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One of the biggest problems facing Downtown is as plain as the empty storefronts along F Street: There’s too much commercial space for the demand, and hundreds of thousands of square feet are in the pipeline. Meanwhile, folks wanting to live downtown have increasingly limited options.
That’s the takeaway from the (otherwise very upbeat) Downtown BID’s 2009 State of Downtown report, which rolled out this morning with a breakfast panel of development mucketymucks.
“If you’re looking to buy a new condo for your daughter in the downtown area, there really aren’t any,” said David Mayhood, president of the Mayhood Company. “You’re going to see this total lack of inventory, like a rope just snapping.” He pointed to the latest big condo projects in the area, Madrigal Lofts and City Vista, each of which have only nine units left.
The retail market, on the other hand, is totally oversupplied, with 215,000 square feet available now and 400,000 more coming online over the next five years at the old convention center site alone. Office space vacancy jumped from a healthy 8 percent in 2008 to 14.3 percent in 2009, and is projected to grow by at least another point in the next year.
But rents haven’t declined proportionately—downtown office space will cost you twice as much as the same square footage in suburban Maryland. And all of that square footage exists in smaller chunks that are unappealing to huge companies that could take a lot off the market at once.
Case in point? Northrop Grumman, which had just leaked its choice of Northern Virginia for a new headquarters. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Valerie Santos was philosophical about the District’s loss.
“As for Northrop Grumman, what would it have taken?” she asked, arguing that DC did well under the circumstances. “Northrop Grumman didn’t think the District would be as competitive as it was.”
A few more tidbits from the report, which is stuffed with awesome charts and graphs:
- The first quarter of 2010 will be the sixth consecutive quarter with no major groundbreaking—2009 was the first year with no new projects since 1995 (the number of new groundbreakings peaked at 30 in 2003).
- But! 16 new “destination restaurants” opened in the downtown BID in 2009.
- 63 percent of downtown residents have incomes above $100,000, and 37 percent have incomes above $150,000
- National Place, at 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, has the most retail space available, with 31,000 square feet available.
- While theater attendance in the Washington region is the same as it was ten years ago, butts in seats have increased substantially at downtown theaters over the last decade, from 740,000 to 773,000.


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US-based Fintech company Taulia, a tech partner of supply chain finance firm Greensill, revealed on Wednesday (March 10, 2021) that it had acquired over $6 billion in funding from a financing consortium that was led by JPMorgan.
The consortium reportedly includes European lenders UniCredit, UBS and BBVA, according to Taulia’s management.
Greensill Capital had filed for insolvency on March 10 after losing insurance coverage for its debt repackaging division. Greensill Capital stated in its court filing that its main or biggest client, GFG Alliance, had begun to default on its outstanding debts.
JPMorgan, an investor and Taulia business partner, has offered $3.8 billion as a credit facility that’s valued at over $6 billion, according to Reuters which cited sources familiar with the matter.
Taulia works closely with financial services providers to enable suppliers that use its platform to obtain early payments on their shipped goods and services. Taulia’s management noted that the credit facility will offer its clients that previously depended on Greensill funding continued and steady access to liquidity.
Cedric Bru, CEO at Taulia, remarked:
“Taulia’s priority, first and foremost, has been to enable businesses both large and small to unlock liquidity trapped in their supply chain in order to invest, operate and thrive. In the current environment, with the potential loss of a funder, our commitment to providing choice has become even more paramount.”
As reported in July 2020, Taulia had confirmed that it was raising $60 million. Big-name investors had taken part in the round including JPMorgan, Ping An, Saudi Aramco, and existing investors including Zouk Capital.
CEO of Taulia, Cedric Bru had stated last year that the funding round is a testament to the product-market fit of the Taulia solution that they have garnered the interest and investment from this trifecta of Fortune Global 50 companies.
“Ping An, J.P. Morgan and Prosperity7 Ventures bring a wealth of knowledge that we will leverage to further solve liquidity needs of businesses and contribute to economic growth,” said Bru.
In 2019, Taulia announced achieving profitability for the company. Founded in 2009, Taulia delivers working capital solutions that make it easy for businesses to free up cash, accelerate payments, and improve supply chain health. Because of its ability to seamlessly integrate with firms enterprise platforms, Taulia leverages deep data to provide access to capital. Crowdfund Insider has previously reported that Taulia had never experienced a default – a unique characteristic in the lending sector.

domain: news


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A visit to Donggang Business District
Updated: 2013-01-08 11:24
Members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Dalian Committee from Hong Kong and Macao discussed a report regarding government work delivered by Li Wancai, mayor of Dalian, during the first session of the 12th Dalian Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Dalian, Jan 6.
A delegation of 18 members from the CPPCC Dalian Committee from Hong Kong and Macao visited Dalian Donggang Business District, Jan 6.
"Dalian Donggang Business District is similar to Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor. Tourists will definitely love this place because of the art exhibition center and gourmet restaurants here," said Li Zifen, a member of the CPPCC Dalian Committee.
"Donggang Business District will become the city's new landmark in the future," said Shao Gongquan, a CPPCC Dalian Committee member.
The delegation also expressed their willingness to promote economic and cultural cooperation between Hong Kong, Macao and Dalian after the tour.
Edited by Zhao Qian and Michael Thai


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British engineer Smiths Group praises record sales driven by demand for new inventions
- Smiths Group revenue rises 18.3% to £3.04bn in just 12 months
- The company said demand for innovative new products helped boost its sales.
- Last year it invested more than £100m in research and development.
Smiths Group hailed record results driven by demand for new inventions including next-generation airport scanners and green energy products.
The London-listed engineer said yesterday that revenue rose 18.3% to £3.04bn in the 12 months to the end of July, its biggest haul ever recorded.
Smiths, which was founded as a watch store in London in 1851, said demand for innovative new products helped boost its sales, with organic revenue growth reaching a record 11.7%.
The FTSE 100 company invested more than £100m in research and development last year, focusing on artificial intelligence and green energy innovations.
It said product launches contributed more than three percentage points of growth in the most recent financial year, helping to ease the impact of a slowdown in the semiconductor industry.
Smiths Group invested more than £100 million in research and development last year, focusing on artificial intelligence and green energy innovations.
Smiths boss Paul Keel (pictured) said about a third of the company’s revenue could be attributed to products that did not exist five years ago.
Among Smiths’ recent inventions is technology that eliminates the need for travelers to remove liquids and laptops from their bags when passing through airport security.
London City Airport was one of the first in the country to scrap the 100ml liquid rule after installing one of the high-tech 3D scanners.
Most UK airports will have followed suit by mid-2024 in a bid to speed up boarding times.
Smiths has also developed ultra-high pressure hydrogen gas seals, which will allow it to capitalize on the shift towards hydrogen products as companies transition to green energy to achieve net zero.
Chief Paul Keel said about a third of the company’s revenue could be attributed to products that didn’t exist five years ago.
Decarbonisation is another “megatrend” helping to drive growth, and Smiths’ strategy was not affected by the Government’s announcement last week that it will delay some climate policies.
“All companies have now made a net zero commitment,” Keel said, stating that the steel industry is a particular growth area for Smiths Group.
“What companies do when they make that commitment is look at where they burn fossil fuels and how they can replace them with electric heating.”
Annual after-tax profit fell 77.6% to £232m as the previous year’s results included profits from the sale of its medical business. But operating profit soared 244.4% to £403m.


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Carbon Black, the cybersecurity company based out of Waltham, MA has filed an S-1 document with the SEC. The company has indicated that it may raise up to $100 million in an IPO; however, that number may change if the company ends up going public as this is a typical placeholder figure. According to the filing, their ticker symbol would be CBLK to trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange. As of now, pricing terms were not discussed. Morgan Stanley and J.P Morgan are the joint book runners on this deal.
Founded in 2002, the company was named as Bit9. It changed its name in 2016 after acquiring Carbon Black and adopting the name of the acquired company. The company provides cloud-based endpoint security software that uses analytics to improve endpoint security for organizations.
As of today, Carbon Black has raised more than $191 million through investors. The company recorded $162 million in sales for 2017. This number was up from $116.2 million recorded in 2016 and $70.6 million in 2015. Despite these sales figures, the company reported a net loss of $55.8 million in 2017 compared to $44.5 million in 2016 and $38.65 million in 2015.
Carbon Black has been in the forefront as an IPO candidate for a long time now, however, the resolve to go public gained traction after the 2012 laws that permit smaller private companies to confidentially file IPO plans with the SEC. As of now, the public listing has not yet materialized.
In this filing, Carbon Black stated that its competitors are McAfee, Symantec, Palo Alto Networks, FireEye, Cisco Systems, Crowdstrike, and Cylance. The company’s biggest shareholders are Highland Capital Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, .406 Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Carbon Black CEO Patrick Morley, according to this week’s SEC filing.
As of the end of 2017, Carbon Black had 932 full-time employees with the greater part of the staff based out of the US. The company management is headed by CEO Patrick Morley who has been with the organization since 2007.


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Meredith to sell Fortune brand for $150 million
NEW YORK — Media and publishing giant Meredith Corp. says it is selling its Fortune brand for $150 million in cash to Fortune Media Group. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close by the end of the year. Meredith said Friday it will use the proceeds to pay down debt. Fortune Media Group is owned outright by Thai businessperson Chatchaval Jiaravanon, a part owner of the international conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group. Meredith, based in Des Moines, Iowa, had acquired Fortune as part of its purchase of Time Inc., which closed earlier this year. As it looks to focus on brands serving American women, Meredith says it soon hopes to announce the sales of Sports Illustrated and Money, also acquired in the Time Inc. deal. Fortune’s franchises include the Fortune 500, the 100 Best Companies to Work For and others.


