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(KRON/CNN) — Here’s some good news on Valentine’s Day. It turns out, chocolate is good for you.
One study says a little as a quarter of an ounce of chocolate a day may keep the heart doctor away — dark chocolate that is.
The German Institute of Human Nutrition says it could lower the risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
As reported on Dine and Dish with Vicki Liviakis, another study says chocolate can help improve a person’s mood.
It is also a good antioxidant and helps with inflammation — but remember, moderation is key.
More on chocolate’s benefits can be found here.


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Good news for vegans: the food industry has embraced the wave and according to the latest research, the global plant-based snacks market is expected to grow at 8% per year.
Simple math tells us that it will double in eight years.
According to the research from Persistence Market Research (PMR), the global plant-based snacks market is being fueled by multiple factors — notably the rising awareness of health and wellness among consumers.
Besides, a rapid increase in the adoption of vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian diets is said to boost the sector. In addition, rising health issues and allergies have encouraged consumers to switch their eating habits and adopt plant-based snacks. As part of this shift, the move towards natural food substitutes has been witnessed among the lactose-intolerant consumers, which is expected to contribute immensely to the growing size of the plant-based snacks market.
Another significant growth propeller to the plant-based snacks market is growing awareness of animal welfare and treatment, which has resulted in tighter regulations and bans on several animal-based products.
As a result, manufacturers of plant-based snacks are diversifying their product portfolio by leveraging crucial ingredients and flavors, in the bid to enhance the taste of the snacks and acquire a large customer base.
Beside this, leading manufacturers of the plant-based snacks market have entered into strategic mergers and acquisition to broaden their existing range of product offerings. For instance, The Vegetarian Butcher, a vegan meat firm of the Netherlands partnered with Mora to expand its plant-based snacks business.
As compared to the traditionally consumed snacks, plant-based snacks are devoid of sugar, fat, and oil content, which makes them a healthier option to prevent conditions like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
What’s more, artificial flavors added to the fried snacks equally pose their share of the health threat to a human body, which remains a robust growth driver for the plant-based snacks market.
According to the report, key players in the space include General Mills Inc., The Unilever Group, Nestle, Primal Spirit Foods, Inc., Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Blue Diamond Growers, Inc., Eat Natural, Green Park Snacks Ltd, Louisville Vegan Jerky Company, Eat Real, Quorn, Oumph, Soul Sprout, Upton’s Naturals, Nutrifusion, Drink Eat Well, LLC, Go Raw®, Greenleaf Foods, SIREN SNACKS, and Zellee Organic, among others.

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UAE accounts for 15 per cent of Lebanon’s tourism receipts in Q4 2013
The overall spending by tourists to Lebanon increased by four percent in Q4 2013 when compared with the same period in 2012, reveals statistics by Global Blue, with Beirut attracting 81 per cent of the total spend.
In fact, UAE travellers to Lebanon accounted for 15 per cent of the total tourist expenditure in Q4 2013, according to Global Blue, followed by those from Saudi Arabia (12 per cent), Egypt and Syria (eight per cent each), Kuwait (seven per cent) and Jordan (six per cent). International tourists made their marks too, with France accounting for five per cent of all tourist expenditure, followed by the US (three per cent) and Nigeria (two per cent).
Hotel industry figures also reflect a surge in tourism business to Lebanon, with Beirut reporting the largest increase in occupancy rates in November 2013 when compared with November 2012, thus growing by 22.3 per cent to 43.2 per cent, according to STR Global.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the travel and tourism industry remains one of Lebanon’s key economic drivers, with direct contribution to GDP reaching $41.3 billion (9.3 per cent of GDP) in 2012 and rising by 1.8 per cent to $42.1bn in 2013. The direct contribution of travel and tourism to Lebanon’s GDP is expected to grow by 5.8 per cent per annum, thereby amounting to $74bn (9.6 per cent of GDP) by 2023.
The annual Arabian Travel Market roadshow is arriving tomorrow (Tuesday, February 11) in Beirut, with key industry players gathering to discuss marketing opportunities to showcase Lebanon’s tourism potential. The Arabian Travel Market 2014 will take place from May 5 to 8 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, with an additional hall. Last year, it welcomed more than 21,000 visitors and participants from 165 countries.


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Danlaw Inc., a global provider of automotive electronics and embedded engineering services, Wednesday announced a partnership with Eontronix Co. Inc., a technical service provider to the Chinese auto industry.
Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE: WHR) announced that it has entered into agreements to become a majority shareholder (51 percent) in Hefei Rongshida Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., a home appliances manufacturer based in Hefei, China.
Supply Chain Solutions, a Grand Rapids-based transportation, logistics and supply chain management and improvement group, has acquired the freight forwarding business unit of England Logistics, a top 10 freight brokerage firm and third party logistics provider based in Salt Lake City.
The latest in new business earned by Michigan’s technology-focused companies
Livonia-based TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) has recently started production of its electrically powered steering belt drive system for the first time on a global vehicle platform launching in China.
On May 9, 12 Chinese students were the first to graduate from Wayne State University’s 3+2 program – a partnership with several Chinese universities.
Matt’s Favorites: Syria’s Internet and CenturyLink Down, China Espionage Up, Good Pizza At Home, And Much More
What’s the latest from the wild and wacky world of technology? I’m ever so glad you asked — here goes!
An ex- General Motors engineer convicted of stealing hybrid technology was sentenced to just a year and a day in prison, far below the punishment sought by the government in a case that involved an alleged scheme to take the trade secrets to China.
General Motors Co. wants a long prison sentence next week for a former employee and her husband who were convicted of stealing hybrid vehicle technology for potential use by competitors in China.
As China leapfrogs over Germany for third place among countries where Michigan products are exported to, the effort to build two-way bridges between the huge Asian nation and the Great Lakes State continues to flourish.


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Sainsbury’s has agreed to buy Walmart’s Asda for about 7.3 billion pounds ($10 billion) to create Britain’s biggest supermarket group by market share, overtaking long-standing industry leader Tesco.
Bringing together Britain’s second- and third-largest supermarket groups could generate the savings and buying power to help them better compete with fast-growing German discounters and growth at Tesco after its purchase of wholesaler Booker.
The cash and shares deal could also provide a potential exit route for Walmart, as Asda, which it bought in 1999 for 6.7 billion pounds, has been struggling to grow over the last five years as discounters Aldi and Lidl attract its price-conscious customers.
Sainsbury’s shares jumped as much as 21 per cent to 327.1 pence in early Monday trading, their highest since July 2014, while shares in rivals Tesco and No. 4 Morrisons fell.
Walmart will receive 3 billion pounds ($4.1 billion) in cash and a 42 per cent stake in the combined business’ equity, valuing Asda at about 7.3 billion pounds. Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe will retain that position in the merged company, which will keep the Sainsbury’s and Asda brands.
Analysts said the deal was a bet that recent changes in the retail industry—including the rise in online shopping, hard discounters and Tesco's purchase of Booker—would ease any opposition from competition regulators.
Bernstein’s Bruno Monteyne said that if regulators included discounters—which sell a much smaller range of products—in their assessment of major competitors for the new group, it might only have to sell about 8 per cent of stores. But if they do not include discounters, disposals might have to reach 15 per cent of stores, which could undermine the deal.
Speaking to the BBC, Sainsbury’s Coupe said divestments were possible, but there were no plans to close shops and so customers would be unaffected. “Even if we have to divest stores they will be sold as trading entities,” he told BBC radio. Together Sainsbury’s and Asda have 2,800 stores.
The deal comes as Britain’s big four grocers continue to lose share to Aldi and Lidl and are also having to deal with growing demand for internet grocery shopping and the relentless march of Amazon. And it follows Tesco strengthening its position with the completion of a 4 billion pound takeover of wholesaler Booker two months ago.
The surprise decision by Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority to unconditionally clear the Tesco/Booker deal may have encouraged Sainsbury’s and Asda to believe they could get a transaction through, albeit with some store disposals.
The two companies have different cultures and appeal to different customers, with London-based Sainsbury’s strong in own-brand products, and Asda, headquartered in Leeds, northern England, focused on price. Sainsbury’s said the combination would generate synergies of at least 500 million pounds and enable prices to be lowered by about 10 per cent on many products.
Jefferies analysts said it was a bold move by Coupe, who led Sainsbury’s in the purchase of general retailer Argos in 2016. “Sainsbury’s continues to surprise us with their aggressive deal-making,” said the analysts, who have a “hold” rating on the supermarket group's stock.
Bernstein’s Monteyne pointed to the risks of bringing together companies with different cultures, noting that Morrisons-Safeway lost 28 per cent of their sales through a combination of store sales, integration problems and culture clash during the last big UK grocery merger over a decade ago.
The Qatar Investment Authority, currently the largest shareholder in Sainsburys with a 22 per cent stake, said it supported the deal. After a two-year lock-up period, Walmart is allowed to reduce its stake in the combined group to 29.9 per cent, and after four years could exit completely. Sainsbury’s also reported its full-year results on Monday, showing a first rise in profit in four years.


