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Sweden is being held up by some as an example of how to deal with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While the early signs suggest its pragmatic approach is working, it will be months, or possibly years, before the world will be able to judge whether its fight to keep the country going, when others have closed ranks, has truly been successful.
The fleet industry, of course, rarely gets more than a few hours grace before it can be held to account. Some industries may be enduring enforced lay-offs, but many fleets are still busy providing essential services to keep food and economies going.
Tellingly, the regional division of one of Sweden’s most famous exports very early on decided that it had no choice but to keep its operation going as much as it possibly can.
Like many of us, the staff of Scania Middle East are adjusting to the new normals of social distancing and rules on how many people can be in their Jebal Ali office at one time.
Disruptive it may be but regional sales director Hans Wising tells T&FME that the firm is determined to help support its customers as the COVID-19 crisis continues to disrupt business in the region.
With the on-trend niceties of checking that we can hear each other – even if the video isn’t behaving – out of the way, Wising is early to confirm that, with sectors such as oil and gas and construction continuing in parts of the region, customers can still access workshops and fleet support. In fact, even through a wobbly connection (at T&FME’s end), there’s plenty of bandwidth for him to stress that Scania Middle East is ready to serve fleets whenever they need help.
“Trucks are a part of a society’s lifeline; keeping goods and medical supplies moving. The focus at Scania is to keep our customers running and keep our workshops open and keep spare parts available.”
Wising says that construction and food supply continued to ‘move on’ even after the start of lockdowns and Scania Middle East and its dealers offered a full set of sort of services at their workshops as well as the continuation of mobile unit support for fleets – even when showrooms and sales operations were largely closed down.
He tells the magazine that the variety of rules in place between countries in the region means that the workshop services currently available to fleets may differ.
“Take Oman, for example, they have quite strict regulations that it’s only sort of more emergency basis,” says Wising. “You don’t just walk in there. You have to make an appointment and so on,” he explains before stressing that the message remains the same: “All our workshops are open.”
More than ever, access to spare parts is crucial for operators during a time where uptime is vital with many fleets needing to run with reduced teams. Stock is still available through the dealers and the global warehouse in Europe is manfully continuing to ensure that more obscure SKUs remain in the supply chain.
“They are facing challenges in both in-bound and out-bound. In fact our production was (effectively) shut done because we couldn’t get components and parts,” he muses. “But when it comes to purchasing, of course, we have products that are available.”
(After halting production at most of its facilities in March, Scania said it was gradually restarting production in Sweden, the Netherlands, Brazil and France at the end of April. All locations began operating at reduced capacity, with its Swedish plants opening initially for two days of the week, and at half capacity compared to normal operations.)
At the start of the lock-down in April, Scania Middle East juggled restrictions to maintain a maximum of only 20% of the workforce sitting at their desks. Wising explains that meant that only one of the management team was able to go in any one time. There is a pause and then a chuckle, “Tuesday will be my next day.”
Turning more serious, he adds, “Of course, even with the need for minimal contact, our role is to ensure we support our dealers support their customers.”
Part of this help has been to give advice and guidelines on how to survey workshops and provide safe assistance and help to incoming truck and bus owners or drivers. Wising says it has been helpful when introducing these new practices to fall-on the Scania expertise in other regions.
“We have been able to follow Scania’s own global guidelines although of course there are different regulations in some countries,” he adds.
As we talk, Scania trucks supplied by the Swedish manufacturer’s dealer SATA are being deployed by the Royal Navy of Oman to help ferry fuel supplies between the port of Sohar and Musandam, on the peninsula coast in the Strait of Hormuz.
Bulk cargo and oil and gas specialist DATE Transport, whose clients include Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO) and Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Company, has been tasked with the vital role.
Wising explains that the closing of borders to contain the spread of the virus means the fuel has to be transported by sea.
“They face the challenge of delivering fuel from Oman to Musandam. Normally they could go through the UAE but trucks will get stuck at the border.”
The regional sales director adds: “Now, the trucks go on the boat from Sohar to Khasab in Musandam – offload and go back again.”
Wising has been reassured by Scania Middle East’s progress in Oman despite the disruption caused by the outbreak. He also observes that Saudi Arabia appears to be a market that has remained active where others have taken a pause.
“On one hand they imposed stricter curfews, but some business seems to be ongoing for us.”
Given its resources and knowhow, Scania has also been able to help the Coronavirus effort in its home market as well as in this region.
The company is involved in a number of initiatives to help fight the virus, including lending purchasing and logistics help to the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm; aiding the acquisition of protective equipment for healthcare workers working to save those suffering from COVID-19. At the same time, trailers from Scania are being converted to mobile testing stations.
It has even sent its own employees out into the field to help with these initiatives, Wising explains.
“They help with the logistics and purchasing but employees can go into the internal website and see job ads to go and work in the hospitals. They get medical training as a nurse – or whatever – and offered the chance to take an absence of leave.”
Like Ford and General Motors in the US, and companies like JCB elsewhere in Europe,
Scania has also been on the frontlines to help the national effort to ensure there is enough medical equipment out in hospitals.
He adds: “We actually have people from production helping to make the ventilators.”
Like many other company’s Scania Middle East has considered using the slow down in the market to prepare for when the market improves. Although he says the firm has not had a huge amount of extra time (“some things are adding work,” jokes Wising), it has provided a chance to catch up with some training. The main focus he says has been the chance to look towards the long-term, alhough; “it can be difficult to do when you’re sitting in different locations and not meet face-to-face.”
As we talk, we are interrupted by two young intruders curious to see what is going on on the computer screen.
“These are some of the challenges we face!” Wising jests.


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LONDON — British retailers, hotels and ceramic factories are betting on the arrival of the royal baby to improve the otherwise gloomy economic situation.
Dave Lockett, the owner of Edwardian China, a pottery manufacturer, said his company would paint the name and date of birth of the new royal on more than 10,000 commemorative plates and other ceramics that were prepared weeks ago.
“We made them pretty generic so that it could be either a boy or girl,” said Mr. Lockett, hired extra staff to cope with the order load. “Then it was just a matter of waiting for the big day.”
Britons are expected to spend more than £243 million (or $420 million) on merchandise, other goods and party food in July and August to celebrate the royal baby, according to the Center for Retail Research. That would compare with £163 million spent on souvenirs alone for William and Kate’s wedding in April 2011.
Not knowing the name or gender of the royal baby has not prevented retailers from already selling royalty-inspired teacups, baby clothes and sweets. The department store Harrods has been selling a cup and a plate with the gender-neutral message “The first baby of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 2013.” One online retailer is selling a royal baby pacifier while another is promoting a purple velvet diaper cover by saying that it was “inspired by royalty” and that “pretty soon Kate and William will be sleep deprived, too.”
Krispy Kreme is selling doughnuts with white baby feet glazing, and Roberts Bakery, a British family-owned brand, created a special brioche for the occasion. The loaves, with a gold leaf crust and dried apricots, glazed cherries and pineapple inside, costs £30 each to produce, the company says, and will be given away to 50 winners of a contest once the baby is born.
Bookstores are also hoping for some royal help. “Shhh! Don’t Wake the Royal Baby,” by Martha Mumford, tells the story of a baby who just cannot fall asleep in the hustle and bustle of Buckingham Palace.
Benedetta Fullin, marketing manager at St. James’s Hotel in London, said the hotel’s special offer for royal baby showers has been “very popular, with about two baby showers thrown per week so far this month.” The offer includes a Ralph Lauren gift voucher and a spa treatment for mothers-to-be.
For £10,089 for three nights, new parents can stay in the nursery suite at Marriott’s Grosvenor House hotel in London. “Designed with a royal baby in mind,” the hotel says the package includes one evening of child minding and a “dedicated baby concierge” to deal with emergencies such as extra nappies.
But not everyone has been as excited about the arrival of the royal baby. About 82 percent of Britons don’t plan to celebrate the infant’s arrival in any way, according to a poll of more than 8,000 people by Kantar Retail. “We fear that projections of a robust boost to the retail sector arising from the birth might be wide of the mark,” Kantar said, adding that the amount of 2012 London Olympics merchandise that remained unsold “suggests that British shoppers might be suffering from event fatigue.”
Helen Dickinson, director general of the British Retail Consortium, said that even if consumers fail to flock in large numbers to buy baby merchandise, the royal baby – like the recent sunny weather here – might still help Britain’s economy by making consumers feel better. “The temporary lift in the general mood helps,” she said.

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New Delhi: PTC PLAY is all set to air exclusive Gurbani telecast from the Golden Temple in Amritsar in full HD.
Managing Director-cum-President, PTC Network, Rabindra Narayan, said, “Waheguru has blessed us with another milestone. The exquisite telecast of Gurbani will now be available live in full HD to viewers worldwide. This was a long-pending demand of devotees and we are grateful to Waheguru to have blessed us with this service.”
Gurbani telecast was started by Rabindra Narayan and his team on November 1 in 1998. Subsequently, it went live and is now also available in 360 degrees VR. The Golden Temple is the only place on the earth from where daily Live 360 degree virtual reality telecast happens.
Constantly endeavoring to spread the message of Gurus and their wisdom worldwide, PTC Network has been working tirelessly in bringing new technology and bringing the teachings of Sikhism to everyone worldwide.
PTC Play is available on Google play store, Apple app store and Amazon fire stick and offers its audience latest Punjabi Songs, movies, web series, live award shows, reality shows, Punjabi Virsa, Punjabi short films, kids special content and live news updates from India and abroad in English and Punjabi languages in both Android and iOS.
With PTC Network’s official app ‘PTC Play’, viewers get on-the-go access to LIVE telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple , Amritsar and Sri Huzur Sahib, Nanded, besides other gurdwaras in India.


