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Are you ready for a future with self-driving vehicles? Between 2018 to 2020, there have been plenty of talks regarding self-driving vehicles.
The thing is, this topic is bound to come about – the combination of shared electric scooters and the possibility of autonomous driving. How are micro-mobile and transport companies exploring the possibility of cars, bikes, and scooters driving or riding themselves?
Since 2018, electric bikes and e-scooters have stormed into cities, and this trend will continue to grow until it’s no more a trend, but a necessity and a way of life. Startups and companies like UBER are already exploring self-driving cars, bikes, and scooters as a way to decrease operational costs and improve a city’s congestion.
Tech experts say that self-driving scooters open up a host of opportunities for the communities where it operates. For one, experts point out that scooters can independently move themselves and park, or move themselves to an area where there’s more demand for micro-mobility.
These ‘ghost scooters’ can drive themselves, and eventually even pick up a rider or a customer the same way Uber and Lyft services do. There could also be a human on the other side of the teleoperation center that guides these scooters as it scoots across sidewalks and down streets.
Uber has long been eyeing the technology to create autonomous scooters and bikes to expand its transportation offering to the masses. From looking at cheap sensors to creating a computer program that solves the issues currently facing bikes and scooters, Uber is all in with the expansion of self-driving scooters.
More than just convenience, self-driving scooters would eventually result in operational savings. The self-driving option would enable scooters to move and maneuver their way to charging stations or maintenance depots, park themselves at designated parking areas, as well as redistribute themselves to where users need them. Soon, you don’t need to go searching for a scooter (which is pretty much the biggest issue right now). You can just call one to your location.
Companies can also do away with getting humans to find these scooters, collect them, charge them, and then maintain them. All of these actions have proven to be extremely costly.
Together with a self-driving capability, companies would be able to create a dashboard that will allow them to know when a scooter needs to be deployed, when it needs to be charged, and when it needs the next maintenance service, or if a scooter needs to be repaired. Adding these IoT elements opens up plenty of cost-reducing opportunities for startups and scooter companies.
Self-driving scooters would also mean you’ll see fewer scooters lying around at random places. If they can self-drive themselves to the nearest charging station when not in use, that would already be half the battle won when congestion is concerned. Self-driving is hard but achievable.
The technology to make anything self-drive is hard. Apart from the demo rides we’ve seen, companies are still deep in testing mode, and they aren’t ready to remove the human safety element out of these vehicles.
Scooters don’t have the same danger posed by cars in terms of speed or weight. However, they bring their own set of challenges.
- Two-wheeled vehicles are more prone to falling over with no human weight and movement to keep it upright.
- There’s no obvious way (at least, not yet) of ensuring scooters and bikes don’t trip, and there’s also no way of getting them back up again if they fall.
- There’s no clear way of getting a bike to propel itself.
- Scooters pose an issue when they operate on the sidewalk or the street. How will it manage to avoid vehicles, pedestrians, and intersections?
According to CTO Kevin Peterson of the sidewalk delivery robot company Marble, the biggest hurdle isn’t so much the falling over of these scooters, but the costs involved in adding sensors and coming up with newer computer programs to turn data into decision-making capacities.
Even if a company uses Lidar, currently the most expensive form of a sensor in its self-driving endeavors, there comes the thousands-of-dollars costs, which defeat the purpose of a less-expensive vehicle.
The future of self-driving vehicles and self-driving scooters is unwritten. Only the future holds what capacities we can move toward and the technologies that are available to us. For now, mankind will continue to explore better, faster, easier, and more convenient ways to make life easier, and more specifically, increase the mobility of human beings.
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A recent piece in Forbes encourages business owners and entrepreneurs to think critically about return on investment (ROI) when it comes to online reputation management. According to the author, Ryan Erskine, many executives see reputation management as the icing on the cake, a low priority task that they’ll get around to when they have more time. But for Erskine, this is a potentially dangerous view to take since most leaders aren’t seeing the big picture.
The problem is that many don’t take into consider lost revenue. Most people can see that were they to put more effort into social media and web presence, they would have some sort of return on the investment. But this doesn’t take into consideration lost revenue due to negative reviews and articles online. Erskine estimates that a single negative article on your Google front page can result in a 22% loss in potential business. The number rises quickly with each additional negative search result, so for businesses facing a barrage of negative results online, online reputation management may be necessary to increase or restore profitability.
Negative reviews on sites such as Yelp or Google Reviews can likewise be devastating. Losing a star can be particularly bad for restaurants, which, on average suffer revenue losses in the neighborhood of 10% when they are downgraded. But in addition to negative online results, many entrepreneurs fail to grasp just how essential an online presence is to the pipeline. The impact on ROI can be absolutely amazing.

domain: news


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The March 14 reveal event for Samsung's Galaxy S4 is just over two weeks away now, and the South Korean company wants the public to get in on the act.
Although the reveal itself won't be open to just anyone interested in waltzing into New York's Radio City Music Hall, Samsung is going to stream the Galaxy S4 event out to anyone who wants to see it. They're also inviting you to watch it in Times Square.
On Thursday morning, Samsung tweeted a post urging people to "Be ready 4 #TheNextGalaxy @TimesSquareNYC."
The tweet contained a link with more information on the event, saying "You can watch Samsung Unpacked via livestream and experience Samsung's new flagship smartphone at Times Square."
If you're not in New York City, though, there's no reason to worry. Just head on over to this YouTube page when the event goes live at 7 PM Eastern Standard Time and you can check out all the action for yourself.
As for the phone itself, rumor mongers seem to have settled on a good chunk of the Galaxy S4's specs, but there are some significant areas that remain a mystery. Previous rumors said that the Galaxy S4 would feature Samsung's new eight-core Exynos Octa processor, but new reports suggest the company has run into manufacturing problems. If that's the case, it might look to use a rival processor from Qualcomm that won't be as powerful.
There are also rumblings that Samsung will use an HD SoLux display instead of a SuperAMOLED screen, also due to manufacturing issues.
Whatever the case may be, we'll find out on March 14. In the meantime, here's a roundup of the rest of the S4's rumored specs:
- 4.99" full HD display (either SoLux or SuperAMOLED)
- 13-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of shooting 1080p video
- 2-megapixel front-facing camera capable of shooting 720p video
- 2GB RAM
- Home button
- Plastic back and aluminum sides
- Removable battery
- 16, 32 and 64GB internal storage options
- Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box
- Mali-T678 (8-Core) GPU


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- Which company owns 5g technology?
- How many countries have banned 5g?
- What are the best 5g stocks to buy now?
- Which country is using 7g?
- Does Qualcomm make 5g chips?
- Does China own the 5g network?
- Who created 5g network?
- Where is 10g in world?
- Who makes chips for 5g?
- Which country is leading in 5g?
- Is the US behind in 5g?
- Who makes 5g chips for Apple?
- Which country has 7g?
- Who are the big players in 5g?
- Which country has no 5g?
- Is there 5g in the United States?
- Is Japan using 7g?
- What company owns the most 5g patents?
Which company owns 5g technology?
When counting granted 5G patent families only, again Samsung owns the largest 5G portfolio, followed by LG, Nokia and Huawei.
The Chinese companies ZTE (7,4%), China Academy of Telecommunications Technology (CATT) (11,7%), OPPO (9,5%) and Vivo (0%) have very low grant rates as of November 2019..
How many countries have banned 5g?
China’s tech giant Huawei has been banned from rolling out 5G infrastructure in four countries. The United States, New Zealand, Australia and Japan have banned the company from rolling out its infrastructure for superfast internet.
What are the best 5g stocks to buy now?
The 7 Best 5G Stocks to Buy NowCiena (NYSE:CIEN)Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)Nokia (NYSE:NOK)AT&T (NYSE:T)Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM)Crown Castle International (NYSE:CCI)Vuzix (NASDAQ:VUZI)
Which country is using 7g?
7G Technology Mobile Phones | 7G technology in Japan and its features in India 7G mobile phone. Technology will further advance in the future, there are no two opinions in it. The speed at which technology is changing. In the coming time, it will make even more progress.
Does Qualcomm make 5g chips?
Chipmaker Qualcomm (QCOM) is reportedly set to expand its 5G chip technology next year. From a Reuters report, Qualcomm will soon power the mid-priced smartphones with its 5G wireless data networks. Notably, 5G chips are faster than 4G and LTE networks.
Does China own the 5g network?
All wireless carriers in China are state-owned, which has helped the government to expedite the development of 5G networks, and access to wireless spectrum. It has been argued that early access to 5G would give China an advantage in developing services that can leverage the technology.
Who created 5g network?
Verizon introduced 5G in 2019 in parts of many cities in the first part of the year with plans to have 5G in more than 30 U.S. cities by the end of the year.
Where is 10g in world?
Korea launches UCLP-enabled 10 Gigabits per second (10G) Korea-North America and Korea-China network circuits in August 2005, making the first major step towards the 10G GLORIAD network ring around the northern hemisphere.
Who makes chips for 5g?
There are really only four companies in the world making 5G chips: Qualcomm, MediaTek, Samsung and Huawei.
Which country is leading in 5g?
South Korea, China, and the United States are the countries that lead the world in building and deploying 5G technology.
Is the US behind in 5g?
Some argue that U.S. companies have fallen behind in owning the technology to build next-generation 5G networks. But we are not behind. In fact, the nature of 5G equipment market has changed significantly and the U.S. is in the best position to innovate faster and better.
Who makes 5g chips for Apple?
TSMCThis means that Apple could have a huge performance lead over most Android phones when it releases the 2020 iPhone models later this year. That’s because the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Mobile Platform, the chip that will power most flagship Android phones in 2020, is manufactured by TSMC using its 7nm process node.
Which country has 7g?
NorwayYes we can say that internet speed is provided in Norway like 7G or 8G network. Norway is a country in the world where internet speed is the fastest.
Who are the big players in 5g?
Some of the key players in Global 5G Infrastructure market include Qualcomm, Samsung, Huawei, Verizon Communications, Cisco, AT& T, ZTE, and China Mobile.
Which country has no 5g?
Take Sweden as an example of this: the country has no commercial 5G network, and has just one very small test network in one area of Stockholm. However, Sweden now has over 5,000 cases of coronavirus, with 308 confirmed deaths, and the first case was in the city of Jönköping, 360km away from Stockholm.
Is there 5g in the United States?
5G rollout in the US Carriers including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile began deploying it in 2019. Verizon’s Vestberg said last year that half the U.S. will have access to 5G by the end of 2020. … In 2019 5G was available on only about 1% of phones sold, according to market research firm NPD Group.
Is Japan using 7g?
Japan is one of the several countries working on 100Gbps internet using advanced “optical packet switching technology”. For now, one Japanese internet provider is offering 2Gbps speeds — twice the pace of Google Fiber — for about $50 a month. That makes it the world’s fastest commercially available internet service.
What company owns the most 5g patents?
Huawei Technologies Co.Huawei Technologies Co. owns the most patents on next-generation 5G technology, ensuring the Chinese company will get paid despite Trump administration efforts to erase it from the supply chain, according to a new study.


