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Around the globe, 15 Samsung Smart TVs are being sold every minute - that’s around 25,000 units in every day.
The Korean electronics company celebrated its two millionth Smart TV sale on June 15, just three months after releasing its brand of internet-connected, app-centric, media-streaming TV technology on a global scale.
“Geographically, 730,000 units have been sold only in North America, the largest TV market in the world, followed by 710,000 units in Europe including advanced markets like the UK, Germany, France. Even in the regions like Middle East, Africa, South-East Asia where Samsung Smart TV was introduced a bit late, 170,000 units have been sold so far, and it seems sure that the number doesn’t want to stop there,” said Samsung proudly.
According to recent figures from The NPD Group, Samsung is the top-selling TV brand in the US with a 24.9 percent market share in the total flat-panel TV market.
Sharp is hoping to put a dent in Samsung’s Smart TV market lead with the release of its new Aquos L Series internet-ready TVs.
Sharp’s Aquos range connects with a smartphone or tablet to offer voice controlled TV features and voice recognition. Compatible smartphones and tablets can also be used as a remote for the TV.
The built-in Sharp Familink feature lets Aquos L Series owners share music, videos and data between their smartphone or Android tablet and TV.
Sharp’s Aquos L Series will arrive in Japan in mid July and will be priced from 220,000 Yen (€1930).
In April market researcher DisplaySearch predicted that Smart TV shipments will exceed 123 million units by 2014.


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Taxi drivers striking to demand tighter regulations for companies using ride-hailing apps blocked traffic for another day in Spain’s two major cities yesterday, while threatening to take their protest to the French border.
Hundreds of taxi drivers continued to block major roads in Madrid and Barcelona, with many wearing the yellow traffic safety vest that has become the symbol of protests in neighbouring France.
Alberto Alvarez, spokesman for the Barcelona taxi driver association Elite Taxi, told Spanish television that “we are talking to our colleagues in France to go to the frontier also”.
The strike started in Barcelona on Friday, when some taxi drivers trashed cars operated by the app services Uber and Cabify.
Taxi drivers in Madrid joined the protest on Monday. They are promising to continue to disrupt traffic flows today, when the Spanish capital hosts a major tourism trade show.
The taxi drivers in Barcelona want regional governments to force users of services of ride-hailing apps to contract rides 12 hours beforehand.
Taxi drivers in both cities already went on strike against the internet-driven ride-hailing platforms in July.
They complain that ride-hailing app drivers compete unfairly since they don’t have the same regulations and costs.
Elliott pushes for changes at eBay
An activist shareholder said yesterday that eBay would be better off without StubHub or its classified ads businesses.
Elliott Management, which owns more than four percent of its stock, said in a letter to eBay that if it focused on its online marketplace, the company could double its share price to more than $63 by the end of next year.
Shares of eBay Inc jumped eight percent in midday trading.
In a statement from its headquarters in San Jose, California, eBay said it will “carefully review and evaluate Elliott’s proposals”.
Elliott believes eBay’s classifieds business has a potential value of $8bn to $12bn, and put StubHub’s value between $3.5bn and $4.5bn.

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Event to Promote Benefits of Partnering with Hong Kong to Unlock Opportunities in Asia, Particularly the Chinese Mainland
TORONTO, April 27, 2015 /CNW/ - Toronto will host the largest-ever Hong Kong symposium targeting the Canadian business community this spring. The June 8, 2015 event will showcase Hong Kong's advantages for Canadian companies looking to tap new business opportunities in Asia, particularly on the Chinese mainland.
"Think Asia, Think Hong Kong" will feature a trade delegation of senior officials as well as Chinese investors. The event is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, (HKTDC) with support from 16 Hong Kong partners and more than 40 Canadian supporting organisations.
High profile speakers at the event will include the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, Donald Guloien, President and CEO of Manulife; Bob Agnes, Executive VP and General Manager of Asia Pacific Operations for Mitel Networks Corp; and Janet De Silva, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade. Speakers from Hong Kong include the Honourable CY Leung, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and Norman Chan, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
"As the global economic balance continues to shift to Asia, Hong Kong more than ever is the ideal business platform from which to tap the myriad of regional business opportunities now available in the growing ASEAN area or in the Chinese mainland," said HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong.
"Our low taxes, free economy, rule of law, English-speaking environment and world-class business services make us the preferred partner for overseas businesses wishing to tap these growing possibilities. We also play a key role as Asia's financial services hub, which includes being an RMB centre for trade settlements and a gateway investment for Chinese mainland outreach."
As of June 2014, there were 45 regional headquarters and regional offices in Hong Kong. Many major Canadian companies are represented in Hong Kong including: Bank of Montreal, the Royal Bank of Canada, Air Canada, Four Seasons Hotel, and Manulife International. As of November 2014, there were approximately 19,520 Canadian citizens residing in Hong Kong.
Symposium attendees can attend sessions on:
- Selling to China and throughout Asia
- Chinese outward investment – Hong Kong as the gateway
- RMB Internationalisation – A New Era for Global Trade and Finance
- Hong Kong – A Base for Technology Companies to Grow Their Asian Business
Networking activities will also be organised, with more than 100 Hong Kong government officials and business leaders from across sectors including technology, finance, food and professional services taking part in the programme, along with business matching sessions onsite.
For more information on the event, please go to: http://www.thinkasiathinkhk.com/2015/en/index.html
About the HKTDC
A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com. Follow us on Google+ Twitter @tathk_usa Twitter @tathk_can LinkedIn
SOURCE Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)
For further information: Media Enquiries: Gwen McGuire, Kaiser Lachance Communications, (416)-948-6500, [email protected]


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When it comes to promoting your B2B business, don’t overlook LinkedIn.
The professional social network just announced that there are more than 575M members worldwide. With more than 150M members in the US alone, LinkedIn provides an effective way to reach professionals working in your target industries. And although the numbers sound like a marketers dream, it definitely comes with some caveats.
One of the challenges all social networks have is user engagement, and LinkedIn is certainly not immune to this issue. Despite having more than half a billion members, the announcement doesn’t actually specify how many of those members are active. While companies like Twitter and Facebook routinely remove spam accounts, LinkedIn hasn’t publicly shared any account auditing figures.
Additionally, while 575M is a large number, it pales in comparison with Twitter and Facebook, which have 262M and 2.2B active monthly users respectively. But more isn’t always better, and for B2B companies LinkedIn’s targeting functionality can be extremely valuable in the right circumstance.
One of the things that Facebook and Twitter lack is in-depth knowledge of their users’ professional lives. With LinkedIn, you can not only target your ads to people in a specific industry, but you can also filter specific job titles and functionalities. By doing so, you can save money by not serving your ads to people working in unrelated industries or who won’t be influential in the purchasing decision. Even better - it can also help you filter out your competitors.
If you’ve been holding off on advertising on LinkedIn, it might be time to give it a try. Even if you’ve already tested it in previous years, their user growth makes it hard to ignore for B2B promotion.


