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Whenever Malaika Arora walks in, she always makes heads turn. Among the actresses of the tinsel town of Bollywood who refuse to grow old, Malaika Arora is one of them.
Recently she was papped at the salon in Mumbai. The viral photo is doing all rounds on social media. But, on the other hand, her attire has created two schools of opinion.
On the one hand, netizens noticed the similarity between Malaika’s blue dress and the dress at the hospital. Within no time, netizens started trolling her for her fashion choices.
She was wearing a blue and white check dress. While at the same time, there were people who adored her dress. Well, we would say the dress worn by Malaika is perfect for the summer outfit.
Find out what Malaika Arora has to say about trolling!
Usually, Malaika doesn’t pay heed to internet trolling. But has openly talked about the double standards of people here. Citing the examples of Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and Beyonce, she said, if these actresses wear anything, they garner appreciation from the people. But here in India, if an actress wears the same thing, these same people would criticize her for her fashion choices.
However, the trolling has taken a massive toll on Malaika’s parents. They keep reading the stuff written about her and get upset. Finally, Malaika confronted them and asked them not to read the garbage written about her again.
Over time, these celebrities get used to trolling, but the same thing we cannot expect from our parents. So they read the stuff and get upset.
How many of you would believe that this gorgeous actress is 48 years old? We aren’t kidding. Regardless of the trolling, we are still convinced that Malaika is a woman of many talents. She is not just a pretty face but has many hidden talents.
Arora is famous among her fans for the fitness and inspirational content she shares on social media. She enjoys a massive fan following of almost 15 million followers on Instagram.
Malaika always wears her heart on her sleeves regarding her relationship with Arjun Kapoor.


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Yamaha has been selling the YZF-R15 v3.0 in Indonesia for a while now. It is expected to be launched in India, replacing the current R15 v2.0. The new R15 sold abroad gets Yamaha R6-inspired styling and upside-down forks. Motive power comes from an all-new, more powerful 155cc liquid-cooled single with variable valve timing that puts out 19.3 PS of peak power, as opposed to the 17PS on the one sold here.
Other updates are LED headlamps, new digital instrument cluster and a slipper clutch. All these updates do drive up the price of the bike to close to Rs 1.7 lakh in Indonesia, far higher than the Rs 1.2 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune).
The test mule spotted in India has the new R15 v3.0 bodywork but sports conventional telescopic forks. The front disc brake does not have ABS while the pillion footpegs get a tubular unit instead of cast aluminium ones. The lack of ABS and upside-down forks might be Yamaha’s way of keeping costs low for the India-spec bike.
The lack of ABS is surprising considering the Indian government’s decision to make ABS mandatory on two wheelers by April 2018. So, if Yamaha wants to launch the R15 v3.0 in non-ABS guise, it has to be before April 2018.
The all-new motor with its four-valve head and variable valve timing also drives up the premium on the bike. It remains to be seen if Yamaha will get the bike in the same state of tune or with a reworked motor with less exotic tech. We expect the rest of the cosmetic upgrades like the bodywork, twin LED headlamps and fully digital instrument console to feature in the new, India-bound R15.
Pricing is expected to go up. The R15 v2.0 currently retails at Rs 1.18 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). We expect the new bike to touch the Rs 1.5 lakh bracket. It remains to be seen what upgrades will be carried over from the Indonesia-spec version and which ones don’t make it here. Watch this space for more information.

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THOUSANDS URGE MCDONALD’S TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON CUTTING ANTIBIOTIC USE IN ITS BEEF SUPPLY
A broad coalition of public health, animal welfare and food safety groups sent McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski more than 25,000 petition signatures today urging the company to fulfill its 2018 promise to set targets for reducing the use of medically important antibiotics throughout its global beef supply chain. The renewed call for action comes after a new report found that more than 1.2 million people died worldwide from drug-resistant infections in 2019, the most recent year for complete statistics.
Display your AMR Technology, Product and Service
Suppliers and Users of Technologies, Products and Services benefit from CAPI.
CAPI (Continuous AMR Partnering Initiative) unites Suppliers and Users worldwide with the aim to add to the curbing of AMR.


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- 1 min read
Zostel launches ZostelX Home in Shangarh; resumes operations in 40 properties
Post reopening, the company has registered an enthusiastic response from travellers towards the sites and expect more bookings in the coming months.
Zostel, a community-led experience-driven ecosystem, has launched a new ZostelX Home in Shangarh. Apart from launching its new property, Zostel has also resumed operations in 40 of its hostels and homes in various locations across the country including Alleppey, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bir, Coorg, Delhi, Gokarna, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Leh, Manali, Kodaikanal, Mussoorie, Mysore, Ooty, and Theog, amongst others.
The hospitality chain informs that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure it adheres to the best practices of hygiene. “Right from disposable face masks offered to guests, hand sanitizers placed in all common areas, and strict, regular housekeeping schedules to sanitize the rooms and common areas, Zostel is leaving no stone unturned to provide guests with a safe and comfortable experience,” a statement released from the company mentioned.
Speaking on the new launch, Dharamveer Singh Chouhan said, “At Zostel, we strive to offer new and unparalleled travel experiences and our Shangarh home does just that. It is the perfect place to visit for solo backpackers, family, and friends, anyone looking for a relaxing getaway. There are a plethora of activities for guests to engage in and Zostel is committed to ensuring their experiences are out-of-the-world.”
He further mentioned that post reopening, the company has registered an enthusiastic response from travellers towards the sites and expect more bookings in the coming months. The company has launched 51 properties to date and will be opening all its properties in the next few months.


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Swansea City unveil first ever pride merchandise range
Swansea City is delighted to unveil the club’s first ever pride merchandise range in collaboration with Proud Swans.
Today (December 11) marks our designated Rainbow Laces fixture against Nottingham Forest at the Swansea.com Stadium as we support Stonewall’s campaign for LGBTQ+ players, staff and supporters.
And the club has been working closely with our supporter group, Proud Swans, to bring together a first pride range of merchandise in the club shop.
At a virtual fan forum event last season, Proud Swans raised a question about whether the club could launch a pride range to celebrate our LGBTQ+ fan base.
Yesterday evening the club hosted a private event for Proud Swans at the Swansea.com Stadium club shop which was an exclusive reveal of the range that they have played a key role in developing, as well as being joined by special guests including club ambassador Lee Trundle, honorary club president Alan Curtis MBE and members of the Swansea City Ladies squad.
The pride range includes items such as pin badges, scarves, keyrings and lanyards. Supporters can also purchase their own sleeve badges to be added onto their replica shirt.
Supporters can purchase items in-store at the Swansea.com Stadium club shop or online.


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Nov. 29, 2013. Appalachian State University has announced changes to its library of athletics logos, effective December 1.
The biggest change is that due to its significant historical meaning and great response from students, alumni and fans since it was reintroduced as a temporary throwback logo in 2012, what has been known over the past year as the “Vintage Yosef” logo will be permanently introduced as an official secondary mark for Appalachian State athletics.
Going forward, the popular logo will be known as “Victory Yosef.” The logo will be prominently featured on merchandise available at outlets throughout the region during the holiday season, including Appalachian State’s University Bookstore and Sports Fanatic in the Boone Mall.
“The excitement that Victory Yosef has generated among our students, alumni and fans since we introduced it as a throwback logo last fall has been overwhelming,” Appalachian State director of athletics Charlie Cobb said. “Due to its popularity, it only made sense to make Victory Yosef a permanent part of our branding. We hope that it endures as a recognizable mark of Appalachian athletics for years to come.”
“Traditional logos with strong mascots are hot in the market right now and we are excited that Appalachian State has chosen to permanently introduce the Victory Yosef logo to its official logo library,” said Lewis Hardy, president and CEO of Licensing Resource Group, Appalachian State’s licensing management partner. “The Victory Yosef logo has stood the test of time and will remain very popular in the marketplace going forward.”
Appalachian State’s primary logo — the popular and recognizable Block A — has undergone minimal changes to create consistency in its use. The black-bodied Block A featured on this year’s football uniforms also becomes an official part of Appalachian’s logo library as a secondary logo and will become available on merchandise available to fans in the marketplace.
Finally, the “Yosef Head” logo introduced in 1999 will be retired from official use.
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Lenovo K5 Note Will Be Exclusively Available On Flipkart
Lenovo’s new K5 Note will be launched in India on August 1. Before the launch, Lenovo has already confirmed that the phone will be available on Flipkart.
Talking on this partnership, Mr. Sudhin Mathur, Executive Director, Mobile Business Group, Lenovo said, “Last year Lenovo was the top smartphone brand of 2015 on Flipkart and we aim to retain that position this year as well. Since last year, Flipkart has sold over 5 Million units of Lenovo smartphones and we will aim to reach consumers spread across 15000+ pin codes through this partnership”.
Lenovo K5 Note comes with 5.5-inch full HD display and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It is powered by octa-core MediTek Helio P10 processor. Recent teaser also reveal that the phone is expected to come with 4 GB RAM.
It has 13-megapixels rear camera with PDAF, dual tone LED flash and an 8-megapixels front camera. It comes with 1.5W speaker with Dolby Atmos. It has fingerprint sensor at the back for payments. It is packed with 3500mAh battery.