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These savvy centenarians have anchored communities and weathered crises from the Great Depression to COVID. Can they withstand further uncertainty?
From Wall Street to Brownstone Brooklyn, business establishments have again grown quiet in response to the pandemic. The Independent Budget Office has added a year to the expected timeline for a full city jobs recovery.
From restaurants to real estate, pandemic-battered industries seek specifics from a new mayor who pledged to be pro-business but has so far provided few specifics.
The incoming administration should create a 300-person technical assistance corps to bring one-on-one aid to small firms — especially those owned by New Yorkers of color, a new Center for an Urban Future report found.
The governor urged the private sector to order employees back to workplaces and make everybody — including customers — get shots. But business owners said it’s up to elected officials to lead the way amid rising COVID rates.
Mass-transit ridership is rebounding faster in Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx, records indicate. One sign of the times: Many Manhattan underground retail outlets remain “like ghost towns.”
Hundreds of new establishments have received permits to open this year, surging into work-from-home neighborhoods while shunning business districts decimated by the pandemic.
The mayor’s pandemic program to close off corridors to cars provided a lifeline to many businesses last year. But restaurants and merchants along a heavily Hispanic stretch of Brooklyn’s Fifth Avenue say they can’t fully come back without financial help.
Crowds are expected Friday when Coney Island’s world-famous rides reopen after a year lost to the pandemic. But notably missing from the People’s Playground are several attractions scheduled for completion long ago.
The historic legalization measure includes a social justice plan to give a piece of the action to groups targeted by drug wars. Here’s everything you need to know — including when you’ll be able to legally buy weed.
The deal Gov. Cuomo and lawmakers made to legalize recreational use of pot includes provisions to help minority- and women-owned businesses. But similar social equity provisions in other states haven’t worked out as planned.
Nearly a year into lockdown, owners of everything from gyms to flower shops say they’re running out of money and time. They’re calling on the de Blasio administration for more immediate help.
Employment growth slowed last month. Now the end of indoor dining and potential new restrictions on public life spell more pain ahead — even with a federal aid infusion, economists say.
These Brooklyn Businesses Survived the Pandemic’s First Nine Months. But January Looks Bleak Without Another PPP Loan
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio this week both said a lockdown of the in-person economy seems likely. We talked to operators of very different businesses united in girding for an uncertain winter.
Just half of mom-and-pops got loans amid a lack of help with onerous paperwork. And now more help is needed with Gov. Cuomo’s announcement ending indoor dining. See how microbusinesses in your neighborhood fared.
Unemployment Insurance and Small Business Boosts Hang in Balance for New Yorkers as Washington Delays Pandemic Aid Bill
The House’s one-week extension to keep the government going comes with fate of the $908 billion compromise plan in the air. Meanwhile, key unemployment benefits expire soon and some businesses are barely hanging on.
Besieged by COVID-19, hundreds of city business owners, from clothiers to restaurateurs, are facing lawsuits over missed rent payments as revenue has all but vanished for many.
Developers can now apply for a special permit that allows some commercial buildings to gain offices and retail — as long as industrial space is set aside. Here’s how that’s playing out for a longtime manufacturer in Long Island City.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s protection of commercial tenants has been extended to January. But a crisis mushrooms as many have stopped paying, building up a big rent bill and pushing businesses to the brink.
In case you missed it
- Construction Firm and Foreman Charged with Reckless Endangerment in 2019 Scaffolding Tragedy
- Mayor Eric Adams to Allow First Responders to Moonlight as Lifeguards
- Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn Railed Against Brooklyn’s Democratic Machine. Then She Became It.
- Failed Swimmers Get Second Chance in City Bid to Shore Up Lifeguard Shortage
- Bill de Blasio Got — and Ignored — Warning to Pay for NYPD Travel During His Presidential Campaign
LOCAL NEWS POWERED BY NEW YORKERS.
We cover the uncovered, hold the powerful accountable, and make sense of the greatest city in the world.


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In an environment where social media has been the launch pad for many businesses to spring up, Chast’e Modern Furniture Store, a new store almost completely marketed on social media, has reported that more than 95% of its sales come from its Facebook page.
Chast’e Modern Furniture Store has become the exclusive furnishing provider for many Egyptian Facebook users looking for world class interior solutions for their houses. Simply sending a message to the company’s Facebook fan page, now a good 100,000 strong, will get any interested buyer an appointment with customer service at their private showroom to view their products.
Chast’e Modern Furniture Store, now becoming a well-known brand, has a new innovative approach where the customer chooses the design that he/she wants for the furniture with the appropriate dimensions and then it’s up to Chast’e Modern Furniture Store to implement the new idea. It ensures that the manufacturing quality of every piece is up to international standards but gives the user a break on the price.
“One of the challenges that people always face is that they look at all these international brands and find that they’re too expensive,” said a statement from Chast’e Modern Furniture Store. “We are closing this gap by using the same standards of design and manufacturing in order to give them something similar but at the same time it’s locally produced.” The store’s secret ingredient relies on the individual attention that it gives to every single customer. “The problem these days is that furniture is simply sold to the customer without really advising them properly about different
elements in the design, such as dimensions, materials, and other visual elements,” said the statement added. “In contrast, we walk them through the whole process from beginning to end so that we can give them something that is most suitable for their home.” Though Chast’e Modern Furniture Store currently is exclusively an online business, they are planning to open a new showroom in Heliopolis in the coming months. This new showroom will give customers a firsthand look of what it means to have world class furniture which is locally produced.
Images courtesy of Chast’e Modern Furniture Store


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Impromptu markets where people sell household goods for cash have sprung up across Kabul, although buyers are in short supply
15 Sep 2021 11:21 AM
Modern food production has its issues as well, especially when it comes to meat.
20 Aug 2019 8:15 AM
New South Wales, home to about a third of Australia’s 25 million people and its biggest city Sydney, last imposed restrictions in 2009.
28 May 2019 3:07 PM
The NGOs called on govts to 'secure an immediate cessation of hostilities' and 'suspend the supply of arms at risk of being used in Yemen'.
08 Nov 2018 5:22 PM
Somalia is 1 of 4 countries singled out by the United Nations in a $4.4 billion aid appeal to avert catastrophic hunger and famine.
09 Jun 2017 8:01 PM


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Manzana announced in the middle of this year that it will not include the cell phone charger in its new iPhone 12. Of course, many mobile brands were mocked on social media for this controversial decision.
The apple company argued that they seek to reduce the environmental impact of their cell phones but they include the USB-C to Lightning cable in the box. Users who want to update their iPhone X must yes or yes buy the charger since the traditional UBC was used before.
Well, after a few months of the iPhone 12 on the market, brands are already beginning to follow this trend. The popular Chinese brand Xiaomi announced that the cell phone Xiaomi Mi 11 It will not have a charger.
In turn, you can see that the box is exactly the same as the iPhone 12. In the promotional video you can see that the Chinese company has used a smaller package for its new mobile because space will be saved due to the absence of the charger.
Do you think other brands also follow this trend? For now, it has been reported that Samsung has deleted the posts where it mocked Apple when it presented its iPhone 12.


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Yesterday, Warner Bros. officially announced that "Wonder Woman" had begun filming. Along with that news came a new image of Gal Gadot in character for the film, but amazingly, an equally important image has gone under the radar for months.
As ComicBook.com points out, retailer Graphitti Designs used New York Comic-Con to reveal some officially licensed merch from the forthcoming "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Amongst the images was a T-shirt design showcasing the official Wonder Woman logo design from the DC Cinematic Universe.
A user on the SuperHeroHype message boards also posted a new peek at the logo yesterday, and you can see all the images below.


