text:
In a move that has been widely anticipated for some time now, Wirepath Home Systems LLC, the corporate name for SnapAV, has filed paperwork with the SEC to preliminarily begin the process of registering their stock for sale to the public. We learn little in the rather terse announcement from the company, but many in the industry had expected this day would come for years now.
SnapAV announced today that it will acquire network service agency Access Networks in a deal expected to close later this month. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The company says this acquisition “will broaden SnapAV’s networking portfolio with newer products and managed services including system design, configuration, monitoring, and support.”
See more on this latest SnapAV acquisition…[Read more…] about SnapAV Acquires Access Networks
Owner of CEDIA Expo & CE Pro Plan Return to Live Events in 2nd Half
Emerald Holding Inc. (NYSE:EEX), formerly Emerald Expositions Events Inc., the national B2B exposition company that owns the CEDIA Expo show as well as certain industry publications such as CE Pro, announced last week financial results for their fiscal first quarter. The news was bleak with a massive decline in revenues and a large net loss as the company is still suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Emerald made several other announcements as well. The company says it has acquired an online photography education business, and – perhaps more ominously – it has filed a lawsuit against their event cancellation insurance providers.
Learn more about the Emerald 1st quarter report…[Read more…] about Emerald Losses Continue in Fiscal 1st Quarter; Sues Insurance Providers
I can’t say this news from Onkyo Home Entertainment comes as much of a surprise. And based on conversations I’ve had with many of you over the last week or so, my reference a couple of weeks back to the growing romance between Onkyo and Voxx was clearly a wink-nod signal that I saw this coming. Onkyo has signed a preliminary agreement to sell their largest, but not their only, remaining division – the home audio/video division – to a partnership consisting of Sharp Corp. and Voxx Intl. The deal includes the Onkyo, Integra, Pioneer, and Pioneer Elite brands.
But after the abject failure of three previous attempts to sell the troubled company, will this deal actually close? See my thoughts…
Will deal between Onkyo and VOXX/Sharp close?[Read more…] about Trying to Avert Disaster, Onkyo Signs Preliminary Deal to Sell to Voxx/Sharp
Moody’s Investors Service, one of the top credit rating agencies in the world, said this month that DEI Sales, Inc., dba Sound United, has been assigned a credit rating of B2 and a probability of default rating of B2-PD. In addition to this, they are assigning another B2 rating to Sound United’s proposed $380 million senior secured first lien term loan due in 2028. The forward looking “outlook” for Sound United and this rating is “stable.”
What does a B2 rating of Sound United mean?[Read more…] about Is Sound United Sound? Top Credit Rating Agency Says It’s ‘Speculative’
If you read my report on the sale of Nortek Air Management on Monday, you know that Melrose sold off the division in a deal valued at approximately $3.6 billion. But in my discussion of the deal, I expressed some skepticism about the metrics the company was using to tell investors what a great deal it was. I don’t claim to be some kind of a financial expert, but something smelled fishy to me.
Now we know what investors think of that deal…and it isn’t good for Melrose.
See what investors think of the Melrose sale of Nortek Air[Read more…] about Investors Dub Melrose the Biggest ‘Loser’ After Sale of Nortek Announced
Melrose Industries PLC announced this morning that they have entered into an agreement to sell off the Nortek Air Management business – the most valuable part of the company – to Madison Industries of Chicago, Il. The cash deal is valued at approximately $3.625 billion. Melrose refers to this transaction as the “Disposal.”
See more on Melrose ‘Disposing’ of Nortek…[Read more…] about Melrose ‘Disposes’ of Nortek Air Mngmt in Deal Valued at $3.625B
LVMH, the global owner and marketer of luxury goods carrying some of the most prestigious brands, reported on Tuesday strong first quarter 2021 sales growth that handily exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts of market analysts. This is yet another encouraging sign of a significant rebound in consumer spending – especially with the type of consumer who tends to be the primary customer base for the custom integration channel.
See more on LVMH and its results with luxury consumers…[Read more…] about More Positive Consumer News as Luxury Marketer LVMH Reports Q1 Sales
Last Thursday, Onkyo notified the Tokyo Stock Exchange that its latest forecast for fiscal 2021 results shows that – despite their best efforts – the company remains insolvent. It was a disappointing announcement, as it means that the company’s well thought-out plans to return to solvency failed. So what happens now?
What happens to Onkyo now?[Read more…] about Onkyo Corps’ Struggle to Survive: The Situation has Become Dire
On Tuesday, Sonos held a major investors event that started off with the introduction of their new Roam portable speaker. But the real purpose of this event was to provide investors information on their financial performance. And stock analysts and the media got quite a show – and a few surprises – as the company revealed their formula for success.


text:
Period products are set to be free and available in 330 bathrooms across the American University campus. The installation of period product dispensers comes after the passage of the 2022 Period Products Act by the DC City Council.
The act requires most public buildings in the District to install dispensers for free period products in womens and gender-neutral bathrooms, along with maintenance and education.
In 2021, researchers at George Mason University and the University of Pennsylvania found that 10% of female college students are unable to afford menstrual products each month.
“I’ve had to worry more about buying period products in college for sure,” said Mads Wooten, Junior at American University. “I think it’s partially because my paycheck isn’t high enough to be able to afford all the necessities.”
She also described her worries about access now that she is in college.
“I don’t live super close to a convenience store or a grocery store and the prices are a lot higher now too,” said Wooten.
On Feb. 1, American University announced that “next week, two architect and contractor teams will begin installing dispensers across the campus.” The project is due to be finished on March 14 and is currently underway.
With products being installed in bathrooms on campus daily, some of the worries students face around menstruation are being alleviated.
Katy Beiner, a sophomore at American University, said that she often finds herself unprepared, having to leave class to grab period products.
“No one should have their life inhibited because of a natural bodily function or feel embarrassed because they can’t afford the steep prices,” Beiner said.
Many students are arguing that despite this new change, they think period products should have been available sooner.
“Because the aim of many departments on campus is to ensure student well-being and comfort, this issue should have been recognized as a priority a lot sooner, “ said Beiner.
Wooten added that she thinks period products should be free. She said, “I can’t stop my period from happening, I don’t have a choice in where or when I have my period.”
Period products will soon be available and free of charge across campus, any time your monthly friend decides to pay you a visit.

domain: news


text:
Chainsaws sold at Lowe's may not turn off
Fox Business Flash top headlines for September 24
Fox Business Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com.
Be careful if you've purchased a Kobalt Cordless Electric Chainsaw sold exclusively at Lowe’s.
Continue Reading Below
The saw may not turn off and stay in the on position, posing a chance of injury.
The recall was issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The product in question is the Kobalt Brand 40-volt Lithium Ion Cordless Electric Chainsaw in Blue or Black.


text:
It’s official: cult beauty icon and world-renowned makeup brand NARS Cosmetics is launching on Boots.com next week.
Founded in 1994 by French makeup artist and photographer, François Nars, NARS has remained at the forefront of the beauty world, recognised globally for unique textures, innovative formulas and diverse shade ranges. Boots customers can now get their hands on iconic products such as Orgasm Blush, Laguna Bronzer and Climax Mascara, from Wednesday 8 Julyon Boots.com
Joanna Rogers, Commercial Director and VP of Beauty and Gifting at Boots UK, said: “Following the hugely popular launch of Laura Mercier, we’re really excited to welcome NARS to our ever-growing beauty offering on Boots.com. Celebrated for its inclusive and boundary-breaking approach to makeup as well as bold, long-lasting pigments, we’re so pleased to be making another legendary brand accessible to all of our beauty-loving customers.”
Helen Wood, General Manager for NARS, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing NARS, the iconic, forward thinking and globally recognized colour brand, to Boots and reaching beauty consumers across the UK”
To celebrate the launch, customers can get their hands on a free NARS Explicit Dragon Girl Lip Duo when they spend £45 on the brand on Boots.com.*
NARS is available on Boots.com from the 8th July.
*Available from 8th July 2020, whilst stocks last. For further information please contact the Boots UK Press Office at Bootsbeautypr@apteamwpp.com


text:
About 1 in 5 people who voted in last weeks poll say they have pre-ordered a Samsung Galaxy Note9. Among those who are holding back the most commonly cited reason why is the price.
The Galaxy Note8 was a bit cheaper in the US and the UK ($70 or 30 less) than the Note9 pricing. The new model comes with double the base storage and a more advanced S Pen, which probably added to the cost. Not surprisingly, 1 in 4 people are waiting for the prices to drop before they make a move.
Then there are the 14% who dont see the Galaxy Note9 as a big enough upgrade over the Note8 and prefer that one instead. There are even 9% of voters who dont care about the S Pen at all.
Anyway, its telling that only a third of voters are looking at a non-Galaxy flagship. There was a heated discussion of Samsungs custom UI vs. Android Pie. Theres a surprisingly negative sentiment against Pie, so it turns out that the Note9 launching with Oreo isnt a problem for most folks.


