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With Halloween festivities beginning in just over a week, students are busy purchasing costumes, decorations and candy. While decorations give the already haunted Athens an even spookier feel, most people don’t consider the safety of their pets over Halloween.
With thousands of people in town for the block party, Halloween results in a number of hazards that all responsible pet owners have to take seriously. Even though they add a spooky element to a haunted-house themed party, decorations like candles can pose dangers to pets because they can easily be knocked over.
Jessica Jones, a senior studying integrated media, has a personal horror story involving candles and her one-year-old Turkish Angora cat, Bennie.
“He lit his tail on fire,” Jones said. “It scared him, so he ran upstairs and it put out the flame.”
Her long-haired cat’s tail swiped over the top of a candle and burst the tip of his tail into flames.
“I was terrified,” Jones said. “I had to give him a bath and he had a little charred fur, but he was okay.”
Ever since her cat’s accident, Jones has used extra caution with candles.
“You shouldn’t leave lit candles unattended,” Shelley Lieberman, owner of Friendly Paws Pet Supplies and Grooming in Athens, said. “Even attended, cats can walk by a candle and catch their tail on fire.”
Although dressing a kitten or puppy in a pumpkin costume may sound cute, many pet owners don’t take the feelings of their pets into account when selecting a costume.
“I see so many pets in costumes and they seem really miserable and scared and sad,” Jones said.
Jones wants to dress up Bennie for Halloween, but won’t because she doesn’t want to make him uncomfortable.
“I don’t want him to be in a house with a ton of people and also be wearing a caterpillar costume,” Jones said. “Don’t do it unless your pet likes it.”
Lieberman is a strong advocate of listening to a pet’s needs, rather than forcing them into a costume.
“The first thing to consider is, ‘Will the costume stress the pet out so much that it just isn’t a good idea?’,” Lieberman said.
To Lieberman, the pet’s comfortability in a costume should be an important factor in the owner’s decision of whether or not to dress them up.
“Be cognizant of your pet’s personality and what they can handle,” she said. “If they love being dressed or tolerate it shortly, then go for it.”
Lieberman believes it just takes some common sense to ensure pet safety. Costumes shouldn’t be too loose or tight. On the other hand, well-fitting costumes can be helpful in keeping pets warm this time of year.
“On Halloween, I like to make sure my dog has a costume that keeps her warm,” Mallory Mullins, a sophomore studying health services administration, said.
Mullins has a Teacup Yorkie named CoCo Chanel.
“It’s also a fun idea to have dog treats on hand to pass out to other dogs in costumes,” Mullins said.
Having dog treats on hand can encourage responsible decision-making when it comes to feeding pets. It can be easy to give in to the begging and feed a pet candy, but that can result in an upset stomach or even a trip to the emergency veterinarian.
To Lieberman, a simple safe alternative to candies is pet treats. Pet owners can find Halloween-themed treats perfect for the season, too.
Trick-or-treating and Halloween parties also mean there will be increased foot traffic, which is a high risk to pets because it can make them anxious or cause them to escape from their homes.
“It would be best to keep pets in a room or crate in your home where they can’t burst out the door, which will be opening and closing,” Lieberman said.
Lieberman believes a way to keep pets from escaping would be to sit outside when handing out candy so they can’t run away.
It can be tempting to bring pets to Halloween parties to flaunt their cute costumes or include them in the festivities, however, this could cause pets stress.
“Please keep your pets at home,” Lieberman said.
Parties can be overwhelming for pets because the costumes, different smells and overstimulation can spook cats and dogs. Lieberman suggests relocating animals to a closed-off safe space when hosting a party.
If people want to include their pets in Halloween festivities, they take them to one of the numerous pet-friendly Halloween events happening in Athens. Friendly Paws’ Pet Trick And Treat is Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. at Friendly Paws Pet Supplies and Grooming, 940 E. State St.


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A primer on, and critical look at, one of Wall Street’s hottest trends: special purpose acquisition companies.
Special purpose acquisition companies have been around since the 1990s, but have seen a significant uptick in popularity in recent years. Companies like Virgin Galactic, Draft Kings and Nikola have changed SPAC’s reputation from a tool for second- and third-tier private equity shops to win fees to a legitimate alternative to initial public offerings. In 2020, SPACs have made up roughly 40% of the IPO market.
Recently, chatter around SPACs reached a fever pitch with the listing of Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Tontine Holdings - the largest-ever SPAC.
In this episode, NLW breaks down:
- What a SPAC is
- Standard SPAC terms
- Why the traditional IPO process has generated growing discontent, especially from Silicon Valley
- The benefits of SPACs for companies and investors
- The downsides of SPACs for companies and investors
- A number of reasons explaining why SPAC popularity is surging now
- How Robinhood retail traders are creating an important bridge buyer for SPACs
- Why Ackman’s Tontine Holdings SPAC could change how we think about SPACs in the future
- Are SPACs a bubble?

domain: news


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Kent has been synonymous with its brand ambassador Hema Malini who endorses water purifier and other products.
Almost every electronics brand have launched air purifiers priced at about Rs 7,000 and more for Indian market.
This comes at a time when the season for air purifiers will peak in India with air pollution peaking in North and New Delhi region.
The company that operates in the premium space, doubled its sales this year and expects to continue in the same vein for at least the next two years.
The makers are spending money on branding and promotion and are engaging with consumers through all prominent mediums as Print, Radio and Digital.
For Flipkart, air purifier was a seasonal category until Diwali last year after which the category earned 100x jump in sales when pollution indexes were at its peak.
The product is "loaded with new age features like touch screen, voice assist, mosquito repellent, four side cooling pads and gives powerful cooling through double blower among others," the company said in a release.
Firm has named India as a key growth driver and is looking to collaborate with the govt.
Blueair today launched a air monitoring device priced at Rs 20,000 and air purification device Blueair Sense+ priced at Rs 45,000.
The air purifier market has gained majorly in the last one year with entry of major global players, whereby at present around 50 companies are operating in the segment.
"India will be a fast growing market for air purifiers in the coming years. We are looking at capturing 15 per cent market share in three years."
Japanese consumer electronics firm Sharp today launched its air purifier range in the country and said it is targeting Rs 500 crore revenue. Currently, Sharp sells its air purifier range in 17 countries.


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As an alternative to customers lining up at sneaker stores fighting for the chance to buy a designer shoe that only a few people have, Mark Gainor and Jimmy Gorecki are offering something even more exclusive: a kick designed for you, and you alone.
Gainor, the former creative director of Native Shoes, and Gorecki, a onetime pro skateboarder, founded No.One in February 2017 in Venice, Calif. The luxury startup creates custom-made and extremely limited-edition sneakers using traditional shoemaking techniques.
No.One employs a crew of four cobblers in the company’s small studio—a size that allows for creative flexibility and attention to bespoke commissions, which in recent months have included sneakers made from impala fur, as well as a waterproof pair reconstructed from a Gore-Tex military jacket. Gainor and Gorecki have found fans among a steady flow of actors, musicians, and sports icons, including 2017 NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
Alongside these unique creations, the team also works on small batches of production-run models, producing from 14 to 17 pairs in three classic silhouettes, with prices starting at $575 a pair. The process of creating each run takes roughly two weeks, and with each release, typically only a couple of pairs in each size are made available.
“To us, No.One is very much a post-skateboarding shoe,” says Gainor. “Not only in the physical sense, but in the larger sense of finding a home and platform for the DIY values and culture from growing up in skateboarding.”
In a sneaker market so focused on high-tech fabrics, and new and innovative manufacturing processes, the idea of a handcrafted, customized sneaker stands out. Each pair of No.One sneakers is hand-lasted, a process that’s identical to what John Lobb or any other classic bespoke shoemaker would use—and one that can’t be rivaled by more modern, mass-production slip lasting or machine lasting.
For its premium materials, No.One works with a small group of luxury tanneries, each specialized in a specific product, and most often family-owned. For its sneaker linings, plongé lambskin is sourced from a Chanel-owned tannery in the south of France—the same skin that lines many of the luxury brand’s handbags.
Gainor points to the leather counters (a piece near the heel) as indicative of the attention to detail that ensures a pair of No.Ones will long outlast any trendy pair of Yeezys exposed to the same amount of wear. “These leather supports are never seen, but we hand-cut, hand-skive, and wet-mold them out of Italian vegetable-tanned leather,” he says. “That’s hours of detailed craft for each pair of shoes for something that will never be seen, but will be felt for the life of the sneaker.”
So far the brand has created three distinct silhouettes—the Alpha desert boot, the Bravo low sneaker, and most recently the cap-toed Charlie. No.One’s plan is to create a comprehensive line that runs 26 models strong, one for each letter of the alphabet, while still satisfying the ever-growing demand for fully customized service.
WWD fashion director Alex Badia says No.One has figured out how to sell a personalized experience to consumers who’ve grown tired of settling for the immediacy of an off-the-shelf purchase. “The modern menswear consumer has become much more savvy in recent years,” she says. “We’re seeing a growing appreciation for the process that comes with commissioning bespoke fashion, and a better understanding of the time and costs involved.”


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VSPT aiming for 100% sustainable packaging by 2030
Chilean wine group VSPT aims to reduce the quantity and weight of its bottles and packaging so that 100% are separable, reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2030.
Keen to tackle the global issue of waste generation, by 2030 the company also aims for 60% of its packaging to be made from recycled materials with zero PVC use.
To encourage consumers to recycle VSPT’s wine bottles, the firm will include recycling instructions on all of its labels.
“This new challenge aims to build on the robust sustainability management already implemented by the group,” a VSPT spokesperson said. “Our concrete and long-term solutions to environmental issues positions the VSPT Wine Group as a role model for the wine industry,” they added.
In order to qualify as an ‘Ecodesign’ product, manufacturers have to meet minimum requirements related to energy efficiency.
Having long been a pioneer of eco-friendly initiatives, VSPT was named the Green Company of the Year in the 2016 Drinks Business Green Awards and Ethical Company of the Year in 2018.