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The soaring cost of propane has many Minnesotans wondering how they will afford to heat their homes, but some experts believe the worst of the shortage may be over and prices could come down soon.
On Monday, the price of a gallon of retail propane in Minnesota fell 20 percent from roughly $4 on Friday to $3.20. It's still a higher cost than last year, but industry analysts believe the peak has passed and prices are now on the way down -- but lots of volatility is expected.
Although some people may not realize it, it takes a lot of propane to keep baby turkeys warm.
"Roughly 50 to 100 gallons a day when they're young," John Zimmerman explained.
Given this year's unusually cold temperatures, the volatile propane prices are threatening Zimmerman's bottom line.
"If you can get it, what's the price? Nobody knows. 'Call me in 10 minutes,' it will be different. That's what we're dealing with right now," he said.
Some propane distributors have dealt with the shortage by rationing supplies.
"You can only get 200 gallons at a time because there's a shortage, they say," Lynne Crandall said.
State officials are concerned about price gouging, and some low-income customers are growing anxious to learn when the $15 million in federal aid will help them buy propane. On Monday, some small relief came as the price saw a significant drop for the first time in weeks.
"We'll just continue to see the prices trend downward," predicted Marty Lerum, with Propane Resources.
Lerum helps energy companies with risk management, and he says government pressure is providing results.
"We'll see a couple million barrels this month stay in the United States instead of being exported," he said.
Even so, there are still challenges to face before the market will settle down.
"You can't get it out fast enough," Lerum said.
Along with the record exports, propane inventories were already low due to heavy use by Midwestern farmers to dry crops. With the extreme cold that followed and dipped even into Southern states, many are now focusing on trying to avoid a repeat next winter.
Some energy experts predict propane prices will return to normal averages by the end of the month. Along with halting propane exports, industry groups are also working to open up more pipes to deliver to the Midwest.


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Smartphones used to have physical keyboards, scroll wheels, and lots of buttons. Then along came phones with capacitive touchscreen displays and small bezels. These days most phones still have power and volume buttons, but that’s about it. And soon they could be gone too.
Chinese phone makers Vivo and Meizu are both expected to unveil new phones this week, and rumor has it that the Vivo model could be one of the first phones with no physical buttons at all.
Meanwhile Meizu may be eliminating something else commonly found on phones: a visible front-facing camera.
It’s unclear from the latest leaks where Vivo plans to put the camera on its new button-less phone, or how users are expected to control the power and volume… but plenty of phones have supported a tap/knock to wake feature for a while that lets you turn on the phone using just the touchscreen.
As for volume controls, perhaps you’ll need to rely on software dials for that too… or maybe Vivo has added some sort of gesture support or touch-sensitive sides to the phone. We should know more when the company officially unveils the new Vivo Apex 2019 on January 24th.
Meizu’s new phone, meanwhile, will probably have power and volume buttons — but it could have a virtually invisible front-facing camera.
Some phone makers have already started hiding a fingerprint sensor in the display itself. Meizu may try to do something similar with a camera, hiding it beneath a transparent glass section of the screen so that you can make video calls or snap selfies when the camera’s in use, but ignore the camera when you’re not using it.
The rumor comes at a time when phone makers seem to be chasing the dream of an all-screen phone by adopting slim bezels, notches or even small holes in the display for the front-facing camera, or sometimes even pop-out cameras that hide behind the screen until you need them.
Meizu also joined the “Holeless” war and will announce new technologies tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/joUWWWOgeX
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) January 22, 2019
Update: Meanwhile Let’s Go Digital has uncovered a Samsung patent application that suggests the company is considering releasing a phone with a small secondary transparent display that covers the selfie camera hole, allowing you to see things like camera status information.
Just because Samsung has filed a patent application for the technology doesn’t mean it’ll ever see the light of day… but it does present another possible strategy for delivering a phone that doesn’t appear to have anything but a display on the front.
AMOLED is more or less transparent from the back. Sure, you’d have to compensate for lost light, but you can just put a bigger sensor there to capture more light. The same is true for the proximity and the ambient light sensors. The only downside is that with a black screen and harsh front light (sun) the underlying sensors could become visible. But they can add a thin black LCD layer below the AMOLED to make it also black when not in use.
I’ll be taking my 10% for the idea from Apple in stocks, thank you!
I did see a ring around the camera hold in one leaked samsung promo
Next up: screen-less phones because screens are so 2018. 😜
Button free sounds like the most anti user design any OEM could come with to be honest. Hard resets are an essential failsafe.
10 points to Vivo and Meizu for trying everything else to be notchless, although both shares a similar Achilles’ heel; poor UI/software implementation. The same excuse to keep things locked down, little to no dev support and again to avoid from keeping up the base Android ver + security patch levels.
We can talk about the hardware extravaganza all day when these gets out but in the end, jaded users would rather pay less for “inferior” alternatives as long as those have better long term software support.
While this is true it’s still possible. HTC knew this when they removed physical buttons but they rated people that the pressure sensitive “buttons” had independent circuitry/power allowing for hard resets.
The question is whether these companies will follow suit.
Comments are closed.


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Istanbul – At a time when Turkey's overall PC shipments continue to decline, gaming PCs look poised to bring a level of dynamism back to this mature market. That's according to the latest insights from global technology research and consulting firm International Data Corporation (IDC), which recently launched the first research report dedicated to exploring the potential of Turkey's burgeoning gaming PC market.
The report, 'Gaming PC Market in Turkey — An Opportunity to Grow', examines the evolution of the country's gaming PC market, details the various macro- and micro-level drivers pushing its growth, and outlines expectations around how the market may evolve over the coming years. By exploring the likely impact of future trends on the market, the report also provides much-needed guidance to technology providers on how to survive and thrive amid such dynamic conditions.
"Barring a short-lived resurgence in 2016, Turkey's PC market has been in decline since 2011 as business sentiment and consumer confidence have been eroded by a sustained period of economic and political instability," says Ayse Kaptanoglu, a senior research analyst at IDC Turkey. "However, the global computer games industry has been steadily expanding in recent years, and Turkey is primed to get a share of this growth."
IDC's latest findings show that shipments of gaming PCs in Turkey rose 47.7% year on year in Q3 2017 to total 70,878 units. And, according to Kaptanoglu, Turkey has a potentially valuable gaming market on its hands due to a combination of favorable demographics, high levels of internet usage, and growing interest in gaming PCs from beyond the traditional consumer base.
"Out of a population of 80 million, Turkey has 29 million active gamers and 48 million regular internet users, as well as 13 million people aged between 15 and 24," says Kaptanoglu. "On top of this, the powerful nature of gaming PCs means they have other uses beyond gaming, and we are increasingly seeing interest in this space from government and education institutions, as well as from professions such as architects and designers. All these factors point to the conclusion that gaming PCs can serve as a niche segment through which PC vendors can increase sales."
For more information about 'Gaming PC Market in Turkey — An Opportunity to Grow' , please contact Onur Hamitoglu at firstname.lastname@example.org.
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.
IDC in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey
For the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey region, IDC retains a coordinated network of offices in Riyadh, Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, Cairo, and Istanbul, with a regional center in Dubai. Our coverage couples local insight with an international perspective to provide a comprehensive understanding of markets in these dynamic regions. Our market intelligence services are unparalleled in depth, consistency, scope, and accuracy. IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey currently fields over 130 analysts, consultants, and conference associates across the region. To learn more about IDC MEA, please visit www.idc-cema.com. You can follow IDC MEA on Twitter at @IDCMEA.


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USA. Fraport USA has promoted Brett Kelly to the new role of Senior Vice President of Operations, effective 1 April.
Since 2011, Kelly has been Vice President of the company’s Fraport Maryland group. There he led the concessions programme at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport – overseeing the leasing, construction, marketing and management of nearly 120,000sq ft of concessions space. Recently, he also led the transition of Fraport USA’s new concessions development programme at Nashville International Airport in February.
“Brett’s extensive experience in retail real estate and roles in management, marketing, leasing and business development has contributed to the growth and success of our programme and several key initiatives,” said Fraport USA President and CEO Ben Zandi.
“He brings us exceptional qualities and qualifications to advance Fraport USA’s operational excellence, as we expand our teams and business footprint in North America.”
At Baltimore/Washington International, Kelly helped build Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) programmes, along with the launch of Fraport USA’s LaunchPad pilot programme for start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Before joining Fraport USA, Kelly served as a vice president with retail development company General Growth Properties, where he held leadership positions in the areas of leasing, asset management, operations and marketing.


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The Jetset Hot Rollers were more than 2 years in the making. Michiyo Oishi, the brand’s CEO, and her sisters Aki Oishi and Lea Oishi put their experience in finance, ceramics, and visual art together to develop truly contemporary hair styling technology.
Patented induction tech means that the rollers heat up in only 8 seconds. And the rollers use less heat to create curls than most conventional tools do, making them less likely to damage hair and changing the way consumers choose and use product to style and treat their hair.
“With a lot of the existing hair styling tools…they go to 400, 450…it’s very damaging for your hair,” affirms Oishi, in conversation with Cosmetics Design. “Our product is definitely more gentle on your hair; and I think that’s definitely a trend,” she says alluding to a shift in the way hot hair styling tools are being developed.
To learn more, watch our full video interview above.
Deanna Utroske, CosmeticsDesign.com Editor, covers beauty business news in the Americas region and publishes the weekly Indie Beauty Profile column, showcasing the inspiring work of entrepreneurs and innovative brands.


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The risky business of electric vehicles
A new International Energy Agency analysis finds that governments account for nearly one-fifth of global spending on electric vehicle purchases.
Why it matters: "The ability of governments to stabilize and then reduce their share of total EV spending will be a key test of the sustainability of the EV market in coming years," 2 analysts write in the Oct. 10 commentary.
- "Unless government incentives adjust as the market increases, considerable pressure will be placed on public budgets," they add.
The big picture: Governments accounted for roughly 18% of total EV spending last year — a tally that includes both direct support and tax incentives.
- That's roughly the same level as 2017, but the share generally rose between 2012 and 2017 and "could very well rise again in [the] future."
Threat level: They note the EV market is growing at "whirlwind speed" even though they remain a tiny share of overall sales.
- "But because it relies on government payments that cannot rise indefinitely, this growth raises risks and uncertainty even as battery costs come down," it states.
The intrigue: Government support is falling in 2 key markets, and the early signs show that it's affecting sales.
- In China, the world's largest EV market, a cut in subsidies this year has eaten into sales.
- In the U.S., sales growth has also slowed as consumer tax credits are phased down.