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Apple 07 Dec It is for iPhone 11 units with displays becoming unresponsive to touch input.
notify you when this product
will be available.
Apple iPhone 11NewsNews
Apple 02 Sep Apple has five iPhone models in the top 10 list.
Apple 24 Jul It will help Apple save money spent on 22% import duties.
Apple 02 Mar The price hike is due to custom duties changes in India.
Market 30 Jan It registered $56 billion in revenue from iPhones.
Apple 22 Jan iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro are a hit in China.
Samsung 27 Dec Samsung Galaxy A10 as the best-selling Android smartphone.
Security 06 Dec Apple says that the location is tracked locally and no information is shared.
Accessories 21 Nov They all also support wireless charging like last year.
Apple 28 Oct The results are closer than ever.
Apple 24 Oct iOS 13.2 beta brings Deep Fusion to the iPhone 11 lineup.
Android 16 Oct It is being made at Foxconn's Chennai facility.
Apple 07 Oct Apple to sell more iPhone 11 units than iPhone XR last year.
Apple 30 Sep It seems like Apple has got the iPhone 11 pricing right in the country.
Apple 24 Sep It has the new double-decker logic board underneath.
Apple 16 Sep iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro are more popular in China and the U.S.
Apple 14 Sep New iPhones can now be preorders in around 30 countries globally.
Apple 12 Sep Apple iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max RAM and battery capacities revealed.
Apple 12 Sep Apple has added a dedicated U1 chip to the iPhone 11 series so that you could share stuff with other...
Apple 30 Aug We could also new iPad Pro, iPad, and Apple Watch releases.


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In news that will surprise nobody, Natalie Portman has signed a beauty endorsement deal. What may be surprising, however, is that the actress, who often favors Rodarte and Lanvin on the red carpet, is the new face of Parfums Christian Dior. Although little information has been released, Natalie's in good company. She joins Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron, and Monica Bellucci in adoring Dior.
Years ago, Natalie endorsed Lux hair care in Japan, but this is the first time she's signed with a fragrance and cosmetics company. Do you think it's a good fit?


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Lantern file photo
With President Barack Obama beginning his campaign at the Schottenstein Center Saturday, many businesses in the university area are looking to capitalize on the traffic flocking to see the nation’s leader.
“A presidential visit is beneficial to any business in the area,” said Lindsay Farkas, assistant manager at Roosters Wings at 3370 Olentangy River Road. “It should draw people into Columbus from all over Ohio, even other states.”
Rob Cohen, vice president of Conrads College Gifts at 316 W. Lane Ave., also said he believes the visit will provide an opportunity for local businesses to gain customers.
“It’s always exciting when the president comes,” Cohen said. “It is nice for people to be in the area, especially for small businesses.”
Jamie Gleason, shift supervisor at Panera Bread at 300 W. Lane Ave., said their restaurant is expecting an increase in business resulting from the presidential visit as well.
“We’re expecting more customers, and are boosting our products for the day,” Gleason said.
Gleason’s biggest concern with so many people being in the area would be the wait times for customers. However, she said they adjusted schedules and shifts to accommodate the expected rush hours.
“We will have more people on duty to work, so this won’t affect our wait times,” Gleason said.
Farkas said her staff at Roosters has planned ahead for the visit, and are prepared for whatever Obama’s visit brings.
“We are over-staffing a little bit,” Farkas said. “We can only have so many girls on at one time, but we’re definitely ready for after the event.”
While restaurants are geared up for the potential business the president could help herd into the university area, shops in the area aren’t as optimistic about a business increase.
“I’m not sure how much it will affect us,” Cohen said. “It’s nice for people to be in the area, I just don’t know how much business we will get because of it.”
Cohen did say he believes there are businesses that will do well on Saturday, specifically those involving food.
“More people will be at the restaurants then anything,” Cohen said. “I can’t see us being extra busy, I hope we are.”
Lucas Hammonds, a third-year in health sciences, said he thinks Obama’s visit should be beneficial to the university area as a whole.
“Obviously, it will bring plenty of people and attention to Columbus and Ohio State,” Hammonds said. “They will all be eating here, buying things and staying here if they are from out of town. It’s a great opportunity for a lot of businesses.”


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The progress in the last five years on electric motorcycles has been astounding. Taking their first laps around the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, a 87.434 mph pace was the best an electric motorcycle could do at the prestigious road race in 2009 — a pace that was on par with the 50cc record set in 1971. Since that time though, the development of these machines has grown by leaps and bounds.
In just five years after the first laps were taken by electric motorcycles at Snaefell, these machines have grown their average lap speeds by over 20 mph at the TT Zero race, setting a new record of 109.675 mph in 2013, and boasting a rate of improvement of roughly 5 mph each year since 2009.
If hitting 142.2 mph down the Sulby Straight speed trap wasn’t further proof of the speeds these bikes are achieving, maybe some visual evidence will help support the notion. Checkout the on-board videos of Michael Rutter (on the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc) and John McGuinness (on the 2013 Mugen Shinden Ni) after the jump.
At the 2013 Isle of Man TT, when it comes to the TT Zero race, there are really only two entries being talked about: MotoCzysz and Mugen. Rumored last year to be a black hat electric superbike project for Honda, Mugen of course denies such involvement, though admits that company’s share a very special and close relationship.
Whether you believe that an association exists or not, the paddock gossip says that Mugen (or Honda) has spent nearly $4.3 million on its electric bike project, and that sounds like a number that is well within the ballpark. With John McGuinness at the helm, Mugen is taking the TT very seriously, and looking at the 120 hp Mugen Shinden Ni, you can see that the Japanese squad has spared no effort in giving McPint the most potent weapon possible.


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Massively-multiplayer online game Final Fantasy 14 has become so popular, Square Enix decided the only way it can hope to cope is by suspending sales of the game.
As Eurogamer reports, the latest Endwalker expansion for the game has caused a huge surge in popularity to the point where there’s “ongoing congestion” and long wait times to play. In response, Square Enix initially offered active players who own the full game an extra seven days of game time, but that has now been extended to 14 days.
Naoki Yoshida, Producer and Director of the game, also revealed that sales of both the physical and digital versions of the game have been suspended temporarily, and the free trial disabled. Yoshida explained:
“PLAYERS ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING EXTREMELY LONG WAIT TIMES DUE TO THE DENSE CONCENTRATION OF PLAY HOURS WHICH FAR EXCEED OUR SERVER CAPACITY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PEAK TIMES, AND SO WE HAVE DECIDED TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND THE SALE AND DELIVERY OF FINAL FANTASY XIV STARTER EDITION AND COMPLETE EDITION. ADDITIONALLY, ALTHOUGH THOSE WITH AN ACTIVE SUBSCRIPTION ARE PRIORITIZED TO LOG IN, FREE TRIAL PLAYERS ARE UNABLE TO LOG IN OUTSIDE OF LATE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING HOURS, AND SO WE WILL ALSO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND NEW REGISTRATIONS FOR THE FREE TRIAL.”
The suspension is a gradual one, so copies of the game may still be on store shelves right now. Sales of expansion packs and collector’s edition digital upgrades will continue to be sold, however. Advertising is also becoming scaled back again to ensure that Square Enix can concentrate on catering to the players it currently offers without appealing to plenty of fresh types.
On Dec. 21, Patch 6.01 will be released for the video game to resolve the Error 2002 issue that occurs during login and outcomes in an volatile connection. Patch 6.05 is scheduled to launch on Jan still. year despite the development group currently trying to capture up with player demand 4 following. And mainly because for adding even more servers for the video game, Yoshida says they are attempting extremely hard, but it offers been produced by the pandemic impossible to get new server equipment so far. Obviously this is going to be a nagging problem that takes months to solve.


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Apple today released a preview of Mac OS X 10.7, aka Lion, to developers, who can download the new operating system from the Mac App Store.
Taiwanese PC maker Micro-Star International (MSI) said on Thursday it would target business users with the release of three new 10.1-inch touchscreen tablet PCs on June 1, two with Windows 7 and one with Google's Android Honeycomb OS.
The invitation to Apple's iPad 2 event next week is a smug jab at all the tech vendors who think they can make a better tablet.
Apple's next-generation MacBook Pros may thicken the plot to kill USB, using Intel's Light Peak optical technology and rebranding it as "Thunderbolt."
Apple rumour Web site Macrumors has posted pictures of the new Macbook Pro notebook, revealing updated processing and graphics components and a new input/output port called Thunderbolt.
Apple's Mac sales are up more than 20 per cent this quarter compared to the same quarter last year, and the company will get a further bump when it refreshes its MacBook line, an analyst said today. That refresh could come this week.
Rumours about the Apple iPad 2 have been flying thick and fast of late, and Apple has responded by setting the record straight: the iPad 2 will officially launch at a media event on March 2.
Despotic dictators, your days are numbered. Tempers have hit the boiling point. The people have had enough and are taking to the streets. Revolution is in the air.
Apple will hold an event next Wednesday, March 2, where it will likely launch the next iPad, analysts said today.
Apple has sent out invitations to the media for a press event on March 2. The invitation has an image displaying the corner of an iPad -- implying that this will finally be the unveiling of the details for the next generation Apple tablet.
Apple's shareholders rejected a proposal in which the company would have to adopt and disclose its CEO succession planning policy.
Apple's management will be tested on Wednesday as the company faces a vote on a shareholder proposal asking the company's board to disclose its CEO succession planning policy.
Apple Computer stands to lose its No. 1 rank in mobile PC sales this year as Hewlett-Packard and even Motorola eat into its market share, research firm DisplaySearch said late Tuesday.
Verizon Wireless said today that it will use Tektronix Communications' Iris software to support network monitoring of the Verizon LTE network, which is now in the early stages of being rolled out.
An iPhone developer today said trying to get information from Apple about its new subscription model is like "hitting a brick wall," and remains unsure whether his app will have to toe the new line.
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My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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What’s Next? Brexit, Medical Devices and Beyond
As regulatory professionals continue to adapt to EU’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR), another challenge that many in the medical device industry face is the reality of Brexit. As a result of the changing regulations, there is uncertainty that regulatory professionals must get up to speed on. Companies are at the midpoint in the transition timeline and the clock is ticking.
According to a recent article from Medical Plastics News, there is still uncertainty about whether the UK will align with the EU in terms of regulations and processes for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. As it stands, this current landscape has left executives unsure of how to prepare.
“Currently, there are too many variables to be able to accurately predict what the future holds for UK pharmaceutical and medical device companies post-Brexit. It is similarly difficult to forecast what the wider economic and logistical impacts will be on the pharmaceutical and medical device industries within the UK and the EU, as well as manufacturers outside the EU and UK wishing to place products onto the UK market.”
The reverberating effects of this are clear: there is a potential increase in costs, time and resources for medical device manufacturers. The article suggest it’s anticipating that companies are implementing contingency plans, in the event that there is no negotiation deal between “regulatory frameworks and clearance between the UK and EU.”
Despite the Brexit uncertainty, there is no denying that EU MDR and IVDR will be implemented by 2020 and 2022, respectively. Of course this means that companies are at the midpoint in the transition timeline and the countdown is on for regulatory professionals to make the necessary changes.
Medical device companies must ensure that all of their device products on the market receive the new CE mark by May 2020, or risk being removed from the market. However, this is not without its own unique challenges—Notified Bodies must also be re-designated against the MDR in order to provide the new CE mark.
Medical device manufacturers are not alone in the race to EU MDR and IVDR. According to Medical Plastics News, “UK-based notified bodies will be similarly affected by Brexit, and most have implemented a plan B to move or duplicate their NB certification location to one of the 27 EU Member States to ensure continued recognition within the EU.”
Because medical device companies are not currently sure of the possible outcomes of Brexit, it is imperative that these professionals continue to stay up to date on the regulations of MDR and IVDR, monitor and prepare for further changes and updates. As Medical Plastics News notes, “Future-proofing a healthy industry that best serves patients and healthcare providers is at the top of the UK’s agenda as talks continue. The ramifications to the sector and all stakeholders will be very significant if manufacturers can’t efficiently access the European and UK markets through aligned systems with mutual recognition.
For further insight into this topic, through in-depth workshops and interactive panels, join us at the 8th EU Medical Device Regulatory Affairs Conference in Brussels, Belgium on September 18-19. Hear from TÜV SÜD Product Service, UL International, NSAI, SGS Belgium, and Dekra Certification plus many more. Find the full program agenda here and reserve your spot today.


