text:
Hardcastle Restaurants, master franchisee for west and south India operations of McDonald’s Restaurants, is finally bringing its coffee retail format McCafé to India. It would be launched within the existing McDonald’s restaurants and the first opening will be at So Bo Central outlet in Mumbai. More than 150 McCafé are expected to be set up in the next 5 years.
Amit Jatia, Vice-Chairman and CEO, Hardcastle Restaurants, said, “McCafé would serve as a beverage destination and apart from coffee there would be added beverages like juices and ice teas. We are positioning the McCafé as premium coffee with affordable pricing and are expecting incremental sales from this format.”
It has marked an investment of 3.5 million rupees for each McCafé format.
“It is a tough environment to operate in but the QSR segment is growing between 10 and 12 per cent and within it there is phenomenal growth for the coffee segment which is expected to reach $700 million in the next 5 years,” added Jatia.
The 75-100 McDonald’s outlets slated to be launched in the next 2 years will measure almost 4,000 sq ft and would include the 500 sq ft McCafé within it. The existing McDonald’s outlets would undergo renovation to facilitate the new format within its premises.
Currently McDonald’s serves beverages under Coca-Cola’s brand of Georgia tea and coffee. But once McCafé gets launched, Georgia branded beverages may get discontinued.
Beverages at McCafé will be priced 90 rupees onwards for a latte or cappuccino which will be made from Arabica beans sourced from the coffee plantations at Chikmagalur in South India.
Credit: The Hindu Business Line


text:
Earlier this month the Wall Street Journal posted results from a recent study entitled “What’s Hot Off the Lots” where auto sales trends were examined and a list of the top 20 best-selling automobiles was compiled. Honda and Hyundai models were both included in the top 20 list which is not surprising as both brands are known for exceptional craftsmanship and quality.
The study also examined the increase or decrease in specific brand and model sales over the last 12 months. In comparison to total sales recorded in April, 2013 Honda CR-V sales were up 7.4%, Honda Civic sales were up 4.4% and Hyundai Sonata sales increased by an impressive %27.5. As Hyundai and Honda dealers serving the Atlanta area, we are extremely pleased to see that American car shoppers continue to gravitate to these remarkable brands.

domain: news


text:
Bina Technology, a Chinese company based in Zhejiang Province, has demanded that its employees cast away their iPhones in the wake of the recent South China Sea ruling.
A photo has leaked onto Chinese social media showing an announcement issued by Zhang Yunlong, the general manager of Bina Technology. The announcement states that the company will compensate each employee up to 2,500 yuan if they replace their iPhone 6 with another brand of smartphone — you only get 1,000 yuan for your iPhone 4 though.
Further down, the company also threatens to fire employees who plan on purchasing the iPhone 7 in the future. Zhang says that these policy changes are being undertaken as an act of “patriotism.”
This is just one example of China’s recent rising wave of nationalism following the installation of the THADD missile defense system in South Korea and the South China Sea ruling in The Hague. Hostility towards the US has been on the rise as many Chinese citizens believe that the Americans are pulling the string behind the said events.
Last week, photos of smashed iPhones went viral on Weibo as some netizens vowed to boycott American goods. Customers on Taobao also started to boycott mangoes imported from the Philippines. In Dalian, a man even went on the attack inside the subway after noticing a fellow commuter sporting a pair of Nike sneakers. Last but not least, protesters across several Chinese cities directed their anti-American sentiments towards KFC.
— Shanghaiist.com (@shanghaiist) July 19, 2016
Some protesters have even taken to the streets:
This fervent Chinese nationalism is being dismissed by the government and Chinese state media. In an article published yesterday, Xinhua called for “rational patriotism” and also claimed that “dumb acts like boycotting KFC are not patriotism.”
Chinese netizens on Weibo, Zhihu and many other online platforms also ridiculed the boycotting movements. One user wrote, “Where did all these people come from? No one that I know of is doing stuff like this,” while others mocked the protesters, “We shouldn’t be boycotting American products. We should be boycotting Chinese dumbasses.”
Some have equipped themselves to do just that.


text:
Planning to book an Indianapolis hotel room to attend Super Bowl XLVI next year? Think again. You’re already too late.
The National Football League has booked 18,300 hotel rooms in 141 hotels in and around Indianapolis, virtually every downtown hotel room. And that’s frustrating fans like Cynthia Bertagnolli of Munster.
Well before team captains in this week’s Super Bowl XLV flipped a coin, Bertagnolli was planning for the 2012 event in the state capital. Months ago she began phoning Naptown hotels to book reservations, only to be told that their policy is to wait a full 50 to 52 weeks before allowing reservations.
So Bertagnolli, a nurse, doggedly phoned more than a dozen hotels to secure a room, but was told none were available.
“It feels like the fix is in,” she said.
Bertagnolli is not alone. The Post-Tribune contacted 10 major Indianapolis hotel chains, such as the Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt hotels, which confirmed there is no room at the inn. Hotel reservations staff said they’ve fielded hundreds of similar calls.
“No one gave me a straight answer,” Bertagnolli said. “Eventually I learned that the NFL had booked everything.”
A representative of Marriott’s reservations directed calls to the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association (ICVA) Housing in Indianapolis, which said it does not handle Super Bowl hotel room reservations.
“We’re at the mercy of the NFL,” the ICVA representative said. “They control the inventory of hotel rooms and won’t be releasing them to the public until much later. These are the rules they (the NFL) set and how they want to play the game.”
The ICVA representative referred those looking for rooms to the website www.fanexperiences.com, which appears to be an affiliate of Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. A phone number on the website describes how to book reservations at Universal Studios, but mentions nothing about the 2012 Super Bowl. Fan Experiences, an NFL partner, is “an experienced event management company” that said it managed 3,500 hotel room accommodations for the Super Bowl in Dallas and 300 rooms for the NCAA Final Four.
“It’s been very frustrating,” Bertagnolli said. “They bring something like the Super Bowl to Indiana and you play by the rules and try to book as soon as they say the rooms are available and they’re already taken by the NFL and the media. I’m a Hoosier who wants to go to a Hoosier event and we can’t find anyplace to stay. It doesn’t say much about how they regard the little guy, the average fan. It makes me feel pretty bleak and very disappointed.”
NFL holds the rooms
Eventually, Nadra Woerner, director of sales and marketing for Hilton Indianapolis Hotels & Suites, sent Bertagnolli an e-mail explaining the shortage.
“In order to win the Super Bowl as a city, all hotels (especially downtown hotels) had to commit the majority (95 percent to 97 percent) of their rooms to the National Football League to accommodate all of their requirements. This was done back in August of 2007,” Woerner wrote Bertagnolli.
NFL Director of Communications Dan Masonson confirmed that the league always reserves a block of rooms for the Super Bowl, but referred calls to the Indianapolis Super Bowl Committee and its website. While the site does list the economic impact of the event ($300 million to $400 million), the cost of the Vincent Lombardi Trophy ($25,000) and average length of stay for Super Bowl visitors (four days), it does not explain how to reserve hotel rooms.
Dianna Boyce, director of communications for the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, confirmed that there are no downtown hotel rooms available now. “The NFL holds those and has the right to hold them until 30 days before game time,” Boyce said.
She said while that block of rooms includes all downtown hotels and many hotels outside of Indianapolis, “not every hotel is participating. If you can find a hotel (not downtown) that opened after May 2008, you might find a room. Until the NFL teams have picked where they want to stay, those 18,000 rooms won’t be released. But eventually they will. I would do due diligence and try to use one of the national hotel search engines like expedia.com to find a room if you can’t wait until the NFL releases its block of rooms.”
She said Fan Experiences will be booking rooms with tickets in package deals, along with the NFL On Location. NFL On Location charges a $250 per person deposit for hospitality packages that include game tickets — which cost $600 to $900 — and optional hotel accommodations and amenities.
John Livengood, president and CEO of the Indiana Hotel and Lodging Association in Indianapolis, said the city would never have been considered for the Super Bowl if it had not obtained the commitments for the hotel rooms.
“We anticipate many people attending the Super Bowl will be staying in Bloomington, Richmond, Kokomo and other parts of Central Indiana,” said Livengood. “It’s a big negative for our hotels because they had to commit to two weekends: the weekend of the planned Super Bowl date of Feb. 5, 2012, and the weekend after that because right now, because of the contract negotiations between the NFL and the players’ union, nobody knows which weekend the Super Bowl will actually be held.”
So he said Indianapolis area hotels, which already had to agree to commit rooms at lower rates, can’t book conventions or other events for the second weekend until the contract talks are resolved.
Livengood said the city expects to host 150,000 visitors for the Super Bowl. “It’s not a big plus for the hotels, but it’s worth it for exposure it gives for our city and will help Indianapolis attract future conventions, events and other business.”


