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Italy: COVID-19 Vaccines Recognised for Travel ... starting in September, Italy plans to make the Green Pass obligatory for travelling by train, planes or ...
Saturday, July 31, 2021
Germany lifts ban on travel from South Africa, offering relief to students and cross-border couples
The Robert Koch Institute's (RKI) latest travel advice released on Friday confirmed that South Africa will no longer be considered an 'area of variant ...
On the hunt for a new travel experience? Truffle foraging, wine tastings and Vespa rides await at ...
... boutique hotel Casa di Langa, which just opened their doors in Langhe, in the Piedmont region, where culinary tourism meets experiential travel.
Friday, July 30, 2021
After Assam's travel advisory, Mizoram assures unhindered, safe travel for all non-Mizos
Zoramthanga's twitter announcement has come a day after Assam government issued an unprecedented travel advisory to its residents against ...
These countries have extended travel ban on India | Explained
While several countries, including France, Germany, are relaxing travel restrictions for India as the Covid-19 situation is improving in the country, many ...
Mixed reality could transform the travel industry in unexpected ways. Here's how.
At least, that's what a crop of travel companies and mixed reality startups envision, with the help of augmented reality or virtual reality (AR/VR). In 2021, ...
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Fear of Missing Out on Deals to Fuel Spike in Business Travel
Fear of missing out on a major deal has kicked off a temporary surge in U.S. corporate travel, according to consulting firm Oliver Wyman, boosting a ...
My family went to Germany five days after travel restrictions were lifted. Here's what we learned.
Just as our family was about to cancel a long-awaited trip to Germany this summer, we learned that the country would lift travel restrictions for U.S. ...
Business Transient & Travel | Cvent
Cvent Transient: Where travel buyers are. Use Cvent Transient™ to help your hotels attract, discover, and respond to more corporate RFPs so you can ...
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Vaccinated Indians Can Now Travel to France for Work, Study & Even for Tourism
Indian travellers are no longer banned from entering France, as the latter has put the country on its yellow list due to decreasing COVID-19 infection ...
No Solo Trip Is Complete Without a Beautiful, Leather-bound Travel Journal — and We Found the ...
My theory is that by journaling how I felt in a certain place or quickly sketching something I saw, I am processing my travels in multiple ways, which ...
An uncertain future for business travel to SWFL
The COVID-19 pandemic crushed many business sectors, and one unlikely to fully rebound soon is business travel. A new study by TaxWatch ...
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Traveling to Alaska with Travel Expert Kathy Kennedy
Copyright 2021 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share this story.
England cricketers demand clarity over Ashes travel restrictions for families
England cricketers demand clarity over Ashes travel restrictions for families. Players may decide not travel to Australia amid hectic schedule; Michael ...
Saudis breaking Covid travel rules face 3-year exit ban
Saudi Arabia warned on Tuesday that citizens visiting destinations on its list of countries blacklisted due to Covid-19 will face three-year travel bans ...
Monday, July 26, 2021
Bennett aides to travel to DC for meetings with Biden staff ahead of PM's visit
Bennett aides to travel to DC for meetings with Biden staff ahead of PM's visit. NSC chairman Eyal Hulata and diplomatic adviser Shimrit Meir will sit ...
Seven fun, fresh destination trailers to keep travel lovers inspired
STB brand director Choo Huei Miin says: "As it will take time for large-scale international travel to resume, it is important for Singapore to remain top of ...
US intends to keep travel restrictions in place against UK, European countries, others
The United States has no plans to lift travel restrictions at this point given the rise of the delta variant, according to a White House official. The decision ...
Sunday, July 25, 2021
The airline sector and where travel is headed
McKinsey predicts that leisure travel is projected to recover by 2024, with a faster rebound in countries with stronger domestic tourism. On the other hand ...
Double-jabbed expats free to travel to UK under relaxed vaccine rules
Double-vaccinated expats are set to be free to travel to the UK, as the Government plans to recognise foreign jabs from August 1. British families and ...
Clean power, travel integrated
A renewable energy base in Sihong County, East China's Jiangsu Province is seen on Sunday as wind turbines spin. The base can generate 650 ...
Saturday, July 24, 2021
International Travel: Open Air Travel For Vaccinated Passengers, Says Global Airlines' Association
A recent passengers' survey conducted by IATA showed that majority of them are confident about the safety of air travel and support mask-wearing in ...
Dozens of religious clergy and assistants granted travel exemptions to enter Australia
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed it issued the travel exemptions under the critical skills category, using the codes for minister of religion or ...
Confusion looms over Gulf travel rules
With the UAE, Saudi Arabia and some other Gulf countries banning all incoming flights from India, desperate NRIs who are forced to travel via a third ...
Friday, July 23, 2021
Travel Scams On The Rise
Digital lifestyle expert and national radio show host, Kim Komando, joins Gayle Guyardo on Bloom with alerts about major travel scams happening ...
Cultural Pit-Stops: making hours of boring travel time fly by
Looking forward to Summer Holidays but can't be bothered with the long travel-time that precedes them? Google Arts & Culture has curated some fun ...
How The Travel Industry Can Brace For Bots As Demand Reaches New Heights
This is a goldmine for price scrapers and one of the most damaging bot threats to airline, hotel and other travel and hospitality companies. When hackers ...
Thursday, July 22, 2021
Is The Delta Variant Causing Travel Restrictions?
Airlines Don't See A Travel Demand Slump—Yet. Domestic airline CEOs have yet to see a decline in airfare purchases despite the somewhat rapid ...
Sustainable Summer Travel In-Flight Essentials
The best sustainable inflight essentials for summer of 2021 are those that solve air-travel's eternal challenges: staying organized, staying protected ...
What airlines are saying about the return of business travel
Business travel is rebounding, but airlines say corporate customers are traveling about half of 2019 levels with September and October being a key ...
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Border family separated due to continued border travel restrictions
EL PASO, Texas (CBS4) — The Department of Homeland Security says the U.S. and Mexico agreed to continue limiting non-essential travel “to ...
Register now for the Romance Travel Xpo
TORONTO — Registration is now open for the upcoming Romance Travel Xpo, the fourth of six shows in the 2021 PRO Show Series. Hosted by ...
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
United Airlines narrows loss, plans to ramp up flying to meet strong travel demand
United Airlines on Tuesday reported higher second-quarter revenue and a narrower loss thanks to a resurgence in air travel, the latest carrier to issue ...
US border restrictions on travel to Mexico to expire
US government-imposed limitations on travel across the US-Mexico land border are set to expire today. Citing the public health implications of travel ...
Liftoff! Jeff Bezos And 3 Crewmates Travel To Space And Back In Under 15 Minutes
ET, the four blasted into space on the first human flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle. Jeff Bezos And Blue Origin Travel Deeper Into ...
Monday, July 19, 2021
Canada ready to welcome Americans for non-essential travel
9, fully vaccinated Americans who have a COVID screening test completed will be permitted to enter into Canada for non-essential travel. It's the first of ...
Russia's Homegrown Online Travel Firms Poised for Competitive Reset
Some analysts believe the online booking giants of Europe, the U.S., and China will sweep the world. Call it “travel giant triumphalism.” But Russia ...
No Freedom Day cheer for UK travel and leisure stocks
On Monday, the FTSE 350 travel and leisure index sank 3.6% to its lowest since Nov. 23 and companies that might have been expected to reap the ...
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Airport to host job fair amid increased airline travel
Airline travel has increased across the country and left many stakeholders in the industry confronting staffing challenges. Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian ...
Four Eid al-Adha travel destinations to cure your wanderlust
If you're itching to travel during Eid, be prepared by checking in online and arriving at least three hours before the flight. Those travelling from Qatar ...
Travel advisers say New Brunswickers are beginning to plan trips abroad again
Saint John travel adviser Ellen Tucker is seeing a similar trend. "People are booking for 2022, not ," Tucker said. Francine Patterson says ...
Saturday, July 17, 2021
Europeans face travel woes as Covid reaches Olympic Village
Europeans faced last-minute travel frustration on Saturday as the UK and France overhauled Covid-19 border restrictions to combat surging infections ...
Covid: Travel firms angry over France quarantine rule
Each UK nation sets its own travel rules. Wales said it would be following the change set by England, and on Saturday evening Scotland announced it ...
The Travel Industry Is a Total Mess, But Everyone Is Traveling Anyway
Wall Street veteran Peter Schiff knew well ahead of time that he'd need to renew his 7-year-old son's passport for their June trip to Switzerland.
Friday, July 16, 2021
Travel tips to stay healthy this summer during the pandemic
You've booked your long-awaited vacation and now the Delta variant is causing an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases. What do you do? UC Davis ...
Just Because You Can Travel Internationally Now Doesn't Mean You Should
After more than a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions are lifting—especially for fully vaccinated people. But global vaccination rates ...
United States Travel To Europe Update
Plus, the Green Certificate vaccine passport rolls out for more accessible Schengen Zone travel. Tourists in Berlin. 15 July 2021, Berlin: People stand at ...
Thursday, July 15, 2021
This New $350 Million Luxury Train Will Change How We Travel
This New $350 Million Luxury Train Will Change How We Travel. The G Train promises to be a 1,300-foot locomotive with 18 guest rooms, a gym, spa, ...
Refugee girl puppet will travel 8000 kilometers across Europe
A giant puppet representing a Syrian girl is set to travel 8,000 kilometers – from a Turkish city near the Syrian border to England – to raise awareness ...
Airlines race to train pilots as travel demand roars back
But voluntary departures, changed fleets and the rapid rise in travel demand have created a need for pilot training that industry experts say is without ...
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
One trick to traveling cheaply: Flexibility
One trick to traveling cheaply: Flexibility. This flexibility-first mindset requires a paradigm shift for many in terms of how they start planning vacations.
Business travel may boost obesity risks
"Business travel has a connection with body composition metrics; those traveling most frequently had a higher body mass index, body fat percentage, ...
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Caravan tourism: Gear up for the future of travel
The allure of this experience is also making many assemble such vehicles on their own. With their camper van near completion, travel enthusiasts, ...
Caravan tourism: Gear up for the future of travel
With their camper van near completion, travel enthusiasts, Deepak Pandey, 42, and Ruchi Pandey, 40, say, “We keep investing in different stuff, so I ...
Amber list countries: what are new travel quarantine rules in Scotland - and does it differ for fully ...
Amber list countries: what are new travel quarantine rules in Scotland - and does it differ for fully vaccinated? Self-isolation will no longer be required for ...
Monday, July 12, 2021
Immigration and Compliance Briefing: COVID-19 Summer Scoop & Quick Tips
Diplomatic Travelers. Individuals traveling with an approved National Interest Exception (NIE). QUICK TIP: The current COVID-19 travel bans are based ...
Indianapolis named best place to travel by two top travel publications
Nate Swick of Visit Indy joined us today to tell us about the latest recognition Indy has received. Indy was named a best place to travel in 2021 by two top ...
Sussex travel: Your evening update for Monday, July 12
Here's your evening travel update for Sussex on Monday, July 12. ... On the A27 at the Drusillas junction, the roadworks with three-way temporary lights ...
Sunday, July 11, 2021
The Joyride Era of Space Travel Is Here
The Joyride Era of Space Travel Is Here. Richard Branson just flew to space and back for the thrill of it. By Marina Koren. A picture ...
Loosened COVID-19 travel rules boost visits to Canada — but half still turned away
The number of incoming visitors to Canada has been gradually increasing in the days since travel restrictions began easing for fully vaccinated, ...
Saturday, July 10, 2021
COVID-19 travel restrictions complicate John Deere Classic chartered flight to Open Championship
COVID-19 travel restrictions have presented challenges in accommodating the chartered flight bound for the major championship, longtime JDC ...
Pittsburgh Hardball Academy provides travel ball opportunity for Penn Hills players
Playing for the Pittsburgh Hardball Academy provided Anthony Sciulli with a chance to play travel baseball he may not have otherwise had. Sciulli ...
Here's how to salvage summer vacation, according to travel experts
Greene, an affiliate of Virtuoso agency Avenue Two Travel, said she has been helping clients plan two- to three-day driving trips close to home.
Friday, July 9, 2021
England's borders race to install new tech to avert travel chaos
Grant Shapps, transport secretary, expects travel to be “disrupted” this summer, but said upgraded electronic passport gates which are currently being ...
Malta travel rules: Green list country bans anyone not fully vaccinated from Wednesday spelling ...
Malta's strict travel rules ban people aged 12 and above if they have not had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine. For travellers from the UK, this is ...
Spain, Portugal frustrated by shifting virus travel policies
Visiting French Foreign Minister Yves Le Drian urged people to have a COVID-19 jab before travelling. “The vaccine is the door to Spain,” he said.
Thursday, July 8, 2021
COVID restrictions hamper EU-US business travel
Many professionals need to travel between countries to get essential work done. COVID-19 linked restrictions, however, are putting European ...
Hit Your Fitness Goals with This Travel Workout Gear
Best travel workout gear · Brazyn Morph collapsible foam roller · Crossrope jump rope set · Forsake Cascade and Maddox trainers · Jaybird Vista wireless ...
Travel money bureau reopens at Sainsbury's Worksop as Brits start to make holiday plans
With the announcement that UK travellers can once again begin to visit countries abroad, Sainsbury's Bank has announced the re-opening of its Travel ...
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
11 Ways to Save on Summer Travel
Travel websites are marketplaces that can compare rates from hundreds of airlines, hotels, or car rental agencies at once. Using these sites can save ...
Brazilian Workers & Students Call on German Authorities to Exempt Them From the Travel Ban
Brazilian holders of long-term German study and work visas have initiated a petition named “#BarredFromGermany.End travel bans for Brazilians to ...
Travel Club returns to Kingsport
(WJHL) Travel Expert Kathy Kennedy with Exclusive Cruise Travel tells us about the travel club meeting July 8th and some of the vacations including ...
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
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Drivers can expect delays during peak travel times on I-5 southbound near Woodland
“Between cracks, rutting and potholes, the concrete panels along this section of highway have seen better days. While folks may experience travel ...
Indians looking to travel in newer ways; explore nature getaways: Survey
Nature travel continues to be preferred by four in 10 respondents, according to the survey. "As many of us think of travelling again, stepping out the door ...
Monday, July 5, 2021
Germany eases restrictions on travel from UK, Portugal
Germany is easing strict restrictions on travel from Britain, Portugal and some other countries that were imposed because of the rise of the more ...
Summer Travel Essentials to Make Life Easier From Bags to Beverages
With the Fourth of July behind us, we are officially in the summer travel season. Whether hitting the road on wheels or traveling via plane, if you are ...
Travel to Wales: COVID-19 testing and isolation
Pre-departure testing. Taking a coronavirus test before you travel to Wales. You must have proof of a negative coronavirus (COVID- ...
Sunday, July 4, 2021
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Aussies Stranded Abroad Include Hundreds Of Kids, Folks Short On Cash
Six days before she was due to travel, on March 19, the Australian government shut its borders. "That has turned into almost 18 months now," ...
India-UAE travel: Expats anxious to board first flight back
With travel suspended until further notice following a lethal Covid wave that swept India, expats have no choice but to wait — and hope that, soon, ...
Saturday, July 3, 2021
Air travel sets new pandemic record ahead of 4th of July holiday weekend
Air travel continues to soar past pre-pandemic levels, as passengers contend with long waits, lines and cancellations this Fourth of July holiday.
Allow Class 10 and 12 teachers to travel by train, education department tells Maharashtra govt
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Tears, hugs and joy at NL airport as controversial pandemic travel ban lifts
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Friday, July 2, 2021
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Which COVID-19 Vaccines Are Approved for Travel to Spain
The complete vaccination schedule must be available for the vaccination certificate to be valid,” the official Travel Health Portal of Spain noted.
Thursday, July 1, 2021
UAE bans citizens from travelling to India, Pakistan and some other countries, - WAM
CAIRO, July 1 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday a travel ban on citizens to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, ...
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Europe Is Open, But...July EU Travel Restrictions, Covid-19 Test Requirements, Quarantine By ...
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Secretary Blinken's Travel to Saudi Arabia - United States Department of State
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia June 6-8 to meet with Saudi officials to discuss U.S.-Saudi strategic coope...
AFTER THE Covid pandemic, monkey pox fear is now ruining travel plans of ministers and officials, who had just resumed hectic activities in ...
Under the vaccinated travel lane programme, both countries allow quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated travellers, who have to do multi...
Texas-based 7-Eleven, Inc. is building a travel truck stop on U.S. 301 near Interstate 26 in Orangeburg. http://dlvr.it/SP7nKG


