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Pix is the latest payment method launched in Brazil and celebrated its first anniversary in November. The technology developed by the Central Bank of Brazil quickly became one of Brazilians’ favorite payment methods – on its anniversary, it has reached over 100 million users and has become the world’s fastest-adopted instant payment system.
The Fintech & Regtech Global Awards 2021 awarded this payment technology as one of the most ground-breaking payment solutions of the year.
Pix and E-commerce
Over half of Brazilians have already made an online purchase with Pix, as shown by research carried out by PagBrasil and E-commerce Brasil. In the same survey, nearly 60% of participants advised they had given up on purchases because of the lack of payment options, and Pix is helping to reduce that number.
What to expect from Pix in 2022
With such tremendous success, Pix, the payment method shaping how Brazilians make their payments, is expanding. In 2022, according to the Central Bank of Brazil, there will be more functionalities to come. Let’s have a look at them.
Automatic Recurring Payments with Pix
E-commerce is growing globally, with opportunities for subscription-based businesses to expand into many markets. Recurring payments are one of the biggest payment trends in 2022. The Central Bank of Brazil will allow automatic recurring payments with Pix for companies operating on a subscription-based model.
Similar to credit cards, Pix will allow merchants to make future charges. This functionality will let users collect extra fees, fines, discounts, and interest fees.
The modality was announced this year, but it is still just a promise for 2022. With the contactless option, it will be possible to make payments simply by tapping the buyer’s smartphone on the contactless card reader.
Besides that, according to the Central Bank of Brazil, they will soon launch a card that allows consumers to make their payments offline, with no need to connect with the internet.
Like installment payments offered by credit card operators, the modality Pix Crédito – also called Pix Garantido (in English, Pix Credit) — will qualify users to choose whether they wish to pay in installments or opt for a one-off payment. However, this service isn’t included in the 2022 plan, so there is no estimate on when it will be launched.
Pix Will Be Accepted in International E-commerce Transactions
The Central Bank of Brazil’s latest announcement says that an international e-commerce website will be able to receive payments with Pix. The option is an excellent opportunity for merchants selling in Brazil who wish to boost their sales.
PagBrasil Pix: Instant Payment for Online Businesses in Brazil
PagBrasil Pix can be easily integrated into online stores via API. In addition, PagBrasil Pix is also available in Shopify, VTEX, and WooCommerce integrations.
Want to offer the best payment experience for your consumers in Brazil with Pix? Watch the video below to learn more about PagBrasil Pix and get in touch today!


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NAKHON PATHOM – A disgusted Buddhist abbot has put his temple up for sale for two billion baht, saying he can no longer tolerate the stench and dust coming from a nearby pet food factory.
Large signs have been placed along the road in Nakhon Pathom's Kamphaeng Saen district saying "Temple for sale at low price. The stench from the pet food factory is unbearable."
Luang Pu Buddha Issara, the abbot of Wat Or Noi, told reporters that the temple is definitely up for sale, as the sign said.
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U.S.-based network operator AT&T has ventured into a new territory with the launch of its first-ever AT&T branded tablet dubbed the Trek HD.
Another novel move for the wireless network is that the Trek HD is also the first Android tablet AT&T will be retailing that houses Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box.
AT&T took the wraps off the 4G LTE-enabled Trek HD tablet on Monday, May 11, and markets the lightweight device as the perfect on-the-go companion for watching movies or doing work—a tablet to enjoy in the company of others.
"The Trek HD is a big step forward for AT&T in terms of developing affordable products with premium features. Not only is this our first AT&T branded tablet, it's the first tablet in our entire portfolio with Lollipop already installed," said Jeff Bradley, SVP of Device Marketing and Developer Services at AT&T Mobility.
The Trek HD boasts an 8-inch HD screen with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The tablet weighs 12 ounces and is 0.35 inch thick.
Under the hood, the Trek HD houses a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, which is clocked at 1.6GHz. The device has 1GB of RAM and will be available with 16GB on-board memory (expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card).
The Trek HD is also 4G LTE-compatible and touts a 5MP primary camera and a 2MP front-facing camera for those who like taking selfies and video chatting. The AT&T tablet also has a 4060mAH battery that offers support for up to 5.5 hours of use.
The tablet also has Bluetooth 4.0 and, as noted earlier, will come pre-loaded with Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Trek HD has an eco-rating of three stars out of a maximum of five.
While AT&T did not say who the manufacturer of its tablet is, the Trek HD is set to go on sale online on the carrier's web store from May 12. It is now available for purchase on www.att.com. The device hits brick and mortar AT&T stores from May 15.
The Trek HD will cost $49.99 on a two-year contract. Alternatively, customers can shell out $10 each month for 20 months as part of the AT&T Tablet Installment plan. Purchasing the tablet on no commitment, however, will cost $199.99.


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Citrix has unveiled a partnership with IBM for a business continuity product to be used by workers after natural disasters and other emergencies.
The product, code-named Project Kent, includes a USB device that works with laptops or other computers to find employees who can no longer work in an office location and to gain access to applications for collaborative efforts. A worker could establish connectivity from wherever a network could be reached after a fire, flood or some other disruption.
Pilot-testing of the Project Kent product will begin next year, says Russ Lindburg, director of business continuity and resiliency services at IBM. The Citrix device will be offered as a part of IBM’s Virtual Workplace Continuity Service.
In addition to Project Kent, Citrix has announced its Dynamic Desktop Initiative with 12 business partners, including IBM and several Windows PC and server manufacturers.
The dynamic desktop concept allows a company to refresh and manage its desktop PCs from datacentres. This can lower management costs and improve performance and flexibility for each user. Citrix announced the move at its annual conference.


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Cathie Wood, founder and CEO of Ark Invest, warns investors not to sell or trade their bitcoins (BTC) until the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, implements a more reasonable tax policy for digital assets.
In a Cboe webcast, Wood said the BTC transactions could lead to significant tax liabilities.
The IRS has a lot to say about this, so if you have a big profit in your bitcoin, I don’t think I’m going to have much patience in the way of transactions until maybe we get some changes on the tax front, Wood said, according to Markets Insider.
Using Bitcoin for transactions and selling it at a profit have become attractive options for long-term holders. The flagship cryptocurrency recently surpassed $61,000 and is on its way to new all-time highs. And although the price of BTC has corrected sharply from its recent peak, it is still up 80% from last year.
Bitcoin owners in the United States can now use their BTC to buy Tesla vehicles. At current values, a base model of the Tesla 3 can be purchased for about 0.72 BTC.
But whether you sell bitcoins for a profit or use them to buy a Tesla car, they are considered a taxable event, at least in the United States. That’s because the IRS treats bitcoin as property, not currency. Until that changes, trading with cryptocurrencies can be intuitive.
Although Woods’ comments are specifically aimed at those who have amassed huge profits, the vast majority of buyers have earned their bitcoin. It is estimated that about 98% of BTC addresses were black by November 2020.
Fortunately, bitcoin investors who are posting large unrealized gains don’t have to sell their coins to profit. Platforms like BlockFi let users borrow fiat money against their BTC holdings and pay it back over time. This means that users never receive any capital gains and do not have to surrender bitcoins to get money.
ethereum,bitcoin,ethereum news,bitcoin price,ark invest,cathie wood,Privacy settings,How Search works,Ethereum,Bitcoin,Currency,Cathie Wood,CEO of ARK Investment Management LLC,cathie wood bitcoin,cathie wood net worth


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VF Corporation appoints new vice president of Icebreaker EMEA
VF Corporation has appointed Jan Van Mossevelde as vice president, general manager of Icebreaker EMEA.
He will take up the new position in the autumn when he moves from his current VF role of vice president, strategy for EMEA.
Van Mossevelde joined VF in 2015 as general manager for global brand management and demand creation within the company’s corporate strategy division. Prior to VF, he spent 15 years at Procter & Gamble where he held a range of marketing and brand leadership roles.
In his new position, he will report to Icebreaker brand president Greg Smith.
Commenting on the appointment, Smith said: “The experience Jan brings from his time with VF and prior, combined with his proven leadership skills, are exceptional. As we look to evolve the Icebreaker business further, these are qualities that will enable us to take on the next phase of growth in the EMEA region and establish Icebreaker as the global leader of natural apparel within the region.”
Van Mossevelde will succeed Peter Ottervanger, who recently announced his decision to leave the brand to pursue new opportunities.
Smith added: “We extend our deep appreciation to Peter for his strategic stewardship of the brand over the past several years, The momentum he has created will help Jan further accelerate the trajectory of Icebreaker in EMEA in the years ahead.”
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The FDA posted warning letters against a number of med tech companies this week, including makers of catheters, IV equipment, surgical tools and contact lenses. Here's a roundup:
- Alpha Medical Instruments: Regulators cited this California company because it lacks PMA approval for its angiographic balloon catheters and electrophysiology catheters. They also faulted it for improperly claiming its devices are made in the U.S.A. Additionally, the FDA took issue with a number of quality system violations. Alpha's June 24, 2013 warning letter is based on an inspection of its Mission Viejo, CA, operations from Dec. 19, 2012 through Jan. 11, 2013.
- Biomedix: The FDA accuses the maker of the Select-3 Intravenous Administration Set of a number of quality system violations, such as lacking procedures to make sure the device is produced according to design requirements. They also cite the Bloomington, IN, company for not establishing processes to correct problems. And then there's this: Regulators say the company didn't prove its sterilization process is either successful or safe. On top of that, the June 14, 2013 warning letter cites Biomedix for not gaining proper approvals for changes it made to the Select-3 before selling it. The FDA action is based on an inspection of the company from Feb. 5-March 4, 2013.
- SpineNet: Regulators inspected this Winter Park, FL, company from Jan. 29-Feb 1, 2013. Their May 31, 2013 warning letter accuses SpineNet of various quality system, medical device reporting and listing violations involving its anterior cervical cage system, the Apollon and Vane Pedicle Screw Systems and its bone marrow aspiration needle kit. Among regulators' concerns: they allege the company lacks a system to allow for timely reporting of product problems. They also say the bone marrow aspiration needle kit is without proper clearance or approval.
- Aurora Optics Company: The FDA inspected the College Point, NY, operations of this maker of soft contact lenses on Oct. 11-16, 2012. Their April 18, 2013 warning letter cites the company for various medical device reporting violations, such as not having a procedure to handle and evaluate complaints for its Hollow and Aurora brand contact lenses. Regulators also criticized the company for not having detailed enough instructions for use.


