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For the Royal Palm Beach (Fla.) locksmith, Marlboro Country was a prison he could not have escaped without electronic cigarettes. In five years, Settembre has decreased his nicotine intake by 75 percent and figures he is spending about one-fourth the money in getting his nicotine these days.
“I got tired of waking up with an elephant on my chest and coughing up lung butter,” he said. “Now the smell of traditional cigarettes are off-putting. I can’t believe I used to smell like that and my car used to smell like that, too.”
Settembre finds himself a member of a rapidly expanding counterculture to traditional tobacco that is tweaking the nose of health officials, the government and some powerful industries. The Florida Health Department has made it a priority to check the growing vape trend by reaching out to the public to say vaping caters to teenagers and can be used for a new form of waxy marijuana called “dabs.”
But the vaping community says it has been unfairly disparaged and, pointing to studies in England, say that vaping’s nicotine delivery system is far safer than traditional tobacco.
And while big box stores are closing in disturbing numbers, vaping stores are the mom-and-pop wunderkinds, populating strip malls throughout the state.
In Palm Beach County alone, business license records show 47 companies with “vape” or “vapor” in their names. A new community has sprouted around these businesses where people come to vape and socialize. The more interesting establishments are brightly lighted, offering living room accommodations where patrons get lost in the cumulus clouds of vapor.
“It is a community,” said Jeremy Stein, who manages the company for three E Vapor Squad stores in Wellington, West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. “If I see someone vaping and they see me, we immediately are attracted to each other.”
‘We are not smoking’
Vapers come in all sizes, genders and ages — Stein knows of an 85-year-old.
Some vapers are known as “Cloud Chasers.” They live to generate thick vapor. Others may be “Flavor Aficionados” who chase the perfect vape juice or mixture and can tell a vape juice by its smell.
But they all stand united in efforts to tighten the regulatory reins on what is a runaway phenomenon expected to be worth as much as $10 billion this year, according to the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association.
Ask many vapers and they are ready with the facts behind their passion. They distrust American media more than a President Trump supporter, saying that vaping has been unfairly degenerated by news reports. They are precise about the technology, talking wire gauge for coils to heat the e-liquid or the different styles of vapes available.
The nicotine used by vapers is the same as found in cessation patches or other products designed to stop someone from smoking. Some vapers will take offense if you even use the term smoking. “We are not smoking,” Stein said. “It is a water vapor whose main ingredient is the same thing found in a fog machine you see at concerts.”
But despite the rapid success story of vaping and e-cigarettes, vendors and customers alike feel besieged.
Catering to kids?
Much of the criticism from U.S. health officials about vaping is that it is aimed at children because of the fruity and dessert-like flavors of the nicotine e-liquid used in a variety of electronic cigarettes and wildly diverse vaping devices. And the flavors read like a diabetic’s nightmare: maple, strawberry cheesecake, salted caramel, coffee and variety of sugary cereals. The liquids sport exotic names like Pancake Man or Devil’s Liquid.
U.S. health officials — including Dr. Alina Alonso, the director in Palm Beach County for the Florida Health Department — say vaping remains wildly unregulated and poses dangers that remain unknown.
Alerting the public about “inhaled nicotine” is one of the seven priorities for the Florida Health Department, which notes that e-cigarette use among youth has increased 539 percent since 2011. The department has made “inhaled nicotine” one of its seven priorities.
“There is a rise in teens inhaling nicotine and I blame the e-cigarettes for that, the vapes” Alonso said. “Many of the teens feel the vapes are safe because they are flavored with cherry and all kinds of chemicals in it, but they definitely are not safe.”
There is also concern that marijuana can be vaped without its telltale smell, she said.
“There is no question they are targeting the kids because you wouldn’t see the flavors that you see,” Alonso said. “All we can keep doing is educating the public and trying to realize this is not a safe practice and hopefully we will see a change.”
The increase in vaping, though, coincides with an all-time low for the use of traditional tobacco products by teenagers, according to the Department of Health. And many vapers are ex-smokers, those in the industry say.
A 2016 U.S. surgeon general report dedicated to e-cigarette use among the young was resoundingly panned in some corners as failing to see vaping as a pathway for adults to stop smoking cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention piled on in 2013 when then-Director Thomas Frieden said vaping leads to traditional cigarette smoking among the young.
The Food & Drug Administration also struck last year, placing nicotine products under the federal Tobacco Control Act. Shops already couldn’t sell to minors, but now that the vape juice is being regulated stores can’t help customers with their devices or provide free samples.
A cultural shift
In America, the decline of the cigarette represents a cultural shift. The cigarette was once the epitome of Don Draper cool, while pipe-smoking was an affectation of the sophisticate and cigar-puffing was a sign of power and masculinity.
But cancer has a way of turning the tide. Today, cigarettes and other tobacco products carry the stigma once assigned to those afflicted with leprosy.
Now a new nicotine delivery system is in town and in this debate, there are no Switzerlands.
Those in the vape community say the U.S. government is coming down on the new industry because it is taking money from big tobacco companies, which are not heavily invested in vaping products. It also taking money from the $3 billion smoking-cessation market cornered by pharmaceutical companies through nicotine gum and patches. And let’s not forget Uncle Sam, vapers say, who rakes in plenty of taxes from the selling of tobacco products.
“There is a lot of misinformation about these products and public health officials are doing a disservice to the people they are supposed to serve by continuing to spout this misinformation,” said Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association in Medford, N.J.
The American Lung Association states that it is concerned about accidental nicotine poisoning and poisoning from accidental ingestion of vape juice, saying the CDC has tracked emergency calls. It says the vapor has the same second-hand concerns as cigarettes of formaldehyde and other potential toxins, citing two studies but not naming them.
On its website the association states: “E-cigarettes are a tobacco product. The American Lung Association remains concerned about their impact on the public health, given the dramatic increase in use among youth.”
Last year, the association fed news reports about the “dangerous risk of flavored e-cigarettes” by pointing out that the e-liquid contained propylene diacetyl, a chemical component found at the time in artificial butter that contributed to a bronchial condition known as “popcorn lung.”
Conley concedes that diacetyl is present in some vaping juice, but at 100 to 750 times less than what is found in a cigarette. “They wanted to drum up a scare story,” he said. “Researchers who are opposed to vaping will generally not include cigarette smokers in their study.”
Conley’s top argument to health warnings on vaping is the Royal College of Physicians, which said, “The hazard to health arising from long-term vapor inhalation from the e-cigarettes available today is unlikely to exceed 5 percent of the harm from smoking tobacco.”
He said the push-back against vaping today is akin to the “Reefer Madness” hysteria in the 1930s about marijuana. As for smoking pot through a vape, Conley points out that people smoke weed through an apple bought at the grocery store, as well. Stores like E Vapor Squad don’t sell products that can be used to vape marijuana. It requires a special device to handle its very sticky resin.
And try as they might, vapers are still lumped in with smokers and thus are stigmatized by association.
Ryna Schalk at one of Stein’s shops in Wellington says if she hears the term “popcorn lung” one more time she is going to scream. Vapers know what they are putting in their bodies and are not out to invade anybody’s space and are not just a bunch of people blowing big clouds of vapor.
“This is a revolution,” she said. “There are people giving out misinformation about vaping because of Big Government, Big Tobacco and Big Pharma. Vaping is taking money out of their pocket.”
Data reporter Mike Stucka contributed to this story.


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Thousands of European steel workers marched through the streets of Brussels, Europe's de facto capital, on Feb. 15 demanding that the European Union protect their industries from competition with China.
The European Union has to decide by December whether to treat China as a market economy under the rules of the World Trade Organization. Turning it down would damage Europe's warming relations with Beijing, but classifying China as a market economy will expose European manufacturers, especially the steel industry, to fierce competition from cheap Chinese goods.
One of the conditions of Beijing's entry to the WTO in 2001 was that other members would be able to treat Chinese goods as coming from a non-market economy, meaning that they could continue to impose punitive import duties on cheap Chinese goods.
But that provision expires this December, and while China argues that expiry of this provision will automatically qualify them for market-economy status, this has been disputed by other countries – a legal issue that would have to be adjudicated by a WTO arbitration panel.
The European Commission met on Jan. 13 to make a recommendation but it postponed the decision. A 10-week online consultation was launched on Feb. 10, as part of an "in-depth assessment" to study the economic effects on the European market, said the European Commission in a statement.
Millions of jobs in the EU would be put at risk if it grants China market-economy status, argues a recent study by the U.S.-based independent think tank Economic Policy Institute.
It is ironic that many companies in Europe, particularly in the steel industry, are asking the European Union to protect industries that are no longer viable, and as such create non-market conditions, says Kerry Brown, professor and director of the Lau China Institute at King's College in London and associate fellow at Chatham House.
You typically hear only the negative side of dumping, says Andrew Wood, head of Asia research at BMI Research. But it also provides some sectors with cheaper inputs, "for instance for construction firms or manufacturers, who, if they do not directly compete with China, should actually benefit from lower input prices," he says.
The impact on the Chinese market of achieving market-economy status would not be significant, Mr. Wood says. China is coping with large overcapacity issues in its steel sector, and a "marginally higher demand for steel … does not really fix their problem of profitability."
"For [China] to be denied market-economy status would actually be a rather large [political] blow," Mr. Wood says.
But for European leaders, it is a balancing act between the short-term loss of jobs within the union, and avoiding disrupting warming relations with Beijing in the longer run. The EU has five criteria for assessing whether China would be considered a market economy, but according to these standards it is more of a "quasi-market economy," Mr. Brown says. However, he says, the EU should "accord it this status because it's in our interest eventually for [China] to become a market economy and this is the best way that we can help it achieve that."
Canada, on the other hand, has dealt with the issue through backdoor measures without much public debate. Canada incorporated the 2016 deadline into the Special Import Measures Regulations in 2002, but this was repealed in 2013. That allowed Canada to treat China as a non-market economy for the purposes of anti-dumping measures beyond December this year. "That action came out of the blue, I think largely, if not exclusively, because of lobbying by the steel industry in Canada," says Yuen Pau Woo, former President and CEO and currently Distinguished East Asia Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada.
But Canada may have to face the issue eventually. "In my discussions with Chinese officials about a free-trade agreement with Canada, I have often been told that granting China market-economy status is a pre-condition for negotiations," Mr. Woo says.
Linda van der Horst is a journalism fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs.

