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Motor fans from across the region will be en route for the weekly auto fix, featuring sensational supercars and cool classics.
The Summer Car Meets, which after the first event on Tuesday, May 31 will run every Thursday until the end of August, will take place in addition to Port Solent’s popular general car meets that take place on the second and last Sunday of each month.
The summer meets will be held from 7pm to 9.30pm at the popular Port Solent waterfront leisure destination, promising a fun-fuelled treat for motor enthusiasts during the warmer evenings.
The car meets will begin on May 31 with the two-seater convertible legend MX5 present and other scheduled events from June to August include Solent Renegades, Mustangs, Hampshire Classic Cars, Ferraris, Petroleum Spirit, and more.
Lisa Fowler, events and marketing manager at Port Solent, said: ‘Port Solent’s sensational Summer Car Meets are back and this year we have a great line-up of old favourites and stunning new sports vehicles.
‘Whether you’re a motor enthusiast or simply fancy a great evening browsing the cars on show alongside our lovely waterside location, you’re sure to have a great time.’
The Port Solent Summer Car Meets are free to attend, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby to suit all tastes during the summer evenings.
Port Solent is the South’s most relaxing waterside leisure destination, offering visitors a unique atmosphere to eat, drink, shop, and unwind alongside the marina.
For full listings of the events at Port Solent, visit portsolent.com/whatson.


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Trey Songz never had a problem saying how he feels — even if he gets dragged on social media for it.
On Tuesday, the singer took to Twitter to express his feelings about Shea Moisture’s controversial new commercial. Trigga tweeted:
However, one of his followers was not here for Trey hopping on the bandwagon of people who’ve slammed the hair company, a.k.a. Black people. But in true Tremaine fashion, he clapback ready for the Internet troll:
As you may recall, the hair company (which is known for catering to Black women’s unique needs) was under fire earlier this week for their new ad which featured mostly White women and only one Black woman.


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Willamette Valley Vineyards' Wine Pods give guests a chance to enjoy eating and drinking outdoors throughout the wet and cold months.
In the Willamette Valley, the entertainment industry, more specifically escape rooms, are not often the talk of the community. The escape room business is relatively new within the entertainment industry and even newer to the Willamette Valley. In the pandemic, however, these businesses have had a harder time than most. Having to shut down and re-open the facilities several times in the last year, the owners have had to find other ways to drive in business while still maintaining COVID guidelines.
Escape Tech and the Exitus Escape Rooms both, have made the most of what they can while in the middle of this pandemic. Both have created alternative ways of boosting revenue within their business because according to Jason Chaney, the owner of Escape Tech, this business is hard to make money from.
While the two are in proximity to each other, both created different projects to keep business afloat as well as keeping guidelines in place. Escape Tech has been doing remote escape rooms and is now in the process of expediting a new option called the Social Gaming Lounge. Exitus made a wrecking room and paint room available where patrons can participate in destroying breakable objects or splattering the walls with a variety of paints.
Created by a couple of locally raised buddies aiming to entertain the community, Exitus has become a fan favorite in downtown Salem. Located underneath the Fork Forty dining hall, this unique entertainment business has been gaining a lot of traffic with their interlaced business, Wreckingballers. Owner and creator, Travis Noble, had said that the wrecking room idea wasn’t necessarily crafted because of COVID, but rather something else he was thinking of adding to the entertainment umbrella. It has since proven to be more successful compared to the escapes rooms for the time being, “It’s new and everyone has some stress to let go of,” said Noble, “it brings us great joy that we can be here to help in a really unique, fun, and safe way.” Noble is also releasing new escape rooms throughout 2021.
Escape Tech has been in the works of making several projects prior to the pandemic hitting but the most profitable has been the remote escape rooms launched last February and new rooms launching this year. By introducing the option for remote escape rooms, Escape Tech has made it possible for businesses and people from across the country to have access to their amenities as it was initially made for friends in other states to be able to play with each other.
In addition to the remote rooms, Jason Chaney and his team have recently launched their newest project – the social gaming lounge. Designed by gamers for gamers, the lounge is curated fun for people of all ages. “We wanted to start providing a way for people to game together in person,” Chaney said. With six high end gaming PC’s, automatic game configuration, and. Escape Tech is making gaming easier and more fun than ever.
For these businesses, their innovative ideas have made the entertainment business in the Willamette Valley exciting and inviting.
Both EscapeTech and Exitus are both located on State Street in downtown Salem and open for the public to do in person sessions for escape rooms and their newer excursions. You can visit and participate with a limited group size to accommodate for COVID.


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Facebook is making waves again.
On the heels of purchasing popular social media app Whatsapp earlier this year, the social media giant announced Tuesday that it’s purchasing Oculus, the maker of a highly-anticipated virtual reality headset. Here are more details.
The big question is, what does Facebook plan to do with Oculus? Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s statement about the purchase was pretty vague about the company’s plans for the technology. Obviously, the company aims to take social media to another level. But how does virtual reality fit in?
Let the speculation begin! Wouldn’t it be awesome is someday you could “be right there” when your friend posts that he/she is on the beach, or when your parents bring home that new basset hound, or when your niece takes her first steps? There are a lot of possibilities when it comes to virtual reality.
Overall, it seems like Facebook’s move could help us connect with our loved ones and friends more easily, depending how they choose to move forward with Oculus…
What do you think? How would you like Facebook to utilize Oculus technology?


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Image gallery: India-bound Bentley Bentayga
The Bentley Bentayga is powered by an all-new twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 motor that puts out 608PS of power at 5,000-6,000rpm and generates a massive 900Nm of torque at 1,350-4,500rpm. Mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, the Bentayga sprints from 0-100kmph in a claimed 4.1 seconds and reach a max speed of 301kmph. The Bentayga SUV will be launched in India on April 22, 2016. Scroll below to see detailed images of upcoming Bentley Bentayga SUV.
The Bentayga is based on the MLB platform that also underpins the Audi and the Porsche
Tagged as the most powerful and the fastest SUV in the world, the Bentley Bentayga will primarily compete with the Land in India
Designed at the company's Crewe facility in UK, the Bentley Bentayga borrows design cues from the 2012 EXP-9F concept
The Bentley Bentayga is powered by an all-new twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 motor that puts out 608PS of power at 5,000-6,000rpm and generates a massive 900Nm of torque at 1,350-4,500rpm
When seen from the side, the muscular profile and the raised ground clearance make it look distinct
The front is reminiscent of Bentley's portfolio models with four, circular LED headlamps paired with a large matrix grille
Even though the Bentayga is an SUV, there are no unwanted lines on it.
The lines on the Bentley Bentayga look purposeful and endow the SUV with a butch stance.
Mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, the Bentayga sprints from 0-100kmph in a claimed 4.1 seconds and reach a max speed of 301kmph
Bentley claims that the Bentayga comes with the world's finest automotive cabin
Needless to say, the Bentayga will come with a plethora of comfort settings and optional features
Starts Rs 3.78 Crore
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The latest order backlog and personnel survey by Teknologiateollisuus ry has shown that the growth of the technology industry has stalled, while the demand for skilled workers remains strong. Although the order backlog has remained at a good level, the development of production volumes in the entire manufacturing industry in Finland has stagnated. The decline in demand in the technology industry is expected to slow down or even stop altogether this year, according to the survey.
The survey indicates that new orders in the technology industry were 13% lower in the first quarter of this year than in the previous quarter, but 12% higher than in the same period last year. The value of the order backlog has also been boosted by the high producer prices. In the largest industry sector, the machine and metal product industry, the value of new orders was 11% lower in the first quarter than in the previous quarter, and 6% lower than in the same period last year.
The balance figure for the entire technology industry's requests for tenders was -13 in April, compared to -12 in January. This balance figure has deteriorated for seven consecutive quarters. Despite the weakening demand, the downward trend has been moderate so far.
The number of employees in the technology industry in Finland was about 1% higher at the end of March than at the end of December. At the end of March, there were about 340,000 employees in the industry, and about 8,000 employees were still in layoff arrangements. However, the recruitment of new employees was still strong, with a total of 13,400 hires made in the first quarter.
According to a broad survey of the need for skilled workers, the technology industry will need 130,000 new skilled workers in the next ten years, of which 60% will require higher education qualifications. Petteri Rautaporras, Director and Chief Economist of Teknologiateollisuus, said that the need for skilled workers is intense and that companies have been hiring new employees strongly, despite the current economic situation. Companies are now preparing for the geopolitical risks that may bring considerable uncertainty to the global economy and the industry.
In summary, while the growth of the technology industry has stalled, the need for skilled workers remains strong. The declining trend in demand has been moderate, and the order backlog has remained at a good level. Companies are hiring new employees strongly, and the need for skilled workers is expected to remain intense in the future. However, the industry is preparing for the possible geopolitical risks that may bring uncertainty to the global economy and the industry.
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Munchkin expands its commitment to animal conservation causes with new "Wild Love" line of Miracle® 360 Cups, now available at retailers nationwideRead more
California-based Munchkin (munchkin.com) is a global leader in children’s feeding and care products. Founded in 1991 in Los Angeles, Munchkin has provided parents with innovative children’s products for more than 25 years. In July 2019, Munchkin launched a new series of their best-selling sippy cup, the Miracle 360° Cup, in collaboration with IFAW. These Wild Love cups and packaging feature vibrant animals, habitats and a message of hope for the next generation of conservationists.


