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The Japanese Supreme Court has upheld a ruling by the Tokyo district court that software company West Side's 'naked Kasumi hack' for the PS2 version of Dead or Alive 2 violates Tecmo's copyrights, according to Japanese news reports. West Side has been ordered to pay two million yen (around €14,500 or £10,000) in damages.
However that probably won't offset the legal costs incurred during the four-year court battle. West Side first released the save editor, which swapped the regular Kasumi model in the PS2 version for a naked one used elsewhere, back in 2000, and included it on a CD-ROM given away with a magazine it published. Tecmo promptly took action.
Originally the developer won the decision in a Tokyo district court in autumn 2002, but now the higher court has ruled on West Side's appeal, and Tecmo finally has the promise of reparations for what it has always viewed as a violation of Kasumi's dignity. The ruling will only affect Japan though, and, as anybody with a Datel Action Replay device can attest, West Side's wasn't the only way of unclothing Ms. Kasumi.
DOA2 wasn't even the only Tecmo game that you could do this in, either. Hacks for Xbox title Dead Or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball that strip all the DOA girls naked have existed more or less since the game was first released. Although, quite frankly, we can't think of too many people who would find something like that terribly arousing in any event. Surely there are better sources of titillation at our fingertips these days than fictional bikini and airbrush-clad piles of polygons? West Side should have stuck to Google image search...


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Oh! Market will open its new, international food market in Manassas on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.
The 47,000 square-foot food market, located at 7412 Stream Walk Lane, stocks international grocery items from the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Mexico, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East and more.
Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Ann Wheeler will assist with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and provide opening remarks before the store opens.
“Our international supermarket model was designed to serve the diverse population of Northern Virginia, where we sell food for a variety of palates and ethnicities, and if we don’t have what you’re looking for, we know how to get it for you,” said Man Oh, the company's founder and president.
The grocery store contains a mini food court that serves traditional Korean cuisine from K-Bop, sushi from Wasabiko, and Mexican-fusion dishes from Taco-Chinoz.
There's also a fish market is housed in a connected, walk-in space where customers can watch seafood preparation.
Some of Oh! Market’s specialty grocery items include fresh roe (caviar from a variety of fish), Russian sausages and bologna, preserves and jams from Azerbaijan, Italian mascarpone, international beers and wines from regions like Korea, South America, and the Caribbean, as well as breads and cheeses from around the world.
Oh! Market is a family-owned business, founded by veteran international grocer, Man Oh. Oh began working in the international food industry more than 30 years ago in Maryland, and opened an international food market in Winchester in 2011. Oh specializes in providing unique, authentic foods for Asian and Hispanic communities. The new market has more than 100 employees.
The market is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.. every day, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Face masks are mandatory and social distancing is designated throughout the store.
For information, see ohfoodus.com.

domain: news


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The Thomas Pillow Pets will hit the U.S. and Canada stores this year. Thomas & Friends is the first licensed property that the companies have signed for Pillow Pets.
“Since emerging in the marketplace, Pillow Pets have been immensely popular with kids of all ages, and pairing this unique product with Thomas & Friends, the number one preschool license, is a natural fit,” says Gabriela Arenas, vice president of U.S. Consumer Products for the Thomas Division of HIT Entertainment. “Children and families have long adored Thomas & Friends on screen, in books, through toys and beyond. Now, little engineers can play with their Thomas-inspired Pillow Pets during the day and take him along to sleep at night with this fun new product.”
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By Alex Spencer
Kantar says the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, ahead of the Christmas period, was the biggest contributor to Apple’s gains
In the three months ending November 2014, iOS’ share of the UK smartphone market hit 42.5 per cent, according to data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
That’s an increase of 12.2 percentage points year-on-year. This came mainly at the expense of Android, which suffered a drop of 6.7 percentage points in its UK market share.
This was echoed in other major European markets – Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Though Android is still the dominant OS in Europe, at 69.9 per cent, this represents a year-on-year drop of 3.2 percentage points.
“The longer the new iPhone models are on the market the more their appeal will extend beyond Apple’s loyal customers,” said Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech Europe. “For now, customer switching from Android to iOS remains stable at 18 per cent.”
In China, however, Android still holds a firm lead. iOS saw a small increase of 1.1 percentage points in urban China, bringing its market share to 18.1 per cent – with the majority of sales coming through China Mobile – but this is still far behind Android’s …read more
Source:: Mobile App News


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The e-readers, tablet computers and gaming consoles that are the hot gifts of the 2010 holiday season, are the latest in a line of consumer gadgets and gizmos that arrived in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Slideshow: Stocking Stuffers: Cool Tech Gifts Under $50
Slideshow: 10 Offbeat Gift Ideas: 2010 Edition
"It was the gift to have," said Dag Spicer, senior curator of the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif. "It cost $99. They sold tens and tens of millions of those."
Next month, the museum will unveil a 21st century makeover that more than doubles its exhibition space and adds research and education facilities. One 25,000-square-foot exhibit will look at first 2000 years of computing -- everything from the abacus to the iPod -- while another exhibit showcases some of the best-selling tech gadgets, like Pong, from the recent past.
About 95% of the museum's artifacts come from the public -- as well as a long list of distinguished technologists that includes Gordon Bell (father of the minicomputer), Gene Amdahl (legendary mainframe architect for IBM and Amdahl Corp.), Apple engineer Steve Wozniak, John McCarthy (father of artificial intelligence at Stanford University) and Microsoft founder and CEO Bill Gates.
Much has changed since Pong, a rudimentary tennis game created by Atari Inc., arrived in 1972.
"The consoles now, of course, have graphics that are light years beyond what Pong used, which was three or four lines drawn on a screen, and the ability to play with other people over a network. That's a huge innovation with today's games," Spicer said. "Also, games now are produced in a sense very much like a Hollywood movie. They even use real actors for voiceovers. Many of them are also based on a movie."
Pong appeared first as an electronic arcade game. Three years later -- in time for the '75 holiday shopping season -- it was offered through Sears as a home video game that was played on your TV. Its simple two-dimensional graphics presented users with two opposing paddles and ball that bounced back and forth between them. The speed of the ball and size of the paddles could be adjusted.
The game, created originally by an Atari engineer as a training exercise, was a runaway seller. Atari told Sears it could produce 75,000 units for the holiday season; the retailer requested 150,000.
In 1978, one of the first multi-game systems arrived: the Atari 2600 with a Combat game cartridge. The "Atari Video Computer System," as it was initially called, offered two popular arcade titles: Tank and Anti-Aircraft II, according to the History Museum. Although the 2600 was not the first home game console to use a microprocessor and removable game cartridges, it helped establish that as the standard.
The cost? $199.
Some of the technology that made the museum's "gadgets" list weren't necessarily best sellers, but they were innovative. For example, Bytes for Bites: The Kitchen Computer, was rolled out in 1969 before the PC era, "to store recipes." Sold through the Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalog, the Kitchen Computer went for the bargain price of $10,600. For that, you got the computer, a cookbook, an apron -- and a two-week programming course.
Inside the futuristic packaging with a built-in cutting board was a standard Honeywell 316 minicomputer. The console featured binary switches and lights.
Other big sellers of the past 40 years included the Speak & Spell, a children's toy from Texas Instruments. In 1978, Speak & Spell contained speech synthesizer electronics and software, a keyboard, display and slot for ROM-based library modules. It helped children learn to spell the words they spoke into it.
In 1982, cashing in on the fame of World Chess Champions such as America's Bobby Fischer and the Soviet Union's Anatoly Karpov, Milton Bradley came out with its GrandMaster chess game. This chess-playing machine was part robot: magnets underneath moved real pieces for the computer and the pressure-sensitive board could detect the human player's move.
The software, designed by chess expert David Levy's company, was considered weak in the opening and closing, but a strong middle game earned it a 1550 chess rating. For $500, you could match strategic wits against a computer.
The DG-10 Digital Guitar from Casio was a big seller in 1983. Encouraged by its success with inexpensive digital keyboard synthesizers, Casio expanded into guitars. The strings are mostly for decoration and for controlling strumming amplitude, since finger position on the rubber fretboard determined the pitch.
In 1989, Nintendo came out with the $89.95 Game Boy, a hand-held gaming system that became one of the longest-selling consoles in history. Its initial success came from the release of Tetris, a Russian-designed puzzle game. Game Boy, and the later Game Boy Color, sold more than 100 million units over 20 years.
Following on the Game Boy's success, Sony in 1994 came out with its PlayStation video game console. The console originally began as a collaboration with Nintendo, which later dropped out.
Sony released its PlayStation in Japan in 1994 and in North America a year later. At a price of $299, the PlayStation sold more than 100 million units and led to three successful follow-ons: the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable.
Another big seller in the 1990s was Furby, the electronic toy that looked like a cuddly gremlin and reacted to motion. The toy, released by Tiger Electronics, ignited a 1998 holiday season buying frenzy, with prices reaching $300.
Each Furby initially spoke only "Furbish" and gradually learned English. It communicated with other nearby Furbies using an infrared port between its eyes.
"The Furby was big, but I don't think it was in the same league as Pong," Spicer said. "Of course if you look at Gameboys, Playstations and Xboxes, they sold tens of millions of units sold, too. And, the iPod is a blockbuster product as well."
Along with Furby, animatronics were big near the end of the 20th century. Sony came out with AIBO the robotic dog, appropriately named "Sony," in 1999. The robotic pet was designed to learn by interacting with its environment, its owners and other AIBOs. The toy responded to more than 10 voice commands and also talked back to you in a tonal language. But robotic companionship wasn't cheap. Sony cost $2,000.
After the turn of the century, the pace of innovation quickened. In October 2001, Apple Computer came out with its iPod music player, which popularized digitized music just as Sony's 1979 Walkman had popularized portable music players. That same year, Microsoft released the wildly popular Xbox Video Game System -- the first console in the U.S. to come with an internal hard disk drive. The $299 device initially shipped with the game Halo, and quickly overtook Nintendo for second place in the home console market, behind Sony's PlayStation.
Lucas Mearian covers storage, disaster recovery and business continuity, financial services infrastructure and health care IT for Computerworld. Follow Lucas on Twitter at @lucasmearian or subscribe to Lucas's RSS feed . His e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.org .
Read more about hardware in Computerworld's Hardware Topic Center.