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• Kia's Sorento was named Carbuyer's 'Car of the Year' for 2021.
• The Sorento is now in its fourth generation.
• Several Kia products have taken honours at the Carbuyer events in previous years.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Kia's new Sorento got its 2021 off to a solid start, albeit it two months early. The brawny SUV, the flagship in Kia's family of SUVs, was named Carbuyer's 2021 'Car of the Year', as well as 'Best Large Family Car'. It is not the first time Kia has won at this prestigious event, with the e-Niro, Picanto, and Cee'd all taking honours in previous years.
Paul Philpott, president and CEO of Kia Motors (UK) Limited commented: "For the Sorento to win this award is an outstanding achievement and one which fills our UK team and dealer partners with pride and encouragement. This vehicle embodies just how far we have come as a brand since entering the UK market nearly 30 years ago, offering high quality, efficient and desirable products to a growing customer base. The Sorento winning this award is high praise indeed and credit that's been duly earned."
The event was live-streamed on 25 November on Carbuyer's YouTube channel. The awards ran through 19 different categories, crowning a winner for each, before finally bestowing the award of overall 'Car of the Year' on the fourth-generation Sorento, judged by the entire editorial team at Carbuyer.
Richard Ingram, editor of Carbuyer.co.uk, said: "The Kia Sorento is a versatile SUV that's nipping at the heels of premium rivals, feeling luxurious and spacious in equal measure. Competition in this area of the market is fierce, but no other model comes close to the far-reaching talents of the fantastic Sorento. Congratulations to Kia on a well-deserved win."


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Posted Mon Feb 14, 2011 at 06:00 AM PST by Tom Landy
Kevin Spacey's Golden Globe-nominated turn as Jack Abramoff is coming to Blu-ray this April.
In an early announcement to retailers, Universal has slated 'Casino Jack' for Blu-ray on April 5.
'Casino Jack' is a cautionary tale that showcases the best and worst of Capitol Hill intrigue, and also stars Barry Pepper ('True Grit') Kelly Preston ('Old Dogs,' 'Death Sentence') and Jon Lovitz ('Saturday Night Live,' 'The Producers').
The Blu-ray will feature 1080p, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Casino Jack – A Director’s Photo Diary, a gag reel, and deleted scenes.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'Casino Jack' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 5.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


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Third Quarter Review
“Over the past two years, we have raised prices on selective key styles to help mitigate the impact of an 80% increase in our sheepskin and raw material costs over this same period,” stated Angel Martinez, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors.
“We believe that these selective price increases, particularly during a period of one of the warmest years on record, has pushed us above the consumer’s price-value expectations for the UGG brand. We also believe that this has resulted in softer than expected third quarter sell-through trends in our Company owned stores, and has pushed back the start of the brand’s key selling season at retail this year.
“However, based on positive consumer feedback, the performance of new product introductions, and market research data, we continue to be confident in the strength and popularity of our brand portfolio and the multiple growth opportunities that still lie ahead.”
“We recently negotiated fall 2013 product costs and based upon the decreases in our product costs for Fall 2013, together with the adverse effect of our price increases, we made the decision to adjust our domestic pricing in mid-September on select Classic styles, retroactive to all orders shipped since July 1,” continued Mr. Martinez.
“To support our loyal retailers and consumers during this challenging sales environment we made the strategic decision to pass along a portion of the upcoming savings immediately. We believe this is in the best interests of the brand and will help drive sell-through during the holiday season. ”
Click here to read more details:
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The COVID-19 pandemic dominated headlines on the UNSW Newsroom this year, but readers also wanted to know more about research in other health areas.
'Raw-only'. 'Juice cleanse'. 'Toxin-free'. When does healthy eating become an unhealthy obsession?
Are products with fat-free, reduced fat, low fat, or 'lite' labels always healthier, asks Rebecca Reynolds.
UNSW experts have questioned new research that found potatoes increase your risk of high blood pressure, saying it is important to look at the whole diet and not just individual foods.
Work parties, Christmas feasts and New Year’s Eve binges. Nutrition expert Rebecca Reynolds offers five tips to avoid a belly like Santa’s this festive season.


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WATSONVILLE, Calif. – If you think West Marine is big now, wait a few years. While the boat supply retailer reported earlier this month that it plans to add over 50 stores this year, the company now says it eventually will add 400, according to the San Jose Business Journal.
The retailer is hoping this expansion will help it solve inventory and sales concerns, the journal reported in an article earlier this month.
That expansion would double the number of West Marine stores, according to the journal. About 300 of the new stores are expected to be “express” – from 2,200 to 3,000 square feet, while the remaining 100 would be “traditional” – from 5,000 to 8,000 square feet.
In the meantime, the company is cutting its inventory by almost 10 percent – or $30 million – and changing its inventory mix to constantly surprise customers with new products, while continuing to offer what can be considered essential items, the journal reported.
West Marine also is working to reduce its debt, while preparing to put in place a new software system that would give customers access to 250,000 more products than the company does today. This will enable store employees to ship those products not in stock directly to customers.
- For more of the latest news, click here.


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Jessica Herrin, founder of the jewelry company Stella & Dot, has found a way to bring together e-commerce, social networking and direct sales, while at the same time helping women work from home on their own schedules.
With 11,000 sales representatives, or â€œstylists,â€ hosting trunk shows, the Burlingame-based direct sales company has seen 2,683 percent growth between 2007 and 2009, with 2009 revenue of $32.88 million.
â€œItâ€™s not that we are just trying to grow any way we can,â€ said Herrin. â€œWe are a mission-driven company.”
Logo from Stella & Dot
The coffee vending business is your opportunity to cash in on the 30 billion dollar coffee industry.
Millions of people retire in poverty - but it doesnt have to be this way!
Be a part of the number one growth industry while securing your future with residual income.
Make money building websites for small businesses with our private label website builder
Amazing opportunity for only $500 in an industry that is prime for sales.


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Home > Press Center
“CDF Online Pre-order”, an online pre-order platform created by China Duty Free Group Co., Ltd (“CDFG”), has been launched officially at Hangzhou Airp
(Macau, 11 October 2018) Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. (“SJM”) and China Duty Free Group Co., Ltd. (“CDFG”) announced today that they have entered into a binding Memorandum of ...
On September 7, 2018, Sunrise Duty Free (Shanghai )Co., Ltd. (“Sunrise Shanghai”), a subsidiary of China Duty Free (Group) Co., Ltd (“CDFG”), official
19 July, 2018, Shanghai Airport Authority and Shanghai International Airport Co., Ltd officially published the Notice of Award, unveiling the final re
Recently, amid the fierce international competition, CDFG successfully secured the duty-free operating right on the Atlantica cruise of Costa Crociere
In the past 2017, the Communist Party of China held the epoch-making 19th National Congress, brought forward Xi Jinping’s thoughts on socialism with C
CDFG-Lagardere Co., Ltd, a joint venture between China Duty Free Group Co., Ltd (“CDFG”) and Lagardere Travel Retail, held a global debut ceremony for its whole-new duty-free tobac...
On April 21, Zhang Xuewu, Chairman of China National Travel Service Group Corporation, Jiang Yan, General Manager, Li Gang，Deputy General Manager and Zheng Jiang
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) announced the award of Liquor & Tobacco concession at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on April 5th 2017
CDF General Manager Chen Guoqiang and COO Lee Charn Cheng attended the 2017 TFWA China's Century Conference held in Guangzhou from March 7 to 9, 2017. This is the third time that t...
CITS Group Corporation
China International Travel Service Limited Head Office


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Subaru BRZ has brought the release of the new Toyota 86 closerNovember 19, 2020
The Subaru BRZ 2022 model has just officially debuted, and its appearance has serious implications that go beyond the Subaru brand.
Of course, the new BRZ was co-developed with Toyota, which means there will be a new variant with the 86 badge in the future. Just because the BRZ has already been introduced does not mean Toyota should rush with its version, although the next 86 degree guaranteed. The 2022 Toyota 86 is expected to debut next year.
In fact, this car cannot be called the Toyota 86. The car, formerly known as the Scion FR-S, and now known as the GT86, may be rebranded to enter the Toyota Gazoo Racing lineup, just like its “big sister” GR Supra. … To this end, the next generation may adopt the name change to GR86. Aside from the name change, the 86 should be mechanically identical to its Subaru counterpart. The car should also look like the BRZ, except for Toyota badges and possibly some unique wheel options.
Under the hood, the 86 will use Subaru’s 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder engine, which now makes 228 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. As with the previous generation, power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed automatic or manual transmission. Toyota may offer special editions of the vehicle such as the GRMN or Hakone, though hardly any significant performance gains should be expected from them.
In terms of interior, Toyota’s version shouldn’t be much different from what Subaru showed off, save for a few possible trim color changes. The new 8-inch touchscreen uses Subaru’s latest Starlink infotainment system. While Toyota may opt for its own dashboard Entune kit, the company has already demonstrated a willingness to use the system that BMW-built Supra uses.
- KIA expands Ceed engine range in Europe
- Peugeot starts selling Landtrek pickup in Latin America
- Drag racing: “charged” hatchback Mercedes-AMG A45 vs. Jaguar Project 8
- Big BMW “nostrils” will be available for older models
- Off-road limousine for parties built on the basis of Chevrolet pickup truck


