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MELBOURNE, VICTORIA – 10 August, 2015 – Today, Kloud Solutions proudly announced it has been named a finalistin four categories in the 2015 Microsoft Australian Partner Awards (MAPA):
- Cloud Productivity
- Cloud Platform
- Managed Service
- Social Enterprise
Earlier this year, Kloud won Cloud Productivity Partner of the Year and was recognised as a finalist for Enterprise Mobility Suite Partner of the Year at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Kloud’s managing director Nicki Bowers is proud of the recognition, saying it is representative of the way customers entrust Kloud with their journey to the cloud.
“To be recognised in multiple categories is a huge honour and a testament to the strong relationship we enjoy with our customers. It’s proof that customer centricity is a key driver to innovation and this enables us to deliver the right technology to meet business needs across the board” she said.
The 19 categories of the Microsoft Australia Partner Awards programme recognise Microsoft Partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions during the year.
Microsoft’s director of partner business and development, Phil Goldie, said this year partners had embraced the company’s Cloud platforms in unique ways, creating new applications and transforming line-of-business for clients.
“These award-finalist solutions all highlight the extraordinary power of our partnership and proof of customer confidence. It’s very apparent that when customers have a stronger connection with their trusted partner, they also demonstrate a stronger commitment to products like Azure and Office 365. Most importantly, together we’ve achieved the ability to delight our customers with product and solution offerings that better meet their needs,” he said.
The Microsoft Australia Partner Awards programme winners will be announced at the Microsoft Australia Partner Conference on August 31st 2015.


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Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : National Productivity Organization Ministry of Industry and Production, Government of Pakistan Liaison Office APO, Tokyo, Japan Press Release Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry, Chief Executive Officer, National Productivity Organization (NPO), visited Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
On this occasion, he said that in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries and Production, Government of Pakistan productive sectors like industry, trade and agriculture in Balochistan would be modernized.
The services of national and international experts will also be sought in this regard. He expressed these views while addressing the officials and members of Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.
Earlier, Haji Akhtar Kakar, Vice President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Quetta, Balochistan, former President Juma Khan Badizai, Badruddin Kakar, Haji Janan Achakzai, Muhammad Ayub Mariani and others received NPO Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry at Chamber office Quetta.
Haji Akhtar Ka Kar and others, Vice President, Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Balochistan, said that 75% of the employment in Balochistan is directly or indirectly related to agriculture, but also to minerals, industry and trade. There are a number of jobs, but the government has not made the efforts to modernize and develop these sectors, which it should have. Not giving priority to Balochistan in industry, trade and other sectors will lead to deprivation in Balochistan.
That is disappointing, he said, adding that the rulers and institutions are only interested in collecting taxes from Balochistan.
Muahammad Alamgir Chaudhry, Chief executive officer of the National Productive Organization (NPO), said on the occasion that he would no longer tolerate any negligence regarding Balochistan.
The purpose of their visit is to take suggestions from chamber officials and those associated with the productive sector to the authorities.
He said that they are trying to modernize the productive sectors across the country as people from sectors like industry, trade and agriculture are not able to compete with others due to lack of technical support and others. We want equal opportunities for people from all over the world.
We not only provide technical support to traders and industrialists but also provide access and training to foreign industries and others.
He said that twice a year technical assistance of national and international experts in various fields can also be given to industrialists and others. We are ready for all kinds of counseling, technical assistance to establish industry and trade, agriculture in Balochistan on modern scientific lines. We also welcome the suggestions of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Quetta Balochistan regarding APO funds. We Will prioritize
Technical assistance of national and international experts in various fields can also be given to industrialists and others. Although Pakistan has two technical experts annually, 7 technical experts have been brought to Pakistan so far this year. We have industry and trade in Balochistan. We are ready for all kinds of counseling and technical assistance to bring agriculture on modern scientific lines. We would also welcome the suggestions of Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry Quetta Said APO CEO Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhray.

domain: news


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Function and aesthetic come together for Human Made's collaborative face masks, which were designed to protect consumers from the COVID-19 virus. As the pandemic continues, consumers are constantly seeking reusable face masks that are comfortable and practical. Because they're worn every day, many seek a design that matches their own personal aesthetic or expression.
Now, the brand Human Made has partnered with Airinum to release masks that filter out pollution and particles as smal as 0.3m. In a press release describing the collaboration, Human Made's founder NIGO stated “To me this collaboration between HUMAN MADE and Airinum expresses the essence of what Gears For Futuristic Teenagers means, especially in the world we live in today."
Image Credit: Airinum


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Two out of the top five notebook vendors in Russia in 2004 were Russia-based firms, Rover Computers and iRU. The other three makers in the top five were Japan’s Toshiba, Taiwan’s Asustek Computer and Acer, the sources revealed.More info at DigiTimes
Notebook sales 20-fold in Russia compared to 7 years ago
Posted on Tuesday, February 01 2005 @ 17:34 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Sales of notebook PCs are expected to reach 500,000 units in Russia this year. This means a 20-fold increase over the past seven years.


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Every Tuesday, a group of ladies gather for lunch at Kleinlife senior center in Northeast Philly around noon. After getting properly fueled up, they form a knitting circle. And they knit their little hearts out – for pay and to help the less fortunate and disabled.
“I learned I loved to crochet, and it gets me through the long nights,” said Katalin Willner, 83, a Holocaust survivor who now helps knit panels for Mim & Ray purses, a new luxury handbag line that donates proceeds to Kleinlife senior centers.
“The profit they are paying us, and the rest goes to the senior center,” Willner said. “I’m happy I can make a few extra dollars, and I’m helping other people who really need it.”
Ranging from $300 to $3,000, the purses were on display and available for pre-order for fall at a recent Rittenhouse Hotel launch with some VIP senior knitters as the stars.
“We did not get paid for the panels in the beginning,” said one of the VIPs, Mickie Levin, 85, of Philadelphia. “They told us it was for the handbags, and there were four or five of us willing to do it. After about six or seven months, they began paying us.”
In January 2016, Mim & Ray started out with six knitters. “Now we have 35,” said Toby Strogatz, the significant other of Stephen Klein, whose family began KleinLife.
“When they first started, we were trying to figure out how to pay them and spoke to lawyers and had an accounting firm come and decide what was fair. We pay them by the inch – 25 cents an inch. Six or seven months ago, we began paying them, and before that, we were compensating them by gift cards, etc. We had to go through a process to make sure it’s fair for everyone, including a 10 percent licensing fee, and all proceeds go to Kleinlife,” she said.
The knitters get paid by the panel with a sliding scale.
“Once a month, we get paid. If they’re little, I can make two to three an hour every week. I think you can make from $200 to $400 a month,” said Levin.
Willner, who was also at the launch, said productivity varies widely.
“People do two to three pieces at a time, and I can do one and a half,” she said. “They said it doesn’t make a difference how many you make – not everyone is fast.”
“We don’t even own a bag,” she said at the event. “I never asked for it, but they never offered me a bag.”
Levin echoes her response.
“I don’t think they are going to give us a $700 handbag, but I would love one. I think they are beautiful. They came out very nice, and I’m very pleased with the panels made,” she said Levin.
No one has a bag yet, according to Strogatz, because everything at the launch party was pre-ordered.
“Nobody will receive orders until the beginning of August,” she said.
Will the knitters receive a handbag after all their hard work?
“We have a luncheon and custom knitting totes coming up. I didn’t think about that yet – that’s a good question. There’s so much going on and so many moving parts, there’s so much to do,” she said. We don’t have a lot of people working, including our project manager. But I’m sure all of the knitters will get a leather bag.”


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NC State Economist Dr. Mike Walden – Christmas Sales
There’s always much speculation leading into the Christmas season about the strength of sales. Unfortunately, we don’t receive the final numbers for Christmas sales until well after the season. The good news is we now have those figures, and N.C. State University economist Mike Walden explains whether Christmas was naughty or nice to retailers.
“I’d say it was in between, neither naughty nor nice. Let me give you the numbers, which we now finally have in, and we’re looking here at December 2012 numbers, comparing them to December 2011 retail sales.
“Retail sales were up 5 percent. That’s not bad. That’s certainly not spectacular. It’s actually about what economists expected. I think when you and I talked about this prior to Christmas, I was saying maybe around 4 percent gain. So it came in a little better.
“When we look at what kinds of products really sold heavily during Christmas, actually furniture was a big gainer. Many are surprised at that, but actually I think with the recovery of the housing market, with the fact that people refrained from buying furniture during the recession, this actually makes sense. So furniture was a big gainer.
“Electronics (were) actually somewhat of a disappointment. And, again, I think that’s because even during the recession people were motivated to buy new electronics, beyond the cutting-edge electronics. So you didn’t see a big gain in electronic sales during this past Christmas.
“So I think the fact that Christmas sales went up by 5 percent, which is a modest number but nevertheless positive, conforms again to the fact that our economy is improving, but improving modestly.”


