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ViacomCBS is looking to raise US$3 billion (more than $3.9 billion) from stock offerings, with the funds to help fund operations and investments in its streaming service, Paramount+.
The publicly-listed company said in a corporate statement in late March that it would sell US$2 billion in class B common shares and US$1 billion in Series A mandatory convertible preferred shares.
ViacomCBS said it intends to use the combined net proceeds from the offerings for general corporate purposes, including investments in streaming.
In March, Paramount+ launched as the overhauled version of the company’s previous streaming service, CBS All Access, arriving in a crowded field of streaming services.
Despite this, the company is targeting 65 million to 75 million streaming subscribers by 2024 and expects to invest around US$5 billion in its streaming content by 2024, up from a reported US$1 billion in 2020, Deadline reported.
Paramount+, which launched in the US, includes hubs for content from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, and the Smithsonian Channel.
The service is also expected to introduce a new US$5 per month ad-supported streaming tier, and will be the home of some of the year’s biggest film releases: A Quiet Place Part II and Mission: Impossible 7, both of which will release on Paramount+ 45 days after their theatre releases.
In Australia, ViacomCBS-owned Network 10 announced in September that its subscription video and on-demand service would rebrand to Paramount+, with news that it would be the exclusive home of SHOWTIME premieres.
Freedom Foods and 72andSunny Sydney have launched the first advertising campaign for Australia’s Own range of plant-based beverages. The campaign introduces a new visual world and identity for the brand and captures the healthy, positive feeling you get when spending time in nature and when consuming Australia’s Own certified-organic, plant-based beverages. As well as featuring […]
Nine creatives from APAC are among the 94 finalists from 27 countries in The One Club for Creativity’s prestigious Young Guns 19 competition, celebrating international creative professionals age 30 or younger. The finalists from APAC are: Hiu Ching Kung, graphic designer, Hong Kong Lam Ieong Kun, graphic designer, illustrator, indego design, Macau Raxenne Maniquiz, graphic designer, illustrator, Santa Maria (Philippines) Kiyotaka […]
OOH transit company Adflow has announced the success of the first phase of its regional expansion program. Adflow’s regional footprint has increased by 60 per cent to now include 65 regional locations. With 9.1 million people living regionally in Australia (growth of 1.1 per cent experienced in the 19/20 Financial year) and most regional centres […]
Freshworks, a leading software company, has started trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, marking an important milestone for the company. The company priced its IPO at US$36 per share (AU$49.76), raising about US$1 billion (AU$1.4B), resulting in a total market capitalisation of AU$13.7 billion (US$10B). Freshworks, which was founded in India, has strong roots […]
Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) is the biggest player in the holiday shopping game and Google’s most recent research suggests consumer interest for the peak sales season starts much earlier than retailers may realise. The pandemic has fundamentally changed buyer behaviour over peak sales season, with Google suggesting that global consumer interest in Black Friday […]


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Those hugely attractive sign-up bonuses for credit cards aren't as sexy as they used to be.
Recent media reports have noted several surveys that show issuers are slagging off on lucrative sign-up bonuses. They had ramped up the incentives in the last two years to grab the highly coveted affluent consumers with great credit scores.
This year, issuers appear to have stopped one-upping each other.
"Overall sign on bonuses have been 'cool' thus far in 2012," says Roy Persson, director of competitive tracking services as Ipsos, a private research think-tank.
"We see some bonuses getting slightly richer, but the overall trend is a general cut in offers with sign-on bonuses," he says. "And, amongst those with sign-on bonuses, the values are 'maintained' from the 2011 highs we once saw."
The good news is that means the offers are still pretty good if they are on par with last year's incentives. However, they may be harder to get. Bankrate's 2012 survey of rewards cards found that many issuers required a higher spending threshold before a cardholder was awarded the sign-on bonus.
This may not be the start of a new trend, but rather the normal ebb and flow of credit card offers, says Bill McCracken, CEO of Synergistics, an Atlanta-based market research firm.
"The industry gets in a cycle of offering greater and greater points and mile, and then the next issuer tries to one-up," he says. "The industry pushes as far as they can and then there is a pullback, and that's what we're seeing right now."
McCracken predicts the sweet sign-up bonuses will be back as issuers continue to chase that narrow pool of superprime consumers.
"If consumers wait a little bit, like six to 12 months, issuers will get back to the richer offerings," he says.
Of course, there's more to a credit card than its sign-up bonus. Consider annual fees, interest rates, penalty clauses and the rewards programs. If you don't have to change your spending habits to earn the rewards and the annual fee more than pays for itself, that card may be a winner. But remember to pay off your balance every month; otherwise, what you pay in interest could outpace the value of your rewards.
What's the best sign-up incentive you've seen recently?
Follow me on Twitter: @JannaHerron

domain: news


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A hearty crew of local politicians took a walk, we're told, this morning over the South Street Bridge just before it was closed for demolition and a two-year rebuilding project. No word on whether they made it to West Philly.
Kitty Caparella updates her series last week about trouble at a local U.S. Postal Service mail sorting facility.
Mayor Nutter is expected today to praise a local clothing store that is helping to keep a rec center going.
And the family of Lance Haver, the city's consumer affairs director, may get some closure today in the criminal case of a 22-year-old who shot his adopted son.


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A mobile operator rumored to associate with Google is planning to offer free international Roaming Facility to its customers. The Search Engine Behemoth has stuck a deal with Hutchison Whampoa in the United Kingdom for this purpose. It provides an opportunity for the Google users to call and text the near and dear ones at home when they are abroad. The company claims that it offers this service at the local call costs. This Facility would also allow the users to avail the data connectivity of the local service provider while traveling abroad without paying the roaming charges.
International Roaming Facility
In order to give pan world international roaming facility, Google has entered into a deal with the owners of three reputed UK brands to offer largest coverage of mobile network. The agreeing parties are in for a wholesale access agreement that allows them to give free roaming facility to Google’s customers. This facility will allow the customers to send texts and user data, and make calls to their friends without incurring any other cost. In connection with this, the search engine behemoth has said that it is looking for a partner to set up its own mobile carrier. Google further added that its foray has limited ambitions to cater to a small section of customers. Apart from Hutchison, the company has leased the network capacity of Sprint and T-Mobile to set up the new service.
The analysts in the field believe that Google would be able to offer its US mobile customers some of the benefits of the Three UK brands as a result of this new tie-up. The Hutchison tie-up would give the customers an ability to call and text home from overseas at local call cost. This facility would also allow the users to avail their monthly data allowance when they are traveling abroad. The company claims that this service would be supported in the countries like Australia, Ireland, the US, France, the Nordics, Italy, Hong Kong, etc. In the later stage, this service benefit would be extended to more countries for the benefit of its users. This is a good offer as often people cannot come out of the contract they had entered into with a local provider at home when they are in a foreign country. Currently, they have to substitute the existing SIM card with local SIM of the foreign country they are visiting to avail the local service facilities there.


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| The Bühler Group has announced the Sortex E PolyVision that can identify same-colour polymer contaminants by analysing their chemical signatures.
| Amut Group will present at its booth C1.240 the Da-Labeller DLB 60 and the mobile Ballistic Separator SBS 201.
| Japanese scientists have discovered a bacteria that can degrade PET. So far only fungi where know to decompose plastics.
| 160 experts and leaders from the entire PET value chain in Europe and beyond met at the 2016 Petcore Europe sold-out conference in Brussels on 23 February.
| With the new sorting system BTB PET-Recycling wants to reduce the waste volume to be competitive.
| According to Petcore, the equivalent of 66 billion 1.5L PET bottles were collected and recycled in 2014, representing 57% of bottles and containers placed in the market.
| Unifi Inc. selects Amut SpA and Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) to provide the technology for a $25 million expansion that will increase its capacity to turn PET bottles into recycled fibers for apparel and automotive products. The investment is being made at Unifi’s facility in Reidsville, N.C.
| A new research study conducted by Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI), a company specialized in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) package development, has found that exposing post-consumer bottles to ultraviolet (UV) light prior to recycling has a severe impact on the physical properties and visual attributes of next generation, recycled PET (rPET) bottles.
| Current market developments on the PET packaging market are putting the future of PET recycling at risk.
| The bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Latin America has an hourly net capacity of over 6.000 kg/h, handling 1.5 Billion PET bottles per year.


