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- Lidl’s Queen Margot Blend Scotch Whisky has been named the best in the world.
- The budget supermarket’s offering was named ‘Best Scotch Whisky’ at the World Whiskies Awards.
- It costs just £13.49 ($17.98).
A bottle of whisky costing just £13.49 ($17.98) at Lidl has won big at this year’s World Whiskies Awards, scooping the prize for ‘Best Scotch Whisky.’
More than 40 international experts sampled whiskies from around the world for the competition.
The World Whiskies Awards is an annual event that recognises the "very best in all internationally recognised styles of drinks."
It’s presented by TheDrinksReport.com, an online resource for professionals within the drinks industry.
Among those beaten by Lidl’s entry included the Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky, which retails at £22 ($29.32) at UK supermarket Sainsbury’s.
The Lidl Queen Margot Blend Scotch Whisky is produced using traditional whisky-making methods, which will have included malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, and maturation.
It contains dried apricot and plum, which the supermarket says imbue it with "a rich sweetness and depth of flavour" and is mellowed for eight years in oak casks.
Whisky is made from three basic ingredients: water, malted barley, and yeast.
Once the barley has been dried, it’s mixed with hot water to make "mash."
The mash is then fermented and distilled, before being placed in wooden barrels to mature.
This isn’t the first time Lidl has triumphed at an alcohol award ceremony.
In April 2018, the supermarket’s Hortus Artisan Dry Gin beat other more expensive rivals during a blind taste test conducted by the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Furthermore, it was recently announced that Lidl had been awarded the prize for Own Brand Gin Supermarket of the Year at Gin magazine’s 2019 Icons of Gin awards.
- The House votes to terminate Trump’s national-emergency declaration
- No-deal Brexit panic after ministers realize the UK doesn’t have the right pallets for exporting to the EU
- Share your opinion — become a BI Insider!
Source: Business Insider –


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Just a couple of weeks away from the holidays and for many of us our attention has shifted a little. There is a little more partying, a little more attention to those personal errands … picking up presents, catching up with friends etc.
The media continues to tell us that the economy is “tanking”, the Bank of Canada today announced that Canada is entering recession and there are plenty of companies “talking up” the possible impacts on business. Unemployment will rise significantly, many companies will go bankrupt … even some fairly healthy companies. The retail industry is reeling, automakers on the brink of disaster, oil and gas companies cutting back as the price of oil drops, the financial sector still trying to get out from under their earlier bad decisions.
So … are YOU really looking at your situation? Will your company be safe? Will your job be there?
Perhaps even more importantly, are you doing everything you can to help your company to make it through this tough time? If not, then are you ready for the impact?
My message to YOU today is that, if you believe what the “experts” are saying then you need to be doing anything you can to ensure you are OK. That means working a little harder, maybe working a little longer, be a little more “focused” when you are at work. Be the most productive that you can.
If you don’t believe the “experts” then are you willing to take a chance that the are wrong?
It is hard this time of year to “keep the pedal to the metal” but my advice is that is exactly what you need to be doing. We don’t really know that the new year will bring but “easing off” now could spell disaster if the bottom really does fall out of the economy in January! Just think of it as “insurance”!

domain: news


text: Hotels. It’s usually the first place that comes to mind when people think about bed bugs. But the hard truth is that bed bugs can thrive anywhere. From single-family homes to apartments, hospitals, college dorm rooms, office buildings, schools, buses, trains, movie theaters, retail stores and just about anywhere that humans are, you’ll find bed bugs. In fact, according to the Bugs without Borders study, 89 percent of pest professionals report treating bed bug infestations in single-family homes, and 88 percent report treating bed bug infestations in apartments/condos. Respondents also report other common areas, with 67 percent treating bed bug infestations in hotels/motels, 35 percent in college dormitories, 9 percent on various modes of transportation, 5 percent in laundry facilities, and 4 percent in movie theaters.


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Showing results for tags 'tech news'.
Starting this thread to post weird tech news. Have to say that with all the news on security issues, one would think twice about buying stuff without knowing if it is secure or not, but nope, seems we have a whole new wave of tech toys that are as secure as one slurping ice cream at the store without paying for it yet. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/this-iot-dildo-has-an-embedded-wifi-streaming-camera-and-laughable-security/ Who would have thought, but we now have WiFi streaming cameras with LED lights on Dildo's with Laughable security. WOW 😳


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FOTON is starting this year on a high note. Besides recently launching their own assembly line here in the Philippines, they were able to sell almost 4,000 units in 2015. In light of this, the Chinese brand recognized their Cavite showroom as Dealer of the Year during their recent Dealer’s Appreciation Night.
But the highly-coveted title was just the icing on the cake as the dealership also bagged other noteworthy titles. These include the Recognition for Fleet Sales, Parts Team of the Year, Service Team of the Year, Best in Passenger Vehicle for Retail Sales, Best in Light-Duty Trucks for Retail Sales, and Best in Light-Duty Trucks for Wholesale.
All these achievements resulted from their full-steam efforts to up the NCR and Luzon sales last year. FOTON Cavite helped the brand sell a total of 3,892 units in 2015, and this is due to the exemplary commanding skills of Dealer Principal Mr. Nicasio Octavo and General Manager Ms. Benjie Adriano.
United Asia Automotive Group Inc (UAAGI) also bestowed FOTON Cebu and FOTON Balintawak with 1st and 2nd runner-up Dealer of the Year awards respectively as they also contributed to the brand’s high sales achievement.
FOTON Philippines Executive Vice President Anna Maria Parado said. “We remain resolute in actively and aggressively gaining more partners because we do not want to merely add to our dealership network but rather, we want to multiply.” She also stated that they’re already lining up more dealership expansions in Quezon Avenue, Pasong Tamo, Marilao, Sta. Rosa Laguna, Batangas City, and Camarines Sur within this year.
For more of FOTON Philippines and their vehicle lineup, feel free to check out the AutoDeal Car Guide.


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Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has issued an amendatory veto of SB1833, the very broad data breach bill that was drafted by Attorney General Madigan and passed earlier this year by the General Assembly.
Governor Bruce Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly are locked in a heated battle over the state’s budget for the new fiscal year, which began on July 1st. During his successful election campaign last year, Rauner had proposed extending the sales tax to a number of services, including advertising on billboards, radio and television as well as ad agency services.
Last month, the Digital Citizens Alliance and MediaLink LLC issued a report on the profitability of ad-supported online piracy, “Good Money Still Going Bad: Digital Thieves and the Hijacking of the Online Ad Business,” which found that revenues from ad-supported content theft remain basically unchanged since last year.
The leadership in the North Carolina Senate has developed a budget bill that would extend the sales tax (which is currently 4.75 percent) to advertising and several other services.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance on June 9 to require labels on advertisements for beverages, including certain sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and iced teas that have contain more than 25 calories from sweeteners per 12 ounces.
Statement from Dan Jaffe, Group Executive Vice President of Government Relations in response to a letter from 87 Members of Congress to Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) opposing proposals to amortize advertising deductions.
Yesterday SB1833, a bill that would dramatically increase the potential liability for marketers in the event of a data breach, passed by a vote of 63-52 in the Illinois House.
Legislation that would dramatically increase the potential liability for marketers in the event of a data breach was approved by the Illinois Senate today.
Legislators in Illinois are currently considering a bill that would drastically increase advertisers’ liability in the event of a data breach.
ANA has filed comments with the Senate Finance Committee's Business Income Tax Working Group on tax reform, expressing our opposition to any change in the current full deductibility of advertising costs.
Last week, Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced a bipartisan draft bill on data security and data breach notification.
The Brand Activation Association (BAA), a division of the ANA, has filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of the Commission’s proposed amendment to Section 73.1216 of the Rules Related to Broadcast Licensee-Conducted Contests (“Contest Rule”).
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) today announced major updates to the BBB Code of Advertising to reflect changes in the ways advertisers reach consumers, including online and in social media.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) has reintroduced the bipartisan Innovation Reform Act of 2015.
On January 30, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that POM Wonderful LLC’s claims that its pomegranate products combat heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction aren’t adequately backed by research.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on January 15 that he intends to propose legislation to rewrite the state’s data security law.
The 2014 ANA Compendium of Legislative, Regulatory, and Legal Issues Affecting Advertising is now available.
Yesterday, ANA sent letters to the members of the Nevada Delegation to Congress marking the start of the annual International Consumer Electronics Show which begins today with over 150,000 attendees in Las Vegas.
The 2015 ominbus spending bill retains the requirement that the Federal Trade Commission must complete a cost/benefit analysis before completing the Interagency Working Group for Food Marketed to Children (IWG) report.
This morning, ANA filed comments to ICANN regarding the proposal from the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) Sub-Group on Geographic Names to expand GAC control over the assignment of geo-based names through the creation of ill-defined new sources of GAC and local government objections.


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Now that Micromax’s A116 Canvas HD phablet made its way onto the market, the Indian company can continue to launch affordable Android phones.
Micromax A35 is the first device in the newly launched Bolt Series of smartphones. The handset has just been released in India as Micromax A35 Bolt and is now available for purchase via leading retailers across the country for only Rs 4,250 outright, which is about $80 or €60.
Aimed at first time smartphone users, Micromax A35 ships with Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread platform out of the box and is likely to stay on this version until it reaches EOL (end of life) status.
However, the device introduces its new application Flash Transfer, which allows users to share images, videos, songs, files and applications with a simple swipe.
Users only need to drag content across the screen or simply shake and share smoothly between Android devices. Keep in mind that the Flash Transfer application works on Wi-Fi network, making one of the devices a Hotspot and sharing files over the private network.
Hardware-wise, the A35 Bolt is far from being impressive, but it gets the job done. The smartphone is equipped with a 1GHz single-core processor and 512MB of RAM.
Micromax does not mention the amount of storage, but users will be able to further expand internal memory up to 16GB via microSD memory card.
On the back, Micromax A35 Bolt sports a mediocre 2-megapixel photo snapper, while in the front there’s a secondary VGA camera.
Obviously, it offers Bluetooth 2.1 and Wi-Fi connectivity, as well as GPS with A-GPS support and dual-SIM capability (GSM+GSM).
Last but not least, the A35 Bolt is powered by a 1500 mAh Li-Ion battery, which should provide up to 4.5 hours of talk time. No word on the standby time value for the moment.