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Business News›manasi yadav
Complete list of Filmfare Awards 2021: Irrfan Khan honoured with posthumous Best Actor award
Hosted by Rajkummar Rao and Riteish Deshmukh, Filmfare celebrated the best of Hindi cinema.
Google targets affordable smartphones with Android One
The move by Google gains more significance because Microsoft too is eyeing the price-conscious consumers in emerging markets.
India Q1 smartphone sales up 186%; may touch 80.57 mn units end 2014: IDC
Smartphpone shipment growth in India, which surpassed China’s 31% on year growth in Q1, was propelled by consumer migration to smartphones.
Affordable smartphones a Rs 2800 crore opportunity in India: Hari Om Rai, CMD Lava International
In the past week alone, brands like Motorola, Nokia and Intex launched their devices - Moto E, Lumia 630 and Aqua i5HD - all priced below Rs 12,000.
Microsoft targets $50 billion affordable mobile devices market
Microsoft will target the US$ 50 billion affordable handset market to restore lost glory of a firm which once was the world's largest handset maker.
India, emerging world shine in Apple’s iPhone show
iPhone sales in the BRIC group of nations – Brazil, Russia, India and China – together hit “a new all-time record,” CEO Tim Cook said.
Nokia in talks with telcos to adopt its LTE-ready handsetsNokia has announced that it will begin selling a low-cost 4G smartphone, Lumia 635, for $189, excluding taxes, this summer, including in the US.
Sony overtakes Apple to emerge second largest smartphone brand in IndiaAccording to latest data, Sony garnered 9.1% value share in the Indian smartphone market in the October-December quarter of 2013 against Apple's 7% share.
Microsoft offers Windows phone OS free to Indian playersThis is unprecedented. Microsoft didn’t even give the OS free to Nokia, which agreed to exclusively make Windows Phone in 2011.
Smartphone sales in India surge almost 3-fold in 2013; Samsung still market leaderSamsung maintained its leadership with a 38% share of smartphone market, followed by Micromax (16%), Karbonn (10%), Sony (5%) & Lava (4.7%) in 2013.
Homegrown firms push smartphone sales to 44 million units in 2013Affordable smartphones from the stables of homegrown handset makers pushed up sales in this category by almost three-fold to 44 million units in 2013.
Cheaper smartphones: Lenovo set to challenge Samsung, Micromax, Nokia & Apple in IndiaAnalysts say acquisition of Motorola Mobility will give Lenovo the wherewithal to offer cheaper smartphones.
Small smartphone makers Lava, Intex and Celkon face uphill task in raising market shareRight marketing strategy and effective after sales service are key to making a dent in the pecking order.
Lumia gives Nokia sales a fillip, but BlackBerry fails to bloomBlackBerry and Nokia - going through tectonic changes at a global level have seen their fortunes take divergent paths in recent months in India.
Low-cost smartphones cannibalise feature phone market in India: ReportSmartphone sales in India has grown over three-fold to touch 12.8 million units in third quarter of 2013 cannibalising the feature phone market.
Apple iPhone 5s out of stock in India as supplies head westApple iPhone 5s is out of stock in almost all retail outlets about three weeks after its launch due to huge demand as well as limited supply.
BlackBerry losing ground in India, wholesale volumes crash over 50%IDC refused to confirm the numbers, saying it would give third quarter estimates only on Thursday as part of a larger industry report.
Apple profit shrinks to a third, sales rise 51% to Rs 3,030 crore in FY13Profit dropped to Rs 112.66 crore from Rs 311.5 crore, according to the company's Registrar of Companies filing.
BlackBerry's bet on devices running on BB10 fails to deliver as sales fall by 50% in IndiaBlackBerry sales in India have more than halved so far this year, with consumers shying away from the new handsets running on the BB10 platform.
5-inch screen size emerges winning category in India's crowded smartphone marketSays Hari Om Rai, co-founder Lava, a domestic handset maker, “Buyers see more value in a 5-inch smartphone rather than a smaller or a bigger screen.”
Phablets grab 30% of the smartphone market share, sales up 17-fold in FY14 Q2“The sweet spot is the 5-inch smartphone,” says Jerold Pereira, CEO of Videocon Mobile Phones. “And that is the phablet territory.”
Marketing blitz, discounts fail to sustain Apple iPhone sales in IndiaApple has been facing increasing criticism about the absence of new device launches that could help the company continue its popularity among users.
Companies may shrink Windows tablets in size to power up salesThe 7-inch segment, which accounts for a bulk of tablet sales in the country, is currently dominated by devices that run on Google’s Android.
Adam II tablet: Will Notion Inc’s second attempt to take on Apple's iPad work?Bangalore-based Notion Ink's first tablet flattered to deceive, but its co-founder hopes Adam II's price and looks will do the magic this time.
HCL not actively seeking hardware business sale: CEO Harsh ChitaleIn January, the company announced that it would spin-off its businesses into separate units, sparking speculation about sale of some businesses.
Desi companies like Micromax, Karbonn corner quarter of tablet marketWhile Apple and Samsung continue to train guns on each other across device categories, smaller local players like Micromax and Karbonn are catching up fast.
Surging India sales of Apple iPhone may propel company's topline to over $1 bnAccording to latest filings with the Registrar of Companies, Apple India's revenues rose 223% to 2003.9 crore in FY12, from Rs 620 crore a year ago.
Smartphone war: Apple's iPhone4 sales outshine iPhone5's as consumers lap up discounts in exchange offerThe customer will get a minimum discount of Rs 7,000, but if the value of his phone in the second hand market is more, his discount will be higher.
Mobile phone market sales up 16% at 218 mn in 2012Mobile phone sales in India grew by 16% to 218 mn units last year on the back of rising demand for smartphones, a study said.Load More
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Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed property investment group, First Mutual Properties limited weathered headwinds from the COVID-19 pandemic to record a 50 percent profit growth and an asset value gain during one of the worst economic periods, the company’s latest annual report has revealed.
During 2020, the property sector was massively depressed on the back of two COVID-19 induced hard lockdowns that restricted business activity and weakened tenants ‘capacity to meet lease obligations.
Furthermore, rising administrative expenses weighed heavily on the Group revenue but could not offset profitability.
The Group’s inflation adjusted profit before tax grew by 50 percent to ZWL 3,288 billion (FY 2019: ZWL 2,189 billion) driven by growth in inflation adjusted revenue of 2 percent to ZWL 265.74 million (FY 2019: ZWL 260.67 million) and fair value adjustments on investment properties.
The occupancy level during the year strengthened to 88.67 percent in FY2020 compared to 85.70 percent driven by improved lettings in the CBD Office sector.
“This was driven mainly by net lettings in the CBD Office space, as the business restructured its space offering to cater for SMEs, providing space adequate for the rising informal sector. In addition, space was also leased to some Government related entities within the CBD,” the company said in its 2020 Annual Report.
The growth in revenue was driven by rental income generated from foreign currency denominated leases, increase in turnover rentals and rise in occupancy levels during the year.
“The Group registered positive earnings, with pre and post-tax profitability. Net property income after administrative expenses and before tax stood at ZWL 70.75 million, down 30% from prior year,”
“This was driven by employee related costs increasing during the year in line with inflationary trends and the need to retain key talent despite depressed business activity during a financial year, which was negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the company.
However, rising inflationary and exchange rate pressures negatively affected real rental yields, cost of doing business, property development and maintenance costs, and overall macroeconomic stability, particularly in the first half of the year.
Tenant receivables worsened to ZWL 44.97 million (FY2019: ZWL 29.29 million) as tenants struggled to meet lease obligations in light of constrained business operating environment.
An independent property valuation conducted by Knight Frank Zimbabwe as at 31 December 2020 valued the property portfolio at ZWL 9.40 billion, being a 50 percent gain on the prior year on inflation adjusted terms.
The gain was driven by fair value gains realized across the sectors with the highest gains realized in the land bank, retail sector and industrial sectors.
“The gains realized on the land bank are driven by re-zoning of a land bank from residential to commercial, while value appreciation in the industrial and retail sectors are due to improved rental potential and demand,” said the company.
Nevertheless, the retail and industrial segments remained resilient. The Office Park sector was stable with steady demand for space driven by product quality, location and supporting infrastructure.
The Board resolved that a final dividend of ZWL 14,229,408 being 1.1505 ZWL cents per share be declared from the profits for the quarter ended 31 December 2020.