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International credit information firm Experian plans to increase the size of its Allen, TX operation by almost a third, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.
Experian signed a deal this week with the city of Allen to expand its operations by 300 people in exchange for increased economic incentives, the Allen Economic Development Corp. said. Experian plans additional business operations at its 300,000-square-foot complex in Allen’s Enterprise Business Park. About 600 Experian workers are housed in the facility, east of U.S. Highway 75.
Experian has had operations in Allen since 1993 and is the Collin County city’s largest employer. The company has facilities in Allen for several business groups, including its National Consumer Assistance Center and its Decision Analytics, Information Technology and Public Education groups.
In 2008, Experian renewed its lease at the Enterprise Business Park for 10 years, according to Robert R. Winningham, Allen Economic Development CEO. The new agreement calls for Allen to provide funds to remodel and build new offices in the Enterprise Business Park building that Experian will use. Winningham said the value of the incentive depends on how much growth the company has. It could be as much as $1.5 million paid over 10 years. But to receive all the incentive funds for the building renovation, Experian would have to invest $30 million.
“Experian’s positive relationship with the city has influenced our decision to move additional business here,” said Carlos Medina, senior vice president of global operations.
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Bound for Botany Bay
Cruise passengers could be greeted by cargo cranes instead of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge when arriving in Sydney after Australia's Federal Government rejected plans for cruise ships to dock alongside naval vessels at Garden Island in Sydney Harbour.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said: "Garden Island is a naval base and the ships of the Royal Australian Navy will always have the priority there, not … cruise ships."
The original Sydney Harbour cruise terminal is struggling to services the number of vessels arriving, and the height of the Harbour Bridge precludes some of the larger cruise ships from docking at the second terminal at White bay.
Port Botany, just south of Sydney Harbour, is a deep-water seaport and Australia's largest container port. It specializes in trade in manufactured products and bulk liquid imports including petroleum and natural gas. The idea of locating a terminal there has been criticized, because it is further from the heart of Sydney and roads are already congested.
New South Wales Tourism Minister Adam Marshall said he was disappointed by the Federal Government’s decision not to allow ships to dock at Garden Island. “That was our first preference, both of the NSW Government and of the cruise industry.” Certainly Botany Bay is not ideal, he said, but internationally, there are many examples of cruise ship ports that are a long way away from the CBD of the city. He said it may be possible for cruise ships to first enter Sydney Harbour to view the sites before berthing at Port Botany.
A recent Cruise Lines International Assocation’s (CLIA) Economic Impact Report showed that the cruise industry contributes in excess of A$5 billion ($3.7 billion) to the Australian economy, A$3.1 billion ($2.3 billion) coming from New South Wales. “Sydney is Australia’s cruise gateway, and ensuring we have the capacity to accommodate more ships, means we will see more international ships bringing international visitors to our shores, as well as the prospect of more homeported ships – which would have a massive flow on effect to businesses and communities far beyond the ships and ports,” said the CLIA.
The NSW Government is also looking at developing cruise terminals in regional towns, including Eden, Newcastle and Port Kembla.


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BRUSSELS, May 5, 2011 (AFP) – European Union trade chiefs are planning to strip away special export advantages granted to China, India, Indonesia and scores of other fast-growing economies, an EU source said Thursday. In total, more than 80 emerging economic players also including the likes of Morocco would lose from 2014 benefits gained under a special regime when exporting to Europe’s single market of half a billion consumers, 20 million companies and major state buyers.
The European Commission is discussing a plan to prune radically “to around 90 countries” its existing list of General System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiaries, which currently numbers 176 territories “not classified by the World Bank as high-income countries and which are not sufficiently diversified in their exports.”
Thousands of products enter the EU single market either duty-free or at reduced rates under the scheme, which dates back to the beginning of the 1970s. Later amendments offer additional incentives to states that commit to international norms on labour and human rights.
buy doxycycline online buy doxycycline online no prescription
But the source said the promotion over recent years of many countries through income league tables compiled by the World Bank meant it was “more and m


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Wii U could be getting a big budget fantasy RPG title that someone is putting a lot of time and resources into, according to a job listing unearthed today. The post offers applicants the chance to work with industry veterans.
NintendoLife reports that one posting is titled "C + + Developer - Medieval Fantasy RPG", and that the position is based in France.
Applicants are being asked to contact a member of the team named Marc Kruzik, who - according to his LinkedIn profile - currently works at Earthlings Games.
Notenoughshaders has translated the fine details and distilled them down to these points:
- Unannounced big budget (multi million dollar/euro) Fantasy Medieval Role-Playing is in the works.
- The game is for PC / Mac / console. It is currently in pre-production.
- The job listing mentions “innovative peripherals (including Wii U)”. Wii U is the only console mentioned on the job listing.
- Company being created based in Montreuil, Paris (France).
- The team is mainly composed of veterans of the gaming industry and has an internationally recognized expertise in the field.
- Job listing says details will be announced to the press, between October and December 2012.
The below concept art, simply titled 'Dark Witch' has also leaked in relation to the job listing.
The art was posted on the developer's Deviantart profile, along with the text, "We’re currently looking for freelances high poly 3D artists. The project is a video game, an heroic fantasy RPG with higly detailled armors (~500 000 polys per character). It’s not for real time, rather for rendering, 3D printing and other things of the same kind."
"It’s a big project with a big budget (several millions dollars), but also with a lot of work. Compensation will depend on quality and percentage of completion, from hundreds to thousands of dollars per character.“
Mention of 'industry veterans' suggests RPG specialists Mistwalker, comprised of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and composer Nobuo Uematsu. But they're not based in France obviously, suggesting it could be with someone else entirely. What do you think?


