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Bitcoin to be made a legal tender of El-Salvador: What you need to know
1. El-Salvador’s president has said that he will make Bitcoin a legal tender of the country.
2. If he gets support from Congress on the bill, which will be sent by him next week, then El-Salvador will be the first Central American country to adopt a digital currency.
3. This currency will be an official currency with the US dollar.
4. President Nayeb Bukele has said that Bitcoin will make it easier for his countrymen who are living outside to send money to their homes.
5. "In the short term, it will generate jobs and help provide financial inclusion to thousands outside the formal economy," he said, in a Bitcoin conference in Florida, adding that it could also boost investment in the country.
6. Strike, a payment app of the country, welcomed it and stated that it was working with the country to make using bitcoin technology a success.


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The 2019 Wicklow Tourism Map is now available!
The annual publication is being distributed and will soon be available at tourist offices, main attractions and activity centres around the County and beyond .
Collect your copy at our new office on Market Square in Wicklow Town.
The production of the Wicklow Tourism Map is done with the support from local advertisers. This year, the production of the map has been increased to more than 60,000 (10,000 additional copies from 2018)

domain: news


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Drink This Coffee to Help Save Honey Bees
Chef Gabe Kennedy, winner of ABC's The Taste and host of Allrecipes Dinner Spinner TV, is pretty pumped about a delicious new project. He's created a signature blend of coffee, sold online, with a portion of the proceeds going to efforts to bolster the honey bee population in the face of a massive global bee die-off. It's fitting, because without honey bees, there would be no coffee (or flowers, or strawberries).
Chef Kennedy explains his commitment to this important mission: "Bees are essential in our world food system. In fact, bees and other pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. They are vital to the reproduction of over 100 types of crops in the US, including avocado, almonds and apples. Due to a variety of factors including modern commercial farming practices there is a massive bee die off known as ‘colony collapse disorder'. That's why I decided to partner with Groundwork — a company committed to sustainable, relationship-based, organic coffee sourcing — in developing a line of coffee dedicated to saving the honey bees!" The coffee is certified organic, sustainable, fairly traded - and delicious!
Celebrate the fruits of honey bee's labor with these amazing, top-rated honey recipes:


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YouTuber Jeffree Star also comments on Jaclyn Hill's failed lipstick launch in Shane Dawson's latest YouTube video.
Shane Dawson released terrifying footage of someone trying to break into his house in bonus scenes from his Jeffree Star series
In the first real upload on his new makeup channel, ShaneGlossin, Shane Dawson included new footage of an attempted break-in at his house.
Shane Dawson said he asked Kat Von D to stop sending him free makeup while working with Jeffree Star
YouTuber Jeffree Star also makes a joke about Kat Von D "needing work" as a tattoo artist in Shane Dawson's latest YouTube video.
Shane Dawson told fans he has 2 hours of deleted scenes from his Jeffree Star docuseries, and they're begging him to release it all
The footage will likely share more behind-the-scenes looks at the Shane Dawson x Jeffree Star Cosmetics makeup line.
On Twitter, Jeffree Star said his brand is discontinuing palettes to "make room for all the new s--- dropping in 2020."
Jeffree Star slammed social media rumors that his now ex-boyfriend Nathan Schwandt left him for a woman
One drama account said Schwandt was with a woman in Malibu, and Star responded that his now ex-boyfriend was ten feet away from him in his kitchen.
Star confirmed breakup rumors weeks after he confused fans by removing "wifey to Nathan" from his Twitter bio in early December.
Jeffree Star announced his break up with longtime boyfriend Nathan Schwandt and revealed family tried to sell the story first
Makeup guru Jeffree Star addressed worried fans with a video explaining that he broke up with his longtime boyfriend Nathan Schwandt.
Jeffree Star deleted a concerning tweet amid his disappearance from social media and fan rumors about his relationship with his longtime boyfriend
Jeffree Star tweeted and soon deleted 'Dear God please stop the pain,' and fans think it could be about his boyfriend Nathan Schwandt or his mother.
Shane Dawson quietly started a new makeup YouTube channel while on hiatus after his 'Conspiracy' palette launch with Jeffree Star
The top YouTuber revealed his new channel while responding to stan criticisms of him not seeming to use makeup anymore after his Jeffree Star series.
Jeffree Star shared a tour of his $14.6 million mansion that includes everything from a movie theater to a 'beauty barn'
In the video, Jeffree Star and his boyfriend, Nathan Schwandt, take the YouTubers Shane Dawson and Ryland Adams around their 25,000-square-foot home.
Jeffree Star is spotlighting an alleged Grindr murder in Michigan and says the dating-app company was slow to respond
The entrepreneur expressed his grief to millions of followers over the death of Kevin Bacon, a resident of Swartz Creek, Michigan, a suburb of Flint.
Jeffree Star opened up about questioning his gender identity when he was younger: 'I was so confused and conflicted back then'
Star opened up about his past thoughts on transitioning as part of Trisha Paytas' podcast "The Dish With Trish."
YouTuber MrBeast's tree-planting campaign reached its goal of raising $20 million. Here's the list of prominent people who have donated, including Elon Musk, Jeffree Star, and even the CEO of YouTube.
Here are the biggest names in tech and YouTube who donated to the #TeamTrees cause, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, PewDiePie, and Jeffree Star.
Jeffree Star is asking fans to stay away from his new home, and says he has armed guards living there
On Instagram, Jeffree Star said his assistant and a security guard will also live in his new mansion.
Jeffree Star says in his new YouTube video that he previously bought "too much stuff" because he was afraid his fame and fortune would go away.
YouTube stars rarely break into mainstream entertainment despite being worshipped by millions of fans. Here's why they might be better off online.
YouTube is no longer a stepping stone to better things. Some creators are more famous than some of the world's biggest mainstream celebrities.
Jeffree Star is giving himself a $14.6 million mansion for Christmas after running out of space at his last luxury home
Jeffree Star's new home is located in Hidden Hills, California, and includes everything from a movie theater to a two-story gym.
Jeffree Star said fans told him to kill himself after he considered restocking a previously 'exclusive' highlighter shade
Beauty mogul Jeffree Star's mystery boxes usually sell out within minutes and often contain exclusive products.
Jeffree Star Cosmetics reimbursed disappointed fans who received stickers in mystery boxes instead of an exclusive cosmetic item
During a Black Friday sale, Jeffree Star Cosmetics sold mystery boxes that were each supposed to contain an exclusive mystery cosmetic item.


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RuneScape Behind the Scenes: Morytania Madness & River of Blood
This week the RuneScape team goes behind the scenes to preview the River of Blood pre-release event.
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- Thundercall Launching this April
- Global games publisher R2Games has just announced the Open Beta for its latest addition to its browser game library, Thundercall.


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2017 Nissan GT-R: More power, refinement
Making its debut in New York, the 2017 Nissan GT-R gets a major update that imparts visuals more in line with the automaker’s current styling. But more important, the 2017 GT-R receives a bump in horsepower and adds a welcome dose of refinement with interior revisions that make it more accommodating to all on board.
Highlighting the 2017 GT-R’s exterior remake is a more aggressive cast front fascia with a “V-motion” grille that offers improved engine cooling as well as a deeper front splitter that helps keep the nose more firmly planted. The redrawn hood gains character lines that add stiffness, which aids high-speed stability while more pronounced side sills do a better job of channeling airflow around the vehicle. The GT-R’s tail benefits from similar functional updating featuring revamped signature quad circular lamps and dual-paired exhaust outlets flanked by new aft air vents. To further elevate its profile, the 2017 GT-R also will be available in a new Blaze Metallic orange.
Major changes also permeate the GT-R’s upgraded cabin. An all-new “horizontal flow” dash is wrapped in Nappa leather and features a larger 8.0-inch capacitive center touchscreen display. The switch count has been trimmed from 27 to just 11 and there’s a new Display Command controller on the center console as well as more user-friendly air vent actuators. Redesigned seats reduce weight while adding more comfort and support, and the shifter paddles have been relocated from the column to the steering wheel to better facilitate cog changes in mid-corner.
Nissan also addressed a longstanding NVH issue in the GT-R by adding Active Noise Cancellation technology, an acoustic glass windshield and considerably more sound-attenuation material that make the passenger compartment “much quieter at all speeds.” For those seeking a bit more luxury, the Premium Edition offers its softer semi-aniline leather in new Rakuda Tan as well as the returning Amber Red and Ivory.
More muscle, smoother shifts
Although hardly underpowered, Nissan further tweaked the GT-R’s hand-built 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 raising horsepower to 565 and torque to 467 lb-ft; respective gains of 20 and 4 each. A new lighter titanium exhaust system with Active Sound Enhancement adds aural excitement and the GT-R’s 6-speed dual-clutch transmission has been revised to deliver smoother and quieter shifts.
To better exploit that extra muscle while upping its overall handling capability, the engineering team also stiffened the GT-R’s body structure and recalibrated its chassis tuning. Nissan says the 2017 GT-R not only grips the road more tenaciously but also has better stability in quick transitions while being the most comfortable GT-R ever.
The 2017 Nissan GT-R will arrive in showrooms this summer, starting with the GT-R Premium model which will open at $111,585 -- an $8,220 bump over its 2016 counterpart. It will be followed sometime later in the year by two other, currently unnamed, GT-R variants as well as the range-topping 600-horsepower Nissan GT-R Nismo. Pricing for those models will be released closer to their on-sale dates.
More Super Coupe News…