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Wow, this is a MAJOR business deal for Mega. Mattel now owning it means even MORE exposure for the brand. It makes sense now as Mega had picked up the licenses for Barbie and Hot Wheels, both Mattel toy lines.
Hopefully this won’t mean a change or an end to the Halo line. I have a feeling it won’t as the Halo Mega Bloks line continues to be a huge seller for Mega.
The following is a reblog from the New York Times:
Mattel Agrees to Buy Maker of Mega Bloks, a Lego RivalBy WILLIAM ALDEN With “The Lego Movie” a box office smash, the toy maker Mattel is getting in on the craze for plastic bricks.
Mattel said on Friday that it had agreed to buy Mega Brands, a smaller company based in Montreal that sells plastic construction bricks and arts and crafts sets. The deal has an enterprise value, a measure that includes debt, of $460 million.
The price, 17.75 Canadian dollars ($15.96) a share, represents a 32 percent premium to the 30-day volume-weighted average price of Mega Brands shares as of Wednesday, the companies said. Mattel, which is based in El Segundo, Calif., plans to finance the deal through a mix of new debt and cash on hand.
For Mattel, the maker of Barbie and Hot Wheels., the deal allows it to expand into two toy categories that are growing quickly. The company has already dipped a toe into plastic bricks, teaming upwith Mega Brands in 2012 to make a Barbie construction set.
Mega Brands has had success with its popular Mega Bloks toys, but it lacks the dominance of its Danish rival Lego. The deal could help it grow internationally.
With “The Lego Movie” topping the North American box office for three weekends in a row, the companies may sense an opportunity to promote Mega Bloks overseas.
“The construction play pattern is popular, universal and has had one of the fastest growth rates over the past three years,” Bryan G. Stockton, Mattel’s chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. “We look forward to helping Mega Brands accelerate its global growth.”
Shareholders representing about 39 percent of the stock of Mega Brands have agreed to support the deal, the companies said. The board of Mega Brands has also approved it.
Mega Brands had estimated net sales of $405 million for its 2013 fiscal year. The company has about 1,700 employees in 17 countries.
“Mattel is the ideal partner to take our brands to the next level,” Marc Bertrand, the president and chief executive of Mega Brands, said in a statement.
Mattel was advised by RBC Capital Markets and the law firms Latham & Watkins and McCarthy Tétrault in Canada. Mega Brands was advised by Rothschild and the law firm of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt.
HFFL: VERY interesting indeed!


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BUCKFIELD, Maine – The Maine guys known for creating colorful geysers from Diet Coke and Mentos candies say they've set a distance record for a vehicle with soda-and-candy-powered propulsion.
Fritz Grobe and Stephen Voltz created a single-seat rocket car powered by 54 bottles of Coke Zero and 324 Mentos. They say the Mark II traveled 239 feet, improving upon last year's 220 feet with only half the fuel. They posted video of a 209-foot attempt online.
Voltz said Thursday they incorporated a simple piston-and-cylinder mechanism to get the vehicle moving. He says it's powerful enough that people shouldn't try the experiment at home.
The Buckfield-based entertainers shot to fame five years ago when they wore lab coats and goggles during their online videos demonstrating elaborate geysers set to music.


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NetEase Games Gears Up for Next-Gen Development by Acquiring Minority Stake in Quantic Dream
Chinese company NetEase Games just acquired a minority stake in Detroit: Become Human developer Quantic Dream today.
NetEase Games has been expanding quite a bit over the past year, announcing a partnership with both Destiny developer Bungie for an upcoming game. Today, the Chinese company is continuing its efforts to find developers that “complement us in the development and creation of the next generation games” by acquiring a minority stake in Quantic Dream, a French developer known for titles like Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and most recently Detroit: Become Human.
While Quantic Dream and its games are heavily associated with Sony Interactive Entertainment and its consoles, they still operate independently and are not completely tied to the aforementioned company. This means that there is some room for a partnership with a company like NetEase, though this is uncharted territory for the studio. According to this announcement, this partnership will allow both Quantic Dream and NetEase to “develop advanced technologies and games for the future.”
As I briefly mentioned before, NetEase Vice President Ethan Wang mentioned that Quantic Dream is part of an initiative by the Chinese company to find developers that will assist in the creating of next-generation games. Ethan says that “Quantic Dream’s excellence in interactive storytelling and the valuable expertise it has built over the past two decades is exactly what we have been looking for,” and can’t wait to create games alongside them.
On Quantic Dream’s end, Detroit: Become Human recently passed 2 million copies sold and the developer recently teased that “some great news” was coming soon. This NetEase partnership could possibly be what they were referring to. Both co-CEOs David Cage and Guillaume de Fondaumiere seemed happy with this minority stake purchase by NetEase as well.
Cage, who also serves as the studios Creative Director, sees that that game industry will be changing in the coming years “with new hardware to come, new business models to explore and new ways of playing to invent.” In order to ensure that Quantic Dream will “take a key role” in this partnerships with companies like NetEase are crucial. “NetEase understands what Quantic is about as they share our passion for high quality games and our ambitions for the studio,” commented David Cage.
As for Guillaume de Fondaumiere, he says that from a business perspective that NetEase’s “commitment to quality and innovation and their impressive track-record” when creating several popular games was enticing to Quantic Dream. Overall, Guillaume thinks that “partnering with NetEase will open new opportunities for our studio and strengthen our position as pioneers and innovators.”
While no projects associated with this partnership have been announced yet, DualShockers will be sure to let you know once the pair does unveil a new game that will likely be for next-gen platforms. In the meantime, you can enjoy Quantic Dream’s PS4 exclusive Detroit: Become Human, which is currently available on Amazon.


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Dr. Larry Nichter receives honor for his dedication to education on RealSelf, the world’s largest consumer source for cosmetic surgery information.
Newport Beach – Dr. Larry Nichter has been named one of 100 doctors to be included in the RealSelf 100, out of more than 5,000 Board-Certified plastic surgeons, dermatologists and licensed cosmetic dentists. The award from RealSelf, the world’s largest consumer source for cosmetic surgery information is granted to Dr. Nichter for his commitment to ensuring millions of consumers make informed decisions about cosmetic procedures.
Dr. Nichter is a plastic surgeon at the Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery in Orange County, California. He is one of few surgeons to be named in all three peer review publications: Top Doctors, Super Doctors, and Best Doctors. He is also Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, and is the president and founder of the Plasticos Foundation.
Through participation on RealSelf, Dr. Nichter is helping prospective patients make confident decisions about cosmetic procedures they are researching. He has consistently earned top reviews from patients on RealSelf.com.
In addition, Dr. Nichter offers his professional expertise to the RealSelf community, having answered more than 1,600 questions for free since joining RealSelf last year.


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Energy customers 'overcharged'
ENERGY companies' handling of consumer bills is to come under the spotlight amid concerns customers are being overcharged and confused by technical jargon.
Consumer watchdog Energywatch has filed a 'super-complaint' with the regulator Ofgem requesting it investigate how suppliers' handle bills.
The organisation claims companies are failing to send out bills for months at a time, regularly miscalculating bills, over-relying on estimates rather than meter readings and preventing consumers from switching to cheaper suppliers if there is a debt of more than £1.
Nearly 10% of consumers said estimated bills had pushed them into debt with their supplier, with a quarter of that number claiming the debt was impossible to pay off.
Energywatch also accused suppliers of wrapping up bills in technical language to make it difficult for customers to check their accuracy.
Chief executive Allan Asher said: 'Billing is the single biggest problem consumers have with energy suppliers. Industry has consistently resisted any reform which is why we hope Ofgem will force through a radical overhaul of the process.'
More than 40,000 consumers called Energywatch last year to complain about their bills, totalling 61.5% of all complaints. The figure represented a 26% increase on 2002 numbers.
Ofgem will investigate the complaint over a 90-day period before deciding whether to take action against suppliers. If it finds in favour of Energywatch, it could force through a reform of how bills are processed and presented.
Environment minister Michael Meacher said: 'Without accurate energy bills consumers have no idea if they are being energy efficient. For this and many other reasons I welcome the super-complaint by Energywatch and trust Ofgem will take their obligation to protect consumer interests seriously.'
The Energy Retail Association said it was 'baffled' by Energywatch's claims, particularly as it launched an initiative to improve billing last month. Russell Hamblin-Boone, head of communications and policy, said: 'You have to put the numbers in perspective. Only one in 17,000 queries to electricity companies is a billing complaint. It's really quite a small number.'
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Kering is ushering in a new environmentally-friendly path for its luxury brands.
The global luxury group implemented its next generation sustainability strategy Wednesday, which is expected to improve its operations and supply chain over the next 10 years. Kering’s latest sustainability strategy will be guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and incorporate quantifiable 2025 targets under three themes. The company’s efforts, in addition to the updated sustainability strategy, will contribute to a more low-carbon economy and foster “planetary boundaries,” a concept proposed by a group of scientists in 2009 that promotes a safer operating space for sustainable development.
“Our strategy outlines how we will redesign our business to continue to thrive and prosper sustainably into the future, while at the same time helping to transform the luxury sector and contributing to meet the significant social and environmental challenges of our generation,” said Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault.
Kering’s sustainability strategy will be monitored based on those SDGs and three themes, care, collaborate and create. Caring for the planet will enable Kering to minimize carbon emissions from its business activities by 50 percent, reduce Kering’s Environmental Profit and Loss account by at least 40 percent, and establish a Supplier Index of Sustainability to foster animal welfare and traceability among Kering suppliers.
By collaborating with key people, Kering will support the continuation of craftsmanship traditions and improve community livelihoods where raw materials are originally sourced. Lastly, creating new business models will allow Kering to invest in disruptive innovations and promote a more circular economy with reusable textiles.
“Rethinking luxury is a necessity to adapt to our changing world while responding to the concerns of new generations of luxury clients,” Kering chief sustainability officer Marie-Claire Daveu said. “We have already made significant progress over the last years and we will continue to strive for the highest environmental and social standards.”