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James Stevenson, Community Relations Manager for Insomniac Games, has said that the company will be releasing more information on its upcoming PlayStation 3 sequel Resistance 2 in a podcast this Thursday.
Speaking in a post on the official PlayStation Blog, Stevenson reiterated that the next trailer and gameplay footage would be released on June 13; however, he also said that more information would be detailed in an upcoming podcast later this week.
“The next trailer and worldwide gameplay footage debut will be on the June 13th episode of Gametrailers TV with Geoff Keighley (it’s a full episode covering R2),” said Stevenson. “In the meantime, check out the teaser, and don’t worry, you’ll be hearing more from us before June.”
“Check out the April 17th Full Moon Show Podcast (www.insomniacgames.com) for more details about the teaser and about R2. And, if you have any questions, Bryan Intihar and I will be hanging out in the comments section tonight to answer them!” he added.
Resistance 2’s debut trailer was shown for the first time over the weekend. The game itself is due out in November 2008.
Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.


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Most Popular in:
Fluor Wins EPCM Contract for Aroma Ingredients Facility in Malaysia
Posted: April 29, 2014
In 2013, Fluor began front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for the downstream menthol unit that is planned for the Kuantan facility. Among other chemicals, the new facility will produce citral. In April 2014, BASF Petronas Chemicals broke ground on the integrated aroma ingredients project in the Gebeng Industrial Park in Malaysia.
World Perfumery Congress: June 10–12, 2014, Deauville, France
Join the fragrance world's thought leaders for three days of exhibitions, education and networking that will unite suppliers, marketers, retailers and other key industry stakeholders. Find out more!


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Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana Star) Spotted Riding a Pedego Electric Bike!
Miley Cyrus, famous for her role in Hannah Montana, was recently seen riding a Pedego electric bike in Los Angeles. Her destination? A local coffee shop. However, her journey was interrupted when she experienced a flat tire, attracting attention from paparazzi.
The Internet Buzz
This story quickly spread on the internet, making headlines on publications such as People, The Sun, and Daily Mail. Due to Miley’s immense fame, it garnered significant attention. If you want to delve deeper into the paparazzi’s account, you can find more details here.
Celebrities and Electric Bikes
It’s not just Miley, though. Other celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Jay Leno are passionate about electric bikes as well. Their affinity for these eco-friendly rides helps to raise awareness amongst the general public.
Don DiCostanzo, the president of Pedego Electric Bikes, shared an interesting tidbit related to Miley’s involvement:
“Miley’s image in People Magazine a few years ago inspired us to choose white with mint green rims for our Step Thru launch bike. Additionally, Miley’s mother, Tish, purchased a Pedego bike with white and red rims, while her father, Billy Ray, opted for black and red rims. Now, both Miley (baby blue) and her brother, Braison, own Pedegos.”
What are your thoughts? Do you believe celebrities can play a significant role in raising awareness about electric bikes? Have you ever spotted a local celebrity riding an electric bike in your town? Feel free to share your insights in the comments section below.
P.S. Stay updated with the latest news and tips from the electric bike world by joining the Electric Bike Report community. You’ll also gain access to valuable information about ebike riding and maintenance.


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Eleven months ago the tech world was abuzz with rumours flying that Salesforce might buy Twitter.
Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff had called the still struggling social media company an “unpolished jewel,” a “great brand” and the proposition of acquiring it “a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Introducing Einstein Vision for Social Studio
Consider that earlier this week Salesforce introduced a new tool, Einstein Vision for Social Studio, which integrates AI-powered image recognition directly into its Marketing Cloud‘s social media marketing solution. And the “social media” that Salesforce leverages at this point is — you guessed it — Twitter.
“We have a close relationship with Twitter, the API is ready,” Rob Begg, VP product marketing for social and advertising products at Salesforce, told CMSWire.
Brand Insights Generate the Wow Factor
From a high level, Einstein Vision for Social Studio identifies images on Twitter to help brands glean insights about customers and to meet them where they are. There’s a new type of “wow” factor available, “an opportunity to surprise and delight consumers who have never mentioned a brand’s name,” explained Begg.
What’s more, brands will be able to get insights about how and where their products are being used, as well as consumer interests, likes, and needs in cases where a brand’s name is never even mentioned. Begg gave the example of a customer at a restaurant who tweets a picture of a burger and a comment about it not tasting great.
Cindy Zhou, vice president and principal analyst at Cupertino, Calif.-based Constellation Research, told CMSWire that:
“One of the challenges in marketing is to measure brand awareness impact at physical events. Marketers can quantify impact based on the reach and frequency of their logo and other images posted on social.”
Opportunities for customer service can be brought forth as well, according to Zhou. “Brands can get in front of potential service issues,” she said. “For example, posts from customers about defective products can alert service agents to reach out to those customers proactively to resolve or it possibly even lead to a broader recall.”
Zhou said that this new capability has been brought forth via the technology Salesforce acquired through its MetaMind buy. Both she and Begg indicated that Twitter was the first implementation of how Salesforce would leverage AI-powered image recognition on social media.
Twitter’s FourSquare Findings
In somewhat related news, Twitter this week also released some interesting insights based on data from Nielsen and location-based social networking service FourSquare. It is meant to demonstrate that promoted campaigns on Twitter generate substantial offline sales and store visits.
One of the findings is that telcos who advertise on Twitter yield 23 percent more onsite store visits. Another is that, after seeing ads on Twitter, consumers spend almost seven percent more with mobile wireless carriers.
“One of the top challenges for social platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat is to quantify social ad impact to driving actual sales online or offline for the advertiser,” Zhou told CMSWire.
Is Verizon Advertising Trending?
Zhou also found it interesting that she has personally seen an increase in carrier advertising, such as Verizon’s #VZup campaign high in her Twitter feed as of late.
Her take is that Twitter will use the aforementioned data as part of a sales narrative to have existing advertisers up their budgets or to encourage other mobile carriers and telcos to advertise on the platform.
“Providing these mobile carriers/telcos with metrics to quantify ad impact justifies the ad budget,” she said, “and the hope is to transfer the process to other industries.”
About the Author
Staff reporter Virginia Backaitis is the Senior Partner at Brilliant Leap, a search and consulting firm that specializes in placing Enterprise Content Management and Big Data professionals. She has worked in the ECM space since the early 1990’s. and in the Big Data space since 2009.
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text: With her doe eyes, pouty lips, hourglass figure, skimpy dresses and lacy garters, Betty Boop was one of the first popular cartoons to depict (and celebrate) the empowered, sexually liberated woman. In 2017, as women take to the streets to defend their reproductive rights, Betty’s cultural relevance has not been lost on brands. On February 14 — just in time for Galentine’s Day — Zac Posen will release two dresses inspired by the sassy sex symbol. That same day, M.A.C. Cosmetics will pay homage to Max Fleischer’s feminist creation with an online-exclusive bright red lipstick named for the iconic character. (Red lipstick being one of the most powerful symbols of female beauty and sexuality in the Western world — apart from Betty.) The shade will retail for $17 and will surely sell out quickly. Wear it with pride.


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Hotel occupancy rates
Hotels in most big cities around the world are emptier than they were last year, according to STR Global, a research firm. London has weathered the global downturn better than most cities. Almost 79% of its hotel rooms were taken by paying customers in the seven months to July, the highest occupancy rate of the 87 cities in the survey, and little changed from the same period last year. Fewer business visitors and the trend for taking holidays closer to home have hurt hotel trade in the capitals of Argentina, Mexico and Spain. In Mexico City, more than half of all hotel rooms lie empty. Rio is one of only six cities where hotels are busier. The occupancy rate there has risen to 65%, just above the global average of 63%.
This article appeared in the Economic & financial indicators section of the print edition under the headline "Hotel occupancy rates"
From the September 5th 2009 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the edition


