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Alcatel Throws Hat Into Android Smartphone Ring, Promises ICS
Well what do we have here? Alcatel is hinting at an Android smartphone, which they’re dubbing the Alcatel One Touch 995 (we’re hoping the name gets changed, should this device come to fruition). It’s reportedly packing a 1.4GHz processor, a 5MP rear camera, what appears to be a front-facing camera, and a UI that looks remarkably like SPB Shell 3D. Word on the street is that the 995 will be unveiled at MWC 2012, which is down the road a bit. The big news here is that, if the device is not launched with Ice Cream Sandwich, Alcatel has promised an update to the latest and greatest Android version.
Not much else is known about the device at the moment, except that Alcatel plans to price it competitively. More on this as it develops.
Is anyone surprised by this move? Who thinks Alcatel should stay out of the Android party? Drop a comment below! Thanks to Martijn for the tip!
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CHINO, Calif., June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- America's largest quick-serve barbecue restaurant will hold their Customer Appreciation event on Saturday, July 2, at the Chino location with a promotion offering pulled pork sandwiches at $1 with the purchase of one at full price.
"Chino is our community and when people come in to our restaurant, they are home," said franchisee Chris Green, a Los Angeles Police Office and former U.S. Marine.
Local owner/operators Chris Green and his wife, Mercedes, will celebrate one year of success in the Chino community with the promotion running all day in gratitude of their loyal customers.
"I attribute 90 percent of the restaurant's success over the past year to my wife. Mercedes is the reason we are successful. She's in the store everyday, handling the daily operations, and I come in on the weekends or when we have big catering orders," said Green.
This is the first Dickey's Barbecue franchise for Chris and Mercedes who wanted to embark on this venture together and locally.
The two share a common recipe for success: "It is easy to give up instead of putting forth your best effort in order to get ahead. It takes putting in time and dedication in order to succeed! Success is hanging on when others have let go," said Chris.
After growing up in Memphis, Chris enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1984 and was stationed on the West Coast. He was honorably discharged in 1990, when he joined the LAPD.
"I moved to Chino in 1993 and it was always a dream to open a restaurant here. It took 25 years, but Mercedes and I finally have our own restaurant."
Chris celebrated 21 years with the Los Angeles Police Department this year, leaving the daily operations of the restaurant to Mercedes.
"Owning our own restaurant is exactly what we expected it would be, long hours and a lot of hard work," said Green who plans to retire from the police force in 3 years.
The event will be held at 11971 Central Avenue, where customers can buy one pulled pork sandwich and receive the second for $1 throughout the day.
Dickey's is growing at a rapid pace with 147 locations open in 33 states to date.
The first Dickey's Barbecue opened in 1941 in Dallas, TX.
The original location is still open for business and Dickey's Barbecue is still owned and operated by the Dickey Family.
Dickey's only began franchising in 1994.
Even today, Dickey's still slow smokes all of their signature meats overnight in every restaurant.
More information on Dickey's Barbecue Pit is available at www.dickeys.com.
Franchising information is available at 866-340-6188.
SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue Pit

domain: news


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In January 2015, the company received a US$75 million investment, led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, the New York Stock Exchange, USAA, and several banks. Later in January, the company launched a U.S.-based bitcoin exchange for professional traders called Coinbase Exchange. Coinbase began to offer services in Canada in 2015, but in July 2016, Coinbase announced it would halt services in August after the closure of their Canadian online payments service provider Vogogo.
In welchen Landern Kryptowahrung ist illegal
On 25 March 2014, the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that bitcoin will be treated as property for tax purposes. This means bitcoin will be subject to capital gains tax. In a paper published by researchers from Oxford and Warwick, it was shown that bitcoin has some characteristics more like the precious metals market than traditional currencies, hence in agreement with the IRS decision even if based on different reasons.
Kann ich Zcash auf Coinbase kaufen
Coinbase has two core products: a Global Digital Asset Exchange (GDAX) for trading a variety of digital assets on its professional asset trading platform, and a user-facing retail broker of Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ether, Ethereum Classic, and Litecoin for fiat currency. It also offers an API for developers and merchants to build applications and accept payments in both digital currencies. As of 2018, the company offered buy/sell trading functionality in 32 countries, while the cryptocurrency wallet was available in 190 countries worldwide. On March 26, 2018, Coinbase announced their intention to add support for ERC-20 tokens.
Sind die Banken Angst vor Bitcoin
The platform stores 98% of customers funds offline to ensure the security of the cryptocurrency assets you purchase and store within Coinbase. On their website, Coinbase assures customers that "sensitive data that would normally reside on our servers is disconnected entirely from the internet." Data is then encrypted, and transferred to USB drives and paper backups, and distributed in safe deposit boxes vaults all over the world.
The legal status of cryptocurrencies varies substantially from country to country and is still undefined or changing in many of them. While some countries have explicitly allowed their use and trade, others have banned or restricted it. According to the Library of Congress, an "absolute ban" on trading or using cryptocurrencies applies in eight countries: Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates. An "implicit ban" applies in another 15 countries, which include Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Lesotho, Lithuania, Macau, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan. In the United States and Canada, state and provincial securities regulators, coordinated through the North American Securities Administrators Association, are investigating "bitcoin scams" and ICOs in 40 jurisdictions.
Was ist Crypto Lage
If you do have this much money tied up in Bitcoin, though, you may want a more secure space to store it. If this is the case, Coinbase offers a Coinbase vault, which has time-delayed withdrawals (giving you 48 hours to cancel a withdrawal) and the option of multiple approvers, increasing security by ensuring that all withdrawals are approved by multiple people. They also offer a multisig vault, which is basically an even more involved and more secure vault, requiring multiple keys to unlock.
Ist Binance legal
In the case of Bitcoin, miners run computer programs to verify the data that creates a complete transaction history of all Bitcoin. A technology known as the blockchain, which is used to create irreversible and traceable transactions, makes the process of verification possible. Once a miner has verified the data (which comes in a block, hence, blockchain), they are rewarded with some amount of digital currency, the same currency for which they were verifying the transaction history. So mining Bitcoin, for example, would earn you Bitcoin.
Ist Bitcoin legal in Belgien
^ Iansiti, Marco; Lakhani, Karim R. (January 2017). "The Truth About Blockchain". Harvard Business Review. Harvard University. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017. The technology at the heart of bitcoin and other virtual currencies, blockchain is an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way.
Konnen Sie Ihre Bitcoin fur Bargeld verkaufen
An initial coin offering (ICO) is a controversial means of raising funds for a new cryptocurrency venture. An ICO may be used by startups with the intention of avoiding regulation. However, securities regulators in many jurisdictions, including in the U.S., and Canada have indicated that if a coin or token is an "investment contract" (e.g., under the Howey test, i.e., an investment of money with a reasonable expectation of profit based significantly on the entrepreneurial or managerial efforts of others), it is a security and is subject to securities regulation. In an ICO campaign, a percentage of the cryptocurrency (usually in the form of "tokens") is sold to early backers of the project in exchange for legal tender or other cryptocurrencies, often bitcoin or ether.
Kann ich Bitcoin auf Blockchain
In 2014, the company grew to one million users, acquired the blockchain explorer service Blockr and the web bookmarking company Kippt, secured insurance covering the value of bitcoin stored on their servers, and launched the vault system for secure bitcoin storage. Throughout 2014, the company also formed partnerships with Overstock, Dell, Expedia, Dish Network, and Time Inc. allowing those firms to accept bitcoin payments. The company also added bitcoin payment processing capabilities to the traditional payment companies Stripe, Braintree, and PayPal.
Wie kaufen Sie Tron auf Coinbase
As of February 2018, the Chinese Government halted trading of virtual currency, banned initial coin offerings and shut down mining. Some Chinese miners have since relocated to Canada. One company is operating data centers for mining operations at Canadian oil and gas field sites, due to low gas prices. In June 2018, Hydro Quebec proposed to the provincial government to allocate 500 MW to crypto companies for mining. According to a February 2018 report from Fortune, Iceland has become a haven for cryptocurrency miners in part because of its cheap electricity. Prices are contained because nearly all of the country's energy comes from renewable sources, prompting more mining companies to consider opening operations in Iceland.
Wie kann ich Geld mit Bitcoin
In 1983, the American cryptographer David Chaum conceived an anonymous cryptographic electronic money called ecash. Later, in 1995, he implemented it through Digicash, an early form of cryptographic electronic payments which required user software in order to withdraw notes from a bank and designate specific encrypted keys before it can be sent to a recipient. This allowed the digital currency to be untraceable by the issuing bank, the government, or any third party.
Wer erstellt Blockchain
Transaction fees for cryptocurrency depend mainly on the supply of network capacity at the time, versus the demand from the currency holder for a faster transaction. The currency holder can choose a specific transaction fee, while network entities process transactions in order of highest offered fee to lowest. Cryptocurrency exchanges can simplify the process for currency holders by offering priority alternatives and thereby determine which fee will likely cause the transaction to be processed in the requested time.
1 Kryptowahrung Austausch
^ "Bitcoin: The Cryptoanarchists' Answer to Cash". IEEE Spectrum. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Around the same time, Nick Szabo, a computer scientist who now blogs about law and the history of money, was one of the first to imagine a new digital currency from the ground up. Although many consider his scheme, which he calls "bit gold", to be a precursor to Bitcoin
Was ist ein Kryptowahrung Fonds
Coinbase is a terrible and unprofessional company. They’ve ignored my requests for escalation after providing no feed back on the issues I am having. These issues are costing this customer not only monetarily, but due to the lack of transparency with new policies in which coinbase will hold your funds hostage for 10 days while advising that it can be transferred “instantly” is not only false, but malicious contempt.