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Need for early conclusion of investment promotion issue with Nigeria: Anand SharmaMarch 16th, 2011 - 6:10 pm ICT by ANI
New Delhi, Mar 16 (ANI) Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma today expressed for an early conclusion of Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) with Nigeria.
During the bilateral meeting with Henry Odien Ajumogobia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Federal Republic of Nigeria here, Shrama said: “The complementarities of Nigerian and Indian economies needs to be harnessed for more extensive bilateral engagement.”
He informed the Nigerian Minister about the many Indian companies’ investments in Nigeria and added that some more Indian companies are keenly interested in areas such as power and petroleum.
Sharma expressed satisfaction over the growing trade and investment between the both countries.
He said that there has been growth of bilateral trade by 61.65 per cent in 2010 as compared to 2009.
He further said that the total Indian investment in Nigeria during 2010 is estimated to be around five billion dollars and total FDI from Nigeria during April 2000 to December 2010 is 6.49 million dollars.
There are over 100 Indian companies present in Nigeria mainly in telecom, hydrocarbons, textiles, chemicals, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, plastics, IT and autos sectors. Indian automobile companies have significant presence in Nigeria.
Major Items of export are: machinery and instruments, drugs, pharma and fine chemicals, transport equipments, electronic goods, manufactures of metals and major items of import are: petroleum, crude and products, non-ferrous metals, wood and wood products and cashew nuts. (ANI)
- India-Nigeria trade to reach $12 billion - Mar 16, 2011
- India seeks more oil, enhanced economic ties with Nigeria - Mar 16, 2011
- Reform-focussed Nigeria seeks Indian capital in energy, banking (Roundup) - Mar 16, 2011
- Nigerian pushes for direct flights to India as trade booms (Interview with foreign minister) - Mar 17, 2011
- India keen to set up fertiliser plants in Saudi Arabia - Nov 26, 2010
- India sees greater trade with Ethiopia thanks to tariff pact (With Image) - Dec 02, 2010
- India, Nigeria to boost ties, discuss UN reforms (Lead) - Mar 15, 2011
- India and Russia committed to boost bilateral cooperation says Anand Sharma - Feb 16, 2010
- Nigeria, India to renew air services agreement - May 04, 2011
- Nigerian foreign minister coming on four-day visit - Mar 14, 2011
- India seeks more crude oil imports from Nigeria - Mar 16, 2011
- India, Nigeria to boost economic, energy ties - Mar 15, 2011
- India to build stronger trade, economic ties with Brazil: Anand Sharma - Mar 08, 2011
- India, Nigeria to strengthen economic ties - Mar 17, 2011
- UAE keen on hightech cooperation with India - Feb 10, 2011
Tags: anand sharma, automobile companies, bilateral investment, bilateral trade, cashew nuts, commerce minister, electronic goods, fdi, federal republic of nigeria, fine chemicals, five billion, indian automobile, indian investment, investment promotion, minister of foreign affairs, nigerian minister, non ferrous metals, odien, republic of nigeria, transport equipments


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NEW YORK – Michael Cape has joined Gap Inc. as executive vice president of marketing for the Old Navy division.
Cape, whose duties will extend from advertising to in-store promotion and public relations, reports to Dawn Robertson, president of Old Navy, the value-price family apparel division of Gap. He succeeds Susan Wayne, who left the firm two months ago.
For the past six years, Cape has been with J.C. Penney, most recently as vice president and director of brand marketing, where was had direct oversight authority over Penney’s private brands and visual properties. Before joining Penney’s, he was vice president of marketing and visual merchandising for Natural Wonders and held senior marketing positions at Mervyn’s.
Robertson commented, “Michael has strong creative vision and experience in understanding and building brands. He has a strong blend of marketing expertise and leadership skills and is a perfect fit for what we’re looking for to take Old Navy forward.”
Cape said, “I look forward to working with the team to help bring Old Navy back into a leadership position in the retail industry.”
Old Navy finished fiscal 2007 with an 8% decline in January same-store sales versus a 7% decline for the entire company. Although corporate sales fell to $15.9 billion from $16 billion during the fiscal year, the company is expected to disclose detailed divisional results when it releases full-year results on March 1. In the year ended in January 2006, Old Navy was Gap’s largest division with sales of $6.86 billion versus $5.41 billion at Gap North America.


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OnePointe Solutions builds turnkey cannabis testing spaces complete with all the laboratory casework and workbenches necessary to house complex analytical instruments.
When you think of pesticides you’re likely to think of how they affect the foods you eat, not the medicinal herbs that you smoke. But as marijuana becomes legalized at the state level, new testing regulations are beginning to emerge. And who else but California to roll out new pesticide testing requirements? While this is extremely beneficial for the safety of the consumer, researchers are beginning to scramble to find certified testing labs to conduct tests.
Backlogs and Failures in California
As of July 1, California implemented new state safety requirements aimed at eliminating pesticides from marijuana. When ingested, these pesticides can become extremely harmful, especially when they are burned and inhaled. What this means for the concerning communities is that products can only be sold after being tested for safety by a licensed lab.
According to recent reports, one in five batches of marijuana aimed at hitting the shelves for recreational use has failed laboratory testing. These failures have ranged from inaccurate labeling of THC levels to contamination in lab HVAC systems.
With only 31 testing labs in the state, these tests can generally take up to two weeks to complete, leaving retailers with severely limited inventory and unhappy customers. Some, who rely on the product for medicinal purposes.
Pesticide Tests Across the Country
Since 2012, nine states have voted to decriminalize the production and sale of marijuana, five of which occurred in 2016 alone. Most states, including Washington and Massachusetts, are already calling for pesticide testing, while other states like Colorado have already begun testing.
As more states vote to legalize the sale of marijuana, demand for labs with proper equipment and up to date industrial furniture will continue to surge. As a trusted partner in research and development, OnePointe Solutions custom builds labs to meet varying clients needs throughout the U.S.
Whether you’re trying to build a SEFA compliant custom lab, looking for a biological safety cabinet, lab casework or lab benches, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch to schedule a virtual conference or onsite consultation for your upcoming marjiuana testing lab.


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We’ve been talking for a while about the Tesla Model S that’s been doing the rounds at Germany’s famous Nurburgring. It’s highly modified with extra aerodynamic bits and pieces with a wider track and splitters and spoilers over its body, and is said to be the fitted with the ‘Plaid powertrain‘. Not only this, but it has semi-slick tyres, carbon ceramic brakes, and two extra seats. Interesting.
But we won’t have to guess much longer, as Elon Musk has told us on Twitter that this new variant will be going into production around the Summer of next year.
“The final configuration used at Nurburgring to set the record will go into production around summer 2020, so this is not purely for the track,” he says in a tweet.
The final configuration used at Nürburgring to set the record will go into production around summer 2020, so this is not merely for the track
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 16, 2019
It’s more than likely this configuration will be sold as a package which sits on top of the P100D variant, with it being possible that eventually, each model will have its own track focused variant, getting its power from the Plaid powertrain. Just how similar this production model will be to the car you can watch lapping the Ring at the moment is unknown, but if Musk wants to beat the Porsche Taycan fairly with a production car, it needs to be as close as they can get it.
Tesla is yet to comment officially on Musk’s tweet, but of course we will keep you updated as we know more.


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By Ishaan . June 19, 2012 . 6:11pm
Well, that was quick. Earlier in the evening, Japan’s Famitsu magazine revealed an HD version of Okami for the PlayStation 3. Now, we have confirmation from Capcom USA that the game will be released in North America.
Okami HD is scheduled for release sometime this fall. The game was originally released on the PlayStation 2, followed by a Wii port. A sequel titled Okamiden was released for the Nintendo DS in 2010.


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From MEMA Washington Insider
MEMA signed an industry letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) urging quick passage of the Foreign Counterfeit Prevention Act (H.R. 4216). The legislation gives Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the authority to show samples of potentially counterfeit goods to intellectual property rights (IPR) holders, allowing them to assist in determining whether the goods are legitimate. The bill was slated to be considered by the House Judiciary Committee last week, but the markup was postponed due to timing considerations.
The legislation may be voted on in committee early this week. A “Managers Amendment,” or the chairman’s version of the bill, is expected to be offered during the markup and includes a provision giving priority to “critical merchandise,” the definition of which includes “motor vehicle equipment.”
For suspect goods under this definition, CBP would be required to share samples or images of suspect imports with the IPR owner to determine its authenticity. Given the few remaining days of this Congress and efforts to avoid the “fiscal cliff,” it is uncertain the full House would vote on the bill should the Judiciary Committee pass it. Committee passage would be helpful to secure support for the bill in a customs reauthorization bill expected to be considered by Congress next year. MEMA will continue to work with Congress and stakeholders to ensure CBP and IPR owners collaborate effectively in combating counterfeits at our borders.


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The predictions from Forrester Research are that it will reach this level before the close of 2017
Forrester Research has released the details of its latest study, which have indicated that m-commerce will play a vital role in the astronomical growth of ecommerce over the next few years in the United States.
The report said that this will be fueled by the rapid adoption of tablets and smartphones among consumers across the country.
So far, they have shown that sales over ecommerce are on pace to experience a considerable annual growth rate right through the year 2017. The report was called “U.S. Online Retail Forecast 2012 to 2017”. What it indicated was that in the United States, the ecommerce boom will rely heavily on m-commerce in order to be as successful as it will be.
This m-commerce prediction has supported many other forecasts from previous studies that have been performed.
Forrester Research principal analyst, Sucharita Mulpuru, said that “Mobile’s effect is largely to influence sales in other channels.” She also went on to explain that “Conversions are small and likely will be small for most sites into the foreseeable future.” This means that while consumers may not necessarily be making a tremendous number of purchases over m-commerce, and while those purchases may be for less expensive orders, this channel is still having a considerable influence over buying decisions that are made for purchases over other channels, such as online and in store.
This will be a very important influence that will help to push ecommerce forward over the next few years at a rapid rate. In fact, in the United States, alone, Forrester is predicting that by 2017, ecommerce will be worth $370 billion and that a great deal of that will have resulted from the influence that m-commerce has had over consumers, regardless of whether or not the purchases that they make are actually over a smartphone or tablet.
They believe that m-commerce will be a major driver that will help ecommerce to reach the point that it will represent 10 percent of all retail sales made in the United States.


