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Sensing a “photo opportunity,” sports memorabilia cataloger Star Struck is putting on its “game face” and launching Star Struck’s Sport Shots. The 16-page spin-off catalog sells framed motivational-themed photographs of professional athletes.
Bethel, CT-based Star Struck plans to mail out 50,000-100,000 copies of the new catalog in May. Although the primary target market is children ages 7-13, Star Struck will mail the book to hospitals, healthcare centers, and training facilities as well as to schools, says Jason Scheets, director of operations, sporting division. Sport Shots will also be sent to customers who have already purchased photos from Star Struck’s Website.
“After the success during the past holiday season with these items on our Website, we decided to create a catalog,” Scheets says.
The photographs of professional hockey, football, and baseball players come in four sizes and range in price from $19.99 to $74.95. All feature one of 15 motivational themes, with words or phrases such as “success” or “patience.” Based on the Website sales of the photos — on which buyers spent an average of $70 an order — and anticipating a 2% response rate, Scheets estimates annual sales from the new catalog to be $70,000-$80,000. Star Struck’s total sales for 2000 exceeded $3 million. And the profit margins are attractive: Star Struck pays the professional leagues that own the rights to the images $1.75 for each photo.
Assuming the launch is successful, Star Struck hopes to eventually increase the book’s circulation to 500,000-600,000. Sport Shots will mail twice a year, for the holiday season and then in the spring — Star Struck’s biggest season, thanks to baseball. Star Struck plans to market the new catalog on its Internet site and with an opt-in e-mail program, as well as with direct mail and print campaigns.


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The Central Railway managed to dispatch over 61,000 tonnes of packages such as perishable food products and medicines during the period when the nation was under COVID-19 lockdown.
It operated freight and parcel trains during the lockdown that was announced on March 24, although passenger train services were halted for about two from March. It transported 61,978 tonnes of parcel till September 10 since the day the lockdown was announced by prime minister Narendra Modi.
The Central Railway transported 38,618 tonnes in parcel trains, 19,290 tonnes in parcel vans of special trains that were introduced from June 1, 2,266 tonnes through the farmer rail introduced on August 7 and 1,804 tonnes through milk containers, Zee News reported.
The Central Railway said express goods trains that were introduced to limit the disruption caused to supply of essential items ensured fast transport of such items.
The Central Railway operated 465 parcel trains, which transported 38,618 tonnes of essential commodities such as perishable goods, pharma products/medicines and e-commerce products till September 10, Zee News reported. The Railways has decided to continue operating these express trains till December 31.
The Railways announced special trains from June 1 to transport passengers. The Central Railway sent 19,290 tonnes of parcels through such special trains, it said.
The Central Railway said that the first-ever Kisan Rail in India running in its jurisdiction between Devlali and Danapur in Bihar has received a good response. The weekly train service was started on August 7 to help farmers transport their goods to far-off areas. Over 2,200 tonnes of farm produce have been transported through this rail service, the Central Railway said.
Due to the encouraging response, the service has been extended to Muzaffarpur and Sangola/Pune to Manmad, it said. Also, from September 8, the frequency of the service has been increased to thrice a week, it said.

domain: news


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The other South Korean giant LG surprised the whole mobile community with the new LG G5. The phone that boasts of a “modular design” is about be delivered in key markets any time now. LG has been busy showing off its Friends and demoing how to PLAY with them. We’re very much interested on how the Friends will deliver each of their promises especially the Hi-Fi Plus module which we noted could work with other smartphone.
LG partnered with Bang & Olufsen to deliver audio quality. It first started as a rumor but LG quickly announced the good news. Unfortunately now, there are reports that not all Friends are arriving in the United States. We just learned that the Bang & Olufsen DAC module will not be available in some markets including Canada, Puerto Rico, and Korea. Even Korea? That’s puzzling since LG is expected to offer its complete lineup of products in its native country.
Nothing is certain yet but any references to the Hi-Fi DAC have been removed from the US website of LG. Upon checking the LG Hi-Fi Plus packaging, there really is no mention of availability in the markets said earlier. LG has not released an explanation but only responded with these statements when asked by Android Authority: “At this time, we don’t have an availability date set for the Hi-Fi DAC, and so don’t have timing to share. As soon as we have an update, we will follow up.”
This could just be a simple delay in production or certification from FCC or equivalent agencies in different countries. It’s a bit frustrating though for those who’ve been waiting to take advantage of super clear and high-definition audio quality. Sure, the accessory can be easily availed from other markets but we’re not sure if it will work on a local version of the smartphone because of possible differences in software, setting, or functionality of the module.
We’re marking this issue with a big question mark so we’ll see.
VIA: Android Authority


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Up to 700 contract workers at the Nissan plant in Canton are being let go, according to the auto manufacturer. MPB's Ezra Wall reports.
Nissan blames the 700 potential job losses on lower sales for vehicles built in Canton, like the Titan pickup truck. Lloryn Love-Carter is with Nissan.
"This is a result completely tied to market demand and making sure that we can maintain healthy inventory levels," says Love-Carter. "We are doing all we can as a company to mitigate the impact to those potentially impacted associates."
Travis Parks is a regular hourly employee at Nissan, unaffected by the reduction in force. Parks supported a failed unionization bid at Nissan in recent years. He believes having a union at the plant would help protect the workforce by making sure more of them are regular employees and not contractors. Parks says the massive reduction affects workers who have been with the company for years, just like regular employees.
"I know some of them that's been there five, six years or longer that are still temp workers," says Parks. "They don't have to layoff. They can fire or get rid of these temps just like anybody else. There's no explanation; there's no binding contracts. We don't know if it's even necessary inside the plant."
Nissan says the number of jobs cut could change, depending on regular turnover and how many employees accept a voluntary buyout offered by the company. The job cuts will take effect in March.


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OM in the News: GM Turns to Long-Term Supplier Contracts
General Motors’ purchasing chief said the nation’s largest auto maker aims to sign new parts contracts for two vehicle generations, or as long as a decade, to cut costs and gain access to advanced technologies. GM is gearing up for big investments in luxury cars, electric vehicles and other projects, and expects to sign hundreds of billions of dollars in new supply contracts over the next 2 years. By locking suppliers into longer-term contracts and looping into vehicle designs earlier in the process, the auto maker expects suppliers to share more innovations and better processes that help save money. “We want them to double down on us,” the purchasing head stated.
Recently, GM asked about 30 of the auto maker’s biggest parts makers to help relieve supply bottlenecks so the company can crank up production of its highly profitable pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles. In some cases, GM promised to help suppliers cover additional costs to get the needed parts.
“The change is part of a technology arms race in the industry, with auto makers vying to be first with self-driving features for vehicles or propulsion technologies that reduce emissions,” writes The Wall Street Journal (April 15, 2015). GM’s CEO recently implemented a strategy aimed at improving relationships with suppliers; she believed that the auto maker was overly optimistic in its planning assumptions or too forceful in its cost-cutting mandates. The firm is attempting to undo decades of damage caused by poor relationships with suppliers that had curtailed its early access to new innovations.
Classroom discussion questions:
1. Describe GM’s prior relations with suppliers.
2. Why the change?
3. Research the history of the famous GM VP-Purchasing, Jose Lopez. (See Supply Chain Digest (July 7, 2009)


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By Alaina Osborne, Students Promoting Awareness of Research Knowledge (SPARK)
Cows can now produce milk that is not only good for you, but has anti-cancer effects as well.
The secret is selenium, an essential mineral needed by living organisms to stay healthy. When U of G researchers fed cows selenium in its organic form (produced by yeast) the mineral was absorbed and incorporated directly into milk casein, a type of protein.
The researchers discovered this selenium-enriched casein has the ability to reduce human breast cancer tumours.
“With each increase of selenium, tumour growth dropped,” says animal and poultry science professor John Cant. “We saw the anti-cancer effects at every level.”
He and graduate student Jenny Warrington first began exploring the effects of selenium yeast in cow diets two years ago, after PhD candidate Scott Cieslar suggested studying selenium-enriched milk casein at Guelph.
Their studies used human breast cancer cells transplanted into mice, so the researchers could look specifically at how the human cells grew.
They created four different diets containing low to high levels of selenium.
Those diets with high amounts of selenium were proven to have the greatest impact on the size of tumours.
However, Cant was surprised that even in low doses, the effects of selenium-enriched casein were significant and believes it could be used in addition to chemotherapy.
Cant says the general public can also benefit from an organic selenium boost. Even though it’s an essential mineral, selenium is difficult to incorporate into many types of foods. Research has been done on selenium-enriched broccoli, but milk products would offer a wider variety of ways to introduce selenium into the diet of the general population.
Another advantage of organic selenium is that it is safer to consume in high amounts than selenium salts (the inorganic version of the mineral, which in high doses can cause health problems).
Cant says more studies are needed to determine exactly how selenium acts as an anticarcinogen, but its effects are evident.
“We’re excited about what this product can do,” he says. “We have real results.”
This research is supported by the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Alltech Inc., and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
For more information, visit http://www.uoguelph.ca/research/new-sparkair-release-john-cant-selenium-dairy-cattle.