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Al fresco is just a fancy way to say “eating outside;” and, in Burr Ridge, there are more places than ever to do so.
“Everybody wants to eat outside,” said Community Development Director Doug Pollock.
He said the recent surge in requests from restaurants to add outdoor seating is a good sign for the local economy.
“It tells me they are probably filling up quite a bit,” he said.
After approving plans for outdoor dining areas at Wok N Fire and Starbucks in April, the Burr Ridge Plan Commission this week approved two more plans — for an addition to the patio at Topaz and for outdoor seating at Great American Bagel.
Capri Restaurant asked the Plan Commission on Monday for permission to add an outdoor holding area, where people can sit and wait for their table. That plan also was given the go-ahead.
According to Becky Fleck, director of special events at Topaz in Village Center, people are often willing to wait for a table if it means they can dine outdoors. With its outdoor bar and fireplace, the patio at Topaz also is a popular place to lounge, she said. The new space will provide a place to do so, without prolonging the wait for diners hoping for an outdoor table.
“A lot of times people want to have a cocktail party prior to their sit-down dinner,” she said.
The new area will feature couches and high-top tables, along with an additional fireplace, where diners and private parties can relax and socialize.
After several years without outdoor seating, Cooper’s Hawk opened its outdoor dining room this month, giving diners an additional seating option. Melanie Pierce, director of marketing and communications for Cooper’s Hawk, said the addition was in response to customer requests.
“It’s about giving customers what they want,” Pierce said.
Steve Singleton, manager of Eddie Merlot’s, said customers ask every day about the addition of an outdoor dining area.
“We’re in business to please our guests,” Singleton said, so plans are in the works for an outdoor area with a fireplace.
Eddie Merlot’s plans will be before the Plan Commission on May 21.
While the plans approved Monday will have to go before the Village Board before work can begin, Pollock said he sees no reason why the plans won’t get the special-use permits needed to proceed.


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Mashups using the same API (2578)
Tracking campaign appearances by major candidates. In French.
Your Tour is a digital experience allowing you to discover the main stages of the 100th edition of the Tour De France through Google products.
Web mapping based application to watch most viewed videos on YouTube filtered by countries and time.
Telenav, a leading personalized navigation services company, has announced the launch of a new Scout Maps and Navigation SDK, Scout Maps API, and Scout for Developers Program. The new Scout Maps and Navigation SDK is based on OpenStreetMap (OSM) which according to Telenav, makes it the first commercial-grade navigation for mobile app developers worldwide based on OSM.
Location data and storage company SimpleGeo has announced plans to change its pay-per-use pricing for the SimpleGeo API, removing a free option for low volume users. Instead, the company will offer tiered pricing, with 60 day free trials at every tier.
||Transavia Airlines is a Netherlands-based low-cost air travel operator that boasts an expansive route network in the European and North African regions. The Transavia Flight Offer API is one of the...||Air Travel||02.08.2017|
||Transavia Airlines is a Netherlands-based low-cost air travel operator that boasts an expansive route network in the European and North African regions. The Transavia Routes API is one of the three...||Air Travel||02.08.2017|
||The Solcast REST API delivers forecasts, solar power estimates, radiation, and cloud information. Developers can send JSON and JSV requests to receive CSV, JSON, and XML responses, consuming the API...||Solar||02.01.2017|
||The Airvisual API integrates air quality index and air pollution with a coverage in more than 60 countries, including 11,000 government stations. AirVisual data is returned in a standard and...||Weather||01.25.2017|
||The Basetrip API offers a variety of travel information by country which can include currency information, electricity (sockets...||Travel||01.15.2017|


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Practice Fusion, the fastest growing EMR and healthcare community, has saved doctors an estimated $57 million to date with its free Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. To help more doctors calculate the savings they can expect using the company's technology, Practice Fusion today launched a savings analytics tool comparing its free EMR with other top paid systems and paper records.
Practice Fusion's innovative ad-supported business model allows any doctor to access a totally free EMR, including support, training and unlimited ... read more
Healthline Networks, the fastest growing provider of intelligent health information services, and GE healthymagination, a $6 billion commitment to bring better health to more people, today announced the launch of Healthline BodyMaps, a new 3-D visual search tool for consumers. BodyMaps is an interactive human body that allows consumers to navigate male and female anatomy, view systems and organs down to their smallest parts and explore in detail how the body works. It transforms the body into a rich, visual ... read more
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) announced today that they have entered into a research collaboration agreement to provide financial support for a series of clinical studies to investigate the feasibility of mixing pramlintide, an analog of the human hormone amylin, with insulin to treat type 1 diabetes. Pramlintide, marketed by Amylin as SYMLIN® (pramlintide acetate) injection, is approved for use as an adjunct treatment in patients with diabetes who use mealtime insulin therapy ... read more
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for licensure of Fluzone Intradermal (Influenza Virus Vaccine). Fluzone Intradermal vaccine is indicated for active immunization of adults 18 through 64 years of age against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: ... read more
Martin Barrios, MD and Peter M. Denk, MD announced today the opening of their new practice, FLORIDA INCISIONLESS, which is conveniently located on Palm Beach Blvd. and Interstate 75 at:
4881 Palm Beach Blvd., Suite 100
Fort Myers, FL 33905
Office Phone: 239-433-3504
Dr. Barrios and Dr. Denk are leaders and world innovators in Incisionless procedures providing minimally invasive alternatives to traditional surgery. Patients experience less discomfort ... read more
an innovative molecular cancer diagnostics company, today announced that it
has partnered with AstraZeneca and The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) to
accelerate the development of targeted therapies for colorectal cancer
patients. The announcement marks a unique collaboration between Agendia,
developer of the "MammaPrint" breast cancer molecular diagnostic test, a
major research-based pharmaceutical company and a leading national cancer
institute to tackle a cancer that results in approximately 500,000 deaths
annually in Europe and the United States.
"In AstraZeneca and NKI, we have found two ... read more
Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, opens the Interop show (booth #1839) with the latest award-winning line-up of connectivity solutions for cloud computing, green IT and converged data center, including its latest StrataXGS® BCM56840 10/40 GbE switch series, a Best of Interop finalist.
The latest StrataXGS BCM56846 switch builds on the innovation of the BCM56840 series by providing a 200 percent increase in layer 2/layer 3 network address and virtual switch ports ... read more
Verizon has won in the Superior Alternatives category of the 2011 Red Hat and JBoss Innovation Awards competition. The award, announced during the Red Hat Summit and JBoss World on May 6 in Boston, recognizes Verizon for "the most successful migration from proprietary solutions to open source alternatives."
Specifically, Verizon won the award for the company's implementation of a new standards-based business process-management system for the company's Integrated Management Platform for Advanced Communications Technologies automated platform, which monitors, troubleshoots and ... read more
Responding to demand for solutions that help businesses dramatically improve productivity and efficiency and reduce costs, AT&T* today said that it is focusing its plans to deploy global network-based cloud, mobility and network sourcing solutions to companies across a range of industries.
AT&T is planning investments totaling nearly $1 billion in 2011 to deploy next-generation services for businesses ranging from the smallest firms to the world's largest and most sophisticated multinational companies. (Note: the nearly $1 billion investment is part of ... read more
Combining GPS & cellular tracking, the Morey Corporation has announced the company's newest product, the Rugged TRAX MT-10 Asset Tracker. The new product is in line with the company's continued focus on providing advanced telematics-based products and solutions. The battery powered Rugged TRAX MT-10 is recommended for track and trace applications where no consistent power source is available such as, rental equipment, 18-wheel truck trailers and ocean transportation.
The Rugged TRAX MT-10 is designed to deliver business critical data which will ... read more
Interop -- Tabula and Algo-Logic Systems announce the TSE100x1 packet search engine device. The hardware-accelerated logic chip performs high-speed packet route lookup functions for both IPv4 and IPv6, and enables multi-field packet classification to improve security, QoS, and latency for data centers and other high-performance wired and wireless network switch systems. The TSE100x1 provides a variety of interfaces including a standard DDR parallel interface, Interlaken Look-Aside (ILA), and PCI Express, and it supports search rates up to 100MSPS for exact ... read more
Sequent Software (www.sequentsw.com), a leading provider of NFC (near field communication) software and systems, announced today that it has closed a series A financing. Opus Capital and SK Telecom Ventures led the financing, which will fuel Sequent's growth as it drives commercial NFC mobile payment deployments of large customers and partners and allows consumers to make payments and other transactions with their mobile devices.
NFC-enabled mobile devices from manufacturers such as RIM and Google will give consumers the opportunity to ... read more
Southern Home Medical Equipment, Inc. (PinkSheets: SHOM), a holding company providing healthcare services, staffing and equipment to medical institutions, announced today the launch of a new solutions platform, "Backstage Solutions," for its Encore Medical division (http://encoremedicalstaffing.com/). Backstage is a Web-hosted solution that is designed to support the accelerated growth of Encore Medical franchisees, while meeting their operational compliance requirements.
Backstage creates an integrated platform to more efficiently support the recruiting, certification and scheduling of the franchisees' nurses and healthcare programs. ... read more
Experian®, the leading global information services company, today launched DecisionIQ(SM) Premier, the new decisioning and application processing component of its Web-based credit management platform, BusinessIQ(SM), at FinovateSpring 2011. DecisionIQ Premier helps organizations reduce costs and improve operational efficiencies by allowing users to automate the decisioning process and create custom credit policies. Combining these custom rules with Experian's business data, enables organizations to create relevant decisions and credit-limit recommendations for small, medium and large businesses.
"Experian research has shown that a pain ... read more
LSI Corporation (NYSE: LSI) today announced the appointment of Greg Huff to the newly created position of senior vice president, Corporate Strategy.
Huff will be responsible for shaping the future growth strategy of LSI as the company moves forward as a leading pure-play semiconductor company focused on enabling the storage and networking markets. He will report to Abhi Talwalkar, LSI president and chief executive officer.
Huff comes to LSI from HP, where he was vice president and chief technology officer of the ... read more
ScanCafe, the most trusted photo scanning service, with over 54 million images scanned, has launched today its service for editing and transferring consumer video tape content onto DVD.
Another Race Against Time
Video tapes, like VHS, have been one of the most successful consumer products ever fielded, and some 6 billion tapes have been sold in the US, with an average length of 2 hours each. That's 12 billion hours of footage of new babies, first steps, weddings, barbecues, and ... read more
Marvell (Nasdaq: MRVL), a worldwide leader in integrated silicon solutions, today announced the availability of an OpenFlow-enabled, fully featured switching solution based on Marvell's award-winning networking control stack and the Prestera® family of packet processors. Marvell's new OpenFlow switches support 1GbE, 10GbE and 40GbE port configurations.
OpenFlow allows network administrators to build software-defined networks optimized for specific applications and services. It also provides a flexible and convenient way to dynamically re-architect the network in-situ without a tear-down and new ... read more
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: "MSFT") and Skype Global S.a r.l today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Skype, the leading Internet communications company, for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype.
The acquisition will increase the accessibility of real-time video and voice communications, bringing benefits to both consumers and enterprise users and generating ... read more
NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, in conjunction with Caesars Entertainment, today announced that Caesars Palace next generation Guest App will be the first to use NAVTEQ Destination Maps. The new Caesars Palace app also enables room and dining reservations, concierge services, and access to real-time event information, bookings and more.
Now leveraging NAVTEQ Destination Maps, the app helps guests interactively search and explore the ... read more
CIBER was recently awarded the status of a preferred business partner for mail order companies in Germany by the German E-Commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association (bvh). The main purpose of the bvh partner program is to provide its more than 300 members qualified potential providers of services essential for mail-order companies. To be considered for inclusion in the preferred business partner program, a provider must have at least two positive recommendations from bvh member companies.
"The status ... read more