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ZTE now represents a hard situation for many non-US companies looking to do business.
News of the talks between ZTE and Samsung come via a report by Reuters, which cites a senior executive as saying the Korean technology giant has been talking to a number of potential customers for its ARM-based mobile microprocessors including, most notably, Chinese phone maker ZTE.
Currently Samsung's only client for the Exynos processers is the Chinese OEM company Meizu.
Among the manufacturers of smartphones, which Samsung is negotiating on the supply of processors, it appears ZTE.
The Exynos 9610 processor consists of four ARM cortex-A73 cores that run at 2.3GHz, as well as an additional four 1.6GHz cortex-A53 cores to help smartphones run apps and multiple tasks quicker. However, nearly all of the semiconductor processors made by them are used for their own devices. Samsung also uses external processors such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon, on some of its flagship products like the Galaxy and Galaxy Note series.
System LSI still uses Samsung's foundry for all of its manufacturing needs, but is in talks with other contract manufacturers to diversify production in areas Samsung's foundry isn't prepared for yet, such as high-voltage automotive products, Kang said. This move if successful, can put Samsung in direct competition with Qualcomm, which supplies to all the major smartphone makers. That's not a big surprise, given the fact that American companies have been banned from selling to ZTE for seven years.
Samsung is reportedly in talks with ZTE and other OEMs about supplying them with Exynos chips. Samsung also clarified that no deal is reached and all OEMs are treated equally.
Marcus Smart irked by Cavs 'bully' JR Smith's flagrant foul
The Celtics just looked like they were playing harder in the fourth quarter, while the Cavs looked lethargic and frustrated. Smith was involved, though he was not alone in those missed assignments."A few miscommunications", coach Tyronn Lue said .
Lane Johnson Really Doesn't Like the Patriots
Johnson's comments are a bit surprising, considering the perceived respect shown between Belichick and Pederson on camera. In the process, he revealed a few behind-the-scenes details that went unnoticed to this point.
Ball Corp (BLL): Company Stock Focus
Finally, Bank of America started coverage on shares of Express Scripts in a research report on Tuesday, February 27th. Charter Trust Communication owns 0.06% invested in Express Scripts Holding Company (NASDAQ: ESRX ) for 6,465 shares.


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[Ed. – Strong demand]
Fast food giant Subway has removed ham and bacon from almost 200 outlets, and switched to halal meat alternatives in an attempt to please its Muslim customers.
It has confirmed turkey ham and turkey rashers will be used instead in 185 of its stores, where all the meat will now be prepared according to halal rules.
The chain, which has around 1,500 outlets across the UK, explained its decision by saying it had to balance animal welfare concerns with ‘the views of religious communities’.
Traditional halal slaughter sees animals have their throats slit before bleeding to death. But Subway stressed that the meat served in its sandwiches would come from animals that have been stunned first, a practice that aims to reduce any suffering.
In Arabic the word halal means ‘permitted’ or ‘lawful’ and defines anything that is allowed or lawful according to the Qur’an.
It is often used to indicate food – particularly meat – has been prepared in accordance with Muslim principles and techniques.


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Options grow for dining out on Thanksgiving, Black Friday
Not everyone has cooking Thursday’s big meal on their to-do list this week.
Some have to work, some don’t have family around, and others just don’t want to interrupt their Black Friday shopping plan, which starts on Thanksgiving Day for many stores this year.
The National Restaurant Association estimates 14 million Americans will have Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant, while another 16 million plan to use takeout as a meal supplement. Additionally, 32 million are expected to dine out while shopping on Black Friday.
And restaurants haven’t missed a beat.
Some high-end, resort and even local restaurants are preparing their very own three-course Thanksgiving feasts or buffets. For example, The Palm at Universal Orlando’s Hard Rock Hotel is serving up a three-course Thanksgiving menu for $45-49 per person, $19 for children.
The two Orlando-area restaurants owned by celebrity chef Emeril Legasse also have special Thanksgiving dinners planned. Emeril’s Orlando at CityWalk has a special menu, while Emeril’s Tchoup Chop will offer a Thanksgiving pre fixe menu for $55 per person.
Local restaurants 310 Lakeside in downtown Orlando and 310 Park South in Winter Park open at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day with a special turkey dinner menu for $18 per person, $13 for kids.
Moe’s Southwest Grill took a bit of a different route. The restaurant found a niche by catering to the workers of big chain stores that are open for the crazy-busy start to the holiday shopping season, showed this report by Entrepreneur.
In another twist, Brio Tuscan Grille at The Mall at Millenia partnered with First Baptist Church of Orlando to open on Thanksgiving Day, but not to the public. The restaurant will serve a select group of families in need of a complimentary dinner of turkey, corn bread, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
“Giving back to the local community in which we serve is a priority for us, and we wanted to give these families a special moment where they can be together without worry and stress and be treated like the VIPs they are this Thanksgiving,” said restaurant General Manager Rob Anderson in a prepared statement. “We feel like that’s what good neighbors do, and once I shared the idea, over 50 of our employees joined in and wanted to be a part of hosting Thanksgiving on Thursday for nearly 300 people.”
And Golden Corral’s annual community Thanksgiving meal, where 25,000 meals are served to those in need, also is back in action this year at the Salvation Army gymnasium at 440 W. Colonial Drive. The dinner is organized by Eric Holm, owner and president of franchisee Metro Corral Partners Inc., in partnership with Cheney Bros. Inc., PepsiCo Inc., MBM Food Services, Harvill’s Produce Co. Inc., Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Cue, Puff ’n Stuff Catering LLC, Universal Orlando Resort and Sprint.
And don’t forget about Black Friday eats being offered by restaurants like Red Lobster, which is offering a buy-one, get-one deal on its Maine Stays dishes with a coupon from Facebook, and Sonic, which is offering half-priced breakfast burritos all day.
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Baker Street renewal consultation
New Aldi store and creative hub for Baker Street
The area around Baker Street in High Wycombe is poised for redevelopment to start later this year as part of Wycombe District Council’s continued investment in the town.
Outline plans showing what’s in store for the area will go on display next week as part of the council’s public consultation work which will run from Monday 6 to 13 February.
As well as the information and visuals on our website, members of the team will be available to answer questions face to face at a special drop-in event being held:
11am to 7pm
Tuesday 7 February
on Desborough Road HP11 2PU.
Wycombe District Council owns the former industrial land and is working with urban designers on plans to regenerate the area.
Outline plans, which will be subject to planning permission, will include:
- a proposed new Aldi food store coming to the town
- a car showroom
- purpose built vehicle workshops
- creating a funky new home for local craftspeople and artists using shipping containers
Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development Cllr Roger Wilson said: “I’d encourage everyone who’s interested in the future of this part of the town to come along to the exhibition and talk to us or give us comments using our website. We’re keen to hear local views to help us fine tune the scheme ahead of going through the formal planning process.”
See: Consultation: Baker Street renewal for information and design concepts and how to make comments.
The consultation will close to comments from the public on 13 February.


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Chinese smartphones are becoming increasingly popular. The Chinese show a lot of innovation, and the devices usually provide a better price/quality ratio than the Koreans. Oppo is one of the Chinese manufacturers that has been selling its smartphones in Europe since last year. We have already seen several interesting models, such as the Oppo Find X, the RX17 Pro and the AX7 launched earlier this year. A recently published patent shows that Oppo intends to show more camera innovations this year.
Oppo smartphone with a triple camera
Halfway through last year, Guandong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications filed a design patent with the Global Design Database of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office). The design patent shows two camera configurations with a decorative ring.
The patent consists of 20 images, in which two models are explained. The first model has a dual camera with a flash – this model is comparable to the camera setup of the recently launched Oppo F11 Pro. The other model has not been applied before.
The second model has three cameras with a flash. This camera system is most likely used for a future Oppo smartphone model. For the time being, no Oppo smartphone is available with a triple camera.
The company did show a smartphone with a triple camera on MWC 2019. This camera system will be used for the 10x Hybrid Zoom, which the company is developing.
However, the patented camera system does not seem to have a zoom lens. It has a square-shaped lens used for this, instead of round – as patented. So it seems that Oppo still has a smartphone in development with three cameras. Possibly the third lens will serve as a depth camera.
It is still unknown what kind of smartphone model it is. You will only find devices with a vertical setup within the cheap A-series and the high-end Find series. Oppo does use vertically placed camera systems for the F and R series. It is possible that the patented model is meant for this, but there is still a possibility.
Oppo will also unveil its new smartphone series this week; Oppo Reno. The Chinese manufacturer has now applied for five trademarks in Europe for Reno Pro, Plus, Zoom, Lite, and the Youth.
The Oppo Reno Lite was certified last week, this device will most likely be officially announced next Wednesday. In addition, a Reno telephone with an oblique pop-up camera will be introduced. Both devices have vertically placed camera system.
The smartphone with 10x zoom will probably be named Oppo Reno Zoom. The patented triple camera is possibly meant for the Reno Pro or the Reno Plus. However, not much is known about these devices, the introduction of these models will probably take place at a later time. The top models are powered by the Snapdragon 855 processor, and the fast 5G network will also be supported.