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Consumers are becoming more open to the easy, accessible services of virtual care after dealing with perceived hardships of primary care visits.
Virtual care services are becoming a more favorable option to consumers while there are few affordable and convenient options for healthcare.
The study was conducted to help consumers better understand the state of primary care in American today, their perceptions and behaviors around it, and the role that virtual care plays.
These findings, in which over 1,000 consumers across the country were surveyed, showed nearly three-quarters of consumers understand what their primary care physician can treat, but more than a quarter of them do not see their primary care physicians for ongoing preventive care.
DoD says it has been reported that many consumers don’t see their primary care physicians until needed and nearly half of millennials don’t have a primary care physician at all.
Some of these deciding factors can be the cause of time, cost or is not worth the visit.
Although, through virtual care-a video chat between physicians and patients-more than half of consumers see it as a quick solution for one-off instances, while less than a quarter believe you can establish a relationship with a primary care physician virtually.
According to DoD, virtual care can fill many gaps in healthcare.
For example, the average wait time in America to get an appointment with a physician is up to 24 days, while virtual visits can have a patient see a doctor in less than five minutes.
Patients can be seen virtually to treat needs of urgent care, behavioral and preventive health and chronic care.
Virtual care can also treat 90% of conditions seen in urgent care facilities and the ER, as well as provide chronic care management, behavioral health services, prescriptions and labs, the survey says.
For the first time, virtual care can provide continuity of care and the ability to see the same physician on an ongoing basis through virtual primary care.
This study shows 60% of individuals, today, are more comfortable with video and believe if virtual care is delivered through video, then it is possible to rebuild a relationship with a primary care physician.
The study also shows more than 70% of those surveyed do not believe you can build a relationship with your doctor by phone or text only, without any video interaction.
Insurance plays a factor
Sixty percent of those in favor of virtual care said in the survey they would use virtual care if their insurance offered. Sixty-two percent of respondents said they are unaware if their health plan covers virtual care.
However, when respondents were asked if they would switch to virtual care if it was an option covered by their insurance, responses were 50/50, the study said.
DoD claims their virtual care services can assist patients no matter the location and with or without insurance.
Briana Contreras is associate editor for Managed Healthcare Executive.


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Posted on 01 November 2019
As parents prepared their children for back-to-school, WWF-Bulgaria promoted school supplies with an FSC label
Our region is home to many of Europe’s most substantial remaining primeval beech and old growth forests. A staggering 2.5 million m3
of timber, or roughly a third of total annual production, is lost annually to illegal logging in Bulgaria alone. Some of the last remaining old-growth forests in Europe are found in Bulgaria, which are crucial for preserving rich floral and faunal diversity. A campaign currently being run by WWF-Bulgaria
requests that we act now to protect these forests: “If they could speak, they would ask you for something.”
With a silent plea for help, animals living within these forests are urging us to protect the place that they call home.
As parents prepared their children for back-to-school,
WWF-Bulgaria promoted school supplies with an FSC label, which indicates that the stationary has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
and has been sourced from responsibly managed forests. WWF has created a video to encourage Bulgarian consumers choose to purchase products that carry this label:
A variety of products are made from responsibly harvested wood and carry the FSC label, ranging from office supplies to personal care and home products, making it easy and convenient to purchase environmentally responsible products that help protect forests in the Green Heart of Europe
. The speed with which we are destroying the planet’s forest is almost inconceivable. Every minute, forests equivalent to the size of 40 football fields are disappearing irrevocably. If FSC-labelled products succeed in sales, more forests will be managed sustainably, and thus will positively impact the economic needs of people as well as the biodiversity of nature.
FSC’s 25th Anniversary
To celebrate the 25 years that FSC has been protecting and improving responsible management of the world’s forests, WWF-Bulgaria collaborated with European Researchers Night at the Natural History Museum in Sofia, Bulgaria. There were interactive games, an FSC quiz, and VR glasses which taught the visitors about the beautiful, majestic old-growth forests. Moreover, an FSC Exhibition is on display at the museum which will remain up until October 15. Meanwhile, WWF-Slovakia
celebrated FSC Friday by participating in an educational event for high school students called Green Day. The event was organised by the Slovak Green Buildings Council
and held at Slovak Technical University in Bratislava. Green Day included expert lectures and discussions concerning sustainability, green innovation, and healthy living and dieting. WWF-Slovakia made presentations and set up an information stand to raise awareness about FSC and responsible forest management.
For more information:
Events Officer, WWF-Bulgaria
firstname.lastname@example.org; Tel: +359878843494
, Tel: +421 911 184344


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A fresh study looking at the authenticity of popular herb sage finds that more than a quarter of products sampled in the UK are adulterated. The results, the researchers say, emphasise that global herb supply chains are susceptible to food fraud.
Dark kitchens, direct-to-consumer sales and online ordering have been given a significant boost by to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. It is incumbent that as food businesses innovate and find new routes to market to stay afloat in these...
Today’s consumers expect heightened levels of traceability – particularly when it comes to meat. Dutch retailer Albert Heijn is working with its suppliers and DNA testing expert IdentiGEN to provide shoppers with certainty around the meat they eat.
The European Commission has authorised a new GMO for food and feed – a genetically modified soybean developed by Bayer. While some welcome the approval, others fear the risk of contamination threatens the GMO-free food production chain.
In Africa, naturally fermented camel milk sold by farmers at local markets often contain disease-causing microorganisms. Now, researchers have isolated ‘new’ strains of lactic acid bacteria they say can make the milk safer.
A UK CBD industry body is leading a consortium of companies to conduct a ‘landmark’ study on the safety of cannabidiol. This mean manufacturers in the country are in a ‘position to take the global lead’ on CBD in food, FoodNavigator was told.
Princes is leveraging blockchain developments to improve traceability and communicate its sourcing story to customers and consumers. Starting with its Napolina brand – but with plans for a further rollout – the company is working with Provenance to communicate...
Researchers in Denmark have developed a food fraud detection method for vanilla and black pepper, both of which can be adulterated for ‘high economic gain’, DTU’s Amelia Sina Wilde tells FoodNavigator.
How is African Swine Fever transmitted? And can eating foods from infected animals make you sick? BfR has answered a selection of FAQs following the first confirmed case of African Swine Fever in Germany.
Climate change is putting food safety at risk and action is needed to prepare the food system for the challenges ahead, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). FoodNavigator speaks to the FAO’s Vittorio Fattori, Food Safety and...
African Swine Fever has been confirmed in Germany, Europe’s largest pork producer, raising the likelihood of widespread disruption in the market and downward pressure on pork prices. FoodNavigator founds out why.


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Cattle Trade & Prices
Cattle & Beef
Throughput: Cattle supplies at export approved meat plants totaled 31,968 head during the week ending June 18, 2022 (Week 24). This is 2,497 head above the corresponding week in 2021 (+9%).
A total of 833,087 cattle have been processed during 2022 to date, an increase of 85,304 head from the corresponding period in 2021 (+11%). This increase in throughput has been driven by an additional 44,670 prime cattle (+8%) and a strong increase in the cow kill by 31,531 head (+20%). The supply forecast for 2022 indicate a recovery in total cattle slaughterings for the year in the region of 100,000 to 110,000 head. Decisions made at individual farm level to counteract the sharp inflation in production costs will ultimately determine the revised figure.
Prime cattle numbers remain tight with strong competition between the processors for those available as numbers of finished cattle begin to narrow. The Irish R3 steer price remains above the corresponding British steer and European young bull price. Market feedback suggests that the gap between Irish prices and those in our markets is resulting in some reduction in demand levels, as buyers seek alternatives.
Prices: In general, producers are being offered a base price on the QPS of between €5.20 and 5.25/kg for steers, with an additional €0.05 to €0.10/kg being paid for heifers. Demand also remains firm for better-quality, well-fleshed cows, and quotes tend to range from €4.65-4.75/kg for P grade cows, to prices of between €4.75 and €4.85/kg for good quality O grade cows, while up to €5.00/kg continues to be paid for quality R grade cows.
Consumer demand remains steady, especially for manufacturing beef, however the retail channel is proving more challenging in the face of price increases. Higher prices are posing difficulty for many consumers who are facing inflationary pressures on their household expenditure across the board and this has led some of our European customers to put a greater focus on other proteins such as pigmeat and poultry, which remain more competitive in price terms. This has also curtailed promotional activity which typically creates higher demand for Irish beef across our markets.
The average reported R3 steer price fell slightly for the week ending June 18, 2022, by 2c/kg on the previous week to reach €5.28/kg. Heifer prices fell this week by 1c/kg to €5.33/kg on the previous week. In the corresponding week in 2021, the R3 steer and heifer price were €4.17/kg and €4.20/kg, respectfully. This places the Irish R3 steer price last week €1.11/kg or 27% higher than during the same week in 2021 while the R3 heifer price was €1.13/kg or 27% higher than the corresponding week in 2021. While this is a strong increase in the beef price year on year the increased returns are being eroded by higher input costs at farm level.
Note that reported prices exclude VAT but include all bonuses such as for breed-based producer groups.
World prices: For the week ending June 18, 2022 average R3 young bull prices in the EU have experienced falls in prices over the last number of weeks, and fell by a further by 12c/kg the week of June 18, 2022 to €4.87/kg (excluding VAT). The latest reported Irish R3 steers has crept up to surpass this figure at €5.28/kg. The UK R3 steer increased marginally last week by 3c/kg, equating to €5.24/kg, which also lies beneath Irish R3 steer prices.
Composite prices: The Irish prime composite cattle price and the prime Export Benchmark for week ending June 18, 2022 were equivalent to €5.26kg and €5.05/kg deadweight respectfully. These exclude VAT.
The Irish Composite prime cattle price for week ending June 18, 2022 was €5.26/kg deadweight excluding VAT, compared with the EU export benchmark (excluding UK) of €5.01/kg.
The live export trade has remained firm with total cattle exports in 2022 running 10 per cent ahead of 2021 levels at 200,849 head. Calves continue to dominate the live export trade with more than 3,000 calves exported last week. This takes calf exports for the year to date to 158,301 head, almost a 20% increase on 2021 levels. The Netherlands has been the stand out market for calves this year with just over 87,000 calves exported to the region in the first five months of 2022. This accounts for 60% of all Irish calf exports and is a notable increase from the same period last year. Spain has remained an important market for Irish calves with over 51,000 calves exported so far this year although this is about 10,000 head lower than 2021 levels. Smaller numbers of calves have also been exported to Italy, Northern Ireland, Poland, Belgium and Hungary this year.
Exports of weanling cattle continue to operate ahead of previous years, driven by the increase in cattle being exported to third country markets. Meanwhile the number of store and adult cattle being exported continues to trend behind previous years, mostly due to a fall in cattle exports to Northern Ireland. With cattle slaughterings continuing to operate very strongly in Northern Ireland and with reduced cattle availability at farm level there may be an increase in demand for Irish cattle in the second half of this year.
See our weekly updated market trends.