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After discovering CBD gummies in a passenger’s luggage, Carnival Cruise Line permanently banned her.
According to her attorney Daren Stabinski, Melinda Van Veldhuizen, 42, was stopped by security before boarding the Carnival Horizon ship in Miami for a cruise in August. Security eventually discovered a sealed container of the candies, but not before an X-ray revealed metal nail clippers in her luggage, according to the Dallas-based nurse practitioner and chiropractor.
She told The Washington Post, “I was freaking out because I don’t even have a parking ticket, like, I follow the rules.” Van Veldhuizen did not reply to USA TODAY’s interview request right away.
The passenger, who had previously on a Carnival cruise, claimed she was refused boarding and held for hours. Later, Van Veldhuizen received a letter informing her that the line had prohibited her from any further voyages.
The letter, written by Capt. Rocco Lubrano, which Stabinski shared with USA TODAY, stated, “This decision was based on your actions on the current cruise, which were a violation of the ship rules, interfered with the safety and/or enjoyment of other guests on the ship, or caused harm to Carnival.”
In addition, she was informed that her husband and two boys, who were scheduled to travel with her, still needed to pay for their approximately $1,700 cruise fee (although the line subsequently offered to reimburse her half and the cost of booked excursions).
According to Stabinsky, her goals are to fight the ban and obtain a complete reimbursement and compensation. By putting the cruise company on notice, they are allowing them to react before taking any more action. Carnival did not respond to a response request from USA TODAY.
Woman banned from Carnival cruise ships for life over CBD gummies
CBD is not permitted aboard Carnival ships. The line’s website states, “Although some CBD products used for medicinal purposes might be legal in the US, they are not legal in all the ports we visit and are therefore also considered prohibited items.”
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention state that CBD does not generate a psychoactive effect in and of itself and can be derived from both hemp and non-hemp plants. The CDC website defines hemp as any portion of the cannabis sativa plant containing no more than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
Food, lotions, and other goods contain CBD. According to the CDC, “hemp was removed from the federal Controlled Substances Act by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, effectively legalising CBD if it comes from hemp.” Nevertheless, each state has a different legal position on CBD products.
Why do passengers not get on cruise lines?
According to Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry analyst known as The Cruise Guy, passengers are usually banned for life “in response to extreme violations of a cruise line’s rules,” USA TODAY was emailed. Those occurrences, he noted, are “extraordinarily rare.”
A video that went viral earlier this year purportedly showed at least two passengers being caught fishing from a cabin balcony, leading to a suspension from Carnival. A guest and her partner were also prohibited by Royal Caribbean International in 2019 when the latter stood on the railing of her stateroom balcony to take a picture.
Chiron pointed out that on their websites, cruise lines list the specific products that are prohibited. “The cruise may not be (the) best option for people if they can’t conform to the posted rules,” he stated.


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Phillips Van Heusen (PVH), which is the owner of Kalvin Clein, just bought bra startup True&Co. No details yet on the agreed price of the deal.
News articles by Tech Crunch and Business Wire stated that True&Co. has been sold to PVH, which owns brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. True&Co. is not just known for making the "most comfortably bra ever" but also for making the first bra quiz that allows them to suggest styles, sizes, and the perfect fit for its customers.
When asked about the sale, True&Co. CEO Michelle Lam told Tech Crunch that it was an amazing day for the firm. There is not detail on the negotiated price but a spokesperson revealed that the brand would remain, writes Tech Crunch.
Michelle Lam also added that through PVH, the brand will be able to change the way women shop bras even more, reports Business Wire.
According to the news article, Emanuel Chirico, PVH CEO and Chairman, stated that the sale says much about the firm's interest and commitment to reach long-term goals and innovate. Moving towards more digital platforms would contribute to that endeavor.
The bra startup has a reported $13 million raised from its investors, writes Tech Crunch. It adds that its source shared that the investors got their money back.
True&Co.'s strategy uses a "Fit Quiz" to help customers find the perfect bra. The quiz itself is based on questions about the bra brands women use, the types of bras, the problems they encounter, and the type of breasts they have.
Once the quiz is completed, the website sends customers five ranges of bras that they think they will appreciate. Bras that do not pass the customers' standards and fit are sent back, and only those that do are paid for.
For more business related new, tips, and updates, follow Jobs & Hire.


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AUGUSTA – Maine’s meat farmers and processors, along with the state Department of Agriculture, are pressuring Congress to pass a bill that would remove the ban on interstate sales of state-processed meat.
“This would be a huge step in the right direction,” Seth Bradstreet, Maine’s agriculture commissioner, said Monday. “This should have been done a long time ago.”
The ban has been in place since 1967 and has severely limited economic opportunities for Maine farmers.
Lifting the ban would funnel a great deal of money to Maine’s processing industry, Bradstreet said, along with creating new jobs.
“This will level the economic playing field for Maine’s small producers,” Bradstreet said.
H.R. 6130 is bipartisan legislation supported by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and three U.S. Department of Agriculture advisory committees.
NASDA points out that foreign-produced meat from 34 countries can be shipped freely and sold anywhere in the country, without guarantees that the countries’ inspection programs are equivalent to U.S. standards.
Local beef producers said this week that they would be able to dramatically ramp up their production by seeking out-of-state contracts, while sheep and goat producers could make a move on the Boston and New York ethnic markets.
Currently, beef and other meats headed to out-of-state markets must either be processed by Maine’s few federally inspected slaughter facilities or be processed in Pennsylvania or Massachusetts and the meat returned to Maine.
Bradstreet said that although Maine’s six state-inspected facilities may need infrastructure expansions to handle the increased business, Maine’s producers would welcome the opportunity to sell their meat across the borders.
By shifting the processing to Maine, local facilities would see a huge rise in business and the number of employees required. “It would be an incredible boost to our rural economy,” Bradstreet said. “This has enormous potential.”
“It would increase my business dramatically,” Tobie Bubier of Bubier Meats in Greene said Monday. “I have customers talking already about the possibilities [of increasing] their production.”
Deidre Caldwell ships 25 to 50 beef a month from her Turner farm and uses both state and federally inspected facilities. One state-inspected facility is just 13 miles away, while the other, a federal plant, is in North Anson.
“I would prefer to use the closer, local one,” she said. “It is much better for my animals to be trucked just 13 miles.”
But because Caldwell Farms sells tons of organic hamburger to a Massachusetts-based prepared food company, those cows must be inspected federally and take the longer ride.
Caldwell recognized that some of Maine’s slaughter facilities are small, family operations that may not wish to expand. For those that do, however, changing the law will be a boon to business.
“This would certainly open up the markets, especially Boston,” Todd Pierce, owner of West Gardiner Beef, said Monday. “I think it will make the most difference to those slaughter facilities nearest the border but it could affect farmers across the state.”
Pierce said he is seeing a large increase in the number of organic and natural beef farms in Maine that could help meet the increasing demand for those meats nationwide.


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TOP West Yorkshire policeman Sir Norman Bettison is urging pubs and nightclubs to end cheap drinks promotions.
His call is made against a backdrop where binge-drinking is becoming a genuine public menace rather than a harmless juvenile joke.
Violence and disturbances fuelled by alcohol are on the increase and the NHS is facing a huge burden in dealing with the impact of excessive drinking on health.
In the midst of this culture, sitting back and hoping the situation will self-repair is not an option.
Sir Norman believes a major contribution to the problem is the two-for-the-price-of one offers and the like in drinking establishments.
But this ignores the role of our supermarkets – perpetually in competition with each other and perpetually having drinks promotions of their own.
The reality is that many of our young get tanked up on what they buy from the shops before embarking on an evening out, as drinks in clubs are expensive in comparison.
Trying to protect people from the consequences of their own actions has always been a tricky problem to address in a free society.
But blame must not be placed on pubs and nightclubs alone.
Plenty of other businesses are quite happy to bolster their profits through cheap drink promotions, with little care for the consequences in terms of the health and welfare of their clientele.


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2 Crypto Startups Want to Put 10 Million Used Cars on a Blockchain
The Fusion Foundation is joining forces with the Automotive eXchange Platform to put 10.5 million used cars on a blockchain.
Ocean Protocol has completed a proof-of-concept with Daimler, showing how the Mercedes-Benz maker can begin monetizing data across its supply chains.
Ten vehicles have been outfitted with geofencing and blockchain capabilities to monitor their fuel efficiency in low-emission zones.
An Iranian free trade zone is proposing locally mined cryptocurrency might be a way to fund car imports.
Renault, BMW, General Motors, Honda and Ford are set to begin real-world testing of blockchain IDs for cars next month.
Jaguar Land Rover is trialing tech that may soon let drivers earn rewards in the IOTA cryptocurrency for sharing data on road conditions.