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Thai PV manufacturer Solartron is planning to double its production capacity, according to local media reports.
The firm’s CEO Patama Wongtoythong told the Bangkok Post that it was looking to expand its current module capacity from 70MW to 150MW.
The 250 million baht (US$7.6 million) investment drive will be backed with the issuance of 150 million new shares.
The company claims to have a backlog of 60MW and its current facility is approaching capacity. It hopes to have the additional production line, which will be incorporated into its existing factory, online during 2015.
Wongtoythong also revealed that the company will be holding talks with Chinese manufacturers in the first half of 2014 to discuss a partnership to enter the European and Japanese markets.
She said recent anti-dumping measures against Chinese manufacturers would boost the company’s fortunes.


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Mercer’s 26th Cost of Living Survey finds majority of African cities have risen in rankings in the most and least expensive cities for expatriates globally
* The most expensive cities are Victoria, N’djamena and Lagos
* The least expensive cities are Banjul, Windhoek and Tunis
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 15, 2020,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- According to Mercer’s 2020 Cost of Living Survey, majority of African countries have risen in ranking in terms of expenses and cost of living for expatriates.
This year, Victoria, Seychelles (14) takes the lead as the most expensive city in Africa while Ndjamena, Chad (15), dropped four places from last year’s ranking as the most expensive city. Tunis in Tunisia (209) again ranks as the least expensive city in the region and globally.
In comparison with last year’s report, Lagos, Nigeria (18) rose seven places due to high cost for rent and high prices for groceries, followed by Kinshasa, the Dem. Rep. of Congo (24) which dropped two places. Accra, Ghana, moved from 63 to 57, while Nairobi, Kenya, moved from 97 to 95 and Casablanca, Morocco moved from 128 to 121. Luanda, Angola (115) dropped significantly, moving from 26 in 2019 to 115, this year.
“COVID-19 pandemic has created social and economic disruptions across the globe and Africa has not been an exception. We’re seeing a significant increase in the cost of living across cities and it’s important for organisations to reassess their mobility programs with a focus on the wellbeing of their employees,” said Didintle Kwape, Associate, Career Products at Mercer Africa.
Mercer’s 26th Cost of Living Survey finds that specific factors such as currency fluctuations, cost inflation for goods and services, and instability of accommodation prices, are essential to determining the cost of expatriate packages for employees on international assignments.
READ ALSO: The New Champions of Afrobeats (2)
According to the survey, Hong Kong tops the list of most expensive cities for expatriates, followed by Ashgabat, Turkmenistan in second position. Tokyo and Zurich remain in third and fourth positions, respectively, whereas Singapore is in fifth, down two places from last year. New York City ranked sixth, moving up from ninth place.
Other cities appearing in the top 10 of Mercer’s costliest cities for expatriates are Shanghai (7), Bern (8), Geneva (9), and Beijing (10). The world’s least expensive cities for expatriates, according to Mercer’s survey, are Tunis (209), Windhoek (208), Tashkent and Bishkek, which tied to rank 206.
“The COVID-19 pandemic reminds us that sending and keeping employees on international assignments is a huge responsibility and a difficult task to manage,” said Ilya Bonic, Career President and Head of Mercer Strategy. “Rather than bet on a dramatic resurgence of mobility, organizations should prepare for the redeployment of their mobile workforces, leading with empathy and understanding that not all expatriates will be ready or willing to go abroad.”
Mercer’s widely recognised survey is one of the world’s most comprehensive, and is designed to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation strategies for their expatriate employees. New York City is used as the base city for all comparisons and currency movements are measured against the US dollar. The survey includes over 400 cities throughout the world; this year’s ranking includes 209 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.
Report distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Mercer.
Note for Editors
The figures for Mercer’s cost of living and rental accommodation cost comparisons are derived from a survey conducted in March 2020. Exchange rates from that time and Mercer’s international basket of goods and services from its Cost of Living Survey have been used as base measurements.
Governments and major companies use data from this survey to protect the purchasing power of their employees when transferred abroad; rental accommodation costs data is used to assess local expatriate housing allowances. The choice of cities surveyed is based on demand for data.
Mercer produces individual cost of living and rental accommodation cost reports for each city surveyed.
For more information on city rankings, visit https://mobilityexchange.mercer.com/Insights/cost-of-living-rankings.
To purchase copies of individual city reports, visit https://mobilityexchange.mercer.com/multinational-approach-cost-of-living-data.


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Saturday, June 15th marks the official 26th birthday of the GIF. Yahoo has pulled together some GIF search stats to celebrate.
According to the company, 71% of searches for [gifs] come from men, and [swifts disgusted reaction gif] is amongst the top 10 GIF-related search terms in June.
“People want to make their own GIFs,” a Yahoo spokesperson tells WebProNews. “Searches for [gif creators] are off the charts this month on Yahoo!”
Yahoo says [What is a gif] searches have been “off the charts” in the past 30 days, and [Funny gifs] searches are up 85% this month. Searches for [gifs] in general are up 35% this month. Here’s the breakdown by age:
7% come from those under 20 20% come from those 21-29 15% come from those 30-34 19% come from those 35-44 22% come from those 45-54 17% come from those over 55
Other popular GIF searches, Yahoo says, include: [one direction gifs], [sexy gifs], and [animated gifs]. Here are the top ten GIF searches on Yahoo from the past 30 days:
1.[sex gifs] 2. [animated gifs] 3. [gif creators] 4. [funny gifs] 5. [what is a gif] 6. [what does gif mean] 7. [what does gif stand for] 8. [swifts disgusted reaction gif] 9. [happy mothers day gif] 10. [one direction funny gifs]
Perhaps the most interesting part about the GIF’s birthday is that after twenty-six years, the image format is as popular as it has ever been. Google has even added a new feature to make animated GIFs easier to find in recent months, and allowed Google+ users to start using them as their profile pics. Even the White House is getting in on animated GIFs.
Yahoo itself, of course, is acquiring Tumblr, which is Animated GIF Central.
Just remember, this is how you pronounce GIF. Now, here’s a video of some famous GIFs set to music:


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Extending its reach further into the Asian market with a latest Taipei store opening, Stussy
Imagine Dr. Romanelli as a really good collage artist. The designer has been known to apply his
Stussy has been making huge moves in 2013 and their momentum shows no signs of slowing down with
Following the All Gone stop in Shanghai, the team stopped over in Hong Kong for a book signing at
Los Angeles-based label U.SSKB unveils its second collaborative endeavor this January 10 at the
The Pancake Epidemic is the new division from Dr. Romanelli’s marketing agency StreetVirus and a
Using a stylistic philosophy he calls “personalization customization,” Dr. Romanelli’s creations
First glimpsed as a part of the Los Angeles-based artist/designer’s Essentials, Dr. Romanelli
Ben Baller’s television installment meets its latest celebrity guest with both fashion bespoke
In anticipation of his free project Ryan vs. The Sandman: The Tale of the Sleepwalkers, LA-based