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Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan has signed into law a bill that will allow medical marijuana to be sold in pharmacies if the federal government legalizes it for that purpose, according to published reports.
Novartis AG is reportedly in talks with Merck to swap its animal health and vaccines businesses for Merck’s OTC business, which includes the Coppertone sunscreen and Claritin allergy medicine brands, according to a Bloomberg report.
L’Oréal Paris has tapped celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak to lend her expertise for product development, content creation, consumer education and creating trendsetting hairstyles for L’Oréal Paris spokespeople.
Enchanted Life — a new, personal care e-commerce site where consumers can buy products, share beauty tips and learn about trends — is looking to meet the personal care needs of the multicultural community.
Giving young children the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines together appears to increase their risk of fever, according to a study led by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At least two retailers in areas affected by record-low temperatures that have put much of the country under a deep freeze have seen a big spike in sales as consumers stock up on supplies, according to published reports.
VoicePort announced that they have launched their Medication Synchronization Program, SynchroScript, along with two of their other adherence services with Tops Friendly Markets Pharmacy, of Williamsville, N.Y.
NEW YORK — A story that appeared in the Dec. 21 edition of DSN AM, "Walgreens firing on all cylinders as chain realizes a total comp sales increase of 5.4% for its first quarter," incorrectly stated that Walgreens had administered an increase of 3.4% in flu shots in the first quarter.


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July 1, 2022
The Fiji First government must stop using the Russia-Ukraine war as an excuse not to take immediate and decisive action to show compassion and empathy towards the people who are reeling from rising fuel prices and cost of living, said National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad.
Professor Prasad said the government must reduce the duty on fuel by at least 20 cents per litre when it announces the 2022/23 Budget in two weeks from now.
He said when fuel prices were at its lowest in 2020, the government didn’t allow people to benefit from it by imposing an extra 20 cents per litre on fuel saying it would still be affordable. The NFP Leader also said as an immediate measure, government must change its policy on charging duties on goods to ensure even a small reduction in the price of goods especially fuel, essential items and basic food products.
“It is clear that zero-rating of some essential items and basic food products has not arrested inflation due to rising prices. The latest hike to fuel prices will have as flow-on effect and lead to further increases to prices of all goods and services”.
“It needs decisive government intervention and the immediate thing that can be done through the budget is the reduction of duty on fuel by at least 20 cents per litre and charging duty only on Freight on Board (FOB) instead of the current policy of charging duty on Cost Insurance Freight (CIF)”.
“The current policy of charging duty on CIF earns government more revenue from both duty and VAT but at the end of the chain it is passed onto the consumers. Charging duty on FOB only means less revenue for government as duty and VAT is levied only on value of the goods”. “But it is the only sensible thing to when prices are spiraling out of control. Both these measures can be in place until prices stabilise and start coming down. And this is not going to happen in the next 6 months”.
“And also extremely important is the fact government’s projected borrowing is not linked to political expediency and electioneering but aimed at providing genuine income support and subsidies for transportation and also to boost the pay packets of the many thousands of workers earning below the tax threshold of $30,000 per annum”.
“The government must learn from New Zealand, whose prudent economic management will pump NZ$1 billion in various subsidies to help its citizens. The NZ government has cut 25 cents from the fuel excise duty, increased pay packets and superannuation, amongst other things as part of the relief measures”.
“Therefore, the Fiji First government, which always says it will leave no one behind, has a moral duty to show empathy, care and compassion towards our people in their hour of need”.


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Wright Medical Group N.V. announced financial results for its second-quarter 2019, which ended June 30, 2019.
During the second quarter, net sales totaled $229.7 million, which was 13.2% in constant currency, 8.9% in pro-forma constant currency and 9.4% in organic constant currency growth. Gross margins during the second quarter of 2019 were 79% and were 79.1% in a non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) adjusted basis.
“Highlights in the quarter included 16% sales growth in U.S. shoulders, which is approximately double the market growth rate and consistent with our growth expectations for the full year,” Robert Palmisano, company president and CEO, said in the release. “We launched our new Revive revision shoulder at the end of the second quarter and that launch is off to a strong start. We expect the Revive launch, along with continued penetration of our Perform reversed glenoid system, Simpliciti shoulder and Blueprint-enabling technology will continue to drive outstanding shoulder sales growth in 2019 and beyond. Based on our excellent growth, we now expect to be #1 in shoulders worldwide by the end of this year.”
According to the release, the net loss for continuing operations was $18.9 million or $0.15 per diluted share. The second-quarter 2019 non-GAAP net loss from continuing operations was $5.7 million. The second-quarter 2019 non-GAAP adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations was $35.3 million. As of the end of second-quarter 2019, the cash and cash equivalents totaled $150.6 million. Wright Medical anticipates its net sales for the full-year 2019 will be between $925 million and $939 million. The company expects the non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA for the full-year 2019 will be between $157 million and $163 million.


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Amazon takes major warehouse space in Nottinghamshire
Amazon has taken a 550,000 sq ft warehouse at Panattoni Park Nottingham.
Trade publication Property Week says the retail giant has let Nottingham 550 which includes three warehouses on the 55-acre site next to Junction 26 of the M1 in north-east Nottinghamshire.
CBRE acted for Amazon. Avison Young, FHP and Colliers acted for Panattoni.


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Last week, the Labor Department reported that 244,000 new jobs were created in February. This was a little more than the 210,000 economists predicted, but negative revisions totaling 18,000 to the previous two months muted the strength of the report. In each of the past two months, the most jobs were added in the construction industry. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3% during February and were 3.5% higher than a year ago. This is the largest year-over-year increase since September 2001 and is further evidence of inflationary pressures building in the economy. For anyone looking for negative news, the duration of unemployment rose from 8.4 weeks in January to 8.9 weeks, but is down from 9.2 weeks last year.
The recent employment survey conducted by Manpower shows that employers plan to add workers in the second quarter. The seasonally adjusted net employment index rose one percent to 21%. Employers in the West have the strongest employment plans with an index reading of 26%. The mining and construction industries plan to add workers more than the other industries. Public administration is the lowest. Internationally, employers in the Asian countries have the highest hiring plans.
Retail sales declined 1.3% in February after the Commerce Department revised January sales to a gain of 2.9% compared to earlier estimates of 2.3%. The 2.9% monthly gain last month was the highest monthly gain since at least 1992, excluding the bounce that occurred in October 2001. Most of the weakness was in auto sales. Excluding vehicle sales, retail sales dropped 0.4%. This was slightly stronger than estimates, -0.5%. Compared to last year, retail sales have maintained an impressive pace. Total retail sales were up 6.5% last month and increased 8.8% excluding auto sales. Several specialty apparel retailers reported disappointing February sales. The retail data from the Commerce Department confirmed the weakness. Year-over-year sales at clothing stores increased only 0.9%. This was the weakest growth since a decline in March 2003. Retail sales have remained buoyant during the first two weeks of March. Sales were up 4.3% during the first week of the month compared to last year, which was the strongest gain in weekly sales since the week of Thanksgiving. The latest week, sales dropped to 3.7%.
The Empire Manufacturing survey from the New York Federal Reserve offers the first look at health of the manufacturing sector each month. According to the survey, the manufacturing sector has started to accelerate. The headline number soared 10.2 points to 31.2. This was the highest reading since July 2004. Prices paid dropped 13.1 to 40.2, lowest since August 2005. Additionally, prices received dropped 8.7 points to 12.82, lowest since September 2005. The employees' component jumped 15.8 points to 21.75, highest since May 2004. Plus the workweek increased 19.8 points to 25.3, the highest since the index was created in 2001. Expectations are not as rosy. Expectations for orders and shipments fell to the lowest level since March 2003. While the index tracking capital expenditure plans fell 3.5 points, it remained the third highest level since it was started.
The Federal Reserve published the latest Beige Book on Wednesday. The report echoed the economic data that has been reported and didn't contain any surprises. The survey reported that economic activity continued to expand at a "moderate or steady" pace. While consumer spending continued to expand, "household lending softened." This is mostly due to slower activity in residential construction. While the residential market continued to slow, the "commercial construction markets were generally more active than at the end of 2005." Business spending continued to increase for both capital expenditures and business services. Labor markets remain tight, with most districts reporting that businesses continued to add to payrolls throughout most of the country. Cleveland and Kansas City were two exceptions. While companies have added workers, there has been a problem finding skilled workers. According to the survey, "Almost every district reported shortages of high-skilled workers." Input prices continued so rise, but "prices at the retail level increased at only a moderate rate." The report noted that, "The costs of many non-petroleum materials - including asphalt, cement, gypsum, lumber, copper, and paper - were on the rise."
Sears Holdings beat estimates on cost cutting. Gross margin increased from 27% to 28.3%, while SG&A was slashed from 20% of revenue to 19.1%. Kmart same store sales increased 0.9% during the fourth quarter due to increased sales of apparel and home products. It was the first increased in four years, but sales at Sears dropped 12%. The drop was due to the focus on improving gross margins by reducing the number of promotional events. Additionally, the company said that it experienced weaker than expected sales of fashion apparel.
Companies are starting to issue earnings pre-announcements for the current quarter. This week Union Pacific and DuPont said earnings would be higher than current estimates. Union Pacific said the better results were "driven by strong demand for Intermodal, Industrial Products and Agricultural Products." Additionally, it said "first quarter 2006 carload volume is expected to increase 4 percent versus an original outlook of 3 percent growth." DuPont raised its guidance on first quarter earnings by a dime to $0.80 per share. It said while several of its businesses have improved, it has been offset by "weaker market conditions in Europe and unfavorable currency trends."
Early this week the bond market got a reprieve from the research firm Medley Global Advisors. The research firm said the Fed will stop raising rates after one or two more increases. This caused a sharp rally across the yield curve. Fed funds futures trades also pared back the expectations that the Fed will continue past 5.0% this year. The case can be made that the Fed pauses at 5.0%, but unless the economic data starts to deteriorate, it's likely that the target rate will be higher than 5.0% at the end of the year. A strengthening labor market will likely keep the consumer confident and spending even as housing slows. Higher rates will be detrimental to the consumer and the economy, but by the Fed taking its time, everyone is able to adjust to higher rates. We have already seen an increase in 40-year fixed rate mortgages. It will take quite a bit to knockout the consumer, but once it starts it will likely accelerate at a rapid pace.