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HTC on Thursday quietly unveiled a black HTC One Max, adding an element of stealth to the Taiwanese company’s phablet. As with the HTC One, which initially launched in silver only, the new Max is decked out in a svelte coat of black paint, giving potential Max owners another option to choose from. That fingerprint scanner no longer sticks out like a sore thumb.
While the device is currently adorning HTC’s website, it’s unclear when and where you can get it. UnwiredView says expect to see it in Hong Kong. Black certainly looks handsome on HTC’s now famous line of aluminum One devices, but better than silver? That’s up to you to decide. The device still sports the same specs, so there’s nothing new on that front, but it definitely keeps the line fresh.

domain: news


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This special event remarks the development of eneloop battery, a category of “rechargeable battery” and one of the leading brands on the global market in the last 10 years, from 2015.
The eneloop has been sold in over 80 countries in the world and has been developing continuously to ensure a new life full of energy for everybody.
Eneloop rechargeable battery has three products lineup with outstanding advantages convenient with human-use, such as for travel needs, working, or daily use.
All eneloop have “ready to use” function to help consumers to use battery immediately at purchase and 65 per cent energy in five years is remaining after full charged.
And they are available from premium model “eneloop Pro” with 2,550mAh capacity, standard “eneloop” with 2,000mAh capacity and 2,100 times life cycle, then currently it is also available of entry model “eneloop light “ with 3,000 times cycle in the Vietnamese market.
In its 10th anniversary of eneloop batteries, Panasonic hopes to introduce the most effective generation of eneloop battery which is eco-friendly, high quality and highly committed to the Japan technologies.
The products lineup in this anniversary includes eneloop PRO (black), eneloop LITE (blue), eneloop (white) and Solar Storage which possesses three concepts: creating energy through solar panel, storing energy in battery and outputting power for many batteries appliances.
Solar Storage is a perfect & essential solution for consumers who are using un-sustainable energy, and it brings a save cost, clean & eco-friendly energy to users.
Panasonic is proud to be a leading batteries’ supplier, from primary batteries to professional rechargeable batteries all over the world.
In Vietnam, Panasonic batteries have been invested and developed to innovate a new life style through using high quality, efficient & energy saving products.