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Samsung Electronics Australia has partnered with netball stars, Laura Geitz, Sharni Layton and Caitlin Bassett to launch Train like a Diamond. As part of Samsung’s sponsorship of Netball Australia, the Diamonds are captured in 360-degree video, which is then consumable on YouTube, or for the ultimate immersion and the feeling...
- Turns out Turnbull was dead wrong about NBN demand, people do want ultrafast NBN June 2, 2020
- Melbourne-based PHORIA launching Ecosphere VR Nature Series on Oculus June 2, 2020
- Watch: Mobileye’s Autonomous car take a 40-minute drive by itself using computer vision June 1, 2020
- PlayStation 5 event this Friday will provide a look at the future of gaming June 1, 2020
- Review: VideoProc a great GPU-accelerated 4K video editor May 30, 2020


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"Send lawyers, guns and money. The shit has hit the fan." - Warren Zevon
Thursday, April 25, 2013
A Look Inside R&D
Knight's Armament Co. puts out a series of YouTube videos about the company and their products. They released one yesterday that showed how a product goes from inspiration to production. In this case, it was for their URX rail system. Needless to say, it doesn't happen overnight and it probably isn't cheap when you figure in the number of prototypes and man-hours involved.


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|Bid||36.48 x 1200|
|Ask||36.50 x 900|
|Day's Range||36.06 - 37.17|
|52 Week Range||28.25 - 50.40|
|Beta (5Y Monthly)||N/A|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||N/A|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||N/A (N/A)|
|1y Target Est||N/A|
SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 28, 2021--FIGS, Inc. (NYSE: FIGS), a direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel and lifestyle brand, announced today that it will release its second quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, August 12, 2021 after market close. FIGS will host a conference call at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss its financial and business results and outlook.
The company makes scrubs, related accessories, and other performance apparel designed for healthcare professionals, and has built an extremely loyal clientele in just a few years as a public company. FIGS has the added attraction of extremely impressive profitability as well as a massive market opportunity. For the most part, healthcare apparel hasn't had any significant innovation in decades.
In this Fool Live video clip, recorded on July 8, Fool.com contributor Matt Frankel, CFP, explains to colleague Brian Feroldi why he's ready to open a position in this wonderful business. Matt Frankel: I am talking about a company that is already public called Figs, ticker symbol is F-I-G-S. This is a healthcare apparel company. Now, that might sound like a boring business to a lot of people, but it's really not.


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|Pal, the proto-Lassie, in 1942 |
"She," played by another descendent of the legendary collie dog Pal, retains an 83 percent “'brand awareness' among Americans; words like 'loyal,' 'hero' and 'heartwarming' were most often associated with the character," reports the New York Times.
With brand loyalty like that, Lassie can sell stuff.
“Our ambitions are global,” said Michael R. Francis, DreamWorks Animation’s chief brand officer, “dog food, dog accessories, dog grooming, dog beds, dog training,” targeted mainly at adults. None of these planned Lassie products are available right now, but the studio says deals for all of them are in the works.Appearing on store shelves soon, presumably.


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Zambia Sugar has launched the new smaller and more affordable brown sugar packs that will now be available in 195 and 330 grams respectively.
Speaking at the launch held at Protea Hotel in Ndola yesterday, Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe commended Zambia Sugar for the initiative.
The Minister said that people will now be able to buy sugar in smaller qualities thereby saving money as they will be buying the commodity at lower prices of about three (3) and five kwacha (5) respectively.
Mr Mwakalombe said government remains committed to sustaining a conducive business and investment environment in an effort to contribute to the realization of the vision 2030 of transforming Zambia into a prosperous middle income country.
ZANIS reports that Mr Mwakalombe said this in a speech read on his behalf by Copperbelt Deputy Permanent Secretary Joyce Nsamba.
Mr Mwakalombe observed that Zambia Sugar is one of the entities that can assist government achieve this vital goal as it is focused on contributing to national development.
He further, thanked Zambia Sugar for having chosen Copperbelt as a pilot region for the new product and urged other companies to emulate the good works and exhibit commitment to developing the country.
And Zambia Sugar Managing Director Rabecca Katowa said the launch of this affordable pack range is with immediate effect.
Mrs Katowa added that it is in direct response to the economic needs of consumers who are showing an increasing desire for smaller and lower cost pack sizes.
She noted that unavailability of affordable packs to consumers made people resort to tie packs which is unhygienic.
Mrs Katowa added that the company understands the role sugar plays in human beings and that it will play its part to ensure that the commodity is readily available and affordable to consumers at all times.
stupid minister. the dunderhead does not realise that this is as a result of widening poverty. soon there will be 10g and one teaspoon tie packs.
You are right, Pamela packs are proof that poverty levels have hit the roof, i remember after elections going to one of our komboniz, i saw these this youngster carrying a Pamela pack of cooking oil, and was busy saying HH, twamu dununa, i was like really! Because the one who looks dununad is you young man.
Stoolpid HAKAINDE leader of a tribal h-organisation and his entourage. HH HaUNELECTABLE and HaUNWANTABLE and HaUNVOTABLE – UNDER FIVE.
ZS is just pathetic. They are just exploiting the market because of their monopoly. If you go to Sesheke, two kg costs the equivalent of about thirteen to fifteen kwacha and this is white and refined not the molasses coated sugar ZS sells us. We need another Dangote in this sector.
….Sesheke you get sugar from Namibia, sorry….
Any product produced locally must should be affordable to all Zambians and in good quantities. Large companies like Zambia Sugar should not exploit the locals because we all know Zambia’s sugar does very well on the international market and thats where ZS should aim to export and realise their profits.
Just like local beef, why shouldn’t Zambians afford because someone in opposition claims that he owns more cows than the Zambia’s population.
Wait this same minister will be buying the same to ma packs once we are done with her. Inflation is unmanageable because of clueless people that we have in power.
It is not affordable, if we are talking about a family that needs 4 packets of 2kg’s per month, I do not see any difference because they will be forced to go and buy those small packs frequently which defeats the whole purpose. Towns in the neighboring countries do not buy Zambian Sugar because 1: it is very expensive and 2: you need more than 2 tablespoons of sugar in one cup to sweeten your tea or coffee.
“ONLY A TONGA CAN BE PRESIDENT FOR UPND, therefore for ZAMBIA,” Larry Mweetwa.
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If the rumors are true, 2018 will bring something exciting for everyone as far as new iPhones are concerned. Even before last year’s release of the premium-priced iPhone X, there were already whispers that Apple would continue with last year’s trend of releasing not one, but three new iPhones for 2018.
Taking a page out of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Apple is said to be releasing a super-sized iPhone X update (with a probable super-sized price tag, to match), alongside a second-generation iPhone X standard model, as well as a cheaper entry-level iPhone that retains some of the iPhone X’s new tech.
If the speculation pans out, it looks to be a move by Apple to expand its reach back into a slightly lower priced market. A more affordable iPhone model would still be far from a budget item, of course, but could draw a crowd of Apple fans looking for the newest iPhone features but who aren’t likely to spend upwards of four figures on a new device.
So, what would these three iPhone models entail, exactly? While there are rumors abound and not much has been substantiated just yet, here’s what we think you can expect to see from the new iPhone 2018 models.
New iPhone release date
Photo Credit: Business Insider/KGI Securities
Over the last six years, Apple has been consistently secretive about their new iPhone release date, but have simultaneously been consistent about launching new iPhones in early-to-mid September. With virtually no exceptions, new iPhones were announced no later than September 12, and began shipping 10 days to two weeks later.
This year, most analysts have the new iPhone release date pegged somewhere between September 12 to September 14.
New iPhone 2018 displayPhoto Credit: Girlfriend Magazine (AU)
Understandably, the first thing everyone wants to know is what the new iPhones will bring to the table in terms of display. As of now, it looks like the two higher-end models will most likely retain the phenomenal OLED display found on the iPhone X. While the cheaper model would sport a more affordable LCD display, the good news is that it could feature Full Active LCD display technology, which would still make it a step up from the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.
As far as size goes, the second-gen iPhone X would probably stick to the 5.8 inch display, while the larger iPhone (perhaps called the XL?) would come with a 6.5 inch screen and the entry-level iPhone would feature a 6.1 inch screen.
For all three, however, Apple would retain its current edge-to-edge no-bezel design, along with the True Depth camera system that supports Face ID.
New iPhone 2018 features
If the speculation about Face ID holds true, it probably means that Apple’s flagship line will lose the Home button and fingerprint sensor for good. However, if you’re reluctant to make the switch to Face ID, there’s a good chance that the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus will remain in the lineup – and at a $100 discount, to boot.
Other possible features include dual-SIM functionality, longer battery life, and all three upcoming models are rumored to boast a speedier upgraded A12 processor.
The 5.8 inch and 6.5 inch models will also probably have two – or possibly even three – rear cameras, though the more budget-friendly model looks like it will sport just a single lens. Keeping it affordable also means that 6.1 inch model should also feature an aluminum frame rather than a stainless steel one, and may not support wireless charging.
New iPhone 2018 price point
Photo Credit: iDrop News
The biggest news when it comes to price point for the new iPhones continues to relate to the cheaper model, which could start as low as $650, though speculation has put it as high as $800.
The 6.1 inch second-gen iPhone X would probably hover around the current price of $999 for the entry-level model, and the larger 6.5 inch device could ring in at $1,099 or even $1,199. However, none of this is set in stone – some analysts have suggested that Apple fans could be pleasantly surprised by lower price tags by up to $100.
All this will probably be cleared up in the near future with the official launch of the new 2018 iPhone lineup. Stay tuned to The Beat for all the latest news surrounding the upcoming release of the new iPhones for 2018, and all other tech related news and updates.


