text:
The Black Friday Increased the Net Worth of Bezos to more than USD 100 Billion
Jeff Bezos is the newest billionaire with over $ 100 billion in wealth.
The net worth of the founder of Amazon.com Inc. grew by $ 2.4 billion to $ 100.3 billion after online merchant stocks jumped more than 2% due to optimism for sales during the Black Friday. Online purchases for the day have risen 18.4 percent from the previous year, according to data from Adobe Analytics, and investors are betting that the company will take over most of online spending during the holiday season, Bloomberg reports.
Amazon advertised significant discounts as part of its Black Friday offerings, especially for products that make it easier for other Amazon purchases.
The company offered a 20% discount on its latest smart home appliances Echo and Echo Plus, which allow easy orders from Amazon through Alexa's built-in voice assistant. Also on sale are the Fire tablets (now also distinguished by Alexa) and the new Kindle models, which are excellent ebook readers sold by, of course, Amazon.
The USD 100 billion limit makes Bezos the first person to have a 12-digit net since 1999 when Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reached that threshold, Bloomberg said.
In July, Bezos surpassed Gates as the richest man in the world. Gates' net fortune declined as he accelerated his philanthropic efforts. In June, Gates donated 64 million shares of Microsoft to his foundation, the largest donation since the founding of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000.
Oxfam predicts that the world will have its first trillioner within 25 years, as the money of the world's richest grow exponentially. Right now, Bezos seems to be the most likely candidate to reach this limit.
- » The Debt of Bulgaria for 2017 Amounts to BGN 25,064 Million
- » Removal of Illegal Establishments in Sunny Beach Continues
- » Gazprom will Build a $ 20 Billion Plant near the Baltic Sea
- » Air France KLM Shares All Amid More Strike Disruption
- » Spain is Richer than Italy, According to Data from the IMF
- » Over 11% Growth in International Tourism Revenues During the Winter in Bulgaria


text:
VoxPro Plans $4 Million Center Of Excellence In Athens-Clarke County, Georgia
“Voxpro partners with clients that are changing the world. Our success is built on delivering beautiful customer experiences and it’s our people and our culture that provide that point of difference. We know we’ve found those people in Athens,” said Voxpro Co-founder and CEO Dan Kiely.
“North America is a critical part of our growth strategy, and we are excited to establish our latest Center of Excellence in Athens-Clarke County. We’ve had a great welcome from the local community, and we’re delighted to be partnering with Governor Deal and the Georgia Department of Economic Development on our latest expansion, “ he said.
“Georgia offers a wealth of resources for an innovative company like Voxpro to grow its business,” said Governor Nathan Deal. “Georgia’s top-ranked business climate and highly skilled workforce is critical to attracting international business. We established a strong relationship with Voxpro leadership in Ireland and look forward to the company’s continued investment in Georgia.”
Voxpro provides a range of business services, such as multilingual customer experience and technical support solutions, trust and safety monitoring, social media management and product insight. The company works with clients from innovative tech startups to global giants, helping them scale internationally and deliver a high quality customer experience with every interaction.
“Voxpro’s creation of 500 new jobs is exciting news for Athens and another example that our downtown is a destination for innovation and creativity,” said Mayor of Athens-Clarke County Nancy Denson.
“Partnerships with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the governor, educational resources and the business community allowed our Economic Development Department to demonstrate to Voxpro that Athens has a business environment conducive to accelerated growth. Voxpro’s core values align perfectly with the vibrant and innovative atmosphere we have here in the Classic City, and we are proud to have them call Athens home,” she said.
“As Ireland’s leading international provider of customer experience and technical support to some of the world’s most exciting and innovative tech companies, we provide a premium support service and we’re thrilled to be establishing our second U.S. Center of Excellence here in Athens-Clarke County,” said Voxpro U.S. General Manager Jon Ward.
Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) project manager Nikki Yu represented the Global Commerce division in partnership with the Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department, the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Quick Start, the University of Georgia Department of Economic Development and Georgia Power.
2022 Top States for Doing Business Provide an Environment for Business Growth
Location Factors in the EV Industry — “Mission Critical” or “Nice to Have”?
2022 Auto/Aero Site Guide
Three Big Challenges Facing the Food & Beverage Industry
How Are Economic Developers Partnering to Solve Workforce Challenges?
36th Annual Corporate Survey: Executives Focus on Labor, Energy, Shipping Costs
Fixing the Supply Chain with AI and Robotics
18th Annual Consultants Survey: Access to Major Markets and Skilled Labor Are Clients’ Primary Concerns

domain: news


text:
“In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation,” goes a famous line in the Great Law of the Iroquois, “even if it requires having skin as thick as the bark of a pine.” Though TTAC tests the thickness of GM’s skin on a daily basis, GM is ahead of the seven-generation game. The Detroit News reports that GM’s engineering staff are already working on the Volt’s third-generation hardware, although previous iterations are still being used to collect data. Meanwhile, the major challenge remain getting everything road-ready for a 2010 launch, a goal that will be reached… “barring any last minute problems.” “I did place a lot of faith in the battery companies, who said they could have them ready,” admits Bob Lutz. Oh, and there’s still one other major obstacle to overcome: the cost. Test vehicles cost “over $250,000” per vehicle to build, and a major focus of the testing process has been reducing the build cost. And despite the earlier Volt-as-sports-sedan rhetoric, the top attained speed in testing is 107 mph, although engineers say it will likely be limited to 104 mph. Though that’s faster than most EV early-adopters will take their Volts anyway, it’s also only about 15 mph faster than the much-cheaper Nissan Leaf EV, a vehicle that the Volt will have to differentiate itself from considerably to earn its estimated $10k premium over the non-range-extended EV.
Find Reviews by Make:


text:
Upgrade Your Travel Experience at Dane County Regional Airport
Our latest campaign for Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) urged travelers to not waste time and money driving to a faraway airport when they could be upgrading their overall travel experience by flying local. MSN offers parking right across the street, locally sourced food and drink, shorter security lines, and free ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6 internet throughout the airport. The new South Terminal at the airport also offers travelers a variety of unique amenities like business centers, charging ports on all furniture, a kid’s area, pet relief area, and more. The campaign was promoted at the airport as well as social media, radio, billboard, print, and online ads. We’re proud to say that the campaign drove 8,197 Fly Local pledges for the airport!


text:
The long-awaited open-source Novena laptop is now available via a limited Crowd Supply campaign run by Bunnie Huang and Sean Cross.
An estimated 2.1 million Chromebooks shipped in 2013 with nearly 89% of total shipments reaching North America, according to market intelligence firm ABI Research. As Chromebook shipments expand globally, ABI Research forecasts an increase of CAGR 28% to 11 million in 2019.
Anand Shimpi of AnandTech has concluded that Apple's latest A7 processor can indeed be categorized as "desktop class."
Samsung has yet to confirm the purported leaked specs of its next-gen Galaxy Tab 4 10.1, although that hasn't stopped alleged leaks of the new tablet from trickling out.
Sony introduced its high-end, 13-inch slate for reading and writing documents back in 2013.
ECS has introduced a mini-desktop PC equipped with Intel's Atom Bay Trail-M processor and an approximate price tag of $200.
Nvidia has debuted the Jetson TK1 DevKit.
Black and gray markets for computer hacking tools, services and byproducts such as stolen credit card numbers continue to expand, creating an increasing threat to businesses, governments and individuals, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
The Rufus Cuff boasts a 3-inch display and is fully capable of running Android apps from the Google Store.
This is a pivotal year for tablets as the traditional markets leading computing and CE deployments reach a tipping point and give way to growth regions.
Samsung has confirmed that its second-gen, high-end Galaxy Gear smartwatch will carry a $300 price tag.
Like them or not, there’s more proof that selfies aren’t going away any time soon. Georgia Institute of Technology and Yahoo Labs researchers looked at 1.1 million photos on Instagram and found that pictures with human faces are 38 percent more likely to receive likes than photos with no faces. They’re also 32 percent more likely to attract comments.
1080p may have become the de-facto (minimum) laptop display in recent years, although Toshiba is apparently looking to shake-up the status quo with its Satellite P50t.
Google has officially rolled out Android Wear (preview) for developers, effectively extending Mountain View's popular mobile platform to wearables.
Playing a science-based mobile gaming app for 25 minutes can reduce anxiety in stressed individuals, according to research published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Phone maker ZTE and game developer The9 are reportedly prepping a new Android-based game console for a launch in China later this month.
Amazon is reportedly prepping a set-top box capable of playing games and streaming movies from multiple online platforms including Prime Instant Video, Netflix and Hulu Plus.
When Google finally debuts its smartwatch, it will be joining a hyper-competitive space filled with similar devices from other companies.
The PonoPlayer is now available for pre-order via Kickstarter.
Just one quarter after the launch of Apple’s A7 (the first 64-bit mobile processor), Cupertino managed to power more than 36 million iPhones and iPads with its flagship chip.