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(Pocket-lint) - Apple wants to turn iPhones from across the world into devices that collect scientific data for medical research. Back in March 2015 the Cupertino company introduced ResearchKit during its Spring Forward event, following that up a year later with the announcement of CareKit.
ResearchKit is an open-source software framework designed for medical and health research. The premise is simple: doctors and scientists will use the software to launch iPhone apps that can frequently gather accurate data from volunteers. Researchers will essentially be able to ask iPhone users from around the globe to download their iPhone apps and thus participate in medical studies. These studies are about asthma, breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and more. Nobody is obligated to participate; the goal is to transform the iPhone into a tool for medical research.
CareKit, a separate open-source software platform and the hub of your personal health, with specific doctor-patient apps, is "a framework to build apps that empower people to take an active role in their care". The first app is for Parkinson's Disease sufferers, with other apps due to follow. It will be available in April.
What is ResearchKit?
ResearchKit gives developers the ability to make new iPhone apps that can not only gather health-related but also access data from the Apple Health app - and all of that collected data will help doctors and scientists study diseases and other medical issues. ResearchKit chiefly makes it easier for researchers to recruit volunteer participants for large-scale studies (i.e., not limited to small demographics, regions, populations, etc).
How does ResearchKit work?
As we mentioned above, you won't ever have to come face-to-face with ResearchKit. It's for app developers. You'll only use the new iPhone apps that will launch as a result of Apple making ResearchKit available to developers.
Here's an example of how a ResearchKit-based app works: Download the new Asthma Health app from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and LifeMap Solutions. Once you get the app and then open it, you will need to grant permission for the app to access data from the Health app on your iPhone. It'll look at data like weight, blood pressure, glucose levels, and asthma inhaler use, which are measured by third-party devices and apps.
The Health app first launched alongside HealthKit software framework in 2014. The framework provides apps developers with the ability to develop health and fitness apps that can communicate with each other, while Apple's Health app displays all your health and fitness data collected by those apps in an easy-to-read dashboard. You can also use the Health app to designate which apps can share your data, among other things.
ResearchKit expands upon the Health app and HealthKit. It accesses sensors in the iPhone, including the accelerometer, microphone, gyroscope, and GPS sensors, in order to gain insight into your gait, motor impairment, fitness, speech, memory, and more. None of this information will be collected by ResearchKit-based apps unless you download the apps, then willingly participate in their studies, and decide to share your data.
The new Asthma Health app, for instance, is designed to "facilitate asthma patient education and self-monitoring, promote positive behavioral changes, and reinforce adherence to treatment plans according to current asthma guidelines." It is basically a study app that tracks symptom patterns and potential triggers for exacerbations in volunteer participates so that researchers can learn new ways to treat asthma.
What are some of the first ResearchKit-based apps?
Apart from the Asthma Health app, Apple has highlighted a few of the first apps based on its new ResearchKit framework. The Share the Journey app, for instance, which the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute developed with Penn Medicine, Sage Bionetworks, and UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, is a study that aims to understand why some breast cancer survivors recover faster than others, among other things.
Another app is called MyHeart Counts by Stanford Medicine. It measures heart activity to help researchers accurately evaluate how a participant’s activity and lifestyle relate to cardiovascular health. And then there's the GlucoSuccess app by Massachusetts General Hospital. It attempts to understand how various aspects of a person’s life - such as their diet, physical activity, and medications - affect blood glucose levels.
Apple has also showcased the Parkinson mPower app by Sage Bionetworks and the University of Rochester. It helps people living with Parkinson’s track their symptoms by recording activities through things like a memory game, finger tapping, speaking, and walking. The data collected will help fuel Parkinson’s research at a scale never before possible.
What is CareKit?
CareKit is separate to ResearchKit, designed to help people actively manage their own medical conditions and share information with their doctors and medical practitioners if they wish. Just like with ResearchKit this will happen in the form of apps created by CareKit developers.
At launch in April there will be a Parkinson's Disease app to help track the effectiveness of medicines being taken, and a post-surgery app by the Texas Medical Centre to ensure best possible recovery after being discharged.
CareKit will be released as an open-source framework from April 2016, allowing developers to continue building on the first four modules designed by Apple: Care Card, for tracking care plans and action items, such as taking medication; Symptom and Measurement Tracker, for users to record how they're feeling; Insight Dashboard, to map symptoms against the action items in Care Card; and Connect, for sharing information with doctors, medical practitioners, or even family members.
Apple's Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Williams, said during the Loop You In event held in Cupertino that privacy was of the utmost importance. "Nothing is more sensitive than health data" - with the promise that CareKit allows you to share health data with who you want and how.
There are seven highlighted initial partners on board - Sage Bionetworks, University of Rochester, The Texas Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, One Drop, Start by Iodine, and Glow Inc. - to accompany the six major institutions: University of Rochester Medical Center, UCSF, Johns Hopkins Medicine, PDCNY (Parkinson's Disease Care, New York), Stanford Medicine, and Emory Healthcare.
Are ResearchKit- and CareKit apps US-only or worldwide?
ResearchKit-based apps were initially only be available on the US App Store (at appstore.com/researchkit). Since then Apple's ResearchKit apps have been made available elsewhere: in the UK or Hong Kong you can now access the MyHeart Counts app, for example. It is the first ResearchKit app to get an international release - prior to August 2015, the ResearchKit software platform could only be used in the US.
CareKit will be US-only at launch, with other countries expected to follow later.
Which devices support ResearchKit- and CareKit-based apps?
The following Apple devices support ResearchKit- and CareKit-based apps: iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone SE and the latest iPod touch.


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Hey there Hero-Club this is RRPG Reviews, and today I am presenting the newest installment in my RRPG Two-Cents series. Normally featured on my personal YouTube Channel, the series is about video editorials on various topics, mostly gaming news. However, I currently plan to promote the series here on Hero-Club, since I am not active enough on the site.
Now, today’s video is about the current situation regarding Sony, and their attempts to release ‘blockbuster’ video games. For those unaware, this is a response to the story that Bloomberg News reported on this past Friday. So, if things are like they are for Sony, this could spill bad news for the PlayStation family’s future toward consumers. I hope this is not the case, but Jim Ryan as Sony Interactive Entertainment’s current president does not make me optimistic. Especially when this concerns the first-party titles being produced for the PlayStation 5. Anyway, here my two-cents on the subject, and I am back to doing it, for once!
Cinematic Dragons Intro created by Voxyde
Also, here are my social media contacts and information on The Geek Fighters!


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Page 1 of 3
May 31, 2012
Mallory Alexander International Logistics was recognized for the second time by the U.S. government for its contributions to the country’s exports.
February 23, 2012
An inside look at the mpact of volatility on logistics logistics in Argentina.
February 14, 2012
Has $2 cotton been a headache or a home run?
September 15, 2011
Sometimes, doing nothing is the best choice, and that’s the approach China has taken regarding its low-tariff import quotas of cotton for 2012.
August 9, 2011
Southern India Mills' Association appeals to Prime Minister's on surplus cotton export policy.
May 5, 2011
Until July 31, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow the importantion of more than 52,000 tons of cotton that won't be subject to the over-quota tariff.
May 2, 2011
The second day of ACSA's annual conference includes a look at trends in ocean shipping, as well as opportunities in China for foreign businesses.
April 6, 2011
In light of lessening demand from the textile and apparel industry, Indian officials removed all export restrictions from cotton yarn and placed it on the "free list."
March 10, 2011
A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma" was an apt description of my read on India - that is, until making my maiden voyage there just a few weeks ago.
March 4, 2011
In another green-development for cotton products, EcoCradle packaging material is helping make hazardous styrofoam materials a thing of the past.
January 27, 2011
Indian officials seek to balance the needs of yarn exporters with the interests of the domestic textile industry, which is pushing for a lifting of the restrictions on all types of yarn.
January 18, 2011
Government sets January 24 deadline for traders to submit necessary documents.
January 13, 2011
All of the remaining 1.9 million bales (170 kg) of cotton that were originally approved for export in 2010 will be shipped between Jan. 25 and Feb. 25.
January 11, 2011
Deadline for export allotment has come and gone for Indian government.
January 6, 2011
The deadline for shipment of the 2.5 million bales originally approved for export in 2010 has been set for Feb. 25, according to India's Trade Secretary.