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Mon 08 August 2022 ▪ 14:00 ▪
minimum reading – within
It is with fists raised that the barons of Theta Labs, Samsung Electronics and Alllink concluded their meeting today at the E-Cruze headquarters in Yeouido. A perfectly normal gesture considering they had just signed a commercial agreement announcing a large offline NFT utility campaign thanks to ThetaPass.
Offline benefits related to virtual resources
The day of 8 August will certainly remain in the annals of the major players in this project (Samsung, Theta Labs, Alllink, Shilla Duty Free, etc.). The reason ? It is in fact the day they signed the launch of the ” the largest offline NFT utility campaign to the 100,000 Theta NFT holders.
” It’s great to partner with @Samsung to launch the largest offline NFT utility campaign ever with some of the largest resellers in South Korea… “
” We are launching the largest offline NFT utility campaign ever in the world, in which over 100,000 NFT owners can use their Theta NFT online and offline through ThetaPass technology. “
Samsung’s news page reports the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a ” new Galaxy NFT ecosystem “Basically, this initiative will accelerate the emergence of innovations in the customer experience through the intersection of the virtual and the physical. That is, the attribution of real offline benefits from online NFTs.
As a perk, Samsung Electronis has offered discounts or even savings to customers with “New Galaxy NFT”. However, they will be invited to authenticate their “New Galaxy NFT” on the platforms of the project partners (E-Cruise, Show Golf and Shilla Duty Free Shop).
Note that several details on the “New Galaxy NFT” will be revealed on August 10th.
Theta Labs, NFT with the image of the Samsung Tab S8 and Galaxy S22
Samsung and Theta Labs are not their first NFT collaboration, offline or online. Last February, Theta announced that it will be releasing digital collectibles to coincide with the release of the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S8.
At times, customers received a unique non-fungible commemorative token by completing an advance booking and pre-order in South Korea. A registration on the ThetaDrop market had to precede the request for the NFTs offered for free.
” Our NFT partnership with Samsung Electronics truly exemplifies the global adoption of Theta blockchain technology and marks an important milestone in the growth of our core blockchain built specifically for the video, media and entertainment industries. These NFTs offer exclusive benefits to customers who pre-order Samsung’s flagship mobile devices, a first in the industry. We plan to provide permanent benefits and privileges to Galaxy customers who own a commemorative Samsung Theta NFT and are looking forward to building a long-term community among members. Mitch Liu, co-founder and CEO of Theta Labs explained on the company’s Medium page.
Theta, which is based on the PoS model since its creation (therefore eco-friendly), a newly updated Theta Mainnet 3.0 protocol, and even 100,000 peripheral nodes managed by a very large community will not fail to release other projects of this size to shine in the NFT market and web3. If it promises us a great offline NFT utility campaign, we can only wait for it to come out. Above all with a very dynamic team capable of keeping the course despite the market crisis.
Get a summary of news in the world of cryptocurrencies by subscribing to our new daily and weekly newsletter service so you don’t miss any of the essential Cointribune!
The blockchain and crypto revolution is underway! And the day the impacts are felt on the most vulnerable economy in this world, against all hope, I will say that it has something to do with it.


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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel is undergoing a makeover, trading in its 25-year-old brand for a new image, name and logo, as it broadens its mission to address changes in the global sourcing landscape.
The trade and lobbying group, which represents some 200 retailers, brands and service providers, will unveil and launch its new name — the United States Fashion Industry Association — and revamped logo, mission statement, set of values and Web site at its annual meeting in New York on Wednesday. The organization cohosts the meeting with the American Import Shippers Association. Its new Web site is slated to go live today at usfashionindustry.com.
The association’s core mission was focused more on tearing down trade barriers and opening new markets, but the world of global sourcing has changed dramatically in the last 25 years, and the USFIA aims to use its revamped image as it lobbies the executive branch and Congress on international trade policy issues.
When the association launched in 1989, the U.S. had signed only one free-trade agreement, quotas on apparel and textile imports controlled trade flows and China had barely surpassed Taiwan to become the top apparel supplier to the U.S., said Julia Hughes, who has been with the association since its inception in 1989 and is president of USFIA, as she was at USA-ITA. Today, the U.S. has signed 14 free-trade deals; global quotas have been eliminated; China has the lion’s share, at 41 percent, of the U.S. apparel import market, and Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea are no longer among the top four apparel suppliers to the U.S. Those three countries have been replaced by Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
“When we were founded, our mission was clear: the elimination of global quotas [on apparel and textiles], but today our goals and our mission is broader than that,” Hughes said. “Our original name only mentioned U.S. importers of textiles and apparel, but our members are also exporters, retailers and global brands. They might have a product that is developed and designed in the U.S., but the product itself never touches U.S. [soil]. We care about barriers in Japan or barriers in Italy, and we are no longer just looking at access to the U.S. market.”
Hughes said her members replaced “importers” in the association’s name with “fashion industry” to reflect the industry in its entirety — from brands and retailers to consultants, logistics providers and academic institutions.
Maureen Gray, vice president of international trade at Ralph Lauren Corp., currently chairs the association, which also includes on its board executives from Macy’s Inc., The Jones Group Inc., Kohl’s Corp., Pacific Sunwear of California Inc., Warnaco Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., J.C. Penney Co. Inc., American Eagle Outfitters and Urban Outfitters Inc.
The Made in America movement, which has been gaining steam in the past few years, is also an area of focus that many of USFIA’s members are pursuing.
“Made in USA has always been a portion of companies’ production, but I think there is more of a focus on it now,” Hughes said. “There is potential for it to grow. How large it can grow is a real question, but we support it.”
Hughes also noted that importing and Made in America initiatives are pursued simultaneously without friction.
“We haven’t seen a conflict,” Hughes said. “It is one element of sourcing for our member companies. We are not promoting one over the other. We are very supportive of Made in USA, and we sponsored some of the very first programs about Made in USA at MAGIC. It is a very important element, but it is one part of sourcing decision making.”
Hughes said the association has several top priorities in Washington for the remainder of this year and next year. Among them is a push for liberal rules of origin in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations between the U.S. and 11 other countries. Vietnam, the second-largest apparel supplier to the U.S., is taking part in the negotiations and is a key sourcing platform for the U.S. fashion industry.
The U.S. has proposed a yarn-forward rule of origin that requires apparel be made of fabric and yarns supplied by the U.S. or other TPP partner countries to qualify for duty-free benefits when shipped back to the U.S. Importers oppose the rule and are seeking to broaden it to include third-country fabrics and yarns outside of the TPP partner countries, notably from China.
Hughes also pointed to renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which expires in 2015. USFIA and other associations are lobbying to have the preferential trade program extended early next year because businesses plan orders months in advance and become concerned when an expiration is looming.
Strengthening compliance in Bangladesh in the wake of two factory tragedies that have claimed the lives of more than 1,230 people in the past year is also a priority, she said.
Hughes said USFIA has members that have joined the two competing industry fire and building safety accords, as well as member companies that have opted to pursue their own path.
“A key issue for us is helping the industry make sure that we maintain the highest level of compliance,” Hughes said.
London’s newly opened @designmuseum will look back on the life and work of Azzedine Alaïa in a show that the designer helped to curate before he died of heart failure last month. The retrospective, which Alaïa had worked on with Mark Wilson, chief curator of the @groningermuseum, will look at the impact of his work worldwide. The show, “Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier,” will run from May 10 to October 7. Read more about the exhibit on WWD.com #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @zefashioninsider)
@Pharrell and his wife Helen Lasichanh were among the stars that came out to celebrate @rimowa’s first pop-up concept shop. The space, which is located on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, draws inspiration from airport luggage carousels and lounge areas – and features the company’s luggage and accessories. If the pop-up is successful it could pave the way for addition temporary shops throughout the world. #wwdfashion (📷: Owen Kolasinski/BFA)
@carineroitfeld celebrated @crfashionbook’s first calendar last night with a dinner party at Spring Place in Manhattan. Photographed by @stevenkleinstudio, the calendar takes on a fitness theme and features @joansmalls, @gigihadid, @danielle_herrington_ – pictured here – and more. “[Carine Roitfeld] wanted me to feel sexy and she wanted me to be myself and feel it out on my own and do what I felt was right,” said Herrington, aka Miss October. #wwdeye
@saintrecords and @virgilabloh last night at @americanexpress’ “A Night With Success Makers” event. “I always bring it back to community because without that I wouldn’t have the courage,” said Knowles when asked how she has gotten where she is now. Read more highlights from their conversation on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @lizdoupnik)
This Just In: Industry sources have told WWD that Anastasia Soare is rumored to be considering selling her beauty business, @anastasiabeverlyhills. According to those sources, Soare has tapped investment bank Imperial Capital to explore sale options for her eponymous beauty brand –– and with at least $340 million in net sales, this would be a big deal. Put in context of other recent transactions for makeup companies, Soare’s price tag could be in the billions if she were to sell the whole thing. #wwdnews #wwdbeauty (📷: @clint_spaulding)
@assouline’s latest book, “The Spirit of Bentley: Be Extraordinary” captures the adventurous attitudes and opulent lifestyles of @bentleymotors’ most creative owners and enthusiasts throughout the U.K. The 292-page hardcover has a section dedicated to showing its team of skilled artisans and photos of its most colorful owners, from George Bamford to designer @alicetemperley, pictured here by Aline Coquelle. #wwdeye
@google released its report on the most popular search terms this year. For fashion brands, the list was led by @gucci, the luxury brand that stunned the market last October when it pledged to stop using fur. Runner ups were @supremenewyork and @fashionnova, along with more established brands like @louisvuitton, @chanelofficial and @ysl. #wwdfashion (📷: @aitorrosasphoto)
In yet another fashion show shuffle, @elleryland is moving its show in sync with the Paris couture calendar — though the brand is still keeping one foot on the city’s ready-to-wear schedule. Their runway show in January will coincide with the launch of a new strategy: designing two main collections each year instead of four, which will then be released in four drops. “As we all know, the system needs to change. We need to show sooner to give time back to artisans and designers to do what they do best — create,” said founder Kym Ellery. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
@maxmara’s classic 101801 coat was the cornerstone of its pre-fall 2018 collection. The design team expanded the traditional double-breasted, kimono-sleeved style into a trapeze coat, lean belted styles and a peacoat and presented them in monochromatic looks – like the camel one pictured here. #wwdfashion #prefall18 (📷: George Chinsee)


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Apple TV launch reported to be pushed back to 2016
| 14 August 2015
Set to arrive in late 2015 and have a transformative effect on the online video and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) markets, the launch of Apple's keenly-awaited over-the-top (OTT) service has reportedly been delayed until the New Year.
According to reports from the Bloomberg financial news agency, the CE giant has been forced to delay the launch due to slow movement in the crucial licensing talks with TV networks such as CBS, NBC and Fox, as well as the need for network capacity upgrades. Bloomberg added that all of the other essential equipment, notably set-top boxes (STBs), is ready.
News of Apple's OTT service surfaced in May 2015 with reports that the company would include not just live and VOD streaming from major broadcasters and content owners but also widespread access to local US TV channels, a feature not found in competitive offerings. However even at that point, seasoned Apple watchers remarked that logistical matters had complicated its negotiations with the broadcast TV networks, because most broadcasters don't own all their local stations.