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FEDERAL SPENDING - Vital to continue funding long-term development goals
The government's attitude towards federal spending has changed significantly over last few years.
Firstly, there was transformation in the way government revenue was generated through the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax in 2015.
Despite numerous polemics, it is one of the lowest rates for value-added tax in the world, with a high number of zero-rated essential goods and services.
Compared to the previous Sales and Services Tax, revenue increase more than twofold. This increase was due to the introduction of a tax model that allowed for a broader tax collection base, reducing loopholes through more accurate tax reporting and improved measures to combat tax evasion.
Secondly, the age-old subsidy model gradually evolved to allow better targeting of those who really needed them. Along with fuel subsidy restructuring, the government introduced numerous cash returns to the bottom 40 per cent household income group.
However, the impact of this additional government revenue was offset by the appreciation of the US dollar against the ringgit in 2015. It was clear that the nation was highly dependent on imports and the domestic economy, and higher value economies needed to be generated that spurred import substitution.
To add salt to the wound, the drastic drop in oil prices further offset government revenue.
It is therefore significant that a large portion of the 2018 Budget continues the allocation for long-term development goals, with key focus on digitalisation, Industry 4.0 and national transformation by 2050.
For example, RM46 billion, or 16 per cent of the budget, has been allocated for development expenditure. Education received RM61 billion, or 21 per cent, which is much higher compared with countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, which ranges between two and 17.6 per cent. Ten per cent of the 2018 Budget goes to healthcare, examplifying our world-class public healthcare system.
Naturally, the benefits of the above do not manifest themselves immediately. It is also rare to be excited about benefits that will come in the future. Not many say they are excited about going to school, but know they must go in order to secure a future of high value. Long-term planning is never sexy. Yet, without it, our upward mobility and competitive edge would definitely be lost.
This year's budget will allow more development enhancement within the automotive industry, in line with Malaysia Automotive Institute's (MAI) four pillars - job creation, career enhancement, business opportunities and business enhancement.
Next year, MAI aims to create 5,000 semi-skilled jobs in line with Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Another 1,730 skilled jobs will be created through MAI's career enhancement programmes focusing on digital engineering, quality management and advanced process design.
More than 300 parts and components manufacturing will undergo enhancement in line with Industry 4.0 in key areas of product design, smart manufacturing and automation capabilities. Futhermore, 1,000 automotive workshops will be enhancement to boost the performance of the after-sales sector.
These programme and the continuation of the National Automotive Policy are geared towards further improving import substitution and exports. Next year, we are aiming to increase localisation to RM11 billion from RM9.5 billion this year, and exports of automotive products to RM13 billion from RM12 billion.
November is that time when businesses start detailing their internal budgets, and it is also when we look at ways to enhance our careers for next year. I invite you to speak to us on further enhancing ourselves to brave the new frontiers of 2018. Speak to us now, and we can get started immediately.


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The WSOP effect wears off in Nevada and New Jersey.
Full Tilt reorganizes its cash game products to make the best use of its player liquidity.
WSOP Nevada will become the first poker room to offer an online bracelet event during this year’s World Series of Poker.
More million dollar Spin & Gos, and the Hive network is confident enough to plan its second €100K guaranteed tournament.
Promotional highlights of the week, including PokerStars, Full Tilt, Revolution Gaming, PKR Poker, partypoker and 888poker New Jersey.
A chance to play poker on the world’s largest passenger ship restores glamour to Revolution Gaming promotions.
In our industry-focused picks from the discussion forums this week: 7 goes Beta, Ultimate Poker pushback, EuroPoker transparency, a Juicy hostage and more.
Cash out difficulties have been reported for over 18 months at the affected sites.
In our industry-focused picks from the discussion forums this week: 888 account closures, cheating reimbursements, Heartbleed, Pure Poker, and how to stop buttoning in online poker.
Success of skill-based segregation policies trends toward transparency.
Rake increases for most cash game stakes catch players by surprise.
An old promotional staple of Cake gets a reboot.
DraftKings online casino began its reign in the online gaming world in 2012, launched from a small spare bedroom in…
PokerStars went live in Pennsylvania in November 2019, having acquired the necessary license from the Pennsylvania…
Online gambling became regulated in Connecticut with Governor Ned Lamont signing HB 6451 into law on May 27, 2021….
The Big 20 promotion to celebrate PokerStars’ 20th anniversary has been going on for the last several weeks now,...
New Jersey was one of the first states to legalize online poker, shortly after Nevada and Delaware, and BetMGM Poker…
888poker has announced the launch of their second 888poker LIVE Festival in London, following a successful test run…
The Big 20 promotion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the world’s premiere online poker site has entered its final…
Michigan posted its best revenue numbers in nine months in September of this year, with about $1.6 million total….


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Fans of Ed Sheeran are being invited to his former school for an exclusive preview of a collection of his personal possessions that will soon be auctioned to support a local charity.
Ed has donated over 300 items to raise money for Zest, a new brand launched by St Elizabeth Hospice, which aims to support young adults in our region who are living with progressive and terminal illnesses. The actual auction takes place on November 10 at Bishop & Miller Auctioneers in Stowmarket but fans are being given the opportunity to see the items ahead of the auction at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham, during half term on October 25.
Oliver Miller, Managing Director of Bishop & Miller, says: “We’ve been really excited to partner up with Zest to hold this exclusive auction at our Salesrooms in Stowmarket. The preview event will give fans the chance to get up close the Ed’s items and even make pre-bids that will be taken to the auction. We have lots that will go for tens of pounds and hopefully others that will hopefully go for thousands raising money for this great charity. Also on the day there will be one of Ed’s famous Heinz ketchup t-shirts which we will be giving visitors a chance to win. ”
Mark Wheeler, Deputy Headteacher at Thomas Mills High School, told us “Ed remains a close friend of the School and we are delighted to support him, Zest and St Elizabeth Hospice in the launch of this new and worthwhile venture. This is a great opportunity for Ed enthusiasts and a fabulous way to support a local charity.”
Tickets for the event are free however those wanting to visit the event must reserve their place at www.wearezest.org.uk. Only 300 tickets will be released so it is advised to register early.


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In the tech world, imitation tends to happen as quickly as the next iteration of a product can appear. Just look at Instagram, which has copied Snapchat in the past and is doing it again now. But one specific form of imitation will start going both ways in the upcoming year: Media organizations will start picking up processes and appreaches that are more and more like startups, while startups — if they’re smart — will start copying a few moves from media in general. Here’s how and why.
Why Media Needs the Startup Model
It’s no secret that advertising dollars are flowing to Facebook and Google, away from the publishers that have relied on them for decades. Here are the specifics, from an earlier article I put together on the shifting future of media revenue models:
“In 2005, U.S. newspapers earned $47.4 billion in print revenue and $2 billion in digital revenue. In 2014, they earned just $16.4 billion in print revenue and had only pulled their digital revenue up to $3.5 billion. If you do the math, that’s bad news for journalism.”
The answer, according to a memo from Boston Globe editor Brian McGrory, is to start a cultural shift that will embrace principles that startups know well: Nimble, fast-paced, and failure-embracing. In McGrory’s exact words:
“[Newsroom culture] will analyze how we can become a more nimble learning culture, with a collective understanding that we need to constantly experiment and change, tolerate failure, and become more entrepreneurial. This will require more training across the room, but what kind of training do we need? How do we transform our mindset? How, in general, do we behave more like a startup and less like a legacy company as we fight for our lives?”
Why Startups Need the Media Model
Startups, too, are facing a shortage of backers. While media loses paying audiences and ad-buyers, startups are losing VC funds. Frustratingly, the VCs still have more money than ever… they’re just scared to invest it. Here’s the breakdown from a recent Tech.Co article by a colleague:
“According to Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a law firm that advises startups, the median valuation of early rounds involving professional investors has reached $15 million, more than any time in the last five years.
They just aren’t spending it! VC funds have totaled $5.7 billion less than this year than in 2015. Even worse, startups that were able to reach a second or third round of funding last quarter fell 25 percent compared to the same numbers from 2014.”
So what can startups learn from media’s troubles? How to sell themselves.
Freelancer Lexie Lu recently wrote on the topic, picking out five tips that media can teach the startup community: how to use the voices on your team, how to tailor your social media use to your values, how to connect directly with what their customers need, how to develop a company culture, and how to rely on a clear leadership structure. In summary, startups must turn their knowledge into a service or product, and then turn that service into a marketable brand.
Moving forward, growth is less important to everyone from marketers to UI designers to content creators. Instead, stronger engagement is key. Startups and media organizations alike will realize that 10,000 highly engaged customers will offer a more sustainable model than a million customers who never think twice about your company.


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Shopping Centres Australasia Group (SCA) has reported a decrease in statutory net profit after tax by 45.2 per cent compared to last year, reaching $175.2 million, reflecting a smaller increase in property values year over year, in its results for the 12 months ending June 30, 2018.
The report notes supermarket sales growth remains robust at 1.9 per cent, with both Woolworths and Coles recording positive sales growth.
Discount department store sales have also improved by 1.9 per cent as a result of better performance from Big W stores which recorded positive month-on-month sales growth during FY18.
Mini-majors sales growth (2.7 per cent up) improved due to an improved performance from the discount variety category, while specialty stores improved by 3.3 per cent, related to core non-discretionary categories food and liquor (2.2 per cent up), retail services (5.6 per cent) and pharmacy (5.3 per cent).
SCP CEO Anthony Mellowes notes that the company continues to take advantage of development opportunities in its portfolio.
“In July 2018 the new Coles anchored neighbourhood centre at Bushland Beach was completed, and the new Woolworths anchored neighbourhood centre at SHell Cove is progressing to plan with an expected completion date of late 1H FY19,” he said.
“We continue to identify and progress other development opportunities in our portfolio which we plan to complete progressively over the next five years.”
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- Apr 12, 2001
Appleinsider reports that Steve Jobs is expected to keynote this year's Apple Expo in Paris, France.
...sources further stated that Jobs is expected to make at least one major announcement during his presentation
The yearly event takes place on September 20th to the 24th and was the launching ground for the iMac G5 in 2004. Last year's keynote was given by Phil Schiller due to Jobs' medical recovery.