text:
The Peugeot 308 has been revealed as the 2014 European Car of the Year on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show.
With a huge winning margin, it was a clear victory for the reinvented French hatchback. It beat one-time favourite the BMW i3, with the Tesla Model S coming in third.
The rest of the final seven nominees – from a longlist of 30 new cars on sale during 2013 – finished Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda3, Skoda Octavia and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
This is Peugeot’s fourth Car of the Year gong, which was awarded from the votes of 58 motoring journalists in 22 European countries. The 2002 307 was hardly inspirational but the 1988 405 and 1969 504 were both deserving winners.
Is the new 308? Well, it’s certainly a car greatly improved over its middling predecessor, as Maxime Picat, Director Peugeot of Automobiles Peugeot, excitedly acknowledged as he accepted the prize: “With the new Peugeot 308, we were convinced that we had achieved a leap in concept, technology and quality and which would soon allow it a place on the podium for the category in Europe.
“The prestigious 2014 ‘Car of the Year’ award, which I receive today on behalf of everyone at Peugeot who has contributed towards the development and launch of the award winning new 308, is the best confirmation of this.”
Peugeot already has 55,000 orders for the new 308; many within PSA will be hoping the CoTY prize adds many more for the financially pressured firm…
What do you reckon though – is it a deserving winner? We’ve listed the running order, and the points tally of each car, below: which would have got your vote? Please Disqus your thoughts with us…
2014 Car of the Year – the finalists
1: Peugeot 308 – 307 points
2: BMW i3 – 223 points
3: Tesla Model S – 216 points
4: Citroen C4 Picasso – 182 points
5: Mazda3 – 180 points
6: Skoda Octavia – 172 points
7: Mercedes-Benz S-Class – 170 points


text:
Your favorite tiangge in Divisoria is going digital, thanks to the newly launched cashless stalls near Manila City Hall and in Divisoria.
In preparation for the reopening of Manila’s local economy, the local government has partnered with PayMaya to equip businesses with a contactless payment system.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said that they built upgraded stalls, which is free of charge for vendors around Manila, to provide them with a dignified way of selling their goods.
“And to further improve the way they run their business, we are equipping them with contactless payments with the help of PayMaya.
There are about 90 new vendor stalls that will be equipped with PayMaya QR, the majority of which are located in Divisoria.
The local governments of Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Pasig, Quezon City, and Valenzuela have also adopted digital payment solutions to improve ease of doing business in their localities.
The initiative of the local government of Manila is in line with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno’s vision of the Philippines that use electronic payments, even in sari-sari stores and for jeepney fares.
“Our initiative is to have more market vendors, jeepney, and tricycle drivers accepting digital payments through QR code linked to transaction accounts,” the BSP chief said.
“For market vendors and drivers, that means they do not have to handle cash, which makes them less vulnerable to counterfeits aside from thefts,” Diokno added.
Earlier this year, the BSP also urged the public to use e-payments to minimize face-to-face transactions and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
According to the BSP, e-payments and e-money issuers, such as PayMaya and GCash, reduces the need for people’s mobility, help prevent health risks of physical contact during over-the-counter transactions, reduces the need for ATM withdrawals, and support the general objective of the ongoing community quarantines.
- Due to Unfair Practices, SEC Bars Lending Firm’s Operation - December 30, 2020
- Motorists Can Use Partially Open Skyway 3, Free for a Month - December 28, 2020
- Monthly Contributions to the SSS’s Mandatory Provident Fund Starts in January 2021 - December 26, 2020


text:
While the speculations with regard to the Nokia Normandy are still hot, Microsoft continues to push through the finalization of its $7.4 billion purchase to take over Nokia. The takeover of Microsoft and the release of Normandy seem to be not synchronized. How come Nokia would release another handset device in the year 2014 if Microsoft would take over the company in the first half of 2014? This is just among the questions that the people have on their minds.
Will Normandy Be Released?
With the finalization of the $7.4 billion purchase contract between Microsoft and Nokia, speculators, including mobile experts and market analysts, concluded that Microsoft won’t let the rumored Nokia Normandy see the light. This just means that Microsoft won’t allow the release of the Normandy unit. So, for those who are really waiting for the release of this low-end Nokia phone model, you better lower your expectations to avoid big disappointments. On the other hand, while some speculators think this way, there are those who think that Microsoft would be needing an inexpensive handset device that would fall between the high-end Nokia Lumia family and low-end Nokia Asha family in order to keep up with the market competition. It does not matter if it would be Normandy or not, as long as it is between the cost of Lumia and Asha.
Facts and Theories About Normandy
One interesting fact about this rumored Nokia Normandy is that an unnamed source has told The Verge and ALL Things D that the device is really under the Nokia company. The unnamed source also told them that the possible release of this low-end device is in early 2014. The first leak of the phone Normandy was made by @evleaks. In his Twitter account, he uploaded the assumed photo of the said handset unit. This caused all the rumors that have something to do with the device.
One of the many theories with regard to Normandy comes from Carolina Milanesi, who is a Gartner analyst. Carolina Milanesi thinks that the rumored phone device is probably not an Android phone. This theory is contrary to what many people suspect about the Normandy. Milanesi thinks that the Nokia Normandy will be more like between or a combination of Linux, Android and Meego that still runs Android applications. Milanesi also stated that everything that will be done by Nokia will have an approval from the Microsoft company. She said that everything that will be done by the Nokia company will be for the benefit of Microsoft, the company who will take over Nokia, either from an apps perspective or an ecosystem perspective with Windows. Right now, the only thing that is clear about the release of Normandy is that people will still have to wait until next year to clarify all their questions with regard to the said device.


text:
Milwaukee Speaker Black Friday 2022 UK & Cyber Monday Deals – Black Friday sales on Milwaukee Speakers in 2022 are a once-in-a-lifetime chance to save a tonne of cash. Available Milwaukee speaker models are discounted by as much as 46% during this sale.
So that you may get the best speaker for your needs at the best price, we’ve compiled a list of the best Black Friday discounts Milwaukee has offered in the past.
Banks and card companies have estimated that a total of £9.2 billion was spent on Black Friday in the United Kingdom last year. Because of the increased difficulty in making ends meet, we anticipate even deeper price reductions from stores on Black Friday 2022.
The greatest TVs, wireless headphones, Bluetooth speakers, hi-fi systems, and gaming TVs should all be significantly discounted on Black Friday as a result. There’s a chance that the first “real” PS5 discounts will be announced. Holding thumbs…
Other big UK technology stores, including Argos(opens in new tab), Currys(opens in new tab), John Lewis(opens in new tab), Richer Sounds(opens in new tab), and Sevenoaks Sound and Vision(opens in new tab), will also be offering Black Friday offers in addition to Amazon(opens in new tab).
Need a deal like yesterday? You’ve found the correct location. The most recent news, as well as shopping advice and anticipated sales, can be found in our Black Friday preview. Here’s the scoop on Black Friday 2022 as we know it so far, folks…
Black Friday sales at Home Depot, one of the leading home improvement companies in the world, provide the ideal opportunity to update and improve your dwelling, with deep discounts available on a wide variety of products.
Learn all there is to know about this year’s shopping extravaganza, from important dates to how to make the most of the finest bargains, in order to get a jump on the discounts. Discover what we anticipate will be the most heavily discounted items, as well as some expert pointers for maximising your Home Depot shopping experience.
While the official start of Black Friday 2021 is on November 26, many stores, like Home Depot, Best Buy, Target, and Lowe’s, begin their sales and price cuts as early as the first of the month.
Milwaukee Speaker Black Friday 2022
Okay, but what about now? Black Friday sales from Home Depot typically begin early in the week before Thanksgiving. Home Depot is now having an End-of-Season sale if you’re anxious to save money and get a jump on your holiday shopping. You can find additional information on that, as well as what to anticipate in November, down here.
Last year, the Home Depot’s Black Friday promotions focused heavily on power tool bundles from well-known manufacturers like DeWalt, Makita, and Ridgid. We anticipate the same from last year as a home improvement retailer, with deals rolling out every week.
Discounts of up to 40 percent were available on key appliances such smart refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and ovens in 2017. In the past, we have also seen discounts of up to 50% on furniture, as well as 50% or more on bath and bedding products.
Last year’s promotions also included smaller kitchen gadgets like coffee makers, air fryers, and blenders. It’s likely that we’ll see the same thing again this year, so if you’re seeking to renovate your home, the sale event is a great time to do it.


text:
“What we found was that a lot of these incredibly gorgeous 27-year-old Indian-American and Pakistani-American women are auditioning for a 15-year-old girl’s part,” said Mindy Kaling of her search to fill the role of the protagonist in her upcoming, untitled Netflix series.
“And in most teenage shows, that’s actually what happens for labor reasons,” she continued. “They get a lot of people who are older and more beautiful, which is why every teen show is, like, all 30-year-olds pretending to be 16.”
Inspired by her own childhood, the coming-of-age comedy — expected to be released in the spring of 2020 — centers on the life of a teenage girl, Devi, a first-generation immigrant. The worldwide, open casting call brought out more than 15,000 hopefuls, and in the end, Kaling cast a complete unknown from Canada, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.
“[She’s] this 15-year-old girl who is absolutely incredible,” said “The Mindy Project” creator, who juggles many roles; among other credits, she’s an actress, comedian, writer and producer. “I’m really proud of that and bringing this dark-skinned Indian-Canadian-Tamil girl. We don’t typically see Tamil girls on TV. You usually see light-skinned women, so that was really exciting.”
Ramakrishnan had sent an audition video that was filmed by a friend using an iPhone.
“It was against the wall in her bedroom,” said Kaling. “You really got this window into what her life was like, which was very charming. But the thing that stood apart was that she had this thing that we really wanted to capture, which was an authentically Indian girl but who also had this kind of confidence and breeziness that we often don’t see with women of color on TV for that age. She had so much confidence…There’s nothing tentative about her, and that was really inspiring. I was like, god, I want my daughter to be the same way.”
Her daughter is now 2 years old, she said. “Last year, Christmas was very much just like, she was a baby, and I was trying to pretend that she cared about the tree, and now this year, she actually does care,” said Kaling — who celebrated her 40th birthday this year — of the approaching holiday. “Christmas is actually getting fun for me. Before I had a kid, and I was the youngest person of my generation in my family, it gets a little depressing when you’re like, oh, I’m 34, and I’m the youngest. It’s so much more fun when there’s a little kid who is excited for the holidays.”
It’s a time of year to reflect, to give back. And as part of her partnership with footwear and accessories retailer DSW, she recently got involved with Be Strong, a nonprofit that works to prevent bullying. “Given that I have a daughter now, I obviously care a lot more than I did beforehand,” she said. “I did not fully understand the plague of bullying in this country.”
Be Strong will have a presence at DSW’s first “DSWGives Do Good” pop-up, which encourages consumers to donate new or gently worn shoes. It’s a free event, located at 498 Broome Street in New York and open between Dec. 12 to 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Starting today, the experience is available virtually on the company site.
“The holidays aren’t just about buying gifts for your friends, family and loved ones,” said DSW’s chief marketing officer Amy Stevenson. “It’s important, but we also want to be about giving back. DSW is an organization that believes passionately in philanthropy.”
Since 2018, over 2 million shoes have been donated by customers in exchange for points as part of the brand’s “DSWGives” platform. It’s a collaboration with Soles4Souls, an organization that collects and redistributes new and used shoes for those in need.
“All retailers in some way are looking for something bigger than just necessarily the product they sell,” shared Stevenson. “We’re looking for experiences. We know that our younger customers are looking for that as well.” Of Kaling as ambassador, she added, “We saw what she stood for, her love for fashion…we also knew we wanted to do this tie with DSWGives, and she seemed to really connect to that. All of that together made her feel like a good fit for us. It’s amazing how our customer has bonded with her, too, the amount of positive feedback we’ve received. Our customer loves her.”
For her part, Kaling said she was excited about the opportunity, because she had shopped at the retailer since high school: “It was so cool to be able to work with a company I had this really authentic, long relationship with…They approached me, and it’s because of my love of obviously clothing and fashion and shopping and all of that, which I’ve loved since I was a kid.”
Would she start her own line?
“From your lips to God’s ears,” she said. “I would absolutely love that. That would be such a creatively rewarding thing to do. I’ve thought about it for years, but I haven’t had the opportunity or the confidence to go ahead and do it, because I know what a risky business that can be. I really want to do it right, but I would especially love that.”
With sustainability as a topic of conversation now more than ever, she noted the negative effects of consumerism.
“When you love fashion and you love to go to fashion shows and go to fancy events like the Met Gala, Oscar parties and all that, there is such focus on consumerism that goes with it,” she said. “You know, like wearing something and then it kind of disappears…More recently in the last four or five years, you see the plague that is clothes, mountains of clothes. And of course, because they are not in the United States, we don’t see them. They’re in places like Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
“What’s been really great about the royal family, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and then also Michelle Obama, our royal family I guess, is, in the past three years, the emphasis on them rewearing items of clothing,” she continued. “It has been incredibly beneficial. Even for me, someone who has a big social media presence, it makes me feel emboldened to wear some of the items I have again. And it’s just awesome to show that to repeat outfits is not unfashionable. It’s just proving that we can be fashionable and not wasteful.”