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Approximately eight months after Boulder Brands Investment Group (BIG) acquired a minority stake in the company, Temple Turmeric has followed through on plans to broaden its product offerings with a new mainstream-oriented line of turmeric-infused beverages. Described as “fully-functional thirst-quenchers,” Temple Turmeric Super Lights have been in development since last year, with key input on formulation and packaging coming from Mathis Martines, the senior category manager of innovation and snacks for Kroger. The grocery giant debuted the new products as part of its “Taste of Tomorrow” program, a set of emerging beverages promoted within the grocer’s Fred Meyer and Ralph’s stores.
Temple Turmeric, which underwent a brand revamp in March (having previously operated as Turmeric Alive), launched Super Lights at the end of May with DPI handling distribution of the beverages at Fred Meyer and Ralph’s. Initially available in three varieties, Hibiscus Berry-Ade, Lemon Ginger-Ade and Strawberry Lemon-Ade, the new line contains 7g of the brand’s proprietary Hawaiian Oana Turmeric and has 40 calories per 12 oz. bottle. In a company release, Temple Turmeric noted that Super Lights are made for “heightened refreshment, with organic ingredients like strawberries, tart lemons, and fiery ginger, a symphonic adaptogen that helps maximize the bioavailability of curcumin, the active component in turmeric.”
In terms of funding, the BIG investment played an important role in the development of Super Lights, however it was Martines who provided advice and guidance for the design of the products — inside and outside of the bottle — with an aim of attracting a broader base of consumers compared to those of the brand’s flagship line. Key to the products is an aspect of refreshment that is less pronounced in the primary product line, as well as a lower sugar and calorie content — something achieved by way of stevia, the plant-based zero-calorie sweetener. Packaged in slim 12 oz. plastic bottles, the organic drinks are high pressure processed, Non-GMO Project Verified and have a suggested retail price of $3.99, approximately $1-2 less than other Temple Turmeric beverages.
“Our Super Lights are a completely new twist on our original nourishing turmeric-based Elixirs, offering all the benefits of our Hawaiian OanaTurmeric and a mindfulness around calories and sugar,” Daniel Sullivan, CEO and founder of Temple Turmeric, said in the release. “Each bottle is a celebration of purification, soulful awareness and exceptional health – perfect for enjoyment wherever your wondrous journey takes you.”
While the primary focus of Super Lights was aimed at a deeper brand presence in the conventional grocery channel, the line quickly attracted interest from natural retailers who sought the products for their stores. As a result, Super Lights is now rolling into natural grocers, yet only along the East Coast, maintaining Kroger’s exclusivity for the line in the western half of the U.S.
Notably, Super Lights will not be represented at Whole Foods — at least for now. The natural foods juggernaut has been the primary retailer of Temple Turmeric and a critical partner amid rapid and sustained growth of the brand. However, Temple Turmeric is expected to lean on Whole Foods for new products launched within the brand’s primary line, as seen with the debut of two new “Super Blends” products.


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North East tech innovation firm makes first investment in London cleantech startup
A North East technology innovation centre has made its first investment in a London-based cleantech startup.
CPI Enterprises, the investor engagement and ventures arm of CPI, has invested in cleantech Qualus.
Qualus aims to reduce water and chemical consumption within the leather industry, through its patented Sfere technology that cuts the use of water by up to 40 per cent and chemicals by up to 15 per cent in leather tanning and retanning.
The firm has secured £1m of financing from lead investor Irrus Investments, an Ireland based angel syndicate, along with investment from CPI, Cambridge Capital Group and Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of London.
This latest investment will enable Qualus to benefit from innovation knowledge and facilities as it develop its second product and continues to expand its international customer base.
Alfredo Ramos Plasencia, managing director of CPI Enterprises, commented: “Our first investment into Qualus is an example of CPI investing in the long-term health of the environment, by accelerating and enabling innovative products that transform the way industries work.
“Our ventures and enterprises team leverages our organisation’s world class expertise and assets to help high-potential growth companies in sustainability and healthcare get their technologies into market”.
“From the first day, we were impressed by the calibre and professionalism of Qualus’ leadership team. We saw that Qualus had the rare intersection of both a formidable team and a promising technology that addresses a real problem, which made Qualus an attractive first opportunity for us.”
Vikrant Pratap, Qualus CEO added: “Consumers are increasingly demanding a more environmentally aware approach from producers, and the leather industry is keen to innovate in this way.
“So, the opportunity for our Sfere technology is global and established. With visionary investors such as Alfredo and the team at CPI Enterprises on board, we can now rollout our greentech globally at a much faster rate.”
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Beware, payday lenders; technology offers affordable alternative
BillFloat, a San Francisco-based company that offers customers microloans, secured $21 million in a third round of financing this week from Investor Growth Capital, Venrock, FirstRound Capital, Baseline Ventures and Bronze Investments.
BillFloat, launched in 2009 by Ryan Gilbert, Sean O'Malley and a team of financial service professionals, charges up to 10 percent APR on these small consumer loans, which can cover anything from telephone bills to car loans. The company, which has over 700,000 registered users, will use this new funding to grow its team, focusing on hiring developers, back-end risk management and front-end consumer service personnel. To date, the company has raised $36.9 million in total investment to date.
I talked to BillFloat CEO and Co-Founder Ryan Gilbert about his company.
Q: What's going on in the payments sector?
A: “I think there’s a lot of excitement and over investment in the payment space today. Dozens of companies want to be the next Square. But in general, it’s all about making the payment process easier. There’s also a lot of focus on fraud management. There’s a huge opportunity to make credit available in the context of payments, and we’re addressing that.”
Q: What’s your target audience?
A: “We’re targeting responsible customers who know they have to pay their bills on time, but they may be new to the credit market, or don’t have credit from their primary bank. They might be new immigrants, and they’re classified as non-prime customers, credit-wise. We’ve noticed that the majority of our customers are female heads of households that make between $40,000 and $45,000 and strongly want to keep up with their obligations, The most important question we ask is regardless of credit ratings, ‘Can you afford to pay back your loan with your existing income?’”
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While the patient's weight remained the same after the treatment her abdominal circumference decreased over 2 inches after just 2 treatments with observed skin tightening and no complications ... Taking place at The ARIA Resort in Las Vegas the event was hosted by The Doctors Dr Drew Ordon and judged by a group of industry leaders comprised of renowned plastic surgeons dermatologists and members of the media who cover aesthetics including American Health and Beauty's Editor in Chief Keith Veseleny
At this year's The Aesthetic Show which was held at the Aria Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Dr Janee Steinberg was awarded the 2012 National Award for the Best Non Surgical Body Enhancement for her arm lifting and skin tightening results .
The double source of skin heating from inside and out helps by creating improved contours more skin tightening and much less swelling discomfort and downtime - which is what everyone wants today ... Burke's approach will be featured at the 29th annual American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) meeting January 2013 in Las Vegas titled: Customized Body Sculpting for Optimal Aesthetic Results during Body Contouring and Sculpting Symposium
Key topics will feature the newest technology in facial fillers skin tightening body contouring and the hottest lasers that are available in the market right now ... Lasting from June 2 to June 5 at The Aria Resort at City Center in Las Vegas NV attendees can look forward to live demonstrations the latest technologies showcased in the Exhibit Hall and new to the TAS this year a black tie ceremony that will award the best aesthetic medicine outcomes to be hosted by The Doctors cast member Dr Drew Ordon
Dr Troell also says that experiments also showed that patients experienced skin tightening and the reduction of local areas of fat ...
I think I was the first physician in the United States to purchase a VASER Shape device says Laguna Beach and Las Vegas Cosmetic Surgeon Dr Robert Troell
Attendees will learn about what's hot in facial skin rejuvenation skin tightening body shaping and the new class of long-lasting facial injectables ... TAS Special Savings and Free OffersMay 20-May 23 2010If you're attending The Aesthetic Show in Las Vegas this weekend you are eligible for Special Savings and Free Offers
Gilbert on the latest advances in skin tightening using non-surgical procedures ... THE Aesthetic Show in Las Vegas will cover many topics important to today's aesthetic providers including a presentation by Dr Dore J
Recently seen on The Today Show with Kathy Lee Gifford undergoing treatment for her meno-pot and The View the country is a buzz with whether or not the Exilis technology is panning out to be both a skin tightening and non-invasive body contouring device ...
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Masunga residents were last weekend treated to a unique fashion show as Big Mamas took over the ramp in an event dubbed “The big, The Bold and The beautiful”.
A first of its kind in the North East, the event showcased clothes from ten young designers whose projects are sponsored by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Incidentally the same ministry also footed the bill for the fashion show.
Speaking to Voice Entertainment, 25-year-old Goratamang Tlholang who conceived and sold the idea to the MYSC said she was inspired by her love for clothes and the need to empower full figured
“The idea of using full figured women as models came about when I realised they are in a way treated like outcasts when it comes to showcasing fashion. It is my way of empowering them because I believe all women should be empowered and in doing this body size should not be an issue. I also love clothes especially traditional clothes and this inspired me too,” she said.
An aspiring business woman who at the moment trades in hotdogs and sandwiches, Tlholang says her dream is to grow the event and make it a national event.
“Next year I would be happy if we could have the event four times in Masunga and work at spreading it to other areas. It would be lovely to have big, bold and beautiful ladies modelling clothes by local designers in a national event,” the ambitious Tlholang told Voice entertainment.
Meanwhile Ontiretse Malane won the P1700-00 first prize. Thandiwe Major was second and pocketed P1200.00 whilst Dzidza Matopi who came third walked away with P700.00.