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Canadian Toyota plant may be the next facilities to get a “voluntary” local, similar to what the UAW is proposing for Volkswagen’s Chattanooga factory.
Category: Union News
The horse-trading between Volkswagen, the UAW and IG Metall that eventually led to both the UAW’s “voluntary union” and the new crossover’s production at Chattanooga isn’t quite over yet. Buried deep in VW’s announcement is the news that Volkswagen’s board member in charge of their global Works Council Bernd Osterloh will join the Volkswagen Group of Amerca’s Board of Directors.
The UAW will apparently form a new local in Chattanooga, Tennessee to represent workers at Volkswagen’s assembly plant. But things will operate a little differently than in traditional union representation setups.
Ride-sharing service Uber has hit a few rough patches as of late, mainly from taxi operators and city and state officials who believe Uber and others like it are too disruptive for its own good. However, the Teamsters — who supported European taxi drivers in their protest of the service earlier this month — are throwing their support to Uber drivers wishing to organize.
General Motors subsidiary Opel has come to terms on a severance package for workers at its Bochum factory, set to close this year as part of the company’s restructuring plan.
Much like it has in the United States, Uber and other ride-sharing services have upended the traditional taxi in Europe. Just like the U.S., taxi operators have protested the disruption the new services have caused upon them, citing the lack of properly licensed drivers and thoroughly maintained vehicles as a reason to bring them in line with the same regulations they already are mandated to follow. However, unlike the U.S., European taxi drivers took their complaints to the streets, and then some.
Though the United Auto Worker’s fight for organization of the transplants in the Southeastern United States rages on, the union will not be taking as much from its war chest to fund the fight than in previous years.
Automotive News reports new United Auto Workers president Dennis Williams let it be known before the 1,100 delegates at the 36th UAW Constitutional Convention in Detroit that the union’s focus will be on contract negotiations with the Detroit Three in 2015, and the national elections of 2014 and 2016. Regarding the former, Williams proclaimed that the time for making concessions had come to an end, vowing to fight on for workers’ rights and social and economic justice. He also addressed the leadership history of the union, providing examples of the challenges each president has had to face during their term, even if the answers left the membership confused at first.
Automotive News reports the United Auto Workers has elected secretary-treasurer Dennis Williams, who served in the role under now-retired president Bob King, as the union’s new president in a 3215 to 49 vote during the 36th UAW Constitutional Convention in Detroit. Williams, who came from the agricultural wing of the union, is the first union president not to have worked in the automotive industry.
Automotive News reports General Motors will release Thursday the results of attorney Anton Valukas’s three-month independent internal investigation into how and where the automaker went wrong before recalling 2.6 million vehicles affected by an out-of-spec ignition switch linked to 47 accidents and at least 13 fatalities. The announcement will come at 9 a.m. Eastern via webcast, with what CEO Mary Barra says will be an “unvarnished” look at the events surrounding the recall. In addition, GM will have an update on plans for compensating victims of the switch, though the attorney heading up the affair, Kenneth Feinberg, says a formal announcement won’t come until a few weeks down the road. Reuters adds the Valukas report will likely exonerate Barra, former CEO Dan Akerson and other senior execs and board members of any wrongdoing over the recall, with “a number of people” to be formally dismissed from the company due to their ties to recall. The report will be turned over to the federal government by the end of June.


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Photo via SocialMonsters
The concept of zero waste has created quite a buzz in the business world. With society continuously growing more and more eco-conscious, businesses across all industries have begun to reconsider how their recycling and waste management practices can be adjusted to achieve highly coveted zero-waste status.
Zero-waste status, which can be certified by the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council, means that a company's product design and daily practices, from manufacturing to shipping, are strategically devised, with the goal of eliminating all waste and instead conserving and recycling resources. To officially earn this classification, a company doesn't have to literally produce zero waste, but rather divert a minimum of 90 percent of waste away from landfills.
Here are five companies that have achieved zero-waste status:
This Japanese car manufacturing giant has created a landmark precedent in the automotive world. Subaru is the first automobile manufacturer to earn zero-landfill status. All waste from Subaru is diverted from landfills instead of being reused or recycled.
In 2002, Subaru announced its intentions to earn the zero-waste status, and within 18 months the company was able to completely overhaul its practices and procedures to achieve this status year after year. Most recently, Subaru announced a partnership with the U.S. National Park Service, in which the auto manufacturer will help national parks throughout the U.S. achieve zero-landfill status.
TireBuyer.com sells an assortment of top-name brand tires like Goodyear, Michelin and Firestone. The company also has a firm commitment to sustainable practices, as any used tires tires and their packaging contents are properly recycled.
Tire disposal became a hot-button issue across the U.S. in the 1980s. But, since then, federal and state regulations have been passed to manage the issue of scrap tire disposal to ensure all material waste can be ground down and repurposed for new use.
Procter & Gamble
The consumer products giant is fully committed to doing its part to help Mother Earth. With 66 top-selling brands under its umbrella, like Gillette, Tampax, Pantene, Tide, Dawn, Bounty and Crest, more than 45 Procter & Gamble factories have a zero-landfill status. P&G has announced the entire company plans to be zero landfill by 2020.
Additionally, P&G plans to revamp its product packaging strategy by 2020, so that all its products will be made from recycled or renewable resources. The company also has plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its overall energy consumption during manufacturing, as well as create power plants with more renewable forms of energy.
Bigelow Tea is one of the most sustainable brands in the tea industry. Through its SustainabiliTea program, the company diverts 94 percent of its waste away from landfills and instead recycles and reuses what it can. Bigelow Tea also works exclusively with sustainable farmers in Sri Lanka, India and China in an effort to support ethical tea gardens and ensure the quality of its product.
DuPont Building Innovations
DuPont Building Innovations manufactures an assortment of top-quality building materials, including Tyvek building wrap, Corian countertops and Zodiaq quartz countertops. In 2009, the company announced a plan to transform its waste handling procedures to become zero waste within three years. By 2012, DuPont Building Solutions was able to dramatically reduce its waste from 81 million pounds annually to zero.
Allison Wilkinson is a WAHM, an explorer, an amateur chef and a fitness buff. You can find her Instagramming photos of her (adorable) son or researching everything from the latest parenting theories to healthy hacks for desserts.


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The First Hello Kitty Cafe Just Opened in America and It’s Cute AF
Even though we no longer have much use for those Hello Kitty school supplies we used to obsess over way back when, we’ve still found a way to incorporate the ultra-cute brand into our adult lives. The brand released a high-fashion Hello Kitty line and has also partnered with MAC on a beauty line. So it only makes sense that the brand has expanded its aesthetic to another adult pastime: hanging out at a cafe.
Naturally, a Hello Kitty cafe has already been open in Seoul for some time now, but California just got its first HK eatery yesterday. The new location opened up in the Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine, California. The ultra-Instagrammable new spot is actually a shipping container that unfolds to reveal a patio.
While chilling in that California sun, Sanrio mega-fans can nibble on sweets like tiny apple pies and HK-themed petite fours. The bistro serves up artisanal sodas, tea and coffee drinks utilizing Portola Coffee Lab coffee.
Should you find yourself in sunny So-Cal, be sure to check out the adorable little cafe and tag us in your Instagram post (@BritandCo), so we can live vicariously through you ;)


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Halo: Reach PC Beta Begins In June; First Gameplay Footage Released
It's almost time.
People who join Microsoft's Halo Insider program will get to play first. The June date was confirmed in a livestream event where community director Brian Jarrard and other team members showed off live gameplay for one of Reach's missions.
Jarrard also revealed that 343 is bringing Halo: The Master Chief Collection to E3 2019 where attendees will be able to check out one mission from Halo: Reach, Tip of the Spear. The first beta test for Reach, or "flight," will arrive sometime before or after E3.
Jarrard said he's not happy with this scenario of bringing the game to E3 before the general public. Bringing Halo: The Master Chief Collection to E3 before the Insider beta process begins is "not ideal," he said. "We don't like that scenario."
The full livestream video is a great watch for fans looking for more information on how Halo: Reach will play on PC--go watch it here. In the video, developers talk about how they're working hard to ensure Halo: Reach (and the other titles within Halo: The Master Chief Collection) feels like a native PC game. They also discuss PC-specific features like button-mapping, the FOV slider, higher resolutions, and the new progression system.
Not only that, but 343 talked about how the team has no plans for split-screen or mods support for Halo: Reach on PC at launch, though these features could be added later if fans really want it. 343 also talked about how games within Halo: The Master Chief Collection will have anti-cheat measures.
In addition to this video, 343 has released a gargantuan, nearly 7,000-word blog post that covers these topics in more in huge depth--check it out here.
Halo: Reach is also coming to Xbox One, but 343 has not yet said when it'll be out. What we do know is that it will be tested first by Halo Insiders before rolling out to everyone.
You can sign up for the free Halo Insider program for a chance to get into the beta tests. The tests will start small before expanding to additional users over time.
In other Halo news, Microsoft is reportedly going to share more details on Halo Infinite at E3 2019 next month. For more, check out GameSpot's breakdown of what we know about Halo Infinite so far and what we want to see at E3 2019.
GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.