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231-Unit Luxury Community Set to Break Ground in Downtown Wilmington
This summer Buccini/Pollin Group will break ground on a new luxury apartment community as part of a revitalization plan in Wilmington, Del.
By Veronica Grecu, Associate Editor
Wilmington, Del.—This summer, Buccini/Pollin Group will break ground on a new luxury apartment complex as part of a revitalization plan in Wilmington, Del.
Named the Residences at Midtown Park, the project is expected to serve as a gateway between the city’s decades-long redevelopment effort on Market Street and a newly proposed Creative District that will take shape immediately west of downtown.
As reported by The News Journal, Buccini/Pollin Group’s new residential complex is set to replace the Midtown Parking Center—which is located downtown Wilmington, between 8th, Orange, 9th and Shipley streets—, the Ninth Street Book Shop, and other adjacent retail stores.
The Residences at Midtown Park will consist of two high-rise buildings that, combined, will offer 231 luxury apartments targeting Millennials. The new apartments are expected to be occupied in record time, seeing that the overall downtown Wilmington luxury rental market hit 93.2 percent in Q4 2014, according to research data compiled by MPF Research and quoted by the news source. Approximately 800 new luxury apartment units have been completed in this part of the city in the last 15 years, yielding an occupancy rate of 99 percent. The high-end luxury apartments completed post 2000 posted an average rent of $1,643 in downtown Wilmington.


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REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for Jobs and the Economy Aleana Young proposed a business relief plan to support small and medium businesses struggling in the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and currently ineligible for any federal supports.
“Small and medium businesses in Saskatchewan are struggling. Whether it’s short-staffing pressures, outbreaks or drop in sales, they’re desperate.” said Young. “Small and medium businesses in every other province have access to both provincial and federal relief. The Sask Party government has shut Saskatchewan businesses out of both.”
The NDP plan includes three common-sense solutions proving to support hardest-hit businesses across the country:
Saskatchewan Wage and Rent Subsidy, matching the Local Lockdown Program accessible to businesses in every other province
- Proof-of-Vax Implementation Grant, to retroactively offset equipment and staffing costs associated with enforcing public health orders, as introduced in Alberta and PEI
- Reintroduce the Delivery Fee Cap, as called for by Restaurants Canada
“If this government refuses to take any steps to curb Omicron spread in our communities, they should at least be offering support to those businesses bearing the brunt of that decision,” said Young. “Saskatchewan businesses are resilient but they are stretched, stressed, and increasingly in debt. They need help to keep their doors open and get to the other side of this pandemic.”


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Infecting young, healthy people with COVID-19 is an important, but controversial, part of creating a viable vaccine. Wochit
The possibility that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate qualifies as a breakthrough is generating optimism that the economy could rebound swiftly in 2021 and beyond.
While Pfizer’s vaccine still has multiple hurdles to surmount before it receives regulatory approval, hopes are rising for the airline industry, hotels, restaurants and retailers.
For effectively any business that has historically been done in person, optimism is surging. That could translate into job growth for millions of Americans who have lost their positions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Investors appeared positively giddy on Monday, driving the Dow Jones Industrial Average up more than 1,550 points, or about 5.4%, and bolstering the S&P 500 Index by 3.8%.
“This is the news we’ve all been waiting for,” Craig Erlam, a senior market analyst at OANDA, wrote Monday morning in a research note. “This is the light at the end of the tunnel moment and just look at the reaction in the markets. One of incredible relief.”
Vaccine plans: Should employers force workers to get COVID-19 vaccine?
To be sure, any substantive economic relief is still at least months off, since it will take at least that long for the vaccine to win government approval, accelerate manufacturing and ramp up distribution.
What’s more, Pfizer’s initial data – which suggests the vaccine may be more than 90% effective, putting it on par with the chickenpox inoculation – could be off. There’s no guarantee that the vaccine will get across the finish line.
But Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla was ebullient in an interview Monday on CNBC.
“I believe this is likely the most significant medical advance in the last hundred years,” he said.
Analysts who study the biotechnology industry were buoyant on Monday.
Raymond James pharmaceutical industry analyst Steven Seedhouse pointed out that multiple other vaccines are also likely to work as well, given technological similarity with the Pfizer candidate.
“A return to ‘normalcy’ seems likely within 2021,” Seedhouse wrote in a research note.
After it begins rolling out, the most immediate economic effects of the vaccine could include:
• Enabling restaurants to reopen or increase their seating capacity. Many restaurants have pivoted to take-out or delivery, but that hasn’t been enough to replace the lost revenue from diners who have stayed away. Chains like California Pizza Kitchen, Ruby Tuesday and Friendly’s have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in recent months. And numerous small businesses have collapsed or been substantially weakened.
• Boosting foot traffic to struggling retailers. The vaccine won’t arrive in time to help retailers during the critical holiday shopping season. But it could help restore consumer confidence in the economy and in the safety of shopping in person.
Several major retailers have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in recent months, including J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus and J. Crew. In the early going, many retailers were forced to temporarily shutter their stores. Most stores have reopened, but many consumers haven’t returned.
• Encouraging travelers to fly, stay in hotels or take cruises again. The airlines have been hobbled as fliers have stayed away due to concerns about contracting the coronavirus while traveling. For the same reason, hotels have been emptied while cruises have been anchored to shore.
• Reigniting the entertainment industry, including movie theaters, sports stadiums and theatrical performances. The entertainment sector has been hard hit, with Broadway temporarily shutting down, movie theaters shutting down or limiting capacity, and teams limiting or prohibiting fan attendance.
• Resuming office operations. Millions of Americans have been working remotely throughout the pandemic. Those arrangements could end soon after the vaccine gains momentum, although experts expect some companies to maintain remote work permanently. For landlords facing rising vacancy rates due to retail closures and office shut downs, that could spell relief.
• Increasing gas prices. Petroleum companies have been ailing since the pandemic began due to declining economic activity and a dropoff in airline and car travel. But oil prices soared nearly 17% in early trading Monday after the Pfizer news, rising to more than $41 per barrel.
For consumers, though, that might mean that rock-bottom gasoline prices could begin to fade away. Gas prices had fallen for six consecutive weeks, according to fuel-savings app GasBuddy. But rising oil prices typically leads to an uptick at the pump.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2020/11/09/pfizer-vaccine-coronavirus-covid-19-economy/6219512002/


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Paramount Home Video will release “Ghost” March 21 with a wholesale price that equates to $100 retail, according to published reports.
Details of what’s expected to be an aggressive marketing campaign are scheduled to be announced Jan. 31.
Paramount’s plans for the boxoffice smash have been the subject of speculation for months. Sources said the company had at one point settled on a low-priced, sell-through release, but in recent weeks changed to a high-priced strategy.
Though the $100 price suggests “Ghost” is targeted to the rental market, Paramount is expected to support dealer efforts to sell off used rental copies in the weeks following the release.
In nearly four years, only one other major release has been priced at the equivalent of $100, Par’s “The Hunt For Red October” (most top titles are priced at $90 to $93).