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Several new Sony A-mount cameras with full frame and APS-C image sensors are rumored to be introduced to the market during the first quarter of 2014.
Sony has been planning to overhaul its camera line-up since it has noticed that the current strategy is not effective enough to compete against the giants, Canon and Nikon, especially when these are also struggling with DSLR sales.
This is why CEO Kaz Hirai has ordered to come up with a new master plan, which might be finally starting to pay off. The QX10 and QX100 lens-style cameras have attracted a lot of positive attention, highlighting the company’s ability to innovate, while customers seem to enjoy the new A7 and A7R full frame E-mount shooters thanks to their price and compact form factor.
New Sony A-mount cameras scheduled for Q1 2014 release date
The next step in becoming successful on the digital imaging market once more is the launch of several new Sony A-mount cameras.
According to inside people, the pair of devices will be unveiled officially during the first quarter of 2014. One of them features a full frame sensor, while the other one is powered by an APS-C model, which is exactly what previously-leaked details have said.
A third camera might be announced as well and if it does, then it will most likely feature a 35mm sensor. It appears that the FF models will borrow the sensors from the A7 and A7R, while the APS-C unit will sport a new 24-megapixel unit.
At least one Sony A-mount shooter will feature a moving image sensor
The new Sony A-mount cameras are rumored to come packed with a revolutionary design. At least one of them will have a sensor capable of moving on the Z-shift axis, in order to allow users to attach lenses from other mount types.
It was believed that one of the full frame E-mount shooters will have this capability, but now it seems like this ability is reserved for one or more A-mount cameras. The Contax AX was a 35mm SLR camera which was capable of autofocusing by changing the lens-to-film distance and it will be interesting how the Japanese manufacturer will implement a similar idea into a DSLR.
Two of the devices that are getting replaced are the A77 and A99, whereas new lenses are expected, too. For now, these are all rumors therefore we should not rush into conclusions but take them with a pinch of salt instead.


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A major cruise line is being forced to cancel trips due to staffing shortages. ABC News’ Mona Kosar Abdi has more.
Online Taxi Services Global Market Report 2022 – Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2022-2026 The Business Research Company’s Online Taxi Services Global Market Report […]
Patrick Bailey and Megan Alexander Patrick Bailey and Megan Alexander Awarded a Verlo Mattress Franchise MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, UNITED
Travel disruptions continue in Europe with Paris airport workers staging a walkout. Airline workers are protesting over pay
Students from MEDICAL STUDIES talk about their experience travel to Latin America, Learn Spanish, and be Volunteer… Originally
This news story originally appeared at Travel News - on3 November 2022


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Shopping changed a lot in 2017 — and smartphones are to blame
from Business Insider
The year 2017 will go down as the year that shoppers finally discovered their phones. Online shopping is still growing far more quickly than traditional brick-and-mortar retail, and much of that is thanks to people using mobile devices to shop, according to a recent Business Insider Intelligence report.
7701 Las Colinas Blvd., Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063


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In a statement, Aston said the deal included “the powertrain architecture (for conventional, hybrid and electric vehicles) and a forward-looking electric / electronic architecture, for all product launches through 2027 ”.
With the new deal in place, Aston Martin aims to sell around 10,000 vehicles per year by 2025 and targets revenue of around £ 2bn and EBITDA profits of around £ 500m. pound sterling. For comparison, the brand sold 5,862 vehicles in 2019.
As part of the deal, Mercedes-Benz will gradually increase its stake in Aston Martin to a maximum of 20%, which will give a welcome boost to Aston’s investments and make the German giant one of the main shareholders of Aston. The technology will be provided “on commercial terms”. Mercedes previously held around 5% of Aston Martin’s shares as part of a deal involving its AMG performance arm developing a bespoke V8 for Aston.
Lawrence Stroll, whose investment consortium completed its Aston Martin buyout earlier this year, called the deal a “moment of transformation.” He added, “With this new expanded agreement, we are securing access to world-class technologies to support our long-term product expansion plans, including electric and hybrid powertrains, and this partnership strengthens our confidence in the future.
“It really is a game-changer. We now have the right team, the right partner, the plan and the funding in place to transform the company into one of the world’s leading luxury car brands.
Aston Martin’s new CEO, Tobias Moers, who joined the company from his previous role as Mercedes-AMG Performance Division Head, said: “We have updated our plans for the company, incorporating the benefits of our strengthened partnership that we are announcing today. We aim for significant growth and expansion of margins in the medium term, not only through product expansion, but also by integrating a strategy to deliver a level of operational excellence and efficiency in all aspects of the organization. .
“The capabilities of Mercedes-Benz AG technology will be fundamental to ensuring the competitiveness of our future products and will allow us to invest effectively in areas that truly differentiate our products.
Mercedes-Benz Chief Product Officer Wolf-Dieter Kurz said: “Through this new and expanded partnership, we will be able to provide Aston Martin with access to new technologies and powertrain components and software from state-of-the-art, including next-generation hybrid and electric drive systems. Access to this technology and components will be provided in exchange for new shares in Aston Martin. ”
Aston launched the DBX SUV this year, which will play a major role in growing sales going forward. The new deal is a huge boost to Aston Martin’s future plans, giving it access to proven electric vehicle technology without the need to develop its own EV systems. Since its takeover, Stroll has already suspended its plans to relaunch the Lagonda brand as a range of luxury electric vehicles.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Retail stocks traded mixed Wednesday as Staples Inc. posted a 33% decline in first-quarter profit, hurt by rising job losses and the recession that led to cutbacks in corporate and consumer demand for furniture and other durable items.
The S&P Retail Index $RLX was little changed at 325.71. Financial results dictated larger moves by a handful of retailers.
Shares of Staples SPLS declined 1.1% to $20.17.
Earlier Wednesday, the No. 1 U.S. office-supplies chain said net income fell to $143 million, or 20 cents a share, in the three months ended May 2, from $212.3 million, or 30 cents, in the year-earlier first quarter. Staples and smaller rivals Office Depot Inc.
Polo Ralph Lauren's shares rose 6.1%.
The clothing company said Wednesday fourth-quarter net income dropped to $45 million, or 44 cents a share, from $104 million, or $1 a share, in the year-earlier quarter. Net revenue slipped to $1.22 billion from $1.24 billion.
Adjusted to exclude charges, earnings would have been 86 cents a share in the latest quarter. On average, analysts polled by FactSet Research had been expecting earnings of 42 cents a share.
For fiscal 2010, the company said that it expects consolidated net revenue to decline by a high-single-digit rate but that it wouldn't provide an earnings-per-share forecast because of the continuing economic uncertainty.
Chico's FAS shares jumped 8.7%, as first-quarter net income rose to $14.5 million, or 8 cents a share, from $12.7 million, or 7 cents, in the year-ago period. Sales nudged slightly higher, to $410.6 million from $409.6 million.
Excluding charges, net income would have been 11 cents a share for the latest quarter. Analysts had expected earnings of 8 cents a share, according to the consensus derived in a FactSet survey.
Also in apparel, American Eagle Outfitters Inc.
The company -- saying it's seeing signs that business is "stabilizing," including improvements in its namesake denim, dresses and accessories -- forecast second-quarter profit, excluding items, to be in a range of 12 cents to 15 cents a share. Analysts, on average, had pegged earnings at 7 cents a share for the first quarter and have been looking for 14 cents in the second quarter, according to FactSet.
American Eagle's shares reversed earlier losses to rise 1.8%.
Meanwhile, Zale's shares tumbled 18% after the jewelry retailer reported a much wider-than-expected first-quarter loss, and shares of Big Lots traded down 5.8%.
Analysts at J.P. Morgan lowered their rating on Big Lots to neutral from overweight, ahead of the company's financial results scheduled for Thursday. They said that they expect the discount retailer's results to exceed expectations but noted that's likely already priced in the stock.
"Further, we believe that the selling pressure on the stock may be exacerbated if Big Lots takes a cautious tone on [second-quarter] top-line trends," they wrote.
Rounding out the sector action, shares of Borders Group Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Shares of the world's largest retailer rose 1.1%.


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Undeterred by the rain and cold, mask-wearing shoppers of all ages could be seen carrying bags full of Christmas gifts , and chatting to old acquaintances.
Some shops had erected metal barriers at the front to help with queues, while security guards in shopping centres were checking on one-way systems and hand sanitisation.
“We’ve got a few bits for Christmas”, said Andy Lee from Fulwood, who was with his wife Janet.
“But mainly we wanted to come out for a change of scenery, for something to do.
“Our attitude is, be sensible, but get on with it.
“It almost feels normal.
Laurence Smith and Farrah Crookes, who live in the city centre, are expecting their first baby - a boy - next month.
Farrah said: “I’ve been more organised than usual this year because of being pregnant, so I’ve only come into town to get a few maternity shirts.
“It doesn’t really feel any different to normal, nobody’s really keeping socially distanced.”
Laura Swarbrick, 27, traveled into Preston from Leyland, and managed to spend more than £75 in half an hour in Primark and Poundland.
She said: “I couldn’t wait for the shops to reopen. I’ve managed to get loads of stuff for Christmas and there’s some real bargains in the shops.
“I’ve felt very safe going around, but it’s not as busy as I thought it would be. I think everyone’s put off coming thinking the first day will be really busy.”
Michelle Beggs, 41, also from Leyland, said: “I came on Monday when all the shops were shut and it was strange - very boring! It’s nice to see everything open again and the shops have done a good job keeping everything safe.”
Megan Elliott and Samantha Ross travelled into Preston from Lostock Hall.
Megan said: “We usually come into town once a week, and this will be our last trip before Christmas. It seems as busy as normal.”
Bharat Jethwa, owner of Mr Jethwa Menswear in Lune Street, said he was pleased to be reopening, and had extended his hours to make up for lost trading during the lockdown.
He said: “We usually open 10-4, but I will open 9-7 or 8 if we have to. We want people to know we’re still here and we’re trading.
“We have a website, but people still want to come and see an item, feel it.
“My concern is that this year there are no Christmas parties and no holidays for people to go on, so people will not need a new shirt, shoes or suit.”
A spokesman for Preston Business Improvement District (BID) said: “The city’s Christmas lights are lit, there’s a welcoming atmosphere, and plenty of open air in which to enjoy some retail therapy this Christmas – we look forward to seeing shopper return safely this December.”
What is Tier 3 and what is open?
Lancashire has been placed into Tier 3 - meaning the county is on ‘Very High’ alert level.
Non-essential shops have been allowed to reopen, but pubs and bars have been closed and people have been urged to stay indoors as the country strives to bring Covid cases down.
In Preston, St George’s Shopping Centre will be open until 7pm on weekdays from December 2
and on Saturday, December 19, and until 8pm on weekdays from December 16– 23. Individual store times may vary and should be checked.
From December 21, The Fishergate Shopping Centre will trade from 9am – 7pm each day, until Christmas Eve.
Free parking will be on offer from 5pm to 8pm on late nights.
Preston Bus will also be running additional services, to and from the city centre, from December 21-24. The last journey on Christmas Eve is around 6pm.
The city’s Park and Ride facility has also resumed normal operation with some additional services centred around late night trading.