domain: news


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Microsoft unveiled a pair of dual screen concept devices in October 2019 that grabbed plenty of headlines. Now, the company has launched the Surface Duo preview toolkit. Surface Duo is Microsoft’s first dual-screen smartphone that runs on Android OS. On the other hand, Surface Neo is simply a larger tablet version of the Duo and it runs on Windows 10X. It is expected that Microsoft will bring both products by the holiday shopping season of 2020.
With the launch of preview toolkits prior to the launch of the devices indicate that the company is giving software developers a head start to optimize their applications.
Today, the company launched Surface Duo preview SDK completely with an emulator and Java frameworks. With this, experienced developers will be able to experiment and try out new improvements or fixes with the two-screen form factor on Android.
Just within a few hours of the toolkit release, we have heard from the tech circle that the user will be able to drag and drop in the new handsets. Moreover, the handset will come with touch pen interaction. It seems that there will be more potential app scaling and interaction patterns to come soon.
We have heard that by default all the apps will take up the full screen but the user of the handset will be allowed to resize them in window mode. Apart from this, as far as views are concerned, there will be split-screen or a dual view of the same app on both screens.
Other than double-portrait or double-landscape layouts there will be options of companion pane view of an app. It seems that Microsoft is aiming to deliver a multitasking experience to its users. And is looking forward to integrating as many fancy view options as possible. We might get the Windows 10X preview SDK by 11th February.


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E-gift cards a hot item for holidays
The gift card somehow has snagged a spot as the perfect, nothing-could-go-wrong-here kind of a gift.
But as we mentally skip over Thanksgiving and rush into looking for a parking spot at the mall this holiday, let's take a look at all those gift cards. Some good deals are out there; some not so good.
Once again, expect plenty of promotions involving gift cards. Many retailers are likely to promote e-cards or digital gift cards that can be used online or at a store, too.
JCPenney's website is featuring "all new e-gift cards" this season. The retailer has offered e-cards for more than 10 years. But what's new is that JCPenney e-gift cards can be e-mailed within minutes, instead of up to 48 hours. Or if the customer wants, the e-cards can be set to be e-mailed on a specific date. One new digital gizmo is the ability to customize that e-gift card with a message, a photo or even a video — at no extra cost.
The availability of the e-card at many retailers is good news for millennials since they're more than twice as likely to lose traditional plastic gift cards than older adults, said Jeanine Skowronski, Bankrate.com credit card analyst.
I asked my own 16-year-old son what are some drawbacks of gift cards and the first answer he shot back was: "Losing one."
About 40% of the 18- to 29-year-olds surveyed by Bankrate.com admit to losing a gift card. But e-cards can be accessed through mobile apps and e-mail applications, so Bankrate.com said the e-cards are much harder to lose than traditional plastic cards.
Mobile gift card usage among millennials is also double that of older adults, according to Bankrate.com.
Why are retailers so eager to drive gift card sales this holiday?
"You want to get people in your store," Skowronski said. "You're banking on the person spending more than the gift card is worth."
So even early in the season, we're seeing some gift card promotions. CVS has a deal that runs through Nov. 22 in which customers can earn a $10 gift card for places like Macy's or Darden restaurants, if they spend $30 or more that week on specially-marked items in the CVS circular. Some weeks it might mean buying things like holiday candy, a Mickey Mouse waffle maker or paper towels to earn those gift cards. Limit one free gift card per cardholder each week. The promotion will run for a bonus week in the Nov. 30 circular, too.
Kmart tweeted in early November that select stores would be offering Kmart members $15 off the next purchase when you buy $250 or more of Visa gift cards.
The latest Bankrate.com survey showed that the most common value on a gift card ranges from $25 to $50. So good luck buying dinner-for-two with a $10 or $25 gift card.
While many millennials and baby boomers prefer a gift card that can be used at a variety of locations, instead of just one store, there's often an extra cost for those cards.
General purpose cards typically have upfront fees to buy the card itself that range from $3.95 to $6.95, according to the Bankrate.com survey. Only rarely do store-specific cards charge any such fees. Some consumers might want to shop at their bank for a general purpose gift card, where some fees might trend toward the lower end. Comerica Bank, for example, charges customers a $3.95 fee for a gift card.
Gift cards aren't foolproof. If you're buying a gift card at the gas station or grocery store, remember fraudsters have spoiled more than one shopping trip.
"Fraudsters can peel off stickers to glean gift card codes, replace them in envelopes and wait for an unsuspecting shopper to buy them," said Adam Levin, chairman of Credit.com.
Then, he said, once purchased and activated, the criminals enter stolen codes at the retailer website to make online purchases. The person who gets the card may discover the money is gone.
One option is to pay careful attention to the gift card when you're buying one. Make sure the packaging looks to be untouched. Oddly enough, it's not a bad idea to even research some complaints online about various branded gift cards.
Contact Susan Tompor: 313-222-8876 or email@example.com.


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Lahcen Haddad, right, celebrates at the World Travel Awards president Graham Cooke
Lahcen Haddad, minister of tourism for Morocco, has stressed the importance of digital media as a “vector for job opportunities”.
In a keynote speech to the Global Economic Mutations and Growth Perspectives conference in Casablanca, Haddad argued the use of digital technology and mass communication will enable economic growth.
The event was organised by Rotary Club of Casablanca, a global organisation of more than 1.2 million members from the world of business.
Haddad predicted digital technology would constitute half of global GDP by 2025.
The minister said a “digital revolution” is imminent, and that the evolution of e-commerce in Morocco is particularly promising.
Further, 80 per cent of jobs in Morocco will have a digital component in 2030, Haddad predicted.
Various facets of e-commerce are appealing to Moroccan internet users, such as rapid service, the large choice of products available, and the possibility of easily comparing prices.
The development has encouraged Morocco to develop an ‘e-Morocco’ strategy.
The strategy will see an increase in investment in new technology in Morocco, as well as the construction of cloud computing data centres, as the country seeks to establish itself as a digital leader in the region.
Haddad – himself an authority on hospitality, having been presented with an award for Outstanding Contribution to the Travel and Tourism Industry by the World Travel Awards last year - said advances in connectivity will see digital possibilities grew in Morocco.
With 42 million mobile subscribers and 14 million internet subscribers, the country is well positioned for such growth.
In terms of e-commerce, some 903,000 online shoppers were identified in Morocco in 2014, against 769,000 in 2013.


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pool, fitness center launched with design contract
ROCKY RIVER The
voters' decision in November to add an indoor swimming pool and
a physical fitness center to the civic center moved a giant step
closer to reality this week as City
Council approved a $439,000 contract with an architectural firm
to design the adition.
winners intend to keep up the hard work
O'Grady to face Herbster in this November's
NORTH OLMSTED Both
top vote-getters in the two contested primary elections said they
intend to continue taking their message to the citizens up through
November after piling up lopsided margins in the May 3 balloting.


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Take comfort, beleaguered advertiser: Facebook has heard your concerns about its advertising measurement challenges.
It advises you to keep spending money on Facebook and to scrutinize the performance of that investment less frequently.
The social platform yesterday took the unusual step of publishing a blog post acknowledging the challenges with measuring the effectiveness of ads marketers are running on Facebook.
These challenges emerged after Apple rolled out App Tracking Transparency as part of iOS 14.5, which asks iPhone users to opt in to having their activities tracked by apps they’d installed. Estimates by third party analytics firms including Flurry suggest that only about a quarter of iPhone users agreed to the tracking.
The key details
- Facebook estimates it is under-counting the number of conversions happening on iOS devices by about 15%, though that percentage differs by product and ad category.
- Facebook’s post suggested a number of remedies. They included measuring effectiveness at the campaign level, rather than the creative level; enabling a Conversions API, which allows advertisers to directly share their own first-party sales data directly with Facebook; analyzing the effectiveness of the advertising less frequently; and trying out different measurement solutions.
- Facebook said it will continue to improve its conversion modeling, which it has been working on all year. It also plans to work with partners to provide more visibility into conversions on sites whose domains advertisers do not own.
A bumpy ride
When Apple announced it would give its device users the ability to opt out of being tracked thanks to ATT, Facebook was one of the companies that complained loudest. Its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, talked about it during earnings calls. The company published full-page ads in many of the country’s largest newspapers, describing Apple’s plans as damaging to small businesses.
While Facebook didn’t win many new supporters by caping up for small businesses, the recent effects of Apple’s change, which were pushed to the majority of its iPhone user base this summer, have been pronounced. Patrick Coddou, the CEO of the consumer goods company Supply, shared a Twitter thread Monday of what he said were complaints from different small business founders of the significant drops in Facebook’s ad effectiveness.
Facebook has made several changes this year to prepare. It switched to a default seven-day window for conversions, and added conversion modeling numbers to those results where that was possible.
…That everybody will keep riding
As tumultuous as things have been, the measurement challenge obscures two truths that most marketers admit grudgingly: That Facebook ads work, and there are few viable alternatives for those looking to stop using it.
“The idea that the ads don’t work any more is plainly wrong,” said Darren D’Altorio, the head of social at the digital agency WPromote. “Even though we can’t granularly measure it anymore, we know that it works.”
The changes also align with recommendations that many agencies have been making for Facebook advertising for a while, away from intra-day optimization and more toward longer-term planning. “Automation has become a core tenet of Facebook over the past three to four years,” said Avi Ben-Zvi, vp of paid social at Tinuiti.
Ben-Zvi added that Tinuiti is tracking a 39% year-over-year increase in advertising on Facebook this year
How Yeti is marketing like a DTC brand on social media and in the outdoors
Known for being a brand of indestructible coolers, cups and increasingly lifestyle apparel, Yeti has been evolving from a wholesale company to one that markets more like a direct-to-consumer company as it experiments on platforms like TikTok, Pinterest and its own media properties.
How Zola is boosting its OOH spending in New York for ‘engagement season’
OOH ads for the startup, best known for offering wedding registries, will not only be in the Rockefeller Center subway station (where they are hoping to capture the attention of couples going to visit the Christmas tree) but also with subway digital ads, billboards near Bryant Park as well as downtown in Soho and with wild postings throughout the city.
Acxiom’s CEO on why everything’s an ad network now, and what that means
Chad Engelgau talks about how Acxiom will harness retail media networks and the metaverse -- as well as the need for marketers to connect internal data to be more effective.
SponsoredHow premium programmatic video is evolving
Leo O’Connor, senior vice president, advertising, Paramount Change in the advertising and media industry often feels slow and chaotic — but when viewed with perspective, change happens relatively fast and follows a logical path. This is certainly the case with programmatic advertising and the rise of streaming. Audiences want the freedom to watch content however […]
Inside the tensions countering advertisers’ latest quest for programmatic transparency
Brands such as P&G and Unilever have cooled on auditors' proposals in a study led by the ANA.
Florist brand uses video to connect with families during the holiday season
FTD LLC, also known as Florists' Transworld Delivery, is looking to stand out during the holiday season through connected TV with the goal to drive brand recognition and incremental traffic.