text:
Actor, model, reality TV celebrity and Rubaru Mr. India 2016, Akash Choudhary is all set to mentor the aspiring candidates for this year’s (2019) Rubaru Mr. India pageant to take place on April 30, 2019 at Sea Princess hotel in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He will return as the ramp walk and runway trainer for the sixteenth edition of the Rubaru Mr India pageant..
Akash, who has also served as mentor in previous edition of Rubaru Mr India pageant as well, said in a statement, “I am very excited to be back with the new season of Rubaru Mr India 2019, which has a whole new look this year. I am excited to be part of this journey because it’s the journey that I covered 3 years ago. The role may have changed however the happiness and the zest is still the same”. The New Delhi based gentleman won Rubaru Mr India pageant in the year 2016 in Gurugram. Ever since his victory in the year 2016 there was no looking back for him. He has attended several national as well international fashion events and was a part of Indian reality TV series, Splitsvilla. He has hosted a series of international pageants and has judged various beauty pageants in India.
This year, the pageant will commence on April 27, 2019 with a visit to the Siddhivinayak temple in Dadar to seek the blessings of the Lord Ganesha. During the pageant, the candidates will stay at Suba International hotel that is also the hospitality part for Rubaru Mr. India 2019. Most of the pre-finale activities will take place at this hotel. The sports competition and health and fitness round of the pageant will take place at Water Kingdom – Asia’s Largest Theme Water Park owned by EsselWorld Leisure Pvt. Ltd. It is also the associate sponsor for the event. The candidates will also take part in social activities at an NGO as well.The entire event will be covered by one of the leading media houses of India, The Neutral View. That is also the media partner for the pageant.
This year’s event is going to even bigger and better than the previous ones as mentioned by the vice-president of Rubaru Group, Pankaj Kharbanda. Rubaru Group has joined hands with some of the biggest and most well-known brands and experts in the fashion and showbiz industry for the upcoming Mr. India pageant. The event will be co-powered by the brand Rohit Verma owned by famous fashion designer, reality TV celebrity and fashion guru, Rohit Verma. Award winning Indian photographer, director, scriptwriter and actor, Amit Khanna will be the official photographer for the pageant. The 40 candidates will be seen walking down the runway wearing exquisite creations by ace fashion designer, Seema Mehta, the founder and owner of the label Seema Mehta – Label of luxury. The brand Horra is gift partner for the event and fashion expert, Parimal Mehta, the founder and owner of the Parimal Modelling Academy is the grooming partner of this year’s Mr India pageant. Celebrity fashion choreographer, Lubna Adam is going to be the show director for the event.
Rubaru Mr. India is the oldest surviving annual male pageant in India. The pageant is regarded as one of the most successful male pageants in world. Since the pageant’s inception in the year 2004, it has sent India’s representatives to more than 15 different international modelling competitions. Rubaru Mr. India pageant holds the record of being associated to the maximum number of international pageants and modelling organizations in India. It was created by Rubaru Group in the year 2004 in the North Indian state of Haryana. Rubaru Group is a pageant organization and NGO based in Haryana. It was established by Indian painter and entrepreneur, Sandeep Kumar in the year 2004 and Pankaj Kharbanda is the vice-president of the organization. The organization, Rubaru Group is one of the most well-established pageant organizations in Asia. It is the producer of five (5) beauty pageants and modelling competitions that include Rubaru Mister India, Rubaru Miss India Elite, Rubaru Mr & Miss Junior India, Miss Supermodel Worldwide and Mister Model Worldwide.


text:
BPAY and MYOB join forces to offer a new payment option for Australian small businesses.
A focus on innovation is a key part of BPAY Group’s strategy in striving to continually improve the experience for all existing and emerging customer segments. This includes innovation around the BPAY product and a focus on collaborating with other iconic brands to make payments easier.
BPAY and MYOB have collaborated to offer a new payment option to MYOB’s Invoice Payments solution. In a growing online invoicing environment, MYOB’s small business customers can now accept payment via BPAY, in addition to the existing credit card options.
MYOB's customer data shows that, on average, businesses take 42.6 days to get paid, while those who convert to MYOB merchants and accept electronic payments directly through the platform are paid in under 10 days.
"Relationships with companies like BPAY are fundamental in getting great solutions to our customers".
“We know cashflow is one of the big pain points for businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises,” MYOB Head of Product Marketing Kim Owen-Jones said. “Giving customers the choice of BPAY as a payment method will provide even more ways for businesses to get paid faster.”
“Relationships with companies like BPAY are fundamental in getting great solutions to our customers”, said Ms Owen-Jones.
BPAY understands the needs of small businesses and continues to focus on product enhancements that address the specific challenges they face.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Australian economy. BPAY is Australia’s leading way to pay with over 1.5 million BPAY payments made every day. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with MYOB to help allow SMBs to give their customers a way to pay that works for them. This is part of our commitment to innovating around the BPAY product and helping solve frictions for customers and businesses.” commented Keith Brown, BPAY Group’s General Manager of Product, Scheme & Business Development.
In addition to giving customers more choices on how they are paid with the addition of BPAY, MYOB customers will be able to follow up on payments with the ability to track when their invoices are viewed, saving considerable administration time.
For further information on using BPAY through MYOB invoice payments, please visit myob.com.au/bpay


text:
For Jaime Ponce de León, the man behind León Auctions, questions about the authenticity of a work offered for auction must be addressed firmly and formally.
He said that when he learned that there were questions about the authenticity of Jorge Pineda’s “Las Buyeras” (Betel-Nut Vendors) from the descendants of the artist themselves, he immediately issued an alert for interested bidders.
“León Gallery has received unconfirmed reports that people asserting to be descendants of Jorge Pineda claim that they are in possession of the ‘Las Buyeras’ painting that won in the St. Louis Exposition in 1904,” the disclaimer said. “These persons have not contacted either the gallery or the consignor.”
The Pineda painting to be bidded out belongs to the collection of the late National Artist for Literature (and former Secretary of Education) Alejandro Roces, said Ponce de León.
“Some knowledgeable art collectors have known the painting owned by Dr. Roces as the award-winning painting,” León Gallery’s disclaimer said. “Tomas Bernardo in 1979 and Maita Reyes in 2013 had done conservation and restoration work on the painting. Prospective bidders are hereby put on notice about the alleged claim.”
León Gallery maintained the Pineda work in its auction was authentic: “The gallery and the consignor both maintain that the piece for auction is an authentic work of Jorge Pineda. As to whether this piece is the award-winning piece, we believe that the reputation of the piece is a strong argument, but most of all the quality of the workmanship of the painting, and the exquisite nature of this piece, speaks volumes for itself.”
For Ponce de León, the controversy seemed to have relived an incident in 2011 when, during the ManilArt fair, rumors circulated that a Fernando Zobel displayed by his art gallery was a fake.
Ponce de León approached the fair organizers and asked that the issue be addressed. But no action was taken since no formal complaint had been filed.
A fair participant, owner of a very respected Manila gallery, lamented the rumor-mongering and “witch-hunt.”
The issue became a case of serendipity when the work was bought by the artist’s relative. Industry insiders called it “a case of a Zobel [being] bought by a Zobel.”
Despite the bad experience, Ponce de León is not bitter. Perhaps because he hails from the South (Dumaguete, Negros Oriental), he’s affable, optimistic, and full of solicitude.
Well-traveled and cultured, he sees his auction business as helping foster better and wider appreciation for Philippine art.
“We consider ourselves a small auction house,” he said, explaining that in the style of many small auction houses in Spain and France, bidding on lots started low and often without estimates.
De León added that in small auction houses in Europe, one would see an exciting battle of paddles where first-time bidders or small collectors took part, all of them holding high hopes of owning a coveted or rare piece.
Even better though, in the Philippines, with heftier beginning prices, are chances of snapping up 17th-century Hispano-Philippine religious pieces that have come home from Europe or elsewhere in the world.
Such are the perks that have both new and seasoned collectors quite happy with León Gallery’s continuing efforts at offering the greatest possible opportunities for collectors to expand or improve their collections.
Ponce de León said he aimed, with each auction, to “try to reach a wider segment of the market.”
“I have things for everybody,” he said. “It’s always varied and that will always be the character of a León auction.”
For those who love realist paintings, León offers works from Fernando Amorsolo to Serafin Serna.
For people who love contemporary art, the auction has everyone “from Ventura to Esquillo, Barrioquinto to Jigger Cruz.”
For abstract lovers, the house has “Zobel, Olazo.”
Ponce de León said León Auctions had “always [provided a] good mix” of artists such as Romeo Tabuena, Mia Herbosa, Edwin Wilwayco, Rodel Tapaya, Solomon Saprid, Eduardo Castrillo, Ang Kiukok, Cesar Legaspi.
These names were in last Saturday’s Magnificent September Auction.
Ponce de León explained his broad appreciation of Philippine art: “We cannot discount any art school in the Philippines. Even when they’re ‘Mabini’ artists, they’re very good artists.”
He pointed out that many of the country’s art greats started in art galleries along Mabini Street in Ermita.
“I don’t think it’s for me to dictate what people buy or how people should buy,” he said, pointing out that art buying and collecting was a matter of personal choice that must be respected.
Because of authenticity and provenance issues haunting the art industry, concerned people are urging transparency.
Amy Loste, head of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ National Committee on Art Galleries (NCCA-NCAG), said: “We urge parties who have questions about the authenticity of artworks to come forward and formalize their concerns. Faceless and nameless allegations are detrimental to the Philippine art industry. They could tarnish our reputation on the international art scene.”
Loste added: “That is why we at the NCCA-NCAG, through ManilArt 2013, will conduct a forum with family members of noted late artists such as Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Onib Olmedo and National Artist Fernando Amorsolo on ‘Preserving Artistic Legacy,’ because recurring and escalating issues on authentication must be thoroughly discussed.”


text:
Oklahoma Tables Plan to Revise Alcohol Laws
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.— A bill that would allow grocery and convenience stores to sell strong beer and wine is being put on hold while a task force studies the issue, according to the AP.
Republican state Sen. Clark Jolley’s bill would create a 13-member task force that would help draft a proposal to be presented to the Legislature next year. The sale of strong beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores is supported by chambers of commerce and consumer groups who say Oklahoma's alcohol laws are antiquated. Opponents include alcohol retailers and distributors who say their business models depend on existing state alcohol laws.
Currently, grocery and convenience stores only can sell low-point beer; liquor retailers only can sell nonrefrigerated wine; liquor and beer and consumers cannot receive direct shipments of wine from wineries or other businesses. The proposals require changes to the Oklahoma Constitution, which requires a vote of the people.
More than a dozen bills dealing with alcohol laws have been filed for consideration this year, according to AP.
Several state alcohol retailers and distributors say the proposed changes give an unfair advantage to out-of-state corporations and put local businesses at risk.