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A new report from Advanced, one of the UK’s largest software and services providers, has revealed workers’ increasing hunger for innovation to improve the way they work. Findings from its Annual Trends Survey for 2019-20 show that disruptive tools are fast earning their spot as must-have tools in the day-to-day workplace.
Are robots finally getting a good reputation? Advanced report reveals workers’ growing appetite for disruptive technology
Nov 20, 2019 Comments (0)
Oct 02, 2019 Comments (0)
Spanish citrus giant Fontestad reveals that Datalogic Matrix 300N cameras have enabled the company to improve their quality objectives while saving resources and time at its processing facility.
Dec 05, 2018 Comments (0)
The global datasphere¹ could grow to 175 zettabytes by 2025, and industries such as Financial Services, Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Media and Entertainment are helping to define this new era of data growth.
Nov 28, 2018 Comments (0)
Retail is rapidly changing, with a huge increase in the use of technology across every element of the process, from concept to consumer. In particular, the increased prevalence of the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) in the retail sector means businesses must adapt and invest in technologies to support this new era of network-controlled device management and automation.
Nov 13, 2018 Comments (0)
Janam Technologies LLC, provider of rugged mobile computers that scan barcodes and communicate wirelessly, has announced that its newest rugged mobile computers are technically certified to run Century Software’s TinyTERM Enterprise mobile application.
Oct 16, 2018 Comments (0)
The cloud and AI are two of the biggest growth areas in technology. Combining the two is big business, and Microsoft is right at the forefront as always. As migration towards cloud-based apps continues, the role of AI in the delivery and deployment of services is likewise gathering pace.
Oct 11, 2018 Comments (0)
The variables to manufacturing success are vast. Supplies, equipment, customisation, and people represent some of the broad categories that need to be considered by manufacturers.
Another category that impacts successful manufacturing operations, and should be assessed regularly, is factory overhead which includes utilities to power machines and illuminate assembly lines as well as insurance and risk remediation (also known as safety)
- a Datalogic Industry brief.
A poor understanding of data is hampering retailers’ efforts to drive a positive customer experience, says Claranet
Sep 26, 2018 Comments (0)
In today's digital world, data is a vital asset that gives organisations the ability to uncover valuable insights about customer behaviour, which ultimately provides businesses with a competitive edge.
Sep 12, 2018 Comments (0)
Housing Units, the award-winning home furnishings retailer, has implemented state-of-the-art mobile technology to improve its expanding home delivery operation.
Sep 05, 2018 Comments (0)
GAP Hire Solutions has equipped 400 of its drivers with tablets as the first part of the roll out of a 5-in-1 management solution from BigChange.


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The famous, celebrity-loved capsule collection now goes up to a size 4XL. While cutting costs over the course of the pandemic, a handful of stores and brands decided that plus-sizes would be the first to go — a move that definitely feels like five steps back when it comes to making fashion an inclusive industry. But, not every brand is shrinking its selection: Misha Nonoo, which is famous for its trusty, tailored items and capsule wardrobe, is actually expanding its sizes, now releasing its must-have pieces in plus up to a 4XL. The best part about Misha Nonoo's designs is that they're extremely versatile and timeless. Whether we're talking about the crisp Husband Shirt or the sleek Kiki Pant , these are items that can easily be dressed up or down depending on plans, and will likely stay in your wardrobe for years, making the purchase a good investment. There's also the small fact that the brand has celebrity approval — including Nonoo's pal, Meghan Markle , who has been wearing her clothing for years. According to the designer, it took 12 months to perfect the plus-size pieces, developing new patterns and construction while working with models and the plus-size community to ensure the fit was exactly right. And no, it's not lost on Nonoo that while her brand was hard at work, many others were heading in the opposite direction. Many of us are starting to slowly transition back into the office, or are just craving to 'dress up' again, so we're very proud to be offering our most-loved styles to this inspiring set of women who are keen to refresh their professional wardrobes. Our environmentally friendly, on-demand production model has put us at an advantage, and allowed us to continue expanding our offering and still encourage more inclusivity in the industry, even during unpredictable times.
Meghan and Misha have been friends for several years, with a feature piece in the New York Times appearing last week about Misha, with her saying of Meghan:. We asked the team to come up with some of their favourite MirrorMeg options:. Shop MM's Closet. So excitiing!!
See Photos of Megan Markle’s Style Evolution Through The Years
In May , an estimated 1. The now Duchess of Sussex opted for an elegant gown by Givenchy, designed by its then creative director, her friend Clare Waight Keller. Before she and Harry stepped back from their roles as senior royals, she was frequently seen with her signature, just-the-right-side-of-messy chignon, and leaned on celebrity hairstylists Serge Normant and George Northwood to perfect her tresses ahead of public engagements. On 9 March this year, Meghan attended her final engagement as a working royal. The Duchess chose an unforgettable emerald ensemble to attend the Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey, comprised of a caped dress by Emilia Wickstead, a matching hat with a mini net veil, nude Aquazzura pumps, and a Gabriela Hearst Demi bag. As the Duchess celebrates her 39th birthday with Prince Harry and their son Archie at their new home in LA, take a look back at her best style moments to date, below. Markle slicked back her hair and sported a black Theory blazer with leather Helmut Lang trousers and nude Aquazzura heels at a Suits event in The couple made their first official appearance together at the Invictus Games in Toronto, for which Markle wore a casual ensemble of a white Misha Nonoo shirt, jeans and sunglasses. On their first joint royal visit, the couple wore matching navy jackets. She carried a forest-green bag by DeMellier London.
From striped blazers to crisp button-downs, Meghan Markle is quickly becoming fashion's preppiest new "it" girl. Here, take a look at our favorite fashion looks from the Duchess of Sussex. For her 40th birthday, the Duchess of Sussex launched her 40x40 initiative aimed at helping women reenter the workforce. In the promotional video, Markle videochatted with Melissa McCarthy and wore an all-ivory ensemble with camel-colored suede pumps and layered necklaces. Meghan chose to wear an Armani dress with a lotus flower motif for her and Prince Harry's televised interview with Oprah, which was filmed in Santa Barbara in mid-February. The Duchess chose to wear a Carolina Herrera dress, which was made for her when she was pregnant with Archie, for a portrait with Harry. The royal couple released the image with the news that they were expecting their second child. The Duchess dressed casually while volunteering for LA charity Baby2Baby , sporting a loose-fitting white button up tucked into green cargo shorts.


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Brazil’s meat processor Perdigão posted a year-to-date growth of 49.4% in export revenues amounting to US$ 670 million (2.006 billion reais). This value represents approximately 57% of total company net sales of US$ 1.20 billion (3.5 billion reais), a year on year increase of 28.6%.
Export performance made an important contribution to this year’s net income of US$ 70.5 million (211.3 million reais) in the first nine months, equivalent to an increase of 310.6% compared to the same period in 2003.
Third quarter net sales reached US$ 400 million (1.2 billion reais), a 20% increase. Gross profit for the quarter grew 12%, amounting to US$ 104 million (310.9 million reais), equivalent to a gross margin of 25.6%.
Net income was US$ 14 million (40.3 million reais), 5.4% more than the previous year and representing a margin of 3.3% against 3.8%.
The Company is forecasting a growth of 20% in export volume of meats for 2004, says Perdigão’s CFO, Wang Wei Chang.
The increase in the principal raw material costs (industrial meats) and labor in the quarter, resulted in selling costs 23% higher.
This impacted cash generation with EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) totaling US$ 38 million (113.6 million reais), 4.2% down on the same period for the preceding year.
EBITDA for this year totaled US$ 147 million (438.6 million reais), a year on year increase of 107%.
Processed pork products for the Eurasian, Hong Kong and Singapore markets continued to report significant growth with an increase of 40.8% by volume and 93.4% in sales, and for the YTD, by 39.3% and 87% respectively.
Elaborated/processed products increased YTD by 8.3% in volume and 13% in domestic market sales. Third quarter growth in higher value-added items reflects Perdigão’s priority of improving the domestic market product mix.
Perdigão S.A.is one of the largest food companies of Latin America and one of the largest meat processors in the world, exporting to over 100 countries.
Perdigão expects its retail sales of Chester to be 6% higher than 2003.
Starting prices for the consumer at the point of sale will be (US$ 2.20) 6.60 reais per kilo, depending on purchase conditions negotiated by each retailer. This retail price is about 10% higher than last year, due to the increase in production and selling costs.
Perdigão has invested US$ 1 million in marketing and an intense publicity campaign as a prelude to the arrival of the Chester poultry brand on the supermarket shelves for the year-end holiday period – responsible for 90% of the brand’s sales volume – as part of a campaign to enhance market penetration during this period.
The theme of this year’s campaign is “Perdigão Chester: the secret of an unforgettable Christmas dinner” and part of the Company’s main Secrets advertising campaign, which was launched at the beginning of last year.
Perdigão’s year-end product mix also brings the Seasonal Greetings Lines, which includes Perdigão and Batavo Frozen Turkey brands. The forecasted price increase for these items is about 15% compared with last year.
Perdigão is forecasting sales of approximately six million birds (Chester and turkey, combined), thus ensuring that it maintains the Company’s leadership for special year-end poultry sales.
A special scheme has been implemented to meet demand for growth in sales and ensure the supply of Chester, the Seasonal Greetings Line, the Perdigão Frozen Turkey and Batavo Turkey throughout the country during the year-end holiday period.