text:
The halal chain is one of the plans for the development of the Hala industry in Dubai,
debuted in Dubai on Nov 21st, and introduce its purpose.This n exclusive interview with the co-founder of the Halal chain project from Dubai, Mr. Sultan Al Howymel, who is the economic director of the Dubai International Islamic Center and has a deep special political background and financial resources in the Middle East countries.
According to statistics, the global Halal food market has grown from $2.3 trillion in 2014 to $3.2 trillion. At the same time, this data is still growing, It is predicted that 2018 global halal industry's annual output value will increase to 6.4 trillion U.S. dollars. With the rapid growth of market demand, the market has countless halal food waiting for excavation. So what is the exact halal industry that is so big in market size? Halal is the legal act of the Islamic Shariah. The universal dietary statutes of the world's Muslims, which are developed and formed on the basis of halal.
1. Information asymmetry difficulties of trust establishment
Halal food, which conforms to the Islamic HALAL food standard. In China, Halal food usually refers to food products that are slaughtered, processed and manufactured in accordance with Halal requirements according to Chinese Muslim eating habits. However, there are many obstacles to the development of the market at present, the first is the lack of halal product certification system. Around 2 billion Muslims worldwide are scattered around the world, each region has formed a relatively closed halal product market, resulting in many excellent domestic halal food and industries can not be docked with the international market. There is a serious information asymmetry of halal product, resulting in a lot of ordinary users can not identify the hands of the product is really halal products, especially for small and medium-sized brands their halal products can not obtain the trust of consumers, which for the sale of products and circulation caused a hindrance. And the lack of a highly effective regulatory portal for regulation can systematically control the whole process from raw material supply to sales. For some central management mechanism is not yet the sound state of the Halal food market regulation of the relevant laws and regulations have not been promulgated, it causes problems in the halal industry problems incessantly. In response to this series of problems, The blockchain has the characteristics of decentralization, traceability, and data unchangeable, which can solve the pain points in the halal industry.
2. Halal chain will be launching soon, and Chinese investors can get involved
Sultan Al Howymel says the halal industry will be greatly developed in the coming critical time node. The halal industry includes not only Halal food, but also all the industries involved in halal. Halal related products in 2021 will be twice times the volume of 2014. Investors who are expected to invest in halal products in the near future will be rewarded handsomely. One of the plans for the development of the Halal industry in Dubai is Halal Chain, it will debut in Dubai on November 21st, and Halal Chain project will be officially released to the public and introduced for its purpose. The project will allow more enterprises, more transactions into the block chain, is expected after the launch of the halal chain, the chain will be very impressive trading volume. Chinese investors will also be involved in the project as investors in the UAE, which are expected to become one of the largest halal industry in the global market in 3 years.
This project encourages businesses and commodity producers to trade on this halal chain, and no matter what kind of products you offer will be shown to consumers around the world in this chain, it will allow businesses to offer the highest quality products in line with JAKIM Halal standards. Second, because the use of block-chain users from all over the world, facing the global market, so the user base will be very large, this huge market will also enable companies willing to join the halal chain transactions.
The halal chain will integrate market resources, which will benefit every business that joins the ecosystem. However, the project is still in the release phase and will begin inviting enterprises to join the project after the project is issued.
3. The utilization of traceability of the block chain enables more SMEs to join the Halal industry
Before the advent of the halal chain, if the product is JAKIM certified, consumers can be very clearly informed when buying the product is halal, consumers can be assured to buy, but in addition to this method, there is no other choice. The advent of the halal chain will encourage small and medium-sized enterprises, especially small ones, to join the ecosystem of the block chain and enter the Halal market. Currently Halal market participants are far less than should be in this market, we will encourage those who should be able to enter the market to join the halal industry.
The global halal food market reached 1.2 trillion dollars in 2014, by 2021 this figure will increase to 1.9 trillion dollars, the growth of this market is huge, this is only the food industry, halal industries such as tourism, fashion, media and other industries, it could expect a big growth in the whole industry.
The Block chain bring the whole market into the new era, in the traditional market, only has the halal mark to be able to import the commodity and the export commodity, without this mark will not be able to provide the commodity in the market, but under the push of the block chain technology, more enterprises can join in this industry, New technologies will also lead businesses to move beyond traditional barriers. For Dubai governments, this is not just a plan but has actually been put into practice, they hope Dubai can become the center of the world's block chain.just four weeks ago, Dubai government officials announced, "as of 2020, all Dubai government agencies will use the block chain technology." "So in 2020 the block chain will spread throughout the Dubai, and the halal chain is one of the key links." After halal chain into the ecosystem, it will create a 1 billion-note economy, from which Chinese manufacturers can join. Dubai hopes to become a global leader in the halal industry, so the industry-related ecology will be supported by the government.
4. Dubai Government to support the development of the block chain, the halal chain is an important part of the plan.
Dubai's government affairs are also considering using block-chain technology to improve government efficiency, with six government departments considering the introduction of block-chain projects, including Smart Dubai. Dubai has never done anything like the halal chain, and the halal chain is a unique project, which is why the project has been widely supported.
Dubai will actively embrace such new technology as the block chain, being committed to promoting the development of the block chain technology, everyone will inevitably use the block chain in Dubai, in the future government departments will be closed offices, replaced by the use of online office, to encourage people to use technology to deal with business. Not only to encourage the use of block chain technology, but also to allow each individual to join the block chain ecology, especially halal chain.
The halal chain will be holding a global conference in Dubai on November 21st, please looking forward to it.


text:
Ye is a billionaire no more. After his partnership with Adidas was severed on Tuesday (October 25) for offensive and antisemitic remarks made on social media and recent media appearances, Forbes has reported that the Donda 2 artist has lost his billionaire status. The sportswear company joins other brands and influencers that have since denounced Ye, including Creative Artists Agency (CAA), MRC Entertainment, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and Ye’s former wife Kim Kardashian.
According to the publication, Adidas received an estimated 4% to 8% of all sales from Yeezy products, but the artist formerly known as Kanye West made bank during the partnership, as the deal accounted for $1.5 billion of his net worth.
While on a now-pulled Drink Champs episode, Ye asserted that despite his controversial statements about Jewish people, Adidas wouldn’t end their deal.
“I can say anti-Semitic s*** and Adidas cannot drop me,” he said in the episode.
On Tuesday, Adidas published a remark of their own, declaring that their relationship with Ye has ended, weeks after announcing that the partnership was “under review.” The termination will impact Adidas’ 2022 net income by €250 million ($246 million), although the company said the decline will be short-lived.
“Adidas does not tolerate anti-Semitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness,” the company announced in a press release. “After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies. Adidas will stop the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect.”
Will Beyoncé win over Adele? Will Steve Lacy have his breakout moment? Will Kendrick have… Read More
Featured in 2001 John Singleton-directed drama film Baby Boy, a mural painting of the late… Read More
Trailers for forthcoming action films will air during the Super Bowl LVII, including Ant-Man and… Read More
Drake, Her Loss artist and recent Apollo Theater headliner, said that artists 'should get bonuses'… Read More
Jon Stewart and writer/comedian Kasaun Wilson recently discussed how the death of Tyre Nichols has… Read More
While on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Jordan Peele reflected on his decision not to… Read More


text:
Tech Data Corp. is closely monitoring an escalating trade war between the United States and China.
At this point the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Chinese imports are unlikely to have a major impact on the Clearwater-based IT distributor, CEO Rich Hume said in a conference call with analysts discussing the first quarter of its 2020 fiscal year.
Tech Data (Nasdaq: TECD) is the largest company based on revenue of any business headquartered in the Tampa-St. Pete area. The company buys goods from technology vendors and sells them to retailers, managed service providers and other customers.
The Trump administration raised tariffs on thousands of items coming to the U.S. from China, from 10 percent to 25 percent, in mid-May. Most of the items are industrial or intermediate goods that are used as component parts in products manufactured in the U.S., CNN reported. Importers pay the 25 percent tariff once the product reaches the U.S.
Tech Data follows the lead of its vendors in price hikes, Hume said.
“As they raise their prices, as a generalization, we do an evaluation and typically we follow those price increases simultaneously,” Hume said. “So, from an overall tariff perspective, as we have seen with Round 1 [the initial tariffs imposed last year], our business is fairly seamless in being able to manage that. As it goes from potentially 10 percent to 25 percent, etc. our judgment would be that if there were an impact, it would be the overall macro-level economy slowing down, as opposed to any transactional exposures we might have in our business.”
Separately, federal legislation approved last year bars the U.S. government and its contractors from using equipment made by Chinese tech giant Huawei. Huawei is challenging the constitutionality of the law.
Analysts pressed Hume for insight into how that impacts Tech Data. Without naming Huawei specifically, Hume indicated the impact was minimal and primarily confined to inventory that Tech Data has on hand.
“We do have inventory and we will follow the laws of the United States and as they ebb and flow and determine where they want to go with that in the future, we will comply. At the same time we have responsibility to respect our vendor relationships and we certainly are doing that as well,” Hume said.
“From an ongoing sales and operating income derived from sales perspective, we don’t have a material exposure at all. We are following the guidance and complying with the law moving forward from an inventory perspective. At this point in time, [Chuck Dannewitz, Tech Data’s chief financial officer] mentioned that inventory is approximately 4 percent of our global inventory. We plan to work that down as we move forward. We’re following the regulations and news on a daily basis in this category.”
The issues almost exclusively applies to Tech Data’s European operations, and “to explicitly answer your question, we absolutely are permitted to sell,” Hume told another analyst who asked specifically about Tech Data’s Huawei inventory.
Overall, Tech Data had a “solid start” to FY 2020, Hume said. For the three months ended April 30, the company reported $55.4 million in net income, or $1.49 a share, on sales of $8.4 billion. Sales were down 2 percent compared to the year-ago quarter, but net income jumped 64 percent. See the complete earnings here.


text:
20 Mar Surge365 Gives Away 9 Cars at Baltimore Event!
Did you see the press release talking about what happened in Baltimore last weekend? You’re in luck! We’ve got it for you!
CEO Scott Tomer described the program this way, “Surge365 is not the first Direct Sales company with a car bonus, but ours is definitely different. When you qualify for the car, we buy it and you drive it. Your credit is never on the line because these are truly ‘company cars’ and are even covered under company insurance. This is totally unique in the industry.”