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Another OPPO phone is in the works. It will be announced on April 6 in India. It follows the OPPO Find X3 Series that was launched last month with a special display calibrated by Pixelworks. The last OPPO F phone we remember was the OPPO F15 that also rolled out in India. It was released […]
The post OPPO F19 to be unveiled in India with a 5000mAh battery first appeared on Android Community.


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Production at U.S. factories increased 0.2% January, rebounding only slightly from a 0.1% decline the month prior, according to data released this week by the Federal Reserve Board.
For the second month in a row, overall factory output was dragged down by the ongoing global shortage of semiconductors, which caused a 0.9% drop in auto plant production in January, following a 0.4% decrease in December. Excluding motor vehicles, manufacturing increased 0.3% in January.
The chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, Chad Moutray, said manufacturers have been challenged by supply chain bottlenecks, workforce shortages, rising production costs and, more recently, the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19 in January.
“Nonetheless, manufacturing capacity utilization inched up from 77.2% in December to 77.3% in January, matching the rate in November, which was the strongest since December 2018,” Moutray said. “Overall, manufacturing production has risen 2.5% year-over-year, with 2.0% growth relative to February 2020’s pre-pandemic pace.”
Last month’s gain in manufacturing output combined with a record 9.9% jump in utilities to boost industrial production 1.4%, according to the Federal Reserve data. Demand for utilities was boosted by freezing temperatures in many parts of the country in January.


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Electric vehicle customers are highly likely to consider new brands when shopping for a product, according to an Edmunds study on brand loyalty in the EV market.
In its 2023 EV sentiment survey, the research firm found that 85% of EV consumers would consider purchasing from a brand they have never bought from. Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights at Edmunds, noted that this trend challenges the norm car manufacturers are used to. “Traditionally, automakers count on consumer loyalty to carry their sales rates…” she writes. “EVs are throwing a monkey wrench into the loyalty patterns that automakers have grown accustomed to, and it will be fascinating to watch if the growing number of EV models from mainstream brands will shift consumers back fully toward their loyalty tendencies or if brand allegiances are a thing of the past.”
Brand loyalty remains a complicated facet of automotive marketing, both in and outside the EV space. Last year, brand and manufacturer loyalty dropped to their lowest points, 49.4% and 55.9% respectively, in three years, according to data from S&P Global. While gas-powered vehicles already struggle to find dedicated audiences, their all-electric counterparts complicate the matter even more. In 2022, Tyson Jominy, J.D. Power vice president of data and analytics, noted that EVs threatened to upend the already weakened status quo: “There is an element of risk to brand loyalty that could erode for those sitting on the sidelines or not moving quickly enough.”
The Edmunds study underscores how the problem has evolved in 2023. High EV prices, rising inflation, credit tightening and interest rate hikes have reduced the number of options customers have on the market. OEMs looking to boost brand loyalty are likely to face an uphill battle so long as these issues persist.


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Norseland is launching its Applewood smoke-flavoured cheese brand in a spreadable format to grow its use as a snacking and cooking option.
Applewood Spreadable will be positioned as a cheese for “triple usage”: as a cold cheese spread, a warm snack, and as a cooking sauce. It will hit Tesco and The Co-op Group stores at the end of April (rsp: £1.50/175g).
Norseland saw an opportunity in spreadables through its brand recognition and dominant share of smoke-flavoured cheese, said Matt Levett, senior brand and category marketing executive.
The spreadables category is in 14% value growth, at £312m [Kantar Worldpanel 52 w/e 23 December 2012] against 5.7% growth for the total cheese sector.
Applewood will compete with other products including Lactalis’s Seriously Strong Spreadable Smokey.
The launch will be accompanied by online activity from the retailers, to encourage trial, while the Applewood brand will be given a revamp - including a new website - later in the year.


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Switch Automation is an Australian software company with offices in Sydney and San Francisco. Deb Noller, CEO of Switch Automation, is a Springboard alumnae , Aon Entrepreneur-in-residence and member of Dell’s Founders 50 Fall Class of 2014.
Built on Microsoft’s industry leading Azure Cloud Platform, Switch’s intelligent building solution improves companies’ capacity to manage and control extensive building portfolios.
Experienced CTO and Scale Angel, Yvonne Everett, will take a seat on the Switch board and said: “I’m excited by the commercial possibilities of the open intelligent building platform that Switch Automation has built. The Switch software is backed by an experienced global business and technology team with great depth of skills. I am impressed by the forethought that has gone into building an architecture that will scale and adapt to a number of market sectors. Switch CTO, John Darlington, has done a superb job of positioning the platform for growth from a technology standpoint.”
Harvard MBA and strategist Lisa Ray Hennessy, who holds several directorships and co-led the Scale investment, said: “When evaluating businesses we look for a demonstrated demand, along with product offerings that are differentiated in the market and businesses that can be scaled on a global level. Switch delivers all three. There was consistent feedback from the market place that Switch’s product offering stands out among its competition and delivers discernible value to its customers.”
Here is the full press release.