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Only two more blogs left in the year 2019. Where, oh where, did this year go? It has been one for the books, we can tell you that! As we begin to head into the Christmas season and close up shop here at the office for the holiday, we want to give you just a few more updates. Keep reading to get all the news from you state Cattlemen’s headquarters.
Join Us THIS SATURDAY
Bicentennial Day is this Saturday, and the staff in the office are busy preparing for the celebrations that are happening in downtown Montgomery. Montgomery County Cattlemen will be out in full force grilling burgers for volunteers that day and some samples as well for visitors that stop by. Montgomery Countian Gene Lazenby will be in the role of Cowboy Santa, and we will also have Junior Cattlemen from both Lowndes and Montgomery county coming to help as well. We will be hosting burger samples, rodeo games and tours of the brand new MOOseum! Come on out and join the fun! There will be activities all through downtown including food, music, historical tours, live music and a parade. The fun begins Saturday at 10 a.m.
2020 ACA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW
Registration is now open for the 77th annual ACA Convention & Trade show to be held February 14-15 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Convention Center. What better way to say “I love you” on Valentine’s Day than to bring your darlin’ to our Friday night event, the Sweetheart Shindig? Not to mention all the fun and excitement around our General Sessions, featuring Donnell Brown of R.A. Brown Ranch and a CattleFax update, informative Cattlemen’s Colleges and Alabama’s biggest cattle industry trade show. We’ve also confirmed our Cattlemen’s Luncheon speaker, NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. Don’t miss this exciting event!
You can register online today and take advantage of those awesome Early Bird deals by visiting www.BamaBeef.org/Convention or you can call us at the office and we’ll take your registration by phone! Be sure to have your credit card handy and have an idea of what you and your’s would like to attend by checking out our mail-in form in the November issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.
NCBA Applaus U.S. Senate Introduction of Real MEAT Act
Press Release from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association:
WASHINGTON (Dec. 11, 2019) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today applauded the introduction of the Real MEAT (Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully) Act of 2019 by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska. The Senate bill is a companion to H.R. 4881, which was introduced by U.S. Representatives Roger Marshall (R – 1st Dist., Kansas) and Anthony Brindisi (D – 22nd Dist., N.Y.) in October.
“It’s clear that fake-meat companies are continuing to mislead consumers about the nutritional merits and actual ingredient composition of their products,” said NCBA President Jennifer Houston. “We commend the efforts of Senator Fischer on introducing this legislation, which would end deceptive labeling of fake meat products and allow cattle producers to compete on a level playing field.”
“Beef is derived from cattle—period,” Senator Fischer said. “Under USDA, beef undergoes a rigorous inspection and labeling process, but plant-based protein products that mimic beef and are sometimes labeled as beef are overseen by the FDA instead. These products are not held to the same food safety and labeling standards as beef. The NCBA has been a leader on this issue, and I am thankful for their strong support of the Real MEAT Act, which will protect consumers from deceptive marketing practices and bring transparency to the grocery store.”
Specifically, The Real Meat Act will:
1. Codify the Definition of Beef for Labeling Purposes
• Establish a federal definition of beef that applies to food labels;
• Preserve the Congressional Intent of the Beef Promotion and Research Act;
2. Reinforce Existing Misbranding Provisions to Eliminate Consumer Confusion
• FDA has misbranding provisions for false or misleading labels;
• Prevent further consumer confusion with alternative protein products;
• Clarify the imitation nature of these alternative protein products;
3.Enhance the Federal Government’s Ability to Enforce the Law
• FDA will have to notify USDA if an imitation meat product is determined to be misbranded;
• If FDA fails to undertake enforcement within 30 days of notifying USDA, the Secretary of Agriculture is granted authority to seek enforcement action.
Batter Up with the Barons
On Monday, staffer Ali Cantrell hit the road to Birmingham to meet with Mark Harwood of Associated Grocers of the South to talk about marketing and signage in the retail case that will entice our consumers to buy more beef. While she was up in the ‘Ham she also met with Richard Coates from the Birmingham Barons to discuss are upcoming sponsorship with the Barons for the 2020 season. When fans attend games this season they will hear the announcer declare our iconic phrase, “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” and see a nice, juicy steak on the jumbotron!
Staffer Morgan Pounds joined the thousands of youth at the Joint Leadership Development Conference (JLDC) in Birmingham yesterday to talk about the Junior Cattlemen’s Association and the leadership opportunities it brings. She also gave out information on upcoming Youth Convention Contests. If you have not heard, we will be hosting three youth events this year at convention for youth ages 9-21! We will host all youth events Saturday February 15! Click here to learn more about events and rules.
MONTGOMERY AREA FOOD BANK DROP OFF
Speaking of The MOOseum, we are also proud to be a Montgomery Area Food Bank Drop Off location this year! Our venue will host a barrel where you can drop off all kinds of non-perishable food items to help address food insecurity in the River Region. We appreciate any and all donations!
Japan Welcomes U.S. Beef with Lower Tariffs
Last week the U.S. entered a trade deal with Japan that would level the playing field and provide expanded opportunities for U.S. beef and pork producers in the Japanese marketplace.
With tariff rates mirroring those imposed on major competitors, the United States Meat Exports Federation (USMEF) forecast for 2020 is for U.S. beef and pork exports to Japan to reach $2.3 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively.
“This agreement is one of the biggest developments in the history of red meat trade, as no international market delivers greater benefits to U.S. farmers and ranchers, and to the entire U.S. supply chain, than Japan,” said Dan Halstrom, CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Junior Pasture to Rail Calves Are Off!
Junior Pasture to Rail calves are on their way to Hy-Plains Feedyard this week! Morgan met with our friend Alex Tigue of extensions and some juniors on Monday to kick start this program! If you would like to learn about the program and potentially sign up for next year, shoot Morgan an email to be put on mailing list for Junior Pasture to Rail 2020-2021! firstname.lastname@example.org
Staffers Out & About
Staffers have been on the roads and in the air this week traveling to many different events and meetings! You’ve already read about several of those events, but to continue, on Tuesday evening, staffer Ali attended the Greene County meeting and was able to update the 80+ members in attendance about the checkoff programs. Johnny Gladney also got up and spoke about the Pasture to Rail program as well as the Junior Pasture to Rail Program.
On Monday, ACA Exec Erin Beasley popped over to her home county’s meeting in Macon County for a delicious steak at Elmer’s in Notasulga. The group had great attendance and hosted a livestock marketing panel which consisted of market owners.
Staffers Morgan Pounds and Kayla Greer will head south to Elba on Friday to enjoy a day with our incoming President, Larry Reeves, as they prepare for his introductory video, article and magazine cover. Be looking for the Reeves Family to grace the March 2020 edition of the Alabama Cattleman.
Last but certainly not least, Director of Rodeo Programs Lauren Wilson is in Las Vegas this week attending the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. While there, she will be doing some contestant and national sponsor recruiting for our SLE Rodeo as well as meeting the team with Frontier Rodeo Co. and our featured entertainers! This is an excellent PRCA networking opportunity for Lauren to match faces with the many names she speaks to on the phone! Tickets go on sale for the 2020 SLE Rodeo on December 15- don’t miss it!
ACA Holiday Hours
The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will be open Monday, December 23 and then close until Thursday, January 2 in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays! Staffers will likely be checking email, so feel free to send those our way throughout the break, but if you need to place an online order or call us with questions, you have until the 24th to do so.
RODEO TICKET SALES GO LIVE SOON!
Boy, do we have a stocking stuffer for you! That’s right, just in time for Santa Claus to make his grand appearance in homes across Alabama, we’ll have 2020 SLE Rodeo tickets on sale just in case you need one last item! Gift the gift of rodeo to your loved ones this year and be on the lookout for tickets to go on sale to the public on December 15! Learn more about the show and stay updated with new announcements by visiting www.SLERodeo.com.


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Snuffing out the taboo surrounding cannabis users would be dope
A draft master plan for SA needs to be finalised, otherwise the fledgling cannabis sector will go to pot
Are you a casual social or a dabbler, maybe cannacurious, perhaps an unsparked or even a naysayer?
With legal cannabis set to increase from $30bn (R429bn) in 2020 to over $90bn (R1.286-trillion) in 2025, international market research company Euromonitor International has taken a deep dive into exploring adult cannabis consumer archetypes as part of its global cannabis research programme.
The research paper Breaking Stereotypes: Getting to Know the Cannabis Consumer provides a comprehensive view of cannabis consumption and attitudes across global markets...