text:
Aug 1, 2019 In our recent post, Status of CBD products under Ohio law: Part One, we and running for cultivators and processors in Ohio by spring of 2020. Jan 3, 2020 It's a big change considering hemp and CBD were effectively illegal March 25, 2020 11:00 am-1:30pm | Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse In Ohio, this comes just five months after the conservative state decriminalized hemp. Dec 18, 2019 Green Growth Brands, an Ohio cannabis and hemp retailer, on Wednesday dropped its 31, 2020, and $4 million in deal fees by July 1, 2020. Companies have unleashed hundreds of CBD pet health products accompanied by glowing customer testimonials claiming the cannabis Jan 12, 2020 Ohio followed suit in July, legalizing hemp cultivation using the farm bill as the model. Upcoming Events and Workshops at GIVE Yoga Columbus, Ohio Yoga | Baptiste Yoga Affiliate Ohio. Balance: A Multisensory CBD Experience. Mar. 20 Saturday May 16, 2020 | 9am – 6pm (doors open at 8:30am for registration). Sunday Thursday, February 6, 2020 NILES, Ohio – From his new storefront in the Eastwood Mall, Paul Kaldy presents himself as a walking example of what CBD oil can 12, just over a month after the sale of CBD products was legalized in Ohio. 12301 Larchmere Blvd. Cleveland OH 44120 At Your CBD Store™, we believe in bringing superior quality Hemp-derived products to the market. Because our
Jan 5, 2020 Still, the CBD market is booming, and Brightfield Group, which tracks what they are willing to lose when it comes to the 2020 planting season.
Is CBD Legal in Ohio? | Ohio CBD Laws in 2020 | Healthy Hemp Oil A Brief Guide to Buying CBD Oil in Ohio. Let’s cut to the chase. As of 2019, CBD oil is legal in Ohio.But the road to that decision has had its fair share of bumps. Ohio has had a somewhat liberal relationship with cannabis, becoming only the sixth state to decriminalize it, way back in 1975. 2020 to Bring Changes for Ohio CBD Users After First Run in 2018 Key players involved in Ohio’s Hemp Program like state regulators, farmers and patients expect an eventful 2020. CBD users who are registered under the state’s highly-regulated Hemp Program and use medical marijuana to cure pain and other medical conditions are in for some significant changes in the market. Competition might become stiffer as new entrees […] 2020 will bring big changes for CBD users in Ohio - News 5
In 2020 the Convention on Biological Diversity will adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework as a stepping stone towards the 2050 Vision of “"Living in harmony with nature". In its decision 14/34 the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a comprehensive and participatory process for the preparation
If you're looking to buy CBD Oil in Ohio and don't know how to get started, this guide is for you. Understand the legalities and where Updated on 2020-01-02. Ohio Medical Cannabis Business & Marijuana Legal News. Green Thumb inks $7.2 million marijuana sale-leaseback in Ohio. Published February 3, 2020. A specific strain of the hemp plant is used in the extraction of CBD and other cannabinoids. This is different than the marijuana Why Is Joy Organics the Right Choice for CBD Products in Ohio? THC Free 2020 Joy Organics. Site Map. CBD The CBD Dispensary has one goal, their customers health. Their team of CBD specialists will help you find exactly what you need from the variety of CBD
Nov 17, 2019 Whether you need to know about CBD federal law in 2019, 2020, In July 2019, Ohio passed a law allowing hemp cultivation and CBD
CBD Oil for the Potential Treatment of Health Conditions. Before you actually go out and buy CBD oil in Ohio, you’re likely wondering what kind of conditions people use it for. Well, out of the 113 known cannabinoids in the marijuana plant, we know the most about the benefits of CBD and THC. Sign Out - CBD In 2020 the Convention on Biological Diversity will adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework as a stepping stone towards the 2050 Vision of “"Living in harmony with nature". In its decision 14/34 the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a comprehensive and participatory process for the preparation CBD 2020: What to Expect + Our Top Predictions | CBD Origin While the growth of the CBD market in 2019 is beyond ridiculous, experts believe that CBD sales will continue to skyrocket and reach $25 billion by 2025. With 2020 just around the corner, here’s what we expect will happen in the CBD industry during this upcoming year. CBD Oil in Ohio [Places to Buy] Valid CBD


text:
The European Central Bank (ECB) promises to do everything it can to tackle high inflation in the euro area. According to ECB President Christine Lagarde, the central bank will “go as far as necessary”. Inflation will also remain “undesirably high” for the foreseeable future.
Lagarde said this at a meeting of the ECB in Sintra, Portugal. The ECB is set to raise interest rates for the first time in more than a decade at next month’s policy meeting, likely by a quarter of a percentage point.
Inflation in the eurozone hit a record 8.1 percent in May, fueled mainly by high energy and food prices due to the war in Ukraine. Lagarde says high inflation is a “big challenge” and that the ECB will do everything it can to ensure that inflation stabilizes towards the 2 percent target over the medium term. This does not rule out even stronger interest rate hikes.
Lagarde argued that current levels of price increases in industrial and agricultural goods have not been seen since the 1980s and that inflationary pressures are widening and widening. In addition, high inflation is weighing on household purchasing power and “economic turbulence” is causing weaker growth.
The ECB does not think that the eurozone economy will end up in a recession. Positive figures are still expected. The bank had previously said it did not expect the eurozone to experience a period of stagflation as it did in the 1970s. Stagflation occurs when economic growth slows and inflation rises rapidly.
New figures on inflation in the euro countries will be released on Friday. Economists generally expect consumer prices to rise 8.5 percent in June compared to a year earlier. So that would be a new record.


text:
A tiny-home startup in Lancaster County is poised for the big time.
- A publicly traded shell company has agreed to buy Tiny Estates LLC and two related companies, Endeavor Tiny Homes LLC and Tiny Communities Fund LLC.
- The companies are led by CEO Abby Shank, a former KPMG auditor-turned-entrepreneur who started a tiny-home community outside Elizabethtown in 2018.
- Shank, who went on to build a larger business around the initial community, declined to comment. She referred questions to the buyer — Chase Packaging Corp., which has an administrative office in Rumson, New Jersey.
- “The more we dug in, the more we were impressed with her, what they were doing and where the industry is going,” said Mark Nielson, a San Diego-based management consultant who sits on Chase’s board of directors.
Where’s it going: Nielson sees opportunity to grow the tiny-home business as an affordable alternative to high-priced traditional homes.
- “This closes the gap for certain people,” Nielson said, particularly younger and older households of just one or two people.
- Indeed, the move to smaller homes is a fledging trend dubbed “the great compression” in a recent New York Times article.
- Nielson sees parallels to the manufactured housing industry, a sector with which he and some of his colleagues have experience.
- “This is like manufactured housing 3.0,” said Nielson. “The quality is really good.”
- Tiny homes also are emerging as a solution to homelessness among veterans, Nielson added.
How did this happen: Nielson said he met Shank when he reached out to the Tiny Home Industry Association, a trade association for the industry. Shank is a board member.
- The two began discussing a potential deal about six months ago, Nielson said.
- Tiny Estates oversees the development in Elizabethtown.
- Tiny Communities manages tiny-home developments in Florida, while Endeavor is a licensed dealer for manufacturer Atomic Homes, an offshoot of Lititz-based staging company Atomic Design.
- Altogether, the three businesses employ about 10 people, said Nielson.
- He expects the companies to grow, in part, by offering management services to tiny-home communities around the U.S.
- They will not be manufacturing homes.
- “The companies provide a well-rounded offering for renters, homeowners, investors and developers, as well as a platform for geographic expansion into additional markets,” Chase said in a press release.
The buyer: Chase was a specialty packaging company that ceased operations in the late 1990s and has been looking for a new business ever since. Nielson, a former public-company CFO, joined the board in 2019.
- The company had a potential deal in 2020 with an undisclosed third party but the deal fell through.
- Chase’s stock trades over the counter and had been valued at about 4 cents per share for most of this year.
- Shares jumped to about 18 cents last week on news of the potential merger with Tiny Estates.
What’s next: The merger is expected to close in the second quarter of this year and result in the Lancaster firms going public.
- At that point, Chase would change its name and ticker symbol to reflect its new business.
- Terms of the pending transaction were not disclosed, though Chase described it as involving the use of its stock.
- Chase plans to raise additional capital in a private placement to support expansion of the tiny-home business. Nielson declined to disclose the amount.
- The headquarters would remain in Lancaster County and Shank would be CEO, he added.
What’s tiny: Generally speaking, homes of less than 400 square feet, according to the industry trade association
- Prices range from $30,000 to $60,000, according to online lender Rocket Mortgage, though amenities could drive the cost up to $150,000.
- In the final three months of 2023, the median price for a home sold in the U.S. was $417,000, according to the St. Louis Fed.


text:
Brooklyn Beckham just made an unexpected change to his look — and contrary to what you might be expecting, it's not a new tattoo. While Brooklyn has been busy expanding his ink collection (getting everything from huge compasses to incredibly detailed cameras), his hair has taken a backseat. But now, he's back with another set of mane moves — and you won't even recognize him. Over the past year, Brooklyn has tended to favor long hair, whether he's wearing it in swooping side bangs or even dyeing it blonde. His most recent style featured a more cropped cut with plenty of volume at the top, but now, it looks like he's decided to get rid of all of his hair.
Last night, Brooklyn took to Instagram to post a new photo, simply captioning it, "@mrbobbyrich." Fans instantly noticed that he had switched out his short crop for a buzzcut and shaved his head, a dramatic departure from his previous 'do. Brooklyn has yet to reveal details on who was behind the cut or why he went for it (could it be for a new project or shoot?), but his Instagram followers are already torn between loving the change and mourning his old hair. One thing's for sure: Seeing as his reveal has already racked up 213k likes (and counting) since he posted it last night, Brooklyn definitely knows how to debut a hair makeover.