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Windows 7 has expanded its lead over Windows Vista with more than 350 million licenses sold after 18 months on the market, Microsoft said Friday. But Windows XP, older than both Vista and 7, still captures about half of the desktop operating system m...
IBM says it will support servers running Microsoft Windows on one of its mainframe platforms by the end of this year.
Microsoft today released a pair of security advisories for Chrome, the browser built by rival Google.
Windows 8 rumors have been floating around for some time, but recently an early build of Windows 8 was leaked, providing a sneak peek at what the next flagship OS from Microsoft might have to offer. One of the cool features that have been uncovered s...
Microsoft plans to turn on the Windows Update spigot for Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) on Monday, April 18.
Blink and you'll miss it. Microsoft has demonstrated Internet Explorer 10 at the MIX11 show in Las Vegas. For around 30 seconds of the 90-minute talk, they mentioned that some of the demos were running on an ARM computer.
If you're waiting for Microsoft's official do-it-yourself motion-sensing PC kit, you won't have to wait much longer. Microsoft says the Kinect for Windows software development kit (beta) will ship this spring, and they've put up a research page to pr...
Microsoft's new browser, Internet Explorer 10 (IE10), will not run on Windows Vista, either now in its developer preview form or when the software ships, the company confirmed today.
Microsoft on Tuesday beefed up security in Office 2003 and Office 2007 on Windows by adding a feature that first appeared in the newer Office 2010 last year.
Microsoft on Wednesday announced 1,500 new developer tools coming in May for the next version of the Windows Phone operating system, code-named Mango, that's due in the fall.
Windows 7 has finally assumed its rightful place on the desktop operating system throne -- usurping Windows XP for the first time. Granted, Windows 7 reign only covers the United States, but it is still a significant milestone on the path to becoming...
Microsoft today said it will patch a record 64 vulnerabilities in Windows, Office, Internet Explorer, Windows graphics framework, and other software next week, and tie a December 2010 record for the number of security updates it issues.
Microsoft today blamed Apple for changes that will prevent users of Office for Mac 2011 from synchronizing their Outlook calendars with Apple's MobileMe service.
Two decades after Linus Torvalds developed his famous operating system kernel, the battle between Linux and Microsoft is over and Linux has won, says Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin.
Microsoft has expanded the capabilities of its Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) to allow administrators to troubleshoot ill-behaving desktop Windows computers from afar.
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GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
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The Korea International Trade Association held the Korea Grand Sourcing Fair 2023 at Coex in southern Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday as part of its efforts to help domestic exporters enter overseas markets.
According to KITA, this year’s event was attended by 152 buyers from 26 countries, who conducted more than 2,300 consultations with nearly 800 Korean companies.
In particular, the proportion of buyers from the US, Vietnam, India, China and Japan, all key export markets, made up more than half the participating buyers this year.
By industry, the event fair included buyers from several sectors, including consumer and industrial goods, IT, and bio-health, KITA said.
Among the participating buyers were Pan Pacific International Trading, which operates the Japanese discount store chain Don Quijote; Wincommerce General Services, which operates over 3,400 supermarkets in Vietnam; Momo.com, one of the leading online retail brands in Taiwan; Ambica, a top 10 pharmaceutical company in the Philippines; and China’s Goertek, an Apple supplier.
KITA also organized various side events such as seminars on marketing and trading strategies, as well as consulting with foreign diplomats stationed in South Korea.
“We hope that this year’s event was helpful for domestic exporters, who are struggling with the growing uncertainty in the global trade environment amid the economic slowdown,” said Kim Gi-hyun, head of the international affairs group at KITA.
“KITA will continue to actively support Korean companies in finding new business relations and expanding exports through various marketing campaigns next year.”


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Pacific Century Group’s insurance technology business, Bolttech, has extended a recent $180 million Series A round to $210 million in total.
Australian private equity firm Liverpool Partners has acquired a majority stake in Seven Miles Coffee Roasters, a branded coffee supplier to the local cafe segment.
Hong Kong-based Airwallex has raised a $200 million Series E round led by Lone Pine Capital at a valuation of $4 billion. A $300 million Series D in March valued the company at $2.6 billion.
Japan Investment Corporation aims to help a sparse venture capital market catch up with a slightly more mature buyout space. Balancing private and public interests remains the key challenge
The debut fund from Hong Kong’s Lever VC has tapped an infection point in global demand for food innovation. A mix of motivators for entering this space makes the hype feel less like a bubble
8F Asset Management, a Singapore-based GP dedicated to developing a sustainable salmon business, has hit a first close of $61 million on its second fund, which will build out Southeast Asian operations.
Indian used car platform Cars24 has closed a $450 million Series F round and received $110 million in debt funding. It nearly doubles the company’s valuation to $1.84 billion.
Invesco has announced a $100 million commitment to Indian financial technology provider Pine Labs. It comes two months after the company closed a $600 million pre-IPO round.
500 Startups has closed its largest-ever global fund at $140 million, while simultaneously rebranding as 500 Global and expanding its strategy to include later-stage deals.
Australian design and workplace collaboration platform Canva has raised $200 million at a valuation of $40 billion - up from $15 billion five months ago and $3.2 billion in 2019.
Korea’s STIC Investments has led a $100 million round for Carousell, a Singapore-based mobile classifieds marketplace for secondhand goods, at a valuation of $1.1 billion.
Indonesian digital payments infrastructure provider Xendit has raised a $150 million Series C round led by Tiger Global Management at a valuation of around $1 billion.
Hong Kong-based food tech investor Lever VC has reached a final close of $80 million on its debut fund, which launched in August last year with a target of $50 million.
Australia-based hotel booking platform has raised a A$100 million ($73 million) pre-IPO round led by BlackRock and AustralianSuper.
Indian blue-collar workforce management platform BetterPlace has raised a $24 million Series C round led by CX Partners and Jungle Ventures.
EQT-owned Nexon Asia Pacific, an Australia-based IT services provider, has acquired local counterpart Veridian Solutions for an undisclosed sum. This is its third bolt-on in as many months.
GP-LP reporting in the age of remote portfolio assessments and stilted video catchups leaves much to be desired. Both sides are trying to bridge the divide, but no best-practice approach has emerged
Square Peg Capital has led a $55 million Series B round for Indonesian micro-savings and micro-investment app Pluang.
Singapore-based Jungle Ventures has reached a first close of $225 million for its fourth Southeast Asia fund after four months in the market. The target is $350 million.
IIFL Asset Management has led a $50 million Series E round for Indian interior design start-up HomeLane.
US education technology specialist Owl Ventures has led a $55 million Series C round for Leap Finance, an Indian start-up that helps students pay for overseas studies.
The Carlyle Group’s Japan team has completed its first minority deal, participating as a cornerstone investor in a JPY24.4 billion ($221 million) round for local biomaterials developer Spiber.
PayPal has agreed to buy Japan’s Paidy, a specialist in deferred e-commerce payments backed by several private equity investors, for about JPY300 billion ($2.7 billion).
Baring Private Equity Asia has invested $150 million in Singapore-based game developer Virtuos, becoming the largest external shareholder.


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Hong Kong Air Cargo gets green light for new routes
The airline was granted approval by Hong Kong's Air Transport Licensing Authority to operate scheduled cargo flights to nine new routes.
May 21, 2021
By PLA Editor
Air & Cargo Services air cargo Air Cargo Asia air cargo freight Air Forwarding air freight Air Freight Asia Air Freight Logistics air freighter air freighting Air Logistics Asia Air Shipping Asia Air Transport Licensing Authority airlines cargo airways cargo asia cargo news Cainiao cargo aviation Hong Kong Air Cargo
Hong Kong Air Cargo in early May was granted approval from the Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) to operate scheduled cargo flights to nine new routes.
Considering the strong cargo demand in the upcoming years, the airline submitted applications in December to expand its network to the Indian subcontinent, Oceania and Europe.
It plans to add Chennai, Tokyo, Manila, Jakarta, Delhi, Sydney, Melbourne, Liege and Milan as scheduled service destinations. The Hong Kong-based carrier previously operated chartered services to most of these cities, which the airline says served as a solid foundation for the new services.
Following the ATLA licences, the carrier will apply for the other necessary approvals for the new services. The new routes will be gradually introduced using its existing fleet of five A330-200 freighters for which it has hired new pilot recruits.