text:
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade developed in the Southern Plains Wednesday with live sales at $118-$119/cwt., but mostly $119, which was mostly $2 less than last week.
Southern Plains cattle selling in the weekly Fed Cattle Exchange auction also brought $119. There were 413 head offered; 315 head sold for delivery at 1-9 days.
Even so, Cattle futures finally clawed back some losses amid oversold conditions.
Except for 12¢ and 2¢ lower on either end of the board, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 56¢ higher.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 76¢ higher.
Wholesale beef values were lower on Choice and higher on Select with light to moderate demand and moderate offerings, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.52 lower Wednesday afternoon at $206.31/cwt. Select was 77¢ higher at $205.30.
Corn futures closed 1¢ to 3¢ higher through Jly ’21 and then mainly unchanged.
Soybean futures closed 2¢ to 7¢ higher through Nov ’20 and then mostly 1¢ to 3¢ lower.
Major U.S. financial indices bounced higher Wednesday, buoyed by more reports that the spread of coronavirus is slowing
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 275 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 21 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 87 points.
Customer transactions at U.S. restaurant chains were up in January, a benefit of milder weather compared to a year ago when extreme weather conditions and above average precipitation hit many areas of the U.S.
For the retail weeks ending January 6 through February 2, total restaurant transactions increased by 2% over same time last year and quick service restaurant (QSR) chains were the primary contributor, according to NPD’s CREST® Performance Alerts, which provides a weekly view of chain-specific transactions and share trends for 73 quick service, fast casual, midscale, and casual dining chains.
“January is historically one of the toughest months for U.S. restaurants and bad weather is usually a contributor,” says David Portalatin, NPD food industry advisor and author of Eating Patterns in America.
QSR chains, which represent the bulk of industry transactions, grew transactions by 2% in January following four consecutive weeks of gains compared to the declines experienced last January. However, the full service restaurant segment, which includes casual dining and midscale/family dining chains, experienced transaction declines throughout the month. Customer transactions at casual dining restaurants declined by 4% and midscale/family dining transactions decreased by 2%, according to NPD.


text:
With travel restrictions easing around the world, cruise liners are trying to tempt tourists back. But is it safe?
The US public health agency lowered its pandemic travel warning for cruise ships last week, from “very high” to “high”.
It’s the first sign of easing since December, when the CDC advised people to avoid the liners completely because of an increased risk from COVID-19 as the Omicron variant spread rapidly.
The floating towns were like petri dishes when the virus first struck. An outbreak on the Diamond Princess infected more than 700 people and killed 14. The ship was quarantined outside Japan for 27 days, making it one of the early pandemic horror stories.
Two years on, our progress against the virus has made cruise ships far more ‘Covid-secure’.
“The safety of our guests, crew members and communities is Princess Cruises’ top priority,” says Tony Roberts, vice president of Princess Cruises UK and Europe, which is owned by cruise giant Carnival Corporation.
“Cruises are one of the safest types of holiday, and the cruise industry is the only industry in the travel and tourism sector that is requiring both vaccinations and testing for crew and guests,” he claims.
What are the Covid rules on cruise ships?
Princess is among a number of operators requiring guests to be fully vaccinated - Disney Cruises have extended this to under-5s - and all passengers must take a supervised PCR or antigen test before boarding.
Currently, it is also telling all crew and passengers to wear a mask in indoor areas. Other measures include:
- Staggering boarding. Guests can select a time to arrive at port via an app to space people out.
- Redesigning buffets as crew-served food stations.
- Frequently disinfecting areas
- Air in public areas is replaced every five to six minutes through enhanced filtration.
- Medical staff have had their training extended to cover COVID-19 and all medical centres are equipped with testing capabilities.
- The traditional ‘muster’ drill is delivered through a video which guests watch in their rooms, before checking in at their muster station anytime before departure.
Is it safe to go on a cruise right now?
If you have a Baltic or Balkan cruise booked this year, then you may find that the itinerary has been altered, or that your trip has been cancelled altogether due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"We are currently working to confirm replacement ports and will advise all impacted guests and travel advisors as soon as possible," a company spokesperson from Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement.
Many of the cruise company’s liners usually stop in the Russian city port of St Petersburg in the summer months, but are not willing to do so given the current circumstances.
What about the environmental impact?
Cruise ships are notoriously bad for the environment, and research released last year showed that passengers on a seven-day Antarctic voyage produce as much CO2 as the average European does in an entire year.
According to Friends of the Earth, while some cruise liners such as Norwegian-based Hurtigruten are leading on sustainability, others are trailing behind.
“Hurtigruten is doing good work and is a leader on sustainability with their hybrid ships, battery technology and shore power operations,” says Marcie Keever, Oceans and Vessels Program Director for Friends of the Earth U.S.
“However, the majority of the industry – especially companies like Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, which have the largest ships – are significantly lagging behind.
“Many of the ‘actions’ cruise companies have taken are lip service instead of real, quantifiable sustainability initiatives.”
Can cruise ships ever be sustainable?
In 2021, Hurtigruten’s MS Fridtjof Nansen was voted the most sustainable ship in the world by Scope ESG Analysis due to its battery-hybrid technology. Single use plastic has also been banned aboard Hurtigruten’s vessels as well as heavy fuel.
Not all cruise companies are moving in the same direction though.
“Carnival Corporation is in its last year of a 5-year criminal probation in the U.S. for its ongoing failure to comply with current environmental laws and regulations —laws and regulations that need to be much stronger in many cases,” continues Keever.
“For years the cruise industry has failed to make the changes and upgrades needed voluntarily despite a few bright spots, let alone comply with current rules.
In order to name and shame the worst offenders, Friends of the Earth have been producing a Cruise Report Card for the past three years, ranking the best and worst liners in the industry.
“We need the U.S. Congress and the Biden Administration to step up, along with international bodies like the IMO, to really crack down on the cruise industry. These companies have repeatedly shown that they will only travel towards real sustainability if their bottom line is at stake.”


text:
DHL have announced plans to invest €560m across its UK ecommerce operation, DHL Parcel UK.
The investment comes following a 40% volume uplift since the start of 2020 and soaring demand for its ecommerce and B2B services. The expansion project is designed to deliver the right infrastructure to facilitate growth as well as putting the business at the forefront of sustainable and digital logistics.
The Covid pandemic has not only driven digitalization, but also significantly changed consumer behavior, rapidly accelerating the growth of e-commerce and shifting shopping habits. At Deutsche Post DHL Group we believe this shift to online shopping will remain intact and, as e-commerce is one of the important pillars in our Group Strategy 2025, we’ll continue to invest in the sector. This investment in the UK is a key part of that, supporting the expansion and modernization of our European network. I’m really looking forward to supporting the business on its growth path in my new role as CEO DHL eCommerce Solutions starting August 1– Pablo Ciano, Executive Vice President Corporate Development at Deutsche Post DHL Group
Nearly half of the DHL Parcel UK investment will be in a brand new 25km² hub in SEGRO Park Coventry Gateway, located south of Coventry Airport. The new facility will have the capacity to handle over 500k items per day and will feature secure bonded storage and customs capabilities to support international ecommerce.
An initial €75m will be invested in upgrading the company’s fleet with a major focus on alternative fuel vehicles. This roll-out will be followed by further sustainable fleet investment going forward.
Finally, the business will also invest over €220m to create 10 brand new collection and delivery depots across the UK, and 20 more existing sites will be expanded.


text:
Utilizing mobile marketing to drive in-store traffic is being overlooked.
The London retailer is planning further german expansion.
ABG will join forces with Thalía on the development and global expansion of her brand, pursuing strategic collaborations and long-term partnerships.
Amid the luxury malaise, Barneys ceo says the company is profitable and performing well.
The British multibrand retailer, which sells a range of emerging designers, will set up shop at 95 Grand Street in SoHo, formerly the Burch sisters’ Trademark boutique.
Brands and retailers move up the ranking with strategic growth tactics.


text:
Are You Happy At Work? Bosses Push Weekly Polls
Here are some things Rebecca Joyner ’s bosses at Metis Communications have wondered lately: Does she feel that managers listen to her? (Yes.) What are you proud of accomplishing last week? (Helping pitch a marketing project.) Did she have an embarrassing haircut as a kid? (A bad perm, 1987.)
Questions such as these appear three times weekly on the computer screens of Ms. Joyner and her co-workers at the Boston communications firm. For them and many other U.S. workers, constant, quick-fire polls have become a feature of office life.
In the era of status updates and instant feedback, so-called “pulse surveys” are now catching on at work. Employers say short monthly, weekly or daily polls—sometimes a single question at a time—provide data on how their teams actually feel and catch problems before they fester. Frequent surveys are even replacing annual employee surveys at some companies, bosses say, although other companies, such as Google Inc., use both.
The trend is part of a larger shift toward data-driven work in which managers are expected to use data to make decisions large and small, from broad corporate strategy to which toppings to choose for an office pizza party. Mobile apps and faster analytics have put sophisticated polling tools within reach of even small firms.
The companies may pay about $50 a month or anywhere from $15 to $100 per employee for pulse-survey tools, administered by new firms such as TinyPulse, 15Five, BlackbookHR and Niko Niko, as well as established survey companies like Gallup.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Sample questions asked in a BlackbookHR survey.
- What communication tools do you use the most?
- Money or recognition, what do you prefer?
- If our company’s brand was a movie star who would it be?
Some 80% of firms have conducted a survey to gauge how employees are feeling, according to data from the Society for Human Resource Management. While most of those surveys are still annual, workers and managers appear to be growing disenchanted with long, yearly questionnaires. A 2011 study of European employers by human-resources consulting firm Aon Hewitt found that fewer than one-fifth of workers believed their survey responses would result in action.
It’s not clear either whether short polls lead to big changes, though managers claim that asking employees to choose between “Prince or Michael Jackson?” boosts camaraderie, and workers say they like getting to raise concerns without risking their careers.
Metis’s Ms. Joyner says snap polls have sparked conversation and some action. Within two weeks of a survey asking whether employees were happy with their office chairs, a couple of standing desks appeared at the office, she says.
Seattle corporate-wellness firm Limeade Inc. sends its 115 employees weekly one-question surveys via TinyPulse Inc. that they answer anonymously. The results are discussed at biweekly company meetings, says Henry Albrecht, Limeade’s chief executive. Employees have weighed in on matters both serious and slight, from improving customer service to holiday-party ideas.
The weekly surveys have turned up some surprises for Mr. Albrecht. He found, for instance, that the happiness of the firm’s large remote workforce was lower than the happiness of workers at headquarters and that it decreased during the firm’s busiest seasons, such as open-enrollment periods.
Mr. Albrecht assigned extra support to ensure that remote workers weren’t left in the lurch and invested in more teleconferencing tools to “reconnect [remote workers] with the mother ship,” he says.
At Vodori Inc., a digital marketing agency in Chicago, employees sound off a few times weekly. Recent poll questions have included “are there things you don’t know about the company that you feel you should know?” (The firm also uses the survey tool knowyourcompany.com.)
Though responses generally aren’t anonymous, employees don’t hold back, says Grant Gochnauer, Vodori’s co-founder and vice president. In one survey, he learned that staff members felt they couldn’t clearly articulate the company’s vision. That finding prompted the firm’s executives to clarify Vodori’s goals.
“It’s sometimes a little bit scary. Do I really want to know the answer to this?” says Mr. Gochnauer.
‘[A survey] is a conversation starter. It’s not the end all and be all.’
Other businesses are using surveys to examine how workers’ moods affect sales and productivity.
Last year, Sears Holdings Corp. started an effort, dubbed Project MoodRing, to record store employees’ moods at the end of their shifts. Workers choose a color-coded emoticon on a screen to describe how they are feeling, from “unstoppable” or “so-so” to “exhausted” and “frustrated.” Sears estimates it will receive about 28 million daily mood responses a year.
The anonymized feedback gives management a snapshot of workers’ moods across the company’s stores at any given time. The retailer is trying to quantify whether employee happiness varies by region or time and whether employee moods correlate with sales and customer satisfaction.
So far, Sears has found a correlation between slightly higher sales and customer satisfaction at stores where employees are in positive moods rather than neutral or negative moods, according to a corporate presentation about the program. The retailer is also studying whether managers can take action, such as sending out short emails praising employees, to boost mood. A Sears spokesman declined to comment further.
Too many questions from the company may give workers polling fatigue, says Eean Crawford, a professor who studies employee engagement at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. And employees may grow disillusioned if their rapid-fire feedback doesn’t get a timely response, Dr. Crawford cautions.
A survey, he says, “is a conversation starter. It’s not the end all and be all.”
New York product-development company Quirky Inc. asks employees a few short questions each week—such as “What are the challenges you are facing?” and “Who has demonstrated great leadership this week?”—using a tool from 15Five.
Quirky is rotating questions more regularly to maintain employee participation and interest, according to Rochelle DiRe, Quirky’s chief people officer.
“Without some kind of variation it can get a little bit like homework for some people,” Ms. DiRe says.