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NY Tribe Says It Is Immune From Pot Sellers' Eviction Claims
By Caleb Symons · October 31, 2022, 7:01 PM EDT
Cayuga Nation officials say the upstate New York tribe has sovereign immunity from claims that it wrongly evicted a cannabis and cigarette retailer from tribal land, blasting representatives of the business...
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text: After doing a certain amount of digging and following the hundreds of letters we have received on the topic I may be able to shed some light on the issue of holiday rentals. Unfortunately, it is not really good news. To rent out your holiday home on a weekly basis you almost need the same paperwork as a hotel! You must have a tourist licence, a proper rental contract, your home has to be inspected first and if everything is in order then you can prepare for your first guests! I stress this is for weekly rents on a large scale. So really it is almost an impossible state of affairs. Now, local hoteliers say that they do not have a problem with private apartment rentals they just want the practice to be carried out legally with the necessary taxes paid. If you are getting one thousand euros a month then 300 should be paid in tax, said one local hotelier yesterday. She said that they are aware that thousands of people of all nationalities rented out their homes during the summer months and they wanted the local ministry for tourism to crackdown on them. There may be some good news on the horizon. The new tourist law which has recently been unveiled by the local ministry for tourism could make it easier for holiday rentals. But I have heard that rather than crackingdown on the owners of these apartments they will go directly to the websites where these allegedly illegal holiday rentals are advertised. What a nightmare scenario.


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Food delivery and restaurant recommendation company Zomato has more than halved its cash burn, while also focusing on improving margins and lowering its cost of delivery, Info Edge executives said in an analysts call on Tuesday.
“In March, the burn was $45 million, and now (in October), it is $20 million. They have a clear agenda to keep cutting burn, while still growing orders,” Sanjeev Bikhchandani, executive vice chairman, said during the company’s quarterly earnings call with analysts.
Info Edge is a key strategic investor in Zomato, holding a shade over 26% in the company, which was valued at $3.6 billion by HSBC Global Research in March earlier this year.
In October, Zomato had stated that revenue for the first half of the ongoing financial year jumped more than three-fold to $205 million, compared with the same period last year when it stood at $63 million. The Gurugram-headquartered company did not share profit numbers for the period.
At the time, Zomato had also said it had reduced cash burn to 60% of what it was six months ago without providing specific details, although the company indicated it had managed to cut expenses by increasing the number of orders and improving efficiency.
“When you grow very fast and focus on top-line growth, very often you don't keep an eye on cost of growth.. So a number of cost inefficiencies creep in.. Now they are solving for that.. For example, they are cutting discounts and marketing on the bottom end,” Bikhchandani said.
“They are cutting misuse and abuse, like people breaking an order into 2-3 to get more discounts, and just by doing that they are able to cut burn,” he added.
Bikhchandani also said he was also confident that Deepinder Goyal-led Zomato would not only defend its turf, in the face of an anticipated entry by Amazon into the space, but also grow in the face of increased competition.
“Food delivery is very different from ecommerce, because consumers want food delivered in less than 30 minutes, and while obviously we are watching with interest, we believe Zomato will continue to grow and defend its turf,” Bikhchandani said.
Info Edge executives also confirmed Chinese internet giant Tencent’s investment in another portfolio company, online insurance aggregator PolicyBazaar, and said it did not anticipate any threats from SoftBank-and Alibaba Group-backs Paytm, which is also expected to grow its insurance business.
While currently there are no plans of undertaking secondary transactions in PolicyBazaar and Zomato, company executives said that, should the latter, which is engaged in a stiff battle with rival Swiggy for market primacy, require further cash infusions, it will get the same, given the ongoing substantial interest by investors.
The comments come even as Info Edge posted stronger second quarter results, boosted by improved billings. For the quarter ended September 30, 2019, the company, which owns and operates India’s largest job portal Naukri.com, posted total income at Rs 339.8 crores, up 16%, compared to the year ago quarter.
Billings for the second quarter came in at Rs 300.5 crore, up by more than 15% compared with Q2 of fiscal 2018. Net sales also jumped by about a fifth to Rs 316.6 crore for the three months ended September 30.
“We continue to witness strong quarterly operational performance in terms of billing, revenue, total income and operating EBITDA growth, which are in high teens on YoY basis, supported by 99acres which grew over 20% in terms of billing & revenue during the quarter on YOY basis. We continue to leverage our strong cash surplus position to invest in technology and branding,” Chintal Thakkar, chief financial officer at Info Edge, said.
Shares of Info Edge rose more than 2% to close at Rs 2,567, Tuesday on the BSE.


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- Three private equity investors are considering a joint investment of $150-200 million in meat and seafood brand Licious.
- The fund will be used used to fuel Licious's growth and expand its business and product offerings.
- The Vertex Ventures and 3one4 Capital-backed company are in talks for investment and it has hired Avendus Capital to find investors.
Three private equity investors are considering joint investment in meat and seafood brand Licious worth $150-200 million (Rs 1,125-1,500 crore).
The fund from the primary deal would be used to fuel Licious's growth and expand its product offerings and product offerings.
According to The Economic Times, Licious will be valued at $800 million after the funding from Multiples Alternate Asset Management, Premji Invest, and Goldman Sachs.
In January 2021, the startup had completed funding of $80 million from new and existing investors. Licious an online meat and seafood ordering startup that follows an end-to-end business has confirmed that it delivers 1 million orders per month across markets and is currently present in Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Pune.
According to the paper, Multiples may lead the financing round, which will include a new share issuance, and some early investors will sell a portion of their interest.
"Previous investors will participate in this round as well," a source told the paper. To keep their stake, some existing investors can inject small amounts of money.
The business, which is backed by Vertex Ventures and 3one4 Capital, is also in talks with other global investors, and the terms of the deal will be finalized later.
Licious has enlisted the support of investment firm Avendus Capital to find investors.


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Nigeria’s VerifyMe Secures Series A Funding From Consonance To Boost Its KYC Product
VerifyMe, a Nigerian ID verification and Know-Your-Client startup that is based in Lagos, has roped in Series A funding of an undisclosed amount from Lagos-based investment firm, Consonance Investment Managers.
Founded in 2017 by Esigie Aguele and Olutunji Oluwole, VerifyMe has built a platform that enables seamless verification in real-time.
VerifyMe goes about this by leveraging data from the Nigerian Identity Management Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank Verification Number, and Federal Road Safety Commission driver’s licenses.
In a statement dated 17 January, Consonance Investment Managers stated that the investment will be used to fund its strategic partnerships and bring new digital ID verification products to market.
“Authenticated identity is a critical foundation of digital commerce and financial services; it’s the cornerstone of trust which is essential for collaboration in economies,” said Mobolaji Adeoye, Managing Partner at Consonance Investment Managers.
“We believe that Tunji, Esigie and the VerifyMe team are doing work that is pivotal to meeting Nigeria’s financial and digital inclusion goals. We are proud to support their vision and journey.”
It is also understood that VerifyMe is looking at expanding adoption across Nigeria and grow revenue twenty-fold over the next three years.
“We are delighted to partner with Consonance Investment Managers in our mission to build Africa’s KYC infrastructure. Digital services are a key catalyst for Africa’s economic growth and financial inclusion, but they can only be unlocked if there’s a mechanism to verify identity at scale,” said Aguele, who also functions as CEO of the startup.
“We strive to transform the digital landscape by providing businesses with KYC-as-a-service tools to verify their client identities.”
The co-founder talked up digital services as a key catalyst for Africa’s economic growth and financial inclusion while maintaining that these can only be unlocked if there’s a mechanism to verify identity at scale.


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Faces of China: Heavy Metal
Fengjiang is home to a vast digital dumping ground, but e-waste could be endangering those who live and work there.
Many of the world’s discarded mobile phones, televisions and computers end up in China. The town of Fengjiang, south of Shanghai, is the site of a large recycling yard; a vast digital dumping ground where piles of electronic scrap – known as e-waste – accumulate.
A recent UN report on hi-tech rubbish predicted that by 2020, the amount of e-waste from old computers in China will have jumped by 400 per cent.
China produces more than two million tonnes of e-waste each year – second only to the US. And it remains a major destination for developed nations to export their hi-tech rubbish – despite China officially banning the import of such waste.
This has serious implications for the environment and public health.