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GCR launches Channel Partner Service Portal
New Delhi: The Internet of Things [IoT] and Networking Solutions Company Global Channel Resources (GCR) today announced the launch of an e-Market place called Channel Partner Service Portal (CPSP) for its registered partners.
The partners can also order the products on-line.Commenting on the partnership, Karthik Simha, Country Manager for Edge Core in India, said that GCR and Edge Core together will offer Value added solutions to their customers.
GCR started its sales operations around a year back and has spread over to USA, Brazil, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and few other countries.
The IOT solutions business has been identified as the fastest growing global business and is expected to reach around 300 billion dollars by the year 2020.
Prabodh Vyas, Country Manager for GCR in India, said that all products offered by GCR will carry local warranty and GCR India team will offer local training and installation and technical support.


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Sotheby's announced Monday that West's so-called "Grammy Worn" Nike Air Yeezy 1 fetched $1.8 million in a private sale. It was acquired by RARES, a sneaker investment marketplace.
The sale marks the highest publicly recorded price for a sneaker sale and the first pair of sneakers to top $1 million. Sotheby’s brokered the private sale.
The size 12 shoes designed by West and Mark Smith are made of soft black leather with perforated detailing throughout the upper, and the heel overlay is branded with a tonal Swoosh. The design features the iconic Yeezy forefoot strap and signature ‘Y’ medallion lacelocks in bright pink.
The price is nearly triple the auction record for a sneaker set in 2020 at Christie’s for $615,000. That was a pair of ’85 Jordan 1s that the basketball superstar wore when he famously shattered the backboard during a pre-season game in Italy.
"We are thrilled with the result, which has nearly tripled the highest price on record," Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of streetwear and modern collectables, said in a statement. "The sale speaks volumes of Kanye’s legacy as one of the most influential clothing and sneaker designers of our time, and of the Yeezy franchise he has built which has become an industry titan."


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The lawsuit claims that Mrs. Trump's brand has seen sales surge several hundred percent since previous year due to "unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent promotional activities" committed by Mrs. Trump, the president and others.
She participated in a meeting with the president and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel on professional training on Friday.
The move isn't surprising as Ivanka Trump was visible throughout her father's presidential campaign and has already had an unofficial role in his administration. Ivanka will still own her brand and retain the power to veto any deals that could be considered "unacceptable from an ethics perspective".
According to Politico, Ivanka Trump says she will "voluntarily follow all of the ethics rules placed on government employees". Ivanka could very easily just decide one day to ignore those guidelines and it wouldn't matter because she's technically not part of the administration.
Modern Appealing Clothing's lawsuit has demanded that Ivanka Trump's brand immediately stop using her political position as a vehicle to increase profits.
Ivanka Trump is setting up camp at the White House. The first daughter was also going to be granted official national security clearance and a government issued cellphone, her lawyer confirmed to Politco on Monday.
Gorelick continued, saying that she will serve as her father's "eyes and ears", and provide advice on a range of issues.
She has stepped down from her leadership roles in the Trump Organization and her own brand and divested from other investments. It would create some outside accountability, because if she can voluntarily subject herself to the rules, she can voluntarily un-subject herself to the rules, " Eisen said. "The effects of that unfair advantage are magnified greatly by marketing activities of defendant Ivanka Trump's officers and employees and the similar activities of Donald J. Trump, his family, his agents and employees and the White House staff and advisers".
The internationally known Modern Appealing Clothing company is seeking a restraining order against Ivanka Trump Marks LLC.
What do you think about the attempt to ban Ivanka Trump clothing from California and the class action lawsuit in general?


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Holiday weekend Farmer’s Market exceeds expectations
Foot traffic at the Farmer’s Market at the Club Square in downtown Cape Coral is usually down during the Thanksgiving weekend, but this year saw a sizeable crowd nonetheless.
Cape residents browsed and bought produce, plants, and other items amid balmy weather and a slight breeze Saturday.
“The Saturday after Thanksgiving is traditionally a little bit slower, but we’ve had an exceptional crowd,” said Claudia St. Ouge, business manager for the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral.
The Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday at the Club Square, has been providing vendors an open-air venue to offer their wares to customers for the last 18 years. The Chamber has been in charge of the event for the last eight years.
Only severe, adverse weather conditions like hurricanes and tropical storms prevent the Chamber from setting up the Market.
“Since I’ve been doing it we’ve only shut it down twice,” said St. Ouge, who has been managing the event for the last six years. “Rain doesn’t stop (the customers). They want their produce, they wear their ponchos,” she added.
Ponchos weren’t necessary Saturday, however, as clear skies encouraged people to browse the wares in the open-air market.
Fresh oranges, melons, tomatoes, pineapples and green peppers were just some of the produce on display, and flora of all shape and sizes, from the smallest fern to the towering palm trees, were also available.
Hand-made jewelry, purses, and handbags were also among the vendors’ wares, and an acoustic guitarist contributed to a relaxed atmosphere.
Donna Rockman, a 15-year Cape resident, said the Market is essential to the city’s sense of community.
“We need this. It promotes the community, it promotes the downtown area,” Rockman said.
The face-to-face interaction between customers and vendors provided by the market, as opposed to the distance of traditional box stores, enhances that sense of community, Rockman said.
“It’s an opportunity for the people to really meet a lot of the providers. It brings the community together. You get to meet a lot of your neighbors, too,” she said.
St. Ouge estimated 42 vendors came to the market Saturday.


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Retail strong in June
WASHINGTON - Retail industry sales for June (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) rose 7.5 percent unadjusted over last year and increased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted from May, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).
Sales at furniture and home furnishings stores rose 0.9 percent adjusted from the previous month and 4 percent over last year. Building materials and garden equipment and supplies dealers continued to see year-over-year growth with sales climbing 9.1 percent unadjusted over last June and rising 0.2 percent from May.
Growth was also seen in several other retail categories in June, including clothing and clothing accessories stores, which rose 1 percent adjusted from the previous month and climbed 9.3 percent unadjusted over last year. General merchandise stores, including department stores, also saw gains, with sales increasing 1.2 percent from May and rising 9.8 percent unadjusted over last June.


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Just when one competitor of Internet payment service CyberCash exits the business, a new one crops up.
Upstart PaymentNet offers similar services to Web storefronts, and it aims to steal high-profile CyberCash customers to make a name for itself. But PaymentNet, formerly Segue Systems, also enables real-world retailers to use the Net, rather than expensive leased phone lines, to route credit card transactions from their telephone call centers to their bank.
"Dealing with regular business payments [through PaymentNet] can eliminate the need to maintain and pay for all those leased lines," he added.
PaymentNet's public emergence comes just days after CyberCash announced that it will offer online payment services to 2,000 merchants that formerly used First Virtual Holdings. First Virtual is leaving the Net payment arena to concentrate on Internet messaging services.
Although PaymentNet has been operating quietly for nine months, signing up former CyberCash customers Network Solutions, the Internet names registrar, and one of the Net's first retailers,Virtual Vineyards, it's only now announcing general availability of its service.
PaymentNet currently handles credit, debit, and corporate purchasing cards; its electronic check service is now in beta testing.
"We want to provide the best performance, support, and overall cost of operations in providing an outsourced service for payment processing," said Bruce Hendrix, PaymentNet's chief executive. His goal is to provide different forms of payment for different kinds of purchases, on or off the Net.
That doesn't differ a lot from CyberCash's vision.
"We consider ourselves a leader and a pioneer in the Internet payment space, and our merchant base has grown significantly every month," said Maureen Loftus, CyberCash's senior vice president for corporate marketing and strategy.
Although PaymentNet uses the Net as a virtual private network for transporting payments, it doesn't use Web protocols, instead opting for a client/server architecture with a file of less than 100 kilobytes integrated in the Web store.
"We link the merchant via the Internet to the established payment networks using our own protocol," Hendrix said. That helps avoid problems like "timing out" messages that create headaches and cost merchants time and effort to straighten out botched transactions.
In the future, PaymentNet, backed by venture capital and planning to be profitable by 1998's fourth quarter, expects to add capabilities to handle electronic data interchange payments as well as other business-to-business payment types.