text:
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles chief executive Sergio Marchionne is due to present the company's five year plan later today.
Marchionne will present to investors the company's proposals for investment and future development, which some industry observers suspect will mean hiving off Alfa Romeo into a separate company.
The Financial Times reports sources saying the company will announce the development of new small cars and vans in Europe and increase production of Jeep models.
The pledgewill be Fiat's third in eight years, and follows 2006 and 2010 plans that set revenue and margin targets which were subsequently missed by the carmaker.
Bloomberg reports expectations for Marchionne to be questionned on how the company will further staunch its operating losses in Europe - last year's losses fell to €520 million from €737m the prior year.
It also reports that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will focus on rebuilding Alfa Romeo into a global brand with rear wheel driven cars, some high powered ones using Ferrari technology, and delivered into the market through Jeep dealerships as well as existing Alfa franchisees.


text:
Famous Dave's Fires Up Plan to Support Sales Turnaround
Eden Prairie, Minnesota-As Famous Dave's of America nears the opening of its 100th branch sometime this quarter, the fast-growing barbecue dinnerhouse chain is honing its infrastructure to support more growth and attempting to reverse negative same-store sales.
Chief executive David Goronkin said initiatives include designing a standardized prototype that emphasizes Famous Dave's smokehouse concept and features six to eight limited-time offers each year.
A new prototype called The Smokehouse, which is scheduled to be unveiled in February, will combine elements of existing design formats, such as The Lodge and The Shack. The difference from previous designs-which include a variety of looks-is that The Smokehouse will provide more consistency for all future locations nationwide, Goronkin said. -Nation's Restaurant News


text:
Italy factory fire kills seven
At least seven people have died and two are badly injured after fire swept through a Chinese-owned clothing factory in the Italian town of Prato.
The blaze broke out in a loft where 11 people were sleeping, causing part of the roof to collapse, fire officials said.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
Prato, in Tuscany, has become a centre for Chinese-run factories producing low-cost garments.
Emily Thomas reports.
02 Dec 2013
- From the section Europe


text:
Evergrande is in the midst of a financial crisis, with over $300 billion in liabilities, and is scrambling to raise funds to pay its numerous lenders and suppliers. It has an $83.5 million bond intere...
Cars are becoming increasingly equipped with sensors and cameras to aid drivers, but the data generated by such technology has sparked concerns about privacy and security.
Investors dropped $50 billion from Tesla Inc’s market value on Tuesday despite CEO Elon Musk’s promise to cut electric vehicle costs so radically that a $25,000 car that drives itself will be possible, but not for at least three years.
The United States has imposed restrictions on exports to China’s biggest chip maker SMIC after concluding risk, equipment supplied to it could be used for military purposes.


text:
Better Collective plans to introduce dual listing in Denmark
Better Collective recently announced its plan of listing its shares on the Nasdaq Copenhagen exchange.
The newly proposed listing in Copenhagen would expand the company’s current presence on the Stockholm exchange, enabling the firm to garner investments from a wider market. Additionally, being incorporated and headquartered in Denmark, the listing would allow the company to better make use of the local resources available in its home country.
Better Collective’s CEO, Jesper Sogaard, remarked:
“Having our headquarters situated in Copenhagen, this dual listing proposal would be a natural evolution for our company. Since we went public in Sweden half a decade ago, we have expanded our business rapidly, providing our shareholders with an ever-improving value. As we are experiencing an increased investing demand from various interested parties in Denmark, it is an excellent time for us to expand our market presence.”
Better Collective’s Chair, Jens Bager, commented:
“Since our initial public offering in 2018, Better Collective has been expanding rapidly on its journey towards becoming the industry’s leading sports media firm. Since our listing in Sweden contributed so significantly towards our growth, listing in Denmark would be a natural evolution for our firm, especially as our headquarters are situated in Copenhagen.”
The listing plans are subject to various approvals by Nasdaq Copenhagen, with an estimated completion date sometime in the fourth quarter of the year if Better Collective chooses to carry out the move.


text:
LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- After serving as a Denver-area dining institution for near half a century, White Fence Farm closed its doors in December and now you can own a piece from the iconic Colorado restaurant.
From a chicken mobile to hundreds of dishes and tables, nearly 10,000 items are up for auction beginning on Thursday. The auction includes everything that you have ever seen at White Fence Farm over the last 45 years.
White Fence Farm opened in the summer of 1973 at 6263 W. Jewell Ave. in Lakewood.
Families regularly flocked to the farm that included the Americana Barn with Granny’s and a farmhouse stage, Country Cottage, OK Corral, Carriage House, Waterside Walk, Hospitality House, Gazebo, Silo, Pig Chute, Colorado Christmas year-round, Carriage Rides and more.
The auction starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday and runs until 4 p.m. Bidding will open again on Friday until noon.
You can access the online auction here. Check out some of the items in our photo gallery.


text:
Hyundai displays commercial vehicles at expo
Dubai, March 14, 2011
South Korea-based Hyundai Motor Company, represented by Juma Al Majid, in the UAE, is showcasing its commercial range at the Commercial Vehicles Middle East Exhibition 2011 that opened in Dubai today (March 14).
The UAE’s motoring exhibition dedicated to commercial vehicles, parts, and services will run up to March 16 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Hyundai’s display includes HD 65, HD 46, county bus, and universe bus.
“As an important trade event dedicated to commercial motoring in the UAE, it is the opportune venue for showcasing Hyundai’s products and promoting our superior quality vehicles,” said Isam Abu Nabah, president of Juma Al Majid – Hyundai.
“We see this as a chance for developing a relationship with our customers and for building future business in the UAE. Our range allows consumers and traders a chance to experience world class commercial vehicles at their best, and be assured of a long term relationship with complete peace of mind in terms of after sales service and parts.”
“As one of the world’s top automobile manufacturers, it is crucial that we participate in these events, as a way of building brand awareness, interacting directly with our customers, and lending our support for advances in the sector that will continue to develop the industry,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service


text:
Mtn Dew Amp Game Fuel comes in a redesigned 16-ounce can that features a no-slip grip and resealable lid and features caffeine, theanine, white grape juice, and vitamins A and B, according to the company.
The drink, which will be available starting Jan. 14, will come in four flavors: Charged Cherry Burst, Charged Berry Blast, Charged Tropical Strike and Charged Original DEW. If you’re really dying to get your hands on the special cans of Dew, you can also pre-order them at Amazon.com and Walmart.com.
The company said that the drink and its special packaging was designed by gamers, for gamers.
“Knowing gaming is an endurance sport, we carefully listened to what players have been asking for when it comes to a beverage,” said Erin Chin, senior director, marketing, Mountain Dew. “Mtn Dew Amp Game Fuel is the first-ever drink created with gamers in mind. We worked with gamers to truly understand what they are looking for in a beverage when gaming, then applied what we learned to develop the product. We can’t wait to share Mtn Dew Amp Game Fuel with the gaming world come January.”
The new line of drinks will also be sponsoring the Call of Duty World League, with players at the Dec. 7 to Dec. 9 Las Vegas competition getting a first taste of the drink ahead of its 2019 launch.
The drink is also sponsoring OpTic Gaming.
“We are grateful to partner with such a prestigious beverage brand, as they share in the belief of our core values: precision and focus,” said Ryan Musselman, president, Infinite Esports & Entertainment. “We look forward to helping launch theMtn Dew Amp Game Fuel brand, and are excited for all of the new content and opportunities they will bring for the Green Wall.”