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It's amazing what $80 million will do to keep the patent lawyers at bay.
Vonage this morning announced that it has agreed to pony up that princely sum to Sprint Nextel after a jury last month found that the troubled Internet phone company had infringed upon a half-dozen of the latter's patents.
Vonage's stock soared 74 percent on the news, although that soaring brought the price of its shares to only $2.
Moreover, Vonage is far from finished with its patent business, as another adverse ruling -- this one from Verizon -- remains unsettled and carries a price tag of $58 million. Vonage has been attempting to find technical work-arounds to the Verizon patents.
Vonage has been in so much legal trouble as of late that even defunct rival SunRocket took a swing at them.
(Update: Stock continues to do well on the news, although analysts see more of a mixed picture, according to this Bloomberg.com account.)
Welcome regulars and passersby. Here are a few more recent Buzzblog items. And, if you'd like to receive Buzzblog via e-mail newsletter, here's where to sign up.
This year's "25 Geekiest 25th Anniversaries."
Verizon FiOS out for 5th time in 7 months, but …
A defense against Photoshop funny business.
How much does the computer store owe this PC buyer?
Rove resigning to spend more time with his iPhone.


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The pandemic will go down in history as a killer of the well-being of the population. For the first time since German reunification in 1990, gross wages per capita fell. In 2020, compared to 2019, according to the results of economic calculations, wages decreased by 0.1 percent, the Federal Statistical Office said.
Experts say the reason is the economic crisis that broke out due to the pandemic, and the increase in the number of employees transferred to shorter working hours, as well as the reduction in the number of jobs for mini-jaoers.
Real wages in 2020, that is, adjusted for inflation and price changes, were 0.6 percent lower than in 2019, as consumer prices rose 0.5 percent in 2020.
According to the Federal Office, average income fell significantly compared to 2019, in particular in the aviation, tourism (travel agencies and tour operators), hospitality and retail sectors. Between 2010 and 2020, the gross salary per employee increased by 28.5 percent.
Germany says this:
The situation in German universities is critical
Changes to the Law on Protection against Infections will be, what restrictions will be introduced
Privileges for the vaccinated already in April
German education ministers: schools will work, exams will be held


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Rising fuel costs amongst top reasons for EV adoption
Silent rides and better acceleration are also top considerations of EV owners.
Rising fuel costs are amongst the top considerations of Singaporeans in adopting electric vehicles (EVs).
According to a study from YouGov, 28% of Singaporean EV owners considered lower running and fuel prices as a deciding factor in their vehicle choice. Environmental protection and lowering carbon emissions is the top factor, cited by 44% of EV owners.
Other considerations were silent rides (23%) and better acceleration (19%) that EVs provide compared to combustion engine vehicles.
When it comes to car manufacturers, 34% of EV owners picked Tesla as their choice, followed by BMW at 24%, Honda at 19%, and Mercedes-Benz at 16%.
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority previously laid out goals to cut carbon emissions by 2030, which include electrification of bus fleets and establishing EV infrastructure.
Aspects of the driving experience—EVs offering a more silent ride (23%) and better acceleration compared to combustion engine vehicles (19%)—are the next most-cited reasons.


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Samsung enjoyed a principal turn around victory in its waging legal war with Apple concerning patent infringement litigation, as a U.S. appeals court had annulled a $120 million decision earlier taken to the disfavor of the South Korean electronics maker.
If you remember quite well, in the original jury decision which was delivered back in May of 2014, the two giant Samsung and Apple arrived a conclusive allegation to have overstepped their supposedly legal boundaries thus infringing on each others’ patents. Yet Samsung still suffered the order to make payments in the weight of $119.6 million in damages to Apple owing to violation of three patents.
Fast-forward to today, this fine was revoked by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Friday, according to Reuters. The court with base in Washington D.C came to a rational reality that Samsung did not infringe on an Apple patent as it concerns data detectors, also declaring as invalid a pair of Apple patents which are connected to “slide to unlock” as well as autocorrect.
Apple and Samsung had presented thick arguments in January before the appeals court, with a major fraction of the discussion bothering on Apple’s data detectors patent. From the financial side of it, this invention is responsible for an chunk exceeding $98 million of the now-defunct damages that had been previously awarded in Apple’s favour.
Guess this would be a major relief to the Samsung’s purse as it wouldn’t be shedding the supposed weight.


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More in Business:
By Mike Hazlip—
Extensive renovation of the 15-acre Sunrise Village shopping plaza in Citrus Heights continues, with several restaurants and stores planning to open in March.
According to Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter, a new Firehouse Subs restaurant and Starbucks drive-thru will open “toward the end of March,” taking up two spots in a new building near the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue. Joann Fabrics will also be closing its existing store and moving to a new space in the center next month.
See prior story: Firehouse Subs, Starbucks coming to Citrus Heights shopping center
Joann Public Relations Manager Shauntina Lilly told The Sentinel in an email Wednesday the location is planning a community event for March 10, and a grand opening on March 11. She said the company is “thrilled” about the opening.
Local residents will be able to visit the store and craft a free no-sew blanket at the event, with the blankets then donated to a local shelter, according to Lilly. Popular sewing influencer Montoya Mayo, who has over 41,000 subscribers to her Youtube channel, will be on hand for the event.
According to leasing information for Sunrise Village, a new City Sports will also be opening a 36,000-square-foot fitness club in the center next to Rite Aid, although an opening date has not been announced. Next door, the space that has been home to the current Joann Fabrics is slated for a new anchor tenant to occupy a 38,000-square-foot space.
Two sources with knowledge about renovation plans told The Sentinel Wednesday that Amazon-owned Whole Foods is a potential tenant for the former Joann’s space, but The Sentinel was not able to confirm the reports. Reports by ABC 10 and the Sacramento Bee show Amazon Fresh is positioned to expand in the Sacramento region, with one store confirmed to be opening in Roseville.
A job listing at Zip Recruiter also shows an opening for an Amazon Grocery Fresh Associate in Citrus Heights, although a specific address is not listed. The listing expired Wednesday and applications are no longer accepted, according to the site.
Renderings for Sunrise Village from commercial property management company Merlone Geier, which owns the center, show an unnamed anchor labeled “grocery” with architecture consistent with other Amazon Fresh locations. Merlone Geier Managing Director Gary Muljat did not reply to an email inquiry about the property on Wednesday.
A March 2021 report by Supermarket News shows Amazon plans to open more than 20 stores throughout the country and Bloomberg reported Amazon is working on stores “From Philadelphia to the Sacramento Suburbs.”
Amazon Fresh uses technology to integrate the customer’s shopping list with their Amazon account, enabling them to walk out of the store without standing in line at the checkout. The company tracks items selected by the customer and bills their Amazon account.
Approved plans for renovation of Sunrise Village included adding 18,000 square feet to the existing 150,000+ square foot shopping plaza and also included construction of a new 5,500-square-foot building and drive-thru, where Coco’s restaurant once operated.
Large archway signage branding the center as “Sunrise Village” was also approved to be added across two of the center’s driveways. Approvals also included “significant exterior enhancements” to the facades of existing buildings, along with canopies above walkways, the creation of outdoor patio spaces and modifications to the existing roofline.
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Local museum showcases personal artifacts from Holocaust survivors in ‘Stories of Survival’
1925, Courtesy of the Illinois Holocaust Museum, Photograph by Jim Lommasson (Courtesy of the Holocaust Museum Houston)HOUSTON – Holocaust Museum Houston presents “Stories of Survival: Object. Memory,” a new exhibition showcasing more than 60 personal items brought to America by survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides. The exhibition includes artifacts and stories of eight Houston-area Holocaust survivors, as well as those who experienced genocides in Armenia, Bosnia, Cambodia, Iraq, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Syria. “The process of marrying the two brings to life the human rights atrocities suffered by so many, while poignantly showcasing their stories of survival.”“Stories of Survival” is a project of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center and photographer Jim Lommasson. Holocaust Museum Houston is opened Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
Why the brutal history of Christopher Columbus has become a focal point of racial tensions in the US today
Several Christopher Columbus statues in the U.S., including one in Houston, were defaced by protesters as tensions on systematic racism are on the rise nationwide. The statue, in the Houston Museum District’s Bell Park, that was defaced Thursday morning was a gift from the Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Greater Houston in Columbus’ 500-year anniversary in 1992. But for several years, historians have dug deeper into his violent past and the way he treated Indigenous people. He had also enacted policies of forced labor in which Indigenous people were forced to work for the profit of European colonizers. Today, many cities and states in the U.S. have dropped celebrations of Columbus Day in October and instead celebrate “Indigenous Peoples Day” to stand in solidarity with Native Americans.
Houston's Hotel Zaza to host Broadway-themed brunch and pet fashion show
Houston's Hotel Zaza to host Broadway-themed brunch and pet fashion show Houston Museum District's 7th annual Wags and Whiskers benefits Interfaith MinistriesTama Lundquist, Brigitte Kalai, and Tena Lundquist Faust Tama Lundquist, Brigitte Kalai, and Tena Lundquist Faust Photo: Courtesy Photo: Courtesy Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Houston's Hotel Zaza to host Broadway-themed brunch and pet fashion show 1 / 12 Back to GalleryFashionistas and pets lovers unite for the 7th annual Wags and Whiskers brunch and pet fashion show coming to Hotel Zaza next month. The fashion show, formerly Best Friends Brunch will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the museum district's Hotel Zaza and will feature a Broadway-themed brunch, a pet fashion show, silent auction and more. READ ALSO: Hungry for Buc-ee's: Southern states making room for Texas' favorite beaverCasey Currey, a Houston-based meteorologist, will emcee the fashion show. The event benefits Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston's Animeals program, which delivers food to the pets of homebound residents. Animeals started more than 10 years ago when Interfaith Ministries' Meals on Wheels drivers noticed that homebound residents were sharing their food with their pets.chron.com


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- Vegan Lasagna Roll Ups With Almond Ricotta
- Should The Vegetarian Movement Be Reformed? Donald Watson
- Why Doctors Don't Recommend Veganism: Dr Michael Greger
- WATCH: Vegan Stevie Wonder Interviewed At The 13th Annual Global Green Pre Oscar Party
- Make Sticky Rice Balls (Sweet or Savory)
- Vegan White Sausage Gravy And Buttermilk Biscuits
- World's First Vegan Avenue & Veganz Vegan Grocery Store Tour!
genetically modified Archive
Posted on November 30, 2009It seems carnivores want to make us, vegetarians and vegans, out to be the environmental bad guys. As the Brazilian rainforest is being destroyed by illegal soybean plantations the finger is being pointed at us the biggest culprit. Except, of course, that according to Worldwatch Institute nearly 80 per cent of global soybean harvest is used to feed livestock.


