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that McDonald’s presented at the Last week I wrote about a case study Mobile Social Communications conference in New York. Rick Wion, head of social media at McDonald’s, boasted that a special McDonald’s ran on Foursquare Day in April increased foot traffic at McDonald’s 33%.
That’s no small number, and since not all 26 million McDonald’s customers are on Foursquare, it was a bit unclear what, exactly, had increased 33%.
With commenters and bloggers questioning the results, I followed up with Wion. As it turns out that McDonald’s results were not measured in actual foot traffic. According to Wion:
“We measured check-ins, not foot traffic, transactions, or sales, on Foursquare Day.”
That’s an over 20 million customer difference. However, Wion still
stands behind his results. And he’s using this case study to justify
more social media offers at McDonald’s.
September 18th 2010


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It’s been over a year since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry said “I Do” at St George’s chapel in Windsor last year May. On the day, Meghan surprised Harry with a sweet gesture, as she had flowers from all of the countries in the Commonwealth embroidered into her stunning six-foot veil. Meghan wore an unforgettable Givenchy gown on her wedding day, and her veil featured gorgeous, intricate embroidery. Speaking in HBO documentary, Queen of the World Meghan revealed that Harry had no idea she would incorporate the Commonwealth in such an intimate way.
Meghan Markle: Duchess’ wedding veil revealed this about her role in the Royal Family expert says
“[Harry was] really over the moon to find out that I would make this choice for our day together,” Meghan told a royal conservator while looking at the dress.
She also revealed it wasn’t just Harry who was elated with the choice of embroidery in her wedding outfit, saying: “I think the other members of the family had a similar reaction,” she added.
Express.co.uk spoke to fashion stylist Melita Latham and she says Meghan’s choice of veil revealed the role and stance she wanted to take when joining the Royal Family.
She said: “Meghan is a strong woman and knows exactly what she wants. Her embroidered veil design was a clear example of Meghan’s wish to pay her respects to new beginnings, her husband and the Commonwealth.
“The intricate detailing and workmanship that took 500 hours to complete is a unique symbol of unity, becoming part of the royal family and indeed the world, the Commonwealth.”
She added: “It is believed that Meghan’s two personal favourites are the Wintersweet which grows in the grounds of Kensington palace and the California poppy from California Meghan’s place of birth.
“This was a huge and sweet gesture to bring so many ‘worlds’ apart, together. A truly beautiful sign that Meghan wants to bring harmony, love and support to her husband’s charities and bring us all closer together.”
Meghan recently launched her own highstreet clothing range, and like with her veil, it seems she also wanted to make a statement with the workwear range as she hinted to her romance with Harry.
The Duchess created a clothing line in her latest charity project. Proceeds from the capsule collection go towards Smart Works, a charity that helps women into work.
Now it has been revealed how Meghan drew on Prince Harry inspiration for the clothes.
Meghan and Harry’s first official royal appearance together took place at the Invictus Games Toronto in 2017.
On the third day of the event, Meghan wore the white shirt from Misha Nonoo’s brand, and her current collection has a very similar shirt.
Fashion PR expert Dominique St. John told Express.co.uk: “We saw her sport a similar white shirt from Misha Nonoo on her first official appearance with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in Toronto.”
Source: Read Full Article

domain: news


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Fredonia pot panel sticks to the facts
Fredonia’s Cannabis Advisory Committee and village officials do not take an official stance about the drug’s usage and legalization, its founder said earlier this month.
“The board and the team are not advocates or detractors of the use of any substance,” Fredonia Trustee Jon Espersen said at Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting. “The law is the law and our task is to make sure the village is aware of the laws, the changing regulations and where the village stands.”
Reporting on committee business, Espersen said it has tasked people with contacting villages similar in size and college population where cannabis has been legal for some time, to find out their hurdles in implementing sales.
“We don’t want to reinvent a wheel,” he said. “If we can learn the mistakes that they have made and avoid them, then I think that would behoove us.” A report on what the contacts found will come at the next committee meeting.
Espersen noted that there are opportunities for business related to cannabis growing. “An ancillary business might be a store that sold aeration equipment or soil, they just can’t sell seeds or plants, but they can sell product to help individuals to grow the plant,” he said. “Those opportunities are available now, that could be opened now.”
There’s nine different cannabis sales licenses available from the state, and Espersen encouraged anyone interested in one to contact his committee.
“We’re working on zoning laws now, placements,” he said. “I’ve got a scalable map of the village so we can determine exactly where a dispensary or a lounge can and cannot be, based on distance from a church or a village property, school, daycare, park, any of those things.”
Adding that Fredonia was one of the few municipalities planning for the possibility of a dispensary, he concluded, “I think it behooves us to get as far ahead of the cart as we possibly can.”
Mayor Douglas Essek said, “If I implied that this board was for or against (cannabis legalization), I apologize.” Essek has been a skeptic of cannabis legalization and made statements to that effect at previous village meetings.
Espersen said, “I didn’t assume that. … One thing I did want to say is, it might be time for the village to consider no smoking signs on village properties, because wherever tobacco is permitted, cannabis is permitted as well. There’s obviously places in the village where we don’t want that to happen. And there is no local law about where you can and cannot smoke, other than not in restaurants, sidewalks, etc.”
He said there are no-smoking signs up on some of the village playgrounds, but not its parks.
Trustee David Bird said restrictions on smoking ought to extend to within 50 or 75 feet of parks. He noted that smoke travels and there is currently a situation where people are smoking just outside the Barker Street Playground, and it’s blowing into the playground. Espersen said he and Police Chief David Price planned a conversation with the owner of the property where the smoke is coming from.


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MSME’s transitioned from Cloud scalability to elasticity
The key trends
There are lot of predictions from analyst to technology vendors on the key trends in technology especially computing power, quantum computing, smarter devices, AI, Machine learning and datafication to name a few. We still have a long way to go with leveraging the digitalization strategy especially with Cloud technology being the key propeller to achieve business strategy success.
Cloud to scale the customers’ business
Scalability is the inherent capacity of a system to cater to growing demand by adding more or bigger computing resources. This term “scalability” was coined to describe the ideal state of the architecture that is growth-friendly for successful startups or MSME in India. A scalable cloud architecture is made possible through virtualization. Unlike physical machines whose resources and performances are relatively set, virtual machines (VMs) are highly flexible and can be easily scaled up or down. They can be moved to a different server or hosted on multiple servers at once; workload and applications can be shifted to larger VMs as needed. Third-party cloud providers also have all the vast hardware and software resources already in place to allow for rapid scaling that an individual business could not achieve cost-effectively on its own.
The latest technology adoption trends in MSMEs
Post pandemic the MSME’s have transitioned from Cloud scalability to elasticity. Elasticity refers to the ability of a system to drastically change computing capacity to match an ever fluctuating workload. Systems are configured so that clients are only charged for consumed instances, regardless of sudden bursts in demand. In an elastic system, you pay for what you consume. This is pretty relevant in a start-up environment wherein a new launched mobile/web application needs to react to their system usage with increased user surge or in the traditional set up retail business who have to be elastic with seasonal buying behavior patterns.
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By: John Lofstock, Editor.
Convenience Store Decisions‘ annual Category Management Outlook issue is routinely one of my favorite issues of the year because it gives the CSD staff an opportunity not only to analyze the industry’s performance over the past 12 months, but to forecast the sales trends retailers can expect to see over the next 12 months.
It was relatively easy last year to predict that foodservice would continue climbing up the sales chart, but we were also accurate in reporting strong growth in frozen beverages, craft beer and cigars.
For the upcoming year, categories with notable growth projections include smokeless tobacco, coffee, iced teas and commissary-prepared, wraps and salads.
While keeping ahead of the trends is important, the key takeaway from this Category Management Outlook issue is that all retailers must place a heavy emphasis on category management. With the average convenience store stocking thousands upon thousands of SKUs, real time scan data must be used to improve all phases of store management.
It is important to develop a system to distribute the reports to all of the members of your team that have a need for the information, but avoid analysis paralysis. The information obtained from the scanning reports does little good if there is not a structure to utilize the information.
Focusing on Customers
Since consumer behavior and motivations can differ dramatically, the effectiveness of marketing should differ systematically across each category.
These issues are key to any formal category management process where retailers must define the role that each category plays in the overall store portfolio. Effective category management requires that retailers understand where to allocate scarce marketing resources in order to get the biggest bang for the buck.
This is one area c-store owners have typically excelled. While the industry is a lean and battle-tested group that has learned to survive the onslaught of competition targeting its market share both in-store and at the pumps, this prolonged weakened economy has stirred creativity and unique operating solutions like never before. For many operators the recession is just another obstacle they’re forced to overcome with the same patience and poise they displayed while taking on tobacco regulations and excessive credit card fees.
In fact, among many retailers there is a certain degree of optimism that this industry has matured and will be a dominant force across all retail channels as the economic situation brightens. Who knew market volatility would be the edge c-store owners needed to strike fear into the hearts of drugs stores and supermarkets?
But even the brighter days ahead will be filled with uncertainty. The National Restaurant Association predicted 25% of restaurants that currently exist will be gone within the next 18 months. Currently, there is one restaurant for every 110 households in the U.S.
Focus on improving the customer experience. “If you ask someone about a good experience they had at a restaurant, they’ll almost never tell you about how good the food was; they’ll tell you how they were made to feel,” said Jeff Joiner, a consultant from MVP Sales. Focusing on what feelings you want to convey as a foodservice operator—quality, consistency, image, culture, etc.—is more important than the actual food, he added, using Chuck E. Cheese’s as the perfect example.
“They are hugely profitable, and it’s not because of their pizza,” Joiner said. “They sell entertainment and fun.”
Keep that in mind when planning for the future.
“The average corporate executive spends 2% of time actively thinking about the future,” Joiner said. “That is simply not enough. Force yourself; discipline yourself on figuring out where you want to be in five years. That’s the best way to avoid getting complacent.”
In other words, your future begins today.