text:
Wireless EV charging is off to the races
The FIA Formula E Championship is the world’s first exclusively all-electric racing series. This week marked the new Formula E vehicle’s public debut on the Las Vegas strip in conjunction with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The Spark-Renault SRT_01E, designed by Spark Racing Technologies, is capable of reaching speeds greater than 150 mph and reaching 60 mph in 2.9 seconds without using a drop of gasoline.
And soon it won’t even have to plug in.
Through a multiyear partnership with the smartphone chip maker Qualcomm, the Formula E series plans to use wireless electric vehicle charging as soon as its second season in 2015. The Qualcomm Halo wireless charger is also on display this week at CES.
“This is quite new technology. It’s still being developed; it’s not something we’ll have for the first season, but season two or three,” said Tom Phillips, spokesman for the Formula E Championship. “Then, hopefully, that technology will find a way to filter down to electric cars of the future.”
There are two ways wireless technology would work in a race scenario, Phillips said. One way is to park the cars over the wireless charging pad. The other is to install sensors all around the race track that would give the vehicles a charge every time they drove over, also known as dynamic charging.
The Formula E race is currently set up so that each driver has two cars with batteries that can last 20 to 30 minutes depending on how hard they’re pushed. When the first car runs out of charge, the driver takes it to the pits and swaps it out for the other. On-the-go wireless charging could lengthen the duration of the race or allow the cars travel even faster.
Coming soon to a garage near you
Wireless vehicle charging, which uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy, made great strides toward commercialization in 2013, according to Navigant Research. In June, Bosch began offering the Plugless Power unit developed by Evatran for $3,000. The system is designed to serve popular EV models the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt.
“In 2014, wireless charging will enter a critical phase as the first large-scale pilot projects and retail sales of chargers from Evatran/Bosch occur,” said John Gartner, research director at Navigant.
Last December, Toyota Motor Corp. made a commitment to offer wireless charging to its EV customers in signing an agreement with wireless power transfer startup WiTricity. The automaker, which sells a plug-in version of the Prius, will begin verification of the technology in Japan, Europe and the United States this year.
The Society of Automotive Engineers also agreed on a single frequency and three power levels for light-duty vehicle charging in 2013. The decision will ensure interoperability among vendors’ different wireless systems.
“The Society of Automotive Engineers’ recent decision to standardize on the 85 [kilohertz] frequency for wireless charging is a significant step that will encourage automakers to offer wireless charging on their vehicles in future models,” Gartner said.
“Once commercialized, wireless charging offers convenience and simplicity that will attract new buyers to the EV market,” he added.


text:
Supercar maker Pagani has released a new cryptic teaser clip that asks, “can you decipher the clues?”
The spot starts in Northern Italy where Pagani builds the Huayra, and proceeds to show clips of a crafstsman preparing parts and different cloth inserts, presumably for the car.
The scenery clips may be suggesting that Pagani is finally opening a new factory, a long awaited move that will help the brand support its entrance into the American market. As for the craftsman, he could be preparing a convertible version of the Huayra, another option that has long been rumored to be coming. If it is a convertible Huayra, it will likely take a bow at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
Other options include a new special edition of the supercar, or maybe even a new customization program to meet those offered by Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Whether its a new car or not, odds are that all will revealed at the brand’s Geneva Motor Show booth.
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Discuss this story at luxury4play.com
Be the first to write a comment.


text:
SURREY — The business impact of Canada’s policy to legalize marijuana by next summer is the subject of a Surrey Board of Trade gathering on Nov. 9.
The Surrey Hot Topic series event will look at the “fundamental change to new business opportunities and workplace impacts for employers and employees.”
To be discussed are provincial responsibilities, industrial benefits, regulatory framework and “the remaining risks of this legislation.”
Panelists include Cindy Zheng (associate, McQuarrie Hunter LLP), Barinder Rasode (president and CEO, NICHE Canada), Dan Reader (president, Murray Latta Progressive Machine) and Tom Brocklehurst (director of regulatory practices, WorkSafeBC).
The Thursday-morning event will take place at Guildford Golf & Country Club (7929 152nd St., Surrey), starting at 7:30 a.m.
Meanwhile, British Columbians have another week to have their say on the future of cannabis regulation in the province.
A consultation website on the issue closes at 4 p.m. on Nov. 1, at engage.gov.bc.ca/BCcannabisregulation.
“B.C.’s goal is to build a provincial regulatory framework for non-medical cannabis that prioritizes the protection of young people, health and safety, locking criminals out of the industry, and keeping roads safe,” the province says. “All British Columbians have an opportunity to share their views, become a part of history and help ensure the framework best represents their interests and priorities.”
Related issues include minimum age, personal possession limits, consumption in public, drug-impaired driving, personal cultivation, distribution and retail models.
Since the launch of the public engagement period on Sept. 25, more than 30,000 B.C. residents have completed the survey and shared their feedback, according to the government.
“The legalization of non-medical cannabis will be a significant change for Canadians, and for British Columbia,” stated Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “We want to hear from people throughout the province so that we can develop a regulatory framework that maximizes public health and safety and is built for British Columbians, by British Columbians.”


text:
Amazon Chief Jeff Bezos tops Forbes world’s rich list as Trump wealth drops
Amazon chief Jeff Bezos is now the world’s richest person, having snatched the top spot from Microsoft founder Bill Gates who slips to second place, according to Forbes magazine’s annual billionaires list published Tuesday.
US President Donald Trump’s ranking on the list fell to 766th place from 544th in the last edition, his wealth now being estimated at $3.1 billion, $400 million less than a year ago.
Rise in shares
Thanks to a 59-percent rise in Amazon shares over the past 12 months, Bezos’ fortune shot up to $120 billion, way ahead of the $90 billion Forbes listed for Gates.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett held on to his number three ranking, followed by French industrialist Bernard Arnault, who jumped to fourth-richest person from his previous number 11 spot, mostly thanks to euro strength against the dollar, the magazine said.
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg was fifth on the list.
Two Chinese billionaires rose to be among the 20 richest people in the world: Ma Huateng, CEO of Chinese internet giant Tencent who is the richest person in Asia and number 17 in the world, and Alibaba founder Jack Ma.
There are now a record 2,208 billionaires in the world, Forbes counted, and their combined worth is $9.1 trillion, up 18 percent from last year.
The US has the most billionaires (585), followed by mainland China (373). Forbes’ list contains 259 newcomers, including the first-ever cryptocurrency billionaires.
Falling fortunes or political headwinds, meanwhile, pushed 121 people out of the illustrious list, including all 10 Saudi Arabians, the magazine said.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos asks Twitter followers: How to donate money?Amazon.com Inc’s billionaire founder Jeff Bezos on Thursday turned to an unusual source of inspiration for how to donate part of his wealth: ... Variety
Washington Post reporter released by Iran flying back to U.S.Newspaper said owner Jeff Bezos has flown Jason Rezaian back to the United States after his release from Iranian custody Print
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos takes control of Washington PostJeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, closed a $250 million deal Tuesday to acquire The Washington Post, ending the longstanding ownership of the ... Print
Jeff Bezos: print newspapers could become ‘luxury’Amazon chief executive and new Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos said Wednesday that print newspapers could one day become a luxury item. “Some ... Print
Shah Rukh Khan tops Forbes list of Bollywood’s highest money-makersForbes magazine says Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's highest money-maker, earning $38 million in the past year, thanks to movies such as ... Entertainment


text:
In the past four decades, there has been an exodus of manufacturing jobs as The City courted more cutting-edge industries that promised to yield high-paying jobs, such as high-tech and green businesses.
But the trend away from light industry might be reversing because San Francisco has started to see what some are calling a “mini-boom” in light manufacturing, especially with high-value products such as artisan foods.
Statistics show that since 2003, manufacturers such as wineries, pharmaceutical and pasta companies have sprouted up locally thanks to cheaper and more-available real estate, along with new city zoning that’s paved the way for more light-industrial business.
Mayor Gavin Newsom’s office is working to woo more manufacturers. Newsom is working with the homegrown SFMade, a networking group of manufacturers, with the goal of expanding the seemingly beleaguered industry, said Todd Rufo, the mayor’s director of business development.
With the help of a $65,000 grant from the Mayor’s Office, Charles Chocolates, originally established in San Francisco in 2004, this week announced it’s moving back to The City from Emeryville with a new manufacturing kitchen and retail store that will serve as a destination for local residents and tourists. The Candy Kitchen will open in January, adding as many as 35 new jobs.“This is an industry that’s coming back and that’s a sweet spot for us,” Rufo said. “We want to help new light manufacturing grow in The City and keep the ones we’ve got here.”
In the 1990s, only 12 percent of the usable land in San Francisco was industrial, according to city documents. In January 2009, Newsom signed the eastern neighborhoods plan that, among other things, made more room for industrial land, the lack of which has been one of the biggest barriers to growing industrial business.
This sent a message to manufacturing companies that The City wants to revive that industry, said Kate Sofis, executive director of the nonprofit SFMade.
Yet, other challenges remained. Residential and commercial developers have been more apt to pay for expensive land in San Francisco, increasing the competition for industrial companies. That’s why the recession became such a “gift” for the manufacturing industry,
which could afford the more-affordable prices, Sofis said.
Industrial companies are now finding spaces for 80 cents a square foot; in 2006, it was $3 or more, she said.
“There isn’t a lot of new residential development going on, so it’s relieved competition,” Sofis said.
Also, it’s become an untapped opportunity for San Francisco to diversify its work force and offer more jobs for blue-collar workers and people who don’t have college degrees, which comprise 50 percent of residents, said Ted Egan, The City’s chief economist.
In 1969, there were more than 58,300 manufacturing jobs locally. In 2008, that number stood at 13,168, Egan said.
“We have been losing that type of job, and our population is less diverse as a result,” he said. “People are more likely to leave San Francisco if they cannot find a job.”
Branding works wonders for items made in San Francisco
Young manufacturers like Patrick Buckley are relying on local branding as a means for success as they move into the foray of the industry in San Francisco.
The former research scientist launched his first manufacturing company, called dodocase.com, in April.
It uses old book bindings to manufacture iPad cases.
Buckley’s company operates in borrowed space out of Potrero Hill, but with the success of his product, he’s hired an additional 15 workers and is already looking for a permanent site.
Buckley attributes his success to his product’s branding. The fact that he can say the dodo case was made and sold in San Francisco goes a long way with consumers today, Buckley said.
“People are really looking for products and things in their life that represent something,” he said. “There has been a shift to locally grown food and that same mentality is applicable to more than food.
“If you can say this was built here in San Francisco, people really appreciate that.”
In the past decade, The City has seen a new type of manufacturer grow, one that has developed allegiance to the art of branding in The City, said Kate Sofis, executive director for SFMade, a local nonprofit networking group for manufacturers.
“They are hypersensitive to the customer and designing products with aesthetic quality,” Sofis said. “These are the kind of companies that can profit here. They develop a brand allegiance with a consumer base that’s willing to pay more for their product.” — Erin Sherbert
Manufacturing bright spots
Cookie, cracker, pasta
Textile bag, canvas
Losing manufacturing jobs
Source: San Francisco Controller’s Office