text:
As Euwid reports, the vote in the EU Parliament's Environment Committee on the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) was postponed due to the large number of motions for amendments. Instead of taking place in September as previously planned, it is now scheduled to be held in the fourth week of October, according to the current status.
take-e-way will be pleased to assist you via +49/40/750687-0 or email@example.com if you have any questions on WEEE, the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act, the Batteries Act, the Packaging Act and on EPR with registration/licensing.
For solutions on the subject of EU product or packaging labelling and, in particular, disposal labelling, the trade-e-bility consulting team will be glad to assist you via firstname.lastname@example.org or +49/40/750687-300.
Please click on the link below for further particulars on our international compliance services in connection with placing electronic equipment, batteries/rechargeable cells and packaged products or packaging: https://www.take-e-way.com/international-compliance/


text:
Innovation and investment help SC Johnson cut supply chain footprint
SC Johnson has cut its global manufacturing waste by 62% and increased its renewable energy use to 30%.
These are the topline results in the company’s latest sustainability report, 2013, which highlights the investment the company has made in two 415 foot tall wind turbines at its global manufacturing facility which will produce eight million kWh of electricity, and help make the site essentially ‘off grid’.
Seven sites are now considered ‘zero landfill’ (without the use of incineration), with 10 other sites diverting 90% of their waste from landfill.
Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson said the company’s strategy focuses on finding ways to minimise landfill waste, managing its footprint through greenhouse gas reductions and continuing to improve its product chemistry.
“We are constantly challenging ourselves to find ways to reduce our environmental footprint while continuing to produce the high-quality products that consumers expect and deserve,” he explained.
This has led to some significant innovations in the past year. For instance, the introduction of the ‘Smart Twist’ cleaning system – a reusable sprayer for cleaning products that uses concentrated refills. The sprayers require 63% less plastic. Mr Muscle packaging has also been lightweighted saving 900,000 pounds (408,000kg) of resin.
These are just two of 10 new SKU’s launched in 2012/13 aimed at helping consumers reduce the waste sent to landfill. These lines are promoted through the company’s Green Choices Marketplace – a one-stop shop for products that offer environmental benefits – that shows consumers how to reduce their environmental impact through the products they buy.
Internally, SC Johnson also its ‘Greenlist’, an environmental classification process to help its scientists select ingredients for new or reformulated products. Products are rated as ‘best’, ‘better’ or ‘good’. There is also ‘0-rated’ for materials that can be used only in special circumstances. Since 2001, better or best ingredient use has increased from 18% to 44%.
The scores for the past year are “down somewhat from prior years”, the company admitted, in part due to a recalibration. In 2011/12, the score for high density polythene was changed in error, but this has since been corrected. Products have also been acquired from other companies and these are being reformulated to bring them “up to our standards”, the report reads. The process is reviewed continuously to ensure that it remains “robust and meaningful”.
SC Johnson is working toward a target of 33% renewable energy globally by 2016. For greenhouse gas reductions, by 2016 it is aiming to reduce emissions from its global manufacturing sites by 48% versus 2000 (indexed to production). By 2016 it also aims to become landfill neutral.


text:
According to the current market report for the fourth quarter of 2020, the Apple iPhone posted record sales of 81.8 million units, making it first among all smartphone manufacturers worldwide. According to the latest data, the Apple iPhone 12 has been a hit.
Apple iPhone a complete success
Experts say that the Apple iPhone 12 is a hit and the Californian company is better positioned than its competitors in 5G.
According to experts, Apple was taking smart steps to increase sales and profitability. The absence of a power plug in the sales box, a reduction in weight and size led to more efficient logistics costs. Also, channel-oriented growth initiatives have been implemented for small and medium-sized companies, strengthening the demand for all iPhone models.
According to different reports, smartphone shipments fell two per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 in the middle of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The second wave took a significant toll, but the industry was prepared for the impact compared to the first wave.
The Apple iPhone landed in the first place, followed by Samsung with 62.0 million units, Xiaomi with 43.4 million smartphones, Oppo with 34.7 million units and Vivo with 32.1 million units. Using YouTube and Instagram applications for marketing growth on the iPhone is a perfect plan.
Total sales amounted to 359.6 million smartphones and are 2 per cent less than in the fourth quarter of 2019. Apple could expand its market share by four per cent to 23 percent, while the fiercest competitor Samsung had to cope with a decline of 12 percent to 17 percent. The Chinese climber Xiaomi recorded a significant increase in its market share by 9 percent to 12 percent.
The providers have already gained experience with virtual presentations, and channel meetings, such as device checks can now be carried out conveniently over the Internet. In some cases, smartphones are used to facilitate work in the home office and distance learning. The smartphone industry’s mood is festive despite certain risks such as the economic effects of the Corona crisis.
One billion active Apple iPhone users worldwide
As CEO Tim Cook reports, the company now has one billion active Apple iPhone users worldwide for the first time. The total number of active devices rose from 1.5 billion to 1.65 billion, a significant year-over-year increase.
A record number of active iPhone users
According to Tim Cook, the number of active Apple iPhone users is 1 billion, as he reported in Reuters’ interview. Compared to 2019, this corresponds to an increase of 100 million users.
Two of the three best-selling smartphones found buyers in urban China, Cook said. Numerous other products and services also posted good sales. The change from Android users to iPhones and existing customers switched to a current iPhone.
Apple’s online services
In October, Apple started combining its online services, including Apple Music and iCloud, into the Apple One bundled offer. With AppleOne, customers pay a monthly subscription fee and receive access to the services it contains.
Despite the corona pandemic, Apple has set impressive records. The company is posting sales of over 100 billion US dollars for the first time in the Christmas quarter and the stock market value climbing to a new record high of more than 2.4 trillion US dollars. The company has been booming for years and is investing billions in new services such as Apple TV Plus, the self-driving electric car Apple Car, health and artificial intelligence.


text:
CompareRaja was recently covered by Hindustan Times – 24th Sep 2012, one of India’s leading newspapers. The write up “Browse, bargain before you buy” on CompareRaja featured in the Luxury Section of the newspaper highlights on how the online comparison and shopping can be simplified by logging online to CompareRaja.
CompareRaja is the most updated research portal offering price comparisons of gadgets across top 30 online stores across the country. Making your shopping decision even more easy and convenient is the CompareRaja Genie, an add-on which when downloaded on to your browser and used offers instant display of prices across major shopping portals selling your desired product. Presently, CompareRaja offer product specifications, price comparisons and reviews of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and cameras, to camcorders, watches, perfumes and books. Compare Raja has been devised and launched by the Indian arm of Logicserve, a digital marketing company operating in Europe.


text:
Sandbox Makes the Techweek KC 100 List
Techweek announced the 2017 Kansas City Techweek 100, their list of 100 KC startup professionals who reflect their “Hero Company” thesis. Digital Sandbox KC was well represented on the list, including nine Sandbox-funded companies recognized as winners in the “Rising Startups” category.
Digital Sandbox KC companies on the list:
- Bek Abdullayev, Super Dispatch
- Dominique Davison, PlanIT Impact
- Dave Hulsen, RFP365
- Andy Kallenbach, LendingStandard
- Davyeon Ross, ShotTracker
- Ben Schultz, LaborChart
- Brock Stechman, DivvyHQ
- Lacey Thomas Ellis, LittleHoots
- Liliana Younger, Mobility Designed
Additionally, Digital Sandbox KC Director Jeff Shackelford was awarded the “Innovative Investor” title.
Congrats to all of the companies and individuals recognized for their role in supporting the KC tech entrepreneurial ecosystem. We’re excited for Techweek festivities in September!
Techweek is a tech and startup festival with the objective of catalyzing the growth of billion-dollar businesses and spreading wealth creation to diverse people and places. The Techweek100 awards businesses that are trailblazers and at the forefront of the tech community in Kansas City. Individuals and organizations are recognized for their leadership, innovation, and support of the tech ecosystem. Learn more about the event at: http://techweek.com/kansas-city/


text:
I started my career in the solar industry about 8 years ago focusing on developing the markets for C&I and residential solar in several countries in East and Southern Africa for one of my previous employers. Back then, there weren’t many financing options for businesses looking to get into solar both from traditional banking channels or via other developers through things like corporate PPAs. This is one of the reasons why most corporates who were installing solar at that time did it via outright purchases, which meant that adoption was quite slow. A lot has changed since then, as a lot of developers have come on board, as well as several big banks in South Africa. More financing options are becoming available as South Africans are experiencing the worst electricity rationing cycles in the country’s history.
One of the country’s biggest banks, Absa, has announced that struggling businesses will soon be able to apply for their share of the R50 million ($2.8 million) in grants to keep their businesses running.
In a move aimed at supporting and growing small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Absa will be providing up to R50 million in energy subsidy under its Green Asset Finance program for qualifying SMEs. Absa’s energy subsidy is the only grant of its kind providing some much-needed support to small business customers to finance solar installations and keep the lights on. Eligible SMEs that have their commercial properties financed by Absa will be contacted by Absa and need not take any action to apply for this support. Subsidy amounts will be determined based on clearly set out factors and can reach up to R50,000 or 10% of the overall installation value. Identified and qualifying SME customers will be invited by Absa to opt-in or opt-out of the subsidy for their green finance needs.
“SMEs make a significant contribution to job creation and economic growth in South Africa. However, in many instances, the operating environment over the past few years has made it very difficult for these vital enablers to grow and thrive,” said Ronnie Mbatsane, Managing Executive for SME Business at Absa Relationship Banking.
“Load shedding in particular continues to hamper the potential of many SMEs. Through these subsidies we are helping to put liquidity back into the hands of small businesses to power their business into full production,” Mbatsane adds.
This launch follows the considerable investments Absa has already made in the renewable energy sector, including the solar offering for Absa Home Loan clients, a personal loan option for retail customers to procure alternative power sources, and bespoke solutions supported by subject matter experts who have assisted SMEs to find the best option for their particular needs.
Absa has been a leading financier in energy solutions, enabling customers to determine energy needs, calculate cost and link to a trusted energy supplier.
Additionally, through the Supplier Value Chain development initiative, Absa has supported SME installers in funding their SAPVIA PV Green Card accreditation, supporting emerging township economies, pipeline commercialisation and allowed Absa’s SME customers to participate in the value chain.
“The Absa energy grants underscore our commitment to this vital segment and connecting individuals and businesses to communities,” concludes Mbatsane.
This is a great development for the solar sector and also for small businesses in South Africa. I am looking forward to following this program as it progresses.
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Former Tesla Battery Expert Leading Lyten Into New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Era — Podcast:
I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ...