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The embattled owner of the Gloria Jean's and Donut King brands, Retail Food Group, has made a shock admission that its first-half results will not be ready by the stock exchange's cut off date as it faces a delay in the auditing of its accounts.
On Wednesday morning, RFG took the unusual step of halting its shares from trade ahead of its first-half results.
It again warned the market that it expected its 2018 first-half results to be "materially lower" than in the first half of 2017.
The delay clearly caught some at RFG offguard with the company confirming it had cancelled a planned analyst call. It is believed the company also pushed back scheduled media interviews.
The halt comes as speculation mounts the company will book impairments to its assets when it releases results.
RFG declined to comment on whether it has been in any discussions with its lenders Westpac and National Australia Bank regarding its results. It is understood the company's recently refinanced $150 million senior debt remains in the frontline of the bank's lending book and has not been placed in the workout books for either banks.
The results delay and profit warning come after Fairfax Media revealed in December that the group was using a brutal business model that had sent hundreds of franchisees within its network to the wall financially.
Fairfax's investigation also uncovered rampant underpayment of workers within RFG's brands as a result of the unfair business model for franchisees, and highlighted the company's misuse of marketing funds contributed by franchisees.
The investigation came at a time when RFG was also under pressure from analysts at UBS to properly record its leases in its accounts as per new accounting rules. The change could have a severe financial impact on the group, UBS has warned.
RFG owns the Gloria Jeans, Brumby's Bakeries, Donut King, Michel's Patisserie, Crust Pizza and Pizza Capers chains.
Australian-listed companies have to report their results twice a year - once by the end of February and again at the end of August. If RFG does not release its reports by March 1 its shares risk suspension by the ASX. RFG said it expected to release its results by March 2 at the latest.
The trading halt comes after RFG issued a profit downgrade in January. This followed a readjusted earnings forecast issued by the group in December.
In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange on Wednesday, Retail Food Group requested the halt pending the receipt by RFG of the auditor’s report on the company's first-half result to December 31, 2017.
"As foreshadowed in the release made on January 9, 2018, RFG expects its statutory net profit after tax for first half 2018 to be materially less than the result for the equivalent prior period," the company said.
"These results can only be finalised and released to the ASX once RFG’s financial statements for the period have been finalised.
"That can only occur once the auditor’s report has been issued which may not, RFG currently understands, be available to RFG until Friday March 2, 2018."
PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Steven Bosiljevac conducted the audit of RFG's annual accounts for 2017. Some of RFG's major subsidiaries were in 2017 audited by Alfords Accounting, the firm founded by RFG's former long-standing chief Tony Alford but to which he is no longer associated.
The company has also recently appointed investigating accountants from Deloitte to conduct a review of its Australian business.


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comScore: Holiday spend tops $35 billion
Holiday spending has been breaking records for the last couple of seasons, but another record just went down. comScore reports that for the first time, a shopping week has topped $7 billion in spending, bringing the 2012 online spending total to $35 billion.
The week of December 10 - 16 saw online shoppers spend $7.019 billion, topping the Thanksgiving weekend spend by nearly $6 billion. Shoppers have thus far spent 13% more in 2012 than in 2011.
"We expected this past week to be record-setting and it clearly was, with an impressive spending total of more than $7 billion - an average of more than $1 billion in spending per day," said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. "This current week, which kicked off with Free Shipping Day on Monday the 17th, will be critical in making up some ground on a season-to-date growth rate that remains below initial expectations at 13 percent following a prolonged post-Cyber Monday lull. With many retailers extending their free shipping offers into Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, we just may see the sort of late-season jolt needed to push growth rates back into the mid-teens."
Meanwhile the National Retail Federation reports shoppers are making good progress on their lists with the average person finished with at least half of their shopping. BIGinsight conducted the latest survey, which also found most shoppers are going on Clothing/Accessories or electronics for the 2012 holidays.
"Having made a list and checked it twice, holiday shoppers have been out in full force these last few weeks, leaving only a few stones unturned," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. "There's no question that holiday shoppers wanted to make the most out of retailers' promotions as early as they could, but as personal schedules get even busier these days, we know there are plenty of people who haven't even made a dent in their list yet. As two of the most important weeks of the holiday season, retailers will do their best to pull in those final dollars with unique offerings and creative promotions."
As for how shoppers will wrap the season, nearly half (44.5%) will head to a department store while one-third (34.6%) will shop discount stores for the remainder of their gifts.
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text: Android power users are perhaps already used to the idea that their power does come at a cost. There are quite a few apps or, depending on your phone, functionality that is withheld from users who root or even just unlock their phones to reclaim control they believe to be rightfully theirs. The latest to join that group of root-hating apps is Netflix, which has disappeared from the Play Store listing of such devices. Amusingly enough, the app actually continues to work otherwise. For now, at least.


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Porsche expands its worldwide online sales activities
Finding the Porsche sports car of your dreams online is now easily possible in even more countries. In the U.S., Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) has just expanded its e-commerce platform, Porsche Finder to include all new vehicle inventory from its 193 dealerships.
“We are implementing our omnichannel strategy worldwide, offering our customers the best experience both online and offline,” says Martin Urschel, Vice President Smart Mobility and Digital Sales at Porsche. Since late 2019, we have delivered new e-commerce functionality to continually optimise our digital buying journey. The expansion in the U.S. is another important milestone in our global vision for a digital marketplace for all Porsche products and services. We have ambitious goals: By 2025, we want to enable up to 30 percent of the new car business via our online channels.
Porsche rolls out online car sales in Europe
In addition, the e-commerce platform in Europe has been launched to new markets within the last months and is now available in 15 countries. In China, customers have been able to search and buy Porsche products online since autumn 2020. In Canada, buying a new Porsche vehicle online is now exclusively possible on Porsche's own e-commerce platform.
Aug 27, 2021 at 00:27


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Tesla China might repeat its outstanding Model 3 sales last month this December, partly thanks to Shanghai’s updated license plate rules. A graph from the Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) Cui Dongshu revealed that 6,846 Model 3 units were sold in Shanghai last month.
Shanghai’s November Model 3 sales made up 31% of the total amount of China-made cars Tesla sold last month in the country. Tesla Model 3 sales increased in November, with the CPCA reporting a total of 21,604 Model 3 units, a 78% increase compared to October’s sales. Shanghai’s surge in Tesla Model 3 sales, which tripled between October and November, could be related to the city’s updated license plate rules.
In October, Shanghai drivers’ interest in new energy vehicles (NEVs) spiked after the city announced that it would expand restrictions on non-local license plates. One local Tesla store in China reported selling 80 vehicles in a single morning after the news broke about the policy. Global Times reported that the same Tesla store usually sold between 10-20 vehicles in a single day.
According to the policy updates Shanghai authorities released in October, cars with non-local license plates would not be allowed to drive through certain elevated roads in the city from 7am to 8pm on workdays starting from November 2. Since the policy took effect last month, the spike in sales could continue on to December, leading to a Q4 surge for Tesla China.
Shanghai limits the number of license plates issued to car owners every year, like many other major cities in China. Non-local license plates are a good secondary option for car owners unable to get Shanghai license plates. NEVs are not subject to Shanghai’s license plate restrictions and have become a good option for car owners, even more so now that the city’s non-local license plate policies are in effect.
The drastic spike in NEV sales after the policy took effect hints a rise in demand for clean energy vehicles. Tesla as the rising king of EVs has a large advantage in the NEV market. As @ray4tesla stated Tesla has become the brand of choice in China, partly because of its “cool factor.”


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HIGHLAND PARK — The neighborhood’s first Starbucks – aka “The Most Depressing Starbucks in America” – is finally going to start seeing some of the changes the coffee store chain promised last summer after the outlet’s design met with heavy criticism.
Some residents have expressed their impatience by the lack of change at the York Boulevard outlet, a former hamburger stand that was converted into a drive-thru Starbucks last summer. “The communities are now left with the UGLIEST store ever built by Starbucks,” said Tina G. Miller in a Facebook comment. “When is the remodel going to happen???”
Starbucks spokeswoman Haley Drage said the remodel was delayed after it took longer than expected to receive the the necessary city permits. Those permits were issued at the end of last month, according to an online summary on the city’s Department of Building & Safety website. Drage said the changes should be completed by the end of March.
While the Highland Park Starbucks will still lack an indoor seating area, the company pledged to make several changes following stories in The Eastsider and other media sites:
- Additional storefront windows where customers order which will increase contact with employees. There will be one window to order and another to pick up.
- Relocating and screening the bathroom door
- Removing salvaged windows and installing roll-up doors
- Converting the planter in front to sidewalk seating and creating two pedestrian entrances of the sidewalk.
- Replacing the roll-up metal doors with two large recycled wood doors that slide barn door style.
- Enhancing the side patio experience through a trellis and lighting
Drage said the company erred on designing a Starbucks focused on drive-thru customers instead of one that would cater to sit-down coffee drinkers. “We did not create the right experience for that neighborhood,” she said.


