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The Co-operative Group are hoping to open a new food store in Motherwell as Sainsbury’s go back to the drawing board.
Although no planning application has been submitted, the Co-op is seeking permission from North Lanarkshire Council for a change of use to part of the former Halfords building on Manse Road to enable them to sell food and convenience products.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s are redrawing their plans for the former bus depot site off Hamilton Road in Motherwell.
Following complaints from local residents about the supermarket’s delivery bay backing on to Tinker’s Lane and lorries being asked to squeeze down the narrow street, Sainsbury’s are now in the process of coming up with alternative site plans which will now include a petrol station which was missing from the earlier proposal.
Following last week’s story about Robertson Homes’ leaflet drop in New Stevenston, Newarthill, Carfin and Holytown a redistribution has taken place after some homes were missed.
The leaflet is the company’s way of seeking support for their care home and food store plan which they hope to build near Klondike Court in New Stevenston.
Full story in June 30 edition of Times & Speaker


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Leading software developer, Evolution Gaming, has stepped into the recently opened Ontario market, thanks to collaborations with several well-known operators.
However, the brand has announced its latest expansion deal that will see an increase in the company’s presence across Michigan state. This popular casino software developer, known for its live casino products, has shaken hands with the well-known brand, Soaring Eagle, to launch its fantastic portfolio on the platform of new partner.
Another Conquest of the North American Market
The latest expansion will see an enrichment of the operator’s offering with titles of popular providers including Evolution, NetEnt, and Red Tiger. The distribution will include the company’s fantastic, innovative, feature-packed, and sought-after products in the industry.
Melinda Coffin, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort CEO, said: “In table games alone, Soaring Eagle prides itself on offering the hottest gaming action in the Midwest. Now our players will be able to experience the same thrill online, not only playing the casino classics but also exciting and entertaining game show-style games. We are confident that customers old and new are going to love what is the latest in a long line of Soaring Eagle developments.”
Players who opt for this brand will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the outstanding titles of popular B2B brands such as Divine Fortune Megaways, Fruit Shop Megaways, and Starburst, all developed by the NetEnt, as well as Red Tiger online casino products like Gonzo’s Quest Megaways and Piggy Riches Megaways.
To this collaboration, Jeff Millar, Evolution’s Commercial Director for North America, also added the comment: “We are absolutely delighted that Soaring Eagle Casino is now live with such a wide selection of games from brands within the group in Michigan. Players will be able to immerse themselves in a uniquely entertaining Soaring Eagle online gaming experience from anywhere in the state.”
More About the Opeartor
This popular operator is part of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe which is also the owner of the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort located near Mount Pleasant.
The operator appeared online in April, and at first, players could only access this platform via the desktop on Playeagle.com. However, the brand later introduced its mobile app, Eagle Casino & Sports which is currently only available to iOS users.
“Evolution Goes Live With Soaring Eagle Casino In A New Michigan Partnership’’, gamingamerica.com, June 6, 2022.
The post Evolution Grows Michigan Presence with Soaring Eagle first appeared on RealMoneyAction.com.

domain: news


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BUFFALO, N.Y. —
Are you looking for something fun to do this weekend?
A restaurant in downtown Buffalo is offering a new unique option, dining in an igloo.
The Italian restaurant Tappo is offering rooftop dining in an igloo during the winter.
"Somebody sent me a YouTube video of a restaurant in Wisconsin and that was three weeks ago and as soon as I saw it I knew it would be a hit," said Tappo owner, Rocco Termini.
The heated igloo costs $400 and seats eight people for dinner.
"You get salad, a choice of dinners, two bottles of wine, two crafts of hot beverage and dessert," said Termini.
The idea launched on New Year's Eve and has shown to be a popular one. Termini says the restaurant is booking 50 igloo reservations a week.
"It's really a celebration of our winter which we always complain about but now were out here twenty degrees out and everybody is having a good time."
If you would like to dine in an igloo you can call Tappo at (716) 259-8130 and request a reservation.


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Huawei‘s Richard Yu, CEO of its Customer Business Group had first disclosed in October 2017 that the manufacturer has got a foldable smartphone in the operates. Richard Yu moreover disclosed that the manufacturer already had a working prototype of a two-screen gadget with only a compact gap between both screens that needed to be fixed. Before then, Huawei’s rival Samsung was In addition rumoured to be working on a foldable smartphone. That rumour soon blossomed and not long whenever, the company established it is indeed working on this sort of a device. 2019 is looking to be the year of the foldable smartphones and Huawei will indeed be one of the early birds to uncover a commercial model.
Richard Yu himself had show last week at the launch of the Balong 5000 5G chipset that Huawei will introduce her 5G folding cameraphone at MWC 2019. The foldable cameraphone is expected to function the new Balong 5000 chipset what is the company’s response to Qualcomm’s Sd X50 5G modem.
Ahead of MWC 2019, technology blog LetsGoDigital has presently launched 3D renders of the Huawei foldable smartphone perhaps curried from patent sketches. We are no Certain the final design will be same such as this one. Apart from the attractive graphic design, there are not so many details we could cling on to. Looking at the renders, we cannot tell if the product will fold outwards or inwards only. Since it uses a flexible OLED screen, it is probable the gadget could open both ways as desired. After it is to be used as a smartphone, it is folded outward and when not on use, the user may have to fold it inward.
Read Furthermore: Huawei confirms release of 5G foldable phone with Kirin 980 and Balong 5000 at MWC 2019
Details of the gadget are sketchy and so, it is unclear if there will be an M-Pen onboard as is the case with the Mate 20 X gaming phone. We’ll have to wait until MWC to discover out extra about the Huawei foldable phone. The Chinese giant has a press meeting scheduled to hold on February 24 wherever we believe the 5G foldable cameraphone will be introduced.


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If the near meltdown of the United States Postal Service proves anything it's that private industry can do stuff better than government.
It's that simple.
Email, online bill payment and a society that craves instant gratification are all factors in the demise of the once mighty post office. But let's face it, UPS and FedEx have done a much better job of delivering packages and time sensitive material for many years now.
In fact I would argue that despite its noble roots as the creation of Ben Franklin and a model of the efficiency of early U.S. government, the post office is an irrelevant appendage that should be permanently closed.
For good. There's simply no need for it in modern society.
I've tried hard to think of how having no post office might affect me and all I can come up with is Christmas cards and small eBay stores still using parcel post instead of UPS.
I guess that means no more Christmas cards. And - according to one eBay store owner I know - costs on small stuff will go up when the post office goes away.
But, there's tons of websites online that deliver electronic cards. Seems it would be pretty easy to find a nice looking and appropriate e-card and blast it out to everyone in my Android contact list.
As for eBay, there's a good chance that the demise of the post office will result in a war for market share between FedEx and UPS. Economics
Frank Girardot: From Mr. Postman to Ms. Jury Foreman - Whittier Daily News


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The advent of connected cars lead to many useful features, such as remote locking using a smartphone, but not all cars came from the factory with these capabilities. Today Ford announces its SmartLink device, retrofitting older cars with a host of remote features, from finding the car's location to controlling locks and starting the engine.
Ford SmartLink plugs into a car's OBDII port, hidden under the dashboard, and contains a GPS chip and 4G/LTE modem. SmartLink connects to a user's smartphone through an associated app, letting them check see the car's location and fuel status, and also perform actions such as remotely starting the engine or locking the doors.
Brett Wheatley, Ford's executive director of its Customer Service Division for North America, said the feature set is designed to fit drivers at different points in their lives, highlighting how SmartLink will let parents monitor their children's driving speed and location.
OBDII devices offering similar capabilities have been on the market for a few years, but SmartLink marks the first time an automaker has offered one specifically tailored towards its own vehicles, which should eliminate any compatibility issues. Many automakers include data modems built into new cars that support similar features as SmartLink, such as GM's OnStar or Ford's own Sync Connect system.
Ford said SmartLink comes from a partnership with Verizon and automotive equipment supplier Delphi, suggesting that the device is similar to Verizon's Hum device, which works with cars from different makers.
Wheatley pointed out that, along with a smartphone app, Ford will include a Web portal connecting to SmartLink. The device will show vehicle health information, similar to the vehicle health report from Ford Sync, letting drivers know of any maintenance issues. The app, according to Wheatley, will let users schedule maintenance appointments with a Ford dealer.
Parents will be able to set location-based boundaries and speed limits, so that SmartLink sends them a text message when a driver violates those rules. It includes a security feature, sending owners an alert based on vibration, which could mean a break-in or stolen car.
Wheatley also said the app will offer efficiency coaching, helping drivers maximize fuel economy through best acceleration and braking practices.
Ford SmartLink, which will be available this summer, works on 2010 model year or later Ford and Lincoln cars. Pricing has not been announced yet, with Wheatley saying it could be a single up-front price or a subscription model.