text:
The sale of the coffee chain follows the decision made by Whitbread in April to spin the brand off from the rest of its business. The demerger was intended to allow Costa and the hospitality group's other brands - including Premier Inn - to “thrive as independent companies”.
The company says that the acquisition will allow for more product development for the brand, as it will give Coca Cola access to the hot beverage sector, which is a market in which Coca Cola does not currently operate a global brand.
Coca Cola’s global presence, distribution and vending platform will allow for further Costa growth.
The deal will also allow Whitbread to reduce debt, and it will make a contribution to its pension fund.
Following the deal, Whitbread saw its shares surge 18%, and it says that a significant majority of net cash proceeds will be returned to shareholders.
“This transaction is great news for shareholders as it recognises the strategic value we have developed in the Costa brand and its international growth potential and accelerates the realisation of value for shareholders in cash,” says Alison Brittain, chief executive of Whitbread.
“The announcement today represents a substantial premium to the value that would have been created through the demerger of the business and we expect to return a significant majority of net proceeds to shareholders.”
Whitbread bought the company in 1995 when it comprised just 39 shops. It now operates around 4000 shops in 32 countries.
It is the UK’s largest hospitality company and also owns the Beefeater, Bar + Block and Brewers Fayre restaurant and pub brands


text:
After releasing the new Miami Strawberry flavour in Sweden just last week, NOCCO is today launching the new flavour right here in the UK today!
Definitely let us know what you think of these – we'll be sharing a lot of stories on Instagram of these stunning new cans! 📸
Two new tastes on the way for Applied’s vegan-friendly Protein Indulgence
New Birthday Cake Bash Bang Energy drink released


text:
The Czech government has passed an amendment to the country’s legislation on the Right to Digital Services that will enable citizens of the Czech Republic to store and use a digital version of their national identity card in a wallet on their smartphone.
The government is to launch the eDoklady digital ID card and wallet as “an important intermediate step” towards the introduction of the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI) that will enable all European Union citizens to store a range of documents — including their ID card, passport, driving licence, health documentation, professional qualifications and education certificates — on their mobile device.
The eDoklady app will be compatible with the EUDI and “will provide a practical alternative for everyone who does not want to think about having to carry classic plastic cards,” the government’s Digital and Information Agency says.
“The application will be connected to the Citizen Portal, which contains encrypted information necessary for identification and verification.
“In the case of an identity card, it is both an identity and, for example, proof of age (typically for the purchase of alcohol and cigarettes).
“The application generates a QR code at the moment of inspection, which proves what is needed through a simple electronic reader.”
The amendment to the law requires central administrative authorities to accept digital eDoklady credentials from January 2024, although “we are already noticing great interest from retail chains in the possibility of digital age verification”, the Czech deputy prime minister for digitalization Ivan Bartoš says.
The Czech Republic revealed in January 2022 that it was planning to roll out mobile driving licences and digital ID cards in 2023 “at the latest”.
The EU announced in June that it would be making the EUDI wallet available free of charge to all 450 million EU citizens and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity laid out standardisation requirements for the wallet in July.
Czech Republic to roll out digital IDs compatible with EU Digital Identity Wallet was written by Tom Phillips and published by NFCW.


text:
Retailer has been using Ms O’Shaughnessy in their campaigns since 2011
Drinks giant announced plans to cut costs by £200m as Chinese sales decline
Agent Provocateur has teamed up with photographer Miles Aldridge to shoot its latest lingerie collection, writes Rebecca Gonsalves
The image was taken as a protest against Russia's 'racism and homophobia'
The British supermodel posed as the cover star for the men’s magazine’s 60th anniversary issue
Hilary Mantel, twice winner of the Man Booker Prize, who made her name dissecting the 16th-century court intrigues of King Henry VIII’s adviser Thomas Cromwell, is turning her attention to a more modern politician – Lady Thatcher.
Kate Moss turns 40 today, and is still treading the boards for designers from A(lexander McQueen) to Z. Well, to Louis Vuitton, at least. Alexander Fury celebrates the life and career of the fashion’s longest-lasting catwalker.
The theatre of fashion - specifically, of the fashion show - is very difficult to get right. It's like walking a tightrope, where you risk falling off into sartorial extremity, or allowing catwalk histrionics to overshadow the clothing on show.
Miss Oni denies claims by defence that she inflicted injuries on herself to emulate model's success story
If it feels too early to get started on your summer wardrobe, denim is the perfect candidate for a between season update, writes Emma Akbareian
The comedian attempted to crack a joke in response to one follower’s questions, but ended up coming off a bit racist in the process
Arpad “Arki” Busson, one of the world’s best-known hedge-fund managers, is set to merge his $3 billion (£1.83 billion) EIM Group with Switzerland’s listed Gottex Fund Management to create a business managing $10 billion by mid-2014.
Project aims to tackle dehydration among the elderly and vulnerable
The so-called "Sussex 5" reinstated after pressure from students, MPs - and Cara Delevingne


text:
AMD announced in January that its 2nd-gen Ryzen chips for desktops were set to launch in April. But thanks to leaked slides posted to El Chapuzas Informático, we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the upcoming AMD Ryzen 2000 series of desktop processors.
AMD already introduced the Ryzen 3 2200G and Ryzen 5 2400G earlier this year. Those are the company’s first Ryzen desktop processors to feature integrated Radeon Vega graphics. But here’s what we can expect from the rest of the Ryzen 2000 family:
|AMD Ryzen 2000 desktop chips|
|Processor||Cores||Threads||Base clock||Turbo clock||TDP||Price|
|Ryzen 7 2700X||8||16||3.7 GHz||4.35 GHz||105W||$369|
|Ryzen 7 2700||8||16||3.2 GHz||4.1 GHz||65W||$299|
|Ryzen 5 2600X||6||12||3.6 GHz||4.25 GHz||95W||$249|
|Ryzen 5 2600||6||12||3.3 GHz||3.9 GHz||65W||$199|
|Ryzen 5 2400G||4||8||3.6 GHz||3.9 GHz||65W||$169|
|Ryzen 5 2200G||4||4||3.5 GHz||3.7 GHz||65W||$99|
For the most part the new 2000 series processors are all based on AMD’s new 12nm Zen+ CPU architecture (except for the G-series chips with Radeon graphics, which are 14nm Zen chips).
They also tend to have higher turbo speeds than their predecessors.
The new 12nm chips feature an updated chipset and they’re compatible with both a new line of 400 series motherboards and with last year’s 300 series boards (while 1st-gen Ryzen chips only work with 300 series motherboards. The new boards offer “precision boost overdrive” to support the higher boost speeds available from processors with X at the end of their names.
The first of those new motherboard designs will be the X470, with a B450 design following later this year. Both should bring support for optimized memory routing, lower idle power, and the ability to disable USB ports on a per-port basis, among other things.
It’s unclear if leaked slides paint a picture of AMD’s complete 2nd-gen Ryzen lineup, or just tells us about the first four chips we can expect. There’s no Ryzen 7 2800X chip to replace last year’s Ryzen 7 1800X, for example. But the company says you can expect better gaming performance from a 2018 Ryzen 7 2700X than from a 2017 Ryzen 7 1800X, so the omission isn’t all that disappointing.


text:
Tetris is dead (on mobile); long live Tetris.
A day after Electronic Arts announced that its Tetris games would disappear from the Android and iOS marketplaces, The Tetris Co. announced that its classic 35-year-old puzzler is now free to download on mobile devices via both the App Store and Google Play.
As it stands, N3twork’s Tetris is rather bare-bones compared to EA’s versions. It has one game mode and five different skins, where EA’s Tetris 2011 has three modes of play. Tetris 2011 also has two control schemes, where N3twork’s game has just one, which a news release called “intuitive swipe controls with haptic feedback built specifically for mobile devices.” An online leaderboard for Tetris will be coming soon.
“We’re launching Tetris with a traditional solo gameplay mode, but we want fans to know that we’ve got so much more in store for them,” said Neil Young, the founder and chief executive of N3twork, which developed this version. “This is just the foundation of an incredible Tetris app experience we’re building at N3twork.”
Last year, N3twork and The Tetris Co. announced that Tetris Royale would be coming to iOS and Android. The game, currently in beta, is essentially a mobile adaptation of 2019’s acclaimed Tetris 99 for Nintendo Switch (developed by Arika and Nintendo), a battle-royale-ified version of the original game where groups of 100 players compete to be the last player still knocking out blocks.
On Wednesday, in a statement posted to the App Store, EA said its Tetris 2011 and Tetris Blitz games would be retired on April 21. Until then, players may still play the game and use any in-game items they’ve acquired.