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MSC Cruises has announced it’s festive dining! We’re already starting to feel hungry! The European based cruise line is a privately family owned company and wants to remind guests how important Christmas and New Year dining is. Dining onboard will have lasting memories and the cruise line wants to make it a special experience.
There will be a special holiday six course meal onboard all MSC cruise ships on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. The courses will cover a wide range of dishes along with some inspiration from the Mediterranean which is at the heart of MSC Cruises. But that’s not all! Several ships in the fleet will be having their festive dinners by the popular Italian Chef Carlo Cracco. Carlo has received 2 Michelin stars so the MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia, MSC Armonia and the MSC Lirica will be getting a fine festive dinner.
The cruise line will also be offering entertainment to get guests into the festive mood. There will be different activities near the pools along with special dance classes. Ships will also feature a Christmas show which will be based around a talent show which is sure to be one of the highlights of the cruise. Another festive event will be a Christmas White party where passengers will have to wear only white clothing. There will be a lot more festive events all around the ship to get guests and kids into the mood and almost every department onboard will have its own event.
The New years eve festivities will feature a pool party and once it hits midnight there is to be a fireworks display. Other events are a parade featuring the MSC kids onboard and the most interesting of all a Flash Mob.
has anyone ever been onboard a cruise ship in the festive season and what do you think of MSC Cruises Christmas and New Years dining plans? Let us know in the comments below.


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Uganda’s economy is on a recovery trend from the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a new report by the ministry of finance showed here on Wednesday.
The monthly performance report for October showed that for the fourth consecutive month, the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) has stayed above the 50-mark threshold. Readings above 50.0 signal an improvement in business conditions while those below 50.0 show deterioration.
The PMI rose to 55.8 in October from 54.5 in September, according to the report.
“This gives an indication of further recovery in economic activity, from the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report said.
The ministry attributes the recovery to increase in demand following the easing of restrictions, leading to further expansions in output, new orders and employment.
“In particular, the re-opening of schools for candidates during the month led to an increase in new orders. All the monitored sectors (agriculture, construction, industry, service, wholesale and retail sectors) posted increases output,” the report showed.
The improvements in economic activities is further supported by the Composite Index of Economic Activity, another key index which recorded a 0.5 percent increase from 143.8 in August 2020 to 144.5 in September 2020.
The Business Tendency Index, which measures sentiments about doing business, rose to 51.68 in October from 50.80 in September, a mark above the 50.0 threshold for the second successive month.
“Sentiments about doing business were more optimistic in the construction, wholesale trade and other services sectors during the month compared to September,” the report showed.
The report showed that the country’s exports increased both on a monthly and annual basis. Export receipts increased by 0.4 percent from 416.27 million U.S. dollars in August to 417.93 million U.S. dollars in September. The increase, although minimal is attributed to improvements in export receipts of commodities like fish and oil re-exports.
On a year-on-year basis, export receipts increased by 40.85 percent from 296.73 million dollars in September 2019 to 417.93 million in September 2020.
“This was mainly on account of increase in the value of exports of coffee, mineral products, flowers and tea during this period. The value of coffee exported increased by 28.8 percent, largely driven by higher export volumes,” the report showed.
The Middle East region was the leading destination for Uganda’s exports in September 2020. It accounted for 53.8 percent, followed by the East African Community and the rest of Africa regions at 19.5 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively.
The report showed that the value of Uganda’s imports increased on an annual basis by 17.6 percent to 615.6 million dollars in September 2020 from 523.4 million dollars in September 2019.


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Home Tags Wolseley Private Equity
Tag: Wolseley Private Equity
San Francisco-based Golden Gate Capital has agreed to sell a majority stake in industry-focused software solutions provider Vector Solutions to fellow PE house Genstar Capital.
Private equity major CVC has sealed a $1.45bn sale of Europe's second largest fiber-based consumer packaging supplier AR Packaging to trade buyer Graphic Packaging.
Apax Partners has agreed to buy premium pet food brand Nulo from fellow PE houses CAVU Venture Partners and Main Post Partners, attracted by its “impressive growth rate”.
BV Investment Partners has exited local government software provider CivicPlus to fellow buyout house Insight Partners after just two years in its portfolio.
Private equity giant Apollo Global has agreed the $620m sale of grocery warehouse store Smart & Final to trade buyer Grupo Comercial Chedraui.
The $247bn-managing New York State Common Retirement Fund has revealed more than $1bn of new fund commitments across a string of private equity, real estate and credit managers.
Quantum Energy Partners is said to be eyeing up to $4.5bn for its eighth energy-focused flagship strategy after putting off launching the raise last year due to a plunge in oil prices.
UK mid-market private equity house Livingbridge has scored easily its largest fundraise by securing £1.2bn for Livingbridge 7 ahead of its final close, just £50m shy of its hard cap.
Global private equity giant Permira is reportedly eyeing more than $15bn for its latest private equity fund - less than two years after closing its €11bn predecessor vehicle.
AEA Investors has brought in former Morgan Stanley managing director Bobby Bassman and POCA Partners founder Ravi Sarin as co-heads of AEA Growth.


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Google Is Now Using Drones to Deliver Burritos
Parent company Alphabet Inc. plans to airlift Chipotle to Virginia Tech students later this monthSeptember 12, 2016
Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. has partnered with Chipotle and Virginia Tech University to bring college students the one thing they never even knew they were missing: flying burritos.
Alphabet Inc.’s Project Wing division recently unveiled its Federal Aviation Administration-approved plan to use drones to deliver burritos to students at the Blacksburg, Virginia university. The experimental drone delivery service kicks off later this month, almost 48 years after The Flying Burrito Brothers released its first album, and will last for only a few weeks.
The drones being used to deliver this tasty food are self-guided hybrids capable of both hovering like a helicopter and flying like a plane. After reaching their mark, the drones will “hover overhead and lower the Chipotle edibles with a winch,” according to Bloomberg. It’s unclear whether the drones can accept tips.
Amazon and Walmart are experimenting with drone delivery services, too, but Bloomberg is calling Project Wing’s airlifted burritos the “most extensive test yet” in the United States. “It’s the first time that we’re actually out there delivering stuff to people who want that stuff,” Dave Vos, who heads up Project Wing, told Bloomberg.


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NEW YORK (AP) – As the coronavirus crisis took hold, Akeil Smith’s employer reduced his work as a home health aide to 25 hours a week. Her $ 15 an hour wage no longer provided enough to pay her $ 700 monthly rent and she had to visit food pantries to buy food.
While millions of American workers have already received a quick relief payment from the federal treasury through direct deposit, Smith is among millions of other people without traditional bank accounts who must wait weeks to receive paper checks. When the checks finally arrive, this disproportionately black and Hispanic population often has no choice but to use expensive check cashing services to access the money.
“I live from check to check, and right now, I need more groceries,” Smith, 35, told the Associated Press while inside Payomatic, a small check cashing store in a predominantly black Brooklyn neighborhood.
In the six weeks since the pandemic shut down much of the US economy, more than 30 million American workers applied for unemployment insurance. Congress passed a $ 2.2 trillion economic rescue package.
In April, the government began sending $ 1,200 for each individual, $ 2,400 for each married couple, and another $ 500 for each dependent child to poor and middle-class families across the United States. The richest families get little or no payment depending on their income.
To help facilitate the delivery of payments, the government launched an online portal for individuals to provide their banking information for direct deposit. But that system offered nothing to people without checking or savings accounts.
A House Ways and Means Committee memo obtained by AP estimated that about 5 million paper checks will be issued each week, meaning those most in need could wait many weeks to receive their payments.
In Houston, Ta’Mar Bethune, a 41-year-old mother of four adult children raising a grandchild, will likely wait a bit. When she was a younger woman, she struggled for years to pay the bank account fees until her account was closed. In the 1990s, he was also a victim of identity theft and never made a full recovery.
More than 20 years later, Bethune still cannot pass a standard background check to open a checking account because the banking system considers it too risky, she said. To get ahead, transfer the money you earn as a professional hairdresser and babysitter to a non-bank debit card.
“They charge you an arm and a leg,” he said, citing a monthly fee and a fee for each slide or withdrawal. “You never get all your money. It’s bad, but I don’t have a choice.”
Bethune receives financial counseling from the Houston Area Urban League, a nonprofit organization that helps low- to moderate-income families examine their spending and saving behaviors. The organization says that many families are reluctant to open bank accounts, especially if they have been burned by the system.
“Nobody wants to be exploited,” said Carmela Walker, the group’s financial coach.
About 8.4 million US households were considered “unbanked” in 2017, meaning that no one in the household had an account, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Another 24.2 million households were “underbanked.” meaning they could have a bank account, but Household members also used an alternative financial service for money orders, check cashing, international remittances, payday loans, and pawn shop loans, often at high costs.
Some of those services have been criticized for being predatory and marketing to black and Hispanic communities, which disproportionately lack banking services. About 17 percent of black households and 14 percent of Hispanic households did not have a bank account in 2017, compared to just 3 percent of white households and 2.5 percent of Asian households. Americans, the FDIC said.
Banking is a social justice issue with the potential to widen America’s racial wealth gap, said Cy Richardson, vice president of the National Urban League.
“The economic destiny of black America exists on a razor’s edge right now,” Richardson said.
Advocates say the federal government should use pandemic payments as an opportunity to attract more people into the banking system through Bank On accounts, which are insured by the FDIC, cost $ 5 or less a month and do not allow overdrafts. nor do they charge fees for insufficient funds. The accounts can be used for direct deposit, purchases, and bill payment.
Otherwise, long lines at check cashing stores could extend into the fall and pose a public health hazard.
“Now there is a health component to not having access to banking services: people are going to have to take literal risks with their health to receive and then spend these dollars,” said Jonathan Mintz, CEO of Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, who aims to get underserved Americans set up with affordable bank accounts.
The opportunity to attract customers with aid payments is not lost at the check cashing and payday loan companies, a network of $ 11.2 billion stores in cities large and small.
In Brooklyn, B&H Check Cashing, in the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood of Bushwick, posts its check cashing fees on a wall. A check for $ 1,200, for example, would cost $ 26.76 in cash.
Essence Gandy, 26, was in a line of two dozen people snaking past a PLS Check Cashers in Brooklyn to collect loose change at a Coinstar kiosk. His checking account was closed months ago because he had insufficient funds and was unable to get back in good standing.
“I have bills as well as bills,” said Gandy, who also has credit card debt and is behind on payments to a mattress store. She said she hopes to use the federal aid payment to catch up on bills and will likely cash the paper check at PLS.
A representative for PLS, which has 300 locations in 12 states, said it has been informing repeat customers that stimulus checks can be cashed at the lowest rates.