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“Ames was founded on the principle that quality workmanship starts with quality tools and training,” said Andrew Reed, President and CEO of Ames Taping Tools.
Duluth, GA (PRWEB)
June 09, 2011
Ames Taping Tools today announced the appointment of Mark Wilson as the new Corporate Director of Education, who, according to Andrew Reed, President and CEO, is responsible for product training and industry responsibility.
Wilson, a 14-year-old Ames veteran, has more than three decades of industry expertise, including being a professional finishing contractor, product specialist, and various sales and regional leadership roles.
Reed notes that the creation of this new role underscores Ames’ continued commitment to market development, product innovation and technical leadership, as well as the company’s heritage in contractor training and support.
“Ames was founded on the principle that quality workmanship starts with quality tools and training,” explains Reed. “Mark’s in-depth industry knowledge is a real resource for our customers and he has been instrumental in helping thousands of contractors become more productive in their dealings.”
In addition, Reed envisages that Ames will use Wilson’s contractor feedback to inform and refine the product development process.
“Mark will report to Tim Beran, vice president of operations and R&D, to ensure a close relationship between contractor and end user with our engineering team for next-generation product design and applications,” said Reed.
Growing demand for training: Reed describes its economic outlook as “optimistic but subdued” and expects a slight recovery in 2012 as the housing industry continues to recover slowly. The economy has breathed new life into apartment buildings, and there are signs of growth in the commercial sector that should help increase the number of jobs available for completion by contractors, he says. However, this surge in activity has in turn sparked a new demand for trade education.
“The economy really has forced our industry to reset,” explains Reed. “Many building contractors and traders who led the industry during the real estate boom from 2005 to 2007 have left the industry. As a result, drywall companies face an urgent need to train new finishers and use efficient tools and procedures to make them more productive. ”
Leader in Finishing: Ames is known as the nation’s leading provider of tools, consumables, service and training for automatic taping and finishing (ATF). The company’s main business is the rental and service of ATF tools through a network of more than 180 branches and franchise locations in the USA and Canada. In addition to renting out finishing tools, Ames also sells ATF tools under the TapeTech® brand through more than 300 independent distributors and dealers.
In 1939, Ames invented ATF tool technology and further refined the process with the introduction of BAZOOKA® in the 1950s. In 2011, the company launched the latest generation of this flagship product, the BAZOOKA Continuous Flow System (CFS), a revolutionary drywall finishing device that increases productivity by up to 40 percent over automatic taping tools. Designed for high volume drywall finishers, the BAZOOKA CFS incorporates the latest advances in cone technology and pump design to improve the speed, quality and efficiency of the professional contractor. The heart of the system is the high-performance BAZOOKA pump, which was specially developed and built by Graco® for dry construction work.
Commitment to Education: According to Reed, education in the industry has been a cornerstone for Ames since its inception more than 70 years ago when Bob and Stan Ames traveled to construction sites to help contractors understand the time, quality and efficiency benefits that the automatic taping technology.
Wilson’s new role will expand Ames’ existing team of field product specialists who provide contractors with professional education and certification programs through in-store demonstrations, classroom training and on-site instruction.
“Ames has grown to be a trusted industry leader and preferred business partner by helping others get better through better tools, techniques and processes,” concludes Reed. “Contractors have a high level of confidence in Ames’ products and services because we have linked our success so closely with that of our customers for more than 70 years.”
Information on Ames Taping Tools
Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, Ames Taping is the industry leader in drywall finishing tools, accessories and training. Ames pioneered the development of automatic taping and finishing tool technology in the 1930s, greatly improving the speed, quality and efficiency of the professional finisher. Ames delivers, supports and services interior decoration applications for residential and commercial buildings through a network of owned and franchised companies in over 180 locations in the United States and Canada. For more information, please contact Ames at https://www.amestools.com or call 800-408-2801. or explore TapeTech at https://www.tapetech.com or call 800-426-6256.
Product demonstrations and informational videos are available online at https://www.youtube.com/user/AmesTapingTools.
For editorial assistance, contact Joel Williams of O’Reilly / DePalma at (815) 469-9100; Email: Joel (dot) Williams (at) oreilly-depalma (dot) com.
High-resolution versions of the photography that accompany this version can be downloaded immediately from the following link: https://ames.oreilly-depalma.com/2011/education-initiative.shtml
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MUMBAI:Jet Airways, India’s premier full-service international airline, today announced an attractive six-day global fare sale. The sale, effective today (04th September), will offer guests attractive… Read more..
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The mystery player behind the unprecedented summer-long rally in tech stocks appears to be the colorful billionaire CEO of Japanese conglomerate Softbank.
Masayoshi Son, known for making big plays in tech giants like Alibaba and Uber, has spent billions of dollars buying options on individual tech stocks starting in the spring, according to multiple reports on Friday. The investments, some of which came from Son’s own pockets, appear to have helped push the values of big tech names soaring high enough to pull the broader markets out of their COVID-related swoon, these reports said.
Softbank, which took a $17 billion loss in May related to its investments in Uber and WeWork, doled out more than $4 billion to take large positions in Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Tesla during the COVID market crash this spring, according to the Wall Street Journal. Son and his firm also bought billions more in options that would pay off handsomely if those stocks hit certain levels, the report said.
Tech stocks have been on a roll in recent months despite record unemployment with companies like Elon Musk’s Tesla more than doubling in value since July before falling back a bit on Thursday.
The surge had Wall Streeters abuzz over the huge volume of options buying — and nicknaming the culprit the “Nasdaq Shark” after that exchange gained more than 60 percent between April and September thanks in large part to the unusual options action.
Son — worth an estimated 30.2 billion, according to Forbes — is known in Silicon Valley for his colorful personality as well as his extreme successes, like Alibaba, and failures, like WeWork. In a May presentation to analysts, he reportedly compared himself to Jesus Christ when discussing SoftBank’s $18 billion loss by reminding Wall Street that “Jesus was also misunderstood and criticized.”


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One of every five beauty purchases online is made via the Amazon marketplace, according to a new report.
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2CoolTek uses the shopping cart technology of Freemerchant.com, an e-commerce platform. As the name suggests, Felts doesn’t pay anything for the service; Freemerchant makes money from partnerships with companies that provide services to 2CoolTek and the other small businesses that use Freemerchant. He uses HyperMart to host the 2CoolTek home page at a cost of $10 per month.
While Johnson, Silberman and Felts all sound satisfied with the progress their sites have made, none is ruling out joining forces with another company, or selling altogether. Johnson, for instance, notes that Underneath.com is constrained by its limited capital.
“We want to grow faster than what the business can do,” he says. “We’re not scalable. We couldn’t support 10,000 orders per day if we got them.”
Johnson’s comment brings up what may be the biggest threat facing profitable niche players: many don’t have the resources to significantly scale up without taking on a partner. This is critical, says Vogtle. In addition to unique products, niche players that plan to stay around for a while need the capacity to grow and handle larger volumes of business. Both Johnson and Silberman, for instance, have talked with potential investors and partners.
Still, the fact that these retailers have done as well as they have so far shows that solid business practices and strategies-finding a unique market, knowing one’s customers and developing innovative ways to stretch a budget-are as applicable on the web as they are off.
A competitor to Underneath.com, complete with a reportedly high-priced management team and venture funding, sprang up in Atlanta-Underneath’s own backyard. The company spent itself out of existence, and eventually was sold, says Johnson.
Underneath.com, which had been operating out of Johnson’s late grandmother’s house and was viewed as backward by the technology leaders in Atlanta still is alive and growing. “We’re now in a real office/warehouse in Atlanta, and we’re the number one site in this market space,” says Johnson.
Karen Kroll is a Minnesota-based freelance business writer.
E-retailers sharpening focus
In their quest for profit, e-retailers are improving performance while taking steps to increase profitability, says a recent Shop.org/The Boston Consulting Group survey. “We are seeing the results of this more focused approach, as online retailers improve performance on the key metrics with the largest impact on the bottom line-customer acquisition cost, conversion rates and loyalty rates,” says James Vogtle, director of e-commerce research at BCG. “Online retailers will need to continue this disciplined approach to reach profitability.”
These findings, based on a survey of 66 North American online retailers, show customer acquisition costs continuing to decline from $71 in Q4 1999, to $45 in Q1 2000, to $40 in Q2. This is partly due to a shift from television advertising to online advertising and marketing. While this is a significant decline, overall customer acquisition costs remain higher than in Q3 1999 ($35).
As well, e-retailers are spending less on brand awareness, focusing more on customer retention. This strategy is paying off as almost half of their revenues in Q2 came from repeat buyers, up sharply from 1999.
“The average online retailer requires three purchases to break even on the acquisition cost of each new customer,” says Kate Delhagen of the 400-member trade association Shop.org. “With the high cost of acquiring new customers, many online retailers are focusing on increasing the frequency of purchases from existing customers.”
Other findings from the survey include:
- Conversion rates improved in Q2 (1.9%) vs. 1999 (1.8%).
- Marketing budgets spent online jumped to 59% in Q2 from
49% in Q1.
- Returns as a percent of revenue dropped to 5.7% in Q2, down
from 7.6% in Q1, and in line with the 5.6% observed in 1999.
- 86% have specifically addressed the issue of profitability.
- 29% deferred site upgrades.
- 11% of survey participants used layoffs to improve profitability.


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Future Retail’s Rs 24,713-crore deal to sell its assets to Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, has run into a roadblock with majority of lenders rejecting the asset sale plan in the creditors meeting. However, shareholders of the company promoted by Kishore Biyani approved the sale proposal in a separate meeting.
According to an exchange filing, in the secured creditors e-voting, 69.29 per cent of the votes of 11 lenders were against the proposal to sell the assets to the RIL subsidiary. However, 30.71 per cent of the votes of 34 lenders favoured the sale of assets.
In the shareholders meeting, 85.94 per cent of the votes supported the sale of assets to RIL and 14.05 per cent of votes were against the proposal. However, 78.22 per cent of FRL’s unsecured creditors voted in favour of the proposal, the company said in a regulatory update. About 82.75 per cent of Future Lifestyle Fashion’s (FLF) secured creditors rejected the proposal, while 81.91 per cent of shareholders supported the move, company said.
Future Supply Chain Solutions, another group company, received 81.63 per cent of votes of secured creditors in favour, while 18.37 per cent rejected the move. Nearly 50.35 per cent shareholders approved the move, it added.
Some leading banks were not in favour of the proposal stating there’s ambiguity on debt recovery. “If top banks are opposing the sale to RIL, the deal is likely to fall through. The next option is to take the IBC route,” said a banking source.
While FRL has proposed that over Rs 12,000 crore debt will be transferred to RIL, banks are not convinced about it.
In February, Reliance began taking over the rental leases of hundreds of stores once run by FRL and Future Lifestyle Fashions Ltd amid lawsuits and arbitration across India and Singapore. Banks have already questioned the RIL takeover of some of the Future stores and stated that anybody dealing in the company’s assets should keep in mind that these are subject at all times to the charge of the lenders.
US retail giant Amazon has opposed the FRL’s deal with RRVL. Amazon last week had said the meetings were “illegal” and such a step would not only breach the 2019 agreements when it made investments into FRL’s promoter firm but also violate a Singapore arbitral tribunal’s injunction on the sale of retail assets to Reliance.
FRL had rejected the Amazon’s allegations and said the meetings are “in compliance” with the directions issued by the NCLT on February 28, 2022, to consider and approve the Scheme of Arrangement filed by various entities which are part of the deal.
In a regulatory update on April 16, FRL said “the said order has been issued by the NCLT, after considering all the facts and information submitted by the parties and specific objections filed by Amazon.Com NV Investment Holdings LLC vide an intervening application and the order dated February 15, 2022 issued by Supreme Court on the same subject matter”.
On April 1, Future Retail said it failed to infuse Rs 3,900 crore by way of equity in the company before the due date of March 31, 2022. Further, considering the infusion of capital, there was an obligation on the company to pay an aggregate amount of Rs 5,322.32 crore — as defined in the one-time restructuring (OTR) plan — to various consortium banks and lenders before March 31, the company said in an exchange filing.