text:
Tickets are on sale now for the 11th annual NW Hope & Healing Fashion Show, coming to the Showbox Sodo on May 9th. More than 30 breast cancer survivors will walk the runway to showcase spring fashion trends from local boutiques including Carmilia’s, Coastal Surf Boutique, West Seattle Runner, Howard & Marge, Canopy Blue, The briK, Queen Anne Dispatch, Veridis Clothier and Blue Luna. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Northwest Hope and Healing Patient Assistance Fund in an effort to offer financial assistance to women in the Puget Sound area who are battling breast cancer. To date, over 1,800 women have received grants from the fund. Tickets to the event range from $40 for general admission up to $200 for front row VIP access.
Check out video coverage from last year's event below.


text:
Glenn Easterwood, owner of Douglasville’s Empire Jewelers, contacted Douglasville police Saturday when a man came to his store on Douglas Boulevard with items that just didn’t seem right.
“Mr. Easterwood stated a young white male came in wanting to sell a large amount of gold coins, silver coins and platinum bars,” Det. Michael Jetmore said.
Easterwood told authorities he became “very suspicious” when the suspect asked for much less than the items were worth.
“Once police arrived and began questioning the male, his story changed several times about how he obtained the items he was trying to sell,” Jetmore said.
During the investigation, police recovered two duffel bags containing rare and vintage coins. A large bag containing silver coins was also recovered from the suspect’s vehicle, Jetmore said.
“Mr. Easterwood said the bag of silver coins alone were worth $25,000 to $30,000,” Jetmore said. “Also during the investigation, it was learned there had been a burglary in Carroll County the night before that involved a large amount of coins being taken from a house. An investigator from Carroll County was contacted and confirmed that the coins the male was trying to sell were taken in the burglary from Carroll County.”
The estimated amount of the recovered coins was $250,000, according to the victim. Police have not yet released the name of the suspect who was arrested and charged with theft by receiving stolen property.


text:
Amused shopper stumbles across this very prickly cactus at Bunnings Warehouse
- Mum Shannon stumbled across an inappropriate cactus at Bunnings Warehouse
- The plant mimicked the shape of male genitalia which she thought was hilarious
- After sharing a photo of the cactus online, others also thought it was very funny
An Australian mum has left the internet in stitches after sharing a photo of a cactus from Bunnings Warehouse with a strong resemblance to male genitalia.
Shannon spotted the X-rated plant while in store and decided to share it among the other members of the Bunnings Mums Australia Facebook group.
‘Couldn’t help but laugh at this cactus I saw in Bunnings,’ she said online.
An Australian mum has left the internet in stitches after sharing a photo of a cactus from Bunnings Warehouse that mimicked the shape of male genitalia (pictured)
The plant shaped like a penis caught the attention of thousands of other social media users part of the Facebook group and was ‘liked’ more than 1,600 times.
‘Every time I see one like this at the markets, I can’t help myself but laugh! Everyone has an inner child,’ one person said.
‘I hope you bought it for someone you know will get a laugh,’ another said, and a third added: ‘Now that’s a cactus.’
Unfortunately Shannon didn’t purchase the cactus and said she regrets not picking it up.
Bunnings is known to sell a range of fantastic plants suitable to keep indoors, with popular options including the zebra and spider plant.
The plant shaped like a sex organ caught the attention of thousands of other social media users part of the Facebook group (stock image)
Earlier this month another shopper revealed the ‘best’ time to shop at Bunnings in order to score great deals.
Megan, from New South Wales, shared her ‘secret’ to the same Facebook group and said the best time to visit the hardware store is on a Friday night.
‘My hubby was at home after a big week, so I took myself off to Bunnings on a Friday night – empty aisles, loads of relaxed and chatty shop assistants, loads of stock being put out for the busy weekend,’ she said.
Megan said shopping in the evening was ‘the best’ as she was able to shop at her leisure and there were no queues for the checkouts.
There was also plenty of stock and good deals available ahead of a busy weekend period for Bunnings.
After making her discovery, Megan recommended the time to others, who were similarly enthusiastic about visiting on a Friday evening.


text:
Yesterday, we passed along to you images alleged to be those of the Moto G5S. Apparently, the only difference between the Moto G5 and Moto G5S is that the latter will feature an all-metal body. The regular version sports a plastic back and sides. Today, images of the Moto G5S + have been unveiled; not only can we see all of the possible color options being made available to consumers, we can see that the handset comes with a dual-camera setup on back.
The first we heard about the Moto G5S and Moto G5S+ was earlier this month when an “alphabetical road map” for the Moto line was leaked during …


text:
Jerry Daviess hesitates when describing what his company does, trying to make it understandable to a layman.
Quantum Design makes complex scientific instruments used in fundamental research of materials, he said. The privately held firm has been doing so in San Diego since 1982 — largely under the radar.
Its instruments are used by universities and research labs worldwide to analyze and determine the characteristics of materials, often at very extreme temperatures. All of the company’s core products are manufactured in San Diego. Roughly 75 percent of its business involves exports to other countries.
Quantum Design not only sells its own instruments worldwide, it also distributes research instruments made by others through a series of sister companies operating under the Quantum Design International umbrella, said Daviess.
That means Daviess, who was named chief executive of Quantum Design in February after nearly 20 years with the firm, spends a lot of time in airports.
He was largely responsible for spearheading Quantum Design’s international expansion that includes operations in Japan, Korea, China, Brazil, India and other locales. In 2010, Quantum Design received the Presidential “E” Award from the Obama administration for excellence in exporting.
When Daviess started with Quantum Design as director of sales and marketing, its revenue totaled about $6 million. Today, revenue has grown to $140 million. Of that, about $56 million stems from sales of Quantum Design’s scientific instruments made in San Diego.
Manufacturing is supposed to be difficult in San Diego. Yet Quantum Design recently expanded into a 58,000-square-foot factory in Sorrento Mesa. Daviess referred manufacturing questions to company President Greg DeGeller, who said the reason the company stays here is that most of its supply chain is based locally and that it would be expensive to replace.
In addition, the firm’s workforce knows what it’s doing, he said.
“Once they learn how to do our unique type of work, it takes years to replace them,” said DeGeller. “The materials you use are subject to some of the highest magnetic fields and some of the lowest temperatures that are achievable. So you have materials that are very exotic and have to be handled specially.”
Daviess spoke recently with U-T San Diego about the company. Here are some excerpts.
Q: So what are some of the applications for your scientific instruments?
A: It is important to understand that our instruments are used in fundamental research. When you start talking about applications, that sometimes is a difficult bridge to cross.
If you were to talk about applications, for semiconductor chips, for example, you have to characterize materials for how well they perform under certain conditions. And our instruments allow those types of materials to be characterized. It could be materials for semiconductors. It could be materials for magnetic storage.
So if you remember the days when disc drive platters were 14 inches in diameter and now they are 3.5 inches in diameter and they store tens of thousands times more information. The ability to do that, among other things, is a function of the material those drives are made of. And our instruments enable those materials to be characterized under environmental ranges and different temperatures.


text:
3 Auto Stocks Going Places: Toyota Pushes Camry Sales, Ford’s Police Safety System, and Honda’s Big Fit
Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE:TM): Though its Camry has logged more than 10 years as the top-selling mid-size sedan in the U.S., Toyota is finding it increasingly difficult to keep the car there. To make up for slowing sales, the company is unleashing all the financial tools at its disposal — leases, rebates, discounts, and so on — to make sure the car keeps its crown.
Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F): Ford is patenting a system for law enforcement officials — more specifically, their vehicles — that will offer an additional layer of protection for when an individual is sitting in his or her vehicle. The new surveillance system will automatically sound a chime, lock the doors, and put up the windows if it detects someone approaching the car from behind.
Honda Motor Co. (NYSE:HMC): Honda has overhauled its compact Fit, introducing a long list of firsts to the car. The new model will offer a more sporty aesthetic and re-engineered hybrid drivetrain, and takes cues from its Civic sibling, which has been selling quite well for the company. It will also help Honda move forward with its new look, as the company had recently fallen into a rather “stale” mode of design.