text:
FanDuel and DraftKings Fight Attempt to Block Merger
FanDuel and Draftkings, two of the biggest websites involved in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) have started a passionate defence of their business merger plans after the US Federal Trade Commission launched an official effort to block the merger. The US Trade Commission is arguing that the merger will break Federal laws and be bad for the consumer, while FanDuel and DraftKings are insisting that the merger will be good for competition within the DFS market.
FanDuel and DraftKings Merger Would Create Monopoly
According to the Federal Trade Commission, a merger between these two companies would break antitrust laws in the United States and create a virtual monopoly within the DFS market. Some estimates say that FanDuel and DraftKings handle up to 90% of DFS players. In addition to this, fierce competition between the two companies over the years saw the firms lowering their entry fees, offering bigger and better competitions, and a wider range of sports. All of this was done in an effort to win over players from the other side.
The Federal Trade Commission is arguing that a merger FanDuel and DraftKings would completely eliminate this competition and there would be little to no reason for the company to offer better benefits to the players.
FanDuel and DraftKings Disagree with Commission’s Assessment
While the Federal Trade Commission has its viewpoint, FanDuel and DraftKings disagree. The companies claim that the merger will only lead to benefits for players, such as cost saving and more innovation. The two companies also stated, once again, that they do not believe DFS is a market on its own and, therefore, they would not have a monopoly. The companies view DFS as a small segment of the overall Fantasy betting market, which is dominated by season-long variants.
The trade commission does not agree with this assessment either, as it has determined that DFS players do not see season-long fantasy sports betting as a viable alternative. We will now have to wait to see what the final results will be. An official hearing has been set for the 21st of November 2017, so the merger is on hold until the results are in.


text:
Getting tough on counterfeiters in Nigeria
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC*) has recently submitted a Bill to the Nigerian National Assembly seeking a life jail term for counterfeiters found to be dealing in counterfeit regulated products in Nigeria. This NAFDAC Bill is to amend the current Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act by introducing the death penalty for counterfeiting offences, a whistle blowing policy and provisions on compensation and punishment where false information is provided to NAFDAC.
This is a promising development and is on the back of a recent raid by NAFDAC where they arrested and prosecuted five people for alleged illegal production and distribution of counterfeit regulated products including codeine, cough syrup and powdered milk in Nigeria.
Although it is not expected that this Bill will reach legislation soon as the passing of Bills typically takes many years in Nigeria, it does give some insight into how NAFDAC currently view counterfeiters.
Our services include full registration of products, as currently set out by NAFDAC. Information on NAFDAC product categories and the registration procedure is available here. We also offer enforcement services in line with NAFDAC leglislation.
For more information on NAFDAC or assistance with product registration in Nigeria, please contact us.
*NAFDAC is a Nigerian federal agency under the Federal Ministry of Health. It regulates and controls the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water.


text:
- 6.8% of Singaporean internet users currently have NFTs and 11.0% plan to own NFTs in the future
- Two in five Singaporean internet users know what NFTs are
- Adoption of NFT highest in the Philippines (32%) and lowest in Japan (2.2%)
The adoption of non-fungible tokens (NFT) has been slowly gaining interest among internet users over the past two months. While many still don’t understand what NFTs are or how they work, Southeast Asian users make up a high percentage of global NFT users.
According to statistics from Finder.com’s Global NFT Adoption report, Southeast Asian users make up the largest number of NFT users based on the 20 countries surveyed. The Philippines has the highest number of NFT owners (32%) of the 20 countries compared, followed by Thailand (27%), Malaysia (24%), United Arab Emirates (23%) and Vietnam ( 17%). At the other end of the spectrum, Japan has the lowest percentage of internet users with NFT (2%), followed by the UK and US (3% each), Germany (4%) %), Australia (5%) and Canada. (6%).
Essentially a digital token, NFTs are built on blockchain, a distributed ledger technology currently widely adopted for various applications. They carry data and are stored in the ledger of the immutable blockchain. When an asset with the NFT token undergoes a transaction digitally or in real life, the blockchain creates a new “block” with the information of the new owner.
There will be a chain of information for every transaction made, and the traceability of ownership throughout the chain is easy to establish the authenticity and provenance of the item. As such, NFTs can serve as a secure means to establish the authenticity of a digitally represented asset.
While the Philippines has the highest number of NFT owners, the survey also showed that Nigeria is expected to experience the highest growth in NFT adoption, from 13.7% to 35.3%, a 22% increase. Other countries expected to experience huge growth in NFT adoption include Peru, Venezuela, and the United Arab Emirates.
Surprisingly, Singaporean internet users are still far behind compared to their global counterparts. According to a survey of more than 28,000 Internet users, only 6.8% of Singaporeans have NFTs, which is below the global average of 11.7%. Interestingly, an additional 11% plan to own NFTs in the future, which means the adoption rate will hit 17.8%.
Finder.com cryptocurrency publisher Keegan Francis believes it is still early days for NFTs in Singapore. 41% of Singaporean internet users currently know what NFTs are and adoption is expected to increase with awareness.
“Singapore expects to have the 7th largest increase in NFT adoption among the countries surveyed, behind countries like Nigeria, Peru and Venezuela but ahead of those like Malaysia and Hong Kong. Men are currently the largest adopters, with 7.4% claiming to have TVNs compared to 6.2% of women. “
Francis also pointed out that adoption of NFT is much higher in countries where the average salary of working citizens is lower.
“In some of these countries people are quitting their jobs because they can make money trading NFTs or earning them in games. NFTs can be a great gateway to cryptocurrency ownership, especially because many NFT games do not require identification. If you want to buy NFTs directly, you will need to create a wallet, buy cryptocurrency and choose an NFT marketplace ”.
As the use of cryptocurrency is also on the rise in Singapore, it will come as no surprise that NFTs follow suit over the next couple of months. Either way, the trend is on the rise and users are starting to realize the full potential that the token can offer them.


text:
Enhanced security credit and debit chip cards are being rolled out to consumers as a powerful new defense against fraud and counterfeiting.
These cards contain an embedded computer chip that is personalized for your account and every in-person transaction generates a unique code, making them more secure by adding this extra safeguard against unauthorized use.
But scammers are taking advantage of this important card changeover by using this as an opportunity to phish for your sensitive information by posing as your card issuer.
The Federal Trade Commission is warning people to be on the lookout for any unsolicited emails or phone calls asking for information related to any of your debit of credit cards, or accounts tied to those cards.
The scammers send official-looking email or make official-sounding telephone calls telling you that they need to confirm personal information before they can send your new enhanced security chip card.
Don’t fall for these phishing scam attempts.
Providing personal information about your account number or yourself can lead to identity theft, and clicking on links in an email can install malware on your computer.
Here is some advice from experts about how to avoid these chip card scammers:
• Don’t provide any information about your account, user name, password, or things like a Social Security number online. The FTC says your official credit and debit card issuers have no need to contact you by phone or email to get personal information before sending you a chip card.
• Call the toll-free number on the back of your credit or debit card if you have any concerns about a request for personal information. Speak to an official customer representative and explain the reason for your call.
• Don’t click on links in email from unknown sources, even if the email looks official. Experts say it’s always better to actually type in the web address of your financial institution so you know you are at the official website.
• Regularly monitor your card accounts online to check for unexpected transactions, and check your credit report for unexplained credit requests or errors.
It’s important to know that City National Bank will send your enhanced security chip card without asking for personal information. Learn more about CNB’s communication practices here.


text:
Ripple Lands the Crypto Holy Grail as Coinbase Makes XRP Trading Live: Next Stop, to the Moon?
Cryptocurrency XRP is Now Being Supported by Coinbase’s Retail Platform
Coinbase continues to expand its support for XPR after listing it on its trading platform a few days ago. Now, XRP will be available for customers on Coinbase that are located in different jurisdictions around the world.
XRP is launching at https://t.co/bCG11KveHS and in the iOS and Android apps within the next 15 minutes. You may need to update your app to properly buy, sell or convert XRP. We will update when XRP is fully live. https://t.co/x2rM5R3S3y
— Coinbase (@coinbase) February 28, 2019
The company is already offering a selection of the most popular coins in the market, including Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC) and Ethereum (ETH), among others. In a recent blog post, Coinbase informed that they will be supporting XRP at Coinbase.com and in the Coinbase Android and iOS apps.
Coinbase explains that they have received several requests to list other digital assets on their platform. Nevertheless, the company was known for having a very hard listing policy. Until 2018, they only listed four coins, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) added at the end of 2017. In mid-2018, Coinbase added support to Ethereum Classic (ETC) and during the second half of the year, they started to list ERC-20 coins such as Basic Attention Token (BAT) or Decentraland (MANA).
XRP is the third largest virtual currency in the market after Bitcoin and Ethereum. It is being used by Ripple in order to power cross-border transactions between financial companies and banks. XRP provides these institutions with a tool to perform fast and cheap transactions that would normally cost more to be processed and would take a longer time to be settled.
Coinbase is currently supporting XRP trading against the Euro (EUR), the US dollar (USD) and Bitcoin.
At the time of writing, XRP has a market capitalization of $13.01 billion and each coin can be purchased for $0.314. When Coinbase added support to XRP, the digital asset spiked around 7%. Nevertheless, it dropped after it and returned to $0.31.
While many XRP fans (XRP Army) might be loving the addition, the listing has become widely scrutinized saying that Coinbase was paid to host XRP by Ripple. Although that has been denied by Ripple.