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I welcome the decision by the government to grant visa-free entry to tourists from India and China next year. This is indeed an important initiative to boost our tourism sector, especially during the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign.
Tourism is one of the key sectors in Malaysia’s economy as it constituted 15% of our GDP in 2018. In the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, tourism is one of the Key Economic Growth Activities (KEGA).
The visa requirement for Chinese tourists is one of the issues that I’ve brought up many times in parliament. The tourism industry is highly competitive, and Malaysia has been losing tourists to other countries in the region, such as Thailand, who have granted visa-free entry to tourists from China.
China is our third largest source of tourists while Indian is seventh. In 2018, Malaysia received 2.9 million visitors from China and 0.6 million visitors from India. In comparison, Thailand received 10.5 million and 1.6 million visitors from China and India respectively in 2018.
I am also glad that through this initiative the government will accept eWallets and credit cards as a proof of financial capacity. Previously, there has been cases where Chinese tourists were refused entry for not carrying sufficient cash although they have money in their eWallets.
However, the Immigration department still needs to improve their entry processing system and procedures. Many tour operators have feedbacked to me that their tour groups from China had to line up for 2-4 hours after arriving in the airport to pass through the immigration checks. This has dampened the mood of the tourists and has left a bad first impression on our country.
UMNO supreme council member Razlan Rafii has questioned the visa-free initiative by claiming that this is a ploy by the PH government to sell out the country and grant the tourists citizenship. He quoted the recent Auditor General’s report which has stated that 95% of Chinese and Indian nationals visiting Malaysia between 2016-2018 have no records of exit dates.
Razlan Rafii’s claims are baseless and foolish. Firstly, he should be questioning his own party leaders instead because his party was the government from 2016-2018. In addition, the Immigration Department has clarified that the exit date records were inaccurate because the tourists entered the country via the Electronic Travel Registration & Information (eNTRI) system, but they were recorded under the regular social visit pass system when they leave.
Nevertheless, the initiative must be implemented and monitored properly so that it can achieve the intended goals. If successful, the visa-free policy should be continued beyond 2020. I am confident that this initiative will increase the tourist arrivals from China and India, thus strengthening our tourism industry.


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As demand for fiber networks continues to grow, Broadband Forum has expanded its BBF.247 Optical Network Unit (ONU) Certification Program to include XGS-PON.
This latest update extends the program to a variety of key features needed by operators deploying XGS-PON networks. The certification is just one piece of Broadband Forum’s vision to provide network operators with the tools, open specifications, and open source references necessary to bring new services and technologies to their customers more rapidly. Certified ONU products can be deployed quickly, with improved interoperability to existing Optical Line Terminal (OLT) equipment already deployed. Similarly, certified ONU products will also work directly with newer Broadband Forum specifications, including the forthcoming virtual OMCI specifications and software defined access networks.
The XGS-PON extensions add to the BBF.247 G-PON initiative – which has now certified nearly 100 products since its launch in 2011. The new test plan will see ONUs undergo rigorous testing at Broadband Forum’s official certification program test laboratory Laboratoire des Applications Numeriques (LAN Laboratory), using MT2’s ONU testing solution. The work will confirm conformance to the latest PON ITU-T standards, providing network operators with assurance that they can deliver efficient networks and a high-quality customer experience. New additions to the technology are also now tested, including extended OMCI messages format, Enhanced Unicast & Multicast Operations, and Capacity Tests & Performance Monitoring. This increases the number of certification test cases by more than 50% compared to the previous version.
Eight products, including single or multi-user port ONUs/L2 and Residential Gateways from Altice Labs, CommScope, Huawei, Humax, KAONMEDIA, Sagemcom, Sercomm and ZTE have already been certified under the new BBF.247 certification program.
“The introduction of XGS-PON certification by Broadband Forum is a significant and positive step for the PON ecosystem as interoperability will encourage growth,” said Jaeseok Kim, Head of Infra Planning at SK Broadband. “This will become increasingly important as more operators look to upgrade existing network to meet consumer demand for Gigabit + speeds.”
Claudio Mathys, Product Manager Wireline Access Networks at Swisscom (Schweiz) AG, added: “Establishing interoperability and testing requirements are key elements in a liberated market. The introduction of XGS-PON from Swisscom as a technology leader – in conjunction with the certification and testing program from Broadband Forum – will significantly enhance the confidence from our competitors for CPE certification as based on industry standards and independent references. Achieving Broadband Forum certification is the entry ticket for connectivity to our network. We will definitely avoid the painful experience made with xDSL interoperability/complexity – right from the beginning.”
Hugues Le Bras, Network Engineer in Fixed Access Networks at Orange, said: “The role of interoperability and standards has only become more important as broadband grows in popularity and operators upgrade their networks to meet consumer demand. Orange already requests BBF.247 certification for each ONU deployed on the field. However, this expansion of Broadband Forum’s certification program will give us confidence when deploying next-generation technology that will enable the future era of connectivity. The latest additions to the certification also bring new features, such as flexibility and monitoring, which are essential for Orange throughout the ONU life.”
A future XGS-PON interoperability test event will take place at LAN Laboratory, in Tauxigny, France, from October 5 to 9, 2020, allowing vendors worldwide to exercise their OLT or Optical Network Terminal (ONT) solutions against each other. The event will give all equipment vendors the opportunity to improve the interoperability of their products by testing them against the other solutions presented at the event.
“Our existing G-PON certification has made a significant impact on ensuring products meet standards, and this latest expansion of the program will give operators the confidence to roll out mass XGS-PON deployments,” said Robin Mersh, CEO at Broadband Forum. “We now want to instill this same assurance in the industry for upcoming ITU PON technology, including XGS-PON and NG-PON2. XGS-PON is a major step in network evolution, supporting the expansion of 5G and through BBF.247 certification, we can ensure network interoperability.”
Thierry Doligez, Director of LAN Laboratory, said: “Both operators and vendors increasingly recognize the importance of certification in order to speed up deployment and we are proud to partner with Broadband Forum on this extension of its G-PON certification program. As operators move to upgrade their networks to meet increasing consumer demand, the new testing will make sure they are investing in trusted products which will guarantee a certain level of service. ONU manufacturers will also benefit from this substantial program update as it will give them the chance to prove their conformance against enhanced features.”