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Mobile technology big focus for GM North America as it rolls out connected cars
February 18, 2014 by The Canadian Press
The new president of GM North America says high-speed wireless technology will be a big focus for the car maker this year, as it moves to integrate 4G LTE technology across its 2015 vehicle range.
Alan Batey says the vehicle line that will be on sale by July and August will have all the capabilities of customers’ smartphones, giving GM the ability to connect customers more easily.
The company builds some of its vehicles in Ontario at its Ingersoll, Oshawa and St Catharines’ plants, although the future of those operations remain in question because of the high cost of manufacturing in Canada compared to Mexico and the U.S.
GM Canada president Kevin Williams says the company is looking at the CAMI plant in Ingersoll for next generation products, but hasn’t formally announced whether the new Equinox models will be built there.
The future of GM’s plant in Oshawa, scheduled to close in 2016, also remains unsure.
Williams said GM had no new announcement on its manufacturing plans, but noted the company had made “significant” investments in its Canadian operations over the last few years.


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ROAD engineers from Eastern Europe have been on a fact-finding mission to a Rotherham firm.
SteelPhalt, in Sheffield Road, Rotherham, has been developing high-performance ashpalt products for the UK road making industry since the 1960s.
The company sources slag from the local steel-making industry to make sustainable asphalt that is 95% recycled and which is used to make durable roads.
A delegation from Slovenia toured the plant and explored the full range of SteelPhalt products, as well as meeting local authority specialists from Rotherham Borough Council, which has been using the products on roads throughout South Yorkshire for over 70 years.
Now the company hopes the visit could lead to more business in a new market.
"We already have operations in the Slovenian steel industry through our parent company Harsco," said SteelPhalt commercial manager Dean Raynor.
"What they do not have there at the moment, though, is the technology that could help them successfully develop asphalt from steel slag aggregates
"This meeting could prove extremely important if it leads to us developing SteelPhalt technology for this new and developing market."
The exceptional strength and durability of SteelPhalt's steel slag products extends the life of roads and lengthens road maintenance intervals for resurfacing.
It achieves high skid resistance - enhancing road safety for both drivers and pedestrians - and maintains it throughout the whole life of the road, also avoiding the use of quarried materials and the landfill of residual slag product.
The company's products include SteelStop, SteelSurf, SteelPave and SteelFlow.


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The sharing economy, an economic system that involves individuals renting out or sharing their personal property including their homes and cars, has been severely impacted as the wave of COVID-19 ebbs and flows across the world. Popular companies like Uber, Airbnb, bike shares, and a variety of coworking spaces that we are so accustomed to being essential parts of our lives, have been making adjustments and creating new strategies to ensure that their customers feel safe and reimagine how they might adapt to an uncertain road ahead.
With so much unknown about what the future holds and how the “new normal” will define our personal interactions and willingness to share our spaces, the galvanic forces exerted over us by this pandemic are demanding us to, at best, read into the tea leaves to make assumptions about the future. Although public sentiment seems unsure, data shows that these businesses are back on track and that people are actually regaining the confidence to use an app to call a car and stay in a stranger’s home for a long weekend getaway. Entering the fifth month of strict social distancing measures for many parts of the world, the lockdown fatigue has kicked in, domestic travel is becoming popular, and for now, the only choice of escape.
Airbnb, founded in the height of the 2008 recession, not only completely upended the hotel industry, but also helped to curate local experiences and recharge the economies of smaller communities where hotel properties were scarce. Travelers who seek out an authentic experience often turn to Airbnb for the opportunity to stay in a host’s own home to understand what daily life is like in their destination. Although home-boarding businesses are hardly new, Airbnb found a way to carve their own niche into the market and become one of the most recognizable tourism brands in the world.
In a recent report released by Airbnb, they cited that over the weekend of June 5-7, only three months after the pandemic grabbed hold of the United States, gross booking value grew in year-over-year terms for the first time since February. Airbnb also found that guests are looking to stay closer to home, which indicates that they’re not longing for a staycation in a major city any time soon and that travelers are perhaps not quite ready to board a plane again. Airbnb also noted an increase in popularity for reservations in cabins and cottages which are more secluded, and that customers are looking to reserve entire homes instead of rooms where the host might live in other parts of the residence. They also noted that 29% of bookings were made within a week of the arrival date, and in larger groups- suggesting families that have been stuck at home together are making a last-minute decision to find a new view. Airbnb has continued to find their success in the variety of homes that are available for rent, and by also providing customers with the most up-to-date resources necessary to put homeowners and home renters at ease.
Homestays aren’t the only industry adapting to this uncharted pandemic territory. Defined by its excellent user interface and ease of being able to get from one place to the next, Uber famously transformed the rideshare industry and not only created a highly competitive market for more traditional options like taxi cabs, but also expanded into the food delivery service industry- a key revenue generator during this pandemic. While supermarkets face empty shelves, and communities continue to support local restaurants that are quickly being threatened with permanent closures, it makes sense that Uber Eats’ sales have surged over the last few months. The app has also seen a 30% increase in new customers who have signed up for the app and also an increase in the number of drivers who want to supplement their incomes by making the occasional dinner delivery.
While dining rooms are also forced to shut down, restaurants are looking for new ways to connect with customers- and Uber Eats seems like their best bet. Even popular chains like Chipotle, which have historically worked with competitor deliver apps, have started to utilize Uber Eats in many of their markets across the country. This increase in Uber Eats’ business is a moment of positivity among the surmounting bad news that seems to be plaguing the world as COVID-19 continues with no end in sight.
There is little reason to believe that some of the tourism and travel industries’ biggest disruptors will be disrupted in the long term. If there’s any business that can survive a pandemic, it’s one that remains nimble and agile, and ready to adjust to any unforeseen event. The sharing economy has transformed the world, and it may be one of our best bets to restore the normalcy we are all hoping for.
This article is part of the ArchDaily Topic: How Will We Live Together. Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and projects. Learn more about our monthly topics here. As always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.


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This August, technology forgot to take a summer holiday and instead thrilled us with lots of exciting new developments. There were even more iPhone 6 rumours, Twitter allowed everyone to analyse their tweets and we discovered the world’s tiniest modem…
1. The first smartphone celebrates 20 years
On 16th August 1994, the first smartphone was released to the public, and this began our love affair with the handy device that organises our lives.
That smartphone, the IBM Simon, was slightly different to the pocket-sized smartphones that we are used to today as it weighed 500g. Despite its extra weight the phone did contain some familiar features, for example, the user could send emails and messages, take notes and make use of a calendar.
It was also the first phone to feature software apps, so it became very useful for the business community
2. Twitter makes their analytics public
There was some very exciting news towards the end of the month as Twitter announced that their analytics dashboard would be publicly available to all users.
Twitter previously revealed that their analytics would be able to track tweets and inform the user on how many views they were receiving. But at that stage this could only be used by advertisers and verified users.
Unsurprisingly this disappointed many users, so Twitter rethought their strategy and have now made analytics available to everyone.
See how your tweets are performing now: https://analytics.twitter.com
3. Intel introduces the tiniest modem
Whilst some things are rumoured to be getting bigger, for example the new iPad, Intel have decided to produce the world’s smallest modem.
The XMM 6255 is approximately 300 sq mm in size, which is about the same size as a penny in the UK. Regardless of its size it still manages to cope with difficult conditions due to its overheating protection and ability to be embedded in devices around the home.
Intel also hopes that this will be pioneering in wearable technology as this standalone chip can fit easily in smaller devices.
4. The iPhone 6 is rumoured to be scratchproof
Another month, another iPhone 6 rumour. This time it has been revealed that the latest offering from Apple could include scratchproof screens, an addition that would set this iPhone apart from the competition and its predecessors.
In 2012 Apple patented the idea of laminating layers of sapphire to glass so that they could produce a surface which is incredibly strong. For previous iPhones they have just used toughened glass and now they want to implement the man-made sapphire to create a tougher screen.
Although Apple hopes that this could mean the end of screen protectors we won’t be forgetting to use this safety measure in a hurry!
5. Robots take over the Tate
No, this isn’t just another episode of Doctor Who! Instead for one night only, the Tate Modern opened its doors to robots so that they could stream live footage on the Tate’s “After Dark” website.
People that logged onto the site were then given an exclusive look at the 500 years of art and could even control the robots from their laptops. If the viewer directed the robot to a piece of art they would then hear a live commentary from art experts.
This innovative idea was the result of a competition to create more digital practices in museums. We wonder what they will think of next! We would love to see this in the National Museum Cardiff!