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An increasing number of new users are opting to subscribe to Disney Plus’ ad-supported tier, priced at $7.99 per month.
Disney Plus introduced its ad-supported plan less than a year ago, and it has quickly gained popularity among new subscribers.
Between March and September 2023, a significant milestone was achieved as 50 percent of newly signed-up users opted for the ad-supported plan, priced at $7.99 per month, instead of the pricier ad-free version.
The success of this ad-supported option is noteworthy, with Rita Ferro, Disney’s president of global advertising, revealing that 40 percent of subscribers had already chosen this tier earlier in the year.
Disney’s pricing strategy played a crucial role in this shift, as they maintained the price of the ad-supported plan while increasing the cost of the ad-free subscription from $10.99 to $13.99. This strategic move was aimed at enticing more subscribers towards the ad-supported tier.
Interestingly, Disney is capitalizing on the ad-supported model, as they earn additional revenue through advertisements displayed to users on this tier.
Kevin Lansberry, Disney’s interim chief financial officer, has observed that the ad-supported tier is continually improving the average revenue per user (ARPU), a trend also seen in Netflix’s ad-supported offering.
Disney’s plans include expanding the availability of the ad-supported tier to Canada and several European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and more, starting from November 1st.
In the near future, Disney is expected to provide further insights into the performance of the ad-supported tier and discuss its strategies for addressing password sharing in their upcoming fourth quarter earnings report.
Gladstone is a tech virtuoso, boasting a dynamic 25-year journey through the digital landscape. A maestro of code, he has engineered cutting-edge software, orchestrated high-performing teams, and masterminded robust system architectures. His experience covers large-scale systems, as well as the intricacies of embedded systems and microcontrollers. A proud alumnus of a prestigious British institution, he wields a computer-science-related honours degree.


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The SSC Tuatara has been several years in the making, but it's finally arrived in production form. First deliveries of the $1.6-million American-built supercar have already started, and now, thanks to this new video released by the company, we get to see just how brutally quick it is in a straight line.
SSC closed down a road in Washington state—the same state where the company is based—to conduct some high-speed testing, and strapped a camera into the cabin so we can get a first-hand view of the action. Unfortunately, we're not given any live speed or acceleration figures, but from the clip alone, it's clear the car is quick.
With a twin-turbo V-8 and a dry weight of just 2750 pounds, that's hardly surprising. The Tuatara makes 1350 horsepower on pump gas, and a staggering 1750 horsepower with E85 fuel. Of course it's quick. The company claims the car can even hit 300 mph, though an official test run hasn't been announced.
If you want to get your hands on a Tuatara, you'll need at least $1.6 million, and be one of the first 100 people to place an order. If it's really as capable as the company claims, we don't think they'll have trouble selling out.


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The Islamic Corporation for the Development of Private Sector (ICD) has entered into collaboration with an investment firm I-FinTech Solutions (IFTS) to develop DLT-based solutions and implement these products in the Islamic Banks worldwide, Irish Tech reports.
It is reported that the partnership between ICD and IFTS includes a list of fintech products, which will be developed and implemented to solve liquidity management issues.
As it states, the first product of the agreement is a real-time transactional service that facilitates the transaction of real goods and resolves interbank problems between traditional and Islamic financial institutions in accordance with Sharia.
Using DLT-based tech will decrease both the total execution time and the fee of a financial operation. It also addresses issues and concerns related to transparency and traceability of financial transactions.
The CEO of ICD, Ayman Segina, said IT would always play a key role for the financial system.
“We will consistently pursue our service orientation strategy and assist our partners in innovative Sharia-compatible fintech solutions,” Segina added.
Earlier, United Arab Emirates-based ADAB Solutions palmed off with promises to launch the First Islamic Crypto Exchange (FICE). According to their website, the company has completed 6 out of 13 steps on their roadmap to becoming a fully operational ‘Halal’ Crypto Exchange. It’s expected that the exchange would be 100% Halal.
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ASHWAUBENON, Wis. — After two anchor stores, Younkers and Shopko, announced they were closing their doors, the community became concerned about the future of Bay Park Square Mall. But now, there's new hope.
"We had plans submitted yesterday for Dave & Buster's," said Mary Kardoskee, the Village of Ashwaubenon President.
The arcade, restaurant, sports bar is possibly moving into the space previously occupied by Younkers Furniture.
"I’m actually really excited about the Dave & Buster's. There's nothing really like that around here,” said Michelle Jacques, a De Pere resident.
"Just more activities for people to do with their families,” said Green Bay resident Rush Imhotep.
That's not all. The Village of Ashwaubenon says there's also a proposal to open a Blaze Pizza, Mission Barbeque and Panda Express in the mall area next to longhorn steakhouse off Oneida Street.
"I’m in the food industry, so that actually really excites me. I like trying new places,” said Jacques.
Village leaders say people were worried about the mall's future when they heard about the closings of two anchor stores, Younkers and Shopko, but these new plans take away some of their concerns.
"I mean jobs, activities,” said Imhotep. “In terms of the visual aesthetic of it, it's not just going to be nothing there anymore, so I mean it can help in a number of ways."
The village and community members we spoke with hope these new businesses will bring life back into the empty spaces in and around the mall.
"For me it's generating foot traffic into the mall, you don't want your malls to go down,” said Kardoskee.
"A lot of malls are dying and that would be a really good thing not to happen to this mall specifically because it's so thriving,” said Jacques.
The plans still must go through the Village Board for approval before any of the projects can begin. NBC 26 reached out Bay Park Square Mall management, as well as the new businesses that plan to open, but we have not yet received a comment on the projects.


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Kapampangan property developer Wilfredo Tan has faced many challenges as a business owner. He says the Covid-19 pandemic is the hardest one he has yet to face. Get to know how Mr. Tan faced all these adversities head on to establish one of the largest real estate companies in the country.
Business Unusual with Sonia P. Soto is a business talk show which aims to promote and feature small and medium enterprises or SME’s and local products in Central Luzon, showcase what’s trending, as well as the latest economic and business development in the region. It also highlights business owners, business associations and major business events.


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A design studio has come up with an innovative alternative to the usual on-board meal trays served on flights.
London-based design firm PriestmanGoode has launched a sustainably made in-flight meal tray meant for passengers, as part of its ‘Get Onboard: Reduce. Reuse. Rethink’ project. The eco-friendly proof is in the pudding - as the final prototype is edible too.
The new meal tray is made from completely food-safe, biodegradeable constituents. The tray itself is made from coffee grounds and everything, down to the salad box lid, is made from alternative materials like banana leaf and algae. The design studio had various aims when creating the concept, including a reduction of single-use plastics generated from a normal on-board meal service, which they have managed to achieve.
Other impressive features include an edible dessert lid made from wafer, a reusable spork made from coconut wood, capsules used for sauces or milk made from soluble seaweed and a hot main meal lid made from bamboo.
“While there is currently no perfect solution, this design proposal aims to encourage suppliers and airlines to rethink the meal service in a more eco-friendly manner, particularly ahead of legislation to ban single-use plastic, which in some countries is proposed for as early as 2021,” says Jo Rowan, Associate Strategy Director at PriestmanGoode, in a press release.
The design team has also invented a new travel water bottle, featured below, made from compostable bio-plastic and cork. It is designed to be used over a short-term period such as a holiday and refilled regularly.
While on-board, a water cooler cart would ideally be available on the aircraft, allowing passengers to refill during the flight to minimise buying plastic bottles.
Get Onboard: Reduce.Reuse.Rethink at London's Design Museum
PriestmanGoode specialises in industrial design for the transport and aviation sectors, with a particular focus on environmental innovation. Its newest exhibition at the Design Museum in London explores the issue of waste in travel and looks at how developments in eco materials can make the industry more sustainable.
Materials include Econyl, a regenerated nylon yarn made from salvaged fishing nets, seaweed yarn and some you may not have heard of like pineapple wood and Tasman recycled glass.
According to statistics on their website, an estimated 5.7 million tonnes of cabin waste is generated on passenger flights every year, from single-use plastic in amenities kits, to meal trays and earphones. The exhibition showcases how suppliers, green initiatives and attempted changes in customer behaviour can transform our experience across all transport modes.
Jo Rowan concludes, PriestmanGoode want to “raise awareness of how much waste is created when we travel, and explore alternatives that address the supply of products and services, but also what each individual can do to lead us to a more sustainable travel industry.”
Get Onboard: Reduce.Reuse.Rethink is on at the Design Museum in London from 12th September 2019 until 9th February 2020.


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Sunglass Hut has partnered with knit graffiti artist KNITTA for its limited edition artist series
We wear sunglasses all year round. It doesnt matter if its dark and stormy in the dead of winter and bright days spent frolicking the park are a distant memory; sunnies are a must. Were thrilled that Sunglass Hut has partnered with knit graffiti artist KNITTA (Magda Sayeg) for its limited edition artist series. KNITTA is a yarn bomber: she installs large public art exhibits at spaces such as The Standard Hotel and the South by Southwest music festival that incorporate the traditional craft.
Her designs for Sunglass Hut feature her signature knit wrapping, which makes the glasses look festive for the holiday season and apt for sleet and snow. Sunglass Hut will donate a portion of the profits to OneSight, a foundation dedicated to improving vision, so buying these shades will definitely make you feel all warm and fuzzy.
$130, available now exclusively at SunglassHut.com.
-- SIERRA TISHGART, Fashion News Intern


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Exports rose at more than twice the pace of imports, the Finance Ministry said in Tokyo on Tuesday, helping the surplus almost quadruple from a year earlier. The median estimate of 37 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was for the gap to swell 23 percent to 235.5 billion yen.
Shipments to Europe and Asia rose to records for the month, reflecting increased orders that may help Japan weather a slowdown in the U.S. following the collapse of the subprime mortgage market. Honda Motor Co.'s sales climbed by a third in the first seven months of 2007 as demand from China surged.
``Export demand was solid across all regions,'' said Maiko Noguchi, a senior economist at Daiwa Securities SMBC Co. in Tokyo. ``The subprime impact may materialize in coming months so we need to watch developments closely.''
The yen traded at 115.21 per dollar at 10:13 a.m. in London from 114.57 before the report was published.
Exports climbed 14.5 percent in August, faster than July's 11.8 percent, the ministry said. Economists expected growth in shipments to cool to 10.9 percent. Imports rose 5.7 percent, a third of the pace of the previous month, as purchases of aircraft declined compared with a year earlier.
Shipments to the U.S. advanced 4.6 percent in August, accelerating from 1.3 percent. Exports to the European Union climbed 15.6 percent, faster than July's 13.1 percent. Growth in exports to China quickened to 23.8 percent from 20.6 percent.
``Export growth was quite high,'' said Hiroaki Muto, a senior economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management in Tokyo. ``Still, slower global growth is a risk that needs to be watched closely as well as the impact of the subprime issue.''
Export volumes, which don't take into account price fluctuations, rose 8.2 percent last month, the biggest gain since January, another sign that demand is strong, Muto said.
Honda Motor, Japan's second-largest carmaker, said sales in China surged 44 percent in July from a year earlier. Japan's auto shipments to China jumped 88 percent in August, today's report showed.
Nippon Steel Corp., the world's second-biggest maker of the alloy, increased its full-year profit forecast to a record 365 billion yen this month as rising demand from shipbuilders and automakers drives gains in prices. The subprime credit rout hasn't dented world demand for steel, the company said Sept. 6.