text:
The US food supply system is under considerable strain under Omicron. From processing plants to supermarket shelves, many workers are calling in sick and staying away from their jobs.
US Food Supply Under Attack By Omicron Variant, Many Workers Out Sick
A major production company in Arizona reported that one in ten workers are out sick. Meanwhile, a Massachusetts supplier says that worker illnesses slowed the transport of fish to supermarkets and restaurants.
In the US Southeast, a grocery chain had to make do with temporary workers when almost a third of employees went down.
Food supply industry experts are now warning Americans that the COVID situation may persist for weeks or months.
The Omicron variant of coronavirus can spread faster than any other strain, and it is now affecting the food supply chain. In many cases, the outbreak affected both processing and deliveries.
Food Supply Disruptions Are Now Worse Than Ever
Food industry executives say that the disruptions are worse now than ever. The lack of available workers is now affecting a broader range of products.
Depending on how many workers can report for work, the availability of certain items changes on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, supermarket operators and food manufacturers say that overall, supplies are more than enough. The problem is the continued shortage of workers and problems with transporting the products.
American households will eventually find the item they want to buy. However, they might need to seek alternatives and switch brands
Picker, Sorters, and Drivers Are Out Sick
Eddie Quezada, produce manager at a Stop & Shop branch in Newport, New York, said this was the worst so far. Throughout the pandemic, Omicron is the one that prevented more employees from working.
One in five of his workers contracted COVID-19 by January. In addition, deliveries also took some blows. Many ordered products came in fewer quantities if they ever arrived at all.
Meanwhile, Piggly Wiggly reported that one-third of pickers didn’t make it to work in the first week of 2022. As a result, nobody was available to organize the products and load trucks at its distribution centers.
According to controller Keith Milligan, the company is facing challenges in getting its food to its stores in time. Truck drivers and in short supply while staffing issues remain a problem.
In-Stock Levels Going Down
Consequently, in-stock levels of food products hit a low of 85% for the weekend ending January 16. This is the lowest rate compared to pandemic-stricken summers, where the numbers still hit 90%.
In particular, sports drinks, frozen cookies, and refrigerated dough are in short supply, with stocks in the 60-70% levels. In rural areas such as Alaska and West Virginia, in-stock rates are even much lower.
Vivek Sankaran, CEO of Albertsons, said that everybody expected that the US already solved its supply problems at this point. “Omicron has put a bit of a dent on that,” he said. Sankaran added that the supermarket chain expects more supply challenges over the next few months.
Packaged Food Also Dealing With Supply Issues
In addition, meatpacking and packaged food plants are also experiencing lower production due to Omicron. The US Department of Agriculture reported that cattle slaughter and beef production were down by 5% from a year earlier.
Similarly, hog slaughter is down 9%, while chicken processing is 4% lower than 2021 levels. Lack of available workers is also affecting milk processing and cheese production.
Watch the Fox 5 Las Vegas news video reporting that supply chain issues hit Las Vegas grocery stories:
What do you think of the current worker shortage in US food supply systems? Do you think this will continue this year? Or, do you see things normalizing sooner than later?
Let us know what you think. Share your comments below.
- U.S. Employment Costs Surge
- UAW Strike to End Following Tentative Deal with General Motors
- Prices for Goods and Services Increase Beyond Expectations
- GDP Soars 4.7% Thanks to Rise in Consumer Spending
- New Home Sales in the U.S. Rise Amid Skyrocketing Interest Rates
- Reports: X/Twitter Shrinking Worsens Following Rebranding
- Reports: Amazon Testing Humanoid Robots for Warehouse Operations
- Elon Musk’s X/Twitter Announces Subscription Tiers


text:
Cutting Through the Noise: PR Strategies for Cybersecurity Firms
Another day, another cybersecurity briefing dropping into my inbox. As someone immersed in cybersecurity PR, keeping up with the latest breaches, threats, and solutions is part of the course. But for companies in this increasingly crowded space, keeping pace is no longer enough. Strategic communication that cuts through the noise is essential to stand out among the clamour of voices in this burgeoning industry.
From Niche to Non Stop
In my 5+ years in cybersecurity PR, I’ve seen the industry’s media presence steadily evolve from niche, tech-centric publications to front-page news. A few years ago, mentioning ransomware or 2FA in casual conversation earned you confused looks from all but the biggest aficionados. Now, even our parents know basic cybersecurity terms. High-profile breaches like SolarWinds, Colonial Pipeline, and proliferating online scams have made cybersecurity impossible to ignore for consumers and businesses alike. Consequently, the number of cybersecurity vendors has exploded to over 3,000 globally, all vying for a share of the $200 billion market. Combine this with the media’s appetite for sensational headlines, and we face a landscape saturated in hype.
However, even as cybersecurity enters the mainstream, room for growth remains. Emerging technologies spawn new threats that continue to capture public attention. AI and quantum computing pose novel risks that are slowly entering enterprise and consumer consciousness. For cybersecurity firms, this presents an exciting yet challenging opportunity. In an already crowded media space, companies must uncover ways to make their voices stand out during the next wave of growth and awareness. The world has awakened to cyber insecurity, but still has much to learn. Companies that strategically guide this learning process through thoughtful communications will prosper.
Strategy Is Key
So, what’s the best road to take? For many firms, the temptation often arises to latch onto major breach stories or comment on the latest trending topics. However, short-term headline grabbing rarely builds enduring brand value. Instead, companies need strategic communications plans that convey their specific value proposition and narrative. Without this, firms risk falling into common traps:
Left Behind: Lacking aligned messaging risks falling behind agile competitors who quickly establish thought leadership. The 24/7 news cycle rewards those most adept at capitalising on emerging topics.
Ambulance Chasing: Pursuing major breach stories can backfire, leading audiences to associate your brand only with attacks rather than solutions, potentially angering future customers or industry bodies.
Lost in the Crowd: Unique positioning provides clarity and makes your offering more understandable to customers and journalists. Unless you lead a category, failing to differentiate will leave you drowned out.
Off Track: Commenting on irrelevant stories solely because they are high-profile damages credibility. Journalists and audiences will eventually question firms weighing in outside their expertise. Staying in your lane keeps messaging credible and on-strategy.
Consult the Experts
As cybersecurity firms focus intensely on building innovative products and honing internal processes, it can be easy to lose sight of the wider picture needed to craft strategic communications. That is where outside expertise comes in. Experienced PR consultants sit at the intersection of your brand, the media landscape, and your customers. An objective external perspective to define your unique positioning and strategic narrative is essential. PR experts help you zoom out from the daily demands to see the big picture. They ensure your story stands out among the clutter, and understand what it takes to build trust and confidence with your audiences amidst the hype.
Trust Is Paramount
The cybersecurity space will only grow noisier, but firms willing to tune out the hype and orchestrate strategic communications can rise above the din. At TFD, I’ve helped multiple clients cut through the clutter by developing targeted positioning and messaging showcasing their unique strengths. The results speak volumes – increased leads, sales, and most importantly, trust. Trust is the most valuable currency in cybersecurity. Strategic PR provides the blueprint for companies to build reputations and customer confidence amid the commotion. With focus, restraint, and clarity of purpose, cybersecurity firms can craft communications that inform, inspire action, and drown out the white noise.


text:
The new Stila Passion Fruit Crush Lip & Cheek Stain for Summer 2012 is popping up on Sephora. Last year, we didn’t get a new Crush Lip Stain and than they proceeded to go on sale for next to nothing which induced some nervousness that they might be discontinued.
But no worries, a new shade is on the way.
Passion Fruit Crush is described as a warm red.
Sephora.com lists it as coming soon.
When it’s available will you indulge?


text:
§ 1. Mr. Lewis
asked the President of the Board of Trade why the export of vehicles in September, 1956, was the lowest for that month for six years; why car exports were 30 per cent. below the level of September, 1955, and those of commercial vehicles 28 per cent. lower than last year; and whether he will make a statement on the Government's plan to reverse this process.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)
The main causes of the decline in exports of motor vehicles this year have been import restrictions in some of the industry's principal export markets. More than two-thirds of the fall in September can be attributed to the Australian and New Zealand markets alone. In addition there has been intensive foreign competition in overseas markets generally. Nevertheless, in the first nine months of this year exports of commercial vehicles were only 1.8 per cent. lower than for the first nine months of 1955. The motor manufacturers are well aware of the need to increase their exports and of the willingness of the Board of Trade to give them as much help as possible.
§ Mr. Lewis
The Minister says that motor manufacturers are aware of the need for increased production. Can he tell us something tangible about what his Department intends to do? Because of petrol rationing, many hon. Members, including myself, have constituents who are unemployed. There will not be so many cars wanted on the home market. Surely that is a wonderful opportunity for the right hon. Gentleman to assist those manufacturers to increase exports.
§ Mr. Thorneycroft
The hon. Gentleman will recognise that selling motor cars is a matter for the motor car industry and that no amount of Government assistance is a substitute for competitiveness in overseas markets.


text:
Trust Stamp, a facial recognition company with a $7.2 million ICE contract, had dozens of peoples' data exposed in breach
Names, addresses, and driver's license data were exposed in the breach, though it doesn't appear to include the data of migrants.
Okta plunges after hackers claim cyberattack that puts thousands of the company's business customers at risk
Okta CEO Todd McKinnon took to Twitter and said there was no evidence of any ongoing malicious activity.
How to protect yourself from data breaches and what to do if your personal data is compromised online
Most data breaches involve hacked email accounts or stolen bank information, and can be protected against by following cybersecurity best practices.
Cyberattacks threaten the corporate world. Here's what companies need to know about what comes next.
Cyberattacks threaten reputation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate valuation, the ability to raise funding, and other business-centric functions.
Robinhood revealed that a data breach last week exposed millions of customers' emails and other personal information
Robinhood said no customer financial information was obtained and that it has contained the data breach.
Ferrara Candy, which produces Sweet Tarts, Nerds, as well as Brach's Candy Corn, does not anticipate the hack will impact the availability of its Halloween candy.
A small wireless carrier owned by Verizon reported a data breach. Customers say they're livid at how it was handled.
Some customers reported being locked out of Visible as fraudulent charges of nearly $1,000 were placed on their accounts.
A Twitch streamer who has been linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory appears to have made $150,000 in 2 years on the platform, according to leaked data
A leak on Wednesday showed that a Twitch streamer reportedly linked to QAnon appears to have made $150,000 since August 2019, a researcher said.
A major telecom company that partners with AT&T and Verizon said hackers had access to its system for over 5 years, exposing billions of texts
Syniverse, which is used by companies like AT&T and Verizon, revealed that hackers had been inside its system for years, affecting millions of users.
Neiman Marcus is notifying nearly 5 million customers about a data breach that exposed names and payment card numbers
A company spokesperson says there is no evidence that any customer information is being sold on the dark web.
Crypto exchange Coinbase says at least 6,000 customers had funds stolen from their accounts in phishing attack
Some customers may have fallen victim to a phishing campaign and turned over their credentials to attackers, a spokesperson told Insider.
Facebook overpaid the FTC by nearly $5 billion to 'protect Zuckerberg' and 'make his problems go away' after Cambridge Analytica scandal, shareholders claim
Facebook hasn't escaped the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal as shareholders allege a $5 billion "quid pro quo" between the tech giant and the FTC.
T-Mobile customers are left feeling frustrated as hacker comes forward, calling the company's security 'awful'
Some customers are experiencing fraudulent charges on debit cards and spam calls and text messages in the wake of the security breach.
T-Mobile CEO apologizes for the hack that exposed data of 53 million people as the company faces class-action lawsuits over the breach
"I want to say we are truly sorry," T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert said in a statement released Friday.
"We have determined that unauthorized access to some T-Mobile data occurred," a spokesperson said in a statement.
A major cruise line says its customers' private information may have been accessed during a data breach
Information like Social Security and passport numbers, addresses, and health data may have been accessed, the Associated Press reported.
The posted personal data of Clubhouse users includes names, social media profiles, and other details.
The website "Have I been pwned," can tell you if your email account or password has been compromised.
Verkada allowed at least 100 employees, including interns and sales staff, to access customers' camera feeds
Employees had extensive access to "Super Admin" accounts, which hackers used this week to hack 150,000 Verkada cameras, Bloomberg reported.
Clubhouse users should assume they're being recorded, a data-privacy expert said, following a breach that sent conversations to another website
Over the weekend, Clubhouse was breached by an unknown user who streamed audio feeds to an external website.