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Taiwan's GDP growth forecast cut to 2.04% for 2023
Taipei, May 26 (CNA) The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said Friday that it has lowered its forecast of Taiwan's gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for 2023 to 2.04 percent, citing a weaker export performance.
The DGBAS has cut the country's GDP growth forecast by 0.08 percentage points from its earlier estimate made in February to 2.04 percent, which will be the lowest level since 2015, when the local economy grew 1.47 percent.
Tsai Hung-kun (蔡鴻坤), deputy head of the DGBAS, told reporters that high inflation, an aggressive rate hike cycle, and a war waged by Russia against Ukraine was still affecting global demand, forcing the supply chains to go through inventory adjustments, leading the agency to cut Taiwan's 2023 economic growth forecast.
In the wake of weakening global demand, the DGBAS has lowered its forecast for Taiwan's merchandise and service export growth by 0.64 percentage points to minus 0.60 percent, saying a relatively high comparison base last year also attributed to the downgrade.
According to the DGBAS, Taiwan's merchandise exports for 2023 are expected to fall 7.27 percent from a year earlier to US$444.6 billion.
The DGBAS, however, has raised its forecast for Taiwan's merchandise and service import growth by 0.16 percentage points to 0.82 percent, citing an increase of Taiwanese travelers heading overseas, which lent support to services imports.
According to the DGBAS, Taiwan's merchandise imports are expected to hit US$387.3 billion, down 9.51 percent from a year earlier.
While Taiwan is faced with falling outbound sales, the DGBAS said the country will see robust private consumption as eased COVID-19 controls encourage spending.
In addition, the government's issuing of NT$6,000 (US$195) cash handouts to all citizens and certain foreign nationals is expected to further boost private consumption by about 0.3 percentage points, the DGBAS said.
As a result, the DGBAS has upgraded its private consumption growth forecast for 2023 by 1.68 percentage points to 6.92 percent.
However, the DGBAS has lowered Taiwan's private investment growth forecast for 2023 by 1.36 percentage points from the previous estimate to minus 2.49 percent as global economic uncertainties have prompted many companies here to turn cautious about expansion by cutting capital expenditure.
The downgrade in private investment growth forecast also reflected a relatively high comparison base in 2022, the DGBAS said.
The DGBAS went on to say that despite the expected fall in private investment, the absolute value is expected to stay high, topping the NT$5 trillion level to hit around NT$5.27 trillion.
After taking into account private and public investments, the DGBAS said that Taiwan's capital formation is expected to fall 1.46 percent from a year earlier in 2023, a downgrade of 1.28 percentage points from the agency's previous forecast.
The DGBAS said that in the first quarter of this year, Taiwan's GDP fell 2.87 percent, an upgrade of 0.15 percentage points from a preliminary reading of minus 3.02 percent in April. According to Tsai, Taiwan's GDP data for the first quarter is the worst in 14 years.
The agency said the upward revision of the first-quarter GDP data came on the back of the higher-than-expected capital formation, growth of which stood at minus 3.24 percent, an upgrade of 0.91 percentage points from April's reading.
After a contraction in the first quarter at a time of inventory adjustments, Tsai said Taiwan's economy will improve, starting from the second quarter to return to a growth pattern for the rest of this year.
The DGBAS said Taiwan's GDP is expected to grow 1.82 percent in the second quarter, 3.18 percent in the third, and 5.77 percent in the fourth.
According to the DGBAS, inflationary pressure is expected to continue to haunt Taiwan, with the consumer price index expected to grow 2.26 percent in 2023, compared with a 2.16 percent increase estimated in February, above the 2 percent alert set by the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
The DGBAS said the higher CPI growth forecast largely reflected rising demand for leisure activities and travel in the post-pandemic era as well as increases in rent.
Taiwan donates US$200,000 to Guam for typhoon relief06/02/2023 10:18 PM
DPP's Lai outlines new rules to combat sexual harassment06/02/2023 10:07 PM
Taiwan, Tuvalu sign technical exchange, legal assistance agreements06/02/2023 09:14 PM
High-level Slovak officials to visit Taiwan for economic talks06/02/2023 09:00 PM


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U.S. officials have confirmed that ISIS has begun using drones as a mechanism for destruction. Two years ago they began using commercial drones for surveillance, but it's looking like they've begun using them for more sinister purposes.
From the Washington Post, "They're now showing that these devices can be effective on the battlefield," said Steven Stalinsky, executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute, a Washington nonprofit group that analyzed dozens of incidents for a new report on Islamist militant groups' use of drones. "With the way these groups use social media, my worry is that they're also putting the idea into people's heads that this is something you can now do."
The issue is that drones are relatively inexpensive and easily procured. One can easily go on Amazon (AMZN - Get Report) and pick up a drone with same-day shipping, no questions asked. The U.S. military has acknowledged the growing threat and addressing it with early-detection systems and electronic jamming as well as seek-and-destroy missions where drones are being assembled and produced.


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Men jacking off on web cam ms No credit card hook up dating site
"They thought it was funny as hell." Webcam scams do occur, though they're far less common than other types of online extortion.
Someone could be watching you through your webcam right now.
What would you do if someone had control of your webcam without your knowledge?
It’s a maddening thought, really, and one that I don’t particularly enjoy dwelling on.
They dubbed the program Back Orifice—a twist on Microsoft's Back Office.
The authors "were not malicious guys," says Frank Heidt, CEO of Leviathan Security.
In a report released last month, Canadian researchers concluded that Ghost Net has cracked at least 1,295 computers in 103 different countries, specifically targeting the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan activists and officials.
Stealing documents and logging keystrokes—that I understand.Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer revealed this stat at CES last month while discussing the Internet software’s ongoing success internationally.While the technology continues to improve, users are slow to learn how to make video calls look good.In some cases, if they’re really crafty, hackers can even spy on you without the LED on your webcam lighting up.Notable victims of webcam hacking include Cassidy Wolf, an American model who was crowned Miss Teen USA in 2013.You can get all sorts of useful information reading someone's e-mail or looking at their bank records. That seems creepy even by the standards of shady cyber-spying rings.


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Over the last 12 months and with the recent lockdown we have seen a decline in business in both the automotive and aerospace sectors, however, the rail industry remains buoyant. Over 60 GTMA members have now registered to join the Rail Cluster Group and we will be working closely with these companies over the coming months.
Click here to read the full article in MEM Magazine October 2020
The Railway Industry Association, the UK trade body for the rail supply community, has joined Reshoring UK, a collaboration of industrial engineering associations focused on connecting manufacturers with trusted, accredited UK suppliers capable of delivering products and services that match their requirements
Click here to read the full article in September 2020 issue of MEM Magazine
A company looking for lithium in hot springs in Cornwall has found the metal at "globally significant" levels.
Global demand for lithium, which is used in batteries for mobile phones and electric cars, is increasing.
Cornish Lithium has been sampling deep geothermal waters near Redruth and said initial tests indicated some of the world's highest grades of lithium. Chief Executive Jeremy Wrathall said the results gave Cornwall "potential for a real new industry".
He said: "This is an exciting step towards the realisation of ...
The UK is achieving less than half of the required build rate to deliver energy systems that will reach net-zero emissions by 2050, according to a new whitepaper from engineering consultancy Atkins.
The “Race to Net-Zero” whitepaper explores the capacity requirements of low-carbon technologies based on the Committee on Climate Changes’ (CCC) recommendations to the UK Government on the net-zero legislation. Under the requirement, Atkins has found that 48 natural gas units, 66 biomass facilities, six nuclear power stations, and 6,520 offshore ...
The SME Group at WMG, University of Warwick, has secured a £6m extension to their programme to help small manufacturing companies in the East and West Midlands.
The programme, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at WMG, is designed to support Midlands manufacturers, helping them overcome manufacturing challenges, improve productivity and boost their competitiveness.
The WMG team behind the programme has a wealth of industry experience, with expertise in materials and manufacturing, sustainability, ...
The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, has announced that it has signed a lease with property investment firm Canmoor for a unit at Westway Park in Renfrew, part of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland. The facility will be primarily used for the Group’s £11.8 million research and development programme with the world’s largest aerospace company, Boeing.
The space, which is around the size of a football pitch, will be refurbished to accommodate the personnel and equipment needed for the Boeing programme. It ...
UK and European carmakers have warned a no-deal Brexit could put a £100bn dent in the region's car industry in the next five years, adding to heavy losses already caused by Covid-19.
A letter signed by 23 trade groups across Europe urges the government to make a deal rather than default to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. It says without one, there will be a "catastrophic" rise in tariffs.
A government spokesperson said it was "working hard" to reach an agreement.
The industry has ...
The number of leading industrial engineering associations currently behind the Reshoring UK initiative has recently been expanded with the addition of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), British Plastics Federation (BPF), Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) and Invest Northern Ireland.
Now, the members of the 26 sector and technology specific business groups are adding further momentum to Reshoring UK, a collaborative development that assists manufacturers connect with trusted, accredited suppliers capable of delivering UK-based products and services.
The Railway Industry Association, the UK trade body ...
The BCF is proud to be part of the Reshoring UK initiative, a web-based supplier and buyer portal which has been developed as a comprehensive map of the vast number of capabilities available within the UK. Currently holding the details of 4,500 companies from 22 Trade Associations, it allows users to build a connected network that forms the foundation of a robust, end-to-end supply chain for any manufacturing or technology focused businesses.
Julia Moore is the CEO of GTMA, the Trade Association ...
The number of leading industrial engineering associations currently behind the Reshoring UK (www.reshoring.uk) initiative has recently been expanded with the addition of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), British Plastics Federation (BPF) Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) and Invest Northern Ireland - taking the number of sector - and technology - specific business groups to 26.
Reshoring UK is a collaborative development that enables manufacturers to connect with trusted accredited suppliers capable of delivering UK based products and services.
The full article is courtesy of ...