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Andy Murray is now “Powered by Fuse”
Fuse Science, Inc. has announced that Andy Murray has joined its team of athletes. Fuse is a consumer products company that develops energy, vitamin and mineral products and redefines their delivery to the body.
The products are delivered transdermally, through roll on energy gels like Energel (right), single drop energy formulas like Powerfuse, and single drop electrolyte infusions like Electrofuse (below).
"My training regime is critical to my success, and over the years I have worked very hard, both on and off the court. Fuse has developed an exciting range of products that make a real difference," said Murray.
Murray has an equity stake in the business as well.
Please note the age restrictions on select products. Energel is 18+ for example.
Find them at PoweredbyFuse.com


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UK and US Aviation Security Announcements - Added 23rd March 2017 - Current 24th July 2017
The UK and US governments have announced new carry-on restrictions banning some electronic items on certain passenger flights.
The UK ban on any electronic item larger than a normal smartphone applies to all direct passenger flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
Passengers boarding flights to the UK from the countries affected will not be allowed to take any phones, laptops or tablets larger than a normal smartphone – specified as 16cm x 9.3cm x 1.5cm (6.2in x 3.6in x 0.5in). Any such devices will need to be placed in hold luggage. The restrictions have no time limit and will apply until further notice.
For further information please see the UK Government Website.
- Mohammed V International, Casablanca, Morocco
- Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, Turkey
- Cairo International Airport, Egypt
- Queen Alia International, Amman, Jordan
- King Abdulaziz International, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Khalid International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait International Airport
- Hamad International, Doha, Qatar
- Abu Dhabi International, United Arab Emirates
- Dubai International, United Arab Emirates


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Ke$ha: Watches are inspired by keyboards
Ke$ha has revealed the inspiration for her watch line came from "playing Casio keyboards".
The 25-year-old pop singer attended a press conference to mark the launch of her new Baby-G watch designs at the SLS Hotel in Beverley Hills, California, on Monday night.
Dressed in a fierce black and gold ensemble, Ke$ha revealed why her second collaboration with Casio Baby-G came so naturally to her.
"Initially it was because I loved playing Casio keyboards, and that's how I got kind of familiar with the brand Casio," she revealed to Just Jared. "Tik Tok came out and it was kind of a really natural collaboration between me, Tik Tok and making watches with the brand I've always liked and used."
At the event the star wore a jacket and top by high street retailer Zara, shorts by Miss Selfridge, shoes by Walter Steiger and also showed off a custom made hand chain and a vintage necklace.
Ke$ha recently confirmed her new single called Die Young will launch in November, with a new album entitled Warrior set for release in December.
In addition to preparing for the unveiling of her new music, Ke$ha is also set to publish an illustrated memoir of her rise to fame, called My Crazy Beautiful Life, which will also be available at the end of next month.
© Cover Media


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The popularity of digital marketing is visible in online learning as well. In the well-known ISB Executive Education programme – digital Marketing & Analytics – over the past 12 batches, it has consistently maintained almost 45% enrolments from women.
RBI has said that the retail digital rupee (e-R) pilot will launch on December 1 with four banks - State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank and Yes Bank. The project will be run in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar. The digital rupee is the RBI's digital currency, which the central bank launched earlier this month for wholesale transactions in government securities.
Like any other legal tender, the e-Rupee offers trust, safety and settlement finality. This means that when buying a car, a person can legally pay the amount using the digital Rupee which will be stored on a digital wallet in your smartphone. Paying e₹-R to merchants can also be fulfilled through QR codes, so paying for a new set of wheels could become as simple as scanning a code.
The Reserve Bank of India's first pilot for retail e-rupee, its version of the central bank digital currency (CBDC) will be launched on December 1, it said in a statement on Tuesday. The pilot would cover select locations in a closed user group comprising participating customers and merchants, the central bank said.
Samsung has announced that it will offer a 20-year warranty for the first time on digital Inverter Motor used in its washing machine and digital Inverter compressor used in refrigerators.
Samsung has announced that it will offer a 20-year warranty for the first time on digital Inverter Motor used in its washing machines and digital Inverter Compressor used in its refrigerators. The company claims that with this initiative it is increasing the reliability and durability of products. Along with this, the company also believes that this will reduce e-waste and promote sustainability.
SBI chairman Dinesh Khara on Friday said the Reserve Bank's first pilot project for retail digital rupee is a "game changer" with durable effects that should ensure better monetary transmission at much lesser costs.
More than 23 billion digital payment transactions worth Rs 38.32 lakh crore were carried out in July-September 2022 through UPI, debit and credit cards, prepaid payment instruments like mobile wallets etc, fintech firm Wordline India said in a report.
Eight banks have been identified for phase-wise participation in this pilot. The first phase will begin with four banks: State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, and IDFC First Bank.
G20 Sherpa Meeting under India's Presidency is currently underway, beginning with an overview of India's issue notes and priorities. Kant said the forum's first concern should be towards whose need is the greatest. "And therefore we need to focus on the Global South as well," he said.
The global digital transformation market size was evaluated at USD 608.72 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.1% from 2022 to 2030 as per the Grandview Research What is digital transformation? digital transformation is changing business models, value chains, communication strategies, and how people work and exchange ideas to seamlessly pursue business goals.
It becomes imperative today to impart to students and parents the knowledge of digital literacy more than ever as we switch rapidly towards a digitised era. The European Commission also worked in this direction and published a report on October 11, 2022, laying out a clear set of guidelines for educators on tackling disinformation, promoting digital literacy through education and training and building digital competencies.
The Reserve Bank of India's pilot project on retail digital Rupee is a "game changer", said SBI chairman Dinesh Khara, and added that it will have durable effects which would ensure better monetary transmission at much lesser costs. The RBI on Thursday announced the launch of a digital rupee retail pilot for a closed user group.
The digital car key-sharing ability is currently available only for US users. This feature is available on some select devices including -- Google’s Pixel 6 and 7 series and Samsung’s Galaxy S21 and S22 lineups and will only support limited car models.
The first phase of the retail digital Rupee pilot project will cover select locations and banks. RBI has also mentioned that during the pilot the digital currency will be available in a closed user group (CUG) which comprises participating customers and merchants.
The learning gaps and the digital divide have been highlighted in several national and global reports following the culture of online classes that started post-pandemic. UNICEF recognised the global barriers to digital learning in schools in its report of 2020, which showed that two-thirds of the children could not access online learning globally.
The new streamlined exam takes full advantage of what digital testing makes possible, and while many important features of the paper-and-pencil version will stay the same, several significant student-friendly changes are coming, including shorter passages and exam timing.
In an attempt to make pensioners aware about digital submission of life certificates, All Registered Pensioners’ Associations, Pension Disbursing Banks and CGHS Wellness Centres have been directed to organise special camps.
To impart digital literacy to the elderly people in Ernakulam, Naipunnya Nagaram project will be launched in the district on Friday. The district level programme will be launched by opposition leader V D Satheesan at the community hall at Varapuzha panchayat.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Pharmaceutical company Mylan Laboratories Inc. MYL, -4.28% said Thursday that it swung to a fiscal fourth-quarter net loss of $71.3 million, or 31 cents a share, from a profit of $57.6 million, or 27 cents a share. The loss was due to accounting adjustments from its acquisition of Matrix Laboratories, including a $147 million write-off. Excluding the Matrix deal and the company's launch of amlodipine besylate, earnings would have been 47 cents a share. Revenue for the quarter rose 53% to $483.7 million, including $42.8 million primarily due to the launch of oxybutynin in the company's third quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting earnings of 50 cents a share on revenue of $492 million.
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Toyota Companies Pledge $5,000,000 to Hurricane Katrina Relief
Torrance, CA - September 1, 2005 - Toyota companies today announced a $5,000,000 contribution directed to disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina, which struck a devastating blow to the US Gulf Coast on August 29.
"We're hopeful that aid may quickly reach those who fell victim to the torrential wind and rain," said Toyota Motor Sales USA President and COO Jim Press. "It's gratifying to be of some assistance during this difficult time."
Toyota companies have long supported the American Red Cross through associate-giving programs and disaster-related contributions.
$2 million of the $3 million directed to the American Red Cross was pledged by Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan, California-based Toyota Motor Sales USA and Toyota Financial Services; New York-based Toyota Motor North America; and Kentucky-based Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, which includes 11 manufacturing plants in North America, with three more under construction.
Texas-based Friedkin Companies, the owner of Gulf States Toyota, a privately owned Toyota distributorship, contributed another $2 million to establish the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund. This fund will aid Toyota and dealership employees and their families in the Gulf Sates region with both immediate and long-term needs resulting from Hurricane Katrina.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, a privately owned Toyota distributorship, its parent company JM Family Enterprises, and its associates pledged another $1,000,000 to the American Red Cross.
In addition to Toyota's contribution, Toyota Financial Services and Lexus Financial Services will assist finance and lease customers affected by Hurricane Katrina by offering a 90-day extension on payments, suspending credit bureau reporting on accounts impacted by the storm and temporarily suspending collection efforts on these accounts. Customers wishing to request assistance or discuss their accounts should call 1-800-874-8822.
Similarly, Lexus Pursuits Visa® Card customers will also receive an extension on payments and may call 1-866-877-4966 to seek a credit line increase or further assistance.
To stimulate further giving, employee contributions to the American Red Cross will be fully matched by Toyota Motor Sales USA, Toyota Financial Services, Toyota Motor North America, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America and Toyota Technical Center. Additionally, employee contributions to the Salvation Army will be fully matched by Toyota Technical Center, while employee contributions to the Friedkin Disaster Relief Fund will be fully matched by Toyota Motor Sales and Toyota Financial Services.
Read on: http://www.toyota.com/about/news/cor...-donation.html