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What do you think, is India’s transportation app future just about Uber and OLA? No.
An eight-month-old startup, Shuttl is an India’s transportation app offers air-conditioned minibuses service, raised $20 million in Series A round of funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital India and Times Internet to develop its technology and expand its service.
What Actually Series A round of Funding Is?
Series A round of funding is the first round of financing that generally a startup gets from a venture capital firm, that is the first time when company ownership is offered to external investors. Such thing can be done by giving preferred stock.
Here, startup valuation is done on the basis of market size, proof of concept, executive team quality, progress made with seed capital, and risk involved. Generally, approximately 2 million to 15 million are raised by Series A, however, the number has increased on average because of high recent tech industry valuations. Some of the popular venture capital firms participate in Series A funding are Sequoia, Benchmark, Greylock, Times Internet, etc.
See Also: How To Fund Your Startup?
One such startup that flashed in the recent news was Shuttl, founded by IIT Delhi alumni Amit Singh & IIT Kanpur alum Deepanshu Malviya, for raising $20M in fund. Now, this fund will be used by startup to inflate Shuttl service to new cities and strengthen its technology platform and network. Amit Singh, co-founder of Shuttl, said,
“We exist to solve the office-commute problem while positively impacting issues like congestion, pollution and safety. We have progressed in this direction in partnership with Car-Free Day and Rapid Metro in easing out last mile connectivity and daily commute for users. We believe buses are the most space efficient way to commute and we have added a technology layer on to them to build what could become a template for smart cities in India and abroad.”
[updated on 16-Feb-16] Shuttl Crosses 1 Million Rides Milestone In 10 Months
One of the largest bus-aggregators in India, Shuttl offers over 15000 rides per day. Recently, the company stated that it has crossed one million rides across the Delhi-NCR region. This feat has been amassed by the start-up in less than 194 days of its operations.
From being an intra-city to a pan Delhi-NCR public transit service, Shuttl has seen massive transformation.
The company stated that all this transition of commuters has meant that more than 4700 cars are off the road and thus, about 5 million rupees of fuel saved each day. Around 50% of users are choosing this service to board a bus from Gurgaon, 33% from Noida and 17% from Delhi and rest of NCR.
Shuttl co-founder and CEO, Amit Singh stated that,
It’s been a phenomenal ten months for the team. The public has embraced Shuttl beyond our expectations and the kind of growth we have achieved is remarkable. While we are excited about our performance to-date, there is much to be done in the coming months. Milestones like these are valuable but what really brings us joy is to see how we’re all waking up to the power that rests in our hands – the power to lead our cities to a healthier future by commuting wisely.
What people like the most about a Shuttl is it enables to generate an e-ticket to confirm a seat in the ride. The company stated:
The increasing traffic woes and pollution has led to the birth of Shuttl as a greener and smarter transport alternative.
Can Shuttl solve big-city connectivity issues and ride their way to success?
Like Shuttl, there are many other startups that got funding in 2015 to expand their services, such as:
Glovo, an E-Butler app, allows to order or deliver anything around Spain with just a few minutes. Glovo’s Courier Delivery App makes things simpler. Recently, Glovo has picked up €2M in funding to expand its service at the great extent.
Another is ftcash app that makes payment for daily utilities like Milkman, Newspaper, Tuitions, fruits and vegetables, etc. through credit and debit card. Recently, ftcash got funded of US $5 Lacs from investors and now, they are going to expand their app’s functionality.
Like these startups, many startups are getting funding from investors. However, the money will not help to expand your startups, it just propels with more force in whichever direction you want to go.
If you really need a help of experts, who will reach your startups to the next level, we can take your startup to bloom.
See also: Inc42 Lists Space-O Amongst The Best Startup Hubs


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Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. The company's hardware products include the iPhone smartphone, the iPad ... In January 2007, Jobs announced that Apple Computer, Inc. would be ...
Dec 30, 2016 ... China's iPhone factories are being automated ... The company can now produce around 10,000 Foxbots a year, Jia-peng says, all of which can ...
Sep 12, 2017 ... The iPhone X is here, but Chinese consumers won't be buying. ... decade, but even that isn't enough to help the company regain its former glory in China ... while the new iOS software runs augmented reality apps and can apply your ... smartphones, it's likely they won't provide enough incentive to upgrade.
Aug 2, 2017 ... Apple iPhone 8 could spark China sales: Robert W. Baird's Will Power ... Jonathan Geller, Boy Genius Report founder, and Will Power, Robert W. Baird & Company, weigh in on Apple's earnings, iPhone 8 ..... Driving change.
Sep 7, 2017 ... But consumers in China can get those features on other devices already ... In a show of confidence, Huawei Technologies Co., Xiaomi Corp. and ... they can replace Apple in high-end markets priced around $500, even as ...
Jan 22, 2012 ... The reason Apple makes iPhones and iPads in China, the article shows, ... And they can change production practices and speeds extremely rapidly. ... coordinates the manufacture of Apple accessories for a company in the ...
May 25, 2016 ... Foxconn, the manufacturing company that builds electronic devices for a range of ... replaced 60000 human workers from one of its factories in China with ... that increasing automation could lead to widespread unemployment.
Nov 30, 2016 ... The China Consumers Association, a government watchdog group, said Nov. ... and accused the company of failing to “meet basic consumer needs for ... phone matched a serial number on Apple's website could bring their device to an Apple Store or authorized reseller and replace the battery for free.
Aug 2, 2017 ... Why Apple's iPhone in China Points to a Bigger Decline for Hong ... the border into mainland China, where they could change hands for as ...


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Supermarket war hots up
The supermarket price war hotted up again as threats of more price cuts sent shares in market leaders Tesco and Sainsbury tumbling.
Shares in Tesco fell 3p to 186p and Sainsbury shares were down 7.75p to 405p in the first two hours of trading.
The share slips came as Asda promised to cut prices on hundreds of products to bring them into line with those of its new owner, US retail giant Wal-Mart, during the next 18 months.
At the same time Tesco prepared to unveil 'the biggest price cuts Britain has ever seen'.
Tesco is determined to hang on to its number one position in the supermarket league by launching its own massive price cuts campaign and plans to sell CDs, books and videos over the Internet.
A Tesco spokesman said: 'We have got the biggest price campaign coming up in the next couple of weeks that Tesco has ever launched.
'We have had a policy of reducing prices for the past eight years and this is part of that ongoing championing of the consumers' cause. The next wave will be the biggest Britain has ever seen.'
Asda's price cuts was extending the group's Rollback campaign which began last month and has set a target of cutting prices on 4,000 products this year at a total cost of £200 million.
Chief executive Allan Leighton said the latest cuts would see prices reduced between 5% and 10%, making them up to 15% cheaper than those in rival stores.
He added that a new survey by Taylor Nelson Soffres had found that Asda's sales had jumped 9.5% in the 12 weeks to August 22 compared to the same period last year.
Tesco had seen a 5.4% rise while Sainsbury's sales dipped by 0.4% and Safeway dropped by 5%.
Mr Leighton said: 'Asda is on the up because our prices are coming down.
'And with Wal-Mart behind us, Rollback will continue to deliver the goods.'
Soft drinks, beauty products and household goods will feature in the latest round of Asda's reductions.
News of the latest round in Asda's price cutting campaign comes ahead of Tesco's half year earnings results tomorrow.
The group was expected to outline its plans on becoming the UK's top e-commerce business by selling a range of products from books to white goods over the Internet.
The move will see Tesco first take on retailer WH Smith by offering books, CDs and videos before extending its range even further to white goods as it tries to undercut electronics chain Dixons.
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Amazon is so worried about potential antitrust reforms unfolding in Congress that a top executive recently tried to pressure third-party sellers on an online forum they use to chat with each other about hot topics.
But the effort appears to have backfired as many sellers disputed Amazon’s argument and said they intended to support legislation to overhaul U.S. antitrust laws and harness the power of big tech.
Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s VP of Global Seller Partner Services, posted a post Thursday on the Amazon Seller Central Forum. He urged marketers to contact their local senator to oppose legislation called the American Online Innovation and Choice Act (S.2992), which was passed by a Senate committee in January and could be passed this summer.
“As we noted in previous communications over the past year, Congress is considering legislation, including S.2992, the U.S. Online Innovation and Choice Act, that could jeopardize Amazon’s ability to manage marketplace services and therefore your company’s ability to sell online. our store,” Mehta wrote. “Recent public comments from Senate leaders indicate that they intend to vote for S.2992 later this month. I want to make sure you are aware of this legislation and what you can do to prevent harm from happening to you.
Mehta then directed Amazon sellers to a website that has a form they can use to contact their senator. The page is filled with a pre-written email against the law and states that filling out the form “will take less than two minutes of your time.”
Hundreds of sellers responded to Mehta’s message, many of whom were unconvinced by Amazon and vowed to support the law. Third-party sellers, which account for more than half of Amazon’s retail volume, have become increasingly frustrated in recent years with the costs they pay to maintain a good reputation, the amounts Amazon charges them for advertising, and Amazon’s inability to rid the market of fraud. . and bad actors.
“Yes, I would object to Amazon being banned from undercutting, manipulating the buying field and imposing limits on certain listings that unfairly prevent me from selling a product,” wrote one commenter. “Yes, I am writing to my senator right now. »
Another wrote that “any informed seller will support the massive antitrust action taken against Amazon. Personally, I’m sick of the condescending messages from Amazon’s management towards us. We are not morons and we can read and think for ourselves. ”
Amazon has strongly opposed the bill, which would prevent it and other tech companies from giving benefits to their companies on its platform. In August, Amazon emailed sellers and set up a website to educate them about the legislation and warn them that it could harm their business.
Last week, Amazon published a blog post saying the legislation would jeopardize “the two things American consumers love most about Amazon: huge selection and low prices,” as well as its Prime’s two-way shipping.
The company said the bill unfairly targets Amazon by requiring companies to have a market capitalization of more than $550 billion in order to be regulated. Amazon said it was excluding “thousands of other retailers” such as Walmart, Target and Costco.
Not all responses to Mehta’s post were oppositional. One commenter said the proposed law could harm sellers simply by hurting Amazon.
“I can’t predict the future, and neither can a big gang secret in Washington,” the person wrote. “I can tell you that this account is bad news for Amazon, bad news for Amazon customers, and if you think this doesn’t mean bad news for sellers, then you shouldn’t be a third-party seller. »
WATCH: Inside the rapid growth of Amazon Logistics and how it supports third party shipping