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Seven|H Now Selling
Some sophisticated new condos are now selling in the H Street Corridor. Seven|H is a new mid-rise property with ground level retail space ...
Posted by Mark Washburn on May 4, 2020
Seven|H Coming to H Street Corridor
A brand new mixed-use project is coming to the H Street Corridor, bringing with it a number of new luxury condos. Branded Seven|H, the development ...
Posted by Mark Washburn on June 18, 2018


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updated 09:00 pm EDT, Fri May 6, 2011
Sony mulls price on head of PSN hackers
Sony might offer a cash reward to whoever could turn in those who hacked into the PlayStation Network. A slip from sources said Sony was actively discussing the prospect of a bounty and, if it went ahead, would team with regional police to coordinate the payout. The electronics giant hadn't settled on a reward as a course of action and would need top-level approval from Sony headquarters to go ahead, AllThingsD said.
The company may not have have far to search. Insiders from the hacking scene claimed that the culprit or culprits were rogue members of Anonymous who decided to go deep into PSN itself where most Anonymous hackers balked at the idea. The group's ideological basis and sense of community might make it difficult to encourage betrayals, however.
A bounty would reflect Sony's embarrassment at the attacks, which exposed much of the non-financial information of 77 million PSN users worldwide and 24 million Sony Online Entertainment gamers. In learning the extent of the attack, Sony mentioned that only the credit card data was completely encrypted while the personal information was locked mostly a cryptographical hash on passwords.
Sony has since denied claims that it knowingly allowed lax security such as outdated Apache web servers and no firewalls. In a statement, Sony said its servers had been "patched and updated recently" and had a firewall in place.


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Whenever one goes to a regional economic discussion (usually a hand wringing) in the Bay, or a regional “futures” workshop, or hears from the Chamber poobahs, everybody talks the “primary production” gospel. As in …
“The Hawke’s Bay’s economy is grounded in primary production (40% or so the region’s one economic expert says) … always has been, always will be. Next topic.”
Except that most of the indications seem to be that farming — or big chunks of it — is actually on the ropes … punch drunk, if not down for the count.
For example, the headlines these days are full of dire predictions and hard data about the meat industry. Hawke’s Bay’s own Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers’ meat and wool chairman, says: “There’s absolutely no question that the meat industry in New Zealand is broken.” The meat industry board says the before-tax average farm profit for 2010 will be $39,800, down from $58,800 a year earlier. Rural indebtedness to banks has almost quadrupled in ten years, from $12 billion to $45 billion. Farmers are budgeting for a cash surplus of $4,400 in 2010/11. The predicted export lamb slaughter will be down 4.5% over the previous year (even with welcome attention to the Bay from Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer). And on and on.
Meantime, our wineries win banks of awards, but, with profits declining since 2007 most bank little or no profit (industry-wide, only the bigger — $10 million plus — players appear profitable). And I haven’t seen many orchardists cracking open the champagne bottles lately.
But then you see McCain Foods announce a $19 million investment in plant modernization in Hastings that will increase processing capacity a bit over 10%. High-fives for vegetable growers, seasonal pickers, maybe a few plant workers and — for a short time — some building contractors and tradesmen (the latter probably earning the highest hourly wage of the lot).
I’m happy for all of them … and for every new job they bring, or old one they save.
But is this Hawke’s Bay’s future? If so, it’s a future of unending economic volatility, decreasing margins, and permanently suppressed personal incomes … all grounded in the region’s largest sector. All while farming factions and experts argue over whether “the problem” is inside the farm gate, in the rapacious middlemen, or in uncontrollable global forces. And not even factoring in whether global warming is going to worsen our production environment.
Just cyclical? I think not!
Average incomes in Hawke’s Bay suck. 45% of HB earners make less than $20,000 per year; only 14% make more than $50,000 per year. And that’s when they’re employed. Here’s the distribution …
And that’s largely due to the primary production sector.
To our tired Regional Council, which is supposed to envision — at least in some intellectual sense — our region’s economic growth, if not abet it, the solution is apparently … more farming! As in water harvesting and “land intensification” in Central Hawke’s Bay.
I say we’ve got to explore and develop other options if we want sustainable prosperity in Hawke’s Bay. The good news is that we’ve got the right, appealing location and we’ve already got a nucleus of thriving businesses here that don’t live off the land. More to come on this theme.


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$HPE announced its plans for a spinoff and merger of its non-core software assets with Micro Focus. This transaction is valued at about $8.8 Bil, including a 50.1% ownership of the new combined company by $HPE shareholders, currently valued at $6.3Bil. The new combined company is expected to have annual revenues of about $4.5Bil.
$BA won a $22 billion deal from SpiceJet, their largest order from an Indian airline.
$FB stock remained in the green territory after Raymond James upgraded shares to strong buy from outperform, on expectations that overall 4Q16 ad spending was strong.
$ARRY Good day for the stock, jumped 7%. Great gains !
2017 was supposed to be another record year for automotive industry. Still, $F Ford thinks its profit will dip in 2017..!!
$KKR to buy Hitachi’s power tool unit Hitachi Koki for $1.3 billion. Looks like KKR & Co is going strong in Japan! Remember when it bought Calsonic Kansei a while back?


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Players and fans of the popular mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang can now take gaming to the next level as Smart launches a series of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Street League tournaments on its all-in-one esports platform, GIGA Arena at gigaarena .smart.
Taking place from May to December, the tournaments are open to all players of all skill levels, offering participants a chance to win from the P50,000 prize pool.
To participate, players must visit gigaarena.smart, create an account and take advantage of any Giga Games promotion to win tickets which will be used to enter tournaments. For the tournament schedule, visit this site.
Smart launches all-in-one esports platform GIGA Arena
Smart partners with Eplayment for Season 5 of Liga Adarna
Smart GIGA Arena’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament series is part of the telecom company’s long-standing support of Filipino esports to cultivate the passion, skills and talent of Filipino gamers.
In addition to hosting the biggest esports events in the country and supporting Filipino esports athletes, Smart also supports gamers with relevant data offers and services, such as GIGA Enhanced Games, a rich offer data that allows Filipinos to play their favorite games, such as Mobile Legends. .
Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers can register for GIGA Games through the GigaLife app, which is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Huawei Mobile Services. Customers can also enjoy GIGA games by dialing *123#.


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BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Whirlpool is "reshoring" production of its commercial front-load washing machines from Mexico to Ohio.
The appliance maker, whose brands include Maytag, Kenmore and its namesake, said Friday that 80 to 100 new jobs will be created in Ohio over the next three years to support the relocation. The Clyde, Ohio, plant is 2.4 million square feet, which Whirlpool says is the largest washing machine plant in the world. The company currently makes all of its residential washing machines for the U.S. at the plant.
Whirlpool said that the move is part of its efforts to build products in the regions where they are mostly sold. It does not anticipate any interruption in the supply of commercial washers during the transition.
Whirlpool currently has about 15,000 U.S. manufacturing employees. The company said that 80 percent of the products it sells in the U.S and made in the country.
The front-load commercial washing machines are sold for use in laundromats, hospitals, hotels and other commercial settings. The product is mostly sold in the U.S., with approximately 10 percent exported to Europe, Australia, Latin America and Asia.
Production is expected to start in the U.S. in April.
The Monterrey, Mexico, plant is adding a new residential washer production line to serve the Mexican market. Employee levels at the plant are expected to be maintained.
Shares of Whirlpool Corp. added 69 cents to $154.21 in morning trading.
Want to read more about what Whirlpool is doing to make U.S. manufacturing more efficient and cost-effective than ever? Check out our coverage of its Clyde plant and the roll-out of new RFID technology.


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Apple’s iPhone 14 lineup is tipped to have a quartet of phones, much like this year's iPhone 13 models. Only next year, instead of an iPhone 14 mini, there will apparently be a iPhone 14 Max as a lower cost alternative to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
That’s according to reasonably reliable leaker Jon Prosser, whose latest Front Page Tech video claims knowledge of a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 being in the works, seemingly set to offer Apple fans a larger iPhone without the “Pro” premium.
- The best iPhones right now
- iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12: The biggest differences
- Plus: iPhone 13 could have major touchscreen issue
Given the iPhone 13 range has only just been released, we’d be rather skeptical of this early leak. However, it’s also something Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and tipster Mark Gurman of Bloomberg have both claimed and corroborated, noting that there'll be a big screen next-gen iPhone without the hefty ticket price. So there’s arguably something of note here.
We’ve seen larger versions of the standard iPhone dating way back to the iPhone 6 Plus, so Apple has some history here. It was only really with the iPhone 11 range that Cupertino opted to go for Pro models, which offered more than just a larger screen, rather than make a larger standard iPhone.
Given the appetite for big screen phones, this would also seem like a shrewd move for Apple, especially as the iPhone 12 mini reportedly didn’t sell well. In our iPhone 13 mini review, we were impressed by the phone but we’ve yet to get a feeling for how well it has sold thus far.
As for other iPhone 14 tips and rumors, the range is expected to get a complete redesign, with the notch being swapped out for a punch-hole camera and a flat rear camera bump. And rather than rely on just Face ID as the biometric security option, Touch ID is tipped to make a comeback in the form of an under-display fingerprint scanner.
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We still have our own wish list for the next iPhone, including 7 big things we’d like from the iPhone 14, which we’d feel would give the next iPhone yet another shot of the top spot on our best phones list. And that could get rather competitive in 2022, given we’re expecting big things from the Samsung Galaxy S22.
Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at Tom’s Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he’s also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face.