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'Can' your favourite drink cause you harm? Yes, especially if it comes from a can. A new study in the journal 'Hypertension' says plastic bottles and cans are generally lined with a chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA), the consumption of which has been associated with high blood pressure. Previous studies have linked BPA to heart problems, cancer and developmental problems in children, amongst other things. "I suggest consumers try to eat fresh foods rather than buying canned foods and buy drinks that are packaged in a glass bottles. Hopefully, manufacturers will develop and use healthy alternatives to BPA for the inner lining of can containers," said study author Yun-Chul Hong from Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea.In this study, researchers conducted a trial on 60 adults, mostly Korean women, over the age of 60 from a local community centre. Each trial member visited the study site three times and was randomly provided with soy milk in either glass bottles or cans. Later urine was collected and tested for BPA concentration, blood pressure and heart rate variability two hours after consumption of each beverage.Urinary BPA concentration increased by up to 1,600 percent after consuming canned beverages compared to after consuming the glass-bottled beverages. "A 5 mm Hg (millimetre of mercury) increase in systolic blood pressure by drinking two canned beverages may cause clinically significant problems, particularly in patients with heart disease or hypertension," Hong said. "A 20 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease," he added.BPA has been in use since the 1960s and is used to make several everyday products like plastic bottles, dental fillings, cash register receipts, contact lenses and even baby bottles. In 2010, Canadian regulators banned BPA from all children's products and labelled it a toxic substance. In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration said BPA should not be used in children's drinking cups and baby bottles. Owing to the growing awareness and concerns around BPA, many packaged food products and drinks now carry 'BPA-free' labels. Unfortunately, according to a study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, these products aren't any better. They are often lined with chemically similar alternatives like Bisphenol S, and some of these alternatives can be even more potent than BPA. On the other side, not everyone is convinced about the hoopla around BPA. The American Chemistry Council, an industry trade group, has said BPA is safe. Many researchers and doctors choose to disagree.With Inputs from IANS
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The Korean Games Rating Board has come up trumps again this morning, seemingly confirming that PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is coming to PlayStation 4.
The chicken dinner-loving shooter has been rumoured for Sony's flagship console for a while now, although this is the closest we've seen to a confirmation that PUBG is indeed on its way to PS4.
PUBG has been an Xbox One console exclusive for almost a year, so the timing would certainly fit. Speaking of which, the full version of the game has only just launched for Microsoft's console.
Aside from Xbox One, PUBG is currently available on PC and mobile platforms, although the PC version gets first bite of any major content update. In fact, PUBG Corp is currently busy knuckling down on various bug fixes and quality-of-life updates as part of its 'fix PUBG' initiative.
The mobile version of the shooter has been doing pretty well too, notching up over 100 million downloads.
PUBG has remained a massively popular battle royale game for most of the year, although it seems that things are starting to die down a bit. Its biggest competitor is obviously Fortnite, which every man and his dog is currently playing.


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The Italian-themed eatery in the upscale Alexander hotel will be operated by the same homegrown firm that has created some of the best-reviewed restaurants in the city.
Low-key downtown eatery busts into Fishers; convenience store known for rural markets enters Indy.
Wisconsin-based Kohl’s said last month it will shrink about a dozen of its stores this year as part of a broader effort to reduce its bricks-and-mortar square footage.
Old National took over all three of the branches in 2009 when it acquired 52 Indianapolis-area Charter One offices. All but a few of those locations have since closed.
Event boosts independent retailers. Also this week: Bentley’s Pet Stuff, Bird Fever, Le Peep and Tom Wood Toyota.
The Avon location will be the third local restaurant for the growing Chicago-based chain, which is known for its hots dogs and Italian beef sandwiches.
Indianapolis Cultural Trail launches food tours with stops at Milktooth, Bluebeard, Cafe Patachou, others
Participants will get a chance to sample food and interact with chefs and owners at a selection of restaurants and other culinary establishments in and near downtown.
A second new establishment, Rye Bar, opens at the Marriott Monday. Also: Wings Etc., Bell Helmets, Macy’s, Kate Spade.
The eatery focusing on ramen, rice bowls and banh mi sandwiches will be operated by the same husband-and-wife team that owns General American Donut Co.
The building, at the northeast corner of 46th Street and College Avenue in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood, will house three or four businesses, including Scarlet Lane Brewing.
Walmart has added four Indianapolis-area stores to its network of sites where customers can pick up their online orders. Also: A new menswear shop is coming to Broad Ripple.
Duke’s Indy plans to open this month in the building that formerly housed the Ice House restaurant, which recently closed after 34 years in business.
The new Musk restaurants include Hedge Row on Mass Ave and Next Door in Meridian-Kessler. Also this week: Aldi stores spruce up, electrical supply stores enter the Indianapolis market, and more.
Circle Centre claims a now-closed beauty salon owes unpaid rent. Plus: Untuckit has joined the Fashion Mall roster, Fira Boutique has closed in Broad Ripple, and the Freddy’s steakburger chain hits a big milestone on the south side.
Kite Realty Group Trust’s plan to bring a Frank Theatres CineBowl entertainment venue to help fill big vacancies at Hamilton Crossing Centre has fallen through.
Called the Notch at Nora, the 186-unit development from TWG received rezoning approval Wednesday from the Metropolitan Development Commission despite neighborhood opposition.
Allen Commercial Group is offering for sale the first of 30 condos in its flagship nine-story Allen Plaza building along Pennsylvania
Street downtown. And the firm is working on a phasing plan for its much-larger Penn Centre proposal.


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Asic to ban or restrict investment products which lose customers $2bn a year
The corporate regulator says it will ban or restrict the sale of two exotic investment products that cost customers almost $2bn a year.
Using new product intervention powers gained in April, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission wants to ban the sale of binary options to ordinary Australians for 18 months – the maximum period allowed under the law.
It also plans to dramatically reduce the amount of leverage allowed on contracts for difference, or “spread betting”, from as much as 500 to one to as little as two to one. Firms will also be banned from allowing clients to get into a position where they owe the company money.
A binary option is a bet on whether a share price or other financial indicator will go up or down while a contract for difference involves picking both the direction and size of the movement.
There are 65 firms offering one or both of the products licensed in Australia, including the London-listed IG Markets and CMC Markets, US giant FXCM and home-grown outfit Pepperstone.
Despite their exotic nature, the products are heavily promoted through a network of introducers and through internet advertising including on dating sites. They are extremely popular with retail investors.
Killed for ‘no reason’: how Asic ended Commonwealth Bank investigation
Asic data released on Thursday shows that about a third of investors in binary options or CFDs have an income of less than $37,000 a year. Investors lose about $490m a year on binary options and about $1.5bn a year on CFDs, according to Asic data.
The Australian market has also more than doubled in size, from about 450,000 clients to about 1 million over the past two years as other countries, including the UK, Israel and much of the EU, have banned or restricted the products.
“Only 17% of the clients of these products are in Australia,” Asic commissioner Cathie Armour told Guardian Australia. “We are concerned about the fact that 62% of the clients are located in Asia, the biggest proportion of that in China.
“The Chinese regulators are very clear in our conversations with them that people in China are prohibited from trading in what we call contracts for difference.”
The high leverage in CFD products means that a bad move in the market can result in an investor not only losing all the money they have deposited with the provider but also end up owing it substantial amounts of money.
“We have seen a number of complaints from people who didn’t realise the funding costs and found themselves facing significant debts,” Armour said.
Taxpayers foot $140m bill for failed private companies’ unpaid wages
It is the second time Asic has said it wants to use its new banning powers since they were introduced in April – in July it said it wanted to ban payday lending products that can result in charges of up to 990% of the amount loaned. Under the new laws, Asic is required to consult with industry before banning or restricting products.
Armour said CFDs could be a good investment for some people, and downplayed the idea companies offering them might be driven out of business.
“We think they can have a good and effective business if they operate under the adjustments we’re proposing here,” she said. “Happy customers … help contribute to a really sustainable business.”
The consultation closes on 1 October.
Source: Read Full Article


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Australian Country Choice (ACC), the world’s largest, vertically integrated and family-owned cattle and beef supply chain company, has joined forces with food relief organisation Foodbank Queensland to deliver much needed protein to local families facing food insecurity during the global pandemic.
Meat is often one of the first items to come off any household’s shopping list during financial stress, but is an important source of protein for a balanced diet. It must also be dispatched quickly by Foodbank to its charity partners to ensure freshness.
“This has made us a perfect match for Foodbank,” ACC chief executive officer Anthony Lee said.
“Our Brisbane food processing facility at Cannon Hill is literally just up the road from Foodbank Queensland’s Morningside distribution centre. So when we have the product, the Foodbank team can be here in minutes to collect the donation and make it available to local and regional charities.”
September in Queensland is Foodbank Hunger Drive month, which raises awareness of the 1 in 5 Queenslanders who face hunger each year and often don’t know where their next meal is coming from. This month also marks the second anniversary of ACC’s national support for Foodbank Australia.
As a national donor to Foodbank, ACC ensures no products go unnecessarily to waste, providing donations of surplus, mislabelled or underweight product so those experiencing food insecurity can have access to protein.
The longstanding, family-owned cattle and beef company had donated more than 30,000kg of meat products since the start of 2020, providing the equivalent of almost 56,000 meals.
“Our central location, close proximity to Foodbank and unbroken cold chain of custody over everything we produce makes contributing to this vital community program an obvious choice for ACC,” Lee said.
Meat was not a product that traditionally came to Foodbank in significant or regular volume, yet it was an important source of protein for families, regardless of their financial situation, Foodbank Australia general manager, National Supply Chain Michael Davidson said.
“Our partnership with ACC has the added advantage of proximity, which means it’s just a 4-minute drive from Foodbank Queensland to pick up their donations,” Davidson said.
“This is a great example of like-minded organisations in Brisbane’s southeast working together for a good cause to provide much-needed food relief supplies, including protein for the Foodbank network and the local charities to distribute.”
Foodbank Queensland provides essential food and groceries directly to a network of front-line charities that support people in Brisbane and across Queensland seeking food relief. It also plays a key role in reducing food waste and helping the environment by reducing CO2 emissions.