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Business Upside Get news analysis on Business, Tech, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Lifestyle, Health and Fitnessl, entertainment news and money saving tips.
@Business.Upside · Posted 20 Jan. 2021
Bitcoin is a consensus network that enables a new payment system and completely digital money. It is the first decentralized peer-to-peer payment network that is powered by its users with no central authority or middlemen. From a user perspective, Bitcoin is pretty much like cash for the Internet.


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The Big Picture: Glory Days
Motown's Mojo is Back
A funny thing happened during the recession: Motown got its mojo back. The boring dross once routinely foisted on American consumers by the Big Three is now being steadily replaced by vehicles that are exciting, interesting, and relevant. Of course, the auto industry's long lead times mean most of these vehicles were under development before Wall Street drove the world's economy off a cliff. But the recession -- and the near-death experiences of all three Detroit automakers that resulted -- is the reason chronically underperforming brands and outclassed products are finally being weeded out, and why Detroit's automakers now have the opportunity to focus their R&D resources on making fewer products, but making them better.
Just check the cars on the cover of our August issue. Corvettes and Mustangs have always been halo vehicles for the American auto industry, admired by enthusiasts around the world. But I don't think GM or Ford have ever built Corvettes and Mustangs as downright good as the new 505-horsepower Z06 Carbon and 550-horsepower Shelby GT500. The combination of blistering straight-line performance, able handling, and bang-for-the-buck pricing both cars offer is truly world class.
But it's not just the fast and powerful stuff from Detroit that's impressive. The more I drive our long-term Buick LaCrosse, for example, the more I realize just how good a job it does of being a stylish near-luxury sedan. The slinky new Buick Regal is a nice piece, too, and judging by the comments on motortrend.com, many of you think so as well. More important, though, both these Buicks show that Detroit has at last begun to understand that its products must evolve if its brands are to stay relevant. The lazy, timid thinking that allowed Buick to become a fuddy-duddy brand selling frumpy cars seems to be evaporating. And it's about time.
Detroit's renewed emphasis on cars is also refreshing; for most of the past 20 years, it's been pretty much content to leave the car business in this country to the Asian and European brands while it grew fat and happy selling big, simple, cheap-to-make trucks and SUVs. But Ford's new Fiesta and Chevy's new Cruze suggest Detroit is not only serious about getting back into the car business, but serious as well about offering competitive products in one of the toughest market segments in the world-small cars.
For all that, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2 remains one of the best things I have driven so far this year; the suspension tuning is simply amazing, and the 411-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 is a blast. But mostly I appreciate the fact that this time the SVT folks haven't tried to turn a tall, heavy pickup into a ground-hugging road-racer. The Raptor is arguably the most original performance vehicle concept from a mainstream automaker in a long time, an entertaining and engaging ride that's also uniquely and uncompromisingly American.
The best news, though, is Detroit doesn't look like lifting off the gas any time soon. I'm looking forward to driving the new Jeep Grand Cherokee with its independent front and rear suspension, the intriguingly high-tech Chevy Volt, the 556-horsepower Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, and the EcoBoost-powered Ford Edge over the next few months. I hear the Camaro Z/28, put on hold as GM slipped into bankruptcy, is now headed for launch. The C7 Corvette is also a go, and sources say the car will debut a new 5.5-liter all-aluminum, direct-injection small-block V-8 with as much as 440 horsepower out of the box. Cadillac engineers are working flat out on the 3 Series-fighting ATS, while over at Ford, designers are shaping the sheetmetal for the next-generation Mondeo.
It's been a tough, bloody, brutal few years in Detroit. And as its yet-fragile automakers rebuild and regroup, plenty can still go wrong. Motown may never return to its extravagant, rambunctious glory days of the 1950s and '60s. But for enthusiasts who love interesting, fun-to-drive American cars, the next decade looks promising.


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More than career website development, and more than any other activity like developing brand strategies, it is social media that companies are turning to for enhanching their employer brands.
That’s one of the findings of a new 18-country study of employer brands around the world. Other findings:
Article Continues Below
- Employee engagement is a top measure of a brand’s ROI — more than quality of hire, retention, or best-employer awards.
- Companies say the videos they’re making are not effective in enhancing their brands.
- Human resources, not marketing, manages the employer brand in most companies in most (but not all) countries.
Employer Brand International did the study, embedded below.


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26 - Dec 02, 2001
Germany's economy shrinks
Germany's economy has shrunk slightly in the July to
September quarter, sparking fears of an all-out recession.
The country's economic output, or GDP, contracted by 0.1% in
the quarter, the Federal Statistics Office said.
The figure, which was worse than analysts had predicted,
followed a stagnant performance in the previous quarter, leaving Germany within
a hair's breadth of a technical recession — defined as two successive quarters
of negative growth.
On an annual basis, GDP rose 0.3% in the July to September
period, the weakest performance since early 1997.
The release of the data followed a report revealing a drop in
German business sentiment, and warnings from Finance Minister Hans Eichel that
economic activity would remain subdued until next spring.
Germany's finance ministry said the data indicated that
economic risks had increased.
"However, economic weakness should be overcome
soon," the ministry said in a statement.
"In 2002 economic forces of buoyancy should win the
The ministry pinned the blame for the contraction on
increased energy prices and food costs.
Opinion is still mixed on whether Germany will topple into a
Some analysts forecast a mild rebound later in the year,
driven largely by consumer spending.
"I think private consumption will be stronger in [the
fourth quarter] because consumers will move forward purchasing ahead of the euro
changeover," said Ulla Kochwasser from IBJ Deutschland.
Germany's stagnation has worrying implications for the whole
The German economy accounts for more than one-third of total
eurozone output, and the latest figures indicate that it is performing much
worse than the wider European average.
UK economic growth trimmed
The UK economy grew by less than originally thought over the
July to September quarter, statisticians have admitted.
The official estimate for growth in UK economic output, or
GDP, for the period has been trimmed from 0.6% to 0.5%.
On an annual basis, the growth rate was revised down by 0.1%
to 2.1%, further distancing it from a Treasury target range of 2.25-2.75%.
But the figures suggest that the UK is still growing more
quickly than most other industrialised nations.
Official data released on Thursday showed that Germany's
economy, the world's third largest, shrank by 0.1% during the July to September
According to a report earlier this week from the Organisation
for Economic Cooperation and Development, the world's two biggest economies are
also in the doldrums.
The US, the world's biggest economy, is set to expand by just
0.7% next year, while world number two Japan is forecast to shrink by 1%, the
Analysts had feared that UK growth for the July to September
period, which includes the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the US, would
be revised far lower.
Investors gave a cautious welcome to the July to September
growth figures, pushing the FTSE 100 index of leading shares slightly higher
late on Thursday morning.
However, the latest statistics also show that the UK still
faces a serious imbalance between the manufacturing and service sectors.
Manufacturing output between July and September fell by 0.8%
compared with the previous three months, while the service sector grew by 0.6%.
Export-dependent manufacturers have been hit hard by slowing
growth in the US, while the European single currency's persistent weakness
against the pound has priced them out of markets in the eurozone.
Japan trade slump sparks global fears
Japan's trade surplus fell by 32% in October compared to the
previous year, with a decrease in both exports and imports.
The continuing trend reflects a drop-off in exports in line
with the global downturn.
With the country heading into a prolonged recession, the
government is promising additional measures to try to stimulate demand.
Japan's once-massive trade surplus continues to shrink at a
Sales of high-tech products have been hit hard since the end
of last year because of the sharp slowdown in the United States, the key market
for Japanese goods.
For all that, Japan still ran a substantial surplus for the
month of $3.8bn, and the trade balance with the United States remained heavily
in Japan's favour at $5bn.
Korean economy beats forecasts
The South Korean economy has continued to avoid recession,
with new figures showing a better-than-expected rise in gross domestic product
(GDP) in the third quarter.
Korean GDP grew by 1.2% in the three months to October,
beating expectations and the weak 0.4% figure achieved in the previous quarter.
But at just 1.8%, the annualised rate is way behind the 9/2%
growth enjoyed this time last year.
The news is, however, an indication that Korea may prove more
resilient than some of its neighbours as the global economic slowdown starts to
Eastern Europe bucks the global trend
The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
has forecast a third year of strong growth for economies in Central and Eastern
In its latest report on the economic progress of the region,
the EBRD has predicted that the region will expand by 4.3% this year, following
5.5% growth in 2000.
"Our region is less directly exposed to that part of the
industrialised world that will slow down most, that is the US economy," the
EBRD's chief economist Professor Willem Buiter told the BBC.
Reforms to allow countries in the region to meet condition
for EU accession were also cited as reasons for the resilience of the economies.
But the report warned that the economies were not immune to
the effects of the global economic slowdown.
Blair delivers fresh euro hint
The UK has missed the boat in Europe too many times, Tony
Blair is due to say in what is being seen as his strongest hint yet towards
joining the euro.
Mr Blair will speak of the British "tragedy" of
missed opportunities, with the biggest mistake being the failure to join from
the outset what is now the European Union.
In a speech to the European Research Institute in Birmingham,
Mr Blair will again repeat his policy the key economic tests must be met before
a referendum on euro entry.
Meanwhile Downing Street has denied reports that Mr Blair has
postponed a referendum on joining the single currency until 2005, to coincide
with a general election.
The Sun newspaper claims the prime minister "privately
signalled" the decision ahead of his speech on Friday.
France proposes fast EU expansion
France has startled its fellow European Union member states
by suggesting that not 10 but 12 new countries should be included in the next
wave of expansion.
While foreign ministers welcomed this week the annual
progress reports, and said that the pace of enlargement negotiations should be
maintained, France sought to add Bulgaria and Romania to the list for admission
Even a senior French diplomat said he was caught unaware by
the remarks made on Monday by the French Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine.
UK and Spain to sign extradition treaty
The Costa del Sol has attracted British fugitives Britain and
Spain are expected to sign a treaty to end the lengthy extradition process that
helped make Spain's Mediterranean coast a hideaway for British criminals.
UK Home Secretary David Blunkett is on a two-day visit to
Spain to finalise a new fast-track system for extraditions between the two
He will discuss drug trafficking, co-operation on terrorism
and asylum issues with his Spanish counterparts.
Lastminute.com: British online holiday and leisure
retailer Lastminute.com has reported widening losses. The full year pre-tax loss
widened to £53.75m from £35.79m a year earlier.
Sainsbury: The supermarket giant reported profits of
£309m ($432m; 475m euros) for the April to October period, up 3.2% on the
previous six months.
Nintendo profits: The group's net profits rose 14.4% to
34.35bn Japanese yen (£197m; $280m) during the first six months of the fiscal
year, from 30bn yen a year earlier. Sales rose 18.4% to 225.72bn yen.
EU warns on 'wealth gap'
Unless Europe quickly learns to innovate and adopt new
technologies, its standard of living will fall ever further behind the US, the
European Commission has warned.
Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise, said
that average wealth per head in the EU was just two-thirds of that in the US.
This gap is the widest since the 1960s.
Japanese insurers reel
Japan's financial sector was already in some trouble. The
aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks have started to reverberate around
Japan's already troubled insurance industry.
Medium-sized non-life insurance firm Taisei filed for
bankruptcy protection, after saying that claims from the US attacks raised its
liabilities to 40bn yen (£229m; $325m) more than its assets.
At the same time, Nissan Fire and Marine Insurance said it
expected to pay reinsurance of 74.4bn yen as a result of the attacks.
The two firms were due to merge, and insisted that Taisei's
bankruptcy had not derailed their plans.
US company signs food deal with Cuba
An American agribusiness company, Cargill, says it has signed
an agreement to sell food to Cuba in the wake of the island's worst hurricane in
more than 50 years.
The deal — which is still subject to US Government approval
— would be unprecedented in four decades of hostile relations between Cuba and
the US, who have no formal diplomatic ties.
At least two other American companies are believed to be
negotiating similar deals with the authorities in Havana.
US consumers regain confidence
US consumers are regaining the confidence that was lost after
the 11 September terrorist attacks, according to the latest data.
The revival has renewed hopes that the US will quickly be
able to pull itself out of its current economic slump.
The University of Michigan's closely-watched consumer
sentiment survey rose in November for a second month in a row. The index hit
83.9, up from 82.7 last month.
Little argument over UK rate cut
Only one member voted against the half-point cut Bank of
England interest rate chiefs voted eight to one in favour of the cut implemented
earlier this month, minutes have revealed.
The half-a-point cut, which brought rates down to 4.0%, was
the seventh this year.
The one dissenter on the bank's rate setting panel, the
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), wanted to see a cut of only one quarter of a
And one committee member suggested the Bank should consider
more drastic action, and chop rates by three quarters of a point.
Vietnam freezes rice exports
The world's number two rice exporter, Vietnam, has blocked
shipments until February because of a shortage of reserves for its own
The ministry ordered traders in its main rice-growing region
to stop offering new rice export contracts, after seeing domestic reserves
Rice prices have risen about 20% in recent months to 2.9m
Vietnamese dong (£136; $193) per tonne from 2.4m dong in May and June.
Loss admissions boost Japanese banks
Shares in two of Japan's leading banks, Asahi and Sumitomo
Mitsui, rose sharply despite admissions that they will slide into the red this
Traders read the banks' downbeat statements as signs that the
country's banking sector is moving closer to sort out its bad debt problem.
The 14 biggest banks in Japan are believed to have
non-performing loans worth up to 6 trillion Japanese yen (£34.5bn; $48.9bn).
Indonesia reaches IMF agreement
In a step to winning back the confidence of international
investors, Indonesia has reached agreement with the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) on a package of economic reforms.
The agreement, which must now be submitted to the IMF board
early next year, is believed to encompass banking, privatisation and legal
The deal promises progress under an existing $5bn loan
programme for the country, and could pave the way for new loans next year.
Indonesia's economy has been mired in crisis for years, and
the government of President Megawati Sukarnoputri has struggled to gain
credibility among investors, who have shunned the country since the economic
crisis of 1997-98.
Bangladesh asks for $1bn loan
Bangladesh is seeking up to $1bn in credit from the World
Bank to offset the negative side effects on its economy of the 11 September
The country's exports have fallen by 35% in the past two
months, because the US is the main consumer of Bangladeshi garments, buying more
than $2bn-worth every year.
Bangladesh's finance ministry said, however, that the World
Bank wanted it to cut subsidies on utilities like gas, electricity, petrol and
fertiliser in order to be able to receive such assistance.