text:
Apple is currently working on a refreshed Thunderbolt Display, which will be released by the end of 2016. According to a statement issued by Apple, the currently available Thunderbolt Display will only be available till stock lasts but it will not make any production after the stock ends. This means Apple is reportedly discontinuing the Thunderbolt Display.
Apple revealed that the company will sell the Thunderbolt Display through its retail stores, official retailers including its official online store till stocks last. However, the company will not refill the stock after it goes out of stock.
If rumors are to be believed, Apple is coming out with the new 5K displays, which will probably get a new name. According to unconfirmed sources, the new display will be called as Apple 5K Display.
Dubbed to be shipped with an integrated GPU and a screen resolution of 5120×2880 pixels, Apple has decided to integrate a GPU into the display to make it future ready to enable new Thunderbolt Display to maintain compatibility with future Macs.
Moreover, it will also reduce the need of high resolution displays to be powered by high-performance computers featuring top-end GPUs.
more recommended stories
JioPhone Monsoon Hungama Offer: Everything you want to know
Reliance has announced JioPhone Monsoon Hungama.
Microsoft tipped to tease new Xbox One bundle and accessories at Gamescom
Microsoft has reportedly announced the arrival.
European Union slaps $5.04 billion fine on Google over Android
EU has slapped a massive fine.
OnePlus 6 gets better with OxygenOS 5.1.9 update with camera improvements
OnePlus has rolled out OxygenOS 5.1.9.
Vodafone declares winners of National Score A Goal Contest on My Vodafone App
Vodafone had declared the winners of.
Amazon Prime Now is the fastest way to get OnePlus 6 Red
Amazon India is currently celebrating Prime.


text:
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China’s Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday that the new energy vehicle (NEV) purchasing tax exemption will be continued for another 3 years, from the first day of 2018 to the last day of 2020.
The ministry said that it will manage the tax-exempted vehicle through the model catalogue. The policy is also valid for the vehicles which have been listed on the catalogue before the last day of December, 2017.
According to the statement, the extension is set to support the development of new energy vehicles in China. Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, said the policy will boost the sales and development for new energy vehicles. The strong momentum of NEV sales in this year is a testament to the effect of the government’s tax exemption policy.
The first eleven months saw a slower growth of vehicle sales. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, by the end of November, the cumulative vehicle sales reached 25.84 million units, up 3.6 percent year on year. But the new energy vehicle sales jumped 51.4 percent to 609,000 units and are expected to hit the target of 700,000 units this year.
Gasgoo not only offers timely news and profound insight about China auto industry, but also help with business connection and expansion for suppliers and purchasers via multiple channels and methods. Buyer service: firstname.lastname@example.org Seller Service: email@example.com
All Rights Reserved. Do not reproduce, copy and use the editorial content without permission. Contact us: firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
In March 2018, Shopify announced that they are no longer integrating with NMI gateway, which is a preferred gateway by several high-risk credit card processors, specifically processors that provide service to CBD merchants. This is a Shopify issue, not an NMI nor credit card processor issue. In addition, Shopify has been closing down a number of CBD online e-commerce stores. There has been no pattern to Shopify closing CBD merchants, but it is a matter of time. If you are a CBD ecommerce merchant, it is imperative that you take precautions to ensure your website/ecommerce platform is not shut down by Shopify.
Many CBD credit card processing merchants are left in confusion whether they should migrate from Shopify to another ecommerce platform or switch credit card processor. Either option is viable; however, our experience shows that it is much easier and simpler to switch ecommerce platform than switch credit card processor. It is a given fact for CBD merchants that applying for a merchant account with a credit card processor is a time-consuming and strenuous process. On top of that, there are not many viable and stable credit card processing solutions available in the CBD space. Therefore, even though Shopify is a superior ecommerce platform and it is unfortunate that many CBD merchants have to switch to another ecommerce platform (for example, WooCommerce, ecwid, etc.), we anticipate that ecommerce platform migration is significantly more manageable compared to credit card processor migration.
Are You A CBD Credit Card Processing Merchant?
If you are a CBD ecommerce merchant running on Shopify platform, come talk to us! Paybotic has a team of payment professionals who have had great success in assisting CBD merchants migrate ecommerce platform seamlessly without any interruptions to online credit card payment acceptance.


text:
JAMESTOWN – A north side resident is again voicing her concern about truck delivers to a Washington Street business that she says goes against what had been promised to local residents when the business was first being proposed.
Resident Jeannette Jones told the Jamestown City Council Monday night that despite concerns being voiced earlier this year, large delivery trucks continue to deliveries at the NAPA Auto Parts store and have been parking along the residential area of 11th Street, sometimes blocking traffic and driveways. Jones added the trucks have also arrived outside of regular business hours, sometimes as early as 2 a.m., causing a disruption to residents who live there.
Jones pointed out that when the business was being proposed before the city planning commission in 2016, the developers had promised that only small box vehicles would be making deliveries and they wouldn’t occur after midnight. She said they also were told the delivers would be on the Washington Street side of the business, not on 11th Street.
According to an article that was published by The Post-Journal Dec. 3, 2016, James Beach, owner of Superior Auto Supply and seven regional NAPA stores, told the city planning commission that regular delivery trucks will be about 24 feet long, similar to a U-Haul, that will drop off parts to the store at night between 10 p.m. to midnight.
Jones said not only are residents upset about the disruption caused by the delivers, but they are also concerned the heavy vehicles may damage the sewer infrastructure, creating an unnecessary financial burden for both the city and residents.
Both the mayor and city council members said the police will continue to monitor the area and enforce any traffic violations that could be taking place.


text:
A decentralized social network founded by Reddit’s former cryptocurrency engineer has moved forward to the proof-of-concept stage.
A pioneer in internet security will discuss lessons for digital currencies in the adoption of a protocol as a technical standard.
In job interviews at crypto-oriented companies, “the first thing that you’ll hear is: How does Bitcoin work?”
A project led by a pioneering developer of an e-commerce security protocol was among the standouts at Blockchain University's second demo day.
Blockchain University, a 10-week blockchain course for developers, held its launch event yesterday in California


text:
» View Soalan Spm 2013 Bocor Page 2
View Soalan Spm 2013 Bocor Page 2
We are sorry, article about "View Soalan Spm 2013 Bocor Page 2" is not found or may be has been deleted. You may read other articles below or searching by type keyword in search form above!
Three of the four phones sold in the world-system Android
Every day the number and types of smartphones is increasing. Choose the one that suits the needs of each person, require adequate information about the technology, features, and operating system. [...]
Two more top-tier titles that are ready to enliven the new Microsoft console, Xbox One, namely Battlefield 4 and Watch Dogs.
Quoted from IGN, Wednesday (22/5), specifically for Battlefield 4, DICE as a developer of the game will use the Frostbite 3.
The wait is over, this month, the new Bluetooth device is finally released, so what can we expect from this new device ? Well, as for the design, the new Divoom Voombox outdoor as the name suggests is specifically designed for outdoor uses. It also comes [...]
It has been rumored for a long time by a number of observers.
Smartpone manufacturer from South Korea, starting today officially launched the Galaxy Note II version dual Sim Card.
In the official website of Samsung’s China, some observers expressed [...]
Apple reportedly ready to release a mini-version of the course will also be priced cheaper than its flagship smartphone, the iPhone.
Quoted from Techradar, Saturday (2/23), according to the report, the presence of the iPhone Mini will happen this summer.
Astounding number ready achieved by Apple. In the near future, the number of applications that have been downloaded from the App Store will touch the figure of 50 billion.
Quoted from Techradar, Saturday (4/5), Apple has already provided a gift for those [...]
After going through various rumors and long waits, BlackBerry 10 platform was officially launched at an event in New York, U.S., on Wednesday (01/30) local time.
Quoted from Techradar, Thursday (01/31), BlackBerry 10 straight comes with two new smartphones, [...]
“Microsoft chose HTC to be the first smartphone that shows a real Windows Phone.”
Mobile phone manufacturer HTC back innovate through the launch of Windows Phone distinctively, namely HTC Windows Phone 8X and HTC Windows Phone 8S.
Update Facebook app for iOS brings free phone features such as who has owned his messenger application.
Through this feature, users can make phone calls at no cost via Wi-Fi or 3G. Want to know how? Consider the following steps.
1. Go to the Facebook [...]
Exploration of the universe using telescopes have been done by the experts since time immemorial.
Various planets and outer space Unexplained phenomenon-was discovered using a telescope.
Various types of telescopes were presented by experts in order [...]
There are four methods to repair damaged DVD discs.
Perhaps you have experienced a situation when in the mood to watch a DVD from favorite movie your collection, subsequently the DVD is jammed (scratched) so time to watch becomes impaired.
If a situation [...]