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PUBG CellularIndia was prone to return to India on November 20, however neither PUBG Company nor its guardian firm Krafton have issued an announcement to handle the identical.
- Over the past one week, an official PUBG Cellular India website has been arrange. Three trailers have been launched stating that the sport is ‘coming quickly’.
- PUBG Cellular additionally plans to introduce stricter cut-off dates, inexperienced blood, and fully-clothed characters
Indian followers of the battle royale sport PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) are ready with bated breath for the sport to make its comeback in India.
It was rumoured it’ll re-launch in India on November 20. Nonetheless, on the time of writing this text, there was no official announcement but from both the PUBG Company or the guardian firm, Krafton, on the discharge of the sport.
In the meantime, the corporate has arrange an
official site and uploaded teasers that point out that PUBG Cellular’s return to India is imminent.
“The teaser goes to be out tomorrow. So we are able to assume that the sport is prone to get launched earlier than November 20,” mentioned
PUBG gamer Kronten — who is without doubt one of the faces featured within the trailer together with Dynamo and Jonathan — on November 14.
The Indian authorities has additionally been conspicuously quiet about PUBG Cellular’s return to India after the battle royale sport was banned in September among the many record of 118 Chinese language cell apps. In accordance with the assertion by the Ministry of Electronics and Info Expertise (MeitY), the sport was blocked as a consequence of information privateness and safety issues.
Pre-registrations of PUBG Cellular India are actually open
Pre-registration for the PUBG Cellular India throughout Android and iOS have been open for choose customers who’re part of
Tap Tap sport boards — a cell sport sharing group that recommends high-quality cell video games.
The pre-registration web page additionally reveals that PUBG Cellular India’s Fb and YouTube pages are actually additionally dwell.
Nonetheless, on the time of writing this text, the pre-registration window has been closed, which might imply the official launch is imminent.
Is PUBG Cellular India coming again to India?
The reply is sure, however the official launch date is but to be revealed.
With a purpose to adjust to the norms of the Indian authorities, PUBG Company plans to arrange an area workplace with not less than 100 staff. “Along with establishing an area workplace, the corporate will look to actively collaborate and leverage native companies to strengthen its gaming service,” the builders mentioned in s assertion.
Krafton additionally plans to have some pores and skin within the sport with an funding of $100 million in India to “domesticate the native online game, e-sports, leisure, and IT industries.” Nonetheless, the date for the funding and any additional particulars haven’t been disclosed but.
PUBG Cellular India could have a couple of modifications
As PUBG Cellular relaunches in India, it’s
not going to be exactly the same as the game of yore. Till now, if you happen to have been enjoying PUBG for hours on finish, the sport would difficulty a warning to customers to alert them to the time that has handed by. Within the new model, as an alternative of only a warning, it’s seemingly that the sport received’t enable customers to enter a match after a sure variety of hours.
To deal with the problem of violence inside the sport, the corporate additionally plans to introduce the ‘inexperienced blood’ impact — which is already part of the Korean model of the sport.
And, lastly, the default constitution will not be bare for brand new customers. With a purpose to keep away from the awkwardness of getting to run round in underwear whereas on the lookout for garments over weapons, the sport will now start with robotically clothed characters.


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Nokia admitted the growth of its Windows Phone smartphone business has been held back by supply problems after it feared a potentially costly stockpile of unsold Lumia handsets.
The Finnish giant today revealed financial results that were ahead of most analysts’ expectations to break even, but said its performance in the booming smartphone market was limited by short supplies of its flagship device, the Lumia 920.
Chief executive Stephen Elop said Nokia was “still dealing with [supply] constraints” having been “very deliberate” and “thoughtful” about how it introduced the Windows Phone 8 device in November.
In Britain, for instance, the Lumia 920 is only available on the EE network following an exclusive deal, limiting sales.
Mr Elop said the firm would have sold more Lumia handsets if it could have met the demand. “The shortage was not only cause by cautious ordering”, he added, but there had also been a lack of adequate supplies of some components. “[We are] working with suppliers and operators to work through the situation today,” Mr Elop said.
Nevertheless, Nokia’s the fourth quarter was widely seen as solid as the firm aims to regain ground lost to rivals particularly in the smartphone market.
Total Lumia sales reached 4.4 million, up from 2.9 million in the third quarter and Nokia shares roses as much as 18 per cent on the news.
“This is clearly very positive news from Nokia as it both shows that the company’s new Lumia product launches are performing well,” said Louis Landeman, an analyst at Danske Bank.
Nokia, which used to dominate the smartphone market with its Symbian devices, still lags a long way behind leaders Samsung and Apple, however.
Samsung sold around 62 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, and Apple 27 million.
As part of its fightback plan, Nokia has made deep cuts in an effort to improve margins. Mr Elop has slashed more than 20,000 jobs and closed production and research sites.
In the next quarter, Nokia predicted its handset division would make a loss of 2 per cent of sales.
Source The Telegraph


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Unmanned robotic couriers Yandex.Rovers began delivering groceries from stores and orders from restaurants in Moscow’s Khamovniki district. The service has already been activated by Azbuka Vkusa, Vkusville and about 40 cafes and restaurants.
Delivery by a robot can be selected when placing an order in the Yandex.Food and Yandex Go applications. An employee of a supermarket or restaurant will collect the order, load it into the Rover and send the robot to the specified address. When the order is delivered, the user will receive a notification, and the “Open the lock” button will appear in the application.
Rovers can deliver orders up to 20kg. There is no clear number of delivery robots in the area – it will depend on the flow of orders.
Yandex also reported that in the coming days they will launch delivery by a robot from Yandex.Lavka in Khamovniki. The company is already using robotic couriers for orders from Lavka on Khodynka and in the Airport metro area.
Note that Yandex plans to launch a pilot autonomous delivery service in the near future using Yandex.Rovers in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States, as well as to enter the markets of Israel and South Korea.


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(GIF – Hulu)
In Hulu’s recently launched marketing campaign, we can definitely confirm that “Hulu has live sports.” Here’s their ad spots Damian Lillard and Joel Embiid. I did in fact know that Hulu has live sports along with their live tv options (starting at $39.99/mo). But if you didn’t know, and assuming you know of Dame (Portland Trailblazers) or Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), then you realize that Hulu got two of the biggest names in the NBA to advertise their live sports platform. The “Hulu Sellouts” campaign will include four national TV spots that will run through June, featuring athletes from varying professional sports. An ad to be released in the coming weeks will feature All-Star Game team captain Giannis Antetokounmpo – Adweek.
I’m a fan of this campaign, it’s funny and very informative of what they have to offer, albeit live tv in addition to their already known streaming options. I’ll plug Hulu Live TV, although I just have it for streaming (with Spotify bundled), I’m more of a Sling TV; a Slinger as they call it. Check it out..there’s plenty of other options than going the traditional, expensive cable route and you can cancel anytime, no bogus contracts.