text:
ATLANTA -- A chain of chicken restaurants is finding Georgia, and especially metro Atlanta, to be one of its best markets.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'N Biscuits expects to add nine new restaurants, including seven in metro Atlanta, by the end of 2012. Locations include Canton, Cartersville, Cornelia, Jefferson, Lithia Springs, Tifton, Toccoa, Villa Rica, and at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Most are franchises, but at least two of the new stores will be company-owned, according to Bojangles' Restaurants Inc. executive vice president Eric Newman.
The chain plans an additional seven stores in 2013.
"The growth has picked up in Atlanta more than any other," Newman said. "It's our No. 1 growth market right now."
Restaurants typically are 3,800 square feet and employ about 15 people, Newman said. Each location requires an investment of about $1.7 million.


text:
Cable providers and telecom companies are changing their strategy in how they approach customers, according to a double play bundle report from GlobalData. The firm says that changes in demand and cost considerations are leading providers to focus on double play rather than triple play offers and to emphasize Internet connectivity to drive sales.
Triple play bundles now account for 34% of service packages offered online, a seven percent decline since 2019, according to GlobalData’s “@Home Bundles US.”
Two approaches – triple play bundles and Internet/entertainment double play bundles now account for about 80% of online offers. Overall, connectivity is at the core of service bundle offers.
‘”The triple-play offer of internet, entertainment and phone service has not disappeared, but service providers are increasingly focusing their marketing on double-play packages,” GlobalData Senior Consumer Services Analyst Courtney Rudd said in a press release about the double play bundle report. “Reasons for this include mobile phone service reducing consumer home phone needs and streaming entertainment services eating into consumer pay-TV needs. The result is less demand for triple-play bundling. If you look at 2020 alone, there was a sharp increase of internet-plus-entertainment and internet-plus-voice bundle offers between March and April and that held steady since.”
Verizon’s Mix & Match on Fios. offer, announced in early 2020, is an example of a provider downplaying the triple play. Customers were offered three plans: 100 Mbps ($39.99), 300 Mbps ($59.99) and gigabit ($79.99). Customers can add a video option – for a minimum monthly fee of $50 – to their plan. And while a phone option was another optional add-on for $20 a month, it was mentioned almost as an afterthought.
But while the GlobalData double play bundle report suggest that double play bundles are becoming increasingly popular, previous GlobalData research suggests that service providers could go further to improve customer satisfaction. The research firm reported in its “@Home—Bundles U.S. Month Pricing” report in September 2019 that U.S. cable and fixed telecom bundles cost as much as $45 more than advertised after various fees are added.
Joan Engebretson contributed to this report.
2 thoughts on “Report Confirms Triple Play Has Lost its Luster, Double Play Bundle Has the Action”
I’m not sure where you got the Fios tiers in your original article. For over a year, Fios’s Mix & Match tiers have been 200, 400, gig. In reality, they have been provisioned as 300, 500, gig, and now in some DMAs like NYC, they show as such.
I can’t recall them ever being 100, 300, gig since Mix & Match was introduced in Jan 2020.
Sorry, I see now in the initial press release, they mentioned 100, 300, gig and that the NYDMA is different. I will say that I think they changed it to be 200, 400, gig shortly thereafter everywhere. And as of a few months ago, they have been advertising 300, 500, gig in NYDMA.


text:
Changing Web usage is hard. Google has granted a few extra months of leeway to those who rely on a handful of popular plug-ins, such as Silverlight, to extend what their browser can do.
After almost two years playing second fiddle, the South Korean electronics giant reclaimed the top spot as the world's largest UHD TV panel vendor.
Chinese officials no longer approve the use of the two antivirus software vendors, according to reports.
Samsung holds 12 percent of the Chinese smartphone market, according to Canalys, behind Xiaomi's 14 percent share.
If you're in the market for a tablet, CNET's buying guide will set you on the right path.
Chip giant is showing off an even thinner version of its tablet design and announcing collaborative efforts with Acer and other device makers. Also on tap: the desktop, 2-in-1s, and a 3D camera.
The combined market share of the two companies puts them just behind Samsung and Apple, according to one analyst firm.
Shopping for your home network? This buying guide will keep you connected with the best options.
The vulnerability affects roughly 95 percent of all Apple mobile devices currently in use, according to a new report.
In the past six months, Sharp has seen its shipments of small and midsized displays rise 50 percent because of Chinese vendors, led by that country's most popular brand, Xiaomi.


text:
Promoting-know-how firm Teads SA has submitted for an preliminary public giving on the
Nasdaq Stock Current market,
including to a string of IPOs and promotions in the marketplace.
The Wall Street Journal noted on the planned IPO ahead of the company’s filing with the Securities and Trade Commission.
Teads, owned by Luxembourg-based mostly telecom firm Altice Worldwide Sarl, created $540 million in income last calendar year, up from $509 million in 2019, according to the SEC filing.
Teads was founded in France in 2011 and was acquired by Altice in 2017. At very first, Teads was acknowledged for technological innovation that served publishers offer advertisements, which includes a video clip structure in which ads perform instantly when men and women scroll to a put on a webpage exactly where the advertisements are seen. The firm has considering that expanded its choices with items that assistance both equally publishers and advertisers, these as a resource that automates the development of custom made adverts and technologies that makes use of info for specific promotion.
Teads joins a fleet of ad-tech businesses that have gone public, using benefit of a sector flush with hard cash and new traders eager for a slice of the rising digital-advertising organization.
Just past 7 days, content material-suggestion company Outbrain Inc. announced its IPO, ad-verification company
Integral Ad Science Inc.
produced its debut on the stock market place and advertisement-tech agency Innovid Inc. declared designs to go community by way of a merger with a specific-reason acquisition vehicle. Ad- and advertising-tech corporations such as PubMatic Inc.,
Viant Engineering Inc.,
DoubleVerify Holdings Inc.
have done community offerings in modern months.
In 2017, Altice NV, as the business was known then, agreed to invest in Teads for an organization price of up to 285 million euros, equal to $306.1 million when the offer was introduced.
Altice in 2018 spun off its controlling stake in its U.S. enterprise as element of a reorganization that split the firm in two: Altice Europe, which features Teads and other worldwide holdings, and
Altice United states Inc.
Altice Worldwide Sarl is the keeping company for Altice Europe.
who controls both the U.S. and international functions, earlier this calendar year took the intercontinental business personal.
Create to Alexandra Bruell at [email protected]
Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Organization, Inc. All Legal rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Appeared in the July 8, 2021, print edition as ‘Advertising-Tech Organization Teads Information for IPO on Nasdaq.’


text:
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has intensified efforts to notify consumers and foodservice operators about a nationwide recall of imported frozen mamey fruit pulp linked to potentially life-threatening typhoid fever illnesses in California and Nevada.
As a precaution, the FDA is advising consumers with an interest in ordering mamey smoothies or drinks made with that fruit to ask their market or juice bar operator what brand of mamey pulp they're using. The agency also urged foodservice operators and other businesses to immediately halt sales of any products using the recalled pulp.
The FDA issued an alert late Friday about the “urgent” voluntary recall of pulp from the fruit of the mamey sapote tree sold under the La Nuestra brand by Montalvan Sales Inc. of Ontario, Calif., and under the Goya brand by Goya Foods Inc. in Secaucus, N.J. It said nine confirmed cases of salmonella Typhi infection in an ongoing outbreak have been linked to the recalled fruit products and that some of the ill individuals reported having consumed mamey smoothies at juice stands.
The FDA said the investigation of the outbreak is being handled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and state health departments. It noted that Montalvan and Goya Foods get their mamey fruit from a common supplier in Guatemala.
The recalled Goya product, which is sold in 14-ounce packages in retail stores nationwide, has a UPC number of 041331090803, the FDA said.
The FDA said the La Nuestra brand mamey pulp from Montalvan comes in 14-ounce plastic packages with a UPC number of 7-56869-10008-4 and was distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Utah. La Nuestra mamey pulp produced prior to May 2009, though not identified with a lot number, is covered by the recall.
According to the FDA, mamey fruit, which is sometime referred to as "zapote,” is large and round, has brown skin and a fleshy orange pulp. It is grown mainly in the tropical lowlands of Central America and is very popular among the Hispanic community, especially in juices and fruit shakes called “batidos.”
Goya Foods’ recall of mamey pulp was initially publicized by the FDA on Aug. 13 and mentioned a possible link to salmonella, but not the Typhi strain that typically requires hospitalization for antibiotic treatments. The Montalvan recall of La Nuestra mamey pulp was first noted on Aug. 18 by the FDA, which was followed two days later with the recall alert mentioning both brands.
Typhoid fever is most common in developing countries and can cause high fevers, stomach pains, headache or loss of appetite, the FDA said. Infection results from consuming food or beverages that have been handled by a person who is shedding salmonella Typhi or if sewage contaminated with the salmonella strain gets into the water used for drinking or washing food.
Typhoid outbreaks can be very problematic, the FDA noted, because a small number of persons, called carriers, may recover from typhoid fever but continue to carry the bacteria and spread it to others.
Contact Alan J. Liddle at [email protected]


text:
Restaurant Group PLC using EPIC/TICKER code (LON:RTN) has had its stock rating noted as ‘Downgrades’ with the recommendation being set at ‘HOLD’ today by analysts at HSBC. Restaurant Group PLC are listed in the Consumer Services sector within UK Main Market. HSBC have set their target price at 150 GBX on its stock. This is indicating the analyst believes there is a potential upside of 18.1% from today’s opening price of 127 GBX. Over the last 30 and 90 trading days the company share price has decreased 33.2 points and decreased 8.8 points respectively. The 52 week high for the share price is currently at 167.7 GBX while the 52 week low is 110.1 GBX.
Restaurant Group PLC has a 50 day moving average of 152.25 GBX and the 200 Day Moving Average price is recorded at 143.53. There are currently 491,496,230 shares in issue with the average daily volume traded being 926,202. Market capitalisation for LON:RTN is £642,778,763 GBP.