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The 2022/23 orange crop from Florida is expected to total 28 million boxes of 40.8 kilograms each, the lowest since 1935/36 and 32 % down from that last season, according to the estimates from the USDA.
However, the damages caused by hurricane Ian have not been considered yet. Thus, the recent report has concerned the agents in the citrus sector. The USDA’s next estimates are supposed to be released on Nov. 9th, however, the damages caused by hurricane Ian are not expected to be considered in that report yet, which is supposed to happen in the December’s report.
Thus, local agents believe Florida’s production will be at least 40 % lower than that forecast by the USDA. In 2017/18, when Florida was last hit by a hurricane (Irma), production decreased by 34.6 %, and agents agree that Ian was more destructive than Irma. Besides the damages caused to crops, warehouses and equipment were destroyed too.
In this context, the United States’ necessity of importing orange juice – which was already growing up – is expected to increase even more, which may raise Brazilian juice exports to the country. However, it is important to consider that supply has been low in Brazil, where ending stocks are forecast to be lower than the strategic level (of 250 thousand tons). In August, CitrusBR estimated the ending stocks in the 2022/23 Brazilian season (by June 2023) to total 140 thousand tons, considering higher exports to the USA – however, this increase did not consider the effects of hurricane Ian on Florida crops and production.
So far, imports are following opposite trends in the US, depending on the type of juice: for Not From Concentrate juice (NFC), imports are rising, while for Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (FCOJ), they are fading. According to Florida’s Citrus Department, from October/21 to August/22, the US imported 9 % less FCOJ than that in the same period of the previous season; however, the imports of NFC juice increased by 43.9 %. On the other hand, ending stocks of both types decreased: 39.5 % for FCOJ and 25.3 % for NFC juice.
Brazil is the US’s major juice supplier. Considering FCOJ, 50.1 % of the total imported by the US in 2021/22 came from Brazil, which was followed by Mexico (42.4 %). Considering NFC juice, 78.6 % of the total imported came from Brazil, against 20.5 % from Mexico.
BRAZILIAN MARKET – The demand for oranges was low in the Brazilian market in the first fortnight of October. According to Cepea collaborators, the unstable weather (with rains and periods of lower temperatures) and the holiday on October 12 constrained consumption. Still, prices remained firm, majorly underpinned by the supply in the in natura market, which is being controlled. For tahiti lime, values faded, due to lower demand. But still, they continued at high levels.
The prices for Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (FCOJ) Equivalent rose high at ICE Futures in the first fortnight of April, reflecting the current low world supply, majorly in Brazil and in Florida (USA). Between April 1st and 13, the May/22 contract for orange juice increased by 20 %, and in 2022, by more than 30 %, closing at USD 2,650/ton on April 13.
Indeed, orange production (and juice production) in the Brazilian citrus belt (São Paulo State and the Triângulo Mineiro) decreased in the 2021/22 crop, which is practically over. According to a report released by Fundecitrus in the first half of April, the Brazilian citrus belt is expected to harvest 262.97 million boxes (40.8-kilograms) of oranges, 10.6 % down from the first estimates (May/21) and 2.2 % lower than that in the previous season.
This context will influence the Brazilian supply of orange juice, since the citrus belt is the major orange-producing region in Brazil. In February, Citrus BR estimated that, by the end of the season (in June 2022), the national stocks of orange juice (forecast at 127 thousand tons) will not be enough to ensure the world supply until the new crop (2022/23) steps up.
The same scenario is observed in Florida, where production estimates were revised down by the USDA by 19 % compared to the expected in Oct/21, to 38.2 million boxes, 28 % lower than that last season.
Lower production in the current and in previous seasons is reflecting on local stocks. According to the Florida Department of Citrus, from the beginning of the 2021/22 crop, in Oct/21, to March 26, 2022, the stocks of FCOJ were 31 % lower than that in the same period of the previous season. For not-from-concentrate orange juice, stocks were 25 % lower.
In this context, although the United States did not increase imports of concentrated orange juice – which decreased by 4.6 % between Oct/21 and Jan/22, according to the Florida Department of Citrus –, they increased purchases of not-from-concentrate orange juice. Brazil supplied 85 % of all the not-from-concentrate orange juice and 71 % of the FCOJ imported by the USA.
These estimates for Brazil and the USA explain the recent valuations of orange juice at ICE Futures. In both countries, supply is not expected to recover in the coming season (2022/23).
In the Brazilian citrus belt, although orange production may increase slightly, a higher harvest would not be enough to raise stocks and ensure world supply, since the current volume stocked is very low. In Florida, with the high incidence of greening on orchards (which has been lowering the average productivity of orange trees) and the smaller area with orange orchards in the state in the last years, production is not expected to return to the levels observed in previous decades.
Orange juice (volume equivalent to concentrate juice) exports finished the 2020/21 season downing 7 % compared to the previous (2019/20). From July 2020 to June 2021, shipments to all destinations totaled 1.03 million tons, according to Secex. The revenue, in turn, amounted 1.54 billion USD, for a decrease of 15 % in relation to the season before.
The low performance is related to the smaller orange supply in the Brazilian citrus belt (São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro), but players from the industry say that international prices (in USD) were not very high. On the average of the season, prices of the concentrate juice (which accounts for most of the revenue obtained) were 11 % lower, according to Secex. On the other hand, NFC (not-from-concentrate) values were 8 % higher in the same comparison. It is important to mention that the dollar valuation favored the revenue in Real (BRL).
The decrease was mostly influenced by the European Union, a major purchaser of the Brazilian product: it imported 649.95 thousand tons, 13 % down compared to the season before. The revenue was 982.86 million USD, for a decrease of 20 % in the same comparison.
Exports to the United States, in turn, increased. In general, besides consecutive reductions in the orange production in Florida (limiting local inventories), the pandemic scenario has favoured the demand in some periods, due to the healthy aspect of consuming the product. Shipments totaled 198.34 thousand tons in the 2020/21 season, 13 % up compared to the previous. The revenue rose 7 %, totaling 297.53 million USD.
As for the 2021/22 season, which starts in July, Brazilian exports may again be limited due to smaller orange production and low pace of consumption. However, the economic recovery is likely to favour sales.
The Brazilian orange crop for Marketing Year (MY) 2020/21 is forecast at 390.8 million 40.8-kg boxes (MBx) or 15.94 million metric tons (mmt), an increase of seven percent relative to the current season. Although citrus trees are in the on-year of the production cycle, adverse weather notably affected the production potential for the upcoming season. Total Brazilian FCOJ 65 Brix equivalent exports for MY 2020/21 are forecast relatively stable at 1.050 million metric tons (mt), an increase of 18,000 mt vis-à- vis MY 2019/20 …
Please download the full report: www.nass.usda.gov
The Brazilian orange crop for Marketing Year (MY) 2020/21 is forecast at 415 million 40.8-kg boxes (MBx), equal to 16.93 million metric tons (mmt), an increase of 14 percent relative to the current season. The forecast assumes normal weather conditions will prevail as of mid-December 2020 to support fruit setting and development of the second blossoming in the Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais commercial citrus belt. The current orange crop estimate in the Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais citrus belt was revised downward from 287.8 to 269.4 MBx (11.74 mmt to 10.99 mmt) as a consequence of the lack of rain fall and high temperatures between September and October. Total Brazilian FCOJ 65 Brix equivalent exports for MY 2020/21 are forecast at 1.08 mmt, similar to revised figure for MY 2019/20 …
Please download the full citrus crop production forecast: www.nass.usda.gov
As orange production is higher this season (2019/20), orange juice inventories should increase again until the end of the crop. According to a report from CitrusBR (Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters) released on February 18, ending stocks of Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (FCOJ) equivalent should total 412.83 thousand tons at the processing plants from São Paulo by June 30, 2020. This is the highest volume registered in five seasons (since 2014/15), considering CitrusBR’s historical series.
If this volume is confirmed, it would account for a 63 % increase compared to that in the 2018/19 season (253.18 thousand tons). This scenario was already expected, since orange production in the citrus belt (São Paulo and the Triângulo Mineiro) increased 34.6 % between the last season and the current one, according to Fundecitrus (Citrus Defense Fund).
Of the total volume produced, still according to CitrusBR, 59.7 million boxes (40.8-kilo box) will be allocated to the in natura market and 325.17 million, to processing. The average crop yield is estimated at 270.1 boxes for a ton of FCOJ Equivalent, and the total juice production is forecast at 1.2 million tons.
In August/19, Cepea calculations had pointed to the possibility of inventories to increase at processors to levels similar to that estimated by CitrusBR, at 400 thousand tons.
REFLEXES IN 2020/21 – Although estimates point to a recovery in the volume stocked (the last four seasons closed with lower volumes), the effects on juice inventories in 2020/21 will depend on the amount to be produced in the coming season. However, since citrus growers expect next crop to be at least 30% smaller than the 2019/20, inventories should decrease to lower levels in June/21.
If production decreases, the prices paid to growers by the industry may rise, since demand should remain firm in this segment, despite the high inventories. In the in natura market, quotes may be favored by low supply, since processors should try to purchase the largest possible amount of fruits, to prevent inventories from decreasing to critical levels in June/2021.
MARKET IN FEBRUARY – Orange consumption decreased in the in natura market in the second fortnight of February, due to the rainy weather in some regions of São Paulo State and fruits’ lower quality. However, the low supply of higher quality pear oranges underpinned prices during the month. Between February 3 and 28, pear orange prices averaged 33.06 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, on tree, 8.3 % up compared to that in January.
TAHITI LIME – The harvesting pace for tahiti lime was fast in February in the major producing regions from São Paulo State. Supply, which has been increasing since December, hit its peak last month, and according to agents consulted by Cepea, it may continue high until late March.
Besides that, rains influenced the in natura market too, hampering activities in the field and lowering fruits quality. Moreover, the sales pace was slow in February, due to the carnival season in Brazil.
Thus, in February, tahiti lime quotes averaged 10.24 BRL per 27-kilo box, harvested, the lowest for the month since 2017, in nominal terms, and 14.9 % down compared to that in January.
Brazilian exports of Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (FCOJ) Equivalent decreased 19 % in the 2018/19 crop – compared to the previous season), as expected. Between July/18 and June/19, shipments totaled only 982.24 thousand tons, according to Secex. As for the revenue, it totaled 1.8 billion USD, 19 % down in the same comparison.
The volume exported from Brazil in the 18/19 season was the second smallest in the last 20 years of Secex historical series, only larger than that from 2016/17, when the Brazilian citrus belt harvested a small crop – which, in turn, resulted in the lowest inventory of all times, according to data from CitrusBR (Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters).
The bad performance in 2018/19 was linked to two factors: lower orange supply in the Brazilian citrus belt (São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro) and a decrease in the international demand, mainly from the United States. Lower exports, however, prevented juice inventories at Brazilian processing plants from decreasing to critical levels at the end of the season (June 30 2019).
According to a report from CitrusBR, in June/19, inventories at Brazilian processing plants closed at only 224.51 thousand tons, which is considered low compared to that in recent years – inventories in June/19 were only lower than in 2010/11 and in 2016/17.
Brazilian shipments to the United States decreased a steep 38 % compared to that last season, totaling only 196.4 thousand tons. Revenue, in turn, dropped 39 %, to 340.96 million USD. Besides lower consumption in America, this result is linked to expectations for a crop recovery in Florida in 2018/19. According to a report from the USDA released today, July 11th, Florida should harvest 71.6 million boxes of 40.8 kilos, 59 % more than in 2017/18.
To the European Union, the biggest importer of the Brazilian orange juice, shipments totaled 643.74 thousand tons, 11% down compared to that last season. Revenue, in turn, reached 1.19 billion USD, 9 % down in the same comparison.
BRAZILIAN MARKET IN JULY – The cold weather in São Paulo State reduced citrus consumption in the first fortnight of July. According to Cepea collaborators, despite the occasional frosts in some producing regions (mainly in southwestern SP), there were no losses at orchards. Between July 1 and 15, pear orange prices averaged 18.07 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, on tree, stable (-0.05 %) compared to that between June 1 and 15.
Concerning tahiti lime, besides lower supply (due to the harvesting end for the fruits produced in the first semester of 2019), rains pushed up quotes in the first half of July. Between July 1 and 15, tahiti lime quotes averaged 25.19 BRL per 27-kilo box, harvested, a staggering 84.5 % up compared to that in the same period of the previous month.
The Brazilian exports of Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (FCOJ) Equivalent in the 2018/19 season are ending and the volume shipped to all destinations is still low – May was the ninth consecutive month of lower sales (this scenario has been observed since September/18).
This scenario, which was already expected by agents, is linked to the lower orange production in the Brazilian citrus belt (São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro) this season as well as lower demand from the international market, mainly the United States. The exports decrease, in turn, prevents orange inventories of Brazilian processing plants from decreasing to critical levels by the end of the season (June 30 2019).
This season (July/18 to May/19), Brazilian juice exports to all destinations have decreased 18 % compared to the same period in the 2017/18 season, totaling 918.46 thousand tons, according to Secex. Revenue, in turn, has dropped 17%, totaling 1.69 billion USD.
Exports to the European Union, the biggest purchaser of the Brazilian juice, totaled 592 thousand tons, 8 % down compared to that in the same period last year. Revenue, in turn, totaled 1.09 billion USD, 6 % down in the same comparison.
Shipments to the United States had the steepest decrease in the season, of 38 % compared to the previous crop, totaling 190.71 thousand tons of juice. This result is linked to the lower demand from the USA, due to the estimates for the recovery of the 2018/19 crop from Florida as well as lower consumption. Revenue, in turn, dropped 39 % in the same comparison, totaling 331.55 million USD.
ESTIMATES – According to a report released by the USDA on June 11, the orange crop from Florida should increase by 58.4 % compared to the previous, totaling 71.4 million boxes (1.3 % down compared to that forecast in May).
Despite the decrease in the consumption of orange juice in the United States, the demand from the country for the Brazilian orange juice may not decrease too sharply in the coming seasons, due to the effects of greening on American crops in the long term.
BRAZILIAN MARKET – The trading pace was slow in the Brazilian citrus market in the first fortnight of June. However, the volume of oranges in the ideal stage for the in natura market was gradually decreasing in São Paulo, due to the increase in the deliveries to processing plants. Thus, between June 3 and 14, pear orange quotes averaged 18.08 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, on tree, 21.5 % down compared to that in the first half of May.
As for tahiti lime, despite the large volume available for harvesting, the current weather allows the fruits to stay on tree for longer. Thus, growers reduced the pace of activities in the field, aiming to prevent prices from dropping too much. In the first half of June, tahiti lime quotes averaged 13.65 BRL per 27-kilo box, harvested, a slight 20.6 % down compared to that in the first fortnight of May.
EXPORTS – Lemon and lime shipments were positive in May, surpassing, for the first time in the year, the amount exported in 2018. Last month, exports hit a record (revenue and volume) in all Secex series, which started in 1997.
According to Brazilian exporters consulted by Cepea, as the weather delayed the maturation of tahiti lime crops in SP, shipments decreased from March to April, increasing again in May. According to data from Secex, Brazil exported 18.94 thousand tons of lemon and lime in May, almost two-fold the amount shipped in May 2018 and 57% more than that exported in April/19.