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By Carolyn Said
San Francisco Chronicle.
Marin mortgage broker Brittany Keyes needed a San Francisco location for a sit-down with a client.
Through a website called LiquidSpace, she booked an hour at a meeting room at the JW Marriott Union Square.
That may not sound like a big deal.
But for Marriott, the world’s largest hotel chain, it represents an attempt to pivot, to attract younger people and to respond to seismic shifts in the work world — in short, to act like a startup rather than a multibillion-dollar global corporation.
“About two years ago, we had a big aha moment,” said Jackie McAllister, a senior marketing director at Marriott. “We realized that the way people work had changed dramatically but the way we catered to them was still the same. Meeting planners said they really wanted things simpler, especially for smaller groups. And we realized that people want to work outside of their homes or offices. A lot are working at coffee shops. We thought, ‘Wait, we have all these spaces in our hotels — lobbies, meeting rooms — that would be ideal for these mobile workers.’ ”
Marriott 18 months ago started Workspace on Demand ( www.workspaces.marriott.com), a program that enables quick and easy booking of space by the hour or day for work and meetings.
Marriott works with San Francisco’s LiquidSpace, which already had an online marketplace for short-term workspaces.
LiquidSpace, in business four years, has more than 4,000 workspaces at 1,500 venues in the U.S., Canada and Australia that users can book as quickly as making a restaurant reservation online.
They range from hip co-working spaces to formal business centers to extra space at banks, law firms, libraries and cash-strapped startups.
“Marriott is transforming its brand from not just a place to sleep but to work,” said Mark Gilbreath, LiquidSpace founder and CEO. “It’s creating a really bespoke experience.”
But it’s not one without hitches. When Keyes checked in for her $100/hour meeting room, the first Marriott desk clerk she approached had no idea what she was talking about.
After she was ushered to a spacious curtained nook with a big-screen monitor, she had to scramble to find someone to give her the Wi-Fi password.
Marriott is among a phalanx of corporations seeking to tap into the “collaborative economy,” in which people share, rent or sell surplus assets, said Jeremiah Owyang, founder of San Francisco’s Crowd Companies, an association for Fortune 1000 firms that want to tap into this evolving sector.
It counts Walmart, Verizon, Coca-Cola, Ford, Wells Fargo and General Electric among its members.
“If companies want to be successful, they have to understand the bottom-up approach of multiple people working all at once,” Owyang said. “They have to attract innovators and foster buzz. The traditional business model is not going to work in this new economy.”
Marriott isn’t alone among hotel chains.
LiquidSpace facilitates on-demand work space rentals at more than 30 major hotel chains and many more individual boutique hotels, including Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Crowne Plaza, Gilbreath said.
Westin Hotels & Resorts last year started Tangent, offering high-tech meeting rooms by the hour.
“Tangent was specifically designed as a smart room that caters to the needs of today’s mobile traveler — a personalized work space that enhances productivity and can be booked on demand at a moment’s notice,” said Nadeen Ayala, a spokeswoman for Westin’s Starwood Hotels, in an e-mail.
“Today’s business travelers are more portable and global than ever and are in need of a turn-key business and meeting solution designed for collaboration and connectivity.”
Now in 44 hotels, including Westin San Francisco Airport in Millbrae, Tangent will be rolled out across Westin properties worldwide, she said.
In New York, W Hotel is experimenting with renting out collaborative work spaces through a startup called Desks Near Me.
The hotels are responding to the increasing prevalence of road warriors. Research giant IDC predicts that mobile workers will account for more than a third of the global workforce — or 1.3 billion workers — by 2015.
Keyes, the mortgage broker, said she sees the need for flexible space among fellow members of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
“We have so many businesswomen who work out of our homes, who would be delighted to know there’s a place they can rent for an hour,” she said. “You can meet at a Starbucks, but it’s not very private. The Marriott has more of the atmosphere I want. It’s fun, hip, modern; not a stuffy conference room.”
Marriott offers some work spaces at no charge, such as lobby areas, which now include desks with electric outlets. “Generally if it’s in a public space without walls, that’s free, including free Wi-Fi,” McAllister said.
In fact, most work spaces are at least quasi-public, with waiters stopping by to offer food and beverages, for instance. That — and the fact that they lack beds — belies the stereotype of how by-the-hour hotel rentals are typically used.
Workspace on Demand is now available at more than 415 U.S. hotels under nine Marriott brands, including Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence and Suites, McAllister said.
“We are definitely attracting new customers,” she said. “About 18 percent who book Workspace on Demand rarely use Marriott otherwise. About 56 percent are Gen X or Gen Y. This is a fantastic way to be able to attract Gen X and especially Gen Y Millennials into our hotels. It’s a great way for them to sample us; to try us out for an hour at low cost or even for free.”


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Shares of tiny Amplidyne Inc. (Nasdaq: AMPD) were up 50 percent Friday, just more padding after a 220 percent run-up Thursday. Who needs the IPO market with performance like that?
Amplidyne soared after the company unveiled a new set of products for high-speed wireless Internet access.
The maker of wireless amplifiers was up 5 to 15 1/8, the most active Nasdaq issue Friday morning.
Amplidyne ended up 7 at 10-1/8, or 224 percent, Thursday on the Nasdaq, where it was the third biggest percentage gainer and the fourth most active stock on volume of more than 17 million shares.
Amplidyne said its new products allow it to give subscribers Internet access about 35 times faster than conventional connections. The company also said it was faster than the Bluetooth system, a wireless communications system that allows different electronic devices to communicate with one another.
Amplidyne's wireless Internet access service would be high speed in both directions, unlike other services presently in operation, it said.
The company also said its service would provide continuous high-speed wireless Internet access at a fraction of the cost of wired Internet service. An Amplidyne Access Point Device, located at the subscribers' location would connect to a wired LAN (Local Area Network). This will enable all computers on that network to have continuous high speed wireless internet access at a fraction of the cost of having wired internet service (such as a T1 line) brought to their home office, office or enterprise.
By using rooftop antennas, line-of-sight links up to 50 miles long would be possible, the company said. Amplidyne's high speed connection will be available automatically 24 hours a day -- no dialing or user intervention is necessary.
No analysts currently cover Amplidyne.
Reuters contributed to this report.


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Malicious apps hit Android Market with hidden charges
Google has removed fraudulent apps from the Android Market, after hitting unexpected users with hidden charges.
The users who downloaded one of 22 apps were being charged for downloading apparently innocent services, including horoscopes and games. The apps were downloaded more than 10,000 times before removal.
The apps lured consumers to choose options within the apps that resulted in paying premium rates linked with SMS use. Those apps were presented as bogus apps based on popular games and movies, including Angry Birds, Twilight and Cut The Rope.
Vanja Svajcer, Principal Virus Researcher from SophosLabs, wrote on the Sophos blog that “the requirements for becoming an Android developer that can publish apps to the Android market are far too relaxed.”
This is the most common model for creating malicious apps, where damage is too late to avoid because the app has already set up the premium SMS service. This potentially makes the app installation very expensive.
“The cost of becoming a developer and being banned by Google is much lower than the money that can be earned by publishing malicious apps. The attacks on Android Market will continue as long as the developer requirements stay too relaxed.”
- » SoundCloud repairs API-related security snafus after Checkmarx research
- » Linux Foundation and LISH publish latest open-source census with suggestions to boost security
- » Android 11 will add a new App Compatibility feature to ease testing
- » COBOL still going strong with enterprises favouring modernisation over retirement, report finds


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The last video of the Team Fortress 2’s “Meet the” videos came out today. The purpose of the videos are to introduce the different classes in the multiplayer first-person shooter game created by Valve. After releasing Meet the Medic last year, there was only one video in the series left. Meet the Pyro.
Meet the Pyro.
The Pyro’s video has been anticipated for a long time, and gamers have wondered what entity lies behind the mask. The video shows that that the flamethrowing warrior is completely insane, or very…disconnected from reality.
The Pyro is one of 9 classes in TF2, which was released by Valve in 2007. Most Steam users have it nowadays, with it being made free to play back last June.
Watch the video here.


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Kygo is launching a NEW fashion line in one week via Twitter on 08/11/2016! He was very stylish in the photo attached to the tweet. He is wearing a black jacket, gray and white stripped shirt, and a black beanie.
Don’t forget the amazing #KygoLife! We’re super excited to see what this entails! Check out the tweet below! Check out his recent music video “Raging” featuring Kodaline.
Copyright: For more on Kygo check out:


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As we ease our way out of an economic downturn, premium beef sales at quick-service and fast-casual restaurants are on an upswing. Perhaps because of optimistic news that the country is on the cusp of a recovery, consumers seem to be seeking out more quality and a better value when they eat out—and they’re willing to pay for it. A recent Burger Consumer Trend Report by Technomic, a Chicago-based company that provides analysis and insights on the foodservice industry, surveyed 1,500 consumers to find out what drives their purchasing decisions. The results were enlightening.
More than half of those surveyed (55 percent) said the quality of the meat or other protein used to make a burger is more important than any other factor. An additional 20 percent of consumers said that the quality of the meat is the second most important attribute for burgers. When asked to describe the adjectives they associate with quality meats, consumers mentioned certain types or cuts of beef, such as Angus or sirloin, the report says. Whether or not the meat is grass-fed, organic, or local also might improve the perception of quality for some consumers, according to the Technomic report.
The survey also found that a substantial 35 percent of consumers will still pay extra for premium burgers, an indication that operators and manufacturers may have to work harder to help justify higher price points to the consumer. They may have to emphasize quality, particularly with burger proteins, and a strong value proposition, the study says.
What this all adds up to, restaurant executives say, is a prime opportunity to deliver good value and great taste in the burger and sandwich markets, which can add up to significant profits. Positioning, they all agree, is the key.
Part of the sales push with premium beef menu items is convincing consumers that they are indeed getting what they are paying for. And that means upping the ante in terms of quality.
“Burgers are America’s favorite food, yet there hasn’t been a lot of innovation in the last decade or so,” says Tom Ryan, founder of Smashburger. “That’s why we decided we would take up the mantle with a promise of better quality and taste.”
Smashburger, which will have 40-plus restaurants in the U.S. by the end of 2009, features only 100 percent certified Angus beef that is “smashed” or cooked to order on the grill. The company’s slogan, “Fresh, Never Frozen,” also feeds into the idea of delivering a greater value to the customer.
“These days customers want to know about the quality of the beef, how it is handled. They want to know if the meat is grass-fed, organic, or hormone-free,” Ryan says. “People want a better way to have the foods that are familiar to them.”