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In a briefing to detail the impact of generative AI in the workplace, and the research conducted by BCG X where they surveyed more…
After dual cameras and tiny bezels, is stock Android the next big trend?
Stock Android is often seen as the holy grail by mobile enthusiasts, and it’s easy to see why.
Pure Android carries a consistent, lightweight visual design, free from the often garish themes used by manufacturers. And these themes often bring unnecessary slowdown and extraneous, uninstallable apps with them, even on the most cutting-edge smartphones. For this reason alone, stock Android is preferable for many enthusiasts.
But arguably the biggest reason enthusiasts love stock Android is the promise of system updates. The lack of third party themes and software means that the update process is radically streamlined, as the extra software doesn’t need to be tweaked to support the new version of Android.
It doesn’t help that the third-party customisation doesn’t stop with the visual department, as many brands mess with the inner workings of Android, such as the notification system, memory management and other aspects. This all needs to be checked and potentially reworked when a new Android update is released — a resource-intensive task by any measure.
That’s not to say that third-party Android themes are without merit, as they constantly bring innovative features to the forefront that are adopted by the official version of Android. And let’s be honest, the stock camera app doesn’t hold a candle to the likes of Samsung and LG’s camera apps.
Nevertheless, the allure of regular Android updates and less slowdown seems to outweigh the third-party features for more than a smattering of consumers.
And nowhere is this more apparent than the reaction to several brands, such as Motorola and OnePlus, who broke promises to deliver updates to specific phones. In the former case, we saw Motorola promise that the Moto E would receive updates. Less than a year after its release, the company announced that it wouldn’t be delivering on the updates.
In the case of OnePlus, the Chinese firm went out of its way to promise that the OnePlus 2 would receive an update to Nougat. Then, the company told Android Authority that it wouldn’t be bringing Android Nougat to the “2016 Flagship Killer” after all.
But 2017 could signal a shift in manufacturers’ attitudes towards stock Android, if Nokia and Lenovo are anything to go by. In the same way that the Xiaomi Mi Mix signalled a move to high screen/body ratios and the Huawei P9 and LG G5 were the first salvos in the dual camera trend, we could be seeing the first moves toward the industry adopting stock Android in a bigger way.
Nokia takes the lead, now Lenovo
Traditionally, Android brands have taken the customisation route, slapping their own theme and apps on Android. But HMD’s Nokia smartphones spotted a gap in the market earlier this year, taking the opposite route and using almost pure Android on the Nokia 3, 5 and 6.
It’s a notable move, especially given the fact that these are budget devices, rather than premium devices like the Pixel or Google Play Edition phones of yore.
The move was motivated by the desire to get Android updates on these phones for the next two years.
“What we are now committing (to) is that whenever a consumer buys a device, two years from that we will do the updates…” HMD CEO Arto Nummela told Gearburn last month.
Stock Android is being adopted by a few brands, but is this the start of the latest mobile trend?
The Nokia brand isn’t the only one to commit to stock Android, as Lenovo recently confirmed that it would be ditching its own UI in favour of stock Android.
“There’s no more Vibe UI going forward and we are moving to complete stock Android for all our future Lenovo phones. This is a huge transition for our business perspective,” a Lenovo executive told Gadgets 360, adding that the decision was made due to consumer demand.
The firm launched its first stock Android phone as part of the new strategy this week, in the form of the K8 Note. Packing a 4000mAh battery, fingerprint scanner, a 13MP/5MP dual camera setup and a MediaTek Helio X23 chipset, the phone stands out thanks to its sub-R3000 price tag as well (12 999 rupees).
And it’s not like Nokia or Lenovo can’t add a couple of meaningful customisations to stock Android anyway. Both companies added Dolby tech for better audio and their own camera apps, while Lenovo also added a VR suite.
The MediaTek question
One big concern for companies opting for stock Android is MediaTek. The silicon manufacturer can protest all it wants, but it’s generally been a step behind Qualcomm and its Snapdragon range when it comes to support for the latest and greatest Android updates.
It’s a concern that HMD’s Nummela acknowledged in our interview as well, with the Nokia 3 using a MediaTek processor.
“…MTK (MediaTek) doesn’t support (Android) 7.1.1. Qualcomm supports that… We said to MTK, if you are our chipset provider, you have to commit to get the latest and greatest.”
The HMD head added that they were therefore working with MediaTek to get Android updates “as the first of any manufacturer”.
It’s really going to become a wait and see approach then, as history shows us that promises of updates don’t mean much.
But the move to stock Android by Nokia and Lenovo sends a strong message that smooth performance and regular updates are a priority. Don’t be surprised if other brands join the party in the coming months.


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Work is underway in Helston to create a fourth Patch & Acre Country Store with the unveiling planned for the end of July.
The refurbishment is part of Cornwall Farmers’ £2.3 million growth strategy, which includes investment in new IT systems, staff training, store refit programme and the launch of Cornwall Farmers’ new country store, Patch & Acre.
As part of the work at the Helston branch, which is located on the Water Ma Trout Industrial Estate, the farmer-owned co-operative has also announced plans to expand its floor space by reconfiguring the internal layout. The outside area will also be developed to create a new main entrance, make way for a larger gardening department and increased farming equipment displays.
Simon Birch, chief executive of Cornwall Farmers, said: “We are well underway with our refit programme now and we’re very encouraged by the results. We have already launched Patch & Acre stores in Penzance, Launceston and Tavistock, with each outlet surpassing trading forecasts.
Cornwall Farmers employs around 200 staff and has other stores in Bideford, Dartington, Hatherleigh, Kingsbridge, Launceston, Liskeard, Otterham, Penzance, Tavistock, Truro and Wadebridge.
The investment is being part-funded through a £920k grant from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, funded by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.