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By Souhail Karam
Gulf's largest dairy by market value expands distribution network in Q4.
Saudi Arabia's Almarai Co, the Gulf's largest dairy firm by market value, posted a 13.5 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit on higher sales as it expands its distribution network.Almarai made 219.2 million riyals ($58.45 million) in the three months to Dec. 31 up against the 193 million riyals it made a year-earlier, the firm said in a statement posted on the bourse's website.
"The 2008 performance can be attributed to ... execution across all aspects of the business, particularly the expansion of our distribution network", the firm said.
Earnings per share for 2008 were 8.35 riyals compared to 6.12 riyals for 2007, it said.
Net profit in the fourth-quarter was however 25.4 percent below its level in the third-quarter of 2008 in what the company attributed to "shifts in the seasonality of consumer consumption".
"This sequential decline in earnings was expected due to the fact that Ramadan - a strong period of sales for Almarai's business - fell in 2008 fully in the third quarter while it was spread between the third and fourth quarters in 2007," said Laurent Gally, analyst at Dubai-based Shuaa Capital.
Analysts forecast of Almarai's fourth quarter earnings ranged from 215.1 million riyals to 224 million riyals, according to a Reuters survey last month.
The stock fell by as much as 2.2 percent despite the announcement of a 3.5 riyals dividend for 2008 against 2.5 riyals for 2007.
"We believe the current 2.6 percent dividend yield it represents is, in itself, unlikely to represent a catalyst for the share price," Gally said.
Almarai fourth-quarter turnover rose 22 percent from a year earlier. "We believe Almarai fresh dairy products are still gaining market share across the Gulf Cooperation Council," Gally said.
For the 12 months to Dec. 31, Almarai's net profit rose 36.4 percent to 910.3 million riyals.
Almarai has been diversifying its revenue sources through acquisitions and said it plans to spend 6 billion riyals in the five years to 2013.
The firm announced in the third quarter two acquisitions of juice and dairy manufacturers in Egypt and Jordan.
Last year, Almarai began consolidating the earnings of the acquisition of Western Bakeries and International Bakery Services Co in 2006. It paid 709 million riyals in stock for the companies.
The dairy firm is a shareholder in Zain Saudi Arabia, a consortium that paid $6.1 billion in 2007 for a licence to start Saudi Arabia's third mobile telephone network. (Reuters)


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Research published in the British Medical Journal determined ultra-processed foods like chips, cookies and fast food are linked to heart disease and early death.
Dr. John Poothullil said nature doesn't have foods with salt in it.
"We get used to the salt content and that is what drives the desire to eat more, so the taste becomes an inducement for eating," said Poothullil.
He said you get in trouble when you add things to foods nature provided.
"Combination of salt, sugar and fat to make it more palatable than what nature intended and you eat more," said Poothullil.
He said you can get addicted to salt and crave it more and more. Also, don't be distracted when eating and lose track of how much junk you're putting into your body.


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TOKYO – Honda’s quarterly profit surged nearly 20 per cent on demand for remodeled cars in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. The Japanese automaker also raised its full-year profit and sales forecasts.
Honda Motor Co. reported a profit Tuesday of 146.5 billion yen ($1.4 billion) for the April-June fiscal first quarter, close to what analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast.
The automaker raised its annual profit forecast to 600 billion yen ($5.9 billion) from 595 billion yen ($5.8 billion), and its annual sales forecast to 12.8 trillion yen ($125.5 billion) from 12.75 trillion yen ($1215 billion).
Honda, Japan’s No. 3 automaker, posted 574 billion yen profit on 11.84 trillion yen sales for the last fiscal year, which ended March 2014.
Demand was strong recently for Honda’s new City sedan in India, Mobilio seven-seater in Indonesia and the remodeled Fit subcompact in Japan, helping lift quarterly sales 5 per cent year-on-year to 2.988 trillion yen ($29.3 billion).
Honda, which sold 1.06 million vehicles in April-June, expects to sell 4.83 million vehicles for the fiscal year through March 2015.
The Tokyo-based maker of the Odyssey minivan and Accord sedan sold 4.32 million vehicles last fiscal year.
Japanese rival Nissan Motor Co., which reported a quarterly profit jump of nearly 37 per cent on Monday, expects to sell 5.65 million vehicles this fiscal year, up 8.9 per cent from the previous year.
Toyota, the world’s top automaker, reports earnings Aug. 5.
Japanese automakers continue to do solid business in North America but have all embarked on an aggressive growth strategy in developing nations.
Honda is unique compared with Nissan and Toyota for its powerful motorcycle division that makes a significant contribution to its earnings.
Honda sold 4.14 million motorcycles during the fiscal first quarter, up from 4.05 million the same period a year earlier.
Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at twitter.com/yurikageyama


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Culligan has been providing high quality products and services for commercial and residential needs in Marion since the 1940’s. The business was purchased in 1955 by Gus Parish and moved to its current location at 310 W. 1st Street on October 2nd, 1962. Before Culligan, the building had served as a church as well as office space for General Motors while they built the Marion Stamping Plant.
Verlin Wine began working at Culligan in 1962. In 1975, he and his wife, Martha, bought the business. Verlin’s son, Mitch, and his wife, Beth, bought the business from Verlin and Martha in 2011. Culligan has been owned by the Wine family for nearly 50 years.
“Our favorite thing about doing business in Marion is the people! We have been blessed to have the best customers! We have done business with many families & generations in Grant County,” said owner Beth Wine. She continued, “We foresee Culligan continuing to provide quality, dependable products and excellent customer service to our customers.”
Wine says they couldn’t do it without their team of employees. “Our employees are our biggest blessing, with many being here for over 20 years. Verlin will celebrate 60 years in the business in October and Mitch has 35. You can’t train someone to have the knowledge that our team has about the water here in Marion and the Grant County area.”
Culligan is proud to be a part of the community in Marion and try to help out in any way they can whenever possible. They support Gilead Ministries, Grant County Rescue Mission, Youth for Christ, Grant County 4H, area high school athletics, PAL Club, Hostess House, and many more causes. They feel it is important to give back to their community whenever possible.
Beth added, “We are very excited about the future for Marion, especially the new business growth in downtown!”
Culligan Marion is located at 310 W. 1st Street and may be reached at (765) 664‑1269.
Marion-Grant County Chamber of Commerce


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Al Meera to invite bids for Ain Khalid mall in Q2
AL MEERA Consumer Goods Company’s shopping mall in Ain Khalid will be opened in 2014, and its concept would be replicated in another location north of Doha in the coming years, its vice-chairman has said.
“The bids for the construction of the mall in Ain Khalid is expected to be invited in the second quarter of this year. The 45,000-square-metre mall will have 10,000 square metre hypermarket that will house electronic and furniture stores,” Al Meera Vice-Chairman Saif Said al Sowaidi said. He was speaking at the annual general meeting of the company, in Doha, on Monday.
Talking about other projects, Sowaidi said the company plans to launch tenders for the construction of two branches of Al Meera in Jeryan Nejaima and Mureikh soon.
Giving an update on the Nauija branch, Sowaidi said the Nauija project would represent a qualitative shift in the design of commercial centres and corporate branches. “Construction of Nauija branch is expected to be complete by the end of this year,” Sowaidi added.
According to Sowaidi, the company has concluded a contract with a national engineering firm to design six branches in Al Aziziya, Al Khor, Al Wajba, Al Wakra, Al Maizer and Al Rawdat Al Dima to expand the footprint of the company in the country.
He said the company signed a contract with a specialised international company to carry out engineering designs for Hazm Al Markhiya branch, which is to be demolished and reconstructed to meet the highest level of standards by expanding the retail space and increasing the amount of parking spaces for vehicles.
Commenting on overseas expansion, Sowaidi said the company was working towards signing and activating agreements to operate in other Arab countries.
“We are making efforts to conduct Al Meera’s business outside Qatar in cooperation with private and public Qatari establishments,” he said.
“Al Meera has also restructured to facilitate the company’s franchise and joint venture activities with local and international companies and establishments,” he said.


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Manoj Jain: No reason to add pounds over holidays
It’s that time of year. No, I am not talking about elections, the flu, or holiday shopping — but rather weight gain.
The myth is that Americans gain 5 to 10 pounds during the holiday season. And while it’s entirely possible, it is perhaps not that bad.
The weight gain begins with Halloween. A package of my favorite candy, two Reese’s peanut butter cups, has 210 calories, about one-tenth of our daily recommended calorie allowance. Then comes Thanksgiving, which not surprisingly is the biggest day of food consumption in America, where an average American will eat 4,500 calories, or twice the recommended calories in a day.
During Christmas and New Year we are in a vacation mindset, allowing unhealthy fatty foods to be permissible and exercise to be procrastinated. And then to top it off on the biggest sports event day, Super Bowl Sunday, we do not exercise or play but we eat, making it the second biggest day of food consumption.
So, by the end of fall and winter, it would seem we Americans would have gained a lot more weight.
But, here is the science and statistics behind annual and seasonal weight gain.
Nearly all of us, as young adults, gain weight as we get older, about half a pound to pound and a half per year. Women gain most weight during adolescence, pregnancy and midlife while men gain weight after marriage. Our wedding tuxedo pants and bridal dresses can confirm this.
Undoubtedly, the winter and fall are when we are most vulnerable to weight gain.
Half of the annual weight gain occurs during the holiday season (Thanksgiving to New Year's).
Busting the 5-10 pound weight gain myth was a study in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine journal which found that the perceived weight gain during the holiday season was only 3 and a half pounds. In reality, this was four times higher than the actual weight gain of less than a pound. (0.8 lbs to be exact).
For many of us, there is comfort in these numbers. But for those who are overweight or obese, the holiday season posed the greatest risk of weight gain. Twenty percent of those who are obese and 10 percent of those who are overweight gained over 5 pounds.
If it makes you feel any better, weight gain during the holidays is not unique to Americans. Another study showed that during the holiday season Germans gained 1.8 pounds and the Japanese gained 1.1 pounds compared to the Americans who gained 1.3 pounds. Half of this weight is lost during the spring and summer while the other half remains for years — possibly a lifetime.
So what can we do?
First we need to accept that weight gain, even a few pounds, during the holidays is avoidable. Here are few scientific tips and tricks to enjoy the holiday season and its culinary pleasures and not gain the weight.
Be aware of your weight. Those who stepped on a scale four or more times a week gained less weight and lost it more quickly.
Eat and chew slowly. Enjoy and relish the food. Eating slowly allows you to swallow more air and feel full, and gives the needed 20 minutes for the brain to register through chemicals that you are full.
When drinking, choose a tall and thin glass — it will reduce your intake of alcohol or other high-calorie drink. When eating take a smaller dish rather than a larger plate, the empty white space on a large plate signals your brain to increase the serving size.
Drink water. One study found that drinking about 2 cups of water before each meal along with a low-calorie diet reduced weight by 4 pounds over a 12-week period. This was a 44 percent greater decline in weight compared to those who just ate a low-calorie meal.
Weight gain is not inevitable, rather it is a choice. And just simply being mindful of what is to come in the next few months during the holiday season can help deter or at least diminish how much weight we will gain.