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New York, Nov 14 (AP/UNB) - A solid 70 percent of Americans plan to shop on Black Friday this year, according to a recent NerdWallet study conducted by The Harris Poll.
But the nature of a day centered around shopping can almost inevitably lead to overspending.
Here are three ways to tell whether participating in Black Friday is really right — or actually wrong — for you.
CONSIDER WHAT YOU'RE BUYING
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is known for long lines, big crowds and low prices.
And while the shopping holiday often does deliver unbeatable deals on things like electronics, certain items are cheaper at other times of the year.
Clothing is generally a bargain on Black Friday, but some clothing reaches its lowest price off-season, according to Charlie Graham, founder and CEO of Shop It to Me, a sale alert app.
"If you're really penny-pinching, you can find better deals when items go on clearance outside of Black Friday and Cyber Monday," Graham says of some apparel.
Think buying swimsuits at the end of winter or sweaters in the middle of summer.
TIP: Consider the items you want this Black Friday and write them down. Then, check Black Friday ads to see if those products will be on sale. Retailers usually release their ads ahead of time — online, by email or in the mail. If you don't see what you want at the price you want, think about waiting to buy.
CONSIDER WHY YOU'RE BUYING
Of those who plan to shop in stores this Black Friday, 42 percent said they plan to do so because they enjoy the in-store hype (e.g., doorbuster deals, camping outside of stores the night before), according to the NerdWallet study.
Enjoying this annual tradition is one thing, but going shopping "just because" isn't always a good idea. Even if you've set a budget before putting on your comfiest sneakers and standing in the cold, you may be susceptible to making additional purchases once you're among the merchandise.
On Black Friday, retailers compete for a share of your wallet, says Jeff Inman, a marketing professor at the University of Pittsburgh and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Consumer Research.
Traditionally, retailers draw in Black Friday shoppers with a few great deals — called "loss leaders" — and hope they'll buy additional items as well. Imagine going for a TV and leaving with clothing and Christmas decorations, too.
While Inman says he hasn't always seen shoppers with huge baskets on Black Friday, he does point to toys as one category where shoppers may spring for something even if they didn't see it in a Black Friday ad.
For example, while in the store, you may come across a toy and decide to buy it for your niece for Christmas. This isn't necessarily an impulse purchase; you already planned to buy a gift for your niece. But since you didn't know the exact item you wanted to buy, he calls selecting this toy an "impulse allocation" of your holiday shopping budget.
This isn't a problem if you can afford it, but be conscious of this possibility when you step foot in the store.
TIP: Think about why you want to shop on Black Friday, and whether you're financially prepared. If you're not sure you can resist the temptation to overshoot your budget, consider skipping.
CONSIDER WHEN YOU'RE BUYING
Finally, plan your timing. With deals launching earlier each year, some Black Friday sales really happen the whole week of Thanksgiving, according to Graham from Shop It to Me.
"To compete with each other, the retailers have been pushing their sales earlier and earlier during that week," Graham says.
Because of this, sometimes shoppers can get Black Friday-level prices before Black Friday.
TIP: Although this might not be true for every product category, monitor sales in the days leading up to Black Friday for an early shot at a good deal.
TO STAY OR TO GO?
Once you decide the what, why and when of your Black Friday shopping, you'll be able to decide whether you should join the crowds or stay on the couch.
Geneva, Nov 14 (AP/UNB) — Christie's sold the "Pink Legacy" diamond at auction Tuesday for more than $50 million including fees, saying it's a new world record price per carat for a pink diamond.
Christie's said renowned jeweler Harry Winston was the buyer. The auction house had expected to fetch $30 million to $50 million for the nearly 19-carat, rectangular-cut stone, the largest fancy vivid pink diamond that it has ever put under the hammer.
It was the standout offering at Christie's fall jewelry auction in Geneva. The standing-room only ballroom broke into applause after the auctioneer struck down a hammer price of $44.5 million. That excludes the standard "buyer's premium" and other fees.
All told, the diamond went for $50.375 million, including the fees.
The stone once belonged to the Oppenheimer diamond family, and Christie's says it's among the most chemically pure gems — with little if any nitrogen.
Rahul Kadakia, Christie's head of international jewelry, said the auction house has sold only four diamonds weighing more than 10 carats of the same color in its 251 years in business.
Christie's chairman for Europe, Francois Curiel, called the stone the "Leonardo da Vinci" of diamonds.
"The 'Pink Legacy' ... brought this extremely high price of $50 million — so $2.6 million per carat, which is a world record price for a pink diamond. The previous record was $2.1 million, but for a much larger stone: Over 50 carats," Curiel said.
Christie's sale kicks off two days of jewelry auctions in Geneva. On Wednesday, Sotheby's will auction jewelry once owned by French Queen Marie Antoinette that hadn't been seen in public for 200 years.
Dhaka, Nov 13 (UNB) – A five-day Iranian film show ended in Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna cities on Tuesday.
Iran Cultural Centre in Dhaka and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) jointly orgnaised the film show at BSA premises of the district units.
The festival got appreciable response with satisfactory presence of audiences, said a press release of Iranian cultural centre.
Earlier on November 8, as part of series film festival, the five-day Iranian film festival started in the districts where audiences were able to enjoy films without any entry fee.
Arteixo, Spain, Nov 12 (AsiaNet/UNB) - Zara's global women's men's and kids' collections will be available online to customers in Bangladesh from November 8.
Zara will launch online sales through a dedicated worldwide online platform - http://www.zara.com/ww - thus bringing its fashions to customers in Bangladesh.
The http://www.zara.com/ww platform, which is available in English and
French and is supported by dedicated customer service similarly available in
both languages, will feature new items from the women's (including the Woman,
Trafaluc and Basic lines, men's and kids' collections twice a week.
The simple and intuitive browsing experience, configured for all devices, has been designed to enable the brand's collections to be shopped as entire looks, thanks to its Corner Shops, which organize the ranges into curated collections(such as the current Dress Time theme), and Stories, which take shoppers on a visual tour of capsule collections and trends.
Zara customers in Bangladesh will also be able to shop the brand's Join
Life range,a selection of garments made from more sustainable raw materials and using more environmentally-friendly processes. In this specific section of the http://www.zara.com/ww platform, consumers can find out more about the stringent sustainability, environmental and quality standards that govern everything Zara does in order to generate value beyond profits.
Zara website (http://www.zara.com/ww)accepts widely used online payment methods such as PayPal, as well as all the main credit cards. Orders will be processed in euros, grossed up by the corresponding delivery and customs charges, and fulfilled from Zara's online platform in Spain; they will be received within three to seven days.
Zara targets shoppers who are looking for the latest fashion trends at responsible prices. This vision, coupled with the feedback obtained from customers from our stores and online platform all around the world, fuels the constant updating of its collections. Twice a week the stores receive new fashions embodying the standards of quality and responsibility that set Zara apart.
The brand was born in 1975 in La Coruna, in the northeast of Spain, where it is still headquartered today. It currently has stores in 96 countries and sells its fashions in 202 markets.
Dhaka, Nov 10 (UNB) -Wrinkles are a natural part of getting older, and there’s no reason to dread getting them. Also known as rhytides, they are folds in your skin. As you age, your skin produces less of the proteins collagen and elastin, which makes your skin thinner. Environmental exposure, dehydration, and toxins can all make your face more likely to develop pronounced wrinkles.
But if you’re especially concerned about your skin’s appearance as you grow older, you may want to speak to a dermatologist.
“If you’ve engaged in lifestyle habits, such as, smoking or excessive drinking, you should be particularly vigilant of your skin’s appearance, as you may be at risk for skin cancer,” says Dr Amitabh Kumar, skin specialist, Max Hospital, Delhi.
If you would like to slow the signs of aging on your face, these are some natural ways to do so:
1. Limit your sugar intake
The medical community continues to learn more about how sugar consumption can affect your health. Sugar in your body sets off a process called glycation, and advanced glycation end products (called AGEs) are no good for your skin. “AGEs break down the collagen in your body and, over time, can make you look older. AGEs have also been linked to food preparation methods such as grilling and frying (as opposed to baking and boiling). Limiting your intake of sugar and oil-rich foods will help your face retain its youthful shape,” says Dr Kumar.
2. Cut out smoking
Smoking is bad for your health for lots of reasons, but many people don’t know that it can age your face prematurely. One fascinating study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons compared the faces of 79 pairs of identical twins in which one had a smoking habit and the other one didn’t. The striking differences in their ages made it clear that smoking does affect the condition of the skin on your face. “Even being around secondhand smoke can increase your risk for many cancers and other diseases, and it may hurt your skin as well,” says Dr Sanjay Aggarwal, a general physician at Holistic Healthcare Centre in Delhi.
3. Wear sunscreen
Most people know that wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) over 30 can help prevent skin cancer. A 2013 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that sunscreen also helped delay the signs of aging. “While you probably already wear a sunscreen for work, wearing a moisturising sunscreen on your face each day is a habit that will benefit your skin health long-term,” says Dr Kumar.
4. Up your antioxidants
Skin is exposed to more oxidative stress -- an imbalance between free radicals or oxygen-containing molecules and antioxidants in your body -- than any other organ in your body. That means your skin can be damaged just by going through your daily routine. Antioxidants help fight the damage that oxidative stress does to your cells, says Dr Aggarwal. While you can purchase a sunscreen or wrinkle cream enriched with antioxidants, there are plenty of other ways to get that antioxidant boost for your skin. “Eating a diet rich in blueberries, grapes, and spinach will help you get healthy skin from the inside out and could reduce the signs of premature aging,” says Dr Kumar.
5. Wash your face regularly
“Taking that extra three to five minutes to wash your face at night is never a waste of your time. When you leave make-up on your face over night, your skin absorbs most of it. Since most cosmetics contain harsh chemicals, this contributes to the oxidative stress your skin faces,” says Dr Aggarwal. That’s why taking an extra three to five minutes to wash your face at night is never a waste of time. Avoid vigorously scrubbing your face. Use a water-based wipe to cleanse your face before you go to sleep, and finish your wash with some cold water splashed across your skin.


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A coalition of civil society organisations have made a Policy for Association complaint demanding that the exclusion of the Samling Group from the Forest Stewardship Council. Samling’s logging operations are not FSC-certified, but the company holds three FSC chain of custody certificates.(more…)
The scandal of Asia Plywood Company in Sarawak, Wickes, B&Q, SCS and FSC
B&Q and Wickes, two of Britain’s biggest DIY stores, have been caught selling plywood falsely labelled as FSC certified.


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At the Alley on Bitters, a small collection of shops and restaurants in Hill Country Village, business owners depend on visitors and browsers for a big chunk of their sales.
But when the coronavirus pandemic took hold, that foot traffic disappeared.
“It’s what we were counting on,” said Brittany Guzman, who opened the Rustic Modern Boutique with her husband, Estevan, shortly before the outbreak shut down most of the city. “It was here, but once COVID hit it became a ghost town.”
To keep the business going, the couple turned to Facebook, posting photos of furniture and Mother’s Day packages and hosting live sales. They also set up a new website with an online store and touted curbside pickup, delivery and shipping options.
Since filming a tutorial on how to refinish cabinets, Brittany Guzman said they’ve been filling a steady stream of orders and plan to eventually offer in-house paint workshops.
“It may be one can, it may be two cans, but we’re selling something every day just based off of that tutorial,” Guzman said.
“I was a little terrified to do it at first, but it definitely paid off,” she added, referring to the stepped-up marketing efforts.
With customers wary of venturing out to stores, and social-distancing and capacity restrictions limiting browsing when they do, small business owners are having to change their strategies to recoup sales and stay afloat.
For the bevy of stores at the Alley — a small slice of San Antonio’s shopping scene — that’s meant offering online classes, posting tutorials and using Facebook and Instagram to highlight products. It’s a different approach for shop owners used to generating more sales face-to-face, with samples and recommendations, than online.
Will it work? It doesn’t generate the revenue that foot traffic usually does, but it’s something, business owners say. For some, it’s taken a kick in the pants to launch social media and e-commerce efforts.
Tucked off of Bitters Road, the quiet retail center formerly known as Artisans Alley is home to around a dozen businesses, including restaurants, stores, a portrait studio, a salon and exercise studios.
Before the pandemic, Casa Chocolates relied heavily on interactions with customers, said owner Brian Mikiten. Employees would explain the flavor notes in different products and invite customers to sample the chocolate.
The outbreak also hurt the wholesale part of the store’s operations — orders from other businesses have shrunk.
Since closing the store, Mikiten has upgraded the website, and online sales are up. The business is also using Facebook and Instagram to stay in touch with customers and has advised other tenants at the Alley on social media strategies.
“It reminds our customers that we’re here, that we have a plan and we’re going to do something,” he said. “We know we’re supposed to be doing social media. Now we have to do it. It’s not a choice anymore.”
After local officials ordered most businesses to shut down, Alley owner Ryan Haag said he gave most tenants a month of free rent and is working with them on payment plans.
Restaurants at the shopping center received loans through the Paycheck Protection Program and are nearly caught up on rent. Haag said he also received a small loan through the program.
Had he continued charging full rent, Haag worried he would lose many of the stores. At the same time, he had property taxes and utility bills to pay.
“Everybody’s been hit pretty hard. I don’t want to lose a lot of people I care about,” he said. “They’ve been doing whatever they could to make it during this time. We’re all having to evolve.”
The shopping center’s marketing director, Jennifer Starr, has also been giving tenants suggestions to boost online marketing, Haag said.
He is hoping more customers return later this summer, but that could depend on whether cases spike as businesses and attractions reopen. Visitors have been trickling in over the past few weeks.
Stores at the Alley are also adding curbside pickup, delivery and shipping, options many big-box retailers have been offering for some time. They’re also adjusting stock. For example, Texas Beach Boutique is ordering more lounge wear and masks, said co-owner Elaine Boston.
The business already had social media accounts and a monthly newsletter when the pandemic started, and the owners are trying to boost those channels, Boston said. She’s learning how to use Instagram.
The boutique recently reopened and is also offering curbside pickup. A customer recently called to ask if she could shop over the phone.
“We’re trying to beef up what we were already doing, and thinking a little bit differently about ordering,” Boston said. “It hasn’t been a huge amount (of online sales), but I think people are appreciative of having options.”
At Originals Beads and Gems, owner Katie Holland moved her beading classes online when the outbreak began. Filming videos, shipping kits and adding inventory is time-consuming, but she has previous experience photographing and listing items online.
“It was something that I really wanted to do for the store — I just hadn’t had time,” she said.