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Fiesta is only weeks away, and the Fiesta San Antonio Commission already is working to make sure the vendor who supplies the thrilling rides and chilling raspas keep coming.
The Fiesta San Antonio Commission announced Thursday it is soliciting sealed proposals to manage and operate the Fiesta Carnival and parade route concessions during Fiesta 2020, 2021, and 2022, with option years for 2023 and 2024. The estimated value of the contract comes to over $1 million annually, or $3.3 million for the full three years, and likely $5.5 million total if the vendor exercises its option on the fourth and fifth years.
The Fiesta Carnival, one of many attractions and events during Fiesta, is the largest source of revenue for the commission overall, said Amy Shaw, executive director of the nonprofit Fiesta Commission, which coordinates Fiesta. The annual 11-day celebration honoring the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, Fiesta is April 18-28.
Annually situated in the Alamodome parking lot, the carnival offers free admission, and carnival-goers buy wristbands to access their favorite rides. The carnival operator also is responsible for licensing vendors who sell refreshments along the routes of the Battle of Flowers Parade on April 26 and Fiesta Flambeau on April 27.
For this year’s Fiesta, the Michigan-based family entertainment business Wade Shows is running the carnival and licensing parade vendors. In 2018, Wade Shows receipts totaled $1.13 million and the company paid the Fiesta Commission $575,000 per the contract guarantee.
Vendors who sell refreshments and souvenirs along the parade route paid Wade Shows $95,900 in 2018 for the right to sell refreshments and souvenirs either from a stationary booth or with a roving vendor badge. The company does not keep an account of how much money those vendors make selling at the two parades.
The Fiesta Commission puts the contract out for bid every five years. Wade Shows has won the contract in at least the past two rounds of bidding, Shaw said. And she expects Wade Shows to bid again for the next five-year contract. “They’ve done a really good job for us,” she said.
The Fiesta Commission has posted the request for proposals (RFP) in trade publications and directly notified businesses that operate carnivals in Texas. The new contract requires a guaranteed return of $600,000 to the Fiesta Commission.
The proposal submission deadline is noon on May 8 and requires a proposal security deposit of $5,000. The proposals will be evaluated by an RFP committee made up of W. Wendell Hall (chair), Byron LeFlore Jr., Jeanie Travis, Walter Serna, JoAnn Boone, Bruce Hicks, Ferne Burney, Vangie Flores, Steve Rosenaur, Frank Burney, John Jacks, and Shaw (ex-officio). They will evaluate proposals using a scoring sheet.
More information is available on the formal RFP on the vendors page of the Fiesta San Antonio website, and the Fiesta Commission will hold a Q&A session on April 4 and again after Fiesta.


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Nokia 3.2 Software Update:
Nokia has released the September 2021 Security Patch for Nokia 3.2. Just like the previous security updates, this update doesn’t bring any noticeable improvements.
Nokia smartphone users are anticipating the release of the Android 12 update sadly this device already has gotten 2 major OS updates! And won’t be getting the Android 12 OS update.
Nokia 3.2 was released on February 2019 with Android 9 Pie
This update was released on 4th October 2021
Update details :
- Devices: Nokia 3.2
- Android: Android 11
- Update size: 20.60 MB
- Update type: Security Update/Software update
- Region: India
- Android security patch: September 2021
Credits: Twitter user –>> Krishna K
- Android security patch for September 2021
- Optimized the system performance & the system stability
How long will they get major OS updates?
The Nokia 3.2 was released in February 2019 with Android 9.0 out-of-the-box and has received two major updates to Android 11
It is officially expected to receive the Android 11 update soon and it will probably be its second/last major OS update. Few users hinted that android 11 might come in with the second wave market.
- Out-of-the-box>> Android 9 Pie
- First Update>> Android 10
- Second Update>> Android 11 [Last Update]
How to update your with Security Patch Update?
The latest update comes with September 2021 Security Patch and is currently rolling out globally reportedly. So, it is soon expected to reach all the users soon.
Once it’s available on your device, you can head over to Settings >> About Phone >> Software Update section to update your Nokia 3.2 with the September 2021 Security Patch Update.
Or download our app and press check for updates
More on Nokia from us
- Nokia Android 12 Update List
- Nokia Android 11 Update Tracker
- Nokia 2.4 Android 11 based Software Update in India, Kenya
- Nokia 8.3 5G Receives July 2021 Security Patch
For more Nokia Android updates please download our android app – available on the Play Store


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Krups Launches Campaign to Recognize First Responders and Military Personnel
September 27, 2012,
NEW YORK-The Krups brand of small kitchen electrics has unveiled the 2012 "Krups Appreciates..." campaign to honor first responders and military personnel for their efforts in protecting U.S. communities.
The campaign has been positioned around National Coffee Day, which takes place on Sept. 29. It includes a nationwide contest offering firemen, police officers, emergency medical technicians and active and retired military personnel the chance to win a break-room or kitchen makeover with new, high-end Krups appliances including coffee machines, blenders, panini makers and other products.
The prize is worth up to $2,999 in appliances. Contest guidelines are on the Krups Facebook page. In addition, from Sept. 29-Oct. 9, all Krups Facebook fans can take advantage of an exclusive 15 percent discount on coffee appliances, accessories and other products in honor of National Coffee Day.
Other Articles By Author
HFN Launches Interactive Idea Book
HFN's DIGITAL EDITION
COVER STORY: HFN Turns 90
We commemorate HFN's 90th anniversary by paying tribute to the iconic retailer and supplier brands--and the people--that have helped the industry flourish, then and now.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- Up & Coming Leaders - The home industry is in capable and visionary hands as this year’s 40 Under 40 list attests. Today’s young leaders span all disciplines and varied levels of operation.
- Omnichannel Retailing - In the Mobile App World, Time is Money


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More than 1,600 chemists traveled to Florida for the IFSCC Congress
FTC and USDA hold a public roundtable to discuss consumers’ perception of organic claims.
eLuminate Marketing's Lyndsi Stafford provides five ways
P&G brand picks mixed martial artist Ronda Roussey as brand ambassador.
A look at a handful of products that experts have their eye on...maybe you should too.
Jack Black continues to lead in men's grooming by rolling out efficacious products and listening to its customers.
Sign up now to receive the free weekly newsletter, and more!


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Leaks and rumors are running wild on the internet these days. Previously, it was rumored that a Superman game is in development at Rocksteady. Now, a new report has made its way on the internet suggesting that WB Montreal is also working on Wonder Woman game along with Batman Court Of Owls.
The leak comes from ResetEra and 4Chan forums. According to ResetEra thread, WB Montreal is working on “Project Diana” and has been developing it since 2017.
Furthermore, a post on 4Chan forums, which now has been removed, claims that WB Montreal is working on a Wonder Woman game titled “called Wonder Woman: Circle of Light”.
According to the report, the plot of the Wonder Woman game revolves around Diana trying to stop Circe and Hades. The leak suggests Diana is trying to stop them from breaking the Source Wall and rewriting history.
However, given that it is just a rumor take it with a grain of salt. But, it will be interesting to see how WB Montreal would handle a Wonder Woman game and carve its own identity.
If the leak is to be believed then, WB Montreal is developing Batman Court Of Owls and Wonder Woman Game simultaneously, probably in collaboration with Rocksteady Studios.
While it is not confirmed but, Batman Court of Owls is a possible sequel to Batman Arkham Origins. This is according to senior game designer Osama Dorias.
Earlier this year, the game designer confirmed that the studio is working on an open-world DC Game. He added that the game is based on a “major DC property” and is the very reason why he joined Warner Bros.
The game was tease earlier this month. WB Montreal took it to Twitter and teased Batman Court Of Owls.
Speaking of Batman, DOOM eternal was revealed earlier this year. However, many fans were confused about why the game wasn’t titled DOOM 2.
Well, according to the executive producer, Batman is the reason for the game not being titled DOOM 2. He noted that the inspiration behind naming it Doom Eternal was Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
I think [Christopher] Nolan did it the best, and we thought about that. it wasn’t ‘Dark Knight 1, Dark Knight 2, Dark Knight 3.’ Each one had its own name, but there was an arc there. They were all connected, as is this game as a sequel to [Doom] 2016.
Furthermore, Rocksteady Studios is definitely working on its next title. However, we don’t know what that is. Rumors suggested that the studio is working on a Superman game.
However, Rocksteady was quick to clarify that no Superman is in development. Not only that, the studio also confirmed that they won’t reveal their next game at The Game Awards 2018.
There seems to be a lot of leaks and rumors regarding the next Batman game. Of course, they are to be taken with a grain of salt. However, these rumors do get me excited about these interesting ideas. Now, a Wonder Woman game is reportedly in development which suggests WB Montreal has its hands full.


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The wild hunt begins next year.
Developer CD Projekt Red confirmed today that it will release the The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt role-playing game on Feb. 24. This will make it one of the first major releases of 2015. The studio also noted the game will debut simultaneously on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
The company also revealed the collector’s edition for Wild Hunt, which is a mammoth-sized box with all kinds of branded items. Those who preorder the box will get an art book, a statue of the hero, Geralt, swinging his sword at a monster, and more.
The Witcher is a fantasy role-playing game that has players taking the role of a white-haired wizard-warrior. CD Projekt Red first debuted the franchise for PC in 2007. The company followed up with a sequel, Assassins of Kings, in 2011. While The Witcher is well regarded by fans for its action gameplay and mature storyline, the franchise is also known for as one gaming’s best-looking properties. CD Projekt Red hopes to continue that with Wild Hunt.
CD Projekt Red is one of Poland’s biggest game companies. Earlier this week, President Barack Obama even mentioned The Witcher games as a great example of Poland’s growing tech-based economy.