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Growing waves of FDI investment set to pose challenges for unskilled workers
Foreign enterprises are beginning to shift their investments into industries that require medium-level workers or higher-skilled workers as opposed to putting money into labour-intensive industries as in the past,
according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
Recent statistics released by the State Audit indicate that since the Foreign Investment Law was promulgated in 1987, the country has been able to attract more than 30,000 billion projects from 130 countries and territories globally with a total registered capital of US$362 billion, of which US$211 billion of the total was disbursed.
Therefore, FDI projects have historically represented important capital sources for economic development investment nationwide, with this flow of foreign investment also having a significant impact on market development, labour productivity, and worker income.
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said that the creation of direct and indirect jobs has increased significantly, with the number of employees working in foreign-invested enterprises growing from 330,000 in 1995 to roughly 6.1 million in 2019. This represents an average growth rate of 7.72% during the 2005 to 2017 period, far higher than the labour growth rate seen in other economic sectors.
Labour productivity has been able to undergo positive changes thanks to capital being poured into the foreign invested sector. According to current prices, labour productivity of foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises in 2017 reached a total of VND330.8 million per worker, 3.5 times higher than the national average for labour productivity, and higher than the entire business sector in general, especially in terms of non-state enterprises.
The shift in labour structure from low-skilled labour-intensive industries to highly-skilled labour-intensive industries has been growing together with attracting additional sums of foreign investment, with workers previously being concentrated in a number of labour-intensive manufacturing industries such as garments and textiles and footwear. However, the proportion of labour in a number of manufacturing industries applying high technology has been increasing rapidly, with the number of workers involved in electronics and electronic products increasing from 8.03% in 2012 to 15.7% in 2017.
Recruitment changes required
Minister Dung believes that foreign financiers are now seeking greater levels of investment efficiency, especially when putting their money into East Asia and Southeast Asia. Instead of searching for new and major markets that could be directly exploited as had previously been done in the past, multinational groups now prioritising investment in places that feature modern infrastructure facilities. Other factors that appeal to investors include an abundant supply of high-quality human resources, appropriate policy mechanisms, along with a stable political situation in order to improve production efficiency and boost competitiveness in available markets.
There will be an array of fundamental changes in terms of labour demand and human resources structures once the flow of foreign investment reaches sectors that require both medium-level labourers and highly-skilled workers. This is likely to be the case in sectors such as components, machinery accessories, electronics, scientific products, medical products, chemistry, along with rubber and plastic, although there will be little changes to low-skilled labor-intensive industries such as textiles and apparel or footwear, the minister noted.
“With this trend, Vietnam has many great opportunities as most countries, leading groups, and major businesses consider the country to be a safe, potential destination, an optimal investment and production centre in the short and medium term. In the context that the economy will experience drastic changes against the above-mentioned macro trends, Vietnam's labour market will certainly have fundamental changes in structure and organisation," said Minister Dung.
The Minister added that in the near future labour structures will continue to shift from the agricultural sector to both industrial and service sectors. This will follow the trend of employment structures altering from labour-intensive fields to technology-applied industries. Consequently, jobs in sectors that employ unskilled and low-skilled workers will gradually decrease as the demand for jobs that require more qualified and highly-skilled workers increases.
Due to these changes, it is likely that workers, especially those who are old, untrained, and unskilled, will certainly face an array of challenges to retrain in order to adapt themselves to become employable in new industries. Without thorough preparations, a large proportion of Vietnamese workers could be at high risk of losing their jobs amid the current shifting trend.
As a means of adapting to the latest trends of foreign investment and in order to benefit Vietnamese workers in a sustainable economy, Minister Dung underlined the need to be proactive in developing a number of comprehensive action strategies aimed at creating a completely connected market that features a diverse ecosystem which is closely linked to the international market.
Moreover, the Government should work closely with ministries and agencies to direct them to continue their great efforts to improve the nation’s business environment, take part in exchanges with major international groups, and proactively negotiate bilateral free trade agreements. “It is therefore essential to revamp bilateral and multilateral mechanisms with regard to investment attraction, intellectual property, banking, and finance so that foreign countries are able to provide the optimal conditions for their businesses to enter the country through their financial support mechanisms”, Minister Dung added. VOV
The electronic industry of Vietnam is heavily dependent on FDI.
The European Union (EU)-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is expected to trigger high-quality FDI flows from Europe to the Southeast Asian country, said Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Italy Nguyen Duc Thanh.


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BY Orchestra Kamanga
Founder and Managing Director for World Auto Parts Elson Moses Makhwira has urged Malawians to be engaged in running small scale businesses and not to leave to Â the foreigners like Asians of origin such as Indians, Chinese and Pakistanis.
Speaking in an interview Makhwira said he started the shop after seeing that most Malawians shun doing business and left to foreign investors who cannot develop this country economically.
âMalawians should not afraid doing small and Medium Enterprises so that the country should developed like other countries,â he said.
World Auto Parts shop which was started in February 27, 2007 sells Motor Vehicle spares parts, Motor vehicle Tyres, Excide Batteries, Lubricants, Â Car Engines at affordable prices so that customers can afford to buy.
Before selling spare Parts he was buying and selling second hand Car from Dubai but after seeing that they was no much profits he ventured into spare parts business.
He said another reason why he started selling spare parts was that he has no permanent place for the business as Blantyre City Council (BCC) Â were shifting them from one place to another
âI had also some challenges in selling cars like high taxes from MRA, inflation, Fuel scarcity Â just to mention but a few.
Commenting on Coronavirus Makhwira said it has heavily affected the business sector in the country as customers are feared to travel from villages to town to buy spare parts fearing to be affected by the pandemic.
The company is located along Chipembere High Way in Ibrahim House opposite H. Amosi Building in Limbe.
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AT&T Extends BOGO Offer to Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
Mar 8, 2016, 3:54 PM by Eric M. Zeman
AT&T today said the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which reach stores March 11, will be eligible for a buy one, get one promotion the carrier has been running since last month. Both phones must be purchased via an AT&T Next installment plan. The first phone can be a new line or an upgrade, but the second phone must be a new line purchased with an AT&T Next 24 plan (req's 30 payments). Both phones must be added to a qualified plan, such as Mobile Share Value, which starts at $70 for two lines. Customers will need to pay sales tax on the two phones at the time of purchase and may need to make several monthly payments on both before AT&T credits up to $650 for the second phone spread out over the 30 month AT&T Next 24 plan. Subscribers who leave AT&T before they've made the 30 payments will need to pay for the remaining balance of the phone. AT&T didn't say how long the BOGO offer will be available.
Apr 19, 2016
Samsung and The Weather Channel have created an exclusive weather app only for owners of Galaxy-branded smartphones. The Weather Channel App for Samsung offers features the regular Weather Channel app does not include.
Nov 14, 2016
Samsung today announced the pending launch of Samsung Rewards, a loyalty program for its Samsung Pay mobile payment service. Moving forward, people who sign up for Samsung Rewards will be able to earn points with Samsung when they use Samsung Pay to pay for goods and services.
May 18, 2016
Samsung today updated its Samsung Pay service in the U.S. to include merchant membership and loyalty cards.
May 27, 2016
Samsung has revealed the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Injustice Edition, inspired by Batman and the game of the same name. Samsung says the Galaxy S7 Edge Injustice Edition package includes a customized Galaxy S7 edge with black styling, gold detailing, and the Batman logo stenciled onto the back.
Jun 30, 2016
Samsung today said U.S. consumers can buy unlocked variants of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.
5.1" display QHD+ resolution
Snapdragon 820 processor 4 GB RAM
3,000 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Headphone Jack (3.5mm), NFC, Wireless Charging, Fingerprint Reader, Water-Resistant
So many rules