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Taxi-hailing drivers under the aegis of the National Union of Professional App-based Workers (NUPA-BW) have revealed that they are working on a class-action lawsuit against Uber and Bolt.
The new development follows Uber’s recent classification of its drivers in the UK as workers. This new designation, according to the company will give them benefits like holiday pay, pension and a guaranteed minimum wage.
In a chat with Technext, President of NUPA-BW, Comrade Ayoade Ibrahim, claimed that Uber and Bolt drivers in Nigeria are also entitled to rights as employees, legally classified as worker’s under Nigeria’s legislation.
He added that they seek compensation for unpaid overtime and holiday pay, pensions, social security as well as unionized recognition.
We like to use this opportunity, seeing what’s happening in the UK and South Africa, to start our class action (lawsuit) against Uber and Bolt operations in Nigeria. We want them to respect the Nigerian constitution and labour law/Act. This is an opportunity for the Nigerian government especially the ministry of labour and productivity and the ministry of transport to do needful.Comrade Ayoade Ibrahim, President of NUPA-BW
Uber compromises as gig model begins to unravel
For years Uber has been in an uphill battle on several fronts on its gig model. In almost every city Uber launches, it never takes its drivers too long to form unions, and/or get regulators on their side to make the case that Uber is an employer of labour and should act like one.
In the UK, the battle between the company and worker union has been on and off since 2016. Another major battlefront is in California where the Prop 22 ruling last year was a big win for the ride-hailing company.
Similarly, in Africa the company is facing lawsuits on driver status. In South Africa, Uber drivers filed a class-action lawsuit against Uber BV and Uber SA in February.
However, the U.K.’s Supreme Court latest ruling that reaffirmed that drivers using the app are workers and not independent contractors has dealt a crucial blow to Uber’s gig Model.
Following the ruling, Uber announced a worker system that will see drivers in the UK now being entitled to some benefits. This is is the first time Uber has wavered on its GIG model and it could have far-reaching implications.
Nigerian e-hailing drivers also want to be classified as workers
Seeing the development in Europe, Ayoade says that the union is planning to leverage opportunities from UK and South Africa to start its own class action against Uber and Bolt operations in Nigeria.
He insisted that the ride hailing companies also have to respect the Nigeria constitution and labour law/Act that legally classify them as workers.
This is however not the first time Uber Drivers in Nigeria will file a class action suit against the company asking for employee benefits. In 2017, two drivers representing other drivers on the platform started a class action suit asking Uber to provide its drivers with health insurance and pension benefits.
However, the company insisted that the independence it offers drivers remain a major attraction. An Uber spokesperson, Francesca Uriri, explained that the vast majority of drivers who use Uber say the reason why they signed up to use the app in the first place was because of the freedom and flexibility it afforded them.
The President of NUPA-BW has, however, revealed that the union has the backing of a significant number of drivers. He revealed that the union is now in consultation with other App-based drivers to join the lawsuit.
“If you check UK legal action only 20 App-based drivers started it. 2 people at most are the leading claimant. So it doesn’t matter if we didn’t get 100 % of Drivers. We have the support of the majority and we’re working on the modalities. We start the class action lawsuit against them soon,” he concluded.
Comrade Ayoade’s NUPA-BW may have a tough time winning the case though, as an aspect of the law may be on Uber’s side. Section 91(d) of the Labour Act states that:
“worker” means any person who has entered into or works under a contract with an employer […] but does not include […]
(d) representatives, agents and commercial travellers in so far as their work is carried on outside the permanent workplace of the employer’s establishment.”
The exception could technically rope in Uber and other ride-hailing drivers but thats for the court to decide.
Would Nigerian drivers be better off as employees?
In Lagos and Abuja, Uber’s biggest market in Nigeria, it is not uncommon for drivers to make about N100,000 from Uber rides weekly. They can even make as much as N200,000 during the festive season, according to Sunday, an UberDriver who works in Lagos.
Another driver, Gbenro Ogundipe, says he makes around N25,000 to N35,000 for the week, after paying for fuel. Driving 40 hours per week, Uber drivers in Lagos make between N80,000 to N120,000 in a month while the minimum wage in Nigeria is N30,000.
If drivers move from being independent contractors to employees of Uber in Nigeria, it is unlikely that the company will pay drivers up to N100,000 in salary.
Also, the flexibility of them being able to use more than one ride-hailing company for their work may be prohibited. Tope, an Uber Driver told Technext that he uses both Uber and Bolt. He explained that he shuffles between both so that he can complete more rides.
Whether its Uber or Bolt, I accept rides from the app that first gives me rides.
However, there are plus to them being employees, especially that of an international company as they will be entitled to benefits such as health insurance, pension and holiday bonuses.
Can Uber afford to classify all its Drivers as Workers?
Uber’s classification of drivers as independent contractors is fundamental to how it operates. It allows the company to avoid paying any employee benefits, a guaranteed minimum wage or be liable for any extra expenses incurred by the drivers.
With over 200,000 drivers, a minimum wage of $12 per hour and a work time of 12 hours, Uber is estimated to pay about $806,400,000 in salary a month in Califonia alone if Drivers become employess.
Employing all its drivers as staff will prove expensive even for a company currently valued at $106 billion.
However, it appears that Uber itself has realized that the gig model as it is may not last for longer. Asides from the UK, the company is also proposing changes to labour laws in Canada. The new laws would allow its employees to receive benefits and safety protection.
According to Uber senior vice-president, Andrew MacDonald, the company’s current employment system has some fundamental flaws that COVID has exposed. She added that this is a good opportunity to change.
“Our view is our current employment system is outdated, unfair, and somewhat inflexible and some workers get benefits and protections and others don’t. We feel that COVID has exposed some of those fundamental flaws and think this is a good opportunity for change.”Andrew MacDonald, Uber’s senior vice-president
Recall, that during the lockdown caused by the pandemic, Uber rides significantly dropped across the world resulting in reduced income for its drivers.
With the development in Canada, It appears that the VP has seen this as a big challenge in Canada. However, there is no illustration if Mr MacDonald’s comments referred to all of Uber’s 38 markets
The flexibility to choose working hours and handsome income has made e-hailing a preferred alternative source of income, not necessarily the main gig for many Nigerian drivers.
However, with the attractive benefits their counterparts in the UK will now be getting, Uber drivers who were on the fence about the employee status will now seriously consider it.
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As fashion weeks follow hot on each other’s heels in New York, London, Milan and Paris, hundreds of models are travelling to the four fashion capitals in the hope of getting work.
But many will go home financially worse off than when they arrived.
Anna (not her real name) has worked as a model since she was 17, appearing on the catwalk for Prada, Mulberry, Comme des Garcons and many others.
But after three years, she still hasn’t managed to pay off all the £10,000 she owes to her modelling agencies.
“My debt situation started right away when I started modelling,” she tells the BBC.
The first agency Anna signed with, in her European home country, advanced her £350 for taking test photographs, a cost that was added to an account in her name.
Later she was flown to London for a casting, and that cost was also added to her account, including accommodation and living expenses. The amount she owed mounted.
“They would ask me if I wanted a driver, without being clear that this is very expensive, and that I have to pay for it,” she says.
The problem for fashion models is that while their agencies will typically pay for their flights, accommodation and expenses up front, it is standard industry practice that they want the money back.
So if a model travels to the latest London Fashion Week, which starts on Friday, and doesn’t get work, they will be in debt to their agency for the amount it spent getting her or him there.
Anna had this problem, when aged 18 she flew to the US for castings at New York Fashion Week, but ultimately couldn’t attend any due to falling sick.
For two years she says she received next to no pay, as her agencies in Paris, London and New York directed her fees to pay off all the money she owed.
Ekaterina Ozhiganova says it’s time to address the hidden problem of debt that models rack up as they try to make a career in one of the most precarious professions in the world.
A Russian model working in Paris, she co-founded Model Law, the first French association working to protect models’ rights.
“It used to be that sexual violence was taboo,” she says.
“Now everyone is shouting on every corner about sexual exploitation, but no-one wants to talk about money. Everyone is shutting their mouths about it.”
Because success in the industry is partly measured by the amount you earn, working models rarely want to speak out about the problem.
But behind the scenes, Ms Ozhiganova says Model Law is helping models better understand their finances.
“The lack of information is the main problem” she says. “The models don’t know what they are supposed to receive.”
While models from all countries can get into financial difficulties, those from poorer nations can be more vulnerable.
“It’s like any worker who comes from abroad to a more prosperous economy,” says Ms Ozhiganova.
“There’s a big difficulty in language, they can’t read the paperwork, the contract. They are jumping into a void.”
Compounding the problem, the pool of aspiring models is so large that work is spread thinly and pay can be very low.
Some jobs in magazines, for example, are unpaid. Otherwise fees can range from £50 a day, to £1,000 or more for a taking part in a show during a fashion week or tens of thousands for featuring in a brand’s campaign.
However, model debt is not debt in any ordinary sense of the term, says John Horner, director of the British Fashion Models Association, representing UK agencies.
If a young model fails to make it and leaves the industry, she isn’t pursued for the money she “owes” he says. Instead the agency writes off the investment.
“It is not hanging round the models like [UK payday loan provider] Wonga,” he says. “We carry the debt.”
He says the London-based agency he runs, Models 1, has £60,000 of models’ debt sitting on its books, which may never be paid off, if the models’ careers don’t take off.
He says agencies are obliged to give models monthly itemised bills listing the charges to their accounts, but he’s not sure they always get read.
Most successful models soon pay off the initial investment and start earning on their own account, he says.
Esther Kinnear-Derungs is the co-founder of Linden Staub, a small agency set up in London three years ago to pioneer ways to treat models better.
She says that advancing and recouping costs is the “nature of the business”.
The problem is the girls are seen as “disposable” by many agencies, she says, and it’s an open secret that at fashion weeks some big agencies take the approach that hundreds of girls can be “thrown against the wall to see what sticks”.
She says it’s often girls from eastern Europe who are most vulnerable.
Their parents are happy to send them abroad, believing it’s their “big break”, and they don’t ask enough questions. The girls themselves have no experience at managing their own finances or careers.
“We believe we have a responsibility to educate the model from day one, whether she was scouted in Siberia, Africa or London,” says Ms Kinnear-Derungs.
Candice [also not her real name], is a French model of east African descent. She says she had no idea when she started out that she was being charged for travel and expenses.
“When you get your first job, that’s how you realise it wasn’t free.
“You go and ask about your pay and they say, you don’t have money because you’re in debt. Then you understand,” she says.
She says even if agencies are ultimately carrying the financial risk, there’s a psychological burden on the models.
“It always feels like a gamble to make the journey to fashion week with the risk you’ll go home owing more than when you arrived,” she says.
“Maybe 40%, maybe more, go home with zero. That is why it is so stressful.”
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Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a vehicle window control system, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on August 1st, 2019, published on February 7th, 2023, and assigned serial number 11572731.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has filed several window-related patents in recent months, including one for an enhanced anti-fogging window system, a heated side window system, an automatic window breaking apparatus, and an automatic window control system. Now, this new Ford patent keeps that trend going by introducing an idea for a vehicle window control system.
The point of this Ford patent is to create a system that could be capable of predicting environmental conditions at locations where a vehicle might be traveling – whether that be rain, dust, pollen, or any other type of potential event – and then automatically close the windows to prevent it from entering the cabin, if needed.
Since most new vehicles are already equipped with all sorts of sensors, such an idea isn’t terribly far-fetched nor presumably difficult to implement – rather, the tricky part here is detecting weather events before they happen. While Ford could simply create a system that would close the windows when it detects rain, dust, or pollen, the concept here is to determine when the vehicle is within a certain distance of those events, and then close the window preemptively.
To do this, the vehicle would receive map and weather data from remote computers, along with data collected from sensors on the actual vehicle itself. It’s an interesting idea for sure – albeit one that may not be totally necessary – but it’s yet another example of a convenience feature that may one day handle a small task that we currently do ourselves.
We’ll have more on this and all Ford patents soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford patent news, Ford business news, and comprehensive Ford news coverage.
Holy cow. The race to max complexity.
Another useless patent filed by Ford’s overstaffed team.
More things we the customer are NOT asking for. Increase production, increase quality and decrease the price. Crap like this only adds to the bottom line. Ford needs to focus on what customers are asking for, throttle down the EV builds and develop vehicles that people really need and want
Two billion loss last year we will see what Farley’s magic plan will be real soon.
As others have stated, more tech nobody asked for. Resulting in overly complex systems that require expensive repairs if they fail. Larger upfront consumer costs for tech we don’t need, which likely be forced on buyers in a package that will be thousands of dollars more.
Automakers need to stop thinking like a tech company. We don’t need to keep reinventing smarter technology into vehicles. Build quality, keep costs and consumer price down.
What are the poor folks going to do 15 years from now with all this crap when it breaks? Hoping I’m not one of them by then. You know this will turn into – you can’t get the window UP in an “environmental condition”.
And, here in California, if you leave your windows down and leave the car, you’ll come back to a housing challenged person living in it, or no car at all.
Everyone who commented already is correct. The sad thing is FORD will keep patenting features nobody wants because they think it’s attractive to the techy generation.