text:
Orders placed after 4pm on weekdays will not ship until the next business day. Orders placed after 12pm Fridays will not ship until the following Monday.
Faster shipping methods may be available; just upgrade during checkout.
*Some exclusions apply.
Enter new zip code to refresh estimated delivery time.
Every year a series of "revolutionary" and "game-changing" cameras are released into the market. They included amazing high-resolution sensors, new professional-grade cameras, and slim new mirrorless designs in 2012. So what could possibly change in just one year?
For those thinking about a DSLR upgrade, or a filmmaker ready to take the HD leap, Canon has announced the release of a new camera-and-lens kit featuring the esteemed EOS 5D Mark III DSLR camera. The 5D Mark III is paired here with the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens, creating a versatile system ideal for multiple photo and video applications.
Following the successes of the RX1 and RX100 cameras, Sony has just announced the Cyber-shot DSC-RX10, an advanced compact camera that borrows features and design from both cameras but differs in several significant ways.
The Pentax K-3 DSLR is getting a lot of praise for a camera that was only announced three weeks ago. Specifically, the first-of-its-kind selectable anti-aliasing simulator is garnering attention for an optional function that, prior to the K-3, required two separate cameras to achieve. But in my short time with this camera it became clear that it’s not just the anti-aliasing filter option that makes the K-3 a camera worth talking about.
Pentax has announced a new APS-C sized digital SLR camera with a 24.3MP CMOS sensor. The Pentax K-3 Digital SLR Camera takes its place atop the Pentax DSLR lineup with its high-resolution sensor, in-camera image stabilization, weatherproofing, fast professional features, and a selectable anti-aliasing filter.
Fujifilm has just announced a new and especially unique member of its line of X-series mirrorless digital cameras: the X-A1. This camera stands out among the X-M1, X-E1, and X-Pro1 as the first to feature a traditional Bayer filter arrangement CMOS sensor, versus their proprietary X-Trans CMOS sensor.
Join Kelby Media's Larry Becker as he explains the workings of the Canon EOS 70D DSLR. The video explores the 70D’s many professional and consumer-level features, and HD video capability, including its new Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor, touchscreen LCD, and Creative Auto shooting mode.
Canon has announced four new additions to their PowerShot digital camera lineup. In addition to updated features, three of these four cameras, including the PowerShot G16, are now providing a built-in Wi-Fi connection for easy image sharing. Also, a new EF-S mount lens has been introduced.
Canon has just announced their new VIXIA Mini camcorder, which is designed for users looking to share their videos and photos through social media sites like Facebook and YouTube. Available in black or white, the VIXIA Mini features a Canon f/2.8 fisheye lens with a 160-degree viewing angle for video and a 170-degree viewing angle for photos.


text:
In a similar vein, CIO.com is launching a semi-regular feature that "tears down" the most popular and talked-about people, events and products in the high-tech world.
Today's teardown: Oracle CEO Lawrence J. Ellison.
IMAGE CREDIT: IDG News Service
Thomas Wailgum covers Enterprise Software, Data Management and Personal Productivity Apps for CIO.com. Follow him on Twitter @twailgum. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline. E-mail Thomas at email@example.com.


text:
BEIJING (Sputnik) – China calls on all the member states of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to take steps in cooperation with Beijing to resist the protectionist policy implemented by the United States, the permanent envoy of China to WTO said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the Office of the US Trade Representative said in a press release that the United States was set to impose additional tariffs on around 1,300 Chinese products.
“The list of proposed measures recently published by the United States is an intentional and major violation of the basic WTO principles. In the context of these wrong US steps, China is planning to resort to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. At the same time we call on all the WTO member states to stand firm against the US trade protectionism along with China,” Zhang Xiangchen said, as quoted by the press service of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on its Weibo account.
Earlier, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that Beijing is ready to adopt “mirror-like” measures in response to the new US tariffs, saying that the concrete measures would be announced soon.
Recently, China officially told the World Trade Organization that it would impose $611.5 million in tariffs on $2.75 billion of US imports as a response to the US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports announced on March 23.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Lu Kang said that Chinese authorities plan to resort to the dispute settlement mechanism of the World Trade Organization in order to find a solution to the ongoing Beijing-Washington tensions in the sphere of trade.
“The activities of the US side have significantly violated the basic principles of the WTO. Against the backdrop of these wrong US steps, China plans to resort to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism in the near future,” Lu said.
According to the spokesman, the Chinese side strongly condemns the announcement of the tariffs.


text:
Production of a few Apple best-selling devices such as Macbooks and iPads is facing a global partial shortage.
According to a Nikkei report, production of the Apple Macbook and iPad has been delayed due to partial shortages.
According to the report, delays are caused by a shortage of chips, which will delay some important steps for Macbook production.
The iPad Assembly, on the other hand, is facing delays due to a lack of ads and display items. The report goes on to say that due to a shortage of half, Apple has reversed part of the material orders for both devices from the first half of this year to the second half. The report cited sources of information on the matter.
According to the report, Apple’s plans to produce iPhones are not yet affected due to a lack of supply, but the supply of some parts of the device is “strong”.
The shortage of parts has contributed to the production of Macbooks and iPads but the products are available to the consumer. According to a Nikkei report, shortages remain a problem for Apple purchases, but they have not yet affected product availability for consumers.
Apple’s largest supplier Foxconn has also warned of chip shortages affecting customer service chains, businesses and consumers around the world in the face of an unprecedented shortage of semiconductor microchips.


text: By PSW Staff • November 21, 2011 Wohler Technologies has announced that Dale Pro Audio has become Wohler’s first North American reseller and distributor for the SoundField product line of digital and analog surround and stereo microphone systems for recording and broadcast applications. Dale Pro Audio will offer the full SoundField product line from its New York City offices and showroom. “We’ve enjoyed a long relationship with Dale Pro Audio, which has become a highly respected and well-established vendor to numerous media and entertainment companies, not just in New York and the tri-state area, but across the country,” says Don Bird, chief marketing officer at Wohler. “The SoundField line raises the bar for audio quality, and Dale Pro Audio has both the high-level technical expertise and the world-class demo rooms required to provide exceptional SoundField system sales and support to new customers and the company’s impressive base of existing clients.” Based on a unique multicapsule design, SoundField systems allow users to capture and output audio in mono, phase-coherent stereo, 5.1, or any future surround format using a single microphone and processor. Over recent years, the company’s digital microphone systems have become the standard means of originating 5.1 audio for HD television transmission among many of the world’s leading broadcasters. “Our company is a leading retailer of high-end professional audio equipment, and the quality of the SoundField line makes it a great fit within our product portfolio,” notes Joe Prout, broadcast specialist at Dale Pro Audio. “This excellent range of audio solutions will be valuable in extending our ability to provide complete systems that meet the needs of demanding users and applications.” Wohler Technologies Comments Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website Tagged with: Business Distribution Manufacturer Microphones Poll Soundfield Wohler · all topics Subscribe to Live Sound International Live Sound International brings you information on a wide range of pro audio topics. Stay up-to-date, get expert tips, industry news, new products and technologies delivered. Discover how to make smart use of today’s sound technology, Subscribe Today!


text:
A waste product from paper-making could be a safer, greener alternative to using the harmful chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic products.
BPA is banned from baby bottles due to its possible effects on the body and brain by mimicking the hormone oestrogen. Approximately 3.5 million tons of BPA are produced annually worldwide in sports equipment, glues and receipt paper.
Researchers have found that lignin, the compound that gives wood it’s strength, could be used as BPA alternative within five years. Paper-making and other wood-pulping processes produce 70 million tons of lignin byproduct each year, 98% of which is incinerated to generate small amounts of energy.Read more at University of Delaware


text:
Moorwand reports the list of services outsourced by FinTechs
By Joy Dumasia
Moorwand, a payments solution provider, revealed that issuing tops the list of services that FinTechs outsource, with mobile wallets and customer communications coming second and third, respectively. Moorwand reports that with the rise of Open Banking, Banking as a Service and Embedded Finance, nearly half of FinTechs (49%) now spend 10-20% of their annual revenues on outsourced services, according to the Moorwand report ‘Specialists vs. generalists: How do fintechs fuel growth?’.
The Moorwand report, based on a survey of 75 senior decision-makers at FinTech firms across the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland and Lithuania, explores the state of outsourcing in FinTech and the use of either specialists or generalists on FinTech growth.
Based on the Moorwand report findings, there are three key reasons FinTechs outsource:
- Scale – FinTech is moving from adolescence to maturity, and firms are looking to partners to help them scale their services. 45% of FinTechs are looking for third parties to plug gaps in existing capabilities.
- Expansion – Across the industry, we see the bundling of financial services. FinTechs have worked hard to acquire customers, and now they have their attention, they are looking to offer more benefits. 43% of firms outsource to accelerate their time to market.
- Regulation – As the sector matures, it is becoming increasingly regulated. This has prompted the rise of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), as FinTechs effectively outsource compliance to a licensed third party. Seven out of the top 10 most outsourced services are regulated. And FinTechs prefer to work with specialists for all of them.
Vicki Gladstone, CEO and COO at Moorwand, said: “FinTechs are growing fast and increasingly looking to outsource services and capabilities to fuel their expansion. The card and wider payment offering usually takes centre stage in most FinTechs’ proposition and is a key point of differentiation for the business. So, it’s no surprise to see issuing come out top nor that FinTechs are turning to firms with deep specialisms to help them to stand out from the crowd.”
Moorwand is a London-based payments solutions provider offering issuing, digital banking, and acquiring services. It supports the payments and FinTech space innovators by providing access to card schemes and banking services.