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October 26th – November 5th, online and offline
Reflecting the new normal era such as beauty, medical care, and wellness
1:1 meeting with overseas buyers from 40 countries
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization will hold the ‘Seoul International Travel Mart (SITM)’ online and offline for 9 days from October 26th to November 5th. This is to rebuild the network of domestic and foreign tourism industry, which has been contracted by COVID-19, and to preoccupy the tourism market in the era of With Corona.
This year, in particular, it will be held jointly with the ‘Seoul International Travel Mart for Medical Tourism (SITMMT)’. It plans to actively promote beauty, medical care, and wellness that are emerging as new normal tourism trends as well as tourism and MICE. The main programs are ▲Opening Ceremony ▲Seoul Tourism Briefing ▲Seoul Medical/Wellness Tourism Show Conference ▲Seoul Tourism Talk Concert ▲Beauty/Tourism Product Promotion Zone ▲Seoul Tourism Roundtable ▲Online 1:1 Business Consultation (B2B Travel Mart), etc. It will be held both online and offline at Saebitseom and 3D virtual event platform ‘Virtual Seoul’.
They are also actively exploring new markets through one-on-one online meetings. Meetings will be held between domestic companies such as travel agencies, hotels, and airlines and overseas buyers from 40 countries. This year, new buyers and sellers such as wellness, beauty, and tourism startups were also invited, and new normal tourism business opportunities were expanded compared to the existing Travel Mart. The 1:1 business conference will be held 24 hours a day in Virtual Seoul from October 27th to November 5th.
Gyeongju Choi, Director of Tourism and Sports in Seoul, said, “As the COVID-19 continues for a long time, the Korean tourism market is experiencing major ups and downs, such as the disconnection of networks between domestic and foreign industries and difficulties in developing new markets. I hope that Seoul International Travel Mart X Seoul Medical Tourism International Travel Mart will be a valuable opportunity to rebuild networking in the tourism industry, and serve as a stepping stone for Seoul tourism to take another leap forward and preoccupy the tourism market in the era of With Corona.”
Meanwhile, last year, Seoul International Travel Mart and Seoul Medical Tourism International Travel Mart were held entirely online due to COVID-19. A total of 3,301 buyer-seller business meetings were held, and both domestic and overseas buyers showed over 80% satisfaction.
Reporter Eunji Lee [email protected]
Copyright © Travel Newspaper Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited


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Apple is set to have different occasions where it will dispatch different new gadgets with the main occasion set for September. The organization is relied upon to dispatch new iPhones, Apple Watches, refreshed AirPods, patched up iPad smaller than usual, and the upgraded MacBook Pros according to a report by Bloomberg writer Mark Gurman. Apple is relied upon to have an occasion in September where it is required to dispatch the iPhone 13.
While Apple’s September occasion is said to zero in on the dispatch of new iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods, the new iPads and potential updates to a portion of the organization’s administrations could be held briefly occasion. The organization’s last occasion of the period is required to zero in on the dispatch of Apple’s MacBook Pros.
To review, the iPhone 12 arrangement was not reported until October last year due to the worldwide wellbeing emergency and creation limitations. The 2020 September occasion displayed new Apple Watches, iPads, and services.This year, the organization is guessed to get back to its custom of declaring the dispatch of its yearly iPhone update in September, according to reports. The iPhone 13 is said to accompany a refreshed camera, better shows, and a more modest indent according to Gurman. Furthermore, the iPhone 13 might accompany the A15 chipset, and ProMotion with a 120Hz revive rate for the Pro models.
Macintosh is likewise expected to dispatch different gadgets at the occasion including AirPods, iPad smaller than usual, and Apple Watch. The organization is relied upon to dispatch the AirPods with a refreshed plan, a refreshed iPad smaller than expected with a bigger showcase and further developed execution, just as the Apple Watch Series 7 with better shows and performance.Apple’s cutting edge 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M1X chip “should in any case go at a bargain when the current MacBook Pro hits its two-year commemoration.” according to Gurman.


text: An anonymous reader writes: Dominic Frisby writes with a very interesting, albeit heavily opinionated, article from The Guardian discussing why we should all fear a cashless world. He argues "it will hand yet more power to the financial sector in that banks and related fintech companies will oversee all transactions." Every payment you will make will be traceable. While inequality is already a problem, it may be exacerbated even further in a cashless society. Frisby writes, "Cash, on the other hand, empowers its users. It enables them to buy and sell, and store their wealth, without being dependent on anyone else. They can stay outside the financial system, if so desired."


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- Ayushi Abrol
- April 07, 2022
Taking the global industrial domain in a storm, Facebook’s parent firm Meta is all set to take a long jump in the world of virtual assets and digital currency projects. In its latest expedition, Zuckerberg helmed Meta is planning to launch a highly-anticipated virtual token for its global community. The recent reports suggest that the popular brand is likely to enrich users with seamless access to a strong portfolio of crypto lending services on the multiple platforms owned by the company, with Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger gaining the top spot in the priority list.
According to a report published by Financial Times on Wednesday, the firm is aiming to unravel new opportunities for growth and earnings for Facebook and Instagram users. With virtual currencies and digital products becoming the mainstream investment option for customers around the world, Meta is deliberating its efforts to support this trend. The firm has always been a keen supporter of cryptocurrencies and has long shown interest in coming up with its own native digital currency. Though the firm has always had to face hard luck in its crypto expeditions, it has never stopped experimenting and taking risks in the sector, and the latest report is proof of its consistency.
Facebook owner Meta targets finance with ‘Zuck Bucks’ and creator coins https://t.co/IcK6oAM0J7
— Financial Times (@FT) April 6, 2022
The highly-anticipated virtual currency of Meta is internally addressed by the employees as ‘Zuck Bucks’ and shall be used within the fast-developing metaverse cluster. Interestingly, Facebook changed its name to Meta to reflect its interest in the virtual world of metaverse technology. The report does not talk about a digital token designed on a blockchain network; rather, it hints toward a centralized asset that can be used as an in-game coin within Meta’s social media platforms. The team is also working on creating social tokens and creator coins. The social coins will be used to reward users for engagement, whereas the creator coins will be for the influencers.
In a January memo, the chief of Meta’s financial unit, Stephane Kasriel noted that they are making crucial changes in product strategy to shift their focus towards metaverse, payments, and financial channels across the digital space in the near future. Meta is planning to release an NFT pilot by May 2022, giving the users of Facebook and Instagram easy access to digital collectibles. The report released by Cointelegraph in January stated that Meta was in the initial stages of launching its native NFT marketspace. The company is taking some planned steps to explore the hidden potential of cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and metaverse technology. The team is planning to come out of its social media image and is working to establish itself as a powerful player in the tech space.
If you are planning to hone your skills in crypto, then Blockchain Council’s certificate courses can be of great help to you. Experts design these courses to offer in-depth subjective knowledge and practical exposure to the participants.


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Asia's most expensive apartment: Opus Hong Kong flat sells for record HK$509.6m
Investment bank analysts have been warning Hong Kong is heading for a home price correction next year
Swire Properties sold the last unit at Opus Hong Kong in Mid-Levels on Tuesday for HK$509.6 million, making it the most expensive apartment transaction in Asia.
The sale came despite growing warnings by investment bank analysts that Hong Kong is heading for a home price correction next year in the face on an anticipated interest rate increase and slowing economy
The 5,444 sq ft unit sold on Tuesday is on the 12th and top floor of the three-year-old Opus Hong Kong block at 53 Stubbs Road and includes two car parking spaces and a 1,508 sq ft roof top. The price translates to HK$93,608 per square foot, making it the second most expensive in Asia in per square foot terms.
Sammy Po Siu-ming, chief executive at Midland Realty’s residential department, said the sale showed the top end of the market was marching to a different drum.
“This transaction underscores our earlier estimate that the high-end and super-luxury sector will buck the downward pressure on the overall market and continue to grow into next year,” he said.
“We estimate overall property prices will fall between 3 per cent and 5 per cent next year, but the high-end sector to grow 5 per cent to 10 per cent. Turnover of the high-end sector is also expected to rise by 20 per cent.
“There is adequate demand for luxury flats, especially after the renminbi’s recent devaluation that prompted more wealthy mainlanders to choose to plough their assets into high-end properties.
In June, Swire sold the 5,188 sq ft duplex flat A on the ground and first floors for HK$95,971 per square foot – the most expensive sale in Asia in per square foot terms.
The two flats sold this month were the last two Opus apartments that had not been sold by Swire Properties. They were released for sale in October.
A Swire Properties spokesman said at the time that the “the two units are currently leased and Swire remains the landlord until expiry of tenancy. But the two units will be handed over to the future buyer in a vacant condition”.