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Opanka promised his loyal fans to give them a hot banger song this month of April. He has fulfilled the promise. Download and enjoy.
- Hint,.: NIB Bank Yet to collapse due to mismanagement of funds
- Ghana will be the second Africa country to manufacture made in Africa smartphones in my Next Administration- Prez John Mahama
- Cape coast oguaa team donates huge sum of money to the Veteran actor kohwe.
- Kobby oxy to release the Official video of ” Surrender “
- Re-Register your Sim card else you will lose you phone number – Communication minister


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Polysilicon price continues to advance this week despite the weak downstream performance. The demand in China booms due to the extensive expansion plans of downstream wafer makers. Meanwhile, the supply in China has been relatively limited due to the imposition of high tariff on the US polysilicon imports. Moreover, the Chinese government recently initiates the investigation on the smuggling polysilicon from entering the Chinese market, which lead the procurement of polysilicon to become more difficult.
Multi-crystalline wafer price remains the gradual downtrend this week. Despite of sharply falling multi-crystalline cell price, the drop of multi-crystalline wafer has been rather limited as supported by the solid demand amid the high utilization rates of multi-crystalline cell makers. Nevertheless, the acceptance of wafer buyer begins to erode as the prices of downstream solar cells and modules are being pressured. Wafer buyers tend to be more conservative on releasing orders as a strategy to pressure multi-crystalline wafer makers to accommodate for further price reductions. On the other hand, the drop of mono-crystalline wafer price is relatively incremental as compared to multi-crystalline wafer, due to the solid demand improvement stimulated by Top Runner program in China.
Multi-crystalline cell makers continue to struggle with the shrinking demand in China and increasing stockpiles, leading the continuous price competition among multi-crystalline cell makers. Moreover, despite the downside risks, the current production of major multi-crystalline cell makers remains at full, which further pressures the price as oversupply situation worsens. However, the scope of decline starts to meet some resistance as compared to past few weeks since the ASP fall closes to the break-even points of solar cell makers after it drops for more than 10 percent since mid-February. As for mono-crystalline cell, the expanded price gap with multi-crystalline cell has leaded the solid demand of mono-crystalline cell to falter. In addition, the capacity of mono-crystalline has increased as some solar cell makers strategically shift productions from multi-crystalline cell to mono-crystalline ones as to compensate the loss from the sales of multi-crystalline cells. Hence, mono-crystalline cell price declines consecutively this week as pressured by the faltered demand and increasing production.
Solar panel price continues to fall tenderly this week as the demand in the US, EU and India restores and some 1st tier module manufacturers intend to temper slumping price. Nevertheless, the persistent weakness demand in China and Japan continues to pressure module makers to comply with price reduction in order to get rid of swollen stockpiles. As the result, the price downtrend of solar panel sustains this week, yet the decline has been more limited as some regional demand stabilizes, and some solar panel makers tries to re-balance the price deterioration.


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The collaboration heralds a series of firsts, both for the label and for Williams.
For designers Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant, it is their debut collaboration with an artist from outside the fashion and accessories world, as well as the first time working with a leather alternative – the bags are crafted from vegan leather made with apple byproducts.
Williams, meanwhile, added accessories co-designer to her long list of credentials.
Despite her tender age of 24, the “Game of Thrones” actress, known for her quirky style, is a vocal campaigner on sustainability and gender equality and a global ambassador for WWF, alongside her acting and production work.
“She came to meet us a few days before the show, and we fell in love with her personality,” said Vaillant. “We’re secret fans of ‘Game of Thrones.’ Like most people, that was how we discovered her.”
He continued: “It’s crazy how much she has done, she’s so young, and yet so mature creatively.”
“We love the fact that she is young and she is so committed to the planet and so many other causes, and we said let’s do something together,” Meyer added. “She’s really inspirational.”
“Coperni and I have been quietly working on our collaboration for some time and I’m so proud and excited to finally share what we have created together,” said Williams.
Relaunched three years ago, Coperni is just starting to dabble with collaborations, teaming with jewelry designer Alan Crocetti on pieces for its spring 2022 show in September, and with an eyewear tie-up still under wraps for release next year.
“We want our collaborations to be organic, to be built around something meaningful, around shared values,” Meyer commented.
The Maisie Williams x Coperni collection includes two perforated cross-body models based on the Swipe bag, whose oval shape is inspired by the unlock logo of an iPhone. A larger version is available in silver and forest green, and a mini model in silver or berry red. They come with a detachable strap and five metal pins inspired by the stickers found on apples, in a whimsical nod to the material used.
The products are available for pre-order starting today and launch Nov. 22 on the label’s e-commerce, and on Nov. 24 at Galeries Lafayette in Paris and online at SSense.
The larger design retails for 595 euros, while the smaller design sells for 495 euros.
The material is made from apple waste from Italy that is dried without chemicals and transformed into an alternative to the animal version.
Williams said she hopes the designs “will inspire more people to both shop and produce with materials that contribute toward a more sustainable future.”
Vaillant noted: “If you don’t tell people it’s made from apples, I don’t think you can tell the difference.”
The initiative is part of a broader sustainability drive the brand is implementing. Coperni already relies on a short supply chain to ensure traceability. For its spring 2022 collection, hemp was a key element, and there are also upcycling initiatives in the works, Vaillant said.
In the campaign images, shot by Gorka Postigo with styling by Helena Tejedor, Williams is almost unrecognizable, her eyebrows and hair bleached blonde.
Coperni has around 150 stockists worldwide. During the pandemic, when most shows were online only, it went against the grain, generating buzz with real-life events including its spring 2021 outing on the roof of the Tour Montparnasse — reportedly the highest show ever staged in Paris — and a curfew-beating drive-in event for fall 2021 at the AccorHotels Arena.


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Lost in the hoopla surrounding Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) second quarter 2014 earnings results (where an increased dividend and share buyback plan were announced) was a comment CEO Tim Cook made that the company plans to triple the number of retail stores it has worldwide in the next two years. That would give Apple roughly 1,200 retail outlets around the world at the end of the expansion.
The huge increase in stores is aimed at bringing more points of sale for Apple's products in markets like China where the company's retail footprint is fairly small, GeekWire reported,
The expansion will be headed up by former Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts, who will be joining Apple to run its retail and online store operations.
Apple's stores are really profitable
Apple's brick-and-mortar stores brought in $20.3 billion in 2013, a 7% increase over the $18.8 billion they made in 2012.
The growth in net sales during 2013 was primarily driven by increased unit sales of iPhones and iPads following the new product introductions in the first half of 2013 and increased sales of services, according to the company's 2013 annual report.
An analysis of data provided to Fox Business by research firm Retail Sails showed that Apple's virtual registers rang up $4,650 in sales per square foot in fiscal 2013. "That's about $500/square foot less than the previous year, but the data show Apple manages to get more out of its stores than its publicly traded rivals at the mall, or on Fifth Avenue for that matter. Tiffany (NYSE: TIF) posted sales of $2,990/square foot in 2013 while Michael Kors (NYSE: KORS) hauled in $1,746/square foot. Signet Jewelers (NYSE: SIG) took in $1,276/square foot," the business website reported.
Apple has clearly hit a home run with its stores, which led Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), now with around 80 U.S. stores, to attempt to copy the model. Apple's stores not only drive sales they also make it easier for the company to offer a better customer experience. If your iPad, MacBook, or other Apple product breaks, for many in the United States help is as close as the mall. For a Windows-based product or one running Google Android, there is no comparable way to get face-to-face service, repairs, and technical help.
Can there be too much of a good thing?
Part of the Apple brand is a touch of arrogance and exclusivity, so less might be more when it comes to locations.
Apple stores drive Apple sales and they are clearly wildly successful at moving product, but one of the driving factors behind their success has also been their relative rarity. Adding stores even on a small level has sent average sales lower, so adding another 800 or so retail outlets may remove some of the magic and drive sales down to more traditional retail levels.
With an average of 403 and 365 open stores during 2013 and 2012, respectively, average revenue per store decreased to $50.2 million in 2013, compared to $51.5 million in 2012, according to the company's annual report.
"You get over-retailed. It's great to add (locations) but at some point you get cannibalization. That holds true for all the retailers," Retail Sails CEO Marc Heller told Fox Business.
Still Apple's expansion will be spread out around the world. Even if that drives per-sale stores down it should also open up opportunity for the company specifically in markets where it has a limited retail presence.
Much worse would still be really good
Even if expanding to 1,200 stores across the globe causes a continued decline in sales per store and sales per square foot, the company has a long way to fall before its outlets even fall below where they would be considered incredibly successful. In the United States where Apple has a deeper retail presence the company should be careful with expansion and stick to the high-end malls and shopping centers that contribute to the feeling of Apple being a superior brand.
In the rest of the world however Apple should use its stores as brand ambassadors building hype, bringing sales opportunities, and generally building the brand in places where it is not already strong.
Apple has been an unparalleled retail success story and there is not reason to think that won't stay true as long as the company manages its expansion in the careful fashion it has so far.