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Fashion chain New Look underlying operating profit slumped from £162.7m to £98m in the year to March 26 as the retailer suffered from “significant internal disruption”.
Group adjusted EBITDA tumbled from £249.4m to £190.2m.
Group like-for-likes declined 5.5% while total sales were flat at £1.46bn.
E-commerce sales grew 41.4%, and now represent 4% of group sales.
New Look said a strategic review is under way to restore product and value architecture.
New Look executive chairman Alistair McGeorge said: “Clearly these are disappointing results, reflecting a business that was suffering significant internal disruption against a backdrop of a harsh and deteriorating consumer economy.
“Additionally, we allowed our price architecture to drift upawards, which undermined our competitiveness and relative value positioning in the marketplace.
“New Look is now going through a transition to ensure we are firmly focused on delivering, with greater consistency, what our customers expect – great fashion at great prices.
“This is a business with a strong brand and fantastic people and we are confident that we have put in place the right first steps to ensure New Look is returned to sustainable growth.”
2011 has been a turbulent year so far for New Look. In March founder Tom Singh returned to run the business after chief executive Carl McPhail exited.
Singh then hired former Matalan boss McGeorge as executive chairman.
The retailer, which attempted an IPO last year, has suffered from further exits including Nick Cross, the chief marketing officer, who left the business last month after less than six months in the role.
New Look said it would continue to roll-out its upgrade and refurbishment programme to its stores.
It added that it was the top retailer in value and volume terms for the under 35’s and the number two retailer in value and volume terms in women’s footwear according to data from Kantar Worldpanel for the 52 weeks ending April 17.


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The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya has tasked SMEs in the country to reevaluate their businesses in an effort to adjust to the new normal following the disruption caused by COVID 19 Pandemic.
Ogunsanya who gave this charge at the UBA Quarterly Business Series held virtually on Tuesday, stated that the pandemic is forcing many businesses to re-examine their models and strategies in line with the new normal.
While addressing the topic ‘Strategies and competencies for adjusting to a post-COVID-19 business environment,’ he encouraged business leaders to clarify the purposes of their businesses and focus on them.
Ogunsanya told the over 2,000 participants at the webinar, that this period called for critical evaluation of businesses where SMEs should think of creative ways to ensure that they meet the needs of customers and provide services that customers are actually willing to pay for.
He said it was important for business executives to rebuild trust in their customers as many of them were worried about spending, advising them to provide multiple platforms for interacting with customers.
Ogunsanya emphasised the need for businesses to leverage technology, collaborative tools, cloud services, self-service apps and have a reliable broadband partner.
“If as a business you find out that a huge part of your key services are not in high demand as a result of lockdown rules, then it is important to reconfigure your services; find other needs that you can meet for customers; look for various things you can do differently, completely cut out wastes and costs that are irrelevant as well as areas where value is not being added to the customers and ensure that you have a digital roadmap” he said in response to a participant who wanted to know how to increase productivity.
Speaking further, Ogunsanya said telecommunications operators are doing better than businesses in other industries amidst COVID-19 pandemic because they provide alternative platforms for socialisation.
According to him, voice revenue which formed the bulk of their service, fell during the lockdown because the earnings and purchasing power of Nigerians in the informal sector were adversely affected.
“The only saving grace is that we are a replacement industry, which is a sort of buffer for us. We all must figure out a way to make sure the pandemic comes to an end.”
UBA Group Head, Consumer and Retail Banking, Jude Anele, who spoke ahead of the webinar, said that far beyond banking services, UBA is interested in ensuring that customers and entrepreneurs run businesses that can stand the test of time, adding that the Business Series seeks to arm business leaders with all the knowledge and experience required to take their businesses to the next level. “it is always an opportunity to learn something new from the people who have the experience,” Mr Anele said.
The UBA Business Series, organised by Pan-African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, is a capacity building initiative held every quarter, where leading business leaders share insights on best business practices and how entrepreneurs can build a sustainable business empire especially in the challenging business environment in Africa.


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Hugh Jackman swears by it, as does Vanessa Hudgens, Chris Hemsworth and Jack Dorsey. Intermittent fasting is here to stay, and why not? It promises weight loss or maintenance, lower cholesterol and blood pressure and less inflammation, among other things. A new study published in Endocrine Reviews claims that it also helps prevent chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
There are several ways to intermittent fast. Some of them include time-restricted eating, the 5:2 diet where you usually eat for five days and eat only 500 calories the other two and the Eat Stop Eat diet, which involves 24-hour fasts a couple of times a week. This study claims eating your calories within a consistent 8–10-hour window is a powerful strategy to prevent disease. According to the study, recent research has revealed that genes, hormones and metabolism rise and fall at different times of the 24-hour day. "Aligning our daily habit of when we eat with the body's internal clock can optimize health and reduce the risk or disease burden of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and liver disease," stated the study.
Also read: Why fitness challenges are bad for you
One of the study's authors, Satchidananda Panda, PhD, of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, pointed out that eating at random times breaks the synchrony of our internal program and makes us prone to diseases. "People who are trying to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle should pay more attention to when they eat as well as what they eat. Time-restricted eating is an easy-to-follow and effective dietary strategy that requires less mental math than counting calories," he said. "Intermittent fasting can improve sleep and a person's quality of life as well as reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease."
Perhaps the most significant benefit of time-restricted eating is the relative ease with which it can be followed. It could be as simple as pushing breakfast back by a couple of hours and having an early dinner with a small meal or snack in-between. In your fasting window, only water or zero-calorie drinks like black coffee or green tea are allowed. Since you're eating less frequently, your main meals could be slightly bigger, leaving you more satiated. Of course, the rules of eating right still apply fruits and vegetables, whole grains, enough protein and good fat at least 80% of the time with an occasional treat. But eating this way can help moderate your overall calorific intake and simplify your life. "Intermittent fasting is a lifestyle that anyone can adopt. It can help eliminate health disparities and lets everyone live a healthy and fulfilling life," agreed Dr Panda.


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Recent independent figures indicate that Windows 10 Mobile is already on nearly 5% of all active Windows handsets, despite the OS being available only as a preview. Insider Previews are still only supported on certain Windows Phones - but some owners of unsupported devices were recently able to install official preview builds, with some unfortunate consequences.
But there's good news for those who installed Windows 10 Mobile build 10536 on one particular unsupported handset - the HTC Windows Phone 8X - as Microsoft has made good on its earlier promise to deliver 'repair options' for owners of this device.
As Windows Blog Italia reports, Microsoft has updated its Windows Phone Recovery Tool with new support for the 8X. Now known as the Windows Device Recovery Tool - perhaps because it will also be used to support small tablets running Windows 10 Mobile - it's now possible to roll back an installation of the new OS preview on the 8X to a stable build of Windows Phone 8.1.
This should provide the fixes that 8X owners need to get their handsets working properly again. However, Microsoft said before that the HTC Windows Phone 8X was not the only unsupported device that was able to install Insider Preview build 10536, so we may well see further updates bringing fixes for other handsets in the near future.


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By Mihir Dalal and Lisa Baertlein BANGALORE/LOS ANGELES, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Shares of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc fell 5 percent after Starbucks Corp said it would launch its own single-cup coffee maker, a move that could challenge Green Mountain's near monopoly in the market and dashes hopes of a partnership between the companies. The world's largest coffee company confirmed a Wall Street Journal report that it would sell a single-cup brewer and accompanying pods as an extension of its Via instant coffee line-up. Starbucks, which currently partners on Kraft Foods Inc's Tassimo, a rival to Green Mountain's Keurig, did not announce a release date. "Simply put, this is negative for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in that it increases competition in single-cup coffee, where the company's Keurig brand has an approximate 80 percent share of the category," Stifel Nicolaus analyst Mark Astrachan said in a note to clients. However, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey's William Chappell said he was uncertain whether a Starbucks launch would pose a threat to Green Mountain, which has crushed competition from food giants such as Sara Lee Corp and Kraft Foods. "We doubt that a Starbucks-owned machine would change the competitive landscape and it could actually help GMCR if Tassimo's exclusive relationship with Starbucks is scrapped," said Chappell, who backed his "buy" rating on Green Mountain stock. Some analysts had believed that a collaboration between the companies -- which might have involved Starbucks making coffee refills for Green Mountain's Keurig brewers -- would have been mutually attractive. The possibility of such a move had increased after Starbucks said it would end a distribution deal with Kraft earlier this month. However, the company has not yet said whether it would end its partnership with Tassimo, too. SunTrust's Chappell said Starbucks' announcement seems to end the possibility of a near-term partnership with Green Mountain. Vermont-based Green Mountain declined to comment. Shares of Green Mountain were down 4 percent at $31.46 on Friday afternoon on Nasdaq. Starbucks shares were down 2 percent at $30.16. (Additional reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Anne Pallivathuckal) Keywords: GREENMOUNTAIN/ (email@example.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: firstname.lastname@example.org) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved.
The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.


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SHANGHAI, Dec. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — China’s professional cleaning market is worth a potential RMB 300 billion, but due to reasons such as industrial segmentation, the industry is facing some tough challenges.
Equipment manufacturers, distributors and property cleaning providers are all gradually realizing that consumers will give top priority to brands when they are making a decision, and that the low-price strategy will no longer work.
Thanks to policy support and governmental funding in China, the hotel, automobile and medical industries are developing rapidly, thereby driving the development of the cleaning industry.
For example, figures show the number of five-star hotels in China increased by 25% to nearly 800 between 2010 and 2014, much higher than the 6.9% growth of four-star hotels in the same period (there were about 2,400 four-star hotels in China in 2014). This indicates that the lifestyle of Chinese citizens has changed fundamentally, with the majority of people seeking a higher quality of life and focusing more on sanitation and hygiene.
With the rise of domestic demands, the domesticization of cleaning equipment has been enhanced. At the China Clean Expo 2015 (CCE2015), almost two thirds (63%) of cleaning equipment and cleaning product brands came from Chinese manufacturers, while the remaining 37% were from other countries and regions from all over the world.
Data collected at the Expo shows that domestic Chinese manufacturers of cleaning products are located across the country, but especially in Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
China’s independently-developed cleaning products consist of pressure washers, scrubbing and sweeping equipment, vacuum cleaners, floor mats, detergent, and stone care products. According to the monitoring statistics of the Meadin Brand Index (MBI), the top three cleaning equipment brands used by Chinese hotels in 2014 were Karcher (Germany), Sailstar (China) and Viper (Italy) respectively. Compared with the rankings in 2013, Karcher remained unchanged, while Sailstar moved up one place to second, and Viper fell one place to third, reflecting that China has the capacity and technology now to manufacture products whose quality and function are comparable or even superior to imported products.
However, the development of the Chinese cleaning industry has come later than that over overseas countries, leading to a huge gap between domestic and international companies in terms of specialization.
According to www.chinaclean.org; "The quality of personnel in the cleaning industry varies in China, and the brand competition is in the state of disorder." Though there are various Chinese-owned products, few of them have features that differentiate them from the competition which makes them less distinguishable in the eyes of the public. In comparison, foreign brands, with their orderly management and many years of professional R&D, are more easily accepted by Chinese consumers, still keeping favorable competitive strength in the Chinese market. The 37% of overseas brands at the 2015 China Clean Expo were from the U.S. (12%), Italy (8%), Germany (7%), Japan (3%) and other countries and regions (7%). It is clear that domestic and overseas brands are co-existing and competing with each other in the concurrent Chinese market.
The China Clean Expo is therefore dedicated to providing a platform to promote mutual communication between domestic and international brands, introducing the advanced technologies and management modes of overseas brands, and also driving leading Chinese brands to the international market in order that they can be globally accepted. All in all, it is hoped that all brand manufacturers can use the China Clean Expo as a platform to boost the sustainable development of the Chinese cleaning industry.