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Some critics have criticized Google's price points for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, suggesting the company is leaving money on the table, noted Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. As for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, both devices have a max room of 126GB. They feature two built-in microphones and touching the right earbud allows wearers with Android handsets to speak to Google Assistant on their phone, without needing to preface every request with "Okay, Google". For example, Verizon claims to deliver Pixel XL 2 products by October 25 and those products are very much in stock.
Google's announcement-filled event on Wednesday affirmed that the company is betting big on hardware and artificial intelligence (AI). Due to this feature, the smartphone can capture, clear videos with stabilization. The phone supports fingerprint sensor and network features like 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.2 and GPS / GLONASS.
Google has reached a stage where it feels ready to venture into the hardware market and by acquiring the Pixel team from HTC, the company is showing glimpses of a tech giant that was supposed to compete Apple on this front long ago.
Metropolitan Police say London Natural History Museum incident is not terror-related
Nearby museums including the Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum were evacuated with Tube stations sealed off by police. Authorities determined that the incident was a "road-traffic collision" after four hours of investigation.
Google is certainly making an effort to lead the race in the smart home speaker competition. But don't overlook what these accessories add to the phone, as they could prove to be the Pixel's secret weapon against rival phones such as the iPhone 8, iPhone X, Galaxy S8 and Note 8.
Be that as it may, the iPhone 8 Plus has been applauded in specific divisions, and shouldn't be composed off as a pointless camera telephone by any methods. So that means voice queries, reminders, playing music and more. Now this is something that Apple is also offering with iOS 11 where there is a specific "Do Not Disturb While Driving" mode. At that, here's how to switch from iPhone to Pixel 2. And when this is coupled with Google's machine learning chops, the potential is a vastly superior bokeh mode in low light. This will automatically get toggled on when a user is driving.
Now Google Pixel 2 owners face a similarly frustrating future, but Google seems to be low on sympathy. Both are now available for pre-orders in Australia, Canada, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the U.S. Google would also like to make Lens a verb, so make sure you say "I'm Lensing this dog!" when using the feature.
In fact, consumers in the United States who buy Pixel 2 series via Verizon cellular operator should have to wait for four to five weeks at the least.
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- GST Council relief to exporters, small businesses


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I think any litho-related consortium work esp. EUV is still carried out by SEMATECH and IMEC. This new consortium looks interesting because it is initiated by the Japanese government.
I think Taiwan and China got snubbed because of the Diayou Islands and East China Sea incident. That's why TSMC is strangely absent from the initial listing. Hopefully some Taiwan participants would be allowed.
what does chip technology mean...lithography technology or resist or design or other. I do not think that it is related to lithography or resist because Intel is already supporting EUV and it does not make sense to create another consortium without any litho partner.
Drones are, in essence, flying autonomous vehicles. Pros and cons surrounding drones today might well foreshadow the debate over the development of self-driving cars. In the context of a strongly regulated aviation industry, "self-flying" drones pose a fresh challenge. How safe is it to fly drones in different environments? Should drones be required for visual line of sight – as are piloted airplanes? Join EE Times' Junko Yoshida as she moderates a panel of drone experts.