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Karnataka Budget 2017: Cinema tickets to be cheaper
Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 3:21 PM
The Karnataka Budget for 2017-18 has proposed a number of measures that are bound to bring cheer to cinema lovers. The government proposed capping movie ticket prices at Rs 200 at all cinema theaters, including multiplexes. This has been a long-pending public demand in Bengaluru, where ticket prices can rise up to Rs 500 each.


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General Motors says a new information technology center in suburban Atlanta—the third of four planned by the largest U.S. automaker—will open in March and create 1,000 white-collar jobs as part of its new focus on producing software and other applications in-house.
The automaker announced Thursday that it is hiring software developers, project managers, database experts, business analysts and other information technology professionals to staff its Information Technology Innovation Center in Roswell—about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Atlanta.
State officials say the company has invested $26 million in the development and are calling it another step toward establishing the area as a hub for technological innovation.
General Motors Vice President and Chief Information Officer Randy Mott said Thursday that the company has relied on outside firms for tech products and applications for about 30 years. The 228,000 square-foot (21,181 sq. meter) Roswell facility—along with centers in Warren, Michigan; Austin, Texas; and a to-be-named fourth location— will be part of GM's effort to hire up to 10,000 technology professionals over a three- to five-year period to move production in-house instead of buying from outside companies.
"We feel like based on what we're trying to do, which is provide capability for our business, it's much better to have people that understand not only technology but General Motors and the General Motors business," Mott said after a news conference at Georgia Tech.
About 700 people have been hired for positions at GM's other two innovation centers.
(AP) -- As part of its turnaround plan, General Motors Corp. said Friday it plans to experiment with auctioning new cars on eBay, expanding on an existing partnership covering certified used vehicles on the online marketplace.
Over the last few years, Mark Jacobson, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering, and his colleague, Mark Delucchi of the University of California, Berkeley, have produced a series of plans, based on huge ...
Talk about serendipity. Einar Enevoldson was strolling past a scientist's office in 1991 when he noticed a freshly printed image tacked to the wall. He was thunderstruck; it showed faint particles in the sky that proved something ...


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Soon to lose the top spot in China, there appears to be trouble abrewing for Starbucks at home as well. Forbes reports that US-based Peet’s Coffee is merging with European counterpart and fellow JAB Holdings offering Jacobs Douwe Egberts. The combined company, JDE Peet, have combined sales of €7 billion ($7.81B USD) with “a presence in 140 countries,” still well short of the $29.5 billion Starbucks has earned through Q3 2019.
While most of America is familiar with the name Peet’s, JDE is lesser known Stateside. Per Forbes, the “European packaged-coffee giant housing labels including Jacobs Coffee, Douwe Egberts, Senseo, and Tassimo.” Along with growing the Peet’s presence, which is currently limited to only eight states, the merger allows the newly-minted company to better compete with packaged-coffee market leader Nestlé, who reported $19 billion in global earnings this year.
Per the Financial Times, growth plans for JDE Peet may include going public at some time in the 2020, where the company looks to bring in €3 billion. With the IPO, JDE Peet will become the largest publicly traded coffee company in the world.
Currently, Peet’s ranks 12th in overall market share behind first place Starbucks with 46% and Coca-Cola-owned Costa Coffee and McDonald’s McCafe sharing the second spot with 3.1% each. In America, Peet’s is bested by only Starbucks in terms of specialty coffee and tea shop market share, though their 1.2% pales in comparison to Starbucks’ staggering 67%. But with the merger, JDE Peet positions themselves to grow the brand both in America and abroad and put up a much more robust fight against their Big Green Rival.
Top image from The Man Who Taught The World To Drink Coffee by Karina Hof


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The frothing excitement around these prototype, titanium-framed wearable computers has the tech world tripping over itself, but big what, why, and how questions remain. CNET dives in to clear up the reality -- and the future possibilities -- of Google Glass.
Pricing not available
New features are coming to Android Wear, Google Glass is focusing on Enterprise business for now and the Galaxy Note 5 is coming in August.
The company helping to pioneer virtual reality goggles is hosting a developer event this week in Los Angeles, where it's expected to announce new partnerships and refined hardware. But the question still looms: Will consumers want what it's selling?
We're currently living in the year imagined by the classic sci-fi flick, but what would another sequel look like if it envisioned the future 30 years from today?
Commentary: The Samsung Gear S2 watch will be round. But it will need a lot more than that to stand out in the smartwatch jungle.
The iPhone maker purportedly has a team looking into augmented reality technology that would move beyond such prototype devices as Google Glass.
The search giant has made tweaks to its smart eyewear as it pitches the device to the enterprise. One change: Workers will be able to attach the device to an existing pair of glasses.
From CNET Magazine: Actor and entrepreneur LeVar Burton, host of the beloved "Reading Rainbow" TV show-turned-iPad app, is putting interactive books and video field trips on more devices than ever -- thanks to readers like you. It's quite a story.
The search giant has been trying to take a more measured approach with costs, especially as its cash cow search engine faces more competition.
Filming a skin flick under the skin of another person is the dream of a porn site that has apparently abducted Eric Mack's sense of 1980s sci-fi nostalgia.


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WASHIINGON — The Consumer Brands Association on July 22 renewed its call for urgent government action on cannabidiol (CBD) regulation in letters addressed to Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.
The letter to Dr. Woodcock from Betsy Booren, CBA’s senior vice president, regulatory affairs, stated the “FDA stance on CBD products is not working” and a regulatory framework for CBD products is “needed now to protect consumers, ensure product safety and transparency, establish guardrails for legal product innovation and distribution in interstate commerce, and provide the clarity needed for manufacturers of these products.”
Ms. Booren summarized the FDA stance as holding fast to a position that CBD-containing dietary supplements and foods may not be marketed under the exclusionary clauses of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act and that the use of these products may present serious safety concerns.
Currently, the FDCA prohibits any new dietary ingredient, food or beverage from entering interstate commerce if it has been studied or approved as a drug, as is the case with CBD. The FDA has the authority to exempt items from this prohibition but has yet to do so in the case of CBD.
Yet CBD products are legally produced and used across the nation since Congress legalized hemp and hemp-derived products in the 2018 farm bill. These products currently are regulated by state and not federal authorities. As a result, products produced in one state may not be transported for sale in another, and regulations relating to production, marketing and labeling may differ greatly from state to state.
“Consumer Brands believes Americans deserve to know the products they purchase are safe and of consistent quality,” Ms. Booren wrote. “Without FDA leadership, state legislatures are putting their own polices in place. There are currently 135 proposals in 38 states which further confuse the disparate CBD regulations already on states’ books…Unfortunately, well-intentioned state CBD regulations have created a confusing, conflicting regulatory patchwork that fails to establish uniform requirements for the safe formulation, production, labeling and marketing of these products.”
Ms. Booren said federal action also was needed to reduce widespread consumer confusion, including the misperception that FDA already regulates CBD.
“Consumer Brands’ recent poll found that 74% of American consumers either incorrectly assume or have no idea if CBD is regulated,” Ms. Booren wrote. “The market is growing, and Americans are using products without FDA oversight and without a good understanding of CBD. When asked to rate their knowledge of CBD on a scale of 1 to 10, consumers rated themselves an average of 3.3. This knowledge gap, in concert with the lack of federal regulation, should create urgency for FDA to engage.”
Ms. Booren conveyed six CBD-related stakeholder requests to Dr. Woodcock.
First, the FDA should provide an update on the current state of scientific data needed to determine the safety of CBD products and provide a roadmap on how to identify and address data/information gaps.
Second, the FDA should establish a regulatory framework where consumer packaged goods manufacturers should notify the agency of CBD-containing products and provide safety data for the FDA to review.
Third, the FDA should provide an update on its progress toward establishing a regulatory framework for CBD products and opportunities for stakeholders to share their knowledge and perspectives.
Fourth, the FDA should provide technical assistance to members of Congress in their efforts to ensure a timely development of a regulatory framework.
Fifth, the FDA and other federal agencies should continue to take enforcement actions against bad actors to remove unsafe CBD-containing products and those making misleading claims.
And sixth, while the new regulatory framework is being developed, the FDA should work with stakeholders to develop a plan that may be implemented to make certain those products currently in the market are subject to the new regulatory framework.
The letter to Mr. Wyden from Jen Daulby, CBA’s senior vice president, government affairs, expressed those same concerns and imperatives while voicing support to the senator’s efforts to advance the Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act, S 1698.
Mr. Wyden, on behalf of himself and Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, introduced that legislation on May 19. The bill aimed to ensure hemp-derived products are regulated by the FDA like other legal products used in dietary supplements, foods and beverages. The measure sought a congressional solution to what increasingly was viewed as a regulatory Gordian knot.


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The amount that companies pay in business rates could be recalculated more frequently under Government plans to reform the system.
At present the rateable value of a property is measured every five years but businesses have been pressing the Government to conduct more frequent revaluations so that the tax is in line with the state of the economy.
George Osborne, the Chancellor, pledged to reform business rates in last years Autumn Statement alongside a £1.1bn package of measures designed to ease the pressure caused by the controversial tax.
The Government on Thursday published its “terms of reference” for the review.
In a statement, David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury said the review “will consider the way in which the business rates system in England is administered by the Valuation Office Agency and local authorities, with a view to strengthening its responsiveness to changes in property values and its simplicity and transparency to business ratepayers”.
This will include a review on the frequency of revaluations, changes to the valuation methods, and how organisations applt for relief and exemptions.
James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “This review will provide retailers with a great opportunity to communicate the impact of business rate and how the system can be improved.
"We support a more fundamental review of business rates to ensure that this £23bn tax burden is shared fairly and does not prevent sustainable investment and growth.”
Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, added: "I have been pressing for reform of business rates for some time and welcome this review as a step towards meeting the concerns of small business.
"I am particularly pleased that the review will look at frequency of valuations as it is the out of date property valuations that is a real problem, especially for businesses in deprived areas where rents have fallen."