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Exit133 is about Tacoma
Fed Shutdown Could Affect Availability of Craft Beers, Too
The news is full of stories of the widespread impacts of the federal shutdown. And now more bad news: it may be affecting local beer, too.
The agency that approves new breweries, recipes, labels, and such is closed. That means any applications that haven't been approved will have to wait until the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is back up and running with the rest of the federal government.
Already operating breweries and their approved beers won't be affected, and tap handles don't require TTB approval. On the other hand, any new recipe awaiting approval, or labels for new bottled flavors will, as will plans for new brewery openings.
Locally that means a delay in Narrows Brewing's plans to begin bottling their beer this December, and could affect other breweries plans for new seasonal brews. Pacific Brewing had the incredible luck of getting their license approved the day before the shutdown, so that won't be slowing down their opening, and they don't plan to begin packaging until Q2.
You can still get current Narrows beers on tap, and Harmon seasonal beers are on track to be available, including their Steep and Deep Winter Ale, Black Tartan, and Rajah Imperial IPA, but looking ahead any new label could be delayed.
We know Tacomans are fond of their winter beers, and Tacoma was a big prohibition town...
Do you want to help the folks at Exit133 pay our bills and keep up with of all things Tacoma? Do you want to see even more coverage? Exit133 has always been free to read and comment, and it will stay that way. However, over the years, readers have contributed to the bank account to help us keep up our coverage of goings-on around town. Contribute and this message disappears!Support Exit133


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Turning Shipping Containers Into Portable Hydroponic Farms
A growing number of people today are reportedly looking to consume organic, ethically-sourced, and sustainable products. And a great deal of folks are willing to pay more for their items if they feel confident that they are purchasing something that's a superior product.
This has given rise to a myriad of growing trends over the last several years, including a surge in interest surrounding aquaponics, hydroponics, underground greenhouses, and more. People are interested in making the most that they can with their space and with hydroponic farming, that allows people to grow vertically instead of needing to have many acres of land to farm. Not only that, but it enables farmers to grow indoors, requiring less water and land than traditional farming methods.
Hydroponic farms have become wildly popular in recent years, and you can now find a variety of kits for sale that will enable you to get your very own vegetable or herb-growing operation started etc, right in the comfort of your own home.
The hydroponic market is now expected to reach $400 million in the next few years, with strong interest for hydroponic farming seen growing throughout Europe and the United States.
The company retrofits the shipping containers (see image below) so that they eventually become portable farms that are able to grow non-GMO goods, the container is then placed at a location that's close to where the produce will ultimately be consumed.
With hydroponic farming, the food is grown without any soil, though they do use organic nutrients as a part of the growing process.
Many of these grow operations are taking place inside, and the plants are being fed an exact amount of nutrients that gets delivered straight to the roots of the plant. Growing inside also allows farmers to move away from overloading their crops with pesticides, herbicides, and other poisons.
Box Greens was started by sisters Lisa Merkle and Cheryl Arnold and it marks Miami's very first hydroponic incubator that is currently seeking 501(c)(3) status. Merkle is a cancer survivor who had been diagnosed back in 2016 but she is now living cancer free. The team behind Box Greens are dedicated to growing and harvesting quality food products that will go to feeding undeserved communities and others.
Box Greens is dedicated to delivering local, organic, and fresh ingredients to people throughout the city. You can find a myriad of hydroponic operations taking place, from New York to California. From shipping containers to old fallout shelters, many farmers and entrepreneurs have been getting creative with where they grow.
There are many areas throughout the U.S. that have been described as “food deserts” where it's very difficult for people to get fresh produce and these containers would help to address that problem.
For Box Greens, the amount of food that they are able to grow using their shipping containers, is estimated to be around the same amount that they would be able to grow if they had almost 2 acres of land (1.5 acres). They've been growing lettuce, kale, microgreens, and more. They expect that their first containers will be ready by December of this year.


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"A lot of creditors [are] turning to Google and other search engines to dig into people's past," he said. "You've got to be careful because, once it's out there, there's not much you can do to take it back."
With the economy still struggling, tales like Bucello's have become all too common, according to city Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz. He added that many collectors are pursuing people about debts already paid.
"A lot of this has to do with the technology, which has not been as good for the consumer as it has been for the collector," Mintz said. "The biggest complaints we've been getting and finding to be true are about debt collection agencies who are trying to collect money that isn't actually owed."
Several lawyers and experts agreed, saying that trouble easily arises when the results of an Internet search are used too hastily.
"I think it is part of a much larger pattern that has evolved over the last decade where collectors and creditors are using technology to be more creative and aggressive," said Justin Baxter, an Oregon consumer lawyer who tells clients to keep a paper trail and, where legal, to record their phone conversations. (It is legal in New York State.)
Jeffrey Hyslip, a former debt collector who's now a consumer advocate in Chicago, noted that "there's not a lot of rules governing how these debt collectors go after people as it relates to finding out about things such as where they live, work and what their most recent purchases are."
In fact, this is exactly the type of info debt collectors look for because it's the easiest way to expose your vulnerabilities and build a case, he said.
Collection professionals insist that looking for debtors online is no different than using a phone book.
"Googling somebody is not unlike looking for someone in any other type of directory," said Jay Gonsalves, president of the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals. "It's public information and if someone has a MySpace or Facebook page and they've incurred a debt than there's absolutely nothing wrong with a debt collector using this information to locate them.
Bucello and others say they've become a lot more careful about what they do online — and how much money they spend.
"What bothered me the most about this," said Bucello, who no longer has a credit card, "was that, outside of this one mistake I made in college, nothing like this ever happened to me before and I'm absolutely convinced they got to me because I had a Facebook page.
"Now I'm a lot more vigilant about what I do on the Internet and I've also gotten a crash course about the importance of paying my bills on time."


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American firm Polaris is understood to have been in talks over the possibility of rescuing MV Agusta from its current parlous financial state – but any deal is still likely to be a long way from done.
MV Agusta is currently using a form of bankruptcy protection under Italian law which prevents creditors from forcibly recovering their debts and allows the firm to remain in operation. However, it needs to put forward a credible business plan to get into profit and repay its debts – believed to be in the region of €40 million – if those creditors are to continue to be held off.
One way to achieve its goal would be to find a wealthy new owner, and there’s plenty of speculation that Polaris could be that sugar daddy. The American owner of Indian and Victory, which also bought the Brammo electric bike firm, certainly has the money to make such an acquisition, but there’s a question over whether it has the will.
On the plus side, buying MV would give it instant access to a segment of the market that it doesn’t currently occupy, as well as providing the three and four-cylinder engines that the firm makes and the technical and styling know-how that MV undeniably retains. However, it would also mean a massive investment that wouldn’t be likely to get a significant return for a considerable time as MV needs to reach a position of profitability that its track record shows is difficult to attain.
With the sports bike market worldwide in decline and Polaris continuously working to increase its own in-house ability to develop new models and engines, the purchase of MV might not be the done deal that some recent speculation suggests.
By Ben Purvis


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Illinois-based medical supplier Sunstar Americas has issued a voluntary U.S. recall for its chlorhexidine oral rinse, which dental patients are prescribed to treat gingivitis, due to possible microbial contamination.
Clinicians should stop prescribing and tell patients to cease using chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse, 0.12% (Paroex) immediately because it may be contaminated with the bacteria Burkholderia lata. The recall includes 4- and 16-oz bottles of the prescription-only rinse with expiration dates between June 30, 2022, and September 30, 2022, according to a notice issued October 28 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
B. contaminans and B. lata are part of the B. cepacia complex of bacteria that can be found in water and soil. The species are a major cause of pharmaceutical contamination, and B. lata has been found in chlorhexidine mouthwash in the past.
Use of this defective product by immunocompromised patients may cause oral and systemic infections, including life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia and bacteremia, according to the FDA. At this time, no adverse events related to the recall have been reported to Sunstar, the agency noted.
This notice may be especially important for clinicians who have had patients gargle with a chlorhexidine rinse prior to treatment during the pandemic. Some evidence has shown that using this type of rinse can significantly reduce viral load in the saliva of patients with COVID-19.
Paroex was distributed nationwide to dental offices, dental distributors, pharmaceutical wholesalers, dental schools, and pharmacies. Sunstar, which announced the recall on October 27, is notifying its direct distributors and customers by U.S. Postal Service Priority mail and is arranging for recalled products to be returned.
Adverse reactions or quality problems related to the product can be submitted to the FDA's MedWatch adverse event reporting program.
A full list of the products and lot numbers is available on the FDA's website.


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ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - A St. Louis woman is suing a multivitamin manufacturer over allegations it misrepresented the amount of vitamins and minerals in its products.
Jennifer Dougherty filed the lawsuit on April 3 in St. Louis Circuit Court against Source Naturals, Inc. claiming the amount of six vitamins and minerals in its multivitamins were off by as much as 90 percent. The defendant removed the case to U.S. District Court for the EasternDistrict of Missouri on April 3.
Dougherty said she purchased the products online for about $20 in November. According to the lawsuit, Source Naturals advertised that its multivitamins contained 12,500 IU per serving of vitamin A.
However, testing showed that the product contained as much as 90 percent less of the Vitamin A that was advertised, the suit says. Testing also showed that the vitamin B-3 contained in the product was about 19 percent less than represented; calcium per serving was about 22 percent less; zinc was under by about 24 percent; manganese was under by about 36 percent; and magnesium was under by about 12 percent than what Source Naturals claimed, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks class action status for those that purchased the multivitamins and seeks less than $5 million plus court costs. The $5 million figure represents a threshold for removal under the Class Action Fairness Act.
Among its arguments for removal is that a jury could find there are more than $5 million in damages at issue.
Dougherty is represented by Matthew H. Armstrong of the Armstrong Law Firm, LLC in St. Louis.