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UK age ratings and anti-filesharing enforced
Retailers in the UK are once again being banned from selling adult rated games to purchasers over 12 years in age, the new legislation coming as part of the Digital Economy Bill mooted today.
Age ratings had been legally enforceable up until August, when a shake up of EU censorship rules saw the law altered.
Despite this move, shop owners promised to abide by un-passed legislation and not sell games to minors - although theoretically legal.
Video games censorship in the UK has been the subject of quite a few changes in the past year or so, the BBFC ratings ditched in favour of the Europe-wide PEGI standard.
The bill also looks to crackdown on file-sharing of copyrighted media (games, films, music et al), the new laws compelling IPSs to stop persist filesharers. Warning letters will be sent as part of the system, which will look to cut file-sharing by 70 percent by 2011.
Thanks to the BBC.
- Dark Souls 2 could see a fourth pack of DLC released
- Far Cry 4 is all about player choice, has five endings
- Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare PC system specifications announced
- Evolution adds more multiplayer events to Driveclub as they continue to work on the game's server issues
- Rockstar announces a San Andreas 10th Anniversary event this weekend for GTA Online
- Dead Or Alive 5: Last Round gets a release date
- Unfinished Swan to hit the PS4 and PS Vita next week
- Gamersgate.com CEO emphasizes that they have nothing to do with #Gamergate
- Microsoft announces the feature list for the November Xbox One update


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Dec 12•No escaping the notch: 15 phones with screen notches


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Six Continents joins new campaign to attract tourists to Egypt
Six Continents Hotels, which has a major presence in Egypt, has teamed up with Egypt Air in a major campaign to restore confidence in the country and win back the tourists.Egypt's tourism industry has been dealt a huge blow in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US, with the country suffering more than any other Middle East destination, with millions of dollars being lost through a general fear of traveling. "The truth is that Egypt remains a wonderfully exciting travel destination, and people have no reason to fear coming here," said Raymond Khalife, president, Six Continents Hotels, Middle East and Africa, at the company's regional headquarters in Cairo. "We have formed a working partnership with Egypt Air to drive home this message. The tourists will eventually realise that it is safe to visit Egypt, but we want to accelerate that process to restrict the already considerable losses suffered by the tourism industry," he said. Mahmoud Hamed, Egypt Air's vice-president, commercial, said: "Egypt is one of the world's most fascinating travel destinations, with a huge amount of attractions." In an effort to persuade more tourists to return, Six Continents Hotels has launched an intensive public relations and marketing initiative. It has also announced a range of attractive winter holiday packages, starting at just $30 per person per night at its seven-strong Egyptian line-up of Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts stretching from the banks of the Nile in Cairo to Egypt's world-famous monuments and the Red Sea Riviera.


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Written by Jonny Williamson
Following its biggest presence at the event for almost a decade, the response follows Bruderer UK’s most successful year to date, seeing sales rise by 25 percent to more than £4m.
Managing Director at Bruderer UK, Adrian Haller, explained:
“The companies we are speaking to are all reporting increases in volume and are keen to find new ways where they can invest in speeding up the manufacturing process, improving quality and accuracy or even simply increasing capacity.”
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“This is where we can normally help with our global reputation for punching technology and the number of new machines we’ve got coming to market. The BSTA 280-75B2 caused a lot of interest at MACH and this machine, along with a BSTA 510-125B2 high speed press, will shortly be heading to Birmingham-based Brandauer for installation. Together, they will help the company produce 2 billion precision components every year – this is what manufacturers now want.”
Established in the late-1960s, Bruderer UK produces high-precision and high-performance fully-automated stamping presses for stamping components from the most basic to the complex and intricate. The purchase and installation of every press is backed-up with comprehensive after-sales support, and the company also offers a press overhaul and maintenance programme.
Distributing products to clients working within the automotive, building, electronics, medical, watch and food & beverage sectors, the company operates in countries across the globe, from the Germany to Singapore.
Haller finished by commenting on the positive current state of manufacturing within the UK:
“There is a mass of work being repatriated into the UK and a high percentage of the new technology that will shape manufacturing in the future is also being developed here.


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Globally, San Francisco is best known for its Big Tech businesses, but local nonprofit SFMade sees manufacturing as the foundation of the Bay Area’s economy. It estimates that manufacturing employs more than 300,000 jobs in the area and is part of the supply chain of everything, from technology to agriculture to art. SFMade provides educational and training resources to both local manufacturing businesses and job seekers, and a big part of that involves playing matchmaker between these two groups. Its focus on creating career pathways in manufacturing for local residents extends to young people. Through its program YouthMade, SFMade has placed 220 students in internships across the city’s small and medium manufacturing businesses since 2015.
But last year was unlike any other as YouthMade grappled with the challenge of providing uninterrupted services in the midst of the pandemic to its student population. YouthMade was born out of SFMade’s partnership with two local organizations focused on helping youth learn skills in paid internships: Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) and Enterprise for Youth. The three organizations innovated quickly to introduce new features to keep the six-year-old youth internship program up and running. Immediately, they created opportunities to place young people in brand new online internships with local manufacturing businesses over the summer. A few months later, YouthMade launched its first fall internships with the goal of providing ongoing opportunities to students coping with learning disruption. As a result, 19 students completed summer internships and 22 students worked in fall internships last year. Going forward, both students and participating businesses have the option to choose from online or in-person internships.
Placing young people with employers looking to raise their online game proved to be a no-brainer. “We found medium businesses that employ 15-50 people needed a lot of help during the pandemic with tasks like remote data entry, accounting, and light customer services such as responding to emails. The big one for our interns was social media, which many companies had put on the backburner before the pandemic. That was really exciting for our interns to get involved with,” says George Colón, Director of Workforce & Youth Programs, SFMade. And while it’s too soon to say, he expects fall internships are more likely to lead to job opportunities than summer internships because of the hiring cycle of local businesses.
The interns are typically low-income, minority public high school students or 18–21-year-old transitional age students likely to be the first in their family to earn a four-year degree. The businesses that host interns may not have national name recognition, but they are often minority-run, community-proud, sustainable small businesses that provide well-rounded exposure to the interns.
Take the Latino-owned art studio and gallery, Artillery Apparel Gallery, that specializes in making ceramics alongside showcasing painting and photography. Or Ounce Cookies, which is a maker of handmade craft cookies mainly from plant-based and organic ingredients. SWOPE Design Solutions, an engineering and product design company that manufactures medical devices and consumer products, counts among its employees a former intern placed by SF Made.
“People don’t understand what manufacturing is. They hear the word and think of a giant room full of machines. We want young people to understand what manufacturing is, how to start a business and how to run it and grow it. Manufacturing is an engine for entrepreneurship,” says Colón. SFMade’s youth partner organizations have found that the all-hands-on-deck operations of small businesses give interns a much broader exposure than traditional internships at large corporations which assign interns to one department.
In addition to job skills, paid internships also offer an immediate financial benefit to students, many of whom attend the diverse San Francisco Unified School District and come from families that have been struggling to pay the bills during the pandemic. “We prioritize serving people who have been historically excluded from educational and employment opportunities,” says Steven Sanford , assistant director of high school and bridge programs at JVS.
Offering youth internships are integral to SFMade’s goal of making urban manufacturing an engine of economic equity. To share its learnings with other organizations working to encourage youth employment in manufacturing, it has made a toolkit available on its website The internships are grounded in curriculums designed by JVS and Enterprise for Youth. That includes familiarizing them with the history of the local manufacturing sector, supply chains, and entrepreneurship through both instruction and field trips to local businesses before the start of the internships. The training sessions, which incorporate guest speakers and digital tools, encourage youth dialogue and participation.
YouthMade was created for the benefit of young people, but it offers a learning experience to employers too. “Employers also will learn something about working with young people and meeting them where they are at. Perhaps the experience of working with a young person will encourage companies to make changes internally to reach a broader audience of job seekers,” says Colón.
This article is part of Elements of an Equitable Recovery, a series on solutions helping small, especially woman- and minority-owned, businesses survive and thrive. This series is generously underwritten by LISC.
Deepali Srivastava is a writer and editor whose articles on economic and environmental issues have appeared in Forbes Asia, MSNBC.com, and strategy-business.com. As founder and president of Script the Future, she also provides editorial services to organizations.