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this summer will back younger-skewing soups with a $50 million-plus multipronged campaign, themed "Mm Mm! Good! To Go!." Soup at Hand, its microwaveable, single-serving line, will expand its soup offerings, and Chunky and Select brands will add smaller, portable versions that are also microwaveable. Omnicom Group's BBDO Worldwide, New York, has the Soup at Hand and Select brands; WPP Group's Y&R Advertising, also New York, handles the Chunky and overall "Good! To Go" campaign.
broke a new broadcast campaign during 24 on Fox
last week. The effort marks the tech firm's return to advertising after a three-year absence. Themed "This is the power of the network. Now," the campaign is budgeted at $150 million-plus. WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, Los Angeles, is the agency.
Bank of America
began running a new broadcast and cable network campaign, its theme "Higher Standards" replacing "Embracing Ingenuity." Overall campaign budget is estimated at $100 million. Interpublic Group of Cos.' Bozell—about to join other veteran ad-agency names in the dustbin of history—handled the creative. Bank of America recently chose IPG's Deutsch
replace Bozell on creative.
L'Oreal USA's Drakkar Noir men's cologne has broken its first TV campaign in almost a decade, featuring auto racer Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Inspired by L'Oreal's print ad last year, the spot debuted via Publicis, appropriately enough, on the Speed Channel. The marketer plans "four to six flights" for this year. Besides the ongoing print campaign, L'Oreal said, department stores will support the campaign with local/regional TV buys. In addition, L'Oreal said, Earnhardt will do public appearances with a show car at various retailers in 25 key markets this year.
has named Interpublic Group of Cos.' McCann-Erickson Worldwide, New York, to handle its estimated $17 million-plus account. The camera marketer, whose review went from six agencies to three in mid January, had also mulled Interpublic's Bozell
and Havas's Arnold Worldwide
as finalists. The previous agency, Publicis's Fallon Worldwide, Minneapolis, was dropped last fall.
has assigned its FluMist account to Publicis Groupe's Saatchi & Saatchi, New York. The flu vaccine is expected to get $40 million in ad support. The drug marketer reportedly also considered two Interpublic Group of Cos.
agencies as finalists.
CAB Shortens CEO Search List
may be a frontrunner on the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau's CEO search for a successor to Joe Ostrow, who steps down in about five weeks. Bill Simon, managing director of global media and entertainment practice at Korn/Ferry International, Los Angeles, would not confirm names but said that he has narrowed the prospects "down to a shorter list of a few candidates." The new CAB CEO could be named in early March, he indicated. Asked about speculation on Byrne, he said, "There is no finalist, no choice at the moment."
Byrne left Variety
—like BROADCASTING & CABLE, published by Reed Business Information—as publisher in 2000 to become CEO at Stagebill Media, later acquired by Playbill. He previously was startup publisher at Crain Communications' Electronic Media and Crain's New York Business
and earlier international sales director at Crain's Advertising Age.
Animé Addition at WB
is adding ShoPro Entertainment's animé
hit Megaman: NT Warrior, to its Saturday-morning lineup this summer. "In line with our year-round launch strategy, Megaman: NT Warrior
will make a great addition to our top-rated schedule," said John Hardman, SVP of Kids' WB. Megaman: NT Warrior, which is a working title, is based on a popular comic-book series and is set in the future during a cyber-revolution. ShoPro also brought the once wildly popular Pokémon to Kids' WB.
Warner Taps Cartoon Net Toy Licensee
Warner Bros. Consumer Products & Equity Marketing Inc.
announced that Equity Marketing Inc., as the master toy licensee for Cartoon Network's Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack, would unveil new spinoff toys at last week's American International Toy Fair in New York. Besides that multiyear deal, Equity Marketing also is master toy licensee for Cartoon's Scooby-Doo property.
The television industry's top news stories, analysis and blogs of the day.
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One of the main features of Dubai is people’s love for luxury cars, mostly premium-class. It’s interesting that in general, the culture of Arabian people allows even rich people to wear simple clothes. Of course, they can wear clothes of the highest quality but they shouldn’t be too bright and bold. But, when talking about cars, the situation is quite different. Maybe, cars work like good horses for rich people of Dubai: in the past, they had wonderful horses, and now they have amazing cars.
In Dubai, people often buy automobiles as a personal offer and change their old car just when they have the first opportunity to do it, especially if the world’s leading car manufacturer has launched the newest model. Cars are the symbol of luxury and richness for people there. If you haven’t been to Dubai, we suggest visiting this amazing city someday and trying Bentley rental Dubai or any sportscar at your wish to get the best possible driving experience. Don’t rush to think that such cars will cost you a fortune. Today’s rental services offer a huge selection of luxury models for a reasonable price.
Crashed Expensive Cars in Dubai
In summer 2020, an interesting video was shared on YouTube: it showed tons of crashed luxury cars in Dubai placed in a special parking lot. Most of those cars got serious damages in car accidents and cannot be restored. For example, you can see there an expensive SUV Mercedes-AMG G63 that, considering its condition, was rolled over on the roof. But there are some expensive cars in this parking lot in Dubai that are in good condition. For example, the author of the video has found a supercar Ferrari 612 Scaglietti without any serious and obvious damages.
Some of these luxury cars were withdrawn from their owners due to various reasons. Moreover, these automobiles will be sold in various auctions. Apart from this, there are some cars in the parking lot that were left by their owners. And this is true if you are having a huge pile of money, why don’t you buy a new expensive automobile and leave your old car without wasting time to sell it to someone? Some people say that ex-owners of these cars might leave the country due to bankruptcy or any other problems with money and debts – and according to laws in Dubai, this is a criminal issue that may end up with years in prison for a person. Of course, if this is true, then the car’s owner had to run away from the country without thinking about his or her car’s fate.
A year before the video mentioned above was published on YouTube, the HushHush company that resells used luxury cars, has published their vacancy of scout in the UAE. The main responsibility of the scout was to drive through the UAE, including Dubai, and look for lux cars left by their owners. The scout should buy these cars from wonders as soon as possible until the government doesn’t confiscate vehicles for non-payment debts.
Police in Dubai Also Likes Luxury Cars
Not only rich people in Dubai can have cool and expensive cars! You can see amazing luxury vehicles driven by Dubai’s police department. Of course, any policeman in Dubai should look perfect as a symbol of a rich country that can allow Police to have opulent elite class supercars.
If you pay attention to the car park of Dubai Police, you may start thinking they buy only unique and luxury cars, including Mercedes SLS AMG, Ferrari FF, Aston Martin One-77, and Ford Mustang. For example, in 2013, the Dubai’s Police got a prestigious automobile Lamborghini Aventador that costs more than $ 550,000. The press service said that the Police need this car to patrol the fashionable areas of Dubai Marina and Jumeirah, as well as to monitor the situation near the famous skyscraper Burj Khalifa. Everything is simple – policemen like cool cars too!
As you can see, Dubai is famous not only for high skyscrapers, beautiful beaches, gold, and wonderful restaurants and hotels. It’s also a city where you can see many luxury and prestigious cars. Even the police in Dubai drive only cool vehicles!
Phoneia.com (January 15, 2022). Interesting Stories Behind Expensive Cars in Dubai. Recovered from https://phoneia.com/en/interesting-stories-behind-expensive-cars-in-dubai/


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Fressnapf , the Krefeld, Germany-based specialty chain for petfood and accessories, opened 13 stores in Germany and 12 more across Europe in the third quarter, increasing the number of Fressnapf stores in Germany to 750 and making a total of 1,051 Europe-wide.
By Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.
The options for plant-based proteins in pet food are expanding all the time.
By Debbie Phillips-Donaldson
Despite the pandemic and economic turmoil, pet food saw healthy sales increases in 2020, as did market leaders.


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Just a few weeks after the OnePlus 3 was confirmed by the company’s CEO, a new leak has revealed a number of images of the phone. The photos indicate a drastically different design language for the upcoming handset and the addition of a dedicated shutter button.
To recap what we know so far, OnePlus CEO Carl Pei has declared that the OnePlus 3 is coming by the end of the second quarter, which translates to a potential June launch date. He also mentioned that the phone would flaunt a fresh design. This statement lends some credence to the newly leaked snaps since it looks very different from the brand’s current flagship.
Based on the pictures posted by Mobile-Dad, the OnePlus 3 sports a slim design and carries a curved glass screen with extremely narrow bezels. There’s a fairly large speaker unit located above the selfie snapper and a physical home button at the bottom. GizmoChina thinks the handset may offer an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner courtesy the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 820 processor.
The images of the OnePlus phone which have gotten leaked further point towards USB Type-C connectivity, a power/lock slider key, a volume rocker and a camera button. The last may allow users to control a 20MP shooter which looks like it will be accompanied by dual-LED flash. Other potential specs include a 5.5-inch full HD screen and 4GB of RAM.
Also See: OnePlus X is getting its camera fixed via latest update
One question on everyone’s minds is whether OnePlus is going to get rid of the dreaded invite system once and for all with its fourth offering. While Pei hasn’t gone ahead and announced this, he did say the OnePlus 3 would be promoted through traditional marketing techniques. The CEO further stated that the handset would be sold unlocked in the US.
Stay tuned for more on the OnePlus 3. Rumors are bound to keep leaking until its anticipated June 2016 unveiling.