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Check Point warns
Malicious apps from a campaign called "Agent Smith" have been downloaded to 25 million Android devices, according to new research by Israeli cyber-security firm Check Point.
Even saying no is not enough
Security boffins have found more than 1,000 Android apps that skirted restrictions, allowing them to gather precise geolocation data and phone identifiers behind your back.
Otherwise, it is Plan B which will kick Google in its base
China’s Huawei is awaiting guidance from the US Department of Commerce on whether it can resume using Google’s Android mobile operating system on upcoming smartphones.
We missed doing an Android
Software King of the World, and sworn enemy of the mosquito, Bill Gates, says he never has really got over his biggest mistake.
Intel, Qualcomm, Google, Microsoft
The four above are just the tip of the iceberg and probably the companies that will most suffer from the ban, but ISV like Adobe, antivirus makers, any US-based software maker on Android or Windows selling to Huawei will be affected too.
What is it hiding?
Google has been accused of sitting on the adoption data of its various mobile operating system versions.
Sony Smart TVs, Mi Box 3 from Xiaomi, Nvidia Shield TV, and others
Search engine outfit Google is hoping to stick adverts on Android smart TVs because you can never have too much advertising.
Or you could be silly and waste your money on an iPhone, we don't really care
Software king of the world Microsoft has told those still using Windows 10 mobile that they will have to buy something different.
Google has developed software for foldable displays which are coming out from the likes of Samsung.


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Huawei held eco-Connect Europe 2019 in Paris, France, today under the theme of "Enable a DigitALL Connected Future." The conference focused on the mutually beneficial cooperation between Europe and Huawei in the era of intelligence and attracted more than 500 partners and 4,200 participants.
At the Technology & Services World Conference, Huawei Enterprise received the prestigious Rated Outstanding Assisted Support EMEA certification from TSIA. According to the TSIA, The Rated Outstanding Assisted Support EMEA certification, shows that Huawei meets the highest industry standards for Customer Support for their EMEA Enterprise operations.
Chip manufacturer ARM is to resume its supply of chips to Huawei after cutting them off in May thanks to the US-China trade war. ARM has concluded an investigation by its legal team which found its designs are of UK origin, and so supplying the Chinese tech manufacturer with them would not breach the embargo placed on Huawei by the US.
A fast rollout of 5G technology could reduce global carbon emissions by half a billion tonnes, according to new research.A report published this week by Huawei and consulting firm STL Partners demonstrates the benefits to the environment of 5G, through reduced energy use in the core and mobile access networks.
Huawei has launched a new generation of 5G mobile antennae, anticipating an acceleration in the pace of network upgrades led by the three operators in the Chinese home market. Huawei has pioneered the development of Massive MIMO - or multiple input and multiple output - antennae that feature arrays of transmitters and receivers to run fifth-generation mobile services.
The Indian government has allowed Huawei to participate in the 5G use case demos during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) that begins next week (October 14 and October 16).
Huawei has unveiled an industry-first fully containerised 5G core network at the 5G Core Summit in Madrid. The network aims to apply container technology to all network functions (NFs) to make network deployment more agile and provide more rapid service rollout, which helps carriers empower new businesses and operations across industries and digitally transform them.
Samsung today introduced the industry’s first 0.7-micrometer (μm)-pixel image sensor, the 43.7-megapixel (Mp) Samsung ISOCELL Slim GH1. Thanks to advanced ISOELL Plus technology, the new ultra-high-resolution GH1 image sensor embraces 43.7-million 0.7μm-sized pixels in a super-small package, providing the optimum solution for slim full-display devices.
Samsung has announced the mass production of the industry’s first 12Gb LPDDR5 mobile DRAM, maximising the potential of 5G and AI features in future flagship smartphones.


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Renault India Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of the French car maker Renault S.A. kick-started its operations with the launch of Fluence sedan and the Koleos SUV in 2011. Five years down the line, the firm has reportedly pulled the plug on both models.
Renault will no longer sell vehicles that are imported in a semi-knocked down (SKD) form, as part of its strategy to increase the local content in the products to make them competitive in terms of pricing reports ET Auto. The company already removed details of both vehicles from its website.
"We will be selling only mainstream products," Sumit Sawhney, country chief executive at Renault India, told the publication. "Fluence and Koleos were bridge strategy products, but as we move towards higher localization, we will try to be a more mainstream company. We will not sell these cars until we have 80% local content," Sawhney said.
Renault India wants to put in at least 80 percent local content in big cars to reduce price and get volume in India. For smaller cars under four metre length, this can be as much as 95 percent. By taking this route, the company will be able price the product very competitively, something Renault found success with the Kwid.
Both Fluence and Koleos were slow sellers in Renault's India portfolio primarily due to steep pricing. The Fleunce received facelift in 2014 and it has been offered with 1.5 litre, four cylinder engine that can generate a maximum power of 108bhp of power at 4000rpm and a peak torque of 240Nm at 1850rpm, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It is expected to be succeeded by Megane-based sedan by the end off 2017.
Renault showcased new Koleos earlier this year for international market. This model is expected to come to India sometime in 2018 with at least 80 percent local content and competitive pricing.


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Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which was open-sourced back in July, is doing very well, if this headline from Chitika Insights is read out of context: “Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Adoption Jumps 1500% in Two Months.” Thankfully, we’re here to put things into perspective, and the status quo really isn’t that great: Jelly Bean was at just 1.2% in August, according to Google’s latest numbers.
Chitika’s figures are slightly different, as the firm measures the rate of adoption for the mobile platform. The company compiled two months’ worth of Android Web traffic, sampling “hundreds of millions of mobile ad impressions” from its ad network. The Insights team then calculated and compared the percentage of traffic for the platform with overall Android traffic since June 30, 2012. The graph below shows the results:
As you can see, Android 4.1’s market share based on Web traffic shot up to 0.87 percent by the end of July, and only continued to grow to a high point of 1.47 percent by the end of August. September isn’t over yet, and Chitika wouldn’t provide a percentage point for where it’s graph ends. There have been slight dips, but we can expect the overall trend to be upward.
Nevertheless, Jelly Bean won’t be the one to fix Android’s fragmentation problem. As Chitika puts it: “With Jelly Bean’s rollout to only a select set of devices, it’s unlikely that this version of Google’s operating system will generate adoption rates to put a dent in this ongoing issue – top of mind for mobile app and Web developers.”
So, what’s the good news? Well, we know that the adoption of new Android versions is really slow because updates are being rolled out for current devices very slowly. As such, the flipside of the fact that Jelly Bean is still being pushed out (My friend’s Facebook’s status yesterday was: “finally got the official jelly bean update for my Galaxy Nexus! its faster!”) is that we can expect its share of the pie to increase more rapidly over the next few months. That being said, it’s not going to be at 50 percent any time soon.
Image credit: stock.xchng


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The new iPhones are even harder to bend than we thought
But for the new iPhones, the company is promoting that its using "7000 series" aluminum, and it's likely a direct result of the "Bendgate" issue that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus suffered, where the phones would bend under a certain amount of pressure.
Sometimes, the pressure from normal circumstances, like having the iPhone 6 Plus in the pockets of tight pants, was enough to bend the phones.
Now that the new iPhones are official, gadget insurance company SquareTrade performed bend tests on iPhone 6s production models, and the results are impressive.
SquareTrade's test found that the new iPhone 6s could withstand up to 170 pounds of pressure, which it reports is the same that the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 could withstand:
And the iPhone 6s Plus can withstand 10 pounds more at 180 pounds of pressure:
What about drops and water damage?
But all the screens cracked when they were dropped on their front, screen down, on the first drop.
And why not see how the phones fare if you drop it in water while playing some music?
SquareTrade reported that the music turned off on all devices after a while, but all the phones survived.
What if you live in very hot or very cold places?
The phones were also put through some extreme temperature tests, where they all turned off after around 15 minutes of being in an oven at 110 degrees. It seemed as if the Galaxy Note 5 and the new iPhones were almost identical in toughness.
But in cold, zero-degree weather, we finally saw which phone would persevere. The iPhone 6s would last 30 minutes before turning off if you fully exposed it to the cold. The iPhone 6s Plus lasted an hour, and the Galaxy Note 5 went on for two.
Watch the full video here:
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- Stock markets continue record run, Sensex scales 69K peak as power, bank shares advance
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- With $500 billion in reserves, LIC is the world’s fourth largest insurer