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The Trump Administration increased the tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods from 10% to 25% at midnight. The initial reaction from the stock market was very benign as investors remained hopeful that today’s meeting would result in a cancellation of the increased tariffs. While the tariffs are now in effect, they will not apply to any shipments that are in route to the United States, so the full effect will not be for three to four weeks.
Chinese businesses who focus on exporting products to the United States mentioned last night in an interview that they would most likely be forced out of business as it would take too long to retool their products for use in other parts of the world. The tariffs will hurt Chinese businesses and the Chinese government is expected to respond in kind, although nobody knows what the policy response will be.
President Trump tweeted this morning that the increased revenue from the tariffs, which will ultimately be borne by American consumers and not Chinese business, will be used to purchase agricultural commodities to support humanitarian missions in other countries. President Trump has instructed his staff to put together a proposal that would have the United States government purchasing more agricultural commodities than China did. Such a move would be very beneficial for American farmers.
From an economic standpoint, the United States should expect a -0.5% decrease to its GDP growth in the coming quarters. Consumer prices should rise and demand, which is already weakening, should further fall. With consumer prices being held artificially high due to tariffs, the Fed will have a challenging time managing monetary policy.
From a global economic perspective, World Dollar Liquidity should continue to contract which means the global economy will continue contracting. Aside from the U.S. stock market, which seemingly is ignoring everything, asset prices and interest rates should fall.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose +2.0% on an annualized basis, just under expectations of a +2.1% print, which is right on target for the Fed’s two-percent inflation target. Consumer goods prices are falling while shelter and services prices are increasing.
Stocks shrugged off the increased tariffs as hope remains eternal for a trade deal, but in the last minutes of trading, both sides stated there are no further meetings scheduled. Investors chasing stocks higher are soon going to find out that China will retaliate against the tariffs.
Treasury yields closed flat on the day and are poised to break lower and the next move lower should be rapid. Investors also believe inflation is right around the corner, even though the global money supply is slightly contracting. Increased tariffs and a slowing global economy will lead to lower long-term yields.
Physical gold continues to find sellers just below its 50-day moving average and it is still poised to move lower. The large gold miners, when they fall, should set up an excellent long-term buying opportunity.
Should the United States government start buying agricultural commodities, and I believe President Trump will make good on his word since he promised farmers help, it will be a big boom for one of the most heavily shorted sectors in the economy which is also at its multi-decade lows.
For now, the world waits to see how China will respond and be prepared, they will.


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PayGlocal raises USD 12 million in funding round co-led by Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital India
Payment solutions startup PayGlocal on Saturday announced that it has raised USD 12 million in a funding round that was co-led by Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital India and saw participation from existing investors.
The 'Series B round' comes on the heels of a USD 4.9-million Series A funding round that was led by Sequoia Capital India back in December 2021, the company said in a statement.
''...PayGlocal today announced that it has raised USD 12 million in a Series B funding round that was co-led by Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital India, along with participation from existing investors BeeNext, Pinelabs' Amrish Rau , Jupiter's Jitendra Gupta, and White Ventures' Sweta Rau. Also joining the captable is CRED's Kunal Shah,'' the statement added.
PayGlocal plans to use the funds to further scale its cross-border merchant payments solution. The startup also plans to launch new cross-border payments solutions to help international merchants receive payments from Indian consumers as well as cross-border business-to-business solutions.
Founded in 2021 by payment industry veterans Prachi Dharani, Rohit Sukhija, Yogesh Lokhande and Ruby Jain, PayGlocal enables merchants to accept and collect payments from customers outside India in the currency of their choice and using their own cards or non-card payment options.
''We have observed remarkable growth within just 14 months of launch and received phenomenal feedback for our platform from merchants who are happy with the increase in international payments success rate and a reduction in the risk associated with the processing of cross-border transactions,'' Prachi Dharani, co-founder and CEO, PayGlocal, said.
Dharani added: ''We are very excited with the response we have got so far and are committed to making continued investments in people and products to turbocharge our growth.''
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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A partnership between financial services giant Mastercard and web3 technology company Immersve is set to offer a new option to pay for physical, digital and transmodal purchases using crypto assets.
Immersve says the payment solution will allow consumers in New Zealand and Australia to use digital currencies directly from their web3 wallets to pay for goods and services at Mastercard-supported merchants.
Users retain full control of their crypto assets because the system does not require a third party to hold their funds as collateral. Customers continue to manage their assets until they make a purchase.
USD (USDC) stablecoins that have been issued in a cycle will be used for all purchases. The crypto asset tied to the dollar will be converted to fiat currency and settled on Mastercard’s network during transactions.
Immersve says it will rely on Mastercard’s identity services and CipherTrace solution to address Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML), online fraud detection and blockchain analysis.
Says Sandeep Malhotra, Executive Vice President of Product & Innovation, Mastercard, Asia Pacific,
“As Web2 and Web3 increasingly converge, Mastercard remains committed to working with organizations like Immersve to scale and secure the blockchain ecosystem to make simple, secure cryptocurrency transactions, and even payments in the metaverse, easily accessible to billions consumers”.
Last year, Mastercard’s head of crypto and blockchain, Raj Dhamodharan, said the payments giant was working to fully unlock the potential of digital assets. In January, the company partnered with crypto exchange Binance to launch the Binance Card in Brazil, which allows users to make purchases and pay bills using crypto.
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Legal pot in Colorado and Washington is successfully competing with the black market, the House of Commons health committee heard Tuesday, though illicit sales still account for a sizable portion of the market.
But don’t expect legal marijuana to reduce use of the drug among young people, one expert warned.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Officials from both states said legal marijuana prices have dropped dramatically since recreational sales began in 2014. Sam Kamin, a professor of marijuana law and policy at the University of Denver in Colorado, said there are now calls for a price floor in his state, as prices are dropping low enough that there are concerns about the drug becoming too accessible to young people.
In Washington, which was initially criticized for charging too much tax and making it difficult for the legal market to compete with illicit sales, the tax system was replaced in 2015 with a single excise tax of 37 per cent. While prices of $25 and $30 a gram were being reported in 2014, they dropped to about $10 a gram a year ago and are now at less than $8, compared to black market prices of $9 to $11 a gram at the time of legalization, said Rick Garza, director of the state’s liquor and cannabis board.
Legal sales picked up as prices dropped, he said, and he estimates they now account for 50 to 65 per cent of the market. “I think the size of the marketplace at about $4 million a day in sales suggests that those prices are about equal to or lower than the black market,” he said.
Michael Hartman, executive director of the Colorado Department of Revenue, said he believes more than 70 per cent of the market in that state is now regulated.
But the Colorado officials were quick to warn the committee that marijuana revenue likely won’t be a major boon for the government. Tax revenue from marijuana sales in Colorado was about $200 million last year, but that’s still only a small fraction of the state’s tax base, Hartman said. “The economic incentives for (legalization) are relatively minimal.”
Kamin said that Canada will need to keep tax rates low initially, if it wants to compete with the black market, and the cost of legalization will be high. There are good reasons to move away from prohibition, he said, but “enriching state coffers is not among them.”
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu suggested Canada should stick to online sales of marijuana, which she said would be more cost-effective than retail stores. “I think that is the best hope of meeting a price that would eliminate the black market.”
The Liberal government has pitched legalizing pot as a way to fight the black market and to keep the drug out of the hands of youth.
But on Monday, an RCMP official told the health committee it would be “naïve” to think that legalization will stamp out the black market entirely.
And in answer to a question from Liberal MP John Oliver on Tuesday about youth use, Kamin urged Canadians not to get their hopes too high.
“I think it would be unexpected… to hope that youth usage rates drop significantly as a result of legalization,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Canadian police leaders testified that it could be “impossible” to get law enforcement trained by the July 2018 deadline the federal government has set for legalizing the drug.
Asked if there were similar concerns in Colorado, Hartman quoted a colleague: “We were flying the plane while we were building it,” he said.
Kamin said the supply of legal marijuana was a problem in the early days, especially as Colorado and Washington were the first states to legalize pot. “There was definitely rationing for the first while,” he said. “We were the first thing in the country. People came from all over. We didn’t probably have enough right away.”
He also said he was “shocked” by the sales of edible products, which he said accounted for about half the demand in the first year, and could be higher now. Canada’s proposed legislation will regulate the sale of fresh and dried cannabis, as well as seeds and oil, but the sale of edibles will come later.
Garza said edible sales in Washington were only about 12 per cent of total sales after legalization.
Asked about possible complications at the Canada-U.S. border once the drug is legalized in Canada, Kamin said he’s heard of individuals being denied entry to the U.S. if they admit to having used the drug, which remains illegal federally south of the border. But he said border guards do use their discretion.
“I know that this is going to be a tension… and enforcement at the border in both directions will be complicated by the endeavour that you’re all undertaking here,” he said.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Liberal MP Bill Blair said the government is well aware of the border concerns. “Many of those cross-border jurisdictional issues are already issues that people question and need to be resolved, and so we’re working hard on that.”
The health committee is meeting all week to discuss the new cannabis bill.
• Email: firstname.lastname@example.org | Twitter: MauraForrest