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A city in Madhya Pradesh is offering 10 per cent discount to fully-vaccinated customers in three liquor shops as an incentive to ramp up COVID-19 vaccinations. "Three liquor shops in Mandsaur city will give a discount of 10 per cent to fully-vaccinated customers on the production of vaccination certificate starting tomorrow," as per District Excise Officer order released on Tuesday.
Recently, another district in the state tightened the rules to buy liquor from stores in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Khandwa district had ordered that alcohol will be sold at the liquor stores to only those people who have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine. There are 55 Indian liquor and 19 foreign liquor stores in the district.
Meanwhile, more than 10 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Madhya Pradesh for the second consecutive day on Monday as 13 people tested positive for the infection. On Sunday, 17 people had tested positive for the virus.
With 13 new cases on Monday, the tally of positive cases reported so far in the state has reached 7,93,040. As per the health bulletin released by the Directorate of Health, there are a total of 91 active cases in the state as of Monday.
Maximum cases were reported from Bhopal district as five people tested positive, followed by Indore and Damoh districts as four people tested positive in each of these. No new case was reported from 49 districts of the state.
Positivity rate -- the number of people testing positive out of every 100 samples tested -- stood at 0.02 per cent.
Copyright©2021 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today


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NEW DELHI: Earlier this year, Apple acquired the popular weather app Dark Sky and as part of the acquisition, it was announced that the iPhone maker will shut down the app for Android platform in July. However, the shutdown was delayed for a month but now the app has officially been discontinued. The app is no longer accessible to Android users and the subscribers of the app who have made purchases are eligible for full refunds.In an update on its blog post, the company said, “The Android and Wear OS apps shut down on August 1, 2020. Subscribers who were active at that time will be receiving a full refund. Weather forecasts and maps on the Dark Sky website remain active.” This means that both Android and Android-based smartwatch users will not be able to use this app. However, readers must note that the functionality of the app on iOS platform remains unaffected as it continues to be available for purchase in the App Store. Back when the Cupertino-based tech giant … [Read more...] about Android users can no longer use this recently acquired app by Apple
Best medical alert apps
Not long after killing off the Chromebook Pixel, Google has revived it in a way that no one was expecting leading into its reveal. Now, it’s called the Google Pixelbook, and it takes a sharp turn away from its predecessor. That’s mainly because we’re looking at a machine that can run Android apps natively in addition to bolstering Chrome OS. With ample storage space, nigh-perfect stylus integration and Google Assistant, the Pixelbook is the best Chromebook you can buy. That said, while Google Pixelbook deals will be hard to come by, it's one of the most-searched laptops right now, so it's worth calling out – not to mention being on the lookout for hot deals. In all honesty, you can afford to save your cash for an all-in laptop with more features - this isn't exactly the price tag for a quick Chromebook purchase after all. … [Read more...] about The best cheap Chromebook prices and deals in August 2020
Apple iPhone SE Summary performance Apple A9 storage 32 GB camera 12 MP battery 1642 mAh display 4.0" (10.16 cm) ram 2 GB See Full Specifications Variants Apple iPhone SE Apple iPhone SE 128GB Apple iPhone SE 64GB Apple iPhone SE 16GB … [Read more...] about Apple iPhone SE doesn’t have Haptic Touch support for notifications
During the 14-day stay-home period, device wearers may receive notifications on their device and will need to acknowledge these in a "timely manner". Attempts to leave their place of residence, outside of their scheduled appointments for COVID-19 tests, or tamper with the device will trigger an alert, which is sent to the authorities for follow-up investigations. … [Read more...] about Entry into Singapore gets you mandatory quarantine, monitoring device
“I keep joking that deepfakes are very whiney,” said Balasubramaniyan. He explained that it’s very hard for algorithms to distinguish the ends of words from background noise in a recording. This results in many voice models with speech that trails off more than humans do. … [Read more...] about Audio Deepfakes: Can Anyone Tell If They’re Fake?


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Passwords are usually the main way to keep your online accounts safe, but unless you’re using a complex password that’s hard to remember, your account is probably not as secure as you’re hoping. Luckily, there’s a better way. The FIDO Alliance has been developing the FIDO2 standard for years now, and this week Android has been certified for the protocol. Here’s what that means for you.
Announced today, an update to Google Play Services is rolling out now which adds FIDO2 certification to roughly half of all Android devices available today. The update lets you log in to support apps and services with the fingerprint or PIN on your device rather than requiring a password.
FIDO2 is designed to keep the authentication of your accounts stored locally on the device. As Google’s Christiaan Brand explains (via The Verge), this takes away the “shared secret”. Rather than both you and the service authenticating the account with the password you both know, FIDO2 lets Android users prove they are the authenticated user without the service knowing the “secret.” In this case, the all-too-common security breach won’t expose any of your data.
This sort of functionality is already live in some apps, such as banking applications, but the new certification opens it up to everyone. That means other app developers can implement FIDO2 support into their Android apps, and browsers support the APIs as well.
Android Now FIDO2 Certified, Accelerating Global Migration Beyond Passwords
Mobile apps and websites can now leverage FIDO standards to provide a simpler and secure biometric login for users on over a billion devices supporting Android 7.0+
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FIDO Alliance announced today that Android is now FIDO2 Certified, bringing simpler, stronger authentication capabilities to over a billion devices that use this platform every day. With this news, any compatible device running Android 7.0+ is now FIDO2 Certified out of the box or after an automated Google Play Services update. This gives users the ability to leverage their device’s built-in fingerprint sensor and/or FIDO security keys for secure passwordless access to websites and native applications that support the FIDO2 protocols.
Web and app developers can now add FIDO strong authentication to their Android apps and websites through a simple API call, to bring passwordless, phishing-resistant security to a rapidly expanding base of end users who already have leading Android devices and/or will upgrade to new devices in the future.
“Google has long worked with the FIDO Alliance and W3C to standardize FIDO2 protocols, which give any application the ability to move beyond password authentication while offering protection against phishing attacks. Today’s announcement of FIDO2 certification for Android helps move this initiative forward, giving our partners and developers a standardized way to access secure keystores across devices, both in market already as well as forthcoming models, in order to build convenient biometric controls for users,” said Christiaan Brand, Product Manager, Google.
Already supported in market by leading web browsers Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox (with preview support by Apple Safari), FIDO2 is comprised of the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Authentication specification and the corresponding Client to Authenticator Protocol (CTAP) from FIDO Alliance. Collectively, these standards enable users to more easily and securely login to online services with FIDO2-compliant devices such as fingerprint readers, cameras and/or FIDO security keys.
“FIDO2 was designed from day-one to be implemented by platforms, with the ultimate goal of ubiquity across all the web browsers, devices and services we use every day. With this news from Google, the number of users with FIDO Authentication capabilities has grown dramatically and decisively. Together with the leading web browsers that are already FIDO2 compliant, now is the time for website developers to free their users from the risk and hassle of passwords and integrate FIDO Authentication today,” added Brett McDowell, Executive Director, FIDO Alliance.
FIDO2’s simple user experiences are backed by strong cryptographic security that is transparent to the user and protects against phishing, man-in-the-middle and attacks using stolen credentials. FIDO2 support has been growing since the specifications were introduced last spring. In addition to browser and platform support, several FIDO2 Certified products have been announced to support implementation.