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Anuga FoodTec will be hosted in Cologne, Germany (Apr 26 to 29). At the event, FoodIngredientsFirst will be reporting directly from the show floor on the latest industry innovations and technological visions, ranging from process technologies – such as filling and packaging – to food safety, packaging materials, digitalization and intralogistics.
The beverage industry is gearing up to assemble at Drinktec 2022 in Munich, Germany (September 12-16), to present new solutions for the latest trends in beverage and liquid food manufacturing. Themes will include the future of plant-based proteins, cooking oils and fats, water management and carbon-reducing process, filling and packaging technologies.
Food ingredients (Fi) Europe and Health ingredients (Hi) Europe will take place both online and in Frankfurt this year between November 30 and December 2. Over 800 exhibitors and 17,000 online and in-person attendees are expected to join, representing more than 135 countries. With the increasingly blurring lines between everyday foods and those with health benefits, the demand...View More
SupplySide West is the largest gathering of health & nutrition industry professionals focused on dietary supplement, beverage, functional food, personal care, and sports nutrition innovation. More than ever, it is a team effort for companies in the global dietary supplement, functional food and beverage, personal care, and sports nutrition industries to drive their...View More
2020 has brought several new challenges to the F&B industry. Concerns around global food safety and security, strains on supply chains and ingredient sourcing challenges have made it more pivotal than ever before. This year, Fi Europe will be held as a virtual event from November 23 to December 4. It will offer insights and highlight innovations in the evolving global...View More


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SHOPPERS flooded the Ballarat CBD yesterday as they searched for a Boxing Day bargain.
The tradition of hitting the shops the day after getting gifts continued among locals, with many traders saying the day went well.
The first stop for many shoppers was Myer’s Sturt Street store, and people lined up to get inside the doors before 7am.
Ballarat’s Myer store manager, Peter Griffin, said it had been a busy day.
“Customers are particularly value and price-focused this time of year and they know that the stocktake is the best time of year to get a bargain,” he said.
“It is our busiest day of the year.”
While Mr Griffin said it was a little hard to compare the day to previous years, he did say the turnout was similar most years.
“We have discounts that start at 20 or 30 per cent and they go right up to 60 per cent, so if you are looking for something or you are looking for a bargain, now is the time of year to get it,” he said.
“I think the difference between this year and previous years is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home.
“Our website is very good, but for me if you come in you get the experience of shopping and are part of the crowds.
“You come in here in the middle of the day and it is really something to see. It is very busy.”
Nationally, the company expects 500,000 transactions to occur on day one of its sale, with one million shoppers to walk through the doors.
The Australian Retailers Association expects Victorian shoppers to spend $659.51 a head in the post-Christmas splurge.
That is an increase of 2 per cent over last year.
ARA executive director Russell Zimmerman said it was hard to determine whether retailers were on track to a good sales period.
The ARA has predicted that $15.1 billion will be spent from Boxing Day until January 15.
“The problem is, if the momentum keeps going like we are seeing at the moment, that will be good but if the interest slows down after a couple of days or into next week, obviously that puts a different context on it,” Mr Zimmerman said.
“I think that retailers are pretty happy at this stage.”


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November 28, 2018
Sprint has announced a new partnership with Qualcomm and HTC to develop a mobile ‘smart hub’ that will run on 5G next year.
Details are relatively thin for the moment, though the term ‘smart hub’ perhaps suggests it will be some form of mobile hot spot. This is the second 5G-specific partnership Sprint has announced in the devices realm, after partnering with LG to develop a 5G-compatible smartphone for its in-progress network. This device might be one of the first to reach the market next year.
“We’re excited to continue building our 5G device portfolio and announce another way our customers can be among the first to experience Sprint 5G next year,” said John Saw, Sprint CTO. “This innovative product will allow customers on the go, at work or at home to enjoy Sprint 5G on multiple devices with incredibly fast connectivity for content sharing, mobile gaming, entertainment and so much more.”
“We are thrilled to be working closely with Sprint on this innovative new design,” said Cher Wang, HTC CEO. “This collaboration brought our cutting-edge technology together with Sprint’s industry-leading 5G network to create the next generation smart devices.”
With Sprint’s 5G network set to launch in the first half of 2019, we might not have to wait long to find out more details. What we do know right now is the data device will be powered using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X50 5G modem, allowing it Gigabit LTE and 5G capabilities.
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The community, shire council, state government and charity organisations have rallied to get Walgett back on its feet after its only supermarket burnt down at the start of the month.
Foodbank NSW & ACT has delivered 300 food hampers from Aldi, to the Walgett Country Women's Association to distribute to the community.
President of the Walgett CWA, Jane Friend said they had decided to deliver the hampers to pensioners in the community.
"They'll be the ones that the hampers will make the biggest difference to," Mrs Friend said.
"They will have the hardest time getting to supermarkets elsewhere.
"We plan to hand deliver them and are working with the council on that."
Mrs Friend said throughout the drought many CWA branches had been given the job of deciding who is most eligible to receive donations of food, money and personal care items.
"It's a really difficult job and I think all CWA branches that have been overwhelmed with donations during this drought have really struggled with that," Mrs Friend said.
"You can never get it entirely right."
Mrs Friend said Agricultural Minister, Adam Marshall, the Walgett Shire council and local businesses had been very proactive in putting services in place following the fire.
"I think we're doing really well," she said.
"The butcher's taken up the veggies, the vegetable man comes a couple of times a week, chicken is coming in from Coonamble on Fridays.
"Adam Marshall's office has lots of things in place like free bus services to Coonamble and Lightening Ridge to go shopping."
The Agricultural Minister last week pledged $50,000 to help establish a temporary supermarket in Walgett.
Mr Marshall said the money will go towards the rent of new premises and essential items like refrigerators.
"Locals here are a resilient bunch and it has been wonderful to see locals and council band together and display such wonderful community spirit," Mr Marshall said.
Mr Marshall's office said Walgett Shire Council would operate the emergency supermarket while a new local supermarket is built.
Mrs Friend welcomed the news as she said one of the biggest repercussions from the supermarket fire was residents spending less money in town.
"Once people go out of town to grocery shop they'll probably do other shopping while they're there, go to the chemist, hardware store in other towns instead of Walgett," she said.
Mrs Friend said there was also concern for the IGA employees who lost their jobs.
She said she hoped the IGA owners would be able to re-establish the supermarket as opposed to bringing in new owners so employees could be reinstated easily.
"A lot of them were only on casual contracts so one day they had a job and the next day they didn't."


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Last Updated: Tuesday, November 05, 2013, 14:17
In the three months to September, net profit rose by 3.2 percent to 1.33 billion euros ($1.8 billion).
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 08, 2013, 19:58
The company will also take a call early next year on launching either its electric vehicle i3 or hybrid model i8 in the country.
Last Updated: Monday, August 05, 2013, 20:08
A Chinese joint venture of German car maker BMW will recall more than 140,000 cars in the world's largest auto market over power steering defects, China's quality watchdog said Monday.
Last Updated: Monday, May 06, 2013, 19:36
Consulting firm Accenture Monday said it has been selected by BMW to manage the rollout of custom built Web platform in the German car manufacturer's major markets by 2014.
Last Updated: Thursday, March 14, 2013, 15:59
Infosys on Thursday announced it has been selected by German luxury car maker BMW Group as its worldwide partner for application basis infrastructure management services.
Last Updated: Sunday, February 17, 2013, 13:13
The recall affects the popular 3-Series sedans, wagons, convertibles and coupes from the 2007 through 2011 model years.
Last Updated: Thursday, December 27, 2012, 11:58
Luxury carmaker BMW has sold about 1.8 million vehicles in 2012, the firm’s financial officer has said.
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 13:17
The BMW Group unveiled a sneak preview of two prototypes of 'BMW-i Born Electric' - the next generation BMW i3 Concept and the BMW i8 Concept Roadster - here as part of a world tour organised by the company.
Last Updated: Thursday, November 08, 2012, 21:52
The company, which Thursday launched the all-new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe priced at Rs 86.40 lakh, also said it will bring three more new products by March 2013.
Last Updated: Thursday, July 05, 2012, 09:04
The vehicles will be recalled by BMW (China) Automotive Trading Ltd. and BMW Brilliance Automotive, a joint venture by the BMW Group and Chinese automaker Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd.
Last Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012, 16:29
Germany's BMW Group Monday said it has more than doubled its investment in the Indian arm of auto -finance business in a bid to expand its footprint in the country's rapidly increasing automobile market.
Last Updated: Sunday, April 15, 2012, 19:03
BMW is recalling about 2,800 cars because a circuit board can overheat and cause a fire.
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Modern smartphones are definitely wonderful things, but they’re not flawless. One of the main gripes with these hi-tech devices is security and the fact that they usually have a lot of vulnerabilities. While Google is more than aware of this problem when its omnipresent Android OS is concerned, it cannot fight this fight on its own as it relies on device manufacturers to adapt its regular security patches and roll them out to their products on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, while most manufacturers promised to keep up with Google’s updates, they haven’t exactly followed through and are letting Google down despite a constant influx of new smartphone vulnerabilities that require fixing.
Of course, the professionals in the industry are well-aware of this issue and are relatively vocal about it. In fact, one of them recently went so far as to recommend people to only buy Samsung and Nexus devices. More specifically, the renowned security expert Gal Beniamini has demonstrated a huge security vulnerability which can be exploited on any device without Google’s May security patch. According to latest reports, that means 57% of Android devices are at risk of having their full disk encryption completely bypassed. Beniamini, who’s a member of Qualcomm’s Product Security Hall of Fame and someone who has contributed a lot to software security in recent years has found out that only the latest Samsung and Nexus devices have improved security in comparison to their predecessors. Because of that, he recommended consumers to only purchase new Samsung and Nexus devices as these are the only ones with seemingly optimal security on the market. More specifically, around 75% of the most popular Galaxy and Nexus models encompassed by the latest security survey were up-to-date with Google’s patches. That isn’t a stellar number, but it’s still significantly better than the aforementioned 57% average.
In a similar test conducted in January, Beniamini found out that 60% of Android devices were not up-to-date with Google’s latest security patch. He stated that this three percent improvement in half a year is marginal at best and device manufacturers should be pressured into doing more in terms of improving the security of their customers.