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In this update from our series on marketplaces around the globe that are reportedly notorious for being counterfeit havens, we head to Egypt.
22 September 2022
In the next instalment of our regular series identifying the digital marketplaces that brand owners should monitor as part of their global anti-counterfeiting efforts, we head to Egypt.
11 April 2022
A number of brand owners have run into problems when filing applications through a subsidiary or associated company in Egypt.
27 July 2021
The pandemic and related effects of lockdown have had a big impact on the continent’s IP ecosystem. Vanessa Ferguson at Von Seidels runs through some of the most significant upheavals and sets out what rights holders should do to safeguard their brands.
27 May 2021
In our latest round-up, we look at CPA Global unveiling the latest version of its IP system, food brands being targeted by hackers, Metallica celebrating a trademark dispute win, and much more.
08 October 2019
With Africa proving to be a particularly lucrative region for brands seeking licensing opportunities, we examine what rights holders need to know about trademark licences from a swathe of nations across the continent.
01 October 2019
In our latest edition, we look at Māori uproar over a New Zealand trademark application, WIPO in Hungary, MARQUES addressing long goods and services lists at the EUIPO, and much more.
13 September 2019
In addition to the IP Law, a number of other laws and regulations govern the protection and enforcement of trademark rights in Egypt.
24 May 2018
Careful consideration should be given to the nature of the dispute before embarking on litigation for trademark cases. Perhaps because of the uncertainty, costs and timeframes involved in pursuing litigation for trademark disputes, in straightforward cases trademark owners frequently pursue alternative enforcement measures through administrative bodies, customs authorities or the police.
13 December 2016
Egypt has terminated the London Act of the Hague Agreement with the World Intellectual Property Organisation, but remains a member of the agreement concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Design and the Geneva Act.
26 October 2016
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AQT, a leading developer of low-cost CIGS (copper- indium-gallium-diselenide) thin-film solar cells, today announced key partnerships with two leading solar companies to drive the delivery and deployment of AQT’s breakthrough solar cells into commercial projects beginning in 2010. The partnerships with Solar Enertech and HelioPower validate AQT’s unique business model and will accelerate fulfillment of the growing number of orders for its low cost alternative to traditional solar cells.
Solar Enertech, a large-scale producer of photovoltaic cells and modules, is working closely with AQT as a module manufacturing partner for AQT’s CIGS cells and will assist with product certification and qualification beginning in the second half of this year. Solar Enertech’s research and development team will join efforts with AQT to complete the final process of turning CIGS cells into modules.
“We are very excited to be partnering with AQT on CIGS technology to broaden the range of low cost offerings to the market,” said Leo Young, CEO of Solar Enertech. “It is in line with our value added strategy to the non-silicon segment and leverages our creative technology team.”
HelioPower, a leading solar power design and installation firm, has engineered solar power solutions for residential, commercial, community and utility-scale partners since 2001. HelioPower has designed and installed over 1,000 solar power systems and serves clients worldwide. AQT and HelioPower will jointly address AQT’s initial customer installations and provide a smooth market entry for AQT’s products.
“Reliability, flexibility and economic viability are the cornerstones of our business model,” said Ty Jagerson, executive vice president, Commercial Sales, HelioPower. “We see AQT’s products as a natural addition to our solar portfolio.”
In addition, AQT announced last month a partnership with Intevac, a leader in high-productivity manufacturing equipment, in which Intevac will provide AQT with its production-proven manufacturing equipment for its current and future production needs.
“AQT’s CIGS 2.0 business model relies as much on world class partners like Solar Enertech and HelioPower as it does on our breakthrough solar cells, and we will leverage the existing PV ecosystem to rapidly deliver solar solutions to market,” said Michael Bartholomeusz, CEO, AQT. “Leverage is perhaps the most effective force multiplier in this space and will go a long way towards helping us to collectively attain grid parity.”


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In just under three months of beta, NewbeeNetwork.com surpassed 1,000 users and climbing as it prepares for its full-scale launch in spring 2017. NewbeeNetwork is a new site dedicated to helping users relocate to a new city, using the expertise of current residents as their guide. The site launched in beta September 2016.
NewbeeNetwork was created to “transform a cumbersome logistical moving process into one that is fun, interactive and community-oriented.
“As someone who has relocated a few times to further my career, I understand the challenges that come with planning and executing a successful move,” said Candice Torian, founder of NewbeeNetwork. “I wanted to create an environment that allowed people to connect with others who could help make that transition as seamless as possible.”
Once users join “the hive” they have the option of using the site to navigate their impending move with a customizable moving checklist, taking advantage of exclusive “Welcome to the Neighborhood” deals from local businesses or “beeing” an expert and sharing the knowledge from their experiences with other newbees. Users can earn drops of honey from their online activity that is redeemable for future discounts curated from local businesses.
Similar to how Facebook, Gmail, Pinterest and Spotify – all now well-known entities – initially began operating with a small audience, NewbeeNetwork launched its site in beta to ensure the quality of its offering and eliminate possible issues based on user feedback. “It was important that we complete this soft launch to find out what our users wanted and how we could best meet their needs,” Torian said. “I’m excited that we’re already ‘buzzing’ with activity, and I’m confident this will allow all of our newbees to have a great experience from day one.”
NewbeeNetwork.com is the premiere online, social relocation service designed to ease the transition of moving logistically and socially. For more information, visit NewbeeNetwork.com, like us on Facebook or follow NewbeeNetwork on Twitter: @newbeenetwork.
Distributed by PREngine
Company Name: NewbeeNetwork.com
Contact Person: Candice Torian
Country: United States


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To read the latest issue of Manufacturing Digital, click here
Computer giant IBM has made its annual predictions as to how technology innovations are set to transform people’s daily lives in the way they live, work and play.
Every year IBM’s ‘5 in 5’ predictions are based on market and social trends as well as emerging technologies from its Research and Development Labs around the world.
This year’s IBM 5 in 5 explores innovations that will be the underpinnings of the next era of computing, which IBM describes as the era of ‘cognitive systems’.
This new generation of machines will learn, adapt, sense and begin to experience the world as it really is. This year’s predictions focus on one element of the new era, the ability of computers to mimic the human senses—in their own way, to see, smell, touch, taste and hear.
These sensing capabilities will help us become more aware, productive and help us think – but not think for us.
Cognitive computing systems will help us see through complexity, keep up with the speed of information, make more informed decisions, improve our health and standard of living, enrich our lives and break down all kinds of barriers—including geographic distance, language, cost and inaccessibility.
IBM Fellow and Vice President of Innovation, Bernie Meyerson commented:
“IBM scientists around the world are collaborating on advances that will help computers make sense of the world around them.
“Just as the human brain relies on interacting with the world using multiple senses, by bringing combinations of these breakthroughs together, cognitive systems will bring even greater value and insights, helping us solve some of the most complicated challenges.”
Here are the next five upcoming technology advances that will change the world according to IBM:
Touch: Imagine using your smartphone to shop for your wedding dress and being able to feel the satin or silk of the gown. Soon this may become a reality. IBM scientists are bringing the sensation of touch to mobile shopping by developing applications for retail that use tactile and infrared technologies. Shoppers will be able to "feel" the texture and weave of a fabric or product by brushing their finger over the item's image on a device's screen.
Sight: We take 500 billion photos a year, with 72 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute. The global medical diagnostic imaging market is expected to grow to $26.6 billion by 2016. A pixel will be worth a thousand words. Systems will be able to look at and recognise visual data such as online photos, medical diagnostic images and traffic camera video and turn the pixels into meaning, beginning to make sense out of them much like the way a human views and interprets images.
Hearing: Ever wish you could make sense of the sounds all around you and be able to understand what’s not being said? Computers will soon be able to hear what matters. Sound pressure, vibration and sounds waves of all different frequencies will be recognised and used for predicting when a tree might fall or a mudslide is imminent. Machines will translate "baby talk" so parents understand if a baby's fussing indicates hunger, tiredness or pain.
Taste: Digital taste buds will help you to eat smarter. Delicious and healthy can go together using a new kind of computing system that is designed for creativity. A machine that experiences flavour will determine the precise chemical structure of food and why people like it. Not only will it make healthy foods more palatable, it will also surprise us with unusual pairings of foods that are designed to maximise our experience of taste and flavour.
Smell: Computers have the potential to develop a sense of smell. Your phone will detect if you're coming down with a cold or illness before you do by detecting and analysing the millions of molecules in your breath. Computers will "smell" for chemicals in urban environments to monitor pollution or analyse the soil condition of crops in agriculture; with simple sensing systems able to measure right down to a single molecule.


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Ruby Tuesday Wishes It Were Saturday
Pretzel-bun burgers aren't keeping Ruby Tuesday above water. For its fiscal quarter ended Sept. 3, 2013, the casual-dining chain reported an 11.4% plunge
in same-store sales at company restaurants. That's in spite of the biggest menu refresh in the past seven years. The company introduced eight new products, four of them of the pretzel burger variety,
plus three Crispy Flatbreads and a tempura green bean appetizer.