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Defiant Facebook, now renamed Meta, goes all in on metaverse strategy as scrutiny tightens
Facebook, now called Meta, is casting off one of the world’s most famous names to retool itself into a metaverse company. Will its $10 billion bet pay off?
Why Facebook’s Novi wallet could strike gold in SE Asia
Facebook’s Novi is ready to launch. Here’s why the Diem crypto wallet might find an especially warm welcome in places like the Philippines and Malaysia.
Will Facebook’s metaverse future transform how we live online?
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a vision for metaverses — online worlds that one day will replace big parts of our offline lives. But some say that future is already here.
What’s really behind the Bitcoin market crash? Tether USDT lifts veil on reserves. Facebook-backed Diem going to California.
Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: BlockFi’s accidental BTC millionaires. China’s Inner Mongolia asks citizens to report illegal crypto mining.
5 reasons why CBDCs and Facebook-backed Diem go hand-in-hand
When Diem launches and central banks roll out digital currencies, what role will each play? Here is a look at the world’s financial and payments future.
Facebook-backed Diem, now close to launch, is propelling crypto into the mainstream
Formerly named Libra, the Diem stablecoin is now awaiting regulatory approval, writes Ilia Maksimenka of PlasmaPay. What are Diem’s odds of success?
As China’s DCEP approaches launch, Facebook’s Libra pivots
This week has been one where big changes came fast and furious on the opposite sides of the central bank digital currency world. First, alleged screenshots of a mockup of the People’s Bank of China central bank digital currency’s mobile app were published, giving the public a taste of the apparent functionality of the platform […]
Ep. 6 | New blockchain arsenal to fight Covid-19, Zoom cancels Facebook, coronavirus wipes out Digital Farms, and more
Other top headlines from around the world: Microsoft wants to power mining with brain waves. Crypto exchanges Huobi and OKEx under fire. China shifts to digitally sweep ancestral graves.
Will China’s digital currency or Facebook’s Libra challenge Ripple’s cross-border money transfers?
As China, Singapore, Canada and other countries develop digital currencies in part to facilitate cross-border transactions, Ripple’s managing director of South Asia and EMEA Navin Gupta said these currencies would primarily only be used domestically.
Facebook’s Libra will push regulators to take a stance, says R3 chief David E. Rutter
And that’s a good thing for legitimizing blockchain and paving the way to tokenize real assets across industries, the enterprise blockchain creator said at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2019.
Opinion | What Other Big Companies Might Follow Facebook In Adopting Cryptos?
Facebook executives announced not long ago that they would launch their own cryptocurrency, Libra, next year. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has likened his vision for the ease of peer-to-peer cash transfers to sending photos, and now it seems as if the company may be able to bring that vision to life with cryptocurrency. And beyond […]
Facebook’s Libra Gets a Timely ‘Like’ From Japan
Facebook just did the unthinkable in the Donald Trump era: give America’s Republicans and Democrats something on which to agree. Same with the Group of Seven nations taking a dim view of the social media giant minting its own money. US President Trump declared that Libra, Facebook’s proposed virtual currency, “will have little standing or […]
Facebook’s Libra Gets Rough Reception From U.S. Congress
Facebook’s proposed cryptocurrency faced strong political headwinds from U.S. lawmakers. Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, demanded Facebook stop development of Libra, the cryptocurrency the company unveiled on Tuesday. “Given the company’s troubled past, I am requesting that Facebook agree to a moratorium on any movement forward on developing a […]
Facebook Unveils Libra – A Cryptocurrency With Big Goals
Facebook today unveiled its long rumored cryptocurrency, which will be known as Libra, and you won’t need a Facebook account to use it. That’s because Facebook says it wants to help those without bank accounts. “Libra holds the potential to provide billions of people around the world with access to a more inclusive, more open […]
Facebook’s Foray Into Crypto: How It All Began
Adding Blockchain Faces to Facebook: the Acquihire of Chainspace Facebook hired the founding team of Chainspace in Feburary 2019. Chainspace is a blockchain startup developing new technology to scale and speed up the execution of smart contracts on the Ethereum platform. The social media giant seems to be more interested in acquiring Chainspace’s talent than […]
Facebook to Launch Cryptocurrency?
Reports say Facebook will announce its rumored cryptocurrency sometime in June, and will allow employees working on the project to take their salary in it. Facebook appointed former PayPal executive David Marcus last year to explore opportunities with blockchain. Insiders say Marcus has focused on a digital currency, which users will be able to store, […]
Blockchain’s “Voice” Takes on Facebook
Move over Facebook, a new kid is on the block. Voice, a new blockchain-based social media platform, will launch promising users more control over their posts and photos. “The truth is, current social media platforms are designed to use their users,” said Brendan Blumer, CEO of Block.one. “By design, they run by auctioning our information […]
Thousands of people have lost jobs in the tech industry, how is crypto faring?
Circle’s USDC stablecoin regains parity as regulators act to stop bank run risk
Circle said its $3.3 billion of USDC cash reserves at the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank will be available Monday after regulators stepped in to backstop deposits.
What Web3 must do if it wants to attract 1 billion users
Web3 is growing more rapidly than the early internet, writes Ken Timsit of Cronos Labs. But to achieve mainstream success, the following issues must be addressed.
Web3 isn’t just about money, it’s about equality and transparency, says Mysten Labs co-founder
Investors may view Web3 through the lens of financial opportunities and revenue, but that misses the point of trying to build a fairer and more transparent infrastructure, with content creators at the forefront, says Mysten Labs co-founder Evan Cheng
Blockchain gets religion? Taiwan temple mints NFTs of local sea goddess
A centuries old Taiwan temple dedicated to a popular goddess has latched onto non-fungible tokens or NFTs as a means for worshippers to get access to pilgrimages and other events.
Time for reflection: How will FTX’s implosion impact crypto regulation?
This year’s cascade of crypto collapses should be a wake-up call to regulators, says the Independent Community Bankers of America’s Brian Laverdure.
Web 3.0 firms must ‘keep costs low,’ improve efficiency to navigate downturns, says Rotten Tomatoes cofounder
Patrick Lee, who cofounded Rotten Tomatoes and PKO Investments, says the US$35 million investment company has slowed Web 3.0 investments significantly.
Could NFTs have prevented Taylor Swift’s concert tickets debacle?
The trillion-dollar concert ticketing sector is plagued by scalping and other Web2-era problems, writes Ryan Kenny of SeatlabNFT. Here’s how blockchain can help fans and artists.
Chinese mafia forcing Filipinos to work for crypto scams, says Philippine Senator
The organized crime gangs victimize both the trafficked and those that get scammed, according to the official
Genesis crypto broker freezes withdrawals; Winklevoss’s Gemini, S. Korea’s GOPAX exchanges affected
The Genesis brokerage arm of the Digital Currency Group is one of the latest cryptocurrency platforms to lock down withdrawals following the bankruptcy of crypto exchange FTX, and the freeze is spreading.
Mastodon is the hot new alternative to Twitter: Can it decentralize social media?
Can decentralized platform Mastodon, named after an extinct elephant, replace the little blue bird that has dominated the world’s social media landscape for over a decade?
Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary says ‘FTX still has value,’ its story still being written
While FTX’s cash crunch has rattled global markets and investors, a White Knight investor could quickly turn the tide for the company, O’Leary told Forkast in an interview.
Meta’s one-year anniversary: Virtual reality meets tough reality
It is the one-year anniversary of Facebook’s rebrand as Meta, a major step in the company’s foray into virtual reality and Web3. However, in actual reality, not everything has gone to plan for the platform’s new parent company.
Aptos debut underwhelms amid questions over design and performance
Top blockchain and crypto news: Aptos launch falls short. Why FTX chief is calling for crypto regulations. Is Hong Kong paving way for a retail CBDC?
Horizon Worlds fails to lift Meta as users stay away
Top blockchain and crypto news: Mark Zuckerberg’s empty metaverse. South Korea to roll out blockchain IDs. Macau bets on digital money.
Aptos rollout faulted for slow processing speeds; native token plunges
The blockchain network was built by former members of the Meta stablecoin project, with well-known investors and considerable buzz as the new ‘Solana killer.’
Capital gains: How Web3 property rights can transform the digital economy
Digital ownership enabled by Web3 tech can challenge the monopolistic dynamics of Web2 and give people real equity, says Animoca Brands chief Yat Siu
How did Big Tech gain such power over our data, and how do we take it back?
Google earns hundreds of billions annually by monetizing its users. Can blockchain return meaningful control over personal data back to the people?
An internet of blockchains: Interoperability in a multi-chain future
Interoperability among blockchains will be central to the next phase of the technology’s evolution, says Cosmos cofounder Ethan Buchman.
Tornado Cash arrest heralds storm season for crypto mixers
Top blockchain and crypto news: Tornado Cash, mixer crash. Cardano’s Vasil vulnerabilities. Canaan earnings buoy expansion plans.
Problems with tokenizing real estate and how to fix it
Real estate as an investment is not very liquid, composable or accessible, writes Joel Lin of CitaDAO. Can tokenization and DeFi transform this market?
Simping in Web3 to follow the DAO of Irene
Can blockchain technology help starstruck little guys profit from being superfans of popular e-girls? Joel Stein joins Irene Zhao’s IreneDAO to find out.
Affairs of the art: Why NFT creators have fallen for Tezos
Tezos has become a leading art blockchain, even in China, where NFTs are barely tolerated. Its regional chief, Katherine Ng, explains its success
Recovering crypto from insolvent companies may be easier than you think
A stolen painting may be lost forever, but a fraudulent Bitcoin transaction — with these legal strategies and tracing tools — can lead right to the criminal.
How data unions can reshape the global data economy
Europe’s Digital Markets Act will soon take power over personal data away from Big Tech and give it back to the people. How can data cooperatives help?


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Rugby legend Ronan O’Gara lends a hand to boost business tourism from France
Rugby legend Ronan O’Gara joined Tourism Ireland and six Irish tourism companies in France, for a business tourism promotion which took place in the prestigious Irish Embassy in Paris.
The ‘Meet in Ireland’ event – which was attended by about 100 members of Racing Métro’s Business Club, who all have the capacity to bring MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) business to Ireland – provided Tourism Ireland and its partners with a valuable opportunity to network and do business with the influential French decision-makers in attendance.
Given Ronan O’Gara’s high profile involvement with the French rugby union team, Tourism Ireland was delighted to enlist the help of the former Irish out-half, to highlight the island of Ireland as a superb location for meetings and conferences. Monica MacLaverty, Tourism Ireland’s manager of southern Europe, said: “We were delighted that these important French corporate contacts took the time to meet with our Irish partners, to hear about the superb facilities on offer right around the island of Ireland. One of our key messages was the ease of access from France to the island of Ireland – including expanded Aer Lingus services and the new Transavia flight from Paris-Orly to Dublin. France is the third most important market for business tourism to Ireland and Tourism Ireland has a busy programme of promotional activity in place for 2015 to grow this type of tourism.”
Business tourism is one of the highest yield sectors in tourism, with the average spend of business travellers being significantly higher than that of leisure tourists.
Rugby legend Ronan O’Gara with Caroline Phelan and Monica MacLaverty, both Tourism Ireland, at a business tourism event in the Irish Embassy in Paris.
Notes To Editors
- Tourism Ireland is the organisation responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination.
- Tourism is the island of Ireland’s largest indigenous industry; responsible for in excess of 4% of GNP in the Republic of Ireland and employing approximately 200,000 people.
- In 2014, we welcomed an estimated 8.6 million overseas visitors to the island of Ireland, delivering revenue of about €4.26 billion. Overseas tourism business accounts for 59% of all tourism revenue.
- Tourism Ireland’s international website is www.Ireland.com, available in ten different language versions for over 30 individual markets around the world. In 2014, Ireland.com attracted about 14.25 million visitors.