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Honeywell announced last week that it has signed an agreement with Chinese refrigerant manufacturer, Juhua Group, to make their auto air conditioning refrigerant, Solstice yf.
Juhua Group will make Solstice yf (R1234yf) in China for Honeywell to supply the local, USA and European markets. Juhua will start making the refrigerant in late 2016. Honeywell already makes R1234yf in the USA for the local market. The new, Chinese manufacturer will boost supply into the USA to meet growing demand.
Solstice yf is a 'near replacement' for R1234a and has a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 1. R134ahas a GWP of 1,300.
Ken Gayer, Honeywell vice president and general manager of the company's fluorine product division said:
"This agreement with Juhua will ensure supply to meet growing global demand as well as to help support future adoption of low-global-warming-potential products in China in response to concerns about increasing global greenhouse gas emissions."
Find out more here: www.1234facts.com


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Square Enix, despite showing off a new trailer at the Tokyo Game Show last year, will not be revealing anything to do with Final Fantasy Versus XIII at this year’s show. The publisher is apparently breaking the habit of a lifetime and for once will only be focusing on games coming out over the next twelve months instead of ten billion years from now.
TGS attendees will be able to play Final Fantasy XIII, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep and Dissidia: Universal Training (an international version of Dissidia for Japan). However, games that aren’t planned for the next year, despite being announced ages ago, won’t be seen.
It’s about time Square Enix focused on upcoming games rather than things that are years off. Perhaps if the company focused on only a handful of titles at a time, they’d come out much quicker. So, this all begs the question: When the Hell WILL Versus come out?


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According to the Associate Press, the Auto Industry, including automakers like General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., and others, are supporting bans on texting while driving. “The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said Wednesday that using a hand-held device to text or make phone calls while driving represents a saftey risk and it supports the ban.”
As of January 1, 2009 the Wireless Communications Device and Wireless Telephone Law went into effect to follow the previous Hands-free law in July 2008. Not only us it an infraction to talk on a cell phone without a hands-free device, it’s also an infraction to “write, send or read text-based communication on an electronic wireless communications device, such as a cell phone, while driving a motor vehicle.”
To read more about the laws, visit http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/.
New technology promises to make and receive texts while driving possible. Some car companies, like Ford and Mercedes, include text-to-speech features in newer models.


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Mumbai, Sept. 23 (Business Wire India/ ANI): The smartphone and tablet market in South Asia is witnessing rapid growth, driven by the influx of low-cost devices and the rising penetration of mobile internet services.
New analysis from Frost and Sullivan reveals that market revenue is expected to reach US $33.33 billion in 2019 from US $4.45 billion in 2012 and smartphone sales will contribute to almost 70 percent of the total revenue, with the rest accounted for by tablet sales.
Out of the three countries studied - India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh; India will be the largest contributor to market revenues.
Frost and Sullivan's Information and Communication Technologies Research Analyst said, "Buoyed by the availability of mobile Internet services, end users are using smartphones as their primary medium for Internet access. The availability of a healthy mobile application ecosystem that provides entertainment as well as utility will further boost the sale of smartphones. For tablets, designing dedicated applications will further spur their uptake".
Demand will continue to soar owing to falling device prices caused by the advent of user-friendly, open-source Android devices and the decreasing costs of components such as displays, chipsets and memory chips. Intense competition among the vendors in the region has also reduced price points.
Despite the drop in price, the total cost of device ownership remains high, reining in adoption. Another concern that has the potential to severely impact market development is the widespread proliferation of grey channel sales, which in turn, affect the profitability of authorized vendors.
The analyst further said, "To appeal to the wide consumer base in the region, offering well-developed mobile applications and mobile broadband ecosystems is very essential. Therefore, vendors must constantly invest in technology innovation as well as provide effective pricing models to enable market expansion". (Business Wire India/ ANI)


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Amazon is reportedly preparing to launch its first smartphone so here's what you need to know about its release date, price and specs.
It already offers a range of Kindle Fire tablets, but Amazon will finally unveil its first smartphone in a couple of months. The Wall Street Journal reports that, according to sources familiar with Amazon's plans, the smartphone will be unveiled in the coming months.
Now, BGR has published the first photographs of the Amazon smartphone along with plenty of additional details. However, the device - which the firm has been working on for years - is housed in a shell to prevent the design from being seen.
Amazon is reportedly working on at least two smartphones with a cheaper budget handset supposedly launching after the 3D model which we're looking at here.
Amazon 3D smartphone: Release date
Going by that WSJ piece, Amazon will supposedly give us a first look at the 3D smartphone in June. Production is thought to begin this month with an initial order of 600,000 devices with Japan Display being one of the main component manufacturers.
However, although the device could be revealed in June, the report suggests that the handset won't hit the shops until three months later in September. Read: LG G3 release date, price, specs and new features 2014.
Amazon 3D smartphone: Price
There's no word on a price yet for the Amazon smartphone but it's likely that, following on from the Kindle Fire tablets, it will sell the device at an affordable price point - somewhere in the mid-range seems most probably to us.
However, don't expect the handset to be too budget friendly if the technology which is supposedly in the phone turns out to be spot on (see below).
BGR reports that the Amazon smartphone will be initially available in the US only.
Amazon 3D smartphone: Specs
With the BGR leak, we've got some details on the smartphone such as a reported 4.7in screen with a 720p HD resolution. It will also be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and have 2GB of RAM.
The Amazon 3D smartphone features not one, but four front facing VGA cameras placed at each corner; they're infrared according to BGR's sources. These will all accurately track your retina movements and result in a glasses-free 3D effect which is being likened to a hologram.
"Since the 3D interface is the phone's biggest point of differentiation, Amazon has tried to use its new technology in as many areas as possible. In fact, right from the start on the lock screen, Amazon's new phone will include several special wallpapers with perspectives that shift as the user tilts the phone from side to side as well as up and down." says BGR.
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What Is Kratom? What You Should Know About Mitragyna speciosa (2022)
A quick “what is kratom” search on the internet will yield a variety of mixed results. Even looking at a handful of top articles shed light on the opposing views in the kratom debate, including the following headlines: “Unsafe and Ineffective,” “Does Kratom Get You High?” and “Natural Herb Kratom May Have Therapeutic Results.”
So, exactly what is kratom, and what’s the deal with all of the conflicting information? While we at Mitragaia can’t answer everything in this article, we can provide you with some helpful kratom facts to expand your understanding of this much-discussed plant.
What Is Kratom, and Why Hasn’t the FDA Approved It?
According to Wikipedia, the definition of kratom is “a tropical evergreen tree in the coffee family native to Southeast Asia.” Its scientific name is Mitragyna speciosa, and it is native to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and others.
According to a 2015 study, in Southeast Asia, kratom “has been used for millennia (a) as a stimulant; (b) as a remedy in traditional medicine; and (c) in social context.” The study mentions that workers in Southeast Asia have historically chewed kratom leaves to provide an energy boost and fight off fatigue.
However, in the United States, there are no FDA-approved uses for kratom, and the agency has cited numerous reports about the safety of kratom. Kratom has not been approved as a supplement or a drug. So, as of 2022, kratom cannot be marketed as a safe or effective product, and businesses that sell kratom are forbidden to make any health claims about the herb.
Therefore, if a customer wants to ask questions about “how to take” kratom or “how to use kratom,” kratom vendors are forbidden from answering those questions because it’s illegal to make medical claims or instructions about the kratom we sell (as well as irresponsible—we aren’t medical professionals and even if we were, there isn’t enough research on kratom to substantiate any advice for use). Instead, customers should consult their healthcare provider about kratom and any potential interactions with medications.
What Are Kratom Strains?
Mitragyna speciosa leaves contain over 40 different alkaloids with different properties. Different alkaloid profiles can be achieved in different kratom “strains” via different factors, including post-harvest drying methods and growing conditions. Researchers are continuing to study the different alkaloids found in kratom, which may hopefully provide insights into their individual roles and interactions.
Kratom strains refer to different mixtures of kratom products that have undergone varying drying methods and other processes. The three main categories of kratom strains are “green” strains, “red” strains, and “white” strains. Other types of kratom products include yellow kratom and gold kratom.
Kratom also comes in different forms, including kratom powders, kratom capsules, and kratom extracts. Kratom extracts contain concentrated alkaloids, so they are more potent. Ideally, kratom products should only contain pure Mitragyna speciosa leaf material.
Is Kratom a Controlled Substance?
“Is kratom legal,” and “states where kratom is banned” are common questions many people have about Mitragyna speciosa. Kratom is legal in the United States on a federal level. In 2016, the US Drug Enforcement Agency attempted to ban kratom in the US. However, after meeting immediate public backlash, the DEA lifted the ban in an unprecedented reversal.
That being said, certain state legislatures, as well as individual counties and cities, have chosen to list kratom as a controlled substance. Kratom is currently illegal in the following states:
- Rhode Island
Kratom is also banned in the following counties/cities:
- Jerseyville, Illinois
- Alton, Illinois
- Franklin, New Hampshire
- San Diego, California
- Oceanside, California
- Denver, Colorado
- Monument, Colorado
- Parker, Colorado
- Sarasota County, Florida
- Belmont, Mississippi (and over 30 more cities and counties in Mississippi)
In addition, there are pending laws in some states, such as Kentucky and Mississippi, that will ban kratom in those states if passed. In an effort to keep kratom legal, activists in the kratom community are encouraged to contact their state legislators and politely ask them not to ban Mitragyna speciosa.
As the kratom laws in different states change frequently, it’s a good idea to follow the legislation in your state regularly. You can’t rule out the possibility of a kratom ban happening overnight, such as what happened in Denver.
Is Kratom Safe?
Despite kratom’s use for millennia in Southeast Asia, Mitragyna speciosa appearance in the United States is quite recent, and there is a dire lack of research on the plant.
The Food and Drugs Administration has a history of warning Americans not to consume kratom, stating in Import Alert 54-15, “there does not appear to be a history of use or other evidence of safety establishing that kratom will reasonably be expected to be safe as a dietary ingredient.”
That being said, researchers are working hard to learn more about Mitragyna speciosa, which could play a large role in the future of the herb.
A handful of researchers, like Dr. Christopher R. McCurdy, Oliver Grundman, and Marc T. Swogger, are hoping to gain a better understanding of the herb. McCurdy and Grundman have been investigating kratom with the aim of providing the medical community with solid scientific data.
Marc T. Swogger also echoes the need to provide regarding the safety and/or risks of kratom, stating, “there is a clear need for more rigorous, well-controlled, prospective studies to support a sophisticated, nuanced understanding of the plant.”
The Risks of Contaminated and Adulterated Kratom
Although the overall safety of kratom still lacks research, one thing is for certain—there needs to be a way to get unsafe and adulterated kratom products off the market to protect buyers. According to Jack Henningfield et al. in a 2017 study on the abuse potential of kratom, “appropriate regulation by FDA is vital to ensure appropriate and safe use.”
The only problem? Kratom is not regulated by the FDA, which means that vendors aren’t held to rigorous standards for the kratom they sell. There is a concern regarding kratom products that have been contaminated or adulterated with ingredients that aren’t on the label, which can be dangerous.
Those who do want to buy kratom should have a right to know what’s in the product that they’re buying. It’s not fair for consumers to buy kratom powder that, unbeknownst to them, has been enhanced with higher levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine, an alkaloid that is found in only trace amounts (if at all) in the raw kratom leaf and may play a major role determining kratom’s risk for abuse.
Take as a cautionary example the case in which one kratom vendor added Phenylethylamine (PEA), an organic compound, to a kratom product without listing it on the label. Phenylethylamine, which can be found in chocolate, nuts, and fruits, is a naturally occurring compound in the human body. While many people consume it safely, its stimulatory effects make it unsafe for certain individuals. In this case, the buyer—who had a history of compromised health—ended up having an intracerebral hemorrhage from consuming the PEA-adulterated kratom.
As harmless as an added ingredient may seem, even something as common as caffeine can cause problems in certain individuals, so FDA-regulated products need to include every ingredient in the label. The same standard should be set for kratom products.
Regulating Kratom at the State Level
Because kratom is not approved or regulated by the FDA, the American Kratom Association (AKA) has outlined a set of measures for state governments to regulate Mitragyna speciosa products in the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA).
So far, there are five states that have chosen to pass a KCPA bill to regulate kratom. In states where there is a pending kratom ban, the AKA pushes state legislators to regulate kratom instead of banning it.
The KCPA helps protect the consumer by requiring the following:
- Make it illegal to sell contaminated or adulterated kratom products
- Require kratom vendors to disclose ingredients and select alkaloid percentages on packaging
- Require lab tests for kratom to rule out contamination
- Make it illegal to sell synthetic derivatives from kratom
- Set a limit of 2% for total concentrations of the alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine
- Place an age restriction of 18 years or older (21 in some states) to buy and sell kratom
Although ideally, the FDA would regulate kratom in the future, the KCPA is a good start for preventing contaminated kratom from reaching the shelves of kratom stores in the US.
What Are The Best Places to Buy Kratom?
Whether or not you decide to buy kratom is a personal choice. That being said, if you do decide to buy kratom, it’s important to look for a kratom vendor that already follows the standards set by the KCPA.
Mitragaia is an American-Kratom-Association approved vendor, and we follow their protocols for the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Standards Program. We lab-test our kratom and make continual efforts for quality control.
Any and all of our kratom for sale is ethically sourced from farmers in Indonesia and contains only 100% Mitragyna speciosa, nothing added. We strive to keep our products accessible by offering low prices, fast shipping, a rewards program, and frequent kratom sales.