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Russia's massive internet service provider Mail.ru has announced today that it will be dropping Google in favor of using its own proprietary search engine for all queries searched through its service. We first heard rumors that this may take place back in November of last year when Mail.ru suggested it would be canceling are Google contract.
Mail.ru is essentially the Google of Russia and operates a range of online services including 2 social networks, instant messaging services, online gaming properties, its own proprietary browser, and of course it's very own search engine. That search engine for the most part has been powered by other search engines in the past including Google and most recently fellow Russian search engine Yandex.
"It's remarkable that there are fewer countries with their own search engines today than those with their own space program," says Dmitry Grishin, Co-Founder and CEO of Mail.Ru Group. Mail.ru says that in the past few years it is expanded its search engine team from just 15 people to well over 200 while its index volume has doubled in size from 5,000,000,000 to 10,000,000,000 documents.


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Andrew Hoyle / CNET
Apple's 30% tax on App Store revenue may have steered another tech giant in the wrong direction: Facebook. Earlier this month, Facebook announced a new feature that would allow influencers and businesses to host online events that users would have to pay to access. Apple typically charges a 30% fee for all purchases made through an iOS app. However, Facebook hoped the iPhone maker would make an exception for this supposedly community-oriented tool. Apple refused.
On Thursday, Facebook told Reuters that it was trying to alert iOS users about the Apple fee, explaining why organizers would get 70% of their earnings. However, Apple blocked this because of "irrelevant" information. Facebook previously said it wouldn't cost any of the money organizers made using the tool for the next year.
For more of that
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"Now, more than ever, we should have the opportunity to help people understand where the money they intend for small businesses is actually going to," a Facebook spokesman told CNET. "Unfortunately, Apple has declined our transparency notice regarding the 30% tax, but we're still working on making that information available in the app."
Apple was asked to comment but did not respond immediately.
A demo of Facebook's upcoming paid event feature.
Facebook's complaint is timely, as is Appleabout the same problem. Epic's success, Fortnite, was kicked off the App Store earlier this month after Epic developed a direct payment scheme that allowed Fortnite players to purchase in-game currency directly from Epic rather than through Apple in order to receive Apple's 30% tax bypass. Epic replied with .
Facebook introduces the new feature as a much-needed tool for small businesses, creatives and influencers in the COVID-19 era where face-to-face meetings are restricted. In the mid-August blog announcing the paid events feature, Facebook promised not to charge the feature for "at least the next year".
"When it comes to online and Android transactions in countries where we have introduced Facebook Pay, small businesses keep 100% of the income they generate from online paid events," the blog said. "We asked Apple to cut the App Store tax by 30% or offer Facebook Pay so we could cover all costs for companies struggling during COVID-19. Unfortunately, they both declined our requests and SMBs only received 70% of their requests. " hard earned income. "


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Samsung is denying claims that it has invaded the privacy of customers who downloaded the free Jay-Z app saying the complaint is baseless and it takes privacy seriously. Jay-Z and Samsung teamed up to offer one million people the album for free.
US civil liberties group the Electronic Privacy Information Centre (Epic) claims the app collects “massive amounts of personal information from users, including location data”.
The “Magna Carta app also includes hidden spam techniques” that makes users promote Magna Carta Holy Grail to their friends. Epic says.
They say it also pulls in data from other accounts and other apps on the user’s phone. The privacy group has asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which protects consumers in the US, to suspend distribution of the app.
In a statement, Samsung said: “We are aware of the complaint filed with the FTC and believe it is baseless. Samsung takes customer privacy and the protection of personal information very seriously.
“Any information obtained through the application download process was purely for customer verification purposes, app functionality purposes and for marketing communications, but only if the customer requests to receive those marketing communications.
“Our permissions are in line with other apps’ standard permissions. Samsung is in no way inappropriately using or selling any information obtained from users through the download process.”
Previously Epic has complained about Snapchat, the publisher of a mobile app that deletes pictures and videos after they have been viewed, for “falsely” claiming they could be removed “forever”.
The Magna Carta Holy Grail app was released on 4 July with Samsung paying £3.2m for digital copies for its customers.


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Chinese smartphone makers including Oppo, Vivo and Realme have shut their factories pending further notice from the state government of Uttar Pradesh.
These plants are located in Greater Noida, a suburban city in Uttar Pradesh which is one of the last few states to announce a complete lockdown.
"Operations in our Greater Noida factory have been suspended as per the directive from the government. Additionally, all Oppo India employees have been advised to work from home until further notice," Global Times quoted Oppo spokesperson as saying.
As per report, Vivo's India office has mandated 100 per cent of its employees to work from home.
"Restriction on both international and domestic travel, thermal screening of all individuals at Vivo premises, as well as staggered work from home for teams across functions have been implemented," Vivo India said.
Additionally, Realme has also suspended all its acitivities in factories until further notice.
"Realme India has suspended production of its manufacturing operations in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh since Saturday. While this will temporarily affect our inventory and supply in the market for some time, the safety of our workforce is of paramount importance to us," Realme said in a statement.
Chinese smartphone makers including Oppo, Vivo and Realme have shut their factories pending further notice from the state government of Uttar Pradesh. Wikimedia Commons
Meanwhile, Manu Jain, Vice President, Xiaomi and Managing Director, Xiaomi India, said that its corporate offices, warehouses, service centers, Mi Home facilities and factories will follow lockdown orders of the state and union territories.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the number of positive cases due to the coronavirus outbreak has risen to 519 across the country. Kerala, with 87, pushed ahead of Maharashtra that has reported 86 cases. (IANS)


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BY MALATHI NAYAK
SAN FRANCISCO – Oculus VR, the technology startup that Facebook Inc is buying for $2 billion, has denied improperly using video game publisher ZeniMax Media Inc’s trade secrets to create its virtual reality gaming headset.
“There is not a line of ZeniMax code or any of its technology in these or any other Oculus products,” Oculus said in documents filed in a Dallas federal court on Wednesday.
“Only after the Facebook acquisition announcement did ZeniMax suddenly begin asserting supposed ownership rights over Oculus VR’s technology.”
Facebook said in March it would acquire Oculus. The deal has been approved by U.S. antritrust authorities, and is expected to close in coming months.
ZeniMax and its subsidiary, id Software Llc, sued Oculus and co-founder Palmer Luckey in May, claiming that Oculus hired away employees like well-known game programmer John Carmack to “surreptitiously gain further unauthorized access” to intellectual property.
Carmack helped conceive groundbreaking game titles such as “Quake” and “Doom” for id Software before it was acquired by ZeniMax.
In ZeniMax’s lawsuit, the publisher alleged that Carmack, chief technology officer at Oculus, may have provided valuable technology to his current employer.
Oculus responded in court documents that Luckey had publicly demonstrated his virtual reality headset prototypes even before making first contact with ZeniMax or Carmack. It also cited an email and online post by Carmack in which he credited Luckey as the inventor of the Rift headset by Oculus.
In 2012, Oculus noted, Carmack asked Luckey to give him a prototype as he was interested in demonstrating his video game software on it at the Eletcronic Entertainment Expo, an annual video game industry convention, according to Oculus’ filing.
“Carmack offered Luckey the ‘VR Testbed,’ a small portion of an existing videogame that Carmack previously had developed to work with head-mounted displays,” Oculus said in its filing. A non-disclosure agreement in relation to the video game software was signed by Luckey but never finalized, it said.
As Oculus continued to develop its Rift prototypes, it deisgned the hardware components and developed or licensed its own software, Oculus said. “Oculus VR used no hardware or software technology from ZeniMax,” it added in its filing.
Oculus declined to comment and a spokesperson for ZeniMax could not be immediately reached. (Reuters)


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The Air Max 97 has been one of the most coveted sneaker silhouettes of 2018, and after a slew of new renditions and updated colour-ways, Nike has gone for gold with a metallic iteration. Already launching a “Silver Bullet” style earlier this year, the sporting powerhouse has taken things one step further.
Coined “Metallic Gold”, the pack showcases two variations of the Air Max 97 – one sporting a “Metallic Silver/Metallic Gold-Black” style and the second being a “Vast Grey/Metallic Silver-Metallic Gold” colour-way. Like previous iterations, the new colour-way boasts a platform-like sole, housing the famous Air Max unit, with the swoosh visible on the tongue and either side of the midsole.
The Air Max 97 “Metallic Gold” pack launches online and in select stores from November 23. Mark your calendars.