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5 Facts: Could an Equinox IPO Challenge Peloton?
The SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) craze continues with Equinox Holdings fishing for the best deal for its initial public offering (IPO) among a field of potential mergers. Equinox Holdings has a majority stake in fitness company SoulCycle, rival to streaming exercise and workout machine enterprise Peloton Inc. (NASDAQ: PTON), and operates a range of fitness clubs and even hotels.
Now, the company is on the verge of an IPO through a merger. What about the potential deal could be useful for investors?
1. Equinox is in Talks with 10+ SPACs
This week’s news, first reported by Sportico, has Equinox Holdings shopping around among approximately 12 SPACs for the best deal on a potential IPO. The company also isn’t certain to go the SPAC merger route for its IPO. In addition, it is looking into the possibility of using a more traditional private equity firm. However, with Businessweek reporting that SPACs collectively control over $1 trillion in purchasing power as of March 2021, it seems likely Equinox may find what it’s looking for among these numerous, well-funded entities.
2. The Company’s Valuation is Strengthened by Expectations
With COVID-19 starting to noticeably decline and the economy beginning to reopen, investors are now looking for good recovery plays. An unidentified private equity investor involved in the current Equinox negotiations said Wall Street might put Equinox into this category, with fitness clubs likely to reopen in the near future with a surge in demand.
Silver Lake Partners, an equity firm, provided the company with a chunk of cash last year specifically to challenge meteoric fitness sector success story Peloton, at which time Equinox was valued at $9 billion. With a recovery boost figured in, the valuation might be even higher (Peloton currently has a $30 billion-plus market cap).
3. SoulCycle is Offering Outdoor Classes
SoulCycle, one of Equinox’s major brands and a higher-end fitness company, began offering outdoor cycling classes in 20 cities in the middle of March, 2021. The move is clearly an effort to increase revenue before COVID-19 is completely vanquished, since the outdoor venue made possible by warming weather across much of the United States makes social distancing and compliance with health rules easier.
However, the company likely still has an uphill battle to compete against Peloton, which established itself as the streaming fitness sector’s leader during 2020 while pandemic lockdowns remained in place.
4. The SPAC Boom May Be Attracting Government Attention
On the bearish side of the equation, Equinox Holdings may be trying to go public with an investment mechanism currently drawing potentially unfavorable government scrutiny, specifically from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
With more than 400 SPACs currently active, as reported by Benzinga, and March investments in SPACs skyrocketing 3,043% year over year to $30.8 billion (with the month not even over yet), some government investigation is probably inevitable sooner or later.
Rumors say the enforcement division of the SEC is querying banks for information about the SPACs, meaning a serious investigation could be forthcoming. While there is a small risk this could short-circuit Equinox’s IPO plans, the possibility still exists, depending on the SEC’s findings and actions.
5. Equinox is Directly Challenging Peloton
The $43 billion private equity firm Silver Lake Partners made a major investment in Equinox Holdings last February, with the express purpose of challenging Peloton in the fitness sector. According to fitness business news site Club Industry, the investment was aimed at developing a robust digital platform, opening 50 new locations yearly, and possibly offering its own at-home fitness bike models.
The equity firm saw the potential for Equinox to take on Peloton at that time—though on a cautionary note, this was prior to Peloton’s scorching bull run over the course of 2020, powered by the total shutdown of in-person gyms and a home fitness boom prompted by COVID-19 risks.
When Could Equinox IPO?
At this point, Equinox Holdings is still just a potential IPO, so detailed information about its performance and that of its various brands still isn’t publicly available. However, it’s clear the company may launch with a valuation of $9 billion or perhaps somewhat higher, and it seems to be strongly considering a near-future merger with a SPAC as its bridge onto the public stock market.
The success of Peloton has many investors interested in cutting-edge fitness companies. With Equinox also seeing potential tailwinds from the economic reopening, this is one company worth following as it moves forward with the public offering process.
The next blockbuster IPO?
2021 could be one of the biggest years for IPOs in stock market history. Yet, with just a small fraction of IPOs historically driving nearly all the profits, who will you trust to uncover the most innovative and high-upside IPOs in the coming months?
There’s a company that “called” these businesses long before they hit it big. They first recommended Netflix in 2004 at $1.85 per share, Amazon in 2002 at $15.31 per share, and Apple back in the iPod Shuffle era at $4.97 per share. Take a look where they are now.
That company: The Motley Fool.
For people ready to make investing part of their strategy for financial freedom, take a look at The Motley Fool’s flagship investing service, Stock Advisor. They just announced their top 10 “best buys now” across the entire stock market. Whether you’re starting with $100, $500, or more, you should check out the full details.


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Cossiga has released the new LP Plus range with an aim to satisfy the increasing demand for one-tier display.
In the release of its new catalogue Cossiga has unveiled the LP Plus, alongside a number of new product ranges.
The announcement of the LP Plus coincides with a market that is seeing greater demand for low profile one-tier display, particularly for delicacies, sushi or New York deli style display.
Available in three sizes, 900mm, 1200mm and 1500mm, the LP Plus features large sliding rear doors which gives easier access to products
An adjustable deck height gives flexibility based on food type and a gentle airflow means produce will last for longer when displayed.
Manager of Cossiga, Jack Rice, said: “We are delighted to have this new range as part of our family, the slick clean lines of LP Plus takes fine food display to another level.”


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Music Gear News
Drummer supports easing live music restrictions
Electric guitar players, bassists and drummers could find it easier to get pub gigs if one campaigner gets his way.
Hamish Birchall, who plays the drum kit on a semi-professional basis, said live music in pubs is "central" to the live music scene.
However, he believes the sector is being harmed by excessive regulation outlined in the Licensing Act.
"It is dying out as hosts are getting tangled up in licensing," he told the Morning Advertiser.
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Clement-Jones has been among those to call for existing licensing laws to be relaxed for smaller venues.
He wants pubs with a capacity of less than 200 to be exempt from the need to apply for a music licence.
Lord Clement Jones added that the existing system imposes some "quite ridiculous" conditions on smaller venues.
Earlier this month, the government confirmed it is considering revising the rules to allow performances for 100 people or less to be staged without the venue applying for a licence.
Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe said the government is very keen to do what it can to support both audiences and musicians.Posted on 14 Jan 2010 15:00 to category : Music News
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Specifically designed to be used in conjunction with the BOSS Katana 100W Head, the 212 Boss cabinet responds perfectly to every nuance and characteristic of BOSS' flagship solid state.
With the advent of various new files formats and the cancelling of several licensing programs, the MP3 is speculated to soon become a thing of the past.
JBL Professional has launched a competition that gives aspiring musician the opportunity to record in a professional facility with renowned producer Steve Levine.
Delivered by Choreographer and Theater Director Arlene Phillips, The Bacc For the Future campaign has acquired support of over 100 hundred influential figures
On the 22nd of April, Pink Floyd will be releasing an unheard version of the iconic classic 'Interstellar Overdrive' in celebration of world record day
With an increased quality of specifications right across the board, Apple's eponymous 'iPad' will host a whole generous selection of great new features.
Recent Music News
Here at Gear4music we have a great relationship with Zildjian Cymbals and this year we were lucky enough to be invited to the factory and headquarters over in Norwell, Massachusetts, USA.
The new-for-2019 IK Multimedia fuses a premium audio interface with advanced guitar tones. The result is "the audio interface guitar players were waiting for."
Blurring the boundary between music production and DJ performance is the new AKAI Force - a standalone system to revolutionise the way we make music.
Denon DJ consolidates its Prime technology into a standalone DJ system for 2019, featuring a glorious 10-inch HD touchscreen display powered by Engine Prime.
British amp manufacturer Vox announces a small collection of exciting new amps for 2019, covering all bases with traditional valve, NuTube, and digital modelling varieties.
It's been over 10 years, but the Technics SL-1200 DJ turntable is back, and it's better than ever!


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Okay, first thing first – A Very Happy New Year to You! New Year, new goals and here we are with the brand new 3 FSSAI Updates (that came in the last week of the last year, but nonetheless!) that has welcomed you in 2018. Take a look?
1. FSSAI has asked all the Food Companies to re-validate their product approvals to comply with current regulations.
The year has started with FSSAI asking all the Food Businesses and companies to re-validate the product approvals. Up until 2015, NOCs/product approvals were granted to new food products; however, FSSAI has initiated inclusion of several new additives, ingredients and process aids in the regulations itself.
Over the last two years, several changes (read modifications and additions) have been made to the regulations; hence, FSSAI has now asked the companies to re-check and analyse if their products comply with the ones mentioned in the standards. Those products which cannot be categorised under the food types (botanicals, food supplements, prebiotics, nutraceuticals, etc) need revalidation and the time period allotted for the same is 30 days.
2. Government to now step up and pay a consumer for the Tests, if the food product is found to be adulterated.
In a very interesting way to encourage people to test for adulteration themselves, Government has now stated that if the questionable product is found adulterated, the former shall pay for the tests. This comes after FSSAI has released DART (Detect Adulteration and Rapid Test) – An extensive document that explains how to identify adulteration at home by a common man.
Considering it to be time and money consuming, with no idea about the testing process, people refrain from getting food tested. This initiative is to micromanage and understand the levels of food safety.
3. To maintain uniformity in the ‘Health claims’, FSSAI has released the proven benefits of the Microvitamins.
Different FBOs claim different health benefits of a range of micro vitamins, born out of a pure absence of information. This results in confusion amongst consumers and creates hurdles in ‘informed Purchase’ of any product. Hence, FSSAI has released a document, highlighting the health claims of each micro vitamin for uniformed claims across food businesses.
Like, Vitamin A – Helps against Night Blindness
Vitamin B12 – Important for normal functioning of nervous system and blood formation
Small improvisations in the food standards lead to a major change which ultimately benefits the Food Businesses and Consumers. It is always important for all food businesses to stay up-to-date with the upcoming and latest FSSAI Updates and notifications.
To receive FSSAI updates like these in your WhatsApp inbox every week, on your mobile device, click here and send us ‘SUBSCRIBE’.
For any other queries, click here to connect with India’s Leading Food, Water and Air Testing Laboratory.
*No promotional or sales-related messages shall be sent.*