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NZ farmer scoops international Champion of Champions award from Marks & Spencer
Hawkes Bay deer farmers, Tim Aitken and Lucy Robertshawe, have won a prestigious international farming award from retailer Marks & Spencer (’M&S’).
The M&S Farming for the Future awards were established three years ago to celebrate farmers and growers in the M&S supply chain who stand out and make a difference to their industry.
These annual awards celebrate the inspirational work that farmers and growers are undertaking to address sustainability challenges in their business and in the M&S supply chain.
There are five initial categories - one for each region of the UK as well as an international award - and the winners of each of these categories gets put forward for a Champion of Champions award, which is voted for by M&S customers through the M&S website.
Tim and Lucy won the international category and then secured the public vote to win the overall competition, being crowned ’Champion of Champions’.
Commenting on the awards, Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture & Fisheries Sourcing at M&S, said:
"Our judges were particularly impressed by the entry from Tim and Lucy for the work that they have done on enhancing the natural environment and water quality on their farm, for their involvement in R&D to improve the NZ venison industry, and for their approach to animal welfare. They were also encouraged that Tim and Lucy were sharing their knowledge with the wider farming community and had no hesitation in presenting them with the International M&S Farming for the Future award.
“Their efforts clearly resonated with our customers as well, as they secured the majority of our public votes, so we are delighted to crown them ’Champion of Champions’!”
Commenting on their win, Tim/Lucy said:
“The feedback from people in regard to voting has been amazing, not just from NZ but in England, Ireland and Canada. The International Farming for the Future award was prestige enough on its own. To be awarded Champion of Champions, well… we’re just speechless.”
Says Tim: “We are constantly striving to innovate. We are aiming to improve all aspects of the quality and supply of venison to our customers, from the environmental and animal welfare issues to how we can give our consumers the best experience from our fantastic products. It’s a passion.”
Gerard Hickey from Firstlight Foods added:
“This award is great news: it vindicates the investment Firstlight has made in developing the UK retail market, and we’re pleased to be able to support Marks and Spencer in raising their venison sales.”
This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.
News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.


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Trending: Makeup With Skincare Benefits
trending: makeup with skin care benefits
Functional personal care is becoming an industry staple, addressing the need to save time for busy women on the move.
90% of female consumers buy cosmetics with skin care benefits according to a study by the NPD Group 2018 Makeup In-Depth Consumer Report. Two-thirds women use skin care makeup along with their separate skin care products.
The number of women wearing makeup has increased significantly in just two years. More and more women are interested in preventative and corrective skin care, not just covering flaws - so the marriage of makeup and skin care are right on pace with this trend.
Here are 4 more findings in the NPD Group report:
- More women today than two years ago wear makeup to even skin tone, look and feel younger, confident, and sexy.
- More women are looking for makeup brands with products that moisturize, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, minimize pores and reduce redness.
- 62% of women are using makeup with moisturizing benefits, a 4% increase over 2016.
- More than a third of foundation consumers consider pore minimizing to be an important benefit in makeup, up 3% over 2016.
the sizzling 6: How they're building booming beauty brands
At the Indy Beauty Expo Dallas 2018, 6 beauty brands rose to the top of the consumer and buyer survey as best in show at the expo finale. It's no easy feat to land at the top - affirmation of these brands' grit and stellar performance.
Some of the determining factors included formulations, pre-show public relations, and presentation. Passion, conviction and openness of the founders proved to be toward the top of the list for their brand appeal. These brands have a clearly defined and believable message.
The exemplary brands are Milk and Honey, Au Naturale, 18.21Man Made, Honey Belle, Gallinée and Ora Organic.
Find out how they drive business, how they achieved trade show success, and learn of their potential partnerships, post-show.
See full article here: beautyindepdent.com
Pollution-fighting skincare: free event
Pollution-fighting ingredients is top of mind for cosmetics manufactures as consumer demand increases.
Discover ingredients and blends formulated to fight the damaging effects of pollution.
Also to be discussed in this free webcast is how indoor and outdoor pollution effect skin's aging process, visible light pollution and how it impacts the skin, and the latest advances in addressing the three types of pollution.
Stay up for the next issue of THE BEAU-tea.


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Lens manufacturer Sigma has announced that it will replace parts on its Pentax-mount lenses that are known to scratch the new Pentax K-1 full-frame camera. The company says that certain lenses that it produces clash with the shape of the upper part of the mount on the K-1 and that using one of the listed lenses ‘could leave a small scratch on part of the camera body’.
Sigma has issued a list of current and past lenses that it knows create a problem, and advises Pentax K-1 owners not to use them until the repair is carried out. Three current lenses are included in the advisory: the 30mm F1.4 DC HSM Art, 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art and APO 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM. A time scale for the repair service to begin has yet to be announced though.
The company also says that some of its lenses are not recognized automatically by the K-1, and that users will need to manually enter whether the lens is designed for full frame or APS-C sensors via the camera’s menu system. The announcement makes no mention of whether this issue will also be fixed.


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The future of Africa lies in agriculture, says Nigerian billionare
Nigerian business leader Aliko Dangote told investors “Agriculture, agriculture, agriculture. Africa will become the food basket of the world.”
In a packed room at the headquarters of global law firm Shearman and Sterling high level business leaders and international diplomats invited by the Corporate Council for Africa to hear Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and Rwandan president Paul Kagame openly converse on Africa’s opportunities and challenges.
Both leaders underscored the ongoing movement to diversify African economies. In the case of Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, Dangote stated “we should pray that oil prices remain low. This helps wean us off the dependency on revenues from petroleum. We must take oil to be the icing on the cake. We already have the cake,” he added.
The session was moderated by Rosa Whitaker, former US Trade Representative and author of the AGOA (African Growth Opportunity Act), whose business consultancy is credited with helping both African governments and US companies develop commerce.
Publication date: 9/21/2017
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Alexa is Now Available on iOS
Watch out Siri, an intruder is inside your phone. Last week, Amazon announced that Alexa is now available on iOS devices through its Amazon app. Users can ask Alexa questions, shop on Amazon.com, play music and Kindle books using voice commands. What makes this interesting is that while a few third-party apps already offer Alexa integration, this is the first time it’s being offered directly from Amazon. And as Brian Barrett of WIRED points out, this should worry Apple:
That puts iPhone and iPad owners just two taps away—one to open the Amazon app, the next to activate the microphone—from a voice assistant that doesn’t just rival Siri, but surpasses it in significant ways. Alexa’s popularity should already be giving Apple fits. Now it’s coming from inside the phone.
Alexa’s New Audience
And Alexa is more popular than Siri with iPhone consumers. A 2016 Experian consumer survey found that 95% of iPhone users were satisfied with Alexa’s voice recognition, while only 61% had the same to say about Siri. While Siri might not be the best voice assistant out there, many Apple users don’t know anything better. However, having Alexa on the Amazon app could change that. The Amazon app is one of the most popular downloads for iOS and will introduce millions of consumers to Alexa for the first time. Now consumers who have never personally interacted with Alexa can see what they’ve been missing. This could generate new revenue for Amazon both within its app and for sales of Echo devices.
Expanding Alexa’s Reach on Mobile
A key challenge for Amazon is finding ways for consumers to access Alexa outside of the home. Smartphones are one way do this. As of now, Huawei is the only smartphone manufacturer to provide full Alexa integration and Motorola (Lenovo) expects to add the voice assistant to its Android-based phones later this year. That reflects progress, but the two largest smartphone manufacturers, Samsung and Apple, have competing voice assistant offerings. This new integration offers Apple users a way to use Alexa anywhere they are. From a convenience standpoint, Siri still wins. She is either always listening or just one tap away, while Alexa is at least two taps to activation. However, Apple is now sharing its biggest asset – millions of iPhone users – with Amazon. All Amazon wanted was an introduction. And, it got it.


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No longer 'catching up'
Updated: 2015-01-09 12:40
By Chang Jun and Lian Zi(China Daily USA)
"As more consumers are using connected devices in their lives, the bigger demand is on device makers and carriers to create seamless if not more personalized experiences," said Cheng Lixin, chairman and CEO of ZTE USA.
"We are making significant improvements in user experiences through our consumer experience unit, and consumer interests will be at the heart of everything we imagine, build and deliver in 2015," Cheng said.
The Grand X Max+ is a 4G LTE (CAT4) Android smartphone packed with high-end components. The phone will be available at Cricket for $199.99.
"The ZTE Grand X Max+ is the latest example of how we listen to our consumers and apply our expertise to bring them premium experiences at affordable prices," said Cheng.
Lenovo, the world's largest PC maker, unveiled the 13-inch LaVie Z notebook, significantly lighter than Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air.
It also introduced Anypen, which would allow users to use any metallic object, such as a pen or pencil, even the blunt end of a fork, as a stylus on their tablet and PC devices.
ORBBEC, the Shenzhen-based producer of 3-dimensioned sensors, showcased products that can be widely applied into interactive displays, smart TVs, gaming, SD scanning, smart home automation, smart conference room and IoT.
"Although we started our business relatively late compared to our US counterparts, we are catching up in terms of products quality and affordability," said Howard Huang, founder and CEO of ORBBEC, who spent 10 years working at MIT's research lab with renowned scientists.
Huang said he is confident that his R&D team in China houses the most innovative minds in the 3-D sensor field.
To penetrate the already fierce competition in the consumer electronics industry, two Chinese companies decided to unite with US companies. TCL bought the Palm brand and Lenovo said it will start selling Motorola smartphones in China by the end of March.
TCL said it will create a new Palm in California's Silicon Valley, leveraging the talent and partnerships of the area.
"Palm has always carried a lot of emotions," the press release said.
"That's why TCL has set the direction to rebuild the brand involving Palm's very own community, making it the largest scale crowd-sourced project ever seen in the industry."
A long-expected strategic move by TCL, the Palm acquisition will help TCL diversify and expand in other areas, such as high-end smartphones, said TCL's CEO George Guo. Currently, Apple and Samsung occupy most of the market share for smartphones.
TCL acquired the name from Hewlett-Packard, which bought Palm in 2010 with the grand vision of utilizing its WebOS mobile operating system across many products. HP ultimately mothballed its consumer mobile ambitions.
Lenovo Group, the world's largest PC maker, confirmed at CES that it will sell Motorola phones in China in the first quarter of 2015, following a Motorola market absence of more than two years.
The Moto X will be sold in February, with the Moto X Pro and Moto G to be sold later on. Lenovo purchased Motorola Mobility from Google Inc for $2.9 billion in October.
Contact the writers at firstname.lastname@example.org and email@example.com