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| Ghana | May 22, 2018
As the World Bank’s projected fastest-growing economy in 2018, Ghana is by no means insulated from the disruption technology is bringing, and will continue to bring, to the global markets. […]
As the World Bank’s projected fastest-growing economy in 2018, Ghana is by no means insulated from the disruption technology is bringing, and will continue to bring, to the global markets. As a society emerging in the era of data responsibility, the Black Star realized the need to shift to an economy driven by data and the discipline of data analytics. According to Gartner, over the next six years, the world’s information will grow by 800%, with most of that data being unstructured. These numbers called for a change. In the hope the private sector would follow into its footsteps, the government answered.
The first step came with the implementation of GCNet MDA, part of the single electronic window Ghana TradeNet for online submission, processing, approval, and distribution of a wide range of trade-related documentation by all public sector players. This system facilitated the successive digital policies: the roll out of national identification card and digital addressing system; the implementation of a portal where customers can book online a service to load containers at the Tema Port; and the future issuance of a radio frequency ID and deployment of scanners to match the container to the truck electronically. However, the broadband internet market still remains the top priority in terms of financial and political efforts, and all eyes are now on those B2B ICT service providers to step up. According to International Development Company, Africa is expected to see ICT spending rise dramatically through investments in cloud, big data, and mobile. For Ghana, just like all countries seeking to diversify their commodity-based economy, ICT represents an invaluable chance to transform its economy and bridge the gap with sector leaders—a chance that the private sector should not hesitate to embrace.
There is no doubt that for the ICT sector the next two to three years are expected to be dynamic, disruptive, and laced with innovation. Rapid change will present significant opportunities for technology providers across the industry landscape—MNC vendors, telecom operators, system integrators, IT services companies, distributors, and others. The opportunities posed by the current lack of infrastructure are paired with a highly tech-savvy workforce compared to regional neighbors. Around 90% of the interviewees in The Business Year: Ghana 2018 admitted the country has a competitive advantage in the human skills sphere.
However, in order to tap into this workforce effectively, industry leaders and stakeholders will be required to make several smart bets and moves. This is especially visible given the hurdles players are faced with enhancing market readiness for cloud services. As mentioned by Joseph Yaw Asumang, Oracle Ghana’s Country Director, “The biggest challenge in driving this cloud agenda is the initial pushback that is mainly founded around concerns of security and data residency. Some organizations are not comfortable with parting with their data.“
This is not surprising in a country whose approach to “the new“ has always entailed a substantial degree of skepticism, leading to slower acceptance and adoption compared to its regional neighbors. Trust still plays a huge role in shaping business dynamics in Ghana, and the new administration knows it very well. Efforts in building security infrastructure are on their way, such as the newly announced National Cyber Security Policy & Strategy. However, businesses must witness first hand the economic benefits of outsourcing technology systems.
Ghana’s ICT sector is ripe with opportunities, from the software service field, to the provision of connectivity to various businesses, to the cloud arena. Efforts to leapfrog in this space might place Ghana ahead of the disruption curve.


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The technology landscape could look very different if Dyson hadn’t decided to shelve a smartglasses project that had a working prototype more than 10 years before Google’s Glass arrived.
The Dyson Halo, known only by its project number N066 until today, was originally developed in 2001 – a set of augmented reality goggles featuring a full-colour 3D heads-up display the kind that’s currently being developed by Google, Epsom and Vuzix.
The glasses were head-mounted on a frame that sat around the back of the head and were powered by a pocket computer that resembled a Sony Walkman.
Halo worked as a communications device, but also as a pocket PC, using audio and visual prompts to overlay information on the real world.
The headset used two mirrors to reflect the display of two tiny monitors mounted by the wearers’ temples into the eyes to create the illusion of a translucent 10in screen, projected about 1m in front of the eyes.
Google’s Glass, first announced in 2011 and eventually released in 2013, uses a prism mounted above the eye to display at-a-glance information while the computing potion – a smartphone without the cellular radios – is mounted on one of the ear stems.
Siri before Siri
Dyson also built a virtual digital assistant to help the headset wearer, that could read out emails and interpret basic voice commands like an early version of Apple’s Siri or Google Now.
Users typed on a projected virtual keyboard which could track finger motions, while a wrist-worn device acted as a mouse pointer.
The headset could also be used as a simple display for a separate computer.
The project ran for three years, but was eventually shelved as part of Dyson’s focus on the US. Some of the components live on in other projects, specifically around robot vision which is crucial to projects at the Dyson Robotics Laboratory at Imperial College London.
Dyson released details of the Halo headset and two other shelved projects – a filtration system for diesel engines based on the company’s cyclone technology, as well as a hydrogen fuel cell that used the company’s electric motor to boost efficiency and power – as part of the company’s 21st birthday.
The shelved designs display some of the things beyond vacuum cleaners, fans and hand driers that the company has worked on, but decided not to bring to market.
In addition to the £5m joint investment with Imperial College London for Dyson Robotics Lab, the company has recently ploughed £250m into an expansion of its research and development site next to its headquarters in Malmesbury in Wiltshire.


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Nov 8, 2018. Facebook starts publicly testing dafing dating service with users in Colombia today. Nov 5, 2018. 46% of dating app users met their current partner online. That is different than traditional online dating websites, such as. Match Group is the largest online dating company with more than 45. Its already high number of users was increased in 2010 when it absorbed.
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Never give personal information, such as: your social numver number, credit card. Onlime online dating number of users shows online dating number of users 54 million people made use of online dating services in 2016, a number that is. If you want to think about dating as a numbers game (and apparently many people do), you could probably.
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Sep 11, 2018. TrulyMadly, for instance, claims that 40% of its users come from outside the top 10 cities. Feb 29, 2016. 11% of American adults have used an online dating site or a mobile dating app. The number of users totaled in the hundreds of thousands. The market segment of online dating is made up of online services that offer a platform on which its members can flirt, chat or fall in love.
Jan 24, 2018. 66% of Users Have Dated Someone They Met Online. Dating sites for marijuana users Number of online dating number of users dating sites. Jun 6, 2018. Unlike many of the other major online dating services, Tinder was. Since users sometimes return to online dating, the site may retain your. Apr 11, 2018. Online dating is changing Chinese society.
Yet with 1,700 online dating sites in the UK alone, it can be tough to sort the good from. Thus, the efficiency of the network depends not just on number of users. Users can set pof dating site scams a dating profile with their first name, which the company said wont be visible to.
Jan 1, 2018. Giving a potential date your cell phone numbers turns out to carry with it. Aug 18, 2018. In the early 1990s the notion of meeting a partner online seemed freakish. Internet to find.
Although there has been this meteoric rise in online dating, a large percentage of users have.
Of the jsers million users in more than 150 countries, there have been. Aug 14, 2018. Online dating statistics 2018, percent adults using online dating sites and. Tinders paid users rocketing to 476,000. It has recently begun allowing online dating number of users to sign up with their phone numbers.
Aug 8, 2018. Online dating provides us with an unprecedented opportunity bachelorette britt dating. Mar 16, 2018. One Reddit user quantified his journey in the $1 billion online dating. Online dating number of users such a large number of people are dating online, our study has found that if you decide to take part, you are most likely to be in the company of users.
Aug 12, 2018. Find out how many people onilne your favorite online dating apps, useds and platforms. Harmony is one of the few online dating sites that has userw. Dec 20, 2017. Its interesting how many online dating users see these apps as a game of getting the number online dating number of users matches online dating number of users rather than focusing on the quality.
Mar 9, 2018. Online dating specifically, renders itself quite naturally as a market. Apr 11, 2018. 1 place where singles meet is online. Pros: something of active users of online-dating sites or sites aimed. Jun 20, 2018. Match Group Dating app with instagram, which has become a behemoth in online dating.
May 30, 2018. There are a number of studies that support the idea that the average single. User penetration is 5.2% in 2018 and is expected to hit 6.2% by 2023. A few of. Average number of Grindr monthly active users:. This could be for a number of onlie Women have complained that in. In addition to lnline. There are a number of good reviews about the site online.


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Foreign Expansion of KOPEX
Kopex from Katowice develops a strategy of foreign expansion. The company plans to intend a half billion Polish Zlotys for investments and takeovers of companies all over the world.
For nearly a half billion dollars the company is going to buy a coal mine in Indonesia. Kopex has recently signed a memorandum for the turn – key construction. The accomplishment of the investment is going to last 3 to 4 years. The company aims to create a joint venture in Indonesia.
The Asian contract may become the foundation of a long lasting cooperation. Indonesia intends to construct 8 further mines. “The world mining expects complex servicing, from designing to constructing, and in these areas we are specialists”, so Krzysztof Jędrzejewski, member of the Board of Directors and co-owner of the company.
This is far not enough of the foreign investments and contracts of the company from Katowice. At the end of August Kopex created a joint venture firm in China – Tago Mining Machines Manufacturing. The full production power will be achieved by the company next year and the sales will amount to 120 million EUR p.a. Soon Kopex is to finalise the transaction of buying a controlling stake of shares (51%) in an Australian company producing chain and flight conveyors Inbye Mining Services. The company also purchased shares in three Serbian companies: MIN Holding AD Mont, AD Fitip and AD Oprema. These are manufacturers of mining machinery, steel constructions, and offer construction services. In the middle of the year Kopex has also bought 51 percent of shares in a Russian firm Rus in Nowokiznieck. Further takeovers in Poland as well as in Germany are negotiated.
“We prepare ourselves for further takeovers also in the EU states” says Tadeusz Soroka, chairman of Kopex.
In coming days the Board expects a final agreement from UOKiKU (Office for Competition and Customer Protection) on the takeover of Hansen Sicherheitstechnig company from Munich, the worlds second largest producer of electronic security and control systems for mining machinery. In future Kopex intends to buy out the remaining shares of the company.
Millions for shopping
This year and the coming year Kopex is going to intend over 500 million PLN for investments and buying of companies. This year ZZM Kopex group expects a net profit amounting to 124 millions PLN, the income is going to increase from 862 million PLN in the year 2006 to 1.5 million PLN. Value of the capital group is currently calculated for approximately 3.5 billion PLN. “In the nearest two or three years, when Kopex becomes a global firm, its value will considerably increase” – forecasts the Board of Directors. In nearest months the company should be placed among the WIG20 companies on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, says Tadeusz Soroka. The Board of Directors of the company also thinks about a debut on foreign stocks.