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A pub in Northamptonshire has found a clever way to double its capacity on the first day of re-opening - by creating its own separate bar and restaurant in the garden.
The Red Lion in Cranford shared pictures of its new creation hours before opening its doors back to the public for the first time in the months since lockdown began. You can follow our live blog from Super Saturday across the county here.
Richard Gordon, who runs the Red Lion with co-owner Sonja Harvey, said the pub had received more than 100 bookings for food on Saturday alone.
Now customers are able to chose whether they want to be inside or outside thanks to their new outdoor kitchen, restaurant and bar area which is completely separate from the main building.
Richard said: "We've doubled our capacity. We have a brand new restaurant, we have an independent kitchen and drinks bar which has a new menu for snacks.
"It's got a coffee machine, whatever you would want we can do in the garden and then inside is the more formal food we always do."
Pictures from around the pub show plenty of hand sanitisers in place and signs marking out social distancing.
While the plans for the outdoor area started last year, lockdown gave the team time to deck the area out to the new requirements. Richard said: "We started the plans last year but when this happened we took it to another level.
"We have a real mix of people both outside and inside today. The British weather has let us down as always but people don't seem to mind."
While many pubs and restaurants are pouring their first pints today, not all landlords in Northamptonshire are able to open today.
In Wellingborough The Little Ale House micropub has made the difficult decision to keep its doors closed for a little while longer as its tiny size means it can only fit a maximum of six people in at a time instead of the usual 30.
In Northampton a number of pubs also remain closed, with only a few choosing to try the Cordwainer Pub on its first day back.


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Aug 24, 2012 The search for your soulmate and the perfect babysitter have some surprising parallels.
Aug 24, 2012 A Minnesota family does what it takes to make their dream of a big family a reality.
Aug 24, 2012 A stroller, a crib, clothes for a kid who may not be the same size next week are among the many items parents need to purchase for their new baby. Buying secondhand can be easier on the wallet. Learn what is safe -- and unsafe -- to buy secondhand for junior.
Aug 24, 2012 A married man in his forties reflects on his choice to not have children.
Aug 17, 2012 As Baby Boomers age, younger generations are fearing the day they'll be shouldering the burden to pay for Boomers' Social Security benefits. But one senior says Baby Boomers will help boost the economy, not drain it.
Aug 16, 2012 How does our garbage relate to our GDP? Economist Michael McDonough has worked out the GDP-to-trash economic indicator.
Aug 3, 2012 The first in our series about money and religion, we look at how Muslims view and deal with money. Learn more about Islamic law regarding debt, investments and tithing.
Jul 27, 2012 The Dow vaulted back over 13,000 while Gross Domestic Product just treads water in the shallow end of the pool. What can we take away from the latest economic data?
Jul 27, 2012 Four times a year, the U.S. Department of Commerce serves up the big number that tells us how much we are producing as a country. U.S. second quarter GDP grew more than economists had expected. That doesn't make it good.


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BlackBerry thought that adopting Android would give it a slight chance to return to profitability. As it turned out, it took its last breath today.
BlackBerry, formerly world’s largest Smartphone company, is putting a stop to its in-house production and designing of smartphones. It will instead outsource both and license its name to companies in markets overseas, including Indonesia and China where the company is still big.
As it currently stands, it looks like the end-of-the-line for another of industry’s former stalwarts, as it is not quite known when phones under such agreements will arrive.
The focus has shifted from hardware to software, which is expecting a growth of 30-percent despite an overall loss of $372 million.
“Our new Mobility Solutions strategy is showing signs of momentum,” said John S. Chen, BlackBerry CEO, “including our first major device software licensing agreement with a telecom joint venture in Indonesia. Under this strategy, we are focusing on software development, including security and applications.”
“The company plans to end all internal hardware development and will outsource that function to partners. This allows us to reduce capital requirements and enhance return on invested capital.”
When such licensed phones arrive, it won’t be a surprise as BlackBerry’s latest phone, the DTEK50, does the same. With BlackBerry’s name slapped on an Alcatel Idol 4’s body, it is likely a trail-blazer.
We can’t say the signs weren’t there. BlackBerry’s share took a dive since the iPhone released, mainly due to the company’s inability to keep up with the touchscreen trend for years.
The executives gave a target of 3 million phones in sales for the company to stay in the market. With a share of 0.1-percent despite the ever-present loyalists, BlackBerry barely sold 400,000 units, which proved the last nail in the coffin.


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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A cargo ship and containers are seen at an industrial port in Tokyo, Japan, February 15, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
By Tetsushi Kajimoto
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s economy is expected to have slowed markedly in the third quarter as global recession risks hurt external demand while rising inflation and a weak yen’s impact on imported prices forced consumers to keep their wallets shut.
Gross domestic product (GDP) data due 0850 local time Nov. 15 (2350 GMT Nov. 14) will likely show the world’s No. 3 economy grew at an annualised rate of 1.1% in July-Septerber, sharply slower from the 3.5% expansion in the second quarter.
That would translate into quarter-on-quarter growth of 0.3%, according to a Reuters poll of 18 economists, also slacking off from the 0.9% pace in April-June.
The significant slowdown in part highlights the harsh impact on Japan from the yen’s slide to 32-year lows against the dollar, which has exacerbated the cost-of-living strains by further lifting the price of everything from fuel to food items.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government is stepping up support for households to try to ease the effects of cost-push inflation, with a 29 trillion yen ($196.09 billion) in extra spending in the budget.
“Unlike Western countries, Japan has not experienced pent-up demand while service consumption at hotels and restaurants remains stagnant,” despite easing coronavirus curbs, said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute.
“Supply-side restrictions have also curbed car output,” he said, adding that “depending on the extent of slowdown in the global economy, Japan could follow suit and you cannot rule out the possibility that it slides into recession next year.”
Capital expenditure probably underpinned third quarter growth, is forecast to have risen 2.1% in July-September, versus 2% increase in the previous quarter, reflecting improved performance at big exporters and others thanks to the earnings boost from a weak yen.
External demand, or net exports — shipments minus imports — likely shaved 0.2 percentage points off GDP, after having added 0.1 percentage point to the second-quarter gain.
Private consumption that accounts for more than half the economy, is expected to have slowed to a crawl in the third quarter with an increase of 0.2% from a 1.2% gain.
Separate data by the internal affairs ministry is also set to underline the broad pressure across the economy, with the pace of growth in household spending seen almost halving to 2.7% year-on-year in September from 5.1% gain in August.
The strains on business showed no signs of easing either with input costs up sharply. Japan’s corporate goods price index, a barometer of wholesale prices that companies charge each other, is forecast up 8.8% year-on-year in October, easing from the previous month of 9.7%.
Household spending data will be released 0830 JST Nov. 8/ 2330 GMT Nov. 7 and corporate goods price index is due 0850 JST Nov. 11/ 2350 GMT Nov. 10.
Ministry of Finance (MOF) data, due out 0850 JST Nov. 9/ 2350 GMT Nov. 8 will likely show current account came to 234.5 billion yen ($1.58 billion) in September.
($1 = 147.8900 yen)


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Thanks to an innovative microenterprise initiative spearheaded by FIU Business students, an elementary school in a poor Indian village near New Delhi now has drinking water and flush toilets. The donation of a new water pump was made possible from the sale of fashionable bags crafted from repurposed silk sari fabric.
The sale of the eco-friendly handicrafts and the water pump donation are just the latest chapter in an ongoing, six-year-old project, aimed at boosting livelihoods in India, while giving FIU students a chance to apply their business skills in a real-world setting. In spite of the challenges of the pandemic, new partnerships are slated to expand the project's entrepreneurial and educational goals.
The Bandhwari Women's Project was launched in 2016 with the aim of helping a community of poor and marginalized women establish a thriving social enterprise. Under the project – the brainchild of International Business Teaching Professor David Wernick, who serves as faculty advisor – student members of FIU's International Business Honor Society (IBHS) travel to India each spring break for a week of service and business boot camp. They provide the women with designs and fabrics, and guide them in the production of fashion accessories – purses, tote bags, and yoga sacks – that blend vibrant Indian textiles and modern design chic. The products are sold in the United States, primarily online, with most of the proceeds returned to the village through donations. The students also spend time teaching the women basic business skills and tutoring the village children in English and math.
"Thanks to the creativity, hard work and commitment of my students and our supporters, we were able to make great strides."
When the onset of COVID-19 threatened to derail the project in the spring of 2020, close collaboration between Wernick and local partner Incentive Foundation, led by Managing Director Anup Nair, kept the initiative on track. With financial support from FIU's Center for International Business Education and Research, three IBHS students were awarded scholarships to participate in virtual internships. Their efforts included a sales competition in which IBHS students sold face masks and other handicrafts to friends and family across their professional networks. The competition kept the sewing machines of Bandhwari humming during a difficult economic time and raised $4,000 for the village, with the top salesperson awarded a spot on the next trip to India.
Support for the project continues to grow. Alumnus Sean P. Gazitua (BBA '04), CEO of WTDC, a Miami-based global logistics firm, pledged a $1,000 scholarship for the next India trip as part of an essay competition he has sponsored annually. In the works: an IBHS Bandhwari alumni network, designed to help build continuity of knowledge and experience, as well as a strategic partnership with Amity University in India.
"COVID-19 certainly threw us a curve ball," Wernick said, "but thanks to the creativity, hard work and commitment of my students and our supporters, we were able to make great strides."
"What a joy it is," he added, "to be part of a project that touches so many lives."