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More than 40 percent of South Korea’s top 100 listed companies have changed over the past 10 years, with domestic-oriented firms unseating exporters, data showed Wednesday.
Twenty-four companies made it for the first time on this year’s top 100 company list in terms of market capitalization after making a stock market debut, and 17 did so thanks to better performances compared to their 2005 ranking, according to the data compiled by the local market researcher, CEO Score.
Of the 41 outgoing firms, 27 dropped off the list after going through losses and 14 disappeared due to de-listings or mergers.
Most of the newcomers were found to be companies that depend on domestic demand, with 36.6 percent in the food and beverage, service, and retail sectors.
Nearly 27 percent of the eliminated firms were exporters in IT, electronics, shipbuilding and construction fields, which dominated the list a decade ago, it showed.
Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. maintained the top position, while top automaker Hyundai Motor Co leaped to second place from fourth over ten years, and the standing of state-run power monopoly, Korea Electric Power Corp. remains unchanged at third.
Of the major 100 companies in 2015, the food and beverage sector took up the largest share, or 9 percent, followed by eight entities in service, retail, and electronics fields, each, according to the data. (Yonhap)


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Alaska Journal of Commerce: USDA announces tariff relief for seafood harvesters
Harvesters in more than a dozen commercial fisheries across Alaska that have been hit in the pocketbook by foreign tariffs on American seafood are eligible for part of $530 million in federal aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The USDA announced Sept. 9 that the money is meant to offset weaker market conditions for American seafood brought on by import tariffs. A statement announcing the availability of the funds, which will be dispersed through the USDA’s new Seafood Trade Relief Program, says generally that the aid is meant to help commercial fishermen “impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments,” but it is understood to be a direct response to tariffs from China.
“Many nations have not played by the rules for a long time, and President Trump is the first president to stand up to them and send a clear message that the United States will no longer tolerate unfair trade practices. The Seafood Trade Relief Program ensures fishermen ” USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a prepared statement.
The money will be available to commercial fishermen that participated in fisheries that, by species, suffered more than $5 million in retaliatory trade damages, according to program documents provided by the USDA.
The Alaska fisheries include:
Dungeness, king, and Tanner crab
Black cod (sablefish)
The aid is capped at $250,000 per person. Fishermen can apply for the aid from Sept. 14 to Dec. 14 through local USDA Service Centers.
Eligible fishermen will receive funds on a per pound basis according to USDA calculations that attempt to determine to what level the price of a given species was impacted by the tariffs. Atka mackerel fishermen, for example, can receive 10 cents per pound, while harvesters of the more valuable geoduck clam can receive 76 cents per pound — the highest payment amount among the qualifying species.
The funds will come from the Commodity Credit Corp. that is administered by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.
China has placed tariffs of varying levels — some up to 40 percent — on American seafood imports following import tariffs levied on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods, starting in 2018.
With an annual value of roughly $2.5 billion, seafood is far and away Alaska’s top export and accounts for about half of the value of all the products and commodities shipped out of the state, according to figures from the Alaska Office of International Trade.
Additionally, China is the state’s largest trading partner. The country has purchased about $1.2 billion worth of Alaska goods — about one-quarter of all the state’s exports — in recent years.
Many in the state’s fishing industry initially feared the Trump administration’s tariffs on seafood imported from China would doubly hit Alaska-harvested fish and shellfish, as much of the state’s catch is sent across the Pacific for processing in China before returning to the U.S. as a finished retail product.
However, administration officials exempted domestically sourced seafood products that are eventually imported from China from the tariffs in July 2018 after National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials discussed the issue with those in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
United Fishermen of Alaska Executive Director Frances Leach said she got a call “bright and early” Sept. 9 from White House food and agriculture officials about a subsequent briefing that included the president’s advisors for a program that would benefit Alaska’s commercial fishermen.
Leach emphasized that Sen. Dan Sullivan was “very instrumental” in getting the aid for fishermen across the country. She noted harvesters of other food commodities — many of the nation’s farmers — previously received federal aid to offset the impacts by China’s tariffs. The Seafood Trade Relief Program simply provides similar help to the country’s seafood harvesters.
“Sen. Sullivan just kept pushing and pushing to say, ‘commercial fishermen were impacted by this, too.’” Leach described.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she is pleased the administration has recognized the importance of a healthy seafood industry after more than two years of retaliatory tariffs from China and also thanked Sullivan for his “relentless efforts to educate the administration” on the issue.
Sullivan serves on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the subcommittees covering fisheries and trade.
He has regularly called out the trade practices of the Chinese government but has also been critical at times of the Trump administration’s often blunt approach to the issue.
Staff in Sullivan’s office said that while the aid does not solve the more country’s fundamental trade issues with China, the Chinese government has long violated international trade rules.
Sullivan said in a formal statement that he raised the issue of tariff relief for Alaska fishermen in discussions with numerous administration officials, including Trump, Perdue and Vice President Mike Pence.
“I am very appreciative that the White House and the Department of Agriculture listened to the fishermen in Alaska and across the country, and are offering substantial, historic financial assistance to these hard-working individuals,” he said. “As I often say, Alaska is the superpower of seafood for our nation, and our fishermen are America’s ultimate small business.”
Leach reminded fishermen who apply for the aid that it is not meant for fishermen who had their business impacted by the pandemic; there are other aid programs for that.
“This is specific and only for tariff relief,” she said.
Alaska’s large commercial halibut fishery was left off the list of eligible fisheries because halibut is mostly sold domestically, particularly to restaurants, according to Leach. However, she questioned why the sea cucumber fishery was left off as well.
“Sea cucumber divers were one of the first (groups) impacted by Chinese tariffs and lost a lot of money,” Leach said.
The money is only available to harvesters; processors are not eligible, Leach clarified as well.
Still, she encouraged Alaskan fishermen to apply for the aid as quickly as possible, given the $530 million will eventually be spread nationwide.
“It’s half-a-billion dollars, however, when you’re looking to help fishermen across the country those dollars start to dwindle very fast,” Leach said
By: Elwood Brehmer
Source: Alaska Journal of Commerce


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SEATTLE — A love of books and bookstores runs deep in the sinews of this city, where gray skies and drizzle can drive a person to drink, or read, or both. A long-running annual survey ranks Seattle the country’s second-most literate big city, behind Washington, D.C., as measured by things like the number of bookstores, library resources, newspaper circulation and education.
Amazon.com Inc. also calls Seattle home. And in recent years, as many small independent bookstores here and around the nation struggled or closed their doors, owners often placed blame for their plight on the giant online retailer’s success in delivering best sellers at discount prices, e-readers and other commodities of the digital marketplace.
“They seem to be after everyone and everything,” one Seattle-area bookstore owner, Roger Page, fulminated on his store’s blog last year. He added, “I believe there is a real chance that they will ruin the publishing world.”
But now there are signs of a thaw in those tensions, at least here in the city that most embodied them. As Amazon has exploded with growth, hiring thousands of tech workers at its downtown headquarters and helping bolster the Seattle economy, local bookstore owners have seen a surprising new side of the company they loved to hate: Many Amazon employees, it turns out, are readers who are not shopping at the company store.
“A lot of our customers work at Amazon,” said Tracy Taylor, the general manager at the Elliott Bay Book Company, one of the city’s largest independent booksellers. The store, about a mile from Amazon headquarters, last year earned what Ms. Taylor called the “first substantial profit” in almost 20 years, enough to even pay employee bonuses.
Whether it is Amazon or something else, the broader pattern is unmistakable, said Oren J. Teicher, the chief executive of the American Booksellers Association, a national bookstore trade group. “Seattle has become one of the most successful independent bookstore cities in the country,” he said.
Tom Nissley, 46, a writer and former Amazon employee with 10 years at the company who lives with his family in northern Seattle, embodies this odd new détente. In his old life, he was a senior editor, helping Amazon promote and choose featured book titles for its website. Then, in 2010, he won enough money on the television quiz show “Jeopardy!” — about $235,000 as an eight-game champion — to quit his day job and write full time, publishing last fall a compendium of literary history and trivia, called “A Reader’s Book of Days.”
Last month, Mr. Nissley’s bookish-in-Seattle tale came full circle when he signed a contract to buy and run his own small independent bookstore. The shop, Santoro’s, which he plans to rename Phinney Books, is in a neighborhood, Phinney Ridge, with plenty of Amazon employees, many of whom Mr. Nissley knows as former colleagues or neighbors, and who he hopes will shop at his store (or at least come in to offer commiseration and advice). The purchase price, essentially the value of the inventory, was $35,000.
“I think I know what I’m getting into,” he said. “I hope so.”
The soon-to-be-Phinney is by no means a Goliath. At 1,200 square feet, and about 5,000 titles on the shelves, it is a retail space that might have once fit a five-and-dime. Glass windows open onto the street where other local businesses like Bluebird Ice Cream, Caffe Vita and Cornuto Pizza line the block.
Part of Mr. Nissley’s optimism is that he believes local shops have increasingly found their feet in how to avoid competition with Amazon, or other giant retailers, by offering services or products that only a local can provide. He plans to offer, in addition to books, a line of paper goods, toys and vinyl handbags made by the business that his wife, Laura Silverstein, started.
He is also convinced, he said, that the e-book revolution, which seemed ready a few years ago to sweep away the old world of pages and print, has reached a plateau. Publishers, wanting to keep independent bookstores alive, have also helped — easing traditional repayment rules for books, or helping with promotions or advertising.
As a backup plan, he was hoping for some additional earnings from appearing on “Jeopardy!” again as part of a runoff of past champions, called “Battle of the Decades.” (However, he lost on the first day of the return tournament.) He is also finishing a novel, which he hopes will one day sit alongside his other book on a shelf at Phinney Books.
The strength of the local economy and the shop-local movement underpins everything, as even Mr. Page, the bookstore owner, concedes, despite his Amazon-size fears. He co-owns Island Books with his wife, Nancy.
“Amazon makes great contributions to the vitality of Seattle,” Mr. Page said in an interview. “They are putting their footprint right down in the middle of Seattle and they’re pouring a lot of money and energy into it, and it is one of several drivers that are making this a vibrant, interesting and expensive place to live.”
And Amazon as a big local employer also means Amazon as a big producer of Amazon expatriates like Mr. Nissley with bookselling experience. Two of Island Books’ 10 employees, Mr. Page said, also once worked at Amazon.
Mr. Nissley said that some of his favorite memories of Amazon were the early years when employees at headquarters would occasionally be asked to pitch in at the warehouse, helping pack books before they went out into the world. In his new shop, he said, he will be going back in a way to that simpler time.
“Maybe it’s an effect of living your life online — that you also want these physical things,” he said.