text:
- Apple vet Eddy Cue is reorganizing the administration composition of its Providers organization, resources say.
- The firm is pushing tougher into areas including streaming and advertising.
- Cue is giving much more duty to products and services VP Peter Stern and advertisements manager Todd Teresi.
Apple’s Eddy Cue is speaking about restructuring its $76 billion companies company to make a more substantial force into profitable areas like
and marketing, and has presently elevated executives to that stop, sources explained.
Apple Services houses ventures together with the App Retail outlet, Apple Songs, iCloud, AppleCare,
Apple Pay out
, Apple News, advertising, and Apple Television+.
Apple Companies grew 17% to $19.8 billion in its final quarter and claimed 825 million shelling out subscribers globally. It would be the 113th premier firm on the Fortune 500 record by earnings if a standalone firm.
A single man or woman who has spoken specifically to Cue claimed the senior vice president of companies is thinking of how to unleash advancement by reorganizing its administration structure and pushing more challenging into places like streaming and advertising and marketing. The firm picked up a very best image Oscar for its $25 million motion picture, “CODA,” and just started streaming ad-supported Main League Baseball coverage on Friday nights.
Cue has now modified tasks for 1 government who spearheads Apple’s sports portfolio. Peter Stern, who is vice president of providers and has looked just after models which includes video, information, books, iCloud, marketing, Health and fitness+, and Apple One particular, according to his LinkedIn profile, has lose obligation for advertising and marketing, say three people today acquainted with the issue. Stern’s weighty portfolio requires his comprehensive interest.
The Apple iphone maker is envisioned to make a engage in for a raft of sports broadcasting rights, which includes the NFL’s Sunday Ticket and the NBA, when they occur up for renewal. Stern, who joined Apple in 2016, formerly led Time Warner Cable’s world wide web, mobile phone, video, and “intelligent household” businesses and was included in getting the media legal rights to the LA Dodgers.
“The special circumstance with Apple is that it has a reasonably small base for Apple Television set+. The addition of Sunday Ticket would enable them to boost their base subscription level, a metric in the enterprise recognized as carry,” mentioned Ed Desser, president of sports activities Television consultancy Desser Sporting activities Media.
Apple could monetize sports legal rights in three vital approaches: New subscribers, further subscriber profits for an increase-on sports activities bundle, and advertising earnings, Desser stated — even though in-sport advert stock is very likely to continue to belong to whichever broadcast networks originate the feed, he added.
Stern is said to have given his advertising and marketing obligations to just one of his immediate experiences, Todd Teresi, a vice president responsible for Apple’s advertising organization for a lot more than a 10 years. He was quietly promoted at the starting of the calendar year and now stories straight to Cue, folks familiar with the subject explained.
“The Providers portfolio is way too major now, with way too lots of other escalating segments. The advert small business is big adequate to stay on its personal,” just one of the people today reported.
Teresi’s promotion reflects the current explosive progress in Apple’s ad business enterprise. Apple’s most important promotion supply — look for ads — grew 238% to $3.7 billion in 2021 as opposed to 2020, according to study organization Omdia’s principal analyst Matthew Bailey. Omdia has forecast that Apple’s research advert profits would hit $5.5 billion in 2022. Its latest privateness update, forcing builders to inquire for permission to keep track of them, also prompted some advertisers to change their paying out to its lookup ads product. Apple, which provides ads in its App Retailer, moreover its news and shares applications, has also lately begun serving Television-like advert slots in its MLB telecasts.
A supply mentioned they had been advised by two Apple insiders that Teresi is “back in the chair.” Teresi previously led Apple’s iAd cellular promoting community, which launched in 2010 but shut six a long time later possessing failed to capture additional than a single-digit share of the cellular advert market.
Other planned executive alterations in the Expert services division couldn’t instantly be discovered.
An Apple spokesman declined to comment.
The Authoritative Content Funnel — Whiteboard Friday
What is carbon accounting? 6 of your biggest questions answered
How to foster creativity and innovation by slowing down, reducing distractions, and single-tasking


text:
Razer and Netflix announced a partnership to bring some fancy features to the Razer Phone. The Razer Phone will be the first smartphone to offer Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound and HDR10 video. You won’t be able to find Netflix in a higher quality on any other phone.
The display on the Razer Phone is already a thing of wonder. 5.7-inches with 2560×1440 resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate. On top of that, the phone has dual front-facing speakers that have been certified by THX. If you watch Netflix a lot on the go, it’s pretty hard to beat the Razer Phone experience.
The update will be available later this month. It will arrive as an over-the-air patch for current owners and new Razer Phones will ship with it pre-installed. Now go finish that last episode of Stranger Things.


text:
Launching his own currency is a loyalty play that creates value for his fans, who feel like they're investing and have some form of ownership in his brand, says JVCKJ. Users who buy into his $PSTL coin, named after his EP Pastel, will receive early access to his new releases in fashion and music. They can also “make money off this” if the coin’s value increases over time, says JVCKJ. Going forward, the entrepreneur plans to develop “collectable” NFTs that his fans can purchase. “I’m trying to find innovative ways to create my own economy,” he says.
Kiev-based fashion designer Anna Karenina believes that everyone who attends her fashion show could be an “investor”. She issues crypto tokens, also known as initial coin offerings (ICOs), to her audience before a show, enabling viewers to crowdfund a design or collection.
Opportunities and risks ahead
Risks abound. The volatility of cryptocurrency means that a coin worth $50,000 today could be worth $30,000 or $20,000 in a matter of weeks, says Vikas Agarwal, partner and a principal in financial crime technology at PwC. Frauds, scams and other criminal activities are rampant, while it's not easy to store cryptocurrencies because of the risk of cyberattacks and theft, he adds.
But mainstream awareness and a willingness to try the technology are on the rise. A significant 81 per cent of people surveyed by Plutus would support widespread crypto adoption. A sizable portion of participants prefer earning crypto as a loyalty reward rather than buying or mining it.
Is it ethically responsible for influencers and brands to promote Bitcoin? Agarwal has no issues. “I definitely think it's responsible for companies to accept Bitcoin payment or develop their own currency. It's a great strategy in terms of how they can pick up consumers and also take advantage of the disposable income that exists,” he says. “This is the time, especially in the fiat currencies, to be looking at what you can offer your customers. It's like introducing a new asset class.”
Bennett of Forrester urges caution: “The key to bear in mind is that it’s a speculative asset, so you have to be prepared to potentially lose your money if it doesn’t work out.” The environmental impact of mining cryptocurrency could also be a significant obstacle in a long-term rise, as large amounts of computing power are required, she says.
Phan adds: “There’s so much misinformation, and I try my best as an influencer to share information that can help clarify any questions that I also had when I first went into the space. But at the end of the day, I’m not a financial advisor, and I tell people to invest at their own risk.”
For a younger generation, the brave new world of cryptocurrency is an exciting prospect. But not every consumer will feel the same thrill. “Understand your current customer base, as well as who it is that you wish to attract,” says Bennett. “As a brand, if you feel that your customer base is on the whole conservative and risk-averse, then you might scare them if you get into cryptocurrency.”
To receive the Vogue Business newsletter, sign up here.
Comments, questions or feedback? Email us at email@example.com.
More from this author:
Farfetch reaches profitability after 12 years
An augmented reality shopping boutique is here
The next social media frontier for fashion


text:
The UK’s Trade Commissioner to Africa said the UK will forge closer links with African countries in the years ahead following a landmark agreement that was signed with Kenya. The UK signed a trade deal with Kenya in December 2020 to ensure that
President Joe Biden had been slammed for failing to push US interests during a summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Geneva this week. Former US naval intelligence officer John Jordan has said Mr Biden “achieved absolutely nothing” during his first foreign tour as
James Martin, 48, is the talented chef who has entertained audiences for years. The charismatic presenter comes across as extremely confident, however, many will be surprised to learn that he suffered with a disorder that made everyday tasks almost impossible for him.
But considering Windows XP was released almost two decades ago that’s understandable. Windows 11 will reportedly be a free upgrade for Windows 10, while Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users will allegedly be able to upgrade to Windows 11 via the Media
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels caused by insulin resistance or the inability to produce insulin. To date, one of the most convincing applications of apple cider vinegar is helping with the condition. Can apple cider vinegar help
Respected royal biographer Robert Lacey said that despite assumptions the Duke of Sussex sparked the split, the move was in fact initiated by the Duke of Cambridge who wanted to be separated from Meghan on a day to day basis. Mr Lacey,
The European Union had “bet pretty big” on the Curevac vaccine, developed in Germany, and had even ordered more than 400million doses. It remains unclear what price the EU paid for these doses, but the German government admitted that it had invested
To celebrate the weekend, Very has launches a massive sale and customers can get big discounts on top items from big brands – here’s what to get from the sale. Whether you’re in need of a new vacuum cleaner or want to


text:
Microsoft has converted Windows Updates into better carriers of new features and tech in the past decade. We have also seen a few feature updates that brought in-demand options to the Operating System. As the latest entry on the list, Microsoft is planning to roll out Windows 10 version 21H1, and this next feature update will be coming in Spring 2021.
Windows 10 v 21H1 coming this spring
Those who have signed up for the Windows Insider Beta Channel can install the update today and check out the new features and improvements. Microsoft has not specified the date on which the update will be available for the public.
Windows 10 version 20H2 was the last feature-based update the OS had received. So, the 21H1 update will be placed on top of that update. Although version 21H1 makes a few changes across the OS and its user experience, Microsoft has focused on three significant improvements.
- First, the update has added multi-camera support for Windows Hello. It means users can now connect external Hello peripherals when connected to a larger display.
- Second, Windows Defender Application Guard will optimize security while dealing with various documents across the OS. Besides, there are upgrades to the core security system of Windows Defender.
- Third but not least, Microsoft also adds enhanced support for modules like Windows Management Instrumentation and Group Policy Service.
Well, the version 21H1 update isn’t seemingly groundbreaking in many aspects. You cannot expect a User Interface overhaul either. Instead, Microsoft expects this update to fix some of the bigger shortcomings in Windows 10 and push certain features to a streamlined working condition.
Meanwhile, the company is working on a Windows 10 update codenamed Sun Valley, which is expected to revamp the Windows 10 UI as we know it. However, a user will have to wait until the end of 2021 or the beginning of 2022 to get their hands on the update since Microsoft is yet to start its Insider Dev channel testing.
If you can handle some common bugs but want to check out what the update offers, you can download the Windows 10 version 21H1 update from the Windows Insider Beta Channel.