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A new beauty and massage centre is preparing to open on London Road in the premises previously occupied by Cheshire Beauty.
Wilmslow resident Tony Crawford, who has been a member of Alderley Edge Cricket Club for the past 30 years, is opening Alderley Thai Massage and Beauty next week offering traditional massage as well as hot stones aromatherapy, deep tissue massages and Thai facial massages.
Tony has worked in the industry for five years, having previously owned shops in Whitefield and Bury, which he has now sold.
Speaking about opening in Alderley Edge, he told alderleyedge.com "I have been playing tennis at Alderley Edge Cricket Club since 1998 and I live in Wilmslow so I am coming home, a bit like a salmon going up river."
He added "It is going to be a proper remedial centre for sports injury, using manipulation. I also have a great Thai lady who does facial plumping to get the wrinkles out naturally, instead of using Botox or any chemicals. She has been doing it in Thailand for 10 years. We have something that nobody has and I thought it would go down well."
Tony continued "I am really excited, the shop is fantastic and it is going to do great guns."


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Yet his sophisticated marketing program-which relies heavily on TV and direct mail, an innovative mix for Spain-helped double TelePizza's sales to an estimated $55 million in 1993.
He hopes to repeat that growth both this year and next, and by the year 2000 he is planning for TelePizza to have 10,000 outlets around the world, an ambitious goal since the chain operates 130 stores.
The company already was the market leader in Spain and growing when Mr. Rodriguez, 27, joined the home delivery and in-store pizza restaurant chain in June of last year, but it had only a slim lead over Pizza World, and Pizza Hut was starting to make a major push in home delivery.
"I took the job because it was a tremendous challenge," Mr. Rodriguez said of the post that was created to set up a department, which now employs 15.
TelePizza now leads its closest competitor Pizza Hut with a market share of more than 40% to Pizza Hut's 20%. Pizza World has an estimated 15%.
Prior to his arrival, marketing primarily involved sending out menus to nearby residents. Armed with an advertising and promotion budget estimated at $6 million, Mr. Rodriguez has added TV, including sponsorships daily of cartoons on national TV networks, and has heavily involved children by creating the Magic School kids' club, which has become the largest of its type in Spain in terms of membership, he said.
"Children are crucial for the present and crucial for the future," said Mr. Rodriguez.
When joining, children receive a free video of magic tricks. They can then get the paraphernalia for one trick free for every two pizza purchases. TelePizza stores offer up a staffer to perform magic at birthday parties when the food is bought from TelePizza, and a traveling magician, TeleMago, performs around the country at special shows.
The cartoon sponsorship consists of a 12-sec. animated spot at the start and end of each half-hour show with one to three 20-sec. spots during the program. The opening spot shows kids at home awaiting the delivery of their pizza with Pizzoletto, a special kid character wearing a red cap, red over-alls, white shirt, shoes and gloves.
They welcome the pizza with shouts of "Oh, it's TelePizza." The spots within the program vary promoting Magic School and birthday party magicians, for example. At the end of the program, the kids again are seen saying, "I want more."
Almost all advertising has been created in-house. Mr. Rodriguez assigned a freelance project to an agency, La Banda de Agustin Medina, only once, in March.
Different live action TV spots run during popular soccer programming to appeal to the Generation X crowd while still other spots are aimed at young mothers on women's programming.
Direct mail is also key. Tele-Pizza blankets the areas near its stores with coupons and menus. All are tagged, "The secret is in the dough."
A recent coupon, for example, makes a two-for-one offer, which Mr. Rodriguez said was the country's first for pizza.
Outside Spain is where Tele-Pizza sees even more opportunity. The company is also the No. 1 pizza marketer in Portugal with only 11 restaurants, and has a toehold in Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Greece, Mexico and Poland, with 26 restaurants.
"When I started in the company, people were very surprised by my [management] style. It was very different, very American, very aggressive," he said with a laugh, but not surprising since he earned an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan and later was marketing director for Conagra's Healthy Choice line.
But most of his moves are simply good business.
"When [multinationals] come to Spain or some other country less developed than the U.S., they think the people have different values," he said. "They can have different tastes but there are values that are the same wherever you are."


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Dongfeng Nissan, a joint venture between Nissan Motor Co. and local partner Dongfeng Motor Corp. that currently sells Nissan-brand cars, will start selling Venucia cars by 2012. The brand's name is derived from the Roman word "Venus," according to Nissan. The brand will be aimed at China's mass-market vehicle segments and rely on existing Nissan platforms to lower costs. It will target Chinese consumers that earn around RMB 50,000, or $7,000, a year.
"In the future, we aim to sell more than one million vehicles annually and the new brand will play an important role by offering practical models with class-leading quality," said Fumiaki Matsumoto, Dongfeng Nissan's managing director.
Dongfeng Nissan already makes the X-Trail, Bluebird Sylphy, Qashqai, Livina, Livina Geniss, Tiida and Teana models in China. Through July, sales totaled 386,131 units, up 39% from a year earlier. Nissan's other China joint venture, Zhenzhou Nissan Automobile Co., makes Paladin and NV200 vehicles. It sold 8,795 vehicles in the first seven months, up 74% year-on-year.
Nissan-Dongfeng's decision to launch its own brand is part of a growing trend among China's automotive joint ventures. In March, BYD Co. and Germany's Daimler AG formed a joint venture to produce electric vehicles in the south China city of Shenzhen. They also agreed to create a new, as-yet unnamed brand to be owned by both companies. And in July, PSA Peugeot Citroen formed a joint venture with Changan Automobile Group Co. in Shenzhen to produce Citroens and introduce a new joint brand.
--Reporting by Automotive News China, a publication of Crain Communications
While overseeing TurnOut's day-to-day operations, she will manage the company's product portfolio, which includes the iconic cartoon bunny character Tuzki and an expanding catalog of massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs). She is also responsible for product strategy and managing game publishing, sales and marketing, and customer service
Previously, she was Turner Broadcasting System's London-based regional digital director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, overseeing 25 websites, as well as gaming activities and internet, mobile and IPTV initiatives for Turner channels like Cartoon Network.
The survey shows 81.4% of Chinese consumers (ages 18-54) say surfing the internet is a favorite way to spend free time, making it the No. 1 leisure activity. When searching the web, an overwhelming majority of 18-to-54 year-olds choose Baidu.com (76.0%) as their primary search engine. Chinese aged 18-to-34 (76.7%) and 35-to-54 (75.3%) agree. Movies and maps top the lists of categories searched most often, followed by clothing/shoes, comparative shopping, online entertainment, and travel.
More than half of Chinese (56.3%) aged 18-to-54 regularly research products online before purchasing in store, especially younger consumers A majority (50.8%) also regularly purchase products online.
Digital media's influence on Chinese shoppers' purchases does vary by category and age. Overall, digital media is more effective when influencing automobile purchases compared to grocery purchases. Within the automobile category, internet advertising and blogging are more influential among older consumers. In the grocery category, digital media has a stronger influence on consumers aged 18-to-34 compared to the 35-54 age group.
The online mall, part of Taobao, the company's C2C shopping site, features virtual stores run by retailers as well as marketers such as Procter & Gamble Co. and Adidas.
Celestial Pictures owns the Shaw Brothers Film Library, the world's largest Chinese film library and Ms. Zhao will help drive distribution of the SB Library to traditional and new media platforms in China. She will also develop partnerships with digital platforms and content creators in China and create new IPs based on iconic Shaw Brothers films and characters.
Return to the Ad Age China home page here


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Amazon just stepped up its game for Prime users, whether they wanted it or not.
The company has officially launched its streaming music service, which gives Prime members unlimited access to more than a million songs that they can access online or offline—all ad-free. Users can either make their own playlists or choose to play songs from pre-selected playlists. Amazon also went ahead and renamed their Amazon Cloud Player app to Amazon Music. So far, the service only has songs that are more than six months old, likely so they can save costs on licensing newer songs (the kind you'll find on Spotify.)
Even though this is a new service, it's available to all Prime customers at no additional cost, which automatically gives it more customers than Apple's Beats Music service. Whether Amazon members will use it or not is another question.