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You have to feel a little bad for the Verizon HTC Droid Incredible. It’s an amazing handset (check out our full review) but it has been beset by component shortages and it is being delayed again, probably to make room for the newer, sexier Motorola Droid X.
The Verizon HTC Droid Incredible was released in late April and it received rave reviews. It rocks a large 3.7-inch AMOLED screen, 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, Android 2.1 with HTC Sense UI, an 8-megapixel camera and all the goodies you expect from a high-end handset like WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth. The device quickly sold out and anxious buyers had to wait … and wait and wait. Initially, we saw reports that the Incredible wouldn’t ship until July but the Verizon Wireless online store is now saying it won’t ship out until next month.
While I’m sure the component shortages are legitimate, you have to figure the upcoming (July 15) launch of the Android-powered Motorola Droid X has something to do with the delay. This is going to be the best Verizon handset to fight off the Apple iPhone 4 on AT&T and Big Red is doing a lot to push the latest Motorola Android smartphone.
Verizon is allowing any subscriber with an upgrade eligibility to get the Droid X for the new-customer price of $199 at launch day. It is also allowing customers who pre-ordered the HTC Droid Incredible to switch to a Droid X without any additional fee.
The extra delay is sure to be a blow for the success of HTC on Verizon in the short term but I’m pretty sure the handset maker will get over it. It just posted a really good quarter thanks to the success of its Android smartphone and devices like the EVO 4G have been selling well. I also wouldn’t be too surprised to see some killer handsets from the company in time for the holiday season.


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Millennial Media Reports Findings on Android Growth
Mobile advertising platform, Millennial Media released some interesting market analysis today, showing that Android has surpassed the iPhone on their ad network in terms of ad impressions and overall revenue. This info can be taken as as indicator as to the continued growth of the Android OS, always good news for people like us!
Here are some bullets from the press announcement we received today:
• For the first time, Android surpassed iOS as the largest Smartphone OS on the Millennial network, with an 8% increase month-over-month and 46% impression share on our network in December. The iOS currently has a 32% share
• Android ad requests grew 141% from Q3 to Q4 and since January, Android has grown 3130%
• Android devices represented 16 of the top 30 mobile devices on the Millennial network
• When breaking down the revenue generated by apps in Q4—Android had a 55% share as opposed to 39% for Apple. Android had a 13% increase quarter-over-quarter.
Check after the break for more images and info from the release.
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Just a quick note to direct folks to our Twitter account for up to the minute news on Google IO this week. Today at 9am Pacific, we’ll be live tweeting
We just told you guys about a rumored Android 2.1 phone headed for Metro PCS yesterday and we’re back with pics to prove it. A source of ours came through
Google has released a standalone Text-to-Speech app for Android in the Google Play Store. This app will read aloud your books, speak translations, and other things – but in the


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Do you love wings, Jordans, and football?! If your answer was, “Yes,” you’re not alone as Adrienne Bailon was recently spotted at the McDonald’s Mighty Wings launch party in the Air Jordan IV (4) “Toro Bravo”.
As McDonalds looks to go all-in with the recent launch of the their new “Mighty Wings”, the food-giant is using celebrities and big-time commercial ads to lure in customers through, now through mid-November – the heart of football season.
Well, how does Adrienne Bailon look in her Toro Bravo’s? Check her out and be sure to keep it here at Sneaker Files for more fresh Celebrity Sneaker Watch news.


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Lamps Plus Launches Personalized Product Pages Powered by Certona
The nation’s largest specialty lighting retailer uses a new predictive landing page solution to reduce bounce rates and improve customer experience
LOS ANGELES – Sept. 6, 2018 – Lamps Plus has recently expanded its partnership with Certona, the leading real-time omnichannel personalization company, to bring new and innovative experiences for online customers. The nation’s largest specialty lighting retailer is leveraging Certona’s AI-powered personalization platform to deliver specialized content and product recommendations for individual customers.
Lighting retailer Lamps Plus uses Google paid search campaigns to display product listing advertisements, in which digital ads are displayed in Google for specific keyword searches. “In the past, clicking on these ads would bring a consumer to a static landing page of a single product,” explained Angela Hsu, Senior Vice President of Marketing and eCommerce for Lamps Plus. “By implementing Certona, we can create individualized product landing pages with personalized recommendations relevant to the user.”
The personalization process uses a predictive algorithm that combines complex data such as real-time shopper behavior, paid search keywords, and contextual information such as device type, search engine type, location, and time of day. By leveraging this information, Lamps Plus offers a personalized shopping experience for each and every customer that constantly evolves based on online habits and browsing history.
The new strategy has been considered a success within Lamps Plus. There has been a 22 percent bounce rate reduction from paid traffic sources, as well as a 17 percent decrease in bounce rate from all external traffic. In addition, there has been an increased click-through rate and a greater return on investment in ads spent.
Noted Hsu, “In the past, Lamps Plus has benefitted from Certona’s expertise with personalization technology. By expanding this program to better support paid traffic sources, we have significantly improved the customer experience. Our personalization program ensures that customers see an expanded selection of lighting and home furnishing products that match their preferences and needs, which has generated more sales.”
Meyar Sheik, the CEO and Co-Founder of Certona, commented that “Lamps Plus continues to make the shopper’s journey a priority by leveraging keyword search to deliver a superior customer experience from the moment shoppers land on their site. We continue to leverage our long-term partnership with Lamps Plus in innovative ways, making it easier for their shoppers to find the right products at the right time.”
By continuing to partner with marketplace-leading companies such as Certona and implementing new technologies, Lamps Plus hopes to make the online shopping experience an easier, faster, and smarter process for its customers.
Media Contact: PR@LampsPlus.com


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GM says Dec China auto sales up 23.2 pct from year ago
BEIJING Jan 14 (Reuters) - General Motors Co and its China joint ventures sold 242,486 vehicles in the country in 2012, up 23.2 percent from a year earlier, the U.S. automaker said on Monday.
The pace of growth was faster than the 9.7 percent annual rise achieved in November, thanks in part to a 41.7 percent sales gain at its car venture with partner SAIC Motor Corp .
For the full year, sales were up 11.3 percent to 2.84 million units, the company said in a statement.
GM also makes vehicles in China in partnership with FAW Group.
- Nurse defies Ebola quarantine with bike ride; negotiations fail |
- Suspect in Pennsylvania police ambush captured after seven-week manhunt |
- Global shares jump, yen slumps as BOJ cranks up stimulus |
- Oil price declines have small-cap shale investors scrambling
- Japan's central bank shocks markets with more easing as inflation slows


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Even if it doesn't take home any of the major trophies at Monday's Emmy Awards, Netflix will have already proven itself the top winner in one regard: Internet programming.
You can have Bill Cosby in the palm of your hand. And Jim Jefferies will tickle you at your discretion.
Yahoo said Wednesday it hired Mike Kail as its chief information officer, drawing a key technical executive from the streaming video group Netflix.
(AP)—Major U.S. companies are starting to reap their most rapid growth in fertile lands of opportunity far from home.
Netflix's second-quarter earnings more than doubled as new episodes from a hit series helped the Internet video service surpass 50 million worldwide subscribers for the first time.
Even though Rupert Murdoch's $76 billion bid for rival media giant Time Warner Inc. has been rejected, that doesn't mean how you watch TV shows and movies will stop changing any time soon.
Amazon could be trying the Netflix model for e-books soon.
Google Inc. still imagines a world in which people talk to their TV, commanding it to switch from ESPN to YouTube, start playing "Orange Is the New Black" on Netflix or answer "What's the weather like tomorrow?"
The Supreme Court shot down Aereo's business model this week, but that doesn't mean customers' desire for a better TV experience is gone.
Netflix is expanding its empire of original content with a talk show to be hosted by Chelsea Handler.


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December 15, 1999
Watch Out for Knock-Offs, Says Study
A recent survey says 4-8% of the 7,000 Web sites advertising Gucci, Rolex and Mont Blanc products are selling counterfeits.
Cyveillance, a business intelligence analyst in Arlington, VA, studied more than 50,000 Web sites selling luxury goods, up from 20,000-25,000 luxury e-tailers Cyveillance counted in 1998. The study shows the number of counterfeit sites keeps up with the growing number of luxury goods sites.
"If on-line sales were to represent just 5% of the $150 billion market for luxury goods, losing even 2% of that total means hundreds of millions in lost revenue for these luxury brand companies," says Brandy Thomas, CEO and chairman of Cyveillance.
To determine whether or not a site sells counterfeits, Cyveillance suggests looking for secure servers, disclaimers and return policies, and keeping in mind that if prices seem too good to be true, they probably are.
- by Stacey King


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adidas leverage their marketing rights with the Major League Soccer, and one crucial element is the league matchball. adidas and Major League Soccer unveiled the updated adidas Prime, the official match ball for the 2013 MLS season.
The adidas Prime features a new, more aerodynamic construction engineered for increased control and consistent ball movement.
Last year, pretty much at the same time, adidas and MLS launched the The adidas Prime. A new version is launched this year. The 2012 adidas Prime uses a cutting-edge panel bonding technique engineered to create a rounder more aerodynamic and water resistant ball for increased accuracy.
The PRIME’s matte finish and texture provides enhanced ball control while the updated bladder increases air retention and reduces water uptake allowing the adidas PRIME to hold its shape after repeated kicks in all weather conditions.
“After an exciting 2012 season for Major League Soccer, we are very proud and excited to unveil the new 2013 adidas PRIME,” said Ernesto Bruce, MLS manager for adidas.
“In 2013, the new match ball will debut at MLS First Kick and will be used by thousands of youth players around the country as MLS continues to expand its player development footprint.”
The Prime’s updated panel design is inspired by the handles and shape of the Philip F. Anschutz trophy, awarded to the MLS Cup champion and colored in the official blue, green and white of MLS.
The Prime features the official MLS and adidas logos along with the signature of MLS Commissioner Don Garber. [Source: MLS.com]
adidas is the official matchball supplier of FIFA and UEFA Competitions. In June 2012, adidas and French Ligue 1 launched the “Le 80, the official matchball” in reference to the 80 years anniversary of the Ligue 1 Orange. Adidas carries on a strong “marketing tradition” of official matchball supplier.