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NFL Outfits to be available from Friday due to a major partnership between Epic Games and the National Football League.
As of Friday at 7PM ET, you’ll be able to purchase NFL team outfits from the Battle Royale Item Shop. Interestingly, you can customize these with ANY of the NFL’s 32 team uniforms (as well as a Fortnite team) and add your own squad number from 1-99.
Also it seems, the NFL cosmetics don’t stop there! There will be gliders, emotes and pickaxes with a football theme. You will also be able to pick up a branded referee outfit.
A we are aware, this is not the first time Epic Games have formed a partnership with other companies for Fortnite. Earlier this year, Fortnite teamed up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe to bring Thanos into the game for a limited time.
What do think think Epic Games will bring into to the mix next? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share this information with your friends!
In other news Tencent games are implementing a new ID Verification system limiting play time! Check this out below.


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Located at the Fashion Space Gallery at the London College of Fashion is the brand new exhibition “Museum of Transology”, which is set to be the largest collection of trans artefacts and photographic portraiture ever to be displayed. This incredibly important exhibition portrays the reality of modern trans life, and with boxes of hormones, first bras and real-life post-surgery body parts, the collection shows the bravery and vibrancy of the UK’s trans community.
With over 100 objects on display, many of which were found through crowdsourcing as a way of empowering trans people to tell their own stories, the everyday artefacts hold a special significance in each of their owner’s journeys. Incredibly touching, powerful and provocative, the exhibition is set up to teach viewers and help them understand the trans community – previously unrecorded in museums – using personal objects attached with rich sentiment and deep personal meanings.
Collector and curator E-J Scott says: “The objects people have chosen to donate to the Museum of Transology are strikingly intimate, and make a unique contribution to broader social debates surrounding body politics, gender inequality and the continuing attachment of biological sex to gender despite three waves of feminism. Ultimately, the exhibition is about how every single one of us deserves the freedom to fashion who we want to be. Fashion designers and communicators of the future can – and must – continue to play an increasingly significant role in challenging the constraints of gender stereotypes perpetuated by the industry.”


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Mall of America lockdown – Mall of America located in Bloomington, Minnesota is currently on lockdown today Friday July 22, 2022. Bloomington police are currently investigating after they received report of an active situation. According to authorities, Bloomington Fire is currently on the scene after they received several messages reporting alarms going off and the mall being evacuated.
According to press release, there is no fire incident and the fire alarm was as a result of a broken sprinkler head in the loading dock area of the mall. The Mall is all clear and no lockdown was ever in place, according to report. Further details will be updated when it is available. The Mall of America is a retail mall in Bloomington, Minnesota, a Twin Cities suburb in Minnesota, United States. It is located southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, north of the Minnesota River, and across the Interstate from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
** Crossgates Mall in Albany lockdown investigation **
According to a report, Crossgates Mall in Albany, New York went into lockdown toward the end of the work day on Monday July 18, 2022 after shoppers reported hearing a “loud bang” near the store Garage. According to a report , Crossgates Mall in Albany, New York went into lockdown toward the end of the work day on Monday after shoppers reported hearing a “loud bang” near the store Garage.
The local police were called to the site, and an investigation began in order to figure out what caused the commotion in the first place. The “loud bang” that scared mall shoppers and caused the mall to go into lockdown was determined to have been caused by a firecracker, according to the findings of the investigation into the event that took place at the Crossgates Mall in Albany. According to the sources, the lockdown only lasted for a short period of time, and shortly after it was over, the investigating officers made their conclusion.


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Lansinoh launches online tool, social networking for new moms
ALEXANDRIA, Va. Lansinoh Laboratories on Wednesday launched its new online community—Lansinohmoms.com—to help connect mothers nationwide.
“Lansinoh has been supporting and nurturing a community of new mothers for more than 20 years, so creating a place where moms can virtually find and share answers, encouragement and support from other moms online is a natural extension,” Kira Wood, director of marketing at Lansinoh, said.
New members to the www.Lansinohmoms.com community will be given the opportunity to create a personal profile, so their new online friends can get to know them and their motherhood experiences. Lansinoh plans to poll those moms on various topics, with the results shared so the members can see how other moms are thinking and feeling.
“Lansinoh was started by a breastfeeding mother who developed a product, Lansinoh Lanolin, that helped solve a problem she was experiencing—sore, cracked nipples—but for which no product existed at the time,” Wood said. “That unique product become a springboard for a whole category of products for breastfeeding women and now, after more than two decades of talking to new moms through Lansinoh’s breastfeeding outreach efforts, we understand that women crave information and love to share their own knowledge and experiences with other moms in similar situations.”
Lansinohmoms.com will also soon feature online guests, including lactation consultants and other breastfeeding experts to take part in discussions about different pressing topics.
“The Lansinoh Community forum will allow moms to candidly discuss their experiences as a mother, share tips with other members and even ask our experts questions related to motherhood,” Wood said.
“With all the new challenges and decisions mothers are faced with each day, we hope this forum will be a meaningful and refreshing pause in their day,” Wood added. “We are really excited about this site and are determined to make this a place where moms will feel confident that they will get the support they need, in addition to the accurate and helpful information they want and deserve.”
CRN announces webinar to help guide producers through FDA ingredient regulations
WASHINGTON The Council for Responsible Nutrition and Virgo Publishing last week announced plans for a new webinar—“Bringing New Ingredients to Market: FDA Guidance and Developments in the New Dietary Ingredient Notification Process”—to be held Dec. 10.
The Food and Drug Administration’s Bill Frankos, director of the Division of Dietary Supplement Programs, is one of the featured speakers and will provide the agency’s perspective on what kind of data is required to file a successful new dietary ingredient notification, as well as offer insight into other expectations from the agency.
Frankos will be joined by regulatory experts, including George Burdock, president of the Burdock Group; Claudia Lewis-Eng, a partner at Venable; Andrew Shao, vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, CRN; and Debbie Trinker, vice president of regulatory affairs, Kemin Health.
The webinar will provide a historical analysis of the NDI notification process since its inception by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, and will include a legal review of the process as well as offering practical, actionable approaches for bringing new dietary ingredients to market.
“There are still a lot of questions surrounding this process including what steps companies should take in order to make sure they are meeting FDA’s expectations,” stated Shao. “While not everything can be answered in this two hour webinar, it is our goal to provide clarity along with substantive guidance and help companies feel they are up-to-date and well-informed about this process, particularly as we anticipate FDA will soon publish a guidance document on this topic.”
This is the third webinar produced by CRN and Virgo. The first webinar centered on the general aspects of the final good manufacturing practices rule. The second webinar focused on the specific tools for managing the supply chain and practical approaches to help address safety concerns and ensure GMP compliance.
CRN backs Bayer combination products as functional health supplements
WASHINGTON The Council for Responsible Nutrition last week spoke out against warning letters issued to Bayer Consumer Healthcare by the Food and Drug Administration regarding its dietary supplement/over-the-counter combination products Bayer Aspirin with Heart Advantage and Bayer Women’s Low Dose Aspirin Plus Calcium.
“CRN continues to believe that combination dietary supplement-OTC drug products have a useful and important role to play in integrated health care and wellness,” Steve Mister, president and chief executive officer of CRN said. “Our hope is that the FDA will assist companies attempting to maneuver the regulatory challenges of developing products that combine these ingredients and meet the labeling and formulation requirements of both drugs and dietary supplements, as required by the law.”
CRN noted that the FDA in 1994 stated in the Federal Register that the “FDA does not believe that it would be appropriate to preclude such claims [health claims and OTC drug labeling] under all circumstances. Such claims may be permissible if a firm can demonstrate that dual claims can be made in a manner that will neither misbrand the product nor create a safety problem.” Since then, the FDA has issued a few warning letters addressing specific combinations of supplement and OTC drug ingredients, but has never publicly reversed its view that combination products with dual labeling can be developed that would satisfy the agency’s appropriate concerns for safety.
In its warning letters issued Oct. 28, the FDA charged that the products are unapproved new drugs requiring an approved application for the company to market them. “The FDA considers these products new drugs, and thus, they must undergo the FDA’s drug approval process,” FDA acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs Mike Chappell said in a statement. “The FDA will take enforcement action against manufacturers found to be violating the law or attempting to circumvent the drug approval process.”


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Aura has built a cloud-based open banking ecosystem that helps financial institutions and fintech players launch digital products and services quickly and cost-effectively to keep pace with changing market needs. With its 6,500 API connections, the platform covers a wide range of products - everything from corporate credit, consumer credit, to personal loans and card issuance, to name a few.
Fintech companies and established banks no longer have to worry about outrageously priced IT projects. With our technology, you can try new products and only pay for the use, which is a fraction compared to traditional infrastructure, says Prem Bhagwat, founder and CEO of Aura Banking Cloud.
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Our new Marketplace Crash Course is here to help. Sign-up for free, learn at your own pace.
Analysts say the world's largest retailer is growing its footprint in services as it seeks new sources of revenue.
Layoffs are often one of the first ways companies cut costs. But they don’t take them lightly because there’s a lot at stake, not least employee goodwill and public image.
Salesforce said this week it’s reducing office space and laying off about 10% of its workforce, after years of increasing employee headcount. Some analysts say this could be a sign of the company maturing.
It's Salesforce's largest acquisition yet.
Bellwether market index also adds Honeywell and Amgen and expels Exxon and others. Move reflects tech's expanding role in the economy.
Megan Graham wrote about Salesforce's attempt to clarify its work for CNBC.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff thinks so.