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Realme C55 smartphone launched in India
Realme C55 smartphone launched in India: Dynamic island feature with 1.50 lakh iPhone 14 Pro will be available in 4G smartphones for 11 thousand rupees
Chinese tech company Realme has finally officially launched the Realme C55 4G smartphone in India after its international debut. It is the costliest phone in the company's C-series so far.
The most special thing about this phone is that it has been given the dynamic island functionality feature given in the iPhone 14 Pro priced at around Rs 1.50 lakh. The company is calling it a 'mini capsule'.
Through the Dynamic Island feature, data usage and charging information can be seen on the home screen of the phone itself. Apart from this, users will also be able to see their walking steps, but this feature is still in the testing phase. The dynamic island functionality will be smartly adjusted around the punch-hole camera cutout in the display.
The company has launched the smartphone in 3 variants. Its 4GB RAM + 64GB storage costs Rs 10,999, 6GB RAM + 64GB storage costs Rs 11,999 and 8GB + 128GB storage variant costs Rs 13,999. The first sale of the phone will start on March 28 at 12 noon on realme.com and Flipkart.
Realme C55 can be pre-ordered from realme.com and Flipkart till March 27. There is a bank offer of up to Rs.1000 on realme.com and an exchange discount of Rs.1000 on Flipkart on pre-ordering. Realme C55 comes in two colour options, it includes Sunshower and Rainy Night colour.


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Recalled frozen strawberries linked to hepatitis A outbreak served at two Weld County restaurants
For more information, Weld County residents can contact the Colorado Health Emergency Cline — known as COHelp — at 1-877-462-2911 or (303) 389-1687. COHelp is available 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends.
Frozen strawberries imported from Egypt and served at two Weld County restaurants have been linked to a multistate hepatitis A outbreak and are being recalled.
Several states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating the outbreak of foodborne hepatitis A. Evidence indicates the frozen strawberries are the likely source of the outbreak. The recall affects all frozen strawberries and frozen strawberry products imported into the United States by the International Company for Agricultural Production & Processing since Jan. 1, 2016. The products were not offered for sale in retail stores, such as grocery stores, or food warehouses, such as Costco or Sam’s Club, according to a news release issued Saturday by the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment.
The frozen strawberries were distributed to restaurants.
Two Weld restaurants have served the products within the past two weeks. According to the news release, they are:
» Fat Albert’s, 1717 23rd Ave. in Greeley, served strawberries on top of dessert items. The last time the strawberries were served was Oct. 24.
» Red Rooster, 4330 Colo. 66 in Longmont, served strawberries on top of breakfast items. The last time the strawberries were served was Oct. 28.
Most of the outbreak-related human infections have occurred on the East Coast. There are no hepatitis A cases in Colorado associated with this outbreak. However some consumers in Colorado may have been served food and drinks containing these products and may have been exposed to hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection that results from exposure to the hepatitis A virus. Illness from hepatitis A generally begins about 28 days after exposure — a range of 15–50 days — and symptoms include:
» Stomach pain.
» Yellowing of the skin and eye (jaundice).
» Dark urine.
» Clay-colored stool.
Hepatitis A can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious illness lasting several months. In rare cases, the infection can lead to liver failure, particularly in individuals who have a pre-existing liver disease or weakened immune systems, the release stated.
“If you have been exposed to hepatitis A, you can prevent infection by having a hepatitis A vaccine or immunoglobulin therapy within two weeks of exposure,” Dr. Mark E. Wallace, executive director of the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, said in the release. “If it has been more than 14 days since you have eaten these berries, the vaccine won’t be effective in preventing infection.”
Anyone who ate items containing strawberries from restaurants, should contact their health care provider to discuss treatment options. Certain pharmacies also may offer hepatitis A vaccine. Go to vaccinefinder.org for locations. Anyone who already has been vaccinated for hepatitis A, does not need to be vaccinated again, even they ate the affected strawberries.
Vaccinations also are available at the Weld County Health Department main office, 1555 N. 17th Ave. in Greeley, and the Southwest Weld County Health Department satellite office, 4209 County Road 24½ Road in Longmont, during normal business hours. For an appointment, call (970) 400-2703 for an appointment.


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Passwordless authentication based on FIDO specifications, with and without biometrics, appears to be picking up steam. Nok Nok Labs has reviewed its first-half milestones, Versasec has joined FIDO, Identité is providing biometric technology to promote passwordless cybersecurity, and Hypr has joined up with Microsoft.
MORE FIDO in the News
The Wall Street Journal: Apple Wants to End Passwords for Everything. Here’s How It Would Work
Passwords have been the longtime standard for securing online accounts,...6월 24, 2022
S&P Global: Big Tech pushes forward with password-less authentication
A tech industry coalition including Apple Inc., Alphabet Inc. and...
CNET: Learn About Passkeys, the No-Password Login Tech Coming to iOS 16 and Android
Apple recently showed off a new replacement for passwords coming...


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Football boot worn by Chelsea star Eden Hazard boasts cutting-edge green credentials
Nike will this week start selling what is being hailed as the most environmentally friendly football boot to date, with the launch of the new GS 2 boot. The GS 2 boot will go on sale this Saturday with...
Storage secures 3.2GW of capacity market contracts, in latest auction which also extended major subsidies for gas plants
New unit formed in anticipation of a rising interest in the sector from clients, says banking giant
Twenty-one tech giants, from Adobe to WD, are identified as leaders, yet trouble brews among their peers
Felix Preston of Chatham House considers who will champion the Paris Agreement if US goes into reverse on climate change


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Google Waffles On Android WearOS Power Management
Google has reversed course on some ideas it had for managing battery life on WearOS devices in Android P. The company's original intent was to limit certain background operations, particularly alarms and jobs, in order to conserve power. It appears as though developers felt too limited by the limits. "From the outset of the Wear OS by Google developer preview, battery life has been a major focus area," explained Google. "When we talked to the developer community, the update that attracted the most feedback was the disabling of alarms and jobs for background apps. After listening to developer feedback and reviewing the battery statistics, we are reversing this change." The company said the strict on/off settings got in the way of general usage and negatively changed how people used their wearables. Moving down the road, Google says it will let developers use the App Standby Buckets tool in Android P to manage background and foreground tasks to balance power needs. Google says developers won't need to reinstall the platform on their developer devices, as the changes are being made on the back end. Google hopes WearOS developers continue to provide feedback so it can refine the platform ahead of its eventual release.
Google Drops New Dev Preview of Wear OS with Better Battery Management
May 9, 2018
Google today offered developers a new build of Wear OS for select Android smartwatches. The update chiefly installs the Actions on Google feature that Google announced earlier this month, but it also introduces more power-related enhancements and a dedicated battery saver mode.
Google's Tasks App Works Directly with Gmail and Calendar
Apr 25, 2018
Google believes its Tasks mobile application for Android and iOS devices will help users manage and complete tasks more efficiently. The app lets people create tasks lists; view, edit, and manage tasks from any device; and control tasks created in Gmail, Google Calendar, or on the web from mobile devices.
Apple Says iOS 12 Will Be Faster, Work Better On Older iPhones
Jun 4, 2018
Apple today announced iOS 12, its next-generation platform for the iPhone and iPad. Apple says it spent time improving the performance of the operating system, which in claims will work well on iPhones and iPads that went on sale as far back as 2013.
Facebook Makes Sweeping Changes to Data Collection Policies as It Admits Cambridge Analytica Breach Impacted 87M
Apr 4, 2018
Facebook today made significant changes to its platform as it continues to deal with the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica breach. To start, the company now believes Cambridge Analytica was given improper access to the data of as many as 87 million people, mostly U.S.


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Toronto has made the cut of the top 20 cities that e-commerce giant Amazon is considering for its second headquarters.
Toronto is the only Canadian city to make the short list that also includes 19 U.S. cities.
More than 10 cities across Canada had pitched to become the second North American home of the world’s biggest online merchandise seller.
In total, Amazon received 238 applications.
Amazon said on Twitter that narrowing the list to 20 cities was tough.
They also include:
- New York City.
- Newark, N.J.
- Washington D.C.
- Raleigh, N.C.
- Northern Va.
- Columbus, Ohio.
- Los Angeles.
- Austin, Texas
- Montgomery County, Md.
The next step in the selection process will be to take a “deeper dive” into the proposals by the remaining cities in the coming months and evaluate the feasibility of a future partnership, said Amazon.
The company expects to make a final decision this year.
It plans to spend over $5 billion on the second campus, which will be a “full equal” to its current headquarters in Seattle, Wash. Amazon estimates its investments in that city, from 2010 to 2016, have added $38 billion to the city’s economy.
The second location is expected to create 50,000 high-paying jobs.
Canadian telecom entrepreneur Anthony Lacavera said it’s unlikely Toronto will become Amazon’s next headquarters.
“The Trump administration has been very clear on expectations of prioritizing U.S. domestic job creation and repatriation of jobs that are currently abroad,” he said.
“I highly doubt Amazon would want to draw any negative fire from the U.S. administration.”