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Row over new male mannequin with 27in waist as charity warns it could lead to flood of eating disorders
Women have long felt under pressure to be thin from the fashion industry, whether the Size Zero models are on catwalks or in shop windows.
But now it appears men are coming in for the same treatment - and eating disorder campaigners are furious.
A manufacturer of mannequins has sparked controversy by making skinny models with just a 27in waist - 11in smaller than the average British male.
Controversial: UK fashion label Rootstein next month unveils the new men's collection, including a mannequin with a 27in waist
Rootstein, a British firm, will next month unveil the slender waxworks. The company insists they are modelled on healthy teenage boys and will be dressed in skinny jeans and tailoring made popular by celebrities such as Russell Brand.
Celebrity trend: Russell Brand has made skinny jeans popular among men
But Beat, a charity helping sufferers of eating disorders, claims anorexia and bulimia are already increasingly common among men and fear the arrival in stores of these mannequins could make the situation a lot worse.
Male fashion trends have seen an increase in tight tailoring, fueling demand for smaller models.
A spokesman for Beat told the Guardian: 'Unrealistic images in the fashion world - such as these mannequins - and in the media still abound and the pressures they bring can lead to low self-esteem in often young and vulnerable people.'
Despite the waist size of the male mannequin being 2in smaller than last season, Kevin Arpino, creative designer at Rootstein, rejects claims that his mannequins could influence men to starve themselves.
He said: 'None of the boys we used were remotely anorexic.
'They were just teenagers - the oldest one was 20 - so they were pubescent really.'
According to Beat, approximately 10% of people with eating disorders are men.
In recent years, an increasing number of men have been suffering from anorexia and bulimia.
Last year ex-Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, revealed he spent 20 years battling bulimia.
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Investors have had a love affair with growth.
Since 2007 growth has outperformed value by over 200%. That’s not the way it is meant to be. Rational behavior should equate returns, adjusted for risk. If anything, value shares ought to be at least as risky, if not more so, than growth ones. Yet value has been pummeled for over a dozen years.
Over shorter time horizons, value and its companions, cyclical and smaller capitalization stocks, have been able claw back. This year, as vaccination prospects have boosted global growth expectations, value and cyclical stocks have enjoyed a good run. But at the first sign that things might go awry, investors flock back to their tried-and-true growth stocks.
Fancy gadgets, the allure of innovation and market dominance underpin investor fascination with growth. Yet coming out of the shadows is a hitherto unforeseen risk, namely that governments, using their powers of taxation, antitrust, regulation and anti-globalization, may tarnish the prospects of the leading growth companies, specifically those in information technology.
Investors need to be aware of that risk. And technology giants would be well advised to address the sources of that risk, lest they cede their fortunes to those who would otherwise shape their futures.
Skepticism, even hostility, toward dominant tech firms is not new. Over the past two decades the European Union has wielded its antitrust and anti-competition tools against big tech. More recently, various European countries have proposed tech taxes on multinationals. To head off a tax free-for-all, Treasury Secretary Yellen has cobbled together a global agreement on a 15% minimum corporate income tax rate.
Meanwhile, China has banished many western technology firms beyond its ‘great firewall’. And when some of its own technology companies have annoyed Beijing, it has clamped down hard, punishing those that have gone against its will to list their shares abroad.
Tech anger intensified after 2016. Fears that the Brexit vote and US Presidential elections were tarnished by ‘unsocial media’ highlighted the risks to democracy posed by dominant tech firms. A wary US began to see Chinese technology companies as adversaries rather than legitimate competitors. And the vast wealth of tech billionaires, who today are literally reaching for the heavens on their rocket-ships, has added to public resentment.
The pitchforks are coming out.
The Biden Administration has jettisoned the traditional fascination of the Democratic Party with information technology—and the vast sums it provides to campaign financing. Biden’s team is shoring up the legal, tax and bully pulpit tools to take on tech giants. The new chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Lina Khan, is a recognized scholar in technology antitrust. At least six bills await in Congress to curb tech company practices.
So, should investor now dump growth?
Not so fast.
The Biden Administration faces an uphill battle in legislating higher taxes. A global tax treaty requires a two-thirds majority for ratification in the US Senate. Never mind Republican opposition—even Democrats are split over taxes.
Breaking up big tech companies won’t happen anytime soon. US antitrust legislation rests on the presumption of harm to consumers. By offering free services in search or social media, or aggressive discounting via online shopping, technology giants hardly come across as consumer rip-offs. Concerns about undue political influence or disregard for privacy are more legitimate, but those forms of antitrust would require new legislation, subject to constitutional court challenges. That could take years, even decades. Just ask the tobacco industry…
There is little doubt that arrogance, hubris and obscene wealth are the new faces of information technology. The well of social media has been poisoned. Predatory practices of buying of nascent competitors is flat out wrong. In the court of public opinion, as opposed to forum of public markets, technology companies are more despised than admired.
Yet even their harshest critics must acknowledge that technology products and services are in great demand for legitimate reasons. Importantly, many of the benefits to consumers are reinforced by size, even by the absence of competition. Social networks and search are best served by single entities, rather than numerous competitors. Economies of scale in logistics require heft in online retailing. Software platforms work best when there is a uniform standard, rather than many different ones.
Competition, at least in its traditional sense, may not be best for the users of information technology. Size matters because it benefits consumers, not just producers.
Yet with size comes responsibility—to all stakeholders. Companies can either recognize that fact and act accordingly, or have it imposed on them by increasingly hostile governments and the angry voters they represent.
Shareholders would do well to acknowledge that the value of technology resides not merely in its business platform, but on the ability of the company to accommodate the needs of workers, suppliers, communities, governments, and society at large. It starts with paying taxes. But it does not end there.
The pitchforks are out for technology companies. Yet as the ageless saying goes, pitchforks can be turned into plowshares. Responsible companies, and those that own them, would be wise to shape their own future rather than having it shaped for them by others. If corporations and their shareholders can respect the legitimate concerns of the communities that make their fortunes possible, they will recognize that accepting responsibility can ensure their long-term success.
Therein resides the genuine value in growth.


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On Wednesday, Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued orders banning the use of cryptocurrencies as payments for goods and services. This will be valid from April 1.
According to the SEC, the crypto payments could drop Thailand’s economic stability.
Thai users held more than $3 billion worth of cryptos this year. A massive increase compared to just a few years ago. Infact, in 2021, transaction volume increased by about 600% from November 2020 to April 2021.
Crypto data aggregator Chainalysis ranked Thailand as third in its index of countries leading DeFi adoption in 2021.
Recently, Thai’s finance ministry cabinet relaxed the tax burdens of Thailand’s crypto investors from April 2022 until the end of 2023. Also, the cabinet approved tax relief measures, including the exemption of a 7% value-added tax (VAT) on cryptocurrency trades on regulated exchanges, to promote the crypto industry.
Overall, This move is likely motivated by the large amount of volatility seen in the crypto market.


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New Jersey Lottery Sets Sales Record
The New Jersey Lottery has announced a record-breaking $3.73 billion in sales for Fiscal Year 2023. This represents a 2.55% increase over the previous fiscal year, culminating in the largest-ever contribution of $1.17 billion to support New Jersey’s public employee pension system. This year’s contribution is a continuation of the Lottery’s impressive track record, exceeding one billion dollars for the sixth time.
Established in 1970, the New Jersey Lottery has contributed over $32.5 billion to the state, supporting various programs and services. Through a strategic 30-year agreement signed into law in 2017, the Lottery continues to be a crucial contributor to the public employee pension system, underscoring its importance to New Jersey’s revenue and public services.
The surge in sales was primarily driven by multistate games, with Mega Millions sales increasing by 99.4% to $293.7 million and Powerball sales increasing by 28.1% to $308.6 million. Despite this success, the Lottery experienced slight declines in scratch-off sales and traditional games like Pick-3 and Pick-4.
The Lottery’s success is not just a windfall for the state’s finances but also for the players and retailers. In FY23, New Jersey players received a total of $2.23 billion in prizes, including a notable $17.3 million Pick-6 prize. Additionally, nearly 7,000 retailers collectively earned $220 million in commissions.
The New Jersey Lottery’s record sales and substantial contributions to the state pension system illustrate the significant role lotteries can play in supporting public finances. Over $32.5 billion has been contributed to the state pension system since 1970
“We are pleased with the successful year. For players, nothing compares to seeing jackpots reach previously unimagined heights. As always, we do not accomplish this work on our own. Our retail partners are the daily face of the Lottery, and they must be applauded for their hard work, as should all our vendors who help us reach our goals,” said Executive Director James Carey.
“While multistate game sales surged this fiscal year, those gains must be kept in perspective with New Jersey-only game sales. We are constantly looking at new ways to improve the Lottery’s games and player experience,” he added.


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French advertising giant Publicis reported third quarter revenue fell 1.5 percent to 1.105 billion euros (£883 million), hit by a 71 million euro (£57 million) negative impact from the weak dollar and the pound against the euro, the company said today. Had exchange rates remained constant, the group would have booked a 5.1 percent increase in sales. Still, revenue just about hit analyst estimates of 1.113 billion euros (£889 million). Organic growth was up 3.9 percent, which CEO & Chairman Maurice Levy noted was “higher… than we expected, and finished better than we might have feared, given the turmoil in the world-wide financial system.” Levy warned, however, that the global financial crisis has pushed the mature economies into “a zone of turbulence,” and that the ad industry is facing “a difficult end of 2008 and a marked slowdown in 2009.” Still, Levy said that Publicis was holding a “number of strong trump cards,” including its foray into digital and emerging markets, the two sectors he believes will show strong growth in 2009. “These initiatives should allow us to compensate the growth weaknesses in mature markets or traditional sectors,” said Levy. Reuters reports that Levy told reporters that he was “sticking” to the group’s forecasts for an operating margin of 16.5 percent this year and organic sales growth higher than the 3.1 percent achieved in 2007.
— Digital Activities: For the first nine months of 2008, digital activities generated 18.9 percent of the group’s revenue, compared to 13.6 percent for the first nine months of 2007. Digital activities was especially good to the North American unit, as the third quarter’s organic growth (at constant exchange rates) of 5.3 percent, or 481 million euros (£384 million), was driven by them.
— Europe: A mixed bag for Europe. Publicis reported “good” results in France, Central and Eastern Europe, and Russia, but weaknesses in the UK, Spain as well as in Germany, now starting to show signs of a slowdown. Organic growth at constant exchange rates was up 0.9 percent to 411 million euros (£329 million).
— Emerging markets: Emerging markets represented 22.7 percent of revenues for the first nine months compared with 20.9 percent for the same period in 2007. Publicis singled out China and India as having particularly high growth rates, but didn’t break out by country.