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|Angela Merkel, German chancellor, in her annual summer interview with ARD, July 19, 2015|
German exports and imports fell in the month of June but the year-on-year data are up sharply according to Destatis, the federal statistics office. There was a record monthly surplus and falling oil prices was a factor.
Germany exported goods to the value of €105.9bn and imported goods to the value of €81.9bn in June 2015. Based on provisional data German exports increased by 13.7% and imports by 6.4% in June 2015 year on year. After seasonal adjustment, exports fell by 1.0% and imports by 0.5% compared with May 2015.
The foreign trade balance showed a record surplus of €24.0bn in June 2015. In June 2014, the surplus amounted to €16.2bn. In calendar and seasonally adjusted terms, the foreign trade balance recorded a surplus of €22.0bn in June 2015.
According to the Deutsche Bundesbank, the current account of the balance of payments showed a surplus of €24.4bn in June 2015, which takes into account the balances of trade in goods including supplementary trade items (+€25.6bn), services (–€3.8bn), factor income net (+€4.8bn) and secondary income (–€2.3bn). In June 2014, the German current account showed a surplus of €16.9bn.
In June 2015, Germany shipped goods to the value of €61.5bn to the member states of the European Union (EU), while it received goods to the value of €53.7bn from those countries. Compared with June 2014, exports to the EU countries increased by 12.2%, and imports from those countries by 5.1%.
Goods to the value of €38.9bn (+11.0%) were dispatched to the Euro Area countries in June 2015, while the value of the goods received from those countries was €36.9bn (+3.6%)*. In June 2015, goods to the value of €22.6bn (+14.2%) were dispatched to EU countries not belonging to the Euro Area, while the value of the goods which arrived from those countries was €16.8bn (+8.4%).
Exports of goods to countries outside the European Union (third countries) amounted to €44.5bn in June 2015, while imports from those countries totalled €28.2bn. Compared with June 2014, exports to third countries rose by 15.8% and imports from those countries by 8.9%.
*This data is distorted by imports via the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, which have to be reclassified to countries outside the Euro Area.
German car firms boost exports from Spain, UK, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania
Irish lessons for Greece on growing exports and investment
Analysis: Germany world's top surplus economy; UK tops deficit ranks
German manufacturing wages are the highest of big industrial nations
Germany at full-employment: Lessons for low-pay US manufacturing
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that data from Germany’s economics ministry showed Thursday that manufacturing orders, adjusted for seasonal swings and inflation, surged 2.0% in June from the previous month, bringing the volume of total orders back to levels last seen in April 2008.
“The trend in orders is clearly pointing upwards,” indicating an ongoing, albeit modest, expansion in German industry, the ministry said.
But economists warned that the data—beating forecasts of a 0.2% monthly increase—were inflated by an unusually high volume of bulk orders.
AIDA Cruises, a German cruise line which belongs to Carnival Corporation, placed orders in June for two new ships with Meyer Werft in Lower Saxony. Airbus Group SE, which builds single-aisle planes in Germany, also reported strong aircraft orders during June’s Paris Air Show.
“Excluding such effects, demand was up a more moderate 0.3%,” said Andreas Rees, UniCredit’s chief German economist.


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Fintech is disrupting the financial services industry and leaders are turning to HR technology for strategic competitive advantage
OREANDA-NEWS. Fintech is disrupting the financial services industry and leaders are turning to HR technology for strategic competitive advantage.
According to Julia Wagner, vice president of Business Transformation Advisory & Strategic Industries at SAP, who moderated a panel at the recent SuccessConnect 2016 event, startups are upending traditional financial services companies along with their outdated business models. Every aspect of the industry is up for grabs, including retail banking, payments, lending, investing, real estate, and insurance. However, using the right HR technologies, financial services organizations can transform business models to harness the dynamic power of fintech – provided they move quickly to deliver valuable online services.
Fintech is disrupting financial services; industry leaders turn to HR technology for advantage
“There’s a huge market opportunity for financial services companies to leverage technology, more than we’ve ever seen before,” said Wagner. “For example, insurance industry executives see Google and Amazon as their biggest threats because they are all driven by data analytics. As a result, financial services companies are starting to transform by acquisition, collaboration, and their own innovation. Many experts are saying if you’re not on board now with a strategy to transform your business and do things differently, you are probably too late.”
Sun Communities Disrupts Status Quo
Marc Farrugia, vice president of Human Resources at Sun Communities, was among the panelists who talked about his company’s transformational journey from paper-based HR systems to online, mobile connectivity. As a real estate investment trust with over 330 locations in North America, Sun Communities is considered a leading -edge disruptor using HR technology for powerful competitive advantage.
“More and more, our residents are coming to our website for fast information on our entire inventory using their mobile devices,” he said. “On the resort side of our business, people want to see what sites, cabins and amenities are available at our various properties. We also have job seekers coming to our site and want to make a good impression online, making it easy for them to apply for positions.”
The HR team has been at the forefront of Sun Communities’ transformation, fully supported by senior-level executives. “We report up through the president and COO, and have been a huge proponent of technological innovation. We’ve made a business case for technology, fueling change not only within HR but through the rest of the company,” said Farrugia.


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It is the first time in more than two years that the Southeast Asian city is not required to wear masks indoors.
The rule is applicable till March 2023
Now, Indian travellers no longer have to show proof of vaccination against coronavirus or proof of recovery from the disease or a negative RT-PCR test result
As per the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, from today, visitors do not have to show any proof of covid-19 vaccination, a negative test, a travel declaration form or a travel request, which used to be sent via Travel...
At present, Japan is one of the island nations with strict travel restrictions
The Standard Operating Procedure was implemented with effect from January 11, 2022, till further orders, it has said.
Like much of history, the story of the moais treads a fine line between history and mythology
However, passengers between 12-18 years are allowed to travel without mandatory vaccination till March 31.
Beginning March 1, fully vaccinated visitors must take a RT-PCR test on arrival and spend their first night at an approved hotel while awaiting the results,...
This is the second letter to LG Baijal written by the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA). It cited huge financial losses as a cause of concern for traders.


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CHICAGO (WLS) -- The owners of a South Side ice cream shop are trying to help students, one scoop at a time.
Shawn Michelle's Homemade Ice Cream is giving out scholarships to students nominated from local churches in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.
Four students received $500 checks Friday to set them up for success in the new college school year.
"It's a great honor. It's a great honor. I was wondering how I would be able to pay for my tuition at college, and my mom told me about this, and I was extremely excited," said Fabian Thomas, who will start at Kennedy King College next week.
The scholarship money was donated by local businesses, Evanston Technology Group and Alderman Pat Dowell.
"Not a lot of people in my family went to college and actually made it there," Thomas said.
Thomas' mother, Lula Hill, said, "In our family, he's the second one going to college and having a degree, so that's great."
Sesheta McNutt was among the students to receive a scholarship from the shop known for its delicious homemade ice cream. McNutt is pursuing a graduate degree in social work.
"It makes me feel like this is an affirmation. Like a confirmation truly to tell you that, yes, you can accomplish your dreams as well as people will help you accomplish your dreams, if they see you need help. And I really appreciate that," McNutt said.
Shawn Michelle's Co-owner Nataki Muhammad, the woman behind it all, has three college-age children of her own. Muhammad said she's humbled to give out the scholarship money.
"We know what it means to receive a couple of hundred dollars for books or whatever they want because everything isn't always covered with financial aid," she said.
The ice cream shop is planning to serve up even more scholarships next year.


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In chip race, India to gain from experience in designing them: Chris Miller
HTLS: Chris Miller painted a broad picture of how microchips sit at the heart of global economics and how countries such as India can carve out their piece of the pie
NEW DELHI: Semiconductors hold the key to understanding the world today and will shape the future of geopolitics and technology in the time to come, one of the world’s foremost experts in the domain has said, noting that every country at present is reliant on someone else to source these building blocks of modern technology.
In a conversation with HT’s editor-in-chief R Sukumar on the second day of the 21st edition of the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Chris Miller, professor of international history at Tufts University, painted a broad picture of how silicon microchips sit at the heart of global economics and security and the future of technology, and how countries such as India can carve out their piece of the pie.
“All of the key trends that define our world are shaped by semiconductors, whether it’s the shape of the world economy, the rise of big tech companies, or AI -- you cannot understand the world unless you have semiconductors at the centre of your analysis,” said Miller, who is the author of Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology.
To illustrate his point, Miller said that China spends as much money importing microchips as it does oil, and that the most advanced hardware enabling artificial intelligence computing is by companies that are finding new ways to extract more from semiconductors.
“Right now, there’s not a single country in the world that is anywhere close to having a self-sufficient supply chain domestically, everyone is reliant on someone else,” Miller said.
In India’s case, Miller said the country stands to gain from its experience in semiconductor design. “I think taking major players head on is a very big challenge because they’re so well-established and have resources on their side, but the design expertise is something that I think holds a lot of opportunity to leverage because there’s so many different ways you can use it, so many different niches in which it can be expressed.”
Indian cities Bengaluru and Hyderabad are home to large operations of several multinational companies. In October, Google announced that its flagship Pixel smartphones are powered by microchips designed in India.
“India’s certainly has a very good chance of becoming a part of the semiconductor ecosystem. I think the questions will be -- can that design ecosystem be further developed? Can more design focus firms be established in India?” Miller said.
Manufacturing, assembly and other supply chain initiatives “will indeed play a bigger role”, he added. “And the challenge is that there’s competition in every step of the supply chain. India is not alone. Most other major economies around the world are trying to build up their own semiconductor industries.”
Semiconductors are small, fingernail-sized devices that are to computing what cells are to a living organism. Today there are different types of semiconductors — some remember data and some process data. These chips are generally made of silicon onto which millions, often billions, of microscopic switches called transistors are carved using laser.
Semiconductor shortages are seen as a risk to both an economy as well as national security, since these are crucial to build everything from wireless routers to missile guidance systems.
China’s increasing dominance has been a matter of concern for the West. But Miller indicated the story is not as straightforward.” China is still hugely reliant on importing high-end chips from Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the US, but compared to 10 years ago, it imports less as a share of its overall consumption,” he said, adding that Beijing has managed this “in non-economically viable” ways. “It’s been happening because the Chinese government is pouring money really fast into the industry and that suits the interests of Chinese leaders who are concerned above all about security.”
As the world navigates these challenges from a politics and supply chain perspective, another challenge awaits in the evolution of technology and hardware, especially to keep pace with the sort of development that has taken place in recent decades.
“There are two different strategies for continuing to improve semiconductors: One is designing chips in new ways. Because if you don’t get more processing power per chip, you can still tweak your designs so that they’re perfectly suited…” Miller said.
“A second strategy is to bring different capabilities together on the same chip or in the same package. There’s an entire discipline of strategies that are often called the advanced packaging,” he added.
“I think the big challenge that the tech industry faces for the next decade is to apply artificial intelligence to the rest of the economy. We already see companies like open AI or Google beginning to try to understand what the killer use case of AI will be, but we’re still in the early stage of that process.”