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Sling TV, the online TV streaming service, now works with your Android TV. To celebrate, Sling is offering 50% off a Nexus Player purchase for new customers who pre-pay for 3 months of Sling TV service. Already own a Nexus Player? Sling TV is gifting you a free week of trial service, hoping you will cut the cord to your current provider at the end of the week.
Sling TV’s list of compatible devices continues to grow, currently available on the Xbox One, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android devices, iOS devices, and more. With Android TV now in the works, and with that OS being built directly into new TV sets from major manufacturers (and plenty new set-top boxes on the way), Sling TV may soon become a legitimate option for those who truly wish to cut ties from Comcast or Time Warner. Unfortunately, after looking at Sling TV’s channel lineup, those who enjoy many live sports may be left disappointed. Sure, you can watch the NBA Finals and ESPN channels, but many games will likely go missed.
If you are already a member of Sling TV, and have an Android TV device, head on over to Google Play and grab the updated app.
Do you have Sling? What do you like and what don’t you like about it?


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As announced by the Association of Spanish Supermarket Chains (Aces) within the framework of Fruit Attraction 2019, the sales volume of organic fruits and vegetables in the country's supermarkets has grown by 15% in the last year. In the supermarkets associated with this entity (Carrefour, Alcampo, Eroski, Lidl and Supercor) there are a total of 150 organic products available, compared to the 2,000 in the fruits and vegetables category as a whole. Organic products thus represent 7.5% of the total.
"Exponential growth is being achieved at the fruit and vegetable section in our stores. The shelf space has increased by 20% in the last five years. Organic products are already in the shopping list of any type of consumer, and this is mostly to thank to the joint effort of the industry and the producers," said Aurelio del Pino, president of Aces.
According to the Association, the supermarket format "consolidates" as the main engine for growth of the Spanish fruit and vegetable sector. The purchases of domestic products in the aforementioned chains are worth over 800 million Euro per year, and currently they collaborate with more than 700 supplier companies.


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Barbie doll styled after ESA astronaut on sale for World Space Week
The first Italian woman to launch into space is no longer a one-of-a-kind Barbie.
Samantha Cristoforetti, an astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), made her debut as part of the fashion doll line three years ago, but only as a couple of one-off models for display. Now, Cristoforetti's Signature Role Model Barbie doll is for sale and is raising funds for a scholarship in celebration of "Women in Space," the theme of this year's World Space Week that began on Monday (Oct. 4).
"With STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] careers still underrepresented by women, Barbie is using its platform this World Space Week to show girls [in] exciting and diverse roles and activity in space for them to explore their limitless potential," Isabel Ferrer, Mattel's marketing director for the Barbie line in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said in a statement.
The new Cristoforetti Barbie comes dressed in a simplified version of the NASA extravehicular mobility unit, or spacesuit, that is used to perform spacewalks outside of the International Space Station. The white garment is adorned with the Italian flag on the doll's left shoulder, NASA's extravehicular activity (EVA) patch on the right shoulder and ESA's logo patch on its chest. The spacesuit also has red stripes, used to denote the lead spacewalker.
Related: Pioneering women in space: a gallery of astronaut firsts


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The new Scania R-series goes to Japan Economy and safety in focus
Scania’s Japanese partner Hino is introducing the latest generation of Scania trucks at this year’s Tokyo truck show in October. The focus of interest is on the improved fuel economy of the new R-series and on Scania’s computerised ESP stability enhancement system, which boosts safety on the road.
The R-series recently received type approval in Japan. This makes Scania the only non-Japanese manufacturer of heavy vehicles to meet the norms for sales in Japan.
The experience gained from the Scania 4-series – with more than 120 Scania trucks operating on Japanese roads today – shows that what the Japanese customers appreciated most is their fuel economy, comfort and driving characteristics.
“The new Scania generation offers improvements in all these areas,” says Anders Lööf, who is directing the introduction of the new models in Japan together with Hino.
“The issue of road safety has the very highest priority in Japan and interest in Scania’s new stability-enhancing ESP system is therefore considerable. Japanese truck operators have also noted that Scania received the 2005 Truck of the Year Award for improved ergonomics and driver comfort. The new models thus meet the Japanese market’s high demands and expectations.”
Through cooperation with Hino, Scania’s Japanese customers have access to Hino’s comprehensive service network. This network is based on 42 main workshops plus peripheral satellite workshops spread along the country’s roads.
With the introduction of the R-series, Scania now offers the Japanese market an extended product range with 420 and 470 hp engines, as well as a choice of two cabs.


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In the third Inflation Report of the year announced Tuesday by Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) Murat Çetinkaya, the changes in inflation forecasts compared to the previous period were announced. Accordingly, the inflation expectation for the end of 2017 rose from 8.5 percent to 8.7 percent, while the forecast for the end of 2018 was left unchanged and stood at 6.4 percent. In the mid-term, the forecast that the inflation would gain stability at the level of 5 percent was also left untouched. The CBRT governor strongly emphasized that until the improvement in the inflation outlook is sustained, the bank will continue applying its tight monetary policy.
Emphasizing that the inflation will gradually converge to the target of 5 percent under a tight policy stance focused on reducing the inflation, Çetinkaya said, "The CBRT forecasts that the inflation will be at 8.7 percent at the end of 2017 and, after straining to 6.4 percent at the end of 2018, will gain stability at the level of 5 percent in the medium term. In this framework, inflation, with a 70 percent probability, is estimated to be between 7.8 percent and 9.6 percent at the end of 2017 (midpoint of 8.7 percent) and between 4.7 percent and 8.1 percent at the end of 2018 (midpoint of 6.4 percent)."
Stating that the inflation forecasts for the end of 2017 were revised upward by 0.2 points compared to the April Inflation Report and that they did not change the inflation forecast for the end-2018, Çetinkaya said the upward revision of the output gap due to the improvement in the outlook of the economic activity has had an effect on the upward increase of 0.2 points in the end-2017 forecast.
"Another factor that has had an impact on forecasts is the fact that the food inflation forecast for 2017 has been revised from 9 percent to 10 percent. The said revision, compared to the period of the previous report, has added 0.2 points to the end-of-year 2017 inflation forecast. On the other hand, while the Turkish lira has had a stable course in the recent period, a sharp decline in oil prices has been observed. Thus, despite the upward revision made on the assumption of import prices in terms of U.S. dollars, the Turkish lira-denominated import prices have pulled down the 2017 year-end inflation forecast by 0.1 point," Çetinkaya said, adding, "In addition, as a result of the suspension of automatic tax increases on tobacco products, the effect of alcohol and tobacco products on consumer inflation for the year end was 0.1 percentage point lower than the forecast in the previous inflation report. In this framework, we have raised our consumer inflation forecast to 8.7 percent for the end of 2017, which we announced as 8.5 percent in the April Inflation Report. On the other hand, we kept consumer inflation forecast at 6.4 percent for the end of 2018. We anticipate that the closure in the output gap will increase inflation by 0.1 point for the end of the year 2018 and that the revision on assumptions related to the Turkish lira-denominated import prices will compensate for the corresponding effect."
Stating that, despite the favorable course of global risk appetite and the limited influence of cost-oriented developments in recent months, high levels of inflation and the recent decrease in inflation-reducing effects of aggregate demand conditions pose a risk to price behavior, Çetinkaya said: "For this reason, we will continue our tight monetary policy until we see a significant improvement in the inflation outlook. We closely monitor the inflation expectations, pricing behaviors and other developments affecting inflation. I would like to say that we could do additional monetary tightening if needed."
"When we look at the domestic economic outlook, we see that exchange rate volatility and risk premium indicators are more favorable compared to other emerging economies at the end of January due to the tight monetary policy stance. In the first half of 2017, thanks to macroeconomic precautionary policies, public measures and incentives, the significant acceleration in credit utilization recorded in the second quarter began to stabilize from the end of the quarter. In this context, financial conditions contribute to supporting economic activity in the recent period," said Çetinkaya. Moreover, he also said that consumer inflation, which has been on the rise since December 2016, decreased to 10.9 percent in the second quarter of this year with a limited decline.
He also added that the decline in oil prices and the appreciation trend in the Turkish lira in the recent period have contributed to this partial recovery, while the support for the downward trend in demand conditions has diminished in the second quarter.
"In the first quarter of 2017, we saw that the recovery tendency in economic activity, recorded in the first quarter, is continuing. Leading indicators indicate that the recovery in economic activity has kept its strength in the second quarter. In addition, signals are being taken that the sectoral spread of the recovery in the economy is increasing," said Çetinkaya, saying that, while an improvement in domestic demand has been observed, the increase in the demand of EU countries continue to have positive effects on exports. He also said they expect that the economy activity will continue to protect the strength of the economy with the support of encouraging measures and incentives.
Çetinkaya said that they set the food inflation assumptions at 10 percent for the end of the year and maintained 7 percent for the end of 2018. Stating that consumer inflation was realized at 10.9 percent in June in line with the April Inflation Report forecast, Çetinkaya said unprocessed food and nonalcoholic and nontobacco consumer inflation remained below expectations.
Çetinkaya emphasized that the economic activity in the first quarter of the year followed a stronger course compared to the outlook presented in the April Inflation Report.
"Gross Domestic Product increased by 5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2017 and quarter-on-quarter growth was 1.4 percent. While the recovery tendency in economic activity is continuing, we see that the main drivers of periodic growth are export, construction investments and public consumption, respectively," said Çetinkaya.
Underscoring that the high contribution of net exports to growth in this period indicates a favorable growth composition in terms of the current account balance, Çetinkaya also said that the recently announced data show that the recovery in economic activity has gained strength in the second quarter and that sectorial expansion has increased compared to the previous period.