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World Bulletin / News Desk
Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan and South Korean Trade Minister Taeho Bark signed a free trade agreement between the two countries during a ceremony in Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday.
Caglayan said that the two countries which had two trillion USD of national income, 1.5 trillion USD of foreign trade volume and more than 120 million population took an important step in the aspect of economic integration by signing Free Trade Agreement.
I hope this free trade agreement, which is a first for Turkey in Far East, will help the two countries to learn about each other more, said Caglayan, adding that the two countries would make important partnerships in third countries within the scope of the agreement.
Caglayan said that South Korea was the 7th biggest exporter and 10th biggest importer of the world, adding that Turkey's share was around 1.5 per thousand in South Korea's total import worth of 524 billion USD.
Caglayan also said that the investments of South Korean businessmen in Turkey, which was 688 million USD, was not enough, and he expressed hope that the figure would increase thanks to Turkey's New Incentive System.
Caglayan said that Turkey would sign free trade agreements with Malaysia and Japan soon.
Meanwhile, South Korean minister said that the relations between Turkey and South Korea recently increased to the strategic partnership level, adding that the Free Trade Agreement would be a basis to set up a systematic cooperation between the two countries.
Bark expressed belief that the agreement would boost the commerce between Turkey and South Korea.
Under the Free Trade Agreement, Turkish entrepreneurs will gain important advantages by benefiting from South Korea's free trade agreements with other countries, added Bark.
China's measured response and US indications of openness to talks suggest trade war avoidable, says Fitch Ratings
BIST 100 index starts day with over 1 percent fall; US dollar/Turkish lira rate climbs to 3.96
Liberality key for global economic growth, Mehmet Simsek tells 7th Uludag Economy Summit
Number of unemployed persons aged 15 years and over amounts to 3.45 million last year, says TurkStat
The ransomware assault shut down multiple internal and external applications for the city, including apps that people use to pay bills and access court-related information, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told a news conference Thursday.
Turkish economy minister says relations between the two countries' private sectors should be developed
Employment growth remained solid however, according to the report by data monitoring company IHS Markit, with job creation seen in both the services and manufacturing sectors, even if at slower rate.
Highest growth forecast for 2017 economic growth was 7.9 pct, while lowest was 6.6 pct
BIST 100 rises 0.62 percent; US dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate decreases to 3.9130 compared to previous close
Prices post a daily gain of more than 3 percent, and reach their highest level since Feb. 2
The special tax is the latest measure by the 28-nation European Union to rein in Silicon Valley giants and could further embitter the bad-tempered trade row pitting the EU against US President Donald Trump.
Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek says Blockchain technology has 'positive aspects'
Social media giant loses $49 billion in value amid data leak while CEO Mark Zuckerberg loses nearly $7 billion in net worth
Amazon bests parent company of Google on the stock market for the first time ever with a market cap of $768 billion
BIST 100 rises 0.16 percent, US dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate stands at 3.9300
Property sales in February down 5.4pct year-on-year, according to official data


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But among the green rust removers available today, MyCleaningProducts believes that its own is superior than the others. That's because it has already been proven effective and safe by many users.
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) September 25, 2012
Rust is an everywhere problem. More than that, it is an expensive occurrence as it can cause a lot of spending. That is why, it is important to prevent its presence. But the thing is, it is one of those phenomenons that is just hard to avoid. So to help homeowners and rust contractors deal with it right, MyCleaningProducts.com reinvented the conventional rust removal products with the use of natural ingredients. And in addition to that, it decided to offer it with a discount.
See MyCleaningProducts' Non-Toxic Rust Remover in Action
Basically rust or rusting is a natural phenomena that happens when iron metal reacts to the presence of oxygen. It eats away the metal producing brownish flakes that easily detach from an item or surface when scraped.
Rust spreads fast. So if no action is taken at the first sight of rusting, it could quickly weaken an item or completely stain a surface. Particularly, it weakens metal pieces by separating their adjoining parts. That then could cause accidents. As it also stains surfaces, apparels and clothing, rusting degrades the aesthetic value of things as well.
To prevent those problems and possibly early replacement of items, it is therefore imperative to implement a treatment right after a rust formation is discovered. And to help make that treatment fast, easy and hassle-free, a rust removal product is needed.
However, most of today's rust sprays contain harmful chemical elements. So to instead of bringing in help, many of them of deliver health risks instead. Among the specific health problems that they could bring are poisoning, burning, allergies and breathing difficulties.
So to get a true help, MyCleaningProducts said that homeowners and even rust contractors should vie for organic-based rust removers. With them, one can implement a rust removal that does not compromise anybody's health, it said. And given that they are organic, they are safe to use on almost any item. That eliminates the need to purchase different rust removers for different things, it added, which basically offers big savings.
Find the Best Rust Remover in Rusterizer
But among the green rust removers available today, MyCleaningProducts believes that its own is superior than the others. That's because it has already been proven effective and safe by many users. And to those who want to see for themselves that indeed its rust spray called Rusterizer is what it claims it is, the company offers a complimentary sample of it.
In addition to that, to show that MCP truly values its clients, it decided to offer its product with 10% discount. A representative of the company instructed that buyers just have to enter the code “PR10” at checkout to take advantage of the price cut.
Get Rusterizer Today and Start Decreasing Your Rust Removal Spending


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2018 1H Review and Outlook for the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong IPO Markets
The National Public Offering Group released its latest insights on the initial public offering (IPO) markets of the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. In the first six months of 2018, new listing regimes and hot market expectations have given a strong boost to the share flotations of new economy companies in both markets, with some well-known Chinese unicorns set to start their flotations in July. These trends are likely to help raise the rankings of the stock exchanges in Shanghai and Hong Kong in the global IPO fundraising league by the end of 2018. However, the listing windows and size of these eye-catching deals could depend upon a more stable capital market amid emerging issues such as a stronger U.S. dollar, rising Sino-U.S. trade tensions, a weakening Chinese economy and a probable 'Gray Rhino' in the Eurozone outlook for the second half of the year.
In the first six months of 2018, Hong Kong's IPO market remained vibrant. The keen enthusiasm to go-public of small- and medium-sized enterprises was not dampened by a rise in the listing requirements for the Main Board and GEM, the reduction in the U.S. balance sheet or the trade clashes between the U.S. and China. The number of new listings for the first six months of 2018 and the second quarter alone achieved record highs. However, the strong domination of small- and medium-sized issuers also resulted in a further reduction in average deal size.
Deloitte's latest analysis indicates at least five IPOs, each raising upwards of HK$10 billion, related to the financial services, technology and consumer players with new economy business models, and about 10 unicorns are set to list in Hong Kong during the second half of 2018. Other highlights include Chinese Mainland and international biotech companies that will apply for IPO under the new listing rules, education institutions and financial services companies. However, given its observation that the majority of candidates in the IPO application pipeline are small or medium in scale, Deloitte maintains its forecast of around 180 IPOs raising approximately HK$160-HK$190 billion in proceeds for this full year.
With the introduction of IPOs and Chinese Depository Receipts (CDRs) for innovative Chinese companies, as well as recent tighter listing application review guidance, the A-share market is transforming from a high volume IPO deal market to a quality-focused one. Since the beginning of 2018, the A-share market has maintained slow momentum, with fewer approved IPOs. More applications were rejected in the first six months of 2018 than in the whole of 2017. These trends are likely to result in a capital market with greater stability, supported by more high profile, quality issuers in the medium to long run.
Given the limited number of innovative companies eligible to issue shares or CDRs, and as listing reviews remain tight, Deloitte anticipates Mainland IPO activity in the second half of 2018 to be similar to the first half. We forecast that 120-160 companies will raise approximately RMB170-200 billion for the full year. The vast number of small and medium-sized manufacturing, and technology and retail companies in the listing application queue indicates they will dominate the number of upcoming new listings in the A-share IPO market over the rest of the year.


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TORONTO, Nov. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, Payment Source, the premier alternative payment provider in Canada, announced that customers across Canada can now visit any Canada Post retail location to add cash to their Amazon.ca balance using Amazon Cash, powered by Payment Source's award winning Loadhub pay-in-person solution.
"Offering Canadians a convenient way to pay for online purchases with cash or debit is a key step towards financial inclusion," says Trevor Cook, CEO of Payment Source. "The benefits of ecommerce should not be restricted to Canadians with access to a credit card. Amazon Cash brings that online shopping experience to everyone."
According to a Smart Insights survey, 59 percent of Canadians will abandon their online shopping cart because their preferred payment method isn't available and 40 percent would have more confidence in the etailer if there was more than one payment method. Loadhub's omni-channel payment technology is available at 6,000 Canada Post locations across Canada, ensuring that Amazon Cash is accessible to 98 percent of the country's population.
To use Amazon Cash, customers can visit amazon.ca/cash to receive a barcode linked to their account. They bring this barcode to any Canada Post location, where the Loadhub platform enables them to pay in person with cash or debit to add funds to their Amazon.ca account.
Learn more about Payment Source at www.paymentsource.ca.
About Payment Source Inc.
Payment Source is the premier alternative payments provider in Canada. Offering white label payment solutions and customized card services to enterprises, digital businesses, and government organizations, Payment Source has an unmatched retail distribution network across Canada. Whether it's in-person payments, mobile wallets, general purpose reloadable cards, travel prepaid cards, mobile top-ups, or gift cards, Payment Source creates the ideal customized alternative payment program for organizations of all sizes by enabling its partners to reach and service new customers and markets.
SOURCE Payment Source
For further information: Jamie Gillingham, Account Manager, Eighty-Eight, [email protected], 416.460.1668; Allison Cutler, Director, Marketing & Communications, Payment Source, [email protected], 416.255.8897


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Sir Bradley Wiggins has signed a three-year partnership with Volkswagen subsidiary, Skoda.
The agreement, which was brokered by MediaCom Sport & Entertainment, also covers Team Wiggins, the five-time gold medallist’s cycling team.
As part of the deal, the recently retired Wiggins will feature in a multi-platform advertising campaign, set to be launched in February 2017.
Earlier this week, Wiggins signed with sport and entertainment group M&C Saatchi Merlin, which will manage his all commercial, broadcasting and management duties.
In related news, British Cycling has inked a four-year agreement with sports nutrition brand Science in Sport (SiS).
SiS will work alongside the Great Britain cycling team, providing athletes with nutritional plans through the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. The brand will also run special promotional offers for all British Cycling’s members.
Jamie Obank, British Cycling’s chief operating officer, said: “SiS are known as experts in their field, and to have them on board is excellent news for all involved with British Cycling. This new link-up will benefit the Great Britain cycling team - giving our elite riders the opportunity to work alongside SiS to tailor their own nutritional strategies - and also British Cycling members, who will receive exclusive benefits themselves.”
"Science underpins everything we do and we’re really proud to be fuelling British Cycling with our industry-leading products in the lead up to Tokyo 2020,” added SiS chief executive Stephen Moon. “We have a huge responsibility and opportunity as the official sports nutrition supplier to British Cycling to continue our innovation lead in the market and fuel the Great Britain Cycling Team to even more Olympic and Paralympic success.”