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Here's Why You Should Care About Chinese Startups
Startups out of China don't want to merely dominate the local market — they want their products and services to be used across the world as part of the country's "Going Out" initiative.
According to a CNBC report, the Chinese government is encouraging domestic companies to look beyond its own borders. This marks a notable shift from years ago when the creation of a Chinese company was intended to just serve the local market.
Chinese companies, large and small, have seen tremendous success in the international market. Most recently, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE: BABA)'s and its financial arm Ant Financial offered to acquire Moneygram International Inc (NASDAQ: MGI) while Tencent Holdings continues to acquire stakes in many Western companies.
Redefining The 'Made In China' Label
The CNBC report found that many Chinese entrepreneurs hold a similar philosophy: Innovation and technology have no borders. Also, while China is a large company, the world is a much bigger market.
Wang Mengqiu, the founder of a company that manufacturers an autonomous flying camera, told CNBC that the "adoption of new technology and new products like ours may be faster in other markets so we shouldn't confine ourselves."
Given the new global mindset of Chinese companies, Western investors may be forced to change their reception of the "Made in China" label that used to be associated with low quality.
"The international development of start-ups is accompanied with demonstration of high-tech products, which shows the world that 'Made in China' products are also innovative and user-friendly," Neil Wang, the global partner and China managing director at Frost & Sullivan, told CNBC.
© 2017 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.


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New enquiries to Kuoni for honeymoons hit their highest level since lockdown in the past week ahead of today’s lifting of UK travel restrictions and quarantine measures.
The operator has also received “thousands” of honeymoon searches online over the past few days.
More couples are asking about luxury ‘mini-moons’ this year, followed by a big long-haul trip in 2021 or 2022, with many hotels keen to attract couples with added-value upgrade offers.
The most popular destinations this year are Italy, Greece, Spain and UK and Ireland.
Top long-haul spots for next year are topped by perennial favourite The Maldives, followed by Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Kenya/Tanzania and South Africa.
Many couples are upgrading honeymoon plans for next year and the year after, with many saying that they will now have longer to save and are either extending their stay, with multiple centre destinations, upgrading their accommodation to luxury pool villas and adding experiences.
About 73,600 weddings and same-sex civil partnership ceremonies were postponed during lockdown, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Many thousands of honeymoon plans have also been thrown into disarray.
Kuoni has helped couples throughout the UK re-arrange honeymoon plans and cancelling trips over the past three months.
Chief executive Derek Jones said: “Weddings are now back on albeit in a smaller way for now – and so is the honeymoon as couples start to re-organise their special day.
“Alongside that we’re helping more and more couples each week plan what is essentially the most important holiday of their lifetime and the past week has shown a clear upswing in demand and a renewed confidence to go ahead and book.
“With smaller weddings of up to 30 possible in England this year, we’ve had couples come to us looking for a short escape this year to places including Spain, Italy and Greece, and deciding that they’ll do their ‘big trip’ later and make it bigger and better than ever.”
This is a community-moderated forum.
All post are the individual views of the respective commenter and are not the expressed views of Travel Weekly.
By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms & Conditions.


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Hi KWKC Family!
Happy Friday! We’re so excited to share that the KWKC Founder’s Day campaign is already up to $70,076…and we’ve got 5 days until the big event happens on July 21st! Thanks to several Regions, Market Centers, and generous individuals we already have 21 Sub-Campaigns launched, and $17,971 pledged in Matching Donations!
Here’s a snapshot of the Top 3 sub-campaigns!
We wanted to remind you that we’re awarding the top-raising Sub-Campaign a cherry-red Epiphone ES-335 electric guitar , signed by Gary Keller himself.
GO TEAMS GO!
Sincere thanks for all you do!
The KWKC Team