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Axle Box Innovations, a public safety technology developer has recently leveraged Essentium’s AM technology for the development of drones. Designed for fire management and protection, the drones need to withstand wildfires hence the use of powerful materials for their manufacturing.
According to the company, most commercial off-the-shelf drones cannot be deployed into wildfires. With AM, the team has been able three of the most important bottlenecks in their manufacturing: strength, speed and costs.
Axle Box is producing the drone’s mid-body using Essentium’s HTN-CF25, high-temperature nylon with a 25% carbon fiber reinforced core. Compared to PA 603-CF, it has the highest heat deflection temperatures but also tensile and flexural strength. Axle Box is also using Essentium PA-CF to produce side covers designed to fail before the mid-body without sacrificing thermal stability. The drone platform exceeded expectations for high-speed impact and overall functionality during demo flight tests.
At the heart of the manufacturing lies the use of heat resistant materials to speed the development of lightweight and robust drone bodies. The drones can survive the extreme heat profile of wildfires to support the efforts of emergency response teams. The flexibility of the Essentium HSE 3D Printer allows Axle Box engineers to design with complete freedom and speed the development process. New parts are designed in a CAD program, printed, and deployed within hours.
“The speed, scale, and economics of the HSE 3D Printer combined with Essentium’s array of advanced 3D printing filaments are changing the game for the design and development of drone platforms. The HSE has transformed our manufacturing floor, and we typically go from design to production in under four weeks. If we need a new part, we can have one printed and up in the air in a couple of hours. Our first responder customers will benefit greatly from this innovation agility“, Madison Jones, director of additive manufacturing, Axle-Box states.
“As first responders gear up for fire season, firefighters need nimble remote-controlled drones to achieve visual oversight of wildfires in virtually every type of environment – from urban areas to rural deserts. We are excited Axle Box Innovations has chosen our 3D printing platform to enable the development of structurally rugged drones that can withstand these extremely harsh conditions“, Blake Teipel, Ph.D., CEO of Essentium notes.
Remember, you can post job opportunities in the AM Industry on 3D ADEPT Media free of charge or look for a job via our job board. Make sure to follow us on our social networks and subscribe to our weekly newsletter : Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram ! If you want to be featured in the next issue of our digital magazine or if you hear a story that needs to be heard, make sure you send it to firstname.lastname@example.org


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Coronavirus has taken many things from us as we attempt to flatten the global curve. Add The Last of Us Part 2 to that list.
Sony has officially announced The Last of Us Part 2 will be delayed indefinitely due to coronavirus.
Let's go over what we know so far.
Coronavirus strikes again
This isn't the first game to be pushed back by coronavirus, and it certainly won't be the last.
The Last of Us was a huge critically acclaimed success for Sony, and while fans have been anxiously awaiting more, that wait's about to be a lot longer.
What's to come for The Last of Us 2?
The Last of Us was a huge critically acclaimed success for Sony.
Even Ellie can't hide from coronavirus
It's gripping story and haunting atmosphere alongside two fantastically written main characters brought gamers to the edge of their seats.
And while fans have been anxiously awaiting more, that wait's about to be a lot longer.
READ MORE: Will Madden 21 be delayed by coronavirus?
Now among the many delayed and cancelled video game projects in 2020, we don't expect The Last of Us 2 to be the first out of the gate per Sony's comments.
This is because Sony cited coronavirus' effect on the launch experience as the biggest reason for the delay. And we don't expect the video game launch experience to be anywhere close to intact for a long time.
Next gen possibilities
While we will all be sad about this delay for awhile, it could mean better things for the title in the future.
Next gen consoles could be the real hope for gamers losing so much in 2020
We expect plenty of time before Sony will be able to release The Last of Us Part II in the fashion they want to. This time could be used to bring the title to being a release game with the next generation consoles.
It's hard not to get excited at the prospect of The Last of Us' graphics on a PS5. The already amazing visuals the series have given us could be made breathtaking with the amazing specs Sony has put out.
Sony could also use another haymaker to put up numbers on PS5 release day and beat out Microsoft's own exclusive offerings.
Sony's coronavirus gameplan
Sony has pushed back nearly the entirety of its catalog across games and film over the last few days, meaning The Last of Us 2 is far from the only bad news.
Sony has many decisions to make around coronavirus
Other major developers should take note, and will likely follow suit delaying most of 2020's expected releases.
READ MORE: Will FIFA 21 be delayed by coronavirus?
This means you should expect very little new in the calendar year. With that, feel free to join the thousands that will be channeling their grief into yet another Last of Us playthrough.


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Disneyland’s famous and exclusive Club 33 is paring back privileges heretofore available to Platinum level members, reports the Orange County Register:
Platinum members – who pay a $25,000 initiation fee and $11,000-plus in annual dues for the restaurant in New Orleans Square and other benefits – have been informed that only charter members and their spouses or domestic partners can get equivalent privileges.
Previously, a Platinum member could give three additional people the benefits of their membership that included valet parking at any of the Disneyland Resort hotels, a premier annual passport for Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Walt Disney World, Fastpasses, and entrance into the Club 33 restaurant and Club 1901 in California Adventure.
Now, only Platinum members and their spouse or partner can receive most of the benefits, although Platinum members will receive four premier annual passports. Under the new guidelines, only a Platinum member and the spouse or partner can make reservations to Club 33.
You can read the entire article here.


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Large scale exports and deepening the ecosystem vital to higher Domestic Value Addition in Electronics Sector: ICRIER report
Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship launched a report titled ‘Globalise to Localise: Exporting at Scale and Deepening the Ecosystem are Vital to Higher Domestic Value Addition’ here. The report prepared by India Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), in collaboration with India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) explores how India can achieve an electronics production target of US$300 billion and exports of US$120 by 2025-26.
Addressing the event, Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “The Government is laser-focused on achieving the target of 300 billion USD electronic production by 2026. And for this, we have always emphasised on strengthening our domestic manufacturing ecosystem to make India more resilient to supply chain disruptions. Our aim is to emerge as a reliable and trusted partner in Global value chains.”
Launching the report, he said that it is very timely and will help the Government identify the challenges that are to be met and the strategies that are to be adopted to achieve this target.
The Minister said that India has succeeded in systematically building a framework and a strategy that has clearly outlined our goals of a 300 bn electronics manufacturing ecosystem with 120 bn dollars of exports by 2026.
Talking about the journey of the Electronics sector in India in the last some years, the Minister said that
electronics in India have travelled a long way since 2014. We were, in 2014, a country that was increasingly dependent not just on petroleum imports but also on Electronics imports. Systematically Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi over the years has built back an electronics sector. Today we are, as a consequence of policies of the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, a 76 bn dollar manufacturing economy with 16 bn dollars of exports, with a target of 21 to 25 bn dollars of exports in the next year. But most importantly by 2026, we have clearly laid out the goal of 300 bn dollar manufacturing with a 120 bn dollar of exports. That strategy talks about broadening and deepening the electronics ecosystem.
This report by ICRIA, the Minister said, is a very important and interesting element that describes what our strategy will be for the next few years.
Highlighting the shift in global value chains in recent years, Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that post-COVID the value chains of electronics are undergoing deep tectonic irreversible changes. It presents to India, the current momentum and opportunity which is explained by the 120 bn dollars export target that India has for 2026.
Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar further added that this report postulates that we must export aggressively to reach the scale in electronics manufacturing. In addition to domestic production, supplies and domestic consumption, exports are important ways to get the scales of the other economies that are competing with us. Exports will create a network effect of creating the supply chain interests, and supply chain investments that in turn will increase the value added in the Indian electronics segment.
The report, Globalise to Localise, launched today, examines the empirical relationship between exports and the share of domestic value addition in successful exporting nations. It finds that the two variables are negatively correlated in the short-run, but exhibit positive correlation in the medium-term.
“Our study finds that China and Vietnam have adopted the mantra of ‘first globalise, then localize’, which means in the initial years they were determined to achieve global scale in exports, and then shifted their emphasis to greater use of local contents,” said Dr Deepak Mishra, Director and CE of ICRIER and the lead author of the report.
The report, therefore, recommends a sequential approach that can put India’s exports in the same trajectory as China and Vietnam. The immediate goal should be to export at scale to global markets (globalise), and the subsequent objective should be to increase the share of local content (localise). The report suggests several steps and policies needed for deepening the broader electronics ecosystem within India. Additionally, policies such as Gati Shakti will also help increase India’s competitiveness.
Echoing the findings of the report, Mr Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of ICEA said “We have resurrected this industry after the near total collapse in 2014. As a first step, we used PMP to build a USD 36 bn mobile industry. We are now pushing for global exports via PLI and a total production of USD 300 bn. With exports as our key focus, we are working on policies that will increase domestic value addition over the next few years. The world is looking to us for delivering on our potential!”
According to ICEA, early results of the PLI Scheme are beginning to show. India’s electronics exports crossed USD 16 bn in FY 2021-22. Electronics as a sector has jumped to the 6th largest export from India this year. Mobile phones constitute the single largest component of electronics exports from India. They are expected to contribute nearly 50 per cent of the total electronics exports by next year.
The report points to an urgent need for India to create a competitive domestic ecosystem of ancillary suppliers through technology upgradation programmes, holding sourcing fairs and introducing supporting industry development programmes.
ICRIER is an autonomous economic policy think tank, in operation since 1981. ICRIER’s goal is to help Indian policymakers make informed decisions, facilitated through its rigorous analytical research, objective policy advice and extensive networking events. For more information, see https://icrier.org/
ICEA is the apex industry body for the mobile and electronics industry comprising manufacturers, brand owners, technology providers, VAS application & solution providers, distributors, and retail chains of mobile handsets and electronics. ICEA is committed to carrying forward its vision of building Indian manufacturing and design in verticals other than mobile handsets while consolidating the gains made in the mobile handset and components industry. ICEA is entirely devoted to improving the competitiveness and growth of the industry by closely working with the Government’s ministries to create a robust, legal, and ethical electronics industry, thereby creating an innovative market environment in the country.
Disclaimer : This is an official press release by PIB.