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GM, AT&T Collaborate on In-Car LTE Connectivity
February 25, 2013 9:16 AM
comment(s) - last by
LTE connectivity will bring new entertainment options and more
General Motors and AT&T have announced a partnership that will bring
4G LTE connectivity
to vehicles within the United States and Canada. The collaboration between the two companies will begin in 2014 with 2015 model year vehicles.
GM says that an integrated LTE connection will allow advances for in-vehicle communications and entertainment capability. Among the services that will be available thanks to the in-vehicle LTE connectivity will be Wi-Fi hotspots, streaming video entertainment for backseat passengers, and faster application downloads.
GM says that the enhancements will build on the OnStar portfolio of built-in connected services.
“In addition to allowing consumers to bring in and connect to personal mobile devices, the vehicle will also act as its own mobile device, enabling embedded vehicle capabilities,” said Mary Chan, president, Global Connected Consumer, General Motors. “Turning this vision into a reality starts with enabling fast, reliable and responsive connectivity within the vehicle. Through this built-in 4G LTE connection we have the opportunity to reinvent the mobile experience inside a vehicle.”
GM says that it plans to announce additional carrier partners allowing its other brands such as Opel and Vauxhall to offer LTE connectivity with details and options announced at a later date.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: GM 4G connectivity
2/25/2013 12:42:54 PM
The last thing I want to do is pay $83 a month to verizon for my phone and then another $40 or so a month to AT&T for the car.
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Audi R8 is the first all-LED car in the world
Audi R8 zooms in as the first all-LED car in the world. Right from head lamps to daytime running lights to other indicators, the energy saving LEDs power up every light source of this vehicle. Pushing aside the battery draining halogen headlights, the four times more energy efficient LED headlights render homogenous light distribution and daylight-esque color. Such a LED headlamp heralds the eco-friendly onset of the headlamps that help to leave lesser carbon footprints. The Audi R8 also boasts of a LED footwell lighting, light and rain sensors and LED engine compartment lighting.
Fitted with LEDs in and out, it also features an automated adaptable headlight that offers exceptional visibility at night without irritating oncoming drivers. Dr. Wolfgang Huhn, Head of the Light and Visibility Department at Audi, rightly states, “A lot of people initially viewed this development as a mere marketing gimmick. Yet everyone who has seen these lights in action is not only astonished by the excellent output but also thrilled with the homogenous distribution of light and the agreeable, daylight-esque colour of the light.”


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Spain’s industry is facing a more complex environment
May 4th, 2022
- The manufacturing sector continued to recover steadily in 2021 with activity growing by over 8%, turnover up by 16% and exports by almost 20%. Although expectations were for a gradual recovery in the following months, the outbreak of war in Ukraine has intensified some of the drawbacks already suffered by the sector in 2021: rising commodity and energy prices and supply problems in certain industries. It is important to point out that the situation is quite varied within the industry, so an in-depth analysis allows us to assess how some sectors are more exposed than others to these external factors. On the positive side, the recovery in demand for final goods, the effort being made to replenish inventories, the easing of the health crisis and the revitalisation of projects related to the NGEU programme will partly offset such external obstacles.
- In view of their huge impact on activity, our analysis focuses on both the energy shock and the problems encountered by global supply chains. Firstly, rocketing natural gas, oil and electricity prices have been affecting the energy bill for all economic agents over the past few months. In this Report we investigate the specific impact of this increase in energy prices on the manufacturing industry, the biggest consumer of electricity in the Spanish economy. Through an analysis of input-output tables, we determine those sub-sectors whose energy bill plays a more significant role in their cost structure, differentiating the sectors that are more exposed and being more affected by the current energy price situation.
- Secondly, COVID-19 and, more recently, the conflict in Ukraine have highlighted the problems encountered by global supply chains as a result of major asymmetric shocks at a global level. The fear of shortages in essential goods and products to combat the pandemic during the early stages of the health crisis, and the supply problems of certain inputs following the strong recovery of the economic cycle throughout 2021 have once more made the debate regarding the consequences and benefits of globalisation relevant. This Report reviews the past, present and future of global value chains.
- Finally, we also provide a special article focusing solely on Spain’s pharmaceutical industry, a key and strategic sector for our economy, as has become evident during the pandemic. In recent decades, the sector has become hugely important thanks to its role as a driver of exports and to the fact that, in the past few years, it has accounted for most of the private investment in R&D for the manufacturing industry as a whole in Spain. Nevertheless, comparisons with other European countries suggest its production capacity has room for improvement. In fact, the trend looks favourable for the sector over the next few years, in an extremely competitive industry with a great capacity to create good quality jobs.


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Disney’s infamous supply chain issues strike again! We’ve seen everything from holiday collection Minnie ears to ornaments showing up around the parks and resorts lately, and we have a feeling all this Christmas-themed merchandise was meant to be released back in December… Either way, we’re always happy to see something new in Disney World!
Today, during our visit to EPCOT, we found a new Star Wars-themed mug!
Disney’s Starbucks mugs and tumblers are usually pretty collectible items (looking at you, 50th Anniversary Starbucks tumbler), but the question is: will people rush to buy the newest Star Wars Starbucks mug?
Disney’s new Starbucks mug is based on a Star Wars holiday called Life Day! (Think of it like Christmas but in space!) The new mug was found at the Port of Entry store in the EPCOT World Showcase. As you can see, Chewy is all decked out in his special Life Day outfit!
Inside, the mug has some sweet Life Day words, including “Family, Joy, and Harmony.” We’re feeling the holiday spirit all over again!
You can buy this new mug for $19.99 in Disney World now! Be sure to follow along for all the latest Disney news and park updates!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
What do you think about this new mug? Let us know in the comments!


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In Indiana, Reuters reports that Dow AgroSciences is now reporting that first sales of their Enlist crops will be in 2014. The Reuters article sites that U.S. farmers are already purchasing their seeds for the 2013 crop, and that Dow has not yet received approval their Enlist. At this point, Dow plans on starting with their Enlist corn, then move on to their Enlist soybean and cotton. These products are intended to be used along with their Enlist herbicide, which the plants have been genetically modified to tolerate.
Category: Producer News


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Apple iPhone 8 is expected to sport a vertically mounted dual-rear camera system with augmented reality features. The new SmartCam feature is expected to allow automatic scene recognition and automatically adjust camera settings.
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Apple iPhone 8 is one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year. The handset is expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus in September and will mark ten years since the first iPhone debuted, back in 2007. While the renders and features of the handset have been detailed in multiple leaks, a new report shares details about its camera capabilities.
According to Portuguese site, iHelp, the iPhone 8's front and rear cameras will support 4K video recording at 60 frames per second. The detail is based on HomePod's firmware, which also revealed the bezel-less design and SmartCam feature. The code shows that the device will support 4K video at 60fps and should lead to higher quality videos.
The Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus' 12MP rear camera also supports 4K video recording, but are limited to 30 frames per second. The front 7MP iSight camera only supports 1080p Full HD video recording. The code also confirms that 4K video recording will support Apple's HEVC file type for smaller file size with greater detail. According to 9to5Mac, Apple's HEVC file system is capable of reducing the file size in half, making a meaningful difference while recording 4K videos.
The next-generation iPhone is expected to offer a vertically mounted dual 12MP rear camera system and support augmented reality applications, based on the company's ARKit framework. The support for 60fps video recording could help in AR applications that require tracking of subjects. The Apple iPhone 8's camera is also said to support a new SmartCam feature that recognises scenes, such as fireworks or sunrise, and automatically selects the best setting to capture that shot. The front camera on the next iPhone is also said to support 3D depth sensing for enabling facial recognition feature.
Most analyst reports suggest that availability of Apple's iPhone 8 could get delayed until the end of October or early November. However, Apple forecasted strong revenue for the fourth quarter and timely launch of next iPhone during its recent earnings call.
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Appsworld is coming to Berlin for the 2nd time and as last year, it’ll be a class reunion of people who had mobile on their agenda for quite a while 😉
As always Appsworld has put up a decent lineup and this year, I hope and believe, that the Berlin transportation services will not be on strike 😉
We’ll be walking around and have a quick chats. If you’d like to meet up – please click here to schedule a meeting.
In our day to day business we are part of our clients huge marketing machinery, which is brand and performance-driven.
Creating successful and meaningful results for our clients not only means to provide the best demand-side-technolgy for mobile traffic, but also to cooperate and collaborate with a large variety of providers for content, adserving, tracking, data, fraud detection, analytics. Nowadays also with providers to measure and synchronize TV Spots, which supports our new and hottest product “Mobile TV Sync”.
Having said that, it does not surprise that you will find nearly 4000 solution providers in the latest chiefmartec Marketing technology landscape. In comparison to last year the amount of logos has nearly doubled in 2016. Chiefmartecs author Scott Brinkler believes that this is due to fact that clients have not only one major platform to organize marketing technolgy, but several, which eventually leads to all full stack of 3rd party solution providers docking into large players – making the picture complete.
See the full landscape by clicking here.
And yes – gladly we made it, onto the Mobile Marketing section next to some of our market companions 😉