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Analyses. By reporting the Kremlin’s untruths about Ukraine to Western news networks, Beijing’s authoritarian regime is exposing an obvious aspect of its undertaking to undermine democracies. But in the digital world, the real threat posed by China is far less visible: it lies in the physical infrastructure of the digital world and the virtual platforms connected to it, says Samantha Hoffman, of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. (Aspi), That The world recently met in Paris.
Data storage centers, 5G equipment, cables, connectivity software for everyday objects, sound and image sensors, smart cars or smart cities: developed all over the planet, these infrastructures aim, through the collection of data, to control of people and commerce, as evidenced by the documents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) analyzed by the researcher. This presented in mid-March a report on China’s digital ambitions produced by the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), an American think tank heir to Democratic Senator Henry M. Jackson, a fierce defender of the liberal model during the Cold War.
“Digital technologies, seen by China as the means to solve all of society’s problems and ensure their development, are used for the expansion of the CCP and are now being exported for this purpose.”underlines M.myself Hoffmann. For example, GTCOM, a subsidiary of the Central Propaganda Department, exports a translation tool built into smart city equipment offerings, Language Box, which is primarily used to gather information. “The company claims to collect 2 to 3 petabytes of data per year globally, directly contributing to state security, in its own words, through relationship mapping, sentiment analysis or speech recognition.”
After land, labor and capital, “data is the new determinant of production” in human history, researcher Dai Shuangxing theorized in an article by Qiushithe central committee newspaper, in May 2020. “Anyone who controls digitized logistics hubs can control global cobalt shipments without having to deploy troops to seize mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo”illustrates the NBR.
Key elements of the device, Chinese virtual platforms: Alibaba, Tencent, JD. com, DiDi, TikTok – have grown in all directions, in information, business transactions, mobile and industry applications. In 2020, TikTok became the world’s most downloaded app with over 1 billion users in 150 countries. Beijing has pledged to better control its tech giants while developing their convergence in terms of technology and content.
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Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro specs and features leaked. In February, Xiaomi will present its new high-end Redmi phone, according to a sales box post on Weibo. It might come without the charger, at least optionally as the Xiaomi Mi 11 that is sold in China.
There will be several versions of the Redmi K40 family. Unless there is a last-minute surprise, the most powerful model will be the Redmi K40 Pro, and its several specifications have been leaked today.
Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro leaked specs
The screen will also be the first level and is that Redmi bet for the first time by a 6.81-inch panel with 2K resolution, specifically 3200 x 1440.
The front camera will be 30MP, and the rear one will have a quadruple setup. The main sensor will be 108MP, and there will be a secondary 20MP sensor, which we assume will be a wide-angle, and a 5MP macro sensor, and another 15 MP, which hopefully will be a telephoto lens.
The amount of RAM in this phone, or at least in one of its variants, will be 12 GB, and there will be a 512GB storage. We assume that it is the most expensive variant.
Its battery will be 5000mAh, and there are no references at the moment to the quick charge or if there will be wireless charging support.
As always, this type of information should be taken with care because this type of image can be easily manipulated.


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UTICA, N.Y. -- The Oneida Indian Nation will partner with Caesars Entertainment to bring sports betting to upstate New York later this year, but what does that mean for the gaming compact in Oneida County?
'The Lounge with Caesars Sports' will open at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, Yellow Brick Road Casino and Point Place Casino.
While the partnership won't mean any kind of payments directly to Oneida County, the county executive is still excited for it to open, because he believes it will have a player-driven impact to Oneida County’s economy.
"They’ve been a leader with all the casinos right now in New York State in terms of revenue and what they've been garnering in terms of population of people coming through the doors and this could only add to that and for us that's the biggest benefit, we get more people to come through,” said Anthony Picente.
All these plans are subject to National Indian Gaming Commission Review.


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Panama has permitted 17 seafood processing facilities in Việt Nam to export seafood products to the country, according to the Panama Food Safety Authority (AUPSA). — Photo diendandoanhnghiep.com.vn
HÀ NỘI – Panama has permitted 17 seafood processing facilities in Việt Nam to export seafood products to the country, according to the Panama Food Safety Authority (AUPSA).
The announcement came in an official letter sent by AUPSA to Việt Nam’s National Agro, Forestry, and Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD).
NAFIQAD Director Nguyễn Như Tiệp said the department had proposed the 17 eligible enterprises should actively interact with their customers and importers in Panama. Meanwhile, they must also be registered with the NAFIQAD under existing regulations for seafood product exports to Panama, reported vietnamplus.vn.
Tiệp said the department would require its regional agro, forestry and fisheries quality centres to inspect export batches and issue export licences for them based on AUPSA’s standards.
In addition, he said the department had also asked AUPSA to quickly announce the problems associated with seafood processing and export facilities in Việt Nam that Panama had inspected in June, which were not granted permission to export seafood to Panama.
The announcement of those problems would help Việt Nam’s enterprises find solutions to reach Panama’s food standards and achieve permission to export to Panama, he said.
According to NAFIQAD’s official letter to AUPSA, the department has also asked for clarifications of some regulations that were not suitable for seafood products, he said.
MARD stops licensing seafood shipments to EU
In another development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will no longer grant licences for seafood shipments from exporters blocked by the European Union (EU) for using banned substances in their products.
According to a ministry decision which took effect last week, the disqualified exporters could regain their licences if they submit to inspections on the banned shipments.
They also need to pass tests conducted by NAFIQAD.
Deputy Minister Vũ Văn Tám said the exporters had ceased seafood exports to the EU till there is an announcement from NAFIQAD.
In addition, businesses were required to provide their products for tests on each shipment.
Ngô Hồng Phong, NAFIQAD’s deputy director, said the department would update information on warnings from the EU Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) and provide documents to exporters.
NAFIQAD also asked seafood processors exporting to the EU to review their quality management programmes as well as build solutions to control banned substances.
The DG SANTE wrote to Nafiqad on August 2 saying that the EU had decided to remove a Vietnamese seafood exporter, whose name remains undisclosed, from the list of exporters allowed in the EU. The sanction was made after antibiotics were found in the company’s shipments to the EU.
In late April, the directorate issued a warning against several seafood shipments of four Vietnamese exporters, saying the products did not meet EU food safety requirements.
The four exporters include Mekong Delta under Cần Thơ Export-Import Seafood Joint Stock Company, Southern Fishery Industries Co Ltd, Foodtech Joint Stock Co and Khang Thông Joint Stock Company. — VNS


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A vulnerability in iOS has been uncovered in the HTML handling of the Mail app that when abused properly, could easily trick you into handing hackers your iCloud credentials.
The flaw isn’t an exploit that allows control over the device, but instead is a form of a Trojan horse that aims at phishing credentials, a tactic hackers use where they set up a phony login page that’s sole intention is stealing your username and password.
A Github researcher who operates under his alias, jansoucek or Jan Souček, reported the flaw to Apple back in January, posting a video on YouTube of his proof-of-concept at work, showcasing how he could easily steal anyone’s iCloud password through the mail app. Souček has confirmed that Apple’s security team has been well aware of the issue since January of this year.
According to Souček, Apple’s latest iOS 8.3 fails to filter out potentially harmful HTML code embedded within emails. In the video above, he executes his proof-of-concept code, taking advantage of the flaw by displaying a remote HTML form that looks nearly identical to the iCloud login form. The nearly identical page could easily trick victim’s into entering their iCloud username and password.
However, the flaw isn’t at easy and ‘identical’ as it may sound, due to the fact that there are significant differences in the real iCloud login page from the phony one. For starters, your predictive keyboard mode won’t activate as it normally would and the login page can be dismissed by hitting the ‘home’ button, unlike Apple’s official login page which requires you to manually cancel the action before you can exit home. Another major difference would be your keyboard, on the bottom right it will say Go, as it normally would with an online form, not Apple’s official login.
If you find yourself victim to this attack, the only way to protect your iCloud account would be to use two-step verification. Meaning if a hacker tries to login your account with your stolen username and password, it will require the hacker to authenticate themselves twice to ensure their identity. This will hinder hackers ability at hijacking your iCloud account.
An Apple spokesperson said the company was “not aware of any customers affected by this proof of concept, but are working on a fix for an upcoming software update.”