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Salesforce has released new updates to its core products that allow users to utilise the work collaboration app Quip right from within its own service.
The company purchased Quip for $750 million in August (opens in new tab) for its collaborative word processing and spreadsheet apps that also include messaging features similar to those offered by Slack.
After the latest updates, Salesforce users are now able to create and edit Quip documents directly from within the company's products. They are also able to link data from Salesforce to Quip spreadsheets. In a press briefing last week, Quip CEO Bret Taylor said: “All this free-form, brainstorming and knowledge, could be attached to the database record in Salesforce... It really means Salesforce could be that source of truth.”
Through the use of a work collaboration tool such as Quip, Salesforce is able to offer its clients an alternative to Microsoft Word and Excel that is already included in its core products. This also allows users to work with financial and other data that was previously inaccessible which means they will be able to accomplish more using Salesforce.
The financial services firm Cowen & Co. has even made the argument that Salesforce could potentially launch a new stand-alone product called Productivity Cloud by utilising the technology behind Quip.
Derrick Wood, an analyst at the firm released a note in which he outlined the potential of such a move, saying: “Productivity is a large $25 billion market (2019) with incumbent Microsoft holding majority market share, along with several newer vendors including Google, Slack, Evernote and others.
"We think this acquisition will help to materially boost Salesforce's calculated total addressable market.”
Image Credit: Gil C / Shutterstock


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Kanabo Group signs MOU with Forbe to sell CBD products in Israel
(KNB ) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding Forbe Ltd ("Forbe") for the sale of CBD products in the Israeli market.
The Israeli-based medicinal cannabis firm will be responsible for procuring and processing CBD products according to regulatory guidelines and Forbe will be responsible for marketing, distribution and sales as well as acquiring the required licences and import approvals.
Under the MOU, Forbe, which has two of the largest national health providers in Israel as its customers as well as the second largest pharmacy chain in the country, will work exclusively with Kanabo to distribute the products covered by the MoU.
Beyond the agreement with Forbe, Kanabo acknowledged the ‘increasingly positive’ state of the regulatory landscape for the sale of CBD in Israel. This follows an announcement made by the Ministry of Health this month in which it stated that it plans to exclude substances or products containing the CBD component from the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.
In his resolution, Israel’s Minister of Health stated that over the next two years, the ministry will promote research and development activities, alongside the development of regulatory capacity within its departments, so that products containing CBD could be marketed in Israel.
As a result, Israel is therefore considered a significant addressable market for the Kanabo and Forbe collaboration with a deregulated market estimated to be worth up to US$475m in total by 2025, according to a Deloitte report prepared for the Manufacturers Association of Israel).
Commenting on the news, Madonna Hovel, CEO of Forbe told investors today: “I am delighted to sign this MoU with Kanabo thereby taking us into the emerging CBD markets in Israel. Kanabo Group plc has deep domain expertise in procuring and processing high-quality CBD products. I’m sure it will position Kanabo as CBD market leader by providing our customers’ needs for high-quality products and services in this high growth market in Israel.”
Avihu Tamir, CEO of Kannabo Group plc, added; “This MoU with Forbe Ltd is a key step in our stated strategy to become a leading Company within the CBD consumer markets.”
Tamir added that Kanabo sees Forbe Ltd “as a key strategic partner in Israel” as the company further develops and commercialises its range of CBD products “for millions of customers.”
Last month, Kanabo Group announced it has acquired The GP Service Limited, a private primary care telemedicine provider, for a total consideration of c. £14m in an all share deal at a price of 12.65p which represents around 22% of the issued share capital of the Company.
The Israeli-based medicinal cannabis firm said it expects the acquisition to facilitate the ‘rapid growth’ of its existing digital and telemedicine business while also establishing ‘a new and fully compliant channel’ to market for the business’ products for medical patients, it explained.
‘Through improved access to these products, Kanabo Group hopes to make a substantial contribution to improving outcomes for thousands of patients in the UK and Europe,’ it said.
The GP Service, which offers the services of online doctors to help diagnose and treat common conditions using its internet-based consultation platform, is already an approved provider on the UK’s NHS digital framework for video and on-line medical consultations.
Patients can, for a set price of £39.99, get an appointment with a UK registered GP within half an hour and then get a prescription sent to one of 4,200 pharmacies within an hour for £7.49.
Kanabo said the service is able to electronically deliver prescriptions to this network of 4,200 pharmacies which includes major high street chains as well as independent pharmacies.
Kanabo intends to develop a platform to become one of Europe’s first digitally led and legally compliant providers for its products and wellness CBD services following regulatory approval.
Also last month, the pan-European medical cannabis company announced that it had successfully completed a £2.25 million fundraising via its broker Peterhouse Capital.
Commenting, Avihu Tamir said Kanabo had “a well-developed plan” to deploy the proceeds from the placing to proceed with complementary acquisitions to accelerate the company’s stated strategy to become one of Europe’s leading ‘product to patient’ medical providers.
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The information, investment views and recommendations in this article are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing in this article should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any financial product relating to any companies under discussion or to engage in or refrain from doing so or engaging in any other transaction. Any opinions or comments are made to the best of the knowledge and belief of the writer but no responsibility is accepted for actions based on such opinions or comments. Vox Markets may receive payment from companies mentioned for enhanced profiling or publication presence. The writer may or may not hold investments in the companies under discussion.


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[UPDATE: 13 July]: RADWIMPS has released a second teaser for SHIN SEKAI 'nowhere'. Watch the teaser here:
[24 June]: Get ready to experience the world’s first musical experience that travels between the real and virtual world!
On Monday (21/06), RADWIMPS announced that SHIN SEKAI ‘nowhere’ would be held from 16 to 18 July. This never-before-seen virtual experience is in collaboration with PARTY, a creative collective that installs experiences of the future in society, leveraging its in-house virtual park system VARP to create the SHIN SEKAI ‘nowhere’.
The new virtual music experience of SHIN SEKAI "nowhere" will be coming up on July 16-18th!— RADWIMPS (@RADWIMPS) June 21, 2021
Official app DL and ticket sales start today.
Experience the band’s music with traveling between the real and virtual world.https://t.co/snaHBm1mZrhttps://t.co/0gVqfTLGEH#RAD_SHINSEKAI
Detailing the inspiration of the virtual experience, RADWIMPS lead vocalist Yojiro Noda said: “In the time of COVID-19 crisis, we have spent over a year experiencing every day like never before. This may be the first time in our lives that we reflect this much on ourselves.”
He also added: “No matter how this powerful virus robs us of our everyday lives, we do not give up on this head-on fight. This past year has also given us the chance for such realizations. SHIN SEKAI is yet another rebellion, a new challenge.”
In the musical experience, participants will transform into avatars and enter a world of music, where they will be taken on a journey to discover a new world and reality. The experience will see participants interchanging between an imaginary world where it is filled with hopes and dreams and the real world which represents pain and sorrow.
To enter the virtual experience, participants will need to download the official app to purchase a three-day pass. The passes are on sale now, with early bird prices ending on Sunday, 4 July.
Early bird passes are available as the standard three-day pass at 2,820 JPY (26 USD) or participants can add on a prologue live archive along with the pass at 3,300 JPY (30 USD).
The prologue live archive is also available as a separate option for purchase at 490 JPY (5 USD). Participants are also able to purchase the passes with Bokunchi Memberships at no additional cost.
For more information on the passes and the official app, click here to find out more.
Listen to RADWIMPS’s latest album 2+0+2+1+3+1+1= 10 years 10 songs here:


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A special report on the ‘Welsh’ retail sector has come under fire for not including any North Wales towns in the research.
According to PwC research compiled by the Local Data Company (LDC), 159 outlets closed in Wales in 2014 compared to 120 openings.
They used research from 11 Welsh towns but not a single one was in North or Mid Wales.
The furthest north was Carmarthen in West Wales with no mention of large towns like Wrexham, Colwyn or Llandudno.
This has come under fire from retail and business chiefs in the North who say it therefore does not give a true reflection on the retail sector for the whole nation.
'North Wales very different to South Wales'
Colwyn Bay town centre manager Ingrid Lewis said: “Any report that gives figures for Wales should reflect the situation across the whole of Wales and not just one part of the country.
“North Wales is very different to South Wales and figures from the South do not necessarily reflect what is happening in North Wales.
“In Colwyn Bay town centre we have seen an increase in stores opening over 2014 with a number of big national brands like Subway, Costa Coffee and Domino's coming here.
“These brands are discovering Colwyn Bay and shows the regeneration work in the town is paying off.”
'We are optimistic about future'
Edward Hiller, managing director at Mostyn Estates Ltd, said: “This survey appears to be based on South Wales data only and doesn’t have any coverage of the picture in North Wales towns.
“From our perspective with regard to Llandudno, and with our knowledge of retailers’ intentions, we are inclined to be more optimistic about the future than the conclusions drawn by this report.”
FSB North Wales Development Manager Mike Learmond said he was disappointed that North Wales was not included in the research.
But he added: “There is little doubt that the face of high streets in North Wales is changing, and many independent retailers have adapted their businesses to changing consumer trends.
“We have seen some of our members embracing internet trade themselves, while others have built on their offer with exceptional face-to-face customer service.
“However, it is essential that we keep our high streets as vibrant and viable places, by allowing new businesses to take up empty property as rapidly as possible, and ensuring that the planning system allows enough scope for change of use of premises.”
According to the report there was a reduction of 39 shops as the pace of net store closures has accelerated. The net loss in the number of stores in Wales has increased from 13 closures in 2013, when 167 stores opened and 180 stores closed.
The analysis also highlights the changing profile of town centres 'across Wales' with mobile phones shops and money services shops most likely to be pulling down their shutters in 2014.
Card shops, hairdressers and coffee shops were among those opening the most branches during 2014.
In response, the Local Data Company said: "The PwC/LDC report on multiple retailer closures is based on a list of 500 towns which have been analysed since 2009.
"Carmarthen features on the list but smaller towns such as Rhyl do not."
He said that in total LDC covers over 68 towns across Wales but just 11 are included in the multiple retailer closure report.