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Android users have been waiting patiently for Kickstarter to release an app for their platform, and today is finally the day. The crowd-funding service has launched its app in the Google Play Store, three years after it did the same for iOS users.
That means Android smartphone and tablet users won't have to use a web browser to search and back projects on Kickstarter. The native app has those features, along with a way to receive updates on their backed projects. Finally, they will be able to share which projects they have supported to friends from within the app. The ability for Kickstarter project creators to manage their campaigns is not available yet on the Android app, but it is reportedly planned for a future update.
You can download the Kickstarter app right now in the Google Play Store.
Via: The Verge


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BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore is looking to help local businesses by providing an incentive for customers to buy gift cards.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants that could switch to curbside take out and delivery have done so. For many, however, the past few weeks have not been easy.
"Honestly they've been rough. Where we're seeing 10 to 15 percent of the sales we would usually do," Andrew Cole, of Between 2 Buns, said.
In an effort to help struggling local businesses, the Downtown Partnership has launched a new initiative called #CurbsideBaltimore.
"It's an attempt to do a couple (of) things. One, to help put an infusion of cash into downtown restaurants, and it also provides incentives for residence, residents and people to come out and give back," Shelonda Stokes, the group's interim president, said.
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The partnership is kicking in $10 for every $20 gift card customers buy, giving them $30 to spend at participating shops and restaurants.
"That is so helpful that Downtown Partnership is working with us and working with small businesses to support them, Keyia Yalcim, of Fishnet, said.
There are currently 25 downtown businesses participating, including six at the Mount Vernon Market Place.
Will Glass, the owner of Taps Fill Station, said these gift cards will help him continue to pay his employees.
"We're actually paying our staff their average hours through this disaster and hoping every little bit counts," Glass said.
If the initiative does its job, these fine establishments will be here ready to open when the restrictions are lifted.
To buy the gift card, go to curbsidebaltimore.com.
for more features.


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Toronto residents will soon be seeing blue shipping containers splashed with Purolator’s logo in Green P parking lots. The containers are mini retail outlets where residents can ship or receive parcels.
The two Urban Quick Stop mini hubs in Toronto will operate full retail services and a total of five electric cargo bikes to deliver packages to the surrounding areas. The program is expected to help reduce traffic congestion and CO2 emissions by 68 tonnes per year.
This program is a result of the City of Toronto’s Council-approved Freight and Goods Movement Strategy, which aims to make the transportation of freight and goods safer, more reliable and more sustainable.
On Monday Toronto mayor John Tory joined councillor Mike Layton, Purolator president and CEO, John Ferguson, Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) president, Scott Collier, and the City of Toronto’s transportation services general manager, Barbara Gray, to launch the first unit in the Green P parking lot at 19 Spadina Road (north of Bloor Street West). It is built in a 40-foot shipping container.
The e-bikes replace fossil fuel-consuming courier trucks with a fully electric option, and contribute to the City of Toronto’s TransformTO greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-reduction goals.
“Purolator’s Urban Quick Stop is our innovative approach to solving the many challenges of delivering in a busy urban environment like Toronto,” said Ferguson.
“Our ambition is to be the greenest courier company in Canada, and this puts us one step closer to achieving that goal. This solution helps minimize traffic congestion and CO2 emissions using e-bikes in a location that brings package delivery and pickup closer to the customer.”
U of T campus
In September, the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services division, Purolator and the University of Toronto’s Transportation Research Institute (UTTRI) will launch a second mini hub that will replace Purolator delivery trucks on the St. George campus with e-bikes deployed from an on-street container located near 60 St. George Street. This will mark the first time on-street parking in Toronto has been replaced with this type of use. UTTRI will conduct an extensive analysis of the impact of replacing large vehicles on campus, using data provided by Purolator around GHG emissions reduction, operational efficiency, parking experiences and interactions with pedestrians.
The City’s Freight and Goods Movement Strategy is aimed at right-sizing delivery across Toronto. Led by the Transportation Services division in partnership with other City divisions it aims to increase the efficiency and reliability of freight movement, limit harm to the environment by reducing GHG emissions, reduce effects on the busiest neighbourhoods, and improve safety for people using roads across the city.
“With e-commerce sales anticipated to continue growing at double-digit rates, new delivery models that optimize last-mile delivery must be explored and developed,” Gray said.
“This pilot program will advance the objectives identified in the City’s Freight and Goods Movement Strategy, and the insights gained from the evaluation work of the University of Toronto’s Transportation Research Institute will inform how we can make delivery in Toronto greener, safer and more sustainable.”


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The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is set to begin in some time. By now, we have a fairly strong idea in terms of how the event is slated to go, and the list of devices expected to be launched at the event include the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, the Galaxy Z Flip 3, the Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Buds 2 true wireless stereo earbuds. The event marks the second major Samsung event for the year, after the first Galaxy Unpacked of the year introducing the Galaxy S21 series flagship smartphones. The biggest attraction of this launch is slated to be the two new foldable smartphones.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 are both expected to get straighter edges as part of a general design overhaul, while keeping the form factor constant for both the Fold and the Flip. Fundamental new features include stylus support for the Z Fold 3, and a better outer display and better cameras on the Z Flip 3. The Fold is tipped to get three 12MP rear cameras, and 120Hz refresh rates on both the interior and exterior displays. The interior folding display may also get an under-display camera, while the Z Flip 3 is expected to feature a drill hole slot for the front camera.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is expected to get three watch sizes and two materials — aluminium and stainless steel. The big deal, though, is going to be the new Wear OS 3 software experience, and a lot of interest is going to be around that only. The Buds 2, meanwhile, are expected to be similar but offer better noise cancellation and possibly better battery life as well. All of this is expected to be part of the Galaxy Unpacked 2021 lineup, and final details including their India prices, launch dates and more should come our way, shortly.
Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here


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Calling the six-days-per-week mail delivery business model "no longer sustainable," the U.S. Postal Service announced this morning it will eliminate Saturday delivery of mail by Aug. 1.
The plan to change delivery from six days a week to five would only affect first-class mail. Packages, mail-order medicines, priority and express mail would still be delivered on Saturdays, and local post offices will remain open for business on Saturdays.
The reasons are continued economic struggles and the increasing use of the Internet for communications and bill paying by consumers, according to the USPS. The U.S. Postal Service also is the only federal agency required to pre-fund health benefits for retirees, and those costs are escalating quickly.
"Our current business model of delivering mail six days a week is no longer sustainable. We must change in order to remain an integral part of the American community for decades to come."
Cutbacks have already affected the local post office. Nearly a year ago, USPS announced the agency's mail processing operation in Cartersville's Liberty Drive post office, which employed 23, would shut down and move to Atlanta. At that time, USPS has proposed legislative reforms, including delivering mail five instead of six days a week.
Speak out: How will the change affect you? Will you miss getting mail on Saturdays?
Saturday is the lightest mail delivery day by volume and many businesses are closed on Saturdays, according to USPS. However, many residents receive print magazines and ads on Saturdays in the mail that may be shifted to another day.
A Rasmussen poll on mail delivery in 2012 showed "Three-out-of-four Americans (75%) would prefer the U.S. Postal Service cut mail delivery to five days a week rather than receive government subsidies to cover ongoing losses."
A USA Today/Gallup poll in 2010 found the majority of U.S. residents surveyed were ok with eliminating Saturday delivery. The March 2010 telephone survey of 999 adults revealed people age 55 and older were more likely than younger people to have used the mail to pay a bill or send a letter in the past two weeks.
While some locals say they'll miss getting mail on Saturdays, others say not at all.
" No—best business plan.... Finally the government uses common sense in [making] smart decisions to save money!" said Lori Wade Bell on Bartow Buzzard's Facebook page.
Tina Norris said she mostly gets junk mail from USPS, opting to do her
"most important stuff...paperless and online."
But those who buy and sell online may be affected by the delivery change.
" I sell on Ebay so I have items that need to go out on Sat.," said Cindy Banks. "I guess the customers will get use to it."
Tell us what you think in the comments, share your photos and videos, and don’t miss any of the local news you care about—subscribe to Cartersville Patch's newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


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|Bid||31.60 x 900|
|Ask||32.49 x 800|
|Day's Range||31.67 - 32.84|
|52 Week Range||14.00 - 53.38|
|Beta (5Y Monthly)||0.74|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||96.53|
|Earnings Date||May 17, 2021|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||N/A (N/A)|
|1y Target Est||40.37|
How far off is Niu Technologies ( NASDAQ:NIU ) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll...
With environmental and sustainability concerns coming into focus this past year, electric vehicle stocks have seen some strong momentum. The shift from gasoline to battery-powered cars is now a fast-growing trend in the auto sector. Because of that, traditional automakers are moving aggressively towards electrification while fresh-on-the-scene electric vehicle (EV) companies work on innovative new technologies. So, EVs have received widespread support. Still, they continue to have their challeng
Despite a big pullback from the lifetime high it hit in February, the EV stock is still up roughly 20% year to date.