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Next-gen electronics could be much more expensive, given that TSMC’s 3nm wafers cost $20,000 each
Nvidia CEO Jensen cited rising foundry costs as one of the main reasons for the company’s outrageous graphics card prices. Semiconductor wafer prices have skyrocketed in recent years, in part due to manufacturing complexity and TSMC’s hegemony in the marketplace. High-end consumer products slated for launch in 2023 will be even more expensive, according to a new report from Digitimes.
The cost of a 3nm TSMC wafer is said to be $20,000, twice what it cost in 2018 for 7nm wafers. Retired engineer over on Twitter had heard murmurs that the amount could be even higher. This likely applies to wafers manufactured on TSMC’s N3E node, a power-efficient version of the now doomed N3 node. While the price increase may not be visible immediately, it can be expected in the coming quarters, especially since most of the current generation semiconductors are still included in TSMC’s N5 family (N5P, N4, N4E, N4X, 4N). are.
Many industry giants such as Nvidia, Qualcomm, Apple and MediaTek have limited TSMC’s production capacity in 2023 and 2024. Some of the affected products could include smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, MediaTek Dimensity 10,000 (preliminary) and iPhones from A17 Bionic, Apple M3 MacBooks and Ryzen 9000 processors. High prices and limited capacity could also force some companies to hold on to the N5 family for a generation or two longer than intended.
Digitimes adds that Samsung’s inability to compete with TSMC in the market is also a factor in the sky-high prices. Yields for its 3nm GAA process continue to be below average, and there’s no indication that this will improve any time soon. Twitter leaker RGCloudS says yields are expected to hit 70% by April 2023. While that’s not nearly as good as TSMC, a few more improvements could make Samsung competitive again, maybe enough to woo Qualcomm and Nvidia back.
Buy the Intel Core i9-13900K on Amazon
I’ve been an avid PC gamer since I was 8 years old. My passion for games eventually pushed me towards general tech and I landed my first writing job at the age of 19. I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering and have worked in Manufacturing Industry and a few other publications such as Wccftech before joining Notebookcheck in November 2019. I cover a variety of topics including smartphones, gaming and computer hardware.


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E Cigarette Under Threat As New Jersey Mulls 75% Tax On Vapor Cigarettes
The highly popular E cigarette seems to be under threat as New Jersey is currently considering a massive 75% tax on vapor cigarettes
One of the top e cigarette experts has been reviewing the move by the controversial Gov. Chris Christie as taxing Electronic Cigarettes at par with the taxes that are charged on tobacco cigarettes. But there has been resistance as in a show of solidarity over 40 independent smokeless cigarette retailers banded together to fight the proposed tax under the name New Jersey Vapor Retailers Coalition. They are convinced that the new law would negatively impact smaller operators who sell water vapor cigarettes.
One of the members of this group said "You've got legislators trying to put a tax on something they don't understand," and that "They don't even know how the equipment works."
Yet the Mr. Christie more widely known for the Bridgegate scandal believes that the E Cigs tax could earn the state over $30 million annually. Whilst an analysis by top e cig review site ECigaretteSolution.Com can reveal that without a single global death based on e cigarette being reported, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn't issued its final say on vaping. Meanwhile a decision on the proposed electric cigarette tax will most likely be announced later in June.
Yet there have been those legislators in both the Senate and Assembly say itís unclear if the e cig tax will be passed. This is in light to the over 2 million US smokers that are smoking the e cigarette products such as Disposable E Cigarettes and the number is growing.
ECigaretteSolution.Com is one of the most widely read E Cigarette Review site that specializes in evaluating the vaping industry. They specialize in the reviewing of e cigarette products and all of their tests are based on a strict protocol that ensures there is no bias or favor shown to a specific brand. All reviewing is done by a team of highly skilled professionals who also regularly analyze global industry trends to see how they affect the world of e cigarettes.
With strict testing they also welcome user contributions in the drafting of their e cigarette reviews. They also specialize in offering the latest and the best discount coupons.
This is a press release. Press release distribution and press release services by EmailWire.Com: http://www.emailwire.com/us-press-release-distribution.php.


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Based in Capetown, South Africa, food startup, Oh Oat is contributing its quota to South African citizens through the production of packaged oat milk.
Launched in September 2020, Oh Oat was founded by Trent Pike and Renato Marchesini.
Trent Pike explained that the food startup concept commenced two years ago and has gone through trials while creating the perfect mix for the milk.
“This initial experimentation was the cause of many late nights, burnouts, and culinary disasters. To say we firmly believe in the 10 000 hour theory is a serious understatement.”, said Trent.
The startup created a pilot plan after moving into a factory premise early this year and has produced up to 32 000 liters of oat milk every month.
“Our first perfect-ish factory run was on the 3rd of September and it involved many a high-five and sigh of relief.”, Trent added
Oh Oat launched a week later after securing its factory premise before retailing its first store, Nude Foods.
The food startup plans to create a product around the sustainability of vegan-based products.
Oh Oat has infused sustainability across its business model while packaging its product through the collection of reusable wine bottles and recyclable aluminum caps.
These aluminum caps are made from FSC approved recycled paper (paper wrap).
Customers can reuse the bottles because there is a deposit charge on them.
This encourages customers to reuse their bottles so as to promote sustainability.
The food startup also employs technology in its food creation, speaking on the role tech tools play in the creation of the food product, he said:
“One of our favourite pieces must be our homogenizer which takes our milk and pushes it through extremely high pressure (almost 200 bars) breaking down every particle to the same size (on a microscopic level). It’s what makes our milk so smooth, creamy, and silky.”
The oat milk production is based on an enzymatic process involving the decomposition of a long chain carbohydrate into oats
Don’t miss important articles during the week. Subscribe to techbuild.africa weekly digest for updates.


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STAMFORD, Conn. -- The Beer Garden in Shippan Landing is gearing up for its May 18th opening by asking fans to help select the beer lineup.
Make your comments known HERE ; the winning beer will go on tap, keeping in mind there are some variations they can't sell (i.e. Heady Topper because they don't distribute/sell to Connecticut).
The Beer Garden, known for its special events, will also be releasing its summer lineup soon.
For details, go to their Facebook HERE or Instagram @TheBeerGardenS.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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FUCHS Lubricants South Africa, the sole distributor for Wm Penn automotive products, has announced new 5 litre packaging for the full product range.
The categories include gear oils for
Cummins Filtration is pleased to announce the recent appointment of mining and construction filtration specialist Transerve Filtration as a Distributor Dealer, with full use of Cummins Filtration, and
Moscow/Hanover, 16 February, 2017 -Rally teams of KAMAZ-Master have won the Dakar Rally 2017 and the Africa Eco Race 2017, two of the world's most challenging desert races, on
November, 2016 – Goodyear is introducing the RM-4B+ Off The Road (OTR) tyre range for rigid dump trucks in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. After
FUSO Trucks recently introduced its FUSO FJ 16-230 to the region. According to the manufacturer, this launch is ‘testament of FUSO Trucks’ continuous growth offensive in southern Africa’.
A number of changes are being made to the Hino 500 - Series range. Two of the changes follow regulatory requirements, to be implemented by the end of
Heavy-duty Doosan DX340LCA hydraulic excavators, designed for efficient operation and high productivity in demanding work environments, are gaining popularity locally in diverse sectors, including quarrying, mining and heavy
The latest improvements made to Isuzu Truck’s models are to ensure that the brand remains popular amongst all sectors that require trucks as part of their operations. This
FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd launched its new FAW medium-weight 8.140 FL range in May 2015. Now, a mere year later, it is ranked second in the
FAW tippers are up to the task
Dust, dirt, loose sand and corrugated roads are ‘all in a day’s work’ for the fleet of FAW 28.280FD 6X4 tippers operating


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This week brings the final US jobs report of 2019, buttoning up a solid year for jobs growth as consumer spending stayed strong and concerns about a recession abated.
But it’s an open question how long substantial jobs growth can continue. Heading into 2020, momentum is poised to weaken.
“We’re likely to see a slower pace of job creation in December, and there is a risk that we see a broader slowdown in hiring over the coming months,” James Smith, developed markets economist at ING, said in a note to clients. “As ever though, a lot depends on trade.”
Economists polled by Reuters believe the US economy added 160,000 jobs in December. That’s a very good number, but well below the 266,000 jobs created in November.
Commerzbank, however, thinks the November number was partially inflated by the end of the General Motors strike. Its economists think that the December rise, though less dramatic, “should create the conditions for the consumer to remain in a buying mood.”
“[The] US economy is still a job machine,” Commerzbank economists told clients. They expect an increase of 190,000 jobs.
Why it’s worth monitoring
Investors read the jobs report closely for a check on the health of the US economy. Should jobs growth falter, the consumer spending that’s supported America’s economy could take a hit.


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Cal State SM hosts Startup Weekend
54-hour event to aid aspiring entrepreneurs
SAN MARCOS Cal State San Marcos is hosting its first Startup Weekend beginning Friday.
Business faculty members will help guide aspiring entrepreneurs as they launch businesses in 54 hours.
Startup Weekends are held worldwide. Attendees share ideas, form teams, build prototypes and put their businesses in action in fewer than three days. More than one-third of all businesses launched at a Startup Weekend continue after three months. Nearly 80 percent of participants work with their team or startup after the event.
The event is open to anyone interested in learning how to build a business from the ground up. A network of leaders, mentors and experienced entrepreneurs will guide participants through starting, marketing and selling a business.
“Any idea is welcomed, whether someone wants to start up their own restaurant, create a new web application or design and sell a new type of sports watch,” said Jim Hamerly, director of business relations for the College of Business Administration.
Teams will present their developed ideas at 5 p.m. Sunday. Cash prizes will be awarded to standout groups.
To participate, register at sandiego.startupweekend.org. Registration is $49 for students and $99 for nonstudents, and includes all meals and refreshments. The event begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, in Markstein Hall, Cal State San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road.
firstname.lastname@example.org • (760) 752-6762 • @UTSDbreier


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Woman wins holiday after giving business feedback
CATHERINE Robertson almost wasn't a winner - she forgot to put her name on a customer feedback form after buying a car at Reef City Ford.
But when her name was drawn out of a box as the winner of a holiday to Fiji, the staff tracked her down at her Benaraby address to give her the news.
Although Catherine is the one jetting off on holiday this month, general sales manager Alex Ward was just as happy about the customer service feedback he received.
"It's important to us and we introduced the holiday as an incentive for people to fill out the forms," he said.
"We wanted to know the good, the bad - any and all of it. Back in 2012 customer service was low and we wanted to know how to fix things."
Mr Ward said they wanted to know how to better the experience, and it has worked.
"Ford was our worst performing and now we're up there with the best in the country," he said.
Reef City Ford has been able to dramatically improve its customers' satisfaction across all the brands, and Catherine is an advocate of the positive experience.
"I bought a Ford Focus Trend in candy red and it's beautiful, she said."
"I was looking at all of my options.
"Dad came in and they were even able to answer all of his questions."
Catherine learned to drive in the family car but her Trend gives her maturity.
"My parents bought a second-hand car for driving but I just decided, this year I turned 21 and I was going to be a grown up and buy my own car," she said.
The student is finishing her last year of studies to become a primary school teacher, with work experience in Rockhampton.
"I've been doing a lot of highway driving and it's so convenient," she said.