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In recent years, modest fashion—clothing that covers up—has made its way into the mainstream of both street style and runway collections. And what began as a slow rise has now become one of the most important trends in fashion.
The modest fashion market brought in more than $250 billion in 2016, according to the latest State of the Global Islamic Economy Report, and The Washington Post has projected that number will grow to $373 billion by 2022.
In Toronto, Ajmal Khairi, owner of Modest Wear boutique, remembers when he first started selling modest clothing in 2013. At the time, his wife and co-owner, Yalda Rahmat, had few clothing options. “It was a struggle for her to find modest dressing, especially for special occasions like parties or going out,” Khairi says. “I realized that this wasn’t just an issue for my wife but for many people.” The two worked together to make covered-up clothing more accessible. “Modest clothing isn’t just for Muslim women or just women. It can be for anyone.”
They started selling their designs at flea markets, but after an immediate response, opened their Modest Wear store that now has branches in Toronto, Mississauga, and Markham.
“We have modest clothing for school occasions, party wear, wedding, bridal and bridesmaids, and so much more. Our styles are also a mix of modest Canadian and American style because modest fashion isn’t just one culture,” Khairi explains. “Modest fashion is a lifestyle and fashion sense. I’ve had a variety of customers who come into my stores, and they’re all different.”
Zuhruf Noor, a University of Toronto student and hijabi, says she realized growing up that a lot of fashion trends didn’t cater to modest dressing. She recalls, “I feel like many fashion trends now are more modest and in general have more of a variety of styles. It makes me happy that modest fashion is now more open to people who generally wouldn’t consider it.” Noor feels local Canadian modest fashion brands help make modest clothing more accessible by being readily available and close to home.
Burgeoning fashionista Yusra Kureshi, a 19-year-old Ryerson student, likes to wear modest clothing simply because it’s what she is most comfortable in. She is inspired by Korean fashion, “which is toned colours and baggy, stylish clothes.” Saying, “I think anyone can dabble with modest fashion; you don’t have to exclusively wear modest clothes all the time,” she hopes that modest clothing becomes more integrated into other shops and brands—it shouldn’t have to be separate.
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In July, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will begin operations across Africa, forming a single market that will span a population of 1.2 billion people and eliminate the tariff on 90 percent of goods traded within Africa. The AfCFTA’s potential is unparalleled: It will stimulate economic growth, boost the industrial sector, and make the free flow of goods and services within the continent easier and cheaper. So why hasn’t Nigeria, the region’s biggest economy, signed the trade agreement?
Would AfCFTA Be Good for Nigeria?
Dr. Gbadebo Smith, the director-general of the Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research, argues that the decision is based on politics rather than economics because Nigeria doesn't have the necessary information, data, or models to sign the agreement. He also adds that African nations produce “poor country goods” and that Africa is not the buyer of African goods.
Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s richest man, also has fears about the AfCFTA. He believes it will undermine local manufacturers and entrepreneurs and may lead to Nigeria becoming a dumping ground for finished goods.
When the government burdens the economy with trade restrictions to protect jobs and manufacturers in their own countries, they restrict free enterprise.
But as a young Nigerian, I see the plight of my generation trying to create solutions despite the high rate of unemployment and the difficulty of starting a business. I also know that these existing protectionist policies will keep my country stuck in poverty, which makes me wonder if Nigeria realizes that protectionism will only prevent future economic prosperity.
When the government burdens the economy with trade restrictions to protect jobs and manufacturers in their own countries, they restrict free enterprise at home and abroad. This is exactly the case with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and labor groups that are supporting the federal government’s resistance to the trade agreement. This is not what Nigeria needs now.
Nigeria Should Reject Protectionism
Free trade between countries is a time-tested economic idea that helps improve both poor countries and wealthy countries far better than government aid programs ever could. In fact, the African Export-Import Bank reports that the trade agreement could increase intra-African trade by more than 50 percent by 2022. This is a huge opportunity for Nigeria to reduce its poverty rate, which currently stands at 46.7 percent. By signing up to the free trade agreement, Nigeria can give its citizens the benefits that come with cheaper goods and a booming industrial sector.
These potential economic benefits are clear and supported by trade theory, which posits that a continent-wide free trade area would lead to specialization among African countries in goods on which they have a comparative advantage. Through this increased specialization, the trade area would also see the output and growing efficiency in the use of productive resources.
Nigeria should sign the AfCFTA to boost economic growth, improve living conditions, and help our people become more prosperous.The AfCFTA commits African economies to the removal of trade barriers on imports (tariffs and quotas), which will reduce import costs and, consequently, consumer prices.
If Nigeria signs and ratifies the AfCFTA, millions of Nigerians will benefit by being able to consume a large variety of African products in a single market and will be able to produce and sell to a market of over a billion people. The country will also see an increased flow of foreign direct investments (FDI) as investors seek to take advantage of the market size, shifting FDI away from natural resources and toward industry and manufacturing. The result: millions of people will be lifted out of poverty.
Protectionism is an evil economic idea that isolates nations from global trade, which then forces them to rely on complex solutions, like social programs and foreign aid, to address poverty. Instead of going this route, Nigeria should sign the AfCFTA to boost economic growth, improve living conditions, and help our people become more prosperous.