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In the midst of one of the worst quarters for businesses in decades, smartphone sales rose 3.7% worldwide in the 4th quarter of 2008 according to Gartner Research. Despite the positive sales numbers, fewer "must-have" devices and the overall economic downslide slowed down sales from the third quarter. Despite seeing their smartphone revenue drop off 17% to 15.6 million units in the last three months of 2008, Nokia remained the market leader although the percentage of the market held by the Finnish manufacturer dropped sharply from 50.9% to 40.8%. BlackBerry maker RIM was second with 19.5% of sales, up sharply from 10.9%. RIM sold 85% more smartphones over the prior year as sales hit 7.4 million handsets. In the quarter, RIM launched two handsets that were widely anticipated, the BlackBerry Bold and the BlackBerry Storm. The former is the first 'Berry with 3G capabilities while the latter is the first touchscreen model. Apple more than doubled their market share from 5.2% to 10.7 as sales increased from 1.9 million iPhones sold, to 4.1 million. Rounding out the top five is HTC with a 20% increase in sales to 1.6 million units and a 4.3% market share, and Samsung with a 4.2% share and sales of 1.6 million phones, an increase of 138%.
The market share of smartphone operating systems was led by Symbian with a 47.1% cut of the OS market, down from 62.3% due to the decline in Nokia smartphone sales. RIM replaced Windows Mobile in the runner-up position with the RIM OS garnering a 19.5% piece of the pie. Gartner's Research Director Roberta Cozza said that this year would see a major battle among the different mobile platforms as the user's experience with the UI of different smartphones gains in importance.


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Beefing up trade
China and US reach agreement on meat, poultry, natural gas
WASHINGTON — Beijing will open its borders to U.S. beef, while cooked Chinese poultry is closer to landing on American supermarket shelves under a U.S.-China trade agreement.
Trump administration officials hailed the deal as a significant advance toward boosting U.S. exports and closing America’s trade gap with the world’s second-largest economy. U.S. trade experts offered a more muted assessment, calling the agreement a modest fulfillment of past assurances made by China.
Among other things, the deal enables U.S. companies to export liquefied natural gas to China. It will also lower long-standing barriers that have affected matters ranging from agriculture to the operation of American financial firms in China.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross hailed the agreement, coming on the heels of President Donald Trump’s April meeting with President Xi Jinping, as “a herculean accomplishment.”
“This is more than has been done in the whole history of U.S.China relations on trade,” Ross told reporters Thursday evening at the White House.
In Beijing, Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao told reporters the early results of the agreement showed that economic collaboration between the two sides “couldn’t be closer.”
But trade experts questioned the magnitude of the deal.
“These are modest moves which by themselves will not have much effect on the U.S. economy,” said David Dollar, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former Treasury Department official.
The beef exports and electronic payments in the agreement have long been promised by China. And the agreement does little to address some key issues of trade friction, such as automobiles or social media. While the Trump administration has touted a surge in U.S. manufacturing, this agreement does little to help that goal.
“The challenge is selling manufactured goods into China — there isn’t anything in this deal to suggest China is going to become more open to U.S.-manufactured exports,” said Brad Setser, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
It remains unclear how far China will go to allow more American exports. Previous administrations have hailed market-opening agreements only to be left disappointed.
“The key in these negotiations is specifics that are enforceable — literally, the devil is in the details,” said Scott Mulhauser, a former chief of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
“The more these agreements include real, concrete outcomes rather than platitudes, rehashing old ground or punts to the future, the better they are,” Mulhauser said. “American companies, workers, farmers and more are eager for more access to Chinese markets, and they’ll look to ensure reality matches the rhetoric of these promises.”
Trump made America’s wide trade deficits and especially the gap with China a major issue in his campaign and during the early days of his administration. He’s argued that America’s perennial trade gaps have cost millions of factory jobs and he has pledged to take a tougher stance in trade negotiations to lower the imbalances.
Under the agreement, the United States is inviting Chinese companies to import U.S.-produced liquefied natural gas. The Energy Department has authorized natural gas shipments of 19.2 billion cubic feet per day to China and other interested countries that lack a broader free trade agreement with the United States, the Commerce Department said.
China’s Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao speaks during a news conference at the State Council Information Office on Friday in Beijing. China will finally open its borders to U.S. beef while cooked Chinese poultry is closer to hitting the American market as part of a U.S.-China trade agreement. Zhu told reporters that the early results of the agreement showed that economic collaboration between the two sides “couldn’t be closer.”


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EBay, With a Global Boost, Beats Wall Street Expectations
SAN FRANCISCO, July 20 - EBay, the online marketplace, surprised investors on Wednesday when it reported that earnings rose 53 percent in the second quarter, driven by growth in international business.
The report gives eBay a much-needed boost, coming two quarters after it missed Wall Street estimates by a penny, prompting speculation that its heyday was behind it.
"It's a good rebound even though the market continues to be somewhat challenging," said Safa Raschty, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. The news also comes a day after Yahoo, another Internet bellwether stock, disappointed Wall Street by reporting its profit matched, but did not exceed, analyst expectations, causing a sell-off in its shares.
In contrast, eBay stock rose nearly $5 a share, or 14 percent, in after-hours after the report was released. It had closed down 50 cents, to $34.87, in regular trading.
EBay, based in San Jose, Calif., said it earned $291.6 million, or 21 cents a share, for the three months ended in June, a 53 percent increase from $190.4 million, or 14 cents a share in the second quarter last year. Excluding accounting charges, the company would have earned 22 cents a share.
On that basis, analysts had forecast the company would earn 18 cents a share on sales of $1.04 billion, an increase of 35 percent from last year.
"We saw strong growth across every part of the business around the world," said Meg Whitman, eBay's chief executive, in a conference call with analysts.
The number of registered users of PayPal, the company's online payment service, grew to 79 million from 50 million.
Revenue, which comes primarily from listing and transaction fees, totaled $1.09 billion in the quarter, up from $773.4 million in the quarter a year ago, making it the second consecutive quarter in which revenues topped $1 billion.
Looking ahead, the company raised its revenue forecast for the year to $4.34 billion to $4.41 billion, from $4.27 billion to $4.36 billion. The company forecast earnings of 77 cents to 78 cents a share for the year, an increase from its previous guidance of 71 cents to 73 cents a share. The company said it expected third-quarter revenue of $1.045 billion to $1.07 billion, compared with $805.9 million in the third quarter a year ago.
Executives said revenue at its business in the United States increased 27 percent, to $423.6 million, an improvement over the first quarter when domestic business grew 20 percent.
Revenue from international markets rose 51 percent, to $418.8 million. Sales showed significant improvement in Germany, executives said, eBay's second-biggest market.
In the second quarter, eBay said it had 440.1 million new listings, up from the 332.3 million new listings in the year-earlier period. EBay's total number of registered users rose by 10 million in the quarter for a total of 157 million.
"The general consensus for Yahoo was high," said David Edwards, an analyst at American Technology Research. "For eBay, there was mixed opinion whether the fundamental drivers were still sound." In the end, Mr. Edwards said, eBay's results were encouraging.
EBay had been criticized for raising its merchant fees, and because many customers and merchants accused eBay of not doing enough to combat fraud in its auctions. Last month, the company tightened its rules for sellers, and recently has been publicizing fraud-protection measures being tested in Europe.
In a conference call, Ms. Whitman also described the importance of improving eBay's search capability, calling the service as much a search site as Google.
In May, eBay bought Shopping.com, a comparative shopping site that uses a sophisticated search engine.