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Motorists across the country faced panic at the pumps after BP fuel stations reported problems with their card payment machines.
Customers looking to fill up were told to pay by cash while the situation was being investigated.
Motorists were asked to use on-site cash machines to withdraw money, while other BP filling stations closed altogether to minimise the problem.
A BP statement read: “Our UK retail sites are currently unable to take card payments. We are working to rectify this as a matter of urgency and would like to apologise for any inconvenience this has caused out customers.
“The majority of our sites are accepting cash payments but a few stations have shut.”
Highways England said all BP fuel stations in the UK were “experiencing issues accepting card payments”.
The statement said: “This is affecting all motorway service areas with BP fuel stations.”


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Mi 11 Ultra
Xiaomi is all set to launch the Mi 11 Ultra in India on April 23. Alongside the Ultra, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has teased to launch more Mi smartphones in the country. The Mi 11 Ultra smartphone includes Snapdragon 888 SoC, 6.81-inch 2K WQHD E4 AMOLED quad-curved primary display and a 1.1-inch AMOLED secondary display at the back. As far as the pricing is concerned, the phone is said to be priced around Rs 70,000 in India. The exact price is yet to be revealed by the brand.


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Venezuela's car purchases from China at USD 52 million in 2012
Venezuela's National Statistics Institute said China is Venezuela's main automobile supplier
Consequently, national production has declined over the last four years and traditional brands have disappeared amid import restrictions while new actors are gaining ground.
Data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) reveals that China has become Venezuela's main automobile supplier.
Only during the first half, China sold Venezuela USD 52.7 million in transport vehicles, that is, 33.805% above the figure recorded during the same period in 2011. From January through June, 2011, China exported to Venezuela USD 155,621 in regular vehicles.
So far this year, China's car exports to Venezuela have grown 53% as USD 34 million in sales was recorded in 2011.
Translated by Jhean Cabrera
They are marching in step to the same tune. There is a coordinated effort to position the idea. The Twitter hashtag #YoSoyVictimaDeLaGuarimba (I'm a victim of "guarimbas", or protest barricades) can be read on all pro-government Twitter accounts, including those of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the National Assembly's Press Office, the state-run food distribution network PDVAL, state airline Conviasa, the Venezuelan embassies in foreign countries, radio stations and the huge media network responsive to the Government's interests and messages.


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Pedialyte, the brand of low-calorie electrolyte drinks originally designed to help sick children rehydrate, is leaning into its once-underground status as a hangover cure for adults.
«Pedialyte can help with the dehydration you may experience after a couple of cocktails.»
Just in time for New Year’s, Pedialyte manufacturer Abbott is launching a fortified bubbly drink mix called Sparkling Rush powder packs.
«If you look at the U.S. retail landscape, you see this tremendous growth in sparkling water,» Chris Calamari, vice president of pediatric nutrition at Abbott, told USA Today.
«You get the electrolytes you need with that great tasting fizz. It’s a really exciting product.»
While the press release doesn’t explicitly cite the new product as a hangover cure, it implies as much by saying it’s «just in time for the holidays» to fight dehydration spawned by «those late nights out with friends.»
Still unsure of its target market? The Sparkling Rush powder packs join the company’s line of freezer pops, fizz-less powder packs and original formula, all of which are listed at the bottom of the «Alcohol and Dehydration» section of the Pedialyte website.
«Pedialyte is not a hangover cure,» reads text conveniently located directly below a photo of a clearly hungover man pouring Pedialyte powder into a glass, «but it can help with the dehydration you may experience after a couple of cocktails.»
As Munchies notes, data from Nielsen shows that adult use of Pedialyte grew 57 percent between 2012 and 2015.
It’s not a stretch to imagine that many of those «adults» are actually college students who’ve been known to shotgun bottles of Pedialyte after a night out.
So long as the word «hangover» isn’t mentioned, the official Pedialyte Twitter account also has no problem endorsing it as a morning-after staple with a retweet.
In fact, the account’s pinned tweet includes a photo of bottles of Pedialyte Advanced Care chilling amid what appears to be an assortment of beer.
One thing’s for sure-everyone will be chugging Pedialyte come New Year’s Day.


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Top tech stocks, including Amazon.com and Google, are looking attractive after the recent market pullback, according to two analysts who sent buy ideas to clients late this week following a broader selloff.
Morgan Stanley named those stocks among 25 others it says are “being oversold after the recent market volatility.”
“We can’t point to a specific reason the market fell,” Morgan Stanley wrote. But “our view is this is a buying opportunity.”
Amazon’s limited exposure to the struggling Chinese market was cited as a strength by the Cantor analysts. Google, meanwhile, has virtually “no direct exposure” to China” despite its significant exposure to the global economic downturn.
Shares of Amazon fell slightly to around $516.60 in early afternoon trading. They are up nearly 22% over the last three months, compared with a decline of about 6.3% for the broader S&P 500.
Google’s fell 1.5% to $657.23, though they’re still up 18.5% over the last three months.
Among other large-cap stocks Morgan Stanley thinks are being oversold are Apple Inc.
Shares of Apple have fallen 15% over the last three months, compared with an 8% decline for the broader Dow Jones Industrial Average, partially on concerns about decelerating iPhone sales and the company’s exposure to China.
The iPhone maker, which continues to increase its investment in China, reported a more than doubling in revenue from the Greater China region last quarter to $13.23 billion, though sales from China were down from $16.8 billion in the quarter prior. Data from FactSet shows Apple gets more than 16% of its total revenue from China.
Apple’s exposure to the region prompted CEO Tim Cook to give a rare mid-quarter update on Monday via a personal email to CNBC TV personality Jim Cramer that touted the company’s continued progress in the country.
“Growth in iPhone activations has actually accelerated over the past few weeks, and we have had the best performance of the year for the App Store in China during the last 2 weeks,” Cook said.
On a call with analysts and the press in July, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that economic headwinds in China have not changed the company’s strategy there. He reiterated plans to get to 40 retail stores in the country by the end of next year.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Continuing Rupert Murdoch's push to charge for online content, News Corp. on Friday announced a plan to charge for two of the sites of its British newspapers.
Both sites will be available for 1 pound ($1.48) a day or 2 pounds a week.
Print editions of the Times cost 1 pound during the week, 1.50 pounds on Saturday and 2 pounds on Sunday.
The sites will come into existence in May, replacing the existing Times Online combined site. According to audit group ABC, Times Online had 1.04 million readers a day during December.
The tabloid Sun and News of the World newspapers are not yet affected by the move, though News International CEO Rebekah Brooks said in a statement that the Times publications "are the first of our four titles in the U.K. to move to this new approach."
The Times isn't the first newspaper to start charging online -- The Wall Street Journal, also held by News Corp., long has had a subscription model -- but it will be among the first general-readership papers to do so.
Murdoch, chairman of News Corp., has talked for many months of the need to charge for online content at a time when print readership is falling.
News Corp. also owns MarketWatch, the publisher of this report.
News Corp. shares were marginally higher in early action but have more than doubled over the last 12 months.
Of its publicly traded U.K. rivals, Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) rose more than 3%, while Trinity Mirror (TNI) declined 1.8% in London.


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Chevrolet has launched a new five-year promise scheme for all its models, which includes five-years of free servicing, a warranty, roadside assistance, MOT test cover and vehicle checks.
Chevrolet claims the new scheme is the most generous warranty and aftersales package ever seen in the UK. It covers every model in its range, including the recently-introduced Spark and Cruze models.
The package includes a five-year warranty, five years of free servicing, five years of roadside assistance, five years of annual vehicle healthchecks and free MOT test cover for five years.
“Other makers have offered long warranties, but never with the same level of back-up,” said Chevrolet’s UK MD Mark Terry. “We’re that confident in the quality of our products that we’re prepared to underwrite our reputation for dependable high value motoring with such a comprehensive, all-encompassing package.”
The firm has also said it will launch “another new generation of cars” at the Paris motor show in September.