text:
Beats Electronics Wants to Kick HTC to the Curb, Find New Investors
August 19, 2013 12:28 PM
comment(s) - last by
Jimmy Iovine, Peter Chou, and Dr. Dre
HTC is sinking, and Beats wants out
As HTC continues to sink, Beats Electronics is looking to bail and possibly search for other investors.
The Wall Street Journal
reported that Beat Electronics LLC -- the audio products company founded by rapper Dr. Dre -- wants to buy out HTC in their smartphone venture.
In August 2011, HTC acquired a majority stake at 50.1 percent in Beats Electronics for $300 million USD. The venture aimed to help HTC gain market share from Samsung and Apple smartphones, and help Beats enter the smartphone market.
However, in mid-2012, HTC was forced to sell back half of its stake in Beats due to a huge
decline in revenue and profits
. This resulted in a net loss of $4.8 million for HTC.
Today, things don't look much better for the Taiwanese gadget maker. According to
The Wall Street Journal
, HTC's sales have fallen below $4 billion since Q4 2011. The company also predicts its first operating loss this quarter.
, which was reported last month, HTC took in $70.7 billion TWD ($2.35 billion USD) for the quarter -- which fell below analyst expectations of $72.8 billion TWD ($2.42 billion USD). Profit was at $1.25 billion TWD ($41.5 million USD), which fell short of the $2.17 billion TWD ($72 million USD) analysts expected
Recognizing that HTC is a sinking ship, Beats is reportedly looking for a buyout and may look for other investors so that it can keep its foot in the smartphone market.
There's no word on whether HTC is willing to sell the rest of its stake, but HTC may want to hold onto Beats, as this is one of its draws in smartphone sales.
HTC has tried to turn its business around with the release of new smartphones like the HTC One, which
grabbed 5 million sales
in its first month of availability despite issues. It's even planning a
5.9-inch HTC One Max
Last month, HTC went through
an executive shake up
in hopes of making a fix, where President of Global Sales Jason Mackenzie was chosen to lead HTC America, and President of North America Mike Woodward was chosen to lead Emerging Devices, a new business unit that will focus on innovative new HTC products and global distribution strategies.
The Wall Street Journal
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: Who cares?
8/19/2013 3:28:18 PM
Yeah, the little earbuds from Apple...
I remember that those things would not fit my ears and hence had horrible sound.
Then I saw the commercials for the new design that comes with the IP5 and tried those. They are right, much better design, someone actually thought about it. Unfortunately, they are that smooth white plastic and they will not stay in your ear if you are moving which makes them completely worthless.
"We shipped it on Saturday. Then on Sunday, we rested." -- Steve Jobs on the iPad launch
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Rapid grocery delivery apps like Gorillas, Gopuff and Gettir, which quickly expanded their footprint across Manhattan and Brooklyn, will face a new crackdown on their so-called ‘dark stores’— distribution points that are typically off limits to customers— under a new package of bills introduced by an Upper East Side lawmaker on Thursday.
“As a former small business owner and former commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, I personally understand the difficulties that so many business owners face,” said Council Member Julie Menin
“Today, we stand here to send a message that this emerging industry will not operate in a lawless atmosphere unregulated.”
On the steps of City Hall Thursday morning, Menin— who represents the Upper East Side— and Council Member Christopher Marte unveiled three pieces of legislation set to reign in the new industry and improve working conditions for delivery workers.
The first bill, introduced by Menin, would put the ‘dark stores’ or ‘micro-fulfillment centers’ under the watch of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection— requiring the companies to register their locations and giving the agency the ability to issue and revoke licenses as well as issue violations and penalties for things like engaging in misleading advertising or deceptive trade practices.
ALSO READ | Animal Tooth Found Inside Cookie from Chip City says UES Couple
“Small business owners shouldn’t be struggling by competing for customers by operating micro-fulfillment centers that essentially operate as warehouses without any regulation,” added Menin, who serves as Chair of the City Council Small Business Committee.
In April, Gopuff converted its Upper East Side ‘dark store,’ located at the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 90th Street in Carnegie Hill, into a retail storefront that looks like any other.
However, the public-facing store occupies just a fraction of the more than six-thousand square foot space— leaving much of the location— and hundreds of products listed in the app— off limits to customers inside the physical store.
Last February, Menin blasted Gopuff, accusing the company of ‘unsafe and hazardous’ business practices, citing complaints from Upper East Siders about delivery workers on motorized bikes and scooters.
Gorillas’ Upper East Side distribution point, sitting at the corner of East 93rd Street and Second Avenue, is also not available for in-person shopping.
ALSO READ | Neighbors Fuming Over Cheeky Ads Featuring Nude Men Posted on the UES
Part of the legislative package includes two bills from Council Member Marte, who represents lower Manhattan, that aim to improve working conditions and safety for the delivery workers employed by the apps.
One measure would force the companies to disclose to customers that fifteen minute delivery times are not guaranteed and restrict retaliation against workers who don’t meet tight deadlines — in an effort reduce the pressure placed on delivery workers to operate at unsafe speeds.
The other bill would limit on how much weight a single person could be required to deliver to a customer, capping it at 22 pounds.
“Getir welcomes regulations around the protection of delivery riders and microfulfillment centers,” the company said a statement.
“We look forward to continuing to work with policymakers to ensure all our stores are not only in line with local ordinances, but also an integral part of the communities we serve.”
A Gopuff spokesperson said “we look forward to continuing to work with the City Council and the Adams Administration as we continue to grow and innovate to meet the needs of every community we serve.”
Finally, Gorillas told Upper East Site that it “looks forward to working with the council on a set of fair rules that continue to enable us to provide value to the lives of hundreds of thousands of everyday New Yorkers while expanding the market reach of dozens of local mom and pop brands.”
For updates around the clock, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook


text:
Vietnam challenges itself to new goals for economic growth in 2020
|Policy advice for Vietnam to maintain quality growth by World Bank|
|Vietnam's proposed growth taget in 2020: Ambitious but not unrealistic|
|EVFTA - New gateway for market diversification and economic growth|
|According to experts' forecast, 2020 export growth will be less than 4%. Photo: customsnews|
It is said that Vietnam is targeting GDP growth of 5 percent this year, exceeding international forecasts, banking on a rapid recovery strategy to overcome pandemic impacts.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister announced the new target at a meeting with business leaders on Saturday May 9, adding that the country will also strive to keep inflation under 4 percent, same as previous years. VNExpress reports.
Leading international organizations have considerably lowered growth forecasts for Vietnam this year. The World Bank estimates a growth of 4.9 percent, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), just 2.7 percent. Vietnam’s GDP growth in the first quarter fell to a 10-year low of 3.82 percent.
Simultaneously reduce growth targets
In the supplementary report on the results of the 2019 socio-economic development plan and the implementation of the socio-economic development plan in the first months of 2020, the Government said the goal adjustment in 2020 was necessary and suitable to the objective reality.
Specifically, of the targets adjusted by the Government, GDP is expected to increase by about 4.5% (previously 6.8%) and strive to achieve higher growth. If the global situation is favorable, the pandemic is controlled, and the international market recovers, an increase of 5.4% can be achieved to ensure that the target of 5-year average GDP growth for 2016-2020 period is 6.5%.
Evaluating this action, Dr. Le Quoc Phuong, former deputy director of the MoIT's Industry and Trade Information Center, said when the Covid-19 pandemichad begun affecting Vietnam in early 2020, the Government has not adjusted the growth targets because its impact on Vietnam's economy has not fully assessed.In fact, during the first four months of the year, Vietnam's economic growth was significantly affected by the Covid-19 when GDP in the first quarter only increased by 3.8%, and exports increased by 0.5%.Therefore, adjusting the growth target is appropriate.
The average consumer price in 2020 is expected to increase by about 4% (previously less than 4%), the total exports increases by 4% (previously about 7%), the total state budget revenue decreases by VND163 trillion compared to the assigned estimate, the State budget deficit equals 4.75% of GDP, an increase of 1.31% compared to the previously set target, and fair debt ratio is about 55.5% of GDP, an increase of 3.2% compared to the set target.
(Extracted from the Supplementary report on the results of implementation of the 2019 Socio-Economic Development Plan and the implementation of the 2010 Socio-Economic Development Plan)
However, achieving this new goal is not simple. According to Le Quoc Phuong, Vietnam's economy, especially industry and agriculture, must rely on internal resources, exports and the FDI sector to grow. Meanwhile, the domestic demand has not increased, and the world demand is falling because large Vietnamese partners are currently facing a lot of difficulties due to the pandemic, leading to lower import demand.
“For markets like the EU, US, Japan, South Korea or China, although these markets have gradually opened their economy, and disease control measures have been relaxed, this easing is not entirely, but very cautious, which will continue to greatly affect Vietnam's export market. For a country with a large open economy, up to 200% of GDP, achieving the set GDP growth targets is difficult,” said Mr. Le Quoc Phuong.
Evaluating the expected export growth target of 4%, Mr. Le Quoc Phuong said this was a relatively high and optimistic figure. He said the export growth of 2020 would be less than 4%, even less than 3%. The reason is thatthe export volume and export price have decreased, so the export is facing a decrease in both quantity and price.Regarding GDP, Mr. Le Quoc Phuong said 3% was also a very optimistic figure because Vietnam's economy depended on the world economy, while many countries in the world were forecasted to have a negative growth in 2020, reported on the customsnews.
|Can Vietnam achieve GDP growth of 5% this year? (Photo: vietnaminsider)|
In this regard, economist Ngo Tri Long said the adjustment of goals was appropriate, but the goals needed be set reasonably to be achieved. With the goals as expected, he said it was difficult to achieve them because we were performing a dual task: fighting the pandemic and restoring the economy and growth, which are equally important.
“Personally, the adjusted target is high in the current context. For example, although the export target has decreased by 4%, currently 10 major importing countries are facing difficulties and economic declines. This shows that achieving the post-adjusted goals is a remarkable success in the context that international organizations predicted Vietnam's growth would be lower, and many countries would experience negative growth,”said Ngo Tri Long.
In particular, the expert noted, besides requiring drastic measures to achieve the growth targets, it is necessary to focus on pandemic control and the effectiveness of growth without sacrificing growth at all costs. For example, public investment could be promoted for growth, but attention must be paid to efficiency and strict control. Therefore, Vietnam is facing double difficulties: promoting pandemic prevention and ensuring growth, the country's resources must be spent on preventing the pandemic and promoting economic development. If the pandemic cannot be controlled, the economy will be affected.
|The country must avoid other recession shapes like U or W, with the former indicating a prolonged shrinking of the GDP and the latter showing the economy falling into recession twice before recovering.|
“The Government has also developed two economic scenarios in which the GDP growth target is set in the range from 3.6% to 5.4%. I think that the low economic growth will be more suitable, while the high level is a bit difficult. Even if only achieving the lowest level in the scenario is remarkable,” said Ngo Tri Long.
Regarding the prediction of Vietnam's economic growth, before that, the Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR) also proposed three scenarios of economic growth in 2020 based on the ability to control the pandemic. Accordingly, VEPR said the economy could only recover when the disease was controlled both at home and abroad. Notably, this organization forecasted Vietnam's economic growth to be negative in the worst scenario.
In the most optimistic scenario, annual growth will be 4.2%. In the second scenario, if the pandemicis prolonged and only completely controlled in the second half of the third quarter of 2020, the annual GDP growth will be 1.5%. And in the worst scenario, the disease is only completely controlled at the end of the year, the economy starts to recover from the second half of the fourth quarter of 2020, then the economic growth in the whole year will be -1%.
|EVFTA - New gateway for market diversification and economic growth |
The European-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will play a critical part in bringing new opportunities for market diversification and help Vietnam to reduce its reliance ...
|Standard Chartered forecasts Vietnam's economic growth in 2020 to reach 3.3% |
Standard Chartered Bank forecasted that Vietnam's economy will slow down in 2020, reaching 3.3%, due to the impact of external challenges. The prediction was given ...
|Vietnam remains among fastest growing economies in Asia despite COVID-19 impacts |
Vietnam’s economic growth rate is expected to slow sharply in 2020 to 4.8% due to the COVID-19 outbreak but remains one of the highest in ...