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Report: Netflix Driving Online VOD Revenue21 Nov, 2011 By: Erik Gruenwedel
Subscription and transactional video-on-demand and electronic sellthrough will drive global online video consumption past 770 billion views in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany —up from 640 billion views last year, according to a new report.
London-based Futuresource Consulting said that while transactional VOD and electronic sellthrough contributed to the 20% increase in online video consumption this year, Netflix streaming will have driven revenue past $3 billion. The streaming service has expanded operations into Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and Mexico.
“By 2015, paid-for online video spend is forecast to hit close to $7 billion across the four countries,” said Mai Hoang, senior analyst with Futuresource.
While free VOD content remains dominant globally, SVOD in Europe is projected to surge by the launch of key regional streaming services, similar to Netflix domestically. It is anticipated that these services will be led by existing players, such as Amazon, YouTube, Apple and Netflix, rather than new entrants.
Despite reservations from major media companies regarding ad-supported online video services such as Hulu (not Hulu Plus) and others, Futuresource contends that future online video revenue will embrace ad-funded services.
The report suggests the ad-funded market could be driven by business models championed by YouTube. In particular, YouTube continues to introduce initiatives to increase consumer engagement with ad-supported videos, even allowing viewers to stop ads that do not appeal to them.
This is then reflected in advertising rates, with more popular ads attracting preferential rates, thus encouraging an upsurge of enjoyable, targeted ad content and an enhanced experience for the consumer, according to the report.
In addition, smartphones and tablet computers are playing an increasingly significant part in the online video market, according to Hoang.
“Sales of smartphones are expected to exceed 450 million units worldwide this year, fueled predominantly by the growing influence of Android-based handsets,” she said.
With tablets showing even greater growth, content holders, broadcasters and hardware manufacturers are increasingly interested in the relatively untapped growth potential in the online video market for these devices.
“This groundswell is building to a significant content distribution platform, largely driven by growth in the development and consumption of apps and rapidly becoming an essential part of service providers' multi-platform strategies,” Hoang said.


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epeComponents is pleased to announce the company will open new offices in Brazil in 2018. The company serves some of the largest companies in the world..
Online PR News – 01-February-2018 – Salem, MA 01970 –
epeComponents is pleased to announce the company will open new offices in Brazil in 2018. The company serves some of the largest companies in the world in the consumer electronics and enterprise electronic sector.
By opening new offices in Brazil, epeComponents will be able to better fulfill its vision to expand its global operations and provide more customers with its innovative, quality services and parts. The company plans to extend their brand across the globe as an elite supply chain solutions provider.
As a trusted partner to a wide variety of Fortune 500 OEM, CM, MRO and EMS companies, epeComponents helps protect these companies from data breaches and more by carefully and appropriately handling serviceable electronic data that is no longer needed by companies. Through secure global sales channels, the company’s team can find the perfect match for this previously-used equipment.
When companies need to get rid of excess material, they can depend on epeComponents, which can make direct purchases after a thorough material audit is conducted. After the assessment, epeComponents will make the process even more seamless by coordinating the pick-up from the customer’s location.
Additionally, the company offers equipment inspection, data decommission and recovery, electrical testing and more.
For more information about the company and its services, visit epeComponents or call 1-978-740-0079.
About epeComponents: epeComponents is known as a global provider and partner to the enterprise electronic and consumer electronics sector. The innovative supply chain solutions company has provided its high-quality solutions and products to Fortune 500 companies and other well-known and respected companies since 2002. The professional team consists of veterans with extensive knowledge in the field who work diligently to provide customers with data storage and recovery solutions, handle excess inventory, provide quality assurance and more.


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Japan retailers keeping prices low to appeal to frugal buyers
SOME Japanese retailers are finding a way to make money even as consumers in the country spend less of it.
Clothing chain Shimamura Co beat its forecasts this week, with first-half net income rising 46 per cent from a year ago, as it limited special sales events and brought
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An Italian turnaround expert in late June presented the Italian government with a restructuring plan aimed at saving Parmalat S.p.A., the worldwide dairy giant that has been in bankruptcy protection after a massive fraud scandal late last year.
The plan by Enrico Bondi, who was appointed by the government to run Parmalat late last year, calls for the sale of the dairy group's non-core assets, slashing the number of the group's brands from 120 to 30 and concentrating on fruit juice, milk and milk-related products. Bondi already put on sale the group's chocolate company, Streglio, and part of the tourism business run by the family of Parmalat founder Calisto Tanzi.
Italy’s minister of industry is expected to approve the plan quickly. It then must be approved by creditors at a meeting slated for November or December. A spokesman said Parmalat is expected to return to strong profits by 2005 and 2006, according to the ANSA news agency.
The Parmalat scandal unfolded in December when the company acknowledged that it didn't have nearly $5 billion it had claimed was in a Bank of America account. Soon after, Parmalat filed for bankruptcy protection. An audit put its debt at about $18 billion. Milan prosecutors have requested indictments for 29 people, including Tanzi.


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This continues on the topic of obesity in connexion with Covid 19, relevant almost equally to France and the UK.
Covid 19 has revealed social inequalities: the less well-off and black and ethnic minority people are more likely to suffer more severe forms of the disease and even die of it. Because obesity affects these groups particularly and is an additional risk factor, it is relevant to ask questions about the quality of food consumed by these groups, and whether governments are doing enough to regulate food production. Is there an inequality in the safety of food, based on price?
Obesity is most common in the US, then in the UK, then in France. The EU has managed so far to slow down the trend through higher food standards. This may be about to change in the UK, which is negotiating trade deals with the US and perhaps having to accept its lower standards. It is not looking hopeful.
On 29 August 2019, in an interview with Sky News, Professor Sir Ian Boyd, retiring Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), commented on the question of whether imports of chlorinated chicken and beef reared with artificial hormones should be allowed into the UK. He said that these were matters that should be decided by ‘consumer choice’.(1)
“The issue is about production processes and animal welfare, and that is a values-based choice that people need to make.
“My view is that we need to be allowed to make that choice. (2)
This is shocking. First of all, chlorinated chicken is not safe:
“the academics point to research published last year which found washing food in bleach does not kill many of the pathogens that cause food poisoning. Instead, it sends them into a “viable but non-culturable state”, which means they are not picked up in standard tests, which take a sample of the food and try to culture any germs on it.” (3)
Five other chemical disinfectants can be used (acidified sodium chlorite, peroxyacetic acid, cetylpyridium chloride, lactic acid, and trisodium phosphate).
Accepting chlorinated chicken means giving up the EU approach which is preventative and precautionary rather than remedial. It aims to ensure that foods are produced in sufficiently hygienic ways to avoid the need to be disinfected prior to sale.
Secondly it will not be a matter of choice; people constrained by money worries will buy cheaper food, which this will be. We leave aside the implication that only the rich have a conscience about animal welfare, or the consequence that UK poultry producers will be under pressure to abandon good practice if they want to remain competitive.
But this is not the most shocking. What is more shocking is that this attitude, ‘it’s consumer choice’ in the face of unsafe but cheap food, is in fact the prevalent attitude of both the government and society in general.
Take NHS nutrition advice. It describes ready meals as overladen with fat, sugar and salt and best avoided, throwing responsibility on the consumer. Whole sectors of the supermarket become a black hole; better off consumers avoid them, and the government has washed their hands of them. Yet there are prices and quality differences between ready meals. Pizza, lasagne, shepherd’s pie, chicken curry come in a range of prices. The cheaper the finished product, the longer the list of ingredients; the extra components compensate the cheapness of the main ingredients, ensuring the result looks and tastes good. This applies beyond ready meals; the quality of staples such as bread also varies according to price. The cheaper versions are suspected of containing obesogenic ingredients over and beyond fat, sugar and salt.
Take for example High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), which is a cheaper sort of sugar. We knew about sugar made from cane and from sugar beet. These plants contain natural sugar juice, extracted and refined to make sugar. HFCS comes from corn (maize), which does not contain sugar but starch. This starch is transformed into types of sugar with an array of chemicals. The resultant syrup is not processed (metabolised) in the body like cane and beet sugar, for example it does not stimulate the production of the hormone that produces the sensation of fulness, in other words it creates a hormonal dysfunction.
This alone should make it suspect. Because it is cheap and easier to use than ordinary sugar, and it is useful in many ways other than making things sweet, for example it helps frozen food to keep its appearance, it is present everywhere. Its increase in use has coincided with an increase in obesity in the countries where it is used and imported.
There is alarm about it, but no action. Lobbies make sure that facts are fudged.
Although their existence is well known, talking about ‘lobbies’ means talking without proof, since lobbies are not public bodies and do not publicise themselves. Their influence is documented after the event, for example when lobbies spread doubt that tobacco is carcinogenic.
Another occasion when lobby influence was manifest was in 1979; the 70s was a time of public alarm regarding Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGPs) in the meat industry. An academic paper on the question summarises lobby influence to avoid limitation of AGPs: “Calling for concrete proof of harm and employing counter science, pharmaceutical lobbyists successfully played on growing regulation wariness and concerns about ‘stagflation’ to defeat restrictions. With scientists appearing divided, Congress effectively imposed a moratorium on statutory AGP restrictions by calling for more research in 1979.” (4)
The same applies today about limiting HFCS: regulation wariness (light touch regulation/self-regulation, small state), concerns about economic growth (the need of cheap food to keep the economy going), scientists appearing divided, the vague conclusion that more study is needed. It is not reassuring that the NHS analysis of studies about HFCS says exactly that: ‘there is no proof, further research is needed’ even though they accept that countries with high consumption of the sugar substitute have higher level of obesity; their reaction should be instead to invoke the principle of precaution. (5)
Citizens have a choice: either campaign to stop the substance being used, and fight against lobbies that have the power of the big food corporations behind them, or turn your back on the problem and buy your way out. As the same study says: “Similar to the history of pesticide regulation, relying on the market-driven provision of ‘antibiotic free meat’ not only risks the creation of very unequal access to allegedly safe food. What is more, it also runs danger of reinforcing regulatory stagnation by rhetorically displacing responsibility for what can only be tackled at the societal and political level onto the shoulders of individuals.”
In the UK the campaign by, among others, the National Farmers Union, to keep up British standards on food and animal welfare in the face of US imports is an encouraging sign that the responsibility will not be put on the shoulders of individuals, but recognised as a social and political responsibility. The labour movement should build on this to improve standards still further.
Source: Weighing In— Obesity, Food Justice and the Limits of Capitalism by Julie Guthman, 2011