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STAMFORD, Conn., — Memorial Day weekend break marks the unofficial begin of the summer season.
Mayor David Martin, the City of Stamford’s Department of Healthiness & Social Services and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention are reminding residents to protect their skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays to Steer clear of skin cancer. The council has actually named the Friday prior to Memorial Day “Don’t Fry Day.”
“I will certainly be outside this weekend, and I will certainly be wearing sunscreen and a hat. It is essential to protect your skin as soon as you are outside,” Martin said. “I was among 76,000 individuals to be diagnosed this year along with Melanoma, which joined portion since I wasn’t as careful along with my sunscreen as I need to have actually been as soon as I was younger. I encourage everyone to take the additional moment or two to place on sunscreen, a hat and a shirt as soon as they are outside to protect themselves from the sun’s harmful rays. It costs it.”
Skin cancer is the the majority of common cancer in the United States. Much more individuals will certainly be diagnosed along with skin cancer this year compared to breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer combined. The excellent news is that the majority of skin cancers Can easily be prevented. The the majority of preventable induce of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet light, either from the sun or from artificial sources, love tanning beds.
Follow these essential pointers for lowering skin cancer risk by limiting skin’s exposure to intense sunlight and by using sunscreen. Remember, it is essential to protect your skin on cloudy and overcast days too because, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, even on cloudy days, regarding 80 percent of ultraviolet rays Can easily reach our skin.
- Do not burn: Steer clear of direct sun exposure throughout the day’s the majority of intense sun, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. Seek shade throughout these hours.
- Bear in mind the American Cancer Society’s “Slip, Slop, Slap, & Wrap” rules.
- Slip on a shirt: Protective, lightweight clothing Can easily advice to protect skin from the sun’s rays.
- Slop on sunscreen: Sunscreen and lip balm along with a Sun Protection Factor of at the very least 30 need to be applied generously 30 mins prior to outdoor activities. Bear in mind to reapply every two hours and after swimming, toweling off, or sweating.
- Slap on a hat: Hats along with wide brims Can easily protect eyes, face, neck, and ears.
- Cover on sunglasses: Don’t forget to protect eyes from the sun’s ultra-violet rays. Pick glasses along with 100 percent UVA/UVB protection.
- Examine the UV Index: It provides essential write-up to advice strategy outdoor tasks in methods that Steer clear of overexposure to the sun. The index Can easily be Located online .


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Bharti Airtel has reported a net profit of Rs. 25, 167 million, up 24 percent from Rs. 20,250 million reported for the same quarter last year. Consolidated revenues grew to Rs. 99,416 million for the quarter, up 17 percent year on year from Rs. 84,883 reported for Q1 last fiscal. Deputy CEO Sanjay Kapoor said that the mobile business is going through a hypercompetive phase, and the company feels that its focus on building a "minutes factory" is coming through now. They grew their minutes traffic by 10.1 billion minutes this quarter, at 7.7 percent. Details: Release | Financials | Quaterly Report | Key Performance Indicators The key area of focus for Bharti Airtel is Rural now: Kapoor said that about 54% of their new customers come from Rural India. "That's the route to go, and the business model has been attuned to service the customer in that fashion -whether we've got the right partners, or the collection process," Kapoor said. Consolidated EBITDA margins increased for the quarter to 41.8 percent, from 41 percent last quarter. During the quarter, Airtel's mobile subscriber base grew to 102,368,000 from 93,923,000, up 9 percent quarter on quarter, and a 48 percent growth year on year. This growth is in line with the growth in India's subscriber base. Declining ARPU With the increase in traffic, Airtel's ARPU has dropped significantly from Rs 305 last quarter to Rs 278 in Q1-10. During the conference call, the management said that there are a large number of free minutes floating around,…
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Is it safe to consider all "publicly available data" as public?
PhonePe launched an e-commerce buyer app for ONDC called Pincode. We, however, believe that it should also launch a seller app.
Amazon announced that it will integrate its logistics network and SmartCommerce services with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
India's smartphone operating system BharOS has received much buzz in the media lately, but does it really merit this attention?
After using the Mapples app as his default navigation app for a week, Sarvesh draws a comparison between Google Maps and Mapples
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Shipping companies band together in digital trade body
May 7, 2019
After gaining regulatory approval from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), four container shipping companies – AP Moller-Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC and Ocean Network Express – have established the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA).
Based in the Netherlands, it aims to create common information technology standards to make the industry more efficient for customers and shipping lines.
The plan to create a neutral, non-profit association for ocean carriers was first announced late last year. The association, focusing on driving standardisation, digitalisation and interoperability in container shipping, is now starting operations with a leadership team made up of senior industry figures, including Thomas Bagge, from AP Moller-Maersk, who has been appointed CEO.
“For the first time in twenty years, the container shipping industry has come together with a common goal to move the industry into the digital era,” said André Simha, chief information officer of MSC Mediterranean Shipping and chairman of the supervisory board of DCSA. “With the regulatory approval in place, we look forward for the association to take up work and to begin to collaborate with multiple stakeholders from the entire value chain.”
To create value quickly and to overcome some of the biggest pain-points in the industry, one of the first projects is focusing on standards to overcome the lack of a common foundation for technical interfaces and data.
The association is also creating an industry blueprint for processes, which will be another significant part of the future of shipping.
The work undertaken will be for the benefit of the entire industry, as all standards will be openly published and available free of charge to interested external parties.
The location of the association’s headquarters in Amsterdam will not favour any of the large shipping companies. At the same time, it provides proximity to shipping infrastructure and ease of access, as well as an attractive location for employees.
“DCSA is working for the benefit of the entire container shipping industry, so it was important for us that the headquarters is located on neutral grounds, with no specific stakeholders or companies being favoured,” said Simha.
DCSA is in discussions with multiple other container shipping lines around the globe who are interested in joining. Preparations for two more companies to join are already in process.


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Parents who have found big credit card charges for unauthorized online purchases by their teens might be wondering how they can stop it from happening again. Enter Virtual Piggy's Oink app.
VMware isn’t the only big name making big news at VMworld. Intel’s McAfee just rolled out data center security news that’s turning heads -- upgrades to its Server Security Suites portfolio.
As Facebook, Yelp and other services adopted similar check-in features, Foursquare gradually lost what made it special. So it branched out to become a Yelp-like local recommendations service.
Bark! That's what a new feature in DogVacay's iPhone app does to help people take pictures of dogs who'd rather frolic around than pose for pictures. Meows and squeaky toy sounds are other options.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided that it will not regulate the cultivation or sale of a genetically modified mushroom. With the help of the CRISPR gene-editing tool and a plant pathologist at Pennsylvania State University, this mushroom will be the first of its kind utilizing that tool to escape federal oversight.
The specific mushroom fungus undergoing modification is Agaricus bisporus, a variety of popular white button mushrooms.
Gene-editing reduces browning--a common and frustrating characteristic for those who consume mushrooms. The pathologist--Yinong Yang--has been able to pinpoint polyphenol oxidase within the mushroom--an enzyme that causes the browning. When Yang altered the mushroom’s genome, browning activity dipped by 30 percent.
This mushroom is not the first genetically modified food item that the USDA has granted immunity from regulation. In fact, potatoes and apples that have undergone genetic manipulation have already been approved for sale to the public. In this particular case though, regulation was likely avoided due to no involvement of viruses, bacteria or other foreign DNA types--those of which do require federal oversight.
Despite getting past the USDA, the mushroom may still need to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While this secondary approval reportedly isn’t required, Yang would like to eliminate any future headaches.


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Arc System Works was planning on releasing Guilty Gear Strive for PC and home consoles sometime late this year. However, those plans have changed due to the current and ongoing pandemic, forcing the team to delay the upcoming fighting game.
Whether you are a fan of Guilty Gear or not, know that the upcoming installment in the long-running series will not release this year and will instead come out sometime in 2021.
Although some fans stressed how they would love to see the game make its debut late this year, others point to the beta and claim that Guilty Gear Strive needs more time.
With all of that said, it looks like the fighting game will have more time to bake in the oven given the following tweet that Arc System Works published for gamers and fans alike to read:
— ArcSystemWorks ➡ Staying Inside (@ArcSystemWorksU) May 15, 2020
If you can’t read the tweet in question, here’s a written version that sits below:
“Thank you for your interest in Guilty Gear -Strive-. This is Takeshi Yamanaka, producer of Guilty Gear -Strive-. We have previously announced the release of Guilty Gear -Strive- for late 2020, however we have decided to change the release schedule to early 2021.
While our company’s staff and our business partners are putting in a sincere effort in dealing with the changes due to the spread of COVID-19, every aspect of our development schedule has faced delays. In addition, we have decided to set up a schedule to further improve the quality of the game responding to everyone’s help and feedback from the recent closed beta test.
We apologize sincerely to everyone who has been anticipating the release with keen excitement. Ourselves, we are dedicated to bringing you a new Guilty Gear game that will satisfy all of our fans. Please be assured that we will make good use of that extra time to do this.
Thank you for your understanding.
Takeshi Yamanaka, Guilty Gear -Strive- Producer.”
In other words, the team will use this time to bringing gamers a better Guilty Gear game that will “satisfy fans.” This means the extra time will be put to “good use” moving forward.
Lastly, Guilty Gear Strive’s current roster includes Axl Low, Chipp Zanuff, Faust, Ky Kiske, May, Millia Rage, Potemkin, Sol Badguy, Zato-1, and a new unnamed character.
Folks can expect Guilty Gear Strive to release sometime in 2021 for PC and home consoles.


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HSM IP LTD
The long-awaited Trade Marks Act, No. 8 of 2015, (‘the New Act’) and accompanying Trade Marks Regulations, 2020, (‘the Regulations’) came into effect in Trinidad and Tobago on 25 June 2020. The Act was originally passed in June 2015, but Read more +
With many Intellectual Property (IP) media sources citing a reduction in the number of IP filings since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak around the world, HSM IP is pleased to report that in May 2020 we saw a rise Read more +
The Cayman Islands Intellectual Property Office (CIIPO) is working remotely during the COVID-19 crisis and as a way to assist brand owners, has extended the deadline for the payment of 2020 annual fees for IP rights to 30 June 2020 Read more +
Sunday, 26 April 2020 marks the 20th World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, with the theme this year being “Innovate for a Green Future”. Every IP practitioner will, at one time or another, experience the administrative burden of preparing, executing, Read more +
HSM IP Contributes to The International Comparative Legal Guide to Trade Marks 2019
Click here to read HSM IP’s Cayman Islands 2019 Trade Mark Guide and find out all you need to know about trade marks in the Cayman Islands!
The International Legal Comparative Guide (ICLG) to Trade Marks is now in its eighth edition and provides a practical cross-border insight into trade mark work.


text: Summer is all about going big. In Denver, you've got the supersized fire hydrants, newspaper boxes and sidewalk benches reminding you what a water-wasting wanker you can be. Now, in Houston and Chicago, you have oversize items that are a little more fun, thanks to Target stores. In Houston, where it's been beastly hot since about March, Target has set up a giant sprinkler to bring huge relief to the masses. In Chicago, they've built an enormous turtle sandbox. The installations are part of Target's "Make Summer Funner" campaign.