text:
17 Jan 2020
Posted in Pharma
Biosimilars will contribute to cost-savings in US pharmaceutical industry in 2020
The pharmaceutical industry is mixed on the factors that will have the greatest positive impact on the industry in 2020, with patent expiry of biologics and vertical integration highlighted as some of the key areas of interest, says leading data and analytics company, GlobalData.
According to the company’s latest annual outlook report, ‘The State of the Biopharmaceutical Industry – 2020’, about 20% of survey respondents respectively identified patent expiry of biologics and vertical integration as areas that were expected to support industry growth. A surprising addition to the mix was drug pricing and reimbursement, which was viewed as equally important.
Bonnie Bain, PhD, Global Head of Pharma at GlobalData, comments: “It is possible that the industry expects that either government mandates will eventually be put in place to control future price hikes or efforts such as the launch of biosimilars and vertical integration will eventually lower costs.”
Below are some other prominent factors expected to affect the US pharmaceutical industry this year:
Bain says: “Biosimilars will gain a strong foothold in the US in 2020, building on the success seen with the launch of Amgen’s biosimilar monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), Mvasi (Avastin) and Kanjinti (Herceptin) in 2019.
“Both of these drugs are now being used in the clinic and have been added to insurance formularies. Several additional launches followed in 2019 including Pfizer’s Avastin biosimilar in December 2019. Pfizer also recently announced launch plans for biosimilars of Rituxan (January 2020) and Herceptin (February 2020).
“Even though the price differential between biosimilars and their branded counterparts is only around 15%-30%, which is significantly less than the cost savings seen with the average generic drug, we still expect that biosimilars will start to contribute cost-savings in the US in 2020. Uncertainty still exists for reimbursement, automatic substitution, competition from next-generation biologics and litigation but the fact that insurers such as United Healthcare placed Amgen’s biosimilar mAbs on the primary tier of its formulary bodes well for future biosimilars.”
US-China trade war
Bain continues: “Despite concerns about a trade war between the US and China, it is not a surprise that China is still viewed as a huge market opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry. China has the largest population in the world and a growing middle class. The country is also a leader in research and development (R&D) innovation for medicine and technologies such as robotics and 5G, which are transforming healthcare.
“To date, the trade standoff has not had a major impact on the pharmaceutical industry and this could be contributing to the ongoing optimism.”
Bain concludes: “Vertical integrations continued in 2019 but on a lesser scale than in prior years. These deals are touted as opportunities to reduce inconsistencies, consolidate data, align pricing and ultimately lower cost of care.
“It is still too early to determine the overall impact but one thing is certain – this trend will likely continue in 2020 as the industry looks for new ways to control costs and increase margins.”


text:
NTPS Plc. requests that all of its HU-GO customers accurately submit their tax number.
In order to support protection against the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic and to safeguard the health of customers and staff, National Toll Payment Services Plc. (NTPS Plc.) has suspended in-person customer service from 8 March, 2021 until further notice, in compliance with the provisions of Government Decree No. 104/2021. (III. 5.) on the temporary tightening of protective measures.
National Toll Payment Services Plc. (NTPS Plc.) is relocating the Budaörs customer service office—one of its busiest—to Újbuda, closer to downtown Budapest. The company’s Újbuda office will be open to partners and customers from 11 February 2021 (Thursday) in the Fonte Office Building (address: Budaörsi út 153., Budapest 1112), with the same opening hours and offering the usual services.
Prețul taxei rutiere electronice va putea fi calculat
Prin ordinul nr. 41/2020 (XI. 13.) ITM, ministrul ungar al inovării și tehnologiei a modificat ordinul nr. 25/2013 (V. 31.) NFM al ministrului dezvoltării naționale ungare privind cuantumul taxei de drum și drumurile cu taxă.


text:
AMESBURY — Long hailed as an area ripe for redevelopment, the “Golden Triangle” region nestled between Interstates 495 and 95 has sat dormant for decades despite a litany of redevelopment proposals that never took off — until now.
About six months ago, signs advertising potential development opportunities within and across from the Golden Triangle began to pop up on Elm Street.
Christian Stallkamp, an associate with the commercial real estate company CBRE New England, said the signs were posted shortly after the property was formally put up for sale and have already garnered interest from developers.
There are currently three parcels being shopped; one retail and one hotel site near the Elm Street entrance to Carraigetown Market Place, and the 50-acre Golden Triangle parcel between the two highways. Stallkamp said several potential buyers have approached CBRE regarding all three parcels and discussions are ongoing.
“What’s unique about the parcel is that it appeals to a wide range of uses and we’ve had interest from a wide range of users,” Stallkamp said. “The parcel could accommodate warehouses, retail, big-box stores; it’s a great site for someone, it’s just finding the right tenant.”
One business that could relocate to the Golden Triangle in the near future is Amesbury Animal Hospital. The business that for years has been based at 230 Main St. is looking to build a new, more modern facility.
The City Council will soon begin discussing a proposed zoning amendment that would allow the animal hospital to relocate to 277 Elm St. within the Golden Triangle. The animal hospital has already signed a purchase and sales agreement pending approval of the zoning amendment.
According to its filed proposal, Amesbury Animal Hospital intends to construct an expanded building with more examination rooms and surgical suites on a portion of the 50-acre site. Joe Fahey, the city’s economic development director, said the hospital would subdivide a portion of the 50-acre parcel for itself and the rest would remain available for other developers.


text:
A I'm sure you've noticed, veganism is on the rise. In fact, as our US colleagues point out, 9.6 million people Stateside have gone animal-free in the last 15 years – that's a three hundred percent increase, or three percent of the US' entire population.
Now Toyota is getting in on the veganism wave, partnering with HappyCow to help vegan customers find places to eat in its cars.
HappyCow is an online platform that helps those looking for vegan and vegetarian restaurants across the US, and now Toyota (and its luxury brand Lexus) will be integrating the service into its Destination Assist so people can find suitable vegan eateries nearby.
After pressing the Destination button on the car's infotainment screen, the system contacts a live representative, who will use HappyCow to find the nearest vegan or vegetarian restaurants.
Destination Assist comes as a free trial for a year with all new Toyotas in the US, while Lexus cars come with a three-year trial.
"We are excited about being part of Toyota Connected’s Destination Assist, which allows owners of select 2020 Toyota/Lexus models to speak to live representatives who have been trained to use HappyCow," Ken Spector, HappyCow Principal, told VegNews.
Right now the HappyCow service is only available in the US, but they are already plans to expand it further afield.


text:
Amid a crisis of confidence around the world, long-term profitability and increasing sustainability can only be balanced if there is trust and truth.
If businesses were asked whether they could use their commercial activities to improve poverty, hunger and disease while promoting gender equality, education and environmental sustainability, one would find most are compelled to say ‘yes’. In this era of the ‘post-truth’ where issues of authenticity and identity are particularly significant, the only way to do business is to make sustainability a business imperative.
This is evident in The Drum’s latest Market Insight Report on Sustainability in partnership with gyro, which reveals a majority (83%) of business leaders believe in the ethical and moral imperative to incorporate sustainability into their processes. The study further discloses that over half (54%) of marketers feel investing in sustainability will positively influence the perception of their brand, while 43% agree it leads to long-term financial gains. However, the unfortunate reality remains: only 38% have a current defined sustainability strategy.
The onerous undertaking, without a doubt, is to build a business model that is truly equitable and sustainable. The study, entitled 'Mind the Gap: How Marketers Feel About Sustainability,' explores the role of marketers in pushing the sustainability agenda. Over 200 brands and agencies were interviewed to gain a more detailed understanding of how marketers perceive their organisation’s impact on the environment, the barriers they encounter, and how they view their role in driving sustainability.
Having worked with businesses on some of these issues, I find that the sustainability-minded leaders are all talking about generating positive growth for the communities we live in. At gyro, which has a unique culture defined by connecting business to humans, we understand the hard task of separating a growing rhetoric around ‘doing good,’ and taking action that questions the logic of a system that precipitates social inequality or environmental destruction.
It is, however, somewhat heartening to note that according to our research, when it comes to sustainability and its impact on company operations, 38% of respondents feel that issues linked to sustainability have encouraged new ways of working.
At a time when we are all seeking truth, losing trust in political systems as well as private enterprises, we need a new narrative of growth. A narrative that is humanly relevant, builds trust and ultimately leads to an integrated approach where businesses can come together to work towards a common goal – that of managing the impact of the communities that we live in, and the communities our children and our grandchildren will eventually inherit.
Consider this: on the issue of partnership with competitors around common sustainability issues, over half of marketers (55%) in the survey reported a willingness to collaborate with competitors. This can only be good news. However, when businesses are facing some of the biggest challenges in their lifetime — from low margins to increased scrutiny from their consumers to uncertain economic climate to changing technologies — turning a profit in the short term to taking a long-term view of sustainability is not always easy.
The time is now to experiment with new business models that not only help in creating wealth and productivity, but also see an increase in human happiness in a sustainable new world.
Kate Howe is managing director at gyro London