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Ford Motor Co.
Ford Motor Co. said it delivered its best August electrified vehicle sales ever with more than 8,292 sales, up 288 percent over the same period a year ago.
Ford Motor Co. says its Fiesta subcompact is now outselling the Toyota and Scion brands’ triplet of subcompact vehicles in the first half of 2013, 45,831 units to 32,510 units. And the vehicle’s high-tech interior is a major reason why.
Ford Motor Co. Thursday announced an industry-first dirt detection technology to ensure superior paint and surface quality.
Ford Motor Co. said late Thursday it would cut its gas mileage claims on its C-Max Hybrid and will write “goodwill” checks to current C-Max Hybrid owners and lessors to make up for earlier claims.
The 2014 Ford Fusion has become the only car in the popular midsize segment to offer rear inflatable safety belts, adding to the sedan’s suite of available safety and driver-assist technologies. This option is also available in the Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi.
The latest event and meeting notices from Michigan’s technology-focused companies, institutions and groups
The latest in new business earned by Michigan’s technology-focused companies
The latest environmental wrinkle in Ford Motor Co. products might make you wish for a little soy sauce. But Ford says the rice is going into plastic parts on the Ford F-150 truck.
Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday that it will hire an additional 800 salaried employees for a total of more than 3,000 salaried employees in 2013.
Ford Motor Co. Monday announced that it is taking another major step toward helping stabilize carbon dioxide emissions globally, today becoming the first automaker to join a voluntary greenhouse gas reporting program recently established in India.


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The peak body for China’s payments sector has highlighted a rise in the use of cryptocurrency domestically for illegal activities.
The Payment & Clearing Association of China (PCAC) issued a risk warning on 9 June, pointing to a “gradual rise in the use of virtual currency and other forms to engage in illegal criminal activities.”
“Because [cryptocurrency] transactions are anonymous, convenient and global, they have gradually become a key channel for cross-border money laundering,” said PCAC.
PCAC pointed in particular to the emergence of “pao fen” (跑分) gambling activities, which involve illegal payments and settlements platforms purchasing “points” or chips from cross-border online gambling platforms to conduct transactions.
According to PCAC nearly 13% of online gambling sites support cryptocurrency recharges and the use of blockchain technology for anonymous transactions, employing a large volume of C2C transactions to conceal transfers of gambling proceeds and raise the difficulty of tracking the movements of funds.
China cracked down on the cryptocurrency sector back in September 2017, with the launch of a ban on initial coin offerings (ICO’s), the use of cryptocurrency for financing purposes and the operation of domestic cryptocurrency exchanges.


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With Invisible Money Button, Bitcoin app users no longer have to swipe their Money Button on websites to execute actions. Instead, paying to execute actions on Bitcoin apps can be customized to the app-creators liking. This means that Bitcoin payments can now take several shapes and forms and is no longer limited to swiping a Money Button.
What is Invisible Money Button?
“Invisible Money Button is a new way for users to let apps do the work for them. Instead of swiping the button by hand, the user can grant permission for the app to swipe for them,” said Ryan X. Charles, the Founder and CEO of Money Button.
“The button is completely invisible, meaning the user experience is something that can be completely customized by the app.”
Charles said: “This makes many applications much better. Social media can now have ‘like’ buttons with a click, messengers can automatically encrypt and decrypt data without the user having swipe, and file uploads can broadcast many transactions without the user having to do anything.”
Invisible Money Button cuts out many steps and therefore simplifies the experience for Bitcoin users. Instead of having to swipe a Money Button for every action that requires payment on a Bitcoin app, the creator of the app can make a button that still executes payment on the user’s behalf without the user having to swipe a Money Button.


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MTU Maintenance saw only an 18% reduction in incoming engines across its entire portfolio in 2020, which was above market expectations of a drop of 45% in shop visits for the global aftermarket for commercial engines.
MTU Maintenance attributes this stability to its broad engine portfolio, with 30 engine types, including the newly added LEAP engine as well as other popular narrow-body engines such as the CFM56, PW1100G-JM and V2500 engine families, which are likely to recover faster after the crisis. Further, MTU Maintenance has a diverse customer base which includes, among others, cargo operators who have flown consistently throughout the pandemic, and military customers such as the U.S. Air Force at its facility in Vancouver, Canada.
“In fact, we even saw campaign wins of US$5.5 billion, the second highest in MTU Maintenance history,” said Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer, MTU Aero Engines. “This is proof that customers trust in us, our financial strength and intelligent solutions in critical times. Our engine expertise and ability to get the most out of an engine at minimum cost is highly valuable to both airlines and lessors both now and in time, when our industry recovers.”
“These campaign wins included over 300 new engine MRO contracts, including for single shop visits, and 56 new customers or existing customers sending new engine types to our facility,” added Martin Friis-Petersen, SVP MRO Programs, MTU Aero Engines. The CFM56 engine family made up over one-third of these customers. “In turn, we are confident in this program and are even adding a CFM56-7B line to our facility in Berlin to ensure fast response and high flexibility for our customers.”
On the basis of this, MTU Maintenance remains committed to its organic growth strategy and is continuing with on-going investments for instance in the ramp-up at EME Aero, Poland, and expansions at its sites in Berlin-Brandenburg and Hannover in Germany, moving to a new facility in Vancouver, Canada, as well as constructing a second facility at MTU MaEmail Post to a Friend


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Appreciation of the rupee against the US dollar by over 15 per cent since its record lows of Rs 52.2 seen in early March, 2009, has blunted the competitive edge of many exporters to that extent.
But, because of the fall in commodity prices during the last few months input costs have come down giving some respite many more sectors from export price pressures.
"Sectors such as garments, textiles, leather, gems and jewellery (G& J), engineering, handicrafts and marine suffered the most during the last 18 months (of global recession).
However, G& J and marine are posting better results, of late," said Ajay Sahai, director- general (DG) of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations ( FIEO).
"The decline in exports in other sectors has also come down with the growing global demand, of late, but most of them remained in the negative zone in 2009- 10," Sahai added.
However, many exporters have got smarter and begun hedging their receivables after having burnt their fingers when the rupee touched a new low in 2007.
By hedging when the rupee was weak, exporters can ensure that their dollar receivables fetch them higher conversion value.
The appreciation of the rupee by about 10.8 per cent against the dollar in 2009-10 comes after its depreciation by about 27 per cent in 2008- 09, and which had come as a solace.
"Exporters are better prepared this time compared to 2007. Roughly 60 per cent of the exporters are taking currency cover in the form of forward contracts, factoring (a service under which export proceeds can be encashed well in advance), etc, to insulate them against strengthening of the rupee," Sahai said.
The impact of fluctuation in foreign currency would depend mostly on the export margins or price advantage the companies enjoy in the global market.
Vaibhav Agrawal, vice- president- research of Angel Broking, lists textiles and garment exporters as having the lowest margins, followed by pharma, auto and auto components at the middle, and the IT sector at the top of the list.
For diamond and G& J exporters, the exchange rate fluctuations may not cause major losses or gains, as they import raw material, add value and re- export these in a few months time.
As most of the contracts are pegged to the US dollar, whenever the rupee appreciates against the greenback, exporters' revenues dip almost proportionately.
Even though there was a partial shift among exporters to other currencies like the British pound, euro and Japanese yen, these currencies too, fell marginally against the rupee in the recent past.
However, about 40 per cent of the exporters being micro and small enterprises, they are unable hedge their receivables, and in the process remained prone to exchange losses. M oreover, in certain sectors like garments, madeups, carpets and handicrafts, where the export price is first determined ( based on samples) and order is placed after three to six months, exporters are reluctant to cover their risk at the time of finalisation of export price since the order may not materialise at times, which may lead to losses.
The rupee is expected to strengthen further. "With continued foreign investment inflows into equities and debt, I see the rupee touching Rs 43-level in a couple of months," said A. D. M. Chavali, general manager (treasury and resource management), Bank of Baroda.
Rupee, which was stronger in the range of Rs 39.20 to Rs 40 per dollar during most of 2007, weakened gradually due to the sub- prime crisis and the global financial crisis to touch a lifetime low of Rs 52.2 in early March 2009. Since then it has recovered 15.23 per cent to close at Rs 44.25 against the dollar on Saturday.


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Nevada: Authorities shut down cannabis testing facility in Vegas over allegations of THC manipulation as well as mold & yeast issues
The media outlet reports. Certified Ag Labs, a marijuana testing facility in Sparks, became the first lab to have its state license suspended after the state announced that it was investigating cannabis labs to see how products with exceedingly high levels of mold and yeast made it to store shelves for sale as well as allegations of THC manipulation. “REGISTRATION AND LICENSE SUSPENDED,” a state notice posted on the door of Certified Ag’s business entrance as of Monday afternoon read. Certified Ag Labs in Sparks had its license suspended by Nevada officials Monday, Nov. 18, 2019 …Certified Ag Labs in Sparks had its license suspended by Nevada officials Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, after state investigators found “inaccurate and misleading” THC results on products tested by the lab. (Colton Lochhead/Las Vegas Review-Journal) The report goes on to say In a press release issued Monday, the department said that products from Certified Ag “may be labeled incorrectly and could contain a different level of THC than what is listed on product packaging.” Marijuana products are supposed to be tested by state-licensed labs for potency, yeast, mold, pesticides, heavy metals and other toxins before being sold in dispensaries. Certified Ag managing member…
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Link to original : Nevada: Authorities shut down cannabis testing facility in Vegas over allegations of THC manipulation as well as mold & yeast issues
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CoinCola, a Hong Kong-based crypto exchange has decided to enter the Venezuela market. The exchange has also announced to enter into a strategic partnership with Dash. This decision was taken with the intention of increasing the accessibility and flow of digital currencies in Venezuela.
The CoinCola exchange which was launched in March 2017 has facilitated thousands of cryptocurrency trades ever since its launch. The exchange platform offers both coin-to-coin trading and over-the-counter (OTC) trading. It supports ETH, BTC, LTC, BCH, USDT and DASH. Presently, the exchange only supports DASH in Venezuela.
CoinCola always believed that virtual currencies are the key to provide a decentralized system of money and also provide transparent monetary policies. Keeping this in mind, the exchange has chosen Venezuela as their first new market.
Crypto exchange CoinCola intends to increase the adoption of other cryptocurrencies in Venezuela, apart from Dash. It intends to achieve this by facilitating the safe and secure trading of cryptocurrencies at a low cost. CoinCola has hired local citizens to build their team in Venezuela, as part of this new roll out in the country. The exchange is also offering a number of promotional deals for new users during the launch period.
Due to the prevailing rapid inflation rate in Venezuela, the national currency has been rendered almost worthless. The outcome is that the citizens are facing a severe shortage of amenities such as food and medicine. Recently, the adoption of cryptocurrency in the country, especially Dash seems to have surged, as Venezuela is looking for a more stable and transparent means of exchanging and storing capital.
CoinCola has decided to offer a fee of 0.5 percent for OTC transactions exclusively for Venezuelan users. It has also announced that Dash trades on the CoinCola OTC will be completely free. Also, traders have the opportunity to earn a 50 percent commission for each trade through the CoinCola referral program, as stated in the Daily Hodl report.
Prior to crypto exchange CoinCola’s decision to partner with Dash in the Venezuelan market, the government had also attempted to seek solutions by implementing the local Venezuela cryptocurrency, the Petro. However, people are questioning its legitimacy and wealth distribution. On the other hand, Dash as a decentralized and independent cryptocurrency is able to give the Venezuelans the solutions that they are presently in need of, as mentioned in the Dash Force News report.[The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or the official policy of the website. ]