text:
The 2020 Geneva Motor Show is no more! The worldwide Coronavirus outbreak has claimed its latest victim, and it's Europe's biggest motor show. But despite the show's axing, we've still seen plenty of debuts readied to be on display for the first time in Geneva. So, to mis-quote Jim Bowen: here's what you could have seen.
Updated 28th February 2020.


text:
FCA US LLC sold 507,351 vehicles in the third quarter – a 10 percent decrease over the same time period a year earlier – as strong retail sales offset much of the ongoing softness in fleet purchases.
The Ram brand remained a powerhouse for dealers as retail sales for the iconic pickup trucks rose 15 percent. Jeep® also posted a solid quarter, led in large part by the continued success of the Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Wrangler. Total Gladiator sales rose 37 percent to 22,163 vehicles.
Third-quarter total sales finished 38 percent higher than the second-quarter results as FCA sold 140,265 more vehicles.
“The results reflect the hard work our dealers have done throughout the third quarter as they worked through the COVID-19 restrictions while still improving our sales over the prior months,” U.S. Head of Sales Jeff Kommor said. “Jeep and Ram are hot and we continue to prioritize deliveries to our dealers who are asking us to ship as many vehicles as we can build.”
During the quarter, FCA provided an overview of the depth of its Ram and Jeep product pipelines with the worldwide reveals of the Ram TRX, Jeep Grand Wagoneer Concept and Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid.
These vehicles are already stirring consumer buzz and excitement. Production of the TRX is scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter, while the Grand Wagoneer Concept marks the first step in the rebirth of Wagoneer as Jeep works to quickly expand into new segments and more premium spaces.
FCA also unveiled the Wrangler 4xe, which boasts 375 horsepower and delivers up to 25 miles of pure electric operation for daily commutes, while providing nearly silent, open-air freedom without range anxiety. The Wrangler 4xe will be available by the end of the year.
“We are optimistic about the U.S. market and expect sales to remain strong as we close out 2020,” Kommor said.
Please click here to view the full press release.


text:
Scandinavian Gaming Show registration booming
Eventus International has announced that it already has more than 60 companies and 200 participants for its Scandinavian Gaming Show.
The wagering industry is bustling with excitement over 2019’s re-regulation of the Swedish Gambling industry that will begin in January next year. This re-regulation in Sweden will open up a number of opportunities for local entrepreneurs and gambling companies who can now operate in their own country.
After recognising this eagerness for gaming regulation, Managing Director of Eventus International – Yudi Soetjiptadi - decided to announce Eventus International’s first venture into a completely new region, Scandinavia.
The first ever Scandinavian Gaming Show will be held at Stockholmsmässan in Stockholm, Sweden from the 5th-6th September - and has already brought together over 60 companies and 200 participants together.
“Seats are selling fast! It’s been one of our top selling shows of the year so far and the registration list continues to get longer. At the current rate that registrations are coming in, we are preparing for a packed audience” – Yudi Soetjiptadi, Managing Director, Eventus International.
Check out our latest events in the videos below:


text:
Warren Stratford signs world-wide management deal with Musgrave
World renowned comic artist Warren Stratford has inked a world-wide management deal with Musgrave MGT of Victoria, BC, Canada.
By: Musgrave MGT
Warren Stratford started his comic sculpting career 25 years ago and over the past decade has perfected his craft to where it is now avidly collected by fans and corporations all over the world.
Warren Stratford, whose comic sculptures are sold in over 40 countries and found in over 500 retail outlets states, “I am totally stoked to be with Musgrave. My brand has been on the rise over the last 2 years and it was high time that we started to get a handle on it, Musgrave has the experience and depth to bring the Warren Stratford brand to the right people.”
John Graham of Musgrave MGT explains it like this, “Warren is a rare talent, most of the comic sculpture out there in the market is just not that good. Warren is the exception to the rule. His work is funny yet carefully detailed. His attention to detail is amazing. Warren’s feel for the common man is amazing.”
Musgrave MGT has a long track record of bringing unique custom designed products to the market. The 2 principals, Hugh Turner and John Graham are both experienced business people whose expertise lies in the gift and corporate promotional marketplace.
“We are showing at the upcoming Hong Kong gift show,” says Hugh Turner. “We are launching the Warren Stratford Signature Series there. This is a limited edition, artist signed series designed specifically to compete at the top of the marketplace.”


text:
Data shows that most people visited Maldives from China last month after the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka achieved a growth of 1553.4 percent in the Chinese market in July.
China was the largest tourist market in Maldives until 2019.
Before the outbreak, 284,029 tourists arrived from China in 2019. This accounted for 16.7 percent of the total tourist arrivals that year.
The number of Chinese tourists fell sharply in March 2020 following the closure of the Chinese border during the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend continued until the border reopened this year after three years.
China resumed direct flights to Maldives on January 18, 2023. A total of 92,391 tourists visited Maldives from China as of July this year. The number of tourists that visited Maldives last month was 151,587 people. Out of that 28939 tourists were from China.
China is currently the third-largest tourist market in Maldives.
The Ministry of Tourism said the number of Chinese tourists has been growing rapidly in the past six months since China opened to travel. The ministry said it hoped to achieve pre-pandemic levels as soon as possible.


text:
No. 22, 1st Floor,
Habibullah Road, T.Nagar,
Precision Biometric India Pvt Ltd
Precision Biometric India Pvt Ltd is a pioneer in biometric technologies with latest products in Finger print, IRIS, Face recognition etc and has done large scale successful biometric implementation for public & private sector companies across the country.
Precision Biometric India Pvt Ltd Biometrics News
Digital identity firm ForgeRock says it has replaced its previous reseller program with a three-tiered one. It is one of…
|Sep 13, 2022
Swedish gesture recognition and digital payments solution provider Crunchfish and one of India’s largest private banks, HDFC Bank, have been…


text:
The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) core deflator, advanced by 0.1% (0.113%) in May, below expectations and contributing to a year-over-year change of 2.1% (2.139%), according to a report released from the Commerce Department on Friday morning.
Markets had been expecting a 0.2% monthly gain in core PCE following the previous month's expected 0.1% rise. Annual core PCE remains one tick above the Fed's unofficial target level of 2.0%.
Prior to the release, economists from TD Securities such a modest inflation reading of 2.1% will "come as some comfort to the Fed," and suggests that the underlying consumer inflation pressures have "remained relatively contained."
The report also showed a 1.9% month-over-month increase in personal income in May, higher than expectations and well above the previous month's upwardly revised 0.3% gain.
Personal spending rose 0.8%, above the previous month's upwardly revised 0.4% increase.
Compensation rose 0.3% after a flat reading in April, with wages and salaries gaining 0.3% after a 0.1% drop in April.
Disposable income increased 5.7% following a 0.4% gain in April.
The report also recorded a 5.0% increase in the savings rate, well above the previous month's 0.4%.
Total consumer spending, which comprises roughly 70% of U.S. gross domestic product, rose by 3.2% on an annualized three-month basis.
The PCE deflator came in at 3.1%, slightly below expectations for a 3.2% rise.
The rise in consumer spending was largely expected by economists, who said the rise was largely due to the nearly $71 billion in stimulus cheques the U.S. government has already mailed out to Americans.
By Stephen Huebl


text:
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has asked the U.S. Copyright Office to exempt tablet and video game console jailbreaking from Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) provisions and asked vendors to stop opposing the practice.
Jailbreaking, also known as rooting or chip modding, depending on the device it takes place on, refers to the bypassing of restrictions built in by manufacturers to prevent the installation of unauthorized software.
All popular platforms, whether it’s Apple’s iOS, Sony’s PS3, Microsoft’s Xbox or Google’s Android, have strong jailbreaking communities built around them with independent developers often releasing innovative content that enhances the user experience.
However, most manufacturers discourage this software freedom-of-choice philosophy and often use legal and technological means to prevent jailbreaking from becoming widespread.
EFF’s efforts to get jailbreaking added to the list of DMCA exemptions began three years ago and resulted in a ruling from the U.S. Copyright Office clarifying that bypassing iPhone protections in order to run so-called homebrew software is not a violation of copyright laws.
However, the EFF wants this exemption expanded to cover other devices as well. “Technology has evolved over the last three years, and so it’s important to expand these exemptions to cover the real-world uses of smartphones, tablets, video game consoles, DVDs, and video downloads,” the organization said in a statement Friday.
The digital rights watchdog called on device manufacturers like Apple, Sony and Microsoft to stop opposing jailbreaking and embrace it for its benefits. Innovation, privacy and security enhancements are among EFF’s pro-jailbreaking arguments.
“In an era of increased worries about privacy on mobile devices, the jailbreaking community has also been vital in securing users’ privacy when manufacturers won’t,” EFF activist Trevor Timm said in a blog post. “Security fixes developed by the jailbreaking community protect smartphone users when the manufacturer is slow to fix vulnerabilities or doesn’t fix them at all,” he added.
Unfortunately, while there are many examples of custom security features developed by the jailbreaking community, this kind of software freedom also has its downfalls, security experts say.
“If jailbreaking or rooting gains more popularity, it may lead to an increasing number of malware and attacks,” said Denis Maslennikov a senior malware analyst at Kaspersky Lab who specializes in mobile threats.
Jailbreaking facilitates access to low-level operating system functions and this kind of exposure can be exploited by malware writers. The decision to jailbreak a device should not be taken lightly and requires knowledge that not every user has, Maslennikov explained.
One of the worst-case scenarios if jailbreaking becomes widespread is for a popular non-vendor-approved application to malfunction and crash hundreds of thousands of devices. It is impossible to force vendors, who may officially support jailbreaking/rooting, to support all third-party applications, Maslennikov said.