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Virtually the Same as Real Life
With the release of Sony’s virtual reality (VR) headset last week, many organizations are asking if they should wait and see how the technology develops or act now to create content and partnerships. The answer depends on how and why your organization would want to apply VR — regardless it will be important to keep in mind the possible social impacts of VR, some of which we’ll discuss here.
If you want to reach out to the 140 million plus videogame-obsessed players and fans that will soon start adopting VR, it is imperative to start now. We wrote about “eSports: The Rise of Professional Gaming” last year and have strong ties within the gaming industry if your company wants to get involved – from league partnerships to advertising opportunities to non-profits that use gaming to further social causes. Contact us to discuss this further.
Tens of millions of VR headsets are projected to be sold before the end of 2016. As the price of the technology drops in coming years, VR is likely to proliferate, and exercise a steadily growing influence on society.
Like no technology before it, VR is immersive, putting users in the middle of the action, making them active participants rather than passive watchers. And because it feels like a real experience, bridging the gap between users and their digital avatars, early research suggests that VR has a deeper and more long-lasting psychological impact than other media.
Thus far, VR games have captured much of the public and media attention. Yet the applications of VR go well beyond game-playing. In coming years, VR will become an increasingly important tool in education, healthcare, sports, architecture, the marketing of real estate and other products, pornography (of course), and much more.
Here we look at a few potential negative and positive social impacts of VR.
Possible Dangers of VR
Cybersickness. Studies have already shown that VR has physical side-effects that can include nausea, eyestrain, neck strain, and headaches—a nexus of symptoms that has been dubbed “cybersickness.” VR headset makers are attempting to improve motion tracking and increase frames per second in an effort to reduce associated motion sickness. In the meantime, Samsung and Oculus both advise users to take breaks every half-hour or so. Among children, VR may also produce dizziness, seizures, and possibly poor hand-eye coordination.
Damaging intimacy. The focus of much concern in this regard centers on the impact of VR on sexual relationships. Many critics worry that the ease-of-access and gratifying nature of VR sex (by design) and the absence of emotional entanglements might make actual, real-world physical contact less desirable for many users. Since pornography (including VR porn) focuses solely on the individual user’s self-gratification, the mutual pleasure (ideally) involved in real-world sexual relations may seem less appealing, more difficult, and even alien to a VR user’s experience.
The inevitable growth of VR porn begs such question as: Will VR sex alter (and some would say warp) users’ expectations of what real-life sex can and should be? Will VR sex train users to see sex solely as a means of self-gratification, regardless of the needs of the other? Should virtual sex be considered infidelity to one’s real-life partner? Will all these possible consequences lead to a weakening of marital and familial bonds and a rise in the divorce rate?
Possible Benefits of VR
Coping treatments. VR provides an opportunity for patients to practice new coping strategies in situations that cause them anxiety. In one experiment, VR treatment helped users combat depression and anxiety by increasing their self-acceptance, self-compassion, and self-confidence while reducing their self-criticism. The program allowed users first to comfort a distressed child and then to take the place of that child, becoming the recipient of their own compassionate words and gestures.
VR has also been used successfully in treating such afflictions as post-traumatic stress disorder, paranoia, drug addiction, and a variety of phobias ranging from spiders and flying to crowds and public speaking.
Pain management. VR also has a palliative effect—perhaps due solely to the intensity of the distraction it provides. It has demonstrated its effectiveness in significantly easing the pain of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy as well as burn victims undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. Since the reduction of pain can boost survival rates, this palliative effect may be one of the greatest benefits VR can provide.
Positive behavior tool. VR has the demonstrated ability to increase empathy—for both others and for the users themselves.By increasing empathy toward oneself, VR can powerfully influence behavior. One experiment, for example, found that college students whose VR avatars were altered to look like their 65-year-old selves were willing to save twice as much money as those whose avatars were unchanged. Similarly, by showing users the impact of poor health choices on their future selves, VR avatars proved more effective in conveying health messages.
Given the immersive nature of VR, brands have an opportunity to strongly engage consumers, offer tangible benefits, and leave a lasting impression, but they must also police themselves from negatively impacting consumers.


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Mangosteen juice is being promoted as the next panacea. XanGo and other juice pushers are touting mangosteen as a super fruit, but at almost $40 a bottle don’t bother.
Mangosteen juice has taken the juice market by storm, and XanGo has racked up over $1 billion in sales over the past 5 years. The sales pitch follows the lines that the mangosteen fruit contains powerful and unique anti-oxidants that can boost the immune system and improve joint function. The XanGo people also claim that mangosteen contains other chemicals that are really not known to science.
The Associated Press (AP) conducted a study on XanGo and other juices that purport to offer anti-oxidant protection and found that the mangosteen juice is pretty unremarkable when compared to other, much less expensive juices. The AP submitted a 750-milliliter bottle of XanGo to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University to measure the anti-oxidant strength of the nearly $40 bottle of mangosteen juice against juices that sell for a couple of bucks per bottle.
The anti-oxidant level of XanGo measured just slightly higher than cranberry juice and lower than black cherry juice. Blueberry juice blew the doors off of XanGo, providing more than twice the levels of anti-oxidants. According to Balz Frei the Director and Chairman of the Pauling Institute, XanGo juice is just a middle of the pack performer.
You would expect – and should get – a lot more from a bottle of juice that costs almost 40 bucks. Putting mangosteen juice in sports terms, XanGo is the New York Yankees of “super fruit juices;” they cost more but don’t perform any better.
And here’s the dirty little secret about anti-oxidants. While science can confirm the existence of anti-oxidants, Frei of the Pauling Institute points out what he and other scientists are aware of but that supplement companies don’t want to tell you; these substances work in test tubes but haven’t shown to work inside a living, breathing human. Oops.
For all the work they can do in a test tube, our stomach acids are very nasty and most likely neutralize the anti-oxidants before they can provide any benefits. As a matter of fact, stomach acids have this affect on most everything we ingest, and this is why most dietary supplements will not work as advertised.
Supplement marketers play a game when confronted with the reality that science and research does not back up their claims. And while these hucksters make all kinds of claims on the front side of the transaction when they are trying to sell us, they change their tune and abandon the path of proof when faced with the challenge of addressing the lack of science.
Mike Pugh, the manager of Research and Development for XanGo, provides a great example of this. In the face of the AP’s results, Pugh says that XanGo contains “a rich cocktail of other beneficial chemicals barely known to science,” and calls mangosteen “a fruit that’s very complicated, with a lot of chemicals in it.” Furthermore, Pugh says the anti-oxidant ratings are just a “numbers game.”
Sure. And in the Super Bowl between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots the score is just a “numbers game,” and that everyone knows the Patriots are better and therefore should be considered the champs.
Pugh provides the classic supplement huckster response when he tells the AP that the scientific debate is pointless if mangosteen makes people feel better. This viewpoint is perfect for those involved in these “multilevel marketing companies” – I think this is a nice term for what used to be called a Ponzi or Pyramid scheme. In the AP piece a XanGo sales executive is quoted as saying, “I didn’t have to have it confirmed in the New England medical journal (sic) before I would listen.”
Why let little things like facts and proof get in the way when there are billions of dollars to be made? These supplement hucksters have created a universe where they tell us that there is science that backs up their claims, but then when they are made aware of reality, in that science does not back them up, they denigrate science, invent new science and/or invoke the “if it makes people feel good, it must work” defense. And this makes sense to them.
This passes for logic. It’s actually quite pathetic.
And it’s quite sad that so many people fall prey to this kind of nonsense. I’ve been approached by “XanGo-istas” and other mangosteen pushers and they have “no game” when it comes to explaining away the very real problems with their claims. The Food and Drug Administration isn’t as easy to disregard, as are most consumers, and has already warned XanGo for claiming that their juice could ward off cancer and other diseases. XanGo claims that some brochures were printed by a third-party, and that the company isn’t to blame for this action. The FDA told the AP that this matter isn’t closed.
And if you go to the XanGo site you’ll see that while they aren’t making any promises about major diseases, we’re told that their juice will “help maintain intestinal health, strengthen the immune system, neutralize free radicals, help support cartilage and joint function, and promote a healthy seasonal respiratory system.*”
The * directs you to the usual disclaimer that says it all; “*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”
And if you are of the opinion that anti-oxidants in fruit juice can be effective, go out and buy some cranberry, blueberry or black cherry juice, or pomegranate juice. There certainly isn’t any reason to purchase a less-than-liter bottle of $37.50 Xango juice.