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Restaurant inspection update: rodent urine, moldy corn, uncooked chicken
The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals is responsible for inspecting food establishments such as grocery stores, restaurants and convenience stores, as well as food processing plants, hotels and motels. (Photo illustration by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
In the past four weeks, state and county food inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and grocery stores for hundreds of food-safety violations, including food tainted with rodent urine, moldy sweet corn and chicken that wasn’t fully cooked. One establishment where cockroaches and 10 dead mice were found agreed to voluntarily close in an effort to conduct a thorough cleaning.
The findings are among those reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from city, county and state inspections at Iowa restaurants, stores, schools, hospitals and other businesses over the past six weeks.
The state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a “snapshot” in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. For a more complete list of all inspections, along with additional details on each of the inspections listed below, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals’ website.
Family Dollar, 1251 University Ave., Des Moines — During a Feb. 14 visit, a state inspector reported that “several foods throughout the facility were adulterated from what appear to be rodents biting through packaging and with what appear to be rodent droppings and evidence of rodent urine either on or around, or located on the shelf adjacent, to the product.” The rodent-damaged foods included packages of Zebra Cakes, chocolate-coated almonds, Planters nuts, cheddar fries, hot fries, multi-packs of chips, Club Crisps, and Munchies’ Salted Peanuts. All of the products were discarded.
In addition, the inspector reported “what appeared to be a live rodent” in the warehouse area and pointed to conditions that could contribute to a pest infestation. Those included damaged ceilings, visibly soiled floors and walls, multiple damaged packages that exposed human and pet food, and multiple surfaces throughout the warehouse and retail area that were “heavily soiled with what appeared to be rodent droppings” and food spillage.
Five dead rodents were spotted by the inspector, and dead roaches were observed under a shelf in the snack aisle, the maintenance closet, and behind the front cash register. During the inspection, a professional pest-control serviceman arrived at the store and found 10 dead rodents. Rodent droppings were also observed on the bottom shelf inside the milk cooler and in the aisles for pet food, cookies and snacks.
The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint alleging rodent activity. The complaint was verified, and the store agreed to voluntarily close. The store manager also agreed to a “full facility clean-up” that would include the elimination of areas that might harbor pests and improvements to the general facility sanitation to eliminate conditions that contribute to the proliferation of pests. The store had last been inspected in 2018.
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China Inn, 1401 1st Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids — During a Feb. 18 visit, an inspector cited the restaurant for storing food in commercial plastic bags that were not food-grade quality; for storing sauces, soups, butter and other food products in uncovered buckets; for holding tempura chicken at 57 degrees inside a cooler; for keeping ready-to-eat foods inside plastic bags with no date markings (a repeat violation); failing to monitor the internal temperature of food; thawing frozen chicken in standing water; failing to clean the “excessive buildup of food debris” on the floor of a walk-in freezer; and failing to post the most recent inspection report for customers for customers to review.
Cozy Café, 8385 Birchwood Ct., Johnston — During a Feb. 18 visit, an inspector cited the restaurant for kitchen employees changing gloves without washing hands after handling raw meat; for storing chopped onions under raw tenderloins; for holding pork sausage links in a hot-holding vessel at 107 degrees; for holding an egg mixture, alfredo sauce and hollandaise sauce at 44 degrees and for storing raw eggs at room temperature.
The restaurant also was cited for failing to properly date-mark the deli meats, cheeses and pies; for keeping cooked and deli meats beyond the allowable seven days; for failing to clean a buildup of food debris from the kitchen cutting board, meat slicer and shake machine; for using the staff handwashing sink to store pans; for storing various chemicals directly above single-use food items; and for operating with a food license that had expired seven months earlier in July 2021.
RJ’s Lounge, 109 N. Main St., Conrad — During a Feb. 18 visit, an inspector cited the restaurant for “not maintaining this facility to provide safe food.” The inspector noted that the required certification for the food-safety protection manager had expired in 2020.
He also noted the kitchen grill was “very heavily soiled with old food and grease;” there were open bottles of Miracle Whip, tartar sauce, salad dressing, and mayonnaise that were sitting out at 64 degrees and had to be discarded; the “clean” crockpots and other cooking vessels were stored in “a very heavily soiled area” of the kitchen; there was “a large amount of food splashes” in the kitchen on the side the freezer, along with “heavy soil” on the outside of the flat grill and the deep fryers; and returnable beverage cans that were stored in a “very cluttered and soiled area” next to repair equipment, a truck hitch, outdoor furniture, chemical bottles and ice-melt pellets.
The inspector also reported that the front kitchen, back kitchen, and food storage areas were “all very heavily soiled” on both the walls and floors, and a “strong odor was present in the back of the facility.”
The inspector noted that RJ’s had been “closed for over a month to deep clean after a freezer went down … The front kitchen and back kitchen are still very soiled and littered with unnecessary equipment and items.”
Wells Fargo Arena, 233 Center St., Des Moines — State inspectors visited the arena on Feb. 18 during the arena’s hosting of the high school wrestling tournament. The arena sometimes has 30 food stands or booths operating, but only eight were open at the time of the visit.
The inspector cited the arena for containers of fresh, cut melons and containers of salad with leafy greens that were held more than 24 hours and were not date marked. In another booth, the inspector observed a “buildup of what appears to be fruit flies” inside a beverage drip tray; boxes of single-use food items were stored directly on the floor in two booths; the flooring of the walk-in cooler in another booth was buckling upward in multiple areas, making cleaning difficult; and there was a buildup of what appeared to be “mold from beer” on the ceiling of one walk-in cooler.
Bread Garden Market & Bakery, 225 S. Linn St., Iowa City — During a Feb. 17 visit by a Johnson County Public Health inspector, the market was cited for having no certified food protection manager on staff.
Also, employees were reporting for work and immediately handling clean dishes or raw meats without first washing their hands (a repeat violation); minestrone made two days prior was being held in a cooler at 45 degrees and had to be discarded; multiple pre-packaged containers of salmon cake were not being held at a cool enough temperature and had to be discarded; the employee handwashing sink was blocked by a tub of salad mix and a garbage can; and a sanitizing bucket was stored in the basin of a handwashing sink (a repeat violation).
Also, there were multiple containers of snacks on the retail-sales shelves that were missing ingredient lists, and the most recent inspection report was not posted for customers to read.
The inspection was performed as a result of an illness complaint but was classified by the inspector as routine. The public report states that the complaint was considered unverifiable, but it also makes reference to unpublished “internal notes” that include “details on follow-up related to illness complaint.” The establishment was issued a warning by the county for repeat violations over three consecutive inspections.
Cheng’s Garden, 1246 E. 14th St., Des Moines — During a Feb. 17 visit, a state inspector reported that due to the severity of the violations regarding employee handwashing, sanitizing of food contact surfaces, monitoring of food temperatures, and the cross-contact of allergens and cross-contamination of foods, it was determined the person in charge was incapable of fulfilling their duties. The inspector cited the restaurant for 18 violations.
On the food-preparation table, pans that were touching raw scallop juice were placed directly on top of uncovered containers of barbecued pork, and a container of raw chicken was stored above an uncovered container of cooked shrimp. In a walk-in cooler, a bowl of raw beef was stored above an open box of broccoli, and a container of raw chicken skewers were stored above a container of ready-to-eat onions and fried chicken, and a container of raw ground meat was stored above a container of fried rice. Employees discarded all of the ready-to-eat products that had been visibly cross-contaminated.
In the cooler, a package of raw poultry and a package of raw ribs were stored in the same bowl, and multiple containers of food had no lids or coverings to protect them from environmental contamination. Also, equipment and utensils that had been cleaned and sanitized were placed into a metal container that was visibly soiled with accumulated food debris.
In addition, fried chicken that employees stated had been cooked 30 minutes earlier was sitting out at 80 degrees “and was not fully cooked.” The inspector also reported finding several containers of food that had to be discarded, including fried chicken measured at 53 degrees, barbecued pork measured at 49 degrees, and fried rice measured at 78 degrees. Food throughout the restaurant was not properly marked with date markings and had to be discarded.
A container of meat-slicing utensils and peelers was heavily soiled with accumulated, dried food debris, and the microwave oven was heavily soiled with accumulated food debris on the interior.
The inspector also made note of “what appeared to be rodent droppings” inside the dining room, as well as in the dry-storage area, and the flour-and-sugar storage areas. Also, the floor under the stove had water pooling on it, and the floors underneath kitchen equipment and shelving were visibly soiled with accumulated debris.
The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint alleging the potential adulteration of foods with metal particulates and shavings. The inspector noted the restaurant used steel wool for cleaning and maintaining equipment, and the inspector discussed with management the proper storage of steel wool and other products that could lead to contamination. Because no food was observed as adulterated with metal particulates or shavings, the complaint was considered unverifiable.
During the last routine inspection, in 2020, the restaurant was cited for 20 violations, many of which were repeated during the most recent inspection.
IHOP, 2402 S.E. Delaware Ave., Ankeny — During a Feb. 16 visit, a state inspector reported that an employee failed to wash his or her hands between handling soiled utensils and clean utensils; cooked sausage links were holding in a pan on the flat top grill at 123 degrees and had to be discarded; cooked chopped sausage, roast beef and ham in the cooler were not date-marked to ensure safety; the employee handwashing sink was being used to store plastic containers and paper towels were not available at the main food-line handwashing sink.
The inspector reported that the visit was in response to a complaint about poor personal hygiene. Despite the findings related to handwashing, the state inspector closed the complaint as unverifiable, noting that management “was not aware of the complaint and has had no other recent complaints.”
Lot One, 100 Main St., Dubuque — During a Feb. 16 visit, an inspector reported the restaurant had no certified food protection manager; food throughout the kitchen was not properly marked with dates; the bar-area dishwasher had no measurable level of sanitizing solution; an ice machine had a “buildup of residue;” the hot water at an employee handwashing sink could not reach 100 degrees; and a sanitizing bucket was stored next to tortilla wraps.
The inspector also noted that one cooler had no thermometer; the microwave ovens were unclean and soiled with food residue; the ceiling was “leaking” in the basement area; the upstairs bar area needed “a more thorough cleaning; and the most recent inspection report was not posted where customers could easily view it.
Hy-Vee Foods, 3600 Highway 151, Marion — During a Feb. 15 visit, an inspector reported citations for “several high-risk” violations, including inadequate hot-holding temperatures; cold holding; date labeling of food; food-cooling practices; and the lack of employee access to a handwashing sink, all of which indicated the staff had not been properly trained by management.
Raw eggs, some of which were broken, were stored over ready-to-eat foods in a cooler; several items, including cooked pasta and fried chicken, were stored uncovered in the walk-in cooler; one pan of fried chicken had a bag of boil-in-the-bag hot wings sitting directly on top of it; chunks of chicken in the Chinese food serving line were measured at 108 to 117 degrees, which was too cool to ensure their safety, and gravy in a hot-holding cabinet was measured at a too-cool 127 degrees.
Also, a large container of egg yolks used for cooking in the Chinese cafe were sitting out at room temperature and was measured at 58 degrees. Several items in the walk-in cooler — including pans of fried chicken, smoked pork and cooked pasta — were not date labeled, and the handwashing sinks in the Starbucks area, the hot-meals area and the sushi area all were blocked.
Panda Express, 436 S. Duff Ave., Ames — During a Feb. 15 visit, an inspector reported that fried rice was being held at a too-cool 120 degrees and noted that there was cut cabbage on hand that was dated Feb. 3 and Feb. 7. Also, the interior of the chute on the ice machine used for drive-through service was visibly soiled.
Best Western Plus / Pioneer Inn & Suites, 2210 West St. S., Grinnell — During a Feb. 11 visit to review the inn’s continental-breakfast service, an inspector cited the establishment for the lack of a certified food protection manager. A four-pack of sweet corn in the storeroom’s refrigerator had visible mold and spoilage; waffle batter on the buffet line was holding at 78 degrees and had to be discarded; and the handwashing sink had no soap or towels.
Also, refrigerators in the kitchen and storage room had no thermometers, and rodent droppings were observed on a towel near the drying rack in the kitchen. A jar of peanut butter in the cupboard was labeled “mouse feed” and rodent traps were located in the kitchen. Management acknowledged that rodents had been seen in both the kitchen and the breakfast-dining area. The inspector saw wiping cloths in the kitchen that were “soiled with a mold-like substance and rodent droppings.”
Rainbow Café, 105 W. Market Road, Red Oak — During a Feb. 9 visit, an inspector noted that the rolls made for made for lunch and dinner service had been prepared in a private residence and had to be discarded. Raw shell eggs were stored above ready-to-eat foods and the dishwashing machine was not dispensing sanitizer solution at the recommended level. Also, the kitchen’s vegetable dicer was contaminated with dried food-like debris.
VFW Post 3388, 314 S. 1st St., Estherville — During a Feb. 8 visit, an inspector observed an employee handling raw bacon and then, without changing gloves, buttering a customer’s toast. The restaurant was cited for storing raw chicken above raw ground beef and for keeping food past the allowable seven days, including chicken dated Jan. 20, tomato juice dated Jan. 8, chicken salad dated Jan. 28, and soup dated Jan. 27.
Hy-Vee Foods, 3285 Crosspark Road, Coralville — During a Feb. 8 visit, an inspector cited the store for selling in-house packaged raw meats and fish with none of the required safe-handling instructions.
The inspector also made note of caramelized onions that were holding at 118 degrees and had to be heated to 165 degrees before being placed back into hot holding; cut watermelon that was packaged for retail sale the previous day but was holding at 50 degrees and had to be discarded; spicy mayo and eel sauce that lacked any date marking; and food at the hibachi stations and retail “grab ’n go” items in a hot display case that were not properly labeled with the discard date and time to ensure safety.
Also, equipment in the meat department was soiled with debris buildup, though the equipment hadn’t been used that day. Violations related to equipment and labeling of sushi were also noted. The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint alleging unsafe food handling. The inspector closed the complaint as unverifiable.
Baqara Skate, 1611 1st St., Newton – During a Feb. 4 visit, the establishment was cited for failing to employ a certified food protection equipment manager. The inspector noted the presence of “multiple jars of caramel and curd that require refrigeration” but were sitting out at room temperature and which had “visible signs of spoilage.”
The establishment had no sanitizer on hand for use on food-contact surfaces, indicating none of the surfaces were being sanitized. The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint but was categorized as a routine inspection. The published report indicates the complaint alleged the establishment had exceeded its allowable scope of operation.
Although the inspector reported that the establishment had expanded its menu offerings and had added alcohol service, and did so with the approval of regulators, he closed the complaint as verified. The inspector noted that the business was operating without a valid license.
Himalayan Asian Grocery, 3300 S.W. 9th St., Des Moines — During a Feb. 4 visit, the establishment was cited for failing to employ a certified food protection equipment manager. The inspector noted the presence of yogurt for sale on store shelves that had a sell-by date of Dec. 28, 2021. The store also had about 40 whole frozen chickens that bore no verifiable marks of inspection and had to be discarded.
Raw shell eggs were stored above vegetables in a display cooler, and there were cooked potatoes and beans being held at 81 degrees to 98 degrees that had to be discarded. The inspector noted that the store was offering a hot and cold menu, with food made to order, though it was approved only to repackage dry goods, whole fruit, whole vegetables, packaged salads and nuts. The store agreed to cease all production, processing or repackaging that requires a food-service license.
McDonald’s 4400 S 22nd Ave., Newton — During a Feb. 4 visit, an inspector observed an employee handling raw food product, then failing to wash their hands before donning gloves to handle cooked food product. Another employee was filling french-fry boxes while allowing the cooked fries to fall on their bare hands and into the holding bin.
Also, hamburgers in the cooler at the end of the cook line were measured at 45 degrees and the air temperature of the unit was 46 to 47 degrees — too warm to ensure safety. As a result, hamburgers, sliced cheese, pancakes, butter, and bacon slices that had been stored in the unit were relocated and efforts to repair the cooler were initiated.
In addition, the interior of one ice machine was reported as having a “brown, mildew-like buildup,” as did the ice chute attached to the drive-through window’s soda machine. The visit was in response to a complaint alleging the use of food from unsafe sources or the use of adulterated food. The complaint was closed as unverifiable.
Aranda’s Buffet, 500 N. 2nd St., Fairfield — During a Feb. 2 visit, an inspector reported that due to violations tied to employee training, hand washing practices, cross contamination, employee health reporting procedures, cooling times and temperatures, and date marking, the person in charge had not demonstrated an ability to fulfill their duties.
The inspector reported finding beans holding at 55 degrees and chicken holding at 48, with both products discarded. Chicken wings that were holding at 96 degrees also were discarded. The inspector also determined that there was no procedure in place to mark food with dates to ensure they were safe to serve.
Wolfey’s Wapsi Outback, 101 Water St., Quasqueton – During a Feb. 2 visit, an inspector observed a worker using a cell phone then initiating food preparation without first washing their hands. Also, dishes were being improperly washed, and the diced tomatoes and onions were not date marked. The thermometer in the walk-in cooler was broken, there was food on the floor in the freezer, and there was “dirt and debris throughout the kitchen.”
Fireside Bistro, 1700 West 2nd Ave., Indianola — During a Jan. 31 visit, an inspector noted the lack of temperature control and foods that were left sitting out at room temperature, such as shredded cheese at 64 degrees, cooked sausage at 63 degrees, and ham at 68 degrees. The food was not discarded but was instead put on ice for rapid cooling. The restaurant also was cited for cooked pork loin and coleslaw that were not date marked and had to be discarded, and for a soiled slicer and soiled ice machine.
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UK pay TV operator Sky has added terrestrial network Channel 4’s catch-up and on-demand service, 4oD, to its internet-streaming Now TV Box.
4oD joins the BBC’s iPlayer catch-up service and Channel 5’s Demand 5 on the device, which Sky launched in July.
Sky’s Now TV Box is a white label version of a set-top by internet TV firm Roku. Priced at just £9.99 (€11.98) it is designed to act as a low-cost way for customers to access Sky’s OTT offering Now TV from their TVs.
“Bringing 4oD on the NOW TV Box represents the latest device launch in a busy year for Channel 4 that has seen us extend our content reach to many new platforms. We’re always looking for new places we can ensure our viewers can enjoy our popular on-demand service, and are delighted to add this to the portfolio,” said Laurence Dawkin-Jones, Channel 4’s director of commercial and business development.
Speaking at the OTTtv World Summit in London last week, Sky’s product director, TV. Luke Bradley-Jones, said Now TV boxes are “flying off the shelf like hot cakes and we are well ahead of where we expected to be.”
Viacom secures mobile distribution deal for Paramount+ with Telenor. https://t.co/jiKCXOBSuq
19 June 2018 @ 13:31:53 UTC
YouTube launches YouTube Music and YouTube Premium https://t.co/qDyflahJYW
19 June 2018 @ 13:30:35 UTC
Sky independent committee welcomes EC Comcast approval https://t.co/vK40SI7TrN
18 June 2018 @ 14:44:01 UTC
Virgin Media has laid out plans to further strengthen its UK partnership with SV... https://t.co/4bfM8GNyZ8
18 June 2018 @ 14:40:53 UTC