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The latest and greatest in innovative products has been picked up by ThinkGeek. The USBCell USB-rechargeable AA batteries have landed at ThinkGeek for $20 per pair. They could be an excellent addition if you use a wireless mouse without included-rechargeable batteries, or hell, I'm thinking about picking up a couple for my Xbox 360 controllers.
Kinja is in read-only mode. We are working to restore service.


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Following public comment periods in two separate cases, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has approved final consent orders settling charges that iSpring Water Systems, LLC, a Georgia-based distributor of water filtration systems, and Block Division, Inc., a Texas-based distributor of pulley block systems, made misleading Made-in-the-USA claims. Read more
I think every brand out there should be a sustainable brand. If you’re not thinking about the future, especially the future outside of just your fashion brand, you shouldn’t be taking on the responsibility of creating products; the impact your work has on this earth is undeniable. Read more
Two California consumers sued one of Kentucky’s best-known distilleries, saying Maker’s Mark tries to spike demand and sticker prices by falsely promoting and advertising its bourbon as being handmade.
Domestic production gave them the ability to produce quickly and fill reorders. There is an existing production base in the region and the move could help retain U.S. jobs, which was important for the Ukrainian-born Sobolevs, who both emigrated as children from the former Soviet Union, meeting many years later in Los Angeles.“I’m from Odessa and Michael is from Donetsk,” said Galina Sobolev, the designer behind Single. “We’ve lived in this country for 37 years. We both felt very strongly about giving back to the community and giving back to this country.”
The company had always kept a portion of its production local to allow for quick turn and reorder business. “The majors really loved that we could do that,” Galina Sobolev said. “[But] at one point when the production of all our silks got really huge, we were doing maybe 60 percent domestically and our China production went up to 40 percent.”
The husband-and-wife team began investigating what it would take to move all production back to America.
“We started pricing some of the product,” Galina Sobolev said. “The difference was so insignificant that we decided to absorb it into the cost. [We said,] ‘For the amount of profit that we’re going to lose by producing in the U.S., we’d rather forgo the extra money and create jobs here for local factories.’”
These days, 100 percent of the Single collection is produced in the United States with the exception of a few labor-intensive items in the Holiday collections, such as beaded dresses made in India. And the move has paid off—particularly among Single’s international retailers.“We have a lot of Canadian customers who are very interested in the fact that the product is made in the USA,” Sobolev said. “And we have a lot of European customers. In Belgium and Germany, they are very adamant. If the whole collection is made in USA, they triple their orders.”
Domestic manufacturing has allowed the company to fill reorders when a style suddenly takes off for a retailer. “Our edge is the fact that we can turn goods in two to three weeks, which nobody in China can do,” Sobolev said. “For clients such as some of the onliners, they can chase business.”
That was the case recently for one retailer that purchased a few stock inventory pieces from a previous collection to sell online. The retailer bought 18 units of one dress style—“That’s all we had in stock,” Sobolev said—and oversold it by 390 units. Fortunately, Sobolev was able to secure the fabric from the original local vendor and quickly put the reorder into production.
“From the day of the order to the day it [left] our door it was 11 days. And we just got another reorder from them for, I think, 460 pieces of the same dress,” she said.
Neiman Marcus’ Cusp department had a similar situation with Single’s “Janessa” jumpsuit, Sobolev said.
“They had an 83 percent sell-through, and they even sold out of it online,” she said. “We were able to do a quick reorder for them for 60 or 80 units. Just the fact that we can do this so quickly and they’re able to reorder, it’s very exciting for them. This is the kind of edge domestic manufacturing allows us.”
Spread The Word
Every piece in the Single collection has a label that reads “Single Los Angeles.” Each item has a hangtag that reads “Made in USA,” although Sobolev said she’s planning to change that to read “Proudly Made in USA.” The linesheets, lookbook and website will also soon have “Made in USA” prominently displayed. At the Single showroom in Atlanta, the sales staff display signs that read “This Collection Is Made in USA.”
“The buyers get very excited when they find out that the collection is Made in USA—especially in our Midwest territories and in the South and Southeast,” Sobolev said. “At the regional markets, it’s the first thing my sales team tells every buyer that walks in.”
Sobolev frequently attends the regional markets in Dallas and Atlanta, as well as the New York Market five times per year.
“In New York, nobody cares where things are made, honestly. It’s all about the price,” she said. “I’m getting the most support for made in USA from Texas, from Louisiana, from specialty stores in the Carolinas.”
Much of the Single collection is made using European fabrics, but Sobolev looks for domestic resources, as well. “We have one lace that we have been running for about 10 years now. It’s a very vital part of our Holiday collections,” she said. “It’s made in this little factory in New Jersey. The machine itself is about 200 years old [and] imported from England. And it’s a beautiful re-embroidered lace. It looks like [a high-end Italian] lace, but it’s a lace that can be worked into our contemporary price points.”
Sobolev said some retailers ask if the company will source a style overseas to reduce the price.
“Of course, everyone is price-sensitive these days,” she said. “But sometimes we have to put our foot down and say, ‘Sorry, we can’t make it at that price. However, we can do it at this price, and you can have a product in your store that says ‘Made in USA.’”
Founded in 1994, Single sells in higher-end department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, as well as higher-end specialty stores and boutiques around the world such as Tootsies in Texas, Montmartre in New York and Mendocino and Want in Canada. Although the company started as a sportswear maker, over the years it became well known as a dress resource. For Fall, Sobolev is returning to the brand’s sportswear roots with a collection of luxe separates Sobolev calls “California dress-up casual.”
“If you look at the way people are dressing today, it’s a lot easier for a girl when she’s going on a date to run in and buy two new blouses to wear with her favorite leather legging or skinny jean,” she said. “Unless she needs a dress for a specific occasion, I’m seeing more of a turn to an easy, casual kind of dressed-up sportswear. It doesn’t mean we’re not doing dresses anymore. There’s still two or three dresses in every group, and we still have
our assortment for our customers that are very much into dressing that career gal.”
Private-label businessIn addition to Single, the company has a strong private-label business manufacturing for a handful of brands and retailers.
The company also produces exclusive Single collections for retailers such as the White Single Dress label, which sells at Rue La La.
“We do thousands of structured dresses for Boston Proper, and we have for the last 15 years,” Sobolev said. “That’s the beauty of being able to turn a 600-unit reorder in three to five weeks domestically.”
The Sobolevs’ private-label business has grown organically as word gets out that the company is a resource for brands looking for domestic production. “We have become kind of like the Intelof the fashion community,” Sobolev said. “[People will say,] ‘You want to make something domestically? Call the people at Single. They can turn things in two to three weeks.’”
New Brand Extensions
The company recently added plus sizes for Saks and has since expanded the offering to other retailers, such as e-tailer Madison Plus. Although still in the early stages, the plus-size capsule collection fills a void in the contemporary market for plus sizes.
“There aren’t a lot of choices for the [contemporary plus-size] consumer,” Sobolev said. “We really invested in developing the blocks, and we got a great fit model.”
Sobolev hopes to expand Single’s plus-size offerings into a stand-alone collection.
“I would love to turn this into more of a proper business—have it not just be a small capsule segment but really expand it on various levels,” she said.
Another new concept in the works is the Single men’s underwear line developed by the Sobolevs’ 24-year-old son, Julian. Still in the test stages, the collection features the Single name and an American flag on the elastic waistband.
Just as Single is committed to domestic production, Galina Sobolev said she wishes more manufacturers and retailers would commit to Made in America product. Retailers, in particular, could highlight American-made products in their stores, she said.
“Why not have a section for Made in USA?” she said. “The manufacturers today have a responsibility—we all, as Americans, have a responsibility—to this country and the security of its economy and the future for our children.”
From June 11-15, 2013, Norton’s U.S.A. will be sharing its special anniversary deals and events. Each day of the week will feature a discount in a different department of the store. There will also be daily raffles ($50 retail value). On Thursday June 13, Norton’s U.S.A. will be holding a lively Bingo Night. From 6PM-8PM, participants will have the chance to win gift certificates worth up to $25!
On Saturday June 15, the store will be part of the Barrington Summer Wine Walk from 2PM-6PM. The celebration fun continues with a family movie night on Saturday June 15 beginning at 9PM. The movie night will feature a showing of “Fly Away Home” right on the store! To add to the family fun, complimentary popcorn and lemonade will be served. So, be sure to grab your chair and blanket and head over to the store for the free event! If you would like to shop before the movie, plan to arrive at the store at 8PM.
For more details on the magnificent deals at Norton’s U.S.A., please check the website at www.nortonsusa.com.
Norton’s U.S.A. is excited to celebrate with you!
Norton’s U.S.A. is located at 400 Lageschulte St,, Barrington, IL 60010. Normal store hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10:00AM-5:00PM. The store is open Thursday 11AM-7PM. There are special hours during events. The online store is always open at www.nortonsusa.com.
Eva DeFilippis of Elmwood Park has wanted to find space to open a boutique for some time.
The graduate of Trinity High School in River Forest has a background in clothing.
“My dad was a tailor and owned a clothing store,” DeFilippis said. “We kept some of the fixtures from that store, and now those racks are in this store.
“It’s like he’s here with us,” she said with a smile.
DeFilippis’ Deva Salon, now in its third incarnation, is a couple of doors down from Boutique3, in the same plaza.
“I never seemed to have the space for the boutique,” she said. “I first opened (Deva Salon) 14 years ago near Irving Park Road and Cumberland.
“I moved into a larger space (in Regency Plaza) and again to an even larger space,” she said. “But I still didn’t have the room.
“So when this place was available, I thought this would be perfect.”
Joining Esposito and DeFilippis in this venture is DeFilippis’ sister-in-law, Geralyn.
Esposito, a surgical assistant by trade and friends with the DeFilippis women, said she always wanted to be her own boss.
“Owning my own business has been a vision for me, a goal,” Esposito said. “But it’s so hard to start a business.”
She finds the boutique to be a godsend.
“Monday through Friday, I’m a surgical assistant,” she said. “Saturday and Sunday, I’m here.
“I love this so much. It’s so wonderful.”
Among the reasons the women find the shop so rewarding, they said, is they can bring to the area quality fashions at reasonable prices compared to other, similar stores in the surrounding communities. And a lot of the products in competing shops, they said, are made abroad, with China dominating the labels.
Eva DeFilippis said her inspiration to open Boutique3 was the lack of choices for one-of-a-kind clothing in the area.
“No woman wants to look like everyone else,” she said. “In the 1980s, we used to shop boutiques.
“Then something happened, and the little specialty stops disappeared,” she noted. “We want to bring back that unique shopping experience.”
“Even though we haven’t been open that long, we have quite a few customers who say this shop is so convenient,” she noted. “And more and more people are looking at the label to see if it was made here.”
Specializes in affordable fashions made in the United States
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Hours to expand during the summer season; adding mother-of-the-bride dresses in the fall
What Works Project Overview
General Electric (GE) and GOOD/Corps would like to honor your efforts by inviting you and your community to submit photos of people, things and innovations you love that’s made in America to Celebrate What Works!
By participating in the What Works Project, you’ll have a chance to win $500! Your participation will be turned into donations for non-profit partners across the country that support job creation and training. There are several ways to participate and donate to the Non-Profit of the Week:
- Submit a photo of what works in your world – the innovations, innovators, technologies, cutting-edge practices, machines, scientific discoveries, organizations and other features of life that work to advance America. For each submission, GE will donate $1 to our Non-Profit of the Week supporting American jobs.
- Support all your favorite photos by pushing the heart in the upper-left corner. Every time you “Heart” a photo submission, GE will donate $1 to the Non-Profit of the Week.
- Win. Each week five submissions that capture the spirit of the What Works Project weekly prompt will be selected by a Guest Judge, GE and GOOD/Corps to receive a $500 prize.