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2020 has been an unusual year, and one in which we’ve found ourselves spending more time at home than ever before. With more time to kill and less ways in which to do it, home entertainment has taken on a new importance, and whether you love listening to music or prefer watching films, the chances are that you’ve done a lot of it over the past twelve months. In the current climate, there’s little room for sub-par audio-visual equipment in our lives, so if yours is due an upgrade or you simply like to ensure you always have the best set-up installed for an elevated viewing or listening experience, then you’re going to want to read on.
In 2021, we can expect to see some exciting developments in the world of audio-visuals – with some burgeoning trends to look out for if you want to stay ahead of the game. According to the experts at JL Audiovisual Limited – the UK’s leading audio-visual consultants – we’ll see some existing trends continue to gather momentum – with one or two new twists in the new year.
Whilst we don’t know what to expect from 2021 with the Covid-19 pandemic, the world of entertainment, it seems, is a little more predictable. We asked the experts to outline the main trends to watch – so that you can get your hands on them first.
An emerging trend from this year, 4K will continue to gather momentum in 2021 – but with 8K already snapping at its heels, its popularity might well be short-lived. At four times the pixel density of a 4K TV and 16 times the resolution of 1080HD, 8K screens in particular are set to have a moment, and without a doubt, will become more and more commonplace in luxury homes over the next twelve months. Currently, 4K screens continue to fly off the shelves, and anyone who knows quality tech when they see it is investing. But if you’re eager to have the finest equipment in your own home, then now is the time to upgrade. While 4K projectors, OLED technology and huge screens mean these are still a good choice, they are no longer the best on the market, and their 8K counterparts will blow you away.
ALR screens and projectors
If large displays are your bag, then ambient light-reflecting screens are a great choice for entertainment lovers, allowing them to enjoy large and clear projected images regardless of the light in a room. In spaces where the ambient lighting is tricky to control – for example, a room that is filled with sunlight during the day – these are an inspired solution. So, there will be no more closing the curtains in broad daylight when you want to watch that next big release! Commercial environments such as conference rooms and sport bars will also benefit from this trend – so keep an eye out for this new tech trend, coming to a venue near you in 2021.
Minimal audio equipment with maxed-out sound
Optimal sound often comes with many wires, so if you’re tired of tripping over them all or trying to hide them from view, then this latest trend will be a welcome one that you’ll be eager to embrace in the new year. We can expect to see a greater selection of wireless audio-equipment flooding the market in 2021, with a higher level of built-in components within each. This year, we’ve already seen the introduction of speakers featuring intrinsic amplifiers, which has meant no more buying the two separately and trying to match them up. We’ve also seen the arrival of souped-up soundbars, which come with multiple woofers and tweeters in-built – and we can expect these to continue getting better and better.
So, if you’ve had enough of excessive equipment and wires cluttering up your living space and ruining the aesthetic of luxury home, then you’ll soon be able to adopt a more minimalistic set-up without compromising on quality.


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With performances from a diverse range of artists from all over the world in its first 40 days, the Coke Studio Sessions is set to build on its momentum with some big performances announced this week.
For those looking to supplement the lovely weather with intimate renditions of the best songs from your favourite artists, this week’s Coke Studio Sessions might just be the perfect treat. So here are a few sessions we are looking forward to!
Although the 35-year-old singer is still awaiting the birth of her first child, she has been busy, making appearances and performing her biggest hits for her fans remotely. Her latest commitment to tend to her fan base and contribute to the world’s recovery from the current pandemic is through a performance on the Coke Studio Sessions this Saturday, and we are expecting it to be all shades of exciting!
For her highly anticipated one-hour virtual concert, it is expected that the popular singer will belt out the biggest hits of her career such as “Roar”, “Firework”, “I Kissed A Girl”, and more; including her latest hit “Daisies”.
From leaving RCA Records in 2019 to getting signed by Jay-Z’s record label, Roc Nation, months later – the past few months have been quite the journey for Tinashe. In this period, the artiste has released several songs with critical acclaim and mainstream appeal, the latest one being a track with ZHU titled “Only”.
In an interview with E! in May, the singer revealed she has been doing most of her recent recordings remotely in her home studio. So if this is anything to go by, her performance on the Coke Studio Sessions this Thursday will be an immersive experience.
When Gryffin debuted his first single titled “Heading Home”, featuring Australian singer Josef Salvat, the world was introduced to a new dimension of electronic music – teeming with emotion, unquestionable quality and a magnetic pull. The artiste has since taken the music industry by storm, with multiple hits such as “Nobody Compares To You”, “Remember”, “Hurt People”, “Tie Me Down”, “Need Your Love” and more.
Perhaps with the current global situation, Gryffin’s performance might be all you need to feel tethered to the world again, with some songs inducing happiness and others getting you in touch with your innermost feelings. We are expecting his session on this week’s Coke Studio Sessions this Friday to be every bit as incredible as his music.
You can catch these incredible artistes live on, streaming platform, #BeApp:
● Katy Perry – Saturday, June 27, 2 am.
● Tinashe – Thursday, June 25, 2 am.
● Gryffin – Friday, June 26, 2 am.
You can also catch the performances on Coca-Cola’s YouTube channel 24 hours after they air live on BeApp.
The Coke Studio Sessions is a virtual concert series organised by Coca-Cola and #BeApp, aimed at supporting the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in its fight against the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.
As of present, The Coca-Cola Foundation has donated over $2.5 million to support the IFRC in West Africa in response to COVID-19. The company will also match up to a collective total of $3 million in consumer donations made through this initiative.
BeApp is a new social streaming platform that democratizes access to the world’s best artists, performances, and music moments live. BeApp brings the world’s most loved artists directly to homes, creating a global virtual living room. Free to download, the app lets you tune into a number of one-of-a-kind immersive experiences you would find at a concert or festival. Founded by tech industry veterans Ray Smith and Ross Mason the platform adds a gamified social layer to live streaming where fans can directly interact, shop, donate, and connect with their favorite artists creating a series of music defining moments with artists such as Katy Perry, Steve Aoki, Skrillex, and DJ Khaled.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories. In addition to the company’s Coca-Cola brand, our portfolio includes AdeS, Ayataka, Costa, Dasani, Del Valle, Fanta, Georgia, Gold Peak, Honest, innocent, Minute Maid, Powerade, Simply, SmartWater, Sprite, Vitaminwater and ZICO. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to the market. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About The Coca-Cola Foundation
he Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company. Since its inception in 1984, The Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants to support sustainable community initiatives around the world. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please click HERE.
About the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world’s largest humanitarian network. It is neutral and impartial, and dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering, protecting life and health, and upholding human dignity especially in armed conflicts and emergencies such as health crises and disasters. The Movement is composed of 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross.