text:
Hulu Plus is now available to all residents of the United States. At least those willing to stump up the $9.99-a-month subscription fee for the pleasure. While opening the service up to a wider audience is good, lowering the price would be better.
We knew a paid-for version of Hulu was coming more than a year before the company actually decided to unveil its plans. Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp. was the first to raise the idea, and from there it was always going to happen.
Hulu Plus, as it eventually came to be called, finally launched at the end of June. As expected, it was an addition rather than a replacement to the original, free, advertising-based Hulu America has come to know and love.
The monthly fee of $9.99 doesn’t get rid of the adverts (which is a mistake in my opinion), but it does offer several advantages over its free cousin. Mainly that it makes Hulu available on more devices and adds fulls seasons of shows both new and old.
Now Open To All
Hulu Plus began as a service only available to those invited by the company. This is a common policy so as not to overwhelm the infrastructure of a new service in its early days of operation.
However, in a blog post on Thursday (Nov. 4) Hulu Plus Product Director Rob Wong announced a relaxation of this invitation-only policy, with everyone who wants to now invited to sign up to Hulu Plus.
Hulu Plus is now also available on Sony Bravia TVs and will soon be available to all PS3 owners. Up to now, Hulu Plus has only been available to Playstation Plus (which is Sony’s paid-for, premium PSN service) subscribers.
The question now is whether enough people will be tempted to pay the $9.99 monthly fee to make Hulu Plus a worthwhile product.
For me, Hulu would have been better served reducing the price of Hulu Plus to $4.99- or $5.99-per-month or at least removing the advertising. That would surely entice a much larger amount of people into signing up for the service.
It’s not that $9.99-a-month isn’t a fair price for the service being offered, especially when compared to the amounts people pay for cable TV. But to truly get people interested and signing up in their millions Hulu will have to lower the price sooner rather than later.
Have Something To Say?
Ask a Question Or Offer Your 2 Cents:
Subscribe to Web TV Wire by Email
Keep up to date with Web TV, Video and IPTV News:
Subscribe to Web TV Wire via RSS


text:
Former Apple board member Bob Iger has announced that he is stepping down as CEO of Disney with immediate effect and becoming Executive Chairman, CNN reported. Tuesday’s move followed the successful launch of Disney+.
Iger has assumed the role of executive chairman and will direct the company’s creative endeavors, the company said. Iger will stay on at Disney through the end of this contract on December 31, 2021. “With the successful launch of Disney’s direct-to-consumer businesses and the integration of Twenty-First Century Fox well underway, I believe this is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO,” Iger said in statement.
Check It Out: Ex-Apple Board Member Bob Iger Quits as Disney CEO


text:
Sunday News Roundup
9 December 2012 | by The Retail Bulletin
Costa to reveal whether Starbucks tax crisis has helped it pick up trade, Dark days for retail staff at hands of Scrooges like Marks & Spencer boss Bolland, Starbucks could be forced to start afresh to fulfil a pledge to pay £20m corporation tax, Shoppers' love of loyalty cards costs Nectar £52 million, Tesco 'is back on form' in time for festive rush, says boss Clarke, Tesco eyes two cities for push into India, Sir Terry Leahy in line to lead Hut Group, Heineken calls for last orders on multi-buys, Starbucks: Well-intentioned voluntary tax is not the way forward, It's Google vs Apple as Christmas shoppers snap up one tablet computer every second, Cait Reilly: 'I don't think I'm above Poundland', Dixons staff find reasons to be cheerful. Lloyds swoops on Conran restaurants,Betfair to slash costs, John Lewis predicts record mega Mondays, Chanel wraps up in Scottish cashmere, Betfair's chief starts to rein in costs
The Mail on Sunday
Whitbread-owned Costa will reveal whether the tax crisis at arch rival Starbucks has helped it pick up trade as customers shun the US chain. Costa, which has around 1,400 stores in the UK, is forecast by analysts at Barclays Equity Research to post underlying sales in its third quarter of 6 per cent.
Staff at collapsed electrical chain Comet have been told that money donated by shoppers to help them over Christmas must be handed to charity. Administrator Deloitte was concerned it should legally be treated as tips or as part of pay and so form part of the ‘assets’ available for distribution to creditors.
Starbucks could be forced to wind up its UK business and start afresh to fulfil a pledge to pay £20?million corporation tax. The coffee firm was yesterday targeted by Uncut protesters after revelations it channelled royalties through Holland to slash its tax bill in Britain.
Cash-strapped shoppers are squeezing every inch of value out of their loyalty cards as the harsh economic headwinds continue to blow, according to Nectar, the country’s biggest loyalty card scheme.
Tesco chief executive Phil Clarke has fired a warning shot across the bows of his two biggest rivals, saying Britain’s biggest supermarket is ‘back on form’, ready for the busiest two weeks of the year.
Tesco is to focus its Indian expansion on the major cities of Mumbai and Bangalore as part of chief executive Philip Clarke’s fight back on growth. The Sunday Telegraph understands that Mr Clarke met members of the Tata family – thought to include chairman Ratan Tata himself – this weekend to begin to flesh out the plans for the retailer’s push into the world’s second most populous country.
Sir Terry Leahy, the former chief executive of Tesco, is in the leading position to take over the chairmanship of online retailer The Hut Group, ahead of its expected £300m-plus float next year. The former grocer, who left the retailer last year, is understood to be the preferred candidate among a number of names in the frame.
A crackdown on two-for-one deals on alcohol in supermarkets would be a more “realistic” way of tackling binge-drinking in Britain than minimum unit pricing, one of Heineken’s top executives has said. The world’s third-biggest brewer is preparing to set out its strong opposition to UK Government plans to introduce a 45p minimum price per unit of alcohol, which it believes will penalise responsible drinkers who are in the majority in the country.
If Starbucks thought this year couldn’t get any worse, then the backlash to its decision to pay a £20m bounty to HMRC last week must have caught it by surprise. “We’ve listened to our customers,” said Kris Engskov, managing director of Starbucks UK and a former aide to President Bill Clinton, in an open letter published in national newspaper advertisements on Friday.
Cait Reilly: 'I don't think I'm above Poundland' The woman who turned down unpaid labour at Poundland on her year of legal battles and the injustice of workfare. In January this year, Reilly was the subject of an avalanche of media coverage, an unsettling experience for the shy geology graduate. She took legal action against the government when she was told she would lose her £53.45 weekly benefits unless she worked for two weeks unpaid in Poundland.
The collapse of Comet has brought its rival some festive cheer. Dixons head office staff will begin fanning out across the country this week, to help with the Christmas rush at tills and call centres. As board directors and payroll clerks take up the company tradition of spending a week on the frontline, they should be feeling particularly festive.
New and cheaper rivals to Apple's iPad and models aimed at children help to set the tills jingling. Retailers say 2012 will be a "tablet Christmas" as they gear up for a massive surge in sales of products such as the iPad Mini and Google Nexus 7. John Lewis, Argos, Currys and PC World are all expecting strong demand for tablet computers in the next fortnight, with sales at PC World and Currys already up 1,000% year on year.
The Sunday Times
Restaurants including Quaglino’s and Le Pont de la Tour are set to change hands in a deal worth about £60m. LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Bank, is the frontrunner to buy D&D London, owner of 30 leading restaurants.
Betfair's new boss is this week expected to outline plans to slash about £20m in costs at the online gambling operator. Breon Corcoran, who took over in August, will reveal an overhaul of the business at its half-year results on Thursday.
Retailer expects to beat £7.4m online sales in last two big days of Christmas. John Lewis has revealed its online sales will smash all records this month, with "three Mega Mondays in a row", convincing the high street chain to launch foreign language websites next year.
Market fears fashion
house's softly, softly grasp of high-end craft firms. Laura Chesters reports. Karl Lagerfeld's
models sashayed down the catwalk at Linlithgow Palace, a roofless castle where Mary Queen of Scots was born 670 years ago, clutching sporran and hip flask-style bags.
Betfair's chief executive, Breon Corcoran, will outline a strategy of cost cutting on Thursday, following his recent decision to withdraw from Germany and not to enter Greece.
Email this article to a friend
You need to be logged in to use this feature.
Please log in here


text:
Bill Frazier could not believe it. It is the first time he’s won a raffle prize in his life and it was not an easy task. He predicted that France was going to be the winning soccer team in the Russia 2018 World Cup in a contest held by Abasto as a preamble to the biggest sporting event in the world.
Frazier, who is a Food Safety Lead Inspector Quality Control at Brookshire Grocery Company, won the grand prize in the contest, a 50-inch Samsung HD TV.
Gustavo Calabro, Director of Abasto, traveled to Super 1 Foods supermarket in Tyler, Texas, to meet Frazier and personally give him the prize, which was sponsored by the companies Tampico, GPS Imports and La Preferida.
Super 1 Foods is a store chain that is part of the Brookshire Grocery Company. Frazier received his prize at the supermarket, located at 1105 East Gentry Parkway in the town of Tyler, accompanied by the store’s director, Chris Belt, the multicultural marketing coordinator, Nahum López and a diverse group of employees from the grocery store.
Juan García of Easy Foods Won the iPad in the World Cup Contest
The entrepreneur Juan García, Marketing Specialist of Easy Foods, Inc., was the second lucky contestant to win the second prize of the World Cup contest that Abasto held.
Garcia correctly guessed that of the 32 participating countries, France would be the big winner of the soccer championship, which was held from June 14 to July 15. Garcia received an Apple iPad tablet from Hispanic marketing specialist, Sergio Mankita, representing Abasto in South Florida.
The Easy Foods, Inc. executive, who is of Colombian origin, claims to be a fervent soccer fan. He explained that he always thought that France would come out on top due to the youth and strength of the “blue cocks” team.
“In the World Cup there were many strong teams, but I knew that the youth and legs of the French team would prevail in the tournament to make them champions,” said Garcia.
During the formal delivery of his prize, García shared his joy for the great moment that his company is going through, which specializes in the production and distribution of flour and corn tortillas. He commented that Easy Foods, Inc., which was founded 10 years ago in the Doral, Florida area, is now in the process of expansion.
Its current 40,000-square-foot plant this August will open a “big sister” in central Florida. The new headquarters of Easy Foods, Inc. will operate in the city of Kissimmee. It will have a production area of 100,000 square feet, where about 200 employees will work. The Doral plant, where some 150 workers work, will continue to operate in the development of a new product line and as a distribution center for Latin America due to its geographical proximity to the Port of Miami.