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LinkedIn will continue fight against the HiQ Labs - Movingtrend
BBC - Tuesday August 15, 2017
A judge in San Francisco has passed a verdict that it can little to do to stop third party companies to monitor LinkedIn huge store of data. The court also regulate that LinkedIn can remove any technical limitations to prevent the 'scrapping' of the LinkedIn members data.
The spokesperson from LinkedIn said: "We’re disappointed in the court’s ruling." "This case is not over. We will continue to fight to protect our members' ability to control the information they make available on LinkedIn."
In May LinkedIn sent HiQ Lab a letter and demanding that to stop using the LinkedIn's public profiles for data. According to HiQ Website's that activity performed every two weeks. In response to this HiQ Labs describes as, "a crystal ball that helps you determine skills gaps or turnover risks months ahead of time, and a platform that shows you how and where to focus your efforts."
HiQ Labs clearly explained that it does not monitor every LinkedIn user profile but only those who working for companies that busy with HiQ Labs services.
LinkedIn said the HiQ Labs using the data of the staff, when it might leave which is the breach of sit's terms services and also the breach of
US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). LinkedIn said: "This is not acceptable."
HiQ Labs dismissed the LinkedIn claims of abuse and said profile information is public and anyone can view it it can't be walled off. HiQ Labs said, "LinkedIn doesn’t own the data contained in member profiles. It is information the members themselves have decided to display publicly, and it is available to anyone with access to a web browser."
Judge Edward Chen agreed with HiQ that LinkedIn could hinder competition by blocking the data, and make their users profiles private. But when you are searching for a job, you want people to be able to find you. And users data which is publicly available should not be used in other ways as HiQ Labs using publicly available information of the LinkedIn users.
Image courtesy Flicker


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It's lights out for Les Deux Autres (462 N. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn). The writing was on the wall six months ago, when owner Louisa Lima's husband got a job in New York. "I dragged my feet selling the restaurant," Lima said, "because it has been a big part of my life. But especially in winter, when flights are delayed or canceled, and having an 8-year-old son, it was hard not seeing Dad all week." The restaurant has been sold to Michel Saragueta, chef at Cafe le Coq in Oak Park, who will reopen the space (hopefully in time for Valentine's Day) as Bistro Monet.
Chef Joncarl Lachman has taken over at HB Home Bistro (3404 N. Halsted St.), purchasing the BYO restaurant from owners Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, a.k.a. The Hearty Boys. The Boys will be opening a new restaurant, Frill (3819 N. Broadway), this summer.
Yet another Bar Louie--the 25th nationally--is scheduled to open Friday at 1122 Lake St. in Oak Park.
Merlo Ristorante (2638 N. Lincoln Ave.) has converted the front of its restaurant into Enoteca Merlo, a wine bar with wine flights and by-the-glass pairings and a casual menu of cured meats, cheeses, seafood, salads and pastas. 773-529-0747.
You can get lunch in a flash--a leisurely flash, anyway--by ordering the "30-minute meals" offered 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at Cafe des Architectes (Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, 20 E. Chestnut St.). The $18.95 noshes consist of appetizer, salad, entree and mini dessert grouped on a single plate--kinda like a TV dinner, only edible. 312-324-4063.
Osteria Via Stato (620 N. State St.) will host a Wine Happy Hour 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, featuring seven Italian wines with seven savory nibbles for $20. And consider making reservations for dinner that night, because the Osteria will be selling those same wines "by the inch," allowing diners to keep several wine bottles on the table and pay only for what they consume. 312-642-8450.
The food and wine of France's Champagne region will be the focus of a five-course dinner at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cafe Matou (1846 N. Milwaukee Ave.). Cost is $85, tax and tip included. 773-384-8911.
42 Below vodka, a premium vodka from New Zealand, will be the subject of a tasting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Va Pensiero (1566 Oak Ave., Evanston). Priced at $30, the tasting will include five vodkas (plain and as cocktails) paired with five caviars. Bob Sullivan of Plitt Seafood will be guest speaker. 847-475-7779.
Clip and save for Lent: South Water Kitchen (225 N. Wabash Ave.) has launched a Wisconsin Fish Fry, held every Friday. Included are batter-fried cod, cole slaw, fries and dessert for $20 at dinner, $15 lunch. And Wisconsin beers will be $3. 312-236-9300.


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NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Lithium ion batteries power many of today’s most popular gadgets, including smart phones and laptops.
The National Fire Protection Agency says in rare cases, these batteries can cause a fire or explosion. Recently these types of explosions have happened with e-cigarettes, hover boards and the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which was banned from all flights by the Federal Aviation Agency in October due to its explosion risk.
Mark Wineburg of Yes Computers in Northampton says that the good news is, it’s unlikely you will do something to your device to make it catch on fire. Any fire these products cause is the producer’s fault nearly every time.
“It’s very inexpensively produced products, like the hover board is a good example. It’s exclusively a problem with manufacturing,” Wineburg said.
The NFPA reports that the following signs may indicate a problem with your batteries:
- Too much heat
- Change in color
According to the NFPA, risks for fires and explosions can be reduced by following these tips:
- Only use the battery that is designed for the device.
- Only use charging cords that come with the device.
- Keep batteries at room temperature.
- Do not charge devices under your pillow, or on your bed or couch.
- Do not store batteries in direct sunlight or keep them in hot vehicles.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, residents should wait for hazardous waste collection day to dispose of lithium batteries or bring them to a disposal facility.


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A large personal collection of mid-1970s to early 2000s super heroes comics is for sale at the Saline District Library Saturday.
The Friends of the Saline Library book sale takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the library's Brecon Room. The collection, recently donated to the Friends of the Saline Library, includes DC and Marvel comics as well as some Manga and Anime.
Most will be sold in bag lots by year and some will be "specially priced."
Proceeds go to the Friends to be used for the benefit of the Saline District Library.


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Washington County will sponsor special one-day household hazardous waste collections throughout the County, at no cost. Nearby collections are scheduled at the Hugo Public Works Building on April 21st from 8 a.m. to noon, and at the Forest Lake Transit Center (enter at Headwaters Parkway) on June 2nd from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. See the County website for more information.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and More
Many of you know about the three R’s and how important they are to reduce waste, but there are more R’s to add to your routine: Refuse what you do not need by bringing a reusable shopping bag with you to cut down on plastic bags that may end up in the trash. What else can you refuse? Remove yourself from junk mail lists to cut down on paper and use a refillable water bottle instead of using plastic bottles. Repair items when things become worn or stop working to keep them functioning longer. This way, you will have other options like donation or resale, instead of adding them to the waste stream. Bring your items to county fix-it clinics for help or use online repair resources. By refusing and repairing, you make it much easier to reduce items you don’t need and reuse items you already have. Always look for more ways to reduce and keep working to create less waste and make sure your items are recycled as much as possible. Find more recycling information on the City’s website.
City-wide Clean-up Week is scheduled for Saturday, April 28, through Saturday, May 5, at the SRC/Forest Lake Sanitation site in Wyoming, MN. Residents may drop off rubbish items not taken by their regular trash hauler, such as appliances, tires, furniture, mattresses, scrap metal and wood at the SRC facility located at 6320 East Viking Boulevard, Wyoming, MN. During this week, Scandia residents will receive a 20% discount off regular collection prices. Be prepared to show proof of residency such as a driver’s license. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., M—F. Please call SRC at 651.464.2321 for more information. A pricing schedule is posted on the City’s website.


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The White House and the Federal Reserve are watching inflation data nervously, hoping that rapid price gains will fade soon but increasingly admitting that the cool-down is taking longer to materialize than they had expected earlier this year.
A key reading of consumer prices due on Wednesday is unlikely to ease their minds.
The Consumer Price Index probably climbed by 5.3 percent in September compared with the prior year, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists. From August to September, the index likely rose 0.3 percent.
While monthly gains have slowed from their breakneck pace earlier this year — they popped by as much as 0.9 percent this summer — they are still abnormally rapid. And price pressures are not fading as rapidly as policymakers had hoped.
Inflation jumped early in 2021 as prices for airfares, restaurant meals and apparel recovered after slumping as the economy locked down during the depths of the pandemic. That was expected. But more recently, prices have continued to climb as supply shortages mean businesses can’t keep up with fast-rising demand. Factory shutdowns, clogged shipping routes and labor shortages at ports and along trucking lines have combined to make goods difficult to produce and transport.
The snarls show no obvious signs of easing, and while Fed officials still think inflation will fade, they are increasingly concerned that supply disruptions could last long enough to prompt consumers and businesses to expect higher prices. If people believe that their lifestyles will cost more, they may demand higher compensation — and as employers lift pay, they may charge more for their goods to cover the costs, setting off an upward spiral.
Already, companies are raising wages to lure back employees who left the job market during the pandemic and have yet to return, and landlords are raising rents rapidly. Both factors could feed into inflation in the months ahead — and unlike pandemic-tied quirks that should eventually resolve themselves, higher wages and housing costs could become a more persistent source of price pressures.
Fed officials have signaled that they would use the central bank’s policies to control inflation if it proves persistent — but they would prefer to leave borrowing costs at low levels until the job market is more fully healed. Those potentially conflicting goals could set the stage for a tense 2022.
Wall Street is watching every fresh inflation data print closely, because higher rates from the Fed could dent growth and stock prices.
And the White House is under pressure to come up with whatever fixes it can. Later on Wednesday, President Biden is expected to address the supply-chain problems — which are weighing on his approval ratings as they push prices higher.
The Labor Department will release the C.P.I. at 8:30 a.m. in Washington. Here’s what to watch:
Headline inflation is expected to climb by 5.3 percent from the prior year, matching the C.P.I.’s year-over-year increase in August. Core inflation, which strips out food and fuel prices, is expected to climb 4 percent.
Policymakers are likely to emphasize month-over-month data, since a lot of the pop in the yearly data comes from increases that happened in cars and other categories this summer. While monthly gains are decelerating, a 0.3 percent gain would translate into a roughly 3.6 percent increase if it persisted all year. Better, but still quick.
Also important is “Owner’s Equivalent Rent,” a rent-tied price gauge that accounts for about 24 percent of the overall index. It’s been moving up, and if it accelerates further, could be a source of stickier inflation.
New vehicle and used car and truck prices could again play a big role. Both were big contributors to inflation this summer. Used car prices had started to cool off, but more real-time data suggest that is changing.