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It’s not every day that you beat one of America’s biggest companies in court. Today a federal judge agreed with Consumer Watchdog’s strong anti-trust arguments and prevented Google from gaining a monopoly over digitized online books. Consumer Watchdog was of the one first to call for the US Justice Department to block the Google Books deal where Google scanned most of the books in the world without asking for permission from the authors. We agree with Judge Denny Chin’s ruling that a digital books library should be available only with the consent of all authors. Judge Chin ruled that the agreement “would grant Google significant rights to exploit entire books, without the permission of copyright owners.” We took this stand because we believe Google’s engineers are out of control. They take first and ask permission later. Today Judge Chin acknowledged that the deal would give Google a “defacto monopoly” and would arguably give Google control over the search market. One company should not have control over the body of world literature. Today’s victory hopefully is the beginning of more scrutiny over Google’s business practices and use of its monopolistic position online. I wanted share this important news with you as it happened. If you want to read Judge Chin’s ruling, you can read it here. Thanks for all you support. Editor’s Note: This piece appeared originally in an email alert from Jamie Court at Consumer Watchdog. Learn more at ConsumerWatchdog.org.
|Jamie Court is the author of The Progressive’s Guide to Raising Hell.|


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WELCOME TO The TRAVEL REPORT
Feature market insights and perspectives from top C-Level executives, elite technology influencers and thought leaders from your company here. This signature initiative has garnered immense support...
CBP | July 02, 2020
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that trusted traveler program enrollment centers will remain temporarily closed until at least August 10. Prior to Wednesday's postponement, Global Entry and other trusted traveler program enrollment centers were scheduled to reopen on Monday, July 6. The decision comes amid a recent rise in COVID-19 cases in several states....
Newmark | October 07, 2021
Newmark Group, Inc. announced the expansion of its Lodging Capital Markets Group with two new hires and the relocation of two Newmark professionals. With these moves, the Group has established three new locations in California, South Florida and Texas. The new hires include Nick Pappas, a Senior Managing Director based in Los Angeles and Parker Sherrill, a Director based in Dallas. Lawrence Wolfe, one of four co-heads of Newmark's Lodging Capital Markets Group, is relocating to Miami from Ne...
PhocusWire | February 18, 2020
Lufthansa Group and Amadeus have renewed their long-term commercial partnership, giving the carrier access to the Altea passenger service system as well as a range of other digital services. While the deal was agreed in principle about a year ago, Amadeus says it has taken time to negotiate various elements included in it. The Altea system will continue to provide its reservations and ticketing technology as well as inventory and disruption management to Lufthansa....
Agoda | June 14, 2022
On June 13, payment network Affirm announced a partnership with global travel platform Agoda. Agoda is part of Booking Holdings, the world’s leading online travel and related services provider. This partnership allows eligible travelers to book their hotel stays for upcoming trips across the Agoda platform via app and web. In addition, they can pay over time for bookings exceeding $50.
When travelers choose Affirm as a checkout action on Agoda, those eligible can split the t...
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Capital Goods Orders Beat Estimates for July
August 28, 2018
New orders for U.S.-made capital goods rose 1.4 percent last month, beating June’s 0.9 percent increase. Capital goods orders are up 7.2 percent year-over-year.
Capital goods refers to goods that are used in the production of other goods and services, which are used by businesses rather than sold directly to consumers. These numbers are a closely watched indicator for business spending plans, and indicate that business investment is for the third quarter has started on a strong note.
The more volatile durable goods numbers, which tracks orders of items ranging from toasters to washing machines that are meant to last more than three years, fell 1.7 percent as demand for civilian aircraft declined.


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Cute Cat-Shaped Japanese Sandals Called NyaragetaJune 22, 2017
Sora News 24 reports that the sandals are called Nyarageta. The "Nya" portion of the word is Japanese for "meow." The sandals are made by a Japanese footwear company called Narageta.
The sandals are not sold in the U.S. so if you want to purchase them you will have to order them from Japan. They can be found online at the Village Vanguard online store where they retail for 3,780 Yen, which is about $34 U.S.
Fart Ninja Toys Make Electronic Fart Sounds - posted April 22, 2019
Kellogg's Launches Peeps Marshmallow Cereal - posted April 4, 2019
GlassesUSA and Victorinox Launch Swiss Army Glasses - posted April 1, 2019
Royal Mint Launching Emoji Collection - posted April 1, 2019
ThinkGeek Announces The Mighty Mjolnir Mailbox - posted April 1, 2019


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Panasonic 4K OLED TV
Right after Sony introduced their 4K OLED TV at 2013 International CES, Panasonic unveiled that they also have a new OLED TV in the making . Beating its competitors, Panasonic revealed the world’s biggest OLED TV with high definition resolution measuring in with 56-inch screen. The most impressive thing about the 4K OLED-TV is not its 4K resolution but the picture characteristics of the OLED technology.
The picture quality is quite astonishing, each pixel is self-illuminating and can be completely turned off, giving unbelievable deep blacks and quoted contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1. The Tv is 4mm at sides and is less than half an inch thick making it incredibly thin and weighs 27 pounds, a requiring a lot less power than a regular LCD or Plasma display. The company claimed its OLED panel was created by using the (red-green-blue) RGB method, which allows a wide range of colors to be displayed making the display really impressive. it’s the only OLED so far that ‘prints’ its OLEDs into position it’s a manufacturing process that’s considered to be much more cost-effective than the methods being used by the other well known TV brands.
According to Panasonic, this is “the world’s largest OLED panel produced by the RGB all-printing method.” Panasonic hasn’t revealed much information about the specs just yet nor have they mentioned the price. So far this is the only OLED which has got everyone talking and has made everyone excited more than any other OLED. Now neither can we wait for Panasonic to release more specifications nor can we wait for them to launch this brilliant OLED.
Along with the 4k OLED TV Panasonic also showcased 16 new LED/ LCD TVs that will be a part of their 2013 Viera program. These TVs extent across 32-inches to 60-inches and are designed keeping in mind customer’s preference. Panasonic also showcased a few new featureswhich they had to offer. One such feature is ‘My Home Screen’. This feature will be available in Viera WT60, DT60, ET60, and E60 Series and will allows each user to create their own personal home screen giving them quick access to their favorite content.
Another feature that will be available to WT60, DT60, ET60, and E60 Series TV is Swipe and Share 2.0. This feature allows users to tap their NFC smartphone against their TV to share content. Plasma TV users will also get ‘Touch Pen’ feature, which allows users to add their own writing to their photos on screen and transfer them back to their smart devices using the optional Electronic Touch Pen (TY-TP10U) accessory.


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According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) which has released details regarding sugar prices in the country. According to statistics, the price of sugar in Peshawar has reached Rs 110 per kg, while in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, Hyderabad and Rawalpindi, the price of sugar is Rs. 10 per kg higher which makes it Rs.120 per kg.
In Hyderabad, sugar is sold at Rs 100 per kg, while in Sialkot, Gujranwala, Multan, and Sukkur, sugar is being sold at Rs 95 per kg. The average price of sugar in the country is up to Rs 95.67 per kg and the minimum price of one kg of sugar is Rs 92 while the maximum is Rs 110. According to the data, prices of 15 food items increased and prices of 13 items decreased in a week while prices of 23 items remained stable in a week.
On-Going Wheat Crisis And Strike
There is also an ongoing wheat and flour crisis in the country, the Nanbai association has declared a shutter down strike in Rawalpindi due to shortage of supply and increased flour and wheat prices, the CM Punjab has taken effective measures to stabilize the supply and prices of wheat and flour in the country yesterday. The advisor to PM for Finance, Hafiz Sheikh also vowed yesterday for a smooth supply of wheat and flour which could stabilize the prices.


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February 14, 2017
Chris Travis Announces New Mixtape ‘Forgive Me’ Dropping This Month
Chris Travis is ready to release a brand new mixtape. After dropping 'Shark Boy' this past September, the Water Boyz rapper announced yesterday that he's dropping a new mixtape called 'Forgive Me' this month.
We're exactly halfway through the shortened month of February, so 'Forgive Me' could be dropping any day now. Stay tuned!