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(Pocket-lint) - The Lego Batman Tumbler Batmobile we wrote about the other day caused something of a stir. Every single one of us, and a large amount of our readers it seems, want one and we couldn't help drooling over the set that contains more than 1,800 pieces.
However, now we've seen something we perhaps want even more, a building set that we would absolutely kill for - an apt response - The Walking Dead Lego.
Actually, to be honest, it's not official Lego. Instead, The Walking Dead Building Block collectors sets, first unveiled at Comic-Con in San Diego which opened its doors yesterday, are made by Todd McFarlane Toys, the same firm that has released the superb officially licensed collectable figures based on the characters in the comic books and TV shows. But they are Lego compatible, of sorts.
The first set to be released, it seems, will feature the character exclusive to the TV series, Daryl Dixon, who appears riding his massive Chopper (no sniggering at the back). And as this is The Walking Dead, there's a zombie or two thrown in for good measure.
The Walking Dead official Twitter account posted a picture of the new set partly deconstructed, so you get an idea of what its like.
There are also plans to release iconic settings from the series, such as part of the prison from season three.
We're not sure how much the sets will, ahem, set you back as yet, but you'll have to get behind us in the queue.
McFarlane Toys will also be releasing a series of new figures based on the forthcoming season five of the show.


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Latest Bollywood Pics Aug 21: Katrina Kaif, Karisma Kapoor and other at LFW, Salman Khan and Sara Ali Khan spotted at airport
Salman Khan was recently spotted at the airport.
Sara Ali Khan wore the most casual clothes as she was spotted at the airport.
Katrina Kaif looked absolutely breathtaking in a baby pink dress at Lakme Fashion Week after-party.
Karan Johar was seen at the after-party of Lakme fashion Week 2019, hosted by Manish Malhotra.
Manish Malhotra looked classy in an after-party thrown by him at Lakme Fashion Week.
Daisy Shah was spotted at Manish Malhotra's after-party at LFW
Karisma Kapoor looked absolutely stunning in a black saree at after-party of LFW 2019
Arpita Khan was also spotted at Lakme Fashion Week after-party 2019.


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Nintendo Switch is the fastest-selling Nintendo system ever
Apr 20 2017 by Joanne Wise
According to a report by the NPD Group, which tracks the sale of video games in the USA, the Nintendo Switch system sold more than 906,000 units in the month of March, making it one of the fastest-selling gaming systems of all times. At the same time, a game intended for Nintendo's home-and-mobile game device, Zelda Breath of the Wild, has sold more copies than its partner console. The Switch version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild even managed to sell more copies than Nintendo sold Switch consoles. Both the system and the game's sales numbers are likely a testament to what an incredible launch game-and truly unique Zelda title-Breath of the Wild really is.
Nintendo plans to announce its worldwide sales and other financial information on April 27. Needless to say that the Switch is a big hit.
It should be noted that the Switch has struggled with supply issues since launch, suggesting that if Nintendo had been able to keep up with demand, figures could have been even higher.
The Nintendo Switch is selling fast and breaking records at Nintendo. The Wii U's best-selling Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, sold roughly 2.11 million copies between September 2013 and December 2016.
Samsung blocks Bixby button remapping on Galaxy S8
The experts also note that the curved display screen might be easily damaged when replacing the front glass panel. The Samsung Galaxy S8 comes with a QHD+ Super AMOLED 5.8-inch display with 1440 X 2960 resolution.
New Zealand Hit By Cyclone Cook
The MetService of New Zealand has issued warnings for heavy rain and strong winds for several areas of the North Island. In New Zealand, the storm made landfall in the Bay of Plenty at about 18:30 local time (06:30 GMT).
But these are impressive numbers thus far, and it shows powerful momentum for Nintendo's console, far more than what it accomplished with the Wii U years ago.
The Switch wasn't Nintendo's only 2017 record breaker. But there are no reports yet regarding the official release date of the sequel of the 2015-released "Splatoon" game for Wii U. Since the console's launch last month, the Switch has been almost impossible to find on store shelves, and whenever units come in, they're quickly swiped by fast-acting consumers.
Nintendo said it sold roughly 906,000 units of the Switch in the US throughout March. If it plays its cards right, the Switch could become the comeback Nintendo needs.


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It must feel like Groundhog Day for global businesses. In the past few years, executives have been forced to contend with some of the most severe disruptions to supply chains in modern economic history. The national lockdowns that followed the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic slowed or halted the flow of both inputs and finished goods. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove up fuel prices around much of the globe, with acute shortages particularly impacting Europe’s energy-intensive auto makers, steel foundries and chemical manufacturers.
Now another challenge of global proportions has arisen. Attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen have disrupted the Red Sea shipping route, which normally carries around 12% of global trade with a value of more than $1 trillion every year. The implications for companies are potentially wide-ranging, especially if the incidents persist. Over 500 container ships that would have sailed through the Red Sea have been diverted around the southern tip of Africa, adding anywhere between nine days and two weeks of travel time, depending on the estimate. That is roughly a quarter of the world’s container-shipping capacity.
The crisis has implications for balance sheets and cashflow
That’s a headache for finance directors and chief financial officers. Not only does it crank up shipping costs but it also potentially delays production or requires increased inventory levels as more goods and inputs spend longer in transit. The crisis then has implications for balance sheets, cashflow, and profit and loss accounts. It has also raised fears that a renewed spike in inflation could delay or slow rate cuts by major central banks, keeping borrowing costs higher for longer. The question is: how serious is the threat? And following on from that: how can businesses minimise the risks?
‘A key uncertainty for businesses is the duration of the conflict,’ says Ben May, director of global macro research at Oxford Economics. ‘Clearly, the longer this drags on, the bigger the risk.’ At present, even informed commentators appear unwilling to hazard a guess on this point. Vincent Clerc, chief executive of shipping giant Maersk, recently told the Financial Times that restoring safe passage through the Red Sea could take ‘days, weeks or months’.
The impact is already being felt by many businesses. In the first few weeks of 2024 the cost of shipping jumped worldwide, with the Drewry World Container Index Global Composite rising 173% in the year to date. A range of other measures of transit costs – especially shipping goods between Asia and Europe – have also soared.
‘Higher shipping costs should not be visible to most consumers’
Grounds for optimism
From an economic perspective, this might not be as bad as it sounds, according to Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS Global Wealth Management. Shipping costs, he points out, account for only about 0.3% of costs paid by consumers. ‘It is worth remembering that when a consumer buys something, most of the price is paid for what happens after goods arrive at a port – everything from internal distribution, advertising, wholesale and retail costs,’ he wrote in a briefing note. ‘These higher shipping costs should not be visible to most consumers.’ And despite the recent hike, shipping costs are still well below levels reached during the pandemic lockdowns.
Finally, although liquefied natural gas does travel to Europe via the Red Sea, prices are at their lowest since August 2023. The price of Brent crude has risen recently, amid fears of attacks on oil tankers. However, Brent remains well below its recent highs in September-October 2023, and reductions in oil output related to the shipping problems look unlikely.
The upshot, Donovan concludes, is that the crisis in the Red Sea is not likely to lead to a renewed acceleration of inflation or cause central banks to scale back rate cuts in 2024.
But this does not mean that many companies won’t face problems. ‘The issue will be most severe for companies that ship bulky and low-value objects – such as low-end fridges,’ says May. ‘You can’t fit so many of these in a 40ft container, and suddenly adding thousands of dollars to shipping costs could be significant. If you are talking about high-end cell phones or microchips, a business is cramming far more value into the container, so the hit is going to be lighter.’ For such high-value good or inputs, more costly forms of transport – including air – might start to make sense.
For some companies with long or complex supply chains, production has already been disrupted. Carmakers Volvo and Tesla have been forced to suspend production at plants in Europe by an inability to source components from Asian suppliers. Swedish home furnishing company Ikea has also warned of delays.
Many may redouble efforts to increase supply chain resilience
The renewed shock to the system could also convince many executives to redouble efforts to increase the resilience of supply chains, which may have lost urgency as past disruptions waned. This can be done in a variety of ways. Companies can increase inventories of inputs, making it easier to cope with. Returning production closer to home, nearshoring, has also become more viable, especially as factory automation has lowered costs even in high-wage countries like Germany.
However, such changes seldom come without a price tag. ‘This is a trade-off,’ May argues. ‘If you have a year of input supplies stored in a warehouse, this is pretty pricey; a month of supplies less so.’ Equally, fragmenting supply chains for optimal safety would be more expensive than adding in a few new suppliers. ‘It’s a bit like building a flood barrier,’ May explains. ‘The key question for companies is whether they want to build their defences for a once in a decade crisis or a once in a century crisis.’