text:
Classic RPG Pathfinder: Kingmaker With Good Sales Results
Adrian Werner, 31 August 2021, 12:11
Koch Media revealed the sales results of Pathfinder: Kingmaker and released a new trailer for the sequel, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.
Pathfinder Kingmaker Update With Turn-based Combat Goes Live
Czarus, 19 August 2020, 14:57
The latest update for Pathfinder: Kingmaker has introduced turn-based combat and a number of other improvements. In addition, the game has also been released on PS4 and XONE consoles.
Pathfinder Kingmaker Will Get an Official Turn-based Combat System
Czarus, 11 June 2020, 13:36
On the occasion of Pathfinder: Kingmaker's launch on PS4 and XONE, a turn-based combat system will be officially implemented in the title. The system will be based on a mod for the game, released some time ago.
Pathfinder Kingmaker Mod Adds Turn-based Combat System
Adrian Werner, 09 July 2019, 14:31
Thanks to the fan modification it is now possible to play Pathfinder: Kingmaker with a turn-based combat system, more faithfully reproducing the tabletop RPG on which this production is based.
Pathfinder Kingmaker Gets Enhanced Edition in June
Adrian Werner, 26 May 2019, 17:10
Next month Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Edition - a new edition of the popular RPG, offering numerous improvements and new elements will be released. Owners of the earlier release will receive it as an update.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker funded; new magic/melee character revealed
luckie, 26 June 2017, 22:35
Pathfinder: Kingmaker has now reached its Kickstarter funding goal, but the crowdfunding campaign continues. One of the stretch goals is Magnus, a character who is master of both magic and melee.
Classic RPG Pathfinder: Kingmaker will make you a king – support it on Kickstarter
luckie, 07 June 2017, 10:56
Fans of classic RPGs should keep an eye on Pathfinder: Kingmaker, which has just launched a Kickstarter campaign. Co-developed by Chris Avellone, the game will let you become an adventurer and king.


text:
Meta’s Cambridge Analytica woes are far from over. Karl Racine, the Attorney General of the District of Columbia, has sued Mark Zuckerberg. He accused the Meta CEO of having a direct hand in making the decisions that led to the major data breach.
Racine claims that Zuckerberg “contributed to Facebook’s lax oversight of user data and implementation of deceptive privacy agreements.” That, according to the lawsuit, enabled consulting firm Cambridge Analytica to obtain personal information from more than 70 million Americans, including more than 340,000 DC residents. The company allegedly used the data to convince voters in the 2016 presidential election through political ad targeting.
The AG previously sued Meta (then known as Facebook) over the scandal in 2018. That case is still pending. This time, Racine is targeting Zuckerberg directly. Under the jurisdiction’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive business practices, individuals are liable for the actions of a company that they knew about, controlled, or were unable to stop.
Racine is seeking a jury trial against Zuckerberg. He wants Meta’s CEO to waive future CPPA violations and pay damages and civil fines. Engadget has reached out to Meta for comment.
“Since filing our landmark lawsuit against Facebook, my office has fought tooth and nail against the company’s signature efforts to resist producing documents and otherwise thwart our lawsuit. We continue to persevere and have followed Mr. Zuckerberg’s evidence of evidence,” Racine said in a statement. †
All products recommended by Engadget have been selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.


text:
- Bosch introduces workshop concept in two-wheeler segment
Bosch introduces workshop concept in two-wheeler segment
10 July 2012 11:33
COIMBATORE: Bosch, an auto component manufacturer, has unveiled workshop concept in the two-wheeler segment here. S Muralidharan, Bosch VP (Automotive Aftermarket), said that the firm started 10 (Express Bike Service (EBS) stores here on the lines of sole outlet at Delhi. read more
Read Full Article on India Mart >>
Bosch, introduces, workshop, concept, wheeler, segment
India Mart Auto mobile news
India becoming SUV hub for world: Ford Motor
Amid slowdown in Indian auto market, SIAM fears job cuts
Local passenger car sales decline 12.26% in May
Myers Tire, ASL enter into JV to distribute auto equipment
'India's automotive engineering service market to grow 18.22% annually through 2016'
Microsoft reverses position on Xbox One Internet, game shari ...
Hindustan Times Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday that users of its forthcoming X...
Facebook Rolling Out Photo Comments
PC Magazine Ever see a Facebook status update and think that the only way you c...
Nokia Rises After Report of Microsoft Interest in Phone Unit ...
Businessweek Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) gained after a report that it held talks to sell ...
Airtel Slashes 2G Data Rates By 90% Following Vodafone Price ...
Gizbot Just when Vodafone announced the price slash on its 2G data rates in Indi...
Google to open Android Nation retail stores in India
Times of India NEW DELHI: In a significant move that will help increase Android ...
Airtel ropes in Vodafone's former consumer director
Economic Times Gopalan had joined Vodafone UK in 2010 and is credited with turni...
Win a Free T-Shirt
Quotes of the day
Spread the word
- © Copyrights & Disclaimer. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation has invited entries for a photographic competition to celebrate World Tourism Day falling on 27th of this month.
The theme for the competition includes Tourist Attractions of Pakistan, Landscapes, Culture and Life, Adventure Sports and Flora & Fauna.
The entries can be submitted by Thursday.
Winners will be awarded, certificates in a ceremony on 27th of this month at Pakistan National Council of the Arts. The entry submission form and details are available on PTDC website and social media.


text:
Google To Offer $5 for $10 Starbucks Coupon Tomorrow
Tomorrow Google Offers will sell a “$5 for $10” Starbucks voucher. According to the Google Commerce Blog, the deal will be available to Google Offers subscribers in all 40 US cities where Google Offers is live.
There’s also a “feel good,” charitable aspect to the promotion: “For every deal purchased, Google Offers will donate $3 to the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) for the Create Jobs for USA Fund (up to $3 million).”
The deal should turn out to be hugely successful. Similar $5 for $10 and $10 for $20 deals for Amazon vouchers from LivingSocial sold millions of coupons in the past. Google is promoting the deal in advance to help boost Google Offers subscriber rolls.
Google Offers recently introduced a trial loyalty program (Offers with Rewards) that encourages Google Offer buyers to revisit merchants and receive an incentive after some specific number of purchases.
- Google Closing The Loop With New “Offer Rewards” Program
- Google “Offer Ads” — Not Google Offers — In The Wild
- Groupon Files For IPO While Google Offers Could Be Its “Next Billion Dollar Business”


text:
Partner Event with MBTC – home of SiliconOffice.
We’ve decided to do something a little different for this months Bitcoin Melbourne event..
Before the event details, we’re very excited to announce MBTC Meetup group and Bitcoin Melbourne Meetup group has a new sponsor.. AMAZON WEB SERVICES!
Ian Gardiner is responsible for AWSStartup Business Development in Australia and New Zealand.. Since visiting the Melbourne Bitcoin Technology Center a couple of months ago, he’s been super supportive of our work in developing the Bitcoin and Blockchain start up ecosystem in Melbourne.
We’re going to make ‘Melbourne the Blockchain Capital of the World‘ and its great to have AWS support us in this mission! Thank you Ian and AWS.
Now back to the event:
This event is for people new to Bitcoin and Blockchain technology and also those who want to explore a little deeper of whats happening in the rapidly evolving Bitcoin and Blockchain world.
We’ll be tapping into the experience and knowledge of a number of Bitcoin Melbourne community members who’ve been delivering presentations and workshops on Bitcoin and Blockchain technology for quite some time.
We’ll also be hearing from businesses in the industry bringing the technology to market with real world products, services and useful applications.
6pm- 6.30pm- MBTC and Bitcoin Group’s Martin Davidson will give a speedy introduction to Bitcoin including an interactive experience of sending and receiving bitcoins using bluetooth technology.. You’ll learn some of the fundamentals of Blockchain technology and how to use Bitcoin safely and securely. Rubber will finally hit the road for you when you actually have some real ‘magic internet money’ on your phone!
6.30pm- 7pm- BlockZero Co-Founder, MBTC member and experienced Ethereum developer workshop facilitator Scott Phillips will present an introduction into the Ethereum Blockchain and how smart contracts actually work. What is ETH compared to ETC? Can we really Blockchain all the things? All will be revealed and light bulb moments are likely to follow.
7pm- 7.15pm- The author of industry renowned ‘The Week In Bitcoin’ newsletter and prolific speaker on the domestic and international Fintech/ Bitcoin and Blockchain conference circuit, Alan Tsen will give his insights into emerging trends in the industry, regulatory challenges and how Bitcoin and Blockchain technology is disrupting and reshaping the future of finance.
7.15pm- 7.45pm- Alan Tsen will be front of stage and joined by Brave New Coin, Blockfreight, Bitcoin Group, DSX and BlockZero welcoming questions from the audience.
7.45pm- 9pm- After nearly 2 hours of Bitcoin and Blockchain immersive fun, let’s cut loose with beers and pizzas sponsored by AWS and mingle with the “Talk and Trade Bitcoin” regulars at the MBTC outside BBQ decking area.
Note: People who only want to stay for just some parts of the Meetup are still most welcome to come by.
Look forward to seeing you!
Martin Davidson, Alan Tsen, Sam Lee and the Melbourne Bitcoin Meet Up Crew..
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS:
Amazon Web Services provides startups with the low cost, easy to use infrastructure needed to scale and grow any size business. Some of the world’s hottest startups, including Airbnb, Slack, Xero, and Canva, have leveraged the power of AWS to easily get started and quickly scale.
SPACE PROVIDED BY:
Born out of a passion to help grow the Bitcoin community and the rapidly growing blockchain and crypto currency ecosystem. MBTC’s mission is to assist new start ups in Melbourne find a place to build their businesses in an inclusive, innovative and creative environment.
MBTC MAIN CORPORATE SPONSOR:
Bitcoin Group is Australia’s largest and most capitalised Blockchain company operating profitably across seven locations in Australia, China and Iceland. Our operations include bitcoin mining, Blockchain Consulting and Australia’s largest bitcoin exchange platform by order book and trade volume.
Bitcoin Group is currently seeking a mid level Ruby developer.. Got what it takes to be part Australia’s fastest growing Blockchain company and come with us on a rocket ship to the moon? Find out more: http://static.bitcoingroup.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/25183431/JDRubyMiddlelevel_final.pdf