text:
Last week Sole Bliss had the pleasure of attending the British Business Awards 2019 as finalists!
We are VERY excited to announce that we have been announced as the WINNER of another award this year!
Sole Bliss took home the award for
Most Innovative Business Idea
The Judges of the category said:
"Sole Bliss invested five years into research and development. Their impressive track record in ladies' fashion had led to the creation of a product that solved a real and painful problem. Their submission shows an impressive number of repeat customer and great financial performance. Congratulations Sole Bliss!"
Thank you to everyone who voted for Sole Bliss! We are grateful for every bit of support from out lovely customers.
It's been an award-winning year for us, here at Sole Bliss. Check out our other awards and nominations:
Sole Bliss is dedicated to high quality, comfortable yet stylish and innovative footwear to help women who suffer from bunions and many other foot problems, so we are extremely proud to be recognised as the Most Innovative Business Idea in the industry.


text:
The workshop of Wuxi Little Swan Co [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]
Wuxi-based household appliances manufacturer Little Swan Co was listed as one of China's national industrial design centers by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Wuxi National Hi-tech District reported on Nov 21.
It is the first company in Wuxi to receive the title.
Wuxi Little Swan Co has its own sound technology research and development system, a national enterprise technology center, and two nationally accredited laboratories. It has won several international awards for its high-quality work.
In addition, Wuxi Little Swan Co is China's first 4-grade intelligent manufacturing company that can design, produce, sell, and provide services independently.


text:
Despite that the thorny issue of the US ban seems to be proceeding towards a profitable solution, there is no doubt that Huawei will come out of it ailing, not only from an economic point of view. It is in fact still difficult to quantify the damage immediately in the eyes of the users, but it cannot be said that the Chinese giant is not rolling up its sleeves to calm the fans, through a work of clarity and transparency.
After answering users’ questions and doubts about the problems they have been going through in recent weeks, in Germany Huawei would be on the verge of starting to use promotional images of its devices to clarify some essential points about its future:
- All Android apps will continue to be usable, including the most famous
- Android itself will continue to be available on all Huawei smartphones owned by users
- Security updates will continue to arrive as usual
- The 2-year warranty will continue to be guaranteed on all devices sold
Huawei marketing their phones with new promo pics at many german retailers – now containing their "future promise" of security updates, Android usage, top app availabity and warranty "as usual". pic.twitter.com/j50VOsCl0e
Gizchina News of the week
— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) July 1, 2019
The indiscretion comes from the well-known leakster Roland Quandt and soon these promo images with these captions could also arrive to other online stores and at major physical retailers.
It is worth to mention that a few days ago, the United States president, Donald Trump, announced at a press conference that he would allow US companies to continue selling products to Huawei. Trump said that Huawei’s products are very complex products produced in Silicon Valley in the United States. These American companies are great and will drive employment, so American companies are allowed to continue selling products to Huawei. In other words, Huawei’s ban has been lifted.
However, it seems that the decision is not welcome in the United States. Many Republican lawmakers expressed concern about the relaxation of Huawei’s ban. Some people even called the decision “catastrophic mistakes” and “big bangs.” The US President made a “supplementary explanation” on Twitter, saying that it would only lift the ban on Huawei’s products that did not affect national security.


text:
Thank you for your question.
Here are some concerns I've found that should interest business owners.
"JupiterResearch Predicts 82 Percent of Small Businesses Will Be Online by 2011"
'JupiterResearch estimates that 78 percent, or almost 20 million small
businesses, currently use the Internet on a regular basis. "Small
businesses spent over $43 billion in 2005 in business purchases
online," said Sonal Gandhi, a JupiterResearch analyst. "Their online
influenced off-line spending is likely to be considerably higher."'
Webhosting for Small Business
"Recent findings from market research firm The Yankee Group found that
over 50 percent of small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) now employ
some type of outsourcing to fulfill their information technology (IT)
"One of the main reasons that SMBs are increasing their use of
outsourcing services is to help lift the burden from already-taxed IT
staff. According to The Yankee Group, the ratio of IT staff support to
personal computers in small businesses is 1:25, while medium-sized
businesses have a ratio of 1:33. In fact, some small businesses - 29
percent of very small businesses - have no full time IT staffs at all,
according to Yankee."
"Google, Yahoo, Amazon, Accelerate Internet Economy, Per Research and Markets"
"It is estimated that around one million companies worldwide now rely
on the Internet economy for more than 50% of their revenue."
"Report: Online Sales To Grow 22 Percent this Year"
Online sales grew by 24% in 2004 and 22% in 2005.
Brick-and-mortar stores have a more difficult time getting sales
online than their catalog counterparts-- customers don't see much
difference between catalog buying and internet buying.
More and more, businesses are turning away from traditional
advertising methods such as television and newspapers to advertise
their services on the Web.
"Internet ad revenue climbs 26 percent"
"As of June, advertisers had spent $5.8 billion to place ads online
this year, a 26 percent increase compared with the first six months of
2004, according to a new report."
There is also a huge growth in classified ads online:
"Classifieds dominate local ads growth online"
"Does Online Advertising Enhance Offline Sales?"
Search engine optimization--
Here is a website that deals with SEO:
Free Ways To Drive Traffic to Your Web Site
According to the E-Commerce Times, 43% of first-time visitors to a
site get there by search engine placement.
Better customer experience--
"Report: Online Sales To Grow 22 Percent this Year"
A recent study found that 89% of customers had a difficult online
buying experience, and 33% of those customers gave up.
Certain industries appeal more to online buyers than others--
From the above E-Commerce Times article:
Computer hardware and software is bought on the Net at a 50% rate and
books at 20%. Some goods are just more appealing to online buyers
Keeping customers once they're on the site--
"Online Consumers Window Shop More than Impulse Buy"
According to a study of online shoppers' habits, internet customers
were likely to visit 10 or more sites before returning to their
favorite to make a purchase. The phenomenon is called "shopping cart
Planning for Certain Holidays and Occasions--
Certain holidays can boost sales, and business owners have to be able
to plan for that possibility.
"FIFTY-FIVE PERCENT OF U.S. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS EXPECT STRONG
VALENTINE'S DAY SALES, ACCORDING TO CONSTANT CONTACT SURVEY"
For instance, 71% of US small businesses expected greater sales on Valentine's Day.
Christmas is also a huge buying holiday.
"Festive boom for online shopping"
Sign On San Diego
"Internet sales expected to grow this year; season unofficially begins
with Cyber Monday"
CheckFree Press Release
"CheckFree Small Business(SM) Delivers Electronic Bill Payment,
Invoicing and Receivables Solution for Financial Institutions' Small
'An estimated 40 percent of small businesses currently use online
banking services and that figure is expected to grow to 60 percent by
the end of 2008, according to a recent Aite Group report titled
"Winning the Hearts and Wallets of Small Business Customers."'
Gaining international customers--
PayPal's Latest News
"In a recent survey of 900 companies from IPSOS, 65 percent of small
business owners said the biggest benefit of selling online was the
increased customer base, often extending their markets
internationally. Sixty-four percent said they experienced increased
revenue and sales."
Use of blogs or RSS feeds--
"Nearly half, 41.6 percent, of retailers will incorporate blogs or RSS
feeds into their holiday marketing strategy..."
Wikipedia Entry-- Corporate Blog
"More than 5% of the Fortune 500 companies blog externally.
A market research shows that 35 percent of large companies plan to
institute corporate Weblogs in 2006. According to the research,
combined with the existing deployed base of 34 percent, nearly 70
percent of all corporate website operators will have implemented
corporate blogs by the end of 2006."
Responding to customer service emails--
"Report: E-tail Flails at Customer Service E-Mail"
Jupiter Media reported results of a study that found that fewer than
40% of companies responded to customer emails within six hours and
nearly one-fourth never reply at all. 38% of companies respond
within six hours and 33% take more than three days to get back with
Email marketing campaigns--
Which types of email are spam and which are not? Many business owners
choose to have an opt-in email list to send out marketing
announcements. Ads/messages must be carefully worded to avoid being
sent to junk mail. Companies spend billions each year sending out
email messages to their customers.
"Walking the Line Between E-Mail and Spam"
Businesses do not do an efficient job with tracking online customers.
Network World Fusion
"Analysis: Merchants ineffectively tracking shoppers' habits"
Many customers are added by word of mouth, but online businesses do
little to track this phenomenon.
Setting up an attractive site--
According to a survey, 89% of businesspeople are not impressed with
visited websites, and 66% wouldn't return to a website once they have
had a bad experience with it.
"Can Your Business Afford Online Turnoffs?"
In addition, businesses with a website have grown 46% faster than those without.
The Dutch share of the online retail market is about 0.047%.
"Today, Dutch eCommerce leads the Benelux, with more than ?3 billion
in online retail sales forecast for this year. In five years, total
online sales in the Netherlands will reach ?12 billion, which will
keep the country as one of the top five eCommerce players in Europe ?
behind Italy, but ahead of Spain. In 2011, more than half of the Dutch
adult population will buy holidays, clothes, and electronics via the
My data on worldwide online spending is here:
"JUPITERRESEARCH FORECASTS ONLINE RETAIL SPENDING WILL REACH $144
BILLION IN 2010, A CAGR OF 12% FROM 2005"
"JupiterResearch, a division of Jupitermedia Corporation (Nasdaq:
JUPM) forecasts that online retail spending will increase from $81
billion in 2005 to $95 billion in 2006, and will grow to $144 billion
XE-- Universal Currency Converter
PayPal Press Release
netherlands online sales
world online retail sales
percent businesses online sales
drive traffic to website businesses percent
online payments small businesses percent
percent small businesses online
businesses blogs percent
businesses email customer service percent
businesses tracking customers percent
businesses website easy percent
If you need any additional clarification, let me know and I'll be glad
to assist you.