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•Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman, LIRS
LAGOS (Sundiata Post) – The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has announced the immediate deployment of an upgraded process for the collection of Hotel Occupancy and Restaurants Consumption Tax (HORCT) in Lagos State.
The Executive Chairman of the LIRS, Ayodele Subair, in a public notice seen by Sundiata Post on Monday said the new collection process called the Eco Fiscal System (EFS) is an automated invoicing solution, designed to revolutionize the collection of consumption taxes in Lagos State.
He stated that the EFS evolution is in furtherance of LIRS’ commitment to building convenience into the payment of taxes and easing compliance with tax laws.
“This technological advancement marks a significant leap in our continuous efforts to enhance revenue collection, streamline processes, and improve efficiency in tax administration. It simplifies compliance and improves accuracy”.
Traditionally, HORCT collection has been a tedious task for operators in the past, the manual process often led to errors, penalties and increased costs. However, with LIRS’ cutting-edge software, businesses can now automate and digitize their invoicing and collection processes. Built with operators in this sector in mind, EFS offers real-time online consumption tax billing, collection monitoring, and instant issuance of receipts with a unique invoice number. It also reduces compliance costs, facilitates easy administration and reconciliation for HORCT collections, and fosters transparency.
Mr. Subair affirmed that by adopting the EFS, businesses can ensure accurate calculations, eliminating the risk of mistakes associated with manual data entry. The system automatically applies relevant tax rates, saving businesses valuable time and resources. He added that the software provides secure and efficient record-keeping, simplifying audits and minimising compliance risks.
“Our goal is to empower businesses with innovative solutions that enhance their operational efficiency and minimize compliance challenges. Businesses can focus on their core operations, leaving the complex task of tax compliance to our reliable and automated system”, he said.


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The beleaguered compact disc, made increasingly obsolete in the age of streaming, now has found itself in the bargain bin.
Richfield-based Best Buy, once one of the bigger music retailers with several aisles of CDs, now has a time capsule to another era jumbled up inside the $5.99 bargain bin. Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Who, Cat Stevens, Billy Ocean, Lionel Richie — all a nod to the aging demographics of those who still buy them.
"Does anybody remember the last time they bought a CD?" Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly asked rhetorically earlier this year in confirming the retailer is "de-emphasizing" the category.
The truth is that CDs have been in a freefall for more than a decade. In recent years, Best Buy's collection had been reduced to a single row. Displays of iTunes gift cards can be found more easily and plentifully in its stores than CDs.
Best Buy is also in the process of removing CDs altogether from its website. It only has a handful of audio systems with a CD player left in stores as streaming takes over the music business.
"I don't know if I've ever bought a CD," said high schooler Tommy Zimbinski of Prior Lake, who sometimes listens to his parents' collection but mostly streams music on sites such as Spotify and Pandora.
He was, however, buying a handful of records. Indeed, while CDs have been on the decline, vinyl has been on the rise, prompting Best Buy to still carry LPs and Target to add them in the fall.
Target, too, is cutting back on its CD selection. The Minneapolis-based retailer still sells new releases, but in October 2016 it pulled back on the number of catalog, or previously released, CDs it carries from about 300 to 100.
Target is in the midst of an aggressive push to modernize hundreds of its stores. As stores are remodeled, the space for CDs, especially those catalog titles, will be further squeezed, said Joshua Thomas, a company spokesman.
"Music is an important part of our DNA," he said. "We're making changes that reflect changes in the industry and the shift in consumer behavior."
For example, at its Nicollet Mall store next to headquarters, which was remodeled last year, the music aisle now only takes up half a row in addition to a stand-alone fixture. The selection ranges from the newest hits from the likes of Bruno Mars alongside more classic titles from Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix.
Target also has continued to partner in recent years with A-list stars such as Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift on selling exclusive versions of albums.
But down the road, Stephen Baker, a tech analyst with the NPD Group, sees Target and other larger retailers such as Walmart following Best Buy's lead when it comes to CDs.
"They have a little more space to play with, and their customer base is a little longer in the tooth in terms of adoption rates," he said. "But I think eventually, sooner rather than later, [CDs] will end up just in some bins for impulse purchases in those stores as well."
Best Buy's customers tend to be earlier adopters of new technology, he said. Whereas in the past, browsing Best Buy's CD selection was a reason to come to a store, these days it's things that weren't around 20 years ago like 4K TVs, connected devices and smartphones that bring people in.
At the same time, keeping the bargain bins around is a way for Best Buy to pick up some extra sales without a lot of effort, Baker said.
"It's kind of like putting candy, gum and Red Bull up in the front of the store," he said. "Someone might come in and go, 'Oh that's interesting. I need a new Rolling Stone CD.' "
CD sales slipped 6 percent last year while revenue from vinyl was up 10 percent. Still, vinyl sales are only about a third of CD sales overall. While CDs seem destined to continue to decline, many see them as having more lasting power than cassettes.
"They're still a billion-dollar business — that's nothing to shake a stick at," said Cara Duckworth, spokeswoman for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "There are still fans who love CDs and want to continue to have that tactile experience of holding a physical product and reading through the liner notes, the cover art, and all of that."
CDs enjoyed a meteoric rise in the 90s, replacing cassette tapes as the popular music mode. They peaked around 2000 with about $13.2 billion in U.S. sales that year, according to the RIAA. Last year, they totaled only $1.1 billion in sales, making up 12 percent of the music industry's overall revenue from recorded music. In contrast, streaming services made up 65 percent and digital downloads 15 percent.
The Electric Fetus, the venerable Minneapolis record store that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has been slowly but steadily shrinking the space for CDs in its stores over the years. But CDs still account for half of its music sales, tied with LPs, said Bob Fuchs, the shop's music retail manager.
"People talk about the rise of vinyl, but we still have thousands of regulars who come in throughout the year who are still committed to CDs," he said. "The demographic skews a little bit older, but I'm also surprised how many young kids are buying them."
Some of those regulars own 1,000 to 2,000 CDs and like the quality of sound compared to streaming and other options.
"They've been collecting for 20-plus years. They're not changing formats again. A lot of people are like, 'This is it. I'm going to ride this out for the next 20 years as long as they still make them.' "
Part of the appeal is also price. Many new releases are now between $8 and $12, and consumers can spend about half that for used CDs.
"Granted, CDs are at their lowest-ever popularity right now, but that also means there are some really great bargains," Fuchs said. "I've got a lot of under-$6 used CDs in the racks with killer titles — just great stuff."
As Best Buy and other big-box retailers shrink their CD selections, Fuchs hopes it may bring more customers through the doors of the Electric Fetus and other independent record stores.
Joel Anderson, 52, of Minneapolis, still buys CDs but acknowledges only his desktop computer can still play them. So he has half given in and downloads them onto his smartphone or iPod because it's easier.
But there are some occasions that still bring him to a music store, such as shopping for his wife's birthday as he did at the Electric Fetus on a recent day. He picked up a couple of CDs for her, noting that she worked at a record store in college so still appreciates physical music.
"Gifting music is not as fun with a subscription," he said.
Kavita Kumar • 612-673-4113


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When Fort Lauderdale-based UniteUs Group founder Andrew Martineau decided to learn more about mezcal, the creative consultant found that creating a festival celebrating the Mexican spirit was the best way to share his newfound passion.
"I developed a love of mezcal and was looking for places to try it. When I came up short, I decided to put together an event that could showcase the spirits with an educational aspect," Martineau tells New Times.
Now in its second year, Mezcal Lauderdale is the realization of that goal and is now considered among the largest celebrations of mezcal in Florida. The event has officially partnered with the Consulado General de México en Miami and the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce to deliver a three-day celebration of mezcal. The event will occur from Friday, June 2, to Monday, June 5, at Canyon and Rio's Tequila Bar in Fort Lauderdale.
Following the success of its inaugural event, this year's Mezcal Lauderdale promises to be bigger and better, says Martineau, featuring an impressive lineup of Mexico's most renowned mezcal brands.
"This event is set to offer an unparalleled mezcal experience to attendees from across the region. What's really interesting about mezcal is that you'll find numerous varietals just as you would wine based on region and area," shares Martineau, whose UniteUs Group and wife, Frances Antonio-Martineau, is also behind the city's FemAle BrewFest. "We're excited to continue to create a platform for people to discover and develop the same love for mezcal that we do through a-la-carte events and tastings."
For its second year, Mezcal Lauderdale moves to Fort Lauderdale with an expanded range of activities, including tastings, food and dinner pairings, sensory courses, mixology classes, an industry summit, and live DJ and music performances.
The event will kick off Friday, June 2, at Canyon restaurant, with a sold-out welcome event sponsored by Del Maguey featuring its newest expression, "Puebla," and a special Carajillo cocktail recipe for attendees.
But even if you didn't RSVP, there's still plenty of mezcal fun to be had.
On Saturday, June 3, the day's activities will begin with a mezcal brunch, a pairing of Canyon's weekend brunch menu alongside bottomless cocktails with the featured mezcal brand, Lobos 1707 Mezcal. The event will also offer attendees neat pours of the spirit with commentary from its brand ambassador.
The day continues with a mixology class where attendees can sample Bozal Mezcal's full range of expressions while learning how to build a mezcal cocktail. The day's events will end with two four-course tasting dinners, each paired with featured brand cocktails and neat pours.
On Sunday, June 4, master mezcalier Benjamin Nava Vargas, who hails from Mexico, will lead a special sensory course where attendees can have a one-on-one experience with the mezcal aficionado.
After, the highlight of the weekend kicks off at 2 p.m. with the official Grand Tasting, where ticket holders can sample more than 30 mezcal brands, a cigar lounge airstream, cocktail and food stations, and a performance by Mariachi Voces De America. Attendees can also purchase al-la-carte tickets for the day's 4 p.m. special food pairing featuring Mezcal Amaras.
This year, confirmed brands include Los Siete Misterios Mezcal, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Contraluz Cristalino Mezcal, Nocheluna Sotol, Granja Mezcal, Mezcal Campante, San Bartolo Mezcal Artesanal, Nosotros Mezcal, Mezcal Amaras, Rey Campero, Real Minero, Charanda Uruapan, Sotolero Sotol, Chacolo, Cuentacuentos Mezcal, Bosscal, Mezcal Rosaluna, Vinateros Baconora, Mezcal Union, The Lost Explorer, Bozal Mezcal, the Producer, Lobos 1707 Mezcal Artesanal, Mezcal de Leyendas, El Viaje Raicilla, Kilinga Bacanora Premium, El Silencio, Rompe de Corazon, Batuq Bacanora, Mazot Bacanora, and Agave de Cortes.
The festival weekend wraps up on Monday, June 5, with the return of the Mezcal Lauderdale Industry Summit, which provides workshops and educational seminars aimed at sustainability. This year, the summit will partner with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and highlight a panel of mezcal crafters, including Del Maguey, San Bartolo, Rosaluna, and Mezcales de Leyenda. Industry employees interested in attending the event are encouraged to contact USBG Miami to RSVP for a free shuttle to the event.
Monday will include workshops with Vargas, who will be highlighting the differences between mezcal and several lesser-known agave spirits including sotol (made from wild-harvested sotol plants known as dasylirion found in the region of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Durango), raicilla (made from lechuguilla and puta de mula agave), and baconara (an agave-derived liquor made in the Mexican state of Sonora), with tastings from featured brands.
The festival event lineup will end with a bartender competition at 7 p.m., where five Instagram-chosen participants will compete for a grand prize of $500 and the chance to be dubbed the festival's "Ultimate Mezcal Drink Master Championship."
Tickets for all Mezcal Lauderdale events are on sale now. Limited tickets are available for multiple events, except for the Grand Tasting. Tickets can be purchased at mezcallauderdale.com.
"My ultimate goal is to see this event build to the point where it becomes a standalone event where we see Mexican chefs and restaurants contributing to the event," sums up Martineau. "It's my dream to see this become the ultimate pairing of Mexican spirits, food, and fun."
Mezcal Lauderdale. Friday, June 2, through Monday, June 5, at Canyon and Rio's Tequila Bar, 620 S. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale; mezcallauderdale.com.