text:
Wall Street analysts forecast that Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE:SMP) will post $247.02 million in sales for the current fiscal quarter, Zacks reports. Two analysts have issued estimates for Standard Motor Products’ earnings, with estimates ranging from $244.34 million to $249.70 million. Standard Motor Products reported sales of $239.98 million during the same quarter last year, which would suggest a positive year over year growth rate of 2.9%. The firm is expected to issue its next earnings report on Tuesday, February 19th.
On average, analysts expect that Standard Motor Products will report full year sales of $1.09 billion for the current year. For the next fiscal year, analysts forecast that the business will report sales of $1.14 billion, with estimates ranging from $1.13 billion to $1.15 billion. Zacks’ sales calculations are a mean average based on a survey of analysts that cover Standard Motor Products.
SMP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. ValuEngine upgraded shares of Standard Motor Products from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, October 27th. Zacks Investment Research reaffirmed a “sell” rating on shares of Standard Motor Products in a report on Thursday, November 15th.
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 15th will be paid a $0.23 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 14th. This is an increase from Standard Motor Products’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.83%. Standard Motor Products’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.68%.
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in Standard Motor Products by 88.9% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 18,674 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $903,000 after purchasing an additional 8,788 shares during the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System increased its position in Standard Motor Products by 6.3% during the second quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 35,879 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $1,734,000 after purchasing an additional 2,119 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Standard Motor Products by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 330,741 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $15,987,000 after buying an additional 9,276 shares during the last quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Standard Motor Products by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Tributary Capital Management LLC now owns 224,619 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $11,056,000 after buying an additional 1,236 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Reinhart Partners Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Standard Motor Products by 8.4% during the 3rd quarter. Reinhart Partners Inc. now owns 32,880 shares of the auto parts company’s stock worth $1,618,000 after buying an additional 2,540 shares during the last quarter. 83.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Standard Motor Products Company Profile
Standard Motor Products, Inc manufactures and distributes replacement parts for motor vehicles in the automotive aftermarket industry. Its Engine Management segment manufactures and distributes engine management replacement parts, including electronic ignition control modules, fuel injectors, remanufactured diesel injectors and pumps, ignition wires, coils, switches, relays, EGR valves, distributor caps and rotors, various sensors primarily measuring temperature, vehicle systems, electronic throttle bodies, and other engine management components primarily under the Standard, Blue Streak, BWD, Select, Intermotor, OEM, LockSmart, TechSmart, Tech Expert, and GP Sorensen brands.
Further Reading: How Do You Calculate Return on Equity (ROE)?
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
Receive News & Ratings for Standard Motor Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Standard Motor Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.


text:
Google unveiled its own Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones at its keynote running on the new Android 7.1 Nougat software. While the Pixel smartphones ran on new software, Google kept mum about the update roll out details for other Google-supported devices. However, Google has now confirmed that it plans to release Android 7.1 Nougat to Nexus devices and the Pixel C, and the developer preview will be released soon.
Google told Android Police that the Android 7.1 Nougat developer preview will hit Nexus devices and the Pixel C tablet before the end of this quarter. This means that before 2017 beckons, compatible Nexus phones and the Pixel C tablet should get the developer preview of Android 7.1 Nougat. The list of Nexus devices that will support this update remains hazy at best, but last year’s Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P should at least make the cut.
The publication also got hold of the Android 7.1 Nougat changelog, and there are some Pixel exclusive and non-exclusive features. The Pixel exclusive features include the Pixel Launcher, Google Assistant, Smart Storage, unlimited original quality photo and video backup to Google Photos, electronic image stabilisation 2.0, solid navbar icons, new blue SystemUI theming, wallpaper picker with new wallpapers and sounds, a brand new setup and look of the interface, and a dynamic calendar date icon. It is unsure whether these changes will be supported on the Pixel C tablet or not.
Non-exclusive features include night-light (another name for night mode or a blue-light filter), and other performance improvements. Support for fingerprint gestures, a new Daydream VR mode, circular app icons, and a manual storage manager are also a part of the update.
For now, only the Pixel and Pixel Xl smartphones run on Android 7.1 Nougat update out-of-the box. The smartphones priced starting at Rs. 57,000, and the pre-sale in India begins on October 13.


text:
The pace of digital transformation, both globally and in India when it comes to audio and video consumption on smartphones, is tremendous. It is not surprising to note the gradual shift in consumer preference to consume content has drifted from TVs to personal desktops to laptops and now finally to smartphones. With over 200 million mobile Internet users in the country and an upswing in content consumption, smartphones are becoming the most potent engines, driving the growth of internet usage in India, as per a Google India study. Recognizing this and as part of taking forward its legacy of providing an ecosystem of services to its users in China, LeEco, the global internet and technology conglomerate recently launched its ecosystem membership program in India.
As mobile screens outpace other platforms of viewing content, both globally and in India, to emerge as the primary screen, it is imperative to have a content ecosystem that responds to the trend. LeEco is the first company to introduce the concept of content ecosystem on mobile devices in India. The company’s latest Superphone launch, Le 1s Eco, is the first smartphone to integrate such a wealth of content into this Superphone and spearhead the concept of Membership Program. LeEco introduced Le 1s Eco at an amazing introductory price of Rs 9999 over which the company announced 10% cashback offer on HDFC credit and debit cards. In the recently concluded first flash sale of Le 1s Eco, the company sold content worth Rs 320 million worth in just 29 minutes, thereby creating another unimaginable record in the industry. This is a clear testimony to the fact that Indian users are now looking for smartphones that come bundled with entertainment that gives them access to movies and songs and much more.
Le 1s Eco is truly a Blockbuster Superphone that packs the following –
Le 1s Eco gives buyers many high end specs to boast about:
1)3 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM
2)13.9cm (5.5) 403 ppi screen of FHD 1920×1080 resolution
3)Sleek full metal Unibody design
4)Mirror-surfaced fingerprint scanner
5)LeEco Membership worth Rs 4900 per annum
LeEco’s unique content ecosystem brings alive the company’s partnerships with Eros Now and YuppTV, through its platforms – Levidi and LIVE. The third premium content under LeEco Membership Program will be LeMusic powered by Hungama. Le 1s Eco packs seamless interface through unique platforms – Levidi and Live, which allow users to enjoy high quality Supertainment – anytime, anywhere!
This is a sponsored post.


text:
Local greentech startup DouxMatok says they’ll revolutionize how manufacturers and consumers worldwide use sugar, in a conversation with the Tazpit News Agency last week.
DouxMatok’s technology will allow for a reduction of 30-60 percent of sugar in a product, depending on the application, and with no effect on taste,” Eran Baniel told Tazpit.
Expanding upon research carried out in the USA and UK, Baniel added, “When we tested it in the UK, our product had the exact same taste profile as un-adapted sugar, with none of the aftertaste caused by artificial sweeteners.
For health-conscious individuals with a sweet tooth, these are enticing promises.
In recognition of their breakthrough, Baniel’s company won “Best Company” at the “Agravest 2015” event, Monday. Agravest, a yearly conference organized by Israel’s Ministry of Economy, Trendlines Agtech, and GreenSoil Investments, hosted their third annual event at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Baniel, a serial entrepreneur, is hoping the exposure will now help the company raise $4 million in their second round of fundraising.
The product he speaks so enthusiastically about is a lab-based transformation of sugar, one which requires no artificial chemicals. The modified sugar, he claims, works by modifying how the molecules interact with the receptors on the tongue.
The gustatory system, through which the body perceives taste, is not a fully efficient process. When consuming food or drink with a sweet flavor, usually containing sugar syrup or powder, many of the sugar molecules move through the mouth and miss the sweet taste receptors.
Consumers ingest these sugar particles without registering their sweetness, and therefore the sweetness of the product as a whole. If people could taste every sugar molecule in a cup of regular soda, they would most likely find it inedible.
DouxMatok’s technology coats the sugar molecules on to organic carriers using a natural mineral, which transports multiple sugar molecules together to the taste receptors on the tongue.
The four-person company, based in Petach Tikvah, will soon be looking find partners to go to market with. Instead of attempting to replace current sugar manufacturers, Baniel said, DouxMatok will aim to partner with them.
If the product works as well in application as it does in theory, it would not only boost the health profile of many food manufacturer’s products, but also save them significant expenditures on raw materials.
He went on to claim that the product could work wonders for the health product market, with the carrier showing similar adaptability to work with Xylitol, a key component in toothpaste and mouthwash.
Baniel gave a large portion of credit for the innovative work to his father, Avraham, who is still going strong at 97 years old. “He was called up by Ben Gurion and Chaim Weizmann to start Israel’s industrial chemical industry, and he’s been going ever since,” Eran said of his father’s ever-sweet career.


text:
In a recent letter addressed to President Donald Trump, over 600 U.S. companies and trade associations called for an end to the escalating trade war with China.
The correspondence, organized by the business coalition Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, expressed support for the administration’s efforts to address intellectual property violations, forced tech transfers and unfair trading practices, but warned of potential serious economic consequences to American businesses and consumers if the tariffs increased or remained in place.
“We know firsthand that the additional tariffs will have a significant, negative and long-term impact on American businesses, farmers, families and the U.S. economy,” the companies said to President Trump. “Broadly applied tariffs are not an effective tool to change China’s unfair trade practices. Tariffs are taxes paid directly by U.S. companies, including those listed below— not China.”
Citing a study from Trade Partnership Worldwide LLC, Tariffs Hurt the Heartland stated an estimated adding 25 percent tariffs on an additional $300 billion in imports on top of the currently implemented tariffs and retaliation would result in the loss of more than 2 million U.S. jobs, adding more than $2,000 in annual costs for an average American family of four.
“We are counting on you to force a positive resolution that removes the current tariffs, fosters American competitiveness, grows our economy and protects our workers and customers,” the letter concluded.
Walmart, Target, Rawlings Sporting Goods, and Footlocker are among the companies on the list of supporters.
See also: Trump Pulls Plug on Mexico Tariffs