text:
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Tandy Leather Factory Inc. (TLF) said October retail same-store sales fell 4% from a year earlier, when there was one less selling day in the period.
Total sales rose 3% to $4.9 million from $4.7 million, while retail Leathercraft sales increased 5% to $2.1 million from $2 million.
Wholesale Leathercraft sales were $2.6 million, up 4% from $2.3 million a year ago.
-Nicholas Hatcher; 201-938-5400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com
Order free Annual Report for Tandy Leather Factory Inc
Visit http://djnewswires.ar.wilink.com/?link=TLF or call 1-888-301-0513


text:
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada's ban on the manufacture, import, export, sale and use of asbestos and asbestos-containing products — including brake pads — will come into force on Dec. 30, the Canadian government noted recently.
After years of debate on the matter, the Canadian federal government issued proposed new regulations in January to prohibit the use, sale, import and export of asbestos and products that contain it, as well as the manufacture of products containing the cancer-causing mineral.
Some products and uses are excluded from these new regulations and they do not apply to asbestos-containing products in use before the day on which the regulations come into force — such as brake pads already installed in vehicles, according to the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA-C).
The use or sale of products remaining in inventory, however, will be prohibited when the regulations come into force, the trade group said.
"It is expected that automotive stakeholders would comply with the regulations by switching from imports of friction materials containing asbestos to asbestos-free friction materials, such as ceramic brake pads or materials with synthetic fibers," according to a federal government statement.
Using average import data from 2013 to 2016 for friction materials containing asbestos, it is estimated that 333,000 brake pads containing asbestos are imported on an annual basis, the AIA-C said.
Assuming that there is a $5 incremental difference in price between brake pads containing asbestos and asbestos-free brake pads, it is expected that the automotive industry would carry operating costs of approximately $21 million (Canadian) over the time frame of analysis, the group said.
The federal government has projected that some of the costs to industry will be passed down to customers. The extent to which businesses are able to pass on the incremental costs to consumers through higher prices would determine the ultimate distribution of costs between businesses and consumers.
Asbestos-containing products will need to be disposed of. To identify disposal practices, please refer to provincial/ territorial workplace health and safety and/or labor regulations, the AIA-C recommended.


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A driverless car rental service is expanding its Las Vegas operations.
Following a four-month beta test of its on-demand electric vehicle service in the downtown Las Vegas area, Halo.Car is expanding its operations valley wide.
“To date we’ve focused on remote deliveries within the downtown Las Vegas area, with nearly 100 percent of our beta bookings delivered fully remotely driven. But now it’s time to listen to demand and expand,” Anand Nandakumar, founder and CEO of Halo.Car said in a statement. “Customers across Las Vegas have requested us to expand delivery to reach their neighborhood. By opening operations to the greater Las Vegas Valley we can reach 50x more customers and begin testing remote driving beyond Downtown Las Vegas. We’re thrilled to be bringing convenient and affordable EV rental to more Las Vegas residents.”
Customers can book a rental car on Halo.Car’s website, with payment and identity verification completed online. From there a remote driver based in Halo.Car’s Las Vegas office will deliver the vehicle. On concluding the booking, a driver collects the vehicle from the customer and returns it to Halo for charging and parking.
The introductory price for a rental is $120 per day or $15 per hour, according to the company’s website.
Although the cars are remotely driven, they have a driver inside for safety purposes.
The remote driver utilizes six cameras to stream video at Halo.Car’s office. The operators’ workspace is similar to that of an arcade game with a steering wheel, pedals and large computer screen.
The expansion of service includes adding 30 electric cars to Halo.Car’s fleet and hiring an additional 10 support operators. This comes following the company signing a binding agreement with Silicon Valley Bank for a $1 million venture debt facility.
“Halo.Car’s on-demand delivery service is a fantastic innovation for customers seeking easy access to an electric vehicle,” Shane Ballew, director of the southwest region at Silicon Valley Bank, said in a statement. “We are honored to work with Anand and the Halo.Car team to fund their expansion across Las Vegas and look forward to supporting their continued growth.”


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Genshin Impact's early numbers imply it's destined for success. The profit through gacha-style monetization is already skyrocketing, and the game is released just a week ago.
Genshin Impact is China-based mobile game developer Mihoyo's most ambitious project to date, and it's off to a great start. Mihoyo is well-known for making high-quality mobile games, and this is the first time they are releasing a game on PC and consoles too. The production value of Genshin Impact screams triple-A, and as soon as you launch the game it's hard to believe that it is a f2p game.
More than 300 people were involved in the development process of this game over the last 4 years, and the total budget is said to be around $100 million.
According to a senior game analyst at Niko, Daniel Ahmad , the investment is paying off. Based on preliminary data, Genshin Impact is on track to gross more than $100 million across all platforms by the end of this month. The game is successful not just in its home market, but also in Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, the US, etc.
Ahmad estimates that $50 million was made in the first week, with the majority of it coming from China, Japan, and the U.S. The game saw 17 million global downloads in its first four days according to App Annie , and it seems like estimates for the game are fairly positive.
The game had more than 20 million pre-registrations prior to launch, of which more than 5 million were from outside China. This is a huge achievement not just for a Chinese developed game, but for a new original IP too.
Genshin Impact is an action RPG that is free-to-play with gacha-style monetization, where you can "roll" for different characters and weapons to add to your party with currency. Something like lootboxes. Yet it's also a massive RPG, with a surprisingly large scale and high production values, and it's playable on phones, PlayStation 4, and PC, with cross-save support across all platforms, except PS4.


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Lalamove delivered 150,000 pieces of supplies for 200 NGOs
Learn more about how Lalamove is supporting the community with Deliver Care: https://youtu.be/svMW48mR3MM
(Hong Kong, 12 April, 2022) – Lalamove, a leading 24/7 on-demand delivery platform, has introduced a raft of initiatives in February to help people from all walks of life combat the fifth wave of pandemic. Since the launch of its non-government organisation support hotline, Lalamove has helped nearly 200 NGOs deliver epidemic prevention supplies to those in need. As Hong Kong begins to recover from its latest wave of covid, Lalamove looks to support small-to-medium enterprises to come out of the pandemic stronger. To date, 170 SMEs have joined Lalamove’s “Support Our SMEs” campaign for exclusive free-of-charge promotion opportunities.
Delivering more than 150,000 supplies benefitting over 76,000 households
Since Lalamove announced the Hotline in the early phase of the fifth wave of the pandemic on 18 February, nearly 200 non-profit organisations have used Lalamove free logistics services. The scheme was supported by over 100 driver partners, with more than 150,000 pieces of epidemic prevention supplies delivered to over 76,000 households. Supplies include rapid test kits, surgical masks and daily necessities, which were in short supply. Beneficiaries include nursing homes, seniors living alone, low-income and single parent families, the homeless, medical staff and domestic helpers.
In addition to epidemic supplies, Lalamove also delivered class materials to students with special education needs for Caritas Hong Kong so that students can have online lessons and have fun while staying home for the “Early Summer Break”. Understanding that staying home during the pandemic hasn’t been easy for the parents of SEN students, Caritas Hong Kong also entrusted Lalamove with the delivery of mental health support kits and preserved flowers, to encourage positive mental health and optimism during this difficult time.
Shing Chow, founder and CEO of Lalamove, said, "With our commitment to ‘Deliver Care’, the team at Lalamove has spared no effort in supporting SMEs and NGOs throughout these trying times. Leveraging our extensive delivery network, we hope to connect and unite the community in the fight against the pandemic by doing what we do best. We extend our sincere gratitude to our team and our driver partners who have worked tirelessly to deliver care and provide timely support to those in need so that we may come out of the pandemic stronger.”
Exclusive free-of-charge promotion opportunities for 170 SMEs to help business growth
Lalamove is always dedicated to helping businesses transform and thrive. With the easing of the pandemic on the horizon, Lalamove will constantly roll out new initiatives and offers, in keeping to its commitment to help small-to-medium enterprises ride out the pandemic.
To date, 170 SMEs have benefitted from the “Support Our SMEs” campaign, designed to offer free-of-charge promotion opportunities for SMEs. The platform assists SMEs by utilising Lalamove and other online promotion channels in reaching new customers and unearthing business opportunities. It also helps SMEs grow their network, helping them connect with potential business partners.
The food and beverage industry has been heavily impacted but a lot of them have pivoted quickly and managed to transform their business with the support of Lalamove’s on-demand delivery service. After participating in Lalamove’s “Support Our SMEs” campaign, Rias Coffee Roastery Lab, which predominantly focused on its offline café business pre-pandemic, saw a 15% increase in online coffee beans sales. With a lot of us adopting work from home practice, healthy meal plan company Nosh leveraged Lalamove’s reliable and steady logistics service to help them deliver food to even remote areas of Hong Kong.
Lalamove announced its free logistics services for NGOs in February. During the pandemic, SEN students weren’t able to attend classes in person. Caritas Hong Kong tasked Lalamove with delivering online class materials and mental health kits like preserved flowers to SEN students and their parents respectively, to encourage positive mental health and optimism during this difficult time.
Lalamove’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Loo and Food Angel’s founder Gigi Tung delivered lunch boxes, groceries and vegetables to elderlies who live alone. Food Angel has been using Lalamove’s service to deliver food cross-district to elderlies in need.
Lalamove’s “Support our SMEs” campaign provides exclusive free-of-charge promotion opportunities for SMEs, enabling them to explore new opportunities amid the pandemic and grow their business via Lalamove’s reliable and fast delivery services.