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Whitehaven leaves Coalworks in darkPUBLISHED: 12 Apr 2012 00:03:26 | UPDATED: 12 Apr 2012 02:49:57PUBLISHED: 12 Apr 2012 PRINT EDITION: 12 Apr 2012
Coalworks has had no contact with its soon to be largest shareholder, Whitehaven Coal, ahead of that company’s planned $5.1 billion merger.
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While Chairman Eddie Lampert and his hedge fund ESL Investment managed to buy Sears out of bankruptcy and avoid liquidation—saving about 400 Sears stores—the looming question is what will happen to the hundreds of other shuttered Sears and Kmart locations around the country.
Sears Holdings Corp., which owns Sears and Kmart stores, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last October after facing years of plummeting sales, while being saddled with a huge debt load. . . . more


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The steaks are being raised in Boca Raton. Meat Market, an acclaimed, elegant and pricey chain that former Sun Sentinel restaurant critic John Tanasychuk dubbed “the best steakhouse in South Florida,” will be opening a Boca Raton location in early 2020.
Restaurant broker Prakas & Co. this week announced a deal bringing the luxury chain to the Renaissance Hotel at 2000 NW 19th St, just west of Interstate 95 near Glades Road. The hotel is remodeling and Meat Market’s build-out is part of the refurbishment.
Also announced by Prakas this week: the late 2019 opening of Copperfish Kitchen in the former site of Uncle Tai’s at Boca Center. Copperfish Kitchen will be operated by George Anagnostou, a veteran Maryland restaurateur and seafood wholesaler.
Meat Market should have Boca’s beef eaters licking their chops. Although the city has all the usual premium steakhouse suspects (Morton’s, Capital Grille, Ruth’s Chris, New York Prime) along with local favorite Abe & Louie’s, Meat Market has wowed diners with its understated glamour and flavorful cuts of steak at its Miami Beach flagship and Palm Beach offshoot.
Chef Sean Brasel and CEO David Tornek opened the first Meat Market on Lincoln Road in 2008 and Palm Beach followed in 2014. Meat Market also has a Puerto Rico location and plans to open in Tampa later this year.
Meat Market’s online menus do not list current prices, but the premium steakhouse average check usually runs $100 per person, and more if wine and cocktails are involved. In his 2014 review of the Palm Beach location, Tanasychuk wrote, “No restaurant makes a consistently better steak than Meat Market." He also gushed about the “sexy, Halston vibe” and “friendly and caring" top-level service.
“I am very pleased to have secured the deals to bring these two very popular restaurants to Boca Raton,” broker Tom Prakas says in a news release. “Boca Raton continues to grow to be a restaurant, dining and shopping hot spot.”
Meat Market Boca Raton will feature 6,700 square feet of restaurant space and a pool bar, and will be open for lunch, dinner and happy hour. The Renaissance’s pool deck is undergoing a $1.5 million enhancement, with a new pool, pool bar and cabanas. It will be the site of weekend pool parties and other events, similar to those held at Las Vegas hotels, according to the release.
Copperfish Kitchen, at 5250 Town Center Circle, will feature copper along the walls and atop the bar and patio dining. Brunch, lunch and dinner will be offered. It will be located at the Shops of Boca Center, which is also home to Brio, Rocco’s Tacos, Tap42 and Morton’s The Steakhouse, located just west of Interstate 95 on Military Trail.


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Eliminate 38 metric tons of rotten chicken meat at noon
The country’s officials report the destruction of 38 metric tons of rotten chicken meat and the expiration date that was imported from Iran in Nimroz province.
The Ministry of Agriculture wrote in a newsletter today, (Thursday, October 15) “These meats were imported through the customs of Nimroz province and after being examined and supervised by the quarantine department of the Livestock and Animal Health Department of the Nimroz Department, they burned and destroyed them.”
Meanwhile, the Livestock and Animal Health Department of the Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock Department of Herat Province says that it has buried 1,800 kilograms of rotten chicken meat in the Ardukhan farm.
Officials in Herat say the rotten chicken, which had previously been collected by a mobile team from the Karte cold storage in front of Herat Bar Square, was buried there.
Thousands of tons of food enter Afghanistan every year from neighboring and other countries.


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Cake Box said this morning that its sales nearly almost doubled for the past six months amid a strong recovery in customer demand.
The high street cream cake retailer said it was buoyed by its continued expansion, opening 20 new franchise sites over the six months to September, to bring it to a total of 174 stores.
The firm also stressed that it is in a “robust” position despite industry concerns over supply chain pressures in the food sector.
Shares in the company rose by 5.3 per cent to 354p in early trading.
Sukh Chamdal, chief executive officer and co-founder of the chain, said it has “several months of ingredients and the right measures in place to ensure that no event goes uncelebrated and no slice of cake goes unbaked, undelivered or uneaten”.
It came as the retail business said trade has been “strong” across both its store estate and online operation.
Cake Box said total revenues for the half-year were up 91 per cent to £16.4m against the same period last year. It added that franchisee online sales increased by 68 per cent to £6.7m, as it saw higher sales through delivery platforms such as Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo.
The firm added that it has a strong pipeline of new potential franchisees, with 62 deposits held for potential new openings at the end of the period.
The appeal of the Group’s franchise proposition is reflected in the current pipeline of new potential franchisees, with 62 holding deposits held at period end.
Mr Chamdal said: “Our performance during the last six months demonstrates the ongoing appeal of our unique cake offering.
“With strong sales growth accompanied by record expansion of our store estate, the Board is confident of making further progress in the second half and meeting full year expectations.
“In short, more customers are enjoying our delicious egg-free cakes, and more of our fantastic franchisees are selling it to them.”


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PARIS — A string of hit sneakers with Boost soles seems to be putting bounce in Adidas Group’s financial performance.
The German sporting goods firm reported net income in the first quarter zoomed 38 percent on a sales gain of 22 percent.
Releasing preliminary results on Wednesday, Adidas raised its guidance for 2016. It said net income from continuing operations should increase between 15 percent and 18 percent, up from previous guidance of 10 to 12 percent.
Sales in currency-neutral terms are expected to grow 15 percent versus a prior forecast of 10 to 12 percent.
The upgrade goosed shares, which ended the day up 6.4 percent.
Adidas’ performance in the quarter caught analysts by surprise. Barclays called it “outstanding,” having previously predicted a 10 percent gain in the group’s net income. “This is clearly a standout quarter,” its analysts said in a note to investors, attributing the success to “exceptional growth in the industry — helped by a strong trend for sneakers.”
“The latest fashion for designer sneakers — the Yeezy with Kanye West has been very successful — and this trend in the sports style area is likely to continue in our view,” they said.
“The Adidas brand is holding an exceptional performance. It’s the heavyweight in our sneakers department, accounting for 40 percent of total sales,” Fabienne Ruset, head of footwear, accessories and luxury at French department store Le Bon Marché, told WWD.
She added: “We observe extraordinary enthusiasm around the Stan Smiths, which represent 65 percent of Adidas sales. We could sell more, but the brand imposes quotas. And the enthusiasm for the shoe doesn’t cool down with new styles rendered in different colors and materials, which is an incredible phenomenon.”
Other bestsellers are the Superstar and those models designed in collaboration with Stella McCartney. “Most recently,” Ruset said, “the NMD has also seen much success. The first drop sold out in two days.”
At Citadium, Paris’ urban apparel mecca, which boasts a large athletic footwear section, the NMD was gone within hours. “And we have bought a lot of pairs, because we knew they would be in demand. People were lining up for them in the morning, particularly the Asian customer, who accounts for a large group of Paris tourists,” said Citadium’s director Sophie Bocquet.
Luck, meanwhile, decides who gets a pair of West’s Yeezys. “They arrive in very small quantities, so we draw numbers,” she said, noting that in the last two years, two styles in particular have helped put Adidas on everyone’s radar: the Stan Smith, which the group relaunched in 2014 and which found “a loyal followership among fashionistas, including women, which was a surprise to us,” and the ZX Boost, which shot Adidas to the pole position in the running category, previously occupied by brands such as Nike and Asics. “Last year,” Bocquet revealed, “Adidas registered a 60 percent jump in sales at our store.”
According to the latest figures released by The NPD Group, in the U.S. alone the athletic footwear industry grew by 8 percent to $17.2 billion in 2015 — “one of the best performances the industry has had in a number of years,” NPD noted.
“Performance footwear, particularly running and basketball, cooled off in 2015 and we saw a rise in the more casual and retro styles. This will be an important trend to watch in 2016,” observed Matt Powell, NPD’s vice president and sports industry analyst. The strongest growth of the year came from the $3.5 billion classics category, driven by retro basketball and retro running shoes, up 30 percent in the year.
According to analysts at RBC, which had also predicted organic revenue to grow at 10 percent in Q1, Adidas’s success is due to “a positive sporting goods industry backdrop, strong momentum at the Adidas brand, a full first-half order book and upcoming management change, all of which have driven the stock to all-time highs,” they said.
For Adidas, the year contains two major sporting events — the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and more importantly the Euro 2016 soccer championships — and lots of change.
In January, the German activewear brand named Kasper Rorsted it new chief executive officer. He is to join the company in August and succeed Herbert Hainer on Oct. 1 after a two-month transition period.
Hainer had come under pressure from investors last year after a string of profit warnings.
In the most recent quarter ended March 31, sales totaled 4.8 billion euros, or $5.29 billion, a 17 percent gain on a currency neutral basis.
Net income totaled 350 million euros, or $386.1 million, while operating profits improved 35 percent to 490 million euros, or $540.5 billion.
Dollar figures are converted from euros at average exchange rates for the three-month period.
Adidas is to publish its full first-quarter results on May 4.