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STAFF at the Brioche Pasquier bakery in Milton Keynes have been stepping up to keep themselves mentally and physically fit as well as raising money for local charities.
Their efforts have included a running competition between departments that resulted in colleagues covering the equivalent of 2,033 miles in just one month.
Other plans for the year include a month of focus on mental health awareness during April.
The initiatives are part of the company’s Employee Engagement programmes.
“We have been working at full stretch throughout the crisis as demand for our long-lasting bakery products has increased throughout lockdowns and restrictions,” says marketing executive Amy Carey.
“This has brought its own stresses for staff who have worked long hours, often overnight, to keep supermarket shelves stacked. The programmes encourage a supportive team spirit that helps people become involved as much or as little as they would like.”
Brioche Pasquier employees at the firm’s factory at Wymbush are also encouraged to take one paid day a year to volunteer with one of the four local charities supported by Brioche Pasquier – MacIntyre, MK Dons SET, Worktree and Milton Keynes Community Fridge.
“Helping other people is a great way to boost your own mental well-being as well as to provide a much-needed service,” says Amy.
One charity that the company was able to help in a big way during 2020 was FareShare, with Brioche Pasquier donating 17.7 tonnes of brioche products to the Northamptonshire branch over the year.
This amounts to 42,125 meals for organisations including refuges, out of school and breakfast clubs and care homes.
These products consisted of excess product and additional stocks baked especially to donate to the charity.


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NUMBERS ARE IN: Biggest Carnival ever generates millions
EARLY figures are indicating that this year's Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers could be the biggest yet.
The State Government revealed the 2018 event is tipped to generate $14 million to the local economy after tourists packed Queens Park and the city's Gardens for the marquee event.
The figure comes on the back of the 2016 and 2017 Carnival's pumping $10 million and $13.9 million into the city.
"It's great that on World Tourism Day we can announce this week's Carnival of Flowers is the biggest ever," Tourism Industry Development minister Kate Jones said.
"These figures just go to show how important this event is when it comes to growing Toowoomba's tourism economy.
"And with the historic 70th iteration of the event next year, we know these numbers will only continue to grow in the future."
The Heritage Bank Food and Wine Festival's 10,000 tickets sold out in record time on Saturday, with Friday and Sunday nights also seeing an increase from previous years with just under 10,000 people attending.
It is also estimated that more than 100,000 people lined the city's streets for the Grand Parade.
That surge in visitors is not expected to slow down, as the inaugural Night Garden event to outstrip expectations with 1000 tickets pre-sold prior to last night's opening.


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BURBANK — These are tough times in the theme restaurant business, but Dick Clark Restaurants Inc. thinks it still has a formula for success despite fierce competition and the financial missteps of some other themed chains, notably struggling Planet Hollywood.
Clark's eight-restaurant chain of American Bandstand Grills has recently beefed up its staff with the hiring of a director of culinary operations and a director of restaurant operations, both new positions.
The chain, a wholly owned subsidiary of Burbank-based Dick Clark Productions Inc., operates the eight restaurants primarily in the Midwest, the East and Texas. A ninth location, scheduled to open soon in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Ill., will be called Dick Clark's AB Diner.
Paul R. Cyr, the new culinary chief, said the company has already revamped the menus at five of its eight restaurants and is moving quickly to change the others.
The chain hadn't kept up with modern trends in the restaurant world and hadn't focused on presenting the food as attractively as it might have, Cyr said.
Just one example: Roasted garlic has been a popular ingredient in mashed potatoes and other dishes for a few years now, but wasn't being used at the Clark restaurants. The new menu includes roasted garlic in a number of dishes.
The revamped menu includes seven new items and changes to 24 of the 44 existing entrees, as well as more appealing presentations of existing dishes and a snazzier design for the menu itself.
The chain, which began in 1990, is based on the "American Bandstand" television show and the music industry, featuring vintage photos, gold and platinum albums, original stage costumes, concert programs, rock stars' musical instruments, rare posters and other memorabilia, as well as American Bandstand Grill merchandise customers can buy.
Michael F. Hoffer, president and chief operating officer of Dick Clark Restaurants, said the company plans two other new restaurants this year and from four to six next year. Plans call for concentrations of locations in other markets before opening in California, where the company has no restaurants. "We'll get here, but I'm not sure when," he said.
While its restaurant business has grown steadily as a percentage of parent company's sales, representing 27% of the Clark company's revenue for the latest fiscal year ended June 30, 1998, Dick Clark's Restaurants has been less profitable than the company's entertainment operations.
In the third quarter quarter ended March 31, the parent company said, revenue and profits both declined in the restaurant subsidiary, including lower year-to-year sales at existing restaurants.
The figures are telling because the challenge for theme restaurant chains, analysts say, is to boost sales and profits on a year-to-year basis at existing locations. It's relatively easy to increase overall company revenue by opening new restaurants, but so-called "same-store" sales and profits are considered a better barometer of how a chain is performing, they say.
To reinvigorate its restaurants, the Dick Clark chain in early May also hired Brad W. Lutz, director of restaurant operations.
Cyr said that while competition is fierce in the restaurant industry, the improved selection and quality of the food, along with reasonable prices, will bring customers back for repeat visits. Entrees range from $8.50 to $14.95, he said. "We still have a half-pound hamburger for under $6," he said.
The price of a hamburger can be crucial to the success of a theme restaurant, according to restaurant industry analyst Allan F. Hickok of Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis.
"Consumers are smart. They'll go once to see the celebrity memorabilia hanging on the wall, but they won't go back if the restaurant doesn't give them good value for their money," Hickok said. "They don't want to feel that they paid $10 for just a hamburger and a pickle. There has to be something, either food or entertainment, that keeps the consumer coming back."
That's not to say theme restaurants can't work, but analysts say they are an even-tougher segment of a highly competitive industry.
"Theme restaurants can be very difficult. Themes can have very short life spans," said David L. Rose, a restaurant industry analyst with Jefferies & Co. in Los Angeles. "Consumers are looking for a 'Wow!' factor when they go to a theme restaurant. Each time they go back to a theme restaurant, there is less of that 'Wow!' factor, so there has to be something else that brings them back."
If consumers have a limited appetite for overpriced meals, Hickok said, investors have an even more limited taste for theme restaurants that don't deliver profits. Also, investors have become wary of theme restaurants after some of the highly publicized problems of Florida-based Planet Hollywood, which is struggling to meet debt payments, and the lackluster stock prices of other chains, such as Rainforest Cafe, which is languishing near $5 a share after trading much higher in its early days.
The stock of Dick Clark Productions Inc. has remained relatively stable through the years and currently is trading at just under $14 a share, compared with a 52-week high of $23 and a low of $9. It closed Monday at $12.75. The company reported revenue of $28.7 million and a profit of $4.2 million for the third quarter, down from record quarterly revenue of $36.2 million and profit of $5.7 million for the comparable quarter last year.
Restaurant operations would be unlikely to have a big impact on the stock of the parent company, because restaurants remain a comparatively small portion of the overall business, Hickok said.
Nonetheless, with restaurant revenues and income both having declined for the latest quarter, Dick Clark Productions Inc. is hoping the recent changes will enable its restaurants to contribute more to the bottom line.


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Isuzu plans to announce the switch sometime this week, an executive with knowledge of the move said. A spokesman for the automaker declined comment.
New SUV campaign
Fred Bidwell, president-CEO of Malone Advertising, an independent agency, said the win is a "validation of our focus on retail marketing." Mr. Bidwell said his shop currently is working on a campaign to introduce Isuzu's new sport utility vehicle, the Ascender, which will replace the Trooper. The campaign, backed with a mix of TV, radio and newspaper ads, is scheduled to break at the end of the year.
Media planning and buying
Mr. Bidwell said he currently has a one-employee service office in Los Angeles and has no plans to expand his California operations. Overall, Malone Advertising has $9 million in revenue and 95 employees.
For client Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Malone handles the non-tire business such as industrial rubber products and auto after-market products. (Goodby Silverstein, coincidentally, handles a branding account for Goodyear.)
Denied earlier reports
Last month, Jeff Goodby, co-chairman, and Colin Probert, president of Goodby Silverstein, denied reports they were planning on resigning the account. "We have no intention of resigning the business," Mr. Probert said at the time, adding that the shop felt a sense of loyalty to Isuzu, one of Goodby, Silverstein's first national accounts and one which helped put the agency on the map.
Goodby Silverstein earlier this year picked up a second car account, the $350 million General Motors Corp.'s Saturn Corp. account.
Over the years, Goodby Silverstein won numerous awards for its Isuzu work, such as one print campaign humorously touting the "unwritten rules of the road." Although Goodby Silverstein did not invent the "Joe Isuzu" campaign featuring a lying salesman, the agency in 2001 brought back the shameless pitchman in a series of spots.
Dwindling ad spending
Isuzu's ad spending has bottomed out to $16 million in measured media for the first six months of this year. The automaker has sold only 26,947 units in the U.S. in the first half of this year, and next year will halve production to 40,000. Isuzu sold 127,630 units at its 1986 peak.