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The current-generation Hyundai Sonata has been a strong seller for the company ever since its introduction, but with a fresh batch of new midsize sedans on their way from the competition—including next-gen models of the Chevy Malibu, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion—Hyundai is making some notable changes to the Sonata lineup for the 2013 model year. The goal: Build on the Sonata’s strong reputation for value by rejiggering the roster to make models even more attractive to U.S. buyers.
2013 Hyundai Sonata: Checking Changes
Hyundai is relying on a two-pronged strategy for upgrading the 2013 Sonata by adding a popular comfort feature to most basic models and reducing the price of its up-level entries. Thus, the Sonata SE gains heated front seats and the GLS Popular package actually adds both the heated front seats and standard front fog lamps. (The entry-level Sonata GLS remains unchanged for 2013.) Then, the Sonata in its Limited trims, which already included heated front seats on its list of standard equipment, will enjoy a $600 price reduction—although that comes by trading last year’s standard panoramic sunroof for a traditional-style version; the panoramic sunroof remains part of the Limited Premium package, which also receives a $100 price bump. Minor price increases of $100-$175 are scheduled for the rest of the Sonata lineup as well.
Finally, the Sonata GLS with a manual transmission has been deleted.
2013 Hyundai Sonata: Noting Numbers
The bottom line for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata lineup:
- Sonata GLS—No content changes, add $100
- Sonata GLS Popular—Add heated front seats, fog lamps and $175
- Sonata SE—Add heated front seats and $150
- Sonata Limited—Add traditional sunroof and subtract both $600 and the panoramic sunroof
- Sonata Limited Premium—Add $100
Overall, the new starting point for the 2013 Sonata will be $20,895—still lower than the base prices of cars like the 2012 Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Chevy Malibu.
2013 Hyundai Sonata: Promoting Production
Another important change for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata will happen behind the scenes: A third shift is coming online at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, the company’s U.S. production facility. The plant already builds the 2012 Sonata (and Hyundai Elantra), but has been running at full capacity to keep up with exceedingly high demand. Consider: The Sonata was the third-best-selling midsize sedan in the country last year on a retail basis, and it continues to grow sales through the first four months of 2012. Even with tight supplies, Sonata deliveries are up nearly 3 percent over its pace from last year—when it set an all-time volume record with 225,961 sales.
2013 Hyundai Sonata: Record-setting Residual Values
Based on these changes, along with the car’s impressive history of high retail sales and low incentive spending, the leasing experts at ALG have set the Sonata’s three-year residual value at its highest level ever for the 2013 model year—60 percent. That’s a jump of 8 percent over the Sonata’s 2012 residual value and compares to marks of 51 percent or below for the 2012 Camry, Accord, Fusion, Malibu and Altima.


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A food scare is causing havoc in Japan, where hundreds of people have fallen ill over the past week after eating dumplings made in China, or gyoza, as they are known. Japanese officials have now gone to China to investigate. Beijing has called on all concerned to remain calm.
Japanese schools have taken Chinese-made food off the menu at lunchtime
What started off as a suspected case of unhygienic food is rapidly turning into a case of suspected and deliberate food poisoning. The Japanese Health Minister is now talking openly about the possibility of a crime having been committed, while the media have mentioned unconfirmed police reports that the poisoning had taken place in China itself.
However, investigators have not yet identified the source of the contamination.
Since December 2007, almost 4,000 people in Japan have complained about feeling sick since eating the Chinese-made dumplings. 10 people -- including a five-year-old girl -- have received hospital treatment, after being diagnosed with pesticide poisoning.
As a result, schools and restaurants have removed Chinese-made food from their menus. The media have spread further alarm by warning people not to eat food from China.
China is still in denial with food officials insisting that sample tests on two batches of frozen dumplings, ingredients and packaging, produced at China’s Tyanyang Food Processing Company have not revealed any pesticide.
Nevertheless, the company has been ordered to halt production and recall all exports, which go mostly to Japan.
Japan is not convinced this is enough and is reportedly considering posting a food safety specialist to the Japanese embassy in Beijing on a permanent basis. China is Japan’s largest trading partner and the second biggest supplier of imported food.
Close Sino-Japanese co-operation
Meanwhile, Japanese police -- under mounting public pressure -- have called for close co-operation with their Chinese counterparts. They have also promised to find out how the dumplings were poisoned as soon as possible.
A top government official has taken a thinly-disguised swipe at the Health Minister by pointing out there should be no careless talk about criminality before the facts became clear.
Tokyo is worried the food scare could damage Sino-Japanese relations, which are already rather strained not least because of unresolved issues going back to the Second World War.
The recently-appointed Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, has often expressed his wish to bring about a thaw in bilateral relations between Japan and China but the dumplings scandal is threatening progress in this field. He is already under fire at home for his delay in alerting the public about the contaminated food.
Appeal for calm
Beijing has also appealed for calm. In the run-up to the August Olympic Games in Beijing, the Chinese authorities are trying to reassure the international community that only approved firms will be given contracts to supply food during the event. It has also promised to set up a centre to deal with any food-related issues at the Games.
But China is not the only source of contaminated food in Japan. There has been a string of domestic food scandals in recent months -- including the sale of mislabelled meat and out-of-date sweets and biscuits.
Japanese consumers were dismayed by these food scandals, especially as many had been led to believe Japanese-made products were safer than imported products and therefore worth paying more for.
The Chinese dumpling scandal might well bring about a welcome boost to the tainted image of Japanese products.


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Love him or hate him, Pres. Donald J. Trump doesn’t hesitate to take action. With a heavy focus on securing borders and bringing jobs back to the United States, Trump is taking actions that draw heavy applause from staunch supporters and heavy criticism from the opposition.
An all-out trade war with China is one of these divisive measures that the Trump administration is pursuing. While supporters claim that a trade war is inevitable and perhaps even necessary, opponents worry that we may be awakening a sleeping giant.
According to a recent article on Inc.com, Michael Petricone, senior vice president of government and relations at the Consumer Technology Association said that “tariffs go against the interest of the American people. The economy will respond to the president’s tariff agenda by increasing the cost of goods that people use every day, harming the U.S. economy and sinking the stock market.”
The most recent U.S tariffs of 25 percent are set to take effect on July 6 and will cover a range of Chinese industrial goods such as aerospace, information and communication technology, robotics, and industrial machinery. In retaliation, China announced its own round of tariffs, which target $34 billion worth of U.S. goods including soybeans, electric cars, orange juice, and salmon.
These tariffs appear to be only the beginning. Trump is now threatening an additional round of tariffs of 10 percent on up to $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. All of this is bound to have an effect on the U.S. economy, and small businesses are no exception.
Here are some potential areas that could affect small business as a result of the impending trade war:
- Production Costs
Businesses who manufacture, source, or sell products with materials or components produced in China can expect to pay more for products and materials as future rounds of tariffs unfold. On the flip side, the tariffs could benefit suppliers and manufacturers of products produced wholly in the U.S. by allowing for more competitive pricing and higher profits.
2. Exports to China
Look for China to match tariffs on U.S. exports as the U.S. continues to slap tariffs on Chinese imports. Anti-American sentiment is on the rise in China, and the trade war will not help matters. Prices for U.S. goods in China could increase due to tariffs, and sales would likely decrease. While this does not apply to all small businesses, those who export to China, or supply parts for exported products could feel the crunch.
3. Intellectual Property Rights
Chinese manufacturers are notorious in their disregard for U.S. Intellectual Property Rights. Sites like Amazon and Ebay are full of counterfeit products produced and sold by Chinese manufacturers in the U.S. market. While the exact effect that the trade war will have on Intellectual Property Rights is uncertain, many believe that these counterfeit infractions could increase out of spite.
Just as with any political action, a trade war with China would benefit some and harm others. Tariffs have been around as long as there has been international trade. However, we live in a modern, global economy where nations are more intertwined than ever before. Hopefully, Trump knows what he’s doing and will be able to navigate these tenuous waters without causing irreparable damage.


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Lithium Americas starts up lithium extraction demonstration plant
Published: Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Lithium Americas will soon be able to demonstrate its extraction technology on a large scale.
America's Corp. this week inaugurated its lithium
extraction demo plant, which it has developed with POSCO.
The plant, at the company's Cauchari-Olaroz project in
Jujuy, Argentina, was inaugurated on 19 December


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Appealing to shippers looking for an alternative to Southern California’s jammed-up gateway, the Port of Oakland is winning back ocean carrier services that moved away in recent months.
In the coming weeks, French container shipping line CMA CGM SA is resuming a weekly service from China to Oakland and Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Co. is launching an Oakland route to Southeast Asia. These follow two routes added in July and August by Honolulu-based Matson Inc. and Taipei-based Wan Hai Lines Ltd.
These first-call services, in which ships arriving from Asia make their first stop at Oakland, avoiding delays at other ports, restore some of the operations Oakland lost after backlogs arose earlier this year. The backlogs pushed container lines to other ports and contributed to bottlenecks at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Oakland’s struggles to maintain its oceangoing services this year highlight the difficulties facing the maritime sector and shippers. While several ports are severely congested, with Los Angeles and Long Beach showing the steepest backups, others are more lightly used as carriers eliminate calls at some ports and concentrate services to handle their operations more efficiently.
Photo source: Dreamstime.com