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HOUSTON (AP) -- Men's Wearhouse has named Jon W. Kimmins as its chief financial officer.
Kimmins takes over the role from interim CFO Diana Wilson, who will continue at the men's clothing company as executive vice president of finance and accounting.
Wilson stepping into the interim role in July, when it was announced that Men's Wearhouse Inc.'s former CFO Neill Davis was leaving the company to take on the new role of president at women's accessories and clothing chain Francesca's Holdings Corp.
Kimmins most recently served as executive vice president of finance and operations at LF-USA Inc., which is a unit of Li & Fung Ltd. Li & Fung is a wholesaler of clothing, footwear and accessories. Before working at LF-USA, Kimmins was treasurer and executive vice president at Toys R Us Inc.
Kimmins will also serve as executive vice president and treasurer. His appointments are effective April 4. The 55-year-old Kimmins will report to President and CEO Doug Ewert.
Men's Wearhouse, based in Houston, has 1,144 stores.


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The world's second-largest smartphone producer after Samsung Electronics already began delivering the 4.7-inch iPhone 8 and 5.5-inch 8 Plus to the first batch of countries, including the United States, China and Japan, on September 22. Preorders for the iPhone X, pronounced 10, will begin on October 27 in 57 countries across the globe, with shipping scheduled to kick off on November 3.
The SamsungGalaxy Grand Prime Plus held the number three spot, followed by iPhone 6s and Galaxy S8 in in fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Charging overnight is a big no-no when it comes to phones, but the fact that it was a new model and the others are as well suggests that the fault lies with the battery.
We don't actually get to Samsung's 2017 flagship - the Samsung Galaxy S8 - until slot five, with the Galaxy S8+ coming in at sixth, although it was a close race, with the latter selling in "slightly less volume". The issue began with 2 units in Taiwan and Japan about 2 weeks ago and has now increased to 4 more units across multiple countries including Canada, Greece, and Hong Kong.
Honeypreet paid Rs 1.25 crore to spread violence
The media persons followed these two convoys and at the same time, the police took Honeypreet to an undisclosed location. As per reports, the police had already prepared 300 hundred questions and Honeypreet would be asked these questions.
49ers at Colts time, TV schedule, live stream, odds and more
Colts tight end Jack Doyle (17 catches, 163 yards) is marked questionable for the game as well he is in the concussion protocol. He has to put forth the image that better times are ahead for this team - and that those better times aren't that far off.
NYCC 2017: Watch The X-Files season 11 trailer now
Fans of The X-Files should prepare themselves for the end of Agent Dana Scully ( Gillian Anderson )'s tenure. The event series is set to air during the 2017-2018 season, though an official date has yet to be confirmed.
Odisha truckers not to join transport strike
The transporters have cautioned that they will launch indefinite work stoppage across India if their demands are not met. He also pointed out that the government taxes used businesses, which means double taxation.


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The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in October was 3.0%, unchanged from the previous month and in line with market expectations. The jobs-to-applicants ratio rose to 1.40 from 1.38 in the previous month to reach the highest level since August 1991.
Household spending fell 0.4% in October from a year earlier, less than the median market estimate for a 0.6% annual decline
Separate data showed retail sales fell 0.1% in October from a year ago, less than the median estimate for a 1.2% annual decline and less than a 1.7% annual decline in the previous month.
Rising spending on clothes, food and transportation lead to the slower decline in overall retail sales, the data showed.
Signs that the pace of decline in household spending is easing would be welcome for Japan's fragile economic outlook.
Japan's economy expanded for a third straight quarter in July-September as exports recovered, but domestic activity remained weak.
Later on Tuesday, investors will look to U.S. third-quarter GDP data as well as readings on consumer confidence and consumption for trading cues. They will be followed by the November employment report on Friday.
The USD/JPY drop stopped at 7-day yesterday, but we think a deeper corrective move is likely. However, our and long-term outlook remains . We keep USD/JPY bid near 14-day (currently at 110.48).
GrowthAces.com - Daily Forex Trading Strategies


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The Partners Card is the primary fundraiser for Camp Twin Lakes with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the camp. This year, tenants from the Westside Provisions District will be participating and offering discounts to anyone who purchases at Camp Twin Lakes Partner Card.
Partners Cards will be available to purchase for $60 each and afford guests a 20 percent discount at participating retailers and restaurants from Friday, October 25, through Sunday, November 3.
The all-star Partners Card kickoff event at Westside Provisions District this Saturday, October 26, from 1 to 4 p.m. The festivities will be held at the Westside Provisions District corner of Howell Mill and 14th Street adjacent to J.Crew. At the event, shoppers can snack on complimentary tastes from Bone Lick BBQ while enjoying the bluegrass sounds of popular local band, The Brandy Brothers.
According to a written statement, "for more than 20 years, the camp has provided life-changing experiences to children facing illnesses, disabilities and other life challenges. Since its opening, the Georgia-based organization has welcomed more than 50,000 campers and volunteers to week-long summer camps and year-round weekend retreats at three fully accessible, medically supportive campsites, day camps and hospital-based Camp-To-Go Programs."
Participating Westside Provisions District tenants include Sid and Ann Mashburn, Anthropologie, Billy Reid, Bungalow Classic, Calypso, Flor, G. Gilbert, J.Crew, Jack Spade, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Jonathan Adler, Kayce Hughes, Kolo Collection, Everything but Water, Le Jardin Francais, Peridot, Seed Factory, simplyput., Steven Alan and Yeah! Burger.
This event is free to attend and open to the public.


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Gallien and his colleagues, UCLA Anderson School of Management professor Felipe Caro, along with Sloan School graduates Juan Correa and Jose Antonio Ramos, have helped Zara, a Spanish clothing chain, develop an analytical model to optimize the distribution of inventory across its stores around the world.
"The project had as its primary goal to test and implement a system based on mathematical models for determining an optimal strategy for the inventory that they receive from the suppliers, which is stocked in their two worldwide warehouses in Spain and is then sent twice a week to every single one of their roughly one-thousand stores," said Gallien.
It's an important problem for Zara, said Gallien, and a difficult one, because Zara sells several thousand distinct items of clothing in any given store, each of which may come in as many as seven or eight sizes.
"It is a hard problem," said Gallien. "The primary data that's relevant to make this sort of decision is supply and demand. Supply is how much inventory you've got in your warehouse to send, and the demand-related data is forecasts of how much demand for every size, for every product in their stores, they're going to have in the next few weeks."
Working with Zara, Gallien and his colleagues developed a forecasting model that looks at seasonal trends from one week to the next -- vacations, holidays, and so on -- and takes into account sales forecasts -- the input from every one of the store managers that they transmit to headquarters -- and combines it all to compute which items should go to what stores.
Based on a controlled field test done in late 2006, Gallien estimates that the mathematical model increased sales by 3% to 4%. Zara CFO Miguel Déaz acknowledged that the gains related to Gallien's model have been consistent with those numbers.
The mathematical model has also helped Zara reduce the time it takes to move clothing from concept through production and out to stores to as few as six weeks, four times faster than is typical among clothing retailers.
And it has freed up "an army of people" who used to spend most of their time crunching numbers and doing data entry to come up with sales forecasts and shipping logistics.
Nonetheless, Zara isn't laying people off; instead, it has given them higher-level work.
"Zara is growing at about 20% per year, and they've been doing that for several years," explained Gallien. "Their goal is not really to reduce costs by slashing the head count ... so they didn't see a need to fire or reduce the size of the team. Now these people, instead of doing manual data entry, they do higher-level analysis."