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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A lettuce shortage is costing consumers in more ways than one.
According to a report in the New York Daily News, heavy rains in California are to blame for the price of lettuce going up.
Basic iceberg is being sold for $5.99 and romaine hearts are going for $7.99.
The shortage is affecting businesses that make their green by dishing out healthy meals. Hello Bistro in Pittsburgh posted signs in their Market Square location, reading: “Due to national shortages, romaine and cauliflower are temporarily unavailable for order on our salad bar. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
The price hikes are also affecting cauliflower and broccoli.
Just Salad told the New York Daily News that prices have “quadrupled” in the open market and that it is the worst crop disruption in 10 years.
“We have noticed a big spike in prices,” said Ann Herpel, general coordinator of the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn. “At this time of year, we’re reliant on food coming out of California. The rains have made it either impossible to grow to harvest.”
Consumers and business alike should expect the shortage to continue for three or four weeks.
“If a fast-growing crop like lettuce, these kinds of problems resolve in about four weeks,” said Herpel. “After that, things should loosen up and prices come down.”


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Nokia is targeting emerging markets with three low-cost smartphones that use Google’s Android operating system rather than the Windows Phone software from Microsoft, which is about to buy Nokia’s phone business.
Nokia will ditch many of the Google services that come with Android, which Google lets phone makers customize at will. Instead, the new Nokia X line announced on Monday will emphasize Microsoft services such as Bing search, Skype communications and OneDrive file storage. Its home screen sports larger, resizable tiles resembling those on Windows phone.
“More and more people are buying smartphones for less that 100 euros,” said Stephen Elop, Nokia executive vice president, as he presented the new phones at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. “That sub-100 range is a massive opportunity for us. According to analysts, it will grow four times as fast as rest of smartphone market.”
The Nokia X is on sale immediately for 89 euros ($122). The Nokia X+ will cost 99 euros and the Nokia XL will cost 109 euros, with both going on sale in early March.
The Nokia X and X+ both have 4-inch screens, but the X+ offers an SD card.
The XL has a 5-inch screen and a better 5-megapixel camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera.
Elop said all three phones will be “available broadly around the world, starting in growth markets.” The aim is to make the Nokia X a bridge to high-end Windows smartphones under the Lumia brand.


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The global supply chain is pretty well established at this point, particularly in the years since the obvious dollar devaluation (Y2K and forward). Commodity countries like the BRICs (South Africa only gets included in BRICS when gold is mentioned) ship to manufacturing centers in the east, primarily China, that assemble and manufacture for further embarkation to end markets in the US and Europe.
Europe we already know is heading further into the depths of depression, particularly France now. So it is not surprising to see the global supply chain slowing. But slowing is not collapsing, or should not be. Enter Australia.
The Reserve Bank of Australia just cut its benchmark monetary rate to 2.75% from 3%, a new record low rate. Since record low interest rates have become the norm for this age of global monetary defeasance, perhaps it should be expected. But Australia had largely been the exception to the global growth rule, particularly having been spared the worst of the Great Recession.
We have been talking about a bifurcated economy in the United States for some time – the uneven nature of inflation and monetary imbalances that are “positive” for some parts of an economic system, but decidedly negative for the whole. Even the Australian economy the past few years has been dubbed the “two-speed economy”. Mining and resource extraction had been booming, along with residential real estate. The rest – not so much.
The Australians are increasingly concerned that two-speed becomes one-speed rather quickly, and economies split by monetary imbalance always converge on the lower. Thus the RBA cut the monetary rate in an attempt to bolster credit effects in the lower gear economy, but also to get the Aussie dollar back in line in an attempt to help the resource export business.
The Australian Markit/CBA PSI index (measuring service sector activity) for April fell a rather large 5.5 points to 44.1. That was a particularly sharp drop indicating an accelerating contraction even in the lower gear section of the economy.
The Markit/Australian Industry Group Manufacturing PMI was, however, far worse. The headline index fell 7.7 points to 36.7, a level equal to May 2009. The export subindex indicated even worse conditions, all the way down to 24.5 – the lowest reading recorded in the series (going back to 2004).
These indications have been corroborated by other data points. Caterpillar’s latest earnings report showed that mining and resource extraction equipment demand is off by about 50%! That was a global indication that resource demand has not just slowed, but collapsed.
In addition, we know (or at least suspect) from China that although loan growth has remained relatively robust, almost all of the growth so far in 2013 has been concentrated on real estate. According to China Daily, loans to the real estate sector reached 12.98 trillion yuan, or up 16% Y/Y. In contrast, loans to industry only grew by 3.2%, down from 3.8% the month before. Less industrial demand from China, lower demand for resources in Australia.
The Baltic shipping indices are also down (and not just due to an increase in shipping tonnage). The Baltic Dry, which measures demand for shipping resources and ores around the globe, is down to $878; compared to $1,157 May 2012; $1,314 Mary 2011; $3,707 May 2010; $10,273 May 2009.
The US Department of Commerce also reported that the US trade deficit fell a remarkable 11% in March 2013 to $38.8 billion. Nearly all of that decline was due to a reduction in imported consumer goods from China – from a goods deficit of $23.4 billion in February to $17.9 billion in March. That was the lowest monthly merchandise imbalance between China and the US since March 2010. The $27 billion in total goods imported was 13% below the previous year (and the running three-month total for 2013 is down about 4% from 2012).
Given the state of Europe, the sum of all these data points validates the decline in Australia, particularly since Australia is heavily dependent on the Asian economy flow-through (in contrast to, say, Canada that is more directly exposed to North America). If this is correct, then the reduction in global supply chains is real and having an evolving and dampening impact on the global economy at various paces and places. It is a warning that worries should not be limited to Europe.


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The OnePlus 8T was unveiled last Wednesday, being the brand’s latest flagship smartphone, positioned between the OP8 and OP8 Pro. However, as many rumors have indicated over the past few weeks, this will not arrive alone. With the end of the partnership between OnePlus and Mclaren, the manufacturer seems to have found a temporary alternative in the realization of partnerships with games of great prominence.
Therefore, during the presentation event in China, the arrival of the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 was also revealed, a special edition conceived based on the media RPG game that will be released on November 19th. However, little or nothing we know about this special edition, since the brand has not revealed any details about the smartphone.
During the Chinese event, a teaser which confirms the existence of the smartphone, but omits any detail that could give us a better idea of what to expect. In this way, this is becoming one of the most mysterious smartphones of the year.
OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 will hardly reach Europe
In addition to the fact that there was no reference to its existence during the global launch event of OnePlus 8T, one of the executives at CD Projekt Red revealed in a publication on Twitter that this is an exclusive partnership with China. Thus, it seems almost impossible for the special edition of Cyberpunk 2077 to officially arrive in Europe.
However, it would not be surprising if, one of the usual online stores from China, managed to sell some units globally. But if that happens, you can expect considerable price inflation.
Unfortunately, no information has been revealed about possible hardware improvements, nor about its design. Still, a total renovation of the smartphone’s aspect is expected, being 100% based on the game’s design lines and color palette. So, you can expect an extremely colorful smartphone, based on fluorescent yellow.
EBox editors recommend:


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Stephen talks about how TCS unified and enhanced API’s mission-critical IT systems across the company’s retail, franchise, and wholesale operations. With its national wholesale network and 420 Priceline and Priceline Pharmacy stores operating on the SAP ERP platform, API has improved customer service capabilities, streamlined logistics and finance processes, and enhanced operational efficiencies.
TCS worked with API on a strategic project to replace two ERP platforms with a new, unified SAP platform that integrates all of the company’s lines of business into a single system.
Noting the benefits of this global integration, Stephen says that the state-of-the-art technology infrastructure has enabled API to eliminate data and process duplication across divisions, saving the company time and capital, and enhancing user experience . Stephen adds, “the uniqueness and innovation applied in the project has been jointly shared between TCS and API and we are clearly looking for some of the innovations to pass on to our global operations.”