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Check out the on-demand sessions from the Low-Code/No-Code Summit to learn how to successfully innovate and achieve efficiency by upskilling and scaling citizen developers. Watch now.
Facebook is considering partnering with banks to offer financial services on Facebook Messenger, the Wall Street Journal reports.
According to the Journal, Facebook pitched JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and U.S. Bancorp on allowing Messenger users to view their checking account balances on Facebook, or get alerted to potential fraud activity.
In order to do so, banks would have to share customer information with Facebook, including account balances and detailed information about where they are making credit and debit card purchases.
Facebook executives have repeatedly emphasized in earnings calls over the last year that they’re interested in exploring ways to facilitate more conversations between businesses and their customers in Messenger.
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Last year, Wells Fargo began testing a Messenger bot that would allow users to check their account balances and determine where the nearest ATM is. Facebook also has partnerships with other financial services companies, including credit card providers Mastercard and American Express that allow them to connect to their customer service lines and place some orders.
“Like many online companies, we routinely talk to financial institutions about how we can improve people’s commerce experiences, like enabling better customer service,” Facebook spokeswoman Elisabeth Diana told the Journal. “We don’t use purchase data from banks or credit card companies for ads. We also don’t have special relationships, partnerships, or contracts with banks or credit card companies to use their customers’ purchase data for ads.”
A Facebook spokeswoman reached out to VentureBeat after publication, and said the idea that “we [Facebook] are actively asking financial services companies for financial transaction data” is false. She emphasized that any services on Facebook where users can chat with financial institutions or manage their accounts are opt-in, and that “we’re not using this information beyond enabling these types of experiences.”
These reported talks highlight two challenges Facebook is facing right now: First, it needs to find new money-making services that it can highlight to Wall Street, as revenue growth threatens to slow in the coming quarters. Second, securing new partnerships with companies will be an uphill battle as Facebook faces heightened scrutiny over how it handles user data, following the news that it failed to stop analytics firm Cambridge Analytica from improperly obtaining data on tens of millions of users.
Developers have previously told VentureBeat that since a series of stories on Facebook and Cambridge Analytica broke in March, many of their customers have become more hesitant about integrating with Facebook over privacy concerns.
Still, Facebook’s reach — with 1.3 billion Messenger users — is enticing. If these partnerships come to fruition, it could be a sign that major companies are willing to overlook Facebook’s previous fumbles with customers for the sake of reaching more people.
The Journal reports that at least one bank backed out of talks with Facebook over concerns about how it handled user data, and a JP Morgan spokeswoman told them that it “isn’t sharing our customers’ off-platform transaction data” with social platforms like Facebook.
Updated at 10:41 a.m. Pacific with an additional statement from Facebook.
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Brand Licensing Europe 2014 expects to top last year’s record-breaking attendance with even more features and new brands on the floor.
Beach products manufacturer JGR Copa will develop a collection of beach accessories for beer brands Corona, Modelo Especial and Pacifico.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Tonner Doll Company have unveiled the dolls created by high-end fashion and costume designers for The Wizard of Oz's 75th.
Sanrio has revealed details for Hello Kitty Con 2014, the first official Hello Kitty fan convention in the world.
The Kardashian sisters are entering a whole new arena–hair care–in a new partnership with Farouk Systems.
SEGA has unveiled a star-studded lineup for the Sonic Boom fan event, which will be held in New York City Oct. 4.
BBC Worldwide ANZ has tapped SuperCheap Auto as the exclusive retailer of Top Gear-branded automotive accessories in Australia and New Zealand.
Santoro's Gorjuss design property has added a swath of new licensees around the world.
After more than five years leading the company, Mikael Hed will step down as chief executive officer of Rovio Jan. 1.
Warner Bros. Consumer Products is planning a new 3D interactive dark ride attraction, Justice League: Battle For Metropolis, at Six Flags St. Louis and Six Flags Over Texas.
Warner Bros. Television Group is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the series premiere of "Friends" with a Central Perk pop-up shop and product program.
Fluid World, the U.K. brand licensing agency appointed as master agent for Virgin Galactic has launched a CP program for the commercial spaceline.
Cartoon Network is bringing its second-screen mobile app, “CN Watch and Play,” to several markets across Asia Pacific.
The Jim Henson Company has sold its new animated children’s series, “Doozers,” to Nickelodeon Australia.
U.S. consumers will spend more this holiday season, but plan to start early and seek out better deals.
USA Curling has teamed up with Denali Throws for a line of curling-themed blankets and other related merchandise.
Big Tent Entertainment has signed a long-term deal with HNJ jewelry to create jewelry featuring Domo.
The Toy Retailers Association has unveiled its annual list of the top 50 U.K. “Dream Toys” for the holiday season.
Specialty apparel retailer rue21 has launched an online shopping site designed to bring its products to teens and young adults across the U.S.
NECA has partnered with 343 Industries for a new global merchandise program featuring the “Halo” video game franchise.
Nickelodeon U.K. has picked up Rainbow’s girls’ series “Mia and me” for broadcast in the U.K. and Ireland.
©2014 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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Hotai Motor, Toyota Motor's distributor in Taiwan, has unveiled the Japanese carmaker's battery electric vehicle (BEV) model bZ4X. It is Toyota's first BEV model arriving in Taiwan and part of its plan to launch 30 BEV models by 2030.
As the most popular car brand in Taiwan, Toyota hopes its BEVs can reach as many people as possible, and it will launch various types of alternative fuel vehicles in the future, Hotai president Justin Su said.
The bZ4X is the first Toyota model built through e-TNGA, a BEV-dedicated platform that can curtail the costs of BEV design, production, and manufacturing, Hotai said.
The e-TNGA platform with modular design can adapt to different needs, allowing developers to build cars with varied lengths, widths, and wheelbases. That is why Toyota is confident about its ability to launch 30 BEV models in this decade.
Compared with its sister model Toyota RAV4, the bZ4X model features high body rigidity, a low center of gravity, a spacious cabin, and a high-performance suspension system. The battery pack, the costliest and heaviest part of an EV, is a structural member of the chassis - a feature that creates a lower center of gravity and enhances a car's stability and safety.
New safety package
Toyota has fortified protection structures around the battery pack. In the event of a collision, the bZ4X model's body can absorb and disperse the shock to reduce damage to the battery pack , Hotai said.
The battery pack adopts a structure that separates coolant and battery components, in a bid to prevent fire in case the coolant leaks and causes a fire in the circuits. The car is also equipped with a system that can monitor the changes of its voltage, electric current, and temperature changes and issue a warning if the battery system overheats.
The bZ4X is also the first Toyota model in Taiwan equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 3.0, a package features expanded detection ranges of camera and radar. In addition to adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane tracing assist (LTA), pre-collision system (PCS) already found in TSS 2.0, the new safety package increases the intersection recognition feature to assist in drivers' turns at crossroads.
Its road sign assist (RSA) can recognize through camera the speed limit of the road that the driver is on, and it can connect to the ACC feature to help the driver avoid speeding.
The updated model provides more than 40 active and passive safety features, marking Toyota's another leap in promoting vehicle intellectualization, Hotai said.
More chargers available
With its experience of developing hybrid electric vehicles, Toyota has partnered with Panasonic to develop high-quality BEV battery, sources familiar with the matter said.
The bZ4X model contains a battery pack with a capacity of 71.4 kWh that can support a range of up to 626km. Its fast-charging system goes with the CCS1 standard and takes only about 30 minutes to recharge the battery to 80% of its total. Its slow charger applies the SAE J1772 standard.
There are more than 1,000 public charging piles in Taiwan.
To prepare for the bZ4X model's launch, Hotai worked with Shilin Electric to build another 80 charging stations. It has also partnered with Fortune Electric Value, aiming to increase the number of chargers for Toyota car owners to 150. Hotai will launch a mobile app for BEV owners, so they can check the locations of chargers via phones.
Hotai also launched an app for ordering Toyota cars online. Toyota gave Hotai 300 units of the bZ4X model, while all of them have been booked just in 30 mintutes after Hotai started taking orders on May 17, Taiwanese media reported.
Su said Toyota has promised to supply more units to Taiwan once car shortages improve. It does not plan to launch another BEV model this year though, while EV development in Taiwan needs more observsation, he added.
Generally, the lead time of cars is delayed due to materials shortages that are aggravated by COVID-19 curbs in China, with imported cars affected most. Domestic carmakers are not immune to the impacts, as they have to import certain components from China, he said.
Due to escalating COVID infections in Taiwan over the past month, the number of visitors to Hotai's showrooms has dropped drastically, and yet visitors signed contracts faster, Su said.
Consumers are concerned about possible price hikes and late delivery amid materials shortages, so they tend to make quicker decisions, he noted.


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The leading German news agency, dpa, and the AllAboutSamsung blog report that the Düsseldorf Regional Court has denied Apple‘s motion for a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1N.
The court determined [translated version] that the 10.1N is reasonably distinct from Apple’s products and, therefore, does not constitute an infringement of Apple’s Community design (the EU equivalent of a U.S. design patent) or the German law against unfair competition.
Apple in a global intellectual property battle has claimed the South-Korean’s Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets copied the iPhone and iPad. The iPad maker is fighting several rival smartphones makers and tablet PCs in courts worldwide over intellectual property issues.
Samsung, which is Apple’s supplier as well as a competitor, has been trying to have the ban on sales of the original Galaxy Tab in Germany overturned while the ban was upheld by a court last week. The company has counter-sued Apple in Germany, claiming infringements of mobile technology patents.


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By Adam Harcourt-Webster
The Money Programme
"Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, interest you in a cheap watch, guv?"
Fake DVDs are the most popular counterfeit
That's the traditional image of fakes, the way it used to be, the spiv with his coat lined with counterfeits.
But things have changed. These days there is nothing that's not being faked; films, fashion, spare parts, drugs, tea bags, cigarettes, even toothpaste. You name it, someone somewhere will be knocking it off.
In the past the problem was less obvious.
Most people went through life oblivious to counterfeit goods; but not now.
"You had to know someone, you had to be connected, you had to be a bit dodgy," says writer and journalist Tim Phillips.
"Now this just isn't the case, you just have to walk outside your own front door."
The scale of the problem is colossal.
Counterfeiting cost Britain around £11bn last year.
Tim Phillips has investigated the global trade in fakes and says it's having a huge impact on companies' profits.
"If you look back 20 years the counterfeiting business was 1% of the size it is today," he says.
"This is an incredibly serious problem for businesses. If businesses had a line in their annual report [detailing] sales we've lost due to counterfeits, then a lot would have been done about it by now."
A Money Programme survey, conducted by Ipsos Mori, suggests that the most popular fake product in Britain is the DVD.
Up to 40% of New Era-badged caps are fake
Of those surveyed, 19% said they had either bought or suspected they had bought a counterfeit, and of this group one in three admitted to buying a dodgy DVD.
The Money Programme follows investigators as they try to shut down illegal factories and clamp down on the criminals selling tens of thousands of fake DVDs.
At one West London market, the Metropolitan Police and investigators from the film industry's own anti-piracy body Fact, or Federation Against Copyright Theft, seized £40,000 worth of counterfeit DVD's ,including the latest Hollywood releases.
The British Video Association believes that nearly 80 million fake DVDs are bought each year in Britain, and it appears to be a growing problem. In 2007 Fact seized 2.8 million fake DVDs, a 74% increase on the previous year.
"The sale of these DVDs is impacting on cinemas, on people's jobs both in the UK and worldwide," says Fact's Eddy Leviten.
"There's a loss to the economy in general."
Many companies keep quiet about the damage the counterfeit trade is doing, but some are willing to speak out.
Some fakes damage brands, others are deadly
"We would estimate that 30 to 40% of all products bearing our name are counterfeit," says Tony Swaffield, responsible for brand protection at New Era, the world's biggest baseball cap manufacturer.
For a mid-sized company like New Era, this creates a big problem, and Mr Swaffield doesn't believe New Era's problem is unique.
"If you're talking luxury brands or sporting brands, I would estimate they are affected at the same percentage," he says.
Indeed, it is estimated the global trade in fakes could be worth $300bn (£150bn) a year, or about 7% of global trade - and its growing all the time.
Electrical goods giant Canon has seen its video cameras, and printer cartridges counterfeited. The whole electronics industry is affected.
In Europe the printer cartridge market is worth some 30bn euros ($44bn; £22bn)a year and it's estimated that 7% of it is counterfeit.
More worryingly, Canon and other electronics manufacturers are concerned about the rise in counterfeiting of products including batteries and chargers. These fakes have the potential to kill.
"Its one thing to counterfeit the product which can damage a brand, it's another thing to potentially damage the safety and health of the individual consumer," says Canon's James Leipnik.
"Its illegal and outrageous."
The Money Programme: Britain's Favourite Fakes:7pm, BBC2 on Friday 15th of February