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Powhere to buy paper wristbandsllution crimes, fines to rise as govt gets stricter, academy saysCamp Rock Wedding Supplies To Acquire Rockin" Good Party Now, buy pair of fingerless lace gloves. In all probability will should buy these online. Awesome mesh and lace fingerless gloves are made through the accessories division of the 80s Fashion Fancy dress costume site. Click on the link towards the underside of the page lower than. We once wore those incessantly in the 80s. Had been absolute treasure to choose a 44 gallon drum that also had one. I remember my step mum saying that one day I would look back and laugh at how we used wwjd wristbands to wear them. Of course, she"s right! Scope out FFA and 4-H food booths for reasonable treats. Many agriculture-based youth clubs explore the fair for opportunity to money for their own club. These clubs sell delicious treats like chocolate milk, ice cream, and frozen confections for $1 or a lower number of.
Offenses related to air pollution, and the subsequent fines, are expected to increase in China this year due to broadening efforts to protect the environment, according to an academic report released on Thursday.
In recent years, the top legislature has strengthened environmental laws, and polluters and governmental departments that fail in their supervisory roles face heavy financial penalties.
"This is why the number of related crimes being discovered may increase," a report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said.
The expected rise means more environmental or ecological problems will be exposed and resolved, "while it also shows the central leadership"s stronger inspections against polluters have worked", it added.
For example, environmental protection departments in Zhejiang province had fined 3,477 polluting enterprises by September, and 62 people were criminally detained for alleged pollution-related crimes, according to the report.
As the fight against polluters is being strengthened, China"s efforts to protect personal information and prevent telecom fraud will also be enhanced this year, the report said.
"Although we"ve issued judicial documents regarding telecom fraud and privacy protection, and elevated related campaigns to high-priority status, we can"t afford to let our guard down because the ways of committing such crimes change frequently," the CASS added.


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Adam Sanderson has been named senior vice president, corporate communications of The Walt Disney Company, a role that includes oversight of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, Disney Corporate Creative Resources, and The Walt Disney Archives. He will report directly to Zenia Mucha, executive vice president and chief communications officer of The Walt Disney Company.
Sanderson fills a slot left vacant since the departure of Stephen Clark, former head of D23, last September. D23 runs the D23 Expo fan convention, a magazine and a website catering to the fan base of the Walt Disney Company and the companies legacy.
According to the press release:
A 17-year Disney veteran, Mr. Sanderson most recently served as senior vice president, franchise management of Disney/ABC Television Group, where he was responsible for launching, building and sustaining franchises for Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Radio Disney, ABC Family, ABC Entertainment Group, and ABC Daytime. Previously, he served as senior vice president, brand marketing of Disney Channels Worldwide, helping to build High School Musical, Hannah Montana and Disney Junior into franchise successes, and managing all synergy initiatives.
Mr. Sanderson joined Disney in 1997 as vice president, marketing of Disney Channel, and went on to become senior vice president, marketing, of the then-named ABC Cable Networks Group. Prior to Disney, he had been vice president of promotion marketing at FX Networks Inc., promotion director at Condé Nast Traveler, and president and founder of Sanderson Associates, an entertainment-marketing firm.
Jeffrey Epstein will continue to oversee D23 public relations, marketing and fan relations, and Rebecca Cline remains director of the Walt Disney Archives.
(Thanks, Anthony DiPaola)


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Nov 20, 2017, 1:37 pm470 ptsHere’s a fix for a very specific issue with the iPhone X. If Face ID doesn’t work the first time, how can you get it to rescan without physically picking up the phone or navigating away from the lock screen? Read more...
Suspicious event routes traffic for Apple, other tech sites through Russia Apple World Today 374
FCC Has Voted to Repeal Net Neutrality Rules MacRumors 319
You get a $5 gift card if you use Apple Pay at participating merchants Apple World Today 306
Why does Apple hate the adjective ‘the’? Apple World Today 298


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The COVID-19 pandemic has marked an unprecedented instance in which technology has become the best ally to monitor personal health and to promote wellness.
Social distancing regulations triggered a peek in the use of mobile health (mHealth) apps. People are choosing virtual alternatives for exercising at home, attending medical check-ups, and even managing stress levels, consequences of the particular moment humanity is going through.
According to the last mHealth Economics report, released by Research2Guidance, in 2017 there were around 325,000 apps in the Google Play and iTunes platforms. 65% of these focused on well-being (exercise, healthy lifestyle, stress control, dieting, and nutrition), 9% were dedicated to specific diseases, pregnancy-related apps represented 7%, and the other 6% consisted of apps focused on treatment adherence or medication alarm reminders.
Two years later, in 2019, the global mHealth market was valued at $46 billion, according to a report published by Allied Market Research. Moreover, this study forecasts the mobile health industry’s value at $230 billion by 2027.
But how can businesses make the most out of it? Gerardo Chaverri, Mobile Unit Manager at Avantica, strongly believes in the personalization of experiences as the differentiating factor, allowing companies to stand out among the vast number of applications available on app stores.
The specialist highlights how wearable devices, such as smartwatches, fueled people’s interest in wellness and exercise. These electronic devices allow a wide range of possibilities, from sleep monitoring, fitness metrics control, and health indicator tracking.
“People are more concerned about their health in times of crisis and are beginning to purchase devices to store information in the Cloud, to keep track of themselves, or watch their very own trends. For example, this data allows patients to keep a better record of their health and improve medical diagnosis via telehealth appointments”, explains Chaverri.
Although there was a wide range of available apps before COVID-19, the pandemic has boosted the mHealth market, and nowadays, apps that focused on user experience from the beginning are taking advantage of this momentum.
“The use of these apps was not a priority before, but now health and wellness companies have realized how necessary it is. For example, gyms only used digital channels for marketing,” says Chaverri.
In order to overcome these crucial times, health and wellness businesses started noticing the importance of migrating to digital or adopting mixed models due to social distancing regulations,. Nevertheless, it is no longer enough to offer traditional services, such as video training routines.
“As of today, the challenge is how to offer customized and interactive services, to provide different environments through sounds and visualization experiences, through the incorporation of sensors and augmented reality technologies,” highlights Avantica’s mobile specialist.


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Britain's small businesses are "woefully under-prepared" to combat cyber attacks, despite an increasingly reliance on the mobile devices that often offer an easy entry point into organisations for cyber...
High profile attacks like WannaCry have pushed cybercrime into the public eye
Don't panic! Oracle releases 237 patches fixing 153 vulnerabilities in business-critical applications
Critical flaws in Fusion Middleware, PeopleSoft and MICROS retail applications fixed in Oracle's latest Critical Patch Update
Hackers are becoming craftier and focusing on identity theft
Google removes fraudulent extensions


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Under Pressure: Porsche Running Out of Options, May Accept Investment from Qatar
If it weren't coming from legitimate news sources, you'd think the Porsche/Volkswagen saga of the past year was the plot for a new soap opera. After failing to take over Volkswagen, Porsche had to be bailed out by VW. Porsche then tried to merge with VW, but now won't accept help from the fellow German automaker, won't get a loan from KfW, and may sell a portion of itself to Qatar to pay off its loans.
After first denying that it was seeking a loan from German state-bank KfW, Porsche revealed it needed a 1.75 billion euro loan from the bank to shore up its finances, as the 11 billion euros it raised on its own couldn't quite cover it. Late last week, though, KfW denied Porsche's loan application, placing the company back in dire straights similar to those it found itself in back in March when Volkswagen had to loan Porsche 700 million euros to keep it afloat.
Following the loan, Porsche finally abandoned its attempt to take over Volkswagen, which had been running out of steam since November of last year. With a complete takeover off the table, Porsche decided to try to merge with Volkswagen instead, only to have VW throw the brakes on merger talks when Porsche wouldn't be forthcoming enough with its finances. Rather than play nice, Porsche tried to raise money on its own to repay the 9 billion euro debt it racked up trying to buy Volkswagen in the first place, as well as pay back the 700 million euros it owes Volkswagen.
While the German government did tell Porsche it could apply for state aid, the company went with KfW instead. With KfW out, Porsche could try to turn to the state, but given the government's resistance to helping fellow German automaker Opel, there's no guarantee Porsche could get the money it needs. Porsche has at least two other options on the table, but it doesn't appear to like them much, either.
Last week, Volkswagen and its controlling interest-holding German state of Lower Saxony offered to bail Porsche out again in exchange for 49% of the company, effectively reversing the takeover situation and offering Porsche a way out of having to repay the 700 million euro loan in September when payment comes due. Volkswagen gave Porsche until the end of June to decide, but Porsche Chairman Wolfgang Porsche called the offer from his cousin VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech "extortion," "blackmail," and an "ultimatum." That leaves Porsche with one other option, one it's been trying to avoid.
Ever since Porsche's financial troubles came to light, rumors have persisted about interest from the Middle Eastern country of Qatar in investing in Porsche. Today, it has been reported that Qatar has made a written offer to buy a stake in Porsche as well as Volkswagen, reportedly for as much as 20% of Volkswagen's ordinary shares. Taking the deal would allow Porsche to drop a significant amount of its debt, but sources from within Porsche have said in the past that the company has no interest in selling parts of itself to an outside party and Porsche had consistently brushed off Qatar's advances until earlier this month. No decision has been made yet.
After telling VW where to file its offer and getting its loan application denied by KfW, Porsche is running out of options quickly and the red ink is rising. Unless the Piech and Porsche families can settle their differences, it looks as though Porsche's only recourse will be to accept Qatar's offer, distasteful as it may be to Porsche's management. We'll keep you updated on the Porsche/Volkswagen situation as it unfolds.