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Via its Android Wear Help Forum, Google has announced an
Sprint announced on Friday that the LG G4 will be
When my parents were young, they’d collect photographs in shoeboxes,
No matter how dazzling is the display of your new
I have had the great pleasure of having the Kinivo
had a chance to spend some time with the LuguLake
Look for the successor to last fall’s Vibrant to drop on February 23rd carrying a limited-time price of $149.99 with contract.


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Netplus astro launch
Ludhiana, 10th November 2017: Netplus Broadband, leader in fixed line broadband business, have announced addition of "Astrology" in their value added services portfolio.
Speaking on the occassion at a press conference The company CEO Mr. Prem Ojha said that Astrobot is the world's first Artificial intelligence speaking astrologer, which can communicate in Hindi & English language. The services will be beneficial for our customers for better life health and prosperity.
- Daily Prediction
- Online Fraud Protection –Safe Banking
On the occasion of launch Mr. Prem Ojha, said that, Astrobot is the virtual talking Astrologer. it gives you a new way to receive your personal horoscope predictions and can explain the astrological concepts and significance of each step while chatting
The service is priced @RS 25/Month.
Netplus Broadband has become the first choice of citizens in the region $ offers 10 times higher speeds, 4 times more data at the half price.


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LV= launches £4m TV ad campaign
LV= is launching a £4m TV advertising campaign to back its research that claims more than 1,000 new customers join the business every day.
The car insurance brand said the activity is its biggest campaign to date. It breaks this week and runs until mid-September across national TV.
The ad, created by Designate, refers to the success of the brand and the number of customers it has gained, with a voiceover that says: "Over 1,000 new customers a day are joining LV= for car insurance".
The ad is the last in a series of four to support the relaunch of the brand, including a new logo that encompasses the green heart brand icon. Media buying was undertaken by Carat.
Guy Hedger, marketing director, LV=, said: "The key to the advertising success rests on featuring competitive prices in very well-branded ads with a consistent look and feel and very high production values.
"References to the green heart brand icon are scattered throughout the ad, the music is the same as the original campaigns, and the main character and lime-green car also remain the same.
"While the ads have a very stylish feel, they are also very direct in promoting the product and price. This new campaign is part of a 'hybrid' strategy to build the brand, while simultaneously driving short-term sales."
This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk
- Deputy Creative Director - Integrated/shopper agency The Industry Club London Ltd £75,000, London (Greater)
- SEO & PPC Manager Fashion & Retail Personnel Consultancy £30000 - £35000 per annum, London (Central), London (Greater)
- CRM Manager Dot-Gap £40k, London (Central), London (Greater)
- MARKETING MANAGER - Fashion Success Digital negotiable, London (Central), London (Greater)
- Digital Planning Account Director Aspire £50000.00 - £70000.00 per annum, London (Central), London (Greater)
- Bloomberg appoints Matt Teeman as commercial director EMEA
- Virgin Holidays launches digital Caribbean push
- Samsung celebrates Prince George's birthday
- Captain Morgan Facebook ad banned for suggesting alcohol conquers boredom
- BBC to end exclusive Red Bee Media production deal
- Happy birthday Mr Ad Server: the future of RTB


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While the iPhone 15 Pro series has garnered positive reviews for its impressive features, a growing number of early adopters are facing a common complaint: their devices are overheating. Reports of excessive heat generation have surfaced since the launch of these new iPhones on September 22. Despite the introduction of a titanium casing and a more powerful A17 Pro chip in the Pro models, they are exhibiting an unusual tendency to become uncomfortably warm to the touch.
On an official Apple support forum, one user expressed, “I just got the iPhone 15 Pro today and it’s so hot I can’t even hold it for very long.” This sentiment was echoed by another user who stated, “I got the iPhone 15 Pro as well, and it’s overheating when I’m on a phone call for like 8-10 minutes.”
Social media platforms are also abuzz with iPhone 15 Pro owners resorting to temperature scanners to gauge the extent of the heat issue. Videos shared on these platforms depict the devices reaching temperatures ranging from 102 to as high as 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
Engineer Mohit Verma weighed in on Twitter, mentioning, “The natural titanium iPhone 15 Pro gets extremely hot, so much so that it becomes difficult to hold. Furthermore, it heats up after just a 2-minute FaceTime call or when scrolling through reels for 8-10 minutes.”
Despite users’ attempts to isolate the problem by closing apps and background services, the iPhones continue to run warm. One Reddit user expressed frustration, “Photos and videos make it super hot, charging makes it super hot, using it for YouTube and social media is also warm, like why is this so inefficiently heat-managed, Apple?”
As of now, Apple has not issued an official response regarding the overheating complaints. However, the growing number of reports and media attention may soon compel the tech giant to address the issue. Users are eagerly awaiting a solution to ensure their new iPhone 15 Pro models function optimally without uncomfortable overheating.


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Thu July 11, 2013
Illinois AG will seek damages from Apple
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says the state will seek to recover damages from Apple Incorporated after a federal judge found the company violated antitrust laws. A U.S. District Court judge in New York ruled Wednesday that Apple conspired with book publishers to raise electronic book prices significantly in spring 2010. Madigan says Apple and the publishers forced book buyers to pay millions more for e-books than they would have otherwise. She says Illinois will be one of 33 states and territories trying to recover damages in a second trial.
This trial will determine how much Apple should pay for its role in overcharging customers. Apple says it did nothing wrong and will appeal the ruling.


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TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2019 — ThinkOn is proud to announce that the Canadian Business and Maclean’s ranked the company no. 19 in Canada and no. 8 in the GTA region on the annual Growth 500, the definitive ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Produced by Canada’s premier business and current affairs media brands, the Growth 500 ranks Canadian businesses on five-year revenue growth. Growth 500 winners are profiled in a special print issue of Canadian Business published with Maclean’s magazine and online at CanadianBusiness.com and Growth500.ca.
ThinkOn made it to the 2019 Growth 500 list with five-year revenue growth of 3709%.“The companies on the 2019 Growth 500 are truly remarkable. Demonstrating foresight, innovation and smart management, their stories serve as a primer for how to build a successful entrepreneurial business today,” says Beth Fraser, Growth 500 program manager. “As we celebrate over 30 years of the Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies program, it’s encouraging to see that entrepreneurship is healthier than ever in this country.”ThinkOn is honoured to be recognized in the Growth 500 list,” says CEO Craig McLellan. “The talented team behind ThinkOn deserves every round of applause for making data thrive – a motto that motivates our actions everyday. As cloud-based services continue to disrupt traditional business systems, ThinkOn has striven to develop a comprehensive portfolio of secure and compliant suite of cloud services. That are both innovative and practical.”
Visit our website: www.thinkon.com
About the Growth 500
For over 30 years, the Growth 500 has been Canada’s most respectable and influential ranking of entrepreneurial achievement. Ranking Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies by five-year revenue growth, the Growth 500 profiles the country’s most successful growing businesses. The Growth 500 is produced by Canadian Business. Winners are profiled in a special Growth 500 print issue of Canadian Business (packaged with the October issue of Maclean’s magazine) and online at Growth500.ca and CanadianBusiness.com. For more information on the ranking, visit Growth500.ca.
About Canadian Business
Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-serving and most-trusted business publication in the country. It is the country’s premier media brand for executives and senior business leaders. It fuels the success of Canada’s business elite with a focus on the things that matter most: leadership, innovation, business strategy and management tactics. Learn more at CanadianBusiness.com.
ThinkOn is a wholesale provider of cloud infrastructure services with over 140 partners and over 1,100 end subscribers. The company supports its channel with over 14 data centres in Canada and the U.S. to deliver un-paralleled data management and information asset protection solutions to companies in North America.


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- U.S. stocks were poised for a higher open Wednesday, as the European sentiment weathervane pointed positive.
The Dow Jones industrial average (), S&P 500 ( ) and Nasdaq ( ) futures rose. Stock futures indicate the possible direction of the markets when they open at 9:30 a.m. ET.
"There's a lot of attention with the hope that something will come out of Europe that will provide some sort of solution," Bruce McCain, who is chief investment strategist with Key Private Bank, said. "It's probably wishful thinking at best to think there will be a major resolution at some single meeting."
The Dow's gains accelerated after the Financial Times said European officials are working on a last-minute proposal to combine the resources of an existing bailout fund, with one that is planned for next year to create the financial "bazooka" that investors have been seeking.
According to the FT, officials are considering allowing the €440 billion European Financial Stability Facility to continue running alongside the €500 billion European Stability Mechanism, that goes into effect next year. In addition, the funds could be further supplemented by contributions from eurozone nations to the IMF, the report said.
The report boosted hopes that European Union leaders will announce both short-term and long-term solutions to the eurozone debt crisis at a summit later this week.
Meanwhile, the European Central Bank is widely expected to cut interest rates at its policy meeting on Thursday.
World markets: European stocks were higher in midday trading. Britain's FTSE 100 ( ) ticked up 0.7%, the DAX ( ) in Germany gained 0.9% and France's CAC 40 ( ) rose 1.2%.
Asian markets ended higher. The Shanghai Composite () edged up 0.3%, the Hang Seng ( ) in Hong Kong added 1.6% and Japan's Nikkei ( ) jumped 1.7%.
Economy: The Federal Reserve will release data on consumer credit for the month of October on Wednesday. Analysts surveyed by Briefing.com expect October's consumer credit figure to stand at $7 billion, down from $7.4 billion in September.
Ahead of the opening bell, shares of retailer Talbots () skyrocketed 83% after it said it had received a bid from buyout firm Sycamore Partners.
Early Wednesday, retailer JC Penny (Fortune 500) announced it would buy a stake in Martha Stewart's franchise, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia ( ). The retail giant said it would invest $38.5 million.,
Shares of Monsanto (Fortune 500) rose nearly 2% after the agriculture company raised its first quarter earnings-per-share guidance.,
Vail Resorts () will report its quarterly results before the opening bell on Wednesday. Analysts surveyed by Briefing.com expect the firm to report a loss of $1.54 per share, after it lost $1.20 per share a year earlier.
Apparel company Pacific Sunwear () will report results after the closing bell, and is expected to post a loss of 14 cents a share after losing 7 cents per share in the prior year.
Oil for January delivery fell 24 cents to $101.04 a barrel.
Gold futures for February delivery fell $2.40 to $1,732.40 an ounce.
Bonds: The price on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury held steady, with the yield little changed at 2.09% late Tuesday.
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|Overnight Avg Rate||Latest||Change||Last Week|
|30 yr fixed||3.89%||3.85%|
|15 yr fixed||3.10%||3.05%|
|30 yr refi||3.87%||3.85%|
|15 yr refi||3.08%||3.07%|
Today's featured rates:


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What Fashion District and Center City will look like when the 76ers take up residence in downtown Philly.
Macerich’s bold move to economically resuscitate Center City Philadelphia now has a new game plan.
When the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers lease ends with the Wells Fargo Center in 2030, it will be moving downtown to a new arena that will take over a third of Macerich’s Fashion District mall and attempt to up the pace on Market Street.
“We're committed to building a world-class home in the heart of the city and creating a privately funded arena that strengthens ties within the local community through investments that prioritize equity, inclusivity, and accessibility," said 76ers managing partner Josh Harris.
Leading the effort will be real estate wunderkind David Adelman who, at age 13, invested $2000 of his Bar Mitzvah money into Campus Apartments, where he is now CEO. One of the company’s first big developments took shape at the University of Pennsylvania, where living standards have improved and crime rates have dropped steadily in the University City neighborhood since its completion.
Adelman said that with 10 years to get the estimated $1.3 billion project done, he envisions the outcome to be a new and revitalized Center City.
“The mall hasn’t lived up to its full potential,” Adelman told Forbes. "We will open up the ground floor and invite people in for a place to congregate. My view is the best anecdote for safety and security is feet on the street. We think this does that."
Adelman is taking the project on in partnership with Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment. They will work with Macerich in working out a new retail and food and beverage plan in concert with Fashion District.
"The chosen location is a key step in the process of developing a destination that provides Center City and surrounding communities with an economic engine generating activity through 76ers and youth games, concerts, events and more," said Adelman.


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The Tacoma Dome this week is a food lovers paradise and a dieters nightmare.
Credit or blame – depending on your point of view – the Washington Restaurant Association, which celebrates its 75th anniversary with the annual Northwest Foodservice Show in Tacoma this year. This years show started on Sunday and continues through tonight.
The event, closed to the public and held in Tacoma and Portland during alternating years, is expected to draw over 12,000 exhibitors and guests, who visit displays, attend industry-related seminars and watch cooking demonstrations.
Attendees also get a chance to do some networking, learn about the latest trends in the restaurant industry, as well as check out and perhaps purchase equipment and supplies.
Eating, of course, is one of the more popular activities, with people wandering around nibbling on food and drink samples that included all sorts of tasty treats, from meats and cheeses to seafood to dessert items to adult beverages.
Were a hot item. People like us a lot, said Shirley Easton, regional sales manager with Sephra Chocolate Fountains out of Vancouver, Wash.
And she was right, as a steady stream of people stopped by for a chance to dip the provided marshmallows, pretzels and fruit into the flowing molten Belgian chocolate.
Weve had a great show and a lot of fun, Easton said.
Passersby were having fun, too, as young and old alike couldnt resist the lure of a chocolate fountain.
Oooh, youre so evil, one woman joked after dipping a piece of fruit into the cascading chocolate and eating it. Thank you!
Fellow Sephra Chocolate Fountains salesperson Jennifer Hunt said this was her first trip to Tacoma and that business had been good.
Even fake food was hot at the Northwest Foodservice Show. Francisco Dorigo, president of Fax Foods, manufacturers of food replicas, was on hand with several of his companys realistic products, which he said are the subject of quite a bit of curiosity.
People all the time ask, Is that real? said Dorigo, who has been in the food replica business for 17 years and is based out of Vista, Calif.
He supplies restaurants, catering companies and the like with display products that always look good and never spoil.
Sometimes they look too good to some people. Its not uncommon, he said, for people to mistakenly try to eat his look-alike food products, which are made of plastic.
Oh yeah, you better believe it, he said, letting out a hearty chuckle.
The more serious business of staying in business was on the mind of Gene Vosberg, president and CEO of the Washington Restaurant Association.
He said a 2003 study by the National Restaurant Association showed that the median profit margin in Washington state is 1.8 percent, while the regional average is 3.5 percent and the national average is 5.5 percent.
The restaurant industry is a high cost, low margin business, Vosberg said, noting a lot of people who attempt to get into the restaurant business are not successful.
Government is a big influence, he said, pointing out that workers compensation and unemployment insurance costs are rising.
Getting business-friendly politicians into office is a high priority. Thats the problem, he said. Thats the challenge.
On a more positive note, Vosberg was excited about the restaurant industrys trend toward healthier eating.
Were not saying dont supersize your fries, he said. Just dont eat them every day.
He continued: Our industry is very responsive. Youll see more healthy options on menus. Im really pumped about that.


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A recent survey shows that an overwhelming percentage of those asked said that they will pay more now if it means supporting their favorite small businesses. Overall, near 83% of those surveyed said that they'd opt to support small businesses before a large national corporation and what's more they'd pay more for the products to do so.
Also as a result of this study, it was found that over fifty percent of people say that the reason they prefer to shop locally is that nine times out of ten the product is just better quality. Another thirty percent said that it is also much easier to shop small and local as everything is far more accessible this way. The definition of local according to those polled was any business within city limits. Although sixteen percent did suggest that local could also mean within the state. And fifty-four percent of respondents claimed that they shopped locally at least once per month.
One of the biggest takeaways from this particular poll was that community loyalty is stronger than ever. In the wake of the pandemic, people want to see their local small businesses make it; they want to see them come out of this strong. Consumers are not only pointing to the quality of goods and services but many also spoke about the local businesses' involvement in the community itself.
What this also shows is that businesses need to do more to reach those clients willing to patronize them and who are subsequently willing to pay more. Small businesses especially have to enhance their digital efforts across the board. And in doing so, the companies have to be on top of customer feedback and reviews. While small businesses do seem to have better stats here (small businesses respond to online feedback 25% of the time versus 10% with larger companies/), they can't afford to get lax—especially during this challenging period.
Experts also cite the need for businesses to strengthen connections with their customers. By knowing the customer, understanding their buying habits, it stands to reason, you have a much better chance of making that sale.
Times are tough, this goes without saying, and how a small business reacts is going to mean the difference between success and failure in the months ahead. That is to say, are they going to forge ahead as far as digital and technological innovation? Are they going to stay on top of their web presence and do even more by way of reaching people in this manner? Will they tweak their business model if need be to meet the demands we face today? Being flexible and being able to pivot is going to be crucial for a company's survival.
Are you in need of additional cash to make changes to your small business given the current situation? First Union Lending can help. We want to see all of our clients make it through this. Call today!


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3 Jun 2022
Organisers of the 16th Lagos Motor Fair and Auto Parts Exco Africa have called on the Federal Government to urgently come out with the promised reviewed National Automotive Industry Development Plan
4 Jul 2020
Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas continued their total dominance with another one-two to top the times in Saturday's third and final free practice at the belated season-opening Austrian Grand Prix. It was the third consecutive session in which the newly-repainted 'black arrows' had topped the times together and came after Red Bull's…
28 Jun 2019
Last year, Weststar Associates Limited unveiled two new powerhouses in the commercial vehicle segment; the all new Actros and Arocs. The latter has since been touted as the new force in construction, one that promises to take on every challenge in the construction business with tailor-made solutions for every vehicle body. We will be looking…
16 Apr 2019
German auto giant Mercedes-Benz apologised Tuesday over the ordeal of a Chinese car buyer who alleged mistreatment by an authorised dealership in a viral video that triggered consumer outrage.
14 Feb 2018
It feels like yesterday since we got the Mercedes Benz C-Class but car is already due for a midcycle update. Although the updates are not major, they focus elements that should get most car lovers excited. Both the front and rear bumpers have been redesigned. The front houses a dash of chrome, but like old…
17 Mar 2017
Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday, revealed the world’s most expensive sport utility vehicle (SUV), Maybach G-Class 650, boasting a retractable roof, thermal cup holders and a built in picnic table.
4 Sep 2016
The 31-year-old German took the lead at the start, when pole-sitter Hamilton became bogged down, and pulled away to control the race and finish 15 seconds clear of the defending three-time champion.
5 Aug 2016
BMW AG has pledged to remain the world’s leading luxury-vehicle maker after being usurped by Mercedes-Benz in the first half.
3 Jul 2016
Lewis Hamilton emerged from a last-lap battering by his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg and misguided post-race boos from disgruntled fans with a dramatic victory in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.