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A clip of the Famous Nigerian singer Dbanj walking around in a crop top has caused a stir.
Dbanj has started a new fashion trend among his coworkers, but many people on the internet don’t like it.
He walked majestically in the video clip before twirling for the camera. However, internet users have expressed surprise at his choice of attire.
Reacting to this, Womentopia.global.opportunity said: “The way fashion is going these Days. I just don’t know.”
Rosythrone reacted: “As a man, why you go dress like this.”
_somebodys1stson said: “Oshey Samurai Jack.”
Thefoodnetworknig2 reacted: “Dbanj and Timaya’s fashion sense ehn! Na only them understand. Kanye is their role model.”
Elia_beautyy_flo_wer said: “And your wife allow you leave house. I go tie you oo.”
Watch the video below
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ANDERSONVILLE — After nearly a decade on Clark Street and three years in its current space, boutique shop Winifred Grace has doubled in size after expanding into the neighboring storefront.
The clothing, jewelry and home goods boutique at 5632 N. Clark St. has expanded into the next-door storefront left vacant after antique shop Roost closed earlier this year.
The expansion comes after nine years in business for Winifred Grace, which has anchored the northern end of Andersonville’s business district. After years of successful business in its tight corner storefront at Clark Street and Olive Avenue, owner Winifred Gundeck said she is happy to have the extra space.
“We were bursting at the seams,” Gundeck said. “We don’t have that much more stuff [in the expanded store]. It’s more space for people to shop.”
Winifred Grace opened in 2014 at 5642 N. Clark St. in the storefront now occupied by Skin Care For Gents.
After five years in that spot, Winifred Grace moved a few storefronts south, opening the in the corner store at Clark Street and Olive Avenue in 2019. The corner was vacated by Roost, which had consolidated its home decor and antiques shop into the neighboring storefront.
Gundeck received a heads up that Roost would be closing earlier this year, saying she jumped at the chance to expand into the space. The newly expanded store has kept some pieces from Roost that are now used as display tables for merchandise.
A wall separating the commercial spaces has been knocked down, expanding the corner storefront that gives Winifred Grace a significant amount of natural sunlight.
New features in the store include a dedicated station for its “Love Linked” line of permanent jewelry.
The jewelry line, which is custom-made and does not come with a clasp for easy removal, debuted last year and has been “wildly popular,” Gundeck said. Since the jewelry needs to be custom-fitted, it made sense to create a station dedicated to the product line, she said.
Winifred Grace also now carries vintage designer clothing called WG Found.
New seating sections help the store achieve a long-held goal of being a place neighbors can come and hang out as well as shop, Gundeck said.
Winifred Grace was closed for 10 days at the end of April and early May before reopening in the larger space. Gundeck said she is excited to be expanding in place in the resurgent northern end of Andersonville.
“I really loved being on the corner, so I jumped at the chance to stay,” she said. “It’s already better than I would have imagined.”
Winifred Grace is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Listen to “It’s All Good: A Block Club Chicago Podcast”:


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Club for under-18 fans set to kick off next month
Dan Black and MPHO are set to launch Club NME U18 – a new club only for fans under 18 – in London next month.
Club NME U18 will take place on September 19 in the afternoon, between 2pm (BST) and 5pm. See NME.COM/clubnme for more information.
Tickets are on sale now.
To check the availability of Dan Black tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.


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Ukrainian national Dmytro Borodavka, largest poultry processor in Slovakia
WE Trade, owned by Ukrainian national Dmytro Borodavka, plans to build a €14m poultry processing plant with daily capacity of 70 tons in Horné Saliby near Galanta. It already has a plant there, called EU Poultry, but needs new capacity due to high demand. The new plant will launch production in mid-2022. (pravda.sk) In 2019, EU Poultry had €77m sales in processing chicken bred in Ukraine.


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JM Financial recommended hold rating on Marico with a target price of Rs 330 in its research report dated October 30, 2017.
Reliance Securities is bullish on Marico has recommended buy rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 351 in its research report dated October 31, 2017.
The company has embarked upon a 10 percent price hike since the start of the current quarter. And, therefore, it remains to be seen if the company is able to sustain its market share going forward.
Saugata Gupta, MD & CEO, Marico said they are confident of delivering 8-10 percent volume growth in second half (H2).
Liquor and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) earnings remain in focus. In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Abneesh Roy of Edelweiss Securities shared his take on the sector.
Marico moved upwards after taking support of prior reversal point and later the stock rose to 2 week high.
In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Harsh Mariwala, Chairman of Marico gave an update on how the company is faring post goods and services tax (GST) and what is the growth outlook.
Sandeep Wagle of powermywealth.com advises buying Reliance Industries and Marico.
Edelweiss is bullish on Marico has recommended buy rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 368 in its research report dated 11 September 2017.
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com is of the view that one can buy Wockhardt and sell Tech Mahindra and Indian Oil Corporation.
Mitessh Thakkar of miteshthacker.com is of the view that one can buy Bharat Electronics, Kajaria Ceramics and RBL Bank and sell Marico.
Mitessh Thakkar of miteshthacker.com recommends buying Jet Airways and Marico.
Manoj Murlidharan of Religare Securities suggests buying JSW Energy, Larsen and Toubro and Marico.
Mitessh Thakkar of mitesshthakkar.com is of the view that one can buy Hero MotoCorp, L&T Finance Holdings and Torrent Power and sell Apollo Hospitals Enterprises and Marico.
Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com is of the view that one can sell DCB Bank and Tata Motors and can buy Marico.
Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com is of the view that one can buy ACC, BEML, Bajaj Finance and Indraprastha Gas and sell Indo Count Industries.
Edelweiss is bullish on Marico has recommended buy rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 344 in its research report dated August 2, 2017
A lot of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) earnings have been in the news over the last few days. Big disappointments coming in from Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL), Marico and yesterday there was that howler from Emami. Today, we are awaiting numbers from Colgate Palmolive (India) and alarm bells have already been sounded by Patanjali announcing market share gains in the toothpaste segment. In an interview to CNBC-TV18, Naveen Kulkarni, Co-Head of Research at PhillipCapital shared his reading and outlook on the same.
ICICI Direct recommended hold rating on Marico with a target price of Rs 340 in its research report dated August 02, 2017.
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com suggests buying Balrampur Chini, Motherson Sumi Systems and GSFC.
The Nifty too is chasing 10,000 level which is likely to act as stiff resistance for the index and market should cool off post the event, suggest experts. However, a major decline is not something which analysts’ see unless it gets triggered by a global event.
According to Rajat Bose of rajatkbose.com, one can buy Balkrishna Industries, Marico, TVS Motor and Kaveri Seed Company.
Mitessh Thakkar of mitesshthakkar.com recommends buying Bajaj Finserv, Muthoot Finance, HPCL, NCC and Future Consumer.
Shahina Mukadam, Independent Market Expert is of the view that one may prefer Dabur India and Marico.
Mitessh Thakkar of mitesshthakkar.com suggests buying Apollo Tyres, Ceat, Adani Ports, Bharti Infratel and Maruti Suzuki.