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The Facebook IPO, announced on February 1, 2012, has generated a lot of of headlines – and a lot of speculation. Opinions seem to range from “This is the greatest company in history!” to “It’s the start of the next dotcom bubble burst!”
But what do the real experts think?
To find out, Maven is conducting two Electronic Surveys – one to social networking, gaming, and social media marketing specialists and a second to professional investors. We’re asking them for their opinions on the IPO, how important it is to the social networking industry and the public markets, and how it will affect Facebook as a company.
The results will be published within the next couple weeks. As with all Maven Surveys, the information gathered will be from professionals in related industries with a stake in what occurs, not just public sentiment or speculation. Using Maven’s vast network of industry professionals, we will tap into Mavens who have informed opinions about Facebook and its impending IPO.
We will also repeat the Surveys after the IPO occurs in April to see how opinions change after the event.
Stay tuned for the results. We think it will be a very interesting read!


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Losing sparkle: Report says Ekati buyer drops bid
The FT says persons familiar with the matter has told them that private equity outfit KKR has dropped plans to buy BHP Billiton's Canadian diamond mine.
It raises "questions about demand for such assets, just as peer Rio Tinto starts work on a potential sale of its diamond division," the paper reports.
BHP Billiton, the globe's biggest mining company, in November launched a review of its diamond operations with an eye to selling assets including Ekati, Canada’s oldest diamond mine.
Valuations for the mine have been very far apart with some saying it's worth as little as $300 million while others peg it at $1.2 billion.
Rio Tinto followed in March saying it is rethinking its gems business.
Rio operates three diamond mines including Argyle in Australia, Diavik in Canada's far north close to Ekati and Murowa in Zimbabwe. The miner also has an advanced diamond project in Bunder, India.
The diamond business may simply be too small for the mining giants. Rio Tinto's diamond mines contribute less than 2% to its earnings and its a tiny proportion of BHP's income as well.
On top of that the profit margins for the gems, compared to say iron ore which sits at a more than comfortable 70% in Rio Tinto's case, is too snmall.
Rough-diamond prices rose 24% in 2011 building on strong gains during the two preceding years.
Supply is tight – Diavik and Ekati were the last major diamond discoveries but that was in the early 1990s. Diavik is Canada largest diamond mine while Ekati supplies roughly 10% of the world's diamonds by value.
And Ekati's best days are behind it – its remaining life could be as short as eight years.


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Record numbers of Aussies take exotic trips
A record number of Aussies took short-term overseas trips in the last financial year, new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) have confirmed.
Around eight million people left the country's shores in 2011-12, which was up from 7.4 million the previous year. This was also double the amount of travellers who visited a foreign land ten years ago.
The organisation revealed that New Zealand was the most popular destination, with 1.1 million tourists making the short journey.
However, it seems that a lot of people also jetted off to more exotic locations, with places like Spain, Brazil and Thailand all receiving greater numbers of Aussie travellers.
According to the Tourism Forecasting Committee, sunny beach resorts are increasingly appealing to the average Aussie.
Speaking to the News Limited Network, chairman of the organisation Bernard Salt said: "You could say Koh Samui and Phuket in Thailand are the next Bali and Fiji. It's an overnight flight away and there are cheap Jetstar flights to Bangkok."
Mr Salt also suggested that the strong Aussie dollar is ensuring tourists from down under are getting the best exchange rates when heading abroad.
It is little surprise that the ABS figures showed that 819,000 Aussies travelled to the US last year, as the dollar has gained on the American equivalent.
"The Australian dollar has strength so the trip to Disneyland or Hawaii becomes feasible," Mr Salt added.
His comments certainly tie in with a recent study conducted by Visa, which showed that Aussies spent $6.8 million on their travel credit cards in 2011, which was a six per cent rise on the previous year.
It is important for people to lock in these favourable exchange rates and this can be done by purchasing a prepaid travel card.
Many products will guarantee that you receive the current rate, even if there are sudden dips in the market by the time your holiday comes around.
Have a question about travel money? Ask the money gurus at Mozo Answers.


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Continuing to make its presence felt on iOS, Google has released a new iPhone and iPod touch app called YouTube Capture. YouTube Capture is an app designed to give a quick and easy way to record and upload videos to YouTube as well as to instantly share them on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
The app allows users to record videos within the app itself and to then instantly upload them to their YouTube account. The app is also able to upload videos in the background so users are free to use other apps while the video is busy uploading. The app even allows you to to do minor edits to the video, such as color correction and trimming its length. As the video uploads, users can also choose to instantly share the video to Facebook, Twitter or Google+ once it finishes uploading.
The choice of separating the new app from the original YouTube app also appears to be a good one. It allows the YouTube Capture app to be very simple and easy to use and makes it a good choice for people looking to quickly capture a video.
Try the app out for yourself here.