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A wide ranging commentary and dialogue
on the media, politics, today's headlines and the popular culture. Always fresh and new every day! Now celebrating our second decade and more than four million page views.
The People’s House @WhiteHouse is ready to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season! pic.twitter.com/oejKW3mC15
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) November 26, 2018
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WESTFIELD, N.Y. — A Seattle brewery that has gained popularity for its line of gluten-free beer has plans to make Western New York its second home.
Ghostfish Brewing East is led by Chautauqua County businessman Matt Swank, who signed a three-year lease for 5,100 square feet at the Lake Erie Grape Discovery Center on Route 20 in Westfield. Three liquor license applications were filed for the location on June 7 through the State Liquor Authority.
Swank has interests in Ghostfish Brewing Co. in Seattle, which launched its taproom and gastropub in 2015 and has since expanded with wholesale distribution across 17 states, including New York, as well as into Canada and the UK. You can read the full story on Buffalo Business First''s website.


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Marriott International recently revealed a new ad campaign called “Golden Rule” that it hopes will bring together guests around its brands and associates. The campaign features four of Marriott’s classic select brands—Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Four Points by Sheraton—showcasing ways in which associates have made a difference for guests. In the 60-second “Human” spot (above) and others, the brand tells real stories from hotel associates.
“The ‘Golden Rule’ campaign personifies how our associates fundamentally go beyond making one’s bed to making someone’s day,” said Paige Francis, Vice President Global Brand Marketing. “With these four brands comprising a third of Marriott’s portfolio, we use our powerhouse status to celebrate human connections, whether it’s in Seattle or Singapore.”
In addition to airing four ad spots on major TV networks, the campaign has a digital-only component located on the Golden Rule website that features associate stories filmed with actual guests. In the future, Marriott plans to expand the campaign to include a documentary series to share more examples of how their associates enrich lives.
Let’s face it: I will always be a fan of the brand campaign “ArtNight” by SpringHill Suites. Bring it back! But it does make sense to market several brands at once in this way now that the company is 30-brands deep. And what a thoughtful, heartwarming campaign to lead with. Take a look and share your thoughts in the comments!
Check out all the ad spots and videos at goldenrule.marriott.com.


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Boeing stock tumbles after fire on 787 Dreamliner
LONDON (AP) - A fire aboard an empty 787 at Heathrow Airport spooked Boeing investors Friday, as they feared the re-emergence of battery problems that grounded the plane for months earlier this year.
At one point, a rapid sell-off had knocked $6 billion off Boeing's market value. The stock recovered slightly as speculation about the cause of the fire shifted away from the batteries. Shares closed down $5.01, or 4.7 percent, to $101.87.
The cause of the fire on the Ethiopian Airlines plane - which broke out more than 8 hours after it had landed - remained under investigation. Meanwhile, an unspecified mechanical issue caused another 787 flown by Thomson Airways to return to Manchester Airport, adding to concerns about the plane.
AT&T to buy Leap Wireless for about $1.2 billion
DALLAS (AP) - AT&T says it will acquire Leap Wireless, the pre-paid cellphone carrier behind the Cricket brand, for $15 a share in cash, or about $1.19 billion.
Under the deal, AT&T will buy all of Leap's stock and wireless properties, including licenses, network, retail stores and 5 million subscribers.
Leap, of San Diego, had $2.8 billion of net debt.
AT&T says it will keep the Cricket brand name and provide Cricket customers with access to AT&T's "4G LTE" high-speed wireless network.
FDA sets new limits on arsenic in apple juice
WASHINGTON (AP) - Parents who have been fretting over the low levels of arsenic found in apple juice can feel better about buying one of their kids' favorite drinks.
The Food and Drug Administration is setting a new limit on the level of arsenic allowed in apple juice, after more than a year of public pressure from consumer groups worried about the contaminant's effects on children. Nationwide, apple juice is second only to orange juice in popularity, according to industry groups.
Studies have shown that the juice contains very low levels of arsenic, a cancer-causing agent found in everything from water to soil to pesticides. The FDA has monitored arsenic in apple juice for decades and has long said the levels are not dangerous to consumers, in particular small children who favor fruit juice.
US Airways shareholders approve American merger
NEW YORK (AP) - US Airways shareholders overwhelmingly approved a proposed merger with American Airlines, bringing the companies closer to creating the world's biggest airline.
The main hurdle now is a review by antitrust regulators at the U.S. Department of Justice. Concerns have been raised about the merger's impact on airfares, and the combined airline's potential dominance at Washington's Reagan National Airport.
The man who will lead the combined company, US Airways CEO Doug Parker, was once again adamant Friday that the combined airline should not be forced to give up any takeoff and landing slots at Reagan National, where it will be by far the biggest carrier.
JPMorgan's profit surges on investment banking
NEW YORK (AP) - A surge in investment banking pushed up JPMorgan's second-quarter profit even as results at its consumer business sagged.
JPMorgan earned a bonanza in fees from underwriting stock and bond offerings in the first three months of the year as financial markets thrived. The gain offset a slight decline at the bank's consumer business, which struggled with lower mortgage fees.
The bank made $6.1 billion in the second quarter after stripping out payments to preferred shareholders. That was up 32 percent from the same period a year ago, when it made $4.6 billion. Profits in the year-ago period were affected by a trading loss.
Hyundai US CEO: We can't build cars fast enough
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Hyundai Motor Co.'s factories have reached their maximum capacity to build cars, and that's costing the company sales in a growing U.S. market, its American CEO said Friday.
Hyundai's U.S. sales are up only 1.9 percent for the first half of the year, less than a quarter of the overall market's 8.4 percent growth rate, according to Autodata Corp. Industry analysts are predicting that sales will rise as high as 15.5 million cars and trucks this year, a million more than last year, and there are predictions of nearly 16 million in 2014.
A Hyundai factory near Montgomery, Ala., that makes the Elantra compact and Sonata midsize car, the company's two top-selling vehicles, is at capacity, as is a plant in West Point, Ga., run by sister company Kia where Hyundai's popular Santa Fe crossover utility vehicle is made. Other models are made at factories in Korea, which also are at capacity. U.S. CEO John Krafcik said both U.S. plants are on the maximum three shifts with workers on maximum overtime, yet they still can't keep up with demand.
Owners call off Hulu sale, to inject cash instead
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The on-again, off-again sale of Hulu is off - again.
Hulu's owners, 21st Century Fox, Disney and NBCUniversal, said Friday that they will remain owners of the online video service, while providing a cash infusion of about $750 million to ensure its future growth.
The owners accepted formal bids for Hulu as recently as last week as part of their second attempt in three years to sell the company. But Friday's announcement suggests the bids were too low. Reports pegged the high end of bidding around $1 billion, which is half of what Hulu was valued at when the existing owners bought out Providence Equity Partners' 10 percent stake for $200 million in April 2012.
US wholesale prices up 0.8 percent in June
WASHINGTON (AP) - A big jump in gasoline prices pushed wholesale inflation up in June by the largest amount in nine months. But underlying inflation showed only a modest gain.
Wholesale prices rose 0.8 percent in June compared with May, when prices had risen 0.5 percent, the Labor Department reported Friday. It was the biggest gain since a 1 percent jump in September and was driven by a 7.2 percent surge in gasoline prices.
Outside of the volatile energy and food sectors, core inflation was up just 0.2 percent in June.
UPS says 2Q profit smaller than analysts expected
ATLANTA (AP) - UPS shares tumbled Friday after it predicted disappointing second-quarter earnings and reduced its profit forecast for the full year.
United Parcel Service Co. and rival FedEx Corp. are suffering as customers increasingly trade down from expensive priority shipping to slower and less expensive options. UPS expects this and other trends to continue.
The Atlanta company said that second-quarter earnings, excluding special items, would be $1.13 per share. Analysts were expecting $1.20 per share, according to a survey by FactSet.
World's largest building opens in west China
BEIJING (AP) - Move aside Dubai. China now has what is billed as the world's largest building - a vast, wavy rectangular box of glass and steel that will house shops, hotels, offices and a faux ocean beach with a huge LED screen for video sunsets.
The mammoth New Century Global Center that opened last month in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu has 1.7 million square meters (19 million square feet) of floor space - or about 329 football fields - edging out the previous record-holder, the Dubai airport.
The structure is half a kilometer long, 400 meters wide and 100 meters high.
By The Associated Press=
The Dow Jones industrial average up 3.38 points, just 0.02 percent, at 15,464.30. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 5.17 points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,680.19. The Nasdaq composite edged up 21.78 points, or 0.6 percent, to 3,600.08.
Benchmark crude oil for August delivery gained $1.04 to $105.95 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude gained $1.08 to $108.81 on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
Natural gas added 3 cents to $3.64 per 1,000 cubic feet. Heating oil advanced 3 cents to $3.03 a gallon. Gasoline futures rose 10 cents, or 3.2 percent, Friday to $3.12 a gallon, and have risen about 37 cents in July.