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New York City, March 19, 2019- South African DJ, Masia Mashapa, better known as The Godfather of Deep House, is making history by becoming the world’s first-ever blockchain-powered DJ. Dubbed the “Dr. Dre of House Music” The Godfather, believes that blockchain technology has the potential to dramatically change the music landscape for DJs, producers and musicians on the continent of Africa and globally. To that end, he has collaborated with North American company, PeerTracks Inc.
Parent company of SOUNDAC (XSD) cryptocurrency and Blockchain streaming service, PeerTracks – PeerTracks Inc is aiming to help artists, producers, DJs and fans connect and generate an alternative form of revenue for content creators while doing what they already do – listening to music. Streaming music via the PeerTracks platform and the PeerTracks Radio Station generate royalty payments for the artists via SOUNDAC’s cryptocurrency (XSD) and can reward fans with special bonuses for their loyalty.
South Africa’s House Music is not to be confused with EDM. South African House Music is unique to the culture much like Reggae is for Jamaica or Hip Hop for America. South African House Music has flourished over the years receiving international attention by an array of artist including multi-platinum Grammy winner Drake, who in 2018 collaborated with the iconic DJ Black Coffee of South Africa. “The popularity and adoption of blockchain and cryptocurrency has connected Africa including Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa and makes for a perfect solution to connect artists and fans”, says Mike Johns, Founder of Los Angeles based Digital Mind State, the U.S representative of Godfathers of Deep House. “This is an ideal solution for content creators, artists and fans to connect with blockchain technology for not only the music industry but for Hollywood too”, continues Mike, “I was very impressed with The Godfathers of Deep House music catalog and the fact that they own and distribute independently, it made sense to introduce their music into the PeerTracks system and empower them with blockchain technology”.
Godfathers of Deep House will host “One Nation Music Festival…A Nostalgic Experience In Deep House”, July 27, 2019 among 10,000 people in South Africa’s Time Square Sun Arena. The people who will be attending the One Nation Music Festival can earn SOUNDAC (XSD) tokens by simply participating with ticket purchases and signing up in advance online. Tokens can be utilized to purchase VIP packages and select items at the event. Fan rewards and VIP upgrades will include a meet and greet and picture opportunities with the beautiful team of Godbabe DJs. “In South Africa, anything is possible,” says the legendary Dj Godfather, Masia. “I want to connect with the fans and deliver token rewards to build a cryptocurrency experience at a live event. South Africa is ready for this experience.”
It’s only a matter of time before tokens and cryptocurrency offer value, rewards and merchandise at concerts and live events all over the world”, says Bill Craig, VP PeerTracks, “it connects the artists to the fans as they can be rewarded with VIP merchandise, free music streaming and select content via our streaming service.” Eddie Corral, CEO of PeerTracks is very excited about PeerTracks getting traction in South Africa. Says Corral, “The token economy and cryptocurrency is being traded every day and offers an international currency to the fans in South Africa. PeerTracks is pleased to see the legendary DJ Godfather Masia engaging his fans in the emerging token economy”.
ABOUT GODFATHERS OF DEEP HOUSE:
Dubbed the “Dr. Dre’s of House Music”, Godfathers of Deep House has leveraged the power of the internet to building a global brand. Based in Pretoria, South Africa, Godfathers of Deep House is a collective of South Africa’s top dj and producers under the vision leadership of DJ Masia “Godfather Mashapa. Digital Mind State presents Godfathers of Deep House: One Nation Music Festival was created by Masia Mashapa and refined by Mike Johns and combines a unique blend of Godfather of Deep House Music, Tech & Art. Digital Mind State presents One Nation Music Festival was designed for the purpose of uniting people of all colors, sizes, and shape together for night of mental health, soulful cleansing and most of all good times. For more info visit us online at https://www.thegodfathers.co.
ABOUT DIGITAL MIND STATE:
Digital Mind State is a creative and marketing agency that specializes and lives by its motto, Humanization of Technology Into Everyday Lifestyle. DMS works with clients, drive growth and create non traditional revenue and branding. Headquartered in Silicon Beach, CA, clients list includes Samsung, iHeart Radio, T-Mobile, Coca-Cola, FUBU. Digital Mind State approach to organizing a marketplace is unique to the to the industry. Learn more at digitalmindstate.com
PeerTracks is the world’s first streaming music platform built on blockchain. Founded in 2014 and launched in 2018, PeerTracks streams music on demand 24 hours a day. PeerTracks has no fees and no advertising as users can sign up in a matter of minutes to receive their user name and password to stream music in real time. PeerTracks is constantly growing the content and catalogue of up and coming artists as well as legacy artists that have joined the platform. PeerTracks generates it’s own cryptocurrency known as XSD. Artists and content holders are paid in these crypto tokens which can be transferred to USD via a debit card. PeerTracks is leading the way in solving many of the accounting issues in the music industry by building a blockchain with transparent data and copyrights and an immutable database for music publishing. PeerTracks is a worldwide streaming service available at www.peertracks.com.
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Toys 'r' us announced yesterday it will honor babies 'r' us and toys 'r' us gift cards, as well as 'rewards dollars' and 'endless earnings,' for 30 days. In march, toys r us announced that was planing to sell or close its 880 us retail stores the toy store previously had 10 locations, including those under the babies r us brand, on long island. As toys r us in canada and the uk went down, toys r us canada was forced to seek creditor protection, but eventually found a buyer the next challenge is innovating in the toy space. It's likely the end of an era for one business in town, and nationwide, but several others are just getting started this week, the rumors of toys r us' demise were confirmed, a new women's.
A revival of toys r us might be in the works jerry storch, a former chief executive officer of the defunct toy chain, has been working with multiple investors on a plan to reboot the retailer in. Just yesterday, toys r us announced that it would move forward with uk store closures the retailer entered into insolvency administration in the region on february 28 and failed to secure a. Toys r us today opened its doors an hour early after adapting its uk stores with measures tailored to meet the needs of children with autism, including dimmed fluorescent lighting and a ban on music and in-store announcements. Toys r us has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the company announced monday the bankruptcy filing helps the wayne new jersey-based toy retailer relieve itself of the debt left over.
Toys r us' clearance sales have begun customers are complaining on social media that the discounts aren't living up to expectations the discounts are expected to increase in the coming weeks as. Toys r us, meanwhile, may live on in some form the company, which filed for bankruptcy in september, announced plans to shut down its us operations last week. The administrator to failed toy retailer toys 'r' us has kickstarted the sale process in an attempt to retrieve some value from the collapsed company and is re-engaging with bidders. Toys r us inc emerged as a public company in 1978 it is an $11 billion dollar company with approximately 1,500 stores worldwide the company is a market share leader in both the us and japan.
But toys r us ceo david brandon told corporate staff in a speech at company headquarters that it will maintain the babies r us registry and the web stores for the time being in hopes someone might. Toys r us, inc is an international toy, clothing, video game, and baby product retailer founded in april 1948, with its headquarters located in wayne, new jersey, in the new york metropolitan area. Ds (8) has his birthday early dec and xmas coming up so we took him to toys r us yesterday to have a look round and see if anything stood out - nothing.
I loved working at toys r us my team was amazing and allowed me to learn every aspect of the job, from working cashier to customer service, stocking and shipping unfortunately my store closed, then all toys r us stores closed. Yesterday, citing people familiar with the plan, the wall street journal reported that toys r us may go even further -- not just restructure, but actually throw in the towel on the toy business. Shop toysrus shop babiesrus contact us home/blog/ a message to our customers a message to our customers blog blog blog: no assembly required about us.