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Introduction of a 20 percent excise is necessary for decrease in consumption by Russians of sugar. What is told by producers and nutritionists? Photo: depositphotos.com B of Russia have decided to fight against sweet sparkling water. The advisory council at the government has suggested to enter on her a 20 percent excise within the Demography national project for strengthening of health of Russians, Izvestia has reported. The Ministry of Health — for, producers — against. Experts are sure that excises will reduce consumption of sparkling water, also the risk of consequences — diabetes and obesity will decrease. The number suffering from excess weight last year in the country has grown by 6%. Russians will begin to pass to healthy food, and the budget will receive additional receipts. The initiative was already supported by the Ministry of Health. Two years ago the excise was suggested to be entered in the Ministry of Finance, but have refused a measure, having considered it inefficient, the president of the Union of producers of soft drinks and mineral waters Maxim Novikov reminds: Maxim Novikov the president of the Union of producers of soft drinks and mineral waters "Today this offer at the level of opinion of a number of experts, opinion of the non-core regulator. Introduction of a 20 percent excise from retail cost — extremely drastic and not reasonable measure. Moreover, authors of this initiative don't provide any scientific proofs that the measure has under itself the reasons. Consumption of soft drinks in Russia one of the lowest in the world. In some countries excises were entered when consumption of soft drinks was about five-seven times higher, than now in Russia". Two years ago in the Ministry of Finance have expected that if the excise is 5 rubles for liter, more than 25 billion rubles a year will come to the budget. The present offer means at least twice bigger income in treasury. If on average the bottle costs 65 rubles now, then will rise in price up to 78 rubles, and in most cases, considering policy of retail pricing, it is even more. It will really temporarily reduce consumption of harmful drink, experts consider as it was with beer excises. But then producers will learn will bypass excises, for example, instead of sugar to use his substitute, the managing director and the director of Prosperity Capital Management investment company, the analyst Alexey Krivoshapko:aleksey Krivoshapko the managing director and the director of Prosperity Capital Management investment company, the analyst "Considers it is so possible to come far. It is possible to tax in addition products which contain salt, oil. I am sure, Coca-Cola literally in two months will think up 150 ways to sell sparkling water without sugar and not to get under these restrictions. It from the category of the next legislative nonsense". As the expert reminds, the initiative is contrary to statements of the government for the invariable taxation. This offer quite fits into a universal trend of fight against the products containing sugar, the dietitian Lidiya Ionova says. In Great Britain the excise already is, in Germany two thousand profile experts have signed the petition with the requirement to enter him as soon as possible. Lidiya Ionova is doctor-diye
Ford plans to carry out mass reductions
Date: 2019-01-14 02:003 days ago
The company is going to reorganize business in Europe, Bloomberg tells. Some enterprises, according to the head of Ford, can be closed the Ford Logo at an entrance on the plant to Bordeaux. France. Ph...
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Statistics of modern times
Date: 2019-01-15 10:002 days ago
Before were analyzed generally this on supply and demand, often without macroeconomic parameters. Perhaps, now industry members should change approach of the Photo: Sergey of Bobyliov/TASS It is known...
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Why new iPhone three cameras?
Date: 2019-01-12 16:005 days ago
The smartphone which, presumably, will leave in the fall of 2019 will continue a trend of the market in which there are already models with three cameras of the Photo: Aly Song/Reuters of Apple in the...
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PIMS 2018: Foton Flexes Its Versatility
Showcasing its lineup of Passenger and Commercial Vehicles, Foton Philippines announces its presence in the local automotive industry in a big way at the 7th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS). With its massive booth right in the middle of the Main Hall, the Chinese vehicle manufacturer put all its aces on display, starting with the Foton Toplander SUV, and on to the Foton Gratour, View Traveller, Transvan, and Toano limousine. Also on the floor were the Foton Tornado Ref Van, Foton EST430 6x4 Tractor Head, and two Euro-4 Foton Jeepneys designed to meet the stringent requirements of the government's public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
With this year's PIMS attendance, Foton asserts in confidence that it has what it takes to compete in the big leagues, despite being a relative newcomer. Since entering the local automotive industry back in 2007, Foton Philippines continues to expand and improve its offerings to shape its brand image as a quality manufacturer of Passenger and Commercial Vehicles.
You may check out Foton’s exhibit at this year's PIMS, now happening at the World Trade Center in Pasay until October 28.


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Ubisoft's Massive Entertainment are working on a next-gen, online, open-world RPG called The Division.
Massive, a studio that has only ever made real-time strategy games, is working on an Assassin's Creed project. Wonder what that could be?
Ubisoft are the proud new owners of Massive Entertainment, the developers behind World in Conflict. And Ubisoft have just announced a release date for World in Conflict: Soviet Assault.
So now that Ubisoft has purchased World in Conflict development studio Massive Entertainment from Activision, what are they going to do with them? Speaking at the 16th Annual BMO Capitol Markets Interactive Entertainment conference this morning, Ubisoft President and CEO Yves Guillemot explains that Massive will play…
Activision Blizzard is the result of a merger between two large companies, each with several studios, projects and different teams. So a merger between the two means some things are going to get shuffled around. Jobs will very likely be lost, and projects might get shifted.


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OAK BROOK, Ill. — McDonald’s recently opened a concept in Sydney, Australia, dubbed The Corner by McCafé.
The Corner serves everything but traditional MacDonald’s fare, with items such as brown rice, eggplant salads, sandwiches, tofu, custom-crafted burgers and balsamic strawberry soda on the menu.
The re-branded McCafé comes shortly after McDonald’s announced it is undergoing marketing changes due to business decline in U.S. Markets, although there are no current plans to bring the Corner to the U.S.
“[The Corner is more of a] learning lab where we are testing completely new and different food and beverages never before seen in our restaurants,” Lisa Comb, spokeswoman for the Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonalds, is quoted as saying by USA Today. McDonald’s officials are hoping to learn and grow their brand from the new store.


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The Swedish central bank has just set up a special commission to examine national legislation in order to verify what constitutes legal tender in that country.
The new committee will probably give a definitive answer on the definition of a legal tender. The reason for the actions taken is to be plans to completely give up cash for electronic payments.
A revolution in payments
The Swedish central bank has already issued a statement that clarifies its position and at the same time stresses the importance of precisely defining the legal tender.
For 350 years, the Swedish society was based on Riksbank, its central bank, which provided the public with various forms of the national currency, the Swedish crown. Money issued by Riksbank is a legal tender since the 1850s. Today, however, the use of cash in Sweden has fallen sharply. The situation is already so drastic that companies in Sweden are already refusing to accept cash as a form of payment. The importance of payment applications such as Swish (used by 6.3 million people) and bank cards is growing in the country.
The use of digital payments has increased by 13% in one year, according to the annual World Payments Report.
Ready for E-Korona?
Due to the fact that Sweden seems to be increasingly switching from cash payments to electronic payments, it would be wise to consider whether the country should issue its own cryptocurrency. The Swedish central bank is already thinking about the E-Crown project, which would become a reality in about two years. The topic already warms up the minds of economists.
One of them, James Pomeroy, has already identified the range of possible digital currency and the way it is used. E-Korona will have to be used for small purchases (micropayments), but also available and useful for companies and financial institutions that deal in large sums. Although the subject is still shrouded in a mystery mistake, one theory says that the e-currency ” will be stored on accounts in a centralized database. ” Thus, you can no longer talk about cryptocurrency, but about a regular digital currency.


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Upscale retailer Coach shares rose sharply in early trade Wednesday after an unconfirmed report from DealReporter.com said the company may be exploring a sale of itself.
The report comes on the same day as the company said it has hired a former Nike executive to oversee the transformation of its stores as it moves further into segments where the leather goods maker is a relatively small player, such as shoes and clothing.
related investing news
Coach announced its new strategy to open "shoe salons" and provide a fancier presentation of its wares in the wake of last month's report of weak holiday sales. Longtime Chief Executive Lew Frankfort also plans to step down in January 2014 and be replaced by the executive who oversaw the upscale leather-goods maker's successful expansion in Asia.
During CNBC's "Squawk on the Street," Jim Cramer, a CNBC contributor, said he thought the rumors were "so unfounded" and "short of facts."
Zach Augustine, previously a global creative director at Nike, will report to Coach President Reed Krakoff in this newly created role and begin March 11. He will be in charge of the visual presentation inside Coach stores and their architecture.
Although Coach stock was up about 4 percent in early trade, its shares have fallen about 40 percent from a high of nearly $80 a share that the company hit in late March due in part to concerns about its North American sales.


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Earlier this year, OnePlus introduced the OnePlus 9R in India. The smartphone came as the cost-effective entry in this year’s flagship lineup. However, its availability is quite limited allowing only customers in India and China to enjoy this beauty. Even though the device has good software support, OnePlus is rolling a big update for the customer in India that runs the OxygenOS-powred version of the OnePlus 9R. The new software update is arriving almost two months after the last one – Yes, the device is not getting many updates after all. Today, it is getting the OxygenOS 184.108.40.206 firmware that brings a set of new features and security fixes.
According to the official announcement post on OnePlus Community, the OxygenOS 220.127.116.11 update for the OnePlus 9R bumps the security patch. Now, the device’s owners will be running July 2021 security patch. It’s not ideal since it’s almost August. Curiously, companies like Samsung are already pushing the August 2021 security patch. Anyway, OnePlus also lagged behind when it comes to rolling these security patches. In addition to the new Android security patch level, the update also brings an updated GMS (Google Mobile Services) package of June 2021.
Gizchina News of the week
The new software build adds a screenshot for the Always-On display. Interestingly, it adds the Bitmoji AOD option for users. Other features include overheating control management of third-part apps as well as experience of “Quick Reply” in some scenarios. Last but not least, it also fixes some known issues.
As usual, the new OxygenOS update is rolling out in batches. For that reason, just a few units will receive this update now. Once the company is confident that the update is stable it will bring a wider rollout.
OnePlus 9R OxygenOS 18.104.22.168 Official Changelog
- Optimized the overheating control management of third-party apps
- Optimized the experience of Quick Reply in some scenarios
- Updated Android security patch to 2021.07
- Updated GMS package to 2021.06
- Fixed known issue
- Newly added the screenshot feature for AOD
- Newly added Bitmoji AOD, co-designed with Snapchat, will liven up the ambient display with your personal Bitmoji avatar. Your avatar will update throughout the day based on your activity and things happening around you ( Path: Settings – Customization – Clock on ambient display – Bitmoji )
Since the device is getting July 2021 security patch, we don’t think it will taste the August security patch, at least not this month. OnePlus may wait until a further update to change this. The OnePlus 9R is eligible for at least two major Android upgrades and should enter the OxygenOS 12 beta program later this year.


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(ONN) – General Motors, which is soon ending production at its sprawling assembly plant in Lordstown, strengthened its pre-tax profit estimate for 2018 and predicted even stronger performance for this year as its executives made a presentation to investors.
Last year GM announced plans to close the Lordstown plant and four others in North America and lay off 14,000 salaried and blue-collar workers.
CEO Mary Barra says the closure of the plants was necessary to keep up with changes in demand, and the company doesn’t foresee any further job cuts through 2020.
The rosy profit forecast comes despite declining sales for the company in the U.S. and slowing sales in China.
G.M. plans to discontinue several car lines in the U.S. in the coming year.