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NORFOLK VA May 2 2017
A black Walmart security guard racially profiled a black Portsmouth man two years ago and ultimately caused his death at the hands of former Police Officer Stephen Rankin, according to a lawsuit filed by the man's mother.
The lawsuit, which seeks $31 million in damages and was filed without the assistance of an attorney, says that 18-year-old William Chapman II did nothing wrong in the store and that the guard called police for no reason.
But it is largely silent on one key fact: A Portsmouth police report obtained in November by The Virginian-Pilot says the security guard believed William Chapman II stole about $31 in clothing from the store on Frederick Boulevard – a gray T-shirt and a gray pair of pants.
Investigators later determined Chapman was wearing two pairs of pants when he was killed and had a new gray T-shirt bearing the likeness of Stewie from the TV show “Family Guy” in his backpack.
Sallie Chapman filed the lawsuit April 21 in Portsmouth Circuit Court, one day before the second anniversary of her son's death and about five months after the city agreed to pay the Chapman family a $1 million settlement.
Attorney Jon Babineau helped the family negotiate that deal, which was reached before any lawsuit was filed. He declined to comment on the Walmart suit, noting that he is not involved.
In a November interview, before the police report came to light, Babineau said he was researching what liability the retailer might face.
In court documents, an attorney for Walmart has denied responsibility for Chapman's death. Attorney Cameron Beck Jr. argued there was probable cause to believe that Chapman had shoplifted merchandise. He also noted that another person "over whom Walmart had no control" was responsible for his death, an apparent reference to Rankin.
"Walmart denies that it is indebted to the plaintiff in any manner for any amount," Beck wrote. He asked the court to order Sallie Chapman to pay the company back for having to respond to the lawsuit.
Earl Lewis, a cousin of William Chapman who has served as a spokesman for the family the past two years, did not immediately respond this morning to a request for comment.
Rankin, who is white, killed Chapman in the Walmart parking lot. The officer was indicted on murder charges, fired by the department and put on trial.
A jury convicted him Aug. 4 on one count of voluntary manslaughter before recommending he serve 2½ years in prison. He is now appealing the verdict.
According to court testimony, Rankin was investigating a shoplifting report when he approached Chapman. An altercation ensued, with some witnesses saying Chapman charged Rankin and another person – the security guard now at the center of the Walmart lawsuit – saying the 18-year-old merely jerked his shoulders forward.
According to the lawsuit, Chapman entered the store about 7:30 a.m.
It said store security started watching Chapman and then alleged that he put something inside his backpack while in the shoe department.
The lawsuit said Chapman continued to walk around the store before going into a restroom. A few minutes later, Chapman left the restroom, walked through the lawn and garden department and out of the building – past several employees and the security office.
"There was no evidence that William had actually stolen anything from Walmart," the lawsuit said.
Security guard Gregory Provo, a star witness at Rankin's trial whom the lawsuit repeatedly misidentified as "Provost," followed Chapman outside and called police.
The lawsuit claimed that is in violation of Walmart's security policy, but Beck disagreed.
"This is based upon a 'bad call' and racial profiling upon Mr. Chapman administered by Walmart's Security personnel," the lawsuit said.
It also said Provo should have intervened when he witnessed Rankin's "aggressiveness."
"There was no proof at this point that would have caused Walmart security to call the police at all," the lawsuit said. "William would be alive today if Walmart had not called the police to state that William was a possible shoplifter."
In an unusual move, the lawsuit went on to seek various pieces of information from Walmart, including Provo's training background, any video the store has of Chapman walking around the store and the SKU numbers that accompanied the bar codes for the allegedly stolen items.
Sallie Chapman received about $316,000 of the $1 million settlement negotiated by Babineau. Another $333,333 covered legal fees, and $150,000 went to Chapman's father. The rest was divided among seven of his siblings, with amounts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.
Sallie Chapman didn't get to keep all of her portion, though. The deal required she use $46,700 to pay off debts.


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‘Fear and Uncertainty in Kashmir Reminiscent of Troubled 90s’
Srinagar: Fear continues to prevail after government-enforced clampdown and subsequent civilian shutdown since August 5 threw life out of gear in Kashmir. In Srinagar, particularly, incidents of violent attacks have further increased hostilities among the shopkeepers and businessmen battling the ongoing crisis.
The recent grenade attack at the commercial city centre Lal Chowk that resulted in the death of a non-local, Rinku Kumar, and injured 41 others has increased uncertainty among the shop owners and commuters in the area alike.
So far, seven grenade attacks have been carried out by suspected militants across the Valley—three of them in the heart of Srinagar city. The grenade attacks, according to locals, are reminiscent of the fearful days of the 1990s when insurgency peaked in the region.
“It looks like we are back to the 90s era; anything can happen anytime here. It’s like we are living in the state of paranoia again,” Shafiq Wani, a shop-owner at Jahangir Chowk said.
All shops and business establishments have remained shut since August 5, as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government unilaterally abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. A massive clampdown was enforced by the government in the wake of the revocation following which, all movement was restricted and severe communication blackout was imposed—what they termed as a measure—to thwart any law and order situation.
After the government eased restrictions almost a month later, the people, however, observed a civilian shutdown as a mark of protest against the government’s decision. A deadlock has been in place since then, which has resulted in a major political and economic crisis in the region.
In the month of October, which is the peak harvest season for apple crop on which drives J&K’s Rs 8,000-crore horticulture industry, came under scrutiny as suspected militants targeted the harvest and the trade.
In a first of its kind attack, suspected militants killed apple traders and injured many others as a measure to discourage apple trade with non-locals in the Valley. Since October 14, as many as 11 non-locals have been killed in South Kashmir in six attacks leaving the traders and businessmen in shock.
According to a senior police officer in Srinagar, such incidents of violence including grenade attacks have acted as sabotage measures for the shutdown to continue further.
“These attacks are carried out by militants in desperation to terrorise people,” the police officer told NewsClick.
Amid the shutdown, a significant majority of shopkeepers open their shops during morning hours between 8 am to 11 am and in the evening after 6 pm in various parts of the Valley.
Inside Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, which is surrounded by a popular market, shops open in the morning even as Friday prayers inside the mosque are banned since the clampdown began in August.
“We have not opened our shops continuously, but only a few times in three months. The shops are open till 10 am or for maximum half an hour more. The market gate is then locked up,” a shopkeeper from the market told NewsClick.
The shop-owners believe that the shutdown is a “necessary act”; however, they are also skeptical of the looming uncertainty in the region. “It’s merely symbolic as we don’t have any other option. The government should notice the shutdown and acknowledge its faults,” another shop-owner, Yasir, said.
The government, in what it termed as “preventive measures” in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370, arrested hundreds of politicians, activists and businessmen including several trade leaders. The arrest of trade leaders has also increased belligerence among many other businessmen in the Valley.
In the commercial hub of Lal Chowk where thousands of shops and many shopping centres are shut since past three months, a flea market called ‘Sunday market’ (as it normally functioned on Sundays only) is a routine affair now.
Owing to security threats, however, the market winds up before the sunset.
“A police van moves around in the evening that signals the vendors to wind-up,” said a vendor.
The police and security forces have beefed up security in the area; however, fear prevails despite multiple security check-points.
“I get scared when I see a lot of people together in the market. Too much of crowd is not good or even normal anymore,” the vendor added.
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Toyota is to recall 1.9m Prius hybrid vehicles – 31,000 in the UK – after discovering a computer software fault which causes the vehicle to abruptly stop.
After receiving 400 reports of problems in North America and Japan, the world’s biggest car manufacturer also confirmed the UK vehicles are models manufactured between March 2009 and February 2014.
The new software problem can set off warning lights, and could cause the vehicle to enter a failsafe mode, which will see the car’s driving power reduced.
A Toyota spokesperson said: “Toyota has identified that the software setting could lead to higher thermal stress occurring in certain insulated-gate bipolar transistors in the boost converter which may lead to them deforming or being damaged.
“Should this happen, warning lights may be illuminated and the car is likely to switch to ‘failsafe’ operation. It can still be driven, but with reduced power. In limited cases the hybrid system may shut down, causing the vehicle to stop. The driver will not experience any change in the vehicle’s behaviour or performance prior to the problem occurring.”
The latest recall is a further blow to Toyota, which last year recalled 615,000 Sienna minivans, despite being the top-selling global carmaker with worldwide deliveries of nearly 10 million vehicles.
The Manufacturer is hosting the Future Factory: High Performance Supply Chain event in London on April 29th.
This event will not only explore transparency on a global scale but also how to bring a supply chain back to the UK whilst still ensuring best practices in terms of lean efficiencies; financial imperatives; and environmental benefits. Subscribers to The Manufacturer can attend this event for free. Sign up now for 12 months for just £95.


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The latest total sales figures from the Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) based on GfK’s General Builders Merchants Panel, show total sales in Q2 2016 up on the previous quarter and up on the same quarter in 2015. BMBI is a brand of the Builders Merchant Federation (BMF).
The Q2 report covers the three months leading up to the Brexit decision, but despite press reports of pre-referendum jitters, builders’ merchants’ turnover was robust right through to the end of June. Total merchant sales were up 6.2% in Q2 on the same period last year with total ex-Vat sales of £1.44bn compared to £1.36bn in 2015. Sales this quarter were however assisted by two additional trading days.
Year on year sales growth was particularly strong in Ironmongery (+7.8%), Landscaping (+7.7%), Heavy Building Materials (6.5%) and Plumbing & Heating and Electrical (+6.4%).
Looking at quarter on quarter growth, total Q2 sales were 13.7% ahead of Q1, driven by Landscaping in its peak season (+58.1%) and Heavy Building Materials (+14.8%). Heavy Building Materials is the largest category accounting for almost 45% of all builders’ merchant sales by value.
The actual Builders Merchant Building Index for Q2 2016 – calculated for the first time using a robust 12 month base point – was 113.6, the highest in the past four quarters.
Most economists and forecasters expected a slow-down in construction in the run-up to the EU referendum as uncertainty began to affect decision making. But sales data from the Builders Merchants Building Index is telling a different and more positive story.
The BMBI report features insight from GfK on the economy, housing and consumer markets, including a dramatic post-Brexit chart showing an 11 point drop in consumer confidence in July.
We’ll have to wait for the BMBI July report due to be released 20 September to see the first indications of building activity post Brexit.
John Newcomb, MD, Builders Merchant Federation


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The electric city dweller has gone through an interesting update this year, but as it turns out – if we’re to believe the rumor mill – next year things will get even better, with upgraded design and even longer range.
BMW is keenly interested in the eco revolution, since they invested billions into turning a reality the dream of green vehicles of the “i” subbrand. The hustle could have paid off – they sold more than 100,000 examples of electric and plug in hybrid vehicles since 2013, with the small i3 taking the lion’s share. Starting next year – just like every other premium automaker – it will deliver an even wider array of EV and hybrid models. This is because the German company seeks to achieve 15 to 25 percent of sales in the segment by 2025 – and according to a report the strategy will be headlined from 2017 onwards by a facelifted version of the i3.
German weekly Welt am Sonntag claims the automaker will introduce a refreshed version with numerous stylistic improvements and an increased electric autonomy. The vehicle is set to gain a completely new battery pack, which is said to award a 50 percent increase in range. The 2016 model year i3 already got an update – complete with new 94-Ah battery with 33-kWh capacity that delivers an EPA-rated maximum range of 114 miles (183 kilometers).