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French tire manufacturer Michelin has unveiled the new 3D tire concept, the Vision. This concept tire, which is airless, connected, rechargeable, customizable and organic, is both a wheel and a tire.
The 3D printed prototype doesn’t need inflated. The Visionary Concept tire uses a honeycomb pattern based on generative design models found in nature, such as coral and the air sacs in human lungs. This design diminishes the risk of a blowout or flats due to punctures.
While, traditional rubber tires gradually lose their tread as a result of friction. This prototype uses 3D printers to replenish the tread as needed.
A series of sensors built into the tire monitor the tread wear and provide real-time information about performance and maintenance.
Intel’s latest chip have a nasty bug causes unpredictable system behavior
The new 3D printed treads can be smart to an array of settings to compensate for seasonal weather, most rugged terrains, and even different driving styles.
The physical structure of the tire isn’t everything though. Michelin has also outlined plans for a fully connected digital system in which an onboard app would identify the current state of the tire’s tread, pick up on weather conditions, and make automatic adjustments.
bio-sourced and biodegradable materials
The new 3D tire also made from bio-sourced and biodegradable materials, including natural rubber, bamboo, paper, tin cans, wood, and plastic. Michelin also minimized the amount of rubber in each of these “organic” tires to further reduce the overall environmental impact.
The entire wheel produced from recyclable materials, which means once the tire has reached the end of its life, the tire itself will also be recyclable.
However, this tire is still just a prototype, it looks like we’ll have to deal with our wildly inefficient, archaic, pressurized rubber tires for the time being. Michelin’s Executive VP of Research and Development, Terry Gettys, believes it will be at least another 10 years before the finalized Visionary Concept tire reaches the market.


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September was a busy month for Nintendo - though October through December aren't any quieter - as the company made a big push on multiple fronts. It seems to have paid off, however, with Nintendo of America highlighting some significant positives from the most recent NPD US results.
It was a notable month in terms of releases - the likes of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle had a first full month on Switch, while Metroid: Samus Returns arrived on 3DS. On top of that there was the SNES Classic Edition, too.
As a result Nintendo had a fantastic set of results, notably with its systems claiming 'two thirds' of overall hardware sales, with Switch coming out on top overall. The press release excerpts are below.
In September, the Nintendo Switch system was once again the top-selling current-generation console hardware, according to the NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States. This marks the third straight month that Nintendo Switch has been No. 1, and the fifth time overall in the seven months since its launch. Nintendo Switch has already surpassed 2 million units sold in the U.S. alone, and has yet to go through its first holiday shopping season.
When combined with the Nintendo 3DS family of systems and the plug-and-play Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition system, Nintendo systems claimed two-thirds of the month’s total video game hardware sales.
Nintendo Switch games again occupied multiple spots in the list of best-selling individual games of the month, including Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle from Ubisoft at No. 7, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at No. 10 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe at No. 11. Also, the Metroid: Samus Returns game for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems debuted at No. 8.
With a busy couple of months ahead, especially on Switch but also with Pokémon and more on 3DS, the big N is clearly aiming for a big Holiday season. If it can get plenty of stock into stores it could certainly be a lucrative period for the company.


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While we are waiting for more news on Overwatch 2 which was revealed at BlizzCon 2019 last November, Blizzard is still offering new content for the first game in the soon-to-be series, Overwatch, which celebrates its fourth anniversary in a few days.
For that special occasion, the company has launched a timed event (available from now until June 9) to celebrate these 4 years of Overwatch. You can unlock plenty of cosmetics by completing weekly challenges and winning a certain number of games each week will also give you a new epic skin.
Are you ready for Overwatch: 4th Anniversary?
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Burger King India share price continued to surge today, getting locked in at 10 per cent upper circuit at Rs 219.15 apiece on BSE. Burger King India stock has been on a gaining spree since listing earlier this week. Burger King India shares made share market debut at Rs 115.35 apiece, at nearly double the IPO price of Rs 60 per share. With today’s rally, the stock has zoomed 265.25 per cent from the IPO price, nearly quadrupling investors’ money; and it has rallied 92% from listing price, nearly doubling since then.
Dream run for investors
Burger King IPO has witnessed a dream run since its listing on the exchange, and it has made its investors richer, laughing all the way to the bank, according to an analyst. “For long-term investors, this a stock that they can look at holding, however those who are short-term traders, they should look at booking profits as well,” said Aamar Deo Singh, Head, Advisory at Angel Broking.
Burger King India’s market capitalisation has now soared to Rs 8,363.96 crore from Rs 4,402 crore on listing day. “Going forward, the company is looking at increasing its market share by spreading its presence pan India through new stores, which is a plus,” Singh added.
Don’t count on this rally to continue
Some analysts also believe that this rally may soon fizzle out. Yesterday, Vishal Wagh, Head of Research, Bonanza Portfolio Ltd, advised investors to keep booking profit. Out of the 12 IPOs that the stock markets witnessed so far this year, Burger King India is among the top four IPOs of this year. From the day of listing, Route Mobile has gained 221.6 per cent, Happiest Minds Technologies 94.7 per cent while Rossari Biotech surged 94 per cent. Moreover, Burger King received the fourth-best listing on stock markets so far in 2020. The top three listings were by Chemcon Speciality Chemicals which gained 114 per cent on a listing day, Happiest Minds Technologies with 111 per cent listing gains and Route Mobile with a 104 per cent listing premium.
The Rs 810-crore initial public offer (IPO) of Burger King India was subscribed 156.65 times by the investors across categories. The issue received bids for 1,166 crore equity shares against the offer size of 7.44 crore shares.


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Among other measures, Samsung reportedly turned to marketing and direct communication with the public to help get itself through the Galaxy Note 7 crisis it endured towards the end of 2016. The information on this comes from a new report out of The Drum which in turn credits comments provided by Samsung's SVP, Global Head Integrated Marketing, Pio Schunker, during a talk at the 2017 ANA Masters of Marketing Conference, in Orlando.
According to the details, Schunker points out that prior to the Note 7 recall, the company was already in the process of undergoing a brand-change. So while the company was already preparing to make some marketing strategy changes, Schunker explains that post-Note 7 the company's approach to marketing took on a whole new meaning. As most of the work that had already been done throughout 2016 to humanize the brand was immediately undone again by the negative publicity associated with the Note 7. As Schunker puts it, "just when things were starting to go right, things went horribly wrong." And not just horribly wrong with Schunker making the admission that the situation Samsung found itself in was dangerous enough it "threatened to permanently damage Samsung's business and its reputation."
As a result Schunker was noted explaining that by the time the company started to promote its then-upcoming Galaxy S8 smartphone, the company already understood the importance of its marketing efforts was much greater than ever before and even greater than the success of its new phone. As not only did Samsung need to promote the upcoming product, but also reassure those who may have been put off by the events of the months leading up to that point. With Schunker reportedly noting how the ads and promos that came through during this period not only helped to "repair and rebuild" the company's reputation, but was also one of the factors that directly led to the high rate of Galaxy S8 sales. In particular, the likes of Samsung's ostrich commercial which although was promoting the Gear VR headset at the time, was part of the company's plan to distance itself from the Note 7. Something which seemed to have worked better than Samsung probably even expected as not only has the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 gone on to be successful in their own right, but that ostrich advert has taken on a life of its own, including winning multiple awards along the way. For those that missed it the first time, see below.


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Microlending app OKash has introduced a built-in face recognition system to secure loans for its customers. The system, according to the online lender has been built to protect the identity of any OKash borrower from potential third-party fraud.
“We are very happy to be the first financial technology app in the country to innovate and establish such a security system,” said Edward Ndichu, Managing Director of OKash in Kenya.
“Within financial digital services, there is a need to ensure that the customer is actually who they say they are. By implementing this new feature, we ensure the integrity of our customers and guarantee them 100 percent protection of their loans and personal information when using the app.”
With one of the fastest growing digital economies in the world, Kenyan mobile financial technology providers face multiple challenges by scammers who use personal information such as a phone or ID number to get a loan using someone else identity.
According to the 2017 Annual Report presented by the Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) in Kenya, more than 73 percent of citizens have a mobile money account. This represents a major part of Kenya’s population that is vulnerable to digital fraud.
“This new face recognition system has been designed to protect the identity of all our users and provide them with the best experience,” said Ndichu. “We would like to encourage all of our users to test the new feature and start protecting their daily loans and transactions.”
OKash was developed by OPay, an affiliated company of the Opera Group. It becomes the first microlending app in Kenya to implement a face recognition system.


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With many companies working remotely, millions of paid users have joined the Facebook-for-business model to communicate with colleagues.
The social media giant has updated the safety features of its professional platform Facebook Workplace. The company has added a new “Safety Check” feature and live video enhancement option, enabling brands to monitor employee safety and facilitating more presenters in a stream.
The update would increase functionality and provide a new UX to let businesses check on employee safety, manage communications during crisis and issue travel advisories amid the pandemic. It would also enable brands to track the availability of employees in different locations, ultimately helping them to reduce downtime in waiting for business replies.
Companies can also stream live videos on Facebook Workplace and have multiple presenters during the stream. Earlier in May 2020, the company added Q&A post option to its professional platform to help enhance internal communications.
[2 minute read]


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Days after announcing a sharp downsizing, the patent expiry-plagued company said it will eliminate an additional 2,300 jobs, raising the tally of cuts to more than 5,000 through 2016.
Former Pfizer chieftain Hank McKinnell is taking the reins at stock scandal-plagued Optimer—perchance to sell it to Pfizer?
The latest executive change has a touch of deja-vu: Novartis vet Jorg Reinhardt is returning from a stint at Bayer.The company also said it expects 2013 sales to be flat, but sees growth in 2014 and 2015.
Endo is restructuring, bringing its four operating units under the same corporate roof and rebranding to reflect its diversification out of its origins in pain and urology drugs.
Sanofi is girding itself for an ugly year, forecasting a 12%-15% drop in business earnings per share for 2012 as the company absorbs the loss of patent exclusivity on a stable of drugs that brought in more than €4 billion last year.
Abbott said today it will separate into two publicly traded companies, one its $18-billion pharma unit and the other its $22-billion diversified medical products business.
Digitas Health and Razorfish Health are undergoing an organizational restructure in which the two Publicis-owned siblings will share two newly appointed co-presidents, launch a single global leadership team and develop a variety of centers of excellence.
Patient access to pharmaceuticals is a tale of two worlds—affordability has improved for the majority, while the minority is hampered by cost, distribution and red tape. To provide marketers with a well-rounded perspective, MM&M presents this e-book chock full of key insights. Click here to access it.