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Minister lauds role of Bahrain traders
Manama, May 13, 2012
Bahrain Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro has confirmed the government's keenness to follow up on all developments in local markets to ensure availability of food items and consumer goods at reasonable prices.
He praised the positive role played by traders and importers to achieve market stability and cater to the needs of citizens all the time.
This came during a visit by the minister to local markets, including the Manama Central Market, Bahrain Flour Mill as well as Seef Mall.
During the visit to the Manama Central Market for Fruits and Vegetables, the minister was briefed on market and consumer trends.
Trader Ebrahim Alameer assured him of smooth functioning of the market and the availability of different varieties of vegetable and fruits in sufficient quantities, confirming the stability of prices.
Meat market traders confirmed the availability of meat in sufficient quantities. Bahrain Livestock Company general manager Ibrahim Salman said there was enough stock of cattle.
The minister visited Bahrain Flour Mills and was briefed on the company's production and distribution mechanisms to markets.
The minister also visited Seef Mall where he was briefed on growing numbers of visitors, sales and promotions to attract shoppers.-TradeArabia News Service
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A collection of news, articles and other featured content about Fast Casual Dining.
This Moe's Southwest Grill in Pittsburgh includes four kiosks, a second make line, and curbside pickup.
CEO says brand's goal is to digitize 100% of transactions.
Chipotle is now available nationwide on the Grubhub app and Grubhub.com.
Fast casual chain added online ordering in 2019, and today 80% of the chain’s orders are for off-prem.
Facebook Messenger, group ordering and a donation option broaden U.S. digital capabilities. Plus, Concierge Bot Pepper makes its debut.
Techknow timer solutions use multiple sensors that can track the time and progress of vehicles from many different lane configurations, giving restaurant operators flexibility and access to real-time business intelligence.
Modified seating plans and enhanced health protocol ensures the safety of guests and team members, with takeout, curbside pick-up and delivery services to continue
A comprehensive customer engagement platform helps a 49-year-old brand expand loyal customer base and increase loyalty checks 16%
Fazoli's, QDOBA, Yum! Brands and Barberitos share how they’re trying to provide relief to their business owners.
This new offering is in direct response to what the company believes will be an altered business environment in the post-COVID-19 world.
New Yorkers can access fresh, healthy staples from Just Salad as wait time for grocery delivery services soars amid high demand.
Chipotle is looking to bring more joy to its fans and bridge important digital connections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guests can buy a dining bond for $100 or $200 and redeem it later for $150 and $350, respectively, at gusto's Atlanta locations.
Chipotle will be available on Uber Eats across the US with delivery fees waived through March 31.


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(Omaha, NE) -- After a year off, the Night Market returns to Turner Park for the 2021 season this week.
The Night Market, presented by the Omaha Farmers Market, will kick off its season on Friday, July 16th and features vendors, food and drink and live entertainment in Omaha's Turner Park.
Amanda Lustgraaf with Midtown Crossing says, “We are thrilled to host this engaging event in the heart of midtown Omaha and nestled amid an eclectic community, including five retail openings this summer.”
The 2021 Night Market takes place from 6 pm to 10 pm on July 16th and 30th, August 13th and 27th, and September 10th in Turner Park.
The Night Market’s marketplace has more than 40 local vendors offering a wide variety of handmade and upcycled goods, non-profits providing interactive activities, as well as food and beverages. Attendees who purchase alcoholic beverages within the marketplace can stroll the market with beer or wine in hand. Live music and entertainment will also be featured at each market.
“The Night Market has a very different ambiance compared to our traditional farmers markets,” says Vic Gutman, executive director of the Omaha Farmers Market. “Its nighttime hours and overall party feel make it a unique market experience.”
The Night Market is free, open to the public and dog-friendly.


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Nestlé launched a range of Nescafé Gold lattes crafted with plant-based ingredients.
The first energy drink under the Coca-Cola brand will launch in Europe, the company announced.
Nestlé and Starbucks announced the launch of Starbucks Creamers, allowing the Starbucks brand to enter the refrigerated creamer category for the first time.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®, roasters and retailers of specialty coffee and tea, announced that it has partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the iconic series Friends. Like the theme song for the famous sit-com, this brew "will be there for you."
Sports nutrition drink Koios announced that it is currently in production for the launch of a new and exclusive flavour to its Koios beverage lineup.
Mountain Dew® and KFC® created a brand character to launch their newest flavour, Sweet Lightning®, a summery, barbecue-friendly flavour of peach with a touch of honey flavouring.
Bazooka Candy Brands paired with Galerie Candy & Gifts to announce that Finders Keepers™, one of the fastest growing candy and toy surprise brands, will be adding two hot new licenses joining the portfolio next year: PAW Patrol and PJ Masks.
Doritos has completed production on "Incognito Doritos," state-of-the-art, traditional-looking Doritos bags that covertly transform into an official replica suit from Spider-Man: Far From Home, in theatres on July 2, 2019.
Perfetti Van Melle is focusing on March-break focused teens and young adults, with their new Mega-Chup line, new to the U.S. market.
PEZ Candy, Inc. announced on May 2nd, the auction of an exclusive Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dispenser set in support of Make-A-Wish® UK.
Brand Vending has released a bulk vending machine for one-inch items that looks like fun and is easy to use for operators and young customers.
Canadian operators can now upgrade their AMI jukeboxes by adding a Music Video Kit to connect their NGX digital jukebox models to nearby televisions.
Astro Kefir Probiotic Yogourt claims to contains twice the probiotics of any other. This is Astro's first kefir-based, naturally thick, spoonable yogourt.
Maruchan has produced ramen noodles since 1977. Born from the dream of creating convenient, high quality and affordable noodles for all, Maruchan looks to elevate the ramen-making market once again with the introduction of Maruchan Gold.
Voortman Bakery, cookie company and fast-growing cookie manufacturer, announced the release of its newest seasonal flavours, Apple Crisp and Pumpkin Spice.
Halo Top Creamery launched its new range of snackable bars with just 80-90 calories and only 7-9 grams of sugar per bar, and to celebrate, have teamed up with TripAdvisor to let fans book an ice cream-themed pastel-coloured Airstream Trailer for a limited time.
Skittles® candy is turning the tables on zombies this Halloween with the U.S. launch of its new Zombie Skittles®, and now everyone has a chance to taste the rotten flavour for the first time, if they dare.
Vegan jerky company, Noble Jerky makes meat-free, all Canadian snacks out of its manufacturing plant in Port Moody, B.C.
The rise of the healthy food trend is one of the most challenging developments the vending industry has ever addressed. A cornerstone of the vending industry’s revenue has typically been the school system and given the connection education has to government; as policy has tightened around public health - so have the food options for vending.
Rheavendors Group introduced a line of coffee vending machines that features facial recognition technology to recall users’ preferences.
Tomlinson Industries introduces the new Countertop Lid Organizer to its Modular Dispensing Systems product line.
Cradlepoint recently announced all-inclusive cloud service packages for its Internet of Things network systems.
Cafection Entreprises has a high-capacity coffee machine with a larger brew group that can prepare a cup of coffee up to 24 ounces in a single brew cycle.
Zoppas Industries custom-designs heating element technologies for the food-service, coffee, vending and wellness industries, as well as a wide variety of industries such as air conditioning, refrigeration, wind turbines and aerospace.
Nespresso co-creates bike made from recycled coffee capsulesTo demonstrate its corporate commitment to recycling, Nespresso has partnered with Swedish…
Healthy vending made tastier with Astro's new kefir probiotic yogurtAstro Kefir Probiotic Yogourt claims to contains twice the probiotics of…
Fall officially here: Voortman releases pumpkin spice wafersVoortman Bakery, cookie company and fast-growing cookie manufacturer, announced the…
Maruchan elevates instant ramen with new lineMaruchan has produced ramen noodles since 1977. Born from the…


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Despite the quick settlement, Hotz posted on his blog that he will be boycotting anything Sony.
After months of quarreling and accusations, Sony and famous iPhone and PS3 hacker Geo Hotz have decided to settle out of court – in what is possibly an anti-climax supporters of the hacker weren’t expecting.
Sony and Hotz issued a joint statement to announce “the settlement of the lawsuit filed by SCEA against Hotz in federal court in San Francisco, California. The parties reached an agreement in principle on March 31, 2011. As part of the settlement, Hotz consented to a permanent injunction.”
As per the agreement (full court document attached below), Hotz is now permanently banned from “trafficking in any technology” that allows one to skirt any TPM in any Sony product, including any sort of decryption code. He is also banned from assisting or distributing any confidential information that may lead others to the aforementioned causes.
If Hotz is found violating any of the terms, the settlement document clearly states that he will be tried in California and he will be fined $10,000 for each violation, up to a cap of $250,000.
In a press release, both Sony and Hotz said that they were happy to quickly resolve the problem.
“Sony is glad to put this litigation behind us,” said Riley Russell, General Counsel for SCEA. “Our motivation for bringing this litigation was to protect our intellectual property and our consumers. We believe this settlement and the permanent injunction achieve this goal.”
“We want our consumers to be able to enjoy our devices and products in a safe and fun environment and we want to protect the hard work of the talented engineers, artists, musicians and game designers who make PlayStation games and support the PlayStation Network.
“We appreciate Mr. Hotz’s willingness to address the legal issues involved in this case and work with us to quickly bring this matter to an early resolution.”
“It was never my intention to cause any users trouble or to make piracy easier,” said Hotz, “I’m happy to have the litigation behind me.”
However, on his blog, Hotz wasn’t so positive and posted that from April 11, he will join the Sony boycott cause and avoid purchasing any Sony products in the future.
“As of 4/11/11, I am joining the SONY boycott. I will never purchase another SONY product. I encourage you to do the same. And if you bought something SONY recently, return it. Why would you not boycott a company who feels this way about you?
Finishing it off, he said “There is much more to come on this blog.”
The biggest winner from this agreement is of course, Sony. It has got two monkeys off its back – one with Hotz now legally bound to never snoop around in any Sony product whatsoever, and the other being the Anonymous hacker group who had threatened to attack the corporation until they were “satisfied with the results”. Win-win for Sony, not so much for those expecting homebrew on their PS3 anytime soon.
Full court document (thanks VG247!):