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A MOLESEY butcher has won a top prize, thanks to a national prize draw.
The draw was organised by Dalziel, the specialist supplier to the meat-processing industry, and saw winning butcher Peter Dale scoop a £2,500 mincer.
Based in Bridge Street, East Molesey, Peter — who has his own “special” sausage recipe — was chosen from more than 500 butchers nationwide, and was one of only four lucky winners.
He said: “We make our own mince, sausages and burgers, so we can choose the best quality meat for our customers. The mincer will really help get the work done a lot quicker.”
Dalziel managing director Ian Darroch said it was good to see butchers investing in good-quality products and equipment that will give customers a “first-class sausage”.
He said: “At Dalziel, we pride ourselves on providing the best products, backed by high quality customer service and support.”


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GENEVA — Apparel production in developing countries, led by gains in China, Indonesia and Turkey, increased 3.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the same period the year before, but the sector came in below the 7.5 percent increase in total manufacturing in developing countries due to a decline in consumer demand in recession-hit Europe and slack growth in other industrialized nations, a United Nations report said.
The prospect for growth in manufacturing in developing economies for 2013 “greatly depends on the recovery trends in industrialized countries and policy measures adopted by developing countries,” said the report by the Vienna-based U.N. Industrial Development Organization.
Hermès is launching a Laundromat pop-up shop in NYC - dubbed Hermèsmatic - where customers can bring their old scarves to be dip-dyed by an expert. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews (📷: @donstahl)


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Genshin Impact has been an amazing success: just two weeks after its launch in October 2020, it reclaimed its development costs and the mobile version alone recorded more than 15 million downloads in just a few days. Even after a year and a half, the free open-world role-playing game is still bringing new content and streaming from the Chinese developer studio HoYoVersewas formerly known by the name MiHoYocrazy sums in even.
No wonder, then, that one remembers success Jinshin effect He wants to continue and now announces the following match: Zenless Zone Zero It will be the name of the new title and instead of the picturesque landscapes of Teyvat, players can expect the futuristic Cyberpunk city New Eridu this time.
Loads of action and a bit of post-apocalypse: Zenless Zone Zero
But what would the future be without? Postapocalypse? Accordingly, civilization has already been destroyed by a huge catastrophe and New Eridu The last stronghold of mankind. New technologies are used to defend New Eridu not only against the so-called hollow, which summon monsters from other dimensions, but also to use them to obtain resources.
As crazy as the story sounds, the battles against said monsters seem to be full of action: the first trailer for the game puts the various, and sometimes very crazy, characters in the spotlight in a wonderful way, and how they clean the streets of New Eridu of creatures with amazing attacks.
Not much is known about Zenless Zone Zero at this point. The game should be first On PC and iOS Show, other platforms planned, one Termin . release But there is not yet. Interested fans can register at official site Sign up for beta tests, but the rush is big: there are already over a million registrations.
sources: official site


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Realme is gearing up for a host of new smartphone launches in 2024. Most recently, the Chinese electronics manufacturer debuted the Realme C67 5G in India last month, with a 4G variant of the handset also following suit. Now, Realme India has confirmed that it would share a new update soon. It is speculated that company's next smartphone launch in the country could be the Realme 12 series or the Realme GT 5 Pro, which was unveiled in China in December.
Realme India shared an update New Year's morning on X (formerly Twitter), teasing an upcoming smartphone launch. “Stay tuned for the real update,” the post read, marking January 3, 7.30 AM IST for a possible launch date reveal for an unnamed handset. While the company did not share any details or teaser images of a device in the post, it invited other users to guess what the update was about.
It has been speculated that the update post could be alluding to the upcoming launch of the Realme 12 Pro and Realme 12 Pro+. The two phones were recently spotted on the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) website, suggesting an imminent launch. The Realme 12 series handsets were reportedly listed on the TDRA website with model numbers RMX3842 and RMX3840, respectively. The listing confirmed the monikers for the smartphones and indicated 5G connectivity on the handsets.
The Realme 12 Pro and Realme 12 Pro+ were earlier also spotted on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) website, hinting at an upcoming India launch. The high-end Pro+ model was also reportedly spotted on Indonesia's SDPPI certification site.
It's worth noting that Realme has not officially announced the 12 series yet. The company has, however, teased a new flagship smartphone with a periscope camera. Realme posted a teaser on X last week, hinting at the launch of a new smartphone with enhanced zoom capabilities in the country. The phone is speculated to be the Realme 12 Pro+.
Tipster Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) had reposted the teaser image and claimed that the phone would be Realme 12 Pro+ and would debut by the end of January or in February. The Redmi 12 Pro+ is also tipped to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 series chipset, most likely the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC.
The latest Redmi update referring to a January 3 announcement could also be related to the Realme GT 5 Pro. The handset launched in China on December 7, packed with flagship specs like Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a 1.5K resolution display with 144Hz refresh rate and up to 4,500 nits of peak brightness, and a triple rear camera unit led by a 50-megapixel primary Sony LYT-808 sensor. The Realme GT 5 Pro starts at CNY 3,298 (roughly Rs. 40,000) for the base 12GB RAM + 256GB variant. The company has not yet confirmed an Indian launch timeline for the phone.
Realme might not want the Mini Capsule to be the defining feature of the Realme C55, but will it end up being one of the phone's most talked-about hardware specifications? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts. Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.


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Convergence Ventures and CyberAgent Ventures have led a $4.2 million pre-Series A round for Indonesian hotel reservation service provider Nida Roomss.
The company - which offers online budget room booking services across Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia - was valued at about $11 million in the deal. The capital is expected to be applied to expansion efforts within ASEAN markets before a broader international push.
"The Nida Rooms opportunity fit our investment thesis well," said Adrian Li, managing partner of Convergence Ventures, according to Tech In Asia. "They have a strong and experienced team leading the implementation of a new business model developed to address the pain points of cost-conscious travelers around the world."
Currency movements and good performance boost demand for European secondaries
Its previous vehicle, Partners Group Secondary 2011, reached a final close on €2bn in 2012
Both associates joined the mezzanine house in March


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Deutsche Telekom said yesterday that it would buy a 21 percent stake in Malaysia's biggest mobile phone company, TRI, and was discussing alliances with companies in Thailand and the Philippines. Herbert Mueller, Deutsche Telekom's Asia Pacific managing director, declined to say which Asian companies Deutsche Telekom was talking to. He said the company was "most likely to concentrate" on the Philippines and Thailand.
Deutsche Telekom said it planned to pay upward of 646.7 million ringgit ($260 million) for the stake in Technology Resources Industries Bhd., known as TRI. "TRI is the strongest mobile phone operator in the Malaysian market, with a 70 to 75 percent market share," Mr. Mueller said. (Bloomberg Business News)Continue reading the main story


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Tencent Holdings Ltd., the rapidly growing Chinese internet giant, is proving a welcome source of capital to America’s fledgling companies, with Snap Inc. the latest beneficiary of its deep pockets.
Tencent, one of the world’s most valuable technology companies and best known in China for its WeChat messaging app, recently purchased a 12% stake in Snap in the open market, becoming one of its largest shareholders, Snap revealed Wednesday.
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Dates set for Independent Booksellers’ Week 2011
The Booksellers Association (BA) has just announced the dates for this year’s Independent Booksellers Week, their annual promotion of the independent sector. The week will run from Saturday June 18th, culminating on Saturday 25th June with National Reading Group Day.
This year’s objectives include increasing the number of bookshops taking part and raising the national profile of independent bookshops. Promotional plans include new branded point of sale materials and a major public relations campaign which kicks off in April. Key features include the IBW Book Prize, the IBW Matchmaking Hotline – which matches authors and bookshops for author visits – and a repeat of the successful competition ‘Overheard in a Bookshop’.
As in past years, a wide variety of events is expected to take place across the country, with author visits, competitions and special events. Last year’s activities included numerous food-related events, with The Book Hive in Norwich serving sake and sushi and Lancashire’s Silverdell Books producing promotional flavours to celebrate visiting authors in its in-store icecream parlour.
“This year’s IBW promises to be another great promotional period for booksellers, publishers and authors alike, and we hope that all independents will make the most of the opportunity,” said Meryl Halls, head of membership services at the BA.
“Independent Booksellers Week gives us the opportunity to highlight the many entrepreneurial, energetic, community-based booksellers and showcase how they are successfully providing an excellent, personal service for their customers.”
Over 250 independent booksellers took part in 2010, holding over one thousand events, which ranged from creative writing workshops to authors’ evenings, exhibitions and children’s book parties. The week was supported politically by Mark Menzies M.P., in the House of Commons and through a motion proposed by M.S.P., Aileen Campbell in the Scottish Parliament.
The BA anticipates that leading authors, wholesalers and publishers will again be supporting the sector, with a number of publishers planning bespoke promotions during campaign week. Publishers interested in participating should contact Meryl Halls at the BA [email protected] or call 020 7802 0811.
The BA is inviting all indie members to register interest by contacting Sharon Down on 020 7802 0802, email: [email protected].