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Yangaroo DMDS 5.0 Released
Apr 24, 2009 12:22 PM
Toronto - Apr 22, 2009 - Yangaroo has launched a new version of its digital media distribution system, DMDS 5.0. A new feature of the system is support for the delivery of broadcast-quality video. DMDS 5.0 was designed in a modular, data-driven fashion utilizing a services oriented architecture (SOA) approach.
The DMDS 5.0 platform was utilized to power the recently completed Canadian Juno Awards as the first step in this rollout, and has been in beta testing with a number of major record label customers in both the US and Canada for a number of weeks. It is also in beta test with major advertising customers for the delivery of audio and video content.
A list of all the features added are noted at www.dmds.com/launch .
Musicmaster users will now be able to import music and the associated metadata from DMDS directly into their scheduling systems....


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ART WORLD NEWS
Christie’s to Offer Modigliani’s ‘Tête’ Sculpture With Estimate of $30 M. to $40 M. in New York in May -ARTnews
At its evening sale of Impressionist and modern art on May 13 in New York, Christie’s will offer a limestone sculpture by Amedeo Modigliani, Tête (circa 1911–12), with estimate if $30 million to $40 million.
Tête, which is hitting the auction block for the first time, is one of 26 carved-stone sculptures by the Italian artist. Another, also named Tête (1911–12), set the artist’s auction record for sculpture at Sotheby’s New York in November of 2014, when it sold for $70.7 million.
Modigliani’s overall auction record stands at $170.4 million, which was set for his painting Nu couché (1917–18), which sold at Christie’s in 2015. (The Chinese collector Liu Yiqian Liu was reportedly the winner of the work, and famously paid by American Express.)
Giovanna Bertazzoni, Christie’s co-chairman of Impressionist and modern art department, said in a statement to press that the sculpture “is a magical and alluring work by one of the most significant artists of the 20th century.”
Modigliani made all 26 of his known stone sculptures in the Montparnasse neighborhood of Paris between the years of 1911 and 1914—he abruptly abandoned the medium around the start of World War I.


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There may not yet be flying cars, but the future of “The Jetsons” is closer than one might think.
LG Electronics is using the iconic futuristic television family to show off how advanced its smart technology currently is, and how advanced it will become in the near future.
“We want consumers to be able to see how LG Electronics is leading the future with advanced appliances that make ‘life good,’” Taryn Brucia, director of public relations for LG USA, Marketing Daily. “Both innovative and sleek, LG appliances have a continuously growing set of smart features that can be accessed via the LG SmartThinq app — and even now through voice command with Google Home on some models.”
The video depicts mom Jane getting a technological “Future Eye” for her birthday. She uses the device to view how her family turns out in the future. Daughter Judy is married with a baby, using an advanced washing machine that completes every stage of washing on its own. George benefits from cleaner air while walking Astro on the outdoor treadmill, and teenage boy Elroy checks out the refrigerator without opening the door, combining ingredients to make a fresh cream cake. Even Rosie the Robot is given a break, thanks to LG’s ThinkQ technology.
“The Jetsons are TV's iconic family of the future and are widely known across generations for living in the ‘home of the future,’” Brucia says. “We partnered with Warner Brothers and ‘The Jetsons’ to bring back nostalgia in a forward facing way, showing how far we've actually come in creating a Smart Home of the Future that was beyond even the wildest imaginations of those who envisioned it not too long ago.”
The video will reside on the brand’s YouTube page and will be pushed out through the brand’s social media channels.


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This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Store openings contributed to a 14% rise in sales to $8.2 bil. for the fourth quarter (ended Aug. 31), while net earnings were up 11.9% to $277.1 mil., according to Walgreen. The firm opened 209 stores in the fourth quarter alone to total 4,227 locations. Store expansion in 2004 will be targeted to California, the Carolinas, Florida, Texas and Washington, and the retailer notes it is on track to reach 7,000 stores by 2010. Comparable store sales in Q4 were up 9.9%. Full year revenue was up 13.3% to $32.5 bil., with comparable store sales up 8.6%. Net earnings rose 15.4% to $1.18 bil. Walgreen notes it is budgeting more than $1 bil. in capital investments for the new fiscal year...
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Individuals who have been affected by debt collectors using unfair collection practices in the state of New Jersey may soon see these acts come to a halt, thanks to a bill that advanced earlier this month. The bill, known as the Consumer Credit Fairness Act, is expected to bolster consumer protection against manipulative debt buyers that use abusive tactics to force people to repay their credit card debt and other lines of credit.
What is the Consumer Credit Fairness Act?
The Consumer Credit Fairness Act is a bill introduced on March 15, 2012 in the New Jersey Senate. Sponsored by Assembly members John Burzichelli and Celeste Riley, it was created to eliminate abusive tactics used by debt collection buyers.
According to the bill summary, a debt buyer is “a person that is engaged in the business of purchasing delinquent or charged-off consumer loans or consumer credit accounts or other delinquent consumer debt for collection purposes, whether it collects the debt itself, hires a third party for collection, or engages an attorney for litigation in order to collect the debt.”
The sponsors of the bill allege that these debt buyers are not simply attempting to collect a credit card debt, for example, but are instead seeking to gain a profit by issuing threats.
“Scheming debt collection agencies that purchase outstanding consumer debt are finagling their way into the pockets of consumers by way of intimidation,” Burzichelli said in a press release.
The goal of the bill is to stop debt buyers from collecting debts through the use of unfair, false, misleading or deceptive practices.
How Will the Bill Change Debt Collection Practices?
Some specifics of the Consumer Credit Fairness Act have been laid out that explain how it would change debt collection practices in the state, if passed. Under the bill, no debt buyer will be able to:
- File a suit or initiate arbitration to collect a debt without first providing a debtor with at least 30 days’ written notice of intent to file a legal action.
- Bring suit or initiate arbitration against the debt — or attempt to collect a debt — when the collection is barred by the applicable statute of limitations.
- Communicate with the debtor if the debt buyer has been notified by an attorney that the debtor is being represented by that attorney.
- Collect all or part of the debt buyer’s fee for services rendered from the debtor unless legally entitled to the fee or charge.
As noted by Riley in the press release, the bill will require accountability for the “shady practices” exhibited by manipulative debt collection buyers. The legislation has most recently been sent to the Assembly Speaker for further consideration.


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Richmond's proposed soda tax falls flat
CHRONICLE RECOMMENDS / No Soda Tax
Richmond could become the nation's first city to impose a tax, of a penny per ounce, on businesses that sell soda and other "sugar-sweetened beverages" within the city's limits.
Proponents say that the revenue generated from the tax - they're anticipating about $3 million annually - could be spent on antiobesity and recreation programs.
The soda industry is taking the battle very seriously: It has poured millions of dollars into the campaign to defeat it.
The industry believes that it's being unfairly targeted as a scapegoat in America's growing obesity problem, which is partially true - sodas certainly don't help anyone maintain a healthy diet, nor are they the only reason for our country's expanding waistlines. Sedentary lifestyles and other bad eating habits are to blame as well. It's neither fair nor wise to specifically target sodas for a special tax.
Measure N is also far too broad - "sugar-sweetened beverages" is a category that could encompass everything from sodas to infant formula.
Though Measure N proponents insist that they'll create new language to specifically exempt infant formula and the nutritional supplement drinks that are marketed to seniors, that language isn't in the measure that's before the voters. Promising voters you'll fix a law as soon as they agree to pass it does not suggest a well-crafted measure. It also requires a certain leap of faith.
Richmond voters should reject Measure N.


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3/18/2014 5:01:20 PM
LG unveils wearable G Watch
LG has teamed up with Google to create its new G Watch powered by the Android Wear platform for wearables.
The smartwatch will be compatible with a range of Android devices and should be introduced to the market in Q2 2014, although a UK release date is yet to be forthcoming. Users of the G Watch will be able to download applications straight to the device, and will benefit for its ‘Ok Google’ function that uses voice recognition to answer queries.
This is LG’s fourth device developed closely with Google after the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, LG G Pad8 8.3 Google Play Edition.
President and CEO of LG Electronics, Dr Jong-seok Park, said: ‘The opportunity to work with Google on LG G Watch was the perfect chance for LG to really pull out all stops in both design and engineering. With the LG G Watch, LG is continuing the milestones we’ve set in wearables following in the footsteps of the world’s first 3G Touch Watch Phone in 2009 and the Prada Link in 2008. We’re confident that a well-designed device has the potential to take the smart wearable market by storm.’


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WATCHDOGS have blocked a #470million bid by US giant Heinz to swallow the makers of HP Sauce.
The Office of Fair Trading is worried that shoppers could be ripped off if the deal is allowed to go through.
HP Foods is best known for its brown sauce, but also owns the Lea & Perrins, Amoy and Daddies brands.
The OFT fears prices will rise if Heinz gets its hands on the business - which it wants to buy from French firm Danone.
Heinz already sells eight out of every 10 bottles of ketchup in the UK.
"Customers could suffer from less competition," Vincent Smith, the OFT's head of competition enforcement, said.
The OFT has now referred the proposed deal to the Competition Commission, which will report back in April. It could force Heinz to sell certain brands
The move creates yet more uncertainty for HP Foods' 450 employees in Worcester and Birmingham.
The business - which named its HP Sauce after the Houses of Parliament - was bought by Danone from Hanson in 1998.
Heinz struck the deal for HP Foods in June, fighting off competition from Premier Foods - the owner of Branston Pickle.
The company said it would co-operate fully with the regulators.
Jane Miller, head of Heinz UK & Ireland, said: "We're confident that this acquisition will meet the criteria for final clearance.
It has received approval from merger authorities in Ireland and Germany."
Heinz employs 5,000 UK workers. Its largest site is in Wigan, where it makes beans and soups.