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Thailand is looking for the latest payment options for tourists in the country amid Western economic sanctions against Russia.
The Phuket Tourism Association (PTA) and the Bank of Thailand (BOT) are negotiating a new payment law package for Russian tourists, including cryptocurrencies. Previously, Visa and Mastercard had suspended Russian credit card payments abroad.
Thai media reported that Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourism Association, recently discussed whether to open up cryptocurrency payments to Russian tourists, a backup option that can no longer handle fiat transactions.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided by WebsCrypto does not represent any investment suggestion. The articles published on this site only represent personal opinions and have nothing to do with the official position of WebsCrypto.


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InternetNZ has condemned a US move to repeal "net neutrality" rules - but says Kiwi internet users will be less exposed to the fallout.
The US Federal Communications Commission repealed the Obama-era rules, giving internet service providers like Verizon, Comcast and AT&T a free hand to slow or block websites and apps as they see fit or charge more for faster speeds.
In a straight party-line vote of 3-2, the Republican-controlled FCC junked the long-time principle that said all web traffic must be treated equally.
The move represents a radical departure from more than a decade of federal oversight.
The big telecommunications companies had lobbied hard to overturn the rules, contending they are heavy-handed and discourage investment in broadband networks.
InternetNZ chief executive Jordan Carter said that all internet users would end up worse off as a result.
"The FCC should have left the open internet orders in place. Their decision instead damages the internet for everyone," Carter said.
"An open Internet that isn't captured by big ISPs or content companies is the platform for innovation and development New Zealand and the world need.
"The repeal of these American open internet requirements means that over time, innovation is at risk in the United States."
Dominant ISPs or content providers could do deals that made it harder for new services to emerge, he said.
"If the next Netflix or Google faces discrimination from big ISPs in trying to offer their services, then new innovation is just less likely - and so over time we are all worse off.
"Since so many of the services we use online have been developed in America, what is bad for the internet there is bad for us all."
But fortunately, Carter added, New Zealand didn't have the market problems that made network neutrality such a pressing issue in the US.
"In particular the fact Chorus, provider of most broadband internet infrastructure, does not offer retail ISP service and has no deals with content providers gives a layer of security to Kiwi Internet users.
"Until recently there haven't been close links between big ISPs and big media or content companies.
"It is fortuitous that our local market is set up in this way, and has largely avoided the worst risks to a neutral internet, but we should not take it for granted that this will always be the case without work to keep it that way.
"There's little that New Zealand can do to stem the problems arising from this American decision, but we must make sure similar problems don't develop here."


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The decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, Luxy, unveiled its first NFT marketplace on the Syscoin network. Accordingly, Luxy is also the first NFT marketplace to be hosted on Syscoin, making it a milestone worth celebrating for the platform.
Luxy Integrates NFT on Syscoin
As a decentralized entity, Luxy made its debut on the Polygon Network in April 2022. Fast forward to July 13, its integration with the Syscoin Layer 1 mainnet is completed. Luxy comes with an exceptional user experience alongside every feature of a complete DeFi platform.
With the integration of Syscoin, Luxy users will benefit from the airtight security system of the Bitcoin network. In addition, the project is also designed with modular blockchain technology that makes for easy scaling.
Furthermore, the user experience is second to none among other NFT-backed projects. The Luxy team ensures that the project is standard and supports all the features required of a top NFT marketplace.
To celebrate the new blockchain, Luxy has inked a deal with SysPunk NFT. The SysPunk NFT will be unveiled as the first of the Syscoin properties.
However, the SysPunk NFT launch will go live hours after the official unveiling of Luxy on Syscoin. Holders of the native Luxy token, $Luxy on Syscoin, are eligible for the SysPunk discount minting. Luxy has teamed up with Syscoin’s native token, Dex Pegasys, to solidify its partnership further.
The $Luxy token has already been listed on the Pegasys.finance platform since July 6. Holders of both tokens can earn interest at a rate as high as 300% of the initial APY.
The Trifecta Deal is for the Future
The Luxy NFT marketplace, Syscoin, and Pegasys are all in for a promising working partnership. This implies that the deal between them is a major milestone for their continued expansion.
Syscoin represents another massive prospect in its drive to provide a flexible, secure, and decentralized blockchain solution in the industry.
For its part, Luxy also aims to provide a faster, more secure, and scalable solution for the NFT space. It aims to provide an environment for artists, collectors, and NFT enthusiasts to express themselves and support each other.
Moreover, the Luxy ecosystem is a growing hub looking to make NFT accessible to everyone. It is designed for easy navigation as well as affordable fees.
Another interesting thing about the Luxy ecosystem is that all transactions on the blockchain network provide trustless trading.
The three partners will continue collaborating on major and minor projects to provide ecosystem users with the needed support and unmatched experience.
Meanwhile, the proposed roll-up of the Syscoin NEVM Layer 2 protocol will pave the way for faster transactions and unhindered scaling. All aspects of the projects will be pursued while adopting the Bitcoin security framework.
Luxy offers a promising NFT marketplace where every part of the ecosystem will be equally accessible to users. The platform aims to be sustainable by integrating green Blockchain solutions to preserve the environment.


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Before the original iPhone launched in 2007, USA Today reported that Apple and AT&T has entered a five-year carrier exclusivity agreement. That report was never verified, though, and the terms of the agreement between Apple and AT&T have long been the subject of debate. Until this week, that is, when Engadget poured through documents and found that, in 2008, a class-action lawsuit alleging monopoly was filed against Apple. Apple’s response confirmed the five-year deal: “[T]here was widespread disclosure of [AT&T’s] five-year exclusivity and no suggestion by Apple or anyone else that iPhones would become unlocked after two years.”
Still, as Engadget notes, it is possible that the terms of the contract have changed since 2007 or 2008. “Contracts can be canceled, amended, and breached in many ways, and AT&T’s spotty recent service history plus the explosion of the iPhone and the mobile market in general have given Apple any number of reasons to revisit the deal,” Engadget says.


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Increases in tax payments made using the country’s electronic payment system have recently rose to EGP 8bn per month, the official news agency MENA reported, citing Mohamed Fouad, Chairman of the Electronic Payment Center within the Ministry of Finance. This rate increased 20% during the period required to file tax returns, reaching its highest level in May, at EGP 15bn. Electronic payment included direct deductions from tax payer bank accounts and collecting of electronic checks.
In statements made Friday, Fouad stated that 3,320 branches belonging to 28 separate banks were taking part in the new electronic payment system. An additional 1,200 post offices have also begun taking part in the system, bringing the total number of participating payment stations to 4,520. He added that the system had been set up during July and August of last year. He stated that the operating hours of these branches had not been limited following the 30 June Revolution, keeping in mind that the electronic payment system allows customers to pay taxes and customs duties directly from their offices. All services are provided and ensured by the Ministry of Finance’s E-certification Authority.
He added that the average value of monthly customs duties rose to EGP 816m, a result of the system’s overall increase in recent months, in response to the demands of senior customs officials to have their current accounts entered into and included in government electronic payment systems. This has helped speed up the implementation of customs clearance procedures on imports. Regarding new plans to promote cooperation between the Central Bank of Egypt and the Ministry of Finance, he stated that the ministry sought to create an electronic payment system to help pay dues owed to government importers, ministries and public authorities. This would be done using the “direct orders added” device, which would add the value of supply services to special bank accounts belonging to importers, as opposed to using paper checks as a method of payment.