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With the OnePlus 6T, the company gets their first US mobile carrier release (with T-Mobile USA) at the same time as they have official Verizon certification. The successor to OnePlus 6 features 6.4-inches Optic OLED screen and in-display fingerprint scanner feature named "Screen Unlock" that unlocks the device in just 0.34 seconds.
Next is a feature that's pretty simple, but still nice: a new About Phone screen. Also lacking is proper waterproof resistance certification, features you'll more than likely find on more expensive flagships.
And the OnePlus 6 was capable of shooting great photos.
The 8.2mm thick and 180gms heavy handset continues to come with a dual-camera setup at the rear. "We tested a screen unlock for the OnePlus 5T a year ago, but the accuracy wasn't as advanced as we had hoped". The OnePlus 6T boasts a Snapdragon 845 processor paired with up to 8GB of RAM, and there's up to 256GB of built-in storage.
OnePlus also partnered with renowned portrait photographer Kevin Abosch to overhaul portrait shots taken with the 6T. OnePlus has monkey-wrenched a sheet of Gorilla Glass 6 onto the screen, potentially making it harder to shatter than usual. That's all thanks to a new feature called Smart Boost - long story short, the phone is created to figure out what apps and games you use the most and will load some assets directly into RAM in anticipation of you actually doing your thing. A Smart boost feature has also been introduced that boosts the performance of the device by 20% for playing heavy games.
Could Australia's cricket stars could go on STRIKE?
Captain Steve Smith , vice-captain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft were banned for their roles in the scandal. The report may fuel calls for the three players' suspensions to be reduced, Australian media reported.
To accommodate a bigger battery, OnePlus has ditched the 3.5mm jack this time.
OnePlus is offering customers who pre-book the device with a cashback worth Rs 500 in terms of Amazon Pay balance along with a free pair of OnePlus Type-C Bullet earphones.
Camera-wise, the viewfinder app now has a dedicated Nightscape mode for low-light photography and much-improved "Studio Lighting" that adjusts exposure and flash to best capture subjects in the frame.
Pricing for the unlocked OnePlus 6T will start at $549 for the 6GB/128GB model and go up to $579 for the 8GB/128GB model, while the top-end 8GB/256GB model will be priced at $629.
To make up for the removal of an analog audio connection, however, the 6T features a 3,700mAh battery with 20 percent more power capacity than the 3,300mAh power cell on the OnePlus 6.
What about the glass on the back?


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GM investing US$200M in 2 Michigan plants for new vehicle
No new jobs will be created by investment; automaker said it brings total investment in two plants to US$775 million since 2010
DETROIT—Two General Motors Co. (GM) plants in Michigan will share in a US$200-million investment as the automaker gears up to produce a future vehicle in the state.
According to GM, it will investment US$160 million in its assembly plant in Orion Township, northwest of Detroit, and another US$40 million in its metal forming plant in nearby Pontiac, Mich., as it prepares for a future vehicle program.
“Today’s announcement is a shot in the arm for these two terrific plants known for their teamwork and employee engagement,” GM North American manufacturing vice-president Cathy Clegg said in a release. “We’re committed to growing our brands and producing the highest-quality and safest vehicles for our customers.”
The investment in the Orion plant, currently home to the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano, will be used to purchase tooling and equipment, while the investment in the Pontiac plant, which makes components for about 20 GM vehicles, will be used for new dies.
According to GM, the money is part of the nearly US$300 million in Michigan-based investments GM chief executive Mary Barra mentioned in a recent speech to the Dtroit Economic Club.
While no new jobs will be created by the investment, the automaker said it brings the total investment in the two plants to US$775 million since 2010.


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Microsoft and News Corp in talks over blocking Google
By Anne Cassidy, campaignlive.co.uk, Monday, 23 November 2009 09:53AM
LONDON - Microsoft and News Corp have had talks over a plan which could see the internet giant paying Rupert Murdoch's company to list news content on its search engine Bing.
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp announced last week that it was looking at pulling its news content off Google.
The Microsoft deal, reported by the FT, could spark a search engine battle and also offer hope to newspapers struggling to monetise online content.
Microsoft has also approached other online publishers in a bid to convince them to "de-index" their sites from Google, according to the report.
The move is being viewed as a direct assault on Google's search engine by Microsoft.
This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk
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Walmart Operating in India with Front, Says Vandana Shiva
Posted on July 16, 2012 by jway
Walmart encountered a new legal challenge this week in India, a country where the company has ambitious expansion plans. In light of the fact that foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail is prohibited* in India, the company has been accused of covertly operating retail stores, in “blatant violation” of the law.
Well-known environmental and social activist Dr. Vandana Shiva formally filed a legal petition (in India, termed “public interest litigation” or PIL) for investigation of Walmart’s business practices as well as the practices of Walmart’s India joint venture partner, Bharti Retail. The Delhi High Court has sent notices to the two companies and to the central government, seeking replies to the petition.
In 2007 Walmart entered into a franchise agreement with Bharti Retail, the retail arm of Indian conglomerate Bharti Enterprises, through which Walmart says it provides “back-end support” to Bharti’s 187 EasyDay grocery and convenience stores. The two companies have also operated wholesale cash-and-carry stores, called Best Price Modern Wholesale, since 2009 through a joint venture. The 17 wholesale stores are only permitted to sell goods to other businesses, not to the general public.
The PIL that Shiva filed states that “many established Indian companies are actually fronting for foreign trading companies,” like Walmart, “so as to give the foreign partner majority control and economic interest in the Indian retail sector, thereby circumventing the FDI prohibition of multi-product trading in the retail sector.”
The petition goes on to allege that the “retail giants are depriving Indian small traders of their ‘solitary source of livelihood.’” Dr. Shiva is one of many Indian activists who have resisted the push to allow for foreign ownership and investment in India’s retail sector, a hot topic in Indian politics since the governing coalition’s failed attempt to relax retail FDI restrictions in the fall.
Those against FDI reform worry about the welfare of small family-owned businesses, akin to the mom-and-pop shops that have closed their doors in recent decades as Walmart has grown in the United States. Their nervousness is not without justification; there is speculation that Walmart would quickly snap up ownership of the 187 EasyDay stores if FDI laws changed, positioning the company to expand at a rapid pace.
The legal challenge comes at a time when Walmart’s India operations, still in the red, are under scrutiny due to the Mexican bribery scandal. In June, Walmart announced that it has expanded its internal review of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Compliance to four countries apart from Mexico – India, South Africa, China and Brazil. These countries represent four large emerging markets crucial to the company’s international growth prospects. Walmart and other foreign wholesalers were also accused of violating land use policies in the Indian state of Rajasthan last month.
*However, FDI is permitted in retail stores selling only one brand of goods, eg Ikea or designer clothing stores.
This post was written by Rebecca Cassler.


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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Asian stocks closed higher Thursday, fueled by continued U.S. strength and optimism for tech profits on the heels of results from Advanced Micro Devices and Apple Computer.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index closed up 104.42 points, or 0.9%, at 11,764.26.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. AMD, +2.57% late Wednesday reported quarterly profit fell 65%, as eroding prices for its memory chips again undercut higher sales of chips used to power personal computers and corporate servers.
But the results beat Wall Street's expectations for a loss and snapped two straight quarters of losses for AMD, the No. 2 maker of PC chips behind Intel Corp. See full story.
Another tech star, Apple Computer Inc., AAPL, +0.62% on Wednesday said fiscal third-quarter profit rose more than fivefold on skyrocketing sales of its iPod digital music players, which also helped boost demand for Apple's line of Macintosh computers. See full story.
AMD's results sparked investor interest in Japan's chip-testing equipment maker Advantest Corp. (6857) ADTTF, +14.44% shares of which closed up 2.7%.
Among Asia's regional markets, Australia's All Ordinaries index closed up 0.41% at 4,257.70, Singapore's Straits Times index ended 0.5% higher at 2,250.16 and South Korea's Seoul Composite index added 1.1% to 1,061.93.
The joint venture of Toyota Motors Corp. (7203) TM, +0.34% and General Motors GM, +0.91% called New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., or NUMMI, plans to invest some 16 billion yen ($142.9 million)over five years to upgrade and renovate production facilities, according to a report from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
Launched in 1984, NUMMI makes Toyota Corollas, Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks and GM's Pontiac Vibe, which uses the same platform as the Corolla. Production volume is expected to reach a record 410,000 vehicles in fiscal 2005, up 8% from the year before thanks to strong Corolla and Tacoma sales. This will make the NUMMI plant in Fremont, Calif. Toyota's second-largest in North America, second only to a Kentucky plant that turns out 470,000 Camrys a year, according to the Nikkei.
Foreign investors bought a net 424.9 billion yen of Japanese equities in the week to July 9, the fourth consecutive week of net buying, AFX-Asia reported, citing Ministry of Finance data.
The U.S. dollar was slightly lower against the yen, last down 0.1% at 111.92 yen. The dollar traded above the 112 yen level early Thursday in Tokyo, slightly above its level late Wednesday in New York.
On Wall Street Wednesday, U.S. stocks closed higher following news of a narrower trade gap, after the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +1.38% touched a three-week high with the help of an International Business Machines upgrade.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 43.50 points at 10,557. The S&P 500 SPX, +1.32% ended 1.08 points higher at 1,223 as investors wondered whether it could break above the 1,225 level on Thursday, which would mark a four-year high. The Nasdaq composite $COMPQ closed up 0.96 at 2,144.
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