text:
|Bid||7.24 x 27000|
|Ask||7.25 x 45900|
|Day's range||7.22 - 7.40|
|52-week range||3.96 - 9.60|
|Beta (5Y monthly)||1.32|
|PE ratio (TTM)||N/A|
|Forward dividend & yield||N/A (N/A)|
|Ex-dividend date||29 Jan 2020|
|1y target est||N/A|
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) said that it has broken ground on a new electric-vehicle manufacturing center in Michigan, where it will build a battery-electric version of its iconic F-150 pickup truck. Ford said the new facility is part of a $700 million investment in its historic Rouge manufacturing complex in Dearborn, where it builds the majority of the F-150 pickups sold in the United States. Ford is in the midst of launching an all-new version of the F-150 for the 2021 model year.
Ford (F), with the robust, enticing and affordable electric F-150 pickup truck, will mark the beginning of a new era for the auto industry by taking the EV race a notch higher.


text:
As we see each and every January, those laden with Christmas guilt vow to be the healthiest versions of themselves, writes HIM’s Ruth Cousins. However, as health trends continue to widen we may see shoppers straying away from the traditional fresh fruit and veg options. At HIM we’ve been taking a look at the rise of the Free-from trend and the rapidly increasing number of shoppers that consider themselves to have food intolerances.
In a recent study we found that 30% of 18- to 34- year-olds consider themselves to have some sort of food intolerance, half of these were self-diagnosed. The proportion significantly drops for older age groups. There is little to suggest that younger generations are more susceptible to food intolerances, therefore this is likely to be due to the increased availability of information sources such as the internet.
So how can convenience store retailers maximise the opportunity that comes with the rise of Free from? With a great influx of products entering the market it is not feasible for you to stock them all. Our research has shown that the biggest opportunity in Free from comes from milk products as one in 10 shoppers told us that they have a dairy intolerance.
Retailers should be looking to stock soya and nut milks as a minimum. Stock fresh options, but also consider long-life as often fewer people in a household will be drinking dairy-free milks compared with dairy.
So far, convenience retailers aren’t doing badly at catering for the Free-from shopper. One-third of shoppers said that they’d noticed a designated Free-from section in their local c-store. If there is space available, a designated Free-from area will attract those with food intolerances into a store (over a store without).
Such an initiative means shoppers will be able to find items quicker, and it will build their trust that the shop provides products they can tolerate. The best-designated sections will be clearly signed in store so shoppers can find them easily.
So if you’re not doing so already, why not try something new for 2017 and see if you can’t gain something from the Free-from craze


text:
From factory inspections to product recalls, laboratory testing to prosecutions, China’s emergent food-quality apparatus has turned into reform on the fly, with ever-changing threats and setbacks.
Mobile devices accounted for nearly two-thirds of the social networking company’s revenue, which rose 61 percent over the same quarter last year.
Supporters say the wind farm experiment is essential if states want to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet new federal rules on carbon emissions.
Despite its flashy features, such as Dynamic Perspective and Firefly, the Fire Phone can stand alone for those uninterested in such frills.
The company wants executives to know that it is a business-to-business solutions provider that helps companies manage their fleet and supply chain functions better than they can themselves.


text:
Inflation holds firm as concert tickets offset slowdown in cigarette prices
By Henry Saker-Clark, PA City Reporter
UK inflation held firm at a three-year low after a slowdown in cigarette price increases was offset by more expensive concert tickets.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 1.5% last month, flat from the rate in October. Inflation was last lower in November 2016.
Inflation was higher than analysts had predicted, having forecast a decrease to 1.4% for the month.
Nevertheless, inflation remains below the Bank of England's target rate of 2%.
Mike Hardie, head of inflation at the ONS, said: "The headline rate of inflation remained steady with prices rising across a variety of goods and services such as chocolate, concert tickets and package holidays, offset by falling hotel costs and cigarette prices rising substantially slower than this time last year."
Tobacco prices significantly weighed down on inflation as the cost of cigarettes rose by just 0.1% compared to a 3.4% rise in November 2018. It came after a rise in tobacco duty was not implemented in October, as has happened in previous years.
Inflation was also pressed down by cheaper hotels, as the price of accommodation dropped by 2% in November.
The ONS said price increases in the recreation and culture sector significantly offset this impact.
It said the upward pressure was particularly driven by higher concert tickets after a number of major UK tours were announced during the month, while package holiday prices also increased.
Meanwhile, the price of food increased by 1% as shoppers saw the cost of chocolate and confectionery jump higher.
There was also a 2.4% rise in the price of fruit, while meat cost 0.9% more over the period.
Elsewhere, clothes prices had a downward pressure as greater discounting resulted in a slowdown in price growth.
The Retail Prices Index (RPI), a separate measure of inflation, was 2.2% last month, rising from 2.1% in October.
The Consumer Price Index including owner-occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) - the ONS' preferred measure of inflation - was also 1.5% in October, remaining flat from November.


text:
Starts Sept. 26th
OpenTable has awarded Rooney’s as one of the top 100 brunch restaurants in the United States, the only one in New Jersey!
Half Off Wine
Case of the Mondays?
Come cheer up with 50% off bottles of wine all night!


text:
By Fightback writers
Unite union members employed at McDonald’s have entered a campaign to fight for better pay and better hours of work. This is the fourth time that Unite has negotiated over wages and conditions with McDonald’s since the SupersizeMyPay campaign in 2005.
Before the SupersizeMyPay campaign there was no union agreement for McDonalds workers or other workers in the fastfood industry. The 2005 campaign brought good improvements at Restaurant Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks) stores. The improvements at McDonalds and Burger King were more modest. However McDonald’s and Burger King Unite members got benefits from the first union agreement being achieved in those workplaces for decades and from legislative changes that resulted from the campaign. The largest win was the removal of youth rates over a two-year period.
The SupersizeMyPay campaign seriously shook employers across the fast-food industry. The McDonald’s bosses – especially individual franchisees – maintained a conscious fight against the union by victimising people who joined Unite. For example, in the case of Kaipoi McDonald’s a membership of a whole store was bullied out of the union with the excpetion of one member. The remaining member and Unite challenged the employer. The McDonald’s boss employer was fined, forced to pay damages to the employee, and forced to pay costs.
In 2008 the union began negotiations for its second collective agreement with McDonald’s. The company stalled negotiations for months and the pay gap between McDonald’s and Restaurant Brands workers continued to grow. McDonald’s made a near-zero offer to its staff. The months of wage freeze were brought to an end by a significant industrial campaign by McDonald’s workers in which there were more than 60 stoppages.
The result was a union agreement which secured specified amounts above minimum wage that the company had to pay to workers graded at various levels above minimum wage. This meant that all employees got an increase whenever the minimum wage went up. There were also percentage increases locked in for supervisory staff for each year of the agreement and other improvements to working conditions.
That campaign set a different tone with the company. The next agreement was resolved without strike action as the union had been able to negotiate a significant improvement regarding hours of work. In particular, a clause was entered into the agreement which provides that the company can’t cut the hours of work of employees with one year or more of service by any more than 25%. (Of course every agreement has resulted in a range of improvements and this article is concerned with the highlights and key issues).
This year the McDonald’s bosses came to negotiations wanting the union to agree to a significant clawback, namely the reintroduction of youth rates. As with clawbacks in general, Unite was unwilling to concede. The government’s reintroduction of youth rates creates an interesting situation. The company could have chosen to apply youth rates to young workers who don’t belong to the union. However, if they did so they would have provided an incentive for all youth rates-aged employees who were not yet in the union to join the collective agreement. It is these types of expression of the union’s power – not anything to do with the company’s sham idea of corporate social responsibility – which ensured that the company could not implement youth rates. The fact that the company has been unable to implement youth rates is a source of confidence in the union and its potential to make real changes.
The deflection of the implementation of youth rates, however, is not enough for McDonald’s workers to settle on a new agreement. The company made a narrow final offer consisting of a one-off increase of 25 cents. Wages and conditions need to go forward or the workers will face wage stagnation and real wage decline. One aspect of pushing on wages has been to raise the demand that the McDonald’s bosses must agree to pay at least the same as what other fast-food chains pay.
Hours of work is the other key issue. The union routinely deals with cases whereby workers are exposed to insecurity of work. It means that people cannot plan their weeks or budget properly. In many instances this insecurity is used as a management tool to prevent people from standing up to frequent abuses of the work legislation and the union agreement. Over the years Unite has made significant in-roads on this issue, but the workforce understands that such improvements need to be deepened as well as extended to cover the broadest possible number of workers. Only then will there be anything approaching a satisfying situation for the employees.
This round of negotiations has been difficult so far but this is not because of the resolve of the employees and their union. The difficulty has been due to the external situation whereby there have been rafts of anti-worker employment legislation changes and significant attacks on unions, such as at Ports of Auckland, and at meat processing plants. Such attacks by the government and employer’s at traditional union strongholds have given confidence to the McDonald’s bosses and other employers.
McDonald’s employees have responded with actions across the country. As well as gaining public support on basic issues like wages and conditions, specific events have put a spotlight on other issues. For example the company’s favouritism towards the police, expressed in special police discounts, has been exposed. Additionally a store management’s discrimination against a gay worker has been uncovered.
The resistance of Unite members is required for their own wage negotiations and for continuing to make gains for workers in the fast-food industry in general. It is necessary because companies like McDonald’s are part or a whole class of employers who are holding down wages as a response to the economic crisis. Their resistance symbolises a point of resistance against the green light that the government has given employers; a green light to attack wages and conditions.