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News this week that Delta Air Lines is testing seats that recline even less should be sufficient to confirm airline passengers’ fears that things will only get worse before they get, almost certainly, worse.
But give Delta this much credit: At least they're still providing seats.
A glimpse of how bad things really could get was provided the other day at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2019 trade show in Hamburg, Germany.
The event featured plenty of innovations intended to make air travel more comfortable for those who can afford top-dollar trimmings, including first-class and business-class seats with lots of amenities.
And then there was the Italian seat manufacturer Aviointeriors, which displayed the latest iteration of its Skyrider "standing seat." It's an idea that the company unveiled about a decade ago and keeps refining to make it more appealing to airlines.
Imagine a bicycle seat with a lightly padded, upright piece of plastic to lean against.
That's pretty much the Skyrider, which Aviointeriors is hoping will be the hot ticket for carriers looking to cram even more seats into economy-class cabins, particularly for shorter flights.
"Skyrider is concept foundation of new way to travel in the short-haul routes," the company declares in passable English on its website. "Innovation is driving Aviointeriors in developing a new concept of a family of economy seats."
I reached out to Aviointeriors by email to see what kind of interest airlines have shown to the Skyrider and whether any orders have been received. I didn't get a response.
But considering that Aviointeriors has been steadily tweaking the design to meet carrier and regulatory requirements, I'm figuring they're serious about getting this product into the aviation marketplace.
Which makes me comfortable — and that’s not a word that otherwise applies to this column — in believing it’s just a matter of time before we start seeing, if not the Skyrider, then some other variation on a bare-bones, torture-chamber apparatus that will be passed off as a boon to budget-minded passengers.
“I have no doubt at all,” agreed Kate Hanni, founder of FlyersRights.org, an advocacy group. “If the airlines can get away with shoving more seats onto a flight, they’ll do it.”
As for Skyrider seats, she said, "there has to be interest" among airlines. "There's no way they're not interested in something like this."
In Delta's case, the airline is testing reduced-recline seats on its entire A320 fleet. The idea, Delta insists, isn't to squeeze more seats into the economy cabin.
"It's all about protecting customers' personal space and minimizing disruptions to multitasking in-flight." Savannah Huddleston, a company spokeswoman, said in a statement.
What she means by that positive-sounding sentiment is that by restricting how far seats can lean back, you're protecting what little space each person has, so passengers can type on a laptop, or read a book, and not have the seat in front of them touching their chin.
Huddleston said limiting how far seats can go back is part of Delta's "continued efforts to make the in-flight experience more enjoyable."
This is what it's come to: Making everyone largely immobile so as not to infringe on what little room each passenger is given. That's the new definition of "more enjoyable" air travel.
When discussing airline seats, it's all about "pitch." That's the distance from a point on one seat to the same point on the seat before it. This is what defines not just the space in front of your torso but also how much (or little) legroom you're allotted.
Many carriers strive for an economy-class seat pitch of 29 to 32 inches.
The pitch of the Skyrider is — wait for it — 23 inches.
Marcia Alexander-Adams, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration, told me she couldn't comment on specific seat designs.
"But in general," she said, "any seat design must meet the applicable FAA certification regulations."
Those regulations include a number of safety-related standards, such as seats being designed "so that a person making proper use of these facilities will not suffer serious injury in an emergency landing," and so there will be no "injurious object within striking radius of the head."
What the regulations don’t include is any minimums for seat size or pitch — no requirement that a seat be wide enough to accommodate an ordinary human, no requirement for enough legroom to prevent acts of contortion.
In other words, airline seats can be as existentially challenging as a carrier wants, depending on its levels of greed and sadism.
As best as I can tell, they don't even have to be seats, which is good news for Aviointeriors and its Skyrider bicycle saddles. The regs refer to "berths," which introduces an element of ambiguity to the definition of what you'll be strapped to.
At the Hamburg expo, Aviointeriors also was promoting what it calls its ESP seats, as in "economy slim platform."
These are more like traditional seats in that they have, you know, actual seats. But otherwise they're about as minimalist an experience as you can imagine.
Aviointeriors says online that the ESP seats meet the "best space exploitation international standards," which is a fancy way of saying, "Here's how you can really pack 'em in."
Yet, incredibly, these aren't the worst seating arrangements under consideration. Conde Nast Traveler recently rounded up patents filed for truly grisly airline experiences. These include:
• A proposal from Airbus, the European aviation powerhouse, for a bike saddle-style contraption that looks more like playground equipment than an airline seat. The patent acknowledges that even though this setup accommodates more people, “this increase in the number of seats is achieved to the detriment of the comfort of the passengers.”
• Another idea from Airbus that stacks passengers bunk-bed-style _ bottom seats and top seats. This has the virtue of allowing you to get twice as many people into roughly the same amount of space.
• And my particular favorite from Zodiac Seats France, boasting a hexagonal design that alternates forward-facing seats with rear-facing seats, thus creating, perhaps deliberately, the precise sensation of a can of sardines.
Delta, by comparison, deserves a prize for humanitarianism.
As for the FAA — seriously, guys? Make a seat-size rule already and put an end to this madness.
Otherwise, Skyriders for you all.
David Lazarus, a Los Angeles Times columnist, writes on consumer issues. He can be reached at email@example.com.


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While it’s already generated plenty of fans during its time in Steam Early Access, RWBY: Grimm Eclipse is finally getting an official release. A 4-player co-op hack-and-slash game based on Rooster Teeth’s popular anime webseries, RWBY: Grimm Eclipse launches July 5.
The full release includes “new levels, new characters, new enemies, persistent characters, a whole slew of improvements, along with several other goodies we’ll leave for you to discover,” Rooster Teeth teases in an announcement on the game’s Steam page. July 5 will also finally see the full story become available in game.
“Once we hit full release, our team will continue to support the game and our awesome community. Don’t you worry, we have plans for new content and characters. We’ve had more than a couple requests for team JNPR [another set of four characters from the show].”
The full release will also see the price increase to $25. As of right now however, thanks to the Steam Summer Sale, you can pick up RWBY: Grimm Eclipse for only $10. The deal ends July 4.
Rooster Teeth’s annual convention, RTX, is running in Austin this weekend (July 1-3), allowing attendees to play the new content early.
The anime webseries wrapped up its third season earlier this year and recently released on DVD and Blu-Ray. You can find the full show over on Rooster Teeth’s YouTube channel.


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Mr. Benjamin Darpoh, 40, of 19th Street in Monrovia has found the most effective way to bring food to his customers.
“Customers call me and I supply them with food at affordable prices,” Darpoh said in an interview yesterday. Supplying food to his customers is done from a mobile restaurant.
Described as ‘mobile kitchen’ the vehicle is equipped with a deep freezer, a microwave oven, an electric cooker, a mini freezer and many gadgets that make his venture workable.
Darpoh, a father of two young children, said he decided to venture into this business to offer cheap but quality food service to people that do not have the time to go for lunch.
“Catering runs in my family and for me it is a hobby. I love cooking, right. I learned it from my mother (Madam McLeod Darpoh, former Commerce Minister). I turned what became my hobby into a money-making venture,” he said.
Darpoh said he started the business with assistance from one of his cousins. “A lot of people are not involved into this particular business and my cousin embraced the idea and today I am finally doing it,” he said.
He admitted the cost to the venture is high, “and since I began two and half months ago, the profit is trickling in and I know that with time things will become better.”
On the challenges he faces as the owner of a restaurant on wheels, he said the prices are not stable because of the inability of the Liberian government to regulate commodity prices. However, he is not deterred and is moving ahead.
Mr. Darpoh urged Liberians to visit him on Broad Street, opposite Rivoli Cinema to taste his cuisine that is taking the city by storm.
Some of the foods he offers include hot dogs, chicken burger/Hamburger, chicken sandwich, French fries, fried chicken, fried rice and chicken and chicken pie.
Many of his customers are students of the nearby BW Harris High School. Sales are higher in the evening hours, he said, and he has offers for group services.
“I’m working on delivery services to my customers anywhere in the city using motorbikes,” Darpoh said.
For now the long white bus depicting his wares, is seen near the Rivoli Cinema with chairs set out for customers to enjoy the meals that only Ben Darpoh and his team can offer.


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The largest-ever Starbucks location will open in Chicago. The location of the store will be in the Magnificent Mile neighborhood, where the building was previously a Crate and Barrel. Starbucks announced that its largest store will open in November, and it will be larger than the previous Tokyo location, which was formally the world’s largest Starbucks location. The new coffee shop will be four stories with 43,000 square footage.
Starbucks has had a history of using its largest locations as attractions for customers. As a result, some of the largest Starbucks locations have had specialty items including coffee, tea, as well as cocktails and food items. Starbucks has indicated that this new location will follow this tradition, and serve as a testing ground for potential new menu items.
Image Credit: Starbucks