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Wearable company manufacturer Huami Amazfit has finally launched its latest addition Amazfit Cor and AmazFit Pace in India. The AmazFit Pace smartwatch which comes with a round dial offers two colour strap options – Black and Red. Whereas AmazFit Cor fitness band sports a 1.23-inch display and is available Black colour only. The smartwatch and the fitness band both are available on Amazon. The Pace is priced at Rs. 9,999 whereas the Cor is priced at Rs. 3,999.
AmazFit Pace Specifications
As mentioned above the Pace is available in two colour options, Black and Red. The Black variant is priced at Rs. 9,999, and the Red variant is priced at Rs. 14,999. The AmazFit Pace has 2.4GB internal storage, stainless steel housing, built-in GPS, GLONASS, optical heart rate sensor. It can keep track of distance, time, pace, calories, speed, elevation, and even sleep. According to the company, the Pace is capable of offering battery life of up to 11 days on a single charge which includes basic use and 36 hours of continuous GPS and heart rate tracking. Like all smartwatches, the Pace will provide notifications for incoming calls, messages, emails, and other apps, once paired with a smartphone.
The Pace has a 1.23-inch IPS LCD colour touch display with 2.5D Gorilla glass protection. Moreover, it can withstand dust, rain, splashing, and accidental submersion as it is IP67 certified. In terms of compatibility, it is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. The internal storage will allow music and content to be played wirelessly via Bluetooth in the absence of a phone.
Amazfit Cor Specifications
Talking about the fitness band, Cor is packed with an optical heart rate sensor, a sleep tracker, activity and sports tracker and it will function even after being submerged in up to 50 metres of water. It has an IPS LCD colour touch display paired with Corning Gorilla Glass protection.
With a single charge, the Cor can manage alarms, timer, stopwatch, and provides 12-days of battery life (100 messages per day, 50 times lift wrist, 1 hour run per week). The fitness band is compatible with iOS and Android devices both.
Offers on AmazFit Pace and Amazfit
Amazon India offers a 10 per cent cashback up to Rs. 100 on Visa debit card, credit card or ATM card. This offer is valid till September 30 and valid for the first two cashless orders. BHIM UPI or RuPay cards owners can also avail a 10 per cent cashback up to Rs. 50 which will be credited as Amazon Pay balance. This offer is also available till September 30.
With the launch of new fitness band and a smartwatch, will Huami create its mark amongst the audience?