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Germany, Argentina locked at nil-all, Football World Cup final goes to extra time ... Read more
Dodge ups bragging rights in the modern muscle car era with a Challenger SRT Hellcat blasting a ¼-mile run in 10.8 secs.
Foreign drivers with no experience of alpine conditions are being kept under close watch.
Ngauranga Gorge's new state-of-the art speed cameras went live today, in a nationwide first.
Ghost cars and virtual racing lines projected onto windscreen thanks to a futuristic new concept.
Christchurch's mayoral limousine has sold for just over $32,000.
A great British brand creates American style from a parallel motorcycling universe.
Motorsport legend Sir Stirling Moss and one of his favourite cars, the Maserati 250F, to headline a 100 year celebration at Silverstone.
Motoring show Top Gear is embroiled in a fresh controversy after staging a stunt at the site of a fatal car crash.
More than 65,000 motorcycles recalled overseas after brake issues.
Ford has taken to social media to tease the first official image of its new Falcon, due later this year.
Six men arrested after an alleged "chop shop" found in a Wellington suburb.
As crashes go this is a really dolly.
Discount offered for premium German F1 Grand Prix tickets on a goals scored basis costs organisers a bomb.
Handlebar mounted camera captures a cyclist's view of a hit-and-run head-on collision with a car.
AA goes online to remind parents not to turn a blind eye to their children breaching restricted licence conditions.
Petrol and diesel prices dropped this morning as the NZ dollar continues to strengthen.
They are rolling symbols of wealth and excess and they are more popular than ever before.
Police target tourists at airport car rental firms to reduce number of crashes involving foreign drivers.
A fourth highway lane will potentially free up the Hutt Rd and allow a focus on cyclists.
The first sod has been turned on Taranaki's Vickers to City project.
The least expensive proper working ute in NZ looks like a useful entrant in our burgeoning workhorse market.
New BMW M4 shown drifting on the "ultimate racetrack".
ROB MAETZIG - Taranaki Daily NewsThe Koreans are doing some good things with small-capacity turbocharged engines.
Wellington's urban motorway is about to get bigger as part of a $50m project announced by NZTA yesterday.
Details of Porsche's new flat-eight powered supercar revealed.
Germany's transport minister has unveiled plans to charge foreign drivers a road-use toll.
Otaki has become a concreting base for the $650 million MacKays to Peka Peka expressway - and potentially Transmission Gully.
Rally driver David Taylor won't put brakes on career after a crash in a car that spawned a deluge of playground jokes.
Used passenger-car sales in June were the strongest for the month for nine years.
Mechanic Don Burgess has long coveted a car he regularly serviced but had to wait nearly 30 years before he could buy it.
Pondering the Italian 800 triple, Paul Owen asks the unanswerable question.
Egypt will raise fuel prices in ranges that reach up to a 78 per cent hike today.
Its topless sister may turn heads, but it's the new Coupe version that best displays the Jaguar F-type's talent.
Did you know you can now afford a proper fully-quipped electric family hatch without breaking the bank?
BP has dropped its diesel price for the second time this week, but no change to the price of petrol is expected just yet.
General Motors recalled 3.4 million large cars last month after finding a 9-year-old email in its files warning of trouble.
Retro hatch pays tribute to bygone bug culture.
It does not go but that has not stopped Christchurch's mayoral Daimler attracting 60 online auction bids.
No race, but this weekend a Scot becomes first woman in 22 years to drive in a grand prix event.
Driver of older car received life-threatening injuries in a head-on crash while occupants of more modern car sustained no injuries.
As the countdown begins towards the first full facelift of the VW Amarok ute, some special editions have started to arrive.
Honda is recalling nearly 6000 cars in New Zealand due to a potentially dangerous airbag defect.
From screaming children to a top 40 hit, when you press the accelerator of a modern car there could be almost any sound.
A dozen stolen cars found as police raid Auckland workshop allegedly operating as a chop shop.
Doug James' hunt for his dream car ended 12 months ago and don't expect to see anyone else driving it.
If you think buying vehicles is expensive in New Zealand, wait until you see the mark-ups on cars in Cuba.
From those who need to go off-road to those who just want a bit of extra height, SUVs have something for everyone.
Record penalty dished out to man who sold too many cars - and not for the first time.
More new commercial vehicles were sold last month than ever before.
A teenage girl got a real eyeful when an inflating airbag actually left its mesh pattern on the surface of her eye.


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updated - October 26, 2020 Monday EDT
Belk, Inc., has announced that it will be 100 percent owned by Sycamore Partners for a transaction that is valued at approximately $3 billion, according to a press release issued by Belk.
Tim Belk, the current chairman and CEO of Belk, the nation's largest family owned and operated fashion department store company, will remain as CEO even after the transaction.
Belk said in the press release that the company is delighted to be partnered with Sycamore.
"We are delighted to have found a financial partner that sees what we see in Belk," he said. "This transaction is an across-the-board win for our stakeholders."
He added in the press release that they plan to grow Belk by combining their current strategies with the new initiatives resulting in the merger.
"We plan to grow Belk by executing our current strategic initiatives and undertaking new growth initiatives together with Sycamore," he said.
Bloomberg adds that the acquisition of Belk is a different from the businesses that it used to acquire in the past as Belk has shown to preserve in a sluggish industry with sales steadily increasing over the past five years.
Sycamore is known for investing in retail companies that are struggling and they try to bolster them.
Stefan Kaluzny, managing director of Sycamore, said in the press release that investing in a company like Belk is what they are looking for.
"We have great respect for Belk's management team and associates, its deeply rooted brand, its footprint of stores and its growing online presence," he said. "Belk is exactly the kind of investment we look for: an outstanding brand with a proven success formula and the potential for further growth."
Under the agreement, all Belk stockholders will receive $68 in cash per shares of Belk common stock they own, according to the press release.
The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2015.
TOP 10 FRANCHISES OF 2020


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HOUSEHOLDERS across Stirling will soon be working with a new brown box cardboard recycling service.
Stirling Council has a current recycling rate of 56 per cent for household waste and is one of the top performing councils in Scotland.
But to help ensure the council continues to meet the challenges and targets set by Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan, the new service – which has already been piloted in some areas of Stirling – is being introduced.
A spokesperson said: “The change will bring lots of benefits. Removing cardboard from the brown bin means that the quality of the compost that is produced will be improved.
“It will also allow the council to achieve an income for the cardboard collected – good quality cardboard is a valuable resource because it can be recycled and turned back into products.
“Over the next couple of months this new service will be rolled out across Stirling. Householders will receive a letter telling them about the new service and when to expect the delivery of their new box prior to the service arriving in their area. As soon as they have received their new brown box they can start to recycle cardboard at the kerbside.
“The council will be asking them to fold and flatten cardboard into the brown box, and then place the box every week along with their blue recycling box at the kerbside for collection on their normal recycling day.
“Once they have received this new box they can start to recycle cardboard immediately and this means that cardboard should no longer be put into their brown bin. If they have any extra cardboard or large cardboard that doesn’t fit into the brown box, they can take it to their recycling centre.
“Alternatively they can get in touch with the company who delivered the products, as many retailers will also take back packaging associated with bulky household items such as televisions and washing machines. If they need an additional brown box they should contact us to request one.
“With the council striving to meet national targets for recycling of waste, the brown box initiative will ensure that Stirling's communities are well placed to achieve a 60 per cent recycling rate by 2020.”
For more information call 0845 277 7000 or visit www.stirling.gov.uk


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McDonald’s, Oak Brook, Ill., announced April sales grew nearly 4 percent in the United States. The growth partially was attributed to beverages sales, including new McCafe Frappes, the company said. McDonald’s also reported 4.9 percent global comparable sales growth.
In the United States, McDonald’s reported 3.8 percent growth for the month of April. Beverages, Chicken McNuggets and its all-day, everyday value message helped McDonald’s remain a relevant and affordable choice for consumers, the company said.
“McDonald’s continue to connect with customers through our outstanding menu variety and compelling value, unbeatable convenience and contemporary restaurants,” said Jim Skinner, McDonald’s chief executive officer, in a statement. “These competitive advantages have powered our ongoing momentum and delivered another month of strong sales performance.”
Comparable sales increased 3.9 percent in Middle East, Africa and Asia/Pacific, which was driven by performance in Australia. Globally, extended value programs, locally relevant menu variety, convenience and service enhancements contributed to the performance, McDonald’s said.
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Earlier this month, we published an article on the worst menu items available at some of America's favorite eateries. But there's already a new contender clamoring for a spot on our list. Taco Bell - the Mexican-inspired chain that once challenged fast-food diners to think outside the bun - is now asking you to think beyond the traditional tortilla. Instead of the same old flour-based wrap, restaurants will soon offer a folded strip of fried chicken to girdle your Gordita.
But it has a much sexier name than other Taco Bell staples. The food fansite Eater says the new dish is called the Naked Crispy Chicken Shell Chalupa. According to Wikipedia, a "chalupa" is a type of tostada. It's probably also the sound your heart will make after you eat the fast-food version. Taco Bell's Chalupa shell is basically a fried chicken pancake that's been moulded into a curved shape so that it can hold lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado, shredded cheese and ranch sauce inside.
If you're salivating over it already, you'll have to wait a while yet before you can get your hands on one. The Chalupa won't become available until sometime in 2017. But you can feast your eyes on this sneak peak of the new wrap.
In the meantime, you'll soon be able to get Burger King's Mexican twist on their flagship sandwich. Last June, Fortune reported that select BK restaurants are offering the "Whopperito" - a Whopper/burrito hybrid that crams beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, ketchup and mayonnaise in a tortilla. (Sorry, they're only using flour-based wraps for now.)
The Whopperito will be released nationwide on August 15th. Till then, you'll have to sate your stomach with the wrap's glamor shot.
Banner Image: Taco Bell Restaurant exterior. Taco Bell is an American chain of fast-food restaurants and serve a variety of Tex-Mex foods. (Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com)


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A federal judge in California has denied a lawsuit brought by Greenpeace against Walmart Inc. for labeling plastic recycling.
U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney ruled September 20 that the environmental group had no authority to file the lawsuit, arguing that Walmart’s own-brand plastic packaging, particularly PVC, polystyrene and polypropylene packaging, was improperly labeled as recyclable.
Walmart, based in Bentonville, Ark., Said its packaging complies with applicable federal and state laws.
“We are pleased that the court has dismissed this unsubstantiated complaint,” said the company. “We checked these allegations beforehand and told Greenpeace that the product labeling complies with federal and state laws.”
“Like many other retailers, we rely on labels that have been developed and validated by our suppliers and sustainability partners, including How2Recycle,” the company said.
However, Greenpeace said in a statement that the court dismissed the case on technical grounds and reviewed its legal options.
The lawsuit was originally filed in Alameda County California State Court in December but has been moved to San Francisco Federal Court.
John Hocevar, Greenpeace USA ocean campaign director, said that despite the court ruling, a new law passed in California in early September will put pressure on Walmart and other companies to change the way packaging is labeled for recyclability.
“It seems that Walmart will continue to mislead customers about plastic recycling until the law forces them to stop,” he said. “Fortunately, that day is coming soon. SB 343 [Senate Bill 343] will end this type of greenwashing in California and national legislation will soon follow. “