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hyperx 3k articles
After the success of the SF-1200 controller, virtually every SSD maker was eager to climb aboard the SandForce express. That bandwagon continued trucking through last year, as the second-gen SF-2200 powered many of 2011's noteworthy flash drives.
It's unclear when SandForce's next controllers will arrive, but in the meantime, Kingston has released a pair of new SF-2281-based drives said to emphasize speed and affordability: the HyperX 3K and the SSDNow V+200. The former is aimed at enthusuasts and uses synchronous memory, while the latter is intended for businesses but uses cheaper asynchronous memory.
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I first became aware and concerned about sprawl during the eight years I lived in a central Illinois farm town. Illinois, with 22 million acres of corn and soybeans under production, exports $13 billion worth of grain and beans annually, yet in recent years has annually converted 100 thousand acres to development.
It doesn’t take an agricultural specialist to realize farmland is a finite, non-renewable resource. Once you pave it over, it’s almost never returned to production. Now we see this happening in China.
The rule of thumb used in the United States is you need to pave an acre for every five cars on the road. With car sales approaching 1 million vehicles per month now in China, that’s a love of pavement. Not only that, the Chinese now consume more meat than Americans — half of the world’s pork production occurs in China, and a lot of grain is needed to fatten up those pork bellies. China is a significant grain producer, but they need to import most of their grain from the United States of America. With record drought decimating Russian grain production this year and lower yields on American crops, we’ll see higher prices at the supermarket in the next few weeks.
Higher prices are inconvenient, but how soon before climate change and unproductive land brings drought to China and Illinois? Even if we completely discount or disbelieve human causes of climate change, why don’t these patterns of development and reduced food production scare the well nourished feces out of us?
Foreign Policy Magazine interviewed Lester Brown, an expert on the issue of food security, in Grain Pains. Read it for more on the topic.


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Arkansas is getting its first Cinnaholic, the vegan bakery known for its cinnamon rolls and its co-founders’ appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” Vegan partners Shannon and Florian Radke opened the first Cinnaholic in Berkeley in 2010. The couple appeared on “Shark Tank” in 2014 and began expansion soon after. The plant-based bakery franchise was founded upon a commitment that all ingredients are free of dairy, lactose, eggs and cholesterol.
Little Rock’s Cinnaholic, opening this winter at 12800 Chenal Parkway, suite 7, joins nearly 40 existing locations in the US. The franchise is on track to reach 50 locations by the end of 2020.
“There is a tremendous amount of excitement to serve our award-winning cinnamon rolls to people in Little Rock,” local owner Troy Hayes said via press release. “I’m happy to be serving desserts that will fulfill the need for a new kind of sweet treat that locals have been asking for.”
Cinnaholic offers 20 different icing flavors like almond, cake batter, marshmallow and several fruit varieties. Customers can customize their own cinnamon rolls and add toppings such as pie crumbles, sprinkles, cookies and chocolate sauce. The menu has several signature rolls as well. In addition to cinnamon rolls, Cinnaholic offers bite size Baby Buns, cookies, brownies, edible cookie dough and cakes. Catering options are also available.
The press release also addressed the pandemic by saying the bakery will be following health and safety guidelines set forth by CDC and local government agencies.


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India’s plan to control “non-personal” knowledge has jolted US tech giants Amazon, Fb and Google, and a gaggle representing them is getting ready to push again towards the proposals, in accordance with sources and a letter seen by Reuters.
A government-appointed panel in July beneficial establishing a regulator for info that’s anonymised or devoid of private particulars however important for firms to construct their companies.
The panel proposed a mechanism for corporations to share knowledge with different entities – even opponents – saying this is able to spur the digital ecosystem. The report, if adopted by the federal government, will kind the idea of a brand new legislation to control such knowledge.
However the US-India Enterprise Council (USIBC), a part of the US Chamber of Commerce, calls imposed knowledge sharing “anathema” to selling competitors and says this undermines investments made by firms to course of and acquire such info, in accordance with a draft letter for the Indian authorities.
“USIBC and the US Chamber of Commerce are categorically against mandates that require the sharing of proprietary knowledge,” says the USIBC’s beforehand unreported letter, which is more likely to be accomplished and submitted in coming weeks to India’s information-technology ministry.
“It’ll even be tantamount to confiscation of buyers’ property and undermine mental property protections.”
A USIBC spokeswoman had no touch upon the draft letter. The US Chamber of Commerce didn’t reply to Reuters queries.
The top of the panel, Kris Gopalakrishnan, a founding father of Indian know-how large Infosys Ltd, stated the group will work with the federal government to overview enter from the business.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Info Know-how, Amazon.com Inc, Fb Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google didn’t reply to requests for remark. The report is open for public feedback till Sept. 13.
‘Pressured knowledge sharing’
India’s plan to control non-personal knowledge is the newest irritant for US tech firms which have been battling tighter e-commerce guidelines and knowledge storage norms that a number of international locations are additionally growing.
New Delhi and Washington are already at odds on such points, in addition to over digital taxes and tariffs.
The USIBC draft letter says “pressured knowledge sharing” will restrict international commerce and funding in growing international locations, and the panel’s proposals run towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s requires US firms to spend money on India.
The foyer group expresses concern concerning the panel’s suggestion to mandate native storage for non-personal knowledge, describing this as a “dramatic tightening” of India’s worldwide knowledge switch regime.
“These are far-reaching ideas that might have a big influence on the power of each Indian and multinational corporations to do enterprise in India,” Washington-headquartered legislation agency Covington & Burling stated in a be aware ready for the USIBC, which was additionally seen by Reuters.
The legislation agency didn’t reply to a request for remark.
The Indian panel has listed analysis, nationwide safety and policymaking amongst functions for which such knowledge ought to be shared. Three sources stated tech executives participated in a number of conferences in latest weeks to debate issues over the report.


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Maruti Suzuki India is providing offers up to Rs 1.13 lakh on its Nexa range of vehicles like Baleno, Ciaz, Ignis and S-Cross. The benefits are available on the petrol as well as diesel variants of the four models.
Updated : December 26, 2019, 2:58 pm
Hyundai Creta -- which rivals against Kia Seltos, MG Hector, Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV500 and Jeep Compass -- has benefits up to Rs 95,000 on its petrol and diesel variants.
Updated : December 25, 2019, 4:46 pm
Hyundai Grand i10 CNG gets a 4-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC, 1.2-litre Kappa Dual VTVT engine, which makes 66 PS and 98 Nm of torque.
Updated : May 8, 2019, 1:28 pm
MG Hector has been spied testing in India on a number of occasions in the past. There have been claims that Hector SUV will be based on Baojun 530, which is sold in China. But there will be a lot of tweaks keeping the Indian conditions in mind.
Updated : March 20, 2019, 2:39 pm
India will be celebrating Holi, the festival of colours, on March 21. Colour forms an important component of cars and SUVs as well. After one has decided the vehicle to go for, the next decision usually pertains to its colour.
Updated : March 20, 2019, 1:11 pm
The Jaguar portfolio in India includes the XE, XF, XJ and F-PACE as locally manufactured products and the F-TYPE. The Land Rover portfolio consists of the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque as locally manufactured products, along with the Range Rover Velar, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and all-new Discovery.
Updated : March 19, 2019, 7:37 pm
The production of MG Hector will begin in the second quarter of 2019 at the company's manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat. MG Motor India aims to begin its journey in the country with over 75 per cent localisation level.
Updated : March 19, 2019, 6:17 pm
The 2019 Ford Figo facelift gets seven colour options -- White Gold, Moondust Silver, Smoke Grey, Absolute Black, Deep Impact Blue, Ruby Red and Oxford White. There is a five-year or one lakh km warranty on the new Ford Figo. It will rival the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Grand i10.
Updated : March 19, 2019, 3:37 pm
Yamaha MT-15 gets a 155 cc, liquid cooled, four-stroke, SOHC, four-valve engine. The motor delivers 19.3 PS at 10,000 rpm and 14.7 Nm of torque at 8,500 rpm.
Updated : March 18, 2019, 3:48 pm
The 2019 Ford Figo facelift has been introduced with a host of upgrades, both in terms of design and specifications. That the all-new Figo is going to take on two established players in the form of Swift and Grand i10 is in itself an arduous task.
Updated : March 18, 2019, 1:50 pm
Ford claims fuel efficiency figures of 20.4 kmpl, 25.5 kmpl and 16.3 kmpl for the 1.2-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel and 1.5-litre petrol engines, respectively.
Updated : March 15, 2019, 7:32 pm
Ford had recently released an official image of the Figo facelift, which showed the hatchback with a fresh front fascia. New bumper, refurbished headlights and honeycomb grille give the new Figo a bold look upfront.
Updated : March 14, 2019, 12:29 pm
The 2019 Ford Figo will get a fresh front fascia, with new bumper and honeycomb grille. The headlights have been refurbished as well. The Ford Figo facelift sports 15-inch alloy wheels.
Updated : March 13, 2019, 12:05 pm
Inside the cabin, the Figo facelift is expected to get the company's new SYNC 3 infotainment system, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Several features like push button start and automatic climate control may feature in the updated hatchback. We may also see new upholstery.
Updated : March 11, 2019, 11:39 am
The teaser shows the side profile of Altroz and it seems that the rear door handle is located on the C-pillar, similar to the positioning of the rear door handle in Maruti Suzuki Swift.
Updated : March 1, 2019, 3:45 pm