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Curaleaf International (the “Company”), part of Curaleaf Holdings (TSX:CURA) and Europe’s largest vertically integrated cannabis company, is pleased to announce its acquisition of Can4Med, a prominent pharmaceutical wholesaler specializing in cannabinoid medications in Poland.
This strategic move marks a significant milestone for both companies and underscores Curaleaf’s commitment to enhancing patient access to high-quality medical cannabis products across Europe. Poland boasts one of Europe’s largest patient populations seeking medical cannabis; by joining forces with Can4Med, Curaleaf International gains a strong foothold in this dynamic market, allowing it to serve patients more effectively and expand its product offerings.
“This acquisition represents a significant step forward for Curaleaf International. Poland’s medical cannabis market is expanding rapidly, and our partnership with Can4Med allows us to better serve patients while driving growth across Europe,” said Matt Darin, CEO of Curaleaf.
“We are thrilled that Can4med, a pioneering force in Poland’s cannabis market, has joined forces with Curaleaf, the global leader in cannabis.
“This acquisition marks a significant milestone in our journey, ensuring an unparalleled supply chain that positions us to meet and exceed the demands of the entire Polish market. Partnering with Curaleaf not only reinforces our commitment to quality and accessibility but also signifies a new era of growth and possibilities for both companies and our customers,” said Maximilian Weinberg, founder of Can4med.
As Poland positions itself at the forefront of the European cannabis market, its substantial population of 38 million is poised to catalyze significant growth and innovation in the sector. The Polish Pharmaceutical Chamber estimates that the potential number of medical cannabis users could reach 300,000, while the number of legal cannabis users (both medical and CBD) is expected to reach 1.3 million by 2026.
In 2023 alone, the country witnessed a remarkable surge in medical cannabis adoption, with over 3,000KG distributed in Poland, reflecting a growing acceptance and recognition of its therapeutic benefits. This development is supported by an extensive network of medical professionals authorized to prescribe cannabis.
Despite the complex registration process that producers and patients must navigate, Curaleaf International, through its subsidiary Four 20 Pharma GmbH, has emerged as a leading force, securing its position as one of the only licensed producers in the Polish market.
This exclusive status underscores Curaleaf’s strategic foresight and commitment to meeting the rigorous compliance and quality standards required to operate in this burgeoning market, setting a benchmark for excellence and reliability in the European cannabis industry.
About Curaleaf International: Curaleaf International, a subsidiary of Curaleaf Holdings, is Europe’s largest vertically integrated cannabis company. With a strong track record of product innovation and regulatory compliance, Curaleaf International has established itself as a trusted provider of cannabis-based medicines in key European markets.
About Can4Med: Can4Med is an experienced pharmaceutical wholesaler specializing in the acquisition, registration, and distribution of medical cannabis and products containing THC and other cannabinoids in Poland. The company’s focus on importing and distributing cannabinoid medications has positioned it as a critical link in the supply chain, ensuring patients have access to safe and effective treatments.
Can4Med holds a pharmaceutical wholesaler license which permits the marketing and distribution of narcotics for medical purposes and allows the wholesaling of medicinal products and pharmaceutical raw materials for pharmacy prescriptions. Backed by an experienced and knowledgeable management team and staff, Can4Med is well-positioned to register and distribute cannabis products throughout Poland.
About Curaleaf Holdings
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) (“Curaleaf”) is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to enhance lives by cultivating, sharing and celebrating the power of the plant. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company and its brands, including Curaleaf, Select, and Grassroots provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult use markets.
In the United States, our brands are sold in 17 states with operations encompassing 147 dispensaries and employing more than 5,200 team members. Curaleaf International is the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in Europe with a unique supply and distribution network throughout the European market, bringing together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF.


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When a cell phone case company says they have a nearly indestructible case, people want to see a tangible demonstration of what it can do.
So… the fine folks over at Urban Armor Gear decided to drop an iPhone 6 from an altitude of just over 101,000 feet (19.1 miles) – well into the stratosphere. After attaching the phone to a GoPro equipped rig, the company let the phone drop and let the video speak for itself.
According to the YouTube video description,
On November 28th, 2014 we sent a brand new iPhone 6 on the ultimate adventure to the stratosphere. On its journey, the iPhone reached a height of over 101,000 feet and encountered temperatures as cold as -79 degrees F and winds as strong as 70 MPH. During the descent the iPhone 6 and flight rig withstood a 150 PRM rotation as the parachute deployed and the rig fought to stabilize.
Upon landing the flight rig broke apart, however the iPhone remained unscathed and in perfect working order.
The flight rig contained two GoPro cameras, 1 GPS locator and a backup phone with GPS and active tracking installed. The flight lasted over 3 hours and covered 12 miles across the ground. The iPhone 6 was wrapped in our composite iPhone 6 case with no screen protector installed. The iPhone was on upon takeoff but froze and shut down as the temperature dropped. When the iPhone 6 and flight rig were found, the iPhone was powered on and tested for full functionality.
Urban Armor cases are available for the iOS and Android phones and tablets as well as the Microsoft Surface Pro.


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Companies in Romania, India, and Israel launch telematics and navigation solutions, as thought leaders arrive in Taiwan for Telematics Taiwan 2012
In this week's Brief: AROBS Transilvania Software, be-mobile, Telematics Taiwan 2012, Telematics Update, MapmyIndia, BMW, Honda, Ford, Jaguar-Land Rover, Fiat, Renault, Waze, Google, TomTom, Nokia, Garmin, Trimble, Meridian, and the Car Connectivity Consortium
This week in telematics provided further evidence of the connected car’s expanding global footprint.
In Romania, a local software company specializing in customized automotive solutions (AROBS Transilvania Software) teamed up with be-mobile to launch TraficOK, a comprehensive traffic portal for the Romanian public. The portal provides live traffic content sourced from an extensive fleet and enhanced by journalistic data managed by a dedicated team of traffic operators located at the TraficOK headquarters in Cluj-Napoca.
TraficOK provides detailed and up-to-the-minute traffic information for in-car navigation systems, smartphones, mass media, and public authorities. “Romania’s continuing surge towards an increasingly smart society makes this the perfect time to launch TraficOK,” says Voicu Oprean, CEO of AROBS Transilvania Software.
“be-mobile provides live speeds and travel times for highways and local roads, includes upcoming travel expectations, road works, obstacles, speed cameras, weather conditions and petrol prices — this is cutting edge technology and is ideal for the Romanian market.”
In Taiwan, thought leaders in the telematics space gathered for Telematics Taiwan 2012, a conference geared toward exploring global trends in telematics and Asia’s growing role in the sector.
Precksha Saksena-Sood, managing director at Telematics Update, will deliver a presentation at the conference about cloud computing and the auto industry in Europe. Saksena-Soon will argue that the presence of the cloud and the increasing demand for infotainment has already begun to change the automotive paradigm and is increasing the complexity of safety requirements.
In India, MapmyIndia announced that a suite of India’s top-selling car models now offer GPS navigation powered by MapmyIndia. The car models represent many of the world’s top OEMs, including BMW, Honda, Ford, Jaguar-Land Rover, Fiat, and Renault.
MapmyIndia has upgraded its navigation solution to cover 7.1 million places of interest, 1.9 million road kilometers, nearly 5000 cities with street-level details, and 600,000 towns and villages, an impressive feat considering the large holes in coverage in other emerging markets, such as Brazil.
In Israel, mobile satellite navigation company Waze, which recently received a boost in usership when Apple CEO Tim Cook recommended that iPhone users download Waze’s map app, released a new location-based advertising platform.
The platform shows local merchants and large brands in areas nearby to Waze's customers, based upon the satellite signals on those customers' phones. Waze is a crowd-sourcing app that delivers real-time traffic based upon the satellite signals of its customers, which it now will be using to send ads.
Waze’s main rivals of Google, TomTom, Nokia, and Garmin are expected to respond with some form of location-based advertising of their own.
Trimble released new enhancements to the Trimble GeoManager Driver Safety solution, which enables organisations to manage driving behaviours by identifying and rewarding good drivers, and recognising and coaching drivers who put the company at risk.
The latest enhancements include new report formats, an improved executive dashboard and driver scorecards, and real-time delivery of idling and speeding alerts, all increasing visibility into risky driving behaviour. With the ability to inform multiple stakeholders within a business from human resources to the board of directors, Driver Safety allows both trends and individual behaviours to be recognised and addressed.
Meridian, the mobile-software company that launched the first indoor navigation app for the iPhone, made this same indoor-navigation technology available to other app developers.
Previously, the indoor-positioning experience provided by Meridian has been available only to customers building apps from the ground up with Meridian's proprietary content management system.
Now, third-party developers can use Meridian's software development kits to implement Meridian's turn-by-turn directions tools and capabilities to achieve an indoor-GPS-like experience into new or currently available apps.
The Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) announced plans to open the MirrorLink standard to mobile app developers. In the first quarter of 2013, CCC will release MirrorLink version 1.0.1, which will come with a revised set of certification guidelines aimed at streamlining the process of creating and approving apps with drive-mode functionality that conforms to Auto Alliance guidelines for minimal driver distraction.
On the product side, there are already more than 40 MirrorLink-certified cars, smartphones and aftermarket head units available to consumers for purchase.
“Opening MirrorLink to app developers is a key factor in getting as many MirrorLink apps as possible into the marketplace and available to consumers,” says Mika Rytkonen, chairman and president of the CCC.
“Availability of apps is also a critical validating component for the standard as more product manufacturers deploy MirrorLink in cars, phones and aftermarket head units.”
For exclusive business analysis and insight about automotive apps, read Telematics and the future of automotive apps.
For exclusive insurance telematics business analysis and insight, read TU’s Smart Vehicle Technology: The Future of Insurance Telematics report.