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Earlier today we reported that Verizon is currently denying owners of the Nexus 7 2013 LTE model the ability to access new data lines on the company's network. We reached out to a Verizon representative for comment, and here's what we got back:
This is not yet a device that is Verizon 4G LTE certified. We’ll let folks know when its certified.
Since that's a little on the vague side we requested some clarification, and received the following additional response. Read More
It has only been a few months since Asus announced the original PadFone Infinity, but the new version of the phone-tablet hybrid was just outed in Taiwan. This is a spec bump on the last PadFone, which moves from Snapdragon 600 to 800, but that's not all.
Just like the last PadFone, this one has a 5-inch 1080p screen, which is upped to a 10-inch display at the same resolution when the phone is in the tablet dock. Read More
Korean readers, there's good news tonight... or more accurately tomorrow afternoon. The new Nexus 7 has gone on sale in the South Korean Google Play Store, or at least the WiFi version has. You can pick up a 16GB tablet for 329,000 won, which works out to just over $300 USD. The 32GB model is going for 369,000 won, about $340. According to this page, the LTE version that just launched in the US is coming soon, though there's no price. Read More
Good grief AT&T, there's such a thing as restraint, you know? After launching the Galaxy Tab 3 7-inch and taking online orders for the LG G2 and preorders for the Galaxy Note 3 late last night, Ma Bell has one last device up its metaphorical sleeve: the carrier's first ASUS tablet. The ASUS MeMO Pad FHD LTE 10.0 is now available for order from AT&T's online store and through business channels with free shipping thrown in for good measure. Read More
ASUS re-announced at IFA today a slew of new devices, some of which aren't actually new. We first heard about the Transformer Book Trio back in June when ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih introduced just under a dozen products in under an hour. The Transformer Book Trio is billed as a"three-in-one" ultraportable, though there are only two pieces - a tablet and a keyboard dock. If you're familiar with the ASUS Transformer line of products, there is nothing new about this form-factor. Read More
ASUS is getting into the gigantic phone market in a big way. After their initial offerings in the Fonepad line (that's large, tablet-style phones, not to be confused with the docking Padfone) the company has announced a new model and at IFA in Germany, along with a previously announced but unreleased one. The Fonepad Note 6 (ME560CG) is a conventional "phablet" design, complete with stylus, which we saw back in June. Read More
If you've been following along with ASUS' recent releases, you'll already know what's coming with the MeMO Pad 8 and 10: a couple of budget-friendly tablets sporting screen sizes equivalent to their model names. This duo is brand-spankin'-new and falls right into place in the existing MeMO Pad line.
MeMO Pad 8
The primary difference between the two units is the display size – most other specs are either identical, or very similar. Read More
It has only been a couple of weeks since I wrote about the troubles with multi-touch (well, touch in general) on the 2013 Nexus 7. At the time, Paul Wilcox of Google's Product Support forum stated that the issue was being examined, and about a week later he confirmed that the JSS15Q update addressed the problem. While many people are reporting that the OTA has completely cleared up any touchscreen glitches that had been present, some people haven't seen any improvements, and still others are complaining that the problem has grown significantly worse. Read More
I personally like the idea of a smartphone that docks into a tablet. The ASUS PadFone 2 strives for the joy of both form factors without the hassle of maintaining two separately. Those who happen to own the device have seen a steady stream of updates roll out as the months have gone by. While the latest update may not jump the device past version 4.1, it does usher in a slew of bug fixes and other general improvements. Read More
Good grief, but the people who run eBay's Daily Deals portal really love their Android tablets. After discounts on Nexuses for the last couple of weeks, today we get one of ASUS' flagship tablets at a significant discount. A refurbished Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T (the Tegra 3 model from 2012) is going for just $289.99 with free shipping. That's $210 off the current retail price.
The bad news is that it's a refurbished tablet. Read More


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Sometimes life isn’t fair—especially for retailers during the holiday season.
“Retailers will need to work longer and harder if they want their share of a projected individual $855 for the 2014 holiday spend,” says Robert Passikoff, founder and president of research consultancy Brand Keys Inc.
The $855 is about 4% higher than last year, according to Brand Keys’ 20th annual national holiday shopping survey, which polled 16,000 consumers.
“Supercharged by increased mobile outreach, consumer planning, and [an] increased numbers of retailer mobile apps, traditional retailers will be going to work earlier, and working harder, to engage consumers this season,” Passikoff says.
To make matters more hectic for retailers, many consumers are already behind the eight ball with regards to holiday shopping because Black Friday commenced earlier this year. Store checks by Brand Keys reveal that retailers were already displaying holiday greeting cards, gift-wrap, and Christmas-themed gifts in October. In addition, Amazon and Walmart kicked off their Christmas discounts on November 1.
“[R]etailers had Christmas candy leitmotifs right next to the bat wing and witches-on-broomsticks packaged candy,” Passikoff says.
Although more than half (54%) of consumers plan on starting their holiday shopping this November, only 25% of consumers—10% fewer than last year—are going to wait until Black Friday.
“As soon as they put away their Halloween costumes, our customers start prepping for Thanksgiving, buying Christmas trees, and shopping for gifts,” says Walmart’s Chief Merchandising Officer Duncan MacNaughton.
And even though 98% of respondents plan on buying holiday gifts online this year, brick-and-mortar shops, as well as catalogs, still have a place in their hearts. The figures below represent the percent of consumers who plan on shopping via the following channels:
- Discount department stores, 96%, +2% change from 2013
- Traditional department stores, 78%, +2% from 2013
- Specialty and apparel stores, 40%, -5% from 2013
- Catalogs, 25%, -50% from 2013
Gift cards, according to the survey, are hot commodities, too; 95% of respondents plan to purchase at least one this year. Other areas of spending this year include:
- Clothing and accessories: 78%
- Electronics, phones, and computers: 51%
- Personal care products/spa: 33%
- Jewelry: 20%
- Food and wine: 20%
- Home décor: 7%
Due to the fight for consumer dollars, specialty shops and department stores are going to have to be more aggressive with their deals and “won’t be able to avoid it,” according to Passikoff. One way to stand out, he adds, is through mobile.
“Retailers that can integrate the store experience with their mobile outreach will likely find it to be a winning combination,” he said. “Just much earlier this year.”


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In a change to last year’s format, the general public are being asked to nominate the stores they believe provide fantastic customer service by completing a short online survey, which can be found here
Following the public vote, three businesses from each category will go through to a second round where independent retail experts will conduct mystery shopping visits. The overall winners will be revealed at a special awards ceremony in October.
“The CH1ChesterBID Customer Service Awards are back and this year they are bigger and better than ever,” said Julie Charlton, Marketing Manager at CH1ChesterBID.
“More than 100 stores put themselves forward for our inaugural event in 2015, but with the addition of the public vote this year, more than 500 different city centre shops, bars, restaurants and businesses are automatically in the running for a top customer service excellence award and the deserved recognition that comes with it.”
The number of categories in this year’s CH1ChesterBID Customer Service Awards has increased from six to eleven. They are: Coffee Shops; Food on the Go; Grosvenor Shopping Centre; Health & Beauty; Independent Retailer; Large Retailer; Leisure and Lifestyle; Professional Services; Pubs, Bars and Clubs; Restaurants, and Small Retailer.
“We want to reward those city centre shops, restaurants and bars that consistently go the extra mile when it comes to looking after their customers,” added Julie.
“Good customer service is so important because it makes an enormous contribution to the overall city centre experience, leaving visitors with positive and lasting memories that encourage them to visit again. That’s why we really want local residents and city visitors to get involved this year and help us recognise the best of the best in Chester city centre.”
Everyone that completes the survey will also be entered into a special prize draw for the chance to win £250 in high street vouchers to spend in Chester.