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“Drinking and golfing go hand-in-hand,” Andrew Esparaza said sitting in his new bar surrounded by golf-related decor.
During a qualifying race, IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden won pole, which means he will start in first position in Sunday’s 46th annual Long Beach Grand Prix.
The sound of french fries sizzling in scalding hot oil while the scent emanating from the fryer hangs heavy in the kitchen of a small, triangular building in North Long Beach where Mr. Fries Man employees—all clad in black—pile mounds of meat, cheese and sauces on a bed of deep-fried potatoes.
From to-go booze to partnering with nearby restaurants to becoming mini-marts and Christmas tree lots, Bixby Knolls’ beer-centric establishments found creative ways to sustain themselves while their original business models were not available to them.
For the second time in less than a year, Taylor Swift sent signed copies of one of her albums to indie record stores across the county, including Long Beach’s very own Fingerprints.
A global pandemic is one of the worst-case scenarios for an economy dependent almost entirely on tourism like that of Catalina Island. While the financial struggles of the past year for the city of Avalon have not been overly devastating, staff said the city only avoided budgetary deficits by tapping into its reserve funds.
The AquaLink water taxi is scheduled to return to service Memorial Day weekend. The service has been suspended for over a year due to the pandemic but returns with free weekend-only service through July 4.
When coronavirus swept across the globe in early 2020, Catalina’s tourism economy was decimated. Since 2014, the island getaway has consistently welcomed more than one million annual visitors. But last year, that number was cut in half to just over 500,000, according to Love Catalina Island, the island’s chamber of commerce and visitor’s bureau.
After one of the most challenging health and economic crises in Catalina Island’s history, visitors are returning to the island for an outdoor getaway. From the water to the sky, adventurers are enjoying the fresh air and sunshine of island life. Unavailable through much of the pandemic, the island’s recreational offerings are booming, including kayaking, zip lining, a ropes course, tours and more.
Peter Beck’s hands, particularly his knuckles, are covered in little scars—battle wounds from a decade of woodworking. For more than half his life, the 17-year-old has built model boats that have become increasingly intricate over the years.


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The Internet. In this new century many people feel that the digital world will be revolutionary in its ability to disseminate information.
But the information superhighway has an information black market. Obstacles prevent governments from monitoring the Internet.
One reason governments are hesitant to regulate the content of Internet sites is that such a move may be seen as a violation of free speech.
Another is the fact that it would require global cooperation. And governments would face the task of regulating a constantly expanding system.
In this environment, Internet piracy has flourished. Piracy refers to the copying and exchange or sale of copyrighted software or media by unlicensed parties.
People are able to take a game that took a great deal of money to develop and post it on the Internet in a chopped form ready for downloading.
You don't have to be a computer genius to take advantage of pirated software. You can download CDs from your favorite artists or get the newest software applications. Even better, if you have a CD writer, you can copy and store the files.
The copying and sale of information is what's so alarming to electronic media and software companies. The music industry is already trying to prevent the copying and sale of CDs by writing serial codes on discs.
The federal government is also getting involved. U.S. Customs has set up an Internet piracy division. It's not just online vendors of software who are targeted, but providers of the MP3s for music as well.
In the end, I don't think any of the attempts to stop piracy will work. Piracy will continue because no one will pass up the opportunity for free expensive items.


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EBANX, an Endeavor Brazil supported company, recently announced a strategic alliance with AliExpress, an online retailer and an affiliate of the Chinese e-commerce giant AliBaba Group. Through this partnership, Brazilians will now be able to purchase any of the 54 million products offered by AliExpress (everything from car accessories to clothing to electronics) using their preferred local payment method, Boleto Bancario.
Founded in 2011, EBANX is the market leader in e-commerce payment solutions for International Merchants in Brazil. Previously, Brazilians could only make international purchases using international credit cards, which just 36% of the population has access to. Using EBANX, however, Brazilian consumers can buy foreign products using their preferred local payment method- Boleto Bancario, Domestic Bank Transfers (TEF), or Credit Cards, connecting them to the global e-commerce market. EBANX collects payments locally and transfers funds to merchants internationally with the fastest remittance method in the market today.
Ebanx founders Alphonse Voigt, João Guilherme Del Valle, and Wagner Ruiz were selected by Endeavor in December 2012.
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Rolls-Royce Phantom teaser pictures released
You may recall the buzz of the upcoming new Rolls-Royce Phantom being spied here in South Africa during its testing phase. Well, there’s good news if you’ve been waiting to see it without a disguise because the official debut will be taking place a lot sooner than you’d expect.
Rolls are keeping their cards close to their chest with their best poker faces ahead of the new Phantom’s full-unveiling on the 27th of July, in London, by releasing a few intriguingly dark photos of the new model.
An exhibition dubbed ‘The Eight Great Phantoms’ will introduce the eighth-generation of the flagship limousine to the world, alongside seven of the rarest and most exclusive Rolls-Royce models ever built.
The design of the new Phantom is more evolutionary than revolutionary with quite a few design elements being carried over from its soon-to-be predecessor.
Some of the updates, however, include a new grille which is now curved at the top compared to the current ‘house-roof’ design. We also get a glimpse of the interior, where a beautifully intricate wooden fascia adorns what we expect to be the dash. As with all Rolls’, expect all of this to be handcrafted to perfection.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom will be accompanied by another new model for 2018 in the form of Rolls-Royce’s first ever SUV, the Cullinan, which hopes to take the fight straight to the Bentley Bentayga and every other luxury SUV planning on entering the hot market. Interestingly, the Cullinan was also spied testing with the Phantom in South Africa earlier this year.
Another teaser image highlights the all-new lightweight aluminium architecture that the Phantom, Cullinan and other future Rolls-Royce models will be built on. The significant weight-reduction paired to the advanced technology and safety borrowed from the BMW 7-Series is sure to make the Phantom feel a bit lighter on its feet while retaining Rolls-Royces unmatched level of comfort.
If the BMW M760Li is anything to go by then we certainly don’t expect Rolls-Royce to abandon their signature V12 for a smaller turbo unit in the new model. There has also been some talk of a plug-in hybrid model among some of Rolls-Royces engineers, too. (Imagine all of that instant delicious torque!)
Order books will remain closed until 2018; luckily customers will have the opportunity to grab the last few of the fifty exclusive Phantom Coupe and Drophead Coupe ‘Zenith Collection’ cars until the new Phantom arrives.