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Nikon Develops Camera Mount for Dogs
Snaps a photo when heart rate spikes
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Camera maker Nikon has 3D-printed a custom mount for one of its cameras that can be strapped around a dog’s neck to take pictures from the animal’s point of view. The Heartography case is connected to a heart rate monitor that triggers the camera to snap a photo whenever the dog’s heart rate spikes.
Heart rate data is transmitted via Bluetooth to the mount’s OLED screen, so you can adjust the heart rate threshold required to fire the shutter and take a photo.
Nikon has not announced whether it plans to release the doggy camera-mount prototype as a consumer product.


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The following is taken from an email circular released by The Commercial Vehicle Show:
The Commercial Vehicle Show is on track for a successful return after last year’s enforced hiatus – with nearly 200 exhibitors already confirmed and visitor registrations for the 2021 Show up 75% on the same period in 2019.
Numbers of exhibitors and visitors are expected to grow as advertising promotion commences this month in leading industry publications.
Regular exhibitors including Ford, Toyota, MAXUS, Isuzu, SsangYong, Webasto, VFS, Truckman and Hankook Tyre are continuing their long-term commitments to the Show. New exhibitors include Bucher Municipal, LEVC, Petronas Lubricants, Sailun Tyres and TRAILAR Solar Transport Solutions. The latest floor plan and exhibitor list can be viewed here.


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Dublin's Merrion Hotel saw revenues rise last year, boosted by increased occupancy and room rates.
The Irish Times reports that turnover at the hotel rose almost 6% to €22.7 million with income from the hotel's 123 guest rooms and 19 suites rising 6.8% to €14.97 million.
The accounts for Hotel Merrion Ltd indicate that the cost of sales increased 12% to €12.4 million, with the bulk of the figure being attributable to staff costs of €7.8 million resulting from a rise in the number of people employed by the hotel from 283 to 295.
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Meanwhile, profit before tax decreased 6.5% to €3.2 million during the year ending on October 31, 2017.
The hotel's directors stated, "The hotel had a good year with revenues, room rates and occupancy being at their highest levels reflecting a strong performance in the Dublin market. The near-term outlook remains strong and we believe that we can maintain revenues and profitability."
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.


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After commemorating its 10th anniversary in September, MIT OpenCourseWare is now celebrating another historic achievement. The open-source platform not only set an annual record in 2012, but an all-time record in January, seeing groundbreaking growth in the face of rising massive open online courses.
OpenCourseWare received 22.3 million visits from 11.8 million visitors in 2012, according to a recent blog post. With free materials from 2,150 MIT courses, the team estimates they have reached about 150 million individuals worldwide since debuting 10 years ago.
In January alone, OpenCourseWare saw 2.25 million visits from 1.3 million unique visitors.
“That’s truly a level of usage unimaginable when MIT set out to create OCW, and we are humbled to have touched the lives of so many,” writes External Relations Director Steve Carson.
OpenCourseWare transformed education, inspiring more than 250 universities across the globe to make their core materials available for free. An increasing amount of online platforms offering free courses have also debuted, including Coursera, Udacity and Khan Academy.
Since October 1, 2003, the team says OpenCourseWare has:
- Received more than 120.2 million visits from 74.4 million unique visitors
- Received more than 786.7 million page views
- Received more than 1.8 million visits from the MIT community
- Recorded more than 40 million downloads from [its] iTunes U channel, and
- Recorded more than 40 million views of [its] videos on YouTube.
And as online education continues to grow in popularity–more than 6.7 million students are now taking at least one online course–those numbers are only expected to break new records.


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Drake Rocks Corteiz Leather Jacket
Drake, the well-known rapper, recently showed off his style in an Instagram story wearing a leather jacket from Corteiz, a London streetwear brand. The jacket, known as “Da Skydive”, retailed at £750 in only 100 units and sold out in just 10 minutes last month. Clint, the founder of Corteiz, has been working hard to bridge the gap between UK and US fashion, and this picture of Drake wearing the jacket shows his efforts are paying off. As predicted in our 2023 trend forecast, UK brands are slowly making their way into the US, and this partnership with Drake is proof of that.


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UPDATE: Microsoft Paint fans rejoice! The original art app isn’t going anywhere – except to the Windows Store for free, Windows confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
“Today, we’ve seen an incredible outpouring of support and nostalgia around MS Paint,” the company said in a statement.
“If there’s anything we learned, it’s that after 32 years, MS Paint has a lot of fans. It’s been amazing to see so much love for our trusty old app!
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The company said that after seeing multiple reports about the computer program being ‘killed off’, that they needed to “take this opportunity to set the record straight, clear up some confusion and share some good news…”
“MS Paint is here to stay, it will just have a new home soon, in the Windows Store where it will be available for free,” Megan Saunders from Windows confirmed.
So, it appears it’s not all bad news for us 80’s and 90’s kids after all!
EARLIER: It’s a sad day for us 80’s and 90’s kids with the news one of our favourite childhood computer programs is heading for the scrapheap.
Social media went into meltdown on Tuesday morning after Microsoft revealed the shock news.
In a post on their website, the company included ‘Paint’ as one of many features set to be “removed and deprecated” in the Windows 10 update, which is due to be released at the end of this year.
The simple graphic editing program was first introduced in 1985 and has been a childhood favourite for many ever since.
It’s unknown exactly when the program will be officially removed, but its been marked as deprecated, which means it is “not in active development and might be removed in future releases.”
Fans of the program can however still use the Paint 3D version, which was launched earlier this year.
— Fiona (@McDoFi) July 24, 2017
— Fortune (@FortuneMagazine) July 24, 2017
— mark hilltops (@hellwelovespurs) July 24, 2017


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Toshiba has announced what the firm claims is the world's smallest-class embedded NAND flash memory products.
Announced on Thursday, the Tokyo-based firm said its new products integrate NAND chips fabricated with Toshiba's 15nm generation process technology, which results in products 26 percent smaller than similar predecessors.
Toshiba says the 15nm process technology also offers faster read/write performance -- eight percent quicker read speed and approximately 20 percent faster write speed -- as well as improvements in basic chip performance and controller optimization.
The new NAND flash memory products are compliant with the latest e∙MMCTM standard, and are suitable for use with a wide range of devices including smartphones, digital cameras, tablets and wearables. Sample 16GB versions of the flash memory are available from today, with 8GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB variations to follow.
Embedded within a system, the 128GB NAND flash product is able to record up to 16.3 hours of full spec high definition video and 39.7 hours of standard definition video.
"Demand continues to grow for NAND flash memory that can support applications such as smartphones and tablet PCs. This is particularly true for embedded memories with a controller, which minimize development requirements and ease integration into system designs.
Toshiba is meeting this demand by reinforcing its line-up of high performance and high density memory products and will continue to take leadership in the market."
The full product lineup is below.
Read on: In the enterprise


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Inflation on Bonaire was 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013, slightly down on the fourth quarter of 2012. On St Eustatius, inflation was 3.9 percent in the first quarter, on Saba it was 1.2 percent. Year-on-year price rises were much smaller on these two islands than in the fourth quarter of 2012. This was mainly the result of a reduction in electricity prices.
Inflation slightly down on Bonaire
Inflation on Bonaire fell to 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013. In the fourth quarter of 2012 it was still 2.7 percent. Food prices pushed down inflation: these prices were 0.8 percent lower than in the first quarter of 2012. In the fourth quarter of 2012, food prices were 0.4 percent higher than twelve months previously. Furniture and household appliances also cost slightly less and helped to temper inflation. Prices of recreation and culture had an opposite effect on the other hand. And prices of electricity and water are still higher than last year, following a price increase at the end of 2012.