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Fear of coronavirus infection through cash can change payment behaviors. The implementation of digital payment methods could affect the unbanked.
According to the researchers from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the coronavirus could accelerate the adoption of digital payments and sharpen the debate over central bank digital currencies (CBDC).
The researchers issued their forecast in BIS’ April 3 Bulletin. They say that the coronavirus is changing the public’s relationship with cash. However, the scientific community has agreed that the transmission of the coronavirus through paper money is relatively unlikely.
The BIS researchers explained that, whether or not the concerns are justified, the perception that cash could spread pathogens could change the payment behaviors by users, as well as those by companies.
First of all, countries could expand the digital payment infrastructure with more online, mobile and contactless options after the coronavirus pandemic. However, digital adoption measures could have a severe impact on millions of unbanked elderly people.
If people do not normally accept cash as a payment method, this could open a gap between people who have access to digital payments and those who do not. Despite acknowledging that cash may reappear, the researchers stated that the coronavirus pandemic also demands the use of CBDC.
Replacing Cash with Digital Payments
Central bank digital currencies could become a bridge between the society’s need for digital payment methods and its responsibility towards those who cannot easily access them.
Some of the caveats are that central banks will have to design their CBDC so that they fit the context of the current crisis, by allowing contactless and globally accessible payments, according to the researchers.
In that respect, the demands for CBDC would be more reasonable as a consequence of the coronavirus. This disease also highlights the current value of having access to various payment methods, as well as the need for any payment method that allows resilience to a wide range of threats.
Some politicians already note that the BIS researchers’ prediction is true. Jorge Capitanich, governor of Argentina’s Chaco province, in an April 1 teleconference on the coronavirus with President Alberto Fernández, called for a digital currency transaction system to replace the use of cash.
After three different proposals explained a bank-operated digital central system, including one by US Senator Sherrod Brown, the idea of a digital dollar has appeared on numerous other occasions in the USA.
Transmission of Coronavirus through Banknotes
The researchers also examined whether the coronavirus outbreak is having an impact on the use of cash since there is unprecedented public concern about cash-based viral transmission.
Different countries have expressed their fears in contradictory ways. Cash circulation increased in the USA, while the volume of ATM withdrawals in the UK decreased. Some central banks have sterilized reams of paper money, while others have requested distributors to accept cash, or have requested the public to keep science above fear.
However, the research indicates that fear seems to be more widespread in economies with lower-denomination banknotes such as those of the USA, the UK, and Australia, among others. In these countries, there have been more Google searches related to the transmission through paper money in the last few weeks, than in those with higher-denomination banknotes.
By Alexander Salazar


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3D Camera Market will reach at a CAGR of 35% during 2016 and 2021: Zion Market Research
Sarasota, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/06/2016 -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled "3D Camera (Free Camera, Target Free Camera and Others) Market by Technology (Structured Light, Time of Flight and Stereo Vision) for Smartphone, Cameras, Computer, Tablets, Notebook PC and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2021." According to the report, the global 3D camera market accounted for USD 1.25 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 7.89 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 35% between 2016 and 2021.
The 3D camera is an electronic device used to capture three-dimensional image. It is consisting of 3D technology. It has more than two lenses with separate sensors. It acts as a human binocular vision and hence able to capture three-dimensional images.
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Rapid technological advancement and improved visual applications are expected to fuel the growth of 3D camera market across the world. Demand for the 3D camera is increasing at a rapid pace as compared to the digital camera. However,increasing concern regarding cost is expected to affect the growth of this industry over the forecast period. Moreover, lack of awareness among end-users about this technology is also expected to prohibit the growth of 3D camera market.
The target-free camera has a largest market share in total revenue generated by global 3D camera market in 2015.Professional cameras majorly used in the media and entertainment owing to its ability to record real life scenario. Stereo camera technology is useful for taking 3D still photographs with two lenses. Smart phone is the largest application segment in 3D camera market across the globe. Smartphones are available at lower cost with 3D technology is expected to fuel the growth of 3D camera market over the forecast period.
North America was dominating the regional market for 3D camera in 2015.Growing demand for the 3D technology and visual effect from the entertainment industry is expected to drive the demand for3D camera in Asia-Pacific region. Emerging economies are expected to experience rapid growth in demand for the 3D camera during the forecast period due to improvement in the purchasing power and adoption of latest technology in developing countries.
Key players in the 3D Camera market include Panasonic Corp.,Nikon,Samsung Electronics Corp.,Sony Corp.,Kodak Fujifilm Corp.,Faro Technologies., LG Electronics Inc., Go Pro. Canon and others.
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Global 3D Camera Market: Type Segment Analysis
Target Free Camera
Global 3D Camera Market: Applications Segment Analysis
Global 3D Camera Market: Technology Segment Analysis
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The Middle East & Africa
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At a recent press conference, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey cautioned people against placing all of their bets on cryptocurrency.
While some might view regulations as a hindrance to innovation and creativity, in many cases, it actually supports entrepreneurs and startups to be able to innovate, create, and market their products and solutions in a legally and regulatory supportive environment.
How is cryptocurrency deemed illegal when there is no policy issued by the government declaring it the same?
Christine Lagarde urged central banks all over the world to explore this idea that is bringing a new dimension to the FinTech revolution
David Chaum talks about the future of cryptocurrency, during an in-flight interview
The most undemanding and uninterrupted way of introducing such a venture in India would be to allow the public to open accounts with the central bank
The biggest innovation is predicated on trust – and that's Blockchain
Digital wallets do not use money for trading. Your money remains safe in your wallet.
When asked about its competitors Alibaba and Amazon, Bansal said that he was not afraid of these two companies.


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The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office would like to make the public aware of a specific email scam related to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-2019) that has recently begun circulating within Yuma County.
According to information provided by Lt. Sam Pavlak in a press release, scammers are trying to take advantage of people’s fears surrounding the outbreak to steal passwords and personal information or get them to donate to a fraudulent charity or cause.
In this particular scam the intended victim receives an email link stating, “Claim your Covid-19 benefit here,” which will take them to a jotform.com website if they click on it.
The link claims to be an information request from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, but Pavlak said in fact it is actually a scam.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has also reported that scammers are setting up fake websites to sell bogus products and using fake emails, texts and social media posts as a ruse.
Pavlak stated that recent scams including phishing links have been sent via text and/or email that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Scammers may utilize emails, social media, phone calls, or text messages about COVID-19, he said, to spread misinformation, to ask for donations, or sell products claiming to prevent or cure COVID-19.
Additional scams may include links claiming to have information regarding the COVID-19 benefits/stimulus package. The links are being utilized to collect personal information. The government does not collect information regarding benefits via text or email.
Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission to help you keep the scammers at bay:
• Hang up on robocalls. Don’t press any numbers. Scammers are using illegal robocalls to pitch everything from scam coronavirus treatments to work-at-home schemes. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls instead.
• Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. Scammers are trying to get you to buy products that aren’t proven to treat or prevent the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)—online or in stores. At this time, there are no FDA-authorized home test kits for the coronavirus. Visit the FDA to learn more.
• Fact-check information. Scammers, and sometimes well-meaning people, share information that hasn’t been verified. Before you pass on any messages, contact trusted sources.
• Know who you’re buying from. Online sellers may claim to have in-demand products, like cleaning, household, and health and medical supplies when, in fact, they don’t.
• Don’t respond to texts and emails about checks from the government. The details are still being worked out. Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer.
• Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. They could download viruses onto your computer or device.
• Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying they have information about the virus.
For the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov and the World Health Organization (WHO) at www.who.int.
• Do your homework when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowdfunding sites. Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it.
For additional information related to scams pertaining to COVID-19 visit www.ftc.gov/coronavirus.
For updates and current information pertaining to COVID-19 in Yuma County, please visit the Yuma County website at www.yumacountyaz.gov and click the Yuma County COVID-19 / Coronavirus 2019 link.
If you believe you have been a victim of a scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency.


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The poultry industry has a fowl problem: an emerging phenomenon called "woody breast."
While it's not harmful to humans, the condition causes chicken breasts to be tougher because of hard or woody fibers that lace the meat. As much as 10 percent of boneless and skinless breast meat may show signs of woody breast, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Even though it's harmless to humans, diners aren't exactly pleased when they're served up a plate of woody chicken. In one study, a consumer panel described the affected meat as "tough," "chewy" and "doesn't feel right in the mouth." That's prompting the poultry industry to turn its resources to figuring out what's going on with its chickens.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Moneywatch