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It’s a term that’s on the tip of many tongues — everywhere from hospitals to warehouses to grocery stores — as the province begins to take cautious steps towards reopening.
Deep cleaning has become part of our new pandemic vocabulary along with terms like social distancing, self-isolation and community transmission.
But what does it actually mean? And how can the public be sure that one place’s deep clean is the same as another’s? It turns out it means different things to different people, and, while important, shouldn’t give you a false sense of security that a place is COVID-free.
“Deep cleaning is not a technical term,” said Heather Fletcher, senior director of environmental, patient, food and transportation services at Unity Health Toronto. What people might be trying to express is “that it’s going to be more enhanced cleaning on an ongoing basis,” she said, getting right to the rafters.
At Unity Health, the hospital network that includes Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph’s Health Centre and St. Michael’s Hospital, they refer to “enhanced” and “terminal” cleaning, she added.
The latter is an intense cleaning and disinfection process done in rooms between patients to prevent the spread of germs.
Enhanced cleaning means cleaning in public spaces more often, focusing on things that people touch a lot, like handrails, and areas that see more traffic, like hallways.
“For us it feels pretty normal,” Fletcher said. “It’s ongoing attention that will make the difference.”
Cleaning staff wipe down surfaces with a diluted bleach product using microfibre cloths, she added. They chose to use bleach “just to be really thorough,” although there’s a whole list of Health Canada approved products for killing COVID-19. And old fashioned elbow grease is always needed.
“I don’t think you can just wipe on some bleach and you’re done, you need to remove the dirt, you need to remove the bio-burden,” Fletcher added.
A similar process is used by some outside cleaning companies called in by private businesses, like grocery stores, or factories that have COVID-positive staff members and want to reassure the public, said Christine Harley.
She’s the business manager at Arelli Commercial Cleaning Inc., which does commercial, workplace and warehouse jobs.
Their cleaning focuses on making sure places that people touch a lot are disinfected — “your phones, your keyboards, your mouse, your doorhandles, your faucets, your toilet flusher,” — after being washed so they’re not just “disinfecting or spraying on top of dirt.”
The teams work during the night when stores are closed, because they also need to social distance.
They also sometimes do “dry fogging” if the customer asks for it. They spray disinfectant and “it kind of coats the air,” she said, “parts per million land everywhere.”
Her company has been incredibly busy during the pandemic, working from about 8:30 a.m. to midnight every day. And while she’s glad for the business, Harley urges the public not to let the promise of a deep clean give a “false sense of security.”
People still need to take regular precautions like social distancing, and handwashing. Even the most extensive cleaning “only disinfects at that moment,” she said. A place could be cleaned overnight and contaminated again by lunch.
“I would not let my guard down with this invisible disease,” she said. “You still gotta do your part.”
Cleaning companies are “not regulated” by the government, and standards vary, even as they’ve suddenly become an important part of pandemic response.
“Everybody’s either panic buying or panic disinfecting, or panic something,” she added.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you spend, it’s not going to help you if things are not done properly.”
For some places, like factories or warehouses, it might make more sense just to close down temporarily, or close off the area where the person infected with COVID-19 had been.
“You can do all the disinfecting you want, it doesn’t mean you’re going to get every nook and cranny,” Harley said.
“If you can cut off access to that area for five days, chances are the virus is probably dead.”
The Star contacted several companies that had mentioned “deep cleaning” in response to staff members recently testing positive for COVID-19.
A spokesperson for the LCBO responded that the term refers to an “extensive cleaning process” conducted by a third party, which differs depending on the location, and follows Public Health Ontario guidelines. They can take up to a day to complete and measures include “thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all interior surfaces, touch points, as well as exterior entry areas.”
A fact sheet from Public Health Ontario says surfaces people touch often (like doorknobs and elevator buttons) should be cleaned and disinfected twice per day and, when visibly dirty, using disinfectants that have an eight-digit drug identification number from Health Canada, confirming they’re approved for use. Toronto Public Health has similar guidance.
Pusateri’s Fine Foods, a high-end Toronto grocery store chain, brought in professionals for a deep clean in late April after a head office employee visited one of its stores before realizing they had COVID-19.
A spokesperson said deep cleaning involves a specific procedure, which includes locking down a store, cleaning first with soap and water, disinfecting through “atomized fogging,” and a final checklist to make sure nothing has been missed.
A spokesperson for Longo’s grocery store declined to comment when asked by the Star about deep cleaning. Costco and Loblaws also did not respond to requests for comment.
The good news is SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is fairly easy to kill, said Rennie Kissoonsingh, director of safety, environment and quality at commercial cleaning company GDI Services Canada.
It’s an enveloped virus, meaning it has an outer lipid layer surrounding it, like influenza, and any of the disinfectants on the Health Canada approved list will get rid of it.
But, like Harley, he urges businesses to look for cleaning companies with documented procedures and experience in the field and not just go with “Joe Shmoe,” who suddenly popped up to meet the pandemic demand.
It can be tempting as all of the Health Canada disinfectants are “in very short supply” and his own company has been so busy it’s had to turn down some work. But it’s important to do it right.
“Cleaning is a science,” he said. “I hope people have a lot more respect for what we do out there.”


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- Prime Day 2018 was the biggest sales event in Amazon's history, with estimated global sales hitting $4.38 billion.
- Amazon offered approximately 1.9 million promotions, with apparel, shoes, sporting goods, and home goods being the most popular categories.
- The shopping event was a big day for other retailers offering competing deals as well.
- Business Insider Intelligence believes there's a huge opportunity for other retailers to capitalize on this pseudo holiday.
It's official: Prime Day 2019, Amazon's annual sales holiday for Prime subscribers, will run for 48 hours spanning July 15-16. And considering Prime Day 2018 was the largest sales event in the e-commerce giant's history (with estimated global sales hitting $4.38 billion), the company is likely planning for another record-topper.
But Prime Day isn't just for Amazon anymore; last year's manufactured holiday saw competing discounts from a number of other major retailers including eBay and Walmart, with the intention of capitalizing on the shopping frenzy that always surrounds the event.
And Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, believes that if retailers focus in on two key takeaways from this year's event, they can crack Amazon's customer base and capitalize not only on Prime Day 2019, but also the upcoming holiday season.
What can retailers learn from Prime Day 2018?
Last year, Amazon offered approximately 1.9 million promotions globally, a roughly 37% increase over Prime Day 2017, and it's clear why: 40% of consumers who made any purchase on Prime Day did so because of the deals available — with Walmart and Target being the most popular destinations, according to a study from A.T. Kearney sent to Business Insider Intelligence.
Though Amazon's outages were likely responsible for some of the success of Amazon's competitors, there's no denying the opportunity other retailers have to entice customers with their own discounts.
Prime Day 2018 also proved that Prime membership still hadn't hit its ceiling — and the holiday was an effective way to attract new users. In fact, 52% of customers said it was their first time making a Prime Day purchase, and the event drove more Prime membership signups than any other day in the company's history.
So what can other retailers learn from this as they plan for Prime Day 2019 and beyond?
- Offer steep discounts and special deals: Amazon invented Prime Day, but other retailers can decentralize it. A significant part of Prime Day 2018's success was driving the desire to become a Prime member and shop with Amazon. If other retailers can recast the holiday to be more about shopping for special deals online than it is about shopping with Amazon specifically, the event will lose a lot of the momentum it lends to the e-commerce giant. (Not sure which items to start with? Amazon's top categories on Prime Day 2018 were apparel, shoes, sporting goods, and home goods)
- Think globally: Amazon is paying more and more attention to cultivating foreign markets, with almost 60% of Prime Day 2018 deals occurring on its international marketplaces. The availability of relevant discounts, combined with a focus on promotions in non-US markets may help other retailers interrupt Amazon's push for exposure abroad.
Want to Learn More?
Amazon has been increasingly extending its reach into the advertising world, ramping up on ad offerings across its ecosystem in a mounting bid against Google and Facebook, YouTube, traditional TV, and the connected-TV device maker Roku.
In The Rise of Amazon Advertising, Business Insider Intelligence examines how and why Amazon's ad business is growing as it diversifies its various ad products across its ecosystem; how Amazon could pose a threat to ad dollars that currently flow to the duopoly, TV, and connected-TV giant Roku; and why Amazon is likely to remain dominant versus retailers expanding their own ad offerings. The report also comprehensively lays out Amazon's growing array of ad opportunities across its formats, including display, video, and audio.
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said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter earnings will be "somewhat" above Wall Street expectations.
In a statement, the company said stronger margins in its basic chemicals and polymers segment and improved performance by some of its business ventures should help the company's earnings beat estimates from
First Call/Thomson Financial
First Call's consensus of 11 analysts forecasts fourth-quarter earnings for Union Carbide of 46 cents per share.
The company will report fourth-quarter earnings on Monday.
In the same period a year ago Carbide's fourth-quarter earnings were $67 million, or 49 cents a share, which included a 31-cent-a-share boost from a patent litigation settlement.
In contrast to this year, the Danbury, Conn.-based company had pre-warned analysts about lower-than-expected earnings last year.
Union Carbide is currently slated to merge with
. The deal is expected to finish regulatory review by the second quarter of this year.
Union Carbide was up 15/16, or 2%, to 57. (Union Carbide closed up 1/4, or 0.45%, at 56 5/16.)