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Furetank and Algoma order 4 dual-fuel product tankers for their JV
Swedish Furetank AB and Canadian Algoma Central Corporation are entering into a joint venture agreement to build four dual-fuel product tankers intended to trade in Northern Europe.
Each company will own 50% of the joint venture, which will be named FureBear.
The vessels will be constructed at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou, China, with delivery expected between 2023 and 2025. Upon completion, all four vessels will be entered into the Gothia Tanker Alliance and operated by Furetank out of Gothenburg, Sweden.
The four dual-fuel ice class 1A 17,999 DWT product tankers are specially designed by Furetank in collaboration with FKAB Marine Design and several onboard system suppliers.
The FureBear vessels will be sisters to the Vinga Series of eight vessels currently trading in the Gothia Tanker Alliance. The Vinga sisters all have dual-fuel capability and run on LNG/LBG or gasoil.
They are designed with a battery hybrid solution and several features for reduction of fuel and energy consumption, resulting in lower emissions of CO2, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and hazardous particles. They are also fully equipped for shore power.
Algoma said that building on Furetank’s experience in the Northern European intermediate ice-class product tanker segment the joint venture would help advance Algoma’s presence in international short sea shipping markets.
“This investment will enable us to continue on our strategic path to diversify geographically and into niche short sea markets. Short sea shipping is our core DNA here at Algoma and these specialized, environmentally conscious vessels will fit naturally into our expanding global fleet,” said Gregg Ruhl, President and CEO of Algoma Central Corporation.
“Furetank has deep roots in the shipping industry and a rich family history dating back to the 17th century, but our focus is aimed forward towards the goal of sustainable shipping. Together with Algoma’s similar narrative, I look forward to our collaboration. These vessels will be top-performers in the market by offering efficient cargo operations all while reducing our environmental footprint,” said Lars Höglund, CEO of Furetank.
The move is being announced on the back of Furetank’s latest order for a dual-fuel tanker, which brought its total to 11 vessels in the Vinga series.
China Merchants Jinling Shipyard was hired for the job, with the delivery scheduled for July 2024.
Furetank said that the agreement with the shipyard also includes an option for further vessels.


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Forex Weekly Outlook May 16 – 20
Last week, the US released mixed economic data. As mixed as the figures are, the US dollar gained momentum and attracted buyers based on FED’s rate expectations and the possibility of BOJ intervening in the yen recent gains. Why I am not convinced that non-farm payrolls 160,000 jobs added in April and 294,000 surged in unemployment benefits are good enough to raise rates, I am compelled to lean towards dollar new found strength this week. So I will be looking at NZDUSD, USDCAD and GBPJPY this week.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor, Graeme Wheeler said last week that risks to the financial stability outlook have increased in the past six months, and this he attributed to lower dairy prices due to increase in global dairy supplies. He also mentioned imbalances in the housing market, while the report wasn’t entirely bad. The poor retail sales 0.8 percent released on Friday was, same with core retail sales that dropped from 1.3 percent to 1 percent.
Now, looking at the chart, NZDUSD established ascending channel of January 20th was first broken on May 9th, but the pair pullback on 11th, to retest trendline at 0.6847. Forming an evening star after NZ poor retail sales and better than expected US retail sales reports. This gives us a 232-pips sell opportunity from 0.6847 new resistance level.
This week I am bearish on NZDUSD with 0.6609 as the target, while keeping an eye on Global Dairy Trade and Producer Price Index data due on Tuesday in New Zealand.
As always loonie trend is straight forward, directly proportion to increase in oil prices. But with Bank of Canada Deputy Governor, Larence Schembri, saying nothing in particular in the last central bank financial stability report, we will have to find that loophole ourselves. Canada GDP plunged 0.1 percent last month from 0.6 percent gained in the previous month, adding this to trade deficit that surged from 2.5B to 3.4 billion in March. It is obvious all is not well with the Canadian economy as exports is weak.
Looking at the chart, immediately the trade balance data came out on the 4th of May, USDCAD closed above trendline for the first time since January 20. And has since established a support at 1.2849, with a pinbar closed on Thursday and bullish daily candlestick on Friday, giving us a morning star pattern, a buying opportunity.
This week I remain bullish on this pair with 1.3142 as my target.
This is another pair I have been following for a while, first because of the uncertainty created by the European Union and British June 23 referendum vote, second, because I am in tune with BOJ policies and I think GBPJPY has been oversold since the yen starts its gain and currently trading at 3-year low.
After breaking out of the downward trend on April 22, the pair has been unable to sustain 161.71 price level, hence, lost around 600 pips. While buying might not be okay now if you are not looking at long-term, so is selling because of uncertainty surrounding BOJ monetary policy and poor economic data released from the UK last week. Another reason is a possible change in Bank of Japan monetary policy has the potential to trigger a massive buy.
From the chart, price retest trendline after break-out and has since been trading above 154.39 support level, as long as this support level holds, I remain bullish on GBPJPY and if referendum came out positive or BOJ make monetary policy changes by adding additional stimulus. I will be looking to buy for 161.71 as first target and 169.21 as second, but until then leave comments and lets interact.
What do you think?


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PETA have planned a protest outside of a Burberry store in North Carolina in the USA today. They will to wear nothing but splatters of fake blood and a banner that mimics Burberry’s signature pattern and reads, “When Plaid Goes Bad”.
Apparently PETA showed Burberry executives video footage of how animals caught in traps often resort to chewing off their own legs in order to escape and how animals on fur farms are gassed, electrocuted, or have their necks broken. But because Burberry have continued to sell fur, theyâ€™re going to campaign in front of their store in hope they will listen this way.
“I’ll gladly bare my skin if it will help save animals’ skins,” says PETA’s Peggy Chung. “Even in the 21st century – with so many stylish, comfortable alternatives to fur available — Burberry is supporting one of the most hideous industries on the planet.”
The protest today will also include extra PETA members handing out leaflets and show PETA’s fur-farm video narrated by Stella McCartney which shows how countless animals suffer and die to become part of a Burberry coat. This is not the first time PETA have protested outside a Burberry store, they launched a campaign outside a London Burberry store in November last year (pictured above), doing exactly what they’re planning to do in NC.
This is the second time Burberry have come under fire in the last few months. Earlier this year, news about Burberry closing its Welsh factory had thousands protest against the company all over Great Britian.
Check out the video below, and if youâ€™re intrigued by the campaign, visit BloodyBurberry.com.
Warning, the video may not be the faint hearted.
In related news, Stella McCartney is launching a virtual anti-fur protest within the online community of Second Life. On July 12, the designer and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will cohost an event on a specially created island in the virtual world. Characters will be able to wear t-shirts bearing the slogan, â€œIâ€™d rather be pixilated than wear furâ€. Click here for more information.


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Pebble announced on Tuesday that its Kickstarter-born smart watch would launch exclusively through Best Buy this summer.
A Jet Black version of the Pebble is now available at Best Buy online. The same model will also land in all US Best Buy stores on 7 July for $149.99 (£99). Pebble also said a Cherry Red colour option will launch in August, while Orange, Grey and Arctic White models are now available for pre-order on its website.
Pebble is a customisable Bluetooth smart watch that works with iOS and Android. For instance, earlier this week, Pebble added native support for Google Hangouts via an update to the Pebble for Android app.
In a press release, Pebble explained that its expansion into retail distribution was "a key step in meeting the tremendous public demand for its crowd-supported e-paper watch for iOS and Android".
Check out the Meet Pebble: Now at Best Buy video on Vimeo for more details.


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The Government have recently published their intentions for the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations 2017, to be further enhanced and amended. The current regime is set to expire on 6 April 2024.
Under the provisions of the current regime, “qualifying companies” and “qualifying LLPs” have a duty to report every six months setting out their practice in respect of supplier invoices, as well as statistics for their actual performance in paying invoices over the preceding year.
For clarity, “qualifying companies and qualifying LLPs” are defined in the Companies Act 2006 as companies or LLP’s meeting at least two out of the following criteria: –
• Turnover of more than £36 million;
• Balance sheet total of more than £18 million; and
• More than 250 employees
The proposed amendments to the existing regime will introduce a new requirement in respect of reporting on the volume of disputed invoices as well as the total value of payments made during those periods. In addition, there will also be a requirement regarding reporting on retention payments for businesses in the construction sector.
The purpose of this amendment and extension of the current regime, is to enhance UK businesses by introducing stronger and more rigorous principles regarding payments as well as providing business with more data allowing for more clarity and certainty in respect of their business.
The amendment will hopefully have a significant positive impact on smaller businesses who may not have the requisite resources to continuously receive delays in receiving payments as well as further chasing for outstanding payments to be made to them. This has been a massive hindrance for small businesses over the years and the proposed amended regime will aim to resolve this.
Paying small businesses on time could boost the economy by £2.5 billion annuallyhttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-takes-action-to-back-small-businesses-and-tackle-late-payments?utm_content=immediately