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"Bitcoin Rodney", who became a successful businessman after a five year prison stint for drug dealing, uses the popular cryptocurrency to buy his sports cars, including a Corvette and a Lamborghini.
Lamborghini's product portfolio saw a seismic shift in 2018 with the addition of the long-awaited SUV, the Urus.
Lamborghini plans to launch a plug-in hybrid version of the Urus SUV but a full-electric car is a long way off for the brand.
In the past year, several notable ultraluxury and exotic nameplates have been freshened or redesigned as automakers look to drive sales and expand brand presence.
Porsche will develop a platform for electric sports cars and supercars that may also be used by Audi and Lamborghini. The architecture will be parent VW Group's third purpose-built platform for full-electric cars.
Just a few steps from where Lamborghini hand-assembles six Aventadors and 12 Huracan supercars a day, the automaker has built a gleaming production center for the Urus.
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Tilman Fertitta, owner of Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi, has approached Caesars Entertainment about a merger, according to a report by Reuters.
The report says that under the plan, Caesars would be the acquirer and private equity firms Apollo Global Management LLC and TPG Global would remain shareholders in the combined company.
Reuters reports that Caesars, which operates 49 casinos in 13 U.S. states as well as in Britain, Egypt, Canada and South Africa, has a market capitalization of $6.3 billion, while Fertitta’s net worth is pegged by Forbes at $4.5 billion.
Caesars is the parent company of Harrah’s Gulf Coast Casino.
Fertitta owns five casinos in Biloxi, Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada, and last year became the owner of the Houston Rockets basketball team.
The merger, which CNBC reports was proposed about a week ago, would create one of the largest casino and hospitality companies in the world. Fertitta would become the chairman, CEO and the largest shareholder of the combined company, CNBC said. The cash and stock deal values the casino at $13 per share.
Fertitta has visited South Mississippi several times since he purchased the Isle Casino in late 2012 for $45 million. He cut the ribbon at the Golden Nugget Biloxi grand opening in May 2014, after he invested $100 million in renovations.
Fertitta is chairman, CEO, and sole shareholder of Landry’s Inc., which has more than 500 properties and restaurant brands such as Rainforest Café, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Saltgrass Steak House, which opened earlier this month in East Biloxi.
CNBC reported that if the deal is approved, Fertitta would put many of his existing restaurant brands into Caesars locations.


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Any of us can spend hours watching videos on the internet and those hours often tend to run longer when we are watching these videos with friends. Facebook tapped on this tendency of users when it rolled out its Watch Party feature. But let’s face it, don’t we all use Instagram and not Facebook to enjoy photos and videos?
Seems like Facebook knows that too. And maybe that is the reason why the social media platform will soon be rolling out a feature similar to Watch Party on Instagram too. For those unaware, Facebook owns the photo-sharing app.
A feature called ‘Co-Watch’ could let you watch Instagram Stories, videos and IGTV content along with your friends, much like Watch Party. The feature was first spotted by reverse-engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong in Instagram Direct Messaging code. We should add here that Manchun was also the person who discovered that Facebook is testing its Dating feature before it got rolled out to a number of countries.
Coming back to Instagram, the code that has been discovered indicates that you would be able to co-watch content from suggested videos on the app or even from a playlist. However, as of now, it is not known whether features like picture-in-picture with friends would make their way to Instagram too.
It is also worth noticing that a similar feature is also being tested by Facebook on its Messenger app.
With all these moves put together, we think that Facebook is trying to create more private interactions on its platform. And needless to say, this will also help the platform boost its ad revenue.
And Watch Party has been a successful feature and Facebook has claimed that 12 million videos were viewed with Groups from July till November. Considering that Instagram’s engagement is far more than Facebook’s native platform as of now, it makes perfect sense for the company to get the feature to its photo-sharing app. And as far as Messenger is concerned, it would make the experience far more personalised, so it will be interesting to see the results.


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- Title: Slumped by COVID lockdown, India street vendors see hope in festive season
- Date: 30th August 2021
- Summary: GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA (AUGUST 30, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF CROWD IN MARKET VARIOUS OF STREET AMARJEET KUMAR VENDOR ARRANGING ITEMS FOR SALE ON HIS STALL (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) STREET VENDOR, AMARJEET KUMAR, SAYING: "There is no sale at all. I get 200-400 rupees ($2.75-5.5) a day. I am just able to earn for food somehow, that's it. Festive season is coming soon, but I don't know what will happen, there are barely any customers in the market, I hope they start coming. Last year, the festive season was washed away by coronavirus, it looks like a repeat this year." STREET VENDOR MANOJ ARRANGING ITEMS FOR SALE AT HIS STALL / WOMAN SITTING HOLDING BALLOONS FOR SALE (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) STREET VENDOR, MANOJ, SAYING: "Festive season is coming up, I am hopeful of things picking up. Let's see if the market is open or shut. If there is another lockdown then it will be disastrous for us. It has been two years, we will die (of lack of business). I won't be able to eat, how will I earn? Nobody has money because of lockdown." VARIOUS OF SUGARCANE JUICE VENDORS
- Embargoed: 13th September 2021 16:55
- Keywords: COVID-19 India coronavirus festival lockdown season street vendors
- Location: GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA
- City: GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001ESH15QN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:COVID-19 brought difficult times for many, especially the lower economic section of the society, including street vendors who are hit by the lack of business.
India locked down most parts last year when coronavirus infections were in its early phase. Reopening of economy in a hurry, invited a deadly second wave that killed more than 150,000 within a span of 8-10 weeks.
This prompted the authorities to re-impose restrictions leaving street vendors without much hope. Now with festive season coming soon, vendors are hopeful of things picking up again, however, a lingering doubt of restrictions is also hitting them.
"Festive season is coming up, I am hopeful of things picking up. Let's see if the market is open or shut. If there is another lockdown then it will be disastrous for us," said a street vendor of India's eastern Guwahati city, Manoj on Monday (August 30).
India reported 42,909 new COVID-19 cases for the past 24 hours, a government statement said on Monday, taking the total to 32.74 million. Deaths rose by 380 to 438,210.
- Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None


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Lady Gaga poses in an all-black ensemble at her office as she continues promotion of her cosmetic brand Haus Laboratories
When she’s not writing, recording and performing her slew of hit songs on the world stage, Lady Gaga can often be found working hard on her Haus Laboratories cosmetics brand.
And on Tuesday the pop superstar and entrepreneur took to her Instagram page and shared a couple of photos of herself bunkered down at her company’s office.
‘Late night at the lab… #startup,’ the New York City native, 34, headlined one snap of herself sitting at the end of a long, 12-seat table at the office.
Promo mode: Lady Gaga, 34, shared a snap on Tuesday while at the office of her Haus Labs cosmetics brand dressed in an all black ensemble
Haus Laboratories is her vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics brand that she launched in September 2019.
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‘Desk coming soon,’ she wrote across the top in a reference to getting new furniture.
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Bold: Gaga posted a racy snap of herself topless while laying across the floor which had her make-up products all over it on Monday
One day earlier, gaga shared a sultry topless photo on Instagram in promotion of her ‘HEAT SPELL Bronzer + Highlighter Duos,’ that are now available now at hauslabs.com
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Rassbach Communications Named 2016 Fastest Growing Hytera Dealer21-04-2017
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Euro zone producer prices drop for seventh month in July
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Euro zone producer prices fell for a seventh consecutive month in July, data showed on Tuesday, with figures sharply lower than a year earlier possibly offering some comfort to the European Central Bank.
The European Union’s statistics office Eurostat said prices at factory gates in the 20 countries sharing the euro fell 0.5% in July from June and by 7.6% year-on-year.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected a monthly fall of 0.6% and a 7.6% year-on-year decline.
Producer prices are an early indication of trends in consumer inflation, which the ECB wants to keep at 2.0% over the medium term, but which stood at 5.3% in August.
The ECB increased rates at its fastest pace on record in the past year, taking them to a more than two-decade high, but it has raised the possibility of a pause at its September meeting.
The monthly fall in euro zone producer prices in July was driven by a 1.2% easing of prices for intermediate goods, such as steel, sugar or wood, and a 0.9% decline in energy costs.
Prices for capital goods, such as machinery, tools or buildings, and for durable consumer goods rose by 0.2%, while non-durable goods prices were up by 0.1%.
Year-on-year, energy costs fell sharply, with intermediate goods prices also down. Prices for capital, durable and non-durable goods were all at least 4% higher, although these price increases have steadily eased since late 2022.
For Eurostat release, click on:
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
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